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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10365-0.txt b/10365-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..70dcfcc --- /dev/null +++ b/10365-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16047 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10365 *** + +Precaution. + +A Novel. + +By J. Fenimore Cooper. + +"Be wise to-day. It is madness to defer; To-morrow's caution may arrive +too late." + +W. C. Bryant's Discourse on the Life, Genius, and Writings of James +Fenimore Cooper, Delivered at Metropolitan Hall, N.Y., February 25, +1852. + +It is now somewhat more than a year, since the friends of James Fenimore +Cooper, in this city; were planning to give a public dinner to his +honor. It was intended as an expression both of the regard they bore him +personally, and of the pride they took in the glory his writings had +reflected on the American name. We thought of what we should say in his +hearing; in what terms, worthy of him and of us, we should speak of the +esteem in which we held him, and of the interest we felt in a fame which +had already penetrated to the remotest nook of the earth inhabited by +civilized man. + +To-day we assemble for a sadder purpose: to pay to the dead some part of +the honors then intended for the living. We bring our offering, but he +is not here who should receive it; in his stead are vacancy and silence; +there is no eye to brighten at our words, and no voice to answer. "It is +an empty office that we perform," said Virgil, in his melodious verses, +when commemorating the virtues of the young Marcellus, and bidding +flowers be strewn, with full hands, over his early grave. We might apply +the expression to the present occasion, but it would be true in part +only. We can no longer do anything for him who is departed, but we may +do what will not be without fruit to those who remain. It is good to +occupy our thoughts with the example of great talents in conjunction +with great virtues. His genius has passed away with him; but we may +learn, from the history of his life, to employ the faculties we possess +with useful activity and noble aims; we may copy his magnanimous +frankness, his disdain of everything that wears the faintest semblance +of deceit, his refusal to comply with current abuses, and the courage +with which, on all occasions, he asserted what he deemed truth, and +combated what he thought error. + +The circumstances of Cooper's early life were remarkably suited to +confirm the natural hardihood and manliness of his character, and to +call forth and exercise that extraordinary power of observation, which +accumulated the materials afterwards wielded and shaped by his genius. +His father, while an inhabitant of Burlington, in New Jersey, on the +pleasant banks of the Delaware, was the owner of large possessions on +the borders of the Otsego Lake in our own state, and here, in the newly- +cleared fields, he built, in 1786, the first house in Cooperstown. To +this home, Cooper, who was born in Burlington, in the year 1789, was +conveyed in his infancy, and here, as he informs us in his preface to +the Pioneers, his first impressions of the external world were obtained. +Here he passed his childhood, with the vast forest around him, +stretching up the mountains that overlook the lake, and far beyond, in a +region where the Indian yet roamed, and the white hunter, half Indian in +his dress and mode of life, sought his game,--a region in which the bear +and the wolf were yet hunted, and the panther, more formidable than +either, lurked in the thickets, and tales of wanderings in the +wilderness, and encounters with these fierce animals, beguiled the +length of the winter nights. Of this place, Cooper, although early +removed from it to pursue his studies, was an occasional resident +throughout his life, and here his last years were wholly passed. + +At the age of thirteen he was sent to Yale College, where, +notwithstanding his extreme youth,--for, with the exception of the poet +Hillhouse, he was the youngest of his class, and Hillhouse was +afterwards withdrawn,--his progress in his studies is said to have been +honorable to his talents. He left the college, after a residence of +three years, and became a midshipman in the United States navy. Six +years he followed the sea, and there yet wanders, among those who are +fond of literary anecdote, a story of the young sailor who, in the +streets of one of the English ports, attracted the curiosity of the +crowd by explaining to his companions a Latin motto in some public +place. That during this period he made himself master of the knowledge +and the imagery which he afterwards employed to so much advantage in his +romances of the sea, the finest ever written, is a common and obvious +remark; but it has not been so far as I know, observed that from the +discipline of a seaman's life he may have derived much of his readiness +and fertility of invention, much of his skill in surrounding the +personages of his novels with imaginary perils, and rescuing them by +probable expedients. Of all pursuits, the life of a sailor is that which +familiarizes men to danger in its most fearful shapes, most cultivates +presence of mind, and most effectually calls forth the resources of a +prompt and fearless dexterity by which imminent evil is avoided. + +In 1811, Cooper, having resigned his post as midshipman, began the year +by marrying Miss Delaney, sister of the present bishop; of the diocese +of Western New York, and entered upon a domestic life happily passed to +its close. He went to live at Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester, +and while here he wrote and published the first of his novels, entitled +Precaution. Concerning the occasion of writing this work, it is related, +that once, as he was reading an English novel to Mrs. Cooper, who has, +within a short time past, been laid in the grave beside her illustrious +husband, and of whom we may now say, that her goodness was no less +eminent than his genius, he suddenly laid down the book, and said, "I +believe I could write a better myself." Almost immediately he composed a +chapter of a projected work of fiction, and read it to the same friendly +judge, who encouraged him to finish it, and when it was completed, +suggested its publication. Of this he had at the time no intention, but +he was at length induced to submit the manuscript to the examination of +the late Charles Wilkes, of this city, in whose literary opinions he had +great confidence. Mr. Wilkes advised that it should be published, and to +these circumstances we owe it that Cooper became an author. + +I confess I have merely dipped into this work. The experiment was made +with the first edition, deformed by a strange punctuation--a profusion +of commas, and other pauses, which puzzled and repelled me. Its author, +many years afterwards, revised and republished it, correcting this +fault, and some faults of style also, so that to a casual inspection it +appeared almost another work. It was a professed delineation of English +manners, though the author had then seen nothing of English society. It +had, however, the honor of being adopted by the country whose manners it +described, and, being early republished in Great Britain, passed from +the first for an English novel. I am not unwilling to believe what is +said of it, that it contained a promise of the powers which its author +afterwards put forth. + +Thirty years ago, in the year 1821, and in the thirty-second of his +life, Cooper published the first of the works by which he will be known +to posterity, the Spy. It took the reading world by a kind of surprise; +its merit was acknowledged by a rapid sale; the public read with +eagerness and the critics wondered. Many withheld their commendations on +account of defects in the plot or blemishes in the composition, arising +from want of practice, and some waited till they could hear the judgment +of European readers. Yet there were not wanting critics in this country, +of whose good opinion any author in any part of the world might be +proud, who spoke of it in terms it deserved. "Are you not delighted," +wrote a literary friend to me, who has since risen to high distinction +as a writer, both in verse and in prose, "are you not delighted with the +Spy, as a work of infinite spirit and genius?" In that word genius lay +the explanation of the hold which the work had taken on the minds of +men. What it had of excellence was peculiar and unborrowed; its pictures +of life, whether in repose or activity, were drawn, with broad lights +and shadows, immediately from living originals in nature or in his own +imagination. To him, whatever he described was true; it was made a +reality to him by the strength with which he conceived it. His power in +the delineation of character was shown in the principal personage of his +story, Harvey Birch, on whom, though he has chosen to employ him in the +ignoble office of a spy, and endowed him with the qualities necessary to +his profession,--extreme circumspection, fertility in stratagem, and the +art of concealing his real character--qualities which, in conjunction +with selfishness and greediness, make the scoundrel, he has bestowed the +virtues of generosity, magnanimity, an intense love of country, a +fidelity not to be corrupted, and a disinterestedness beyond temptation. +Out of this combination of qualities he has wrought a character which is +a favorite in all nations, and with all classes of mankind. + +It is said that if you cast a pebble into the ocean, at the mouth of our +harbor, the vibration made in the water passes gradually on till it +strikes the icy barriers of the deep at the south pole. The spread of +Cooper's reputation is not confined within narrower limits. The Spy is +read in all the written dialects of Europe, and in some of those of +Asia. The French, immediately after its first appearance, gave it to the +multitudes who read their far-diffused language, and placed it among the +first works of its class. It was rendered into Castilian, and passed +into the hands of those who dwell under the beams of the Southern Cross. +At length it passed the eastern frontier of Europe, and the latest +record I have seen of its progress towards absolute universality, is +contained in a statement of the International Magazine, derived, I +presume, from its author, that in 1847 it was published in a Persian +translation at Ispahan. Before this time, I doubt not, they are reading +it in some of the languages of Hindostan, and, if the Chinese ever +translated anything, it would be in the hands of the many millions who +inhabit the far Cathay. + +I have spoken of the hesitation which American critics felt in admitting +the merits of the Spy, on account of crudities in the plot or the +composition, some of which, no doubt, really existed. An exception must +be made in favor of the Port Folio, which, in a notice written by Mrs. +Sarah Hall, mother of the editor of that periodical, and author of +Conversations on the Bible, gave the work a cordial welcome; and Cooper, +as I am informed, never forgot this act of timely and ready kindness. + +It was perhaps favorable to the immediate success of the Spy, that +Cooper had few American authors to divide with him the public attention. +That crowd of clever men and women who now write for the magazines, who +send out volumes of essays, sketches, and poems, and who supply the +press with novels, biographies, and historical works, were then, for the +most part, either stammering their lessons in the schools, or yet +unborn. Yet it is worthy of note, that just about the time that the Spy +made its appearance, the dawn of what we now call our literature was +just breaking. The concluding number of Dana's Idle Man, a work +neglected at first, but now numbered among the best things of the kind +in our language, was issued in the same month. The Sketch Book was then +just completed; the world was admiring it, and its author was meditating +Bracebridge Hall. Miss Sedgwick, about the same time, made her first +essay in that charming series of novels of domestic life in New England, +which have gained her so high a reputation. Percival, now unhappily +silent, had just put to press a volume of poems. I have a copy of an +edition of Hallock's Fanny, published in the same year; the poem of +Yamoyden, by Eastburn and Sands, appeared almost simultaneously with it. +Livingston was putting the finishing hand to his Report on the Penal +Code of Louisiana, a work written with such grave, persuasive eloquence, +that it belongs as much to our literature as to our jurisprudence. Other +contemporaneous American works there were, now less read. Paul Allen's +poem of Noah was just laid on the counters of the booksellers. Arden +published, at the same time, in this city, a translation of Ovid's +Tristia, in heroic verse, in which the complaints of the effeminate +Roman poet were rendered with great fidelity to the original, and +sometimes not without beauty. If I may speak of myself, it was in that +year that I timidly intrusted to the winds and waves of public opinion a +small cargo of my own--a poem entitled The Ages, and half a dozen +shorter ones, in a thin duodecimo volume, printed at Cambridge. + +We had, at the same time, works of elegant literature, fresh from the +press of Great Britain, which are still read and admired. Barry +Cornwall, then a young suitor for fame, published in the same year his +Marcia Colonna; Byron, in the full strength and fertility of his genius, +gave the readers of English his tragedy of Marino Faliero, and was in +the midst of his spirited controversy with Bowles concerning the poetry +of Pope. The Spy had to sustain a comparison with Scott's Antiquary, +published simultaneously with it, and with Lockhart's Valerius, which +seems to me one of the most remarkable works of fiction ever composed. + +In 1823, and in his thirty-fourth year, Cooper brought out his novel of +the Pioneers, the scene of which was laid on the borders of his: own +beautiful lake. In a recent survey of Mr; Cooper's works, by one of his +admirers, it is intimated that the reputation of this work may have +been, in some degree factitious. I cannot think so; I cannot see how +such a work could fail of becoming, sooner or later, a favorite. It was +several years after its first appearance that I read the Pioneers, and I +read it with a delighted astonishment. Here, said I to myself, is the +poet of rural life in this country--our Hesiod, our Theocritus, except +that he writes without the restraint of numbers, and is a greater poet +than they. In the Pioneers, as in a moving picture, are made to pass +before us the hardy occupations and spirited, amusements of a prosperous +settlement, in, a fertile region, encompassed for leagues around with +the primeval wilderness of woods. The seasons in their different +aspects, bringing with them, their different employments; forests +falling before the axe; the cheerful population, with the first mild; +day of spring, engaged in the sugar orchards; the chase of the deer +through the deep woods, and into the lake; turkey-shooting, during the +Christmas holidays, in which the Indian marksman vied for the prize of +skill with the white man; swift sleigh rides under the bright winter +sun, and, perilous encounters with wild animals in the forests; these, +and other scenes of rural life, drawn, as Cooper knew how to draw them, +in the bright and healthful coloring of which he was master are +interwoven with a regular narrative of human fortunes, not unskilfully +constructed; and how could such a work be otherwise than popular? + +In the Pioneers, Leatherstocking; is first introduced--a philosopher of +the woods, ignorant of books, but instructed in all that nature, without +the aid of, science, could reveal to the man of quick senses and +inquiring intellect, whose life has been passed under the open sky, and +in companionship with a race whose animal perceptions are the acutest +and most cultivated of which there is any example. But Leatherstocking +has higher qualities; in him there is a genial blending of the gentlest +virtues of the civilized man with the better nature of the aboriginal +tribes; all that in them is noble, generous, and ideal, is adopted into +his own kindly character, and all that is evil is rejected. But why +should I attempt to analyse a character so familiar? Leatherstocking is +acknowledged, on all hands, to be one of the noblest, as well as most +striking and original creations of fiction. In some of his subsequent +novels, Cooper--for he had not yet Attained to the full maturity of his +powers--heightened and ennobled his first conception of the character, +but in the Pioneers it dazzled the world with the splendor of novelty; + +His next work was the Pilot, in which he showed how, from the +vicissitudes of a life at sea, its perils and escapes, from the beauty +and terrors of the great deep, from the working of a vessel on a long +voyage, and from the frank, brave, and generous but peculiar character +of the seaman, may be drawn materials of romance by which the minds of +men may be as deeply moved as by anything in the power of romance to +present. In this walk, Cooper has had many disciples but no rival. All +who have since written romances of the sea have been but travellers in a +country of which he was the great discoverer; and none of them all +seemed to have loved a ship as Cooper loved it, or have been able so +strongly to interest all classes of readers in its fortunes. Among other +personages drawn with great strength in the Pilot, is the general +favorite, Tom Coffin, the thorough seaman with all the virtues and one +or two of the infirmities of his profession, superstitious, as seamen +are apt to be, yet whose superstitions strike us as but an irregular +growth of his devout recognition of the Power who holds the ocean in the +hollow of his hand; true-hearted, gentle, full of resources, collected +in danger, and at last calmly perishing at the post of duty, with the +vessel he has long guided, by what I may call a great and magnanimous +death. His rougher and coarser companion, Boltrope, is drawn with +scarcely less skill, and with a no less vigorous hand. + +The Pioneers is not Cooper's best tale of the American forest, nor, the +Pilot, perhaps, in all respects, his best tale of the sea; yet, if he +had ceased to write here, the measure of his fame would possibly have +been scarcely less ample than it now is. Neither of them is far below +the best of his productions, and in them appear the two most remarkable +creations of his imagination--two of the most remarkable characters in +all fiction. + +It was about this time that my acquaintance with Cooper began, an +acquaintance of more than a quarter of a century, in which his +deportment towards me was that of unvaried kindness. He then resided a +considerable part of the year in this city, and here he had founded a +weekly club, to which many of the most distinguished men of the place +belonged. Of the members who have since passed away, were Chancellor +Kent, the jurist; Wiley the intelligent and liberal bookseller; Henry D. +Sedgwick, always active in schemes of benevolence; Jarvis, the painter, +a man of infinite humor, whose jests awoke inextinguishable laughter; De +Kay, the naturalist; Sands, the poet; Jacob Harvey whose genial memory +is cherished by many friends. Of those who are yet living was Morse, the +inventor of the electric telegraph; Durand, then, one of the first of +engravers, and now no less illustrious as a painter; Henry James +Anderson, whose acquirements might awaken the envy of the ripest +scholars of the old world; Halleck, the poet and wit; Verplanck, who has +given the world the best edition of Shakspeare for general readers; Dr. +King, now at the head of Columbia College, and his two immediate +predecessors in that office. I might enlarge the list with many other +names of no less distinction. The army and navy contributed their +proportion of members, whose names are on record in our national +history. Cooper when in town was always present, and I remember being +struck with the inexhaustible vivacity of his conversation and the +minuteness of his knowledge, in everything which depended upon acuteness +of observation and exactness of recollection. I remember, too, being +somewhat startled, coming as I did from the seclusion of a country life, +with a certain emphatic frankness in his manner, which, however, I came +at last to like and to admire. The club met in the hotel called +Washington Hall, the site of which, is now occupied by part of the +circuit of Stewart's marble building. + +Lionel Lincoln, which cannot be ranked among the successful productions +of Cooper, was published in 1825; and in the year following appeared the +Last of the Mohicans which more than recovered the ground lost by its +predecessor. In this work, the construction of the narrative has signal +defects, but it is one of the triumphs of the author's genius that he +makes us unconscious of them while we read. It is only when we have had +time to awake from the intense interest in which he has held us by the +vivid reality of his narrative, and have begun to search for faults in +cold blood, that we are able to find them, In the Last of the Mohicans, +we have a bolder portraiture of. Leatherstocking than in the Pioneers. + +This work was published in 1826, and in the same year Cooper sailed with +his family for Europe. He left New York as one of the vessels of war, +described in his romances of the sea, goes out of port, amidst the +thunder of a parting salute from the big guns on the batteries. A dinner +was given him just before his departure, attended by most of the +distinguished men of the city, at which Peter A. Jay presided, and Dr. +King addressed him in terms which some then thought too glowing, but +which would now seem sufficiently temperate, expressing the good wishes +of his friends, and dwelling on the satisfaction they promised +themselves in possessing so illustrious a representative of American +literature in the old world. Cooper was scarcely in France when he +remembered his friends of the weekly club, and sent frequent missives to +be read at its meetings; but the club missed its founder went into a +decline, and not long afterwards quietly expired. + +The first of Cooper's novels published after leaving America: was the +Prairie, which appeared early in 1827, a work with the admirers of which +I wholly agree. I read it with a certain awe, an undefined sense of +sublimity, such as one experiences on entering, for the first time, upon +those immense grassy deserts from which the work takes its name. The +squatter and his family--that brawny old man and his large-limbed sons, +living in a sort of primitive and patriarchal barbarism, sluggish on +ordinary occasions, but terrible when roused, like the hurricane that +sweeps the grand but monotonous wilderness in which they dwell--seem a +natural growth of ancient fields of the West. Leatherstocking, a hunter +in the Pioneers, a warrior in the Last of the Mohicans, and now, in his +extreme old age, a trapper on the prairie, declined in strength, but +undecayed in intellect, and looking to the near close of his life, and a +grave under the long grass, as calmly as the laborer at sunset looks to +his evening slumber, is no less in harmony with the silent desert in +which he wanders. Equally so are the Indians, still his companions, +copies of the American savage somewhat idealized, but not the less a +part of the wild nature in which they have their haunts. + +Before the year closed, Cooper had given the world another nautical +tale, the Red Rover, which, with many, is a greater favorite than the +Pilot, and with reason, perhaps, if we consider principally the +incidents, which are conducted and described with a greater mastery over +the springs of pity and terror. + +It happened to Cooper while he was abroad, as it not unfrequently +happens to our countrymen, to hear the United States disadvantageously +compared with Europe. He had himself been a close observer of things +both here and in the old world, and was conscious of being able to +refute the detractors of his country in regard to many points. He +published in 1828, after he had been two years in Europe, a series of +letters, entitled Notions of the Americans, by a Travelling Bachelor, in +which he gave a favorable account of the working of our institutions, +and vindicated his country from various flippant and ill-natured +misrepresentations of foreigners. It is rather too measured in style, +but is written from a mind full of the subject, and from a memory +wonderfully stored with particulars. Although twenty-four years have +elapsed since its publication, but little of the vindication has become +obsolete. + +Cooper loved his country and was proud of her history and her +institutions, but it puzzles many that he should have appeared, at +different times, as her eulogist, and her censor. My friends, she is +worthy both of praise and of blame, and Cooper was not the man to shrink +from bestowing either, at what seemed to him the proper time. He +defended her from detractors abroad; he sought to save her from +flatterers at home. I will not say that he was in as good humor with his +country when he wrote Home at Found, as when he wrote his Notions of the +Americans, but this I will say that whether he commended or censured, he +did it in the sincerity of his heart, as a true American, and in the +belief that it would do good. His Notions of the Americans were more +likely to lessen than to increase his popularity in Europe, inasmuch as +they were put forth without the slightest regard to European prejudices. + +In 1829, he brought out the novel entitled the Wept of Wishton-Wish, one +of the few of his works which we now rarely hear mentioned. He was +engaged in the composition of a third nautical tale, which he afterwards +published under the name of the Water-Witch, when the memorable +revolution of the Three Days of July broke out. He saw a government, +ruling by fear and in defiance of public opinion, overthrown in a few +hours, with little bloodshed; he saw the French nation, far from being +intoxicated with their new liberty, peacefully addressing themselves to +the discussion of the institutions under which they were to live. A work +which Cooper afterwards published, his Residence in Europe, gives the +outline of a plan of government for France furnished by him at that +time, to La Fayette, with whom he was in habits of close and daily +intimacy. It was his idea to give permanence to the new order of things +by associating two strong parties in its support, the friends of +legitimacy and the republicans. He suggested that Henry V. should be +called to the hereditary throne of France, a youth yet to be educated as +the head of a free people, that the peerage should be abolished, and a +legislature of two chambers established, with a constituency of at least +a million and a half of electors; the senate to be chosen by the general +vote, as the representative of the entire nation, and the members of the +other house to be chosen by districts, as the representatives of the +local interests. To the middle ground of politics so ostentatiously +occupied by Louis Philippe at the beginning of his reign, he predicted a +brief duration, believing that it would speedily be merged in despotism, +or supplanted by the popular rule. His prophecy has been fulfilled more +amply than he could have imagined--fulfilled in both its alternatives. + +In one of the controversies of that time, Cooper bore a distinguished +part. The Revue Britannique, a periodical published in Paris, boldly +affirmed the government of the United States to be one of the most +expensive in the world, and its people among the most heavily taxed of +mankind. This assertion was supported with a certain show of proof, and +the writer affected to have established the conclusion that a republic +must necessarily be more expensive than a monarchy. The partisans of the +court were delighted with the reasoning of the article, and claimed a +triumph over our ancient friend La Fayette, who, during forty years, had +not ceased to hold up the government of the United States as the +cheapest in the world. At the suggestion of La Fayette, Cooper replied +to this attack upon his country in a letter which was translated into +French, and, together with, another from General Bertrand, for many +years a resident in America, was laid before the people of France. + +These, two letters provoked a shower of rejoinders, in which, according +to Cooper, misstatements were mingled with scurrility. He commenced a +series of letters on the question in dispute, which were published in +the National, a daily sheet, and gave the first evidence of that +extraordinary acuteness in controversy which was no less characteristic +of his mind than the vigor of his imagination. The enemies of La Fayette +pressed into their service Mr. Leavitt Harris, of New Jersey, afterwards +our chargé d'affaires at the court of France, but Cooper replied to Mr. +Harris in the National of May 2d, 1832, closing a discussion in which he +had effectually silenced those who objected to our institutions on the +score of economy. Of these letters, which would form an important +chapter in political science, no entire copy, I have been told, is to be +found in this country. + +One of the consequences of earnest controversy is almost invariably +personal ill-will. Cooper was told by one who held an official station +under the French government, that the part he had taken in this dispute +concerning taxation would neither be forgotten nor forgiven. The dislike +he had incurred in that quarter was strengthened by his novel of the +Bravo, published in the year 1831, while he was in the midst of his +quarrel with the aristocratic party. In that work, of which he has +himself justly said that it was thoroughly American in all that belonged +to it, his object was to show how institutions, professedly created to +prevent violence and wrong, become, when perverted from their natural +destination, the instruments of injustice; and how, in every system +which makes power the exclusive property of the strong, the weak are +sure to be oppressed. The work is written with all the vigor and spirit +of his best novels; the magnificent city of Venice, in which the scene +of the story is laid, stands continually before the imagination; and +from time to time the gorgeous ceremonies of the Venetian republic pass +under our eyes, such as the marriage of the Doge with the Adriatic, and +the, contest of the gondolas for the prize of speed. The Bravo himself +and several of the other characters are strongly conceived and +distinguished, but the most remarkable of them all is the spirited and +generous-hearted daughter of the jailer. + +It has been said by some critics, who judge of Cooper by his failures, +that he had no skill in drawing female characters. By the same process, +it might, I suppose, be shown that Raphael was but an ordinary painter. +It must be admitted that when Cooper drew a lady of high breeding, he +was apt to pay too much attention to the formal part of her character, +and to make her a mere bundle of cold proprieties. But when he places +his heroines in some situation in life which leaves him nothing to do +but to make them natural and true, I know of nothing finer, nothing more +attractive or more individual than the portraitures he has given us. + +Figaro, the wittiest of the French periodicals, and at that time on the +liberal side, commended the Bravo; the journals on the side of the +government censured it. Figaro afterwards passed into the hands of the +aristocratic party, and Cooper became the object of its attacks. He was +not, however, a man to be driven from any purpose which he had formed, +either by flattery or abuse, and both were tried with equal ill success. +In 1832 he published his Heidenmauer, and in 1833 his Headsman of Berne, +both with a political design similar to that of the Bravo, though +neither of them takes the same high rank among his works. + +In 1833, after a residence of seven years in different parts of Europe, +but mostly in France, Cooper returned to his native country. The welcome +which met him here was somewhat chilled by the effect of the attacks +made upon him in France, and remembering with what zeal, and at what +sacrifice of the universal acceptance which his works would otherwise +have met, he had maintained the cause of his country against the wits +and orators of the court party in France, we cannot wonder that he +should have felt this coldness as undeserved. He published, shortly +after his arrival in this country, A Letter to his Countrymen in which +he complained of the censures cast upon him in the American newspapers, +gave a history of the part he had taken in exposing the misstatements of +the Révue Britannique, and warned his countrymen against the too common +error of resorting, with a blind deference, to foreign authorities, +often swayed by national or political prejudices, for our opinions of +American authors. Going beyond this topic, he examined and reprehended +the habit of applying to the interpretation of our own constitution +maxims derived from the practice of other governments, particularly that +of Great Britain. The importance of construing that instrument by its +own principles, he illustrated by considering several points in dispute +between parties of the day, on which he gave very decided opinions. + +The principal effect of this pamphlet, as it seemed to me, was to awaken +in certain quarters a kind of resentment that a successful writer of +fiction should presume to give lessons in politics. I meddle not here +with the conclusions to which he arrived, though must be allowed to say +that they were stated and argued with great ability. In 1835 Cooper +published The Monnikins, a satirical work, partly with a political aim; +and in the same year appeared his American Democrat, a view of the civil +and social relations of the United States, discussing more gravely +various topics touched upon in the former work, and pointing out in what +respects he deemed the American people in their practice to have fallen +short of the excellence of their institutions. + +He found time, however, for a more genial task--that of giving to the +world his observations on foreign countries. In 1836 appeared his +Sketches of Switzerland, a series of letters in four volumes, the second +part published about two months after the first, a delightful work, +written in a more fluent and flexible style than his Notions of the +Americans. The first part of Gleanings in Europe, giving an account of +his residence in France, followed in the same year; and the second part +of the same work, containing his observations on England, was published +in April, 1837. In these works, forming a series of eight volumes, he +relates and describes with much of the same distinctness as in his +novels; and his remarks on the manners and institutions of the different +countries, often sagacious, and always peculiarly his own, derive, from +their frequent reference to contemporary events, an historical interest. + +In 1838 appeared Homeward Bound and Home as Found, two satirical novels, +in which Cooper held up to ridicule a certain class of conductors of the +newspaper press in America. These works had not the good fortune to +become popular. Cooper did not, and, because he was too deeply in +earnest, perhaps would not, infuse into his satirical works that gaiety +without which satire becomes wearisome. I believe, however, that if they +had been written by anybody else they would have met with more favor; +but the world knew that Cooper was able to give them something better, +and would not be satisfied with anything short of his best, Some +childishly imagined that because, in the two works I have just +mentioned, a newspaper editor is introduced, in whose character almost +every possible vice of his profession is made to find a place, Cooper +intended an indiscriminate attack upon the whole body of writers for the +newspaper press, forgetting that such a portraiture was a satire only on +those to whom it bore a likeness We have become less sensitive and more +reasonable of late, and the monthly periodicals make sport for their +readers of the follies and ignorance of the newspaper editors, without +awakening the slightest resentment; but Cooper led the way in this sort +of discipline, and I remember some instances of towering indignation at +his audacity expressed in the journals of that time. + +The next year Cooper made his appearance before the public in a new +department of writing; his Naval History of the United States was +brought out in two octavo volumes at Philadelphia, by Carey and Lea. In +writing his stories of the sea, his attention had been much turned to +this subject, and his mind filled with striking incidents from +expeditions and battles in which our naval commanders had been engaged. +This made his task the lighter; but he gathered his materials with great +industry, and with a conscientious attention to exactness, for he was +not a man to take a fact for granted, or allow imagination to usurp the +place of inquiry He digested our naval annals into a narrative, written +with spirit it is true, but with that air of sincere dealing which the +reader willingly takes as a pledge of its authenticity. + +An abridgment of the work was afterwards prepared and published by the +author. The Edinburgh Review, in an article professing to examine the +statements both of Cooper's work and of The History of the English Navy, +written by Mr. James, a surgeon by profession, made a violent attack +upon the American historian. Unfortunately, it took James's narrative as +its sole guide, and followed it implicitly. Cooper replied in the +Democratic Review for January, 1840, and by a masterly analysis of his +statements, convicting James of self-contradiction in almost every +particular in which he differed from himself, refuted both James and the +reviewer. It was a refutation which admitted of no rejoinder. + +Scarce anything in Cooper's life was so remarkable, or so strikingly +illustrated his character, as his contest with the newspaper press. He +engaged in it after provocations, many and long endured, and prosecuted +it through years with great energy, perseverance, and practical +dexterity, till he was left master of the field. In what I am about to +say of it, I hope I shall not give offence to any one, as I shall speak +without the slightest malevolence towards those with whom he waged this +controversy. Over some of them, as over their renowned adversary, the +grave has now closed. Yet where shall the truth be spoken, if not beside +the grave? + +I have already alluded to the principal causes which provoked the +newspaper attacks upon Cooper. If he had never meddled with questions of +government on either side of the Atlantic, and never satirized the +newspaper press, I have little doubt that he would have been spared +these attacks. I cannot, however, ascribe them all, or even the greater +part of them, to personal malignity. One journal followed the example of +another, with little reflection, I think, in most cases, till it became +a sort of fashion, not merely to decry his works, but to arraign his +motives. + +It is related that, in 1832, while he was at Paris, an article was shown +him in an American newspaper, purporting to be a criticism on one of his +works, but reflecting with much asperity on his personal character. "I +care nothing," he is reported to have said, "for the criticism, but I am +not indifferent to the slander. If these attacks on my character should +be kept up five years after my return to America, I shall resort to the +New York courts for protection." He gave the newspaper press of this +state the full period of forbearance on which he had fixed, but finding +that forbearance seemed to encourage assault, he sought redress in the +courts of law. + +When these litigations were first begun, I recollect it seemed to me +that Cooper had taken a step which would give him a great deal of +trouble, and effect but little good. I said to myself-- + +"Alas! Leviathan is not so tamed!" + +As he proceeded, however, I saw that he had understood the matter better +than I. He put a hook into the nose of this huge monster, wallowing in +his inky pool and bespattering the passers-by; he dragged him to the +land and made him tractable. One suit followed another; one editor was +sued, I think half-a-dozen times; some of them found themselves under a +second indictment before the first was tried. In vindicating himself to +his reader, against the charge of publishing one libel, the angry +journalist often floundered into another. The occasions of these +prosecutions seem to have been always carefully considered, for Cooper +was almost uniformly successful in obtaining verdicts. In a letter of +his, written in February, 1843, about five years, I think, from the +commencement of the first prosecutions, he says, "I have beaten every +man I have sued, who has not retracted his libels." + +In one of these suits, commenced against the late William L. Stone of +the Commercial Advertiser, and referred to the arbitration of three +distinguished lawyers, he argued himself the question of the +authenticity of his account of the battle of Lake Erie, which was the +matter in dispute. I listened to his opening; it was clear, skilful, and +persuasive, but his closing argument was said to be splendidly eloquent. +"I have heard nothing like it," said a barrister to me, "since the days +of Emmet." + +Cooper behaved liberally towards his antagonists, so far as pecuniary +damages were concerned, though some of them wholly escaped their payment +by bankruptcy. After, I believe, about, six years of litigation, the +newspaper press gradually subsided into a pacific disposition towards +its adversary, and the contest closed with the account of pecuniary +profit and loss, so far as he was concerned, nearly balanced. The +occasion of these suits was far from honorable to those who provoked +them, but the result was I had almost said, creditable to all parties; +to him, as the courageous prosecutor, to the administration of justice +in this country, and to the docility of the newspaper press, which he +had disciplined into good manners. + +It was while he was in the midst of these litigations, that he +published, in 1840, the Pathfinder. People had begun to think of him as +a controversialist, acute, keen, and persevering, occupied with his +personal wrongs and schemes of attack and defence. They were startled +from this estimate of his character by the moral duty of that glorious +work--I must so call it; by the vividness and force of its delineations, +by the unspoiled love of nature apparent in every page, and by the fresh +and warm emotions which everywhere gave life to the narrative and the +dialogue. Cooper was now in his fifty-first year, but nothing which he +had produced in the earlier part of his literary life was written with +so much of what might seem the generous fervor of youth, or showed the +faculty of invention in higher vigor. I recollect that near the time of +its appearance I was informed of an observation made upon it by one +highly distinguished in the literature of our country and of the age, +between whom and the author an unhappy coolness had for some years +existed. As he finished the reading of the Pathfinder, he exclaimed, +"They may say what they will of Cooper; the man who wrote this book is +not only a great man, but a good man." + +The readers of the Pathfinder were quickly reconciled to the fourth +appearance of Leatherstocking, when they saw him made to act a different +part from any which the author had hitherto assigned him--when they saw +him shown as a lover, and placed in the midst of associations which +invested his character with a higher and more affecting heroism. In this +work are two female characters, portrayed in a masterly manner,--the +corporal's daughter, Mabel Dunham, generous, resolute, yet womanly, and +the young Indian woman, called by her tribe the Dew of June, a +personification of female truth, affection, and sympathy, with a strong +aboriginal cast, yet a product of nature as bright and pure as that from +which she is named. + +Mercedes of Castile, published near the close of the same year, has none +of the stronger characteristics of Cooper's genius; but in the +Deerslayer, which appeared in 1841, another of his Leatherstocking +tales, he gave us a work rivalling the Pathfinder. Leatherstocking is +brought before us in his early youth, in the first exercise of that keen +sagacity which is blended so harmoniously with a simple and ingenuous +goodness. The two daughters of the retired freebooter dwelling on the +Otsego lake, inspire scarcely less interest than the principal +personage; Judith, in the pride of her beauty and intellect, her good +impulses contending with a fatal love of admiration, holding us +fascinated with a constant interest in her fate, which, with consummate +skill, we are permitted rather to conjecture than to know; and Hetty, +scarcely less beautiful in person, weak-minded, but wise in the midst, +of that weakness beyond the wisdom of the loftiest intellect, through +the power of conscience and religion. The character of Hetty would have +been a hazardous experiment in feebler hands, but in his it was +admirably successful. + +The Two Admirals and Wing-and-Wing were given to the public in 1842, +both of them taking a high rank among Cooper's sea-tales. The first of +these is a sort of naval epic in prose; the flight and chase of armed +vessels hold us in breathless suspense, and the sea-fights are described +with a terrible power. In the later sea-tales of Cooper, it seems to me +that the mastery with which he makes his grand processions of events +pass before the mind's eye is even greater than in his earlier. The next +year he published the Wyandotte or Hutted Knoll, one of his beautiful +romances of the woods, and in 1844 two more of his sea-stories, Afloat +and Ashore and Miles Wallingfordits sequel. The long series of his +nautical tales was closed by Jack Tier or the Florida Reef, published in +1848, when Cooper was in his sixtieth year, and it is as full of spirit, +energy, invention, life-like presentation of objects and events-- + +The vision and the faculty divine-- + +as anything he has written. + +Let me pause here to say that Cooper, though not a manufacturer of +verse, was in the highest sense of the word a poet; his imagination +wrought nobly and grandly, and imposed its creations on the mind of the +reader for realities. With him there was no withering, or decline, or +disuse of the poetic faculty; as he stepped downwards from the zenith of +life, no shadow or chill came over it; it was like the year of some +genial climates, a perpetual season of verdure, bloom, and fruitfulness. +As these works came out, I was rejoiced to see that he was unspoiled by +the controversies in which he had allowed, himself to become engaged; +that they had not given to these better expressions of his genius, any +tinge of misanthropy, or appearance of contracting and closing +sympathies any trace of an interest in his fellow-beings less large and +free than in his earlier works. + +Before the, appearance of his Jack Tier, Cooper published, in 1845 and +the following year, a series of novels relating to the Anti-rent +question, in which he took great interest. He thought that the +disposition manifested in certain quarters to make con cessions, to what +he deemed a denial of the rights of property was a first step in a most +dangerous path. To discourage this disposition, he wrote Satanstoe, The +Chainbearer, and The Redskins. They are didactic in their design, and +want the freedom of invention which belongs to Cooper's best novels; but +if they had been written by anybody but Cooper,--by a member of +Congress, for example, or an eminent politician of any class,--they +would have made his reputation. It was said, I am told, by a +distinguished jurist of our state, that they entitled the author to as +high a place in law as his other works had won for him in literature. + +I had thought, in meditating the plan of this discourse, to mention all +the works of Mr. Cooper, but the length to which I have found it +extending has induced me to pass over several written in the last ten +years of his life, and to confine myself to those which best illustrate +his literary character. The last of his novels was The Ways of the Hour, +a work in which the objections he entertained to the trial by jury in +civil causes were stated in the form of a narrative. + +It is a voluminous catalogue--that of Cooper's published works--but it +comprises not all he wrote. He committed to the fire, without remorse, +many of the fruits of his literary industry. It was understood, some +years since, that he had a work ready for the press on the Middle States +of the Union, principally illustrative of their social history; but it +has not been found among his manuscripts, and the presumption is that he +must have destroyed it. He had planned a work on the Towns of Manhattan, +for the publication of which he made arrangements with Mr. Putnam of +this city, and a part of which, already written, was in press at the +time of his death. The printed part has since been destroyed by fire, +but a portion of the manuscript was recovered. The work, I learn, will +be completed by one of the family, who, within a few years past, has +earned an honorable name among the authors of our country. Great as was +the number of his works, and great as was the favor with which they were +received, the pecuniary rewards of his success were far less than has +been generally supposed--scarcely, as I am informed, a tenth part of +what the common rumor made them. His fame was infinitely the largest +acknowledgment which this most successful of American authors received +for his labors. + +The Ways of the Hour appeared in 1850. At this time his personal +appearance was remarkable. He seemed in perfect health, and in the +highest energy and activity of his faculties. I have scarcely seen any +man at that period of life on whom his years sat more lightly. His +conversation had lost none of its liveliness, though it seemed somewhat +more genial and forbearing in tone, and his spirits none of their +elasticity. He was contemplating, I have since been told, another +Leatherstocking tale, deeming that he had not yet exhausted the +character; and those who consider what new resources it yielded him in +the Pathfinder and the Deerslayer, will readily conclude that he was not +mistaken. + +The disease, however, by which he was removed, was even then impending +over him, and not long afterwards his friends here were grieved to learn +that his health was declining. He came to New York so changed that they +looked at him with sorrow, and after a stay of some weeks, partly for +the benefits of medical advice returned to Cooperstown, to leave it no +more. His complaint gradually gained strength, subdued a constitution +originally robust, and finally passed into a confirmed dropsy. In +August, 1851, he was visited by his excellent and learned friend, Dr. +Francis, a member of the weekly club which he had founded in the early +part of his literary career. He found him bearing the sufferings of his +disease with manly firmness, gave him such medical counsels as the +malady appeared to require, prepared him delicately for its fatal +termination, and returned to New York with the most melancholy +anticipations. In a few days afterwards, Cooper expired, amid the deep +affliction of his family, on the 14th of September, the day before that +on which he should have completed his sixty-second year. He died, +apparently without pain, in peace and religious hope. The relations of +man to his Maker, and to that state of being for which the present is +but a preparation, had occupied much of his thoughts during his whole +lifetime, and he crossed, with a serene composure, the mysterious +boundary which divides this life from the next. + +The departure of such a man, in the full strength of his faculties,--on +whom the country had for thirty years looked as one of the permanent +ornaments of its literature, and whose name had been so often associated +with praise, with renown, with controversy, with blame, but never with +death,--diffused a universal awe. It was as if an earthquake had shaken +the ground on which we stood, and showed the grave opening by our path. +In the general grief for his loss, his virtues only were remembered; and +his failings forgotten. + +Of his failings I have said little; such as he had were obvious to all +the world; they lay on the surface of his character; those who knew him +least made the most account of them. With a character so made up of +positive qualities--a character so independent and uncompromising, and +with a sensitiveness far more acute than he was willing to acknowledge, +it is not surprising that occasions frequently arose to bring him, +sometimes into friendly collision, and sometimes in to graver +disagreements and misunderstandings with his fellow-men. For his +infirmities, his friends found an ample counterpoise in the generous +sincerity of his nature. He never thought of disguising his opinions, +and he abhorred all disguise in others; he did not even deign to use +that show of regard towards those of whom he did not think well, which +the world tolerates, and almost demands. A manly expression of opinion, +however different from his own, commanded his respect. Of his own works, +he spoke with the same freedom as of the works of others; and never +hesitated to express his judgment of a book for the reason that it was +written by himself: yet he could bear with gentleness any dissent from +the estimate lie placed on his own writings. His character was like the +bark of the cinnamon, a rough and astringent rind without, and an +intense sweetness within. Those who penetrated below the surface found a +genial temper, warm affections, and a heart with ample place for his +friends, their pursuits, their good name, their welfare. They found him +a philanthropist, though not precisely after the fashion of the day; a +religious man, most devout where devotion is most apt to be a feeling +rather than a custom, in the household circle; hospitable, and to the +extent of his means liberal-handed in acts of charity. They found, also, +that though in general he would as soon have thought of giving up an old +friend as of giving up an opinion, he was not proof against testimony, +and could part with a mistaken opinion as one parts with an old friend +who has been proved faithless and unworthy. In short, Cooper was one of +those who, to be loved, must be intimately known. + +Of his literary character I have spoken largely in the narrative of his +life, but there are yet one or two remarks which must be made to do it +justice. In that way of writing in which he excelled, it seems to me +that he united, in a pre-eminent degree, those qualities which enabled +him to interest the largest number of readers. He wrote not for the +fastidious, the over-refined, the morbidly delicate; for these find in +his genius something too robust for their liking--something by which +their sensibilities are too rudely shaken; but he wrote for mankind at +large--for men and women in the ordinary healthful state of feeling--and +in their admiration he found his reward. It is for this class that +public libraries are obliged to provide themselves with an extraordinary +number of copies of his works: the number in the Mercantile Library in +this city, I am told, is forty. Hence it is, that he has earned a fame, +wider, I think, than any author of modern times--wider, certainly, than +any author, of any age, ever enjoyed in his lifetime. All his +excellences are translatable--they pass readily into languages the least +allied in their genius to that in which he wrote, and in them he touches +the heart and kindles the imagination with the same power as in the +original English. + +Cooper was not wholly without humor; it is sometimes found lurking in +the dialogue of Harvey Birch, and of Leatherstocking but it forms no +considerable element in his works; and if it did, it would have stood in +the way of his universal popularity; since of all qualities, it is the +most difficult to transfuse into a foreign language. Nor did the effect +he produced upon the reader depend on any grace of style which would +escape a translator of ordinary skill. With his style, it is true, he +took great pains, and in his earlier works, I am told, sometimes altered +the proofs sent from the printer so largely that they might be said to +be written over Yet he attained no special felicity, variety, or compass +of expression. His style, however, answered his purpose; it has defects, +but it is manly and clear, and stamps on the mind of the reader the +impression he desired to convey. I am not sure that some of the very +defects of Cooper's novels do not add, by a certain force of contrast, +to their power over the mind. He is long in getting at the interest of +his narrative. The progress of the plot, at first, is like that of one +of his own vessels of war, slowly, heavily, and even awkwardly working +out of a harbor. We are impatient and weary, but when the vessel is once +in the open sea, and feels the free breath of heaven in her full sheets, +our delight and admiration is all the greater at the grace, the majesty, +and power with which she divides and bears down the waves, and pursues +her course, at will, over the great waste of waters. + +Such are the works so widely read, and so universally admired, in all +the zones of the globe, and by men of every kindred and every tongue; +works which have made of those who dwell in remote latitudes, wanderers +in our forests, and observers of our manners, and have inspired them +with an interest in our history. A gentleman who had returned from +Europe just before the death of Cooper, was asked what he found the +people of the Continent doing. "They all are reading Cooper," he +answered; "in the little kingdom of Holland, with its three millions of +inhabitants, I looked into four different translations of Cooper in the +language of the country." A traveller, who has seen much of the middle +classes of Italy, lately said to me, "I found that all they knew of +America, and that was not little, they had learned from Cooper's novels; +from him they had learned the story of American liberty, and through him +they had been introduced to our Washington; they had read his works till +the shores of the Hudson, and the valleys of Westchester, and the banks +of Otsego lake, had become to them familiar ground." + +Over all the countries into whose speech this great man's works have +been rendered by the labors of their scholars, the sorrow of that loss +which we deplore is now diffusing itself. Here we lament the ornament of +our country, there they mourn the death of him who delighted the human +race. Even now, while I speak, the pulse of grief which is passing +through the nations has haply just reached some remote neighborhood; the +news of his death has been brought to some dwelling on the slopes of the +Andes, or amidst the snowy wastes of the North, and the dark-eyed damsel +of Chile, or the fair-haired maid of Norway, is sad to think that he +whose stories of heroism and true love have so often kept her for hours +from her pillow, lives no more. + +He is gone! but the creations of his genius, fixed in living words, +survive the frail material organs by which the words were first traced. +They partake of a middle nature, between the deathless mind and the +decaying body of which they are the common offspring, and are, +therefore, destined to a duration, if not eternal, yet indefinite. The +examples he has given in his glorious fictions, of heroism, honor, and +truth, of large sympathies between man and man, of all that is good, +great, and excellent, embodied in personages marked with so strong an +individuality that we place them among our friends and favorites; his +frank and generous men, his gentle and noble women, shall live through +centuries to come, and only perish with our language. I have said with +our language; but who shall say when it may be the fate of the English +language to be numbered with the extinct forms of human speech? Who +shall declare which of the present tongues of the civilized world will +survive its fellows? It may be that some one of them, more fortunate +than the rest, will long outlast them, in some undisturbed quarter of +the globe, and in the midst of a new civilization. The creations of +Cooper's genius, even now transferred to that language, may remain to be +the delight of the nations through another great cycle of centuries, +beginning after the English language and its contemporaneous form of +civilization shall have passed away. Preface to the New Edition + +This book originally owed its existence to an accident, and it was +printed under circumstances that prevented the usual supervision of the +press by the author. The consequences were many defects in plot, style, +and arrangement, that were entirely owing to precipitation and +inexperience; and quite as many faults, of another nature, that are to +be traced solely to a bad manuscript and worse proof reading. Perhaps no +novel of our times was worst printed than the first edition of this +work. More than a hundred periods were placed in the middle of +sentences, and perhaps five times that number were omitted in places +where they ought to have been inserted. It is scarcely necessary to add, +that passages were rendered obscure, and that entire paragraphs were +unintelligible. + +Most of the faults just mentioned have now been corrected, though it +would require more labor than would produce an entirely new work, to +repair all the inherent defects that are attributable to haste, and to +the awkwardness of a novice in the art of composing. In this respect, +the work and its blemishes are probably inseparable. Still, the reader +will now be better rewarded for his time, and, on the whole; the book is +much more worthy of his attention. + +It has been said that Precaution owes its existence to fortuitous +circumstances. The same causes induced its English plot, and, in a +measure, the medley of characters that no doubt will appear a mistake in +the conception. It can scarcely be said that the work was commenced with +any view to publication; and when it was finally put into a publisher's +hands, with "all its imperfections on its head," the last thought of the +writer was any expectation that it would be followed by a series of +similar tales from the same pen. + +More than this the public will feel no interest in knowing, and less +than this the author could not consent to say on presenting to the world +a reprint of a book with so few claims to notice. + + + + +Precaution. + + +Chapter I. + +"I wonder if we are to have a neighbor in the Deanery soon," inquired +Clara Moseley, addressing herself to a small party assembled in her +father's drawing-room, while standing at a window which commanded a +distant view of the house in question. + +"Oh yes," replied her brother, "the agent has let it to a Mr. Jarvis for +a couple of years, and he is to take possession this week." + +"And who is the Mr. Jarvis that is about to become so near a neighbor?" +asked Sir Edward Moseley. + +"Why, sir, I learn he has been a capital merchant; that he has retired +from business with a large fortune; that he has, like yourself, sir, an +only hope for his declining years in son, an officer in the army; and, +moreover, that he has couple of fine daughters; so, sir, he is a man of +family in one sense, at least, you see. But," dropping his voice, +"whether he is a man of family in your sense, Jane," looking at his +second sister, "is more than I could discover." + +"I hope you did not take the trouble, sir, to inquire on my account," +retorted Jane, coloring slightly with vexation at his speech. + +"Indeed I did, my dear sis, and solely on your account," replied the +laughing brother, "for you well know that no gentility, no husband; and +it's dull work to you young ladies without at least a possibility of +matrimony; as for Clara, she is----" + +Here he was stopped by his youngest sister Emily placing her hand on his +mouth, as she whispered in his ear, "John, you forget the anxiety of a +certain gentleman about a fair incognita at Bath, and a list of +inquiries concerning her lineage, and a few other indispensables." John, +in his turn, colored, and affectionately kissing the hand which kept him +silent, addressed himself to Jane, and by his vivacity and good humor +soon restored her to complacency. + +"I rejoice," said Lady Moseley, "that Sir William has found a tenant, +however; for next to occupying it himself, it is a most desirable thing +to have a good tenant in it, on account of the circle in which we live." + +"And Mr. Jarvis has the great goodness of money, by John's account," +caustically observed Mrs. Wilson, who was a sister of Sir Edward's. + +"Let me tell you, madam," cried the rector of the parish, looking around +him pleasantly, and who was pretty constant, and always a welcome +visitor in the family, "that a great deal of money is a very good thing +in itself, and that a great many very good things may be done with it." + +"Such as paying tythes, ha! doctor," cried Mr. Haughton, a gentleman of +landed property in the neighborhood, of plain exterior, but great +goodness of heart, and between whom and the rector subsisted the most +cordial good will. + +"Aye, tythes, or halves, as the baronet did here, when he forgave old +Gregson one half his rent, and his children the other." + +"Well, but, my dear," said Sir Edward to his wife, "you must not starve +our friends because we are to have a neighbor. William has stood with +the dining-room door open these five minutes--" + +Lady Moseley gave her hand to the rector, and the company followed them, +without any order, to the dinner table. + +The party assembled around the hospitable board of the baronet was +composed, besides the before-mentioned persons, of the wife of Mr. +Haughton, a woman of much good sense and modesty of deportment: their +daughter, a young lady conspicuous for nothing but good nature; and the +wife and son of the rector--the latter but lately admitted to holy +orders himself. + +The remainder of the day passed in an uninterrupted flow of pleasant +conversation, the natural consequence of a unison of opinions on all +leading questions, the parties having long known and esteemed each other +for those qualities which soonest reconcile us to the common frailties +of our nature. On parting at the usual hour, it was agreed to meet that +day week at the rectory, and the doctor, on making his bow to Lady +Moseley, observed, that he intended, in virtue of his office, to make an +early call on the Jarvis family, and that, if possible, he would +persuade them to be of the party. + +Sir Edward Moseley was descended from one of the most respectable of the +creations of his order by James, and had inherited, with many of the +virtues of his ancestor, an estate which placed him amongst the greatest +landed proprietors of the county. But, as it had been an invariable rule +never to deduct a single acre from the inheritance of the eldest son, +and the extravagance of his mother, who was the daughter of a nobleman, +had much embarrassed the affairs of his father, Sir Edward, on coming +into possession of his estate, had wisely determined to withdraw from +the gay world, by renting his house in town, and retiring altogether to +his respectable mansion, about a hundred miles from the metropolis. Here +he hoped, by a course of systematic but liberal economy, to release +himself from all embarrassments, and to make such a provision for his +younger children, the three daughters already mentioned, as he conceived +their birth entitled them to expect. Seventeen years enabled him to +accomplish this plan; and for more than eighteen months, Sir Edward had +resumed the hospitality and appearance usual in his family, and had even +promised his delighted girls to take possession, the ensuing winter, of +the house in St. James's Square. Nature had not qualified Sir Edward for +great or continued exertions, and the prudent decision he had taken to +retrieve his fortunes, was perhaps an act of as much forecast and vigor +as his talents or energy would afford; it was the step most obviously +for his interests, and the one that was safest both in its execution and +consequences, and as such it had been adopted: but, had it required a +single particle more of enterprise or calculation, it would have been +beyond his powers, and the heir might have yet labored under the +difficulties which distressed his more brilliant, but less prudent +parent. + +The baronet was warmly attached to his wife; and as she was a woman of +many valuable and no obnoxious qualities, civil and attentive by habit +to all around her, and perfectly disinterested in her attachments to her +own family, nothing in nature could partake more of perfection in the +eyes of her husband and children than the conduct of this beloved +relative. Yet Lady Moseley had her failings, however, although few were +disposed to view her errors with that severity which truth and a just +discrimination of character render necessary. Her union had been one of +love, and for a time it had been objected to by the friends of her +husband, on the score of fortune; but constancy and perseverance +prevailed, and the protracted and inconsequent opposition of his parents +had left no other effects than an aversion in the children to the +exercise of parental authority, in marrying their own descendents: an +aversion which, though common to both the worthy baronet and his wife, +was somewhat different in its two subjects. In the husband it was +quiescent; but in the wife, it was slightly shaded with the female +esprit de corps, of having her daughters comfortably established, and +that in due season. Lady Moseley was religious, but hardly pious; she +was charitable in deeds, but not always in opinions; her intentions were +pure, but neither her prejudices nor her reasoning powers suffered her +to be at all times consistent. Still few knew her that did not love her, +and none were ever heard to say aught against her breeding, her morals, +or her disposition. + +The sister of Sir Edward had been married, early in life, to an officer +in the army, who, spending much of his time abroad on service, had left +her a prey to that solicitude to which she was necessarily a prey by her +attachment to her husband. To find relief from this perpetual and life- +wearing anxiety, an invaluable friend had pointed out the only true +remedy of which her case admitted, a research into her own heart, and +the employments of active benevolence. The death of her husband, who +lost his life in battle, caused her to withdraw in a great measure from +the world, and gave time and inducement for reflections, which led to +impressions on religion that were sufficiently correct in themselves, +and indispensable as the basis of future happiness, but which became +slightly tinctured with the sternness of her vigorous mind, and +possibly, at times were more unbending than was compatible with the +comforts of this world; a fault, however, of manner, more than of +matter. Warmly attached to her brother and his children, Mrs. Wilson, +who had never been a mother herself, yielded to their earnest entreaties +to become one of the family; and although left by the late General +Wilson with a large income, ever since his death she had given up her +own establishment, and devoted most of her time to the formation of the +character of her youngest niece. Lady Moseley had submitted this child +entirely to the control of the aunt; and it was commonly thought Emily +would inherit the very handsome sum left at the disposal of the +General's widow. + +Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley possessed a large share of personal +beauty when young, and it had descended in common to all their children, +but more particularly to the two youngest daughters. Although a strong +family resemblance, both in person and character, existed between these +closely connected relatives, yet it existed with shades of distinction +that had very different effects on their conduct, and led to results +which stamped their lives with widely differing degrees of happiness. + +Between the families at Moseley Hall and the rectory, there had existed +for many years an intimacy founded on esteem and on long intercourse. +Doctor Ives was a clergyman of deep piety; and of very considerable +talents; he possessed, in addition to a moderate benefice, an +independent fortune in right of his wife, who was the only child of a +distinguished naval officer. Both were well connected, well bred, and +well disposed to their fellow creatures. They were blessed with but one +child, the young divine we have mentioned, who promised to equal his +father in all those qualities which had made the Doctor the delight of +his friends, and almost the idol of his parishioners. + +Between Francis Ives and Clara Moseley, there had been an attachment, +which had grown with their years, from childhood. He had been her +companion in their youthful recreations, had espoused her little +quarrels, and participated in her innocent pleasures, for so many years, +and with such an evident preference for each other in the youthful pair, +that, on leaving college to enter on the studies of his sacred calling +with his father, Francis rightly judged that none other would make his +future life as happy, as the mild, the tender, the unassuming Clara. +Their passion, if so gentle a feeling deserve the term, received the +sanction of their parents, and the two families waited only for the +establishment of the young divine, to perfect the union. + +The retirement of Sir Edward's family had been uniform, with the +exception of an occasional visit to an aged uncle of his wife's, and +who, in return, spent much of his time with them at the Hall, and who +had openly declared his intention of making the children of Lady Moseley +his heirs. The visits of Mr. Benfield were always hailed with joy, and +as an event that called for more than ordinary gaiety; for, although +rough in manner, and somewhat infirm from years, the old bachelor, who +was rather addicted to the customs in which he had indulged in his +youth, and was fond of dwelling on the scenes of former days, was +universally beloved where he was intimately known, for an unbounded +though eccentric philanthropy. + +The illness of the mother-in-law of Mrs. Wilson had called her to Bath +the winter preceding the spring when our history commences, and she had +been accompanied thither by her nephew and favorite niece. John and +Emily, during the month of their residence in that city, were in the +practice of making daily excursions in its environs. It was in one of +these little drives that they were of accidental service to a very young +and very beautiful woman, apparently in low health. They had taken her +up in their carriage, and conveyed her to a farm-house where she +resided, during a faintness which had come over her in a walk; and her +beauty, air, and manner, altogether so different from those around her, +had interested them both to a painful degree. They had ventured to call +the following day to inquire after her welfare, and this visit led to a +slight intercourse, which continued for the fortnight they remained +there. + +John had given himself some trouble to ascertain who she was, but in +vain. They could merely learn that her life was blameless, that she saw +no one but themselves, and her dialect raised a suspicion that she was +not English, It was to this unknown fair Emily alluded in her playful +attempt to stop the heedless rattle of her brother, who was not always +restrained from uttering what he thought by a proper regard for the +feelings of others. + + + +Chapter II. + +The morning succeeding the day of the dinner at the Hall, Mrs. Wilson, +with all her nieces and her nephew, availed herself of the fineness of +the weather to walk to the rectory, where they were all in the habit of +making informal and friendly visits. They had just got out of the little +village of B----, which lay in their route, when a rather handsome +travelling carriage and four passed them, and took the road which led to +the Deanery. + +"As I live," cried John, "there go our new neighbors the Jarvis's; yes, +yes, that must be the old merchant muffled up in the corner; I mistook +him at first for a pile of bandboxes; then the rosy-cheeked lady, with +so many feathers, must be the old lady--heaven forgive me, Mrs. Jarvis I +mean--aye, and the two others the belles." + +"You are in a hurry to pronounce them belles, John," said Jane, +pettishly; "it would be well to see more of them before you speak so +decidedly." + +"Oh!" replied John, "I have seen enough of them, and"--he was +interrupted by the whirling of a tilbury and tandem followed by a couple +of servants on horseback. All about this vehicle and its masters bore +the stamp of decided fashion; and our party had followed it with their +eyes for a short distance, when, having reached a fork in the roads, it +stopped, and evidently waited the coming up of the pedestrians, as if to +make an inquiry. A single glance of the eye was sufficient to apprise +the gentleman on the cushion (who held the reins) of the kind of people +he had to deal with, and stepping from his carriage, he met them with a +graceful bow, and after handsomely apologizing for the trouble he was +giving, he desired to know which road led to the Deanery. "The right," +replied John, returning his salutation. + +"Ask them, Colonel," cried the charioteer, "whether the old gentleman +went right or not." + +The Colonel, in the manner of a perfect gentleman, but with a look of +compassion for his companion's want of tact, made the desired inquiry; +which being satisfactorily answered, he again bowed and was retiring, as +one of several pointers who followed the cavalcade sprang upon Jane, and +soiled her walking dress with his dirty feet. + +"Come hither, Dido," cried the Colonel, hastening to beat the dog back +from the young lady; and again he apologized in the same collected and +handsome manner, then turning to one of the servants, he said, "call in +the dog, sir," and rejoined his companion. The air of this gentleman was +peculiarly pleasant; it would not have been difficult to pronounce him a +soldier had he not been addressed as such by his younger and certainly +less polished companion. The Colonel was apparently about thirty, and of +extremely handsome face and figure, while his driving friend appeared +several years younger, and of altogether different materials. + +"I wonder," said Jane, as they turned a corner which hid them from view, +"who they are?" + +"Who they are?" cried the brother, "why the Jarvis's to be sure; didn't +you hear them ask the road to the Deanery? + +"Oh! the one that drove, he may be a Jarvis, but not the gentleman who +spoke to us--surely not, John; besides, he was called Colonel, you +know." + +"Yes, yes," said John, with one of his quizzing expressions, "Colonel +Jarvis, that must be the alderman; they are commonly colonels of city +volunteers: yes, that must have been the old gem'mun who spoke to us, +and I was right after all about the bandboxes." + +"You forget," said Clara, smiling, "the polite inquiry concerning the +old gem'mun." + +"Ah! true; who the deuce can this Colonel be then, for young Jarvis is +only a captain, I know; who do you think he is, Jane?" + +"How do you think I can tell you, John? But whoever he is, he owns the +tilbury, although he did not drive it; and he is a gentleman both by +birth and manners." + +"Why, Jane, if you know so much of him, you should know more; but it is +all guess with you." + +"No; it is not guess--I am certain of what I say." + +The aunt and sisters, who had taken little interest in the dialogue, +looked at her with some surprise, which John observing, he exclaimed, +"Poh: she knows no more than we all know." + +"Indeed I do." + +"Poh, poh, if you know, tell." + +"Why, the arms were different." + +John laughed as he said, "That is a good reason, sure enough, for the +tilbury's being the colonel's property; but now for his blood; how did +you discover that, sis--by his gait and actions, as we say of horses?" + +Jane colored a little, and laughed faintly. "The arms on the tilbury had +six quarterings." + +Emily now laughed, and Mrs. Wilson and Clara smiled while John continued +his teazing until they reached the rectory. + +While chatting with the doctor and his wife, Francis returned from his +morning ride, and told them the Jarvis family had arrived; he had +witnessed an unpleasant accident to a gig, in which were Captain Jarvis, +and a friend, a Colonel Egerton; it had been awkwardly driven in turning +into the Deanery gate, and upset: the colonel received some injury to +his ankle, nothing, however, serious he hoped, but such as to put him +under the care of the young ladies, probably, for a few days. After the +exclamations which usually follow such details, Jane ventured to inquire +who Colonel Egerton was. + +"I understood at the time, from one of the servants, that he is a nephew +of Sir Edgar Egerton, and a lieutenant-colonel on half-pay, or furlough, +or some such thing." + +"How did he bear his misfortune, Mr. Francis?" inquired Mrs. Wilson. + +"Certainly as a gentleman, madam, if not as a Christian," replied the +young clergyman, slily smiling; "indeed, most men of gallantry would, I +believe, rejoice in an accident which drew forth so much sympathy as +both the Miss Jarvis's manifested." + +"How fortunate you should all happen to be near!" said the tender- +hearted Clara. + +"Are the young ladies pretty?" asked Jane, with something of hesitation +in her manner. + +"Why, I rather think they are; but I took very little notice of their +appearance, as the colonel was really in evident pain." + +"This, then," cried the doctor, "affords me an additional excuse for +calling on them at an early day, so I'll e'en go to-morrow." + +"I trust Doctor Ives wants no apologies for performing his duty," said +Mrs. Wilson. + +"He is fond of making them, though," said Mrs. Ives, speaking with a +benevolent smile, and for the first time in the little conversation. + +It was then arranged that the rector should make his official visit, as +intended by himself; and on his report, the ladies would act. After +remaining at the rectory an hour, they returned to the hall, attended by +Francis. + +The next day the doctor drove in, and informed them the Jarvis family +were happily settled, and the colonel in no danger, excepting from the +fascinations of the two young ladies, who took such palpable care of him +that he wanted for nothing, and they might drive over whenever they +pleased, without fear of intruding unseasonably. + +Mr. Jarvis received his guests with the frankness of good feelings, if +not with the polish of high life; while his wife, who seldom thought of +the former, would have been mortally offended with the person who could +have suggested that she omitted any of the elegancies of the latter. Her +daughters were rather pretty, but wanted, both in appearance and manner, +the inexpressible air of haut ton which so eminently distinguished the +easy but polished deportment of Colonel Egerton, whom they found +reclining on a sofa with his leg on a chair, amply secured in numerous +bandages, but unable to rise. Notwithstanding the awkwardness of his +situation, he was by far the least discomposed person of the party, and +having pleasantly excused himself, he appeared to think no more of the +matter. + +The captain, Mrs. Jarvis remarked, had gone out with his dogs to try the +grounds around them, "for he seems to live only with his horses and his +gun: young men, my lady, nowadays, appear to forget that there are any +things in the world but themselves; now I told Harry that your ladyship +and daughters would favor us with a call this morning--but no: there he +went, as if Mr. Jarvis was unable to buy us a dinner, and we should all +starve but for his quails and pheasants." + +"Quails and pheasants," cried John, in consternation, "does Captain +Jarvis shoot quails and pheasants at this time of the year?" + +"Mrs. Jarvis, sir," said Colonel Egerton, with a correcting smile, +"understands the allegiance due from us gentlemen to the ladies, better +than the rules of sporting; my friend, the captain, has taken his +fishing rod, I believe." + +"It is all one, fish or birds," continued Mrs. Jarvis, "he is out of the +way when he is wanted, and I believe we can buy fish as easily as birds; +I wish he would take pattern after yourself, colonel, in these matters." + +Colonel Egerton laughed pleasantly, but he did not blush; and Miss +Jarvis observed, with a look, of something like admiration thrown on his +reclining figure, "that when Harry had been in the army as long as his +friend, he would know the usages of good society, she hoped, as well." + +"Yes," said her mother, "the army is certainly the place to polish a +young man;" and turning to Mrs. Wilson, she abruptly added, "Your +husband, I believe, was in the army, ma'am?" + +"I hope," said Emily hastily, "that we shall have the pleasure of seeing +you soon, Miss Jarvis, at the Hall," preventing by her promptitude the +necessity of a reply from her aunt. The young lady promised to make an +early visit, and the subject changed to a general and uninteresting +discourse on the neighborhood, the country, the weather, and other +ordinary topics. + +"Now, John," cried Jane in triumph, as they drove from the door, "you +must acknowledge my heraldic witchcraft, as you are pleased to call it, +is right for once at least." + +"Oh! no doubt, Jenny," said John, who was accustomed to use that +appellation to her as a provocation, when he wished what he called an +enlivening scene; but Mrs. Wilson put a damper on his hopes by a remark +to his mother, and the habitual respect of both the combatants kept them +silent. + +Jane Moseley was endowed by nature with an excellent understanding, one +at least equal to that of her brother, but the wanted the more essential +requisites of a well governed mind. Masters had been provided by Sir +Edward for all his daughters, and if they were not acquainted with the +usual acquirements of young women in their rank of life, it was not his +fault: his system of economy had not embraced a denial of opportunity to +any of his children, and the baronet was apt to think all was done, when +they were put where all might be done. Feeling herself and parents +entitled to enter into all the gaieties and splendors of some of the +richer families in their vicinity, Jane, who had grown up during the +temporary eclipse of Sir Edward's fortunes, had sought that self- +consolation so common to people in her situation, which was to be found +in reviewing the former grandeur of her house, and she had thus +contracted a degree of family pride. If Clara's weaknesses were less +striking than those of Jane, it was because she had less imagination, +and because that in loving Francis Ives she had so long admired a +character, where so little was to be found that could be censured, that +she might be said to have contracted a habit of judging correctly, +without being able at all times to give a reason for her conduct or her +opinions. + + + +Chapter III. + +The day fixed for one of the stated visits of Mr. Benfield had now +arrived, and John, with Emily, who was the old bachelor's favorite +niece, went in the baronet's post-chaise to the town of F----, a +distance of twenty miles, to meet him, in order to accompany him in the +remainder of his journey to the Hall, it being a settled rule with the +old man, that his carriage horses should return to their own stables +every night, where he imagined they could alone find that comfort and +care to which their age and services gave them a claim. The day was +uncommonly pleasant, and the young people were in high spirits with the +expectation of meeting their respected relative, whose absence had been +prolonged a few days by a severe fit of the gout. + +"Now, Emily," cried John, as he settled himself comfortably by the side +of his sister in the chaise, "let me know honestly how you like the +Jarvis's, and particularly how you like the handsome colonel." + +"Then, John, honestly, I neither like nor dislike the Jarvis's or the +handsome colonel." + +"Well, then, there is no great diversity in our sentiments, as Jane +would say." + +"John!" + +"Emily!" + +"I do not like to hear you speak so disrespectfully of out sister, whom +I am sure you love as tenderly as I do myself." + +"I acknowledge my error," said the brother, taking her hand and +affectionately kissing it, "and will endeavor to offend no more; but +this Colonel Egerton, sister, is certainly a gentleman, both by blood +and in manners, as Jane"--Emily interrupted him with a laugh, which John +took very good-naturedly, repeating his remark without alluding to their +sister. + +"Yes," said Emily, "he is genteel in his deportment, if that be what you +mean; I know nothing of his family." + +"Oh, I have taken a peep into Jane's Baronetage, where find him set down +as Sir Edgar's heir." + +"There is something about him," said Emily, musing, "that I do not much +admire; he is too easy--there is no nature; I always feel afraid such +people will laugh at me as soon as my back is turned, and for those very +things they seem most to admire to my face. If I might be allowed to +judge, I should say his manner wants one thing, without which no one can +be truly agreeable." + +"What's that?" + +"Sincerity." + +"Ah! that's my great recommendation; but I am afraid I shall have to +take the poacher up, with his quails and his pheasants, indeed." + +"You know the colonel explained that to be a mistake." + +"What they call explaining away; but unluckily I saw the gentleman +returning with his gun on his shoulder, and followed by a brace of +pointers." + +"There's a specimen of the colonel's manners then," said Emily, smiling; +"it will do until the truth be known." + +"And Jane, when she saw him also, praised his good nature and +consideration, in what she was pleased to call relieving the awkwardness +of my remark." + +Emily finding her brother disposed to dwell on the foibles of Jane, a +thing he was rather addicted to at times, was silent. They rode some +distance before John, who was ever as ready to atone as he was to +offend, again apologized, again promised reformation, and during the +remainder of the ride only forgot himself twice more in the same way. + +They reached F---- two hours before the lumbering coach of their uncle +drove into the yard of the inn, and had sufficient time to refresh their +own horses for the journey homewards. + +Mr. Benfield was a bachelor of eighty, but retained the personal +activity of a man of sixty. He was strongly attached to all the fashions +and opinions of his youth, during which he had sat one term in +parliament, having been a great beau and courtier in the commencement of +the reign. A disappointment in an affair of the heart drove him into +retirement; and for the last fifty years he had dwelt exclusively at a +seat he owned within forty miles of Moseley Hall, the mistress of which +was the only child of his only brother. In figure, he was tall and +spare, very erect for his years, and he faithfully preserved in his +attire, servants, carriages, and indeed everything around him, as much +of the fashions of his youth as circumstances would allow: such then was +a faint outline of the character and appearance of the old man, who, +dressed in a cocked hat, bag wig, and sword, took the offered arm of +John Moseley to alight from his coach. + +"So," cried the old gentleman, having made good his footing on the +ground, as he stopped short and stared John in the face, "you have made +out to come twenty miles to meet an old cynic, have you, sir? but I +thought I bid thee bring Emmy with thee." + +John pointed to the window, where his sister stood anxiously watching +her uncle's movements. On catching her eye, he smiled kindly, and +pursued his way into the house, talking to himself. + +"Aye, there she is indeed; I remember now, when I was a youngster, of +going with my kinsman, old Lord Gosford, to meet his sister, the Lady +Juliana, when she first came from school (this was the lady whose +infidelity had driven him from the world); and a beauty she was indeed, +something like Emmy there; only she was taller, and her eyes were black, +and her hair too, that was black; and she was not so fair as Emmy, and +she was fatter, and she stooped a little--very little; oh! they are +wonderfully alike though; don't you think they were, nephew?" he stopped +at the door of the room; while John, who in this description could not +see a resemblance, which existed nowhere but in the old man's +affections, was fain to say, "yes; but they were related, you know, +uncle, and that explains the likeness." + +"True, boy, true," said his uncle, pleased at a reason for a thing he +wished, and which flattered his propensities. He had once before told +Emily she put him in mind of his housekeeper, a woman as old as himself, +and without a tooth in her head. + +On meeting his niece, Mr. Benfield (who, like many others that feel +strongly, wore in common the affectation of indifference and +displeasure) yielded to his fondness, and folding her in his arms, +kissed her affectionately, while a tear glistened in his eye; and then +pushing her gently from him, he exclaimed, "Come, come, Emmy, don't +strangle me, don't strangle me, girl; let me live in peace the little +while I have to remain here--so," seating himself composedly in an arm +chair his niece had placed for him with a cushion, "so Anne writes me, +Sir William Harris has let the deanery." + +"Oh, yes, uncle," cried John. + +"I'll thank you, young gentleman," said Mr. Benfield, sternly, "not to +interrupt me when I am speaking to a lady that is, if you please, sir. +Then Sir William has let the deanery to a London merchant, a Mr. Jarvis. +Now I knew three people of that name; one was a hackney coachman, when I +was a member of the parliament of this realm, and drove me often to the +house; the other was valet-de-chambre to my Lord Gosford; and the third, +I take it, is the very man who has become your neighbor. If it be the +person I mean, Emmy dear, he is like--like--aye, very like old Peter, my +steward." + +John, unable to contain his mirth at this discovery of a likeness +between the prototype of Mr. Benfield himself in leanness of figure, and +the jolly rotundity of the merchant, was obliged to leave the room; +Emily, though she could not forbear smiling at the comparison, quietly +said, "You will meet him to-morrow, dear uncle, and then you will be +able to judge for yourself." + +"Yes, yes," muttered the old man, "very like old Peter, my steward; as +like as two peas." The parallel was by no means as ridiculous as might +be supposed; its history being as follows: + +Mr. Benfield had placed twenty thousand pounds in the hands of a broker, +with positive orders for him to pay it away immediately for government +stock, bought by the former on his account; but disregarding this +injunction, the broker had managed the transaction in such a way as to +postpone the payment, until, on his failure, he had given up that and a +much larger sum to Mr. Jarvis, to satisfy what he called an honorary +debt. In elucidating the transaction Mr. Jarvis paid Benfield Lodge a +visit, and honestly restored the bachelor his property. This act, and +the high opinion he entertained of Mrs. Wilson, with his unbounded love +for Emily, were the few things which prevented his believing some +dreadful judgment was about to visit this world, for its increasing +wickedness and follies. As his own steward was one of the honestest +fellows living, he had ever after fancied that there was a personal +resemblance between him and the conscientious merchant. + +The horses being ready, the old bachelor was placed carefully between +his nephew and niece, and in that manner they rode on quietly to the +Hall, the dread of accident keeping Mr. Benfield silent most of the way. +On passing, however a stately castle, about ten miles from the +termination of their ride, he began one of his speeches with, + +"Emmy, dear, does Lord Bolton come often to see you?" + +"Very seldom, sir; his employment keeps him much of his time at St. +James's, and then he has an estate in Ireland." + +"I knew his father well--he was distantly connected by marriage with my +friend Lord Gosford; you could not remember him, I suspect" (John rolled +his eyes at this suggestion of his sister's recollection of a man who +had been forty years dead); "he always voted with me in the parliament +of this realm; he was a thoroughly honest man; very much such a man to +look at as Peter Johnson, my steward: but I am told his son likes the +good things of the ministry; well, well, William Pitt was the only +minister to my mind. There was the Scotchman of whom they made a +Marquis; I never could endure him--always voted against him." + +"Right or wrong, uncle," cried John, who loved a little mischief in his +heart. + +"No, sir--right, but never wrong. Lord Gosford always voted against him +too; and do you think, jackanapes, that my friend the Earl of Gosford +and--and--myself were ever wrong? No, sir, men in my day were different +creatures from what they are now: we were never wrong, sir; we loved our +country, and had no motive for being in the wrong." + +"How was it with Lord Bute, uncle?" + +"Lord Bute, sir," cried the old man with great warmth, "was the +minister, sir--he was the minister; aye, he was the minister, sir, and +was paid for what he did." + +"But Lord Chatham, was he not the minister too?" + +Now, nothing vexed the old gentleman more than to hear William Pitt +called by his tardy honors; and yet, unwilling to give up what he +thought his political opinions, he exclaimed, with an unanswerable +positiveness of argument, + +"Billy Pitt, sir, was the minister, sir; but--but--but--he was our +minister, sir." + +Emily, unable to see her uncle agitated by such useless disputes, threw +a reproachful glance on her brother, as she observed timidly, + +"That was a glorious administration, sir, I believe." + +"Glorious indeed! Emmy dear," said the bachelor, softening with the +sound of her voice, and the recollections of his younger days, "we beat +the French everywhere--in America--in Germany;--we took--(counting on +his fingers)--we took Quebec--yes, Lord Gosford lost a cousin there; and +we took all the Canadas; and we took their fleets: there was a young man +killed in the battle between Hawke and Conflans, who was much attached +to Lady Juliana--poor soul! how much she regretted him when dead, though +she never could abide him when living--ah! she was a tender-hearted +creature!" + +Mr. Benfield, like many others, continued to love imaginary qualities in +his mistress, long after her heartless coquetry had disgusted him with +her person: a kind of feeling which springs from self-love, which finds +it necessary to seek consolation in creating beauties, that may justify +our follies to ourselves; and which often keeps alive the semblance of +the passion, when even hope, or real admiration, is extinct. + +On reaching the Hall, every one was rejoiced to see their really +affectionate and worthy relative, and the evening passed in the tranquil +enjoyment of the blessings which Providence had profusely scattered +around the family of the baronet, but which are too often hazarded by a +neglect of duty that springs from too great security, or an indolence +which renders us averse to the precaution necessary to insure their +continuance. + + + +Chapter IV. + +"You are welcome, Sir Edward," said the venerable rector, as he took the +baronet by the hand; "I was fearful a return of your rheumatism would +deprive us of this pleasure, and prevent my making you acquainted with +the new occupants of the deanery, who have consented to dine with us to- +day, and to whom I have promised, in particular, an introduction to Sir +Edward Moseley." + +"I thank you, my dear doctor," rejoined the baronet; "I have not only +come myself, but have persuaded Mr. Benfield to make one of the party; +there he comes, leaning on Emily's arm, and finding fault with Mrs. +Wilson's new-fashioned barouche, which he says has given him cold." + +The rector received the unexpected guest with the kindness of his +nature, and an inward smile at the incongruous assemblage he was likely +to have around him by the arrival of the Jarvis's, who, at that moment, +drove to his door. The introductions between the baronet and the new +comers had passed, and Miss Jarvis had made a prettily worded apology on +behalf of the colonel, who was not yet well enough to come out, but +whose politeness had insisted on their not remaining a home on his +account, as Mr. Benfield, having composedly put on his spectacles, +walked deliberately up to the place where the merchant had seated +himself, and having examined him through his glasses to his +satisfaction, took them off, and carefully wiping them, he began to talk +to himself as he put them into his pocket--"No, no; it's not Jack, the +hackney coachman, nor my Lord Gosford's gentleman, but"--cordially +holding out both hands, "it's the man who saved my twenty thousand +pounds." + +Mr. Jarvis, whom shame and embarrassment had kept silent during this +examination, exchanged greetings sincerely with his old acquaintance, +who now took a seat in silence by his side; while his wife, whose face +had begun to kindle with indignation at the commencement of the old +gentleman's soliloquy, observing that somehow or other it had not only +terminated without degradation to her spouse, but with something like +credit, turned complacently to Mrs. Ives, with an apology for the +absence of her son. + +"I cannot divine, ma'am, where he has got to; he is ever keeping us +waiting for him;" and, addressing Jane, "these military men become so +unsettled in their habits, that I often tell Harry he should never quit +the camp." + +"In Hyde Park, you should add, my dear, for he has never been in any +other," bluntly observed her husband. + +To this speech no reply was made, but it was evidently little relished +by the ladies of the family, who were a good deal jealous of the laurels +of the only hero their race had ever produced. The arrival and +introduction of the captain himself changed the discourse, which turned +on the comforts of their present residence. + +"Pray, my lady," cried the captain, who had taken a chair familiarly by +the side of the baronet's wife, "why is the house called the deanery? I +am afraid I shall be taken for a son of the church, when I invite my +friends to visit my father at the deanery." + +"But you may add, at the same time, sir, if you please," dryly remarked +Mr. Jarvis, "that it is occupied by an old man, who has been preaching +and lecturing all his life; and, like others of the trade, I believe, in +vain." + +"You must except our good friend, the doctor here, at least, sir," said +Mrs. Wilson; who, observing that her sister shrank from a familiarity +she was unused to, took upon herself the office of replying to the +captain's question: "The father of the present Sir William Harris held +that station in the church, and although the house was his private +property it took its name from the circumstance, which has been +continued ever since." + +"Is it not a droll life Sir William leads," cried Miss Jarvis, looking +at John Moseley, "riding about all summer from one watering-place to +another, and letting his house year after year in the manner he does?" + +"Sir William," said Dr. Ives, gravely, "is devoted to his daughter's +wishes; and since his accession to his title, has come into possession +of another residence in an adjoining county, which, I believe, he +retains in his own hands." + +"Are you acquainted with Miss Harris?" continued the lady, addressing +herself to Clara; though, without waiting for an answer, she added, "She +is a great belle--all the gentlemen are dying for her." + +"Or her fortune," said her sister, with a pretty toss of the head; "for +my part, I never could see anything so captivating in her, although so +much is said about her at Bath and Brighton." + +"You know her then," mildly observed Clara. + +"Why, I cannot say--we are exactly acquainted," the young lady +hesitatingly answered, coloring violently. + +"What do you mean by exactly acquainted, Sally?" put in the father with +a laugh; "did you ever speak to or were you ever in a room with her, in +your life, unless it might be at a concert or a ball?" + +The mortification of Miss Sarah was too evident for concealment, and it +happily was relieved by a summons to dinner. + +"Never, my dear child," said Mrs. Wilson to Emily, the aunt being fond +of introducing a moral from the occasional incidents of every-day life, +"never subject yourself to a similar mortification, by commenting on the +characters of those you don't know: ignorance makes you liable to great +errors; and if they should happen to be above you in life, it will only +excite their contempt, should it reach their ears, while those to whom +your remarks are made will think it envy." + +"Truth is sometimes blundered on," whispered John, who held his sister's +arm, waiting for his aunt to precede them to the dining-room. + +The merchant paid too great a compliment to the rector's dinner to think +of renewing the disagreeable conversation, and as John Moseley and the +young clergyman were seated next the two ladies, they soon forgot what, +among themselves, they would call their father's rudeness, in receiving +the attentions of a couple of remarkably agreeable young men. + +"Pray, Mr. Francis, when do you preach for us?" asked Mr. Haughton; "I'm +very anxious to hear you hold forth from the pulpit, where I have so +often heard your father with pleasure: I doubt not you will prove +orthodox, or you will be the only man, I believe, in the congregation, +the rector has left in ignorance of the theory of our religion, at +least." + +The doctor bowed to the compliment, as he replied to the question for +his son, that on the next Sunday they were to have the pleasure of +hearing Frank, who had promised to assist him on that day. + +"Any prospects of a living soon?" continued Mr. Haughton, helping +himself bountifully to a piece of plum pudding as he spoke. John Moseley +laughed aloud, and Clara blushed to the eyes, while the doctor, turning +to Sir Edward, observed with an air of interest, "Sir Edward, the living +of Bolton is vacant, and I should like exceedingly to obtain it for my +son. The advowson belongs to the Earl, who will dispose of it only to +great interest, I am afraid." + +Clara was certainly, too busily occupied in picking raisins from her +pudding to hear this remark, but accidentally stole, from under her long +eyelashes, a timid glance at her father as he replied: + +"I am sorry, my friend, I have not sufficient interest with his lordship +to apply on my own account; but he is so seldom here, we are barely +acquainted;" and the good baronet looked really concerned. + +"Clara," said Francis Ives in a low and affectionate tone, "have you +read the books I sent you?" + +Clara answered him with a smile in the negative, but promised amendment +as soon as she had leisure. + +"Do you ride much, on horseback, Mr. Moseley?" abruptly asked Miss +Sarah, turning her back on the young divine, and facing the gentleman +she addressed. John, who was now hemmed in between the sisters, replied +with a rueful expression that brought a smile into the face of Emily, +who was placed opposite to him-- + +"Yes, ma'am, and sometimes I am ridden." + +"Ridden, sir, what do you mean by that?" + +"Oh! only my aunt there occasionally gives me a lecture." + +"I understand," said the lady, pointing slily with her finger at her own +father. + +"Does it feel good?" John inquired, with a look of, great sympathy. But +the lady, who now felt awkwardly, without knowing exactly why, shook her +head in silence, and forced a faint laugh. + +"Whom have we here?" cried Captain Jarvis, who was looking out at a +window which commanded a view of the approach to the house--"the +apothecary and his attendant judging from the equipage." + +The rector threw an inquiring look on a servant, who told his master +they were strangers to him. + +"Have them shown up, doctor," cried the benevolent baronet, who loved to +see every one as happy as himself, "and give them some of your excellent +pasty, for the sake of hospitality and the credit of your cook, I beg of +you." + +As this request was politely seconded by others of the party, the rector +ordered his servants to show in the strangers. + +On opening the parlor door, a gentleman, apparently sixty years of age, +appeared, leaning on the arm of a youth of five-and-twenty. There was +sufficient resemblance between the two for the most indifferent observer +to pronounce them father and son; but the helpless debility and +emaciated figure of the former, were finely contrasted by the vigorous +health and manly beauty of the latter, who supported his venerable +parent into the room with a grace and tenderness that struck most of the +beholders with a sensation of pleasure. The doctor and Mrs. Ives rose +from their seats involuntarily, and each stood for a moment, lost in an +astonishment that was mingled with grief. Recollecting himself, the +rector grasped the extended hand of the senior in both his own, and +endeavored to utter something, but in vain. The tears followed each +other down his cheeks, as he looked on the faded and careworn figure +which stood before him; while his wife, unable to control her feelings, +sank back into a chair and wept aloud. + +Throwing open the door of an adjoining room, and retaining the hand of +the invalid, the doctor gently led the way, followed by his wife and +son. The former, having recovered from the first burst of her sorrow, +and regardless of everything else, now anxiously watched the enfeebled +step of the stranger. On reaching the door, they both turned and bowed +to the company in a manner of so much dignity, mingled with sweetness, +that all, not excepting Mr. Benfield, rose from their seats to return +the salutation. On passing from the dining parlor, the door was closed, +leaving the company standing round the table in mute astonishment and +commiseration. Not a word had been spoken, and the rector's family had +left them without apology or explanation. Francis, however soon +returned, and was followed in a few minutes by his mother, who, slightly +apologizing for her absence, turned the discourse on the approaching +Sunday, and the intention of Francis to preach on that day. The Moseleys +were too well bred to make any inquiries, and the deanery family was +afraid. Sir Edward retired at a very early hour, and was followed by the +remainder of the party. + +"Well," cried Mrs. Jarvis, as they drove from the door, "this may be +good breeding, but, for my part, I think both the doctor and Mrs. Ives +behaved very rudely, with the crying and sobbing." + +"They are nobody of much consequence," cried her eldest daughter, +casting a contemptuous glance on a plain travelling chaise which stood +before the rector's stables. + +"'Twas sickening," said Miss Sarah, with a shrug; while her father, +turning his eyes on each speaker in succession, very deliberately helped +himself to a pinch of snuff, his ordinary recourse against a family +quarrel. The curiosity of the ladies was, however, more lively than they +chose to avow and Mrs. Jarvis bade her maid go over to the rectory that +evening, with her compliments to Mrs. Ives; she had lost a lace veil, +which her maid knew, and she thought it might have been left at the +rectory. + +"And, Jones, when you are there, you can inquire of the servants; mind, +of the servants--I would not distress Mrs. Ives for the world; how Mr.-- +Mr.--what's his name--Oh!--I have forgotten his name; just bring me his +name too, Jones; and, as it may make some difference in our party, just +find out how long they stay; and--and--- any other little thing, Jones, +which can be of use, you know." + +Off went Jones, and within an hour she had returned. With an important +look, she commenced her narrative, the daughters being accidentally +present, and it might be on purpose. + +"Why, ma'am, I went across the fields, and William was good enough to go +with me; so when we got there, I rang, and they showed us into the +servants' room, and I gave my message, and the veil was not there. Why, +ma'am, there's the veil now, on the back o' that chair." + +"Very well, very well, Jones, never mind the veil," cried the impatient +mistress. + +"So, ma'am, while they were looking for the veil, I just asked one of +the maids, what company had arrived, but"--(here Jones looked very +suspicious, and shook her head ominously:) "would you think it, ma'am, +not a soul of them knew! But, ma'am, there was the doctor and his son, +praying and reading with the old gentleman the whole time--and"-- + +"And what, Jones?" + +"Why, ma'am, I expect he has been a great sinner, or he wouldn't want so +much praying just as he is about to die." + +"Die!" cried all three at once: "will he die?" + +"O yes," continued Jones, "they all agree he must die; but this praying +so much, is just like the criminals. I'm sure no honest person needs so +much praying, ma'am." + +"No, indeed," said the mother. "No, indeed," responded the daughters, as +they retired to their several rooms for the night. + + + +Chapter V. + +There is something in the season of Spring which peculiarly excites the +feelings of devotion. The dreariness of winter has passed, and with it, +the deadened affections of our nature. New life, new vigor, arises +within us, as we walk abroad and feel the genial gales of April breathe +upon us; and our hopes, our wishes, awaken with the revival of the +vegetable world. It is then that the heart, which has been impressed +with the goodness of the Creator, feels that goodness brought, as it +were, into very contact with the senses. The eye loves to wander over +the bountiful provisions nature is throwing forth in every direction for +our comfort, and fixes its gaze on the clouds, which, having lost the +chilling thinness of winter, roll in rich volumes, amidst the clear and +softened fields of azure so peculiar to the season, leading the mind +insensibly, to dwell on the things of another and a better world. It was +on such a day, that the inhabitants of B---- thronged toward the village +church, for the double purpose of pouring out their thanksgivings, and +of hearing the first efforts of their rector's son in the duties of his +sacred calling. + +Amongst the crowd whom curiosity or a better feeling had drawn forth, +were to be seen the flaring equipage of the Jarvises, and the handsome +carriages of Sir Edward Moseley and his sister. All the members of the +latter family felt a lively anxiety for the success of the young divine. +But knowing, as they well did, the strength of his native talents, the +excellence of his education, and the fervor of his piety, it was an +anxiety that partook more of hope than of fear. There was one heart, +however, amongst them, that palpitated with an emotion that hardly +admitted of control, as they approached the sacred edifice, for it had +identified itself completely with the welfare of the rector's son. There +never was a softer, truer heart, than that which now almost audibly beat +within the bosom of Clara Moseley; and she had given it to the young +divine with all its purity and truth. + +The entrance of a congregation into the sanctuary will at all times +furnish, to an attentive observer, food for much useful speculation, if +it be chastened with a proper charity for the weaknesses of others; and +most people are ignorant of the insight they are giving into their +characters and dispositions, by such an apparently trivial circumstance +as their weekly approach to the tabernacles of the Lord. Christianity, +while it chastens and amends the heart, leaves the natural powers +unaltered; and it cannot be doubted that its operation is, or ought to +be, proportionate to the abilities and opportunities of the subject of +its holy impression--"Unto whomsoever much is given, much will be +required." While we acknowledge, that the thoughts might be better +employed in preparing for those humiliations of the spirit and +thanksgiving of the heart which are required of all, and are so +necessary to all, we must be indulged in a hasty view of some of the +personages of our history, as they entered the church of B----. + +On the countenance of the baronet, was the dignity and composure of a +mind at peace with itself and mankind. His step was rather more +deliberate than common; his eye rested on the pavement, and on turning +into his pew, as he prepared to kneel, in the first humble petition of +our beautiful service, he raised it towards the altar with an expression +of benevolence and reverence, that spoke contentment, not unmixed with +faith. + +In the demeanor of Lady Moseley, all was graceful and decent, while +nothing could be properly said to be studied. She followed her husband +with a step of equal deliberation, though it was slightly varied by a +manner which, while it appeared natural to herself, might have been +artificial in another: a cambric handkerchief concealed her face as she +sank composedly by the side of Sir Edward, in a style which showed, that +while she remembered her Maker, she had not entirely forgotten herself. + +The walk of Mrs. Wilson was quicker than that of her sister. Her eye, +directed before her, was fixed, as if in settled gaze, on that eternity +which she was approaching. The lines of her contemplative face were +unaltered, unless there might be traced a deeper shade of humility than +was ordinarily seen on her pale, but expressive countenance: her +petition was long; and on rising from her humble posture, the person was +indeed to be seen, but the soul appeared absorbed in contemplations +beyond the limits of this sphere. + +There was a restlessness and varying of color, in the ordinarily placid +Clara, which prevented a display of her usual manner; while Jane walked +gracefully, and with a tincture of her mother's manner, by her side. She +stole one hastily withdrawn glance to the deanery pew ere she kneeled, +and then, on rising, handed her smelling-bottle affectionately to her +elder sister. + +Emily glided behind her companions with a face beaming with a look of +innocence and love. As she sank in the act of supplication, the rich +glow of her healthful cheek lost some of its brilliancy; but, on rising, +it beamed with a renewed lustre, that plainly indicated a heart touched +with the sanctity of its situation. + +In the composed and sedate manner of Mr. Jarvis, as he steadily pursued +his way to the pew of Sir William Harris, you might have been justified +in expecting the entrance of another Sir Edward Moseley in substance, if +not in externals. But the deliberate separation of the flaps of his +coat, as he comfortably seated himself, when you thought him about to +kneel, followed by a pinch of snuff as he threw his eye around the +building, led you at once to conjecture, that what at first had been +mistaken for reverence, was the abstraction of some earthly calculation; +and that his attendance was in compliance with custom, and not a little +depended upon the thickness of his cushions, and the room he found for +the disposition of two rather unwieldy legs. + +The ladies of the family followed, in garments carefully selected for +the advantageous display of their persons. As they sailed into their +seats, where it would seem the improvidence of Sir William's steward had +neglected some important accommodation (some time being spent in +preparation to be seated), the old lady, whose size and flesh really put +kneeling out of the question, bent forward for a moment at an angle of +eighty with the horizon, while her daughters prettily bowed their heads, +with all proper precaution for the safety of their superb millinery. + +At length the rector, accompanied by his son, appeared from the vestry. +There was a dignity and solemnity in the manner in which this pious +divine entered on the duties of his profession, which disposed the heart +to listen with reverence and humility to precepts that were accompanied +with so impressive an exterior. The stillness of expectation pervaded +the church, when the pew opener led the way to the same interesting +father and son whose entrance had interrupted the guests the preceding +day, at the rectory. Every eye was turned on the emaciated parent, +bending into the grave, and, as it were, kept from it by the supporting +tenderness of his child. Hastily throwing open the door of her own pew, +Mrs. Ives buried her face in her handkerchief; and her husband had +proceeded far in the morning service before she raised it again to the +view of the congregation. In the voice of the rector, there was an +unusual softness and tremor that his people attributed to the feelings +of a father about to witness the first efforts of an only child, but +which in reality were owing to another and a deeper cause. + +Prayers were ended, and the younger Ives ascended the pulpit. For a +moment he paused; when, casting an anxious glance to the pew of the +baronet, he commenced his sermon. He had chosen for his discourse the +necessity of placing our dependence on divine grace. After having +learnedly, but in the most unaffected manner, displayed the necessity of +this dependence, as derived from revelation, he proceeded to paint the +hope, the resignation, the felicity of a Christian's death-bed. Warmed +by the subject, his animation soon lent a heightened interest to his +language; and at a moment when all around him were entranced by the +eloquence of the youthful divine, a sudden and deep-drawn sigh drew +every eye to the rector's pew. The younger stranger sat motionless as a +statue, holding in his arms the lifeless body of his parent, who had +fallen that moment a corpse by his side. All was now confusion: the +almost insensible young man was relieved from his burden; and, led by +the rector, they left the church. The congregation dispersed in silence, +or assembled in little groups, to converse on the awful event they had +witnessed. None knew the deceased; he was the rector's friend, and to +his residence the body was removed. The young man was evidently his +child; but here all information ended. They had arrived in a private +chaise, but with post horses, and without attendants. Their arrival at +the parsonage was detailed by the Jarvis ladies with a few exaggerations +that gave additional interest to the whole event, and which, by creating +an impression with some whom gentler feelings would not have restrained, +that there was something of mystery about them, prevented many +distressing questions to the Ives's, that the baronet's family forbore +putting, on the score of delicacy. The body left B---- at the close of +the week, accompanied by Francis Ives and the unweariedly attentive and +interesting son. The doctor and his wife went into deep mourning, and +Clara received a short note from her lover, on the morning of their +departure, acquainting her with his intended absence for a month, but +throwing no light upon the affair. The London papers, however, contained +the following obituary notice, and which, as it could refer to no other +person, as a matter of course, was supposed to allude to the rector's +friend. + +"Died, suddenly, at B----, on the 20th instant, George Denbigh, Esq., +aged 63." + + + +Chapter VI. + +During the week of mourning, the intercourse between Moseley Hall and +the rectory was confined to messages and notes of inquiry after each +other's welfare: but the visit of the Moseleys to the deanery had been +returned; and the day after the appearance of the obituary paragraph, +the family of the latter dined by invitation at the Hall. Colonel +Egerton had recovered the use of his leg, and was included in the party. +Between this gentleman and Mr. Benfield there appeared, from the first +moment of their introduction, a repugnance which was rather increased by +time, and which the old gentleman manifested by a demeanor loaded with +the overstrained ceremony of the day, and which, in the colonel, only +showed itself by avoiding, when possible, all intercourse with the +object of his aversion. Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley, on the +contrary, were not slow in manifesting their favorable impressions in +behalf of the gentleman. The latter, in particular, having ascertained +to her satisfaction that he was the undoubted heir to the title, and +most probably to the estates of his uncle, Sir Edgar Egerton, felt +herself strongly disposed to encourage an acquaintance she found so +agreeable, and to which she could see no reasonable objection. Captain +Jarvis, who was extremely offensive to her, from his vulgar familiarity, +she barely tolerated, from the necessity of being civil, and keeping up +sociability in the neighborhood. It is true, she could not help being +surprised that a gentleman, as polished as the colonel, could find any +pleasure in an associate like his friend, or even in the hardly more +softened females of his family; then again, the flattering suggestion +would present itself, that possibly he might have seen Emily at Bath, or +Jane elsewhere, and availed himself of the acquaintance of young Jarvis +to get into their neighborhood. Lady Moseley had never been vain, or +much interested about the disposal of her own person, previously to her +attachment to her husband: but her daughters called forth not a little +of her natural pride--we had almost said of her selfishness. + +The attentions of the colonel were of the most delicate and insinuating +kind; and Mrs. Wilson several times turned away in displeasure at +herself, for listening with too much satisfaction to nothings, uttered +in an agreeable manner, or, what was worse, false sentiments supported +with the gloss of language and a fascinating deportment. The anxiety of +this lady on behalf of Emily kept her ever on the alert, when chance, or +any chain of circumstances, threw her in the way of forming new +connexions of any kind; and of late, as her charge approached the period +of life her sex were apt to make that choice from which there is no +retreat, her solicitude to examine the characters of the men who +approached her was really painful. As to Lady Moseley, her wishes +disposed her to be easily satisfied, and her mind naturally shrank from +an investigation to which she felt herself unequal; while Mrs. Wilson +was governed by the convictions of a sound discretion, matured by long +and deep reasoning, all acting on a temper at all times ardent, and a +watchfulness calculated to endure to the end. + +"Pray, my lady," said Mrs. Jarvis, with a look of something like +importance, "have you made any discovery about this Mr. Denbigh, who +died in the church lately?" + +"I did not know, ma'am," replied Lady Moseley, "there was any discovery +to be made." + +"You know, Lady Moseley," said Colonel Egerton, "that in town, all the +little accompaniments of such a melancholy death would have found their +way into the prints; and I suppose this is what Mrs. Jarvis alludes to." + +"Oh yes," cried Mrs. Jarvis, "the colonel is right." But the colonel was +always right with that lady. + +Lady Moseley bowed her head with dignity, and the colonel had too much +tact to pursue the conversation; but the captain, whom nothing had ever +yet abashed, exclaimed, + +"These Denbighs could not be people of much importance--I have never +heard the name before." + +"It is the family name of the Duke of Derwent, I believe," dryly +remarked Sir Edward. + +"Oh, I am sure neither the old man nor his son looked much like a duke, +or so much as an officer either," exclaimed Mrs. Jarvis, who thought the +latter rank the dignity in degree next below nobility. + +"There sat, in the parliament of this realm, when I was a member, a +General Denbigh," said Mr. Benfield, with his usual deliberation; "he +was always on the same side with Lord Gosford and myself. He and his +friend, Sir Peter Howell, who was the admiral that took the French +squadron, in the glorious administration of Billy Pitt, and afterwards +took an island with this same General Denbigh: aye, the old admiral was +a hearty blade; a good deal such a looking man as my Hector would make." + +Hector was Mr. Benfield's bull dog. + +"Mercy," whispered John to Clara, "that's your grandfather that is to be +uncle Benfield is speaking of." + +Clara smiled, as she ventured to say, "Sir Peter was Mrs. Ives's father, +sir." + +"Indeed!" said the old gentleman, with a look of surprise, "I never knew +that before; I cannot say they resemble each other much." + +"Pray, uncle, does Frank look much like the family?" asked John, with an +air of unconquerable gravity. + +"But, sir," interrupted Emily, "were General Denbigh and Admiral Howell +related?" + +"Not that I ever knew, Emmy dear. Sir Frederick Denbigh did not look +much like the admiral; he rather resembled (gathering himself up into an +air of formality, and bowing stiffly to Colonel Egerton) this gentleman, +here." + +"I have not the honor of the connexion," observed the colonel, +withdrawing behind the chair of Jane. + +Mrs. Wilson changed the conversation to one more general; but the little +that had fallen from Mr. Benfield gave reason for believing a connexion, +in some way of which they were ignorant, existed between the descendants +of the two veterans, and which explained the interest they felt in each +other. + +During dinner, Colonel Egerton placed himself next to Emily, and Miss +Jarvis took the chair on the other side. He spoke of the gay world, of +watering-places, novels, plays, and still finding his companion +reserved, and either unwilling or unable to talk freely, he tried his +favorite sentiment. He had read poetry, and a remark of his lighted up a +spark of intelligence in the beautiful face of his companion that for a +moment deceived him; but as he went on to point out his favorite +beauties, it gave place to a settled composure, which at last led him to +imagine the casket contained no gem equal to the promise of its +brilliant exterior. After resting from one of his most labored displays +of feeling and imagery, he accidentally caught the eyes of Jane fastened +on him with an expression of no dubious import, and the soldier changed +his battery. In Jane he found a more willing auditor; poetry was the +food she lived on, and in works of the imagination she found her +greatest delight. An animated discussion of the merits of their favorite +authors now took place; to renew which, the colonel early left the +dining-room for the society of the ladies; John, who disliked drinking +excessively, being happy of an excuse to attend him. + +The younger ladies had clustered together round a window and even Emily +in her heart rejoiced that the gentlemen had come to relieve herself and +sisters from the arduous task of entertaining women who appeared not to +possess a single taste or opinion in common with themselves. + +"You were saying, Miss Moseley," observed the colonel in his most +agreeable manner, as he approached them, "you thought Campbell the most +musical poet we have; I hope you will unite with me in excepting Moore." + +Jane colored, as with some awkwardness she replied, "Moore was certainly +very poetical." + +"Has Moore written much?" innocently asked Emily. + +"Not half as much as he ought," cried Miss Jarvis. "Oh! I could live on +his beautiful lines." + +Jane turned away in disgust; and that evening, while alone with Clara, +she took a volume of Moore's songs, and very coolly consigned them to +the flames. Her sister naturally asked an explanation of so +extraordinary a procedure. + +"Oh!" cried Jane, "I can't abide the book, since that vulgar Miss Jarvis +speaks of it with so much interest. I really believe aunt Wilson is +right in not suffering Emily to read such things." And Jane, who had +often devoured the treacherous lines with ardor, shrank with fastidious +delicacy from the indulgence of a perverted taste, when it became +exposed, coupled with the vulgarity of unblushing audacity. + +Colonel Egerton immediately changed the subject to one less +objectionable, and spoke of a campaign he had made in Spain. He +possessed the happy faculty of giving an interest to all he advanced, +whether true or not; and as he never contradicted, or even opposed +unless to yield gracefully, when a lady was his opponent, his +conversation insensibly attracted, by putting the sex in good humor with +themselves. Such a man, aided by the powerful assistants of person and +manners, and no inconsiderable colloquial talents, Mrs. Wilson knew to +be extremely dangerous as a companion to a youthful female heart; and as +his visit was to extend to a couple of months, she resolved to +reconnoitre the state of her pupil's opinion forthwith in reference to +his merits. She had taken too much pains in forming the mind of Emily to +apprehend she would fall a victim to the eye; but she also knew that +personal grace sweetened a benevolent expression, and added force even +to the oracles of wisdom. She labored a little herself under the +disadvantage of what John called a didactic manner, and which, although +she had not the ability, or rather taste, to amend, she had yet the +sense to discern. It was the great error of Mrs. Wilson to attempt to +convince, where she might have influenced; but her ardor of temperament, +and great love of truth, kept her, as it were, tilting with the vices of +mankind, and consequently sometimes in unprofitable combat. With her +charge, however, this could never be said to be the case, Emily knew her +heart, felt her love, and revered her principles too deeply, to throw +away an admonition, or disregard a precept, that fell from lips she knew +never spoke idly or without consideration. + +John had felt tempted to push the conversation with Miss Jarvis, and he +was about to utter something rapturous respecting the melodious poison +of Little's poems, as the blue eye of Emily rested on him in the fulness +of sisterly affection and checking his love of the ridiculous, he +quietly yielded to his respect for the innocence of his sisters; and, as +if eager to draw the attention of all from the hateful subject, he put +question after question to Egerton concerning the Spaniards and their +customs. + +"Did you ever meet Lord Pendennyss in Spain, Colonel Egerton?" inquired +Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + +"Never, madam," he replied. "I have much reason to regret that our +service lay in different parts of the country: his lordship was much +with the duke, and I made the campaign under Marshal Beresford." + +Emily left the group at the window, and taking a seat on the sofa by the +side of her aunt, insensibly led her to forget the gloomy thoughts which +had begun to steal over her; which the colonel, approaching where they +sat, continued, by asking-- + +"Are you acquainted with the earl, madam?" + +"Not in person, but by character," said Mrs. Wilson, in a melancholy +manner. + +"His character as a soldier was very high. He had no superior of his +years in Spain, I am told." + +No reply was made to this remark, and Emily endeavored anxiously to draw +the mind of her aunt to reflections of a more agreeable nature. The +colonel, whose vigilance to please was ever on the alert, kindly aided +her, and they soon succeeded. + +The merchant withdrew, with his family and guest, in proper season: and +Mrs. Wilson, heedful of her duty, took the opportunity of a quarter of +an hour's privacy in her own dressing-room in the evening, to touch +gently on the subject of the gentlemen they had seen that day. + +"How are you pleased, Emily, with your new acquaintances?" familiarly +commenced Mrs. Wilson. + +"Oh! aunt, don't ask me; as John says, they are net indeed." + +"I am not sorry," continued the aunt, "to have you observe more closely +than you have been used to the manners of such women as the Jarvises; +they are too abrupt and unpleasant to create a dread of any imitation; +but the gentlemen are heroes in very different styles." + +"Different from each other, indeed." + +"To which do you give the preference, my dear?" + +"Preference, aunt!" said her niece, with a look of astonishment; +"preference is a strong word for either; but I rather think the captain +the most eligible companion of the two. I do believe you see the worst +of him; and although I acknowledge it to be bad enough, he might amend; +but the colonel"-- + +"Go on," said Mrs. Wilson. + +"Why, everything about the colonel seems so seated, so ingrafted in his +nature, so--so very self-satisfied, that I am afraid it would be a +difficult task to take the first step in amendment--to convince him of +its necessity? + +"And is it then so necessary?" + +Emily looked up from arranging some laces, with an expression of +surprise, as he replied: + +"Did you not hear him talk of those poems, and attempt to point out the +beauties of several works? I thought everything he uttered was referred +to taste, and that not a very natural one; at least," she added with a +laugh, "it differed greatly from mine. He seemed to forget altogether +there was such a thing as principle: and then he spoke of some woman to +Jane, who had left her father for her lover, with so much admiration of +her feelings, to take up with poverty and love, as he called it, in +place of condemning her want of filial piety--I am sure, aunt, if you +had heard that, you would not admire him so much." + +"I do not admire him at all, child; I only want to know your sentiments, +and I am happy to find them so correct. It is as you think; Colonel +Egerton appears to refer nothing to principle: even the more generous +feelings I am afraid are corrupted in him, from too low intercourse with +the surface of society. There is by far too much pliability about him +for principle of any kind, unless indeed it be a principle to please, no +matter how. No one, who has deeply seated opinions of right and wrong, +will ever abandon them, even in the courtesies of polite intercourse: +they may be silent but never acquiescent: in short, my dear, the dread +of offending our Maker ought to be so superior to that of offending our +fellow creatures, that we should endeavor, I believe, to be even more +unbending to the follies of the world than we are." + +"And yet the colonel is what they call a good companion--I mean a +pleasant one." + +"In the ordinary meaning of the words, he is certainly, my dear; yet you +soon tire of sentiments which will not stand the test of examination, +and of a manner you cannot but see is artificial. He may do very well +for a companion, but very ill for a friend; in short, Colonel Egerton +has neither been satisfied to yield to his natural impressions, nor to +obtain new ones from a proper source; he has copied from bad models, and +his work must necessarily be imperfect." + +Kissing her niece, Mrs. Wilson then retired into her own room, with the +happy assurance that she had not labored in vain; but that, with divine +aid, she had implanted a guide in the bosom of her charge that could not +fail, with ordinary care, to lead her straight through the devious path +of female duties. + + + +Chapter VII. + +A month now passed in the ordinary occupations and amusements of a +country life, during which both Lady Moseley and Jane manifested a +desire to keep up the deanery acquaintance, that surprised Emily a +little, who had ever seen her mother shrink from communications with +those whose breeding subjected her own delicacy, to the little shocks +she could but ill conceal. In Jane this desire was still more +inexplicable; for Jane had, in a decided way very common to her, avowed +her disgust of the manners of their new associates at the commencement +of the acquaintance; and yet Jane would now even quit her own society +for that of Miss Jarvis, especially if Colonel Egerton happened to be of +the party. The innocence of Emily prevented her scanning the motives for +the conduct of her sister; and she set seriously about an examination +into her own deportment to find the latent cause, in order, wherever an +opportunity should offer, to evince her regret, had it been her +misfortune, to have erred by the tenderness of her own manner. + +For a short time the colonel seemed at a loss where to make his choice; +but a few days determined him, and Jane was evidently the favorite. It +is true, that in the presence of the Jarvis ladies he was more guarded +and general in his attentions; but as John, from a motive of charity, +had taken the direction of the captain's sports into his own hands; and +as they were in the frequent habit of meeting at the Hall preparatory to +their morning excursion, the colonel suddenly became a sportsman. The +ladies would often accompany them in their morning excursions; and as +John would certainly be a baronet, and the colonel might not if his +uncle married, he had the comfort of being sometimes ridden, as well as +of riding. + +One morning, having all prepared for an excursion on horseback, as they +stood at the door ready to mount, Francis Ives drove up in his father's +gig, and for a moment arrested the party. Francis was a favorite with +the whole Moseley family, and their greetings were warm and sincere. He +found they meant to take the rectory in their ride, and insisted that +they should proceed. "Clara would take a seat with him." As he spoke, +the cast of his countenance brought the color into the cheeks of his +intended; she suffered herself, however, to be handed into the vacant +seat in the gig, and they moved on. John, who was at the bottom good- +natured, and loved both Francis and Clara very sincerely, soon set +Captain Jarvis and his sister what he called "scrub racing," and +necessity, in some measure, compelled the rest of the equestrians to +hard riding, in order to keep up with the sports. + +"That will do, that will do," cried John, casting his eye back, and +perceiving they had lost sight of the gig, and nearly so of Colonel +Egerton and Jane, "why you carry it off like a jockey, captain; better +than any amateur I have ever seen, unless indeed it be your sister." + +The lady encouraged by his commendations, whipped on, followed by her +brother and sister at half speed. + +"There, Emily," said John, quietly dropping by her side "I see no reason +you and I should break our necks, to show the blood of our horses. Now +do you know I think we are going to have a wedding in the family soon?" + +Emily looked at him in amazement. + +"Frank has got a living; I saw it the moment he drove up. He came in +like somebody. Yes, I dare say he has calculated the tithes already a +dozen times." + +John was right. The Earl of Bolton had, unsolicited, given him the +desired living of his own parish; and Francis was at the moment pressing +the blushing Clara to fix the day that was to put a period to his long +probation. Clara, who had not a particle of coquetry about her, promised +to be his as soon as he was inducted, an event that was to take place +the following week; and then followed those delightful little +arrangements and plans with which youthful hope is so fond of filling up +the void of life. + +"Doctor," said John, as he came out of the rectory to assist Clara from +the gig, "the parson here is a careful driver; see, he has not turned a +hair." + +He kissed the burning cheek of his sister as she touched the ground, and +whispered significantly. + +"You need tell me nothing, my dear--I know all--I consent." + +Mrs. Ives folded her future daughter to her bosom; and the benevolent +smile of the good rector, together with the kind and affectionate manner +of her sisters, assured Clara the approaching nuptials were anticipated, +as a matter of course. Colonel Egerton offered his compliments to +Francis on his preferment to the living, with the polish of high +breeding, and not without an appearance of interest; and Emily thought +him for the first time as handsome as he was generally reputed to be. +The ladies undertook to say something civil in their turn, and John put +the captain, by a hint, on the same track. + +"You are quite lucky, sir," said the captain, "in getting so good a +living with so little trouble; I wish you joy of it with all my heart: +Mr. Moseley tells me it is a capital thing now for a gentleman of your +profession. For my part. I prefer a scarlet coat to a black one, but +there must be parsons you know, or how should we get married or say +grace?" + +Francis thanked him for his good wishes, and Egerton paid a handsome +compliment to the liberality of the earl; "he doubted not he found that +gratification which always attends a disinterested act;" and Jane +applauded the sentiment with a smile. + +The baronet, when he was made acquainted with the situation of affairs, +promised Francis that no unnecessary delay should intervene, and the +marriage was happily arranged for the following week. Lady Moseley, when +she retired to the drawing-room after dinner, commenced a recital of the +ceremony and company to be invited on the occasion. Etiquette and the +decencies of life were not only the forte, but the fault of this lady; +and she had gone on to the enumeration of about the fortieth personage +in the ceremonials, before Clara found courage to say, that "Mr. Ives +and myself both wish to be married at the altar, and to proceed to +Bolton Rectory immediately after the ceremony." To this her mother +warmly objected; and argument and respectful remonstrance had followed +each other for some time, before Clara submitted in silence, with +difficulty restraining her tears. This appeal to the better feelings of +the mother triumphed; and the love of parade yielded to love of her +offspring. Clara, with a lightened heart, kissed and thanked her, and +accompanied by Emily left the room; Jane had risen to follow them, but +catching a glimpse of the tilbury of Colonel Egerton she reseated +herself. + +He had merely driven over at the earnest entreaties of the ladies to beg +Miss Jane would accept a seat back with him; "they had some little +project on foot, and could not proceed without her assistance." + +Mrs. Wilson looked gravely at her sister, as she smiled acquiescence to +his wishes; and the daughter, who but the minute before had forgotten +there was any other person in the world but Clara, flew for her hat and +shawl, in order, as he said to herself, that the politeness of Colonel +Egerton might not keep him waiting. Lady Moseley resumed her seat by the +side of her sister with an air of great complacency, as she returned +from the window, after having seen her daughter off. For some time each +was occupied quietly with her needle, when Mrs. Wilson suddenly broke +the silence by saying: + +"Who is Colonel Egerton?" + +Lady Moseley looked up for a moment in amazement, but recollecting +herself, answered, + +"The nephew and heir of Sir Edgar Egerton, sister." + +This was spoken in a rather positive way, as if it were unanswerable; +yet as there was nothing harsh in the reply, Mrs. Wilson continued, + +"Do you not think him attentive to Jane?" + +Pleasure sparkled in the still brilliant eyes of Lady Moseley, as she +exclaimed-- + +"Do you think so?" + +"I do; and you will pardon me if I say improperly so. I think you were +wrong in suffering Jane to go with him this afternoon." + +"Why improperly, Charlotte? If Colonel Egerton is polite enough to show +Jane such attentions, should I not be wrong in rudely rejecting them?" + +"The rudeness of refusing a request that is improper to grant is a very +venial offence. I confess I think it improper to allow any attentions to +be forced on us that may subject us to disagreeable consequences; but +the attentions of Colonel Egerton are becoming marked, Anne." + +"Do you for a moment doubt their being honorable, or that he dares to +trifle with a daughter of Sir Edward Moseley?" + +"I should hope not, certainly, although it may be well to guard even +against such a misfortune. But I am of opinion it is quite as important +to know whether he is worthy to be her husband as it is to know that he +is in a situation to become so." + +"On what points, Charlotte, would you wish to be more assured? You know +his birth and probable fortune--you see his manners and disposition; but +these latter are things for Jane to decide on; she is to live with him, +and it is proper she should be suited in these respects." + +"I do not deny his fortune or his disposition, but I complain that we +give him credit for the last, and for still more important requisites, +without evidence of his possessing any of them. His principles, his +habits, his very character, what do we know of them? I say we, for you +know, Anne, your children are as dear to me as my own would have been." + +"I believe you sincerely, but the things you mention are points for Jane +to decide on. If she be pleased, I have no right to complain. I am +determined never to control the affections of my children." + +"Had you said, never to force the affections of your children, you would +have said enough, Anne; but to control, or rather to guide the +affections of a child, especially a daughter, is, in some cases, a duty +as imperative as it would be to avert any other impending calamity. +Surely the proper time to do this is before the affections of the child +are likely to endanger her peace of mind." + +"I have seldom seen much good result from the interference of parents," +said Lady Moseley, a little pertinaciously. + +"True; for to be of use, unless in extraordinary cases, it should not be +seen. You will pardon me, Anne, but I have often thought parents are too +often in extremes--determined to make the election for their children, +or leaving them entirely to their own vanity and inexperience, to govern +not only their own lives, but, I may say, to leave an impression on +future generations. And, after all, what is this love? In nineteen cases +in twenty of what we call affairs of the heart, it would be better to +term them affairs of the imagination." + +"And is there not a great deal of imagination in all love?" inquired +Lady Moseley, smiling. + +"Undoubtedly, there is some; but there is one important difference: in +affairs of the imagination, the admired object is gifted with all those +qualities we esteem, as a matter of course, and there is a certain set +of females who are ever ready to bestow this admiration on any applicant +for their favors who may not be strikingly objectionable. The necessity +of being courted makes our sex rather too much disposed to admire +improper suitors." + +"But how do you distinguish affairs of the heart, Charlotte, from those +of the fancy?" + +"When the heart takes the lead, it is not difficult to detect it. Such +sentiments generally follow long intercourse, and opportunities of +judging the real character. They are the only attachments that are +likely to stand the test of worldly trials." + +"Suppose Emily to be the object of Colonel Egerton's pursuit, then, +sister, in what manner would you proceed to destroy the influence I +acknowledge he is gaining over Jane?" + +"I cannot suppose such a case," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely; and then, +observing that her sister looked as if she required an explanation, she +continued-- + +"My attention has been directed to the forming of such principles, and +such a taste, if I may use the expression, under those principles, that +I feel no apprehension Emily will ever allow her affections to be +ensnared by a man of the opinions and views of Colonel Egerton. I am +impressed with a twofold duty in watching the feelings of my charge. She +has so much singleness of heart, such real strength of native feeling, +that, should an improper man gain possession of her affections, the +struggle between her duty and her love would be weighty indeed; and +should it proceed so far as to make it her duty to love an unworthy +object, I am sure she would sink under it. Emily would die in the same +circumstances under which Jane would only awake from a dream, and be +wretched." + +"I thought you entertained a better opinion of Jane, sister," said Lady +Moseley, reproachfully. + +"I think her admirably calculated to make an invaluable wife and mother; +but she is so much under the influence of her fancy, that she seldom +gives her heart an opportunity of displaying its excellences; and again, +she dwells so much upon imaginary perfections, that adulation has become +necessary to her. The man who flatters her delicately will be sure to +win her esteem; and every woman might love the being possessed of the +qualities she will not fail to endow him with." + +"I do not know that I rightly understand how you would avert all these +sad consequences of improvident affections?" said Lady Moseley. + +"Prevention is better than cure--I would first implant such opinions as +would lessen the danger of intercourse; and as for particular attentions +from improper objects, it should be my care to prevent them, by +prohibiting, or rather impeding, the intimacy which might give rise to +them. And least of all," said Mrs. Wilson, with a friendly smile, as she +rose to leave the room, "would I suffer a fear of being impolite to +endanger the happiness of a young woman intrusted to my care." + + + +Chapter +VIII. + +Francis, who labored with the ardor of a lover, soon completed the +necessary arrangements and alterations in his new parsonage. The living +was a good one, and as the rector was enabled to make a very +considerable annual allowance from the private fortune his wife had +brought him, and as Sir Edward had twenty thousand pounds in the funds +for each of his daughters, one portion of which was immediately settled +on Clara, the youthful couple had not only a sufficient, but an abundant +provision for their station in life; and they entered on their +matrimonial duties with as good a prospect of happiness as the ills of +this world can give to health, affection, and competency. Their union +had been deferred by Dr. Ives until his son was established, with a view +to keep him under his own direction during the critical period of his +first impressions in the priesthood; and as no objection now remained, +or rather, the only one he ever felt was removed by the proximity of +Bolton to his own parish, he now joyfully united the lovers at the altar +of the village church, in the presence of his wife and Clara's immediate +relatives. On leaving the church Francis handed his bride into his own +carriage, which conveyed them to their new residence, amidst the good +wishes of his parishioners, and the prayers of their relatives and +friends. Dr. and Mrs. Ives retired to the rectory, to the sober +enjoyment of the felicity of their only child; while the baronet and his +lady felt a gloom that belied all the wishes of the latter for the +establishment of her daughters. Jane and Emily acted as bridesmaids to +their sister, and as both the former and her mother had insisted there +should be two groomsmen as a counterpoise, John was empowered with a +carte-blanche to make a provision accordingly. At first he intimated his +intention of calling on Mr. Benfield, but he finally settled down, to +the no small mortification of the before-mentioned ladies, into writing +a note to his kinsman, Lord Chatterton, whose residence was then in +London, and who in reply, after expressing his sincere regret that an +accident would prevent his having the pleasure of attending, stated the +intention of his mother and two sisters to pay them an early visit of +congratulation, as soon as his own health would allow of his travelling. +This answer arrived only the day preceding that fixed for the wedding, +and at the very moment they were expecting his lordship in proper +person. + +"There," cried Jane, in triumph, "I told you it was silly to send so far +on so sudden an occasion; now, after all, what is to be done--it will be +so awkward when Clara's friends call to see her--Oh! John, John, you are +a Marplot." + +"Jenny, Jenny, you are a make-plot," said John, coolly taking up his hat +to leave the room. + +"Which way, my son?" said the baronet, who met him at the door. + +"To the deanery, sir, to try to get Captain Jarvis to act as bridesmaid- +-I beg his pardon, groomsman, to-morrow--Chatterton has been thrown from +a horse and can't come.'' + +"John!" + +"Jenny!" + +"I am sure," said Jane, indignation glowing in her pretty face, "that if +Captain Jarvis is to be an attendant, Clara must excuse my acting. I do +not choose to be associated with Captain Jarvis." + +"John," said his mother, with dignity, "your trifling is unseasonable; +certainly Colonel Egerton is a more fitting person on every account, and +I desire, under present circumstances, that you ask the colonel." + +"Your ladyship's wishes are orders to me," said John, gaily kissing his +hand as he left the room. + +The colonel was but too happy in having it in his power to be of service +in any manner to a gentleman he respected as much as Mr. Francis Ives. +He accepted the duty, and was the only person present at the ceremony +who did not stand within the bonds of consanguinity to the parties. He +was invited by the baronet to dine at the hall, as a matter of course, +and notwithstanding the repeated injunctions of Mrs. Jarvis and her +daughters, to return immediately with an account of the dress of the +bride, and with other important items of a similar nature, the +invitation was accepted. On reaching the hall, Emily retired immediately +to her own room, and at her reappearance when the dinner bell rang, the +paleness of her cheeks and the redness of her eyes afforded sufficient +proof that the translation of a companion from her own to another family +was an event, however happy in itself, not unmingled with grief. The +day, however, passed off tolerably well for people who are expected to +be premeditatedly happy, and when, in their hearts, they are really more +disposed to weep than to laugh. Jane and the colonel had most of the +conversation to themselves during dinner: even the joyous and +thoughtless John wearing his gaiety in a less graceful manner than +usual. He was actually detected by his aunt in looking with moistened +eyes at the vacant chair a servant had, from habit, placed at the table, +in the spot where Clara had been accustomed to sit. + +"This beef is not done, Saunders," said the baronet to his butler, "or +my appetite is not as good as usual to-day. Colonel Egerton, will you +allow me the pleasure of a glass of sherry?" + +The wine was drunk, and the game succeeded the beef; but still Sir +Edward could not eat. + +"How glad Clara will be to see us all the day after to-morrow," said +Mrs. Wilson; "your new housekeepers delight in their first efforts in +entertaining their friends." + +Lady Moseley smiled through her tears, and turning to her husband said, +"We will go early, my dear, that we may see the improvements Francis has +been making before we dine." The baronet nodded assent, but his heart +was too full to speak; and apologizing to the colonel for his absence, +on the plea of some business with his people, he left the room. + +All this time, the attentions of Colonel Egerton to both mother and +daughter were of the most delicate kind. He spoke of Clara as if his +office of groomsman entitled him to an interest in her welfare; with +John he was kind and sociable; and even Mrs. Wilson acknowledged, after +he had taken his leave, that he possessed a wonderful faculty of making +himself agreeable, and she began to think that, under all circumstances, +he might possibly prove as advantageous a connexion as Jane could expect +to form. Had any one, however, proposed him as a husband for Emily, +affection would have quickened her judgment in a way that would have +urged her to a very different decision. + +Soon after the baronet left the room, a travelling carriage, with +suitable attendants, drove to the door; the sound of the wheels drew +most of the company to a window. "A baron's coronet!" cried Jane, +catching a glimpse of the ornaments of the harness. + +"The Chattertons," echoed her brother, running out of the room to meet +them. + +The mother of Sir Edward was a daughter of this family, and the sister +of the grandfather of the present lord. The connexion had always been +kept up with a show of cordiality between Sir Edward and his cousin, +although their manner of living and habits were very different. The +baron was a courtier and a placeman. His estates, which he could not +alienate, produced about ten thousand a year, but the income he could +and did spend; and the high perquisites of his situation under +government, amounting to as much more were melted away year after year, +without making the provision for his daughters that his duty and the +observance of his promise to his wife's father required at his hands. He +had been dead about two years, and his son found himself saddled with +the support of an unjointured mother and unportioned sisters. Money was +not the idol the young lord worshipped, nor even pleasure. He was +affectionate to his surviving parent, and his first act was to settle, +during his own life, two thousand a year on her, while he commenced +setting aside as much more for each of his sisters annually. This +abridged him greatly in his own expenditures; yet, as they made but one +family, and the dowager was really a managing woman in more senses than +one, they made a very tolerable figure. The son was anxious to follow +the example of Sir Edward Moseley, and give up his town house, for at +least a time; but his mother had exclaimed, with something like horror, +at the proposal: + +"Chatterton, would you give it up at the moment it can be of the most +use to us?" and she threw a glance at her daughters that would have +discovered her motive to Mrs Wilson, which was lost on her son; he, poor +soul, thinking she found it convenient to support the interest he had +been making for the place held by his father one of more emolument than +service, or even honor. The contending parties were so equally matched, +that this situation was kept, as it were, in abeyance, waiting the +arrival of some acquisition of interest to one or other of the +claimants. The interest of the peer, however, had begun to lose ground +at the period of which we speak, and his careful mother saw new motives +for activity in providing for her children. Mrs. Wilson herself could +not be more vigilant in examining the candidates for Emily's favors than +was the dowager Lady Chatterton in behalf of her daughter. It is true, +the task of the former lady was by far the most arduous, for it involved +a study of character and development of principle; while that of the +latter would have ended with the footing of a rent-roll, provided it +contained five figures. Sir Edward's was well known to contain that +number, and two of them were not ciphers. Mr. Benfield was rich, and +John Moseley was a very agreeable young man. Weddings are the season of +love, thought the prudent dowager, and Grace is extremely pretty. +Chatterton, who never refused his mother anything in his power to grant, +and who was particularly dutiful when a visit to Moseley Hall was in +question, suffered himself to be persuaded his shoulder was well, and +they had left town the day before the wedding, thinking to be in time +for all the gaieties, if not for the ceremony itself. + +There existed but little similarity between the persons and manners of +this young nobleman and the baronet's heir. The beauty of Chatterton was +almost feminine; his skin, his color, his eyes, his teeth, were such as +many a belle had sighed after; and his manners were bashful and +retiring. Yet an intimacy had commenced between the boys at school, +which ripened into friendship between the young men at college, and had +been maintained ever since, probably as much from the contrarieties of +character as from any other cause. With the baron, John was more sedate +than ordinary; with John, Chatterton found unusual animation. But a +secret charm which John held over the young peer was his profound +respect and unvarying affection for his youngest sister, Emily. This was +common ground; and no dreams of future happiness, no visions of dawning +wealth, crossed the imagination of Chatterton in which Emily was not the +fairy to give birth to the one, or the benevolent dispenser of the +hoards of the other. + +The arrival of this family was a happy relief from the oppression which +hung on the spirits of the Moseleys, and their reception marked with the +mild benevolence which belonged to the nature of the baronet, and that +impressement which so eminently distinguished the manners of his wife. + +The honorable Misses Chatterton were both handsome; but the younger was, +if possible, a softened picture of her brother. There was the same +retiring bashfulness and the same sweetness of temper as distinguished +the baron, and Grace was the peculiar favorite of Emily Moseley. Nothing +of the strained or sentimental nature which so often characterize what +is called female friendships, however, had crept into the communications +between these young women. Emily loved her sisters too well to go out of +her own family for a repository of her griefs or a partaker in her joys. +Had her life been chequered with such passions, her own sisters were too +near her own age to suffer her to think of a confidence in which the +holy ties of natural affection did not give a claim to a participation. +Mrs. Wilson had found it necessary to give her charge very different +views on many subjects from those which Jane and Clara had been suffered +to imbibe of themselves; but in no degree had she impaired the +obligations of filial piety or family concord. Emily was, if anything, +more respectful to her parents, more affectionate to her friends, than +any of her connexions; for in her the warmth of natural feeling was +heightened by an unvarying sense of duty. + +In Grace Chatterton she found, in many respects, a temper and taste +resembling her own. She therefore loved her better than others who had +equally general claims on her partiality, and as such a friend she now +received her with cordial and sincere affection. + +Jane, who had not felt satisfied with the ordering of Providence for the +disposal of her sympathies, and had long felt a restlessness that +prompted her to look abroad for a confiding spirit to whom to +communicate her--secrets she had none that delicacy would suffer her to +reveal--but to communicate her crude opinions and reflections, she had +early selected Catherine for this person. Catherine, however, had not +stood the test of trial. For a short time the love of heraldry kept them +together; but Jane, finding her companion's gusto limited to the charms +of the coronet and supporters chiefly, abandoned the attempt in despair, +and was actually on the look-out for a new candidate for the vacant +station as Colonel Egerton came into the neighborhood. A really delicate +female mind shrinks from the exposure of its love to the other sex, and +Jane began to be less anxious to form a connexion which would either +violate the sensibility of her nature, or lead to treachery to her +friend. + +"I regret extremely, Lady Moseley," said the dowager, as they entered +the drawing-room, "that the accident which befel Chatterton should have +kept us until it was too late for the ceremony: we made it a point to +hasten with our congratulations, however, as soon as Astley Cooper +thought it safe for him to travel." + +"I feel indebted for your kindness," replied the smiling hostess. "We +are always happy to have our friends around us, and none more than +yourself and family. We were fortunate in finding a friend to supply +your son's place, in order that the young people might go to the altar +in a proper manner. Lady Chatterton, allow me to present our friend, +Colonel Egerton"--adding, in a low tone, and with a little emphasis,-- +"heir to Sir Edgar." + +The colonel bowed gracefully, and the dowager dropped a hasty courtesy +at the commencement of the speech; but lower bend followed the closing +remark, and a glance of the eye was thrown in quest of her daughters, as +if she instinctively wished to bring them into what the sailors term +"the line of battle." + + + +Chapter IX. + +The following morning, Emily and Grace, declining the invitation to join +the colonel and John in their usual rides, walked to the rectory, +accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Chatterton. The ladies felt a desire to +witness the happiness that they so well knew reigned in the rectory, for +Francis had promised his father to drive Clara over in the course of the +day. Emily longed to see Clara, from whom it appeared that she had been +already separated a month. Her impatience as they approached the house +hurried her ahead of her companions, who waited the more sober gait of +Mrs. Wilson. She entered the parlor at the rectory without meeting any +one, glowing with exercise, her hair falling over her shoulders, +released from the confinement of the hat she had thrown down hastily as +she reached the door. In the room there stood a gentleman in deep black, +with his back towards the entrance, intent on a book, and she naturally +concluded it was Francis. + +"Where is dear Clara, Frank?" cried the beautiful girl, faying her hand +affectionately on his shoulder. + +The gentleman turned suddenly, and presented to her astonished gaze the +well remembered countenance of the young man whose parent's death was +not likely to be forgotten at B----. + +"I thought, sir," said Emily, almost sinking with confusion, "that Mr. +Francis Ives--" + +"Your brother 'has not yet arrived, Miss Moseley," simply replied the +stranger, who felt for her embarrassment. "But I will immediately +acquaint Mrs. Ives with your visit." Bowing, he delicately left the +room. + +Emily, who felt greatly relieved by his manner, immediately confined her +hair in its proper bounds, and had recovered her composure by the time +her aunt and friends joined her. She had not time to mention the +incident, and laughed at her own precipitation, when the rector's wife +came into the room. + +Chatterton and his sister were both known to Mrs. Ives, and both were +favorites. She was pleased to see them, and after reproaching the +brother with compelling her son to ask a favor of a comparative +stranger, she turned to Emily, and smilingly said-- + +"You found the parlor occupied, I believe?" + +"Yes," said Emily, laughing and blushing, "I suppose Mr. Denbigh told +you of my heedlessness." + +"He told me of your attention in calling so soon to inquire after Clara, +but said nothing more"--a servant just then telling her Francis wished +to see her, she excused herself and withdrew. In the door she met Mr. +Denbigh, who made way for her, saying, "your son has arrived, ma'am," +and in an easy but respectful manner he took his place with the guests, +no introduction passing, and none seeming necessary. His misfortunes +appeared to have made him acquainted with Mrs. Wilson, and his +strikingly ingenuous manner won insensibly on the confidence of those +who heard him. Everything was natural, yet everything was softened by +education; and the little party in the rector's parlor in fifteen +minutes felt as if they had known him for years. The doctor and his son +now joined them. Clara had not come, but she was looking forward in +delightful expectation of to-morrow, and wished greatly for Emily as a +guest at the new abode. This pleasure Mrs. Wilson promised she should +have as soon as they had got over the hurry of their visit; "our +friends," she added, turning to Grace, "will overlook the nicer +punctilios of ceremony, where sisterly regard calls for the discharge of +more important duties. Clara needs the society of Emily just now." + +"Certainly," said Grace, mildly; "I hope no useless ceremony on the part +of Emily would prevent her manifesting natural attachment to her sister- +-I should feel hurt at her not entertaining a better opinion of us than +to suppose so for a moment." + +"This, young ladies, is the real feeling to keep alive esteem," cried +the doctor, gaily: "go on, and say and do nothing of which either can +disapprove, when tried by the standard of duty, and you need never be +afraid of losing a friend that is worth keeping." + +It was three o'clock before the carriage of Mrs. Wilson arrived at the +rectory; and the time stole away insensibly in free and friendly +communications. Denbigh had joined modestly, and with the degree of +interest a stranger might be supposed to feel, in the occurrences of a +circle to which he was nearly a stranger; there was at times a slight +display of awkwardness, however, about both him and Mrs. Ives, for which +Mrs. Wilson easily accounted by recollections of his recent loss and the +scene they had all witnessed in that very room. This embarrassment +escaped the notice of the rest of the party. On the arrival of the +carriage, Mrs. Wilson took her leave. + +"I like this Mr. Denbigh greatly," said Lord Chatterton, as they drove +from the door; "there is something strikingly natural and winning in his +manner." + +"In his matter too, judging of the little we have seen of him," replied +Mrs. Wilson. + +"Who is he, ma'am?" + +"I rather suspect he is someway related to Mrs. Ives; her staying from +Bolton to-day must be owing to Mr. Denbigh, and as the doctor has just +gone he must be near enough to them to be neither wholly neglected nor +yet a tax upon their politeness. I rather wonder he did not go with +them." + +"I heard him tell Francis," remarked Emily, "that he could not think of +intruding, and he insisted on Mrs. Ives's going, but she had employments +to keep her at home." + +The carriage soon reached an angle in the road where the highways +between Bolton Castle and Moseley Hall intersected each other, at a +point on the estate of the former. Mrs. Wilson stopped a moment to +inquire after an aged pensioner, who had lately met with a loss in +business, which she was fearful must have greatly distressed him. In +crossing a ford in the little river between his cottage and the market- +town, the stream, which had been swollen unexpectedly higher than usual +by heavy rains, had swept away his horse and cart loaded with the entire +produce of his small field, and with much difficulty he had saved even +his own life. Mrs. Wilson had not had it in her power until this moment +to inquire particularly into the affair, or to offer the relief she was +ever ready to bestow on proper objects. Contrary to her expectations, +she found Humphreys in high spirits, showing his delighted grand- +children a new cart and horse which stood at the door, and exultingly +pointing out the excellent qualities of both. He ceased talking on the +approach of the party, and at the request of his ancient benefactress he +gave a particular account of the affair. + +"And where did you get this new cart and horse, Humphreys?" inquired +Mrs. Wilson, when he had ended. + +"Oh, madam, I went up to the castle to see the steward, and Mr. Martin +just mentioned my loss to Lord Pendennyss, ma'am, and my lord ordered me +this cart, ma'am, and this noble horse, and twenty golden guineas into +the bargain to put me on my legs again--God bless him for it, for ever!" + +"It was very kind of his lordship, indeed," said Mrs. Wilson, +thoughtfully: "I did not know he was at the castle." + +"He's gone, already, madam; the servants told me that he just called to +see the earl, on his way to Lon'on; but finding he'd went a few days +agone to Ireland my lord went for Lon'on, without stopping the night +even. Ah! madam," continued the old man, who stood leaning on a stick, +with his hat in his hand, "he's a great blessing to the poor; his +servants say he gives thousands every year to the poor who are in want-- +he is main rich, too; some people say, much richer and more great like +than the earl himself. I'm sure I have need to bless him every day of my +life." + +Mrs. Wilson smiled mournfully as she wished Humphreys good day and put +up her purse, finding the old man so well provided for; a display or +competition in charity never entering into her system of benevolence. + +"His lordship is munificent in his bounty," said Emily, as they drove +from the door. + +"Does it not savor of thoughtlessness to bestow so much where he can +know so little?" Lord Chatterton ventured to inquire. + +"He is," replied Mrs. Wilson, "as old Humphrey says, main rich; but the +son of the old man and the father of these children is a soldier in the +----th dragoons, of which the earl is colonel, and that accounts to me +for his liberality," recollecting, with a sigh, the feelings which had +drawn her out of the usual circle of her charities in the case of the +same man. + +"Did you ever see Lord Pendennyss, aunt?" + +"Never, my dear; he has been much abroad, but my letters were filled +with his praises, and I confess my disappointment is great in not seeing +him on this visit to Lord Bolton who is his relation; but," fixing her +eyes thoughtfully on her niece, "we shall meet in London this winter, I +trust." + +As she spoke a cloud passed over her features, and she continued much +absorbed in thought for the remainder of their drive. + +General Wilson had been a cavalry officer, and he commanded the very +regiment now held by Lord Pendennyss. In an excursion near the British +camp he had been rescued from captivity, if not from death, by a gallant +and timely interference of this young nobleman, then in command of a +troop in the same corps. He had mentioned the occurrence to his wife in +his letters, and from that day his correspondence was filled with the +praises of the bravery and goodness to the soldiery of his young +comrade. When he fell he had been supported from the field by, and he +actually died in the arms of the young peer. A letter announcing his +death had been received by his widow from the earl himself, and the +tender and affectionate manner in which he spoke of her husband had +taken a deep hold on her affections. All the circumstances together +threw an interest around him that had made Mrs. Wilson almost entertain +the romantic wish he might be found worthy and disposed to solicit the +hand of Emily. Her anxious inquiries into his character had been +attended with such answers as flattered her wishes; but the military +duties of the earl or his private affairs had never allowed a meeting; +and she was now compelled to look forward to what John laughingly termed +their winter campaign, as the only probable place where she could be +gratified with the sight of a young man to whom she owed so much, and +whose name was connected with some of the most tender though most +melancholy recollections of her life. + +Colonel Egerton, who now appeared to be almost domesticated in the +family, was again of the party at dinner, to the no small satisfaction +of the dowager, who from proper inquiries in the course of the day had +learned that Sir Edgar's heir was likely to have the necessary number of +figures in the sum total of his rental. While sitting in the drawing- +room that afternoon she made an attempt to bring her eldest daughter and +the elegant soldier together over a chess-board; a game the young lady +had been required to learn because it was one at which a gentleman could +be kept longer than any other without having his attention drawn away by +any of those straggling charms which might be travelling a drawing-room +"seeking whom they may devour." It was also a game admirably suited to +the display of a beautiful hand and arm. But the mother had for a long +time been puzzled to discover a way of bringing in the foot also, the +young lady being particularly remarkable for the beauty of that portion +of the frame. In vain her daughter hinted at dancing, an amusement of +which she was passionately fond. The wary mother knew too well the +effects of concentrated force to listen to the suggestion: dancing might +do for every manager, but she prided herself in acting en masse, like +Napoleon, whose tactics consisted in overwhelming by uniting his forces +on a given point. After many experiments in her own person she +endeavored to improve Catharine's manner of sitting, and by dint of +twisting and turning she contrived that her pretty foot and ankle should +be thrown forward in a way that the eye dropping from the move, should +unavoidably rest on this beauteous object; giving, as it were, a Scylla +and Charybdis to her daughter's charms. + +John Moseley was the first person on whom she undertook to try the +effect of her invention; and after comfortably seating the parties she +withdrew to a little distance to watch the effect. + +"Check to your king, Miss Chatterton," cried John, early in the game-- +and the young lady thrust out her foot. "Check to your king, Mr. +Moseley," echoed the damsel, and John's eyes wandered from hand to foot +and foot to hand. "Check king and queen, sir."--"Check-mate."--"Did you +speak?" said John. Looking up he caught the eye of the dowager fixed on +him in triumph--"Oh, ho," said the young man, internally, "Mother +Chatterton, are you playing too?" and, coolly taking up his hat, he +walked off, nor could they ever get him seated at the game again. + +"You beat me too easily, Miss Chatterton," he would say when pressed to +play, "before I have time to look up it's check-mate--excuse me." + +The dowager next settled down into a more covert attack through Grace; +but here she had two to contend with: her own forces rebelled, and the +war had been protracted to the present hour with varied success, and at +least without any material captures, on one side. + +Colonel Egerton entered on the duties of his dangerous undertaking with +the indifference of foolhardiness. The game was played with tolerable +ability by both parties; but no emotions, no absence of mind could be +discovered on the part of the gentleman. Feet and hands were in motion; +still the colonel played as well as usual; he had answers for all Jane's +questions, and smiles for his partner; but no check-mate could she +obtain, until wilfully throwing away an advantage he suffered the lady +to win the game. The dowager was satisfied nothing could be done with +the colonel. + + + +Chapter X. + +The first carriages that rolled over the lawn to Bolton parsonage, on +the succeeding day, were those of the baronet and his sister; the latter +in advance. + +"There, Francis," cried Emily, who was impatiently waiting for him to +remove some slight obstruction to her alighting, "thank you, thank you; +that will do." + +In the next moment she was in the extended arms of Clara. After pressing +each other to their bosoms for a few moments in silence, Emily looked +up, with a tear glistening in her eye, and first noticed the form of +Denbigh, who was modestly withdrawing, as if unwilling to intrude on +such pure and domestic feelings as the sisters were betraying, +unconscious of the presence of a witness. Mrs. Wilson and Jane, followed +by Miss Chatterton, now entered, and cordial salutes and greetings +flowed upon Clara from her various friends. + +The baronet's coach reached the door; it contained himself and wife, Mr. +Benfield, and Lady Chatterton. Clara stood on the portico of the +building, ready to receive them; her face all smiles, and tears, and +blushes, and her arm locked in that of Emily. + +"I wish you joy of your new abode, Mrs. Francis." Lady Moseley forgot +her form, and bursting into tears, she pressed her daughter with ardor +to her bosom. + +"Clara, my love!" said the baronet, hastily wiping his eyes, and +succeeding his wife in the embrace of their child. He kissed her, and, +pressing Francis by the hand, walked into the house in silence. + +"Well, well," cried the dowager, as she saluted her cousin, "all looks +comfortable and genteel here, upon my word, Mrs. Ives: grapery--hot- +houses--everything in good style too; and Sir Edward tells me the living +is worth a good five hundred a year." + +"So, girl, I suppose you expect a kiss," said Mr. Benfield who ascended +the steps slowly, and with difficulty. "Kissing has gone much out of +fashion lately. I remember, on the marriage of my friend, Lord Gosford, +in the year fifty-eight, that all the maids and attendants were properly +saluted in order. The lady Juliana was quite young then; not more than +fifteen: it was there I got my first salute from her--but--so--kiss me." +After which he continued, as they went into the house, "Marrying in that +day was a serious business. You might visit a lady a dozen times before +you could get a sight of her naked hand. Who's that?" stopping short, +and looking earnestly at Denbigh, who now approached them. + +"Mr. Denbigh, sir," said Clara, "my uncle, Mr. Benfield." + +"Did you ever know, sir, a gentleman of your name, who sat in the +parliament of this realm in the year sixty?" Mr. Benfield abruptly +asked, as soon as the civilities of the introduction were exchanged. +"You don't look much like him." + +"That was rather before my day, sir," said Denbigh, with a smile, +respectfully offering to relieve Clara, who supported him on one side, +while Emily held his arm on the other. + +The old gentleman was particularly averse to strangers, and Emily was in +terror lest he should say something rude; but, after examining Denbigh +again from head to foot, he took the offered arm, and coolly replied-- + +"True; very true; that was sixty years ago; you can hardly recollect as +long. Ah! Mr. Denbigh, times are sadly altered since my youth. People +who were then glad to ride on a pillion now drive their coaches; men who +thought ale a luxury, drink their port; aye! and those who went barefoot +must have their shoes and stockings, too. Luxury, sir, and the love of +ease, will ruin this mighty empire. Corruption has taken hold of +everything; the ministry buy the members, the members buy the ministry; +everything is bought and sold. Now, sir, in the parliament in which I +had the honor of a seat, there was a knot of us, as upright as posts, +sir. My Lord Gosford was one, and General Denbigh was another, although +I can't say he was much a favorite with me. You do not look in the least +like him. How was he related to you, sir?" + +"He was my grandfather," replied Denbigh, looking pleasantly at Emily, +as if to tell her he understood the character of her uncle. + +Had the old man continued his speech an hour longer, Denbigh would not +have complained. They had stopped while talking, and he thus became +confronted with the beautiful figure that supported the other arm. +Denbigh contemplated in admiration the varying countenance which now +blushed with apprehension, and now smiled in affection, or even with an +archer expression, as her uncle proceeded in his harangue on the times. +But all felicity in this world has an end, as well as misery. Denbigh +retained the recollection of that speech long after Mr. Benfield was +comfortably seated in the parlor, though for his life he could not +recollect a word he had said. + +The Haughtons, the Jarvises, and a few more of their intimate +acquaintances, arrived, and the parsonage had a busy air; but John, who +had undertaken to drive Grace Chatterton in his own phaeton, was yet +absent. Some little anxiety had begun to be manifested, when he +appeared, dashing through the gates at a great rate, and with the skill +of a member of the four-in-hand. + +Lady Chatterton had begun to be seriously uneasy, and she was about to +speak to her son to go in quest of them, as they came in sight; but now +her fears vanished, and she could only suppose that a desire to have +Grace alone could keep one who had the reputation of a Jehu so much +behind the rest of the party. She met them in great spirits, crying, + +"Upon my word, Mr. Moseley, I began to think you had taken the road to +Scotland, you stayed so long." + +"Your daughter, my Lady Chatterton," said John, pithily, "would go to +Scotland neither with me nor any other man, or I am greatly deceived in +her character. Clara, my sister, how do you do?" He saluted the bride +with great warmth and affection. + +"But what detained you, Moseley?" inquired the mother. + +"One of the horses was restive, and he broke the harness. We merely +stopped in the village while it was mended." + +"And how did Grace behave?" asked Emily, laughing. + +"Oh, a thousand times better than you would, sister; as she always does, +and like an angel." + +The only point in dispute between Emily and her brother was her want of +faith in his driving; while poor Grace, naturally timid, and unwilling +to oppose any one, particularly the gentleman who then held the reins, +had governed herself sufficiently to be silent and motionless. Indeed, +she could hardly do otherwise had she wished it, so great was his +impetuosity of character; and John felt flattered to a degree of which +he was himself unconscious. Self-complacency, aided by the merit, the +beauty, and the delicacy of the young lady herself, might have led to +the very results her mother so anxiously wished to produce, had that +mother been satisfied with letting things take their course. But +managers very generally overdo their work. + +"Grace is a good girl," said her gratified mother; "and you found her +very valiant, Mr. Moseley?" + +"Oh, as brave as Cæsar," answered John, carelessly, in a way that was +not quite free from irony. + +Grace, whose burning cheek showed but too plainly that praise from John +Moseley was an incense too powerful for her resistance, now sank back +behind some of the company, endeavoring to conceal the tears that almost +gushed from her eyes. Denbigh was a silent spectator of the whole scene, +and he now considerately observed, that he had lately seen an +improvement which would obviate the difficulty Mr. Moseley had +experienced. John turned to the speaker, and they were soon engaged in +the discussion of curbs and buckles, when the tilbury of Colonel Egerton +drove to the door, containing himself and his friend the captain. + +The bride undoubtedly received congratulations that day more sincere +than those which were now offered, but none were delivered in a more +graceful and insinuating manner than the compliments which fell from +Colonel Egerton. He passed round the room, speaking to his +acquaintances, until he arrived at the chair of Jane, who was seated +next her aunt. Here he stopped, and glancing his eye round, and saluting +with bows and smiles the remainder of the party, he appeared fixed at +the centre of all attraction. + +"There is a gentleman I think I have never seen before," he observed, to +Mrs. Wilson, casting his eyes on Denbigh, whose back was towards him in +discourse with Mr. Benfield. + +"It is Mr. Denbigh, of whom you heard us speak," replied Mrs. Wilson. +While she spoke, Denbigh faced them. Egerton started as he caught a view +of his face, and seemed to gaze on the countenance which was open to his +inspection with an earnestness that showed an interest of some kind, but +of a nature that was inexplicable to Mrs. Wilson, who was the only +observer of this singular recognition; for such it evidently was. All +was now natural in the colonel for the moment; his color sensibly +changed, and there was an expression of doubt in his face. It might be +fear, it might be horror, it might be a strong aversion; it clearly was +not love. Emily sat by her aunt, and Denbigh approached them, making a +cheerful remark. It was impossible for the colonel to avoid him had he +wished it, and he kept his ground. Mrs. Wilson thought she would try the +experiment of an introduction. + +"Colonel Egerton--Mr. Denbigh." + +Both gentlemen bowed, but nothing striking was seen in the deportment of +either. The colonel, who was not exactly at ease, said hastily-- + +"Mr. Denbigh is, or has been in the army, I believe." + +Denbigh was now taken by surprise in his turn: he cast a look on Egerton +of fixed and settled meaning; then carelessly observed, but still as if +requiring an answer: + +"I am yet; but I do not recollect having had the pleasure of meeting +with Colonel Egerton on service." + +"Your countenance is familiar, sir," replied the colonel, coldly; "but +at this moment I cannot tax my memory with the place of our meeting, +though one sees so many strange faces in a campaign, that they come and +go like shadows." + +He then changed the conversation. It was some time, however, before +either gentleman entirely recovered his ease--and many days elapsed ere +anything like intercourse passed between them. The colonel attached +himself during this visit to Jane, with occasional notices of the Misses +Jarvis, who began to manifest symptoms of uneasiness at the decided +preference he showed to a lady they now chose to look upon, in some +measure, as a rival. + +Mrs. Wilson and her charge, on the other hand, were entertained by the +conversation of Chatterton and Denbigh, relieved by occasional sallies +from the lively John. There was something in the person and manners of +Denbigh that insensibly attracted those whom chance threw in his way. +His face was not strikingly handsome, but it was noble; and when he +smiled, or was much animated, it invariably communicated a spark of his +own enthusiasm to the beholder. His figure was faultless; his air and +manner, if less easy than those of Colonel Egerton, were more sincere +and ingenuous; his breeding was clearly higher; his respect for others +rather bordering on the old school. But in his voice there existed a +charm which would make him, when he spoke, to a female ear, almost +resistless: it was soft, deep, melodious, and winning. + +"Baronet," said the rector, looking with a smile towards his son and +daughter, "I love to see my children happy, and Mrs. Ives threatens a +divorce if I go on in the manner I have commenced. She says I desert her +for Bolton." + +"Why, doctor, if our wives conspire against us, and prevent our enjoying +a comfortable dish of tea with Clara, or a glass of wine with Frank, we +must call in the higher authorities as umpires. What say you, sister? Is +a parent to desert his child in any case?" + +"My opinion is," said Mrs. Wilson, with a smile, yet speaking with +emphasis, "that a parent is not to desert a child, in any case or in any +manner." + +"Do you hear that, my Lady Moseley?" cried the good-humored baronet. + +"Do you hear that, my Lady Chatterton?" echoed John, who had just taken +a seat by Grace, when her mother approached them. + +"I hear it, but do not see the application, Mr. Moseley." + +"No, my lady! Why, there is the honorable Miss Chatterton almost dying +to play a game of her favorite chess with Mr. Denbigh. She has beaten us +all but him, and her triumph will not be complete until she has him too +at her feet." + +And as Denbigh politely offered to meet the challenge, the board was +produced, and the parties were seated. Lady Chatterton stood leaning +over her daughter's chair, with a view, however, to prevent any of those +consequences she was generally fond of seeing result from this +amusement; every measure taken by this prudent mother being literally +governed by judicious calculation. + +"Umph," thought John, as he viewed the players, while listening with +pleasure to the opinions of Grace, who had recovered her composure and +spirits; "Kate, after all, has played one game without using her feet." + + + + +Chapter XI. + +Ten days or a fortnight flew swiftly by, during which Mrs. Wilson +suffered Emily to give Clara a week, having first ascertained that +Denbigh was a settled resident at the rectory, and thereby not likely to +be oftener at the House of Francis than at the hall, where he was a +frequent and welcome guest, both on his own account and as a friend of +Doctor Ives. Emily had returned, and she brought the bride and groom +with her; when one evening as they were pleasantly seated at their +various amusements, with the ease of old acquaintances, Mr. Haughton +entered. It was at an hour rather unusual for his visits; and throwing +down his hat, after making the usual inquiries, he began without +preface-- + +"I know, good people, you are all wondering what has brought me out this +time of night, but the truth is, Lucy has coaxed her mother to persuade +me into a ball in honor of the times; so, my lady, I have consented, and +my wife and daughter have been buying up all the finery in B----, by the +way, I suppose, of anticipating their friends. There is a regiment of +foot come into barracks within fifteen miles of us, and to-morrow I must +beat up for recruits among the officers--girls are never wanting on such +occasions." + +"Why," cried the baronet, "you are growing young again, my friend." "No, +Sir Edward, but my daughter is young, and life has so many cares that I +am willing she should get rid of as many as she can at my expense." + +"Surely you would not wish her to dance them away," said Mrs. Wilson; +"such relief I am afraid will prove temporary." + +"Do you disapprove of dancing, ma'am?" said Mr. Haughton, who held her +opinions in great respect as well as a little dread. + +"I neither approve nor disapprove of it--jumping up and down is innocent +enough in itself, and if it must be done it is well it were done +gracefully; as for the accompaniments of dancing I say nothing--what do +you say, Doctor Ives?" + +"To what, my dear madam?" + +"To dancing." + +"Oh let the girls dance if they enjoy it." + +"I am glad you think so, doctor," cried the delighted Mr. Haughton; I +was afraid I recollected your advising your son never to dance nor to +play at games of chance." + +"You thought right, my friend," said the doctor, laying down his +newspaper; "I did give that advice to Frank, whom you will please to +remember is now rector of Bolton. I do not object to dancing as not +innocent in itself or as an elegant exercise; but it is like drinking, +generally carried to excess: now as a Christian I am opposed to all +excesses; the music and company lead to intemperance in the recreation, +and they often induce neglect of duties--but so may anything else." + +"I like a game of whist, doctor, greatly," said Mr. Haughton; "but +observing that you never play, and recollecting your advice to Mr. +Francis, I have forbidden cards when you are my guest." + +"I thank you for the compliment, good sir," replied the doctor, with a +smile; "still I would much rather see you play cards than hear you talk +scandal, as you sometimes do." + +"Scandal!" echoed Mr. Haughton. + +"Ay, scandal," said the doctor, coolly, "such as the remark you made the +last time, which was only yesterday, I called to see you. You accused +Sir Edward of being wrong in letting that poacher off so easily; the +baronet, you said, did not shoot himself, and did not know how to prize +game as he ought." + +"Scandal, Doctor--do you call that scandal? why I told Sir Edward so +himself, two or three times." + +"I know you did, and that was rude." + +"Rude! I hope sincerely Sir Edward has put no such construction on it?" + +The baronet smiled kindly, and shook his head. + +"Because the baronet chooses to forgive your offences, it does not alter +their nature," said the doctor, gravely: "no, you must repent and amend; +you impeached his motives for doing a benevolent act, and that I call +scandal." + +"Why, doctor, I was angry the fellow should be let loose; he is a pest +to all the game in the county, and every sportsman will tell you so-- +here, Mr. Moseley, you know Jackson, the poacher." + +"Oh! a poacher is an intolerable wretch!" cried Captain Jarvis. + +"Oh! a poacher," echoed John, looking drolly at Emily, "hang all +poachers." + +"Poacher or no poacher, does not alter the scandal," said the doctor; +"now let me tell you, good sir, I would rather play at fifty games of +whist than make one such speech, unless indeed it interfered with my +duties; now, sir, with your leave I'll explain myself as to my son. +There is an artificial levity about dancing that adds to the dignity of +no man: from some it may detract: a clergyman for instance is supposed +to have other things to do, and it might hurt him in the opinions of +those with whom his influence is necessary, and impair his usefulness; +therefore a clergyman should never dance. In the same way with cards; +they are the common instruments of gambling, and an odium is attached to +them on that account; women and clergymen must respect the prejudices of +mankind in some cases, or lose their influence in society." + +"I did hope to have the pleasure of your company, doctor, said Mr. +Haughton, hesitatingly. + +"And if it will give you pleasure," cried the rector, "you shall have it +with all my heart, good sir; it would be a greater evil to wound the +feelings of such a neighbor as Mr. Haughton, than to show my face once +at a ball," and rising, he laid his hand on the shoulder of the other +kindly. "Both your scandal and rudeness are easily forgiven; but I +wished to show you the common error of the world which has attached +odium to certain things, while it charitably overlooks others of a more +heinous nature." + +Mr. Haughton, who had at first been a little staggered with the attack +of the doctor, recovered himself, and laying a handful of notes on the +table, hoped he should have the pleasure of seeing every body. The +invitation was generally accepted, and the worthy man departed, happy if +his friends did but come, and were pleased. + +"Do you dance, Miss Moseley?" inquired Denbigh of Emily, as he sat +watching her graceful movements in netting a purse for her father. + +"Oh, yes! the doctor said nothing of us girls, you know I suppose he +thinks we have no dignity to lose." + +"Admonitions are generally thrown away on young ladies when pleasure is +in the question," said the doctor, with a look of almost paternal +affection. + +"I hope you do not seriously disapprove of it in moderation," said Mrs. +Wilson. + +"That depends, madam, upon circumstances; if it is to be made subsidiary +to envy, malice, coquetry, vanity, or any other such little lady-like +accomplishment, it certainly had better be let alone. But in moderation, +and with the feelings of my little pet here, I should be cynical, +indeed, to object." + +Denbigh appeared lost in his own ruminations during this dialogue; and +as the doctor ended, he turned to the captain, who was overlooking a +game of chess between the colonel and Jane, of which the latter had +become remarkably fond of late, playing with her hands and eyes instead +of her feet--and inquired the name of the corps in barracks at F----. + +"The ----th foot, sir," replied the captain, haughtily, who neither +respected him, owing to his want of consequence, nor loved him, from the +manner in which Emily listened to his conversation. + +"Will Miss Moseley forgive a bold request," said Denbigh, with some +hesitation. + +Emily looked up from her work in silence, but with some little +flutterings at the heart. + +"The honor of her hand for the first dance," continued Denbigh, +observing she was in expectation that he would proceed. + +Emily laughingly said, "Certainly, Mr. Denbigh, if you can submit to the +degradation." + +The London papers now came in, and most of the gentlemen sat down to +their perusal. The colonel, however, replaced the men for a second game, +and Denbigh still kept his place beside Mrs. Wilson and her niece. The +manners, the sentiments, the whole exterior of this gentleman were such +as both the taste and judgment of the aunt approved of; his qualities +were those which insensibly gained on the heart, and yet Mrs. Wilson +noticed, with a slight uneasiness, the very evident satisfaction her +niece took in his society. In Dr. Ives she had great confidence, yet Dr. +Ives was a friend, and probably judged him favorably; and again, Dr. +Ives was not to suppose he was introducing a candidate for the hand of +Emily in every gentleman he brought to the hall. Mrs. Wilson had seen +too often the ill consequences of trusting to impressions received from +inferences of companionship, not to know the only safe way was to judge +for ourselves: the opinions of others might be partial--might be +prejudiced--and many an improper connexion had been formed by listening +to the sentiments of those who spoke without interest, and consequently +without examination. Not a few matches are made by this idle +commendation of others, uttered by those who are respected, and which +are probably suggested more by a desire to please than by reflection or +even knowledge. In short Mrs. Wilson knew that as our happiness chiefly +interests ourselves, so it was to ourselves, or to those few whose +interest was equal to our own, we could only trust those important +inquiries necessary to establish a permanent opinion of character. With +Doctor Ives her communications on subjects of duty were frequent and +confiding, and although she sometimes thought his benevolence disposed +him to be rather too lenient to the faults of mankind, she entertained a +profound respect for his judgment. It had great influence with her, if +it were not always conclusive; she determined, therefore, to have an +early conversation with him on the subject so near her heart, and be in +a great measure regulated by his answers in the steps to be immediately +taken. Every day gave her what he thought melancholy proof of the ill +consequences of neglecting a duty, in the increasing intimacy of Colonel +Egerton and Jane. + +"Here, aunt," cried John, as he ran over a paper, "is a paragraph +relating to your favorite youth, our trusty and well beloved cousin the +Earl of Pendennyss." + +"Read it," said Mrs. Wilson, with an interest his name never failed to +excite. + +"We noticed to-day the equipage of the gallant Lord Pendennyss before +the gates of Annandale-house, and understand the noble earl is last from +Bolton castle, Northamptonshire." + +"A very important fact," said Captain Jarvis, sarcastically; "Colonel +Egerton and myself got as far as the village, to pay our respects to +him, when we heard he had gone on to town." + +"The earl's character, both as a man and a soldier," observed the +colonel, "gives him a claim to our attentions that his rank would not: +on that account we would have called." + +"Brother," said Mrs. Wilson, "you would oblige me greatly by asking his +lordship to waive ceremony; his visits to Bolton castle will probably be +frequent, now we have peace; and the owner is so much from home that we +may never see him without some such invitation." + +"Do you want him as a husband for Emily?" cried John, as he gaily seated +himself by the side of his sister. + +Mrs. Wilson smiled at an observation which reminded her of one of her +romantic wishes; and as she raised her head to reply in the same tone, +met the eye of Denbigh fixed on her with an expression that kept her +silent. This is really an incomprehensible young man in some respects, +thought the cautious widow, his startling looks on the introduction to +the colonel crossing her mind at the same time; and observing the doctor +opening the door that led to the baronet's library, Mrs. Wilson, who +generally acted as soon as she had decided, followed him. As their +conversations were known often to relate to the little offices of +charity in which they both delighted, the movement excited no surprise, +and she entered the library with the doctor uninterrupted. + +"Doctor," said Mrs. Wilson, impatient to proceed to the point, "you know +my maxim, prevention is better than cure. This young friend of yours is +very interesting." + +"Do you feel yourself in danger?" said the rector, smiling. + +"Not very imminent," replied the lady, laughing good-naturedly. Seating +herself, she continued, "Who is he? and who was his father, if I may +ask?" + +"George Denbigh, madam, both father and son," said the doctor, gravely. + +"Ah, doctor, I am almost tempted to wish Frank had been a girl. You know +what I wish to learn." + +"Put your questions in order, dear madam," said the doctor, in a kind +manner, "and they shall be answered." + +"His principles?" + +"So far as I can learn, they are good. His acts, as they have come to my +notice, are highly meritorious, and I hope they originated in proper +motives. I have seen but little of him of late years, however, and on +this head you are nearly as good a judge as myself. His filial piety," +said the doctor, dashing a tear from his eye, and speaking with fervor, +"was lovely." + +"His temper--his disposition?" + +"His temper is under great command, although naturally ardent; his +disposition eminently benevolent towards his fellow-creatures." + +"His connexions?" + +"Suitable," said the doctor, gravely. + +His fortune was of but little moment. Emily would be amply provided, for +all the customary necessaries of her station; and, thanking the divine, +Mrs. Wilson returned to the parlor, easy in mind, and determined to let +things take their own course for a time, but in no degree to relax the +vigilance of her observation. + +On her return to the room, Mrs. Wilson observed Denbigh approach +Egerton, and enter into conversation of a general nature. It was the +first time anything more than unavoidable courtesies had passed between +them. The colonel appeared slightly uneasy under his novel situation, +while, on the other hand, his companion showed an anxiety to be on a +more friendly footing than heretofore. There was something mysterious in +the feelings manifested by both these gentlemen that greatly puzzled the +good lady; and from its complexion, she feared one or the other was not +entirely free from censure. It could not have been a quarrel, or their +names would have been familiar to each other. They had both served in +Spain, she knew, and excesses were often committed by gentlemen at a +distance from home their pride would have prevented where they were +anxious to maintain a character. Gambling, and a few other prominent +vices, floated through her imagination, until, wearied of conjectures +where she had no data, and supposing, after all, it might be only her +imagination, the turned to more pleasant reflections. + + + +Chapter XII. + +The bright eyes of Emily Moseley unconsciously wandered round the +brilliant assemblage at Mr. Haughton's, as she took her seat, in search +of her partner. The rooms were filled with scarlet coats, and belles +from the little town of F----; and if the company were not the most +select imaginable, it was disposed to enjoy the passing moment +cheerfully and in lightness of heart. Ere, however, she could make out +to scan the countenances of the men, young Jarvis, decked in the full +robes of his dignity, as captain in the ----th foot, approached and +solicited the honor of her hand. The colonel had already secured her +sister, and it was by the instigation of his friend, Jarvis had been +thus early in his application. Emily thanked him, and pleaded her +engagement. The mortified youth, who had thought dancing with the ladies +a favor conferred on them, from the anxiety his sister always manifested +to get partners, stood for a few moments in sullen silence; and then, as +if to be revenged on the sex, he determined not to dance the whole +evening. Accordingly, he withdrew to a room appropriated to the +gentlemen, where he found a few of the military beaux, keeping alive the +stimulus they had brought with them from the mess-table. + +Clara had prudently decided to comport herself as became a clergyman's +wife, and she declined dancing altogether. Catherine Chatterton was +entitled to open the ball, as superior in years and rank to any who were +disposed to enjoy the amusement. The dowager, who in her heart loved to +show her airs upon such occasions, had chosen to be later than the rest +of the family; and Lucy had to entreat her father to have patience more +than once during the interregnum in their sports created by Lady +Chatterton's fashion. This lady at length appeared, attended by her son, +and followed by her daughters, ornamented in all the taste of the +reigning fashions. Doctor Ives and his wife, who came late from choice, +soon appeared, accompanied by their guest, and the dancing commenced. +Denbigh had thrown aside his black for the evening, and as he approached +to claim her promised hand, Emily thought him, if not as handsome, much +more interesting than Colonel Egerton, who just then passed them while +leading her sister to the set. Emily danced beautifully, but perfectly +like a lady, as did Jane; but Denbigh, although graceful in his +movements and in time, knew but little of the art; and but for the +assistance of his partner, he would have more than once gone wrong in +the figure. He very gravely asked her opinion of his performance as he +handed her to a chair, and she laughingly told him his movements were +but a better sort of march. He was about to reply, when Jarvis +approached. By the aid of a pint of wine and his own reflections, the +youth wrought himself into something of a passion, especially as he saw +Denbigh enter, after Emily had declined dancing with himself. There was +a gentleman in the corps who unfortunately was addicted to the bottle, +and he had fastened on Jarvis as a man at leisure to keep him company. +Wine openeth the heart, and the captain having taken a peep at the +dancers, and seen the disposition of affairs, returned to his bottle +companion, bursting with the indignity offered to his person. He dropped +a hint, and a question or two brought the whole grievance forth. + +There is a certain set of men in every service who imbibe extravagant +notions that are revolting to humanity, and which too often prove to be +fatal in their results. Their morals are never correct, and the little +they have set loosely about them. In their own cases, their appeals to +arms are not always so prompt; but in that of their friends, their +perceptions of honor are intuitively keen, and their inflexibility in +preserving it from reproach unbending; and such is the weakness of +mankind, their "tenderness on points where the nicer feelings of a +soldier are involved, that these machines of custom, these thermometers +graduated to the scale of false honor, usurp the place of reason and +benevolence, and become too often the arbiters of life and death to a +whole corps. Such, then, was the confidant to whom Jarvis communicated +the cause of his disgust, and the consequences may easily be imagined. +As he passed Emily and Denbigh, he threw a look of fierceness at the +latter, which he meant as an indication of his hostile intentions. It +was lost on his rival, who at that moment was filled with passions of a +very different kind from those which Captain Jarvis thought agitated his +own bosom; for had his new friend let him alone, the captain would have +gone quietly home and gone to sleep. + +"Have you ever fought?" said Captain Digby coolly to his companion, as +they seated themselves in his father's parlor, whither they had retired +to make their arrangements for the following morning. + +"Yes," said Jarvis, with a stupid look, "I fought once with Tom Halliday +at school." + +"At school! My dear friend, you commenced young indeed," said Digby, +helping himself to another glass. "And how did it end?" + +"Oh! Tom got the better, and so I cried enough," said Jarvis, surlily. + +"Enough! I hope you did not flinch," eyeing him keenly "Where were you +hit?" + +"He hit me all over." + +"All over! The d---l! Did you use small shot? How did you fight?" + +"With fists," said Jarvis, yawning. + +His companion, seeing how matters were, rang for his servant to put him +to bed, remaining himself an hour longer to finish the bottle. + +Soon after Jarvis had given Denbigh the look big with his intended +vengeance, Colonel Egerton approached Emily, asking permission to +present Sir Herbert Nicholson, the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, +and a gentleman who was ambitious of the honor of her acquaintance; a +particular friend of his own. Emily gracefully bowed her assent. Soon +after, turning her eyes on Denbigh, who had been speaking to her at the +moment, she saw him looking intently on the two soldiers, who were +making their way through the crowd to the place where she sat. He +stammered, said something she could not understand, and precipitately +withdrew; and although both she and her aunt sought his figure in the +gay throng that flitted around them, he was seen no more that evening. + +"Are you acquainted with Mr. Denbigh?" said Emily to her partner, after +looking in vain to find his person in the crowd. + +"Denbigh! Denbigh! I have known one or two of that name" replied the +gentleman. "In the army there are several." + +"Yes," said Emily, musing, "he is in the army;" and looking up, she saw +her companion reading her countenance with an expression that brought +the color to her cheeks with a glow that was painful. Sir Herbert +smiled, and observed that the room was warm. Emily acquiesced in the +remark, for the first time in her life conscious of a feeling she was +ashamed to have scrutinized, and glad of any excuse to hide her +confusion. + +"Grace Chatterton is really beautiful to-night," whispered John Moseley +to his sister Clara. "I have a mind to ask her to dance." + +"Do, John." replied his sister, looking with pleasure on her beautiful +cousin, who, observing the movements of John as he drew near where she +sat, moved her face on each side rapidly, in search of some one who was +apparently not to be found. Her breathing became sensibly quicker, and +John was on the point of speaking to her as the dowager stepped in +between them. There is nothing so flattering to the vanity of a man as +the discovery of emotions in a young woman excited by himself, and which +the party evidently wishes to conceal; there is nothing so touching, so +sure to captivate; or, if it seem to be affected, so sure to disgust. + +"Now, Mr. Moseley," cried the mother, "you shall not ask Grace to dance! +She can refuse you nothing, and she has been up the last two figures." + +"Your wishes are irresistible, Lady Chatterton," said John, coolly +turning on his heel. On gaining the other side of the room, he turned to +reconnoitre the scene. The dowager was fanning herself as violently as +if she had been up the last two figures instead of her daughter, while +Grace sat with her eyes fastened on the floor, paler than usual. +"Grace," thought the young man, "would be very handsome--very sweet-- +very--very everything that is agreeable, if--if it were not for Mother +Chatterton." He then led out one of the prettiest girls in the room. + +Col. Egerton was peculiarly fitted to shine in a ball room. He danced +gracefully and with spirit; was perfectly at home with all the usages of +the best society, and was never neglectful of any of those little +courtesies which have their charm for the moment; and Jane Moseley, who +saw all those she loved around her, apparently as happy as herself, +found in her judgment or the convictions of her principles, no +counterpoise against the weight of such attractions, all centred as it +were in one effort to please herself. His flattery was deep for it was +respectful--his tastes were her tastes--his opinions her opinions. On +the formation of their acquaintance they differed on some trifling point +of poetical criticism, and for near a month the colonel had maintained +his opinion with a show of firmness; but opportunities not wanting for +the discussion, he had felt constrained to yield to her better judgment, +her purer taste. The conquest of Colonel Egerton was complete, and Jane +who saw in his attentions the submission of a devoted heart, began to +look forward to the moment with trembling that was to remove the thin +barrier that existed between the adulation of the eyes and the most +delicate assiduity to please, and the open confidence of declared love. +Jane Moseley had a heart to love, and to love strongly; her danger +existed in her imagination: it was brilliant, unchastened by her +judgment, we had almost said unfettered by her principles. Principles +such as are found in every-day maxims and rules of conduct sufficient to +restrain her within the bounds of perfect decorum she was furnished with +in abundance; but to that principle which was to teach her submission in +opposition to her wishes, to that principle that could alone afford her +security against the treachery of her own passions, she was an utter +stranger. + +The family of Sir Edward were, among the first to retire, and as the +Chattertons had their own carriage, Mrs. Wilson and her charge returned +alone in the coach of the former. Emily, who had been rather out of +spirits the latter-part of the evening, broke the silence by suddenly +observing, + +"Colonel Egerton is, or soon will be, a perfect hero!" + +Her aunt somewhat surprised, both with the abruptness and with the +strength of the remark, inquired her meaning. + +"Oh, Jane will make him one, whether or not." + +This was spoken with an air of vexation which she was unused to, and +Mrs. Wilson gravely corrected her for speaking in a disrespectful manner +of her sister, one whom neither her years nor situation entitled her in +any measure to advise or control. There was an impropriety in judging so +near and dear a relation harshly, even in thought. Emily pressed the +hand of her aunt and tremulously acknowledged her error; but she added, +that she felt a momentary irritation at the idea of a man of Colonel +Egerton's character gaining the command over feelings such as her sister +possessed. Mrs. Wilson kissed the cheek of her niece, while she inwardly +acknowledged the probable truth of the very remark she had thought it +her duty to censure. That the imagination of Jane would supply her lover +with those qualities she most honored herself, she believed was taken as +a matter of course; and that when the veil she had helped to throw +before her own eyes was removed, she would cease to respect, and of +course cease to love him, when too late to remedy the evil, she greatly +feared. But in the approaching fate of Jane she saw new cause to call +forth her own activity. + +Emily Moseley had just completed her eighteenth year, and was gifted by +nature with a vivacity and ardency of feeling that gave a heightened +zest to the enjoyments of that happy age. She was artless but +intelligent; cheerful, with a deep conviction of the necessity of piety; +and uniform in her practice of all the important duties. The unwearied +exertions of her aunt, aided by her own quickness of perception, had +made her familiar with the attainments suitable to her sex and years. +For music she had no taste, and the time which would have been thrown +away in endeavoring to cultivate a talent she did not possess, was +dedicated under the discreet guidance of her aunt, to works which had a +tendency both to qualify her for the duties of this life, and fit her +for that which comes hereafter. It might be said Emily Moseley had never +read a book that contained a sentiment or inculcated an opinion improper +for her sex or dangerous to her morals; and it was not difficult for +those who knew the fact, to fancy they could perceive the consequences +in her guileless countenance and innocent deportment. Her looks--her +actions--her thoughts, wore as much of nature as the discipline of her +well-regulated mind and softened manners could admit. In person she was +of the middle size, exquisitely formed, graceful and elastic in her +step, without, however, the least departure from her natural movements; +her eye was a dark blue, with an expression of joy and intelligence; at +times it seemed all soul, and again all heart; her color was rather +high, but it varied with every emotion of her bosom; her feelings were +strong, ardent, and devoted to those she loved. Her preceptress had +never found it necessary to repeat an admonition of any kind, since her +arrival at years to discriminate between the right and the wrong. + +"I wish," said Doctor Ives to his wife, the evening his son had asked +their permission to address Clara, "Francis had chosen my little Emily." + +"Clara is a good girl," replied his wife; "she is so mild, so +affectionate, that I doubt not she will make him happy--Frank might have +done worse at the Hall." + +"For himself he has done well, I hope," said the father, "a young woman +of Clara's heart may make any man happy but a union with purity, sense, +principles, like those of Emily would be more--it would be blissful." + +Mrs. Ives smiled at her husband's animation. "You remind me more of the +romantic youth I once knew than of the grave divine. There is but one +man I know that I could wish to give Emily to; it is Lumley. If Lumley +sees her, he will woo her; and if he wooes, he will win her." + +"And Lumley I believe to be worthy of her," cried the rector, now taking +up a candle to retire for the night. + + + +Chapter XIII. + +The following day brought a large party of the military elegants to the +Hall, in acceptance of the baronet's hospitable invitation to dinner. +Lady Moseley was delighted; so long as her husband's or her children's +interest had demanded a sacrifice of her love of society it had been +made without a sigh, almost without a thought. The ties of affinity in +her were sacred; and to the happiness, the comfort of those in which she +felt an interest, there were few sacrifices of her own propensities she +would not cheerfully have made: it was this very love of her offspring +that made her anxious to dispose of her daughters in wedlock. Her own +marriage had been so happy, that she naturally concluded it the state +most likely to ensure the happiness of her children; and with Lady +Moseley, as with thousands of others, who averse or unequal to the +labors of investigation, jump to conclusions over the long line of +connecting reasons, marriage was marriage, a husband was a husband. It +is true there were certain indispensables, without which the formation +of a connexion was a thing she considered not within the bounds of +nature. There must be fitness in fortune, in condition, in education, +and manners; there must be no glaring evil, although she did not ask for +positive good. A professor of religion herself, had any one told her it +was a duty of her calling to guard against a connexion with any but a +Christian for her girls, she would have wondered at the ignorance that +would embarrass the married state, with feelings exclusively belonging +to the individual. Had any one told her it were possible to give her +child to any but a gentleman, she would have wondered at the want of +feeling that could devote the softness of Jane or Emily, to the +association with rudeness or vulgarity. It was the misfortune of Lady +Moseley to limit her views of marriage to the scene of this life, +forgetful that every union gives existence to a long line of immortal +beings, whose future welfare depends greatly on the force of early +examples, or the strength of early impressions. + +The necessity for restriction in their expenditures had ceased, and the +baronet and his wife greatly enjoyed the first opportunity their +secluded situation had given them, to draw around their board their +fellow-creatures of their own stamp. In the former, it was pure +philanthropy; the same feeling urged him to seek out and relieve +distress in humble life; while in the latter it was love of station and +seemliness. It was becoming the owner of Moseley Hall, and it was what +the daughters of the Benfield family had done since the conquest. + +"I am extremely sorry," said the good baronet at dinner, "Mr. Denbigh +declined our invitation to-day; I hope he will yet ride over in the +evening." + +Looks of a singular import were exchanged between Colonel Egerton and +Sir Herbert Nicholson, at the mention of Denbigh's name; which, as the +latter had just asked the favor of taking wine with Mrs. Wilson, did not +escape her notice. Emily had innocently mentioned his precipitate +retreat the night before; and he had, when reminded of his engagement to +dine with them that very day, and promised an introduction to Sir +Herbert Nicholson by John, in her presence, suddenly excused himself and +withdrawn. With an indefinite suspicion of something wrong, she +ventured, therefore, to address Sir Herbert Nicholson. + +"Did you know Mr. Denbigh, in Spain?" + +"I told Miss Emily Moseley, I believe, last evening, that I knew some of +the name," replied the gentleman evasively; then pausing a moment, he +added with great emphasis, "there is a circumstance connected with one +of that name, I shall ever remember." + +"It was creditable, no doubt, Sir Herbert," cried young Jarvis, +sarcastically. The soldier affected not to hear the question, and asked +Jane to take wine with him. Lord Chatterton, however, putting his knife +and fork down gravely, and with a glow of animation, observed with +unusual spirit, + +"I have no doubt it was, sir." + +Jarvis in his turn, affected not to hear this speech, and nothing +farther was said, as Sir Edward saw that the name of Mr. Denbigh excited +a sensation amongst his guests for which he was unable to account, and +which he soon forgot himself. + +After the company had retired, Lord Chatterton, however, related to the +astonished and indignant family of the baronet the substance of the +following scene, of which he had been a witness that morning, while on a +visit to Denbigh at the rectory. They had been sitting in the parlor by +themselves, over their breakfast, when a Captain Digby was announced. + +"I have the honor of waiting upon you, Mr. Denbigh," said the soldier, +with the stiff formality of a professed duellist, "on behalf of Captain +Jarvis, but will postpone my business until you are at leisure," +glancing his eye on Chatterton. + +"I know of no business with Captain Jarvis," said Denbigh, politely +handing the stranger a chair, "to which Lord Chatterton cannot be privy; +if he will excuse the interruption. The nobleman bowed, and Captain +Digby, a little awed by the rank of Denbigh's friend, proceeded in a +more measured manner. + +"Captain Jarvis has empowered me, sir, to make any arrangement with +yourself or friend, previously to your meeting, which he hopes may be as +soon as possible, if convenient to yourself," replied the soldier, +coolly. + +Denbigh viewed him for a moment with astonishment, in silence; when +recollecting himself, he said mildly, and without the least agitation, +"I cannot affect, sir, not to understand your meaning, but am at a loss +to imagine what act of mine can have made Mr. Jarvis wish to make such +an appeal." + +"Surely Mr. Denbigh cannot think a man of Captain Jarvis's spirit can +quietly submit to the indignity put upon him last evening, by your +dancing with Miss Moseley, after she had declined the honor to himself," +said the captain, affecting an incredulous smile. "My Lord Chatterton +and myself can easily settle the preliminaries, as Captain Jarvis is +much disposed to consult your wishes, sir, in this affair." + +"If he consults my wishes," said Denbigh, smiling, "he will think no +more about it." + +"At what time, sir, will it be convenient to give him the meeting?" +then, speaking with a kind of bravado gentlemen of his cast are fond of +assuming, "my friend would not hurry any settlement of your affairs." + +"I can never meet Captain Jarvis with hostile intentions," replied +Denbigh, calmly. + +"Sir!" + +"I decline the combat, sir," said Denbigh, with more firmness. + +"Your reasons, sir, if you please?" asked Captain Digby compressing his +lips, and drawing up with an air of personal interest. + +"Surely," cried Chatterton, who had with difficulty estrained his +feelings, "surely Mr. Denbigh could never so far forget himself as +cruelly to expose Miss Moseley by accepting this invitation." + +"Your reason, my lord," said Denbigh, with interest, "would at all times +have its weight; but I wish not to qualify an act of what I conceive to +be principle by any lesser consideration. I cannot meet Captain Jarvis, +or any other man, in private combat. There can exist no necessity for an +appeal to arms in any society where the laws rule, and I am averse to +bloodshed." + +"Very extraordinary," muttered Captain Digby, somewhat at a loss how to +act; but the calm and collected manner of Denbigh prevented a reply; and +after declining a cup of tea, a liquor he never drank, he withdrew, +saying he would acquaint his friend with Mr. Denbigh's singular notions. + +Captain Digby had left Jarvis at an inn, about half a mile from the +rectory, for the convenience of receiving early information of the +result of his conference. The young man had walked up and down the room +during Digby's absence, in a train of reflections entirely new to him. +He was the only son of his aged father and mother, the protector of his +sisters, and, he might say, the sole hope of a rising family; and then, +possibly, Denbigh might not have meant to offend him--he might even have +been engaged before they came to the house; or if not, it might have +been inadvertence on the part of Miss Moseley. That Denbigh would offer +some explanation he believed, and he had fully made up his mind to +accept it, let it be what it might, as his fighting friend entered. + +"Well," said Jarvis, in a tone that denoted anything but a consciousness +that all was well. + +"He says he will not meet you," dryly exclaimed his friend, throwing +himself into a chair, and ordering a glass of brandy and water. + +"Not meet me!" exclaimed Jarvis, in surprise. "Engaged, perhaps?" + +"Engaged to his d--d conscience." + +"To his conscience! I do not know whether I rightly understand you, +Captain Digby," said Jarvis, catching his breath, and raising his voice +a very little. + +"Then, Captain Jarvis," said his friend, tossing off his brandy, and +speaking with great deliberation, "he says that nothing--understand me-- +nothing will ever make him fight a duel." + +"He will not!" cried Jarvis, in a loud voice. + +"No, he will not," said Digby, handing his glass to the waiter for a +fresh supply. + +"He shall, by----!" + +"I don't know how you will make him." + +"Make him! I'll--I'll post him." + +"Never do that," said the captain, turning to him, as he leaned his +elbows on the table. "It only makes both parties ridiculous. But I'll +tell you what you may do. There's a Lord Chatterton who takes the matter +up with warmth. If I were not afraid of his interests hurting my +promotion, I should have resented something that fell from him myself. +He will fight, I dare say, and I'll just return and require an +explanation of his words on your behalf." + +"No, no," said Jarvis, rather hastily; "he--he is related to the +Moseleys, and I have views there it might injure." + +"Did you think to forward your views by making the young lady the +subject of a duel?" asked Captain Digby sarcastically, and eyeing his +companion with contempt. + +"Yes, yes," said Jarvis; "it would certainly hurt my views." + +"Here's to the health of His Majesty's gallant ---- regiment of foot!" +cried Captain Digby, in a tone of irony, when three-quarters drunk, at +the mess-table, that evening, "and to its champion, Captain Henry +Jarvis!" + +One of the corps was present accidentally as a guest; and the following +week, the inhabitants of F---- saw the regiment in their barracks, +marching to slow time after the body of Horace Digby. + +Lord Chatterton, in relating the part of the foregoing circumstances +which fell under his observation, did ample justice to the conduct of +Denbigh; a degree of liberality which did him no little credit, as he +plainly saw in that gentleman he had, or soon would have, a rival in the +dearest wish of his heart; and the smiling approbation with which his +cousin Emily rewarded him for his candor almost sickened him with +apprehension. The ladies were not slow in expressing their disgust at +the conduct of Jarvis, or backward in their approval of Denbigh's +forbearance. Lady Moseley turned with horror from a picture in which she +could see nothing but murder and bloodshed; but both Mrs. Wilson and her +niece secretly applauded a sacrifice of worldly feelings on the altar of +duty; the former admiring the consistent refusal of admitting any +collateral inducements, in explanation of his decision: the latter, +while she saw the act in its true colors, could hardly help believing +that a regard for her feelings had, in a trifling degree, its influence +in inducing him to decline the meeting. Mrs. Wilson saw at once what a +hold such unusual conduct would take on the feelings of her niece, and +inwardly determined to increase, if possible, the watchfulness she had +invariably observed on all he said or did, as likely to elucidate his +real character, well knowing that the requisites to bring or to keep +happiness in the married state were numerous and indispensable; and that +the display of a particular excellence, however good in itself, was by +no means conclusive as to character; in short, that we perhaps as often +meet with a favorite principle as with a besetting sin. + + + +Chapter XIV. + +Sir Edward Moseley had some difficulty in restraining the impetuosity of +his son, who was disposed to resent this impertinent interference of +young Jarvis with the conduct of his favorite sister; indeed, the young +man only yielded to his profound respect to his father's commands, aided +by a strong representation on the part of his sister of the disagreeable +consequences of connecting her name with such a quarrel. It was seldom +the good baronet felt himself called on to act as decidedly as on the +present occasion. He spoke to the merchant in warm, but gentleman-like +terms, of the consequences which might have resulted to his own child +from the intemperate act of his son; exculpated Emily entirely from +censure, by explaining her engagement to dance with Denbigh, previously +to Captain Jarvis's application; and hinted the necessity, if the affair +was not amicably terminated, of protecting the peace of mind of his +daughters against any similar exposures, by declining the acquaintance +of a neighbor he respected as much as Mr. Jarvis. + +The merchant was a man of few words, but of great promptitude. He had +made his fortune, and more than once saved it, by his decision; and +assuring the baronet he should hear no more of it, he took his hat and +hurried home from the village, where the conversation passed. On +arriving at his own house, he found the family collected in the parlor +for a morning ride, and throwing himself into a chair, he broke out on +the whole party with great violence. + +"So, Mrs. Jarvis," he cried, "you would spoil a very tolerable book- +keeper, by wishing to have a soldier in your family; and there stands +the puppy who would have blown out the brains of a deserving young man, +if the good sense of Mr. Denbigh had not denied him the opportunity." + +"Mercy!" cried the alarmed matron, on whom Newgate (for her early life +had been passed near its walls), with all its horrors, floated, and a +contemplation of its punishments had been her juvenile lessons of +morality--"Harry! Harry! would you commit murder?" + +"Murder!" echoed her son, looking askance, as if dodging the bailiffs. +"No, mother; I wanted nothing but what was fair. Mr. Denbigh would have +had an equal chance to blow out my brains; I am sure everything would +have been fair." + +"Equal chance!" muttered his father, who had cooled himself, in some +measure, by an extra pinch of snuff. "No, sir, you have no brains to +lose. But I have promised Sir Edward that you shall make proper +apologies to himself, to his daughter, and to Mr. Denbigh." This was +rather exceeding the truth, but the alderman prided himself on +performing rather more than he promised. + +"Apology!" exclaimed the captain. "Why, sir, the apology is due to me. +Ask Colonel Egerton if he ever heard of apologies being made by the +challenger." + +"No, sure," said the mother, who, having made out the truth of the +matter, thought it was likely enough to be creditable to her child; +"Colonel Egerton never heard of such a thing. Did you, colonel?" + +"Why, madam," said the colonel, hesitatingly, and politely handing the +merchant his snuff-box, which, in his agitation, had fallen on the +floor, "circumstances sometimes justify a departure from ordinary +measures. You are certainly right as a rule; but not knowing the +particulars in the present case, it is difficult for me to decide. Miss +Jarvis, the tilbury is ready." + +The colonel bowed respectfully to the merchant, kissed his hand to his +wife, and led their daughter to his carriage. + +"Do you make the apologies?" asked Mr. Jarvis, as the door closed. + +"No, sir," replied the captain, sullenly. + +"Then you must make your pay answer for the next six months," cried the +father, taking a signed draft on his banker from his pocket, coolly +tearing it in two pieces, carefully putting the name in his mouth, and +chewing it into a ball. + +"Why, alderman," said his wife (a name she never used unless she had +something to gain from her spouse, who loved to hear the appellation +after he had relinquished the office), "it appears to me that Harry has +shown nothing but a proper spirit. You are unkind--indeed you are." + +"A proper spirit? In what way? Do you know anything of the matter?" + +"It is a proper spirit for a soldier to fight, I suppose," said the +wife, a little at a loss to explain. + +"Spirit, or no spirit, apology, or ten and sixpence." + +"Harry," said his mother, holding up her finger in a menacing attitude, +as soon as her husband had left the room (for he had last spoken with +the door in his hand), "if you do beg his pardon, you are no son of +mine." + +"No," cried Miss Sarah, "nor any brother of mine. It would be +insufferably mean." + +"Who will pay my debts?" asked the son, looking up at the ceiling. + +"Why, I would, my child, if--if--I had not spent my own allowance." + +"I would," echoed the sister; "but if we go to Bath, you know, I shall +want all my money." + +"Who will pay my debts?" repeated the son. + +"Apology, indeed! Who is he, that you, a son of Alderman--of--Mr. +Jarvis, of the deanery, B----, North 'amptonshire, should beg his +pardon--a vagrant that nobody knows!" + +"Who will pay my debts?" again inquired the captain drumming with his +foot. + +"Harry," exclaimed the mother, "do you love money better than honor--a +soldier's honor?" + +"No, mother; but I like good eating and drinking. Think mother; it's a +cool five hundred, and that's a famous deal of money." + +"Harry," cried the mother, in a rage, "you are not fit for a soldier. I +wish I were in your place." + +"I wish, with all my heart, you had been for an hour this morning," +thought the son. After arguing for some time longer, they compromised, +by agreeing to leave it to the decision of Colonel Egerton, who, the +mother did not doubt, would applaud her maintaining the Jarvis dignity, +a family in which he took quite as much interest as he felt for his own- +-so he had told her fifty times. The captain, however, determined within +himself to touch the five hundred, let the colonel decide as he might; +but the colonel's decision obviated all difficulties. The question was +put to him by Mrs. Jarvis, on his return from the airing, with no doubt +the decision would be favorable to her opinion. The colonel and herself, +she said, never disagreed; and the lady was right--for wherever his +interest made it desirable to convert Mrs. Jarvis to his side of the +question, Egerton had a manner of doing it that never failed to succeed. + +"Why, madam," said he, with one of his most agreeable smiles, "apologies +are different things, at different times. You are certainly right in +your sentiments, as relates to a proper spirit in a soldier; but no one +can doubt the spirit of the captain, after the stand he took in this +affair; if Mr. Denbigh would not meet him (a very extraordinary measure, +in deed, I confess), what can your son do more? He cannot make a man +fight against his will, you know." + +"True, true," cried the matron, impatiently, "I do not want him to +fight; heaven forbid! but why should he, the challenger, beg pardon? I +am sure, to have the thing regular, Mr. Denbigh is the one to ask +forgiveness." + +The colonel felt at a little loss how to reply, when Jarvis, in whom the +thoughts of the five hundred pounds had worked a revolution, exclaimed-- + +"You know, mother, I accused him--that is, I suspected him of dancing +with Miss Moseley against my right to her; now you find that it was all +a mistake, and so I had better act with dignity, and confess my error." + +"Oh, by all means," cried the colonel, who saw the danger of an +embarrassing rupture between the families, otherwise: "delicacy to your +sex particularly requires that, ma'am, from your son;" and he +accidentally dropped a letter as he spoke. + +"From Sir Edgar, colonel?" asked Mrs. Jarvis, as he stooped to pick it +up. + +"From Sir Edgar, ma'am, and he begs to be remembered to yourself and all +of your amiable family." + +Mrs. Jarvis inclined her body, in what she intended for a graceful bend, +and sighed--a casual observer might have thought, with maternal anxiety +for the reputation of her child--but it was conjugal regret, that the +political obstinacy of the alderman had prevented his carrying up an +address, and thus becoming Sir Timothy. Sir Edgar's heir prevailed, and +the captain received permission to do what he had done several hours +before. + +On leaving the room, after the first discussion, and before the appeal, +the captain had hastened to his father with his concessions. The old +gentleman knew too well the influence of five hundred pounds to doubt +the effect in the present instance, and he had ordered his carriage for +the excursion. It came, and to the hall they proceeded. The captain +found his intended antagonist, and in a rather uncouth manner, he made +the required concession. He was restored to his former favor--no great +distinction--and his visits to the hall were suffered, but with a +dislike Emily could never conquer, nor at all times conceal. + +Denbigh was occupied with a book, when Jarvis commenced his speech to +the baronet and his daughter, and was apparently too much engaged with +its contents, to understand what was going on, as the captain blundered +through. It was necessary, the captain saw by a glance of his father's +eyes, to say something to that gentleman, who had delicately withdrawn +to a distant window. His speech was consequently made here too, and Mrs. +Wilson could not avoid stealing a look at them. Denbigh smiled, and +bowed in silence. It is enough, thought the widow; the offence was not +against him, it was against his Maker; he should not arrogate to +himself, in any manner, the right to forgive, or to require apologies-- +the whole is consistent. The subject was never afterwards alluded to: +Denbigh appeared to have forgotten it; and Jane sighed gently, as she +devoutly hoped the colonel was not a duellist. + +Several days passed before the deanery ladies could sufficiently forgive +the indignity their family had sustained, to resume the customary +intercourse. Like all other grievances, where the passions are chiefly +interested, it was forgotten in time, however, and things were put in +some measure on their former footing. The death of Digby served to +increase the horror of the Moseleys, and Jarvis himself felt rather +uncomfortable, on more accounts than one, at the fatal termination of +the unpleasant business. + +Chatterton, who to his friends had not hesitated to avow his attachment +to his cousin, but who had never proposed for her, as his present views +and fortune were not, in his estimation, sufficient for her proper +support, had pushed every interest he possessed, and left no steps +unattempted an honorable man could resort to, to effect his object. The +desire to provide for his sisters had been backed by the ardor of a +passion that had reached its crisis; and the young peer who could not, +in the present state of things, abandon the field to a rival so +formidable as Denbigh, even to further his views to preferment, was +waiting in anxious suspense the decision on his application. A letter +from his friend informed him, his opponent was likely to succeed; that, +in short, all hopes of success had left him. Chatterton was in despair. +On the following day, however, he received a second letter from the same +friend, unexpectedly announcing his appointment. After mentioning the +fact, he went on to say--"The cause of this sudden revolution in your +favor is unknown to me, and unless your lordship has obtained interest I +am ignorant of, it is one of the most singular instances of ministerial +caprice I have ever known." Chatterton was as much at a loss as his +friend, to understand the affair; but it mattered not; he could now +offer to Emily--it was a patent office of great value, and a few years +would amply portion his sisters. That very day, therefore, he proposed, +and was refused. + +Emily had a difficult task to avoid self-reproach, in regulating her +deportment on this occasion. She was fond of Chatterton as a relation-- +as her brother's friend--as the brother of Grace, and even on his own +account; but it was the fondness of a sister. His manner--his words, +which, although never addressed to herself, were sometimes overheard +unintentionally, and sometimes reached her through her sisters, had left +her in no doubt of his attachment; she was excessively grieved at the +discovery, and had innocently appealed to her aunt for directions how to +proceed. Of his intentions she had no doubt, but at the same time he had +not put her in a situation to dispel his hopes; as to encouragement, in +the usual meaning of the term, she gave none to him, nor to any one +else. There are no little attentions that lovers are fond of showing to +their mistresses, and which mistresses are fond of receiving, that Emily +ever permitted to any gentleman--no rides--no walks--no tête-à -têtes. +Always natural and unaffected, there was a simple dignity about her that +forbade the request, almost the thought, in the gentlemen of her +acquaintance: she had no amusements, no pleasures of any kind in which +her sisters were not her companions; and if anything was on the carpet +that required an attendant, John was ever ready. He was devoted to her; +the decided preference she gave him over every other man, upon such +occasions, flattered his affection; and he would, at any time, leave +even Grace Chatterton to attend his sister. All this too was without +affectation, and generally without notice. Emily so looked the delicacy +and reserve she acted with so little ostentation that not even her own +sex had affixed to her conduct the epithet of squeamish; it was +difficult, therefore, for her to do anything which would show Lord +Chatterton her disinclination to his suit, without assuming a dislike +she did not feel, or giving him slights that neither good breeding nor +good nature could justify. At one time, indeed, she had expressed a wish +to return to Clara; but this Mrs. Wilson thought would only protract the +evil, and she was compelled to wait his own time. The peer himself did +not rejoice more in his ability to make the offer, therefore, than Emily +did to have it in her power to decline it. Her rejection was firm and +unqualified, but uttered with a grace and a tenderness to his feelings, +that bound her lover tighter than ever in her chains, and he resolved on +immediate flight as his only recourse. + +"I hope nothing unpleasant has occurred to Lord Chatterton," said +Denbigh, with great interest, as he reached the spot where the young +peer stood leaning his head against a tree, on his way from the rectory +to the hall. + +Chatterton raised his face as he spoke: there were evident traces of +tears on it, and Denbigh, greatly shocked, was about to proceed as the +other caught his arm. + +"Mr. Denbigh," said the young man, in a voice almost choked with +emotion, "may you never know the pain I have felt this morning. Emily-- +Emily Moseley--is lost to me--for ever." + +For a moment the blood rushed to the face of Denbigh, and his eyes +flashed with a look that Chatterton could not stand. He turned, as the +voice of Denbigh, in those remarkable tones which distinguished it from +every other voice he had ever heard, uttered-- + +"Chatterton, my lord, we are friends, I hope--I wish it; from my heart." + +"Go, Mr. Denbigh--go. You were going to Miss Moseley--do not let me +detain you." "I am going with you, Lord Chatterton, unless you forbid +it," said Denbigh, with emphasis, slipping his arm through that of the +peer. + +For two hours they walked together in the park; and when they appeared +at dinner, Emily wondered why Mr. Denbigh had taken a seat next to her +mother, instead of his usual place between herself and her aunt. In the +evening, he announced his intention of leaving B---- for a short time +with Lord Chatterton. They were going to London together; but he hoped +to return within ten days. This sudden determination caused some +surprise; but, as the dowager supposed it was to secure the new +situation, and the remainder of their friends thought it might be +business, it was soon forgotten, though much regretted for the time. The +gentlemen left the hall that night to proceed to an inn, from which they +could obtain a chaise and horses; and the following morning, when the +baronet's family assembled around their social breakfast, they were many +miles on the road to the metropolis. + + + +Chapter XV. + +Lady Chatterton, finding that little was to be expected in her present +situation, excepting what she looked forward to from the varying +admiration of John Moseley to her youngest daughter, determined to +accept an invitation of some standing to a nobleman's seat about fifty +miles from the hall, and, in order to keep things in their proper +places, to leave Grace with her friends, who had expressed a wish to +that effect. Accordingly, the day succeeding the departure of her son, +she proceeded on her expedition, accompanied by her willing assistant in +the matrimonial speculations. + +Grace Chatterton was by nature retiring and delicate; but her feelings +were acute, and on the subject of female propriety sensitive to a +degree, that the great want of it in a relation she loved as much as her +mother had possibly in some measure increased. Her affections were too +single in their objects to have left her long in doubt as to their +nature with respect to the baronet's son; and it was one of the most +painful orders she had ever received, that which compelled her to accept +her cousin's invitation. Her mother was peremptory, however, and Grace +was obliged to comply. Every delicate feeling she possessed revolted at +the step: the visit itself was unwished for on her part; but there did +exist a reason which had reconciled her to that--the wedding of Clara. +But now to remain, after all her family had gone, in the house where +resided the man who had as yet never solicited those affections she had +been unable to withhold, it was humiliating--it was degrading her in her +own esteem, and she could scarcely endure it. + +It is said that women are fertile in inventions to further their schemes +of personal gratification, vanity, or even mischief. It may be it is +true; but the writer of these pages is a man--one who has seen much of +the other sex, and he is happy to have an opportunity of paying a +tribute to female purity and female truth. That there are hearts so +disinterested as to lose the considerations of self, in advancing the +happiness of those they love; that there are minds so pure as to recoil +with disgust from the admission of deception, indelicacy, or management, +he knows; for he has seen it from long and close examination. He regrets +that the very artlessness of those who are most pure in the one sex, +subjects them to the suspicions of the grosser materials which compose +the other. He believes that innocency, singleness of heart, ardency of +feeling, and unalloyed, shrinking delicacy, sometimes exist in the +female bosom, to an extent that but few men are happy enough to +discover, and that most men believe incompatible with the frailties of +human nature. Grace Chatterton possessed no little of what may almost be +called this ethereal spirit and a visit to Bolton parsonage was +immediately proposed by her to Emily. The latter, too innocent herself +to suspect the motives of her cousin, was happy to be allowed to devote +a fortnight to Clara, uninterrupted by the noisy round of visiting and +congratulations which had attended her first week; and Mrs. Wilson and +the two girls left the hall the same day with the Dowager Lady +Chatterton. Francis and Clara were happy to receive them, and they were +immediately domesticated in their new abode. Doctor Ives and his wife +had postponed an annual visit to a relation of the former on account of +the marriage of their son, and they now availed themselves of this visit +to perform their own engagement. B---- appeared in some measure +deserted, and Egerton had the field almost to himself. Summer had +arrived, and the country bloomed in all its luxuriance of vegetation: +everything was propitious to the indulgence of the softer passions; and +Lady Moseley, ever a strict adherent to forms and decorum, admitted the +intercourse between Jane and her admirer to be carried to as great +lengths as those forms would justify. Still the colonel was not +explicit; and Jane, whose delicacy dreaded the exposure of feelings that +was involved in his declaration, gave or sought no marked opportunities +for the avowal of his passion. Yet they were seldom separate, and both +Sir Edward and his wife looked forward to their future union as a thing +not to be doubted. Lady Moseley had given up her youngest child so +absolutely to the government of her aunt, that she seldom thought of her +future establishment. She had that kind of reposing confidence in Mrs. +Wilson's proceedings that feeble minds ever bestow on those who are much +superior to them; and she even approved of a system in many respects +which she could not endeavor to imitate. Her affection for Emily was +not, however, less than what she felt for her other children: she was, +in fact, her favorite, and, had the discipline of Mrs. Wilson admitted +of so weak an interference, might have been injured as such. + +John Moseley had been able to find out exactly the hour they breakfasted +at the deanery, the length of time it took Egerton's horses to go the +distance between that house and the hall; and on the sixth morning after +the departure of his aunt, John's bays were in his phaeton, and allowing +ten minutes for the mile and a half to the park gates, John had got +happily off his own territories, before he met the tilbury travelling +eastward. I am not to know which road the colonel may turn, thought +John: and after a few friendly, but rather hasty greetings, the bays +were again in full trot to the parsonage. + +"John," said Emily, holding out her hand affectionately, and smiling a +little archly, as he approached the window where she stood, "you should +take a lesson in driving from Frank; you have turned more than one hair, +I believe." + +"How is Clara?" cried John, hastily, taking the offered hand, with a +kiss, "aye, and aunt Wilson?" + +"Both well, brother, and out walking this fine morning." + +"How happens it you are not with them?" inquired the brother, throwing +his eyes round the room. "Have they left you alone?" + +"No Grace has this moment left me." + +"Well, Emily," said John, taking his seat very composedly, but keeping +his eyes on the door, "I have come to dine with you. I thought I owed +Clara a visit, and have managed nicely to give the colonel the go-by." + +"Clara will be happy to see you, dear John, and so will aunt, and so am +I"--as she drew aside his fine hair with her fingers to cool his +forehead. + +"And why not Grace, too?" asked John, with a look of a little alarm. + +"And Grace, too, I fancy--but here she is, to answer for herself." + +Grace said little on her entrance, but her eyes were brighter than +usual, and she looked so contented and happy that Emily observed to her, +in an affectionate manner-- + +"I knew the eau-de-Cologne would do your head good." + +"Is Miss Chatterton unwell?" asked John, with a look of interest. + +"A slight headache," said Grace, faintly, "but I feel much better." + +"Want of air and exercise: my horses are at the door; phaeton will hold +three easily; run, sister, for your hat," almost pushing Emily out of +the room as he spoke. In a few minutes the horses might have been +suffering for air, but surely not for exercise. + +"I wish," cried John, with impatience, when at the distance of a couple +of miles from the parsonage, "that gentleman had driven his gig out of +the road." + +There was a small group on one side of the road, consisting of a man, a +woman, and several children. The owner of the gig had alighted, and was +in the act of speaking to them, as the phaeton approached at a great +rate. + +"John," cried Emily, in terror, "You never can pass--you will upset us." + +"There is no danger, dear Grace," said the brother, endeavoring to check +his horses; he succeeded in part, but not so as to prevent his passing +at a spot where the road was very narrow; a wheel hit violently against +a stone, and some of his works gave way. The gentleman immediately +hastened to his assistance--it was Denbigh. + +"Miss Moseley!" cried he, in a voice of the tenderest interest "you are +not hurt in the least, I hope." + +"No," said Emily, recovering her breath, "only frightened;" and taking +his hand, she sprang from the carriage. + +Miss Chatterton found courage to wait quietly for the care of John. His +"dear Grace," had thrilled on every nerve, and she afterwards often +laughed at Emily for her terror when there was so little danger. The +horses were not in the least frightened, and after a little mending, +John declared all was safe. To ask Emily to enter, the carriage again, +was to exact no little sacrifice of her feelings to her reason; and she +stood in a suspense that too plainly showed that, the terror she had +been in had not left her. + +"If," said Denbigh, modestly, "if Mr. Moseley will take the ladies in my +gig, I will drive the phaeton to the hall, as it is rather unsafe for so +heavy a load." + +"No, no, Denbigh," said John, coolly, "you are not used to such mettled +nags as mine--it would be indiscreet for you to drive them: if, however, +you will be good enough to take Emily into your gig--Grace Chatterton, I +am sure, is not afraid to trust my driving, and we might all get back as +well as ever." + +Grace gave her hand almost unconsciously to John, and he handed her into +the phaeton, as Denbigh stood willing to execute his part of the +arrangement, but too diffident to speak. It was not a moment for +affectation, if Emily had been capable of it, and blushing with the +novelty of her situation, she took her place in the gig. Denbigh stopped +and turned his eyes on the little group with which he had been talking, +and at that moment they caught the attention of John also. The latter +inquired after their situation. The tale was a piteous one, the distress +evidently real. The husband had been gardener to a gentleman in a +neighboring county, and he had been lately discharged, to make way, in +the difficulty of the times, for a relation of the steward, who was in +want of the place. Suddenly thrown on the world, with a wife and four +children, with but the wages of a week for his and their support, they +had travelled thus far on the way to a neighboring parish, where he said +he had a right to, and must seek, public assistance. The children were +crying for hunger, and the mother, who was a nurse, had been unable to +walk further than where she sat, but had sunk on the ground overcome +with fatigue, and weak from the want of nourishment. Neither Emily nor +Grace could refrain from tears at the recital of these heavy woes; the +want of sustenance was something so shocking in itself, and brought, as +it were, immediately before their eyes, the appeal was irresistible. +John forgot his bays--forgot even Grace, as he listened to the affecting +story related by the woman, who was much revived by some nutriment +Denbigh had obtained from a cottage near them, and to which they were +about to proceed by his directions, as Moseley interrupted them. His +hand shook, his eyes glistened as he took his purse from his pocket, and +gave several guineas from it to the mendicant. Grace thought John had +never appeared so handsome as the moment he handed the money to the +gardener; his face glowed with unusual excitement, and his symmetry had +lost the only charm he wanted in common, softness. Denbigh, after +waiting patiently until Moseley had bestowed his alms, gravely repeated +his directions for their proceeding to the cottage, when the carriages +moved on. + +Emily revolved, in her mind, during their short ride, the horrid +distress she had witnessed. It had taken a strong hold on her feelings. +Like her brother, she was warm-hearted and compassionate, if we may use +the term, to excess; and had she been prepared with the means, the +gardener would have reaped a double harvest of donations. It struck her, +at the moment, unpleasantly, that Denbigh had been so backward in his +liberality. The man had rather sullenly displayed half a crown as his +gift, in contrast with the golden shower of John's generosity. It had +been even somewhat offensive in its exhibition, and urged her brother to +a more hasty departure than, under other circumstances, he would just at +the moment have felt disposed to make. Denbigh, however, had taken no +notice of the indignity, and continued his directions in the same mild +and benevolent manner he had used during the whole interview. Half a +crown was but little, thought Emily, for a family that was starving; +and, unwilling to judge harshly of one she had begun to value so highly, +she came to the painful conclusion, her companion was not as rich as he +deserved to be. Emily had not yet to learn that charity was in +proportion to the means of the donor, and a gentle wish insensibly stole +over her that Denbigh might in some way become more richly endowed with +the good things of this world. Until this moment her thoughts had never +turned to his temporal condition. She knew he was an officer in the +army, but of what rank, or even of what regiment, she was ignorant. He +had frequently touched in his conversations on the customs of the +different countries he had seen. He had served in Italy, in the north of +Europe, in the West Indies, in Spain. Of the manners of the people, of +their characters, he not unfrequently spoke, and with a degree of +intelligence, a liberality, a justness of discrimination, that had +charmed his auditors; but on the point of personal service he had +maintained a silence that was inflexible, and not a little surprising-- +more particularly of that part of his history which related to the +latter country; from all which she was rather inclined to think his +military rank was not as high as she thought he merited, and that +possibly he felt an awkwardness of putting it in contrast with the more +elevated station of Colonel Egerton. The same idea had struck the whole +family, and prevented any inquiries which might be painful. He was so +connected with the mournful event of his father's death, that no +questions could be put with propriety to the doctor's family; and if +Francis had been more communicative to Clara, she was too good a wife to +mention it, and her own family was possessed of too just a sense of +propriety to touch upon points that might bring her conjugal fidelity in +question. + +Though Denbigh appeared a little abstracted during the ride, his +questions concerning Sir Edward and her friends were kind and +affectionate. As they approached the house he suffered his horse to +walk, and, after some hesitation, he took a letter from his pocket, and +handing it to her, said-- + +"I hope Miss Moseley will not think me impertinent in becoming the +bearer of a letter from her cousin, Lord Chatterton. He requested it so +earnestly, that I could not refuse taking what I am sensible is a great +liberty; for it would be deception did I affect to be ignorant of his +admiration, or of his generous treatment of a passion she cannot return. +Chatterton," and he smiled mournfully, "is yet too true to cease his +commendations." + +Emily blushed painfully, but she took the letter in silence; and as +Denbigh pursued the topic no further, the little distance they had to go +was ridden in silence. On entering the gates, however, he said, +inquiringly, and with much interest-- + +"I sincerely hope I have not given offence to your delicacy, Miss +Moseley. Lord Chatterton has made me an unwilling confidant. I need not +say the secret is sacred, on more accounts than one." + +"Surely not, Mr. Denbigh," replied Emily, in a low tone; and the gig +stopping, she hastened to accept the assistance of her brother to +alight. + +"Well, sister," cried John, laughing, "Denbigh is a disciple to Frank's +system of horse-flesh. Hairs smooth enough here, I see. Grace and I +thought you would never get home." Now, John fibbed a little, for +neither Grace nor he had thought in the least about them, or anything +else but each other, from the moment they separated until the gig +arrived. + +Emily made no reply to this speech, and as the gentlemen were engaged in +giving directions concerning their horses, she seized an opportunity to +read Chatterton's letter. + +"I avail myself of the return of my friend Mr. Denbigh to that happy +family from which reason requires my self-banishment to assure my +amiable cousin, of my continued respect for her character, and to +convince her of my gratitude for the tenderness she has manifested to +feelings she cannot return. I may even venture to tell her what few +women would be pleased to hear, but what I know Emily Moseley too well +to doubt, for a moment, will give her unalloyed pleasure--that owing to +the kind, the benevolent, the brotherly attentions of my true friend, +Mr. Denbigh, I have already gained a peace of mind and resignation I +once thought was lost to me for ever. Ah! Emily, my beloved cousin, in +Denbigh you will find, I doubt not, a mind, principles, congenial to +your own. It is impossible that he could see you without wishing to +possess such a treasure; and, if I have a wish that is now uppermost in +my heart, it is, that you may learn to esteem each other as you ought, +when, I doubt not, you will become as happy as you both deserve to be. +What greater earthly blessing can I implore upon you! + +"Chatterton." + +Emily, while reading this epistle, felt a confusion but little inferior +to that which would have oppressed her had Denbigh himself been at her +feet, soliciting that love Chatterton thought him so worthy of +possessing; and when they met, she could hardly look in the face a man +who, it would seem, had been so openly selected by another, as the +fittest to be her partner for life. The unaltered manner of Denbigh +himself, however, soon convinced her that he was entirely ignorant of +the contents of the note, and it greatly relieved her from the +awkwardness his presence at first occasioned. + +Francis soon returned, accompanied by his wife and aunt, and was +overjoyed to find the guest who had so unexpectedly arrived. His parents +had not yet returned from their visit, and Denbigh, of course, would +remain at his present quarters. John promised to continue with them for +a couple of days: and everything was soon settled to the perfect +satisfaction of the whole party. Mrs. Wilson knew the great danger of +suffering young people to be inmates of the same house too well, +wantonly to incur the penalties, but her visit had nearly expired, and +it might give her a better opportunity of judging Denbigh's character; +and Grace Chatterton, though too delicate to follow herself, was well +contented to be followed, especially when John Moseley was the pursuer. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +"I am sorry, aunt, Mr. Denbigh is not rich," said Emily to Mrs. Wilson, +after they had retired in the evening, almost unconscious of what she +uttered. The latter looked at her niece in surprise, at a remark so +abrupt, and one so very different from the ordinary train of Emily's +reflections, as she required an explanation. Emily, slightly coloring at +the channel her thoughts had insensibly strayed into, gave her aunt an +account of their adventure in the course of the morning's drive, and +touched lightly on the difference in the amount of the alms of her +brother and those of Mr. Denbigh. + +"The bestowal of money is not always an act of charity," observed Mrs. +Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped: though neither ceased to +dwell on it in her thoughts, until sleep closed the eyes of both. + +The following day Mrs. Wilson invited Grace and Emily to accompany her +in a walk; the gentlemen having preceded them in pursuit of their +different avocations. Francis had his regular visits of spiritual +consolation; John had gone to the hall for his pointers and fowling- +piece, the season for woodcock having arrived; and Denbigh had proceeded +no one knew whither. On gaining the high-road, Mrs. Wilson desired her +companions to lead the way to the cottage where the family of the +mendicant gardener had been lodged, and thither they soon arrived. On +knocking at the door, they were immediately admitted to an outer room; +in which they found the wife of the laborer who inhabited the building, +engaged in her customary morning employments. They explained the motives +of the visit, and were told that the family they sought were in an +adjoining room, but she rather thought at that moment engaged with a +clergyman who had called a quarter of an hour before. "I expect, my +lady, it's the new rector, who everybody says is so good to the poor and +needy; but I have not found time yet to go to church to hear his +reverence preach, ma'am," courtseying and handing the fresh dusted +chairs to her unexpected visitors. The ladies seated themselves, too +delicate to interrupt Francis in his sacred duties, and were silently +waiting his appearance, when a voice was distinctly heard through the +thin partition, the first note of which undeceived them as to the +character of the gardener's visitor. + +"It appears then, Davis, by your own confession," said Denbigh, mildly, +but in a tone of reproof, "that your frequent acts of intemperance have +at least given ground for the steward's procuring your discharge if it +has not justified him in doing that which his duty to your common +employer required." + +"It is hard, sir," replied the man sullenly, "to be thrown on the world +with a family like mine, to make way for a younger man with but one +child." + +"It may be unfortunate for your wife and children," said Denbigh, "but +just, as respects yourself. I have already convinced you, that my +interference or reproof is not an empty one: carry the letter to the +person to whom it is directed, and I pledge you, you shall have a new +trial; and should you conduct yourself soberly, and with propriety, +continued and ample support; the second letter will gain you children +immediate admission to the school I mentioned; and I now leave you, with +an earnest injunction to remember that habits of intemperance not only +disqualify you to support those who have such great claims on your +protection, but inevitably lead to a loss of those powers which are +necessary to insure your own eternal welfare." + +"May Heaven bless your honor," cried the woman, with fervor, and +evidently in tears, "both for what you have said, and what you have +done. Thomas only wants to be taken from temptation, to become a sober +man again--an honest one he has ever been, I am sure." + +"I have selected a place for him," replied Denbigh "where there is no +exposure through improper companions, and everything now depends upon +himself, under Providence." + +Mrs. Wilson had risen from her chair on the first intimation given by +Denbigh of his intention to go, but had paused at the door to listen to +this last speech; when beckoning her companions, she hastily withdrew, +having first made a small present to the woman of the cottage, and +requested her not to mention their having called. + +"What becomes now of the comparative charity of your brother and Mr. +Denbigh, Emily?" asked Mrs. Wilson, as they gained the road on their +return homewards. Emily was not accustomed to hear any act of John +slightly spoken of without at least manifesting some emotion, which +betrayed her sisterly regard; but on the present occasion she chose to +be silent; while Grace, after waiting in expectation that her cousin +would speak, ventured to say timidly-- + +"I am sure, dear madam, Mr. Moseley was very liberal and the tears were +in his eyes while he gave the money. I was looking directly at them the +whole time." + +"John is compassionate by nature," continued Mrs. Wilson with an almost +imperceptible smile. "I have no doubt his sympathies were warmly +enlisted in behalf of this family and possessing much, he gave +liberally. I have no doubt he would have undergone personal privation to +have relieved their distress, and endured both pain and labor, with such +an excitement before him. But what is all that to the charity of Mr. +Denbigh?" + +Grace was unused to contend, and, least of all, with Mrs. Wilson; but, +unwilling to abandon John to such censure, with increased animation, she +said-- + +"If bestowing freely, and feeling for the distress you relieve, be not +commendable, madam, I am sure I am ignorant what is." + +"That compassion for the woes of others is beautiful in itself, and the +want of it an invariable evidence of corruption from too much, and an +ill-governed intercourse with the world, I am willing to acknowledge, my +dear Grace," said Mrs. Wilson, kindly; "but the relief of misery, where +the heart has not undergone this hardening ordeal, is only a relief to +our own feelings: this is compassion; but Christian charity is a higher +order of duty: it enters into every sensation of the heart; disposes us +to judge, as well as to act, favorably to our fellow creatures; is +deeply seated in the sense of our own unworthiness; keeps a single eye, +in its dispensations of temporal benefits, to the everlasting happiness +of the objects of its bounty; is consistent, well regulated; in short,"- +-and Mrs. Wilson's pale cheek glowed with an unusual richness of color-- +"it is an humble attempt to copy after the heavenly example of our +Redeemer, in sacrificing ourselves to the welfare of others, and does +and must proceed from a love of his person, and an obedience to his +mandates." + +"And Mr. Denbigh, aunt," exclaimed Emily, the blood mantling to her +cheeks with a sympathetic glow, while she lost all consideration for +John in the strength of her feelings, "his charity you think to be of +this description?" + +"So far, my child, as we can understand motives from the nature of the +conduct, such appears to have been the charity of Mr. Denbigh." + +Grace was silenced, if not convinced; and the ladies continued their +walk, lost in their own reflections, until they reached a bend in the +road which hid the cottage from view. Emily involuntarily turned her +head as they arrived at the spot, and saw that Denbigh had approached +within a few paces of them. On joining them, he commenced his +complimentary address in such a way as convinced them the cottager had +been true to the injunction given by Mrs. Wilson. No mention was made of +the gardener, and Denbigh began a lively description of some foreign +scenery, of which their present situation reminded him. The discourse +was maintained with great interest by himself and Mrs. Wilson for the +remainder of their walk. + +It was yet early when they reached the parsonage, where they found John, +who had driven to the hall to breakfast, and who, instead of pursuing +his favorite amusement of shooting, laid down his gun as they entered, +observing, "It is rather soon yet for the woodcocks, and I believe I +will listen to your entertaining conversation, ladies, for the remainder +of the morning." He threw himself upon a sofa at no great distance from +Grace, and in such a position as enabled him, without rudeness, to study +the features of her lovely face, while Denbigh read aloud to the ladies +Campbell's beautiful description of wedded love, in Gertrude of Wyoming. + +There was a chastened correctness in the ordinary manner of Denbigh +which wore the appearance of the influence of his reason, and a +subjection of the passions, that, if anything, gave him less interest +with Emily than had it been marked by an evidence of stronger feeling. +But on the present occasion, this objection was removed: his reading was +impressive; he dwelt on those passages which most pleased him with a +warmth of eulogium fully equal to her own undisguised sensations. In the +hour occupied in the reading this exquisite little poem, and in +commenting on its merits and sentiments, Denbigh gained more on her +imagination than in all their former intercourse. His ideas were as +pure, as chastened, and almost as vivid as those of the poet; and Emily +listened to his periods with intense attention, as they flowed from him +in language as glowing as his ideas. The poem had been first read to her +by her brother, and she was surprised to discover how she had overlooked +its beauties on that occasion. Even John acknowledged that it certainly +appeared a different thing now from what he had then thought it; but +Emily had taxed his declamatory power in the height of the pheasant +season, and, somehow or other, John now imagined that Gertrude was just +such a delicate, feminine, warm-hearted domestic girl as Grace +Chatterton. As Denbigh closed the book, and entered into a general +conversation with Clara and her sister, John followed Grace to a window, +and speaking in a tone of unusual softness for him, he said-- + +"Do you know, Miss Chatterton, I have accepted your brother's invitation +to go into Suffolk this summer, and that you are to be plagued with me +and my pointers again?" + +"Plagued, Mr. Moseley!" said Grace, in a voice even softer than his own. +"I am sure--I am sure, we none of us think you or your dogs in the least +a plague." + +"Ah! Grace," and John was about to become what he had never been before- +-sentimental--- when he saw the carriage of Chatterton, containing the +dowager and Catherine entering the parsonage gates. + +Pshaw! thought John, there comes Mother Chatterton "Ah! Grace," said +John, "there are your mother and sister returned already." + +"Already!" said the young lady, and, for the first time in her life, she +felt rather unlike a dutiful child. Five minutes could have made no +great difference to her mother, and she would greatly have liked to hear +what John Moseley meant to have said; for the alteration in his manner +convinced her that his first "ah! Grace" was to have been continued in a +somewhat different language from that in which the second "ah! Grace" +was ended. + +Young Moseley and her daughter, standing together at the open window, +caught the attention of Lady Chatterton the moment she got a view of the +house, and she entered with a good humor she had not felt since the +disappointment in her late expedition in behalf of Catherine; for the +gentleman she had had in view in this excursion had been taken up by +another rover, acting on her own account, and backed by a little more +wit and a good deal more money than what Kate could be fairly thought to +possess. Nothing further in that quarter offering in the way of her +occupation, she turned her horses' heads towards London, that great +theatre on which there never was a loss for actors. The salutations had +hardly passed before, turning to John, she exclaimed, with what she +intended for a most motherly smile, "What! not shooting this fine day, +Mr. Moseley? I thought you never missed a day in the season." + +"It is rather early yet, my lady," said John, coolly, a little alarmed +by the expression of her countenance. + +"Oh!" continued the dowager, in the same strain, "I see how it is; the +ladies have too many attractions for so gallant a young man as +yourself." Now, as Grace, her own daughter, was the only lady of the +party who could reasonably be supposed to have much influence over +John's movements--a young gentleman seldom caring as much for his own as +for other people's sisters, this may be fairly set down as a pretty +broad hint of the opinion the dowager entertained of the real state of +things; and John saw it, and Grace saw it. The former coolly replied, +"Why, upon the whole, if you will excuse the neglect, I will try a shot +this fine day." In five minutes, Carlo and Rover were both delighted. +Grace kept her place at the window, from a feeling she could not define, +and of which perhaps she was unconscious, until the gate closed, and the +shrubbery hid the sportsman from her sight, and then she withdrew to her +room to weep. + +Had Grace Chatterton been a particle less delicate--less retiring-- +blessed with a managing mother, as she was, John Moseley would not have +thought another moment about her. But, on every occasion when the +dowager made any of her open attacks, Grace discovered so much distress, +so much unwillingness to second them, that a suspicion of a confederacy +never entered his brain. It is not to be supposed that Lady Chattelton's +manoeuvres were limited to the direct and palpable schemes we have +mentioned; no--these were the effervescence, the exuberance of her zeal; +but as is generally the case, they sufficiently proved the ground-work +of all her other machinations; none of the little artifices of such as +placing--of leaving alone--of showing similarity of tastes:--of +compliments to the gentlemen, were neglected.--This latter business she +had contrived to get Catherine to take off her hands; but Grace could +never pay a compliment in her life, unless changing of color, trembling, +undulations of the bosom, and such natural movements can be so called; +but she loved dearly to receive them from John Moseley. + +"Well, my child," said the mother, as she seated herself by the side of +her daughter, who hastily endeavored to conceal her tears, "when are we +to have another wedding? I trust everything is settled between you and +Mr. Moseley, by this time." + +"Mother! Mother!" said Grace, nearly gasping for breath, "Mother, you +will break my heart, indeed you will." She hid her face in the clothes +of the bed by which she sat, and wept with a feeling of despair. + +"Tut, my dear," replied the dowager, not noticing her anguish, or +mistaking it for a girlish shame, "you young people are fools in these +matters, but Sir Edward and myself will arrange everything as it should +be." + +The daughter now not only looked up, but sprang from her seat, her hands +clasped together, her eyes fixed in horror, her cheek pale as death; but +the mother had retired, and Grace sank back into her chair with a +sensation of disgrace, of despair, which could not have been surpassed, +had she really merited the obloquy and shame which she thought were +about to be heaped upon her. + + + +Chapter XVII. + +The succeeding morning, the whole party, with, the exception of Denbigh, +returned to the hall. Nothing had occurred out of the ordinary course of +the colonel's assiduities; and Jane, whose sense of propriety forbad the +indulgence of premeditated tête-à -têtes, and such little accompaniments +of every-day attachments, was rejoiced to see a sister she loved, and an +aunt she respected, once more in the bosom of her family. + +The dowager impatiently waited an opportunity to effect, what she +intended for a master-stroke of policy in the disposal of Grace. Like +all other managers, she thought no one equal to herself in devising ways +and means, and was unwilling to leave anything to nature. Grace had +invariably thwarted all her schemes by her obstinacy; and as she thought +young Moseley really attached to her, she determined by a bold stroke to +remove the impediments of false shame, and the dread of repulse, which +she believed alone kept the youth from an avowal of his wishes, and get +rid at once of a plague that had annoyed her not a little--her +daughter's delicacy. + +Sir Edward spent an hour every morning in his library, overlooking his +accounts, and in other necessary employments of a similar nature, and it +was here she determined to have the conference. + +"My Lady Chatterton, you do me honor," said the baronet, handing her a +chair on her entrance. + +"Upon my word, cousin," cried the dowager, "you have a very convenient +apartment here," looking around her in affected admiration of all she +saw. + +The baronet replied, and a short discourse on the arrangements of the +whole house insensibly led to some remarks on the taste of his mother, +the Honorable Lady Moseley (a Chatterton), until, having warmed the +feelings of the old gentleman by some well-timed compliments of that +nature, she ventured on the principal object of her visit. + +"I am happy to find, Sir Edward, you are so well pleased with the family +as to wish to make another selection from it. I sincerely hope it may +prove as judicious as the former one." + +Sir Edward was a little at a loss to understand her meaning, although he +thought it might allude to his son, who he had some time suspected had +views on Grace Chatterton; and willing to know the truth, and rather +pleased to find John had selected a young woman he loved in his heart, +he observed-- + +"I am not sure I rightly understand your ladyship, though I hope I do." + +"No!" cried the dowager, in well-counterfeited affectation of surprise. +"Perhaps, after all, maternal anxiety has deceived me, then. Mr. Moseley +could hardly have ventured to proceed without your approbation." + +"I have ever declined influencing any of my children, Lady Chatterton," +said the baronet, "and John is not ignorant of my sentiments. I +sincerely hope, however, you allude to an attachment to Grace?" + +"I did certainly, Sir Edward," said the lady, hesitatingly. "I may be +deceived; but you must understand the feelings of a mother, and a young +woman ought not to be trifled with." + +"My son is incapable of trifling, I hope," cried Sir Edward; with +animation, "and, least of all, with Grace Chatterton. No; you are quite +right. If he has made his choice, he should not be ashamed to avow it." + +"I would not wish, on any account, to hurry matters," said the dowager; +"but the report which is abroad will prevent other young men from +putting in their claims, Sir Edward" (sighing). "I have a mother's +feelings: if I have been hasty, your goodness will overlook it." And +Lady Chatterton placed her handkerchief to her eyes, to conceal the +tears that did not flow. + +Sir Edward thought all this very natural, and as it should be, and he +sought an early conference with his son. + +"John," said the father, taking his hand kindly, "you have no reason to +doubt my affection or my compliance to your wishes. Fortune is a thing +out of the question with a young man of your expectations." And Sir +Edward, in his eagerness to smoothe the way, went on: "You can live +here, or occupy my small seat in Wiltshire. I can allow you five +thousand a year, with much ease to myself. Indeed, your mother and +myself would both straighten ourselves, to add to your comforts; but it +is unnecessary--we have enough, and you have enough." + +Sir Edward, in a few moments, would have settled everything to the +dowager's perfect satisfaction, had not John interrupted him by the +exclamation of-- + +"To what do you allude, father?" + +"Allude?" said Sir Edward, simply. "Why, Grace Chatterton, my son." + +"Grace Chatterton! Sir Edward. What have I to do with Grace Chatterton?" + +"Her mother has made me acquainted with your proposals, and"-- + +"Proposals!" + +"Attentions, I ought to have said; and you have no reason to apprehend +anything from me, my child." + +"Attentions!" said John, haughtily. "I hope Lady Chatterton does not +accuse me of improper attentions to her daughter?" + +"No, not improper, my son," said his father: "on the contrary, she is +much pleased with them." + +"She is, is she? But I am displeased that she should undertake to put +constructions on my acts that no attention or words of mine will +justify." + +It was now Sir Edward's turn to be surprised. He had thought he was +doing his son a kindness, when he had only been forwarding the dowager's +schemes; but averse from contention, and wondering at his cousin's +mistake, which he at once attributed to her anxiety in behalf of a +favorite daughter, he told John he was sorry there had been any +misapprehension, and left him. + +"No, no," said Moseley, internally, as he paced up and down his father's +library, "my lady dowager, you are not going to force a wife down my +throat. If you do, I am mistaken; and Grace, if Grace"--John softened +and began to feel unhappy a little, but anger prevailed. + +From the moment Grace Chatterton conceived a dread of her mother's +saying anything to Sir Edward, her whole conduct was altered. She could +hardly look any of the family in the face, and it was her most ardent +wish that they might depart. John she avoided as she would an adder, +although it nearly broke her heart to do so. + +Mr. Benfield had stayed longer than usual, and he now wished to return. +John Moseley eagerly profited by this opportunity, and the very day +after the conversation in the library he went to Benfield Lodge as a +dutiful nephew, to see his venerable uncle safely restored once more to +the abode of his ancestors. + +Lady Chatterton now perceived, when too late, that she had overshot her +mark, while, at the same time, she wondered at the reason of a result so +strange from such well-digested and well-conducted plans. She +determined, however, never again to interfere between her daughter and +the baronet's heir; concluding, with a nearer approach to the truth than +always accompanied her deductions, that they resembled ordinary lovers +in neither their temperaments nor opinions. + +Perceiving no further use in remaining any longer at the hall, she took +her leave, and, accompanied by both her daughters, proceeded to the +capital, where she expected to meet her son. + +Dr. Ives and his wife returned to the rectory on the same day, and +Denbigh immediately resumed his abode under their roof. The intercourse +between the rector's family and Sir Edward's was renewed with all its +former friendly confidence. + +Colonel Egerton began to speak of his departure also, but hinted at +intentions of visiting L---- at the period of the baronet's visit to his +uncle, before he proceeded to town in the winter. + +L---- was a small village on the coast, within a mile of Benfield Lodge; +and from its natural convenience, it had long been resorted to by the +neighboring gentry for the benefit of sea bathing. The baronet had +promised Mr. Benfield his visit should be made at an earlier day than +usual, in order to gratify Jane with a visit to Bath, before they went +to London, at which town they were promised by Mrs. Jarvis the pleasure +of her society, and that of her son and daughters. + +Precaution is a word of simple meaning in itself, but various are the +ways adopted by different individuals in this life to enforce its +import; and not a few are the evils which it is thought necessary to +guard against. To provide in season against the dangers of want; +personal injury, loss of character, and a great many other such +acknowledged misfortunes, has become a kind of instinctive process of +our natures. The few exceptions which exist only go to prove the rule: +in addition to these, almost every man has some ruling propensity to +gratify, to advance which his ingenuity is ever on the alert, or some +apprehended evil to avert, which calls all his prudence into activity. +Yet how seldom is it exerted, in order to give a rational ground to +expect permanent happiness in wedlock. + +Marriage is called a lottery, and it is thought, like all other +lotteries, there are more blanks than prizes; yet is it not made more +precarious than it ought to be, by our neglect of that degree of +precaution which we would be ridiculed for omitting in conducting our +every-day concerns? Is not the standard of matrimonial felicity placed +too low? Ought we not to look more to the possession of principles than +to the possession of wealth? Or is it at all justifiable in a Christian +to commit a child, a daughter, to the keeping of a man who wants the +very essential they acknowledge most necessary to constitute a perfect +character? Most men revolt at infidelity in a woman, and most men, +however licentious themselves, look for, at least, the exterior of +religion in their wives. The education of their children is a serious +responsibility; and although seldom conducted on such rules as will +stand the test of reason, it is not to be entirely shaken off: they +choose their early impressions should be correct, their infant conduct +at least blameless. And are not one half mankind of the male sex? Are +precepts in religion, in morals, only for females? Are we to reverse the +theory of the Mahommedans, and though we do not believe it, act as if +men had no souls. Is not the example of the father as important to the +son as that of the mother to the daughter? In short, is there any +security against the commission of enormities, but an humble and devout +dependence on the assistance of that Almighty Power, which alone is able +to hold us up against temptation? + +Uniformity of taste is no doubt necessary to what we call love, but is +not taste acquired? Would our daughters admire a handsome deist, if +properly impressed with a horror of his doctrines, sooner than they now +would admire a handsome Mahommedan? We would refuse our children to a +pious dissenter, to give them to impious members of the establishment: +we make the substance less than the shadow. + +Our principal characters are possessed of these diversified views of the +evils to be averted. Mrs. Wilson considers Christianity an indispensable +requisite in the husband to be permitted to her charge, and watches +against the possibility of any other than a Christian's gaining the +affections of Emily. Lady Chatterton considers the want of an +establishment as the unpardonable sin, and directs her energies to +prevent this evil; while John Moseley looks upon a free will as the +birthright of an Englishman, and is, at the present moment, anxiously +alive to prevent the dowager's making him the husband of Grace, the +thing of all others he most strenuously desires. + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +John Moseley returned from L---- within a week, and appeared as if his +whole delight consisted in knocking over the inoffensive birds. His +restlessness induced him to make Jarvis his companion; for although he +abhorred the captain's style of pursuing the sport, being in his opinion +both out of rule and without taste, yet he was a constitutional fidget, +and suited his own moving propensities at the moment. Egerton and +Denbigh were both frequently at the hall, but generally gave their time +to the ladies, neither being much inclined to the favorite amusement of +John. + +There was a little arbor within the walls of the park, which for years +had been a retreat from the summer heats to the ladies of the Moseley +family; even so long as the youth of Mrs. Wilson it had been in vogue, +and she loved it with a kind of melancholy pleasure, as the spot where +she had first listened to the language of love from the lips of her late +husband. Into this arbor the ladies had one day retired, during the +warmth of a noon-day sun, with the exception of Lady Moseley, who had +her own engagement in the house. Between Egerton and Denbigh there was +maintained a kind of courtly intercourse, which prevented any +disagreeable collision from their evident dislike. Mrs. Wilson thought, +on the part of Denbigh, it was the forbearance of a principled +indulgence to another's weakness; while the colonel's otherwise uniform +good breeding was hardly able to conceal a something amounting to very +near repugnance. Egerton had taken his seat on the ground, near the feet +of Jane; and Denbigh was stationed on a bench placed without the arbor +but so near as to have the full benefit of the shade of the noble oak, +branches of which had been trained so as to compose its principal +covering. It might have been accident, that gave each his particular +situation; but it is certain they were so placed as not to be in sight +of each other, and so placed that the colonel was ready to hand Jane her +scissors, or any other little implement that she occasionally dropped, +and that Denbigh could read every lineament of the animated countenance +of Emily as she listened to his description of the curiosities of Egypt, +a country in which he had spent a few months while attached to the army +in Sicily. In this situation we will leave them for an hour, happy in +the society of each other, while we trace the route of John Moseley and +his companion, in their pursuit of woodcock, on the same day. + +"Do you know, Moseley," said Jarvis, who began to think he was a +favorite with John, now that he was admitted to his menus plaisirs, +"that I have taken it into my head this Mr. Denbigh was very happy to +plead his morals for not meeting me. He is a soldier, but I cannot find +out what battles he has been in." + +"Captain Jarvis," said John, coolly, "the less you say about that +business the better. Call in Rover." + +Now, another of Jarvis's recommendations was a set of lungs that might +have been heard half a mile with great ease on a still morning. + +"Why," said Jarvis, rather humbly, "I am sensible, Mr Moseley, I was +very wrong as regards your sister; but don't you think it a little odd +in a soldier not to fight when properly called upon?" + +"I suppose Mr. Denbigh did not think himself properly called upon, or +perhaps he had heard what a great shot you were." + +Six months before his appearance in B----, Captain Jarvis had been a +clerk in the counting-room of Jarvis, Baxter & Co., and had never held +fire-arms of any kind in his hand, with the exception of an old +blunderbuss, which had been a kind of sentinel over the iron chest for +years. On mounting the cockade, he had taken up shooting as a martial +exercise, inasmuch as the burning of gunpowder was an attendant of the +recreation. He had never killed but one bird in his life, and that was +an owl, of which he took the advantage of daylight and his stocking feet +to knock off a tree in the deanery grounds, very early after his +arrival. In his trials with John, he sometimes pulled trigger at the +same moment with his companion; and as the bird generally fell, he +thought he had an equal claim to the honor. He was fond of warring with +crows and birds of the larger sort, and invariably went provided with +small balls fitted to the bore of his fowling-piece for such accidental +rencontres. He had another habit, which was not a little annoying to +John, who had several times tried in vain to break him of it--that of +shooting at marks. If birds were not plenty, he would throw up a chip, +and sometimes his hat, by way of shooting on the wing. + +As the day was excessively hot, and the game kept close, John felt +willing to return from such unprofitable labor. The captain now +commenced his chip firing, which in a few minutes was succeeded by his +hat. + +"See, Moseley, see; I have hit the band," cried the captain, delighted +to find he had at last wounded his old antagonist. "I don't think you +can beat that yourself." + +"I am not sure I can," said John, slipping a handful of gravel in the +muzzle of his piece slily, "but I can do, as you did--try." + +"Do," cried the captain, pleased to get his companion down to his own +level of amusements. "Are you ready?" + +"Yes; throw." + +Jarvis threw, and John fired: the hat fairly bounced. + +"Have I hit it?" asked John, while reloading the barrel he had +discharged. + +"Hit it!" said the captain, looking ruefully at his hat. "It looks like +a cullender; but, Moseley, your gun don't scatter well: a dozen shot +have gone through in the same place." + +"It does look rather like a cullender," said John, as he overlooked his +companion's beaver, "and, by the size of some of the holes, one that has +been a good deal used." + +The reports of the fowling-pieces announced to the party in the arbor +the return of the sportsmen, it being an invariable practice with John +Moseley to discharge his gun before he came in; and Jarvis had imitated +him, from a wish to be what he called in rule. + +"Mr. Denbigh," said John, as he put down his gun, "Captain Jarvis has +got the better of his hat at last." + +Denbigh smiled without speaking; and the captain, unwilling to have +anything to say to a gentleman to whom be had been obliged to apologize, +went into the arbor to show the mangled condition of his head-piece to +the colonel, on whose sympathies he felt a kind of claim, being of the +same corps. John complained of thirst, and went to a little run of water +but a short distance from them, in order to satisfy it. The interruption +of Jarvis was particularly unseasonable. Jane was relating, in a manner +peculiar to herself, in which was mingled that undefinable exchange of +looks lovers are so fond of, some incident of her early life to the +colonel that greatly interested him. Knowing the captain's foibles, he +pointed, therefore, with his finger, as he said-- + +"There is one of your old enemies, a hawk." + +Jarvis threw down his hat, and ran with boyish eagerness to drive away +the intruder. In his haste, he caught up the gun of John Moseley, and +loading it rapidly/threw in a ball from his usual stock; but whether the +hawk saw and knew him, or whether it saw something else it liked better, +it made a dart for the baronet's poultry-yard at no great distance, and +was out of sight in a minute. Seeing that his foe had vanished, the +captain laid the piece where he had found it, and, recovering his old +train of ideas, picked up his hat again. + +"John," said Emily, as she approached him affectionately, "you were too +warm to drink." + +"Stand off, sis," cried John, playfully, taking up the gun from against +the body of the tree, and dropping it towards her. + +Jarvis had endeavored to make an appeal to the commiseration of Emily in +favor of the neglected beaver, and was within a few feet of them. At +this moment, recoiling from the muzzle of the gun, he exclaimed, "It is +loaded!" "Hold," cried Denbigh, in a voice of horror, as he sprang +between John and his sister. Both were too late; the piece was +discharged. Denbigh, turning to Emily, and smiling mournfully, gazed for +a moment at her with an expression of tenderness, of pleasure, of +sorrow, so blended that she retained the recollection of it for life, +and fell at her feet. + +The gun dropped from the nerveless grasp of young Moseley. Emily sank in +insensibility by the side of her preserver. Mrs. Wilson and Jane stood +speechless and aghast. The colonel alone retained the presence of mind +necessary to devise the steps to be immediately taken. He sprang to the +examination of Denbigh; the eyes of the wounded man were open, and his +recollection perfect: the first were fixed in intense observation on the +inanimate body which lay at his side. + +"Leave me, Colonel Egerton," he said, speaking with difficulty, and +pointing in the direction of the little run of water, "assist Miss +Moseley--your hat--your hat will answer." + +Accustomed to scenes of blood, and not ignorant that time and care were +the remedies to be applied to the wounded man, Egerton flew to the +stream, and returning immediately, by the help of her sister and Mrs. +Wilson, soon restored Emily to life. The ladies and John had now begun +to act. The tenderest assiduities of Jane were devoted to her sister; +while Mrs. Wilson observing her niece to be uninjured by anything but +the shock, assisted John in supporting the wounded man. + +Denbigh spoke, requesting to be carried to the house; and Jarvis was +despatched for help. Within half an hour, Denbigh was placed on a couch +in the house of Sir Edward, and was quietly waiting for that +professional aid which could only decide on his probable fate. The group +assembled in the room were in fearful expectation of the arrival of the +surgeons, in pursuit of whom messengers had been sent both to the +barracks in F---- and to the town itself. Sir Edward sat by the side of +the sufferer, holding one of his hands in his own, now turning his +tearful eyes on that daughter who had so lately been rescued as it were +from the certainty of death, in mute gratitude and thanksgiving; and now +dwelling on the countenance of him, who, by bravely interposing his +bosom to the blow, had incurred in his own person the imminent danger of +a similar fate, with a painful sense of his perilous situation, and +devout and earnest prayers for his safety. Emily was with her father, as +with the rest of his family, a decided favorite; and no reward would +have been sufficient, no gratitude lively enough, in the estimation of +the baronet, to compensate the protector of such a child. She sat +between her mother and Jane, with a hand held by each, pale and +oppressed with a load of gratitude, of thanksgiving, of woe, that almost +bowed her to the earth. Lady Moseley and Jane were both sensibly touched +with the deliverance of Emily, and manifested the interest they took in +her by the tenderest caresses, while Mrs. Wilson sat calmly collected +within herself, occasionally giving those few directions which were +necessary under the circumstances, and offering up her silent petitions +in behalf of the sufferer. John had taken horse immediately for F----, +and Jarvis had volunteered to go to the rectory and Bolton. Denbigh +inquired frequently and with much anxiety for Dr. Ives; but the rector +was absent from home on a visit to a sick parishioner, and it was late +in the evening before he arrived. Within three hours of the accident, +however, Dr. Black, the surgeon of the ----th, reached the hall, and +immediately proceeded to examine the wound. The ball had penetrated the +right breast, and gone directly through the body; it was extracted with +very little difficulty, and his attendant acquainted the anxious friends +of Denbigh that the heart certainly, and he hoped the lungs, had escaped +uninjured. The ball was a very small one, and the principal danger to be +apprehended was from fever: he had taken the usual precautions against +that, and should it not set in with a violence greater than he +apprehended at present, the patient might be abroad within the month. + +"But," continued the surgeon, with the hardened indifference of his +profession, "the gentleman has had a narrow chance in the passage of the +ball itself; half an inch would have settled his accounts with this +world." + +This information greatly relieved the family, and orders were given to +preserve a silence in the house that would favor the patient's +disposition to quiet, or, if possible, sleep. + +Dr. Ives now reached the hall. Mrs. Wilson had never seen the rector in +the agitation, or with the want of self-command he was in, as she met +him at the entrance of the house. + +"Is he alive?--is there hope?--where is George?"--cried the doctor, as +he caught the extended hand of Mrs. Wilson. She briefly acquainted him +with the surgeon's report, and the reasonable ground there was to expect +Denbigh would survive the injury. + +"May God be praised," said the rector, in a suppressed voice, and he +hastily withdrew into another room. Mrs. Wilson followed him slowly and +in silence; but was checked on opening the door with the sight of the +rector on his knees, the tears stealing down his venerable cheeks in +quick succession. "Surely," thought the widow, as she drew back +unnoticed, "a youth capable of exciting such affection in a man like Dr. +Ives, cannot be unworthy." + +Denbigh, hearing of the arrival of his friend, desired to see him alone. +Their conference was short, and the rector returned from it with +increased hopes of the termination of this dreadful accident. He +immediately left the hall for his own house, with a promise of returning +early on the following morning. + +During the night, however, the symptoms became unfavorable; and before +the return of Dr. Ives, Denbigh was in a state of delirium from the +height of his fever, and the apprehensions of his friends were renewed +with additional force. + +"What, what, my good sir, do you think of him?" said the baronet to the +family physician, with an emotion that the danger of his dearest child +would not have exceeded, and within hearing of most of his children, who +were collected in the ante-chamber of the room in which Denbigh was +placed. + +"It is impossible to say, Sir Edward," replied the physician: "he +refuses all medicines, and unless this fever abates, there is but little +hope of recovery." + +Emily stood during this question and answer, motionless, pale as death, +and with her hands clasped together, betraying by the workings of her +fingers in a kind of convulsive motion, the intensity of her interest. +She had seen the draught prepared which it was so desirable that Denbigh +should take, and it now stood rejected on a table, where it could be +seen through the open door of his room. Almost breathless, she glided +in, and taking the draught in her hand, she approached the bed, by which +sat John alone, listening with a feeling of despair to the wanderings of +the sick man. Emily hesitated once or twice, as she drew near Denbigh; +her face had lost the paleness of anxiety, and glowed with another +emotion. + +"Mr. Denbigh--dear Denbigh." said Emily, with energy, unconsciously +dropping her voice into the softest notes of persuasion, "will you +refuse me?--me, Emily Moseley, whose life you have saved?" + +"Emily Moseley!" repeated Denbigh, and in those tones so remarkable to +his natural voice. "Is she safe? I thought she was killed--dead." Then, +as if recollecting himself, he gazed intently on her countenance--his +eye became less fiery--his muscles relaxed--he smiled, and took, with +the docility of a well-trained child, the prescribed medicines from her +hand. His ideas still wandered, but his physician, profiting by the +command Emily possessed over his patient, increased his care, and by +night the fever had abated, and before morning the wounded man was in a +profound sleep. During the whole day, it was thought necessary to keep +Emily by the side of his bed; but at times it was no trifling tax on her +feelings to remain there. He spoke of her by name in the tenderest +manner, although incoherently, and in terms that restored to the +blanched cheeks of the distressed girl more than the richness of their +native color. His thoughts were not confined to Emily, however: he +talked of his father, of his mother, and frequently spoke of his poor +deserted Marian. The latter name he dwelt on in the language of the +warmest affection, condemned his own desertion of her, and, taking Emily +for her, would beg her forgiveness, tell her her sufferings had been +enough, and that he would return, and never leave her again. At such +moments his nurse would sometimes show, by the paleness of her cheeks, +her anxiety for his health; and then, as he addressed her by her proper +appellation, all her emotions appeared absorbed in the sense of shame at +the praises with which he overwhelmed her. Mrs. Wilson succeeded her in +the charge of the patient, and she retired to seek that repose she so +greatly needed. + +On the second morning after receiving the wound, Denbigh dropped into a +deep sleep, from which he awoke refreshed and perfectly collected in +mind. The fever had left him, and his attendants pronounced, with the +usual cautions to prevent a relapse, his recovery certain. It were +impossible to have communicated any intelligence more grateful to all +the members of the Moseley family; for Jane had even lost sight of her +own lover, in sympathy for the fate of a man who had sacrificed himself +to save her beloved sister. + + + +Chapter XIX. + +The recovery of Denbigh was as rapid as the most sanguine expectation of +his friends could hope for, and in ten days he left his bed, and would +sit an hour or two at a time in his dressing-room, where Mrs. Wilson, +accompanied by Jane or Emily, came and read to him; and it was a remark +of Sir Edward's gamekeeper, that the woodcocks had become so tame during +the time Mr. Moseley was shut up in attendance on his friend, that +Captain Jarvis was at last actually seen to bag one honestly. + +As Jarvis felt something like a consciousness that but for his folly the +accident would not have happened, and also something very like shame for +the manner he had shrunk from the danger Denbigh had so nobly met, he +pretended a recall to his regiment, then on duty near London, and left +the deanery. He went off as he came in--in the colonel's tilbury, and +accompanied by his friend and his pointers, John, who saw them pass from +the windows of Denbigh's dressing-room, fervently prayed he might never +come back again--the chip-shooting poacher! + +Colonel Egerton had taken leave of Jane the evening preceding, with many +assurances of the anxiety with which he should look forward to the +moment of their meeting at L----, whither he intended repairing as soon +as his corps had gone through its annual review. Jane had followed the +bent of her natural feelings too much, during the period of Denbigh's +uncertain fate, to think much of her lover, or anything else but her +rescued sister and her preserver; but now the former was pronounced in +safety, and the latter, by the very reaction of her grief, was, if +possible, happier than ever, Jane dwelt in melancholy sadness on the +perfections of the man who had taken with him the best affections (as +she thought) of her heart. With him all was perfect: his morals were +unexceptionable; his manners showed it; his tenderness of disposition +manifest, for they had wept together over the distresses of more than +one fictitious heroine; his temper, how amiable! he was never angry--she +had never seen it; his opinions, his tastes, how correct! they were her +own; his form, his face, how agreeable!--her eyes had seen it, and her +heart acknowledged it; besides, his eyes confessed the power of her own +charms; he was brave, for he was a soldier;--in short, as Emily had +predicted, he was a hero--for he was Colonel Egerton. + +Had Jane been possessed of less exuberance of fancy, she might have been +a little at a loss to identify all these good properties with her hero: +or had she possessed a matured or well-regulated judgment to control +that fancy, they might possibly have assumed a different appearance. No +explanation had taken place between them, however. Jane knew, both by +her own feelings and by all the legends of love from its earliest days, +that the moment of parting was generally a crisis in affairs of the +heart, and, with a backwardness occasioned by her modesty, had rather +avoided than sought an opportunity to favor the colonel's wishes. +Egerton had not been over anxious to come to the point, and everything +was left as heretofore: neither, however, appeared to doubt in the least +the state of the other's affections; and there might be said to exist +between them one of those not unusual engagements by implication which +it would have been, in their own estimation, a breach of faith to recede +from, but which, like all other bargains that are loosely made, are +sometimes violated when convenient. Man is a creature that, as +experience has sufficiently proved, it is necessary to keep in his +proper place in society by wholesome restrictions; and we have often +thought it a matter of regret that some well understood regulations did +not exist by which it became not only customary, but incumbent on him, +to proceed in his road to the temple of Hymen. We know that it is +ungenerous, ignoble, almost unprecedented, to doubt the faith, the +constancy, of a male paragon; yet, somehow, as the papers occasionally +give us a sample of such infidelity; as we have sometimes seen a +solitary female brooding over her woes in silence, and, with the +seemliness of feminine decorum shrinking from the discovery of its +cause, or which the grave has revealed for the first time, we cannot but +wish that either the watchfulness of the parent, or a sense of self- +preservation in the daughter, would, for the want of a better, cause +them to adhere to those old conventional forms of courtship which +require a man to speak to be understood, and a woman to answer to be +committed. + +There was a little parlor in the house of Sir Edward Moseley, that was +the privileged retreat of none but the members of his own family. Here +the ladies were accustomed to withdraw into the bosom of their domestic +quietude, when occasional visitors had disturbed their ordinary +intercourse; and many were the hasty and unreserved communications it +had witnessed between the sisters, in their stolen flights from the +graver scenes of the principal apartments. It might be said to be sacred +to the pious feelings of the domestic affections. Sir Edward would +retire to it when fatigued with his occupations, certain of finding some +one of those he loved to draw his thoughts off from the cares of life to +the little incidents of his children's happiness; and Lady Moseley, even +in the proudest hours of her reviving splendor, seldom passed the door +without looking in, with a smile, on the faces she might find there. It +was, in fact, the room in the large mansion of the baronet, expressly +devoted, by long usage and common consent, to the purest feelings of +human nature. Into this apartment Denbigh had gained admission, as the +one nearest to his own room and requiring the least effort of his +returning strength to reach; and, perhaps, by an undefinable feeling of +the Moseleys which had begun to connect him with themselves, partly from +his winning manners, and partly by the sense of the obligation he had +laid them under. + +One warm day, John and his friend had sought this retreat, in +expectation of meeting his sisters, who they found, however, on inquiry, +had walked to the arbor. After remaining conversing for an hour by +themselves, John was called away to attend to a pointer that had been +taken ill, and Denbigh throwing a handkerchief over his head to guard +against the danger of cold, quietly composed himself on one of the +comfortable sofas of the room, with a disposition to sleep. Before he +had entirely lost his consciousness, a light step moving near him, +caught his ear; believing it to be a servant unwilling to disturb him, +he endeavored to continue in his present mood, until the quick but +stifled breathing of some one nearer than before roused his curiosity. +He commanded himself, however, sufficiently, to remain quiet; a blind of +a window near him was carefully closed; a screen drawn from a corner and +placed so as sensibly to destroy the slight draught of air in which he +laid himself; and other arrangements were making, but with a care to +avoid disturbing him that rendered them hardly audible. Presently the +step approached him again, the breathing was quicker, though gentle, the +handkerchief was moved, but the hand was with drawn hastily as if afraid +of itself. Another effort was successful, and Denbigh stole a glance +through his dark lashes, on the figure of Emily as she stood over him in +the fulness of her charms, and with a face in which glowed an interest +he had never witnessed in it before. It undoubtedly was gratitude. For a +moment she gazed on him, as her color increased in richness. His hand +was carelessly thrown over an arm of the sofa; she stooped towards it +with her face gently, but with an air of modesty that shone in her very +figure. Denbigh felt the warmth of her breath, but her lips did not +touch it. Had he been inclined to judge the actions of Emily Moseley +harshly, it were impossible to mistake the movement for anything but the +impulse of natural feeling. There was a pledge of innocence, of modesty +in her countenance, that would have prevented any misconstruction; and +he continued quietly awaiting what the preparations on her little +mahogany secretary were intended for. + +Mrs. Wilson entertained a great abhorrence of what is commonly called +accomplishments in a woman; she knew that too much of that precious time +which could never be recalled, was thrown away in endeavoring to acquire +a smattering in what, if known, could never be of use to the party, and +what can never be well known but to a few, whom nature and long practice +have enabled to conquer. Yet as her niece had early manifested a taste +for painting, and a vivid perception of the beauties of nature, her +inclination had been indulged, and Emily Moseley sketched with neatness +and accuracy, and with great readiness. It would have been no subject of +surprise, had admiration, or some more powerful feeling, betrayed to the +artist, on this occasion, the deception the young man was practising. +She had entered the room from her walk, warm and careless; her hair, +than which none was more beautiful, had strayed on her shoulders, freed, +from the confinement of the comb, and a lock was finely contrasted to +the rich color of a cheek that almost burnt with the exercise and the +excitement. Her dress, white as the first snow of the winter; her looks, +as she now turned them on the face of the sleeper, and betrayed by their +animation the success of her art; formed a picture in itself, that +Denbigh would have been content to gaze on for ever. Her back was to a +window that threw its strong light on the paper--the figures of which +were reflected, as she occasionally held it up to study its effect, in a +large mirror so placed that Denbigh caught a view of her subject. He +knew it at a glance--the arbor--the gun--himself, all were there; it +appeared to have been drawn before--it must have been, from its perfect +state, and Emily had seized a favorable moment to complete his own +resemblance. Her touches were light and finishing, and as the picture +was frequently held up for consideration, he had some time allowed for +studying it. His own resemblance was strong; his eyes were turned on +herself, to whom Denbigh thought she had not done ample justice, but the +man who held the gun bore no likeness to John Moseley, except in dress. +A slight movement of the muscles of the sleeper's mouth might have +betrayed his consciousness, had not Emily been too intent on the +picture, as she turned it in such a way that a strong light fell on the +recoiling figure of Captain Jarvis. The resemblance was wonderful. +Denbigh thought he would have known it, had he seen it in the Academy +itself. The noise of some one approaching closed the portfolio; it was +only a servant, yet Emily did not resume her pencil. Denbigh watched her +motions, as she put the picture carefully in a private drawer of the +secretary, reopened the blind, replaced the screen, and laid the +handkerchief, the last thing on his face, with a movement almost +imperceptible to himself. + +"It is later than I thought," said Denbigh, looking at his watch; "I owe +an apology, Miss Moseley, for making so free with your parlor; but I was +too lazy to move." + +"Apology! Mr. Denbigh," cried Emily, with a color varying with every +word she spoke, and trembling at what she thought the nearness of +detection, "you have no apology to make for your present debility; and +surely, surely, least of all to me!" + +"I understand from Mr. Moseley," continued Denbigh, with a smile, "that +our obligation is at least mutual; to your perseverance and care, Miss +Moseley, after the physicians had given me up, I believe I am, under +Providence, indebted for my recovery." + +Emily was not vain, and least of all addicted to a display of any of her +acquirements; very few even of her friends knew she ever held a pencil +in her hand; yet did she now unaccountably throw open her portfolio, and +offer its contents to the examination of her companion. It was done +almost instantaneously, and with great freedom, though not without +certain flushings of the face and heavings of the bosom, that would have +eclipsed Grace Chatterton in her happiest moments of natural flattery. +Whatever might have been the wishes of Mr. Denbigh to pursue a subject +which had begun to grow extremely interesting, both from its import and +the feelings' of the parties, it would have been rude to decline viewing +the contents of a lady's portfolio. The drawings were, many of them, +interesting, and the exhibitor of them now appeared as anxious to remove +them in haste, as she had but the moment before been to direct his +attention to her performances. Denbigh would have given much to dare to +ask for the paper so carefully secreted in the private drawer; but +neither the principal agency he had himself in the scene, nor delicacy +to his companion's wish for concealment, would allow of the request. + +"Doctor Ives! how happy I am to see you," said Emily, hastily closing +her portfolio, and before Denbigh had gone half through its contents; +"you have become almost a stranger to us since Clara left us." + +"No, no, my little friend, never a stranger, I hope, at Moseley Hall," +cried the doctor, pleasantly; "George, I am happy to see you look so +well--you have even a color--there is a letter for you, from Marian." + +Denbigh took the letter eagerly, and retired to a window to peruse it. +His hand shook as he broke the seal, and his interest in the writer, or +its contents, could not have escaped the notice of any observer, however +indifferent. + +"Now, Miss Emily, if you will have the goodness to order me a glass of +wine and water after my ride, believe me, you will do a very charitable +act," cried the doctor, as he took his seat on the sofa. + +Emily was standing by the little table, deeply musing on the contents of +her portfolio; for her eyes were intently fixed on the outside, as if +she expected to see through the leather covering their merits and +faults. + +"Miss Emily Moseley," continued the doctor, gravely, "am I to die of +thirst or not, this warm day?" + +"Do you wish anything, Doctor Ives?" + +"A servant to get me a glass of wine and water." + +"Why did you not ask me, my dear sir?" said Emily, as she threw open a +cellaret, and handed him what he wanted. + +"There, my dear, there is a great plenty," said the doctor, with an arch +expression; "I really thought I had asked you thrice--but I believe you +were studying something in that portfolio." + +Emily blushed, and endeavored to laugh at her own absence of mind; but +she would have given the world to know who Marian was. + + + +Chapter XX. + +As a month had elapsed since he received his wound, Denbigh took an +opportunity, one morning at breakfast, where he was well enough now to +meet his friends, to announce his intention of trespassing no longer on +their kindness, but of returning that day to the rectory. The +communication distressed the whole family, and the baronet turned to him +in the most cordial manner, as he took one of his hands; and said with +an air of solemnity-- + +"Mr. Denbigh, I could wish you to make this house your home; Dr. Ives +may have known you longer, and may have the claim of relationship on +you, but I am certain he cannot love you better; and are not the ties of +gratitude as binding as those of blood?" + +Denbigh was affected by the kindness of Sir Edward's manner. + +"The regiment I belong to, Sir Edward, will be reviewed next week, and +it has become my duty to leave here; there is one it is proper I should +visit, a near connexion, who is acquainted with the escape I have met +with, and wishes naturally to see me; besides, my dear Sir Edward, she +has many causes of sorrow, and it is a debt I owe her affection to +endeavor to relieve them." + +It was the first time he had ever spoken of his family, or hardly of +himself, and the silence which prevailed plainly showed the interest his +listeners took in the little he uttered. + +That connexion, thought Emily--I wonder if her name be Marian? But +nothing further passed, excepting the affectionate regrets of her +father, and the promises of Denbigh to visit them again before he left +B----, and of joining them at L---- immediately after the review of +which he had spoken. As soon as he had breakfasted, John drove him in +his phaeton to the rectory. + +Mrs. Wilson, like the rest of the baronet's family, had been too deeply +impressed with the debt they owed this young man to interfere with her +favorite system of caution against too great an intimacy between her +niece and her preserver. Close observation and the opinion of Dr. Ives +had prepared her to give him her esteem; but the gallantry, the self- +devotion he had displayed to Emily was an act calculated to remove +heavier objections than she could imagine as likely to exist to his +becoming her husband. That he meant it, was evident from his whole +deportment of late. Since the morning the portfolio was produced, +Denbigh had given a more decided preference to her niece. The nice +discrimination of Mrs. Wilson would not have said his feelings had +become stronger, but that he labored less to conceal them. That he loved +her niece she suspected from the first fortnight of their acquaintance, +and it had given additional stimulus to her investigation into his +character; but to doubt it, after stepping between her and death, would +have been to have mistaken human nature. There was one qualification she +would have wished to have been certain he possessed: before this +accident, she would have made it an indispensable one; but the +gratitude, the affections of Emily, she believed now to be too deeply +engaged to make the strict inquiry she otherwise would have done; and +she had the best of reasons for believing that if Denbigh were not a +true Christian, he was at least a strictly moral man, and assuredly one +who well understood the beauties of a religion she almost conceived it +impossible for any impartial and intelligent man long to resist. Perhaps +Mrs. Wilson, having in some measure interfered with her system, like +others, had, on finding it impossible to conduct so that reason would +justify all she did, began to find reasons for what she thought best to +be done under the circumstances. Denbigh, however, both by his acts and +his opinions, had created such an estimate of his worth in the breast of +Mrs. Wilson, that there would have been but little danger of a repulse +had no fortuitous accident helped him in his way to her favor. + +"Who have we here?" said Lady Moseley. "A landaulet and four--the Earl +of Bolton, I declare!" + +Lady Moseley turned from the window with that collected grace she so +well loved, and so well knew how to assume, to receive her noble +visitor. Lord Bolton was a bachelor of sixty-five, who had long been +attached to the court, and retained much of the manners of the old +school. His principal estate was in Ireland, and most of that time which +his duty at Windsor did not require he gave to the improvement of his +Irish property. Thus, although on perfectly good terms with the +baronet's family, they seldom met. With General Wilson he had been at +college, and to his widow he always showed much of that regard he had +invariably professed for her husband, The obligation he had conferred, +unasked, on Francis Ives, was one conferred on all his friends, and his +reception was now warmer than usual. + +"My Lady Moseley," said the earl, bowing formally on her hand, "your +looks do ample justice to the air of Northamptonshire. I hope you enjoy +your usual health." + +Then, waiting her equally courteous answer, he paid his compliments, in +succession, to all the members of the family; a mode undoubtedly well +adapted to discover their several conditions, but not a little tedious +in its operations, and somewhat tiresome to the legs. + +"We are under a debt of gratitude to your lordship," said Sir Edward, in +his simple and warm-hearted way, "that I am sorry it is not in our power +to repay more amply than by our thanks." + +The earl was, or affected to be, surprised, as he required an +explanation. + +"The living at Bolton," said Lady Moseley, with dignity. + +"Yes," continued her husband; "in giving the living to Frank you did me +a favor, equal to what you would have done had he been my own child; and +unsolicited, too, my lord, it was an additional compliment." + +The earl sat rather uneasy during this speech, but the love of truth +prevailed; for he had been too much round the person of our beloved +sovereign not to retain all the impressions of his youth; and after a +little struggle with his self-love, he answered-- + +"Not unsolicited, Sir Edward. I have no doubt, had nay better fortune +allowed me the acquaintance of my present rector, his own merit would +have obtained what a sense of justice requires I should say was granted +to an applicant to whom the ear of royalty itself would not have been +deaf." + +It was the turn of the Moseleys now to look surprised, and Sir Edward +ventured to ask an explanation. + +"It was my cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss, who applied for it, as a +favor done to himself; and Pendennyss is a man not to be refused +anything." + +"Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with animation; "and in what +way came we to be under this obligation to Lord Pendennyss?" + +"He did me the honor of a call during my visit to Ireland, madam," +replied the earl; "and on inquiring of my steward after his old friend, +Doctor Stevens, learnt his death, and the claims of Mr. Ives; but the +reason he gave me was his interest in the widow of General Wilson," +bowing with much solemnity to the lady as he spoke. + +"I am gratified to find the earl yet remembers us," said Mrs. Wilson, +struggling to restrain her tears. "Are we to have the pleasure of seeing +him soon?" + +"I received a letter from him yesterday, saying he should be here in all +next week, madam." And turning pleasantly to Jane and her sister, he +continued, "Sir Edward, you have here rewards fit for heavier services, +and the earl is a great admirer of female charms." + +"Is he not married, my lord?" asked the baronet, with great simplicity. + +"No, baronet, nor engaged; but how long he will remain so after his +hardihood in venturing into this neighborhood, will, I trust, depend on +one of these young ladies." + +Jane looked grave--for trifling on love was heresy, in her estimation; +but Emily laughed, with an expression in which a skilful physiognomist +might have read--if he means me, he is mistaken. + +"Your cousin, Lord Chatterton, has found interest, Sir Edward," +continued the peer, "to obtain his father's situation; and if reports +speak truth, he wishes to become more nearly related to you, baronet." + +"I do not well see how that can happen," said Sir Edward with a smile, +and who had not art enough to conceal his thoughts, "unless he takes my +sister here." + +The cheeks of both the young ladies now vied with the rose; and the +peer, observing he had touched on forbidden ground, added, "Chatterton +was fortunate to find friends able to bear up against the powerful +interest of Lord Haverford." + +"To whom was he indebted for the place, my lord?" asked Mis. Wilson. + +"It was whispered at court, madam," said the earl, sensibly lowering his +voice, and speaking with an air of mystery "and a lord of the bed- +chamber is fonder of discoveries than a lord of the council--that His +Grace of Derwent threw the whole of his parliamentary interest into the +scale on the baron's side, but you are not to suppose," raising his hand +gracefully, with a wave of rejection, "that I speak from authority; only +a surmise, Sir Edward, only a surmise, my lady." + +"Is not the name of the Duke of Derwent, Denbigh?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, +with a thoughtful manner. + +"Certainly, madam, Denbigh," replied the earl, with a gravity with which +he always spoke of dignities; "one of our most ancient names, and +descended on the female side from the Plantagenets and Tudors." + +He now rose to take his leave, and on bowing to the younger ladies, +laughingly repeated his intention of bringing his cousin (an epithet he +never omitted), Pendennyss, to their feet. + +"Do you think, sister," said Lady Moseley, after the earl had retired, +"that Mr. Denbigh is of the house of Derwent?" + +"I cannot say," replied Mrs. Wilson, musing, "yet it is odd, Chatterton +told me of his acquaintance with Lady Harriet Denbigh, but not with the +Duke." + +As this was spoken in the manner of a soliloquy, it received no answer, +and was in fact but little attended to by any of the party, excepting +Emily, who glanced her eye once or twice at her aunt as she was +speaking, with an interest the name of Denbigh never failed to excite. +Harriet was, she thought, a pretty name, but Marian was a prettier; if, +thought Emily, I could know a Marian Denbigh, I am sure I could love +her, and her name too. + +The Moseleys now began to make their preparations for their departure to +L----, and the end of the succeeding week was fixed for the period at +which they were to go. Mrs. Wilson urged a delay of two or three days, +in order to give her an opportunity of meeting with the Earl of +Pendennyss, a young man in whom, although she had relinquished her +former romantic wish of uniting him to Emily, in favor of Denbigh, she +yet felt a deep interest, growing out of his connexion with the last +moments of her husband, and his uniformly high character. + +Sir Edward accordingly acquainted his uncle, that on the following +Saturday he might expect to receive himself and family, intending to +leave the hall in the afternoon of the preceding day, and reach Benfield +lodge to dinner. This arrangement once made, and Mr. Benfield notified +of it, was unalterable, the old man holding a variation from an +engagement a deadly sin. The week succeeding the accident which had +nearly proved so fatal to Denbigh, the inhabitants of the hall were +surprised with the approach of a being, as singular in his manners and +dress as the equipage which conveyed him to the door of the house. The +latter consisted of a high-backed, old-fashioned sulky, loaded with +leather and large-headed brass nails; wheels at least a quarter larger +in circumference than those of the present day, and wings on each side +large enough to have supported a full grown roc in the highest regions +of the upper air. It was drawn by a horse, once white, but whose milky +hue was tarnished through age with large and numerous red spots, and +whose mane and tail did not appear to have suffered by the shears during +the present reign. The being who alighted from this antiquated vehicle +was tall and excessively thin, wore his own hair drawn over his almost +naked head into a long thin queue, which reached half way down his back, +closely cased in numerous windings of leather, or the skin of some fish. +His drab coat was in shape between a frock and a close-body--close-body, +indeed, it was; for the buttons, which were in size about equal to an +old-fashioned China saucer, were buttoned to the very throat, thereby +setting off his shape to peculiar advantage; his breeches were buckskin, +and much soiled; his stockings blue yarn, although it was midsummer; and +his shoes were provided with buckles of dimensions proportionate to the +aforesaid buttons; his age might have been seventy, but his walk was +quick, and the movements of his whole system showed great activity both +of mind and body. He was ushered into the room where the gentlemen were +sitting, and having made a low and extremely modest bow, he deliberately +put on his spectacles, thrust his hand into an outside pocket of his +coat, and produced from under its huge flaps a black leathern pocket- +book about as large as a good-sized octavo volume; after examining the +multitude of papers it contained carefully, he selected a letter, and +having returned the pocket-book to its ample apartment, read aloud, + +"For Sir Edward Moseley, bart. of Moseley Hall, B----, Northamptonshire- +-with care and speed, by the hands of Mr. Peter Johnson, steward of +Benfield Lodge, Norfolk;" and dropping his sharp voice, he stalked up to +the baronet, and presented the epistle, with another reverence. + +"Ah, my good friend, Johnson," said Sir Edward as soon as he delivered +his errand (for until he saw the contents of the letter, he had thought +some accident had occurred to his uncle), "this is the first visit you +have ever honored me with; come, take a glass of wine before you go to +your dinner; let us drink, that it may not be the last." + +"Sir Edward Moseley, and you, honorable gentlemen, will pardon me," +replied the steward, in his own solemn key, "this is the first time I +was ever out of his majesty's county of Norfolk, and I devoutly wish it +may prove the last--Gentlemen, I drink your honorable healths." + +This was the only real speech the old man made during his visit, unless +an occasional monosyllabic reply to a question could be thought so. He +remained, by Sir Edward's positive order, until the following day; for +having delivered his message, and receiving its answer, he was about to +take his departure that evening, thinking he might get a good piece on +his road homewards, as it wanted half an hour to sunset. On the +following morning, with the sun, he was on his way to the house in which +he had been born, and which he had never left for twenty-four hours at a +time in his life. In the evening, as he was ushered in by John (who had +known him from his own childhood, and loved to show him attention) to +the room in which he was to sleep, he broke what the young man called +his inveterate silence, with, "Young Mr. Moseley--young gentleman--might +I presume--to ask--to see the gentleman?" + +"What gentleman?" cried John, astonished at the request, and at his +speaking so much. + +"That saved Miss Emmy's life, sir." + +John now fully comprehended him, and led the way to Denbigh's room; he +was asleep, but they were admitted to his bed-side. The steward stood +for ten minutes gazing on the sleeper in silence; and John observed, as +he blew his nose on regaining his own apartment, that his little grey +eyes twinkled with a lustre which could not be taken for anything but a +tear. + +As the letter was as characteristic of the writer as its bearer was of +his vocation, we may be excused giving it at length. + +"Dear Sir Edward and Nephew, + +"Your letter reached the lodge too late to be answered that evening, as +I was about to step into my bed; but I hasten to write my +congratulations, remembering the often repeated maxim of my kinsman Lord +Gosford, that letters should be answered immediately; indeed, a neglect +of it had very nigh brought about an affair of honor between the earl +and Sir Stephens Hallett. Sir Stephens was always opposed to us in the +House of Commons of this realm; and I have often thought something might +have passed in the debate itself, which commenced the correspondence, as +the earl certainly told him as much as if he were a traitor to his King +and country. + +"But it seems that your daughter Emily has been rescued from death by +the grandson of General Denbigh, who sat with us in the house. Now I +always had a good opinion of this young Denbigh, who reminds me, every +time I look at him, of my late brother, your father-in-law that was; and +I send my steward, Peter Johnson, express to the hall in order that he +may see the sick man, and bring me back a true account how he fares: for +should he be wanting for anything within the gift of Roderic Benfield, +he has only to speak to have it; not that I suppose, nephew, you will +willingly allow him to suffer for anything, but Peter is a man of close +observation, although he is of few words, and may suggest something +beneficial, that might escape younger heads. I pray for--that is, I +hope, the young man will recover, as your letter gives great hopes; and +if he should want any little matter to help him along in the army, as I +take it he is not over wealthy, you have now a good opportunity to offer +your assistance handsomely; and that it may not interfere with your +arrangements for this winter, your draft on me for five thousand pounds +will be paid at sight; for fear he may be proud, and not choose to +accept your assistance, I have this morning detained Peter, while he has +put a codicil to my will, leaving him ten thousand pounds. You may tell +Emily she is a naughty child, or she would have written me the whole +story; but, poor dear, I suppose she has other things on her mind just +now. God bless Mr. ---- that is, God bless, you all, and try if you +cannot get a lieutenant-colonelcy at once--the brother of Lady Juliana's +friend was made a lieutenant-colonel at the first step. + +"RODERIC BENFIELD." + +The result of Peter's reconnoitering expedition has never reached our +knowledge, unless the arrival of a servant some days after he took his +leave, with a pair of enormous-goggles, and which the old gentleman +assured his nephew in a note, both Peter and himself had found useful to +weak eyes in their occasional sickness, might have been owing to the +prudent forecast of the sagacious steward. + + + +Chapter XXI. + +The morning on which Denbigh left B---- was a melancholy one to all the +members of the little circle, in which he had been so distinguished for +his modesty, his intelligence, and his disinterested intrepidity. Sir +Edward took an opportunity solemnly to express his gratitude for the +services he had rendered him, and having retired to his library, +delicately and earnestly pressed his availing himself of the liberal +offer of Mr. Benfield to advance his interest in the army. + +"Look upon me, my dear Mr. Denbigh," said the good baronet, pressing him +by the hand, while the tears stood in his eyes, "as a father, to supply +the place of the one you have so recently lost. You are my child; I feel +as a parent to you, and must be suffered to act as one." + +To this affectionate offer of Sir Edward, Denbigh replied with an +emotion equal to that of the baronet, though he declined, with +respectful language, his offered assistance as unnecessary. He had +friends powerful enough to advance his interests, without resorting to +the use of money; and on taking Sir Edward's hand, as he left the +apartment, he added with great warmth, "yet, my dear Sir, the day will +come, I hope, when I shall ask a boon from your hands, that no act of +mine or a life of service could entitle me to receive." + +The baronet smiled his assent to a request he already understood, and +Denbigh withdrew. + +John Moseley insisted on putting the bays in requisition to carry +Denbigh for the first stage, and they now stood caparisoned for the +jaunt, with their master in a less joyous mood than common, waiting the +appearance of his companion. + +Emily delighted in their annual excursion to Benfield Lodge. She was +beloved so warmly, and returned the affection of its owner so sincerely, +that the arrival of the day never failed to excite that flow of spirits +which generally accompanies anticipated pleasures, ere experience has +proved how trifling are the greatest enjoyments the scenes of this life +bestow. Yet as the day of their departure drew near, her spirits sunk in +proportion; and on the morning of Denbigh's leave-taking, Emily seemed +anything but excessively happy. There was a tremor in her voice and a +redness about her eyes that alarmed Lady Moseley; but as the paleness of +her cheeks was immediately succeeded by as fine a color as the heart +could wish, the anxious mother allowed herself to be persuaded by Mrs. +Wilson there was no danger, and she accompanied her sister to her own +room for some purpose of domestic economy. It was at this moment Denbigh +entered: he had paid his adieus to the matrons at the door, and been +directed by them to the little parlor in quest of Emily. + +"I have come to make my parting compliments, Miss Moseley," he said, in +a tremulous voice, as he ventured to hold forth his hand. "May heaven +preserve you," he continued, holding it in fervor to his bosom: then +dropping it, he hastily retired, as if unwilling to trust himself any +longer to utter all he felt. Emily stood a few moments, pale and almost +inanimate, as the tears flowed rapidly from her eyes; and then she +sought a shelter in a seat of the window. Lady Moseley, on returning, +was alarmed lest the draught would increase her indisposition; but her +sister, observing that the window commanded a view of the road, thought +the air too mild to do her injury. + +The personages who composed the society at B---- had now, in a great +measure, separated, in pursuit of their duties or their pleasures. The +merchant and his family left the deanery for a watering-place. Francis +and Clara had gone on a little tour of pleasure in the northern +counties, to take L---- in their return homeward; and the morning +arrived for the commencement of the baronet's journey to the same place. +The carriages had been ordered, and servants were running in various +ways, busily employed in their several occupations, when Mrs. Wilson, +accompanied by John and his sisters, returned from a walk they had taken +to avoid the bustle of the house. A short distance from the park gates, +an equipage was observed approaching, creating by its numerous horses +and attendants a dust which drove the pedestrians to one side of the +road. An uncommonly elegant and admirably fitted travelling barouche and +six rolled by, with the graceful steadiness of an English equipage: +several servants on horseback were in attendance; and our little party +were struck with the beauty of the whole establishment. + +"Can it be possible Lord Bolton drives such elegant horses?" cried John, +with the ardor of a connoisseur in that noble animal. "They are the +finest set in the kingdom." + +Jane's eye had seen, through the clouds of dust, the armorial bearings, +which seemed to float in the dark glossy panels of the carriage, and she +observed, "It is an earl's coronet, but they are not the Bolton arms." +Mrs. Wilson and Emily had noticed a gentleman reclining at his ease, as +the owner of the gallant show; but its passage was too rapid to enable +them to distinguish the features of the courteous old earl; indeed, Mrs. +Wilson remarked, she thought him a younger man than her friend. + +"Pray, sir," said John to a tardy groom, as he civilly walked his horse +by the ladies, "who has passed in the barouche?" + +"My Lord Pendennyss, sir." + +"Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a tone of regret, "how +unfortunate!" + +She had seen the day named for his visit pass without his arrival, and +now, as it was too late to profit by the opportunity, he had come for +the second time into her neighborhood. Emily had learnt, by the +solicitude of her aunt, to take an interest in the young peer's +movements, and desired John to ask a question or two of the groom. + +"Where does your lord stop to-night?" + +"At Bolton Castle, sir; and I heard my lord tell his valet that he +intended staying one day hereabouts, and the day after to-morrow he goes +to Wales, your honor." + +"I thank you, friend," said John; when the man spurred his horse after +the cavalcade. The carriages were at the door, and Sir Edward had been +hurrying Jane to enter, as a servant, in a rich livery and well mounted, +galloped up and delivered a letter for Mrs. Wilson, who, on opening it, +read the following: + +"The Earl of Pendennyss begs leave to present his most respectful +compliments to Mrs. Wilson and the family of Sir Edward Moseley. Lord +Pendennyss will have the honor of paying his respects in person at any +moment that the widow of his late invaluable friend, Lieutenant-General +Wilson, will please to appoint. + +"Bolton Castle, Friday evening." + +To this note Mrs. Wilson, bitterly regretting the necessity which +compelled her to forego the pleasure of meeting her paragon, wrote in +reply a short letter, disliking the formality of a note. + +"My LORD, "I sincerely regret that an engagement which cannot be +postponed compels us to leave Moseley Hall within the hour, and must, in +consequence, deprive us of the pleasure of your intended visit. But as +circumstances have connected your Lordship with some of the dearest, +although the most melancholy events of my life, I earnestly beg you will +no longer consider us as strangers to your person, as we have long +ceased to be to your character. It will afford me the greatest pleasure +to hear that there will be a prospect of our meeting in town next +winter, where I may find a more fitting opportunity of expressing those +grateful feelings so long due to your lordship from your sincere friend, + +"CHARLOTTE WILSON. + +"Moseley Hall, Friday morning." + +With this answer the servant was despatched, and the carriages moved on. +John had induced Emily to trust herself once more to the bays and his +skill; but on perceiving the melancholy of her aunt, she insisted on +exchanging seats with Jane, who had accepted a place in the carriage of +Mrs. Wilson. No objection being made, Mrs. Wilson and her niece rode the +first afternoon together in her travelling chaise. The road ran within a +quarter of a mile of Bolton Castle, and the ladies endeavored in vain to +get a glimpse of the person of the young nobleman. Emily was willing to +gratify her aunt's propensity to dwell on the character and history of +her favorite; and hoping to withdraw her attention gradually from more +unpleasant recollections, asked several trifling questions relating to +those points. + +"The earl must be very rich, aunt, from the style he maintains." + +"Very, my dear; his family I am unacquainted with, but I understand his +title is an extremely ancient one; and some one, I believe Lord Bolton, +mentioned that his estates in Wales alone, exceeded fifty thousand a +year." + +"Much good might be done," said Emily, thoughtfully, "with such a +fortune." + +"Much good is done," cried her aunt, with fervor. "I am told by every +one who knows him, his donations are large and frequent. Sir Herbert +Nicholson said he was extremely simple in his habits, and it leaves +large sums at his disposal every year." + +"The bestowal of money is not always charity," said Emily, with an arch +smile and a slight color. + +Mrs. Wilson smiled in her turn as she answered, "not always, but it is +charity to hope for the best." + +"Sir Herbert knew him, then?" said Emily. + +"Perfectly well; they were associated together in the service for +several years, and he spoke of him with a fervor equal to my warmest +expectations." + +The Moseley arms in F---- was kept by an old butler of the family, and +Sir Edward every year, in going to or coming from L----, spent a night +under its roof. He was received by its master with a respect that none +who ever knew the baronet well, could withhold from his goodness of +heart and many virtues. + +"Well, Jackson," said the baronet, kindly, as he was seated at the +supper table, "how does custom increase with you--I hope you and the +master of the Dun Cow are more amicable than formerly." + +"Why, Sir Edward," replied the host, who had lost a little of the +deference of the servant in the landlord, but none of his real respect, +"Mr. Daniels and I are more upon a footing of late than we was, when +your goodness enabled me to take the house; then he got all the great +travellers, and for more than a twelvemonth I had not a title in my +house but yourself and a great London doctor, that was called here to +see a sick person in the town. He had the impudence to call me the +knight barrow-knight, your honor, and we had a quarrel upon that +account." + +"I am glad, however, to find you are gaining in the rank of your +customers, and trust, as the occasion has ceased, you will be more +inclined to be good-natured to each other." + +"Why, as to good-nature, Sir Edward, I lived with your honor ten years, +and you must know somewhat of my temper," said Jackson, with the self- +satisfaction of an approving conscience; "but Sam Daniels is a man who +is never easy unless he is left quietly at the top of the ladder; +however," continued the host, with a chuckle, "I have given him a dose +lately." + +"How so, Jackson?" inquired the baronet, willing to gratify the man's +wish to relate his triumphs. + +"Your honor must have heard mention made of a great lord, the Duke of +Derwent; well, Sir Edward, about six weeks agone he passed through with +my Lord Chatterton." + +"Chatterton!" exclaimed John, interrupting him, "has he been so near us +again, and so lately?" + +"Yes, Mr. Moseley," replied Jackson with a look of importance: "they +dashed into my yard with their chaise and four, with five servants, and +would you think it, Sir Edward, they hadn't been in the house ten +minutes, before Daniel's son was fishing from the servants, who they +were; I told him, Sir Edward--dukes don't come every day." + +"How came you to get his grace away from the Dun Cow--chance?" + +"No, your honor," said the host, pointing to his sign, and bowing +reverently to his old master, "the Moseley Arms did it. Mr. Daniels used +to taunt me with having worn a livery, and has said more than once he +could milk his cow, but that your honor's arms would never lift me into +a comfortable seat for life; so I just sent him a message by the way of +letting him know my good fortune, your honor." + +"And what was it?" + +"Only that your honor's arms had shoved a duke and a baron into my +house--that's all." + +"And I suppose Daniels' legs shoved your messenger out of his," said +John, laughing. + +"No, Mr. Moseley; Daniels would hardly dare do that: but yesterday, your +honor, yesterday evening, beat everything. Daniels was seated before his +door, and I was taking a pipe at mine, Sir Edward, as a coach and six, +with servants upon servants, drove down the street; it got near us, and +the boys were reining the horses into the yard of the Dun Cow, as the +gentleman in the coach saw my sign: he sent a groom to inquire who kept +the house; I got up, your honor, and told him my name, sir. 'Mr. +Jackson,' said his lordship, 'my respect for the family of Sir Edward +Moseley is too great not to give my custom to an old servant of his +family.'" + +"Indeed," said the baronet; "pray who was my lord?" + +"The Earl of Pendennyss, your honor. Oh, he is a sweet gentleman, and he +asked all about my living with your honor, and about Madam Wilson." + +"Did his lordship stay the night?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, excessively +gratified at a discovery of the disposition manifested by the earl +towards her. + +"Yes, madam, he left here after breakfast." + +"What message did you send the Dun Cow this time, Jackson?" cried John. + +Jackson looked a little foolish, but the question being repeated, he +answered--"Why, sir, I was a little crowded for room, and so your honor, +so I just sent Tom across the street, to know if Mr. Daniels couldn't +keep a couple of the grooms." + +"And Tom got his head broke." + +"No, Mr. John, the tankard missed him; but if--" + +"Very well," said the baronet, willing to change the conversation, "you +have been so fortunate of late, you can afford to be generous; and I +advise you to cultivate harmony with your neighbor, or I may take my +arms down, and you may lose your noble visiters--see my room prepared." + +"Yes, your honor," said the host, and bowing respectfully he withdrew. + +"At least, aunt," cried John, pleasantly, "we have the pleasure of +supping in the same room with the puissant earl, albeit there be twenty- +four hours' difference in the time." + +"I sincerely wish there had not been that difference," observed his +father, taking his sister kindly by the hand. + +"Such an equipage must have been a harvest indeed to Jackson," remarked +the mother; as they broke up for the evening. + +The whole establishment at Benfield Lodge, were drawn up to receive them +on the following day in the great hall, and in the centre was fixed the +upright and lank figure of its master, with his companion in leanness, +honest Peter Johnson, on his right. + +"I have made out, Sir Edward and my Lady Moseley, to get as far as my +entrance, to receive the favor you are conferring upon me. It was a rule +in my day, and one invariably practised by all the great nobility, such +as Lord Gosford--and--and--his sister, the lady Juliana Dayton, always +to receive and quit their guests in the country at the great entrance; +and in conformity--ah, Emmy dear," cried the old gentleman, folding her +in his arms as the tears rolled down his cheeks, forgetting his speech +in the warmth of his feeling, "You are saved to us again; God be +praised--there, that will do, let me breathe--let me breathe;" and then +by the way of getting rid of his softer feelings, he turned upon John; +"so, youngster, you would be playing with edge tools, and put the life +of your sister in danger. No gentleman held a gun in my day; that is, no +gentleman about the court. My Lord Gosford had never killed a bird in +his life, or drove his horse; no sir, gentlemen then were not coachmen. +Peter how old was I before I took the reins of the chaise, in driving +round the estate--the time you broke your arm? it was--" + +Peter, who stood a little behind his master, in modest retirement, and +who had only thought his elegant form brought thither to embellish the +show, when called upon, advanced a step, made a low bow, and answered in +his sharp key: + +"In the year 1798, your honor, and the 38th of his present majesty, and +the 64th year of your life, sir, June the 12th, about meridian." + +Peter dropped back as he finished; but recollecting himself, regained +his place with a bow, as he added, "new style." + +"How are you, old style?" cried John, with a slap on the back, that made +the steward jump again. + +"Mr. John Moseley--young gentleman"--a term Peter had left off using to +the baronet within the last ten years, "did you think--to bring home-- +the goggles?" + +"Oh yes," said John, gravely, producing them from his pocket. Most of +the party having entered the parlor, he put them carefully on the bald +head of the steward--"There, Mr Peter Johnson, you have your property +again, safe and sound." + +"And Mr. Denbigh said he felt much indebted to your consideration in +sending them," said Emily, soothingly, as she took them off with her +beautiful hands. + +"Ah, Miss Emmy," said the steward, with one of his best bows, "that was- +-a noble act; God bless him!" then holding up his finger significantly, +"the fourteenth codicil--to master's will," and Peter laid his finger +alongside his nose, as he nodded his head in silence. + +"I hope the thirteenth contains the name of honest Peter Johnson," said +the young lady, who felt herself uncommonly well pleased with the +steward's conversation. + +"As witness, Miss Emmy--witness to all--but God forbid," said the +steward with solemnity, "I should ever live to see the proving of them: +no, Miss Emmy, master has done for me what he intended, while I had +youth to enjoy it. I am rich, Miss Emmy--good three hundred a year." +Emily, who had seldom heard so long a speech as the old man's gratitude +drew from him, expressed her pleasure at hearing it, and shaking him +kindly by the hand, left him for the parlor. + +"Niece," said Mr. Benfield, having scanned the party closely with his +eyes, "where is Colonel Denbigh?" + +"Colonel Egerton, you mean, sir," interrupted Lady Moseley. + +"No, my Lady Moseley," replied her uncle, with great formality, "I mean +Colonel Denbigh. I take it he is a colonel by this time," looking +expressively at the baronet; "and who is fitter to be a colonel or a +general, than a man who is not afraid of gunpowder?" + +"Colonels must have been scarce in your youth, sir," cried John, who had +rather a mischievous propensity to start the old man on his hobby. + +"No, jackanapes, gentlemen killed one another then, although they did +not torment the innocent birds: honor was as dear to a gentleman of +George the Second's court, as to those of his grandson's, and honesty +too, sirrah--ay, honesty. I remember when we were in, there was not a +man of doubtful integrity in the ministry, or on our side even; and then +again, when we went out, the opposition benches were filled with +sterling characters, making a parliament that was correct throughout. +Can you show me such a thing at this day?" + + + +Chapter XXII. + +A few days after the arrival of the Moseleys at the lodge John drove his +sisters to the little village of L----, which at that time was thronged +with an unusual number of visiters. It had, among other fashionable +arrangements for the accommodation of its guests, one of those +circulators of good and evil, a public library. Books are, in a great +measure, the instruments of controlling the opinions of a nation like +ours. They are an engine, alike powerful to save or to destroy. It +cannot be denied, that our libraries contain as many volumes of the +latter, as the former description; for we rank amongst the latter that +long catalogue of idle productions, which, if they produce no other +evil, lead to the misspending of time, our own perhaps included. But we +cannot refrain expressing our regret, that such formidable weapons in +the cause of morality, should be suffered to be wielded by any +indifferent or mercenary dealer, who undoubtedly will consult rather the +public tastes than the private good: the evil may be remediless, yet we +love to express our sentiments, though we should suggest nothing new or +even profitable. Into one of these haunts of the idle, then, John +Moseley entered with a lovely sister leaning on either arm. Books were +the entertainers of Jane, and instructors of Emily. Sir Edward was fond +of reading of a certain sort--that which required no great depth of +thought, or labor of research; and, like most others who are averse to +contention, and disposed to be easily satisfied, the baronet sometimes +found he had harbored opinions on things not exactly reconcileable with +the truth, or even with each other. It is quite as dangerous to give up +your faculties to the guidance of the author you are perusing, as it is +unprofitable to be captiously scrutinizing every syllable he may happen +to advance; and Sir Edward was, if anything, a little inclined to the +dangerous propensity. Unpleasant, Sir Edward Moseley never was. Lady +Moseley very seldom took a book in her hand: her opinions were +established to her own satisfaction on all important points, and on the +minor ones, she made it a rule to coincide with the popular feeling. +Jane had a mind more active than her father, and more brilliant than her +mother; and if she had not imbibed injurious impressions from the +unlicensed and indiscriminate reading she practised, it was more owing +to the fortunate circumstance, that the baronet's library contained +nothing extremely offensive to a pure taste, nor dangerous to good +morals, than to any precaution of her parents against the deadly, the +irretrievable injury to be sustained from ungoverned liberty in this +respect to a female mind. On the other hand, Mrs. Wilson had inculcated +the necessity of restraint, in selecting the books for her perusal, so +strenuously on her niece, that what at first had been the effects of +obedience and submission, had now settled into taste and habit; and +Emily seldom opened a book, unless in search of information; or if it +were the indulgence of a less commendable spirit, it was an indulgence +chastened by a taste and judgment that lessened the danger, if it did +not entirely remove it. + +The room was filled with gentlemen and ladies; and while John was +exchanging his greetings with several of the neighboring gentry of his +acquaintance, his sisters were running hastily over a catalogue of the +books kept for circulation, as an elderly lady, of foreign accent and +dress, entered; and depositing a couple of religious works on the +counter, she inquired for the remainder of the set. The peculiarity of +her idiom and her proximity to the sisters caused them both to look up +at the moment, and, to the surprise of Jane, her sister uttered a slight +exclamation of pleasure. The foreigner was attracted by the sound, and +after a moment's hesitation, she respectfully curtsied. Emily, +advancing, kindly offered her hand, and the usual inquiries after each +other's welfare succeeded. To the questions asked after the friend of +the matron Emily learnt, with some surprise, and no less satisfaction, +that she resided in a retired cottage, about five miles from L----, +where they had been for the last six months, and where they expected to +remain for some time, "until she could prevail on Mrs. Fitzgerald to +return to Spain; a thing, now there was peace, of which she did not +despair." After asking leave to call on them in their retreat, and +exchanging good wishes, the Spanish lady withdrew, and, as Jane had made +her selection, was followed immediately by John Moseley and his sisters. +Emily, in their walk home, acquainted her brother that the companion of +their Bath incognita had been at the library, and that for the first +time she had learnt that their young acquaintance was, or had been, +married, and her name. John listened to his sister with the interest +which the beautiful Spaniard had excited at the time they first met, and +laughingly told her he could not believe their unknown friend had ever +been a wife. To satisfy this doubt, and to gratify a wish they both had +to renew their acquaintance with the foreigner, they agreed to drive to +the cottage the following morning, accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Jane, +if she would go; but the next day was the one appointed by Egerton for +his arrival at L----, and Jane, under a pretence of writing letters, +declined the excursion. She had carefully examined the papers since his +departure; had seen his name included in the arrivals at London; and at +a later day, had read an account of the review by the commander-in-chief +of the regiment to which he belonged. He had never written to any of her +friends; but, judging from her own feelings, she did not in the least +doubt he would be as punctual as love could make him. Mrs. Wilson +listened to her niece's account of the unexpected interview in the +library with pleasure, and cheerfully promised to accompany them in +their morning's excursion, as she had both a wish to alleviate sorrow, +and a desire to better understand the character of this accidental +acquaintance of Emily's. + +Mr. Benfield and the baronet had a long conversation in relation to +Denbigh's fortune the morning after their arrival; and the old man was +loud in his expression of dissatisfaction at the youngster's pride. As +the baronet, however, in the fulness of his affection and simplicity, +betrayed to his uncle his expectation of a union between Denbigh and his +daughter, Mr. Benfield became contented with this reward; one fit, he +thought, for any services. On the whole, "it was best, as he was to +marry Emmy, he should sell out of the army; and as there would be an +election soon, he would bring him into parliament--yes--- yes--it did a +man so much good to sit one term in the parliament of this realm--to +study human nature. All his own knowledge in that way was raised on the +foundations laid in the House." To this Sir Edward cordially assented, +and the gentlemen separated, happy in their arrangements to advance the +welfare of two beings they so sincerely loved. + +Although the care and wisdom of Mrs. Wilson had prohibited the admission +of any romantic or enthusiastic expectations of happiness into the day- +dreams of her charge, yet the buoyancy of health, of hope, of youth, of +innocence, had elevated Emily to a height of enjoyment hitherto unknown +to her usually placid and disciplined pleasures. Denbigh certainly +mingled in most of her thoughts, both of the past and the future, and +she stood on the threshold of that fantastic edifice in which Jane +ordinarily resided. Emily was in the situation perhaps the most +dangerous to a young female Christian: her heart, her affections, were +given to a man, to appearance, every way worthy of possessing them, it +is true but she had admitted a rival in her love to her Maker; and to +keep those feelings distinct, to bend the passions in due submission to +the more powerful considerations of endless duty, of unbounded +gratitude, is one of the most trying struggles of Christian fortitude. +We are much more apt to forget our God in prosperity than adversity. The +weakness of human nature drives us to seek assistance in distress; but +vanity and worldly-mindedness often induce us to imagine we control the +happiness we only enjoy. + +Sir Edward and Lady Moseley could see nothing in the prospect of the +future but lives of peace and contentment for their children. Clara was +happily settled, and her sisters were on the eve of making connexions +with men of family, condition, and certain character. What more could be +done for them? They must, like other people, take their chances in the +lottery of life; they could only hope and pray for their prosperity, and +this they did with great sincerity. Not so Mrs. Wilson: she had guarded +the invaluable charge intrusted to her keeping with too much assiduity, +too keen an interest, too just a sense of the awful responsibility she +had undertaken, to desert her post at the moment watchfulness was most +required. By a temperate, but firm and well-chosen conversation she kept +alive the sense of her real condition in her niece, and labored hard to +prevent the blandishments of life from supplanting the lively hope of +enjoying another existence. She endeavored, by her pious example, her +prayers, and her judicious allusions, to keep the passion of love in the +breast of Emily secondary to the more important object of her creation; +and, by the aid of a kind and Almighty Providence, her labors, though +arduous, were crowned with success. + +As the family were seated round the table after dinner, on the day of +their walk to the library, John Moseley, awakening from a reverie, +exclaimed suddenly, + +"Which do you think the handsomest, Emily, Grace Chatterton or Miss +Fitzgerald?" + +Emily laughed, as she answered, "Grace, certainly; do you not think so, +brother?" + +"Yes, on the whole; but don't you think Grace looks like her mother at +times?" + +"Oh no, she is the image of Chatterton." + +"She is very like yourself, Emmy dear," said Mr. Benfield, who was +listening to their conversation. + +"Me, dear uncle; I have never heard it remarked before." + +"Yes, yes, she is as much like you as she can stare. I never saw as +great a resemblance, excepting between you and Lady Juliana--Lady +Juliana, Emmy, was a beauty in her day; very like her uncle, old Admiral +Griffin--you can't remember the admiral--he lost an eye in a battle with +the Dutch, and part of his cheek in a frigate, when a young man fighting +the Dons. Oh, he was a pleasant old gentleman; many a guinea has he +given me when I was a boy at school." + +"And he looked like Grace Chatterton, uncle, did he?" asked John, +innocently. + +"No, sir, he did not; who said he looked like Grace Chatterton, +jackanapes?" + +"Why, I thought you made it out, sir: but perhaps it was the description +that deceived me--his eye and cheek, uncle." + +"Did Lord Gosford leave children, uncle?" inquired Emily, throwing a +look of reproach at John. + +"No, Emmy dear; his only child, a son, died at school. I shall never +forget the grief of poor Lady Juliana. She postponed a visit to Bath +three weeks on account of it. A gentleman who was paying his addresses +to her at the time, offered then, and was refused--indeed, her self- +denial raised such an admiration of her in the men, that immediately +after the death of young Lord Dayton, no less than seven gentlemen +offered, and were refused in one week. I heard Lady Juliana say, that +what between lawyers and suitors, she had not a moment's peace." + +"Lawyers?" cried Sir Edward: "what had she to do with lawyers?" + +"Why, Sir Edward, six thousand a year fell to her by the death of her +nephew; and there were trustees and deeds to be made out--poor young +woman, she was so affected, Emmy, I don't think she went out for a week- +-all the time at home reading papers, and attending to her important +concerns. Oh! she was a woman of taste; her mourning, and liveries, and +new carriage, were more admired than those of any one about the court. +Yes, yes, the title is extinct; I know of none of the name now. The Earl +did not survive his loss but six years, and the countess died broken- +hearted, about a twelvemonth before him." + +"And Lady Juliana, uncle," inquired John, "what became of her, did she +marry?" + +The old man helped himself to a glass of wine, and looked over his +shoulder to see if Peter was at hand. Peter, who had been originally +butler, and had made it a condition of his preferment, that whenever +there was company, he should be allowed to preside at the sideboard, was +now at his station. Mr. Benfield, seeing his old friend near him, +ventured to talk on a subject he seldom trusted himself with in company. + +"Why, yes--yes--she did marry, it's true, although she did tell me she +intended to die a maid; but--hem--I suppose--hem--it was compassion for +the old viscount, who often said he could not live without her; and then +it gave her the power of doing so much good, a jointure of five thousand +a year added to her own income: yet--hem--I do confess I did not think +she would have chosen such an old and infirm man--- but, Peter, give me +a glass of claret." Peter handed the claret, and the old man proceeded:- +-"They say he was very cross to her, and that, no doubt, must have made +her unhappy, she was so very tender-hearted." + +How much longer the old gentleman would have continued in this strain, +it is impossible to say; but he was interrupted by the opening of the +parlor door, and the sudden appearance on its threshold of Denbigh. +Every countenance glowed with pleasure at this unexpected return of +their favorite; and but for the prudent caution of Mrs. Wilson, in +handing a glass of water to her niece, the surprise might have proved +too much for her. The salutations of Denbigh were returned by the +different members of the family with a cordiality that must have told +him how much he was valued by all its branches; and after briefly +informing them that his review was over, and that he had thrown himself +into a chaise and travelled post until he had rejoined them, he took his +seat by Mr. Benfield, who received him with a marked preference, +exceeding that which he had shown to any man who had ever entered his +doors, Lord Gosford himself not excepted. Peter removed from his station +behind his master's chair to one where he could face the new comer; and +after wiping his eyes until they filled so rapidly with water, that at +last he was noticed by the delighted John to put on the identical +goggles which his care had provided for Denbigh in his illness. His +laugh drew the attention of the rest to the honest steward, and when +Denbigh was told this was Mr. Benfield's ambassador to the hall, he rose +from his chair, and taking the old man by the hand, kindly thanked him +for his thoughtful consideration for his weak eyes. + +Peter took the offered hand in both his own, and after making one or two +unsuccessful efforts to speak, he uttered, "Thank you, thank you; may +Heaven bless you," and burst into tears. This stopped the laugh, and +John followed the steward from the room, while his master exclaimed, +wiping his eyes, "Kind and condescending; just such another as my old +friend, the Earl of Gosford." + + + +Chapter XXIII. + +At the appointed hour, the carriage of Mrs. Wilson was ready to convey +herself and niece to the cottage of Mrs. Fitzgerald. John was left +behind, under the pretence of keeping Denbigh company in his morning +avocations, but really because Mrs. Wilson doubted the propriety of his +becoming a visiting acquaintance at the house, tenanted as the cottage +was represented to be. John was too fond of his friend to make any +serious objections, and was satisfied for the present, by sending his +compliments, and requesting his sister to ask permission for him to call +in one of his morning excursions, in order to pay his personal respects. + +They found the cottage a beautiful and genteel, though a very small and +retired dwelling, almost hid by the trees and shrubs which surrounded +it, and its mistress in its little veranda, expecting the arrival of +Emily. Mrs. Fitzgerald was a Spaniard, under twenty, of a melancholy, +yet highly interesting countenance; her manners were soft and retiring, +but evidently bore the impression of good company, if not of high life. +She was extremely pleased with this renewal of attention on the part of +Emily, and expressed her gratitude to both ladies for their kindness in +seeking her out in her solitude. She presented her more matronly +companion to them, by the name of Donna Lorenza; and as nothing but good +feeling prevailed, and useless ceremony was banished, the little party +were soon on terms of friendly intercourse. The young widow (for such +her dress indicated her to be), did the honors of her house with +graceful ease, and conducted her visiters into her little grounds, +which; together the cottage, gave evident proofs of the taste and +elegance of its occupant. The establishment she supported she +represented as very small; two women and an aged man servant, with +occasionally a laborer for her garden and shrubbery. They never visited; +it was a resolution she had made on fixing her residence here, but if +Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley would forgive the rudeness of not returning +their call, nothing would give her more satisfaction than a frequent +renewal of their visits. Mrs. Wilson took so deep an interest in the +misfortunes of this young female, and was so much pleased with the +modest resignation of her manner, that it required little persuasion on +the part of the recluse to obtain a promise of soon repeating her visit. +Emily mentioned the request of John, and Mrs. Fitzgerald received it +with a mournful smile, as she replied that Mr. Moseley had laid her +under such an obligation in their first interview, she could not deny +herself the pleasure of again thanking him for it; but she must be +excused if she desired they would limit their attendants to him, as +there was but one gentleman in England whose visits she admitted, and it +was seldom indeed he called; he had seen her but once since she had +resided in Norfolk. + +After giving a promise not to suffer any one else to accompany them, and +promising an early call again, our ladies returned to Benfield Lodge in +season to dress for dinner. On entering the drawing-room, they found the +elegant person of Colonel Egerton leaning on the back of Jane's chair. +He had arrived during their absence, and immediately sought the +baronet's family. His reception, if not as warm as that given to +Denbigh, was cordial from all but the master of the house; and even he +was in such spirits by the company around him, and the prospects of +Emily's marriage (which he considered as settled), that he forced +himself to an appearance of good will he did not feel. Colonel Egerton +was either deceived by his manner, or too much a man of the world to +discover his suspicion, and everything in consequence was very +harmoniously, if not sincerely conducted between them. + +Lady Moseley was completely happy. If she had the least doubts before, +as to the intentions of Egerton, they were now removed. His journey to +that unfashionable watering-place, was owing to his passion; and however +she might at times have doubted as to Sir Edgar's heir, Denbigh she +thought a man of too little consequence in the world, to make it +possible he would neglect to profit by his situation in the family of +Sir Edward Moseley. She was satisfied with both connexions. Mr. Benfield +had told her General Sir Frederic Denbigh was nearly allied to the Duke +of Derwent, and Denbigh had said the general was his grandfather. +Wealth, she knew Emily would possess from both her uncle and aunt; and +the services of the gentleman had their due weight upon the feelings of +the affectionate mother. The greatest of her maternal anxieties was +removed, and she looked forward to the peaceful enjoyment of the remnant +of her days in the bosom of her descendants. John, the heir of a +baronetcy, and 15,000 pounds a year, might suit himself; and Grace +Chatterton, she thought, would be likely to prove the future Lady +Moseley. Sir Edward, without entering so deeply into anticipations of +the future as his wife, experienced an equal degree of contentment; and +it would have been a difficult task to discover in the island a roof, +under which there resided at the moment more happy countenances than at +Benfield Lodge; for as its master had insisted on Denbigh becoming an +inmate, he was obliged to extend his hospitality in an equal degree to +Colonel Egerton: indeed, the subject had been fully canvassed between +him and Peter the morning of his arrival, and was near being decided +against his admission, when the steward, who had picked up all the +incidents of the arbor scene from the servants (and of course with many +exaggerations), mentioned to his master that the colonel was very +active, and that he even contrived to bring water to revive Miss Emmy, a +great distance, in the hat of Captain Jarvis, which was full of holes, +Mr. John having blown it off the head of the captain without hurting a +hair, in firing at a woodcock. This mollified the master a little, and +he agreed to suspend his decision for further observation. At dinner, +the colonel happening to admire the really handsome face of Lord +Gosford, as delineated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which graced the dining- +room of Benfield Lodge, its master, in a moment of unusual kindness, +gave the invitation; it was politely accepted, and the colonel at once +domesticated. + +The face of John Moseley alone, at times, exhibited evidences of care +and thought, and at such moments it might be a subject of doubt whether +he thought the most of Grace Chatterton or her mother: if the latter, +the former was sure to lose ground in his estimation; a serious +misfortune to John, not to be able to love Grace without alloy. His +letters from her brother mentioned his being still at Denbigh castle, in +Westmoreland, the seat of his friend the Duke of Derwent; and John +thought one or two of his encomiums on Lady Harriet Denbigh, the sister +of his grace, augured that the unkindness of Emily might in time be +forgotten. The dowager and her daughters were at the seat of a maiden +aunt in Yorkshire, where as John knew no male animal was allowed +admittance, he was tolerably easy at the disposition of things. Nothing +but legacy-hunting he knew would induce the dowager to submit to such a +banishment from the other sex; but that was so preferable to husband- +hunting he was satisfied. "I wish," said John mentally, as he finished +the perusal of his letter, "mother Chatterton would get married herself, +and she might let Kate and Grace manage for themselves. Kate would do +very well, I dare say, and how would Grace make out!" John sighed, and +whistled for Dido and Rover. + +In the manners of Colonel Egerton there was the same general disposition +to please, and the same unremitted attention to the wishes and +amusements of Jane. They had renewed their poetical investigations, and +Jane eagerly encouraged a taste which afforded her delicacy some little +coloring for the indulgence of an association different from the real +truth, and which, in her estimation, was necessary to her happiness. +Mrs. Wilson thought the distance between the two suitors for the favor +of her nieces was, if anything, increased by their short separation, and +particularly noticed on the part of the colonel an aversion to Denbigh +that at times painfully alarmed, by exciting apprehensions for the +future happiness of the precious treasure she had prepared herself to +yield to his solicitations, whenever properly proffered. In the +intercourse between Emily and her preserver, as there was nothing to +condemn, so there was much to admire. The attentions of Denbigh were +pointed, although less exclusive than those of the colonel; and the aunt +was pleased to observe that if the manners of Egerton had more of the +gloss of life, those of Denbigh were certainly distinguished by a more +finished delicacy and propriety. The one appeared the influence of +custom and association, with a tincture of artifice; the other, +benevolence, with a just perception of what was due to others, and with +an air of sincerity, when speaking of sentiments and principles, that +was particularly pleasing to the watchful widow. At times, however, she +could not but observe an air of restraint, if not of awkwardness, about +him that was a little surprising. It was most observable in mixed +society, and once or twice her imagination pictured his sensations into +something like alarm. These unpleasant interruptions to her admiration +were soon forgotten in her just appreciation of the more solid parts of +his character, which appeared literally to be unexceptionable; and when +momentary uneasiness would steal over her, the remembrance of the +opinion of Dr. Ives, his behavior with Jarvis, his charity, and chiefly +his devotion to her niece, would not fail to drive the disagreeable +thoughts from her mind. Emily herself moved about, the image of joy and +innocence. If Denbigh were near her, she was happy; if absent, she +suffered no uneasiness. Her feelings were so ardent, and yet so pure, +that jealousy had no admission. Perhaps no circumstances existed to +excite this usual attendant of the passion; but as the heart of Emily +was more enchained than her imagination, her affections were not of the +restless nature of ordinary attachments, though more dangerous to her +peace of mind in the event of an unfortunate issue. With Denbigh she +never walked or rode alone. He had never made the request, and her +delicacy would have shrunk from such an open manifestation of her +preference; but he read to her and her aunt; he accompanied them in +their little excursions; and once or twice John noticed that she took +the offered hand of Denbigh to assist her over any little impediment in +their course, instead of her usual unobtrusive custom of taking his arm +on such occasions. "Well, Miss Emily," thought John, "you appear to have +chosen another favorite," on her doing this three times in succession in +one of their walks. "How strange it is women will quit their natural +friends for a face they have hardly seen." John forgot his own--"There +is no danger, dear Grace," when his sister was almost dead with +apprehension. But John loved Emily too well to witness her preference of +another with satisfaction, even though Denbigh was the favorite; a +feeling which soon wore away, however, by dint of custom and reflection. +Mr. Benfield had taken it into his head that if the wedding of Emily +could be solemnized while the family was at the lodge, it would render +him the happiest of men; and how to compass this object, was the +occupation of a whole morning's contemplation. Happily for Emily's +blushes, the old gentleman harbored the most fastidious notions of +female delicacy, and never in conversation made the most distant +allusion to the expected connexion. He, therefore, in conformity with +these feelings, could do nothing openly; all must be the effect of +management; and as he thought Peter one of the best contrivers in the +world, to his ingenuity he determined to refer the arrangement. + +The bell rang--"Send Johnson to me, David." + +In a few minutes, the drab coat and blue yarn stockings entered his +dressing-room with the body of Mr. Peter Johnson snugly cased within +them. + +"Peter," commenced Mr. Benfield, pointing kindly to a chair, which the +steward respectfully declined, "I suppose you know that Mr. Denbigh, the +grandson of General Denbigh, who was in parliament with me, is about to +marry my little Emmy?" + +Peter smiled, as he bowed an assent. + +"Now, Peter, a wedding would, of all things, make me most happy; that +is, to have it here in the lodge. It would remind me so much of the +marriage of Lord Gosford, and the bridemaids. I wish your opinion how to +bring it about before they leave us. Sir Edward and Anne decline +interfering, and Mrs. Wilson I am afraid to speak to on the subject." + +Peter was not a little alarmed by this sudden requisition on his +inventive faculties, especially as a lady was in the case; but, as he +prided himself on serving his master, and loved the hilarity of a +wedding in his heart, he cogitated for some time in silence, when, +having thought a preliminary question or two necessary, he broke it with +saying-- + +"Everything, I suppose, master, is settled between the young people?" + +"Everything, I take it, Peter." + +"And Sir Edward and my lady?" + +"Willing; perfectly willing." + +"And Madam Wilson, sir?" + +"Willing, Peter, willing." + +"And Mr. John and Miss Jane?" + +"All willing; the whole family is willing, to the best of my belief.'" + +"There is the Rev. Mr. Ives and Mrs. Ives, master?" + +"They wish it, I know. Don't you think they wish others as happy as +themselves, Peter?" + +"No doubt they do, master. Well, then, as everybody is willing, and the +young people agreeable, the only thing to be done, sir, is--" + +"Is what, Peter?" exclaimed his impatient master observing him to +hesitate. + +"Why, sir, to send for the priest, I take it." + +"Pshaw! Peter Johnson, I know that myself," replied the dissatisfied old +man. "Cannot you help me to a better plan?" + +"Why, master," said Peter, "I would have done as well for Miss Emmy and +your honor as I would have done for myself. Now, sir, when I courted +Patty Steele, your honor, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven +hundred and sixty-five, I should have been married but for one +difficulty, which your honor says is removed in the case of Miss Emmy." + +"What was that, Peter?" asked his master, in a tender tone. + +"She wasn't willing, sir." + +"Very well, poor Peter," replied Mr. Benfield, mildly "you may go." And +the steward, bowing low, withdrew. + +The similarity of their fortunes in love was a strong link in the +sympathies which bound the master and man together and the former never +failed to be softened by an allusion to Patty. The want of tact in the +man, on the present occasion, after much reflection, was attributed by +his master to the fact that Peter had never sat in parliament. + + + +Chapter +XXIV. + +Mrs. Wilson and Emily, in the fortnight they had been at Benfield Lodge, +paid frequent and long visits to the cottage: and each succeeding +interview left a more favorable impression of the character of its +mistress, and a greater certainty that she was unfortunate. The latter, +however, alluded very slightly to her situation or former life; she was +a Protestant, to the great surprise of Mrs. Wilson; and one that misery +had made nearly acquainted with the religion she professed. Their +conversations chiefly turned on the customs of her own, as contrasted +with those of her adopted country, or in a pleasant exchange of +opinions, which the ladies possessed in complete unison. One morning +John had accompanied them and been admitted; Mrs. Fitzgerald receiving +him with the frankness of an old acquaintance, though with the reserve +of a Spanish lady. His visits were permitted under the direction of his +aunt, but no others of the gentlemen were included amongst her guests. +Mrs. Wilson had casually mentioned, in the absence of her niece, the +interposition of Denbigh between her and death; and Mrs. Fitzgerald was +so much pleased at the noble conduct of the gentleman, as to express a +desire to see him; but the impressions of the moment appeared to have +died away, a nothing more was said by either lady on the subject, and it +was apparently forgotten. Mrs. Fitzgerald was found one morning, weeping +over a letter she held in her hand, and the Donna Lorenza was +endeavoring to console her. The situation of this latter lady was +somewhat doubtful; she appeared neither wholly a friend nor a menial. In +the manners of the two there was a striking difference; although the +Donna was not vulgar, she was far from possessing the polish of her more +juvenile friend, and Mrs. Wilson considered her to be in a station +between that of a housekeeper and that of a companion. After hoping that +no unpleasant intelligence occasioned the distress they witnessed, the +ladies were delicately about to take their leave, when Mrs. Fitzgerald +entreated them to remain. + +"Your kind attention to me, dear madam, and the goodness of Miss +Moseley, give you a claim to know more of the unfortunate being your +sympathy has so greatly assisted to attain her peace of mind. This +letter is from the gentleman of whom you have heard me speak, as once +visiting me, and though it has struck me with unusual force, it contains +no more than I expected to hear, perhaps no more than I deserve to +hear." + +"I hope your friend has not been unnecessarily harsh: severity is not +the best way, always, of effecting repentance, and I feel certain that +you, my young friend, can have been guilty of no offence that does not +rather require gentle than stern reproof," said Mrs. Wilson. + +"I thank you, dear madam, for your indulgent opinion of me, but although +I have suffered much, I am willing to confess it is a merited +punishment; you are, however, mistaken as to the source of my present +sorrow. Lord Pendennyss is the cause of grief, I believe, to no one, +much less to me." + +"Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Emily, in surprise, unconsciously looking +at her aunt. + +"Pendennyss!" reiterated Mrs. Wilson, with animation "and is he your +friend, too?" "Yes, madam; to his lordship I owe everything--honor-- +comfort--religion--and even life itself." + +Mrs. Wilson's cheek glowed with an unusual color, at this discovery of +another act of benevolence and virtue, in a young nobleman whose +character she had so long admired, and whose person she had in vain +wished to meet. + +"You know the earl, then?" inquired Mrs. Fitzgerald. + +"By reputation, only, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "but that is enough to +convince me a friend of his must be a worthy character, if anything were +wanting to make us your friends." + +The conversation was continued for some time, and Mrs. Fitzgerald saying +she did not feel equal just then to the undertaking, but the next day, +if they would honor her with another call, she would make them +acquainted with the incidents of her life, and the reasons she had for +speaking in such terms of Lord Pendennyss. The promise to see her was +cheerfully made by Mrs. Wilson, and her confidence accepted; not from a +desire to gratify an idle curiosity, but a belief that it was necessary +to probe a wound to cure it; and a correct opinion, that she would be a +better adviser for a young and lovely woman, than even Pendennyss; for +the Donna Lorenza she could hardly consider in a capacity to offer +advice, much less dictation. They then took their leave, and Emily, +during their ride, broke the silence with exclaiming,-- + +"Wherever we hear of Lord Pendennyss, aunt, we hear of him favorably." + +"A certain sign, my dear, he is deserving of it. There is hardly any man +who has not his enemies, and those are seldom just; but we have met with +none of the earl's yet." + +"Fifty thousand a year will make many friends," observed Emily, shaking +her head. + +"Doubtless, my love, or as many enemies; but honor, life, and religion, +my child, are debts not owing to money--in this country at least." + +To this remark Emily assented; and after expressing her own admiration +of the character of the young nobleman, she dropped into a reverie. How +many of his virtues she identified with the person of Mr. Denbigh, it is +not, just now, our task to enumerate; but judges of human nature may +easily determine, and that too without having sat in the parliament of +this realm. + +The morning this conversation occurred at the cottage, Mr. and Mrs. +Jarvis, with their daughters, made their unexpected appearance at L----. +The arrival of a post-chaise and four with a gig, was an event soon +circulated through the little village, and the names of its owners +reached the lodge just as Jane had allowed herself to be persuaded by +the colonel to take her first walk with him unaccompanied by a third +person. Walking is much more propitious to declarations than riding; and +whether it was premeditated on the part of the colonel or not, or +whether he was afraid that Mrs. Jarvis or some one else would interfere, +he availed himself of this opportunity, and had hardly got out of +hearing of her brother and Denbigh, before he made Jane an explicit +offer of his hand. The surprise was so great, that some time elapsed +before the distressed girl could reply. This she, however, at length +did, but incoherently: she referred him to her parents, as the arbiters +of her fate, well knowing that her wishes had long been those of her +father and mother. With this the colonel was obliged to be satisfied for +the present. But their walk had not ended, before he gradually drew from +the confiding girl an acknowledgment that, should her parents decline +his offer, she would be very little less miserable than himself; indeed, +the most tenacious lover might have been content with the proofs of +regard that Jane, unused to control her feelings, allowed herself to +manifest on this occasion. Egerton was in raptures; a life devoted to +her would never half repay her condescension; and as their confidence +increased with their walk, Jane re-entered the lodge with a degree of +happiness in her heart she had never before experienced. The much +dreaded declaration--her own distressing acknowledgements, were made, +and nothing farther remained but to live and be happy. She flew into the +arms of her mother, and; hiding her blushes in her bosom, acquainted her +with the colonel's offer and her own wishes. Lady Moseley, who was +prepared for such a communication, and had rather wondered at its +tardiness, kissed her daughter affectionately, as she promised to speak +to her father, and to obtain his approbation. + +"But," she added, with a degree of formality and caution which had +better preceded than have followed the courtship, "we must make the +usual inquiries, my child, into the fitness of Colonel Egerton as a +husband for our daughter. Once assured of that, you have nothing to +fear." + +The baronet was requested to grant an audience to Colonel Egerton, who +now appeared as determined to expedite things, as he had been dilatory +before. On meeting Sir Edward, he made known his pretensions and hopes. +The father, who had been previously notified by his wife of what was +forthcoming, gave a general answer, similar to the speech of the mother, +and the colonel bowed in acquiescence. + +In the evening, the Jarvis family favored the inhabitants of the lodge +with a visit, and Mrs. Wilson was struck with the singularity of their +reception of the colonel. Miss Jarvis, especially, was rude to both him +and Jane, and it struck all who witnessed it as a burst of jealous +feeling for disappointed hopes; but to no one, excepting Mrs. Wilson, +did it occur that the conduct of the gentleman could be at all +implicated in the transaction. Mr. Benfield was happy to see under his +roof again the best of the trio of Jarvises he had known, and something +like sociability prevailed. There was to be a ball, Miss Jarvis +remarked, at L----, the following day, which would help to enliven the +scene a little, especially as there were a couple of frigates at anchor, +a few miles off, and the officers were expected to join the party. This +intelligence had but little effect on the ladies of the Moseley family; +yet, as their uncle desired that, out of respect to his neighbors, if +invited, they would go, they cheerfully assented. During the evening, +Mrs. Wilson observed Egerton in familiar conversation with Miss Jarvis; +and as she had been notified of his situation with respect to Jane, she +determined to watch narrowly into the causes of so singular a change of +deportment in the young lady. Mrs. Jarvis retained her respect for the +colonel in full force; and called out to him across the room, a few +minutes before she departed-- + +"Well, colonel, I am happy to tell you I have heard very lately from +your uncle, Sir Edgar." + +"Indeed, madam!" replied the colonel, starting. "He was well, I hope." + +"Very well, the day before yesterday. His neighbor, old, Mr. Holt, is a +lodger in the same house with us at L----; and as I thought you would +like to hear, I made particular inquiries about the baronet." The word +baronet was pronounced with emphasis and a look of triumph, as if it +would say, you see we have baronets as well as you. As no answer was +made by Egerton, excepting an acknowledging bow, the merchant and his +family departed. + +"Well, John," cried Emily, with a smile, "we have heard more good to-day +of our trusty and well-beloved cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed her brother. "You must keep Emily for his lordship, +positively, aunt: she is almost as great an admirer of him as yourself." + +"I apprehend it is necessary she should be quite as much so, to become +his wife," said Mrs. Wilson. + +"Really," said Emily, more gravely, "if all one hears of him be true, or +even half, it would be no difficult task to admire him." + +Denbigh was standing leaning on the back of a chair, in situation where +he could view the animated countenance of Emily as she spoke, and Mrs. +Wilson noticed an uneasiness and a changing of color in him that +appeared uncommon from so trifling a cause. Is it possible, she thought, +Denbigh can harbor so mean a passion as envy? He walked away, as if +unwilling to hear more, and appeared much engrossed with his own +reflections for the remainder of the evening. There were moments of +doubting which crossed the mind of Mrs. Wilson with a keenness of +apprehension proportionate to her deep interest in Emily, with respect +to certain traits in the character of Denbigh; and this, what she +thought a display of unworthy feeling, was one of them. In the course of +the evening, the cards for the expected ball arrived, and were accepted. +As this new arrangement for the morrow interfered with their intended +visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald, a servant was sent with a note of explanation +in the morning and a request that on the following day the promised +communication might be made. To this arrangement the recluse assented, +and Emily prepared for the ball with a melancholy recollection of the +consequences which grew out of the last she had attended--melancholy at +the fate of Digby, and pleasure at the principles manifested by Denbigh, +on the occasion. The latter, however, with a smile, excused himself from +being of the party, telling Emily he was so awkward that he feared some +unpleasant consequences to himself or his friends would arise from his +inadvertencies, did he venture again with her into such an assembly. + +Emily sighed gently, as she entered the carriage of her aunt early in +the afternoon, leaving Denbigh in the door of the lodge, and Egerton +absent on the execution of some business; the former to amuse himself as +he could until the following morning, and the latter to join them in the +dance in the evening. + +The arrangement included an excursion on the water, attended by the +bands from the frigates, a collation, and in the evening a ball. One of +the vessels was commanded by a Lord Henry Stapleton, a fine young man, +who, struck with the beauty and appearance of the sisters, sought an +introduction to the baronet's family, and engaged the hand of Emily for +the first dance. His frank and gentleman-like deportment was pleasing to +his new acquaintances; the more so, as it was peculiarly suited to their +situation at the moment. Mrs. Wilson was in unusual spirits, and +maintained an animated conversation with the young sailor, in the course +of which, he spoke of his cruising on the coast of Spain, and by +accident he mentioned his having carried out to that country, upon one +occasion, Lord Pendennyss. This was common ground between them, and Lord +Henry was as enthusiastic in his praises of the earl, as Mrs. Wilson's +partiality could desire. He also knew Colonel Egerton slightly, and +expressed his pleasure, in polite terms, when they met in the evening in +the ball-room, at being able to renew his acquaintance. The evening +passed off as such evenings generally do--in gaiety, listlessness, +dancing, gaping, and heartburnings, according to the dispositions and +good or ill fortune of the several individuals who compose the assembly. +Mrs. Wilson, while her nieces were dancing, moved her seat to be near a +window, and found herself in the vicinity of two elderly gentlemen, who +were commenting on the company. After making several common-place +remarks, one of them inquired of the other--"Who is that military +gentleman amongst the naval beaux, Holt?" + +"That is the hopeful nephew of my friend and neighbor, Sir Edgar +Egerton; he is here dancing, and misspending his time and money, when I +know Sir Edgar gave him a thousand pounds six months ago, on express +condition, he should not leave the regiment or take a card in his hand +for twelvemonth." + +"He plays, then?" + +"Sadly; he is, on the whole, a very bad young man." + +As they changed their topic, Mrs. Wilson joined her sister, dreadfully +shocked at this intimation of the vices of a man so near an alliance +with her brother's child. She was thankful it was not too late to avert +part of the evil, and determined to acquaint Sir Edward, at once, with +what she had heard, in order that an investigation might establish the +colonel's innocence or guilt. + + + +Chapter XXV. + +They returned to the lodge at an early hour, and Mrs Wilson, after +meditating upon the course she ought to take, resolved to have a +conversation with her brother that evening after supper. Accordingly, as +they were among the last to retire, she mentioned her wish to detain +him, and when left by themselves, the baronet taking his seat by her on +a sofa, she commenced as follows, willing to avoid her unpleasant +information until the last moment. + +"I wished to say something to you, brother, relating to my charge: you +have, no doubt, observed the attentions of Mr. Denbigh to Emily?" + +"Certainly, sister, and with great pleasure; you must not suppose I wish +to interfere with the authority I have so freely relinquished to you, +Charlotte, when I inquire if Emily favors his views or not?" + +"Neither Emily nor I, my dear brother, wish ever to question your right, +not only to inquire into, but to control the conduct of your child;--she +is yours, Edward, by a tie nothing can break, and we both love you too +much to wish it. There is nothing you may be more certain of, than that, +without the approbation of her parents, Emily would accept of no offer, +however splendid or agreeable to her own wishes." + +"Nay, sister, I would not wish unduly to influence my child in an affair +of so much importance to herself; but my interest in Denbigh is little +short of that I feel for my daughter." + +"I trust," continued Mrs. Wilson, "Emily is too deeply impressed with +her duty to forget the impressive mandate, 'to honor her father and +mother:' yes, Sir Edward, I am mistaken if she would not relinquish the +dearest object of her affections, at your request; and at the same time, +I am persuaded she would, under no circumstances, approach the altar +with a man she did not both love and esteem." + +The baronet did not appear exactly to understand his sister's +distinction, as he observed, "I am not sure I rightly comprehend the +difference you make, Charlotte." + +"Only, brother, that she would feel that a promise made at the altar to +love a man she felt averse to, or honor one she could not esteem, as a +breach of a duty, paramount to all earthly considerations," replied his +sister; "but to answer your question--Denbigh has never offered, and +when he does, I do not think he will be refused." + +"Refused!" cried the baronet, "I sincerely hope not; I wish, with all my +heart, they were married already." + +"Emily is very young," said Mrs. Wilson, "and need not hurry: I was in +hopes she would remain single a few years longer." + +"Well," said the baronet, "you and Lady Moseley, sister, have different +notions on the subject of marrying the girls." + +Mrs. Wilson replied, with a good-humored smile, "you have made Anne so +good a husband, Ned, that she forgets there are any bad ones in the +world; my greatest anxiety is, that the husband of my niece may be a +Christian; indeed, I know not how I can reconcile it to my conscience, +as a Christian myself, to omit this important qualification," + +"I am sure, Charlotte, both Denbigh and Egerton appear to have a great +respect for religion; they are punctual at church, and very attentive to +the service:" Mrs. Wilson smiled as he proceeded, "but religion may come +after marriage, you know." + +"Yes, brother, and I know it may not come at all; no really pious woman +can be happy, without her husband is in what she deems the road to +future happiness himself; and it is idle--it is worse--it is almost +impious to marry with a view to reform a husband: indeed, she greatly +endangers her own safety thereby; for few of us, I believe, but find the +temptation to err as much as we can contend with, without calling in the +aid of example against us, in an object we love; indeed it appears to +me, the life of such a woman must be a struggle between conflicting +duties." + +"Why," said the baronet, "if your plan were generally adopted, I am +afraid it would give a deadly blow to matrimony." + +"I have nothing to do with generals, brother, I am acting for individual +happiness, and discharging individual duties: at the same time I cannot +agree with you in its effects on the community. I think no man who +dispassionately examines the subject, will be other than a Christian; +and rather than remain bachelors, they would take even that trouble; if +the strife in our sex were less for a husband, wives would increase in +value." + +"But how is it, Charlotte," said the baronet, pleasantly, "your sex do +not use your power and reform the age?" + +"The work of reformation, Sir Edward," replied his sister, gravely, "is +an arduous one indeed, and I despair of seeing it general, in my day; +but much, very much, might be done towards it, if those who have the +guidance of youth would take that trouble with their pupils that good +faith requires of them, to discharge the minor duties of life." + +"Women ought to marry," observed the baronet, musing. + +"Marriage is certainly the natural and most desirable state for a +woman," but how few are there who, having entered it, know how to +discharge its duties; more particularly those of a mother! On the +subject of marrying our daughters, for instance, instead of qualifying +them to make a proper choice, they are generally left to pick up such +principles and opinions as they may come at, as it were by chance. It is +true, if the parent be a Christian in name, certain of the externals of +religion are observed; but what are these, if not enforced by a +consistent example in the instructor?" + +"Useful precepts are seldom lost, I believe, sister," said Sir Edward, +with confidence. + +"Always useful, my dear brother; but young people are more observant +than we are apt to imagine, and are wonderfully ingenious in devising +excuses to themselves for their conduct. I have often heard it offered +as an apology, that father or mother knew it, or perhaps did it, and +therefore it could not be wrong: association is all-important to a +child." + +"I believe no family of consequence admits of improper associates within +my knowledge," said the baronet. + +Mrs. Wilson smiled as she answered, "I am sure I hope not, Edward; but +are the qualifications we require in companions for our daughters, +always such as are most reconcileable with our good sense or our +consciences; a single communication with an objectionable character is a +precedent, if known and unobserved, which will be offered to excuse +acquaintances with worse persons: with the other sex, especially, their +acquaintance should be very guarded and select." + +"You would make many old maids, sister." + +"I doubt it greatly, brother; it would rather bring female society in +demand. I often regret that selfishness, cupidity, and the kind of +strife which prevails in our sex, on the road to matrimony, have brought +celibacy into disrepute. For my part, I never see an old maid, but I am +willing to think she is so from choice or principle, and although not in +her proper place, serviceable, by keeping alive feelings necessary to +exist, that marriages may not become curses instead of blessings." + +"A kind of Eddystone, to prevent matrimonial shipwrecks," said the +brother, gayly. + +"Their lot may be solitary, baronet, and in some measure cheerless, but +infinitely preferable to a marriage that may lead them astray from their +duties, or give birth to a family which are to be turned on the world-- +without any religion but form--without any morals but truisms--or +without even a conscience which has not been seared by indulgence. I +hope that Anne, in the performance of her system, will have no cause to +regret its failure." + +"Clara chose for herself, and has done well, Charlotte; and so, I doubt +not, will Jane and Emily: and I confess I think their mother is right." + +"It is true," said Mrs. Wilson, "Clara has done well, though under +circumstances of but little risk; she might have jumped into your fish- +pond, and escaped with life, but the chances are she would drown: nor do +I dispute the right of the girls to choose for themselves; but I say the +rights extend to requiring us to qualify them to make their choice. I am +sorry, Edward, to be the instigator of doubts in your breast of the +worth of any one, especially as it may give you pain." Here Mrs. Wilson +took her brother affectionately by the hand, and communicated what she +had overheard that evening. Although the impressions of the baronet were +not as vivid, or as deep as those of his sister, his parental love was +too great not to make him extremely uneasy under the intelligence and +after thanking her for her attention to his children's welfare, he +kissed her, and withdrew. In passing to his own room, he met Egerton, +that moment returned from escorting the Jarvis ladies to their lodgings; +a task he had undertaken at the request of Jane, as they were without +any male attendant. Sir Edward's heart was too full not to seek +immediate relief, and as he had strong hopes of the innocence of the +colonel, though he could give no reason for his expectation, he returned +with him to the parlor, and in a few words acquainted him with the +slanders which had been circulated at his expense; begging him by all +means to disprove them as soon as possible. The colonel was struck with +the circumstance at first, but assured Sir Edward, it was entirely +untrue. He never played, as he might have noticed, and that Mr. Holt was +an ancient enemy of his. He would in the morning take measures to +convince Sir Edward, that he stood higher in the estimation of his +uncle, than Mr. Holt had thought proper to state. Much relieved by this +explanation, the baronet, forgetting that this heavy charge removed, he +only stood where he did before he took time for his inquiries, assured +him, that if he could convince him, or rather his sister, he did not +gamble, he would receive him as a son-in-law with pleasure. The +gentlemen shook hands and parted. + +Denbigh had retired to his room early, telling Mr. Benfield he did not +feel well, and thus missed the party at supper; and by twelve, silence +prevailed in the house. + +As usual after a previous day of pleasure, the party were late in +assembling on the following, yet Denbigh was the last who made his +appearance. Mrs. Wilson thought he threw a look round the room as he +entered, which prevented his making his salutations in his usual easy +and polished manner. In a few minutes, however, his awkwardness was +removed, and they took their seats at the table. At that moment the door +of the room was thrown hastily open, and Mr. Jarvis entered abruptly, +and with a look bordering on wildness in his eye--"Is she not here?" +exclaimed the merchant scanning the company closely. + +"Who?" inquired all in a breath. + +"Polly--my daughter--my child," said the merchant, endeavoring to +control his feelings; "did she not come here this morning with Colonel +Egerton?" + +He was answered in the negative, and he briefly explained the cause of +his anxiety. The colonel had called very early, and sent her maid up to +his daughter who rose immediately. They had quitted the house together, +leaving word the Miss Moseleys had sent for the young lady to breakfast, +for some particular reason. Such was the latitude allowed by his wife, +that nothing was suspected until one of the servants of the house said +he had seen Colonel Egerton and a lady drive out of the village that +morning in a post-chaise and four. + +Then the old gentleman first took the alarm, and he proceeded instantly +to the lodge in quest of his daughter. Of the elopement there now +remained no doubt, and an examination into the state of the colonel's +room, who, it had been thought, was not yet risen, gave assurance of it. +Here was at once sad confirmation that the opinion of Mr. Holt was a +just one. Although every heart felt for Jane during this dreadful +explanation, no eye was turned on her excepting the stolen, and anxious +glances of her sister; but when all was confirmed, and nothing remained +but to reflect or act upon the circumstances, she naturally engrossed +the whole attention of her fond parents. Jane had listened in +indignation to the commencement of the narrative of Mr. Jarvis, and so +firmly was Egerton enshrined in purity within her imagination, that not +until it was ascertained that both his servant and clothes were missing, +would she admit a thought injurious to his truth. Then indeed the +feelings of Mr. Jarvis, his plain statement corroborated by this +testimony, struck her at once as true; and as she rose to leave the +room, she fell senseless into the arms of Emily who observing her +movement and loss of color had flown to her assistance. Denbigh had +drawn the merchant out in vain efforts to appease him, and happily no +one witnessed this effect of Jane's passion but her nearest relatives. +She was immediately removed to her own room, and in a short time was in +bed with a burning fever. The bursts of her grief were uncontrolled and +violent. At times she reproached herself--her friends--Egerton; in +short, she was guilty of all the inconsistent sensations that +disappointed hopes, accompanied by the consciousness of weakness on our +part seldom fail to give rise to; the presence of her friends was +irksome to her, and it was only to the soft and insinuating +blandishments of Emily's love that she would at all yield. Perseverance +and affection at length prevailed, and as Emily took the opportunity of +some refreshments to infuse a strong soporific, Jane lost her +consciousness of misery in a temporary repose. In the mean time a more +searching inquiry had been able to trace out the manner and direction of +the journey of the fugitives. + +It appeared the colonel left the lodge immediately after his +conversation with Sir Edward; he slept at a tavern, and caused his +servant to remove his baggage at daylight; here he had ordered a chaise +and horses, and then proceeded, as mentioned, to the lodgings of Mr. +Jarvis. What arguments he used with Miss Jarvis to urge her to so sudden +a flight, remained a secret; but from the remarks of Mrs. Jarvis and +Miss Sarah, there was reason to believe that he had induced them to +think from the commencement, that his intentions were single, and Mary +Jarvis their object. How he contrived to gloss over his attentions to +Jane in such a manner as to deceive those ladies, caused no little +surprise; but it was obvious it had been done, and the Moseleys were not +without hopes his situation with Jane would not make the noise in the +world such occurrences seldom fail to excite. In the afternoon a letter +was handed to Mr. Jarvis, and by him immediately communicated to the +baronet and Denbigh, both of whom he considered as among his best +friends. It was from Egerton, and written in a respectful manner: he +apologized for his elopement, and excused it on the ground of a wish to +avoid the delay of a license or the publishing of bans, as he was in +hourly expectation of a summons to his regiment, and contained many +promises of making an attentive husband, and an affectionate son. The +fugitives were on the road to Scotland, whence they intended immediately +to return to London and to wait the commands of their parents. The +baronet in a voice trembling with emotion at the sufferings of his own +child, congratulated the merchant that things were no worse; while +Denbigh curled his lips as he read the epistle, and thought settlements +were a greater inconvenience than the bans--for it was a well known +fact, a maiden aunt had left the Jarvises twenty thousand pounds between +them. + + + +Chapter XXVI. + +Although the affections of Jane had sustained a blow, her pride had +received a greater, and no persuasions of her mother or sister could +induce her to leave her room. She talked little, but once or twice she +yielded to the affectionate attentions of Emily, and poured out her +sorrows into the bosom of her sister. At such moments she would declare +her intention of never appearing in the world again. One of these +paroxysms of sorrow was witnessed by her mother, and, for the first +time, self-reproach mingled in the grief of the matron. Had she trusted +less to appearances and to the opinions of indifferent and ill-judging +acquaintances, her daughter might have been apprized in season of the +character of the man who had stolen her affections. To a direct +exhibition of misery Lady Moseley was always sensible, and, for the +moment, she became alive to its causes and consequences; but a timely +and judicious safeguard against future moral evils was a forecast +neither her inactivity of mind nor abilities were equal to. + +We shall leave Jane to brood over her lover's misconduct, while we +regret she is without the consolation alone able to bear her up against +the misfortunes of life, and return to the other personages of our +history. + +The visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald had been postponed in consequence of Jane's +indisposition; but a week after the colonel's departure, Mrs. Wilson +thought, as Jane had consented to leave her room, and Emily really began +to look pale from her confinement by the side of a sick bed, she would +redeem the pledge she had given the recluse on the following morning. +They found the ladies at the cottage happy to see them, and anxious to +hear of the health of Jane, of whose illness they had been informed by +note. After offering her guests some refreshments, Mrs. Fitzgerald, who +appeared laboring under a greater melancholy than usual, proceeded to +make them acquainted with the incidents of her life. + +The daughter of an English merchant at Lisbon had fled from the house of +her father to the protection of an Irish officer in the service of his +Catholic Majesty: they were united, and the colonel immediately took his +bride to Madrid. The offspring of this union were a son and daughter. +The former, at an early age, had entered into the service of his king, +and had, as usual, been bred in the faith of his ancestors; but the +Señora McCarthy had been educated, and yet remained a Protestant, and, +contrary to her faith to her husband, secretly instructed her daughter +in the same belief. At the age of seventeen, a principal grandee of the +court of Charles sought the hand of the general's child. The Conde +d'Alzada was a match not to be refused, and they were united in the +heartless and formal manner in which marriages are too often entered +into, in countries where the customs of society prevent an intercourse +between the sexes. The Conde never possessed the affections of his wife. +Of a stern and unyielding disposition, his harshness repelled her love; +and as she naturally turned her eyes to the home of her childhood, she +cherished all those peculiar sentiments she had imbibed from her mother. +Thus, although she appeared to the world a Catholic, she lived in secret +a Protestant. Her parents had always used the English language in their +family, and she spoke it as fluently as the Spanish. To encourage her +recollections of this strong feature, which distinguished the house of +her father from the others she entered, she perused closely and +constantly those books which the death of her mother placed at her +disposal. These were principally Protestant works on religious subjects, +and the countess became a strong sectarian, without becoming a +Christian. As she was compelled to use the same books in teaching her +only child, the Donna Julia, English, the consequences of the original +false step of her grandmother were perpetuated in the person of this +young lady. In learning English, she also learned to secede from the +faith of her father, and entailed upon herself a life of either +persecution or hypocrisy. The countess was guilty of the unpardonable +error of complaining to their child of the treatment she received from +her husband; and as these conversations were held in English, and were +consecrated by the tears of the mother, they made an indelible +impression on the youthful mind of Julia, who grew up with the +conviction that next to being a Catholic herself, the greatest evil of +life was to be the wife of one. + +On her attaining her fifteenth year, she had the misfortune (if it could +be termed one) to lose her mother, and within the year her father +presented to her a nobleman of the vicinity as her future husband. How +long the religious faith of Julia would have endured, unsupported by +example in others, and assailed by the passions soliciting in behalf of +a young and handsome cavalier, it might be difficult to pronounce; but +as suitor was neither very young, and the reverse of very handsome, it +is certain the more he wooed, the more confirmed she became in her +heresy, until, in a moment of desperation, and as an only refuge against +his solicitations, she candidly avowed her creed. The anger of her +father was violent and lasting: she was doomed to a convent, as both a +penance for her sins and a means of reformation. Physical resistance was +not in her power, but mentally she determined never to yield. Her body +was immured, but her mind continued unshaken and rather more settled in +her belief, by the aid of those passions which had been excited by +injudicious harshness. For two years she continued in her novitiate, +obstinately refusing to take the vows of the order, and at the end of +that period the situation of her country had called her father and uncle +to the field as defenders of the rights of their lawful prince. Perhaps +to this it was owing that harsher measures were not adopted in her case. + +The war now raged around them in its greatest horrors, until at length a +general battle was fought in the neighborhood, and the dormitories of +the peaceful nuns were crowded with wounded British officers. Amongst +others of his nation was a Major Fitzgerald, a young man of strikingly +handsome countenance and pleasant manners. Chance threw him under the +more immediate charge of Julia: his recovery was slow, and for a time +doubtful, and as much owing to good nursing as science. The major was +grateful, and Julia unhappy as she was beautiful. That love should be +the offspring of this association, will excite no surprise. A brigade of +British encamping in the vicinity of the convent, the young couple +sought its protection from Spanish vengeance and Romish cruelty. They +were married by the chaplain of the brigade, and for a month they were +happy. + +As Napoleon was daily expected in person at the seat of war, his +generals were alive to their own interests, if not to that of their +master. The body of troops in which Fitzgerald had sought a refuge, +being an advanced party of the main army, were surprised and defeated +with loss. After doing his duty as a soldier at his post, the major, in +endeavoring to secure the retreat of Julia, was intercepted, and they +both fell into the hands of the enemy. They were kindly treated, and +allowed every indulgence their situation admitted, until a small escort +of prisoners was sent to the frontiers; in this they were included, and +had proceeded to the neighborhood of the Pyrenees, when, in their turn, +the French were assailed suddenly, and entirely routed; and the captive +Spaniards, of which the party, with the exception of our young couple, +consisted, released. As the French guard made a resistance until +overpowered by numbers, an unfortunate ball struck Major Fitzgerald to +the earth--he survived but an hour, and died where he fell, on the open +field. An English officer, the last of his retiring countrymen, was +attracted by the sight of a woman weeping over the body of a fallen man, +and approached them. In a few words Fitzgerald explained his situation +to this gentleman, and exacted a pledge from him to guard his Julia, in +safety, to his mother in England. + +The stranger promised everything the dying husband required, and by the +time death had closed the eyes of Fitzgerald, he had procured from some +peasants a rude conveyance, into which the body, with its almost equally +lifeless widow, were placed. The party which intercepted the convoy of +prisoners, had been out from the British camp on other duty, but its +commander hearing of the escort, had pushed rapidly into a country +covered by the enemy to effect their rescue; and his service done, he +was compelled to make a hasty retreat to ensure his own security. To +this was owing the indifference, which left the major to the care of the +Spanish peasantry who had gathered to the spot, and the retreating +troops had got several miles on their return, before the widow and her +protector commenced their journey. It was impossible to overtake them, +and the inhabitants acquainting the gentleman that a body of French +dragoons were already harassing their rear, he was compelled to seek +another route to the camp. This, with some trouble and no little danger, +he at last effected; and the day following the skirmish, Julia found +herself lodged in a retired Spanish dwelling, several miles within the +advanced posts of the British army. The body of her husband was +respectfully interred, and Julia was left to mourn her irretrievable +loss, uninterrupted by anything but by the hasty visits of the officer +in whose care she had been left--visits which he stole from his more +important duties as a soldier. + +A month glided by in this melancholy manner, leaving to Mrs. Fitzgerald +the only consolation she would receive--her incessant visits to the +grave of her husband. The calls of her protector, however, became more +frequent; and at length he announced his intended departure for Lisbon, +on his way to England. A small covered vehicle, drawn by one horse, was +to convey them to the city, at which place he promised to procure her a +female attendant, and necessaries for the voyage home. It was no time or +place for delicate punctilio; and Julia quietly, but with a heart nearly +broken, prepared to submit to the wishes of her late husband. After +leaving the dwelling, the manners of her guide sensibly altered; he +became complimentary and assiduous to please, but in a way rather to +offend than conciliate; until his attentions became so irksome, that +Julia actually meditated stopping at some of the villages through which +they passed, and abandoning the attempt of visiting England entirely. +But the desire to comply with Fitzgerald's wish, that she would console +his mother for the loss of an only child, and the dread of the anger of +her relatives, determined her to persevere until they reached Lisbon, +where she was resolved to separate for ever from the disagreeable and +unknown guardian into whose keeping she had been thrown by chance. + +The last day of their weary ride, while passing a wood, the officer so +far forgot his own character and Julia's misfortunes, as to offer +personal indignities. Grown desperate from her situation, Mrs. +Fitzgerald sprang from the vehicle, and by her cries attracted the +notice of an officer who was riding express on the same road with +themselves. He advanced to her assistance at speed, but as he arrived +near them, a pistol fired from the carriage brought his horse down, and +the treacherous friend was enabled to escape undetected. Julia +endeavored to explain her situation to her rescuer; and by her distress +and appearance, satisfied him at once of its truth. Within a short time, +a strong escort of light dragoons came up, and the officer despatched +some for a conveyance, and others in pursuit of that disgrace to the +army, the villanous guide: the former was soon obtained, but no tidings +could be had of the latter. The carriage was found at a short distance, +without the horse and with the baggage of Julia, but with no vestige of +its owner. She never knew his name, and either accident or art had so +completely enveloped him in mystery, that all efforts to unfold it then +were fruitless, and had continued so ever since. + +On their arrival in Lisbon, every attention was shown to the +disconsolate widow the most refined delicacy could dictate, and every +comfort and respect were procured for her which the princely fortune, +high rank, and higher character of the Earl of Pendennyss, could +command. It was this nobleman, who, on his way from head-quarters with +despatches for England, had been the means of preserving Julia from a +fate worse than death. A packet was in waiting for the earl, and they +proceeded in her for home. The Donna Lorenza was the widow of a +subaltern Spanish officer, who had fallen under the orders and near +Pendennyss, and the interest he took in her brave husband had induced +him to offer her, in the destruction of her little fortune by the enemy, +his protection: for near two years he had maintained her at Lisbon and +now, judging her a proper person, had persuaded her to accompany Mrs. +Fitzgerald to England. + +On the passage, which was very tedious, the earl became more intimately +acquainted with the history and character of his young friend, and by a +course of gentle yet powerful expedients had drawn her mind gradually +from its gloomy contemplation of futurity, to a juster sense of good and +evil. The peculiarity of her religious persuasion afforded an +introduction to frequent discussions of the real opinions of that +church, to which Julia had hitherto belonged, although ignorant of all +its essential and vital truths. These conversations, which were renewed +repeatedly in their intercourse while under the protection of his sister +in London, laid the foundations of a faith which left her nothing to +hope for but the happy termination of her earthly probation. + +The mother of Fitzgerald was dead, and as he had no near relative left, +Julia found herself alone in the world. Her husband had taken the +precaution to make a will in season it was properly authenticated, and +his widow, by the powerful assistance of Pendennyss, was put in quiet +possession of a little independency. It was while waiting the decision +of this affair that Mrs. Fitzgerald resided for a short time near Bath. +As soon as it was terminated, the earl and his sister had seen her +settled in her present abode, and once since had they visited her; but +delicacy had kept him away from the cottage, although his attempts to +serve her had been constant, though not always successful. He had, on +his return to Spain, seen her father, and interceded with him on her +behalf, but in vain. The anger of the Spaniard remained unappeased, and +for a season he did not renew his efforts; out having heard that her +father was indisposed, Julia had employed the earl once more to make her +peace with him, without prevailing. The letter the ladies had found her +weeping over was from Pendennyss, informing her of his want of success +on that occasion. + +The substance of the foregoing narrative was related by Mrs. Fitzgerald +to Mrs. Wilson, who repeated it to Emily in their ride home. The +compassion of both ladies was strongly moved in behalf of the young +widow; yet Mrs. Wilson did not fail to point out to her niece the +consequences of deception, and chiefly the misery which had followed +from an abandonment of some of the primary duties of life--obedience and +respect to her parent. Emily, though keenly alive to all the principles +inculcated by her aunt, found so much to be pitied in the fate of her +friend, that her failings lost their proper appearance in her eyes, and +for a while she could think of nothing but Julia and her misfortunes. +Previously to their leaving the cottage, Mrs. Fitzgerald, with glowing +cheeks and some hesitation, informed Mrs. Wilson she had yet another +important communication to make, but would postpone it until her next +visit, which Mrs. Wilson promised should be on the succeeding day. + + + + +Chapter XXVII. + +Emily threw a look of pleasure on Denbigh, as he handed her from the +carriage, which would have said, if looks could talk, "In the principles +you have displayed on more than one occasion, I have a pledge of your +worth." As he led her into the house, he laughingly informed her that he +had that morning received a letter which would make his absence from L-- +-- necessary for a short time, and that he must remonstrate against +these long and repeated visits to a cottage where all attendants of the +male sex were excluded, as they encroached greatly on his pleasures and +improvements, bowing, as he spoke, to Mrs. Wilson. To this Emily +replied, gaily, that possibly, if he conducted himself to their +satisfaction; they would intercede for his admission. Expressing his +pleasure at this promise, as Mrs. Wilson thought rather awkwardly, +Denbigh changed the conversation. At dinner he repeated to the family +what he had mentioned to Emily of his departure, and also his +expectation of meeting with Lord Chatterton during his journey. + +"Have you heard from Chatterton lately, John?" inquired Sir Edward +Moseley. + +"Yes, sir, to-day: he had left Denbigh Castle a fortnight since, and +writes he is to meet his friend, the duke, at Bath." + +"Are you connected with his grace, Mr. Denbigh?" asked Lady Moseley. + +A smile of indefinite meaning played on the expressive face of Denbigh, +as he answered slightly-- + +"On the side of my father, madam." + +"He has a sister," continued Lady Moseley, willing to know more of +Chatterton's friends and Denbigh's relatives. + +"He has," was the brief reply. + +"Her name is Harriet," observed Mrs. Wilson. Denbigh bowed his assent in +silence, and Emily timidly added-- + +"Lady Harriet Denbigh?" + +"Lady Harriet Denbigh--will you do me the favor to take wine?" + +The manner of the gentleman during this dialogue had not been in the +least unpleasant, but it was peculiar; it prohibited anything further on +the subject; and Emily was obliged to be content without knowing who +Marian was, or whether her name was to be found in the Denbigh family or +not. Emily was not in the least jealous, but she wished to know all to +whom her lover was dear. + +"Do the Dowager and the young ladies accompany Chatterton?" asked Sir +Edward, as he turned to John, who was eating his fruit in silence. + +"Yes, sir--I hope--that is, I believe she will," was the answer. + +"She! Who is she, my son?" + +"Grace Chatterton," said John, starting from his meditations. "Did you +not ask me about Grace, Sir Edward?" + +"Not particularly, I believe," said the baronet, dryly. + +Denbigh again smiled: it was a smile different from any Mrs. Wilson had +ever seen on his countenance, and gave an entirely novel expression to +his face; it was full of meaning, it was knowing--spoke more of the man +of the world than anything she had before noticed in him, and left on +her mind one of those vague impressions she was often troubled with, +that there was something about Denbigh in character or condition, or +both, that was mysterious. + +The spirit of Jane was too great to leave her a pining or pensive +maiden; yet her feelings had sustained a shock that time alone could +cure. She appeared again amongst her friends; but the consciousness of +her expectations with respect to the colonel being known to them, threw +around her a hauteur and distance very foreign to her natural manner. +Emily alone, whose every movement sprang from the spontaneous feelings +of her heart, and whose words and actions were influenced by the finest +and most affectionate delicacy, such as she was not conscious of +possessing herself, won upon the better feelings of her sister so far, +as to restore between them the usual exchange of kindness and sympathy. +But Jane admitted no confidence; she found nothing consoling, nothing +solid, to justify her attachment to Egerton; nothing indeed, excepting +such external advantages as she was now ashamed to admit had ever the +power over her they in reality had possessed. The marriage of the +fugitives in Scotland had been announced; and as the impression that +Egerton was to be connected with the Moseleys was destroyed of course, +their every-day acquaintances, feeling the restraints removed that such +an opinion had once imposed, were free in their comments on his +character. Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were astonished to find how many +things to his disadvantage were generally known; that he gambled-- +intrigued--and was in debt--were no secrets apparently to anybody, but +to those who were most interested in knowing the truth; while Mrs. +Wilson saw in these facts additional reasons for examining and judging +for ourselves; the world uniformly concealing from the party and his +friends their honest opinions of his character. Some of these +insinuations reached the ears of Jane: her aunt having rightly judged, +that the surest way to destroy Egerton's power over the imagination of +her niece was to strip him of his fictitious qualities, suggested this +expedient to Lady Moseley; and some of their visitors had though as the +colonel had certainly been attentive to Miss Moseley, it would give her +pleasure to know that her rival had not made the most eligible match in +the kingdom. The project of Mrs. Wilson succeeded in a great measure; +but although Egerton fell, Jane did not find she rose in her own +estimation; and her friends wisely concluded that time was the only +remedy that could restore her former serenity. + +In the morning, Mrs. Wilson, unwilling to have Emily present at a +conversation she intended to hold with Denbigh, with a view to satisfy +her annoying doubts as to some minor points in his character, after +excusing herself to her niece, invited that gentleman to a morning +drive. He accepted her invitation cheerfully; and Mrs. Wilson saw, it +was only as they drove from the door without Emily, that he betrayed the +faintest reluctance to the jaunt. When they had got a short distance +from the lodge she acquainted him with her intention of presenting him +to Mrs. Fitzgerald, whither she had ordered the coachman to proceed. +Denbigh started as she mentioned the name, and after a few moments' +silence, desired Mrs. Wilson to allow him to stop the carriage; he was +not very well--was sorry to be so rude--but with her permission, he +would alight and return to the house. As he requested in an earnest +manner that she would proceed without him, and by no means disappoint +her friend, Mrs. Wilson complied; yet, somewhat at a loss to account for +his sudden illness, she turned her head to see how the sick man fared, a +short time after he had left her, and was not a little surprised to see +him talking very composedly with John who had met him on his way to the +fields with his gun. Lovesick--thought Mrs. Wilson with a smile; and as +she rode on she came to the conclusion, that as Denbigh was to leave +them soon, Emily would have an important communication to make on her +return. + +"Well," thought Mrs. Wilson with a sigh, "if it is to happen, it may as +well be done at once." + +Mrs. Fitzgerald was expecting her, and appeared rather pleased than +otherwise that she had come alone. After some introductory conversation, +the ladies withdrew by themselves, and Julia acquainted Mrs. Wilson with +a new source of uneasiness. The day the ladies had promised to visit +her, but had been prevented by the arrangements for the ball, the Donna +Lorenza had driven to the village to make some purchases, attended as +usual by their only man-servant, and Mrs. Fitzgerald was sitting in the +little parlor in momentary expectation of her friends by herself. The +sound of footsteps drew her to the door, which she opened for the +admission of the wretch whose treachery to her dying husband's requests +had given her so much uneasiness. Horror--fear--surprise--altogether, +prevented her from, making any alarm at the moment, and she sank into a +chair. He stood between her and the door, as he endeavored to draw her +into a conversation; he assured her she had nothing to fear; that he +loved her, and her alone; that he was about to be married to a daughter +of Sir Edward Moseley, but would give her up, fortune, everything, if +she would consent to become his wife--that the views of her protector, +he doubted not, were dishonorable--that he himself was willing to atone +for his former excess of passion, by a life devoted to her. + +How much longer he would have gone on, and what further he would have +offered, is unknown; for Mrs. Fitzgerald, having recovered herself a +little, darted to the bell on the other side of the room; he tried to +prevent her ringing it, but was too late; a short struggle followed, +when the sound of the footsteps of the maid compelled him to retreat +precipitately. Mrs. Fitzgerald added, that his assertion concerning Miss +Moseley had given her incredible uneasiness, and prevented her making +the communication yesterday; but she understood this morning through her +maid, that a Colonel Egerton, who had been supposed to be engaged to one +of Sir Edward's daughters, had eloped with another lady. That Egerton +was her persecutor, she did not now entertain a doubt; but that it was +in the power of Mrs. Wilson probably to make the discovery, as in the +struggle between them for the bell, a pocket-book had fallen from the +breast-pocket of his coat, and his retreat was too sudden to recover it. + +As she put the book into the hands of Mrs. Wilson, she desired she would +take means to return it to its owner; its contents might be of value, +though she had not thought it correct to examine it. Mrs. Wilson took +the book, and as she dropped it into her work-bag, smiled at the Spanish +punctilio of her friend in not looking into her prize under the peculiar +circumstances. + +A few questions as to the place and year of his first attempts, soon +convinced her it was Egerton whose unlicensed passions had given so much +trouble to Mrs. Fitzgerald. He had served but one campaign in Spain, and +in that year, and that division of the army; and surely his principles +were no restraint upon his conduct. Mrs. Fitzgerald begged the advice of +her more experienced friend as to the steps she ought to take; to which +the former asked if she had made Lord Pendennyss acquainted with the +occurrence. The young widow's cheek glowed as she answered, that, at the +same time she felt assured the base insinuation of Egerton was +unfounded, it had created a repugnance in her to troubling the earl any +more than was necessary in her affairs; and as she kissed the hand of +Mrs. Wilson she added--"besides, your goodness, my dear madam, renders +any other adviser unnecessary now." Mrs. Wilson pressed her hand +affectionately, and assured her of her good wishes and unaltered esteem. +She commended her delicacy, and plainly told the young widow, that how +ever unexceptionable the character of Pendennyss might be, a female +friend was the only one a woman in her situation could repose confidence +in, without justly incurring the sarcasms of the world. + +As Egerton was now married, and would not probably offer, for the +present at least, any further molestation to Mrs. Fitzgerald, it was +concluded to be unnecessary to take any immediate measures of +precaution; and Mrs. Wilson thought the purse of Mr. Jarvis might be +made the means of keeping him within proper bounds in future. The +merchant was prompt, and not easily intimidated; and the slightest +intimation of the truth would, she knew, be sufficient to engage him on +their side, heart and hand. + +The ladies parted, with a promise of meeting soon again, and an +additional interest in each other by the communications of that and the +preceding day. + +Mrs. Wilson had ridden half the distance between the cottage and the +lodge, before it occurred to her they had not absolutely ascertained, by +the best means in their possession, the identity of Colonel Egerton with +Julia's persecutor. She accordingly took the pocket-book from her bag, +and opened it for examination: a couple of letters fell from it into her +lap, and conceiving their direction would establish all she wished to +know, as they had been read, she turned to the superscription of one of +them, and saw--"George Denbigh, Esq." in the well known hand-writing of +Dr. Ives.--Mrs. Wilson felt herself overcome to a degree that compelled +her to lower a glass of the carriage for air. She sat gazing on the +letters until the characters swam before her eyes in undistinguished +confusion; and with difficulty she rallied her thoughts to the point +necessary for investigation. As soon as she found herself equal to the +task, she examined the letters with the closest scrutiny, and opened +them both to be sure there was no mistake. She saw the dates, the "dear +George" at the commencements, and the doctor's name subscribed, before +she would believe they were real; it was then the truth appeared to +break upon her in a flood of light. The aversion of Denbigh to speak of +Spain, or of his services in that country--his avoiding Sir Herbert +Nicholson, and that gentleman's observations respecting him--Colonel +Egerton's and his own manners--his absence from the ball, and startling +looks on the following morning, and at different times before and since- +-his displeasure at the name of Pendennyss on various occasions--and his +cheerful acceptance of her invitation to ride until he knew her +destination, and singular manner of leaving her--were all accounted for +by this dreadful discovery, and Mrs. Wilson found the solution of her +doubts rushing on her mind with a force and rapidity that sickened her. + +The misfortunes of Mrs. Fitzgerald, the unfortunate issue to the passion +of Jane, were trifles in the estimation of Mrs. Wilson, compared to the +discovery of Denbigh's unworthiness. She revolved in her mind his +conduct on various occasions, and wondered how one who could behave so +well in common, could thus yield to temptation on a particular occasion. +His recent attempts, his hypocrisy, however, proved that his villany was +systematic, and she was not weak enough to hide from herself the +evidence of his guilt, or of its enormity. His interposition between +Emily and death, she attributed now to natural courage, and perhaps in +some measure to chance; but his profound and unvarying reverence for +holy things, his consistent charity, his refusing to fight, to what were +they owing? And Mrs. Wilson mourned the weakness of human nature, while +she acknowledged to her self, there might be men, qualified by nature, +and even disposed by reason and grace, to prove ornaments to religion +and the world, who fell beneath the maddening influence of their +besetting sins. The superficial and interested vices of Egerton vanished +before these awful and deeply seated offences of Denbigh, and the +correct widow saw at a glance, that he was the last man to be intrusted +with the happiness of her niece; but how to break this heartrending +discovery to Emily was a new source of uneasiness to her, and the +carriage stopped at the door of the lodge, ere she had determined on the +first step required of her by duty. + +Her brother handed her out, and, filled with the dread that Denbigh had +availed himself of the opportunity of her absence to press his suit with +Emily, she eagerly inquired after him. She was rejoiced to hear he had +returned with John for a fowling-piece, and together they had gone in +pursuit of game, although she saw in it a convincing proof that a desire +to avoid Mrs. Fitzgerald, and not indisposition, had induced him to +leave her.--As a last alternative, she resolved to have the pocket-book +returned to him in her presence, in order to see if he acknowledged it +to be his property; and, accordingly, she instructed her own man to hand +it to him while at dinner, simply saying he had lost it. + +The open and unsuspecting air with which her niece met Denbigh on his +return gave Mrs. Wilson an additional shock, and she could hardly +command herself sufficiently to extend the common courtesies of good +breeding to Mr. Benfield's guest. + +While sitting at the dessert, her servant handed the pocket book, as +directed by his mistress, to its owner, saying, "Your pocket-book, I +believe, Mr. Denbigh." Denbigh took the book, and held it in his hand +for a moment in surprise, and then fixed his eye keenly on the man, as +he inquired where he found it, and how he knew it was his. These were +interrogatories Francis was not prepared to answer, and in his confusion +he naturally turned his eyes on his mistress. Denbigh followed their +direction with his own, and in encountering the looks of the lady, he +asked in a stammering manner, and with a face of scarlet, + +"Am I indebted to you, madam, for my property?" + +"No, sir; it was given me by one who found it, to restore to you," said +Mrs. Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped, both appearing +willing to say no more. Yet Denbigh was abstracted and absent during the +remainder of the repast, and Emily spoke to him once or twice without +obtaining an answer. Mrs. Wilson caught his eye several times fixed on +her with an inquiring and doubtful expression, that convinced her he was +alarmed. If any confirmation of his guilt had been wanting, the +consciousness he betrayed during this scene afforded it; and she set +seriously about considering the shortest and best method of interrupting +his intercourse with Emily, before he had drawn from her an +acknowledgment of her love. + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + +On withdrawing to her dressing-room after dinner, Mrs. Wilson commenced +the disagreeable duty of removing the veil from the eyes of her niece, +by recounting to her the substance of Mrs. Fitzgerald's last +communication. To the innocence of Emily such persecution could excite +no other sensations than surprise and horror; and as her aunt omitted +the part concerning the daughter of Sir Edward Moseley, she naturally +expressed her wonder as to who the wretch could be. + +"Possibly, aunt," she said with an involuntary shudder, "some of the +many gentlemen we have lately seen, and one who has had art enough to +conceal his real character from the world." + +"Concealment, my love," replied Mrs. Wilson, "would be hardly necessary. +Such is the fashionable laxity of morals, that I doubt not many of his +associates would laugh at his misconduct, and that he would still +continue to pass with the world as an honorable man." + +"And ready," cried her niece, "to sacrifice human life, in the defence +of any ridiculous punctilio." + +"Or," added Mrs. Wilson, striving to draw nearer to her subject, "with a +closer veil of hypocrisy, wear even an affectation of principle and +moral feeling that would seem to forbid such a departure from duty in +favor of custom." + +"Oh! no, dear aunt," exclaimed Emily, with glowing cheeks and eyes +dancing with pleasure, "he would hardly dare to be so very base. It +would be profanity." + +Mrs. Wilson sighed heavily as she witnessed that confiding esteem which +would not permit her niece even to suspect that an act which in Denbigh +had been so warmly applauded, could, even in another, proceed from +unworthy motives; and she found it would be necessary to speak in the +plainest terms, to awaken her suspicions. Willing, however, to come +gradually to the distressing truth, she replied-- + +"And yet, my dear, men who pride themselves greatly on their morals, +nay, even some who wear the mask of religion, and perhaps deceive +themselves, admit and practise this very appeal to arms. Such +inconsistencies are by no means uncommon. And why, then, might there +not, with equal probability, be others who would revolt at murder, and +yet not hesitate being guilty of lesser enormities? This is, in some +measure, the case of every man; and it is only to consider killing in +unlawful encounters as murder, to make it one in point." + +"Hypocrisy is so mean a vice, I should not think a brave man could stoop +to it," said Emily, "and Julia admits he was brave." + +"And would not a brave man revolt at the cowardice of insulting an +unprotected woman? And your hero did that too," replied Mrs. Wilson, +bitterly, losing her self-command in indignation. + +"Oh! do not call him my hero, I beg of you, dear aunt," said Emily, +starting, excited by so extraordinary an allusion, but instantly losing +the unpleasant sensation in the delightful consciousness of the +superiority of the man on whom she had bestowed her own admiration. + +"In fact, my child," continued her aunt, "our natures are guilty of the +grossest inconsistencies. The vilest wretch has generally some property +or which he values himself, and the most perfect are too often frail on +some tender point. Long and tried friendships are those only which can +be trusted, and these oftentimes fail." + +Emily looked at her aunt in surprise at hearing her utter such unusual +sentiments; for Mrs. Wilson, at the same time she had, by divine +assistance, deeply impressed her niece with the frailty of her nature, +had withheld the disgusting representation of human vices from her view, +as unnecessary to her situation and dangerous to her humility. + +After a short pause, Mrs. Wilson continued, "Marriage is a fearful step +in a woman, and one she is compelled, in some measure, to adventure her +happiness on, without fitting opportunities of judging of the merit of +the man she confides in. Jane is an instance in point, but I devoutly +hope you are not to be another." + +While speaking, Mrs. Wilson had taken the hand of Emily, and by her +looks and solemn manner she had succeeded in alarming her niece, +although Denbigh was yet furthest from the thoughts of Emily. The aunt +reached her a glass of water, and willing to get rid of the hateful +subject she continued, hurriedly, "Did you not notice the pocket-book +Francis gave to Mr. Denbigh?" Emily fixed her inquiring eyes on her +aunt, as the other added, "It was the one Mrs. Fitzgerald gave me to- +day." Something like an indefinite glimpse of the facts crossed the mind +of Emily; and as it most obviously involved a separation from Denbigh, +she sank lifeless into the extended arms of her aunt. This had been +anticipated by Mrs. Wilson, and a timely application of restoratives +soon brought her back to a consciousness of misery. Mrs. Wilson, +unwilling any one but herself should witness this first burst of grief, +succeeded in getting her niece to her own room and in bed. Emily made no +lamentations--shed no tears--asked no questions--her eye was fixed, and +every faculty appeared oppressed with the load on her heart. Mrs. Wilson +knew her situation too well to intrude with unseasonable consolation or +useless reflections, but sat patiently by her side, waiting anxiously +for the moment she could be of service. At length the uplifted eyes and +clasped hands of Emily assured her she had not forgotten herself or her +duty, and she was rewarded for her labor and forbearance by a flood of +tears. Emily was now able to listen to a more full statement of the +reasons her aunt had for believing in the guilt of Denbigh, and she felt +as if her heart was frozen up for ever, as the proofs followed each +other until they amounted to demonstration. As there was some indication +of fever from her agitated state of mind, her aunt required she should +remain in her room until morning; and Emily, feeling every way unequal +to a meeting with Denbigh, gladly assented. After ringing for her maid +to sit in the adjoining room, Mrs. Wilson went below, and announced to +the family the indisposition of her charge, and her desire to obtain a +little sleep. Denbigh looked anxious to inquire after the health of +Emily, but there was a restraint on all his actions, since the return of +his book, that persuaded Mrs. Wilson he apprehended that a detection of +his conduct had taken place. He did venture to ask when they were to +have the pleasure of seeing Miss Moseley again, hoping it would be that +evening, as he had fixed the morning for his departure; and when he +learnt that Emily had retired for the night, his anxiety was sensibly +increased, and he instantly withdrew. Mrs. Wilson was alone in the +drawing-room, and about to join her niece, as, Denbigh entered it with a +letter in his hand: he approached her with a diffident and constrained +manner, and commenced the following dialogue: + +"My anxiety and situation will plead my apology for troubling Miss +Moseley at this time--may I ask you, madam, to deliver this letter--I +hardly dare ask you for your good offices." + +Mrs. Wilson took the letter, and coldly replied, + +"Certainly, sir; and I sincerely wish I could be of any real service to +you." + +"I perceive, madam," said Denbigh, like one that was choking, "I have +forfeited your good opinion--that pocket book--" + +"Has made a dreadful discovery," said Mrs. Wilson, shuddering. + +"Will not one offence be pardoned, dear madam?" cried Denbigh, with +warmth; "if you knew my circumstances--the cruel reasons--why--why did I +neglect the paternal advice of Doctor Ives?" + +"It is not yet too late, sir," said Mrs. Wilson, more mildly, "for your +own good; as for us, your deception--" + +"Is unpardonable--I see it--I feel it," cried he, in the accent of +despair; "yet Emily--Emily may relent--you will at least give her my +letter--anything is better than this suspense." + +"You shall have an answer from Emily this evening, and one entirely +unbiassed by me," said Mrs. Wilson. As she closed the door, she observed +Denbigh gazing on her retiring figure with a countenance of despair, +that caused a feeling of pity to mingle with her detestation of his +vices. + +On opening the door of Emily's room, Mrs. Wilson found her niece in +tears, and her anxiety for her health was alleviated. She knew or hoped, +that if she could once call in the assistance of her judgment and piety +to lessen her sorrows, Emily, however she might mourn, would become +resigned to her situation; and the first step to attain this was the +exercise of those faculties which had been, as it were, momentarily +annihilated. Mrs. Wilson kissed her niece with tenderness, as she placed +the letter in her hand, and told her she would call for her answer +within an hour. Employment, and the necessity of acting, would, she +thought, be the surest means of reviving her energies; nor was she +disappointed. When the aunt returned for the expected answer, she was +informed by the maid in the ante-chamber, that Miss Moseley was up, and +had been writing. On entering, Mrs. Wilson stood a moment in admiration +of the picture before her. Emily was on her knees, and by her side, on +the carpet, lay the letter and its answer: her face was hid by her hair, +and her hands were closed in the fervent grasp of petition. In a minute +she rose, and approaching her aunt with an air of profound resignation, +but great steadiness, she handed her the letters, her own unsealed: + +"Read them, madam, and if you approve of mine, I will thank you to +deliver it." + +Her aunt folded her in her arms, until Emily, finding herself yielding +under the effects of sympathy, begged to be left alone. On withdrawing +to her own room, Mrs. Wilson read the contents of the two letters. + +"I rely greatly on the goodness of Miss Moseley to pardon the liberty I +am taking, at a moment she is so unfit for such a subject; but my +departure--my feelings--- must plead my apology. From the moment of my +first acquaintance with you, I have been a cheerful subject to your +loveliness and innocence. I feel--I know--I am not deserving of such a +blessing; but since knowing you, as I do, it is impossible not to strive +to win you. You have often thanked me as the preserver of your life, but +you little knew the deep interest I had in its safety. Without it my own +would be valueless. By accepting my offered hand, you will place me +amongst the happiest, or by rejecting it, the most wretched of men." + +To this note, which was unsigned, and evidently written under great +agitation of mind, Emily had-penned the following reply: + +"Sir--It is with much regret that I find myself reduced to the +possibility of giving uneasiness to one to whom I am under such heavy +obligations. It will never be in my power to accept the honor you have +offered me; and I beg you to receive my thanks for the compliment +conveyed in your request, as well as my good wishes for your happiness +in future, and fervent prayers that you may be ever found worthy of it-- +Your humble servant, + +"EMILY MOSELEY." + +Perfectly satisfied with this answer, Mrs. Wilson went below in order to +deliver it at once. She thought it probable, as Denbigh had already sent +his baggage to a tavern, preparatory to his intended journey, they would +not meet again; and as she felt a strong wish, both on account of Doctor +Ives, and out of respect to the services of the young man himself, to +conceal his conduct from the world entirely, she was in hopes that his +absence might make any disclosure unnecessary. He took the letter from +her with a trembling hand, and casting one of his very expressive looks +at her, as if to read her thoughts, he withdrew. + +Emily had fallen asleep free from fever, and Mrs. Wilson had descended +to the supper-room, when Mr. Benfield was first struck with the absence +of his favorite. An inquiry after Denbigh was instituted, and while they +were waiting his appearance, a servant handed the old man a note. + +"From whom?" cried Mr. Benfield, in surprise. + +"Mr. Denbigh, sir," said the servant. + +"Mr. Denbigh?" exclaimed Mr. Benfield: "no accident, I hope--I remember +when Lord Gosford--here, Peter, your eyes are young; read it for me, +read it aloud." + +As all but Mrs. Wilson were anxiously waiting to know the meaning of +this message, and Peter had many preparations to go through before his +youthful eyes could make out the contents, John hastily caught the +letter out of his hand, saying he would save him the trouble, and, in +obedience to his uncle's wishes, he read aloud: + +"Mr. Denbigh, being under the necessity of leaving L---- immediately, +and unable to endure the pain of taking leave, avails himself of this +means of tendering his warmest thanks to Mr. Benfield, for his +hospitality, and to his amiable guests for their many kindnesses. As he +contemplates leaving England, he desires to wish them all a long and an +affectionate farewell." + +"Farewell!" cried Mr. Benfield; "farewell--does he say farewell, John? +Here, Peter, run--no, you are too old--John, run--bring my hat; I'll go +myself to the village--some love-quarrel--Emmy sick--and Denbigh going +away--yes--yes, I did so myself--Lady Juliana, poor dear soul, she was a +long time before she could forget it--but Peter"--Peter had disappeared +the instant the letter was finished, and he was quickly followed by +John. Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were lost in amazement at this sudden +and unexpected movement of Denbigh, and the breast of each of the +affectionate parents was filled with a vague apprehension that the peace +of mind of another child was at stake. Jane felt a renewal of her woes, +in the anticipation of something similar for her sister--for the fancy +of Jane was yet active, and she did not cease to consider the defection +of Egerton a kind of unmerited misfortune and fatality, instead of a +probable consequence of want of principle. Like Mr. Benfield, she was in +danger of raising an ideal idol, and of spending the remainder of her +days in devotion to qualities, rarely if ever found identified with a +person that never had existed. The old gentleman was entirely engrossed +by a different object; and having in his own opinion decided there must +have been one of those misunderstandings which sometimes had occurred to +himself and Lady Juliana, he quietly composed himself to eat his salad +at the supper table: on turning his head, however, in quest of his first +glass of wine, he observed Peter standing quietly by the sideboard with +the favorite goggles over his eyes. Now Peter was troubled with two +kinds of debility about his organs of vision; one was age and natural +weakness, while the other proceeded more directly from the heart. His +master knew of these facts, and he took the alarm. Again the wine-glass +dropped from his nerveless hand, as he said in a trembling tone, + +"Peter, I thought you went"-- + +"Yes, master," said Peter, laconically. + +"You saw him, Peter--will he return?" + +Peter was busily occupied at his glasses, although no one was dry. + +"Peter," repeated Mr. Benfield, rising from his seat; "is he coming in +time for supper?" Peter was obliged to reply, and deliberately uncasing +his eyes and blowing his nose, he was on the point of opening his mouth, +as John came into the room, and threw himself into a chair with an air +of great vexation. Peter pointed to the young gentleman in silence, and +retired. + +"John," cried Sir Edward, "where is Denbigh?" + +"Gone, sir." + +"Gone!" + +"Yes, my dear father," said John, "gone without saying good-bye to one +of us--without telling us whither, or when to return. It was cruel in +him--- unkind--I'll never forgive him"--and John, whose feelings were +strong, and unusually excited, hid his face between his hands on the +table.--As he raised his head to reply to a question of Mr. Benfield--of +"how he knew he had gone, for the coach did not go until daylight?" Mrs. +Wilson saw evident marks of tears. Such proofs of emotion in one like +John Moseley gave her the satisfaction of knowing that if she had been +deceived, it was by a concurrence of circumstances and a depth of +hypocrisy almost exceeding belief: self-reproach added less than common, +therefore, to the uneasiness of the moment. + +"I saw the innkeeper, uncle," said John, "who told me that Denbigh left +there at eight o'clock in a post-chaise and four; but I will go to +London in the morning myself." This was no sooner said than it was +corroborated by acts, for the young man immediately commenced his +preparations for the journey. The family separated that evening with +melancholy hearts; and the host and his privy counsellor were closeted +for half an hour ere they retired to their night's repose. John took his +leave of them, and left the lodge for the inn, with his man, in order to +be ready for the mail. Mrs. Wilson looked in upon Emily before she +withdrew herself, and found her awake, but perfectly calm and composed: +she said but little, appearing desirous of avoiding all allusions to +Denbigh; and after her aunt had simply acquainted her with his +departure, and her resolution to conceal the cause, the subject was +dropped. Mrs. Wilson, on entering her own room, thought deeply on the +discoveries of the day: they had interfered with her favorite system of +morals, baffled her ablest calculations upon causes and effects, but in +no degree had impaired her faith or reliance on Providence. She knew one +exception did not destroy a rule: she was certain without principles +there was no security for good conduct, and the case of Denbigh proved +it. To discover these principles, might be difficult; but was a task +imperiously required at her hands, as she believed, ere she yielded the +present and future happiness of her pupil to the power of any man. + + + + +Chapter XXIX. + +The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his +seat in the mail for London. Three of the places were already occupied, +and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside. An +intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and +none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence. The coach +had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the +rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in +the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a +fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant. +This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is +it owing!--modesty? Did not national and deep personal vanity appear at +once to refute the assertion, we might enter into an investigation of +it. The good opinion of himself in an Englishman is more deeply seated, +though less buoyant, than that of his neighbors; in them it is more of +manner, in us more of feeling; and the wound inflicted on the self-love +of the two is very different. The Frenchman wonders at its rudeness, but +soon forgets the charge; while an Englishmam broods over it in silence +and mortification. It is said this distinction in character is owing to +the different estimation of principles and morals in the two nations. +The solidity and purity of our ethics and religious creeds may have +given a superior tone to our moral feeling; but has that man a tenable +ground to value himself on either, whose respect to sacred things grows +out of a respect to himself: on the other hand, is not humility the very +foundation of the real Christian? For our part, we should be glad to see +this national reserve lessened, if not done entirely away; we believe it +is founded in pride and uncharitableness, and could wish to see men +thrown accidentally together on the roads of the country, mindful that +they are also travelling in company the highway of life, and that the +goal of their destination is equally attainable by all. + +John Moseley was occupied with thoughts very different from those of any +of his fellow-travellers, as they proceeded rapidly on their route; and +it was only when roused from his meditations by accidentally coming in +contact with the hilt of a sword, that he looked up, and in the +glimmerings of the morning's light, recognised the person of Lord Henry +Stapleton: their eyes met, and--"My lord,"--"Mr. Moseley,"--were +repeated in mutual surprise. John was eminently a social being, and he +was happy to find recourse against his gloomy thoughts in the +conversation of the dashing young sailor. The frigate of the other had +entered the bay the night before, and he was going to town to the +wedding of his sister; the coach of his brother the marquis was to meet +him about twenty miles from town, and the ship was ordered round to +Yarmouth, where he was to rejoin her. + +"But how are your lovely sisters, Moseley?" cried the young sailor in a +frank and careless manner. "I should have been half in love with one of +them if I had time--and money; both are necessary to marriage nowadays, +you know." + +"As to time," said John with a laugh, "I believe that may be dispensed +with, though money is certainly a different thing." + +"Oh, time too," replied his lordship. "I have never time enough to do +anything as it ought to be done--always hurried--I wish you could +recommend to me a lady who would take the trouble off my hands." + +"It might be done," said John with a smile, and the image of Kate +Chatterton crossed his brain, but it was soon succeeded by that of her +more lovely sister. "But how do you manage on board your ship--hurried +there too?" + +"Oh! never there," replied the captain gravely; "that's duty you know, +and everything must be regular of course; on shore it is a different +thing--there I am only a passenger. L---- has a charming society, Mr. +Moseley--a week or ten days ago I was shooting, and came to a beautiful +cottage about five miles from the village, that was the abode of a much +more beautiful woman, a Spaniard, a Mrs. Fitzgerald--I am positively in +love with her: so soft, so polished, so modest----" + +"How came you acquainted with her?" inquired Moseley, interrupting him +in a little surprise. + +"Chance, my dear fellow, chance. I was thirsty, and approached for a +drink of water; she was sitting in the veranda, and being hurried for +time, you know, it saved the trouble of introduction. I fancy she is +troubled with the same complaint; for she managed to get rid of me in no +time, and with a great deal of politeness. I found out her name, +however, at the next house." + +During this rattling talk, John had fixed his eyes on the face of one of +the passengers who sat opposite to him. The stranger appeared to be +about fifty years of age, strongly pock-marked, with a stiff military +air, and had the dress and exterior of a gentlemen. His face was much +sun-burnt, though naturally very fair; and his dark keen eye was +intently fixed on the sailor as he continued his remarks. + +"Do you know such a lady, Moseley?" + +"Yes," said John, "though very slightly; she is visited by one of my +sisters, and--" + +"Yourself," cried Lord Henry, with a laugh. + +"Myself, once or twice, my lord, certainly," answered John, gravely; +"but a lady visited by Emily Moseley and Mrs. Wilson is a proper +companion for any one. Mrs. Fitzgerald is very retired in her manner of +living, and chance made us acquainted; but not being, like your +lordship, in want of time, we have endeavored to cultivate her society, +as we have found it very agreeable." + +The countenance of the stranger underwent several changes during this +speech of John's, and at its close his eyes rested on him with a softer +expression than generally marked its rigid and compressed muscles. +Willing to change a discourse that was growing too particular for a +mail-coach, John addressed himself to the opposite passengers, while his +eye yet dwelt on the face of the military stranger. + +"We are likely to have a fine day, gentlemen." The soldier bowed +stiffly, as he smiled his assent, and the other passenger humbly +answered, "Very, Mr. John," in the well known tones of honest Peter +Johnson. Moseley started, as he turned his face for the first time on +the lank figure which was modestly compressed into the smallest possible +compass in the corner of the coach, in a way not to come in contact with +any of its neighbors. + +"Johnson," exclaimed John, in astonishment, "you here! Where are you +going--to London?" + +"To London, Mr. John," replied Peter, with a look of much importance; +and then, by way of silencing further interrogatories, he added, "On my +master's business, sir." + +Both Moseley and Lord Henry examined him closely; the former wondering +what could take the steward, at the age of seventy, for the first time +in his life, into the vortex of the capital; and the latter in +admiration at this figure and equipments of the old man. Peter was in +full costume, with the exception of the goggles, and was in reality a +subject to be gazed at; but nothing relaxed the muscles or attracted the +particular notice of the soldier, who, having regained his set form of +countenance, appeared drawn up in himself, waiting patiently for the +moment he was expected to act. Nor did he utter more than as many words +in the course of the first fifty miles of their journey. His dialect was +singular, and such as put his hearers at a loss to determine his +country. Lord Henry stared at him every time he spoke, as if to say, +what countryman are you? until at length he suggested to John he was +some officer whom the downfall of Bonaparte had driven into retirement. + +"Indeed, Moseley," he added, as they were about to resume their carriage +after a change of horses, "we must draw him out, and see what he thinks +of his master now--delicately, you know." The soldier was, however, +impervious to his lordship's attacks, until the project was finally +abandoned in despair. As Peter was much too modest to talk in the +presence of Mr. John Moseley and a lord, the young men had most of the +discourse to themselves. At a village fifteen miles from London, a +fashionable carriage and four, with the coronet of a marquis was in +waiting for Lord Henry. John refused his invitation to take a seat with +him to town; for he had traced Denbigh from stage to stage, and was +fearful of losing sight of him, unless he persevered in the manner he +had commenced. Peter and he accordingly were put down safely at an inn +in the Strand, and Moseley hastened to make his inquiries after the +object of his pursuit. Such a chaise had arrived an hour before, and the +gentleman had ordered his trunk to a neighboring hotel. After obtaining +the address, and ordering a hackney coach, he hastened to the house; but +on inquiring for Mr. Denbigh, to his great mortification was told they +knew of no such gentleman. John turned away from the person he was +speaking to in visible disappointment, when a servant respectfully +inquired if the gentleman had not come from L----, in Norfolk, that day. +"He had," was the reply. "Then follow me, sir, if you please." They +knocked at a door of one of the parlors, and the servant entered: he +returned, and John was shown into a room, where Denbigh was sitting with +his head resting on his hand, and apparently musing. On seeing who +required admittance, he sprang from his seat and exclaimed-- + +"Mr. Moseley! Do I see aright?" + +"Denbigh," cried John, stretching out his hand to him, "was this kind-- +was it like yourself--to leave us so unexpectedly, and for so long a +time, too, as your note mentioned?" + +Denbigh waved his hand to the servant to retire, and handed a chair to +his friend. + +"Mr. Moseley," said he, struggling with his feelings, "you appear +ignorant of my proposals to your sister." + +"Perfectly," answered the amazed John. + +"And her rejection of them." + +"Is it possible!" cried the brother, pacing up and down the room. "I +acknowledge I did expect you to offer, but not to be refused." + +Denbigh placed in the other hand the letter of Emily, which, having +read, John returned, with a sigh. "This, then, is the reason you left +us," he continued. "Emily is not capricious--it cannot be a sudden +pique--she means as she says." + +"Yes, Mr. Moseley," said Denbigh, mournfully; "your sister is faultless- +-but I am not worthy of her--my deception"--here the door again opened +to the admission of Peter Johnson. Both the gentlemen rose at this +sudden interruption, and the steward advancing to the table, once more +produced the formidable pocket-book, the spectacles, and a letter. He +ran over its direction--"For George Denbigh, Esquire, London, by the +hands of Peter Johnson, with care and speed." After the observance of +these preliminaries, he delivered the missive to its lawful owner, who +opened it, and rapidly perused its contents. Denbigh was much affected +with whatever the latter might be, and kindly took the steward by the +hand, as he thanked him for this renewed instance of the interest he +took in him. If he would tell him where a letter would find him in the +morning, he would send a reply to the one he had received. Peter gave +his address, but appeared unwilling to go, until assured again and again +that the answer would be infallibly sent. Taking a small account-book +out of his pocket, and referring to its contents, the steward said, +"Master has with Coutts & Co. £7,000; in the bank, £5,000. It can be +easily done, sir, and never felt by us." Denbigh smiled in reply, as he +assured the steward he would take proper notice of his master's offers +in his own answer. The door again opened, and the military stranger was +admitted to their presence. He bowed, appeared not a little surprised to +find two of his mail-coach companions there, and handed Denbigh a +letter, in quite as formal, although in a more silent manner than the +steward. The soldier was invited to be seated, and the letter was +perused with an evident curiosity on the part of Denbigh. As soon as the +latter ended it, he addressed the stranger in a language which John +rightly judged to be Spanish, and Peter took to be Greek. For a few +minutes the conversation was maintained between them with great +earnestness, his fellow travellers marvelling much at the garrulity of +the soldier however, the stranger soon rose to retire, when the door +thrown open for the fourth time, and a voice cried out, + +"Here I am, George, safe and sound--ready to kiss the bridesmaids, if +they will let me--and I can find time--- bless me, Moseley!--old +marling-spike!--general!--whew, where is the coachman and guard?"--it +was Lord Henry Stapleton. The Spaniard bowed again in silence and +withdrew, while Denbigh threw open the door of an adjoining room and +excused himself, as he desired Lord Henry to walk in there for a few +minutes. + +"Upon my word," cried the heedless sailor, as he complied, "we might as +well have stuck together, Moseley; we were bound to one port, it seems." + +"You know Lord Henry?" said John, as he withdrew. + +"Yes," said Denbigh, and he again required his address of Peter, which +having been given, the steward departed. The conversation between the +two friends did not return to the course it was taking when they were +interrupted, as Moseley felt a delicacy in making any allusion to the +probable cause of his sister's refusal. He had, however, begun to hope +it was not irremovable, and with the determination of renewing his visit +in the morning, he took his leave, to allow Denbigh to attend to his +other guest, Lord Henry Stapleton. + +About twelve on the following morning, John and the steward met at the +door of the hotel where Denbigh lodged, in quest of the same person. The +latter held in his hand the answer to his master's letter, but wished +particularly to see its writer. On inquiring, to their mutual surprise +they were told, that the gentleman had left there early in the morning, +having discharged his lodgings, and that they were unable to say whither +he had gone. To hunt for a man without a clew, in the city of London, is +usually time misspent. Of this Moseley was perfectly sensible, and +disregarding a proposition of Peter's, he returned to his own lodgings. +The proposal of the steward, if it did not do much credit to his +sagacity, was much in favor of his perseverance and enterprise. It was +no other than that John should take one side of the street, and he the +other, in order to inquire at every house in the place, until the +fugitive was discovered. "Sir," said Peter, with great simplicity, "when +our neighbor White lost his little girl, this was the way we found her, +although we went nearly through L---- before we succeeded, Mr. John." +Peter was obliged to abandon this expedient for want of an associate, +and as no message was left at the lodgings of Moseley, he started with a +heavy heart on his return to Benfield Lodge. But Moseley's zeal was too +warm in the cause of his friend, notwithstanding his unmerited +desertion, to discontinue the search for him. He sought out the town +residence of the Marquess of Eltringham, the brother of Lord Henry, and +was told that both the Marquess and his brother had left town early that +morning for his seat in Devonshire, to attend the wedding of their +sister. + +"Did they go alone?" asked John musing. + +"There were two chaises, the Marquess's and his Grace's" + +"Who was his Grace?" inquired John. + +"Why the Duke of Derwent, to be sure." + +"And the Duke?--was he alone?" + +"There was a gentleman with his Grace, but they did not know his name." + +As nothing further could be learnt, John withdrew. A good deal of +irritation mixed with the vexation of Moseley at his disappointment; for +Denbigh, he thought, too evidently wished to avoid him. That he was the +companion of his kinsman, the Duke of Derwent, he had now no doubt, and +he entirely relinquished all expectations of finding him in London or +its environs. While retracing his steps in no enviable state of mind to +his lodgings, with a resolution of returning immediately to L----, his +arm was suddenly taken by his friend Chatterton. If any man could have +consoled John at that moment, it was the Baron. Questions and answers +were rapidly exchanged between them; and with increased satisfaction, +John learnt that in the next square, he could have the pleasure of +paying his respects to his kinswoman, the Dowager Lady Chatterton, and +her two daughters. Chatterton inquired warmly after Emily, and in a +particularly kind manner concerning Mr. Denbigh, hearing with +undisguised astonishment the absence of the latter from the Moseley +family. + +Lady Chatterton had disciplined her feelings upon the subject of Grace +and John into such a state of subordination, that the fastidious +jealousy of the young man now found no ground of alarm in anything she +said or did. It cannot be denied the Dowager was delighted to see him +again; and if it were fair to draw any conclusions from coloring, +palpitations, and other such little accompaniments of female feeling, +Grace was not excessively sorry. It is true, it was the best possible +opportunity to ascertain all about her friend Emily and the rest of the +family; and Grace was extremely happy to have intelligence of their +general welfare so direct as was afforded by this visit of Mr. Moseley. +Grace looked all she expressed, and possibly a little more; and John +thought he looked very beautiful. + +There was present an elderly gentleman, of apparently indifferent +health, although his manners were extremely lively, and his dress +particularly studied. A few minutes observation convinced Moseley this +gentleman was a candidate for the favor of Kate; and a game of chess +being soon introduced, he also saw he was one thought worthy of peculiar +care and attention. He had been introduced to him as Lord Herriefield, +and soon discovered by his conversation that he was a peer who promised +little towards rendering the house of incurables more convalescent than +it was before his admission. Chatterton mentioned him as a distant +connexion of his mother; a gentleman who had lately returned from +filling an official situation in the East Indies, to take his seat among +the lords by the death of his brother. He was a bachelor, and reputed +rich, much of his wealth being personal property, acquired by himself +abroad. The dutiful son might have added, if respect and feeling had not +kept him silent, that his offers of settling a large jointure upon his +elder sister had been accepted, and that the following week was to make +her the bride of the emaciated debauchee who now sat by her side. He +might also have said, that when the proposition was made to himself and +Grace, both had shrunk from the alliance with disgust: and that both had +united in humble though vain remonstrances to their mother, against the +sacrifice, and in petitions to their sister, that she would not be +accessary to her own misery. There was no pecuniary sacrifice they would +not make to her, to avert such a connexion; but all was fruitless--Kate +was resolved to be a viscountess, and her mother was equally determined +that she should be rich. + + + +Chapter XXX. + +A day elapsed between the departure of Denbigh and the reappearance of +Emily amongst her friends. An indifferent observer would have thought +her much graver and less animated than usual. A loss of the rich color +which ordinarily glowed on her healthful cheek might be noticed; but the +placid sweetness and graceful composure which regulated her former +conduct pervaded all she did or uttered. Not so with Jane: her pride had +suffered more than her feelings--her imagination had been more deceived +than her judgment--and although too well bred and soft by nature to +become rude or captious, she was changed from a communicative, to a +reserved; from a confiding, to a suspicious companion. Her parents +noticed this alteration with an uneasiness that was somewhat embittered +by the consciousness of a neglect of some of those duties that +experience now seemed to indicate, could never be forgotten with +impunity. + +Francis and Clara had arrived from their northern tour, so happy in each +other, and so contented with their lot, that it required some little +exercise of fortitude in both Lady Moseley and her daughters, to expel +unpleasant recollections while they contemplated it. Their relation of +the little incidents of their tour had, however, an effect to withdraw +the attention of their friends in some degree from late occurrences; and +a melancholy and sympathizing kind of association had taken place of the +unbounded confidence and gaiety; which so lately prevailed at Benfield +Lodge. Mr. Benfield mingled with his solemnity an air of mystery; and he +was frequently noticed by his relatives looking over old papers, and was +apparently employed in preparations that indicated movements of more +than usual importance. + +The family were collected in one of the parlors on an extremely +unpleasant day, the fourth after the departure of John, when the thin +person of Johnson stalked in amongst them. All eyes were fixed on him in +expectation of what he had to communicate, and all apparently dreading +to break the silence, from an apprehension that his communication would +be unpleasant. In the meantime Peter, who had respectfully left his hat +at the door, proceeded to uncase his body from the multiplied defences +he had taken against the inclemency of the weather. His master stood +erect, with an outstretched hand, ready to receive the reply to his +epistle; and Johnson having liberated his body from thraldom, produced +the black leathern pocket-book, and from its contents a letter, when he +read aloud--Roderic Benfield, Esq., Benfield Lodge, Norfolk; favored by +Mr.--here Peter's modesty got the better of his method; he had never +been called Mr. Johnson by anybody, old or young; all knew him in that +neighborhood as Peter Johnson--and he had very nearly been guilty of the +temerity of arrogating to himself another title in the presence of those +he most respected: a degree of self-elevation from which he escaped with +the loss of a small piece of his tongue. Mr. Benfield took the letter +with an eagerness that plainly indicated the deep interest he took in +its contents, while Emily, with a tremulous voice and flushed cheek, +approached the steward with a glass of wine. + +"Peter," she said, "take this; it will do you good." + +"Thank you, Miss Emma," said Peter, casting his eyes from her to his +master, as the latter, having finished his letter, exclaimed, with a +strange mixture of consideration and disappointment-- + +"Johnson, you must change your clothes immediately, or you will take +cold: you look now like old Moses, the Jew beggar." + +Peter sighed heavily at this comparison, and saw in it a confirmation of +his fears; for he well knew, that to his being the bearer of unpleasant +tidings was he indebted for a resemblance to anything unpleasant to his +master, and Moses was the old gentleman's aversion. + +The baronet now followed his uncle from the room to his library, +entering it at the same moment with the steward, who had been summoned +by his master to an audience. + +Pointing to a chair for his nephew, Mr. Benfield commenced the discourse +with saying, + +"Peter, you saw Mr. Denbigh; how did he look?" + +"As usual, master," said Peter, laconically, still piqued at being +likened to old Moses. + +"And what did he say to the offer? did he not make any comments on it? +He was not offended at it, I hope," demanded Mr. Benfield. + +"He said nothing but what he has written to your honor," replied the +steward, losing a little of his constrained manner in real good feeling +to his master. + +"May I ask what the offer was?" inquired Sir Edward. + +Mr. Benfield regarding him a moment in silence, said, "Certainly, you +are nearly concerned in his welfare; your daughter"--the old man +stopped, turned to his letter-book, and handed the baronet a copy of the +epistle he had sent to Denbigh. It read as follows: + +DEAR FRIEND MR. DENBIGH, + +"I have thought a great deal on the reason of your sudden departure from +a house I had begun to hope you thought your own; and by calling to mind +my own feelings when Lady Juliana became the heiress to her nephew's +estate, take it for granted you have been governed by the same +sentiments; which I know both by my own experience and that of the +bearer, Peter Johnson, is a never-failing accompaniment of pure +affection. Yes, my dear Denbigh, I honor your delicacy in not wishing to +become indebted to a stranger, as it were, for the money on which you +subsist, and that stranger your wife--who ought in reason to look up to +you, instead of your looking up to her; which was the true cause Lord +Gosford would not marry the countess--on account of her great wealth, as +he assured me himself; notwithstanding, envious people said it was +because her ladyship loved Mr Chaworth better: so in order to remove +these impediments of delicacy, I have to make three propositions, +namely, that I bring you into parliament the next election for my own +borough--that you take possession of the lodge the day you marry Emmy, +while I will live, for the little time I have to stay here, in the large +cottage built by my uncle--and that I give you your legacy of ten +thousand pounds down, to prevent trouble hereafter. + +"As I know nothing but delicacy has driven you away from us, I make no +doubt you will now find all objections removed, and that Peter will +bring back the joyful intelligence of your return to us, as soon as the +business you left us on, is completed. + +"Your uncle, that is to be, + +"RODERIC BENFIELD." + +"N.B. As Johnson is a stranger to the ways of the town, I wish you to +advise his inexperience, particularly against the arts of designing +women, Peter being a man of considerable estate, and great modesty." + +"There, nephew," cried Mr. Benfield, as the baronet finished reading the +letter aloud, "is it not unreasonable to refuse my offers? Now read his +answer." + +"Words are wanting to express the sensations which have been excited by +Mr. Benfield's letter; but it would be impossible for any man to be so +base as to avail himself of such liberality: the recollection of it, +together with that of his many virtues, will long continue deeply +impressed on the heart of him, whom Mr. Benfield would, if within the +power of man, render the happiest amongst human beings." + +The steward listened eagerly to this answer, but after it was done he +was as much at a loss to know its contents as before its perusal. He +knew it was unfavorable to their wishes, but could not comprehend its +meaning or expressions, and immediately attributed their ambiguity to +the strange conference he had witnessed between Denbigh and the military +stranger. + +"Master," exclaimed Peter, with something of the elation of a +discoverer, "I know the cause, it shows itself in the letter: there was +a man talking Greek to him while he was reading your letter." + +"Greek!" exclaimed Sir Edward in astonishment. + +"Greek!" said the uncle. "Lord Gosford read Greek; but I believe never +conversed in that language." + +"Yes, Sir Edward--yes, your honor--pure wild Greek; it must have been +something of that kind," added Peter, with positiveness, "that would +make a man refuse such offers--Miss Emmy--the lodge--£10,000!"--and the +steward shook his head with much satisfaction at having discovered the +cause. + +Sir Edward smiled at the simplicity of Johnson, but disliking the idea +attached to the refusal of his daughter, said, "Perhaps, after all, +uncle, there has been some misunderstanding between Emily and Denbigh, +which may have driven him from us so suddenly." + +Mr. Benfield and his steward exchanged looks, and a new idea broke upon +them at the instant. They had both suffered in that way; and after all +it might prove that Emily was the one whose taste or feelings had +subverted their schemes. The impression, once made, soon became strong, +and the party separated; the master thinking alternately on Lady Juliana +and his niece, while the man, after heaving one heavy sigh to the memory +of Patty Steele, proceeded to the usual occupations of his office. + +Mrs. Wilson thinking a ride would be of service to Emily, and having the +fullest confidence in her self-command and resignation, availed herself +of a fine day to pay a visit to their friend in the cottage. Mrs. +Fitzgerald received them in her usual manner, but a single glance of her +eye sufficed to show the aunt that she noticed the altered appearance of +Emily and her manners, although without knowing its true reason, which +she did not deem it prudent to explain. Julia handed her friend a note +which she said she had received the day before, and desired their +counsel how to proceed in the present emergency. As Emily was to be made +acquainted with its contents, her aunt read it aloud as follows: + +"MY DEAR NIECE, + +"Your father and myself had been induced to think you were leading a +disgraceful life, with the officer your husband had consigned you to the +care of; for hearing of your captivity, I had arrived with a band of +Guerillas, on the spot where you were rescued, early the next morning, +and there learnt of the peasants your misfortunes and retreat. The enemy +pressed us too much to allow us to deviate from our route at the time; +but natural affection and the wishes of your father have led me to make +a journey to England, in order to satisfy our doubts as regards your +conduct. I have seen you, heard your character in the neighborhood, and +after much and long search have found out the officer, and am satisfied, +that so far as concerns your deportment, you are an injured woman. I +have therefore to propose to you, on my own behalf, and that of the +Conde, that you adopt the faith of your country, and return with me to +the arms of your parent, whose heiress you will be, and whose life you +may be the means of prolonging. Direct your answer to me, to the care of +our ambassador; and as you decide, I am your mother's brother, LOUIS +M'CARTHY Y HARRISON." + +"On what point do you wish my advice?" said Mrs. Wilson, kindly, after +she had finished reading the letter, "and when do you expect to see your +uncle?" + +"Would you have me accept the offer of my father, dear madam, or am I to +remain separated from him for the short residue of his life?" + +Mrs. Fitzgerald was affected to tears, as she asked this question, and +waited her answer, in silent dread of its nature. + +"Is the condition of a change of religion, an immovable one?" inquired +Mrs. Wilson, in a thoughtful manner. + +"Oh! doubtless," replied Julia, shuddering; "but I am deservedly +punished for my early disobedience, and bow in submission to the will of +Providence. I feel now all that horror of a change of my religion, I +once only affected; I must live and die a Protestant, madam." + +"Certainly, I hope so, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "I am not a bigot, +and think it unfortunate you were not, in your circumstances, bred a +pious Catholic. It would have saved you much misery, and might have +rendered the close of your father's life more happy; but as your present +creed embraces doctrines too much at variance with the Romish church to +renounce the one or to adopt the other, with your views, it will be +impossible to change your church without committing a heavy offence +against the opinions and practices of every denomination of Christians. +I should hope a proper representation of this to your uncle would have +its weight, or they might be satisfied with your being a Christian, +without becoming a Catholic." + +"Ah! my dear madam," answered Mrs. Fitzgerald, despairingly, "you little +know the opinions of my countrymen on this subject." + +"Surely, surely," cried Mrs. Wilson, "parental affection is a stronger +feeling than bigotry." + +Mrs. Fitzgerald shook her head in a manner which bespoke both her +apprehensions and her filial regard. + +"Julia ought not, must not, desert her father, dear aunt," said Emily, +her face glowing with the ardency of her feelings. + +"And ought she to desert her heavenly Father, my child?" asked the aunt, +mildly. + +"Are the duties conflicting, dearest aunt?" + +"The Conde makes them so. Julia is, I trust, in sincerity a Christian, +and with what face can she offer up her daily petitions to her Creator, +while she wears a mask to her earthly father; or how can she profess to +honor doctrines that she herself believes to be false, or practise +customs she thinks improper?" + +"Never, never," exclaimed Julia, with fervor; "the struggle is dreadful, +but I submit to the greater duty." + +"And you decide rightly, my friend," said Mrs. Wilson, soothingly; "but +you need relax no efforts to convince the Conde of your wishes: truth +and nature will finally conquer." + +"Ah!" cried Mrs. Fitzgerald, "the sad consequences of one false step in +early life!" + +"Rather," added Mrs. Wilson, "the sad consequences of one false step in +generations gone by. Had your grandmother listened to the voice of +prudence and duty, she never would have deserted her parents for a +comparative stranger, and entailed upon her descendants a train of evils +which yet exist in your person." + +"It will be a sad blow to my poor uncle too," said Mrs. Fitzgerald, "he +who once loved me so much." + +"When do you expect to see him?" inquired Emily. + +Julia informed them she expected him hourly; as, fearful a written +statement of her views would drive him from the country without paying +her a visit before he departed, she had earnestly entreated him to see +her without delay. + +On taking their leave, the ladies promised to obey her summons whenever +called to meet the general, as Mrs. Wilson thought she might be better +able to give advice to a friend, by knowing more of the character of her +relatives, than she could do with her present information, + +One day intervened, and it was spent in the united society of Lady +Moseley and her daughters, while Sir Edward and Francis rode to a +neighboring town on business; and on the succeeding, Mrs. Fitzgerald +apprised them of the arrival of General M'Carthy. Immediately after +breakfast, Mrs. Wilson and Emily drove to the cottage, the aunt both +wishing the latter as a companion in her ride, and believing the +excitement would have a tendency to prevent her niece from indulging in +reflections, alike dangerous to her peace of mind and at variance with +her duties. + +Our readers have probably anticipated, that the stage companion of John +Moseley was the Spanish general, who had just been making those +inquiries into the manner of his niece's living which terminated so +happily in her acquittal. With that part of her history which relates to +the injurious attempts on her before she arrived at Lisbon, he appears +to have been ignorant, or his interview with Denbigh might have +terminated very differently from the manner already related. + +A description of the appearance of the gentleman presented to Mrs. +Wilson is unnecessary, as it has been given already; and the discerning +matron thought she read through the rigid and set features of the +soldier, a shade of kinder feelings, which might be wrought into an +advantageous intercession on behalf of Julia. The General was evidently +endeavoring to keep his feelings within due bounds, before the decision +of his niece might render it proper for him to indulge in that affection +for her, which his eye plainly showed existed under the cover of his +assumed manner. + +It was an effort of great fortitude on the part of Julia to acquaint her +uncle with her resolution; but as it must be done, she seized a moment +after Mrs. Wilson had at some length defended her adhering to her +present faith, until religiously impressed with its errors, to inform +him such was her unalterable resolution. He heard her patiently, and +without anger, but in visible surprise. He had construed her summons to +her house into a measure preparatory to accepting his conditions; yet he +betrayed no emotion, after the first expression of his wonder: he told +her distinctly, a renunciation of her heresy was the only condition on +which her father would own her either as his heiress or his child. Julia +deeply regretted the decision, but was firm; and her friends left her to +enjoy uninterruptedly for one day, the society of so near a relative. +During this day every doubt as to the propriety of her conduct, if any +yet remained, was removed by a relation of her little story to her +uncle; and after it was completed, he expressed great uneasiness to get +to London again, in order to meet a gentleman he had seen there, under a +different impression as to his merits, than what now appeared to be +just. Who the gentleman was, or what these impressions were, Julia was +left to conjecture, taciturnity being a favorite property in the +general. + + + +Chapter XXXI. + +The sun had just risen on one of the loveliest vales of Caernarvonshire, +as a travelling chaise and six swept up to the door of a princely +mansion, so situated as to command a prospect of the fertile and +extensive domains, the rental of which filled the coffers of its rich +owner, having a beautiful view of the Irish channel in the distance. + +Everything around this stately edifice bespoke the magnificence of its +ancient possessors and the taste of its present master. It was +irregular, but built of the best materials, and in the tastes of the +different ages in which its various parts had been erected; and now in +the nineteenth century it preserved the baronial grandeur of the +thirteenth, mingled with the comforts of this later period. + +The lofty turrets of its towers were tipt with the golden light of the +sun, and the neighboring peasantry had commenced their daily labors, as +the different attendants of the equipage we have mentioned collected +around it at the great entrance to the building. The beautiful black +horses, with coats as shining as the polished leather with which they +were caparisoned, the elegant and fashionable finish of the vehicle, +with its numerous grooms, postillions, and footmen, all wearing the +livery of one master, gave evidence of wealth and rank. + +In attendance there were four outriders, walking leisurely about, +awaiting the appearance of those for whose comforts and pleasures they +were kept to contribute; while a fifth, who, like the others, was +equipped with a horse, appeared to bear a doubtful station. The form of +the latter was athletic, and apparently drilled into a severer +submission than could be seen in the movements of the liveried +attendants: his dress was peculiar, being neither quite menial nor quite +military, but partaking of both characters. His horse was heavier and +better managed than those of the others, and by its side was a charger, +that was prepared for the use of no common equestrian. Both were coal- +black, as were all the others of the cavalcade; but the pistols of the +two latter, and housings of their saddles, bore the aspect of use and +elegance united. + +The postillions were mounted, listlessly waiting the pleasure of their +superiors; when the laughs and jokes of the menials were instantly +succeeded by a respectful and profound silence, as a gentleman and lady +appeared on the portico of the building. The former was a young man of +commanding stature and genteel appearance; and his air, although that of +one used to command, was softened by a character of benevolence and +gentleness, that might be rightly supposed to give birth to the willing +alacrity with which all his requests or orders were attended to. + +The lady was also young, and resembled her companion both in features +and expression, for both were noble, both were handsome. The former was +attired for the road; the latter had thrown a shawl around her elegant +form, and by her morning dress showed that a separation of the two was +about to happen. Taking the hand of the gentleman with both her own, as +she pressed it with fingers interlocked, the lady said, in a voice of +music, and with great affection, "Then, my dear brother, I shall +certainly hear from you within the week, and see you next?" + +"Certainly," replied the gentleman, as he tenderly paid his adieus; then +throwing himself into the chaise, it dashed from the door, like the +passage of a meteor. The horsemen followed; the unridden charger, +obedient to the orders of his keeper, wheeled gracefully into his +station; and in an instant they were all lost amidst the wood, through +which the road to the park gates conducted. + +After lingering without until the last of her brother's followers had +receded from her sight, the lady retired through ranks of liveried +footmen and maids, whom curiosity or respect had collected. + +The young traveller wore a gloom on his expressive features, amidst the +pageantry that surrounded him, which showed the insufficiency of wealth +and honors to fill the sum of human happiness. As his carriage rolled +proudly up an eminence ere he had reached the confines of his extensive +park, his eye rested, for a moment, on a scene in which meadows, +forests, fields waving with golden corn, comfortable farm-houses +surrounded with innumerable cottages, were seen, in almost endless +variety. All these owned him for their lord, and one quiet smile of +satisfaction beamed on his face as he gazed on the unlimited view. Could +the heart of that youth have been read, it would at that moment have +told a story very different from the feelings such a scene is apt to +excite; it would have spoken the consciousness of well applied wealth, +the gratification of contemplating meritorious deeds, and a heartfelt +gratitude to the Being which had enabled him to become the dispenser of +happiness to so many of his fellow-creatures. + +"Which way, my lord, so early?" cried a gentleman in a phaeton, as he +drew up, on his way to a watering place, to pay his own parting +compliments. + +"To Eltringham, Sir Owen, to attend the marriage of my kinsman, Mr. +Denbigh, to one of the sisters of the marquess." + +A few more questions and answers, and the gentlemen, exchanging friendly +adieus, pursued each his own course; Sir Owen Ap Rice pushing forward +for Cheltenham, and the Earl of Pendennyss proceeding to act as +groomsman to his cousin. + +The gates of Eltringham were open to the admission of many an equipage +on the following day, and the heart of the Lady Laura beat quick, as the +sound of wheels, at different times, reached her ears. At last an +unusual movement in the house drew her to a window of her dressing-room, +and the blood rushed to her heart as she beheld the equipages which were +rapidly approaching, and through the mist which stole over her eyes she +saw alight from the first, the Duke of Derwent and the bridegroom. The +next contained Lord Pendennyss, and the last the Bishop of----. Lady +Laura waited to see no more, but with a heart filled with terror, hope, +joy, and uneasiness, she threw herself into the arms of one of her +sisters. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Lord Henry Stapleton, about a week after the wedding of +his sister, seizing John suddenly by the arm, while the latter was +taking his morning walk to the residence of the dowager Lady Chatterton, +"Moseley, you dissipated youth, in town yet: you told me you should stay +but a day, and here I find you at the end of a fortnight." + +John blushed a little at the consciousness of his reason for sending a +written, instead of carrying a verbal report, of the result of his +journey, but replied, + +"Yes, my friend Chatterton unexpectedly arrived, and so--and so--" + +"And so you did not go, I presume you mean," cried Lord Henry, with a +laugh. + +"Yes," said John, "and so I stayed--but where is Denbigh?" + +"Where?--why with his wife, where every well-behaved man should be, +especially for the first month," rejoined the sailor, gaily. + +"Wife!" echoed John, as soon as he felt able to give utterance to his +words--"wife! is he married?" + +"Married," cried Lord Henry, imitating his manner, "are you yet to learn +that? why did you ask for him?" + +"Ask for him!" said Moseley, yet lost in astonishment; "but when--how-- +where did he marry--my lord?" + +Lord Henry looked at him for a moment with a surprise little short of +his own, as he answered more gravely: + +"When?--last Tuesday; how? by special license, and the Bishop of----; +where?--at Eltringham:--yes, my dear fellow," continued he, with his +former gaiety, "George is my brother now--and a fine fellow he is." + +"I really wish your lordship much joy," said John, struggling to command +his feelings. + +"Thank you--thank you," replied the sailor; "a jolly time we had of it, +Moseley. I wish, with all my heart, you had been there; no bolting or +running away as soon as spliced, but a regularly constructed, old- +fashioned wedding; all my doings. I wrote Laura that time was scarce, +and I had none to throw away on fooleries; so dear, good soul, she +consented to let me have everything my own way. We had Derwent and +Pendennyss, the marquess, Lord William, and myself, for groomsmen, and +my three sisters--ah, that was bad, but there was no helping it--Lady +Harriet Denbigh, and an old maid, a cousin of ours, for bridesmaids; +could not help the old maid either, upon my honor, or be quite certain I +would." + +How much of what he said Moseley heard, we cannot say; for had he talked +an hour longer he would have been uninterrupted. Lord Henry was too much +engaged with his description to notice his companion's taciturnity or +surprise, and after walking a square or two together they parted; the +sailor being on the wing for his frigate at Yarmouth. + +John continued his course, musing on the intelligence he had just heard. +That Denbigh could forget Emily so soon, he would not believe, and he +greatly feared he had been driven into a step, from despair, that he +might hereafter repent of. The avoiding of himself was now fully +explained; but would Lady Laura Stapleton accept a man for a husband at +so short a notice? and for the first time a suspicion that something in +the character of Denbigh was wrong, mingled in his reflections on his +sister's refusal of his offers. + +Lord and Lady Herriefield were on the eve of their departure for the +continent (for Catherine had been led to the altar the preceding week), +a southern climate having been prescribed as necessary to the +bridegroom's constitution; and the dowager and Grace were about to +proceed to a seat of the baron's within a couple of miles of Bath. +Chatterton himself had his own engagements, but he promised to be there +in company with his friend Derwent within a fortnight; the former visit +having been postponed by the marriages in their respective families. + +John had been assiduous in his attentions during the season of forced +gaiety which followed the nuptials of Kate; and as the dowager's time +was monopolized with the ceremonials of that event, Grace had risen +greatly in his estimation. If Grace Chatterton was not more miserable +than usual, at what she thought was the destruction of her sister's +happiness, it was owing to the presence and unconcealed affection of +John Moseley. + +The carriage of Lord Herriefield was in waiting when John rang for +admittance. On opening the door and entering the drawing-room, he saw +the bride and bridegroom, with their mother and sister, accoutred for an +excursion amongst the shops of Bond street: for Kate was dying to find a +vent for some of her surplus pin-money--her husband to show his handsome +wife in the face of the world--the mother to display the triumph of her +matrimonial schemes. And Grace was forced to obey her mother's commands, +in accompanying her sister as an attendant, not to be dispensed with at +all in her circumstances. + +The entrance of John at that instant, though nothing more than what +occurred every day at that hour, deranged the whole plan: the dowager, +for a moment, forgot her resolution, and forgot the necessity of Grace's +appearance, exclaiming with evident satisfaction, + +"Here is Mr. Moseley come to keep you company, Grace; so, after all, you +must consult your headache and stay at home. Indeed, my love, I never +can consent you should go out. I not only wish, but insist you remain +within this morning." + +Lord Herriefield looked at his mother-in-law in some surprise, and threw +a suspicious glance on his own rib at the moment, which spoke as plainly +as looks can speak, + +"Is it possible I have been taken in after all!" + +Grace was unused to resist her mother's commands, and throwing off her +hat and shawl, reseated herself with more composure than she would +probably have done, had not the attentions of Moseley been more delicate +and pointed of late than formerly. + +As they passed the porter, Lady Chatterton observed to him +significantly--"Nobody at home, Willis."--"Yes, my lady," was the +laconic reply, and Lord Herriefield, as he took his seat by the side of +his wife in the carriage, thought she was not as handsome as usual. + +Lady Chatterton that morning unguardedly laid the foundation of years of +misery for her eldest daughter; or rather the foundations were already +laid in the ill-assorted, and heartless, unprincipled union she had +labored with success to effect. But she, had that morning stripped the +mask from her own character prematurely, and excited suspicions in the +breast of her son-in-law, which time only served to confirm, and memory +to brood over. Lord Herriefield had been too long in the world not to +understand all the ordinary arts of match-makers and match-hunters. Like +most of his own sex who have associated freely with the worst part of +the other, his opinions of female excellences were by no means +extravagant or romantic. Kate had pleased his eye; she was of a noble +family; young, and at that moment interestingly quiet, having nothing +particularly in view. She had a taste of her own, and Lord Herriefield +was by no means in conformity with it; consequently, she expended none +of those pretty little arts upon him which she occasionally practised, +and which his experience would immediately have detected. Her disgust he +had attributed to disinterestedness; and as Kate had fixed her eye on a +young officer lately returned from France, and her mother on a Duke who +was mourning the death of a third wife, devising means to console him +with a fourth--the Viscount had got a good deal enamored with the lady, +before either she or her mother took any particular notice that there +was such a being in existence. His title was not the most elevated, but +it was ancient. His paternal acres were not numerous, but his East-India +shares were. He was not very young, but he was not very old; and as the +Duke died of a fit of the gout in his stomach, and the officer ran away +with a girl in her teens from a boarding-school, the dowager and her +daughter, after thoroughly scanning the fashionable world, determined, +for want of a better, that he would do. + +It is not to be supposed that the mother and child held any open +communications with each other to this effect. The delicacy and pride of +both would have been greatly injured by such a suspicion; yet they +arrived simultaneously at the same conclusion, as well as at another of +equal importance to the completion of their schemes on the Viscount. It +was simply to adhere to the same conduct which had made him a captive, +as most likely to insure the victory. + +There was such a general understanding between the two it can excite no +surprise that they co-operated harmoniously as it were by signal. + +For two people, correctly impressed with their duties and +responsibilities, to arrive at the same conclusion in the government of +their conduct, would be merely a matter of course; and so with those who +are more or less under the dominion of the world. They will pursue their +plans with a degree of concurrence amounting nearly to sympathy; and +thus had Kate and her mother, until this morning, kept up the masquerade +so well that the Viscount was as confiding as a country Corydon. When he +first witnessed the dowager's management with Grace and John, however, +and his wife's careless disregard of a thing which appeared too much a +matter of course to be quite agreeable, his newly awakened distrust +approached conviction. + +Grace Chatterton both sang and played exquisitely; it was, however, +seldom she could sufficiently overcome her desire, when John was an +auditor, to appear to advantage. + +As the party went down stairs, and Moseley had gone with them part of +the way, she threw herself unconsciously in a seat, and began a +beautiful song, that was fashionable at the time. Her feelings were in +consonance with the words, and Grace was very happy both in execution +and voice. + +John had reached the back of her seat before she was at all sensible of +his return, and Grace lost her self-command immediately. She rose and +took a seat on a sofa, and the young man was immediately at her side. + +"Ah, Grace," said John, the lady's heart beating high, "you certainly do +sing as you do everything, admirably." + +"I am happy you think so, Mr. Moseley," returned Grace looking +everywhere but in his face. + +John's eyes ran over her beauties, as with palpitating bosom and varying +color she sat confused at the unusual warmth of his language and manner. + +Fortunately a remarkably striking likeness of the Dowager hung directly +over their heads, and John taking her unresisting hand, continued, + +"Dear Grace, you resemble your brother very much in features, and what +is better still, in character." + +"I could wish," said Grace, venturing to look up, "to resemble your +sister Emily in the latter." + +"And why not to be her sister, dear Grace?" said he with ardor. "You are +worthy to become her sister. Tell me, Grace, dear Miss Chatterton--can +you--will you make me the happiest of men? may I present another +inestimable daughter to my parents?" + +As John paused for an answer, Grace looked up, and he waited her reply +in evident anxiety; but she continued silent, now pale as death, and now +of the color of the rose, and he added: + +"I hope I have not offended you, dearest Grace; you are all that is +desirable to me; my hopes, my happiness, are centred in you. Unless you +consent to become my wife, I must be very wretched." + +Grace burst into a flood of tears, as her lover, interested deeply in +their cause, gently drew her towards him. Her head sank on his shoulder, +as she faintly whispered something that was inaudible, but which he did +not fail to interpret into everything he most wished to hear. John was +in ecstasies. Every unpleasant feeling of suspicion had left him. Of +Grace's innocence of manoeuvring he never doubted, but John did not +relish the idea of being entrapped into anything, even a step which he +desired. An uninterrupted communication followed; it was as confiding as +their affections: and the return of the dowager and her children first +recalled them to the recollection of other people. + +One glance of the eye was enough for Lady Chatterton. She saw the traces +of tears on the cheeks and in the eyes of Grace, and the dowager was +satisfied; she knew his friends would not object; and as Grace attended +her to her dressing-room, she cried on entering it, "Well, child, when +is the wedding to be? You will wear me out with so much gaiety." + +Grace was shocked, but did not as formerly weep over her mother's +interference in agony and dread. John had opened his whole soul to her, +observing the greatest delicacy towards her mother, and she now felt her +happiness placed in the keeping of a man whose honor she believed much +exceeded that of any other human being. + + + +Chapter XXXII. + +The seniors of the party at Benfield Lodge were all assembled one +morning in a parlor, when its master and the baronet were occupied in +the perusal of the London papers. Clara had persuaded her sisters to +accompany her and Francis in an excursion as far as the village. + +Jane yet continued reserved and distant to most of her friends; while +Emily's conduct would have escaped unnoticed, did not her blanched cheek +and wandering looks at times speak a language not to be misunderstood. +With all her relatives she maintained the affectionate intercourse she +had always supported; though not even to her aunt did the name of +Denbigh pass her lips. But in her most private and humble petitions to +God, she never forgot to mingle with her requests for spiritual +blessings on herself, fervent prayers for the conversion of the +preserver of her life. + +Mrs. Wilson, as she sat by the side of her sister at their needles, +first discovered an unusual uneasiness in their venerable host, while he +turned his paper over and over, as if unwilling or unable to comprehend +some part of its contents, until he rang the bell violently, and bid the +servant to send Johnson to him without a moment's delay. + +"Peter," said Mr. Benfield doubtingly, "read that--your eyes are young, +Peter; read that." + +Peter took the paper, and after having adjusted his spectacles to his +satisfaction, he proceeded to obey his master's injunctions; but the +same defect of vision as suddenly seized the steward as it had affected +his master. He turned the paper sideways, and appeared to be spelling +the matter of the paragraph to himself. Peter would have given his three +hundred a year to have had the impatient John Moseley at hand, to +relieve him from his task; but the anxiety of Mr. Benfield overcoming +his fear of the worst, he inquired in tremulous tone-- + +"Peter? hem! Peter, what do you think?" + +"Why, your honor," replied the steward, stealing a look at his master, +"it does seem so indeed." + +"I remember," said the master, "when Lord Gosford saw the marriage of +the countess announced he--" + +Here the old gentleman was obliged to stop, and rising with dignity, and +leaning on the arm of his faithful servant, he left the room. + +Mrs. Wilson immediately took up the paper, and her eye catching the +paragraph at a glance, she read aloud as follows to her expecting +friends: + +"Married by special license, at the seat of the Most Noble the Marquess +of Eltringham, in Devonshire, by the Right Rev. Lord Bishop of ----, +George Denbigh Esq., Lieutenant Colonel of his Majesty's ---- regiment +of dragoons, to the Right Honorable Lady Laura Stapleton, eldest sister +of the Marquess. Eltringham was honored on the present happy occasion +with the presence of his grace of Derwent, and the gallant Lord +Pendennyss, kinsmen of the bridegroom, and Captain Lord Henry Stapleton +of the Royal Navy. We understand that the happy couple proceed to +Denbigh Castle immediately after the honey-moon." + +Although Mrs. Wilson had given up the expectation of ever seeing her +niece the wife of Denbigh, she felt an indescribable shock as she read +this paragraph. The strongest feeling was horror at the danger Emily had +been in of contracting an alliance with such a man. His avoiding the +ball, at which he knew Lord Henry was expected, was explained to her by +this marriage; for with John, she could not believe a woman like Lady +Laura Stapleton was to be won in the short space of one fortnight, or +indeed less. There was too evidently a mystery yet to be developed, and +she felt certain one that would not elevate his character in her +opinion. + +Neither Sir Edward nor Lady Moseley had given up the expectation of +seeing Denbigh again, as a suitor for Emily's hand, and to both of them +this certainty of his loss was a heavy blow. The baronet took up the +paper, and after perusing the article, he muttered in a low tone, as he +wiped the tears from his eyes, "Heaven bless him: I sincerely hope she +is worthy of him." Worthy of him, thought Mrs. Wilson, with a feeling of +indignation, as, taking up the paper, she retired to her own room, +whither Emily, at that moment returned from her walk, had proceeded. As +her niece must hear this news, she thought the sooner the better. The +exercise, and the unreserved conversation of Francis and Clara, had +restored in some degree the bloom to the cheek of Emily; and Mrs. Wilson +felt it necessary to struggle with herself, before she could summon +sufficient resolution to invade the returning peace of her charge. +However, having already decided on her course, she proceeded to the +discharge of what she thought to be a duty. + +"Emily, my child," she whispered, pressing her affectionately to her +bosom, "you have been all I could wish, and more than I expected, under +your arduous struggles. But one more pang, and I trust your +recollections on this painful subject will be done away." + +Emily looked at her aunt in anxious expectation of what was coming, and +quietly taking the paper, followed the direction of Mrs. Wilson's finger +to the article on the marriage of Denbigh. + +There was a momentary struggle in Emily for self-command. She was +obliged to find support in a chair. The returning richness of color, +excited by her walk, vanished; but recovering herself, she pressed the +hand of her anxious guardian, and, gently waving her back, proceeded to +her own room. + +On her return to the company, the same control of her feelings which had +distinguished her conduct of late, was again visible; and, although her +aunt most narrowly watched her movements, looks, and speeches, she could +discern no visible alteration by this confirmation of misconduct. The +truth was, that in Emily Moseley the obligations of duty were so +imperative, her sense of her dependence on Providence so humbling and +yet so confiding, that, as soon as she was taught to believe her lover +unworthy of her esteem, that moment an insuperable barrier separated +them. His marriage could add nothing to the distance between them. It +was impossible they could be united; and although a secret lingering of +the affections over his fallen character might and did exist, it existed +without any romantic expectations of miracles in his favor, or vain +wishes of reformation, in which self was the prominent feeling. She +might be said to be keenly alive to all that concerned his welfare or +movements, if she did not harbor the passion of love; but it showed +itself in prayers for his amendment of life, and the most ardent +petitions for his future and eternal happiness. She had set about, +seriously and with much energy, the task of erasing from her heart +sentiments which, however delightful she had found it to entertain in +times past, were now in direct variance with her duty. She knew that a +weak indulgence of such passions would tend to draw her mind from, and +disqualify her to discharge, those various calls on her time and her +exertions, which could alone enable her to assist others, or effect in +her own person the great purposes of her creation. It was never lost +sight of by Emily Moseley, that her existence here was preparatory to an +immensely more important state hereafter. She was consequently in +charity with all mankind; and if grown a little more distrustful of the +intentions of her fellow-creatures, it was a mistrust bottomed in a +clear view of the frailties of our nature; and self-examination was +amongst the not unfrequent speculations she made on this hasty marriage +of her former lover. + +Mrs. Wilson saw all this, and was soon made acquainted by her niece in +terms, with her views of her own condition; and although she had to, and +did, deeply regret, that all her caution had not been able to guard +against deception, where it was most important for her to guide aright, +yet she was cheered with the reflection that her previous care, with the +blessings of Providence, had admirably fitted her charge to combat and +overcome the consequences of their mistaken confidence. + +The gloom which this little paragraph excited, extended to every +individual in the family; for all had placed Denbigh by the side of +John, in their affections, ever since his weighty services to Emily. + +A letter from John announcing his intention of meeting them at Bath, as +well as his new relation with Grace, relieved in some measure this +general depression of spirit. Mr. Benfield alone found no consolation in +the approaching nuptials. John he regarded as his nephew, and Grace he +thought a very good sort of young woman; but neither of them were beings +of the same genus with Emily and Denbigh. + +"Peter," said he one day, after they had both been expending their +ingenuity in vain efforts to discover the cause of this so-much-desired +marriage's being so unexpectedly frustrated, "have I not often told you, +that fate governed these things, in order that men might be humble in +this life? Now, Peter, had the Lady Juliana wedded with a mind congenial +to her own, she might have been mistress of Benfield Lodge to this very +hour." + +"Yes, your honor--but there's Miss Emmy's legacy." + +And Peter withdrew, thinking what would have been the consequences had +Patty Steele been more willing, when he wished to make her Mrs. Peter +Johnson--an association by no means uncommon in the mind of the steward; +for if Patty had ever a rival in his affections, it was in the person of +Emily Moseley, though, indeed, with very different degrees and coloring +of esteem. + +The excursions to the cottage had been continued by Mrs. Wilson and +Emily, and as no gentleman was now in the family to interfere with their +communications, a general visit to the young widow had been made by the +Moseleys, including Sir Edward and Mr. Ives. + +The Jarvises had gone to London to receive their children, now penitent +in more senses than one; and Sir Edward learnt with pleasure that +Egerton and his wife had been admitted into the family of the merchant. + +Sir Edgar had died suddenly, and the entailed estates had fallen to his +successor the colonel, now Sir Harry; but the bulk of his wealth, being +in convertible property, he had given by will to his other nephew, a +young clergyman, and a son of a younger brother. Mary, as well as her +mother, were greatly disappointed, by this deprivation, of what they +considered their lawful splendor; but they found great consolation in +the new dignity of Lady Egerton, whose greatest wish now was to meet the +Moseleys, in order that she might precede them in or out of some place +where such ceremonials are observed. The sound of "Lady Egerton's +carriage stops the way," was delightful, and it never failed to be used +on all occasions, although her ladyship was mistress of only a hired +vehicle. + +A slight insight into the situation of things amongst them may be found +in the following narrative of their views, as revealed in a discussion +which took place about a fortnight after the reunion of the family under +one roof. + +Mrs. Jarvis was mistress of a very handsome coach, the gift of her +husband for her own private use. After having satisfied herself the +baronet (a dignity he had enjoyed just twenty-four hours) did not +possess the ability to furnish his lady, as she termed her daughter, +with such a luxury, she magnanimously determined to relinquish her own, +in support of the new-found elevation of her daughter. Accordingly, a +consultation on the alterations which were necessary took place between +the ladies--"The arms must be altered, of course," Lady Egerton +observed, "and Sir Harry's, with the bloody hand and six quarterings, +put in their place; then the liveries, they must be changed." + +"Oh, mercy! my lady, if the arms are altered, Mr. Jarvis will be sure to +notice it, and he would never forgive me; and perhaps--" + +"Perhaps what?" exclaimed the new-made lady, with a disdainful toss of +her head. + +"Why," replied the mother, warmly, "not give me the hundred pounds he +promised, to have it new-lined and painted." + +"Fiddlesticks with the painting, Mrs. Jarvis," cried the lady with +dignity: "no carriage shall be called mine that does not bear my arms +and the bloody hand." + +"Why, your ladyship is unreasonable, indeed you are," said Mrs. Jarvis, +coaxingly; and then after a moment's thought she continued, "is it the +arms or the baronetcy you want, my dear?" + +"Oh, I care nothing for the arms, but I am determined, now I am a +baronet's lady, Mrs. Jarvis, to have the proper emblem of my rank." + +"Certainly, my lady, that's true dignity: well, then, we will put the +bloody hand on your father's arms, and he will never notice it, for he +never sees such things." + +The arrangement was happily completed, and for a few days the coach of +Mr. Jarvis bore about the titled dame, until one unlucky day the +merchant, who still went on 'change when any great bargain in the stocks +was to be made, arrived at his own door suddenly, to procure a +calculation he had made on the leaf of his prayer-book the last Sunday +during sermon. This he obtained after some search. In his haste he drove +to his broker's in the carriage of his wife, to save time, it happening +to be in waiting at the moment, and the distance not great. Mr. Jarvis +forgot to order the man to return, and for an hour the vehicle stood in +one of the most public places in the city. The consequence was, that +when Mr. Jarvis undertook to examine into his gains, with the account +rendered of the transaction by his broker, he was astonished to read, +"Sir Timothy Jarvis, Bart., in account with John Smith, Dr." Sir Timothy +examined the account in as many different ways as Mr. Benfield had +examined the marriage of Denbigh, before he would believe his eyes; and +when assured of the fact, he immediately caught up his hat, and went to +find the man who had dared to insult him, as it were, in defiance of the +formality of business. He had not proceeded one square in the city +before he met a friend, who spoke to him by the title; an explanation of +the mistake followed, and the quasi baronet proceeded to his stables. +Here by actual examination he detected the fraud. An explanation with +his consort followed; and the painter's brush soon effaced the emblem of +dignity from the panels of the coach. All this was easy but with his +waggish companions on 'Change and in the city (where, notwithstanding +his wife's fashionable propensities, he loved to resort) he was Sir +Timothy still. + +Mr. Jarvis, though a man of much modesty, was one of great decision, and +he determined to have the laugh on his side. A newly purchased borough +of his sent up an address flaming with patriotism, and it was presented +by his own hands. The merchant seldom kneeled to his Creator, but on +this occasion he humbled himself dutifully before his prince, and left +the presence with a legal right to the appellation which his old +companions had affixed to him sarcastically. + +The rapture of Lady Jarvis may be more easily imagined than faithfully +described, the Christian name of her husband alone throwing any alloy +into the enjoyment of her elevation: but by a license of speech she +ordered, and addressed in her own practice, the softer and more familiar +appellation of Sir Timo. Two servants were discharged the first week, +because, unused to titles, they had addressed her as mistress; and her +son, the captain, then at a watering-place, was made acquainted by +express with the joyful intelligence. + +All this time Sir Henry Egerton was but little seen amongst his new +relatives. He had his own engagements and haunts, and spent most of his +time at a fashionable gaming house in the West End. As, however, the +town was deserted, Lady Jarvis and her daughters, having condescended to +pay a round of city visits, to show off her airs and dignity to her old +friends, persuaded Sir Timo that the hour for their visit to Bath had +arrived, and they were soon comfortably settled in that city. + +Lady Chatterton and her youngest daughter had arrived at the seat of her +son, and John Moseley, as happy as the certainty of love returned and +the approbation of his friends could make him, was in lodgings in the +town. Sir Edward notified his son of his approaching visit to Bath, and +John took proper accommodations for the family, which he occupied for a +few days by himself as locum tenens. + +Lord and Lady Herriefield had departed for the south of France; and +Kate, removed from the scenes of her earliest enjoyments and the bosom +of her own family, and under the protection of a man she neither loved +nor respected, began to feel the insufficiency of a name or of a fortune +to constitute felicity. Lord Herriefield was of a suspicious and harsh +temper, the first propensity being greatly increased by his former +associations, and the latter not being removed by the humility of his +eastern dependants. But the situation of her child gave no uneasiness to +the managing mother, who thought her in the high-road to happiness, and +was gratified at the result of her labors. Once or twice, indeed, her +habits had overcome her caution so much as to endeavor to promote, a day +or two sooner than had been arranged, the wedding of Grace; but her +imprudence was checked instantly by the recoiling of Moseley from her +insinuations in disgust; and the absence of the young man for twenty- +four hours gave her timely warning of the danger of such an interference +with one of such fastidious feelings. John punished himself as much as +the dowager on these occasions; but the smiling face of Grace, with her +hand frankly placed in his own at his return, never failed to do away +the unpleasant sensations created by her mother's care. + +The Chatterton and Jarvis families met in the rooms, soon after the +arrival of the latter, when the lady of the knight, followed by both her +daughters, approached the dowager with a most friendly salute of +recognition. Lady Chatterton, really forgetful of the persons of her B-- +-- acquaintance, and disliking the vulgarity of her air, drew up into an +appearance of great dignity, as she hoped the lady was well. The +merchant's wife felt the consciousness of rank too much to be repulsed +in this manner, and believing that the dowager had merely forgotten her +face, she added, with a simpering smile, in imitation of what she had +seen better bred people practise with success-- + +"Lady Jarvis--my lady--your ladyship don't remember me--Lady Jarvis of +the Deanery, B----, Northamptonshire, and my daughters, Lady Egerton and +Miss Jarvis." Lady Egerton bowed stiffly to the recognising smile the +dowager now condescended to bestow; but Sarah, remembering a certain +handsome lord in the family, was more urbane, determining at the moment +to make the promotion of her mother and sister stepping-stones to +greater elevation for herself. + +"I hope my lord is well," continued the city lady. "I regret that Sir +Timo, and Sir Harry, and Captain Jarvis, are not here this morning to +pay their respects to your ladyship; but as we shall see naturally a +good deal of each other, it must be deferred to a more fitting +opportunity." + +"Certainly, madam," replied the dowager, as, passing her compliments +with those of Grace, she drew back from so open a conversation with +creatures of such doubtful standing in the fashionable world. + + + +Chapter +XXXIII. + +On taking leave of Mrs. Fitzgerald, Emily and her aunt settled a plan of +correspondence; the deserted situation of this young woman having +created great interest in the breasts of her new friends. General +M'Carthy had returned to Spain without receding from his original +proposal, and his niece was left to mourn her early departure from one +of the most solemn duties of life. + +Mr. Benfield, thwarted in one of his most favorite schemes of happiness +for the residue of his life, obstinately refused to make one of the +party at Bath; and Ives and Clara having returned to Bolton, the +remainder of the Moseleys arrived at the lodgings of John a very few +days after the interview of the preceding chapter, with hearts ill +qualified to enter into the gaieties of the place, though, in obedience +to the wishes of Lady Moseley, to see and to be seen once more on that +great theatre of fashionable amusement. + +The friends of the family who had known them in times past were +numerous, and were glad to renew their acquaintance with those they had +always esteemed; so that they found themselves immediately surrounded by +a circle of smiling faces and dashing equipages. + +Sir William Harris, the proprietor of the deanery, and a former +neighbor, with his showy daughter, were amongst the first to visit them. +Sir William was a man of handsome estate and unexceptionable character, +but entirely governed by the whims and desires of his only child. +Caroline Harris wanted neither sense nor beauty, but expecting a +fortune, she had placed her views too high. She at first aimed at the +peerage; and while she felt herself entitled to suit her taste as well +as her ambition, had failed of her object by ill-concealed efforts to +attain it. She had justly acquired the reputation of the reverse of a +coquette or yet of a prude; still she had never received an offer, and +at the age of twenty-six, had now begun to lower her thoughts to the +commonalty. Her fortune would have easily obtained her husband here, but +she was determined to pick amongst the lower supporters of the +aristocracy of the nation. With the Moseleys she had been early +acquainted, though some years their senior; a circumstance, however, to +which she took care never to allude unnecessarily. + +The meeting between Grace and the Moseleys was tender and sincere. +John's countenance glowed with delight, as he saw his future wife folded +successively in the arms of those he loved, and Grace's tears and +blushes added twofold charms to her native beauty. Jane relaxed from her +reserve to receive her future sister, and determined with herself to +appear in the world, in order to show Sir Henry Egerton that she did not +feel the blow he had inflicted as severely as the truth might have +proved. + +The Dowager found some little occupation, for a few days, in settling +with Lady Moseley the preliminaries of the wedding; but the latter had +suffered too much through her youngest daughters, to enter into these +formalities with her ancient spirit. All things were, however, happily +settled; and Ives making a journey for the express purpose, John and +Grace were united privately at the altar of one of the principal +churches in Bath. Chatterton had been summoned on the occasion; and the +same paper which announced the nuptials, contained, amongst the +fashionable arrivals, the names of the Duke of Derwent and his sister, +the Marquess of Eltringham and sisters, amongst whom was to be found +Lady Laura Denbigh. Lady Chatterton carelessly remarked, in presence of +her friends, the husband of the latter was summoned to the death-bed of +a relative, from whom he had great expectations. Emily's color did +certainly change as she listened to this news, but not allowing her +thoughts to dwell on the subject, she was soon enabled to recall her +serenity of appearance. + +But Jane and Emily were delicately placed. The lover of the former, and +the wives of the lovers of both, were in the way of daily, if not hourly +rencounters; and it required all the energies of the young women to +appear with composure before them. The elder was supported by pride, the +younger by principle. The first was restless, haughty, distant, and +repulsive. The last mild, humble, reserved, but eminently attractive. +The one was suspected by all around her; the other was unnoticed by any, +but by her nearest and dearest friends. + +The first rencounter with these dreaded guests occurred at the rooms one +evening, where the elder ladies had insisted on the bride's making her +appearance. The Jarvises were there before them, and at their entrance +caught the eyes of the group. Lady Jarvis approached immediately, filled +with exultation--her husband with respect. The latter was received with +cordiality--the former politely, but with distance. The young ladies and +Sir Henry bowed distantly, and the gentleman soon drew off into another +part of the room: his absence alone kept Jane from fainting. The +handsome figure of Egerton standing by the side of Mary Jarvis, as her +acknowledged husband, was near proving too much for her pride, +notwithstanding all her efforts; and he looked so like the imaginary +being she had set up as the object of her worship, that her heart was +also in danger of rebelling. + +"Positively, Sir Edward and my lady, both Sir Timo and myself, and, I +dare say, Sir Harry and Lady Egerton too, are delighted to see you +comfortably at Bath among us. Mrs. Moseley, I wish you much happiness; +Lady Chatterton too. I suppose your ladyship recollects me now; I am +Lady Jarvis. Mr. Moseley, I regret, for your sake, that my son Captain +Jarvis is not here; you were so fond of each other, and both so loved +your guns." + +"Positively, my Lady Jarvis," said Moseley, drily, "my feelings on the +occasion are as strong as your own; but I presume the captain is much +too good a shot for me by this time." + +"Why, yes; he improves greatly in most things he undertakes," rejoined +the smiling dame, "and I hope he will soon learn, like you, to shoot +with the harrows of Cupid. I hope the Honorable Mrs. Moseley is well." + +Grace bowed mildly, as she answered to the interrogatory, and smiled at +the thought of Jarvis put in competition with her husband in this +species of archery, when a voice immediately behind where they sat +caught the ears of the whole party; all it said was-- + +"Harriet, you forgot to show me Marian's letter." + +"Yes, but I will to-morrow," was the reply. + +It was the tone of Denbigh. Emily almost fell from her seat as it first +reached her, and the eyes of all but herself were immediately turned in +quest of the speaker. He had approached within a very few feet of them, +supporting a lady on each arm. A second look convinced the Moseleys that +they were mistaken. It was not Denbigh, but a young man whose figure, +face, and air resembled him strongly, and whose voice possessed the same +soft melodious tones which had distinguished that of Denbigh. This party +seated themselves within a very short distance of the Moseleys, and they +continued their conversation. + +"You heard from the Colonel to-day, too, I believe," continued the +gentleman, turning to the lady who sat next to Emily. + +"Yes, he is a very punctual correspondent; I hear every other day." + +"How is his uncle, Laura?" inquired her female companion. + +"Rather better; but I will thank your grace to find the Marquess and +Miss Howard." + +"Bring them to us," rejoined the other. + +"Yes," said the former lady, with a laugh, "and Eltringham will thank +you too, I dare say." + +In an instant the duke returned, accompanied by a gentleman of thirty +and an elderly lady, who might have been safely taken for fifty without +offence to anybody but herself. + +During these speeches their auditors had listened with almost breathless +interest. Emily had stolen a glance which satisfied her it was not +Denbigh himself and it greatly relieved her; but was startled at +discovering that she was actually seated by the side of his young and +lovely wife. When an opportunity offered, she dwelt on the amiable, +frank countenance of her rival with melancholy satisfaction: at least, +she thought, he may yet be happy, and I hope penitent. + +It was a mixture of love and gratitude which prompted this wish, both +sentiments not easily got rid of when once ingrafted in our better +feelings. John eyed the strangers with a displeasure for which he could +not account at once, and saw, in the ancient lady, the bridesmaid Lord +Henry had so unwillingly admitted to that distinction. + +Lady Jarvis was astounded with her vicinity to so much nobility, and she +drew back to her family to study its movements to advantage; while Lady +Chatterton sighed heavily, as she contemplated the fine figures of an +unmarried Duke and Marquess, and she without a single child to dispose +of. The remainder of the party continued to view them with curiosity, +and listened with interest to what they said. + +Two or three young ladies had now joined the strangers, attended by a +couple of gentlemen, and the conversation became general. The ladies +declined dancing entirely, but appeared willing to throw away an hour in +comments on their neighbors. + +"William," said one of the young ladies, "there is your old messmate, +Col. Egerton." + +"Yes, I observe him," replied her brother, "I see him;" but, smiling +significantly, he continued, "we are messmates no longer." + +"He is a sad character," said the Marquess, with a shrug. "William, I +would advise you to be cautious of his acquaintance." + +"I thank you," replied Lord William, "but I believe I understand him +thoroughly." + +Jane manifested strong emotion during these remarks, while Sir Edward +and his wife averted their faces from a simultaneous feeling of self- +reproach. Their eyes met, and mutual concessions were contained in the +glance; yet their feelings were unnoticed by their companions, for over +the fulfilment of her often repeated forewarnings of neglect and duty to +our children, Mrs. Wilson had mourned in sincerity, but she had +forgotten to triumph. + +"When are we to see Pendennyss?" inquired the Marquess; "I hope he will +be here with George--I have a mind to beat up his quarters in Wales this +season--what say you, Derwent?" + +"I intend it, if I can persuade Lady Harriet to quit the gaieties of +Bath so soon--what say you, sister--will you be in readiness to attend +me so early?" + +This question was asked in an arch tone, and drew the eyes of her +friends on the person to whom it was addressed. + +"I am ready now, Frederick, if you wish it," answered the sister +hastily, and coloring excessively as she spoke. + +"But where is Chatterton? I thought he was here--he had a sister married +here last week," inquired Lord William Stapleton, addressing no one in +particular. + +A slight movement in their neighbors attracted the attention of the +party. + +"What a lovely young woman," whispered the duke to Lady Laura, "your +neighbor is!" + +The lady smiled her assent, and as Emily overheard it, she rose with +glowing cheeks, and proposed a walk round the room. + +Chatterton soon after entered. The young peer had acknowledged to Emily +that, deprived of hope as he had been by her firm refusal of his hand, +his efforts had been directed to the suppression of a passion which +could never be successful; but his esteem, his respect, remained in full +force. He did not touch at all on the subject of Denbigh, and she +supposed that he thought his marriage was a step that required +justification. + +The Moseleys had commenced their promenade round the room as Chatterton +came in. He paid his compliments to them as soon as he entered, and +walked with their party. The noble visitors followed their example, and +the two parties met. Chatterton was delighted to see them, the Duke was +particularly fond of him; and, had one been present of sufficient +observation, the agitation of his sister, the Lady Harriet Denbigh, +would have accounted for the doubts of her brother as respects her +willingness to leave Bath. + +A few words of explanation passed; the duke and his friends appeared to +urge something on Chatterton, who acted as their ambassador, and the +consequence was, an introduction of the two parties to each other. This +was conducted with the ease of the present fashion--it was general, and +occurred, as it were incidentally, in the course of the evening. + +Both Lady Harriet and Lady Laura Denbigh were particularly attentive to +Emily. They took their seats by her, and manifested a preference for her +conversation that struck Mrs. Wilson as remarkable. Could it be that the +really attractive manners and beauty of her niece had caught the fancy +of these ladies, or was there a deeper seated cause for the desire to +draw Emily out, that both of them evinced? Mrs. Wilson had heard a rumor +that Chatterton was thought attentive to Lady Harriet, and the other was +the wife of Denbigh; was it possible the quondam suitors of her niece +had related to their present favorites the situation they had stood in +as regarded Emily? It was odd, to say no more; and the widow dwelt on +the innocent countenance of the bride with pity and admiration. Emily +herself was not a little abashed at the notice of her new acquaintances, +especially Lady Laura's; but as their admiration appeared sincere, as +well as their desire to be on terms of intimacy with the Moseleys, they +parted, on the whole, mutually pleased. + +The conversation several times was embarrassing to the baronet's family, +and at moments distressingly so to their daughters. + +At the close of the evening they all formed one group at a little +distance from the rest of the company, and in a situation to command a +view of it. + +"Who is that vulgar-looking woman," said Lady Sarah Stapleton, "seated +next to Sir Henry Egerton, brother?" + +"No less a personage than my Lady Jarvis," replied the marquess, +gravely, "and the mother-in-law of Sir Harry, and the wife to Sir Timo-- +;" this was said, with a look of drollery that showed the marquess was a +bit of a quiz. + +"Married!" cried Lord William, "mercy on the woman who is Egerton's +wife. He is the greatest latitudinarian amongst the ladies, of any man +in England--nothing--no, nothing would tempt me to let such a man marry +a sister of mine!" + +Ah, thought Mrs. Wilson, how we may be deceived in character, with the +best intentions, after all! In what are the open vices of Egerton worse +than the more hidden ones of Denbigh? + +These freely expressed opinions on the character of Sir Henry were +excessively awkward to some of the listeners, to whom they were +connected with unpleasant recollections of duties neglected, and +affections thrown away. + +Sir Edward Moseley was not disposed to judge his fellow-creatures +harshly; and it was as much owing to his philanthropy as to his +indolence, that he had been so remiss in his attention to the associates +of his daughters. But the veil once removed, and the consequences +brought home to him through his child, no man was more alive to the +necessity of caution on this important particular; and Sir Edward formed +many salutary resolutions for the government of his future conduct in +relation to those whom an experience nearly fatal in its results had now +greatly qualified to take care of themselves. But to resume our +narrative--Lady Laura had maintained with Emily a conversation, which +was enlivened by occasional remarks from the rest of the party, in the +course of which the nerves as well as the principles of Emily were put +to a severe trial. + +"My brother Henry," said Lady Laura, "who is a captain in the navy, once +had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Moseley, and in some measure made +me acquainted with you before we met." + +"I dined with Lord Henry at L----, and was much indebted to his polite +attentions in an excursion on the water," replied Emily, simply. + +"Oh, I am sure his attentions were exclusive," cried the sister; +"indeed, he told us that nothing but want of time prevented his being +deeply in love--he had even the audacity to tell Denbigh it was +fortunate for me he had never seen you, or I should have been left to +lead apes." + +"And I suppose you believe him now," cried Lord William, laughing, as he +bowed to Emily. + +His sister laughed in her turn, but shook her head, in the confidence of +conjugal affection. + +"It is all conjecture, for the Colonel said he had never enjoyed the +pleasure of meeting Miss Moseley, so I will not boast of what my powers +might have done; Miss Moseley," continued Lady Laura, blushing slightly +at her inclination to talk of an absent husband, so lately her lover, "I +hope to have the pleasure of presenting Colonel Denbigh to you soon." + +"I think," said Emily, with a strong horror of deception, and a mighty +struggle to suppress her feelings, "Colonel Denbigh was mistaken in +saying that we had never met; he was of material service to me once, and +I owe him a debt of gratitude that I only wish I could properly repay." + +Lady Laura listened in surprise; but as Emily paused, she could not +delicately, as his wife, remind her further of the obligation, by asking +what the service was, and hesitating a moment, continued-- + +"Henry quite made you the subject of conversation amongst us; Lord +Chatterton too, who visited us for a day, was equally warm in his +eulogiums. I really thought they created a curiosity in the Duke and +Pendennyss to behold their idol." + +"A curiosity that would be ill rewarded in its indulgence," said Emily, +abashed by the personality of the discourse. + +"So says the modesty of Miss Moseley," said the Duke of Derwent, in the +peculiar tone which distinguished the softer keys of Denbigh's voice. +Emily's heart beat quick as she heard them, and she was afterwards vexed +to remember with how much pleasure she had listened to this opinion of +the duke. Was it the sentiment, or was it the voice? She, however, +gathered strength to answer, with a dignity that repressed further +praises:-- + +"Your grace is willing to divest me of what little I possess." + +"Pendennyss is a man of a thousand," continued Lady Laura, with the +privilege of a married woman. "I do wish he would join us at Bath--is +there no hope, duke?" + +"I am afraid not," replied his grace: "he keeps himself immured in Wales +with his sister, who is as much of a hermit as he is himself." + +"There was a story of an inamorata in private somewhere," cried the +marquess; "why at one time it was even said he was privately married to +her." + +"Scandal, my lord," said the duke, gravely: "Pendennyss is of +unexceptionable morals, and the lady you mean is the widow of Major +Fitzgerald, whom you knew. Pendennyss never sees her, though by accident +he was once of very great service to her." + +Mrs. Wilson breathed freely again, as she heard this explanation, and +thought if the Marquess knew all, how differently would he judge +Pendennyss, as well as others. + +"Oh! I have the highest opinion of Lord Pendennyss," cried the Marquess. + +The Moseleys were not sorry that the usual hour of retiring put an end +to the conversation and their embarrassment. + + + +Chapter XXXIV. + +During the succeeding fortnight, the intercourse between the Moseleys +and their new acquaintances increased daily. It was rather awkward at +first on the part of Emily; and her beating pulse and changing color too +often showed the alarm of feelings not yet overcome, when any allusions +were made to the absent husband of one of the ladies. Still, as her +parents encouraged the acquaintance, and her aunt thought the best way +to get rid of the remaining weakness with respect to Denbigh was not to +shrink from even an interview with the gentleman himself, Emily +succeeded in conquering her reluctance; and as the high opinion +entertained by Lady Laura of her husband was expressed in a thousand +artless ways, an interest was created in her that promised in time to +weaken if not destroy the impression that had been made by Denbigh +himself. + +On the other hand, Egerton carefully avoided all collision with the +Moseleys. Once, indeed, he endeavored to renew his acquaintance with +John, but a haughty repulse almost produced a quarrel. + +What representations Egerton had thought proper to make to his wife, we +are unable to say; but she appeared to resent something, as she never +approached the dwelling or persons of her quondam associates, although +in her heart she was dying to be on terms of intimacy with their titled +friends. Her incorrigible mother was restrained by no such or any other +consideration, and contrived to fasten on the Dowager and Lady Harriet a +kind of bowing acquaintance, which she made great use of at the rooms. + +The Duke sought out the society of Emily wherever he could obtain it; +and Mrs. Wilson thought her niece admitted his approaches with less +reluctance than that of any other of the gentlemen around her. At first +she was surprised, but a closer observation betrayed to her the latent +cause. + +Derwent resembled Denbigh greatly in person and voice, although there +were distinctions easily to be made on an acquaintance. The Duke had an +air of command and hauteur that was never to be seen in his cousin. But +his admiration of Emily he did not attempt to conceal; and, as he ever +addressed her in the respectful language and identical voice of Denbigh, +the observant widow easily perceived, that it was the remains of her +attachment to the one that induced her niece to listen, with such +evident pleasure, to the conversation of the other. + +The Duke of Derwent wanted many of the indispensable requisites of a +husband, in the eyes of Mrs. Wilson; yet, as she thought Emily out of +all danger at the present of any new attachment, she admitted the +association, under no other restraint than the uniform propriety of all +that Emily said or did. + +"Your niece will one day be a Duchess, Mrs. Wilson," whispered Lady +Laura, as Derwent and Emily were running over a new poem one morning, in +the lodgings of Sir Edward; the former reading a fine extract aloud so +strikingly in the air and voice of Denbigh, as to call all the animation +of the unconscious Emily into her expressive face. + +Mrs. Wilson sighed, as she reflected on the strength of those feelings +which even principles and testimony had not been able wholly to subdue, +as she answered-- + +"Not of Derwent, I believe. But how wonderfully the Duke resembles your +husband at times," she added, entirely thrown off her guard. + +Lady Laura was evidently surprised. + +"Yes, at times he does; they are brothers' children, you know: the voice +in all that connexion is remarkable. Pendennyss, though a degree further +off in blood, possesses it; and Lady Harriet, you perceive, has the same +characteristic; there has been some syren in the family, in days past." + +Sir Edward and Lady Moseley saw the attention of the Duke with the +greatest pleasure. Though not slaves to the ambition of wealth and rank, +they were certainly no objections in their eyes; and a proper suitor +Lady Moseley thought the most probable means of driving the recollection +of Denbigh from the mind of her daughter. The latter consideration had +great weight in inducing her to cultivate an acquaintance so +embarrassing on many accounts. + +The Colonel, however, wrote to his wife the impossibility of his +quitting his uncle while he continued so unwell, and it was settled that +the bride should join him, under the escort of Lord William. + +The same tenderness distinguished Denbigh on this occasion that had +appeared so lovely when exercised to his dying father. Yet, thought Mrs. +Wilson, how insufficient are good feelings to effect what can only be +the result of good principles. + +Caroline Harris was frequently of the parties of pleasure, walks, rides, +and dinners, which the Moseleys were compelled to join in; and as the +Marquess of Eltringham had given her one day some little encouragement, +she determined to make an expiring effort at the peerage, before she +condescended to enter into an examination of the qualities of Capt. +Jarvis, who, his mother had persuaded her, was an Apollo, that had great +hopes of being one day a Lord, as both the Captain and herself had +commenced laying up a certain sum quarterly for the purpose of buying a +title hereafter--an ingenious expedient of Jarvis's to get into his +hands a portion of the allowance of his mother. + +Eltringham was strongly addicted to the ridiculous; and without +committing himself in the least, drew the lady out on divers occasions, +for the amusement of himself and the Duke--who enjoyed, without +practising, that species of joke. + +The collisions between ill-concealed art and as ill-concealed irony had +been practised with impunity by the Marquess for a fortnight, and the +lady's imagination began to revel in the delights of a triumph, when a +really respectable offer was made to Miss Harris by a neighbor of her +father's in the country--one she would rejoice to have received a few +days before, but which, in consequence of hopes created by the following +occurrence, she haughtily rejected. + +It was at the lodgings of the Baronet that Lady Laura exclaimed one +day,-- + +"Marriage is a lottery, certainly, and neither Sir Henry nor Lady +Egerton appears to have drawn a prize." + +Here Jane stole from the room. + +"Never, sister," cried the Marquess. "I will deny that. Any man can +select a prize from your sex, if he only knows his own taste." + +"Taste is a poor criterion, I am afraid," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "on +which to found matrimonial felicity." + +"To what would you refer the decision, my dear madam?" inquired the Lady +Laura. + +"Judgment." + +Lady Laura shook her hear doubtingly. + +"You remind me so much of Lord Pendennyss! Everything he wishes to bring +under the subjection of judgment and principles." + +"And is he wrong, Lady Laura?" asked Mrs. Wilson, pleased to find such +correct views existed in one of whom she thought so highly. + +"Not wrong, my dear madam, only impracticable. What do you think, +Marquess, of choosing a wife in conformity to your principles, and +without consulting your tastes?" + +Mrs. Wilson shook her head with a laugh, and disclaimed any such +statement of the case; but the Marquess, who disliked one of John's +didactic conversations very much, gaily interrupted her by saying-- + +"Oh! taste is everything with me. The woman of my heart against the +world, if she suits my fancy, and satisfies my judgment." + +"And what may this fancy of your Lordship be?" said Mrs. Wilson, willing +to gratify the trifling. "What kind of a woman do you mean to choose? +How tall for instance?" + +"Why, madam," cried the Marquess, rather unprepared for such a +catechism, and looking around him until the outstretched neck and the +eager attention of Caroline Harris caught his eye, when he added with an +air of great simplicity--"about the height of Miss Harris." + +"How old?" asked Mrs. Wilson with a smile. + +"Not too young, ma'am, certainly. I am thirty-two--my wife must be five +or six and twenty. Am I old enough, do you think, Derwent?" he added in +a whisper to the Duke. + +"Within ten years," was the reply. + +Mrs. Wilson continued-- + +"She must read and write, I suppose?" + +"Why, faith," said the Marquess, "I am not fond of a bookish sort of a +woman, and least of all a scholar." + +"You had better take Miss Howard," whispered his brother. "She is old +enough--never reads--and is just the height." + +"No, no, Will," rejoined the brother. "Rather too old that. Now, I +admire a woman who has confidence in herself. One that understands the +proprieties of life, and has, if possible, been at the head of an +establishment before she is to take charge of mine." + +The delighted Caroline wriggled about in her chair, and, unable to +contain herself longer, inquired:-- + +"Noble blood of course, you would require, my Lord?" + +"Why no! I rather think the best wives are to be found in a medium. I +would wish to elevate my wife myself. A Baronet's daughter for +instance." + +Here Lady Jarvis, who had entered during the dialogue, and caught a clue +to the topic they were engaged in, drew near, and ventured to ask if he +thought a simple knight too low. The Marquess, who did not expect such +an attack, was a little at a loss for an answer; but recovering himself +answered gravely, under the apprehension of another design on his +person, that "he did think that would be forgetting his duty to his +descendants." + +Lady Jarvis sighed, and fell back in disappointment; while Miss Harris, +turning to the nobleman, in a soft voice, desired him to ring for her +carriage. As he handed her down, she ventured to inquire if his lordship +had ever met with such a woman as he described. + +"Oh, Miss Harris," he whispered, as he handed her into the coach, "how +can you ask me such a question? You are very cruel. Drive on, coachman." + +"How, cruel, my Lord?" said Miss Harris eagerly. "Stop, John. How, +cruel, my Lord?" and she stretched her neck out of the window as the +Marquess, kissing his hand to her, ordered the man to proceed. + +"Don't you hear your lady, sir?" + +Lady Jarvis had followed them down, also with a view to catch anything +which might be said, having apologized for her hasty visit; and as the +Marquess handed her politely into her carriage, she also begged "he +would favor Sir Timo and Sir Henry with a call;" which being promised, +Eltringham returned to the room. + +"When am I to salute a Marchioness of Eltringham?" cried Lady Laura to +her brother, "one on the new standard set up by your Lordship." + +"Whenever Miss Harris can make up her mind to the sacrifice," replied +the brother very gravely. "Ah me! how very considerate some of your sex +are, for the modesty of ours." + +"I wish you joy with all my heart, my Lord Marquess," exclaimed John +Moseley. "I was once favored with the notice of that same lady for a +week or two, but a viscount saved me from capture." + +"I really think, Moseley," said the Duke innocently, but speaking with +animation, "an intriguing daughter worse than a managing mother." + +John's gravity for a moment vanished, as he replied in a lowered key, + +"Oh, much worse." + +Grace's heart was in her throat, until, by stealing a glance at her +husband, she saw the cloud passing over his fine brow; and happening to +catch her affectionate smile; his face was at once lighted into a look +of pleasantry. + +"I would advise caution, my Lord. Caroline Harris has the advantage of +experience in her trade, and was expert from the first." + +"John--John," said Sir Edward with warmth, "Sir William is my friend, +and his daughter must be respected." + +"Then, baronet," cried the Marquess, "she has one recommendation I was +ignorant of, and as such I am silent: but ought not Sir William to teach +his daughter to respect herself? I view these husband-hunting ladies as +pirates on the ocean of love, and lawful objects for any roving cruiser +like myself to fire at. At one time I was simple enough to retire as +they advanced, but you know, madam," turning to Mrs. Wilson with a droll +look, "flight only encourages pursuit, so I now give battle in self- +defence." + +"And I hope successfully, my Lord," observed the Lady. "Miss Harris, +brother, does appear to have grown desperate in her attacks, which were +formerly much more masked than at present. I believe it is generally the +case, when a young worman throws aside the delicacy and feelings which +ought to be the characteristics of her sex, and which teach her +studiously to conceal her admiration, that she either becomes in time +cynical and disagreeable to all around her from disappointment, or +persevering in her efforts, as it were, runs a muck for a husband. Now +in justice to the gentlemen, I must say, baronet, there are strong +symptoms of the Malay about Caroline Harris." + +"A muck, a muck," cried the marquess, as, in obedience to the signal of +his sister, he rose to withdraw. + +Jane had retired to her own room in a mortification of spirit she could +ill conceal during this conversation, and she felt a degree of +humiliation which almost drove her to the desperate resolution of hiding +herself for ever from the world. The man she had so fondly enshrined in +her heart proving to be so notoriously unworthy as to be the subject of +unreserved censure in general company, was a reproach to her delicacy, +her observation, her judgment, that was the more severe, from being +true; and she wept in bitterness over her fallen happiness. + +Emily had noticed the movement of Jane, and waited anxiously for the +departure of the visitors to hasten to her room. She knocked two or +three times before her sister replied to her request for admittance. + +"Jane, my dear Jane," said Emily, soothingly, "will you not admit me?" + +Jane could not resist any longer the affection of her sister, and the +door was opened; but as Emily endeavored to take her hand, she drew back +coldly, and cried-- + +"I wonder you, who are so happy, will leave the gay scene below for the +society of an humbled wretch like me;" and overcome with the violence of +her emotion, she burst into tears. + +"Happy!" repeated Emily, in a tone of anguish, "happy, did you say, +Jane? Oh, little do you know my sufferings, or you would never speak so +cruelly!" + +Jane, in her turn, surprised at the strength of Emily's language, +considered her weeping sister with commiseration; and then her thoughts +recurring to her own case, she continued with energy-- + +"Yes, Emily, happy; for whatever may have been the reason of Denbigh's +conduct, he is respected; and if you do or did love him, he was worthy +of it. But I," said Jane, wildly, "threw away my affections on a wretch- +-a mere impostor--and I am miserable for ever." + +"No, dear Jane," rejoined Emily, having recovered her self-possession, +"not miserable--nor for ever. You have many, very many sources of +happiness yet within your reach, even in this world. I--I do think, even +our strongest attachments may be overcome by energy and a sense of duty. +And oh! how I wish I could see you make the effort." + +For a moment the voice of the youthful moralist had failed her; but +anxiety in behalf of her sister overcame her feelings, and she ended the +sentence with earnestness. + +"Emily," said Jane, with obstinacy, and yet in tears, "you don't know +what blighted affections are. To endure the scorn of the world, and see +the man you once thought near being your husband married to another, who +is showing herself in triumph before you, wherever you go!" + +"Hear me, Jane, before you reproach me further, and then judge between +us." Emily paused a moment to acquire nerve to proceed, and then related +to her astonished sister the little history of her own disappointments. +She did not affect to conceal her attachment for Denbigh. With glowing +cheeks she acknowledged, that she found a necessity for all her efforts +to keep her rebellious feelings yet in subjection; and as she recounted +generally his conduct to Mrs. Fitzgerald, she concluded by saying, "But, +Jane, I can see enough to call forth my gratitude; and although, with +yourself, I feel at this moment as if my affections were sealed for +ever, I wish to make no hasty resolutions, nor act in any manner as if I +were unworthy of the lot Providence has assigned me." + +"Unworthy? no!--you have no reasons for self-reproach. If Mr. Denbigh +has had the art to conceal his crimes from you, he did it to the rest of +the world also, and has married a woman of rank and character. But how +differently are we situated! Emily--I--I have no such consolation." + +"You have the consolation, my sister, of knowing there is an interest +made for you where we all require it most, and it is there I endeavor to +seek my support," said Emily, in a low and humble tone. "A review of our +own errors takes away the keenness of our perception of the wrongs done +us, and by placing us in charity with the rest of the world, disposes us +to enjoy calmly the blessings within our reach. Besides, Jane, we have +parents whose happiness is locked up in that of their children, and we +should--we must overcome the feelings which disqualify us for our common +duties, on their account." + +"Ah!" cried Jane, "how can I move about in the world, while I know the +eyes of all are on me, in curiosity to discover how I bear my +disappointments. But you, Emily, are unsuspected. It is easy for you to +affect a gaiety you do not feel." + +"I neither affect nor feel any gaiety," said her sister, mildly. "But +are there not the eyes of One on us, of infinitely more power to punish +or reward than what may be found in the opinions of the world? Have we +no duties? For what is our wealth, our knowledge, our time given us, but +to improve for our own and for the eternal welfare of those around us? +Come then, my sister, we have both been deceived--let us endeavor not to +be culpable." + +"I wish, from my soul, we could leave Bath," cried Jane. "The place, the +people are hateful to me!" + +"Jane," said Emily, "rather say you hate their vices, and wish for their +amendment: but do not indiscriminately condemn a whole community for the +wrongs you have sustained from one of its members." + +Jane allowed herself to be consoled, though by no means convinced, by +this effort of her sister; and they both found a relief by thus +unburdening their hearts to each other, that in future brought them more +nearly together, and was of mutual assistance in supporting them in the +promiscuous circles in which they were obliged to mix. + +With all her fortitude and principle, one of the last things Emily would +have desired was an interview with Denbigh, and she was happily relieved +from the present danger of it by the departure of Lady Laura and her +brother, to go to the residence of the Colonel's sick uncle. + +Both Mrs. Wilson and Emily suspected that a dread of meeting them had +detained him from his intended journey to Bath; and neither was sorry to +perceive, what they considered as latent signs of grace--a grace of +which Egerton appeared entirely to be without. + +"He may yet see his errors, and make a kind and affectionate husband," +thought Emily; and then, as the image of Denbigh rose in her +imagination, surrounded with the domestic virtues, she roused herself +from the dangerous reflection to the exercise of the duties in which she +found a refuge from unpardonable wishes. + + + +Chapter XXXV. + +Nothing material occurred for a fortnight after the departure of Lady +Laura, the Moseleys entering soberly into the amusements of the place, +and Derwent and Chatterton becoming more pointed every day in their +attentions--the one to Emily, and the other to Lady Harriet; when the +dowager received a pressing entreaty from Catherine to hasten to her at +Lisbon, where her husband had taken up his abode for a time, after much +doubt and indecision as to his place of residence. Lady Herriefield +stated generally in her letter, that she was miserable, and that without +the support of her mother she could not exist under the present +grievances; but what was the cause of those grievances, or what grounds +she had for her misery, she left unexplained. + +Lady Chatterton was not wanting in maternal regard, and she promptly +determined to proceed to Portugal in the next packet. John felt inclined +for a little excursion with his bride; and out of compassion to the +baron, who was in a dilemma between his duty and his love (for Lady +Harriet about that time was particularly attractive), he offered his +services. + +Chatterton allowed himself to be persuaded by the good-natured John, +that his mother could safely cross the ocean under the protection of the +latter. Accordingly, at the end of the before mentioned fortnight, the +dowager, John, Grace, and Jane, commenced their journey to Falmouth. + +Jane had offered to accompany Grace, as a companion in her return (it +being expected Lady Chatterton would remain in the country with her +daughter); and her parents appreciating her motives, permitted the +excursion, with a hope it would draw her thoughts from past events. + +Although Grace shed a few tears at parting with Emily and her friends, +it was impossible for Mrs. Moseley to be long unhappy, with the face of +John smiling by her side; and they pursued their route uninterruptedly. +In due season they reached the port of embarkation. + +The following morning the packet got under weigh, and a favorable breeze +soon wafted them out of sight of their native shores. The ladies were +too much indisposed the first day to appear on the deck; but the weather +becoming calm and the sea smooth, Grace and Jane ventured out of the +confinement of their state-rooms, to respire the fresh air above. + +There were but few passengers, and those chiefly ladies--the wives of +officers on foreign stations, on their way to join their husbands. As +these had been accustomed to moving in the world, their disposition to +accommodate soon removed the awkwardness of a first meeting, and our +travellers began to be at home in their novel situation. + +While Grace stood leaning on the arm of her husband, and clinging to his +support, both from affection and a dread of the motion of the vessel, +Jane ventured with one of the ladies to attempt a walk round the deck of +the ship. Unaccustomed to such an uncertain foothold, the walkers were +prevented falling by the kind interposition of a gentleman, who for the +first time had shown himself among them at that moment. The accident, +and their situation, led to a conversation which was renewed at +different times during their passage, and in some measure created an +intimacy between our party and the stranger. He was addressed by the +commander of the vessel as Mr. Harland; and Lady Chatterton exercised +her ingenuity in the investigation of his history, by which she made the +following discovery: + +The Rev. and Hon. Mr. Harland was the younger son of an Irish earl, who +had early embraced his sacred profession in that church, in which he +held a valuable living in the gift of his father's family. His father +was yet alive, and then at Lisbon with his mother and sister, in +attendance on his elder brother, who had been sent there in a deep +decline a couple of months before. It had been the wish of his parents +to have taken all their children with them; but a sense of duty had kept +the young clergyman in the exercise of his holy office, until a request +of his dying brother, and the directions of his father, caused him to +hasten abroad to witness the decease of the one, and to afford all the +solace within his power to the others. + +It may be easily imagined that the discovery of the rank of their +accidental acquaintance, with the almost certainty that existed of his +being the heir of his father's honors, in no degree impaired his +consequence in the eyes of the dowager; and it is certain, his visible +anxiety and depressed spirits, his unaffected piety, and disinterested +hopes for his brother's recovery, no less elevated him in the opinions +of her companions. + +There was, at the moment, a kind of sympathy between Harland and Jane, +notwithstanding the melancholy which gave rise to it proceeding from +such very different causes and as the lady, although with diminished +bloom, retained all her personal charms, rather heightened than +otherwise by the softness of low spirits, the young clergyman sometimes +relieved his apprehensions of his brother's death by admitting the image +of Jane among his more melancholy reflections. + +The voyage was tedious, and some time before it was ended the dowager +had given Grace an intimation of the probability there was of Jane's +becoming, at some future day, a countess. Grace sincerely hoped that +whatever she became she would be as happy as she thought all allied to +John deserved to be. + +They entered the bay of Lisbon early in the morning; and as the ship had +been expected for some days, a boat came alongside with a note for Mr. +Harland, before they had anchored. It apprised him of the death of his +brother. The young man threw himself precipitately into it, and was soon +employed in one of the loveliest offices of his vocation, that of +healing the wounds of the afflicted. + +Lady Herriefield received her mother in a sort of sullen satisfaction, +and her companions with an awkwardness she could ill conceal. It +required no great observation in the travellers to discover, that their +arrival was entirely unexpected by the viscount, if it were not equally +disagreeable; indeed, one day's residence under his roof assured them +all that no great degree of domestic felicity was an inmate of the +dwelling. + +From the moment Lord Herriefield became suspicious that he had been the +dupe of the management of Kate and her mother, he viewed every act of +his wife with a prejudiced eye. It was easy, with his knowledge of human +nature, to detect her selfishness and worldly-mindedness; for as these +were faults she was unconscious of possessing, so she was unguarded in +her exposure of them. But her designs, in a matrimonial point of view, +having ended with her marriage, had the viscount treated her with any of +the courtesies due her sex and station, she might, with her disposition, +have been contented in the enjoyment of rank and in the possession of +wealth; but their more private hours were invariably rendered +unpleasant, by the overflowings of her husband's resentment at having +been deceived in his judgment of the female sex. + +There is no point upon which men are more tender than their privilege of +suiting themselves in a partner for life, although many of both sexes +are influenced in this important selection more by the wishes and whims +of others than is usually suspected; yet, as all imagine what is the +result of contrivance and management is the election of free will and +taste, so long as they are ignorant, they are contented. Lord +Herriefield wanted this bliss of ignorance; and, with contempt for his +wife, was mingled anger at his own want of foresight. + +Very few people can tamely submit to self-reproach; and as the cause of +this irritated state of mind was both not only constantly present, but +completely within his power, the viscount seemed determined to give her +as little reason to exult in the success of her plans as possible. +Jealous he was, from temperament, from bad associations, and a want of +confidence in the principles of his wife, the freedom of foreign manners +having an additional tendency to excite this baneful passion to an +unusual degree. Abridged in her pleasures, reproached with motives she +was incapable of harboring, and disappointed in all those enjoyments her +mother had ever led her to believe the invariable accompaniments of +married life, where proper attention had been paid to the necessary +qualifications of riches and rank, Kate had written to the dowager with +the hope her presence might restrain, or her advice teach her, +successfully to oppose the unfeeling conduct of the viscount. + +Lady Chatterton never having implanted any of her favorite systems in +her daughter, so much by precept as by the force of example in her own +person, as well as by indirect eulogiums on certain people who were +endowed with those qualities and blessings she most admired, on the +present occasion Catherine did not unburden herself in terms to her +mother; but by a regular gradation of complaints, aimed more at the +world than at her husband, she soon let the knowing dowager see their +application, and in the end completely removed the veil from her +domestic grievances. + +The example of John and Grace for a short time awed the peer into +dissembling his disgust for his spouse; but the ice once broken, their +presence soon ceased to affect either the frequency or the severity of +his remarks, when under its influence. + +From such exhibitions of matrimonial discord, Grace shrank timidly into +the retirement of her room, and Jane, with dignity, would follow her +example; while John at times became a listener, with a spirit barely +curbed within the bounds of prudence, and at others, he sought in the +company of his wife and sister, relief from the violence of his +feelings. + +John never admired nor respected Catherine, for she wanted those very +qualities he chiefly loved in her sister; yet, as she was a woman, and +one nearly connected with him, he found it impossible to remain a quiet +spectator of the unmanly treatment she often received from her husband; +he therefore made preparations for his return to England by the first +packet, abridging his intended residence in Lisbon more than a month. + +Lady Chatterton endeavored all within her power to heal the breach +between Kate and her husband, but it greatly exceeded her abilities. It +was too late to implant such principles in her daughter, as by a long +course of self-denial and submission might have won the love of the +viscount, had the mother been acquainted with them herself; so that +having induced her child to marry with a view to obtaining precedence +and a jointure, she once more set to work to undo part of her former +labors, by bringing about a decent separation between the husband and +wife, in such a manner as to secure to her child the possession of her +wealth, and the esteem of the world. The latter, though certainly a +somewhat difficult undertaking, was greatly lessened by the assistance +of the former. + +John and his wife determined to seize the opportunity to examine the +environs of the city. In one of these daily rides, they met their fellow +traveller, Mr. now Lord Harland. He was rejoiced to see them again, and +hearing of their intended departure, informed them of his being about to +return to England in the same vessel--his parents and sister +contemplating ending the winter in Portugal. + +The intercourse between the two families was kept up with a show of +civilities between the noblemen, and much real good-will on the part of +the juniors of the circle, until the day arrived for the sailing of the +packet. + +Lady Chatterton was left behind with Catherine, as yet unable to +circumvent her schemes with prudence; it being deemed by the world a +worse offence to separate, than to join together one's children in the +bands of wedlock. + +The confinement of a vessel is very propitious to those intimacies which +lead to attachments. The necessity of being agreeable is a check upon +the captious, and the desire to lessen the dulness of the scene a +stimulus to the lively; and though the noble divine and Jane could not +possibly be ranked in either class, the effect was the same. The noble +man was much enamored, and Jane unconsciously gratified. It is true, +love had never entered her thoughts in its direct and unequivocal form; +but admiration is so consoling to those laboring under self- +condemnation, and flattery of a certain kind so very soothing to all, it +is not to be wondered that she listened with increasing pleasure to the +interesting conversation of Harland on all occasions, and more +particularly, as often happened, when exclusively addressed to herself. + +Grace had of late reflected more seriously on the subject of her eternal +welfare than she had been accustomed to do in the house of her mother; +and the example of Emily, with the precepts of Mrs. Wilson, had not been +thrown away upon her. It is a singular fact, that more women feel a +disposition to religion soon after marriage than at any other period of +life; and whether it is, that having attained the most important station +this life affords the sex, they are more willing to turn their thoughts +to a provision for the next, or whether it be owing to any other cause, +Mrs. Moseley was included in the number. She became sensibly touched +with her situation, and as Harland was both devout and able as well as +anxious to instruct, one of the party, at least, had cause to rejoice in +the journey for the remainder of her days. But precisely as Grace +increased in her own faith, so did her anxiety after the welfare of her +husband receive new excitement; and John, for the first time, became the +cause of sorrow to his affectionate companion. + +The deep interest Harland took in the opening conviction of Mrs. +Moseley, did not so entirely engross his thoughts as to prevent the too +frequent contemplation of the charms of her friend for his own peace of +mind; and by the time the vessel reached Falmouth, he had determined to +make a tender of his hand and title to the acceptance of Miss Moseley. +Jane did not love Egerton; on the contrary, she despised him; but the +time had been, when all her romantic feelings, every thought of her +brilliant imagination, had been filled with his image, and Jane felt it +a species of indelicacy to admit the impression of another so soon, or +even at all. These objections would, in time, have been overcome, as her +affections became more and more enlisted on behalf of Harland, had she +admitted his addresses; but there was an impediment that Jane considered +insurmountable to a union with any man. + +She had once communicated her passion to its object. There had been the +confidence of approved love; and she had now no heart for Harland, but +one that had avowedly been a slave to another. To conceal this from him +would be unjust, and not reconcilable to good faith; to confess it, +humiliating, and without the pale of probability. It was the misfortune +of Jane to keep the world too constantly before her, and to lose sight +too much of her really depraved nature, to relish the idea of humbling +herself so low in the opinion of a fellow-creature. The refusal of +Harland's offer was the consequence, although she had begun to feel an +esteem for him, that would no doubt have given rise to an attachment in +time, far stronger and more deeply seated than her passing fancy for +Colonel Egerton had been. + +If the horror of imposing on the credulity of Harland a wounded heart, +was creditable to Jane, and showed an elevation of character that under +proper guidance would have placed her in the first ranks of her sex; the +pride which condemned her to a station nature did not design her for was +irreconcilable with the humility a just view of her condition could not +fail to produce; and the second sad consequence of the indulgent +weakness of her parents, was confirming their child in passions directly +at variance with the first duties of a Christian. + +We have so little right to value ourselves on anything, that pride is a +sentiment of very doubtful service, and one certainly, that is unable to +effect any useful results which will not equally flow from good +principles. + +Harland was disappointed and grieved, but prudently judging that +occupation and absence would remove recollections which could not be +very deep, they parted at Falmouth, and our travellers proceeded on +their journey for B----, whither, during their absence, Sir Edward's +family had returned to spend a month, before they removed to town for +the residue of the winter. + +The meeting of the two parties was warm and tender, and as Jane had many +things to recount, and John as many to laugh at, their arrival threw a +gaiety around Moseley Hall to which it had for months been a stranger. + +One of the first acts of Grace, after her return, was to enter strictly +into the exercise of all those duties and ordinances required by her +church, and the present state of her mind, and from the hands of Dr. +Ives she received her first communion at the altar. + +As the season had now become far advanced, and the fashionable world had +been some time assembled in the metropolis, the Baronet commenced his +arrangements to take possession of his town-house, after an interval of +nineteen years. John proceeded to the capital first; and the necessary +domestics procured, furniture supplied, and other arrangements usual to +the appearance of a wealthy family in the world having been completed, +he returned with the information that all was ready for their triumphal +entrance. + +Sir Edward, feeling that a separation for so long a time, and at such an +unusual distance, in the very advanced age of Mr. Benfield, would be +improper, paid him a visit, with the intention of persuading him to make +one of his family for the next four months. Emily was his companion, and +their solicitations were happily crowned with a success they had not +anticipated. Averse to be deprived of Peter's society, the honest +steward was included in the party. + +"Nephew," said Mr. Benfield, beginning to waver in his objections to the +undertaking, as the arguments pro and con were produced, "there are +instances of gentlemen, not in parliament, going to town in the winter, +I know. You are one yourself; and old Sir John Cowel, who never could +get in, although he ran for every city in the kingdom, never missed his +winter in Soho. Yes, yes--the thing is admissible--but had I known your +wishes before, I would certainly have kept my borough if it were only +for the appearance of the thing--besides," continued the old man, +shaking his head, "his majesty's ministers require the aid of some more +experienced members in these critical times; for what should an old man +like me do in Westminster, unless it were to aid his country with his +advice?" + +"Make his friends happy with his company, dear uncle," said Emily, +taking his hand between both her own, and smiling affectionately on the +old gentleman as she spoke. + +"Ah! Emmy dear!" cried Mr. Benfield, looking on her with melancholy +pleasure, "you are not to be resisted--just such another as the sister +of my old friend Lord Gosford; she could always coax me out of anything. +I remember now, I heard the earl tell her once he could not afford to +buy a pair of diamond ear-rings; and she looked--only looked--did not +speak! Emmy!--that I bought them with intent to present them to her +myself." + +"And did she take them, uncle?" asked his niece, in a little surprise. + +"Oh yes! When I told her if she did not I would throw them into the +river, as no one else should wear what had been intended for her; poor +soul! how delicate and unwilling she was. I had to convince her they +cost three hundred pounds, before she would listen to it; and then she +thought it such a pity to throw away a thing of so much value. It would +have been wicked, you know, Emmy, dear; and she was much opposed to +wickedness and sin in any shape." + +"She must have been a very unexceptionable character indeed," cried the +Baronet, with a smile, as he proceeded to make the necessary orders for +their journey. "But we must return to the party left at Bath." + + + +Chapter +XXXVI. + +The letters of Lady Laura informed her friends, that she and Colonel +Denbigh had decided to remain with his uncle until the recovery of the +latter was complete, and then to proceed to Denbigh Castle, to meet the +Duke and his sister during the approaching holidays. + +Emily was much relieved by this postponement of an interview which she +would gladly have avoided for ever; and her aunt sincerely rejoiced that +her niece was allowed more time to eradicate impressions, which, she saw +with pain, her charge had yet a struggle to overcome. + +There were so many points to admire in the character of Denbigh; his +friends spoke of him with such decided partiality; Dr. Ives, in his +frequent letters, alluded to him with so much affection; that Emily +frequently detected herself in weighing the testimony of his guilt, and +indulging the expectation that circumstances had deceived them all in +their judgment of his conduct. Then his marriage would cross her mind; +and with the conviction of the impropriety of admitting him to her +thoughts at all, would come the mass of circumstantial testimony which +had accumulated against him. + +Derwent served greatly to keep alive the recollections of his person, +however; and as Lady Harriet seemed to live only in the society of the +Moseleys, not a day passed without giving the Duke some opportunity of +indirectly preferring his suit. + +Emily not only appeared, but in fact was, unconscious of his admiration; +and entered into their amusements with a satisfaction that was increased +by the belief that the unfortunate attachment her cousin Chatterton had +once professed for herself, was forgotten in the more certain enjoyments +of a successful love. + +Lady Harriet was a woman of manners and character very different from +Emily Moseley; yet had she in a great measure erased the impressions +made by the beauty of his kinswoman from the bosom of the baron. + +Chatterton, under the depression of his first disappointment, it will be +remembered, had left B---- in company with Mr. Denbigh. The interest of +the duke had been unaccountably exerted to procure him the place he had +so long solicited in vain, and gratitude required his early +acknowledgments for the favor. His manner, so very different from a +successful applicant for a valuable office, had struck both Derwent and +his sister as singular. Before, however, a week's intercourse had passed +between them, his own frankness had made them acquainted with the cause; +and a double wish prevailed in the bosom of Lady Harriet, to know the +woman who could resist the beauty of Chatterton, and to relieve him from +the weight imposed on his spirits by disappointed affection. + +The manners of Lady Harriet Denbigh were not in the least forward or +masculine; but they had the freedom of high rank, mingled with a good +deal of the ease of fashionable life. Mrs. Wilson noticed, moreover, in +her conduct to Chatterton, a something exceeding the interest of +ordinary communications in their situation, which might possibly have +been attributed more to feeling than to manner. It is certain, one of +the surest methods to drive Emily from his thoughts, was to dwell on the +perfections of some other lady; and Lady Harriet was so constantly +before him in his visit into Westmoreland, so soothing, so evidently +pleased with his presence, that the baron made rapid advances in +attaining his object. + +He had alluded, in his letter to Emily, to the obligation he was under +to the services of Denbigh, in erasing his unfortunate partiality for +her: but what those services were, we are unable to say, unless they +were the usual arguments of the plainest good sense, enforced in the +singularly insinuating and kind manner which distinguished that +gentleman. In fact, Lord Chatterton was not formed by nature to love +long, deprived of hope, or to resist long the flattery of a preference +from such a woman as Harriet Denbigh. + +On the other hand, Derwent was warm in his encomiums on Emily to all but +herself; and Mrs. Wilson again thought it prudent to examine into the +state of her feelings, in order to discover if there was any danger of +his unremitted efforts drawing Emily into a connexion that neither her +religion nor prudence could wholly approve. + +Derwent was a man of the world--a Christian only in name; and the +cautious widow determined to withdraw in season, should she find grounds +for her apprehensions. + +About ten days after the departure of the Dowager and her companions, +Lady Harriet exclaimed, in one of her morning visits-- + +"Lady Moseley! I have now hopes of presenting to you soon the most +polished man in the United Kingdom!" + +"As a husband! Lady Harriet?" inquired the other, with a smile. + +"Oh, no! only as a cousin, a second cousin! madam!" replied Lady +Harriet, blushing a little, and looking in the opposite direction to the +one in which Chatterton was placed. + +"But his name? You forget our curiosity! What is his name?" cried Mrs. +Wilson, entering into the trifling for the moment. + +"Pendennyss, to be sure, my dear madam: whom else can I mean?" + +"And you expect the earl at Bath?" Mrs. Wilson eagerly inquired. + +"He has given us such hopes, and Derwent has written him to-day, +pressing the journey." + +"You will be disappointed, I am afraid, sister," said the duke. +"Pendennyss has become so fond of Wales of late, that it is difficult to +get him out of it." + +"But," said Mrs. Wilson, "he will take his seat in parliament during the +winter, my lord?" + +"I hope he will, madam; though Lord Eltringham holds his proxies, in my +absence, in all important questions before the house." + +"Your grace will attend, I trust," said Sir Edward. "The pleasure of +your company is among my expected enjoyments in the town." + +"You are very good, Sir Edward," replied the duke, looking at Emily. "It +will somewhat depend on circumstances, I believe." + +Lady Harriet smiled, and the speech seemed understood by all but the +lady most concerned in it. + +"Lord Pendennyss is a universal favorite, and deservedly so," cried the +duke. "He has set an example to the nobility, which few are equal to +imitate. An only son, with an immense estate, he has devoted himself to +the profession of a soldier, and gained great reputation by it in the +world; nor has he neglected any of his private duties as a man----" + +"Or a Christian, I hope," said Mrs. Wilson, delighted with the praises +of the earl. + +"Nor of a Christian, I believe," continued the duke; "he appears +consistent, humble, and sincere--three requisites, I believe, for that +character." + +"Does not your grace know?" said Emily, with a benevolent smile. + +Derwent colored slightly as he answered-- + +"Not as well as I ought; but"--lowering his voice for her ear alone, he +added, "under proper instruction I think I might learn." + +"Then I would recommend that book to you, my lord," rejoined Emily, with +a blush, pointing to a pocket Bible which lay near her, though still +ignorant of the allusion he meant to convey. + +"May I ask the honor of an audience of Miss Moseley," said Derwent, in +the same low tone, "whenever her leisure will admit of her granting the +favor?" + +Emily was surprised; but from the previous conversation and the current +of her thoughts at the moment, supposing his communication had some +reference to the subject before them, she rose from her chair, and +unobtrusively, but certainly with an air of perfect innocence and +composure, she went into the adjoining room, the door of which was open +very near them. + +Caroline Harris had abandoned all ideas of a coronet with the departure +of the Marquess of Eltringham and his sisters for their own seat; and as +a final effort of her fading charms, had begun to calculate the +capabilities of Captain Jarvis, who had at this time honored Bath with +his company. + +It is true, the lady would have greatly preferred her father's neighbor, +but that was an irretrievable step. He had retired, disgusted with her +haughty dismissal of his hopes, and was a man who, although he greatly +admired her fortune, was not to be recalled by any beck or smile which +might grow out of caprice. + +Lady Jarvis had, indeed, rather magnified the personal qualifications of +her son; but the disposition they had manifested, to devote some of +their surplus wealth to purchasing a title, had great weight, for Miss +Harris would cheerfully, at any time, have sacrificed one half her own +fortune to be called my lady. Jarvis would make but a shabby-looking +lord, 'tis true; but then what a lord's wife would she not make herself! +His father was a merchant, to be sure, but then merchants were always +immensely rich, and a few thousand pounds, properly applied, might make +the merchant's son a baron. She therefore resolved to inquire, the first +opportunity, into the condition of the sinking fund of his plebeianism, +and had serious thoughts of contributing her mite towards the +advancement of the desired object, did she find it within the bounds of +probable success. + +An occasion soon offered, by the invitation of the Captain to accompany +him in an excursion in the tilbury of his brother-in-law. + +In this ride they passed the equipages of Lady Harriet and Mrs. Wilson, +with their respective mistresses, taking an airing. In passing the +latter, Jarvis bowed (for he had renewed his acquaintance at the rooms, +without daring to visit at the lodgings of Sir Edward), and Miss Harris +saw both parties as they dashed by them. + +"You know the Moseleys, Caroline?" said Jarvis, with the freedom her +manners had established between them. + +"Yes," replied the lady, drawing her head back from a view of the +carriages; "what fine arms those of the Duke's are--and the coronet, it +is so noble--so rich--I am sure if I were a man," laying great emphasis +on the word--"I would be a Lord." + +"If you could, you mean," cried the captain. + +"Could--why money will buy a title, you know--only most people are +fonder of their cash than of honor." + +"That's right," said the unreflecting captain; "money is the thing, +after all. Now what do you suppose our last mess-bill came to?" + +"Oh, don't talk of eating and drinking," cried Miss Harris, in affected +aversion; "is it beneath the consideration of nobility." + +"Then any one may be a lord for me," said Jarvis, drily "if they are not +to eat and drink; why, what do they live for, but such sort of things!" + +"A soldier lives to fight and gain honor and distinction"--for his wife- +-Miss Harris would have added, had she spoken all she thought. + +"A poor way that of spending a man's time," said the Captain. "Now there +is Captain Jones in our regiment; they say he loves fighting as much as +eating: if he do, he is a bloodthirsty fellow." + +"You know how intimate I am with your dear mother," continued the lady, +bent on the principal object; "she has made me acquainted with her +greatest wish." + +"Her greatest wish!" cried the Captain, in astonishment; "why, what can +that be?--a new coach and horses?" + +"No, I mean one much dearer to us--I should say, to her, than any such +trifles: she has told me of the plan." + +"Plan!" said Jarvis, still in wonder, "what plan?" + +"About the fund for the peerage, you know. Of course, the thing is +sacred with me, as, indeed, I am equally interested with you all in its +success." + +Jarvis eyed her with a knowing look, and as she concluded, rolling his +eyes in an expression of significance, he said-- + +"What, serve Sir William some such way, eh?" + +"I will assist a little, if it be necessary, Henry," said the lady, +tenderly, "although my mite cannot amount to a great deal." + +During this speech, the Captain was wondering what she could mean; but, +having had a suspicion, from something that had fallen from his mother, +that the lady was intended for him as a wife, and that she might be as +great a dupe as Lady Jarvis herself, he was resolved to know the whole, +and to act accordingly. + +"I think it might be made to do," he replied, evasively in order to +discover the extent of his companion's information. + +"Do!", cried Miss Harris, with fervor, "it cannot fail! How much do you +suppose will be wanting to buy a barony, for instance?" + +"Hem!" said Jarvis; "you mean more than we have already?" + +"Certainly." + +"Why, about a thousand pounds, I think, will do it, with what we have," +said Jarvis, affecting to calculate. + +"Is that all?" cried the delighted Caroline; and the captain grew in an +instant, in her estimation, three inches higher;--quite noble in his +air, and, in short, very tolerably handsome. + +From that moment, Miss Harris, in her own mind, had fixed the fate of +Captain Jarvis, and had determined to be his wife, whenever she could +persuade him to offer himself; a thing she had no doubt of accomplishing +with comparative ease. Not so the Captain. Like all weak men, there was +nothing of which he stood more in terror than of ridicule. He had heard +the manoeuvres of Miss Harris laughed at by many of the young men in +Bath, and was by no means disposed to add himself to the food for mirth +of these wags; and, indeed, had cultivated her acquaintance with a kind +of bravado to some of his bottle companions, in order to show his +ability to oppose all her arts, when most exposed to them: for it is one +of the greatest difficulties to the success of this description of +ladies, that their characters soon become suspected, and do them +infinitely more injury than all their skill in their vocation. + +With these views in the respective champions the campaign opened, and +the lady, on her return, acquainted his mother with the situation of the +privy purse, that was to promote her darling child to the enviable +distinction of the peerage. Lady Jarvis was for purchasing a baronetcy +on the spot, with what they had, under the impression that when ready +for another promotion they would only have to pay the difference, as +they did in the army when he received his captaincy. As, however, the +son was opposed to any arrangement that might make the producing the few +hundred pounds he had obtained from his mother's folly necessary, she +was obliged to postpone the wished-for day, until their united efforts +could compass the means of effecting the main point. As an earnest, +however, of her spirit in the cause, she gave him a fifty pound note, +that morning obtained from her husband, and which the Captain lost at +one throw of the dice to his brother-in-law the same evening. + +During the preceding events, Egerton had either studiously avoided all +collision with the Moseleys, or his engagements had confined him to such +very different scenes, that they never met. + +The Baronet had felt his presence a reproach, and Lady Moseley rejoiced +that Egerton yet possessed sufficient shame to keep him from insulting +her with his company. + +It was a month after the departure of Lady Chatterton that Sir Edward +returned to B----, as related in the preceding chapter, and that the +arrangements for the London winter were commenced. + +The day preceding their leaving Bath, the engagement of Chatterton with +Lady Harriet was made public amongst their mutual friends, and an +intimation was given that their nuptials would be celebrated before the +family of the Duke left his seat for the capital. + +Something of the pleasure that she had for a long time been a stranger +to, was felt by Emily Moseley, as the well remembered tower of the +village church of B---- struck her sight on their return from their +protracted excursion. More than four months had elapsed since they had +commenced their travels, and in that period what changes of sentiments +had she not witnessed in others; of opinions of mankind in general, and +of one individual in particular, had she not experienced in her own +person. The benevolent smiles, the respectful salutations they received, +in passing the little group of houses which, clustered round the church, +had obtained the name of "the village," conveyed a sensation of delight +that can only be felt by the deserving and virtuous; and the smiling +faces, in several instances glistening with tears, which met them at the +Hall, gave ample testimony to the worth of both the master and his +servants. + +Francis and Clara were in waiting to receive them, and a very few +minutes elapsed before the rector and Mrs. Ives, having heard they had +passed, drove in also. In saluting the different members of the family, +Mrs. Wilson noticed the startled look of the doctor, as the change in +Emily's appearance first met his eyes. Her bloom, if not gone, was +greatly diminished; and it was only when under the excitement of strong +emotions, that her face possessed that radiance which had so eminently +distinguished it before her late journey. + +"Where did you last see my friend George?" said the Doctor to Mrs. +Wilson, in the course of the first afternoon, as he took a seat by her +side, apart from the rest of the family. + +"At L----," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely. + +"L----!" cried the doctor, in evident amazement. "Was he not at Bath +then during your stay there?" + +"No; I understand he was in attendance on some sick relative, which +detained him from his friends," said Mrs. Wilson, wondering why the +doctor chose to introduce so delicate a topic. Of his guilt in relation +to Mrs. Fitzgerald he was doubtless ignorant, but surely not of his +marriage. + +"It is now some time since I heard from him," continued the doctor, +regarding Mrs. Wilson expressively, but to which the lady only replied +with a gentle inclination of the body; and the Rector, after pausing a +moment, continued: + +"You will not think me impertinent if I am bold enough to ask, has +George ever expressed a wish to become connected with your niece by +other ties than those of friendship?" + +"He did," answered the widow, after a little hesitation. + +"He did, and--" + +"Was refused," continued Mrs. Wilson, with a slight feeling for the +dignity of her sex, which for a moment caused her to lose sight of +justice to Denbigh. + +Dr. Ives was silent; but manifested by his dejected countenance the +interest he had taken in this anticipated connexion, and as Mrs. Wilson +had spoken with ill-concealed reluctance on the subject at all, the +Rector did not attempt a renewal of the disagreeable. + + + +Chapter XXXVII. + +"Samvenson has returned, and I certainly must hear from Harriet," +exclaimed the sister of Pendennyss, as she stood at a window watching +the return of a servant from the neighboring post-office. + +"I am afraid," rejoined the Earl, who was seated by the breakfast table, +waiting the leisure of the lady to give him his cup of tea--"You find +Wales very dull, sister. I sincerely hope both Derwent and Harriet will +not forget their promise of visiting us this month." + +The lady slowly took her seat at the table, engrossed in her own +reflections, when the man entered with his budget of news; and having +deposited sundry papers and letters he respectfully withdrew. The Earl +glanced his eyes over the directions of the epistles, and turning to his +servants said, "Answer the bell when called." Three or four liveried +footmen deposited their silver salvers and different implements of +servitude, and the peer and his sister were left to themselves. + +"Here is one from the Duke to me, and one for you from his sister," said +the brother; "I propose they be read aloud for our mutual advantage." To +this proposal the lady, whose curiosity to hear the contents of +Derwent's letter greatly exceeded her interest in that of his sister, +cheerfully acquiesced, and her brother first broke the seal of his own +epistle, and read its contents as follow: + +"Notwithstanding my promise of seeing you this month in Caernarvonshire, +I remain here yet, my dear Pendennyss, unable to tear myself from the +attractions I have found in this city, although the pleasure of their +contemplation has been purchased at the expense of mortified feelings +and unrequited affections. It is a truth (though possibly difficult to +be believed), that this mercenary age has produced a female disengaged, +young, and by no means very rich, who has refused a jointure of six +thousand a year, with the privilege of walking at a coronation within a +dozen of royalty itself." + +Here the accidental falling of a cup from the hands of the fair listener +caused some little interruption to the reading of the brother; but as +the lady, with a good deal of trepidation and many blushes, apologized +hastily for the confusion her awkwardness had made, the Earl continued +to read. + +"I could almost worship her independence: for I know the wishes of both +her parents were for my success. I confess to you freely, that my vanity +has been a good deal hurt, as I really thought myself agreeable to her. +She certainly listened to my conversation, and admitted my approaches, +with more satisfaction than those of any other of the men around her; +and when I ventured to hint to her this circumstance, as some +justification for my presumption, she frankly acknowledged the truth of +my impression, and, without explaining the reasons for her conduct, +deeply regretted the construction I had been led to place upon the +circumstance. Yes, my lord, I felt it necessary to apologize to Emily +Moseley for presuming to aspire to the honor of possessing so much +loveliness and virtue. The accidental advantages of rank and wealth lose +all their importance, when opposed to her delicacy, ingenuousness, and +unaffected principles. + +"I have heard it intimated lately, that George Denbigh was in some way +or other instrumental in saving her life once; and that to her +gratitude, and to my resemblance to the colonel, am I indebted to a +consideration with Miss Moseley, which, although it has been the means +of buoying me up with false hopes, I can never regret, from the pleasure +her society has afforded me. I have remarked, on my mentioning his name +to her, that she showed unusual emotion; and as Denbigh is already a +husband, and myself rejected, the field is now fairly open to you. You +will enter on your enterprise with great advantage, as you have the same +flattering resemblance, and, if anything, the voice, which, I am told, +is our greatest recommendation with the ladies, in higher perfection +than either George or your humble servant." + +Here the reader stopped of his own accord, and was so intently absorbed +in his meditations, that the almost breathless curiosity of his sister +was obliged to find relief by desiring him to proceed. Roused by the +sound of her voice, the earl changed color sensibly, and continued: + +"But to be serious on a subject of great importance to my future life +(for I sometimes think her negative will make Denbigh a duke), the +lovely girl did not appear happy at the time of our interview, nor do I +think she enjoys at any time the spirits nature has evidently given her. +Harriet is nearly as great an admirer of Miss Moseley, and takes her +refusal to heart as much as myself; she even attempted to intercede with +her in my behalf. But the charming girl though mild, grateful, and +delicate, was firm and unequivocal, and left no grounds for the remotest +expectation of success from perseverance on my part. + +"As Harriet had received an intimation that both Miss Moseley and her +aunt entertained extremely rigid notions on the score of religion, she +took occasion to introduce the subject in her conference with the +former, and was told in reply, 'that other considerations would have +determined her to decline the honor I intended her; but that, under any +circumstances, a more intimate knowledge of my principles would be +necessary before she could entertain a thought of accepting my hand, or, +indeed, that of any other man.' Think of that, Pendennyss! The +principles of a duke!--now, a dukedom and forty thousand a year would +furnish a character, with most people, for a Nero. + +"I trust the important object I have had in view here is a sufficient +excuse for my breach of promise to you; and I am serious when I wish you +(unless the pretty Spaniard has, as I sometimes suspect, made you a +captive) to see, and endeavor to bring me in some degree connected with, +the charming family of Sir Edward Moseley. + +"The aunt, Mrs. Wilson, often speaks of you with the greatest interest, +and, from some cause or other, is strongly enlisted in your favor, and +Miss Moseley hears your name mentioned with evident pleasure. Your +religion or principles cannot be doubted. You can offer larger +settlements, as honorable if not as elevated a title, a far more +illustrious name, purchased by your own services, and personal merit +greatly exceeding the pretensions of your assured friend and relative, + +"DERWENT." + +Both brother and sister were occupied with their own reflections for +several minutes after the letter was ended, and the silence was broken +first, by the latter saying with a low tone to her brother,-- + +"You must endeavor to become acquainted with Mrs. Wilson; she is, I +know, very anxious to see you, and your friendship for the general +requires it of you." + +"I owe General Wilson much," replied the brother, in a melancholy voice; +"and when we go to Annerdale House, I wish you to make the acquaintance +of the ladies of the Moseley family, should they be in town this +winter;--but you have yet the letter of Harriet to read." + +After first hastily running over its contents, the lady commenced the +fulfilment of her part of the engagement. + +"Frederick has been so much engrossed of late with his own affairs, that +he has forgotten there is such a creature in existence as his sister, +or, indeed, any one else but a Miss Emily Moseley, and consequently I +have been unable to fulfil my promise of making you a visit, for want of +a proper escort, and--and--perhaps some other considerations, not worth +mentioning in a letter I know you will read to the earl. + +"Yes, my dear cousin, Frederick Denbigh has supplicated the daughter of +a country baronet to become a duchess; and, hear it, ye marriage-seeking +nymphs and marriage-making dames! has supplicated in vain! + +"I confess to you, when the thing was first in agitation, my +aristocratic blood roused itself a little at the anticipated connexion; +but finding on examination that Sir Edward was of no doubtful lineage, +and that the blood of the Chattertons runs in his veins, and finding the +young lady everything I could wish in a sister, my scruples soon +disappeared, with the folly that engendered them. + +"There was no necessity for any alarm, for the lady very decidedly +refused the honor offered her by Derwent, and what makes the matter +worse, refused the solicitations of his sister also. + +"I have fifty times been surprised at my own condescension, and to this +moment am at a loss to know whether it was to the lady's worth, my +brother's happiness, or the Chatterton blood, that I finally yielded. +Heigho! this Chatterton is certainly much too handsome for a man; but I +forget you have never seen him." (Here an arch smile stole over the +features of the listener, as his sister continued)--"To return to my +narration, I had half a mind to send for a Miss Harris there is here, to +learn the most approved fashion of a lady preferring a suit, but as fame +said she was just now practising on a certain hero ycleped Captain +Jarvis, heir to Sir Timo of that name, it struck me her system might be +rather too abrupt, so I was fain to adopt the best plan--that of +trusting to nature and my own feelings for words. + +"Nobility is certainly a very pretty thing (for those who have it), but +I would defy the old Margravine of ---- to keep up the semblance of +superiority with Emily Moseley. She is so very natural, so very +beautiful, and withal at times a little arch, that one is afraid to set +up any other distinctions than such as can be fairly supported. + +"I commenced with hoping her determination to reject the hand of +Frederick was not an unalterable one. (Yes, I called him Frederick, what +I never did out of my own family before in my life.) There was a +considerable tremor in the voice of Miss Moseley, as she replied, 'I now +perceive, when too late, that my indiscretion has given reason to my +friends to think that I have entertained intentions towards his grace, +of which I entreat you to believe me, Lady Harriet, I am innocent. +Indeed--indeed, as anything more than an agreeable acquaintance I have +never allowed myself to think of your brother:' and from my soul I +believe her. We continued our conversation for half an hour longer, and +such was the ingenuousness, delicacy, and high religious feeling +displayed by the charming girl, that if I entered the room with a spark +of regret that I was compelled to solicit another to favor my brother's +love, I left it with a feeling that my efforts had been unsuccessful. +Yes! thou peerless sister of the more peerless Pendennyss! I once +thought of your ladyship as a wife for Derwent--" + +A glass of water was necessary to enable the reader to clear her voice, +which grew husky from speaking so long. + +"But I now openly avow, neither your birth, your hundred thousand +pounds, nor your merit, would put you on a footing, in my estimation, +with my Emily. You may form some idea of her power to captivate, and of +her indifference to her conquests, when I mention that she once refused- +-but I forget, you don't know him, and therefore cannot be a judge. The +thing is finally decided, and we shortly go into Westmoreland, and next +week, the Moseleys return to Northamptonshire. I don't know when I shall +be able to visit you, and think I may now safely invite you to Denbigh +Castle, although a month ago I might have hesitated. Love to the earl, +and kind assurance to yourself of unalterable regard. + +"HARRIET DENBIGH." + +"P.S. I believe I forgot to mention that Mrs. Moseley, a sister of Lord +Chatterton, has gone to Portugal, and that the peer himself is to go +into the country with us: there is, I suppose, a fellow-feeling between +them just now, though I do not think Chatterton looks so very miserable +as he might. Adieu." + +On ending this second epistle the same silence which had succeeded the +reading of the first prevailed, until the lady with an arch expression, +interrupted it by saying, + +"Harriet will, I think, soon grace the peerage." + +"And happily, I trust," replied the brother. + +"Do you know Lord Chatterton?" + +"I do; he is very amiable, and admirably calculated to contrast with the +lively gaiety of Harriet Denbigh." + +"You believe in loving our opposites, I see," rejoined the lady; and +then affectionately stretching out her hand to him, she added, "but, +Pendennyss, you must give me for a sister one as nearly like yourself as +possible." + +"That might please your affections," answered the earl with a smile, +"but how would it comport with my tastes? Will you suffer me to describe +the kind of man you are to select for your future lord, unless, indeed, +you have decided the point already?" + +The lady colored violently, and appearing anxious to change the subject, +she tumbled over two or three unopened letters, as she cried eagerly-- + +"Here is one from the Donna Julia." The earl instantly broke the seal +and read aloud; no secrets existing between them in relation to their +mutual friend. + +"My Lord, + +"I hasten to write you what I know it will give you pleasure to hear, +concerning my future prospects in life. My uncle, General M'Carthy, has +written me the cheerful tidings, that my father has consented to receive +his only child, without any other sacrifice than a condition of +attending the service of the Catholic Church without any professions on +my side, or even an understanding that I am conforming to its peculiar +tenets. This may be, in some measure, irksome at times, and possibly +distressing; but the worship of God with a proper humiliation of spirit, +I have learnt to consider as a privilege to us here, and I owe a duty to +my earthly father of penitence and care in his later years that will +justify the measure in the eyes of my heavenly One. I have, therefore, +acquainted my uncle in reply, that I am willing to attend the Conde's +summons at any moment he will choose to make them; and I thought it a +debt due your care and friendship to apprise your lordship of my +approaching departure from this country; indeed, I have great reasons +for believing that your kind and unremitted efforts to attain this +object have already prepared you to expect this result. + +"I feel it will be impossible to quit England without seeing you and +your sister, to thank you for the many, very many favors, of both a +temporal and eternal nature, you have been the agents of conferring on +me. The cruel suggestions which I dreaded, and which it appears had +reached the ears of my friends in Spain, have prevented my troubling +your lordship of late unnecessarily with my concerns. The consideration +of a friend to your character (Mrs. Wilson) has removed the necessity of +applying for your advice; she and her charming niece, Miss Emily +Moseley, have been, next to yourselves, the greatest solace I have had +in my exile, and united you will be remembered in my prayers. I will +merely mention here, deferring the explanation until I see you in +London, that I have been visited by the wretch from whom you delivered +me in Portugal, and that the means of ascertaining his name have fallen +into my hands. You will be the best judge of the proper steps to be +taken; but I wish, by all means, something may be done to prevent his +attempting to see me in Spain. Should it be discovered to my relations +there that he has any such intentions, it would certainly terminate in +his death, and possibly in my disgrace. Wishing you and your kind sister +all possible happiness, I remain, + +"Your Lordship's obliged friend, + +"JULIA FITZGERALD." + +"Oh!" cried the sister as she concluded the letter, "we must certainly +see her before she goes. What a wretch that persecutor of hers must be! +how persevering in his villainy!" + +"He does exceed my ideas of effrontery," said the earl, in great warmth- +-"but he may offend too far; the laws shall interpose their power to +defeat his schemes, should he ever repeat them." + +"He attempted to take your life, brother," said the lady shuddering, "if +I remember the tale aright." + +"Why, I have endeavored to free him from that imputation," rejoined the +brother, musing, "he certainly fired a pistol, but the latter hit my +horse at such a distance from myself, that I believe his object was to +disable me and not murder. His escape has astonished me; he must have +fled by himself into the woods, as Harmer was but a short distance +behind me, admirably mounted, and the escort was up and in full pursuit +within ten minutes. After all it may be for the best he was not taken; +for I am persuaded the dragoons would have sabred him on the spot, and +he may have parents of respectability, or a wife to kill by the +knowledge of his misconduct." + +"This Emily Moseley must be a faultless being," cried the sister, as she +ran over the contents of Julia's letter. "Three different letters, and +each containing her praises!" + +The earl made no reply, but opening the duke's letter again, he appeared +to be studying its contents. His color slightly changed as he dwelt on +its passages, and turning to his sister he inquired if she had a mind to +try the air of Westmoreland for a couple of weeks or a month. + +"As you say, my Lord," replied the lady, with cheeks of scarlet. + +"Then I say we will go. I wish much to see Derwent and I think there +will be a wedding during our visit." + +He rang the bell, and the almost untasted breakfast was removed in a few +minutes. A servant announced that his horse was in readiness. The earl +wished his sister a friendly good morning, and proceeded to the door, +where was standing one of the noble black horses before mentioned, held +by a groom, and the military-looking attendant ready mounted on another. + +Throwing himself into the saddle, the young peer rode gracefully from +the door, followed by his attendant horseman. During this ride, the +master suffered his steed to take whatever course most pleased himself, +and his follower looked up in surprise more than once, to see the +careless manner in which the Earl of Pendennyss, confessedly one of the +best horsemen in England, managed the noble animal. Having, however, got +without the gates of his own park, and into the vicinity of numberless +cottages and farm-houses, the master recovered his recollection, and the +man ceased to wonder. + +For three hours the equestrians pursued their course through the +beautiful vale which opened gracefully opposite one of the fronts of the +castle; and if faces of smiling welcome, inquiries after his own and his +sister's welfare, which evidently sprang from the heart, or the most +familiar but respectful representations of their own prosperity or +misfortunes, gave any testimony of the feelings entertained by the +tenantry of this noble estate for their landlord, the situation of the +young nobleman might be justly considered envied. + +As the hour for dinner approached, they turned the heads of their horses +towards home; and on entering the park, removed from the scene of +industry and activity without, the earl relapsed into his fit of musing. +A short distance from the house he suddenly called, "Harmer." The man +drove his spurs into the loins of his horse, and in an instant was by +the side of his master, which he signified by raising his hand to his +cap with the palm opening outward. + +"You must prepare to go to Spain when required, in attendance on Mrs. +Fitzgerald." + +The man received his order with the indifference of one used to +adventures and movements, and having laconically dignified his assent, +he drew his horse back again into his station in the rear. + + + +Chapter +XXXVIII. + +The day succeeding the arrival of the Moseleys at the seat of their +ancestors, Mrs. Wilson observed Emily silently putting on her pelisse, +and walking out unattended by either of the domestics or any of the +family. There was a peculiar melancholy in her air and manner, which +inclined the cautious aunt to suspect that her charge was bent on the +indulgence of some ill-judged weakness; more particularly, as the +direction she took led to the arbor, a theatre in which Denbigh had been +so conspicuous an actor. Hastily throwing a cloak over her own +shoulders, Mrs. Wilson followed Emily with the double purpose of +ascertaining her views, and if necessary, of interposing her own +authority against the repetition of similar excursions. + +As Emily approached the arbor, whither in truth she had directed her +steps, its faded vegetation and chilling aspect, so different from its +verdure and luxuriance when she last saw it, came over her heart as a +symbol of her own blighted prospects and deadened affections. The +recollection of Denbigh's conduct on that spot, of his general +benevolence and assiduity to please, being forcibly recalled to her mind +at the instant, forgetful of her object in visiting the arbor, Emily +yielded to her sensibilities, and sank on the seat weeping as if her +heart would break. + +She had not time to dry her eyes, and to collect her scattered thoughts, +before Mrs. Wilson entered the arbor. Eyeing her niece for a moment with +a sternness unusual for the one to adopt or the other to receive, she +said, + +"It is a solemn obligation we owe our religion and ourselves, to +endeavor to suppress such passions as are incompatible with our duties; +and there is no weakness greater than blindly adhering to the wrong, +when we are convinced of our error. It is as fatal to good morals as it +is unjust to ourselves to persevere, from selfish motives, in believing +those innocent whom evidence has convicted as guilty. Many a weak woman +has sealed her own misery by such wilful obstinacy, aided by the +unpardonable vanity of believing herself able to control a man that the +laws of God could not restrain." + +"Oh, dear madam, speak not so unkindly to me," sobbed the weeping girl; +"I--I am guilty of no such weakness, I assure you:" and looking up with +an air of profound resignation and piety, she continued: "Here, on this +spot, where he saved my life, I was about to offer up my prayers for his +conviction of the error of his ways, and for the pardon of his too--too +heavy transgressions." + +Mrs. Wilson, softened almost to tears herself, viewed her for a moment +with a mixture of delight, and continued in a milder tone,-- + +"I believe you, my dear. I am certain, although you may have loved +Denbigh much, that you love your Maker and his ordinances more; and I +have no apprehensions that, were he a disengaged man, and you alone in +the world--unsupported by anything but your sense of duty--you would +ever so far forget yourself as to become his wife But does not your +religion, does not your own usefulness in society, require you wholly to +free your heart from the power of a man who has so unworthily usurped a +dominion over it?" + +To this Emily replied, in a hardly audible voice, "Certainly--and I pray +constantly for it." + +"It is well, my love," said the aunt, soothingly; "you cannot fail with +such means, and your own exertions, finally to prevail over your own +worst enemies, your passions. The task our sex has to sustain is, at the +best, an arduous one; but so much the greater is our credit if we do it +well." + +"Oh! how is an unguided girl ever to judge aright, if,--" cried Emily, +clasping her hands and speaking with great energy, and she would have +said, "one like Denbigh in appearance, be so vile!" Shame, however, kept +her silent. + +"Few men can support such a veil of hypocrisy as that with which I +sometimes think Denbigh must deceive even himself. His case is an +extraordinary exception to a very sacred rule--'that the tree is known +by its fruits,'" replied her aunt. "There is no safer way of judging of +character that one's opportunities will not admit of more closely +investigating, than by examining into and duly appreciating early +impressions. The man or woman who has constantly seen the practice of +piety before them, from infancy to the noon of life, will seldom so far +abandon the recollection of virtue as to be guilty of great enormities. +Even Divine Truth has promised that his blessings or his curses shall +extend to many generations. It is true, that with our most most guarded +prudence we may be deceived." Mrs. Wilson paused and sighed heavily, as +her own case, connected with the loves of Denbigh and her niece, +occurred strongly to her mind. "Yet," she continued, "we may lessen the +danger much by guarding against it; and it seems to me no more than what +self-preservation requires in a young woman. But for a religious parent +to neglect it, is a wilful abandonment of a most solemn duty." + +As Mrs. Wilson concluded, her niece, who had recovered the command of +her feelings pressed her hand in silence to her lips, and showed a +disposition to retire from a spot which she found recalled too many +recollections of a man whose image it was her imperious duty to banish, +on every consideration of propriety and religion. + +Their walk into the house was silent, and their thoughts were drawn from +the unpleasant topic by finding a letter from Julia, announcing her +intended departure from this country, and her wish to take leave of them +in London before she sailed. As she had mentioned the probable day for +that event, both the ladies were delighted to find it was posterior to +the time fixed by Sir Edward for their own visit to the capital. + +Had Jane, instead of Emily, been the one that suffered through the +agency of Mrs. Fitzgerald, however innocently on the part of the lady, +her violent and uncontrolled passions would have either blindly united +the innocent with the guilty in her resentments; or, if a sense of +justice had vindicated the lady in her judgment, yet her pride and ill- +guided delicacy would have felt her name a reproach, that would have +forbidden any intercourse with her or any belonging to her. + +Not so with her sister. The sufferings of Mrs. Fitzgerald had taken a +strong hold on her youthful feelings, and a similarity of opinions and +practices on the great object of their lives, had brought them together +in a manner no misconduct in a third person could weaken. It is true, +the recollection of Denbigh was intimately blended with the fate of Mrs. +Fitzgerald. But Emily sought support against her feeling from a quarter +that rather required an investigation of them than a desire to drown +care with thought. + +She never indulged in romantic reflections in which the image of Denbigh +was associated. This she had hardly done in her happiest moments; and +his marriage, if nothing else had interfered, now absolutely put it out +of the question. But, although a Christian, and an humble and devout +one, Emily Moseley was a woman, and had loved ardently, confidingly, and +gratefully. Marriage is the business of life with her sex,--with all, +next to a preparation for a better world,--and it cannot be supposed +that a first passion in a bosom like that of our heroine was to be +suddenly erased and to leave no vestiges of its existence. + +Her partiality for the society of Derwent, her meditations in which she +sometimes detected herself drawing a picture of what Denbigh might have +been, if early care had been taken to impress him with his situation in +this world, and from which she generally retired to her closet and her +knees, were the remains of feelings too strong and too pure to be torn +from her in a moment. + +The arrival of John, with Grace and Jane, enlivened not only the family +but the neighborhood. Mr. Haughton and his numerous friends poured in on +the young couple with their congratulations, and a few weeks stole by +insensibly, previously to the commencement of the journeys of Sir Edward +and his son--the one to Benfield Lodge and the other to St. James's +Square. + +On the return of the travellers, a few days before they commenced their +journey to the capital, John laughingly told his uncle that, although he +himself greatly admired the taste of Mr. Peter Johnson in dress, yet he +doubted whether the present style of fashions in the metropolis would +not be scandalized by the appearance of the honest steward. + +John had in fact noticed, in their former visit to London, mob of +mischievous boys eyeing Peter with indications of rebellious movements +which threatened the old man, and from which he had retreated by taking +a coach, and he now made the suggestion from pure good-nature, to save +him any future trouble from a similar cause. + +They were at dinner when Moseley made the remark, and the steward was in +his place at the sideboard--for his master was his home. Drawing near at +the mention of his name first, and casting an eye over his figure to see +if all was decent, Peter respectfully broke silence, determined to +defend his own cause. + +"Why! Mr. John--Mr. John Moseley? if I might judge, for an elderly man, +and a serving man," said the steward, bowing humbly, "I am no +disparagement to my friends, or even to my honored master." + +Johnson's vindication of his wardrobe drew the eyes of the family upon +him, and an involuntary smile passed from one to the other, as they +admired his starched figure and drab frock, or rather doublet with +sleeves and skirts. Sir Edward, being of the same opinion with his son, +observed-- + +"I do think, Uncle Benfield, there might be an improvement in the dress +of your steward without much trouble to the ingenuity of his tailor." + +"Sir Edward Moseley--honorable sir," said the steward, beginning to grow +alarmed, "if I may be so bold, you young gentlemen may like gay clothes; +but as for me and his honor; we are used to such as we wear, and what we +are used to we love." + +The old man spoke with earnestness, and drew the particular attention of +his master to a review of his attire. After reflecting that no gentleman +in the house had been attended by any servitor in such a garb, Mr. +Benfield thought it time to give his sentiments on the subject. + +"Why I remember that my Lord Gosford's gentleman never wore a livery, +nor can I say that he dressed exactly after the manner of Johnson. Every +member had his body servant, and they were not unfrequently taken for +their masters. Lady Juliana, too, after the death of her nephew, had one +or two attendants out of livery, and in a different fashion from your +attire. Peter, I think with John Moseley there, we must alter you a +little for the sake of appearances." + +"Your honor!" stammered out Peter, in increased terror; "for Mr. John +Moseley and Sir Edward, and youngerly gentlemen like, dress may do. Now, +your honor, if--" and Peter, turning to Grace, bowed nearly to the +floor--"I had such a sweet, most beautiful young lady to smile on me, I +might wish to change; but, sir, my day has gone by." Peter sighed as the +recollection of Patty Steele and his youthful love floated across his +brain. Grace blushed and thanked him for the compliment, and gave her +opinion that his gallantry merited a better costume. + +"Peter," said his master, decidedly, "I think Mrs. Moseley is right. If +I should call on the viscountess (the Lady Juliana, who yet survived an +ancient dowager of seventy), I shall want your attendance, and in your +present garb you cannot fail to shock her delicate feelings. You remind +me now I think, every time I look at you, of old Harry, the earl's +gamekeeper, one of the most cruel men I ever knew." + +This decided the matter. Peter well knew that his master's antipathy to +old Harry arose from his having pursued a poacher one day, in place of +helping the Lady Juliana over a stile, in her flight from a bull that +was playing his gambols in the same field; and not for the world would +the faithful steward retain even a feature, if it brought unpleasant +recollections to his kind master. He at one time thought of closing his +innovations on his wardrobe, however, with a change of his nether +garment; as after a great deal of study he could only make out the +resemblance between himself and the obnoxious gamekeeper to consist in +the leathern breeches. But fearful of some points escaping his memory in +forty years, he tamely acquiesced in all John's alterations, and +appeared at his station three days afterwards newly decked from head to +foot in a more modern suit of snuff-color. + +The change once made, Peter greatly admired himself in a glass, and +thought, could he have had the taste of Mr. John Moseley in his youth to +direct his toilet, that the hard heart of Patty Steele would not always +have continued so obdurate. + +Sir Edward wished to collect his neighbors round him once more before he +left them for another four months; and accordingly the rector and his +wife, Francis and Clara, the Haughtons, with a few others, dined at the +Hall by invitation, the last day of their stay in Northamptonshire. The +company had left the table to join the ladies, when Grace came into the +drawing-room with a face covered with smiles and beaming with pleasure. + +"You look like the bearer of good news, Mrs. Moseley," cried the rector, +catching a glimpse of her countenance as she passed. + +"Good! I sincerely hope and believe," replied Grace. "My letters from my +brother announce that his marriage took place last week, and give us +hopes of seeing them all in town within the month." + +"Married!" exclaimed Mr. Haughton, casting his eyes unconsciously on +Emily, "my Lord Chatterton married! May I ask the name of the bride, my +dear Mrs. Moseley?" + +"To Lady Harriet Denbigh--and at Denbigh Castle in Westmoreland; but +very privately, as you may suppose from seeing Moseley and myself here," +answered Grace, her cheeks yet glowing with surprise and pleasure at the +intelligence. + +"Lady Harriet Denbigh?" echoed Mr. Haughton; "what! a kinswoman of our +old friend? your friend, Miss Emily?" The recollection of the service he +had performed at the arbor still-fresh in his memory. + +Emily commanded herself sufficiently to reply, "Brothers' children, I +believe, sir." + +"But a lady--how came she my lady?" continued the good man, anxious to +know the whole, and ignorant of any reasons for delicacy where so great +a favorite as Denbigh was in the question. + +"She is the daughter of the late Duke of Derwent," said Mrs. Moseley, as +willing as himself to talk of her new sister. + +"How happens it that the death of old Mr. Denbigh was announced as plain +Geo. Denbigh, Esq., if he was the brother of a duke?" said Jane, +forgetting for a moment the presence of Dr. and Mrs. Ives, in her +surviving passion for genealogy: "should he not have been called Lord +George, or honorable?" + +This was the first time any allusion had been made to the sudden death +in the church by any of the Moseleys in the hearing of the rector's +family; and the speaker sat in breathless terror at her own +inadvertency. But Dr. Ives, observing that a profound silence prevailed +as soon as Jane ended, answered, mildly, though in a way to prevent any +further comments-- + +"The late Duke's succeeding a cousin-german in the title, was the +reason, I presume. Emily, I am to hear from you by letter I hope, after +you enter into the gaieties of the metropolis?" + +This Emily cheerfully promised, and the conversation took another turn. + +Mrs. Wilson had carefully avoided all communications with the rector +concerning his youthful friend, and the Doctor appeared unwilling to +commence anything which might lead to his name being mentioned. "He is +disappointed in him as well as ourselves," thought the widow, "and it +must be unpleasant to have his image recalled. He saw his attentions to +Emily, and he knows of his marriage to Lady Laura of course, and he +loves us all, and Emily in particular, too well not to feel hurt by his +conduct." + +"Sir Edward!" cried Mr. Haughton, with a laugh, "Baronets are likely to +be plenty. Have you heard how near we were to have another in the +neighborhood lately?" Sir Edward answered in the negative, and his +neighbor continued-- + +"Why no less a man than Captain Jarvis, promoted to the bloody hand." + +"Captain Jarvis!" exclaimed five or six at once; "explain yourself, Mr. +Haughton." + +"My near neighbor, young Walker, has been to Bath on an unusual +business--his health--and for the benefit of the country he has brought +back a pretty piece of scandal. It seems that Lady Jarvis, as I am told +she is since she left here, wished to have her hopeful heir made a lord, +and that the two united for some six months in forming a kind of +savings' bank between themselves, to enable them at some future day to +bribe the minister to honor the peerage with such a prodigy. After +awhile the daughter of our late acquaintance, Sir William Harris, became +an accessory to the plot, and a contributor too, to the tune of a couple +of hundred pounds. Some circumstances, however, at length made this +latter lady suspicious, and she wished to audit the books. The Captain +prevaricated--the lady remonstrated, until the gentleman, with more +truth than manners, told her that she was a fool--the money he had +expended or lost at dice; and that he did not think the ministers quite +so silly as to make him a lord, or that he himself was such a fool as to +make her his wife; so the whole thing exploded." + +John listened with a delight but little short of what he had felt when +Grace owned her love, and anxious to know all, eagerly inquired-- + +"But, is it true? how was it found out?" + +"Oh, the lady complained of part, and the Captain tells all to get the +laugh on his side; so that Walker says the former is the derision and +the latter the contempt of all Bath." + +"Poor Sir William," said the baronet, with feeling; "he is much to be +pitied." + +"I am afraid he has nothing to blame but his own indulgence," remarked +the rector. + +"You don't know the worst of it," replied Mr. Haughton. "We poor people +are made to suffer--Lady Jarvis wept and fretted Sir Timo out of his +lease, which has been given up, and a new house is to be taken in +another part of the kingdom, where neither Miss Harris nor the story is +known." + +"Then Sir William has to procure a new tenant," said Lady Moseley, not +in the least regretting the loss of the old one. + +"No! my lady!" continued Mr. Haughton, with a smile. "Walker is, you +know, an attorney, and does some business occasionally for Sir William. +When Jarvis gave up the lease, the baronet, who finds himself a little +short of money, offered the deanery for sale, it being a useless place +to him; and the very next day, while Walker was with Sir William, a +gentleman called, and without higgling agreed to pay down at once his +thirty thousand pounds for it." + +"And who is the purchaser?" inquired Lady Moseley, eagerly. + +"The Earl of Pendennyss." + +"Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson in rapture. + +"Pendennyss!" cried the rector, eyeing the aunt and Emily with a smile. + +"Pendennyss!" echoed all in the room in amazement. + +"Yes," said Mr. Haughton, "it is now the property of the earl, who says +he has bought it for his sister." + + + +Chapter XXXIX. + +Mrs. Wilson found time the ensuing day to ascertain before they left the +hall, the truth of the tale related by Mr. Haughton. The deanery had +certainly changed its master, and a new steward had already arrived to +take possession in the name of his lord. What induced Pendennyss to make +this purchase she was at a loss to conceive--most probably some +arrangement between himself and Lord Bolton. But whatever might be his +motive, it in some measure insured his becoming for a season their +neighbor; and Mrs. Wilson felt a degree of pleasure at the circumstance +that she had been a stranger to for a long time--a pleasure which was +greatly heightened as she dwelt on the lovely face of the companion who +occupied the other seat in her travelling chaise. + +The road to London led by the gates of the deanery, and near them they +passed a servant in the livery of those they had once seen following the +equipage of the earl. Anxious to know anything which might hasten her +acquaintance with this admired nobleman, Mrs. Wilson stopped her +carriage to inquire. + +"Pray, sir, whom do you serve?" + +"My Lord Pendennyss, ma'am," replied the man, respectfully taking off +his hat. + +"The earl is not here?" asked Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + +"Oh, no, madam; I am here in waiting on his steward. My lord is in +Westmoreland, with his grace and Colonel Denbigh, and the ladies." + +"Does he remain there long?" continued the anxious widow, desirous of +knowing all she could learn. + +"I believe not, madam; most of our people have gone to Annerdale-House, +and my lord is expected in town with the duke and the colonel." + +As the servant was an elderly man, and appeared to understand the +movements of his master so well, Mrs. Wilson was put in unusual spirits +by this prospect of a speedy termination to her anxiety to meet +Pendennyss. + +"Annerdale-House is the earl's town residence?" quietly inquired Emily. + +"Yes; he got the fortune of the last duke of that title, but how I do +not exactly know. I believe, however, through his mother. General Wilson +did not know his family: indeed, Pendennyss bore a second title during +his lifetime; but did you observe how very civil his servant was, as +well as the one John spoke to before,--a sure sign their master is a +gentleman?" + +Emily smiled at the strong partialities of her aunt, and replied, "Your +handsome chaise and attendants will draw respect from most men in his +situation, dear aunt, be their masters who they may." + +The expected pleasure of meeting the earl was a topic frequently touched +upon between her aunt and Emily during their journey; the former +beginning to entertain hopes she would have laughed at herself for, +could they have been fairly laid before her; and the latter entertaining +a profound respect for his character, but chiefly governed by a wish to +gratify her companion. + +The third day they reached the baronet's handsome house in St. James's +Square, and found that the forethought of John had provided everything +in the best and most comfortable manner. + +It was the first visit of both Jane and Emily to the metropolis; and +under the protection of their almost equally curious mother, and +escorted by John, they wisely determined to visit the curiosities, while +their leisure yet admitted of the opportunity. For the first two weeks +their time was chiefly employed in the indulgence of this unfashionable +and vulgar propensity, which, if it had no other tendency, served +greatly to draw the thoughts of both the young women from the +recollections of the last few months. + +While her sister and nieces were thus employed, Mrs. Wilson, assisted by +Grace, was occupied in getting things in preparation to do credit to the +baronet's hospitality. + +The second week after their arrival, Mrs. Moseley was delighted by +seeing advance upon her unexpectedly through the door of the breakfast +parlor, her brother, with his bride leaning on his arm. After the most +sincere greetings and congratulations, Lady Chatterton cried out gaily, + +"You see, my dear Lady Moseley, I am determined to banish ceremony +between us, and so, instead of sending you my card, have come myself to +notify you of my arrival. Chatterton would not suffer me even to swallow +my breakfast, he was so impatient to show me off." + +"You are placing things exactly on the footing I wish to see ourselves +with all our connexions," replied Lady Moseley, kindly; "but what have +you done with the duke? is he not in your train?" + +"Oh! he is gone to Canterbury with George Denbigh, madam," cried the +lady, shaking her head reproachfully though affectionately at Emily; +"his grace dislikes London just now excessively, he says, and the +Colonel being obliged to leave his wife, on regimental business, Derwent +was good enough to keep him company during his exile." + +"And Lady Laura, do we see her?" inquired Lady Moseley. + +"She came with us. Pendennyss and his sister follow immediately; so, my +dear madam, the dramatis personæ will all be on the stage soon." + +Cards and visits now began to accumulate on the Moseleys, and their time +no longer admitted of that unfettered leisure which they had enjoyed at +their entrance on the scene. Mrs. Wilson, for herself and charge, +adopted a rule for the government of her manner of living, which was +consistent with her duties. They mixed in general society sparingly; +and, above all, they rigidly adhered to the obedience to the injunction +which commanded them to keep the Sabbath day holy; a duty of no trifling +difficulty to perform in fashionable society in the city of London, or, +indeed, in any other place, where the influence of fashion has +supplanted the laws of God. + +Mrs. Wilson was not a bigot; but she knew and performed her duty +rigidly. It was a pleasure to her to do so. It would have been misery to +do otherwise. In the singleness of heart and deep piety of her niece, +she had a willing pupil to her system of morals, and a rigid follower of +her religious practices. As they both knew that the temptations to go +astray were greater in town than in country, they kept a strict guard +over the tendency to err, and in watchfulness found their greatest +security. + +John Moseley, next to his friends, loved his bays: indeed, if the +aggregate of his affections for these and Lady Herriefield had been put +in opposite scales, we strongly suspect the side of the horses would +predominate. + +One Sunday, soon after being domesticated, John, who had soberly +attended morning service with the ladies, came into a little room where +the more reflecting part of the family were assembled, in search of his +wife. + +Grace, we have before mentioned, had become a real member of that church +in which she had been educated, and had entered, under the direction of +Dr. Ives and Mrs. Wilson, into an observance of its wholesome +ordinances. Grace was certainly piously inclined, if not devout. Her +feelings on the subject of religion had been sensibly awakened during +their voyage to Lisbon; and at the period of which we write, Mrs. +Moseley was as sincerely disposed to perform her duty as her powers +admitted. To the request of her husband, that she would take a seat in +his phaeton while he drove her round the park once or twice, Grace gave +a mild refusal, by saying, + +"It is Sunday, my dear Moseley." + +"Do you think I don't know that?" cried John, gaily. "There will be +everybody there, and, the better day, the better deed." + +Now, Moseley, if he had been asked to apply this speech to the case +before them, would have frankly owned his inability; but his wife did +not make the trial: she was contented with saying, as she laid down her +book to look on a face she so tenderly loved, + +"Ah! Moseley, you should set a better example to those below you in +life." + +"I wish to set an example," returned her husband, with an affectionate +smile, "to all above as well as below me, in order that they may find +out the path to happiness, by exhibiting to the world a model of a wife, +in yourself, dear Grace." + +As this was uttered with a sincerity which distinguished the manner of +Moseley, his wife was more pleased with the compliment than she would +have been willing to make known; and John spoke no more than he thought; +for a desire to show his handsome wife was the ruling passion for a +moment. + +The husband was too pressing and the wife too fond not to yield the +point; and Grace took her seat in the carriage with a kind of half- +formed resolution to improve the opportunity by a discourse on serious +subjects--a resolution which terminated as all others do, that postpone +one duty to discharge another of less magnitude; it was forgotten. + +Mrs. Wilson had listened with interest to the efforts of John to prevail +on his wife to take the ride, and on her leaving the room to comply she +observed to Emily, with whom she now remained alone-- + +"Here is a consequence of a difference in religious views between man +and wife, my child: John, in place of supporting Grace in the discharge +of her duties, has been the actual cause of her going astray." + +Emily felt the force of her aunt's remark, and saw its justice; yet her +love for the offender induced her to say-- + +"John will not lead her openly astray for he has a sincere respect for +religion, and this offence is not unpardonable, dear aunt." + +"The offence is assuredly not unpardonable," replied Mrs. Wilson, "and +to infinite mercy it is hard to say what is; but it is an offence, and +directly in the face of an express ordinance of the Lord; it is even +throwing off the appearance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, much less +observing the substance of the commandment; and as to John's respect for +holy things in this instance, it was injurious to his wife. Had he been +an open deist she would have shrunk from the act in suspicion of its +sinfulness. Either John must become Christian, or I am afraid Grace will +fall from her undertaking." + +Mrs. Wilson shook her head mournfully, while Emily offered up a silent +petition that the first might speedily be the case. + +Lady Laura had been early in her visit to the Moseleys; and as Denbigh +had both a town residence and a seat in parliament, it appeared next to +impossible to avoid meeting him or to requite the pressing civilities of +his wife by harsh refusals; that might prove in the end injurious to +themselves by creating a suspicion that resentment at his not choosing a +partner from amongst them, governed the conduct of the Moseleys towards +a man to whom they were under such a heavy obligation. + +Had Sir Edward known as much as his sister and daughters he would +probably have discountenanced the acquaintance altogether; but owing to +the ignorance of the rest of her friends of what had passed, Mrs. Wilson +and Emily had not only the assiduities of Lady Laura but the wishes of +their own family to contend with, and consequently she submitted to the +association with a reluctance that was in some measure counteracted by +their regard for Lady Laura, and by compassion for her abused +confidence. + +A distant connexion of Lady Moseley's had managed to collect in her +house a few hundred of her nominal friends, and as she had been +particularly attentive in calling in person on her venerable relative, +Mr. Benfield, soon after his arrival in town, out of respect to her +father's cousin, or perhaps mindful of his approaching end, and +remembering there were such things as codicils to wills, the old man, +flattered by her notice, and yet too gallant to reject the favor of a +lady, consented to accompany the remainder of the family on the +occasion. + +Most of their acquaintances were there, and Lady Moseley soon found +herself engaged in a party at quadrille, while the young people were +occupied by the usual amusements of their age in such scenes. Emily +alone feeling but little desire to enter into the gaiety of general +conversation with a host of gentlemen who had collected round her aunt +and sisters, offered her arm to Mr. Benfield, on seeing him manifest a +disposition to take a closer view of the company, and walked away with +him. + +They wandered from room to room, unconscious of the observation +attracted by the sight of a man in the costume of Mr. Benfield, leaning +on the arm of so young and lovely a woman as his niece; and many an +exclamation of surprise, ridicule, admiration, and wonder had been made, +unnoticed by the pair, until finding the crowd rather inconvenient to +her companion, Emily gently drew him into one of the apartments where +the card-tables, and the general absence of beauty, made room less +difficult to be found. + +"Ah! Emmy dear," said the old gentleman, wiping his face, "times are +much changed, I see, since my youth. Then you would see no such throngs +assembled in so small a space; gentlemen shoving ladies, and yes, Emmy," +continued her uncle in a lower tone, as if afraid of uttering something +dangerous, "the ladies themselves shouldering the men. I remember at a +drum given by Lady Gosford, that although I may, without vanity, say I +was one of the gallantest men in the rooms, I came in contact with but +one of the ladies during the whole evening, with the exception of +handing the Lady Juliana to a chair, and that," said her uncle, stopping +short and lowering his voice to a whisper, "was occasioned by a +mischance in the old duchess in rising from her seat when she had taken +too much strong waters, as she was at times a little troubled with a +pain in the chest." + +Emily smiled at the casualty of her grace, and they proceeded slowly +through the table until their passage was stopped by a party at the game +of whist, which, by its incongruous mixture of ages and character, +forcibly drew her attention. + +The party was composed of a young man of five or six and twenty, who +threw down his cards in careless indifference, and heedlessly played +with the guineas which were laid on the side of the table as markers, or +the fruits of a former victory: or by stealing hasty and repeated +glances through the vista of the tables into the gayer scenes of the +adjoining rooms, proved he was in duresse, and waited for an opportunity +to make his escape from the tedium of cards and ugliness to the life of +conversation and beauty. + +His partner was a woman of doubtful age, and one whose countenance +rather indicated that the uncertainty was likely to continue until the +record of the tomb-stone divulged the so often contested circumstance to +the world. Her eyes also wandered to the gayer scenes, but with an +expression of censoriousness mingled with longings; nor did she neglect +the progress of the game as frequently as her more heedless partner. A +glance thrown on the golden pair which was placed between her and her +neighbor on her right, marked the importance of the corner, and she +shuffled the cards with a nervousness which plainly denoted her +apprehension of the consequences of her partner's abstraction. + +Her neighbor on the right was a man of sixty, and his vestments +announced him a servant of the sanctuary. His intentness on the game +proceeded no doubt from his habits of reflection; his smile at success, +quite possibly from charity to his neighbors; his frown in adversity +from displeasure at the triumphs of the wicked, for such in his heart he +had set down Miss Wigram to be; and his unconquerable gravity in the +employment from a profound regard to the dignity of his holy office. + +The fourth performer in this trial of memories was an ancient lady, +gaily dressed, and intently eager on the game. Between her and the young +man was a large pile of guineas, which appeared to be her exclusive +property, from which she repeatedly, during the play, tendered one to +his acceptance on the event of a hand or a trick, and to which she +seldom failed from inadvertence to add his mite, contributing to +accumulate the pile. + +"Two double and the rub, my dear doctor," exclaimed the senior lady, in +triumph. "Sir William, you owe me ten." + +The money was paid as easily as it had been won, and the dowager +proceeded to settle some bets with her female antagonist. + +"Two more, I fancy, ma'am," said she, closely scanning the contributions +of the maiden. + +"I believe it is right, my lady," was the answer, with a look that said +pretty plainly, that or nothing. + +"I beg pardon, my dear, here are but four; and you remember two on the +corner, and four on the points. Doctor, I will trouble you for a couple +of guineas from Miss Wigram's store, I am in haste to get to the +Countess's route." + +The doctor was coolly helping himself from the said store, under the +watchful eyes of its owner, and secretly exulting in his own judgment in +requiring the stakes, when the maiden replied in great warmth, + +"Your ladyship forgets the two you lost to me at Mrs. Howard's." + +"It must be a mistake, my dear, I always pay as I lose," cried the +dowager, with great spirit, stretching over the table and helping +herself to the disputed money. + +Mr. Benfield and Emily had stood silent spectators of the whole scene, +the latter in astonishment to meet such manners in such society, and the +former under feelings it would have been difficult to describe; for in +the face of the Dowager which was inflamed partly from passion and more +from high living, he recognised the remains of his Lady Juliana, now the +Dowager Viscountess Haverford. + +"Emmy, dear," said the old man, with a heavy-drawn sigh, as if awaking +from a long and troubled dream, "we will go." + +The phantom of forty years had vanished before the truth and the fancies +of retirement, simplicity, and a diseased imagination yielded to the +influence of life and common sense. + + + +Chapter XL. + +With Harriet, now closely connected with them by marriage as well as +attachment, the baronet's family maintained a most friendly intercourse; +and Mrs. Wilson, and Emily, a prodigious favorite with her new cousin, +consented to pass a day soberly with her during an excursion of her +husband to Windsor on business connected with his station. They had, +accordingly, driven round to an early breakfast; and Chatterton, after +politely regretting his loss, and thanking them for their consideration +for his wife, made his bow. + +Lady Harriet Denbigh had brought the Baron a very substantial addition +to his fortune; and as his sisters were both provided for by ample +settlements, the pecuniary distresses which had existed a twelvemonth +before had been entirely removed. Chatterton's income was now large, his +demands upon it small, and he kept up an establishment in proportion to +the rank of both husband and wife. + +"Mrs. Wilson," cried the hostess, twirling her cup as she followed with +her eyes the retreating figure of her husband at the door, "I am about +to take up the trade of Miss Harris, and become a match-maker." + +"Not on your own behalf so soon, surely," rejoined the widow. + +"Oh no, my fortune is made for life, or not at all," continued the +other, gaily; "but in behalf of our little friend Emily here." + +"Me," cried Emily, starting from a reverie, in which the prospect of +happiness to Lady Laura was the subject; "you are very good, Harriet; +for whom do you intend me?" + +"Whom! Who is good enough for you, but my cousin Pendennyss? Ah!" she +cried, laughing, as she caught Emily by the hand, "Derwent and myself +both settled the matter long since, and I know you will yield when you +come to know him." + +"The duke!" cried the other, with a surprise and innocence that +immediately brought a blush of the brightest vermillion into her face. + +"Yes, the duke," said Lady Chatterton: "you may think it odd for a +discarded lover to dispose of his mistress so soon, but both our hearts +are set upon it. The earl arrived last night, and this day he and his +sister dine with us in a sober way: now, my dear madam," turning to Mrs. +Wilson, "have I not prepared an agreeable surprise for you?" + +"Surprise indeed," said the widow, excessively gratified at the probable +termination to her anxieties for this meeting; "but where are they +from?" + +"From Northamptonshire, where the earl has already purchased a +residence, I understand, and in your neighborhood too; so, you perceive, +he at least begins to think of the thing." + +"A certain evidence, truly," cried Emily, "his having purchased the +house. But was he without a residence that he bought the deanery?" + +"Oh no! he has a palace in town, and three seats in the country; but +none in Northamptonshire but this," said the lady, with a laugh. "To own +the truth he did offer to let George Denbigh have it for the next +summer, but the Colonel chose to be nearer Eltringham; and I take it, it +was only a ruse in the earl to cloak his own designs. You may depend +upon it, we trumpeted your praises to him incessantly in Westmoreland." + +"And is Colonel Denbigh in town?" said Mrs. Wilson, stealing an anxious +glance towards her niece, who, in spite of all her efforts, sensibly +changed color. + +"Oh, yes! and Laura is as happy--as happy--as myself," said Lady +Chatterton, with a glow on her cheeks, as she attended to the request of +her housekeeper, and left the room. + +Her guests sat in silence, occupied with their own reflections, while +they heard a summons at the door of the house. It was opened, and +footsteps approached the door of their own room. It was pushed partly +open, as a voice on the other side said, speaking to a servant without,- +- + +"Very well. Do not disturb your lady. I am in no haste." + +At the sound of its well known tones, both the ladies almost sprang from +their seats. Here could be no resemblance, and a moment removed their +doubts. The speaker entered. It was Denbigh. + +He stood for a moment fixed as a statue: It was evident the surprise was +mutual. His face was pale as death, and then instantly was succeeded by +a glow of fire. Approaching them, he paid his compliments with great +earnestness, and in a voice in which his softest tones preponderated. + +"I am happy, very happy, to be so fortunate in again meeting with such +friends, and so unexpectedly." + +Mrs. Wilson bowed in silence to his compliment, and Emily, pale as +himself, sat with her eyes fastened on the carpet, without daring to +trust her voice with an attempt to speak. + +After struggling with his mortified feelings for a moment, Denbigh rose +from the chair he had taken, and drawing near the sofa on which the +ladies were placed, exclaimed with fervor, + +"Tell me, dear madam, lovely, too lovely Miss Moseley, has one act of +folly, of wickedness if you please, lost me your good opinion for ever? +Derwent had given me hopes that you yet retained some esteem for my +character, lowered, as I acknowledge it to be, in my own estimation." + +"The Duke of Derwent? Mr. Denbigh!" + +"Do not; do not use a name, dear madam, almost hateful to me," cried he, +in a tone of despair. + +"If," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "you have made your own name +disreputable, I can only regret it, but--" + +"Call me by my title--oh! do not remind me of my folly; I cannot bear +it, and from you." + +"Your title!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a cry of wonder, and Emily +turned on him a face in which the flashes of color and succeeding +paleness were as quick, and almost as vivid, as the glow of lightning. +He caught their astonishment in equal surprise. + +"How is this? some dreadful mistake, of which I am yet in ignorance," he +cried, taking the unresisting hand of Mrs. Wilson, and pressing it with +warmth between both his own, as he added, "do not leave me in suspense." + +"For the sake of truth, for my sake, for the sake of this suffering +innocent, say, in sincerity, who and what you are," said Mrs. Wilson in +a solemn voice, gazing on him in dread of his reply. + +Still retaining her hand, he dropped on his knees before her, as he +answered,-- + +"I am the pupil, the child of your late husband, the companion of his +dangers, the sharer of his joys and griefs, and would I could add, the +friend of his widow. I am the Earl of Pendennyss." + +Mrs. Wilson's head dropped on the shoulders of the kneeling youth, her +arms were thrown in fervor around his neck, and she burst into a flood +of tears. For a moment, both were absorbed in their own feelings; but a +cry from Pendennyss aroused the aunt to the situation of her niece. + +Emily had fallen senseless on the sofa. + +An hour elapsed before her engagements admitted of the return of Lady +Chatterton to the breakfast parlor, where she was surprised to find the +breakfast equipage yet standing, and her cousin, the earl. Looking from +one to the other in surprise, she exclaimed,-- + +"Very sociable, upon my word; how long has your lordship honored my +house with your presence, and have you taken the liberty to introduce +yourself to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley?" + +"Sociability and ease are the fashion of the day. I have been here an +hour, my dear coz, and have taken the liberty of introducing myself to +Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley," replied the earl gravely, although a +smile of meaning lighted his handsome features as he uttered the latter +part of the sentence, which was returned by Emily with a look of +archness and pleasure that would have graced her happiest moments of +juvenile joy. + +There was such an interchange of looks, and such a visible alteration in +the appearance of her guests, that it could not but attract the notice +of Lady Chatterton. After listening to the conversation between them for +some time in silence; and wondering what could have wrought so sudden a +change below stairs, she broke forth with saying,--"Upon my word, you +are an incomprehensible party to me. I left you ladies alone, and find a +gentleman with you. I left you grave, if not melancholy, and find you +all life and gaiety. I find you with a stranger, and you talk with him +about walks, and rides, and scenes, and acquaintances. Will you, madam, +or you, my lord, be so kind as to explain these seeming +inconsistencies?" + +"No," cried the earl, "to punish your curiosity, I will keep you in +ignorance; but Marian is in waiting for me at your neighbor's, Mrs. +Wilmot, and I must hasten to her--- you will see us both by five." +Rising from his seat he took the offered hand of Mrs. Wilson and pressed +it to his lips. To Emily he also extended his hand, and received hers in +return, though with a face suffused with the color of the rose. +Pendennyss held it to his heart for a moment with fervor, and kissing +it, precipitately left the room. Emily concealed her face with her +hands, and, dissolving in tears, sought the retirement of an adjoining +apartment. + +All these unaccountable movements filled Lady Chatterton with amazement, +that would have been too painful for further endurance; and Mrs. Wilson, +knowing that further concealment with so near a connexion would be +impossible, if not unnecessary, entered into a brief explanation of the +earl's masquerade (although ignorant herself of its cause, or of the +means of supporting it), and his present relation with her niece. + +"I declare it is provoking," cried Lady Chatterton, with a tear in her +eye, "to have such ingenious plans as Derwent and I had made lost from +the want of necessity in putting them in force. Your demure niece has +deceived us all handsomely; and my rigid cousin, too--I will rate him +soundly for his deception." + +"I believe he already repents sincerely of his having practised it," +said Mrs. Wilson, "and is sufficiently punished for his error by its +consequence. A life of misery for four months is a serious penalty to a +lover." + +"Yes," said the other; "I am afraid his punishment was not confined to +himself alone: he has made others suffer from his misconduct. I will +rate him famously, depend upon it I will." + +If anything, the interest felt by Lady Chatterton for her friend was +increased by this discovery of the affections of Pendennyss, and a few +hours were passed by the three, in we will not say sober delight, for +transport would be a better word. Lady Chatterton frankly declared that +she would rather see Emily the wife of the earl than of her brother, for +he alone was good enough for her; and Mrs. Wilson felt an exhilaration +of spirits, in the completion of her most sanguine wishes, that neither +her years, her philosophy, nor even her religion, could entirely +restrain. The face of Emily was a continued blush, her eye sparkled with +the lustre of renewed hope, and her bosom was heaving with the purest +emotions of happiness. + +At the appointed hour the rattling of wheels announced the approach of +the earl and his sister. + +Pendennyss came into the room with a young woman of great personal +beauty and extremely feminine manners, leaning on his arm. He first +announced her to Mrs. Wilson as his sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, who +received her with a frank cordiality that made them instantly +acquainted. Emily, although confiding in the fullest manner in the truth +and worth of her lover, had felt an inexplicable sensation of pleasure, +as she heard the earl speak of his sister by the name of Marian; love is +such an unquiet, and generally such an engrossing passion, that few +avoid unnecessary uneasiness while under its influence, unless so +situated as to enjoy a mutual confidence. + +As this once so formidable Marian approached to salute her with an +extended hand, Emily rose, with a face illumined with pleasure, to +receive her. Marian viewed her for a moment intently, and folding her +arms around her, whispered softly as she pressed her to her heart, + +"My sister, my only sister." + +Our heroine was affected to tears, and Pendennyss gently separating the +two he loved best in the world, they soon became calm. + +Lady Marian was extremely like her brother, and had a family resemblance +to her cousin Harriet; but her manners were softer and more retiring, +and she had a slight tinge of a settled melancholy. When her brother +spoke she was generally silent, not in fear, but in love. She evidently +regarded him amongst the first of human beings, and all her love was +amply returned. + +Both the aunt and niece studied the manners of the earl closely, and +found several shades of distinction between what he was and what he had +been. He was now the perfect man of the world, without having lost the +frank sincerity which caused you to believe all he said. Had Pendennyss +once told Mrs. Wilson, with his natural air and manner, "I am innocent," +she would have believed him, and an earlier investigation would have +saved them months of misery; but the consciousness of his deception had +oppressed him with the curse of the wicked. + +Pendennyss had lost that air of embarrassment and alarm which had so +often startled the aunt, even in her hours of greatest confidence, and +which had their original in the awkwardness of disguise. But he retained +his softness, his respect, his modest diffidence of his opinions, +although somewhat corrected now by his acknowledged experience and +acquaintance with man. + +Mrs. Wilson thought these decided trifling alterations in manner were +improvements; but it required some days and a few tender speeches to +reconcile Emily to any change in the appearance of Denbigh. + +Lady Marian had ordered her carriage early, as she had not anticipated +the pleasure she found, and was engaged to accompany her cousin, Lady +Laura, to a fashionable rout that evening. Unwilling to be torn from ins +newly found friends, the earl proposed that the three ladies should +accompany his sister to Annerdale House, and then accept himself as an +escort to their own residence. To this Harriet assented, and leaving a +message for Chatterton, they entered the coach of Marian, and +Pendennyss, mounting the dickey, drove off. + +Annerdale House was amongst the best edifices of London. It had been +erected in the preceding century, and Emily for a moment felt, as she +went through its splendid apartments, that it threw a chill around her +domestic affections; but the figure of Pendennyss by her side reconciled +her to a magnificence she had been unused to, which looked the lord +indeed; but with so much modesty and softness, and so much attention to +herself, that before she left the house, Emily began to think it very +possible to enjoy happiness even in the lap of splendor. + +The names of Colonel Denbigh and Lady Laura were soon announced, and +this formidable gentleman made his appearance, He resembled Pendennyss +more than even the duke, and appeared about the same age. + +Mrs. Wilson soon saw that she had no grounds for pitying Lady Laura. The +colonel was a polished, elegant man, of evident good sense and knowledge +of the world, and apparently devoted to his wife. He was called George +frequently by all his relatives, and he, not unfrequently, used the same +term himself in speaking to the earl. Something was said of a much +admired bust, and the doors of a large library were opened to view it. +Emily was running over the backs of a case of books, until her eye +rested on one; and half smiling and blushing she turned to Pendennyss, +who watched every movement, as she said, playfully, + +"Pity me, my lord, and lend me this volume." + +"What is it you read?" he asked, as he bowed his cheerful assent. + +But Emily hid the book in her handkerchief. Pendennyss noticing an +unwillingness, though an extremely playful one, to let him into the +secret, examined the case, and perceiving her motive, smiled, as he took +down another volume and said-- + +"I am not an Irish, but an English peer, Emily. You have the wrong +volume." + +Emily laughed, with deeper blushes, when she found her wishes detected, +while the earl, opening the volume he held--the first of Debrett's +Peerage--pointed with his finger to the article concerning his own +family, and said to Mrs. Wilson, who had joined them at the instant-- + +"To-morrow, dear madam, I shall beg your attention to a melancholy tale, +and which may, in some slight degree, extenuate the offence I was guilty +of in assuming, or rather in maintaining an accidental disguise." + +As he ended, he went to the others, to draw off their attention, while +Emily and her aunt examined the paragraph. It was as follows: + +"George Denbigh--Earl of Pendennyss--and Baron Lumley, of Lumley Castle- +-- Baron Pendennyss--Beaumaris, and Fitzwalter, born----, of----, in the +year of----; a bachelor." The list of earls and nobles occupied several +pages, but the closing article was as follows: + +"George, the 21st earl, succeeded his mother Marian, late Countess of +Pendennyss, in her own right, being born of her marriage with George +Denbigh, Esq., a cousin-german to Frederick, the 9th Duke of Derwent." + +"Heir apparent. The titles being to heirs general, will descend to his +lordship's sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, should the present earl die +without lawful issue." + +As much of the explanation of the mystery of our tales, involved in the +foregoing paragraphs, we may be allowed to relate in our own language, +what Pendennyss made his friends acquainted with at different times, and +in a manner suitable to the subject and his situation. + + + +Chapter XLI. + +It was at the close of that war which lost this country the wealthiest +and most populous of her American colonies, that a fleet of ships were +returning from their service amongst the islands of the New World, to +seek for their worn out and battered hulks, and equally weakened crews, +the repairs and comforts of England and home. + +The latter word, to the mariner the most endearing of all sounds, had, +as it were, drawn together by instinct a group of sailors on the +forecastle of the proudest ship of the squadron, who gazed with varied +emotions on the land which gave them birth, but with one common feeling +of joy that the day of attaining it was at length arrived. + +The water curled from the bows of this castle of the ocean, in +increasing waves and growing murmurs, that at times drew the attention +of the veteran tar to their quickening progress, and having cheered his +heart with the sight, he cast his experienced eye in silence on the +swelling sails, to see if nothing more could be done to shorten the +distance between him and his country. + +Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the land of their birth, and hundreds of +hearts were beating in that one vessel with the awakening delights of +domestic love and renewed affections; but no tongue broke the +disciplined silence of the ship into sounds that overcame the propitious +ripple of the water. + +On the highest summit of their towering mast floated a small blue flag, +the symbol of authority, and beneath it paced a man to and fro the deck, +who was abandoned by his inferiors to his more elevated rank. His +square-built form and careworn features, which had lost the brilliancy +of an English complexion, and hair whitened prematurely, spoke of bodily +vigor, and arduous services which had put that vigor to the severest +trials. + +At each turn of his walk, as he faced the land of his nativity, a +lurking smile stole over his sun-burnt features, and then a glance of +his eye would scan the progress of the far-stretched squadron which +obeyed his orders, and which he was now returning to his superiors, +undiminished in numbers, and proud with victory. + +By himself stood an officer in a uniform differing from all around him. +His figure was small, his eye restless, quick, and piercing, and bent on +those shores to which he was unwillingly advancing, with a look of +anxiety and mortification, that showed him the late commander of those +vessels around them, which, by displaying their double flags, manifested +to the eye of the seaman a recent change of masters. + +Occasionally the conqueror would stop, and by some effort of well meant, +but rather uncouth civility, endeavor to soften the hours of captivity; +efforts which were received with the courtesy of the most punctilious +etiquette, but a restraint which showed that they were unwelcome. + +It was, perhaps, the most unlucky moment that had occurred within the +two months of their association, for an exchange of their better +feelings. The honest heart of the English tar dilated with ill-concealed +delight at his approach to the termination of labors performed with +credit and honor, and his smiles and good humor, which partly proceeded +from the feelings of a father and a friend, were daggers to the heart of +his discomfited rival. + +A third personage now appeared from the cabin of the vessel, and +approached the spot where the adverse admirals at the moment were +engaged in one of these constrained conferences. + +The appearance and dress of this gentleman differed widely from the two +just described. He was tall, graceful, and dignified; he was a soldier, +and clearly of high rank. His carefully dressed hair concealed the +ravages of time and on the quarter-deck of a first-rate his attire and +manners were suited to a field-day in the park. + +"I really insist, monsieur," cried the admiral, good-naturedly, "that +you shall take part of my chaise to London. You are a stranger, and it +will help to keep up your spirits by the way." + +"You are very good, Monsieur Howell," replied the Frenchman, with a +polite bow and forced smile, misconstruing ill-judged benevolence into a +wish for his person to grace a triumph--"but I have accepted the offer +Monsieur le General Denbigh was so good as to make me." + +"The comte is engaged to me, Howell," said the general, with a courtly +smile, "and, indeed, you must leave the ship to night, or as soon as we +anchor.--But I shall take daylight and to-morrow." + +"Well--well--Denbigh," exclaimed the other, rubbing his hands with +pleasure as he viewed the increasing power of the wind, "only make +yourselves happy, and I am contented." + +A few hours intervened before they reached the Bay of Plymouth, and +round the table, after their dinner, were seated the general and English +admiral. The comte, under the pretence of preparing his things for a +removal, had retired to his apartment to conceal his feelings;--and the +captain of the ship was above, superintending the approach of the vessel +to her anchorage. Two or three well emptied bottles of wine yet +remained; but as the healths of all the branches of the House of +Brunswick had been propitiated from their contents, with a polite +remembrance of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette from General Denbigh, +neither of the superiors was much inclined for action. + +"Is the Thunderer in her station?" said the admiral to the signal +lieutenant, who at that moment came below with a report. + +"Yes, sir, and has answered." + +"Very well; make the signal to prepare to anchor." + +"Aye, aye, sir." + +"And here, Bennet," to the retiring lieutenant--"call the transports all +in shore of us." + +"Three hundred and eighty-four, sir," said the officer, looking at his +signal-book. + +The admiral cast his eye at the book, and nodded an assent. + +"And let the Mermaid--Flora--Weasel--Bruiser, and all the sloops lie +well off, until we have landed the soldiers: the pilot says the channel +is full of luggers, and Jonathan has grown very saucy." + +The lieutenant made a complying bow, and was retiring to execute these +orders, as Admiral Howell, taking up a bottle not yet entirely deserted +by its former tenant, cried stoutly--"Here, Bennet--I forgot--take a +glass of wine; drink success to ourselves, and defeat to the French all +over the world." + +The general pointed significantly to the adjoining cabin of the French +admiral, as he pressed his hand on his lips for silence. + +"Oh!" cried Admiral Howell, recollecting himself, continuing in a +whisper, "you can drink it in your heart, notwithstanding." + +The signal officer nodded, and drank the liquor. As he smacked his lips +while going on deck, he thought to himself, these nabobs drink famous +good wine. + +Although the feelings of General Denbigh were under much more command +and disciplined obedience than those of his friend, yet was he too +unusually elated with his return to home and expected honors. If the +admiral had captured a fleet, he had taken an island;--and hand in hand +they had co-operated in unusual harmony through the difficulties of an +arduous campaign. This rather singular circumstance was owing to their +personal friendship. From their youth they had been companions, and +although of very different characters and habits, chance had cemented +their intimacy in more advanced life. While in subordinate stations, +they had been associated together in service; and the general and +admiral, in command of an army and fleet, had once before returned to +England with less renown, as a colonel and a captain of a frigate. The +great family influence of the soldier, with the known circumstance of +their harmony, had procured them this later command, and home, with its +comforts and rewards, was close before them. Pouring out a glass of +Madeira, the general, who always calculated what he said, exclaimed, + +"Peter--we have been friends from boys." + +"To be sure we have," said the admiral, looking up in a little surprise +at this unexpected commencement--"and it will not be my fault if we do +not die such, Frederick." + +Dying was a subject the general did not much delight in although of +conspicuous courage in the field; and he proceeded to his more important +purpose--"I could never find, although I have looked over our family +tree so often, that we are in any manner related, Howell." + +"I believe it is too late to mend that matter now," said the admiral, +musing. + +"Why no--hem--I think not, Howell; take a glass of this Burgundy." + +The admiral shook his head with a stubborn resolution to taste nothing +French, but he helped himself to a bountiful stock of Madeira, as he +replied-- + +"I should like to know how you can bring it about this time of day, +Denbigh." + +"How much money will you be able to give that girl of yours, Peter?" +said his friend, evading the point. + +"Forty thousand down, my good fellow, and as much more when I die," +cried the open-hearted sailor, with a nod of exultation. + +"George, my youngest son, will not be rich--but Francis will be a duke, +and have a noble estate; yet," said the general; meditating, "he is so +unhappy in his disposition and uncouth in his manners, I cannot think of +offering him to your daughter as a husband." + +"Isabel shall marry a good-natured man, like myself, or not at all," +said the admiral, positively, but not in the least suspecting the drift +of his friend, who was influenced by anything but a regard for the +lady's happiness. + +Francis, his first born, was, in truth, as he had described; but his +governing wish was to provide for his favorite George. Dukes could never +want wives, but unportioned captains in the guards might. + +"George is one of the best tempers in the world," said his father, with +strong feeling, "and the delight of us all. I could wish he had been the +heir to the family honors." + +"That it is certainly too late to help," cried the admiral, wondering if +the ingenuity of his friend could devise a remedy for this evil too. + +"Too late, indeed," said the other, with a heavy sigh, "but Howell, what +say you to matching Isabel with my favorite George?" + +"Denbigh," cried the sailor, eyeing him keenly, "Isabel is my only +child, and a dutiful, good girl; one that will obey orders if she breaks +owners, as we sailors say. Now I did think of marrying her to a seaman, +when a proper man came athwart my course; yet your son is a soldier, and +that is next to being in the navy: if-so-be you had made him come aboard +me, when I wanted you to, there would have been no objection at all: +however, when occasion offers. I will overhaul the lad, and if I find +him staunch he may turn in with Bell and welcome." + +This was uttered in perfect simplicity, and with no intention of giving +offence, partaking partly of the nature of a soliloquy; so the general, +greatly encouraged, was about to push the point, when a gun was fired +from their own ship. + +"There's some of them lubberly transports won't mind our signals; they +have had these soldiers so long on board, they get as clumsy as the red- +coats themselves," muttered the admiral, hastening on deck to enforce +his commands. + +A shot or two, sent significantly in the direction of the wanderers, but +so as not to hit them, restored order; and within an hour forty line of +battle ships and a hundred transports were disposed in the best manner +for convenience and safety. + +On their presentation to their sovereign, both veterans were embellished +with the riband of the Bath; and as their exploits filled the mouths of +the newsmongers, and the columns of the public prints of the day, the +new knights began to think more seriously of building a monument to +their victories, in a union between their children. The admiral, +however, determined to do nothing with his eyes shut, and he demanded a +scrutiny. + +"Where is the boy who is to be a duke?" exclaimed he, one day, when his +friend had introduced the point with a view to a final arrangement. +"Bell has good blood in her veins--is a tight built little vessel--clean +heel'd and trim, and would make as good a duchess as the best of them; +so Denbigh, I will begin by taking a survey of the senior." To this the +general had no objection, as he well knew that Francis would be wide of +pleasing the tastes of an open-hearted, simple man, like the sailor. +They met, accordingly, for what the general facetiously called the +review, and what the admiral innocently termed his survey, at the house +of the former, when the young gentlemen were submitted to his +inspection. + +Francis Denbigh was about four and twenty, of a feeble body, and with a +face marked with the small-pox, to approaching deformity; his eye was +brilliant and piercing, but unsettled, and at times wild--his manner +awkward, constrained, and timid. There would be seen, it is true, an +intelligence and animation, which occasionally lighted his countenance +into gleams of sunshine, that caused you to overlook the lesser +accompaniments of complexion and features in the expression; but they +were transient, and inevitably vanished whenever his father spoke or in +any manner mingled in his pursuits. + +An observer close as Mrs. Wilson, would have said that the feelings of +the father and son were not such as ought to exist between parent and +child. + +But the admiral, who regarded model and rigging a good deal, satisfied +himself with muttering, as he turned his eye on the junior-- + +"He may do for a duke--but I would not have him for a cockswain." + +George was a year younger than Francis; in form, stature, and personal +grace, the counterpart of his father; his eye was less keen but more +attractive than that of his brother; his air open, polished, and manly. + +"Ah!" thought the sailor, as he ended a satisfactory survey of the +youth, "what a thousand pities Denbigh did not send him to sea!" + +The thing was soon settled, and George was to be the happy man. Sir +Peter concluded to dine with his friend, in order to settle +preliminaries over the bottle by themselves; the young men and their +mother being engaged to their uncle the duke. + +"Well, Denbigh," cried the admiral, as the last servant withdrew, "when +do you mean to have the young couple spliced?" + +"Why," replied the wary soldier, who knew he could not calculate on +obedience to his mandate with as great a certainty as his friend--"the +better way is to bring the young people together, in order that they may +become acquainted, you know." + +"Acquainted--together--" cried his companion, in a little surprise, +"what better way is there to bring them together, than to have them up +before a priest, or to make them acquainted by letting them swing in the +same hammock?" + +"It might answer the end, indeed," said the general, with a smile, "but +somehow or other, it is always the best method to bring young folks +together, to let them have their own way in the affair for a time." + +"Own way!" rejoined Sir Peter, bluntly, "did you ever find it answer to +let a woman have her own way, Sir Frederick?" + +"Not common women certainly, my good friend," said the general, "but +such a girl as my intended daughter is an exception." + +"I don't know that," cried the sailor; "Bell is a good girl, but she has +her quirks and whims like all the sex." + +"You have had no trouble with her as yet, I believe, Howell," said Sir +Frederick cavalierly, throwing an inquiring glance on his friend at the +same time. + +"No, not yet--nor do I think she will ever dare to mutiny; but there has +been one wishing to take her in tow already since we got in." + +"How!" said the other in alarm, "who--what is he? some officer in the +navy, I suppose." + +"No, he was a kind of chaplain, one Parson Ives, a good sort of a youth +enough, and a prodigious favorite with my sister, Lady Hawker." + +"Well, what did you answer, Peter?" said his companion in increasing +uneasiness; "did you put him off?" + +"Off! to be sure I did--do you think I wanted a barber's clerk for a +son-in-law? No, no, Denbigh; a soldier is bad enough, without having a +preacher." + +The general compressed his lips at this direct attack on a profession +that he thought the most honorable of any in the world, in some +resentment; but remembering the eighty thousand pounds, and accustomed +to the ways of the other, he curbed his temper, and inquired-- + +"But Miss Howell--your daughter--how did she stand affected to this +priest?" + +"How--why--how?--why I never asked her." + +"Never asked her?" + +"No, never asked her: she is my daughter, you know, and bound to obey my +orders, and I did not choose she should marry a parson; but, once for +all, when is the wedding to take place?" + +General Denbigh had indulged his younger son too blindly and too fondly +to expect that implicit obedience the admiral calculated to a certainty +on, and with every prospect of not being disappointed, from his +daughter. Isabel Howell was pretty, mild, and timid, and unused to +oppose any of her father's commands; but George Denbigh was haughty, +positive, and self-willed, and unless the affair could be so managed as +to make him a willing assistant in the courtship, his father knew it +might be abandoned at once. He thought his son might be led, but not +driven; and, relying on his own powers for managing, the general saw his +only safety in executing the scheme was in postponing his advances for a +regular siege to the lady's heart. + +Sir Peter chafed and swore at this circumlocution: the thing could be +done as well in a week as in a year; and the veterans, who, for a +miracle, had agreed in their rival stations, and in doubtful moments of +success, were near splitting on the point of marrying a girl of +nineteen. + +As Sir Peter both loved his friend, and had taken a prodigious fancy to +the youth, he however was fain to submit to a short probation. + +"You are always for going a round-about way to do a thing," said the +admiral, as he yielded the point. "Now, when you took that battery, had +you gone up in front, as I advised you, you would have taken it in ten +minutes, instead of five hours." + +"Yes," said the other, with a friendly shake of the hand at parting, +"and lost fifty men in place of one by the step." + + + +Chapter XLII. + +The Honorable General Denbigh was the youngest of three sons. His +seniors, Francis and George, were yet bachelors. The death of a cousin +had made Francis a duke while yet a child, and both he and his favorite +brother George, had decided on lives of inactivity and sluggishness. + +"When I die, brother," the oldest would say, "you will succeed me, and +Frederick can provide heirs for the name hereafter." + +This arrangement had been closely adhered to, and the two elder brothers +reached the ages of fifty-five and fifty-six, without altering their +condition. In the mean time, Frederick married a young woman of rank and +fortune; the fruits of their union being the two young candidates for +the hand of Isabel Howell. + +Francis Denbigh, the eldest son of the general, was naturally diffident, +and, in addition, it was his misfortune to be the reverse of captivating +in external appearance. The small-pox sealed his doom;--ignorance, and +the violence of the attack, left him indelibly impressed with the +ravages of that dreadful disorder. Oh the other hand, his brother +escaped without any vestiges of the complaint; and his spotless skin and +fine open countenance, met the gaze of his mother, after the recovery of +the two, in striking contrast to the deformed lineaments of his elder +brother. Such an occurrence is sure to excite one of two feelings in the +breast of every beholder--pity or disgust; and, unhappily for Francis, +maternal tenderness, in his case, was unable to counteract the latter +sensation. George become a favorite, and Francis a neutral. The effect +was easy to be seen, and it was rapid, as it was indelible. + +The feelings of Francis were sensitive to an extreme. He had more +quickness, more sensibility, more real talent than George; which enabled +him to perceive, and caused him to feel more acutely, the partiality of +his mother. + +As yet, the engagements and duties of the general had kept his children +and, their improvements out of his sight; but at the ages of eleven and +twelve, the feelings of a father, began, to take pride in the possession +of his sons. + +On his return from a foreign station, after an absence of two years, his +children were ordered from school to meet him. Francis had improved in +stature, but not in beauty; George had flourished in both. + +The natural diffidence of the former was increased, by perceiving that +he was no favorite, and the effect began to show itself on manners at no +time engaging. He met his father with doubt, and he saw with anguish, +that the embrace received by his brother much exceeded in warmth that +which had been bestowed on himself. + +"Lady Margaret," said the general to his wife, as he followed the boys +as they retired from the dinner table, with his eyes, "it is a thousand +pities George had not been the elder. He would have graced a dukedom or +a throne. Frank is only fit for a parson." + +This ill-judged speech was uttered sufficiently loud to be overheard by +both the sons: on the younger, it made a pleasurable sensation for the +moment. His father--his dear father, had thought him fit to be a king; +and his father must be a judge, whispered his native vanity; but all +this time the connexion between the speech and his brother's rights did +not present themselves to his mind. George loved this brother too well, +too sincerely, to have injured him even in thought; and so far as +Francis was concerned, his vanity was as blameless as it was natural. + +The effect produced on the mind of Francis was different both in +substance and in degree. It mortified his pride, alarmed his delicacy, +and wounded his already morbid sensibility to such an extent, as to make +him entertain the romantic notion of withdrawing from the world, and of +yielding a birthright to one so every way more deserving of it than +himself. + +From this period might be dated an opinion of Francis's, which never +afterwards left him; he fancied he was doing injustice to another, and +that other, a brother whom he ardently loved, by continuing to exist. +Had he met with fondness in his parents, or sociability in his +playfellows, these fancies would have left him as he grew into life. But +the affections of his parents were settled on his more promising +brother; and his manners daily increasing in their repulsive traits, +drove his companions to the society of others, more agreeable to their +own buoyancy and joy. + +Had Francis Denbigh, at this age, met with a guardian clear-sighted +enough to fathom his real character, and competent to direct his onward +course, he would yet have become an ornament to his name and country, +and a useful member of society. But no such guide existed. His natural +guardians, in his particular case, were his worst enemies; and the boys +left school for college four years afterwards, each advanced in his +respective properties of attraction and repulsion. + +Irreligion is hardly a worse evil in a family than favoritism. When once +allowed to exist, in the breast of the parent, though hid apparently +from all other eyes, its sad consequences begin to show themselves. +Effects are produced, and we look in vain for the cause. The awakened +sympathies of reciprocal caresses and fondness are mistaken for uncommon +feelings, and the forbidding aspect of deadened affections is miscalled +native sensibility. + +In this manner the evil increases itself, until manners are formed, and +characters created, that must descend with their possessor to the tomb. + +In the peculiar formation of the mind of Francis Denbigh, the evil was +doubly injurious. His feelings required sympathy and softness, and they +met only with coldness and disgust. George alone was an exception to the +rule. He did love his brother; but even his gaiety and spirits finally +tired of the dull uniformity of the diseased habits of his senior. + +The only refuge Francis found in his solitude, amidst the hundreds of +the university, was in his muse and in the powers of melody. The voice +of his family has been frequently mentioned in these pages; and if, as +Lady Laura had intimated, there had ever been a siren in the race, it +was a male one. He wrote prettily, and would sing these efforts of his +muse to music of his own, drawing crowds around his windows, in the +stillness of the night, to listen to sounds as melodious as they were +mournful. His poetical efforts partook of the distinctive character of +the man, being melancholy, wild, and sometimes pious. + +George was always amongst the most admiring of his brother's auditors, +and would feel a yearning of his heart towards him, at such moments, +that was painful. But George was too young and too heedless, to supply +the place of a monitor, or to draw his thoughts into a more salutary +train. This was the duty of his parents, and should have been their +task. But the world, his rising honors, and his professional +engagements, occupied the time of the father; and fashion, parties, and +pleasure, killed the time of his mother. When they did think of their +children, it was of George; the painful image of Francis being seldom +admitted to disturb their serenity. + +George Denbigh was open-hearted without suspicion, and a favorite. The +first quality taxed his generosity, the second subjected him to fraud, +and the third supplied him with the means. But these means sometimes +failed. The fortune of the general, though handsome, was not more than +competent to support his style of living. He expected to be a duke +himself one day, and was anxious to maintain an appearance now that +would not disgrace his future elevation. A system of strict but liberal +economy had been adopted in the case of his sons. They had, for the sake +of appearances, a stated and equal allowance. + +The duke had offered to educate the heir himself, and under his own eye. +But to this Lady Margaret had found some ingenious excuse, and one that +seemed to herself and the world honorable to her natural feeling; but +had the offer been made to George, these reasons would have vanished in +the desire to advance his interests, or to gratify his propensities. +Such decisions are by no means uncommon; parents having once decided on +the merits and abilities of their children, frequently decline the +interference of third persons, since the improvement of their denounced +offspring might bring their own judgment into question, if it did not +convey an indirect censure on their justice. + +The heedlessness of George brought his purse to a state of emptiness. +His last guinea was gone, and two months were wanting to the end of the +quarter. George had played and been cheated. He had ventured to apply to +his mother for small sums, when his dress or some trifling indulgence +required an advance; and always with success. But here were sixty +guineas gone at a blow, and pride, candor, forbade his concealing the +manner of his loss, if he made the application. This was dreadful; his +own conscience reproached him, and he had so often witnessed the +violence of his mother's resentments against Francis, for faults which +appeared to him very trivial, not to stand in the utmost dread of her +more just displeasure in the present case. + +Entering the apartment of his brother, in this disturbed condition, +George threw himself into a chair, and with his face concealed between +his hands, sat brooding over his forlorn situation. + +"George!" said his brother, soothingly, "you are in distress; can I +relieve you in any way?" + +"Oh no--no--no--Frank; it is entirely out of your power." + +"Perhaps not, my dear brother," continued the other, endeavoring to draw +his hand into his own. + +"Entirely! entirely!" said George. Then springing up in despair, he +exclaimed, "But I must live--I cannot die." + +"Live! die!" cried Francis, recoiling in horror. "What do you mean by +such language? Tell me, George, am I not your brother? Your only brother +and best friend?" + +Francis felt he had no friend if George was not that friend, and his +face grew pale while the tears flowed rapidly down his cheeks. + +George could not resist such an appeal. He caught the hand of his +brother and made him acquainted with his losses and his wants. + +Francis mused some little time over his narration, ere he broke silence. + +"It was all you had?" + +"The last shilling," cried George, beating his head with his hand. + +"How much will you require to make out the quarter?" + +"Oh I must have at least fifty guineas, or how can I live at all?" + +The ideas of life in George were connected a good deal with the manner +it was to be enjoyed. His brother appeared struggling with himself, and +then turning to the other, continued, + +"But surely, under present circumstances, you could make less do." + +"Less, never--hardly that"--interrupted George, vehemently. "If Lady +Margaret did not inclose me a note now and then, how could we get along +at all? don't you find it so yourself, brother?" + +"I don't know," said Francis, turning pale-- + +"Don't know!" cried George, catching a view of his altered countenance-- +"you get the money, though?" + +"I do not remember it," said the other, sighing heavily. + +"Francis," cried George, comprehending the truth, "you shall share every +shilling I receive in future--you shall--indeed you shall." + +"Well, then," rejoined Francis with a smile, "it is a bargain; and you +will receive from me a supply in your present necessities." + +Without waiting for an answer, Francis withdrew into an inner apartment, +and brought out the required sum for his brother's subsistence for two +months. George remonstrated, but Francis was positive; he had been +saving, and his stock was ample for his simple habits without it. + +"Besides, you forget we are partners, and in the end I shall be a +gainer." + +George yielded to his wants and his brother's entreaties, and he gave +him great credit for the disinterestedness of the act. Several weeks +passed without any further allusion to this disagreeable subject, which +had at least the favorable result of making George more guarded and a +better student. + +The brothers, from this period, advanced gradually in those distinctive +qualities which were to mark the future men; George daily improving in +grace and attraction, Francis, in an equal ratio, receding from those +very attainments which it was his too great desire to possess. In the +education of his sons, General Denbigh had preserved the appearance of +impartiality; his allowance to each was the same: they were at the same +college, they had been at the same school; and if Frank did not improve +as much as his younger brother, it was unquestionably his own obstinacy +and stupidity, and surely not want of opportunity or favor. + +Such, then, were the artificial and accidental causes, which kept a +noble, a proud, an acute but a diseased mind, in acquirements much below +another every way its inferior, excepting in the happy circumstance of +wanting those very excellences, the excess and indiscreet management of +which proved the ruin instead of the blessing of their possessor. + +The duke would occasionally rouse himself from his lethargy, and +complain to the father, that the heir of his honors was far inferior to +his younger brother in acquirements, and remonstrate against the course +which produced such an unfortunate inequality. On these occasions a +superficial statement of his system from the general met the objection; +they cost the same money, and he was sure he not only wished but did +everything an indulgent parent could, to render Francis worthy of his +future honors. Another evil of the admission of feelings of partiality, +in the favor of one child, to the prejudice of another, is that the +malady is contagious as well as lasting: it exists without our own +knowledge, and it seldom fails to affect those around us. The uncle soon +learnt to distinguish George as the hope of the family, yet Francis must +be the heir of its honors, and consequently of its wealth. + +The duke and his brother were not much addicted to action, hardly to +reflection; but if anything could rouse them to either, it was the +reputation of the house of Denbigh. Their ideas of reputation, it is +true, were of their own forming. + +The hour at length drew near when George expected a supply from the ill- +judged generosity of his mother; it came, and with a heart beating with +pleasure, the youth flew to the room of Francis with a determination to +force the whole of his twenty pounds on his acceptance. On throwing open +his door, he saw his brother evidently striving to conceal something +behind his books. It was at the hour of breakfast, and George had +intended for a novelty to share his brother's morning repast. They +always met at dinner, but the other meals were made in their own rooms. +George looked in vain for the usual equipage of the table; suspicion +flashed upon him; he threw aside the books, and a crust of bread and a +glass of water met his eye; the truth now flashed upon him in all its +force. + +"Francis, my brother, to what has my extravagance reduced you!" +exclaimed the contrite George with a heart nearly ready to burst. +Francis endeavored to explain, but a sacred regard to the truth held him +tongue-tied, until dropping his head on the shoulder of George, he +sobbed out-- + +"It is a trifle; nothing to what I would do for you, my brother." + +George felt all the horrors of remorse, and was much too generous to +conceal his error any longer; he wrote a circumstantial account of the +whole transaction to Lady Margaret. + +Francis for a few days was a new being. He had acted nobly, his +conscience approved of his motives, and of his delicate concealment of +them; he in fact began to think there were in himself the seeds of +usefulness, as his brother, who from this moment began to understand his +character better, attached himself more closely to him. + +The eye of Francis met that of George with the look of acknowledged +affection, his mind became less moody, and his face was sometimes +embellished with a smile. + +The reply of their mother to the communication of George threw a damp on +the revived hopes of the senior, and drove him back into himself with +tenfold humility. + +"I am shocked, my child, to find that you have lowered yourself, and +forgot the family you belong to, so much as to frequent those gambling- +houses, which ought not to be suffered in the neighborhood of the +universities: when at a proper age and in proper company, your +occasional indulgence at cards I could not object to, as both your +father and myself sometimes resort to it as an amusement, but never in +low company. The consequence of mingling in such society is, that you +were cheated, and such will always be your lot unless you confine +yourself to associates more becoming your rank and illustrious name. + +"As to Francis, I see every reason to condemn the course he has taken. +Being the senior by a year, he should have taken the means to prevent +your falling into such company; and he should have acquainted me +immediately with your loss, in place of wounding your pride by +subjecting you to the mortification of receiving a pecuniary obligation +from one so little older than yourself, and exposing his own health by a +diet on bread and water, as you wrote me, for a whole month. Both the +general and myself are seriously displeased with him, and think of +separating you, as you thus connive at each other's follies." + +George was too indignant to conceal this letter and the reflections of +Francis were dreadful. + +For a short time he actually meditated suicide, as the only method of +removing himself from before the advancement of George. Had not George +been more attentive and affectionate than formerly, the awful expedient +might have been resorted to. + +From college the young men went, one into the army and the other to the +mansion of his uncle. George became an elegant, gay, open-hearted, +admired captain in the guards; and Francis stalked through the halls of +his ancestors, their acknowledged future lord, but a misanthrope; +hateful to himself and disagreeable to all around him. + +This picture may be highly wrought, but the effects, in the case of +Francis, were increased by the peculiar tone of his diseased state of +mind. The indulgence of favoritism, nevertheless, always brings its own +sad consequences, in a greater or less degree, while it seldom fails to +give sorrow and penitence to the bosom of the parents. + + + +Chapter XLIII. + +No little art and management had been necessary to make the admiral +auxiliary to the indirect plan proposed by his friend to bring George +and Isabel together. This, however, effected, the general turned his +whole strategy to the impression to be made on the heart of the young +gentleman. + +Sir Frederick Denbigh had the same idea of the virtue of management as +the Dowager Lady Chatterton, but he understood human nature better. + +Like a prudent officer, his attacks were all masked, and, like a great +officer, they seldom failed of success. + +The young couple were thrown in each other's way, and as Isabel was +extremely attractive, somewhat the opposite to himself in ardor of +temperament and vivacity, modest, and sensible, it cannot be expected +that the association was maintained by the youth with perfect impunity. +Within a couple of months he fancied himself desperately in love with +Isabel Howell; and, in truth, he had some reason for the supposition. + +The general watched every movement of his son with a wary and vigilant +eye--occasionally adding fuel to the flame, by drawing his attention to +projects of matrimony in other quarters, until George began to think he +was soon to undergo a trial of his constancy, and in consequence he +armed himself with a double portion of admiration for his Isabel, in +order to enable himself to endure the persecution; while the admiral +several times endangered the success of the whole enterprise by +volunteer contributions to the hopes of the young man, which only +escaped producing an opposite effect to that which was intended, by +being mistaken for the overflowings of good nature and friendship. + +After suffering his son to get, as he thought, sufficiently entangled in +the snares of Cupid, Sir Frederick determined to fire a volley from one +of his masked batteries, which he rightly judged would bring on a +general engagement. They were sitting at the table after dinner, alone, +when the general took the advantage of the name of Miss Howell being +accidentally mentioned, to say-- + +"By the by, George, my friend the admiral said something yesterday on +the subject of your being so much with his daughter. I wish you to be +cautious, and not to give the old sailor offence in any way, for he is +my particular friend." + +"He need be under no violent apprehensions," cried George, coloring +highly with shame and pride, "I am sure a Denbigh is no unworthy match +for a daughter of Sir Peter Howell." + +"Oh! to be sure not, boy, we are as old a house as there is in the +kingdom, and as noble too; but the admiral has queer notions, and, +perhaps, he has some cub of a sailor in his eye for a son-in-law. Be +prudent, my boy, be prudent; that is all I ask of you." + +The general, satisfied with the effect he had produced, carelessly arose +from his seat, and joined Lady Margaret in her drawing-room. + +George remained for several minutes musing on his father's singular +request, as well as the admiral's caution, when he sprang from his seat, +caught up his hat and sword, and in ten minutes rang at Sir Peter's door +in Grosvenor Square. He was admitted, and ascending to the drawing-room, +he met the admiral on his way out. Nothing was further from the thoughts +of the veteran than a finesse like the general's; and, delighted to see +George on the battle-ground, he pointed significantly over his shoulder +towards the door of the room Isabel was in, and exclaimed, with a good- +natured smile, + +"There she is, my hearty; lay her aside, and hang me if she don't +strike. I say, George, faint heart never won fair lady: remember that, +my boy; no, nor a French ship." + +George would have been at some loss to have reconciled this speech to +his father's caution, if time had been allowed him to think at all; but +the door being open he entered, and found Isabel endeavoring to hide her +tears. + +The admiral, dissatisfied from the beginning with the tardy method of +despatching things, thought he might be of use in breaking the ice for +George, by trumpeting his praises on divers occasions to his daughter. +Under all circumstances, he thought she might be learning to love the +man, as he was to be her husband; and speeches like the following had +been frequent of late from the parent to the child: + +"There's that youngster, George Denbigh: now, Bell, is he not a fine +looking lad? Then I know he is brave. His father before him, was good +stuff and a true Englishman. What a proper husband he would make for a +young woman, he loves his king and country so; none of your new-fangled +notions about religion and government, but a sober, religious churchman; +that is, as much so, girl, as you can expect in the guards. No +Methodist, to be sure;--it's a great pity he wasn't sent to sea, don't +you think so? But cheer up, girl, one of these days he may be taking a +liking to you yet." + +Isabel, whose fears taught her the meaning of these eloquent praises of +Captain Denbigh, listened to these harangues in silence, and often +meditated on their import by herself in tears. + +George approached the sofa on which the lady was seated before she had +time to conceal the traces of her sorrow, and in a voice softened by +emotion, he took her hand gently as he said,-- + +"What can have occasioned this distress to Miss Howell. If anything in +my power to remove, or which a life devoted to her service can mitigate, +she has only to command me to find a cheerful obedience." + +"The trifling causes of sorrow in a young woman," replied Isabel, +endeavoring to smile, "will hardly require such serious services to +remove them." + +But the lady was extremely interesting at the moment. George was goaded +by his father's caution, and urged on by his own feelings, with great +sincerity, and certainly much eloquence, he therefore proffered his love +and hand to the acceptance of his mistress. + +Isabel heard him in painful silence. She respected him, and dreaded his +power over her father; but, unwilling to abandon hopes to which she yet +clung as to her spring of existence, with a violent effort she +determined to throw herself on the generosity of her lover. + +During her father's late absence Isabel had, as usual, since the death +of her mother, been left with his sister, and had formed an attachment +for a young clergyman, a younger son of a baronet, and the present Dr. +Ives. The inclination had been mutual; and as Lady Hawker knew her +brother to be perfectly indifferent to money, she could see no possible +objection to its indulgence. + +On his return, Ives made his proposals, as related; and although warmly +backed by the recommendations of the aunt, he was refused. Out of +delicacy the wishes of Isabel had not been mentioned by her clerical +lover, and the admiral supposed he had only complied with his agreement +with the general, without in any manner affecting the happiness of his +daughter by his answer. But the feelings which prompted the request +still remained in full vigor in the lovers; and Isabel now, with many +blushes and some hesitation of utterance, made George fully acquainted +with the state of her heart, giving him at the same time to understand +that he was the only obstacle to her happiness. + +It cannot be supposed that George heard her without pain or +mortification. The struggle with self-love was a severe one, but his +better feelings prevailed, and he assured the anxious Isabel that from +his importunities she had nothing to apprehend in future. The grateful +girl overwhelmed him with thanks, and George had to fly ere he repented +of his own generosity. + +Miss Howell intimated, in the course of her narrative, that a better +understanding existed between their parents than the caution of the +general had discovered to his unsuspecting child, and George was +determined to know the worst at once. + +At supper he mentioned, as if in remembrance of his father's injunction, +that he had been to take his leave of Miss Howell, since he found his +visits gave uneasiness to her friends. "On the whole," he added, +endeavoring to yawn carelessly, "I believe I shall visit there no more." + +"Nay, nay," returned Sir Frederick, a little displeased at his son's +obedience, "I meant no such thing. Neither the admiral nor myself, has +the least objection to your visiting in moderation; indeed, you may +marry the girl with all our hearts, if you can agree." + +"But we can't agree, I take it," said George, looking up at the wall. + +"Why not? what hinders?' cried his father unguardedly. + +"Only--only I don't like her," said the son, tossing off a glass of +wine, which nearly strangled him. + +"You don't," cried the general with great warmth, thrown entirely off +his guard by this unexpected declaration "and may I presume to ask the +reason why you do not like Miss Howell, sir?" + +"Oh! you know, one never pretends to give a reason for this sort of +feeling, my dear sir." + +"Then," cried his father with increasing heat, "you must allow me to +say, my dear sir, that the sooner you get rid of these sort of feelings +the better. I choose you shall not only like, but love Miss Howell; and +this I have promised her father." + +"I thought that the admiral was displeased with my coming to his house +so much--or did I not understand you this morning?" + +"I know nothing of his displeasure, and care less. He has agreed that +Isabel shall be your wife, and I have passed my word to the engagement; +and if, sir, you wish to be considered as my son, you will prepare to +comply." + +George was expecting to discover some management on the part of his +father, but by no means so settled an arrangement, and his anger was in +proportion to the deception. + +To annoy Isabel any further was out of the question; to betray her, +base; and the next morning he sought an audience with the Duke. To him +he mentioned his wish for actual service, but hinted that the maternal +fondness of Lady Margaret was averse to his seeking it. This was true, +and George now pressed his uncle to assist him in effecting an exchange. + +The boroughs of the Duke of Derwent were represented by loyal members of +parliament, his two brothers being contemporary with Mr. Benfield in +that honor; and a request from a man who sent six members to the +Commons, besides having a seat in the Lords in his own person, must be +listened to. + +Within the week George ceased to be a captain in the guards, and became +lieutenant-colonel of a regiment under orders for America. + +Sir Frederick soon became sensible of the error his warmth had led him +into, and endeavored, by soothing and indulgence, to gain the ground he +had so unguardedly lost. But terrible was his anger, and bitter his +denunciations, when his son acquainted him with his approaching +embarkation with his new regiment for America. They quarrelled; and as +the favorite child had never, until now, been thwarted or spoken harshly +to, they parted in mutual disgust. With his mother George was more +tender; and as Lady Margaret never thought the match such as the +descendant of two lines of dukes was entitled to form, she almost +pardoned the offence in the cause. + +"What's this here?" cried Sir Peter Howell, as he ran over a morning +paper at the breakfast table: "Captain Denbigh, late of the guards, has +been promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the ---- Foot, and sails +to-morrow to join that regiment, now on its way to America." + +"It's a lie, Bell!--it's all a lie! not but what he ought to be there, +too, serving his king and country; but he never would serve you so." + +"Me?" said Isabel, with a heart throbbing with the contending feelings +of admiration for George's generosity, and delight at her own +deliverance. "What have I to do with the movements of Mr. Denbigh?" + +"What!" cried her father in astonishment; "a'n't you to be his wife, +a'n't it all agreed upon--that is, between Sir Frederick and me, which +is the same thing, you know--" + +Here he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the general himself, +who had just learnt the departure of his son and hastened, with the +double purpose of breaking the intelligence to his friend, and of making +his own peace. + +"See here, Denbigh," exclaimed the admiral, pointing to the paragraph, +"what do you say to that?" + +"Too true--too true, my dear friend," replied the general shaking his +head mournfully. + +"Hark ye, Sir Frederick Denbigh," cried the admiral fiercely; "did you +not say that your son George was to marry my daughter?" + +"I certainly did, Sir Peter, and am sorry to say that, in defiance of my +entreaties and commands, he has deserted his home, and, in consequence, +I have discarded him for ever." + +"Now, Denbigh," said the admiral, a good deal mollified by this +declaration, "have I not always told you, that in the army you know +nothing of discipline? Why, sir, if he was a son of mine, he should +marry blindfolded, if I chose to order it. I wish, now, Bell had an +offer, and dared to refuse it." + +"There is the barber's clerk, you know," said the general, a good deal +irritated by the contemptuous manner of his friend. + +"And what of that, Sir Frederick?" said the sailor sternly; "if I choose +her to marry a quill-driver, she shall comply." + +"Ah! my good friend," said the general, willing to drop the disagreeable +subject, "I am afraid we shall both find it more difficult to control +the affections of our children than we at first imagined." + +"You do, General Denbigh?" said the admiral, with a curl of contempt on +his lip; and ringing the bell violently, he bid the servant send his +young lady to him. + +On the appearance of Isabel, her father inquired with an air of settled +meaning where young Mr. Ives resided. It was only in the next street, +and a messenger was sent to him, with Sir Peter Howell's compliments, +and a request to see him without a moment's delay. + +"We'll see, we'll see, my old friend, who keeps the best discipline," +muttered the admiral, as he paced up and down the room, in eager +expectation of the return of his messenger. + +The wondering general gazed on his friend, to ascertain if he was out of +his senses. He knew he was quick to decide, and excessively obstinate, +but he did not think him so crazy as to throw away his daughter in a fit +of spleen. It never occurred to Sir Frederick, however, that the +engagement with himself was an act of equal injustice and folly, because +it was done with more form and deliberation, which, to the eye of sober +reason, would rather make the matter worse. Isabel sat in trembling +suspense for the issue of the scene, and Ives in a few minutes made his +appearance in no little alarm. + +On entering, the admiral addressed him abruptly, by inquiring if he +still wished to marry that girl, pointing to his daughter. The reply was +an eager affirmative. Sir Peter beckoned to Isabel, who approached, +covered with blushes; and her father having placed her hand in that of +her lover, with an air of great solemnity he gave them his blessing. The +young people withdrew to another room at Sir Peter's request, when he +turned to his friend, delighted with his own decision and authority, and +exclaimed, + +"There, Fred. Denbigh, that is what I call being minded." + +The general had penetration enough to see that the result was agreeable +to both the young people, a thing he had long apprehended; and being +glad to get rid of the affair in any way that did not involve him in a +quarrel with his old comrade, he gravely congratulated the admiral on +his good fortune and retired. + +"Yes, yes," said Sir Peter to himself, as he paced up and down his room, +"Denbigh is mortified enough, with his joy, and felicity, and grand- +children. I never had any opinion of their manner of discipline at all; +too much bowing and scraping. I'm sorry, though, he is a priest; not but +what a priest may be as good a man as another, but let him behave ever +so well, he can only get to be a bishop at the most. Heaven forbid he +should ever get to be a Pope! After all, his boys may be admirals if +they behave themselves;" and he went to seek his daughter, having in +imagination manned her nursery with vice and rear admirals in embryo by +the half dozen. + +Sir Peter Howell survived the marriage of his daughter but eighteen +months; yet that was sufficient time to become attached to his +invaluable son-in-law. Mr. Ives insensibly led the admiral, during his +long indisposition, to a more correct view of sacred things, than he had +been wont to entertain; and the old man breathed his last, blessing both +his children for their kindness, and with an humble hope of future +happiness. Some time before his death, Isabel, whose conscience had +always reproached her with the deception practised on her father, and +with the banishment of George from his country and home, threw herself +at the feet of Sir Peter and acknowledged her transgression. + +The admiral heard her in astonishment, but not in anger. His opinions of +life had sensibly changed, and his great cause of satisfaction with his +new son removed all motives for regret for anything but for the fate of +poor George. With the noble forbearance and tenderness of the young man +to his daughter, the hardy veteran was sensibly touched; and his +entreaties with Sir Frederick made his peace with a father already +longing for the return of his only hope. + +The admiral left Colonel Denbigh his blessing, and his favorite pistols, +as a remembrance of his esteem; but he did not live to see the reunion +with his family. + +George had soon learnt, deprived of hope and in the midst of novelty, to +forget a passion which could no longer be prosperous; and two years from +his departure returned to England, glowing in health, and improved in +person and manners by a more extensive knowledge of the world and +mankind. + + + +Chapter XLIV. + +During the time occupied by the foregoing events, Francis continued a +gloomy inmate of his uncle's house. The duke and his brother George were +too indolent and inactive in their minds to pierce the cloud that +mortification and deadened affections had drawn around the real +character of their nephew; and although he was tolerated as the heir, he +was but little loved as a man. + +In losing his brother, Francis lost the only human being with whom he +possessed any sympathies in common; and he daily drew more and more into +himself, in gloomy meditation on his forlorn situation, in the midst of +wealth and expected honors. The attentions he received were paid to his +rank, and Francis had penetration enough to perceive it. His visits to +his parents were visits of ceremony, and in time all parties came to +look to their termination with pleasure, as to the discontinuance of +heartless and forced civilities. + +Affection, even in the young man, could not endure, repulsed as his +feelings were, for ever; and in the course of three years, if his +attachments were not alienated from his parents, his ardor had become +much abated. + +It is a dreadful truth, that the bonds of natural affection can be +broken by injustice and contumely; and it is yet more to be deplored, +that when from such causes we loosen the ties habit and education have +drawn around us, a reaction in our feelings commences; we seldom cease +to love, but we begin to hate. Against such awful consequences it is one +of the most solemn duties of the parent to provide in season; and what +surer safeguard is there, than to inculcate those feelings which teach +the mind to love God, and in so doing induce love to the whole human +family? + +Sir Frederick and Lady Margaret attended the church regularly, repeated +the responses with much decency, toasted the church next to the king, +even appeared at the altars of their God, and continued sinners. From +such sowings, no good fruit could be expected to flourish: yet Francis +was not without his hours of devotion; but his religion was, like +himself, reserved, superstitious, ascetic, and gloomy. He never entered +into social worship: if he prayed it was with an ill-concealed wish to +end this life of care. If he returned thanks, it was with a bitterness +that mocked the throne before which he was prostrate. Such pictures are +revolting; but their originals have and do exist; for what enormity is +there of which human frailty, unchecked by divine assistance, may not be +guilty? + +Francis received an invitation to visit a brother of his mother's at his +seat in the country, about the time of the expected return of George +from America; and in compliance with the wishes of his uncles he +accepted it. The house was thronged with visitors, and many of them were +ladies. To these, the arrival of the unmarried heir of the house of +Derwent was a subject of no little interest. His character had, however, +preceded him, and a few days of his awkward and, as they conceived, +sullen deportment, drove them back to their former beaux, with the +exception of one; and she was not only amongst the fairest of the +throng, but decidedly of the highest pretensions on the score of birth +and fortune. + +Marian Lumley was the only surviving child of the last Duke of +Annerdale, with whom had expired the higher honors of his house. But the +Earldom of Pendennyss, with numerous ancient baronies, were titles in +fee; and together with his princely estates had descended to his +daughter as heir-general of the family. A peeress in her own right, with +an income far exceeding her utmost means of expenditure, the lovely +Countess of Pendennyss was a prize aimed at by all the young nobles of +the empire. + +Educated in the midst of flatterers and dependants she had become +haughty, vain, and supercilious; still she was lovely, and no one knew +better how to practise the most winning arts of her sex, when whim or +interest prompted her to the trial. + +Her host was her guardian and relative; and through his agency she had +rejected, at the age of twenty, numerous suitors for her hand. Her eyes +were fixed on the ducal coronet; and unfortunately for Francis Denbigh, +he was, at the time, the only man of the proper age who could elevate +her to that enviable distinction in the kingdom; and an indirect measure +of her own had been the means of his invitation to the country. + +Like the rest of her young companions, Marian was greatly disappointed +on the view of her intended captive, and for a day or two she abandoned +him to his melancholy and himself. But ambition was her idol; and to its +powerful rival, love, she was yet a stranger. After a few struggles with +her inclinations the consideration that their united fortunes and family +alliances would make one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in +the kingdom, prevailed. Such early sacrifices of the inclinations in a +woman of her beauty, youth and accomplishments, may excite surprise; but +where the mind is left uncultivated by the hand of care, the soul +untouched by the love of goodness, the human heart seldom fails to set +up an idol of its own to worship. In the Countess of Pendennyss this +idol was pride. + +The remainder of the ladies, from ceasing to wonder at the manners of +Francis, had made them the subject of their mirth; and nettled at his +apparent indifference to their society, which they erroneously +attributed to his sense of his importance, they overstepped the bounds +of good-breeding in manifesting their displeasure. + +"Mr. Denbigh," cried one of the most thoughtless and pretty of the gay +tribe to him one day, as Francis sat in a corner abstracted from the +scene around him, "when do you mean to favor the world with your +brilliant ideas in the shape of a book?" + +"Oh! no doubt soon," said a second; "and I expect they will be homilies, +or another volume to the Whole Duty of Man." + +"Rather," cried a third, with bitter irony, "another canto to the Rape +of the Lock, his ideas are so vivid and full of imagery." + +"Or, what do you think," said a fourth, speaking in a voice of harmony, +and tones of the most soothing tenderness, "of pity and compassion, for +the follies of those inferior minds, who cannot enjoy the reflections of +a good sense and modesty peculiarly his own?" + +This might also be irony; and Francis thought it so; but the tones were +so soft and conciliating, that with a face pale with his emotions, he +ventured to look up and met the eye of Marian, fixed on him in an +expression that changed his death-like hue into the color of vermillion. + +He thought of this speech; he reasoned on it; he dreamt on it. But for +the looks which accompanied it, like the rest of the party, he would +have thought it the cruellest cut of them all. But that look, those +eyes, that voice, what a commentary on her language did they not afford! + +Francis was not long in suspense; the next morning an excursion was +proposed, which included all but himself in its arrangements. He was +either too reserved or too proud to offer services which were not +required. + +Several gentlemen had contended for the honor of driving the countess in +a beautiful phaeton of her own. They grew earnest in their claims: one +had been promised by its mistress with an opportunity of trying the ease +of the carriage; another was delighted with the excellent training of +her horses; in short, all had some particular claim to the distinction, +which was urged with a warmth and pertinacity proportionate to the value +of the prize to be obtained. Marian heard the several claimants with an +ease and indifference natural to her situation, and ended the dispute by +saying-- + +"Gentlemen, as I have made so many promises from the dread of giving +offence, I must throw myself on the mercy of Mr. Denbigh, who alone, +with the best claims, does not urge them; to you then," continued she, +approaching him with the whip which was to be given the victor, "I +adjudge the prize, if you will condescend to accept it." + +This was uttered with one of her most attractive smiles, and Francis +received the whip with an emotion that he with difficulty could control. + +The gentlemen were glad to have the contest decided by adjudging the +prize to one so little dangerous, and the ladies sneered at her choice +as they left the house. + +There was something so soothing in the manners of Lady Pendennyss, she +listened to the little he said with such a respectful attention, was so +anxious to have him give his opinions, that the unction of flattery, +thus sweetly applied, and for the first time, could not fail of its +wonted effects. + +The communications thus commenced were continued. It was so easy to be +attentive, by being simply polite to one unused to notice of any kind, +that Marian found the fate of the young man in her hands almost as soon +as she attempted to control it. + +A new existence opened upon Francis, as day after day she insensibly led +him to a display of powers he was unconscious until now of possessing +himself. His self-respect began to increase, his limited pleasures to +multiply, and he could now look around him with a sense of participation +in the delights of life, as he perceived himself of consequence to this +much admired woman. + +Trifling incidents, managed on her part with consummate art, had led him +to the daring inference that he was not entirely indifferent to her; and +Francis returned the incipient affection of his mistress with a feeling +but little removed from adoration. Week flew by after week, and still he +lingered at the residence of his kinsman, unable to tear himself from +the society of one so worshipped, and yet afraid to take a step by +making a distinct declaration which might involve him in disgrace or +ridicule. + +The condescension of the countess increased, and she had indirectly +given him the most flattering assurances of his success, when George, +just arrived from America, having first paid his greetings to his +reconciled parents, and the happy couple of his generosity, flew to the +arms of his brother in Suffolk. + +Francis was overjoyed to see George, and George delighted in the visible +improvement of his brother. Still Francis was far, very far behind his +junior in graces of mind and body; indeed, few men in England were more +adapted by nature and education for female society than was Colonel +Denbigh at the period of which we write. + +Marian witnessed all his attractions, and deeply felt their influence; +for the first time she felt the emotions of the gentle passion; and +after having sported in the gay world, and trifled with the feelings of +others for years, the countess in her turn became an unwilling victim to +its power. George met her flame with a corresponding ardor, and the +struggle between ambition and love became severe; the brothers +unconsciously were rivals. + +Had George for a moment suspected the situation of the feelings of +Francis, his very superiority in the contest would have induced him to +retreat from the unnatural rivalry. Had the elder dreamt of the views of +his junior, he would have abandoned his dearest hopes in utter despair. +Francis had so long been accustomed to consider George as his superior +in everything, that a competition with him would have appeared +desperate. Marian contrived to keep both in hopes, undecided herself +which to choose, and perhaps ready to yield to the first applicant. A +sudden event, however, removed all doubts, and decided the fate of the +three. + +The Duke of Derwent and his bachelor brother became so dissatisfied with +the character of their future heir, that they as coolly set about +providing themselves with wives as they had performed any other ordinary +transaction of life, They married cousins, and on the same day the +choice of the ladies was assigned between them by lots; and if his grace +got the prettier, his brother certainly got the richest; under the +circumstances a very tolerable distribution of fortune's favors. + +These double marriages dissolved the charm of Francis, and Lady +Pendennyss determined to consult her wishes; a little pointed +encouragement brought out the declaration of George, and he was +accepted. + +Francis, who had never communicated his feelings to any one but the +lady, and that only indirectly, was crushed by the blow. He continued in +public until the day of their union; was present, composed and silent; +but it was the silence of a mountain whose volcanic contents had not +reached the surface. The same day he disappeared, and every inquiry +after him proved fruitless; search was baffled, and for seven years it +was not known what had become of the general's eldest son. + +George on marrying resigned his commission, at the earnest entreaties of +his wife, and retired to one of her seats, to the enjoyment of ease and +domestic love. The countess was enthusiastically attached to him; and as +motives for the indulgence of coquetry were wanting, her character +became gradually improved by the contemplation of the excellent +qualities of her generous husband. + +A lurking suspicion of the cause of Francis's sudden disappearance +rendered her uneasy at times; but Marian was too much beloved, too +happy, in the enjoyment of too many honors, and of too great wealth, to +be open to the convictions of conscience. It is in our hours of pain and +privation that we begin to feel its sting: if we are prosperous, we +fancy we reap the fruits of our own merit; but if we are unfortunate, +the voice of truth seldom fails to remind us that we are deserving of +our fate:--a blessed provision of Providence that often makes the +saddest hours of our earthly career the morn of a day that is to endure +for ever. + +General Denbigh and Lady Margaret both died within five years of the +marriage of their favorite child, although both lived to see their +descendant, in the person of the infant Lord Lumley. + +The duke and his brother George were each blessed with offspring, and in +these several descendants of the different branches of the family of +Denbigh may be seen the different personages of our history. On the +birth of her youngest child, the Lady Marian, the Countess of Pendennyss +sustained a shock in her health from which she never wholly recovered: +she became nervous, and lost most of her energy both of mind and body. +Her husband was her solace; his tenderness remaining unextinguished, +while his attentions increased. + +As the fortune of Ives and Isabel put the necessity of a living out of +the question, and no cure offering for the acceptance of the first, he +was happy to avail himself of an offer to become domestic chaplain to +his now intimate friend, Mr. Denbigh. For the first six years they were +inmates of Pendennyss Castle. The rector of the parish was infirm, and +averse to a regular assistant; but the unobtrusive services of Mr. Ives +were not less welcome to the pastor than to his parishioners. + +Employed in the duties which of right fell to the incumbent, and +intrusted with the spiritual guardianship of the dependants of the +castle, our young clergyman had ample occupation for all his time, if +not a sufficient theatre for his usefulness. Isabel and himself remained +the year round in Wales, and the first dawnings of education received by +Lord Lumley were those he acquired conjointly with Francis from the care +of the latter's father. They formed, with the interval of the time spent +by Mr. Denbigh and Lady Pendennyss in town in winter, but one family. To +the gentleman, the attachment of the grateful Ives was as strong as it +was lasting. Mrs. Ives never ceased to consider him as a self-devoted +victim to her happiness; and although a far more brilliant lot had +awaited him by the change, yet her own husband could not think it a more +happy one. + +The birth of Lady Marian had already, in its consequences, begun, to +throw a gloom round the domestic comforts of Denbigh, when he was to +sustain another misfortune in a separation from his friends. + +Mr., now Dr. Ives, had early announced his firm intention, whenever an +opportunity was afforded him, to enter into the fullest functions of his +ministry, as a matter of duty. Such an opportunity now offered at B----, +and the doctor became its rector about the period Sir Edward became +possessor of his paternal estate. + +Denbigh tried every inducement within his power to keep the doctor in +his own society. If as many thousands as his living would give him +hundreds could effect it, they would have been at his service; but +Denbigh understood the character of the divine too well to offer such an +inducement: he however urged the claims of friendship to the utmost, but +without success. The doctor acknowledged the hold both himself and +family had gained upon his affections, but he added-- + +"Consider, my dear Mr. Denbigh, what we would have thought of one of the +earlier followers of our Saviour, who from motives of convenience or +worldly-mindedness could have deserted his sacred calling. Although the +changes in the times may have rendered the modes of conducting them +different, necessarily the duties remain the same. The minister of our +holy religion who has once submitted to the call of his divine Master, +must allow nothing but ungovernable necessity to turn him from the path +he has entered on; and should he so far forget himself, I greatly fear +he would plead, when too late to remedy the evil, his worldly duties, +his cares, or even his misfortunes, in vain. Solemn and arduous are his +obligations to labor, but when faithfully he has discharged these +duties, oh! how glorious must be his reward." + +Before such opinions every barrier must fall, and the doctor entered +into the cure of his parish without further opposition, though not +without unceasing regret on the part of his friend. Their intercourse +was, however, maintained by letter, and they also frequently met at +Lumley Castle, a seat of the countess's, within two days' ride of the +doctor's parish, until her increasing indisposition rendered journeying +impossible; then, indeed, the doctor extended his rides into Wales, but +with longer intervals between his visits, though with the happiest +effects to the objects of his journey. + +Mr. Denbigh, worn down with watching and blasted hopes, under the +direction of the spiritual watchfulness of the rector of B----, became +an humble, sincere, and pious Christian. + + + +Chapter XLV. + +It has been already mentioned, that the health of Lady Pendennyss +suffered a severe shock, in giving birth to a daughter. Change of scene +was prescribed as a remedy for her disorder, and Denbigh and his wife +were on their return from a fruitless excursion amongst the northern +lakes, in pursuit of amusement and relief for the latter when they were +compelled to seek shelter from the fury of a sudden gust in the first +building that offered. It was a farm-house of the better sort; and the +attendants, carriages, and appearance of their guests, caused no little +confusion to its simple inmates. A fire was lighted in the best parlor, +and every effort was made by the inhabitants to contribute to the +comforts of the travellers. + +The countess and her husband were sitting in that kind of listless +melancholy which had been too much the companion of their later hours, +when in the interval of the storm, a male voice in an adjoining room +commenced singing the following ballad, the notes being low, monotonous, +but unusually sweet, and the enunciation so distinct, as to rende every +syllable intelligible: + +Oh! I have lived in endless pain, And I have lived, alas! in vain, For +none regard my woe--No father's care conveyed the truth, No mother's +fondness blessed my youth, Ah! joys too great to know-- + +And Marian's love, and Marian's pride, Have crushed the heart that would +have died. To save my Marian's tears--A brother's hand has struck the +blow Oh! may that brother never know Such madly sorrowing years! + +But hush my griefs--and hush my song, I've mourned in vain--I've mourned +too long; When none have come to soothe--And dark's the path, that lies +before, And dark have been the days of yore, And all was dark in youth. + +The maids employed around the person of their comfortless mistress, the +valet of Denbigh engaged in arranging a dry coat for his master--all +suspended their employments to listen in breathless silence to the +mournful melody of the song. + +But Denbigh himself had started from his seat at the first notes, and he +continued until the voice ceased, gazing in vacant horror in the +direction of the sounds. A door opened from the parlor to the room of +the musician; he rushed through it, and there, in a kind of shed to the +building, which hardly sheltered him from the fury of the tempest, clad +in the garments of the extremest poverty, with an eye roving in madness, +and a body rocking to and fro from mental inquietude, he beheld seated +on a stone the remains of his long lost brother, Francis. + +The language of the song was too plain to be misunderstood. The truth +glared around George with a violence that dazzled his brain; but he saw +it all, he felt it all, and rushing to the feet of his brother, he +exclaimed in horror, pressing his hands between his own,-- + +"Francis--my own brother--do you not know me?" + +The maniac regarded him with a vacant gaze, but the voice and the person +recalled the compositions of his more reasonable moments to his +recollection; pushing back the hair of George, so as to expose his fine +forehead to view, he contemplated him for a few moments, and then +continued to sing, in a voice still rendered sweeter than before by his +faint impressions: + +His raven locks, that richly curled, His eye, that proud defiance +hurled. Have stol'n my Marian's love! Had I been blest by nature's +grace, With such a form, with such a face, Could I so treacherous prove? + +And what is man--and what is care--That he should let such passions tear +The bases of the soul! Oh! you should do, as I have done--And having +pleasure's summit won, Each bursting sob control! + +On ending the last stanza, the maniac released his brother, and broke +into the wildest laugh of madness. + +"Francis!--Oh! Francis, my brother," cried George, in bitterness. A +piercing shriek drew his eye to the door he had passed through--on its +threshold lay the senseless body of his wife. The distracted husband +forgot everything in the situation of his Marian, and raising her in his +arms, he exclaimed,-- + +"Marian--my Marian, revive--look up--know me." + +Francis had followed him, and now stood by his side, gazing intently on +the lifeless body; his looks became more soft--his eye glanced less +wildly--he too cried,-- + +"Marian--My Marian." + +There was a mighty effort; nature could endure no more, he broke a +blood-vessel and fell at the feet of George. They flew to his +assistance, giving the countess to her women; but he was dead. + +For seventeen years Lady Pendennyss survived this shock: but having +reached her own abode, during that long period she never left her room. + +In the confidence of his surviving hopes, Doctor Ives and his wife were +made acquainted with the real cause of the grief of their friend, but +the truth went no further. Denbigh was the guardian of his three young +cousins, the duke, his sister, and young George Denbigh; these, with his +son, Lord Lumley, and daughter, Lady Marian, were removed from the +melancholy of the Castle to scenes better adapted to their opening +prospects in life. Yet Lumley was fond of the society of his father, and +finding him a youth endowed beyond his years, the care of his parent was +early turned to the most important of his duties in that sacred office; +and when he yielded to his wishes to go into the army, he knew he went a +youth of sixteen, possessed of principles and self-denial that would +become a man of five-and-twenty. + +General Wilson completed the work which the father had begun; and Lord +Lumley formed a singular exception to the character of most of his +companions. + +At the close of the Spanish war, he returned home, and was just in time +to receive the parting breath of his mother. + +A few days before her death, the countess requested that her children +might be made acquainted with her history and misconduct; and she placed +in the hands of her son a letter; with directions for him to open it +after her decease. It was addressed to both children, and after +recapitulating generally the principal events of her life, continued: + +"Thus, my children, you perceive the consequences of indulgence and +hardness of heart, which made me insensible to the sufferings of others, +and regardless of the plainest dictates of justice. Self was my idol. +The love of admiration, which was natural to me, was increased by the +flatterers who surrounded me; and had the customs of our country +suffered royalty to descend in their unions to a grade in life below +their own, your uncle would have escaped the fangs of my baneful +coquetry. + +"Oh! Marian, my child, never descend so low as to practise those arts +which have degraded your unhappy mother. I would impress on you, as a +memorial of my parting affection, these simple truths--that coquetry +stands next to the want of chastity in the scale of female vices; it is +in fact a kind of mental prostitution; it is ruinous to all that +delicacy of feeling which gives added lustre to female charms; it is +almost destructive to modesty itself. A woman who has been addicted to +its practice, may strive long and in vain to regain that singleness of +heart, which can bind her up so closely in her husband and children as +to make her a good wife or a mother; and if it should have degenerated +into habit, it may lead to the awful result of infidelity to her +marriage vows. + +"It is vain for a coquette to pretend to religion; its practice involves +hypocrisy, falsehood, and deception--everything that is mean--everything +that is debasing. In short, as it is bottomed on selfishness and pride, +where it has once possessed the mind, it will only yield to the truth- +displaying banners of the cross. This, and this only, can remove the +evil; for without it she, whom the charms of youth and beauty have +enabled to act the coquette, will descend into the vale of life, +altered, it is true, but not amended. She will find the world, with its +allurements, clinging around her parting years, in vain regrets for days +that are flown, and in mercenary views for her descendants. Heaven bless +you, my children, console and esteem your inestimable father while he +yet remains with you; and place your reliance on that Heavenly Parent +who will never desert those who seek him in sincerity and love. Your +dying mother, + +"M. PENDENNYSS." + +This letter, evidently written under the excitement of deep remorse, +made a great impression on both her children. In Lady Marian it was +pity, regret, and abhorrence of the fault which had been the principal +cause of the wreck of her mother's peace of mind; but in her brother, +now Earl of Pendennyss, these feelings were united with a jealous dread +of his own probable lot in the chances of matrimony. + +His uncle had been the supposed heir to a more elevated title than his +own, but he was now the actual possessor of as honorable a name, and of +much larger revenues. The great wealth of his maternal grandfather, and +the considerable estate of his own father, were, or would soon be, +centred in himself; and if a woman as amiable, as faultless, as +affection had taught him to believe his mother to be, could yield in her +situation to the lure of worldly honors, had he not great reason to +dread, that a hand might be bestowed at some day upon himself, when the +heart would point out some other destination, if the real wishes of its +owner were consulted? + +Pendennyss was modest by nature, and humble from principle, though by no +means distrustful; yet the shock of discovering his mother's fault, the +gloom occasioned by her death and his father's declining health, +sometimes led him into a train of reflections which, at others, he would +have fervently deprecated. + +A short time after the decease of the countess, Mr. Denbigh, finding his +constitution fast giving way, under the wasting of a decline he had been +in for a year, resolved to finish his days in the abode of his Christian +friend, Doctor Ives. For several years they had not met; increasing +duties and infirmities on both sides having interrupted their visits. + +By easy stages he left the residence of his son in Wales, and +accompanied by both his children he reached Lumley Castle much +exhausted; here he took a solemn and final leave of Marian, unwilling +that she should so soon witness again the death of another parent, and +dismissing the earl's equipage and attendants a short day's ride from B- +---, they proceeded alone to the rectory. + +A letter had been forwarded acquainting the doctor of his approaching +visit, wishing it to be perfectly private, but not alluding to its +object, and naming a day, a week later than the one on which he arrived. +This plan was altered on perceiving the torch of life more rapidly +approaching the socket than he had at first supposed. His unexpected +appearance and reception are known. Denbigh's death and the departure of +his son followed; Francis having been Pendennyss's companion to the tomb +of his ancestors in Westmoreland. + +The earl had a shrinking delicacy, under the knowledge of his family +history, that made him anxious to draw all eyes from the contemplation +of his mother's conduct; how far the knowledge of it had extended in +society he could not know, but he wished it buried with her in the tomb. +The peculiar manner of his father's death would attract notice, and +might recall attention to the prime cause of his disorder; as yet all +was veiled, and he wished the doctor's family to let it remain so. It +was, however, impossible that the death of a man of Mr. Denbigh's rank +should be unnoticed in the prints, and the care of Francis dictated the +simple truth without comments, as it appeared. As regarded the Moseleys, +what was more natural than that the son of Mr. Denbigh should also be +Mr. Denbigh? + +In the presence of the rector's family no allusions were made to their +friends, and the villagers and the neighborhood spoke of them as old and +young Mr. Denbigh. + +The name of Lord Lumley, now Earl of Pendennyss, was known to the whole +British nation; but the long retirement of his father and mother had +driven them almost from the recollection of their friends. Even Mrs. +Wilson supposed her favorite hero a Lumley. Pendennyss Castle had been +for centuries the proud residence of that family; and the change of name +in its possessor was forgotten with the circumstances that had led to +it. + +When, therefore, Emily met the earl so unexpectedly the second time at +the rectory, she, of course, with all her companions, spoke of him as +Mr. Denbigh. On that occasion, Pendennyss had called in person, in +expectation of meeting his kinsman, Lord Bolton; but, finding him +absent, he could not resist his desire to visit the rectory. +Accordingly, he sent his carriage and servants on to London, leaving +them at a convenient spot, and arrived on foot at the house of Dr. Ives. +From the same motives which had influenced him before--a wish to +indulge, undisturbed by useless ceremony, his melancholy reflections--he +desired that his name might not be mentioned. + +This was an easy task. Both Doctor and Mrs. Ives had called him, when a +child, George or Lumley, and were unused to his new appellation of +Pendennyss; indeed, it rather recalled painful recollections to them +all. + +It may be remembered that circumstances removed the necessity of any +introduction to Mrs. Wilson and her party; and the difficulty in that +instance was happily got rid of. + +The earl had often heard Emily Moseley spoken of by his friends, and in +their letters they frequently mentioned her name as connected with their +pleasures and employments, and always with an affection Pendennyss +thought exceeding that which they manifested for their son's wife; and +Mrs Ives, the evening before, to remove unpleasant thoughts, had given +him a lively description of her person and character. The earl's +curiosity had been a little excited to see this paragon of female beauty +and virtue; and, unlike most curiosity on such subjects, he was +agreeably disappointed by the examination. He wished to know more, and +made interest with the doctor to assist him to continue the incognito +with which accident had favored him. + +The doctor objected on the ground of principle, and the earl desisted; +but the beauty of Emily, aided by her character, had made an impression +not to be easily shaken off, and Pendennyss returned to the charge. + +His former jealousies were awakened in proportion to his admiration; +and, after some time, he threw himself on the mercy of the divine, by +declaring his new motive, but without mentioning his parents. The doctor +pitied him, for he scanned his feelings thoroughly, and consented to +keep silent, but laughingly declared it was bad enough for a divine to +be accessory to, much less aiding in a deception; and that he knew if +Emily and Mrs. Wilson learnt his imposition, he would lose ground in +their favor by the discovery. + +"Surely, George," said the doctor with a laugh, "you don't mean to marry +the young lady as Mr. Denbigh?" + +"Oh, no! it is too soon to think of marrying her at all," replied the +earl with a smile; "but, somehow, I should like to see what my reception +in the world will be as plain Mr. Denbigh, unprovided for and unknown." + +"No doubt, my lord," said the rector archly, "in proportion to your +merits, very unfavorably indeed; but then your humility will be finally +elevated by the occasional praises I have heard Mrs. Wilson lavish on +your proper character of late." + +"I am much indebted to her partiality," continued the earl mournfully; +then throwing off his gloomy thoughts he added, "I wonder, my dear +doctor, your goodness did not set her right in the latter particular." + +"Why, she has hardly given me an opportunity; delicacy and my own +feelings have kept me very silent on the subject of your family to any +of that connexion. They think, I believe, I was a rector in Wales, +instead of your father's chaplain; and somehow," continued the doctor, +smiling on his wife, "the association with your late parents was so +connected in my mind with my most romantic feelings, that although I +have delighted in it, I have seldom alluded to it in conversation at +all. Mrs. Wilson has spoken of you but twice in my hearing, and that +since she has expected to meet you; your name has doubtless recalled the +remembrance of her husband." + +"I have many, many reasons to remember the general with gratitude," +cried the earl with fervor; "but doctor, do not forget my incognito: +only call me George; I ask no more." + +The plan of Pendennyss was put in execution. Day after day he lingered +in Northamptonshire, until his principles and character had grown upon +the esteem of the Moseleys in the manner we have mentioned. + +His frequent embarrassments were from the dread and shame of a +detection. With Sir Herbert Nicholson he had a narrow escape, and Mrs. +Fitzgerald and Lord Henry Stapleton he of course avoided; for having +gone so far, he was determined to persevere to the end. Egerton he +thought knew him, and he disliked his character and manners. + +When Chatterton appeared most attentive to Emily, the candor and good +opinion of that young nobleman made the earl acquainted with his wishes +and his situation. Pendennyss was too generous not to meet his rival on +fair grounds. His cousin and the duke were requested to use their united +influence secretly to obtain the desired station for the baron. The +result is known, and Pendennyss trusted his secret to Chatterton; he +took him to London, gave him in charge to Derwent, and returned to +prosecute his own suit. His note from Bolton Castle was a ruse to +conceal his character, as he knew the departure of the baronet's family +to an hour, and had so timed his visit to the earl as not to come in +collision with the Moseleys. + +"Indeed, my lord," cried the doctor to him one day, "your scheme goes on +swimmingly, and I am only afraid when your mistress discovers the +imposition, you will find your rank producing a different effect from +what you have apprehended." + + + +Chapter XLVI. + +But Dr. Ives was mistaken. Had he seen the sparkling eyes and glowing +cheeks of Miss Moseley, the smile of satisfaction and happiness which +played on the usually thoughtful face of Mrs. Wilson, when the earl +handed them into his own carriage, as they left his house on the evening +of the discovery, the doctor would have gladly acknowledged the failure +of his prognostics. In truth, there was no possible event that, under +the circumstances, could have given both aunt and niece such heartfelt +pleasure, as the knowledge that Denbigh and the earl were the same +person. + +Pendennyss stood holding the door of the carriage in his hand, +irresolute how to act, when Mrs. Wilson said-- + +"Surely, my lord, you sup with us." + +"A thousand thanks, my dear madam, for the privilege," cried the earl, +as he sprang into the coach; the door was closed, and they drove off. + +"After the explanations of this morning, my lord," said Mrs. Wilson, +willing to remove all doubts between him and Emily, and perhaps anxious +to satisfy her own curiosity, "it will be fastidious to conceal our +desire to know more of your movements. How came your pocket-book in the +possession of Mrs. Fitzgerald?" + +"Mrs. Fitzgerald!" cried Pendennyss, in astonishment "I lost the book in +one of the rooms of the Lodge, and supposed it had fallen into your +hands, and betrayed my disguise by Emily's rejection of me, and your own +altered eye. Was I mistaken then in both?" + +Mrs. Wilson now, for the first time, explained their real grounds for +refusing his offers, which, in the morning, she had loosely mentioned as +owing to a misapprehension of his just character, and recounted the +manner of the book falling into the hands of Mrs. Fitzgerald. + +The earl listened in amazement, and after musing with himself, +exclaimed-- + +"I remember taking it from my pocket, to show Colonel Egerton some +singular plants I had gathered, and think I first missed it when +returning to the place where I had then laid it; in some of the side- +pockets were letters from Marian, addressed to me, properly; and I +naturally thought they had met your eye." + +Mrs. Wilson and Emily immediately thought Egerton the real villain, who +had caused both themselves and Mrs. Fitzgerald so much uneasiness, and +the former mentioned her suspicions to the earl. + +"Nothing more probable, dear madam," cried he, "and this explains to me +his startled looks when we first met, and his evident dislike to my +society, for he must have seen my person, though the carriage hid him +from my sight." + +That Egerton was the wretch, and that through his agency the pocket-book +had been carried to the cottage, they all now agreed, and turned to more +pleasant subjects. + +"Master!--here--master," said Peter Johnson, as he stood at a window of +Mr. Benfield's room, stirring a gruel for the old gentleman's supper, +and stretching his neck and straining his eyes to distinguish objects by +the light of the lamps--"I do think there is Mr. Denbigh, handing Miss +Emmy from a coach, covered with gold, and two footmen, all dizened with +pride like." + +The spoon fell from the hands of Mr. Benfield. He rose briskly from his +seat, and adjusting his dress, took the arm of the steward, and +proceeded to the drawing-room. While these several movements were in +operation, which consumed some time, the old bachelor relieved the +tedium of Peter's impatience by the following speech:-- + +"Mr. Denbigh!--what, back?--I thought he never could let that rascal +John shoot him and forsake Emmy after all; (here the old gentleman +suddenly recollected Denbigh's marriage) but now, Peter, it can do no +good either.--I remember, that when my friend the Earl of Gosford "-- +(and again he was checked by the image of the card-table and the +viscountess) "but, Peter," he said with great warmth, "we can go down +and see him, notwithstanding." + +"Mr. Denbigh!" exclaimed Sir Edward, in astonishment, when he saw the +companion of his sister and child enter the drawing-room, "you are +welcome once more to your old friends: your sudden retreat from us gave +us much pain; but we suppose Lady Laura had too many attractions to +allow us to keep you any longer in Norfolk." + +The good Baronet sighed, as he held out his hand to the man whom he had +once hoped to receive as a son. + +"Neither Lady Laura nor any other lady, my dear Sir Edward," cried the +earl, as he took the baronet's hand, "drove me from you, but the frowns +of your own fair daughter; and here she is, ready to acknowledge her +offence, and, I hope, to atone for it." + +John, who knew of the refusal of his sister, and was not a little +displeased with the cavalier treatment he had received at Denbigh's +hands, felt indignant at such improper levity in a married man, and +approached with-- + +"Your servant, Mr. Denbigh--I hope my Lady Laura is well." + +Pendennyss understood his look, and replied very gravely-- + +"Your servant, Mr. John Moseley--my Lady Laura is, or certainly ought to +be, very well, as she has this moment gone to a rout, accompanied by her +husband." + +The quick eye of John glanced from the earl to his aunt, to Emily; a +lurking smile was on all their features. The heightened color of his +sister, the flashing eyes of the young nobleman, the face of his aunt, +all told him that something uncommon was about to be explained; and, +yielding to his feelings, he caught the hand which Pendennyss extended +to him, and cried, + +"Denbigh, I see--I feel--there is some unaccountable mistake--we are--" + +"Brothers!" said the earl, emphatically. "Sir Edward--dear Lady Moseley, +I throw myself on your mercy. I am an impostor: when your hospitality +received me into your house, it is true you admitted George Denbigh, but +he is better known as the Earl of Pendennyss." + +"The Earl of Pendennyss!" exclaimed Lady Moseley, in a glow of delight, +as she saw at once through some juvenile folly a deception which +promised both happiness and rank to one of her children. "Is it +possible, my dear Charlotte, that this is your unknown friend?" + +"The very same, Anne," replied the smiling widow, "and guilty of a folly +that, at all events, removes the distance between us a little, by +showing that he is subject to the failings of mortality. But the +masquerade is ended, and I hope you and Edward will not only treat him +as an earl, but receive him as a son." + +"Most willingly--most willingly," cried the baronet, with great energy; +"be he prince, peer, or beggar, he is the preserver of my child, and as +such he is always welcome." + +The door now slowly opened, and the venerable bachelor appeared on its +threshold. + +Pendennyss, who had never forgotten the good will manifested to him by +Mr. Benfield, met him with a look of pleasure, as he expressed his +happiness at seeing him again in London. + +"I never have forgotten your goodness in sending honest Peter such a +distance from home, on the object of his visit. I now regret that a +feeling of shame occasioned my answering your kindness so laconically:" +turning to Mrs. Wilson, he added, "for a time I knew not how to write a +letter even, being afraid to sign my proper appellation, and ashamed to +use my adopted." + +"Mr. Denbigh, I am happy to see you. I did send Peter, it is true, to +London, on a message to you--but it is all over now," the old man +sighed--"Peter, however, escaped the snares of this wicked place; and if +you are happy, I am content. I remember when the Earl of--" + +"Pendennyss!" exclaimed the other, "imposed on the hospitality of a +worthy man, under an assumed appellation, in order to pry into the +character of a lovely female, who was only too good for him, and who now +is willing to forget his follies, and make him not only the happiest of +men, but the nephew of Mr. Benfield." + +During this speech, the countenance of Mr. Benfield had manifested +evident emotion: he looked from one to another, until he saw Mrs. Wilson +smiling near him. Pointing to the earl with his finger, he stood unable +to speak, as she answered simply,-- + +"Lord Pendennyss." + +"And Emmy dear--will you--will you marry him?" cried Mr. Benfield, +suppressing his feelings, to give utterance to his question. + +Emily felt for her uncle, and blushing deeply, with great frankness she +put her hand in that of the earl, who pressed it with rapture again and +again to his lips. + +Mr. Benfield sank into a chair, and with a heart softened by emotion, +burst into tears. + +"Peter," he cried, struggling with his feelings, "I am now ready to +depart in peace--I shall see my darling Emmy happy, and to her care I +shall commit you." + +Emily, deeply affected with his love, threw herself into his arms, in a +torrent of tears, and was removed from them by Pendennyss, in +consideration for the feelings of both. + +Jane felt no emotions of envy for her sister's happiness; on the +contrary, she rejoiced in common with the rest of their friends in her +brightening prospects, and they all took their seats at the supper +table, as happy a group as was contained in the wide circle of the +metropolis. A few more particulars served to explain the mystery +sufficiently, until a more fitting opportunity made them acquainted with +the whole of the earl's proceedings. + +"My Lord Pendennyss," said Sir Edward, pouring out a glass of wine, and +passing the bottle to his neighbor: "I drink your health--and happiness +to yourself and my darling child." + +The toast was drunk by all the family, and the earl replied to the +compliments with his thanks and smiles, while Emily could only notice +them with her blushes and tears. + +But this was an opportunity not to be lost by the honest steward, who, +from affection and long services, had been indulged in familiarities +exceeding any other of his master's establishment. He very deliberately +helped himself to a glass of wine, and drawing near the seat of the +bride-elect, with an humble reverence, commenced his speech as follows: + +"My dear Miss Emmy:--Here's hoping you'll live to be a comfort to your +honored father, and your honored mother, and my dear honored master, and +yourself, and Madam Wilson." The steward paused to clear his voice, and +profited by the delay to cast his eye round the table to collect the +names; "and Mr. John Moseley, and sweet Mrs. Moseley, and pretty Miss +Jane" (Peter had lived too long in the world to compliment one handsome +woman in the presence of another, without the qualifying his speech a +little); "and Mr. Lord Denbigh--earl like, as they say he now is, and"-- +Peter stopped a moment to deliberate, and then making another reference, +he put the glass to his lips; but before he had got half through its +contents, recollected himself, and replenishing it to the brim, with a +smile acknowledging his forgetfulness, continued, "and the Rev. Mr. +Francis Ives, and the Rev. Mrs. Francis Ives." + +Here the unrestrained laugh of John interrupted him; and considering +with himself that he had included the whole family, he finished his +bumper. Whether it was pleasure at his own eloquence in venturing on so +long a speech, or the unusual allowance, that affected the steward, he +was evidently much satisfied with himself, and stepped back behind his +master's chair, in great good humor. + +Emily, as she thanked him, noticed a tear in the eye of the old man, as +he concluded his oration, that would have excused a thousand breaches of +fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat, and took him +kindly by the hand, and returned his own thanks for his good wishes. + +"I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for, your two journeys in my +behalf, and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed +your last mission in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life." + +"Thank you--thank your honor's lordship," said the steward, almost +unable to utter; "I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss +Emmy as happy--as I know she ought to be." + +"But really, my lord," cried John, observing that the steward's +affection for his sister had affected her to tears, "it was a singular +circumstance, the meeting of the four passengers of the stage so soon at +your hotel." + +Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company. + +"Not so much so as you imagine," said the earl in reply; "yourself and +Johnson were in quest of me. Lord Henry Stapleton was under an +engagement to meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going +to his sister's wedding--I having arranged the thing with him by letter +previously; and General M'Carthy was also in search of me, on business +relating to his niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House, +and, through my servants, heard I was at an hotel. It was the first +interview between us, and not quite as amicable a one as has since been +had in Wales. During my service in Spain, I saw the Conde, but not the +general. The letter he gave me was from the Spanish ambassador, claiming +a right to require Mrs. Fitzgerald from our government, and deprecating +my using an influence to counteract his exertions"-- + +"Which you refused," said Emily, eagerly. + +"Not refused," answered the earl, smiling at her warmth, while he +admired her friendly zeal, "for it was unnecessary: there is no such +power vested in the ministry. But I explicitly told the general, I would +oppose any violent measures to restore her to her country and a convent. +From the courts, I apprehended nothing for my fair friend." + +"Your honor--my lord," said Peter, who had been listening with great +attention, "if I may presume just to ask two questions, without +offence." + +"Say on, my good friend," said Pendennyss, with an encouraging smile. + +"Only" continued the steward--hemming, to give proper utterance to his +thoughts--"I wish to know, whether you stayed in that same street after +you left the hotel--for Mr. John Moseley and I had a slight difference +in opinion about it." + +The earl smiled, having caught the arch expression of John, and replied- +- + +"I believe I owe you an apology, Moseley, for my cavalier treatment; but +guilt makes us all cowards. I found you were ignorant of my incognito, +and I was equally ashamed to continue it, or to become the relater of my +own folly. Indeed," he continued, smiling on Emily as he spoke, "I +thought your sister had pronounced the opinion of all reflecting people +on my conduct. I went out of town, Johnson, at day-break. What is the +other query?" + +"Why, my lord," said Peter, a little disappointed at finding his first +surmise untrue, "that outlandish tongue your honor used--" + +"Was Spanish," cried the earl. + +"And not Greek, Peter," said his master, gravely. "I thought, from the +words you endeavored to repeat to me, that you had made a mistake. You +need not be disconcerted, however, for I know several members of the +parliament of this realm who could not talk the Greek language, that is, +fluently. So it can be no disgrace to a serving-man to be ignorant of +it." + +Somewhat consoled to find himself as well off as the representatives of +his country, Peter resumed his station in silence, when the carriages +began to announce the return from the opera. The earl took his leave, +and the party retired to rest. + +The thanksgivings of Emily that night, ere she laid her head on her +pillow, were the purest offering of mortal innocence. The prospect +before her was unsullied by a cloud and she poured out her heart in the +fullest confidence of pious love and heartfelt gratitude. + +As early on the succeeding morning as good-breeding would allow, and +much earlier than the hour sanctioned by fashion, the earl and Lady +Marian stopped in the carriage of the latter at the door of Sir Edward +Moseley. Their reception was the most flattering that could be offered +to people of their stamp; sincere, cordial, and, with a trifling +exception in Lady Moseley, unfettered with any useless ceremonies. + +Emily felt herself drawn to her new acquaintance with a fondness which +doubtless grew out of her situation with her brother; which soon found +reasons enough in the soft, lady-like, and sincere manners of Lady +Marian, to justify her attachment on her own account. + +There was a very handsome suite of drawing-rooms in Sir Edward's house, +and the communicating doors were carelessly open. Curiosity to view the +furniture, or some such trifling reasons, induced the earl to find his +way into the one adjoining that in which the family were seated. It was +unquestionably a dread of being lost in a strange house, that induced +him to whisper a request to the blushing Emily, to be his companion; and +lastly, it must have been nothing but a knowledge that a vacant room was +easier viewed than one filled with company, that prevented any one from +following them. John smiled archly at Grace, doubtless in approbation of +the comfortable time his friend was likely to enjoy, in his musings on +the taste of their mother. How the door became shut, we have ever been +at a loss to imagine. + +The company without were too good-natured and well satisfied with each +other to miss the absentees, until the figure of the earl appeared at +the reopened door, beckoning, with a face of rapture, to Lady Moseley +and Mrs. Wilson. Sir Edward next disappeared, then Jane, then Grace-- +then Marian; until John began to think a tête-à -tête with Mr. Benfield +was to be his morning's amusement. + +The lovely countenance of his wife, however, soon relieved his ennui, +and John's curiosity was gratified by an order to prepare for his +sister's wedding the following week. + +Emily might have blushed more than common during this interview, but it +is certain she did not smile less; and the earl, Lady Marian assured Sir +Edward, was so very different a creature from what he had recently been, +that she could hardly think it was the same sombre gentleman with whom +she had passed the last few months in Wales and Westmoreland. + +A messenger was dispatched for Dr. Ives and their friends at B----, to +be witnesses to the approaching nuptials; and Lady Moseley at length +found an opportunity of indulging her taste for splendor on this joyful +occasion. + +Money was no consideration; and Mr. Benfield absolutely pined at the +thought that the great wealth of the earl put it out of his power to +contribute in any manner to the comfort of his Emmy. However, a +fifteenth codicil was framed by the ingenuity of Peter and his master, +and if it did not contain the name of George Denbigh, it did that of his +expected second son, Roderick Benfield Denbigh, to the qualifying +circumstance of twenty thousand pounds, as a bribe for the name. + +"And a very pretty child, I dare say, it will be," said the steward, as +he placed the paper in its repository. "I don't know that I ever saw, +your honor, a couple that I thought would make a handsomer pair like, +except--" Peter's mind dwelt on his own youthful form coupled with the +smiling graces of Patty Steele. + +"Yes! they are as handsome as they are good!" replied his master. "I +remember now, when our Speaker took his third wife, the world said that +they were as pretty a couple as there was at court. But my Emma and the +earl will be a much finer pair. Oh! Peter Johnson; they are young, and +rich, and beloved; but, after all, it avails but little if they be not +good." + +"Good!" cried the steward in astonishment; "they are as good as angels." + +The master's ideas of human excellence had suffered a heavy blow in the +view of his viscountess, but he answered mildly, + +"As good as mankind can well be." + + + +Chapter XLVII. + +The warm weather had now commenced; and Sir Edward, unwilling to be shut +up in London at a time the appearance of vegetation gave the country a +new interest, and accustomed for many years of his life to devote an +hour in his garden each morn, had taken a little ready furnished cottage +a short ride from his residence, with the intention of frequenting it +until after the birthday. Thither then Pendennyss took his bride from +the altar, and a few days were passed by the newly married pair in this +little asylum. + +Doctor Ives, with Francis, Clara, and their mother, had obeyed the +summons with an alacrity in proportion to the joy they felt on receiving +it, and the former had the happiness of officiating on the occasion. It +would have been easy for the wealth of the earl to procure a license to +enable them to marry in the drawing-room; the permission was obtained, +but neither Emily nor himself felt a wish to utter their vows in any +other spot than at the altar, and in the house of their Maker. + +If there was a single heart that felt the least emotion of regret or +uneasiness, it was Lady Moseley, who little relished the retirement of +the cottage on so joyful an occasion; but Pendennyss silenced her +objections by good-humoredly replying-- + +"The fates have been so kind to me, in giving me castles and seats, you +ought to allow me, my dear Lady Moseley, the only opportunity I shall +probably ever have of enjoying love in a cottage." + +A few days, however, removed the uneasiness of the good matron, who had +the felicity within the week of seeing her daughter initiated mistress +of Annerdale House. + +The morning of their return to this noble mansion the earl presented +himself in St. James's Square, with the intelligence of their arrival, +and smiling as he bowed to Mrs. Wilson, he continued-- + +"And to escort you, dear madam, to your new abode." + +Mrs. Wilson started with surprise, and with a heart beating quick with +emotion, she required an explanation of his words. + +"Surely, dearest Mrs. Wilson--more than aunt--my mother--you cannot +mean, after having trained my Emily through infancy to maturity in the +paths of duty, to desert her in the moment of her greatest trial. I am +the pupil of your husband," he continued, taking her hands in his own +with reverence and affection; "we are the children of your joint care, +and one home, as there is but one heart, must in future contain us." + +Mrs. Wilson had wished for, but hardly dared to expect this invitation. +It was now urged from the right quarter, and in a manner that was as +sincere as it was gratifying. Unable to conceal her tears, the good +widow pressed the hand of Pendennyss to her lips as she murmured out her +thanks. Sir Edward was prepared also to lose his sister; but unwilling +to relinquish the pleasure of her society, he urged her making a common +residence between the two families. + +"Pendennyss has spoken truth, my dear brother," cried she, recovering +her voice; "Emily is the child of my care and my love--the two beings I +love best in this world are now united--but," she added, pressing Lady +Moseley to her bosom, "my heart is large enough for you all; you are of +my blood, and my gratitude for your affection is boundless. There shall +be but one large family of us; and although our duties may separate us +for a time, we will, I trust, ever meet in tenderness and love, though +with George and Emily I will take up my abode." + +"I hope your house in Northamptonshire is not to be vacant always," said +Lady Moseley to the earl, anxiously. + +"I have no house there, my dear madam," he replied; "when I thought +myself about to succeed in my suit before, I directed a lawyer at Bath, +where Sir William Harris resided most of his time, to endeavor to +purchase the deanery, whenever a good opportunity offered: in my +discomfiture," he added, smiling, "I forgot to countermand the order, +and he purchased it immediately on its being advertised. For a short +time it was an incumbrance to me, but it is now applied to its original +purpose. It is the sole property of the Countess of Pendennyss, and I +doubt not you will see it often and agreeably tenanted." + +This intelligence gave great satisfaction to his friends, and the +expected summer restored to even Jane a gleam of her former pleasure. + +If there be bliss in this life, approaching in any degree to the +happiness of the blessed, it is the fruition of long and ardent love, +where youth, innocence, piety, and family concord, smile upon the union. +And all these were united in the case of the new-married pair; but +happiness in this world cannot or does not, in any situation, exist +without alloy. + +The peace of mind and fortitude of Emily were fated to receive a blow, +as unlooked for to herself as it was unexpected to the world. Bonaparte +appeared in France, and Europe became in motion. + +From the moment the earl heard the intelligence his own course was +decided. His regiment was the pride of the army, and that it would be +ordered to join the duke he did not entertain a doubt. + +Emily was, therefore, in some little measure prepared for the blow. It +is at such moments as our own acts, or events affecting us, get to be +without our control, that faith in the justice and benevolence of God is +the most serviceable to the Christian. When others spend their time in +useless regrets he is piously resigned: it even so happens, that when +others mourn he can rejoice. + +The sound of the bugle, wildly winding its notes, broke on the stillness +of the morning in the little village in which was situated the cottage +tenanted by Sir Edward Moseley. Almost concealed by the shrubbery which +surrounded its piazza, stood the forms of the Countess of Pendennyss and +her sister Lady Marian, watching eagerly the appearance of those whose +approach was thus announced. + +The carriage of the ladies, with its idle attendants, was in waiting at +a short distance; and the pale face but composed resignation of its +mistress, indicated a struggle between conflicting duties. + +File after file of heavy horse passed them in military pomp, and the +wistful gaze of the two females had scanned them in vain for the well +known, much-beloved countenance of the leader. At length a single +horseman approached them, riding deliberately and musing: their forms +met his eye, and in an instant Emily was pressed to the bosom of her +husband. + +"It is the doom of a soldier," said the earl, dashing a tear from his +eye; "I had hoped that the peace of the world would not again be +assailed for years, and that ambition and jealousy would yield a respite +to our bloody profession; but cheer up, my love--hope for the best--your +trust is not in the things of this life, and your happiness is without +the power of man." + +"Ah! Pendennyss--my husband," sobbed Emily, sinking on his bosom, "take +with you my prayers--my love--everything that can console you-- +everything that may profit you. I will not tell you to be careful of +your life; your duty teaches you that. As a soldier, expose it; as a +husband guard it; and return to me as you leave me, a lover, the dearest +of men, and a Christian." + +Unwilling to prolong the pain of parting, the earl gave his wife a last +embrace, held Marian affectionately to his bosom, and mounting his +horse, was out of sight in an instant. + +Within a few days of the departure of Pendennyss, Chatterton was +surprised with the entrance of his mother and Catharine. His reception +of them was that of a respectful child, and his wife exerted herself to +be kind to connexions she could not love, in order to give pleasure to a +husband she adored. Their tale was soon told. Lord and Lady Herriefield +were separated; and the dowager, alive to the dangers of a young woman +in Catharine's situation, and without a single principle on which to +rest the assurance of her blameless conduct in future, had brought her +to England, in order to keep off disgrace, by residing with her child +herself. + +There was nothing in his wife to answer the expectations with which Lord +Herriefield married. She had beauty, but with that he was already sated; +her simplicity, which, by having her attention drawn elsewhere, had at +first charmed him, was succeeded by the knowing conduct of a determined +follower of the fashions, and a decided woman of the world. + +It had never struck the viscount as impossible that an artless and +innocent girl would fall in love with his faded and bilious face, but +the moment Catharine betrayed the arts of a manager, he saw at once the +artifice that had been practised; of course he ceased to love her. + +Men are flattered for a season with notice that has been unsought, but +it never fails to injure the woman who practises it in the opinion of +the other sex, in time. Without a single feeling in common, without a +regard to anything but self, in either husband or wife, it could not but +happen that a separation must follow, or their days be spent in +wrangling and misery. Catharine willingly left her husband; her husband +more willingly got rid of her. + +During all these movements the dowager had a difficult game to play. It +was unbecoming her to encourage the strife, and it was against her +wishes to suppress it; she therefore moralized with the peer, and +frowned upon her daughter. + +The viscount listened to her truisms with the attention of a boy who is +told by a drunken father how wicked it is to love liquor, and heeded +them about as much; while Kate, mistress at all events of two thousand a +year, minded her mother's frowns as little as she regarded her smiles; +both were indifferent to her. + +A few days after the ladies left Lisbon, the viscount proceeded to Italy +in company with the repudiated wife of a British naval officer; and if +Kate was not guilty of an offence of equal magnitude, it was more owing +to her mother's present vigilance than to her previous care. + +The presence of Mrs. Wilson was a great source of consolation to Emily +in the absence of her husband; and as their longer abode in town was +useless, the countess declining to be presented without the earl, the +whole family decided upon a return into Northamptonshire. + +The deanery had been furnished by order of Pendennyss immediately on his +marriage; and its mistress hastened to take possession of her new +dwelling. The amusement and occupation of this movement, the planning of +little improvements, her various duties under her increased +responsibilities, kept Emily from dwelling unduly upon the danger of her +husband. She sought out amongst the first objects of her bounty the +venerable peasant whose loss had been formerly supplied by Pendennyss on +his first visit to B----, after the death of his father. There might not +have been the usual discrimination and temporal usefulness in this +instance which generally accompanied her benevolent acts; but it was +associated with the image of her husband, and it could excite no +surprise in Mrs. Wilson, although it did in Marian, to see her sister +driving two or three times a week to relieve the necessities of a man +who appeared actually to be in want of nothing. + +Sir Edward was again amongst those he loved, and his hospitable board +was once more surrounded with the faces of his friends and neighbors. +The good-natured Mr. Haughton was always a welcome guest at the hall, +and met, soon after their return, the collected family of the baronet, +at a dinner given by the latter to his children and one or two of his +most intimate neighbors-- + +"My Lady Pendennyss," cried Mr. Haughton, in the course of the +afternoon, "I have news from the earl, which I know it will do your +heart good to hear." + +Emily smiled at the prospect of hearing in any manner of her husband, +although she internally questioned the probability of Mr. Haughton's +knowing anything of his movements, of which her daily letters did not +apprise her. + +"Will you favor me with the particulars of your intelligence, sir?" said +the countess. + +"He has arrived safe with his regiment near Brussels; heard it from a +neighbor's son who saw him enter the house occupied by Wellington, while +he was standing in the crowd without, waiting to get a peep at the +duke." + +"Oh!" said Mrs. Wilson with a laugh, "Emily knew that ten days ago. +Could your friend tell us anything of Bonaparte? We are much interested +in his movements just now." + +Mr. Haughton, a good deal mortified to find his news stale, mused a +moment, as if in doubt to proceed or not; but liking of all things to +act the part of a newspaper, he continued-- + +"Nothing more than you see in the prints; but I suppose your ladyship +has heard about Captain Jarvis too?" + +"Why, no," said Emily, laughing; "the movements of Captain Jarvis are +not quite as interesting to me as those of Lord Pendennyss--has the duke +made him an aide-de-camp?" + +"Oh! no," cried the other, exulting at his having something new: "as +soon as he heard of the return of Boney, he threw up his commission and +got married." + +"Married!" cried John; "not to Miss Harris, surely." + +"No; to a silly girl he met in Cornwall, who was fool enough to be +caught with his gold lace. He married one day, and the next told his +disconsolate wife and panic-stricken mother that the honor of the +Jarvises must sleep until the supporters of the name became sufficiently +numerous to risk them in the field of battle." + +"And how did Mrs. Jarvis and Sir Timo's lady relish the news?" inquired +John, expecting something ridiculous. + +"Not at all," rejoined Mr. Haughton; "the former sobbed, and said she +had only married him for his bravery and red coat, and the lady +exclaimed against the destruction of his budding honors." + +"How did it terminate?" asked Mrs. Wilson. + +"Why, it seems while they were quarrelling about it, the War-Office cut +the matter short by accepting his resignation, I suppose the commander- +in-chief had learned his character; but the matter was warmly contested: +they even drove the captain to a declaration of his principles." + +"And what kind of ones might they have been, Haughton?" said Sir Edward, +drily. + +"Republican." + +"Republican!" exclaimed two or three in surprise. + +"Yes, liberty and equality, he contended, were his idols, and he could +not find it in his heart to fight against Bonaparte." + +"A somewhat singular conclusion," said Mr. Benfield, musing. "I remember +when I sat in the House, there was a party who were fond of the cry of +this said liberty; but when they got the power they did not seem to me +to suffer people to go more at large than they went before; but I +suppose they were diffident of telling the world their minds after they +were put in such responsible stations, for fear of the effect of +example." + +"Most people like liberty as servants but not as masters, uncle," cried +John, with a sneer. + +"Captain Jarvis, it seems, liked it as a preservative against danger," +continued Mr. Haughton; "to avoid ridicule in his new neighborhood, he +has consented to his father's wishes, and turned merchant in the city +again." + +"Where I sincerely hope he will remain," cried John, who since the +accident of the arbor, could not tolerate the unfortunate youth. + +"Amen!" said Emily, in an under tone, heard only by her brother. + +"But Sir Timo--what has become of Sir Timo--the good, honest merchant?" +asked John. + +"He has dropt the title, insists on being called plain Mr. Jarvis, and +lives entirely in Cornwall. His hopeful son-in-law has gone with his +regiment to Flanders; and Lady Egerton, being unable to live without her +father's assistance, is obliged to hide her consequence in the west +also." + +The subject became now disagreeable to Lady Moseley, and it was changed. +Such conversations made Jane more reserved and dissatisfied than ever. +She had no one respectable excuse to offer for her partiality to her +former lover, and when her conscience told her the mortifying fact, was +apt to think that others remembered it too. + +The letters from the continent now teemed with preparations for the +approaching contest; and the apprehensions of our heroine and her +friends increased, in proportion to the nearness of the struggle, on +which hung not only the fates of thousands of individuals, but of +adverse princes and mighty empires. In this confusion of interests, and +of jarring of passions, there were offered prayers almost hourly for the +safety of Pendennyss, which were as pure and ardent as the love which +prompted them. + + + +Chapter XLVIII. + +Napoleon had commenced those daring and rapid movements, which for a +time threw the peace of the world into the scale of fortune, and which +nothing but the interposition of a ruling Providence could avert from +their threatened success. As the the ----th dragoons wheeled into a +field already deluged with English blood, on the heights of Quatre Bras, +the eye of its gallant colonel saw a friendly battalion falling beneath +the sabres of the enemy's cuirassiers. The word was passed, the column +opens, the sounds of the quivering bugle were heard for a moment above +the roar of the cannon and the shouts of the combatants; the charge, +sweeping like a whirlwind, fell heavily on those treacherous Frenchmen, +who to-day had sworn fidelity to Louis, and to-morrow intended lifting +their hands in allegiance to his rival. + +"Spare my life in mercy," cried an officer, already dreadfully wounded, +who stood shrinking from the impending blow of an enraged Frenchman. An +English dragoon dashed at the cuirassier, and with one blow severed his +arm from his body. + +"Thank God," sighed the wounded officer, sinking beneath the horse's +feet. + +His rescuer threw himself from the saddle, and raising the fallen man +inquired into his wounds. It was Pendennyss, and it was Egerton. The +wounded man groaned aloud, as he saw the face of him who had averted the +fatal blow; but it was not the hour for explanations or confessions, +other than those with which the dying soldiers endeavored to make their +tardy peace with their God. + +Sir Henry was given in charge to two slightly wounded British soldiers, +and the earl remounted: the scattered troops were rallied at the sound +of the trumpet, and again and again, led by their dauntless colonel, +were seen in the thickest of the fray, with sabres drenched in blood, +and voices hoarse with the shouts of victory. + +The period between the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo was a trying +one to the discipline and courage of the British army. The discomfited +Prussians on their flank had been routed and compelled to retire, and in +their front was an enemy, brave, skilful, and victorious, led by the +greatest captain of the age. The prudent commander of the English forces +fell back with dignity and reluctance to the field of Waterloo; here the +mighty struggle was to terminate, and the eye of every experienced +soldier looked on those eminences as on the future graves for thousands. + +During this solemn interval of comparative inactivity the mind of +Pendennyss dwelt on the affection, the innocence, the beauty and worth +of his Emily, until the curdling blood, as he thought on her lot should +his life be the purchase of the coming victory, warned him to quit the +gloomy subject, for the consolations of that religion which only could +yield him the solace his wounded feelings required. In his former +campaigns the earl had been sensible of the mighty changes of death, and +had ever kept in view the preparations necessary to meet it with hope +and joy; but the world clung around him now, in the best affections of +his nature, and it was only as he could picture the happy reunion with +his Emily in a future life, that he could look on a separation in this +without despair. + +The vicinity of the enemy admitted of no relaxation in the strictest +watchfulness in the British lines: and the comfortless night of the +seventeenth was passed by the earl, and his Lieutenant Colonel, George +Denbigh, on the same cloak, and under the open canopy of Heaven. + +As the opening cannon of the enemy gave the signal for the commencing +conflict, Pendennyss mounted his charger with a last thought on his +distant wife. With a mighty struggle he tore her as it were from his +bosom, and gave the remainder of the day to duty. + +Who has not heard of the events of that fearful hour, on which the fate +of Europe hung as it were suspended in the scale? On one side supported +by the efforts of desperate resolution, guided by the most consummate +art; and on the other defended by a discipline and enduring courage +almost without a parallel. + +The indefatigable Blucher arrived, and the star of Napoleon sank. + +Pendennyss threw himself from his horse, on the night of the eighteenth +of June, as he gave way by orders, in the pursuit, to the fresher +battalions of the Prussians, with the languor that follows unusual +excitement, and mental thanksgivings that this bloody work was at length +ended. The image of his Emily again broke over the sterner feelings of +the battle, like the first glimmerings of light which succeed the awful +darkness of the eclipse of the sun: and he again breathed freely, in the +consciousness of the happiness which would await his speedy return. + +"I am sent for the colonel of the ----th dragoons," said a courier in +broken English to a soldier, near where the earl lay on the ground, +waiting the preparations of his attendants "have I found the right +regiment, my friend?" + +"To be sure you have," answered the man, without looking up from his +toil on his favorite animal, "you might have tracked us by the dead +Frenchmen, I should think. So you want my lord, my lad, do you? do we +move again to-night?" suspending his labor for a moment in expectation +of a reply. + +"Not to my knowledge," rejoined the courier; "my message is to your +colonel, from a dying man. Will you point out his station?" + +The soldier complied, the message was soon delivered, and Pendennyss +prepared to obey its summons immediately. Preceded by the messenger as a +guide, and followed by Harmer, the earl retraced his steps over that +ground on which he had but a few hours before been engaged in the deadly +strife of man to man, hand to hand. + +How different is the contemplation of a field of battle during and after +the conflict! The excitement, suspended success, shouts, uproar, and +confusion of the former, prevent any contemplation of the nicer parts of +this confused mass of movements, charges, and retreats; or if a +brilliant advance is made, a masterly retreat effected, the imagination +is chained by the splendor and glory of the act, without resting for a +moment on the sacrifice of individual happiness with which it is +purchased. A battle-ground from which the whirlwind of the combat has +passed, presents a different sight; it offers the very consummation of +human misery. + +There may occasionally be an individual, who from station, distempered +mind, or the encouragement of chimerical ideas of glory, quits the +theatre of life with at least the appearance of pleasure in his +triumphs. If such there be in reality, if this rapture of departing +glory be anything more than the deception of a distempered excitement, +the subject of its exhibition is to be greatly pitied. To the Christian, +dying in peace with both God and man, can it alone be ceded in the eye +of reason, to pour out his existence with a smile on his quivering lip. + +And the warrior, who falls in the very arms of victory, after passing a +life devoted to the world; even, if he sees kingdoms hang suspended on +his success, may smile indeed, may utter sentiments full of loyalty and +zeal, may be the admiration of the world, and what is his reward? a +deathless name, and an existence of misery, which knows no termination. + +Christianity alone can make us good soldiers in any cause, for he who +knows how to live, is always the least afraid to die. + +Pendennyss and his companions pushed their way over the ground occupied +before the battle by the enemy; descended into and through that little +valley, in which yet lay, in undistinguished confusion, masses of the +dead and dying of either side; and again over the ridge, on which could +be marked the situation of those gallant squares which had so long +resisted the efforts of the horse and artillery by the groups of bodies, +fallen where they had bravely stood, until even the callous Harmer +sickened with the sight of a waste of life that he had but a few hours +before exultingly contributed to increase. + +Appeals to their feelings as they rode through the field had been +frequent, and their progress was much retarded by attempts to contribute +to the ease of a wounded or a dying man; but as the courier constantly +urged speed, as the only means of securing the object of their ride, +these halts were reluctantly abandoned. + +It was ten o'clock before they reached the farm-house, where, in the +midst of hundreds of his countrymen, lay the former lover of Jane. + +As the subject of his confession must be anticipated by the reader, we +will give a short relation of his life, and of those acts which more +materially affect our history. + +Henry Egerton had been turned early on the world, hundreds of his +countrymen, without any principle to counteract the arts of infidelity, +or resist the temptations of life. His father held a situation under +government, and was devoted to his rise in the diplomatic line. His +mother was a woman of fashion, who lived for effect and idle competition +with her sisters in weakness and folly. All he learnt in his father's +house was selfishness, from the example of one, and a love of high life +and its extravagance from the other. + +He entered the army young, and from choice. The splendor and reputation +of the service caught his fancy; and, by pride and constitution, he was +indifferent to personal danger. Yet he loved London and its amusements +better than glory; and the money of his uncle, Sir Edgar, whose heir he +was reputed to be, raised him to the rank of lieutenant colonel, without +his spending an hour in the field. + +Egerton had some abilities, and a good deal of ardor of temperament, by +nature. The former, from indulgence and example, degenerated into +acquiring the art to please in mixed society; and the latter, from want +of employment, expended itself at the card table. + +The association between the vices is intimate. There really appears to +be a kind of modesty in sin that makes it ashamed of good company. If we +are unable to reconcile a favorite propensity to our principles, we are +apt to abandon the unpleasant restraint on our actions, rather than +admit the incongruous mixture. Freed entirely from the fetters of our +morals, what is there that our vices will not prompt us to commit? +Egerton, like thousands of others, went on from step to step, until he +found himself in the world; free to follow all his inclinations, so he +violated none of the decencies of life. + +When in Spain, in his only campaign, he was accidentally, as has been +mentioned, thrown in the way of the Donna Julia, and brought her off the +ground under the influence of natural sympathy and national feeling; a +kind of merit that makes vice only more dangerous, by making it +sometimes amiable. He had not seen his dependant long before her beauty, +situation, and his passions decided him to effect her ruin. + +This was an occupation that his figure, manners, and propensities had +made him an adept in, and nothing was further from his thoughts than the +commission of any other than the crime that, according to his code, a +gentleman might be guilty of with impunity. + +It is, however, the misfortune of sin, that from being our slave it +becomes a tyrant; and Egerton attempted what in other countries, and +where the laws ruled, might have cost him his life. + +The conjecture of Pendennyss was true. He saw the face of the officer +who interposed between him and his villanous attempt, but was hid +himself from view. He aimed not at his life, but at his own escape. +Happily his first shot succeeded, for the earl would have been +sacrificed to preserve the character of a man of honor; though no one +was more regardless of the estimation he was held in by the virtuous +than Colonel Egerton. + +In pursuance of his plans on Mrs. Fitzgerald, the colonel had sedulously +avoided admitting any of his companions into the secret of his having a +female in his care. + +When he left the army to return home, he remained until a movement of +the troops to a distant part of the country enabled him to effect his +own purposes, without incurring their ridicule; and when he found +himself obliged to abandon his vehicle for a refuge in the woods, the +fear of detection made him alter his course; and under the pretence of +wishing to be in a battle about to be fought, he secretly rejoined the +army, and the gallantry of Colonel Egerton was mentioned in the next +despatches. + +Sir Herbert Nicholson commanded the advanced guard, at which the earl +arrived with the Donna Julia; and like every other brave man (unless +guilty himself) was indignant at the villany of the fugitive. The +confusion and enormities daily practised in the theatre of the war +prevented any close inquiries into the subject, and circumstances had so +enveloped Egerton in mystery, that nothing but an interview with the +lady herself was likely to expose him. + +With Sir Herbert Nicholson, he had been in habits of intimacy, and on +that gentleman's alluding in a conversation in the barracks at F---- to +the lady brought into his quarters before Lisbon, he accidentally +omitted mentioning the name of her rescuer. Egerton had never before +heard the transaction spoken of, and as he had of course never mentioned +the subject himself, was ignorant who had interfered between him and his +views; also of the fate of Donna Julia; indeed, he thought it probable +that it had not much improved by a change of guardians. + +In coming into Northamptonshire he had several views; he wanted a +temporary retreat from his creditors. Jarvis had an infant fondness for +play, without an adequate skill, and the money of the young ladies, in +his necessities, was becoming of importance; but the daughters of Sir +Edward Moseley were of a description more suited to his taste, and their +portions were as ample as the others. He had become in some degree +attached to Jane; and as her imprudent parents, satisfied with his +possessing the exterior and requisite recommendations of a gentleman +admitted his visits freely, he determined to make her his wife. + +When he met Denbigh the first time, he saw that chance had thrown him in +the way of a man who might hold his character in his power. He had never +seen him as Pendennyss, and, it will be remembered, was ignorant of the +name of Julia's friend: he now learnt for the first time that it was +Denbigh. Uneasy at he knew not what, fearful of some exposure he knew +not how, when Sir Herbert alluded to the occurrence, with a view to +rebut the charge, if Denbigh should choose to make one, and with the +near-sightedness of guilt, he pretended to know the occurrence, and +under the promise of secresy, mentioned that the name of the officer was +Denbigh. He had noticed Denbigh avoiding Sir Herbert at the ball; and +judging others from himself, thought it was a wish to avoid any +allusions to the lady he had brought into the other's quarters that +induced the measure; for he was in hopes that if Denbigh was not as +guilty as himself, he was sufficiently so to wish to keep the +transaction from the eyes of Emily. He was, however, prepared for an +explosion or an alliance with him, when the sudden departure of Sir +Herbert removed the danger of a collision. Believing at last that they +were to be brothers-in-law, and mistaking the earl for his cousin, whose +name he bore, Egerton became reconciled to the association; while +Pendennyss, having in his absence heard, on inquiring, some of the vices +of the colonel, was debating with himself whether he should expose them +to Sir Edward or not. + +It was in their occasional interchange of civilities that Pendennyss +placed his pocket-book upon a table, while he exhibited the plants to +the colonel: the figure of Emily passing the window drew him from the +room, and Egerton having ended his examination, observing the book, put +it in his own pocket, to return it to its owner when they next met. + +The situation, name, and history of Mrs. Fitzgerald were never mentioned +by the Moseleys in public; but Jane, in the confidence of her +affections, had told her lover who the inmate of the cottage was. The +idea of her being kept there by Denbigh immediately occurred to him, and +although he was surprised at the audacity of the thing, he was +determined to profit by the occasion. + +To pay this visit, he stayed away from the excursion on the water, as +Pendennyss had done to avoid his friend, Lord Henry Stapleton. An excuse +of business, which served for his apology, kept the colonel from seeing +Denbigh to return the book, until after his visit to the cottage. His +rhapsody of love, and offers to desert his intended wife, were nothing +but the common-place talk of his purposes; and his presumption in +alluding to his situation with Miss Moseley, proceeded from his +impressions as to Julia's real character. In the struggle for the bell, +the pocket-book of Denbigh accidentally fell from his coat, and the +retreat of the colonel was too precipitate to enable him to recover it. + +Mrs. Fitzgerald was too much alarmed to distinguish nicely, and Egerton +proceeded to the ball-room with the indifference of a hardened offender. +When the arrival of Miss Jarvis, to whom he had committed himself, +prompted him to a speedy declaration, and the unlucky conversation of +Mr. Holt brought about a probable detection of his gaming propensities, +the colonel determined to get rid of his awkward situation and his debts +by a coup-de-main. He accordingly eloped with Miss Jarvis. + +What portion of the foregoing narrative made the dying confession of +Egerton to the man he had so lately discovered to be the Earl of +Pendennyss, the reader can easily imagine. + + + +Chapter XLIX. + +The harvest had been gathered, and the beautiful vales of Pendennyss +were shooting forth a second crop of verdure. The husbandman was turning +his prudent forethought to the promises of the coming year, while the +castle itself exhibited to the gaze of the wondering peasant a sight of +cheerfulness and animation which had not been seen in it since the days +of the good duke. Its numerous windows were opened to the light of the +sun, its halls teemed with the faces of its happy inmates. Servants in +various liveries were seen gliding through its magnificent apartments +and multiplied passages. Horses, grooms, and carriages, with varied +costumes and different armorial bearings, crowded its spacious stables +and offices. Everything spoke society, splendor, and activity without; +everything denoted order, propriety, and happiness within. + +In a long range of spacious apartments were grouped in the pursuit of +their morning employments, or in arranging their duties and pleasures of +the day, the guests and owners of the princely abode. + +In one room was John Moseley, carefully examining the properties of some +flints which were submitted to his examination by his attending servant; +while Grace, sitting at his side, playfully snatches the stones from his +hand, as she cries half reproachfully, half tenderly--- + +"You must not devote yourself to your gun so incessantly, Moseley; it is +cruel to kill inoffensive birds for your amusement only." + +"Ask Emily's cook, and Mr. Haughton's appetite," said John, coolly +extending his hand towards her for the flint--"whether no one is +gratified but myself. I tell you, Grace, I seldom fire in vain." + +"That only makes the matter worse; the slaughter you commit is +dreadful." + +"Oh!" cried John, with a laugh, "the ci-devant Captain Jarvis is a +sportsman to your mind. He would shoot a month without moving a feather; +he was a great friend to," throwing an arch look to his solitary sister, +who sat on a sofa at a distance perusing a book, "Jane's feathered +songsters." + +"But now, Mosely," said Grace, yielding the flints, but gently retaining +the hand that took them, "Pendenyss and Chatterton intend driving their +wives, like good husbands, to see the beautiful waterfall in the +mountains; and what am I to do this long tedious morning?" + +John stole an enquiring glance, to see if his wife was very anxious to +join the party--cast one look of regret on a beautiful agate that he had +selected, and inquired-- + +"Do you wish to go very much, Mrs. Mosely?" + +"Indeed--indeed I do," said the other, eagerly, "if--" + +"If what?" + +"You will drive me?" continued she, with a cheek slightly tinged with +color. + +"Well, then," answered John, with deliberation, and regarding his wife +with affection "I will go on one condition." + +"Name it!" cried Grace, with still increasing color. + +"That you will not expose your health again in going to the church on a +Sunday, if it rains." + +"The carriage is so close, Mosely," answered Grace, with a paler cheek +than beforehand eyes fixed on the carpet, "it is impossible I can take +cold: you see the earl, and countess, and aunt Wilson never miss public +worship, when possibly within their power." + +"The earl goes with his wife; but what becomes of poor me at such +times!" said John, taking her hand and pressing it kindly. "I like to +hear a good sermon, but not in bad weather. You must consent to oblige +me, who only live in your presence." + +Grace smiled faintly, as John, pursuing the point, said--"What do you +say to my condition?" + +"Well then, if you wish," replied Graces without the look of gaiety her +hopes had first inspired, "I will not go if it rain." + +John ordered his phaeton, and his wife went to her room to prepare for +the trip, and to regret her own resolution. + +In, the recess of a window, in which bloomed a profusion of exotics, +stood the figure of Lady Marian Denbigh, playing with a half-blown rose +of the richest colors; and before her, leaning against the angle of the +wall, stood her kinsman the Duke of Derwent. + +"You heard the plan at the breakfast table," said his Grace, "to visit +the little falls in the hills. But I suppose you have seen them too +often to undergo the fatigue?" + +"Oh no! I love that ride dearly, and should wish to accompany the +countess in her first visit to it. I had half a mind to ask George to +take me in his phaeton." + +"My curricle would be honored with the presence of Lady Marian Denbigh," +cried the duke with animation, "if, she would accept me for her knight +on the occasion." + +Marian bowed an assent, in evident satisfaction, as the duke proceeded-- + +"But if you take me as your knight I should wear your ladyship's +colors;" and he held out his hand towards the budding rose. Lady Marian +hesitated a moment--looked out at the prospect--up at the wall--turned, +and wondered where her brother was; and still finding the hand of the +duke extended, while his eye rested on her in admiration, she gave him +the boon with a cheek that vied with the richest tints of the flower. +They separated to prepare, and it was on their return from the falls +that the duke seemed uncommonly gay and amusing, and the lady silent +with her tongue, though her eyes danced in every direction but towards +her cousin. + +"Really, my dear Lady Mosely," said the dowager, as, seated by the side +of her companion, her eyes roved over the magnificence within, and +widely extended domains without--"Emily is well established indeed-- +better even than my Grace." + +"Grace has an affectionate husband," replied the other, gravely, "and +one that I hope will make her happy." + +"Oh! no doubt happy!" said Lady Chatterton, hastily: "but they say Emily +has a jointure of twelve thousand a year--by-the-by," she added, in a +low tone, though no one was near enough to hear what she said, "could +not the earl have settled Lumley Castle on her instead of the deanery?" + +"Upon my word I never think of such gloomy subjects as provisions for +widowhood," cried Lady Mosely: "you have been in Annerdale House--is it +not a princely mansion?" + +"Princely, indeed," rejoined the dowager, sighing: "don't the earl +intend increasing the rents of this estate as the leases fall in? I am +told they are very low now!" + +"I believe not," said the other. "He has enough, and is willing others +should prosper. But there is Clara, with her little boy--is he not a +lovely child?" cried the grandmother, rising to take the infant in her +arms. + +"Oh! excessively beautiful!" said the dowager, looking the other way, +and observing Catharine making a movement towards Lord Henry Stapleton, +she called to her. "Lady Herriefield--come this way, my dear--I wish to +speak to you." + +Kate obeyed with a sullen pout of her pretty lip, and entered into some +idle discussion about a cap, though her eyes wandered round the rooms in +listless vacancy. + +The dowager had the curse of bad impressions in youth to contend with, +and labored infinitely harder now to make her daughter act right, than +formerly she had ever done to make her act wrong. + +"Here! uncle Benfield," cried Emily, with a face glowing with health and +animation, as she approached his seat with a glass in her hands. "Here +is the negus you wished; I have made it myself, and you will praise it +of course." + +"Oh! my dear Lady Pendennyss," said the old gentleman, rising politely +from his seat to receive the beverage: "you are putting yourself to a +great deal of trouble for an old bachelor like me; too much indeed, too +much." + +"Old bachelors are sometimes more esteemed than young one," cried the +earl gaily, joining them in time to hear this speech. "Here is my +friend, Mr. Peter Johnson; who knows when we may dance at his wedding?" + +"My lord, and my lady, and my honored master," said Peter gravely, in +reply, bowing respectfully where he stood, waiting to take his master's +glass--"I am past the age to think of a wife: I am seventy-three coming +next 'lammas, counting by the old style." + +"What do you intend to do with your three hundred a year," said Emily +with a smile, "unless you bestow it on some good woman, for making the +evening of your life comfortable?' + +"My lady--hem--my lady," said the steward, blushing, "I had a little +thought, with your kind ladyship's consent, as I have no relations, +chick or child in the world, what to do with it." + +"I should be happy to hear your plan," said the countess, observing that +the steward was anxious to communicate something. + +"Why, my lady, if my lord and my honored master's agreeable, I did think +of making another codicil to master's will in order to dispose of it." + +"Your master's will," said the earl laughing; "why not to your own, good +Peter?" + +"My honored lord," said the steward, with great humility, "it don't +become a poor serving-man like me to make a will." + +"But how will you prove it?" said the earl, kindly, willing to convince +him of his error; "you must be both dead to prove it." + +"Our wills," said Peter, gulping his words, "will be proved on the same +day." + +His master looked round at him with great affection, and both the earl +and Emily were too much struck to say anything. Peter had, however, the +subject too much at heart to abandon it, just as he had broken the ice. +He anxiously wished for the countess's consent to the scheme, for he +would not affront her, even after he was dead. + +"My lady--Miss Emmy," said Johnson, eagerly, "my plan is, if my honored +master's agreeable--to make a codicil, and give my mite to a little-- +Lady Emily Denbigh." + +"Oh! Peter, you and uncle Benfield are both too good," cried Emily, +laughing and blushing, as she hastened to Clara and her mother. + +"Thank you, thank you," cried the delighted earl, following his wife +with his eyes, and shaking the steward cordially by the hand; "and, if +no better expedient be adopted by us, you have full permission to do as +you please with your money. + +"Peter," said his master to him in a low tone, "you should never speak +of such things prematurely; now I remember when the Earl of Pendennyss, +my nephew, was first presented to me, I was struck with the delicacy and +propriety of his demeanor, and the Lady Pendennyss, my niece, too; you +never see any thing forward, or--Ah! Emmy, dear," said the old man, +tenderly interrupting himself, "you are too good to remember your old +uncle," taking one of the fine peaches she handed him from a plate. + +"My lord," said Mr. Haughton to the earl, "Mrs. Ives and myself have had +a contest about the comforts of matrimony; she insists she may be quite +as happy at Bolton Parsonage as in this noble castle, and with this rich +prospect in view." + +"I hope," said Francis, "you are not teaching my wife to be discontented +with her humble lot--if so, both hers and your visit will be an unhappy +one." + +"It would be no easy task, if our good friend intended any such thing by +his jests," said Clara, smiling. "I know my true interests, I trust, too +well, to wish to change my fortune." + +"You are right," said Pendennyss; "it is wonderful how little our +happiness depends on a temporal condition. When here, or at Lumley +Castle, surrounded by my tenantry, there are, I confess, moments of +weakness, in which the loss of my wealth or rank would be missed +greatly; but when on service, subjected to great privations, and +surrounded by men superior to me in military rank, who say unto me--go, +and I go--come, and I come--I find my enjoyments intrinsically the +same." + +"That," said Francis, "may be owing to your Lordship's tempered +feelings, which have taught you to look beyond this world for pleasures +and consolation." + +"It has, doubtless, an effect," said the earl, "but there is no truth of +which I am more fully persuaded, than that our happiness here does not +depend upon our lot in life, so we are not suffering for necessaries-- +even changes bring less real misery than they are supposed to do." + +"Doubtless," cried Mr. Haughton, "under the circumstances, I would not +wish to change even with your lordship--unless, indeed," he continued, +with a smile and bow to the countess, "it were the temptation of your +lovely wife." + +"You are quite polite," said Emily laughing, "but I have no desire to +deprive Mrs. Haughton of a companion she has made out so well with these +twenty years past." + +"Thirty, my lady, if you please." + +"And thirty more, I hope," continued Emily, as a servant announced the +several carriages at the door. The younger part of the company now +hastened to their different engagements, and Chatterton handed Harriet; +John, Grace; and Pendennyss, Emily, into their respective carriages; the +duke and Lady Marian following, but at some little distance from the +rest of the party. + +As the earl drove from the door, the countess looked up to a window, at +which were standing her aunt and Doctor Ives. She kissed her hand to +them, with a face, in which glowed the mingled expression of innocence, +love, and joy. + +Before leaving the Park, the party passed Sir Edward; with his wife +leaning on one arm and Jane on the other, pursuing their daily walk. The +baronet followed the carriages with his eyes, and exchanged looks of the +fondest love with his children, as they drove slowly and respectfully by +him; and if the glance which followed on Jane, did not speak equal +pleasure, it surely denoted its proper proportion of paternal love. + +"You have much reason to congratulate yourself on the happy termination +of your labors," said the doctor, with a smile, to the widow; "Emily is +placed, so far as human foresight can judge, in the happiest of all +stations a female can be in: she is the pious wife of a pious husband, +beloved, and deserving of it." + +"Yes," said Mrs. Wilson, drawing back from following the phaeton with +her eyes, "they are as happy as this world will admit, and, what is +better, they are well prepared to meet any reverse of fortune which may +occur, as well as to discharge the duties on which they have entered. I +do not think," continued she, musing, "that Pendennyss can ever doubt +the affections of such a woman as Emily." + +"I should think not" said the doctor, "but what can excite such a +thought in your breast, and one so much to the prejudice of George?" + +"The only unpleasant thing I have ever observed in him," said Mrs. +Wilson gravely, "is the suspicion which induced him to adopt the +disguise in which he entered our family." + +"He did not adopt it, madam--- chance and circumstances drew it around +him accidentally; and when you consider the peculiar state of his mind +from the discovery of his mother's misconduct--his own great wealth and +rank--- it is not so surprising that he should yield to a deception, +rather harmless than injurious." + +"Dr. Ives," said Mrs. Wilson, "is not wont to defend deceit." + +"Nor do I now, madam;" replied the doctor with a smile; "I acknowledge +the offence of George, myself, wife, and son. I remonstrated at the time +upon principle; I said the end would not justify the means; that a +departure from ordinary rules of propriety was at all times dangerous, +and seldom practised with impunity." + +"And you failed to convince your hearers," cried Mrs. Wilson, gaily; "a +novelty in your case, my good rector." + +"I thank you for the compliment," said the doctor; "I did convince them +as to the truth of the principle, but the earl contended that his case +might make an innocent exception. He had the vanity to think, I believe, +that by concealing his real name, he injured himself more than any one +else, and got rid of the charge in some such way. He is however, +thoroughly convinced of the truth of the position, by practice; his +sufferings, growing out of the mistake of his real character, and which +could not have happened had he appeared in proper person, having been +greater than he is ready to acknowledge." + +"If they study the fate of the Donna Julia, and his own weakness," said +the widow, "they will have a salutary moral always at hand, to teach +them the importance of two cardinal virtues at least--obedience and +truth." + +"Julia has suffered much," replied the doctor; "and although she has +returned to her father, the consequences of her imprudence are likely to +continue. When once the bonds of mutual confidence and respect are +broken, they may be partially restored, it is true, but never with a +warmth and reliance such as existed previously. To return, however, to +yourself, do you not feel a sensation of delight at the prosperous end +of your exertions in behalf of Emily?" + +"It is certainly pleasant to think we have discharged our duties, and +the task is much easier than we are apt to suppose," said Mrs. Wilson; +"it is only to commence the foundation, so that it will be able to +support the superstructure. I have endeavored to make Emily a Christian. +I have endeavored to form such a taste and principles in her, that she +would not be apt to admire an improper suitor and I have labored to +prepare her to discharge her continued duties through life, in such a +manner and with such a faith, as under the providence of God will result +in happiness far exceeding anything she now enjoys. In all these, by the +blessing of Heaven, I have succeeded, and had occasion offered, I would +have assisted her inexperience through the more delicate decisions of +her sex, though in no instance would I attempt to control them." + +"You are right, my dear madam," said the doctor, taking her kindly by +the hand, "and had I a daughter, I would follow a similar course. Give +her delicacy, religion, and a proper taste, aided by the unseen +influence of a prudent parent's care, and the chances of a woman for +happiness would be much greater than they are; and I am entirely of your +opinion--'That prevention is at all times better than cure.'" + +The End. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Precaution, by James Fenimore +Cooper + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10365 *** diff --git a/10365-h/10365-h.htm b/10365-h/10365-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1eac8ea --- /dev/null +++ b/10365-h/10365-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,18205 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + Precaution, by James Fenimore Cooper + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + a { text-decoration: none; } + a:hover { background-color: #ffffcc } + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10365 ***</div> + <h1> + Precaution. + </h1> + <h2 class="subtitle"> + A Novel. + </h2> + <h2 class="author"> + By J. Fenimore Cooper. + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Be wise to-day. It is madness to defer;<br /> To-morrow's caution may + arrive too late." + </p> + </blockquote> + <h2> + W. C. Bryant's Discourse on the Life, Genius, and Writings of James + Fenimore Cooper, + </h2> + <h3> + Delivered at Metropolitan Hall, N.Y., February 25, 1852. + </h3> + <p> + It is now somewhat more than a year, since the friends of <span + class="smallcaps">James Fenimore Cooper</span>, in this city; were + planning to give a public dinner to his honor. It was intended as an + expression both of the regard they bore him personally, and of the pride + they took in the glory his writings had reflected on the American name. We + thought of what we should say in his hearing; in what terms, worthy of him + and of us, we should speak of the esteem in which we held him, and of the + interest we felt in a fame which had already penetrated to the remotest + nook of the earth inhabited by civilized man. + </p> + <p> + To-day we assemble for a sadder purpose: to pay to the dead some part of + the honors then intended for the living. We bring our offering, but he is + not here who should receive it; in his stead are vacancy and silence; + there is no eye to brighten at our words, and no voice to answer. "It is + an empty office that we perform," said Virgil, in his melodious verses, + when commemorating the virtues of the young Marcellus, and bidding flowers + be strewn, with full hands, over his early grave. We might apply the + expression to the present occasion, but it would be true in part only. We + can no longer do anything for him who is departed, but we may do what will + not be without fruit to those who remain. It is good to occupy our + thoughts with the example of great talents in conjunction with great + virtues. His genius has passed away with him; but we may learn, from the + history of his life, to employ the faculties we possess with useful + activity and noble aims; we may copy his magnanimous frankness, his + disdain of everything that wears the faintest semblance of deceit, his + refusal to comply with current abuses, and the courage with which, on all + occasions, he asserted what he deemed truth, and combated what he thought + error. + </p> + <p> + The circumstances of Cooper's early life were remarkably suited to confirm + the natural hardihood and manliness of his character, and to call forth + and exercise that extraordinary power of observation, which accumulated + the materials afterwards wielded and shaped by his genius. His father, + while an inhabitant of Burlington, in New Jersey, on the pleasant banks of + the Delaware, was the owner of large possessions on the borders of the + Otsego Lake in our own state, and here, in the newly-cleared fields, he + built, in 1786, the first house in Cooperstown. To this home, Cooper, who + was born in Burlington, in the year 1789, was conveyed in his infancy, and + here, as he informs us in his preface to the <i>Pioneers</i>, his first + impressions of the external world were obtained. Here he passed his + childhood, with the vast forest around him, stretching up the mountains + that overlook the lake, and far beyond, in a region where the Indian yet + roamed, and the white hunter, half Indian in his dress and mode of life, + sought his game,--a region in which the bear and the wolf were yet hunted, + and the panther, more formidable than either, lurked in the thickets, and + tales of wanderings in the wilderness, and encounters with these fierce + animals, beguiled the length of the winter nights. Of this place, Cooper, + although early removed from it to pursue his studies, was an occasional + resident throughout his life, and here his last years were wholly passed. + </p> + <p> + At the age of thirteen he was sent to Yale College, where, notwithstanding + his extreme youth,--for, with the exception of the poet Hillhouse, he was + the youngest of his class, and Hillhouse was afterwards withdrawn,--his + progress in his studies is said to have been honorable to his talents. He + left the college, after a residence of three years, and became a + midshipman in the United States navy. Six years he followed the sea, and + there yet wanders, among those who are fond of literary anecdote, a story + of the young sailor who, in the streets of one of the English ports, + attracted the curiosity of the crowd by explaining to his companions a + Latin motto in some public place. That during this period he made himself + master of the knowledge and the imagery which he afterwards employed to so + much advantage in his romances of the sea, the finest ever written, is a + common and obvious remark; but it has not been so far as I know, observed + that from the discipline of a seaman's life he may have derived much of + his readiness and fertility of invention, much of his skill in surrounding + the personages of his novels with imaginary perils, and rescuing them by + probable expedients. Of all pursuits, the life of a sailor is that which + familiarizes men to danger in its most fearful shapes, most cultivates + presence of mind, and most effectually calls forth the resources of a + prompt and fearless dexterity by which imminent evil is avoided. + </p> + <p> + In 1811, Cooper, having resigned his post as midshipman, began the year by + marrying Miss Delaney, sister of the present bishop; of the diocese of + Western New York, and entered upon a domestic life happily passed to its + close. He went to live at Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester, and + while here he wrote and published the first of his novels, entitled <i>Precaution</i>. + Concerning the occasion of writing this work, it is related, that once, as + he was reading an English novel to Mrs. Cooper, who has, within a short + time past, been laid in the grave beside her illustrious husband, and of + whom we may now say, that her goodness was no less eminent than his + genius, he suddenly laid down the book, and said, "I believe I could write + a better myself." Almost immediately he composed a chapter of a projected + work of fiction, and read it to the same friendly judge, who encouraged + him to finish it, and when it was completed, suggested its publication. Of + this he had at the time no intention, but he was at length induced to + submit the manuscript to the examination of the late Charles Wilkes, of + this city, in whose literary opinions he had great confidence. Mr. Wilkes + advised that it should be published, and to these circumstances we owe it + that Cooper became an author. + </p> + <p> + I confess I have merely dipped into this work. The experiment was made + with the first edition, deformed by a strange punctuation--a profusion of + commas, and other pauses, which puzzled and repelled me. Its author, many + years afterwards, revised and republished it, correcting this fault, and + some faults of style also, so that to a casual inspection it appeared + almost another work. It was a professed delineation of English manners, + though the author had then seen nothing of English society. It had, + however, the honor of being adopted by the country whose manners it + described, and, being early republished in Great Britain, passed from the + first for an English novel. I am not unwilling to believe what is said of + it, that it contained a promise of the powers which its author afterwards + put forth. + </p> + <p> + Thirty years ago, in the year 1821, and in the thirty-second of his life, + Cooper published the first of the works by which he will be known to + posterity, the <i>Spy</i>. It took the reading world by a kind of + surprise; its merit was acknowledged by a rapid sale; the public read with + eagerness and the critics wondered. Many withheld their commendations on + account of defects in the plot or blemishes in the composition, arising + from want of practice, and some waited till they could hear the judgment + of European readers. Yet there were not wanting critics in this country, + of whose good opinion any author in any part of the world might be proud, + who spoke of it in terms it deserved. "Are you not delighted," wrote a + literary friend to me, who has since risen to high distinction as a + writer, both in verse and in prose, "are you not delighted with the <i>Spy</i>, + as a work of infinite spirit and genius?" In that word genius lay the + explanation of the hold which the work had taken on the minds of men. What + it had of excellence was peculiar and unborrowed; its pictures of life, + whether in repose or activity, were drawn, with broad lights and shadows, + immediately from living originals in nature or in his own imagination. To + him, whatever he described was true; it was made a reality to him by the + strength with which he conceived it. His power in the delineation of + character was shown in the principal personage of his story, Harvey Birch, + on whom, though he has chosen to employ him in the ignoble office of a + spy, and endowed him with the qualities necessary to his + profession,--extreme circumspection, fertility in stratagem, and the art + of concealing his real character--qualities which, in conjunction with + selfishness and greediness, make the scoundrel, he has bestowed the + virtues of generosity, magnanimity, an intense love of country, a fidelity + not to be corrupted, and a disinterestedness beyond temptation. Out of + this combination of qualities he has wrought a character which is a + favorite in all nations, and with all classes of mankind. + </p> + <p> + It is said that if you cast a pebble into the ocean, at the mouth of our + harbor, the vibration made in the water passes gradually on till it + strikes the icy barriers of the deep at the south pole. The spread of + Cooper's reputation is not confined within narrower limits. The <i>Spy</i> + is read in all the written dialects of Europe, and in some of those of + Asia. The French, immediately after its first appearance, gave it to the + multitudes who read their far-diffused language, and placed it among the + first works of its class. It was rendered into Castilian, and passed into + the hands of those who dwell under the beams of the Southern Cross. At + length it passed the eastern frontier of Europe, and the latest record I + have seen of its progress towards absolute universality, is contained in a + statement of the <i>International Magazine</i>, derived, I presume, from + its author, that in 1847 it was published in a Persian translation at + Ispahan. Before this time, I doubt not, they are reading it in some of the + languages of Hindostan, and, if the Chinese ever translated anything, it + would be in the hands of the many millions who inhabit the far Cathay. + </p> + <p> + I have spoken of the hesitation which American critics felt in admitting + the merits of the <i>Spy</i>, on account of crudities in the plot or the + composition, some of which, no doubt, really existed. An exception must be + made in favor of the <i>Port Folio</i>, which, in a notice written by Mrs. + Sarah Hall, mother of the editor of that periodical, and author of <i>Conversations + on the Bible</i>, gave the work a cordial welcome; and Cooper, as I am + informed, never forgot this act of timely and ready kindness. + </p> + <p> + It was perhaps favorable to the immediate success of the <i>Spy</i>, that + Cooper had few American authors to divide with him the public attention. + That crowd of clever men and women who now write for the magazines, who + send out volumes of essays, sketches, and poems, and who supply the press + with novels, biographies, and historical works, were then, for the most + part, either stammering their lessons in the schools, or yet unborn. Yet + it is worthy of note, that just about the time that the <i>Spy</i> made + its appearance, the dawn of what we now call our literature was just + breaking. The concluding number of Dana's <i>Idle Man</i>, a work + neglected at first, but now numbered among the best things of the kind in + our language, was issued in the same month. The <i>Sketch Book</i> was + then just completed; the world was admiring it, and its author was + meditating <i>Bracebridge Hall</i>. Miss Sedgwick, about the same time, + made her first essay in that charming series of novels of domestic life in + New England, which have gained her so high a reputation. Percival, now + unhappily silent, had just put to press a volume of poems. I have a copy + of an edition of Hallock's <i>Fanny</i>, published in the same year; the + poem of <i>Yamoyden,</i> by Eastburn and Sands, appeared almost + simultaneously with it. Livingston was putting the finishing hand to his + <i>Report on the Penal Code of Louisiana,</i> a work written with such + grave, persuasive eloquence, that it belongs as much to our literature as + to our jurisprudence. Other contemporaneous American works there were, now + less read. Paul Allen's poem of <i>Noah</i> was just laid on the counters + of the booksellers. Arden published, at the same time, in this city, a + translation of Ovid's <i>Tristia</i>, in heroic verse, in which the + complaints of the effeminate Roman poet were rendered with great fidelity + to the original, and sometimes not without beauty. If I may speak of + myself, it was in that year that I timidly intrusted to the winds and + waves of public opinion a small cargo of my own--a poem entitled <i>The + Ages,</i> and half a dozen shorter ones, in a thin duodecimo volume, + printed at Cambridge. + </p> + <p> + We had, at the same time, works of elegant literature, fresh from the + press of Great Britain, which are still read and admired. Barry Cornwall, + then a young suitor for fame, published in the same year his <i>Marcia + Colonna</i>; Byron, in the full strength and fertility of his genius, gave + the readers of English his tragedy of <i>Marino Faliero</i>, and was in + the midst of his spirited controversy with Bowles concerning the poetry of + Pope. The <i>Spy</i> had to sustain a comparison with Scott's <i>Antiquary</i>, + published simultaneously with it, and with Lockhart's <i>Valerius</i>, + which seems to me one of the most remarkable works of fiction ever + composed. + </p> + <p> + In 1823, and in his thirty-fourth year, Cooper brought out his novel of + the <i>Pioneers</i>, the scene of which was laid on the borders of his: + own beautiful lake. In a recent survey of Mr; Cooper's works, by one of + his admirers, it is intimated that the reputation of this work may have + been, in some degree factitious. I cannot think so; I cannot see how such + a work could fail of becoming, sooner or later, a favorite. It was several + years after its first appearance that I read the <i>Pioneers</i>, and I + read it with a delighted astonishment. Here, said I to myself, is the poet + of rural life in this country--our Hesiod, our Theocritus, except that he + writes without the restraint of numbers, and is a greater poet than they. + In the <i>Pioneers</i>, as in a moving picture, are made to pass before us + the hardy occupations and spirited, amusements of a prosperous settlement, + in, a fertile region, encompassed for leagues around with the primeval + wilderness of woods. The seasons in their different aspects, bringing with + them, their different employments; forests falling before the axe; the + cheerful population, with the first mild; day of spring, engaged in the + sugar orchards; the chase of the deer through the deep woods, and into the + lake; turkey-shooting, during the Christmas holidays, in which the Indian + marksman vied for the prize of skill with the white man; swift sleigh + rides under the bright winter sun, and, perilous encounters with wild + animals in the forests; these, and other scenes of rural life, drawn, as + Cooper knew how to draw them, in the bright and healthful coloring of + which he was master are interwoven with a regular narrative of human + fortunes, not unskilfully constructed; and how could such a work be + otherwise than popular? + </p> + <p> + In the <i>Pioneers</i>, Leatherstocking; is first introduced--a + philosopher of the woods, ignorant of books, but instructed in all that + nature, without the aid of, science, could reveal to the man of quick + senses and inquiring intellect, whose life has been passed under the open + sky, and in companionship with a race whose animal perceptions are the + acutest and most cultivated of which there is any example. But + Leatherstocking has higher qualities; in him there is a genial blending of + the gentlest virtues of the civilized man with the better nature of the + aboriginal tribes; all that in them is noble, generous, and ideal, is + adopted into his own kindly character, and all that is evil is rejected. + But why should I attempt to analyse a character so familiar? + Leatherstocking is acknowledged, on all hands, to be one of the noblest, + as well as most striking and original creations of fiction. In some of his + subsequent novels, Cooper--for he had not yet Attained to the full + maturity of his powers--heightened and ennobled his first conception of + the character, but in the <i>Pioneers</i> it dazzled the world with the + splendor of novelty; + </p> + <p> + His next work was the <i>Pilot</i>, in which he showed how, from the + vicissitudes of a life at sea, its perils and escapes, from the beauty and + terrors of the great deep, from the working of a vessel on a long voyage, + and from the frank, brave, and generous but peculiar character of the + seaman, may be drawn materials of romance by which the minds of men may be + as deeply moved as by anything in the power of romance to present. In this + walk, Cooper has had many disciples but no rival. All who have since + written romances of the sea have been but travellers in a country of which + he was the great discoverer; and none of them all seemed to have loved a + ship as Cooper loved it, or have been able so strongly to interest all + classes of readers in its fortunes. Among other personages drawn with + great strength in the <i>Pilot</i>, is the general favorite, Tom Coffin, + the thorough seaman with all the virtues and one or two of the infirmities + of his profession, superstitious, as seamen are apt to be, yet whose + superstitions strike us as but an irregular growth of his devout + recognition of the Power who holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand; + true-hearted, gentle, full of resources, collected in danger, and at last + calmly perishing at the post of duty, with the vessel he has long guided, + by what I may call a great and magnanimous death. His rougher and coarser + companion, Boltrope, is drawn with scarcely less skill, and with a no less + vigorous hand. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Pioneers</i> is not Cooper's best tale of the American forest, nor, + the <i>Pilot</i>, perhaps, in all respects, his best tale of the sea; yet, + if he had ceased to write here, the measure of his fame would possibly + have been scarcely less ample than it now is. Neither of them is far below + the best of his productions, and in them appear the two most remarkable + creations of his imagination--two of the most remarkable characters in all + fiction. + </p> + <p> + It was about this time that my acquaintance with Cooper began, an + acquaintance of more than a quarter of a century, in which his deportment + towards me was that of unvaried kindness. He then resided a considerable + part of the year in this city, and here he had founded a weekly club, to + which many of the most distinguished men of the place belonged. Of the + members who have since passed away, were Chancellor Kent, the jurist; + Wiley the intelligent and liberal bookseller; Henry D. Sedgwick, always + active in schemes of benevolence; Jarvis, the painter, a man of infinite + humor, whose jests awoke inextinguishable laughter; De Kay, the + naturalist; Sands, the poet; Jacob Harvey whose genial memory is cherished + by many friends. Of those who are yet living was Morse, the inventor of + the electric telegraph; Durand, then, one of the first of engravers, and + now no less illustrious as a painter; Henry James Anderson, whose + acquirements might awaken the envy of the ripest scholars of the old + world; Halleck, the poet and wit; Verplanck, who has given the world the + best edition of Shakspeare for general readers; Dr. King, now at the head + of Columbia College, and his two immediate predecessors in that office. I + might enlarge the list with many other names of no less distinction. The + army and navy contributed their proportion of members, whose names are on + record in our national history. Cooper when in town was always present, + and I remember being struck with the inexhaustible vivacity of his + conversation and the minuteness of his knowledge, in everything which + depended upon acuteness of observation and exactness of recollection. I + remember, too, being somewhat startled, coming as I did from the seclusion + of a country life, with a certain emphatic frankness in his manner, which, + however, I came at last to like and to admire. The club met in the hotel + called Washington Hall, the site of which, is now occupied by part of the + circuit of Stewart's marble building. + </p> + <p> + <i>Lionel Lincoln</i>, which cannot be ranked among the successful + productions of Cooper, was published in 1825; and in the year following + appeared the <i>Last of the Mohicans</i> which more than recovered the + ground lost by its predecessor. In this work, the construction of the + narrative has signal defects, but it is one of the triumphs of the + author's genius that he makes us unconscious of them while we read. It is + only when we have had time to awake from the intense interest in which he + has held us by the vivid reality of his narrative, and have begun to + search for faults in cold blood, that we are able to find them, In the <i>Last + of the Mohicans,</i> we have a bolder portraiture of. Leatherstocking than + in the <i>Pioneers</i>. + </p> + <p> + This work was published in 1826, and in the same year Cooper sailed with + his family for Europe. He left New York as one of the vessels of war, + described in his romances of the sea, goes out of port, amidst the thunder + of a parting salute from the big guns on the batteries. A dinner was given + him just before his departure, attended by most of the distinguished men + of the city, at which Peter A. Jay presided, and Dr. King addressed him in + terms which some then thought too glowing, but which would now seem + sufficiently temperate, expressing the good wishes of his friends, and + dwelling on the satisfaction they promised themselves in possessing so + illustrious a representative of American literature in the old world. + Cooper was scarcely in France when he remembered his friends of the weekly + club, and sent frequent missives to be read at its meetings; but the club + missed its founder went into a decline, and not long afterwards quietly + expired. + </p> + <p> + The first of Cooper's novels published after leaving America: was the <i>Prairie</i>, + which appeared early in 1827, a work with the admirers of which I wholly + agree. I read it with a certain awe, an undefined sense of sublimity, such + as one experiences on entering, for the first time, upon those immense + grassy deserts from which the work takes its name. The squatter and his + family--that brawny old man and his large-limbed sons, living in a sort of + primitive and patriarchal barbarism, sluggish on ordinary occasions, but + terrible when roused, like the hurricane that sweeps the grand but + monotonous wilderness in which they dwell--seem a natural growth of + ancient fields of the West. Leatherstocking, a hunter in the <i>Pioneers</i>, + a warrior in the <i>Last of the Mohicans</i>, and now, in his extreme old + age, a trapper on the prairie, declined in strength, but undecayed in + intellect, and looking to the near close of his life, and a grave under + the long grass, as calmly as the laborer at sunset looks to his evening + slumber, is no less in harmony with the silent desert in which he wanders. + Equally so are the Indians, still his companions, copies of the American + savage somewhat idealized, but not the less a part of the wild nature in + which they have their haunts. + </p> + <p> + Before the year closed, Cooper had given the world another nautical tale, + the <i>Red Rover</i>, which, with many, is a greater favorite than the <i>Pilot</i>, + and with reason, perhaps, if we consider principally the incidents, which + are conducted and described with a greater mastery over the springs of + pity and terror. + </p> + <p> + It happened to Cooper while he was abroad, as it not unfrequently happens + to our countrymen, to hear the United States disadvantageously compared + with Europe. He had himself been a close observer of things both here and + in the old world, and was conscious of being able to refute the detractors + of his country in regard to many points. He published in 1828, after he + had been two years in Europe, a series of letters, entitled <i>Notions of + the Americans, by a Travelling Bachelor</i>, in which he gave a favorable + account of the working of our institutions, and vindicated his country + from various flippant and ill-natured misrepresentations of foreigners. It + is rather too measured in style, but is written from a mind full of the + subject, and from a memory wonderfully stored with particulars. Although + twenty-four years have elapsed since its publication, but little of the + vindication has become obsolete. + </p> + <p> + Cooper loved his country and was proud of her history and her + institutions, but it puzzles many that he should have appeared, at + different times, as her eulogist, and her censor. My friends, she is + worthy both of praise and of blame, and Cooper was not the man to shrink + from bestowing either, at what seemed to him the proper time. He defended + her from detractors abroad; he sought to save her from flatterers at home. + I will not say that he was in as good humor with his country when he wrote + <i>Home at Found</i>, as when he wrote his <i>Notions of the Americans</i>, + but this I will say that whether he commended or censured, he did it in + the sincerity of his heart, as a true American, and in the belief that it + would do good. His <i>Notions of the Americans</i> were more likely to + lessen than to increase his popularity in Europe, inasmuch as they were + put forth without the slightest regard to European prejudices. + </p> + <p> + In 1829, he brought out the novel entitled the <i>Wept of Wishton-Wish</i>, + one of the few of his works which we now rarely hear mentioned. He was + engaged in the composition of a third nautical tale, which he afterwards + published under the name of the <i>Water-Witch,</i> when the memorable + revolution of the Three Days of July broke out. He saw a government, + ruling by fear and in defiance of public opinion, overthrown in a few + hours, with little bloodshed; he saw the French nation, far from being + intoxicated with their new liberty, peacefully addressing themselves to + the discussion of the institutions under which they were to live. A work + which Cooper afterwards published, his <i>Residence in Europe</i>, gives + the outline of a plan of government for France furnished by him at that + time, to La Fayette, with whom he was in habits of close and daily + intimacy. It was his idea to give permanence to the new order of things by + associating two strong parties in its support, the friends of legitimacy + and the republicans. He suggested that Henry V. should be called to the + hereditary throne of France, a youth yet to be educated as the head of a + free people, that the peerage should be abolished, and a legislature of + two chambers established, with a constituency of at least a million and a + half of electors; the senate to be chosen by the general vote, as the + representative of the entire nation, and the members of the other house to + be chosen by districts, as the representatives of the local interests. To + the middle ground of politics so ostentatiously occupied by Louis Philippe + at the beginning of his reign, he predicted a brief duration, believing + that it would speedily be merged in despotism, or supplanted by the + popular rule. His prophecy has been fulfilled more amply than he could + have imagined--fulfilled in both its alternatives. + </p> + <p> + In one of the controversies of that time, Cooper bore a distinguished + part. The <i>Revue Britannique</i>, a periodical published in Paris, + boldly affirmed the government of the United States to be one of the most + expensive in the world, and its people among the most heavily taxed of + mankind. This assertion was supported with a certain show of proof, and + the writer affected to have established the conclusion that a republic + must necessarily be more expensive than a monarchy. The partisans of the + court were delighted with the reasoning of the article, and claimed a + triumph over our ancient friend La Fayette, who, during forty years, had + not ceased to hold up the government of the United States as the cheapest + in the world. At the suggestion of La Fayette, Cooper replied to this + attack upon his country in a letter which was translated into French, and, + together with, another from General Bertrand, for many years a resident in + America, was laid before the people of France. + </p> + <p> + These, two letters provoked a shower of rejoinders, in which, according to + Cooper, misstatements were mingled with scurrility. He commenced a series + of letters on the question in dispute, which were published in the <i>National</i>, + a daily sheet, and gave the first evidence of that extraordinary acuteness + in controversy which was no less characteristic of his mind than the vigor + of his imagination. The enemies of La Fayette pressed into their service + Mr. Leavitt Harris, of New Jersey, afterwards our <i>chargé + d'affaires</i> at the court of France, but Cooper replied to Mr. Harris in + the <i>National</i> of May 2d, 1832, closing a discussion in which he had + effectually silenced those who objected to our institutions on the score + of economy. Of these letters, which would form an important chapter in + political science, no entire copy, I have been told, is to be found in + this country. + </p> + <p> + One of the consequences of earnest controversy is almost invariably + personal ill-will. Cooper was told by one who held an official station + under the French government, that the part he had taken in this dispute + concerning taxation would neither be forgotten nor forgiven. The dislike + he had incurred in that quarter was strengthened by his novel of the <i>Bravo</i>, + published in the year 1831, while he was in the midst of his quarrel with + the aristocratic party. In that work, of which he has himself justly said + that it was thoroughly American in all that belonged to it, his object was + to show how institutions, professedly created to prevent violence and + wrong, become, when perverted from their natural destination, the + instruments of injustice; and how, in every system which makes power the + exclusive property of the strong, the weak are sure to be oppressed. The + work is written with all the vigor and spirit of his best novels; the + magnificent city of Venice, in which the scene of the story is laid, + stands continually before the imagination; and from time to time the + gorgeous ceremonies of the Venetian republic pass under our eyes, such as + the marriage of the Doge with the Adriatic, and the, contest of the + gondolas for the prize of speed. The Bravo himself and several of the + other characters are strongly conceived and distinguished, but the most + remarkable of them all is the spirited and generous-hearted daughter of + the jailer. + </p> + <p> + It has been said by some critics, who judge of Cooper by his failures, + that he had no skill in drawing female characters. By the same process, it + might, I suppose, be shown that Raphael was but an ordinary painter. It + must be admitted that when Cooper drew a lady of high breeding, he was apt + to pay too much attention to the formal part of her character, and to make + her a mere bundle of cold proprieties. But when he places his heroines in + some situation in life which leaves him nothing to do but to make them + natural and true, I know of nothing finer, nothing more attractive or more + individual than the portraitures he has given us. + </p> + <p> + <i>Figaro</i>, the wittiest of the French periodicals, and at that time on + the liberal side, commended the <i>Bravo</i>; the journals on the side of + the government censured it. <i>Figaro</i> afterwards passed into the hands + of the aristocratic party, and Cooper became the object of its attacks. He + was not, however, a man to be driven from any purpose which he had formed, + either by flattery or abuse, and both were tried with equal ill success. + In 1832 he published his <i>Heidenmauer</i>, and in 1833 his <i>Headsman + of Berne</i>, both with a political design similar to that of the <i>Bravo</i>, + though neither of them takes the same high rank among his works. + </p> + <p> + In 1833, after a residence of seven years in different parts of Europe, + but mostly in France, Cooper returned to his native country. The welcome + which met him here was somewhat chilled by the effect of the attacks made + upon him in France, and remembering with what zeal, and at what sacrifice + of the universal acceptance which his works would otherwise have met, he + had maintained the cause of his country against the wits and orators of + the court party in France, we cannot wonder that he should have felt this + coldness as undeserved. He published, shortly after his arrival in this + country, <i>A Letter to his Countrymen</i> in which he complained of the + censures cast upon him in the American newspapers, gave a history of the + part he had taken in exposing the misstatements of the <i>Révue + Britannique</i>, and warned his countrymen against the too common error of + resorting, with a blind deference, to foreign authorities, often swayed by + national or political prejudices, for our opinions of American authors. + Going beyond this topic, he examined and reprehended the habit of applying + to the interpretation of our own constitution maxims derived from the + practice of other governments, particularly that of Great Britain. The + importance of construing that instrument by its own principles, he + illustrated by considering several points in dispute between parties of + the day, on which he gave very decided opinions. + </p> + <p> + The principal effect of this pamphlet, as it seemed to me, was to awaken + in certain quarters a kind of resentment that a successful writer of + fiction should presume to give lessons in politics. I meddle not here with + the conclusions to which he arrived, though must be allowed to say that + they were stated and argued with great ability. In 1835 Cooper published + <i>The Monnikins</i>, a satirical work, partly with a political aim; and + in the same year appeared his <i>American Democrat</i>, a view of the + civil and social relations of the United States, discussing more gravely + various topics touched upon in the former work, and pointing out in what + respects he deemed the American people in their practice to have fallen + short of the excellence of their institutions. + </p> + <p> + He found time, however, for a more genial task--that of giving to the + world his observations on foreign countries. In 1836 appeared his <i>Sketches + of Switzerland</i>, a series of letters in four volumes, the second part + published about two months after the first, a delightful work, written in + a more fluent and flexible style than his <i>Notions of the Americans</i>. + The first part of <i>Gleanings in Europe,</i> giving an account of his + residence in France, followed in the same year; and the second part of the + same work, containing his observations on England, was published in April, + 1837. In these works, forming a series of eight volumes, he relates and + describes with much of the same distinctness as in his novels; and his + remarks on the manners and institutions of the different countries, often + sagacious, and always peculiarly his own, derive, from their frequent + reference to contemporary events, an historical interest. + </p> + <p> + In 1838 appeared <i>Homeward Bound</i> and <i>Home as Found</i>, two + satirical novels, in which Cooper held up to ridicule a certain class of + conductors of the newspaper press in America. These works had not the good + fortune to become popular. Cooper did not, and, because he was too deeply + in earnest, perhaps would not, infuse into his satirical works that gaiety + without which satire becomes wearisome. I believe, however, that if they + had been written by anybody else they would have met with more favor; but + the world knew that Cooper was able to give them something better, and + would not be satisfied with anything short of his best, Some childishly + imagined that because, in the two works I have just mentioned, a newspaper + editor is introduced, in whose character almost every possible vice of his + profession is made to find a place, Cooper intended an indiscriminate + attack upon the whole body of writers for the newspaper press, forgetting + that such a portraiture was a satire only on those to whom it bore a + likeness We have become less sensitive and more reasonable of late, and + the monthly periodicals make sport for their readers of the follies and + ignorance of the newspaper editors, without awakening the slightest + resentment; but Cooper led the way in this sort of discipline, and I + remember some instances of towering indignation at his audacity expressed + in the journals of that time. + </p> + <p> + The next year Cooper made his appearance before the public in a new + department of writing; his <i>Naval History of the United States</i> was + brought out in two octavo volumes at Philadelphia, by Carey and Lea. In + writing his stories of the sea, his attention had been much turned to this + subject, and his mind filled with striking incidents from expeditions and + battles in which our naval commanders had been engaged. This made his task + the lighter; but he gathered his materials with great industry, and with a + conscientious attention to exactness, for he was not a man to take a fact + for granted, or allow imagination to usurp the place of inquiry He + digested our naval annals into a narrative, written with spirit it is + true, but with that air of sincere dealing which the reader willingly + takes as a pledge of its authenticity. + </p> + <p> + An abridgment of the work was afterwards prepared and published by the + author. The <i>Edinburgh Review</i>, in an article professing to examine + the statements both of Cooper's work and of <i>The History of the English + Navy</i>, written by Mr. James, a surgeon by profession, made a violent + attack upon the American historian. Unfortunately, it took James's + narrative as its sole guide, and followed it implicitly. Cooper replied in + the <i>Democratic Review</i> for January, 1840, and by a masterly analysis + of his statements, convicting James of self-contradiction in almost every + particular in which he differed from himself, refuted both James and the + reviewer. It was a refutation which admitted of no rejoinder. + </p> + <p> + Scarce anything in Cooper's life was so remarkable, or so strikingly + illustrated his character, as his contest with the newspaper press. He + engaged in it after provocations, many and long endured, and prosecuted it + through years with great energy, perseverance, and practical dexterity, + till he was left master of the field. In what I am about to say of it, I + hope I shall not give offence to any one, as I shall speak without the + slightest malevolence towards those with whom he waged this controversy. + Over some of them, as over their renowned adversary, the grave has now + closed. Yet where shall the truth be spoken, if not beside the grave? + </p> + <p> + I have already alluded to the principal causes which provoked the + newspaper attacks upon Cooper. If he had never meddled with questions of + government on either side of the Atlantic, and never satirized the + newspaper press, I have little doubt that he would have been spared these + attacks. I cannot, however, ascribe them all, or even the greater part of + them, to personal malignity. One journal followed the example of another, + with little reflection, I think, in most cases, till it became a sort of + fashion, not merely to decry his works, but to arraign his motives. + </p> + <p> + It is related that, in 1832, while he was at Paris, an article was shown + him in an American newspaper, purporting to be a criticism on one of his + works, but reflecting with much asperity on his personal character. "I + care nothing," he is reported to have said, "for the criticism, but I am + not indifferent to the slander. If these attacks on my character should be + kept up five years after my return to America, I shall resort to the New + York courts for protection." He gave the newspaper press of this state the + full period of forbearance on which he had fixed, but finding that + forbearance seemed to encourage assault, he sought redress in the courts + of law. + </p> + <p> + When these litigations were first begun, I recollect it seemed to me that + Cooper had taken a step which would give him a great deal of trouble, and + effect but little good. I said to myself-- + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Alas! Leviathan is not so tamed!" + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + As he proceeded, however, I saw that he had understood the matter better + than I. He put a hook into the nose of this huge monster, wallowing in his + inky pool and bespattering the passers-by; he dragged him to the land and + made him tractable. One suit followed another; one editor was sued, I + think half-a-dozen times; some of them found themselves under a second + indictment before the first was tried. In vindicating himself to his + reader, against the charge of publishing one libel, the angry journalist + often floundered into another. The occasions of these prosecutions seem to + have been always carefully considered, for Cooper was almost uniformly + successful in obtaining verdicts. In a letter of his, written in February, + 1843, about five years, I think, from the commencement of the first + prosecutions, he says, "I have beaten every man I have sued, who has not + retracted his libels." + </p> + <p> + In one of these suits, commenced against the late William L. Stone of the + <i>Commercial Advertiser</i>, and referred to the arbitration of three + distinguished lawyers, he argued himself the question of the authenticity + of his account of the battle of Lake Erie, which was the matter in + dispute. I listened to his opening; it was clear, skilful, and persuasive, + but his closing argument was said to be splendidly eloquent. "I have heard + nothing like it," said a barrister to me, "since the days of Emmet." + </p> + <p> + Cooper behaved liberally towards his antagonists, so far as pecuniary + damages were concerned, though some of them wholly escaped their payment + by bankruptcy. After, I believe, about, six years of litigation, the + newspaper press gradually subsided into a pacific disposition towards its + adversary, and the contest closed with the account of pecuniary profit and + loss, so far as he was concerned, nearly balanced. The occasion of these + suits was far from honorable to those who provoked them, but the result + was I had almost said, creditable to all parties; to him, as the + courageous prosecutor, to the administration of justice in this country, + and to the docility of the newspaper press, which he had disciplined into + good manners. + </p> + <p> + It was while he was in the midst of these litigations, that he published, + in 1840, the <i>Pathfinder</i>. People had begun to think of him as a + controversialist, acute, keen, and persevering, occupied with his personal + wrongs and schemes of attack and defence. They were startled from this + estimate of his character by the moral duty of that glorious work--I must + so call it; by the vividness and force of its delineations, by the + unspoiled love of nature apparent in every page, and by the fresh and warm + emotions which everywhere gave life to the narrative and the dialogue. + Cooper was now in his fifty-first year, but nothing which he had produced + in the earlier part of his literary life was written with so much of what + might seem the generous fervor of youth, or showed the faculty of + invention in higher vigor. I recollect that near the time of its + appearance I was informed of an observation made upon it by one highly + distinguished in the literature of our country and of the age, between + whom and the author an unhappy coolness had for some years existed. As he + finished the reading of the Pathfinder, he exclaimed, "They may say what + they will of Cooper; the man who wrote this book is not only a great man, + but a good man." + </p> + <p> + The readers of the <i>Pathfinder</i> were quickly reconciled to the fourth + appearance of Leatherstocking, when they saw him made to act a different + part from any which the author had hitherto assigned him--when they saw + him shown as a lover, and placed in the midst of associations which + invested his character with a higher and more affecting heroism. In this + work are two female characters, portrayed in a masterly manner,--the + corporal's daughter, Mabel Dunham, generous, resolute, yet womanly, and + the young Indian woman, called by her tribe the Dew of June, a + personification of female truth, affection, and sympathy, with a strong + aboriginal cast, yet a product of nature as bright and pure as that from + which she is named. + </p> + <p> + <i>Mercedes of Castile</i>, published near the close of the same year, has + none of the stronger characteristics of Cooper's genius; but in the <i>Deerslayer</i>, + which appeared in 1841, another of his Leatherstocking tales, he gave us a + work rivalling the Pathfinder. Leatherstocking is brought before us in his + early youth, in the first exercise of that keen sagacity which is blended + so harmoniously with a simple and ingenuous goodness. The two daughters of + the retired freebooter dwelling on the Otsego lake, inspire scarcely less + interest than the principal personage; Judith, in the pride of her beauty + and intellect, her good impulses contending with a fatal love of + admiration, holding us fascinated with a constant interest in her fate, + which, with consummate skill, we are permitted rather to conjecture than + to know; and Hetty, scarcely less beautiful in person, weak-minded, but + wise in the midst, of that weakness beyond the wisdom of the loftiest + intellect, through the power of conscience and religion. The character of + Hetty would have been a hazardous experiment in feebler hands, but in his + it was admirably successful. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Two Admirals</i> and <i>Wing-and-Wing</i> were given to the public + in 1842, both of them taking a high rank among Cooper's sea-tales. The + first of these is a sort of naval epic in prose; the flight and chase of + armed vessels hold us in breathless suspense, and the sea-fights are + described with a terrible power. In the later sea-tales of Cooper, it + seems to me that the mastery with which he makes his grand processions of + events pass before the mind's eye is even greater than in his earlier. The + next year he published the <i>Wyandotte or Hutted Knoll</i>, one of his + beautiful romances of the woods, and in 1844 two more of his sea-stories, + <i>Afloat and Ashore</i> and <i>Miles Wallingford</i>its sequel. The long + series of his nautical tales was closed by <i>Jack Tier or the Florida + Reef,</i> published in 1848, when Cooper was in his sixtieth year, and it + is as full of spirit, energy, invention, life-like presentation of objects + and events-- + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + The vision and the faculty divine-- + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + as anything he has written. + </p> + <p> + Let me pause here to say that Cooper, though not a manufacturer of verse, + was in the highest sense of the word a poet; his imagination wrought nobly + and grandly, and imposed its creations on the mind of the reader for + realities. With him there was no withering, or decline, or disuse of the + poetic faculty; as he stepped downwards from the zenith of life, no shadow + or chill came over it; it was like the year of some genial climates, a + perpetual season of verdure, bloom, and fruitfulness. As these works came + out, I was rejoiced to see that he was unspoiled by the controversies in + which he had allowed, himself to become engaged; that they had not given + to these better expressions of his genius, any tinge of misanthropy, or + appearance of contracting and closing sympathies any trace of an interest + in his fellow-beings less large and free than in his earlier works. + </p> + <p> + Before the, appearance of his <i>Jack Tier</i>, Cooper published, in 1845 + and the following year, a series of novels relating to the Anti-rent + question, in which he took great interest. He thought that the disposition + manifested in certain quarters to make con cessions, to what he deemed a + denial of the rights of property was a first step in a most dangerous + path. To discourage this disposition, he wrote <i>Satanstoe, The + Chainbearer,</i> and <i>The Redskins</i>. They are didactic in their + design, and want the freedom of invention which belongs to Cooper's best + novels; but if they had been written by anybody but Cooper,--by a member + of Congress, for example, or an eminent politician of any class,--they + would have made his reputation. It was said, I am told, by a distinguished + jurist of our state, that they entitled the author to as high a place in + law as his other works had won for him in literature. + </p> + <p> + I had thought, in meditating the plan of this discourse, to mention all + the works of Mr. Cooper, but the length to which I have found it extending + has induced me to pass over several written in the last ten years of his + life, and to confine myself to those which best illustrate his literary + character. The last of his novels was <i>The Ways of the Hour</i>, a work + in which the objections he entertained to the trial by jury in civil + causes were stated in the form of a narrative. + </p> + <p> + It is a voluminous catalogue--that of Cooper's published works--but it + comprises not all he wrote. He committed to the fire, without remorse, + many of the fruits of his literary industry. It was understood, some years + since, that he had a work ready for the press on the <i>Middle States of + the Union</i>, principally illustrative of their social history; but it + has not been found among his manuscripts, and the presumption is that he + must have destroyed it. He had planned a work on the <i>Towns of Manhattan</i>, + for the publication of which he made arrangements with Mr. Putnam of this + city, and a part of which, already written, was in press at the time of + his death. The printed part has since been destroyed by fire, but a + portion of the manuscript was recovered. The work, I learn, will be + completed by one of the family, who, within a few years past, has earned + an honorable name among the authors of our country. Great as was the + number of his works, and great as was the favor with which they were + received, the pecuniary rewards of his success were far less than has been + generally supposed--scarcely, as I am informed, a tenth part of what the + common rumor made them. His fame was infinitely the largest acknowledgment + which this most successful of American authors received for his labors. + </p> + <p> + <i>The Ways of the Hour</i> appeared in 1850. At this time his personal + appearance was remarkable. He seemed in perfect health, and in the highest + energy and activity of his faculties. I have scarcely seen any man at that + period of life on whom his years sat more lightly. His conversation had + lost none of its liveliness, though it seemed somewhat more genial and + forbearing in tone, and his spirits none of their elasticity. He was + contemplating, I have since been told, another Leatherstocking tale, + deeming that he had not yet exhausted the character; and those who + consider what new resources it yielded him in the <i>Pathfinder</i> and + the <i>Deerslayer</i>, will readily conclude that he was not mistaken. + </p> + <p> + The disease, however, by which he was removed, was even then impending + over him, and not long afterwards his friends here were grieved to learn + that his health was declining. He came to New York so changed that they + looked at him with sorrow, and after a stay of some weeks, partly for the + benefits of medical advice returned to Cooperstown, to leave it no more. + His complaint gradually gained strength, subdued a constitution originally + robust, and finally passed into a confirmed dropsy. In August, 1851, he + was visited by his excellent and learned friend, Dr. Francis, a member of + the weekly club which he had founded in the early part of his literary + career. He found him bearing the sufferings of his disease with manly + firmness, gave him such medical counsels as the malady appeared to + require, prepared him delicately for its fatal termination, and returned + to New York with the most melancholy anticipations. In a few days + afterwards, Cooper expired, amid the deep affliction of his family, on the + 14th of September, the day before that on which he should have completed + his sixty-second year. He died, apparently without pain, in peace and + religious hope. The relations of man to his Maker, and to that state of + being for which the present is but a preparation, had occupied much of his + thoughts during his whole lifetime, and he crossed, with a serene + composure, the mysterious boundary which divides this life from the next. + </p> + <p> + The departure of such a man, in the full strength of his faculties,--on + whom the country had for thirty years looked as one of the permanent + ornaments of its literature, and whose name had been so often associated + with praise, with renown, with controversy, with blame, but never with + death,--diffused a universal awe. It was as if an earthquake had shaken + the ground on which we stood, and showed the grave opening by our path. In + the general grief for his loss, his virtues only were remembered; and his + failings forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Of his failings I have said little; such as he had were obvious to all the + world; they lay on the surface of his character; those who knew him least + made the most account of them. With a character so made up of positive + qualities--a character so independent and uncompromising, and with a + sensitiveness far more acute than he was willing to acknowledge, it is not + surprising that occasions frequently arose to bring him, sometimes into + friendly collision, and sometimes in to graver disagreements and + misunderstandings with his fellow-men. For his infirmities, his friends + found an ample counterpoise in the generous sincerity of his nature. He + never thought of disguising his opinions, and he abhorred all disguise in + others; he did not even deign to use that show of regard towards those of + whom he did not think well, which the world tolerates, and almost demands. + A manly expression of opinion, however different from his own, commanded + his respect. Of his own works, he spoke with the same freedom as of the + works of others; and never hesitated to express his judgment of a book for + the reason that it was written by himself: yet he could bear with + gentleness any dissent from the estimate lie placed on his own writings. + His character was like the bark of the cinnamon, a rough and astringent + rind without, and an intense sweetness within. Those who penetrated below + the surface found a genial temper, warm affections, and a heart with ample + place for his friends, their pursuits, their good name, their welfare. + They found him a philanthropist, though not precisely after the fashion of + the day; a religious man, most devout where devotion is most apt to be a + feeling rather than a custom, in the household circle; hospitable, and to + the extent of his means liberal-handed in acts of charity. They found, + also, that though in general he would as soon have thought of giving up an + old friend as of giving up an opinion, he was not proof against testimony, + and could part with a mistaken opinion as one parts with an old friend who + has been proved faithless and unworthy. In short, Cooper was one of those + who, to be loved, must be intimately known. + </p> + <p> + Of his literary character I have spoken largely in the narrative of his + life, but there are yet one or two remarks which must be made to do it + justice. In that way of writing in which he excelled, it seems to me that + he united, in a pre-eminent degree, those qualities which enabled him to + interest the largest number of readers. He wrote not for the fastidious, + the over-refined, the morbidly delicate; for these find in his genius + something too robust for their liking--something by which their + sensibilities are too rudely shaken; but he wrote for mankind at + large--for men and women in the ordinary healthful state of feeling--and + in their admiration he found his reward. It is for this class that public + libraries are obliged to provide themselves with an extraordinary number + of copies of his works: the number in the Mercantile Library in this city, + I am told, is forty. Hence it is, that he has earned a fame, wider, I + think, than any author of modern times--wider, certainly, than any author, + of any age, ever enjoyed in his lifetime. All his excellences are + translatable--they pass readily into languages the least allied in their + genius to that in which he wrote, and in them he touches the heart and + kindles the imagination with the same power as in the original English. + </p> + <p> + Cooper was not wholly without humor; it is sometimes found lurking in the + dialogue of Harvey Birch, and of Leatherstocking but it forms no + considerable element in his works; and if it did, it would have stood in + the way of his universal popularity; since of all qualities, it is the + most difficult to transfuse into a foreign language. Nor did the effect he + produced upon the reader depend on any grace of style which would escape a + translator of ordinary skill. With his style, it is true, he took great + pains, and in his earlier works, I am told, sometimes altered the proofs + sent from the printer so largely that they might be said to be written + over Yet he attained no special felicity, variety, or compass of + expression. His style, however, answered his purpose; it has defects, but + it is manly and clear, and stamps on the mind of the reader the impression + he desired to convey. I am not sure that some of the very defects of + Cooper's novels do not add, by a certain force of contrast, to their power + over the mind. He is long in getting at the interest of his narrative. The + progress of the plot, at first, is like that of one of his own vessels of + war, slowly, heavily, and even awkwardly working out of a harbor. We are + impatient and weary, but when the vessel is once in the open sea, and + feels the free breath of heaven in her full sheets, our delight and + admiration is all the greater at the grace, the majesty, and power with + which she divides and bears down the waves, and pursues her course, at + will, over the great waste of waters. + </p> + <p> + Such are the works so widely read, and so universally admired, in all the + zones of the globe, and by men of every kindred and every tongue; works + which have made of those who dwell in remote latitudes, wanderers in our + forests, and observers of our manners, and have inspired them with an + interest in our history. A gentleman who had returned from Europe just + before the death of Cooper, was asked what he found the people of the + Continent doing. "They all are reading Cooper," he answered; "in the + little kingdom of Holland, with its three millions of inhabitants, I + looked into four different translations of Cooper in the language of the + country." A traveller, who has seen much of the middle classes of Italy, + lately said to me, "I found that all they knew of America, and that was + not little, they had learned from Cooper's novels; from him they had + learned the story of American liberty, and through him they had been + introduced to our Washington; they had read his works till the shores of + the Hudson, and the valleys of Westchester, and the banks of Otsego lake, + had become to them familiar ground." + </p> + <p> + Over all the countries into whose speech this great man's works have been + rendered by the labors of their scholars, the sorrow of that loss which we + deplore is now diffusing itself. Here we lament the ornament of our + country, there they mourn the death of him who delighted the human race. + Even now, while I speak, the pulse of grief which is passing through the + nations has haply just reached some remote neighborhood; the news of his + death has been brought to some dwelling on the slopes of the Andes, or + amidst the snowy wastes of the North, and the dark-eyed damsel of Chile, + or the fair-haired maid of Norway, is sad to think that he whose stories + of heroism and true love have so often kept her for hours from her pillow, + lives no more. + </p> + <p> + He is gone! but the creations of his genius, fixed in living words, + survive the frail material organs by which the words were first traced. + They partake of a middle nature, between the deathless mind and the + decaying body of which they are the common offspring, and are, therefore, + destined to a duration, if not eternal, yet indefinite. The examples he + has given in his glorious fictions, of heroism, honor, and truth, of large + sympathies between man and man, of all that is good, great, and excellent, + embodied in personages marked with so strong an individuality that we + place them among our friends and favorites; his frank and generous men, + his gentle and noble women, shall live through centuries to come, and only + perish with our language. I have said with our language; but who shall say + when it may be the fate of the English language to be numbered with the + extinct forms of human speech? Who shall declare which of the present + tongues of the civilized world will survive its fellows? It may be that + some one of them, more fortunate than the rest, will long outlast them, in + some undisturbed quarter of the globe, and in the midst of a new + civilization. The creations of Cooper's genius, even now transferred to + that language, may remain to be the delight of the nations through another + great cycle of centuries, beginning after the English language and its + contemporaneous form of civilization shall have passed away. + </p> + <h2> + Preface to the New Edition + </h2> + <p> + This book originally owed its existence to an accident, and it was printed + under circumstances that prevented the usual supervision of the press by + the author. The consequences were many defects in plot, style, and + arrangement, that were entirely owing to precipitation and inexperience; + and quite as many faults, of another nature, that are to be traced solely + to a bad manuscript and worse proof reading. Perhaps no novel of our times + was worst printed than the first edition of this work. More than a hundred + periods were placed in the middle of sentences, and perhaps five times + that number were omitted in places where they ought to have been inserted. + It is scarcely necessary to add, that passages were rendered obscure, and + that entire paragraphs were unintelligible. + </p> + <p> + Most of the faults just mentioned have now been corrected, though it would + require more labor than would produce an entirely new work, to repair all + the inherent defects that are attributable to haste, and to the + awkwardness of a novice in the art of composing. In this respect, the work + and its blemishes are probably inseparable. Still, the reader will now be + better rewarded for his time, and, on the whole; the book is much more + worthy of his attention. + </p> + <p> + It has been said that Precaution owes its existence to fortuitous + circumstances. The same causes induced its English plot, and, in a + measure, the medley of characters that no doubt will appear a mistake in + the conception. It can scarcely be said that the work was commenced with + any view to publication; and when it was finally put into a publisher's + hands, with "all its imperfections on its head," the last thought of the + writer was any expectation that it would be followed by a series of + similar tales from the same pen. + </p> + <p> + More than this the public will feel no interest in knowing, and less than + this the author could not consent to say on presenting to the world a + reprint of a book with so few claims to notice. + </p> + <h1> + Precaution. + </h1> + <h2> + Chapter I. + </h2> + <p> + "I wonder if we are to have a neighbor in the Deanery soon," inquired + Clara Moseley, addressing herself to a small party assembled in her + father's drawing-room, while standing at a window which commanded a + distant view of the house in question. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," replied her brother, "the agent has let it to a Mr. Jarvis for a + couple of years, and he is to take possession this week." + </p> + <p> + "And who is the Mr. Jarvis that is about to become so near a neighbor?" + asked Sir Edward Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Why, sir, I learn he has been a capital merchant; that he has retired + from business with a large fortune; that he has, like yourself, sir, an + only hope for his declining years in son, an officer in the army; and, + moreover, that he has couple of fine daughters; so, sir, he is a man of + family in one sense, at least, you see. But," dropping his voice, "whether + he is a man of family in your sense, Jane," looking at his second sister, + "is more than I could discover." + </p> + <p> + "I hope you did not take the trouble, sir, to inquire on my account," + retorted Jane, coloring slightly with vexation at his speech. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed I did, my dear sis, and solely on your account," replied the + laughing brother, "for you well know that no gentility, no husband; and + it's dull work to you young ladies without at least a possibility of + matrimony; as for Clara, she is----" + </p> + <p> + Here he was stopped by his youngest sister Emily placing her hand on his + mouth, as she whispered in his ear, "John, you forget the anxiety of a + certain gentleman about a fair incognita at Bath, and a list of inquiries + concerning her lineage, and a few other indispensables." John, in his + turn, colored, and affectionately kissing the hand which kept him silent, + addressed himself to Jane, and by his vivacity and good humor soon + restored her to complacency. + </p> + <p> + "I rejoice," said Lady Moseley, "that Sir William has found a tenant, + however; for next to occupying it himself, it is a most desirable thing to + have a good tenant in it, on account of the circle in which we live." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Jarvis has the great goodness of money, by John's account," + caustically observed Mrs. Wilson, who was a sister of Sir Edward's. + </p> + <p> + "Let me tell you, madam," cried the rector of the parish, looking around + him pleasantly, and who was pretty constant, and always a welcome visitor + in the family, "that a great deal of money is a very good thing in itself, + and that a great many very good things may be done with it." + </p> + <p> + "Such as paying tythes, ha! doctor," cried Mr. Haughton, a gentleman of + landed property in the neighborhood, of plain exterior, but great goodness + of heart, and between whom and the rector subsisted the most cordial good + will. + </p> + <p> + "Aye, tythes, or halves, as the baronet did here, when he forgave old + Gregson one half his rent, and his children the other." + </p> + <p> + "Well, but, my dear," said Sir Edward to his wife, "you must not starve + our friends because we are to have a neighbor. William has stood with the + dining-room door open these five minutes--" + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley gave her hand to the rector, and the company followed them, + without any order, to the dinner table. + </p> + <p> + The party assembled around the hospitable board of the baronet was + composed, besides the before-mentioned persons, of the wife of Mr. + Haughton, a woman of much good sense and modesty of deportment: their + daughter, a young lady conspicuous for nothing but good nature; and the + wife and son of the rector--the latter but lately admitted to holy orders + himself. + </p> + <p> + The remainder of the day passed in an uninterrupted flow of pleasant + conversation, the natural consequence of a unison of opinions on all + leading questions, the parties having long known and esteemed each other + for those qualities which soonest reconcile us to the common frailties of + our nature. On parting at the usual hour, it was agreed to meet that day + week at the rectory, and the doctor, on making his bow to Lady Moseley, + observed, that he intended, in virtue of his office, to make an early call + on the Jarvis family, and that, if possible, he would persuade them to be + of the party. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward Moseley was descended from one of the most respectable of the + creations of his order by James, and had inherited, with many of the + virtues of his ancestor, an estate which placed him amongst the greatest + landed proprietors of the county. But, as it had been an invariable rule + never to deduct a single acre from the inheritance of the eldest son, and + the extravagance of his mother, who was the daughter of a nobleman, had + much embarrassed the affairs of his father, Sir Edward, on coming into + possession of his estate, had wisely determined to withdraw from the gay + world, by renting his house in town, and retiring altogether to his + respectable mansion, about a hundred miles from the metropolis. Here he + hoped, by a course of systematic but liberal economy, to release himself + from all embarrassments, and to make such a provision for his younger + children, the three daughters already mentioned, as he conceived their + birth entitled them to expect. Seventeen years enabled him to accomplish + this plan; and for more than eighteen months, Sir Edward had resumed the + hospitality and appearance usual in his family, and had even promised his + delighted girls to take possession, the ensuing winter, of the house in + St. James's Square. Nature had not qualified Sir Edward for great or + continued exertions, and the prudent decision he had taken to retrieve his + fortunes, was perhaps an act of as much forecast and vigor as his talents + or energy would afford; it was the step most obviously for his interests, + and the one that was safest both in its execution and consequences, and as + such it had been adopted: but, had it required a single particle more of + enterprise or calculation, it would have been beyond his powers, and the + heir might have yet labored under the difficulties which distressed his + more brilliant, but less prudent parent. + </p> + <p> + The baronet was warmly attached to his wife; and as she was a woman of + many valuable and no obnoxious qualities, civil and attentive by habit to + all around her, and perfectly disinterested in her attachments to her own + family, nothing in nature could partake more of perfection in the eyes of + her husband and children than the conduct of this beloved relative. Yet + Lady Moseley had her failings, however, although few were disposed to view + her errors with that severity which truth and a just discrimination of + character render necessary. Her union had been one of love, and for a time + it had been objected to by the friends of her husband, on the score of + fortune; but constancy and perseverance prevailed, and the protracted and + inconsequent opposition of his parents had left no other effects than an + aversion in the children to the exercise of parental authority, in + marrying their own descendents: an aversion which, though common to both + the worthy baronet and his wife, was somewhat different in its two + subjects. In the husband it was quiescent; but in the wife, it was + slightly shaded with the female <i>esprit de corps</i>, of having her + daughters comfortably established, and that in due season. Lady Moseley + was religious, but hardly pious; she was charitable in deeds, but not + always in opinions; her intentions were pure, but neither her prejudices + nor her reasoning powers suffered her to be at all times consistent. Still + few knew her that did not love her, and none were ever heard to say aught + against her breeding, her morals, or her disposition. + </p> + <p> + The sister of Sir Edward had been married, early in life, to an officer in + the army, who, spending much of his time abroad on service, had left her a + prey to that solicitude to which she was necessarily a prey by her + attachment to her husband. To find relief from this perpetual and + life-wearing anxiety, an invaluable friend had pointed out the only true + remedy of which her case admitted, a research into her own heart, and the + employments of active benevolence. The death of her husband, who lost his + life in battle, caused her to withdraw in a great measure from the world, + and gave time and inducement for reflections, which led to impressions on + religion that were sufficiently correct in themselves, and indispensable + as the basis of future happiness, but which became slightly tinctured with + the sternness of her vigorous mind, and possibly, at times were more + unbending than was compatible with the comforts of this world; a fault, + however, of manner, more than of matter. Warmly attached to her brother + and his children, Mrs. Wilson, who had never been a mother herself, + yielded to their earnest entreaties to become one of the family; and + although left by the late General Wilson with a large income, ever since + his death she had given up her own establishment, and devoted most of her + time to the formation of the character of her youngest niece. Lady Moseley + had submitted this child entirely to the control of the aunt; and it was + commonly thought Emily would inherit the very handsome sum left at the + disposal of the General's widow. + </p> + <p> + Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley possessed a large share of personal + beauty when young, and it had descended in common to all their children, + but more particularly to the two youngest daughters. Although a strong + family resemblance, both in person and character, existed between these + closely connected relatives, yet it existed with shades of distinction + that had very different effects on their conduct, and led to results which + stamped their lives with widely differing degrees of happiness. + </p> + <p> + Between the families at Moseley Hall and the rectory, there had existed + for many years an intimacy founded on esteem and on long intercourse. + Doctor Ives was a clergyman of deep piety; and of very considerable + talents; he possessed, in addition to a moderate benefice, an independent + fortune in right of his wife, who was the only child of a distinguished + naval officer. Both were well connected, well bred, and well disposed to + their fellow creatures. They were blessed with but one child, the young + divine we have mentioned, who promised to equal his father in all those + qualities which had made the Doctor the delight of his friends, and almost + the idol of his parishioners. + </p> + <p> + Between Francis Ives and Clara Moseley, there had been an attachment, + which had grown with their years, from childhood. He had been her + companion in their youthful recreations, had espoused her little quarrels, + and participated in her innocent pleasures, for so many years, and with + such an evident preference for each other in the youthful pair, that, on + leaving college to enter on the studies of his sacred calling with his + father, Francis rightly judged that none other would make his future life + as happy, as the mild, the tender, the unassuming Clara. Their passion, if + so gentle a feeling deserve the term, received the sanction of their + parents, and the two families waited only for the establishment of the + young divine, to perfect the union. + </p> + <p> + The retirement of Sir Edward's family had been uniform, with the exception + of an occasional visit to an aged uncle of his wife's, and who, in return, + spent much of his time with them at the Hall, and who had openly declared + his intention of making the children of Lady Moseley his heirs. The visits + of Mr. Benfield were always hailed with joy, and as an event that called + for more than ordinary gaiety; for, although rough in manner, and somewhat + infirm from years, the old bachelor, who was rather addicted to the + customs in which he had indulged in his youth, and was fond of dwelling on + the scenes of former days, was universally beloved where he was intimately + known, for an unbounded though eccentric philanthropy. + </p> + <p> + The illness of the mother-in-law of Mrs. Wilson had called her to Bath the + winter preceding the spring when our history commences, and she had been + accompanied thither by her nephew and favorite niece. John and Emily, + during the month of their residence in that city, were in the practice of + making daily excursions in its environs. It was in one of these little + drives that they were of accidental service to a very young and very + beautiful woman, apparently in low health. They had taken her up in their + carriage, and conveyed her to a farm-house where she resided, during a + faintness which had come over her in a walk; and her beauty, air, and + manner, altogether so different from those around her, had interested them + both to a painful degree. They had ventured to call the following day to + inquire after her welfare, and this visit led to a slight intercourse, + which continued for the fortnight they remained there. + </p> + <p> + John had given himself some trouble to ascertain who she was, but in vain. + They could merely learn that her life was blameless, that she saw no one + but themselves, and her dialect raised a suspicion that she was not + English, It was to this unknown fair Emily alluded in her playful attempt + to stop the heedless rattle of her brother, who was not always restrained + from uttering what he thought by a proper regard for the feelings of + others. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter II. + </h2> + <p> + The morning succeeding the day of the dinner at the Hall, Mrs. Wilson, + with all her nieces and her nephew, availed herself of the fineness of the + weather to walk to the rectory, where they were all in the habit of making + informal and friendly visits. They had just got out of the little village + of B----, which lay in their route, when a rather handsome travelling + carriage and four passed them, and took the road which led to the Deanery. + </p> + <p> + "As I live," cried John, "there go our new neighbors the Jarvis's; yes, + yes, that must be the old merchant muffled up in the corner; I mistook him + at first for a pile of bandboxes; then the rosy-cheeked lady, with so many + feathers, must be the old lady--heaven forgive me, Mrs. Jarvis I + mean--aye, and the two others the belles." + </p> + <p> + "You are in a hurry to pronounce them belles, John," said Jane, pettishly; + "it would be well to see more of them before you speak so decidedly." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" replied John, "I have seen <i>enough</i> of them, and"--he was + interrupted by the whirling of a tilbury and tandem followed by a couple + of servants on horseback. All about this vehicle and its masters bore the + stamp of decided fashion; and our party had followed it with their eyes + for a short distance, when, having reached a fork in the roads, it + stopped, and evidently waited the coming up of the pedestrians, as if to + make an inquiry. A single glance of the eye was sufficient to apprise the + gentleman on the cushion (who held the reins) of the kind of people he had + to deal with, and stepping from his carriage, he met them with a graceful + bow, and after handsomely apologizing for the trouble he was giving, he + desired to know which road led to the Deanery. "The right," replied John, + returning his salutation. + </p> + <p> + "Ask them, Colonel," cried the charioteer, "whether the old gentleman went + right or not." + </p> + <p> + The Colonel, in the manner of a perfect gentleman, but with a look of + compassion for his companion's want of tact, made the desired inquiry; + which being satisfactorily answered, he again bowed and was retiring, as + one of several pointers who followed the cavalcade sprang upon Jane, and + soiled her walking dress with his dirty feet. + </p> + <p> + "Come hither, Dido," cried the Colonel, hastening to beat the dog back + from the young lady; and again he apologized in the same collected and + handsome manner, then turning to one of the servants, he said, "call in + the dog, sir," and rejoined his companion. The air of this gentleman was + peculiarly pleasant; it would not have been difficult to pronounce him a + soldier had he not been addressed as such by his younger and certainly + less polished companion. The Colonel was apparently about thirty, and of + extremely handsome face and figure, while his driving friend appeared + several years younger, and of altogether different materials. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder," said Jane, as they turned a corner which hid them from view, + "who they are?" + </p> + <p> + "Who they are?" cried the brother, "why the Jarvis's to be sure; didn't + you hear them ask the road to the Deanery? + </p> + <p> + "Oh! the one that drove, <i>he</i> may be a Jarvis, but not the gentleman + who spoke to us--surely not, John; besides, he was called Colonel, you + know." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said John, with one of his quizzing expressions, "Colonel + Jarvis, that must be the alderman; they are commonly colonels of city + volunteers: yes, that must have been the old gem'mun who spoke to us, and + I was right after all about the bandboxes." + </p> + <p> + "You forget," said Clara, smiling, "the polite inquiry concerning the old + gem'mun." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! true; who the deuce can this Colonel be then, for young Jarvis is + only a captain, I know; who do you think he is, Jane?" + </p> + <p> + "How do you think I can tell you, John? But whoever he is, he owns the + tilbury, although he did not drive it; and he is a gentleman both by birth + and manners." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Jane, if you know so much of him, you should know more; but it is + all guess with you." + </p> + <p> + "No; it is not guess--I am certain of what I say." + </p> + <p> + The aunt and sisters, who had taken little interest in the dialogue, + looked at her with some surprise, which John observing, he exclaimed, + "Poh: she knows no more than we all know." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed I do." + </p> + <p> + "Poh, poh, if you know, tell." + </p> + <p> + "Why, the arms were different." + </p> + <p> + John laughed as he said, "That <i>is</i> a good reason, sure enough, for + the tilbury's being the colonel's property; but now for his blood; how did + you discover that, sis--by his gait and actions, as we say of horses?" + </p> + <p> + Jane colored a little, and laughed faintly. "The arms on the tilbury had + six quarterings." + </p> + <p> + Emily now laughed, and Mrs. Wilson and Clara smiled while John continued + his teazing until they reached the rectory. + </p> + <p> + While chatting with the doctor and his wife, Francis returned from his + morning ride, and told them the Jarvis family had arrived; he had + witnessed an unpleasant accident to a gig, in which were Captain Jarvis, + and a friend, a Colonel Egerton; it had been awkwardly driven in turning + into the Deanery gate, and upset: the colonel received some injury to his + ankle, nothing, however, serious he hoped, but such as to put him under + the care of the young ladies, probably, for a few days. After the + exclamations which usually follow such details, Jane ventured to inquire + who Colonel Egerton was. + </p> + <p> + "I understood at the time, from one of the servants, that he is a nephew + of Sir Edgar Egerton, and a lieutenant-colonel on half-pay, or furlough, + or some such thing." + </p> + <p> + "How did he bear his misfortune, Mr. Francis?" inquired Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly as a gentleman, madam, if not as a Christian," replied the + young clergyman, slily smiling; "indeed, most men of gallantry would, I + believe, rejoice in an accident which drew forth so much sympathy as both + the Miss Jarvis's manifested." + </p> + <p> + "How fortunate you should all happen to be near!" said the tender-hearted + Clara. + </p> + <p> + "Are the young ladies pretty?" asked Jane, with something of hesitation in + her manner. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I rather think they are; but I took very little notice of their + appearance, as the colonel was really in evident pain." + </p> + <p> + "This, then," cried the doctor, "affords me an additional excuse for + calling on them at an early day, so I'll e'en go to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "I trust Doctor Ives wants no apologies for performing his duty," said + Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "He is fond of making them, though," said Mrs. Ives, speaking with a + benevolent smile, and for the first time in the little conversation. + </p> + <p> + It was then arranged that the rector should make his official visit, as + intended by himself; and on his report, the ladies would act. After + remaining at the rectory an hour, they returned to the hall, attended by + Francis. + </p> + <p> + The next day the doctor drove in, and informed them the Jarvis family were + happily settled, and the colonel in no danger, excepting from the + fascinations of the two young ladies, who took such palpable care of him + that he wanted for nothing, and they might drive over whenever they + pleased, without fear of intruding unseasonably. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jarvis received his guests with the frankness of good feelings, if not + with the polish of high life; while his wife, who seldom thought of the + former, would have been mortally offended with the person who could have + suggested that she omitted any of the elegancies of the latter. Her + daughters were rather pretty, but wanted, both in appearance and manner, + the inexpressible air of <i>haut ton</i> which so eminently distinguished + the easy but polished deportment of Colonel Egerton, whom they found + reclining on a sofa with his leg on a chair, amply secured in numerous + bandages, but unable to rise. Notwithstanding the awkwardness of his + situation, he was by far the least discomposed person of the party, and + having pleasantly excused himself, he appeared to think no more of the + matter. + </p> + <p> + The captain, Mrs. Jarvis remarked, had gone out with his dogs to try the + grounds around them, "for he seems to live only with his horses and his + gun: young men, my lady, nowadays, appear to forget that there are any + things in the world but themselves; now I told Harry that your ladyship + and daughters would favor us with a call this morning--but no: there he + went, as if Mr. Jarvis was unable to buy us a dinner, and we should all + starve but for his quails and pheasants." + </p> + <p> + "Quails and pheasants," cried John, in consternation, "does Captain Jarvis + shoot quails and pheasants at this time of the year?" + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Jarvis, sir," said Colonel Egerton, with a correcting smile, + "understands the allegiance due from us gentlemen to the ladies, better + than the rules of sporting; my friend, the captain, has taken his fishing + rod, I believe." + </p> + <p> + "It is all one, fish or birds," continued Mrs. Jarvis, "he is out of the + way when he is wanted, and I believe we can buy fish as easily as birds; I + wish he would take pattern after yourself, colonel, in these matters." + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton laughed pleasantly, but he did not blush; and Miss Jarvis + observed, with a look, of something like admiration thrown on his + reclining figure, "that when Harry had been in the army as long as his + friend, he would know the usages of good society, she hoped, as well." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said her mother, "the army is certainly the place to polish a young + man;" and turning to Mrs. Wilson, she abruptly added, "Your husband, I + believe, was in the army, ma'am?" + </p> + <p> + "I hope," said Emily hastily, "that we shall have the pleasure of seeing + you soon, Miss Jarvis, at the Hall," preventing by her promptitude the + necessity of a reply from her aunt. The young lady promised to make an + early visit, and the subject changed to a general and uninteresting + discourse on the neighborhood, the country, the weather, and other + ordinary topics. + </p> + <p> + "Now, John," cried Jane in triumph, as they drove from the door, "you must + acknowledge my heraldic witchcraft, as you are pleased to call it, is + right for once at least." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no doubt, Jenny," said John, who was accustomed to use that + appellation to her as a provocation, when he wished what he called an + enlivening scene; but Mrs. Wilson put a damper on his hopes by a remark to + his mother, and the habitual respect of both the combatants kept them + silent. + </p> + <p> + Jane Moseley was endowed by nature with an excellent understanding, one at + least equal to that of her brother, but the wanted the more essential + requisites of a well governed mind. Masters had been provided by Sir + Edward for all his daughters, and if they were not acquainted with the + usual acquirements of young women in their rank of life, it was not his + fault: his system of economy had not embraced a denial of opportunity to + any of his children, and the baronet was apt to think all <i>was</i> done, + when they were put where all <i>might</i> be done. Feeling herself and + parents entitled to enter into all the gaieties and splendors of some of + the richer families in their vicinity, Jane, who had grown up during the + temporary eclipse of Sir Edward's fortunes, had sought that + self-consolation so common to people in her situation, which was to be + found in reviewing the former grandeur of her house, and she had thus + contracted a degree of family pride. If Clara's weaknesses were less + striking than those of Jane, it was because she had less imagination, and + because that in loving Francis Ives she had so long admired a character, + where so little was to be found that could be censured, that she might be + said to have contracted a habit of judging correctly, without being able + at all times to give a reason for her conduct or her opinions. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter III. + </h2> + <p> + The day fixed for one of the stated visits of Mr. Benfield had now + arrived, and John, with Emily, who was the old bachelor's favorite niece, + went in the baronet's post-chaise to the town of F----, a distance of + twenty miles, to meet him, in order to accompany him in the remainder of + his journey to the Hall, it being a settled rule with the old man, that + his carriage horses should return to their own stables every night, where + he imagined they could alone find that comfort and care to which their age + and services gave them a claim. The day was uncommonly pleasant, and the + young people were in high spirits with the expectation of meeting their + respected relative, whose absence had been prolonged a few days by a + severe fit of the gout. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Emily," cried John, as he settled himself comfortably by the side of + his sister in the chaise, "let me know honestly how you like the Jarvis's, + and particularly how you like the handsome colonel." + </p> + <p> + "Then, John, honestly, I neither like nor dislike the Jarvis's or the + handsome colonel." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, there is no great diversity in our sentiments, as Jane would + say." + </p> + <p> + "John!" + </p> + <p> + "Emily!" + </p> + <p> + "I do not like to hear you speak so disrespectfully of out sister, whom I + am sure you love as tenderly as I do myself." + </p> + <p> + "I acknowledge my error," said the brother, taking her hand and + affectionately kissing it, "and will endeavor to offend no more; but this + Colonel Egerton, sister, is certainly a gentleman, both by blood and in + manners, as Jane"--Emily interrupted him with a laugh, which John took + very good-naturedly, repeating his remark without alluding to their + sister. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Emily, "he is genteel in his deportment, if that be what you + mean; I know nothing of his family." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I have taken a peep into Jane's Baronetage, where find him set down + as Sir Edgar's heir." + </p> + <p> + "There is something about him," said Emily, musing, "that I do not much + admire; he is too easy--there is no nature; I always feel afraid such + people will laugh at me as soon as my back is turned, and for those very + things they seem most to admire to my face. If I might be allowed to + judge, I should say his manner wants one thing, without which no one can + be truly agreeable." + </p> + <p> + "What's that?" + </p> + <p> + "Sincerity." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! that's my great recommendation; but I am afraid I shall have to take + the poacher up, with his quails and his pheasants, indeed." + </p> + <p> + "You know the colonel explained that to be a mistake." + </p> + <p> + "What they call explaining away; but unluckily I saw the gentleman + returning with his gun on his shoulder, and followed by a brace of + pointers." + </p> + <p> + "There's a specimen of the colonel's manners then," said Emily, smiling; + "it will do until the truth be known." + </p> + <p> + "And Jane, when she saw him also, praised his good nature and + consideration, in what she was pleased to call relieving the awkwardness + of my remark." + </p> + <p> + Emily finding her brother disposed to dwell on the foibles of Jane, a + thing he was rather addicted to at times, was silent. They rode some + distance before John, who was ever as ready to atone as he was to offend, + again apologized, again promised reformation, and during the remainder of + the ride only forgot himself twice more in the same way. + </p> + <p> + They reached F---- two hours before the lumbering coach of their uncle + drove into the yard of the inn, and had sufficient time to refresh their + own horses for the journey homewards. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield was a bachelor of eighty, but retained the personal activity + of a man of sixty. He was strongly attached to all the fashions and + opinions of his youth, during which he had sat one term in parliament, + having been a great beau and courtier in the commencement of the reign. A + disappointment in an affair of the heart drove him into retirement; and + for the last fifty years he had dwelt exclusively at a seat he owned + within forty miles of Moseley Hall, the mistress of which was the only + child of his only brother. In figure, he was tall and spare, very erect + for his years, and he faithfully preserved in his attire, servants, + carriages, and indeed everything around him, as much of the fashions of + his youth as circumstances would allow: such then was a faint outline of + the character and appearance of the old man, who, dressed in a cocked hat, + bag wig, and sword, took the offered arm of John Moseley to alight from + his coach. + </p> + <p> + "So," cried the old gentleman, having made good his footing on the ground, + as he stopped short and stared John in the face, "you have made out to + come twenty miles to meet an old cynic, have you, sir? but I thought I bid + thee bring Emmy with thee." + </p> + <p> + John pointed to the window, where his sister stood anxiously watching her + uncle's movements. On catching her eye, he smiled kindly, and pursued his + way into the house, talking to himself. + </p> + <p> + "Aye, there she is indeed; I remember now, when I was a youngster, of + going with my kinsman, old Lord Gosford, to meet his sister, the Lady + Juliana, when she first came from school (this was the lady whose + infidelity had driven him from the world); and a beauty she was indeed, + something like Emmy there; only she was taller, and her eyes were black, + and her hair too, that was black; and she was not so fair as Emmy, and she + was fatter, and she stooped a little--very little; oh! they are + wonderfully alike though; don't you think they were, nephew?" he stopped + at the door of the room; while John, who in this description could not see + a resemblance, which existed nowhere but in the old man's affections, was + fain to say, "yes; but they were related, you know, uncle, and that + explains the likeness." + </p> + <p> + "True, boy, true," said his uncle, pleased at a reason for a thing he + wished, and which flattered his propensities. He had once before told + Emily she put him in mind of his housekeeper, a woman as old as himself, + and without a tooth in her head. + </p> + <p> + On meeting his niece, Mr. Benfield (who, like many others that feel + strongly, wore in common the affectation of indifference and displeasure) + yielded to his fondness, and folding her in his arms, kissed her + affectionately, while a tear glistened in his eye; and then pushing her + gently from him, he exclaimed, "Come, come, Emmy, don't strangle me, don't + strangle me, girl; let me live in peace the little while I have to remain + here--so," seating himself composedly in an arm chair his niece had placed + for him with a cushion, "so Anne writes me, Sir William Harris has let the + deanery." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes, uncle," cried John. + </p> + <p> + "I'll thank you, young gentleman," said Mr. Benfield, sternly, "not to + interrupt me when I am speaking to a lady that is, if you please, sir. + Then Sir William has let the deanery to a London merchant, a Mr. Jarvis. + Now I knew three people of that name; one was a hackney coachman, when I + was a member of the parliament of this realm, and drove me often to the + house; the other was <i>valet-de-chambre</i> to my Lord Gosford; and the + third, I take it, is the very man who has become your neighbor. If it be + the person I mean, Emmy dear, he is like--like--aye, very like old Peter, + my steward." + </p> + <p> + John, unable to contain his mirth at this discovery of a likeness between + the prototype of Mr. Benfield himself in leanness of figure, and the jolly + rotundity of the merchant, was obliged to leave the room; Emily, though + she could not forbear smiling at the comparison, quietly said, "You will + meet him to-morrow, dear uncle, and then you will be able to judge for + yourself." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," muttered the old man, "very like old Peter, my steward; as + like as two peas." The parallel was by no means as ridiculous as might be + supposed; its history being as follows: + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield had placed twenty thousand pounds in the hands of a broker, + with positive orders for him to pay it away immediately for government + stock, bought by the former on his account; but disregarding this + injunction, the broker had managed the transaction in such a way as to + postpone the payment, until, on his failure, he had given up that and a + much larger sum to Mr. Jarvis, to satisfy what he called an honorary debt. + In elucidating the transaction Mr. Jarvis paid Benfield Lodge a visit, and + honestly restored the bachelor his property. This act, and the high + opinion he entertained of Mrs. Wilson, with his unbounded love for Emily, + were the few things which prevented his believing some dreadful judgment + was about to visit this world, for its increasing wickedness and follies. + As his own steward was one of the honestest fellows living, he had ever + after fancied that there was a personal resemblance between him and the + conscientious merchant. + </p> + <p> + The horses being ready, the old bachelor was placed carefully between his + nephew and niece, and in that manner they rode on quietly to the Hall, the + dread of accident keeping Mr. Benfield silent most of the way. On passing, + however a stately castle, about ten miles from the termination of their + ride, he began one of his speeches with, + </p> + <p> + "Emmy, dear, does Lord Bolton come often to see you?" + </p> + <p> + "Very seldom, sir; his employment keeps him much of his time at St. + James's, and then he has an estate in Ireland." + </p> + <p> + "I knew his father well--he was distantly connected by marriage with my + friend Lord Gosford; you could not remember him, I suspect" (John rolled + his eyes at this suggestion of his sister's recollection of a man who had + been forty years dead); "he always voted with me in the parliament of this + realm; he was a thoroughly honest man; very much such a man to look at as + Peter Johnson, my steward: but I am told his son likes the good things of + the ministry; well, well, William Pitt was the only minister to my mind. + There was the Scotchman of whom they made a Marquis; I never could endure + him--always voted against him." + </p> + <p> + "Right or wrong, uncle," cried John, who loved a little mischief in his + heart. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir--right, but never wrong. Lord Gosford always voted against him + too; and do you think, jackanapes, that my friend the Earl of Gosford + and--and--myself were ever wrong? No, sir, men in my day were different + creatures from what they are now: we were never wrong, sir; we loved our + country, and had no motive for being in the wrong." + </p> + <p> + "How was it with Lord Bute, uncle?" + </p> + <p> + "Lord Bute, sir," cried the old man with great warmth, "was the minister, + sir--he was the minister; aye, he was the minister, sir, and was paid for + what he did." + </p> + <p> + "But Lord Chatham, was he not the minister too?" + </p> + <p> + Now, nothing vexed the old gentleman more than to hear William Pitt called + by his tardy honors; and yet, unwilling to give up what he thought his + political opinions, he exclaimed, with an unanswerable positiveness of + argument, + </p> + <p> + "Billy Pitt, sir, was the minister, sir; but--but--but--he was <i>our</i> + minister, sir." + </p> + <p> + Emily, unable to see her uncle agitated by such useless disputes, threw a + reproachful glance on her brother, as she observed timidly, + </p> + <p> + "That was a glorious administration, sir, I believe." + </p> + <p> + "Glorious indeed! Emmy dear," said the bachelor, softening with the sound + of her voice, and the recollections of his younger days, "we beat the + French everywhere--in America--in Germany;--we took--(counting on his + fingers)--we took Quebec--yes, Lord Gosford lost a cousin there; and we + took all the Canadas; and we took their fleets: there was a young man + killed in the battle between Hawke and Conflans, who was much attached to + Lady Juliana--poor soul! how much she regretted him when dead, though she + never could abide him when living--ah! she was a tender-hearted creature!" + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield, like many others, continued to love imaginary qualities in + his mistress, long after her heartless coquetry had disgusted him with her + person: a kind of feeling which springs from self-love, which finds it + necessary to seek consolation in creating beauties, that may justify our + follies to ourselves; and which often keeps alive the semblance of the + passion, when even hope, or real admiration, is extinct. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the Hall, every one was rejoiced to see their really + affectionate and worthy relative, and the evening passed in the tranquil + enjoyment of the blessings which Providence had profusely scattered around + the family of the baronet, but which are too often hazarded by a neglect + of duty that springs from too great security, or an indolence which + renders us averse to the precaution necessary to insure their continuance. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter IV. + </h2> + <p> + "You are welcome, Sir Edward," said the venerable rector, as he took the + baronet by the hand; "I was fearful a return of your rheumatism would + deprive us of this pleasure, and prevent my making you acquainted with the + new occupants of the deanery, who have consented to dine with us to-day, + and to whom I have promised, in particular, an introduction to Sir Edward + Moseley." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, my dear doctor," rejoined the baronet; "I have not only come + myself, but have persuaded Mr. Benfield to make one of the party; there he + comes, leaning on Emily's arm, and finding fault with Mrs. Wilson's + new-fashioned barouche, which he says has given him cold." + </p> + <p> + The rector received the unexpected guest with the kindness of his nature, + and an inward smile at the incongruous assemblage he was likely to have + around him by the arrival of the Jarvis's, who, at that moment, drove to + his door. The introductions between the baronet and the new comers had + passed, and Miss Jarvis had made a prettily worded apology on behalf of + the colonel, who was not yet well enough to come out, but whose politeness + had insisted on their not remaining a home on his account, as Mr. + Benfield, having composedly put on his spectacles, walked deliberately up + to the place where the merchant had seated himself, and having examined + him through his glasses to his satisfaction, took them off, and carefully + wiping them, he began to talk to himself as he put them into his + pocket--"No, no; it's not Jack, the hackney coachman, nor my Lord + Gosford's gentleman, but"--cordially holding out both hands, "it's the man + who saved my twenty thousand pounds." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jarvis, whom shame and embarrassment had kept silent during this + examination, exchanged greetings sincerely with his old acquaintance, who + now took a seat in silence by his side; while his wife, whose face had + begun to kindle with indignation at the commencement of the old + gentleman's soliloquy, observing that somehow or other it had not only + terminated without degradation to her spouse, but with something like + credit, turned complacently to Mrs. Ives, with an apology for the absence + of her son. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot divine, ma'am, where he has got to; he is ever keeping us + waiting for him;" and, addressing Jane, "these military men become so + unsettled in their habits, that I often tell Harry he should never quit + the camp." + </p> + <p> + "In Hyde Park, you should add, my dear, for he has never been in any + other," bluntly observed her husband. + </p> + <p> + To this speech no reply was made, but it was evidently little relished by + the ladies of the family, who were a good deal jealous of the laurels of + the only hero their race had ever produced. The arrival and introduction + of the captain himself changed the discourse, which turned on the comforts + of their present residence. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, my lady," cried the captain, who had taken a chair familiarly by + the side of the baronet's wife, "why is the house called the deanery? I am + afraid I shall be taken for a son of the church, when I invite my friends + to visit my father at the deanery." + </p> + <p> + "But you may add, at the same time, sir, if you please," dryly remarked + Mr. Jarvis, "that it is occupied by an old man, who has been preaching and + lecturing all his life; and, like others of the trade, I believe, in + vain." + </p> + <p> + "You must except our good friend, the doctor here, at least, sir," said + Mrs. Wilson; who, observing that her sister shrank from a familiarity she + was unused to, took upon herself the office of replying to the captain's + question: "The father of the present Sir William Harris held that station + in the church, and although the house was his private property it took its + name from the circumstance, which has been continued ever since." + </p> + <p> + "Is it not a droll life Sir William leads," cried Miss Jarvis, looking at + John Moseley, "riding about all summer from one watering-place to another, + and letting his house year after year in the manner he does?" + </p> + <p> + "Sir William," said Dr. Ives, gravely, "is devoted to his daughter's + wishes; and since his accession to his title, has come into possession of + another residence in an adjoining county, which, I believe, he retains in + his own hands." + </p> + <p> + "Are you acquainted with Miss Harris?" continued the lady, addressing + herself to Clara; though, without waiting for an answer, she added, "She + is a great belle--all the gentlemen are dying for her." + </p> + <p> + "Or her fortune," said her sister, with a pretty toss of the head; "for my + part, I never could see anything so captivating in her, although so much + is said about her at Bath and Brighton." + </p> + <p> + "You know her then," mildly observed Clara. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I cannot say--we are exactly acquainted," the young lady + hesitatingly answered, coloring violently. + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean by exactly acquainted, Sally?" put in the father with a + laugh; "did you ever speak to or were you ever in a room with her, in your + life, unless it might be at a concert or a ball?" + </p> + <p> + The mortification of Miss Sarah was too evident for concealment, and it + happily was relieved by a summons to dinner. + </p> + <p> + "Never, my dear child," said Mrs. Wilson to Emily, the aunt being fond of + introducing a moral from the occasional incidents of every-day life, + "never subject yourself to a similar mortification, by commenting on the + characters of those you don't know: ignorance makes you liable to great + errors; and if they should happen to be above you in life, it will only + excite their contempt, should it reach their ears, while those to whom + your remarks are made will think it envy." + </p> + <p> + "Truth is sometimes blundered on," whispered John, who held his sister's + arm, waiting for his aunt to precede them to the dining-room. + </p> + <p> + The merchant paid too great a compliment to the rector's dinner to think + of renewing the disagreeable conversation, and as John Moseley and the + young clergyman were seated next the two ladies, they soon forgot what, + among themselves, they would call their father's rudeness, in receiving + the attentions of a couple of remarkably agreeable young men. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, Mr. Francis, when do you preach for us?" asked Mr. Haughton; "I'm + very anxious to hear you hold forth from the pulpit, where I have so often + heard your father with pleasure: I doubt not you will prove orthodox, or + you will be the only man, I believe, in the congregation, the rector has + left in ignorance of the theory of our religion, at least." + </p> + <p> + The doctor bowed to the compliment, as he replied to the question for his + son, that on the next Sunday they were to have the pleasure of hearing + Frank, who had promised to assist him on that day. + </p> + <p> + "Any prospects of a living soon?" continued Mr. Haughton, helping himself + bountifully to a piece of plum pudding as he spoke. John Moseley laughed + aloud, and Clara blushed to the eyes, while the doctor, turning to Sir + Edward, observed with an air of interest, "Sir Edward, the living of + Bolton is vacant, and I should like exceedingly to obtain it for my son. + The advowson belongs to the Earl, who will dispose of it only to great + interest, I am afraid." + </p> + <p> + Clara was certainly, too busily occupied in picking raisins from her + pudding to hear this remark, but accidentally stole, from under her long + eyelashes, a timid glance at her father as he replied: + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry, my friend, I have not sufficient interest with his lordship + to apply on my own account; but he is so seldom here, we are barely + acquainted;" and the good baronet looked really concerned. + </p> + <p> + "Clara," said Francis Ives in a low and affectionate tone, "have you read + the books I sent you?" + </p> + <p> + Clara answered him with a smile in the negative, but promised amendment as + soon as she had leisure. + </p> + <p> + "Do you ride much, on horseback, Mr. Moseley?" abruptly asked Miss Sarah, + turning her back on the young divine, and facing the gentleman she + addressed. John, who was now hemmed in between the sisters, replied with a + rueful expression that brought a smile into the face of Emily, who was + placed opposite to him-- + </p> + <p> + "Yes, ma'am, and sometimes I am ridden." + </p> + <p> + "Ridden, sir, what do you mean by that?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! only my aunt there occasionally gives me a lecture." + </p> + <p> + "I understand," said the lady, pointing slily with her finger at her own + father. + </p> + <p> + "Does it feel good?" John inquired, with a look of, great sympathy. But + the lady, who now felt awkwardly, without knowing exactly why, shook her + head in silence, and forced a faint laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Whom have we here?" cried Captain Jarvis, who was looking out at a window + which commanded a view of the approach to the house--"the apothecary and + his attendant judging from the equipage." + </p> + <p> + The rector threw an inquiring look on a servant, who told his master they + were strangers to him. + </p> + <p> + "Have them shown up, doctor," cried the benevolent baronet, who loved to + see every one as happy as himself, "and give them some of your excellent + pasty, for the sake of hospitality and the credit of your cook, I beg of + you." + </p> + <p> + As this request was politely seconded by others of the party, the rector + ordered his servants to show in the strangers. + </p> + <p> + On opening the parlor door, a gentleman, apparently sixty years of age, + appeared, leaning on the arm of a youth of five-and-twenty. There was + sufficient resemblance between the two for the most indifferent observer + to pronounce them father and son; but the helpless debility and emaciated + figure of the former, were finely contrasted by the vigorous health and + manly beauty of the latter, who supported his venerable parent into the + room with a grace and tenderness that struck most of the beholders with a + sensation of pleasure. The doctor and Mrs. Ives rose from their seats + involuntarily, and each stood for a moment, lost in an astonishment that + was mingled with grief. Recollecting himself, the rector grasped the + extended hand of the senior in both his own, and endeavored to utter + something, but in vain. The tears followed each other down his cheeks, as + he looked on the faded and careworn figure which stood before him; while + his wife, unable to control her feelings, sank back into a chair and wept + aloud. + </p> + <p> + Throwing open the door of an adjoining room, and retaining the hand of the + invalid, the doctor gently led the way, followed by his wife and son. The + former, having recovered from the first burst of her sorrow, and + regardless of everything else, now anxiously watched the enfeebled step of + the stranger. On reaching the door, they both turned and bowed to the + company in a manner of so much dignity, mingled with sweetness, that all, + not excepting Mr. Benfield, rose from their seats to return the + salutation. On passing from the dining parlor, the door was closed, + leaving the company standing round the table in mute astonishment and + commiseration. Not a word had been spoken, and the rector's family had + left them without apology or explanation. Francis, however soon returned, + and was followed in a few minutes by his mother, who, slightly apologizing + for her absence, turned the discourse on the approaching Sunday, and the + intention of Francis to preach on that day. The Moseleys were too well + bred to make any inquiries, and the deanery family was afraid. Sir Edward + retired at a very early hour, and was followed by the remainder of the + party. + </p> + <p> + "Well," cried Mrs. Jarvis, as they drove from the door, "this may be good + breeding, but, for my part, I think both the doctor and Mrs. Ives behaved + very rudely, with the crying and sobbing." + </p> + <p> + "They are nobody of much consequence," cried her eldest daughter, casting + a contemptuous glance on a plain travelling chaise which stood before the + rector's stables. + </p> + <p> + "'Twas sickening," said Miss Sarah, with a shrug; while her father, + turning his eyes on each speaker in succession, very deliberately helped + himself to a pinch of snuff, his ordinary recourse against a family + quarrel. The curiosity of the ladies was, however, more lively than they + chose to avow and Mrs. Jarvis bade her maid go over to the rectory that + evening, with her compliments to Mrs. Ives; she had lost a lace veil, + which her maid knew, and she thought it might have been left at the + rectory. + </p> + <p> + "And, Jones, when you are there, you can inquire of the servants; mind, of + the servants--I would not distress Mrs. Ives for the world; how + Mr.--Mr.--what's his name--Oh!--I have forgotten his name; just bring me + his name too, Jones; and, as it may make some difference in our party, + just find out how long they stay; and--and--- any other little thing, + Jones, which can be of use, you know." + </p> + <p> + Off went Jones, and within an hour she had returned. With an important + look, she commenced her narrative, the daughters being accidentally + present, and it might be on purpose. + </p> + <p> + "Why, ma'am, I went across the fields, and William was good enough to go + with me; so when we got there, I rang, and they showed us into the + servants' room, and I gave my message, and the veil was not there. Why, + ma'am, there's the veil now, on the back o' that chair." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, very well, Jones, never mind the veil," cried the impatient + mistress. + </p> + <p> + "So, ma'am, while they were looking for the veil, I just asked one of the + maids, what company had arrived, but"--(here Jones looked very suspicious, + and shook her head ominously:) "would you think it, ma'am, not a soul of + them knew! But, ma'am, there was the doctor and his son, praying and + reading with the old gentleman the whole time--and"-- + </p> + <p> + "And what, Jones?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, ma'am, I expect he has been a great sinner, or he wouldn't want so + much praying just as he is about to die." + </p> + <p> + "Die!" cried all three at once: "will he die?" + </p> + <p> + "O yes," continued Jones, "they all agree he must die; but this praying so + much, is just like the criminals. I'm sure no honest person needs so much + praying, ma'am." + </p> + <p> + "No, indeed," said the mother. "No, indeed," responded the daughters, as + they retired to their several rooms for the night. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter V. + </h2> + <p> + There is something in the season of Spring which peculiarly excites the + feelings of devotion. The dreariness of winter has passed, and with it, + the deadened affections of our nature. New life, new vigor, arises within + us, as we walk abroad and feel the genial gales of April breathe upon us; + and our hopes, our wishes, awaken with the revival of the vegetable world. + It is then that the heart, which has been impressed with the goodness of + the Creator, feels that goodness brought, as it were, into very contact + with the senses. The eye loves to wander over the bountiful provisions + nature is throwing forth in every direction for our comfort, and fixes its + gaze on the clouds, which, having lost the chilling thinness of winter, + roll in rich volumes, amidst the clear and softened fields of azure so + peculiar to the season, leading the mind insensibly, to dwell on the + things of another and a better world. It was on such a day, that the + inhabitants of B---- thronged toward the village church, for the double + purpose of pouring out their thanksgivings, and of hearing the first + efforts of their rector's son in the duties of his sacred calling. + </p> + <p> + Amongst the crowd whom curiosity or a better feeling had drawn forth, were + to be seen the flaring equipage of the Jarvises, and the handsome + carriages of Sir Edward Moseley and his sister. All the members of the + latter family felt a lively anxiety for the success of the young divine. + But knowing, as they well did, the strength of his native talents, the + excellence of his education, and the fervor of his piety, it was an + anxiety that partook more of hope than of fear. There was one heart, + however, amongst them, that palpitated with an emotion that hardly + admitted of control, as they approached the sacred edifice, for it had + identified itself completely with the welfare of the rector's son. There + never was a softer, truer heart, than that which now almost audibly beat + within the bosom of Clara Moseley; and she had given it to the young + divine with all its purity and truth. + </p> + <p> + The entrance of a congregation into the sanctuary will at all times + furnish, to an attentive observer, food for much useful speculation, if it + be chastened with a proper charity for the weaknesses of others; and most + people are ignorant of the insight they are giving into their characters + and dispositions, by such an apparently trivial circumstance as their + weekly approach to the tabernacles of the Lord. Christianity, while it + chastens and amends the heart, leaves the natural powers unaltered; and it + cannot be doubted that its operation is, or ought to be, proportionate to + the abilities and opportunities of the subject of its holy + impression--"Unto whomsoever much is given, much will be required." While + we acknowledge, that the thoughts might be better employed in preparing + for those humiliations of the spirit and thanksgiving of the heart which + are required of all, and are so necessary to all, we must be indulged in a + hasty view of some of the personages of our history, as they entered the + church of B----. + </p> + <p> + On the countenance of the baronet, was the dignity and composure of a mind + at peace with itself and mankind. His step was rather more deliberate than + common; his eye rested on the pavement, and on turning into his pew, as he + prepared to kneel, in the first humble petition of our beautiful service, + he raised it towards the altar with an expression of benevolence and + reverence, that spoke contentment, not unmixed with faith. + </p> + <p> + In the demeanor of Lady Moseley, all was graceful and decent, while + nothing could be properly said to be studied. She followed her husband + with a step of equal deliberation, though it was slightly varied by a + manner which, while it appeared natural to herself, might have been + artificial in another: a cambric handkerchief concealed her face as she + sank composedly by the side of Sir Edward, in a style which showed, that + while she remembered her Maker, she had not entirely forgotten herself. + </p> + <p> + The walk of Mrs. Wilson was quicker than that of her sister. Her eye, + directed before her, was fixed, as if in settled gaze, on that eternity + which she was approaching. The lines of her contemplative face were + unaltered, unless there might be traced a deeper shade of humility than + was ordinarily seen on her pale, but expressive countenance: her petition + was long; and on rising from her humble posture, the person was indeed to + be seen, but the soul appeared absorbed in contemplations beyond the + limits of this sphere. + </p> + <p> + There was a restlessness and varying of color, in the ordinarily placid + Clara, which prevented a display of her usual manner; while Jane walked + gracefully, and with a tincture of her mother's manner, by her side. She + stole one hastily withdrawn glance to the deanery pew ere she kneeled, and + then, on rising, handed her smelling-bottle affectionately to her elder + sister. + </p> + <p> + Emily glided behind her companions with a face beaming with a look of + innocence and love. As she sank in the act of supplication, the rich glow + of her healthful cheek lost some of its brilliancy; but, on rising, it + beamed with a renewed lustre, that plainly indicated a heart touched with + the sanctity of its situation. + </p> + <p> + In the composed and sedate manner of Mr. Jarvis, as he steadily pursued + his way to the pew of Sir William Harris, you might have been justified in + expecting the entrance of another Sir Edward Moseley in substance, if not + in externals. But the deliberate separation of the flaps of his coat, as + he comfortably seated himself, when you thought him about to kneel, + followed by a pinch of snuff as he threw his eye around the building, led + you at once to conjecture, that what at first had been mistaken for + reverence, was the abstraction of some earthly calculation; and that his + attendance was in compliance with custom, and not a little depended upon + the thickness of his cushions, and the room he found for the disposition + of two rather unwieldy legs. + </p> + <p> + The ladies of the family followed, in garments carefully selected for the + advantageous display of their persons. As they sailed into their seats, + where it would seem the improvidence of Sir William's steward had + neglected some important accommodation (some time being spent in + preparation to be seated), the old lady, whose size and flesh really put + kneeling out of the question, bent forward for a moment at an angle of + eighty with the horizon, while her daughters prettily bowed their heads, + with all proper precaution for the safety of their superb millinery. + </p> + <p> + At length the rector, accompanied by his son, appeared from the vestry. + There was a dignity and solemnity in the manner in which this pious divine + entered on the duties of his profession, which disposed the heart to + listen with reverence and humility to precepts that were accompanied with + so impressive an exterior. The stillness of expectation pervaded the + church, when the pew opener led the way to the same interesting father and + son whose entrance had interrupted the guests the preceding day, at the + rectory. Every eye was turned on the emaciated parent, bending into the + grave, and, as it were, kept from it by the supporting tenderness of his + child. Hastily throwing open the door of her own pew, Mrs. Ives buried her + face in her handkerchief; and her husband had proceeded far in the morning + service before she raised it again to the view of the congregation. In the + voice of the rector, there was an unusual softness and tremor that his + people attributed to the feelings of a father about to witness the first + efforts of an only child, but which in reality were owing to another and a + deeper cause. + </p> + <p> + Prayers were ended, and the younger Ives ascended the pulpit. For a moment + he paused; when, casting an anxious glance to the pew of the baronet, he + commenced his sermon. He had chosen for his discourse the necessity of + placing our dependence on divine grace. After having learnedly, but in the + most unaffected manner, displayed the necessity of this dependence, as + derived from revelation, he proceeded to paint the hope, the resignation, + the felicity of a Christian's death-bed. Warmed by the subject, his + animation soon lent a heightened interest to his language; and at a moment + when all around him were entranced by the eloquence of the youthful + divine, a sudden and deep-drawn sigh drew every eye to the rector's pew. + The younger stranger sat motionless as a statue, holding in his arms the + lifeless body of his parent, who had fallen that moment a corpse by his + side. All was now confusion: the almost insensible young man was relieved + from his burden; and, led by the rector, they left the church. The + congregation dispersed in silence, or assembled in little groups, to + converse on the awful event they had witnessed. None knew the deceased; he + was the rector's friend, and to his residence the body was removed. The + young man was evidently his child; but here all information ended. They + had arrived in a private chaise, but with post horses, and without + attendants. Their arrival at the parsonage was detailed by the Jarvis + ladies with a few exaggerations that gave additional interest to the whole + event, and which, by creating an impression with some whom gentler + feelings would not have restrained, that there was something of mystery + about them, prevented many distressing questions to the Ives's, that the + baronet's family forbore putting, on the score of delicacy. The body left + B---- at the close of the week, accompanied by Francis Ives and the + unweariedly attentive and interesting son. The doctor and his wife went + into deep mourning, and Clara received a short note from her lover, on the + morning of their departure, acquainting her with his intended absence for + a month, but throwing no light upon the affair. The London papers, + however, contained the following obituary notice, and which, as it could + refer to no other person, as a matter of course, was supposed to allude to + the rector's friend. + </p> + <p> + "Died, suddenly, at B----, on the 20th instant, George Denbigh, Esq., aged + 63." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter VI. + </h2> + <p> + During the week of mourning, the intercourse between Moseley Hall and the + rectory was confined to messages and notes of inquiry after each other's + welfare: but the visit of the Moseleys to the deanery had been returned; + and the day after the appearance of the obituary paragraph, the family of + the latter dined by invitation at the Hall. Colonel Egerton had recovered + the use of his leg, and was included in the party. Between this gentleman + and Mr. Benfield there appeared, from the first moment of their + introduction, a repugnance which was rather increased by time, and which + the old gentleman manifested by a demeanor loaded with the overstrained + ceremony of the day, and which, in the colonel, only showed itself by + avoiding, when possible, all intercourse with the object of his aversion. + Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley, on the contrary, were not slow in + manifesting their favorable impressions in behalf of the gentleman. The + latter, in particular, having ascertained to her satisfaction that he was + the undoubted heir to the title, and most probably to the estates of his + uncle, Sir Edgar Egerton, felt herself strongly disposed to encourage an + acquaintance she found so agreeable, and to which she could see no + reasonable objection. Captain Jarvis, who was extremely offensive to her, + from his vulgar familiarity, she barely tolerated, from the necessity of + being civil, and keeping up sociability in the neighborhood. It is true, + she could not help being surprised that a gentleman, as polished as the + colonel, could find any pleasure in an associate like his friend, or even + in the hardly more softened females of his family; then again, the + flattering suggestion would present itself, that possibly he might have + seen Emily at Bath, or Jane elsewhere, and availed himself of the + acquaintance of young Jarvis to get into their neighborhood. Lady Moseley + had never been vain, or much interested about the disposal of her own + person, previously to her attachment to her husband: but her daughters + called forth not a little of her natural pride--we had almost said of her + selfishness. + </p> + <p> + The attentions of the colonel were of the most delicate and insinuating + kind; and Mrs. Wilson several times turned away in displeasure at herself, + for listening with too much satisfaction to nothings, uttered in an + agreeable manner, or, what was worse, false sentiments supported with the + gloss of language and a fascinating deportment. The anxiety of this lady + on behalf of Emily kept her ever on the alert, when chance, or any chain + of circumstances, threw her in the way of forming new connexions of any + kind; and of late, as her charge approached the period of life her sex + were apt to make that choice from which there is no retreat, her + solicitude to examine the characters of the men who approached her was + really painful. As to Lady Moseley, her wishes disposed her to be easily + satisfied, and her mind naturally shrank from an investigation to which + she felt herself unequal; while Mrs. Wilson was governed by the + convictions of a sound discretion, matured by long and deep reasoning, all + acting on a temper at all times ardent, and a watchfulness calculated to + endure to the end. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, my lady," said Mrs. Jarvis, with a look of something like + importance, "have you made any discovery about this Mr. Denbigh, who died + in the church lately?" + </p> + <p> + "I did not know, ma'am," replied Lady Moseley, "there was any discovery to + be made." + </p> + <p> + "You know, Lady Moseley," said Colonel Egerton, "that in town, all the + little accompaniments of such a melancholy death would have found their + way into the prints; and I suppose this is what Mrs. Jarvis alludes to." + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," cried Mrs. Jarvis, "the colonel is right." But the colonel was + always right with that lady. + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley bowed her head with dignity, and the colonel had too much + tact to pursue the conversation; but the captain, whom nothing had ever + yet abashed, exclaimed, + </p> + <p> + "These Denbighs could not be people of much importance--I have never heard + the name before." + </p> + <p> + "It is the family name of the Duke of Derwent, I believe," dryly remarked + Sir Edward. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I am sure neither the old man nor his son looked much like a duke, or + so much as an officer either," exclaimed Mrs. Jarvis, who thought the + latter rank the dignity in degree next below nobility. + </p> + <p> + "There sat, in the parliament of this realm, when I was a member, a + General Denbigh," said Mr. Benfield, with his usual deliberation; "he was + always on the same side with Lord Gosford and myself. He and his friend, + Sir Peter Howell, who was the admiral that took the French squadron, in + the glorious administration of Billy Pitt, and afterwards took an island + with this same General Denbigh: aye, the old admiral was a hearty blade; a + good deal such a looking man as my Hector would make." + </p> + <p> + Hector was Mr. Benfield's bull dog. + </p> + <p> + "Mercy," whispered John to Clara, "that's your grandfather that is to be + uncle Benfield is speaking of." + </p> + <p> + Clara smiled, as she ventured to say, "Sir Peter was Mrs. Ives's father, + sir." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" said the old gentleman, with a look of surprise, "I never knew + that before; I cannot say they resemble each other much." + </p> + <p> + "Pray, uncle, does Frank look much like the family?" asked John, with an + air of unconquerable gravity. + </p> + <p> + "But, sir," interrupted Emily, "were General Denbigh and Admiral Howell + related?" + </p> + <p> + "Not that I ever knew, Emmy dear. Sir Frederick Denbigh did not look much + like the admiral; he rather resembled (gathering himself up into an air of + formality, and bowing stiffly to Colonel Egerton) this gentleman, here." + </p> + <p> + "I have not the honor of the connexion," observed the colonel, withdrawing + behind the chair of Jane. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson changed the conversation to one more general; but the little + that had fallen from Mr. Benfield gave reason for believing a connexion, + in some way of which they were ignorant, existed between the descendants + of the two veterans, and which explained the interest they felt in each + other. + </p> + <p> + During dinner, Colonel Egerton placed himself next to Emily, and Miss + Jarvis took the chair on the other side. He spoke of the gay world, of + watering-places, novels, plays, and still finding his companion reserved, + and either unwilling or unable to talk freely, he tried his favorite + sentiment. He had read poetry, and a remark of his lighted up a spark of + intelligence in the beautiful face of his companion that for a moment + deceived him; but as he went on to point out his favorite beauties, it + gave place to a settled composure, which at last led him to imagine the + casket contained no gem equal to the promise of its brilliant exterior. + After resting from one of his most labored displays of feeling and + imagery, he accidentally caught the eyes of Jane fastened on him with an + expression of no dubious import, and the soldier changed his battery. In + Jane he found a more willing auditor; poetry was the food she lived on, + and in works of the imagination she found her greatest delight. An + animated discussion of the merits of their favorite authors now took + place; to renew which, the colonel early left the dining-room for the + society of the ladies; John, who disliked drinking excessively, being + happy of an excuse to attend him. + </p> + <p> + The younger ladies had clustered together round a window and even Emily in + her heart rejoiced that the gentlemen had come to relieve herself and + sisters from the arduous task of entertaining women who appeared not to + possess a single taste or opinion in common with themselves. + </p> + <p> + "You were saying, Miss Moseley," observed the colonel in his most + agreeable manner, as he approached them, "you thought Campbell the most + musical poet we have; I hope you will unite with me in excepting Moore." + </p> + <p> + Jane colored, as with some awkwardness she replied, "Moore was certainly + very poetical." + </p> + <p> + "Has Moore written much?" innocently asked Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Not half as much as he ought," cried Miss Jarvis. "Oh! I could live on + his beautiful lines." + </p> + <p> + Jane turned away in disgust; and that evening, while alone with Clara, she + took a volume of Moore's songs, and very coolly consigned them to the + flames. Her sister naturally asked an explanation of so extraordinary a + procedure. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried Jane, "I can't abide the book, since that vulgar Miss Jarvis + speaks of it with so much interest. I really believe aunt Wilson is right + in not suffering Emily to read such things." And Jane, who had often + devoured the treacherous lines with ardor, shrank with fastidious delicacy + from the indulgence of a perverted taste, when it became exposed, coupled + with the vulgarity of unblushing audacity. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton immediately changed the subject to one less objectionable, + and spoke of a campaign he had made in Spain. He possessed the happy + faculty of giving an interest to all he advanced, whether true or not; and + as he never contradicted, or even opposed unless to yield gracefully, when + a lady was his opponent, his conversation insensibly attracted, by putting + the sex in good humor with themselves. Such a man, aided by the powerful + assistants of person and manners, and no inconsiderable colloquial + talents, Mrs. Wilson knew to be extremely dangerous as a companion to a + youthful female heart; and as his visit was to extend to a couple of + months, she resolved to reconnoitre the state of her pupil's opinion + forthwith in reference to his merits. She had taken too much pains in + forming the mind of Emily to apprehend she would fall a victim to the eye; + but she also knew that personal grace sweetened a benevolent expression, + and added force even to the oracles of wisdom. She labored a little + herself under the disadvantage of what John called a didactic manner, and + which, although she had not the ability, or rather taste, to amend, she + had yet the sense to discern. It was the great error of Mrs. Wilson to + attempt to convince, where she might have influenced; but her ardor of + temperament, and great love of truth, kept her, as it were, tilting with + the vices of mankind, and consequently sometimes in unprofitable combat. + With her charge, however, this could never be said to be the case, Emily + knew her heart, felt her love, and revered her principles too deeply, to + throw away an admonition, or disregard a precept, that fell from lips she + knew never spoke idly or without consideration. + </p> + <p> + John had felt tempted to push the conversation with Miss Jarvis, and he + was about to utter something rapturous respecting the melodious poison of + Little's poems, as the blue eye of Emily rested on him in the fulness of + sisterly affection and checking his love of the ridiculous, he quietly + yielded to his respect for the innocence of his sisters; and, as if eager + to draw the attention of all from the hateful subject, he put question + after question to Egerton concerning the Spaniards and their customs. + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever meet Lord Pendennyss in Spain, Colonel Egerton?" inquired + Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + </p> + <p> + "Never, madam," he replied. "I have much reason to regret that our service + lay in different parts of the country: his lordship was much with the + duke, and I made the campaign under Marshal Beresford." + </p> + <p> + Emily left the group at the window, and taking a seat on the sofa by the + side of her aunt, insensibly led her to forget the gloomy thoughts which + had begun to steal over her; which the colonel, approaching where they + sat, continued, by asking-- + </p> + <p> + "Are you acquainted with the earl, madam?" + </p> + <p> + "Not in person, but by character," said Mrs. Wilson, in a melancholy + manner. + </p> + <p> + "His character as a soldier was very high. He had no superior of his years + in Spain, I am told." + </p> + <p> + No reply was made to this remark, and Emily endeavored anxiously to draw + the mind of her aunt to reflections of a more agreeable nature. The + colonel, whose vigilance to please was ever on the alert, kindly aided + her, and they soon succeeded. + </p> + <p> + The merchant withdrew, with his family and guest, in proper season: and + Mrs. Wilson, heedful of her duty, took the opportunity of a quarter of an + hour's privacy in her own dressing-room in the evening, to touch gently on + the subject of the gentlemen they had seen that day. + </p> + <p> + "How are you pleased, Emily, with your new acquaintances?" familiarly + commenced Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! aunt, don't ask me; as John says, they are <i>net</i> indeed." + </p> + <p> + "I am not sorry," continued the aunt, "to have you observe more closely + than you have been used to the manners of such women as the Jarvises; they + are too abrupt and unpleasant to create a dread of any imitation; but the + gentlemen are heroes in very different styles." + </p> + <p> + "Different from each other, indeed." + </p> + <p> + "To which do you give the preference, my dear?" + </p> + <p> + "Preference, aunt!" said her niece, with a look of astonishment; + "preference is a strong word for either; but I rather think the captain + the most eligible companion of the two. I do believe you see the worst of + him; and although I acknowledge it to be bad enough, he might amend; but + the colonel"-- + </p> + <p> + "Go on," said Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Why, everything about the colonel seems so seated, so ingrafted in his + nature, so--so very self-satisfied, that I am afraid it would be a + difficult task to take the first step in amendment--to convince him of its + necessity? + </p> + <p> + "And is it then so necessary?" + </p> + <p> + Emily looked up from arranging some laces, with an expression of surprise, + as he replied: + </p> + <p> + "Did you not hear him talk of those poems, and attempt to point out the + beauties of several works? I thought everything he uttered was referred to + taste, and that not a very natural one; at least," she added with a laugh, + "it differed greatly from mine. He seemed to forget altogether there was + such a thing as principle: and then he spoke of some woman to Jane, who + had left her father for her lover, with so much admiration of her + feelings, to take up with poverty and love, as he called it, in place of + condemning her want of filial piety--I am sure, aunt, if you had heard + that, you would not admire him so much." + </p> + <p> + "I do not admire him at all, child; I only want to know your sentiments, + and I am happy to find them so correct. It is as you think; Colonel + Egerton appears to refer nothing to principle: even the more generous + feelings I am afraid are corrupted in him, from too low intercourse with + the surface of society. There is by far too much pliability about him for + principle of any kind, unless indeed it be a principle to please, no + matter how. No one, who has deeply seated opinions of right and wrong, + will ever abandon them, even in the courtesies of polite intercourse: they + may be silent but never acquiescent: in short, my dear, the dread of + offending our Maker ought to be so superior to that of offending our + fellow creatures, that we should endeavor, I believe, to be even more + unbending to the follies of the world than we are." + </p> + <p> + "And yet the colonel is what they call a good companion--I mean a pleasant + one." + </p> + <p> + "In the ordinary meaning of the words, he is certainly, my dear; yet you + soon tire of sentiments which will not stand the test of examination, and + of a manner you cannot but see is artificial. He may do very well for a + companion, but very ill for a friend; in short, Colonel Egerton has + neither been satisfied to yield to his natural impressions, nor to obtain + new ones from a proper source; he has copied from bad models, and his work + must necessarily be imperfect." + </p> + <p> + Kissing her niece, Mrs. Wilson then retired into her own room, with the + happy assurance that she had not labored in vain; but that, with divine + aid, she had implanted a guide in the bosom of her charge that could not + fail, with ordinary care, to lead her straight through the devious path of + female duties. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter VII. + </h2> + <p> + A month now passed in the ordinary occupations and amusements of a country + life, during which both Lady Moseley and Jane manifested a desire to keep + up the deanery acquaintance, that surprised Emily a little, who had ever + seen her mother shrink from communications with those whose breeding + subjected her own delicacy, to the little shocks she could but ill + conceal. In Jane this desire was still more inexplicable; for Jane had, in + a decided way very common to her, avowed her disgust of the manners of + their new associates at the commencement of the acquaintance; and yet Jane + would now even quit her own society for that of Miss Jarvis, especially if + Colonel Egerton happened to be of the party. The innocence of Emily + prevented her scanning the motives for the conduct of her sister; and she + set seriously about an examination into her own deportment to find the + latent cause, in order, wherever an opportunity should offer, to evince + her regret, had it been her misfortune, to have erred by the tenderness of + her own manner. + </p> + <p> + For a short time the colonel seemed at a loss where to make his choice; + but a few days determined him, and Jane was evidently the favorite. It is + true, that in the presence of the Jarvis ladies he was more guarded and + general in his attentions; but as John, from a motive of charity, had + taken the direction of the captain's sports into his own hands; and as + they were in the frequent habit of meeting at the Hall preparatory to + their morning excursion, the colonel suddenly became a sportsman. The + ladies would often accompany them in their morning excursions; and as John + would certainly be a baronet, and the colonel might not if his uncle + married, he had the comfort of being sometimes ridden, as well as of + riding. + </p> + <p> + One morning, having all prepared for an excursion on horseback, as they + stood at the door ready to mount, Francis Ives drove up in his father's + gig, and for a moment arrested the party. Francis was a favorite with the + whole Moseley family, and their greetings were warm and sincere. He found + they meant to take the rectory in their ride, and insisted that they + should proceed. "Clara would take a seat with him." As he spoke, the cast + of his countenance brought the color into the cheeks of his intended; she + suffered herself, however, to be handed into the vacant seat in the gig, + and they moved on. John, who was at the bottom good-natured, and loved + both Francis and Clara very sincerely, soon set Captain Jarvis and his + sister what he called "scrub racing," and necessity, in some measure, + compelled the rest of the equestrians to hard riding, in order to keep up + with the sports. + </p> + <p> + "That will do, that will do," cried John, casting his eye back, and + perceiving they had lost sight of the gig, and nearly so of Colonel + Egerton and Jane, "why you carry it off like a jockey, captain; better + than any amateur I have ever seen, unless indeed it be your sister." + </p> + <p> + The lady encouraged by his commendations, whipped on, followed by her + brother and sister at half speed. + </p> + <p> + "There, Emily," said John, quietly dropping by her side "I see no reason + you and I should break our necks, to show the blood of our horses. Now do + you know I think we are going to have a wedding in the family soon?" + </p> + <p> + Emily looked at him in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Frank has got a living; I saw it the moment he drove up. He came in like + somebody. Yes, I dare say he has calculated the tithes already a dozen + times." + </p> + <p> + John was right. The Earl of Bolton had, unsolicited, given him the desired + living of his own parish; and Francis was at the moment pressing the + blushing Clara to fix the day that was to put a period to his long + probation. Clara, who had not a particle of coquetry about her, promised + to be his as soon as he was inducted, an event that was to take place the + following week; and then followed those delightful little arrangements and + plans with which youthful hope is so fond of filling up the void of life. + </p> + <p> + "Doctor," said John, as he came out of the rectory to assist Clara from + the gig, "the parson here is a careful driver; see, he has not turned a + hair." + </p> + <p> + He kissed the burning cheek of his sister as she touched the ground, and + whispered significantly. + </p> + <p> + "You need tell me nothing, my dear--I know all--I consent." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ives folded her future daughter to her bosom; and the benevolent + smile of the good rector, together with the kind and affectionate manner + of her sisters, assured Clara the approaching nuptials were anticipated, + as a matter of course. Colonel Egerton offered his compliments to Francis + on his preferment to the living, with the polish of high breeding, and not + without an appearance of interest; and Emily thought him for the first + time as handsome as he was generally reputed to be. The ladies undertook + to say something civil in their turn, and John put the captain, by a hint, + on the same track. + </p> + <p> + "You are quite lucky, sir," said the captain, "in getting so good a living + with so little trouble; I wish you joy of it with all my heart: Mr. + Moseley tells me it is a capital thing now for a gentleman of your + profession. For my part. I prefer a scarlet coat to a black one, but there + must be parsons you know, or how should we get married or say grace?" + </p> + <p> + Francis thanked him for his good wishes, and Egerton paid a handsome + compliment to the liberality of the earl; "he doubted not he found that + gratification which always attends a disinterested act;" and Jane + applauded the sentiment with a smile. + </p> + <p> + The baronet, when he was made acquainted with the situation of affairs, + promised Francis that no unnecessary delay should intervene, and the + marriage was happily arranged for the following week. Lady Moseley, when + she retired to the drawing-room after dinner, commenced a recital of the + ceremony and company to be invited on the occasion. Etiquette and the + decencies of life were not only the forte, but the fault of this lady; and + she had gone on to the enumeration of about the fortieth personage in the + ceremonials, before Clara found courage to say, that "Mr. Ives and myself + both wish to be married at the altar, and to proceed to Bolton Rectory + immediately after the ceremony." To this her mother warmly objected; and + argument and respectful remonstrance had followed each other for some + time, before Clara submitted in silence, with difficulty restraining her + tears. This appeal to the better feelings of the mother triumphed; and the + love of parade yielded to love of her offspring. Clara, with a lightened + heart, kissed and thanked her, and accompanied by Emily left the room; + Jane had risen to follow them, but catching a glimpse of the tilbury of + Colonel Egerton she reseated herself. + </p> + <p> + He had merely driven over at the earnest entreaties of the ladies to beg + Miss Jane would accept a seat back with him; "they had some little project + on foot, and could not proceed without her assistance." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson looked gravely at her sister, as she smiled acquiescence to + his wishes; and the daughter, who but the minute before had forgotten + there was any other person in the world but Clara, flew for her hat and + shawl, in order, as he said to herself, that the politeness of Colonel + Egerton might not keep him waiting. Lady Moseley resumed her seat by the + side of her sister with an air of great complacency, as she returned from + the window, after having seen her daughter off. For some time each was + occupied quietly with her needle, when Mrs. Wilson suddenly broke the + silence by saying: + </p> + <p> + "Who is Colonel Egerton?" + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley looked up for a moment in amazement, but recollecting + herself, answered, + </p> + <p> + "The nephew and heir of Sir Edgar Egerton, sister." + </p> + <p> + This was spoken in a rather positive way, as if it were unanswerable; yet + as there was nothing harsh in the reply, Mrs. Wilson continued, + </p> + <p> + "Do you not think him attentive to Jane?" + </p> + <p> + Pleasure sparkled in the still brilliant eyes of Lady Moseley, as she + exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "Do you think so?" + </p> + <p> + "I do; and you will pardon me if I say improperly so. I think you were + wrong in suffering Jane to go with him this afternoon." + </p> + <p> + "Why improperly, Charlotte? If Colonel Egerton is polite enough to show + Jane such attentions, should I not be wrong in rudely rejecting them?" + </p> + <p> + "The rudeness of refusing a request that is improper to grant is a very + venial offence. I confess I think it improper to allow any attentions to + be forced on us that may subject us to disagreeable consequences; but the + attentions of Colonel Egerton are becoming marked, Anne." + </p> + <p> + "Do you for a moment doubt their being honorable, or that he dares to + trifle with a daughter of Sir Edward Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "I should hope not, certainly, although it may be well to guard even + against such a misfortune. But I am of opinion it is quite as important to + know whether he is <i>worthy</i> to be her husband as it is to know that + he is in a situation to become so." + </p> + <p> + "On what points, Charlotte, would you wish to be more assured? You know + his birth and probable fortune--you see his manners and disposition; but + these latter are things for Jane to decide on; <i>she</i> is to live with + him, and it is proper she should be suited in these respects." + </p> + <p> + "I do not deny his fortune or his disposition, but I complain that we give + him credit for the last, and for still more important requisites, without + evidence of his possessing any of them. His principles, his habits, his + very character, what do we know of them? I say we, for you know, Anne, + your children are as dear to me as my own would have been." + </p> + <p> + "I believe you sincerely, but the things you mention are points for Jane + to decide on. If she be pleased, I have no right to complain. I am + determined never to control the affections of my children." + </p> + <p> + "Had you said, never <i>to force</i> the affections of your children, you + would have said enough, Anne; but to control, or rather to guide the + affections of a child, especially a daughter, is, in some cases, a duty as + imperative as it would be to avert any other impending calamity. Surely + the proper time to do this is before the affections of the child are + likely to endanger her peace of mind." + </p> + <p> + "I have seldom seen much good result from the interference of parents," + said Lady Moseley, a little pertinaciously. + </p> + <p> + "True; for to be of use, unless in extraordinary cases, it should not be + seen. You will pardon me, Anne, but I have often thought parents are too + often in extremes--determined to make the election for their children, or + leaving them entirely to their own vanity and inexperience, to govern not + only their own lives, but, I may say, to leave an impression on future + generations. And, after all, what is this love? In nineteen cases in + twenty of what we call affairs of the heart, it would be better to term + them affairs of the <i>imagination."</i> + </p> + <p> + "And is there not a great deal of imagination in all love?" inquired Lady + Moseley, smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Undoubtedly, there is some; but there is one important difference: in + affairs of the imagination, the admired object is gifted with all those + qualities we esteem, as a matter of course, and there is a certain set of + females who are ever ready to bestow this admiration on any applicant for + their favors who may not be strikingly objectionable. The necessity of + being courted makes our sex rather too much disposed to admire improper + suitors." + </p> + <p> + "But how do you distinguish affairs of the heart, Charlotte, from those of + the fancy?" + </p> + <p> + "When the heart takes the lead, it is not difficult to detect it. Such + sentiments generally follow long intercourse, and opportunities of judging + the real character. They are the only attachments that are likely to stand + the test of worldly trials." + </p> + <p> + "Suppose Emily to be the object of Colonel Egerton's pursuit, then, + sister, in what manner would you proceed to destroy the influence I + acknowledge he is gaining over Jane?" + </p> + <p> + "I cannot suppose such a case," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely; and then, + observing that her sister looked as if she required an explanation, she + continued-- + </p> + <p> + "My attention has been directed to the forming of such principles, and + such a taste, if I may use the expression, under those principles, that I + feel no apprehension Emily will ever allow her affections to be ensnared + by a man of the opinions and views of Colonel Egerton. I am impressed with + a twofold duty in watching the feelings of my charge. She has so much + singleness of heart, such real strength of native feeling, that, should an + improper man gain possession of her affections, the struggle between her + duty and her love would be weighty indeed; and should it proceed so far as + to make it her duty to love an unworthy object, I am sure she would sink + under it. Emily would die in the same circumstances under which Jane would + only awake from a dream, and be wretched." + </p> + <p> + "I thought you entertained a better opinion of Jane, sister," said Lady + Moseley, reproachfully. + </p> + <p> + "I think her admirably calculated to make an invaluable wife and mother; + but she is so much under the influence of her fancy, that she seldom gives + her heart an opportunity of displaying its excellences; and again, she + dwells so much upon imaginary perfections, that adulation has become + necessary to her. The man who flatters her delicately will be sure to win + her esteem; and every woman might love the being possessed of the + qualities she will not fail to endow him with." + </p> + <p> + "I do not know that I rightly understand how you would avert all these sad + consequences of improvident affections?" said Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Prevention is better than cure--I would first implant such opinions as + would lessen the danger of intercourse; and as for particular attentions + from improper objects, it should be my care to prevent them, by + prohibiting, or rather impeding, the intimacy which might give rise to + them. And least of all," said Mrs. Wilson, with a friendly smile, as she + rose to leave the room, "would I suffer a fear of being impolite to + endanger the happiness of a young woman intrusted to my care." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter VIII. + </h2> + <p> + Francis, who labored with the ardor of a lover, soon completed the + necessary arrangements and alterations in his new parsonage. The living + was a good one, and as the rector was enabled to make a very considerable + annual allowance from the private fortune his wife had brought him, and as + Sir Edward had twenty thousand pounds in the funds for each of his + daughters, one portion of which was immediately settled on Clara, the + youthful couple had not only a sufficient, but an abundant provision for + their station in life; and they entered on their matrimonial duties with + as good a prospect of happiness as the ills of this world can give to + health, affection, and competency. Their union had been deferred by Dr. + Ives until his son was established, with a view to keep him under his own + direction during the critical period of his first impressions in the + priesthood; and as no objection now remained, or rather, the only one he + ever felt was removed by the proximity of Bolton to his own parish, he now + joyfully united the lovers at the altar of the village church, in the + presence of his wife and Clara's immediate relatives. On leaving the + church Francis handed his bride into his own carriage, which conveyed them + to their new residence, amidst the good wishes of his parishioners, and + the prayers of their relatives and friends. Dr. and Mrs. Ives retired to + the rectory, to the sober enjoyment of the felicity of their only child; + while the baronet and his lady felt a gloom that belied all the wishes of + the latter for the establishment of her daughters. Jane and Emily acted as + bridesmaids to their sister, and as both the former and her mother had + insisted there should be two groomsmen as a counterpoise, John was + empowered with a carte-blanche to make a provision accordingly. At first + he intimated his intention of calling on Mr. Benfield, but he finally + settled down, to the no small mortification of the before-mentioned + ladies, into writing a note to his kinsman, Lord Chatterton, whose + residence was then in London, and who in reply, after expressing his + sincere regret that an accident would prevent his having the pleasure of + attending, stated the intention of his mother and two sisters to pay them + an early visit of congratulation, as soon as his own health would allow of + his travelling. This answer arrived only the day preceding that fixed for + the wedding, and at the very moment they were expecting his lordship in + proper person. + </p> + <p> + "There," cried Jane, in triumph, "I told you it was silly to send so far + on so sudden an occasion; now, after all, what is to be done--it will be + so awkward when Clara's friends call to see her--Oh! John, John, you are a + Marplot." + </p> + <p> + "Jenny, Jenny, you are a make-plot," said John, coolly taking up his hat + to leave the room. + </p> + <p> + "Which way, my son?" said the baronet, who met him at the door. + </p> + <p> + "To the deanery, sir, to try to get Captain Jarvis to act as bridesmaid--I + beg his pardon, groomsman, to-morrow--Chatterton has been thrown from a + horse and can't come.'' + </p> + <p> + "John!" + </p> + <p> + "Jenny!" + </p> + <p> + "I am sure," said Jane, indignation glowing in her pretty face, "that if + Captain Jarvis is to be an attendant, Clara must excuse my acting. I do + not choose to be associated with Captain Jarvis." + </p> + <p> + "John," said his mother, with dignity, "your trifling is unseasonable; + certainly Colonel Egerton is a more fitting person on every account, and I + desire, under present circumstances, that you ask the colonel." + </p> + <p> + "Your ladyship's wishes are orders to me," said John, gaily kissing his + hand as he left the room. + </p> + <p> + The colonel was but too happy in having it in his power to be of service + in any manner to a gentleman he respected as much as Mr. Francis Ives. He + accepted the duty, and was the only person present at the ceremony who did + not stand within the bonds of consanguinity to the parties. He was invited + by the baronet to dine at the hall, as a matter of course, and + notwithstanding the repeated injunctions of Mrs. Jarvis and her daughters, + to return immediately with an account of the dress of the bride, and with + other important items of a similar nature, the invitation was accepted. On + reaching the hall, Emily retired immediately to her own room, and at her + reappearance when the dinner bell rang, the paleness of her cheeks and the + redness of her eyes afforded sufficient proof that the translation of a + companion from her own to another family was an event, however happy in + itself, not unmingled with grief. The day, however, passed off tolerably + well for people who are expected to be premeditatedly happy, and when, in + their hearts, they are really more disposed to weep than to laugh. Jane + and the colonel had most of the conversation to themselves during dinner: + even the joyous and thoughtless John wearing his gaiety in a less graceful + manner than usual. He was actually detected by his aunt in looking with + moistened eyes at the vacant chair a servant had, from habit, placed at + the table, in the spot where Clara had been accustomed to sit. + </p> + <p> + "This beef is not done, Saunders," said the baronet to his butler, "or my + appetite is not as good as usual to-day. Colonel Egerton, will you allow + me the pleasure of a glass of sherry?" + </p> + <p> + The wine was drunk, and the game succeeded the beef; but still Sir Edward + could not eat. + </p> + <p> + "How glad Clara will be to see us all the day after to-morrow," said Mrs. + Wilson; "your new housekeepers delight in their first efforts in + entertaining their friends." + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley smiled through her tears, and turning to her husband said, + "We will go early, my dear, that we may see the improvements Francis has + been making before we dine." The baronet nodded assent, but his heart was + too full to speak; and apologizing to the colonel for his absence, on the + plea of some business with his people, he left the room. + </p> + <p> + All this time, the attentions of Colonel Egerton to both mother and + daughter were of the most delicate kind. He spoke of Clara as if his + office of groomsman entitled him to an interest in her welfare; with John + he was kind and sociable; and even Mrs. Wilson acknowledged, after he had + taken his leave, that he possessed a wonderful faculty of making himself + agreeable, and she began to think that, under all circumstances, he might + possibly prove as advantageous a connexion as Jane could expect to form. + Had any one, however, proposed him as a husband for Emily, affection would + have quickened her judgment in a way that would have urged her to a very + different decision. + </p> + <p> + Soon after the baronet left the room, a travelling carriage, with suitable + attendants, drove to the door; the sound of the wheels drew most of the + company to a window. "A baron's coronet!" cried Jane, catching a glimpse + of the ornaments of the harness. + </p> + <p> + "The Chattertons," echoed her brother, running out of the room to meet + them. + </p> + <p> + The mother of Sir Edward was a daughter of this family, and the sister of + the grandfather of the present lord. The connexion had always been kept up + with a show of cordiality between Sir Edward and his cousin, although + their manner of living and habits were very different. The baron was a + courtier and a placeman. His estates, which he could not alienate, + produced about ten thousand a year, but the income he could and did spend; + and the high perquisites of his situation under government, amounting to + as much more were melted away year after year, without making the + provision for his daughters that his duty and the observance of his + promise to his wife's father required at his hands. He had been dead about + two years, and his son found himself saddled with the support of an + unjointured mother and unportioned sisters. Money was not the idol the + young lord worshipped, nor even pleasure. He was affectionate to his + surviving parent, and his first act was to settle, during his own life, + two thousand a year on her, while he commenced setting aside as much more + for each of his sisters annually. This abridged him greatly in his own + expenditures; yet, as they made but one family, and the dowager was really + a <i>managing</i> woman in more senses than one, they made a very + tolerable figure. The son was anxious to follow the example of Sir Edward + Moseley, and give up his town house, for at least a time; but his mother + had exclaimed, with something like horror, at the proposal: + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton, would you give it up at the moment it can be of the most use + to us?" and she threw a glance at her daughters that would have discovered + her motive to Mrs Wilson, which was lost on her son; he, poor soul, + thinking she found it convenient to support the interest he had been + making for the place held by his father one of more emolument than + service, or even honor. The contending parties were so equally matched, + that this situation was kept, as it were, in abeyance, waiting the arrival + of some acquisition of interest to one or other of the claimants. The + interest of the peer, however, had begun to lose ground at the period of + which we speak, and his careful mother saw new motives for activity in + providing for her children. Mrs. Wilson herself could not be more vigilant + in examining the candidates for Emily's favors than was the dowager Lady + Chatterton in behalf of her daughter. It is true, the task of the former + lady was by far the most arduous, for it involved a study of character and + development of principle; while that of the latter would have ended with + the footing of a rent-roll, provided it contained five figures. Sir + Edward's was well known to contain that number, and two of them were not + ciphers. Mr. Benfield was rich, and John Moseley was a very agreeable + young man. Weddings are the season of love, thought the prudent dowager, + and Grace is extremely pretty. Chatterton, who never refused his mother + anything in his power to grant, and who was particularly dutiful when a + visit to Moseley Hall was in question, suffered himself to be persuaded + his shoulder was well, and they had left town the day before the wedding, + thinking to be in time for all the gaieties, if not for the ceremony + itself. + </p> + <p> + There existed but little similarity between the persons and manners of + this young nobleman and the baronet's heir. The beauty of Chatterton was + almost feminine; his skin, his color, his eyes, his teeth, were such as + many a belle had sighed after; and his manners were bashful and retiring. + Yet an intimacy had commenced between the boys at school, which ripened + into friendship between the young men at college, and had been maintained + ever since, probably as much from the contrarieties of character as from + any other cause. With the baron, John was more sedate than ordinary; with + John, Chatterton found unusual animation. But a secret charm which John + held over the young peer was his profound respect and unvarying affection + for his youngest sister, Emily. This was common ground; and no dreams of + future happiness, no visions of dawning wealth, crossed the imagination of + Chatterton in which Emily was not the fairy to give birth to the one, or + the benevolent dispenser of the hoards of the other. + </p> + <p> + The arrival of this family was a happy relief from the oppression which + hung on the spirits of the Moseleys, and their reception marked with the + mild benevolence which belonged to the nature of the baronet, and that <i>impressement</i> + which so eminently distinguished the manners of his wife. + </p> + <p> + The honorable Misses Chatterton were both handsome; but the younger was, + if possible, a softened picture of her brother. There was the same + retiring bashfulness and the same sweetness of temper as distinguished the + baron, and Grace was the peculiar favorite of Emily Moseley. Nothing of + the strained or sentimental nature which so often characterize what is + called female friendships, however, had crept into the communications + between these young women. Emily loved her sisters too well to go out of + her own family for a repository of her griefs or a partaker in her joys. + Had her life been chequered with such passions, her own sisters were too + near her own age to suffer her to think of a confidence in which the holy + ties of natural affection did not give a claim to a participation. Mrs. + Wilson had found it necessary to give her charge very different views on + many subjects from those which Jane and Clara had been suffered to imbibe + of themselves; but in no degree had she impaired the obligations of filial + piety or family concord. Emily was, if anything, more respectful to her + parents, more affectionate to her friends, than any of her connexions; for + in her the warmth of natural feeling was heightened by an unvarying sense + of duty. + </p> + <p> + In Grace Chatterton she found, in many respects, a temper and taste + resembling her own. She therefore loved her better than others who had + equally general claims on her partiality, and as such a friend she now + received her with cordial and sincere affection. + </p> + <p> + Jane, who had not felt satisfied with the ordering of Providence for the + disposal of her sympathies, and had long felt a restlessness that prompted + her to look abroad for a confiding spirit to whom to communicate + her--secrets she had none that delicacy would suffer her to reveal--but to + communicate her crude opinions and reflections, she had early selected + Catherine for this person. Catherine, however, had not stood the test of + trial. For a short time the love of heraldry kept them together; but Jane, + finding her companion's gusto limited to the charms of the coronet and + supporters chiefly, abandoned the attempt in despair, and was actually on + the look-out for a new candidate for the vacant station as Colonel Egerton + came into the neighborhood. A really delicate female mind shrinks from the + exposure of its love to the other sex, and Jane began to be less anxious + to form a connexion which would either violate the sensibility of her + nature, or lead to treachery to her friend. + </p> + <p> + "I regret extremely, Lady Moseley," said the dowager, as they entered the + drawing-room, "that the accident which befel Chatterton should have kept + us until it was too late for the ceremony: we made it a point to hasten + with our congratulations, however, as soon as Astley Cooper thought it + safe for him to travel." + </p> + <p> + "I feel indebted for your kindness," replied the smiling hostess. "We are + always happy to have our friends around us, and none more than yourself + and family. We were fortunate in finding a friend to supply your son's + place, in order that the young people might go to the altar in a proper + manner. Lady Chatterton, allow me to present our friend, Colonel + Egerton"--adding, in a low tone, and with a little emphasis,--"heir to Sir + Edgar." + </p> + <p> + The colonel bowed gracefully, and the dowager dropped a hasty courtesy at + the commencement of the speech; but lower bend followed the closing + remark, and a glance of the eye was thrown in quest of her daughters, as + if she instinctively wished to bring them into what the sailors term "the + line of battle." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter IX. + </h2> + <p> + The following morning, Emily and Grace, declining the invitation to join + the colonel and John in their usual rides, walked to the rectory, + accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Chatterton. The ladies felt a desire to + witness the happiness that they so well knew reigned in the rectory, for + Francis had promised his father to drive Clara over in the course of the + day. Emily longed to see Clara, from whom it appeared that she had been + already separated a month. Her impatience as they approached the house + hurried her ahead of her companions, who waited the more sober gait of + Mrs. Wilson. She entered the parlor at the rectory without meeting any + one, glowing with exercise, her hair falling over her shoulders, released + from the confinement of the hat she had thrown down hastily as she reached + the door. In the room there stood a gentleman in deep black, with his back + towards the entrance, intent on a book, and she naturally concluded it was + Francis. + </p> + <p> + "Where is dear Clara, Frank?" cried the beautiful girl, faying her hand + affectionately on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + The gentleman turned suddenly, and presented to her astonished gaze the + well remembered countenance of the young man whose parent's death was not + likely to be forgotten at B----. + </p> + <p> + "I thought, sir," said Emily, almost sinking with confusion, "that Mr. + Francis Ives--" + </p> + <p> + "Your brother 'has not yet arrived, Miss Moseley," simply replied the + stranger, who felt for her embarrassment. "But I will immediately acquaint + Mrs. Ives with your visit." Bowing, he delicately left the room. + </p> + <p> + Emily, who felt greatly relieved by his manner, immediately confined her + hair in its proper bounds, and had recovered her composure by the time her + aunt and friends joined her. She had not time to mention the incident, and + laughed at her own precipitation, when the rector's wife came into the + room. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton and his sister were both known to Mrs. Ives, and both were + favorites. She was pleased to see them, and after reproaching the brother + with compelling her son to ask a favor of a comparative stranger, she + turned to Emily, and smilingly said-- + </p> + <p> + "You found the parlor occupied, I believe?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Emily, laughing and blushing, "I suppose Mr. Denbigh told you + of my heedlessness." + </p> + <p> + "He told me of your attention in calling so soon to inquire after Clara, + but said nothing more"--a servant just then telling her Francis wished to + see her, she excused herself and withdrew. In the door she met Mr. + Denbigh, who made way for her, saying, "your son has arrived, ma'am," and + in an easy but respectful manner he took his place with the guests, no + introduction passing, and none seeming necessary. His misfortunes appeared + to have made him acquainted with Mrs. Wilson, and his strikingly ingenuous + manner won insensibly on the confidence of those who heard him. Everything + was natural, yet everything was softened by education; and the little + party in the rector's parlor in fifteen minutes felt as if they had known + him for years. The doctor and his son now joined them. Clara had not come, + but she was looking forward in delightful expectation of to-morrow, and + wished greatly for Emily as a guest at the new abode. This pleasure Mrs. + Wilson promised she should have as soon as they had got over the hurry of + their visit; "our friends," she added, turning to Grace, "will overlook + the nicer punctilios of ceremony, where sisterly regard calls for the + discharge of more important duties. Clara needs the society of Emily just + now." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Grace, mildly; "I hope no useless ceremony on the part + of Emily would prevent her manifesting natural attachment to her sister--I + should feel hurt at her not entertaining a better opinion of us than to + suppose so for a moment." + </p> + <p> + "This, young ladies, is the real feeling to keep alive esteem," cried the + doctor, gaily: "go on, and say and do nothing of which either can + disapprove, when tried by the standard of duty, and you need never be + afraid of losing a friend that is worth keeping." + </p> + <p> + It was three o'clock before the carriage of Mrs. Wilson arrived at the + rectory; and the time stole away insensibly in free and friendly + communications. Denbigh had joined modestly, and with the degree of + interest a stranger might be supposed to feel, in the occurrences of a + circle to which he was nearly a stranger; there was at times a slight + display of awkwardness, however, about both him and Mrs. Ives, for which + Mrs. Wilson easily accounted by recollections of his recent loss and the + scene they had all witnessed in that very room. This embarrassment escaped + the notice of the rest of the party. On the arrival of the carriage, Mrs. + Wilson took her leave. + </p> + <p> + "I like this Mr. Denbigh greatly," said Lord Chatterton, as they drove + from the door; "there is something strikingly natural and winning in his + manner." + </p> + <p> + "In his matter too, judging of the little we have seen of him," replied + Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Who is he, ma'am?" + </p> + <p> + "I rather suspect he is someway related to Mrs. Ives; her staying from + Bolton to-day must be owing to Mr. Denbigh, and as the doctor has just + gone he must be near enough to them to be neither wholly neglected nor yet + a tax upon their politeness. I rather wonder he did not go with them." + </p> + <p> + "I heard him tell Francis," remarked Emily, "that he could not think of + intruding, and he insisted on Mrs. Ives's going, but she had employments + to keep her at home." + </p> + <p> + The carriage soon reached an angle in the road where the highways between + Bolton Castle and Moseley Hall intersected each other, at a point on the + estate of the former. Mrs. Wilson stopped a moment to inquire after an + aged pensioner, who had lately met with a loss in business, which she was + fearful must have greatly distressed him. In crossing a ford in the little + river between his cottage and the market-town, the stream, which had been + swollen unexpectedly higher than usual by heavy rains, had swept away his + horse and cart loaded with the entire produce of his small field, and with + much difficulty he had saved even his own life. Mrs. Wilson had not had it + in her power until this moment to inquire particularly into the affair, or + to offer the relief she was ever ready to bestow on proper objects. + Contrary to her expectations, she found Humphreys in high spirits, showing + his delighted grand-children a new cart and horse which stood at the door, + and exultingly pointing out the excellent qualities of both. He ceased + talking on the approach of the party, and at the request of his ancient + benefactress he gave a particular account of the affair. + </p> + <p> + "And where did you get this new cart and horse, Humphreys?" inquired Mrs. + Wilson, when he had ended. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, madam, I went up to the castle to see the steward, and Mr. Martin + just mentioned my loss to Lord Pendennyss, ma'am, and my lord ordered me + this cart, ma'am, and this noble horse, and twenty golden guineas into the + bargain to put me on my legs again--God bless him for it, for ever!" + </p> + <p> + "It was very kind of his lordship, indeed," said Mrs. Wilson, + thoughtfully: "I did not know he was at the castle." + </p> + <p> + "He's gone, already, madam; the servants told me that he just called to + see the earl, on his way to Lon'on; but finding he'd went a few days agone + to Ireland my lord went for Lon'on, without stopping the night even. Ah! + madam," continued the old man, who stood leaning on a stick, with his hat + in his hand, "he's a great blessing to the poor; his servants say he gives + thousands every year to the poor who are in want--he is main rich, too; + some people say, much richer and more great like than the earl himself. + I'm sure I have need to bless him every day of my life." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled mournfully as she wished Humphreys good day and put up + her purse, finding the old man so well provided for; a display or + competition in charity never entering into her system of benevolence. + </p> + <p> + "His lordship is munificent in his bounty," said Emily, as they drove from + the door. + </p> + <p> + "Does it not savor of thoughtlessness to bestow so much where he can know + so little?" Lord Chatterton ventured to inquire. + </p> + <p> + "He is," replied Mrs. Wilson, "as old Humphrey says, main rich; but the + son of the old man and the father of these children is a soldier in the + ----th dragoons, of which the earl is colonel, and that accounts to me for + his liberality," recollecting, with a sigh, the feelings which had drawn + her out of the usual circle of her charities in the case of the same man. + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever see Lord Pendennyss, aunt?" + </p> + <p> + "Never, my dear; he has been much abroad, but my letters were filled with + his praises, and I confess my disappointment is great in not seeing him on + this visit to Lord Bolton who is his relation; but," fixing her eyes + thoughtfully on her niece, "we shall meet in London this winter, I trust." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke a cloud passed over her features, and she continued much + absorbed in thought for the remainder of their drive. + </p> + <p> + General Wilson had been a cavalry officer, and he commanded the very + regiment now held by Lord Pendennyss. In an excursion near the British + camp he had been rescued from captivity, if not from death, by a gallant + and timely interference of this young nobleman, then in command of a troop + in the same corps. He had mentioned the occurrence to his wife in his + letters, and from that day his correspondence was filled with the praises + of the bravery and goodness to the soldiery of his young comrade. When he + fell he had been supported from the field by, and he actually died in the + arms of the young peer. A letter announcing his death had been received by + his widow from the earl himself, and the tender and affectionate manner in + which he spoke of her husband had taken a deep hold on her affections. All + the circumstances together threw an interest around him that had made Mrs. + Wilson almost entertain the romantic wish he might be found worthy and + disposed to solicit the hand of Emily. Her anxious inquiries into his + character had been attended with such answers as flattered her wishes; but + the military duties of the earl or his private affairs had never allowed a + meeting; and she was now compelled to look forward to what John laughingly + termed their winter campaign, as the only probable place where she could + be gratified with the sight of a young man to whom she owed so much, and + whose name was connected with some of the most tender though most + melancholy recollections of her life. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton, who now appeared to be almost domesticated in the family, + was again of the party at dinner, to the no small satisfaction of the + dowager, who from proper inquiries in the course of the day had learned + that Sir Edgar's heir was likely to have the necessary number of figures + in the sum total of his rental. While sitting in the drawing-room that + afternoon she made an attempt to bring her eldest daughter and the elegant + soldier together over a chess-board; a game the young lady had been + required to learn because it was one at which a gentleman could be kept + longer than any other without having his attention drawn away by any of + those straggling charms which might be travelling a drawing-room "seeking + whom they may devour." It was also a game admirably suited to the display + of a beautiful hand and arm. But the mother had for a long time been + puzzled to discover a way of bringing in the foot also, the young lady + being particularly remarkable for the beauty of that portion of the frame. + In vain her daughter hinted at dancing, an amusement of which she was + passionately fond. The wary mother knew too well the effects of + concentrated force to listen to the suggestion: dancing might do for every + manager, but she prided herself in acting <i>en masse</i>, like Napoleon, + whose tactics consisted in overwhelming by uniting his forces on a given + point. After many experiments in her own person she endeavored to improve + Catharine's manner of sitting, and by dint of twisting and turning she + contrived that her pretty foot and ankle should be thrown forward in a way + that the eye dropping from the move, should unavoidably rest on this + beauteous object; giving, as it were, a Scylla and Charybdis to her + daughter's charms. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley was the first person on whom she undertook to try the effect + of her invention; and after comfortably seating the parties she withdrew + to a little distance to watch the effect. + </p> + <p> + "Check to your king, Miss Chatterton," cried John, early in the game--and + the young lady thrust out her foot. "Check to <i>your</i> king, Mr. + Moseley," echoed the damsel, and John's eyes wandered from hand to foot + and foot to hand. "Check king and queen, sir."--"Check-mate."--"Did you + speak?" said John. Looking up he caught the eye of the dowager fixed on + him in triumph--"Oh, ho," said the young man, internally, "Mother + Chatterton, are you playing too?" and, coolly taking up his hat, he walked + off, nor could they ever get him seated at the game again. + </p> + <p> + "You beat me too easily, Miss Chatterton," he would say when pressed to + play, "before I have time to look up it's check-mate--excuse me." + </p> + <p> + The dowager next settled down into a more covert attack through Grace; but + here she had two to contend with: her own forces rebelled, and the war had + been protracted to the present hour with varied success, and at least + without any material captures, on one side. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton entered on the duties of his dangerous undertaking with + the indifference of foolhardiness. The game was played with tolerable + ability by both parties; but no emotions, no absence of mind could be + discovered on the part of the gentleman. Feet and hands were in motion; + still the colonel played as well as usual; he had answers for all Jane's + questions, and smiles for his partner; but no check-mate could she obtain, + until wilfully throwing away an advantage he suffered the lady to win the + game. The dowager was satisfied nothing could be done with the colonel. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter X. + </h2> + <p> + The first carriages that rolled over the lawn to Bolton parsonage, on the + succeeding day, were those of the baronet and his sister; the latter in + advance. + </p> + <p> + "There, Francis," cried Emily, who was impatiently waiting for him to + remove some slight obstruction to her alighting, "thank you, thank you; + that will do." + </p> + <p> + In the next moment she was in the extended arms of Clara. After pressing + each other to their bosoms for a few moments in silence, Emily looked up, + with a tear glistening in her eye, and first noticed the form of Denbigh, + who was modestly withdrawing, as if unwilling to intrude on such pure and + domestic feelings as the sisters were betraying, unconscious of the + presence of a witness. Mrs. Wilson and Jane, followed by Miss Chatterton, + now entered, and cordial salutes and greetings flowed upon Clara from her + various friends. + </p> + <p> + The baronet's coach reached the door; it contained himself and wife, Mr. + Benfield, and Lady Chatterton. Clara stood on the portico of the building, + ready to receive them; her face all smiles, and tears, and blushes, and + her arm locked in that of Emily. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you joy of your new abode, Mrs. Francis." Lady Moseley forgot her + form, and bursting into tears, she pressed her daughter with ardor to her + bosom. + </p> + <p> + "Clara, my love!" said the baronet, hastily wiping his eyes, and + succeeding his wife in the embrace of their child. He kissed her, and, + pressing Francis by the hand, walked into the house in silence. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well," cried the dowager, as she saluted her cousin, "all looks + comfortable and genteel here, upon my word, Mrs. Ives: + grapery--hot-houses--everything in good style too; and Sir Edward tells me + the living is worth a good five hundred a year." + </p> + <p> + "So, girl, I suppose you expect a kiss," said Mr. Benfield who ascended + the steps slowly, and with difficulty. "Kissing has gone much out of + fashion lately. I remember, on the marriage of my friend, Lord Gosford, in + the year fifty-eight, that all the maids and attendants were properly + saluted in order. The lady Juliana was quite young then; not more than + fifteen: it was there I got my first salute from her--but--so--kiss me." + After which he continued, as they went into the house, "Marrying in that + day was a serious business. You might visit a lady a dozen times before + you could get a sight of her naked hand. Who's that?" stopping short, and + looking earnestly at Denbigh, who now approached them. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, sir," said Clara, "my uncle, Mr. Benfield." + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever know, sir, a gentleman of your name, who sat in the + parliament of this realm in the year sixty?" Mr. Benfield abruptly asked, + as soon as the civilities of the introduction were exchanged. "You don't + look much like him." + </p> + <p> + "That was rather before my day, sir," said Denbigh, with a smile, + respectfully offering to relieve Clara, who supported him on one side, + while Emily held his arm on the other. + </p> + <p> + The old gentleman was particularly averse to strangers, and Emily was in + terror lest he should say something rude; but, after examining Denbigh + again from head to foot, he took the offered arm, and coolly replied-- + </p> + <p> + "True; very true; that was sixty years ago; you can hardly recollect as + long. Ah! Mr. Denbigh, times are sadly altered since my youth. People who + were then glad to ride on a pillion now drive their coaches; men who + thought ale a luxury, drink their port; aye! and those who went barefoot + must have their shoes and stockings, too. Luxury, sir, and the love of + ease, will ruin this mighty empire. Corruption has taken hold of + everything; the ministry buy the members, the members buy the ministry; + everything is bought and sold. Now, sir, in the parliament in which I had + the honor of a seat, there was a knot of us, as upright as posts, sir. My + Lord Gosford was one, and General Denbigh was another, although I can't + say he was much a favorite with me. You do not look in the least like him. + How was he related to you, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "He was my grandfather," replied Denbigh, looking pleasantly at Emily, as + if to tell her he understood the character of her uncle. + </p> + <p> + Had the old man continued his speech an hour longer, Denbigh would not + have complained. They had stopped while talking, and he thus became + confronted with the beautiful figure that supported the other arm. Denbigh + contemplated in admiration the varying countenance which now blushed with + apprehension, and now smiled in affection, or even with an archer + expression, as her uncle proceeded in his harangue on the times. But all + felicity in this world has an end, as well as misery. Denbigh retained the + recollection of that speech long after Mr. Benfield was comfortably seated + in the parlor, though for his life he could not recollect a word he had + said. + </p> + <p> + The Haughtons, the Jarvises, and a few more of their intimate + acquaintances, arrived, and the parsonage had a busy air; but John, who + had undertaken to drive Grace Chatterton in his own phaeton, was yet + absent. Some little anxiety had begun to be manifested, when he appeared, + dashing through the gates at a great rate, and with the skill of a member + of the four-in-hand. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton had begun to be seriously uneasy, and she was about to + speak to her son to go in quest of them, as they came in sight; but now + her fears vanished, and she could only suppose that a desire to have Grace + alone could keep one who had the reputation of a Jehu so much behind the + rest of the party. She met them in great spirits, crying, + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word, Mr. Moseley, I began to think you had taken the road to + Scotland, you stayed so long." + </p> + <p> + "Your daughter, my Lady Chatterton," said John, pithily, "would go to + Scotland neither with me nor any other man, or I am greatly deceived in + her character. Clara, my sister, how do you do?" He saluted the bride with + great warmth and affection. + </p> + <p> + "But what detained you, Moseley?" inquired the mother. + </p> + <p> + "One of the horses was restive, and he broke the harness. We merely + stopped in the village while it was mended." + </p> + <p> + "And how did Grace behave?" asked Emily, laughing. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, a thousand times better than you would, sister; as she always does, + and like an angel." + </p> + <p> + The only point in dispute between Emily and her brother was her want of + faith in his driving; while poor Grace, naturally timid, and unwilling to + oppose any one, particularly the gentleman who then held the reins, had + governed herself sufficiently to be silent and motionless. Indeed, she + could hardly do otherwise had she wished it, so great was his impetuosity + of character; and John felt flattered to a degree of which he was himself + unconscious. Self-complacency, aided by the merit, the beauty, and the + delicacy of the young lady herself, might have led to the very results her + mother so anxiously wished to produce, had that mother been satisfied with + letting things take their course. But managers very generally overdo their + work. + </p> + <p> + "Grace <i>is</i> a good girl," said her gratified mother; "and you found + her very valiant, Mr. Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, as brave as Cæsar," answered John, carelessly, in a way that + was not quite free from irony. + </p> + <p> + Grace, whose burning cheek showed but too plainly that praise from John + Moseley was an incense too powerful for her resistance, now sank back + behind some of the company, endeavoring to conceal the tears that almost + gushed from her eyes. Denbigh was a silent spectator of the whole scene, + and he now considerately observed, that he had lately seen an improvement + which would obviate the difficulty Mr. Moseley had experienced. John + turned to the speaker, and they were soon engaged in the discussion of + curbs and buckles, when the tilbury of Colonel Egerton drove to the door, + containing himself and his friend the captain. + </p> + <p> + The bride undoubtedly received congratulations that day more sincere than + those which were now offered, but none were delivered in a more graceful + and insinuating manner than the compliments which fell from Colonel + Egerton. He passed round the room, speaking to his acquaintances, until he + arrived at the chair of Jane, who was seated next her aunt. Here he + stopped, and glancing his eye round, and saluting with bows and smiles the + remainder of the party, he appeared fixed at the centre of all attraction. + </p> + <p> + "There is a gentleman I think I have never seen before," he observed, to + Mrs. Wilson, casting his eyes on Denbigh, whose back was towards him in + discourse with Mr. Benfield. + </p> + <p> + "It is Mr. Denbigh, of whom you heard us speak," replied Mrs. Wilson. + While she spoke, Denbigh faced them. Egerton started as he caught a view + of his face, and seemed to gaze on the countenance which was open to his + inspection with an earnestness that showed an interest of some kind, but + of a nature that was inexplicable to Mrs. Wilson, who was the only + observer of this singular recognition; for such it evidently was. All was + now natural in the colonel for the moment; his color sensibly changed, and + there was an expression of doubt in his face. It might be fear, it might + be horror, it might be a strong aversion; it clearly was not love. Emily + sat by her aunt, and Denbigh approached them, making a cheerful remark. It + was impossible for the colonel to avoid him had he wished it, and he kept + his ground. Mrs. Wilson thought she would try the experiment of an + introduction. + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Egerton--Mr. Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + Both gentlemen bowed, but nothing striking was seen in the deportment of + either. The colonel, who was not exactly at ease, said hastily-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh is, or has been in the army, I believe." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was now taken by surprise in his turn: he cast a look on Egerton + of fixed and settled meaning; then carelessly observed, but still as if + requiring an answer: + </p> + <p> + "I am yet; but I do not recollect having had the pleasure of meeting with + Colonel Egerton on service." + </p> + <p> + "Your countenance is familiar, sir," replied the colonel, coldly; "but at + this moment I cannot tax my memory with the place of our meeting, though + one sees so many strange faces in a campaign, that they come and go like + shadows." + </p> + <p> + He then changed the conversation. It was some time, however, before either + gentleman entirely recovered his ease--and many days elapsed ere anything + like intercourse passed between them. The colonel attached himself during + this visit to Jane, with occasional notices of the Misses Jarvis, who + began to manifest symptoms of uneasiness at the decided preference he + showed to a lady they now chose to look upon, in some measure, as a rival. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson and her charge, on the other hand, were entertained by the + conversation of Chatterton and Denbigh, relieved by occasional sallies + from the lively John. There was something in the person and manners of + Denbigh that insensibly attracted those whom chance threw in his way. His + face was not strikingly handsome, but it was noble; and when he smiled, or + was much animated, it invariably communicated a spark of his own + enthusiasm to the beholder. His figure was faultless; his air and manner, + if less easy than those of Colonel Egerton, were more sincere and + ingenuous; his breeding was clearly higher; his respect for others rather + bordering on the old school. But in his voice there existed a charm which + would make him, when he spoke, to a female ear, almost resistless: it was + soft, deep, melodious, and winning. + </p> + <p> + "Baronet," said the rector, looking with a smile towards his son and + daughter, "I love to see my children happy, and Mrs. Ives threatens a + divorce if I go on in the manner I have commenced. She says I desert her + for Bolton." + </p> + <p> + "Why, doctor, if our wives conspire against us, and prevent our enjoying a + comfortable dish of tea with Clara, or a glass of wine with Frank, we must + call in the higher authorities as umpires. What say you, sister? Is a + parent to desert his child in any case?" + </p> + <p> + "My opinion is," said Mrs. Wilson, with a smile, yet speaking with + emphasis, "that a parent is <i>not</i> to desert a child, in any case or + in any manner." + </p> + <p> + "Do you hear that, my Lady Moseley?" cried the good-humored baronet. + </p> + <p> + "Do you hear that, my Lady Chatterton?" echoed John, who had just taken a + seat by Grace, when her mother approached them. + </p> + <p> + "I hear it, but do not see the application, Mr. Moseley." + </p> + <p> + "No, my lady! Why, there is the honorable Miss Chatterton almost dying to + play a game of her favorite chess with Mr. Denbigh. She has beaten us all + but him, and her triumph will not be complete until she has him too at her + feet." + </p> + <p> + And as Denbigh politely offered to meet the challenge, the board was + produced, and the parties were seated. Lady Chatterton stood leaning over + her daughter's chair, with a view, however, to prevent any of those + consequences she was generally fond of seeing result from this amusement; + every measure taken by this prudent mother being literally governed by + judicious calculation. + </p> + <p> + "Umph," thought John, as he viewed the players, while listening with + pleasure to the opinions of Grace, who had recovered her composure and + spirits; "Kate, after all, has played one game without using her feet." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XI. + </h2> + <p> + Ten days or a fortnight flew swiftly by, during which Mrs. Wilson suffered + Emily to give Clara a week, having first ascertained that Denbigh was a + settled resident at the rectory, and thereby not likely to be oftener at + the House of Francis than at the hall, where he was a frequent and welcome + guest, both on his own account and as a friend of Doctor Ives. Emily had + returned, and she brought the bride and groom with her; when one evening + as they were pleasantly seated at their various amusements, with the ease + of old acquaintances, Mr. Haughton entered. It was at an hour rather + unusual for his visits; and throwing down his hat, after making the usual + inquiries, he began without preface-- + </p> + <p> + "I know, good people, you are all wondering what has brought me out this + time of night, but the truth is, Lucy has coaxed her mother to persuade me + into a ball in honor of the times; so, my lady, I have consented, and my + wife and daughter have been buying up all the finery in B----, by the way, + I suppose, of anticipating their friends. There is a regiment of foot come + into barracks within fifteen miles of us, and to-morrow I must beat up for + recruits among the officers--girls are never wanting on such occasions." + </p> + <p> + "Why," cried the baronet, "you are growing young again, my friend." "No, + Sir Edward, but my daughter is young, and life has so many cares that I am + willing she should get rid of as many as she can at my expense." + </p> + <p> + "Surely you would not wish her to dance them away," said Mrs. Wilson; + "such relief I am afraid will prove temporary." + </p> + <p> + "Do you disapprove of dancing, ma'am?" said Mr. Haughton, who held her + opinions in great respect as well as a little dread. + </p> + <p> + "I neither approve nor disapprove of it--jumping up and down is innocent + enough in itself, and if it must be done it is well it were done + gracefully; as for the accompaniments of dancing I say nothing--what do + you say, Doctor Ives?" + </p> + <p> + "To what, my dear madam?" + </p> + <p> + "To dancing." + </p> + <p> + "Oh let the girls dance if they enjoy it." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad you think so, doctor," cried the delighted Mr. Haughton; I was + afraid I recollected your advising your son never to dance nor to play at + games of chance." + </p> + <p> + "You thought right, my friend," said the doctor, laying down his + newspaper; "I did give that advice to Frank, whom you will please to + remember is now rector of Bolton. I do not object to dancing as not + innocent in itself or as an elegant exercise; but it is like drinking, + generally carried to excess: now as a Christian I am opposed to all + excesses; the music and company lead to intemperance in the recreation, + and they often induce neglect of duties--but so may anything else." + </p> + <p> + "I like a game of whist, doctor, greatly," said Mr. Haughton; "but + observing that you never play, and recollecting your advice to Mr. + Francis, I have forbidden cards when you are my guest." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you for the compliment, good sir," replied the doctor, with a + smile; "still I would much rather see you play cards than hear you talk + scandal, as you sometimes do." + </p> + <p> + "Scandal!" echoed Mr. Haughton. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, scandal," said the doctor, coolly, "such as the remark you made the + last time, which was only yesterday, I called to see you. You accused Sir + Edward of being wrong in letting that poacher off so easily; the baronet, + you said, did not shoot himself, and did not know how to prize game as he + ought." + </p> + <p> + "Scandal, Doctor--do you call that scandal? why I told Sir Edward so + himself, two or three times." + </p> + <p> + "I know you did, and that was rude." + </p> + <p> + "Rude! I hope sincerely Sir Edward has put no such construction on it?" + </p> + <p> + The baronet smiled kindly, and shook his head. + </p> + <p> + "Because the baronet chooses to forgive your offences, it does not alter + their nature," said the doctor, gravely: "no, you must repent and amend; + you impeached his motives for doing a benevolent act, and that I call + scandal." + </p> + <p> + "Why, doctor, I was angry the fellow should be let loose; he is a pest to + all the game in the county, and every sportsman will tell you so--here, + Mr. Moseley, you know Jackson, the poacher." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! a poacher is an intolerable wretch!" cried Captain Jarvis. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! a poacher," echoed John, looking drolly at Emily, "hang all + poachers." + </p> + <p> + "Poacher or no poacher, does not alter the scandal," said the doctor; "now + let me tell you, good sir, I would rather play at fifty games of whist + than make one such speech, unless indeed it interfered with my duties; + now, sir, with your leave I'll explain myself as to my son. There is an + artificial levity about dancing that adds to the dignity of no man: from + some it may detract: a clergyman for instance is supposed to have other + things to do, and it might hurt him in the opinions of those with whom his + influence is necessary, and impair his usefulness; therefore a clergyman + should never dance. In the same way with cards; they are the common + instruments of gambling, and an odium is attached to them on that account; + women and clergymen must respect the prejudices of mankind in some cases, + or lose their influence in society." + </p> + <p> + "I did hope to have the pleasure of your company, doctor, said Mr. + Haughton, hesitatingly. + </p> + <p> + "And if it will give you pleasure," cried the rector, "you shall have it + with all my heart, good sir; it would be a greater evil to wound the + feelings of such a neighbor as Mr. Haughton, than to show my face once at + a ball," and rising, he laid his hand on the shoulder of the other kindly. + "Both your scandal and rudeness are easily forgiven; but I wished to show + you the common error of the world which has attached odium to certain + things, while it charitably overlooks others of a more heinous nature." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Haughton, who had at first been a little staggered with the attack of + the doctor, recovered himself, and laying a handful of notes on the table, + hoped he should have the pleasure of seeing every body. The invitation was + generally accepted, and the worthy man departed, happy if his friends did + but come, and were pleased. + </p> + <p> + "Do you dance, Miss Moseley?" inquired Denbigh of Emily, as he sat + watching her graceful movements in netting a purse for her father. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes! the doctor said nothing of us girls, you know I suppose he + thinks we have no dignity to lose." + </p> + <p> + "Admonitions are generally thrown away on young ladies when pleasure is in + the question," said the doctor, with a look of almost paternal affection. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you do not seriously disapprove of it in moderation," said Mrs. + Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "That depends, madam, upon circumstances; if it is to be made subsidiary + to envy, malice, coquetry, vanity, or any other such little lady-like + accomplishment, it certainly had better be let alone. But in moderation, + and with the feelings of my little pet here, I should be cynical, indeed, + to object." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh appeared lost in his own ruminations during this dialogue; and as + the doctor ended, he turned to the captain, who was overlooking a game of + chess between the colonel and Jane, of which the latter had become + remarkably fond of late, playing with her hands and eyes instead of her + feet--and inquired the name of the corps in barracks at F----. + </p> + <p> + "The ----th foot, sir," replied the captain, haughtily, who neither + respected him, owing to his want of consequence, nor loved him, from the + manner in which Emily listened to his conversation. + </p> + <p> + "Will Miss Moseley forgive a bold request," said Denbigh, with some + hesitation. + </p> + <p> + Emily looked up from her work in silence, but with some little flutterings + at the heart. + </p> + <p> + "The honor of her hand for the first dance," continued Denbigh, observing + she was in expectation that he would proceed. + </p> + <p> + Emily laughingly said, "Certainly, Mr. Denbigh, if you can submit to the + degradation." + </p> + <p> + The London papers now came in, and most of the gentlemen sat down to their + perusal. The colonel, however, replaced the men for a second game, and + Denbigh still kept his place beside Mrs. Wilson and her niece. The + manners, the sentiments, the whole exterior of this gentleman were such as + both the taste and judgment of the aunt approved of; his qualities were + those which insensibly gained on the heart, and yet Mrs. Wilson noticed, + with a slight uneasiness, the very evident satisfaction her niece took in + his society. In Dr. Ives she had great confidence, yet Dr. Ives was a + friend, and probably judged him favorably; and again, Dr. Ives was not to + suppose he was introducing a candidate for the hand of Emily in every + gentleman he brought to the hall. Mrs. Wilson had seen too often the ill + consequences of trusting to impressions received from inferences of + companionship, not to know the only safe way was to judge for ourselves: + the opinions of others might be partial--might be prejudiced--and many an + improper connexion had been formed by listening to the sentiments of those + who spoke without interest, and consequently without examination. Not a + few matches are made by this idle commendation of others, uttered by those + who are respected, and which are probably suggested more by a desire to + please than by reflection or even knowledge. In short Mrs. Wilson knew + that as our happiness chiefly interests ourselves, so it was to ourselves, + or to those few whose interest was equal to our own, we could only trust + those important inquiries necessary to establish a permanent opinion of + character. With Doctor Ives her communications on subjects of duty were + frequent and confiding, and although she sometimes thought his benevolence + disposed him to be rather too lenient to the faults of mankind, she + entertained a profound respect for his judgment. It had great influence + with her, if it were not always conclusive; she determined, therefore, to + have an early conversation with him on the subject so near her heart, and + be in a great measure regulated by his answers in the steps to be + immediately taken. Every day gave her what he thought melancholy proof of + the ill consequences of neglecting a duty, in the increasing intimacy of + Colonel Egerton and Jane. + </p> + <p> + "Here, aunt," cried John, as he ran over a paper, "is a paragraph relating + to your favorite youth, our trusty and well beloved cousin the Earl of + Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "Read it," said Mrs. Wilson, with an interest his name never failed to + excite. + </p> + <p> + "We noticed to-day the equipage of the gallant Lord Pendennyss before the + gates of Annandale-house, and understand the noble earl is last from + Bolton castle, Northamptonshire." + </p> + <p> + "A very important fact," said Captain Jarvis, sarcastically; "Colonel + Egerton and myself got as far as the village, to pay our respects to him, + when we heard he had gone on to town." + </p> + <p> + "The earl's character, both as a man and a soldier," observed the colonel, + "gives him a claim to our attentions that his rank would not: on that + account we would have called." + </p> + <p> + "Brother," said Mrs. Wilson, "you would oblige me greatly by asking his + lordship to waive ceremony; his visits to Bolton castle will probably be + frequent, now we have peace; and the owner is so much from home that we + may never see him without some such invitation." + </p> + <p> + "Do you want him as a husband for Emily?" cried John, as he gaily seated + himself by the side of his sister. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled at an observation which reminded her of one of her + romantic wishes; and as she raised her head to reply in the same tone, met + the eye of Denbigh fixed on her with an expression that kept her silent. + This is really an incomprehensible young man in some respects, thought the + cautious widow, his startling looks on the introduction to the colonel + crossing her mind at the same time; and observing the doctor opening the + door that led to the baronet's library, Mrs. Wilson, who generally acted + as soon as she had decided, followed him. As their conversations were + known often to relate to the little offices of charity in which they both + delighted, the movement excited no surprise, and she entered the library + with the doctor uninterrupted. + </p> + <p> + "Doctor," said Mrs. Wilson, impatient to proceed to the point, "you know + my maxim, prevention is better than cure. This young friend of yours is + very interesting." + </p> + <p> + "Do you feel yourself in danger?" said the rector, smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Not very imminent," replied the lady, laughing good-naturedly. Seating + herself, she continued, "Who is he? and who was his father, if I may ask?" + </p> + <p> + "George Denbigh, madam, both father and son," said the doctor, gravely. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, doctor, I am almost tempted to wish Frank had been a girl. You know + what I wish to learn." + </p> + <p> + "Put your questions in order, dear madam," said the doctor, in a kind + manner, "and they shall be answered." + </p> + <p> + "His principles?" + </p> + <p> + "So far as I can learn, they are good. His acts, as they have come to my + notice, are highly meritorious, and I hope they originated in proper + motives. I have seen but little of him of late years, however, and on this + head you are nearly as good a judge as myself. His filial piety," said the + doctor, dashing a tear from his eye, and speaking with fervor, "was + lovely." + </p> + <p> + "His temper--his disposition?" + </p> + <p> + "His temper is under great command, although naturally ardent; his + disposition eminently benevolent towards his fellow-creatures." + </p> + <p> + "His connexions?" + </p> + <p> + "Suitable," said the doctor, gravely. + </p> + <p> + His fortune was of but little moment. Emily would be amply provided, for + all the customary necessaries of her station; and, thanking the divine, + Mrs. Wilson returned to the parlor, easy in mind, and determined to let + things take their own course for a time, but in no degree to relax the + vigilance of her observation. + </p> + <p> + On her return to the room, Mrs. Wilson observed Denbigh approach Egerton, + and enter into conversation of a general nature. It was the first time + anything more than unavoidable courtesies had passed between them. The + colonel appeared slightly uneasy under his novel situation, while, on the + other hand, his companion showed an anxiety to be on a more friendly + footing than heretofore. There was something mysterious in the feelings + manifested by both these gentlemen that greatly puzzled the good lady; and + from its complexion, she feared one or the other was not entirely free + from censure. It could not have been a quarrel, or their names would have + been familiar to each other. They had both served in Spain, she knew, and + excesses were often committed by gentlemen at a distance from home their + pride would have prevented where they were anxious to maintain a + character. Gambling, and a few other prominent vices, floated through her + imagination, until, wearied of conjectures where she had no data, and + supposing, after all, it might be only her imagination, the turned to more + pleasant reflections. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XII. + </h2> + <p> + The bright eyes of Emily Moseley unconsciously wandered round the + brilliant assemblage at Mr. Haughton's, as she took her seat, in search of + her partner. The rooms were filled with scarlet coats, and belles from the + little town of F----; and if the company were not the most select + imaginable, it was disposed to enjoy the passing moment cheerfully and in + lightness of heart. Ere, however, she could make out to scan the + countenances of the men, young Jarvis, decked in the full robes of his + dignity, as captain in the ----th foot, approached and solicited the honor + of her hand. The colonel had already secured her sister, and it was by the + instigation of his friend, Jarvis had been thus early in his application. + Emily thanked him, and pleaded her engagement. The mortified youth, who + had thought dancing with the ladies a favor conferred on them, from the + anxiety his sister always manifested to get partners, stood for a few + moments in sullen silence; and then, as if to be revenged on the sex, he + determined not to dance the whole evening. Accordingly, he withdrew to a + room appropriated to the gentlemen, where he found a few of the military + beaux, keeping alive the stimulus they had brought with them from the + mess-table. + </p> + <p> + Clara had prudently decided to comport herself as became a clergyman's + wife, and she declined dancing altogether. Catherine Chatterton was + entitled to open the ball, as superior in years and rank to any who were + disposed to enjoy the amusement. The dowager, who in her heart loved to + show her airs upon such occasions, had chosen to be later than the rest of + the family; and Lucy had to entreat her father to have patience more than + once during the interregnum in their sports created by Lady Chatterton's + fashion. This lady at length appeared, attended by her son, and followed + by her daughters, ornamented in all the taste of the reigning fashions. + Doctor Ives and his wife, who came late from choice, soon appeared, + accompanied by their guest, and the dancing commenced. Denbigh had thrown + aside his black for the evening, and as he approached to claim her + promised hand, Emily thought him, if not as handsome, much more + interesting than Colonel Egerton, who just then passed them while leading + her sister to the set. Emily danced beautifully, but perfectly like a + lady, as did Jane; but Denbigh, although graceful in his movements and in + time, knew but little of the art; and but for the assistance of his + partner, he would have more than once gone wrong in the figure. He very + gravely asked her opinion of his performance as he handed her to a chair, + and she laughingly told him his movements were but a better sort of march. + He was about to reply, when Jarvis approached. By the aid of a pint of + wine and his own reflections, the youth wrought himself into something of + a passion, especially as he saw Denbigh enter, after Emily had declined + dancing with himself. There was a gentleman in the corps who unfortunately + was addicted to the bottle, and he had fastened on Jarvis as a man at + leisure to keep him company. Wine openeth the heart, and the captain + having taken a peep at the dancers, and seen the disposition of affairs, + returned to his bottle companion, bursting with the indignity offered to + his person. He dropped a hint, and a question or two brought the whole + grievance forth. + </p> + <p> + There is a certain set of men in every service who imbibe extravagant + notions that are revolting to humanity, and which too often prove to be + fatal in their results. Their morals are never correct, and the little + they have set loosely about them. In their own cases, their appeals to + arms are not always so prompt; but in that of their friends, their + perceptions of honor are intuitively keen, and their inflexibility in + preserving it from reproach unbending; and such is the weakness of + mankind, their "tenderness on points where the nicer feelings of a soldier + are involved, that these machines of custom, these thermometers graduated + to the scale of false honor, usurp the place of reason and benevolence, + and become too often the arbiters of life and death to a whole corps. + Such, then, was the confidant to whom Jarvis communicated the cause of his + disgust, and the consequences may easily be imagined. As he passed Emily + and Denbigh, he threw a look of fierceness at the latter, which he meant + as an indication of his hostile intentions. It was lost on his rival, who + at that moment was filled with passions of a very different kind from + those which Captain Jarvis thought agitated his own bosom; for had his new + friend let him alone, the captain would have gone quietly home and gone to + sleep. + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever fought?" said Captain Digby coolly to his companion, as + they seated themselves in his father's parlor, whither they had retired to + make their arrangements for the following morning. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Jarvis, with a stupid look, "I fought once with Tom Halliday + at school." + </p> + <p> + "At school! My dear friend, you commenced young indeed," said Digby, + helping himself to another glass. "And how did it end?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Tom got the better, and so I cried enough," said Jarvis, surlily. + </p> + <p> + "Enough! I hope you did not flinch," eyeing him keenly "Where were you + hit?" + </p> + <p> + "He hit me all over." + </p> + <p> + "All over! The d---l! Did you use small shot? How did you fight?" + </p> + <p> + "With fists," said Jarvis, yawning. + </p> + <p> + His companion, seeing how matters were, rang for his servant to put him to + bed, remaining himself an hour longer to finish the bottle. + </p> + <p> + Soon after Jarvis had given Denbigh the look big with his intended + vengeance, Colonel Egerton approached Emily, asking permission to present + Sir Herbert Nicholson, the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and a + gentleman who was ambitious of the honor of her acquaintance; a particular + friend of his own. Emily gracefully bowed her assent. Soon after, turning + her eyes on Denbigh, who had been speaking to her at the moment, she saw + him looking intently on the two soldiers, who were making their way + through the crowd to the place where she sat. He stammered, said something + she could not understand, and precipitately withdrew; and although both + she and her aunt sought his figure in the gay throng that flitted around + them, he was seen no more that evening. + </p> + <p> + "Are you acquainted with Mr. Denbigh?" said Emily to her partner, after + looking in vain to find his person in the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh! Denbigh! I have known one or two of that name" replied the + gentleman. "In the army there are several." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Emily, musing, "he is in the army;" and looking up, she saw + her companion reading her countenance with an expression that brought the + color to her cheeks with a glow that was painful. Sir Herbert smiled, and + observed that the room was warm. Emily acquiesced in the remark, for the + first time in her life conscious of a feeling she was ashamed to have + scrutinized, and glad of any excuse to hide her confusion. + </p> + <p> + "Grace Chatterton is really beautiful to-night," whispered John Moseley to + his sister Clara. "I have a mind to ask her to dance." + </p> + <p> + "Do, John." replied his sister, looking with pleasure on her beautiful + cousin, who, observing the movements of John as he drew near where she + sat, moved her face on each side rapidly, in search of some one who was + apparently not to be found. Her breathing became sensibly quicker, and + John was on the point of speaking to her as the dowager stepped in between + them. There is nothing so flattering to the vanity of a man as the + discovery of emotions in a young woman excited by himself, and which the + party evidently wishes to conceal; there is nothing so touching, so sure + to captivate; or, if it seem to be affected, so sure to disgust. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Mr. Moseley," cried the mother, "you shall not ask Grace to dance! + She can refuse you nothing, and she has been up the last two figures." + </p> + <p> + "Your wishes are irresistible, Lady Chatterton," said John, coolly turning + on his heel. On gaining the other side of the room, he turned to + reconnoitre the scene. The dowager was fanning herself as violently as if + <i>she</i> had been up the last two figures instead of her daughter, while + Grace sat with her eyes fastened on the floor, paler than usual. "Grace," + thought the young man, "would be very handsome--very sweet--very--very + everything that is agreeable, if--if it were not for Mother Chatterton." + He then led out one of the prettiest girls in the room. + </p> + <p> + Col. Egerton was peculiarly fitted to shine in a ball room. He danced + gracefully and with spirit; was perfectly at home with all the usages of + the best society, and was never neglectful of any of those little + courtesies which have their charm for the moment; and Jane Moseley, who + saw all those she loved around her, apparently as happy as herself, found + in her judgment or the convictions of her principles, no counterpoise + against the weight of such attractions, all centred as it were in one + effort to please herself. His flattery was deep for it was respectful--his + tastes were her tastes--his opinions her opinions. On the formation of + their acquaintance they differed on some trifling point of poetical + criticism, and for near a month the colonel had maintained his opinion + with a show of firmness; but opportunities not wanting for the discussion, + he had felt constrained to yield to her better judgment, her purer taste. + The conquest of Colonel Egerton was complete, and Jane who saw in his + attentions the submission of a devoted heart, began to look forward to the + moment with trembling that was to remove the thin barrier that existed + between the adulation of the eyes and the most delicate assiduity to + please, and the open confidence of declared love. Jane Moseley had a heart + to love, and to love strongly; her danger existed in her imagination: it + was brilliant, unchastened by her judgment, we had almost said unfettered + by her principles. Principles such as are found in every-day maxims and + rules of conduct sufficient to restrain her within the bounds of perfect + decorum she was furnished with in abundance; but to that principle which + was to teach her submission in opposition to her wishes, to that principle + that could alone afford her security against the treachery of her own + passions, she was an utter stranger. + </p> + <p> + The family of Sir Edward were, among the first to retire, and as the + Chattertons had their own carriage, Mrs. Wilson and her charge returned + alone in the coach of the former. Emily, who had been rather out of + spirits the latter-part of the evening, broke the silence by suddenly + observing, + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Egerton is, or soon will be, a perfect hero!" + </p> + <p> + Her aunt somewhat surprised, both with the abruptness and with the + strength of the remark, inquired her meaning. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Jane will make him one, whether or not." + </p> + <p> + This was spoken with an air of vexation which she was unused to, and Mrs. + Wilson gravely corrected her for speaking in a disrespectful manner of her + sister, one whom neither her years nor situation entitled her in any + measure to advise or control. There was an impropriety in judging so near + and dear a relation harshly, even in thought. Emily pressed the hand of + her aunt and tremulously acknowledged her error; but she added, that she + felt a momentary irritation at the idea of a man of Colonel Egerton's + character gaining the command over feelings such as her sister possessed. + Mrs. Wilson kissed the cheek of her niece, while she inwardly acknowledged + the probable truth of the very remark she had thought it her duty to + censure. That the imagination of Jane would supply her lover with those + qualities she most honored herself, she believed was taken as a matter of + course; and that when the veil she had helped to throw before her own eyes + was removed, she would cease to respect, and of course cease to love him, + when too late to remedy the evil, she greatly feared. But in the + approaching fate of Jane she saw new cause to call forth her own activity. + </p> + <p> + Emily Moseley had just completed her eighteenth year, and was gifted by + nature with a vivacity and ardency of feeling that gave a heightened zest + to the enjoyments of that happy age. She was artless but intelligent; + cheerful, with a deep conviction of the necessity of piety; and uniform in + her practice of all the important duties. The unwearied exertions of her + aunt, aided by her own quickness of perception, had made her familiar with + the attainments suitable to her sex and years. For music she had no taste, + and the time which would have been thrown away in endeavoring to cultivate + a talent she did not possess, was dedicated under the discreet guidance of + her aunt, to works which had a tendency both to qualify her for the duties + of this life, and fit her for that which comes hereafter. It might be said + Emily Moseley had never read a book that contained a sentiment or + inculcated an opinion improper for her sex or dangerous to her morals; and + it was not difficult for those who knew the fact, to fancy they could + perceive the consequences in her guileless countenance and innocent + deportment. Her looks--her actions--her thoughts, wore as much of nature + as the discipline of her well-regulated mind and softened manners could + admit. In person she was of the middle size, exquisitely formed, graceful + and elastic in her step, without, however, the least departure from her + natural movements; her eye was a dark blue, with an expression of joy and + intelligence; at times it seemed all soul, and again all heart; her color + was rather high, but it varied with every emotion of her bosom; her + feelings were strong, ardent, and devoted to those she loved. Her + preceptress had never found it necessary to repeat an admonition of any + kind, since her arrival at years to discriminate between the right and the + wrong. + </p> + <p> + "I wish," said Doctor Ives to his wife, the evening his son had asked + their permission to address Clara, "Francis had chosen my little Emily." + </p> + <p> + "Clara is a good girl," replied his wife; "she is so mild, so + affectionate, that I doubt not she will make him happy--Frank might have + done worse at the Hall." + </p> + <p> + "For himself he has done well, I hope," said the father, "a young woman of + Clara's heart may make any man happy but a union with purity, sense, + principles, like those of Emily would be more--it would be blissful." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ives smiled at her husband's animation. "You remind me more of the + romantic youth I once knew than of the grave divine. There is but one man + I know that I could wish to give Emily to; it is Lumley. If Lumley sees + her, he will woo her; and if he wooes, he will win her." + </p> + <p> + "And Lumley I believe to be worthy of her," cried the rector, now taking + up a candle to retire for the night. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XIII. + </h2> + <p> + The following day brought a large party of the military <i>elegants</i> to + the Hall, in acceptance of the baronet's hospitable invitation to dinner. + Lady Moseley was delighted; so long as her husband's or her children's + interest had demanded a sacrifice of her love of society it had been made + without a sigh, almost without a thought. The ties of affinity in her were + sacred; and to the happiness, the comfort of those in which she felt an + interest, there were few sacrifices of her own propensities she would not + cheerfully have made: it was this very love of her offspring that made her + anxious to dispose of her daughters in wedlock. Her own marriage had been + so happy, that she naturally concluded it the state most likely to ensure + the happiness of her children; and with Lady Moseley, as with thousands of + others, who averse or unequal to the labors of investigation, jump to + conclusions over the long line of connecting reasons, marriage was + marriage, a husband was a husband. It is true there were certain + indispensables, without which the formation of a connexion was a thing she + considered not within the bounds of nature. There must be fitness in + fortune, in condition, in education, and manners; there must be no glaring + evil, although she did not ask for positive good. A professor of religion + herself, had any one told her it was a duty of her calling to guard + against a connexion with any but a Christian for her girls, she would have + wondered at the ignorance that would embarrass the married state, with + feelings exclusively belonging to the individual. Had any one told her it + were possible to give her child to any but a gentleman, she would have + wondered at the want of feeling that could devote the softness of Jane or + Emily, to the association with rudeness or vulgarity. It was the + misfortune of Lady Moseley to limit her views of marriage to the scene of + this life, forgetful that every union gives existence to a long line of + immortal beings, whose future welfare depends greatly on the force of + early examples, or the strength of early impressions. + </p> + <p> + The necessity for restriction in their expenditures had ceased, and the + baronet and his wife greatly enjoyed the first opportunity their secluded + situation had given them, to draw around their board their + fellow-creatures of their own stamp. In the former, it was pure + philanthropy; the same feeling urged him to seek out and relieve distress + in humble life; while in the latter it was love of station and seemliness. + It was becoming the owner of Moseley Hall, and it was what the daughters + of the Benfield family had done since the conquest. + </p> + <p> + "I am extremely sorry," said the good baronet at dinner, "Mr. Denbigh + declined our invitation to-day; I hope he will yet ride over in the + evening." + </p> + <p> + Looks of a singular import were exchanged between Colonel Egerton and Sir + Herbert Nicholson, at the mention of Denbigh's name; which, as the latter + had just asked the favor of taking wine with Mrs. Wilson, did not escape + her notice. Emily had innocently mentioned his precipitate retreat the + night before; and he had, when reminded of his engagement to dine with + them that very day, and promised an introduction to Sir Herbert Nicholson + by John, in her presence, suddenly excused himself and withdrawn. With an + indefinite suspicion of something wrong, she ventured, therefore, to + address Sir Herbert Nicholson. + </p> + <p> + "Did you know Mr. Denbigh, in Spain?" + </p> + <p> + "I told Miss Emily Moseley, I believe, last evening, that I knew some of + the name," replied the gentleman evasively; then pausing a moment, he + added with great emphasis, "there is a circumstance connected with <i>one</i> + of that name, I shall ever remember." + </p> + <p> + "It was creditable, no doubt, Sir Herbert," cried young Jarvis, + sarcastically. The soldier affected not to hear the question, and asked + Jane to take wine with him. Lord Chatterton, however, putting his knife + and fork down gravely, and with a glow of animation, observed with unusual + spirit, + </p> + <p> + "I have no doubt it was, sir." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis in his turn, affected not to hear this speech, and nothing farther + was said, as Sir Edward saw that the name of Mr. Denbigh excited a + sensation amongst his guests for which he was unable to account, and which + he soon forgot himself. + </p> + <p> + After the company had retired, Lord Chatterton, however, related to the + astonished and indignant family of the baronet the substance of the + following scene, of which he had been a witness that morning, while on a + visit to Denbigh at the rectory. They had been sitting in the parlor by + themselves, over their breakfast, when a Captain Digby was announced. + </p> + <p> + "I have the honor of waiting upon you, Mr. Denbigh," said the soldier, + with the stiff formality of a professed duellist, "on behalf of Captain + Jarvis, but will postpone my business until you are at leisure," glancing + his eye on Chatterton. + </p> + <p> + "I know of no business with Captain Jarvis," said Denbigh, politely + handing the stranger a chair, "to which Lord Chatterton cannot be privy; + if he will excuse the interruption. The nobleman bowed, and Captain Digby, + a little awed by the rank of Denbigh's friend, proceeded in a more + measured manner. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis has empowered me, sir, to make any arrangement with + yourself or friend, previously to your meeting, which he hopes may be as + soon as possible, if convenient to yourself," replied the soldier, coolly. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh viewed him for a moment with astonishment, in silence; when + recollecting himself, he said mildly, and without the least agitation, "I + cannot affect, sir, not to understand your meaning, but am at a loss to + imagine what act of mine can have made Mr. Jarvis wish to make such an + appeal." + </p> + <p> + "Surely Mr. Denbigh cannot think a man of Captain Jarvis's spirit can + quietly submit to the indignity put upon him last evening, by your dancing + with Miss Moseley, after she had declined the honor to himself," said the + captain, affecting an incredulous smile. "My Lord Chatterton and myself + can easily settle the preliminaries, as Captain Jarvis is much disposed to + consult your wishes, sir, in this affair." + </p> + <p> + "If he consults my wishes," said Denbigh, smiling, "he will think no more + about it." + </p> + <p> + "At what time, sir, will it be convenient to give him the meeting?" then, + speaking with a kind of bravado gentlemen of his cast are fond of + assuming, "my friend would not hurry any settlement of your affairs." + </p> + <p> + "I can never meet Captain Jarvis with hostile intentions," replied + Denbigh, calmly. + </p> + <p> + "Sir!" + </p> + <p> + "I decline the combat, sir," said Denbigh, with more firmness. + </p> + <p> + "Your reasons, sir, if you please?" asked Captain Digby compressing his + lips, and drawing up with an air of personal interest. + </p> + <p> + "Surely," cried Chatterton, who had with difficulty estrained his + feelings, "surely Mr. Denbigh could never so far forget himself as cruelly + to expose Miss Moseley by accepting this invitation." + </p> + <p> + "Your reason, my lord," said Denbigh, with interest, "would at all times + have its weight; but I wish not to qualify an act of what I conceive to be + principle by any lesser consideration. I cannot meet Captain Jarvis, or + any other man, in private combat. There can exist no necessity for an + appeal to arms in any society where the laws rule, and I am averse to + bloodshed." + </p> + <p> + "Very extraordinary," muttered Captain Digby, somewhat at a loss how to + act; but the calm and collected manner of Denbigh prevented a reply; and + after declining a cup of tea, a liquor he never drank, he withdrew, saying + he would acquaint his friend with Mr. Denbigh's singular notions. + </p> + <p> + Captain Digby had left Jarvis at an inn, about half a mile from the + rectory, for the convenience of receiving early information of the result + of his conference. The young man had walked up and down the room during + Digby's absence, in a train of reflections entirely new to him. He was the + only son of his aged father and mother, the protector of his sisters, and, + he might say, the sole hope of a rising family; and then, possibly, + Denbigh might not have meant to offend him--he might even have been + engaged before they came to the house; or if not, it might have been + inadvertence on the part of Miss Moseley. That Denbigh would offer some + explanation he believed, and he had fully made up his mind to accept it, + let it be what it might, as his fighting friend entered. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Jarvis, in a tone that denoted anything but a consciousness + that all <i>was</i> well. + </p> + <p> + "He says he will not meet you," dryly exclaimed his friend, throwing + himself into a chair, and ordering a glass of brandy and water. + </p> + <p> + "Not meet me!" exclaimed Jarvis, in surprise. "Engaged, perhaps?" + </p> + <p> + "Engaged to his d--d conscience." + </p> + <p> + "To his conscience! I do not know whether I rightly understand you, + Captain Digby," said Jarvis, catching his breath, and raising his voice a + very little. + </p> + <p> + "Then, Captain Jarvis," said his friend, tossing off his brandy, and + speaking with great deliberation, "he says that nothing--understand me--<i>nothing</i> + will ever make him fight a duel." + </p> + <p> + "He will not!" cried Jarvis, in a loud voice. + </p> + <p> + "No, he will not," said Digby, handing his glass to the waiter for a fresh + supply. + </p> + <p> + "He shall, by----!" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know how you will make him." + </p> + <p> + "Make him! I'll--I'll post him." + </p> + <p> + "Never do that," said the captain, turning to him, as he leaned his elbows + on the table. "It only makes both parties ridiculous. But I'll tell you + what you may do. There's a Lord Chatterton who takes the matter up with + warmth. If I were not afraid of his interests hurting my promotion, I + should have resented something that fell from him myself. He will fight, I + dare say, and I'll just return and require an explanation of his words on + your behalf." + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said Jarvis, rather hastily; "he--<i>he</i> is related to the + Moseleys, and I have views there it might injure." + </p> + <p> + "Did you think to forward your views by making the young lady the subject + of a duel?" asked Captain Digby sarcastically, and eyeing his companion + with contempt. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said Jarvis; "it would certainly hurt my views." + </p> + <p> + "Here's to the health of His Majesty's gallant ---- regiment of foot!" + cried Captain Digby, in a tone of irony, when three-quarters drunk, at the + mess-table, that evening, "and to its champion, Captain Henry Jarvis!" + </p> + <p> + One of the corps was present accidentally as a guest; and the following + week, the inhabitants of F---- saw the regiment in their barracks, + marching to slow time after the body of Horace Digby. + </p> + <p> + Lord Chatterton, in relating the part of the foregoing circumstances which + fell under his observation, did ample justice to the conduct of Denbigh; a + degree of liberality which did him no little credit, as he plainly saw in + that gentleman he had, or soon would have, a rival in the dearest wish of + his heart; and the smiling approbation with which his cousin Emily + rewarded him for his candor almost sickened him with apprehension. The + ladies were not slow in expressing their disgust at the conduct of Jarvis, + or backward in their approval of Denbigh's forbearance. Lady Moseley + turned with horror from a picture in which she could see nothing but + murder and bloodshed; but both Mrs. Wilson and her niece secretly + applauded a sacrifice of worldly feelings on the altar of duty; the former + admiring the consistent refusal of admitting any collateral inducements, + in explanation of his decision: the latter, while she saw the act in its + true colors, could hardly help believing that a regard for <i>her</i> + feelings had, in a trifling degree, its influence in inducing him to + decline the meeting. Mrs. Wilson saw at once what a hold such unusual + conduct would take on the feelings of her niece, and inwardly determined + to increase, if possible, the watchfulness she had invariably observed on + all he said or did, as likely to elucidate his real character, well + knowing that the requisites to bring or to keep happiness in the married + state were numerous and indispensable; and that the display of a + particular excellence, however good in itself, was by no means conclusive + as to character; in short, that we perhaps as often meet with a favorite + principle as with a besetting sin. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XIV. + </h2> + <p> + Sir Edward Moseley had some difficulty in restraining the impetuosity of + his son, who was disposed to resent this impertinent interference of young + Jarvis with the conduct of his favorite sister; indeed, the young man only + yielded to his profound respect to his father's commands, aided by a + strong representation on the part of his sister of the disagreeable + consequences of connecting her name with such a quarrel. It was seldom the + good baronet felt himself called on to act as decidedly as on the present + occasion. He spoke to the merchant in warm, but gentleman-like terms, of + the consequences which might have resulted to his own child from the + intemperate act of his son; exculpated Emily entirely from censure, by + explaining her engagement to dance with Denbigh, previously to Captain + Jarvis's application; and hinted the necessity, if the affair was not + amicably terminated, of protecting the peace of mind of his daughters + against any similar exposures, by declining the acquaintance of a neighbor + he respected as much as Mr. Jarvis. + </p> + <p> + The merchant was a man of few words, but of great promptitude. He had made + his fortune, and more than once saved it, by his decision; and assuring + the baronet he should hear no more of it, he took his hat and hurried home + from the village, where the conversation passed. On arriving at his own + house, he found the family collected in the parlor for a morning ride, and + throwing himself into a chair, he broke out on the whole party with great + violence. + </p> + <p> + "So, Mrs. Jarvis," he cried, "you <i>would</i> spoil a very tolerable + book-keeper, by wishing to have a soldier in your family; and there stands + the puppy who would have blown out the brains of a deserving young man, if + the good sense of Mr. Denbigh had not denied him the opportunity." + </p> + <p> + "Mercy!" cried the alarmed matron, on whom Newgate (for her early life had + been passed near its walls), with all its horrors, floated, and a + contemplation of its punishments had been her juvenile lessons of + morality--"Harry! Harry! would you commit murder?" + </p> + <p> + "Murder!" echoed her son, looking askance, as if dodging the bailiffs. + "No, mother; I wanted nothing but what was fair. Mr. Denbigh would have + had an equal chance to blow out my brains; I am sure everything would have + been fair." + </p> + <p> + "Equal chance!" muttered his father, who had cooled himself, in some + measure, by an extra pinch of snuff. "No, sir, you have no brains to lose. + But I have promised Sir Edward that you shall make proper apologies to + himself, to his daughter, and to Mr. Denbigh." This was rather exceeding + the truth, but the alderman prided himself on performing rather more than + he promised. + </p> + <p> + "Apology!" exclaimed the captain. "Why, sir, the apology is due to me. Ask + Colonel Egerton if he ever heard of apologies being made by the + challenger." + </p> + <p> + "No, sure," said the mother, who, having made out the truth of the matter, + thought it was likely enough to be creditable to her child; "Colonel + Egerton never heard of such a thing. Did you, colonel?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, madam," said the colonel, hesitatingly, and politely handing the + merchant his snuff-box, which, in his agitation, had fallen on the floor, + "circumstances sometimes justify a departure from ordinary measures. You + are certainly right as a rule; but not knowing the particulars in the + present case, it is difficult for me to decide. Miss Jarvis, the tilbury + is ready." + </p> + <p> + The colonel bowed respectfully to the merchant, kissed his hand to his + wife, and led their daughter to his carriage. + </p> + <p> + "Do you make the apologies?" asked Mr. Jarvis, as the door closed. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir," replied the captain, sullenly. + </p> + <p> + "Then you must make your pay answer for the next six months," cried the + father, taking a signed draft on his banker from his pocket, coolly + tearing it in two pieces, carefully putting the name in his mouth, and + chewing it into a ball. + </p> + <p> + "Why, alderman," said his wife (a name she never used unless she had + something to gain from her spouse, who loved to hear the appellation after + he had relinquished the office), "it appears to me that Harry has shown + nothing but a proper spirit. You are unkind--indeed you are." + </p> + <p> + "A proper spirit? In what way? Do you know anything of the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "It is a proper spirit for a soldier to fight, I suppose," said the wife, + a little at a loss to explain. + </p> + <p> + "Spirit, or no spirit, apology, or ten and sixpence." + </p> + <p> + "Harry," said his mother, holding up her finger in a menacing attitude, as + soon as her husband had left the room (for he had last spoken with the + door in his hand), "if you <i>do</i> beg his pardon, you are no son of + mine." + </p> + <p> + "No," cried Miss Sarah, "nor any brother of mine. It would be insufferably + mean." + </p> + <p> + "Who will pay my debts?" asked the son, looking up at the ceiling. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I would, my child, if--if--I had not spent my own allowance." + </p> + <p> + "I would," echoed the sister; "but if we go to Bath, you know, I shall + want all my money." + </p> + <p> + "Who will pay my debts?" repeated the son. + </p> + <p> + "Apology, indeed! Who is he, that you, a son of Alderman--of--Mr. Jarvis, + of the deanery, B----, North 'amptonshire, should beg his pardon--a + vagrant that nobody knows!" + </p> + <p> + "Who will pay my debts?" again inquired the captain drumming with his + foot. + </p> + <p> + "Harry," exclaimed the mother, "do you love money better than honor--a + soldier's honor?" + </p> + <p> + "No, mother; but I like good eating and drinking. Think mother; it's a + cool five hundred, and that's a famous deal of money." + </p> + <p> + "Harry," cried the mother, in a rage, "you are not fit for a soldier. I + wish I were in your place." + </p> + <p> + "I wish, with all my heart, you had been for an hour this morning," + thought the son. After arguing for some time longer, they compromised, by + agreeing to leave it to the decision of Colonel Egerton, who, the mother + did not doubt, would applaud her maintaining the Jarvis dignity, a family + in which he took quite as much interest as he felt for his own--so he had + told her fifty times. The captain, however, determined within himself to + touch the five hundred, let the colonel decide as he might; but the + colonel's decision obviated all difficulties. The question was put to him + by Mrs. Jarvis, on his return from the airing, with no doubt the decision + would be favorable to her opinion. The colonel and herself, she said, + never disagreed; and the lady was right--for wherever his interest made it + desirable to convert Mrs. Jarvis to his side of the question, Egerton had + a manner of doing it that never failed to succeed. + </p> + <p> + "Why, madam," said he, with one of his most agreeable smiles, "apologies + are different things, at different times. You are certainly right in your + sentiments, as relates to a proper spirit in a soldier; but no one can + doubt the spirit of the captain, after the stand he took in this affair; + if Mr. Denbigh would not meet him (a very extraordinary measure, in deed, + I confess), what can your son do more? He cannot <i>make</i> a man fight + against his will, you know." + </p> + <p> + "True, true," cried the matron, impatiently, "I do not want him to fight; + heaven forbid! but why should he, the challenger, beg pardon? I am sure, + to have the thing regular, Mr. Denbigh is the one to ask forgiveness." + </p> + <p> + The colonel felt at a little loss how to reply, when Jarvis, in whom the + thoughts of the five hundred pounds had worked a revolution, exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "You know, mother, I accused him--that is, I suspected him of dancing with + Miss Moseley against my right to her; now you find that it was all a + mistake, and so I had better act with dignity, and confess my error." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, by all means," cried the colonel, who saw the danger of an + embarrassing rupture between the families, otherwise: "delicacy to <i>your</i> + sex particularly requires that, ma'am, from your son;" and he accidentally + dropped a letter as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + "From Sir Edgar, colonel?" asked Mrs. Jarvis, as he stooped to pick it up. + </p> + <p> + "From Sir Edgar, ma'am, and he begs to be remembered to yourself and all + of your amiable family." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Jarvis inclined her body, in what she intended for a graceful bend, + and sighed--a casual observer might have thought, with maternal anxiety + for the reputation of her child--but it was conjugal regret, that the + political obstinacy of the alderman had prevented his carrying up an + address, and thus becoming Sir Timothy. Sir Edgar's heir prevailed, and + the captain received permission to do what he had done several hours + before. + </p> + <p> + On leaving the room, after the first discussion, and before the appeal, + the captain had hastened to his father with his concessions. The old + gentleman knew too well the influence of five hundred pounds to doubt the + effect in the present instance, and he had ordered his carriage for the + excursion. It came, and to the hall they proceeded. The captain found his + intended antagonist, and in a rather uncouth manner, he made the required + concession. He was restored to his former favor--no great distinction--and + his visits to the hall were suffered, but with a dislike Emily could never + conquer, nor at all times conceal. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was occupied with a book, when Jarvis commenced his speech to the + baronet and his daughter, and was apparently too much engaged with its + contents, to understand what was going on, as the captain blundered + through. It was necessary, the captain saw by a glance of his father's + eyes, to say something to that gentleman, who had delicately withdrawn to + a distant window. His speech was consequently made here too, and Mrs. + Wilson could not avoid stealing a look at them. Denbigh smiled, and bowed + in silence. It is enough, thought the widow; the offence was not against + him, it was against his Maker; he should not arrogate to himself, in any + manner, the right to forgive, or to require apologies--the whole is + consistent. The subject was never afterwards alluded to: Denbigh appeared + to have forgotten it; and Jane sighed gently, as she devoutly hoped the + colonel was not a duellist. + </p> + <p> + Several days passed before the deanery ladies could sufficiently forgive + the indignity their family had sustained, to resume the customary + intercourse. Like all other grievances, where the passions are chiefly + interested, it was forgotten in time, however, and things were put in some + measure on their former footing. The death of Digby served to increase the + horror of the Moseleys, and Jarvis himself felt rather uncomfortable, on + more accounts than one, at the fatal termination of the unpleasant + business. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton, who to his friends had not hesitated to avow his attachment to + his cousin, but who had never proposed for her, as his present views and + fortune were not, in his estimation, sufficient for her proper support, + had pushed every interest he possessed, and left no steps unattempted an + honorable man could resort to, to effect his object. The desire to provide + for his sisters had been backed by the ardor of a passion that had reached + its crisis; and the young peer who could not, in the present state of + things, abandon the field to a rival so formidable as Denbigh, even to + further his views to preferment, was waiting in anxious suspense the + decision on his application. A letter from his friend informed him, his + opponent was likely to succeed; that, in short, all hopes of success had + left him. Chatterton was in despair. On the following day, however, he + received a second letter from the same friend, unexpectedly announcing his + appointment. After mentioning the fact, he went on to say--"The cause of + this sudden revolution in your favor is unknown to me, and unless your + lordship has obtained interest I am ignorant of, it is one of the most + singular instances of ministerial caprice I have ever known." Chatterton + was as much at a loss as his friend, to understand the affair; but it + mattered not; he could now offer to Emily--it was a patent office of great + value, and a few years would amply portion his sisters. That very day, + therefore, he proposed, and was refused. + </p> + <p> + Emily had a difficult task to avoid self-reproach, in regulating her + deportment on this occasion. She was fond of Chatterton as a relation--as + her brother's friend--as the brother of Grace, and even on his own + account; but it was the fondness of a sister. His manner--his words, + which, although never addressed to herself, were sometimes overheard + unintentionally, and sometimes reached her through her sisters, had left + her in no doubt of his attachment; she was excessively grieved at the + discovery, and had innocently appealed to her aunt for directions how to + proceed. Of his intentions she had no doubt, but at the same time he had + not put her in a situation to dispel his hopes; as to encouragement, in + the usual meaning of the term, she gave none to him, nor to any one else. + There are no little attentions that lovers are fond of showing to their + mistresses, and which mistresses are fond of receiving, that Emily ever + permitted to any gentleman--no rides--no walks--no tête-à-têtes. + Always natural and unaffected, there was a simple dignity about her that + forbade the request, almost the thought, in the gentlemen of her + acquaintance: she had no amusements, no pleasures of any kind in which her + sisters were not her companions; and if anything was on the carpet that + required an attendant, John was ever ready. He was devoted to her; the + decided preference she gave him over every other man, upon such occasions, + flattered his affection; and he would, at any time, leave even Grace + Chatterton to attend his sister. All this too was without affectation, and + generally without notice. Emily so looked the delicacy and reserve she + acted with so little ostentation that not even her own sex had affixed to + her conduct the epithet of squeamish; it was difficult, therefore, for her + to do anything which would show Lord Chatterton her disinclination to his + suit, without assuming a dislike she did not feel, or giving him slights + that neither good breeding nor good nature could justify. At one time, + indeed, she had expressed a wish to return to Clara; but this Mrs. Wilson + thought would only protract the evil, and she was compelled to wait his + own time. The peer himself did not rejoice more in his ability to make the + offer, therefore, than Emily did to have it in her power to decline it. + Her rejection was firm and unqualified, but uttered with a grace and a + tenderness to his feelings, that bound her lover tighter than ever in her + chains, and he resolved on immediate flight as his only recourse. + </p> + <p> + "I hope nothing unpleasant has occurred to Lord Chatterton," said Denbigh, + with great interest, as he reached the spot where the young peer stood + leaning his head against a tree, on his way from the rectory to the hall. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton raised his face as he spoke: there were evident traces of tears + on it, and Denbigh, greatly shocked, was about to proceed as the other + caught his arm. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh," said the young man, in a voice almost choked with emotion, + "may you never know the pain I have felt this morning. Emily--Emily + Moseley--is lost to me--for ever." + </p> + <p> + For a moment the blood rushed to the face of Denbigh, and his eyes flashed + with a look that Chatterton could not stand. He turned, as the voice of + Denbigh, in those remarkable tones which distinguished it from every other + voice he had ever heard, uttered-- + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton, my lord, we are friends, I hope--I wish it; from my heart." + </p> + <p> + "Go, Mr. Denbigh--go. You were going to Miss Moseley--do not let me detain + you." "I am going with <i>you</i>, Lord Chatterton, unless you forbid it," + said Denbigh, with emphasis, slipping his arm through that of the peer. + </p> + <p> + For two hours they walked together in the park; and when they appeared at + dinner, Emily wondered why Mr. Denbigh had taken a seat next to her + mother, instead of his usual place between herself and her aunt. In the + evening, he announced his intention of leaving B---- for a short time with + Lord Chatterton. They were going to London together; but he hoped to + return within ten days. This sudden determination caused some surprise; + but, as the dowager supposed it was to secure the new situation, and the + remainder of their friends thought it might be business, it was soon + forgotten, though much regretted for the time. The gentlemen left the hall + that night to proceed to an inn, from which they could obtain a chaise and + horses; and the following morning, when the baronet's family assembled + around their social breakfast, they were many miles on the road to the + metropolis. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XV. + </h2> + <p> + Lady Chatterton, finding that little was to be expected in her present + situation, excepting what she looked forward to from the varying + admiration of John Moseley to her youngest daughter, determined to accept + an invitation of some standing to a nobleman's seat about fifty miles from + the hall, and, in order to keep things in their proper places, to leave + Grace with her friends, who had expressed a wish to that effect. + Accordingly, the day succeeding the departure of her son, she proceeded on + her expedition, accompanied by her willing assistant in the matrimonial + speculations. + </p> + <p> + Grace Chatterton was by nature retiring and delicate; but her feelings + were acute, and on the subject of female propriety sensitive to a degree, + that the great want of it in a relation she loved as much as her mother + had possibly in some measure increased. Her affections were too single in + their objects to have left her long in doubt as to their nature with + respect to the baronet's son; and it was one of the most painful orders + she had ever received, that which compelled her to accept her cousin's + invitation. Her mother was peremptory, however, and Grace was obliged to + comply. Every delicate feeling she possessed revolted at the step: the + visit itself was unwished for on her part; but there did exist a reason + which had reconciled her to that--the wedding of Clara. But now to remain, + after all her family had gone, in the house where resided the man who had + as yet never solicited those affections she had been unable to withhold, + it was humiliating--it was degrading her in her own esteem, and she could + scarcely endure it. + </p> + <p> + It is said that women are fertile in inventions to further their schemes + of personal gratification, vanity, or even mischief. It may be it is true; + but the writer of these pages is a man--one who has seen much of the other + sex, and he is happy to have an opportunity of paying a tribute to female + purity and female truth. That there are hearts so disinterested as to lose + the considerations of self, in advancing the happiness of those they love; + that there are minds so pure as to recoil with disgust from the admission + of deception, indelicacy, or management, he knows; for he has seen it from + long and close examination. He regrets that the very artlessness of those + who are most pure in the one sex, subjects them to the suspicions of the + grosser materials which compose the other. He believes that innocency, + singleness of heart, ardency of feeling, and unalloyed, shrinking + delicacy, sometimes exist in the female bosom, to an extent that but few + men are happy enough to discover, and that most men believe incompatible + with the frailties of human nature. Grace Chatterton possessed no little + of what may almost be called this ethereal spirit and a visit to Bolton + parsonage was immediately proposed by her to Emily. The latter, too + innocent herself to suspect the motives of her cousin, was happy to be + allowed to devote a fortnight to Clara, uninterrupted by the noisy round + of visiting and congratulations which had attended her first week; and + Mrs. Wilson and the two girls left the hall the same day with the Dowager + Lady Chatterton. Francis and Clara were happy to receive them, and they + were immediately domesticated in their new abode. Doctor Ives and his wife + had postponed an annual visit to a relation of the former on account of + the marriage of their son, and they now availed themselves of this visit + to perform their own engagement. B---- appeared in some measure deserted, + and Egerton had the field almost to himself. Summer had arrived, and the + country bloomed in all its luxuriance of vegetation: everything was + propitious to the indulgence of the softer passions; and Lady Moseley, + ever a strict adherent to forms and decorum, admitted the intercourse + between Jane and her admirer to be carried to as great lengths as those + forms would justify. Still the colonel was not explicit; and Jane, whose + delicacy dreaded the exposure of feelings that was involved in his + declaration, gave or sought no marked opportunities for the avowal of his + passion. Yet they were seldom separate, and both Sir Edward and his wife + looked forward to their future union as a thing not to be doubted. Lady + Moseley had given up her youngest child so absolutely to the government of + her aunt, that she seldom thought of her future establishment. She had + that kind of reposing confidence in Mrs. Wilson's proceedings that feeble + minds ever bestow on those who are much superior to them; and she even + approved of a system in many respects which she could not endeavor to + imitate. Her affection for Emily was not, however, less than what she felt + for her other children: she was, in fact, her favorite, and, had the + discipline of Mrs. Wilson admitted of so weak an interference, might have + been injured as such. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley had been able to find out exactly the hour they breakfasted + at the deanery, the length of time it took Egerton's horses to go the + distance between that house and the hall; and on the sixth morning after + the departure of his aunt, John's bays were in his phaeton, and allowing + ten minutes for the mile and a half to the park gates, John had got + happily off his own territories, before he met the tilbury travelling + eastward. I am not to know which road the colonel may turn, thought John: + and after a few friendly, but rather hasty greetings, the bays were again + in full trot to the parsonage. + </p> + <p> + "John," said Emily, holding out her hand affectionately, and smiling a + little archly, as he approached the window where she stood, "you should + take a lesson in driving from Frank; you have turned more than one hair, I + believe." + </p> + <p> + "How is Clara?" cried John, hastily, taking the offered hand, with a kiss, + "aye, and aunt Wilson?" + </p> + <p> + "Both well, brother, and out walking this fine morning." + </p> + <p> + "How happens it you are not with them?" inquired the brother, throwing his + eyes round the room. "Have they left you alone?" + </p> + <p> + "No Grace has this moment left me." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Emily," said John, taking his seat very composedly, but keeping his + eyes on the door, "I have come to dine with you. I thought I owed Clara a + visit, and have managed nicely to give the colonel the go-by." + </p> + <p> + "Clara will be happy to see you, dear John, and so will aunt, and so am + I"--as she drew aside his fine hair with her fingers to cool his forehead. + </p> + <p> + "And why not Grace, too?" asked John, with a look of a little alarm. + </p> + <p> + "And Grace, too, I fancy--but here she is, to answer for herself." + </p> + <p> + Grace said little on her entrance, but her eyes were brighter than usual, + and she looked so contented and happy that Emily observed to her, in an + affectionate manner-- + </p> + <p> + "I knew the eau-de-Cologne would do your head good." + </p> + <p> + "Is Miss Chatterton unwell?" asked John, with a look of interest. + </p> + <p> + "A slight headache," said Grace, faintly, "but I feel much better." + </p> + <p> + "Want of air and exercise: my horses are at the door; phaeton will hold + three easily; run, sister, for your hat," almost pushing Emily out of the + room as he spoke. In a few minutes the horses might have been suffering + for air, but surely not for exercise. + </p> + <p> + "I wish," cried John, with impatience, when at the distance of a couple of + miles from the parsonage, "that gentleman had driven his gig out of the + road." + </p> + <p> + There was a small group on one side of the road, consisting of a man, a + woman, and several children. The owner of the gig had alighted, and was in + the act of speaking to them, as the phaeton approached at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + "John," cried Emily, in terror, "You never can pass--you will upset us." + </p> + <p> + "There is no danger, dear Grace," said the brother, endeavoring to check + his horses; he succeeded in part, but not so as to prevent his passing at + a spot where the road was very narrow; a wheel hit violently against a + stone, and some of his works gave way. The gentleman immediately hastened + to his assistance--it was Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Moseley!" cried he, in a voice of the tenderest interest "you are + not hurt in the least, I hope." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Emily, recovering her breath, "only frightened;" and taking his + hand, she sprang from the carriage. + </p> + <p> + Miss Chatterton found courage to wait quietly for the care of John. His + "dear Grace," had thrilled on every nerve, and she afterwards often + laughed at Emily for her terror when there was so little danger. The + horses were not in the least frightened, and after a little mending, John + declared all was safe. To ask Emily to enter, the carriage again, was to + exact no little sacrifice of her feelings to her reason; and she stood in + a suspense that too plainly showed that, the terror she had been in had + not left her. + </p> + <p> + "If," said Denbigh, modestly, "if Mr. Moseley will take the ladies in my + gig, I will drive the phaeton to the hall, as it is rather unsafe for so + heavy a load." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, Denbigh," said John, coolly, "you are not used to such mettled + nags as mine--it would be indiscreet for you to drive them: if, however, + you will be good enough to take Emily into your gig--Grace Chatterton, I + am sure, is not afraid to trust my driving, and we might all get back as + well as ever." + </p> + <p> + Grace gave her hand almost unconsciously to John, and he handed her into + the phaeton, as Denbigh stood willing to execute his part of the + arrangement, but too diffident to speak. It was not a moment for + affectation, if Emily had been capable of it, and blushing with the + novelty of her situation, she took her place in the gig. Denbigh stopped + and turned his eyes on the little group with which he had been talking, + and at that moment they caught the attention of John also. The latter + inquired after their situation. The tale was a piteous one, the distress + evidently real. The husband had been gardener to a gentleman in a + neighboring county, and he had been lately discharged, to make way, in the + difficulty of the times, for a relation of the steward, who was in want of + the place. Suddenly thrown on the world, with a wife and four children, + with but the wages of a week for his and their support, they had travelled + thus far on the way to a neighboring parish, where he said he had a right + to, and must seek, public assistance. The children were crying for hunger, + and the mother, who was a nurse, had been unable to walk further than + where she sat, but had sunk on the ground overcome with fatigue, and weak + from the want of nourishment. Neither Emily nor Grace could refrain from + tears at the recital of these heavy woes; the want of sustenance was + something so shocking in itself, and brought, as it were, immediately + before their eyes, the appeal was irresistible. John forgot his + bays--forgot even Grace, as he listened to the affecting story related by + the woman, who was much revived by some nutriment Denbigh had obtained + from a cottage near them, and to which they were about to proceed by his + directions, as Moseley interrupted them. His hand shook, his eyes + glistened as he took his purse from his pocket, and gave several guineas + from it to the mendicant. Grace thought John had never appeared so + handsome as the moment he handed the money to the gardener; his face + glowed with unusual excitement, and his symmetry had lost the only charm + he wanted in common, softness. Denbigh, after waiting patiently until + Moseley had bestowed his alms, gravely repeated his directions for their + proceeding to the cottage, when the carriages moved on. + </p> + <p> + Emily revolved, in her mind, during their short ride, the horrid distress + she had witnessed. It had taken a strong hold on her feelings. Like her + brother, she was warm-hearted and compassionate, if we may use the term, + to excess; and had she been prepared with the means, the gardener would + have reaped a double harvest of donations. It struck her, at the moment, + unpleasantly, that Denbigh had been so backward in his liberality. The man + had rather sullenly displayed half a crown as his gift, in contrast with + the golden shower of John's generosity. It had been even somewhat + offensive in its exhibition, and urged her brother to a more hasty + departure than, under other circumstances, he would just at the moment + have felt disposed to make. Denbigh, however, had taken no notice of the + indignity, and continued his directions in the same mild and benevolent + manner he had used during the whole interview. Half a crown was but + little, thought Emily, for a family that was starving; and, unwilling to + judge harshly of one she had begun to value so highly, she came to the + painful conclusion, her companion was not as rich as he deserved to be. + Emily had not yet to learn that charity was in proportion to the means of + the donor, and a gentle wish insensibly stole over her that Denbigh might + in some way become more richly endowed with the good things of this world. + Until this moment her thoughts had never turned to his temporal condition. + She knew he was an officer in the army, but of what rank, or even of what + regiment, she was ignorant. He had frequently touched in his conversations + on the customs of the different countries he had seen. He had served in + Italy, in the north of Europe, in the West Indies, in Spain. Of the + manners of the people, of their characters, he not unfrequently spoke, and + with a degree of intelligence, a liberality, a justness of discrimination, + that had charmed his auditors; but on the point of personal service he had + maintained a silence that was inflexible, and not a little + surprising--more particularly of that part of his history which related to + the latter country; from all which she was rather inclined to think his + military rank was not as high as she thought he merited, and that possibly + he felt an awkwardness of putting it in contrast with the more elevated + station of Colonel Egerton. The same idea had struck the whole family, and + prevented any inquiries which might be painful. He was so connected with + the mournful event of his father's death, that no questions could be put + with propriety to the doctor's family; and if Francis had been more + communicative to Clara, she was too good a wife to mention it, and her own + family was possessed of too just a sense of propriety to touch upon points + that might bring her conjugal fidelity in question. + </p> + <p> + Though Denbigh appeared a little abstracted during the ride, his questions + concerning Sir Edward and her friends were kind and affectionate. As they + approached the house he suffered his horse to walk, and, after some + hesitation, he took a letter from his pocket, and handing it to her, + said-- + </p> + <p> + "I hope Miss Moseley will not think me impertinent in becoming the bearer + of a letter from her cousin, Lord Chatterton. He requested it so + earnestly, that I could not refuse taking what I am sensible is a great + liberty; for it would be deception did I affect to be ignorant of his + admiration, or of his generous treatment of a passion she cannot return. + Chatterton," and he smiled mournfully, "is yet too true to cease his + commendations." + </p> + <p> + Emily blushed painfully, but she took the letter in silence; and as + Denbigh pursued the topic no further, the little distance they had to go + was ridden in silence. On entering the gates, however, he said, + inquiringly, and with much interest-- + </p> + <p> + "I sincerely hope I have not given offence to your delicacy, Miss Moseley. + Lord Chatterton has made me an unwilling confidant. I need not say the + secret is sacred, on more accounts than one." + </p> + <p> + "Surely not, Mr. Denbigh," replied Emily, in a low tone; and the gig + stopping, she hastened to accept the assistance of her brother to alight. + </p> + <p> + "Well, sister," cried John, laughing, "Denbigh is a disciple to Frank's + system of horse-flesh. Hairs smooth enough here, I see. Grace and I + thought you would never get home." Now, John fibbed a little, for neither + Grace nor he had thought in the least about them, or anything else but + each other, from the moment they separated until the gig arrived. + </p> + <p> + Emily made no reply to this speech, and as the gentlemen were engaged in + giving directions concerning their horses, she seized an opportunity to + read Chatterton's letter. + </p> + <p> + "I avail myself of the return of my friend Mr. Denbigh to that happy + family from which reason requires my self-banishment to assure my amiable + cousin, of my continued respect for her character, and to convince her of + my gratitude for the tenderness she has manifested to feelings she cannot + return. I may even venture to tell her what few women would be pleased to + hear, but what I know Emily Moseley too well to doubt, for a moment, will + give her unalloyed pleasure--that owing to the kind, the benevolent, the + brotherly attentions of my true friend, Mr. Denbigh, I have already gained + a peace of mind and resignation I once thought was lost to me for ever. + Ah! Emily, my beloved cousin, in Denbigh you will find, I doubt not, a + mind, principles, congenial to your own. It is impossible that he could + see you without wishing to possess such a treasure; and, if I have a wish + that is now uppermost in my heart, it is, that you may learn to esteem + each other as you ought, when, I doubt not, you will become as happy as + you both deserve to be. What greater earthly blessing can I implore upon + you! + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton." + </p> + <p> + Emily, while reading this epistle, felt a confusion but little inferior to + that which would have oppressed her had Denbigh himself been at her feet, + soliciting that love Chatterton thought him so worthy of possessing; and + when they met, she could hardly look in the face a man who, it would seem, + had been so openly selected by another, as the fittest to be her partner + for life. The unaltered manner of Denbigh himself, however, soon convinced + her that he was entirely ignorant of the contents of the note, and it + greatly relieved her from the awkwardness his presence at first + occasioned. + </p> + <p> + Francis soon returned, accompanied by his wife and aunt, and was overjoyed + to find the guest who had so unexpectedly arrived. His parents had not yet + returned from their visit, and Denbigh, of course, would remain at his + present quarters. John promised to continue with them for a couple of + days: and everything was soon settled to the perfect satisfaction of the + whole party. Mrs. Wilson knew the great danger of suffering young people + to be inmates of the same house too well, wantonly to incur the penalties, + but her visit had nearly expired, and it might give her a better + opportunity of judging Denbigh's character; and Grace Chatterton, though + too delicate to follow herself, was well contented to be followed, + especially when John Moseley was the pursuer. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XVI. + </h2> + <p> + "I am sorry, aunt, Mr. Denbigh is not rich," said Emily to Mrs. Wilson, + after they had retired in the evening, almost unconscious of what she + uttered. The latter looked at her niece in surprise, at a remark so + abrupt, and one so very different from the ordinary train of Emily's + reflections, as she required an explanation. Emily, slightly coloring at + the channel her thoughts had insensibly strayed into, gave her aunt an + account of their adventure in the course of the morning's drive, and + touched lightly on the difference in the amount of the alms of her brother + and those of Mr. Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + "The bestowal of money is not always an act of charity," observed Mrs. + Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped: though neither ceased to + dwell on it in her thoughts, until sleep closed the eyes of both. + </p> + <p> + The following day Mrs. Wilson invited Grace and Emily to accompany her in + a walk; the gentlemen having preceded them in pursuit of their different + avocations. Francis had his regular visits of spiritual consolation; John + had gone to the hall for his pointers and fowling-piece, the season for + woodcock having arrived; and Denbigh had proceeded no one knew whither. On + gaining the high-road, Mrs. Wilson desired her companions to lead the way + to the cottage where the family of the mendicant gardener had been lodged, + and thither they soon arrived. On knocking at the door, they were + immediately admitted to an outer room; in which they found the wife of the + laborer who inhabited the building, engaged in her customary morning + employments. They explained the motives of the visit, and were told that + the family they sought were in an adjoining room, but she rather thought + at that moment engaged with a clergyman who had called a quarter of an + hour before. "I expect, my lady, it's the new rector, who everybody says + is so good to the poor and needy; but I have not found time yet to go to + church to hear his reverence preach, ma'am," courtseying and handing the + fresh dusted chairs to her unexpected visitors. The ladies seated + themselves, too delicate to interrupt Francis in his sacred duties, and + were silently waiting his appearance, when a voice was distinctly heard + through the thin partition, the first note of which undeceived them as to + the character of the gardener's visitor. + </p> + <p> + "It appears then, Davis, by your own confession," said Denbigh, mildly, + but in a tone of reproof, "that your frequent acts of intemperance have at + least given ground for the steward's procuring your discharge if it has + not justified him in doing that which his duty to your common employer + required." + </p> + <p> + "It is hard, sir," replied the man sullenly, "to be thrown on the world + with a family like mine, to make way for a younger man with but one + child." + </p> + <p> + "It may be unfortunate for your wife and children," said Denbigh, "but + just, as respects yourself. I have already convinced you, that my + interference or reproof is not an empty one: carry the letter to the + person to whom it is directed, and I pledge you, you shall have a new + trial; and should you conduct yourself soberly, and with propriety, + continued and ample support; the second letter will gain you children + immediate admission to the school I mentioned; and I now leave you, with + an earnest injunction to remember that habits of intemperance not only + disqualify you to support those who have such great claims on your + protection, but inevitably lead to a loss of those powers which are + necessary to insure your own eternal welfare." + </p> + <p> + "May Heaven bless your honor," cried the woman, with fervor, and evidently + in tears, "both for what you have said, and what you have done. Thomas + only wants to be taken from temptation, to become a sober man again--an + honest one he has ever been, I am sure." + </p> + <p> + "I have selected a place for him," replied Denbigh "where there is no + exposure through improper companions, and everything now depends upon + himself, under Providence." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had risen from her chair on the first intimation given by + Denbigh of his intention to go, but had paused at the door to listen to + this last speech; when beckoning her companions, she hastily withdrew, + having first made a small present to the woman of the cottage, and + requested her not to mention their having called. + </p> + <p> + "What becomes now of the comparative charity of your brother and Mr. + Denbigh, Emily?" asked Mrs. Wilson, as they gained the road on their + return homewards. Emily was not accustomed to hear any act of John + slightly spoken of without at least manifesting some emotion, which + betrayed her sisterly regard; but on the present occasion she chose to be + silent; while Grace, after waiting in expectation that her cousin would + speak, ventured to say timidly-- + </p> + <p> + "I am sure, dear madam, Mr. Moseley was very liberal and the tears were in + his eyes while he gave the money. I was looking directly at them the whole + time." + </p> + <p> + "John is compassionate by nature," continued Mrs. Wilson with an almost + imperceptible smile. "I have no doubt his sympathies were warmly enlisted + in behalf of this family and possessing much, he gave liberally. I have no + doubt he would have undergone personal privation to have relieved their + distress, and endured both pain and labor, with such an excitement before + him. But what is all that to the charity of Mr. Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + Grace was unused to contend, and, least of all, with Mrs. Wilson; but, + unwilling to abandon John to such censure, with increased animation, she + said-- + </p> + <p> + "If bestowing freely, and feeling for the distress you relieve, be not + commendable, madam, I am sure I am ignorant what is." + </p> + <p> + "That compassion for the woes of others is beautiful in itself, and the + want of it an invariable evidence of corruption from too much, and an + ill-governed intercourse with the world, I am willing to acknowledge, my + dear Grace," said Mrs. Wilson, kindly; "but the relief of misery, where + the heart has not undergone this hardening ordeal, is only a relief to our + own feelings: this is compassion; but Christian charity is a higher order + of duty: it enters into every sensation of the heart; disposes us to + judge, as well as to act, favorably to our fellow creatures; is deeply + seated in the sense of our own unworthiness; keeps a single eye, in its + dispensations of temporal benefits, to the everlasting happiness of the + objects of its bounty; is consistent, well regulated; in short,"--and Mrs. + Wilson's pale cheek glowed with an unusual richness of color--"it is an + humble attempt to copy after the heavenly example of our Redeemer, in + sacrificing ourselves to the welfare of others, and does and must proceed + from a love of his person, and an obedience to his mandates." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Denbigh, aunt," exclaimed Emily, the blood mantling to her cheeks + with a sympathetic glow, while she lost all consideration for John in the + strength of her feelings, "his charity you think to be of this + description?" + </p> + <p> + "So far, my child, as we can understand motives from the nature of the + conduct, such appears to have been the charity of Mr. Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + Grace was silenced, if not convinced; and the ladies continued their walk, + lost in their own reflections, until they reached a bend in the road which + hid the cottage from view. Emily involuntarily turned her head as they + arrived at the spot, and saw that Denbigh had approached within a few + paces of them. On joining them, he commenced his complimentary address in + such a way as convinced them the cottager had been true to the injunction + given by Mrs. Wilson. No mention was made of the gardener, and Denbigh + began a lively description of some foreign scenery, of which their present + situation reminded him. The discourse was maintained with great interest + by himself and Mrs. Wilson for the remainder of their walk. + </p> + <p> + It was yet early when they reached the parsonage, where they found John, + who had driven to the hall to breakfast, and who, instead of pursuing his + favorite amusement of shooting, laid down his gun as they entered, + observing, "It is rather soon yet for the woodcocks, and I believe I will + listen to your entertaining conversation, ladies, for the remainder of the + morning." He threw himself upon a sofa at no great distance from Grace, + and in such a position as enabled him, without rudeness, to study the + features of her lovely face, while Denbigh read aloud to the ladies + Campbell's beautiful description of wedded love, in Gertrude of Wyoming. + </p> + <p> + There was a chastened correctness in the ordinary manner of Denbigh which + wore the appearance of the influence of his reason, and a subjection of + the passions, that, if anything, gave him less interest with Emily than + had it been marked by an evidence of stronger feeling. But on the present + occasion, this objection was removed: his reading was impressive; he dwelt + on those passages which most pleased him with a warmth of eulogium fully + equal to her own undisguised sensations. In the hour occupied in the + reading this exquisite little poem, and in commenting on its merits and + sentiments, Denbigh gained more on her imagination than in all their + former intercourse. His ideas were as pure, as chastened, and almost as + vivid as those of the poet; and Emily listened to his periods with intense + attention, as they flowed from him in language as glowing as his ideas. + The poem had been first read to her by her brother, and she was surprised + to discover how she had overlooked its beauties on that occasion. Even + John acknowledged that it certainly appeared a different thing now from + what he had then thought it; but Emily had taxed his declamatory power in + the height of the pheasant season, and, somehow or other, John now + imagined that Gertrude was just such a delicate, feminine, warm-hearted + domestic girl as Grace Chatterton. As Denbigh closed the book, and entered + into a general conversation with Clara and her sister, John followed Grace + to a window, and speaking in a tone of unusual softness for him, he said-- + </p> + <p> + "Do you know, Miss Chatterton, I have accepted your brother's invitation + to go into Suffolk this summer, and that you are to be plagued with me and + my pointers again?" + </p> + <p> + "Plagued, Mr. Moseley!" said Grace, in a voice even softer than his own. + "I am sure--I am sure, we none of us think you or your dogs in the least a + plague." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Grace," and John was about to become what he had never been + before--sentimental--- when he saw the carriage of Chatterton, containing + the dowager and Catherine entering the parsonage gates. + </p> + <p> + Pshaw! <i>thought</i> John, there comes Mother Chatterton "Ah! Grace," + said John, "there are your mother and sister returned already." + </p> + <p> + "Already!" said the young lady, and, for the first time in her life, she + felt rather unlike a dutiful child. Five minutes could have made no great + difference to her mother, and she would greatly have liked to hear what + John Moseley meant to have said; for the alteration in his manner + convinced her that his first "ah! Grace" was to have been continued in a + somewhat different language from that in which the second "ah! Grace" was + ended. + </p> + <p> + Young Moseley and her daughter, standing together at the open window, + caught the attention of Lady Chatterton the moment she got a view of the + house, and she entered with a good humor she had not felt since the + disappointment in her late expedition in behalf of Catherine; for the + gentleman she had had in view in this excursion had been taken up by + another rover, acting on her own account, and backed by a little more wit + and a good deal more money than what Kate could be fairly thought to + possess. Nothing further in that quarter offering in the way of her + occupation, she turned her horses' heads towards London, that great + theatre on which there never was a loss for actors. The salutations had + hardly passed before, turning to John, she exclaimed, with what she + intended for a most motherly smile, "What! not shooting this fine day, Mr. + Moseley? I thought you never missed a day in the season." + </p> + <p> + "It is rather early yet, my lady," said John, coolly, a little alarmed by + the expression of her countenance. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" continued the dowager, in the same strain, "I see how it is; the + ladies have too many attractions for so gallant a young man as yourself." + Now, as Grace, her own daughter, was the only lady of the party who could + reasonably be supposed to have much influence over John's movements--a + young gentleman seldom caring as much for his own as for other people's + sisters, this may be fairly set down as a pretty broad hint of the opinion + the dowager entertained of the real state of things; and John saw it, and + Grace saw it. The former coolly replied, "Why, upon the whole, if you will + excuse the neglect, I will try a shot this fine day." In five minutes, + Carlo and Rover were both delighted. Grace kept her place at the window, + from a feeling she could not define, and of which perhaps she was + unconscious, until the gate closed, and the shrubbery hid the sportsman + from her sight, and then she withdrew to her room to weep. + </p> + <p> + Had Grace Chatterton been a particle less delicate--less retiring--blessed + with a managing mother, as she was, John Moseley would not have thought + another moment about her. But, on every occasion when the dowager made any + of her open attacks, Grace discovered so much distress, so much + unwillingness to second them, that a suspicion of a confederacy never + entered his brain. It is not to be supposed that Lady Chattelton's + manoeuvres were limited to the direct and palpable schemes we have + mentioned; no--these were the effervescence, the exuberance of her zeal; + but as is generally the case, they sufficiently proved the ground-work of + all her other machinations; none of the little artifices of such as + placing--of leaving alone--of showing similarity of tastes:--of + compliments to the gentlemen, were neglected.--This latter business she + had contrived to get Catherine to take off her hands; but Grace could + never pay a compliment in her life, unless changing of color, trembling, + undulations of the bosom, and such natural movements can be so called; but + she loved dearly to receive them from John Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Well, my child," said the mother, as she seated herself by the side of + her daughter, who hastily endeavored to conceal her tears, "when are we to + have another wedding? I trust everything is settled between you and Mr. + Moseley, by this time." + </p> + <p> + "Mother! Mother!" said Grace, nearly gasping for breath, "Mother, you will + break my heart, indeed you will." She hid her face in the clothes of the + bed by which she sat, and wept with a feeling of despair. + </p> + <p> + "Tut, my dear," replied the dowager, not noticing her anguish, or + mistaking it for a girlish shame, "you young people are fools in these + matters, but Sir Edward and myself will arrange everything as it should + be." + </p> + <p> + The daughter now not only looked up, but sprang from her seat, her hands + clasped together, her eyes fixed in horror, her cheek pale as death; but + the mother had retired, and Grace sank back into her chair with a + sensation of disgrace, of despair, which could not have been surpassed, + had she really merited the obloquy and shame which she thought were about + to be heaped upon her. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XVII. + </h2> + <p> + The succeeding morning, the whole party, with, the exception of Denbigh, + returned to the hall. Nothing had occurred out of the ordinary course of + the colonel's assiduities; and Jane, whose sense of propriety forbad the + indulgence of premeditated tête-à-têtes, and such + little accompaniments of every-day attachments, was rejoiced to see a + sister she loved, and an aunt she respected, once more in the bosom of her + family. + </p> + <p> + The dowager impatiently waited an opportunity to effect, what she intended + for a master-stroke of policy in the disposal of Grace. Like all other + managers, she thought no one equal to herself in devising ways and means, + and was unwilling to leave anything to nature. Grace had invariably + thwarted all her schemes by her obstinacy; and as she thought young + Moseley really attached to her, she determined by a bold stroke to remove + the impediments of false shame, and the dread of repulse, which she + believed alone kept the youth from an avowal of his wishes, and get rid at + once of a plague that had annoyed her not a little--her daughter's + delicacy. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward spent an hour every morning in his library, overlooking his + accounts, and in other necessary employments of a similar nature, and it + was here she determined to have the conference. + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Chatterton, you do me honor," said the baronet, handing her a + chair on her entrance. + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word, cousin," cried the dowager, "you have a very convenient + apartment here," looking around her in affected admiration of all she saw. + </p> + <p> + The baronet replied, and a short discourse on the arrangements of the + whole house insensibly led to some remarks on the taste of his mother, the + Honorable Lady Moseley (a Chatterton), until, having warmed the feelings + of the old gentleman by some well-timed compliments of that nature, she + ventured on the principal object of her visit. + </p> + <p> + "I am happy to find, Sir Edward, you are so well pleased with the family + as to wish to make another selection from it. I sincerely hope it may + prove as judicious as the former one." + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward was a little at a loss to understand her meaning, although he + thought it might allude to his son, who he had some time suspected had + views on Grace Chatterton; and willing to know the truth, and rather + pleased to find John had selected a young woman he loved in his heart, he + observed-- + </p> + <p> + "I am not sure I rightly understand your ladyship, though I hope I do." + </p> + <p> + "No!" cried the dowager, in well-counterfeited affectation of surprise. + "Perhaps, after all, maternal anxiety has deceived me, then. Mr. Moseley + could hardly have ventured to proceed without your approbation." + </p> + <p> + "I have ever declined influencing any of my children, Lady Chatterton," + said the baronet, "and John is not ignorant of my sentiments. I sincerely + hope, however, you allude to an attachment to Grace?" + </p> + <p> + "I did certainly, Sir Edward," said the lady, hesitatingly. "I may be + deceived; but you must understand the feelings of a mother, and a young + woman ought not to be trifled with." + </p> + <p> + "My son is incapable of trifling, I hope," cried Sir Edward; with + animation, "and, least of all, with Grace Chatterton. No; you are quite + right. If he has made his choice, he should not be ashamed to avow it." + </p> + <p> + "I would not wish, on any account, to hurry matters," said the dowager; + "but the report which is abroad will prevent other young men from putting + in their claims, Sir Edward" (sighing). "I have a mother's feelings: if I + have been hasty, your goodness will overlook it." And Lady Chatterton + placed her handkerchief to her eyes, to conceal the tears that did not + flow. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward thought all this very natural, and as it should be, and he + sought an early conference with his son. + </p> + <p> + "John," said the father, taking his hand kindly, "you have no reason to + doubt my affection or my compliance to your wishes. Fortune is a thing out + of the question with a young man of your expectations." And Sir Edward, in + his eagerness to smoothe the way, went on: "You can live here, or occupy + my small seat in Wiltshire. I can allow you five thousand a year, with + much ease to myself. Indeed, your mother and myself would both straighten + ourselves, to add to your comforts; but it is unnecessary--we have enough, + and you have enough." + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward, in a few moments, would have settled everything to the + dowager's perfect satisfaction, had not John interrupted him by the + exclamation of-- + </p> + <p> + "To what do you allude, father?" + </p> + <p> + "Allude?" said Sir Edward, simply. "Why, Grace Chatterton, my son." + </p> + <p> + "Grace Chatterton! Sir Edward. What have I to do with Grace Chatterton?" + </p> + <p> + "Her mother has made me acquainted with your proposals, and"-- + </p> + <p> + "Proposals!" + </p> + <p> + "Attentions, I ought to have said; and you have no reason to apprehend + anything from me, my child." + </p> + <p> + "Attentions!" said John, haughtily. "I hope Lady Chatterton does not + accuse me of improper attentions to her daughter?" + </p> + <p> + "No, not improper, my son," said his father: "on the contrary, she is much + pleased with them." + </p> + <p> + "She is, is she? But I am displeased that she should undertake to put + constructions on my acts that no attention or words of mine will justify." + </p> + <p> + It was now Sir Edward's turn to be surprised. He had thought he was doing + his son a kindness, when he had only been forwarding the dowager's + schemes; but averse from contention, and wondering at his cousin's + mistake, which he at once attributed to her anxiety in behalf of a + favorite daughter, he told John he was sorry there had been any + misapprehension, and left him. + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said Moseley, internally, as he paced up and down his father's + library, "my lady dowager, you are not going to force a wife down my + throat. If you do, I am mistaken; and Grace, if Grace"--John softened and + began to feel unhappy a little, but anger prevailed. + </p> + <p> + From the moment Grace Chatterton conceived a dread of her mother's saying + anything to Sir Edward, her whole conduct was altered. She could hardly + look any of the family in the face, and it was her most ardent wish that + they might depart. John she avoided as she would an adder, although it + nearly broke her heart to do so. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield had stayed longer than usual, and he now wished to return. + John Moseley eagerly profited by this opportunity, and the very day after + the conversation in the library he went to Benfield Lodge as a dutiful + nephew, to see his venerable uncle safely restored once more to the abode + of his ancestors. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton now perceived, when too late, that she had overshot her + mark, while, at the same time, she wondered at the reason of a result so + strange from such well-digested and well-conducted plans. She determined, + however, never again to interfere between her daughter and the baronet's + heir; concluding, with a nearer approach to the truth than always + accompanied her deductions, that they resembled ordinary lovers in neither + their temperaments nor opinions. + </p> + <p> + Perceiving no further use in remaining any longer at the hall, she took + her leave, and, accompanied by both her daughters, proceeded to the + capital, where she expected to meet her son. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Ives and his wife returned to the rectory on the same day, and Denbigh + immediately resumed his abode under their roof. The intercourse between + the rector's family and Sir Edward's was renewed with all its former + friendly confidence. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton began to speak of his departure also, but hinted at + intentions of visiting L---- at the period of the baronet's visit to his + uncle, before he proceeded to town in the winter. + </p> + <p> + L---- was a small village on the coast, within a mile of Benfield Lodge; + and from its natural convenience, it had long been resorted to by the + neighboring gentry for the benefit of sea bathing. The baronet had + promised Mr. Benfield his visit should be made at an earlier day than + usual, in order to gratify Jane with a visit to Bath, before they went to + London, at which town they were promised by Mrs. Jarvis the pleasure of + her society, and that of her son and daughters. + </p> + <p> + Precaution is a word of simple meaning in itself, but various are the ways + adopted by different individuals in this life to enforce its import; and + not a few are the evils which it is thought necessary to guard against. To + provide in season against the dangers of want; personal injury, loss of + character, and a great many other such acknowledged misfortunes, has + become a kind of instinctive process of our natures. The few exceptions + which exist only go to prove the rule: in addition to these, almost every + man has some ruling propensity to gratify, to advance which his ingenuity + is ever on the alert, or some apprehended evil to avert, which calls all + his prudence into activity. Yet how seldom is it exerted, in order to give + a rational ground to expect permanent happiness in wedlock. + </p> + <p> + Marriage is called a lottery, and it is thought, like all other lotteries, + there are more blanks than prizes; yet is it not made more precarious than + it ought to be, by our neglect of that degree of precaution which we would + be ridiculed for omitting in conducting our every-day concerns? Is not the + standard of matrimonial felicity placed too low? Ought we not to look more + to the possession of principles than to the possession of wealth? Or is it + at all justifiable in a Christian to commit a child, a daughter, to the + keeping of a man who wants the very essential they acknowledge most + necessary to constitute a perfect character? Most men revolt at infidelity + in a woman, and most men, however licentious themselves, look for, at + least, the exterior of religion in their wives. The education of their + children is a serious responsibility; and although seldom conducted on + such rules as will stand the test of reason, it is not to be entirely + shaken off: they choose their early impressions should be correct, their + infant conduct at least blameless. And are not one half mankind of the + male sex? Are precepts in religion, in morals, only for females? Are we to + reverse the theory of the Mahommedans, and though we do not believe it, + act as if <i>men</i> had no souls. Is not the example of the father as + important to the son as that of the mother to the daughter? In short, is + there any security against the commission of enormities, but an humble and + devout dependence on the assistance of that Almighty Power, which alone is + able to hold us up against temptation? + </p> + <p> + Uniformity of taste is no doubt necessary to what we call love, but is not + taste acquired? Would our daughters admire a handsome deist, if properly + impressed with a horror of his doctrines, sooner than they now would + admire a handsome Mahommedan? We would refuse our children to a pious + dissenter, to give them to impious members of the establishment: we make + the substance less than the shadow. + </p> + <p> + Our principal characters are possessed of these diversified views of the + evils to be averted. Mrs. Wilson considers Christianity an indispensable + requisite in the husband to be <i>permitted</i> to her charge, and watches + against the <i>possibility</i> of any other than a Christian's gaining the + affections of Emily. Lady Chatterton considers the want of an + establishment as the unpardonable sin, and directs her energies to prevent + this evil; while John Moseley looks upon a free will as the birthright of + an Englishman, and is, at the present moment, anxiously alive to prevent + the dowager's making him the husband of Grace, the thing of all others he + most strenuously desires. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + John Moseley returned from L---- within a week, and appeared as if his + whole delight consisted in knocking over the inoffensive birds. His + restlessness induced him to make Jarvis his companion; for although he + abhorred the captain's style of pursuing the sport, being in his opinion + both out of rule and without taste, yet he was a constitutional fidget, + and suited his own moving propensities at the moment. Egerton and Denbigh + were both frequently at the hall, but generally gave their time to the + ladies, neither being much inclined to the favorite amusement of John. + </p> + <p> + There was a little arbor within the walls of the park, which for years had + been a retreat from the summer heats to the ladies of the Moseley family; + even so long as the youth of Mrs. Wilson it had been in vogue, and she + loved it with a kind of melancholy pleasure, as the spot where she had + first listened to the language of love from the lips of her late husband. + Into this arbor the ladies had one day retired, during the warmth of a + noon-day sun, with the exception of Lady Moseley, who had her own + engagement in the house. Between Egerton and Denbigh there was maintained + a kind of courtly intercourse, which prevented any disagreeable collision + from their evident dislike. Mrs. Wilson thought, on the part of Denbigh, + it was the forbearance of a principled indulgence to another's weakness; + while the colonel's otherwise uniform good breeding was hardly able to + conceal a something amounting to very near repugnance. Egerton had taken + his seat on the ground, near the feet of Jane; and Denbigh was stationed + on a bench placed without the arbor but so near as to have the full + benefit of the shade of the noble oak, branches of which had been trained + so as to compose its principal covering. It might have been accident, that + gave each his particular situation; but it is certain they were so placed + as not to be in sight of each other, and so placed that the colonel was + ready to hand Jane her scissors, or any other little implement that she + occasionally dropped, and that Denbigh could read every lineament of the + animated countenance of Emily as she listened to his description of the + curiosities of Egypt, a country in which he had spent a few months while + attached to the army in Sicily. In this situation we will leave them for + an hour, happy in the society of each other, while we trace the route of + John Moseley and his companion, in their pursuit of woodcock, on the same + day. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know, Moseley," said Jarvis, who began to think he was a favorite + with John, now that he was admitted to his <i>menus plaisirs</i>, "that I + have taken it into my head this Mr. Denbigh was very happy to plead his + morals for not meeting me. He is a soldier, but I cannot find out what + battles he has been in." + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis," said John, coolly, "the less you say about that business + the better. Call in Rover." + </p> + <p> + Now, another of Jarvis's recommendations was a set of lungs that might + have been heard half a mile with great ease on a still morning. + </p> + <p> + "Why," said Jarvis, rather humbly, "I am sensible, Mr Moseley, I was very + wrong as regards your sister; but don't you think it a little odd in a + soldier not to fight when properly called upon?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose Mr. Denbigh did not think himself properly called upon, or + perhaps he had heard what a great shot you were." + </p> + <p> + Six months before his appearance in B----, Captain Jarvis had been a clerk + in the counting-room of Jarvis, Baxter & Co., and had never held + fire-arms of any kind in his hand, with the exception of an old + blunderbuss, which had been a kind of sentinel over the iron chest for + years. On mounting the cockade, he had taken up shooting as a martial + exercise, inasmuch as the burning of gunpowder was an attendant of the + recreation. He had never killed but one bird in his life, and that was an + owl, of which he took the advantage of daylight and his stocking feet to + knock off a tree in the deanery grounds, very early after his arrival. In + his trials with John, he sometimes pulled trigger at the same moment with + his companion; and as the bird generally fell, he thought he had an equal + claim to the honor. He was fond of warring with crows and birds of the + larger sort, and invariably went provided with small balls fitted to the + bore of his fowling-piece for such accidental rencontres. He had another + habit, which was not a little annoying to John, who had several times + tried in vain to break him of it--that of shooting at marks. If birds were + not plenty, he would throw up a chip, and sometimes his hat, by way of + shooting on the wing. + </p> + <p> + As the day was excessively hot, and the game kept close, John felt willing + to return from such unprofitable labor. The captain now commenced his chip + firing, which in a few minutes was succeeded by his hat. + </p> + <p> + "See, Moseley, see; I have hit the band," cried the captain, delighted to + find he had at last wounded his old antagonist. "I don't think you can + beat that yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I am not sure I can," said John, slipping a handful of gravel in the + muzzle of his piece slily, "but I can do, as you did--try." + </p> + <p> + "Do," cried the captain, pleased to get his companion down to his own + level of amusements. "Are you ready?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; throw." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis threw, and John fired: the hat fairly bounced. + </p> + <p> + "Have I hit it?" asked John, while reloading the barrel he had discharged. + </p> + <p> + "Hit it!" said the captain, looking ruefully at his hat. "It looks like a + cullender; but, Moseley, your gun don't scatter well: a dozen shot have + gone through in the same place." + </p> + <p> + "It does look rather like a cullender," said John, as he overlooked his + companion's beaver, "and, by the <i>size</i> of some of the holes, one + that has been a good deal used." + </p> + <p> + The reports of the fowling-pieces announced to the party in the arbor the + return of the sportsmen, it being an invariable practice with John Moseley + to discharge his gun before he came in; and Jarvis had imitated him, from + a wish to be what he called in rule. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh," said John, as he put down his gun, "Captain Jarvis has got + the better of his hat at last." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh smiled without speaking; and the captain, unwilling to have + anything to say to a gentleman to whom be had been obliged to apologize, + went into the arbor to show the mangled condition of his head-piece to the + colonel, on whose sympathies he felt a kind of claim, being of the same + corps. John complained of thirst, and went to a little run of water but a + short distance from them, in order to satisfy it. The interruption of + Jarvis was particularly unseasonable. Jane was relating, in a manner + peculiar to herself, in which was mingled that undefinable exchange of + looks lovers are so fond of, some incident of her early life to the + colonel that greatly interested him. Knowing the captain's foibles, he + pointed, therefore, with his finger, as he said-- + </p> + <p> + "There is one of your old enemies, a hawk." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis threw down his hat, and ran with boyish eagerness to drive away the + intruder. In his haste, he caught up the gun of John Moseley, and loading + it rapidly/threw in a ball from his usual stock; but whether the hawk saw + and knew him, or whether it saw something else it liked better, it made a + dart for the baronet's poultry-yard at no great distance, and was out of + sight in a minute. Seeing that his foe had vanished, the captain laid the + piece where he had found it, and, recovering his old train of ideas, + picked up his hat again. + </p> + <p> + "John," said Emily, as she approached him affectionately, "you were too + warm to drink." + </p> + <p> + "Stand off, sis," cried John, playfully, taking up the gun from against + the body of the tree, and dropping it towards her. + </p> + <p> + Jarvis had endeavored to make an appeal to the commiseration of Emily in + favor of the neglected beaver, and was within a few feet of them. At this + moment, recoiling from the muzzle of the gun, he exclaimed, "It is + loaded!" "Hold," cried Denbigh, in a voice of horror, as he sprang between + John and his sister. Both were too late; the piece was discharged. + Denbigh, turning to Emily, and smiling mournfully, gazed for a moment at + her with an expression of tenderness, of pleasure, of sorrow, so blended + that she retained the recollection of it for life, and fell at her feet. + </p> + <p> + The gun dropped from the nerveless grasp of young Moseley. Emily sank in + insensibility by the side of her preserver. Mrs. Wilson and Jane stood + speechless and aghast. The colonel alone retained the presence of mind + necessary to devise the steps to be immediately taken. He sprang to the + examination of Denbigh; the eyes of the wounded man were open, and his + recollection perfect: the first were fixed in intense observation on the + inanimate body which lay at his side. + </p> + <p> + "Leave me, Colonel Egerton," he said, speaking with difficulty, and + pointing in the direction of the little run of water, "assist Miss + Moseley--your hat--your hat will answer." + </p> + <p> + Accustomed to scenes of blood, and not ignorant that time and care were + the remedies to be applied to the wounded man, Egerton flew to the stream, + and returning immediately, by the help of her sister and Mrs. Wilson, soon + restored Emily to life. The ladies and John had now begun to act. The + tenderest assiduities of Jane were devoted to her sister; while Mrs. + Wilson observing her niece to be uninjured by anything but the shock, + assisted John in supporting the wounded man. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh spoke, requesting to be carried to the house; and Jarvis was + despatched for help. Within half an hour, Denbigh was placed on a couch in + the house of Sir Edward, and was quietly waiting for that professional aid + which could only decide on his probable fate. The group assembled in the + room were in fearful expectation of the arrival of the surgeons, in + pursuit of whom messengers had been sent both to the barracks in F---- and + to the town itself. Sir Edward sat by the side of the sufferer, holding + one of his hands in his own, now turning his tearful eyes on that daughter + who had so lately been rescued as it were from the certainty of death, in + mute gratitude and thanksgiving; and now dwelling on the countenance of + him, who, by bravely interposing his bosom to the blow, had incurred in + his own person the imminent danger of a similar fate, with a painful sense + of his perilous situation, and devout and earnest prayers for his safety. + Emily was with her father, as with the rest of his family, a decided + favorite; and no reward would have been sufficient, no gratitude lively + enough, in the estimation of the baronet, to compensate the protector of + such a child. She sat between her mother and Jane, with a hand held by + each, pale and oppressed with a load of gratitude, of thanksgiving, of + woe, that almost bowed her to the earth. Lady Moseley and Jane were both + sensibly touched with the deliverance of Emily, and manifested the + interest they took in her by the tenderest caresses, while Mrs. Wilson sat + calmly collected within herself, occasionally giving those few directions + which were necessary under the circumstances, and offering up her silent + petitions in behalf of the sufferer. John had taken horse immediately for + F----, and Jarvis had volunteered to go to the rectory and Bolton. Denbigh + inquired frequently and with much anxiety for Dr. Ives; but the rector was + absent from home on a visit to a sick parishioner, and it was late in the + evening before he arrived. Within three hours of the accident, however, + Dr. Black, the surgeon of the ----th, reached the hall, and immediately + proceeded to examine the wound. The ball had penetrated the right breast, + and gone directly through the body; it was extracted with very little + difficulty, and his attendant acquainted the anxious friends of Denbigh + that the heart certainly, and he hoped the lungs, had escaped uninjured. + The ball was a very small one, and the principal danger to be apprehended + was from fever: he had taken the usual precautions against that, and + should it not set in with a violence greater than he apprehended at + present, the patient might be abroad within the month. + </p> + <p> + "But," continued the surgeon, with the hardened indifference of his + profession, "the gentleman has had a narrow chance in the passage of the + ball itself; half an inch would have settled his accounts with this + world." + </p> + <p> + This information greatly relieved the family, and orders were given to + preserve a silence in the house that would favor the patient's disposition + to quiet, or, if possible, sleep. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Ives now reached the hall. Mrs. Wilson had never seen the rector in + the agitation, or with the want of self-command he was in, as she met him + at the entrance of the house. + </p> + <p> + "Is he alive?--is there hope?--where is George?"--cried the doctor, as he + caught the extended hand of Mrs. Wilson. She briefly acquainted him with + the surgeon's report, and the reasonable ground there was to expect + Denbigh would survive the injury. + </p> + <p> + "May God be praised," said the rector, in a suppressed voice, and he + hastily withdrew into another room. Mrs. Wilson followed him slowly and in + silence; but was checked on opening the door with the sight of the rector + on his knees, the tears stealing down his venerable cheeks in quick + succession. "Surely," thought the widow, as she drew back unnoticed, "a + youth capable of exciting such affection in a man like Dr. Ives, cannot be + unworthy." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh, hearing of the arrival of his friend, desired to see him alone. + Their conference was short, and the rector returned from it with increased + hopes of the termination of this dreadful accident. He immediately left + the hall for his own house, with a promise of returning early on the + following morning. + </p> + <p> + During the night, however, the symptoms became unfavorable; and before the + return of Dr. Ives, Denbigh was in a state of delirium from the height of + his fever, and the apprehensions of his friends were renewed with + additional force. + </p> + <p> + "What, what, my good sir, do you think of him?" said the baronet to the + family physician, with an emotion that the danger of his dearest child + would not have exceeded, and within hearing of most of his children, who + were collected in the ante-chamber of the room in which Denbigh was + placed. + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible to say, Sir Edward," replied the physician: "he refuses + all medicines, and unless this fever abates, there is but little hope of + recovery." + </p> + <p> + Emily stood during this question and answer, motionless, pale as death, + and with her hands clasped together, betraying by the workings of her + fingers in a kind of convulsive motion, the intensity of her interest. She + had seen the draught prepared which it was so desirable that Denbigh + should take, and it now stood rejected on a table, where it could be seen + through the open door of his room. Almost breathless, she glided in, and + taking the draught in her hand, she approached the bed, by which sat John + alone, listening with a feeling of despair to the wanderings of the sick + man. Emily hesitated once or twice, as she drew near Denbigh; her face had + lost the paleness of anxiety, and glowed with another emotion. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh--dear Denbigh." said Emily, with energy, unconsciously + dropping her voice into the softest notes of persuasion, "will you refuse + <i>me?--me</i>, Emily Moseley, whose life you have saved?" + </p> + <p> + "Emily Moseley!" repeated Denbigh, and in those tones so remarkable to his + natural voice. "Is she safe? I thought she was killed--dead." Then, as if + recollecting himself, he gazed intently on her countenance--his eye became + less fiery--his muscles relaxed--he smiled, and took, with the docility of + a well-trained child, the prescribed medicines from her hand. His ideas + still wandered, but his physician, profiting by the command Emily + possessed over his patient, increased his care, and by night the fever had + abated, and before morning the wounded man was in a profound sleep. During + the whole day, it was thought necessary to keep Emily by the side of his + bed; but at times it was no trifling tax on her feelings to remain there. + He spoke of her by name in the tenderest manner, although incoherently, + and in terms that restored to the blanched cheeks of the distressed girl + more than the richness of their native color. His thoughts were not + confined to Emily, however: he talked of his father, of his mother, and + frequently spoke of his poor deserted Marian. The latter name he dwelt on + in the language of the warmest affection, condemned his own desertion of + her, and, taking Emily for her, would beg her forgiveness, tell her her + sufferings had been enough, and that he would return, and never leave her + again. At such moments his nurse would sometimes show, by the paleness of + her cheeks, her anxiety for his health; and then, as he addressed her by + her proper appellation, all her emotions appeared absorbed in the sense of + shame at the praises with which he overwhelmed her. Mrs. Wilson succeeded + her in the charge of the patient, and she retired to seek that repose she + so greatly needed. + </p> + <p> + On the second morning after receiving the wound, Denbigh dropped into a + deep sleep, from which he awoke refreshed and perfectly collected in mind. + The fever had left him, and his attendants pronounced, with the usual + cautions to prevent a relapse, his recovery certain. It were impossible to + have communicated any intelligence more grateful to all the members of the + Moseley family; for Jane had even lost sight of her own lover, in sympathy + for the fate of a man who had sacrificed himself to save her beloved + sister. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XIX. + </h2> + <p> + The recovery of Denbigh was as rapid as the most sanguine expectation of + his friends could hope for, and in ten days he left his bed, and would sit + an hour or two at a time in his dressing-room, where Mrs. Wilson, + accompanied by Jane or Emily, came and read to him; and it was a remark of + Sir Edward's gamekeeper, that the woodcocks had become so tame during the + time Mr. Moseley was shut up in attendance on his friend, that Captain + Jarvis was at last actually seen to bag one honestly. + </p> + <p> + As Jarvis felt something like a consciousness that but for his folly the + accident would not have happened, and also something very like shame for + the manner he had shrunk from the danger Denbigh had so nobly met, he + pretended a recall to his regiment, then on duty near London, and left the + deanery. He went off as he came in--in the colonel's tilbury, and + accompanied by his friend and his pointers, John, who saw them pass from + the windows of Denbigh's dressing-room, fervently prayed he might never + come back again--the chip-shooting poacher! + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton had taken leave of Jane the evening preceding, with many + assurances of the anxiety with which he should look forward to the moment + of their meeting at L----, whither he intended repairing as soon as his + corps had gone through its annual review. Jane had followed the bent of + her natural feelings too much, during the period of Denbigh's uncertain + fate, to think much of her lover, or anything else but her rescued sister + and her preserver; but now the former was pronounced in safety, and the + latter, by the very reaction of her grief, was, if possible, happier than + ever, Jane dwelt in melancholy sadness on the perfections of the man who + had taken with him the best affections (as she thought) of her heart. With + him all was perfect: his morals were unexceptionable; his manners showed + it; his tenderness of disposition manifest, for they had wept together + over the distresses of more than one fictitious heroine; his temper, how + amiable! he was never angry--she had never seen it; his opinions, his + tastes, how correct! they were her own; his form, his face, how + agreeable!--her eyes had seen it, and her heart acknowledged it; besides, + his eyes confessed the power of her own charms; he was brave, for he was a + soldier;--in short, as Emily had predicted, he was a hero--for he was + Colonel Egerton. + </p> + <p> + Had Jane been possessed of less exuberance of fancy, she might have been a + little at a loss to identify all these good properties with her hero: or + had she possessed a matured or well-regulated judgment to control that + fancy, they might possibly have assumed a different appearance. No + explanation had taken place between them, however. Jane knew, both by her + own feelings and by all the legends of love from its earliest days, that + the moment of parting was generally a crisis in affairs of the heart, and, + with a backwardness occasioned by her modesty, had rather avoided than + sought an opportunity to favor the colonel's wishes. Egerton had not been + over anxious to come to the point, and everything was left as heretofore: + neither, however, appeared to doubt in the least the state of the other's + affections; and there might be said to exist between them one of those not + unusual engagements by implication which it would have been, in their own + estimation, a breach of faith to recede from, but which, like all other + bargains that are loosely made, are sometimes violated when convenient. + Man is a creature that, as experience has sufficiently proved, it is + necessary to keep in his proper place in society by wholesome + restrictions; and we have often thought it a matter of regret that some + well understood regulations did not exist by which it became not only + customary, but incumbent on him, to proceed in his road to the temple of + Hymen. We know that it is ungenerous, ignoble, almost unprecedented, to + doubt the faith, the constancy, of a male paragon; yet, somehow, as the + papers occasionally give us a sample of such infidelity; as we have + sometimes seen a solitary female brooding over her woes in silence, and, + with the seemliness of feminine decorum shrinking from the discovery of + its cause, or which the grave has revealed for the first time, we cannot + but wish that either the watchfulness of the parent, or a sense of + self-preservation in the daughter, would, for the want of a better, cause + them to adhere to those old conventional forms of courtship which require + a man to speak to be understood, and a woman to answer to be committed. + </p> + <p> + There was a little parlor in the house of Sir Edward Moseley, that was the + privileged retreat of none but the members of his own family. Here the + ladies were accustomed to withdraw into the bosom of their domestic + quietude, when occasional visitors had disturbed their ordinary + intercourse; and many were the hasty and unreserved communications it had + witnessed between the sisters, in their stolen flights from the graver + scenes of the principal apartments. It might be said to be sacred to the + pious feelings of the domestic affections. Sir Edward would retire to it + when fatigued with his occupations, certain of finding some one of those + he loved to draw his thoughts off from the cares of life to the little + incidents of his children's happiness; and Lady Moseley, even in the + proudest hours of her reviving splendor, seldom passed the door without + looking in, with a smile, on the faces she might find there. It was, in + fact, the room in the large mansion of the baronet, expressly devoted, by + long usage and common consent, to the purest feelings of human nature. + Into this apartment Denbigh had gained admission, as the one nearest to + his own room and requiring the least effort of his returning strength to + reach; and, perhaps, by an undefinable feeling of the Moseleys which had + begun to connect him with themselves, partly from his winning manners, and + partly by the sense of the obligation he had laid them under. + </p> + <p> + One warm day, John and his friend had sought this retreat, in expectation + of meeting his sisters, who they found, however, on inquiry, had walked to + the arbor. After remaining conversing for an hour by themselves, John was + called away to attend to a pointer that had been taken ill, and Denbigh + throwing a handkerchief over his head to guard against the danger of cold, + quietly composed himself on one of the comfortable sofas of the room, with + a disposition to sleep. Before he had entirely lost his consciousness, a + light step moving near him, caught his ear; believing it to be a servant + unwilling to disturb him, he endeavored to continue in his present mood, + until the quick but stifled breathing of some one nearer than before + roused his curiosity. He commanded himself, however, sufficiently, to + remain quiet; a blind of a window near him was carefully closed; a screen + drawn from a corner and placed so as sensibly to destroy the slight + draught of air in which he laid himself; and other arrangements were + making, but with a care to avoid disturbing him that rendered them hardly + audible. Presently the step approached him again, the breathing was + quicker, though gentle, the handkerchief was moved, but the hand was with + drawn hastily as if afraid of itself. Another effort was successful, and + Denbigh stole a glance through his dark lashes, on the figure of Emily as + she stood over him in the fulness of her charms, and with a face in which + glowed an interest he had never witnessed in it before. It undoubtedly was + <i>gratitude</i>. For a moment she gazed on him, as her color increased in + richness. His hand was carelessly thrown over an arm of the sofa; she + stooped towards it with her face gently, but with an air of modesty that + shone in her very figure. Denbigh felt the warmth of her breath, but her + lips did not touch it. Had he been inclined to judge the actions of Emily + Moseley harshly, it were impossible to mistake the movement for anything + but the impulse of natural feeling. There was a pledge of innocence, of + modesty in her countenance, that would have prevented any misconstruction; + and he continued quietly awaiting what the preparations on her little + mahogany secretary were intended for. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson entertained a great abhorrence of what is commonly called + accomplishments in a woman; she knew that too much of that precious time + which could never be recalled, was thrown away in endeavoring to acquire a + smattering in what, if known, could never be of use to the party, and what + can never be well known but to a few, whom nature and long practice have + enabled to conquer. Yet as her niece had early manifested a taste for + painting, and a vivid perception of the beauties of nature, her + inclination had been indulged, and Emily Moseley sketched with neatness + and accuracy, and with great readiness. It would have been no subject of + surprise, had admiration, or some more powerful feeling, betrayed to the + artist, on this occasion, the deception the young man was practising. She + had entered the room from her walk, warm and careless; her hair, than + which none was more beautiful, had strayed on her shoulders, freed, from + the confinement of the comb, and a lock was finely contrasted to the rich + color of a cheek that almost burnt with the exercise and the excitement. + Her dress, white as the first snow of the winter; her looks, as she now + turned them on the face of the sleeper, and betrayed by their animation + the success of her art; formed a picture in itself, that Denbigh would + have been content to gaze on for ever. Her back was to a window that threw + its strong light on the paper--the figures of which were reflected, as she + occasionally held it up to study its effect, in a large mirror so placed + that Denbigh caught a view of her subject. He knew it at a glance--the + arbor--the gun--himself, all were there; it appeared to have been drawn + before--it must have been, from its perfect state, and Emily had seized a + favorable moment to complete his own resemblance. Her touches were light + and finishing, and as the picture was frequently held up for + consideration, he had some time allowed for studying it. His own + resemblance was strong; his eyes were turned on herself, to whom Denbigh + thought she had not done ample justice, but the man who held the gun bore + no likeness to John Moseley, except in dress. A slight movement of the + muscles of the sleeper's mouth might have betrayed his consciousness, had + not Emily been too intent on the picture, as she turned it in such a way + that a strong light fell on the recoiling figure of Captain Jarvis. The + resemblance was wonderful. Denbigh thought he would have known it, had he + seen it in the Academy itself. The noise of some one approaching closed + the portfolio; it was only a servant, yet Emily did not resume her pencil. + Denbigh watched her motions, as she put the picture carefully in a private + drawer of the secretary, reopened the blind, replaced the screen, and laid + the handkerchief, the last thing on his face, with a movement almost + imperceptible to himself. + </p> + <p> + "It is later than I thought," said Denbigh, looking at his watch; "I owe + an apology, Miss Moseley, for making so free with your parlor; but I was + too lazy to move." + </p> + <p> + "Apology! Mr. Denbigh," cried Emily, with a color varying with every word + she spoke, and trembling at what she thought the nearness of detection, + "you have no apology to make for your present debility; and surely, + surely, least of all to me!" + </p> + <p> + "I understand from Mr. Moseley," continued Denbigh, with a smile, "that + our obligation is at least mutual; to your perseverance and care, Miss + Moseley, after the physicians had given me up, I believe I am, under + Providence, indebted for my recovery." + </p> + <p> + Emily was not vain, and least of all addicted to a display of any of her + acquirements; very few even of her friends knew she ever held a pencil in + her hand; yet did she now unaccountably throw open her portfolio, and + offer its contents to the examination of her companion. It was done almost + instantaneously, and with great freedom, though not without certain + flushings of the face and heavings of the bosom, that would have eclipsed + Grace Chatterton in her happiest moments of natural flattery. Whatever + might have been the wishes of Mr. Denbigh to pursue a subject which had + begun to grow extremely interesting, both from its import and the + feelings' of the parties, it would have been rude to decline viewing the + contents of a lady's portfolio. The drawings were, many of them, + interesting, and the exhibitor of them now appeared as anxious to remove + them in haste, as she had but the moment before been to direct his + attention to her performances. Denbigh would have given much to dare to + ask for the paper so carefully secreted in the private drawer; but neither + the principal agency he had himself in the scene, nor delicacy to his + companion's wish for concealment, would allow of the request. + </p> + <p> + "Doctor Ives! how happy I am to see you," said Emily, hastily closing her + portfolio, and before Denbigh had gone half through its contents; "you + have become almost a stranger to us since Clara left us." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, my little friend, never a stranger, I hope, at Moseley Hall," + cried the doctor, pleasantly; "George, I am happy to see you look so + well--you have even a color--there is a letter for you, from Marian." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh took the letter eagerly, and retired to a window to peruse it. His + hand shook as he broke the seal, and his interest in the writer, or its + contents, could not have escaped the notice of any observer, however + indifferent. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Miss Emily, if you will have the goodness to order me a glass of + wine and water after my ride, believe me, you will do a very charitable + act," cried the doctor, as he took his seat on the sofa. + </p> + <p> + Emily was standing by the little table, deeply musing on the contents of + her portfolio; for her eyes were intently fixed on the outside, as if she + expected to see through the leather covering their merits and faults. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Emily Moseley," continued the doctor, gravely, "am I to die of + thirst or not, this warm day?" + </p> + <p> + "Do you wish anything, Doctor Ives?" + </p> + <p> + "A servant to get me a glass of wine and water." + </p> + <p> + "Why did you not ask me, my dear sir?" said Emily, as she threw open a + cellaret, and handed him what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + "There, my dear, there is a great plenty," said the doctor, with an arch + expression; "I really thought I had asked you thrice--but I believe you + were studying something in that portfolio." + </p> + <p> + Emily blushed, and endeavored to laugh at her own absence of mind; but she + would have given the world to know who Marian was. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XX. + </h2> + <p> + As a month had elapsed since he received his wound, Denbigh took an + opportunity, one morning at breakfast, where he was well enough now to + meet his friends, to announce his intention of trespassing no longer on + their kindness, but of returning that day to the rectory. The + communication distressed the whole family, and the baronet turned to him + in the most cordial manner, as he took one of his hands; and said with an + air of solemnity-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, I could wish you to make this house your home; Dr. Ives may + have known you longer, and may have the claim of relationship on you, but + I am certain he cannot love you better; and are not the ties of gratitude + as binding as those of blood?" + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was affected by the kindness of Sir Edward's manner. + </p> + <p> + "The regiment I belong to, Sir Edward, will be reviewed next week, and it + has become my duty to leave here; there is one it is proper I should + visit, a near connexion, who is acquainted with the escape I have met + with, and wishes naturally to see me; besides, my dear Sir Edward, she has + many causes of sorrow, and it is a debt I owe her affection to endeavor to + relieve them." + </p> + <p> + It was the first time he had ever spoken of his family, or hardly of + himself, and the silence which prevailed plainly showed the interest his + listeners took in the little he uttered. + </p> + <p> + That connexion, thought Emily--I wonder if her name be Marian? But nothing + further passed, excepting the affectionate regrets of her father, and the + promises of Denbigh to visit them again before he left B----, and of + joining them at L---- immediately after the review of which he had spoken. + As soon as he had breakfasted, John drove him in his phaeton to the + rectory. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson, like the rest of the baronet's family, had been too deeply + impressed with the debt they owed this young man to interfere with her + favorite system of caution against too great an intimacy between her niece + and her preserver. Close observation and the opinion of Dr. Ives had + prepared her to give him her esteem; but the gallantry, the self-devotion + he had displayed to Emily was an act calculated to remove heavier + objections than she could imagine as likely to exist to his becoming her + husband. That he meant it, was evident from his whole deportment of late. + Since the morning the portfolio was produced, Denbigh had given a more + decided preference to her niece. The nice discrimination of Mrs. Wilson + would not have said his feelings had become stronger, but that he labored + less to conceal them. That he loved her niece she suspected from the first + fortnight of their acquaintance, and it had given additional stimulus to + her investigation into his character; but to doubt it, after stepping + between her and death, would have been to have mistaken human nature. + There was one qualification she would have wished to have been certain he + possessed: before this accident, she would have made it an indispensable + one; but the gratitude, the affections of Emily, she believed now to be + too deeply engaged to make the strict inquiry she otherwise would have + done; and she had the best of reasons for believing that if Denbigh were + not a true Christian, he was at least a strictly moral man, and assuredly + one who well understood the beauties of a religion she almost conceived it + impossible for any impartial and intelligent man long to resist. Perhaps + Mrs. Wilson, having in some measure interfered with her system, like + others, had, on finding it impossible to conduct so that reason would + justify all she did, began to find reasons for what she thought best to be + done under the circumstances. Denbigh, however, both by his acts and his + opinions, had created such an estimate of his worth in the breast of Mrs. + Wilson, that there would have been but little danger of a repulse had no + fortuitous accident helped him in his way to her favor. + </p> + <p> + "Who have we here?" said Lady Moseley. "A landaulet and four--the Earl of + Bolton, I declare!" + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley turned from the window with that collected grace she so well + loved, and so well knew how to assume, to receive her noble visitor. Lord + Bolton was a bachelor of sixty-five, who had long been attached to the + court, and retained much of the manners of the old school. His principal + estate was in Ireland, and most of that time which his duty at Windsor did + not require he gave to the improvement of his Irish property. Thus, + although on perfectly good terms with the baronet's family, they seldom + met. With General Wilson he had been at college, and to his widow he + always showed much of that regard he had invariably professed for her + husband, The obligation he had conferred, unasked, on Francis Ives, was + one conferred on all his friends, and his reception was now warmer than + usual. + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Moseley," said the earl, bowing formally on her hand, "your looks + do ample justice to the air of Northamptonshire. I hope you enjoy your + usual health." + </p> + <p> + Then, waiting her equally courteous answer, he paid his compliments, in + succession, to all the members of the family; a mode undoubtedly well + adapted to discover their several conditions, but not a little tedious in + its operations, and somewhat tiresome to the legs. + </p> + <p> + "We are under a debt of gratitude to your lordship," said Sir Edward, in + his simple and warm-hearted way, "that I am sorry it is not in our power + to repay more amply than by our thanks." + </p> + <p> + The earl was, or affected to be, surprised, as he required an explanation. + </p> + <p> + "The living at Bolton," said Lady Moseley, with dignity. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," continued her husband; "in giving the living to Frank you did me a + favor, equal to what you would have done had he been my own child; and + unsolicited, too, my lord, it was an additional compliment." + </p> + <p> + The earl sat rather uneasy during this speech, but the love of truth + prevailed; for he had been too much round the person of our beloved + sovereign not to retain all the impressions of his youth; and after a + little struggle with his self-love, he answered-- + </p> + <p> + "Not unsolicited, Sir Edward. I have no doubt, had nay better fortune + allowed me the acquaintance of my present rector, his own merit would have + obtained what a sense of justice requires I should say was granted to an + applicant to whom the ear of royalty itself would not have been deaf." + </p> + <p> + It was the turn of the Moseleys now to look surprised, and Sir Edward + ventured to ask an explanation. + </p> + <p> + "It was my cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss, who applied for it, as a favor + done to himself; and Pendennyss is a man not to be refused anything." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with animation; "and in what way + came we to be under this obligation to Lord Pendennyss?" + </p> + <p> + "He did me the honor of a call during my visit to Ireland, madam," replied + the earl; "and on inquiring of my steward after his old friend, Doctor + Stevens, learnt his death, and the claims of Mr. Ives; but the reason he + gave <i>me</i> was his interest in the widow of General Wilson," bowing + with much solemnity to the lady as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + "I am gratified to find the earl yet remembers us," said Mrs. Wilson, + struggling to restrain her tears. "Are we to have the pleasure of seeing + him soon?" + </p> + <p> + "I received a letter from him yesterday, saying he should be here in all + next week, madam." And turning pleasantly to Jane and her sister, he + continued, "Sir Edward, you have here rewards fit for heavier services, + and the earl is a great admirer of female charms." + </p> + <p> + "Is he not married, my lord?" asked the baronet, with great simplicity. + </p> + <p> + "No, baronet, nor engaged; but how long he will remain so after his + hardihood in venturing into this neighborhood, will, I trust, depend on + one of these young ladies." + </p> + <p> + Jane looked grave--for trifling on love was heresy, in her estimation; but + Emily laughed, with an expression in which a skilful physiognomist might + have read--if he means me, he is mistaken. + </p> + <p> + "Your cousin, Lord Chatterton, has found interest, Sir Edward," continued + the peer, "to obtain his father's situation; and if reports speak truth, + he wishes to become more nearly related to you, baronet." + </p> + <p> + "I do not well see how that can happen," said Sir Edward with a smile, and + who had not art enough to conceal his thoughts, "unless he takes my sister + here." + </p> + <p> + The cheeks of both the young ladies now vied with the rose; and the peer, + observing he had touched on forbidden ground, added, "Chatterton was + fortunate to find friends able to bear up against the powerful interest of + Lord Haverford." + </p> + <p> + "To whom was he indebted for the place, my lord?" asked Mis. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "It was whispered at court, madam," said the earl, sensibly lowering his + voice, and speaking with an air of mystery "and a lord of the bed-chamber + is fonder of discoveries than a lord of the council--that His Grace of + Derwent threw the whole of his parliamentary interest into the scale on + the baron's side, but you are not to suppose," raising his hand + gracefully, with a wave of rejection, "that I speak from authority; only a + surmise, Sir Edward, only a surmise, my lady." + </p> + <p> + "Is not the name of the Duke of Derwent, Denbigh?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, + with a thoughtful manner. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, madam, Denbigh," replied the earl, with a gravity with which + he always spoke of dignities; "one of our most ancient names, and + descended on the female side from the Plantagenets and Tudors." + </p> + <p> + He now rose to take his leave, and on bowing to the younger ladies, + laughingly repeated his intention of bringing his cousin (an epithet he + never omitted), Pendennyss, to their feet. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think, sister," said Lady Moseley, after the earl had retired, + "that Mr. Denbigh is of the house of Derwent?" + </p> + <p> + "I cannot say," replied Mrs. Wilson, musing, "yet it is odd, Chatterton + told me of his acquaintance with Lady Harriet Denbigh, but not with the + Duke." + </p> + <p> + As this was spoken in the manner of a soliloquy, it received no answer, + and was in fact but little attended to by any of the party, excepting + Emily, who glanced her eye once or twice at her aunt as she was speaking, + with an interest the name of Denbigh never failed to excite. Harriet was, + she thought, a pretty name, but Marian was a prettier; if, thought Emily, + I could know a Marian Denbigh, I am sure I could love her, and her name + too. + </p> + <p> + The Moseleys now began to make their preparations for their departure to + L----, and the end of the succeeding week was fixed for the period at + which they were to go. Mrs. Wilson urged a delay of two or three days, in + order to give her an opportunity of meeting with the Earl of Pendennyss, a + young man in whom, although she had relinquished her former romantic wish + of uniting him to Emily, in favor of Denbigh, she yet felt a deep + interest, growing out of his connexion with the last moments of her + husband, and his uniformly high character. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward accordingly acquainted his uncle, that on the following + Saturday he might expect to receive himself and family, intending to leave + the hall in the afternoon of the preceding day, and reach Benfield lodge + to dinner. This arrangement once made, and Mr. Benfield notified of it, + was unalterable, the old man holding a variation from an engagement a + deadly sin. The week succeeding the accident which had nearly proved so + fatal to Denbigh, the inhabitants of the hall were surprised with the + approach of a being, as singular in his manners and dress as the equipage + which conveyed him to the door of the house. The latter consisted of a + high-backed, old-fashioned sulky, loaded with leather and large-headed + brass nails; wheels at least a quarter larger in circumference than those + of the present day, and wings on each side large enough to have supported + a full grown roc in the highest regions of the upper air. It was drawn by + a horse, once white, but whose milky hue was tarnished through age with + large and numerous red spots, and whose mane and tail did not appear to + have suffered by the shears during the present reign. The being who + alighted from this antiquated vehicle was tall and excessively thin, wore + his own hair drawn over his almost naked head into a long thin queue, + which reached half way down his back, closely cased in numerous windings + of leather, or the skin of some fish. His drab coat was in shape between a + frock and a close-body--close-body, indeed, it was; for the buttons, which + were in size about equal to an old-fashioned China saucer, were buttoned + to the very throat, thereby setting off his shape to peculiar advantage; + his breeches were buckskin, and much soiled; his stockings blue yarn, + although it was midsummer; and his shoes were provided with buckles of + dimensions proportionate to the aforesaid buttons; his age might have been + seventy, but his walk was quick, and the movements of his whole system + showed great activity both of mind and body. He was ushered into the room + where the gentlemen were sitting, and having made a low and extremely + modest bow, he deliberately put on his spectacles, thrust his hand into an + outside pocket of his coat, and produced from under its huge flaps a black + leathern pocket-book about as large as a good-sized octavo volume; after + examining the multitude of papers it contained carefully, he selected a + letter, and having returned the pocket-book to its ample apartment, read + aloud, + </p> + <p> + "For Sir Edward Moseley, bart. of Moseley Hall, B----, + Northamptonshire--with care and speed, by the hands of Mr. Peter Johnson, + steward of Benfield Lodge, Norfolk;" and dropping his sharp voice, he + stalked up to the baronet, and presented the epistle, with another + reverence. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my good friend, Johnson," said Sir Edward as soon as he delivered his + errand (for until he saw the contents of the letter, he had thought some + accident had occurred to his uncle), "this is the first visit you have + ever honored me with; come, take a glass of wine before you go to your + dinner; let us drink, that it may not be the last." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward Moseley, and you, honorable gentlemen, will pardon me," + replied the steward, in his own solemn key, "this is the first time I was + ever out of his majesty's county of Norfolk, and I devoutly wish it may + prove the last--Gentlemen, I drink your honorable healths." + </p> + <p> + This was the only real speech the old man made during his visit, unless an + occasional monosyllabic reply to a question could be thought so. He + remained, by Sir Edward's positive order, until the following day; for + having delivered his message, and receiving its answer, he was about to + take his departure that evening, thinking he might get a good piece on his + road homewards, as it wanted half an hour to sunset. On the following + morning, with the sun, he was on his way to the house in which he had been + born, and which he had never left for twenty-four hours at a time in his + life. In the evening, as he was ushered in by John (who had known him from + his own childhood, and loved to show him attention) to the room in which + he was to sleep, he broke what the young man called his inveterate + silence, with, "Young Mr. Moseley--young gentleman--might I presume--to + ask--to see the gentleman?" + </p> + <p> + "What gentleman?" cried John, astonished at the request, and at his + speaking so much. + </p> + <p> + "That saved Miss Emmy's life, sir." + </p> + <p> + John now fully comprehended him, and led the way to Denbigh's room; he was + asleep, but they were admitted to his bed-side. The steward stood for ten + minutes gazing on the sleeper in silence; and John observed, as he blew + his nose on regaining his own apartment, that his little grey eyes + twinkled with a lustre which could not be taken for anything but a tear. + </p> + <p> + As the letter was as characteristic of the writer as its bearer was of his + vocation, we may be excused giving it at length. + </p> + <p> + <i>"Dear Sir Edward and Nephew</i>, + </p> + <p> + "Your letter reached the lodge too late to be answered that evening, as I + was about to step into my bed; but I hasten to write my congratulations, + remembering the often repeated maxim of my kinsman Lord Gosford, that + letters should be answered immediately; indeed, a neglect of it had very + nigh brought about an affair of honor between the earl and Sir Stephens + Hallett. Sir Stephens was always opposed to us in the House of Commons of + this realm; and I have often thought something might have passed in the + debate itself, which commenced the correspondence, as the earl certainly + told him as much as if he were a traitor to his King and country. + </p> + <p> + "But it seems that your daughter Emily has been rescued from death by the + grandson of General Denbigh, who sat with us in the house. Now I always + had a good opinion of this young Denbigh, who reminds me, every time I + look at him, of my late brother, your father-in-law that was; and I send + my steward, Peter Johnson, express to the hall in order that he may see + the sick man, and bring me back a true account how he fares: for should he + be wanting for anything within the gift of Roderic Benfield, he has only + to speak to have it; not that I suppose, nephew, you will willingly allow + him to suffer for anything, but Peter is a man of close observation, + although he is of few words, and may suggest something beneficial, that + might escape younger heads. I pray for--that is, I hope, the young man + will recover, as your letter gives great hopes; and if he should want any + little matter to help him along in the army, as I take it he is not over + wealthy, you have now a good opportunity to offer your assistance + handsomely; and that it may not interfere with your arrangements for this + winter, your draft on me for five thousand pounds will be paid at sight; + for fear he may be proud, and not choose to accept your assistance, I have + this morning detained Peter, while he has put a codicil to my will, + leaving him ten thousand pounds. You may tell Emily she is a naughty + child, or she would have written me the whole story; but, poor dear, I + suppose she has other things on her mind just now. God bless Mr. ---- that + is, God bless, you all, and try if you cannot get a lieutenant-colonelcy + at once--the brother of Lady Juliana's friend was made a + lieutenant-colonel at the first step. + </p> + <p> + "RODERIC BENFIELD." + </p> + <p> + The result of Peter's reconnoitering expedition has never reached our + knowledge, unless the arrival of a servant some days after he took his + leave, with a pair of enormous-goggles, and which the old gentleman + assured his nephew in a note, both Peter and himself had found useful to + weak eyes in their occasional sickness, might have been owing to the + prudent forecast of the sagacious steward. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXI. + </h2> + <p> + The morning on which Denbigh left B---- was a melancholy one to all the + members of the little circle, in which he had been so distinguished for + his modesty, his intelligence, and his disinterested intrepidity. Sir + Edward took an opportunity solemnly to express his gratitude for the + services he had rendered him, and having retired to his library, + delicately and earnestly pressed his availing himself of the liberal offer + of Mr. Benfield to advance his interest in the army. + </p> + <p> + "Look upon me, my dear Mr. Denbigh," said the good baronet, pressing him + by the hand, while the tears stood in his eyes, "as a father, to supply + the place of the one you have so recently lost. You <i>are</i> my child; I + feel as a parent to you, and must be suffered to act as one." + </p> + <p> + To this affectionate offer of Sir Edward, Denbigh replied with an emotion + equal to that of the baronet, though he declined, with respectful + language, his offered assistance as unnecessary. He had friends powerful + enough to advance his interests, without resorting to the use of money; + and on taking Sir Edward's hand, as he left the apartment, he added with + great warmth, "yet, my dear Sir, the day will come, I hope, when I shall + ask a boon from your hands, that no act of mine or a life of service could + entitle me to receive." + </p> + <p> + The baronet smiled his assent to a request he already understood, and + Denbigh withdrew. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley insisted on putting the bays in requisition to carry Denbigh + for the first stage, and they now stood caparisoned for the jaunt, with + their master in a less joyous mood than common, waiting the appearance of + his companion. + </p> + <p> + Emily delighted in their annual excursion to Benfield Lodge. She was + beloved so warmly, and returned the affection of its owner so sincerely, + that the arrival of the day never failed to excite that flow of spirits + which generally accompanies anticipated pleasures, ere experience has + proved how trifling are the greatest enjoyments the scenes of this life + bestow. Yet as the day of their departure drew near, her spirits sunk in + proportion; and on the morning of Denbigh's leave-taking, Emily seemed + anything but excessively happy. There was a tremor in her voice and a + redness about her eyes that alarmed Lady Moseley; but as the paleness of + her cheeks was immediately succeeded by as fine a color as the heart could + wish, the anxious mother allowed herself to be persuaded by Mrs. Wilson + there was no danger, and she accompanied her sister to her own room for + some purpose of domestic economy. It was at this moment Denbigh entered: + he had paid his adieus to the matrons at the door, and been directed by + them to the little parlor in quest of Emily. + </p> + <p> + "I have come to make my parting compliments, Miss Moseley," he said, in a + tremulous voice, as he ventured to hold forth his hand. "May heaven + preserve you," he continued, holding it in fervor to his bosom: then + dropping it, he hastily retired, as if unwilling to trust himself any + longer to utter all he felt. Emily stood a few moments, pale and almost + inanimate, as the tears flowed rapidly from her eyes; and then she sought + a shelter in a seat of the window. Lady Moseley, on returning, was alarmed + lest the draught would increase her indisposition; but her sister, + observing that the window commanded a view of the road, thought the air + too mild to do her injury. + </p> + <p> + The personages who composed the society at B---- had now, in a great + measure, separated, in pursuit of their duties or their pleasures. The + merchant and his family left the deanery for a watering-place. Francis and + Clara had gone on a little tour of pleasure in the northern counties, to + take L---- in their return homeward; and the morning arrived for the + commencement of the baronet's journey to the same place. The carriages had + been ordered, and servants were running in various ways, busily employed + in their several occupations, when Mrs. Wilson, accompanied by John and + his sisters, returned from a walk they had taken to avoid the bustle of + the house. A short distance from the park gates, an equipage was observed + approaching, creating by its numerous horses and attendants a dust which + drove the pedestrians to one side of the road. An uncommonly elegant and + admirably fitted travelling barouche and six rolled by, with the graceful + steadiness of an English equipage: several servants on horseback were in + attendance; and our little party were struck with the beauty of the whole + <i>establishment</i>. + </p> + <p> + "Can it be possible Lord Bolton drives such elegant horses?" cried John, + with the ardor of a connoisseur in that noble animal. "They are the finest + set in the kingdom." + </p> + <p> + Jane's eye had seen, through the clouds of dust, the armorial bearings, + which seemed to float in the dark glossy panels of the carriage, and she + observed, "It is an earl's coronet, but they are not the Bolton arms." + Mrs. Wilson and Emily had noticed a gentleman reclining at his ease, as + the owner of the gallant show; but its passage was too rapid to enable + them to distinguish the features of the courteous old earl; indeed, Mrs. + Wilson remarked, she thought him a younger man than her friend. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, sir," said John to a tardy groom, as he civilly walked his horse by + the ladies, "who has passed in the barouche?" + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Pendennyss, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a tone of regret, "how + unfortunate!" + </p> + <p> + She had seen the day named for his visit pass without his arrival, and + now, as it was too late to profit by the opportunity, he had come for the + second time into her neighborhood. Emily had learnt, by the solicitude of + her aunt, to take an interest in the young peer's movements, and desired + John to ask a question or two of the groom. + </p> + <p> + "Where does your lord stop to-night?" + </p> + <p> + "At Bolton Castle, sir; and I heard my lord tell his valet that he + intended staying one day hereabouts, and the day after to-morrow he goes + to Wales, your honor." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, friend," said John; when the man spurred his horse after the + cavalcade. The carriages were at the door, and Sir Edward had been + hurrying Jane to enter, as a servant, in a rich livery and well mounted, + galloped up and delivered a letter for Mrs. Wilson, who, on opening it, + read the following: + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss begs leave to present his most respectful + compliments to Mrs. Wilson and the family of Sir Edward Moseley. Lord + Pendennyss will have the honor of paying his respects in person at any + moment that the widow of his late invaluable friend, Lieutenant-General + Wilson, will please to appoint. + </p> + <p> + "Bolton Castle, Friday evening." + </p> + <p> + To this note Mrs. Wilson, bitterly regretting the necessity which + compelled her to forego the pleasure of meeting her paragon, wrote in + reply a short letter, disliking the formality of a note. + </p> + <p> + "My LORD, "I sincerely regret that an engagement which cannot be postponed + compels us to leave Moseley Hall within the hour, and must, in + consequence, deprive us of the pleasure of your intended visit. But as + circumstances have connected your Lordship with some of the dearest, + although the most melancholy events of my life, I earnestly beg you will + no longer consider us as strangers to your person, as we have long ceased + to be to your character. It will afford me the greatest pleasure to hear + that there will be a prospect of our meeting in town next winter, where I + may find a more fitting opportunity of expressing those grateful feelings + so long due to your lordship from your sincere friend, + </p> + <p> + "CHARLOTTE WILSON. + </p> + <p> + "Moseley Hall, Friday morning." + </p> + <p> + With this answer the servant was despatched, and the carriages moved on. + John had induced Emily to trust herself once more to the bays and his + skill; but on perceiving the melancholy of her aunt, she insisted on + exchanging seats with Jane, who had accepted a place in the carriage of + Mrs. Wilson. No objection being made, Mrs. Wilson and her niece rode the + first afternoon together in her travelling chaise. The road ran within a + quarter of a mile of Bolton Castle, and the ladies endeavored in vain to + get a glimpse of the person of the young nobleman. Emily was willing to + gratify her aunt's propensity to dwell on the character and history of her + favorite; and hoping to withdraw her attention gradually from more + unpleasant recollections, asked several trifling questions relating to + those points. + </p> + <p> + "The earl must be very rich, aunt, from the style he maintains." + </p> + <p> + "Very, my dear; his family I am unacquainted with, but I understand his + title is an extremely ancient one; and some one, I believe Lord Bolton, + mentioned that his estates in Wales alone, exceeded fifty thousand a + year." + </p> + <p> + "Much good might be done," said Emily, thoughtfully, "with such a + fortune." + </p> + <p> + "Much good <i>is</i> done," cried her aunt, with fervor. "I am told by + every one who knows him, his donations are large and frequent. Sir Herbert + Nicholson said he was extremely simple in his habits, and it leaves large + sums at his disposal every year." + </p> + <p> + "The bestowal of money is not always charity," said Emily, with an arch + smile and a slight color. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled in her turn as she answered, "not always, but it is + charity to hope for the best." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Herbert knew him, then?" said Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly well; they were associated together in the service for several + years, and he spoke of him with a fervor equal to my warmest + expectations." + </p> + <p> + The Moseley arms in F---- was kept by an old butler of the family, and Sir + Edward every year, in going to or coming from L----, spent a night under + its roof. He was received by its master with a respect that none who ever + knew the baronet well, could withhold from his goodness of heart and many + virtues. + </p> + <p> + "Well, Jackson," said the baronet, kindly, as he was seated at the supper + table, "how does custom increase with you--I hope you and the master of + the Dun Cow are more amicable than formerly." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Sir Edward," replied the host, who had lost a little of the + deference of the servant in the landlord, but none of his real respect, + "Mr. Daniels and I are more upon a footing of late than we was, when your + goodness enabled me to take the house; then he got all the great + travellers, and for more than a twelvemonth I had not a title in my house + but yourself and a great London doctor, that was called here to see a sick + person in the town. He had the impudence to call me the knight + barrow-knight, your honor, and we had a quarrel upon that account." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad, however, to find you are gaining in the rank of your + customers, and trust, as the occasion has ceased, you will be more + inclined to be good-natured to each other." + </p> + <p> + "Why, as to good-nature, Sir Edward, I lived with your honor ten years, + and you must know somewhat of my temper," said Jackson, with the + self-satisfaction of an approving conscience; "but Sam Daniels is a man + who is never easy unless he is left quietly at the top of the ladder; + however," continued the host, with a chuckle, "I have given him a dose + lately." + </p> + <p> + "How so, Jackson?" inquired the baronet, willing to gratify the man's wish + to relate his triumphs. + </p> + <p> + "Your honor must have heard mention made of a great lord, the Duke of + Derwent; well, Sir Edward, about six weeks agone he passed through with my + Lord Chatterton." + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton!" exclaimed John, interrupting him, "has he been so near us + again, and so lately?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Mr. Moseley," replied Jackson with a look of importance: "they + dashed into my yard with their chaise and four, with five servants, and + would you think it, Sir Edward, they hadn't been in the house ten minutes, + before Daniel's son was fishing from the servants, who they were; I told + him, Sir Edward--dukes don't come every day." + </p> + <p> + "How came you to get his grace away from the Dun Cow--chance?" + </p> + <p> + "No, your honor," said the host, pointing to his sign, and bowing + reverently to his old master, "the Moseley Arms did it. Mr. Daniels used + to taunt me with having worn a livery, and has said more than once he + could milk his cow, but that your honor's arms would never lift me into a + comfortable seat for life; so I just sent him a message by the way of + letting him know my good fortune, your honor." + </p> + <p> + "And what was it?" + </p> + <p> + "Only that your honor's arms had shoved a duke and a baron into my + house--that's all." + </p> + <p> + "And I suppose Daniels' legs shoved your messenger out of his," said John, + laughing. + </p> + <p> + "No, Mr. Moseley; Daniels would hardly dare do that: but yesterday, your + honor, yesterday evening, beat everything. Daniels was seated before his + door, and I was taking a pipe at mine, Sir Edward, as a coach and six, + with servants upon servants, drove down the street; it got near us, and + the boys were reining the horses into the yard of the Dun Cow, as the + gentleman in the coach saw my sign: he sent a groom to inquire who kept + the house; I got up, your honor, and told him my name, sir. 'Mr. Jackson,' + said his lordship, 'my respect for the family of Sir Edward Moseley is too + great not to give my custom to an old servant of his family.'" + </p> + <p> + "Indeed," said the baronet; "pray who was my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss, your honor. Oh, he is a sweet gentleman, and he + asked all about my living with your honor, and about Madam Wilson." + </p> + <p> + "Did his lordship stay the night?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, excessively + gratified at a discovery of the disposition manifested by the earl towards + her. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, madam, he left here after breakfast." + </p> + <p> + "What message did you send the Dun Cow this time, Jackson?" cried John. + </p> + <p> + Jackson looked a little foolish, but the question being repeated, he + answered--"Why, sir, I was a little crowded for room, and so your honor, + so I just sent Tom across the street, to know if Mr. Daniels couldn't keep + a couple of the grooms." + </p> + <p> + "And Tom got his head broke." + </p> + <p> + "No, Mr. John, the tankard missed him; but if--" + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said the baronet, willing to change the conversation, "you + have been so fortunate of late, you can afford to be generous; and I + advise you to cultivate harmony with your neighbor, or I may take my arms + down, and you may lose your noble visiters--see my room prepared." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, your honor," said the host, and bowing respectfully he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + "At least, aunt," cried John, pleasantly, "we have the pleasure of supping + in the same room with the puissant earl, albeit there be twenty-four + hours' difference in the time." + </p> + <p> + "I sincerely wish there had not been that difference," observed his + father, taking his sister kindly by the hand. + </p> + <p> + "Such an equipage must have been a harvest indeed to Jackson," remarked + the mother; as they broke up for the evening. + </p> + <p> + The whole establishment at Benfield Lodge, were drawn up to receive them + on the following day in the great hall, and in the centre was fixed the + upright and lank figure of its master, with his companion in leanness, + honest Peter Johnson, on his right. + </p> + <p> + "I have made out, Sir Edward and my Lady Moseley, to get as far as my + entrance, to receive the favor you are conferring upon me. It was a rule + in my day, and one invariably practised by all the great nobility, such as + Lord Gosford--and--and--his sister, the lady Juliana Dayton, always to + receive and quit their guests in the country at the great entrance; and in + conformity--ah, Emmy dear," cried the old gentleman, folding her in his + arms as the tears rolled down his cheeks, forgetting his speech in the + warmth of his feeling, "You are saved to us again; God be praised--there, + that will do, let me breathe--let me breathe;" and then by the way of + getting rid of his softer feelings, he turned upon John; "so, youngster, + you would be playing with edge tools, and put the life of your sister in + danger. No gentleman held a gun in my day; that is, no gentleman about the + court. My Lord Gosford had never killed a bird in his life, or drove his + horse; no sir, gentlemen then were not coachmen. Peter how old was I + before I took the reins of the chaise, in driving round the estate--the + time you broke your arm? it was--" + </p> + <p> + Peter, who stood a little behind his master, in modest retirement, and who + had only thought his elegant form brought thither to embellish the show, + when called upon, advanced a step, made a low bow, and answered in his + sharp key: + </p> + <p> + "In the year 1798, your honor, and the 38th of his present majesty, and + the 64th year of your life, sir, June the 12th, about meridian." + </p> + <p> + Peter dropped back as he finished; but recollecting himself, regained his + place with a bow, as he added, "new style." + </p> + <p> + "How are you, old style?" cried John, with a slap on the back, that made + the steward jump again. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. John Moseley--young gentleman"--a term Peter had left off using to + the baronet within the last ten years, "did you think--to bring home--the + goggles?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said John, gravely, producing them from his pocket. Most of the + party having entered the parlor, he put them carefully on the bald head of + the steward--"There, Mr Peter Johnson, you have your property again, safe + and sound." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Denbigh said he felt much indebted to your consideration in + sending them," said Emily, soothingly, as she took them off with her + beautiful hands. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, Miss Emmy," said the steward, with one of his best bows, "that was--a + noble act; God bless him!" then holding up his finger significantly, "the + fourteenth codicil--to master's will," and Peter laid his finger alongside + his nose, as he nodded his head in silence. + </p> + <p> + "I hope the thirteenth contains the name of honest Peter Johnson," said + the young lady, who felt herself uncommonly well pleased with the + steward's conversation. + </p> + <p> + "As witness, Miss Emmy--witness to all--but God forbid," said the steward + with solemnity, "I should ever live to see the proving of them: no, Miss + Emmy, master has done for me what he intended, while I had youth to enjoy + it. I am rich, Miss Emmy--good three hundred a year." Emily, who had + seldom heard so long a speech as the old man's gratitude drew from him, + expressed her pleasure at hearing it, and shaking him kindly by the hand, + left him for the parlor. + </p> + <p> + "Niece," said Mr. Benfield, having scanned the party closely with his + eyes, "where is Colonel Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Egerton, you mean, sir," interrupted Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "No, my Lady Moseley," replied her uncle, with great formality, "I mean + Colonel Denbigh. I take it he is a colonel by this time," looking + expressively at the baronet; "and who is fitter to be a colonel or a + general, than a man who is not afraid of gunpowder?" + </p> + <p> + "Colonels must have been scarce in your youth, sir," cried John, who had + rather a mischievous propensity to start the old man on his hobby. + </p> + <p> + "No, jackanapes, gentlemen killed one another then, although they did not + torment the innocent birds: honor was as dear to a gentleman of George the + Second's court, as to those of his grandson's, and honesty too, + sirrah--ay, honesty. I remember when we were in, there was not a man of + doubtful integrity in the ministry, or on our side even; and then again, + when we went out, the opposition benches were filled with sterling + characters, making a parliament that was correct throughout. Can you show + me such a thing at this day?" + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXII. + </h2> + <p> + A few days after the arrival of the Moseleys at the lodge John drove his + sisters to the little village of L----, which at that time was thronged + with an unusual number of visiters. It had, among other fashionable + arrangements for the accommodation of its guests, one of those circulators + of good and evil, a public library. Books are, in a great measure, the + instruments of controlling the opinions of a nation like ours. They are an + engine, alike powerful to save or to destroy. It cannot be denied, that + our libraries contain as many volumes of the latter, as the former + description; for we rank amongst the latter that long catalogue of idle + productions, which, if they produce no other evil, lead to the misspending + of time, <i>our own</i> perhaps included. But we cannot refrain expressing + our regret, that such formidable weapons in the cause of morality, should + be suffered to be wielded by any indifferent or mercenary dealer, who + undoubtedly will consult rather the public tastes than the private good: + the evil may be remediless, yet we love to express our sentiments, though + we should suggest nothing new or even profitable. Into one of these haunts + of the idle, then, John Moseley entered with a lovely sister leaning on + either arm. Books were the entertainers of Jane, and instructors of Emily. + Sir Edward was fond of reading of a certain sort--that which required no + great depth of thought, or labor of research; and, like most others who + are averse to contention, and disposed to be easily satisfied, the baronet + sometimes found he had harbored opinions on things not exactly + reconcileable with the truth, or even with each other. It is quite as + dangerous to give up your faculties to the guidance of the author you are + perusing, as it is unprofitable to be captiously scrutinizing every + syllable he may happen to advance; and Sir Edward was, if anything, a + little inclined to the dangerous propensity. Unpleasant, Sir Edward + Moseley never was. Lady Moseley very seldom took a book in her hand: her + opinions were established to her own satisfaction on all important points, + and on the minor ones, she made it a rule to coincide with the popular + feeling. Jane had a mind more active than her father, and more brilliant + than her mother; and if she had not imbibed injurious impressions from the + unlicensed and indiscriminate reading she practised, it was more owing to + the fortunate circumstance, that the baronet's library contained nothing + extremely offensive to a pure taste, nor dangerous to good morals, than to + any precaution of her parents against the deadly, the irretrievable injury + to be sustained from ungoverned liberty in this respect to a female mind. + On the other hand, Mrs. Wilson had inculcated the necessity of restraint, + in selecting the books for her perusal, so strenuously on her niece, that + what at first had been the effects of obedience and submission, had now + settled into taste and habit; and Emily seldom opened a book, unless in + search of information; or if it were the indulgence of a less commendable + spirit, it was an indulgence chastened by a taste and judgment that + lessened the danger, if it did not entirely remove it. + </p> + <p> + The room was filled with gentlemen and ladies; and while John was + exchanging his greetings with several of the neighboring gentry of his + acquaintance, his sisters were running hastily over a catalogue of the + books kept for circulation, as an elderly lady, of foreign accent and + dress, entered; and depositing a couple of religious works on the counter, + she inquired for the remainder of the set. The peculiarity of her idiom + and her proximity to the sisters caused them both to look up at the + moment, and, to the surprise of Jane, her sister uttered a slight + exclamation of pleasure. The foreigner was attracted by the sound, and + after a moment's hesitation, she respectfully curtsied. Emily, advancing, + kindly offered her hand, and the usual inquiries after each other's + welfare succeeded. To the questions asked after the friend of the matron + Emily learnt, with some surprise, and no less satisfaction, that she + resided in a retired cottage, about five miles from L----, where they had + been for the last six months, and where they expected to remain for some + time, "until she could prevail on Mrs. Fitzgerald to return to Spain; a + thing, now there was peace, of which she did not despair." After asking + leave to call on them in their retreat, and exchanging good wishes, the + Spanish lady withdrew, and, as Jane had made her selection, was followed + immediately by John Moseley and his sisters. Emily, in their walk home, + acquainted her brother that the companion of their Bath incognita had been + at the library, and that for the first time she had learnt that their + young acquaintance was, or had been, married, and her name. John listened + to his sister with the interest which the beautiful Spaniard had excited + at the time they first met, and laughingly told her he could not believe + their unknown friend had ever been a wife. To satisfy this doubt, and to + gratify a wish they both had to renew their acquaintance with the + foreigner, they agreed to drive to the cottage the following morning, + accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Jane, if she would go; but the next day was + the one appointed by Egerton for his arrival at L----, and Jane, under a + pretence of writing letters, declined the excursion. She had carefully + examined the papers since his departure; had seen his name included in the + arrivals at London; and at a later day, had read an account of the review + by the commander-in-chief of the regiment to which he belonged. He had + never written to any of her friends; but, judging from her own feelings, + she did not in the least doubt he would be as punctual as love could make + him. Mrs. Wilson listened to her niece's account of the unexpected + interview in the library with pleasure, and cheerfully promised to + accompany them in their morning's excursion, as she had both a wish to + alleviate sorrow, and a desire to better understand the character of this + accidental acquaintance of Emily's. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield and the baronet had a long conversation in relation to + Denbigh's fortune the morning after their arrival; and the old man was + loud in his expression of dissatisfaction at the youngster's pride. As the + baronet, however, in the fulness of his affection and simplicity, betrayed + to his uncle his expectation of a union between Denbigh and his daughter, + Mr. Benfield became contented with this reward; one fit, he thought, for + any services. On the whole, "it was best, as he was to marry Emmy, he + should sell out of the army; and as there would be an election soon, he + would bring him into parliament--yes--- yes--it did a man so much good to + sit one term in the parliament of this realm--to study human nature. All + his own knowledge in that way was raised on the foundations laid in the + House." To this Sir Edward cordially assented, and the gentlemen + separated, happy in their arrangements to advance the welfare of two + beings they so sincerely loved. + </p> + <p> + Although the care and wisdom of Mrs. Wilson had prohibited the admission + of any romantic or enthusiastic expectations of happiness into the + day-dreams of her charge, yet the buoyancy of health, of hope, of youth, + of innocence, had elevated Emily to a height of enjoyment hitherto unknown + to her usually placid and disciplined pleasures. Denbigh certainly mingled + in most of her thoughts, both of the past and the future, and she stood on + the threshold of that fantastic edifice in which Jane ordinarily resided. + Emily was in the situation perhaps the most dangerous to a young female + Christian: her heart, her affections, were given to a man, to appearance, + every way worthy of possessing them, it is true but she had admitted a + rival in her love to her Maker; and to keep those feelings distinct, to + bend the passions in due submission to the more powerful considerations of + endless duty, of unbounded gratitude, is one of the most trying struggles + of Christian fortitude. We are much more apt to forget our God in + prosperity than adversity. The weakness of human nature drives us to seek + assistance in distress; but vanity and worldly-mindedness often induce us + to imagine we control the happiness we only enjoy. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward and Lady Moseley could see nothing in the prospect of the + future but lives of peace and contentment for their children. Clara was + happily settled, and her sisters were on the eve of making connexions with + men of family, condition, and certain character. What more could be done + for them? They must, like other people, take their chances in the lottery + of life; they could only hope and pray for their prosperity, and this they + did with great sincerity. Not so Mrs. Wilson: she had guarded the + invaluable charge intrusted to her keeping with too much assiduity, too + keen an interest, too just a sense of the awful responsibility she had + undertaken, to desert her post at the moment watchfulness was most + required. By a temperate, but firm and well-chosen conversation she kept + alive the sense of her real condition in her niece, and labored hard to + prevent the blandishments of life from supplanting the lively hope of + enjoying another existence. She endeavored, by her pious example, her + prayers, and her judicious allusions, to keep the passion of love in the + breast of Emily secondary to the more important object of her creation; + and, by the aid of a kind and Almighty Providence, her labors, though + arduous, were crowned with success. + </p> + <p> + As the family were seated round the table after dinner, on the day of + their walk to the library, John Moseley, awakening from a reverie, + exclaimed suddenly, + </p> + <p> + "Which do you think the handsomest, Emily, Grace Chatterton or Miss + Fitzgerald?" + </p> + <p> + Emily laughed, as she answered, "Grace, certainly; do you not think so, + brother?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, on the whole; but don't you think Grace looks like her mother at + times?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no, she is the image of Chatterton." + </p> + <p> + "She is very like yourself, Emmy dear," said Mr. Benfield, who was + listening to their conversation. + </p> + <p> + "Me, dear uncle; I have never heard it remarked before." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes, she is as much like you as she can stare. I never saw as great + a resemblance, excepting between you and Lady Juliana--Lady Juliana, Emmy, + was a beauty in her day; very like her uncle, old Admiral Griffin--you + can't remember the admiral--he lost an eye in a battle with the Dutch, and + part of his cheek in a frigate, when a young man fighting the Dons. Oh, he + was a pleasant old gentleman; many a guinea has he given me when I was a + boy at school." + </p> + <p> + "And he looked like Grace Chatterton, uncle, did he?" asked John, + innocently. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir, he did not; who said he looked like Grace Chatterton, + jackanapes?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought you made it out, sir: but perhaps it was the description + that deceived me--his eye and cheek, uncle." + </p> + <p> + "Did Lord Gosford leave children, uncle?" inquired Emily, throwing a look + of reproach at John. + </p> + <p> + "No, Emmy dear; his only child, a son, died at school. I shall never + forget the grief of poor Lady Juliana. She postponed a visit to Bath three + weeks on account of it. A gentleman who was paying his addresses to her at + the time, offered then, and was refused--indeed, her self-denial raised + such an admiration of her in the men, that immediately after the death of + young Lord Dayton, no less than seven gentlemen offered, and were refused + in one week. I heard Lady Juliana say, that what between lawyers and + suitors, she had not a moment's peace." + </p> + <p> + "Lawyers?" cried Sir Edward: "what had she to do with lawyers?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, Sir Edward, six thousand a year fell to her by the death of her + nephew; and there were trustees and deeds to be made out--poor young + woman, she was so affected, Emmy, I don't think she went out for a + week--all the time at home reading papers, and attending to her important + concerns. Oh! she was a woman of taste; her mourning, and liveries, and + new carriage, were more admired than those of any one about the court. + Yes, yes, the title is extinct; I know of none of the name now. The Earl + did not survive his loss but six years, and the countess died + broken-hearted, about a twelvemonth before him." + </p> + <p> + "And Lady Juliana, uncle," inquired John, "what became of her, did she + marry?" + </p> + <p> + The old man helped himself to a glass of wine, and looked over his + shoulder to see if Peter was at hand. Peter, who had been originally + butler, and had made it a condition of his preferment, that whenever there + was company, he should be allowed to preside at the sideboard, was now at + his station. Mr. Benfield, seeing his old friend near him, ventured to + talk on a subject he seldom trusted himself with in company. + </p> + <p> + "Why, yes--yes--she <i>did</i> marry, it's true, although she did tell me + she intended to die a maid; but--hem--I suppose--hem--it was compassion + for the old viscount, who often said he could not live without her; and + then it gave her the power of doing so much good, a jointure of five + thousand a year added to her own income: yet--hem--I do confess I did not + think she would have chosen such an old and infirm man--- but, Peter, give + me a glass of claret." Peter handed the claret, and the old man + proceeded:--"They say he was very cross to her, and that, no doubt, must + have made her unhappy, she was so very tender-hearted." + </p> + <p> + How much longer the old gentleman would have continued in this strain, it + is impossible to say; but he was interrupted by the opening of the parlor + door, and the sudden appearance on its threshold of Denbigh. Every + countenance glowed with pleasure at this unexpected return of their + favorite; and but for the prudent caution of Mrs. Wilson, in handing a + glass of water to her niece, the surprise might have proved too much for + her. The salutations of Denbigh were returned by the different members of + the family with a cordiality that must have told him how much he was + valued by all its branches; and after briefly informing them that his + review was over, and that he had thrown himself into a chaise and + travelled post until he had rejoined them, he took his seat by Mr. + Benfield, who received him with a marked preference, exceeding that which + he had shown to any man who had ever entered his doors, Lord Gosford + himself not excepted. Peter removed from his station behind his master's + chair to one where he could face the new comer; and after wiping his eyes + until they filled so rapidly with water, that at last he was noticed by + the delighted John to put on the identical goggles which his care had + provided for Denbigh in his illness. His laugh drew the attention of the + rest to the honest steward, and when Denbigh was told this was Mr. + Benfield's ambassador to the hall, he rose from his chair, and taking the + old man by the hand, kindly thanked him for his thoughtful consideration + for his weak eyes. + </p> + <p> + Peter took the offered hand in both his own, and after making one or two + unsuccessful efforts to speak, he uttered, "Thank you, thank you; may + Heaven bless you," and burst into tears. This stopped the laugh, and John + followed the steward from the room, while his master exclaimed, wiping his + eyes, "Kind and condescending; just such another as my old friend, the + Earl of Gosford." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXIII. + </h2> + <p> + At the appointed hour, the carriage of Mrs. Wilson was ready to convey + herself and niece to the cottage of Mrs. Fitzgerald. John was left behind, + under the pretence of keeping Denbigh company in his morning avocations, + but really because Mrs. Wilson doubted the propriety of his becoming a + visiting acquaintance at the house, tenanted as the cottage was + represented to be. John was too fond of his friend to make any serious + objections, and was satisfied for the present, by sending his compliments, + and requesting his sister to ask permission for him to call in one of his + morning excursions, in order to pay his personal respects. + </p> + <p> + They found the cottage a beautiful and genteel, though a very small and + retired dwelling, almost hid by the trees and shrubs which surrounded it, + and its mistress in its little veranda, expecting the arrival of Emily. + Mrs. Fitzgerald was a Spaniard, under twenty, of a melancholy, yet highly + interesting countenance; her manners were soft and retiring, but evidently + bore the impression of good company, if not of high life. She was + extremely pleased with this renewal of attention on the part of Emily, and + expressed her gratitude to both ladies for their kindness in seeking her + out in her solitude. She presented her more matronly companion to them, by + the name of Donna Lorenza; and as nothing but good feeling prevailed, and + useless ceremony was banished, the little party were soon on terms of + friendly intercourse. The young widow (for such her dress indicated her to + be), did the honors of her house with graceful ease, and conducted her + visiters into her little grounds, which; together the cottage, gave + evident proofs of the taste and elegance of its occupant. The + establishment she supported she represented as very small; two women and + an aged man servant, with occasionally a laborer for her garden and + shrubbery. They never visited; it was a resolution she had made on fixing + her residence here, but if Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley would forgive the + rudeness of not returning their call, nothing would give her more + satisfaction than a frequent renewal of their visits. Mrs. Wilson took so + deep an interest in the misfortunes of this young female, and was so much + pleased with the modest resignation of her manner, that it required little + persuasion on the part of the recluse to obtain a promise of soon + repeating her visit. Emily mentioned the request of John, and Mrs. + Fitzgerald received it with a mournful smile, as she replied that Mr. + Moseley had laid her under such an obligation in their first interview, + she could not deny herself the pleasure of again thanking him for it; but + she must be excused if she desired they would limit their attendants to + him, as there was but one gentleman in England whose visits she admitted, + and it was seldom indeed he called; he had seen her but once since she had + resided in Norfolk. + </p> + <p> + After giving a promise not to suffer any one else to accompany them, and + promising an early call again, our ladies returned to Benfield Lodge in + season to dress for dinner. On entering the drawing-room, they found the + elegant person of Colonel Egerton leaning on the back of Jane's chair. He + had arrived during their absence, and immediately sought the baronet's + family. His reception, if not as warm as that given to Denbigh, was + cordial from all but the master of the house; and even he was in such + spirits by the company around him, and the prospects of Emily's marriage + (which he considered as settled), that he forced himself to an appearance + of good will he did not feel. Colonel Egerton was either deceived by his + manner, or too much a man of the world to discover his suspicion, and + everything in consequence was very harmoniously, if not sincerely + conducted between them. + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley was completely happy. If she had the least doubts before, as + to the intentions of Egerton, they were now removed. His journey to that + unfashionable watering-place, was owing to his passion; and however she + might at times have doubted as to Sir Edgar's heir, Denbigh she thought a + man of too little consequence in the world, to make it possible he would + neglect to profit by his situation in the family of Sir Edward Moseley. + She was satisfied with both connexions. Mr. Benfield had told her General + Sir Frederic Denbigh was nearly allied to the Duke of Derwent, and Denbigh + had said the general was his grandfather. Wealth, she knew Emily would + possess from both her uncle and aunt; and the services of the gentleman + had their due weight upon the feelings of the affectionate mother. The + greatest of her maternal anxieties was removed, and she looked forward to + the peaceful enjoyment of the remnant of her days in the bosom of her + descendants. John, the heir of a baronetcy, and 15,000 pounds a year, + might suit himself; and Grace Chatterton, she thought, would be likely to + prove the future Lady Moseley. Sir Edward, without entering so deeply into + anticipations of the future as his wife, experienced an equal degree of + contentment; and it would have been a difficult task to discover in the + island a roof, under which there resided at the moment more happy + countenances than at Benfield Lodge; for as its master had insisted on + Denbigh becoming an inmate, he was obliged to extend his hospitality in an + equal degree to Colonel Egerton: indeed, the subject had been fully + canvassed between him and Peter the morning of his arrival, and was near + being decided against his admission, when the steward, who had picked up + all the incidents of the arbor scene from the servants (and of course with + many exaggerations), mentioned to his master that the colonel was very + active, and that he even contrived to bring water to revive Miss Emmy, a + great distance, in the hat of Captain Jarvis, which was full of holes, Mr. + John having blown it off the head of the captain without hurting a hair, + in firing at a woodcock. This mollified the master a little, and he agreed + to suspend his decision for further observation. At dinner, the colonel + happening to admire the really handsome face of Lord Gosford, as + delineated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which graced the dining-room of + Benfield Lodge, its master, in a moment of unusual kindness, gave the + invitation; it was politely accepted, and the colonel at once + domesticated. + </p> + <p> + The face of John Moseley alone, at times, exhibited evidences of care and + thought, and at such moments it might be a subject of doubt whether he + thought the most of Grace Chatterton or her mother: if the latter, the + former was sure to lose ground in his estimation; a serious misfortune to + John, not to be able to love Grace without alloy. His letters from her + brother mentioned his being still at Denbigh castle, in Westmoreland, the + seat of his friend the Duke of Derwent; and John thought one or two of his + encomiums on Lady Harriet Denbigh, the sister of his grace, augured that + the unkindness of Emily might in time be forgotten. The dowager and her + daughters were at the seat of a maiden aunt in Yorkshire, where as John + knew no male animal was allowed admittance, he was tolerably easy at the + disposition of things. Nothing but legacy-hunting he knew would induce the + dowager to submit to such a banishment from the other sex; but that was so + preferable to husband-hunting he was satisfied. "I wish," said John + mentally, as he finished the perusal of his letter, "mother Chatterton + would get married herself, and she might let Kate and Grace manage for + themselves. Kate would do very well, I dare say, and how would Grace make + out!" John sighed, and whistled for Dido and Rover. + </p> + <p> + In the manners of Colonel Egerton there was the same general disposition + to please, and the same unremitted attention to the wishes and amusements + of Jane. They had renewed their poetical investigations, and Jane eagerly + encouraged a taste which afforded her delicacy some little coloring for + the indulgence of an association different from the real truth, and which, + in her estimation, was necessary to her happiness. Mrs. Wilson thought the + distance between the two suitors for the favor of her nieces was, if + anything, increased by their short separation, and particularly noticed on + the part of the colonel an aversion to Denbigh that at times painfully + alarmed, by exciting apprehensions for the future happiness of the + precious treasure she had prepared herself to yield to his solicitations, + whenever properly proffered. In the intercourse between Emily and her + preserver, as there was nothing to condemn, so there was much to admire. + The attentions of Denbigh were pointed, although less exclusive than those + of the colonel; and the aunt was pleased to observe that if the manners of + Egerton had more of the gloss of life, those of Denbigh were certainly + distinguished by a more finished delicacy and propriety. The one appeared + the influence of custom and association, with a tincture of artifice; the + other, benevolence, with a just perception of what was due to others, and + with an air of sincerity, when speaking of sentiments and principles, that + was particularly pleasing to the watchful widow. At times, however, she + could not but observe an air of restraint, if not of awkwardness, about + him that was a little surprising. It was most observable in mixed society, + and once or twice her imagination pictured his sensations into something + like alarm. These unpleasant interruptions to her admiration were soon + forgotten in her just appreciation of the more solid parts of his + character, which appeared literally to be unexceptionable; and when + momentary uneasiness would steal over her, the remembrance of the opinion + of Dr. Ives, his behavior with Jarvis, his charity, and chiefly his + devotion to her niece, would not fail to drive the disagreeable thoughts + from her mind. Emily herself moved about, the image of joy and innocence. + If Denbigh were near her, she was happy; if absent, she suffered no + uneasiness. Her feelings were so ardent, and yet so pure, that jealousy + had no admission. Perhaps no circumstances existed to excite this usual + attendant of the passion; but as the heart of Emily was more enchained + than her imagination, her affections were not of the restless nature of + ordinary attachments, though more dangerous to her peace of mind in the + event of an unfortunate issue. With Denbigh she never walked or rode + alone. He had never made the request, and her delicacy would have shrunk + from such an open manifestation of her preference; but he read to her and + her aunt; he accompanied them in their little excursions; and once or + twice John noticed that she took the offered hand of Denbigh to assist her + over any little impediment in their course, instead of her usual + unobtrusive custom of taking his arm on such occasions. "Well, Miss + Emily," thought John, "you appear to have chosen another favorite," on her + doing this three times in succession in one of their walks. "How strange + it is women will quit their natural friends for a face they have hardly + seen." John forgot his own--"There is no danger, dear Grace," when his + sister was almost dead with apprehension. But John loved Emily too well to + witness her preference of another with satisfaction, even though Denbigh + was the favorite; a feeling which soon wore away, however, by dint of + custom and reflection. Mr. Benfield had taken it into his head that if the + wedding of Emily could be solemnized while the family was at the lodge, it + would render him the happiest of men; and how to compass this object, was + the occupation of a whole morning's contemplation. Happily for Emily's + blushes, the old gentleman harbored the most fastidious notions of female + delicacy, and never in conversation made the most distant allusion to the + expected connexion. He, therefore, in conformity with these feelings, + could do nothing openly; all must be the effect of management; and as he + thought Peter one of the best contrivers in the world, to his ingenuity he + determined to refer the arrangement. + </p> + <p> + The bell rang--"Send Johnson to me, David." + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes, the drab coat and blue yarn stockings entered his + dressing-room with the body of Mr. Peter Johnson snugly cased within them. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," commenced Mr. Benfield, pointing kindly to a chair, which the + steward respectfully declined, "I suppose you know that Mr. Denbigh, the + grandson of General Denbigh, who was in parliament with me, is about to + marry my little Emmy?" + </p> + <p> + Peter smiled, as he bowed an assent. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Peter, a wedding would, of all things, make me most happy; that is, + to have it here in the lodge. It would remind me so much of the marriage + of Lord Gosford, and the bridemaids. I wish your opinion how to bring it + about before they leave us. Sir Edward and Anne decline interfering, and + Mrs. Wilson I am afraid to speak to on the subject." + </p> + <p> + Peter was not a little alarmed by this sudden requisition on his inventive + faculties, especially as a lady was in the case; but, as he prided himself + on serving his master, and loved the hilarity of a wedding in his heart, + he cogitated for some time in silence, when, having thought a preliminary + question or two necessary, he broke it with saying-- + </p> + <p> + "Everything, I suppose, master, is settled between the young people?" + </p> + <p> + "Everything, I take it, Peter." + </p> + <p> + "And Sir Edward and my lady?" + </p> + <p> + "Willing; perfectly willing." + </p> + <p> + "And Madam Wilson, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Willing, Peter, willing." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. John and Miss Jane?" + </p> + <p> + "All willing; the whole family is willing, to the best of my belief.'" + </p> + <p> + "There is the Rev. Mr. Ives and Mrs. Ives, master?" + </p> + <p> + "They wish it, I know. Don't you think they wish others as happy as + themselves, Peter?" + </p> + <p> + "No doubt they do, master. Well, then, as everybody is willing, and the + young people agreeable, the only thing to be done, sir, is--" + </p> + <p> + "Is what, Peter?" exclaimed his impatient master observing him to + hesitate. + </p> + <p> + "Why, sir, to send for the priest, I take it." + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw! Peter Johnson, I know that myself," replied the dissatisfied old + man. "Cannot you help me to a better plan?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, master," said Peter, "I would have done as well for Miss Emmy and + your honor as I would have done for myself. Now, sir, when I courted Patty + Steele, your honor, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and + sixty-five, I should have been married but for one difficulty, which your + honor says is removed in the case of Miss Emmy." + </p> + <p> + "What was that, Peter?" asked his master, in a tender tone. + </p> + <p> + "She wasn't willing, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, poor Peter," replied Mr. Benfield, mildly "you may go." And + the steward, bowing low, withdrew. + </p> + <p> + The similarity of their fortunes in love was a strong link in the + sympathies which bound the master and man together and the former never + failed to be softened by an allusion to Patty. The want of tact in the + man, on the present occasion, after much reflection, was attributed by his + master to the fact that Peter had never sat in parliament. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXIV. + </h2> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson and Emily, in the fortnight they had been at Benfield Lodge, + paid frequent and long visits to the cottage: and each succeeding + interview left a more favorable impression of the character of its + mistress, and a greater certainty that she was unfortunate. The latter, + however, alluded very slightly to her situation or former life; she was a + Protestant, to the great surprise of Mrs. Wilson; and one that misery had + made nearly acquainted with the religion she professed. Their + conversations chiefly turned on the customs of her own, as contrasted with + those of her adopted country, or in a pleasant exchange of opinions, which + the ladies possessed in complete unison. One morning John had accompanied + them and been admitted; Mrs. Fitzgerald receiving him with the frankness + of an old acquaintance, though with the reserve of a Spanish lady. His + visits were permitted under the direction of his aunt, but no others of + the gentlemen were included amongst her guests. Mrs. Wilson had casually + mentioned, in the absence of her niece, the interposition of Denbigh + between her and death; and Mrs. Fitzgerald was so much pleased at the + noble conduct of the gentleman, as to express a desire to see him; but the + impressions of the moment appeared to have died away, a nothing more was + said by either lady on the subject, and it was apparently forgotten. Mrs. + Fitzgerald was found one morning, weeping over a letter she held in her + hand, and the Donna Lorenza was endeavoring to console her. The situation + of this latter lady was somewhat doubtful; she appeared neither wholly a + friend nor a menial. In the manners of the two there was a striking + difference; although the Donna was not vulgar, she was far from possessing + the polish of her more juvenile friend, and Mrs. Wilson considered her to + be in a station between that of a housekeeper and that of a companion. + After hoping that no unpleasant intelligence occasioned the distress they + witnessed, the ladies were delicately about to take their leave, when Mrs. + Fitzgerald entreated them to remain. + </p> + <p> + "Your kind attention to me, dear madam, and the goodness of Miss Moseley, + give you a claim to know more of the unfortunate being your sympathy has + so greatly assisted to attain her peace of mind. This letter is from the + gentleman of whom you have heard me speak, as once visiting me, and though + it has struck me with unusual force, it contains no more than I expected + to hear, perhaps no more than I deserve to hear." + </p> + <p> + "I hope your friend has not been unnecessarily harsh: severity is not the + best way, always, of effecting repentance, and I feel certain that you, my + young friend, can have been guilty of no offence that does not rather + require gentle than stern reproof," said Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, dear madam, for your indulgent opinion of me, but although I + have suffered much, I am willing to confess it is a merited punishment; + you are, however, mistaken as to the source of my present sorrow. Lord + Pendennyss is the cause of grief, I believe, to no one, much less to me." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Emily, in surprise, unconsciously looking at + her aunt. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" reiterated Mrs. Wilson, with animation "and is he your + friend, too?" "Yes, madam; to his lordship I owe + everything--honor--comfort--religion--and even life itself." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson's cheek glowed with an unusual color, at this discovery of + another act of benevolence and virtue, in a young nobleman whose character + she had so long admired, and whose person she had in vain wished to meet. + </p> + <p> + "You know the earl, then?" inquired Mrs. Fitzgerald. + </p> + <p> + "By reputation, only, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "but that is enough to + convince me a friend of his must be a worthy character, if anything were + wanting to make us your friends." + </p> + <p> + The conversation was continued for some time, and Mrs. Fitzgerald saying + she did not feel equal just then to the undertaking, but the next day, if + they would honor her with another call, she would make them acquainted + with the incidents of her life, and the reasons she had for speaking in + such terms of Lord Pendennyss. The promise to see her was cheerfully made + by Mrs. Wilson, and her confidence accepted; not from a desire to gratify + an idle curiosity, but a belief that it was necessary to probe a wound to + cure it; and a correct opinion, that she would be a better adviser for a + young and lovely woman, than even Pendennyss; for the Donna Lorenza she + could hardly consider in a capacity to offer advice, much less dictation. + They then took their leave, and Emily, during their ride, broke the + silence with exclaiming,-- + </p> + <p> + "Wherever we hear of Lord Pendennyss, aunt, we hear of him favorably." + </p> + <p> + "A certain sign, my dear, he is deserving of it. There is hardly any man + who has not his enemies, and those are seldom just; but we have met with + none of the earl's yet." + </p> + <p> + "Fifty thousand a year will make many friends," observed Emily, shaking + her head. + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless, my love, or as many enemies; but honor, life, and religion, my + child, are debts not owing to money--in this country at least." + </p> + <p> + To this remark Emily assented; and after expressing her own admiration of + the character of the young nobleman, she dropped into a reverie. How many + of his virtues she identified with the person of Mr. Denbigh, it is not, + just now, our task to enumerate; but judges of human nature may easily + determine, and that too without having sat in the parliament of this + realm. + </p> + <p> + The morning this conversation occurred at the cottage, Mr. and Mrs. + Jarvis, with their daughters, made their unexpected appearance at L----. + The arrival of a post-chaise and four with a gig, was an event soon + circulated through the little village, and the names of its owners reached + the lodge just as Jane had allowed herself to be persuaded by the colonel + to take her first walk with him unaccompanied by a third person. Walking + is much more propitious to declarations than riding; and whether it was + premeditated on the part of the colonel or not, or whether he was afraid + that Mrs. Jarvis or some one else would interfere, he availed himself of + this opportunity, and had hardly got out of hearing of her brother and + Denbigh, before he made Jane an explicit offer of his hand. The surprise + was so great, that some time elapsed before the distressed girl could + reply. This she, however, at length did, but incoherently: she referred + him to her parents, as the arbiters of her fate, well knowing that her + wishes had long been those of her father and mother. With this the colonel + was obliged to be satisfied for the present. But their walk had not ended, + before he gradually drew from the confiding girl an acknowledgment that, + should her parents decline his offer, she would be very little less + miserable than himself; indeed, the most tenacious lover might have been + content with the proofs of regard that Jane, unused to control her + feelings, allowed herself to manifest on this occasion. Egerton was in + raptures; a life devoted to her would never half repay her condescension; + and as their confidence increased with their walk, Jane re-entered the + lodge with a degree of happiness in her heart she had never before + experienced. The much dreaded declaration--her own distressing + acknowledgements, were made, and nothing farther remained but to live and + be happy. She flew into the arms of her mother, and; hiding her blushes in + her bosom, acquainted her with the colonel's offer and her own wishes. + Lady Moseley, who was prepared for such a communication, and had rather + wondered at its tardiness, kissed her daughter affectionately, as she + promised to speak to her father, and to obtain his approbation. + </p> + <p> + "But," she added, with a degree of formality and caution which had better + preceded than have followed the courtship, "we must make the usual + inquiries, my child, into the fitness of Colonel Egerton as a husband for + our daughter. Once assured of that, you have nothing to fear." + </p> + <p> + The baronet was requested to grant an audience to Colonel Egerton, who now + appeared as determined to expedite things, as he had been dilatory before. + On meeting Sir Edward, he made known his pretensions and hopes. The + father, who had been previously notified by his wife of what was + forthcoming, gave a general answer, similar to the speech of the mother, + and the colonel bowed in acquiescence. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, the Jarvis family favored the inhabitants of the lodge + with a visit, and Mrs. Wilson was struck with the singularity of their + reception of the colonel. Miss Jarvis, especially, was rude to both him + and Jane, and it struck all who witnessed it as a burst of jealous feeling + for disappointed hopes; but to no one, excepting Mrs. Wilson, did it occur + that the conduct of the gentleman could be at all implicated in the + transaction. Mr. Benfield was happy to see under his roof again the best + of the trio of Jarvises he had known, and something like sociability + prevailed. There was to be a ball, Miss Jarvis remarked, at L----, the + following day, which would help to enliven the scene a little, especially + as there were a couple of frigates at anchor, a few miles off, and the + officers were expected to join the party. This intelligence had but little + effect on the ladies of the Moseley family; yet, as their uncle desired + that, out of respect to his neighbors, if invited, they would go, they + cheerfully assented. During the evening, Mrs. Wilson observed Egerton in + familiar conversation with Miss Jarvis; and as she had been notified of + his situation with respect to Jane, she determined to watch narrowly into + the causes of so singular a change of deportment in the young lady. Mrs. + Jarvis retained her respect for the colonel in full force; and called out + to him across the room, a few minutes before she departed-- + </p> + <p> + "Well, colonel, I am happy to tell you I have heard very lately from your + uncle, Sir Edgar." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, madam!" replied the colonel, starting. "He was well, I hope." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, the day before yesterday. His neighbor, old, Mr. Holt, is a + lodger in the same house with us at L----; and as I thought you would like + to hear, I made particular inquiries about the baronet." The word baronet + was pronounced with emphasis and a look of triumph, as if it would say, + you see <i>we</i> have baronets as well as you. As no answer was made by + Egerton, excepting an acknowledging bow, the merchant and his family + departed. + </p> + <p> + "Well, John," cried Emily, with a smile, "we have heard more good to-day + of our trusty and well-beloved cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" exclaimed her brother. "You must keep Emily for his lordship, + positively, aunt: she is almost as great an admirer of him as yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I apprehend it is necessary she should be quite as much so, to become his + wife," said Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Really," said Emily, more gravely, "if all one hears of him be true, or + even half, it would be no difficult task to admire him." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was standing leaning on the back of a chair, in situation where he + could view the animated countenance of Emily as she spoke, and Mrs. Wilson + noticed an uneasiness and a changing of color in him that appeared + uncommon from so trifling a cause. Is it possible, she thought, Denbigh + can harbor so mean a passion as envy? He walked away, as if unwilling to + hear more, and appeared much engrossed with his own reflections for the + remainder of the evening. There were moments of doubting which crossed the + mind of Mrs. Wilson with a keenness of apprehension proportionate to her + deep interest in Emily, with respect to certain traits in the character of + Denbigh; and this, what she thought a display of unworthy feeling, was one + of them. In the course of the evening, the cards for the expected ball + arrived, and were accepted. As this new arrangement for the morrow + interfered with their intended visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald, a servant was + sent with a note of explanation in the morning and a request that on the + following day the promised communication might be made. To this + arrangement the recluse assented, and Emily prepared for the ball with a + melancholy recollection of the consequences which grew out of the last she + had attended--melancholy at the fate of Digby, and pleasure at the + principles manifested by Denbigh, on the occasion. The latter, however, + with a smile, excused himself from being of the party, telling Emily he + was so awkward that he feared some unpleasant consequences to himself or + his friends would arise from his inadvertencies, did he venture again with + her into such an assembly. + </p> + <p> + Emily sighed gently, as she entered the carriage of her aunt early in the + afternoon, leaving Denbigh in the door of the lodge, and Egerton absent on + the execution of some business; the former to amuse himself as he could + until the following morning, and the latter to join them in the dance in + the evening. + </p> + <p> + The arrangement included an excursion on the water, attended by the bands + from the frigates, a collation, and in the evening a ball. One of the + vessels was commanded by a Lord Henry Stapleton, a fine young man, who, + struck with the beauty and appearance of the sisters, sought an + introduction to the baronet's family, and engaged the hand of Emily for + the first dance. His frank and gentleman-like deportment was pleasing to + his new acquaintances; the more so, as it was peculiarly suited to their + situation at the moment. Mrs. Wilson was in unusual spirits, and + maintained an animated conversation with the young sailor, in the course + of which, he spoke of his cruising on the coast of Spain, and by accident + he mentioned his having carried out to that country, upon one occasion, + Lord Pendennyss. This was common ground between them, and Lord Henry was + as enthusiastic in his praises of the earl, as Mrs. Wilson's partiality + could desire. He also knew Colonel Egerton slightly, and expressed his + pleasure, in polite terms, when they met in the evening in the ball-room, + at being able to renew his acquaintance. The evening passed off as such + evenings generally do--in gaiety, listlessness, dancing, gaping, and + heartburnings, according to the dispositions and good or ill fortune of + the several individuals who compose the assembly. Mrs. Wilson, while her + nieces were dancing, moved her seat to be near a window, and found herself + in the vicinity of two elderly gentlemen, who were commenting on the + company. After making several common-place remarks, one of them inquired + of the other--"Who is that military gentleman amongst the naval beaux, + Holt?" + </p> + <p> + "That is the hopeful nephew of my friend and neighbor, Sir Edgar Egerton; + he is here dancing, and misspending his time and money, when I know Sir + Edgar gave him a thousand pounds six months ago, on express condition, he + should not leave the regiment or take a card in his hand for twelvemonth." + </p> + <p> + "He plays, then?" + </p> + <p> + "Sadly; he is, on the whole, a very bad young man." + </p> + <p> + As they changed their topic, Mrs. Wilson joined her sister, dreadfully + shocked at this intimation of the vices of a man so near an alliance with + her brother's child. She was thankful it was not too late to avert part of + the evil, and determined to acquaint Sir Edward, at once, with what she + had heard, in order that an investigation might establish the colonel's + innocence or guilt. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXV. + </h2> + <p> + They returned to the lodge at an early hour, and Mrs Wilson, after + meditating upon the course she ought to take, resolved to have a + conversation with her brother that evening after supper. Accordingly, as + they were among the last to retire, she mentioned her wish to detain him, + and when left by themselves, the baronet taking his seat by her on a sofa, + she commenced as follows, willing to avoid her unpleasant information + until the last moment. + </p> + <p> + "I wished to say something to you, brother, relating to my charge: you + have, no doubt, observed the attentions of Mr. Denbigh to Emily?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, sister, and with great pleasure; you must not suppose I wish + to interfere with the authority I have so freely relinquished to you, + Charlotte, when I inquire if Emily favors his views or not?" + </p> + <p> + "Neither Emily nor I, my dear brother, wish ever to question your right, + not only to inquire into, but to control the conduct of your child;--she + is yours, Edward, by a tie nothing can break, and we both love you too + much to wish it. There is nothing you may be more certain of, than that, + without the approbation of her parents, Emily would accept of no offer, + however splendid or agreeable to her own wishes." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, sister, I would not wish unduly to influence my child in an affair + of so much importance to herself; but my interest in Denbigh is little + short of that I feel for my daughter." + </p> + <p> + "I trust," continued Mrs. Wilson, "Emily is too deeply impressed with her + duty to forget the impressive mandate, 'to honor her father and mother:' + yes, Sir Edward, I am mistaken if she would not relinquish the dearest + object of her affections, at your request; and at the same time, I am + persuaded she would, under no circumstances, approach the altar with a man + she did not both love and esteem." + </p> + <p> + The baronet did not appear exactly to understand his sister's distinction, + as he observed, "I am not sure I rightly comprehend the difference you + make, Charlotte." + </p> + <p> + "Only, brother, that she would feel that a promise made at the altar to + love a man she felt averse to, or honor one she could not esteem, as a + breach of a duty, paramount to all earthly considerations," replied his + sister; "but to answer your question--Denbigh has never offered, and when + he does, I do not think he will be refused." + </p> + <p> + "Refused!" cried the baronet, "I sincerely hope not; I wish, with all my + heart, they were married already." + </p> + <p> + "Emily is very young," said Mrs. Wilson, "and need not hurry: I was in + hopes she would remain single a few years longer." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the baronet, "you and Lady Moseley, sister, have different + notions on the subject of marrying the girls." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson replied, with a good-humored smile, "you have made Anne so + good a husband, Ned, that she forgets there are any bad ones in the world; + <i>my</i> greatest anxiety is, that the husband of my niece may be a + Christian; indeed, I know not how I can reconcile it to my conscience, as + a Christian myself, to omit this important qualification," + </p> + <p> + "I am sure, Charlotte, both Denbigh and Egerton appear to have a great + respect for religion; they are punctual at church, and very attentive to + the service:" Mrs. Wilson smiled as he proceeded, "but religion may come + after marriage, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, brother, and I know it may not come at all; no really pious woman + can be happy, without her husband is in what she deems the road to future + happiness himself; and it is idle--it is worse--it is almost impious to + marry with a view to reform a husband: indeed, she greatly endangers her + own safety thereby; for few of us, I believe, but find the temptation to + err as much as we can contend with, without calling in the aid of example + against us, in an object we love; indeed it appears to me, the life of + such a woman must be a struggle between conflicting duties." + </p> + <p> + "Why," said the baronet, "if your plan were generally adopted, I am afraid + it would give a deadly blow to matrimony." + </p> + <p> + "I have nothing to do with generals, brother, I am acting for individual + happiness, and discharging individual duties: at the same time I cannot + agree with you in its effects on the community. I think no man who + dispassionately examines the subject, will be other than a Christian; and + rather than remain bachelors, they would take even that trouble; if the + strife in our sex were less for a husband, wives would increase in value." + </p> + <p> + "But how is it, Charlotte," said the baronet, pleasantly, "your sex do not + use your power and reform the age?" + </p> + <p> + "The work of reformation, Sir Edward," replied his sister, gravely, "is an + arduous one indeed, and I despair of seeing it general, in my day; but + much, very much, might be done towards it, if those who have the guidance + of youth would take that trouble with their pupils that good faith + requires of them, to discharge the minor duties of life." + </p> + <p> + "Women ought to marry," observed the baronet, musing. + </p> + <p> + "Marriage is certainly the natural and most desirable state for a woman," + but how few are there who, having entered it, know how to discharge its + duties; more particularly those of a mother! On the subject of marrying + our daughters, for instance, instead of qualifying them to make a proper + choice, they are generally left to pick up such principles and opinions as + they may come at, as it were by chance. It is true, if the parent be a + Christian in name, certain of the externals of religion are observed; but + what are these, if not enforced by a consistent example in the + instructor?" + </p> + <p> + "Useful precepts are seldom lost, I believe, sister," said Sir Edward, + with confidence. + </p> + <p> + "Always useful, my dear brother; but young people are more observant than + we are apt to imagine, and are wonderfully ingenious in devising excuses + to themselves for their conduct. I have often heard it offered as an + apology, that father or mother knew it, or perhaps did it, and therefore + it could not be wrong: association is all-important to a child." + </p> + <p> + "I believe no family of consequence admits of improper associates within + my knowledge," said the baronet. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled as she answered, "I am sure I hope not, Edward; but are + the qualifications we require in companions for our daughters, always such + as are most reconcileable with our good sense or our consciences; a single + communication with an objectionable character is a precedent, if known and + unobserved, which will be offered to excuse acquaintances with worse + persons: with the other sex, especially, their acquaintance should be very + guarded and select." + </p> + <p> + "You would make many old maids, sister." + </p> + <p> + "I doubt it greatly, brother; it would rather bring female society in + demand. I often regret that selfishness, cupidity, and the kind of strife + which prevails in our sex, on the road to matrimony, have brought celibacy + into disrepute. For my part, I never see an old maid, but I am willing to + think she is so from choice or principle, and although not in her proper + place, serviceable, by keeping alive feelings necessary to exist, that + marriages may not become curses instead of blessings." + </p> + <p> + "A kind of Eddystone, to prevent matrimonial shipwrecks," said the + brother, gayly. + </p> + <p> + "Their lot may be solitary, baronet, and in some measure cheerless, but + infinitely preferable to a marriage that may lead them astray from their + duties, or give birth to a family which are to be turned on the + world--without any religion but form--without any morals but truisms--or + without even a conscience which has not been seared by indulgence. I hope + that Anne, in the performance of her system, will have no cause to regret + its failure." + </p> + <p> + "Clara chose for herself, and has done well, Charlotte; and so, I doubt + not, will Jane and Emily: and I confess I think their mother is right." + </p> + <p> + "It is true," said Mrs. Wilson, "Clara has done well, though under + circumstances of but little risk; she might have jumped into your + fish-pond, and escaped with life, but the chances are she would drown: nor + do I dispute the right of the girls to choose for themselves; but I say + the rights extend to requiring us to qualify them to make their choice. I + am sorry, Edward, to be the instigator of doubts in your breast of the + worth of any one, especially as it may give you pain." Here Mrs. Wilson + took her brother affectionately by the hand, and communicated what she had + overheard that evening. Although the impressions of the baronet were not + as vivid, or as deep as those of his sister, his parental love was too + great not to make him extremely uneasy under the intelligence and after + thanking her for her attention to his children's welfare, he kissed her, + and withdrew. In passing to his own room, he met Egerton, that moment + returned from escorting the Jarvis ladies to their lodgings; a task he had + undertaken at the request of Jane, as they were without any male + attendant. Sir Edward's heart was too full not to seek immediate relief, + and as he had strong hopes of the innocence of the colonel, though he + could give no reason for his expectation, he returned with him to the + parlor, and in a few words acquainted him with the slanders which had been + circulated at his expense; begging him by all means to disprove them as + soon as possible. The colonel was struck with the circumstance at first, + but assured Sir Edward, it was entirely untrue. He never played, as he + might have noticed, and that Mr. Holt was an ancient enemy of his. He + would in the morning take measures to convince Sir Edward, that he stood + higher in the estimation of his uncle, than Mr. Holt had thought proper to + state. Much relieved by this explanation, the baronet, forgetting that + this heavy charge removed, he only stood where he did before he took time + for his inquiries, assured him, that if he could convince him, or rather + his sister, he did not gamble, he would receive him as a son-in-law with + pleasure. The gentlemen shook hands and parted. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh had retired to his room early, telling Mr. Benfield he did not + feel well, and thus missed the party at supper; and by twelve, silence + prevailed in the house. + </p> + <p> + As usual after a previous day of pleasure, the party were late in + assembling on the following, yet Denbigh was the last who made his + appearance. Mrs. Wilson thought he threw a look round the room as he + entered, which prevented his making his salutations in his usual easy and + polished manner. In a few minutes, however, his awkwardness was removed, + and they took their seats at the table. At that moment the door of the + room was thrown hastily open, and Mr. Jarvis entered abruptly, and with a + look bordering on wildness in his eye--"Is she not here?" exclaimed the + merchant scanning the company closely. + </p> + <p> + "Who?" inquired all in a breath. + </p> + <p> + "Polly--my daughter--my child," said the merchant, endeavoring to control + his feelings; "did she not come here this morning with Colonel Egerton?" + </p> + <p> + He was answered in the negative, and he briefly explained the cause of his + anxiety. The colonel had called very early, and sent her maid up to his + daughter who rose immediately. They had quitted the house together, + leaving word the Miss Moseleys had sent for the young lady to breakfast, + for some particular reason. Such was the latitude allowed by his wife, + that nothing was suspected until one of the servants of the house said he + had seen Colonel Egerton and a lady drive out of the village that morning + in a post-chaise and four. + </p> + <p> + Then the old gentleman first took the alarm, and he proceeded instantly to + the lodge in quest of his daughter. Of the elopement there now remained no + doubt, and an examination into the state of the colonel's room, who, it + had been thought, was not yet risen, gave assurance of it. Here was at + once sad confirmation that the opinion of Mr. Holt was a just one. + Although every heart felt for Jane during this dreadful explanation, no + eye was turned on her excepting the stolen, and anxious glances of her + sister; but when all was confirmed, and nothing remained but to reflect or + act upon the circumstances, she naturally engrossed the whole attention of + her fond parents. Jane had listened in indignation to the commencement of + the narrative of Mr. Jarvis, and so firmly was Egerton enshrined in purity + within her imagination, that not until it was ascertained that both his + servant and clothes were missing, would she admit a thought injurious to + his truth. Then indeed the feelings of Mr. Jarvis, his plain statement + corroborated by this testimony, struck her at once as true; and as she + rose to leave the room, she fell senseless into the arms of Emily who + observing her movement and loss of color had flown to her assistance. + Denbigh had drawn the merchant out in vain efforts to appease him, and + happily no one witnessed this effect of Jane's passion but her nearest + relatives. She was immediately removed to her own room, and in a short + time was in bed with a burning fever. The bursts of her grief were + uncontrolled and violent. At times she reproached herself--her + friends--Egerton; in short, she was guilty of all the inconsistent + sensations that disappointed hopes, accompanied by the consciousness of + weakness on our part seldom fail to give rise to; the presence of her + friends was irksome to her, and it was only to the soft and insinuating + blandishments of Emily's love that she would at all yield. Perseverance + and affection at length prevailed, and as Emily took the opportunity of + some refreshments to infuse a strong soporific, Jane lost her + consciousness of misery in a temporary repose. In the mean time a more + searching inquiry had been able to trace out the manner and direction of + the journey of the fugitives. + </p> + <p> + It appeared the colonel left the lodge immediately after his conversation + with Sir Edward; he slept at a tavern, and caused his servant to remove + his baggage at daylight; here he had ordered a chaise and horses, and then + proceeded, as mentioned, to the lodgings of Mr. Jarvis. What arguments he + used with Miss Jarvis to urge her to so sudden a flight, remained a + secret; but from the remarks of Mrs. Jarvis and Miss Sarah, there was + reason to believe that he had induced them to think from the commencement, + that his intentions were single, and Mary Jarvis their object. How he + contrived to gloss over his attentions to Jane in such a manner as to + deceive those ladies, caused no little surprise; but it was obvious it had + been done, and the Moseleys were not without hopes his situation with Jane + would not make the noise in the world such occurrences seldom fail to + excite. In the afternoon a letter was handed to Mr. Jarvis, and by him + immediately communicated to the baronet and Denbigh, both of whom he + considered as among his best friends. It was from Egerton, and written in + a respectful manner: he apologized for his elopement, and excused it on + the ground of a wish to avoid the delay of a license or the publishing of + bans, as he was in hourly expectation of a summons to his regiment, and + contained many promises of making an attentive husband, and an + affectionate son. The fugitives were on the road to Scotland, whence they + intended immediately to return to London and to wait the commands of their + parents. The baronet in a voice trembling with emotion at the sufferings + of his own child, congratulated the merchant that things were no worse; + while Denbigh curled his lips as he read the epistle, and thought + settlements were a greater inconvenience than the bans--for it was a well + known fact, a maiden aunt had left the Jarvises twenty thousand pounds + between them. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXVI. + </h2> + <p> + Although the affections of Jane had sustained a blow, her pride had + received a greater, and no persuasions of her mother or sister could + induce her to leave her room. She talked little, but once or twice she + yielded to the affectionate attentions of Emily, and poured out her + sorrows into the bosom of her sister. At such moments she would declare + her intention of never appearing in the world again. One of these + paroxysms of sorrow was witnessed by her mother, and, for the first time, + self-reproach mingled in the grief of the matron. Had she trusted less to + appearances and to the opinions of indifferent and ill-judging + acquaintances, her daughter might have been apprized in season of the + character of the man who had stolen her affections. To a direct exhibition + of misery Lady Moseley was always sensible, and, for the moment, she + became alive to its causes and consequences; but a timely and judicious + safeguard against future moral evils was a forecast neither her inactivity + of mind nor abilities were equal to. + </p> + <p> + We shall leave Jane to brood over her lover's misconduct, while we regret + she is without the consolation alone able to bear her up against the + misfortunes of life, and return to the other personages of our history. + </p> + <p> + The visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald had been postponed in consequence of Jane's + indisposition; but a week after the colonel's departure, Mrs. Wilson + thought, as Jane had consented to leave her room, and Emily really began + to look pale from her confinement by the side of a sick bed, she would + redeem the pledge she had given the recluse on the following morning. They + found the ladies at the cottage happy to see them, and anxious to hear of + the health of Jane, of whose illness they had been informed by note. After + offering her guests some refreshments, Mrs. Fitzgerald, who appeared + laboring under a greater melancholy than usual, proceeded to make them + acquainted with the incidents of her life. + </p> + <p> + The daughter of an English merchant at Lisbon had fled from the house of + her father to the protection of an Irish officer in the service of his + Catholic Majesty: they were united, and the colonel immediately took his + bride to Madrid. The offspring of this union were a son and daughter. The + former, at an early age, had entered into the service of his king, and + had, as usual, been bred in the faith of his ancestors; but the Señora + McCarthy had been educated, and yet remained a Protestant, and, contrary + to her faith to her husband, secretly instructed her daughter in the same + belief. At the age of seventeen, a principal grandee of the court of + Charles sought the hand of the general's child. The Conde d'Alzada was a + match not to be refused, and they were united in the heartless and formal + manner in which marriages are too often entered into, in countries where + the customs of society prevent an intercourse between the sexes. The Conde + never possessed the affections of his wife. Of a stern and unyielding + disposition, his harshness repelled her love; and as she naturally turned + her eyes to the home of her childhood, she cherished all those peculiar + sentiments she had imbibed from her mother. Thus, although she appeared to + the world a Catholic, she lived in secret a Protestant. Her parents had + always used the English language in their family, and she spoke it as + fluently as the Spanish. To encourage her recollections of this strong + feature, which distinguished the house of her father from the others she + entered, she perused closely and constantly those books which the death of + her mother placed at her disposal. These were principally Protestant works + on religious subjects, and the countess became a strong sectarian, without + becoming a Christian. As she was compelled to use the same books in + teaching her only child, the Donna Julia, English, the consequences of the + original false step of her grandmother were perpetuated in the person of + this young lady. In learning English, she also learned to secede from the + faith of her father, and entailed upon herself a life of either + persecution or hypocrisy. The countess was guilty of the unpardonable + error of complaining to their child of the treatment she received from her + husband; and as these conversations were held in English, and were + consecrated by the tears of the mother, they made an indelible impression + on the youthful mind of Julia, who grew up with the conviction that next + to being a Catholic herself, the greatest evil of life was to be the wife + of one. + </p> + <p> + On her attaining her fifteenth year, she had the misfortune (if it could + be termed one) to lose her mother, and within the year her father + presented to her a nobleman of the vicinity as her future husband. How + long the religious faith of Julia would have endured, unsupported by + example in others, and assailed by the passions soliciting in behalf of a + young and handsome cavalier, it might be difficult to pronounce; but as + suitor was neither very young, and the reverse of very handsome, it is + certain the more he wooed, the more confirmed she became in her heresy, + until, in a moment of desperation, and as an only refuge against his + solicitations, she candidly avowed her creed. The anger of her father was + violent and lasting: she was doomed to a convent, as both a penance for + her sins and a means of reformation. Physical resistance was not in her + power, but mentally she determined never to yield. Her body was immured, + but her mind continued unshaken and rather more settled in her belief, by + the aid of those passions which had been excited by injudicious harshness. + For two years she continued in her novitiate, obstinately refusing to take + the vows of the order, and at the end of that period the situation of her + country had called her father and uncle to the field as defenders of the + rights of their lawful prince. Perhaps to this it was owing that harsher + measures were not adopted in her case. + </p> + <p> + The war now raged around them in its greatest horrors, until at length a + general battle was fought in the neighborhood, and the dormitories of the + peaceful nuns were crowded with wounded British officers. Amongst others + of his nation was a Major Fitzgerald, a young man of strikingly handsome + countenance and pleasant manners. Chance threw him under the more + immediate charge of Julia: his recovery was slow, and for a time doubtful, + and as much owing to good nursing as science. The major was grateful, and + Julia unhappy as she was beautiful. That love should be the offspring of + this association, will excite no surprise. A brigade of British encamping + in the vicinity of the convent, the young couple sought its protection + from Spanish vengeance and Romish cruelty. They were married by the + chaplain of the brigade, and for a month they were happy. + </p> + <p> + As Napoleon was daily expected in person at the seat of war, his generals + were alive to their own interests, if not to that of their master. The + body of troops in which Fitzgerald had sought a refuge, being an advanced + party of the main army, were surprised and defeated with loss. After doing + his duty as a soldier at his post, the major, in endeavoring to secure the + retreat of Julia, was intercepted, and they both fell into the hands of + the enemy. They were kindly treated, and allowed every indulgence their + situation admitted, until a small escort of prisoners was sent to the + frontiers; in this they were included, and had proceeded to the + neighborhood of the Pyrenees, when, in their turn, the French were + assailed suddenly, and entirely routed; and the captive Spaniards, of + which the party, with the exception of our young couple, consisted, + released. As the French guard made a resistance until overpowered by + numbers, an unfortunate ball struck Major Fitzgerald to the earth--he + survived but an hour, and died where he fell, on the open field. An + English officer, the last of his retiring countrymen, was attracted by the + sight of a woman weeping over the body of a fallen man, and approached + them. In a few words Fitzgerald explained his situation to this gentleman, + and exacted a pledge from him to guard his Julia, in safety, to his mother + in England. + </p> + <p> + The stranger promised everything the dying husband required, and by the + time death had closed the eyes of Fitzgerald, he had procured from some + peasants a rude conveyance, into which the body, with its almost equally + lifeless widow, were placed. The party which intercepted the convoy of + prisoners, had been out from the British camp on other duty, but its + commander hearing of the escort, had pushed rapidly into a country covered + by the enemy to effect their rescue; and his service done, he was + compelled to make a hasty retreat to ensure his own security. To this was + owing the indifference, which left the major to the care of the Spanish + peasantry who had gathered to the spot, and the retreating troops had got + several miles on their return, before the widow and her protector + commenced their journey. It was impossible to overtake them, and the + inhabitants acquainting the gentleman that a body of French dragoons were + already harassing their rear, he was compelled to seek another route to + the camp. This, with some trouble and no little danger, he at last + effected; and the day following the skirmish, Julia found herself lodged + in a retired Spanish dwelling, several miles within the advanced posts of + the British army. The body of her husband was respectfully interred, and + Julia was left to mourn her irretrievable loss, uninterrupted by anything + but by the hasty visits of the officer in whose care she had been + left--visits which he stole from his more important duties as a soldier. + </p> + <p> + A month glided by in this melancholy manner, leaving to Mrs. Fitzgerald + the only consolation she would receive--her incessant visits to the grave + of her husband. The calls of her protector, however, became more frequent; + and at length he announced his intended departure for Lisbon, on his way + to England. A small covered vehicle, drawn by one horse, was to convey + them to the city, at which place he promised to procure her a female + attendant, and necessaries for the voyage home. It was no time or place + for delicate punctilio; and Julia quietly, but with a heart nearly broken, + prepared to submit to the wishes of her late husband. After leaving the + dwelling, the manners of her guide sensibly altered; he became + complimentary and assiduous to please, but in a way rather to offend than + conciliate; until his attentions became so irksome, that Julia actually + meditated stopping at some of the villages through which they passed, and + abandoning the attempt of visiting England entirely. But the desire to + comply with Fitzgerald's wish, that she would console his mother for the + loss of an only child, and the dread of the anger of her relatives, + determined her to persevere until they reached Lisbon, where she was + resolved to separate for ever from the disagreeable and unknown guardian + into whose keeping she had been thrown by chance. + </p> + <p> + The last day of their weary ride, while passing a wood, the officer so far + forgot his own character and Julia's misfortunes, as to offer personal + indignities. Grown desperate from her situation, Mrs. Fitzgerald sprang + from the vehicle, and by her cries attracted the notice of an officer who + was riding express on the same road with themselves. He advanced to her + assistance at speed, but as he arrived near them, a pistol fired from the + carriage brought his horse down, and the treacherous friend was enabled to + escape undetected. Julia endeavored to explain her situation to her + rescuer; and by her distress and appearance, satisfied him at once of its + truth. Within a short time, a strong escort of light dragoons came up, and + the officer despatched some for a conveyance, and others in pursuit of + that disgrace to the army, the villanous guide: the former was soon + obtained, but no tidings could be had of the latter. The carriage was + found at a short distance, without the horse and with the baggage of + Julia, but with no vestige of its owner. She never knew his name, and + either accident or art had so completely enveloped him in mystery, that + all efforts to unfold it then were fruitless, and had continued so ever + since. + </p> + <p> + On their arrival in Lisbon, every attention was shown to the disconsolate + widow the most refined delicacy could dictate, and every comfort and + respect were procured for her which the princely fortune, high rank, and + higher character of the Earl of Pendennyss, could command. It was this + nobleman, who, on his way from head-quarters with despatches for England, + had been the means of preserving Julia from a fate worse than death. A + packet was in waiting for the earl, and they proceeded in her for home. + The Donna Lorenza was the widow of a subaltern Spanish officer, who had + fallen under the orders and near Pendennyss, and the interest he took in + her brave husband had induced him to offer her, in the destruction of her + little fortune by the enemy, his protection: for near two years he had + maintained her at Lisbon and now, judging her a proper person, had + persuaded her to accompany Mrs. Fitzgerald to England. + </p> + <p> + On the passage, which was very tedious, the earl became more intimately + acquainted with the history and character of his young friend, and by a + course of gentle yet powerful expedients had drawn her mind gradually from + its gloomy contemplation of futurity, to a juster sense of good and evil. + The peculiarity of her religious persuasion afforded an introduction to + frequent discussions of the real opinions of that church, to which Julia + had hitherto belonged, although ignorant of all its essential and vital + truths. These conversations, which were renewed repeatedly in their + intercourse while under the protection of his sister in London, laid the + foundations of a faith which left her nothing to hope for but the happy + termination of her earthly probation. + </p> + <p> + The mother of Fitzgerald was dead, and as he had no near relative left, + Julia found herself alone in the world. Her husband had taken the + precaution to make a will in season it was properly authenticated, and his + widow, by the powerful assistance of Pendennyss, was put in quiet + possession of a little independency. It was while waiting the decision of + this affair that Mrs. Fitzgerald resided for a short time near Bath. As + soon as it was terminated, the earl and his sister had seen her settled in + her present abode, and once since had they visited her; but delicacy had + kept him away from the cottage, although his attempts to serve her had + been constant, though not always successful. He had, on his return to + Spain, seen her father, and interceded with him on her behalf, but in + vain. The anger of the Spaniard remained unappeased, and for a season he + did not renew his efforts; out having heard that her father was + indisposed, Julia had employed the earl once more to make her peace with + him, without prevailing. The letter the ladies had found her weeping over + was from Pendennyss, informing her of his want of success on that + occasion. + </p> + <p> + The substance of the foregoing narrative was related by Mrs. Fitzgerald to + Mrs. Wilson, who repeated it to Emily in their ride home. The compassion + of both ladies was strongly moved in behalf of the young widow; yet Mrs. + Wilson did not fail to point out to her niece the consequences of + deception, and chiefly the misery which had followed from an abandonment + of some of the primary duties of life--obedience and respect to her + parent. Emily, though keenly alive to all the principles inculcated by her + aunt, found so much to be pitied in the fate of her friend, that her + failings lost their proper appearance in her eyes, and for a while she + could think of nothing but Julia and her misfortunes. Previously to their + leaving the cottage, Mrs. Fitzgerald, with glowing cheeks and some + hesitation, informed Mrs. Wilson she had yet another important + communication to make, but would postpone it until her next visit, which + Mrs. Wilson promised should be on the succeeding day. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXVII. + </h2> + <p> + Emily threw a look of pleasure on Denbigh, as he handed her from the + carriage, which would have said, if looks could talk, "In the principles + you have displayed on more than one occasion, I have a pledge of <i>your</i> + worth." As he led her into the house, he laughingly informed her that he + had that morning received a letter which would make his absence from L---- + necessary for a short time, and that he must remonstrate against these + long and repeated visits to a cottage where all attendants of the male sex + were excluded, as they encroached greatly on his pleasures and + improvements, bowing, as he spoke, to Mrs. Wilson. To this Emily replied, + gaily, that possibly, if he conducted himself to their satisfaction; they + would intercede for <i>his</i> admission. Expressing his pleasure at this + promise, as Mrs. Wilson thought rather awkwardly, Denbigh changed the + conversation. At dinner he repeated to the family what he had mentioned to + Emily of his departure, and also his expectation of meeting with Lord + Chatterton during his journey. + </p> + <p> + "Have you heard from Chatterton lately, John?" inquired Sir Edward + Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir, to-day: he had left Denbigh Castle a fortnight since, and + writes he is to meet his friend, the duke, at Bath." + </p> + <p> + "Are you connected with his grace, Mr. Denbigh?" asked Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + A smile of indefinite meaning played on the expressive face of Denbigh, as + he answered slightly-- + </p> + <p> + "On the side of my father, madam." + </p> + <p> + "He has a sister," continued Lady Moseley, willing to know more of + Chatterton's friends and Denbigh's relatives. + </p> + <p> + "He has," was the brief reply. + </p> + <p> + "Her name is Harriet," observed Mrs. Wilson. Denbigh bowed his assent in + silence, and Emily timidly added-- + </p> + <p> + "Lady Harriet Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Lady Harriet Denbigh--will you do me the favor to take wine?" + </p> + <p> + The manner of the gentleman during this dialogue had not been in the least + unpleasant, but it was peculiar; it prohibited anything further on the + subject; and Emily was obliged to be content without knowing who Marian + was, or whether her name was to be found in the Denbigh family or not. + Emily was not in the least jealous, but she wished to know all to whom her + lover was dear. + </p> + <p> + "Do the Dowager and the young ladies accompany Chatterton?" asked Sir + Edward, as he turned to John, who was eating his fruit in silence. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir--I hope--that is, I believe she will," was the answer. + </p> + <p> + "She! Who is she, my son?" + </p> + <p> + "Grace Chatterton," said John, starting from his meditations. "Did you not + ask me about Grace, Sir Edward?" + </p> + <p> + "Not particularly, I believe," said the baronet, dryly. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh again smiled: it was a smile different from any Mrs. Wilson had + ever seen on his countenance, and gave an entirely novel expression to his + face; it was full of meaning, it was knowing--spoke more of the man of the + world than anything she had before noticed in him, and left on her mind + one of those vague impressions she was often troubled with, that there was + something about Denbigh in character or condition, or both, that was + mysterious. + </p> + <p> + The spirit of Jane was too great to leave her a pining or pensive maiden; + yet her feelings had sustained a shock that time alone could cure. She + appeared again amongst her friends; but the consciousness of her + expectations with respect to the colonel being known to them, threw around + her a hauteur and distance very foreign to her natural manner. Emily + alone, whose every movement sprang from the spontaneous feelings of her + heart, and whose words and actions were influenced by the finest and most + affectionate delicacy, such as she was not conscious of possessing + herself, won upon the better feelings of her sister so far, as to restore + between them the usual exchange of kindness and sympathy. But Jane + admitted no confidence; she found nothing consoling, nothing solid, to + justify her attachment to Egerton; nothing indeed, excepting such external + advantages as she was now ashamed to admit had ever the power over her + they in reality had possessed. The marriage of the fugitives in Scotland + had been announced; and as the impression that Egerton was to be connected + with the Moseleys was destroyed of course, their every-day acquaintances, + feeling the restraints removed that such an opinion had once imposed, were + free in their comments on his character. Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were + astonished to find how many things to his disadvantage were generally + known; that he gambled--intrigued--and was in debt--were no secrets + apparently to anybody, but to those who were most interested in knowing + the truth; while Mrs. Wilson saw in these facts additional reasons for + examining and judging for ourselves; the world uniformly concealing from + the party and his friends their honest opinions of his character. Some of + these insinuations reached the ears of Jane: her aunt having rightly + judged, that the surest way to destroy Egerton's power over the + imagination of her niece was to strip him of his fictitious qualities, + suggested this expedient to Lady Moseley; and some of their visitors had + though as the colonel had certainly been attentive to Miss Moseley, it + would give her pleasure to know that her rival had not made the most + eligible match in the kingdom. The project of Mrs. Wilson succeeded in a + great measure; but although Egerton fell, Jane did not find she rose in + her own estimation; and her friends wisely concluded that time was the + only remedy that could restore her former serenity. + </p> + <p> + In the morning, Mrs. Wilson, unwilling to have Emily present at a + conversation she intended to hold with Denbigh, with a view to satisfy her + annoying doubts as to some minor points in his character, after excusing + herself to her niece, invited that gentleman to a morning drive. He + accepted her invitation cheerfully; and Mrs. Wilson saw, it was only as + they drove from the door without Emily, that he betrayed the faintest + reluctance to the jaunt. When they had got a short distance from the lodge + she acquainted him with her intention of presenting him to Mrs. + Fitzgerald, whither she had ordered the coachman to proceed. Denbigh + started as she mentioned the name, and after a few moments' silence, + desired Mrs. Wilson to allow him to stop the carriage; he was not very + well--was sorry to be so rude--but with her permission, he would alight + and return to the house. As he requested in an earnest manner that she + would proceed without him, and by no means disappoint her friend, Mrs. + Wilson complied; yet, somewhat at a loss to account for his sudden + illness, she turned her head to see how the sick man fared, a short time + after he had left her, and was not a little surprised to see him talking + very composedly with John who had met him on his way to the fields with + his gun. Lovesick--thought Mrs. Wilson with a smile; and as she rode on + she came to the conclusion, that as Denbigh was to leave them soon, Emily + would have an important communication to make on her return. + </p> + <p> + "Well," thought Mrs. Wilson with a sigh, "if it is to happen, it may as + well be done at once." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald was expecting her, and appeared rather pleased than + otherwise that she had come alone. After some introductory conversation, + the ladies withdrew by themselves, and Julia acquainted Mrs. Wilson with a + new source of uneasiness. The day the ladies had promised to visit her, + but had been prevented by the arrangements for the ball, the Donna Lorenza + had driven to the village to make some purchases, attended as usual by + their only man-servant, and Mrs. Fitzgerald was sitting in the little + parlor in momentary expectation of her friends by herself. The sound of + footsteps drew her to the door, which she opened for the admission of the + wretch whose treachery to her dying husband's requests had given her so + much uneasiness. Horror--fear--surprise--altogether, prevented her from, + making any alarm at the moment, and she sank into a chair. He stood + between her and the door, as he endeavored to draw her into a + conversation; he assured her she had nothing to fear; that he loved her, + and her alone; that he was about to be married to a daughter of Sir Edward + Moseley, but would give her up, fortune, everything, if she would consent + to become his wife--that the views of her protector, he doubted not, were + dishonorable--that he himself was willing to atone for his former excess + of passion, by a life devoted to her. + </p> + <p> + How much longer he would have gone on, and what further he would have + offered, is unknown; for Mrs. Fitzgerald, having recovered herself a + little, darted to the bell on the other side of the room; he tried to + prevent her ringing it, but was too late; a short struggle followed, when + the sound of the footsteps of the maid compelled him to retreat + precipitately. Mrs. Fitzgerald added, that his assertion concerning Miss + Moseley had given her incredible uneasiness, and prevented her making the + communication yesterday; but she understood this morning through her maid, + that a Colonel Egerton, who had been supposed to be engaged to one of Sir + Edward's daughters, had eloped with another lady. That Egerton was her + persecutor, she did not now entertain a doubt; but that it was in the + power of Mrs. Wilson probably to make the discovery, as in the struggle + between them for the bell, a pocket-book had fallen from the breast-pocket + of his coat, and his retreat was too sudden to recover it. + </p> + <p> + As she put the book into the hands of Mrs. Wilson, she desired she would + take means to return it to its owner; its contents might be of value, + though she had not thought it correct to examine it. Mrs. Wilson took the + book, and as she dropped it into her work-bag, smiled at the Spanish + punctilio of her friend in not looking into her prize under the peculiar + circumstances. + </p> + <p> + A few questions as to the place and year of his first attempts, soon + convinced her it was Egerton whose unlicensed passions had given so much + trouble to Mrs. Fitzgerald. He had served but one campaign in Spain, and + in that year, and that division of the army; and surely <i>his principles</i> + were no restraint upon his conduct. Mrs. Fitzgerald begged the advice of + her more experienced friend as to the steps she ought to take; to which + the former asked if she had made Lord Pendennyss acquainted with the + occurrence. The young widow's cheek glowed as she answered, that, at the + same time she felt assured the base insinuation of Egerton was unfounded, + it had created a repugnance in her to troubling the earl any more than was + necessary in her affairs; and as she kissed the hand of Mrs. Wilson she + added--"besides, your goodness, my dear madam, renders any other adviser + unnecessary now." Mrs. Wilson pressed her hand affectionately, and assured + her of her good wishes and unaltered esteem. She commended her delicacy, + and plainly told the young widow, that how ever unexceptionable the + character of Pendennyss might be, a female friend was the only one a woman + in her situation could repose confidence in, without justly incurring the + sarcasms of the world. + </p> + <p> + As Egerton was now married, and would not probably offer, for the present + at least, any further molestation to Mrs. Fitzgerald, it was concluded to + be unnecessary to take any immediate measures of precaution; and Mrs. + Wilson thought the purse of Mr. Jarvis might be made the means of keeping + him within proper bounds in future. The merchant was prompt, and not + easily intimidated; and the slightest intimation of the truth would, she + knew, be sufficient to engage him on their side, heart and hand. + </p> + <p> + The ladies parted, with a promise of meeting soon again, and an additional + interest in each other by the communications of that and the preceding + day. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had ridden half the distance between the cottage and the + lodge, before it occurred to her they had not absolutely ascertained, by + the best means in their possession, the identity of Colonel Egerton with + Julia's persecutor. She accordingly took the pocket-book from her bag, and + opened it for examination: a couple of letters fell from it into her lap, + and conceiving their direction would establish all she wished to know, as + they had been read, she turned to the superscription of one of them, and + saw--"George Denbigh, Esq." in the well known hand-writing of Dr. + Ives.--Mrs. Wilson felt herself overcome to a degree that compelled her to + lower a glass of the carriage for air. She sat gazing on the letters until + the characters swam before her eyes in undistinguished confusion; and with + difficulty she rallied her thoughts to the point necessary for + investigation. As soon as she found herself equal to the task, she + examined the letters with the closest scrutiny, and opened them both to be + sure there was no mistake. She saw the dates, the "dear George" at the + commencements, and the doctor's name subscribed, before she would believe + they were real; it was then the truth appeared to break upon her in a + flood of light. The aversion of Denbigh to speak of Spain, or of his + services in that country--his avoiding Sir Herbert Nicholson, and that + gentleman's observations respecting him--Colonel Egerton's and his own + manners--his absence from the ball, and startling looks on the following + morning, and at different times before and since--his displeasure at the + name of Pendennyss on various occasions--and his cheerful acceptance of + her invitation to ride until he knew her destination, and singular manner + of leaving her--were all accounted for by this dreadful discovery, and + Mrs. Wilson found the solution of her doubts rushing on her mind with a + force and rapidity that sickened her. + </p> + <p> + The misfortunes of Mrs. Fitzgerald, the unfortunate issue to the passion + of Jane, were trifles in the estimation of Mrs. Wilson, compared to the + discovery of Denbigh's unworthiness. She revolved in her mind his conduct + on various occasions, and wondered how one who could behave so well in + common, could thus yield to temptation on a particular occasion. His + recent attempts, his hypocrisy, however, proved that his villany was + systematic, and she was not weak enough to hide from herself the evidence + of his guilt, or of its enormity. His interposition between Emily and + death, she attributed now to natural courage, and perhaps in some measure + to chance; but his profound and unvarying reverence for holy things, his + consistent charity, his refusing to fight, to what were they owing? And + Mrs. Wilson mourned the weakness of human nature, while she acknowledged + to her self, there might be men, qualified by nature, and even disposed by + reason and grace, to prove ornaments to religion and the world, who fell + beneath the maddening influence of their besetting sins. The superficial + and interested vices of Egerton vanished before these awful and deeply + seated offences of Denbigh, and the correct widow saw at a glance, that he + was the last man to be intrusted with the happiness of her niece; but how + to break this heartrending discovery to Emily was a new source of + uneasiness to her, and the carriage stopped at the door of the lodge, ere + she had determined on the first step required of her by duty. + </p> + <p> + Her brother handed her out, and, filled with the dread that Denbigh had + availed himself of the opportunity of her absence to press his suit with + Emily, she eagerly inquired after him. She was rejoiced to hear he had + returned with John for a fowling-piece, and together they had gone in + pursuit of game, although she saw in it a convincing proof that a desire + to avoid Mrs. Fitzgerald, and not indisposition, had induced him to leave + her.--As a last alternative, she resolved to have the pocket-book returned + to him in her presence, in order to see if he acknowledged it to be his + property; and, accordingly, she instructed her own man to hand it to him + while at dinner, simply saying he had lost it. + </p> + <p> + The open and unsuspecting air with which her niece met Denbigh on his + return gave Mrs. Wilson an additional shock, and she could hardly command + herself sufficiently to extend the common courtesies of good breeding to + Mr. Benfield's guest. + </p> + <p> + While sitting at the dessert, her servant handed the pocket book, as + directed by his mistress, to its owner, saying, "Your pocket-book, I + believe, Mr. Denbigh." Denbigh took the book, and held it in his hand for + a moment in surprise, and then fixed his eye keenly on the man, as he + inquired where he found it, and how he knew it was his. These were + interrogatories Francis was not prepared to answer, and in his confusion + he naturally turned his eyes on his mistress. Denbigh followed their + direction with his own, and in encountering the looks of the lady, he + asked in a stammering manner, and with a face of scarlet, + </p> + <p> + "Am I indebted to you, madam, for my property?" + </p> + <p> + "No, sir; it was given me by one who found it, to restore to you," said + Mrs. Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped, both appearing willing + to say no more. Yet Denbigh was abstracted and absent during the remainder + of the repast, and Emily spoke to him once or twice without obtaining an + answer. Mrs. Wilson caught his eye several times fixed on her with an + inquiring and doubtful expression, that convinced her he was alarmed. If + any confirmation of his guilt had been wanting, the consciousness he + betrayed during this scene afforded it; and she set seriously about + considering the shortest and best method of interrupting his intercourse + with Emily, before he had drawn from her an acknowledgment of her love. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + On withdrawing to her dressing-room after dinner, Mrs. Wilson commenced + the disagreeable duty of removing the veil from the eyes of her niece, by + recounting to her the substance of Mrs. Fitzgerald's last communication. + To the innocence of Emily such persecution could excite no other + sensations than surprise and horror; and as her aunt omitted the part + concerning the daughter of Sir Edward Moseley, she naturally expressed her + wonder as to who the wretch could be. + </p> + <p> + "Possibly, aunt," she said with an involuntary shudder, "some of the many + gentlemen we have lately seen, and one who has had art enough to conceal + his real character from the world." + </p> + <p> + "Concealment, my love," replied Mrs. Wilson, "would be hardly necessary. + Such is the fashionable laxity of morals, that I doubt not many of his + associates would laugh at his misconduct, and that he would still continue + to pass with the world as an honorable man." + </p> + <p> + "And ready," cried her niece, "to sacrifice human life, in the defence of + any ridiculous punctilio." + </p> + <p> + "Or," added Mrs. Wilson, striving to draw nearer to her subject, "with a + closer veil of hypocrisy, wear even an affectation of principle and moral + feeling that would seem to forbid such a departure from duty in favor of + custom." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no, dear aunt," exclaimed Emily, with glowing cheeks and eyes dancing + with pleasure, "he would hardly dare to be so very base. It would be + profanity." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson sighed heavily as she witnessed that confiding esteem which + would not permit her niece even to suspect that an act which in Denbigh + had been so warmly applauded, could, even in another, proceed from + unworthy motives; and she found it would be necessary to speak in the + plainest terms, to awaken her suspicions. Willing, however, to come + gradually to the distressing truth, she replied-- + </p> + <p> + "And yet, my dear, men who pride themselves greatly on their morals, nay, + even some who wear the mask of religion, and perhaps deceive themselves, + admit and practise this very appeal to arms. Such inconsistencies are by + no means uncommon. And why, then, might there not, with equal probability, + be others who would revolt at murder, and yet not hesitate being guilty of + lesser enormities? This is, in some measure, the case of every man; and it + is only to consider killing in unlawful encounters as murder, to make it + one in point." + </p> + <p> + "Hypocrisy is so mean a vice, I should not think a brave man could stoop + to it," said Emily, "and Julia admits he was brave." + </p> + <p> + "And would not a brave man revolt at the cowardice of insulting an + unprotected woman? And your hero did that too," replied Mrs. Wilson, + bitterly, losing her self-command in indignation. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! do not call him my hero, I beg of you, dear aunt," said Emily, + starting, excited by so extraordinary an allusion, but instantly losing + the unpleasant sensation in the delightful consciousness of the + superiority of the man on whom she had bestowed her own admiration. + </p> + <p> + "In fact, my child," continued her aunt, "our natures are guilty of the + grossest inconsistencies. The vilest wretch has generally some property or + which he values himself, and the most perfect are too often frail on some + tender point. Long and tried friendships are those only which can be + trusted, and these oftentimes fail." + </p> + <p> + Emily looked at her aunt in surprise at hearing her utter such unusual + sentiments; for Mrs. Wilson, at the same time she had, by divine + assistance, deeply impressed her niece with the frailty of her nature, had + withheld the disgusting representation of human vices from her view, as + unnecessary to her situation and dangerous to her humility. + </p> + <p> + After a short pause, Mrs. Wilson continued, "Marriage is a fearful step in + a woman, and one she is compelled, in some measure, to adventure her + happiness on, without fitting opportunities of judging of the merit of the + man she confides in. Jane is an instance in point, but I devoutly hope you + are not to be another." + </p> + <p> + While speaking, Mrs. Wilson had taken the hand of Emily, and by her looks + and solemn manner she had succeeded in alarming her niece, although + Denbigh was yet furthest from the thoughts of Emily. The aunt reached her + a glass of water, and willing to get rid of the hateful subject she + continued, hurriedly, "Did you not notice the pocket-book Francis gave to + Mr. Denbigh?" Emily fixed her inquiring eyes on her aunt, as the other + added, "It was the one Mrs. Fitzgerald gave me to-day." Something like an + indefinite glimpse of the facts crossed the mind of Emily; and as it most + obviously involved a separation from Denbigh, she sank lifeless into the + extended arms of her aunt. This had been anticipated by Mrs. Wilson, and a + timely application of restoratives soon brought her back to a + consciousness of misery. Mrs. Wilson, unwilling any one but herself should + witness this first burst of grief, succeeded in getting her niece to her + own room and in bed. Emily made no lamentations--shed no tears--asked no + questions--her eye was fixed, and every faculty appeared oppressed with + the load on her heart. Mrs. Wilson knew her situation too well to intrude + with unseasonable consolation or useless reflections, but sat patiently by + her side, waiting anxiously for the moment she could be of service. At + length the uplifted eyes and clasped hands of Emily assured her she had + not forgotten herself or her duty, and she was rewarded for her labor and + forbearance by a flood of tears. Emily was now able to listen to a more + full statement of the reasons her aunt had for believing in the guilt of + Denbigh, and she felt as if her heart was frozen up for ever, as the + proofs followed each other until they amounted to demonstration. As there + was some indication of fever from her agitated state of mind, her aunt + required she should remain in her room until morning; and Emily, feeling + every way unequal to a meeting with Denbigh, gladly assented. After + ringing for her maid to sit in the adjoining room, Mrs. Wilson went below, + and announced to the family the indisposition of her charge, and her + desire to obtain a little sleep. Denbigh looked anxious to inquire after + the health of Emily, but there was a restraint on all his actions, since + the return of his book, that persuaded Mrs. Wilson he apprehended that a + detection of his conduct had taken place. He did venture to ask when they + were to have the pleasure of seeing Miss Moseley again, hoping it would be + that evening, as he had fixed the morning for his departure; and when he + learnt that Emily had retired for the night, his anxiety was sensibly + increased, and he instantly withdrew. Mrs. Wilson was alone in the + drawing-room, and about to join her niece, as, Denbigh entered it with a + letter in his hand: he approached her with a diffident and constrained + manner, and commenced the following dialogue: + </p> + <p> + "My anxiety and situation will plead my apology for troubling Miss Moseley + at this time--may I ask you, madam, to deliver this letter--I hardly dare + ask you for your good offices." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson took the letter, and coldly replied, + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, sir; and I sincerely wish I could be of any real service to + you." + </p> + <p> + "I perceive, madam," said Denbigh, like one that was choking, "I have + forfeited your good opinion--that pocket book--" + </p> + <p> + "Has made a dreadful discovery," said Mrs. Wilson, shuddering. + </p> + <p> + "Will not one offence be pardoned, dear madam?" cried Denbigh, with + warmth; "if you knew my circumstances--the cruel reasons--why--why did I + neglect the paternal advice of Doctor Ives?" + </p> + <p> + "It is not yet too late, sir," said Mrs. Wilson, more mildly, "for your + own good; as for us, your deception--" + </p> + <p> + "Is unpardonable--I see it--I feel it," cried he, in the accent of + despair; "yet Emily--Emily may relent--you will at least give her my + letter--anything is better than this suspense." + </p> + <p> + "You shall have an answer from Emily this evening, and one entirely + unbiassed by me," said Mrs. Wilson. As she closed the door, she observed + Denbigh gazing on her retiring figure with a countenance of despair, that + caused a feeling of pity to mingle with her detestation of his vices. + </p> + <p> + On opening the door of Emily's room, Mrs. Wilson found her niece in tears, + and her anxiety for her health was alleviated. She knew or hoped, that if + she could once call in the assistance of her judgment and piety to lessen + her sorrows, Emily, however she might mourn, would become resigned to her + situation; and the first step to attain this was the exercise of those + faculties which had been, as it were, momentarily annihilated. Mrs. Wilson + kissed her niece with tenderness, as she placed the letter in her hand, + and told her she would call for her answer within an hour. Employment, and + the necessity of acting, would, she thought, be the surest means of + reviving her energies; nor was she disappointed. When the aunt returned + for the expected answer, she was informed by the maid in the ante-chamber, + that Miss Moseley was up, and had been writing. On entering, Mrs. Wilson + stood a moment in admiration of the picture before her. Emily was on her + knees, and by her side, on the carpet, lay the letter and its answer: her + face was hid by her hair, and her hands were closed in the fervent grasp + of petition. In a minute she rose, and approaching her aunt with an air of + profound resignation, but great steadiness, she handed her the letters, + her own unsealed: + </p> + <p> + "Read them, madam, and if you approve of mine, I will thank you to deliver + it." + </p> + <p> + Her aunt folded her in her arms, until Emily, finding herself yielding + under the effects of sympathy, begged to be left alone. On withdrawing to + her own room, Mrs. Wilson read the contents of the two letters. + </p> + <p> + "I rely greatly on the goodness of Miss Moseley to pardon the liberty I am + taking, at a moment she is so unfit for such a subject; but my + departure--my feelings--- must plead my apology. From the moment of my + first acquaintance with you, I have been a cheerful subject to your + loveliness and innocence. I feel--I know--I am not deserving of such a + blessing; but since knowing you, as I do, it is impossible not to strive + to win you. You have often thanked me as the preserver of your life, but + you little knew the deep interest I had in its safety. Without it my own + would be valueless. By accepting my offered hand, you will place me + amongst the happiest, or by rejecting it, the most wretched of men." + </p> + <p> + To this note, which was unsigned, and evidently written under great + agitation of mind, Emily had-penned the following reply: + </p> + <p> + "Sir--It is with much regret that I find myself reduced to the possibility + of giving uneasiness to one to whom I am under such heavy obligations. It + will never be in my power to accept the honor you have offered me; and I + beg you to receive my thanks for the compliment conveyed in your request, + as well as my good wishes for your happiness in future, and fervent + prayers that you may be ever found worthy of it--Your humble servant, + </p> + <p> + "EMILY MOSELEY." + </p> + <p> + Perfectly satisfied with this answer, Mrs. Wilson went below in order to + deliver it at once. She thought it probable, as Denbigh had already sent + his baggage to a tavern, preparatory to his intended journey, they would + not meet again; and as she felt a strong wish, both on account of Doctor + Ives, and out of respect to the services of the young man himself, to + conceal his conduct from the world entirely, she was in hopes that his + absence might make any disclosure unnecessary. He took the letter from her + with a trembling hand, and casting one of his very expressive looks at + her, as if to read her thoughts, he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + Emily had fallen asleep free from fever, and Mrs. Wilson had descended to + the supper-room, when Mr. Benfield was first struck with the absence of + his favorite. An inquiry after Denbigh was instituted, and while they were + waiting his appearance, a servant handed the old man a note. + </p> + <p> + "From whom?" cried Mr. Benfield, in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, sir," said the servant. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh?" exclaimed Mr. Benfield: "no accident, I hope--I remember + when Lord Gosford--here, Peter, your eyes are young; read it for me, read + it aloud." + </p> + <p> + As all but Mrs. Wilson were anxiously waiting to know the meaning of this + message, and Peter had many preparations to go through before his youthful + eyes could make out the contents, John hastily caught the letter out of + his hand, saying he would save him the trouble, and, in obedience to his + uncle's wishes, he read aloud: + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, being under the necessity of leaving L---- immediately, and + unable to endure the pain of taking leave, avails himself of this means of + tendering his warmest thanks to Mr. Benfield, for his hospitality, and to + his amiable guests for their many kindnesses. As he contemplates leaving + England, he desires to wish them all a long and an affectionate farewell." + </p> + <p> + "Farewell!" cried Mr. Benfield; "farewell--does he say farewell, John? + Here, Peter, run--no, you are too old--John, run--bring my hat; I'll go + myself to the village--some love-quarrel--Emmy sick--and Denbigh going + away--yes--yes, I did so myself--Lady Juliana, poor dear soul, she was a + long time before she could forget it--but Peter"--Peter had disappeared + the instant the letter was finished, and he was quickly followed by John. + Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were lost in amazement at this sudden and + unexpected movement of Denbigh, and the breast of each of the affectionate + parents was filled with a vague apprehension that the peace of mind of + another child was at stake. Jane felt a renewal of her woes, in the + anticipation of something similar for her sister--for the fancy of Jane + was yet active, and she did not cease to consider the defection of Egerton + a kind of unmerited misfortune and fatality, instead of a probable + consequence of want of principle. Like Mr. Benfield, she was in danger of + raising an ideal idol, and of spending the remainder of her days in + devotion to qualities, rarely if ever found identified with a person that + never had existed. The old gentleman was entirely engrossed by a different + object; and having in his own opinion decided there must have been one of + those misunderstandings which sometimes had occurred to himself and Lady + Juliana, he quietly composed himself to eat his salad at the supper table: + on turning his head, however, in quest of his first glass of wine, he + observed Peter standing quietly by the sideboard with the favorite goggles + over his eyes. Now Peter was troubled with two kinds of debility about his + organs of vision; one was age and natural weakness, while the other + proceeded more directly from the heart. His master knew of these facts, + and he took the alarm. Again the wine-glass dropped from his nerveless + hand, as he said in a trembling tone, + </p> + <p> + "Peter, I thought you went"-- + </p> + <p> + "Yes, master," said Peter, laconically. + </p> + <p> + "You saw him, Peter--will he return?" + </p> + <p> + Peter was busily occupied at his glasses, although no one was dry. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," repeated Mr. Benfield, rising from his seat; "is he coming in + time for supper?" Peter was obliged to reply, and deliberately uncasing + his eyes and blowing his nose, he was on the point of opening his mouth, + as John came into the room, and threw himself into a chair with an air of + great vexation. Peter pointed to the young gentleman in silence, and + retired. + </p> + <p> + "John," cried Sir Edward, "where is Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Gone, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Gone!" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my dear father," said John, "gone without saying good-bye to one of + us--without telling us whither, or when to return. It was cruel in him--- + unkind--I'll never forgive him"--and John, whose feelings were strong, and + unusually excited, hid his face between his hands on the table.--As he + raised his head to reply to a question of Mr. Benfield--of "how he knew he + had gone, for the coach did not go until daylight?" Mrs. Wilson saw + evident marks of tears. Such proofs of emotion in one like John Moseley + gave her the satisfaction of knowing that if she had been deceived, it was + by a concurrence of circumstances and a depth of hypocrisy almost + exceeding belief: self-reproach added less than common, therefore, to the + uneasiness of the moment. + </p> + <p> + "I saw the innkeeper, uncle," said John, "who told me that Denbigh left + there at eight o'clock in a post-chaise and four; but I will go to London + in the morning myself." This was no sooner said than it was corroborated + by acts, for the young man immediately commenced his preparations for the + journey. The family separated that evening with melancholy hearts; and the + host and his privy counsellor were closeted for half an hour ere they + retired to their night's repose. John took his leave of them, and left the + lodge for the inn, with his man, in order to be ready for the mail. Mrs. + Wilson looked in upon Emily before she withdrew herself, and found her + awake, but perfectly calm and composed: she said but little, appearing + desirous of avoiding all allusions to Denbigh; and after her aunt had + simply acquainted her with his departure, and her resolution to conceal + the cause, the subject was dropped. Mrs. Wilson, on entering her own room, + thought deeply on the discoveries of the day: they had interfered with her + favorite system of morals, baffled her ablest calculations upon causes and + effects, but in no degree had impaired her faith or reliance on + Providence. She knew one exception did not destroy a rule: she was certain + without principles there was no security for good conduct, and the case of + Denbigh proved it. To discover these principles, might be difficult; but + was a task imperiously required at her hands, as she believed, ere she + yielded the present and future happiness of her pupil to the power of any + man. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXIX. + </h2> + <p> + The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his + seat in the mail for London. Three of the places were already occupied, + and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside. An + intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and + none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence. The coach + had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the + rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the + least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow + creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant. This + reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it + owing!--modesty? Did not national and deep personal vanity appear at once + to refute the assertion, we might enter into an investigation of it. The + good opinion of himself in an Englishman is more deeply seated, though + less buoyant, than that of his neighbors; in them it is more of manner, in + us more of feeling; and the wound inflicted on the self-love of the two is + very different. The Frenchman wonders at its rudeness, but soon forgets + the charge; while an Englishmam broods over it in silence and + mortification. It is said this distinction in character is owing to the + different estimation of principles and morals in the two nations. The + solidity and purity of our ethics and religious creeds may have given a + superior tone to our moral feeling; but has that man a tenable ground to + value himself on either, whose respect to sacred things grows out of a + respect to himself: on the other hand, is not humility the very foundation + of the real Christian? For our part, we should be glad to see this + national reserve lessened, if not done entirely away; we believe it is + founded in pride and uncharitableness, and could wish to see men thrown + accidentally together on the roads of the country, mindful that they are + also travelling in company the highway of life, and that the goal of their + destination is equally attainable by all. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley was occupied with thoughts very different from those of any + of his fellow-travellers, as they proceeded rapidly on their route; and it + was only when roused from his meditations by accidentally coming in + contact with the hilt of a sword, that he looked up, and in the + glimmerings of the morning's light, recognised the person of Lord Henry + Stapleton: their eyes met, and--"My lord,"--"Mr. Moseley,"--were repeated + in mutual surprise. John was eminently a social being, and he was happy to + find recourse against his gloomy thoughts in the conversation of the + dashing young sailor. The frigate of the other had entered the bay the + night before, and he was going to town to the wedding of his sister; the + coach of his brother the marquis was to meet him about twenty miles from + town, and the ship was ordered round to Yarmouth, where he was to rejoin + her. + </p> + <p> + "But how are your lovely sisters, Moseley?" cried the young sailor in a + frank and careless manner. "I should have been half in love with one of + them if I had time--and money; both are necessary to marriage nowadays, + you know." + </p> + <p> + "As to time," said John with a laugh, "I believe that may be dispensed + with, though money is certainly a different thing." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, time too," replied his lordship. "I have never time enough to do + anything as it ought to be done--always hurried--I wish you could + recommend to me a lady who would take the trouble off my hands." + </p> + <p> + "It might be done," said John with a smile, and the image of Kate + Chatterton crossed his brain, but it was soon succeeded by that of her + more lovely sister. "But how do you manage on board your ship--hurried + there too?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! never there," replied the captain gravely; "that's duty you know, and + everything must be regular of course; on shore it is a different + thing--there I am only a passenger. L---- has a charming society, Mr. + Moseley--a week or ten days ago I was shooting, and came to a beautiful + cottage about five miles from the village, that was the abode of a much + more beautiful woman, a Spaniard, a Mrs. Fitzgerald--I am positively in + love with her: so soft, so polished, so modest----" + </p> + <p> + "How came you acquainted with her?" inquired Moseley, interrupting him in + a little surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Chance, my dear fellow, chance. I was thirsty, and approached for a drink + of water; she was sitting in the veranda, and being hurried for time, you + know, it saved the trouble of introduction. I fancy she is troubled with + the same complaint; for she managed to get rid of me in no time, and with + a great deal of politeness. I found out her name, however, at the next + house." + </p> + <p> + During this rattling talk, John had fixed his eyes on the face of one of + the passengers who sat opposite to him. The stranger appeared to be about + fifty years of age, strongly pock-marked, with a stiff military air, and + had the dress and exterior of a gentlemen. His face was much sun-burnt, + though naturally very fair; and his dark keen eye was intently fixed on + the sailor as he continued his remarks. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know such a lady, Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said John, "though very slightly; she is visited by one of my + sisters, and--" + </p> + <p> + "Yourself," cried Lord Henry, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Myself, once or twice, my lord, certainly," answered John, gravely; "but + a lady visited by Emily Moseley and Mrs. Wilson is a proper companion for + any one. Mrs. Fitzgerald is very retired in her manner of living, and + chance made us acquainted; but not being, like your lordship, in want of + time, we have endeavored to cultivate her society, as we have found it + very agreeable." + </p> + <p> + The countenance of the stranger underwent several changes during this + speech of John's, and at its close his eyes rested on him with a softer + expression than generally marked its rigid and compressed muscles. Willing + to change a discourse that was growing too particular for a mail-coach, + John addressed himself to the opposite passengers, while his eye yet dwelt + on the face of the military stranger. + </p> + <p> + "We are likely to have a fine day, gentlemen." The soldier bowed stiffly, + as he smiled his assent, and the other passenger humbly answered, "Very, + Mr. John," in the well known tones of honest Peter Johnson. Moseley + started, as he turned his face for the first time on the lank figure which + was modestly compressed into the smallest possible compass in the corner + of the coach, in a way not to come in contact with any of its neighbors. + </p> + <p> + "Johnson," exclaimed John, in astonishment, "you here! Where are you + going--to London?" + </p> + <p> + "To London, Mr. John," replied Peter, with a look of much importance; and + then, by way of silencing further interrogatories, he added, "On my + master's business, sir." + </p> + <p> + Both Moseley and Lord Henry examined him closely; the former wondering + what could take the steward, at the age of seventy, for the first time in + his life, into the vortex of the capital; and the latter in admiration at + this figure and equipments of the old man. Peter was in full costume, with + the exception of the goggles, and was in reality a subject to be gazed at; + but nothing relaxed the muscles or attracted the particular notice of the + soldier, who, having regained his set form of countenance, appeared drawn + up in himself, waiting patiently for the moment he was expected to act. + Nor did he utter more than as many words in the course of the first fifty + miles of their journey. His dialect was singular, and such as put his + hearers at a loss to determine his country. Lord Henry stared at him every + time he spoke, as if to say, what countryman are you? until at length he + suggested to John he was some officer whom the downfall of Bonaparte had + driven into retirement. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, Moseley," he added, as they were about to resume their carriage + after a change of horses, "we must draw him out, and see what he thinks of + his master now--delicately, you know." The soldier was, however, + impervious to his lordship's attacks, until the project was finally + abandoned in despair. As Peter was much too modest to talk in the presence + of Mr. John Moseley and a lord, the young men had most of the discourse to + themselves. At a village fifteen miles from London, a fashionable carriage + and four, with the coronet of a marquis was in waiting for Lord Henry. + John refused his invitation to take a seat with him to town; for he had + traced Denbigh from stage to stage, and was fearful of losing sight of + him, unless he persevered in the manner he had commenced. Peter and he + accordingly were put down safely at an inn in the Strand, and Moseley + hastened to make his inquiries after the object of his pursuit. Such a + chaise had arrived an hour before, and the gentleman had ordered his trunk + to a neighboring hotel. After obtaining the address, and ordering a + hackney coach, he hastened to the house; but on inquiring for Mr. Denbigh, + to his great mortification was told they knew of no such gentleman. John + turned away from the person he was speaking to in visible disappointment, + when a servant respectfully inquired if the gentleman had not come from + L----, in Norfolk, that day. "He had," was the reply. "Then follow me, + sir, if you please." They knocked at a door of one of the parlors, and the + servant entered: he returned, and John was shown into a room, where + Denbigh was sitting with his head resting on his hand, and apparently + musing. On seeing who required admittance, he sprang from his seat and + exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Moseley! Do I see aright?" + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh," cried John, stretching out his hand to him, "was this kind--was + it like yourself--to leave us so unexpectedly, and for so long a time, + too, as your note mentioned?" + </p> + <p> + Denbigh waved his hand to the servant to retire, and handed a chair to his + friend. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Moseley," said he, struggling with his feelings, "you appear ignorant + of my proposals to your sister." + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly," answered the amazed John. + </p> + <p> + "And her rejection of them." + </p> + <p> + "Is it possible!" cried the brother, pacing up and down the room. "I + acknowledge I did expect you to offer, but not to be refused." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh placed in the other hand the letter of Emily, which, having read, + John returned, with a sigh. "This, then, is the reason you left us," he + continued. "Emily is not capricious--it cannot be a sudden pique--she + means as she says." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Mr. Moseley," said Denbigh, mournfully; "your sister is + faultless--but I am not worthy of her--my deception"--here the door again + opened to the admission of Peter Johnson. Both the gentlemen rose at this + sudden interruption, and the steward advancing to the table, once more + produced the formidable pocket-book, the spectacles, and a letter. He ran + over its direction--"For George Denbigh, Esquire, London, by the hands of + Peter Johnson, with care and speed." After the observance of these + preliminaries, he delivered the missive to its lawful owner, who opened + it, and rapidly perused its contents. Denbigh was much affected with + whatever the latter might be, and kindly took the steward by the hand, as + he thanked him for this renewed instance of the interest he took in him. + If he would tell him where a letter would find him in the morning, he + would send a reply to the one he had received. Peter gave his address, but + appeared unwilling to go, until assured again and again that the answer + would be infallibly sent. Taking a small account-book out of his pocket, + and referring to its contents, the steward said, "Master has with Coutts + & Co. £7,000; in the bank, £5,000. It can be easily done, + sir, and never felt by us." Denbigh smiled in reply, as he assured the + steward he would take proper notice of his master's offers in his own + answer. The door again opened, and the military stranger was admitted to + their presence. He bowed, appeared not a little surprised to find two of + his mail-coach companions there, and handed Denbigh a letter, in quite as + formal, although in a more silent manner than the steward. The soldier was + invited to be seated, and the letter was perused with an evident curiosity + on the part of Denbigh. As soon as the latter ended it, he addressed the + stranger in a language which John rightly judged to be Spanish, and Peter + took to be Greek. For a few minutes the conversation was maintained + between them with great earnestness, his fellow travellers marvelling much + at the garrulity of the soldier however, the stranger soon rose to retire, + when the door thrown open for the fourth time, and a voice cried out, + </p> + <p> + "Here I am, George, safe and sound--ready to kiss the bridesmaids, if they + will let me--and I can find time--- bless me, Moseley!--old + marling-spike!--general!--whew, where is the coachman and guard?"--it was + Lord Henry Stapleton. The Spaniard bowed again in silence and withdrew, + while Denbigh threw open the door of an adjoining room and excused + himself, as he desired Lord Henry to walk in there for a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word," cried the heedless sailor, as he complied, "we might as + well have stuck together, Moseley; we were bound to one port, it seems." + </p> + <p> + "You know Lord Henry?" said John, as he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Denbigh, and he again required his address of Peter, which + having been given, the steward departed. The conversation between the two + friends did not return to the course it was taking when they were + interrupted, as Moseley felt a delicacy in making any allusion to the + probable cause of his sister's refusal. He had, however, begun to hope it + was not irremovable, and with the determination of renewing his visit in + the morning, he took his leave, to allow Denbigh to attend to his other + guest, Lord Henry Stapleton. + </p> + <p> + About twelve on the following morning, John and the steward met at the + door of the hotel where Denbigh lodged, in quest of the same person. The + latter held in his hand the answer to his master's letter, but wished + particularly to see its writer. On inquiring, to their mutual surprise + they were told, that the gentleman had left there early in the morning, + having discharged his lodgings, and that they were unable to say whither + he had gone. To hunt for a man without a clew, in the city of London, is + usually time misspent. Of this Moseley was perfectly sensible, and + disregarding a proposition of Peter's, he returned to his own lodgings. + The proposal of the steward, if it did not do much credit to his sagacity, + was much in favor of his perseverance and enterprise. It was no other than + that John should take one side of the street, and he the other, in order + to inquire at every house in the place, until the fugitive was discovered. + "Sir," said Peter, with great simplicity, "when our neighbor White lost + his little girl, this was the way we found her, although we went nearly + through L---- before we succeeded, Mr. John." Peter was obliged to abandon + this expedient for want of an associate, and as no message was left at the + lodgings of Moseley, he started with a heavy heart on his return to + Benfield Lodge. But Moseley's zeal was too warm in the cause of his + friend, notwithstanding his unmerited desertion, to discontinue the search + for him. He sought out the town residence of the Marquess of Eltringham, + the brother of Lord Henry, and was told that both the Marquess and his + brother had left town early that morning for his seat in Devonshire, to + attend the wedding of their sister. + </p> + <p> + "Did they go alone?" asked John musing. + </p> + <p> + "There were two chaises, the Marquess's and his Grace's" + </p> + <p> + "Who was his Grace?" inquired John. + </p> + <p> + "Why the Duke of Derwent, to be sure." + </p> + <p> + "And the Duke?--was he alone?" + </p> + <p> + "There was a gentleman with his Grace, but they did not know his name." + </p> + <p> + As nothing further could be learnt, John withdrew. A good deal of + irritation mixed with the vexation of Moseley at his disappointment; for + Denbigh, he thought, too evidently wished to avoid him. That he was the + companion of his kinsman, the Duke of Derwent, he had now no doubt, and he + entirely relinquished all expectations of finding him in London or its + environs. While retracing his steps in no enviable state of mind to his + lodgings, with a resolution of returning immediately to L----, his arm was + suddenly taken by his friend Chatterton. If any man could have consoled + John at that moment, it was the Baron. Questions and answers were rapidly + exchanged between them; and with increased satisfaction, John learnt that + in the next square, he could have the pleasure of paying his respects to + his kinswoman, the Dowager Lady Chatterton, and her two daughters. + Chatterton inquired warmly after Emily, and in a particularly kind manner + concerning Mr. Denbigh, hearing with undisguised astonishment the absence + of the latter from the Moseley family. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton had disciplined her feelings upon the subject of Grace and + John into such a state of subordination, that the fastidious jealousy of + the young man now found no ground of alarm in anything she said or did. It + cannot be denied the Dowager was delighted to see him again; and if it + were fair to draw any conclusions from coloring, palpitations, and other + such little accompaniments of female feeling, Grace was not excessively + sorry. It is true, it was the best possible opportunity to ascertain all + about her friend Emily and the rest of the family; and Grace was extremely + happy to have intelligence of their general welfare so direct as was + afforded by this visit of Mr. Moseley. Grace looked all she expressed, and + possibly a little more; and John thought he looked very beautiful. + </p> + <p> + There was present an elderly gentleman, of apparently indifferent health, + although his manners were extremely lively, and his dress particularly + studied. A few minutes observation convinced Moseley this gentleman was a + candidate for the favor of Kate; and a game of chess being soon + introduced, he also saw he was one thought worthy of peculiar care and + attention. He had been introduced to him as Lord Herriefield, and soon + discovered by his conversation that he was a peer who promised little + towards rendering the house of incurables more convalescent than it was + before his admission. Chatterton mentioned him as a distant connexion of + his mother; a gentleman who had lately returned from filling an official + situation in the East Indies, to take his seat among the lords by the + death of his brother. He was a bachelor, and reputed rich, much of his + wealth being personal property, acquired by himself abroad. The dutiful + son might have added, if respect and feeling had not kept him silent, that + his offers of settling a large jointure upon his elder sister had been + accepted, and that the following week was to make her the bride of the + emaciated debauchee who now sat by her side. He might also have said, that + when the proposition was made to himself and Grace, both had shrunk from + the alliance with disgust: and that both had united in humble though vain + remonstrances to their mother, against the sacrifice, and in petitions to + their sister, that she would not be accessary to her own misery. There was + no pecuniary sacrifice they would not make to her, to avert such a + connexion; but all was fruitless--Kate was resolved to be a viscountess, + and her mother was equally determined that she should be rich. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXX. + </h2> + <p> + A day elapsed between the departure of Denbigh and the reappearance of + Emily amongst her friends. An indifferent observer would have thought her + much graver and less animated than usual. A loss of the rich color which + ordinarily glowed on her healthful cheek might be noticed; but the placid + sweetness and graceful composure which regulated her former conduct + pervaded all she did or uttered. Not so with Jane: her pride had suffered + more than her feelings--her imagination had been more deceived than her + judgment--and although too well bred and soft by nature to become rude or + captious, she was changed from a communicative, to a reserved; from a + confiding, to a suspicious companion. Her parents noticed this alteration + with an uneasiness that was somewhat embittered by the consciousness of a + neglect of some of those duties that experience now seemed to indicate, + could never be forgotten with impunity. + </p> + <p> + Francis and Clara had arrived from their northern tour, so happy in each + other, and so contented with their lot, that it required some little + exercise of fortitude in both Lady Moseley and her daughters, to expel + unpleasant recollections while they contemplated it. Their relation of the + little incidents of their tour had, however, an effect to withdraw the + attention of their friends in some degree from late occurrences; and a + melancholy and sympathizing kind of association had taken place of the + unbounded confidence and gaiety; which so lately prevailed at Benfield + Lodge. Mr. Benfield mingled with his solemnity an air of mystery; and he + was frequently noticed by his relatives looking over old papers, and was + apparently employed in preparations that indicated movements of more than + usual importance. + </p> + <p> + The family were collected in one of the parlors on an extremely unpleasant + day, the fourth after the departure of John, when the thin person of + Johnson stalked in amongst them. All eyes were fixed on him in expectation + of what he had to communicate, and all apparently dreading to break the + silence, from an apprehension that his communication would be unpleasant. + In the meantime Peter, who had respectfully left his hat at the door, + proceeded to uncase his body from the multiplied defences he had taken + against the inclemency of the weather. His master stood erect, with an + outstretched hand, ready to receive the reply to his epistle; and Johnson + having liberated his body from thraldom, produced the black leathern + pocket-book, and from its contents a letter, when he read aloud--Roderic + Benfield, Esq., Benfield Lodge, Norfolk; favored by Mr.--here Peter's + modesty got the better of his method; he had never been called Mr. Johnson + by anybody, old or young; all knew him in that neighborhood as Peter + Johnson--and he had very nearly been guilty of the temerity of arrogating + to himself another title in the presence of those he most respected: a + degree of self-elevation from which he escaped with the loss of a small + piece of his tongue. Mr. Benfield took the letter with an eagerness that + plainly indicated the deep interest he took in its contents, while Emily, + with a tremulous voice and flushed cheek, approached the steward with a + glass of wine. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," she said, "take this; it will do you good." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, Miss Emma," said Peter, casting his eyes from her to his + master, as the latter, having finished his letter, exclaimed, with a + strange mixture of consideration and disappointment-- + </p> + <p> + "Johnson, you must change your clothes immediately, or you will take cold: + you look now like old Moses, the Jew beggar." + </p> + <p> + Peter sighed heavily at this comparison, and saw in it a confirmation of + his fears; for he well knew, that to his being the bearer of unpleasant + tidings was he indebted for a resemblance to anything unpleasant to his + master, and Moses was the old gentleman's aversion. + </p> + <p> + The baronet now followed his uncle from the room to his library, entering + it at the same moment with the steward, who had been summoned by his + master to an audience. + </p> + <p> + Pointing to a chair for his nephew, Mr. Benfield commenced the discourse + with saying, + </p> + <p> + "Peter, you saw Mr. Denbigh; how did he look?" + </p> + <p> + "As usual, master," said Peter, laconically, still piqued at being likened + to old Moses. + </p> + <p> + "And what did he say to the offer? did he not make any comments on it? He + was not offended at it, I hope," demanded Mr. Benfield. + </p> + <p> + "He said nothing but what he has written to your honor," replied the + steward, losing a little of his constrained manner in real good feeling to + his master. + </p> + <p> + "May I ask what the offer was?" inquired Sir Edward. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield regarding him a moment in silence, said, "Certainly, you are + nearly concerned in his welfare; your daughter"--the old man stopped, + turned to his letter-book, and handed the baronet a copy of the epistle he + had sent to Denbigh. It read as follows: + </p> + <p> + DEAR FRIEND MR. DENBIGH, + </p> + <p> + "I have thought a great deal on the reason of your sudden departure from a + house I had begun to hope you thought your own; and by calling to mind my + own feelings when Lady Juliana became the heiress to her nephew's estate, + take it for granted you have been governed by the same sentiments; which I + know both by my own experience and that of the bearer, Peter Johnson, is a + never-failing accompaniment of pure affection. Yes, my dear Denbigh, I + honor your delicacy in not wishing to become indebted to a stranger, as it + were, for the money on which you subsist, and that stranger your wife--who + ought in reason to look up to you, instead of your looking up to her; + which was the true cause Lord Gosford would not marry the countess--on + account of her great wealth, as he assured me himself; notwithstanding, + envious people said it was because her ladyship loved Mr Chaworth better: + so in order to remove these impediments of delicacy, I have to make three + propositions, namely, that I bring you into parliament the next election + for my own borough--that you take possession of the lodge the day you + marry Emmy, while I will live, for the little time I have to stay here, in + the large cottage built by my uncle--and that I give you your legacy of + ten thousand pounds down, to prevent trouble hereafter. + </p> + <p> + "As I know nothing but delicacy has driven you away from us, I make no + doubt you will now find all objections removed, and that Peter will bring + back the joyful intelligence of your return to us, as soon as the business + you left us on, is completed. + </p> + <p> + "Your uncle, that is to be, + </p> + <p> + "RODERIC BENFIELD." + </p> + <p> + "N.B. As Johnson is a stranger to the ways of the town, I wish you to + advise his inexperience, particularly against the arts of designing women, + Peter being a man of considerable estate, and great modesty." + </p> + <p> + "There, nephew," cried Mr. Benfield, as the baronet finished reading the + letter aloud, "is it not unreasonable to refuse my offers? Now read his + answer." + </p> + <p> + "Words are wanting to express the sensations which have been excited by + Mr. Benfield's letter; but it would be impossible for any man to be so + base as to avail himself of such liberality: the recollection of it, + together with that of his many virtues, will long continue deeply + impressed on the heart of him, whom Mr. Benfield would, if within the + power of man, render the happiest amongst human beings." + </p> + <p> + The steward listened eagerly to this answer, but after it was done he was + as much at a loss to know its contents as before its perusal. He knew it + was unfavorable to their wishes, but could not comprehend its meaning or + expressions, and immediately attributed their ambiguity to the strange + conference he had witnessed between Denbigh and the military stranger. + </p> + <p> + "Master," exclaimed Peter, with something of the elation of a discoverer, + "I know the cause, it shows itself in the letter: there was a man talking + Greek to him while he was reading your letter." + </p> + <p> + "Greek!" exclaimed Sir Edward in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + "Greek!" said the uncle. "Lord Gosford read Greek; but I believe never + conversed in that language." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Sir Edward--yes, your honor--pure wild Greek; it must have been + something of that kind," added Peter, with positiveness, "that would make + a man refuse such offers--Miss Emmy--the lodge--£10,000!"--and the + steward shook his head with much satisfaction at having discovered the + cause. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward smiled at the simplicity of Johnson, but disliking the idea + attached to the refusal of his daughter, said, "Perhaps, after all, uncle, + there has been some misunderstanding between Emily and Denbigh, which may + have driven him from us so suddenly." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield and his steward exchanged looks, and a new idea broke upon + them at the instant. They had both suffered in that way; and after all it + might prove that Emily was the one whose taste or feelings had subverted + their schemes. The impression, once made, soon became strong, and the + party separated; the master thinking alternately on Lady Juliana and his + niece, while the man, after heaving one heavy sigh to the memory of Patty + Steele, proceeded to the usual occupations of his office. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson thinking a ride would be of service to Emily, and having the + fullest confidence in her self-command and resignation, availed herself of + a fine day to pay a visit to their friend in the cottage. Mrs. Fitzgerald + received them in her usual manner, but a single glance of her eye sufficed + to show the aunt that she noticed the altered appearance of Emily and her + manners, although without knowing its true reason, which she did not deem + it prudent to explain. Julia handed her friend a note which she said she + had received the day before, and desired their counsel how to proceed in + the present emergency. As Emily was to be made acquainted with its + contents, her aunt read it aloud as follows: + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR NIECE, + </p> + <p> + "Your father and myself had been induced to think you were leading a + disgraceful life, with the officer your husband had consigned you to the + care of; for hearing of your captivity, I had arrived with a band of + Guerillas, on the spot where you were rescued, early the next morning, and + there learnt of the peasants your misfortunes and retreat. The enemy + pressed us too much to allow us to deviate from our route at the time; but + natural affection and the wishes of your father have led me to make a + journey to England, in order to satisfy our doubts as regards your + conduct. I have seen you, heard your character in the neighborhood, and + after much and long search have found out the officer, and am satisfied, + that so far as concerns your deportment, you are an injured woman. I have + therefore to propose to you, on my own behalf, and that of the Conde, that + you adopt the faith of your country, and return with me to the arms of + your parent, whose heiress you will be, and whose life you may be the + means of prolonging. Direct your answer to me, to the care of our + ambassador; and as you decide, I am your mother's brother, LOUIS M'CARTHY + Y HARRISON." + </p> + <p> + "On what point do you wish my advice?" said Mrs. Wilson, kindly, after she + had finished reading the letter, "and when do you expect to see your + uncle?" + </p> + <p> + "Would you have me accept the offer of my father, dear madam, or am I to + remain separated from him for the short residue of his life?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald was affected to tears, as she asked this question, and + waited her answer, in silent dread of its nature. + </p> + <p> + "Is the condition of a change of religion, an immovable one?" inquired + Mrs. Wilson, in a thoughtful manner. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! doubtless," replied Julia, shuddering; "but I am deservedly punished + for my early disobedience, and bow in submission to the will of + Providence. I feel now all that horror of a change of my religion, I once + only affected; I must live and die a Protestant, madam." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, I hope so, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "I am not a bigot, and + think it unfortunate you were not, in your circumstances, bred a pious + Catholic. It would have saved you much misery, and might have rendered the + close of your father's life more happy; but as your present creed embraces + doctrines too much at variance with the Romish church to renounce the one + or to adopt the other, with your views, it will be impossible to change + your church without committing a heavy offence against the opinions and + practices of every denomination of Christians. I should hope a proper + representation of this to your uncle would have its weight, or they might + be satisfied with your being a Christian, without becoming a Catholic." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! my dear madam," answered Mrs. Fitzgerald, despairingly, "you little + know the opinions of my countrymen on this subject." + </p> + <p> + "Surely, surely," cried Mrs. Wilson, "parental affection is a stronger + feeling than bigotry." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald shook her head in a manner which bespoke both her + apprehensions and her filial regard. + </p> + <p> + "Julia ought not, must not, desert her father, dear aunt," said Emily, her + face glowing with the ardency of her feelings. + </p> + <p> + "And ought she to desert her heavenly Father, my child?" asked the aunt, + mildly. + </p> + <p> + "Are the duties conflicting, dearest aunt?" + </p> + <p> + "The Conde makes them so. Julia is, I trust, in sincerity a Christian, and + with what face can she offer up her daily petitions to her Creator, while + she wears a mask to her earthly father; or how can she profess to honor + doctrines that she herself believes to be false, or practise customs she + thinks improper?" + </p> + <p> + "Never, never," exclaimed Julia, with fervor; "the struggle is dreadful, + but I submit to the greater duty." + </p> + <p> + "And you decide rightly, my friend," said Mrs. Wilson, soothingly; "but + you need relax no efforts to convince the Conde of your wishes: truth and + nature will finally conquer." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" cried Mrs. Fitzgerald, "the sad consequences of one false step in + early life!" + </p> + <p> + "Rather," added Mrs. Wilson, "the sad consequences of one false step in + generations gone by. Had your grandmother listened to the voice of + prudence and duty, she never would have deserted her parents for a + comparative stranger, and entailed upon her descendants a train of evils + which yet exist in your person." + </p> + <p> + "It will be a sad blow to my poor uncle too," said Mrs. Fitzgerald, "he + who once loved me so much." + </p> + <p> + "When do you expect to see him?" inquired Emily. + </p> + <p> + Julia informed them she expected him hourly; as, fearful a written + statement of her views would drive him from the country without paying her + a visit before he departed, she had earnestly entreated him to see her + without delay. + </p> + <p> + On taking their leave, the ladies promised to obey her summons whenever + called to meet the general, as Mrs. Wilson thought she might be better + able to give advice to a friend, by knowing more of the character of her + relatives, than she could do with her present information, + </p> + <p> + One day intervened, and it was spent in the united society of Lady Moseley + and her daughters, while Sir Edward and Francis rode to a neighboring town + on business; and on the succeeding, Mrs. Fitzgerald apprised them of the + arrival of General M'Carthy. Immediately after breakfast, Mrs. Wilson and + Emily drove to the cottage, the aunt both wishing the latter as a + companion in her ride, and believing the excitement would have a tendency + to prevent her niece from indulging in reflections, alike dangerous to her + peace of mind and at variance with her duties. + </p> + <p> + Our readers have probably anticipated, that the stage companion of John + Moseley was the Spanish general, who had just been making those inquiries + into the manner of his niece's living which terminated so happily in her + acquittal. With that part of her history which relates to the injurious + attempts on her before she arrived at Lisbon, he appears to have been + ignorant, or his interview with Denbigh might have terminated very + differently from the manner already related. + </p> + <p> + A description of the appearance of the gentleman presented to Mrs. Wilson + is unnecessary, as it has been given already; and the discerning matron + thought she read through the rigid and set features of the soldier, a + shade of kinder feelings, which might be wrought into an advantageous + intercession on behalf of Julia. The General was evidently endeavoring to + keep his feelings within due bounds, before the decision of his niece + might render it proper for him to indulge in that affection for her, which + his eye plainly showed existed under the cover of his assumed manner. + </p> + <p> + It was an effort of great fortitude on the part of Julia to acquaint her + uncle with her resolution; but as it must be done, she seized a moment + after Mrs. Wilson had at some length defended her adhering to her present + faith, until religiously impressed with its errors, to inform him such was + her unalterable resolution. He heard her patiently, and without anger, but + in visible surprise. He had construed her summons to her house into a + measure preparatory to accepting his conditions; yet he betrayed no + emotion, after the first expression of his wonder: he told her distinctly, + a renunciation of her heresy was the only condition on which her father + would own her either as his heiress or his child. Julia deeply regretted + the decision, but was firm; and her friends left her to enjoy + uninterruptedly for one day, the society of so near a relative. During + this day every doubt as to the propriety of her conduct, if any yet + remained, was removed by a relation of her little story to her uncle; and + after it was completed, he expressed great uneasiness to get to London + again, in order to meet a gentleman he had seen there, under a different + impression as to his merits, than what now appeared to be just. Who the + gentleman was, or what these impressions were, Julia was left to + conjecture, taciturnity being a favorite property in the general. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXI. + </h2> + <p> + The sun had just risen on one of the loveliest vales of Caernarvonshire, + as a travelling chaise and six swept up to the door of a princely mansion, + so situated as to command a prospect of the fertile and extensive domains, + the rental of which filled the coffers of its rich owner, having a + beautiful view of the Irish channel in the distance. + </p> + <p> + Everything around this stately edifice bespoke the magnificence of its + ancient possessors and the taste of its present master. It was irregular, + but built of the best materials, and in the tastes of the different ages + in which its various parts had been erected; and now in the nineteenth + century it preserved the baronial grandeur of the thirteenth, mingled with + the comforts of this later period. + </p> + <p> + The lofty turrets of its towers were tipt with the golden light of the + sun, and the neighboring peasantry had commenced their daily labors, as + the different attendants of the equipage we have mentioned collected + around it at the great entrance to the building. The beautiful black + horses, with coats as shining as the polished leather with which they were + caparisoned, the elegant and fashionable finish of the vehicle, with its + numerous grooms, postillions, and footmen, all wearing the livery of one + master, gave evidence of wealth and rank. + </p> + <p> + In attendance there were four outriders, walking leisurely about, awaiting + the appearance of those for whose comforts and pleasures they were kept to + contribute; while a fifth, who, like the others, was equipped with a + horse, appeared to bear a doubtful station. The form of the latter was + athletic, and apparently drilled into a severer submission than could be + seen in the movements of the liveried attendants: his dress was peculiar, + being neither quite menial nor quite military, but partaking of both + characters. His horse was heavier and better managed than those of the + others, and by its side was a charger, that was prepared for the use of no + common equestrian. Both were coal-black, as were all the others of the + cavalcade; but the pistols of the two latter, and housings of their + saddles, bore the aspect of use and elegance united. + </p> + <p> + The postillions were mounted, listlessly waiting the pleasure of their + superiors; when the laughs and jokes of the menials were instantly + succeeded by a respectful and profound silence, as a gentleman and lady + appeared on the portico of the building. The former was a young man of + commanding stature and genteel appearance; and his air, although that of + one used to command, was softened by a character of benevolence and + gentleness, that might be rightly supposed to give birth to the willing + alacrity with which all his requests or orders were attended to. + </p> + <p> + The lady was also young, and resembled her companion both in features and + expression, for both were noble, both were handsome. The former was + attired for the road; the latter had thrown a shawl around her elegant + form, and by her morning dress showed that a separation of the two was + about to happen. Taking the hand of the gentleman with both her own, as + she pressed it with fingers interlocked, the lady said, in a voice of + music, and with great affection, "Then, my dear brother, I shall certainly + hear from you within the week, and see you next?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," replied the gentleman, as he tenderly paid his adieus; then + throwing himself into the chaise, it dashed from the door, like the + passage of a meteor. The horsemen followed; the unridden charger, obedient + to the orders of his keeper, wheeled gracefully into his station; and in + an instant they were all lost amidst the wood, through which the road to + the park gates conducted. + </p> + <p> + After lingering without until the last of her brother's followers had + receded from her sight, the lady retired through ranks of liveried footmen + and maids, whom curiosity or respect had collected. + </p> + <p> + The young traveller wore a gloom on his expressive features, amidst the + pageantry that surrounded him, which showed the insufficiency of wealth + and honors to fill the sum of human happiness. As his carriage rolled + proudly up an eminence ere he had reached the confines of his extensive + park, his eye rested, for a moment, on a scene in which meadows, forests, + fields waving with golden corn, comfortable farm-houses surrounded with + innumerable cottages, were seen, in almost endless variety. All these + owned him for their lord, and one quiet smile of satisfaction beamed on + his face as he gazed on the unlimited view. Could the heart of that youth + have been read, it would at that moment have told a story very different + from the feelings such a scene is apt to excite; it would have spoken the + consciousness of well applied wealth, the gratification of contemplating + meritorious deeds, and a heartfelt gratitude to the Being which had + enabled him to become the dispenser of happiness to so many of his + fellow-creatures. + </p> + <p> + "Which way, my lord, so early?" cried a gentleman in a phaeton, as he drew + up, on his way to a watering place, to pay his own parting compliments. + </p> + <p> + "To Eltringham, Sir Owen, to attend the marriage of my kinsman, Mr. + Denbigh, to one of the sisters of the marquess." + </p> + <p> + A few more questions and answers, and the gentlemen, exchanging friendly + adieus, pursued each his own course; Sir Owen Ap Rice pushing forward for + Cheltenham, and the Earl of Pendennyss proceeding to act as groomsman to + his cousin. + </p> + <p> + The gates of Eltringham were open to the admission of many an equipage on + the following day, and the heart of the Lady Laura beat quick, as the + sound of wheels, at different times, reached her ears. At last an unusual + movement in the house drew her to a window of her dressing-room, and the + blood rushed to her heart as she beheld the equipages which were rapidly + approaching, and through the mist which stole over her eyes she saw alight + from the first, the Duke of Derwent and the bridegroom. The next contained + Lord Pendennyss, and the last the Bishop of----. Lady Laura waited to see + no more, but with a heart filled with terror, hope, joy, and uneasiness, + she threw herself into the arms of one of her sisters. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" exclaimed Lord Henry Stapleton, about a week after the wedding of + his sister, seizing John suddenly by the arm, while the latter was taking + his morning walk to the residence of the dowager Lady Chatterton, + "Moseley, you dissipated youth, in town yet: you told me you should stay + but a day, and here I find you at the end of a fortnight." + </p> + <p> + John blushed a little at the consciousness of his reason for sending a + written, instead of carrying a verbal report, of the result of his + journey, but replied, + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my friend Chatterton unexpectedly arrived, and so--and so--" + </p> + <p> + "And so you did not go, I presume you mean," cried Lord Henry, with a + laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said John, "and so I stayed--but where is Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Where?--why with his wife, where every well-behaved man should be, + especially for the first month," rejoined the sailor, gaily. + </p> + <p> + "Wife!" echoed John, as soon as he felt able to give utterance to his + words--"wife! is he married?" + </p> + <p> + "Married," cried Lord Henry, imitating his manner, "are you yet to learn + that? why did you ask for him?" + </p> + <p> + "Ask for him!" said Moseley, yet lost in astonishment; "but + when--how--where did he marry--my lord?" + </p> + <p> + Lord Henry looked at him for a moment with a surprise little short of his + own, as he answered more gravely: + </p> + <p> + "When?--last Tuesday; how? by special license, and the Bishop of----; + where?--at Eltringham:--yes, my dear fellow," continued he, with his + former gaiety, "George is my brother now--and a fine fellow he is." + </p> + <p> + "I really wish your lordship much joy," said John, struggling to command + his feelings. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you--thank you," replied the sailor; "a jolly time we had of it, + Moseley. I wish, with all my heart, you had been there; no bolting or + running away as soon as spliced, but a regularly constructed, + old-fashioned wedding; all my doings. I wrote Laura that time was scarce, + and I had none to throw away on fooleries; so dear, good soul, she + consented to let me have everything my own way. We had Derwent and + Pendennyss, the marquess, Lord William, and myself, for groomsmen, and my + three sisters--ah, that was bad, but there was no helping it--Lady Harriet + Denbigh, and an old maid, a cousin of ours, for bridesmaids; could not + help the old maid either, upon my honor, or be quite certain I would." + </p> + <p> + How much of what he said Moseley heard, we cannot say; for had he talked + an hour longer he would have been uninterrupted. Lord Henry was too much + engaged with his description to notice his companion's taciturnity or + surprise, and after walking a square or two together they parted; the + sailor being on the wing for his frigate at Yarmouth. + </p> + <p> + John continued his course, musing on the intelligence he had just heard. + That Denbigh could forget Emily so soon, he would not believe, and he + greatly feared he had been driven into a step, from despair, that he might + hereafter repent of. The avoiding of himself was now fully explained; but + would Lady Laura Stapleton accept a man for a husband at so short a + notice? and for the first time a suspicion that something in the character + of Denbigh was wrong, mingled in his reflections on his sister's refusal + of his offers. + </p> + <p> + Lord and Lady Herriefield were on the eve of their departure for the + continent (for Catherine had been led to the altar the preceding week), a + southern climate having been prescribed as necessary to the bridegroom's + constitution; and the dowager and Grace were about to proceed to a seat of + the baron's within a couple of miles of Bath. Chatterton himself had his + own engagements, but he promised to be there in company with his friend + Derwent within a fortnight; the former visit having been postponed by the + marriages in their respective families. + </p> + <p> + John had been assiduous in his attentions during the season of forced + gaiety which followed the nuptials of Kate; and as the dowager's time was + monopolized with the ceremonials of that event, Grace had risen greatly in + his estimation. If Grace Chatterton was not more miserable than usual, at + what she thought was the destruction of her sister's happiness, it was + owing to the presence and unconcealed affection of John Moseley. + </p> + <p> + The carriage of Lord Herriefield was in waiting when John rang for + admittance. On opening the door and entering the drawing-room, he saw the + bride and bridegroom, with their mother and sister, accoutred for an + excursion amongst the shops of Bond street: for Kate was dying to find a + vent for some of her surplus pin-money--her husband to show his handsome + wife in the face of the world--the mother to display the triumph of her + matrimonial schemes. And Grace was forced to obey her mother's commands, + in accompanying her sister as an attendant, not to be dispensed with at + all in her circumstances. + </p> + <p> + The entrance of John at that instant, though nothing more than what + occurred every day at that hour, deranged the whole plan: the dowager, for + a moment, forgot her resolution, and forgot the necessity of Grace's + appearance, exclaiming with evident satisfaction, + </p> + <p> + "Here is Mr. Moseley come to keep you company, Grace; so, after all, you + must consult your headache and stay at home. Indeed, my love, I never can + consent you should go out. I not only wish, but insist you remain within + this morning." + </p> + <p> + Lord Herriefield looked at his mother-in-law in some surprise, and threw a + suspicious glance on his own rib at the moment, which spoke as plainly as + looks can speak, + </p> + <p> + "Is it possible I have been taken in after all!" + </p> + <p> + Grace was unused to resist her mother's commands, and throwing off her hat + and shawl, reseated herself with more composure than she would probably + have done, had not the attentions of Moseley been more delicate and + pointed of late than formerly. + </p> + <p> + As they passed the porter, Lady Chatterton observed to him + significantly--"Nobody at home, Willis."--"Yes, my lady," was the laconic + reply, and Lord Herriefield, as he took his seat by the side of his wife + in the carriage, thought she was not as handsome as usual. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton that morning unguardedly laid the foundation of years of + misery for her eldest daughter; or rather the foundations were already + laid in the ill-assorted, and heartless, unprincipled union she had + labored with success to effect. But she, had that morning stripped the + mask from her own character prematurely, and excited suspicions in the + breast of her son-in-law, which time only served to confirm, and memory to + brood over. Lord Herriefield had been too long in the world not to + understand all the ordinary arts of match-makers and match-hunters. Like + most of his own sex who have associated freely with the worst part of the + other, his opinions of female excellences were by no means extravagant or + romantic. Kate had pleased his eye; she was of a noble family; young, and + at that moment interestingly quiet, having nothing particularly in view. + She had a taste of her own, and Lord Herriefield was by no means in + conformity with it; consequently, she expended none of those pretty little + arts upon him which she occasionally practised, and which his experience + would immediately have detected. Her disgust he had attributed to + disinterestedness; and as Kate had fixed her eye on a young officer lately + returned from France, and her mother on a Duke who was mourning the death + of a third wife, devising means to console him with a fourth--the Viscount + had got a good deal enamored with the lady, before either she or her + mother took any particular notice that there was such a being in + existence. His title was not the most elevated, but it was ancient. His + paternal acres were not numerous, but his East-India shares were. He was + not very young, but he was not very old; and as the Duke died of a fit of + the gout in his stomach, and the officer ran away with a girl in her teens + from a boarding-school, the dowager and her daughter, after thoroughly + scanning the fashionable world, determined, for want of a better, that <i>he</i> + would do. + </p> + <p> + It is not to be supposed that the mother and child held any open + communications with each other to this effect. The delicacy and pride of + both would have been greatly injured by such a suspicion; yet they arrived + simultaneously at the same conclusion, as well as at another of equal + importance to the completion of their schemes on the Viscount. It was + simply to adhere to the same conduct which had made him a captive, as most + likely to insure the victory. + </p> + <p> + There was such a general understanding between the two it can excite no + surprise that they co-operated harmoniously as it were by signal. + </p> + <p> + For two people, correctly impressed with their duties and + responsibilities, to arrive at the same conclusion in the government of + their conduct, would be merely a matter of course; and so with those who + are more or less under the dominion of the world. They will pursue their + plans with a degree of concurrence amounting nearly to sympathy; and thus + had Kate and her mother, until this morning, kept up the masquerade so + well that the Viscount was as confiding as a country Corydon. When he + first witnessed the dowager's management with Grace and John, however, and + his wife's careless disregard of a thing which appeared too much a matter + of course to be quite agreeable, his newly awakened distrust approached + conviction. + </p> + <p> + Grace Chatterton both sang and played exquisitely; it was, however, seldom + she could sufficiently overcome her desire, when John was an auditor, to + appear to advantage. + </p> + <p> + As the party went down stairs, and Moseley had gone with them part of the + way, she threw herself unconsciously in a seat, and began a beautiful + song, that was fashionable at the time. Her feelings were in consonance + with the words, and Grace was very happy both in execution and voice. + </p> + <p> + John had reached the back of her seat before she was at all sensible of + his return, and Grace lost her self-command immediately. She rose and took + a seat on a sofa, and the young man was immediately at her side. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, Grace," said John, the lady's heart beating high, "you certainly do + sing as you do everything, admirably." + </p> + <p> + "I am happy you think so, Mr. Moseley," returned Grace looking everywhere + but in his face. + </p> + <p> + John's eyes ran over her beauties, as with palpitating bosom and varying + color she sat confused at the unusual warmth of his language and manner. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately a remarkably striking likeness of the Dowager hung directly + over their heads, and John taking her unresisting hand, continued, + </p> + <p> + "Dear Grace, you resemble your brother very much in features, and what is + better still, in character." + </p> + <p> + "I could wish," said Grace, venturing to look up, "to resemble your sister + Emily in the latter." + </p> + <p> + "And why not to be her sister, dear Grace?" said he with ardor. "You are + worthy to become her sister. Tell me, Grace, dear Miss Chatterton--can + you--will you make me the happiest of men? may I present another + inestimable daughter to my parents?" + </p> + <p> + As John paused for an answer, Grace looked up, and he waited her reply in + evident anxiety; but she continued silent, now pale as death, and now of + the color of the rose, and he added: + </p> + <p> + "I hope I have not offended you, dearest Grace; you are all that is + desirable to me; my hopes, my happiness, are centred in you. Unless you + consent to become my wife, I must be very wretched." + </p> + <p> + Grace burst into a flood of tears, as her lover, interested deeply in + their cause, gently drew her towards him. Her head sank on his shoulder, + as she faintly whispered something that was inaudible, but which he did + not fail to interpret into everything he most wished to hear. John was in + ecstasies. Every unpleasant feeling of suspicion had left him. Of Grace's + innocence of manoeuvring he never doubted, but John did not relish the + idea of being entrapped into anything, even a step which he desired. An + uninterrupted communication followed; it was as confiding as their + affections: and the return of the dowager and her children first recalled + them to the recollection of other people. + </p> + <p> + One glance of the eye was enough for Lady Chatterton. She saw the traces + of tears on the cheeks and in the eyes of Grace, and the dowager was + satisfied; she knew his friends would not object; and as Grace attended + her to her dressing-room, she cried on entering it, "Well, child, when is + the wedding to be? You will wear me out with so much gaiety." + </p> + <p> + Grace was shocked, but did not as formerly weep over her mother's + interference in agony and dread. John had opened his whole soul to her, + observing the greatest delicacy towards her mother, and she now felt her + happiness placed in the keeping of a man whose honor she believed much + exceeded that of any other human being. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXII. + </h2> + <p> + The seniors of the party at Benfield Lodge were all assembled one morning + in a parlor, when its master and the baronet were occupied in the perusal + of the London papers. Clara had persuaded her sisters to accompany her and + Francis in an excursion as far as the village. + </p> + <p> + Jane yet continued reserved and distant to most of her friends; while + Emily's conduct would have escaped unnoticed, did not her blanched cheek + and wandering looks at times speak a language not to be misunderstood. + With all her relatives she maintained the affectionate intercourse she had + always supported; though not even to her aunt did the name of Denbigh pass + her lips. But in her most private and humble petitions to God, she never + forgot to mingle with her requests for spiritual blessings on herself, + fervent prayers for the conversion of the preserver of her life. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson, as she sat by the side of her sister at their needles, first + discovered an unusual uneasiness in their venerable host, while he turned + his paper over and over, as if unwilling or unable to comprehend some part + of its contents, until he rang the bell violently, and bid the servant to + send Johnson to him without a moment's delay. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said Mr. Benfield doubtingly, "read that--your eyes are young, + Peter; read that." + </p> + <p> + Peter took the paper, and after having adjusted his spectacles to his + satisfaction, he proceeded to obey his master's injunctions; but the same + defect of vision as suddenly seized the steward as it had affected his + master. He turned the paper sideways, and appeared to be spelling the + matter of the paragraph to himself. Peter would have given his three + hundred a year to have had the impatient John Moseley at hand, to relieve + him from his task; but the anxiety of Mr. Benfield overcoming his fear of + the worst, he inquired in tremulous tone-- + </p> + <p> + "Peter? hem! Peter, what do you think?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, your honor," replied the steward, stealing a look at his master, "it + does seem so indeed." + </p> + <p> + "I remember," said the master, "when Lord Gosford saw the marriage of the + countess announced he--" + </p> + <p> + Here the old gentleman was obliged to stop, and rising with dignity, and + leaning on the arm of his faithful servant, he left the room. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson immediately took up the paper, and her eye catching the + paragraph at a glance, she read aloud as follows to her expecting friends: + </p> + <p> + "Married by special license, at the seat of the Most Noble the Marquess of + Eltringham, in Devonshire, by the Right Rev. Lord Bishop of ----, George + Denbigh Esq., Lieutenant Colonel of his Majesty's ---- regiment of + dragoons, to the Right Honorable Lady Laura Stapleton, eldest sister of + the Marquess. Eltringham was honored on the present happy occasion with + the presence of his grace of Derwent, and the gallant Lord Pendennyss, + kinsmen of the bridegroom, and Captain Lord Henry Stapleton of the Royal + Navy. We understand that the happy couple proceed to Denbigh Castle + immediately after the honey-moon." + </p> + <p> + Although Mrs. Wilson had given up the expectation of ever seeing her niece + the wife of Denbigh, she felt an indescribable shock as she read this + paragraph. The strongest feeling was horror at the danger Emily had been + in of contracting an alliance with such a man. His avoiding the ball, at + which he knew Lord Henry was expected, was explained to her by this + marriage; for with John, she could not believe a woman like Lady Laura + Stapleton was to be won in the short space of one fortnight, or indeed + less. There was too evidently a mystery yet to be developed, and she felt + certain one that would not elevate his character in her opinion. + </p> + <p> + Neither Sir Edward nor Lady Moseley had given up the expectation of seeing + Denbigh again, as a suitor for Emily's hand, and to both of them this + certainty of his loss was a heavy blow. The baronet took up the paper, and + after perusing the article, he muttered in a low tone, as he wiped the + tears from his eyes, "Heaven bless him: I sincerely hope she is worthy of + him." Worthy of him, thought Mrs. Wilson, with a feeling of indignation, + as, taking up the paper, she retired to her own room, whither Emily, at + that moment returned from her walk, had proceeded. As her niece must hear + this news, she thought the sooner the better. The exercise, and the + unreserved conversation of Francis and Clara, had restored in some degree + the bloom to the cheek of Emily; and Mrs. Wilson felt it necessary to + struggle with herself, before she could summon sufficient resolution to + invade the returning peace of her charge. However, having already decided + on her course, she proceeded to the discharge of what she thought to be a + duty. + </p> + <p> + "Emily, my child," she whispered, pressing her affectionately to her + bosom, "you have been all I could wish, and more than I expected, under + your arduous struggles. But one more pang, and I trust your recollections + on this painful subject will be done away." + </p> + <p> + Emily looked at her aunt in anxious expectation of what was coming, and + quietly taking the paper, followed the direction of Mrs. Wilson's finger + to the article on the marriage of Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + There was a momentary struggle in Emily for self-command. She was obliged + to find support in a chair. The returning richness of color, excited by + her walk, vanished; but recovering herself, she pressed the hand of her + anxious guardian, and, gently waving her back, proceeded to her own room. + </p> + <p> + On her return to the company, the same control of her feelings which had + distinguished her conduct of late, was again visible; and, although her + aunt most narrowly watched her movements, looks, and speeches, she could + discern no visible alteration by this confirmation of misconduct. The + truth was, that in Emily Moseley the obligations of duty were so + imperative, her sense of her dependence on Providence so humbling and yet + so confiding, that, as soon as she was taught to believe her lover + unworthy of her esteem, that moment an insuperable barrier separated them. + His marriage could add nothing to the distance between them. It was + impossible they could be united; and although a secret lingering of the + affections over his fallen character might and did exist, it existed + without any romantic expectations of miracles in his favor, or vain wishes + of reformation, in which self was the prominent feeling. She might be said + to be keenly alive to all that concerned his welfare or movements, if she + did not harbor the passion of love; but it showed itself in prayers for + his amendment of life, and the most ardent petitions for his future and + eternal happiness. She had set about, seriously and with much energy, the + task of erasing from her heart sentiments which, however delightful she + had found it to entertain in times past, were now in direct variance with + her duty. She knew that a weak indulgence of such passions would tend to + draw her mind from, and disqualify her to discharge, those various calls + on her time and her exertions, which could alone enable her to assist + others, or effect in her own person the great purposes of her creation. It + was never lost sight of by Emily Moseley, that her existence here was + preparatory to an immensely more important state hereafter. She was + consequently in charity with all mankind; and if grown a little more + distrustful of the intentions of her fellow-creatures, it was a mistrust + bottomed in a clear view of the frailties of our nature; and + self-examination was amongst the not unfrequent speculations she made on + this hasty marriage of her former lover. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson saw all this, and was soon made acquainted by her niece in + terms, with her views of her own condition; and although she had to, and + did, deeply regret, that all her caution had not been able to guard + against deception, where it was most important for her to guide aright, + yet she was cheered with the reflection that her previous care, with the + blessings of Providence, had admirably fitted her charge to combat and + overcome the consequences of their mistaken confidence. + </p> + <p> + The gloom which this little paragraph excited, extended to every + individual in the family; for all had placed Denbigh by the side of John, + in their affections, ever since his weighty services to Emily. + </p> + <p> + A letter from John announcing his intention of meeting them at Bath, as + well as his new relation with Grace, relieved in some measure this general + depression of spirit. Mr. Benfield alone found no consolation in the + approaching nuptials. John he regarded as his nephew, and Grace he thought + a very good sort of young woman; but neither of them were beings of the + same genus with Emily and Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said he one day, after they had both been expending their + ingenuity in vain efforts to discover the cause of this so-much-desired + marriage's being so unexpectedly frustrated, "have I not often told you, + that fate governed these things, in order that men might be humble in this + life? Now, Peter, had the Lady Juliana wedded with a mind congenial to her + own, she might have been mistress of Benfield Lodge to this very hour." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, your honor--but there's Miss Emmy's legacy." + </p> + <p> + And Peter withdrew, thinking what would have been the consequences had + Patty Steele been more willing, when he wished to make her Mrs. Peter + Johnson--an association by no means uncommon in the mind of the steward; + for if Patty had ever a rival in his affections, it was in the person of + Emily Moseley, though, indeed, with very different degrees and coloring of + esteem. + </p> + <p> + The excursions to the cottage had been continued by Mrs. Wilson and Emily, + and as no gentleman was now in the family to interfere with their + communications, a general visit to the young widow had been made by the + Moseleys, including Sir Edward and Mr. Ives. + </p> + <p> + The Jarvises had gone to London to receive their children, now penitent in + more senses than one; and Sir Edward learnt with pleasure that Egerton and + his wife had been admitted into the family of the merchant. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edgar had died suddenly, and the entailed estates had fallen to his + successor the colonel, now Sir Harry; but the bulk of his wealth, being in + convertible property, he had given by will to his other nephew, a young + clergyman, and a son of a younger brother. Mary, as well as her mother, + were greatly disappointed, by this deprivation, of what they considered + their lawful splendor; but they found great consolation in the new dignity + of Lady Egerton, whose greatest wish now was to meet the Moseleys, in + order that she might precede them in or out of some place where such + ceremonials are observed. The sound of "Lady Egerton's carriage stops the + way," was delightful, and it never failed to be used on all occasions, + although her ladyship was mistress of only a hired vehicle. + </p> + <p> + A slight insight into the situation of things amongst them may be found in + the following narrative of their views, as revealed in a discussion which + took place about a fortnight after the reunion of the family under one + roof. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Jarvis was mistress of a very handsome coach, the gift of her husband + for her own private use. After having satisfied herself the baronet (a + dignity he had enjoyed just twenty-four hours) did not possess the ability + to furnish his lady, as she termed her daughter, with such a luxury, she + magnanimously determined to relinquish her own, in support of the + new-found elevation of her daughter. Accordingly, a consultation on the + alterations which were necessary took place between the ladies--"The arms + must be altered, of course," Lady Egerton observed, "and Sir Harry's, with + the bloody hand and six quarterings, put in their place; then the + liveries, they must be changed." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, mercy! my lady, if the arms are altered, Mr. Jarvis will be sure to + notice it, and he would never forgive me; and perhaps--" + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps what?" exclaimed the new-made lady, with a disdainful toss of her + head. + </p> + <p> + "Why," replied the mother, warmly, "not give me the hundred pounds he + promised, to have it new-lined and painted." + </p> + <p> + "Fiddlesticks with the painting, Mrs. Jarvis," cried the <i>lady</i> with + dignity: "no carriage shall be called mine that does not bear my arms and + the bloody hand." + </p> + <p> + "Why, your ladyship is unreasonable, indeed you are," said Mrs. Jarvis, + coaxingly; and then after a moment's thought she continued, "is it the + arms or the baronetcy you want, my dear?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I care nothing for the arms, but I am determined, now I am a + baronet's lady, Mrs. Jarvis, to have the proper emblem of my rank." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, my lady, that's true dignity: well, then, we will put the + bloody hand on your father's arms, and he will never notice it, for he + never sees such things." + </p> + <p> + The arrangement was happily completed, and for a few days the coach of Mr. + Jarvis bore about the titled dame, until one unlucky day the merchant, who + still went on 'change when any great bargain in the stocks was to be made, + arrived at his own door suddenly, to procure a calculation he had made on + the leaf of his prayer-book the last Sunday during sermon. This he + obtained after some search. In his haste he drove to his broker's in the + carriage of his wife, to save time, it happening to be in waiting at the + moment, and the distance not great. Mr. Jarvis forgot to order the man to + return, and for an hour the vehicle stood in one of the most public places + in the city. The consequence was, that when Mr. Jarvis undertook to + examine into his gains, with the account rendered of the transaction by + his broker, he was astonished to read, "Sir Timothy Jarvis, Bart., in + account with John Smith, Dr." Sir Timothy examined the account in as many + different ways as Mr. Benfield had examined the marriage of Denbigh, + before he would believe his eyes; and when assured of the fact, he + immediately caught up his hat, and went to find the man who had dared to + insult him, as it were, in defiance of the formality of business. He had + not proceeded one square in the city before he met a friend, who spoke to + him by the title; an explanation of the mistake followed, and the quasi + baronet proceeded to his stables. Here by actual examination he detected + the fraud. An explanation with his consort followed; and the painter's + brush soon effaced the emblem of dignity from the panels of the coach. All + this was easy but with his waggish companions on 'Change and in the city + (where, notwithstanding his wife's fashionable propensities, he loved to + resort) he was Sir Timothy still. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jarvis, though a man of much modesty, was one of great decision, and + he determined to have the laugh on his side. A newly purchased borough of + his sent up an address flaming with patriotism, and it was presented by + his own hands. The merchant seldom kneeled to his Creator, but on this + occasion he humbled himself dutifully before his prince, and left the + presence with a legal right to the appellation which his old companions + had affixed to him sarcastically. + </p> + <p> + The rapture of Lady Jarvis may be more easily imagined than faithfully + described, the Christian name of her husband alone throwing any alloy into + the enjoyment of her elevation: but by a license of speech she ordered, + and addressed in her own practice, the softer and more familiar + appellation of Sir Timo. Two servants were discharged the first week, + because, unused to titles, they had addressed her as mistress; and her + son, the captain, then at a watering-place, was made acquainted by express + with the joyful intelligence. + </p> + <p> + All this time Sir Henry Egerton was but little seen amongst his new + relatives. He had his own engagements and haunts, and spent most of his + time at a fashionable gaming house in the West End. As, however, the town + was deserted, Lady Jarvis and her daughters, having condescended to pay a + round of city visits, to show off her airs and dignity to her old friends, + persuaded Sir Timo that the hour for their visit to Bath had arrived, and + they were soon comfortably settled in that city. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton and her youngest daughter had arrived at the seat of her + son, and John Moseley, as happy as the certainty of love returned and the + approbation of his friends could make him, was in lodgings in the town. + Sir Edward notified his son of his approaching visit to Bath, and John + took proper accommodations for the family, which he occupied for a few + days by himself as <i>locum tenens</i>. + </p> + <p> + Lord and Lady Herriefield had departed for the south of France; and Kate, + removed from the scenes of her earliest enjoyments and the bosom of her + own family, and under the protection of a man she neither loved nor + respected, began to feel the insufficiency of a name or of a fortune to + constitute felicity. Lord Herriefield was of a suspicious and harsh + temper, the first propensity being greatly increased by his former + associations, and the latter not being removed by the humility of his + eastern dependants. But the situation of her child gave no uneasiness to + the managing mother, who thought her in the high-road to happiness, and + was gratified at the result of her labors. Once or twice, indeed, her + habits had overcome her caution so much as to endeavor to promote, a day + or two sooner than had been arranged, the wedding of Grace; but her + imprudence was checked instantly by the recoiling of Moseley from her + insinuations in disgust; and the absence of the young man for twenty-four + hours gave her timely warning of the danger of such an interference with + one of such fastidious feelings. John punished himself as much as the + dowager on these occasions; but the smiling face of Grace, with her hand + frankly placed in his own at his return, never failed to do away the + unpleasant sensations created by her mother's care. + </p> + <p> + The Chatterton and Jarvis families met in the rooms, soon after the + arrival of the latter, when the lady of the knight, followed by both her + daughters, approached the dowager with a most friendly salute of + recognition. Lady Chatterton, really forgetful of the persons of her B---- + acquaintance, and disliking the vulgarity of her air, drew up into an + appearance of great dignity, as she hoped the lady was well. The + merchant's wife felt the consciousness of rank too much to be repulsed in + this manner, and believing that the dowager had merely forgotten her face, + she added, with a simpering smile, in imitation of what she had seen + better bred people practise with success-- + </p> + <p> + "Lady Jarvis--my lady--your ladyship don't remember me--Lady Jarvis of the + Deanery, B----, Northamptonshire, and my daughters, Lady Egerton and Miss + Jarvis." Lady Egerton bowed stiffly to the recognising smile the dowager + now condescended to bestow; but Sarah, remembering a certain handsome lord + in the family, was more urbane, determining at the moment to make the + promotion of her mother and sister stepping-stones to greater elevation + for herself. + </p> + <p> + "I hope my lord is well," continued the city lady. "I regret that Sir + Timo, and Sir Harry, and Captain Jarvis, are not here this morning to pay + their respects to your ladyship; but as we shall see naturally a good deal + of each other, it must be deferred to a more fitting opportunity." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, madam," replied the dowager, as, passing her compliments with + those of Grace, she drew back from so open a conversation with creatures + of such doubtful standing in the fashionable world. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIII. + </h2> + <p> + On taking leave of Mrs. Fitzgerald, Emily and her aunt settled a plan of + correspondence; the deserted situation of this young woman having created + great interest in the breasts of her new friends. General M'Carthy had + returned to Spain without receding from his original proposal, and his + niece was left to mourn her early departure from one of the most solemn + duties of life. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield, thwarted in one of his most favorite schemes of happiness + for the residue of his life, obstinately refused to make one of the party + at Bath; and Ives and Clara having returned to Bolton, the remainder of + the Moseleys arrived at the lodgings of John a very few days after the + interview of the preceding chapter, with hearts ill qualified to enter + into the gaieties of the place, though, in obedience to the wishes of Lady + Moseley, to see and to be seen once more on that great theatre of + fashionable amusement. + </p> + <p> + The friends of the family who had known them in times past were numerous, + and were glad to renew their acquaintance with those they had always + esteemed; so that they found themselves immediately surrounded by a circle + of smiling faces and dashing equipages. + </p> + <p> + Sir William Harris, the proprietor of the deanery, and a former neighbor, + with his showy daughter, were amongst the first to visit them. Sir William + was a man of handsome estate and unexceptionable character, but entirely + governed by the whims and desires of his only child. Caroline Harris + wanted neither sense nor beauty, but expecting a fortune, she had placed + her views too high. She at first aimed at the peerage; and while she felt + herself entitled to suit her taste as well as her ambition, had failed of + her object by ill-concealed efforts to attain it. She had justly acquired + the reputation of the reverse of a coquette or yet of a prude; still she + had never received an offer, and at the age of twenty-six, had now begun + to lower her thoughts to the commonalty. Her fortune would have easily + obtained her husband here, but she was determined to pick amongst the + lower supporters of the aristocracy of the nation. With the Moseleys she + had been early acquainted, though some years their senior; a circumstance, + however, to which she took care never to allude unnecessarily. + </p> + <p> + The meeting between Grace and the Moseleys was tender and sincere. John's + countenance glowed with delight, as he saw his future wife folded + successively in the arms of those he loved, and Grace's tears and blushes + added twofold charms to her native beauty. Jane relaxed from her reserve + to receive her future sister, and determined with herself to appear in the + world, in order to show Sir Henry Egerton that she did not feel the blow + he had inflicted as severely as the truth might have proved. + </p> + <p> + The Dowager found some little occupation, for a few days, in settling with + Lady Moseley the preliminaries of the wedding; but the latter had suffered + too much through her youngest daughters, to enter into these formalities + with her ancient spirit. All things were, however, happily settled; and + Ives making a journey for the express purpose, John and Grace were united + privately at the altar of one of the principal churches in Bath. + Chatterton had been summoned on the occasion; and the same paper which + announced the nuptials, contained, amongst the fashionable arrivals, the + names of the Duke of Derwent and his sister, the Marquess of Eltringham + and sisters, amongst whom was to be found Lady Laura Denbigh. Lady + Chatterton carelessly remarked, in presence of her friends, the husband of + the latter was summoned to the death-bed of a relative, from whom he had + great expectations. Emily's color did certainly change as she listened to + this news, but not allowing her thoughts to dwell on the subject, she was + soon enabled to recall her serenity of appearance. + </p> + <p> + But Jane and Emily were delicately placed. The lover of the former, and + the wives of the lovers of both, were in the way of daily, if not hourly + rencounters; and it required all the energies of the young women to appear + with composure before them. The elder was supported by pride, the younger + by principle. The first was restless, haughty, distant, and repulsive. The + last mild, humble, reserved, but eminently attractive. The one was + suspected by all around her; the other was unnoticed by any, but by her + nearest and dearest friends. + </p> + <p> + The first rencounter with these dreaded guests occurred at the rooms one + evening, where the elder ladies had insisted on the bride's making her + appearance. The Jarvises were there before them, and at their entrance + caught the eyes of the group. Lady Jarvis approached immediately, filled + with exultation--her husband with respect. The latter was received with + cordiality--the former politely, but with distance. The young ladies and + Sir Henry bowed distantly, and the gentleman soon drew off into another + part of the room: his absence alone kept Jane from fainting. The handsome + figure of Egerton standing by the side of Mary Jarvis, as her acknowledged + husband, was near proving too much for her pride, notwithstanding all her + efforts; and he looked so like the imaginary being she had set up as the + object of her worship, that her heart was also in danger of rebelling. + </p> + <p> + "Positively, Sir Edward and my lady, both Sir Timo and myself, and, I dare + say, Sir Harry and Lady Egerton too, are delighted to see you comfortably + at Bath among us. Mrs. Moseley, I wish you much happiness; Lady Chatterton + too. I suppose your ladyship recollects me now; I am Lady Jarvis. Mr. + Moseley, I regret, for your sake, that my son Captain Jarvis is not here; + you were so fond of each other, and both so loved your guns." + </p> + <p> + "Positively, my Lady Jarvis," said Moseley, drily, "my feelings on the + occasion are as strong as your own; but I presume the captain is much too + good a shot for me by this time." + </p> + <p> + "Why, yes; he improves greatly in most things he undertakes," rejoined the + smiling dame, "and I hope he will soon learn, like you, to shoot with the + <i>h</i>arrows of Cupid. I hope the Honorable Mrs. Moseley is well." + </p> + <p> + Grace bowed mildly, as she answered to the interrogatory, and smiled at + the thought of Jarvis put in competition with her husband in this species + of archery, when a voice immediately behind where they sat caught the ears + of the whole party; all it said was-- + </p> + <p> + "Harriet, you forgot to show me Marian's letter." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but I will to-morrow," was the reply. + </p> + <p> + It was the tone of Denbigh. Emily almost fell from her seat as it first + reached her, and the eyes of all but herself were immediately turned in + quest of the speaker. He had approached within a very few feet of them, + supporting a lady on each arm. A second look convinced the Moseleys that + they were mistaken. It was not Denbigh, but a young man whose figure, + face, and air resembled him strongly, and whose voice possessed the same + soft melodious tones which had distinguished that of Denbigh. This party + seated themselves within a very short distance of the Moseleys, and they + continued their conversation. + </p> + <p> + "You heard from the Colonel to-day, too, I believe," continued the + gentleman, turning to the lady who sat next to Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, he is a very punctual correspondent; I hear every other day." + </p> + <p> + "How is his uncle, Laura?" inquired her female companion. + </p> + <p> + "Rather better; but I will thank your grace to find the Marquess and Miss + Howard." + </p> + <p> + "Bring them to us," rejoined the other. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the former lady, with a laugh, "and Eltringham will thank you + too, I dare say." + </p> + <p> + In an instant the duke returned, accompanied by a gentleman of thirty and + an elderly lady, who might have been safely taken for fifty without + offence to anybody but herself. + </p> + <p> + During these speeches their auditors had listened with almost breathless + interest. Emily had stolen a glance which satisfied her it was not Denbigh + himself and it greatly relieved her; but was startled at discovering that + she was actually seated by the side of his young and lovely wife. When an + opportunity offered, she dwelt on the amiable, frank countenance of her + rival with melancholy satisfaction: at least, she thought, he may yet be + happy, and I hope penitent. + </p> + <p> + It was a mixture of love and gratitude which prompted this wish, both + sentiments not easily got rid of when once ingrafted in our better + feelings. John eyed the strangers with a displeasure for which he could + not account at once, and saw, in the ancient lady, the bridesmaid Lord + Henry had so unwillingly admitted to that distinction. + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis was astounded with her vicinity to so much nobility, and she + drew back to her family to study its movements to advantage; while Lady + Chatterton sighed heavily, as she contemplated the fine figures of an + unmarried Duke and Marquess, and she without a single child to dispose of. + The remainder of the party continued to view them with curiosity, and + listened with interest to what they said. + </p> + <p> + Two or three young ladies had now joined the strangers, attended by a + couple of gentlemen, and the conversation became general. The ladies + declined dancing entirely, but appeared willing to throw away an hour in + comments on their neighbors. + </p> + <p> + "William," said one of the young ladies, "there is your old messmate, Col. + Egerton." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I observe him," replied her brother, "I see him;" but, smiling + significantly, he continued, "we are messmates no longer." + </p> + <p> + "He is a sad character," said the Marquess, with a shrug. "William, I + would advise you to be cautious of his acquaintance." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you," replied Lord William, "but I believe I understand him + thoroughly." + </p> + <p> + Jane manifested strong emotion during these remarks, while Sir Edward and + his wife averted their faces from a simultaneous feeling of self-reproach. + Their eyes met, and mutual concessions were contained in the glance; yet + their feelings were unnoticed by their companions, for over the fulfilment + of her often repeated forewarnings of neglect and duty to our children, + Mrs. Wilson had mourned in sincerity, but she had forgotten to triumph. + </p> + <p> + "When are we to see Pendennyss?" inquired the Marquess; "I hope he will be + here with George--I have a mind to beat up his quarters in Wales this + season--what say you, Derwent?" + </p> + <p> + "I intend it, if I can persuade Lady Harriet to quit the gaieties of Bath + so soon--what say <i>you</i>, sister--will you be in readiness to attend + me so early?" + </p> + <p> + This question was asked in an arch tone, and drew the eyes of her friends + on the person to whom it was addressed. + </p> + <p> + "I am ready now, Frederick, if you wish it," answered the sister hastily, + and coloring excessively as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + "But where is Chatterton? I thought he was here--he had a sister married + here last week," inquired Lord William Stapleton, addressing no one in + particular. + </p> + <p> + A slight movement in their neighbors attracted the attention of the party. + </p> + <p> + "What a lovely young woman," whispered the duke to Lady Laura, "your + neighbor is!" + </p> + <p> + The lady smiled her assent, and as Emily overheard it, she rose with + glowing cheeks, and proposed a walk round the room. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton soon after entered. The young peer had acknowledged to Emily + that, deprived of hope as he had been by her firm refusal of his hand, his + efforts had been directed to the suppression of a passion which could + never be successful; but his esteem, his respect, remained in full force. + He did not touch at all on the subject of Denbigh, and she supposed that + he thought his marriage was a step that required justification. + </p> + <p> + The Moseleys had commenced their promenade round the room as Chatterton + came in. He paid his compliments to them as soon as he entered, and walked + with their party. The noble visitors followed their example, and the two + parties met. Chatterton was delighted to see them, the Duke was + particularly fond of him; and, had one been present of sufficient + observation, the agitation of his sister, the Lady Harriet Denbigh, would + have accounted for the doubts of her brother as respects her willingness + to leave Bath. + </p> + <p> + A few words of explanation passed; the duke and his friends appeared to + urge something on Chatterton, who acted as their ambassador, and the + consequence was, an introduction of the two parties to each other. This + was conducted with the ease of the present fashion--it was general, and + occurred, as it were incidentally, in the course of the evening. + </p> + <p> + Both Lady Harriet and Lady Laura Denbigh were particularly attentive to + Emily. They took their seats by her, and manifested a preference for her + conversation that struck Mrs. Wilson as remarkable. Could it be that the + really attractive manners and beauty of her niece had caught the fancy of + these ladies, or was there a deeper seated cause for the desire to draw + Emily out, that both of them evinced? Mrs. Wilson had heard a rumor that + Chatterton was thought attentive to Lady Harriet, and the other was the + wife of Denbigh; was it possible the quondam suitors of her niece had + related to their present favorites the situation they had stood in as + regarded Emily? It was odd, to say no more; and the widow dwelt on the + innocent countenance of the bride with pity and admiration. Emily herself + was not a little abashed at the notice of her new acquaintances, + especially Lady Laura's; but as their admiration appeared sincere, as well + as their desire to be on terms of intimacy with the Moseleys, they parted, + on the whole, mutually pleased. + </p> + <p> + The conversation several times was embarrassing to the baronet's family, + and at moments distressingly so to their daughters. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the evening they all formed one group at a little distance + from the rest of the company, and in a situation to command a view of it. + </p> + <p> + "Who is that vulgar-looking woman," said Lady Sarah Stapleton, "seated + next to Sir Henry Egerton, brother?" + </p> + <p> + "No less a personage than my Lady Jarvis," replied the marquess, gravely, + "and the mother-in-law of Sir Harry, and the wife to Sir Timo--;" this was + said, with a look of drollery that showed the marquess was a bit of a + quiz. + </p> + <p> + "Married!" cried Lord William, "mercy on the woman who is Egerton's wife. + He is the greatest latitudinarian amongst the ladies, of any man in + England--nothing--no, nothing would tempt me to let such a man marry a + sister of mine!" + </p> + <p> + Ah, thought Mrs. Wilson, how we may be deceived in character, with the + best intentions, after all! In what are the open vices of Egerton worse + than the more hidden ones of Denbigh? + </p> + <p> + These freely expressed opinions on the character of Sir Henry were + excessively awkward to some of the listeners, to whom they were connected + with unpleasant recollections of duties neglected, and affections thrown + away. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward Moseley was not disposed to judge his fellow-creatures harshly; + and it was as much owing to his philanthropy as to his indolence, that he + had been so remiss in his attention to the associates of his daughters. + But the veil once removed, and the consequences brought home to him + through his child, no man was more alive to the necessity of caution on + this important particular; and Sir Edward formed many salutary resolutions + for the government of his future conduct in relation to those whom an + experience nearly fatal in its results had now greatly qualified to take + care of themselves. But to resume our narrative--Lady Laura had maintained + with Emily a conversation, which was enlivened by occasional remarks from + the rest of the party, in the course of which the nerves as well as the + principles of Emily were put to a severe trial. + </p> + <p> + "My brother Henry," said Lady Laura, "who is a captain in the navy, once + had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Moseley, and in some measure made me + acquainted with you before we met." + </p> + <p> + "I dined with Lord Henry at L----, and was much indebted to his polite + attentions in an excursion on the water," replied Emily, simply. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I am sure his attentions were exclusive," cried the sister; "indeed, + he told us that nothing but want of time prevented his being deeply in + love--he had even the audacity to tell Denbigh it was fortunate for me he + had never seen you, or I should have been left to lead apes." + </p> + <p> + "And I suppose you believe him now," cried Lord William, laughing, as he + bowed to Emily. + </p> + <p> + His sister laughed in her turn, but shook her head, in the confidence of + conjugal affection. + </p> + <p> + "It is all conjecture, for the Colonel said he had never enjoyed the + pleasure of meeting Miss Moseley, so I will not boast of what my powers + might have done; Miss Moseley," continued Lady Laura, blushing slightly at + her inclination to talk of an absent husband, so lately her lover, "I hope + to have the pleasure of presenting Colonel Denbigh to you soon." + </p> + <p> + "I think," said Emily, with a strong horror of deception, and a mighty + struggle to suppress her feelings, "Colonel Denbigh was mistaken in saying + that we had never met; he was of material service to me once, and I owe + him a debt of gratitude that I only wish I could properly repay." + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura listened in surprise; but as Emily paused, she could not + delicately, as his wife, remind her further of the obligation, by asking + what the service was, and hesitating a moment, continued-- + </p> + <p> + "Henry quite made you the subject of conversation amongst us; Lord + Chatterton too, who visited us for a day, was equally warm in his + eulogiums. I really thought they created a curiosity in the Duke and + Pendennyss to behold their idol." + </p> + <p> + "A curiosity that would be ill rewarded in its indulgence," said Emily, + abashed by the personality of the discourse. + </p> + <p> + "So says the modesty of Miss Moseley," said the Duke of Derwent, in the + peculiar tone which distinguished the softer keys of Denbigh's voice. + Emily's heart beat quick as she heard them, and she was afterwards vexed + to remember with how much pleasure she had listened to this opinion of the + duke. Was it the sentiment, or was it the voice? She, however, gathered + strength to answer, with a dignity that repressed further praises:-- + </p> + <p> + "Your grace is willing to divest me of what little I possess." + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss is a man of a thousand," continued Lady Laura, with the + privilege of a married woman. "I do wish he would join us at Bath--is + there no hope, duke?" + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid not," replied his grace: "he keeps himself immured in Wales + with his sister, who is as much of a hermit as he is himself." + </p> + <p> + "There was a story of an inamorata in private somewhere," cried the + marquess; "why at one time it was even said he was privately married to + her." + </p> + <p> + "Scandal, my lord," said the duke, gravely: "Pendennyss is of + unexceptionable morals, and the lady you mean is the widow of Major + Fitzgerald, whom you knew. Pendennyss never sees her, though by accident + he was once of very great service to her." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson breathed freely again, as she heard this explanation, and + thought if the Marquess knew all, how differently would he judge + Pendennyss, as well as others. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I have the highest opinion of Lord Pendennyss," cried the Marquess. + </p> + <p> + The Moseleys were not sorry that the usual hour of retiring put an end to + the conversation and their embarrassment. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIV. + </h2> + <p> + During the succeeding fortnight, the intercourse between the Moseleys and + their new acquaintances increased daily. It was rather awkward at first on + the part of Emily; and her beating pulse and changing color too often + showed the alarm of feelings not yet overcome, when any allusions were + made to the absent husband of one of the ladies. Still, as her parents + encouraged the acquaintance, and her aunt thought the best way to get rid + of the remaining weakness with respect to Denbigh was not to shrink from + even an interview with the gentleman himself, Emily succeeded in + conquering her reluctance; and as the high opinion entertained by Lady + Laura of her husband was expressed in a thousand artless ways, an interest + was created in her that promised in time to weaken if not destroy the + impression that had been made by Denbigh himself. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, Egerton carefully avoided all collision with the + Moseleys. Once, indeed, he endeavored to renew his acquaintance with John, + but a haughty repulse almost produced a quarrel. + </p> + <p> + What representations Egerton had thought proper to make to his wife, we + are unable to say; but she appeared to resent something, as she never + approached the dwelling or persons of her quondam associates, although in + her heart she was dying to be on terms of intimacy with their titled + friends. Her incorrigible mother was restrained by no such or any other + consideration, and contrived to fasten on the Dowager and Lady Harriet a + kind of bowing acquaintance, which she made great use of at the rooms. + </p> + <p> + The Duke sought out the society of Emily wherever he could obtain it; and + Mrs. Wilson thought her niece admitted his approaches with less reluctance + than that of any other of the gentlemen around her. At first she was + surprised, but a closer observation betrayed to her the latent cause. + </p> + <p> + Derwent resembled Denbigh greatly in person and voice, although there were + distinctions easily to be made on an acquaintance. The Duke had an air of + command and hauteur that was never to be seen in his cousin. But his + admiration of Emily he did not attempt to conceal; and, as he ever + addressed her in the respectful language and identical voice of Denbigh, + the observant widow easily perceived, that it was the remains of her + attachment to the one that induced her niece to listen, with such evident + pleasure, to the conversation of the other. + </p> + <p> + The Duke of Derwent wanted many of the indispensable requisites of a + husband, in the eyes of Mrs. Wilson; yet, as she thought Emily out of all + danger at the present of any new attachment, she admitted the association, + under no other restraint than the uniform propriety of all that Emily said + or did. + </p> + <p> + "Your niece will one day be a Duchess, Mrs. Wilson," whispered Lady Laura, + as Derwent and Emily were running over a new poem one morning, in the + lodgings of Sir Edward; the former reading a fine extract aloud so + strikingly in the air and voice of Denbigh, as to call all the animation + of the unconscious Emily into her expressive face. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson sighed, as she reflected on the strength of those feelings + which even principles and testimony had not been able wholly to subdue, as + she answered-- + </p> + <p> + "Not of Derwent, I believe. But how wonderfully the Duke resembles your + husband at times," she added, entirely thrown off her guard. + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura was evidently surprised. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, at times he does; they are brothers' children, you know: the voice + in all that connexion is remarkable. Pendennyss, though a degree further + off in blood, possesses it; and Lady Harriet, you perceive, has the same + characteristic; there has been some syren in the family, in days past." + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward and Lady Moseley saw the attention of the Duke with the + greatest pleasure. Though not slaves to the ambition of wealth and rank, + they were certainly no objections in their eyes; and a proper suitor Lady + Moseley thought the most probable means of driving the recollection of + Denbigh from the mind of her daughter. The latter consideration had great + weight in inducing her to cultivate an acquaintance so embarrassing on + many accounts. + </p> + <p> + The Colonel, however, wrote to his wife the impossibility of his quitting + his uncle while he continued so unwell, and it was settled that the bride + should join him, under the escort of Lord William. + </p> + <p> + The same tenderness distinguished Denbigh on this occasion that had + appeared so lovely when exercised to his dying father. Yet, thought Mrs. + Wilson, how insufficient are good feelings to effect what can only be the + result of good principles. + </p> + <p> + Caroline Harris was frequently of the parties of pleasure, walks, rides, + and dinners, which the Moseleys were compelled to join in; and as the + Marquess of Eltringham had given her one day some little encouragement, + she determined to make an expiring effort at the peerage, before she + condescended to enter into an examination of the qualities of Capt. + Jarvis, who, his mother had persuaded her, was an Apollo, that had great + hopes of being one day a Lord, as both the Captain and herself had + commenced laying up a certain sum quarterly for the purpose of buying a + title hereafter--an ingenious expedient of Jarvis's to get into his hands + a portion of the allowance of his mother. + </p> + <p> + Eltringham was strongly addicted to the ridiculous; and without committing + himself in the least, drew the lady out on divers occasions, for the + amusement of himself and the Duke--who enjoyed, without practising, that + species of joke. + </p> + <p> + The collisions between ill-concealed art and as ill-concealed irony had + been practised with impunity by the Marquess for a fortnight, and the + lady's imagination began to revel in the delights of a triumph, when a + really respectable offer was made to Miss Harris by a neighbor of her + father's in the country--one she would rejoice to have received a few days + before, but which, in consequence of hopes created by the following + occurrence, she haughtily rejected. + </p> + <p> + It was at the lodgings of the Baronet that Lady Laura exclaimed one day,-- + </p> + <p> + "Marriage is a lottery, certainly, and neither Sir Henry nor Lady Egerton + appears to have drawn a prize." + </p> + <p> + Here Jane stole from the room. + </p> + <p> + "Never, sister," cried the Marquess. "I will deny that. Any man can select + a prize from your sex, if he only knows his own taste." + </p> + <p> + "Taste is a poor criterion, I am afraid," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "on + which to found matrimonial felicity." + </p> + <p> + "To what would you refer the decision, my dear madam?" inquired the Lady + Laura. + </p> + <p> + "Judgment." + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura shook her hear doubtingly. + </p> + <p> + "You remind me so much of Lord Pendennyss! Everything he wishes to bring + under the subjection of judgment and principles." + </p> + <p> + "And is he wrong, Lady Laura?" asked Mrs. Wilson, pleased to find such + correct views existed in one of whom she thought so highly. + </p> + <p> + "Not wrong, my dear madam, only impracticable. What do you think, + Marquess, of choosing a wife in conformity to your principles, and without + consulting your tastes?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson shook her head with a laugh, and disclaimed any such statement + of the case; but the Marquess, who disliked one of John's didactic + conversations very much, gaily interrupted her by saying-- + </p> + <p> + "Oh! taste is everything with me. The woman of my heart against the world, + if she suits my fancy, and satisfies my judgment." + </p> + <p> + "And what may this fancy of your Lordship be?" said Mrs. Wilson, willing + to gratify the trifling. "What kind of a woman do you mean to choose? How + tall for instance?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, madam," cried the Marquess, rather unprepared for such a catechism, + and looking around him until the outstretched neck and the eager attention + of Caroline Harris caught his eye, when he added with an air of great + simplicity--"about the height of Miss Harris." + </p> + <p> + "How old?" asked Mrs. Wilson with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "Not too young, ma'am, certainly. I am thirty-two--my wife must be five or + six and twenty. Am I old enough, do you think, Derwent?" he added in a + whisper to the Duke. + </p> + <p> + "Within ten years," was the reply. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson continued-- + </p> + <p> + "She must read and write, I suppose?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, faith," said the Marquess, "I am not fond of a bookish sort of a + woman, and least of all a scholar." + </p> + <p> + "You had better take Miss Howard," whispered his brother. "She is old + enough--never reads--and is just the height." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, Will," rejoined the brother. "Rather too old that. Now, I admire + a woman who has confidence in herself. One that understands the + proprieties of life, and has, if possible, been at the head of an + establishment before she is to take charge of mine." + </p> + <p> + The delighted Caroline wriggled about in her chair, and, unable to contain + herself longer, inquired:-- + </p> + <p> + "Noble blood of course, you would require, my Lord?" + </p> + <p> + "Why no! I rather think the best wives are to be found in a medium. I + would wish to elevate my wife myself. A Baronet's daughter for instance." + </p> + <p> + Here Lady Jarvis, who had entered during the dialogue, and caught a clue + to the topic they were engaged in, drew near, and ventured to ask if he + thought a simple knight too low. The Marquess, who did not expect such an + attack, was a little at a loss for an answer; but recovering himself + answered gravely, under the apprehension of another design on his person, + that "he did think that would be forgetting his duty to his descendants." + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis sighed, and fell back in disappointment; while Miss Harris, + turning to the nobleman, in a soft voice, desired him to ring for her + carriage. As he handed her down, she ventured to inquire if his lordship + had ever met with such a woman as he described. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Miss Harris," he whispered, as he handed her into the coach, "how can + you ask me such a question? You are very cruel. Drive on, coachman." + </p> + <p> + "How, cruel, my Lord?" said Miss Harris eagerly. "Stop, John. How, cruel, + my Lord?" and she stretched her neck out of the window as the Marquess, + kissing his hand to her, ordered the man to proceed. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you hear your lady, sir?" + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis had followed them down, also with a view to catch anything + which might be said, having apologized for her hasty visit; and as the + Marquess handed her politely into her carriage, she also begged "he would + favor Sir Timo and Sir Henry with a call;" which being promised, + Eltringham returned to the room. + </p> + <p> + "When am I to salute a Marchioness of Eltringham?" cried Lady Laura to her + brother, "one on the new standard set up by your Lordship." + </p> + <p> + "Whenever Miss Harris can make up her mind to the sacrifice," replied the + brother very gravely. "Ah me! how very considerate some of your sex are, + for the modesty of ours." + </p> + <p> + "I wish you joy with all my heart, my Lord Marquess," exclaimed John + Moseley. "I was once favored with the notice of that same lady for a week + or two, but a viscount saved me from capture." + </p> + <p> + "I really think, Moseley," said the Duke innocently, but speaking with + animation, "an intriguing daughter worse than a managing mother." + </p> + <p> + John's gravity for a moment vanished, as he replied in a lowered key, + </p> + <p> + "Oh, much worse." + </p> + <p> + Grace's heart was in her throat, until, by stealing a glance at her + husband, she saw the cloud passing over his fine brow; and happening to + catch her affectionate smile; his face was at once lighted into a look of + pleasantry. + </p> + <p> + "I would advise caution, my Lord. Caroline Harris has the advantage of + experience in her trade, and was expert from the first." + </p> + <p> + "John--John," said Sir Edward with warmth, "Sir William is my friend, and + his daughter must be respected." + </p> + <p> + "Then, baronet," cried the Marquess, "she has one recommendation I was + ignorant of, and as such I am silent: but ought not Sir William to teach + his daughter to respect herself? I view these husband-hunting ladies as + pirates on the ocean of love, and lawful objects for any roving cruiser + like myself to fire at. At one time I was simple enough to retire as they + advanced, but you know, madam," turning to Mrs. Wilson with a droll look, + "flight only encourages pursuit, so I now give battle in self-defence." + </p> + <p> + "And I hope successfully, my Lord," observed the Lady. "Miss Harris, + brother, does appear to have grown desperate in her attacks, which were + formerly much more masked than at present. I believe it is generally the + case, when a young worman throws aside the delicacy and feelings which + ought to be the characteristics of her sex, and which teach her studiously + to conceal her admiration, that she either becomes in time cynical and + disagreeable to all around her from disappointment, or persevering in her + efforts, as it were, runs a muck for a husband. Now in justice to the + gentlemen, I must say, baronet, there are strong symptoms of the Malay + about Caroline Harris." + </p> + <p> + "A muck, a muck," cried the marquess, as, in obedience to the signal of + his sister, he rose to withdraw. + </p> + <p> + Jane had retired to her own room in a mortification of spirit she could + ill conceal during this conversation, and she felt a degree of humiliation + which almost drove her to the desperate resolution of hiding herself for + ever from the world. The man she had so fondly enshrined in her heart + proving to be so notoriously unworthy as to be the subject of unreserved + censure in general company, was a reproach to her delicacy, her + observation, her judgment, that was the more severe, from being true; and + she wept in bitterness over her fallen happiness. + </p> + <p> + Emily had noticed the movement of Jane, and waited anxiously for the + departure of the visitors to hasten to her room. She knocked two or three + times before her sister replied to her request for admittance. + </p> + <p> + "Jane, my dear Jane," said Emily, soothingly, "will you not admit me?" + </p> + <p> + Jane could not resist any longer the affection of her sister, and the door + was opened; but as Emily endeavored to take her hand, she drew back + coldly, and cried-- + </p> + <p> + "I wonder you, who are so happy, will leave the gay scene below for the + society of an humbled wretch like me;" and overcome with the violence of + her emotion, she burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + "Happy!" repeated Emily, in a tone of anguish, "happy, did you say, Jane? + Oh, little do you know my sufferings, or you would never speak so + cruelly!" + </p> + <p> + Jane, in her turn, surprised at the strength of Emily's language, + considered her weeping sister with commiseration; and then her thoughts + recurring to her own case, she continued with energy-- + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Emily, happy; for whatever may have been the reason of Denbigh's + conduct, he is respected; and if you do or did love him, he was worthy of + it. But I," said Jane, wildly, "threw away my affections on a wretch--<i>a + mere impostor</i>--and I am miserable for ever." + </p> + <p> + "No, dear Jane," rejoined Emily, having recovered her self-possession, + "not miserable--nor for ever. You have many, very many sources of + happiness yet within your reach, even in this world. I--I do think, even + our strongest attachments may be overcome by energy and a sense of duty. + And oh! how I wish I could see you make the effort." + </p> + <p> + For a moment the voice of the youthful moralist had failed her; but + anxiety in behalf of her sister overcame her feelings, and she ended the + sentence with earnestness. + </p> + <p> + "Emily," said Jane, with obstinacy, and yet in tears, "you don't know what + blighted affections are. To endure the scorn of the world, and see the man + you once thought near being your husband married to another, who is + showing herself in triumph before you, wherever you go!" + </p> + <p> + "Hear me, Jane, before you reproach me further, and then judge between + us." Emily paused a moment to acquire nerve to proceed, and then related + to her astonished sister the little history of her own disappointments. + She did not affect to conceal her attachment for Denbigh. With glowing + cheeks she acknowledged, that she found a necessity for all her efforts to + keep her rebellious feelings yet in subjection; and as she recounted + generally his conduct to Mrs. Fitzgerald, she concluded by saying, "But, + Jane, I can see enough to call forth my gratitude; and although, with + yourself, I feel at this moment as if my affections were sealed for ever, + I wish to make no hasty resolutions, nor act in any manner as if I were + unworthy of the lot Providence has assigned me." + </p> + <p> + "Unworthy? no!--you have no reasons for self-reproach. If Mr. Denbigh has + had the art to conceal his crimes from you, he did it to the rest of the + world also, and has married a woman of rank and character. But how + differently are we situated! Emily--I--I have no such consolation." + </p> + <p> + "You have the consolation, my sister, of knowing there is an interest made + for you where we all require it most, and it is there I endeavor to seek + my support," said Emily, in a low and humble tone. "A review of our own + errors takes away the keenness of our perception of the wrongs done us, + and by placing us in charity with the rest of the world, disposes us to + enjoy calmly the blessings within our reach. Besides, Jane, we have + parents whose happiness is locked up in that of their children, and we + should--we must overcome the feelings which disqualify us for our common + duties, on their account." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" cried Jane, "how can I move about in the world, while I know the + eyes of all are on me, in curiosity to discover how I bear my + disappointments. But you, Emily, are unsuspected. It is easy for you to + affect a gaiety you do not feel." + </p> + <p> + "I neither affect nor feel any gaiety," said her sister, mildly. "But are + there not the eyes of One on us, of infinitely more power to punish or + reward than what may be found in the opinions of the world? Have we no + duties? For what is our wealth, our knowledge, our time given us, but to + improve for our own and for the eternal welfare of those around us? Come + then, my sister, we have both been deceived--let us endeavor not to be + culpable." + </p> + <p> + "I wish, from my soul, we could leave Bath," cried Jane. "The place, the + people are hateful to me!" + </p> + <p> + "Jane," said Emily, "rather say you hate their vices, and wish for their + amendment: but do not indiscriminately condemn a whole community for the + wrongs you have sustained from one of its members." + </p> + <p> + Jane allowed herself to be consoled, though by no means convinced, by this + effort of her sister; and they both found a relief by thus unburdening + their hearts to each other, that in future brought them more nearly + together, and was of mutual assistance in supporting them in the + promiscuous circles in which they were obliged to mix. + </p> + <p> + With all her fortitude and principle, one of the last things Emily would + have desired was an interview with Denbigh, and she was happily relieved + from the present danger of it by the departure of Lady Laura and her + brother, to go to the residence of the Colonel's sick uncle. + </p> + <p> + Both Mrs. Wilson and Emily suspected that a dread of meeting them had + detained him from his intended journey to Bath; and neither was sorry to + perceive, what they considered as latent signs of grace--a grace of which + Egerton appeared entirely to be without. + </p> + <p> + "He may yet see his errors, and make a kind and affectionate husband," + thought Emily; and then, as the image of Denbigh rose in her imagination, + surrounded with the domestic virtues, she roused herself from the + dangerous reflection to the exercise of the duties in which she found a + refuge from unpardonable wishes. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXV. + </h2> + <p> + Nothing material occurred for a fortnight after the departure of Lady + Laura, the Moseleys entering soberly into the amusements of the place, and + Derwent and Chatterton becoming more pointed every day in their + attentions--the one to Emily, and the other to Lady Harriet; when the + dowager received a pressing entreaty from Catherine to hasten to her at + Lisbon, where her husband had taken up his abode for a time, after much + doubt and indecision as to his place of residence. Lady Herriefield stated + generally in her letter, that she was miserable, and that without the + support of her mother she could not exist under the present grievances; + but what was the cause of those grievances, or what grounds she had for + her misery, she left unexplained. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton was not wanting in maternal regard, and she promptly + determined to proceed to Portugal in the next packet. John felt inclined + for a little excursion with his bride; and out of compassion to the baron, + who was in a dilemma between his duty and his love (for Lady Harriet about + that time was particularly attractive), he offered his services. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton allowed himself to be persuaded by the good-natured John, that + his mother could safely cross the ocean under the protection of the + latter. Accordingly, at the end of the before mentioned fortnight, the + dowager, John, Grace, and Jane, commenced their journey to Falmouth. + </p> + <p> + Jane had offered to accompany Grace, as a companion in her return (it + being expected Lady Chatterton would remain in the country with her + daughter); and her parents appreciating her motives, permitted the + excursion, with a hope it would draw her thoughts from past events. + </p> + <p> + Although Grace shed a few tears at parting with Emily and her friends, it + was impossible for Mrs. Moseley to be long unhappy, with the face of John + smiling by her side; and they pursued their route uninterruptedly. In due + season they reached the port of embarkation. + </p> + <p> + The following morning the packet got under weigh, and a favorable breeze + soon wafted them out of sight of their native shores. The ladies were too + much indisposed the first day to appear on the deck; but the weather + becoming calm and the sea smooth, Grace and Jane ventured out of the + confinement of their state-rooms, to respire the fresh air above. + </p> + <p> + There were but few passengers, and those chiefly ladies--the wives of + officers on foreign stations, on their way to join their husbands. As + these had been accustomed to moving in the world, their disposition to + accommodate soon removed the awkwardness of a first meeting, and our + travellers began to be at home in their novel situation. + </p> + <p> + While Grace stood leaning on the arm of her husband, and clinging to his + support, both from affection and a dread of the motion of the vessel, Jane + ventured with one of the ladies to attempt a walk round the deck of the + ship. Unaccustomed to such an uncertain foothold, the walkers were + prevented falling by the kind interposition of a gentleman, who for the + first time had shown himself among them at that moment. The accident, and + their situation, led to a conversation which was renewed at different + times during their passage, and in some measure created an intimacy + between our party and the stranger. He was addressed by the commander of + the vessel as Mr. Harland; and Lady Chatterton exercised her ingenuity in + the investigation of his history, by which she made the following + discovery: + </p> + <p> + The Rev. and Hon. Mr. Harland was the younger son of an Irish earl, who + had early embraced his sacred profession in that church, in which he held + a valuable living in the gift of his father's family. His father was yet + alive, and then at Lisbon with his mother and sister, in attendance on his + elder brother, who had been sent there in a deep decline a couple of + months before. It had been the wish of his parents to have taken all their + children with them; but a sense of duty had kept the young clergyman in + the exercise of his holy office, until a request of his dying brother, and + the directions of his father, caused him to hasten abroad to witness the + decease of the one, and to afford all the solace within his power to the + others. + </p> + <p> + It may be easily imagined that the discovery of the rank of their + accidental acquaintance, with the almost certainty that existed of his + being the heir of his father's honors, in no degree impaired his + consequence in the eyes of the dowager; and it is certain, his visible + anxiety and depressed spirits, his unaffected piety, and disinterested + hopes for his brother's recovery, no less elevated him in the opinions of + her companions. + </p> + <p> + There was, at the moment, a kind of sympathy between Harland and Jane, + notwithstanding the melancholy which gave rise to it proceeding from such + very different causes and as the lady, although with diminished bloom, + retained all her personal charms, rather heightened than otherwise by the + softness of low spirits, the young clergyman sometimes relieved his + apprehensions of his brother's death by admitting the image of Jane among + his more melancholy reflections. + </p> + <p> + The voyage was tedious, and some time before it was ended the dowager had + given Grace an intimation of the probability there was of Jane's becoming, + at some future day, a countess. Grace sincerely hoped that whatever she + became she would be as happy as she thought all allied to John deserved to + be. + </p> + <p> + They entered the bay of Lisbon early in the morning; and as the ship had + been expected for some days, a boat came alongside with a note for Mr. + Harland, before they had anchored. It apprised him of the death of his + brother. The young man threw himself precipitately into it, and was soon + employed in one of the loveliest offices of his vocation, that of healing + the wounds of the afflicted. + </p> + <p> + Lady Herriefield received her mother in a sort of sullen satisfaction, and + her companions with an awkwardness she could ill conceal. It required no + great observation in the travellers to discover, that their arrival was + entirely unexpected by the viscount, if it were not equally disagreeable; + indeed, one day's residence under his roof assured them all that no great + degree of domestic felicity was an inmate of the dwelling. + </p> + <p> + From the moment Lord Herriefield became suspicious that he had been the + dupe of the management of Kate and her mother, he viewed every act of his + wife with a prejudiced eye. It was easy, with his knowledge of human + nature, to detect her selfishness and worldly-mindedness; for as these + were faults she was unconscious of possessing, so she was unguarded in her + exposure of them. But her designs, in a matrimonial point of view, having + ended with her marriage, had the viscount treated her with any of the + courtesies due her sex and station, she might, with her disposition, have + been contented in the enjoyment of rank and in the possession of wealth; + but their more private hours were invariably rendered unpleasant, by the + overflowings of her husband's resentment at having been deceived in his + judgment of the female sex. + </p> + <p> + There is no point upon which men are more tender than their privilege of + suiting themselves in a partner for life, although many of both sexes are + influenced in this important selection more by the wishes and whims of + others than is usually suspected; yet, as all imagine what is the result + of contrivance and management is the election of free will and taste, so + long as they are ignorant, they are contented. Lord Herriefield wanted + this bliss of ignorance; and, with contempt for his wife, was mingled + anger at his own want of foresight. + </p> + <p> + Very few people can tamely submit to self-reproach; and as the cause of + this irritated state of mind was both not only constantly present, but + completely within his power, the viscount seemed determined to give her as + little reason to exult in the success of her plans as possible. Jealous he + was, from temperament, from bad associations, and a want of confidence in + the principles of his wife, the freedom of foreign manners having an + additional tendency to excite this baneful passion to an unusual degree. + Abridged in her pleasures, reproached with motives she was incapable of + harboring, and disappointed in all those enjoyments her mother had ever + led her to believe the invariable accompaniments of married life, where + proper attention had been paid to the necessary qualifications of riches + and rank, Kate had written to the dowager with the hope her presence might + restrain, or her advice teach her, successfully to oppose the unfeeling + conduct of the viscount. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton never having implanted any of her favorite systems in her + daughter, so much by precept as by the force of example in her own person, + as well as by indirect eulogiums on certain people who were endowed with + those qualities and blessings she most admired, on the present occasion + Catherine did not unburden herself in terms to her mother; but by a + regular gradation of complaints, aimed more at the world than at her + husband, she soon let the knowing dowager see their application, and in + the end completely removed the veil from her domestic grievances. + </p> + <p> + The example of John and Grace for a short time awed the peer into + dissembling his disgust for his spouse; but the ice once broken, their + presence soon ceased to affect either the frequency or the severity of his + remarks, when under its influence. + </p> + <p> + From such exhibitions of matrimonial discord, Grace shrank timidly into + the retirement of her room, and Jane, with dignity, would follow her + example; while John at times became a listener, with a spirit barely + curbed within the bounds of prudence, and at others, he sought in the + company of his wife and sister, relief from the violence of his feelings. + </p> + <p> + John never admired nor respected Catherine, for she wanted those very + qualities he chiefly loved in her sister; yet, as she was a woman, and one + nearly connected with him, he found it impossible to remain a quiet + spectator of the unmanly treatment she often received from her husband; he + therefore made preparations for his return to England by the first packet, + abridging his intended residence in Lisbon more than a month. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton endeavored all within her power to heal the breach between + Kate and her husband, but it greatly exceeded her abilities. It was too + late to implant such principles in her daughter, as by a long course of + self-denial and submission might have won the love of the viscount, had + the mother been acquainted with them herself; so that having induced her + child to marry with a view to obtaining precedence and a jointure, she + once more set to work to undo part of her former labors, by bringing about + a decent separation between the husband and wife, in such a manner as to + secure to her child the possession of her wealth, and the esteem of the + world. The latter, though certainly a somewhat difficult undertaking, was + greatly lessened by the assistance of the former. + </p> + <p> + John and his wife determined to seize the opportunity to examine the + environs of the city. In one of these daily rides, they met their fellow + traveller, Mr. now Lord Harland. He was rejoiced to see them again, and + hearing of their intended departure, informed them of his being about to + return to England in the same vessel--his parents and sister contemplating + ending the winter in Portugal. + </p> + <p> + The intercourse between the two families was kept up with a show of + civilities between the noblemen, and much real good-will on the part of + the juniors of the circle, until the day arrived for the sailing of the + packet. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton was left behind with Catherine, as yet unable to + circumvent her schemes with prudence; it being deemed by the world a worse + offence to separate, than to join together one's children in the bands of + wedlock. + </p> + <p> + The confinement of a vessel is very propitious to those intimacies which + lead to attachments. The necessity of being agreeable is a check upon the + captious, and the desire to lessen the dulness of the scene a stimulus to + the lively; and though the noble divine and Jane could not possibly be + ranked in either class, the effect was the same. The noble man was much + enamored, and Jane unconsciously gratified. It is true, love had never + entered her thoughts in its direct and unequivocal form; but admiration is + so consoling to those laboring under self-condemnation, and flattery of a + certain kind so very soothing to all, it is not to be wondered that she + listened with increasing pleasure to the interesting conversation of + Harland on all occasions, and more particularly, as often happened, when + exclusively addressed to herself. + </p> + <p> + Grace had of late reflected more seriously on the subject of her eternal + welfare than she had been accustomed to do in the house of her mother; and + the example of Emily, with the precepts of Mrs. Wilson, had not been + thrown away upon her. It is a singular fact, that more women feel a + disposition to religion soon after marriage than at any other period of + life; and whether it is, that having attained the most important station + this life affords the sex, they are more willing to turn their thoughts to + a provision for the next, or whether it be owing to any other cause, Mrs. + Moseley was included in the number. She became sensibly touched with her + situation, and as Harland was both devout and able as well as anxious to + instruct, one of the party, at least, had cause to rejoice in the journey + for the remainder of her days. But precisely as Grace increased in her own + faith, so did her anxiety after the welfare of her husband receive new + excitement; and John, for the first time, became the cause of sorrow to + his affectionate companion. + </p> + <p> + The deep interest Harland took in the opening conviction of Mrs. Moseley, + did not so entirely engross his thoughts as to prevent the too frequent + contemplation of the charms of her friend for his own peace of mind; and + by the time the vessel reached Falmouth, he had determined to make a + tender of his hand and title to the acceptance of Miss Moseley. Jane did + not love Egerton; on the contrary, she despised him; but the time had + been, when all her romantic feelings, every thought of her brilliant + imagination, had been filled with his image, and Jane felt it a species of + indelicacy to admit the impression of another so soon, or even at all. + These objections would, in time, have been overcome, as her affections + became more and more enlisted on behalf of Harland, had she admitted his + addresses; but there was an impediment that Jane considered insurmountable + to a union with any man. + </p> + <p> + She had once communicated her passion to its object. There had been the + confidence of approved love; and she had now no heart for Harland, but one + that had avowedly been a slave to another. To conceal this from him would + be unjust, and not reconcilable to good faith; to confess it, humiliating, + and without the pale of probability. It was the misfortune of Jane to keep + the world too constantly before her, and to lose sight too much of her + really depraved nature, to relish the idea of humbling herself so low in + the opinion of a fellow-creature. The refusal of Harland's offer was the + consequence, although she had begun to feel an esteem for him, that would + no doubt have given rise to an attachment in time, far stronger and more + deeply seated than her passing fancy for Colonel Egerton had been. + </p> + <p> + If the horror of imposing on the credulity of Harland a wounded heart, was + creditable to Jane, and showed an elevation of character that under proper + guidance would have placed her in the first ranks of her sex; the pride + which condemned her to a station nature did not design her for was + irreconcilable with the humility a just view of her condition could not + fail to produce; and the second sad consequence of the indulgent weakness + of her parents, was confirming their child in passions directly at + variance with the first duties of a Christian. + </p> + <p> + We have so little right to value ourselves on anything, that pride is a + sentiment of very doubtful service, and one certainly, that is unable to + effect any useful results which will not equally flow from good + principles. + </p> + <p> + Harland was disappointed and grieved, but prudently judging that + occupation and absence would remove recollections which could not be very + deep, they parted at Falmouth, and our travellers proceeded on their + journey for B----, whither, during their absence, Sir Edward's family had + returned to spend a month, before they removed to town for the residue of + the winter. + </p> + <p> + The meeting of the two parties was warm and tender, and as Jane had many + things to recount, and John as many to laugh at, their arrival threw a + gaiety around Moseley Hall to which it had for months been a stranger. + </p> + <p> + One of the first acts of Grace, after her return, was to enter strictly + into the exercise of all those duties and ordinances required by her + church, and the present state of her mind, and from the hands of Dr. Ives + she received her first communion at the altar. + </p> + <p> + As the season had now become far advanced, and the fashionable world had + been some time assembled in the metropolis, the Baronet commenced his + arrangements to take possession of his town-house, after an interval of + nineteen years. John proceeded to the capital first; and the necessary + domestics procured, furniture supplied, and other arrangements usual to + the appearance of a wealthy family in the world having been completed, he + returned with the information that all was ready for their triumphal + entrance. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward, feeling that a separation for so long a time, and at such an + unusual distance, in the very advanced age of Mr. Benfield, would be + improper, paid him a visit, with the intention of persuading him to make + one of his family for the next four months. Emily was his companion, and + their solicitations were happily crowned with a success they had not + anticipated. Averse to be deprived of Peter's society, the honest steward + was included in the party. + </p> + <p> + "Nephew," said Mr. Benfield, beginning to waver in his objections to the + undertaking, as the arguments pro and con were produced, "there are + instances of gentlemen, not in parliament, going to town in the winter, I + know. You are one yourself; and old Sir John Cowel, who never could get + in, although he ran for every city in the kingdom, never missed his winter + in Soho. Yes, yes--the thing is admissible--but had I known your wishes + before, I would certainly have kept my borough if it were only for the + appearance of the thing--besides," continued the old man, shaking his + head, "his majesty's ministers require the aid of some more experienced + members in these critical times; for what should an old man like me do in + Westminster, unless it were to aid his country with his advice?" + </p> + <p> + "Make his friends happy with his company, dear uncle," said Emily, taking + his hand between both her own, and smiling affectionately on the old + gentleman as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Emmy dear!" cried Mr. Benfield, looking on her with melancholy + pleasure, "you are not to be resisted--just such another as the sister of + my old friend Lord Gosford; she could always coax me out of anything. I + remember now, I heard the earl tell her once he could not afford to buy a + pair of diamond ear-rings; and she looked--only looked--did not speak! + Emmy!--that I bought them with intent to present them to her myself." + </p> + <p> + "And did she take them, uncle?" asked his niece, in a little surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes! When I told her if she did not I would throw them into the river, + as no one else should wear what had been intended for her; poor soul! how + delicate and unwilling she was. I had to convince her they cost three + hundred pounds, before she would listen to it; and then she thought it + such a pity to throw away a thing of so much value. It would have been + wicked, you know, Emmy, dear; and she was much opposed to wickedness and + sin in any shape." + </p> + <p> + "She must have been a very unexceptionable character indeed," cried the + Baronet, with a smile, as he proceeded to make the necessary orders for + their journey. "But we must return to the party left at Bath." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVI. + </h2> + <p> + The letters of Lady Laura informed her friends, that she and Colonel + Denbigh had decided to remain with his uncle until the recovery of the + latter was complete, and then to proceed to Denbigh Castle, to meet the + Duke and his sister during the approaching holidays. + </p> + <p> + Emily was much relieved by this postponement of an interview which she + would gladly have avoided for ever; and her aunt sincerely rejoiced that + her niece was allowed more time to eradicate impressions, which, she saw + with pain, her charge had yet a struggle to overcome. + </p> + <p> + There were so many points to admire in the character of Denbigh; his + friends spoke of him with such decided partiality; Dr. Ives, in his + frequent letters, alluded to him with so much affection; that Emily + frequently detected herself in weighing the testimony of his guilt, and + indulging the expectation that circumstances had deceived them all in + their judgment of his conduct. Then his marriage would cross her mind; and + with the conviction of the impropriety of admitting him to her thoughts at + all, would come the mass of circumstantial testimony which had accumulated + against him. + </p> + <p> + Derwent served greatly to keep alive the recollections of his person, + however; and as Lady Harriet seemed to live only in the society of the + Moseleys, not a day passed without giving the Duke some opportunity of + indirectly preferring his suit. + </p> + <p> + Emily not only appeared, but in fact was, unconscious of his admiration; + and entered into their amusements with a satisfaction that was increased + by the belief that the unfortunate attachment her cousin Chatterton had + once professed for herself, was forgotten in the more certain enjoyments + of a successful love. + </p> + <p> + Lady Harriet was a woman of manners and character very different from + Emily Moseley; yet had she in a great measure erased the impressions made + by the beauty of his kinswoman from the bosom of the baron. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton, under the depression of his first disappointment, it will be + remembered, had left B---- in company with Mr. Denbigh. The interest of + the duke had been unaccountably exerted to procure him the place he had so + long solicited in vain, and gratitude required his early acknowledgments + for the favor. His manner, so very different from a successful applicant + for a valuable office, had struck both Derwent and his sister as singular. + Before, however, a week's intercourse had passed between them, his own + frankness had made them acquainted with the cause; and a double wish + prevailed in the bosom of Lady Harriet, to know the woman who could resist + the beauty of Chatterton, and to relieve him from the weight imposed on + his spirits by disappointed affection. + </p> + <p> + The manners of Lady Harriet Denbigh were not in the least forward or + masculine; but they had the freedom of high rank, mingled with a good deal + of the ease of fashionable life. Mrs. Wilson noticed, moreover, in her + conduct to Chatterton, a something exceeding the interest of ordinary + communications in their situation, which might possibly have been + attributed more to feeling than to manner. It is certain, one of the + surest methods to drive Emily from his thoughts, was to dwell on the + perfections of some other lady; and Lady Harriet was so constantly before + him in his visit into Westmoreland, so soothing, so evidently pleased with + his presence, that the baron made rapid advances in attaining his object. + </p> + <p> + He had alluded, in his letter to Emily, to the obligation he was under to + the services of Denbigh, in erasing his unfortunate partiality for her: + but what those services were, we are unable to say, unless they were the + usual arguments of the plainest good sense, enforced in the singularly + insinuating and kind manner which distinguished that gentleman. In fact, + Lord Chatterton was not formed by nature to love long, deprived of hope, + or to resist long the flattery of a preference from such a woman as + Harriet Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, Derwent was warm in his encomiums on Emily to all but + herself; and Mrs. Wilson again thought it prudent to examine into the + state of her feelings, in order to discover if there was any danger of his + unremitted efforts drawing Emily into a connexion that neither her + religion nor prudence could wholly approve. + </p> + <p> + Derwent was a man of the world--a Christian only in name; and the cautious + widow determined to withdraw in season, should she find grounds for her + apprehensions. + </p> + <p> + About ten days after the departure of the Dowager and her companions, Lady + Harriet exclaimed, in one of her morning visits-- + </p> + <p> + "Lady Moseley! I have now hopes of presenting to you soon the most + polished man in the United Kingdom!" + </p> + <p> + "As a husband! Lady Harriet?" inquired the other, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no! only as a cousin, a second cousin! madam!" replied Lady Harriet, + blushing a little, and looking in the opposite direction to the one in + which Chatterton was placed. + </p> + <p> + "But his name? You forget our curiosity! What is his name?" cried Mrs. + Wilson, entering into the trifling for the moment. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss, to be sure, my dear madam: whom else can I mean?" + </p> + <p> + "And you expect the earl at Bath?" Mrs. Wilson eagerly inquired. + </p> + <p> + "He has given us such hopes, and Derwent has written him to-day, pressing + the journey." + </p> + <p> + "You will be disappointed, I am afraid, sister," said the duke. + "Pendennyss has become so fond of Wales of late, that it is difficult to + get him out of it." + </p> + <p> + "But," said Mrs. Wilson, "he will take his seat in parliament during the + winter, my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "I hope he will, madam; though Lord Eltringham holds his proxies, in my + absence, in all important questions before the house." + </p> + <p> + "Your grace will attend, I trust," said Sir Edward. "The pleasure of your + company is among my expected enjoyments in the town." + </p> + <p> + "You are very good, Sir Edward," replied the duke, looking at Emily. "It + will somewhat depend on circumstances, I believe." + </p> + <p> + Lady Harriet smiled, and the speech seemed understood by all but the lady + most concerned in it. + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss is a universal favorite, and deservedly so," cried the + duke. "He has set an example to the nobility, which few are equal to + imitate. An only son, with an immense estate, he has devoted himself to + the profession of a soldier, and gained great reputation by it in the + world; nor has he neglected any of his private duties as a man----" + </p> + <p> + "Or a Christian, I hope," said Mrs. Wilson, delighted with the praises of + the earl. + </p> + <p> + "Nor of a Christian, I believe," continued the duke; "he appears + consistent, humble, and sincere--three requisites, I believe, for that + character." + </p> + <p> + "Does not your grace know?" said Emily, with a benevolent smile. + </p> + <p> + Derwent colored slightly as he answered-- + </p> + <p> + "Not as well as I ought; but"--lowering his voice for her ear alone, he + added, "under proper instruction I think I might learn." + </p> + <p> + "Then I would recommend that book to you, my lord," rejoined Emily, with a + blush, pointing to a pocket Bible which lay near her, though still + ignorant of the allusion he meant to convey. + </p> + <p> + "May I ask the honor of an audience of Miss Moseley," said Derwent, in the + same low tone, "whenever her leisure will admit of her granting the + favor?" + </p> + <p> + Emily was surprised; but from the previous conversation and the current of + her thoughts at the moment, supposing his communication had some reference + to the subject before them, she rose from her chair, and unobtrusively, + but certainly with an air of perfect innocence and composure, she went + into the adjoining room, the door of which was open very near them. + </p> + <p> + Caroline Harris had abandoned all ideas of a coronet with the departure of + the Marquess of Eltringham and his sisters for their own seat; and as a + final effort of her fading charms, had begun to calculate the capabilities + of Captain Jarvis, who had at this time honored Bath with his company. + </p> + <p> + It is true, the lady would have greatly preferred her father's neighbor, + but that was an irretrievable step. He had retired, disgusted with her + haughty dismissal of his hopes, and was a man who, although he greatly + admired her fortune, was not to be recalled by any beck or smile which + might grow out of caprice. + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis had, indeed, rather magnified the personal qualifications of + her son; but the disposition they had manifested, to devote some of their + surplus wealth to purchasing a title, had great weight, for Miss Harris + would cheerfully, at any time, have sacrificed one half her own fortune to + be called my lady. Jarvis would make but a shabby-looking lord, 'tis true; + but then what a lord's wife would she not make herself! His father was a + merchant, to be sure, but then merchants were always immensely rich, and a + few thousand pounds, properly applied, might make the merchant's son a + baron. She therefore resolved to inquire, the first opportunity, into the + condition of the sinking fund of his plebeianism, and had serious thoughts + of contributing her mite towards the advancement of the desired object, + did she find it within the bounds of probable success. + </p> + <p> + An occasion soon offered, by the invitation of the Captain to accompany + him in an excursion in the tilbury of his brother-in-law. + </p> + <p> + In this ride they passed the equipages of Lady Harriet and Mrs. Wilson, + with their respective mistresses, taking an airing. In passing the latter, + Jarvis bowed (for he had renewed his acquaintance at the rooms, without + daring to visit at the lodgings of Sir Edward), and Miss Harris saw both + parties as they dashed by them. + </p> + <p> + "You know the Moseleys, Caroline?" said Jarvis, with the freedom her + manners had established between them. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied the lady, drawing her head back from a view of the + carriages; "what fine arms those of the Duke's are--and the coronet, it is + so noble--so rich--I am sure if I were a man," laying great emphasis on + the word--"I would be a Lord." + </p> + <p> + "If you could, you mean," cried the captain. + </p> + <p> + "Could--why money will buy a title, you know--only most people are fonder + of their cash than of honor." + </p> + <p> + "That's right," said the unreflecting captain; "money is the thing, after + all. Now what do you suppose our last mess-bill came to?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, don't talk of eating and drinking," cried Miss Harris, in affected + aversion; "is it beneath the consideration of nobility." + </p> + <p> + "Then any one may be a lord for me," said Jarvis, drily "if they are not + to eat and drink; why, what do they live for, but such sort of things!" + </p> + <p> + "A soldier lives to fight and gain honor and distinction"--for his + wife--Miss Harris would have added, had she spoken all she thought. + </p> + <p> + "A poor way that of spending a man's time," said the Captain. "Now there + is Captain Jones in our regiment; they say he loves fighting as much as + eating: if he do, he is a bloodthirsty fellow." + </p> + <p> + "You know how intimate I am with your dear mother," continued the lady, + bent on the principal object; "she has made me acquainted with her + greatest wish." + </p> + <p> + "Her greatest wish!" cried the Captain, in astonishment; "why, what can + that be?--a new coach and horses?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I mean one much dearer to us--I should say, to her, than any such + trifles: she has told me of the <i>plan</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Plan!" said Jarvis, still in wonder, "what plan?" + </p> + <p> + "About the fund for the peerage, you know. Of course, the thing is sacred + with me, as, indeed, I am equally interested with you all in its success." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis eyed her with a knowing look, and as she concluded, rolling his + eyes in an expression of significance, he said-- + </p> + <p> + "What, serve Sir William some such way, eh?" + </p> + <p> + "I will assist a little, if it be necessary, Henry," said the lady, + tenderly, "although my mite cannot amount to a great deal." + </p> + <p> + During this speech, the Captain was wondering what she could mean; but, + having had a suspicion, from something that had fallen from his mother, + that the lady was intended for him as a wife, and that she might be as + great a dupe as Lady Jarvis herself, he was resolved to know the whole, + and to act accordingly. + </p> + <p> + "I think it might be made to do," he replied, evasively in order to + discover the extent of his companion's information. + </p> + <p> + "Do!", cried Miss Harris, with fervor, "it cannot fail! How much do you + suppose will be wanting to buy a barony, for instance?" + </p> + <p> + "Hem!" said Jarvis; "you mean more than we have already?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly." + </p> + <p> + "Why, about a thousand pounds, I think, will do it, with what we have," + said Jarvis, affecting to calculate. + </p> + <p> + "Is that all?" cried the delighted Caroline; and the captain grew in an + instant, in her estimation, three inches higher;--quite noble in his air, + and, in short, very tolerably handsome. + </p> + <p> + From that moment, Miss Harris, in her own mind, had fixed the fate of + Captain Jarvis, and had determined to be his wife, whenever she could + persuade him to offer himself; a thing she had no doubt of accomplishing + with comparative ease. Not so the Captain. Like all weak men, there was + nothing of which he stood more in terror than of ridicule. He had heard + the manoeuvres of Miss Harris laughed at by many of the young men in Bath, + and was by no means disposed to add himself to the food for mirth of these + wags; and, indeed, had cultivated her acquaintance with a kind of bravado + to some of his bottle companions, in order to show his ability to oppose + all her arts, when most exposed to them: for it is one of the greatest + difficulties to the success of this description of ladies, that their + characters soon become suspected, and do them infinitely more injury than + all their skill in their vocation. + </p> + <p> + With these views in the respective champions the campaign opened, and the + lady, on her return, acquainted his mother with the situation of the privy + purse, that was to promote her darling child to the enviable distinction + of the peerage. Lady Jarvis was for purchasing a baronetcy on the spot, + with what they had, under the impression that when ready for another + promotion they would only have to pay the difference, as they did in the + army when he received his captaincy. As, however, the son was opposed to + any arrangement that might make the producing the few hundred pounds he + had obtained from his mother's folly necessary, she was obliged to + postpone the wished-for day, until their united efforts could compass the + means of effecting the main point. As an earnest, however, of her spirit + in the cause, she gave him a fifty pound note, that morning obtained from + her husband, and which the Captain lost at one throw of the dice to his + brother-in-law the same evening. + </p> + <p> + During the preceding events, Egerton had either studiously avoided all + collision with the Moseleys, or his engagements had confined him to such + very different scenes, that they never met. + </p> + <p> + The Baronet had felt his presence a reproach, and Lady Moseley rejoiced + that Egerton yet possessed sufficient shame to keep him from insulting her + with his company. + </p> + <p> + It was a month after the departure of Lady Chatterton that Sir Edward + returned to B----, as related in the preceding chapter, and that the + arrangements for the London winter were commenced. + </p> + <p> + The day preceding their leaving Bath, the engagement of Chatterton with + Lady Harriet was made public amongst their mutual friends, and an + intimation was given that their nuptials would be celebrated before the + family of the Duke left his seat for the capital. + </p> + <p> + Something of the pleasure that she had for a long time been a stranger to, + was felt by Emily Moseley, as the well remembered tower of the village + church of B---- struck her sight on their return from their protracted + excursion. More than four months had elapsed since they had commenced + their travels, and in that period what changes of sentiments had she not + witnessed in others; of opinions of mankind in general, and of one + individual in particular, had she not experienced in her own person. The + benevolent smiles, the respectful salutations they received, in passing + the little group of houses which, clustered round the church, had obtained + the name of "the village," conveyed a sensation of delight that can only + be felt by the deserving and virtuous; and the smiling faces, in several + instances glistening with tears, which met them at the Hall, gave ample + testimony to the worth of both the master and his servants. + </p> + <p> + Francis and Clara were in waiting to receive them, and a very few minutes + elapsed before the rector and Mrs. Ives, having heard they had passed, + drove in also. In saluting the different members of the family, Mrs. + Wilson noticed the startled look of the doctor, as the change in Emily's + appearance first met his eyes. Her bloom, if not gone, was greatly + diminished; and it was only when under the excitement of strong emotions, + that her face possessed that radiance which had so eminently distinguished + it before her late journey. + </p> + <p> + "Where did you last see my friend George?" said the Doctor to Mrs. Wilson, + in the course of the first afternoon, as he took a seat by her side, apart + from the rest of the family. + </p> + <p> + "At L----," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely. + </p> + <p> + "L----!" cried the doctor, in evident amazement. "Was he not at Bath then + during your stay there?" + </p> + <p> + "No; I understand he was in attendance on some sick relative, which + detained him from his friends," said Mrs. Wilson, wondering why the doctor + chose to introduce so delicate a topic. Of his guilt in relation to Mrs. + Fitzgerald he was doubtless ignorant, but surely not of his marriage. + </p> + <p> + "It is now some time since I heard from him," continued the doctor, + regarding Mrs. Wilson expressively, but to which the lady only replied + with a gentle inclination of the body; and the Rector, after pausing a + moment, continued: + </p> + <p> + "You will not think me impertinent if I am bold enough to ask, has George + ever expressed a wish to become connected with your niece by other ties + than those of friendship?" + </p> + <p> + "He did," answered the widow, after a little hesitation. + </p> + <p> + "He did, and--" + </p> + <p> + "Was refused," continued Mrs. Wilson, with a slight feeling for the + dignity of her sex, which for a moment caused her to lose sight of justice + to Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Ives was silent; but manifested by his dejected countenance the + interest he had taken in this anticipated connexion, and as Mrs. Wilson + had spoken with ill-concealed reluctance on the subject at all, the Rector + did not attempt a renewal of the disagreeable. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVII. + </h2> + <p> + "Samvenson has returned, and I certainly must hear from Harriet," + exclaimed the sister of Pendennyss, as she stood at a window watching the + return of a servant from the neighboring post-office. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid," rejoined the Earl, who was seated by the breakfast table, + waiting the leisure of the lady to give him his cup of tea--"You find + Wales very dull, sister. I sincerely hope both Derwent and Harriet will + not forget their promise of visiting us this month." + </p> + <p> + The lady slowly took her seat at the table, engrossed in her own + reflections, when the man entered with his budget of news; and having + deposited sundry papers and letters he respectfully withdrew. The Earl + glanced his eyes over the directions of the epistles, and turning to his + servants said, "Answer the bell when called." Three or four liveried + footmen deposited their silver salvers and different implements of + servitude, and the peer and his sister were left to themselves. + </p> + <p> + "Here is one from the Duke to me, and one for you from his sister," said + the brother; "I propose they be read aloud for our mutual advantage." To + this proposal the lady, whose curiosity to hear the contents of Derwent's + letter greatly exceeded her interest in that of his sister, cheerfully + acquiesced, and her brother first broke the seal of his own epistle, and + read its contents as follow: + </p> + <p> + "Notwithstanding my promise of seeing you this month in Caernarvonshire, I + remain here yet, my dear Pendennyss, unable to tear myself from the + attractions I have found in this city, although the pleasure of their + contemplation has been purchased at the expense of mortified feelings and + unrequited affections. It is a truth (though possibly difficult to be + believed), that this mercenary age has produced a female disengaged, + young, and by no means very rich, who has refused a jointure of six + thousand a year, with the privilege of walking at a coronation within a + dozen of royalty itself." + </p> + <p> + Here the accidental falling of a cup from the hands of the fair listener + caused some little interruption to the reading of the brother; but as the + lady, with a good deal of trepidation and many blushes, apologized hastily + for the confusion her awkwardness had made, the Earl continued to read. + </p> + <p> + "I could almost worship her independence: for I know the wishes of both + her parents were for my success. I confess to you freely, that my vanity + has been a good deal hurt, as I really thought myself agreeable to her. + She certainly listened to my conversation, and admitted my approaches, + with more satisfaction than those of any other of the men around her; and + when I ventured to hint to her this circumstance, as some justification + for my presumption, she frankly acknowledged the truth of my impression, + and, without explaining the reasons for her conduct, deeply regretted the + construction I had been led to place upon the circumstance. Yes, my lord, + I felt it necessary to apologize to Emily Moseley for presuming to aspire + to the honor of possessing so much loveliness and virtue. The accidental + advantages of rank and wealth lose all their importance, when opposed to + her delicacy, ingenuousness, and unaffected principles. + </p> + <p> + "I have heard it intimated lately, that George Denbigh was in some way or + other instrumental in saving her life once; and that to her gratitude, and + to my resemblance to the colonel, am I indebted to a consideration with + Miss Moseley, which, although it has been the means of buoying me up with + false hopes, I can never regret, from the pleasure her society has + afforded me. I have remarked, on my mentioning his name to her, that she + showed unusual emotion; and as Denbigh is already a husband, and myself + rejected, the field is now fairly open to you. You will enter on your + enterprise with great advantage, as you have the same flattering + resemblance, and, if anything, the voice, which, I am told, is our + greatest recommendation with the ladies, in higher perfection than either + George or your humble servant." + </p> + <p> + Here the reader stopped of his own accord, and was so intently absorbed in + his meditations, that the almost breathless curiosity of his sister was + obliged to find relief by desiring him to proceed. Roused by the sound of + her voice, the earl changed color sensibly, and continued: + </p> + <p> + "But to be serious on a subject of great importance to my future life (for + I sometimes think her negative will make Denbigh a duke), the lovely girl + did not appear happy at the time of our interview, nor do I think she + enjoys at any time the spirits nature has evidently given her. Harriet is + nearly as great an admirer of Miss Moseley, and takes her refusal to heart + as much as myself; she even attempted to intercede with her in my behalf. + But the charming girl though mild, grateful, and delicate, was firm and + unequivocal, and left no grounds for the remotest expectation of success + from perseverance on my part. + </p> + <p> + "As Harriet had received an intimation that both Miss Moseley and her aunt + entertained extremely rigid notions on the score of religion, she took + occasion to introduce the subject in her conference with the former, and + was told in reply, 'that other considerations would have determined her to + decline the honor I intended her; but that, under any circumstances, a + more intimate knowledge of my principles would be necessary before she + could entertain a thought of accepting my hand, or, indeed, that of any + other man.' Think of that, Pendennyss! The principles of a duke!--now, a + dukedom and forty thousand a year would furnish a character, with most + people, for a Nero. + </p> + <p> + "I trust the important object I have had in view here is a sufficient + excuse for my breach of promise to you; and I am serious when I wish you + (unless the pretty Spaniard has, as I sometimes suspect, made you a + captive) to see, and endeavor to bring me in some degree connected with, + the charming family of Sir Edward Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "The aunt, Mrs. Wilson, often speaks of you with the greatest interest, + and, from some cause or other, is strongly enlisted in your favor, and + Miss Moseley hears your name mentioned with evident pleasure. <i>Your</i> + religion or principles cannot be doubted. You can offer larger + settlements, as honorable if not as elevated a title, a far more + illustrious name, purchased by your own services, and personal merit + greatly exceeding the pretensions of your assured friend and relative, + </p> + <p> + "DERWENT." + </p> + <p> + Both brother and sister were occupied with their own reflections for + several minutes after the letter was ended, and the silence was broken + first, by the latter saying with a low tone to her brother,-- + </p> + <p> + "You must endeavor to become acquainted with Mrs. Wilson; she is, I know, + very anxious to see you, and your friendship for the general requires it + of you." + </p> + <p> + "I owe General Wilson much," replied the brother, in a melancholy voice; + "and when we go to Annerdale House, I wish you to make the acquaintance of + the ladies of the Moseley family, should they be in town this winter;--but + you have yet the letter of Harriet to read." + </p> + <p> + After first hastily running over its contents, the lady commenced the + fulfilment of her part of the engagement. + </p> + <p> + "Frederick has been so much engrossed of late with his own affairs, that + he has forgotten there is such a creature in existence as his sister, or, + indeed, any one else but a Miss Emily Moseley, and consequently I have + been unable to fulfil my promise of making you a visit, for want of a + proper escort, and--and--perhaps some other considerations, not worth + mentioning in a letter I know you will read to the earl. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my dear cousin, Frederick Denbigh has supplicated the daughter of a + country baronet to become a duchess; and, hear it, ye marriage-seeking + nymphs and marriage-making dames! has supplicated in vain! + </p> + <p> + "I confess to you, when the thing was first in agitation, my aristocratic + blood roused itself a little at the anticipated connexion; but finding on + examination that Sir Edward was of no doubtful lineage, and that the blood + of the Chattertons runs in his veins, and finding the young lady + everything I could wish in a sister, my scruples soon disappeared, with + the folly that engendered them. + </p> + <p> + "There was no necessity for any alarm, for the lady very decidedly refused + the honor offered her by Derwent, and what makes the matter worse, refused + the solicitations of his sister also. + </p> + <p> + "I have fifty times been surprised at my own condescension, and to this + moment am at a loss to know whether it was to the lady's worth, my + brother's happiness, or the Chatterton blood, that I finally yielded. + Heigho! this Chatterton is certainly much too handsome for a man; but I + forget you have never seen him." (Here an arch smile stole over the + features of the listener, as his sister continued)--"To return to my + narration, I had half a mind to send for a Miss Harris there is here, to + learn the most approved fashion of a lady preferring a suit, but as fame + said she was just now practising on a certain hero ycleped Captain Jarvis, + heir to Sir Timo of that name, it struck me her system might be rather too + abrupt, so I was fain to adopt the best plan--that of trusting to nature + and my own feelings for words. + </p> + <p> + "Nobility is certainly a very pretty thing (for those who have it), but I + would defy the old Margravine of ---- to keep up the semblance of + superiority with Emily Moseley. She is so very natural, so very beautiful, + and withal at times a little arch, that one is afraid to set up any other + distinctions than such as can be fairly supported. + </p> + <p> + "I commenced with hoping her determination to reject the hand of Frederick + was not an unalterable one. (Yes, I called him Frederick, what I never did + out of my own family before in my life.) There was a considerable tremor + in the voice of Miss Moseley, as she replied, 'I now perceive, when too + late, that my indiscretion has given reason to my friends to think that I + have entertained intentions towards his grace, of which I entreat you to + believe me, Lady Harriet, I am innocent. Indeed--indeed, as anything more + than an agreeable acquaintance I have never allowed myself to think of + your brother:' and from my soul I believe her. We continued our + conversation for half an hour longer, and such was the ingenuousness, + delicacy, and high religious feeling displayed by the charming girl, that + if I entered the room with a spark of regret that I was compelled to + solicit another to favor my brother's love, I left it with a feeling that + my efforts had been unsuccessful. Yes! thou peerless sister of the more + peerless Pendennyss! I once thought of your ladyship as a wife for + Derwent--" + </p> + <p> + A glass of water was necessary to enable the reader to clear her voice, + which grew husky from speaking so long. + </p> + <p> + "But I now openly avow, neither your birth, your hundred thousand pounds, + nor your merit, would put you on a footing, in my estimation, with my + Emily. You may form some idea of her power to captivate, and of her + indifference to her conquests, when I mention that she once refused--but I + forget, you don't know him, and therefore cannot be a judge. The thing is + finally decided, and we shortly go into Westmoreland, and next week, the + Moseleys return to Northamptonshire. I don't know when I shall be able to + visit you, and think I may <i>now</i> safely invite you to Denbigh Castle, + although a month ago I might have hesitated. Love to the earl, and kind + assurance to yourself of unalterable regard. + </p> + <p> + "HARRIET DENBIGH." + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I believe I forgot to mention that Mrs. Moseley, a sister of Lord + Chatterton, has gone to Portugal, and that the peer himself is to go into + the country with us: there is, I suppose, a fellow-feeling between <i>them</i> + just now, though I do not think Chatterton looks so very miserable as he + might. Adieu." + </p> + <p> + On ending this second epistle the same silence which had succeeded the + reading of the first prevailed, until the lady with an arch expression, + interrupted it by saying, + </p> + <p> + "Harriet will, I think, soon grace the peerage." + </p> + <p> + "And happily, I trust," replied the brother. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know Lord Chatterton?" + </p> + <p> + "I do; he is very amiable, and admirably calculated to contrast with the + lively gaiety of Harriet Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + "You believe in loving our opposites, I see," rejoined the lady; and then + affectionately stretching out her hand to him, she added, "but, + Pendennyss, you must give me for a sister one as nearly like yourself as + possible." + </p> + <p> + "That might please your affections," answered the earl with a smile, "but + how would it comport with my tastes? Will you suffer me to describe the + kind of man <i>you</i> are to select for your future lord, unless, indeed, + you have decided the point already?" + </p> + <p> + The lady colored violently, and appearing anxious to change the subject, + she tumbled over two or three unopened letters, as she cried eagerly-- + </p> + <p> + "Here is one from the Donna Julia." The earl instantly broke the seal and + read aloud; no secrets existing between them in relation to their mutual + friend. + </p> + <p> + "My Lord, + </p> + <p> + "I hasten to write you what I know it will give you pleasure to hear, + concerning my future prospects in life. My uncle, General M'Carthy, has + written me the cheerful tidings, that my father has consented to receive + his only child, without any other sacrifice than a condition of attending + the service of the Catholic Church without any professions on my side, or + even an understanding that I am conforming to its peculiar tenets. This + may be, in some measure, irksome at times, and possibly distressing; but + the worship of God with a proper humiliation of spirit, I have learnt to + consider as a privilege to us here, and I owe a duty to my earthly father + of penitence and care in his later years that will justify the measure in + the eyes of my heavenly One. I have, therefore, acquainted my uncle in + reply, that I am willing to attend the Conde's summons at any moment he + will choose to make them; and I thought it a debt due your care and + friendship to apprise your lordship of my approaching departure from this + country; indeed, I have great reasons for believing that your kind and + unremitted efforts to attain this object have already prepared you to + expect this result. + </p> + <p> + "I feel it will be impossible to quit England without seeing you and your + sister, to thank you for the many, very many favors, of both a temporal + and eternal nature, you have been the agents of conferring on me. The + cruel suggestions which I dreaded, and which it appears had reached the + ears of my friends in Spain, have prevented my troubling your lordship of + late unnecessarily with my concerns. The consideration of a friend to your + character (Mrs. Wilson) has removed the necessity of applying for your + advice; she and her charming niece, Miss Emily Moseley, have been, next to + yourselves, the greatest solace I have had in my exile, and united you + will be remembered in my prayers. I will merely mention here, deferring + the explanation until I see you in London, that I have been visited by the + wretch from whom you delivered me in Portugal, and that the means of + ascertaining his name have fallen into my hands. You will be the best + judge of the proper steps to be taken; but I wish, by all means, something + may be done to prevent his attempting to see me in Spain. Should it be + discovered to my relations there that he has any such intentions, it would + certainly terminate in his death, and possibly in my disgrace. Wishing you + and your kind sister all possible happiness, I remain, + </p> + <p> + "Your Lordship's obliged friend, + </p> + <p> + "JULIA FITZGERALD." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried the sister as she concluded the letter, "we must certainly see + her before she goes. What a wretch that persecutor of hers must be! how + persevering in his villainy!" + </p> + <p> + "He does exceed my ideas of effrontery," said the earl, in great + warmth--"but he may offend too far; the laws shall interpose their power + to defeat his schemes, should he ever repeat them." + </p> + <p> + "He attempted to take your life, brother," said the lady shuddering, "if I + remember the tale aright." + </p> + <p> + "Why, I have endeavored to free him from that imputation," rejoined the + brother, musing, "he certainly fired a pistol, but the latter hit my horse + at such a distance from myself, that I believe his object was to disable + me and not murder. His escape has astonished me; he must have fled by + himself into the woods, as Harmer was but a short distance behind me, + admirably mounted, and the escort was up and in full pursuit within ten + minutes. After all it may be for the best he was not taken; for I am + persuaded the dragoons would have sabred him on the spot, and he may have + parents of respectability, or a wife to kill by the knowledge of his + misconduct." + </p> + <p> + "This Emily Moseley must be a faultless being," cried the sister, as she + ran over the contents of Julia's letter. "Three different letters, and + each containing her praises!" + </p> + <p> + The earl made no reply, but opening the duke's letter again, he appeared + to be studying its contents. His color slightly changed as he dwelt on its + passages, and turning to his sister he inquired if she had a mind to try + the air of Westmoreland for a couple of weeks or a month. + </p> + <p> + "As you say, my Lord," replied the lady, with cheeks of scarlet. + </p> + <p> + "Then I say we will go. I wish much to see Derwent and I think there will + be a wedding during our visit." + </p> + <p> + He rang the bell, and the almost untasted breakfast was removed in a few + minutes. A servant announced that his horse was in readiness. The earl + wished his sister a friendly good morning, and proceeded to the door, + where was standing one of the noble black horses before mentioned, held by + a groom, and the military-looking attendant ready mounted on another. + </p> + <p> + Throwing himself into the saddle, the young peer rode gracefully from the + door, followed by his attendant horseman. During this ride, the master + suffered his steed to take whatever course most pleased himself, and his + follower looked up in surprise more than once, to see the careless manner + in which the Earl of Pendennyss, confessedly one of the best horsemen in + England, managed the noble animal. Having, however, got without the gates + of his own park, and into the vicinity of numberless cottages and + farm-houses, the master recovered his recollection, and the man ceased to + wonder. + </p> + <p> + For three hours the equestrians pursued their course through the beautiful + vale which opened gracefully opposite one of the fronts of the castle; and + if faces of smiling welcome, inquiries after his own and his sister's + welfare, which evidently sprang from the heart, or the most familiar but + respectful representations of their own prosperity or misfortunes, gave + any testimony of the feelings entertained by the tenantry of this noble + estate for their landlord, the situation of the young nobleman might be + justly considered envied. + </p> + <p> + As the hour for dinner approached, they turned the heads of their horses + towards home; and on entering the park, removed from the scene of industry + and activity without, the earl relapsed into his fit of musing. A short + distance from the house he suddenly called, "Harmer." The man drove his + spurs into the loins of his horse, and in an instant was by the side of + his master, which he signified by raising his hand to his cap with the + palm opening outward. + </p> + <p> + "You must prepare to go to Spain when required, in attendance on Mrs. + Fitzgerald." + </p> + <p> + The man received his order with the indifference of one used to adventures + and movements, and having laconically dignified his assent, he drew his + horse back again into his station in the rear. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + The day succeeding the arrival of the Moseleys at the seat of their + ancestors, Mrs. Wilson observed Emily silently putting on her pelisse, and + walking out unattended by either of the domestics or any of the family. + There was a peculiar melancholy in her air and manner, which inclined the + cautious aunt to suspect that her charge was bent on the indulgence of + some ill-judged weakness; more particularly, as the direction she took led + to the arbor, a theatre in which Denbigh had been so conspicuous an actor. + Hastily throwing a cloak over her own shoulders, Mrs. Wilson followed + Emily with the double purpose of ascertaining her views, and if necessary, + of interposing her own authority against the repetition of similar + excursions. + </p> + <p> + As Emily approached the arbor, whither in truth she had directed her + steps, its faded vegetation and chilling aspect, so different from its + verdure and luxuriance when she last saw it, came over her heart as a + symbol of her own blighted prospects and deadened affections. The + recollection of Denbigh's conduct on that spot, of his general benevolence + and assiduity to please, being forcibly recalled to her mind at the + instant, forgetful of her object in visiting the arbor, Emily yielded to + her sensibilities, and sank on the seat weeping as if her heart would + break. + </p> + <p> + She had not time to dry her eyes, and to collect her scattered thoughts, + before Mrs. Wilson entered the arbor. Eyeing her niece for a moment with a + sternness unusual for the one to adopt or the other to receive, she said, + </p> + <p> + "It is a solemn obligation we owe our religion and ourselves, to endeavor + to suppress such passions as are incompatible with our duties; and there + is no weakness greater than blindly adhering to the wrong, when we are + convinced of our error. It is as fatal to good morals as it is unjust to + ourselves to persevere, from selfish motives, in believing those innocent + whom evidence has convicted as guilty. Many a weak woman has sealed her + own misery by such wilful obstinacy, aided by the unpardonable vanity of + believing herself able to control a man that the laws of God could not + restrain." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear madam, speak not so unkindly to me," sobbed the weeping girl; + "I--I am guilty of no such weakness, I assure you:" and looking up with an + air of profound resignation and piety, she continued: "Here, on this spot, + where he saved my life, I was about to offer up my prayers for his + conviction of the error of his ways, and for the pardon of his too--too + heavy transgressions." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson, softened almost to tears herself, viewed her for a moment + with a mixture of delight, and continued in a milder tone,-- + </p> + <p> + "I believe you, my dear. I am certain, although you may have loved Denbigh + much, that you love your Maker and his ordinances more; and I have no + apprehensions that, were he a disengaged man, and you alone in the + world--unsupported by anything but your sense of duty--you would ever so + far forget yourself as to become his wife But does not your religion, does + not your own usefulness in society, require you wholly to free your heart + from the power of a man who has so unworthily usurped a dominion over it?" + </p> + <p> + To this Emily replied, in a hardly audible voice, "Certainly--and I pray + constantly for it." + </p> + <p> + "It is well, my love," said the aunt, soothingly; "you cannot fail with + such means, and your own exertions, finally to prevail over your own worst + enemies, your passions. The task our sex has to sustain is, at the best, + an arduous one; but so much the greater is our credit if we do it well." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! how is an unguided girl ever to judge aright, if,--" cried Emily, + clasping her hands and speaking with great energy, and she would have + said, "one like Denbigh in appearance, be so vile!" Shame, however, kept + her silent. + </p> + <p> + "Few men can support such a veil of hypocrisy as that with which I + sometimes think Denbigh must deceive even himself. His case is an + extraordinary exception to a very sacred rule--'that the tree is known by + its fruits,'" replied her aunt. "There is no safer way of judging of + character that one's opportunities will not admit of more closely + investigating, than by examining into and duly appreciating early + impressions. The man or woman who has constantly seen the practice of + piety before them, from infancy to the noon of life, will seldom so far + abandon the recollection of virtue as to be guilty of great enormities. + Even Divine Truth has promised that his blessings or his curses shall + extend to many generations. It is true, that with our most most guarded + prudence we may be deceived." Mrs. Wilson paused and sighed heavily, as + her own case, connected with the loves of Denbigh and her niece, occurred + strongly to her mind. "Yet," she continued, "we may lessen the danger much + by guarding against it; and it seems to me no more than what + self-preservation requires in a young woman. But for a religious parent to + neglect it, is a wilful abandonment of a most solemn duty." + </p> + <p> + As Mrs. Wilson concluded, her niece, who had recovered the command of her + feelings pressed her hand in silence to her lips, and showed a disposition + to retire from a spot which she found recalled too many recollections of a + man whose image it was her imperious duty to banish, on every + consideration of propriety and religion. + </p> + <p> + Their walk into the house was silent, and their thoughts were drawn from + the unpleasant topic by finding a letter from Julia, announcing her + intended departure from this country, and her wish to take leave of them + in London before she sailed. As she had mentioned the probable day for + that event, both the ladies were delighted to find it was posterior to the + time fixed by Sir Edward for their own visit to the capital. + </p> + <p> + Had Jane, instead of Emily, been the one that suffered through the agency + of Mrs. Fitzgerald, however innocently on the part of the lady, her + violent and uncontrolled passions would have either blindly united the + innocent with the guilty in her resentments; or, if a sense of justice had + vindicated the lady in her judgment, yet her pride and ill-guided delicacy + would have felt her name a reproach, that would have forbidden any + intercourse with her or any belonging to her. + </p> + <p> + Not so with her sister. The sufferings of Mrs. Fitzgerald had taken a + strong hold on her youthful feelings, and a similarity of opinions and + practices on the great object of their lives, had brought them together in + a manner no misconduct in a third person could weaken. It is true, the + recollection of Denbigh was intimately blended with the fate of Mrs. + Fitzgerald. But Emily sought support against her feeling from a quarter + that rather required an investigation of them than a desire to <i>drown</i> + care with thought. + </p> + <p> + She never indulged in romantic reflections in which the image of Denbigh + was associated. This she had hardly done in her happiest moments; and his + marriage, if nothing else had interfered, now absolutely put it out of the + question. But, although a Christian, and an humble and devout one, Emily + Moseley was a woman, and had loved ardently, confidingly, and gratefully. + Marriage is the business of life with her sex,--with all, next to a + preparation for a better world,--and it cannot be supposed that a first + passion in a bosom like that of our heroine was to be suddenly erased and + to leave no vestiges of its existence. + </p> + <p> + Her partiality for the society of Derwent, her meditations in which she + sometimes detected herself drawing a picture of what Denbigh might have + been, if early care had been taken to impress him with his situation in + this world, and from which she generally retired to her closet and her + knees, were the remains of feelings too strong and too pure to be torn + from her in a moment. + </p> + <p> + The arrival of John, with Grace and Jane, enlivened not only the family + but the neighborhood. Mr. Haughton and his numerous friends poured in on + the young couple with their congratulations, and a few weeks stole by + insensibly, previously to the commencement of the journeys of Sir Edward + and his son--the one to Benfield Lodge and the other to St. James's + Square. + </p> + <p> + On the return of the travellers, a few days before they commenced their + journey to the capital, John laughingly told his uncle that, although he + himself greatly admired the taste of Mr. Peter Johnson in dress, yet he + doubted whether the present style of fashions in the metropolis would not + be scandalized by the appearance of the honest steward. + </p> + <p> + John had in fact noticed, in their former visit to London, mob of + mischievous boys eyeing Peter with indications of rebellious movements + which threatened the old man, and from which he had retreated by taking a + coach, and he now made the suggestion from pure good-nature, to save him + any future trouble from a similar cause. + </p> + <p> + They were at dinner when Moseley made the remark, and the steward was in + his place at the sideboard--for his master was his home. Drawing near at + the mention of his name first, and casting an eye over his figure to see + if all was decent, Peter respectfully broke silence, determined to defend + his own cause. + </p> + <p> + "Why! Mr. John--Mr. John Moseley? if I might judge, for an elderly man, + and a serving man," said the steward, bowing humbly, "I am no + disparagement to my friends, or even to my honored master." + </p> + <p> + Johnson's vindication of his wardrobe drew the eyes of the family upon + him, and an involuntary smile passed from one to the other, as they + admired his starched figure and drab frock, or rather doublet with sleeves + and skirts. Sir Edward, being of the same opinion with his son, observed-- + </p> + <p> + "I do think, Uncle Benfield, there might be an improvement in the dress of + your steward without much trouble to the ingenuity of his tailor." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward Moseley--honorable sir," said the steward, beginning to grow + alarmed, "if I may be so bold, you young gentlemen may like gay clothes; + but as for me and his honor; we are used to such as we wear, and what we + are used to we love." + </p> + <p> + The old man spoke with earnestness, and drew the particular attention of + his master to a review of his attire. After reflecting that no gentleman + in the house had been attended by any servitor in such a garb, Mr. + Benfield thought it time to give his sentiments on the subject. + </p> + <p> + "Why I remember that my Lord Gosford's gentleman never wore a livery, nor + can I say that he dressed exactly after the manner of Johnson. Every + member had his body servant, and they were not unfrequently taken for + their masters. Lady Juliana, too, after the death of her nephew, had one + or two attendants out of livery, and in a different fashion from your + attire. Peter, I think with John Moseley there, we must alter you a little + for the sake of appearances." + </p> + <p> + "Your honor!" stammered out Peter, in increased terror; "for Mr. John + Moseley and Sir Edward, and youngerly gentlemen like, dress may do. Now, + your honor, if--" and Peter, turning to Grace, bowed nearly to the + floor--"I had such a sweet, most beautiful young lady to smile on me, I + might wish to change; but, sir, my day has gone by." Peter sighed as the + recollection of Patty Steele and his youthful love floated across his + brain. Grace blushed and thanked him for the compliment, and gave her + opinion that his gallantry merited a better costume. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said his master, decidedly, "I think Mrs. Moseley is right. If I + should call on the viscountess (the Lady Juliana, who yet survived an + ancient dowager of seventy), I shall want your attendance, and in your + present garb you cannot fail to shock her delicate feelings. You remind me + now I think, every time I look at you, of old Harry, the earl's + gamekeeper, one of the most cruel men I ever knew." + </p> + <p> + This decided the matter. Peter well knew that his master's antipathy to + old Harry arose from his having pursued a poacher one day, in place of + helping the Lady Juliana over a stile, in her flight from a bull that was + playing his gambols in the same field; and not for the world would the + faithful steward retain even a feature, if it brought unpleasant + recollections to his kind master. He at one time thought of closing his + innovations on his wardrobe, however, with a change of his nether garment; + as after a great deal of study he could only make out the resemblance + between himself and the obnoxious gamekeeper to consist in the leathern + breeches. But fearful of some points escaping his memory in forty years, + he tamely acquiesced in all John's alterations, and appeared at his + station three days afterwards newly decked from head to foot in a more + modern suit of snuff-color. + </p> + <p> + The change once made, Peter greatly admired himself in a glass, and + thought, could he have had the taste of Mr. John Moseley in his youth to + direct his toilet, that the hard heart of Patty Steele would not always + have continued so obdurate. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward wished to collect his neighbors round him once more before he + left them for another four months; and accordingly the rector and his + wife, Francis and Clara, the Haughtons, with a few others, dined at the + Hall by invitation, the last day of their stay in Northamptonshire. The + company had left the table to join the ladies, when Grace came into the + drawing-room with a face covered with smiles and beaming with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "You look like the bearer of good news, Mrs. Moseley," cried the rector, + catching a glimpse of her countenance as she passed. + </p> + <p> + "Good! I sincerely hope and believe," replied Grace. "My letters from my + brother announce that his marriage took place last week, and give us hopes + of seeing them all in town within the month." + </p> + <p> + "Married!" exclaimed Mr. Haughton, casting his eyes unconsciously on + Emily, "my Lord Chatterton married! May I ask the name of the bride, my + dear Mrs. Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "To Lady Harriet Denbigh--and at Denbigh Castle in Westmoreland; but very + privately, as you may suppose from seeing Moseley and myself here," + answered Grace, her cheeks yet glowing with surprise and pleasure at the + intelligence. + </p> + <p> + "Lady Harriet Denbigh?" echoed Mr. Haughton; "what! a kinswoman of our old + friend? <i>your</i> friend, Miss Emily?" The recollection of the service + he had performed at the arbor still-fresh in his memory. + </p> + <p> + Emily commanded herself sufficiently to reply, "Brothers' children, I + believe, sir." + </p> + <p> + "But a <i>lady</i>--how came she my lady?" continued the good man, anxious + to know the whole, and ignorant of any reasons for delicacy where so great + a favorite as Denbigh was in the question. + </p> + <p> + "She is the daughter of the late Duke of Derwent," said Mrs. Moseley, as + willing as himself to talk of her new sister. + </p> + <p> + "How happens it that the death of old Mr. Denbigh was announced as plain + Geo. Denbigh, Esq., if he was the brother of a duke?" said Jane, + forgetting for a moment the presence of Dr. and Mrs. Ives, in her + surviving passion for genealogy: "should he not have been called Lord + George, or honorable?" + </p> + <p> + This was the first time any allusion had been made to the sudden death in + the church by any of the Moseleys in the hearing of the rector's family; + and the speaker sat in breathless terror at her own inadvertency. But Dr. + Ives, observing that a profound silence prevailed as soon as Jane ended, + answered, mildly, though in a way to prevent any further comments-- + </p> + <p> + "The late Duke's succeeding a cousin-german in the title, was the reason, + I presume. Emily, I am to hear from you by letter I hope, after you enter + into the gaieties of the metropolis?" + </p> + <p> + This Emily cheerfully promised, and the conversation took another turn. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had carefully avoided all communications with the rector + concerning his youthful friend, and the Doctor appeared unwilling to + commence anything which might lead to his name being mentioned. "He is + disappointed in him as well as ourselves," thought the widow, "and it must + be unpleasant to have his image recalled. He saw his attentions to Emily, + and he knows of his marriage to Lady Laura of course, and he loves us all, + and Emily in particular, too well not to feel hurt by his conduct." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward!" cried Mr. Haughton, with a laugh, "Baronets are likely to be + plenty. Have you heard how near we were to have another in the + neighborhood lately?" Sir Edward answered in the negative, and his + neighbor continued-- + </p> + <p> + "Why no less a man than Captain Jarvis, promoted to the bloody hand." + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis!" exclaimed five or six at once; "explain yourself, Mr. + Haughton." + </p> + <p> + "My near neighbor, young Walker, has been to Bath on an unusual + business--his health--and for the benefit of the country he has brought + back a pretty piece of scandal. It seems that Lady Jarvis, as I am told + she is since she left here, wished to have her hopeful heir made a lord, + and that the two united for some six months in forming a kind of savings' + bank between themselves, to enable them at some future day to bribe the + minister to honor the peerage with such a prodigy. After awhile the + daughter of our late acquaintance, Sir William Harris, became an accessory + to the plot, and a contributor too, to the tune of a couple of hundred + pounds. Some circumstances, however, at length made this latter lady + suspicious, and she wished to audit the books. The Captain + prevaricated--the lady remonstrated, until the gentleman, with more truth + than manners, told her that she was a fool--the money he had expended or + lost at dice; and that he did not think the ministers quite so silly as to + make him a lord, or that he himself was such a fool as to make her his + wife; so the whole thing exploded." + </p> + <p> + John listened with a delight but little short of what he had felt when + Grace owned her love, and anxious to know all, eagerly inquired-- + </p> + <p> + "But, is it true? how was it found out?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, the lady complained of part, and the Captain tells all to get the + laugh on his side; so that Walker says the former is the derision and the + latter the contempt of all Bath." + </p> + <p> + "Poor Sir William," said the baronet, with feeling; "he is much to be + pitied." + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid he has nothing to blame but his own indulgence," remarked the + rector. + </p> + <p> + "You don't know the worst of it," replied Mr. Haughton. "We poor people + are made to suffer--Lady Jarvis wept and fretted Sir Timo out of his + lease, which has been given up, and a new house is to be taken in another + part of the kingdom, where neither Miss Harris nor the story is known." + </p> + <p> + "Then Sir William has to procure a new tenant," said Lady Moseley, not in + the least regretting the loss of the old one. + </p> + <p> + "No! my lady!" continued Mr. Haughton, with a smile. "Walker is, you know, + an attorney, and does some business occasionally for Sir William. When + Jarvis gave up the lease, the baronet, who finds himself a little short of + money, offered the deanery for sale, it being a useless place to him; and + the very next day, while Walker was with Sir William, a gentleman called, + and without higgling agreed to pay down at once his thirty thousand pounds + for it." + </p> + <p> + "And who is the purchaser?" inquired Lady Moseley, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson in rapture. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" cried the rector, eyeing the aunt and Emily with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" echoed all in the room in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Mr. Haughton, "it is now the property of the earl, who says he + has bought it for his sister." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIX. + </h2> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson found time the ensuing day to ascertain before they left the + hall, the truth of the tale related by Mr. Haughton. The deanery had + certainly changed its master, and a new steward had already arrived to + take possession in the name of his lord. What induced Pendennyss to make + this purchase she was at a loss to conceive--most probably some + arrangement between himself and Lord Bolton. But whatever might be his + motive, it in some measure insured his becoming for a season their + neighbor; and Mrs. Wilson felt a degree of pleasure at the circumstance + that she had been a stranger to for a long time--a pleasure which was + greatly heightened as she dwelt on the lovely face of the companion who + occupied the other seat in her travelling chaise. + </p> + <p> + The road to London led by the gates of the deanery, and near them they + passed a servant in the livery of those they had once seen following the + equipage of the earl. Anxious to know anything which might hasten her + acquaintance with this admired nobleman, Mrs. Wilson stopped her carriage + to inquire. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, sir, whom do you serve?" + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Pendennyss, ma'am," replied the man, respectfully taking off his + hat. + </p> + <p> + "The earl is not here?" asked Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no, madam; I am here in waiting on his steward. My lord is in + Westmoreland, with his grace and Colonel Denbigh, and the ladies." + </p> + <p> + "Does he remain there long?" continued the anxious widow, desirous of + knowing all she could learn. + </p> + <p> + "I believe not, madam; most of our people have gone to Annerdale-House, + and my lord is expected in town with the duke and the colonel." + </p> + <p> + As the servant was an elderly man, and appeared to understand the + movements of his master so well, Mrs. Wilson was put in unusual spirits by + this prospect of a speedy termination to her anxiety to meet Pendennyss. + </p> + <p> + "Annerdale-House is the earl's town residence?" quietly inquired Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; he got the fortune of the last duke of that title, but how I do not + exactly know. I believe, however, through his mother. General Wilson did + not know his family: indeed, Pendennyss bore a second title during his + lifetime; but did you observe how very civil his servant was, as well as + the one John spoke to before,--a sure sign their master is a gentleman?" + </p> + <p> + Emily smiled at the strong partialities of her aunt, and replied, "Your + handsome chaise and attendants will draw respect from most men in his + situation, dear aunt, be their masters who they may." + </p> + <p> + The expected pleasure of meeting the earl was a topic frequently touched + upon between her aunt and Emily during their journey; the former beginning + to entertain hopes she would have laughed at herself for, could they have + been fairly laid before her; and the latter entertaining a profound + respect for his character, but chiefly governed by a wish to gratify her + companion. + </p> + <p> + The third day they reached the baronet's handsome house in St. James's + Square, and found that the forethought of John had provided everything in + the best and most comfortable manner. + </p> + <p> + It was the first visit of both Jane and Emily to the metropolis; and under + the protection of their almost equally curious mother, and escorted by + John, they wisely determined to visit the curiosities, while their leisure + yet admitted of the opportunity. For the first two weeks their time was + chiefly employed in the indulgence of this unfashionable and vulgar + propensity, which, if it had no other tendency, served greatly to draw the + thoughts of both the young women from the recollections of the last few + months. + </p> + <p> + While her sister and nieces were thus employed, Mrs. Wilson, assisted by + Grace, was occupied in getting things in preparation to do credit to the + baronet's hospitality. + </p> + <p> + The second week after their arrival, Mrs. Moseley was delighted by seeing + advance upon her unexpectedly through the door of the breakfast parlor, + her brother, with his bride leaning on his arm. After the most sincere + greetings and congratulations, Lady Chatterton cried out gaily, + </p> + <p> + "You see, my dear Lady Moseley, I am determined to banish ceremony between + us, and so, instead of sending you my card, have come myself to notify you + of my arrival. Chatterton would not suffer me even to swallow my + breakfast, he was so impatient to show me off." + </p> + <p> + "You are placing things exactly on the footing I wish to see ourselves + with all our connexions," replied Lady Moseley, kindly; "but what have you + done with the duke? is he not in your train?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! he is gone to Canterbury with George Denbigh, madam," cried the lady, + shaking her head reproachfully though affectionately at Emily; "his grace + dislikes London just now excessively, he says, and the Colonel being + obliged to leave his wife, on regimental business, Derwent was good enough + to keep him company during his exile." + </p> + <p> + "And Lady Laura, do we see her?" inquired Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "She came with us. Pendennyss and his sister follow immediately; so, my + dear madam, the dramatis personæ will all be on the stage soon." + </p> + <p> + Cards and visits now began to accumulate on the Moseleys, and their time + no longer admitted of that unfettered leisure which they had enjoyed at + their entrance on the scene. Mrs. Wilson, for herself and charge, adopted + a rule for the government of her manner of living, which was consistent + with her duties. They mixed in general society sparingly; and, above all, + they rigidly adhered to the obedience to the injunction which commanded + them to keep the Sabbath day holy; a duty of no trifling difficulty to + perform in fashionable society in the city of London, or, indeed, in any + other place, where the influence of fashion has supplanted the laws of + God. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson was not a bigot; but she knew and performed her duty rigidly. + It was a pleasure to her to do so. It would have been misery to do + otherwise. In the singleness of heart and deep piety of her niece, she had + a willing pupil to her system of morals, and a rigid follower of her + religious practices. As they both knew that the temptations to go astray + were greater in town than in country, they kept a strict guard over the + tendency to err, and in watchfulness found their greatest security. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley, next to his friends, loved his bays: indeed, if the + aggregate of his affections for these and Lady Herriefield had been put in + opposite scales, we strongly suspect the side of the horses would + predominate. + </p> + <p> + One Sunday, soon after being domesticated, John, who had soberly attended + morning service with the ladies, came into a little room where the more + reflecting part of the family were assembled, in search of his wife. + </p> + <p> + Grace, we have before mentioned, had become a real member of that church + in which she had been educated, and had entered, under the direction of + Dr. Ives and Mrs. Wilson, into an observance of its wholesome ordinances. + Grace was certainly piously inclined, if not devout. Her feelings on the + subject of religion had been sensibly awakened during their voyage to + Lisbon; and at the period of which we write, Mrs. Moseley was as sincerely + disposed to perform her duty as her powers admitted. To the request of her + husband, that she would take a seat in his phaeton while he drove her + round the park once or twice, Grace gave a mild refusal, by saying, + </p> + <p> + "It is Sunday, my dear Moseley." + </p> + <p> + "Do you think I don't know that?" cried John, gaily. "There will be + everybody there, and, the better day, the better deed." + </p> + <p> + Now, Moseley, if he had been asked to apply this speech to the case before + them, would have frankly owned his inability; but his wife did not make + the trial: she was contented with saying, as she laid down her book to + look on a face she so tenderly loved, + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Moseley, you should set a better example to those below you in life." + </p> + <p> + "I wish to set an example," returned her husband, with an affectionate + smile, "to all above as well as below me, in order that they may find out + the path to happiness, by exhibiting to the world a model of a wife, in + yourself, dear Grace." + </p> + <p> + As this was uttered with a sincerity which distinguished the manner of + Moseley, his wife was more pleased with the compliment than she would have + been willing to make known; and John spoke no more than he thought; for a + desire to show his handsome wife was the ruling passion for a moment. + </p> + <p> + The husband was too pressing and the wife too fond not to yield the point; + and Grace took her seat in the carriage with a kind of half-formed + resolution to improve the opportunity by a discourse on serious + subjects--a resolution which terminated as all others do, that postpone + one duty to discharge another of less magnitude; it was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had listened with interest to the efforts of John to prevail + on his wife to take the ride, and on her leaving the room to comply she + observed to Emily, with whom she now remained alone-- + </p> + <p> + "Here is a consequence of a difference in religious views between man and + wife, my child: John, in place of supporting Grace in the discharge of her + duties, has been the actual cause of her going astray." + </p> + <p> + Emily felt the force of her aunt's remark, and saw its justice; yet her + love for the offender induced her to say-- + </p> + <p> + "John will not lead her openly astray for he has a sincere respect for + religion, and this offence is not unpardonable, dear aunt." + </p> + <p> + "The offence is assuredly not unpardonable," replied Mrs. Wilson, "and to + infinite mercy it is hard to say what is; but it is an offence, and + directly in the face of an express ordinance of the Lord; it is even + throwing off the <i>appearance</i> of keeping the Sabbath day holy, much + less observing the substance of the commandment; and as to John's respect + for holy things in this instance, it was injurious to his wife. Had he + been an open deist she would have shrunk from the act in suspicion of its + sinfulness. Either John must become Christian, or I am afraid Grace will + fall from her undertaking." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson shook her head mournfully, while Emily offered up a silent + petition that the first might speedily be the case. + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura had been early in her visit to the Moseleys; and as Denbigh had + both a town residence and a seat in parliament, it appeared next to + impossible to avoid meeting him or to requite the pressing civilities of + his wife by harsh refusals; that might prove in the end injurious to + themselves by creating a suspicion that resentment at his not choosing a + partner from amongst them, governed the conduct of the Moseleys towards a + man to whom they were under such a heavy obligation. + </p> + <p> + Had Sir Edward known as much as his sister and daughters he would probably + have discountenanced the acquaintance altogether; but owing to the + ignorance of the rest of her friends of what had passed, Mrs. Wilson and + Emily had not only the assiduities of Lady Laura but the wishes of their + own family to contend with, and consequently she submitted to the + association with a reluctance that was in some measure counteracted by + their regard for Lady Laura, and by compassion for her abused confidence. + </p> + <p> + A distant connexion of Lady Moseley's had managed to collect in her house + a few hundred of her nominal friends, and as she had been particularly + attentive in calling in person on her venerable relative, Mr. Benfield, + soon after his arrival in town, out of respect to her father's cousin, or + perhaps mindful of his approaching end, and remembering there were such + things as codicils to wills, the old man, flattered by her notice, and yet + too gallant to reject the favor of a lady, consented to accompany the + remainder of the family on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + Most of their acquaintances were there, and Lady Moseley soon found + herself engaged in a party at quadrille, while the young people were + occupied by the usual amusements of their age in such scenes. Emily alone + feeling but little desire to enter into the gaiety of general conversation + with a host of gentlemen who had collected round her aunt and sisters, + offered her arm to Mr. Benfield, on seeing him manifest a disposition to + take a closer view of the company, and walked away with him. + </p> + <p> + They wandered from room to room, unconscious of the observation attracted + by the sight of a man in the costume of Mr. Benfield, leaning on the arm + of so young and lovely a woman as his niece; and many an exclamation of + surprise, ridicule, admiration, and wonder had been made, unnoticed by the + pair, until finding the crowd rather inconvenient to her companion, Emily + gently drew him into one of the apartments where the card-tables, and the + general absence of beauty, made room less difficult to be found. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Emmy dear," said the old gentleman, wiping his face, "times are much + changed, I see, since my youth. Then you would see no such throngs + assembled in so small a space; gentlemen shoving ladies, and yes, Emmy," + continued her uncle in a lower tone, as if afraid of uttering something + dangerous, "the ladies themselves shouldering the men. I remember at a + drum given by Lady Gosford, that although I may, without vanity, say I was + one of the gallantest men in the rooms, I came in contact with but one of + the ladies during the whole evening, with the exception of handing the + Lady Juliana to a chair, and that," said her uncle, stopping short and + lowering his voice to a whisper, "was occasioned by a mischance in the old + duchess in rising from her seat when she had taken too much strong waters, + as she was at times a little troubled with a pain in the chest." + </p> + <p> + Emily smiled at the casualty of her grace, and they proceeded slowly + through the table until their passage was stopped by a party at the game + of whist, which, by its incongruous mixture of ages and character, + forcibly drew her attention. + </p> + <p> + The party was composed of a young man of five or six and twenty, who threw + down his cards in careless indifference, and heedlessly played with the + guineas which were laid on the side of the table as markers, or the fruits + of a former victory: or by stealing hasty and repeated glances through the + vista of the tables into the gayer scenes of the adjoining rooms, proved + he was in duresse, and waited for an opportunity to make his escape from + the tedium of cards and ugliness to the life of conversation and beauty. + </p> + <p> + His partner was a woman of doubtful age, and one whose countenance rather + indicated that the uncertainty was likely to continue until the record of + the tomb-stone divulged the so often contested circumstance to the world. + Her eyes also wandered to the gayer scenes, but with an expression of + censoriousness mingled with longings; nor did she neglect the progress of + the game as frequently as her more heedless partner. A glance thrown on + the golden pair which was placed between her and her neighbor on her + right, marked the importance of the <i>corner</i>, and she shuffled the + cards with a nervousness which plainly denoted her apprehension of the + consequences of her partner's abstraction. + </p> + <p> + Her neighbor on the right was a man of sixty, and his vestments announced + him a servant of the sanctuary. His intentness on the game proceeded no + doubt from his habits of reflection; his smile at success, quite possibly + from charity to his neighbors; his frown in adversity from displeasure at + the triumphs of the wicked, for such in his heart he had set down Miss + Wigram to be; and his unconquerable gravity in the employment from a + profound regard to the dignity of his holy office. + </p> + <p> + The fourth performer in this trial of memories was an ancient lady, gaily + dressed, and intently eager on the game. Between her and the young man was + a large pile of guineas, which appeared to be her exclusive property, from + which she repeatedly, during the play, tendered one to his acceptance on + the event of a hand or a trick, and to which she seldom failed from + inadvertence to add his mite, contributing to accumulate the pile. + </p> + <p> + "Two double and the rub, my dear doctor," exclaimed the senior lady, in + triumph. "Sir William, you owe me ten." + </p> + <p> + The money was paid as easily as it had been won, and the dowager proceeded + to settle some bets with her female antagonist. + </p> + <p> + "Two more, I fancy, ma'am," said she, closely scanning the contributions + of the maiden. + </p> + <p> + "I believe it is right, my lady," was the answer, with a look that said + pretty plainly, that or nothing. + </p> + <p> + "I beg pardon, my dear, here are but four; and you remember two on the + corner, and four on the points. Doctor, I will trouble you for a couple of + guineas from Miss Wigram's store, I am in haste to get to the Countess's + route." + </p> + <p> + The doctor was coolly helping himself from the said store, under the + watchful eyes of its owner, and secretly exulting in his own judgment in + requiring the stakes, when the maiden replied in great warmth, + </p> + <p> + "Your ladyship forgets the two you lost to me at Mrs. Howard's." + </p> + <p> + "It must be a mistake, my dear, I always pay as I lose," cried the + dowager, with great spirit, stretching over the table and helping herself + to the disputed money. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield and Emily had stood silent spectators of the whole scene, the + latter in astonishment to meet such manners in such society, and the + former under feelings it would have been difficult to describe; for in the + face of the Dowager which was inflamed partly from passion and more from + high living, he recognised the remains of his Lady Juliana, now the + Dowager Viscountess Haverford. + </p> + <p> + "Emmy, dear," said the old man, with a heavy-drawn sigh, as if awaking + from a long and troubled dream, "we will go." + </p> + <p> + The phantom of forty years had vanished before the truth and the fancies + of retirement, simplicity, and a diseased imagination yielded to the + influence of life and common sense. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XL. + </h2> + <p> + With Harriet, now closely connected with them by marriage as well as + attachment, the baronet's family maintained a most friendly intercourse; + and Mrs. Wilson, and Emily, a prodigious favorite with her new cousin, + consented to pass a day soberly with her during an excursion of her + husband to Windsor on business connected with his station. They had, + accordingly, driven round to an early breakfast; and Chatterton, after + politely regretting his loss, and thanking them for their consideration + for his wife, made his bow. + </p> + <p> + Lady Harriet Denbigh had brought the Baron a very substantial addition to + his fortune; and as his sisters were both provided for by ample + settlements, the pecuniary distresses which had existed a twelvemonth + before had been entirely removed. Chatterton's income was now large, his + demands upon it small, and he kept up an establishment in proportion to + the rank of both husband and wife. + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Wilson," cried the hostess, twirling her cup as she followed with + her eyes the retreating figure of her husband at the door, "I am about to + take up the trade of Miss Harris, and become a match-maker." + </p> + <p> + "Not on your own behalf so soon, surely," rejoined the widow. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no, my fortune is made for life, or not at all," continued the other, + gaily; "but in behalf of our little friend Emily here." + </p> + <p> + "Me," cried Emily, starting from a reverie, in which the prospect of + happiness to Lady Laura was the subject; "you are very good, Harriet; for + whom do you intend me?" + </p> + <p> + "Whom! Who is good enough for you, but my cousin Pendennyss? Ah!" she + cried, laughing, as she caught Emily by the hand, "Derwent and myself both + settled the matter long since, and I know you will yield when you come to + know him." + </p> + <p> + "The duke!" cried the other, with a surprise and innocence that + immediately brought a blush of the brightest vermillion into her face. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, the duke," said Lady Chatterton: "you may think it odd for a + discarded lover to dispose of his mistress so soon, but both our hearts + are set upon it. The earl arrived last night, and this day he and his + sister dine with us in a sober way: now, my dear madam," turning to Mrs. + Wilson, "have I not prepared an agreeable surprise for you?" + </p> + <p> + "Surprise indeed," said the widow, excessively gratified at the probable + termination to her anxieties for this meeting; "but where are they from?" + </p> + <p> + "From Northamptonshire, where the earl has already purchased a residence, + I understand, and in your neighborhood too; so, you perceive, <i>he</i> at + least begins to think of the thing." + </p> + <p> + "A certain evidence, truly," cried Emily, "his having purchased the house. + But was he without a residence that he bought the deanery?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no! he has a palace in town, and three seats in the country; but none + in Northamptonshire but this," said the lady, with a laugh. "To own the + truth he did offer to let George Denbigh have it for the next summer, but + the Colonel chose to be nearer Eltringham; and I take it, it was only a + ruse in the earl to cloak his own designs. You may depend upon it, we + trumpeted your praises to him incessantly in Westmoreland." + </p> + <p> + "And is Colonel Denbigh in town?" said Mrs. Wilson, stealing an anxious + glance towards her niece, who, in spite of all her efforts, sensibly + changed color. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes! and Laura is as happy--as happy--as myself," said Lady + Chatterton, with a glow on her cheeks, as she attended to the request of + her housekeeper, and left the room. + </p> + <p> + Her guests sat in silence, occupied with their own reflections, while they + heard a summons at the door of the house. It was opened, and footsteps + approached the door of their own room. It was pushed partly open, as a + voice on the other side said, speaking to a servant without,-- + </p> + <p> + "Very well. Do not disturb your lady. I am in no haste." + </p> + <p> + At the sound of its well known tones, both the ladies almost sprang from + their seats. Here could be no resemblance, and a moment removed their + doubts. The speaker entered. It was Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + He stood for a moment fixed as a statue: It was evident the surprise was + mutual. His face was pale as death, and then instantly was succeeded by a + glow of fire. Approaching them, he paid his compliments with great + earnestness, and in a voice in which his softest tones preponderated. + </p> + <p> + "I am happy, very happy, to be so fortunate in again meeting with such + friends, and so unexpectedly." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson bowed in silence to his compliment, and Emily, pale as + himself, sat with her eyes fastened on the carpet, without daring to trust + her voice with an attempt to speak. + </p> + <p> + After struggling with his mortified feelings for a moment, Denbigh rose + from the chair he had taken, and drawing near the sofa on which the ladies + were placed, exclaimed with fervor, + </p> + <p> + "Tell me, dear madam, lovely, too lovely Miss Moseley, has one act of + folly, of wickedness if you please, lost me your good opinion for ever? + Derwent had given me hopes that you yet retained some esteem for my + character, lowered, as I acknowledge it to be, in my own estimation." + </p> + <p> + "The Duke of Derwent? Mr. Denbigh!" + </p> + <p> + "Do not; do not use a name, dear madam, almost hateful to me," cried he, + in a tone of despair. + </p> + <p> + "If," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "you have made your own name + disreputable, I can only regret it, but--" + </p> + <p> + "Call me by my title--oh! do not remind me of my folly; I cannot bear it, + and from you." + </p> + <p> + "Your title!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a cry of wonder, and Emily + turned on him a face in which the flashes of color and succeeding paleness + were as quick, and almost as vivid, as the glow of lightning. He caught + their astonishment in equal surprise. + </p> + <p> + "How is this? some dreadful mistake, of which I am yet in ignorance," he + cried, taking the unresisting hand of Mrs. Wilson, and pressing it with + warmth between both his own, as he added, "do not leave me in suspense." + </p> + <p> + "For the sake of truth, for my sake, for the sake of this suffering + innocent, say, in sincerity, who and what you are," said Mrs. Wilson in a + solemn voice, gazing on him in dread of his reply. + </p> + <p> + Still retaining her hand, he dropped on his knees before her, as he + answered,-- + </p> + <p> + "I am the pupil, the child of your late husband, the companion of his + dangers, the sharer of his joys and griefs, and would I could add, the + friend of his widow. I am the Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson's head dropped on the shoulders of the kneeling youth, her + arms were thrown in fervor around his neck, and she burst into a flood of + tears. For a moment, both were absorbed in their own feelings; but a cry + from Pendennyss aroused the aunt to the situation of her niece. + </p> + <p> + Emily had fallen senseless on the sofa. + </p> + <p> + An hour elapsed before her engagements admitted of the return of Lady + Chatterton to the breakfast parlor, where she was surprised to find the + breakfast equipage yet standing, and her cousin, the earl. Looking from + one to the other in surprise, she exclaimed,-- + </p> + <p> + "Very sociable, upon my word; how long has your lordship honored my house + with your presence, and have you taken the liberty to introduce yourself + to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "Sociability and ease are the fashion of the day. I have been here an + hour, my dear coz, and <i>have</i> taken the liberty of <i>introducing + myself</i> to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley," replied the earl gravely, + although a smile of meaning lighted his handsome features as he uttered + the latter part of the sentence, which was returned by Emily with a look + of archness and pleasure that would have graced her happiest moments of + juvenile joy. + </p> + <p> + There was such an interchange of looks, and such a visible alteration in + the appearance of her guests, that it could not but attract the notice of + Lady Chatterton. After listening to the conversation between them for some + time in silence; and wondering what could have wrought so sudden a change + below stairs, she broke forth with saying,--"Upon my word, you are an + incomprehensible party to me. I left you ladies alone, and find a + gentleman with you. I left you grave, if not melancholy, and find you all + life and gaiety. I find you with a stranger, and you talk with him about + walks, and rides, and scenes, and acquaintances. Will <i>you</i>, madam, + or <i>you</i>, my lord, be so kind as to explain these seeming + inconsistencies?" + </p> + <p> + "No," cried the earl, "to punish your curiosity, I will keep you in + ignorance; but Marian is in waiting for me at your neighbor's, Mrs. + Wilmot, and I must hasten to her--- you will see us both by five." Rising + from his seat he took the offered hand of Mrs. Wilson and pressed it to + his lips. To Emily he also extended his hand, and received hers in return, + though with a face suffused with the color of the rose. Pendennyss held it + to his heart for a moment with fervor, and kissing it, precipitately left + the room. Emily concealed her face with her hands, and, dissolving in + tears, sought the retirement of an adjoining apartment. + </p> + <p> + All these unaccountable movements filled Lady Chatterton with amazement, + that would have been too painful for further endurance; and Mrs. Wilson, + knowing that further concealment with so near a connexion would be + impossible, if not unnecessary, entered into a brief explanation of the + earl's masquerade (although ignorant herself of its cause, or of the means + of supporting it), and his present relation with her niece. + </p> + <p> + "I declare it is provoking," cried Lady Chatterton, with a tear in her + eye, "to have such ingenious plans as Derwent and I had made lost from the + want of necessity in putting them in force. Your demure niece has deceived + us all handsomely; and my rigid cousin, too--I will rate him soundly for + his deception." + </p> + <p> + "I believe he already repents sincerely of his having practised it," said + Mrs. Wilson, "and is sufficiently punished for his error by its + consequence. A life of misery for four months is a serious penalty to a + lover." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the other; "I am afraid his punishment was not confined to + himself alone: he has made others suffer from his misconduct. I will rate + him famously, depend upon it I will." + </p> + <p> + If anything, the interest felt by Lady Chatterton for her friend was + increased by this discovery of the affections of Pendennyss, and a few + hours were passed by the three, in we will not say sober delight, for + transport would be a better word. Lady Chatterton frankly declared that + she would rather see Emily the wife of the earl than of her brother, for + <i>he</i> alone was good enough for her; and Mrs. Wilson felt an + exhilaration of spirits, in the completion of her most sanguine wishes, + that neither her years, her philosophy, nor even her religion, could + entirely restrain. The face of Emily was a continued blush, her eye + sparkled with the lustre of renewed hope, and her bosom was heaving with + the purest emotions of happiness. + </p> + <p> + At the appointed hour the rattling of wheels announced the approach of the + earl and his sister. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss came into the room with a young woman of great personal beauty + and extremely feminine manners, leaning on his arm. He first announced her + to Mrs. Wilson as his sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, who received her with a + frank cordiality that made them instantly acquainted. Emily, although + confiding in the fullest manner in the truth and worth of her lover, had + felt an inexplicable sensation of pleasure, as she heard the earl speak of + his sister by the name of Marian; love is such an unquiet, and generally + such an engrossing passion, that few avoid unnecessary uneasiness while + under its influence, unless so situated as to enjoy a mutual confidence. + </p> + <p> + As this once so formidable Marian approached to salute her with an + extended hand, Emily rose, with a face illumined with pleasure, to receive + her. Marian viewed her for a moment intently, and folding her arms around + her, whispered softly as she pressed her to her heart, + </p> + <p> + "My sister, my only sister." + </p> + <p> + Our heroine was affected to tears, and Pendennyss gently separating the + two he loved best in the world, they soon became calm. + </p> + <p> + Lady Marian was extremely like her brother, and had a family resemblance + to her cousin Harriet; but her manners were softer and more retiring, and + she had a slight tinge of a settled melancholy. When her brother spoke she + was generally silent, not in fear, but in love. She evidently regarded him + amongst the first of human beings, and all her love was amply returned. + </p> + <p> + Both the aunt and niece studied the manners of the earl closely, and found + several shades of distinction between what he was and what he had been. He + was now the perfect man of the world, without having lost the frank + sincerity which caused you to believe all he said. Had Pendennyss once + told Mrs. Wilson, with his natural air and manner, "I am innocent," she + would have believed him, and an earlier investigation would have saved + them months of misery; but the consciousness of his deception had + oppressed him with the curse of the wicked. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss had lost that air of embarrassment and alarm which had so often + startled the aunt, even in her hours of greatest confidence, and which had + their original in the awkwardness of disguise. But he retained his + softness, his respect, his modest diffidence of his opinions, although + somewhat corrected now by his acknowledged experience and acquaintance + with man. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson thought these decided trifling alterations in manner were + improvements; but it required some days and a few tender speeches to + reconcile Emily to any change in the appearance of Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + Lady Marian had ordered her carriage early, as she had not anticipated the + pleasure she found, and was engaged to accompany her cousin, Lady Laura, + to a fashionable rout that evening. Unwilling to be torn from ins newly + found friends, the earl proposed that the three ladies should accompany + his sister to Annerdale House, and then accept himself as an escort to + their own residence. To this Harriet assented, and leaving a message for + Chatterton, they entered the coach of Marian, and Pendennyss, mounting the + dickey, drove off. + </p> + <p> + Annerdale House was amongst the best edifices of London. It had been + erected in the preceding century, and Emily for a moment felt, as she went + through its splendid apartments, that it threw a chill around her domestic + affections; but the figure of Pendennyss by her side reconciled her to a + magnificence she had been unused to, which looked the lord indeed; but + with so much modesty and softness, and so much attention to herself, that + before she left the house, Emily began to think it very possible to enjoy + happiness even in the lap of splendor. + </p> + <p> + The names of Colonel Denbigh and Lady Laura were soon announced, and this + formidable gentleman made his appearance, He resembled Pendennyss more + than even the duke, and appeared about the same age. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson soon saw that she had no grounds for pitying Lady Laura. The + colonel was a polished, elegant man, of evident good sense and knowledge + of the world, and apparently devoted to his wife. He was called George + frequently by all his relatives, and he, not unfrequently, used the same + term himself in speaking to the earl. Something was said of a much admired + bust, and the doors of a large library were opened to view it. Emily was + running over the backs of a case of books, until her eye rested on one; + and half smiling and blushing she turned to Pendennyss, who watched every + movement, as she said, playfully, + </p> + <p> + "Pity me, my lord, and lend me this volume." + </p> + <p> + "What is it you read?" he asked, as he bowed his cheerful assent. + </p> + <p> + But Emily hid the book in her handkerchief. Pendennyss noticing an + unwillingness, though an extremely playful one, to let him into the + secret, examined the case, and perceiving her motive, smiled, as he took + down another volume and said-- + </p> + <p> + "I am not an Irish, but an English peer, Emily. You have the wrong + volume." + </p> + <p> + Emily laughed, with deeper blushes, when she found her wishes detected, + while the earl, opening the volume he held--the first of Debrett's + Peerage--pointed with his finger to the article concerning his own family, + and said to Mrs. Wilson, who had joined them at the instant-- + </p> + <p> + "To-morrow, dear madam, I shall beg your attention to a melancholy tale, + and which may, in some slight degree, extenuate the offence I was guilty + of in assuming, or rather in maintaining an accidental disguise." + </p> + <p> + As he ended, he went to the others, to draw off their attention, while + Emily and her aunt examined the paragraph. It was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "George Denbigh--Earl of Pendennyss--and Baron Lumley, of Lumley Castle--- + Baron Pendennyss--Beaumaris, and Fitzwalter, born----, of----, in the year + of----; a bachelor." The list of earls and nobles occupied several pages, + but the closing article was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "George, the 21st earl, succeeded his mother Marian, late Countess of + Pendennyss, in her own right, being born of her marriage with George + Denbigh, Esq., a cousin-german to Frederick, the 9th Duke of Derwent." + </p> + <p> + "Heir apparent. The titles being to heirs general, will descend to his + lordship's sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, should the present earl die + without lawful issue." + </p> + <p> + As much of the explanation of the mystery of our tales, involved in the + foregoing paragraphs, we may be allowed to relate in our own language, + what Pendennyss made his friends acquainted with at different times, and + in a manner suitable to the subject and his situation. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLI. + </h2> + <p> + It was at the close of that war which lost this country the wealthiest and + most populous of her American colonies, that a fleet of ships were + returning from their service amongst the islands of the New World, to seek + for their worn out and battered hulks, and equally weakened crews, the + repairs and comforts of England and home. + </p> + <p> + The latter word, to the mariner the most endearing of all sounds, had, as + it were, drawn together by instinct a group of sailors on the forecastle + of the proudest ship of the squadron, who gazed with varied emotions on + the land which gave them birth, but with one common feeling of joy that + the day of attaining it was at length arrived. + </p> + <p> + The water curled from the bows of this castle of the ocean, in increasing + waves and growing murmurs, that at times drew the attention of the veteran + tar to their quickening progress, and having cheered his heart with the + sight, he cast his experienced eye in silence on the swelling sails, to + see if nothing more could be done to shorten the distance between him and + his country. + </p> + <p> + Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the land of their birth, and hundreds of + hearts were beating in that one vessel with the awakening delights of + domestic love and renewed affections; but no tongue broke the disciplined + silence of the ship into sounds that overcame the propitious ripple of the + water. + </p> + <p> + On the highest summit of their towering mast floated a small blue flag, + the symbol of authority, and beneath it paced a man to and fro the deck, + who was abandoned by his inferiors to his more elevated rank. His + square-built form and careworn features, which had lost the brilliancy of + an English complexion, and hair whitened prematurely, spoke of bodily + vigor, and arduous services which had put that vigor to the severest + trials. + </p> + <p> + At each turn of his walk, as he faced the land of his nativity, a lurking + smile stole over his sun-burnt features, and then a glance of his eye + would scan the progress of the far-stretched squadron which obeyed his + orders, and which he was now returning to his superiors, undiminished in + numbers, and proud with victory. + </p> + <p> + By himself stood an officer in a uniform differing from all around him. + His figure was small, his eye restless, quick, and piercing, and bent on + those shores to which he was unwillingly advancing, with a look of anxiety + and mortification, that showed him the late commander of those vessels + around them, which, by displaying their double flags, manifested to the + eye of the seaman a recent change of masters. + </p> + <p> + Occasionally the conqueror would stop, and by some effort of well meant, + but rather uncouth civility, endeavor to soften the hours of captivity; + efforts which were received with the courtesy of the most punctilious + etiquette, but a restraint which showed that they were unwelcome. + </p> + <p> + It was, perhaps, the most unlucky moment that had occurred within the two + months of their association, for an exchange of their better feelings. The + honest heart of the English tar dilated with ill-concealed delight at his + approach to the termination of labors performed with credit and honor, and + his smiles and good humor, which partly proceeded from the feelings of a + father and a friend, were daggers to the heart of his discomfited rival. + </p> + <p> + A third personage now appeared from the cabin of the vessel, and + approached the spot where the adverse admirals at the moment were engaged + in one of these constrained conferences. + </p> + <p> + The appearance and dress of this gentleman differed widely from the two + just described. He was tall, graceful, and dignified; he was a soldier, + and clearly of high rank. His carefully dressed hair concealed the ravages + of time and on the quarter-deck of a first-rate his attire and manners + were suited to a field-day in the park. + </p> + <p> + "I really insist, monsieur," cried the admiral, good-naturedly, "that you + shall take part of my chaise to London. You are a stranger, and it will + help to keep up your spirits by the way." + </p> + <p> + "You are very good, Monsieur Howell," replied the Frenchman, with a polite + bow and forced smile, misconstruing ill-judged benevolence into a wish for + his person to grace a triumph--"but I have accepted the offer Monsieur le + General Denbigh was so good as to make me." + </p> + <p> + "The comte is engaged to me, Howell," said the general, with a courtly + smile, "and, indeed, you must leave the ship to night, or as soon as we + anchor.--But I shall take daylight and to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Well--well--Denbigh," exclaimed the other, rubbing his hands with + pleasure as he viewed the increasing power of the wind, "only make + yourselves happy, and I am contented." + </p> + <p> + A few hours intervened before they reached the Bay of Plymouth, and round + the table, after their dinner, were seated the general and English + admiral. The comte, under the pretence of preparing his things for a + removal, had retired to his apartment to conceal his feelings;--and the + captain of the ship was above, superintending the approach of the vessel + to her anchorage. Two or three well emptied bottles of wine yet remained; + but as the healths of all the branches of the House of Brunswick had been + propitiated from their contents, with a polite remembrance of Louis XVI. + and Marie Antoinette from General Denbigh, neither of the superiors was + much inclined for action. + </p> + <p> + "Is the Thunderer in her station?" said the admiral to the signal + lieutenant, who at that moment came below with a report. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir, and has answered." + </p> + <p> + "Very well; make the signal to prepare to anchor." + </p> + <p> + "Aye, aye, sir." + </p> + <p> + "And here, Bennet," to the retiring lieutenant--"call the transports all + in shore of us." + </p> + <p> + "Three hundred and eighty-four, sir," said the officer, looking at his + signal-book. + </p> + <p> + The admiral cast his eye at the book, and nodded an assent. + </p> + <p> + "And let the Mermaid--Flora--Weasel--Bruiser, and all the sloops lie well + off, until we have landed the soldiers: the pilot says the channel is full + of luggers, and Jonathan has grown very saucy." + </p> + <p> + The lieutenant made a complying bow, and was retiring to execute these + orders, as Admiral Howell, taking up a bottle not yet entirely deserted by + its former tenant, cried stoutly--"Here, Bennet--I forgot--take a glass of + wine; drink success to ourselves, and defeat to the French all over the + world." + </p> + <p> + The general pointed significantly to the adjoining cabin of the French + admiral, as he pressed his hand on his lips for silence. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried Admiral Howell, recollecting himself, continuing in a whisper, + "you can drink it in your heart, notwithstanding." + </p> + <p> + The signal officer nodded, and drank the liquor. As he smacked his lips + while going on deck, he thought to himself, these nabobs drink famous good + wine. + </p> + <p> + Although the feelings of General Denbigh were under much more command and + disciplined obedience than those of his friend, yet was he too unusually + elated with his return to home and expected honors. If the admiral had + captured a fleet, <i>he</i> had taken an island;--and hand in hand they + had co-operated in unusual harmony through the difficulties of an arduous + campaign. This rather singular circumstance was owing to their personal + friendship. From their youth they had been companions, and although of + very different characters and habits, chance had cemented their intimacy + in more advanced life. While in subordinate stations, they had been + associated together in service; and the general and admiral, in command of + an army and fleet, had once before returned to England with less renown, + as a colonel and a captain of a frigate. The great family influence of the + soldier, with the known circumstance of their harmony, had procured them + this later command, and home, with its comforts and rewards, was close + before them. Pouring out a glass of Madeira, the general, who always + calculated what he said, exclaimed, + </p> + <p> + "Peter--we have been friends from boys." + </p> + <p> + "To be sure we have," said the admiral, looking up in a little surprise at + this unexpected commencement--"and it will not be my fault if we do not + die such, Frederick." + </p> + <p> + Dying was a subject the general did not much delight in although of + conspicuous courage in the field; and he proceeded to his more important + purpose--"I could never find, although I have looked over our family tree + so often, that we are in any manner related, Howell." + </p> + <p> + "I believe it is too late to mend that matter now," said the admiral, + musing. + </p> + <p> + "Why no--hem--I think not, Howell; take a glass of this Burgundy." + </p> + <p> + The admiral shook his head with a stubborn resolution to taste nothing + French, but he helped himself to a bountiful stock of Madeira, as he + replied-- + </p> + <p> + "I should like to know how you can bring it about this time of day, + Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + "How much money will you be able to give that girl of yours, Peter?" said + his friend, evading the point. + </p> + <p> + "Forty thousand down, my good fellow, and as much more when I die," cried + the open-hearted sailor, with a nod of exultation. + </p> + <p> + "George, my youngest son, will not be rich--but Francis will be a duke, + and have a noble estate; yet," said the general; meditating, "he is so + unhappy in his disposition and uncouth in his manners, I cannot think of + offering him to your daughter as a husband." + </p> + <p> + "Isabel shall marry a good-natured man, like myself, or not at all," said + the admiral, positively, but not in the least suspecting the drift of his + friend, who was influenced by anything but a regard for the lady's + happiness. + </p> + <p> + Francis, his first born, was, in truth, as he had described; but his + governing wish was to provide for his favorite George. Dukes could never + want wives, but unportioned captains in the guards might. + </p> + <p> + "George is one of the best tempers in the world," said his father, with + strong feeling, "and the delight of us all. I could wish he had been the + heir to the family honors." + </p> + <p> + "<i>That</i> it is certainly too late to help," cried the admiral, + wondering if the ingenuity of his friend could devise a remedy for this + evil too. + </p> + <p> + "Too late, indeed," said the other, with a heavy sigh, "but Howell, what + say you to matching Isabel with my favorite George?" + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh," cried the sailor, eyeing him keenly, "Isabel is my only child, + and a dutiful, good girl; one that will obey orders if she breaks owners, + as we sailors say. Now I did think of marrying her to a seaman, when a + proper man came athwart my course; yet your son is a soldier, and that is + next to being in the navy: if-so-be you had made him come aboard me, when + I wanted you to, there would have been no objection at all: however, when + occasion offers. I will overhaul the lad, and if I find him staunch he may + turn in with Bell and welcome." + </p> + <p> + This was uttered in perfect simplicity, and with no intention of giving + offence, partaking partly of the nature of a soliloquy; so the general, + greatly encouraged, was about to push the point, when a gun was fired from + their own ship. + </p> + <p> + "There's some of them lubberly transports won't mind our signals; they + have had these soldiers so long on board, they get as clumsy as the + red-coats themselves," muttered the admiral, hastening on deck to enforce + his commands. + </p> + <p> + A shot or two, sent significantly in the direction of the wanderers, but + so as not to hit them, restored order; and within an hour forty line of + battle ships and a hundred transports were disposed in the best manner for + convenience and safety. + </p> + <p> + On their presentation to their sovereign, both veterans were embellished + with the riband of the Bath; and as their exploits filled the mouths of + the newsmongers, and the columns of the public prints of the day, the new + knights began to think more seriously of building a monument to their + victories, in a union between their children. The admiral, however, + determined to do nothing with his eyes shut, and he demanded a scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + "Where is the boy who is to be a duke?" exclaimed he, one day, when his + friend had introduced the point with a view to a final arrangement. "Bell + has good blood in her veins--is a tight built little vessel--clean heel'd + and trim, and would make as good a duchess as the best of them; so + Denbigh, I will begin by taking a survey of the senior." To this the + general had no objection, as he well knew that Francis would be wide of + pleasing the tastes of an open-hearted, simple man, like the sailor. They + met, accordingly, for what the general facetiously called the review, and + what the admiral innocently termed his survey, at the house of the former, + when the young gentlemen were submitted to his inspection. + </p> + <p> + Francis Denbigh was about four and twenty, of a feeble body, and with a + face marked with the small-pox, to approaching deformity; his eye was + brilliant and piercing, but unsettled, and at times wild--his manner + awkward, constrained, and timid. There would be seen, it is true, an + intelligence and animation, which occasionally lighted his countenance + into gleams of sunshine, that caused you to overlook the lesser + accompaniments of complexion and features in the expression; but they were + transient, and inevitably vanished whenever his father spoke or in any + manner mingled in his pursuits. + </p> + <p> + An observer close as Mrs. Wilson, would have said that the feelings of the + father and son were not such as ought to exist between parent and child. + </p> + <p> + But the admiral, who regarded model and rigging a good deal, satisfied + himself with muttering, as he turned his eye on the junior-- + </p> + <p> + "He may do for a duke--but I would not have him for a cockswain." + </p> + <p> + George was a year younger than Francis; in form, stature, and personal + grace, the counterpart of his father; his eye was less keen but more + attractive than that of his brother; his air open, polished, and manly. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" thought the sailor, as he ended a satisfactory survey of the youth, + "what a thousand pities Denbigh did not send him to sea!" + </p> + <p> + The thing was soon settled, and George was to be the happy man. Sir Peter + concluded to dine with his friend, in order to settle preliminaries over + the bottle by themselves; the young men and their mother being engaged to + their uncle the duke. + </p> + <p> + "Well, Denbigh," cried the admiral, as the last servant withdrew, "when do + you mean to have the young couple spliced?" + </p> + <p> + "Why," replied the wary soldier, who knew he could not calculate on + obedience to his mandate with as great a certainty as his friend--"the + better way is to bring the young people together, in order that they may + become acquainted, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Acquainted--together--" cried his companion, in a little surprise, "what + better way is there to bring them together, than to have them up before a + priest, or to make them acquainted by letting them swing in the same + hammock?" + </p> + <p> + "It might answer the end, indeed," said the general, with a smile, "but + somehow or other, it is always the best method to bring young folks + together, to let them have their own way in the affair for a time." + </p> + <p> + "Own way!" rejoined Sir Peter, bluntly, "did you ever find it answer to + let a woman have her own way, Sir Frederick?" + </p> + <p> + "Not common women certainly, my good friend," said the general, "but such + a girl as my intended daughter is an exception." + </p> + <p> + "I don't know that," cried the sailor; "Bell is a good girl, but she has + her quirks and whims like all the sex." + </p> + <p> + "You have had no trouble with her as yet, I believe, Howell," said Sir + Frederick cavalierly, throwing an inquiring glance on his friend at the + same time. + </p> + <p> + "No, not yet--nor do I think she will ever dare to mutiny; but there has + been one wishing to take her in tow already since we got in." + </p> + <p> + "How!" said the other in alarm, "who--what is he? some officer in the + navy, I suppose." + </p> + <p> + "No, he was a kind of chaplain, one Parson Ives, a good sort of a youth + enough, and a prodigious favorite with my sister, Lady Hawker." + </p> + <p> + "Well, what did you answer, Peter?" said his companion in increasing + uneasiness; "did you put him off?" + </p> + <p> + "Off! to be sure I did--do you think I wanted a barber's clerk for a + son-in-law? No, no, Denbigh; a soldier is bad enough, without having a + preacher." + </p> + <p> + The general compressed his lips at this direct attack on a profession that + he thought the most honorable of any in the world, in some resentment; but + remembering the eighty thousand pounds, and accustomed to the ways of the + other, he curbed his temper, and inquired-- + </p> + <p> + "But Miss Howell--your daughter--how did she stand affected to this + priest?" + </p> + <p> + "How--why--how?--why I never asked her." + </p> + <p> + "Never asked her?" + </p> + <p> + "No, never asked her: she is my daughter, you know, and bound to obey my + orders, and I did not choose she should marry a parson; but, once for all, + when is the wedding to take place?" + </p> + <p> + General Denbigh had indulged his younger son too blindly and too fondly to + expect that implicit obedience the admiral calculated to a certainty on, + and with every prospect of not being disappointed, from his daughter. + Isabel Howell was pretty, mild, and timid, and unused to oppose any of her + father's commands; but George Denbigh was haughty, positive, and + self-willed, and unless the affair could be so managed as to make him a + willing assistant in the courtship, his father knew it might be abandoned + at once. He thought his son might be led, but not driven; and, relying on + his own powers for managing, the general saw his only safety in executing + the scheme was in postponing his advances for a regular siege to the + lady's heart. + </p> + <p> + Sir Peter chafed and swore at this circumlocution: the thing could be done + as well in a week as in a year; and the veterans, who, for a miracle, had + agreed in their rival stations, and in doubtful moments of success, were + near splitting on the point of marrying a girl of nineteen. + </p> + <p> + As Sir Peter both loved his friend, and had taken a prodigious fancy to + the youth, he however was fain to submit to a short probation. + </p> + <p> + "You are always for going a round-about way to do a thing," said the + admiral, as he yielded the point. "Now, when you took that battery, had + you gone up in front, as I advised you, you would have taken it in ten + minutes, instead of five hours." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the other, with a friendly shake of the hand at parting, "and + lost fifty men in place of one by the step." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLII. + </h2> + <p> + The Honorable General Denbigh was the youngest of three sons. His seniors, + Francis and George, were yet bachelors. The death of a cousin had made + Francis a duke while yet a child, and both he and his favorite brother + George, had decided on lives of inactivity and sluggishness. + </p> + <p> + "When I die, brother," the oldest would say, "you will succeed me, and + Frederick can provide heirs for the name hereafter." + </p> + <p> + This arrangement had been closely adhered to, and the two elder brothers + reached the ages of fifty-five and fifty-six, without altering their + condition. In the mean time, Frederick married a young woman of rank and + fortune; the fruits of their union being the two young candidates for the + hand of Isabel Howell. + </p> + <p> + Francis Denbigh, the eldest son of the general, was naturally diffident, + and, in addition, it was his misfortune to be the reverse of captivating + in external appearance. The small-pox sealed his doom;--ignorance, and the + violence of the attack, left him indelibly impressed with the ravages of + that dreadful disorder. Oh the other hand, his brother escaped without any + vestiges of the complaint; and his spotless skin and fine open + countenance, met the gaze of his mother, after the recovery of the two, in + striking contrast to the deformed lineaments of his elder brother. Such an + occurrence is sure to excite one of two feelings in the breast of every + beholder--pity or disgust; and, unhappily for Francis, maternal + tenderness, in his case, was unable to counteract the latter sensation. + George become a favorite, and Francis a neutral. The effect was easy to be + seen, and it was rapid, as it was indelible. + </p> + <p> + The feelings of Francis were sensitive to an extreme. He had more + quickness, more sensibility, more real talent than George; which enabled + him to perceive, and caused him to feel more acutely, the partiality of + his mother. + </p> + <p> + As yet, the engagements and duties of the general had kept his children + and, their improvements out of his sight; but at the ages of eleven and + twelve, the feelings of a father, began, to take pride in the possession + of his sons. + </p> + <p> + On his return from a foreign station, after an absence of two years, his + children were ordered from school to meet him. Francis had improved in + stature, but not in beauty; George had flourished in both. + </p> + <p> + The natural diffidence of the former was increased, by perceiving that he + was no favorite, and the effect began to show itself on manners at no time + engaging. He met his father with doubt, and he saw with anguish, that the + embrace received by his brother much exceeded in warmth that which had + been bestowed on himself. + </p> + <p> + "Lady Margaret," said the general to his wife, as he followed the boys as + they retired from the dinner table, with his eyes, "it is a thousand + pities George had not been the elder. <i>He</i> would have graced a + dukedom or a throne. Frank is only fit for a parson." + </p> + <p> + This ill-judged speech was uttered sufficiently loud to be overheard by + both the sons: on the younger, it made a pleasurable sensation for the + moment. His father--his dear father, had thought him fit to be a king; and + his father must be a judge, whispered his native vanity; but all this time + the connexion between the speech and his brother's rights did not present + themselves to his mind. George loved this brother too well, too sincerely, + to have injured him even in thought; and so far as Francis was concerned, + his vanity was as blameless as it was natural. + </p> + <p> + The effect produced on the mind of Francis was different both in substance + and in degree. It mortified his pride, alarmed his delicacy, and wounded + his already morbid sensibility to such an extent, as to make him entertain + the romantic notion of withdrawing from the world, and of yielding a + birthright to one so every way more deserving of it than himself. + </p> + <p> + From this period might be dated an opinion of Francis's, which never + afterwards left him; he fancied he was doing injustice to another, and + that other, a brother whom he ardently loved, by continuing to exist. Had + he met with fondness in his parents, or sociability in his playfellows, + these fancies would have left him as he grew into life. But the affections + of his parents were settled on his more promising brother; and his manners + daily increasing in their repulsive traits, drove his companions to the + society of others, more agreeable to their own buoyancy and joy. + </p> + <p> + Had Francis Denbigh, at this age, met with a guardian clear-sighted enough + to fathom his real character, and competent to direct his onward course, + he would yet have become an ornament to his name and country, and a useful + member of society. But no such guide existed. His natural guardians, in + his particular case, were his worst enemies; and the boys left school for + college four years afterwards, each advanced in his respective properties + of attraction and repulsion. + </p> + <p> + Irreligion is hardly a worse evil in a family than favoritism. When once + allowed to exist, in the breast of the parent, though hid apparently from + all other eyes, its sad consequences begin to show themselves. Effects are + produced, and we look in vain for the cause. The awakened sympathies of + reciprocal caresses and fondness are mistaken for uncommon feelings, and + the forbidding aspect of deadened affections is miscalled native + sensibility. + </p> + <p> + In this manner the evil increases itself, until manners are formed, and + characters created, that must descend with their possessor to the tomb. + </p> + <p> + In the peculiar formation of the mind of Francis Denbigh, the evil was + doubly injurious. His feelings required sympathy and softness, and they + met only with coldness and disgust. George alone was an exception to the + rule. <i>He</i> did love his brother; but even his gaiety and spirits + finally tired of the dull uniformity of the diseased habits of his senior. + </p> + <p> + The only refuge Francis found in his solitude, amidst the hundreds of the + university, was in his muse and in the powers of melody. The voice of his + family has been frequently mentioned in these pages; and if, as Lady Laura + had intimated, there had ever been a siren in the race, it was a male one. + He wrote prettily, and would sing these efforts of his muse to music of + his own, drawing crowds around his windows, in the stillness of the night, + to listen to sounds as melodious as they were mournful. His poetical + efforts partook of the distinctive character of the man, being melancholy, + wild, and sometimes pious. + </p> + <p> + George was always amongst the most admiring of his brother's auditors, and + would feel a yearning of his heart towards him, at such moments, that was + painful. But George was too young and too heedless, to supply the place of + a monitor, or to draw his thoughts into a more salutary train. This was + the <i>duty</i> of his parents, and should have been their <i>task</i>. + But the world, his rising honors, and his professional engagements, + occupied the time of the father; and fashion, parties, and pleasure, + killed the time of his mother. When they did think of their children, it + was of George; the painful image of Francis being seldom admitted to + disturb their serenity. + </p> + <p> + George Denbigh was open-hearted without suspicion, and a favorite. The + first quality taxed his generosity, the second subjected him to fraud, and + the third supplied him with the means. But these means sometimes failed. + The fortune of the general, though handsome, was not more than competent + to support his style of living. He expected to be a duke himself one day, + and was anxious to maintain an appearance now that would not disgrace his + future elevation. A system of strict but liberal economy had been adopted + in the case of his sons. They had, for the sake of appearances, a stated + and equal allowance. + </p> + <p> + The duke had offered to educate the heir himself, and under his own eye. + But to this Lady Margaret had found some ingenious excuse, and one that + seemed to herself and the world honorable to her natural feeling; but had + the offer been made to George, these reasons would have vanished in the + desire to advance his interests, or to gratify his propensities. Such + decisions are by no means uncommon; parents having once decided on the + merits and abilities of their children, frequently decline the + interference of third persons, since the improvement of their denounced + offspring might bring their own judgment into question, if it did not + convey an indirect censure on their justice. + </p> + <p> + The heedlessness of George brought his purse to a state of emptiness. His + last guinea was gone, and two months were wanting to the end of the + quarter. George had played and been cheated. He had ventured to apply to + his mother for small sums, when his dress or some trifling indulgence + required an advance; and always with success. But here were sixty guineas + gone at a blow, and pride, candor, forbade his concealing the manner of + his loss, if he made the application. This was dreadful; his own + conscience reproached him, and he had so often witnessed the violence of + his mother's resentments against Francis, for faults which appeared to him + very trivial, not to stand in the utmost dread of her more just + displeasure in the present case. + </p> + <p> + Entering the apartment of his brother, in this disturbed condition, George + threw himself into a chair, and with his face concealed between his hands, + sat brooding over his forlorn situation. + </p> + <p> + "George!" said his brother, soothingly, "you are in distress; can I + relieve you in any way?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no--no--no--Frank; it is entirely out of your power." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps not, my dear brother," continued the other, endeavoring to draw + his hand into his own. + </p> + <p> + "Entirely! entirely!" said George. Then springing up in despair, he + exclaimed, "But I must live--I cannot die." + </p> + <p> + "Live! die!" cried Francis, recoiling in horror. "What do you mean by such + language? Tell me, George, am I not your brother? Your only brother and + best friend?" + </p> + <p> + Francis felt he had no friend if George was not that friend, and his face + grew pale while the tears flowed rapidly down his cheeks. + </p> + <p> + George could not resist such an appeal. He caught the hand of his brother + and made him acquainted with his losses and his wants. + </p> + <p> + Francis mused some little time over his narration, ere he broke silence. + </p> + <p> + "It was all you had?" + </p> + <p> + "The last shilling," cried George, beating his head with his hand. + </p> + <p> + "How much will you require to make out the quarter?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh I must have at least fifty guineas, or how can I live at all?" + </p> + <p> + The ideas of life in George were connected a good deal with the manner it + was to be enjoyed. His brother appeared struggling with himself, and then + turning to the other, continued, + </p> + <p> + "But surely, under present circumstances, you could make less do." + </p> + <p> + "Less, never--hardly that"--interrupted George, vehemently. "If Lady + Margaret did not inclose me a note now and then, how could we get along at + all? don't you find it so yourself, brother?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know," said Francis, turning pale-- + </p> + <p> + "Don't know!" cried George, catching a view of his altered + countenance--"you get the money, though?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not remember it," said the other, sighing heavily. + </p> + <p> + "Francis," cried George, comprehending the truth, "you shall share every + shilling I receive in future--you shall--indeed you shall." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then," rejoined Francis with a smile, "it is a bargain; and you + will receive from me a supply in your present necessities." + </p> + <p> + Without waiting for an answer, Francis withdrew into an inner apartment, + and brought out the required sum for his brother's subsistence for two + months. George remonstrated, but Francis was positive; he had been saving, + and his stock was ample for his simple habits without it. + </p> + <p> + "Besides, you forget we are partners, and in the end I shall be a gainer." + </p> + <p> + George yielded to his wants and his brother's entreaties, and he gave him + great credit for the disinterestedness of the act. Several weeks passed + without any further allusion to this disagreeable subject, which had at + least the favorable result of making George more guarded and a better + student. + </p> + <p> + The brothers, from this period, advanced gradually in those distinctive + qualities which were to mark the future men; George daily improving in + grace and attraction, Francis, in an equal ratio, receding from those very + attainments which it was his too great desire to possess. In the education + of his sons, General Denbigh had preserved the appearance of impartiality; + his allowance to each was the same: they were at the same college, they + had been at the same school; and if Frank did not improve as much as his + younger brother, it was unquestionably his own obstinacy and stupidity, + and surely not want of opportunity or favor. + </p> + <p> + Such, then, were the artificial and accidental causes, which kept a noble, + a proud, an acute but a diseased mind, in acquirements much below another + every way its inferior, excepting in the happy circumstance of wanting + those very excellences, the excess and indiscreet management of which + proved the ruin instead of the blessing of their possessor. + </p> + <p> + The duke would occasionally rouse himself from his lethargy, and complain + to the father, that the heir of his honors was far inferior to his younger + brother in acquirements, and remonstrate against the course which produced + such an unfortunate inequality. On these occasions a superficial statement + of his system from the general met the objection; they cost the same + money, and he was sure he not only wished but did everything an indulgent + parent could, to render Francis worthy of his future honors. Another evil + of the admission of feelings of partiality, in the favor of one child, to + the prejudice of another, is that the malady is contagious as well as + lasting: it exists without our own knowledge, and it seldom fails to + affect those around us. The uncle soon learnt to distinguish George as the + hope of the family, yet Francis must be the heir of its honors, and + consequently of its wealth. + </p> + <p> + The duke and his brother were not much addicted to action, hardly to + reflection; but if anything could rouse them to either, it was the + reputation of the house of Denbigh. Their ideas of reputation, it is true, + were of their own forming. + </p> + <p> + The hour at length drew near when George expected a supply from the + ill-judged generosity of his mother; it came, and with a heart beating + with pleasure, the youth flew to the room of Francis with a determination + to force the whole of his twenty pounds on his acceptance. On throwing + open his door, he saw his brother evidently striving to conceal something + behind his books. It was at the hour of breakfast, and George had intended + for a novelty to share his brother's morning repast. They always met at + dinner, but the other meals were made in their own rooms. George looked in + vain for the usual equipage of the table; suspicion flashed upon him; he + threw aside the books, and a crust of bread and a glass of water met his + eye; the truth now flashed upon him in all its force. + </p> + <p> + "Francis, my brother, to what has my extravagance reduced you!" exclaimed + the contrite George with a heart nearly ready to burst. Francis endeavored + to explain, but a sacred regard to the truth held him tongue-tied, until + dropping his head on the shoulder of George, he sobbed out-- + </p> + <p> + "It is a trifle; nothing to what I would do for you, my brother." + </p> + <p> + George felt all the horrors of remorse, and was much too generous to + conceal his error any longer; he wrote a circumstantial account of the + whole transaction to Lady Margaret. + </p> + <p> + Francis for a few days was a new being. He had acted nobly, his conscience + approved of his motives, and of his delicate concealment of them; he in + fact began to think there were in himself the seeds of usefulness, as his + brother, who from this moment began to understand his character better, + attached himself more closely to him. + </p> + <p> + The eye of Francis met that of George with the look of acknowledged + affection, his mind became less moody, and his face was sometimes + embellished with a smile. + </p> + <p> + The reply of their mother to the communication of George threw a damp on + the revived hopes of the senior, and drove him back into himself with + tenfold humility. + </p> + <p> + "I am shocked, my child, to find that you have lowered yourself, and + forgot the family you belong to, so much as to frequent those + gambling-houses, which ought not to be suffered in the neighborhood of the + universities: when at a proper age and in proper company, your occasional + indulgence at cards I could not object to, as both your father and myself + sometimes resort to it as an amusement, but never in low company. The + consequence of mingling in such society is, that you were cheated, and + such will always be your lot unless you confine yourself to associates + more becoming your rank and illustrious name. + </p> + <p> + "As to Francis, I see every reason to condemn the course he has taken. + Being the senior by a year, he should have taken the means to prevent your + falling into such company; and he should have acquainted me immediately + with your loss, in place of wounding your pride by subjecting you to the + mortification of receiving a pecuniary obligation from one so little older + than yourself, and exposing his own health by a diet on bread and water, + as you wrote me, for a whole month. Both the general and myself are + seriously displeased with him, and think of separating you, as you thus + connive at each other's follies." + </p> + <p> + George was too indignant to conceal this letter and the reflections of + Francis were dreadful. + </p> + <p> + For a short time he actually meditated suicide, as the only method of + removing himself from before the advancement of George. Had not George + been more attentive and affectionate than formerly, the awful expedient + might have been resorted to. + </p> + <p> + From college the young men went, one into the army and the other to the + mansion of his uncle. George became an elegant, gay, open-hearted, admired + captain in the guards; and Francis stalked through the halls of his + ancestors, their acknowledged future lord, but a misanthrope; hateful to + himself and disagreeable to all around him. + </p> + <p> + This picture may be highly wrought, but the effects, in the case of + Francis, were increased by the peculiar tone of his diseased state of + mind. The indulgence of favoritism, nevertheless, always brings its own + sad consequences, in a greater or less degree, while it seldom fails to + give sorrow and penitence to the bosom of the parents. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLIII. + </h2> + <p> + No little art and management had been necessary to make the admiral + auxiliary to the indirect plan proposed by his friend to bring George and + Isabel together. This, however, effected, the general turned his whole + strategy to the impression to be made on the heart of the young gentleman. + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick Denbigh had the same idea of the virtue of management as the + Dowager Lady Chatterton, but he understood human nature better. + </p> + <p> + Like a prudent officer, his attacks were all masked, and, like a great + officer, they seldom failed of success. + </p> + <p> + The young couple were thrown in each other's way, and as Isabel was + extremely attractive, somewhat the opposite to himself in ardor of + temperament and vivacity, modest, and sensible, it cannot be expected that + the association was maintained by the youth with perfect impunity. Within + a couple of months he fancied himself desperately in love with Isabel + Howell; and, in truth, he had some reason for the supposition. + </p> + <p> + The general watched every movement of his son with a wary and vigilant + eye--occasionally adding fuel to the flame, by drawing his attention to + projects of matrimony in other quarters, until George began to think he + was soon to undergo a trial of his constancy, and in consequence he armed + himself with a double portion of admiration for his Isabel, in order to + enable himself to endure the persecution; while the admiral several times + endangered the success of the whole enterprise by volunteer contributions + to the hopes of the young man, which only escaped producing an opposite + effect to that which was intended, by being mistaken for the overflowings + of good nature and friendship. + </p> + <p> + After suffering his son to get, as he thought, sufficiently entangled in + the snares of Cupid, Sir Frederick determined to fire a volley from one of + his masked batteries, which he rightly judged would bring on a general + engagement. They were sitting at the table after dinner, alone, when the + general took the advantage of the name of Miss Howell being accidentally + mentioned, to say-- + </p> + <p> + "By the by, George, my friend the admiral said something yesterday on the + subject of your being so much with his daughter. I wish you to be + cautious, and not to give the old sailor offence in any way, for he is my + particular friend." + </p> + <p> + "He need be under no violent apprehensions," cried George, coloring highly + with shame and pride, "I am sure a Denbigh is no unworthy match for a + daughter of Sir Peter Howell." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! to be sure not, boy, we are as old a house as there is in the + kingdom, and as noble too; but the admiral has queer notions, and, + perhaps, he has some cub of a sailor in his eye for a son-in-law. Be + prudent, my boy, be prudent; that is all I ask of you." + </p> + <p> + The general, satisfied with the effect he had produced, carelessly arose + from his seat, and joined Lady Margaret in her drawing-room. + </p> + <p> + George remained for several minutes musing on his father's singular + request, as well as the admiral's caution, when he sprang from his seat, + caught up his hat and sword, and in ten minutes rang at Sir Peter's door + in Grosvenor Square. He was admitted, and ascending to the drawing-room, + he met the admiral on his way out. Nothing was further from the thoughts + of the veteran than a finesse like the general's; and, delighted to see + George on the battle-ground, he pointed significantly over his shoulder + towards the door of the room Isabel was in, and exclaimed, with a + good-natured smile, + </p> + <p> + "There she is, my hearty; lay her aside, and hang me if she don't strike. + I say, George, faint heart never won fair lady: remember that, my boy; no, + nor a French ship." + </p> + <p> + George would have been at some loss to have reconciled this speech to his + father's caution, if time had been allowed him to think at all; but the + door being open he entered, and found Isabel endeavoring to hide her + tears. + </p> + <p> + The admiral, dissatisfied from the beginning with the tardy method of + despatching things, thought he might be of use in breaking the ice for + George, by trumpeting his praises on divers occasions to his daughter. + Under all circumstances, he thought she might be learning to love the man, + as he was to be her husband; and speeches like the following had been + frequent of late from the parent to the child: + </p> + <p> + "There's that youngster, George Denbigh: now, Bell, is he not a fine + looking lad? Then I know he is brave. His father before him, was good + stuff and a true Englishman. What a proper husband he would make for a + young woman, he loves his king and country so; none of your new-fangled + notions about religion and government, but a sober, religious churchman; + that is, as much so, girl, as you can expect in the guards. No Methodist, + to be sure;--it's a great pity he wasn't sent to sea, don't you think so? + But cheer up, girl, one of these days he may be taking a liking to you + yet." + </p> + <p> + Isabel, whose fears taught her the meaning of these eloquent praises of + Captain Denbigh, listened to these harangues in silence, and often + meditated on their import by herself in tears. + </p> + <p> + George approached the sofa on which the lady was seated before she had + time to conceal the traces of her sorrow, and in a voice softened by + emotion, he took her hand gently as he said,-- + </p> + <p> + "What can have occasioned this distress to Miss Howell. If anything in my + power to remove, or which a life devoted to her service can mitigate, she + has only to command me to find a cheerful obedience." + </p> + <p> + "The trifling causes of sorrow in a young woman," replied Isabel, + endeavoring to smile, "will hardly require such serious services to remove + them." + </p> + <p> + But the lady was extremely interesting at the moment. George was goaded by + his father's caution, and urged on by his own feelings, with great + sincerity, and certainly much eloquence, he therefore proffered his love + and hand to the acceptance of his mistress. + </p> + <p> + Isabel heard him in painful silence. She respected him, and dreaded his + power over her father; but, unwilling to abandon hopes to which she yet + clung as to her spring of existence, with a violent effort she determined + to throw herself on the generosity of her lover. + </p> + <p> + During her father's late absence Isabel had, as usual, since the death of + her mother, been left with his sister, and had formed an attachment for a + young clergyman, a younger son of a baronet, and the present Dr. Ives. The + inclination had been mutual; and as Lady Hawker knew her brother to be + perfectly indifferent to money, she could see no possible objection to its + indulgence. + </p> + <p> + On his return, Ives made his proposals, as related; and although warmly + backed by the recommendations of the aunt, he was refused. Out of delicacy + the wishes of Isabel had not been mentioned by her clerical lover, and the + admiral supposed he had only complied with his agreement with the general, + without in any manner affecting the happiness of his daughter by his + answer. But the feelings which prompted the request still remained in full + vigor in the lovers; and Isabel now, with many blushes and some hesitation + of utterance, made George fully acquainted with the state of her heart, + giving him at the same time to understand that he was the only obstacle to + her happiness. + </p> + <p> + It cannot be supposed that George heard her without pain or mortification. + The struggle with self-love was a severe one, but his better feelings + prevailed, and he assured the anxious Isabel that from his importunities + she had nothing to apprehend in future. The grateful girl overwhelmed him + with thanks, and George had to fly ere he repented of his own generosity. + </p> + <p> + Miss Howell intimated, in the course of her narrative, that a better + understanding existed between their parents than the caution of the + general had discovered to his unsuspecting child, and George was + determined to know the worst at once. + </p> + <p> + At supper he mentioned, as if in remembrance of his father's injunction, + that he had been to take his leave of Miss Howell, since he found his + visits gave uneasiness to her friends. "On the whole," he added, + endeavoring to yawn carelessly, "I believe I shall visit there no more." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay," returned Sir Frederick, a little displeased at his son's + obedience, "I meant no such thing. Neither the admiral nor myself, has the + least objection to your visiting in moderation; indeed, you may marry the + girl with all our hearts, if you can agree." + </p> + <p> + "But we can't agree, I take it," said George, looking up at the wall. + </p> + <p> + "Why not? what hinders?' cried his father unguardedly. + </p> + <p> + "Only--only I don't like her," said the son, tossing off a glass of wine, + which nearly strangled him. + </p> + <p> + "You don't," cried the general with great warmth, thrown entirely off his + guard by this unexpected declaration "and may I presume to ask the reason + why you do not like Miss Howell, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! you know, one never pretends to give a reason for this sort of + feeling, my dear sir." + </p> + <p> + "Then," cried his father with increasing heat, "you must allow me to say, + my dear sir, that the sooner you get rid of these sort of feelings the + better. I choose you shall not only like, but love Miss Howell; and this I + have promised her father." + </p> + <p> + "I thought that the admiral was displeased with my coming to his house so + much--or did I not understand you this morning?" + </p> + <p> + "I know nothing of his displeasure, and care less. He has agreed that + Isabel shall be your wife, and I have passed my word to the engagement; + and if, sir, you wish to be considered as my son, you will prepare to + comply." + </p> + <p> + George was expecting to discover some management on the part of his + father, but by no means so settled an arrangement, and his anger was in + proportion to the deception. + </p> + <p> + To annoy Isabel any further was out of the question; to betray her, base; + and the next morning he sought an audience with the Duke. To him he + mentioned his wish for actual service, but hinted that the maternal + fondness of Lady Margaret was averse to his seeking it. This was true, and + George now pressed his uncle to assist him in effecting an exchange. + </p> + <p> + The boroughs of the Duke of Derwent were represented by loyal members of + parliament, his two brothers being contemporary with Mr. Benfield in that + honor; and a request from a man who sent six members to the Commons, + besides having a seat in the Lords in his own person, must be listened to. + </p> + <p> + Within the week George ceased to be a captain in the guards, and became + lieutenant-colonel of a regiment under orders for America. + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick soon became sensible of the error his warmth had led him + into, and endeavored, by soothing and indulgence, to gain the ground he + had so unguardedly lost. But terrible was his anger, and bitter his + denunciations, when his son acquainted him with his approaching + embarkation with his new regiment for America. They quarrelled; and as the + favorite child had never, until now, been thwarted or spoken harshly to, + they parted in mutual disgust. With his mother George was more tender; and + as Lady Margaret never thought the match such as the descendant of two + lines of dukes was entitled to form, she almost pardoned the offence in + the cause. + </p> + <p> + "What's this here?" cried Sir Peter Howell, as he ran over a morning paper + at the breakfast table: "Captain Denbigh, late of the guards, has been + promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the ---- Foot, and sails to-morrow + to join that regiment, now on its way to America." + </p> + <p> + "It's a lie, Bell!--it's all a lie! not but what he ought to be there, + too, serving his king and country; but he never would serve you so." + </p> + <p> + "Me?" said Isabel, with a heart throbbing with the contending feelings of + admiration for George's generosity, and delight at her own deliverance. + "What have I to do with the movements of Mr. Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "What!" cried her father in astonishment; "a'n't you to be his wife, a'n't + it all agreed upon--that is, between Sir Frederick and me, which is the + same thing, you know--" + </p> + <p> + Here he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the general himself, + who had just learnt the departure of his son and hastened, with the double + purpose of breaking the intelligence to his friend, and of making his own + peace. + </p> + <p> + "See here, Denbigh," exclaimed the admiral, pointing to the paragraph, + "what do you say to that?" + </p> + <p> + "Too true--too true, my dear friend," replied the general shaking his head + mournfully. + </p> + <p> + "Hark ye, Sir Frederick Denbigh," cried the admiral fiercely; "did you not + say that your son George was to marry my daughter?" + </p> + <p> + "I certainly did, Sir Peter, and am sorry to say that, in defiance of my + entreaties and commands, he has deserted his home, and, in consequence, I + have discarded him for ever." + </p> + <p> + "Now, Denbigh," said the admiral, a good deal mollified by this + declaration, "have I not always told you, that in the army you know + nothing of discipline? Why, sir, if he was a son of mine, he should marry + blindfolded, if I chose to order it. I wish, now, Bell had an offer, and + dared to refuse it." + </p> + <p> + "There is the barber's clerk, you know," said the general, a good deal + irritated by the contemptuous manner of his friend. + </p> + <p> + "And what of that, Sir Frederick?" said the sailor sternly; "if I choose + her to marry a quill-driver, she shall comply." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! my good friend," said the general, willing to drop the disagreeable + subject, "I am afraid we shall both find it more difficult to control the + affections of our children than we at first imagined." + </p> + <p> + "You do, General Denbigh?" said the admiral, with a curl of contempt on + his lip; and ringing the bell violently, he bid the servant send his young + lady to him. + </p> + <p> + On the appearance of Isabel, her father inquired with an air of settled + meaning where young Mr. Ives resided. It was only in the next street, and + a messenger was sent to him, with Sir Peter Howell's compliments, and a + request to see him without a moment's delay. + </p> + <p> + "We'll see, we'll see, my old friend, who keeps the best discipline," + muttered the admiral, as he paced up and down the room, in eager + expectation of the return of his messenger. + </p> + <p> + The wondering general gazed on his friend, to ascertain if he was out of + his senses. He knew he was quick to decide, and excessively obstinate, but + he did not think him so crazy as to throw away his daughter in a fit of + spleen. It never occurred to Sir Frederick, however, that the engagement + with himself was an act of equal injustice and folly, because it was done + with more form and deliberation, which, to the eye of sober reason, would + rather make the matter worse. Isabel sat in trembling suspense for the + issue of the scene, and Ives in a few minutes made his appearance in no + little alarm. + </p> + <p> + On entering, the admiral addressed him abruptly, by inquiring if he still + wished to marry that girl, pointing to his daughter. The reply was an + eager affirmative. Sir Peter beckoned to Isabel, who approached, covered + with blushes; and her father having placed her hand in that of her lover, + with an air of great solemnity he gave them his blessing. The young people + withdrew to another room at Sir Peter's request, when he turned to his + friend, delighted with his own decision and authority, and exclaimed, + </p> + <p> + "There, Fred. Denbigh, that is what I call being minded." + </p> + <p> + The general had penetration enough to see that the result was agreeable to + both the young people, a thing he had long apprehended; and being glad to + get rid of the affair in any way that did not involve him in a quarrel + with his old comrade, he gravely congratulated the admiral on his good + fortune and retired. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said Sir Peter to himself, as he paced up and down his room, + "Denbigh is mortified enough, with his joy, and felicity, and + grand-children. I never had any opinion of their manner of discipline at + all; too much bowing and scraping. I'm sorry, though, he is a priest; not + but what a priest may be as good a man as another, but let him behave ever + so well, he can only get to be a bishop at the most. Heaven forbid he + should ever get to be a Pope! After all, his boys may be admirals if they + behave themselves;" and he went to seek his daughter, having in + imagination manned her nursery with vice and rear admirals in embryo by + the half dozen. + </p> + <p> + Sir Peter Howell survived the marriage of his daughter but eighteen + months; yet that was sufficient time to become attached to his invaluable + son-in-law. Mr. Ives insensibly led the admiral, during his long + indisposition, to a more correct view of sacred things, than he had been + wont to entertain; and the old man breathed his last, blessing both his + children for their kindness, and with an humble hope of future happiness. + Some time before his death, Isabel, whose conscience had always reproached + her with the deception practised on her father, and with the banishment of + George from his country and home, threw herself at the feet of Sir Peter + and acknowledged her transgression. + </p> + <p> + The admiral heard her in astonishment, but not in anger. His opinions of + life had sensibly changed, and his great cause of satisfaction with his + new son removed all motives for regret for anything but for the fate of + poor George. With the noble forbearance and tenderness of the young man to + his daughter, the hardy veteran was sensibly touched; and his entreaties + with Sir Frederick made his peace with a father already longing for the + return of his only hope. + </p> + <p> + The admiral left Colonel Denbigh his blessing, and his favorite pistols, + as a remembrance of his esteem; but he did not live to see the reunion + with his family. + </p> + <p> + George had soon learnt, deprived of hope and in the midst of novelty, to + forget a passion which could no longer be prosperous; and two years from + his departure returned to England, glowing in health, and improved in + person and manners by a more extensive knowledge of the world and mankind. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLIV. + </h2> + <p> + During the time occupied by the foregoing events, Francis continued a + gloomy inmate of his uncle's house. The duke and his brother George were + too indolent and inactive in their minds to pierce the cloud that + mortification and deadened affections had drawn around the real character + of their nephew; and although he was tolerated as the heir, he was but + little loved as a man. + </p> + <p> + In losing his brother, Francis lost the only human being with whom he + possessed any sympathies in common; and he daily drew more and more into + himself, in gloomy meditation on his forlorn situation, in the midst of + wealth and expected honors. The attentions he received were paid to his + rank, and Francis had penetration enough to perceive it. His visits to his + parents were visits of ceremony, and in time all parties came to look to + their termination with pleasure, as to the discontinuance of heartless and + forced civilities. + </p> + <p> + Affection, even in the young man, could not endure, repulsed as his + feelings were, for ever; and in the course of three years, if his + attachments were not alienated from his parents, his ardor had become much + abated. + </p> + <p> + It is a dreadful truth, that the bonds of natural affection can be broken + by injustice and contumely; and it is yet more to be deplored, that when + from such causes we loosen the ties habit and education have drawn around + us, a reaction in our feelings commences; we seldom cease to love, but we + begin to hate. Against such awful consequences it is one of the most + solemn duties of the parent to provide in season; and what surer safeguard + is there, than to inculcate those feelings which teach the mind to love + God, and in so doing induce love to the whole human family? + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick and Lady Margaret attended the church regularly, repeated + the responses with much decency, toasted the church next to the king, even + appeared at the altars of their God, and continued sinners. From such + sowings, no good fruit could be expected to flourish: yet Francis was not + without his hours of devotion; but his religion was, like himself, + reserved, superstitious, ascetic, and gloomy. He never entered into social + worship: if he prayed it was with an ill-concealed wish to end this life + of care. If he returned thanks, it was with a bitterness that mocked the + throne before which he was prostrate. Such pictures are revolting; but + their originals have and do exist; for what enormity is there of which + human frailty, unchecked by divine assistance, may not be guilty? + </p> + <p> + Francis received an invitation to visit a brother of his mother's at his + seat in the country, about the time of the expected return of George from + America; and in compliance with the wishes of his uncles he accepted it. + The house was thronged with visitors, and many of them were ladies. To + these, the arrival of the unmarried heir of the house of Derwent was a + subject of no little interest. His character had, however, preceded him, + and a few days of his awkward and, as they conceived, sullen deportment, + drove them back to their former beaux, with the exception of one; and she + was not only amongst the fairest of the throng, but decidedly of the + highest pretensions on the score of birth and fortune. + </p> + <p> + Marian Lumley was the only surviving child of the last Duke of Annerdale, + with whom had expired the higher honors of his house. But the Earldom of + Pendennyss, with numerous ancient baronies, were titles in fee; and + together with his princely estates had descended to his daughter as + heir-general of the family. A peeress in her own right, with an income far + exceeding her utmost means of expenditure, the lovely Countess of + Pendennyss was a prize aimed at by all the young nobles of the empire. + </p> + <p> + Educated in the midst of flatterers and dependants she had become haughty, + vain, and supercilious; still she was lovely, and no one knew better how + to practise the most winning arts of her sex, when whim or interest + prompted her to the trial. + </p> + <p> + Her host was her guardian and relative; and through his agency she had + rejected, at the age of twenty, numerous suitors for her hand. Her eyes + were fixed on the ducal coronet; and unfortunately for Francis Denbigh, he + was, at the time, the only man of the proper age who could elevate her to + that enviable distinction in the kingdom; and an indirect measure of her + own had been the means of his invitation to the country. + </p> + <p> + Like the rest of her young companions, Marian was greatly disappointed on + the view of her intended captive, and for a day or two she abandoned him + to his melancholy and himself. But ambition was her idol; and to its + powerful rival, love, she was yet a stranger. After a few struggles with + her inclinations the consideration that their united fortunes and family + alliances would make one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in the + kingdom, prevailed. Such early sacrifices of the inclinations in a woman + of her beauty, youth and accomplishments, may excite surprise; but where + the mind is left uncultivated by the hand of care, the soul untouched by + the love of goodness, the human heart seldom fails to set up an idol of + its own to worship. In the Countess of Pendennyss this idol was pride. + </p> + <p> + The remainder of the ladies, from ceasing to wonder at the manners of + Francis, had made them the subject of their mirth; and nettled at his + apparent indifference to their society, which they erroneously attributed + to his sense of his importance, they overstepped the bounds of + good-breeding in manifesting their displeasure. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh," cried one of the most thoughtless and pretty of the gay + tribe to him one day, as Francis sat in a corner abstracted from the scene + around him, "when do you mean to favor the world with your brilliant ideas + in the shape of a book?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no doubt soon," said a second; "and I expect they will be homilies, + or another volume to the Whole Duty of Man." + </p> + <p> + "Rather," cried a third, with bitter irony, "another canto to the Rape of + the Lock, his ideas are so vivid and full of imagery." + </p> + <p> + "Or, what do you think," said a fourth, speaking in a voice of harmony, + and tones of the most soothing tenderness, "of pity and compassion, for + the follies of those inferior minds, who cannot enjoy the reflections of a + good sense and modesty peculiarly his own?" + </p> + <p> + This might also be irony; and Francis thought it so; but the tones were so + soft and conciliating, that with a face pale with his emotions, he + ventured to look up and met the eye of Marian, fixed on him in an + expression that changed his death-like hue into the color of vermillion. + </p> + <p> + He thought of this speech; he reasoned on it; he dreamt on it. But for the + looks which accompanied it, like the rest of the party, he would have + thought it the cruellest cut of them all. But that look, those eyes, that + voice, what a commentary on her language did they not afford! + </p> + <p> + Francis was not long in suspense; the next morning an excursion was + proposed, which included all but himself in its arrangements. He was + either too reserved or too proud to offer services which were not + required. + </p> + <p> + Several gentlemen had contended for the honor of driving the countess in a + beautiful phaeton of her own. They grew earnest in their claims: one had + been promised by its mistress with an opportunity of trying the ease of + the carriage; another was delighted with the excellent training of her + horses; in short, all had some particular claim to the distinction, which + was urged with a warmth and pertinacity proportionate to the value of the + prize to be obtained. Marian heard the several claimants with an ease and + indifference natural to her situation, and ended the dispute by saying-- + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen, as I have made so many promises from the dread of giving + offence, I must throw myself on the mercy of Mr. Denbigh, who alone, with + the best claims, does not urge them; to you then," continued she, + approaching him with the whip which was to be given the victor, "I adjudge + the prize, if you will condescend to accept it." + </p> + <p> + This was uttered with one of her most attractive smiles, and Francis + received the whip with an emotion that he with difficulty could control. + </p> + <p> + The gentlemen were glad to have the contest decided by adjudging the prize + to one so little dangerous, and the ladies sneered at her choice as they + left the house. + </p> + <p> + There was something so soothing in the manners of Lady Pendennyss, she + listened to the little he said with such a respectful attention, was so + anxious to have him give his opinions, that the unction of flattery, thus + sweetly applied, and for the first time, could not fail of its wonted + effects. + </p> + <p> + The communications thus commenced were continued. It was so easy to be + attentive, by being simply polite to one unused to notice of any kind, + that Marian found the fate of the young man in her hands almost as soon as + she attempted to control it. + </p> + <p> + A new existence opened upon Francis, as day after day she insensibly led + him to a display of powers he was unconscious until now of possessing + himself. His self-respect began to increase, his limited pleasures to + multiply, and he could now look around him with a sense of participation + in the delights of life, as he perceived himself of consequence to this + much admired woman. + </p> + <p> + Trifling incidents, managed on her part with consummate art, had led him + to the daring inference that he was not entirely indifferent to her; and + Francis returned the incipient affection of his mistress with a feeling + but little removed from adoration. Week flew by after week, and still he + lingered at the residence of his kinsman, unable to tear himself from the + society of one so worshipped, and yet afraid to take a step by making a + distinct declaration which might involve him in disgrace or ridicule. + </p> + <p> + The condescension of the countess increased, and she had indirectly given + him the most flattering assurances of his success, when George, just + arrived from America, having first paid his greetings to his reconciled + parents, and the happy couple of his generosity, flew to the arms of his + brother in Suffolk. + </p> + <p> + Francis was overjoyed to see George, and George delighted in the visible + improvement of his brother. Still Francis was far, very far behind his + junior in graces of mind and body; indeed, few men in England were more + adapted by nature and education for female society than was Colonel + Denbigh at the period of which we write. + </p> + <p> + Marian witnessed all his attractions, and deeply felt their influence; for + the first time she felt the emotions of the gentle passion; and after + having sported in the gay world, and trifled with the feelings of others + for years, the countess in her turn became an unwilling victim to its + power. George met her flame with a corresponding ardor, and the struggle + between ambition and love became severe; the brothers unconsciously were + rivals. + </p> + <p> + Had George for a moment suspected the situation of the feelings of + Francis, his very superiority in the contest would have induced him to + retreat from the unnatural rivalry. Had the elder dreamt of the views of + his junior, he would have abandoned his dearest hopes in utter despair. + Francis had so long been accustomed to consider George as his superior in + everything, that a competition with him would have appeared desperate. + Marian contrived to keep both in hopes, undecided herself which to choose, + and perhaps ready to yield to the first applicant. A sudden event, + however, removed all doubts, and decided the fate of the three. + </p> + <p> + The Duke of Derwent and his bachelor brother became so dissatisfied with + the character of their future heir, that they as coolly set about + providing themselves with wives as they had performed any other ordinary + transaction of life, They married cousins, and on the same day the choice + of the ladies was assigned between them by lots; and if his grace got the + prettier, his brother certainly got the richest; under the circumstances a + very tolerable distribution of fortune's favors. + </p> + <p> + These double marriages dissolved the charm of Francis, and Lady Pendennyss + determined to consult her wishes; a little pointed encouragement brought + out the declaration of George, and he was accepted. + </p> + <p> + Francis, who had never communicated his feelings to any one but the lady, + and that only indirectly, was crushed by the blow. He continued in public + until the day of their union; was present, composed and silent; but it was + the silence of a mountain whose volcanic contents had not reached the + surface. The same day he disappeared, and every inquiry after him proved + fruitless; search was baffled, and for seven years it was not known what + had become of the general's eldest son. + </p> + <p> + George on marrying resigned his commission, at the earnest entreaties of + his wife, and retired to one of her seats, to the enjoyment of ease and + domestic love. The countess was enthusiastically attached to him; and as + motives for the indulgence of coquetry were wanting, her character became + gradually improved by the contemplation of the excellent qualities of her + generous husband. + </p> + <p> + A lurking suspicion of the cause of Francis's sudden disappearance + rendered her uneasy at times; but Marian was too much beloved, too happy, + in the enjoyment of too many honors, and of too great wealth, to be open + to the convictions of conscience. It is in our hours of pain and privation + that we begin to feel its sting: if we are prosperous, we fancy we reap + the fruits of our own merit; but if we are unfortunate, the voice of truth + seldom fails to remind us that we are deserving of our fate:--a blessed + provision of Providence that often makes the saddest hours of our earthly + career the morn of a day that is to endure for ever. + </p> + <p> + General Denbigh and Lady Margaret both died within five years of the + marriage of their favorite child, although both lived to see their + descendant, in the person of the infant Lord Lumley. + </p> + <p> + The duke and his brother George were each blessed with offspring, and in + these several descendants of the different branches of the family of + Denbigh may be seen the different personages of our history. On the birth + of her youngest child, the Lady Marian, the Countess of Pendennyss + sustained a shock in her health from which she never wholly recovered: she + became nervous, and lost most of her energy both of mind and body. Her + husband was her solace; his tenderness remaining unextinguished, while his + attentions increased. + </p> + <p> + As the fortune of Ives and Isabel put the necessity of a living out of the + question, and no cure offering for the acceptance of the first, he was + happy to avail himself of an offer to become domestic chaplain to his now + intimate friend, Mr. Denbigh. For the first six years they were inmates of + Pendennyss Castle. The rector of the parish was infirm, and averse to a + regular assistant; but the unobtrusive services of Mr. Ives were not less + welcome to the pastor than to his parishioners. + </p> + <p> + Employed in the duties which of right fell to the incumbent, and intrusted + with the spiritual guardianship of the dependants of the castle, our young + clergyman had ample occupation for all his time, if not a sufficient + theatre for his usefulness. Isabel and himself remained the year round in + Wales, and the first dawnings of education received by Lord Lumley were + those he acquired conjointly with Francis from the care of the latter's + father. They formed, with the interval of the time spent by Mr. Denbigh + and Lady Pendennyss in town in winter, but one family. To the gentleman, + the attachment of the grateful Ives was as strong as it was lasting. Mrs. + Ives never ceased to consider him as a self-devoted victim to her + happiness; and although a far more brilliant lot had awaited him by the + change, yet her own husband could not think it a more happy one. + </p> + <p> + The birth of Lady Marian had already, in its consequences, begun, to throw + a gloom round the domestic comforts of Denbigh, when he was to sustain + another misfortune in a separation from his friends. + </p> + <p> + Mr., now Dr. Ives, had early announced his firm intention, whenever an + opportunity was afforded him, to enter into the fullest functions of his + ministry, as a matter of duty. Such an opportunity now offered at B----, + and the doctor became its rector about the period Sir Edward became + possessor of his paternal estate. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh tried every inducement within his power to keep the doctor in his + own society. If as many thousands as his living would give him hundreds + could effect it, they would have been at his service; but Denbigh + understood the character of the divine too well to offer such an + inducement: he however urged the claims of friendship to the utmost, but + without success. The doctor acknowledged the hold both himself and family + had gained upon his affections, but he added-- + </p> + <p> + "Consider, my dear Mr. Denbigh, what we would have thought of one of the + earlier followers of our Saviour, who from motives of convenience or + worldly-mindedness could have deserted his sacred calling. Although the + changes in the times may have rendered the modes of conducting them + different, necessarily the duties remain the same. The minister of our + holy religion who has once submitted to the call of his divine Master, + must allow nothing but ungovernable necessity to turn him from the path he + has entered on; and should he so far forget himself, I greatly fear he + would plead, when too late to remedy the evil, his worldly duties, his + cares, or even his misfortunes, in vain. Solemn and arduous are his + obligations to labor, but when faithfully he has discharged these duties, + oh! how glorious must be his reward." + </p> + <p> + Before such opinions every barrier must fall, and the doctor entered into + the cure of his parish without further opposition, though not without + unceasing regret on the part of his friend. Their intercourse was, + however, maintained by letter, and they also frequently met at Lumley + Castle, a seat of the countess's, within two days' ride of the doctor's + parish, until her increasing indisposition rendered journeying impossible; + then, indeed, the doctor extended his rides into Wales, but with longer + intervals between his visits, though with the happiest effects to the + objects of his journey. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Denbigh, worn down with watching and blasted hopes, under the + direction of the spiritual watchfulness of the rector of B----, became an + humble, sincere, and pious Christian. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLV. + </h2> + <p> + It has been already mentioned, that the health of Lady Pendennyss suffered + a severe shock, in giving birth to a daughter. Change of scene was + prescribed as a remedy for her disorder, and Denbigh and his wife were on + their return from a fruitless excursion amongst the northern lakes, in + pursuit of amusement and relief for the latter when they were compelled to + seek shelter from the fury of a sudden gust in the first building that + offered. It was a farm-house of the better sort; and the attendants, + carriages, and appearance of their guests, caused no little confusion to + its simple inmates. A fire was lighted in the best parlor, and every + effort was made by the inhabitants to contribute to the comforts of the + travellers. + </p> + <p> + The countess and her husband were sitting in that kind of listless + melancholy which had been too much the companion of their later hours, + when in the interval of the storm, a male voice in an adjoining room + commenced singing the following ballad, the notes being low, monotonous, + but unusually sweet, and the enunciation so distinct, as to rende every + syllable intelligible: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Oh! I have lived in endless pain,<br /> And I have lived, alas! in vain,<br /> + For none regard my woe--<br /> No father's care conveyed the + truth,<br /> No mother's fondness blessed my youth,<br /> Ah! + joys too great to know-- + </p> + </blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + And Marian's love, and Marian's pride,<br /> Have crushed the heart that + would have died.<br /> To save my Marian's tears--<br /> A + brother's hand has struck the blow<br /> Oh! may that brother never know<br /> + Such madly sorrowing years! + </p> + </blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + But hush my griefs--and hush my song,<br /> I've mourned in vain--I've + mourned too long;<br /> When none have come to soothe--<br /> + And dark's the path, that lies before,<br /> And dark have been the days + of yore,<br /> And all was dark in youth. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The maids employed around the person of their comfortless mistress, the + valet of Denbigh engaged in arranging a dry coat for his master--all + suspended their employments to listen in breathless silence to the + mournful melody of the song. + </p> + <p> + But Denbigh himself had started from his seat at the first notes, and he + continued until the voice ceased, gazing in vacant horror in the direction + of the sounds. A door opened from the parlor to the room of the musician; + he rushed through it, and there, in a kind of shed to the building, which + hardly sheltered him from the fury of the tempest, clad in the garments of + the extremest poverty, with an eye roving in madness, and a body rocking + to and fro from mental inquietude, he beheld seated on a stone the remains + of his long lost brother, Francis. + </p> + <p> + The language of the song was too plain to be misunderstood. The truth + glared around George with a violence that dazzled his brain; but he saw it + all, he felt it all, and rushing to the feet of his brother, he exclaimed + in horror, pressing his hands between his own,-- + </p> + <p> + "Francis--my own brother--do you not know me?" + </p> + <p> + The maniac regarded him with a vacant gaze, but the voice and the person + recalled the compositions of his more reasonable moments to his + recollection; pushing back the hair of George, so as to expose his fine + forehead to view, he contemplated him for a few moments, and then + continued to sing, in a voice still rendered sweeter than before by his + faint impressions: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + His raven locks, that richly curled,<br /> His eye, that proud defiance + hurled.<br /> Have stol'n my Marian's love!<br /> Had I been + blest by nature's grace,<br /> With such a form, with such a face,<br /> + Could I so treacherous prove? + </p> + </blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + And what is man--and what is care--<br /> That he should let such + passions tear<br /> The bases of the soul!<br /> Oh! you + should do, as I have done--<br /> And having pleasure's summit won,<br /> + Each bursting sob control! + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + On ending the last stanza, the maniac released his brother, and broke into + the wildest laugh of madness. + </p> + <p> + "Francis!--Oh! Francis, my brother," cried George, in bitterness. A + piercing shriek drew his eye to the door he had passed through--on its + threshold lay the senseless body of his wife. The distracted husband + forgot everything in the situation of his Marian, and raising her in his + arms, he exclaimed,-- + </p> + <p> + "Marian--my Marian, revive--look up--know me." + </p> + <p> + Francis had followed him, and now stood by his side, gazing intently on + the lifeless body; his looks became more soft--his eye glanced less + wildly--he too cried,-- + </p> + <p> + "Marian--<i>My</i> Marian." + </p> + <p> + There was a mighty effort; nature could endure no more, he broke a + blood-vessel and fell at the feet of George. They flew to his assistance, + giving the countess to her women; but he was dead. + </p> + <p> + For seventeen years Lady Pendennyss survived this shock: but having + reached her own abode, during that long period she never left her room. + </p> + <p> + In the confidence of his surviving hopes, Doctor Ives and his wife were + made acquainted with the real cause of the grief of their friend, but the + truth went no further. Denbigh was the guardian of his three young + cousins, the duke, his sister, and young George Denbigh; these, with his + son, Lord Lumley, and daughter, Lady Marian, were removed from the + melancholy of the Castle to scenes better adapted to their opening + prospects in life. Yet Lumley was fond of the society of his father, and + finding him a youth endowed beyond his years, the care of his parent was + early turned to the most important of his duties in that sacred office; + and when he yielded to his wishes to go into the army, he knew he went a + youth of sixteen, possessed of principles and self-denial that would + become a man of five-and-twenty. + </p> + <p> + General Wilson completed the work which the father had begun; and Lord + Lumley formed a singular exception to the character of most of his + companions. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the Spanish war, he returned home, and was just in time to + receive the parting breath of his mother. + </p> + <p> + A few days before her death, the countess requested that her children + might be made acquainted with her history and misconduct; and she placed + in the hands of her son a letter; with directions for him to open it after + her decease. It was addressed to both children, and after recapitulating + generally the principal events of her life, continued: + </p> + <p> + "Thus, my children, you perceive the consequences of indulgence and + hardness of heart, which made me insensible to the sufferings of others, + and regardless of the plainest dictates of justice. Self was my idol. The + love of admiration, which was natural to me, was increased by the + flatterers who surrounded me; and had the customs of our country suffered + royalty to descend in their unions to a grade in life below their own, + your uncle would have escaped the fangs of my baneful coquetry. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Marian, my child, never descend so low as to practise those arts + which have degraded your unhappy mother. I would impress on you, as a + memorial of my parting affection, these simple truths--that coquetry + stands next to the want of chastity in the scale of female vices; it is in + fact a kind of mental prostitution; it is ruinous to all that delicacy of + feeling which gives added lustre to female charms; it is almost + destructive to modesty itself. A woman who has been addicted to its + practice, may strive long and in vain to regain that singleness of heart, + which can bind her up so closely in her husband and children as to make + her a good wife or a mother; and if it should have degenerated into habit, + it may lead to the awful result of infidelity to her marriage vows. + </p> + <p> + "It is vain for a coquette to pretend to religion; its practice involves + hypocrisy, falsehood, and deception--everything that is mean--everything + that is debasing. In short, as it is bottomed on selfishness and pride, + where it has once possessed the mind, it will only yield to the + truth-displaying banners of the cross. This, and this only, can remove the + evil; for without it she, whom the charms of youth and beauty have enabled + to act the coquette, will descend into the vale of life, altered, it is + true, but not amended. She will find the world, with its allurements, + clinging around her parting years, in vain regrets for days that are + flown, and in mercenary views for her descendants. Heaven bless you, my + children, console and esteem your inestimable father while he yet remains + with you; and place your reliance on that Heavenly Parent who will never + desert those who seek him in sincerity and love. Your dying mother, + </p> + <p> + "M. PENDENNYSS." + </p> + <p> + This letter, evidently written under the excitement of deep remorse, made + a great impression on both her children. In Lady Marian it was pity, + regret, and abhorrence of the fault which had been the principal cause of + the wreck of her mother's peace of mind; but in her brother, now Earl of + Pendennyss, these feelings were united with a jealous dread of his own + probable lot in the chances of matrimony. + </p> + <p> + His uncle had been the supposed heir to a more elevated title than his + own, but he was now the actual possessor of as honorable a name, and of + much larger revenues. The great wealth of his maternal grandfather, and + the considerable estate of his own father, were, or would soon be, centred + in himself; and if a woman as amiable, as faultless, as affection had + taught him to believe his mother to be, could yield in her situation to + the lure of worldly honors, had he not great reason to dread, that a hand + might be bestowed at some day upon himself, when the heart would point out + some other destination, if the real wishes of its owner were consulted? + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss was modest by nature, and humble from principle, though by no + means distrustful; yet the shock of discovering his mother's fault, the + gloom occasioned by her death and his father's declining health, sometimes + led him into a train of reflections which, at others, he would have + fervently deprecated. + </p> + <p> + A short time after the decease of the countess, Mr. Denbigh, finding his + constitution fast giving way, under the wasting of a decline he had been + in for a year, resolved to finish his days in the abode of his Christian + friend, Doctor Ives. For several years they had not met; increasing duties + and infirmities on both sides having interrupted their visits. + </p> + <p> + By easy stages he left the residence of his son in Wales, and accompanied + by both his children he reached Lumley Castle much exhausted; here he took + a solemn and final leave of Marian, unwilling that she should so soon + witness again the death of another parent, and dismissing the earl's + equipage and attendants a short day's ride from B----, they proceeded + alone to the rectory. + </p> + <p> + A letter had been forwarded acquainting the doctor of his approaching + visit, wishing it to be perfectly private, but not alluding to its object, + and naming a day, a week later than the one on which he arrived. This plan + was altered on perceiving the torch of life more rapidly approaching the + socket than he had at first supposed. His unexpected appearance and + reception are known. Denbigh's death and the departure of his son + followed; Francis having been Pendennyss's companion to the tomb of his + ancestors in Westmoreland. + </p> + <p> + The earl had a shrinking delicacy, under the knowledge of his family + history, that made him anxious to draw all eyes from the contemplation of + his mother's conduct; how far the knowledge of it had extended in society + he could not know, but he wished it buried with her in the tomb. The + peculiar manner of his father's death would attract notice, and might + recall attention to the prime cause of his disorder; as yet all was + veiled, and he wished the doctor's family to let it remain so. It was, + however, impossible that the death of a man of Mr. Denbigh's rank should + be unnoticed in the prints, and the care of Francis dictated the simple + truth without comments, as it appeared. As regarded the Moseleys, what was + more natural than that the son of <i>Mr. Denbigh</i> should also be <i>Mr. + Denbigh?</i> + </p> + <p> + In the presence of the rector's family no allusions were made to their + friends, and the villagers and the neighborhood spoke of them as old and + young Mr. Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + The name of Lord Lumley, now Earl of Pendennyss, was known to the whole + British nation; but the long retirement of his father and mother had + driven them almost from the recollection of their friends. Even Mrs. + Wilson supposed her favorite hero a Lumley. Pendennyss Castle had been for + centuries the proud residence of that family; and the change of name in + its possessor was forgotten with the circumstances that had led to it. + </p> + <p> + When, therefore, Emily met the earl so unexpectedly the second time at the + rectory, she, of course, with all her companions, spoke of him as Mr. + Denbigh. On that occasion, Pendennyss had called in person, in expectation + of meeting his kinsman, Lord Bolton; but, finding him absent, he could not + resist his desire to visit the rectory. Accordingly, he sent his carriage + and servants on to London, leaving them at a convenient spot, and arrived + on foot at the house of Dr. Ives. From the same motives which had + influenced him before--a wish to indulge, undisturbed by useless ceremony, + his melancholy reflections--he desired that his name might not be + mentioned. + </p> + <p> + This was an easy task. Both Doctor and Mrs. Ives had called him, when a + child, George or Lumley, and were unused to his new appellation of + Pendennyss; indeed, it rather recalled painful recollections to them all. + </p> + <p> + It may be remembered that circumstances removed the necessity of any + introduction to Mrs. Wilson and her party; and the difficulty in that + instance was happily got rid of. + </p> + <p> + The earl had often heard Emily Moseley spoken of by his friends, and in + their letters they frequently mentioned her name as connected with their + pleasures and employments, and always with an affection Pendennyss thought + exceeding that which they manifested for their son's wife; and Mrs Ives, + the evening before, to remove unpleasant thoughts, had given him a lively + description of her person and character. The earl's curiosity had been a + little excited to see this paragon of female beauty and virtue; and, + unlike most curiosity on such subjects, he was agreeably disappointed by + the examination. He wished to know more, and made interest with the doctor + to assist him to continue the incognito with which accident had favored + him. + </p> + <p> + The doctor objected on the ground of principle, and the earl desisted; but + the beauty of Emily, aided by her character, had made an impression not to + be easily shaken off, and Pendennyss returned to the charge. + </p> + <p> + His former jealousies were awakened in proportion to his admiration; and, + after some time, he threw himself on the mercy of the divine, by declaring + his new motive, but without mentioning his parents. The doctor pitied him, + for he scanned his feelings thoroughly, and consented to keep silent, but + laughingly declared it was bad enough for a divine to be accessory to, + much less aiding in a deception; and that he knew if Emily and Mrs. Wilson + learnt his imposition, he would lose ground in their favor by the + discovery. + </p> + <p> + "Surely, George," said the doctor with a laugh, "you don't mean to marry + the young lady as Mr. Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no! it is too soon to think of marrying her at all," replied the earl + with a smile; "but, somehow, I should like to see what my reception in the + world will be as plain Mr. Denbigh, unprovided for and unknown." + </p> + <p> + "No doubt, my lord," said the rector archly, "in proportion to your + merits, very unfavorably indeed; but then your humility will be finally + elevated by the occasional praises I have heard Mrs. Wilson lavish on your + proper character of late." + </p> + <p> + "I am much indebted to her partiality," continued the earl mournfully; + then throwing off his gloomy thoughts he added, "I wonder, my dear doctor, + your goodness did not set her right in the latter particular." + </p> + <p> + "Why, she has hardly given me an opportunity; delicacy and my own feelings + have kept me very silent on the subject of your family to any of that + connexion. They think, I believe, I was a rector in Wales, instead of your + father's chaplain; and somehow," continued the doctor, smiling on his + wife, "the association with your late parents was so connected in my mind + with my most romantic feelings, that although I have delighted in it, I + have seldom alluded to it in conversation at all. Mrs. Wilson has spoken + of you but twice in my hearing, and that since she has expected to meet + you; your name has doubtless recalled the remembrance of her husband." + </p> + <p> + "I have many, many reasons to remember the general with gratitude," cried + the earl with fervor; "but doctor, do not forget my incognito: only call + me George; I ask no more." + </p> + <p> + The plan of Pendennyss was put in execution. Day after day he lingered in + Northamptonshire, until his principles and character had grown upon the + esteem of the Moseleys in the manner we have mentioned. + </p> + <p> + His frequent embarrassments were from the dread and shame of a detection. + With Sir Herbert Nicholson he had a narrow escape, and Mrs. Fitzgerald and + Lord Henry Stapleton he of course avoided; for having gone so far, he was + determined to persevere to the end. Egerton he thought knew him, and he + disliked his character and manners. + </p> + <p> + When Chatterton appeared most attentive to Emily, the candor and good + opinion of that young nobleman made the earl acquainted with his wishes + and his situation. Pendennyss was too generous not to meet his rival on + fair grounds. His cousin and the duke were requested to use their united + influence secretly to obtain the desired station for the baron. The result + is known, and Pendennyss trusted his secret to Chatterton; he took him to + London, gave him in charge to Derwent, and returned to prosecute his own + suit. His note from Bolton Castle was a <i>ruse</i> to conceal his + character, as he knew the departure of the baronet's family to an hour, + and had so timed his visit to the earl as not to come in collision with + the Moseleys. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, my lord," cried the doctor to him one day, "your scheme goes on + swimmingly, and I am only afraid when your mistress discovers the + imposition, you will find your rank producing a different effect from what + you have apprehended." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLVI. + </h2> + <p> + But Dr. Ives was mistaken. Had he seen the sparkling eyes and glowing + cheeks of Miss Moseley, the smile of satisfaction and happiness which + played on the usually thoughtful face of Mrs. Wilson, when the earl handed + them into his own carriage, as they left his house on the evening of the + discovery, the doctor would have gladly acknowledged the failure of his + prognostics. In truth, there was no possible event that, under the + circumstances, could have given both aunt and niece such heartfelt + pleasure, as the knowledge that Denbigh and the earl were the same person. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss stood holding the door of the carriage in his hand, irresolute + how to act, when Mrs. Wilson said-- + </p> + <p> + "Surely, my lord, you sup with us." + </p> + <p> + "A thousand thanks, my dear madam, for the privilege," cried the earl, as + he sprang into the coach; the door was closed, and they drove off. + </p> + <p> + "After the explanations of this morning, my lord," said Mrs. Wilson, + willing to remove all doubts between him and Emily, and perhaps anxious to + satisfy her own curiosity, "it will be fastidious to conceal our desire to + know more of your movements. How came your pocket-book in the possession + of Mrs. Fitzgerald?" + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Fitzgerald!" cried Pendennyss, in astonishment "I lost the book in + one of the rooms of the Lodge, and supposed it had fallen into your hands, + and betrayed my disguise by Emily's rejection of me, and your own altered + eye. Was I mistaken then in both?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson now, for the first time, explained their real grounds for + refusing his offers, which, in the morning, she had loosely mentioned as + owing to a misapprehension of his just character, and recounted the manner + of the book falling into the hands of Mrs. Fitzgerald. + </p> + <p> + The earl listened in amazement, and after musing with himself, exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "I remember taking it from my pocket, to show Colonel Egerton some + singular plants I had gathered, and think I first missed it when returning + to the place where I had then laid it; in some of the side-pockets were + letters from Marian, addressed to me, properly; and I naturally thought + they had met your eye." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson and Emily immediately thought Egerton the real villain, who + had caused both themselves and Mrs. Fitzgerald so much uneasiness, and the + former mentioned her suspicions to the earl. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing more probable, dear madam," cried he, "and this explains to me + his startled looks when we first met, and his evident dislike to my + society, for he must have seen my person, though the carriage hid <i>him</i> + from my sight." + </p> + <p> + That Egerton was the wretch, and that through his agency the pocket-book + had been carried to the cottage, they all now agreed, and turned to more + pleasant subjects. + </p> + <p> + "Master!--here--master," said Peter Johnson, as he stood at a window of + Mr. Benfield's room, stirring a gruel for the old gentleman's supper, and + stretching his neck and straining his eyes to distinguish objects by the + light of the lamps--"I do think there is Mr. Denbigh, handing Miss Emmy + from a coach, covered with gold, and two footmen, all dizened with pride + like." + </p> + <p> + The spoon fell from the hands of Mr. Benfield. He rose briskly from his + seat, and adjusting his dress, took the arm of the steward, and proceeded + to the drawing-room. While these several movements were in operation, + which consumed some time, the old bachelor relieved the tedium of Peter's + impatience by the following speech:-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh!--what, back?--I thought he never could let that rascal John + shoot him and forsake Emmy after all; (here the old gentleman suddenly + recollected Denbigh's marriage) but now, Peter, it can do no good + either.--I remember, that when my friend the Earl of Gosford "--(and again + he was checked by the image of the card-table and the viscountess) "but, + Peter," he said with great warmth, "we can go down and see him, + notwithstanding." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh!" exclaimed Sir Edward, in astonishment, when he saw the + companion of his sister and child enter the drawing-room, "you are welcome + once more to your old friends: your sudden retreat from us gave us much + pain; but we suppose Lady Laura had too many attractions to allow us to + keep you any longer in Norfolk." + </p> + <p> + The good Baronet sighed, as he held out his hand to the man whom he had + once hoped to receive as a son. + </p> + <p> + "Neither Lady Laura nor any other lady, my dear Sir Edward," cried the + earl, as he took the baronet's hand, "drove me from you, but the frowns of + your own fair daughter; and here she is, ready to acknowledge her offence, + and, I hope, to atone for it." + </p> + <p> + John, who knew of the refusal of his sister, and was not a little + displeased with the cavalier treatment he had received at Denbigh's hands, + felt indignant at such improper levity in a married man, and approached + with-- + </p> + <p> + "Your servant, Mr. Denbigh--I hope my Lady Laura is well." + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss understood his look, and replied very gravely-- + </p> + <p> + "Your servant, Mr. John Moseley--my Lady Laura is, or certainly ought to + be, very well, as she has this moment gone to a rout, accompanied by her + husband." + </p> + <p> + The quick eye of John glanced from the earl to his aunt, to Emily; a + lurking smile was on all their features. The heightened color of his + sister, the flashing eyes of the young nobleman, the face of his aunt, all + told him that something uncommon was about to be explained; and, yielding + to his feelings, he caught the hand which Pendennyss extended to him, and + cried, + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh, I see--I feel--there is some unaccountable mistake--we are--" + </p> + <p> + "Brothers!" said the earl, emphatically. "Sir Edward--dear Lady Moseley, I + throw myself on your mercy. I am an impostor: when your hospitality + received me into your house, it is true you admitted George Denbigh, but + he is better known as the Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss!" exclaimed Lady Moseley, in a glow of delight, as + she saw at once through some juvenile folly a deception which promised + both happiness and rank to one of her children. "Is it possible, my dear + Charlotte, that this is your unknown friend?" + </p> + <p> + "The very same, Anne," replied the smiling widow, "and guilty of a folly + that, at all events, removes the distance between us a little, by showing + that he is subject to the failings of mortality. But the masquerade is + ended, and I hope you and Edward will not only treat him as an earl, but + receive him as a son." + </p> + <p> + "Most willingly--most willingly," cried the baronet, with great energy; + "be he prince, peer, or beggar, he is the preserver of my child, and as + such he is always welcome." + </p> + <p> + The door now slowly opened, and the venerable bachelor appeared on its + threshold. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss, who had never forgotten the good will manifested to him by Mr. + Benfield, met him with a look of pleasure, as he expressed his happiness + at seeing him again in London. + </p> + <p> + "I never have forgotten your goodness in sending honest Peter such a + distance from home, on the object of his visit. I now regret that a + feeling of shame occasioned my answering your kindness so laconically:" + turning to Mrs. Wilson, he added, "for a time I knew not how to write a + letter even, being afraid to sign my proper appellation, and ashamed to + use my adopted." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, I am happy to see you. I did send Peter, it is true, to + London, on a message to you--but it is all over now," the old man + sighed--"Peter, however, escaped the snares of this wicked place; and if + you are happy, I am content. I remember when the Earl of--" + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" exclaimed the other, "imposed on the hospitality of a worthy + man, under an assumed appellation, in order to pry into the character of a + lovely female, who was only too good for him, and who now is willing to + forget his follies, and make him not only the happiest of men, but the + nephew of Mr. Benfield." + </p> + <p> + During this speech, the countenance of Mr. Benfield had manifested evident + emotion: he looked from one to another, until he saw Mrs. Wilson smiling + near him. Pointing to the earl with his finger, he stood unable to speak, + as she answered simply,-- + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "And Emmy dear--will you--will you marry him?" cried Mr. Benfield, + suppressing his feelings, to give utterance to his question. + </p> + <p> + Emily felt for her uncle, and blushing deeply, with great frankness she + put her hand in that of the earl, who pressed it with rapture again and + again to his lips. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield sank into a chair, and with a heart softened by emotion, + burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," he cried, struggling with his feelings, "I am now ready to depart + in peace--I shall see my darling Emmy happy, and to her care I shall + commit you." + </p> + <p> + Emily, deeply affected with his love, threw herself into his arms, in a + torrent of tears, and was removed from them by Pendennyss, in + consideration for the feelings of both. + </p> + <p> + Jane felt no emotions of envy for her sister's happiness; on the contrary, + she rejoiced in common with the rest of their friends in her brightening + prospects, and they all took their seats at the supper table, as happy a + group as was contained in the wide circle of the metropolis. A few more + particulars served to explain the mystery sufficiently, until a more + fitting opportunity made them acquainted with the whole of the earl's + proceedings. + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Pendennyss," said Sir Edward, pouring out a glass of wine, and + passing the bottle to his neighbor: "I drink your health--and happiness to + yourself and my darling child." + </p> + <p> + The toast was drunk by all the family, and the earl replied to the + compliments with his thanks and smiles, while Emily could only notice them + with her blushes and tears. + </p> + <p> + But this was an opportunity not to be lost by the honest steward, who, + from affection and long services, had been indulged in familiarities + exceeding any other of his master's establishment. He very deliberately + helped himself to a glass of wine, and drawing near the seat of the + bride-elect, with an humble reverence, commenced his speech as follows: + </p> + <p> + "My dear Miss Emmy:--Here's hoping you'll live to be a comfort to your + honored father, and your honored mother, and my dear honored master, and + yourself, and Madam Wilson." The steward paused to clear his voice, and + profited by the delay to cast his eye round the table to collect the + names; "and Mr. John Moseley, and sweet Mrs. Moseley, and pretty Miss + Jane" (Peter had lived too long in the world to compliment one handsome + woman in the presence of another, without the qualifying his speech a + little); "and Mr. Lord Denbigh--earl like, as they say he now is, + and"--Peter stopped a moment to deliberate, and then making another + reference, he put the glass to his lips; but before he had got half + through its contents, recollected himself, and replenishing it to the + brim, with a smile acknowledging his forgetfulness, continued, "and the + Rev. Mr. Francis Ives, and the Rev. Mrs. Francis Ives." + </p> + <p> + Here the unrestrained laugh of John interrupted him; and considering with + himself that he had included the whole family, he finished his bumper. + Whether it was pleasure at his own eloquence in venturing on so long a + speech, or the unusual allowance, that affected the steward, he was + evidently much satisfied with himself, and stepped back behind his + master's chair, in great good humor. + </p> + <p> + Emily, as she thanked him, noticed a tear in the eye of the old man, as he + concluded his oration, that would have excused a thousand breaches of + fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat, and took him + kindly by the hand, and returned his own thanks for his good wishes. + </p> + <p> + "I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for, your two journeys in my + behalf, and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed + your last mission in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you--thank your honor's lordship," said the steward, almost unable + to utter; "I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss Emmy as + happy--as I know she ought to be." + </p> + <p> + "But really, my lord," cried John, observing that the steward's affection + for his sister had affected her to tears, "it was a singular circumstance, + the meeting of the four passengers of the stage so soon at your hotel." + </p> + <p> + Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company. + </p> + <p> + "Not so much so as you imagine," said the earl in reply; "yourself and + Johnson were in quest of me. Lord Henry Stapleton was under an engagement + to meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going to his + sister's wedding--I having arranged the thing with him by letter + previously; and General M'Carthy was also in search of me, on business + relating to his niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House, + and, through my servants, heard I was at an hotel. It was the first + interview between us, and not quite as amicable a one as has since been + had in Wales. During my service in Spain, I saw the Conde, but not the + general. The letter he gave me was from the Spanish ambassador, claiming a + right to require Mrs. Fitzgerald from our government, and deprecating my + using an influence to counteract his exertions"-- + </p> + <p> + "Which you refused," said Emily, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Not refused," answered the earl, smiling at her warmth, while he admired + her friendly zeal, "for it was unnecessary: there is no such power vested + in the ministry. But I explicitly told the general, I would oppose any + violent measures to restore her to her country and a convent. From the + courts, I apprehended nothing for my fair friend." + </p> + <p> + "Your honor--my lord," said Peter, who had been listening with great + attention, "if I may presume just to ask two questions, without offence." + </p> + <p> + "Say on, my good friend," said Pendennyss, with an encouraging smile. + </p> + <p> + "Only" continued the steward--hemming, to give proper utterance to his + thoughts--"I wish to know, whether you stayed in that same street after + you left the hotel--for Mr. John Moseley and I had a slight difference in + opinion about it." + </p> + <p> + The earl smiled, having caught the arch expression of John, and replied-- + </p> + <p> + "I believe I owe you an apology, Moseley, for my cavalier treatment; but + guilt makes us all cowards. I found you were ignorant of my incognito, and + I was equally ashamed to continue it, or to become the relater of my own + folly. Indeed," he continued, smiling on Emily as he spoke, "I thought + your sister had pronounced the opinion of all reflecting people on my + conduct. I went out of town, Johnson, at day-break. What is the other + query?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, my lord," said Peter, a little disappointed at finding his first + surmise untrue, "that outlandish tongue your honor used--" + </p> + <p> + "Was Spanish," cried the earl. + </p> + <p> + "And not Greek, Peter," said his master, gravely. "I thought, from the + words you endeavored to repeat to me, that you had made a mistake. You + need not be disconcerted, however, for I know several members of the + parliament of this realm who could not talk the Greek language, that is, + fluently. So it can be no disgrace to a serving-man to be ignorant of it." + </p> + <p> + Somewhat consoled to find himself as well off as the representatives of + his country, Peter resumed his station in silence, when the carriages + began to announce the return from the opera. The earl took his leave, and + the party retired to rest. + </p> + <p> + The thanksgivings of Emily that night, ere she laid her head on her + pillow, were the purest offering of mortal innocence. The prospect before + her was unsullied by a cloud and she poured out her heart in the fullest + confidence of pious love and heartfelt gratitude. + </p> + <p> + As early on the succeeding morning as good-breeding would allow, and much + earlier than the hour sanctioned by fashion, the earl and Lady Marian + stopped in the carriage of the latter at the door of Sir Edward Moseley. + Their reception was the most flattering that could be offered to people of + their stamp; sincere, cordial, and, with a trifling exception in Lady + Moseley, unfettered with any useless ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + Emily felt herself drawn to her new acquaintance with a fondness which + doubtless grew out of her situation with her brother; which soon found + reasons enough in the soft, lady-like, and sincere manners of Lady Marian, + to justify her attachment on her own account. + </p> + <p> + There was a very handsome suite of drawing-rooms in Sir Edward's house, + and the communicating doors were carelessly open. Curiosity to view the + furniture, or some such trifling reasons, induced the earl to find his way + into the one adjoining that in which the family were seated. It was + unquestionably a dread of being lost in a strange house, that induced him + to whisper a request to the blushing Emily, to be his companion; and + lastly, it must have been nothing but a knowledge that a vacant room was + easier viewed than one filled with company, that prevented any one from + following them. John smiled archly at Grace, doubtless in approbation of + the comfortable time his friend was likely to enjoy, in his musings on the + taste of their mother. How the door became shut, we have ever been at a + loss to imagine. + </p> + <p> + The company without were too good-natured and well satisfied with each + other to miss the absentees, until the figure of the earl appeared at the + reopened door, beckoning, with a face of rapture, to Lady Moseley and Mrs. + Wilson. Sir Edward next disappeared, then Jane, then Grace--then Marian; + until John began to think a tête-à-tête with Mr. + Benfield was to be his morning's amusement. + </p> + <p> + The lovely countenance of his wife, however, soon relieved his ennui, and + John's curiosity was gratified by an order to prepare for his sister's + wedding the following week. + </p> + <p> + Emily might have blushed more than common during this interview, but it is + certain she did not smile less; and the earl, Lady Marian assured Sir + Edward, was so very different a creature from what he had recently been, + that she could hardly think it was the same sombre gentleman with whom she + had passed the last few months in Wales and Westmoreland. + </p> + <p> + A messenger was dispatched for Dr. Ives and their friends at B----, to be + witnesses to the approaching nuptials; and Lady Moseley at length found an + opportunity of indulging her taste for splendor on this joyful occasion. + </p> + <p> + Money was no consideration; and Mr. Benfield absolutely pined at the + thought that the great wealth of the earl put it out of his power to + contribute in any manner to the comfort of his Emmy. However, a fifteenth + codicil was framed by the ingenuity of Peter and his master, and if it did + not contain the name of George Denbigh, it did that of his expected second + son, Roderick Benfield Denbigh, to the qualifying circumstance of twenty + thousand pounds, as a bribe for the name. + </p> + <p> + "And a very pretty child, I dare say, it will be," said the steward, as he + placed the paper in its repository. "I don't know that I ever saw, your + honor, a couple that I thought would make a handsomer pair like, except--" + Peter's mind dwelt on his own youthful form coupled with the smiling + graces of Patty Steele. + </p> + <p> + "Yes! they are as handsome as they are good!" replied his master. "I + remember now, when our Speaker took his third wife, the world said that + they were as pretty a couple as there was at court. But my Emma and the + earl will be a much finer pair. Oh! Peter Johnson; they are young, and + rich, and beloved; but, after all, it avails but little if they be not + good." + </p> + <p> + "Good!" cried the steward in astonishment; "they are as good as angels." + </p> + <p> + The master's ideas of human excellence had suffered a heavy blow in the + view of his viscountess, but he answered mildly, + </p> + <p> + "As good as mankind can well be." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLVII. + </h2> + <p> + The warm weather had now commenced; and Sir Edward, unwilling to be shut + up in London at a time the appearance of vegetation gave the country a new + interest, and accustomed for many years of his life to devote an hour in + his garden each morn, had taken a little ready furnished cottage a short + ride from his residence, with the intention of frequenting it until after + the birthday. Thither then Pendennyss took his bride from the altar, and a + few days were passed by the newly married pair in this little asylum. + </p> + <p> + Doctor Ives, with Francis, Clara, and their mother, had obeyed the summons + with an alacrity in proportion to the joy they felt on receiving it, and + the former had the happiness of officiating on the occasion. It would have + been easy for the wealth of the earl to procure a license to enable them + to marry in the drawing-room; the permission was obtained, but neither + Emily nor himself felt a wish to utter their vows in any other spot than + at the altar, and in the house of their Maker. + </p> + <p> + If there was a single heart that felt the least emotion of regret or + uneasiness, it was Lady Moseley, who little relished the retirement of the + cottage on so joyful an occasion; but Pendennyss silenced her objections + by good-humoredly replying-- + </p> + <p> + "The fates have been so kind to me, in giving me castles and seats, you + ought to allow me, my dear Lady Moseley, the only opportunity I shall + probably ever have of enjoying love in a cottage." + </p> + <p> + A few days, however, removed the uneasiness of the good matron, who had + the felicity within the week of seeing her daughter initiated mistress of + Annerdale House. + </p> + <p> + The morning of their return to this noble mansion the earl presented + himself in St. James's Square, with the intelligence of their arrival, and + smiling as he bowed to Mrs. Wilson, he continued-- + </p> + <p> + "And to escort you, dear madam, to your new abode." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson started with surprise, and with a heart beating quick with + emotion, she required an explanation of his words. + </p> + <p> + "Surely, dearest Mrs. Wilson--more than aunt--my mother--you cannot mean, + after having trained my Emily through infancy to maturity in the paths of + duty, to desert her in the moment of her greatest trial. I am the pupil of + your husband," he continued, taking her hands in his own with reverence + and affection; "we are the children of your joint care, and one home, as + there is but one heart, must in future contain us." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had wished for, but hardly dared to expect this invitation. It + was now urged from the right quarter, and in a manner that was as sincere + as it was gratifying. Unable to conceal her tears, the good widow pressed + the hand of Pendennyss to her lips as she murmured out her thanks. Sir + Edward was prepared also to lose his sister; but unwilling to relinquish + the pleasure of her society, he urged her making a common residence + between the two families. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss has spoken truth, my dear brother," cried she, recovering her + voice; "Emily is the child of my care and my love--the two beings I love + best in this world are now united--but," she added, pressing Lady Moseley + to her bosom, "my heart is large enough for you all; you are of my blood, + and my gratitude for your affection is boundless. There shall be but one + large family of us; and although our duties may separate us for a time, we + will, I trust, ever meet in tenderness and love, though with George and + Emily I will take up my abode." + </p> + <p> + "I hope your house in Northamptonshire is not to be vacant always," said + Lady Moseley to the earl, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "I have no house there, my dear madam," he replied; "when I thought myself + about to succeed in my suit before, I directed a lawyer at Bath, where Sir + William Harris resided most of his time, to endeavor to purchase the + deanery, whenever a good opportunity offered: in my discomfiture," he + added, smiling, "I forgot to countermand the order, and he purchased it + immediately on its being advertised. For a short time it was an + incumbrance to me, but it is now applied to its original purpose. It is + the sole property of the Countess of Pendennyss, and I doubt not you will + see it often and agreeably tenanted." + </p> + <p> + This intelligence gave great satisfaction to his friends, and the expected + summer restored to even Jane a gleam of her former pleasure. + </p> + <p> + If there be bliss in this life, approaching in any degree to the happiness + of the blessed, it is the fruition of long and ardent love, where youth, + innocence, piety, and family concord, smile upon the union. And all these + were united in the case of the new-married pair; but happiness in this + world cannot or does not, in any situation, exist without alloy. + </p> + <p> + The peace of mind and fortitude of Emily were fated to receive a blow, as + unlooked for to herself as it was unexpected to the world. Bonaparte + appeared in France, and Europe became in motion. + </p> + <p> + From the moment the earl heard the intelligence his own course was + decided. His regiment was the pride of the army, and that it would be + ordered to join the duke he did not entertain a doubt. + </p> + <p> + Emily was, therefore, in some little measure prepared for the blow. It is + at such moments as our own acts, or events affecting us, get to be without + our control, that faith in the justice and benevolence of God is the most + serviceable to the Christian. When others spend their time in useless + regrets he is piously resigned: it even so happens, that when others mourn + he can rejoice. + </p> + <p> + The sound of the bugle, wildly winding its notes, broke on the stillness + of the morning in the little village in which was situated the cottage + tenanted by Sir Edward Moseley. Almost concealed by the shrubbery which + surrounded its piazza, stood the forms of the Countess of Pendennyss and + her sister Lady Marian, watching eagerly the appearance of those whose + approach was thus announced. + </p> + <p> + The carriage of the ladies, with its idle attendants, was in waiting at a + short distance; and the pale face but composed resignation of its + mistress, indicated a struggle between conflicting duties. + </p> + <p> + File after file of heavy horse passed them in military pomp, and the + wistful gaze of the two females had scanned them in vain for the well + known, much-beloved countenance of the leader. At length a single horseman + approached them, riding deliberately and musing: their forms met his eye, + and in an instant Emily was pressed to the bosom of her husband. + </p> + <p> + "It is the doom of a soldier," said the earl, dashing a tear from his eye; + "I had hoped that the peace of the world would not again be assailed for + years, and that ambition and jealousy would yield a respite to our bloody + profession; but cheer up, my love--hope for the best--your trust is not in + the things of this life, and your happiness is without the power of man." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Pendennyss--my husband," sobbed Emily, sinking on his bosom, "take + with you my prayers--my love--everything that can console you--everything + that may profit you. I will not tell you to be careful of your life; your + duty teaches you that. As a soldier, expose it; as a husband guard it; and + return to me as you leave me, a lover, the dearest of men, and a + Christian." + </p> + <p> + Unwilling to prolong the pain of parting, the earl gave his wife a last + embrace, held Marian affectionately to his bosom, and mounting his horse, + was out of sight in an instant. + </p> + <p> + Within a few days of the departure of Pendennyss, Chatterton was surprised + with the entrance of his mother and Catharine. His reception of them was + that of a respectful child, and his wife exerted herself to be kind to + connexions she could not love, in order to give pleasure to a husband she + adored. Their tale was soon told. Lord and Lady Herriefield were + separated; and the dowager, alive to the dangers of a young woman in + Catharine's situation, and without a single principle on which to rest the + assurance of her blameless conduct in future, had brought her to England, + in order to keep off disgrace, by residing with her child herself. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing in his wife to answer the expectations with which Lord + Herriefield married. She had beauty, but with that he was already sated; + her simplicity, which, by having her attention drawn elsewhere, had at + first charmed him, was succeeded by the knowing conduct of a determined + follower of the fashions, and a decided woman of the world. + </p> + <p> + It had never struck the viscount as impossible that an artless and + innocent girl would fall in love with his faded and bilious face, but the + moment Catharine betrayed the arts of a manager, he saw at once the + artifice that had been practised; of course he ceased to love her. + </p> + <p> + Men are flattered for a season with notice that has been unsought, but it + never fails to injure the woman who practises it in the opinion of the + other sex, in time. Without a single feeling in common, without a regard + to anything but self, in either husband or wife, it could not but happen + that a separation must follow, or their days be spent in wrangling and + misery. Catharine willingly left her husband; her husband more willingly + got rid of her. + </p> + <p> + During all these movements the dowager had a difficult game to play. It + was unbecoming her to encourage the strife, and it was against her wishes + to suppress it; she therefore moralized with the peer, and frowned upon + her daughter. + </p> + <p> + The viscount listened to her truisms with the attention of a boy who is + told by a drunken father how wicked it is to love liquor, and heeded them + about as much; while Kate, mistress at all events of two thousand a year, + minded her mother's frowns as little as she regarded her smiles; both were + indifferent to her. + </p> + <p> + A few days after the ladies left Lisbon, the viscount proceeded to Italy + in company with the repudiated wife of a British naval officer; and if + Kate was not guilty of an offence of equal magnitude, it was more owing to + her mother's present vigilance than to her previous care. + </p> + <p> + The presence of Mrs. Wilson was a great source of consolation to Emily in + the absence of her husband; and as their longer abode in town was useless, + the countess declining to be presented without the earl, the whole family + decided upon a return into Northamptonshire. + </p> + <p> + The deanery had been furnished by order of Pendennyss immediately on his + marriage; and its mistress hastened to take possession of her new + dwelling. The amusement and occupation of this movement, the planning of + little improvements, her various duties under her increased + responsibilities, kept Emily from dwelling unduly upon the danger of her + husband. She sought out amongst the first objects of her bounty the + venerable peasant whose loss had been formerly supplied by Pendennyss on + his first visit to B----, after the death of his father. There might not + have been the usual discrimination and temporal usefulness in this + instance which generally accompanied her benevolent acts; but it was + associated with the image of her husband, and it could excite no surprise + in Mrs. Wilson, although it did in Marian, to see her sister driving two + or three times a week to relieve the necessities of a man who appeared + actually to be in want of nothing. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward was again amongst those he loved, and his hospitable board was + once more surrounded with the faces of his friends and neighbors. The + good-natured Mr. Haughton was always a welcome guest at the hall, and met, + soon after their return, the collected family of the baronet, at a dinner + given by the latter to his children and one or two of his most intimate + neighbors-- + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Pendennyss," cried Mr. Haughton, in the course of the afternoon, + "I have news from the earl, which I know it will do your heart good to + hear." + </p> + <p> + Emily smiled at the prospect of hearing in any manner of her husband, + although she internally questioned the probability of Mr. Haughton's + knowing anything of his movements, of which her daily letters did not + apprise her. + </p> + <p> + "Will you favor me with the particulars of your intelligence, sir?" said + the countess. + </p> + <p> + "He has arrived safe with his regiment near Brussels; heard it from a + neighbor's son who saw him enter the house occupied by Wellington, while + he was standing in the crowd without, waiting to get a peep at the duke." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said Mrs. Wilson with a laugh, "Emily knew that ten days ago. Could + your friend tell us anything of Bonaparte? We are much interested in his + movements just now." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Haughton, a good deal mortified to find his news stale, mused a + moment, as if in doubt to proceed or not; but liking of all things to act + the part of a newspaper, he continued-- + </p> + <p> + "Nothing more than you see in the prints; but I suppose your ladyship has + heard about Captain Jarvis too?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, no," said Emily, laughing; "the movements of Captain Jarvis are not + quite as interesting to me as those of Lord Pendennyss--has the duke made + him an aide-de-camp?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no," cried the other, exulting at his having something new: "as soon + as he heard of the return of Boney, he threw up his commission and got + married." + </p> + <p> + "Married!" cried John; "not to Miss Harris, surely." + </p> + <p> + "No; to a silly girl he met in Cornwall, who was fool enough to be caught + with his gold lace. He married one day, and the next told his disconsolate + wife and panic-stricken mother that the honor of the Jarvises must sleep + until the supporters of the name became sufficiently numerous to risk them + in the field of battle." + </p> + <p> + "And how did Mrs. Jarvis and Sir Timo's lady relish the news?" inquired + John, expecting something ridiculous. + </p> + <p> + "Not at all," rejoined Mr. Haughton; "the former sobbed, and said she had + only married him for his bravery and red coat, and the <i>lady</i> + exclaimed against the destruction of his budding honors." + </p> + <p> + "How did it terminate?" asked Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Why, it seems while they were quarrelling about it, the War-Office cut + the matter short by accepting his resignation, I suppose the + commander-in-chief had learned his character; but the matter was warmly + contested: they even drove the captain to a declaration of his + principles." + </p> + <p> + "And what kind of ones might they have been, Haughton?" said Sir Edward, + drily. + </p> + <p> + "Republican." + </p> + <p> + "Republican!" exclaimed two or three in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, liberty and equality, he contended, were his idols, and he could not + find it in his heart to fight against Bonaparte." + </p> + <p> + "A somewhat singular conclusion," said Mr. Benfield, musing. "I remember + when I sat in the House, there was a party who were fond of the cry of + this said liberty; but when they got the power they did not seem to me to + suffer people to go more at large than they went before; but I suppose + they were diffident of telling the world their minds after they were put + in such responsible stations, for fear of the effect of example." + </p> + <p> + "Most people like liberty as servants but not as masters, uncle," cried + John, with a sneer. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis, it seems, liked it as a preservative against danger," + continued Mr. Haughton; "to avoid ridicule in his new neighborhood, he has + consented to his father's wishes, and turned merchant in the city again." + </p> + <p> + "Where I sincerely hope he will remain," cried John, who since the + accident of the arbor, could not tolerate the unfortunate youth. + </p> + <p> + "Amen!" said Emily, in an under tone, heard only by her brother. + </p> + <p> + "But Sir Timo--what has become of Sir Timo--the good, honest merchant?" + asked John. + </p> + <p> + "He has dropt the title, insists on being called plain Mr. Jarvis, and + lives entirely in Cornwall. His hopeful son-in-law has gone with his + regiment to Flanders; and Lady Egerton, being unable to live without her + father's assistance, is obliged to hide her consequence in the west also." + </p> + <p> + The subject became now disagreeable to Lady Moseley, and it was changed. + Such conversations made Jane more reserved and dissatisfied than ever. She + had no one respectable excuse to offer for her partiality to her former + lover, and when her conscience told her the mortifying fact, was apt to + think that others remembered it too. + </p> + <p> + The letters from the continent now teemed with preparations for the + approaching contest; and the apprehensions of our heroine and her friends + increased, in proportion to the nearness of the struggle, on which hung + not only the fates of thousands of individuals, but of adverse princes and + mighty empires. In this confusion of interests, and of jarring of + passions, there were offered prayers almost hourly for the safety of + Pendennyss, which were as pure and ardent as the love which prompted them. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLVIII. + </h2> + <p> + Napoleon had commenced those daring and rapid movements, which for a time + threw the peace of the world into the scale of fortune, and which nothing + but the interposition of a ruling Providence could avert from their + threatened success. As the the ----th dragoons wheeled into a field + already deluged with English blood, on the heights of Quatre Bras, the eye + of its gallant colonel saw a friendly battalion falling beneath the sabres + of the enemy's cuirassiers. The word was passed, the column opens, the + sounds of the quivering bugle were heard for a moment above the roar of + the cannon and the shouts of the combatants; the charge, sweeping like a + whirlwind, fell heavily on those treacherous Frenchmen, who to-day had + sworn fidelity to Louis, and to-morrow intended lifting their hands in + allegiance to his rival. + </p> + <p> + "Spare my life in mercy," cried an officer, already dreadfully wounded, + who stood shrinking from the impending blow of an enraged Frenchman. An + English dragoon dashed at the cuirassier, and with one blow severed his + arm from his body. + </p> + <p> + "Thank God," sighed the wounded officer, sinking beneath the horse's feet. + </p> + <p> + His rescuer threw himself from the saddle, and raising the fallen man + inquired into his wounds. It was Pendennyss, and it was Egerton. The + wounded man groaned aloud, as he saw the face of him who had averted the + fatal blow; but it was not the hour for explanations or confessions, other + than those with which the dying soldiers endeavored to make their tardy + peace with their God. + </p> + <p> + Sir Henry was given in charge to two slightly wounded British soldiers, + and the earl remounted: the scattered troops were rallied at the sound of + the trumpet, and again and again, led by their dauntless colonel, were + seen in the thickest of the fray, with sabres drenched in blood, and + voices hoarse with the shouts of victory. + </p> + <p> + The period between the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo was a trying + one to the discipline and courage of the British army. The discomfited + Prussians on their flank had been routed and compelled to retire, and in + their front was an enemy, brave, skilful, and victorious, led by the + greatest captain of the age. The prudent commander of the English forces + fell back with dignity and reluctance to the field of Waterloo; here the + mighty struggle was to terminate, and the eye of every experienced soldier + looked on those eminences as on the future graves for thousands. + </p> + <p> + During this solemn interval of comparative inactivity the mind of + Pendennyss dwelt on the affection, the innocence, the beauty and worth of + his Emily, until the curdling blood, as he thought on her lot should his + life be the purchase of the coming victory, warned him to quit the gloomy + subject, for the consolations of that religion which only could yield him + the solace his wounded feelings required. In his former campaigns the earl + had been sensible of the mighty changes of death, and had ever kept in + view the preparations necessary to meet it with hope and joy; but the + world clung around him now, in the best affections of his nature, and it + was only as he could picture the happy reunion with his Emily in a future + life, that he could look on a separation in this without despair. + </p> + <p> + The vicinity of the enemy admitted of no relaxation in the strictest + watchfulness in the British lines: and the comfortless night of the + seventeenth was passed by the earl, and his Lieutenant Colonel, George + Denbigh, on the same cloak, and under the open canopy of Heaven. + </p> + <p> + As the opening cannon of the enemy gave the signal for the commencing + conflict, Pendennyss mounted his charger with a last thought on his + distant wife. With a mighty struggle he tore her as it were from his + bosom, and gave the remainder of the day to duty. + </p> + <p> + Who has not heard of the events of that fearful hour, on which the fate of + Europe hung as it were suspended in the scale? On one side supported by + the efforts of desperate resolution, guided by the most consummate art; + and on the other defended by a discipline and enduring courage almost + without a parallel. + </p> + <p> + The indefatigable Blucher arrived, and the star of Napoleon sank. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss threw himself from his horse, on the night of the eighteenth of + June, as he gave way by orders, in the pursuit, to the fresher battalions + of the Prussians, with the languor that follows unusual excitement, and + mental thanksgivings that this bloody work was at length ended. The image + of his Emily again broke over the sterner feelings of the battle, like the + first glimmerings of light which succeed the awful darkness of the eclipse + of the sun: and he again breathed freely, in the consciousness of the + happiness which would await his speedy return. + </p> + <p> + "I am sent for the colonel of the ----th dragoons," said a courier in + broken English to a soldier, near where the earl lay on the ground, + waiting the preparations of his attendants "have I found the right + regiment, my friend?" + </p> + <p> + "To be sure you have," answered the man, without looking up from his toil + on his favorite animal, "you might have tracked us by the dead Frenchmen, + I should think. So you want my lord, my lad, do you? do we move again + to-night?" suspending his labor for a moment in expectation of a reply. + </p> + <p> + "Not to my knowledge," rejoined the courier; "my message is to your + colonel, from a dying man. Will you point out his station?" + </p> + <p> + The soldier complied, the message was soon delivered, and Pendennyss + prepared to obey its summons immediately. Preceded by the messenger as a + guide, and followed by Harmer, the earl retraced his steps over that + ground on which he had but a few hours before been engaged in the deadly + strife of man to man, hand to hand. + </p> + <p> + How different is the contemplation of a field of battle during and after + the conflict! The excitement, suspended success, shouts, uproar, and + confusion of the former, prevent any contemplation of the nicer parts of + this confused mass of movements, charges, and retreats; or if a brilliant + advance is made, a masterly retreat effected, the imagination is chained + by the splendor and glory of the act, without resting for a moment on the + sacrifice of individual happiness with which it is purchased. A + battle-ground from which the whirlwind of the combat has passed, presents + a different sight; it offers the very consummation of human misery. + </p> + <p> + There may occasionally be an individual, who from station, distempered + mind, or the encouragement of chimerical ideas of glory, quits the theatre + of life with at least the appearance of pleasure in his triumphs. If such + there be in reality, if this rapture of departing glory be anything more + than the deception of a distempered excitement, the subject of its + exhibition is to be greatly pitied. To the Christian, dying in peace with + both God and man, can it alone be ceded in the eye of reason, to pour out + his existence with a smile on his quivering lip. + </p> + <p> + And the warrior, who falls in the very arms of victory, after passing a + life devoted to the world; even, if he sees kingdoms hang suspended on his + success, may smile indeed, may utter sentiments full of loyalty and zeal, + may be the admiration of the world, and what is his reward? a deathless + name, and an existence of misery, which knows no termination. + </p> + <p> + Christianity alone can make us good soldiers in any cause, for he who + knows how to live, is always the least afraid to die. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss and his companions pushed their way over the ground occupied + before the battle by the enemy; descended into and through that little + valley, in which yet lay, in undistinguished confusion, masses of the dead + and dying of either side; and again over the ridge, on which could be + marked the situation of those gallant squares which had so long resisted + the efforts of the horse and artillery by the groups of bodies, fallen + where they had bravely stood, until even the callous Harmer sickened with + the sight of a waste of life that he had but a few hours before exultingly + contributed to increase. + </p> + <p> + Appeals to their feelings as they rode through the field had been + frequent, and their progress was much retarded by attempts to contribute + to the ease of a wounded or a dying man; but as the courier constantly + urged speed, as the only means of securing the object of their ride, these + halts were reluctantly abandoned. + </p> + <p> + It was ten o'clock before they reached the farm-house, where, in the midst + of hundreds of his countrymen, lay the former lover of Jane. + </p> + <p> + As the subject of his confession must be anticipated by the reader, we + will give a short relation of his life, and of those acts which more + materially affect our history. + </p> + <p> + Henry Egerton had been turned early on the world, hundreds of his + countrymen, without any principle to counteract the arts of infidelity, or + resist the temptations of life. His father held a situation under + government, and was devoted to his rise in the diplomatic line. His mother + was a woman of fashion, who lived for effect and idle competition with her + sisters in weakness and folly. All he learnt in his father's house was + selfishness, from the example of one, and a love of high life and its + extravagance from the other. + </p> + <p> + He entered the army young, and from choice. The splendor and reputation of + the service caught his fancy; and, by pride and constitution, he was + indifferent to personal danger. Yet he loved London and its amusements + better than glory; and the money of his uncle, Sir Edgar, whose heir he + was reputed to be, raised him to the rank of lieutenant colonel, without + his spending an hour in the field. + </p> + <p> + Egerton had some abilities, and a good deal of ardor of temperament, by + nature. The former, from indulgence and example, degenerated into + acquiring the art to please in mixed society; and the latter, from want of + employment, expended itself at the card table. + </p> + <p> + The association between the vices is intimate. There really appears to be + a kind of modesty in sin that makes it ashamed of good company. If we are + unable to reconcile a favorite propensity to our principles, we are apt to + abandon the unpleasant restraint on our actions, rather than admit the + incongruous mixture. Freed entirely from the fetters of our morals, what + is there that our vices will not prompt us to commit? Egerton, like + thousands of others, went on from step to step, until he found himself in + the world; free to follow all his inclinations, so he violated none of the + decencies of life. + </p> + <p> + When in Spain, in his only campaign, he was accidentally, as has been + mentioned, thrown in the way of the Donna Julia, and brought her off the + ground under the influence of natural sympathy and national feeling; a + kind of merit that makes vice only more dangerous, by making it sometimes + amiable. He had not seen his dependant long before her beauty, situation, + and his passions decided him to effect her ruin. + </p> + <p> + This was an occupation that his figure, manners, and propensities had made + him an adept in, and nothing was further from his thoughts than the + commission of any other than the crime that, according to his code, a + gentleman might be guilty of with impunity. + </p> + <p> + It is, however, the misfortune of sin, that from being our slave it + becomes a tyrant; and Egerton attempted what in other countries, and where + the laws ruled, might have cost him his life. + </p> + <p> + The conjecture of Pendennyss was true. He saw the face of the officer who + interposed between him and his villanous attempt, but was hid himself from + view. He aimed not at his life, but at his own escape. Happily his first + shot succeeded, for the earl would have been sacrificed to preserve the + character of a man of honor; though no one was more regardless of the + estimation he was held in by the virtuous than Colonel Egerton. + </p> + <p> + In pursuance of his plans on Mrs. Fitzgerald, the colonel had sedulously + avoided admitting any of his companions into the secret of his having a + female in his care. + </p> + <p> + When he left the army to return home, he remained until a movement of the + troops to a distant part of the country enabled him to effect his own + purposes, without incurring their ridicule; and when he found himself + obliged to abandon his vehicle for a refuge in the woods, the fear of + detection made him alter his course; and under the pretence of wishing to + be in a battle about to be fought, he secretly rejoined the army, and the + gallantry of Colonel Egerton was mentioned in the next despatches. + </p> + <p> + Sir Herbert Nicholson commanded the advanced guard, at which the earl + arrived with the Donna Julia; and like every other brave man (unless + guilty himself) was indignant at the villany of the fugitive. The + confusion and enormities daily practised in the theatre of the war + prevented any close inquiries into the subject, and circumstances had so + enveloped Egerton in mystery, that nothing but an interview with the lady + herself was likely to expose him. + </p> + <p> + With Sir Herbert Nicholson, he had been in habits of intimacy, and on that + gentleman's alluding in a conversation in the barracks at F---- to the + lady brought into his quarters before Lisbon, he accidentally omitted + mentioning the name of her rescuer. Egerton had never before heard the + transaction spoken of, and as he had of course never mentioned the subject + himself, was ignorant who had interfered between him and his views; also + of the fate of Donna Julia; indeed, he thought it probable that it had not + much improved by a change of guardians. + </p> + <p> + In coming into Northamptonshire he had several views; he wanted a + temporary retreat from his creditors. Jarvis had an infant fondness for + play, without an adequate skill, and the money of the young ladies, in his + necessities, was becoming of importance; but the daughters of Sir Edward + Moseley were of a description more suited to his taste, and their portions + were as ample as the others. He had become in some degree attached to + Jane; and as her imprudent parents, satisfied with his possessing the + exterior and requisite recommendations of a gentleman admitted his visits + freely, he determined to make her his wife. + </p> + <p> + When he met Denbigh the first time, he saw that chance had thrown him in + the way of a man who might hold his character in his power. He had never + seen him as Pendennyss, and, it will be remembered, was ignorant of the + name of Julia's friend: he now learnt for the first time that it was + Denbigh. Uneasy at he knew not what, fearful of some exposure he knew not + how, when Sir Herbert alluded to the occurrence, with a view to rebut the + charge, if Denbigh should choose to make one, and with the + near-sightedness of guilt, he pretended to know the occurrence, and under + the promise of secresy, mentioned that the name of the officer was + Denbigh. He had noticed Denbigh avoiding Sir Herbert at the ball; and + judging others from himself, thought it was a wish to avoid any allusions + to the lady he had brought into the other's quarters that induced the + measure; for he was in hopes that if Denbigh was not as guilty as himself, + he was sufficiently so to wish to keep the transaction from the eyes of + Emily. He was, however, prepared for an explosion or an alliance with him, + when the sudden departure of Sir Herbert removed the danger of a + collision. Believing at last that they were to be brothers-in-law, and + mistaking the earl for his cousin, whose name he bore, Egerton became + reconciled to the association; while Pendennyss, having in his absence + heard, on inquiring, some of the vices of the colonel, was debating with + himself whether he should expose them to Sir Edward or not. + </p> + <p> + It was in their occasional interchange of civilities that Pendennyss + placed his pocket-book upon a table, while he exhibited the plants to the + colonel: the figure of Emily passing the window drew him from the room, + and Egerton having ended his examination, observing the book, put it in + his own pocket, to return it to its owner when they next met. + </p> + <p> + The situation, name, and history of Mrs. Fitzgerald were never mentioned + by the Moseleys in public; but Jane, in the confidence of her affections, + had told her lover who the inmate of the cottage was. The idea of her + being kept there by Denbigh immediately occurred to him, and although he + was surprised at the audacity of the thing, he was determined to profit by + the occasion. + </p> + <p> + To pay this visit, he stayed away from the excursion on the water, as + Pendennyss had done to avoid his friend, Lord Henry Stapleton. An excuse + of business, which served for his apology, kept the colonel from seeing + Denbigh to return the book, until after his visit to the cottage. His + rhapsody of love, and offers to desert his intended wife, were nothing but + the common-place talk of his purposes; and his presumption in alluding to + his situation with Miss Moseley, proceeded from his impressions as to + Julia's real character. In the struggle for the bell, the pocket-book of + Denbigh accidentally fell from his coat, and the retreat of the colonel + was too precipitate to enable him to recover it. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald was too much alarmed to distinguish nicely, and Egerton + proceeded to the ball-room with the indifference of a hardened offender. + When the arrival of Miss Jarvis, to whom he had committed himself, + prompted him to a speedy declaration, and the unlucky conversation of Mr. + Holt brought about a probable detection of his gaming propensities, the + colonel determined to get rid of his awkward situation and his debts by a + coup-de-main. He accordingly eloped with Miss Jarvis. + </p> + <p> + What portion of the foregoing narrative made the dying confession of + Egerton to the man he had so lately discovered to be the Earl of + Pendennyss, the reader can easily imagine. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLIX. + </h2> + <p> + The harvest had been gathered, and the beautiful vales of Pendennyss were + shooting forth a second crop of verdure. The husbandman was turning his + prudent forethought to the promises of the coming year, while the castle + itself exhibited to the gaze of the wondering peasant a sight of + cheerfulness and animation which had not been seen in it since the days of + the good duke. Its numerous windows were opened to the light of the sun, + its halls teemed with the faces of its happy inmates. Servants in various + liveries were seen gliding through its magnificent apartments and + multiplied passages. Horses, grooms, and carriages, with varied costumes + and different armorial bearings, crowded its spacious stables and offices. + Everything spoke society, splendor, and activity without; everything + denoted order, propriety, and happiness within. + </p> + <p> + In a long range of spacious apartments were grouped in the pursuit of + their morning employments, or in arranging their duties and pleasures of + the day, the guests and owners of the princely abode. + </p> + <p> + In one room was John Moseley, carefully examining the properties of some + flints which were submitted to his examination by his attending servant; + while Grace, sitting at his side, playfully snatches the stones from his + hand, as she cries half reproachfully, half tenderly--- + </p> + <p> + "You must not devote yourself to your gun so incessantly, Moseley; it is + cruel to kill inoffensive birds for your amusement only." + </p> + <p> + "Ask Emily's cook, and Mr. Haughton's appetite," said John, coolly + extending his hand towards her for the flint--"whether no one is gratified + but myself. I tell you, Grace, I seldom fire in vain." + </p> + <p> + "That only makes the matter worse; the slaughter you commit is dreadful." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried John, with a laugh, "the ci-devant Captain Jarvis is a + sportsman to your mind. He would shoot a month without moving a feather; + he was a great friend to," throwing an arch look to his solitary sister, + who sat on a sofa at a distance perusing a book, "Jane's feathered + songsters." + </p> + <p> + "But now, Mosely," said Grace, yielding the flints, but gently retaining + the hand that took them, "Pendenyss and Chatterton intend driving their + wives, like good husbands, to see the beautiful waterfall in the + mountains; and what am I to do this long tedious morning?" + </p> + <p> + John stole an enquiring glance, to see if his wife was very anxious to + join the party--cast one look of regret on a beautiful agate that he had + selected, and inquired-- + </p> + <p> + "Do you wish to go very much, Mrs. Mosely?" + </p> + <p> + "Indeed--indeed I do," said the other, eagerly, "if--" + </p> + <p> + "If what?" + </p> + <p> + "You will drive me?" continued she, with a cheek slightly tinged with + color. + </p> + <p> + "Well, then," answered John, with deliberation, and regarding his wife + with affection "I will go on one condition." + </p> + <p> + "Name it!" cried Grace, with still increasing color. + </p> + <p> + "That you will not expose your health again in going to the church on a + Sunday, if it rains." + </p> + <p> + "The carriage is so close, Mosely," answered Grace, with a paler cheek + than beforehand eyes fixed on the carpet, "it is impossible I can take + cold: you see the earl, and countess, and aunt Wilson never miss public + worship, when possibly within their power." + </p> + <p> + "The earl goes with his wife; but what becomes of poor me at such times!" + said John, taking her hand and pressing it kindly. "I like to hear a good + sermon, but not in bad weather. You must consent to oblige me, who only + live in your presence." + </p> + <p> + Grace smiled faintly, as John, pursuing the point, said--"What do you say + to my condition?" + </p> + <p> + "Well then, if you wish," replied Graces without the look of gaiety her + hopes had first inspired, "I will not go if it rain." + </p> + <p> + John ordered his phaeton, and his wife went to her room to prepare for the + trip, and to regret her own resolution. + </p> + <p> + In, the recess of a window, in which bloomed a profusion of exotics, stood + the figure of Lady Marian Denbigh, playing with a half-blown rose of the + richest colors; and before her, leaning against the angle of the wall, + stood her kinsman the Duke of Derwent. + </p> + <p> + "You heard the plan at the breakfast table," said his Grace, "to visit the + little falls in the hills. But I suppose you have seen them too often to + undergo the fatigue?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no! I love that ride dearly, and should wish to accompany the countess + in her first visit to it. I had half a mind to ask George to take me in + his phaeton." + </p> + <p> + "My curricle would be honored with the presence of Lady Marian Denbigh," + cried the duke with animation, "if, she would accept me for her knight on + the occasion." + </p> + <p> + Marian bowed an assent, in evident satisfaction, as the duke proceeded-- + </p> + <p> + "But if you take me as your knight I should wear your ladyship's colors;" + and he held out his hand towards the budding rose. Lady Marian hesitated a + moment--looked out at the prospect--up at the wall--turned, and wondered + where her brother was; and still finding the hand of the duke extended, + while his eye rested on her in admiration, she gave him the boon with a + cheek that vied with the richest tints of the flower. They separated to + prepare, and it was on their return from the falls that the duke seemed + uncommonly gay and amusing, and the lady silent with her tongue, though + her eyes danced in every direction but towards her cousin. + </p> + <p> + "Really, my dear Lady Mosely," said the dowager, as, seated by the side of + her companion, her eyes roved over the magnificence within, and widely + extended domains without--"Emily is well established indeed--better even + than my Grace." + </p> + <p> + "Grace has an affectionate husband," replied the other, gravely, "and one + that I hope will make her happy." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no doubt happy!" said Lady Chatterton, hastily: "but they say Emily + has a jointure of twelve thousand a year--by-the-by," she added, in a low + tone, though no one was near enough to hear what she said, "could not the + earl have settled Lumley Castle on her instead of the deanery?" + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word I never think of such gloomy subjects as provisions for + widowhood," cried Lady Mosely: "you have been in Annerdale House--is it + not a princely mansion?" + </p> + <p> + "Princely, indeed," rejoined the dowager, sighing: "don't the earl intend + increasing the rents of this estate as the leases fall in? I am told they + are very low now!" + </p> + <p> + "I believe not," said the other. "He has enough, and is willing others + should prosper. But there is Clara, with her little boy--is he not a + lovely child?" cried the grandmother, rising to take the infant in her + arms. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! excessively beautiful!" said the dowager, looking the other way, and + observing Catharine making a movement towards Lord Henry Stapleton, she + called to her. "Lady Herriefield--come this way, my dear--I wish to speak + to you." + </p> + <p> + Kate obeyed with a sullen pout of her pretty lip, and entered into some + idle discussion about a cap, though her eyes wandered round the rooms in + listless vacancy. + </p> + <p> + The dowager had the curse of bad impressions in youth to contend with, and + labored infinitely harder now to make her daughter act right, than + formerly she had ever done to make her act wrong. + </p> + <p> + "Here! uncle Benfield," cried Emily, with a face glowing with health and + animation, as she approached his seat with a glass in her hands. "Here is + the negus you wished; I have made it myself, and you will praise it of + course." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! my dear Lady Pendennyss," said the old gentleman, rising politely + from his seat to receive the beverage: "you are putting yourself to a + great deal of trouble for an old bachelor like me; too much indeed, too + much." + </p> + <p> + "Old bachelors are sometimes more esteemed than young one," cried the earl + gaily, joining them in time to hear this speech. "Here is my friend, Mr. + Peter Johnson; who knows when we may dance at his wedding?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord, and my lady, and my honored master," said Peter gravely, in + reply, bowing respectfully where he stood, waiting to take his master's + glass--"I am past the age to think of a wife: I am seventy-three coming + next 'lammas, counting by the old style." + </p> + <p> + "What do you intend to do with your three hundred a year," said Emily with + a smile, "unless you bestow it on some good woman, for making the evening + of your life comfortable?' + </p> + <p> + "My lady--hem--my lady," said the steward, blushing, "I had a little + thought, with your kind ladyship's consent, as I have no relations, chick + or child in the world, what to do with it." + </p> + <p> + "I should be happy to hear your plan," said the countess, observing that + the steward was anxious to communicate something. + </p> + <p> + "Why, my lady, if my lord and my honored master's agreeable, I did think + of making another codicil to master's will in order to dispose of it." + </p> + <p> + "Your master's will," said the earl laughing; "why not to your own, good + Peter?" + </p> + <p> + "My honored lord," said the steward, with great humility, "it don't become + a poor serving-man like me to make a will." + </p> + <p> + "But how will you prove it?" said the earl, kindly, willing to convince + him of his error; "you must be both dead to prove it." + </p> + <p> + "Our wills," said Peter, gulping his words, "will be proved on the same + day." + </p> + <p> + His master looked round at him with great affection, and both the earl and + Emily were too much struck to say anything. Peter had, however, the + subject too much at heart to abandon it, just as he had broken the ice. He + anxiously wished for the countess's consent to the scheme, for he would + not affront her, even after he was dead. + </p> + <p> + "My lady--Miss Emmy," said Johnson, eagerly, "my plan is, if my honored + master's agreeable--to make a codicil, and give my mite to a little--Lady + Emily Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Peter, you and uncle Benfield are both too good," cried Emily, + laughing and blushing, as she hastened to Clara and her mother. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, thank you," cried the delighted earl, following his wife with + his eyes, and shaking the steward cordially by the hand; "and, if no + better expedient be adopted by us, you have full permission to do as you + please with your money. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said his master to him in a low tone, "you should never speak of + such things prematurely; now I remember when the Earl of Pendennyss, my + nephew, was first presented to me, I was struck with the delicacy and + propriety of his demeanor, and the Lady Pendennyss, my niece, too; you + never see any thing forward, or--Ah! Emmy, dear," said the old man, + tenderly interrupting himself, "you are too good to remember your old + uncle," taking one of the fine peaches she handed him from a plate. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Mr. Haughton to the earl, "Mrs. Ives and myself have had a + contest about the comforts of matrimony; she insists she may be quite as + happy at Bolton Parsonage as in this noble castle, and with this rich + prospect in view." + </p> + <p> + "I hope," said Francis, "you are not teaching my wife to be discontented + with her humble lot--if so, both hers and your visit will be an unhappy + one." + </p> + <p> + "It would be no easy task, if our good friend intended any such thing by + his jests," said Clara, smiling. "I know my true interests, I trust, too + well, to wish to change my fortune." + </p> + <p> + "You are right," said Pendennyss; "it is wonderful how little our + happiness depends on a temporal condition. When here, or at Lumley Castle, + surrounded by my tenantry, there are, I confess, moments of weakness, in + which the loss of my wealth or rank would be missed greatly; but when on + service, subjected to great privations, and surrounded by men superior to + me in military rank, who say unto me--go, and I go--come, and I come--I + find my enjoyments intrinsically the same." + </p> + <p> + "That," said Francis, "may be owing to your Lordship's tempered feelings, + which have taught you to look beyond this world for pleasures and + consolation." + </p> + <p> + "It has, doubtless, an effect," said the earl, "but there is no truth of + which I am more fully persuaded, than that our happiness here does not + depend upon our lot in life, so we are not suffering for necessaries--even + changes bring less real misery than they are supposed to do." + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless," cried Mr. Haughton, "under the circumstances, I would not + wish to change even with your lordship--unless, indeed," he continued, + with a smile and bow to the countess, "it were the temptation of your + lovely wife." + </p> + <p> + "You are quite polite," said Emily laughing, "but I have no desire to + deprive Mrs. Haughton of a companion she has made out so well with these + twenty years past." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Thirty</i>, my lady, if you please." + </p> + <p> + "And thirty more, I hope," continued Emily, as a servant announced the + several carriages at the door. The younger part of the company now + hastened to their different engagements, and Chatterton handed Harriet; + John, Grace; and Pendennyss, Emily, into their respective carriages; the + duke and Lady Marian following, but at some little distance from the rest + of the party. + </p> + <p> + As the earl drove from the door, the countess looked up to a window, at + which were standing her aunt and Doctor Ives. She kissed her hand to them, + with a face, in which glowed the mingled expression of innocence, love, + and joy. + </p> + <p> + Before leaving the Park, the party passed Sir Edward; with his wife + leaning on one arm and Jane on the other, pursuing their daily walk. The + baronet followed the carriages with his eyes, and exchanged looks of the + fondest love with his children, as they drove slowly and respectfully by + him; and if the glance which followed on Jane, did not speak equal + pleasure, it surely denoted its proper proportion of paternal love. + </p> + <p> + "You have much reason to congratulate yourself on the happy termination of + your labors," said the doctor, with a smile, to the widow; "Emily is + placed, so far as human foresight can judge, in the happiest of all + stations a female can be in: she is the pious wife of a pious husband, + beloved, and deserving of it." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Mrs. Wilson, drawing back from following the phaeton with her + eyes, "they are as happy as this world will admit, and, what is better, + they are well prepared to meet any reverse of fortune which may occur, as + well as to discharge the duties on which they have entered. I do not + think," continued she, musing, "that Pendennyss can ever doubt the + affections of such a woman as Emily." + </p> + <p> + "I should think not" said the doctor, "but what can excite such a thought + in your breast, and one so much to the prejudice of George?" + </p> + <p> + "The only unpleasant thing I have ever observed in him," said Mrs. Wilson + gravely, "is the suspicion which induced him to adopt the disguise in + which he entered our family." + </p> + <p> + "He did not adopt it, madam--- chance and circumstances drew it around him + accidentally; and when you consider the peculiar state of his mind from + the discovery of his mother's misconduct--his own great wealth and rank--- + it is not so surprising that he should yield to a deception, rather + harmless than injurious." + </p> + <p> + "Dr. Ives," said Mrs. Wilson, "is not wont to defend deceit." + </p> + <p> + "Nor do I now, madam;" replied the doctor with a smile; "I acknowledge the + offence of George, myself, wife, and son. I remonstrated at the time upon + principle; I said the end would not justify the means; that a departure + from ordinary rules of propriety was at all times dangerous, and seldom + practised with impunity." + </p> + <p> + "And you failed to convince your hearers," cried Mrs. Wilson, gaily; "a + novelty in your case, my good rector." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you for the compliment," said the doctor; "I did convince them as + to the truth of the principle, but the earl contended that his case might + make an innocent exception. He had the vanity to think, I believe, that by + concealing his real name, he injured himself more than any one else, and + got rid of the charge in some such way. He is however, thoroughly + convinced of the truth of the position, by practice; his sufferings, + growing out of the mistake of his real character, and which could not have + happened had he appeared in proper person, having been greater than he is + ready to acknowledge." + </p> + <p> + "If they study the fate of the Donna Julia, and his own weakness," said + the widow, "they will have a salutary moral always at hand, to teach them + the importance of two cardinal virtues at least--obedience and truth." + </p> + <p> + "Julia has suffered much," replied the doctor; "and although she has + returned to her father, the consequences of her imprudence are likely to + continue. When once the bonds of mutual confidence and respect are broken, + they may be partially restored, it is true, but never with a warmth and + reliance such as existed previously. To return, however, to yourself, do + you not feel a sensation of delight at the prosperous end of your + exertions in behalf of Emily?" + </p> + <p> + "It is certainly pleasant to think we have discharged our duties, and the + task is much easier than we are apt to suppose," said Mrs. Wilson; "it is + only to commence the foundation, so that it will be able to support the + superstructure. I have endeavored to make Emily a Christian. I have + endeavored to form such a taste and principles in her, that she would not + be apt to admire an improper suitor and I have labored to prepare her to + discharge her continued duties through life, in such a manner and with + such a faith, as under the providence of God will result in happiness far + exceeding anything she now enjoys. In all these, by the blessing of + Heaven, I have succeeded, and had occasion offered, I would have assisted + her inexperience through the more delicate decisions of her sex, though in + no instance would I attempt to control them." + </p> + <p> + "You are right, my dear madam," said the doctor, taking her kindly by the + hand, "and had I a daughter, I would follow a similar course. Give her + delicacy, religion, and a proper taste, aided by the unseen influence of a + prudent parent's care, and the chances of a woman for happiness would be + much greater than they are; and I am entirely of your opinion--'That + prevention is at all times better than cure.'" + </p> + <p class="smallcaps"> + The End. + </p> + <div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10365 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf40ce1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10365 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10365) diff --git a/old/10365-8.txt b/old/10365-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a763615 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10365-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16467 @@ + + + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Precaution, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost +no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it +under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this +eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Precaution + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: December 2, 2003 [EBook #10365] + +Last Updated: April 29, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRECAUTION *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +Precaution. + +A Novel. + +By J. Fenimore Cooper. + +"Be wise to-day. It is madness to defer; To-morrow's caution may arrive +too late." + +W. C. Bryant's Discourse on the Life, Genius, and Writings of James +Fenimore Cooper, Delivered at Metropolitan Hall, N.Y., February 25, +1852. + +It is now somewhat more than a year, since the friends of James Fenimore +Cooper, in this city; were planning to give a public dinner to his +honor. It was intended as an expression both of the regard they bore him +personally, and of the pride they took in the glory his writings had +reflected on the American name. We thought of what we should say in his +hearing; in what terms, worthy of him and of us, we should speak of the +esteem in which we held him, and of the interest we felt in a fame which +had already penetrated to the remotest nook of the earth inhabited by +civilized man. + +To-day we assemble for a sadder purpose: to pay to the dead some part of +the honors then intended for the living. We bring our offering, but he +is not here who should receive it; in his stead are vacancy and silence; +there is no eye to brighten at our words, and no voice to answer. "It is +an empty office that we perform," said Virgil, in his melodious verses, +when commemorating the virtues of the young Marcellus, and bidding +flowers be strewn, with full hands, over his early grave. We might apply +the expression to the present occasion, but it would be true in part +only. We can no longer do anything for him who is departed, but we may +do what will not be without fruit to those who remain. It is good to +occupy our thoughts with the example of great talents in conjunction +with great virtues. His genius has passed away with him; but we may +learn, from the history of his life, to employ the faculties we possess +with useful activity and noble aims; we may copy his magnanimous +frankness, his disdain of everything that wears the faintest semblance +of deceit, his refusal to comply with current abuses, and the courage +with which, on all occasions, he asserted what he deemed truth, and +combated what he thought error. + +The circumstances of Cooper's early life were remarkably suited to +confirm the natural hardihood and manliness of his character, and to +call forth and exercise that extraordinary power of observation, which +accumulated the materials afterwards wielded and shaped by his genius. +His father, while an inhabitant of Burlington, in New Jersey, on the +pleasant banks of the Delaware, was the owner of large possessions on +the borders of the Otsego Lake in our own state, and here, in the newly- +cleared fields, he built, in 1786, the first house in Cooperstown. To +this home, Cooper, who was born in Burlington, in the year 1789, was +conveyed in his infancy, and here, as he informs us in his preface to +the Pioneers, his first impressions of the external world were obtained. +Here he passed his childhood, with the vast forest around him, +stretching up the mountains that overlook the lake, and far beyond, in a +region where the Indian yet roamed, and the white hunter, half Indian in +his dress and mode of life, sought his game,--a region in which the bear +and the wolf were yet hunted, and the panther, more formidable than +either, lurked in the thickets, and tales of wanderings in the +wilderness, and encounters with these fierce animals, beguiled the +length of the winter nights. Of this place, Cooper, although early +removed from it to pursue his studies, was an occasional resident +throughout his life, and here his last years were wholly passed. + +At the age of thirteen he was sent to Yale College, where, +notwithstanding his extreme youth,--for, with the exception of the poet +Hillhouse, he was the youngest of his class, and Hillhouse was +afterwards withdrawn,--his progress in his studies is said to have been +honorable to his talents. He left the college, after a residence of +three years, and became a midshipman in the United States navy. Six +years he followed the sea, and there yet wanders, among those who are +fond of literary anecdote, a story of the young sailor who, in the +streets of one of the English ports, attracted the curiosity of the +crowd by explaining to his companions a Latin motto in some public +place. That during this period he made himself master of the knowledge +and the imagery which he afterwards employed to so much advantage in his +romances of the sea, the finest ever written, is a common and obvious +remark; but it has not been so far as I know, observed that from the +discipline of a seaman's life he may have derived much of his readiness +and fertility of invention, much of his skill in surrounding the +personages of his novels with imaginary perils, and rescuing them by +probable expedients. Of all pursuits, the life of a sailor is that which +familiarizes men to danger in its most fearful shapes, most cultivates +presence of mind, and most effectually calls forth the resources of a +prompt and fearless dexterity by which imminent evil is avoided. + +In 1811, Cooper, having resigned his post as midshipman, began the year +by marrying Miss Delaney, sister of the present bishop; of the diocese +of Western New York, and entered upon a domestic life happily passed to +its close. He went to live at Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester, +and while here he wrote and published the first of his novels, entitled +Precaution. Concerning the occasion of writing this work, it is related, +that once, as he was reading an English novel to Mrs. Cooper, who has, +within a short time past, been laid in the grave beside her illustrious +husband, and of whom we may now say, that her goodness was no less +eminent than his genius, he suddenly laid down the book, and said, "I +believe I could write a better myself." Almost immediately he composed a +chapter of a projected work of fiction, and read it to the same friendly +judge, who encouraged him to finish it, and when it was completed, +suggested its publication. Of this he had at the time no intention, but +he was at length induced to submit the manuscript to the examination of +the late Charles Wilkes, of this city, in whose literary opinions he had +great confidence. Mr. Wilkes advised that it should be published, and to +these circumstances we owe it that Cooper became an author. + +I confess I have merely dipped into this work. The experiment was made +with the first edition, deformed by a strange punctuation--a profusion +of commas, and other pauses, which puzzled and repelled me. Its author, +many years afterwards, revised and republished it, correcting this +fault, and some faults of style also, so that to a casual inspection it +appeared almost another work. It was a professed delineation of English +manners, though the author had then seen nothing of English society. It +had, however, the honor of being adopted by the country whose manners it +described, and, being early republished in Great Britain, passed from +the first for an English novel. I am not unwilling to believe what is +said of it, that it contained a promise of the powers which its author +afterwards put forth. + +Thirty years ago, in the year 1821, and in the thirty-second of his +life, Cooper published the first of the works by which he will be known +to posterity, the Spy. It took the reading world by a kind of surprise; +its merit was acknowledged by a rapid sale; the public read with +eagerness and the critics wondered. Many withheld their commendations on +account of defects in the plot or blemishes in the composition, arising +from want of practice, and some waited till they could hear the judgment +of European readers. Yet there were not wanting critics in this country, +of whose good opinion any author in any part of the world might be +proud, who spoke of it in terms it deserved. "Are you not delighted," +wrote a literary friend to me, who has since risen to high distinction +as a writer, both in verse and in prose, "are you not delighted with the +Spy, as a work of infinite spirit and genius?" In that word genius lay +the explanation of the hold which the work had taken on the minds of +men. What it had of excellence was peculiar and unborrowed; its pictures +of life, whether in repose or activity, were drawn, with broad lights +and shadows, immediately from living originals in nature or in his own +imagination. To him, whatever he described was true; it was made a +reality to him by the strength with which he conceived it. His power in +the delineation of character was shown in the principal personage of his +story, Harvey Birch, on whom, though he has chosen to employ him in the +ignoble office of a spy, and endowed him with the qualities necessary to +his profession,--extreme circumspection, fertility in stratagem, and the +art of concealing his real character--qualities which, in conjunction +with selfishness and greediness, make the scoundrel, he has bestowed the +virtues of generosity, magnanimity, an intense love of country, a +fidelity not to be corrupted, and a disinterestedness beyond temptation. +Out of this combination of qualities he has wrought a character which is +a favorite in all nations, and with all classes of mankind. + +It is said that if you cast a pebble into the ocean, at the mouth of our +harbor, the vibration made in the water passes gradually on till it +strikes the icy barriers of the deep at the south pole. The spread of +Cooper's reputation is not confined within narrower limits. The Spy is +read in all the written dialects of Europe, and in some of those of +Asia. The French, immediately after its first appearance, gave it to the +multitudes who read their far-diffused language, and placed it among the +first works of its class. It was rendered into Castilian, and passed +into the hands of those who dwell under the beams of the Southern Cross. +At length it passed the eastern frontier of Europe, and the latest +record I have seen of its progress towards absolute universality, is +contained in a statement of the International Magazine, derived, I +presume, from its author, that in 1847 it was published in a Persian +translation at Ispahan. Before this time, I doubt not, they are reading +it in some of the languages of Hindostan, and, if the Chinese ever +translated anything, it would be in the hands of the many millions who +inhabit the far Cathay. + +I have spoken of the hesitation which American critics felt in admitting +the merits of the Spy, on account of crudities in the plot or the +composition, some of which, no doubt, really existed. An exception must +be made in favor of the Port Folio, which, in a notice written by Mrs. +Sarah Hall, mother of the editor of that periodical, and author of +Conversations on the Bible, gave the work a cordial welcome; and Cooper, +as I am informed, never forgot this act of timely and ready kindness. + +It was perhaps favorable to the immediate success of the Spy, that +Cooper had few American authors to divide with him the public attention. +That crowd of clever men and women who now write for the magazines, who +send out volumes of essays, sketches, and poems, and who supply the +press with novels, biographies, and historical works, were then, for the +most part, either stammering their lessons in the schools, or yet +unborn. Yet it is worthy of note, that just about the time that the Spy +made its appearance, the dawn of what we now call our literature was +just breaking. The concluding number of Dana's Idle Man, a work +neglected at first, but now numbered among the best things of the kind +in our language, was issued in the same month. The Sketch Book was then +just completed; the world was admiring it, and its author was meditating +Bracebridge Hall. Miss Sedgwick, about the same time, made her first +essay in that charming series of novels of domestic life in New England, +which have gained her so high a reputation. Percival, now unhappily +silent, had just put to press a volume of poems. I have a copy of an +edition of Hallock's Fanny, published in the same year; the poem of +Yamoyden, by Eastburn and Sands, appeared almost simultaneously with it. +Livingston was putting the finishing hand to his Report on the Penal +Code of Louisiana, a work written with such grave, persuasive eloquence, +that it belongs as much to our literature as to our jurisprudence. Other +contemporaneous American works there were, now less read. Paul Allen's +poem of Noah was just laid on the counters of the booksellers. Arden +published, at the same time, in this city, a translation of Ovid's +Tristia, in heroic verse, in which the complaints of the effeminate +Roman poet were rendered with great fidelity to the original, and +sometimes not without beauty. If I may speak of myself, it was in that +year that I timidly intrusted to the winds and waves of public opinion a +small cargo of my own--a poem entitled The Ages, and half a dozen +shorter ones, in a thin duodecimo volume, printed at Cambridge. + +We had, at the same time, works of elegant literature, fresh from the +press of Great Britain, which are still read and admired. Barry +Cornwall, then a young suitor for fame, published in the same year his +Marcia Colonna; Byron, in the full strength and fertility of his genius, +gave the readers of English his tragedy of Marino Faliero, and was in +the midst of his spirited controversy with Bowles concerning the poetry +of Pope. The Spy had to sustain a comparison with Scott's Antiquary, +published simultaneously with it, and with Lockhart's Valerius, which +seems to me one of the most remarkable works of fiction ever composed. + +In 1823, and in his thirty-fourth year, Cooper brought out his novel of +the Pioneers, the scene of which was laid on the borders of his: own +beautiful lake. In a recent survey of Mr; Cooper's works, by one of his +admirers, it is intimated that the reputation of this work may have +been, in some degree factitious. I cannot think so; I cannot see how +such a work could fail of becoming, sooner or later, a favorite. It was +several years after its first appearance that I read the Pioneers, and I +read it with a delighted astonishment. Here, said I to myself, is the +poet of rural life in this country--our Hesiod, our Theocritus, except +that he writes without the restraint of numbers, and is a greater poet +than they. In the Pioneers, as in a moving picture, are made to pass +before us the hardy occupations and spirited, amusements of a prosperous +settlement, in, a fertile region, encompassed for leagues around with +the primeval wilderness of woods. The seasons in their different +aspects, bringing with them, their different employments; forests +falling before the axe; the cheerful population, with the first mild; +day of spring, engaged in the sugar orchards; the chase of the deer +through the deep woods, and into the lake; turkey-shooting, during the +Christmas holidays, in which the Indian marksman vied for the prize of +skill with the white man; swift sleigh rides under the bright winter +sun, and, perilous encounters with wild animals in the forests; these, +and other scenes of rural life, drawn, as Cooper knew how to draw them, +in the bright and healthful coloring of which he was master are +interwoven with a regular narrative of human fortunes, not unskilfully +constructed; and how could such a work be otherwise than popular? + +In the Pioneers, Leatherstocking; is first introduced--a philosopher of +the woods, ignorant of books, but instructed in all that nature, without +the aid of, science, could reveal to the man of quick senses and +inquiring intellect, whose life has been passed under the open sky, and +in companionship with a race whose animal perceptions are the acutest +and most cultivated of which there is any example. But Leatherstocking +has higher qualities; in him there is a genial blending of the gentlest +virtues of the civilized man with the better nature of the aboriginal +tribes; all that in them is noble, generous, and ideal, is adopted into +his own kindly character, and all that is evil is rejected. But why +should I attempt to analyse a character so familiar? Leatherstocking is +acknowledged, on all hands, to be one of the noblest, as well as most +striking and original creations of fiction. In some of his subsequent +novels, Cooper--for he had not yet Attained to the full maturity of his +powers--heightened and ennobled his first conception of the character, +but in the Pioneers it dazzled the world with the splendor of novelty; + +His next work was the Pilot, in which he showed how, from the +vicissitudes of a life at sea, its perils and escapes, from the beauty +and terrors of the great deep, from the working of a vessel on a long +voyage, and from the frank, brave, and generous but peculiar character +of the seaman, may be drawn materials of romance by which the minds of +men may be as deeply moved as by anything in the power of romance to +present. In this walk, Cooper has had many disciples but no rival. All +who have since written romances of the sea have been but travellers in a +country of which he was the great discoverer; and none of them all +seemed to have loved a ship as Cooper loved it, or have been able so +strongly to interest all classes of readers in its fortunes. Among other +personages drawn with great strength in the Pilot, is the general +favorite, Tom Coffin, the thorough seaman with all the virtues and one +or two of the infirmities of his profession, superstitious, as seamen +are apt to be, yet whose superstitions strike us as but an irregular +growth of his devout recognition of the Power who holds the ocean in the +hollow of his hand; true-hearted, gentle, full of resources, collected +in danger, and at last calmly perishing at the post of duty, with the +vessel he has long guided, by what I may call a great and magnanimous +death. His rougher and coarser companion, Boltrope, is drawn with +scarcely less skill, and with a no less vigorous hand. + +The Pioneers is not Cooper's best tale of the American forest, nor, the +Pilot, perhaps, in all respects, his best tale of the sea; yet, if he +had ceased to write here, the measure of his fame would possibly have +been scarcely less ample than it now is. Neither of them is far below +the best of his productions, and in them appear the two most remarkable +creations of his imagination--two of the most remarkable characters in +all fiction. + +It was about this time that my acquaintance with Cooper began, an +acquaintance of more than a quarter of a century, in which his +deportment towards me was that of unvaried kindness. He then resided a +considerable part of the year in this city, and here he had founded a +weekly club, to which many of the most distinguished men of the place +belonged. Of the members who have since passed away, were Chancellor +Kent, the jurist; Wiley the intelligent and liberal bookseller; Henry D. +Sedgwick, always active in schemes of benevolence; Jarvis, the painter, +a man of infinite humor, whose jests awoke inextinguishable laughter; De +Kay, the naturalist; Sands, the poet; Jacob Harvey whose genial memory +is cherished by many friends. Of those who are yet living was Morse, the +inventor of the electric telegraph; Durand, then, one of the first of +engravers, and now no less illustrious as a painter; Henry James +Anderson, whose acquirements might awaken the envy of the ripest +scholars of the old world; Halleck, the poet and wit; Verplanck, who has +given the world the best edition of Shakspeare for general readers; Dr. +King, now at the head of Columbia College, and his two immediate +predecessors in that office. I might enlarge the list with many other +names of no less distinction. The army and navy contributed their +proportion of members, whose names are on record in our national +history. Cooper when in town was always present, and I remember being +struck with the inexhaustible vivacity of his conversation and the +minuteness of his knowledge, in everything which depended upon acuteness +of observation and exactness of recollection. I remember, too, being +somewhat startled, coming as I did from the seclusion of a country life, +with a certain emphatic frankness in his manner, which, however, I came +at last to like and to admire. The club met in the hotel called +Washington Hall, the site of which, is now occupied by part of the +circuit of Stewart's marble building. + +Lionel Lincoln, which cannot be ranked among the successful productions +of Cooper, was published in 1825; and in the year following appeared the +Last of the Mohicans which more than recovered the ground lost by its +predecessor. In this work, the construction of the narrative has signal +defects, but it is one of the triumphs of the author's genius that he +makes us unconscious of them while we read. It is only when we have had +time to awake from the intense interest in which he has held us by the +vivid reality of his narrative, and have begun to search for faults in +cold blood, that we are able to find them, In the Last of the Mohicans, +we have a bolder portraiture of. Leatherstocking than in the Pioneers. + +This work was published in 1826, and in the same year Cooper sailed with +his family for Europe. He left New York as one of the vessels of war, +described in his romances of the sea, goes out of port, amidst the +thunder of a parting salute from the big guns on the batteries. A dinner +was given him just before his departure, attended by most of the +distinguished men of the city, at which Peter A. Jay presided, and Dr. +King addressed him in terms which some then thought too glowing, but +which would now seem sufficiently temperate, expressing the good wishes +of his friends, and dwelling on the satisfaction they promised +themselves in possessing so illustrious a representative of American +literature in the old world. Cooper was scarcely in France when he +remembered his friends of the weekly club, and sent frequent missives to +be read at its meetings; but the club missed its founder went into a +decline, and not long afterwards quietly expired. + +The first of Cooper's novels published after leaving America: was the +Prairie, which appeared early in 1827, a work with the admirers of which +I wholly agree. I read it with a certain awe, an undefined sense of +sublimity, such as one experiences on entering, for the first time, upon +those immense grassy deserts from which the work takes its name. The +squatter and his family--that brawny old man and his large-limbed sons, +living in a sort of primitive and patriarchal barbarism, sluggish on +ordinary occasions, but terrible when roused, like the hurricane that +sweeps the grand but monotonous wilderness in which they dwell--seem a +natural growth of ancient fields of the West. Leatherstocking, a hunter +in the Pioneers, a warrior in the Last of the Mohicans, and now, in his +extreme old age, a trapper on the prairie, declined in strength, but +undecayed in intellect, and looking to the near close of his life, and a +grave under the long grass, as calmly as the laborer at sunset looks to +his evening slumber, is no less in harmony with the silent desert in +which he wanders. Equally so are the Indians, still his companions, +copies of the American savage somewhat idealized, but not the less a +part of the wild nature in which they have their haunts. + +Before the year closed, Cooper had given the world another nautical +tale, the Red Rover, which, with many, is a greater favorite than the +Pilot, and with reason, perhaps, if we consider principally the +incidents, which are conducted and described with a greater mastery over +the springs of pity and terror. + +It happened to Cooper while he was abroad, as it not unfrequently +happens to our countrymen, to hear the United States disadvantageously +compared with Europe. He had himself been a close observer of things +both here and in the old world, and was conscious of being able to +refute the detractors of his country in regard to many points. He +published in 1828, after he had been two years in Europe, a series of +letters, entitled Notions of the Americans, by a Travelling Bachelor, in +which he gave a favorable account of the working of our institutions, +and vindicated his country from various flippant and ill-natured +misrepresentations of foreigners. It is rather too measured in style, +but is written from a mind full of the subject, and from a memory +wonderfully stored with particulars. Although twenty-four years have +elapsed since its publication, but little of the vindication has become +obsolete. + +Cooper loved his country and was proud of her history and her +institutions, but it puzzles many that he should have appeared, at +different times, as her eulogist, and her censor. My friends, she is +worthy both of praise and of blame, and Cooper was not the man to shrink +from bestowing either, at what seemed to him the proper time. He +defended her from detractors abroad; he sought to save her from +flatterers at home. I will not say that he was in as good humor with his +country when he wrote Home at Found, as when he wrote his Notions of the +Americans, but this I will say that whether he commended or censured, he +did it in the sincerity of his heart, as a true American, and in the +belief that it would do good. His Notions of the Americans were more +likely to lessen than to increase his popularity in Europe, inasmuch as +they were put forth without the slightest regard to European prejudices. + +In 1829, he brought out the novel entitled the Wept of Wishton-Wish, one +of the few of his works which we now rarely hear mentioned. He was +engaged in the composition of a third nautical tale, which he afterwards +published under the name of the Water-Witch, when the memorable +revolution of the Three Days of July broke out. He saw a government, +ruling by fear and in defiance of public opinion, overthrown in a few +hours, with little bloodshed; he saw the French nation, far from being +intoxicated with their new liberty, peacefully addressing themselves to +the discussion of the institutions under which they were to live. A work +which Cooper afterwards published, his Residence in Europe, gives the +outline of a plan of government for France furnished by him at that +time, to La Fayette, with whom he was in habits of close and daily +intimacy. It was his idea to give permanence to the new order of things +by associating two strong parties in its support, the friends of +legitimacy and the republicans. He suggested that Henry V. should be +called to the hereditary throne of France, a youth yet to be educated as +the head of a free people, that the peerage should be abolished, and a +legislature of two chambers established, with a constituency of at least +a million and a half of electors; the senate to be chosen by the general +vote, as the representative of the entire nation, and the members of the +other house to be chosen by districts, as the representatives of the +local interests. To the middle ground of politics so ostentatiously +occupied by Louis Philippe at the beginning of his reign, he predicted a +brief duration, believing that it would speedily be merged in despotism, +or supplanted by the popular rule. His prophecy has been fulfilled more +amply than he could have imagined--fulfilled in both its alternatives. + +In one of the controversies of that time, Cooper bore a distinguished +part. The Revue Britannique, a periodical published in Paris, boldly +affirmed the government of the United States to be one of the most +expensive in the world, and its people among the most heavily taxed of +mankind. This assertion was supported with a certain show of proof, and +the writer affected to have established the conclusion that a republic +must necessarily be more expensive than a monarchy. The partisans of the +court were delighted with the reasoning of the article, and claimed a +triumph over our ancient friend La Fayette, who, during forty years, had +not ceased to hold up the government of the United States as the +cheapest in the world. At the suggestion of La Fayette, Cooper replied +to this attack upon his country in a letter which was translated into +French, and, together with, another from General Bertrand, for many +years a resident in America, was laid before the people of France. + +These, two letters provoked a shower of rejoinders, in which, according +to Cooper, misstatements were mingled with scurrility. He commenced a +series of letters on the question in dispute, which were published in +the National, a daily sheet, and gave the first evidence of that +extraordinary acuteness in controversy which was no less characteristic +of his mind than the vigor of his imagination. The enemies of La Fayette +pressed into their service Mr. Leavitt Harris, of New Jersey, afterwards +our chargé d'affaires at the court of France, but Cooper replied to Mr. +Harris in the National of May 2d, 1832, closing a discussion in which he +had effectually silenced those who objected to our institutions on the +score of economy. Of these letters, which would form an important +chapter in political science, no entire copy, I have been told, is to be +found in this country. + +One of the consequences of earnest controversy is almost invariably +personal ill-will. Cooper was told by one who held an official station +under the French government, that the part he had taken in this dispute +concerning taxation would neither be forgotten nor forgiven. The dislike +he had incurred in that quarter was strengthened by his novel of the +Bravo, published in the year 1831, while he was in the midst of his +quarrel with the aristocratic party. In that work, of which he has +himself justly said that it was thoroughly American in all that belonged +to it, his object was to show how institutions, professedly created to +prevent violence and wrong, become, when perverted from their natural +destination, the instruments of injustice; and how, in every system +which makes power the exclusive property of the strong, the weak are +sure to be oppressed. The work is written with all the vigor and spirit +of his best novels; the magnificent city of Venice, in which the scene +of the story is laid, stands continually before the imagination; and +from time to time the gorgeous ceremonies of the Venetian republic pass +under our eyes, such as the marriage of the Doge with the Adriatic, and +the, contest of the gondolas for the prize of speed. The Bravo himself +and several of the other characters are strongly conceived and +distinguished, but the most remarkable of them all is the spirited and +generous-hearted daughter of the jailer. + +It has been said by some critics, who judge of Cooper by his failures, +that he had no skill in drawing female characters. By the same process, +it might, I suppose, be shown that Raphael was but an ordinary painter. +It must be admitted that when Cooper drew a lady of high breeding, he +was apt to pay too much attention to the formal part of her character, +and to make her a mere bundle of cold proprieties. But when he places +his heroines in some situation in life which leaves him nothing to do +but to make them natural and true, I know of nothing finer, nothing more +attractive or more individual than the portraitures he has given us. + +Figaro, the wittiest of the French periodicals, and at that time on the +liberal side, commended the Bravo; the journals on the side of the +government censured it. Figaro afterwards passed into the hands of the +aristocratic party, and Cooper became the object of its attacks. He was +not, however, a man to be driven from any purpose which he had formed, +either by flattery or abuse, and both were tried with equal ill success. +In 1832 he published his Heidenmauer, and in 1833 his Headsman of Berne, +both with a political design similar to that of the Bravo, though +neither of them takes the same high rank among his works. + +In 1833, after a residence of seven years in different parts of Europe, +but mostly in France, Cooper returned to his native country. The welcome +which met him here was somewhat chilled by the effect of the attacks +made upon him in France, and remembering with what zeal, and at what +sacrifice of the universal acceptance which his works would otherwise +have met, he had maintained the cause of his country against the wits +and orators of the court party in France, we cannot wonder that he +should have felt this coldness as undeserved. He published, shortly +after his arrival in this country, A Letter to his Countrymen in which +he complained of the censures cast upon him in the American newspapers, +gave a history of the part he had taken in exposing the misstatements of +the Révue Britannique, and warned his countrymen against the too common +error of resorting, with a blind deference, to foreign authorities, +often swayed by national or political prejudices, for our opinions of +American authors. Going beyond this topic, he examined and reprehended +the habit of applying to the interpretation of our own constitution +maxims derived from the practice of other governments, particularly that +of Great Britain. The importance of construing that instrument by its +own principles, he illustrated by considering several points in dispute +between parties of the day, on which he gave very decided opinions. + +The principal effect of this pamphlet, as it seemed to me, was to awaken +in certain quarters a kind of resentment that a successful writer of +fiction should presume to give lessons in politics. I meddle not here +with the conclusions to which he arrived, though must be allowed to say +that they were stated and argued with great ability. In 1835 Cooper +published The Monnikins, a satirical work, partly with a political aim; +and in the same year appeared his American Democrat, a view of the civil +and social relations of the United States, discussing more gravely +various topics touched upon in the former work, and pointing out in what +respects he deemed the American people in their practice to have fallen +short of the excellence of their institutions. + +He found time, however, for a more genial task--that of giving to the +world his observations on foreign countries. In 1836 appeared his +Sketches of Switzerland, a series of letters in four volumes, the second +part published about two months after the first, a delightful work, +written in a more fluent and flexible style than his Notions of the +Americans. The first part of Gleanings in Europe, giving an account of +his residence in France, followed in the same year; and the second part +of the same work, containing his observations on England, was published +in April, 1837. In these works, forming a series of eight volumes, he +relates and describes with much of the same distinctness as in his +novels; and his remarks on the manners and institutions of the different +countries, often sagacious, and always peculiarly his own, derive, from +their frequent reference to contemporary events, an historical interest. + +In 1838 appeared Homeward Bound and Home as Found, two satirical novels, +in which Cooper held up to ridicule a certain class of conductors of the +newspaper press in America. These works had not the good fortune to +become popular. Cooper did not, and, because he was too deeply in +earnest, perhaps would not, infuse into his satirical works that gaiety +without which satire becomes wearisome. I believe, however, that if they +had been written by anybody else they would have met with more favor; +but the world knew that Cooper was able to give them something better, +and would not be satisfied with anything short of his best, Some +childishly imagined that because, in the two works I have just +mentioned, a newspaper editor is introduced, in whose character almost +every possible vice of his profession is made to find a place, Cooper +intended an indiscriminate attack upon the whole body of writers for the +newspaper press, forgetting that such a portraiture was a satire only on +those to whom it bore a likeness We have become less sensitive and more +reasonable of late, and the monthly periodicals make sport for their +readers of the follies and ignorance of the newspaper editors, without +awakening the slightest resentment; but Cooper led the way in this sort +of discipline, and I remember some instances of towering indignation at +his audacity expressed in the journals of that time. + +The next year Cooper made his appearance before the public in a new +department of writing; his Naval History of the United States was +brought out in two octavo volumes at Philadelphia, by Carey and Lea. In +writing his stories of the sea, his attention had been much turned to +this subject, and his mind filled with striking incidents from +expeditions and battles in which our naval commanders had been engaged. +This made his task the lighter; but he gathered his materials with great +industry, and with a conscientious attention to exactness, for he was +not a man to take a fact for granted, or allow imagination to usurp the +place of inquiry He digested our naval annals into a narrative, written +with spirit it is true, but with that air of sincere dealing which the +reader willingly takes as a pledge of its authenticity. + +An abridgment of the work was afterwards prepared and published by the +author. The Edinburgh Review, in an article professing to examine the +statements both of Cooper's work and of The History of the English Navy, +written by Mr. James, a surgeon by profession, made a violent attack +upon the American historian. Unfortunately, it took James's narrative as +its sole guide, and followed it implicitly. Cooper replied in the +Democratic Review for January, 1840, and by a masterly analysis of his +statements, convicting James of self-contradiction in almost every +particular in which he differed from himself, refuted both James and the +reviewer. It was a refutation which admitted of no rejoinder. + +Scarce anything in Cooper's life was so remarkable, or so strikingly +illustrated his character, as his contest with the newspaper press. He +engaged in it after provocations, many and long endured, and prosecuted +it through years with great energy, perseverance, and practical +dexterity, till he was left master of the field. In what I am about to +say of it, I hope I shall not give offence to any one, as I shall speak +without the slightest malevolence towards those with whom he waged this +controversy. Over some of them, as over their renowned adversary, the +grave has now closed. Yet where shall the truth be spoken, if not beside +the grave? + +I have already alluded to the principal causes which provoked the +newspaper attacks upon Cooper. If he had never meddled with questions of +government on either side of the Atlantic, and never satirized the +newspaper press, I have little doubt that he would have been spared +these attacks. I cannot, however, ascribe them all, or even the greater +part of them, to personal malignity. One journal followed the example of +another, with little reflection, I think, in most cases, till it became +a sort of fashion, not merely to decry his works, but to arraign his +motives. + +It is related that, in 1832, while he was at Paris, an article was shown +him in an American newspaper, purporting to be a criticism on one of his +works, but reflecting with much asperity on his personal character. "I +care nothing," he is reported to have said, "for the criticism, but I am +not indifferent to the slander. If these attacks on my character should +be kept up five years after my return to America, I shall resort to the +New York courts for protection." He gave the newspaper press of this +state the full period of forbearance on which he had fixed, but finding +that forbearance seemed to encourage assault, he sought redress in the +courts of law. + +When these litigations were first begun, I recollect it seemed to me +that Cooper had taken a step which would give him a great deal of +trouble, and effect but little good. I said to myself-- + +"Alas! Leviathan is not so tamed!" + +As he proceeded, however, I saw that he had understood the matter better +than I. He put a hook into the nose of this huge monster, wallowing in +his inky pool and bespattering the passers-by; he dragged him to the +land and made him tractable. One suit followed another; one editor was +sued, I think half-a-dozen times; some of them found themselves under a +second indictment before the first was tried. In vindicating himself to +his reader, against the charge of publishing one libel, the angry +journalist often floundered into another. The occasions of these +prosecutions seem to have been always carefully considered, for Cooper +was almost uniformly successful in obtaining verdicts. In a letter of +his, written in February, 1843, about five years, I think, from the +commencement of the first prosecutions, he says, "I have beaten every +man I have sued, who has not retracted his libels." + +In one of these suits, commenced against the late William L. Stone of +the Commercial Advertiser, and referred to the arbitration of three +distinguished lawyers, he argued himself the question of the +authenticity of his account of the battle of Lake Erie, which was the +matter in dispute. I listened to his opening; it was clear, skilful, and +persuasive, but his closing argument was said to be splendidly eloquent. +"I have heard nothing like it," said a barrister to me, "since the days +of Emmet." + +Cooper behaved liberally towards his antagonists, so far as pecuniary +damages were concerned, though some of them wholly escaped their payment +by bankruptcy. After, I believe, about, six years of litigation, the +newspaper press gradually subsided into a pacific disposition towards +its adversary, and the contest closed with the account of pecuniary +profit and loss, so far as he was concerned, nearly balanced. The +occasion of these suits was far from honorable to those who provoked +them, but the result was I had almost said, creditable to all parties; +to him, as the courageous prosecutor, to the administration of justice +in this country, and to the docility of the newspaper press, which he +had disciplined into good manners. + +It was while he was in the midst of these litigations, that he +published, in 1840, the Pathfinder. People had begun to think of him as +a controversialist, acute, keen, and persevering, occupied with his +personal wrongs and schemes of attack and defence. They were startled +from this estimate of his character by the moral duty of that glorious +work--I must so call it; by the vividness and force of its delineations, +by the unspoiled love of nature apparent in every page, and by the fresh +and warm emotions which everywhere gave life to the narrative and the +dialogue. Cooper was now in his fifty-first year, but nothing which he +had produced in the earlier part of his literary life was written with +so much of what might seem the generous fervor of youth, or showed the +faculty of invention in higher vigor. I recollect that near the time of +its appearance I was informed of an observation made upon it by one +highly distinguished in the literature of our country and of the age, +between whom and the author an unhappy coolness had for some years +existed. As he finished the reading of the Pathfinder, he exclaimed, +"They may say what they will of Cooper; the man who wrote this book is +not only a great man, but a good man." + +The readers of the Pathfinder were quickly reconciled to the fourth +appearance of Leatherstocking, when they saw him made to act a different +part from any which the author had hitherto assigned him--when they saw +him shown as a lover, and placed in the midst of associations which +invested his character with a higher and more affecting heroism. In this +work are two female characters, portrayed in a masterly manner,--the +corporal's daughter, Mabel Dunham, generous, resolute, yet womanly, and +the young Indian woman, called by her tribe the Dew of June, a +personification of female truth, affection, and sympathy, with a strong +aboriginal cast, yet a product of nature as bright and pure as that from +which she is named. + +Mercedes of Castile, published near the close of the same year, has none +of the stronger characteristics of Cooper's genius; but in the +Deerslayer, which appeared in 1841, another of his Leatherstocking +tales, he gave us a work rivalling the Pathfinder. Leatherstocking is +brought before us in his early youth, in the first exercise of that keen +sagacity which is blended so harmoniously with a simple and ingenuous +goodness. The two daughters of the retired freebooter dwelling on the +Otsego lake, inspire scarcely less interest than the principal +personage; Judith, in the pride of her beauty and intellect, her good +impulses contending with a fatal love of admiration, holding us +fascinated with a constant interest in her fate, which, with consummate +skill, we are permitted rather to conjecture than to know; and Hetty, +scarcely less beautiful in person, weak-minded, but wise in the midst, +of that weakness beyond the wisdom of the loftiest intellect, through +the power of conscience and religion. The character of Hetty would have +been a hazardous experiment in feebler hands, but in his it was +admirably successful. + +The Two Admirals and Wing-and-Wing were given to the public in 1842, +both of them taking a high rank among Cooper's sea-tales. The first of +these is a sort of naval epic in prose; the flight and chase of armed +vessels hold us in breathless suspense, and the sea-fights are described +with a terrible power. In the later sea-tales of Cooper, it seems to me +that the mastery with which he makes his grand processions of events +pass before the mind's eye is even greater than in his earlier. The next +year he published the Wyandotte or Hutted Knoll, one of his beautiful +romances of the woods, and in 1844 two more of his sea-stories, Afloat +and Ashore and Miles Wallingfordits sequel. The long series of his +nautical tales was closed by Jack Tier or the Florida Reef, published in +1848, when Cooper was in his sixtieth year, and it is as full of spirit, +energy, invention, life-like presentation of objects and events-- + +The vision and the faculty divine-- + +as anything he has written. + +Let me pause here to say that Cooper, though not a manufacturer of +verse, was in the highest sense of the word a poet; his imagination +wrought nobly and grandly, and imposed its creations on the mind of the +reader for realities. With him there was no withering, or decline, or +disuse of the poetic faculty; as he stepped downwards from the zenith of +life, no shadow or chill came over it; it was like the year of some +genial climates, a perpetual season of verdure, bloom, and fruitfulness. +As these works came out, I was rejoiced to see that he was unspoiled by +the controversies in which he had allowed, himself to become engaged; +that they had not given to these better expressions of his genius, any +tinge of misanthropy, or appearance of contracting and closing +sympathies any trace of an interest in his fellow-beings less large and +free than in his earlier works. + +Before the, appearance of his Jack Tier, Cooper published, in 1845 and +the following year, a series of novels relating to the Anti-rent +question, in which he took great interest. He thought that the +disposition manifested in certain quarters to make con cessions, to what +he deemed a denial of the rights of property was a first step in a most +dangerous path. To discourage this disposition, he wrote Satanstoe, The +Chainbearer, and The Redskins. They are didactic in their design, and +want the freedom of invention which belongs to Cooper's best novels; but +if they had been written by anybody but Cooper,--by a member of +Congress, for example, or an eminent politician of any class,--they +would have made his reputation. It was said, I am told, by a +distinguished jurist of our state, that they entitled the author to as +high a place in law as his other works had won for him in literature. + +I had thought, in meditating the plan of this discourse, to mention all +the works of Mr. Cooper, but the length to which I have found it +extending has induced me to pass over several written in the last ten +years of his life, and to confine myself to those which best illustrate +his literary character. The last of his novels was The Ways of the Hour, +a work in which the objections he entertained to the trial by jury in +civil causes were stated in the form of a narrative. + +It is a voluminous catalogue--that of Cooper's published works--but it +comprises not all he wrote. He committed to the fire, without remorse, +many of the fruits of his literary industry. It was understood, some +years since, that he had a work ready for the press on the Middle States +of the Union, principally illustrative of their social history; but it +has not been found among his manuscripts, and the presumption is that he +must have destroyed it. He had planned a work on the Towns of Manhattan, +for the publication of which he made arrangements with Mr. Putnam of +this city, and a part of which, already written, was in press at the +time of his death. The printed part has since been destroyed by fire, +but a portion of the manuscript was recovered. The work, I learn, will +be completed by one of the family, who, within a few years past, has +earned an honorable name among the authors of our country. Great as was +the number of his works, and great as was the favor with which they were +received, the pecuniary rewards of his success were far less than has +been generally supposed--scarcely, as I am informed, a tenth part of +what the common rumor made them. His fame was infinitely the largest +acknowledgment which this most successful of American authors received +for his labors. + +The Ways of the Hour appeared in 1850. At this time his personal +appearance was remarkable. He seemed in perfect health, and in the +highest energy and activity of his faculties. I have scarcely seen any +man at that period of life on whom his years sat more lightly. His +conversation had lost none of its liveliness, though it seemed somewhat +more genial and forbearing in tone, and his spirits none of their +elasticity. He was contemplating, I have since been told, another +Leatherstocking tale, deeming that he had not yet exhausted the +character; and those who consider what new resources it yielded him in +the Pathfinder and the Deerslayer, will readily conclude that he was not +mistaken. + +The disease, however, by which he was removed, was even then impending +over him, and not long afterwards his friends here were grieved to learn +that his health was declining. He came to New York so changed that they +looked at him with sorrow, and after a stay of some weeks, partly for +the benefits of medical advice returned to Cooperstown, to leave it no +more. His complaint gradually gained strength, subdued a constitution +originally robust, and finally passed into a confirmed dropsy. In +August, 1851, he was visited by his excellent and learned friend, Dr. +Francis, a member of the weekly club which he had founded in the early +part of his literary career. He found him bearing the sufferings of his +disease with manly firmness, gave him such medical counsels as the +malady appeared to require, prepared him delicately for its fatal +termination, and returned to New York with the most melancholy +anticipations. In a few days afterwards, Cooper expired, amid the deep +affliction of his family, on the 14th of September, the day before that +on which he should have completed his sixty-second year. He died, +apparently without pain, in peace and religious hope. The relations of +man to his Maker, and to that state of being for which the present is +but a preparation, had occupied much of his thoughts during his whole +lifetime, and he crossed, with a serene composure, the mysterious +boundary which divides this life from the next. + +The departure of such a man, in the full strength of his faculties,--on +whom the country had for thirty years looked as one of the permanent +ornaments of its literature, and whose name had been so often associated +with praise, with renown, with controversy, with blame, but never with +death,--diffused a universal awe. It was as if an earthquake had shaken +the ground on which we stood, and showed the grave opening by our path. +In the general grief for his loss, his virtues only were remembered; and +his failings forgotten. + +Of his failings I have said little; such as he had were obvious to all +the world; they lay on the surface of his character; those who knew him +least made the most account of them. With a character so made up of +positive qualities--a character so independent and uncompromising, and +with a sensitiveness far more acute than he was willing to acknowledge, +it is not surprising that occasions frequently arose to bring him, +sometimes into friendly collision, and sometimes in to graver +disagreements and misunderstandings with his fellow-men. For his +infirmities, his friends found an ample counterpoise in the generous +sincerity of his nature. He never thought of disguising his opinions, +and he abhorred all disguise in others; he did not even deign to use +that show of regard towards those of whom he did not think well, which +the world tolerates, and almost demands. A manly expression of opinion, +however different from his own, commanded his respect. Of his own works, +he spoke with the same freedom as of the works of others; and never +hesitated to express his judgment of a book for the reason that it was +written by himself: yet he could bear with gentleness any dissent from +the estimate lie placed on his own writings. His character was like the +bark of the cinnamon, a rough and astringent rind without, and an +intense sweetness within. Those who penetrated below the surface found a +genial temper, warm affections, and a heart with ample place for his +friends, their pursuits, their good name, their welfare. They found him +a philanthropist, though not precisely after the fashion of the day; a +religious man, most devout where devotion is most apt to be a feeling +rather than a custom, in the household circle; hospitable, and to the +extent of his means liberal-handed in acts of charity. They found, also, +that though in general he would as soon have thought of giving up an old +friend as of giving up an opinion, he was not proof against testimony, +and could part with a mistaken opinion as one parts with an old friend +who has been proved faithless and unworthy. In short, Cooper was one of +those who, to be loved, must be intimately known. + +Of his literary character I have spoken largely in the narrative of his +life, but there are yet one or two remarks which must be made to do it +justice. In that way of writing in which he excelled, it seems to me +that he united, in a pre-eminent degree, those qualities which enabled +him to interest the largest number of readers. He wrote not for the +fastidious, the over-refined, the morbidly delicate; for these find in +his genius something too robust for their liking--something by which +their sensibilities are too rudely shaken; but he wrote for mankind at +large--for men and women in the ordinary healthful state of feeling--and +in their admiration he found his reward. It is for this class that +public libraries are obliged to provide themselves with an extraordinary +number of copies of his works: the number in the Mercantile Library in +this city, I am told, is forty. Hence it is, that he has earned a fame, +wider, I think, than any author of modern times--wider, certainly, than +any author, of any age, ever enjoyed in his lifetime. All his +excellences are translatable--they pass readily into languages the least +allied in their genius to that in which he wrote, and in them he touches +the heart and kindles the imagination with the same power as in the +original English. + +Cooper was not wholly without humor; it is sometimes found lurking in +the dialogue of Harvey Birch, and of Leatherstocking but it forms no +considerable element in his works; and if it did, it would have stood in +the way of his universal popularity; since of all qualities, it is the +most difficult to transfuse into a foreign language. Nor did the effect +he produced upon the reader depend on any grace of style which would +escape a translator of ordinary skill. With his style, it is true, he +took great pains, and in his earlier works, I am told, sometimes altered +the proofs sent from the printer so largely that they might be said to +be written over Yet he attained no special felicity, variety, or compass +of expression. His style, however, answered his purpose; it has defects, +but it is manly and clear, and stamps on the mind of the reader the +impression he desired to convey. I am not sure that some of the very +defects of Cooper's novels do not add, by a certain force of contrast, +to their power over the mind. He is long in getting at the interest of +his narrative. The progress of the plot, at first, is like that of one +of his own vessels of war, slowly, heavily, and even awkwardly working +out of a harbor. We are impatient and weary, but when the vessel is once +in the open sea, and feels the free breath of heaven in her full sheets, +our delight and admiration is all the greater at the grace, the majesty, +and power with which she divides and bears down the waves, and pursues +her course, at will, over the great waste of waters. + +Such are the works so widely read, and so universally admired, in all +the zones of the globe, and by men of every kindred and every tongue; +works which have made of those who dwell in remote latitudes, wanderers +in our forests, and observers of our manners, and have inspired them +with an interest in our history. A gentleman who had returned from +Europe just before the death of Cooper, was asked what he found the +people of the Continent doing. "They all are reading Cooper," he +answered; "in the little kingdom of Holland, with its three millions of +inhabitants, I looked into four different translations of Cooper in the +language of the country." A traveller, who has seen much of the middle +classes of Italy, lately said to me, "I found that all they knew of +America, and that was not little, they had learned from Cooper's novels; +from him they had learned the story of American liberty, and through him +they had been introduced to our Washington; they had read his works till +the shores of the Hudson, and the valleys of Westchester, and the banks +of Otsego lake, had become to them familiar ground." + +Over all the countries into whose speech this great man's works have +been rendered by the labors of their scholars, the sorrow of that loss +which we deplore is now diffusing itself. Here we lament the ornament of +our country, there they mourn the death of him who delighted the human +race. Even now, while I speak, the pulse of grief which is passing +through the nations has haply just reached some remote neighborhood; the +news of his death has been brought to some dwelling on the slopes of the +Andes, or amidst the snowy wastes of the North, and the dark-eyed damsel +of Chile, or the fair-haired maid of Norway, is sad to think that he +whose stories of heroism and true love have so often kept her for hours +from her pillow, lives no more. + +He is gone! but the creations of his genius, fixed in living words, +survive the frail material organs by which the words were first traced. +They partake of a middle nature, between the deathless mind and the +decaying body of which they are the common offspring, and are, +therefore, destined to a duration, if not eternal, yet indefinite. The +examples he has given in his glorious fictions, of heroism, honor, and +truth, of large sympathies between man and man, of all that is good, +great, and excellent, embodied in personages marked with so strong an +individuality that we place them among our friends and favorites; his +frank and generous men, his gentle and noble women, shall live through +centuries to come, and only perish with our language. I have said with +our language; but who shall say when it may be the fate of the English +language to be numbered with the extinct forms of human speech? Who +shall declare which of the present tongues of the civilized world will +survive its fellows? It may be that some one of them, more fortunate +than the rest, will long outlast them, in some undisturbed quarter of +the globe, and in the midst of a new civilization. The creations of +Cooper's genius, even now transferred to that language, may remain to be +the delight of the nations through another great cycle of centuries, +beginning after the English language and its contemporaneous form of +civilization shall have passed away. Preface to the New Edition + +This book originally owed its existence to an accident, and it was +printed under circumstances that prevented the usual supervision of the +press by the author. The consequences were many defects in plot, style, +and arrangement, that were entirely owing to precipitation and +inexperience; and quite as many faults, of another nature, that are to +be traced solely to a bad manuscript and worse proof reading. Perhaps no +novel of our times was worst printed than the first edition of this +work. More than a hundred periods were placed in the middle of +sentences, and perhaps five times that number were omitted in places +where they ought to have been inserted. It is scarcely necessary to add, +that passages were rendered obscure, and that entire paragraphs were +unintelligible. + +Most of the faults just mentioned have now been corrected, though it +would require more labor than would produce an entirely new work, to +repair all the inherent defects that are attributable to haste, and to +the awkwardness of a novice in the art of composing. In this respect, +the work and its blemishes are probably inseparable. Still, the reader +will now be better rewarded for his time, and, on the whole; the book is +much more worthy of his attention. + +It has been said that Precaution owes its existence to fortuitous +circumstances. The same causes induced its English plot, and, in a +measure, the medley of characters that no doubt will appear a mistake in +the conception. It can scarcely be said that the work was commenced with +any view to publication; and when it was finally put into a publisher's +hands, with "all its imperfections on its head," the last thought of the +writer was any expectation that it would be followed by a series of +similar tales from the same pen. + +More than this the public will feel no interest in knowing, and less +than this the author could not consent to say on presenting to the world +a reprint of a book with so few claims to notice. + + + + +Precaution. + + +Chapter I. + +"I wonder if we are to have a neighbor in the Deanery soon," inquired +Clara Moseley, addressing herself to a small party assembled in her +father's drawing-room, while standing at a window which commanded a +distant view of the house in question. + +"Oh yes," replied her brother, "the agent has let it to a Mr. Jarvis for +a couple of years, and he is to take possession this week." + +"And who is the Mr. Jarvis that is about to become so near a neighbor?" +asked Sir Edward Moseley. + +"Why, sir, I learn he has been a capital merchant; that he has retired +from business with a large fortune; that he has, like yourself, sir, an +only hope for his declining years in son, an officer in the army; and, +moreover, that he has couple of fine daughters; so, sir, he is a man of +family in one sense, at least, you see. But," dropping his voice, +"whether he is a man of family in your sense, Jane," looking at his +second sister, "is more than I could discover." + +"I hope you did not take the trouble, sir, to inquire on my account," +retorted Jane, coloring slightly with vexation at his speech. + +"Indeed I did, my dear sis, and solely on your account," replied the +laughing brother, "for you well know that no gentility, no husband; and +it's dull work to you young ladies without at least a possibility of +matrimony; as for Clara, she is----" + +Here he was stopped by his youngest sister Emily placing her hand on his +mouth, as she whispered in his ear, "John, you forget the anxiety of a +certain gentleman about a fair incognita at Bath, and a list of +inquiries concerning her lineage, and a few other indispensables." John, +in his turn, colored, and affectionately kissing the hand which kept him +silent, addressed himself to Jane, and by his vivacity and good humor +soon restored her to complacency. + +"I rejoice," said Lady Moseley, "that Sir William has found a tenant, +however; for next to occupying it himself, it is a most desirable thing +to have a good tenant in it, on account of the circle in which we live." + +"And Mr. Jarvis has the great goodness of money, by John's account," +caustically observed Mrs. Wilson, who was a sister of Sir Edward's. + +"Let me tell you, madam," cried the rector of the parish, looking around +him pleasantly, and who was pretty constant, and always a welcome +visitor in the family, "that a great deal of money is a very good thing +in itself, and that a great many very good things may be done with it." + +"Such as paying tythes, ha! doctor," cried Mr. Haughton, a gentleman of +landed property in the neighborhood, of plain exterior, but great +goodness of heart, and between whom and the rector subsisted the most +cordial good will. + +"Aye, tythes, or halves, as the baronet did here, when he forgave old +Gregson one half his rent, and his children the other." + +"Well, but, my dear," said Sir Edward to his wife, "you must not starve +our friends because we are to have a neighbor. William has stood with +the dining-room door open these five minutes--" + +Lady Moseley gave her hand to the rector, and the company followed them, +without any order, to the dinner table. + +The party assembled around the hospitable board of the baronet was +composed, besides the before-mentioned persons, of the wife of Mr. +Haughton, a woman of much good sense and modesty of deportment: their +daughter, a young lady conspicuous for nothing but good nature; and the +wife and son of the rector--the latter but lately admitted to holy +orders himself. + +The remainder of the day passed in an uninterrupted flow of pleasant +conversation, the natural consequence of a unison of opinions on all +leading questions, the parties having long known and esteemed each other +for those qualities which soonest reconcile us to the common frailties +of our nature. On parting at the usual hour, it was agreed to meet that +day week at the rectory, and the doctor, on making his bow to Lady +Moseley, observed, that he intended, in virtue of his office, to make an +early call on the Jarvis family, and that, if possible, he would +persuade them to be of the party. + +Sir Edward Moseley was descended from one of the most respectable of the +creations of his order by James, and had inherited, with many of the +virtues of his ancestor, an estate which placed him amongst the greatest +landed proprietors of the county. But, as it had been an invariable rule +never to deduct a single acre from the inheritance of the eldest son, +and the extravagance of his mother, who was the daughter of a nobleman, +had much embarrassed the affairs of his father, Sir Edward, on coming +into possession of his estate, had wisely determined to withdraw from +the gay world, by renting his house in town, and retiring altogether to +his respectable mansion, about a hundred miles from the metropolis. Here +he hoped, by a course of systematic but liberal economy, to release +himself from all embarrassments, and to make such a provision for his +younger children, the three daughters already mentioned, as he conceived +their birth entitled them to expect. Seventeen years enabled him to +accomplish this plan; and for more than eighteen months, Sir Edward had +resumed the hospitality and appearance usual in his family, and had even +promised his delighted girls to take possession, the ensuing winter, of +the house in St. James's Square. Nature had not qualified Sir Edward for +great or continued exertions, and the prudent decision he had taken to +retrieve his fortunes, was perhaps an act of as much forecast and vigor +as his talents or energy would afford; it was the step most obviously +for his interests, and the one that was safest both in its execution and +consequences, and as such it had been adopted: but, had it required a +single particle more of enterprise or calculation, it would have been +beyond his powers, and the heir might have yet labored under the +difficulties which distressed his more brilliant, but less prudent +parent. + +The baronet was warmly attached to his wife; and as she was a woman of +many valuable and no obnoxious qualities, civil and attentive by habit +to all around her, and perfectly disinterested in her attachments to her +own family, nothing in nature could partake more of perfection in the +eyes of her husband and children than the conduct of this beloved +relative. Yet Lady Moseley had her failings, however, although few were +disposed to view her errors with that severity which truth and a just +discrimination of character render necessary. Her union had been one of +love, and for a time it had been objected to by the friends of her +husband, on the score of fortune; but constancy and perseverance +prevailed, and the protracted and inconsequent opposition of his parents +had left no other effects than an aversion in the children to the +exercise of parental authority, in marrying their own descendents: an +aversion which, though common to both the worthy baronet and his wife, +was somewhat different in its two subjects. In the husband it was +quiescent; but in the wife, it was slightly shaded with the female +esprit de corps, of having her daughters comfortably established, and +that in due season. Lady Moseley was religious, but hardly pious; she +was charitable in deeds, but not always in opinions; her intentions were +pure, but neither her prejudices nor her reasoning powers suffered her +to be at all times consistent. Still few knew her that did not love her, +and none were ever heard to say aught against her breeding, her morals, +or her disposition. + +The sister of Sir Edward had been married, early in life, to an officer +in the army, who, spending much of his time abroad on service, had left +her a prey to that solicitude to which she was necessarily a prey by her +attachment to her husband. To find relief from this perpetual and life- +wearing anxiety, an invaluable friend had pointed out the only true +remedy of which her case admitted, a research into her own heart, and +the employments of active benevolence. The death of her husband, who +lost his life in battle, caused her to withdraw in a great measure from +the world, and gave time and inducement for reflections, which led to +impressions on religion that were sufficiently correct in themselves, +and indispensable as the basis of future happiness, but which became +slightly tinctured with the sternness of her vigorous mind, and +possibly, at times were more unbending than was compatible with the +comforts of this world; a fault, however, of manner, more than of +matter. Warmly attached to her brother and his children, Mrs. Wilson, +who had never been a mother herself, yielded to their earnest entreaties +to become one of the family; and although left by the late General +Wilson with a large income, ever since his death she had given up her +own establishment, and devoted most of her time to the formation of the +character of her youngest niece. Lady Moseley had submitted this child +entirely to the control of the aunt; and it was commonly thought Emily +would inherit the very handsome sum left at the disposal of the +General's widow. + +Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley possessed a large share of personal +beauty when young, and it had descended in common to all their children, +but more particularly to the two youngest daughters. Although a strong +family resemblance, both in person and character, existed between these +closely connected relatives, yet it existed with shades of distinction +that had very different effects on their conduct, and led to results +which stamped their lives with widely differing degrees of happiness. + +Between the families at Moseley Hall and the rectory, there had existed +for many years an intimacy founded on esteem and on long intercourse. +Doctor Ives was a clergyman of deep piety; and of very considerable +talents; he possessed, in addition to a moderate benefice, an +independent fortune in right of his wife, who was the only child of a +distinguished naval officer. Both were well connected, well bred, and +well disposed to their fellow creatures. They were blessed with but one +child, the young divine we have mentioned, who promised to equal his +father in all those qualities which had made the Doctor the delight of +his friends, and almost the idol of his parishioners. + +Between Francis Ives and Clara Moseley, there had been an attachment, +which had grown with their years, from childhood. He had been her +companion in their youthful recreations, had espoused her little +quarrels, and participated in her innocent pleasures, for so many years, +and with such an evident preference for each other in the youthful pair, +that, on leaving college to enter on the studies of his sacred calling +with his father, Francis rightly judged that none other would make his +future life as happy, as the mild, the tender, the unassuming Clara. +Their passion, if so gentle a feeling deserve the term, received the +sanction of their parents, and the two families waited only for the +establishment of the young divine, to perfect the union. + +The retirement of Sir Edward's family had been uniform, with the +exception of an occasional visit to an aged uncle of his wife's, and +who, in return, spent much of his time with them at the Hall, and who +had openly declared his intention of making the children of Lady Moseley +his heirs. The visits of Mr. Benfield were always hailed with joy, and +as an event that called for more than ordinary gaiety; for, although +rough in manner, and somewhat infirm from years, the old bachelor, who +was rather addicted to the customs in which he had indulged in his +youth, and was fond of dwelling on the scenes of former days, was +universally beloved where he was intimately known, for an unbounded +though eccentric philanthropy. + +The illness of the mother-in-law of Mrs. Wilson had called her to Bath +the winter preceding the spring when our history commences, and she had +been accompanied thither by her nephew and favorite niece. John and +Emily, during the month of their residence in that city, were in the +practice of making daily excursions in its environs. It was in one of +these little drives that they were of accidental service to a very young +and very beautiful woman, apparently in low health. They had taken her +up in their carriage, and conveyed her to a farm-house where she +resided, during a faintness which had come over her in a walk; and her +beauty, air, and manner, altogether so different from those around her, +had interested them both to a painful degree. They had ventured to call +the following day to inquire after her welfare, and this visit led to a +slight intercourse, which continued for the fortnight they remained +there. + +John had given himself some trouble to ascertain who she was, but in +vain. They could merely learn that her life was blameless, that she saw +no one but themselves, and her dialect raised a suspicion that she was +not English, It was to this unknown fair Emily alluded in her playful +attempt to stop the heedless rattle of her brother, who was not always +restrained from uttering what he thought by a proper regard for the +feelings of others. + + + +Chapter II. + +The morning succeeding the day of the dinner at the Hall, Mrs. Wilson, +with all her nieces and her nephew, availed herself of the fineness of +the weather to walk to the rectory, where they were all in the habit of +making informal and friendly visits. They had just got out of the little +village of B----, which lay in their route, when a rather handsome +travelling carriage and four passed them, and took the road which led to +the Deanery. + +"As I live," cried John, "there go our new neighbors the Jarvis's; yes, +yes, that must be the old merchant muffled up in the corner; I mistook +him at first for a pile of bandboxes; then the rosy-cheeked lady, with +so many feathers, must be the old lady--heaven forgive me, Mrs. Jarvis I +mean--aye, and the two others the belles." + +"You are in a hurry to pronounce them belles, John," said Jane, +pettishly; "it would be well to see more of them before you speak so +decidedly." + +"Oh!" replied John, "I have seen enough of them, and"--he was +interrupted by the whirling of a tilbury and tandem followed by a couple +of servants on horseback. All about this vehicle and its masters bore +the stamp of decided fashion; and our party had followed it with their +eyes for a short distance, when, having reached a fork in the roads, it +stopped, and evidently waited the coming up of the pedestrians, as if to +make an inquiry. A single glance of the eye was sufficient to apprise +the gentleman on the cushion (who held the reins) of the kind of people +he had to deal with, and stepping from his carriage, he met them with a +graceful bow, and after handsomely apologizing for the trouble he was +giving, he desired to know which road led to the Deanery. "The right," +replied John, returning his salutation. + +"Ask them, Colonel," cried the charioteer, "whether the old gentleman +went right or not." + +The Colonel, in the manner of a perfect gentleman, but with a look of +compassion for his companion's want of tact, made the desired inquiry; +which being satisfactorily answered, he again bowed and was retiring, as +one of several pointers who followed the cavalcade sprang upon Jane, and +soiled her walking dress with his dirty feet. + +"Come hither, Dido," cried the Colonel, hastening to beat the dog back +from the young lady; and again he apologized in the same collected and +handsome manner, then turning to one of the servants, he said, "call in +the dog, sir," and rejoined his companion. The air of this gentleman was +peculiarly pleasant; it would not have been difficult to pronounce him a +soldier had he not been addressed as such by his younger and certainly +less polished companion. The Colonel was apparently about thirty, and of +extremely handsome face and figure, while his driving friend appeared +several years younger, and of altogether different materials. + +"I wonder," said Jane, as they turned a corner which hid them from view, +"who they are?" + +"Who they are?" cried the brother, "why the Jarvis's to be sure; didn't +you hear them ask the road to the Deanery? + +"Oh! the one that drove, he may be a Jarvis, but not the gentleman who +spoke to us--surely not, John; besides, he was called Colonel, you +know." + +"Yes, yes," said John, with one of his quizzing expressions, "Colonel +Jarvis, that must be the alderman; they are commonly colonels of city +volunteers: yes, that must have been the old gem'mun who spoke to us, +and I was right after all about the bandboxes." + +"You forget," said Clara, smiling, "the polite inquiry concerning the +old gem'mun." + +"Ah! true; who the deuce can this Colonel be then, for young Jarvis is +only a captain, I know; who do you think he is, Jane?" + +"How do you think I can tell you, John? But whoever he is, he owns the +tilbury, although he did not drive it; and he is a gentleman both by +birth and manners." + +"Why, Jane, if you know so much of him, you should know more; but it is +all guess with you." + +"No; it is not guess--I am certain of what I say." + +The aunt and sisters, who had taken little interest in the dialogue, +looked at her with some surprise, which John observing, he exclaimed, +"Poh: she knows no more than we all know." + +"Indeed I do." + +"Poh, poh, if you know, tell." + +"Why, the arms were different." + +John laughed as he said, "That is a good reason, sure enough, for the +tilbury's being the colonel's property; but now for his blood; how did +you discover that, sis--by his gait and actions, as we say of horses?" + +Jane colored a little, and laughed faintly. "The arms on the tilbury had +six quarterings." + +Emily now laughed, and Mrs. Wilson and Clara smiled while John continued +his teazing until they reached the rectory. + +While chatting with the doctor and his wife, Francis returned from his +morning ride, and told them the Jarvis family had arrived; he had +witnessed an unpleasant accident to a gig, in which were Captain Jarvis, +and a friend, a Colonel Egerton; it had been awkwardly driven in turning +into the Deanery gate, and upset: the colonel received some injury to +his ankle, nothing, however, serious he hoped, but such as to put him +under the care of the young ladies, probably, for a few days. After the +exclamations which usually follow such details, Jane ventured to inquire +who Colonel Egerton was. + +"I understood at the time, from one of the servants, that he is a nephew +of Sir Edgar Egerton, and a lieutenant-colonel on half-pay, or furlough, +or some such thing." + +"How did he bear his misfortune, Mr. Francis?" inquired Mrs. Wilson. + +"Certainly as a gentleman, madam, if not as a Christian," replied the +young clergyman, slily smiling; "indeed, most men of gallantry would, I +believe, rejoice in an accident which drew forth so much sympathy as +both the Miss Jarvis's manifested." + +"How fortunate you should all happen to be near!" said the tender- +hearted Clara. + +"Are the young ladies pretty?" asked Jane, with something of hesitation +in her manner. + +"Why, I rather think they are; but I took very little notice of their +appearance, as the colonel was really in evident pain." + +"This, then," cried the doctor, "affords me an additional excuse for +calling on them at an early day, so I'll e'en go to-morrow." + +"I trust Doctor Ives wants no apologies for performing his duty," said +Mrs. Wilson. + +"He is fond of making them, though," said Mrs. Ives, speaking with a +benevolent smile, and for the first time in the little conversation. + +It was then arranged that the rector should make his official visit, as +intended by himself; and on his report, the ladies would act. After +remaining at the rectory an hour, they returned to the hall, attended by +Francis. + +The next day the doctor drove in, and informed them the Jarvis family +were happily settled, and the colonel in no danger, excepting from the +fascinations of the two young ladies, who took such palpable care of him +that he wanted for nothing, and they might drive over whenever they +pleased, without fear of intruding unseasonably. + +Mr. Jarvis received his guests with the frankness of good feelings, if +not with the polish of high life; while his wife, who seldom thought of +the former, would have been mortally offended with the person who could +have suggested that she omitted any of the elegancies of the latter. Her +daughters were rather pretty, but wanted, both in appearance and manner, +the inexpressible air of haut ton which so eminently distinguished the +easy but polished deportment of Colonel Egerton, whom they found +reclining on a sofa with his leg on a chair, amply secured in numerous +bandages, but unable to rise. Notwithstanding the awkwardness of his +situation, he was by far the least discomposed person of the party, and +having pleasantly excused himself, he appeared to think no more of the +matter. + +The captain, Mrs. Jarvis remarked, had gone out with his dogs to try the +grounds around them, "for he seems to live only with his horses and his +gun: young men, my lady, nowadays, appear to forget that there are any +things in the world but themselves; now I told Harry that your ladyship +and daughters would favor us with a call this morning--but no: there he +went, as if Mr. Jarvis was unable to buy us a dinner, and we should all +starve but for his quails and pheasants." + +"Quails and pheasants," cried John, in consternation, "does Captain +Jarvis shoot quails and pheasants at this time of the year?" + +"Mrs. Jarvis, sir," said Colonel Egerton, with a correcting smile, +"understands the allegiance due from us gentlemen to the ladies, better +than the rules of sporting; my friend, the captain, has taken his +fishing rod, I believe." + +"It is all one, fish or birds," continued Mrs. Jarvis, "he is out of the +way when he is wanted, and I believe we can buy fish as easily as birds; +I wish he would take pattern after yourself, colonel, in these matters." + +Colonel Egerton laughed pleasantly, but he did not blush; and Miss +Jarvis observed, with a look, of something like admiration thrown on his +reclining figure, "that when Harry had been in the army as long as his +friend, he would know the usages of good society, she hoped, as well." + +"Yes," said her mother, "the army is certainly the place to polish a +young man;" and turning to Mrs. Wilson, she abruptly added, "Your +husband, I believe, was in the army, ma'am?" + +"I hope," said Emily hastily, "that we shall have the pleasure of seeing +you soon, Miss Jarvis, at the Hall," preventing by her promptitude the +necessity of a reply from her aunt. The young lady promised to make an +early visit, and the subject changed to a general and uninteresting +discourse on the neighborhood, the country, the weather, and other +ordinary topics. + +"Now, John," cried Jane in triumph, as they drove from the door, "you +must acknowledge my heraldic witchcraft, as you are pleased to call it, +is right for once at least." + +"Oh! no doubt, Jenny," said John, who was accustomed to use that +appellation to her as a provocation, when he wished what he called an +enlivening scene; but Mrs. Wilson put a damper on his hopes by a remark +to his mother, and the habitual respect of both the combatants kept them +silent. + +Jane Moseley was endowed by nature with an excellent understanding, one +at least equal to that of her brother, but the wanted the more essential +requisites of a well governed mind. Masters had been provided by Sir +Edward for all his daughters, and if they were not acquainted with the +usual acquirements of young women in their rank of life, it was not his +fault: his system of economy had not embraced a denial of opportunity to +any of his children, and the baronet was apt to think all was done, when +they were put where all might be done. Feeling herself and parents +entitled to enter into all the gaieties and splendors of some of the +richer families in their vicinity, Jane, who had grown up during the +temporary eclipse of Sir Edward's fortunes, had sought that self- +consolation so common to people in her situation, which was to be found +in reviewing the former grandeur of her house, and she had thus +contracted a degree of family pride. If Clara's weaknesses were less +striking than those of Jane, it was because she had less imagination, +and because that in loving Francis Ives she had so long admired a +character, where so little was to be found that could be censured, that +she might be said to have contracted a habit of judging correctly, +without being able at all times to give a reason for her conduct or her +opinions. + + + +Chapter III. + +The day fixed for one of the stated visits of Mr. Benfield had now +arrived, and John, with Emily, who was the old bachelor's favorite +niece, went in the baronet's post-chaise to the town of F----, a +distance of twenty miles, to meet him, in order to accompany him in the +remainder of his journey to the Hall, it being a settled rule with the +old man, that his carriage horses should return to their own stables +every night, where he imagined they could alone find that comfort and +care to which their age and services gave them a claim. The day was +uncommonly pleasant, and the young people were in high spirits with the +expectation of meeting their respected relative, whose absence had been +prolonged a few days by a severe fit of the gout. + +"Now, Emily," cried John, as he settled himself comfortably by the side +of his sister in the chaise, "let me know honestly how you like the +Jarvis's, and particularly how you like the handsome colonel." + +"Then, John, honestly, I neither like nor dislike the Jarvis's or the +handsome colonel." + +"Well, then, there is no great diversity in our sentiments, as Jane +would say." + +"John!" + +"Emily!" + +"I do not like to hear you speak so disrespectfully of out sister, whom +I am sure you love as tenderly as I do myself." + +"I acknowledge my error," said the brother, taking her hand and +affectionately kissing it, "and will endeavor to offend no more; but +this Colonel Egerton, sister, is certainly a gentleman, both by blood +and in manners, as Jane"--Emily interrupted him with a laugh, which John +took very good-naturedly, repeating his remark without alluding to their +sister. + +"Yes," said Emily, "he is genteel in his deportment, if that be what you +mean; I know nothing of his family." + +"Oh, I have taken a peep into Jane's Baronetage, where find him set down +as Sir Edgar's heir." + +"There is something about him," said Emily, musing, "that I do not much +admire; he is too easy--there is no nature; I always feel afraid such +people will laugh at me as soon as my back is turned, and for those very +things they seem most to admire to my face. If I might be allowed to +judge, I should say his manner wants one thing, without which no one can +be truly agreeable." + +"What's that?" + +"Sincerity." + +"Ah! that's my great recommendation; but I am afraid I shall have to +take the poacher up, with his quails and his pheasants, indeed." + +"You know the colonel explained that to be a mistake." + +"What they call explaining away; but unluckily I saw the gentleman +returning with his gun on his shoulder, and followed by a brace of +pointers." + +"There's a specimen of the colonel's manners then," said Emily, smiling; +"it will do until the truth be known." + +"And Jane, when she saw him also, praised his good nature and +consideration, in what she was pleased to call relieving the awkwardness +of my remark." + +Emily finding her brother disposed to dwell on the foibles of Jane, a +thing he was rather addicted to at times, was silent. They rode some +distance before John, who was ever as ready to atone as he was to +offend, again apologized, again promised reformation, and during the +remainder of the ride only forgot himself twice more in the same way. + +They reached F---- two hours before the lumbering coach of their uncle +drove into the yard of the inn, and had sufficient time to refresh their +own horses for the journey homewards. + +Mr. Benfield was a bachelor of eighty, but retained the personal +activity of a man of sixty. He was strongly attached to all the fashions +and opinions of his youth, during which he had sat one term in +parliament, having been a great beau and courtier in the commencement of +the reign. A disappointment in an affair of the heart drove him into +retirement; and for the last fifty years he had dwelt exclusively at a +seat he owned within forty miles of Moseley Hall, the mistress of which +was the only child of his only brother. In figure, he was tall and +spare, very erect for his years, and he faithfully preserved in his +attire, servants, carriages, and indeed everything around him, as much +of the fashions of his youth as circumstances would allow: such then was +a faint outline of the character and appearance of the old man, who, +dressed in a cocked hat, bag wig, and sword, took the offered arm of +John Moseley to alight from his coach. + +"So," cried the old gentleman, having made good his footing on the +ground, as he stopped short and stared John in the face, "you have made +out to come twenty miles to meet an old cynic, have you, sir? but I +thought I bid thee bring Emmy with thee." + +John pointed to the window, where his sister stood anxiously watching +her uncle's movements. On catching her eye, he smiled kindly, and +pursued his way into the house, talking to himself. + +"Aye, there she is indeed; I remember now, when I was a youngster, of +going with my kinsman, old Lord Gosford, to meet his sister, the Lady +Juliana, when she first came from school (this was the lady whose +infidelity had driven him from the world); and a beauty she was indeed, +something like Emmy there; only she was taller, and her eyes were black, +and her hair too, that was black; and she was not so fair as Emmy, and +she was fatter, and she stooped a little--very little; oh! they are +wonderfully alike though; don't you think they were, nephew?" he stopped +at the door of the room; while John, who in this description could not +see a resemblance, which existed nowhere but in the old man's +affections, was fain to say, "yes; but they were related, you know, +uncle, and that explains the likeness." + +"True, boy, true," said his uncle, pleased at a reason for a thing he +wished, and which flattered his propensities. He had once before told +Emily she put him in mind of his housekeeper, a woman as old as himself, +and without a tooth in her head. + +On meeting his niece, Mr. Benfield (who, like many others that feel +strongly, wore in common the affectation of indifference and +displeasure) yielded to his fondness, and folding her in his arms, +kissed her affectionately, while a tear glistened in his eye; and then +pushing her gently from him, he exclaimed, "Come, come, Emmy, don't +strangle me, don't strangle me, girl; let me live in peace the little +while I have to remain here--so," seating himself composedly in an arm +chair his niece had placed for him with a cushion, "so Anne writes me, +Sir William Harris has let the deanery." + +"Oh, yes, uncle," cried John. + +"I'll thank you, young gentleman," said Mr. Benfield, sternly, "not to +interrupt me when I am speaking to a lady that is, if you please, sir. +Then Sir William has let the deanery to a London merchant, a Mr. Jarvis. +Now I knew three people of that name; one was a hackney coachman, when I +was a member of the parliament of this realm, and drove me often to the +house; the other was valet-de-chambre to my Lord Gosford; and the third, +I take it, is the very man who has become your neighbor. If it be the +person I mean, Emmy dear, he is like--like--aye, very like old Peter, my +steward." + +John, unable to contain his mirth at this discovery of a likeness +between the prototype of Mr. Benfield himself in leanness of figure, and +the jolly rotundity of the merchant, was obliged to leave the room; +Emily, though she could not forbear smiling at the comparison, quietly +said, "You will meet him to-morrow, dear uncle, and then you will be +able to judge for yourself." + +"Yes, yes," muttered the old man, "very like old Peter, my steward; as +like as two peas." The parallel was by no means as ridiculous as might +be supposed; its history being as follows: + +Mr. Benfield had placed twenty thousand pounds in the hands of a broker, +with positive orders for him to pay it away immediately for government +stock, bought by the former on his account; but disregarding this +injunction, the broker had managed the transaction in such a way as to +postpone the payment, until, on his failure, he had given up that and a +much larger sum to Mr. Jarvis, to satisfy what he called an honorary +debt. In elucidating the transaction Mr. Jarvis paid Benfield Lodge a +visit, and honestly restored the bachelor his property. This act, and +the high opinion he entertained of Mrs. Wilson, with his unbounded love +for Emily, were the few things which prevented his believing some +dreadful judgment was about to visit this world, for its increasing +wickedness and follies. As his own steward was one of the honestest +fellows living, he had ever after fancied that there was a personal +resemblance between him and the conscientious merchant. + +The horses being ready, the old bachelor was placed carefully between +his nephew and niece, and in that manner they rode on quietly to the +Hall, the dread of accident keeping Mr. Benfield silent most of the way. +On passing, however a stately castle, about ten miles from the +termination of their ride, he began one of his speeches with, + +"Emmy, dear, does Lord Bolton come often to see you?" + +"Very seldom, sir; his employment keeps him much of his time at St. +James's, and then he has an estate in Ireland." + +"I knew his father well--he was distantly connected by marriage with my +friend Lord Gosford; you could not remember him, I suspect" (John rolled +his eyes at this suggestion of his sister's recollection of a man who +had been forty years dead); "he always voted with me in the parliament +of this realm; he was a thoroughly honest man; very much such a man to +look at as Peter Johnson, my steward: but I am told his son likes the +good things of the ministry; well, well, William Pitt was the only +minister to my mind. There was the Scotchman of whom they made a +Marquis; I never could endure him--always voted against him." + +"Right or wrong, uncle," cried John, who loved a little mischief in his +heart. + +"No, sir--right, but never wrong. Lord Gosford always voted against him +too; and do you think, jackanapes, that my friend the Earl of Gosford +and--and--myself were ever wrong? No, sir, men in my day were different +creatures from what they are now: we were never wrong, sir; we loved our +country, and had no motive for being in the wrong." + +"How was it with Lord Bute, uncle?" + +"Lord Bute, sir," cried the old man with great warmth, "was the +minister, sir--he was the minister; aye, he was the minister, sir, and +was paid for what he did." + +"But Lord Chatham, was he not the minister too?" + +Now, nothing vexed the old gentleman more than to hear William Pitt +called by his tardy honors; and yet, unwilling to give up what he +thought his political opinions, he exclaimed, with an unanswerable +positiveness of argument, + +"Billy Pitt, sir, was the minister, sir; but--but--but--he was our +minister, sir." + +Emily, unable to see her uncle agitated by such useless disputes, threw +a reproachful glance on her brother, as she observed timidly, + +"That was a glorious administration, sir, I believe." + +"Glorious indeed! Emmy dear," said the bachelor, softening with the +sound of her voice, and the recollections of his younger days, "we beat +the French everywhere--in America--in Germany;--we took--(counting on +his fingers)--we took Quebec--yes, Lord Gosford lost a cousin there; and +we took all the Canadas; and we took their fleets: there was a young man +killed in the battle between Hawke and Conflans, who was much attached +to Lady Juliana--poor soul! how much she regretted him when dead, though +she never could abide him when living--ah! she was a tender-hearted +creature!" + +Mr. Benfield, like many others, continued to love imaginary qualities in +his mistress, long after her heartless coquetry had disgusted him with +her person: a kind of feeling which springs from self-love, which finds +it necessary to seek consolation in creating beauties, that may justify +our follies to ourselves; and which often keeps alive the semblance of +the passion, when even hope, or real admiration, is extinct. + +On reaching the Hall, every one was rejoiced to see their really +affectionate and worthy relative, and the evening passed in the tranquil +enjoyment of the blessings which Providence had profusely scattered +around the family of the baronet, but which are too often hazarded by a +neglect of duty that springs from too great security, or an indolence +which renders us averse to the precaution necessary to insure their +continuance. + + + +Chapter IV. + +"You are welcome, Sir Edward," said the venerable rector, as he took the +baronet by the hand; "I was fearful a return of your rheumatism would +deprive us of this pleasure, and prevent my making you acquainted with +the new occupants of the deanery, who have consented to dine with us to- +day, and to whom I have promised, in particular, an introduction to Sir +Edward Moseley." + +"I thank you, my dear doctor," rejoined the baronet; "I have not only +come myself, but have persuaded Mr. Benfield to make one of the party; +there he comes, leaning on Emily's arm, and finding fault with Mrs. +Wilson's new-fashioned barouche, which he says has given him cold." + +The rector received the unexpected guest with the kindness of his +nature, and an inward smile at the incongruous assemblage he was likely +to have around him by the arrival of the Jarvis's, who, at that moment, +drove to his door. The introductions between the baronet and the new +comers had passed, and Miss Jarvis had made a prettily worded apology on +behalf of the colonel, who was not yet well enough to come out, but +whose politeness had insisted on their not remaining a home on his +account, as Mr. Benfield, having composedly put on his spectacles, +walked deliberately up to the place where the merchant had seated +himself, and having examined him through his glasses to his +satisfaction, took them off, and carefully wiping them, he began to talk +to himself as he put them into his pocket--"No, no; it's not Jack, the +hackney coachman, nor my Lord Gosford's gentleman, but"--cordially +holding out both hands, "it's the man who saved my twenty thousand +pounds." + +Mr. Jarvis, whom shame and embarrassment had kept silent during this +examination, exchanged greetings sincerely with his old acquaintance, +who now took a seat in silence by his side; while his wife, whose face +had begun to kindle with indignation at the commencement of the old +gentleman's soliloquy, observing that somehow or other it had not only +terminated without degradation to her spouse, but with something like +credit, turned complacently to Mrs. Ives, with an apology for the +absence of her son. + +"I cannot divine, ma'am, where he has got to; he is ever keeping us +waiting for him;" and, addressing Jane, "these military men become so +unsettled in their habits, that I often tell Harry he should never quit +the camp." + +"In Hyde Park, you should add, my dear, for he has never been in any +other," bluntly observed her husband. + +To this speech no reply was made, but it was evidently little relished +by the ladies of the family, who were a good deal jealous of the laurels +of the only hero their race had ever produced. The arrival and +introduction of the captain himself changed the discourse, which turned +on the comforts of their present residence. + +"Pray, my lady," cried the captain, who had taken a chair familiarly by +the side of the baronet's wife, "why is the house called the deanery? I +am afraid I shall be taken for a son of the church, when I invite my +friends to visit my father at the deanery." + +"But you may add, at the same time, sir, if you please," dryly remarked +Mr. Jarvis, "that it is occupied by an old man, who has been preaching +and lecturing all his life; and, like others of the trade, I believe, in +vain." + +"You must except our good friend, the doctor here, at least, sir," said +Mrs. Wilson; who, observing that her sister shrank from a familiarity +she was unused to, took upon herself the office of replying to the +captain's question: "The father of the present Sir William Harris held +that station in the church, and although the house was his private +property it took its name from the circumstance, which has been +continued ever since." + +"Is it not a droll life Sir William leads," cried Miss Jarvis, looking +at John Moseley, "riding about all summer from one watering-place to +another, and letting his house year after year in the manner he does?" + +"Sir William," said Dr. Ives, gravely, "is devoted to his daughter's +wishes; and since his accession to his title, has come into possession +of another residence in an adjoining county, which, I believe, he +retains in his own hands." + +"Are you acquainted with Miss Harris?" continued the lady, addressing +herself to Clara; though, without waiting for an answer, she added, "She +is a great belle--all the gentlemen are dying for her." + +"Or her fortune," said her sister, with a pretty toss of the head; "for +my part, I never could see anything so captivating in her, although so +much is said about her at Bath and Brighton." + +"You know her then," mildly observed Clara. + +"Why, I cannot say--we are exactly acquainted," the young lady +hesitatingly answered, coloring violently. + +"What do you mean by exactly acquainted, Sally?" put in the father with +a laugh; "did you ever speak to or were you ever in a room with her, in +your life, unless it might be at a concert or a ball?" + +The mortification of Miss Sarah was too evident for concealment, and it +happily was relieved by a summons to dinner. + +"Never, my dear child," said Mrs. Wilson to Emily, the aunt being fond +of introducing a moral from the occasional incidents of every-day life, +"never subject yourself to a similar mortification, by commenting on the +characters of those you don't know: ignorance makes you liable to great +errors; and if they should happen to be above you in life, it will only +excite their contempt, should it reach their ears, while those to whom +your remarks are made will think it envy." + +"Truth is sometimes blundered on," whispered John, who held his sister's +arm, waiting for his aunt to precede them to the dining-room. + +The merchant paid too great a compliment to the rector's dinner to think +of renewing the disagreeable conversation, and as John Moseley and the +young clergyman were seated next the two ladies, they soon forgot what, +among themselves, they would call their father's rudeness, in receiving +the attentions of a couple of remarkably agreeable young men. + +"Pray, Mr. Francis, when do you preach for us?" asked Mr. Haughton; "I'm +very anxious to hear you hold forth from the pulpit, where I have so +often heard your father with pleasure: I doubt not you will prove +orthodox, or you will be the only man, I believe, in the congregation, +the rector has left in ignorance of the theory of our religion, at +least." + +The doctor bowed to the compliment, as he replied to the question for +his son, that on the next Sunday they were to have the pleasure of +hearing Frank, who had promised to assist him on that day. + +"Any prospects of a living soon?" continued Mr. Haughton, helping +himself bountifully to a piece of plum pudding as he spoke. John Moseley +laughed aloud, and Clara blushed to the eyes, while the doctor, turning +to Sir Edward, observed with an air of interest, "Sir Edward, the living +of Bolton is vacant, and I should like exceedingly to obtain it for my +son. The advowson belongs to the Earl, who will dispose of it only to +great interest, I am afraid." + +Clara was certainly, too busily occupied in picking raisins from her +pudding to hear this remark, but accidentally stole, from under her long +eyelashes, a timid glance at her father as he replied: + +"I am sorry, my friend, I have not sufficient interest with his lordship +to apply on my own account; but he is so seldom here, we are barely +acquainted;" and the good baronet looked really concerned. + +"Clara," said Francis Ives in a low and affectionate tone, "have you +read the books I sent you?" + +Clara answered him with a smile in the negative, but promised amendment +as soon as she had leisure. + +"Do you ride much, on horseback, Mr. Moseley?" abruptly asked Miss +Sarah, turning her back on the young divine, and facing the gentleman +she addressed. John, who was now hemmed in between the sisters, replied +with a rueful expression that brought a smile into the face of Emily, +who was placed opposite to him-- + +"Yes, ma'am, and sometimes I am ridden." + +"Ridden, sir, what do you mean by that?" + +"Oh! only my aunt there occasionally gives me a lecture." + +"I understand," said the lady, pointing slily with her finger at her own +father. + +"Does it feel good?" John inquired, with a look of, great sympathy. But +the lady, who now felt awkwardly, without knowing exactly why, shook her +head in silence, and forced a faint laugh. + +"Whom have we here?" cried Captain Jarvis, who was looking out at a +window which commanded a view of the approach to the house--"the +apothecary and his attendant judging from the equipage." + +The rector threw an inquiring look on a servant, who told his master +they were strangers to him. + +"Have them shown up, doctor," cried the benevolent baronet, who loved to +see every one as happy as himself, "and give them some of your excellent +pasty, for the sake of hospitality and the credit of your cook, I beg of +you." + +As this request was politely seconded by others of the party, the rector +ordered his servants to show in the strangers. + +On opening the parlor door, a gentleman, apparently sixty years of age, +appeared, leaning on the arm of a youth of five-and-twenty. There was +sufficient resemblance between the two for the most indifferent observer +to pronounce them father and son; but the helpless debility and +emaciated figure of the former, were finely contrasted by the vigorous +health and manly beauty of the latter, who supported his venerable +parent into the room with a grace and tenderness that struck most of the +beholders with a sensation of pleasure. The doctor and Mrs. Ives rose +from their seats involuntarily, and each stood for a moment, lost in an +astonishment that was mingled with grief. Recollecting himself, the +rector grasped the extended hand of the senior in both his own, and +endeavored to utter something, but in vain. The tears followed each +other down his cheeks, as he looked on the faded and careworn figure +which stood before him; while his wife, unable to control her feelings, +sank back into a chair and wept aloud. + +Throwing open the door of an adjoining room, and retaining the hand of +the invalid, the doctor gently led the way, followed by his wife and +son. The former, having recovered from the first burst of her sorrow, +and regardless of everything else, now anxiously watched the enfeebled +step of the stranger. On reaching the door, they both turned and bowed +to the company in a manner of so much dignity, mingled with sweetness, +that all, not excepting Mr. Benfield, rose from their seats to return +the salutation. On passing from the dining parlor, the door was closed, +leaving the company standing round the table in mute astonishment and +commiseration. Not a word had been spoken, and the rector's family had +left them without apology or explanation. Francis, however soon +returned, and was followed in a few minutes by his mother, who, slightly +apologizing for her absence, turned the discourse on the approaching +Sunday, and the intention of Francis to preach on that day. The Moseleys +were too well bred to make any inquiries, and the deanery family was +afraid. Sir Edward retired at a very early hour, and was followed by the +remainder of the party. + +"Well," cried Mrs. Jarvis, as they drove from the door, "this may be +good breeding, but, for my part, I think both the doctor and Mrs. Ives +behaved very rudely, with the crying and sobbing." + +"They are nobody of much consequence," cried her eldest daughter, +casting a contemptuous glance on a plain travelling chaise which stood +before the rector's stables. + +"'Twas sickening," said Miss Sarah, with a shrug; while her father, +turning his eyes on each speaker in succession, very deliberately helped +himself to a pinch of snuff, his ordinary recourse against a family +quarrel. The curiosity of the ladies was, however, more lively than they +chose to avow and Mrs. Jarvis bade her maid go over to the rectory that +evening, with her compliments to Mrs. Ives; she had lost a lace veil, +which her maid knew, and she thought it might have been left at the +rectory. + +"And, Jones, when you are there, you can inquire of the servants; mind, +of the servants--I would not distress Mrs. Ives for the world; how Mr.-- +Mr.--what's his name--Oh!--I have forgotten his name; just bring me his +name too, Jones; and, as it may make some difference in our party, just +find out how long they stay; and--and--- any other little thing, Jones, +which can be of use, you know." + +Off went Jones, and within an hour she had returned. With an important +look, she commenced her narrative, the daughters being accidentally +present, and it might be on purpose. + +"Why, ma'am, I went across the fields, and William was good enough to go +with me; so when we got there, I rang, and they showed us into the +servants' room, and I gave my message, and the veil was not there. Why, +ma'am, there's the veil now, on the back o' that chair." + +"Very well, very well, Jones, never mind the veil," cried the impatient +mistress. + +"So, ma'am, while they were looking for the veil, I just asked one of +the maids, what company had arrived, but"--(here Jones looked very +suspicious, and shook her head ominously:) "would you think it, ma'am, +not a soul of them knew! But, ma'am, there was the doctor and his son, +praying and reading with the old gentleman the whole time--and"-- + +"And what, Jones?" + +"Why, ma'am, I expect he has been a great sinner, or he wouldn't want so +much praying just as he is about to die." + +"Die!" cried all three at once: "will he die?" + +"O yes," continued Jones, "they all agree he must die; but this praying +so much, is just like the criminals. I'm sure no honest person needs so +much praying, ma'am." + +"No, indeed," said the mother. "No, indeed," responded the daughters, as +they retired to their several rooms for the night. + + + +Chapter V. + +There is something in the season of Spring which peculiarly excites the +feelings of devotion. The dreariness of winter has passed, and with it, +the deadened affections of our nature. New life, new vigor, arises +within us, as we walk abroad and feel the genial gales of April breathe +upon us; and our hopes, our wishes, awaken with the revival of the +vegetable world. It is then that the heart, which has been impressed +with the goodness of the Creator, feels that goodness brought, as it +were, into very contact with the senses. The eye loves to wander over +the bountiful provisions nature is throwing forth in every direction for +our comfort, and fixes its gaze on the clouds, which, having lost the +chilling thinness of winter, roll in rich volumes, amidst the clear and +softened fields of azure so peculiar to the season, leading the mind +insensibly, to dwell on the things of another and a better world. It was +on such a day, that the inhabitants of B---- thronged toward the village +church, for the double purpose of pouring out their thanksgivings, and +of hearing the first efforts of their rector's son in the duties of his +sacred calling. + +Amongst the crowd whom curiosity or a better feeling had drawn forth, +were to be seen the flaring equipage of the Jarvises, and the handsome +carriages of Sir Edward Moseley and his sister. All the members of the +latter family felt a lively anxiety for the success of the young divine. +But knowing, as they well did, the strength of his native talents, the +excellence of his education, and the fervor of his piety, it was an +anxiety that partook more of hope than of fear. There was one heart, +however, amongst them, that palpitated with an emotion that hardly +admitted of control, as they approached the sacred edifice, for it had +identified itself completely with the welfare of the rector's son. There +never was a softer, truer heart, than that which now almost audibly beat +within the bosom of Clara Moseley; and she had given it to the young +divine with all its purity and truth. + +The entrance of a congregation into the sanctuary will at all times +furnish, to an attentive observer, food for much useful speculation, if +it be chastened with a proper charity for the weaknesses of others; and +most people are ignorant of the insight they are giving into their +characters and dispositions, by such an apparently trivial circumstance +as their weekly approach to the tabernacles of the Lord. Christianity, +while it chastens and amends the heart, leaves the natural powers +unaltered; and it cannot be doubted that its operation is, or ought to +be, proportionate to the abilities and opportunities of the subject of +its holy impression--"Unto whomsoever much is given, much will be +required." While we acknowledge, that the thoughts might be better +employed in preparing for those humiliations of the spirit and +thanksgiving of the heart which are required of all, and are so +necessary to all, we must be indulged in a hasty view of some of the +personages of our history, as they entered the church of B----. + +On the countenance of the baronet, was the dignity and composure of a +mind at peace with itself and mankind. His step was rather more +deliberate than common; his eye rested on the pavement, and on turning +into his pew, as he prepared to kneel, in the first humble petition of +our beautiful service, he raised it towards the altar with an expression +of benevolence and reverence, that spoke contentment, not unmixed with +faith. + +In the demeanor of Lady Moseley, all was graceful and decent, while +nothing could be properly said to be studied. She followed her husband +with a step of equal deliberation, though it was slightly varied by a +manner which, while it appeared natural to herself, might have been +artificial in another: a cambric handkerchief concealed her face as she +sank composedly by the side of Sir Edward, in a style which showed, that +while she remembered her Maker, she had not entirely forgotten herself. + +The walk of Mrs. Wilson was quicker than that of her sister. Her eye, +directed before her, was fixed, as if in settled gaze, on that eternity +which she was approaching. The lines of her contemplative face were +unaltered, unless there might be traced a deeper shade of humility than +was ordinarily seen on her pale, but expressive countenance: her +petition was long; and on rising from her humble posture, the person was +indeed to be seen, but the soul appeared absorbed in contemplations +beyond the limits of this sphere. + +There was a restlessness and varying of color, in the ordinarily placid +Clara, which prevented a display of her usual manner; while Jane walked +gracefully, and with a tincture of her mother's manner, by her side. She +stole one hastily withdrawn glance to the deanery pew ere she kneeled, +and then, on rising, handed her smelling-bottle affectionately to her +elder sister. + +Emily glided behind her companions with a face beaming with a look of +innocence and love. As she sank in the act of supplication, the rich +glow of her healthful cheek lost some of its brilliancy; but, on rising, +it beamed with a renewed lustre, that plainly indicated a heart touched +with the sanctity of its situation. + +In the composed and sedate manner of Mr. Jarvis, as he steadily pursued +his way to the pew of Sir William Harris, you might have been justified +in expecting the entrance of another Sir Edward Moseley in substance, if +not in externals. But the deliberate separation of the flaps of his +coat, as he comfortably seated himself, when you thought him about to +kneel, followed by a pinch of snuff as he threw his eye around the +building, led you at once to conjecture, that what at first had been +mistaken for reverence, was the abstraction of some earthly calculation; +and that his attendance was in compliance with custom, and not a little +depended upon the thickness of his cushions, and the room he found for +the disposition of two rather unwieldy legs. + +The ladies of the family followed, in garments carefully selected for +the advantageous display of their persons. As they sailed into their +seats, where it would seem the improvidence of Sir William's steward had +neglected some important accommodation (some time being spent in +preparation to be seated), the old lady, whose size and flesh really put +kneeling out of the question, bent forward for a moment at an angle of +eighty with the horizon, while her daughters prettily bowed their heads, +with all proper precaution for the safety of their superb millinery. + +At length the rector, accompanied by his son, appeared from the vestry. +There was a dignity and solemnity in the manner in which this pious +divine entered on the duties of his profession, which disposed the heart +to listen with reverence and humility to precepts that were accompanied +with so impressive an exterior. The stillness of expectation pervaded +the church, when the pew opener led the way to the same interesting +father and son whose entrance had interrupted the guests the preceding +day, at the rectory. Every eye was turned on the emaciated parent, +bending into the grave, and, as it were, kept from it by the supporting +tenderness of his child. Hastily throwing open the door of her own pew, +Mrs. Ives buried her face in her handkerchief; and her husband had +proceeded far in the morning service before she raised it again to the +view of the congregation. In the voice of the rector, there was an +unusual softness and tremor that his people attributed to the feelings +of a father about to witness the first efforts of an only child, but +which in reality were owing to another and a deeper cause. + +Prayers were ended, and the younger Ives ascended the pulpit. For a +moment he paused; when, casting an anxious glance to the pew of the +baronet, he commenced his sermon. He had chosen for his discourse the +necessity of placing our dependence on divine grace. After having +learnedly, but in the most unaffected manner, displayed the necessity of +this dependence, as derived from revelation, he proceeded to paint the +hope, the resignation, the felicity of a Christian's death-bed. Warmed +by the subject, his animation soon lent a heightened interest to his +language; and at a moment when all around him were entranced by the +eloquence of the youthful divine, a sudden and deep-drawn sigh drew +every eye to the rector's pew. The younger stranger sat motionless as a +statue, holding in his arms the lifeless body of his parent, who had +fallen that moment a corpse by his side. All was now confusion: the +almost insensible young man was relieved from his burden; and, led by +the rector, they left the church. The congregation dispersed in silence, +or assembled in little groups, to converse on the awful event they had +witnessed. None knew the deceased; he was the rector's friend, and to +his residence the body was removed. The young man was evidently his +child; but here all information ended. They had arrived in a private +chaise, but with post horses, and without attendants. Their arrival at +the parsonage was detailed by the Jarvis ladies with a few exaggerations +that gave additional interest to the whole event, and which, by creating +an impression with some whom gentler feelings would not have restrained, +that there was something of mystery about them, prevented many +distressing questions to the Ives's, that the baronet's family forbore +putting, on the score of delicacy. The body left B---- at the close of +the week, accompanied by Francis Ives and the unweariedly attentive and +interesting son. The doctor and his wife went into deep mourning, and +Clara received a short note from her lover, on the morning of their +departure, acquainting her with his intended absence for a month, but +throwing no light upon the affair. The London papers, however, contained +the following obituary notice, and which, as it could refer to no other +person, as a matter of course, was supposed to allude to the rector's +friend. + +"Died, suddenly, at B----, on the 20th instant, George Denbigh, Esq., +aged 63." + + + +Chapter VI. + +During the week of mourning, the intercourse between Moseley Hall and +the rectory was confined to messages and notes of inquiry after each +other's welfare: but the visit of the Moseleys to the deanery had been +returned; and the day after the appearance of the obituary paragraph, +the family of the latter dined by invitation at the Hall. Colonel +Egerton had recovered the use of his leg, and was included in the party. +Between this gentleman and Mr. Benfield there appeared, from the first +moment of their introduction, a repugnance which was rather increased by +time, and which the old gentleman manifested by a demeanor loaded with +the overstrained ceremony of the day, and which, in the colonel, only +showed itself by avoiding, when possible, all intercourse with the +object of his aversion. Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley, on the +contrary, were not slow in manifesting their favorable impressions in +behalf of the gentleman. The latter, in particular, having ascertained +to her satisfaction that he was the undoubted heir to the title, and +most probably to the estates of his uncle, Sir Edgar Egerton, felt +herself strongly disposed to encourage an acquaintance she found so +agreeable, and to which she could see no reasonable objection. Captain +Jarvis, who was extremely offensive to her, from his vulgar familiarity, +she barely tolerated, from the necessity of being civil, and keeping up +sociability in the neighborhood. It is true, she could not help being +surprised that a gentleman, as polished as the colonel, could find any +pleasure in an associate like his friend, or even in the hardly more +softened females of his family; then again, the flattering suggestion +would present itself, that possibly he might have seen Emily at Bath, or +Jane elsewhere, and availed himself of the acquaintance of young Jarvis +to get into their neighborhood. Lady Moseley had never been vain, or +much interested about the disposal of her own person, previously to her +attachment to her husband: but her daughters called forth not a little +of her natural pride--we had almost said of her selfishness. + +The attentions of the colonel were of the most delicate and insinuating +kind; and Mrs. Wilson several times turned away in displeasure at +herself, for listening with too much satisfaction to nothings, uttered +in an agreeable manner, or, what was worse, false sentiments supported +with the gloss of language and a fascinating deportment. The anxiety of +this lady on behalf of Emily kept her ever on the alert, when chance, or +any chain of circumstances, threw her in the way of forming new +connexions of any kind; and of late, as her charge approached the period +of life her sex were apt to make that choice from which there is no +retreat, her solicitude to examine the characters of the men who +approached her was really painful. As to Lady Moseley, her wishes +disposed her to be easily satisfied, and her mind naturally shrank from +an investigation to which she felt herself unequal; while Mrs. Wilson +was governed by the convictions of a sound discretion, matured by long +and deep reasoning, all acting on a temper at all times ardent, and a +watchfulness calculated to endure to the end. + +"Pray, my lady," said Mrs. Jarvis, with a look of something like +importance, "have you made any discovery about this Mr. Denbigh, who +died in the church lately?" + +"I did not know, ma'am," replied Lady Moseley, "there was any discovery +to be made." + +"You know, Lady Moseley," said Colonel Egerton, "that in town, all the +little accompaniments of such a melancholy death would have found their +way into the prints; and I suppose this is what Mrs. Jarvis alludes to." + +"Oh yes," cried Mrs. Jarvis, "the colonel is right." But the colonel was +always right with that lady. + +Lady Moseley bowed her head with dignity, and the colonel had too much +tact to pursue the conversation; but the captain, whom nothing had ever +yet abashed, exclaimed, + +"These Denbighs could not be people of much importance--I have never +heard the name before." + +"It is the family name of the Duke of Derwent, I believe," dryly +remarked Sir Edward. + +"Oh, I am sure neither the old man nor his son looked much like a duke, +or so much as an officer either," exclaimed Mrs. Jarvis, who thought the +latter rank the dignity in degree next below nobility. + +"There sat, in the parliament of this realm, when I was a member, a +General Denbigh," said Mr. Benfield, with his usual deliberation; "he +was always on the same side with Lord Gosford and myself. He and his +friend, Sir Peter Howell, who was the admiral that took the French +squadron, in the glorious administration of Billy Pitt, and afterwards +took an island with this same General Denbigh: aye, the old admiral was +a hearty blade; a good deal such a looking man as my Hector would make." + +Hector was Mr. Benfield's bull dog. + +"Mercy," whispered John to Clara, "that's your grandfather that is to be +uncle Benfield is speaking of." + +Clara smiled, as she ventured to say, "Sir Peter was Mrs. Ives's father, +sir." + +"Indeed!" said the old gentleman, with a look of surprise, "I never knew +that before; I cannot say they resemble each other much." + +"Pray, uncle, does Frank look much like the family?" asked John, with an +air of unconquerable gravity. + +"But, sir," interrupted Emily, "were General Denbigh and Admiral Howell +related?" + +"Not that I ever knew, Emmy dear. Sir Frederick Denbigh did not look +much like the admiral; he rather resembled (gathering himself up into an +air of formality, and bowing stiffly to Colonel Egerton) this gentleman, +here." + +"I have not the honor of the connexion," observed the colonel, +withdrawing behind the chair of Jane. + +Mrs. Wilson changed the conversation to one more general; but the little +that had fallen from Mr. Benfield gave reason for believing a connexion, +in some way of which they were ignorant, existed between the descendants +of the two veterans, and which explained the interest they felt in each +other. + +During dinner, Colonel Egerton placed himself next to Emily, and Miss +Jarvis took the chair on the other side. He spoke of the gay world, of +watering-places, novels, plays, and still finding his companion +reserved, and either unwilling or unable to talk freely, he tried his +favorite sentiment. He had read poetry, and a remark of his lighted up a +spark of intelligence in the beautiful face of his companion that for a +moment deceived him; but as he went on to point out his favorite +beauties, it gave place to a settled composure, which at last led him to +imagine the casket contained no gem equal to the promise of its +brilliant exterior. After resting from one of his most labored displays +of feeling and imagery, he accidentally caught the eyes of Jane fastened +on him with an expression of no dubious import, and the soldier changed +his battery. In Jane he found a more willing auditor; poetry was the +food she lived on, and in works of the imagination she found her +greatest delight. An animated discussion of the merits of their favorite +authors now took place; to renew which, the colonel early left the +dining-room for the society of the ladies; John, who disliked drinking +excessively, being happy of an excuse to attend him. + +The younger ladies had clustered together round a window and even Emily +in her heart rejoiced that the gentlemen had come to relieve herself and +sisters from the arduous task of entertaining women who appeared not to +possess a single taste or opinion in common with themselves. + +"You were saying, Miss Moseley," observed the colonel in his most +agreeable manner, as he approached them, "you thought Campbell the most +musical poet we have; I hope you will unite with me in excepting Moore." + +Jane colored, as with some awkwardness she replied, "Moore was certainly +very poetical." + +"Has Moore written much?" innocently asked Emily. + +"Not half as much as he ought," cried Miss Jarvis. "Oh! I could live on +his beautiful lines." + +Jane turned away in disgust; and that evening, while alone with Clara, +she took a volume of Moore's songs, and very coolly consigned them to +the flames. Her sister naturally asked an explanation of so +extraordinary a procedure. + +"Oh!" cried Jane, "I can't abide the book, since that vulgar Miss Jarvis +speaks of it with so much interest. I really believe aunt Wilson is +right in not suffering Emily to read such things." And Jane, who had +often devoured the treacherous lines with ardor, shrank with fastidious +delicacy from the indulgence of a perverted taste, when it became +exposed, coupled with the vulgarity of unblushing audacity. + +Colonel Egerton immediately changed the subject to one less +objectionable, and spoke of a campaign he had made in Spain. He +possessed the happy faculty of giving an interest to all he advanced, +whether true or not; and as he never contradicted, or even opposed +unless to yield gracefully, when a lady was his opponent, his +conversation insensibly attracted, by putting the sex in good humor with +themselves. Such a man, aided by the powerful assistants of person and +manners, and no inconsiderable colloquial talents, Mrs. Wilson knew to +be extremely dangerous as a companion to a youthful female heart; and as +his visit was to extend to a couple of months, she resolved to +reconnoitre the state of her pupil's opinion forthwith in reference to +his merits. She had taken too much pains in forming the mind of Emily to +apprehend she would fall a victim to the eye; but she also knew that +personal grace sweetened a benevolent expression, and added force even +to the oracles of wisdom. She labored a little herself under the +disadvantage of what John called a didactic manner, and which, although +she had not the ability, or rather taste, to amend, she had yet the +sense to discern. It was the great error of Mrs. Wilson to attempt to +convince, where she might have influenced; but her ardor of temperament, +and great love of truth, kept her, as it were, tilting with the vices of +mankind, and consequently sometimes in unprofitable combat. With her +charge, however, this could never be said to be the case, Emily knew her +heart, felt her love, and revered her principles too deeply, to throw +away an admonition, or disregard a precept, that fell from lips she knew +never spoke idly or without consideration. + +John had felt tempted to push the conversation with Miss Jarvis, and he +was about to utter something rapturous respecting the melodious poison +of Little's poems, as the blue eye of Emily rested on him in the fulness +of sisterly affection and checking his love of the ridiculous, he +quietly yielded to his respect for the innocence of his sisters; and, as +if eager to draw the attention of all from the hateful subject, he put +question after question to Egerton concerning the Spaniards and their +customs. + +"Did you ever meet Lord Pendennyss in Spain, Colonel Egerton?" inquired +Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + +"Never, madam," he replied. "I have much reason to regret that our +service lay in different parts of the country: his lordship was much +with the duke, and I made the campaign under Marshal Beresford." + +Emily left the group at the window, and taking a seat on the sofa by the +side of her aunt, insensibly led her to forget the gloomy thoughts which +had begun to steal over her; which the colonel, approaching where they +sat, continued, by asking-- + +"Are you acquainted with the earl, madam?" + +"Not in person, but by character," said Mrs. Wilson, in a melancholy +manner. + +"His character as a soldier was very high. He had no superior of his +years in Spain, I am told." + +No reply was made to this remark, and Emily endeavored anxiously to draw +the mind of her aunt to reflections of a more agreeable nature. The +colonel, whose vigilance to please was ever on the alert, kindly aided +her, and they soon succeeded. + +The merchant withdrew, with his family and guest, in proper season: and +Mrs. Wilson, heedful of her duty, took the opportunity of a quarter of +an hour's privacy in her own dressing-room in the evening, to touch +gently on the subject of the gentlemen they had seen that day. + +"How are you pleased, Emily, with your new acquaintances?" familiarly +commenced Mrs. Wilson. + +"Oh! aunt, don't ask me; as John says, they are net indeed." + +"I am not sorry," continued the aunt, "to have you observe more closely +than you have been used to the manners of such women as the Jarvises; +they are too abrupt and unpleasant to create a dread of any imitation; +but the gentlemen are heroes in very different styles." + +"Different from each other, indeed." + +"To which do you give the preference, my dear?" + +"Preference, aunt!" said her niece, with a look of astonishment; +"preference is a strong word for either; but I rather think the captain +the most eligible companion of the two. I do believe you see the worst +of him; and although I acknowledge it to be bad enough, he might amend; +but the colonel"-- + +"Go on," said Mrs. Wilson. + +"Why, everything about the colonel seems so seated, so ingrafted in his +nature, so--so very self-satisfied, that I am afraid it would be a +difficult task to take the first step in amendment--to convince him of +its necessity? + +"And is it then so necessary?" + +Emily looked up from arranging some laces, with an expression of +surprise, as he replied: + +"Did you not hear him talk of those poems, and attempt to point out the +beauties of several works? I thought everything he uttered was referred +to taste, and that not a very natural one; at least," she added with a +laugh, "it differed greatly from mine. He seemed to forget altogether +there was such a thing as principle: and then he spoke of some woman to +Jane, who had left her father for her lover, with so much admiration of +her feelings, to take up with poverty and love, as he called it, in +place of condemning her want of filial piety--I am sure, aunt, if you +had heard that, you would not admire him so much." + +"I do not admire him at all, child; I only want to know your sentiments, +and I am happy to find them so correct. It is as you think; Colonel +Egerton appears to refer nothing to principle: even the more generous +feelings I am afraid are corrupted in him, from too low intercourse with +the surface of society. There is by far too much pliability about him +for principle of any kind, unless indeed it be a principle to please, no +matter how. No one, who has deeply seated opinions of right and wrong, +will ever abandon them, even in the courtesies of polite intercourse: +they may be silent but never acquiescent: in short, my dear, the dread +of offending our Maker ought to be so superior to that of offending our +fellow creatures, that we should endeavor, I believe, to be even more +unbending to the follies of the world than we are." + +"And yet the colonel is what they call a good companion--I mean a +pleasant one." + +"In the ordinary meaning of the words, he is certainly, my dear; yet you +soon tire of sentiments which will not stand the test of examination, +and of a manner you cannot but see is artificial. He may do very well +for a companion, but very ill for a friend; in short, Colonel Egerton +has neither been satisfied to yield to his natural impressions, nor to +obtain new ones from a proper source; he has copied from bad models, and +his work must necessarily be imperfect." + +Kissing her niece, Mrs. Wilson then retired into her own room, with the +happy assurance that she had not labored in vain; but that, with divine +aid, she had implanted a guide in the bosom of her charge that could not +fail, with ordinary care, to lead her straight through the devious path +of female duties. + + + +Chapter VII. + +A month now passed in the ordinary occupations and amusements of a +country life, during which both Lady Moseley and Jane manifested a +desire to keep up the deanery acquaintance, that surprised Emily a +little, who had ever seen her mother shrink from communications with +those whose breeding subjected her own delicacy, to the little shocks +she could but ill conceal. In Jane this desire was still more +inexplicable; for Jane had, in a decided way very common to her, avowed +her disgust of the manners of their new associates at the commencement +of the acquaintance; and yet Jane would now even quit her own society +for that of Miss Jarvis, especially if Colonel Egerton happened to be of +the party. The innocence of Emily prevented her scanning the motives for +the conduct of her sister; and she set seriously about an examination +into her own deportment to find the latent cause, in order, wherever an +opportunity should offer, to evince her regret, had it been her +misfortune, to have erred by the tenderness of her own manner. + +For a short time the colonel seemed at a loss where to make his choice; +but a few days determined him, and Jane was evidently the favorite. It +is true, that in the presence of the Jarvis ladies he was more guarded +and general in his attentions; but as John, from a motive of charity, +had taken the direction of the captain's sports into his own hands; and +as they were in the frequent habit of meeting at the Hall preparatory to +their morning excursion, the colonel suddenly became a sportsman. The +ladies would often accompany them in their morning excursions; and as +John would certainly be a baronet, and the colonel might not if his +uncle married, he had the comfort of being sometimes ridden, as well as +of riding. + +One morning, having all prepared for an excursion on horseback, as they +stood at the door ready to mount, Francis Ives drove up in his father's +gig, and for a moment arrested the party. Francis was a favorite with +the whole Moseley family, and their greetings were warm and sincere. He +found they meant to take the rectory in their ride, and insisted that +they should proceed. "Clara would take a seat with him." As he spoke, +the cast of his countenance brought the color into the cheeks of his +intended; she suffered herself, however, to be handed into the vacant +seat in the gig, and they moved on. John, who was at the bottom good- +natured, and loved both Francis and Clara very sincerely, soon set +Captain Jarvis and his sister what he called "scrub racing," and +necessity, in some measure, compelled the rest of the equestrians to +hard riding, in order to keep up with the sports. + +"That will do, that will do," cried John, casting his eye back, and +perceiving they had lost sight of the gig, and nearly so of Colonel +Egerton and Jane, "why you carry it off like a jockey, captain; better +than any amateur I have ever seen, unless indeed it be your sister." + +The lady encouraged by his commendations, whipped on, followed by her +brother and sister at half speed. + +"There, Emily," said John, quietly dropping by her side "I see no reason +you and I should break our necks, to show the blood of our horses. Now +do you know I think we are going to have a wedding in the family soon?" + +Emily looked at him in amazement. + +"Frank has got a living; I saw it the moment he drove up. He came in +like somebody. Yes, I dare say he has calculated the tithes already a +dozen times." + +John was right. The Earl of Bolton had, unsolicited, given him the +desired living of his own parish; and Francis was at the moment pressing +the blushing Clara to fix the day that was to put a period to his long +probation. Clara, who had not a particle of coquetry about her, promised +to be his as soon as he was inducted, an event that was to take place +the following week; and then followed those delightful little +arrangements and plans with which youthful hope is so fond of filling up +the void of life. + +"Doctor," said John, as he came out of the rectory to assist Clara from +the gig, "the parson here is a careful driver; see, he has not turned a +hair." + +He kissed the burning cheek of his sister as she touched the ground, and +whispered significantly. + +"You need tell me nothing, my dear--I know all--I consent." + +Mrs. Ives folded her future daughter to her bosom; and the benevolent +smile of the good rector, together with the kind and affectionate manner +of her sisters, assured Clara the approaching nuptials were anticipated, +as a matter of course. Colonel Egerton offered his compliments to +Francis on his preferment to the living, with the polish of high +breeding, and not without an appearance of interest; and Emily thought +him for the first time as handsome as he was generally reputed to be. +The ladies undertook to say something civil in their turn, and John put +the captain, by a hint, on the same track. + +"You are quite lucky, sir," said the captain, "in getting so good a +living with so little trouble; I wish you joy of it with all my heart: +Mr. Moseley tells me it is a capital thing now for a gentleman of your +profession. For my part. I prefer a scarlet coat to a black one, but +there must be parsons you know, or how should we get married or say +grace?" + +Francis thanked him for his good wishes, and Egerton paid a handsome +compliment to the liberality of the earl; "he doubted not he found that +gratification which always attends a disinterested act;" and Jane +applauded the sentiment with a smile. + +The baronet, when he was made acquainted with the situation of affairs, +promised Francis that no unnecessary delay should intervene, and the +marriage was happily arranged for the following week. Lady Moseley, when +she retired to the drawing-room after dinner, commenced a recital of the +ceremony and company to be invited on the occasion. Etiquette and the +decencies of life were not only the forte, but the fault of this lady; +and she had gone on to the enumeration of about the fortieth personage +in the ceremonials, before Clara found courage to say, that "Mr. Ives +and myself both wish to be married at the altar, and to proceed to +Bolton Rectory immediately after the ceremony." To this her mother +warmly objected; and argument and respectful remonstrance had followed +each other for some time, before Clara submitted in silence, with +difficulty restraining her tears. This appeal to the better feelings of +the mother triumphed; and the love of parade yielded to love of her +offspring. Clara, with a lightened heart, kissed and thanked her, and +accompanied by Emily left the room; Jane had risen to follow them, but +catching a glimpse of the tilbury of Colonel Egerton she reseated +herself. + +He had merely driven over at the earnest entreaties of the ladies to beg +Miss Jane would accept a seat back with him; "they had some little +project on foot, and could not proceed without her assistance." + +Mrs. Wilson looked gravely at her sister, as she smiled acquiescence to +his wishes; and the daughter, who but the minute before had forgotten +there was any other person in the world but Clara, flew for her hat and +shawl, in order, as he said to herself, that the politeness of Colonel +Egerton might not keep him waiting. Lady Moseley resumed her seat by the +side of her sister with an air of great complacency, as she returned +from the window, after having seen her daughter off. For some time each +was occupied quietly with her needle, when Mrs. Wilson suddenly broke +the silence by saying: + +"Who is Colonel Egerton?" + +Lady Moseley looked up for a moment in amazement, but recollecting +herself, answered, + +"The nephew and heir of Sir Edgar Egerton, sister." + +This was spoken in a rather positive way, as if it were unanswerable; +yet as there was nothing harsh in the reply, Mrs. Wilson continued, + +"Do you not think him attentive to Jane?" + +Pleasure sparkled in the still brilliant eyes of Lady Moseley, as she +exclaimed-- + +"Do you think so?" + +"I do; and you will pardon me if I say improperly so. I think you were +wrong in suffering Jane to go with him this afternoon." + +"Why improperly, Charlotte? If Colonel Egerton is polite enough to show +Jane such attentions, should I not be wrong in rudely rejecting them?" + +"The rudeness of refusing a request that is improper to grant is a very +venial offence. I confess I think it improper to allow any attentions to +be forced on us that may subject us to disagreeable consequences; but +the attentions of Colonel Egerton are becoming marked, Anne." + +"Do you for a moment doubt their being honorable, or that he dares to +trifle with a daughter of Sir Edward Moseley?" + +"I should hope not, certainly, although it may be well to guard even +against such a misfortune. But I am of opinion it is quite as important +to know whether he is worthy to be her husband as it is to know that he +is in a situation to become so." + +"On what points, Charlotte, would you wish to be more assured? You know +his birth and probable fortune--you see his manners and disposition; but +these latter are things for Jane to decide on; she is to live with him, +and it is proper she should be suited in these respects." + +"I do not deny his fortune or his disposition, but I complain that we +give him credit for the last, and for still more important requisites, +without evidence of his possessing any of them. His principles, his +habits, his very character, what do we know of them? I say we, for you +know, Anne, your children are as dear to me as my own would have been." + +"I believe you sincerely, but the things you mention are points for Jane +to decide on. If she be pleased, I have no right to complain. I am +determined never to control the affections of my children." + +"Had you said, never to force the affections of your children, you would +have said enough, Anne; but to control, or rather to guide the +affections of a child, especially a daughter, is, in some cases, a duty +as imperative as it would be to avert any other impending calamity. +Surely the proper time to do this is before the affections of the child +are likely to endanger her peace of mind." + +"I have seldom seen much good result from the interference of parents," +said Lady Moseley, a little pertinaciously. + +"True; for to be of use, unless in extraordinary cases, it should not be +seen. You will pardon me, Anne, but I have often thought parents are too +often in extremes--determined to make the election for their children, +or leaving them entirely to their own vanity and inexperience, to govern +not only their own lives, but, I may say, to leave an impression on +future generations. And, after all, what is this love? In nineteen cases +in twenty of what we call affairs of the heart, it would be better to +term them affairs of the imagination." + +"And is there not a great deal of imagination in all love?" inquired +Lady Moseley, smiling. + +"Undoubtedly, there is some; but there is one important difference: in +affairs of the imagination, the admired object is gifted with all those +qualities we esteem, as a matter of course, and there is a certain set +of females who are ever ready to bestow this admiration on any applicant +for their favors who may not be strikingly objectionable. The necessity +of being courted makes our sex rather too much disposed to admire +improper suitors." + +"But how do you distinguish affairs of the heart, Charlotte, from those +of the fancy?" + +"When the heart takes the lead, it is not difficult to detect it. Such +sentiments generally follow long intercourse, and opportunities of +judging the real character. They are the only attachments that are +likely to stand the test of worldly trials." + +"Suppose Emily to be the object of Colonel Egerton's pursuit, then, +sister, in what manner would you proceed to destroy the influence I +acknowledge he is gaining over Jane?" + +"I cannot suppose such a case," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely; and then, +observing that her sister looked as if she required an explanation, she +continued-- + +"My attention has been directed to the forming of such principles, and +such a taste, if I may use the expression, under those principles, that +I feel no apprehension Emily will ever allow her affections to be +ensnared by a man of the opinions and views of Colonel Egerton. I am +impressed with a twofold duty in watching the feelings of my charge. She +has so much singleness of heart, such real strength of native feeling, +that, should an improper man gain possession of her affections, the +struggle between her duty and her love would be weighty indeed; and +should it proceed so far as to make it her duty to love an unworthy +object, I am sure she would sink under it. Emily would die in the same +circumstances under which Jane would only awake from a dream, and be +wretched." + +"I thought you entertained a better opinion of Jane, sister," said Lady +Moseley, reproachfully. + +"I think her admirably calculated to make an invaluable wife and mother; +but she is so much under the influence of her fancy, that she seldom +gives her heart an opportunity of displaying its excellences; and again, +she dwells so much upon imaginary perfections, that adulation has become +necessary to her. The man who flatters her delicately will be sure to +win her esteem; and every woman might love the being possessed of the +qualities she will not fail to endow him with." + +"I do not know that I rightly understand how you would avert all these +sad consequences of improvident affections?" said Lady Moseley. + +"Prevention is better than cure--I would first implant such opinions as +would lessen the danger of intercourse; and as for particular attentions +from improper objects, it should be my care to prevent them, by +prohibiting, or rather impeding, the intimacy which might give rise to +them. And least of all," said Mrs. Wilson, with a friendly smile, as she +rose to leave the room, "would I suffer a fear of being impolite to +endanger the happiness of a young woman intrusted to my care." + + + +Chapter +VIII. + +Francis, who labored with the ardor of a lover, soon completed the +necessary arrangements and alterations in his new parsonage. The living +was a good one, and as the rector was enabled to make a very +considerable annual allowance from the private fortune his wife had +brought him, and as Sir Edward had twenty thousand pounds in the funds +for each of his daughters, one portion of which was immediately settled +on Clara, the youthful couple had not only a sufficient, but an abundant +provision for their station in life; and they entered on their +matrimonial duties with as good a prospect of happiness as the ills of +this world can give to health, affection, and competency. Their union +had been deferred by Dr. Ives until his son was established, with a view +to keep him under his own direction during the critical period of his +first impressions in the priesthood; and as no objection now remained, +or rather, the only one he ever felt was removed by the proximity of +Bolton to his own parish, he now joyfully united the lovers at the altar +of the village church, in the presence of his wife and Clara's immediate +relatives. On leaving the church Francis handed his bride into his own +carriage, which conveyed them to their new residence, amidst the good +wishes of his parishioners, and the prayers of their relatives and +friends. Dr. and Mrs. Ives retired to the rectory, to the sober +enjoyment of the felicity of their only child; while the baronet and his +lady felt a gloom that belied all the wishes of the latter for the +establishment of her daughters. Jane and Emily acted as bridesmaids to +their sister, and as both the former and her mother had insisted there +should be two groomsmen as a counterpoise, John was empowered with a +carte-blanche to make a provision accordingly. At first he intimated his +intention of calling on Mr. Benfield, but he finally settled down, to +the no small mortification of the before-mentioned ladies, into writing +a note to his kinsman, Lord Chatterton, whose residence was then in +London, and who in reply, after expressing his sincere regret that an +accident would prevent his having the pleasure of attending, stated the +intention of his mother and two sisters to pay them an early visit of +congratulation, as soon as his own health would allow of his travelling. +This answer arrived only the day preceding that fixed for the wedding, +and at the very moment they were expecting his lordship in proper +person. + +"There," cried Jane, in triumph, "I told you it was silly to send so far +on so sudden an occasion; now, after all, what is to be done--it will be +so awkward when Clara's friends call to see her--Oh! John, John, you are +a Marplot." + +"Jenny, Jenny, you are a make-plot," said John, coolly taking up his hat +to leave the room. + +"Which way, my son?" said the baronet, who met him at the door. + +"To the deanery, sir, to try to get Captain Jarvis to act as bridesmaid- +-I beg his pardon, groomsman, to-morrow--Chatterton has been thrown from +a horse and can't come.'' + +"John!" + +"Jenny!" + +"I am sure," said Jane, indignation glowing in her pretty face, "that if +Captain Jarvis is to be an attendant, Clara must excuse my acting. I do +not choose to be associated with Captain Jarvis." + +"John," said his mother, with dignity, "your trifling is unseasonable; +certainly Colonel Egerton is a more fitting person on every account, and +I desire, under present circumstances, that you ask the colonel." + +"Your ladyship's wishes are orders to me," said John, gaily kissing his +hand as he left the room. + +The colonel was but too happy in having it in his power to be of service +in any manner to a gentleman he respected as much as Mr. Francis Ives. +He accepted the duty, and was the only person present at the ceremony +who did not stand within the bonds of consanguinity to the parties. He +was invited by the baronet to dine at the hall, as a matter of course, +and notwithstanding the repeated injunctions of Mrs. Jarvis and her +daughters, to return immediately with an account of the dress of the +bride, and with other important items of a similar nature, the +invitation was accepted. On reaching the hall, Emily retired immediately +to her own room, and at her reappearance when the dinner bell rang, the +paleness of her cheeks and the redness of her eyes afforded sufficient +proof that the translation of a companion from her own to another family +was an event, however happy in itself, not unmingled with grief. The +day, however, passed off tolerably well for people who are expected to +be premeditatedly happy, and when, in their hearts, they are really more +disposed to weep than to laugh. Jane and the colonel had most of the +conversation to themselves during dinner: even the joyous and +thoughtless John wearing his gaiety in a less graceful manner than +usual. He was actually detected by his aunt in looking with moistened +eyes at the vacant chair a servant had, from habit, placed at the table, +in the spot where Clara had been accustomed to sit. + +"This beef is not done, Saunders," said the baronet to his butler, "or +my appetite is not as good as usual to-day. Colonel Egerton, will you +allow me the pleasure of a glass of sherry?" + +The wine was drunk, and the game succeeded the beef; but still Sir +Edward could not eat. + +"How glad Clara will be to see us all the day after to-morrow," said +Mrs. Wilson; "your new housekeepers delight in their first efforts in +entertaining their friends." + +Lady Moseley smiled through her tears, and turning to her husband said, +"We will go early, my dear, that we may see the improvements Francis has +been making before we dine." The baronet nodded assent, but his heart +was too full to speak; and apologizing to the colonel for his absence, +on the plea of some business with his people, he left the room. + +All this time, the attentions of Colonel Egerton to both mother and +daughter were of the most delicate kind. He spoke of Clara as if his +office of groomsman entitled him to an interest in her welfare; with +John he was kind and sociable; and even Mrs. Wilson acknowledged, after +he had taken his leave, that he possessed a wonderful faculty of making +himself agreeable, and she began to think that, under all circumstances, +he might possibly prove as advantageous a connexion as Jane could expect +to form. Had any one, however, proposed him as a husband for Emily, +affection would have quickened her judgment in a way that would have +urged her to a very different decision. + +Soon after the baronet left the room, a travelling carriage, with +suitable attendants, drove to the door; the sound of the wheels drew +most of the company to a window. "A baron's coronet!" cried Jane, +catching a glimpse of the ornaments of the harness. + +"The Chattertons," echoed her brother, running out of the room to meet +them. + +The mother of Sir Edward was a daughter of this family, and the sister +of the grandfather of the present lord. The connexion had always been +kept up with a show of cordiality between Sir Edward and his cousin, +although their manner of living and habits were very different. The +baron was a courtier and a placeman. His estates, which he could not +alienate, produced about ten thousand a year, but the income he could +and did spend; and the high perquisites of his situation under +government, amounting to as much more were melted away year after year, +without making the provision for his daughters that his duty and the +observance of his promise to his wife's father required at his hands. He +had been dead about two years, and his son found himself saddled with +the support of an unjointured mother and unportioned sisters. Money was +not the idol the young lord worshipped, nor even pleasure. He was +affectionate to his surviving parent, and his first act was to settle, +during his own life, two thousand a year on her, while he commenced +setting aside as much more for each of his sisters annually. This +abridged him greatly in his own expenditures; yet, as they made but one +family, and the dowager was really a managing woman in more senses than +one, they made a very tolerable figure. The son was anxious to follow +the example of Sir Edward Moseley, and give up his town house, for at +least a time; but his mother had exclaimed, with something like horror, +at the proposal: + +"Chatterton, would you give it up at the moment it can be of the most +use to us?" and she threw a glance at her daughters that would have +discovered her motive to Mrs Wilson, which was lost on her son; he, poor +soul, thinking she found it convenient to support the interest he had +been making for the place held by his father one of more emolument than +service, or even honor. The contending parties were so equally matched, +that this situation was kept, as it were, in abeyance, waiting the +arrival of some acquisition of interest to one or other of the +claimants. The interest of the peer, however, had begun to lose ground +at the period of which we speak, and his careful mother saw new motives +for activity in providing for her children. Mrs. Wilson herself could +not be more vigilant in examining the candidates for Emily's favors than +was the dowager Lady Chatterton in behalf of her daughter. It is true, +the task of the former lady was by far the most arduous, for it involved +a study of character and development of principle; while that of the +latter would have ended with the footing of a rent-roll, provided it +contained five figures. Sir Edward's was well known to contain that +number, and two of them were not ciphers. Mr. Benfield was rich, and +John Moseley was a very agreeable young man. Weddings are the season of +love, thought the prudent dowager, and Grace is extremely pretty. +Chatterton, who never refused his mother anything in his power to grant, +and who was particularly dutiful when a visit to Moseley Hall was in +question, suffered himself to be persuaded his shoulder was well, and +they had left town the day before the wedding, thinking to be in time +for all the gaieties, if not for the ceremony itself. + +There existed but little similarity between the persons and manners of +this young nobleman and the baronet's heir. The beauty of Chatterton was +almost feminine; his skin, his color, his eyes, his teeth, were such as +many a belle had sighed after; and his manners were bashful and +retiring. Yet an intimacy had commenced between the boys at school, +which ripened into friendship between the young men at college, and had +been maintained ever since, probably as much from the contrarieties of +character as from any other cause. With the baron, John was more sedate +than ordinary; with John, Chatterton found unusual animation. But a +secret charm which John held over the young peer was his profound +respect and unvarying affection for his youngest sister, Emily. This was +common ground; and no dreams of future happiness, no visions of dawning +wealth, crossed the imagination of Chatterton in which Emily was not the +fairy to give birth to the one, or the benevolent dispenser of the +hoards of the other. + +The arrival of this family was a happy relief from the oppression which +hung on the spirits of the Moseleys, and their reception marked with the +mild benevolence which belonged to the nature of the baronet, and that +impressement which so eminently distinguished the manners of his wife. + +The honorable Misses Chatterton were both handsome; but the younger was, +if possible, a softened picture of her brother. There was the same +retiring bashfulness and the same sweetness of temper as distinguished +the baron, and Grace was the peculiar favorite of Emily Moseley. Nothing +of the strained or sentimental nature which so often characterize what +is called female friendships, however, had crept into the communications +between these young women. Emily loved her sisters too well to go out of +her own family for a repository of her griefs or a partaker in her joys. +Had her life been chequered with such passions, her own sisters were too +near her own age to suffer her to think of a confidence in which the +holy ties of natural affection did not give a claim to a participation. +Mrs. Wilson had found it necessary to give her charge very different +views on many subjects from those which Jane and Clara had been suffered +to imbibe of themselves; but in no degree had she impaired the +obligations of filial piety or family concord. Emily was, if anything, +more respectful to her parents, more affectionate to her friends, than +any of her connexions; for in her the warmth of natural feeling was +heightened by an unvarying sense of duty. + +In Grace Chatterton she found, in many respects, a temper and taste +resembling her own. She therefore loved her better than others who had +equally general claims on her partiality, and as such a friend she now +received her with cordial and sincere affection. + +Jane, who had not felt satisfied with the ordering of Providence for the +disposal of her sympathies, and had long felt a restlessness that +prompted her to look abroad for a confiding spirit to whom to +communicate her--secrets she had none that delicacy would suffer her to +reveal--but to communicate her crude opinions and reflections, she had +early selected Catherine for this person. Catherine, however, had not +stood the test of trial. For a short time the love of heraldry kept them +together; but Jane, finding her companion's gusto limited to the charms +of the coronet and supporters chiefly, abandoned the attempt in despair, +and was actually on the look-out for a new candidate for the vacant +station as Colonel Egerton came into the neighborhood. A really delicate +female mind shrinks from the exposure of its love to the other sex, and +Jane began to be less anxious to form a connexion which would either +violate the sensibility of her nature, or lead to treachery to her +friend. + +"I regret extremely, Lady Moseley," said the dowager, as they entered +the drawing-room, "that the accident which befel Chatterton should have +kept us until it was too late for the ceremony: we made it a point to +hasten with our congratulations, however, as soon as Astley Cooper +thought it safe for him to travel." + +"I feel indebted for your kindness," replied the smiling hostess. "We +are always happy to have our friends around us, and none more than +yourself and family. We were fortunate in finding a friend to supply +your son's place, in order that the young people might go to the altar +in a proper manner. Lady Chatterton, allow me to present our friend, +Colonel Egerton"--adding, in a low tone, and with a little emphasis,-- +"heir to Sir Edgar." + +The colonel bowed gracefully, and the dowager dropped a hasty courtesy +at the commencement of the speech; but lower bend followed the closing +remark, and a glance of the eye was thrown in quest of her daughters, as +if she instinctively wished to bring them into what the sailors term +"the line of battle." + + + +Chapter IX. + +The following morning, Emily and Grace, declining the invitation to join +the colonel and John in their usual rides, walked to the rectory, +accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Chatterton. The ladies felt a desire to +witness the happiness that they so well knew reigned in the rectory, for +Francis had promised his father to drive Clara over in the course of the +day. Emily longed to see Clara, from whom it appeared that she had been +already separated a month. Her impatience as they approached the house +hurried her ahead of her companions, who waited the more sober gait of +Mrs. Wilson. She entered the parlor at the rectory without meeting any +one, glowing with exercise, her hair falling over her shoulders, +released from the confinement of the hat she had thrown down hastily as +she reached the door. In the room there stood a gentleman in deep black, +with his back towards the entrance, intent on a book, and she naturally +concluded it was Francis. + +"Where is dear Clara, Frank?" cried the beautiful girl, faying her hand +affectionately on his shoulder. + +The gentleman turned suddenly, and presented to her astonished gaze the +well remembered countenance of the young man whose parent's death was +not likely to be forgotten at B----. + +"I thought, sir," said Emily, almost sinking with confusion, "that Mr. +Francis Ives--" + +"Your brother 'has not yet arrived, Miss Moseley," simply replied the +stranger, who felt for her embarrassment. "But I will immediately +acquaint Mrs. Ives with your visit." Bowing, he delicately left the +room. + +Emily, who felt greatly relieved by his manner, immediately confined her +hair in its proper bounds, and had recovered her composure by the time +her aunt and friends joined her. She had not time to mention the +incident, and laughed at her own precipitation, when the rector's wife +came into the room. + +Chatterton and his sister were both known to Mrs. Ives, and both were +favorites. She was pleased to see them, and after reproaching the +brother with compelling her son to ask a favor of a comparative +stranger, she turned to Emily, and smilingly said-- + +"You found the parlor occupied, I believe?" + +"Yes," said Emily, laughing and blushing, "I suppose Mr. Denbigh told +you of my heedlessness." + +"He told me of your attention in calling so soon to inquire after Clara, +but said nothing more"--a servant just then telling her Francis wished +to see her, she excused herself and withdrew. In the door she met Mr. +Denbigh, who made way for her, saying, "your son has arrived, ma'am," +and in an easy but respectful manner he took his place with the guests, +no introduction passing, and none seeming necessary. His misfortunes +appeared to have made him acquainted with Mrs. Wilson, and his +strikingly ingenuous manner won insensibly on the confidence of those +who heard him. Everything was natural, yet everything was softened by +education; and the little party in the rector's parlor in fifteen +minutes felt as if they had known him for years. The doctor and his son +now joined them. Clara had not come, but she was looking forward in +delightful expectation of to-morrow, and wished greatly for Emily as a +guest at the new abode. This pleasure Mrs. Wilson promised she should +have as soon as they had got over the hurry of their visit; "our +friends," she added, turning to Grace, "will overlook the nicer +punctilios of ceremony, where sisterly regard calls for the discharge of +more important duties. Clara needs the society of Emily just now." + +"Certainly," said Grace, mildly; "I hope no useless ceremony on the part +of Emily would prevent her manifesting natural attachment to her sister- +-I should feel hurt at her not entertaining a better opinion of us than +to suppose so for a moment." + +"This, young ladies, is the real feeling to keep alive esteem," cried +the doctor, gaily: "go on, and say and do nothing of which either can +disapprove, when tried by the standard of duty, and you need never be +afraid of losing a friend that is worth keeping." + +It was three o'clock before the carriage of Mrs. Wilson arrived at the +rectory; and the time stole away insensibly in free and friendly +communications. Denbigh had joined modestly, and with the degree of +interest a stranger might be supposed to feel, in the occurrences of a +circle to which he was nearly a stranger; there was at times a slight +display of awkwardness, however, about both him and Mrs. Ives, for which +Mrs. Wilson easily accounted by recollections of his recent loss and the +scene they had all witnessed in that very room. This embarrassment +escaped the notice of the rest of the party. On the arrival of the +carriage, Mrs. Wilson took her leave. + +"I like this Mr. Denbigh greatly," said Lord Chatterton, as they drove +from the door; "there is something strikingly natural and winning in his +manner." + +"In his matter too, judging of the little we have seen of him," replied +Mrs. Wilson. + +"Who is he, ma'am?" + +"I rather suspect he is someway related to Mrs. Ives; her staying from +Bolton to-day must be owing to Mr. Denbigh, and as the doctor has just +gone he must be near enough to them to be neither wholly neglected nor +yet a tax upon their politeness. I rather wonder he did not go with +them." + +"I heard him tell Francis," remarked Emily, "that he could not think of +intruding, and he insisted on Mrs. Ives's going, but she had employments +to keep her at home." + +The carriage soon reached an angle in the road where the highways +between Bolton Castle and Moseley Hall intersected each other, at a +point on the estate of the former. Mrs. Wilson stopped a moment to +inquire after an aged pensioner, who had lately met with a loss in +business, which she was fearful must have greatly distressed him. In +crossing a ford in the little river between his cottage and the market- +town, the stream, which had been swollen unexpectedly higher than usual +by heavy rains, had swept away his horse and cart loaded with the entire +produce of his small field, and with much difficulty he had saved even +his own life. Mrs. Wilson had not had it in her power until this moment +to inquire particularly into the affair, or to offer the relief she was +ever ready to bestow on proper objects. Contrary to her expectations, +she found Humphreys in high spirits, showing his delighted grand- +children a new cart and horse which stood at the door, and exultingly +pointing out the excellent qualities of both. He ceased talking on the +approach of the party, and at the request of his ancient benefactress he +gave a particular account of the affair. + +"And where did you get this new cart and horse, Humphreys?" inquired +Mrs. Wilson, when he had ended. + +"Oh, madam, I went up to the castle to see the steward, and Mr. Martin +just mentioned my loss to Lord Pendennyss, ma'am, and my lord ordered me +this cart, ma'am, and this noble horse, and twenty golden guineas into +the bargain to put me on my legs again--God bless him for it, for ever!" + +"It was very kind of his lordship, indeed," said Mrs. Wilson, +thoughtfully: "I did not know he was at the castle." + +"He's gone, already, madam; the servants told me that he just called to +see the earl, on his way to Lon'on; but finding he'd went a few days +agone to Ireland my lord went for Lon'on, without stopping the night +even. Ah! madam," continued the old man, who stood leaning on a stick, +with his hat in his hand, "he's a great blessing to the poor; his +servants say he gives thousands every year to the poor who are in want-- +he is main rich, too; some people say, much richer and more great like +than the earl himself. I'm sure I have need to bless him every day of my +life." + +Mrs. Wilson smiled mournfully as she wished Humphreys good day and put +up her purse, finding the old man so well provided for; a display or +competition in charity never entering into her system of benevolence. + +"His lordship is munificent in his bounty," said Emily, as they drove +from the door. + +"Does it not savor of thoughtlessness to bestow so much where he can +know so little?" Lord Chatterton ventured to inquire. + +"He is," replied Mrs. Wilson, "as old Humphrey says, main rich; but the +son of the old man and the father of these children is a soldier in the +----th dragoons, of which the earl is colonel, and that accounts to me +for his liberality," recollecting, with a sigh, the feelings which had +drawn her out of the usual circle of her charities in the case of the +same man. + +"Did you ever see Lord Pendennyss, aunt?" + +"Never, my dear; he has been much abroad, but my letters were filled +with his praises, and I confess my disappointment is great in not seeing +him on this visit to Lord Bolton who is his relation; but," fixing her +eyes thoughtfully on her niece, "we shall meet in London this winter, I +trust." + +As she spoke a cloud passed over her features, and she continued much +absorbed in thought for the remainder of their drive. + +General Wilson had been a cavalry officer, and he commanded the very +regiment now held by Lord Pendennyss. In an excursion near the British +camp he had been rescued from captivity, if not from death, by a gallant +and timely interference of this young nobleman, then in command of a +troop in the same corps. He had mentioned the occurrence to his wife in +his letters, and from that day his correspondence was filled with the +praises of the bravery and goodness to the soldiery of his young +comrade. When he fell he had been supported from the field by, and he +actually died in the arms of the young peer. A letter announcing his +death had been received by his widow from the earl himself, and the +tender and affectionate manner in which he spoke of her husband had +taken a deep hold on her affections. All the circumstances together +threw an interest around him that had made Mrs. Wilson almost entertain +the romantic wish he might be found worthy and disposed to solicit the +hand of Emily. Her anxious inquiries into his character had been +attended with such answers as flattered her wishes; but the military +duties of the earl or his private affairs had never allowed a meeting; +and she was now compelled to look forward to what John laughingly termed +their winter campaign, as the only probable place where she could be +gratified with the sight of a young man to whom she owed so much, and +whose name was connected with some of the most tender though most +melancholy recollections of her life. + +Colonel Egerton, who now appeared to be almost domesticated in the +family, was again of the party at dinner, to the no small satisfaction +of the dowager, who from proper inquiries in the course of the day had +learned that Sir Edgar's heir was likely to have the necessary number of +figures in the sum total of his rental. While sitting in the drawing- +room that afternoon she made an attempt to bring her eldest daughter and +the elegant soldier together over a chess-board; a game the young lady +had been required to learn because it was one at which a gentleman could +be kept longer than any other without having his attention drawn away by +any of those straggling charms which might be travelling a drawing-room +"seeking whom they may devour." It was also a game admirably suited to +the display of a beautiful hand and arm. But the mother had for a long +time been puzzled to discover a way of bringing in the foot also, the +young lady being particularly remarkable for the beauty of that portion +of the frame. In vain her daughter hinted at dancing, an amusement of +which she was passionately fond. The wary mother knew too well the +effects of concentrated force to listen to the suggestion: dancing might +do for every manager, but she prided herself in acting en masse, like +Napoleon, whose tactics consisted in overwhelming by uniting his forces +on a given point. After many experiments in her own person she +endeavored to improve Catharine's manner of sitting, and by dint of +twisting and turning she contrived that her pretty foot and ankle should +be thrown forward in a way that the eye dropping from the move, should +unavoidably rest on this beauteous object; giving, as it were, a Scylla +and Charybdis to her daughter's charms. + +John Moseley was the first person on whom she undertook to try the +effect of her invention; and after comfortably seating the parties she +withdrew to a little distance to watch the effect. + +"Check to your king, Miss Chatterton," cried John, early in the game-- +and the young lady thrust out her foot. "Check to your king, Mr. +Moseley," echoed the damsel, and John's eyes wandered from hand to foot +and foot to hand. "Check king and queen, sir."--"Check-mate."--"Did you +speak?" said John. Looking up he caught the eye of the dowager fixed on +him in triumph--"Oh, ho," said the young man, internally, "Mother +Chatterton, are you playing too?" and, coolly taking up his hat, he +walked off, nor could they ever get him seated at the game again. + +"You beat me too easily, Miss Chatterton," he would say when pressed to +play, "before I have time to look up it's check-mate--excuse me." + +The dowager next settled down into a more covert attack through Grace; +but here she had two to contend with: her own forces rebelled, and the +war had been protracted to the present hour with varied success, and at +least without any material captures, on one side. + +Colonel Egerton entered on the duties of his dangerous undertaking with +the indifference of foolhardiness. The game was played with tolerable +ability by both parties; but no emotions, no absence of mind could be +discovered on the part of the gentleman. Feet and hands were in motion; +still the colonel played as well as usual; he had answers for all Jane's +questions, and smiles for his partner; but no check-mate could she +obtain, until wilfully throwing away an advantage he suffered the lady +to win the game. The dowager was satisfied nothing could be done with +the colonel. + + + +Chapter X. + +The first carriages that rolled over the lawn to Bolton parsonage, on +the succeeding day, were those of the baronet and his sister; the latter +in advance. + +"There, Francis," cried Emily, who was impatiently waiting for him to +remove some slight obstruction to her alighting, "thank you, thank you; +that will do." + +In the next moment she was in the extended arms of Clara. After pressing +each other to their bosoms for a few moments in silence, Emily looked +up, with a tear glistening in her eye, and first noticed the form of +Denbigh, who was modestly withdrawing, as if unwilling to intrude on +such pure and domestic feelings as the sisters were betraying, +unconscious of the presence of a witness. Mrs. Wilson and Jane, followed +by Miss Chatterton, now entered, and cordial salutes and greetings +flowed upon Clara from her various friends. + +The baronet's coach reached the door; it contained himself and wife, Mr. +Benfield, and Lady Chatterton. Clara stood on the portico of the +building, ready to receive them; her face all smiles, and tears, and +blushes, and her arm locked in that of Emily. + +"I wish you joy of your new abode, Mrs. Francis." Lady Moseley forgot +her form, and bursting into tears, she pressed her daughter with ardor +to her bosom. + +"Clara, my love!" said the baronet, hastily wiping his eyes, and +succeeding his wife in the embrace of their child. He kissed her, and, +pressing Francis by the hand, walked into the house in silence. + +"Well, well," cried the dowager, as she saluted her cousin, "all looks +comfortable and genteel here, upon my word, Mrs. Ives: grapery--hot- +houses--everything in good style too; and Sir Edward tells me the living +is worth a good five hundred a year." + +"So, girl, I suppose you expect a kiss," said Mr. Benfield who ascended +the steps slowly, and with difficulty. "Kissing has gone much out of +fashion lately. I remember, on the marriage of my friend, Lord Gosford, +in the year fifty-eight, that all the maids and attendants were properly +saluted in order. The lady Juliana was quite young then; not more than +fifteen: it was there I got my first salute from her--but--so--kiss me." +After which he continued, as they went into the house, "Marrying in that +day was a serious business. You might visit a lady a dozen times before +you could get a sight of her naked hand. Who's that?" stopping short, +and looking earnestly at Denbigh, who now approached them. + +"Mr. Denbigh, sir," said Clara, "my uncle, Mr. Benfield." + +"Did you ever know, sir, a gentleman of your name, who sat in the +parliament of this realm in the year sixty?" Mr. Benfield abruptly +asked, as soon as the civilities of the introduction were exchanged. +"You don't look much like him." + +"That was rather before my day, sir," said Denbigh, with a smile, +respectfully offering to relieve Clara, who supported him on one side, +while Emily held his arm on the other. + +The old gentleman was particularly averse to strangers, and Emily was in +terror lest he should say something rude; but, after examining Denbigh +again from head to foot, he took the offered arm, and coolly replied-- + +"True; very true; that was sixty years ago; you can hardly recollect as +long. Ah! Mr. Denbigh, times are sadly altered since my youth. People +who were then glad to ride on a pillion now drive their coaches; men who +thought ale a luxury, drink their port; aye! and those who went barefoot +must have their shoes and stockings, too. Luxury, sir, and the love of +ease, will ruin this mighty empire. Corruption has taken hold of +everything; the ministry buy the members, the members buy the ministry; +everything is bought and sold. Now, sir, in the parliament in which I +had the honor of a seat, there was a knot of us, as upright as posts, +sir. My Lord Gosford was one, and General Denbigh was another, although +I can't say he was much a favorite with me. You do not look in the least +like him. How was he related to you, sir?" + +"He was my grandfather," replied Denbigh, looking pleasantly at Emily, +as if to tell her he understood the character of her uncle. + +Had the old man continued his speech an hour longer, Denbigh would not +have complained. They had stopped while talking, and he thus became +confronted with the beautiful figure that supported the other arm. +Denbigh contemplated in admiration the varying countenance which now +blushed with apprehension, and now smiled in affection, or even with an +archer expression, as her uncle proceeded in his harangue on the times. +But all felicity in this world has an end, as well as misery. Denbigh +retained the recollection of that speech long after Mr. Benfield was +comfortably seated in the parlor, though for his life he could not +recollect a word he had said. + +The Haughtons, the Jarvises, and a few more of their intimate +acquaintances, arrived, and the parsonage had a busy air; but John, who +had undertaken to drive Grace Chatterton in his own phaeton, was yet +absent. Some little anxiety had begun to be manifested, when he +appeared, dashing through the gates at a great rate, and with the skill +of a member of the four-in-hand. + +Lady Chatterton had begun to be seriously uneasy, and she was about to +speak to her son to go in quest of them, as they came in sight; but now +her fears vanished, and she could only suppose that a desire to have +Grace alone could keep one who had the reputation of a Jehu so much +behind the rest of the party. She met them in great spirits, crying, + +"Upon my word, Mr. Moseley, I began to think you had taken the road to +Scotland, you stayed so long." + +"Your daughter, my Lady Chatterton," said John, pithily, "would go to +Scotland neither with me nor any other man, or I am greatly deceived in +her character. Clara, my sister, how do you do?" He saluted the bride +with great warmth and affection. + +"But what detained you, Moseley?" inquired the mother. + +"One of the horses was restive, and he broke the harness. We merely +stopped in the village while it was mended." + +"And how did Grace behave?" asked Emily, laughing. + +"Oh, a thousand times better than you would, sister; as she always does, +and like an angel." + +The only point in dispute between Emily and her brother was her want of +faith in his driving; while poor Grace, naturally timid, and unwilling +to oppose any one, particularly the gentleman who then held the reins, +had governed herself sufficiently to be silent and motionless. Indeed, +she could hardly do otherwise had she wished it, so great was his +impetuosity of character; and John felt flattered to a degree of which +he was himself unconscious. Self-complacency, aided by the merit, the +beauty, and the delicacy of the young lady herself, might have led to +the very results her mother so anxiously wished to produce, had that +mother been satisfied with letting things take their course. But +managers very generally overdo their work. + +"Grace is a good girl," said her gratified mother; "and you found her +very valiant, Mr. Moseley?" + +"Oh, as brave as Cæsar," answered John, carelessly, in a way that was +not quite free from irony. + +Grace, whose burning cheek showed but too plainly that praise from John +Moseley was an incense too powerful for her resistance, now sank back +behind some of the company, endeavoring to conceal the tears that almost +gushed from her eyes. Denbigh was a silent spectator of the whole scene, +and he now considerately observed, that he had lately seen an +improvement which would obviate the difficulty Mr. Moseley had +experienced. John turned to the speaker, and they were soon engaged in +the discussion of curbs and buckles, when the tilbury of Colonel Egerton +drove to the door, containing himself and his friend the captain. + +The bride undoubtedly received congratulations that day more sincere +than those which were now offered, but none were delivered in a more +graceful and insinuating manner than the compliments which fell from +Colonel Egerton. He passed round the room, speaking to his +acquaintances, until he arrived at the chair of Jane, who was seated +next her aunt. Here he stopped, and glancing his eye round, and saluting +with bows and smiles the remainder of the party, he appeared fixed at +the centre of all attraction. + +"There is a gentleman I think I have never seen before," he observed, to +Mrs. Wilson, casting his eyes on Denbigh, whose back was towards him in +discourse with Mr. Benfield. + +"It is Mr. Denbigh, of whom you heard us speak," replied Mrs. Wilson. +While she spoke, Denbigh faced them. Egerton started as he caught a view +of his face, and seemed to gaze on the countenance which was open to his +inspection with an earnestness that showed an interest of some kind, but +of a nature that was inexplicable to Mrs. Wilson, who was the only +observer of this singular recognition; for such it evidently was. All +was now natural in the colonel for the moment; his color sensibly +changed, and there was an expression of doubt in his face. It might be +fear, it might be horror, it might be a strong aversion; it clearly was +not love. Emily sat by her aunt, and Denbigh approached them, making a +cheerful remark. It was impossible for the colonel to avoid him had he +wished it, and he kept his ground. Mrs. Wilson thought she would try the +experiment of an introduction. + +"Colonel Egerton--Mr. Denbigh." + +Both gentlemen bowed, but nothing striking was seen in the deportment of +either. The colonel, who was not exactly at ease, said hastily-- + +"Mr. Denbigh is, or has been in the army, I believe." + +Denbigh was now taken by surprise in his turn: he cast a look on Egerton +of fixed and settled meaning; then carelessly observed, but still as if +requiring an answer: + +"I am yet; but I do not recollect having had the pleasure of meeting +with Colonel Egerton on service." + +"Your countenance is familiar, sir," replied the colonel, coldly; "but +at this moment I cannot tax my memory with the place of our meeting, +though one sees so many strange faces in a campaign, that they come and +go like shadows." + +He then changed the conversation. It was some time, however, before +either gentleman entirely recovered his ease--and many days elapsed ere +anything like intercourse passed between them. The colonel attached +himself during this visit to Jane, with occasional notices of the Misses +Jarvis, who began to manifest symptoms of uneasiness at the decided +preference he showed to a lady they now chose to look upon, in some +measure, as a rival. + +Mrs. Wilson and her charge, on the other hand, were entertained by the +conversation of Chatterton and Denbigh, relieved by occasional sallies +from the lively John. There was something in the person and manners of +Denbigh that insensibly attracted those whom chance threw in his way. +His face was not strikingly handsome, but it was noble; and when he +smiled, or was much animated, it invariably communicated a spark of his +own enthusiasm to the beholder. His figure was faultless; his air and +manner, if less easy than those of Colonel Egerton, were more sincere +and ingenuous; his breeding was clearly higher; his respect for others +rather bordering on the old school. But in his voice there existed a +charm which would make him, when he spoke, to a female ear, almost +resistless: it was soft, deep, melodious, and winning. + +"Baronet," said the rector, looking with a smile towards his son and +daughter, "I love to see my children happy, and Mrs. Ives threatens a +divorce if I go on in the manner I have commenced. She says I desert her +for Bolton." + +"Why, doctor, if our wives conspire against us, and prevent our enjoying +a comfortable dish of tea with Clara, or a glass of wine with Frank, we +must call in the higher authorities as umpires. What say you, sister? Is +a parent to desert his child in any case?" + +"My opinion is," said Mrs. Wilson, with a smile, yet speaking with +emphasis, "that a parent is not to desert a child, in any case or in any +manner." + +"Do you hear that, my Lady Moseley?" cried the good-humored baronet. + +"Do you hear that, my Lady Chatterton?" echoed John, who had just taken +a seat by Grace, when her mother approached them. + +"I hear it, but do not see the application, Mr. Moseley." + +"No, my lady! Why, there is the honorable Miss Chatterton almost dying +to play a game of her favorite chess with Mr. Denbigh. She has beaten us +all but him, and her triumph will not be complete until she has him too +at her feet." + +And as Denbigh politely offered to meet the challenge, the board was +produced, and the parties were seated. Lady Chatterton stood leaning +over her daughter's chair, with a view, however, to prevent any of those +consequences she was generally fond of seeing result from this +amusement; every measure taken by this prudent mother being literally +governed by judicious calculation. + +"Umph," thought John, as he viewed the players, while listening with +pleasure to the opinions of Grace, who had recovered her composure and +spirits; "Kate, after all, has played one game without using her feet." + + + + +Chapter XI. + +Ten days or a fortnight flew swiftly by, during which Mrs. Wilson +suffered Emily to give Clara a week, having first ascertained that +Denbigh was a settled resident at the rectory, and thereby not likely to +be oftener at the House of Francis than at the hall, where he was a +frequent and welcome guest, both on his own account and as a friend of +Doctor Ives. Emily had returned, and she brought the bride and groom +with her; when one evening as they were pleasantly seated at their +various amusements, with the ease of old acquaintances, Mr. Haughton +entered. It was at an hour rather unusual for his visits; and throwing +down his hat, after making the usual inquiries, he began without +preface-- + +"I know, good people, you are all wondering what has brought me out this +time of night, but the truth is, Lucy has coaxed her mother to persuade +me into a ball in honor of the times; so, my lady, I have consented, and +my wife and daughter have been buying up all the finery in B----, by the +way, I suppose, of anticipating their friends. There is a regiment of +foot come into barracks within fifteen miles of us, and to-morrow I must +beat up for recruits among the officers--girls are never wanting on such +occasions." + +"Why," cried the baronet, "you are growing young again, my friend." "No, +Sir Edward, but my daughter is young, and life has so many cares that I +am willing she should get rid of as many as she can at my expense." + +"Surely you would not wish her to dance them away," said Mrs. Wilson; +"such relief I am afraid will prove temporary." + +"Do you disapprove of dancing, ma'am?" said Mr. Haughton, who held her +opinions in great respect as well as a little dread. + +"I neither approve nor disapprove of it--jumping up and down is innocent +enough in itself, and if it must be done it is well it were done +gracefully; as for the accompaniments of dancing I say nothing--what do +you say, Doctor Ives?" + +"To what, my dear madam?" + +"To dancing." + +"Oh let the girls dance if they enjoy it." + +"I am glad you think so, doctor," cried the delighted Mr. Haughton; I +was afraid I recollected your advising your son never to dance nor to +play at games of chance." + +"You thought right, my friend," said the doctor, laying down his +newspaper; "I did give that advice to Frank, whom you will please to +remember is now rector of Bolton. I do not object to dancing as not +innocent in itself or as an elegant exercise; but it is like drinking, +generally carried to excess: now as a Christian I am opposed to all +excesses; the music and company lead to intemperance in the recreation, +and they often induce neglect of duties--but so may anything else." + +"I like a game of whist, doctor, greatly," said Mr. Haughton; "but +observing that you never play, and recollecting your advice to Mr. +Francis, I have forbidden cards when you are my guest." + +"I thank you for the compliment, good sir," replied the doctor, with a +smile; "still I would much rather see you play cards than hear you talk +scandal, as you sometimes do." + +"Scandal!" echoed Mr. Haughton. + +"Ay, scandal," said the doctor, coolly, "such as the remark you made the +last time, which was only yesterday, I called to see you. You accused +Sir Edward of being wrong in letting that poacher off so easily; the +baronet, you said, did not shoot himself, and did not know how to prize +game as he ought." + +"Scandal, Doctor--do you call that scandal? why I told Sir Edward so +himself, two or three times." + +"I know you did, and that was rude." + +"Rude! I hope sincerely Sir Edward has put no such construction on it?" + +The baronet smiled kindly, and shook his head. + +"Because the baronet chooses to forgive your offences, it does not alter +their nature," said the doctor, gravely: "no, you must repent and amend; +you impeached his motives for doing a benevolent act, and that I call +scandal." + +"Why, doctor, I was angry the fellow should be let loose; he is a pest +to all the game in the county, and every sportsman will tell you so-- +here, Mr. Moseley, you know Jackson, the poacher." + +"Oh! a poacher is an intolerable wretch!" cried Captain Jarvis. + +"Oh! a poacher," echoed John, looking drolly at Emily, "hang all +poachers." + +"Poacher or no poacher, does not alter the scandal," said the doctor; +"now let me tell you, good sir, I would rather play at fifty games of +whist than make one such speech, unless indeed it interfered with my +duties; now, sir, with your leave I'll explain myself as to my son. +There is an artificial levity about dancing that adds to the dignity of +no man: from some it may detract: a clergyman for instance is supposed +to have other things to do, and it might hurt him in the opinions of +those with whom his influence is necessary, and impair his usefulness; +therefore a clergyman should never dance. In the same way with cards; +they are the common instruments of gambling, and an odium is attached to +them on that account; women and clergymen must respect the prejudices of +mankind in some cases, or lose their influence in society." + +"I did hope to have the pleasure of your company, doctor, said Mr. +Haughton, hesitatingly. + +"And if it will give you pleasure," cried the rector, "you shall have it +with all my heart, good sir; it would be a greater evil to wound the +feelings of such a neighbor as Mr. Haughton, than to show my face once +at a ball," and rising, he laid his hand on the shoulder of the other +kindly. "Both your scandal and rudeness are easily forgiven; but I +wished to show you the common error of the world which has attached +odium to certain things, while it charitably overlooks others of a more +heinous nature." + +Mr. Haughton, who had at first been a little staggered with the attack +of the doctor, recovered himself, and laying a handful of notes on the +table, hoped he should have the pleasure of seeing every body. The +invitation was generally accepted, and the worthy man departed, happy if +his friends did but come, and were pleased. + +"Do you dance, Miss Moseley?" inquired Denbigh of Emily, as he sat +watching her graceful movements in netting a purse for her father. + +"Oh, yes! the doctor said nothing of us girls, you know I suppose he +thinks we have no dignity to lose." + +"Admonitions are generally thrown away on young ladies when pleasure is +in the question," said the doctor, with a look of almost paternal +affection. + +"I hope you do not seriously disapprove of it in moderation," said Mrs. +Wilson. + +"That depends, madam, upon circumstances; if it is to be made subsidiary +to envy, malice, coquetry, vanity, or any other such little lady-like +accomplishment, it certainly had better be let alone. But in moderation, +and with the feelings of my little pet here, I should be cynical, +indeed, to object." + +Denbigh appeared lost in his own ruminations during this dialogue; and +as the doctor ended, he turned to the captain, who was overlooking a +game of chess between the colonel and Jane, of which the latter had +become remarkably fond of late, playing with her hands and eyes instead +of her feet--and inquired the name of the corps in barracks at F----. + +"The ----th foot, sir," replied the captain, haughtily, who neither +respected him, owing to his want of consequence, nor loved him, from the +manner in which Emily listened to his conversation. + +"Will Miss Moseley forgive a bold request," said Denbigh, with some +hesitation. + +Emily looked up from her work in silence, but with some little +flutterings at the heart. + +"The honor of her hand for the first dance," continued Denbigh, +observing she was in expectation that he would proceed. + +Emily laughingly said, "Certainly, Mr. Denbigh, if you can submit to the +degradation." + +The London papers now came in, and most of the gentlemen sat down to +their perusal. The colonel, however, replaced the men for a second game, +and Denbigh still kept his place beside Mrs. Wilson and her niece. The +manners, the sentiments, the whole exterior of this gentleman were such +as both the taste and judgment of the aunt approved of; his qualities +were those which insensibly gained on the heart, and yet Mrs. Wilson +noticed, with a slight uneasiness, the very evident satisfaction her +niece took in his society. In Dr. Ives she had great confidence, yet Dr. +Ives was a friend, and probably judged him favorably; and again, Dr. +Ives was not to suppose he was introducing a candidate for the hand of +Emily in every gentleman he brought to the hall. Mrs. Wilson had seen +too often the ill consequences of trusting to impressions received from +inferences of companionship, not to know the only safe way was to judge +for ourselves: the opinions of others might be partial--might be +prejudiced--and many an improper connexion had been formed by listening +to the sentiments of those who spoke without interest, and consequently +without examination. Not a few matches are made by this idle +commendation of others, uttered by those who are respected, and which +are probably suggested more by a desire to please than by reflection or +even knowledge. In short Mrs. Wilson knew that as our happiness chiefly +interests ourselves, so it was to ourselves, or to those few whose +interest was equal to our own, we could only trust those important +inquiries necessary to establish a permanent opinion of character. With +Doctor Ives her communications on subjects of duty were frequent and +confiding, and although she sometimes thought his benevolence disposed +him to be rather too lenient to the faults of mankind, she entertained a +profound respect for his judgment. It had great influence with her, if +it were not always conclusive; she determined, therefore, to have an +early conversation with him on the subject so near her heart, and be in +a great measure regulated by his answers in the steps to be immediately +taken. Every day gave her what he thought melancholy proof of the ill +consequences of neglecting a duty, in the increasing intimacy of Colonel +Egerton and Jane. + +"Here, aunt," cried John, as he ran over a paper, "is a paragraph +relating to your favorite youth, our trusty and well beloved cousin the +Earl of Pendennyss." + +"Read it," said Mrs. Wilson, with an interest his name never failed to +excite. + +"We noticed to-day the equipage of the gallant Lord Pendennyss before +the gates of Annandale-house, and understand the noble earl is last from +Bolton castle, Northamptonshire." + +"A very important fact," said Captain Jarvis, sarcastically; "Colonel +Egerton and myself got as far as the village, to pay our respects to +him, when we heard he had gone on to town." + +"The earl's character, both as a man and a soldier," observed the +colonel, "gives him a claim to our attentions that his rank would not: +on that account we would have called." + +"Brother," said Mrs. Wilson, "you would oblige me greatly by asking his +lordship to waive ceremony; his visits to Bolton castle will probably be +frequent, now we have peace; and the owner is so much from home that we +may never see him without some such invitation." + +"Do you want him as a husband for Emily?" cried John, as he gaily seated +himself by the side of his sister. + +Mrs. Wilson smiled at an observation which reminded her of one of her +romantic wishes; and as she raised her head to reply in the same tone, +met the eye of Denbigh fixed on her with an expression that kept her +silent. This is really an incomprehensible young man in some respects, +thought the cautious widow, his startling looks on the introduction to +the colonel crossing her mind at the same time; and observing the doctor +opening the door that led to the baronet's library, Mrs. Wilson, who +generally acted as soon as she had decided, followed him. As their +conversations were known often to relate to the little offices of +charity in which they both delighted, the movement excited no surprise, +and she entered the library with the doctor uninterrupted. + +"Doctor," said Mrs. Wilson, impatient to proceed to the point, "you know +my maxim, prevention is better than cure. This young friend of yours is +very interesting." + +"Do you feel yourself in danger?" said the rector, smiling. + +"Not very imminent," replied the lady, laughing good-naturedly. Seating +herself, she continued, "Who is he? and who was his father, if I may +ask?" + +"George Denbigh, madam, both father and son," said the doctor, gravely. + +"Ah, doctor, I am almost tempted to wish Frank had been a girl. You know +what I wish to learn." + +"Put your questions in order, dear madam," said the doctor, in a kind +manner, "and they shall be answered." + +"His principles?" + +"So far as I can learn, they are good. His acts, as they have come to my +notice, are highly meritorious, and I hope they originated in proper +motives. I have seen but little of him of late years, however, and on +this head you are nearly as good a judge as myself. His filial piety," +said the doctor, dashing a tear from his eye, and speaking with fervor, +"was lovely." + +"His temper--his disposition?" + +"His temper is under great command, although naturally ardent; his +disposition eminently benevolent towards his fellow-creatures." + +"His connexions?" + +"Suitable," said the doctor, gravely. + +His fortune was of but little moment. Emily would be amply provided, for +all the customary necessaries of her station; and, thanking the divine, +Mrs. Wilson returned to the parlor, easy in mind, and determined to let +things take their own course for a time, but in no degree to relax the +vigilance of her observation. + +On her return to the room, Mrs. Wilson observed Denbigh approach +Egerton, and enter into conversation of a general nature. It was the +first time anything more than unavoidable courtesies had passed between +them. The colonel appeared slightly uneasy under his novel situation, +while, on the other hand, his companion showed an anxiety to be on a +more friendly footing than heretofore. There was something mysterious in +the feelings manifested by both these gentlemen that greatly puzzled the +good lady; and from its complexion, she feared one or the other was not +entirely free from censure. It could not have been a quarrel, or their +names would have been familiar to each other. They had both served in +Spain, she knew, and excesses were often committed by gentlemen at a +distance from home their pride would have prevented where they were +anxious to maintain a character. Gambling, and a few other prominent +vices, floated through her imagination, until, wearied of conjectures +where she had no data, and supposing, after all, it might be only her +imagination, the turned to more pleasant reflections. + + + +Chapter XII. + +The bright eyes of Emily Moseley unconsciously wandered round the +brilliant assemblage at Mr. Haughton's, as she took her seat, in search +of her partner. The rooms were filled with scarlet coats, and belles +from the little town of F----; and if the company were not the most +select imaginable, it was disposed to enjoy the passing moment +cheerfully and in lightness of heart. Ere, however, she could make out +to scan the countenances of the men, young Jarvis, decked in the full +robes of his dignity, as captain in the ----th foot, approached and +solicited the honor of her hand. The colonel had already secured her +sister, and it was by the instigation of his friend, Jarvis had been +thus early in his application. Emily thanked him, and pleaded her +engagement. The mortified youth, who had thought dancing with the ladies +a favor conferred on them, from the anxiety his sister always manifested +to get partners, stood for a few moments in sullen silence; and then, as +if to be revenged on the sex, he determined not to dance the whole +evening. Accordingly, he withdrew to a room appropriated to the +gentlemen, where he found a few of the military beaux, keeping alive the +stimulus they had brought with them from the mess-table. + +Clara had prudently decided to comport herself as became a clergyman's +wife, and she declined dancing altogether. Catherine Chatterton was +entitled to open the ball, as superior in years and rank to any who were +disposed to enjoy the amusement. The dowager, who in her heart loved to +show her airs upon such occasions, had chosen to be later than the rest +of the family; and Lucy had to entreat her father to have patience more +than once during the interregnum in their sports created by Lady +Chatterton's fashion. This lady at length appeared, attended by her son, +and followed by her daughters, ornamented in all the taste of the +reigning fashions. Doctor Ives and his wife, who came late from choice, +soon appeared, accompanied by their guest, and the dancing commenced. +Denbigh had thrown aside his black for the evening, and as he approached +to claim her promised hand, Emily thought him, if not as handsome, much +more interesting than Colonel Egerton, who just then passed them while +leading her sister to the set. Emily danced beautifully, but perfectly +like a lady, as did Jane; but Denbigh, although graceful in his +movements and in time, knew but little of the art; and but for the +assistance of his partner, he would have more than once gone wrong in +the figure. He very gravely asked her opinion of his performance as he +handed her to a chair, and she laughingly told him his movements were +but a better sort of march. He was about to reply, when Jarvis +approached. By the aid of a pint of wine and his own reflections, the +youth wrought himself into something of a passion, especially as he saw +Denbigh enter, after Emily had declined dancing with himself. There was +a gentleman in the corps who unfortunately was addicted to the bottle, +and he had fastened on Jarvis as a man at leisure to keep him company. +Wine openeth the heart, and the captain having taken a peep at the +dancers, and seen the disposition of affairs, returned to his bottle +companion, bursting with the indignity offered to his person. He dropped +a hint, and a question or two brought the whole grievance forth. + +There is a certain set of men in every service who imbibe extravagant +notions that are revolting to humanity, and which too often prove to be +fatal in their results. Their morals are never correct, and the little +they have set loosely about them. In their own cases, their appeals to +arms are not always so prompt; but in that of their friends, their +perceptions of honor are intuitively keen, and their inflexibility in +preserving it from reproach unbending; and such is the weakness of +mankind, their "tenderness on points where the nicer feelings of a +soldier are involved, that these machines of custom, these thermometers +graduated to the scale of false honor, usurp the place of reason and +benevolence, and become too often the arbiters of life and death to a +whole corps. Such, then, was the confidant to whom Jarvis communicated +the cause of his disgust, and the consequences may easily be imagined. +As he passed Emily and Denbigh, he threw a look of fierceness at the +latter, which he meant as an indication of his hostile intentions. It +was lost on his rival, who at that moment was filled with passions of a +very different kind from those which Captain Jarvis thought agitated his +own bosom; for had his new friend let him alone, the captain would have +gone quietly home and gone to sleep. + +"Have you ever fought?" said Captain Digby coolly to his companion, as +they seated themselves in his father's parlor, whither they had retired +to make their arrangements for the following morning. + +"Yes," said Jarvis, with a stupid look, "I fought once with Tom Halliday +at school." + +"At school! My dear friend, you commenced young indeed," said Digby, +helping himself to another glass. "And how did it end?" + +"Oh! Tom got the better, and so I cried enough," said Jarvis, surlily. + +"Enough! I hope you did not flinch," eyeing him keenly "Where were you +hit?" + +"He hit me all over." + +"All over! The d---l! Did you use small shot? How did you fight?" + +"With fists," said Jarvis, yawning. + +His companion, seeing how matters were, rang for his servant to put him +to bed, remaining himself an hour longer to finish the bottle. + +Soon after Jarvis had given Denbigh the look big with his intended +vengeance, Colonel Egerton approached Emily, asking permission to +present Sir Herbert Nicholson, the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, +and a gentleman who was ambitious of the honor of her acquaintance; a +particular friend of his own. Emily gracefully bowed her assent. Soon +after, turning her eyes on Denbigh, who had been speaking to her at the +moment, she saw him looking intently on the two soldiers, who were +making their way through the crowd to the place where she sat. He +stammered, said something she could not understand, and precipitately +withdrew; and although both she and her aunt sought his figure in the +gay throng that flitted around them, he was seen no more that evening. + +"Are you acquainted with Mr. Denbigh?" said Emily to her partner, after +looking in vain to find his person in the crowd. + +"Denbigh! Denbigh! I have known one or two of that name" replied the +gentleman. "In the army there are several." + +"Yes," said Emily, musing, "he is in the army;" and looking up, she saw +her companion reading her countenance with an expression that brought +the color to her cheeks with a glow that was painful. Sir Herbert +smiled, and observed that the room was warm. Emily acquiesced in the +remark, for the first time in her life conscious of a feeling she was +ashamed to have scrutinized, and glad of any excuse to hide her +confusion. + +"Grace Chatterton is really beautiful to-night," whispered John Moseley +to his sister Clara. "I have a mind to ask her to dance." + +"Do, John." replied his sister, looking with pleasure on her beautiful +cousin, who, observing the movements of John as he drew near where she +sat, moved her face on each side rapidly, in search of some one who was +apparently not to be found. Her breathing became sensibly quicker, and +John was on the point of speaking to her as the dowager stepped in +between them. There is nothing so flattering to the vanity of a man as +the discovery of emotions in a young woman excited by himself, and which +the party evidently wishes to conceal; there is nothing so touching, so +sure to captivate; or, if it seem to be affected, so sure to disgust. + +"Now, Mr. Moseley," cried the mother, "you shall not ask Grace to dance! +She can refuse you nothing, and she has been up the last two figures." + +"Your wishes are irresistible, Lady Chatterton," said John, coolly +turning on his heel. On gaining the other side of the room, he turned to +reconnoitre the scene. The dowager was fanning herself as violently as +if she had been up the last two figures instead of her daughter, while +Grace sat with her eyes fastened on the floor, paler than usual. +"Grace," thought the young man, "would be very handsome--very sweet-- +very--very everything that is agreeable, if--if it were not for Mother +Chatterton." He then led out one of the prettiest girls in the room. + +Col. Egerton was peculiarly fitted to shine in a ball room. He danced +gracefully and with spirit; was perfectly at home with all the usages of +the best society, and was never neglectful of any of those little +courtesies which have their charm for the moment; and Jane Moseley, who +saw all those she loved around her, apparently as happy as herself, +found in her judgment or the convictions of her principles, no +counterpoise against the weight of such attractions, all centred as it +were in one effort to please herself. His flattery was deep for it was +respectful--his tastes were her tastes--his opinions her opinions. On +the formation of their acquaintance they differed on some trifling point +of poetical criticism, and for near a month the colonel had maintained +his opinion with a show of firmness; but opportunities not wanting for +the discussion, he had felt constrained to yield to her better judgment, +her purer taste. The conquest of Colonel Egerton was complete, and Jane +who saw in his attentions the submission of a devoted heart, began to +look forward to the moment with trembling that was to remove the thin +barrier that existed between the adulation of the eyes and the most +delicate assiduity to please, and the open confidence of declared love. +Jane Moseley had a heart to love, and to love strongly; her danger +existed in her imagination: it was brilliant, unchastened by her +judgment, we had almost said unfettered by her principles. Principles +such as are found in every-day maxims and rules of conduct sufficient to +restrain her within the bounds of perfect decorum she was furnished with +in abundance; but to that principle which was to teach her submission in +opposition to her wishes, to that principle that could alone afford her +security against the treachery of her own passions, she was an utter +stranger. + +The family of Sir Edward were, among the first to retire, and as the +Chattertons had their own carriage, Mrs. Wilson and her charge returned +alone in the coach of the former. Emily, who had been rather out of +spirits the latter-part of the evening, broke the silence by suddenly +observing, + +"Colonel Egerton is, or soon will be, a perfect hero!" + +Her aunt somewhat surprised, both with the abruptness and with the +strength of the remark, inquired her meaning. + +"Oh, Jane will make him one, whether or not." + +This was spoken with an air of vexation which she was unused to, and +Mrs. Wilson gravely corrected her for speaking in a disrespectful manner +of her sister, one whom neither her years nor situation entitled her in +any measure to advise or control. There was an impropriety in judging so +near and dear a relation harshly, even in thought. Emily pressed the +hand of her aunt and tremulously acknowledged her error; but she added, +that she felt a momentary irritation at the idea of a man of Colonel +Egerton's character gaining the command over feelings such as her sister +possessed. Mrs. Wilson kissed the cheek of her niece, while she inwardly +acknowledged the probable truth of the very remark she had thought it +her duty to censure. That the imagination of Jane would supply her lover +with those qualities she most honored herself, she believed was taken as +a matter of course; and that when the veil she had helped to throw +before her own eyes was removed, she would cease to respect, and of +course cease to love him, when too late to remedy the evil, she greatly +feared. But in the approaching fate of Jane she saw new cause to call +forth her own activity. + +Emily Moseley had just completed her eighteenth year, and was gifted by +nature with a vivacity and ardency of feeling that gave a heightened +zest to the enjoyments of that happy age. She was artless but +intelligent; cheerful, with a deep conviction of the necessity of piety; +and uniform in her practice of all the important duties. The unwearied +exertions of her aunt, aided by her own quickness of perception, had +made her familiar with the attainments suitable to her sex and years. +For music she had no taste, and the time which would have been thrown +away in endeavoring to cultivate a talent she did not possess, was +dedicated under the discreet guidance of her aunt, to works which had a +tendency both to qualify her for the duties of this life, and fit her +for that which comes hereafter. It might be said Emily Moseley had never +read a book that contained a sentiment or inculcated an opinion improper +for her sex or dangerous to her morals; and it was not difficult for +those who knew the fact, to fancy they could perceive the consequences +in her guileless countenance and innocent deportment. Her looks--her +actions--her thoughts, wore as much of nature as the discipline of her +well-regulated mind and softened manners could admit. In person she was +of the middle size, exquisitely formed, graceful and elastic in her +step, without, however, the least departure from her natural movements; +her eye was a dark blue, with an expression of joy and intelligence; at +times it seemed all soul, and again all heart; her color was rather +high, but it varied with every emotion of her bosom; her feelings were +strong, ardent, and devoted to those she loved. Her preceptress had +never found it necessary to repeat an admonition of any kind, since her +arrival at years to discriminate between the right and the wrong. + +"I wish," said Doctor Ives to his wife, the evening his son had asked +their permission to address Clara, "Francis had chosen my little Emily." + +"Clara is a good girl," replied his wife; "she is so mild, so +affectionate, that I doubt not she will make him happy--Frank might have +done worse at the Hall." + +"For himself he has done well, I hope," said the father, "a young woman +of Clara's heart may make any man happy but a union with purity, sense, +principles, like those of Emily would be more--it would be blissful." + +Mrs. Ives smiled at her husband's animation. "You remind me more of the +romantic youth I once knew than of the grave divine. There is but one +man I know that I could wish to give Emily to; it is Lumley. If Lumley +sees her, he will woo her; and if he wooes, he will win her." + +"And Lumley I believe to be worthy of her," cried the rector, now taking +up a candle to retire for the night. + + + +Chapter XIII. + +The following day brought a large party of the military elegants to the +Hall, in acceptance of the baronet's hospitable invitation to dinner. +Lady Moseley was delighted; so long as her husband's or her children's +interest had demanded a sacrifice of her love of society it had been +made without a sigh, almost without a thought. The ties of affinity in +her were sacred; and to the happiness, the comfort of those in which she +felt an interest, there were few sacrifices of her own propensities she +would not cheerfully have made: it was this very love of her offspring +that made her anxious to dispose of her daughters in wedlock. Her own +marriage had been so happy, that she naturally concluded it the state +most likely to ensure the happiness of her children; and with Lady +Moseley, as with thousands of others, who averse or unequal to the +labors of investigation, jump to conclusions over the long line of +connecting reasons, marriage was marriage, a husband was a husband. It +is true there were certain indispensables, without which the formation +of a connexion was a thing she considered not within the bounds of +nature. There must be fitness in fortune, in condition, in education, +and manners; there must be no glaring evil, although she did not ask for +positive good. A professor of religion herself, had any one told her it +was a duty of her calling to guard against a connexion with any but a +Christian for her girls, she would have wondered at the ignorance that +would embarrass the married state, with feelings exclusively belonging +to the individual. Had any one told her it were possible to give her +child to any but a gentleman, she would have wondered at the want of +feeling that could devote the softness of Jane or Emily, to the +association with rudeness or vulgarity. It was the misfortune of Lady +Moseley to limit her views of marriage to the scene of this life, +forgetful that every union gives existence to a long line of immortal +beings, whose future welfare depends greatly on the force of early +examples, or the strength of early impressions. + +The necessity for restriction in their expenditures had ceased, and the +baronet and his wife greatly enjoyed the first opportunity their +secluded situation had given them, to draw around their board their +fellow-creatures of their own stamp. In the former, it was pure +philanthropy; the same feeling urged him to seek out and relieve +distress in humble life; while in the latter it was love of station and +seemliness. It was becoming the owner of Moseley Hall, and it was what +the daughters of the Benfield family had done since the conquest. + +"I am extremely sorry," said the good baronet at dinner, "Mr. Denbigh +declined our invitation to-day; I hope he will yet ride over in the +evening." + +Looks of a singular import were exchanged between Colonel Egerton and +Sir Herbert Nicholson, at the mention of Denbigh's name; which, as the +latter had just asked the favor of taking wine with Mrs. Wilson, did not +escape her notice. Emily had innocently mentioned his precipitate +retreat the night before; and he had, when reminded of his engagement to +dine with them that very day, and promised an introduction to Sir +Herbert Nicholson by John, in her presence, suddenly excused himself and +withdrawn. With an indefinite suspicion of something wrong, she +ventured, therefore, to address Sir Herbert Nicholson. + +"Did you know Mr. Denbigh, in Spain?" + +"I told Miss Emily Moseley, I believe, last evening, that I knew some of +the name," replied the gentleman evasively; then pausing a moment, he +added with great emphasis, "there is a circumstance connected with one +of that name, I shall ever remember." + +"It was creditable, no doubt, Sir Herbert," cried young Jarvis, +sarcastically. The soldier affected not to hear the question, and asked +Jane to take wine with him. Lord Chatterton, however, putting his knife +and fork down gravely, and with a glow of animation, observed with +unusual spirit, + +"I have no doubt it was, sir." + +Jarvis in his turn, affected not to hear this speech, and nothing +farther was said, as Sir Edward saw that the name of Mr. Denbigh excited +a sensation amongst his guests for which he was unable to account, and +which he soon forgot himself. + +After the company had retired, Lord Chatterton, however, related to the +astonished and indignant family of the baronet the substance of the +following scene, of which he had been a witness that morning, while on a +visit to Denbigh at the rectory. They had been sitting in the parlor by +themselves, over their breakfast, when a Captain Digby was announced. + +"I have the honor of waiting upon you, Mr. Denbigh," said the soldier, +with the stiff formality of a professed duellist, "on behalf of Captain +Jarvis, but will postpone my business until you are at leisure," +glancing his eye on Chatterton. + +"I know of no business with Captain Jarvis," said Denbigh, politely +handing the stranger a chair, "to which Lord Chatterton cannot be privy; +if he will excuse the interruption. The nobleman bowed, and Captain +Digby, a little awed by the rank of Denbigh's friend, proceeded in a +more measured manner. + +"Captain Jarvis has empowered me, sir, to make any arrangement with +yourself or friend, previously to your meeting, which he hopes may be as +soon as possible, if convenient to yourself," replied the soldier, +coolly. + +Denbigh viewed him for a moment with astonishment, in silence; when +recollecting himself, he said mildly, and without the least agitation, +"I cannot affect, sir, not to understand your meaning, but am at a loss +to imagine what act of mine can have made Mr. Jarvis wish to make such +an appeal." + +"Surely Mr. Denbigh cannot think a man of Captain Jarvis's spirit can +quietly submit to the indignity put upon him last evening, by your +dancing with Miss Moseley, after she had declined the honor to himself," +said the captain, affecting an incredulous smile. "My Lord Chatterton +and myself can easily settle the preliminaries, as Captain Jarvis is +much disposed to consult your wishes, sir, in this affair." + +"If he consults my wishes," said Denbigh, smiling, "he will think no +more about it." + +"At what time, sir, will it be convenient to give him the meeting?" +then, speaking with a kind of bravado gentlemen of his cast are fond of +assuming, "my friend would not hurry any settlement of your affairs." + +"I can never meet Captain Jarvis with hostile intentions," replied +Denbigh, calmly. + +"Sir!" + +"I decline the combat, sir," said Denbigh, with more firmness. + +"Your reasons, sir, if you please?" asked Captain Digby compressing his +lips, and drawing up with an air of personal interest. + +"Surely," cried Chatterton, who had with difficulty estrained his +feelings, "surely Mr. Denbigh could never so far forget himself as +cruelly to expose Miss Moseley by accepting this invitation." + +"Your reason, my lord," said Denbigh, with interest, "would at all times +have its weight; but I wish not to qualify an act of what I conceive to +be principle by any lesser consideration. I cannot meet Captain Jarvis, +or any other man, in private combat. There can exist no necessity for an +appeal to arms in any society where the laws rule, and I am averse to +bloodshed." + +"Very extraordinary," muttered Captain Digby, somewhat at a loss how to +act; but the calm and collected manner of Denbigh prevented a reply; and +after declining a cup of tea, a liquor he never drank, he withdrew, +saying he would acquaint his friend with Mr. Denbigh's singular notions. + +Captain Digby had left Jarvis at an inn, about half a mile from the +rectory, for the convenience of receiving early information of the +result of his conference. The young man had walked up and down the room +during Digby's absence, in a train of reflections entirely new to him. +He was the only son of his aged father and mother, the protector of his +sisters, and, he might say, the sole hope of a rising family; and then, +possibly, Denbigh might not have meant to offend him--he might even have +been engaged before they came to the house; or if not, it might have +been inadvertence on the part of Miss Moseley. That Denbigh would offer +some explanation he believed, and he had fully made up his mind to +accept it, let it be what it might, as his fighting friend entered. + +"Well," said Jarvis, in a tone that denoted anything but a consciousness +that all was well. + +"He says he will not meet you," dryly exclaimed his friend, throwing +himself into a chair, and ordering a glass of brandy and water. + +"Not meet me!" exclaimed Jarvis, in surprise. "Engaged, perhaps?" + +"Engaged to his d--d conscience." + +"To his conscience! I do not know whether I rightly understand you, +Captain Digby," said Jarvis, catching his breath, and raising his voice +a very little. + +"Then, Captain Jarvis," said his friend, tossing off his brandy, and +speaking with great deliberation, "he says that nothing--understand me-- +nothing will ever make him fight a duel." + +"He will not!" cried Jarvis, in a loud voice. + +"No, he will not," said Digby, handing his glass to the waiter for a +fresh supply. + +"He shall, by----!" + +"I don't know how you will make him." + +"Make him! I'll--I'll post him." + +"Never do that," said the captain, turning to him, as he leaned his +elbows on the table. "It only makes both parties ridiculous. But I'll +tell you what you may do. There's a Lord Chatterton who takes the matter +up with warmth. If I were not afraid of his interests hurting my +promotion, I should have resented something that fell from him myself. +He will fight, I dare say, and I'll just return and require an +explanation of his words on your behalf." + +"No, no," said Jarvis, rather hastily; "he--he is related to the +Moseleys, and I have views there it might injure." + +"Did you think to forward your views by making the young lady the +subject of a duel?" asked Captain Digby sarcastically, and eyeing his +companion with contempt. + +"Yes, yes," said Jarvis; "it would certainly hurt my views." + +"Here's to the health of His Majesty's gallant ---- regiment of foot!" +cried Captain Digby, in a tone of irony, when three-quarters drunk, at +the mess-table, that evening, "and to its champion, Captain Henry +Jarvis!" + +One of the corps was present accidentally as a guest; and the following +week, the inhabitants of F---- saw the regiment in their barracks, +marching to slow time after the body of Horace Digby. + +Lord Chatterton, in relating the part of the foregoing circumstances +which fell under his observation, did ample justice to the conduct of +Denbigh; a degree of liberality which did him no little credit, as he +plainly saw in that gentleman he had, or soon would have, a rival in the +dearest wish of his heart; and the smiling approbation with which his +cousin Emily rewarded him for his candor almost sickened him with +apprehension. The ladies were not slow in expressing their disgust at +the conduct of Jarvis, or backward in their approval of Denbigh's +forbearance. Lady Moseley turned with horror from a picture in which she +could see nothing but murder and bloodshed; but both Mrs. Wilson and her +niece secretly applauded a sacrifice of worldly feelings on the altar of +duty; the former admiring the consistent refusal of admitting any +collateral inducements, in explanation of his decision: the latter, +while she saw the act in its true colors, could hardly help believing +that a regard for her feelings had, in a trifling degree, its influence +in inducing him to decline the meeting. Mrs. Wilson saw at once what a +hold such unusual conduct would take on the feelings of her niece, and +inwardly determined to increase, if possible, the watchfulness she had +invariably observed on all he said or did, as likely to elucidate his +real character, well knowing that the requisites to bring or to keep +happiness in the married state were numerous and indispensable; and that +the display of a particular excellence, however good in itself, was by +no means conclusive as to character; in short, that we perhaps as often +meet with a favorite principle as with a besetting sin. + + + +Chapter XIV. + +Sir Edward Moseley had some difficulty in restraining the impetuosity of +his son, who was disposed to resent this impertinent interference of +young Jarvis with the conduct of his favorite sister; indeed, the young +man only yielded to his profound respect to his father's commands, aided +by a strong representation on the part of his sister of the disagreeable +consequences of connecting her name with such a quarrel. It was seldom +the good baronet felt himself called on to act as decidedly as on the +present occasion. He spoke to the merchant in warm, but gentleman-like +terms, of the consequences which might have resulted to his own child +from the intemperate act of his son; exculpated Emily entirely from +censure, by explaining her engagement to dance with Denbigh, previously +to Captain Jarvis's application; and hinted the necessity, if the affair +was not amicably terminated, of protecting the peace of mind of his +daughters against any similar exposures, by declining the acquaintance +of a neighbor he respected as much as Mr. Jarvis. + +The merchant was a man of few words, but of great promptitude. He had +made his fortune, and more than once saved it, by his decision; and +assuring the baronet he should hear no more of it, he took his hat and +hurried home from the village, where the conversation passed. On +arriving at his own house, he found the family collected in the parlor +for a morning ride, and throwing himself into a chair, he broke out on +the whole party with great violence. + +"So, Mrs. Jarvis," he cried, "you would spoil a very tolerable book- +keeper, by wishing to have a soldier in your family; and there stands +the puppy who would have blown out the brains of a deserving young man, +if the good sense of Mr. Denbigh had not denied him the opportunity." + +"Mercy!" cried the alarmed matron, on whom Newgate (for her early life +had been passed near its walls), with all its horrors, floated, and a +contemplation of its punishments had been her juvenile lessons of +morality--"Harry! Harry! would you commit murder?" + +"Murder!" echoed her son, looking askance, as if dodging the bailiffs. +"No, mother; I wanted nothing but what was fair. Mr. Denbigh would have +had an equal chance to blow out my brains; I am sure everything would +have been fair." + +"Equal chance!" muttered his father, who had cooled himself, in some +measure, by an extra pinch of snuff. "No, sir, you have no brains to +lose. But I have promised Sir Edward that you shall make proper +apologies to himself, to his daughter, and to Mr. Denbigh." This was +rather exceeding the truth, but the alderman prided himself on +performing rather more than he promised. + +"Apology!" exclaimed the captain. "Why, sir, the apology is due to me. +Ask Colonel Egerton if he ever heard of apologies being made by the +challenger." + +"No, sure," said the mother, who, having made out the truth of the +matter, thought it was likely enough to be creditable to her child; +"Colonel Egerton never heard of such a thing. Did you, colonel?" + +"Why, madam," said the colonel, hesitatingly, and politely handing the +merchant his snuff-box, which, in his agitation, had fallen on the +floor, "circumstances sometimes justify a departure from ordinary +measures. You are certainly right as a rule; but not knowing the +particulars in the present case, it is difficult for me to decide. Miss +Jarvis, the tilbury is ready." + +The colonel bowed respectfully to the merchant, kissed his hand to his +wife, and led their daughter to his carriage. + +"Do you make the apologies?" asked Mr. Jarvis, as the door closed. + +"No, sir," replied the captain, sullenly. + +"Then you must make your pay answer for the next six months," cried the +father, taking a signed draft on his banker from his pocket, coolly +tearing it in two pieces, carefully putting the name in his mouth, and +chewing it into a ball. + +"Why, alderman," said his wife (a name she never used unless she had +something to gain from her spouse, who loved to hear the appellation +after he had relinquished the office), "it appears to me that Harry has +shown nothing but a proper spirit. You are unkind--indeed you are." + +"A proper spirit? In what way? Do you know anything of the matter?" + +"It is a proper spirit for a soldier to fight, I suppose," said the +wife, a little at a loss to explain. + +"Spirit, or no spirit, apology, or ten and sixpence." + +"Harry," said his mother, holding up her finger in a menacing attitude, +as soon as her husband had left the room (for he had last spoken with +the door in his hand), "if you do beg his pardon, you are no son of +mine." + +"No," cried Miss Sarah, "nor any brother of mine. It would be +insufferably mean." + +"Who will pay my debts?" asked the son, looking up at the ceiling. + +"Why, I would, my child, if--if--I had not spent my own allowance." + +"I would," echoed the sister; "but if we go to Bath, you know, I shall +want all my money." + +"Who will pay my debts?" repeated the son. + +"Apology, indeed! Who is he, that you, a son of Alderman--of--Mr. +Jarvis, of the deanery, B----, North 'amptonshire, should beg his +pardon--a vagrant that nobody knows!" + +"Who will pay my debts?" again inquired the captain drumming with his +foot. + +"Harry," exclaimed the mother, "do you love money better than honor--a +soldier's honor?" + +"No, mother; but I like good eating and drinking. Think mother; it's a +cool five hundred, and that's a famous deal of money." + +"Harry," cried the mother, in a rage, "you are not fit for a soldier. I +wish I were in your place." + +"I wish, with all my heart, you had been for an hour this morning," +thought the son. After arguing for some time longer, they compromised, +by agreeing to leave it to the decision of Colonel Egerton, who, the +mother did not doubt, would applaud her maintaining the Jarvis dignity, +a family in which he took quite as much interest as he felt for his own- +-so he had told her fifty times. The captain, however, determined within +himself to touch the five hundred, let the colonel decide as he might; +but the colonel's decision obviated all difficulties. The question was +put to him by Mrs. Jarvis, on his return from the airing, with no doubt +the decision would be favorable to her opinion. The colonel and herself, +she said, never disagreed; and the lady was right--for wherever his +interest made it desirable to convert Mrs. Jarvis to his side of the +question, Egerton had a manner of doing it that never failed to succeed. + +"Why, madam," said he, with one of his most agreeable smiles, "apologies +are different things, at different times. You are certainly right in +your sentiments, as relates to a proper spirit in a soldier; but no one +can doubt the spirit of the captain, after the stand he took in this +affair; if Mr. Denbigh would not meet him (a very extraordinary measure, +in deed, I confess), what can your son do more? He cannot make a man +fight against his will, you know." + +"True, true," cried the matron, impatiently, "I do not want him to +fight; heaven forbid! but why should he, the challenger, beg pardon? I +am sure, to have the thing regular, Mr. Denbigh is the one to ask +forgiveness." + +The colonel felt at a little loss how to reply, when Jarvis, in whom the +thoughts of the five hundred pounds had worked a revolution, exclaimed-- + +"You know, mother, I accused him--that is, I suspected him of dancing +with Miss Moseley against my right to her; now you find that it was all +a mistake, and so I had better act with dignity, and confess my error." + +"Oh, by all means," cried the colonel, who saw the danger of an +embarrassing rupture between the families, otherwise: "delicacy to your +sex particularly requires that, ma'am, from your son;" and he +accidentally dropped a letter as he spoke. + +"From Sir Edgar, colonel?" asked Mrs. Jarvis, as he stooped to pick it +up. + +"From Sir Edgar, ma'am, and he begs to be remembered to yourself and all +of your amiable family." + +Mrs. Jarvis inclined her body, in what she intended for a graceful bend, +and sighed--a casual observer might have thought, with maternal anxiety +for the reputation of her child--but it was conjugal regret, that the +political obstinacy of the alderman had prevented his carrying up an +address, and thus becoming Sir Timothy. Sir Edgar's heir prevailed, and +the captain received permission to do what he had done several hours +before. + +On leaving the room, after the first discussion, and before the appeal, +the captain had hastened to his father with his concessions. The old +gentleman knew too well the influence of five hundred pounds to doubt +the effect in the present instance, and he had ordered his carriage for +the excursion. It came, and to the hall they proceeded. The captain +found his intended antagonist, and in a rather uncouth manner, he made +the required concession. He was restored to his former favor--no great +distinction--and his visits to the hall were suffered, but with a +dislike Emily could never conquer, nor at all times conceal. + +Denbigh was occupied with a book, when Jarvis commenced his speech to +the baronet and his daughter, and was apparently too much engaged with +its contents, to understand what was going on, as the captain blundered +through. It was necessary, the captain saw by a glance of his father's +eyes, to say something to that gentleman, who had delicately withdrawn +to a distant window. His speech was consequently made here too, and Mrs. +Wilson could not avoid stealing a look at them. Denbigh smiled, and +bowed in silence. It is enough, thought the widow; the offence was not +against him, it was against his Maker; he should not arrogate to +himself, in any manner, the right to forgive, or to require apologies-- +the whole is consistent. The subject was never afterwards alluded to: +Denbigh appeared to have forgotten it; and Jane sighed gently, as she +devoutly hoped the colonel was not a duellist. + +Several days passed before the deanery ladies could sufficiently forgive +the indignity their family had sustained, to resume the customary +intercourse. Like all other grievances, where the passions are chiefly +interested, it was forgotten in time, however, and things were put in +some measure on their former footing. The death of Digby served to +increase the horror of the Moseleys, and Jarvis himself felt rather +uncomfortable, on more accounts than one, at the fatal termination of +the unpleasant business. + +Chatterton, who to his friends had not hesitated to avow his attachment +to his cousin, but who had never proposed for her, as his present views +and fortune were not, in his estimation, sufficient for her proper +support, had pushed every interest he possessed, and left no steps +unattempted an honorable man could resort to, to effect his object. The +desire to provide for his sisters had been backed by the ardor of a +passion that had reached its crisis; and the young peer who could not, +in the present state of things, abandon the field to a rival so +formidable as Denbigh, even to further his views to preferment, was +waiting in anxious suspense the decision on his application. A letter +from his friend informed him, his opponent was likely to succeed; that, +in short, all hopes of success had left him. Chatterton was in despair. +On the following day, however, he received a second letter from the same +friend, unexpectedly announcing his appointment. After mentioning the +fact, he went on to say--"The cause of this sudden revolution in your +favor is unknown to me, and unless your lordship has obtained interest I +am ignorant of, it is one of the most singular instances of ministerial +caprice I have ever known." Chatterton was as much at a loss as his +friend, to understand the affair; but it mattered not; he could now +offer to Emily--it was a patent office of great value, and a few years +would amply portion his sisters. That very day, therefore, he proposed, +and was refused. + +Emily had a difficult task to avoid self-reproach, in regulating her +deportment on this occasion. She was fond of Chatterton as a relation-- +as her brother's friend--as the brother of Grace, and even on his own +account; but it was the fondness of a sister. His manner--his words, +which, although never addressed to herself, were sometimes overheard +unintentionally, and sometimes reached her through her sisters, had left +her in no doubt of his attachment; she was excessively grieved at the +discovery, and had innocently appealed to her aunt for directions how to +proceed. Of his intentions she had no doubt, but at the same time he had +not put her in a situation to dispel his hopes; as to encouragement, in +the usual meaning of the term, she gave none to him, nor to any one +else. There are no little attentions that lovers are fond of showing to +their mistresses, and which mistresses are fond of receiving, that Emily +ever permitted to any gentleman--no rides--no walks--no tête-à-têtes. +Always natural and unaffected, there was a simple dignity about her that +forbade the request, almost the thought, in the gentlemen of her +acquaintance: she had no amusements, no pleasures of any kind in which +her sisters were not her companions; and if anything was on the carpet +that required an attendant, John was ever ready. He was devoted to her; +the decided preference she gave him over every other man, upon such +occasions, flattered his affection; and he would, at any time, leave +even Grace Chatterton to attend his sister. All this too was without +affectation, and generally without notice. Emily so looked the delicacy +and reserve she acted with so little ostentation that not even her own +sex had affixed to her conduct the epithet of squeamish; it was +difficult, therefore, for her to do anything which would show Lord +Chatterton her disinclination to his suit, without assuming a dislike +she did not feel, or giving him slights that neither good breeding nor +good nature could justify. At one time, indeed, she had expressed a wish +to return to Clara; but this Mrs. Wilson thought would only protract the +evil, and she was compelled to wait his own time. The peer himself did +not rejoice more in his ability to make the offer, therefore, than Emily +did to have it in her power to decline it. Her rejection was firm and +unqualified, but uttered with a grace and a tenderness to his feelings, +that bound her lover tighter than ever in her chains, and he resolved on +immediate flight as his only recourse. + +"I hope nothing unpleasant has occurred to Lord Chatterton," said +Denbigh, with great interest, as he reached the spot where the young +peer stood leaning his head against a tree, on his way from the rectory +to the hall. + +Chatterton raised his face as he spoke: there were evident traces of +tears on it, and Denbigh, greatly shocked, was about to proceed as the +other caught his arm. + +"Mr. Denbigh," said the young man, in a voice almost choked with +emotion, "may you never know the pain I have felt this morning. Emily-- +Emily Moseley--is lost to me--for ever." + +For a moment the blood rushed to the face of Denbigh, and his eyes +flashed with a look that Chatterton could not stand. He turned, as the +voice of Denbigh, in those remarkable tones which distinguished it from +every other voice he had ever heard, uttered-- + +"Chatterton, my lord, we are friends, I hope--I wish it; from my heart." + +"Go, Mr. Denbigh--go. You were going to Miss Moseley--do not let me +detain you." "I am going with you, Lord Chatterton, unless you forbid +it," said Denbigh, with emphasis, slipping his arm through that of the +peer. + +For two hours they walked together in the park; and when they appeared +at dinner, Emily wondered why Mr. Denbigh had taken a seat next to her +mother, instead of his usual place between herself and her aunt. In the +evening, he announced his intention of leaving B---- for a short time +with Lord Chatterton. They were going to London together; but he hoped +to return within ten days. This sudden determination caused some +surprise; but, as the dowager supposed it was to secure the new +situation, and the remainder of their friends thought it might be +business, it was soon forgotten, though much regretted for the time. The +gentlemen left the hall that night to proceed to an inn, from which they +could obtain a chaise and horses; and the following morning, when the +baronet's family assembled around their social breakfast, they were many +miles on the road to the metropolis. + + + +Chapter XV. + +Lady Chatterton, finding that little was to be expected in her present +situation, excepting what she looked forward to from the varying +admiration of John Moseley to her youngest daughter, determined to +accept an invitation of some standing to a nobleman's seat about fifty +miles from the hall, and, in order to keep things in their proper +places, to leave Grace with her friends, who had expressed a wish to +that effect. Accordingly, the day succeeding the departure of her son, +she proceeded on her expedition, accompanied by her willing assistant in +the matrimonial speculations. + +Grace Chatterton was by nature retiring and delicate; but her feelings +were acute, and on the subject of female propriety sensitive to a +degree, that the great want of it in a relation she loved as much as her +mother had possibly in some measure increased. Her affections were too +single in their objects to have left her long in doubt as to their +nature with respect to the baronet's son; and it was one of the most +painful orders she had ever received, that which compelled her to accept +her cousin's invitation. Her mother was peremptory, however, and Grace +was obliged to comply. Every delicate feeling she possessed revolted at +the step: the visit itself was unwished for on her part; but there did +exist a reason which had reconciled her to that--the wedding of Clara. +But now to remain, after all her family had gone, in the house where +resided the man who had as yet never solicited those affections she had +been unable to withhold, it was humiliating--it was degrading her in her +own esteem, and she could scarcely endure it. + +It is said that women are fertile in inventions to further their schemes +of personal gratification, vanity, or even mischief. It may be it is +true; but the writer of these pages is a man--one who has seen much of +the other sex, and he is happy to have an opportunity of paying a +tribute to female purity and female truth. That there are hearts so +disinterested as to lose the considerations of self, in advancing the +happiness of those they love; that there are minds so pure as to recoil +with disgust from the admission of deception, indelicacy, or management, +he knows; for he has seen it from long and close examination. He regrets +that the very artlessness of those who are most pure in the one sex, +subjects them to the suspicions of the grosser materials which compose +the other. He believes that innocency, singleness of heart, ardency of +feeling, and unalloyed, shrinking delicacy, sometimes exist in the +female bosom, to an extent that but few men are happy enough to +discover, and that most men believe incompatible with the frailties of +human nature. Grace Chatterton possessed no little of what may almost be +called this ethereal spirit and a visit to Bolton parsonage was +immediately proposed by her to Emily. The latter, too innocent herself +to suspect the motives of her cousin, was happy to be allowed to devote +a fortnight to Clara, uninterrupted by the noisy round of visiting and +congratulations which had attended her first week; and Mrs. Wilson and +the two girls left the hall the same day with the Dowager Lady +Chatterton. Francis and Clara were happy to receive them, and they were +immediately domesticated in their new abode. Doctor Ives and his wife +had postponed an annual visit to a relation of the former on account of +the marriage of their son, and they now availed themselves of this visit +to perform their own engagement. B---- appeared in some measure +deserted, and Egerton had the field almost to himself. Summer had +arrived, and the country bloomed in all its luxuriance of vegetation: +everything was propitious to the indulgence of the softer passions; and +Lady Moseley, ever a strict adherent to forms and decorum, admitted the +intercourse between Jane and her admirer to be carried to as great +lengths as those forms would justify. Still the colonel was not +explicit; and Jane, whose delicacy dreaded the exposure of feelings that +was involved in his declaration, gave or sought no marked opportunities +for the avowal of his passion. Yet they were seldom separate, and both +Sir Edward and his wife looked forward to their future union as a thing +not to be doubted. Lady Moseley had given up her youngest child so +absolutely to the government of her aunt, that she seldom thought of her +future establishment. She had that kind of reposing confidence in Mrs. +Wilson's proceedings that feeble minds ever bestow on those who are much +superior to them; and she even approved of a system in many respects +which she could not endeavor to imitate. Her affection for Emily was +not, however, less than what she felt for her other children: she was, +in fact, her favorite, and, had the discipline of Mrs. Wilson admitted +of so weak an interference, might have been injured as such. + +John Moseley had been able to find out exactly the hour they breakfasted +at the deanery, the length of time it took Egerton's horses to go the +distance between that house and the hall; and on the sixth morning after +the departure of his aunt, John's bays were in his phaeton, and allowing +ten minutes for the mile and a half to the park gates, John had got +happily off his own territories, before he met the tilbury travelling +eastward. I am not to know which road the colonel may turn, thought +John: and after a few friendly, but rather hasty greetings, the bays +were again in full trot to the parsonage. + +"John," said Emily, holding out her hand affectionately, and smiling a +little archly, as he approached the window where she stood, "you should +take a lesson in driving from Frank; you have turned more than one hair, +I believe." + +"How is Clara?" cried John, hastily, taking the offered hand, with a +kiss, "aye, and aunt Wilson?" + +"Both well, brother, and out walking this fine morning." + +"How happens it you are not with them?" inquired the brother, throwing +his eyes round the room. "Have they left you alone?" + +"No Grace has this moment left me." + +"Well, Emily," said John, taking his seat very composedly, but keeping +his eyes on the door, "I have come to dine with you. I thought I owed +Clara a visit, and have managed nicely to give the colonel the go-by." + +"Clara will be happy to see you, dear John, and so will aunt, and so am +I"--as she drew aside his fine hair with her fingers to cool his +forehead. + +"And why not Grace, too?" asked John, with a look of a little alarm. + +"And Grace, too, I fancy--but here she is, to answer for herself." + +Grace said little on her entrance, but her eyes were brighter than +usual, and she looked so contented and happy that Emily observed to her, +in an affectionate manner-- + +"I knew the eau-de-Cologne would do your head good." + +"Is Miss Chatterton unwell?" asked John, with a look of interest. + +"A slight headache," said Grace, faintly, "but I feel much better." + +"Want of air and exercise: my horses are at the door; phaeton will hold +three easily; run, sister, for your hat," almost pushing Emily out of +the room as he spoke. In a few minutes the horses might have been +suffering for air, but surely not for exercise. + +"I wish," cried John, with impatience, when at the distance of a couple +of miles from the parsonage, "that gentleman had driven his gig out of +the road." + +There was a small group on one side of the road, consisting of a man, a +woman, and several children. The owner of the gig had alighted, and was +in the act of speaking to them, as the phaeton approached at a great +rate. + +"John," cried Emily, in terror, "You never can pass--you will upset us." + +"There is no danger, dear Grace," said the brother, endeavoring to check +his horses; he succeeded in part, but not so as to prevent his passing +at a spot where the road was very narrow; a wheel hit violently against +a stone, and some of his works gave way. The gentleman immediately +hastened to his assistance--it was Denbigh. + +"Miss Moseley!" cried he, in a voice of the tenderest interest "you are +not hurt in the least, I hope." + +"No," said Emily, recovering her breath, "only frightened;" and taking +his hand, she sprang from the carriage. + +Miss Chatterton found courage to wait quietly for the care of John. His +"dear Grace," had thrilled on every nerve, and she afterwards often +laughed at Emily for her terror when there was so little danger. The +horses were not in the least frightened, and after a little mending, +John declared all was safe. To ask Emily to enter, the carriage again, +was to exact no little sacrifice of her feelings to her reason; and she +stood in a suspense that too plainly showed that, the terror she had +been in had not left her. + +"If," said Denbigh, modestly, "if Mr. Moseley will take the ladies in my +gig, I will drive the phaeton to the hall, as it is rather unsafe for so +heavy a load." + +"No, no, Denbigh," said John, coolly, "you are not used to such mettled +nags as mine--it would be indiscreet for you to drive them: if, however, +you will be good enough to take Emily into your gig--Grace Chatterton, I +am sure, is not afraid to trust my driving, and we might all get back as +well as ever." + +Grace gave her hand almost unconsciously to John, and he handed her into +the phaeton, as Denbigh stood willing to execute his part of the +arrangement, but too diffident to speak. It was not a moment for +affectation, if Emily had been capable of it, and blushing with the +novelty of her situation, she took her place in the gig. Denbigh stopped +and turned his eyes on the little group with which he had been talking, +and at that moment they caught the attention of John also. The latter +inquired after their situation. The tale was a piteous one, the distress +evidently real. The husband had been gardener to a gentleman in a +neighboring county, and he had been lately discharged, to make way, in +the difficulty of the times, for a relation of the steward, who was in +want of the place. Suddenly thrown on the world, with a wife and four +children, with but the wages of a week for his and their support, they +had travelled thus far on the way to a neighboring parish, where he said +he had a right to, and must seek, public assistance. The children were +crying for hunger, and the mother, who was a nurse, had been unable to +walk further than where she sat, but had sunk on the ground overcome +with fatigue, and weak from the want of nourishment. Neither Emily nor +Grace could refrain from tears at the recital of these heavy woes; the +want of sustenance was something so shocking in itself, and brought, as +it were, immediately before their eyes, the appeal was irresistible. +John forgot his bays--forgot even Grace, as he listened to the affecting +story related by the woman, who was much revived by some nutriment +Denbigh had obtained from a cottage near them, and to which they were +about to proceed by his directions, as Moseley interrupted them. His +hand shook, his eyes glistened as he took his purse from his pocket, and +gave several guineas from it to the mendicant. Grace thought John had +never appeared so handsome as the moment he handed the money to the +gardener; his face glowed with unusual excitement, and his symmetry had +lost the only charm he wanted in common, softness. Denbigh, after +waiting patiently until Moseley had bestowed his alms, gravely repeated +his directions for their proceeding to the cottage, when the carriages +moved on. + +Emily revolved, in her mind, during their short ride, the horrid +distress she had witnessed. It had taken a strong hold on her feelings. +Like her brother, she was warm-hearted and compassionate, if we may use +the term, to excess; and had she been prepared with the means, the +gardener would have reaped a double harvest of donations. It struck her, +at the moment, unpleasantly, that Denbigh had been so backward in his +liberality. The man had rather sullenly displayed half a crown as his +gift, in contrast with the golden shower of John's generosity. It had +been even somewhat offensive in its exhibition, and urged her brother to +a more hasty departure than, under other circumstances, he would just at +the moment have felt disposed to make. Denbigh, however, had taken no +notice of the indignity, and continued his directions in the same mild +and benevolent manner he had used during the whole interview. Half a +crown was but little, thought Emily, for a family that was starving; +and, unwilling to judge harshly of one she had begun to value so highly, +she came to the painful conclusion, her companion was not as rich as he +deserved to be. Emily had not yet to learn that charity was in +proportion to the means of the donor, and a gentle wish insensibly stole +over her that Denbigh might in some way become more richly endowed with +the good things of this world. Until this moment her thoughts had never +turned to his temporal condition. She knew he was an officer in the +army, but of what rank, or even of what regiment, she was ignorant. He +had frequently touched in his conversations on the customs of the +different countries he had seen. He had served in Italy, in the north of +Europe, in the West Indies, in Spain. Of the manners of the people, of +their characters, he not unfrequently spoke, and with a degree of +intelligence, a liberality, a justness of discrimination, that had +charmed his auditors; but on the point of personal service he had +maintained a silence that was inflexible, and not a little surprising-- +more particularly of that part of his history which related to the +latter country; from all which she was rather inclined to think his +military rank was not as high as she thought he merited, and that +possibly he felt an awkwardness of putting it in contrast with the more +elevated station of Colonel Egerton. The same idea had struck the whole +family, and prevented any inquiries which might be painful. He was so +connected with the mournful event of his father's death, that no +questions could be put with propriety to the doctor's family; and if +Francis had been more communicative to Clara, she was too good a wife to +mention it, and her own family was possessed of too just a sense of +propriety to touch upon points that might bring her conjugal fidelity in +question. + +Though Denbigh appeared a little abstracted during the ride, his +questions concerning Sir Edward and her friends were kind and +affectionate. As they approached the house he suffered his horse to +walk, and, after some hesitation, he took a letter from his pocket, and +handing it to her, said-- + +"I hope Miss Moseley will not think me impertinent in becoming the +bearer of a letter from her cousin, Lord Chatterton. He requested it so +earnestly, that I could not refuse taking what I am sensible is a great +liberty; for it would be deception did I affect to be ignorant of his +admiration, or of his generous treatment of a passion she cannot return. +Chatterton," and he smiled mournfully, "is yet too true to cease his +commendations." + +Emily blushed painfully, but she took the letter in silence; and as +Denbigh pursued the topic no further, the little distance they had to go +was ridden in silence. On entering the gates, however, he said, +inquiringly, and with much interest-- + +"I sincerely hope I have not given offence to your delicacy, Miss +Moseley. Lord Chatterton has made me an unwilling confidant. I need not +say the secret is sacred, on more accounts than one." + +"Surely not, Mr. Denbigh," replied Emily, in a low tone; and the gig +stopping, she hastened to accept the assistance of her brother to +alight. + +"Well, sister," cried John, laughing, "Denbigh is a disciple to Frank's +system of horse-flesh. Hairs smooth enough here, I see. Grace and I +thought you would never get home." Now, John fibbed a little, for +neither Grace nor he had thought in the least about them, or anything +else but each other, from the moment they separated until the gig +arrived. + +Emily made no reply to this speech, and as the gentlemen were engaged in +giving directions concerning their horses, she seized an opportunity to +read Chatterton's letter. + +"I avail myself of the return of my friend Mr. Denbigh to that happy +family from which reason requires my self-banishment to assure my +amiable cousin, of my continued respect for her character, and to +convince her of my gratitude for the tenderness she has manifested to +feelings she cannot return. I may even venture to tell her what few +women would be pleased to hear, but what I know Emily Moseley too well +to doubt, for a moment, will give her unalloyed pleasure--that owing to +the kind, the benevolent, the brotherly attentions of my true friend, +Mr. Denbigh, I have already gained a peace of mind and resignation I +once thought was lost to me for ever. Ah! Emily, my beloved cousin, in +Denbigh you will find, I doubt not, a mind, principles, congenial to +your own. It is impossible that he could see you without wishing to +possess such a treasure; and, if I have a wish that is now uppermost in +my heart, it is, that you may learn to esteem each other as you ought, +when, I doubt not, you will become as happy as you both deserve to be. +What greater earthly blessing can I implore upon you! + +"Chatterton." + +Emily, while reading this epistle, felt a confusion but little inferior +to that which would have oppressed her had Denbigh himself been at her +feet, soliciting that love Chatterton thought him so worthy of +possessing; and when they met, she could hardly look in the face a man +who, it would seem, had been so openly selected by another, as the +fittest to be her partner for life. The unaltered manner of Denbigh +himself, however, soon convinced her that he was entirely ignorant of +the contents of the note, and it greatly relieved her from the +awkwardness his presence at first occasioned. + +Francis soon returned, accompanied by his wife and aunt, and was +overjoyed to find the guest who had so unexpectedly arrived. His parents +had not yet returned from their visit, and Denbigh, of course, would +remain at his present quarters. John promised to continue with them for +a couple of days: and everything was soon settled to the perfect +satisfaction of the whole party. Mrs. Wilson knew the great danger of +suffering young people to be inmates of the same house too well, +wantonly to incur the penalties, but her visit had nearly expired, and +it might give her a better opportunity of judging Denbigh's character; +and Grace Chatterton, though too delicate to follow herself, was well +contented to be followed, especially when John Moseley was the pursuer. + + + + +Chapter XVI. + +"I am sorry, aunt, Mr. Denbigh is not rich," said Emily to Mrs. Wilson, +after they had retired in the evening, almost unconscious of what she +uttered. The latter looked at her niece in surprise, at a remark so +abrupt, and one so very different from the ordinary train of Emily's +reflections, as she required an explanation. Emily, slightly coloring at +the channel her thoughts had insensibly strayed into, gave her aunt an +account of their adventure in the course of the morning's drive, and +touched lightly on the difference in the amount of the alms of her +brother and those of Mr. Denbigh. + +"The bestowal of money is not always an act of charity," observed Mrs. +Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped: though neither ceased to +dwell on it in her thoughts, until sleep closed the eyes of both. + +The following day Mrs. Wilson invited Grace and Emily to accompany her +in a walk; the gentlemen having preceded them in pursuit of their +different avocations. Francis had his regular visits of spiritual +consolation; John had gone to the hall for his pointers and fowling- +piece, the season for woodcock having arrived; and Denbigh had proceeded +no one knew whither. On gaining the high-road, Mrs. Wilson desired her +companions to lead the way to the cottage where the family of the +mendicant gardener had been lodged, and thither they soon arrived. On +knocking at the door, they were immediately admitted to an outer room; +in which they found the wife of the laborer who inhabited the building, +engaged in her customary morning employments. They explained the motives +of the visit, and were told that the family they sought were in an +adjoining room, but she rather thought at that moment engaged with a +clergyman who had called a quarter of an hour before. "I expect, my +lady, it's the new rector, who everybody says is so good to the poor and +needy; but I have not found time yet to go to church to hear his +reverence preach, ma'am," courtseying and handing the fresh dusted +chairs to her unexpected visitors. The ladies seated themselves, too +delicate to interrupt Francis in his sacred duties, and were silently +waiting his appearance, when a voice was distinctly heard through the +thin partition, the first note of which undeceived them as to the +character of the gardener's visitor. + +"It appears then, Davis, by your own confession," said Denbigh, mildly, +but in a tone of reproof, "that your frequent acts of intemperance have +at least given ground for the steward's procuring your discharge if it +has not justified him in doing that which his duty to your common +employer required." + +"It is hard, sir," replied the man sullenly, "to be thrown on the world +with a family like mine, to make way for a younger man with but one +child." + +"It may be unfortunate for your wife and children," said Denbigh, "but +just, as respects yourself. I have already convinced you, that my +interference or reproof is not an empty one: carry the letter to the +person to whom it is directed, and I pledge you, you shall have a new +trial; and should you conduct yourself soberly, and with propriety, +continued and ample support; the second letter will gain you children +immediate admission to the school I mentioned; and I now leave you, with +an earnest injunction to remember that habits of intemperance not only +disqualify you to support those who have such great claims on your +protection, but inevitably lead to a loss of those powers which are +necessary to insure your own eternal welfare." + +"May Heaven bless your honor," cried the woman, with fervor, and +evidently in tears, "both for what you have said, and what you have +done. Thomas only wants to be taken from temptation, to become a sober +man again--an honest one he has ever been, I am sure." + +"I have selected a place for him," replied Denbigh "where there is no +exposure through improper companions, and everything now depends upon +himself, under Providence." + +Mrs. Wilson had risen from her chair on the first intimation given by +Denbigh of his intention to go, but had paused at the door to listen to +this last speech; when beckoning her companions, she hastily withdrew, +having first made a small present to the woman of the cottage, and +requested her not to mention their having called. + +"What becomes now of the comparative charity of your brother and Mr. +Denbigh, Emily?" asked Mrs. Wilson, as they gained the road on their +return homewards. Emily was not accustomed to hear any act of John +slightly spoken of without at least manifesting some emotion, which +betrayed her sisterly regard; but on the present occasion she chose to +be silent; while Grace, after waiting in expectation that her cousin +would speak, ventured to say timidly-- + +"I am sure, dear madam, Mr. Moseley was very liberal and the tears were +in his eyes while he gave the money. I was looking directly at them the +whole time." + +"John is compassionate by nature," continued Mrs. Wilson with an almost +imperceptible smile. "I have no doubt his sympathies were warmly +enlisted in behalf of this family and possessing much, he gave +liberally. I have no doubt he would have undergone personal privation to +have relieved their distress, and endured both pain and labor, with such +an excitement before him. But what is all that to the charity of Mr. +Denbigh?" + +Grace was unused to contend, and, least of all, with Mrs. Wilson; but, +unwilling to abandon John to such censure, with increased animation, she +said-- + +"If bestowing freely, and feeling for the distress you relieve, be not +commendable, madam, I am sure I am ignorant what is." + +"That compassion for the woes of others is beautiful in itself, and the +want of it an invariable evidence of corruption from too much, and an +ill-governed intercourse with the world, I am willing to acknowledge, my +dear Grace," said Mrs. Wilson, kindly; "but the relief of misery, where +the heart has not undergone this hardening ordeal, is only a relief to +our own feelings: this is compassion; but Christian charity is a higher +order of duty: it enters into every sensation of the heart; disposes us +to judge, as well as to act, favorably to our fellow creatures; is +deeply seated in the sense of our own unworthiness; keeps a single eye, +in its dispensations of temporal benefits, to the everlasting happiness +of the objects of its bounty; is consistent, well regulated; in short,"- +-and Mrs. Wilson's pale cheek glowed with an unusual richness of color-- +"it is an humble attempt to copy after the heavenly example of our +Redeemer, in sacrificing ourselves to the welfare of others, and does +and must proceed from a love of his person, and an obedience to his +mandates." + +"And Mr. Denbigh, aunt," exclaimed Emily, the blood mantling to her +cheeks with a sympathetic glow, while she lost all consideration for +John in the strength of her feelings, "his charity you think to be of +this description?" + +"So far, my child, as we can understand motives from the nature of the +conduct, such appears to have been the charity of Mr. Denbigh." + +Grace was silenced, if not convinced; and the ladies continued their +walk, lost in their own reflections, until they reached a bend in the +road which hid the cottage from view. Emily involuntarily turned her +head as they arrived at the spot, and saw that Denbigh had approached +within a few paces of them. On joining them, he commenced his +complimentary address in such a way as convinced them the cottager had +been true to the injunction given by Mrs. Wilson. No mention was made of +the gardener, and Denbigh began a lively description of some foreign +scenery, of which their present situation reminded him. The discourse +was maintained with great interest by himself and Mrs. Wilson for the +remainder of their walk. + +It was yet early when they reached the parsonage, where they found John, +who had driven to the hall to breakfast, and who, instead of pursuing +his favorite amusement of shooting, laid down his gun as they entered, +observing, "It is rather soon yet for the woodcocks, and I believe I +will listen to your entertaining conversation, ladies, for the remainder +of the morning." He threw himself upon a sofa at no great distance from +Grace, and in such a position as enabled him, without rudeness, to study +the features of her lovely face, while Denbigh read aloud to the ladies +Campbell's beautiful description of wedded love, in Gertrude of Wyoming. + +There was a chastened correctness in the ordinary manner of Denbigh +which wore the appearance of the influence of his reason, and a +subjection of the passions, that, if anything, gave him less interest +with Emily than had it been marked by an evidence of stronger feeling. +But on the present occasion, this objection was removed: his reading was +impressive; he dwelt on those passages which most pleased him with a +warmth of eulogium fully equal to her own undisguised sensations. In the +hour occupied in the reading this exquisite little poem, and in +commenting on its merits and sentiments, Denbigh gained more on her +imagination than in all their former intercourse. His ideas were as +pure, as chastened, and almost as vivid as those of the poet; and Emily +listened to his periods with intense attention, as they flowed from him +in language as glowing as his ideas. The poem had been first read to her +by her brother, and she was surprised to discover how she had overlooked +its beauties on that occasion. Even John acknowledged that it certainly +appeared a different thing now from what he had then thought it; but +Emily had taxed his declamatory power in the height of the pheasant +season, and, somehow or other, John now imagined that Gertrude was just +such a delicate, feminine, warm-hearted domestic girl as Grace +Chatterton. As Denbigh closed the book, and entered into a general +conversation with Clara and her sister, John followed Grace to a window, +and speaking in a tone of unusual softness for him, he said-- + +"Do you know, Miss Chatterton, I have accepted your brother's invitation +to go into Suffolk this summer, and that you are to be plagued with me +and my pointers again?" + +"Plagued, Mr. Moseley!" said Grace, in a voice even softer than his own. +"I am sure--I am sure, we none of us think you or your dogs in the least +a plague." + +"Ah! Grace," and John was about to become what he had never been before- +-sentimental--- when he saw the carriage of Chatterton, containing the +dowager and Catherine entering the parsonage gates. + +Pshaw! thought John, there comes Mother Chatterton "Ah! Grace," said +John, "there are your mother and sister returned already." + +"Already!" said the young lady, and, for the first time in her life, she +felt rather unlike a dutiful child. Five minutes could have made no +great difference to her mother, and she would greatly have liked to hear +what John Moseley meant to have said; for the alteration in his manner +convinced her that his first "ah! Grace" was to have been continued in a +somewhat different language from that in which the second "ah! Grace" +was ended. + +Young Moseley and her daughter, standing together at the open window, +caught the attention of Lady Chatterton the moment she got a view of the +house, and she entered with a good humor she had not felt since the +disappointment in her late expedition in behalf of Catherine; for the +gentleman she had had in view in this excursion had been taken up by +another rover, acting on her own account, and backed by a little more +wit and a good deal more money than what Kate could be fairly thought to +possess. Nothing further in that quarter offering in the way of her +occupation, she turned her horses' heads towards London, that great +theatre on which there never was a loss for actors. The salutations had +hardly passed before, turning to John, she exclaimed, with what she +intended for a most motherly smile, "What! not shooting this fine day, +Mr. Moseley? I thought you never missed a day in the season." + +"It is rather early yet, my lady," said John, coolly, a little alarmed +by the expression of her countenance. + +"Oh!" continued the dowager, in the same strain, "I see how it is; the +ladies have too many attractions for so gallant a young man as +yourself." Now, as Grace, her own daughter, was the only lady of the +party who could reasonably be supposed to have much influence over +John's movements--a young gentleman seldom caring as much for his own as +for other people's sisters, this may be fairly set down as a pretty +broad hint of the opinion the dowager entertained of the real state of +things; and John saw it, and Grace saw it. The former coolly replied, +"Why, upon the whole, if you will excuse the neglect, I will try a shot +this fine day." In five minutes, Carlo and Rover were both delighted. +Grace kept her place at the window, from a feeling she could not define, +and of which perhaps she was unconscious, until the gate closed, and the +shrubbery hid the sportsman from her sight, and then she withdrew to her +room to weep. + +Had Grace Chatterton been a particle less delicate--less retiring-- +blessed with a managing mother, as she was, John Moseley would not have +thought another moment about her. But, on every occasion when the +dowager made any of her open attacks, Grace discovered so much distress, +so much unwillingness to second them, that a suspicion of a confederacy +never entered his brain. It is not to be supposed that Lady Chattelton's +manoeuvres were limited to the direct and palpable schemes we have +mentioned; no--these were the effervescence, the exuberance of her zeal; +but as is generally the case, they sufficiently proved the ground-work +of all her other machinations; none of the little artifices of such as +placing--of leaving alone--of showing similarity of tastes:--of +compliments to the gentlemen, were neglected.--This latter business she +had contrived to get Catherine to take off her hands; but Grace could +never pay a compliment in her life, unless changing of color, trembling, +undulations of the bosom, and such natural movements can be so called; +but she loved dearly to receive them from John Moseley. + +"Well, my child," said the mother, as she seated herself by the side of +her daughter, who hastily endeavored to conceal her tears, "when are we +to have another wedding? I trust everything is settled between you and +Mr. Moseley, by this time." + +"Mother! Mother!" said Grace, nearly gasping for breath, "Mother, you +will break my heart, indeed you will." She hid her face in the clothes +of the bed by which she sat, and wept with a feeling of despair. + +"Tut, my dear," replied the dowager, not noticing her anguish, or +mistaking it for a girlish shame, "you young people are fools in these +matters, but Sir Edward and myself will arrange everything as it should +be." + +The daughter now not only looked up, but sprang from her seat, her hands +clasped together, her eyes fixed in horror, her cheek pale as death; but +the mother had retired, and Grace sank back into her chair with a +sensation of disgrace, of despair, which could not have been surpassed, +had she really merited the obloquy and shame which she thought were +about to be heaped upon her. + + + +Chapter XVII. + +The succeeding morning, the whole party, with, the exception of Denbigh, +returned to the hall. Nothing had occurred out of the ordinary course of +the colonel's assiduities; and Jane, whose sense of propriety forbad the +indulgence of premeditated tête-à-têtes, and such little accompaniments +of every-day attachments, was rejoiced to see a sister she loved, and an +aunt she respected, once more in the bosom of her family. + +The dowager impatiently waited an opportunity to effect, what she +intended for a master-stroke of policy in the disposal of Grace. Like +all other managers, she thought no one equal to herself in devising ways +and means, and was unwilling to leave anything to nature. Grace had +invariably thwarted all her schemes by her obstinacy; and as she thought +young Moseley really attached to her, she determined by a bold stroke to +remove the impediments of false shame, and the dread of repulse, which +she believed alone kept the youth from an avowal of his wishes, and get +rid at once of a plague that had annoyed her not a little--her +daughter's delicacy. + +Sir Edward spent an hour every morning in his library, overlooking his +accounts, and in other necessary employments of a similar nature, and it +was here she determined to have the conference. + +"My Lady Chatterton, you do me honor," said the baronet, handing her a +chair on her entrance. + +"Upon my word, cousin," cried the dowager, "you have a very convenient +apartment here," looking around her in affected admiration of all she +saw. + +The baronet replied, and a short discourse on the arrangements of the +whole house insensibly led to some remarks on the taste of his mother, +the Honorable Lady Moseley (a Chatterton), until, having warmed the +feelings of the old gentleman by some well-timed compliments of that +nature, she ventured on the principal object of her visit. + +"I am happy to find, Sir Edward, you are so well pleased with the family +as to wish to make another selection from it. I sincerely hope it may +prove as judicious as the former one." + +Sir Edward was a little at a loss to understand her meaning, although he +thought it might allude to his son, who he had some time suspected had +views on Grace Chatterton; and willing to know the truth, and rather +pleased to find John had selected a young woman he loved in his heart, +he observed-- + +"I am not sure I rightly understand your ladyship, though I hope I do." + +"No!" cried the dowager, in well-counterfeited affectation of surprise. +"Perhaps, after all, maternal anxiety has deceived me, then. Mr. Moseley +could hardly have ventured to proceed without your approbation." + +"I have ever declined influencing any of my children, Lady Chatterton," +said the baronet, "and John is not ignorant of my sentiments. I +sincerely hope, however, you allude to an attachment to Grace?" + +"I did certainly, Sir Edward," said the lady, hesitatingly. "I may be +deceived; but you must understand the feelings of a mother, and a young +woman ought not to be trifled with." + +"My son is incapable of trifling, I hope," cried Sir Edward; with +animation, "and, least of all, with Grace Chatterton. No; you are quite +right. If he has made his choice, he should not be ashamed to avow it." + +"I would not wish, on any account, to hurry matters," said the dowager; +"but the report which is abroad will prevent other young men from +putting in their claims, Sir Edward" (sighing). "I have a mother's +feelings: if I have been hasty, your goodness will overlook it." And +Lady Chatterton placed her handkerchief to her eyes, to conceal the +tears that did not flow. + +Sir Edward thought all this very natural, and as it should be, and he +sought an early conference with his son. + +"John," said the father, taking his hand kindly, "you have no reason to +doubt my affection or my compliance to your wishes. Fortune is a thing +out of the question with a young man of your expectations." And Sir +Edward, in his eagerness to smoothe the way, went on: "You can live +here, or occupy my small seat in Wiltshire. I can allow you five +thousand a year, with much ease to myself. Indeed, your mother and +myself would both straighten ourselves, to add to your comforts; but it +is unnecessary--we have enough, and you have enough." + +Sir Edward, in a few moments, would have settled everything to the +dowager's perfect satisfaction, had not John interrupted him by the +exclamation of-- + +"To what do you allude, father?" + +"Allude?" said Sir Edward, simply. "Why, Grace Chatterton, my son." + +"Grace Chatterton! Sir Edward. What have I to do with Grace Chatterton?" + +"Her mother has made me acquainted with your proposals, and"-- + +"Proposals!" + +"Attentions, I ought to have said; and you have no reason to apprehend +anything from me, my child." + +"Attentions!" said John, haughtily. "I hope Lady Chatterton does not +accuse me of improper attentions to her daughter?" + +"No, not improper, my son," said his father: "on the contrary, she is +much pleased with them." + +"She is, is she? But I am displeased that she should undertake to put +constructions on my acts that no attention or words of mine will +justify." + +It was now Sir Edward's turn to be surprised. He had thought he was +doing his son a kindness, when he had only been forwarding the dowager's +schemes; but averse from contention, and wondering at his cousin's +mistake, which he at once attributed to her anxiety in behalf of a +favorite daughter, he told John he was sorry there had been any +misapprehension, and left him. + +"No, no," said Moseley, internally, as he paced up and down his father's +library, "my lady dowager, you are not going to force a wife down my +throat. If you do, I am mistaken; and Grace, if Grace"--John softened +and began to feel unhappy a little, but anger prevailed. + +From the moment Grace Chatterton conceived a dread of her mother's +saying anything to Sir Edward, her whole conduct was altered. She could +hardly look any of the family in the face, and it was her most ardent +wish that they might depart. John she avoided as she would an adder, +although it nearly broke her heart to do so. + +Mr. Benfield had stayed longer than usual, and he now wished to return. +John Moseley eagerly profited by this opportunity, and the very day +after the conversation in the library he went to Benfield Lodge as a +dutiful nephew, to see his venerable uncle safely restored once more to +the abode of his ancestors. + +Lady Chatterton now perceived, when too late, that she had overshot her +mark, while, at the same time, she wondered at the reason of a result so +strange from such well-digested and well-conducted plans. She +determined, however, never again to interfere between her daughter and +the baronet's heir; concluding, with a nearer approach to the truth than +always accompanied her deductions, that they resembled ordinary lovers +in neither their temperaments nor opinions. + +Perceiving no further use in remaining any longer at the hall, she took +her leave, and, accompanied by both her daughters, proceeded to the +capital, where she expected to meet her son. + +Dr. Ives and his wife returned to the rectory on the same day, and +Denbigh immediately resumed his abode under their roof. The intercourse +between the rector's family and Sir Edward's was renewed with all its +former friendly confidence. + +Colonel Egerton began to speak of his departure also, but hinted at +intentions of visiting L---- at the period of the baronet's visit to his +uncle, before he proceeded to town in the winter. + +L---- was a small village on the coast, within a mile of Benfield Lodge; +and from its natural convenience, it had long been resorted to by the +neighboring gentry for the benefit of sea bathing. The baronet had +promised Mr. Benfield his visit should be made at an earlier day than +usual, in order to gratify Jane with a visit to Bath, before they went +to London, at which town they were promised by Mrs. Jarvis the pleasure +of her society, and that of her son and daughters. + +Precaution is a word of simple meaning in itself, but various are the +ways adopted by different individuals in this life to enforce its +import; and not a few are the evils which it is thought necessary to +guard against. To provide in season against the dangers of want; +personal injury, loss of character, and a great many other such +acknowledged misfortunes, has become a kind of instinctive process of +our natures. The few exceptions which exist only go to prove the rule: +in addition to these, almost every man has some ruling propensity to +gratify, to advance which his ingenuity is ever on the alert, or some +apprehended evil to avert, which calls all his prudence into activity. +Yet how seldom is it exerted, in order to give a rational ground to +expect permanent happiness in wedlock. + +Marriage is called a lottery, and it is thought, like all other +lotteries, there are more blanks than prizes; yet is it not made more +precarious than it ought to be, by our neglect of that degree of +precaution which we would be ridiculed for omitting in conducting our +every-day concerns? Is not the standard of matrimonial felicity placed +too low? Ought we not to look more to the possession of principles than +to the possession of wealth? Or is it at all justifiable in a Christian +to commit a child, a daughter, to the keeping of a man who wants the +very essential they acknowledge most necessary to constitute a perfect +character? Most men revolt at infidelity in a woman, and most men, +however licentious themselves, look for, at least, the exterior of +religion in their wives. The education of their children is a serious +responsibility; and although seldom conducted on such rules as will +stand the test of reason, it is not to be entirely shaken off: they +choose their early impressions should be correct, their infant conduct +at least blameless. And are not one half mankind of the male sex? Are +precepts in religion, in morals, only for females? Are we to reverse the +theory of the Mahommedans, and though we do not believe it, act as if +men had no souls. Is not the example of the father as important to the +son as that of the mother to the daughter? In short, is there any +security against the commission of enormities, but an humble and devout +dependence on the assistance of that Almighty Power, which alone is able +to hold us up against temptation? + +Uniformity of taste is no doubt necessary to what we call love, but is +not taste acquired? Would our daughters admire a handsome deist, if +properly impressed with a horror of his doctrines, sooner than they now +would admire a handsome Mahommedan? We would refuse our children to a +pious dissenter, to give them to impious members of the establishment: +we make the substance less than the shadow. + +Our principal characters are possessed of these diversified views of the +evils to be averted. Mrs. Wilson considers Christianity an indispensable +requisite in the husband to be permitted to her charge, and watches +against the possibility of any other than a Christian's gaining the +affections of Emily. Lady Chatterton considers the want of an +establishment as the unpardonable sin, and directs her energies to +prevent this evil; while John Moseley looks upon a free will as the +birthright of an Englishman, and is, at the present moment, anxiously +alive to prevent the dowager's making him the husband of Grace, the +thing of all others he most strenuously desires. + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +John Moseley returned from L---- within a week, and appeared as if his +whole delight consisted in knocking over the inoffensive birds. His +restlessness induced him to make Jarvis his companion; for although he +abhorred the captain's style of pursuing the sport, being in his opinion +both out of rule and without taste, yet he was a constitutional fidget, +and suited his own moving propensities at the moment. Egerton and +Denbigh were both frequently at the hall, but generally gave their time +to the ladies, neither being much inclined to the favorite amusement of +John. + +There was a little arbor within the walls of the park, which for years +had been a retreat from the summer heats to the ladies of the Moseley +family; even so long as the youth of Mrs. Wilson it had been in vogue, +and she loved it with a kind of melancholy pleasure, as the spot where +she had first listened to the language of love from the lips of her late +husband. Into this arbor the ladies had one day retired, during the +warmth of a noon-day sun, with the exception of Lady Moseley, who had +her own engagement in the house. Between Egerton and Denbigh there was +maintained a kind of courtly intercourse, which prevented any +disagreeable collision from their evident dislike. Mrs. Wilson thought, +on the part of Denbigh, it was the forbearance of a principled +indulgence to another's weakness; while the colonel's otherwise uniform +good breeding was hardly able to conceal a something amounting to very +near repugnance. Egerton had taken his seat on the ground, near the feet +of Jane; and Denbigh was stationed on a bench placed without the arbor +but so near as to have the full benefit of the shade of the noble oak, +branches of which had been trained so as to compose its principal +covering. It might have been accident, that gave each his particular +situation; but it is certain they were so placed as not to be in sight +of each other, and so placed that the colonel was ready to hand Jane her +scissors, or any other little implement that she occasionally dropped, +and that Denbigh could read every lineament of the animated countenance +of Emily as she listened to his description of the curiosities of Egypt, +a country in which he had spent a few months while attached to the army +in Sicily. In this situation we will leave them for an hour, happy in +the society of each other, while we trace the route of John Moseley and +his companion, in their pursuit of woodcock, on the same day. + +"Do you know, Moseley," said Jarvis, who began to think he was a +favorite with John, now that he was admitted to his menus plaisirs, +"that I have taken it into my head this Mr. Denbigh was very happy to +plead his morals for not meeting me. He is a soldier, but I cannot find +out what battles he has been in." + +"Captain Jarvis," said John, coolly, "the less you say about that +business the better. Call in Rover." + +Now, another of Jarvis's recommendations was a set of lungs that might +have been heard half a mile with great ease on a still morning. + +"Why," said Jarvis, rather humbly, "I am sensible, Mr Moseley, I was +very wrong as regards your sister; but don't you think it a little odd +in a soldier not to fight when properly called upon?" + +"I suppose Mr. Denbigh did not think himself properly called upon, or +perhaps he had heard what a great shot you were." + +Six months before his appearance in B----, Captain Jarvis had been a +clerk in the counting-room of Jarvis, Baxter & Co., and had never held +fire-arms of any kind in his hand, with the exception of an old +blunderbuss, which had been a kind of sentinel over the iron chest for +years. On mounting the cockade, he had taken up shooting as a martial +exercise, inasmuch as the burning of gunpowder was an attendant of the +recreation. He had never killed but one bird in his life, and that was +an owl, of which he took the advantage of daylight and his stocking feet +to knock off a tree in the deanery grounds, very early after his +arrival. In his trials with John, he sometimes pulled trigger at the +same moment with his companion; and as the bird generally fell, he +thought he had an equal claim to the honor. He was fond of warring with +crows and birds of the larger sort, and invariably went provided with +small balls fitted to the bore of his fowling-piece for such accidental +rencontres. He had another habit, which was not a little annoying to +John, who had several times tried in vain to break him of it--that of +shooting at marks. If birds were not plenty, he would throw up a chip, +and sometimes his hat, by way of shooting on the wing. + +As the day was excessively hot, and the game kept close, John felt +willing to return from such unprofitable labor. The captain now +commenced his chip firing, which in a few minutes was succeeded by his +hat. + +"See, Moseley, see; I have hit the band," cried the captain, delighted +to find he had at last wounded his old antagonist. "I don't think you +can beat that yourself." + +"I am not sure I can," said John, slipping a handful of gravel in the +muzzle of his piece slily, "but I can do, as you did--try." + +"Do," cried the captain, pleased to get his companion down to his own +level of amusements. "Are you ready?" + +"Yes; throw." + +Jarvis threw, and John fired: the hat fairly bounced. + +"Have I hit it?" asked John, while reloading the barrel he had +discharged. + +"Hit it!" said the captain, looking ruefully at his hat. "It looks like +a cullender; but, Moseley, your gun don't scatter well: a dozen shot +have gone through in the same place." + +"It does look rather like a cullender," said John, as he overlooked his +companion's beaver, "and, by the size of some of the holes, one that has +been a good deal used." + +The reports of the fowling-pieces announced to the party in the arbor +the return of the sportsmen, it being an invariable practice with John +Moseley to discharge his gun before he came in; and Jarvis had imitated +him, from a wish to be what he called in rule. + +"Mr. Denbigh," said John, as he put down his gun, "Captain Jarvis has +got the better of his hat at last." + +Denbigh smiled without speaking; and the captain, unwilling to have +anything to say to a gentleman to whom be had been obliged to apologize, +went into the arbor to show the mangled condition of his head-piece to +the colonel, on whose sympathies he felt a kind of claim, being of the +same corps. John complained of thirst, and went to a little run of water +but a short distance from them, in order to satisfy it. The interruption +of Jarvis was particularly unseasonable. Jane was relating, in a manner +peculiar to herself, in which was mingled that undefinable exchange of +looks lovers are so fond of, some incident of her early life to the +colonel that greatly interested him. Knowing the captain's foibles, he +pointed, therefore, with his finger, as he said-- + +"There is one of your old enemies, a hawk." + +Jarvis threw down his hat, and ran with boyish eagerness to drive away +the intruder. In his haste, he caught up the gun of John Moseley, and +loading it rapidly/threw in a ball from his usual stock; but whether the +hawk saw and knew him, or whether it saw something else it liked better, +it made a dart for the baronet's poultry-yard at no great distance, and +was out of sight in a minute. Seeing that his foe had vanished, the +captain laid the piece where he had found it, and, recovering his old +train of ideas, picked up his hat again. + +"John," said Emily, as she approached him affectionately, "you were too +warm to drink." + +"Stand off, sis," cried John, playfully, taking up the gun from against +the body of the tree, and dropping it towards her. + +Jarvis had endeavored to make an appeal to the commiseration of Emily in +favor of the neglected beaver, and was within a few feet of them. At +this moment, recoiling from the muzzle of the gun, he exclaimed, "It is +loaded!" "Hold," cried Denbigh, in a voice of horror, as he sprang +between John and his sister. Both were too late; the piece was +discharged. Denbigh, turning to Emily, and smiling mournfully, gazed for +a moment at her with an expression of tenderness, of pleasure, of +sorrow, so blended that she retained the recollection of it for life, +and fell at her feet. + +The gun dropped from the nerveless grasp of young Moseley. Emily sank in +insensibility by the side of her preserver. Mrs. Wilson and Jane stood +speechless and aghast. The colonel alone retained the presence of mind +necessary to devise the steps to be immediately taken. He sprang to the +examination of Denbigh; the eyes of the wounded man were open, and his +recollection perfect: the first were fixed in intense observation on the +inanimate body which lay at his side. + +"Leave me, Colonel Egerton," he said, speaking with difficulty, and +pointing in the direction of the little run of water, "assist Miss +Moseley--your hat--your hat will answer." + +Accustomed to scenes of blood, and not ignorant that time and care were +the remedies to be applied to the wounded man, Egerton flew to the +stream, and returning immediately, by the help of her sister and Mrs. +Wilson, soon restored Emily to life. The ladies and John had now begun +to act. The tenderest assiduities of Jane were devoted to her sister; +while Mrs. Wilson observing her niece to be uninjured by anything but +the shock, assisted John in supporting the wounded man. + +Denbigh spoke, requesting to be carried to the house; and Jarvis was +despatched for help. Within half an hour, Denbigh was placed on a couch +in the house of Sir Edward, and was quietly waiting for that +professional aid which could only decide on his probable fate. The group +assembled in the room were in fearful expectation of the arrival of the +surgeons, in pursuit of whom messengers had been sent both to the +barracks in F---- and to the town itself. Sir Edward sat by the side of +the sufferer, holding one of his hands in his own, now turning his +tearful eyes on that daughter who had so lately been rescued as it were +from the certainty of death, in mute gratitude and thanksgiving; and now +dwelling on the countenance of him, who, by bravely interposing his +bosom to the blow, had incurred in his own person the imminent danger of +a similar fate, with a painful sense of his perilous situation, and +devout and earnest prayers for his safety. Emily was with her father, as +with the rest of his family, a decided favorite; and no reward would +have been sufficient, no gratitude lively enough, in the estimation of +the baronet, to compensate the protector of such a child. She sat +between her mother and Jane, with a hand held by each, pale and +oppressed with a load of gratitude, of thanksgiving, of woe, that almost +bowed her to the earth. Lady Moseley and Jane were both sensibly touched +with the deliverance of Emily, and manifested the interest they took in +her by the tenderest caresses, while Mrs. Wilson sat calmly collected +within herself, occasionally giving those few directions which were +necessary under the circumstances, and offering up her silent petitions +in behalf of the sufferer. John had taken horse immediately for F----, +and Jarvis had volunteered to go to the rectory and Bolton. Denbigh +inquired frequently and with much anxiety for Dr. Ives; but the rector +was absent from home on a visit to a sick parishioner, and it was late +in the evening before he arrived. Within three hours of the accident, +however, Dr. Black, the surgeon of the ----th, reached the hall, and +immediately proceeded to examine the wound. The ball had penetrated the +right breast, and gone directly through the body; it was extracted with +very little difficulty, and his attendant acquainted the anxious friends +of Denbigh that the heart certainly, and he hoped the lungs, had escaped +uninjured. The ball was a very small one, and the principal danger to be +apprehended was from fever: he had taken the usual precautions against +that, and should it not set in with a violence greater than he +apprehended at present, the patient might be abroad within the month. + +"But," continued the surgeon, with the hardened indifference of his +profession, "the gentleman has had a narrow chance in the passage of the +ball itself; half an inch would have settled his accounts with this +world." + +This information greatly relieved the family, and orders were given to +preserve a silence in the house that would favor the patient's +disposition to quiet, or, if possible, sleep. + +Dr. Ives now reached the hall. Mrs. Wilson had never seen the rector in +the agitation, or with the want of self-command he was in, as she met +him at the entrance of the house. + +"Is he alive?--is there hope?--where is George?"--cried the doctor, as +he caught the extended hand of Mrs. Wilson. She briefly acquainted him +with the surgeon's report, and the reasonable ground there was to expect +Denbigh would survive the injury. + +"May God be praised," said the rector, in a suppressed voice, and he +hastily withdrew into another room. Mrs. Wilson followed him slowly and +in silence; but was checked on opening the door with the sight of the +rector on his knees, the tears stealing down his venerable cheeks in +quick succession. "Surely," thought the widow, as she drew back +unnoticed, "a youth capable of exciting such affection in a man like Dr. +Ives, cannot be unworthy." + +Denbigh, hearing of the arrival of his friend, desired to see him alone. +Their conference was short, and the rector returned from it with +increased hopes of the termination of this dreadful accident. He +immediately left the hall for his own house, with a promise of returning +early on the following morning. + +During the night, however, the symptoms became unfavorable; and before +the return of Dr. Ives, Denbigh was in a state of delirium from the +height of his fever, and the apprehensions of his friends were renewed +with additional force. + +"What, what, my good sir, do you think of him?" said the baronet to the +family physician, with an emotion that the danger of his dearest child +would not have exceeded, and within hearing of most of his children, who +were collected in the ante-chamber of the room in which Denbigh was +placed. + +"It is impossible to say, Sir Edward," replied the physician: "he +refuses all medicines, and unless this fever abates, there is but little +hope of recovery." + +Emily stood during this question and answer, motionless, pale as death, +and with her hands clasped together, betraying by the workings of her +fingers in a kind of convulsive motion, the intensity of her interest. +She had seen the draught prepared which it was so desirable that Denbigh +should take, and it now stood rejected on a table, where it could be +seen through the open door of his room. Almost breathless, she glided +in, and taking the draught in her hand, she approached the bed, by which +sat John alone, listening with a feeling of despair to the wanderings of +the sick man. Emily hesitated once or twice, as she drew near Denbigh; +her face had lost the paleness of anxiety, and glowed with another +emotion. + +"Mr. Denbigh--dear Denbigh." said Emily, with energy, unconsciously +dropping her voice into the softest notes of persuasion, "will you +refuse me?--me, Emily Moseley, whose life you have saved?" + +"Emily Moseley!" repeated Denbigh, and in those tones so remarkable to +his natural voice. "Is she safe? I thought she was killed--dead." Then, +as if recollecting himself, he gazed intently on her countenance--his +eye became less fiery--his muscles relaxed--he smiled, and took, with +the docility of a well-trained child, the prescribed medicines from her +hand. His ideas still wandered, but his physician, profiting by the +command Emily possessed over his patient, increased his care, and by +night the fever had abated, and before morning the wounded man was in a +profound sleep. During the whole day, it was thought necessary to keep +Emily by the side of his bed; but at times it was no trifling tax on her +feelings to remain there. He spoke of her by name in the tenderest +manner, although incoherently, and in terms that restored to the +blanched cheeks of the distressed girl more than the richness of their +native color. His thoughts were not confined to Emily, however: he +talked of his father, of his mother, and frequently spoke of his poor +deserted Marian. The latter name he dwelt on in the language of the +warmest affection, condemned his own desertion of her, and, taking Emily +for her, would beg her forgiveness, tell her her sufferings had been +enough, and that he would return, and never leave her again. At such +moments his nurse would sometimes show, by the paleness of her cheeks, +her anxiety for his health; and then, as he addressed her by her proper +appellation, all her emotions appeared absorbed in the sense of shame at +the praises with which he overwhelmed her. Mrs. Wilson succeeded her in +the charge of the patient, and she retired to seek that repose she so +greatly needed. + +On the second morning after receiving the wound, Denbigh dropped into a +deep sleep, from which he awoke refreshed and perfectly collected in +mind. The fever had left him, and his attendants pronounced, with the +usual cautions to prevent a relapse, his recovery certain. It were +impossible to have communicated any intelligence more grateful to all +the members of the Moseley family; for Jane had even lost sight of her +own lover, in sympathy for the fate of a man who had sacrificed himself +to save her beloved sister. + + + +Chapter XIX. + +The recovery of Denbigh was as rapid as the most sanguine expectation of +his friends could hope for, and in ten days he left his bed, and would +sit an hour or two at a time in his dressing-room, where Mrs. Wilson, +accompanied by Jane or Emily, came and read to him; and it was a remark +of Sir Edward's gamekeeper, that the woodcocks had become so tame during +the time Mr. Moseley was shut up in attendance on his friend, that +Captain Jarvis was at last actually seen to bag one honestly. + +As Jarvis felt something like a consciousness that but for his folly the +accident would not have happened, and also something very like shame for +the manner he had shrunk from the danger Denbigh had so nobly met, he +pretended a recall to his regiment, then on duty near London, and left +the deanery. He went off as he came in--in the colonel's tilbury, and +accompanied by his friend and his pointers, John, who saw them pass from +the windows of Denbigh's dressing-room, fervently prayed he might never +come back again--the chip-shooting poacher! + +Colonel Egerton had taken leave of Jane the evening preceding, with many +assurances of the anxiety with which he should look forward to the +moment of their meeting at L----, whither he intended repairing as soon +as his corps had gone through its annual review. Jane had followed the +bent of her natural feelings too much, during the period of Denbigh's +uncertain fate, to think much of her lover, or anything else but her +rescued sister and her preserver; but now the former was pronounced in +safety, and the latter, by the very reaction of her grief, was, if +possible, happier than ever, Jane dwelt in melancholy sadness on the +perfections of the man who had taken with him the best affections (as +she thought) of her heart. With him all was perfect: his morals were +unexceptionable; his manners showed it; his tenderness of disposition +manifest, for they had wept together over the distresses of more than +one fictitious heroine; his temper, how amiable! he was never angry--she +had never seen it; his opinions, his tastes, how correct! they were her +own; his form, his face, how agreeable!--her eyes had seen it, and her +heart acknowledged it; besides, his eyes confessed the power of her own +charms; he was brave, for he was a soldier;--in short, as Emily had +predicted, he was a hero--for he was Colonel Egerton. + +Had Jane been possessed of less exuberance of fancy, she might have been +a little at a loss to identify all these good properties with her hero: +or had she possessed a matured or well-regulated judgment to control +that fancy, they might possibly have assumed a different appearance. No +explanation had taken place between them, however. Jane knew, both by +her own feelings and by all the legends of love from its earliest days, +that the moment of parting was generally a crisis in affairs of the +heart, and, with a backwardness occasioned by her modesty, had rather +avoided than sought an opportunity to favor the colonel's wishes. +Egerton had not been over anxious to come to the point, and everything +was left as heretofore: neither, however, appeared to doubt in the least +the state of the other's affections; and there might be said to exist +between them one of those not unusual engagements by implication which +it would have been, in their own estimation, a breach of faith to recede +from, but which, like all other bargains that are loosely made, are +sometimes violated when convenient. Man is a creature that, as +experience has sufficiently proved, it is necessary to keep in his +proper place in society by wholesome restrictions; and we have often +thought it a matter of regret that some well understood regulations did +not exist by which it became not only customary, but incumbent on him, +to proceed in his road to the temple of Hymen. We know that it is +ungenerous, ignoble, almost unprecedented, to doubt the faith, the +constancy, of a male paragon; yet, somehow, as the papers occasionally +give us a sample of such infidelity; as we have sometimes seen a +solitary female brooding over her woes in silence, and, with the +seemliness of feminine decorum shrinking from the discovery of its +cause, or which the grave has revealed for the first time, we cannot but +wish that either the watchfulness of the parent, or a sense of self- +preservation in the daughter, would, for the want of a better, cause +them to adhere to those old conventional forms of courtship which +require a man to speak to be understood, and a woman to answer to be +committed. + +There was a little parlor in the house of Sir Edward Moseley, that was +the privileged retreat of none but the members of his own family. Here +the ladies were accustomed to withdraw into the bosom of their domestic +quietude, when occasional visitors had disturbed their ordinary +intercourse; and many were the hasty and unreserved communications it +had witnessed between the sisters, in their stolen flights from the +graver scenes of the principal apartments. It might be said to be sacred +to the pious feelings of the domestic affections. Sir Edward would +retire to it when fatigued with his occupations, certain of finding some +one of those he loved to draw his thoughts off from the cares of life to +the little incidents of his children's happiness; and Lady Moseley, even +in the proudest hours of her reviving splendor, seldom passed the door +without looking in, with a smile, on the faces she might find there. It +was, in fact, the room in the large mansion of the baronet, expressly +devoted, by long usage and common consent, to the purest feelings of +human nature. Into this apartment Denbigh had gained admission, as the +one nearest to his own room and requiring the least effort of his +returning strength to reach; and, perhaps, by an undefinable feeling of +the Moseleys which had begun to connect him with themselves, partly from +his winning manners, and partly by the sense of the obligation he had +laid them under. + +One warm day, John and his friend had sought this retreat, in +expectation of meeting his sisters, who they found, however, on inquiry, +had walked to the arbor. After remaining conversing for an hour by +themselves, John was called away to attend to a pointer that had been +taken ill, and Denbigh throwing a handkerchief over his head to guard +against the danger of cold, quietly composed himself on one of the +comfortable sofas of the room, with a disposition to sleep. Before he +had entirely lost his consciousness, a light step moving near him, +caught his ear; believing it to be a servant unwilling to disturb him, +he endeavored to continue in his present mood, until the quick but +stifled breathing of some one nearer than before roused his curiosity. +He commanded himself, however, sufficiently, to remain quiet; a blind of +a window near him was carefully closed; a screen drawn from a corner and +placed so as sensibly to destroy the slight draught of air in which he +laid himself; and other arrangements were making, but with a care to +avoid disturbing him that rendered them hardly audible. Presently the +step approached him again, the breathing was quicker, though gentle, the +handkerchief was moved, but the hand was with drawn hastily as if afraid +of itself. Another effort was successful, and Denbigh stole a glance +through his dark lashes, on the figure of Emily as she stood over him in +the fulness of her charms, and with a face in which glowed an interest +he had never witnessed in it before. It undoubtedly was gratitude. For a +moment she gazed on him, as her color increased in richness. His hand +was carelessly thrown over an arm of the sofa; she stooped towards it +with her face gently, but with an air of modesty that shone in her very +figure. Denbigh felt the warmth of her breath, but her lips did not +touch it. Had he been inclined to judge the actions of Emily Moseley +harshly, it were impossible to mistake the movement for anything but the +impulse of natural feeling. There was a pledge of innocence, of modesty +in her countenance, that would have prevented any misconstruction; and +he continued quietly awaiting what the preparations on her little +mahogany secretary were intended for. + +Mrs. Wilson entertained a great abhorrence of what is commonly called +accomplishments in a woman; she knew that too much of that precious time +which could never be recalled, was thrown away in endeavoring to acquire +a smattering in what, if known, could never be of use to the party, and +what can never be well known but to a few, whom nature and long practice +have enabled to conquer. Yet as her niece had early manifested a taste +for painting, and a vivid perception of the beauties of nature, her +inclination had been indulged, and Emily Moseley sketched with neatness +and accuracy, and with great readiness. It would have been no subject of +surprise, had admiration, or some more powerful feeling, betrayed to the +artist, on this occasion, the deception the young man was practising. +She had entered the room from her walk, warm and careless; her hair, +than which none was more beautiful, had strayed on her shoulders, freed, +from the confinement of the comb, and a lock was finely contrasted to +the rich color of a cheek that almost burnt with the exercise and the +excitement. Her dress, white as the first snow of the winter; her looks, +as she now turned them on the face of the sleeper, and betrayed by their +animation the success of her art; formed a picture in itself, that +Denbigh would have been content to gaze on for ever. Her back was to a +window that threw its strong light on the paper--the figures of which +were reflected, as she occasionally held it up to study its effect, in a +large mirror so placed that Denbigh caught a view of her subject. He +knew it at a glance--the arbor--the gun--himself, all were there; it +appeared to have been drawn before--it must have been, from its perfect +state, and Emily had seized a favorable moment to complete his own +resemblance. Her touches were light and finishing, and as the picture +was frequently held up for consideration, he had some time allowed for +studying it. His own resemblance was strong; his eyes were turned on +herself, to whom Denbigh thought she had not done ample justice, but the +man who held the gun bore no likeness to John Moseley, except in dress. +A slight movement of the muscles of the sleeper's mouth might have +betrayed his consciousness, had not Emily been too intent on the +picture, as she turned it in such a way that a strong light fell on the +recoiling figure of Captain Jarvis. The resemblance was wonderful. +Denbigh thought he would have known it, had he seen it in the Academy +itself. The noise of some one approaching closed the portfolio; it was +only a servant, yet Emily did not resume her pencil. Denbigh watched her +motions, as she put the picture carefully in a private drawer of the +secretary, reopened the blind, replaced the screen, and laid the +handkerchief, the last thing on his face, with a movement almost +imperceptible to himself. + +"It is later than I thought," said Denbigh, looking at his watch; "I owe +an apology, Miss Moseley, for making so free with your parlor; but I was +too lazy to move." + +"Apology! Mr. Denbigh," cried Emily, with a color varying with every +word she spoke, and trembling at what she thought the nearness of +detection, "you have no apology to make for your present debility; and +surely, surely, least of all to me!" + +"I understand from Mr. Moseley," continued Denbigh, with a smile, "that +our obligation is at least mutual; to your perseverance and care, Miss +Moseley, after the physicians had given me up, I believe I am, under +Providence, indebted for my recovery." + +Emily was not vain, and least of all addicted to a display of any of her +acquirements; very few even of her friends knew she ever held a pencil +in her hand; yet did she now unaccountably throw open her portfolio, and +offer its contents to the examination of her companion. It was done +almost instantaneously, and with great freedom, though not without +certain flushings of the face and heavings of the bosom, that would have +eclipsed Grace Chatterton in her happiest moments of natural flattery. +Whatever might have been the wishes of Mr. Denbigh to pursue a subject +which had begun to grow extremely interesting, both from its import and +the feelings' of the parties, it would have been rude to decline viewing +the contents of a lady's portfolio. The drawings were, many of them, +interesting, and the exhibitor of them now appeared as anxious to remove +them in haste, as she had but the moment before been to direct his +attention to her performances. Denbigh would have given much to dare to +ask for the paper so carefully secreted in the private drawer; but +neither the principal agency he had himself in the scene, nor delicacy +to his companion's wish for concealment, would allow of the request. + +"Doctor Ives! how happy I am to see you," said Emily, hastily closing +her portfolio, and before Denbigh had gone half through its contents; +"you have become almost a stranger to us since Clara left us." + +"No, no, my little friend, never a stranger, I hope, at Moseley Hall," +cried the doctor, pleasantly; "George, I am happy to see you look so +well--you have even a color--there is a letter for you, from Marian." + +Denbigh took the letter eagerly, and retired to a window to peruse it. +His hand shook as he broke the seal, and his interest in the writer, or +its contents, could not have escaped the notice of any observer, however +indifferent. + +"Now, Miss Emily, if you will have the goodness to order me a glass of +wine and water after my ride, believe me, you will do a very charitable +act," cried the doctor, as he took his seat on the sofa. + +Emily was standing by the little table, deeply musing on the contents of +her portfolio; for her eyes were intently fixed on the outside, as if +she expected to see through the leather covering their merits and +faults. + +"Miss Emily Moseley," continued the doctor, gravely, "am I to die of +thirst or not, this warm day?" + +"Do you wish anything, Doctor Ives?" + +"A servant to get me a glass of wine and water." + +"Why did you not ask me, my dear sir?" said Emily, as she threw open a +cellaret, and handed him what he wanted. + +"There, my dear, there is a great plenty," said the doctor, with an arch +expression; "I really thought I had asked you thrice--but I believe you +were studying something in that portfolio." + +Emily blushed, and endeavored to laugh at her own absence of mind; but +she would have given the world to know who Marian was. + + + +Chapter XX. + +As a month had elapsed since he received his wound, Denbigh took an +opportunity, one morning at breakfast, where he was well enough now to +meet his friends, to announce his intention of trespassing no longer on +their kindness, but of returning that day to the rectory. The +communication distressed the whole family, and the baronet turned to him +in the most cordial manner, as he took one of his hands; and said with +an air of solemnity-- + +"Mr. Denbigh, I could wish you to make this house your home; Dr. Ives +may have known you longer, and may have the claim of relationship on +you, but I am certain he cannot love you better; and are not the ties of +gratitude as binding as those of blood?" + +Denbigh was affected by the kindness of Sir Edward's manner. + +"The regiment I belong to, Sir Edward, will be reviewed next week, and +it has become my duty to leave here; there is one it is proper I should +visit, a near connexion, who is acquainted with the escape I have met +with, and wishes naturally to see me; besides, my dear Sir Edward, she +has many causes of sorrow, and it is a debt I owe her affection to +endeavor to relieve them." + +It was the first time he had ever spoken of his family, or hardly of +himself, and the silence which prevailed plainly showed the interest his +listeners took in the little he uttered. + +That connexion, thought Emily--I wonder if her name be Marian? But +nothing further passed, excepting the affectionate regrets of her +father, and the promises of Denbigh to visit them again before he left +B----, and of joining them at L---- immediately after the review of +which he had spoken. As soon as he had breakfasted, John drove him in +his phaeton to the rectory. + +Mrs. Wilson, like the rest of the baronet's family, had been too deeply +impressed with the debt they owed this young man to interfere with her +favorite system of caution against too great an intimacy between her +niece and her preserver. Close observation and the opinion of Dr. Ives +had prepared her to give him her esteem; but the gallantry, the self- +devotion he had displayed to Emily was an act calculated to remove +heavier objections than she could imagine as likely to exist to his +becoming her husband. That he meant it, was evident from his whole +deportment of late. Since the morning the portfolio was produced, +Denbigh had given a more decided preference to her niece. The nice +discrimination of Mrs. Wilson would not have said his feelings had +become stronger, but that he labored less to conceal them. That he loved +her niece she suspected from the first fortnight of their acquaintance, +and it had given additional stimulus to her investigation into his +character; but to doubt it, after stepping between her and death, would +have been to have mistaken human nature. There was one qualification she +would have wished to have been certain he possessed: before this +accident, she would have made it an indispensable one; but the +gratitude, the affections of Emily, she believed now to be too deeply +engaged to make the strict inquiry she otherwise would have done; and +she had the best of reasons for believing that if Denbigh were not a +true Christian, he was at least a strictly moral man, and assuredly one +who well understood the beauties of a religion she almost conceived it +impossible for any impartial and intelligent man long to resist. Perhaps +Mrs. Wilson, having in some measure interfered with her system, like +others, had, on finding it impossible to conduct so that reason would +justify all she did, began to find reasons for what she thought best to +be done under the circumstances. Denbigh, however, both by his acts and +his opinions, had created such an estimate of his worth in the breast of +Mrs. Wilson, that there would have been but little danger of a repulse +had no fortuitous accident helped him in his way to her favor. + +"Who have we here?" said Lady Moseley. "A landaulet and four--the Earl +of Bolton, I declare!" + +Lady Moseley turned from the window with that collected grace she so +well loved, and so well knew how to assume, to receive her noble +visitor. Lord Bolton was a bachelor of sixty-five, who had long been +attached to the court, and retained much of the manners of the old +school. His principal estate was in Ireland, and most of that time which +his duty at Windsor did not require he gave to the improvement of his +Irish property. Thus, although on perfectly good terms with the +baronet's family, they seldom met. With General Wilson he had been at +college, and to his widow he always showed much of that regard he had +invariably professed for her husband, The obligation he had conferred, +unasked, on Francis Ives, was one conferred on all his friends, and his +reception was now warmer than usual. + +"My Lady Moseley," said the earl, bowing formally on her hand, "your +looks do ample justice to the air of Northamptonshire. I hope you enjoy +your usual health." + +Then, waiting her equally courteous answer, he paid his compliments, in +succession, to all the members of the family; a mode undoubtedly well +adapted to discover their several conditions, but not a little tedious +in its operations, and somewhat tiresome to the legs. + +"We are under a debt of gratitude to your lordship," said Sir Edward, in +his simple and warm-hearted way, "that I am sorry it is not in our power +to repay more amply than by our thanks." + +The earl was, or affected to be, surprised, as he required an +explanation. + +"The living at Bolton," said Lady Moseley, with dignity. + +"Yes," continued her husband; "in giving the living to Frank you did me +a favor, equal to what you would have done had he been my own child; and +unsolicited, too, my lord, it was an additional compliment." + +The earl sat rather uneasy during this speech, but the love of truth +prevailed; for he had been too much round the person of our beloved +sovereign not to retain all the impressions of his youth; and after a +little struggle with his self-love, he answered-- + +"Not unsolicited, Sir Edward. I have no doubt, had nay better fortune +allowed me the acquaintance of my present rector, his own merit would +have obtained what a sense of justice requires I should say was granted +to an applicant to whom the ear of royalty itself would not have been +deaf." + +It was the turn of the Moseleys now to look surprised, and Sir Edward +ventured to ask an explanation. + +"It was my cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss, who applied for it, as a +favor done to himself; and Pendennyss is a man not to be refused +anything." + +"Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with animation; "and in what +way came we to be under this obligation to Lord Pendennyss?" + +"He did me the honor of a call during my visit to Ireland, madam," +replied the earl; "and on inquiring of my steward after his old friend, +Doctor Stevens, learnt his death, and the claims of Mr. Ives; but the +reason he gave me was his interest in the widow of General Wilson," +bowing with much solemnity to the lady as he spoke. + +"I am gratified to find the earl yet remembers us," said Mrs. Wilson, +struggling to restrain her tears. "Are we to have the pleasure of seeing +him soon?" + +"I received a letter from him yesterday, saying he should be here in all +next week, madam." And turning pleasantly to Jane and her sister, he +continued, "Sir Edward, you have here rewards fit for heavier services, +and the earl is a great admirer of female charms." + +"Is he not married, my lord?" asked the baronet, with great simplicity. + +"No, baronet, nor engaged; but how long he will remain so after his +hardihood in venturing into this neighborhood, will, I trust, depend on +one of these young ladies." + +Jane looked grave--for trifling on love was heresy, in her estimation; +but Emily laughed, with an expression in which a skilful physiognomist +might have read--if he means me, he is mistaken. + +"Your cousin, Lord Chatterton, has found interest, Sir Edward," +continued the peer, "to obtain his father's situation; and if reports +speak truth, he wishes to become more nearly related to you, baronet." + +"I do not well see how that can happen," said Sir Edward with a smile, +and who had not art enough to conceal his thoughts, "unless he takes my +sister here." + +The cheeks of both the young ladies now vied with the rose; and the +peer, observing he had touched on forbidden ground, added, "Chatterton +was fortunate to find friends able to bear up against the powerful +interest of Lord Haverford." + +"To whom was he indebted for the place, my lord?" asked Mis. Wilson. + +"It was whispered at court, madam," said the earl, sensibly lowering his +voice, and speaking with an air of mystery "and a lord of the bed- +chamber is fonder of discoveries than a lord of the council--that His +Grace of Derwent threw the whole of his parliamentary interest into the +scale on the baron's side, but you are not to suppose," raising his hand +gracefully, with a wave of rejection, "that I speak from authority; only +a surmise, Sir Edward, only a surmise, my lady." + +"Is not the name of the Duke of Derwent, Denbigh?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, +with a thoughtful manner. + +"Certainly, madam, Denbigh," replied the earl, with a gravity with which +he always spoke of dignities; "one of our most ancient names, and +descended on the female side from the Plantagenets and Tudors." + +He now rose to take his leave, and on bowing to the younger ladies, +laughingly repeated his intention of bringing his cousin (an epithet he +never omitted), Pendennyss, to their feet. + +"Do you think, sister," said Lady Moseley, after the earl had retired, +"that Mr. Denbigh is of the house of Derwent?" + +"I cannot say," replied Mrs. Wilson, musing, "yet it is odd, Chatterton +told me of his acquaintance with Lady Harriet Denbigh, but not with the +Duke." + +As this was spoken in the manner of a soliloquy, it received no answer, +and was in fact but little attended to by any of the party, excepting +Emily, who glanced her eye once or twice at her aunt as she was +speaking, with an interest the name of Denbigh never failed to excite. +Harriet was, she thought, a pretty name, but Marian was a prettier; if, +thought Emily, I could know a Marian Denbigh, I am sure I could love +her, and her name too. + +The Moseleys now began to make their preparations for their departure to +L----, and the end of the succeeding week was fixed for the period at +which they were to go. Mrs. Wilson urged a delay of two or three days, +in order to give her an opportunity of meeting with the Earl of +Pendennyss, a young man in whom, although she had relinquished her +former romantic wish of uniting him to Emily, in favor of Denbigh, she +yet felt a deep interest, growing out of his connexion with the last +moments of her husband, and his uniformly high character. + +Sir Edward accordingly acquainted his uncle, that on the following +Saturday he might expect to receive himself and family, intending to +leave the hall in the afternoon of the preceding day, and reach Benfield +lodge to dinner. This arrangement once made, and Mr. Benfield notified +of it, was unalterable, the old man holding a variation from an +engagement a deadly sin. The week succeeding the accident which had +nearly proved so fatal to Denbigh, the inhabitants of the hall were +surprised with the approach of a being, as singular in his manners and +dress as the equipage which conveyed him to the door of the house. The +latter consisted of a high-backed, old-fashioned sulky, loaded with +leather and large-headed brass nails; wheels at least a quarter larger +in circumference than those of the present day, and wings on each side +large enough to have supported a full grown roc in the highest regions +of the upper air. It was drawn by a horse, once white, but whose milky +hue was tarnished through age with large and numerous red spots, and +whose mane and tail did not appear to have suffered by the shears during +the present reign. The being who alighted from this antiquated vehicle +was tall and excessively thin, wore his own hair drawn over his almost +naked head into a long thin queue, which reached half way down his back, +closely cased in numerous windings of leather, or the skin of some fish. +His drab coat was in shape between a frock and a close-body--close-body, +indeed, it was; for the buttons, which were in size about equal to an +old-fashioned China saucer, were buttoned to the very throat, thereby +setting off his shape to peculiar advantage; his breeches were buckskin, +and much soiled; his stockings blue yarn, although it was midsummer; and +his shoes were provided with buckles of dimensions proportionate to the +aforesaid buttons; his age might have been seventy, but his walk was +quick, and the movements of his whole system showed great activity both +of mind and body. He was ushered into the room where the gentlemen were +sitting, and having made a low and extremely modest bow, he deliberately +put on his spectacles, thrust his hand into an outside pocket of his +coat, and produced from under its huge flaps a black leathern pocket- +book about as large as a good-sized octavo volume; after examining the +multitude of papers it contained carefully, he selected a letter, and +having returned the pocket-book to its ample apartment, read aloud, + +"For Sir Edward Moseley, bart. of Moseley Hall, B----, Northamptonshire- +-with care and speed, by the hands of Mr. Peter Johnson, steward of +Benfield Lodge, Norfolk;" and dropping his sharp voice, he stalked up to +the baronet, and presented the epistle, with another reverence. + +"Ah, my good friend, Johnson," said Sir Edward as soon as he delivered +his errand (for until he saw the contents of the letter, he had thought +some accident had occurred to his uncle), "this is the first visit you +have ever honored me with; come, take a glass of wine before you go to +your dinner; let us drink, that it may not be the last." + +"Sir Edward Moseley, and you, honorable gentlemen, will pardon me," +replied the steward, in his own solemn key, "this is the first time I +was ever out of his majesty's county of Norfolk, and I devoutly wish it +may prove the last--Gentlemen, I drink your honorable healths." + +This was the only real speech the old man made during his visit, unless +an occasional monosyllabic reply to a question could be thought so. He +remained, by Sir Edward's positive order, until the following day; for +having delivered his message, and receiving its answer, he was about to +take his departure that evening, thinking he might get a good piece on +his road homewards, as it wanted half an hour to sunset. On the +following morning, with the sun, he was on his way to the house in which +he had been born, and which he had never left for twenty-four hours at a +time in his life. In the evening, as he was ushered in by John (who had +known him from his own childhood, and loved to show him attention) to +the room in which he was to sleep, he broke what the young man called +his inveterate silence, with, "Young Mr. Moseley--young gentleman--might +I presume--to ask--to see the gentleman?" + +"What gentleman?" cried John, astonished at the request, and at his +speaking so much. + +"That saved Miss Emmy's life, sir." + +John now fully comprehended him, and led the way to Denbigh's room; he +was asleep, but they were admitted to his bed-side. The steward stood +for ten minutes gazing on the sleeper in silence; and John observed, as +he blew his nose on regaining his own apartment, that his little grey +eyes twinkled with a lustre which could not be taken for anything but a +tear. + +As the letter was as characteristic of the writer as its bearer was of +his vocation, we may be excused giving it at length. + +"Dear Sir Edward and Nephew, + +"Your letter reached the lodge too late to be answered that evening, as +I was about to step into my bed; but I hasten to write my +congratulations, remembering the often repeated maxim of my kinsman Lord +Gosford, that letters should be answered immediately; indeed, a neglect +of it had very nigh brought about an affair of honor between the earl +and Sir Stephens Hallett. Sir Stephens was always opposed to us in the +House of Commons of this realm; and I have often thought something might +have passed in the debate itself, which commenced the correspondence, as +the earl certainly told him as much as if he were a traitor to his King +and country. + +"But it seems that your daughter Emily has been rescued from death by +the grandson of General Denbigh, who sat with us in the house. Now I +always had a good opinion of this young Denbigh, who reminds me, every +time I look at him, of my late brother, your father-in-law that was; and +I send my steward, Peter Johnson, express to the hall in order that he +may see the sick man, and bring me back a true account how he fares: for +should he be wanting for anything within the gift of Roderic Benfield, +he has only to speak to have it; not that I suppose, nephew, you will +willingly allow him to suffer for anything, but Peter is a man of close +observation, although he is of few words, and may suggest something +beneficial, that might escape younger heads. I pray for--that is, I +hope, the young man will recover, as your letter gives great hopes; and +if he should want any little matter to help him along in the army, as I +take it he is not over wealthy, you have now a good opportunity to offer +your assistance handsomely; and that it may not interfere with your +arrangements for this winter, your draft on me for five thousand pounds +will be paid at sight; for fear he may be proud, and not choose to +accept your assistance, I have this morning detained Peter, while he has +put a codicil to my will, leaving him ten thousand pounds. You may tell +Emily she is a naughty child, or she would have written me the whole +story; but, poor dear, I suppose she has other things on her mind just +now. God bless Mr. ---- that is, God bless, you all, and try if you +cannot get a lieutenant-colonelcy at once--the brother of Lady Juliana's +friend was made a lieutenant-colonel at the first step. + +"RODERIC BENFIELD." + +The result of Peter's reconnoitering expedition has never reached our +knowledge, unless the arrival of a servant some days after he took his +leave, with a pair of enormous-goggles, and which the old gentleman +assured his nephew in a note, both Peter and himself had found useful to +weak eyes in their occasional sickness, might have been owing to the +prudent forecast of the sagacious steward. + + + +Chapter XXI. + +The morning on which Denbigh left B---- was a melancholy one to all the +members of the little circle, in which he had been so distinguished for +his modesty, his intelligence, and his disinterested intrepidity. Sir +Edward took an opportunity solemnly to express his gratitude for the +services he had rendered him, and having retired to his library, +delicately and earnestly pressed his availing himself of the liberal +offer of Mr. Benfield to advance his interest in the army. + +"Look upon me, my dear Mr. Denbigh," said the good baronet, pressing him +by the hand, while the tears stood in his eyes, "as a father, to supply +the place of the one you have so recently lost. You are my child; I feel +as a parent to you, and must be suffered to act as one." + +To this affectionate offer of Sir Edward, Denbigh replied with an +emotion equal to that of the baronet, though he declined, with +respectful language, his offered assistance as unnecessary. He had +friends powerful enough to advance his interests, without resorting to +the use of money; and on taking Sir Edward's hand, as he left the +apartment, he added with great warmth, "yet, my dear Sir, the day will +come, I hope, when I shall ask a boon from your hands, that no act of +mine or a life of service could entitle me to receive." + +The baronet smiled his assent to a request he already understood, and +Denbigh withdrew. + +John Moseley insisted on putting the bays in requisition to carry +Denbigh for the first stage, and they now stood caparisoned for the +jaunt, with their master in a less joyous mood than common, waiting the +appearance of his companion. + +Emily delighted in their annual excursion to Benfield Lodge. She was +beloved so warmly, and returned the affection of its owner so sincerely, +that the arrival of the day never failed to excite that flow of spirits +which generally accompanies anticipated pleasures, ere experience has +proved how trifling are the greatest enjoyments the scenes of this life +bestow. Yet as the day of their departure drew near, her spirits sunk in +proportion; and on the morning of Denbigh's leave-taking, Emily seemed +anything but excessively happy. There was a tremor in her voice and a +redness about her eyes that alarmed Lady Moseley; but as the paleness of +her cheeks was immediately succeeded by as fine a color as the heart +could wish, the anxious mother allowed herself to be persuaded by Mrs. +Wilson there was no danger, and she accompanied her sister to her own +room for some purpose of domestic economy. It was at this moment Denbigh +entered: he had paid his adieus to the matrons at the door, and been +directed by them to the little parlor in quest of Emily. + +"I have come to make my parting compliments, Miss Moseley," he said, in +a tremulous voice, as he ventured to hold forth his hand. "May heaven +preserve you," he continued, holding it in fervor to his bosom: then +dropping it, he hastily retired, as if unwilling to trust himself any +longer to utter all he felt. Emily stood a few moments, pale and almost +inanimate, as the tears flowed rapidly from her eyes; and then she +sought a shelter in a seat of the window. Lady Moseley, on returning, +was alarmed lest the draught would increase her indisposition; but her +sister, observing that the window commanded a view of the road, thought +the air too mild to do her injury. + +The personages who composed the society at B---- had now, in a great +measure, separated, in pursuit of their duties or their pleasures. The +merchant and his family left the deanery for a watering-place. Francis +and Clara had gone on a little tour of pleasure in the northern +counties, to take L---- in their return homeward; and the morning +arrived for the commencement of the baronet's journey to the same place. +The carriages had been ordered, and servants were running in various +ways, busily employed in their several occupations, when Mrs. Wilson, +accompanied by John and his sisters, returned from a walk they had taken +to avoid the bustle of the house. A short distance from the park gates, +an equipage was observed approaching, creating by its numerous horses +and attendants a dust which drove the pedestrians to one side of the +road. An uncommonly elegant and admirably fitted travelling barouche and +six rolled by, with the graceful steadiness of an English equipage: +several servants on horseback were in attendance; and our little party +were struck with the beauty of the whole establishment. + +"Can it be possible Lord Bolton drives such elegant horses?" cried John, +with the ardor of a connoisseur in that noble animal. "They are the +finest set in the kingdom." + +Jane's eye had seen, through the clouds of dust, the armorial bearings, +which seemed to float in the dark glossy panels of the carriage, and she +observed, "It is an earl's coronet, but they are not the Bolton arms." +Mrs. Wilson and Emily had noticed a gentleman reclining at his ease, as +the owner of the gallant show; but its passage was too rapid to enable +them to distinguish the features of the courteous old earl; indeed, Mrs. +Wilson remarked, she thought him a younger man than her friend. + +"Pray, sir," said John to a tardy groom, as he civilly walked his horse +by the ladies, "who has passed in the barouche?" + +"My Lord Pendennyss, sir." + +"Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a tone of regret, "how +unfortunate!" + +She had seen the day named for his visit pass without his arrival, and +now, as it was too late to profit by the opportunity, he had come for +the second time into her neighborhood. Emily had learnt, by the +solicitude of her aunt, to take an interest in the young peer's +movements, and desired John to ask a question or two of the groom. + +"Where does your lord stop to-night?" + +"At Bolton Castle, sir; and I heard my lord tell his valet that he +intended staying one day hereabouts, and the day after to-morrow he goes +to Wales, your honor." + +"I thank you, friend," said John; when the man spurred his horse after +the cavalcade. The carriages were at the door, and Sir Edward had been +hurrying Jane to enter, as a servant, in a rich livery and well mounted, +galloped up and delivered a letter for Mrs. Wilson, who, on opening it, +read the following: + +"The Earl of Pendennyss begs leave to present his most respectful +compliments to Mrs. Wilson and the family of Sir Edward Moseley. Lord +Pendennyss will have the honor of paying his respects in person at any +moment that the widow of his late invaluable friend, Lieutenant-General +Wilson, will please to appoint. + +"Bolton Castle, Friday evening." + +To this note Mrs. Wilson, bitterly regretting the necessity which +compelled her to forego the pleasure of meeting her paragon, wrote in +reply a short letter, disliking the formality of a note. + +"My LORD, "I sincerely regret that an engagement which cannot be +postponed compels us to leave Moseley Hall within the hour, and must, in +consequence, deprive us of the pleasure of your intended visit. But as +circumstances have connected your Lordship with some of the dearest, +although the most melancholy events of my life, I earnestly beg you will +no longer consider us as strangers to your person, as we have long +ceased to be to your character. It will afford me the greatest pleasure +to hear that there will be a prospect of our meeting in town next +winter, where I may find a more fitting opportunity of expressing those +grateful feelings so long due to your lordship from your sincere friend, + +"CHARLOTTE WILSON. + +"Moseley Hall, Friday morning." + +With this answer the servant was despatched, and the carriages moved on. +John had induced Emily to trust herself once more to the bays and his +skill; but on perceiving the melancholy of her aunt, she insisted on +exchanging seats with Jane, who had accepted a place in the carriage of +Mrs. Wilson. No objection being made, Mrs. Wilson and her niece rode the +first afternoon together in her travelling chaise. The road ran within a +quarter of a mile of Bolton Castle, and the ladies endeavored in vain to +get a glimpse of the person of the young nobleman. Emily was willing to +gratify her aunt's propensity to dwell on the character and history of +her favorite; and hoping to withdraw her attention gradually from more +unpleasant recollections, asked several trifling questions relating to +those points. + +"The earl must be very rich, aunt, from the style he maintains." + +"Very, my dear; his family I am unacquainted with, but I understand his +title is an extremely ancient one; and some one, I believe Lord Bolton, +mentioned that his estates in Wales alone, exceeded fifty thousand a +year." + +"Much good might be done," said Emily, thoughtfully, "with such a +fortune." + +"Much good is done," cried her aunt, with fervor. "I am told by every +one who knows him, his donations are large and frequent. Sir Herbert +Nicholson said he was extremely simple in his habits, and it leaves +large sums at his disposal every year." + +"The bestowal of money is not always charity," said Emily, with an arch +smile and a slight color. + +Mrs. Wilson smiled in her turn as she answered, "not always, but it is +charity to hope for the best." + +"Sir Herbert knew him, then?" said Emily. + +"Perfectly well; they were associated together in the service for +several years, and he spoke of him with a fervor equal to my warmest +expectations." + +The Moseley arms in F---- was kept by an old butler of the family, and +Sir Edward every year, in going to or coming from L----, spent a night +under its roof. He was received by its master with a respect that none +who ever knew the baronet well, could withhold from his goodness of +heart and many virtues. + +"Well, Jackson," said the baronet, kindly, as he was seated at the +supper table, "how does custom increase with you--I hope you and the +master of the Dun Cow are more amicable than formerly." + +"Why, Sir Edward," replied the host, who had lost a little of the +deference of the servant in the landlord, but none of his real respect, +"Mr. Daniels and I are more upon a footing of late than we was, when +your goodness enabled me to take the house; then he got all the great +travellers, and for more than a twelvemonth I had not a title in my +house but yourself and a great London doctor, that was called here to +see a sick person in the town. He had the impudence to call me the +knight barrow-knight, your honor, and we had a quarrel upon that +account." + +"I am glad, however, to find you are gaining in the rank of your +customers, and trust, as the occasion has ceased, you will be more +inclined to be good-natured to each other." + +"Why, as to good-nature, Sir Edward, I lived with your honor ten years, +and you must know somewhat of my temper," said Jackson, with the self- +satisfaction of an approving conscience; "but Sam Daniels is a man who +is never easy unless he is left quietly at the top of the ladder; +however," continued the host, with a chuckle, "I have given him a dose +lately." + +"How so, Jackson?" inquired the baronet, willing to gratify the man's +wish to relate his triumphs. + +"Your honor must have heard mention made of a great lord, the Duke of +Derwent; well, Sir Edward, about six weeks agone he passed through with +my Lord Chatterton." + +"Chatterton!" exclaimed John, interrupting him, "has he been so near us +again, and so lately?" + +"Yes, Mr. Moseley," replied Jackson with a look of importance: "they +dashed into my yard with their chaise and four, with five servants, and +would you think it, Sir Edward, they hadn't been in the house ten +minutes, before Daniel's son was fishing from the servants, who they +were; I told him, Sir Edward--dukes don't come every day." + +"How came you to get his grace away from the Dun Cow--chance?" + +"No, your honor," said the host, pointing to his sign, and bowing +reverently to his old master, "the Moseley Arms did it. Mr. Daniels used +to taunt me with having worn a livery, and has said more than once he +could milk his cow, but that your honor's arms would never lift me into +a comfortable seat for life; so I just sent him a message by the way of +letting him know my good fortune, your honor." + +"And what was it?" + +"Only that your honor's arms had shoved a duke and a baron into my +house--that's all." + +"And I suppose Daniels' legs shoved your messenger out of his," said +John, laughing. + +"No, Mr. Moseley; Daniels would hardly dare do that: but yesterday, your +honor, yesterday evening, beat everything. Daniels was seated before his +door, and I was taking a pipe at mine, Sir Edward, as a coach and six, +with servants upon servants, drove down the street; it got near us, and +the boys were reining the horses into the yard of the Dun Cow, as the +gentleman in the coach saw my sign: he sent a groom to inquire who kept +the house; I got up, your honor, and told him my name, sir. 'Mr. +Jackson,' said his lordship, 'my respect for the family of Sir Edward +Moseley is too great not to give my custom to an old servant of his +family.'" + +"Indeed," said the baronet; "pray who was my lord?" + +"The Earl of Pendennyss, your honor. Oh, he is a sweet gentleman, and he +asked all about my living with your honor, and about Madam Wilson." + +"Did his lordship stay the night?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, excessively +gratified at a discovery of the disposition manifested by the earl +towards her. + +"Yes, madam, he left here after breakfast." + +"What message did you send the Dun Cow this time, Jackson?" cried John. + +Jackson looked a little foolish, but the question being repeated, he +answered--"Why, sir, I was a little crowded for room, and so your honor, +so I just sent Tom across the street, to know if Mr. Daniels couldn't +keep a couple of the grooms." + +"And Tom got his head broke." + +"No, Mr. John, the tankard missed him; but if--" + +"Very well," said the baronet, willing to change the conversation, "you +have been so fortunate of late, you can afford to be generous; and I +advise you to cultivate harmony with your neighbor, or I may take my +arms down, and you may lose your noble visiters--see my room prepared." + +"Yes, your honor," said the host, and bowing respectfully he withdrew. + +"At least, aunt," cried John, pleasantly, "we have the pleasure of +supping in the same room with the puissant earl, albeit there be twenty- +four hours' difference in the time." + +"I sincerely wish there had not been that difference," observed his +father, taking his sister kindly by the hand. + +"Such an equipage must have been a harvest indeed to Jackson," remarked +the mother; as they broke up for the evening. + +The whole establishment at Benfield Lodge, were drawn up to receive them +on the following day in the great hall, and in the centre was fixed the +upright and lank figure of its master, with his companion in leanness, +honest Peter Johnson, on his right. + +"I have made out, Sir Edward and my Lady Moseley, to get as far as my +entrance, to receive the favor you are conferring upon me. It was a rule +in my day, and one invariably practised by all the great nobility, such +as Lord Gosford--and--and--his sister, the lady Juliana Dayton, always +to receive and quit their guests in the country at the great entrance; +and in conformity--ah, Emmy dear," cried the old gentleman, folding her +in his arms as the tears rolled down his cheeks, forgetting his speech +in the warmth of his feeling, "You are saved to us again; God be +praised--there, that will do, let me breathe--let me breathe;" and then +by the way of getting rid of his softer feelings, he turned upon John; +"so, youngster, you would be playing with edge tools, and put the life +of your sister in danger. No gentleman held a gun in my day; that is, no +gentleman about the court. My Lord Gosford had never killed a bird in +his life, or drove his horse; no sir, gentlemen then were not coachmen. +Peter how old was I before I took the reins of the chaise, in driving +round the estate--the time you broke your arm? it was--" + +Peter, who stood a little behind his master, in modest retirement, and +who had only thought his elegant form brought thither to embellish the +show, when called upon, advanced a step, made a low bow, and answered in +his sharp key: + +"In the year 1798, your honor, and the 38th of his present majesty, and +the 64th year of your life, sir, June the 12th, about meridian." + +Peter dropped back as he finished; but recollecting himself, regained +his place with a bow, as he added, "new style." + +"How are you, old style?" cried John, with a slap on the back, that made +the steward jump again. + +"Mr. John Moseley--young gentleman"--a term Peter had left off using to +the baronet within the last ten years, "did you think--to bring home-- +the goggles?" + +"Oh yes," said John, gravely, producing them from his pocket. Most of +the party having entered the parlor, he put them carefully on the bald +head of the steward--"There, Mr Peter Johnson, you have your property +again, safe and sound." + +"And Mr. Denbigh said he felt much indebted to your consideration in +sending them," said Emily, soothingly, as she took them off with her +beautiful hands. + +"Ah, Miss Emmy," said the steward, with one of his best bows, "that was- +-a noble act; God bless him!" then holding up his finger significantly, +"the fourteenth codicil--to master's will," and Peter laid his finger +alongside his nose, as he nodded his head in silence. + +"I hope the thirteenth contains the name of honest Peter Johnson," said +the young lady, who felt herself uncommonly well pleased with the +steward's conversation. + +"As witness, Miss Emmy--witness to all--but God forbid," said the +steward with solemnity, "I should ever live to see the proving of them: +no, Miss Emmy, master has done for me what he intended, while I had +youth to enjoy it. I am rich, Miss Emmy--good three hundred a year." +Emily, who had seldom heard so long a speech as the old man's gratitude +drew from him, expressed her pleasure at hearing it, and shaking him +kindly by the hand, left him for the parlor. + +"Niece," said Mr. Benfield, having scanned the party closely with his +eyes, "where is Colonel Denbigh?" + +"Colonel Egerton, you mean, sir," interrupted Lady Moseley. + +"No, my Lady Moseley," replied her uncle, with great formality, "I mean +Colonel Denbigh. I take it he is a colonel by this time," looking +expressively at the baronet; "and who is fitter to be a colonel or a +general, than a man who is not afraid of gunpowder?" + +"Colonels must have been scarce in your youth, sir," cried John, who had +rather a mischievous propensity to start the old man on his hobby. + +"No, jackanapes, gentlemen killed one another then, although they did +not torment the innocent birds: honor was as dear to a gentleman of +George the Second's court, as to those of his grandson's, and honesty +too, sirrah--ay, honesty. I remember when we were in, there was not a +man of doubtful integrity in the ministry, or on our side even; and then +again, when we went out, the opposition benches were filled with +sterling characters, making a parliament that was correct throughout. +Can you show me such a thing at this day?" + + + +Chapter XXII. + +A few days after the arrival of the Moseleys at the lodge John drove his +sisters to the little village of L----, which at that time was thronged +with an unusual number of visiters. It had, among other fashionable +arrangements for the accommodation of its guests, one of those +circulators of good and evil, a public library. Books are, in a great +measure, the instruments of controlling the opinions of a nation like +ours. They are an engine, alike powerful to save or to destroy. It +cannot be denied, that our libraries contain as many volumes of the +latter, as the former description; for we rank amongst the latter that +long catalogue of idle productions, which, if they produce no other +evil, lead to the misspending of time, our own perhaps included. But we +cannot refrain expressing our regret, that such formidable weapons in +the cause of morality, should be suffered to be wielded by any +indifferent or mercenary dealer, who undoubtedly will consult rather the +public tastes than the private good: the evil may be remediless, yet we +love to express our sentiments, though we should suggest nothing new or +even profitable. Into one of these haunts of the idle, then, John +Moseley entered with a lovely sister leaning on either arm. Books were +the entertainers of Jane, and instructors of Emily. Sir Edward was fond +of reading of a certain sort--that which required no great depth of +thought, or labor of research; and, like most others who are averse to +contention, and disposed to be easily satisfied, the baronet sometimes +found he had harbored opinions on things not exactly reconcileable with +the truth, or even with each other. It is quite as dangerous to give up +your faculties to the guidance of the author you are perusing, as it is +unprofitable to be captiously scrutinizing every syllable he may happen +to advance; and Sir Edward was, if anything, a little inclined to the +dangerous propensity. Unpleasant, Sir Edward Moseley never was. Lady +Moseley very seldom took a book in her hand: her opinions were +established to her own satisfaction on all important points, and on the +minor ones, she made it a rule to coincide with the popular feeling. +Jane had a mind more active than her father, and more brilliant than her +mother; and if she had not imbibed injurious impressions from the +unlicensed and indiscriminate reading she practised, it was more owing +to the fortunate circumstance, that the baronet's library contained +nothing extremely offensive to a pure taste, nor dangerous to good +morals, than to any precaution of her parents against the deadly, the +irretrievable injury to be sustained from ungoverned liberty in this +respect to a female mind. On the other hand, Mrs. Wilson had inculcated +the necessity of restraint, in selecting the books for her perusal, so +strenuously on her niece, that what at first had been the effects of +obedience and submission, had now settled into taste and habit; and +Emily seldom opened a book, unless in search of information; or if it +were the indulgence of a less commendable spirit, it was an indulgence +chastened by a taste and judgment that lessened the danger, if it did +not entirely remove it. + +The room was filled with gentlemen and ladies; and while John was +exchanging his greetings with several of the neighboring gentry of his +acquaintance, his sisters were running hastily over a catalogue of the +books kept for circulation, as an elderly lady, of foreign accent and +dress, entered; and depositing a couple of religious works on the +counter, she inquired for the remainder of the set. The peculiarity of +her idiom and her proximity to the sisters caused them both to look up +at the moment, and, to the surprise of Jane, her sister uttered a slight +exclamation of pleasure. The foreigner was attracted by the sound, and +after a moment's hesitation, she respectfully curtsied. Emily, +advancing, kindly offered her hand, and the usual inquiries after each +other's welfare succeeded. To the questions asked after the friend of +the matron Emily learnt, with some surprise, and no less satisfaction, +that she resided in a retired cottage, about five miles from L----, +where they had been for the last six months, and where they expected to +remain for some time, "until she could prevail on Mrs. Fitzgerald to +return to Spain; a thing, now there was peace, of which she did not +despair." After asking leave to call on them in their retreat, and +exchanging good wishes, the Spanish lady withdrew, and, as Jane had made +her selection, was followed immediately by John Moseley and his sisters. +Emily, in their walk home, acquainted her brother that the companion of +their Bath incognita had been at the library, and that for the first +time she had learnt that their young acquaintance was, or had been, +married, and her name. John listened to his sister with the interest +which the beautiful Spaniard had excited at the time they first met, and +laughingly told her he could not believe their unknown friend had ever +been a wife. To satisfy this doubt, and to gratify a wish they both had +to renew their acquaintance with the foreigner, they agreed to drive to +the cottage the following morning, accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Jane, +if she would go; but the next day was the one appointed by Egerton for +his arrival at L----, and Jane, under a pretence of writing letters, +declined the excursion. She had carefully examined the papers since his +departure; had seen his name included in the arrivals at London; and at +a later day, had read an account of the review by the commander-in-chief +of the regiment to which he belonged. He had never written to any of her +friends; but, judging from her own feelings, she did not in the least +doubt he would be as punctual as love could make him. Mrs. Wilson +listened to her niece's account of the unexpected interview in the +library with pleasure, and cheerfully promised to accompany them in +their morning's excursion, as she had both a wish to alleviate sorrow, +and a desire to better understand the character of this accidental +acquaintance of Emily's. + +Mr. Benfield and the baronet had a long conversation in relation to +Denbigh's fortune the morning after their arrival; and the old man was +loud in his expression of dissatisfaction at the youngster's pride. As +the baronet, however, in the fulness of his affection and simplicity, +betrayed to his uncle his expectation of a union between Denbigh and his +daughter, Mr. Benfield became contented with this reward; one fit, he +thought, for any services. On the whole, "it was best, as he was to +marry Emmy, he should sell out of the army; and as there would be an +election soon, he would bring him into parliament--yes--- yes--it did a +man so much good to sit one term in the parliament of this realm--to +study human nature. All his own knowledge in that way was raised on the +foundations laid in the House." To this Sir Edward cordially assented, +and the gentlemen separated, happy in their arrangements to advance the +welfare of two beings they so sincerely loved. + +Although the care and wisdom of Mrs. Wilson had prohibited the admission +of any romantic or enthusiastic expectations of happiness into the day- +dreams of her charge, yet the buoyancy of health, of hope, of youth, of +innocence, had elevated Emily to a height of enjoyment hitherto unknown +to her usually placid and disciplined pleasures. Denbigh certainly +mingled in most of her thoughts, both of the past and the future, and +she stood on the threshold of that fantastic edifice in which Jane +ordinarily resided. Emily was in the situation perhaps the most +dangerous to a young female Christian: her heart, her affections, were +given to a man, to appearance, every way worthy of possessing them, it +is true but she had admitted a rival in her love to her Maker; and to +keep those feelings distinct, to bend the passions in due submission to +the more powerful considerations of endless duty, of unbounded +gratitude, is one of the most trying struggles of Christian fortitude. +We are much more apt to forget our God in prosperity than adversity. The +weakness of human nature drives us to seek assistance in distress; but +vanity and worldly-mindedness often induce us to imagine we control the +happiness we only enjoy. + +Sir Edward and Lady Moseley could see nothing in the prospect of the +future but lives of peace and contentment for their children. Clara was +happily settled, and her sisters were on the eve of making connexions +with men of family, condition, and certain character. What more could be +done for them? They must, like other people, take their chances in the +lottery of life; they could only hope and pray for their prosperity, and +this they did with great sincerity. Not so Mrs. Wilson: she had guarded +the invaluable charge intrusted to her keeping with too much assiduity, +too keen an interest, too just a sense of the awful responsibility she +had undertaken, to desert her post at the moment watchfulness was most +required. By a temperate, but firm and well-chosen conversation she kept +alive the sense of her real condition in her niece, and labored hard to +prevent the blandishments of life from supplanting the lively hope of +enjoying another existence. She endeavored, by her pious example, her +prayers, and her judicious allusions, to keep the passion of love in the +breast of Emily secondary to the more important object of her creation; +and, by the aid of a kind and Almighty Providence, her labors, though +arduous, were crowned with success. + +As the family were seated round the table after dinner, on the day of +their walk to the library, John Moseley, awakening from a reverie, +exclaimed suddenly, + +"Which do you think the handsomest, Emily, Grace Chatterton or Miss +Fitzgerald?" + +Emily laughed, as she answered, "Grace, certainly; do you not think so, +brother?" + +"Yes, on the whole; but don't you think Grace looks like her mother at +times?" + +"Oh no, she is the image of Chatterton." + +"She is very like yourself, Emmy dear," said Mr. Benfield, who was +listening to their conversation. + +"Me, dear uncle; I have never heard it remarked before." + +"Yes, yes, she is as much like you as she can stare. I never saw as +great a resemblance, excepting between you and Lady Juliana--Lady +Juliana, Emmy, was a beauty in her day; very like her uncle, old Admiral +Griffin--you can't remember the admiral--he lost an eye in a battle with +the Dutch, and part of his cheek in a frigate, when a young man fighting +the Dons. Oh, he was a pleasant old gentleman; many a guinea has he +given me when I was a boy at school." + +"And he looked like Grace Chatterton, uncle, did he?" asked John, +innocently. + +"No, sir, he did not; who said he looked like Grace Chatterton, +jackanapes?" + +"Why, I thought you made it out, sir: but perhaps it was the description +that deceived me--his eye and cheek, uncle." + +"Did Lord Gosford leave children, uncle?" inquired Emily, throwing a +look of reproach at John. + +"No, Emmy dear; his only child, a son, died at school. I shall never +forget the grief of poor Lady Juliana. She postponed a visit to Bath +three weeks on account of it. A gentleman who was paying his addresses +to her at the time, offered then, and was refused--indeed, her self- +denial raised such an admiration of her in the men, that immediately +after the death of young Lord Dayton, no less than seven gentlemen +offered, and were refused in one week. I heard Lady Juliana say, that +what between lawyers and suitors, she had not a moment's peace." + +"Lawyers?" cried Sir Edward: "what had she to do with lawyers?" + +"Why, Sir Edward, six thousand a year fell to her by the death of her +nephew; and there were trustees and deeds to be made out--poor young +woman, she was so affected, Emmy, I don't think she went out for a week- +-all the time at home reading papers, and attending to her important +concerns. Oh! she was a woman of taste; her mourning, and liveries, and +new carriage, were more admired than those of any one about the court. +Yes, yes, the title is extinct; I know of none of the name now. The Earl +did not survive his loss but six years, and the countess died broken- +hearted, about a twelvemonth before him." + +"And Lady Juliana, uncle," inquired John, "what became of her, did she +marry?" + +The old man helped himself to a glass of wine, and looked over his +shoulder to see if Peter was at hand. Peter, who had been originally +butler, and had made it a condition of his preferment, that whenever +there was company, he should be allowed to preside at the sideboard, was +now at his station. Mr. Benfield, seeing his old friend near him, +ventured to talk on a subject he seldom trusted himself with in company. + +"Why, yes--yes--she did marry, it's true, although she did tell me she +intended to die a maid; but--hem--I suppose--hem--it was compassion for +the old viscount, who often said he could not live without her; and then +it gave her the power of doing so much good, a jointure of five thousand +a year added to her own income: yet--hem--I do confess I did not think +she would have chosen such an old and infirm man--- but, Peter, give me +a glass of claret." Peter handed the claret, and the old man proceeded:- +-"They say he was very cross to her, and that, no doubt, must have made +her unhappy, she was so very tender-hearted." + +How much longer the old gentleman would have continued in this strain, +it is impossible to say; but he was interrupted by the opening of the +parlor door, and the sudden appearance on its threshold of Denbigh. +Every countenance glowed with pleasure at this unexpected return of +their favorite; and but for the prudent caution of Mrs. Wilson, in +handing a glass of water to her niece, the surprise might have proved +too much for her. The salutations of Denbigh were returned by the +different members of the family with a cordiality that must have told +him how much he was valued by all its branches; and after briefly +informing them that his review was over, and that he had thrown himself +into a chaise and travelled post until he had rejoined them, he took his +seat by Mr. Benfield, who received him with a marked preference, +exceeding that which he had shown to any man who had ever entered his +doors, Lord Gosford himself not excepted. Peter removed from his station +behind his master's chair to one where he could face the new comer; and +after wiping his eyes until they filled so rapidly with water, that at +last he was noticed by the delighted John to put on the identical +goggles which his care had provided for Denbigh in his illness. His +laugh drew the attention of the rest to the honest steward, and when +Denbigh was told this was Mr. Benfield's ambassador to the hall, he rose +from his chair, and taking the old man by the hand, kindly thanked him +for his thoughtful consideration for his weak eyes. + +Peter took the offered hand in both his own, and after making one or two +unsuccessful efforts to speak, he uttered, "Thank you, thank you; may +Heaven bless you," and burst into tears. This stopped the laugh, and +John followed the steward from the room, while his master exclaimed, +wiping his eyes, "Kind and condescending; just such another as my old +friend, the Earl of Gosford." + + + +Chapter XXIII. + +At the appointed hour, the carriage of Mrs. Wilson was ready to convey +herself and niece to the cottage of Mrs. Fitzgerald. John was left +behind, under the pretence of keeping Denbigh company in his morning +avocations, but really because Mrs. Wilson doubted the propriety of his +becoming a visiting acquaintance at the house, tenanted as the cottage +was represented to be. John was too fond of his friend to make any +serious objections, and was satisfied for the present, by sending his +compliments, and requesting his sister to ask permission for him to call +in one of his morning excursions, in order to pay his personal respects. + +They found the cottage a beautiful and genteel, though a very small and +retired dwelling, almost hid by the trees and shrubs which surrounded +it, and its mistress in its little veranda, expecting the arrival of +Emily. Mrs. Fitzgerald was a Spaniard, under twenty, of a melancholy, +yet highly interesting countenance; her manners were soft and retiring, +but evidently bore the impression of good company, if not of high life. +She was extremely pleased with this renewal of attention on the part of +Emily, and expressed her gratitude to both ladies for their kindness in +seeking her out in her solitude. She presented her more matronly +companion to them, by the name of Donna Lorenza; and as nothing but good +feeling prevailed, and useless ceremony was banished, the little party +were soon on terms of friendly intercourse. The young widow (for such +her dress indicated her to be), did the honors of her house with +graceful ease, and conducted her visiters into her little grounds, +which; together the cottage, gave evident proofs of the taste and +elegance of its occupant. The establishment she supported she +represented as very small; two women and an aged man servant, with +occasionally a laborer for her garden and shrubbery. They never visited; +it was a resolution she had made on fixing her residence here, but if +Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley would forgive the rudeness of not returning +their call, nothing would give her more satisfaction than a frequent +renewal of their visits. Mrs. Wilson took so deep an interest in the +misfortunes of this young female, and was so much pleased with the +modest resignation of her manner, that it required little persuasion on +the part of the recluse to obtain a promise of soon repeating her visit. +Emily mentioned the request of John, and Mrs. Fitzgerald received it +with a mournful smile, as she replied that Mr. Moseley had laid her +under such an obligation in their first interview, she could not deny +herself the pleasure of again thanking him for it; but she must be +excused if she desired they would limit their attendants to him, as +there was but one gentleman in England whose visits she admitted, and it +was seldom indeed he called; he had seen her but once since she had +resided in Norfolk. + +After giving a promise not to suffer any one else to accompany them, and +promising an early call again, our ladies returned to Benfield Lodge in +season to dress for dinner. On entering the drawing-room, they found the +elegant person of Colonel Egerton leaning on the back of Jane's chair. +He had arrived during their absence, and immediately sought the +baronet's family. His reception, if not as warm as that given to +Denbigh, was cordial from all but the master of the house; and even he +was in such spirits by the company around him, and the prospects of +Emily's marriage (which he considered as settled), that he forced +himself to an appearance of good will he did not feel. Colonel Egerton +was either deceived by his manner, or too much a man of the world to +discover his suspicion, and everything in consequence was very +harmoniously, if not sincerely conducted between them. + +Lady Moseley was completely happy. If she had the least doubts before, +as to the intentions of Egerton, they were now removed. His journey to +that unfashionable watering-place, was owing to his passion; and however +she might at times have doubted as to Sir Edgar's heir, Denbigh she +thought a man of too little consequence in the world, to make it +possible he would neglect to profit by his situation in the family of +Sir Edward Moseley. She was satisfied with both connexions. Mr. Benfield +had told her General Sir Frederic Denbigh was nearly allied to the Duke +of Derwent, and Denbigh had said the general was his grandfather. +Wealth, she knew Emily would possess from both her uncle and aunt; and +the services of the gentleman had their due weight upon the feelings of +the affectionate mother. The greatest of her maternal anxieties was +removed, and she looked forward to the peaceful enjoyment of the remnant +of her days in the bosom of her descendants. John, the heir of a +baronetcy, and 15,000 pounds a year, might suit himself; and Grace +Chatterton, she thought, would be likely to prove the future Lady +Moseley. Sir Edward, without entering so deeply into anticipations of +the future as his wife, experienced an equal degree of contentment; and +it would have been a difficult task to discover in the island a roof, +under which there resided at the moment more happy countenances than at +Benfield Lodge; for as its master had insisted on Denbigh becoming an +inmate, he was obliged to extend his hospitality in an equal degree to +Colonel Egerton: indeed, the subject had been fully canvassed between +him and Peter the morning of his arrival, and was near being decided +against his admission, when the steward, who had picked up all the +incidents of the arbor scene from the servants (and of course with many +exaggerations), mentioned to his master that the colonel was very +active, and that he even contrived to bring water to revive Miss Emmy, a +great distance, in the hat of Captain Jarvis, which was full of holes, +Mr. John having blown it off the head of the captain without hurting a +hair, in firing at a woodcock. This mollified the master a little, and +he agreed to suspend his decision for further observation. At dinner, +the colonel happening to admire the really handsome face of Lord +Gosford, as delineated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which graced the dining- +room of Benfield Lodge, its master, in a moment of unusual kindness, +gave the invitation; it was politely accepted, and the colonel at once +domesticated. + +The face of John Moseley alone, at times, exhibited evidences of care +and thought, and at such moments it might be a subject of doubt whether +he thought the most of Grace Chatterton or her mother: if the latter, +the former was sure to lose ground in his estimation; a serious +misfortune to John, not to be able to love Grace without alloy. His +letters from her brother mentioned his being still at Denbigh castle, in +Westmoreland, the seat of his friend the Duke of Derwent; and John +thought one or two of his encomiums on Lady Harriet Denbigh, the sister +of his grace, augured that the unkindness of Emily might in time be +forgotten. The dowager and her daughters were at the seat of a maiden +aunt in Yorkshire, where as John knew no male animal was allowed +admittance, he was tolerably easy at the disposition of things. Nothing +but legacy-hunting he knew would induce the dowager to submit to such a +banishment from the other sex; but that was so preferable to husband- +hunting he was satisfied. "I wish," said John mentally, as he finished +the perusal of his letter, "mother Chatterton would get married herself, +and she might let Kate and Grace manage for themselves. Kate would do +very well, I dare say, and how would Grace make out!" John sighed, and +whistled for Dido and Rover. + +In the manners of Colonel Egerton there was the same general disposition +to please, and the same unremitted attention to the wishes and +amusements of Jane. They had renewed their poetical investigations, and +Jane eagerly encouraged a taste which afforded her delicacy some little +coloring for the indulgence of an association different from the real +truth, and which, in her estimation, was necessary to her happiness. +Mrs. Wilson thought the distance between the two suitors for the favor +of her nieces was, if anything, increased by their short separation, and +particularly noticed on the part of the colonel an aversion to Denbigh +that at times painfully alarmed, by exciting apprehensions for the +future happiness of the precious treasure she had prepared herself to +yield to his solicitations, whenever properly proffered. In the +intercourse between Emily and her preserver, as there was nothing to +condemn, so there was much to admire. The attentions of Denbigh were +pointed, although less exclusive than those of the colonel; and the aunt +was pleased to observe that if the manners of Egerton had more of the +gloss of life, those of Denbigh were certainly distinguished by a more +finished delicacy and propriety. The one appeared the influence of +custom and association, with a tincture of artifice; the other, +benevolence, with a just perception of what was due to others, and with +an air of sincerity, when speaking of sentiments and principles, that +was particularly pleasing to the watchful widow. At times, however, she +could not but observe an air of restraint, if not of awkwardness, about +him that was a little surprising. It was most observable in mixed +society, and once or twice her imagination pictured his sensations into +something like alarm. These unpleasant interruptions to her admiration +were soon forgotten in her just appreciation of the more solid parts of +his character, which appeared literally to be unexceptionable; and when +momentary uneasiness would steal over her, the remembrance of the +opinion of Dr. Ives, his behavior with Jarvis, his charity, and chiefly +his devotion to her niece, would not fail to drive the disagreeable +thoughts from her mind. Emily herself moved about, the image of joy and +innocence. If Denbigh were near her, she was happy; if absent, she +suffered no uneasiness. Her feelings were so ardent, and yet so pure, +that jealousy had no admission. Perhaps no circumstances existed to +excite this usual attendant of the passion; but as the heart of Emily +was more enchained than her imagination, her affections were not of the +restless nature of ordinary attachments, though more dangerous to her +peace of mind in the event of an unfortunate issue. With Denbigh she +never walked or rode alone. He had never made the request, and her +delicacy would have shrunk from such an open manifestation of her +preference; but he read to her and her aunt; he accompanied them in +their little excursions; and once or twice John noticed that she took +the offered hand of Denbigh to assist her over any little impediment in +their course, instead of her usual unobtrusive custom of taking his arm +on such occasions. "Well, Miss Emily," thought John, "you appear to have +chosen another favorite," on her doing this three times in succession in +one of their walks. "How strange it is women will quit their natural +friends for a face they have hardly seen." John forgot his own--"There +is no danger, dear Grace," when his sister was almost dead with +apprehension. But John loved Emily too well to witness her preference of +another with satisfaction, even though Denbigh was the favorite; a +feeling which soon wore away, however, by dint of custom and reflection. +Mr. Benfield had taken it into his head that if the wedding of Emily +could be solemnized while the family was at the lodge, it would render +him the happiest of men; and how to compass this object, was the +occupation of a whole morning's contemplation. Happily for Emily's +blushes, the old gentleman harbored the most fastidious notions of +female delicacy, and never in conversation made the most distant +allusion to the expected connexion. He, therefore, in conformity with +these feelings, could do nothing openly; all must be the effect of +management; and as he thought Peter one of the best contrivers in the +world, to his ingenuity he determined to refer the arrangement. + +The bell rang--"Send Johnson to me, David." + +In a few minutes, the drab coat and blue yarn stockings entered his +dressing-room with the body of Mr. Peter Johnson snugly cased within +them. + +"Peter," commenced Mr. Benfield, pointing kindly to a chair, which the +steward respectfully declined, "I suppose you know that Mr. Denbigh, the +grandson of General Denbigh, who was in parliament with me, is about to +marry my little Emmy?" + +Peter smiled, as he bowed an assent. + +"Now, Peter, a wedding would, of all things, make me most happy; that +is, to have it here in the lodge. It would remind me so much of the +marriage of Lord Gosford, and the bridemaids. I wish your opinion how to +bring it about before they leave us. Sir Edward and Anne decline +interfering, and Mrs. Wilson I am afraid to speak to on the subject." + +Peter was not a little alarmed by this sudden requisition on his +inventive faculties, especially as a lady was in the case; but, as he +prided himself on serving his master, and loved the hilarity of a +wedding in his heart, he cogitated for some time in silence, when, +having thought a preliminary question or two necessary, he broke it with +saying-- + +"Everything, I suppose, master, is settled between the young people?" + +"Everything, I take it, Peter." + +"And Sir Edward and my lady?" + +"Willing; perfectly willing." + +"And Madam Wilson, sir?" + +"Willing, Peter, willing." + +"And Mr. John and Miss Jane?" + +"All willing; the whole family is willing, to the best of my belief.'" + +"There is the Rev. Mr. Ives and Mrs. Ives, master?" + +"They wish it, I know. Don't you think they wish others as happy as +themselves, Peter?" + +"No doubt they do, master. Well, then, as everybody is willing, and the +young people agreeable, the only thing to be done, sir, is--" + +"Is what, Peter?" exclaimed his impatient master observing him to +hesitate. + +"Why, sir, to send for the priest, I take it." + +"Pshaw! Peter Johnson, I know that myself," replied the dissatisfied old +man. "Cannot you help me to a better plan?" + +"Why, master," said Peter, "I would have done as well for Miss Emmy and +your honor as I would have done for myself. Now, sir, when I courted +Patty Steele, your honor, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven +hundred and sixty-five, I should have been married but for one +difficulty, which your honor says is removed in the case of Miss Emmy." + +"What was that, Peter?" asked his master, in a tender tone. + +"She wasn't willing, sir." + +"Very well, poor Peter," replied Mr. Benfield, mildly "you may go." And +the steward, bowing low, withdrew. + +The similarity of their fortunes in love was a strong link in the +sympathies which bound the master and man together and the former never +failed to be softened by an allusion to Patty. The want of tact in the +man, on the present occasion, after much reflection, was attributed by +his master to the fact that Peter had never sat in parliament. + + + +Chapter +XXIV. + +Mrs. Wilson and Emily, in the fortnight they had been at Benfield Lodge, +paid frequent and long visits to the cottage: and each succeeding +interview left a more favorable impression of the character of its +mistress, and a greater certainty that she was unfortunate. The latter, +however, alluded very slightly to her situation or former life; she was +a Protestant, to the great surprise of Mrs. Wilson; and one that misery +had made nearly acquainted with the religion she professed. Their +conversations chiefly turned on the customs of her own, as contrasted +with those of her adopted country, or in a pleasant exchange of +opinions, which the ladies possessed in complete unison. One morning +John had accompanied them and been admitted; Mrs. Fitzgerald receiving +him with the frankness of an old acquaintance, though with the reserve +of a Spanish lady. His visits were permitted under the direction of his +aunt, but no others of the gentlemen were included amongst her guests. +Mrs. Wilson had casually mentioned, in the absence of her niece, the +interposition of Denbigh between her and death; and Mrs. Fitzgerald was +so much pleased at the noble conduct of the gentleman, as to express a +desire to see him; but the impressions of the moment appeared to have +died away, a nothing more was said by either lady on the subject, and it +was apparently forgotten. Mrs. Fitzgerald was found one morning, weeping +over a letter she held in her hand, and the Donna Lorenza was +endeavoring to console her. The situation of this latter lady was +somewhat doubtful; she appeared neither wholly a friend nor a menial. In +the manners of the two there was a striking difference; although the +Donna was not vulgar, she was far from possessing the polish of her more +juvenile friend, and Mrs. Wilson considered her to be in a station +between that of a housekeeper and that of a companion. After hoping that +no unpleasant intelligence occasioned the distress they witnessed, the +ladies were delicately about to take their leave, when Mrs. Fitzgerald +entreated them to remain. + +"Your kind attention to me, dear madam, and the goodness of Miss +Moseley, give you a claim to know more of the unfortunate being your +sympathy has so greatly assisted to attain her peace of mind. This +letter is from the gentleman of whom you have heard me speak, as once +visiting me, and though it has struck me with unusual force, it contains +no more than I expected to hear, perhaps no more than I deserve to +hear." + +"I hope your friend has not been unnecessarily harsh: severity is not +the best way, always, of effecting repentance, and I feel certain that +you, my young friend, can have been guilty of no offence that does not +rather require gentle than stern reproof," said Mrs. Wilson. + +"I thank you, dear madam, for your indulgent opinion of me, but although +I have suffered much, I am willing to confess it is a merited +punishment; you are, however, mistaken as to the source of my present +sorrow. Lord Pendennyss is the cause of grief, I believe, to no one, +much less to me." + +"Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Emily, in surprise, unconsciously looking +at her aunt. + +"Pendennyss!" reiterated Mrs. Wilson, with animation "and is he your +friend, too?" "Yes, madam; to his lordship I owe everything--honor-- +comfort--religion--and even life itself." + +Mrs. Wilson's cheek glowed with an unusual color, at this discovery of +another act of benevolence and virtue, in a young nobleman whose +character she had so long admired, and whose person she had in vain +wished to meet. + +"You know the earl, then?" inquired Mrs. Fitzgerald. + +"By reputation, only, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "but that is enough to +convince me a friend of his must be a worthy character, if anything were +wanting to make us your friends." + +The conversation was continued for some time, and Mrs. Fitzgerald saying +she did not feel equal just then to the undertaking, but the next day, +if they would honor her with another call, she would make them +acquainted with the incidents of her life, and the reasons she had for +speaking in such terms of Lord Pendennyss. The promise to see her was +cheerfully made by Mrs. Wilson, and her confidence accepted; not from a +desire to gratify an idle curiosity, but a belief that it was necessary +to probe a wound to cure it; and a correct opinion, that she would be a +better adviser for a young and lovely woman, than even Pendennyss; for +the Donna Lorenza she could hardly consider in a capacity to offer +advice, much less dictation. They then took their leave, and Emily, +during their ride, broke the silence with exclaiming,-- + +"Wherever we hear of Lord Pendennyss, aunt, we hear of him favorably." + +"A certain sign, my dear, he is deserving of it. There is hardly any man +who has not his enemies, and those are seldom just; but we have met with +none of the earl's yet." + +"Fifty thousand a year will make many friends," observed Emily, shaking +her head. + +"Doubtless, my love, or as many enemies; but honor, life, and religion, +my child, are debts not owing to money--in this country at least." + +To this remark Emily assented; and after expressing her own admiration +of the character of the young nobleman, she dropped into a reverie. How +many of his virtues she identified with the person of Mr. Denbigh, it is +not, just now, our task to enumerate; but judges of human nature may +easily determine, and that too without having sat in the parliament of +this realm. + +The morning this conversation occurred at the cottage, Mr. and Mrs. +Jarvis, with their daughters, made their unexpected appearance at L----. +The arrival of a post-chaise and four with a gig, was an event soon +circulated through the little village, and the names of its owners +reached the lodge just as Jane had allowed herself to be persuaded by +the colonel to take her first walk with him unaccompanied by a third +person. Walking is much more propitious to declarations than riding; and +whether it was premeditated on the part of the colonel or not, or +whether he was afraid that Mrs. Jarvis or some one else would interfere, +he availed himself of this opportunity, and had hardly got out of +hearing of her brother and Denbigh, before he made Jane an explicit +offer of his hand. The surprise was so great, that some time elapsed +before the distressed girl could reply. This she, however, at length +did, but incoherently: she referred him to her parents, as the arbiters +of her fate, well knowing that her wishes had long been those of her +father and mother. With this the colonel was obliged to be satisfied for +the present. But their walk had not ended, before he gradually drew from +the confiding girl an acknowledgment that, should her parents decline +his offer, she would be very little less miserable than himself; indeed, +the most tenacious lover might have been content with the proofs of +regard that Jane, unused to control her feelings, allowed herself to +manifest on this occasion. Egerton was in raptures; a life devoted to +her would never half repay her condescension; and as their confidence +increased with their walk, Jane re-entered the lodge with a degree of +happiness in her heart she had never before experienced. The much +dreaded declaration--her own distressing acknowledgements, were made, +and nothing farther remained but to live and be happy. She flew into the +arms of her mother, and; hiding her blushes in her bosom, acquainted her +with the colonel's offer and her own wishes. Lady Moseley, who was +prepared for such a communication, and had rather wondered at its +tardiness, kissed her daughter affectionately, as she promised to speak +to her father, and to obtain his approbation. + +"But," she added, with a degree of formality and caution which had +better preceded than have followed the courtship, "we must make the +usual inquiries, my child, into the fitness of Colonel Egerton as a +husband for our daughter. Once assured of that, you have nothing to +fear." + +The baronet was requested to grant an audience to Colonel Egerton, who +now appeared as determined to expedite things, as he had been dilatory +before. On meeting Sir Edward, he made known his pretensions and hopes. +The father, who had been previously notified by his wife of what was +forthcoming, gave a general answer, similar to the speech of the mother, +and the colonel bowed in acquiescence. + +In the evening, the Jarvis family favored the inhabitants of the lodge +with a visit, and Mrs. Wilson was struck with the singularity of their +reception of the colonel. Miss Jarvis, especially, was rude to both him +and Jane, and it struck all who witnessed it as a burst of jealous +feeling for disappointed hopes; but to no one, excepting Mrs. Wilson, +did it occur that the conduct of the gentleman could be at all +implicated in the transaction. Mr. Benfield was happy to see under his +roof again the best of the trio of Jarvises he had known, and something +like sociability prevailed. There was to be a ball, Miss Jarvis +remarked, at L----, the following day, which would help to enliven the +scene a little, especially as there were a couple of frigates at anchor, +a few miles off, and the officers were expected to join the party. This +intelligence had but little effect on the ladies of the Moseley family; +yet, as their uncle desired that, out of respect to his neighbors, if +invited, they would go, they cheerfully assented. During the evening, +Mrs. Wilson observed Egerton in familiar conversation with Miss Jarvis; +and as she had been notified of his situation with respect to Jane, she +determined to watch narrowly into the causes of so singular a change of +deportment in the young lady. Mrs. Jarvis retained her respect for the +colonel in full force; and called out to him across the room, a few +minutes before she departed-- + +"Well, colonel, I am happy to tell you I have heard very lately from +your uncle, Sir Edgar." + +"Indeed, madam!" replied the colonel, starting. "He was well, I hope." + +"Very well, the day before yesterday. His neighbor, old, Mr. Holt, is a +lodger in the same house with us at L----; and as I thought you would +like to hear, I made particular inquiries about the baronet." The word +baronet was pronounced with emphasis and a look of triumph, as if it +would say, you see we have baronets as well as you. As no answer was +made by Egerton, excepting an acknowledging bow, the merchant and his +family departed. + +"Well, John," cried Emily, with a smile, "we have heard more good to-day +of our trusty and well-beloved cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed her brother. "You must keep Emily for his lordship, +positively, aunt: she is almost as great an admirer of him as yourself." + +"I apprehend it is necessary she should be quite as much so, to become +his wife," said Mrs. Wilson. + +"Really," said Emily, more gravely, "if all one hears of him be true, or +even half, it would be no difficult task to admire him." + +Denbigh was standing leaning on the back of a chair, in situation where +he could view the animated countenance of Emily as she spoke, and Mrs. +Wilson noticed an uneasiness and a changing of color in him that +appeared uncommon from so trifling a cause. Is it possible, she thought, +Denbigh can harbor so mean a passion as envy? He walked away, as if +unwilling to hear more, and appeared much engrossed with his own +reflections for the remainder of the evening. There were moments of +doubting which crossed the mind of Mrs. Wilson with a keenness of +apprehension proportionate to her deep interest in Emily, with respect +to certain traits in the character of Denbigh; and this, what she +thought a display of unworthy feeling, was one of them. In the course of +the evening, the cards for the expected ball arrived, and were accepted. +As this new arrangement for the morrow interfered with their intended +visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald, a servant was sent with a note of explanation +in the morning and a request that on the following day the promised +communication might be made. To this arrangement the recluse assented, +and Emily prepared for the ball with a melancholy recollection of the +consequences which grew out of the last she had attended--melancholy at +the fate of Digby, and pleasure at the principles manifested by Denbigh, +on the occasion. The latter, however, with a smile, excused himself from +being of the party, telling Emily he was so awkward that he feared some +unpleasant consequences to himself or his friends would arise from his +inadvertencies, did he venture again with her into such an assembly. + +Emily sighed gently, as she entered the carriage of her aunt early in +the afternoon, leaving Denbigh in the door of the lodge, and Egerton +absent on the execution of some business; the former to amuse himself as +he could until the following morning, and the latter to join them in the +dance in the evening. + +The arrangement included an excursion on the water, attended by the +bands from the frigates, a collation, and in the evening a ball. One of +the vessels was commanded by a Lord Henry Stapleton, a fine young man, +who, struck with the beauty and appearance of the sisters, sought an +introduction to the baronet's family, and engaged the hand of Emily for +the first dance. His frank and gentleman-like deportment was pleasing to +his new acquaintances; the more so, as it was peculiarly suited to their +situation at the moment. Mrs. Wilson was in unusual spirits, and +maintained an animated conversation with the young sailor, in the course +of which, he spoke of his cruising on the coast of Spain, and by +accident he mentioned his having carried out to that country, upon one +occasion, Lord Pendennyss. This was common ground between them, and Lord +Henry was as enthusiastic in his praises of the earl, as Mrs. Wilson's +partiality could desire. He also knew Colonel Egerton slightly, and +expressed his pleasure, in polite terms, when they met in the evening in +the ball-room, at being able to renew his acquaintance. The evening +passed off as such evenings generally do--in gaiety, listlessness, +dancing, gaping, and heartburnings, according to the dispositions and +good or ill fortune of the several individuals who compose the assembly. +Mrs. Wilson, while her nieces were dancing, moved her seat to be near a +window, and found herself in the vicinity of two elderly gentlemen, who +were commenting on the company. After making several common-place +remarks, one of them inquired of the other--"Who is that military +gentleman amongst the naval beaux, Holt?" + +"That is the hopeful nephew of my friend and neighbor, Sir Edgar +Egerton; he is here dancing, and misspending his time and money, when I +know Sir Edgar gave him a thousand pounds six months ago, on express +condition, he should not leave the regiment or take a card in his hand +for twelvemonth." + +"He plays, then?" + +"Sadly; he is, on the whole, a very bad young man." + +As they changed their topic, Mrs. Wilson joined her sister, dreadfully +shocked at this intimation of the vices of a man so near an alliance +with her brother's child. She was thankful it was not too late to avert +part of the evil, and determined to acquaint Sir Edward, at once, with +what she had heard, in order that an investigation might establish the +colonel's innocence or guilt. + + + +Chapter XXV. + +They returned to the lodge at an early hour, and Mrs Wilson, after +meditating upon the course she ought to take, resolved to have a +conversation with her brother that evening after supper. Accordingly, as +they were among the last to retire, she mentioned her wish to detain +him, and when left by themselves, the baronet taking his seat by her on +a sofa, she commenced as follows, willing to avoid her unpleasant +information until the last moment. + +"I wished to say something to you, brother, relating to my charge: you +have, no doubt, observed the attentions of Mr. Denbigh to Emily?" + +"Certainly, sister, and with great pleasure; you must not suppose I wish +to interfere with the authority I have so freely relinquished to you, +Charlotte, when I inquire if Emily favors his views or not?" + +"Neither Emily nor I, my dear brother, wish ever to question your right, +not only to inquire into, but to control the conduct of your child;--she +is yours, Edward, by a tie nothing can break, and we both love you too +much to wish it. There is nothing you may be more certain of, than that, +without the approbation of her parents, Emily would accept of no offer, +however splendid or agreeable to her own wishes." + +"Nay, sister, I would not wish unduly to influence my child in an affair +of so much importance to herself; but my interest in Denbigh is little +short of that I feel for my daughter." + +"I trust," continued Mrs. Wilson, "Emily is too deeply impressed with +her duty to forget the impressive mandate, 'to honor her father and +mother:' yes, Sir Edward, I am mistaken if she would not relinquish the +dearest object of her affections, at your request; and at the same time, +I am persuaded she would, under no circumstances, approach the altar +with a man she did not both love and esteem." + +The baronet did not appear exactly to understand his sister's +distinction, as he observed, "I am not sure I rightly comprehend the +difference you make, Charlotte." + +"Only, brother, that she would feel that a promise made at the altar to +love a man she felt averse to, or honor one she could not esteem, as a +breach of a duty, paramount to all earthly considerations," replied his +sister; "but to answer your question--Denbigh has never offered, and +when he does, I do not think he will be refused." + +"Refused!" cried the baronet, "I sincerely hope not; I wish, with all my +heart, they were married already." + +"Emily is very young," said Mrs. Wilson, "and need not hurry: I was in +hopes she would remain single a few years longer." + +"Well," said the baronet, "you and Lady Moseley, sister, have different +notions on the subject of marrying the girls." + +Mrs. Wilson replied, with a good-humored smile, "you have made Anne so +good a husband, Ned, that she forgets there are any bad ones in the +world; my greatest anxiety is, that the husband of my niece may be a +Christian; indeed, I know not how I can reconcile it to my conscience, +as a Christian myself, to omit this important qualification," + +"I am sure, Charlotte, both Denbigh and Egerton appear to have a great +respect for religion; they are punctual at church, and very attentive to +the service:" Mrs. Wilson smiled as he proceeded, "but religion may come +after marriage, you know." + +"Yes, brother, and I know it may not come at all; no really pious woman +can be happy, without her husband is in what she deems the road to +future happiness himself; and it is idle--it is worse--it is almost +impious to marry with a view to reform a husband: indeed, she greatly +endangers her own safety thereby; for few of us, I believe, but find the +temptation to err as much as we can contend with, without calling in the +aid of example against us, in an object we love; indeed it appears to +me, the life of such a woman must be a struggle between conflicting +duties." + +"Why," said the baronet, "if your plan were generally adopted, I am +afraid it would give a deadly blow to matrimony." + +"I have nothing to do with generals, brother, I am acting for individual +happiness, and discharging individual duties: at the same time I cannot +agree with you in its effects on the community. I think no man who +dispassionately examines the subject, will be other than a Christian; +and rather than remain bachelors, they would take even that trouble; if +the strife in our sex were less for a husband, wives would increase in +value." + +"But how is it, Charlotte," said the baronet, pleasantly, "your sex do +not use your power and reform the age?" + +"The work of reformation, Sir Edward," replied his sister, gravely, "is +an arduous one indeed, and I despair of seeing it general, in my day; +but much, very much, might be done towards it, if those who have the +guidance of youth would take that trouble with their pupils that good +faith requires of them, to discharge the minor duties of life." + +"Women ought to marry," observed the baronet, musing. + +"Marriage is certainly the natural and most desirable state for a +woman," but how few are there who, having entered it, know how to +discharge its duties; more particularly those of a mother! On the +subject of marrying our daughters, for instance, instead of qualifying +them to make a proper choice, they are generally left to pick up such +principles and opinions as they may come at, as it were by chance. It is +true, if the parent be a Christian in name, certain of the externals of +religion are observed; but what are these, if not enforced by a +consistent example in the instructor?" + +"Useful precepts are seldom lost, I believe, sister," said Sir Edward, +with confidence. + +"Always useful, my dear brother; but young people are more observant +than we are apt to imagine, and are wonderfully ingenious in devising +excuses to themselves for their conduct. I have often heard it offered +as an apology, that father or mother knew it, or perhaps did it, and +therefore it could not be wrong: association is all-important to a +child." + +"I believe no family of consequence admits of improper associates within +my knowledge," said the baronet. + +Mrs. Wilson smiled as she answered, "I am sure I hope not, Edward; but +are the qualifications we require in companions for our daughters, +always such as are most reconcileable with our good sense or our +consciences; a single communication with an objectionable character is a +precedent, if known and unobserved, which will be offered to excuse +acquaintances with worse persons: with the other sex, especially, their +acquaintance should be very guarded and select." + +"You would make many old maids, sister." + +"I doubt it greatly, brother; it would rather bring female society in +demand. I often regret that selfishness, cupidity, and the kind of +strife which prevails in our sex, on the road to matrimony, have brought +celibacy into disrepute. For my part, I never see an old maid, but I am +willing to think she is so from choice or principle, and although not in +her proper place, serviceable, by keeping alive feelings necessary to +exist, that marriages may not become curses instead of blessings." + +"A kind of Eddystone, to prevent matrimonial shipwrecks," said the +brother, gayly. + +"Their lot may be solitary, baronet, and in some measure cheerless, but +infinitely preferable to a marriage that may lead them astray from their +duties, or give birth to a family which are to be turned on the world-- +without any religion but form--without any morals but truisms--or +without even a conscience which has not been seared by indulgence. I +hope that Anne, in the performance of her system, will have no cause to +regret its failure." + +"Clara chose for herself, and has done well, Charlotte; and so, I doubt +not, will Jane and Emily: and I confess I think their mother is right." + +"It is true," said Mrs. Wilson, "Clara has done well, though under +circumstances of but little risk; she might have jumped into your fish- +pond, and escaped with life, but the chances are she would drown: nor do +I dispute the right of the girls to choose for themselves; but I say the +rights extend to requiring us to qualify them to make their choice. I am +sorry, Edward, to be the instigator of doubts in your breast of the +worth of any one, especially as it may give you pain." Here Mrs. Wilson +took her brother affectionately by the hand, and communicated what she +had overheard that evening. Although the impressions of the baronet were +not as vivid, or as deep as those of his sister, his parental love was +too great not to make him extremely uneasy under the intelligence and +after thanking her for her attention to his children's welfare, he +kissed her, and withdrew. In passing to his own room, he met Egerton, +that moment returned from escorting the Jarvis ladies to their lodgings; +a task he had undertaken at the request of Jane, as they were without +any male attendant. Sir Edward's heart was too full not to seek +immediate relief, and as he had strong hopes of the innocence of the +colonel, though he could give no reason for his expectation, he returned +with him to the parlor, and in a few words acquainted him with the +slanders which had been circulated at his expense; begging him by all +means to disprove them as soon as possible. The colonel was struck with +the circumstance at first, but assured Sir Edward, it was entirely +untrue. He never played, as he might have noticed, and that Mr. Holt was +an ancient enemy of his. He would in the morning take measures to +convince Sir Edward, that he stood higher in the estimation of his +uncle, than Mr. Holt had thought proper to state. Much relieved by this +explanation, the baronet, forgetting that this heavy charge removed, he +only stood where he did before he took time for his inquiries, assured +him, that if he could convince him, or rather his sister, he did not +gamble, he would receive him as a son-in-law with pleasure. The +gentlemen shook hands and parted. + +Denbigh had retired to his room early, telling Mr. Benfield he did not +feel well, and thus missed the party at supper; and by twelve, silence +prevailed in the house. + +As usual after a previous day of pleasure, the party were late in +assembling on the following, yet Denbigh was the last who made his +appearance. Mrs. Wilson thought he threw a look round the room as he +entered, which prevented his making his salutations in his usual easy +and polished manner. In a few minutes, however, his awkwardness was +removed, and they took their seats at the table. At that moment the door +of the room was thrown hastily open, and Mr. Jarvis entered abruptly, +and with a look bordering on wildness in his eye--"Is she not here?" +exclaimed the merchant scanning the company closely. + +"Who?" inquired all in a breath. + +"Polly--my daughter--my child," said the merchant, endeavoring to +control his feelings; "did she not come here this morning with Colonel +Egerton?" + +He was answered in the negative, and he briefly explained the cause of +his anxiety. The colonel had called very early, and sent her maid up to +his daughter who rose immediately. They had quitted the house together, +leaving word the Miss Moseleys had sent for the young lady to breakfast, +for some particular reason. Such was the latitude allowed by his wife, +that nothing was suspected until one of the servants of the house said +he had seen Colonel Egerton and a lady drive out of the village that +morning in a post-chaise and four. + +Then the old gentleman first took the alarm, and he proceeded instantly +to the lodge in quest of his daughter. Of the elopement there now +remained no doubt, and an examination into the state of the colonel's +room, who, it had been thought, was not yet risen, gave assurance of it. +Here was at once sad confirmation that the opinion of Mr. Holt was a +just one. Although every heart felt for Jane during this dreadful +explanation, no eye was turned on her excepting the stolen, and anxious +glances of her sister; but when all was confirmed, and nothing remained +but to reflect or act upon the circumstances, she naturally engrossed +the whole attention of her fond parents. Jane had listened in +indignation to the commencement of the narrative of Mr. Jarvis, and so +firmly was Egerton enshrined in purity within her imagination, that not +until it was ascertained that both his servant and clothes were missing, +would she admit a thought injurious to his truth. Then indeed the +feelings of Mr. Jarvis, his plain statement corroborated by this +testimony, struck her at once as true; and as she rose to leave the +room, she fell senseless into the arms of Emily who observing her +movement and loss of color had flown to her assistance. Denbigh had +drawn the merchant out in vain efforts to appease him, and happily no +one witnessed this effect of Jane's passion but her nearest relatives. +She was immediately removed to her own room, and in a short time was in +bed with a burning fever. The bursts of her grief were uncontrolled and +violent. At times she reproached herself--her friends--Egerton; in +short, she was guilty of all the inconsistent sensations that +disappointed hopes, accompanied by the consciousness of weakness on our +part seldom fail to give rise to; the presence of her friends was +irksome to her, and it was only to the soft and insinuating +blandishments of Emily's love that she would at all yield. Perseverance +and affection at length prevailed, and as Emily took the opportunity of +some refreshments to infuse a strong soporific, Jane lost her +consciousness of misery in a temporary repose. In the mean time a more +searching inquiry had been able to trace out the manner and direction of +the journey of the fugitives. + +It appeared the colonel left the lodge immediately after his +conversation with Sir Edward; he slept at a tavern, and caused his +servant to remove his baggage at daylight; here he had ordered a chaise +and horses, and then proceeded, as mentioned, to the lodgings of Mr. +Jarvis. What arguments he used with Miss Jarvis to urge her to so sudden +a flight, remained a secret; but from the remarks of Mrs. Jarvis and +Miss Sarah, there was reason to believe that he had induced them to +think from the commencement, that his intentions were single, and Mary +Jarvis their object. How he contrived to gloss over his attentions to +Jane in such a manner as to deceive those ladies, caused no little +surprise; but it was obvious it had been done, and the Moseleys were not +without hopes his situation with Jane would not make the noise in the +world such occurrences seldom fail to excite. In the afternoon a letter +was handed to Mr. Jarvis, and by him immediately communicated to the +baronet and Denbigh, both of whom he considered as among his best +friends. It was from Egerton, and written in a respectful manner: he +apologized for his elopement, and excused it on the ground of a wish to +avoid the delay of a license or the publishing of bans, as he was in +hourly expectation of a summons to his regiment, and contained many +promises of making an attentive husband, and an affectionate son. The +fugitives were on the road to Scotland, whence they intended immediately +to return to London and to wait the commands of their parents. The +baronet in a voice trembling with emotion at the sufferings of his own +child, congratulated the merchant that things were no worse; while +Denbigh curled his lips as he read the epistle, and thought settlements +were a greater inconvenience than the bans--for it was a well known +fact, a maiden aunt had left the Jarvises twenty thousand pounds between +them. + + + +Chapter XXVI. + +Although the affections of Jane had sustained a blow, her pride had +received a greater, and no persuasions of her mother or sister could +induce her to leave her room. She talked little, but once or twice she +yielded to the affectionate attentions of Emily, and poured out her +sorrows into the bosom of her sister. At such moments she would declare +her intention of never appearing in the world again. One of these +paroxysms of sorrow was witnessed by her mother, and, for the first +time, self-reproach mingled in the grief of the matron. Had she trusted +less to appearances and to the opinions of indifferent and ill-judging +acquaintances, her daughter might have been apprized in season of the +character of the man who had stolen her affections. To a direct +exhibition of misery Lady Moseley was always sensible, and, for the +moment, she became alive to its causes and consequences; but a timely +and judicious safeguard against future moral evils was a forecast +neither her inactivity of mind nor abilities were equal to. + +We shall leave Jane to brood over her lover's misconduct, while we +regret she is without the consolation alone able to bear her up against +the misfortunes of life, and return to the other personages of our +history. + +The visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald had been postponed in consequence of Jane's +indisposition; but a week after the colonel's departure, Mrs. Wilson +thought, as Jane had consented to leave her room, and Emily really began +to look pale from her confinement by the side of a sick bed, she would +redeem the pledge she had given the recluse on the following morning. +They found the ladies at the cottage happy to see them, and anxious to +hear of the health of Jane, of whose illness they had been informed by +note. After offering her guests some refreshments, Mrs. Fitzgerald, who +appeared laboring under a greater melancholy than usual, proceeded to +make them acquainted with the incidents of her life. + +The daughter of an English merchant at Lisbon had fled from the house of +her father to the protection of an Irish officer in the service of his +Catholic Majesty: they were united, and the colonel immediately took his +bride to Madrid. The offspring of this union were a son and daughter. +The former, at an early age, had entered into the service of his king, +and had, as usual, been bred in the faith of his ancestors; but the +Señora McCarthy had been educated, and yet remained a Protestant, and, +contrary to her faith to her husband, secretly instructed her daughter +in the same belief. At the age of seventeen, a principal grandee of the +court of Charles sought the hand of the general's child. The Conde +d'Alzada was a match not to be refused, and they were united in the +heartless and formal manner in which marriages are too often entered +into, in countries where the customs of society prevent an intercourse +between the sexes. The Conde never possessed the affections of his wife. +Of a stern and unyielding disposition, his harshness repelled her love; +and as she naturally turned her eyes to the home of her childhood, she +cherished all those peculiar sentiments she had imbibed from her mother. +Thus, although she appeared to the world a Catholic, she lived in secret +a Protestant. Her parents had always used the English language in their +family, and she spoke it as fluently as the Spanish. To encourage her +recollections of this strong feature, which distinguished the house of +her father from the others she entered, she perused closely and +constantly those books which the death of her mother placed at her +disposal. These were principally Protestant works on religious subjects, +and the countess became a strong sectarian, without becoming a +Christian. As she was compelled to use the same books in teaching her +only child, the Donna Julia, English, the consequences of the original +false step of her grandmother were perpetuated in the person of this +young lady. In learning English, she also learned to secede from the +faith of her father, and entailed upon herself a life of either +persecution or hypocrisy. The countess was guilty of the unpardonable +error of complaining to their child of the treatment she received from +her husband; and as these conversations were held in English, and were +consecrated by the tears of the mother, they made an indelible +impression on the youthful mind of Julia, who grew up with the +conviction that next to being a Catholic herself, the greatest evil of +life was to be the wife of one. + +On her attaining her fifteenth year, she had the misfortune (if it could +be termed one) to lose her mother, and within the year her father +presented to her a nobleman of the vicinity as her future husband. How +long the religious faith of Julia would have endured, unsupported by +example in others, and assailed by the passions soliciting in behalf of +a young and handsome cavalier, it might be difficult to pronounce; but +as suitor was neither very young, and the reverse of very handsome, it +is certain the more he wooed, the more confirmed she became in her +heresy, until, in a moment of desperation, and as an only refuge against +his solicitations, she candidly avowed her creed. The anger of her +father was violent and lasting: she was doomed to a convent, as both a +penance for her sins and a means of reformation. Physical resistance was +not in her power, but mentally she determined never to yield. Her body +was immured, but her mind continued unshaken and rather more settled in +her belief, by the aid of those passions which had been excited by +injudicious harshness. For two years she continued in her novitiate, +obstinately refusing to take the vows of the order, and at the end of +that period the situation of her country had called her father and uncle +to the field as defenders of the rights of their lawful prince. Perhaps +to this it was owing that harsher measures were not adopted in her case. + +The war now raged around them in its greatest horrors, until at length a +general battle was fought in the neighborhood, and the dormitories of +the peaceful nuns were crowded with wounded British officers. Amongst +others of his nation was a Major Fitzgerald, a young man of strikingly +handsome countenance and pleasant manners. Chance threw him under the +more immediate charge of Julia: his recovery was slow, and for a time +doubtful, and as much owing to good nursing as science. The major was +grateful, and Julia unhappy as she was beautiful. That love should be +the offspring of this association, will excite no surprise. A brigade of +British encamping in the vicinity of the convent, the young couple +sought its protection from Spanish vengeance and Romish cruelty. They +were married by the chaplain of the brigade, and for a month they were +happy. + +As Napoleon was daily expected in person at the seat of war, his +generals were alive to their own interests, if not to that of their +master. The body of troops in which Fitzgerald had sought a refuge, +being an advanced party of the main army, were surprised and defeated +with loss. After doing his duty as a soldier at his post, the major, in +endeavoring to secure the retreat of Julia, was intercepted, and they +both fell into the hands of the enemy. They were kindly treated, and +allowed every indulgence their situation admitted, until a small escort +of prisoners was sent to the frontiers; in this they were included, and +had proceeded to the neighborhood of the Pyrenees, when, in their turn, +the French were assailed suddenly, and entirely routed; and the captive +Spaniards, of which the party, with the exception of our young couple, +consisted, released. As the French guard made a resistance until +overpowered by numbers, an unfortunate ball struck Major Fitzgerald to +the earth--he survived but an hour, and died where he fell, on the open +field. An English officer, the last of his retiring countrymen, was +attracted by the sight of a woman weeping over the body of a fallen man, +and approached them. In a few words Fitzgerald explained his situation +to this gentleman, and exacted a pledge from him to guard his Julia, in +safety, to his mother in England. + +The stranger promised everything the dying husband required, and by the +time death had closed the eyes of Fitzgerald, he had procured from some +peasants a rude conveyance, into which the body, with its almost equally +lifeless widow, were placed. The party which intercepted the convoy of +prisoners, had been out from the British camp on other duty, but its +commander hearing of the escort, had pushed rapidly into a country +covered by the enemy to effect their rescue; and his service done, he +was compelled to make a hasty retreat to ensure his own security. To +this was owing the indifference, which left the major to the care of the +Spanish peasantry who had gathered to the spot, and the retreating +troops had got several miles on their return, before the widow and her +protector commenced their journey. It was impossible to overtake them, +and the inhabitants acquainting the gentleman that a body of French +dragoons were already harassing their rear, he was compelled to seek +another route to the camp. This, with some trouble and no little danger, +he at last effected; and the day following the skirmish, Julia found +herself lodged in a retired Spanish dwelling, several miles within the +advanced posts of the British army. The body of her husband was +respectfully interred, and Julia was left to mourn her irretrievable +loss, uninterrupted by anything but by the hasty visits of the officer +in whose care she had been left--visits which he stole from his more +important duties as a soldier. + +A month glided by in this melancholy manner, leaving to Mrs. Fitzgerald +the only consolation she would receive--her incessant visits to the +grave of her husband. The calls of her protector, however, became more +frequent; and at length he announced his intended departure for Lisbon, +on his way to England. A small covered vehicle, drawn by one horse, was +to convey them to the city, at which place he promised to procure her a +female attendant, and necessaries for the voyage home. It was no time or +place for delicate punctilio; and Julia quietly, but with a heart nearly +broken, prepared to submit to the wishes of her late husband. After +leaving the dwelling, the manners of her guide sensibly altered; he +became complimentary and assiduous to please, but in a way rather to +offend than conciliate; until his attentions became so irksome, that +Julia actually meditated stopping at some of the villages through which +they passed, and abandoning the attempt of visiting England entirely. +But the desire to comply with Fitzgerald's wish, that she would console +his mother for the loss of an only child, and the dread of the anger of +her relatives, determined her to persevere until they reached Lisbon, +where she was resolved to separate for ever from the disagreeable and +unknown guardian into whose keeping she had been thrown by chance. + +The last day of their weary ride, while passing a wood, the officer so +far forgot his own character and Julia's misfortunes, as to offer +personal indignities. Grown desperate from her situation, Mrs. +Fitzgerald sprang from the vehicle, and by her cries attracted the +notice of an officer who was riding express on the same road with +themselves. He advanced to her assistance at speed, but as he arrived +near them, a pistol fired from the carriage brought his horse down, and +the treacherous friend was enabled to escape undetected. Julia +endeavored to explain her situation to her rescuer; and by her distress +and appearance, satisfied him at once of its truth. Within a short time, +a strong escort of light dragoons came up, and the officer despatched +some for a conveyance, and others in pursuit of that disgrace to the +army, the villanous guide: the former was soon obtained, but no tidings +could be had of the latter. The carriage was found at a short distance, +without the horse and with the baggage of Julia, but with no vestige of +its owner. She never knew his name, and either accident or art had so +completely enveloped him in mystery, that all efforts to unfold it then +were fruitless, and had continued so ever since. + +On their arrival in Lisbon, every attention was shown to the +disconsolate widow the most refined delicacy could dictate, and every +comfort and respect were procured for her which the princely fortune, +high rank, and higher character of the Earl of Pendennyss, could +command. It was this nobleman, who, on his way from head-quarters with +despatches for England, had been the means of preserving Julia from a +fate worse than death. A packet was in waiting for the earl, and they +proceeded in her for home. The Donna Lorenza was the widow of a +subaltern Spanish officer, who had fallen under the orders and near +Pendennyss, and the interest he took in her brave husband had induced +him to offer her, in the destruction of her little fortune by the enemy, +his protection: for near two years he had maintained her at Lisbon and +now, judging her a proper person, had persuaded her to accompany Mrs. +Fitzgerald to England. + +On the passage, which was very tedious, the earl became more intimately +acquainted with the history and character of his young friend, and by a +course of gentle yet powerful expedients had drawn her mind gradually +from its gloomy contemplation of futurity, to a juster sense of good and +evil. The peculiarity of her religious persuasion afforded an +introduction to frequent discussions of the real opinions of that +church, to which Julia had hitherto belonged, although ignorant of all +its essential and vital truths. These conversations, which were renewed +repeatedly in their intercourse while under the protection of his sister +in London, laid the foundations of a faith which left her nothing to +hope for but the happy termination of her earthly probation. + +The mother of Fitzgerald was dead, and as he had no near relative left, +Julia found herself alone in the world. Her husband had taken the +precaution to make a will in season it was properly authenticated, and +his widow, by the powerful assistance of Pendennyss, was put in quiet +possession of a little independency. It was while waiting the decision +of this affair that Mrs. Fitzgerald resided for a short time near Bath. +As soon as it was terminated, the earl and his sister had seen her +settled in her present abode, and once since had they visited her; but +delicacy had kept him away from the cottage, although his attempts to +serve her had been constant, though not always successful. He had, on +his return to Spain, seen her father, and interceded with him on her +behalf, but in vain. The anger of the Spaniard remained unappeased, and +for a season he did not renew his efforts; out having heard that her +father was indisposed, Julia had employed the earl once more to make her +peace with him, without prevailing. The letter the ladies had found her +weeping over was from Pendennyss, informing her of his want of success +on that occasion. + +The substance of the foregoing narrative was related by Mrs. Fitzgerald +to Mrs. Wilson, who repeated it to Emily in their ride home. The +compassion of both ladies was strongly moved in behalf of the young +widow; yet Mrs. Wilson did not fail to point out to her niece the +consequences of deception, and chiefly the misery which had followed +from an abandonment of some of the primary duties of life--obedience and +respect to her parent. Emily, though keenly alive to all the principles +inculcated by her aunt, found so much to be pitied in the fate of her +friend, that her failings lost their proper appearance in her eyes, and +for a while she could think of nothing but Julia and her misfortunes. +Previously to their leaving the cottage, Mrs. Fitzgerald, with glowing +cheeks and some hesitation, informed Mrs. Wilson she had yet another +important communication to make, but would postpone it until her next +visit, which Mrs. Wilson promised should be on the succeeding day. + + + + +Chapter XXVII. + +Emily threw a look of pleasure on Denbigh, as he handed her from the +carriage, which would have said, if looks could talk, "In the principles +you have displayed on more than one occasion, I have a pledge of your +worth." As he led her into the house, he laughingly informed her that he +had that morning received a letter which would make his absence from L-- +-- necessary for a short time, and that he must remonstrate against +these long and repeated visits to a cottage where all attendants of the +male sex were excluded, as they encroached greatly on his pleasures and +improvements, bowing, as he spoke, to Mrs. Wilson. To this Emily +replied, gaily, that possibly, if he conducted himself to their +satisfaction; they would intercede for his admission. Expressing his +pleasure at this promise, as Mrs. Wilson thought rather awkwardly, +Denbigh changed the conversation. At dinner he repeated to the family +what he had mentioned to Emily of his departure, and also his +expectation of meeting with Lord Chatterton during his journey. + +"Have you heard from Chatterton lately, John?" inquired Sir Edward +Moseley. + +"Yes, sir, to-day: he had left Denbigh Castle a fortnight since, and +writes he is to meet his friend, the duke, at Bath." + +"Are you connected with his grace, Mr. Denbigh?" asked Lady Moseley. + +A smile of indefinite meaning played on the expressive face of Denbigh, +as he answered slightly-- + +"On the side of my father, madam." + +"He has a sister," continued Lady Moseley, willing to know more of +Chatterton's friends and Denbigh's relatives. + +"He has," was the brief reply. + +"Her name is Harriet," observed Mrs. Wilson. Denbigh bowed his assent in +silence, and Emily timidly added-- + +"Lady Harriet Denbigh?" + +"Lady Harriet Denbigh--will you do me the favor to take wine?" + +The manner of the gentleman during this dialogue had not been in the +least unpleasant, but it was peculiar; it prohibited anything further on +the subject; and Emily was obliged to be content without knowing who +Marian was, or whether her name was to be found in the Denbigh family or +not. Emily was not in the least jealous, but she wished to know all to +whom her lover was dear. + +"Do the Dowager and the young ladies accompany Chatterton?" asked Sir +Edward, as he turned to John, who was eating his fruit in silence. + +"Yes, sir--I hope--that is, I believe she will," was the answer. + +"She! Who is she, my son?" + +"Grace Chatterton," said John, starting from his meditations. "Did you +not ask me about Grace, Sir Edward?" + +"Not particularly, I believe," said the baronet, dryly. + +Denbigh again smiled: it was a smile different from any Mrs. Wilson had +ever seen on his countenance, and gave an entirely novel expression to +his face; it was full of meaning, it was knowing--spoke more of the man +of the world than anything she had before noticed in him, and left on +her mind one of those vague impressions she was often troubled with, +that there was something about Denbigh in character or condition, or +both, that was mysterious. + +The spirit of Jane was too great to leave her a pining or pensive +maiden; yet her feelings had sustained a shock that time alone could +cure. She appeared again amongst her friends; but the consciousness of +her expectations with respect to the colonel being known to them, threw +around her a hauteur and distance very foreign to her natural manner. +Emily alone, whose every movement sprang from the spontaneous feelings +of her heart, and whose words and actions were influenced by the finest +and most affectionate delicacy, such as she was not conscious of +possessing herself, won upon the better feelings of her sister so far, +as to restore between them the usual exchange of kindness and sympathy. +But Jane admitted no confidence; she found nothing consoling, nothing +solid, to justify her attachment to Egerton; nothing indeed, excepting +such external advantages as she was now ashamed to admit had ever the +power over her they in reality had possessed. The marriage of the +fugitives in Scotland had been announced; and as the impression that +Egerton was to be connected with the Moseleys was destroyed of course, +their every-day acquaintances, feeling the restraints removed that such +an opinion had once imposed, were free in their comments on his +character. Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were astonished to find how many +things to his disadvantage were generally known; that he gambled-- +intrigued--and was in debt--were no secrets apparently to anybody, but +to those who were most interested in knowing the truth; while Mrs. +Wilson saw in these facts additional reasons for examining and judging +for ourselves; the world uniformly concealing from the party and his +friends their honest opinions of his character. Some of these +insinuations reached the ears of Jane: her aunt having rightly judged, +that the surest way to destroy Egerton's power over the imagination of +her niece was to strip him of his fictitious qualities, suggested this +expedient to Lady Moseley; and some of their visitors had though as the +colonel had certainly been attentive to Miss Moseley, it would give her +pleasure to know that her rival had not made the most eligible match in +the kingdom. The project of Mrs. Wilson succeeded in a great measure; +but although Egerton fell, Jane did not find she rose in her own +estimation; and her friends wisely concluded that time was the only +remedy that could restore her former serenity. + +In the morning, Mrs. Wilson, unwilling to have Emily present at a +conversation she intended to hold with Denbigh, with a view to satisfy +her annoying doubts as to some minor points in his character, after +excusing herself to her niece, invited that gentleman to a morning +drive. He accepted her invitation cheerfully; and Mrs. Wilson saw, it +was only as they drove from the door without Emily, that he betrayed the +faintest reluctance to the jaunt. When they had got a short distance +from the lodge she acquainted him with her intention of presenting him +to Mrs. Fitzgerald, whither she had ordered the coachman to proceed. +Denbigh started as she mentioned the name, and after a few moments' +silence, desired Mrs. Wilson to allow him to stop the carriage; he was +not very well--was sorry to be so rude--but with her permission, he +would alight and return to the house. As he requested in an earnest +manner that she would proceed without him, and by no means disappoint +her friend, Mrs. Wilson complied; yet, somewhat at a loss to account for +his sudden illness, she turned her head to see how the sick man fared, a +short time after he had left her, and was not a little surprised to see +him talking very composedly with John who had met him on his way to the +fields with his gun. Lovesick--thought Mrs. Wilson with a smile; and as +she rode on she came to the conclusion, that as Denbigh was to leave +them soon, Emily would have an important communication to make on her +return. + +"Well," thought Mrs. Wilson with a sigh, "if it is to happen, it may as +well be done at once." + +Mrs. Fitzgerald was expecting her, and appeared rather pleased than +otherwise that she had come alone. After some introductory conversation, +the ladies withdrew by themselves, and Julia acquainted Mrs. Wilson with +a new source of uneasiness. The day the ladies had promised to visit +her, but had been prevented by the arrangements for the ball, the Donna +Lorenza had driven to the village to make some purchases, attended as +usual by their only man-servant, and Mrs. Fitzgerald was sitting in the +little parlor in momentary expectation of her friends by herself. The +sound of footsteps drew her to the door, which she opened for the +admission of the wretch whose treachery to her dying husband's requests +had given her so much uneasiness. Horror--fear--surprise--altogether, +prevented her from, making any alarm at the moment, and she sank into a +chair. He stood between her and the door, as he endeavored to draw her +into a conversation; he assured her she had nothing to fear; that he +loved her, and her alone; that he was about to be married to a daughter +of Sir Edward Moseley, but would give her up, fortune, everything, if +she would consent to become his wife--that the views of her protector, +he doubted not, were dishonorable--that he himself was willing to atone +for his former excess of passion, by a life devoted to her. + +How much longer he would have gone on, and what further he would have +offered, is unknown; for Mrs. Fitzgerald, having recovered herself a +little, darted to the bell on the other side of the room; he tried to +prevent her ringing it, but was too late; a short struggle followed, +when the sound of the footsteps of the maid compelled him to retreat +precipitately. Mrs. Fitzgerald added, that his assertion concerning Miss +Moseley had given her incredible uneasiness, and prevented her making +the communication yesterday; but she understood this morning through her +maid, that a Colonel Egerton, who had been supposed to be engaged to one +of Sir Edward's daughters, had eloped with another lady. That Egerton +was her persecutor, she did not now entertain a doubt; but that it was +in the power of Mrs. Wilson probably to make the discovery, as in the +struggle between them for the bell, a pocket-book had fallen from the +breast-pocket of his coat, and his retreat was too sudden to recover it. + +As she put the book into the hands of Mrs. Wilson, she desired she would +take means to return it to its owner; its contents might be of value, +though she had not thought it correct to examine it. Mrs. Wilson took +the book, and as she dropped it into her work-bag, smiled at the Spanish +punctilio of her friend in not looking into her prize under the peculiar +circumstances. + +A few questions as to the place and year of his first attempts, soon +convinced her it was Egerton whose unlicensed passions had given so much +trouble to Mrs. Fitzgerald. He had served but one campaign in Spain, and +in that year, and that division of the army; and surely his principles +were no restraint upon his conduct. Mrs. Fitzgerald begged the advice of +her more experienced friend as to the steps she ought to take; to which +the former asked if she had made Lord Pendennyss acquainted with the +occurrence. The young widow's cheek glowed as she answered, that, at the +same time she felt assured the base insinuation of Egerton was +unfounded, it had created a repugnance in her to troubling the earl any +more than was necessary in her affairs; and as she kissed the hand of +Mrs. Wilson she added--"besides, your goodness, my dear madam, renders +any other adviser unnecessary now." Mrs. Wilson pressed her hand +affectionately, and assured her of her good wishes and unaltered esteem. +She commended her delicacy, and plainly told the young widow, that how +ever unexceptionable the character of Pendennyss might be, a female +friend was the only one a woman in her situation could repose confidence +in, without justly incurring the sarcasms of the world. + +As Egerton was now married, and would not probably offer, for the +present at least, any further molestation to Mrs. Fitzgerald, it was +concluded to be unnecessary to take any immediate measures of +precaution; and Mrs. Wilson thought the purse of Mr. Jarvis might be +made the means of keeping him within proper bounds in future. The +merchant was prompt, and not easily intimidated; and the slightest +intimation of the truth would, she knew, be sufficient to engage him on +their side, heart and hand. + +The ladies parted, with a promise of meeting soon again, and an +additional interest in each other by the communications of that and the +preceding day. + +Mrs. Wilson had ridden half the distance between the cottage and the +lodge, before it occurred to her they had not absolutely ascertained, by +the best means in their possession, the identity of Colonel Egerton with +Julia's persecutor. She accordingly took the pocket-book from her bag, +and opened it for examination: a couple of letters fell from it into her +lap, and conceiving their direction would establish all she wished to +know, as they had been read, she turned to the superscription of one of +them, and saw--"George Denbigh, Esq." in the well known hand-writing of +Dr. Ives.--Mrs. Wilson felt herself overcome to a degree that compelled +her to lower a glass of the carriage for air. She sat gazing on the +letters until the characters swam before her eyes in undistinguished +confusion; and with difficulty she rallied her thoughts to the point +necessary for investigation. As soon as she found herself equal to the +task, she examined the letters with the closest scrutiny, and opened +them both to be sure there was no mistake. She saw the dates, the "dear +George" at the commencements, and the doctor's name subscribed, before +she would believe they were real; it was then the truth appeared to +break upon her in a flood of light. The aversion of Denbigh to speak of +Spain, or of his services in that country--his avoiding Sir Herbert +Nicholson, and that gentleman's observations respecting him--Colonel +Egerton's and his own manners--his absence from the ball, and startling +looks on the following morning, and at different times before and since- +-his displeasure at the name of Pendennyss on various occasions--and his +cheerful acceptance of her invitation to ride until he knew her +destination, and singular manner of leaving her--were all accounted for +by this dreadful discovery, and Mrs. Wilson found the solution of her +doubts rushing on her mind with a force and rapidity that sickened her. + +The misfortunes of Mrs. Fitzgerald, the unfortunate issue to the passion +of Jane, were trifles in the estimation of Mrs. Wilson, compared to the +discovery of Denbigh's unworthiness. She revolved in her mind his +conduct on various occasions, and wondered how one who could behave so +well in common, could thus yield to temptation on a particular occasion. +His recent attempts, his hypocrisy, however, proved that his villany was +systematic, and she was not weak enough to hide from herself the +evidence of his guilt, or of its enormity. His interposition between +Emily and death, she attributed now to natural courage, and perhaps in +some measure to chance; but his profound and unvarying reverence for +holy things, his consistent charity, his refusing to fight, to what were +they owing? And Mrs. Wilson mourned the weakness of human nature, while +she acknowledged to her self, there might be men, qualified by nature, +and even disposed by reason and grace, to prove ornaments to religion +and the world, who fell beneath the maddening influence of their +besetting sins. The superficial and interested vices of Egerton vanished +before these awful and deeply seated offences of Denbigh, and the +correct widow saw at a glance, that he was the last man to be intrusted +with the happiness of her niece; but how to break this heartrending +discovery to Emily was a new source of uneasiness to her, and the +carriage stopped at the door of the lodge, ere she had determined on the +first step required of her by duty. + +Her brother handed her out, and, filled with the dread that Denbigh had +availed himself of the opportunity of her absence to press his suit with +Emily, she eagerly inquired after him. She was rejoiced to hear he had +returned with John for a fowling-piece, and together they had gone in +pursuit of game, although she saw in it a convincing proof that a desire +to avoid Mrs. Fitzgerald, and not indisposition, had induced him to +leave her.--As a last alternative, she resolved to have the pocket-book +returned to him in her presence, in order to see if he acknowledged it +to be his property; and, accordingly, she instructed her own man to hand +it to him while at dinner, simply saying he had lost it. + +The open and unsuspecting air with which her niece met Denbigh on his +return gave Mrs. Wilson an additional shock, and she could hardly +command herself sufficiently to extend the common courtesies of good +breeding to Mr. Benfield's guest. + +While sitting at the dessert, her servant handed the pocket book, as +directed by his mistress, to its owner, saying, "Your pocket-book, I +believe, Mr. Denbigh." Denbigh took the book, and held it in his hand +for a moment in surprise, and then fixed his eye keenly on the man, as +he inquired where he found it, and how he knew it was his. These were +interrogatories Francis was not prepared to answer, and in his confusion +he naturally turned his eyes on his mistress. Denbigh followed their +direction with his own, and in encountering the looks of the lady, he +asked in a stammering manner, and with a face of scarlet, + +"Am I indebted to you, madam, for my property?" + +"No, sir; it was given me by one who found it, to restore to you," said +Mrs. Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped, both appearing +willing to say no more. Yet Denbigh was abstracted and absent during the +remainder of the repast, and Emily spoke to him once or twice without +obtaining an answer. Mrs. Wilson caught his eye several times fixed on +her with an inquiring and doubtful expression, that convinced her he was +alarmed. If any confirmation of his guilt had been wanting, the +consciousness he betrayed during this scene afforded it; and she set +seriously about considering the shortest and best method of interrupting +his intercourse with Emily, before he had drawn from her an +acknowledgment of her love. + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + +On withdrawing to her dressing-room after dinner, Mrs. Wilson commenced +the disagreeable duty of removing the veil from the eyes of her niece, +by recounting to her the substance of Mrs. Fitzgerald's last +communication. To the innocence of Emily such persecution could excite +no other sensations than surprise and horror; and as her aunt omitted +the part concerning the daughter of Sir Edward Moseley, she naturally +expressed her wonder as to who the wretch could be. + +"Possibly, aunt," she said with an involuntary shudder, "some of the +many gentlemen we have lately seen, and one who has had art enough to +conceal his real character from the world." + +"Concealment, my love," replied Mrs. Wilson, "would be hardly necessary. +Such is the fashionable laxity of morals, that I doubt not many of his +associates would laugh at his misconduct, and that he would still +continue to pass with the world as an honorable man." + +"And ready," cried her niece, "to sacrifice human life, in the defence +of any ridiculous punctilio." + +"Or," added Mrs. Wilson, striving to draw nearer to her subject, "with a +closer veil of hypocrisy, wear even an affectation of principle and +moral feeling that would seem to forbid such a departure from duty in +favor of custom." + +"Oh! no, dear aunt," exclaimed Emily, with glowing cheeks and eyes +dancing with pleasure, "he would hardly dare to be so very base. It +would be profanity." + +Mrs. Wilson sighed heavily as she witnessed that confiding esteem which +would not permit her niece even to suspect that an act which in Denbigh +had been so warmly applauded, could, even in another, proceed from +unworthy motives; and she found it would be necessary to speak in the +plainest terms, to awaken her suspicions. Willing, however, to come +gradually to the distressing truth, she replied-- + +"And yet, my dear, men who pride themselves greatly on their morals, +nay, even some who wear the mask of religion, and perhaps deceive +themselves, admit and practise this very appeal to arms. Such +inconsistencies are by no means uncommon. And why, then, might there +not, with equal probability, be others who would revolt at murder, and +yet not hesitate being guilty of lesser enormities? This is, in some +measure, the case of every man; and it is only to consider killing in +unlawful encounters as murder, to make it one in point." + +"Hypocrisy is so mean a vice, I should not think a brave man could stoop +to it," said Emily, "and Julia admits he was brave." + +"And would not a brave man revolt at the cowardice of insulting an +unprotected woman? And your hero did that too," replied Mrs. Wilson, +bitterly, losing her self-command in indignation. + +"Oh! do not call him my hero, I beg of you, dear aunt," said Emily, +starting, excited by so extraordinary an allusion, but instantly losing +the unpleasant sensation in the delightful consciousness of the +superiority of the man on whom she had bestowed her own admiration. + +"In fact, my child," continued her aunt, "our natures are guilty of the +grossest inconsistencies. The vilest wretch has generally some property +or which he values himself, and the most perfect are too often frail on +some tender point. Long and tried friendships are those only which can +be trusted, and these oftentimes fail." + +Emily looked at her aunt in surprise at hearing her utter such unusual +sentiments; for Mrs. Wilson, at the same time she had, by divine +assistance, deeply impressed her niece with the frailty of her nature, +had withheld the disgusting representation of human vices from her view, +as unnecessary to her situation and dangerous to her humility. + +After a short pause, Mrs. Wilson continued, "Marriage is a fearful step +in a woman, and one she is compelled, in some measure, to adventure her +happiness on, without fitting opportunities of judging of the merit of +the man she confides in. Jane is an instance in point, but I devoutly +hope you are not to be another." + +While speaking, Mrs. Wilson had taken the hand of Emily, and by her +looks and solemn manner she had succeeded in alarming her niece, +although Denbigh was yet furthest from the thoughts of Emily. The aunt +reached her a glass of water, and willing to get rid of the hateful +subject she continued, hurriedly, "Did you not notice the pocket-book +Francis gave to Mr. Denbigh?" Emily fixed her inquiring eyes on her +aunt, as the other added, "It was the one Mrs. Fitzgerald gave me to- +day." Something like an indefinite glimpse of the facts crossed the mind +of Emily; and as it most obviously involved a separation from Denbigh, +she sank lifeless into the extended arms of her aunt. This had been +anticipated by Mrs. Wilson, and a timely application of restoratives +soon brought her back to a consciousness of misery. Mrs. Wilson, +unwilling any one but herself should witness this first burst of grief, +succeeded in getting her niece to her own room and in bed. Emily made no +lamentations--shed no tears--asked no questions--her eye was fixed, and +every faculty appeared oppressed with the load on her heart. Mrs. Wilson +knew her situation too well to intrude with unseasonable consolation or +useless reflections, but sat patiently by her side, waiting anxiously +for the moment she could be of service. At length the uplifted eyes and +clasped hands of Emily assured her she had not forgotten herself or her +duty, and she was rewarded for her labor and forbearance by a flood of +tears. Emily was now able to listen to a more full statement of the +reasons her aunt had for believing in the guilt of Denbigh, and she felt +as if her heart was frozen up for ever, as the proofs followed each +other until they amounted to demonstration. As there was some indication +of fever from her agitated state of mind, her aunt required she should +remain in her room until morning; and Emily, feeling every way unequal +to a meeting with Denbigh, gladly assented. After ringing for her maid +to sit in the adjoining room, Mrs. Wilson went below, and announced to +the family the indisposition of her charge, and her desire to obtain a +little sleep. Denbigh looked anxious to inquire after the health of +Emily, but there was a restraint on all his actions, since the return of +his book, that persuaded Mrs. Wilson he apprehended that a detection of +his conduct had taken place. He did venture to ask when they were to +have the pleasure of seeing Miss Moseley again, hoping it would be that +evening, as he had fixed the morning for his departure; and when he +learnt that Emily had retired for the night, his anxiety was sensibly +increased, and he instantly withdrew. Mrs. Wilson was alone in the +drawing-room, and about to join her niece, as, Denbigh entered it with a +letter in his hand: he approached her with a diffident and constrained +manner, and commenced the following dialogue: + +"My anxiety and situation will plead my apology for troubling Miss +Moseley at this time--may I ask you, madam, to deliver this letter--I +hardly dare ask you for your good offices." + +Mrs. Wilson took the letter, and coldly replied, + +"Certainly, sir; and I sincerely wish I could be of any real service to +you." + +"I perceive, madam," said Denbigh, like one that was choking, "I have +forfeited your good opinion--that pocket book--" + +"Has made a dreadful discovery," said Mrs. Wilson, shuddering. + +"Will not one offence be pardoned, dear madam?" cried Denbigh, with +warmth; "if you knew my circumstances--the cruel reasons--why--why did I +neglect the paternal advice of Doctor Ives?" + +"It is not yet too late, sir," said Mrs. Wilson, more mildly, "for your +own good; as for us, your deception--" + +"Is unpardonable--I see it--I feel it," cried he, in the accent of +despair; "yet Emily--Emily may relent--you will at least give her my +letter--anything is better than this suspense." + +"You shall have an answer from Emily this evening, and one entirely +unbiassed by me," said Mrs. Wilson. As she closed the door, she observed +Denbigh gazing on her retiring figure with a countenance of despair, +that caused a feeling of pity to mingle with her detestation of his +vices. + +On opening the door of Emily's room, Mrs. Wilson found her niece in +tears, and her anxiety for her health was alleviated. She knew or hoped, +that if she could once call in the assistance of her judgment and piety +to lessen her sorrows, Emily, however she might mourn, would become +resigned to her situation; and the first step to attain this was the +exercise of those faculties which had been, as it were, momentarily +annihilated. Mrs. Wilson kissed her niece with tenderness, as she placed +the letter in her hand, and told her she would call for her answer +within an hour. Employment, and the necessity of acting, would, she +thought, be the surest means of reviving her energies; nor was she +disappointed. When the aunt returned for the expected answer, she was +informed by the maid in the ante-chamber, that Miss Moseley was up, and +had been writing. On entering, Mrs. Wilson stood a moment in admiration +of the picture before her. Emily was on her knees, and by her side, on +the carpet, lay the letter and its answer: her face was hid by her hair, +and her hands were closed in the fervent grasp of petition. In a minute +she rose, and approaching her aunt with an air of profound resignation, +but great steadiness, she handed her the letters, her own unsealed: + +"Read them, madam, and if you approve of mine, I will thank you to +deliver it." + +Her aunt folded her in her arms, until Emily, finding herself yielding +under the effects of sympathy, begged to be left alone. On withdrawing +to her own room, Mrs. Wilson read the contents of the two letters. + +"I rely greatly on the goodness of Miss Moseley to pardon the liberty I +am taking, at a moment she is so unfit for such a subject; but my +departure--my feelings--- must plead my apology. From the moment of my +first acquaintance with you, I have been a cheerful subject to your +loveliness and innocence. I feel--I know--I am not deserving of such a +blessing; but since knowing you, as I do, it is impossible not to strive +to win you. You have often thanked me as the preserver of your life, but +you little knew the deep interest I had in its safety. Without it my own +would be valueless. By accepting my offered hand, you will place me +amongst the happiest, or by rejecting it, the most wretched of men." + +To this note, which was unsigned, and evidently written under great +agitation of mind, Emily had-penned the following reply: + +"Sir--It is with much regret that I find myself reduced to the +possibility of giving uneasiness to one to whom I am under such heavy +obligations. It will never be in my power to accept the honor you have +offered me; and I beg you to receive my thanks for the compliment +conveyed in your request, as well as my good wishes for your happiness +in future, and fervent prayers that you may be ever found worthy of it-- +Your humble servant, + +"EMILY MOSELEY." + +Perfectly satisfied with this answer, Mrs. Wilson went below in order to +deliver it at once. She thought it probable, as Denbigh had already sent +his baggage to a tavern, preparatory to his intended journey, they would +not meet again; and as she felt a strong wish, both on account of Doctor +Ives, and out of respect to the services of the young man himself, to +conceal his conduct from the world entirely, she was in hopes that his +absence might make any disclosure unnecessary. He took the letter from +her with a trembling hand, and casting one of his very expressive looks +at her, as if to read her thoughts, he withdrew. + +Emily had fallen asleep free from fever, and Mrs. Wilson had descended +to the supper-room, when Mr. Benfield was first struck with the absence +of his favorite. An inquiry after Denbigh was instituted, and while they +were waiting his appearance, a servant handed the old man a note. + +"From whom?" cried Mr. Benfield, in surprise. + +"Mr. Denbigh, sir," said the servant. + +"Mr. Denbigh?" exclaimed Mr. Benfield: "no accident, I hope--I remember +when Lord Gosford--here, Peter, your eyes are young; read it for me, +read it aloud." + +As all but Mrs. Wilson were anxiously waiting to know the meaning of +this message, and Peter had many preparations to go through before his +youthful eyes could make out the contents, John hastily caught the +letter out of his hand, saying he would save him the trouble, and, in +obedience to his uncle's wishes, he read aloud: + +"Mr. Denbigh, being under the necessity of leaving L---- immediately, +and unable to endure the pain of taking leave, avails himself of this +means of tendering his warmest thanks to Mr. Benfield, for his +hospitality, and to his amiable guests for their many kindnesses. As he +contemplates leaving England, he desires to wish them all a long and an +affectionate farewell." + +"Farewell!" cried Mr. Benfield; "farewell--does he say farewell, John? +Here, Peter, run--no, you are too old--John, run--bring my hat; I'll go +myself to the village--some love-quarrel--Emmy sick--and Denbigh going +away--yes--yes, I did so myself--Lady Juliana, poor dear soul, she was a +long time before she could forget it--but Peter"--Peter had disappeared +the instant the letter was finished, and he was quickly followed by +John. Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were lost in amazement at this sudden +and unexpected movement of Denbigh, and the breast of each of the +affectionate parents was filled with a vague apprehension that the peace +of mind of another child was at stake. Jane felt a renewal of her woes, +in the anticipation of something similar for her sister--for the fancy +of Jane was yet active, and she did not cease to consider the defection +of Egerton a kind of unmerited misfortune and fatality, instead of a +probable consequence of want of principle. Like Mr. Benfield, she was in +danger of raising an ideal idol, and of spending the remainder of her +days in devotion to qualities, rarely if ever found identified with a +person that never had existed. The old gentleman was entirely engrossed +by a different object; and having in his own opinion decided there must +have been one of those misunderstandings which sometimes had occurred to +himself and Lady Juliana, he quietly composed himself to eat his salad +at the supper table: on turning his head, however, in quest of his first +glass of wine, he observed Peter standing quietly by the sideboard with +the favorite goggles over his eyes. Now Peter was troubled with two +kinds of debility about his organs of vision; one was age and natural +weakness, while the other proceeded more directly from the heart. His +master knew of these facts, and he took the alarm. Again the wine-glass +dropped from his nerveless hand, as he said in a trembling tone, + +"Peter, I thought you went"-- + +"Yes, master," said Peter, laconically. + +"You saw him, Peter--will he return?" + +Peter was busily occupied at his glasses, although no one was dry. + +"Peter," repeated Mr. Benfield, rising from his seat; "is he coming in +time for supper?" Peter was obliged to reply, and deliberately uncasing +his eyes and blowing his nose, he was on the point of opening his mouth, +as John came into the room, and threw himself into a chair with an air +of great vexation. Peter pointed to the young gentleman in silence, and +retired. + +"John," cried Sir Edward, "where is Denbigh?" + +"Gone, sir." + +"Gone!" + +"Yes, my dear father," said John, "gone without saying good-bye to one +of us--without telling us whither, or when to return. It was cruel in +him--- unkind--I'll never forgive him"--and John, whose feelings were +strong, and unusually excited, hid his face between his hands on the +table.--As he raised his head to reply to a question of Mr. Benfield--of +"how he knew he had gone, for the coach did not go until daylight?" Mrs. +Wilson saw evident marks of tears. Such proofs of emotion in one like +John Moseley gave her the satisfaction of knowing that if she had been +deceived, it was by a concurrence of circumstances and a depth of +hypocrisy almost exceeding belief: self-reproach added less than common, +therefore, to the uneasiness of the moment. + +"I saw the innkeeper, uncle," said John, "who told me that Denbigh left +there at eight o'clock in a post-chaise and four; but I will go to +London in the morning myself." This was no sooner said than it was +corroborated by acts, for the young man immediately commenced his +preparations for the journey. The family separated that evening with +melancholy hearts; and the host and his privy counsellor were closeted +for half an hour ere they retired to their night's repose. John took his +leave of them, and left the lodge for the inn, with his man, in order to +be ready for the mail. Mrs. Wilson looked in upon Emily before she +withdrew herself, and found her awake, but perfectly calm and composed: +she said but little, appearing desirous of avoiding all allusions to +Denbigh; and after her aunt had simply acquainted her with his +departure, and her resolution to conceal the cause, the subject was +dropped. Mrs. Wilson, on entering her own room, thought deeply on the +discoveries of the day: they had interfered with her favorite system of +morals, baffled her ablest calculations upon causes and effects, but in +no degree had impaired her faith or reliance on Providence. She knew one +exception did not destroy a rule: she was certain without principles +there was no security for good conduct, and the case of Denbigh proved +it. To discover these principles, might be difficult; but was a task +imperiously required at her hands, as she believed, ere she yielded the +present and future happiness of her pupil to the power of any man. + + + + +Chapter XXIX. + +The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his +seat in the mail for London. Three of the places were already occupied, +and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside. An +intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and +none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence. The coach +had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the +rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in +the least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a +fellow creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant. +This reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is +it owing!--modesty? Did not national and deep personal vanity appear at +once to refute the assertion, we might enter into an investigation of +it. The good opinion of himself in an Englishman is more deeply seated, +though less buoyant, than that of his neighbors; in them it is more of +manner, in us more of feeling; and the wound inflicted on the self-love +of the two is very different. The Frenchman wonders at its rudeness, but +soon forgets the charge; while an Englishmam broods over it in silence +and mortification. It is said this distinction in character is owing to +the different estimation of principles and morals in the two nations. +The solidity and purity of our ethics and religious creeds may have +given a superior tone to our moral feeling; but has that man a tenable +ground to value himself on either, whose respect to sacred things grows +out of a respect to himself: on the other hand, is not humility the very +foundation of the real Christian? For our part, we should be glad to see +this national reserve lessened, if not done entirely away; we believe it +is founded in pride and uncharitableness, and could wish to see men +thrown accidentally together on the roads of the country, mindful that +they are also travelling in company the highway of life, and that the +goal of their destination is equally attainable by all. + +John Moseley was occupied with thoughts very different from those of any +of his fellow-travellers, as they proceeded rapidly on their route; and +it was only when roused from his meditations by accidentally coming in +contact with the hilt of a sword, that he looked up, and in the +glimmerings of the morning's light, recognised the person of Lord Henry +Stapleton: their eyes met, and--"My lord,"--"Mr. Moseley,"--were +repeated in mutual surprise. John was eminently a social being, and he +was happy to find recourse against his gloomy thoughts in the +conversation of the dashing young sailor. The frigate of the other had +entered the bay the night before, and he was going to town to the +wedding of his sister; the coach of his brother the marquis was to meet +him about twenty miles from town, and the ship was ordered round to +Yarmouth, where he was to rejoin her. + +"But how are your lovely sisters, Moseley?" cried the young sailor in a +frank and careless manner. "I should have been half in love with one of +them if I had time--and money; both are necessary to marriage nowadays, +you know." + +"As to time," said John with a laugh, "I believe that may be dispensed +with, though money is certainly a different thing." + +"Oh, time too," replied his lordship. "I have never time enough to do +anything as it ought to be done--always hurried--I wish you could +recommend to me a lady who would take the trouble off my hands." + +"It might be done," said John with a smile, and the image of Kate +Chatterton crossed his brain, but it was soon succeeded by that of her +more lovely sister. "But how do you manage on board your ship--hurried +there too?" + +"Oh! never there," replied the captain gravely; "that's duty you know, +and everything must be regular of course; on shore it is a different +thing--there I am only a passenger. L---- has a charming society, Mr. +Moseley--a week or ten days ago I was shooting, and came to a beautiful +cottage about five miles from the village, that was the abode of a much +more beautiful woman, a Spaniard, a Mrs. Fitzgerald--I am positively in +love with her: so soft, so polished, so modest----" + +"How came you acquainted with her?" inquired Moseley, interrupting him +in a little surprise. + +"Chance, my dear fellow, chance. I was thirsty, and approached for a +drink of water; she was sitting in the veranda, and being hurried for +time, you know, it saved the trouble of introduction. I fancy she is +troubled with the same complaint; for she managed to get rid of me in no +time, and with a great deal of politeness. I found out her name, +however, at the next house." + +During this rattling talk, John had fixed his eyes on the face of one of +the passengers who sat opposite to him. The stranger appeared to be +about fifty years of age, strongly pock-marked, with a stiff military +air, and had the dress and exterior of a gentlemen. His face was much +sun-burnt, though naturally very fair; and his dark keen eye was +intently fixed on the sailor as he continued his remarks. + +"Do you know such a lady, Moseley?" + +"Yes," said John, "though very slightly; she is visited by one of my +sisters, and--" + +"Yourself," cried Lord Henry, with a laugh. + +"Myself, once or twice, my lord, certainly," answered John, gravely; +"but a lady visited by Emily Moseley and Mrs. Wilson is a proper +companion for any one. Mrs. Fitzgerald is very retired in her manner of +living, and chance made us acquainted; but not being, like your +lordship, in want of time, we have endeavored to cultivate her society, +as we have found it very agreeable." + +The countenance of the stranger underwent several changes during this +speech of John's, and at its close his eyes rested on him with a softer +expression than generally marked its rigid and compressed muscles. +Willing to change a discourse that was growing too particular for a +mail-coach, John addressed himself to the opposite passengers, while his +eye yet dwelt on the face of the military stranger. + +"We are likely to have a fine day, gentlemen." The soldier bowed +stiffly, as he smiled his assent, and the other passenger humbly +answered, "Very, Mr. John," in the well known tones of honest Peter +Johnson. Moseley started, as he turned his face for the first time on +the lank figure which was modestly compressed into the smallest possible +compass in the corner of the coach, in a way not to come in contact with +any of its neighbors. + +"Johnson," exclaimed John, in astonishment, "you here! Where are you +going--to London?" + +"To London, Mr. John," replied Peter, with a look of much importance; +and then, by way of silencing further interrogatories, he added, "On my +master's business, sir." + +Both Moseley and Lord Henry examined him closely; the former wondering +what could take the steward, at the age of seventy, for the first time +in his life, into the vortex of the capital; and the latter in +admiration at this figure and equipments of the old man. Peter was in +full costume, with the exception of the goggles, and was in reality a +subject to be gazed at; but nothing relaxed the muscles or attracted the +particular notice of the soldier, who, having regained his set form of +countenance, appeared drawn up in himself, waiting patiently for the +moment he was expected to act. Nor did he utter more than as many words +in the course of the first fifty miles of their journey. His dialect was +singular, and such as put his hearers at a loss to determine his +country. Lord Henry stared at him every time he spoke, as if to say, +what countryman are you? until at length he suggested to John he was +some officer whom the downfall of Bonaparte had driven into retirement. + +"Indeed, Moseley," he added, as they were about to resume their carriage +after a change of horses, "we must draw him out, and see what he thinks +of his master now--delicately, you know." The soldier was, however, +impervious to his lordship's attacks, until the project was finally +abandoned in despair. As Peter was much too modest to talk in the +presence of Mr. John Moseley and a lord, the young men had most of the +discourse to themselves. At a village fifteen miles from London, a +fashionable carriage and four, with the coronet of a marquis was in +waiting for Lord Henry. John refused his invitation to take a seat with +him to town; for he had traced Denbigh from stage to stage, and was +fearful of losing sight of him, unless he persevered in the manner he +had commenced. Peter and he accordingly were put down safely at an inn +in the Strand, and Moseley hastened to make his inquiries after the +object of his pursuit. Such a chaise had arrived an hour before, and the +gentleman had ordered his trunk to a neighboring hotel. After obtaining +the address, and ordering a hackney coach, he hastened to the house; but +on inquiring for Mr. Denbigh, to his great mortification was told they +knew of no such gentleman. John turned away from the person he was +speaking to in visible disappointment, when a servant respectfully +inquired if the gentleman had not come from L----, in Norfolk, that day. +"He had," was the reply. "Then follow me, sir, if you please." They +knocked at a door of one of the parlors, and the servant entered: he +returned, and John was shown into a room, where Denbigh was sitting with +his head resting on his hand, and apparently musing. On seeing who +required admittance, he sprang from his seat and exclaimed-- + +"Mr. Moseley! Do I see aright?" + +"Denbigh," cried John, stretching out his hand to him, "was this kind-- +was it like yourself--to leave us so unexpectedly, and for so long a +time, too, as your note mentioned?" + +Denbigh waved his hand to the servant to retire, and handed a chair to +his friend. + +"Mr. Moseley," said he, struggling with his feelings, "you appear +ignorant of my proposals to your sister." + +"Perfectly," answered the amazed John. + +"And her rejection of them." + +"Is it possible!" cried the brother, pacing up and down the room. "I +acknowledge I did expect you to offer, but not to be refused." + +Denbigh placed in the other hand the letter of Emily, which, having +read, John returned, with a sigh. "This, then, is the reason you left +us," he continued. "Emily is not capricious--it cannot be a sudden +pique--she means as she says." + +"Yes, Mr. Moseley," said Denbigh, mournfully; "your sister is faultless- +-but I am not worthy of her--my deception"--here the door again opened +to the admission of Peter Johnson. Both the gentlemen rose at this +sudden interruption, and the steward advancing to the table, once more +produced the formidable pocket-book, the spectacles, and a letter. He +ran over its direction--"For George Denbigh, Esquire, London, by the +hands of Peter Johnson, with care and speed." After the observance of +these preliminaries, he delivered the missive to its lawful owner, who +opened it, and rapidly perused its contents. Denbigh was much affected +with whatever the latter might be, and kindly took the steward by the +hand, as he thanked him for this renewed instance of the interest he +took in him. If he would tell him where a letter would find him in the +morning, he would send a reply to the one he had received. Peter gave +his address, but appeared unwilling to go, until assured again and again +that the answer would be infallibly sent. Taking a small account-book +out of his pocket, and referring to its contents, the steward said, +"Master has with Coutts & Co. £7,000; in the bank, £5,000. It can be +easily done, sir, and never felt by us." Denbigh smiled in reply, as he +assured the steward he would take proper notice of his master's offers +in his own answer. The door again opened, and the military stranger was +admitted to their presence. He bowed, appeared not a little surprised to +find two of his mail-coach companions there, and handed Denbigh a +letter, in quite as formal, although in a more silent manner than the +steward. The soldier was invited to be seated, and the letter was +perused with an evident curiosity on the part of Denbigh. As soon as the +latter ended it, he addressed the stranger in a language which John +rightly judged to be Spanish, and Peter took to be Greek. For a few +minutes the conversation was maintained between them with great +earnestness, his fellow travellers marvelling much at the garrulity of +the soldier however, the stranger soon rose to retire, when the door +thrown open for the fourth time, and a voice cried out, + +"Here I am, George, safe and sound--ready to kiss the bridesmaids, if +they will let me--and I can find time--- bless me, Moseley!--old +marling-spike!--general!--whew, where is the coachman and guard?"--it +was Lord Henry Stapleton. The Spaniard bowed again in silence and +withdrew, while Denbigh threw open the door of an adjoining room and +excused himself, as he desired Lord Henry to walk in there for a few +minutes. + +"Upon my word," cried the heedless sailor, as he complied, "we might as +well have stuck together, Moseley; we were bound to one port, it seems." + +"You know Lord Henry?" said John, as he withdrew. + +"Yes," said Denbigh, and he again required his address of Peter, which +having been given, the steward departed. The conversation between the +two friends did not return to the course it was taking when they were +interrupted, as Moseley felt a delicacy in making any allusion to the +probable cause of his sister's refusal. He had, however, begun to hope +it was not irremovable, and with the determination of renewing his visit +in the morning, he took his leave, to allow Denbigh to attend to his +other guest, Lord Henry Stapleton. + +About twelve on the following morning, John and the steward met at the +door of the hotel where Denbigh lodged, in quest of the same person. The +latter held in his hand the answer to his master's letter, but wished +particularly to see its writer. On inquiring, to their mutual surprise +they were told, that the gentleman had left there early in the morning, +having discharged his lodgings, and that they were unable to say whither +he had gone. To hunt for a man without a clew, in the city of London, is +usually time misspent. Of this Moseley was perfectly sensible, and +disregarding a proposition of Peter's, he returned to his own lodgings. +The proposal of the steward, if it did not do much credit to his +sagacity, was much in favor of his perseverance and enterprise. It was +no other than that John should take one side of the street, and he the +other, in order to inquire at every house in the place, until the +fugitive was discovered. "Sir," said Peter, with great simplicity, "when +our neighbor White lost his little girl, this was the way we found her, +although we went nearly through L---- before we succeeded, Mr. John." +Peter was obliged to abandon this expedient for want of an associate, +and as no message was left at the lodgings of Moseley, he started with a +heavy heart on his return to Benfield Lodge. But Moseley's zeal was too +warm in the cause of his friend, notwithstanding his unmerited +desertion, to discontinue the search for him. He sought out the town +residence of the Marquess of Eltringham, the brother of Lord Henry, and +was told that both the Marquess and his brother had left town early that +morning for his seat in Devonshire, to attend the wedding of their +sister. + +"Did they go alone?" asked John musing. + +"There were two chaises, the Marquess's and his Grace's" + +"Who was his Grace?" inquired John. + +"Why the Duke of Derwent, to be sure." + +"And the Duke?--was he alone?" + +"There was a gentleman with his Grace, but they did not know his name." + +As nothing further could be learnt, John withdrew. A good deal of +irritation mixed with the vexation of Moseley at his disappointment; for +Denbigh, he thought, too evidently wished to avoid him. That he was the +companion of his kinsman, the Duke of Derwent, he had now no doubt, and +he entirely relinquished all expectations of finding him in London or +its environs. While retracing his steps in no enviable state of mind to +his lodgings, with a resolution of returning immediately to L----, his +arm was suddenly taken by his friend Chatterton. If any man could have +consoled John at that moment, it was the Baron. Questions and answers +were rapidly exchanged between them; and with increased satisfaction, +John learnt that in the next square, he could have the pleasure of +paying his respects to his kinswoman, the Dowager Lady Chatterton, and +her two daughters. Chatterton inquired warmly after Emily, and in a +particularly kind manner concerning Mr. Denbigh, hearing with +undisguised astonishment the absence of the latter from the Moseley +family. + +Lady Chatterton had disciplined her feelings upon the subject of Grace +and John into such a state of subordination, that the fastidious +jealousy of the young man now found no ground of alarm in anything she +said or did. It cannot be denied the Dowager was delighted to see him +again; and if it were fair to draw any conclusions from coloring, +palpitations, and other such little accompaniments of female feeling, +Grace was not excessively sorry. It is true, it was the best possible +opportunity to ascertain all about her friend Emily and the rest of the +family; and Grace was extremely happy to have intelligence of their +general welfare so direct as was afforded by this visit of Mr. Moseley. +Grace looked all she expressed, and possibly a little more; and John +thought he looked very beautiful. + +There was present an elderly gentleman, of apparently indifferent +health, although his manners were extremely lively, and his dress +particularly studied. A few minutes observation convinced Moseley this +gentleman was a candidate for the favor of Kate; and a game of chess +being soon introduced, he also saw he was one thought worthy of peculiar +care and attention. He had been introduced to him as Lord Herriefield, +and soon discovered by his conversation that he was a peer who promised +little towards rendering the house of incurables more convalescent than +it was before his admission. Chatterton mentioned him as a distant +connexion of his mother; a gentleman who had lately returned from +filling an official situation in the East Indies, to take his seat among +the lords by the death of his brother. He was a bachelor, and reputed +rich, much of his wealth being personal property, acquired by himself +abroad. The dutiful son might have added, if respect and feeling had not +kept him silent, that his offers of settling a large jointure upon his +elder sister had been accepted, and that the following week was to make +her the bride of the emaciated debauchee who now sat by her side. He +might also have said, that when the proposition was made to himself and +Grace, both had shrunk from the alliance with disgust: and that both had +united in humble though vain remonstrances to their mother, against the +sacrifice, and in petitions to their sister, that she would not be +accessary to her own misery. There was no pecuniary sacrifice they would +not make to her, to avert such a connexion; but all was fruitless--Kate +was resolved to be a viscountess, and her mother was equally determined +that she should be rich. + + + +Chapter XXX. + +A day elapsed between the departure of Denbigh and the reappearance of +Emily amongst her friends. An indifferent observer would have thought +her much graver and less animated than usual. A loss of the rich color +which ordinarily glowed on her healthful cheek might be noticed; but the +placid sweetness and graceful composure which regulated her former +conduct pervaded all she did or uttered. Not so with Jane: her pride had +suffered more than her feelings--her imagination had been more deceived +than her judgment--and although too well bred and soft by nature to +become rude or captious, she was changed from a communicative, to a +reserved; from a confiding, to a suspicious companion. Her parents +noticed this alteration with an uneasiness that was somewhat embittered +by the consciousness of a neglect of some of those duties that +experience now seemed to indicate, could never be forgotten with +impunity. + +Francis and Clara had arrived from their northern tour, so happy in each +other, and so contented with their lot, that it required some little +exercise of fortitude in both Lady Moseley and her daughters, to expel +unpleasant recollections while they contemplated it. Their relation of +the little incidents of their tour had, however, an effect to withdraw +the attention of their friends in some degree from late occurrences; and +a melancholy and sympathizing kind of association had taken place of the +unbounded confidence and gaiety; which so lately prevailed at Benfield +Lodge. Mr. Benfield mingled with his solemnity an air of mystery; and he +was frequently noticed by his relatives looking over old papers, and was +apparently employed in preparations that indicated movements of more +than usual importance. + +The family were collected in one of the parlors on an extremely +unpleasant day, the fourth after the departure of John, when the thin +person of Johnson stalked in amongst them. All eyes were fixed on him in +expectation of what he had to communicate, and all apparently dreading +to break the silence, from an apprehension that his communication would +be unpleasant. In the meantime Peter, who had respectfully left his hat +at the door, proceeded to uncase his body from the multiplied defences +he had taken against the inclemency of the weather. His master stood +erect, with an outstretched hand, ready to receive the reply to his +epistle; and Johnson having liberated his body from thraldom, produced +the black leathern pocket-book, and from its contents a letter, when he +read aloud--Roderic Benfield, Esq., Benfield Lodge, Norfolk; favored by +Mr.--here Peter's modesty got the better of his method; he had never +been called Mr. Johnson by anybody, old or young; all knew him in that +neighborhood as Peter Johnson--and he had very nearly been guilty of the +temerity of arrogating to himself another title in the presence of those +he most respected: a degree of self-elevation from which he escaped with +the loss of a small piece of his tongue. Mr. Benfield took the letter +with an eagerness that plainly indicated the deep interest he took in +its contents, while Emily, with a tremulous voice and flushed cheek, +approached the steward with a glass of wine. + +"Peter," she said, "take this; it will do you good." + +"Thank you, Miss Emma," said Peter, casting his eyes from her to his +master, as the latter, having finished his letter, exclaimed, with a +strange mixture of consideration and disappointment-- + +"Johnson, you must change your clothes immediately, or you will take +cold: you look now like old Moses, the Jew beggar." + +Peter sighed heavily at this comparison, and saw in it a confirmation of +his fears; for he well knew, that to his being the bearer of unpleasant +tidings was he indebted for a resemblance to anything unpleasant to his +master, and Moses was the old gentleman's aversion. + +The baronet now followed his uncle from the room to his library, +entering it at the same moment with the steward, who had been summoned +by his master to an audience. + +Pointing to a chair for his nephew, Mr. Benfield commenced the discourse +with saying, + +"Peter, you saw Mr. Denbigh; how did he look?" + +"As usual, master," said Peter, laconically, still piqued at being +likened to old Moses. + +"And what did he say to the offer? did he not make any comments on it? +He was not offended at it, I hope," demanded Mr. Benfield. + +"He said nothing but what he has written to your honor," replied the +steward, losing a little of his constrained manner in real good feeling +to his master. + +"May I ask what the offer was?" inquired Sir Edward. + +Mr. Benfield regarding him a moment in silence, said, "Certainly, you +are nearly concerned in his welfare; your daughter"--the old man +stopped, turned to his letter-book, and handed the baronet a copy of the +epistle he had sent to Denbigh. It read as follows: + +DEAR FRIEND MR. DENBIGH, + +"I have thought a great deal on the reason of your sudden departure from +a house I had begun to hope you thought your own; and by calling to mind +my own feelings when Lady Juliana became the heiress to her nephew's +estate, take it for granted you have been governed by the same +sentiments; which I know both by my own experience and that of the +bearer, Peter Johnson, is a never-failing accompaniment of pure +affection. Yes, my dear Denbigh, I honor your delicacy in not wishing to +become indebted to a stranger, as it were, for the money on which you +subsist, and that stranger your wife--who ought in reason to look up to +you, instead of your looking up to her; which was the true cause Lord +Gosford would not marry the countess--on account of her great wealth, as +he assured me himself; notwithstanding, envious people said it was +because her ladyship loved Mr Chaworth better: so in order to remove +these impediments of delicacy, I have to make three propositions, +namely, that I bring you into parliament the next election for my own +borough--that you take possession of the lodge the day you marry Emmy, +while I will live, for the little time I have to stay here, in the large +cottage built by my uncle--and that I give you your legacy of ten +thousand pounds down, to prevent trouble hereafter. + +"As I know nothing but delicacy has driven you away from us, I make no +doubt you will now find all objections removed, and that Peter will +bring back the joyful intelligence of your return to us, as soon as the +business you left us on, is completed. + +"Your uncle, that is to be, + +"RODERIC BENFIELD." + +"N.B. As Johnson is a stranger to the ways of the town, I wish you to +advise his inexperience, particularly against the arts of designing +women, Peter being a man of considerable estate, and great modesty." + +"There, nephew," cried Mr. Benfield, as the baronet finished reading the +letter aloud, "is it not unreasonable to refuse my offers? Now read his +answer." + +"Words are wanting to express the sensations which have been excited by +Mr. Benfield's letter; but it would be impossible for any man to be so +base as to avail himself of such liberality: the recollection of it, +together with that of his many virtues, will long continue deeply +impressed on the heart of him, whom Mr. Benfield would, if within the +power of man, render the happiest amongst human beings." + +The steward listened eagerly to this answer, but after it was done he +was as much at a loss to know its contents as before its perusal. He +knew it was unfavorable to their wishes, but could not comprehend its +meaning or expressions, and immediately attributed their ambiguity to +the strange conference he had witnessed between Denbigh and the military +stranger. + +"Master," exclaimed Peter, with something of the elation of a +discoverer, "I know the cause, it shows itself in the letter: there was +a man talking Greek to him while he was reading your letter." + +"Greek!" exclaimed Sir Edward in astonishment. + +"Greek!" said the uncle. "Lord Gosford read Greek; but I believe never +conversed in that language." + +"Yes, Sir Edward--yes, your honor--pure wild Greek; it must have been +something of that kind," added Peter, with positiveness, "that would +make a man refuse such offers--Miss Emmy--the lodge--£10,000!"--and the +steward shook his head with much satisfaction at having discovered the +cause. + +Sir Edward smiled at the simplicity of Johnson, but disliking the idea +attached to the refusal of his daughter, said, "Perhaps, after all, +uncle, there has been some misunderstanding between Emily and Denbigh, +which may have driven him from us so suddenly." + +Mr. Benfield and his steward exchanged looks, and a new idea broke upon +them at the instant. They had both suffered in that way; and after all +it might prove that Emily was the one whose taste or feelings had +subverted their schemes. The impression, once made, soon became strong, +and the party separated; the master thinking alternately on Lady Juliana +and his niece, while the man, after heaving one heavy sigh to the memory +of Patty Steele, proceeded to the usual occupations of his office. + +Mrs. Wilson thinking a ride would be of service to Emily, and having the +fullest confidence in her self-command and resignation, availed herself +of a fine day to pay a visit to their friend in the cottage. Mrs. +Fitzgerald received them in her usual manner, but a single glance of her +eye sufficed to show the aunt that she noticed the altered appearance of +Emily and her manners, although without knowing its true reason, which +she did not deem it prudent to explain. Julia handed her friend a note +which she said she had received the day before, and desired their +counsel how to proceed in the present emergency. As Emily was to be made +acquainted with its contents, her aunt read it aloud as follows: + +"MY DEAR NIECE, + +"Your father and myself had been induced to think you were leading a +disgraceful life, with the officer your husband had consigned you to the +care of; for hearing of your captivity, I had arrived with a band of +Guerillas, on the spot where you were rescued, early the next morning, +and there learnt of the peasants your misfortunes and retreat. The enemy +pressed us too much to allow us to deviate from our route at the time; +but natural affection and the wishes of your father have led me to make +a journey to England, in order to satisfy our doubts as regards your +conduct. I have seen you, heard your character in the neighborhood, and +after much and long search have found out the officer, and am satisfied, +that so far as concerns your deportment, you are an injured woman. I +have therefore to propose to you, on my own behalf, and that of the +Conde, that you adopt the faith of your country, and return with me to +the arms of your parent, whose heiress you will be, and whose life you +may be the means of prolonging. Direct your answer to me, to the care of +our ambassador; and as you decide, I am your mother's brother, LOUIS +M'CARTHY Y HARRISON." + +"On what point do you wish my advice?" said Mrs. Wilson, kindly, after +she had finished reading the letter, "and when do you expect to see your +uncle?" + +"Would you have me accept the offer of my father, dear madam, or am I to +remain separated from him for the short residue of his life?" + +Mrs. Fitzgerald was affected to tears, as she asked this question, and +waited her answer, in silent dread of its nature. + +"Is the condition of a change of religion, an immovable one?" inquired +Mrs. Wilson, in a thoughtful manner. + +"Oh! doubtless," replied Julia, shuddering; "but I am deservedly +punished for my early disobedience, and bow in submission to the will of +Providence. I feel now all that horror of a change of my religion, I +once only affected; I must live and die a Protestant, madam." + +"Certainly, I hope so, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "I am not a bigot, +and think it unfortunate you were not, in your circumstances, bred a +pious Catholic. It would have saved you much misery, and might have +rendered the close of your father's life more happy; but as your present +creed embraces doctrines too much at variance with the Romish church to +renounce the one or to adopt the other, with your views, it will be +impossible to change your church without committing a heavy offence +against the opinions and practices of every denomination of Christians. +I should hope a proper representation of this to your uncle would have +its weight, or they might be satisfied with your being a Christian, +without becoming a Catholic." + +"Ah! my dear madam," answered Mrs. Fitzgerald, despairingly, "you little +know the opinions of my countrymen on this subject." + +"Surely, surely," cried Mrs. Wilson, "parental affection is a stronger +feeling than bigotry." + +Mrs. Fitzgerald shook her head in a manner which bespoke both her +apprehensions and her filial regard. + +"Julia ought not, must not, desert her father, dear aunt," said Emily, +her face glowing with the ardency of her feelings. + +"And ought she to desert her heavenly Father, my child?" asked the aunt, +mildly. + +"Are the duties conflicting, dearest aunt?" + +"The Conde makes them so. Julia is, I trust, in sincerity a Christian, +and with what face can she offer up her daily petitions to her Creator, +while she wears a mask to her earthly father; or how can she profess to +honor doctrines that she herself believes to be false, or practise +customs she thinks improper?" + +"Never, never," exclaimed Julia, with fervor; "the struggle is dreadful, +but I submit to the greater duty." + +"And you decide rightly, my friend," said Mrs. Wilson, soothingly; "but +you need relax no efforts to convince the Conde of your wishes: truth +and nature will finally conquer." + +"Ah!" cried Mrs. Fitzgerald, "the sad consequences of one false step in +early life!" + +"Rather," added Mrs. Wilson, "the sad consequences of one false step in +generations gone by. Had your grandmother listened to the voice of +prudence and duty, she never would have deserted her parents for a +comparative stranger, and entailed upon her descendants a train of evils +which yet exist in your person." + +"It will be a sad blow to my poor uncle too," said Mrs. Fitzgerald, "he +who once loved me so much." + +"When do you expect to see him?" inquired Emily. + +Julia informed them she expected him hourly; as, fearful a written +statement of her views would drive him from the country without paying +her a visit before he departed, she had earnestly entreated him to see +her without delay. + +On taking their leave, the ladies promised to obey her summons whenever +called to meet the general, as Mrs. Wilson thought she might be better +able to give advice to a friend, by knowing more of the character of her +relatives, than she could do with her present information, + +One day intervened, and it was spent in the united society of Lady +Moseley and her daughters, while Sir Edward and Francis rode to a +neighboring town on business; and on the succeeding, Mrs. Fitzgerald +apprised them of the arrival of General M'Carthy. Immediately after +breakfast, Mrs. Wilson and Emily drove to the cottage, the aunt both +wishing the latter as a companion in her ride, and believing the +excitement would have a tendency to prevent her niece from indulging in +reflections, alike dangerous to her peace of mind and at variance with +her duties. + +Our readers have probably anticipated, that the stage companion of John +Moseley was the Spanish general, who had just been making those +inquiries into the manner of his niece's living which terminated so +happily in her acquittal. With that part of her history which relates to +the injurious attempts on her before she arrived at Lisbon, he appears +to have been ignorant, or his interview with Denbigh might have +terminated very differently from the manner already related. + +A description of the appearance of the gentleman presented to Mrs. +Wilson is unnecessary, as it has been given already; and the discerning +matron thought she read through the rigid and set features of the +soldier, a shade of kinder feelings, which might be wrought into an +advantageous intercession on behalf of Julia. The General was evidently +endeavoring to keep his feelings within due bounds, before the decision +of his niece might render it proper for him to indulge in that affection +for her, which his eye plainly showed existed under the cover of his +assumed manner. + +It was an effort of great fortitude on the part of Julia to acquaint her +uncle with her resolution; but as it must be done, she seized a moment +after Mrs. Wilson had at some length defended her adhering to her +present faith, until religiously impressed with its errors, to inform +him such was her unalterable resolution. He heard her patiently, and +without anger, but in visible surprise. He had construed her summons to +her house into a measure preparatory to accepting his conditions; yet he +betrayed no emotion, after the first expression of his wonder: he told +her distinctly, a renunciation of her heresy was the only condition on +which her father would own her either as his heiress or his child. Julia +deeply regretted the decision, but was firm; and her friends left her to +enjoy uninterruptedly for one day, the society of so near a relative. +During this day every doubt as to the propriety of her conduct, if any +yet remained, was removed by a relation of her little story to her +uncle; and after it was completed, he expressed great uneasiness to get +to London again, in order to meet a gentleman he had seen there, under a +different impression as to his merits, than what now appeared to be +just. Who the gentleman was, or what these impressions were, Julia was +left to conjecture, taciturnity being a favorite property in the +general. + + + +Chapter XXXI. + +The sun had just risen on one of the loveliest vales of Caernarvonshire, +as a travelling chaise and six swept up to the door of a princely +mansion, so situated as to command a prospect of the fertile and +extensive domains, the rental of which filled the coffers of its rich +owner, having a beautiful view of the Irish channel in the distance. + +Everything around this stately edifice bespoke the magnificence of its +ancient possessors and the taste of its present master. It was +irregular, but built of the best materials, and in the tastes of the +different ages in which its various parts had been erected; and now in +the nineteenth century it preserved the baronial grandeur of the +thirteenth, mingled with the comforts of this later period. + +The lofty turrets of its towers were tipt with the golden light of the +sun, and the neighboring peasantry had commenced their daily labors, as +the different attendants of the equipage we have mentioned collected +around it at the great entrance to the building. The beautiful black +horses, with coats as shining as the polished leather with which they +were caparisoned, the elegant and fashionable finish of the vehicle, +with its numerous grooms, postillions, and footmen, all wearing the +livery of one master, gave evidence of wealth and rank. + +In attendance there were four outriders, walking leisurely about, +awaiting the appearance of those for whose comforts and pleasures they +were kept to contribute; while a fifth, who, like the others, was +equipped with a horse, appeared to bear a doubtful station. The form of +the latter was athletic, and apparently drilled into a severer +submission than could be seen in the movements of the liveried +attendants: his dress was peculiar, being neither quite menial nor quite +military, but partaking of both characters. His horse was heavier and +better managed than those of the others, and by its side was a charger, +that was prepared for the use of no common equestrian. Both were coal- +black, as were all the others of the cavalcade; but the pistols of the +two latter, and housings of their saddles, bore the aspect of use and +elegance united. + +The postillions were mounted, listlessly waiting the pleasure of their +superiors; when the laughs and jokes of the menials were instantly +succeeded by a respectful and profound silence, as a gentleman and lady +appeared on the portico of the building. The former was a young man of +commanding stature and genteel appearance; and his air, although that of +one used to command, was softened by a character of benevolence and +gentleness, that might be rightly supposed to give birth to the willing +alacrity with which all his requests or orders were attended to. + +The lady was also young, and resembled her companion both in features +and expression, for both were noble, both were handsome. The former was +attired for the road; the latter had thrown a shawl around her elegant +form, and by her morning dress showed that a separation of the two was +about to happen. Taking the hand of the gentleman with both her own, as +she pressed it with fingers interlocked, the lady said, in a voice of +music, and with great affection, "Then, my dear brother, I shall +certainly hear from you within the week, and see you next?" + +"Certainly," replied the gentleman, as he tenderly paid his adieus; then +throwing himself into the chaise, it dashed from the door, like the +passage of a meteor. The horsemen followed; the unridden charger, +obedient to the orders of his keeper, wheeled gracefully into his +station; and in an instant they were all lost amidst the wood, through +which the road to the park gates conducted. + +After lingering without until the last of her brother's followers had +receded from her sight, the lady retired through ranks of liveried +footmen and maids, whom curiosity or respect had collected. + +The young traveller wore a gloom on his expressive features, amidst the +pageantry that surrounded him, which showed the insufficiency of wealth +and honors to fill the sum of human happiness. As his carriage rolled +proudly up an eminence ere he had reached the confines of his extensive +park, his eye rested, for a moment, on a scene in which meadows, +forests, fields waving with golden corn, comfortable farm-houses +surrounded with innumerable cottages, were seen, in almost endless +variety. All these owned him for their lord, and one quiet smile of +satisfaction beamed on his face as he gazed on the unlimited view. Could +the heart of that youth have been read, it would at that moment have +told a story very different from the feelings such a scene is apt to +excite; it would have spoken the consciousness of well applied wealth, +the gratification of contemplating meritorious deeds, and a heartfelt +gratitude to the Being which had enabled him to become the dispenser of +happiness to so many of his fellow-creatures. + +"Which way, my lord, so early?" cried a gentleman in a phaeton, as he +drew up, on his way to a watering place, to pay his own parting +compliments. + +"To Eltringham, Sir Owen, to attend the marriage of my kinsman, Mr. +Denbigh, to one of the sisters of the marquess." + +A few more questions and answers, and the gentlemen, exchanging friendly +adieus, pursued each his own course; Sir Owen Ap Rice pushing forward +for Cheltenham, and the Earl of Pendennyss proceeding to act as +groomsman to his cousin. + +The gates of Eltringham were open to the admission of many an equipage +on the following day, and the heart of the Lady Laura beat quick, as the +sound of wheels, at different times, reached her ears. At last an +unusual movement in the house drew her to a window of her dressing-room, +and the blood rushed to her heart as she beheld the equipages which were +rapidly approaching, and through the mist which stole over her eyes she +saw alight from the first, the Duke of Derwent and the bridegroom. The +next contained Lord Pendennyss, and the last the Bishop of----. Lady +Laura waited to see no more, but with a heart filled with terror, hope, +joy, and uneasiness, she threw herself into the arms of one of her +sisters. + +"Ah!" exclaimed Lord Henry Stapleton, about a week after the wedding of +his sister, seizing John suddenly by the arm, while the latter was +taking his morning walk to the residence of the dowager Lady Chatterton, +"Moseley, you dissipated youth, in town yet: you told me you should stay +but a day, and here I find you at the end of a fortnight." + +John blushed a little at the consciousness of his reason for sending a +written, instead of carrying a verbal report, of the result of his +journey, but replied, + +"Yes, my friend Chatterton unexpectedly arrived, and so--and so--" + +"And so you did not go, I presume you mean," cried Lord Henry, with a +laugh. + +"Yes," said John, "and so I stayed--but where is Denbigh?" + +"Where?--why with his wife, where every well-behaved man should be, +especially for the first month," rejoined the sailor, gaily. + +"Wife!" echoed John, as soon as he felt able to give utterance to his +words--"wife! is he married?" + +"Married," cried Lord Henry, imitating his manner, "are you yet to learn +that? why did you ask for him?" + +"Ask for him!" said Moseley, yet lost in astonishment; "but when--how-- +where did he marry--my lord?" + +Lord Henry looked at him for a moment with a surprise little short of +his own, as he answered more gravely: + +"When?--last Tuesday; how? by special license, and the Bishop of----; +where?--at Eltringham:--yes, my dear fellow," continued he, with his +former gaiety, "George is my brother now--and a fine fellow he is." + +"I really wish your lordship much joy," said John, struggling to command +his feelings. + +"Thank you--thank you," replied the sailor; "a jolly time we had of it, +Moseley. I wish, with all my heart, you had been there; no bolting or +running away as soon as spliced, but a regularly constructed, old- +fashioned wedding; all my doings. I wrote Laura that time was scarce, +and I had none to throw away on fooleries; so dear, good soul, she +consented to let me have everything my own way. We had Derwent and +Pendennyss, the marquess, Lord William, and myself, for groomsmen, and +my three sisters--ah, that was bad, but there was no helping it--Lady +Harriet Denbigh, and an old maid, a cousin of ours, for bridesmaids; +could not help the old maid either, upon my honor, or be quite certain I +would." + +How much of what he said Moseley heard, we cannot say; for had he talked +an hour longer he would have been uninterrupted. Lord Henry was too much +engaged with his description to notice his companion's taciturnity or +surprise, and after walking a square or two together they parted; the +sailor being on the wing for his frigate at Yarmouth. + +John continued his course, musing on the intelligence he had just heard. +That Denbigh could forget Emily so soon, he would not believe, and he +greatly feared he had been driven into a step, from despair, that he +might hereafter repent of. The avoiding of himself was now fully +explained; but would Lady Laura Stapleton accept a man for a husband at +so short a notice? and for the first time a suspicion that something in +the character of Denbigh was wrong, mingled in his reflections on his +sister's refusal of his offers. + +Lord and Lady Herriefield were on the eve of their departure for the +continent (for Catherine had been led to the altar the preceding week), +a southern climate having been prescribed as necessary to the +bridegroom's constitution; and the dowager and Grace were about to +proceed to a seat of the baron's within a couple of miles of Bath. +Chatterton himself had his own engagements, but he promised to be there +in company with his friend Derwent within a fortnight; the former visit +having been postponed by the marriages in their respective families. + +John had been assiduous in his attentions during the season of forced +gaiety which followed the nuptials of Kate; and as the dowager's time +was monopolized with the ceremonials of that event, Grace had risen +greatly in his estimation. If Grace Chatterton was not more miserable +than usual, at what she thought was the destruction of her sister's +happiness, it was owing to the presence and unconcealed affection of +John Moseley. + +The carriage of Lord Herriefield was in waiting when John rang for +admittance. On opening the door and entering the drawing-room, he saw +the bride and bridegroom, with their mother and sister, accoutred for an +excursion amongst the shops of Bond street: for Kate was dying to find a +vent for some of her surplus pin-money--her husband to show his handsome +wife in the face of the world--the mother to display the triumph of her +matrimonial schemes. And Grace was forced to obey her mother's commands, +in accompanying her sister as an attendant, not to be dispensed with at +all in her circumstances. + +The entrance of John at that instant, though nothing more than what +occurred every day at that hour, deranged the whole plan: the dowager, +for a moment, forgot her resolution, and forgot the necessity of Grace's +appearance, exclaiming with evident satisfaction, + +"Here is Mr. Moseley come to keep you company, Grace; so, after all, you +must consult your headache and stay at home. Indeed, my love, I never +can consent you should go out. I not only wish, but insist you remain +within this morning." + +Lord Herriefield looked at his mother-in-law in some surprise, and threw +a suspicious glance on his own rib at the moment, which spoke as plainly +as looks can speak, + +"Is it possible I have been taken in after all!" + +Grace was unused to resist her mother's commands, and throwing off her +hat and shawl, reseated herself with more composure than she would +probably have done, had not the attentions of Moseley been more delicate +and pointed of late than formerly. + +As they passed the porter, Lady Chatterton observed to him +significantly--"Nobody at home, Willis."--"Yes, my lady," was the +laconic reply, and Lord Herriefield, as he took his seat by the side of +his wife in the carriage, thought she was not as handsome as usual. + +Lady Chatterton that morning unguardedly laid the foundation of years of +misery for her eldest daughter; or rather the foundations were already +laid in the ill-assorted, and heartless, unprincipled union she had +labored with success to effect. But she, had that morning stripped the +mask from her own character prematurely, and excited suspicions in the +breast of her son-in-law, which time only served to confirm, and memory +to brood over. Lord Herriefield had been too long in the world not to +understand all the ordinary arts of match-makers and match-hunters. Like +most of his own sex who have associated freely with the worst part of +the other, his opinions of female excellences were by no means +extravagant or romantic. Kate had pleased his eye; she was of a noble +family; young, and at that moment interestingly quiet, having nothing +particularly in view. She had a taste of her own, and Lord Herriefield +was by no means in conformity with it; consequently, she expended none +of those pretty little arts upon him which she occasionally practised, +and which his experience would immediately have detected. Her disgust he +had attributed to disinterestedness; and as Kate had fixed her eye on a +young officer lately returned from France, and her mother on a Duke who +was mourning the death of a third wife, devising means to console him +with a fourth--the Viscount had got a good deal enamored with the lady, +before either she or her mother took any particular notice that there +was such a being in existence. His title was not the most elevated, but +it was ancient. His paternal acres were not numerous, but his East-India +shares were. He was not very young, but he was not very old; and as the +Duke died of a fit of the gout in his stomach, and the officer ran away +with a girl in her teens from a boarding-school, the dowager and her +daughter, after thoroughly scanning the fashionable world, determined, +for want of a better, that he would do. + +It is not to be supposed that the mother and child held any open +communications with each other to this effect. The delicacy and pride of +both would have been greatly injured by such a suspicion; yet they +arrived simultaneously at the same conclusion, as well as at another of +equal importance to the completion of their schemes on the Viscount. It +was simply to adhere to the same conduct which had made him a captive, +as most likely to insure the victory. + +There was such a general understanding between the two it can excite no +surprise that they co-operated harmoniously as it were by signal. + +For two people, correctly impressed with their duties and +responsibilities, to arrive at the same conclusion in the government of +their conduct, would be merely a matter of course; and so with those who +are more or less under the dominion of the world. They will pursue their +plans with a degree of concurrence amounting nearly to sympathy; and +thus had Kate and her mother, until this morning, kept up the masquerade +so well that the Viscount was as confiding as a country Corydon. When he +first witnessed the dowager's management with Grace and John, however, +and his wife's careless disregard of a thing which appeared too much a +matter of course to be quite agreeable, his newly awakened distrust +approached conviction. + +Grace Chatterton both sang and played exquisitely; it was, however, +seldom she could sufficiently overcome her desire, when John was an +auditor, to appear to advantage. + +As the party went down stairs, and Moseley had gone with them part of +the way, she threw herself unconsciously in a seat, and began a +beautiful song, that was fashionable at the time. Her feelings were in +consonance with the words, and Grace was very happy both in execution +and voice. + +John had reached the back of her seat before she was at all sensible of +his return, and Grace lost her self-command immediately. She rose and +took a seat on a sofa, and the young man was immediately at her side. + +"Ah, Grace," said John, the lady's heart beating high, "you certainly do +sing as you do everything, admirably." + +"I am happy you think so, Mr. Moseley," returned Grace looking +everywhere but in his face. + +John's eyes ran over her beauties, as with palpitating bosom and varying +color she sat confused at the unusual warmth of his language and manner. + +Fortunately a remarkably striking likeness of the Dowager hung directly +over their heads, and John taking her unresisting hand, continued, + +"Dear Grace, you resemble your brother very much in features, and what +is better still, in character." + +"I could wish," said Grace, venturing to look up, "to resemble your +sister Emily in the latter." + +"And why not to be her sister, dear Grace?" said he with ardor. "You are +worthy to become her sister. Tell me, Grace, dear Miss Chatterton--can +you--will you make me the happiest of men? may I present another +inestimable daughter to my parents?" + +As John paused for an answer, Grace looked up, and he waited her reply +in evident anxiety; but she continued silent, now pale as death, and now +of the color of the rose, and he added: + +"I hope I have not offended you, dearest Grace; you are all that is +desirable to me; my hopes, my happiness, are centred in you. Unless you +consent to become my wife, I must be very wretched." + +Grace burst into a flood of tears, as her lover, interested deeply in +their cause, gently drew her towards him. Her head sank on his shoulder, +as she faintly whispered something that was inaudible, but which he did +not fail to interpret into everything he most wished to hear. John was +in ecstasies. Every unpleasant feeling of suspicion had left him. Of +Grace's innocence of manoeuvring he never doubted, but John did not +relish the idea of being entrapped into anything, even a step which he +desired. An uninterrupted communication followed; it was as confiding as +their affections: and the return of the dowager and her children first +recalled them to the recollection of other people. + +One glance of the eye was enough for Lady Chatterton. She saw the traces +of tears on the cheeks and in the eyes of Grace, and the dowager was +satisfied; she knew his friends would not object; and as Grace attended +her to her dressing-room, she cried on entering it, "Well, child, when +is the wedding to be? You will wear me out with so much gaiety." + +Grace was shocked, but did not as formerly weep over her mother's +interference in agony and dread. John had opened his whole soul to her, +observing the greatest delicacy towards her mother, and she now felt her +happiness placed in the keeping of a man whose honor she believed much +exceeded that of any other human being. + + + +Chapter XXXII. + +The seniors of the party at Benfield Lodge were all assembled one +morning in a parlor, when its master and the baronet were occupied in +the perusal of the London papers. Clara had persuaded her sisters to +accompany her and Francis in an excursion as far as the village. + +Jane yet continued reserved and distant to most of her friends; while +Emily's conduct would have escaped unnoticed, did not her blanched cheek +and wandering looks at times speak a language not to be misunderstood. +With all her relatives she maintained the affectionate intercourse she +had always supported; though not even to her aunt did the name of +Denbigh pass her lips. But in her most private and humble petitions to +God, she never forgot to mingle with her requests for spiritual +blessings on herself, fervent prayers for the conversion of the +preserver of her life. + +Mrs. Wilson, as she sat by the side of her sister at their needles, +first discovered an unusual uneasiness in their venerable host, while he +turned his paper over and over, as if unwilling or unable to comprehend +some part of its contents, until he rang the bell violently, and bid the +servant to send Johnson to him without a moment's delay. + +"Peter," said Mr. Benfield doubtingly, "read that--your eyes are young, +Peter; read that." + +Peter took the paper, and after having adjusted his spectacles to his +satisfaction, he proceeded to obey his master's injunctions; but the +same defect of vision as suddenly seized the steward as it had affected +his master. He turned the paper sideways, and appeared to be spelling +the matter of the paragraph to himself. Peter would have given his three +hundred a year to have had the impatient John Moseley at hand, to +relieve him from his task; but the anxiety of Mr. Benfield overcoming +his fear of the worst, he inquired in tremulous tone-- + +"Peter? hem! Peter, what do you think?" + +"Why, your honor," replied the steward, stealing a look at his master, +"it does seem so indeed." + +"I remember," said the master, "when Lord Gosford saw the marriage of +the countess announced he--" + +Here the old gentleman was obliged to stop, and rising with dignity, and +leaning on the arm of his faithful servant, he left the room. + +Mrs. Wilson immediately took up the paper, and her eye catching the +paragraph at a glance, she read aloud as follows to her expecting +friends: + +"Married by special license, at the seat of the Most Noble the Marquess +of Eltringham, in Devonshire, by the Right Rev. Lord Bishop of ----, +George Denbigh Esq., Lieutenant Colonel of his Majesty's ---- regiment +of dragoons, to the Right Honorable Lady Laura Stapleton, eldest sister +of the Marquess. Eltringham was honored on the present happy occasion +with the presence of his grace of Derwent, and the gallant Lord +Pendennyss, kinsmen of the bridegroom, and Captain Lord Henry Stapleton +of the Royal Navy. We understand that the happy couple proceed to +Denbigh Castle immediately after the honey-moon." + +Although Mrs. Wilson had given up the expectation of ever seeing her +niece the wife of Denbigh, she felt an indescribable shock as she read +this paragraph. The strongest feeling was horror at the danger Emily had +been in of contracting an alliance with such a man. His avoiding the +ball, at which he knew Lord Henry was expected, was explained to her by +this marriage; for with John, she could not believe a woman like Lady +Laura Stapleton was to be won in the short space of one fortnight, or +indeed less. There was too evidently a mystery yet to be developed, and +she felt certain one that would not elevate his character in her +opinion. + +Neither Sir Edward nor Lady Moseley had given up the expectation of +seeing Denbigh again, as a suitor for Emily's hand, and to both of them +this certainty of his loss was a heavy blow. The baronet took up the +paper, and after perusing the article, he muttered in a low tone, as he +wiped the tears from his eyes, "Heaven bless him: I sincerely hope she +is worthy of him." Worthy of him, thought Mrs. Wilson, with a feeling of +indignation, as, taking up the paper, she retired to her own room, +whither Emily, at that moment returned from her walk, had proceeded. As +her niece must hear this news, she thought the sooner the better. The +exercise, and the unreserved conversation of Francis and Clara, had +restored in some degree the bloom to the cheek of Emily; and Mrs. Wilson +felt it necessary to struggle with herself, before she could summon +sufficient resolution to invade the returning peace of her charge. +However, having already decided on her course, she proceeded to the +discharge of what she thought to be a duty. + +"Emily, my child," she whispered, pressing her affectionately to her +bosom, "you have been all I could wish, and more than I expected, under +your arduous struggles. But one more pang, and I trust your +recollections on this painful subject will be done away." + +Emily looked at her aunt in anxious expectation of what was coming, and +quietly taking the paper, followed the direction of Mrs. Wilson's finger +to the article on the marriage of Denbigh. + +There was a momentary struggle in Emily for self-command. She was +obliged to find support in a chair. The returning richness of color, +excited by her walk, vanished; but recovering herself, she pressed the +hand of her anxious guardian, and, gently waving her back, proceeded to +her own room. + +On her return to the company, the same control of her feelings which had +distinguished her conduct of late, was again visible; and, although her +aunt most narrowly watched her movements, looks, and speeches, she could +discern no visible alteration by this confirmation of misconduct. The +truth was, that in Emily Moseley the obligations of duty were so +imperative, her sense of her dependence on Providence so humbling and +yet so confiding, that, as soon as she was taught to believe her lover +unworthy of her esteem, that moment an insuperable barrier separated +them. His marriage could add nothing to the distance between them. It +was impossible they could be united; and although a secret lingering of +the affections over his fallen character might and did exist, it existed +without any romantic expectations of miracles in his favor, or vain +wishes of reformation, in which self was the prominent feeling. She +might be said to be keenly alive to all that concerned his welfare or +movements, if she did not harbor the passion of love; but it showed +itself in prayers for his amendment of life, and the most ardent +petitions for his future and eternal happiness. She had set about, +seriously and with much energy, the task of erasing from her heart +sentiments which, however delightful she had found it to entertain in +times past, were now in direct variance with her duty. She knew that a +weak indulgence of such passions would tend to draw her mind from, and +disqualify her to discharge, those various calls on her time and her +exertions, which could alone enable her to assist others, or effect in +her own person the great purposes of her creation. It was never lost +sight of by Emily Moseley, that her existence here was preparatory to an +immensely more important state hereafter. She was consequently in +charity with all mankind; and if grown a little more distrustful of the +intentions of her fellow-creatures, it was a mistrust bottomed in a +clear view of the frailties of our nature; and self-examination was +amongst the not unfrequent speculations she made on this hasty marriage +of her former lover. + +Mrs. Wilson saw all this, and was soon made acquainted by her niece in +terms, with her views of her own condition; and although she had to, and +did, deeply regret, that all her caution had not been able to guard +against deception, where it was most important for her to guide aright, +yet she was cheered with the reflection that her previous care, with the +blessings of Providence, had admirably fitted her charge to combat and +overcome the consequences of their mistaken confidence. + +The gloom which this little paragraph excited, extended to every +individual in the family; for all had placed Denbigh by the side of +John, in their affections, ever since his weighty services to Emily. + +A letter from John announcing his intention of meeting them at Bath, as +well as his new relation with Grace, relieved in some measure this +general depression of spirit. Mr. Benfield alone found no consolation in +the approaching nuptials. John he regarded as his nephew, and Grace he +thought a very good sort of young woman; but neither of them were beings +of the same genus with Emily and Denbigh. + +"Peter," said he one day, after they had both been expending their +ingenuity in vain efforts to discover the cause of this so-much-desired +marriage's being so unexpectedly frustrated, "have I not often told you, +that fate governed these things, in order that men might be humble in +this life? Now, Peter, had the Lady Juliana wedded with a mind congenial +to her own, she might have been mistress of Benfield Lodge to this very +hour." + +"Yes, your honor--but there's Miss Emmy's legacy." + +And Peter withdrew, thinking what would have been the consequences had +Patty Steele been more willing, when he wished to make her Mrs. Peter +Johnson--an association by no means uncommon in the mind of the steward; +for if Patty had ever a rival in his affections, it was in the person of +Emily Moseley, though, indeed, with very different degrees and coloring +of esteem. + +The excursions to the cottage had been continued by Mrs. Wilson and +Emily, and as no gentleman was now in the family to interfere with their +communications, a general visit to the young widow had been made by the +Moseleys, including Sir Edward and Mr. Ives. + +The Jarvises had gone to London to receive their children, now penitent +in more senses than one; and Sir Edward learnt with pleasure that +Egerton and his wife had been admitted into the family of the merchant. + +Sir Edgar had died suddenly, and the entailed estates had fallen to his +successor the colonel, now Sir Harry; but the bulk of his wealth, being +in convertible property, he had given by will to his other nephew, a +young clergyman, and a son of a younger brother. Mary, as well as her +mother, were greatly disappointed, by this deprivation, of what they +considered their lawful splendor; but they found great consolation in +the new dignity of Lady Egerton, whose greatest wish now was to meet the +Moseleys, in order that she might precede them in or out of some place +where such ceremonials are observed. The sound of "Lady Egerton's +carriage stops the way," was delightful, and it never failed to be used +on all occasions, although her ladyship was mistress of only a hired +vehicle. + +A slight insight into the situation of things amongst them may be found +in the following narrative of their views, as revealed in a discussion +which took place about a fortnight after the reunion of the family under +one roof. + +Mrs. Jarvis was mistress of a very handsome coach, the gift of her +husband for her own private use. After having satisfied herself the +baronet (a dignity he had enjoyed just twenty-four hours) did not +possess the ability to furnish his lady, as she termed her daughter, +with such a luxury, she magnanimously determined to relinquish her own, +in support of the new-found elevation of her daughter. Accordingly, a +consultation on the alterations which were necessary took place between +the ladies--"The arms must be altered, of course," Lady Egerton +observed, "and Sir Harry's, with the bloody hand and six quarterings, +put in their place; then the liveries, they must be changed." + +"Oh, mercy! my lady, if the arms are altered, Mr. Jarvis will be sure to +notice it, and he would never forgive me; and perhaps--" + +"Perhaps what?" exclaimed the new-made lady, with a disdainful toss of +her head. + +"Why," replied the mother, warmly, "not give me the hundred pounds he +promised, to have it new-lined and painted." + +"Fiddlesticks with the painting, Mrs. Jarvis," cried the lady with +dignity: "no carriage shall be called mine that does not bear my arms +and the bloody hand." + +"Why, your ladyship is unreasonable, indeed you are," said Mrs. Jarvis, +coaxingly; and then after a moment's thought she continued, "is it the +arms or the baronetcy you want, my dear?" + +"Oh, I care nothing for the arms, but I am determined, now I am a +baronet's lady, Mrs. Jarvis, to have the proper emblem of my rank." + +"Certainly, my lady, that's true dignity: well, then, we will put the +bloody hand on your father's arms, and he will never notice it, for he +never sees such things." + +The arrangement was happily completed, and for a few days the coach of +Mr. Jarvis bore about the titled dame, until one unlucky day the +merchant, who still went on 'change when any great bargain in the stocks +was to be made, arrived at his own door suddenly, to procure a +calculation he had made on the leaf of his prayer-book the last Sunday +during sermon. This he obtained after some search. In his haste he drove +to his broker's in the carriage of his wife, to save time, it happening +to be in waiting at the moment, and the distance not great. Mr. Jarvis +forgot to order the man to return, and for an hour the vehicle stood in +one of the most public places in the city. The consequence was, that +when Mr. Jarvis undertook to examine into his gains, with the account +rendered of the transaction by his broker, he was astonished to read, +"Sir Timothy Jarvis, Bart., in account with John Smith, Dr." Sir Timothy +examined the account in as many different ways as Mr. Benfield had +examined the marriage of Denbigh, before he would believe his eyes; and +when assured of the fact, he immediately caught up his hat, and went to +find the man who had dared to insult him, as it were, in defiance of the +formality of business. He had not proceeded one square in the city +before he met a friend, who spoke to him by the title; an explanation of +the mistake followed, and the quasi baronet proceeded to his stables. +Here by actual examination he detected the fraud. An explanation with +his consort followed; and the painter's brush soon effaced the emblem of +dignity from the panels of the coach. All this was easy but with his +waggish companions on 'Change and in the city (where, notwithstanding +his wife's fashionable propensities, he loved to resort) he was Sir +Timothy still. + +Mr. Jarvis, though a man of much modesty, was one of great decision, and +he determined to have the laugh on his side. A newly purchased borough +of his sent up an address flaming with patriotism, and it was presented +by his own hands. The merchant seldom kneeled to his Creator, but on +this occasion he humbled himself dutifully before his prince, and left +the presence with a legal right to the appellation which his old +companions had affixed to him sarcastically. + +The rapture of Lady Jarvis may be more easily imagined than faithfully +described, the Christian name of her husband alone throwing any alloy +into the enjoyment of her elevation: but by a license of speech she +ordered, and addressed in her own practice, the softer and more familiar +appellation of Sir Timo. Two servants were discharged the first week, +because, unused to titles, they had addressed her as mistress; and her +son, the captain, then at a watering-place, was made acquainted by +express with the joyful intelligence. + +All this time Sir Henry Egerton was but little seen amongst his new +relatives. He had his own engagements and haunts, and spent most of his +time at a fashionable gaming house in the West End. As, however, the +town was deserted, Lady Jarvis and her daughters, having condescended to +pay a round of city visits, to show off her airs and dignity to her old +friends, persuaded Sir Timo that the hour for their visit to Bath had +arrived, and they were soon comfortably settled in that city. + +Lady Chatterton and her youngest daughter had arrived at the seat of her +son, and John Moseley, as happy as the certainty of love returned and +the approbation of his friends could make him, was in lodgings in the +town. Sir Edward notified his son of his approaching visit to Bath, and +John took proper accommodations for the family, which he occupied for a +few days by himself as locum tenens. + +Lord and Lady Herriefield had departed for the south of France; and +Kate, removed from the scenes of her earliest enjoyments and the bosom +of her own family, and under the protection of a man she neither loved +nor respected, began to feel the insufficiency of a name or of a fortune +to constitute felicity. Lord Herriefield was of a suspicious and harsh +temper, the first propensity being greatly increased by his former +associations, and the latter not being removed by the humility of his +eastern dependants. But the situation of her child gave no uneasiness to +the managing mother, who thought her in the high-road to happiness, and +was gratified at the result of her labors. Once or twice, indeed, her +habits had overcome her caution so much as to endeavor to promote, a day +or two sooner than had been arranged, the wedding of Grace; but her +imprudence was checked instantly by the recoiling of Moseley from her +insinuations in disgust; and the absence of the young man for twenty- +four hours gave her timely warning of the danger of such an interference +with one of such fastidious feelings. John punished himself as much as +the dowager on these occasions; but the smiling face of Grace, with her +hand frankly placed in his own at his return, never failed to do away +the unpleasant sensations created by her mother's care. + +The Chatterton and Jarvis families met in the rooms, soon after the +arrival of the latter, when the lady of the knight, followed by both her +daughters, approached the dowager with a most friendly salute of +recognition. Lady Chatterton, really forgetful of the persons of her B-- +-- acquaintance, and disliking the vulgarity of her air, drew up into an +appearance of great dignity, as she hoped the lady was well. The +merchant's wife felt the consciousness of rank too much to be repulsed +in this manner, and believing that the dowager had merely forgotten her +face, she added, with a simpering smile, in imitation of what she had +seen better bred people practise with success-- + +"Lady Jarvis--my lady--your ladyship don't remember me--Lady Jarvis of +the Deanery, B----, Northamptonshire, and my daughters, Lady Egerton and +Miss Jarvis." Lady Egerton bowed stiffly to the recognising smile the +dowager now condescended to bestow; but Sarah, remembering a certain +handsome lord in the family, was more urbane, determining at the moment +to make the promotion of her mother and sister stepping-stones to +greater elevation for herself. + +"I hope my lord is well," continued the city lady. "I regret that Sir +Timo, and Sir Harry, and Captain Jarvis, are not here this morning to +pay their respects to your ladyship; but as we shall see naturally a +good deal of each other, it must be deferred to a more fitting +opportunity." + +"Certainly, madam," replied the dowager, as, passing her compliments +with those of Grace, she drew back from so open a conversation with +creatures of such doubtful standing in the fashionable world. + + + +Chapter +XXXIII. + +On taking leave of Mrs. Fitzgerald, Emily and her aunt settled a plan of +correspondence; the deserted situation of this young woman having +created great interest in the breasts of her new friends. General +M'Carthy had returned to Spain without receding from his original +proposal, and his niece was left to mourn her early departure from one +of the most solemn duties of life. + +Mr. Benfield, thwarted in one of his most favorite schemes of happiness +for the residue of his life, obstinately refused to make one of the +party at Bath; and Ives and Clara having returned to Bolton, the +remainder of the Moseleys arrived at the lodgings of John a very few +days after the interview of the preceding chapter, with hearts ill +qualified to enter into the gaieties of the place, though, in obedience +to the wishes of Lady Moseley, to see and to be seen once more on that +great theatre of fashionable amusement. + +The friends of the family who had known them in times past were +numerous, and were glad to renew their acquaintance with those they had +always esteemed; so that they found themselves immediately surrounded by +a circle of smiling faces and dashing equipages. + +Sir William Harris, the proprietor of the deanery, and a former +neighbor, with his showy daughter, were amongst the first to visit them. +Sir William was a man of handsome estate and unexceptionable character, +but entirely governed by the whims and desires of his only child. +Caroline Harris wanted neither sense nor beauty, but expecting a +fortune, she had placed her views too high. She at first aimed at the +peerage; and while she felt herself entitled to suit her taste as well +as her ambition, had failed of her object by ill-concealed efforts to +attain it. She had justly acquired the reputation of the reverse of a +coquette or yet of a prude; still she had never received an offer, and +at the age of twenty-six, had now begun to lower her thoughts to the +commonalty. Her fortune would have easily obtained her husband here, but +she was determined to pick amongst the lower supporters of the +aristocracy of the nation. With the Moseleys she had been early +acquainted, though some years their senior; a circumstance, however, to +which she took care never to allude unnecessarily. + +The meeting between Grace and the Moseleys was tender and sincere. +John's countenance glowed with delight, as he saw his future wife folded +successively in the arms of those he loved, and Grace's tears and +blushes added twofold charms to her native beauty. Jane relaxed from her +reserve to receive her future sister, and determined with herself to +appear in the world, in order to show Sir Henry Egerton that she did not +feel the blow he had inflicted as severely as the truth might have +proved. + +The Dowager found some little occupation, for a few days, in settling +with Lady Moseley the preliminaries of the wedding; but the latter had +suffered too much through her youngest daughters, to enter into these +formalities with her ancient spirit. All things were, however, happily +settled; and Ives making a journey for the express purpose, John and +Grace were united privately at the altar of one of the principal +churches in Bath. Chatterton had been summoned on the occasion; and the +same paper which announced the nuptials, contained, amongst the +fashionable arrivals, the names of the Duke of Derwent and his sister, +the Marquess of Eltringham and sisters, amongst whom was to be found +Lady Laura Denbigh. Lady Chatterton carelessly remarked, in presence of +her friends, the husband of the latter was summoned to the death-bed of +a relative, from whom he had great expectations. Emily's color did +certainly change as she listened to this news, but not allowing her +thoughts to dwell on the subject, she was soon enabled to recall her +serenity of appearance. + +But Jane and Emily were delicately placed. The lover of the former, and +the wives of the lovers of both, were in the way of daily, if not hourly +rencounters; and it required all the energies of the young women to +appear with composure before them. The elder was supported by pride, the +younger by principle. The first was restless, haughty, distant, and +repulsive. The last mild, humble, reserved, but eminently attractive. +The one was suspected by all around her; the other was unnoticed by any, +but by her nearest and dearest friends. + +The first rencounter with these dreaded guests occurred at the rooms one +evening, where the elder ladies had insisted on the bride's making her +appearance. The Jarvises were there before them, and at their entrance +caught the eyes of the group. Lady Jarvis approached immediately, filled +with exultation--her husband with respect. The latter was received with +cordiality--the former politely, but with distance. The young ladies and +Sir Henry bowed distantly, and the gentleman soon drew off into another +part of the room: his absence alone kept Jane from fainting. The +handsome figure of Egerton standing by the side of Mary Jarvis, as her +acknowledged husband, was near proving too much for her pride, +notwithstanding all her efforts; and he looked so like the imaginary +being she had set up as the object of her worship, that her heart was +also in danger of rebelling. + +"Positively, Sir Edward and my lady, both Sir Timo and myself, and, I +dare say, Sir Harry and Lady Egerton too, are delighted to see you +comfortably at Bath among us. Mrs. Moseley, I wish you much happiness; +Lady Chatterton too. I suppose your ladyship recollects me now; I am +Lady Jarvis. Mr. Moseley, I regret, for your sake, that my son Captain +Jarvis is not here; you were so fond of each other, and both so loved +your guns." + +"Positively, my Lady Jarvis," said Moseley, drily, "my feelings on the +occasion are as strong as your own; but I presume the captain is much +too good a shot for me by this time." + +"Why, yes; he improves greatly in most things he undertakes," rejoined +the smiling dame, "and I hope he will soon learn, like you, to shoot +with the harrows of Cupid. I hope the Honorable Mrs. Moseley is well." + +Grace bowed mildly, as she answered to the interrogatory, and smiled at +the thought of Jarvis put in competition with her husband in this +species of archery, when a voice immediately behind where they sat +caught the ears of the whole party; all it said was-- + +"Harriet, you forgot to show me Marian's letter." + +"Yes, but I will to-morrow," was the reply. + +It was the tone of Denbigh. Emily almost fell from her seat as it first +reached her, and the eyes of all but herself were immediately turned in +quest of the speaker. He had approached within a very few feet of them, +supporting a lady on each arm. A second look convinced the Moseleys that +they were mistaken. It was not Denbigh, but a young man whose figure, +face, and air resembled him strongly, and whose voice possessed the same +soft melodious tones which had distinguished that of Denbigh. This party +seated themselves within a very short distance of the Moseleys, and they +continued their conversation. + +"You heard from the Colonel to-day, too, I believe," continued the +gentleman, turning to the lady who sat next to Emily. + +"Yes, he is a very punctual correspondent; I hear every other day." + +"How is his uncle, Laura?" inquired her female companion. + +"Rather better; but I will thank your grace to find the Marquess and +Miss Howard." + +"Bring them to us," rejoined the other. + +"Yes," said the former lady, with a laugh, "and Eltringham will thank +you too, I dare say." + +In an instant the duke returned, accompanied by a gentleman of thirty +and an elderly lady, who might have been safely taken for fifty without +offence to anybody but herself. + +During these speeches their auditors had listened with almost breathless +interest. Emily had stolen a glance which satisfied her it was not +Denbigh himself and it greatly relieved her; but was startled at +discovering that she was actually seated by the side of his young and +lovely wife. When an opportunity offered, she dwelt on the amiable, +frank countenance of her rival with melancholy satisfaction: at least, +she thought, he may yet be happy, and I hope penitent. + +It was a mixture of love and gratitude which prompted this wish, both +sentiments not easily got rid of when once ingrafted in our better +feelings. John eyed the strangers with a displeasure for which he could +not account at once, and saw, in the ancient lady, the bridesmaid Lord +Henry had so unwillingly admitted to that distinction. + +Lady Jarvis was astounded with her vicinity to so much nobility, and she +drew back to her family to study its movements to advantage; while Lady +Chatterton sighed heavily, as she contemplated the fine figures of an +unmarried Duke and Marquess, and she without a single child to dispose +of. The remainder of the party continued to view them with curiosity, +and listened with interest to what they said. + +Two or three young ladies had now joined the strangers, attended by a +couple of gentlemen, and the conversation became general. The ladies +declined dancing entirely, but appeared willing to throw away an hour in +comments on their neighbors. + +"William," said one of the young ladies, "there is your old messmate, +Col. Egerton." + +"Yes, I observe him," replied her brother, "I see him;" but, smiling +significantly, he continued, "we are messmates no longer." + +"He is a sad character," said the Marquess, with a shrug. "William, I +would advise you to be cautious of his acquaintance." + +"I thank you," replied Lord William, "but I believe I understand him +thoroughly." + +Jane manifested strong emotion during these remarks, while Sir Edward +and his wife averted their faces from a simultaneous feeling of self- +reproach. Their eyes met, and mutual concessions were contained in the +glance; yet their feelings were unnoticed by their companions, for over +the fulfilment of her often repeated forewarnings of neglect and duty to +our children, Mrs. Wilson had mourned in sincerity, but she had +forgotten to triumph. + +"When are we to see Pendennyss?" inquired the Marquess; "I hope he will +be here with George--I have a mind to beat up his quarters in Wales this +season--what say you, Derwent?" + +"I intend it, if I can persuade Lady Harriet to quit the gaieties of +Bath so soon--what say you, sister--will you be in readiness to attend +me so early?" + +This question was asked in an arch tone, and drew the eyes of her +friends on the person to whom it was addressed. + +"I am ready now, Frederick, if you wish it," answered the sister +hastily, and coloring excessively as she spoke. + +"But where is Chatterton? I thought he was here--he had a sister married +here last week," inquired Lord William Stapleton, addressing no one in +particular. + +A slight movement in their neighbors attracted the attention of the +party. + +"What a lovely young woman," whispered the duke to Lady Laura, "your +neighbor is!" + +The lady smiled her assent, and as Emily overheard it, she rose with +glowing cheeks, and proposed a walk round the room. + +Chatterton soon after entered. The young peer had acknowledged to Emily +that, deprived of hope as he had been by her firm refusal of his hand, +his efforts had been directed to the suppression of a passion which +could never be successful; but his esteem, his respect, remained in full +force. He did not touch at all on the subject of Denbigh, and she +supposed that he thought his marriage was a step that required +justification. + +The Moseleys had commenced their promenade round the room as Chatterton +came in. He paid his compliments to them as soon as he entered, and +walked with their party. The noble visitors followed their example, and +the two parties met. Chatterton was delighted to see them, the Duke was +particularly fond of him; and, had one been present of sufficient +observation, the agitation of his sister, the Lady Harriet Denbigh, +would have accounted for the doubts of her brother as respects her +willingness to leave Bath. + +A few words of explanation passed; the duke and his friends appeared to +urge something on Chatterton, who acted as their ambassador, and the +consequence was, an introduction of the two parties to each other. This +was conducted with the ease of the present fashion--it was general, and +occurred, as it were incidentally, in the course of the evening. + +Both Lady Harriet and Lady Laura Denbigh were particularly attentive to +Emily. They took their seats by her, and manifested a preference for her +conversation that struck Mrs. Wilson as remarkable. Could it be that the +really attractive manners and beauty of her niece had caught the fancy +of these ladies, or was there a deeper seated cause for the desire to +draw Emily out, that both of them evinced? Mrs. Wilson had heard a rumor +that Chatterton was thought attentive to Lady Harriet, and the other was +the wife of Denbigh; was it possible the quondam suitors of her niece +had related to their present favorites the situation they had stood in +as regarded Emily? It was odd, to say no more; and the widow dwelt on +the innocent countenance of the bride with pity and admiration. Emily +herself was not a little abashed at the notice of her new acquaintances, +especially Lady Laura's; but as their admiration appeared sincere, as +well as their desire to be on terms of intimacy with the Moseleys, they +parted, on the whole, mutually pleased. + +The conversation several times was embarrassing to the baronet's family, +and at moments distressingly so to their daughters. + +At the close of the evening they all formed one group at a little +distance from the rest of the company, and in a situation to command a +view of it. + +"Who is that vulgar-looking woman," said Lady Sarah Stapleton, "seated +next to Sir Henry Egerton, brother?" + +"No less a personage than my Lady Jarvis," replied the marquess, +gravely, "and the mother-in-law of Sir Harry, and the wife to Sir Timo-- +;" this was said, with a look of drollery that showed the marquess was a +bit of a quiz. + +"Married!" cried Lord William, "mercy on the woman who is Egerton's +wife. He is the greatest latitudinarian amongst the ladies, of any man +in England--nothing--no, nothing would tempt me to let such a man marry +a sister of mine!" + +Ah, thought Mrs. Wilson, how we may be deceived in character, with the +best intentions, after all! In what are the open vices of Egerton worse +than the more hidden ones of Denbigh? + +These freely expressed opinions on the character of Sir Henry were +excessively awkward to some of the listeners, to whom they were +connected with unpleasant recollections of duties neglected, and +affections thrown away. + +Sir Edward Moseley was not disposed to judge his fellow-creatures +harshly; and it was as much owing to his philanthropy as to his +indolence, that he had been so remiss in his attention to the associates +of his daughters. But the veil once removed, and the consequences +brought home to him through his child, no man was more alive to the +necessity of caution on this important particular; and Sir Edward formed +many salutary resolutions for the government of his future conduct in +relation to those whom an experience nearly fatal in its results had now +greatly qualified to take care of themselves. But to resume our +narrative--Lady Laura had maintained with Emily a conversation, which +was enlivened by occasional remarks from the rest of the party, in the +course of which the nerves as well as the principles of Emily were put +to a severe trial. + +"My brother Henry," said Lady Laura, "who is a captain in the navy, once +had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Moseley, and in some measure made +me acquainted with you before we met." + +"I dined with Lord Henry at L----, and was much indebted to his polite +attentions in an excursion on the water," replied Emily, simply. + +"Oh, I am sure his attentions were exclusive," cried the sister; +"indeed, he told us that nothing but want of time prevented his being +deeply in love--he had even the audacity to tell Denbigh it was +fortunate for me he had never seen you, or I should have been left to +lead apes." + +"And I suppose you believe him now," cried Lord William, laughing, as he +bowed to Emily. + +His sister laughed in her turn, but shook her head, in the confidence of +conjugal affection. + +"It is all conjecture, for the Colonel said he had never enjoyed the +pleasure of meeting Miss Moseley, so I will not boast of what my powers +might have done; Miss Moseley," continued Lady Laura, blushing slightly +at her inclination to talk of an absent husband, so lately her lover, "I +hope to have the pleasure of presenting Colonel Denbigh to you soon." + +"I think," said Emily, with a strong horror of deception, and a mighty +struggle to suppress her feelings, "Colonel Denbigh was mistaken in +saying that we had never met; he was of material service to me once, and +I owe him a debt of gratitude that I only wish I could properly repay." + +Lady Laura listened in surprise; but as Emily paused, she could not +delicately, as his wife, remind her further of the obligation, by asking +what the service was, and hesitating a moment, continued-- + +"Henry quite made you the subject of conversation amongst us; Lord +Chatterton too, who visited us for a day, was equally warm in his +eulogiums. I really thought they created a curiosity in the Duke and +Pendennyss to behold their idol." + +"A curiosity that would be ill rewarded in its indulgence," said Emily, +abashed by the personality of the discourse. + +"So says the modesty of Miss Moseley," said the Duke of Derwent, in the +peculiar tone which distinguished the softer keys of Denbigh's voice. +Emily's heart beat quick as she heard them, and she was afterwards vexed +to remember with how much pleasure she had listened to this opinion of +the duke. Was it the sentiment, or was it the voice? She, however, +gathered strength to answer, with a dignity that repressed further +praises:-- + +"Your grace is willing to divest me of what little I possess." + +"Pendennyss is a man of a thousand," continued Lady Laura, with the +privilege of a married woman. "I do wish he would join us at Bath--is +there no hope, duke?" + +"I am afraid not," replied his grace: "he keeps himself immured in Wales +with his sister, who is as much of a hermit as he is himself." + +"There was a story of an inamorata in private somewhere," cried the +marquess; "why at one time it was even said he was privately married to +her." + +"Scandal, my lord," said the duke, gravely: "Pendennyss is of +unexceptionable morals, and the lady you mean is the widow of Major +Fitzgerald, whom you knew. Pendennyss never sees her, though by accident +he was once of very great service to her." + +Mrs. Wilson breathed freely again, as she heard this explanation, and +thought if the Marquess knew all, how differently would he judge +Pendennyss, as well as others. + +"Oh! I have the highest opinion of Lord Pendennyss," cried the Marquess. + +The Moseleys were not sorry that the usual hour of retiring put an end +to the conversation and their embarrassment. + + + +Chapter XXXIV. + +During the succeeding fortnight, the intercourse between the Moseleys +and their new acquaintances increased daily. It was rather awkward at +first on the part of Emily; and her beating pulse and changing color too +often showed the alarm of feelings not yet overcome, when any allusions +were made to the absent husband of one of the ladies. Still, as her +parents encouraged the acquaintance, and her aunt thought the best way +to get rid of the remaining weakness with respect to Denbigh was not to +shrink from even an interview with the gentleman himself, Emily +succeeded in conquering her reluctance; and as the high opinion +entertained by Lady Laura of her husband was expressed in a thousand +artless ways, an interest was created in her that promised in time to +weaken if not destroy the impression that had been made by Denbigh +himself. + +On the other hand, Egerton carefully avoided all collision with the +Moseleys. Once, indeed, he endeavored to renew his acquaintance with +John, but a haughty repulse almost produced a quarrel. + +What representations Egerton had thought proper to make to his wife, we +are unable to say; but she appeared to resent something, as she never +approached the dwelling or persons of her quondam associates, although +in her heart she was dying to be on terms of intimacy with their titled +friends. Her incorrigible mother was restrained by no such or any other +consideration, and contrived to fasten on the Dowager and Lady Harriet a +kind of bowing acquaintance, which she made great use of at the rooms. + +The Duke sought out the society of Emily wherever he could obtain it; +and Mrs. Wilson thought her niece admitted his approaches with less +reluctance than that of any other of the gentlemen around her. At first +she was surprised, but a closer observation betrayed to her the latent +cause. + +Derwent resembled Denbigh greatly in person and voice, although there +were distinctions easily to be made on an acquaintance. The Duke had an +air of command and hauteur that was never to be seen in his cousin. But +his admiration of Emily he did not attempt to conceal; and, as he ever +addressed her in the respectful language and identical voice of Denbigh, +the observant widow easily perceived, that it was the remains of her +attachment to the one that induced her niece to listen, with such +evident pleasure, to the conversation of the other. + +The Duke of Derwent wanted many of the indispensable requisites of a +husband, in the eyes of Mrs. Wilson; yet, as she thought Emily out of +all danger at the present of any new attachment, she admitted the +association, under no other restraint than the uniform propriety of all +that Emily said or did. + +"Your niece will one day be a Duchess, Mrs. Wilson," whispered Lady +Laura, as Derwent and Emily were running over a new poem one morning, in +the lodgings of Sir Edward; the former reading a fine extract aloud so +strikingly in the air and voice of Denbigh, as to call all the animation +of the unconscious Emily into her expressive face. + +Mrs. Wilson sighed, as she reflected on the strength of those feelings +which even principles and testimony had not been able wholly to subdue, +as she answered-- + +"Not of Derwent, I believe. But how wonderfully the Duke resembles your +husband at times," she added, entirely thrown off her guard. + +Lady Laura was evidently surprised. + +"Yes, at times he does; they are brothers' children, you know: the voice +in all that connexion is remarkable. Pendennyss, though a degree further +off in blood, possesses it; and Lady Harriet, you perceive, has the same +characteristic; there has been some syren in the family, in days past." + +Sir Edward and Lady Moseley saw the attention of the Duke with the +greatest pleasure. Though not slaves to the ambition of wealth and rank, +they were certainly no objections in their eyes; and a proper suitor +Lady Moseley thought the most probable means of driving the recollection +of Denbigh from the mind of her daughter. The latter consideration had +great weight in inducing her to cultivate an acquaintance so +embarrassing on many accounts. + +The Colonel, however, wrote to his wife the impossibility of his +quitting his uncle while he continued so unwell, and it was settled that +the bride should join him, under the escort of Lord William. + +The same tenderness distinguished Denbigh on this occasion that had +appeared so lovely when exercised to his dying father. Yet, thought Mrs. +Wilson, how insufficient are good feelings to effect what can only be +the result of good principles. + +Caroline Harris was frequently of the parties of pleasure, walks, rides, +and dinners, which the Moseleys were compelled to join in; and as the +Marquess of Eltringham had given her one day some little encouragement, +she determined to make an expiring effort at the peerage, before she +condescended to enter into an examination of the qualities of Capt. +Jarvis, who, his mother had persuaded her, was an Apollo, that had great +hopes of being one day a Lord, as both the Captain and herself had +commenced laying up a certain sum quarterly for the purpose of buying a +title hereafter--an ingenious expedient of Jarvis's to get into his +hands a portion of the allowance of his mother. + +Eltringham was strongly addicted to the ridiculous; and without +committing himself in the least, drew the lady out on divers occasions, +for the amusement of himself and the Duke--who enjoyed, without +practising, that species of joke. + +The collisions between ill-concealed art and as ill-concealed irony had +been practised with impunity by the Marquess for a fortnight, and the +lady's imagination began to revel in the delights of a triumph, when a +really respectable offer was made to Miss Harris by a neighbor of her +father's in the country--one she would rejoice to have received a few +days before, but which, in consequence of hopes created by the following +occurrence, she haughtily rejected. + +It was at the lodgings of the Baronet that Lady Laura exclaimed one +day,-- + +"Marriage is a lottery, certainly, and neither Sir Henry nor Lady +Egerton appears to have drawn a prize." + +Here Jane stole from the room. + +"Never, sister," cried the Marquess. "I will deny that. Any man can +select a prize from your sex, if he only knows his own taste." + +"Taste is a poor criterion, I am afraid," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "on +which to found matrimonial felicity." + +"To what would you refer the decision, my dear madam?" inquired the Lady +Laura. + +"Judgment." + +Lady Laura shook her hear doubtingly. + +"You remind me so much of Lord Pendennyss! Everything he wishes to bring +under the subjection of judgment and principles." + +"And is he wrong, Lady Laura?" asked Mrs. Wilson, pleased to find such +correct views existed in one of whom she thought so highly. + +"Not wrong, my dear madam, only impracticable. What do you think, +Marquess, of choosing a wife in conformity to your principles, and +without consulting your tastes?" + +Mrs. Wilson shook her head with a laugh, and disclaimed any such +statement of the case; but the Marquess, who disliked one of John's +didactic conversations very much, gaily interrupted her by saying-- + +"Oh! taste is everything with me. The woman of my heart against the +world, if she suits my fancy, and satisfies my judgment." + +"And what may this fancy of your Lordship be?" said Mrs. Wilson, willing +to gratify the trifling. "What kind of a woman do you mean to choose? +How tall for instance?" + +"Why, madam," cried the Marquess, rather unprepared for such a +catechism, and looking around him until the outstretched neck and the +eager attention of Caroline Harris caught his eye, when he added with an +air of great simplicity--"about the height of Miss Harris." + +"How old?" asked Mrs. Wilson with a smile. + +"Not too young, ma'am, certainly. I am thirty-two--my wife must be five +or six and twenty. Am I old enough, do you think, Derwent?" he added in +a whisper to the Duke. + +"Within ten years," was the reply. + +Mrs. Wilson continued-- + +"She must read and write, I suppose?" + +"Why, faith," said the Marquess, "I am not fond of a bookish sort of a +woman, and least of all a scholar." + +"You had better take Miss Howard," whispered his brother. "She is old +enough--never reads--and is just the height." + +"No, no, Will," rejoined the brother. "Rather too old that. Now, I +admire a woman who has confidence in herself. One that understands the +proprieties of life, and has, if possible, been at the head of an +establishment before she is to take charge of mine." + +The delighted Caroline wriggled about in her chair, and, unable to +contain herself longer, inquired:-- + +"Noble blood of course, you would require, my Lord?" + +"Why no! I rather think the best wives are to be found in a medium. I +would wish to elevate my wife myself. A Baronet's daughter for +instance." + +Here Lady Jarvis, who had entered during the dialogue, and caught a clue +to the topic they were engaged in, drew near, and ventured to ask if he +thought a simple knight too low. The Marquess, who did not expect such +an attack, was a little at a loss for an answer; but recovering himself +answered gravely, under the apprehension of another design on his +person, that "he did think that would be forgetting his duty to his +descendants." + +Lady Jarvis sighed, and fell back in disappointment; while Miss Harris, +turning to the nobleman, in a soft voice, desired him to ring for her +carriage. As he handed her down, she ventured to inquire if his lordship +had ever met with such a woman as he described. + +"Oh, Miss Harris," he whispered, as he handed her into the coach, "how +can you ask me such a question? You are very cruel. Drive on, coachman." + +"How, cruel, my Lord?" said Miss Harris eagerly. "Stop, John. How, +cruel, my Lord?" and she stretched her neck out of the window as the +Marquess, kissing his hand to her, ordered the man to proceed. + +"Don't you hear your lady, sir?" + +Lady Jarvis had followed them down, also with a view to catch anything +which might be said, having apologized for her hasty visit; and as the +Marquess handed her politely into her carriage, she also begged "he +would favor Sir Timo and Sir Henry with a call;" which being promised, +Eltringham returned to the room. + +"When am I to salute a Marchioness of Eltringham?" cried Lady Laura to +her brother, "one on the new standard set up by your Lordship." + +"Whenever Miss Harris can make up her mind to the sacrifice," replied +the brother very gravely. "Ah me! how very considerate some of your sex +are, for the modesty of ours." + +"I wish you joy with all my heart, my Lord Marquess," exclaimed John +Moseley. "I was once favored with the notice of that same lady for a +week or two, but a viscount saved me from capture." + +"I really think, Moseley," said the Duke innocently, but speaking with +animation, "an intriguing daughter worse than a managing mother." + +John's gravity for a moment vanished, as he replied in a lowered key, + +"Oh, much worse." + +Grace's heart was in her throat, until, by stealing a glance at her +husband, she saw the cloud passing over his fine brow; and happening to +catch her affectionate smile; his face was at once lighted into a look +of pleasantry. + +"I would advise caution, my Lord. Caroline Harris has the advantage of +experience in her trade, and was expert from the first." + +"John--John," said Sir Edward with warmth, "Sir William is my friend, +and his daughter must be respected." + +"Then, baronet," cried the Marquess, "she has one recommendation I was +ignorant of, and as such I am silent: but ought not Sir William to teach +his daughter to respect herself? I view these husband-hunting ladies as +pirates on the ocean of love, and lawful objects for any roving cruiser +like myself to fire at. At one time I was simple enough to retire as +they advanced, but you know, madam," turning to Mrs. Wilson with a droll +look, "flight only encourages pursuit, so I now give battle in self- +defence." + +"And I hope successfully, my Lord," observed the Lady. "Miss Harris, +brother, does appear to have grown desperate in her attacks, which were +formerly much more masked than at present. I believe it is generally the +case, when a young worman throws aside the delicacy and feelings which +ought to be the characteristics of her sex, and which teach her +studiously to conceal her admiration, that she either becomes in time +cynical and disagreeable to all around her from disappointment, or +persevering in her efforts, as it were, runs a muck for a husband. Now +in justice to the gentlemen, I must say, baronet, there are strong +symptoms of the Malay about Caroline Harris." + +"A muck, a muck," cried the marquess, as, in obedience to the signal of +his sister, he rose to withdraw. + +Jane had retired to her own room in a mortification of spirit she could +ill conceal during this conversation, and she felt a degree of +humiliation which almost drove her to the desperate resolution of hiding +herself for ever from the world. The man she had so fondly enshrined in +her heart proving to be so notoriously unworthy as to be the subject of +unreserved censure in general company, was a reproach to her delicacy, +her observation, her judgment, that was the more severe, from being +true; and she wept in bitterness over her fallen happiness. + +Emily had noticed the movement of Jane, and waited anxiously for the +departure of the visitors to hasten to her room. She knocked two or +three times before her sister replied to her request for admittance. + +"Jane, my dear Jane," said Emily, soothingly, "will you not admit me?" + +Jane could not resist any longer the affection of her sister, and the +door was opened; but as Emily endeavored to take her hand, she drew back +coldly, and cried-- + +"I wonder you, who are so happy, will leave the gay scene below for the +society of an humbled wretch like me;" and overcome with the violence of +her emotion, she burst into tears. + +"Happy!" repeated Emily, in a tone of anguish, "happy, did you say, +Jane? Oh, little do you know my sufferings, or you would never speak so +cruelly!" + +Jane, in her turn, surprised at the strength of Emily's language, +considered her weeping sister with commiseration; and then her thoughts +recurring to her own case, she continued with energy-- + +"Yes, Emily, happy; for whatever may have been the reason of Denbigh's +conduct, he is respected; and if you do or did love him, he was worthy +of it. But I," said Jane, wildly, "threw away my affections on a wretch- +-a mere impostor--and I am miserable for ever." + +"No, dear Jane," rejoined Emily, having recovered her self-possession, +"not miserable--nor for ever. You have many, very many sources of +happiness yet within your reach, even in this world. I--I do think, even +our strongest attachments may be overcome by energy and a sense of duty. +And oh! how I wish I could see you make the effort." + +For a moment the voice of the youthful moralist had failed her; but +anxiety in behalf of her sister overcame her feelings, and she ended the +sentence with earnestness. + +"Emily," said Jane, with obstinacy, and yet in tears, "you don't know +what blighted affections are. To endure the scorn of the world, and see +the man you once thought near being your husband married to another, who +is showing herself in triumph before you, wherever you go!" + +"Hear me, Jane, before you reproach me further, and then judge between +us." Emily paused a moment to acquire nerve to proceed, and then related +to her astonished sister the little history of her own disappointments. +She did not affect to conceal her attachment for Denbigh. With glowing +cheeks she acknowledged, that she found a necessity for all her efforts +to keep her rebellious feelings yet in subjection; and as she recounted +generally his conduct to Mrs. Fitzgerald, she concluded by saying, "But, +Jane, I can see enough to call forth my gratitude; and although, with +yourself, I feel at this moment as if my affections were sealed for +ever, I wish to make no hasty resolutions, nor act in any manner as if I +were unworthy of the lot Providence has assigned me." + +"Unworthy? no!--you have no reasons for self-reproach. If Mr. Denbigh +has had the art to conceal his crimes from you, he did it to the rest of +the world also, and has married a woman of rank and character. But how +differently are we situated! Emily--I--I have no such consolation." + +"You have the consolation, my sister, of knowing there is an interest +made for you where we all require it most, and it is there I endeavor to +seek my support," said Emily, in a low and humble tone. "A review of our +own errors takes away the keenness of our perception of the wrongs done +us, and by placing us in charity with the rest of the world, disposes us +to enjoy calmly the blessings within our reach. Besides, Jane, we have +parents whose happiness is locked up in that of their children, and we +should--we must overcome the feelings which disqualify us for our common +duties, on their account." + +"Ah!" cried Jane, "how can I move about in the world, while I know the +eyes of all are on me, in curiosity to discover how I bear my +disappointments. But you, Emily, are unsuspected. It is easy for you to +affect a gaiety you do not feel." + +"I neither affect nor feel any gaiety," said her sister, mildly. "But +are there not the eyes of One on us, of infinitely more power to punish +or reward than what may be found in the opinions of the world? Have we +no duties? For what is our wealth, our knowledge, our time given us, but +to improve for our own and for the eternal welfare of those around us? +Come then, my sister, we have both been deceived--let us endeavor not to +be culpable." + +"I wish, from my soul, we could leave Bath," cried Jane. "The place, the +people are hateful to me!" + +"Jane," said Emily, "rather say you hate their vices, and wish for their +amendment: but do not indiscriminately condemn a whole community for the +wrongs you have sustained from one of its members." + +Jane allowed herself to be consoled, though by no means convinced, by +this effort of her sister; and they both found a relief by thus +unburdening their hearts to each other, that in future brought them more +nearly together, and was of mutual assistance in supporting them in the +promiscuous circles in which they were obliged to mix. + +With all her fortitude and principle, one of the last things Emily would +have desired was an interview with Denbigh, and she was happily relieved +from the present danger of it by the departure of Lady Laura and her +brother, to go to the residence of the Colonel's sick uncle. + +Both Mrs. Wilson and Emily suspected that a dread of meeting them had +detained him from his intended journey to Bath; and neither was sorry to +perceive, what they considered as latent signs of grace--a grace of +which Egerton appeared entirely to be without. + +"He may yet see his errors, and make a kind and affectionate husband," +thought Emily; and then, as the image of Denbigh rose in her +imagination, surrounded with the domestic virtues, she roused herself +from the dangerous reflection to the exercise of the duties in which she +found a refuge from unpardonable wishes. + + + +Chapter XXXV. + +Nothing material occurred for a fortnight after the departure of Lady +Laura, the Moseleys entering soberly into the amusements of the place, +and Derwent and Chatterton becoming more pointed every day in their +attentions--the one to Emily, and the other to Lady Harriet; when the +dowager received a pressing entreaty from Catherine to hasten to her at +Lisbon, where her husband had taken up his abode for a time, after much +doubt and indecision as to his place of residence. Lady Herriefield +stated generally in her letter, that she was miserable, and that without +the support of her mother she could not exist under the present +grievances; but what was the cause of those grievances, or what grounds +she had for her misery, she left unexplained. + +Lady Chatterton was not wanting in maternal regard, and she promptly +determined to proceed to Portugal in the next packet. John felt inclined +for a little excursion with his bride; and out of compassion to the +baron, who was in a dilemma between his duty and his love (for Lady +Harriet about that time was particularly attractive), he offered his +services. + +Chatterton allowed himself to be persuaded by the good-natured John, +that his mother could safely cross the ocean under the protection of the +latter. Accordingly, at the end of the before mentioned fortnight, the +dowager, John, Grace, and Jane, commenced their journey to Falmouth. + +Jane had offered to accompany Grace, as a companion in her return (it +being expected Lady Chatterton would remain in the country with her +daughter); and her parents appreciating her motives, permitted the +excursion, with a hope it would draw her thoughts from past events. + +Although Grace shed a few tears at parting with Emily and her friends, +it was impossible for Mrs. Moseley to be long unhappy, with the face of +John smiling by her side; and they pursued their route uninterruptedly. +In due season they reached the port of embarkation. + +The following morning the packet got under weigh, and a favorable breeze +soon wafted them out of sight of their native shores. The ladies were +too much indisposed the first day to appear on the deck; but the weather +becoming calm and the sea smooth, Grace and Jane ventured out of the +confinement of their state-rooms, to respire the fresh air above. + +There were but few passengers, and those chiefly ladies--the wives of +officers on foreign stations, on their way to join their husbands. As +these had been accustomed to moving in the world, their disposition to +accommodate soon removed the awkwardness of a first meeting, and our +travellers began to be at home in their novel situation. + +While Grace stood leaning on the arm of her husband, and clinging to his +support, both from affection and a dread of the motion of the vessel, +Jane ventured with one of the ladies to attempt a walk round the deck of +the ship. Unaccustomed to such an uncertain foothold, the walkers were +prevented falling by the kind interposition of a gentleman, who for the +first time had shown himself among them at that moment. The accident, +and their situation, led to a conversation which was renewed at +different times during their passage, and in some measure created an +intimacy between our party and the stranger. He was addressed by the +commander of the vessel as Mr. Harland; and Lady Chatterton exercised +her ingenuity in the investigation of his history, by which she made the +following discovery: + +The Rev. and Hon. Mr. Harland was the younger son of an Irish earl, who +had early embraced his sacred profession in that church, in which he +held a valuable living in the gift of his father's family. His father +was yet alive, and then at Lisbon with his mother and sister, in +attendance on his elder brother, who had been sent there in a deep +decline a couple of months before. It had been the wish of his parents +to have taken all their children with them; but a sense of duty had kept +the young clergyman in the exercise of his holy office, until a request +of his dying brother, and the directions of his father, caused him to +hasten abroad to witness the decease of the one, and to afford all the +solace within his power to the others. + +It may be easily imagined that the discovery of the rank of their +accidental acquaintance, with the almost certainty that existed of his +being the heir of his father's honors, in no degree impaired his +consequence in the eyes of the dowager; and it is certain, his visible +anxiety and depressed spirits, his unaffected piety, and disinterested +hopes for his brother's recovery, no less elevated him in the opinions +of her companions. + +There was, at the moment, a kind of sympathy between Harland and Jane, +notwithstanding the melancholy which gave rise to it proceeding from +such very different causes and as the lady, although with diminished +bloom, retained all her personal charms, rather heightened than +otherwise by the softness of low spirits, the young clergyman sometimes +relieved his apprehensions of his brother's death by admitting the image +of Jane among his more melancholy reflections. + +The voyage was tedious, and some time before it was ended the dowager +had given Grace an intimation of the probability there was of Jane's +becoming, at some future day, a countess. Grace sincerely hoped that +whatever she became she would be as happy as she thought all allied to +John deserved to be. + +They entered the bay of Lisbon early in the morning; and as the ship had +been expected for some days, a boat came alongside with a note for Mr. +Harland, before they had anchored. It apprised him of the death of his +brother. The young man threw himself precipitately into it, and was soon +employed in one of the loveliest offices of his vocation, that of +healing the wounds of the afflicted. + +Lady Herriefield received her mother in a sort of sullen satisfaction, +and her companions with an awkwardness she could ill conceal. It +required no great observation in the travellers to discover, that their +arrival was entirely unexpected by the viscount, if it were not equally +disagreeable; indeed, one day's residence under his roof assured them +all that no great degree of domestic felicity was an inmate of the +dwelling. + +From the moment Lord Herriefield became suspicious that he had been the +dupe of the management of Kate and her mother, he viewed every act of +his wife with a prejudiced eye. It was easy, with his knowledge of human +nature, to detect her selfishness and worldly-mindedness; for as these +were faults she was unconscious of possessing, so she was unguarded in +her exposure of them. But her designs, in a matrimonial point of view, +having ended with her marriage, had the viscount treated her with any of +the courtesies due her sex and station, she might, with her disposition, +have been contented in the enjoyment of rank and in the possession of +wealth; but their more private hours were invariably rendered +unpleasant, by the overflowings of her husband's resentment at having +been deceived in his judgment of the female sex. + +There is no point upon which men are more tender than their privilege of +suiting themselves in a partner for life, although many of both sexes +are influenced in this important selection more by the wishes and whims +of others than is usually suspected; yet, as all imagine what is the +result of contrivance and management is the election of free will and +taste, so long as they are ignorant, they are contented. Lord +Herriefield wanted this bliss of ignorance; and, with contempt for his +wife, was mingled anger at his own want of foresight. + +Very few people can tamely submit to self-reproach; and as the cause of +this irritated state of mind was both not only constantly present, but +completely within his power, the viscount seemed determined to give her +as little reason to exult in the success of her plans as possible. +Jealous he was, from temperament, from bad associations, and a want of +confidence in the principles of his wife, the freedom of foreign manners +having an additional tendency to excite this baneful passion to an +unusual degree. Abridged in her pleasures, reproached with motives she +was incapable of harboring, and disappointed in all those enjoyments her +mother had ever led her to believe the invariable accompaniments of +married life, where proper attention had been paid to the necessary +qualifications of riches and rank, Kate had written to the dowager with +the hope her presence might restrain, or her advice teach her, +successfully to oppose the unfeeling conduct of the viscount. + +Lady Chatterton never having implanted any of her favorite systems in +her daughter, so much by precept as by the force of example in her own +person, as well as by indirect eulogiums on certain people who were +endowed with those qualities and blessings she most admired, on the +present occasion Catherine did not unburden herself in terms to her +mother; but by a regular gradation of complaints, aimed more at the +world than at her husband, she soon let the knowing dowager see their +application, and in the end completely removed the veil from her +domestic grievances. + +The example of John and Grace for a short time awed the peer into +dissembling his disgust for his spouse; but the ice once broken, their +presence soon ceased to affect either the frequency or the severity of +his remarks, when under its influence. + +From such exhibitions of matrimonial discord, Grace shrank timidly into +the retirement of her room, and Jane, with dignity, would follow her +example; while John at times became a listener, with a spirit barely +curbed within the bounds of prudence, and at others, he sought in the +company of his wife and sister, relief from the violence of his +feelings. + +John never admired nor respected Catherine, for she wanted those very +qualities he chiefly loved in her sister; yet, as she was a woman, and +one nearly connected with him, he found it impossible to remain a quiet +spectator of the unmanly treatment she often received from her husband; +he therefore made preparations for his return to England by the first +packet, abridging his intended residence in Lisbon more than a month. + +Lady Chatterton endeavored all within her power to heal the breach +between Kate and her husband, but it greatly exceeded her abilities. It +was too late to implant such principles in her daughter, as by a long +course of self-denial and submission might have won the love of the +viscount, had the mother been acquainted with them herself; so that +having induced her child to marry with a view to obtaining precedence +and a jointure, she once more set to work to undo part of her former +labors, by bringing about a decent separation between the husband and +wife, in such a manner as to secure to her child the possession of her +wealth, and the esteem of the world. The latter, though certainly a +somewhat difficult undertaking, was greatly lessened by the assistance +of the former. + +John and his wife determined to seize the opportunity to examine the +environs of the city. In one of these daily rides, they met their fellow +traveller, Mr. now Lord Harland. He was rejoiced to see them again, and +hearing of their intended departure, informed them of his being about to +return to England in the same vessel--his parents and sister +contemplating ending the winter in Portugal. + +The intercourse between the two families was kept up with a show of +civilities between the noblemen, and much real good-will on the part of +the juniors of the circle, until the day arrived for the sailing of the +packet. + +Lady Chatterton was left behind with Catherine, as yet unable to +circumvent her schemes with prudence; it being deemed by the world a +worse offence to separate, than to join together one's children in the +bands of wedlock. + +The confinement of a vessel is very propitious to those intimacies which +lead to attachments. The necessity of being agreeable is a check upon +the captious, and the desire to lessen the dulness of the scene a +stimulus to the lively; and though the noble divine and Jane could not +possibly be ranked in either class, the effect was the same. The noble +man was much enamored, and Jane unconsciously gratified. It is true, +love had never entered her thoughts in its direct and unequivocal form; +but admiration is so consoling to those laboring under self- +condemnation, and flattery of a certain kind so very soothing to all, it +is not to be wondered that she listened with increasing pleasure to the +interesting conversation of Harland on all occasions, and more +particularly, as often happened, when exclusively addressed to herself. + +Grace had of late reflected more seriously on the subject of her eternal +welfare than she had been accustomed to do in the house of her mother; +and the example of Emily, with the precepts of Mrs. Wilson, had not been +thrown away upon her. It is a singular fact, that more women feel a +disposition to religion soon after marriage than at any other period of +life; and whether it is, that having attained the most important station +this life affords the sex, they are more willing to turn their thoughts +to a provision for the next, or whether it be owing to any other cause, +Mrs. Moseley was included in the number. She became sensibly touched +with her situation, and as Harland was both devout and able as well as +anxious to instruct, one of the party, at least, had cause to rejoice in +the journey for the remainder of her days. But precisely as Grace +increased in her own faith, so did her anxiety after the welfare of her +husband receive new excitement; and John, for the first time, became the +cause of sorrow to his affectionate companion. + +The deep interest Harland took in the opening conviction of Mrs. +Moseley, did not so entirely engross his thoughts as to prevent the too +frequent contemplation of the charms of her friend for his own peace of +mind; and by the time the vessel reached Falmouth, he had determined to +make a tender of his hand and title to the acceptance of Miss Moseley. +Jane did not love Egerton; on the contrary, she despised him; but the +time had been, when all her romantic feelings, every thought of her +brilliant imagination, had been filled with his image, and Jane felt it +a species of indelicacy to admit the impression of another so soon, or +even at all. These objections would, in time, have been overcome, as her +affections became more and more enlisted on behalf of Harland, had she +admitted his addresses; but there was an impediment that Jane considered +insurmountable to a union with any man. + +She had once communicated her passion to its object. There had been the +confidence of approved love; and she had now no heart for Harland, but +one that had avowedly been a slave to another. To conceal this from him +would be unjust, and not reconcilable to good faith; to confess it, +humiliating, and without the pale of probability. It was the misfortune +of Jane to keep the world too constantly before her, and to lose sight +too much of her really depraved nature, to relish the idea of humbling +herself so low in the opinion of a fellow-creature. The refusal of +Harland's offer was the consequence, although she had begun to feel an +esteem for him, that would no doubt have given rise to an attachment in +time, far stronger and more deeply seated than her passing fancy for +Colonel Egerton had been. + +If the horror of imposing on the credulity of Harland a wounded heart, +was creditable to Jane, and showed an elevation of character that under +proper guidance would have placed her in the first ranks of her sex; the +pride which condemned her to a station nature did not design her for was +irreconcilable with the humility a just view of her condition could not +fail to produce; and the second sad consequence of the indulgent +weakness of her parents, was confirming their child in passions directly +at variance with the first duties of a Christian. + +We have so little right to value ourselves on anything, that pride is a +sentiment of very doubtful service, and one certainly, that is unable to +effect any useful results which will not equally flow from good +principles. + +Harland was disappointed and grieved, but prudently judging that +occupation and absence would remove recollections which could not be +very deep, they parted at Falmouth, and our travellers proceeded on +their journey for B----, whither, during their absence, Sir Edward's +family had returned to spend a month, before they removed to town for +the residue of the winter. + +The meeting of the two parties was warm and tender, and as Jane had many +things to recount, and John as many to laugh at, their arrival threw a +gaiety around Moseley Hall to which it had for months been a stranger. + +One of the first acts of Grace, after her return, was to enter strictly +into the exercise of all those duties and ordinances required by her +church, and the present state of her mind, and from the hands of Dr. +Ives she received her first communion at the altar. + +As the season had now become far advanced, and the fashionable world had +been some time assembled in the metropolis, the Baronet commenced his +arrangements to take possession of his town-house, after an interval of +nineteen years. John proceeded to the capital first; and the necessary +domestics procured, furniture supplied, and other arrangements usual to +the appearance of a wealthy family in the world having been completed, +he returned with the information that all was ready for their triumphal +entrance. + +Sir Edward, feeling that a separation for so long a time, and at such an +unusual distance, in the very advanced age of Mr. Benfield, would be +improper, paid him a visit, with the intention of persuading him to make +one of his family for the next four months. Emily was his companion, and +their solicitations were happily crowned with a success they had not +anticipated. Averse to be deprived of Peter's society, the honest +steward was included in the party. + +"Nephew," said Mr. Benfield, beginning to waver in his objections to the +undertaking, as the arguments pro and con were produced, "there are +instances of gentlemen, not in parliament, going to town in the winter, +I know. You are one yourself; and old Sir John Cowel, who never could +get in, although he ran for every city in the kingdom, never missed his +winter in Soho. Yes, yes--the thing is admissible--but had I known your +wishes before, I would certainly have kept my borough if it were only +for the appearance of the thing--besides," continued the old man, +shaking his head, "his majesty's ministers require the aid of some more +experienced members in these critical times; for what should an old man +like me do in Westminster, unless it were to aid his country with his +advice?" + +"Make his friends happy with his company, dear uncle," said Emily, +taking his hand between both her own, and smiling affectionately on the +old gentleman as she spoke. + +"Ah! Emmy dear!" cried Mr. Benfield, looking on her with melancholy +pleasure, "you are not to be resisted--just such another as the sister +of my old friend Lord Gosford; she could always coax me out of anything. +I remember now, I heard the earl tell her once he could not afford to +buy a pair of diamond ear-rings; and she looked--only looked--did not +speak! Emmy!--that I bought them with intent to present them to her +myself." + +"And did she take them, uncle?" asked his niece, in a little surprise. + +"Oh yes! When I told her if she did not I would throw them into the +river, as no one else should wear what had been intended for her; poor +soul! how delicate and unwilling she was. I had to convince her they +cost three hundred pounds, before she would listen to it; and then she +thought it such a pity to throw away a thing of so much value. It would +have been wicked, you know, Emmy, dear; and she was much opposed to +wickedness and sin in any shape." + +"She must have been a very unexceptionable character indeed," cried the +Baronet, with a smile, as he proceeded to make the necessary orders for +their journey. "But we must return to the party left at Bath." + + + +Chapter +XXXVI. + +The letters of Lady Laura informed her friends, that she and Colonel +Denbigh had decided to remain with his uncle until the recovery of the +latter was complete, and then to proceed to Denbigh Castle, to meet the +Duke and his sister during the approaching holidays. + +Emily was much relieved by this postponement of an interview which she +would gladly have avoided for ever; and her aunt sincerely rejoiced that +her niece was allowed more time to eradicate impressions, which, she saw +with pain, her charge had yet a struggle to overcome. + +There were so many points to admire in the character of Denbigh; his +friends spoke of him with such decided partiality; Dr. Ives, in his +frequent letters, alluded to him with so much affection; that Emily +frequently detected herself in weighing the testimony of his guilt, and +indulging the expectation that circumstances had deceived them all in +their judgment of his conduct. Then his marriage would cross her mind; +and with the conviction of the impropriety of admitting him to her +thoughts at all, would come the mass of circumstantial testimony which +had accumulated against him. + +Derwent served greatly to keep alive the recollections of his person, +however; and as Lady Harriet seemed to live only in the society of the +Moseleys, not a day passed without giving the Duke some opportunity of +indirectly preferring his suit. + +Emily not only appeared, but in fact was, unconscious of his admiration; +and entered into their amusements with a satisfaction that was increased +by the belief that the unfortunate attachment her cousin Chatterton had +once professed for herself, was forgotten in the more certain enjoyments +of a successful love. + +Lady Harriet was a woman of manners and character very different from +Emily Moseley; yet had she in a great measure erased the impressions +made by the beauty of his kinswoman from the bosom of the baron. + +Chatterton, under the depression of his first disappointment, it will be +remembered, had left B---- in company with Mr. Denbigh. The interest of +the duke had been unaccountably exerted to procure him the place he had +so long solicited in vain, and gratitude required his early +acknowledgments for the favor. His manner, so very different from a +successful applicant for a valuable office, had struck both Derwent and +his sister as singular. Before, however, a week's intercourse had passed +between them, his own frankness had made them acquainted with the cause; +and a double wish prevailed in the bosom of Lady Harriet, to know the +woman who could resist the beauty of Chatterton, and to relieve him from +the weight imposed on his spirits by disappointed affection. + +The manners of Lady Harriet Denbigh were not in the least forward or +masculine; but they had the freedom of high rank, mingled with a good +deal of the ease of fashionable life. Mrs. Wilson noticed, moreover, in +her conduct to Chatterton, a something exceeding the interest of +ordinary communications in their situation, which might possibly have +been attributed more to feeling than to manner. It is certain, one of +the surest methods to drive Emily from his thoughts, was to dwell on the +perfections of some other lady; and Lady Harriet was so constantly +before him in his visit into Westmoreland, so soothing, so evidently +pleased with his presence, that the baron made rapid advances in +attaining his object. + +He had alluded, in his letter to Emily, to the obligation he was under +to the services of Denbigh, in erasing his unfortunate partiality for +her: but what those services were, we are unable to say, unless they +were the usual arguments of the plainest good sense, enforced in the +singularly insinuating and kind manner which distinguished that +gentleman. In fact, Lord Chatterton was not formed by nature to love +long, deprived of hope, or to resist long the flattery of a preference +from such a woman as Harriet Denbigh. + +On the other hand, Derwent was warm in his encomiums on Emily to all but +herself; and Mrs. Wilson again thought it prudent to examine into the +state of her feelings, in order to discover if there was any danger of +his unremitted efforts drawing Emily into a connexion that neither her +religion nor prudence could wholly approve. + +Derwent was a man of the world--a Christian only in name; and the +cautious widow determined to withdraw in season, should she find grounds +for her apprehensions. + +About ten days after the departure of the Dowager and her companions, +Lady Harriet exclaimed, in one of her morning visits-- + +"Lady Moseley! I have now hopes of presenting to you soon the most +polished man in the United Kingdom!" + +"As a husband! Lady Harriet?" inquired the other, with a smile. + +"Oh, no! only as a cousin, a second cousin! madam!" replied Lady +Harriet, blushing a little, and looking in the opposite direction to the +one in which Chatterton was placed. + +"But his name? You forget our curiosity! What is his name?" cried Mrs. +Wilson, entering into the trifling for the moment. + +"Pendennyss, to be sure, my dear madam: whom else can I mean?" + +"And you expect the earl at Bath?" Mrs. Wilson eagerly inquired. + +"He has given us such hopes, and Derwent has written him to-day, +pressing the journey." + +"You will be disappointed, I am afraid, sister," said the duke. +"Pendennyss has become so fond of Wales of late, that it is difficult to +get him out of it." + +"But," said Mrs. Wilson, "he will take his seat in parliament during the +winter, my lord?" + +"I hope he will, madam; though Lord Eltringham holds his proxies, in my +absence, in all important questions before the house." + +"Your grace will attend, I trust," said Sir Edward. "The pleasure of +your company is among my expected enjoyments in the town." + +"You are very good, Sir Edward," replied the duke, looking at Emily. "It +will somewhat depend on circumstances, I believe." + +Lady Harriet smiled, and the speech seemed understood by all but the +lady most concerned in it. + +"Lord Pendennyss is a universal favorite, and deservedly so," cried the +duke. "He has set an example to the nobility, which few are equal to +imitate. An only son, with an immense estate, he has devoted himself to +the profession of a soldier, and gained great reputation by it in the +world; nor has he neglected any of his private duties as a man----" + +"Or a Christian, I hope," said Mrs. Wilson, delighted with the praises +of the earl. + +"Nor of a Christian, I believe," continued the duke; "he appears +consistent, humble, and sincere--three requisites, I believe, for that +character." + +"Does not your grace know?" said Emily, with a benevolent smile. + +Derwent colored slightly as he answered-- + +"Not as well as I ought; but"--lowering his voice for her ear alone, he +added, "under proper instruction I think I might learn." + +"Then I would recommend that book to you, my lord," rejoined Emily, with +a blush, pointing to a pocket Bible which lay near her, though still +ignorant of the allusion he meant to convey. + +"May I ask the honor of an audience of Miss Moseley," said Derwent, in +the same low tone, "whenever her leisure will admit of her granting the +favor?" + +Emily was surprised; but from the previous conversation and the current +of her thoughts at the moment, supposing his communication had some +reference to the subject before them, she rose from her chair, and +unobtrusively, but certainly with an air of perfect innocence and +composure, she went into the adjoining room, the door of which was open +very near them. + +Caroline Harris had abandoned all ideas of a coronet with the departure +of the Marquess of Eltringham and his sisters for their own seat; and as +a final effort of her fading charms, had begun to calculate the +capabilities of Captain Jarvis, who had at this time honored Bath with +his company. + +It is true, the lady would have greatly preferred her father's neighbor, +but that was an irretrievable step. He had retired, disgusted with her +haughty dismissal of his hopes, and was a man who, although he greatly +admired her fortune, was not to be recalled by any beck or smile which +might grow out of caprice. + +Lady Jarvis had, indeed, rather magnified the personal qualifications of +her son; but the disposition they had manifested, to devote some of +their surplus wealth to purchasing a title, had great weight, for Miss +Harris would cheerfully, at any time, have sacrificed one half her own +fortune to be called my lady. Jarvis would make but a shabby-looking +lord, 'tis true; but then what a lord's wife would she not make herself! +His father was a merchant, to be sure, but then merchants were always +immensely rich, and a few thousand pounds, properly applied, might make +the merchant's son a baron. She therefore resolved to inquire, the first +opportunity, into the condition of the sinking fund of his plebeianism, +and had serious thoughts of contributing her mite towards the +advancement of the desired object, did she find it within the bounds of +probable success. + +An occasion soon offered, by the invitation of the Captain to accompany +him in an excursion in the tilbury of his brother-in-law. + +In this ride they passed the equipages of Lady Harriet and Mrs. Wilson, +with their respective mistresses, taking an airing. In passing the +latter, Jarvis bowed (for he had renewed his acquaintance at the rooms, +without daring to visit at the lodgings of Sir Edward), and Miss Harris +saw both parties as they dashed by them. + +"You know the Moseleys, Caroline?" said Jarvis, with the freedom her +manners had established between them. + +"Yes," replied the lady, drawing her head back from a view of the +carriages; "what fine arms those of the Duke's are--and the coronet, it +is so noble--so rich--I am sure if I were a man," laying great emphasis +on the word--"I would be a Lord." + +"If you could, you mean," cried the captain. + +"Could--why money will buy a title, you know--only most people are +fonder of their cash than of honor." + +"That's right," said the unreflecting captain; "money is the thing, +after all. Now what do you suppose our last mess-bill came to?" + +"Oh, don't talk of eating and drinking," cried Miss Harris, in affected +aversion; "is it beneath the consideration of nobility." + +"Then any one may be a lord for me," said Jarvis, drily "if they are not +to eat and drink; why, what do they live for, but such sort of things!" + +"A soldier lives to fight and gain honor and distinction"--for his wife- +-Miss Harris would have added, had she spoken all she thought. + +"A poor way that of spending a man's time," said the Captain. "Now there +is Captain Jones in our regiment; they say he loves fighting as much as +eating: if he do, he is a bloodthirsty fellow." + +"You know how intimate I am with your dear mother," continued the lady, +bent on the principal object; "she has made me acquainted with her +greatest wish." + +"Her greatest wish!" cried the Captain, in astonishment; "why, what can +that be?--a new coach and horses?" + +"No, I mean one much dearer to us--I should say, to her, than any such +trifles: she has told me of the plan." + +"Plan!" said Jarvis, still in wonder, "what plan?" + +"About the fund for the peerage, you know. Of course, the thing is +sacred with me, as, indeed, I am equally interested with you all in its +success." + +Jarvis eyed her with a knowing look, and as she concluded, rolling his +eyes in an expression of significance, he said-- + +"What, serve Sir William some such way, eh?" + +"I will assist a little, if it be necessary, Henry," said the lady, +tenderly, "although my mite cannot amount to a great deal." + +During this speech, the Captain was wondering what she could mean; but, +having had a suspicion, from something that had fallen from his mother, +that the lady was intended for him as a wife, and that she might be as +great a dupe as Lady Jarvis herself, he was resolved to know the whole, +and to act accordingly. + +"I think it might be made to do," he replied, evasively in order to +discover the extent of his companion's information. + +"Do!", cried Miss Harris, with fervor, "it cannot fail! How much do you +suppose will be wanting to buy a barony, for instance?" + +"Hem!" said Jarvis; "you mean more than we have already?" + +"Certainly." + +"Why, about a thousand pounds, I think, will do it, with what we have," +said Jarvis, affecting to calculate. + +"Is that all?" cried the delighted Caroline; and the captain grew in an +instant, in her estimation, three inches higher;--quite noble in his +air, and, in short, very tolerably handsome. + +From that moment, Miss Harris, in her own mind, had fixed the fate of +Captain Jarvis, and had determined to be his wife, whenever she could +persuade him to offer himself; a thing she had no doubt of accomplishing +with comparative ease. Not so the Captain. Like all weak men, there was +nothing of which he stood more in terror than of ridicule. He had heard +the manoeuvres of Miss Harris laughed at by many of the young men in +Bath, and was by no means disposed to add himself to the food for mirth +of these wags; and, indeed, had cultivated her acquaintance with a kind +of bravado to some of his bottle companions, in order to show his +ability to oppose all her arts, when most exposed to them: for it is one +of the greatest difficulties to the success of this description of +ladies, that their characters soon become suspected, and do them +infinitely more injury than all their skill in their vocation. + +With these views in the respective champions the campaign opened, and +the lady, on her return, acquainted his mother with the situation of the +privy purse, that was to promote her darling child to the enviable +distinction of the peerage. Lady Jarvis was for purchasing a baronetcy +on the spot, with what they had, under the impression that when ready +for another promotion they would only have to pay the difference, as +they did in the army when he received his captaincy. As, however, the +son was opposed to any arrangement that might make the producing the few +hundred pounds he had obtained from his mother's folly necessary, she +was obliged to postpone the wished-for day, until their united efforts +could compass the means of effecting the main point. As an earnest, +however, of her spirit in the cause, she gave him a fifty pound note, +that morning obtained from her husband, and which the Captain lost at +one throw of the dice to his brother-in-law the same evening. + +During the preceding events, Egerton had either studiously avoided all +collision with the Moseleys, or his engagements had confined him to such +very different scenes, that they never met. + +The Baronet had felt his presence a reproach, and Lady Moseley rejoiced +that Egerton yet possessed sufficient shame to keep him from insulting +her with his company. + +It was a month after the departure of Lady Chatterton that Sir Edward +returned to B----, as related in the preceding chapter, and that the +arrangements for the London winter were commenced. + +The day preceding their leaving Bath, the engagement of Chatterton with +Lady Harriet was made public amongst their mutual friends, and an +intimation was given that their nuptials would be celebrated before the +family of the Duke left his seat for the capital. + +Something of the pleasure that she had for a long time been a stranger +to, was felt by Emily Moseley, as the well remembered tower of the +village church of B---- struck her sight on their return from their +protracted excursion. More than four months had elapsed since they had +commenced their travels, and in that period what changes of sentiments +had she not witnessed in others; of opinions of mankind in general, and +of one individual in particular, had she not experienced in her own +person. The benevolent smiles, the respectful salutations they received, +in passing the little group of houses which, clustered round the church, +had obtained the name of "the village," conveyed a sensation of delight +that can only be felt by the deserving and virtuous; and the smiling +faces, in several instances glistening with tears, which met them at the +Hall, gave ample testimony to the worth of both the master and his +servants. + +Francis and Clara were in waiting to receive them, and a very few +minutes elapsed before the rector and Mrs. Ives, having heard they had +passed, drove in also. In saluting the different members of the family, +Mrs. Wilson noticed the startled look of the doctor, as the change in +Emily's appearance first met his eyes. Her bloom, if not gone, was +greatly diminished; and it was only when under the excitement of strong +emotions, that her face possessed that radiance which had so eminently +distinguished it before her late journey. + +"Where did you last see my friend George?" said the Doctor to Mrs. +Wilson, in the course of the first afternoon, as he took a seat by her +side, apart from the rest of the family. + +"At L----," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely. + +"L----!" cried the doctor, in evident amazement. "Was he not at Bath +then during your stay there?" + +"No; I understand he was in attendance on some sick relative, which +detained him from his friends," said Mrs. Wilson, wondering why the +doctor chose to introduce so delicate a topic. Of his guilt in relation +to Mrs. Fitzgerald he was doubtless ignorant, but surely not of his +marriage. + +"It is now some time since I heard from him," continued the doctor, +regarding Mrs. Wilson expressively, but to which the lady only replied +with a gentle inclination of the body; and the Rector, after pausing a +moment, continued: + +"You will not think me impertinent if I am bold enough to ask, has +George ever expressed a wish to become connected with your niece by +other ties than those of friendship?" + +"He did," answered the widow, after a little hesitation. + +"He did, and--" + +"Was refused," continued Mrs. Wilson, with a slight feeling for the +dignity of her sex, which for a moment caused her to lose sight of +justice to Denbigh. + +Dr. Ives was silent; but manifested by his dejected countenance the +interest he had taken in this anticipated connexion, and as Mrs. Wilson +had spoken with ill-concealed reluctance on the subject at all, the +Rector did not attempt a renewal of the disagreeable. + + + +Chapter XXXVII. + +"Samvenson has returned, and I certainly must hear from Harriet," +exclaimed the sister of Pendennyss, as she stood at a window watching +the return of a servant from the neighboring post-office. + +"I am afraid," rejoined the Earl, who was seated by the breakfast table, +waiting the leisure of the lady to give him his cup of tea--"You find +Wales very dull, sister. I sincerely hope both Derwent and Harriet will +not forget their promise of visiting us this month." + +The lady slowly took her seat at the table, engrossed in her own +reflections, when the man entered with his budget of news; and having +deposited sundry papers and letters he respectfully withdrew. The Earl +glanced his eyes over the directions of the epistles, and turning to his +servants said, "Answer the bell when called." Three or four liveried +footmen deposited their silver salvers and different implements of +servitude, and the peer and his sister were left to themselves. + +"Here is one from the Duke to me, and one for you from his sister," said +the brother; "I propose they be read aloud for our mutual advantage." To +this proposal the lady, whose curiosity to hear the contents of +Derwent's letter greatly exceeded her interest in that of his sister, +cheerfully acquiesced, and her brother first broke the seal of his own +epistle, and read its contents as follow: + +"Notwithstanding my promise of seeing you this month in Caernarvonshire, +I remain here yet, my dear Pendennyss, unable to tear myself from the +attractions I have found in this city, although the pleasure of their +contemplation has been purchased at the expense of mortified feelings +and unrequited affections. It is a truth (though possibly difficult to +be believed), that this mercenary age has produced a female disengaged, +young, and by no means very rich, who has refused a jointure of six +thousand a year, with the privilege of walking at a coronation within a +dozen of royalty itself." + +Here the accidental falling of a cup from the hands of the fair listener +caused some little interruption to the reading of the brother; but as +the lady, with a good deal of trepidation and many blushes, apologized +hastily for the confusion her awkwardness had made, the Earl continued +to read. + +"I could almost worship her independence: for I know the wishes of both +her parents were for my success. I confess to you freely, that my vanity +has been a good deal hurt, as I really thought myself agreeable to her. +She certainly listened to my conversation, and admitted my approaches, +with more satisfaction than those of any other of the men around her; +and when I ventured to hint to her this circumstance, as some +justification for my presumption, she frankly acknowledged the truth of +my impression, and, without explaining the reasons for her conduct, +deeply regretted the construction I had been led to place upon the +circumstance. Yes, my lord, I felt it necessary to apologize to Emily +Moseley for presuming to aspire to the honor of possessing so much +loveliness and virtue. The accidental advantages of rank and wealth lose +all their importance, when opposed to her delicacy, ingenuousness, and +unaffected principles. + +"I have heard it intimated lately, that George Denbigh was in some way +or other instrumental in saving her life once; and that to her +gratitude, and to my resemblance to the colonel, am I indebted to a +consideration with Miss Moseley, which, although it has been the means +of buoying me up with false hopes, I can never regret, from the pleasure +her society has afforded me. I have remarked, on my mentioning his name +to her, that she showed unusual emotion; and as Denbigh is already a +husband, and myself rejected, the field is now fairly open to you. You +will enter on your enterprise with great advantage, as you have the same +flattering resemblance, and, if anything, the voice, which, I am told, +is our greatest recommendation with the ladies, in higher perfection +than either George or your humble servant." + +Here the reader stopped of his own accord, and was so intently absorbed +in his meditations, that the almost breathless curiosity of his sister +was obliged to find relief by desiring him to proceed. Roused by the +sound of her voice, the earl changed color sensibly, and continued: + +"But to be serious on a subject of great importance to my future life +(for I sometimes think her negative will make Denbigh a duke), the +lovely girl did not appear happy at the time of our interview, nor do I +think she enjoys at any time the spirits nature has evidently given her. +Harriet is nearly as great an admirer of Miss Moseley, and takes her +refusal to heart as much as myself; she even attempted to intercede with +her in my behalf. But the charming girl though mild, grateful, and +delicate, was firm and unequivocal, and left no grounds for the remotest +expectation of success from perseverance on my part. + +"As Harriet had received an intimation that both Miss Moseley and her +aunt entertained extremely rigid notions on the score of religion, she +took occasion to introduce the subject in her conference with the +former, and was told in reply, 'that other considerations would have +determined her to decline the honor I intended her; but that, under any +circumstances, a more intimate knowledge of my principles would be +necessary before she could entertain a thought of accepting my hand, or, +indeed, that of any other man.' Think of that, Pendennyss! The +principles of a duke!--now, a dukedom and forty thousand a year would +furnish a character, with most people, for a Nero. + +"I trust the important object I have had in view here is a sufficient +excuse for my breach of promise to you; and I am serious when I wish you +(unless the pretty Spaniard has, as I sometimes suspect, made you a +captive) to see, and endeavor to bring me in some degree connected with, +the charming family of Sir Edward Moseley. + +"The aunt, Mrs. Wilson, often speaks of you with the greatest interest, +and, from some cause or other, is strongly enlisted in your favor, and +Miss Moseley hears your name mentioned with evident pleasure. Your +religion or principles cannot be doubted. You can offer larger +settlements, as honorable if not as elevated a title, a far more +illustrious name, purchased by your own services, and personal merit +greatly exceeding the pretensions of your assured friend and relative, + +"DERWENT." + +Both brother and sister were occupied with their own reflections for +several minutes after the letter was ended, and the silence was broken +first, by the latter saying with a low tone to her brother,-- + +"You must endeavor to become acquainted with Mrs. Wilson; she is, I +know, very anxious to see you, and your friendship for the general +requires it of you." + +"I owe General Wilson much," replied the brother, in a melancholy voice; +"and when we go to Annerdale House, I wish you to make the acquaintance +of the ladies of the Moseley family, should they be in town this +winter;--but you have yet the letter of Harriet to read." + +After first hastily running over its contents, the lady commenced the +fulfilment of her part of the engagement. + +"Frederick has been so much engrossed of late with his own affairs, that +he has forgotten there is such a creature in existence as his sister, +or, indeed, any one else but a Miss Emily Moseley, and consequently I +have been unable to fulfil my promise of making you a visit, for want of +a proper escort, and--and--perhaps some other considerations, not worth +mentioning in a letter I know you will read to the earl. + +"Yes, my dear cousin, Frederick Denbigh has supplicated the daughter of +a country baronet to become a duchess; and, hear it, ye marriage-seeking +nymphs and marriage-making dames! has supplicated in vain! + +"I confess to you, when the thing was first in agitation, my +aristocratic blood roused itself a little at the anticipated connexion; +but finding on examination that Sir Edward was of no doubtful lineage, +and that the blood of the Chattertons runs in his veins, and finding the +young lady everything I could wish in a sister, my scruples soon +disappeared, with the folly that engendered them. + +"There was no necessity for any alarm, for the lady very decidedly +refused the honor offered her by Derwent, and what makes the matter +worse, refused the solicitations of his sister also. + +"I have fifty times been surprised at my own condescension, and to this +moment am at a loss to know whether it was to the lady's worth, my +brother's happiness, or the Chatterton blood, that I finally yielded. +Heigho! this Chatterton is certainly much too handsome for a man; but I +forget you have never seen him." (Here an arch smile stole over the +features of the listener, as his sister continued)--"To return to my +narration, I had half a mind to send for a Miss Harris there is here, to +learn the most approved fashion of a lady preferring a suit, but as fame +said she was just now practising on a certain hero ycleped Captain +Jarvis, heir to Sir Timo of that name, it struck me her system might be +rather too abrupt, so I was fain to adopt the best plan--that of +trusting to nature and my own feelings for words. + +"Nobility is certainly a very pretty thing (for those who have it), but +I would defy the old Margravine of ---- to keep up the semblance of +superiority with Emily Moseley. She is so very natural, so very +beautiful, and withal at times a little arch, that one is afraid to set +up any other distinctions than such as can be fairly supported. + +"I commenced with hoping her determination to reject the hand of +Frederick was not an unalterable one. (Yes, I called him Frederick, what +I never did out of my own family before in my life.) There was a +considerable tremor in the voice of Miss Moseley, as she replied, 'I now +perceive, when too late, that my indiscretion has given reason to my +friends to think that I have entertained intentions towards his grace, +of which I entreat you to believe me, Lady Harriet, I am innocent. +Indeed--indeed, as anything more than an agreeable acquaintance I have +never allowed myself to think of your brother:' and from my soul I +believe her. We continued our conversation for half an hour longer, and +such was the ingenuousness, delicacy, and high religious feeling +displayed by the charming girl, that if I entered the room with a spark +of regret that I was compelled to solicit another to favor my brother's +love, I left it with a feeling that my efforts had been unsuccessful. +Yes! thou peerless sister of the more peerless Pendennyss! I once +thought of your ladyship as a wife for Derwent--" + +A glass of water was necessary to enable the reader to clear her voice, +which grew husky from speaking so long. + +"But I now openly avow, neither your birth, your hundred thousand +pounds, nor your merit, would put you on a footing, in my estimation, +with my Emily. You may form some idea of her power to captivate, and of +her indifference to her conquests, when I mention that she once refused- +-but I forget, you don't know him, and therefore cannot be a judge. The +thing is finally decided, and we shortly go into Westmoreland, and next +week, the Moseleys return to Northamptonshire. I don't know when I shall +be able to visit you, and think I may now safely invite you to Denbigh +Castle, although a month ago I might have hesitated. Love to the earl, +and kind assurance to yourself of unalterable regard. + +"HARRIET DENBIGH." + +"P.S. I believe I forgot to mention that Mrs. Moseley, a sister of Lord +Chatterton, has gone to Portugal, and that the peer himself is to go +into the country with us: there is, I suppose, a fellow-feeling between +them just now, though I do not think Chatterton looks so very miserable +as he might. Adieu." + +On ending this second epistle the same silence which had succeeded the +reading of the first prevailed, until the lady with an arch expression, +interrupted it by saying, + +"Harriet will, I think, soon grace the peerage." + +"And happily, I trust," replied the brother. + +"Do you know Lord Chatterton?" + +"I do; he is very amiable, and admirably calculated to contrast with the +lively gaiety of Harriet Denbigh." + +"You believe in loving our opposites, I see," rejoined the lady; and +then affectionately stretching out her hand to him, she added, "but, +Pendennyss, you must give me for a sister one as nearly like yourself as +possible." + +"That might please your affections," answered the earl with a smile, +"but how would it comport with my tastes? Will you suffer me to describe +the kind of man you are to select for your future lord, unless, indeed, +you have decided the point already?" + +The lady colored violently, and appearing anxious to change the subject, +she tumbled over two or three unopened letters, as she cried eagerly-- + +"Here is one from the Donna Julia." The earl instantly broke the seal +and read aloud; no secrets existing between them in relation to their +mutual friend. + +"My Lord, + +"I hasten to write you what I know it will give you pleasure to hear, +concerning my future prospects in life. My uncle, General M'Carthy, has +written me the cheerful tidings, that my father has consented to receive +his only child, without any other sacrifice than a condition of +attending the service of the Catholic Church without any professions on +my side, or even an understanding that I am conforming to its peculiar +tenets. This may be, in some measure, irksome at times, and possibly +distressing; but the worship of God with a proper humiliation of spirit, +I have learnt to consider as a privilege to us here, and I owe a duty to +my earthly father of penitence and care in his later years that will +justify the measure in the eyes of my heavenly One. I have, therefore, +acquainted my uncle in reply, that I am willing to attend the Conde's +summons at any moment he will choose to make them; and I thought it a +debt due your care and friendship to apprise your lordship of my +approaching departure from this country; indeed, I have great reasons +for believing that your kind and unremitted efforts to attain this +object have already prepared you to expect this result. + +"I feel it will be impossible to quit England without seeing you and +your sister, to thank you for the many, very many favors, of both a +temporal and eternal nature, you have been the agents of conferring on +me. The cruel suggestions which I dreaded, and which it appears had +reached the ears of my friends in Spain, have prevented my troubling +your lordship of late unnecessarily with my concerns. The consideration +of a friend to your character (Mrs. Wilson) has removed the necessity of +applying for your advice; she and her charming niece, Miss Emily +Moseley, have been, next to yourselves, the greatest solace I have had +in my exile, and united you will be remembered in my prayers. I will +merely mention here, deferring the explanation until I see you in +London, that I have been visited by the wretch from whom you delivered +me in Portugal, and that the means of ascertaining his name have fallen +into my hands. You will be the best judge of the proper steps to be +taken; but I wish, by all means, something may be done to prevent his +attempting to see me in Spain. Should it be discovered to my relations +there that he has any such intentions, it would certainly terminate in +his death, and possibly in my disgrace. Wishing you and your kind sister +all possible happiness, I remain, + +"Your Lordship's obliged friend, + +"JULIA FITZGERALD." + +"Oh!" cried the sister as she concluded the letter, "we must certainly +see her before she goes. What a wretch that persecutor of hers must be! +how persevering in his villainy!" + +"He does exceed my ideas of effrontery," said the earl, in great warmth- +-"but he may offend too far; the laws shall interpose their power to +defeat his schemes, should he ever repeat them." + +"He attempted to take your life, brother," said the lady shuddering, "if +I remember the tale aright." + +"Why, I have endeavored to free him from that imputation," rejoined the +brother, musing, "he certainly fired a pistol, but the latter hit my +horse at such a distance from myself, that I believe his object was to +disable me and not murder. His escape has astonished me; he must have +fled by himself into the woods, as Harmer was but a short distance +behind me, admirably mounted, and the escort was up and in full pursuit +within ten minutes. After all it may be for the best he was not taken; +for I am persuaded the dragoons would have sabred him on the spot, and +he may have parents of respectability, or a wife to kill by the +knowledge of his misconduct." + +"This Emily Moseley must be a faultless being," cried the sister, as she +ran over the contents of Julia's letter. "Three different letters, and +each containing her praises!" + +The earl made no reply, but opening the duke's letter again, he appeared +to be studying its contents. His color slightly changed as he dwelt on +its passages, and turning to his sister he inquired if she had a mind to +try the air of Westmoreland for a couple of weeks or a month. + +"As you say, my Lord," replied the lady, with cheeks of scarlet. + +"Then I say we will go. I wish much to see Derwent and I think there +will be a wedding during our visit." + +He rang the bell, and the almost untasted breakfast was removed in a few +minutes. A servant announced that his horse was in readiness. The earl +wished his sister a friendly good morning, and proceeded to the door, +where was standing one of the noble black horses before mentioned, held +by a groom, and the military-looking attendant ready mounted on another. + +Throwing himself into the saddle, the young peer rode gracefully from +the door, followed by his attendant horseman. During this ride, the +master suffered his steed to take whatever course most pleased himself, +and his follower looked up in surprise more than once, to see the +careless manner in which the Earl of Pendennyss, confessedly one of the +best horsemen in England, managed the noble animal. Having, however, got +without the gates of his own park, and into the vicinity of numberless +cottages and farm-houses, the master recovered his recollection, and the +man ceased to wonder. + +For three hours the equestrians pursued their course through the +beautiful vale which opened gracefully opposite one of the fronts of the +castle; and if faces of smiling welcome, inquiries after his own and his +sister's welfare, which evidently sprang from the heart, or the most +familiar but respectful representations of their own prosperity or +misfortunes, gave any testimony of the feelings entertained by the +tenantry of this noble estate for their landlord, the situation of the +young nobleman might be justly considered envied. + +As the hour for dinner approached, they turned the heads of their horses +towards home; and on entering the park, removed from the scene of +industry and activity without, the earl relapsed into his fit of musing. +A short distance from the house he suddenly called, "Harmer." The man +drove his spurs into the loins of his horse, and in an instant was by +the side of his master, which he signified by raising his hand to his +cap with the palm opening outward. + +"You must prepare to go to Spain when required, in attendance on Mrs. +Fitzgerald." + +The man received his order with the indifference of one used to +adventures and movements, and having laconically dignified his assent, +he drew his horse back again into his station in the rear. + + + +Chapter +XXXVIII. + +The day succeeding the arrival of the Moseleys at the seat of their +ancestors, Mrs. Wilson observed Emily silently putting on her pelisse, +and walking out unattended by either of the domestics or any of the +family. There was a peculiar melancholy in her air and manner, which +inclined the cautious aunt to suspect that her charge was bent on the +indulgence of some ill-judged weakness; more particularly, as the +direction she took led to the arbor, a theatre in which Denbigh had been +so conspicuous an actor. Hastily throwing a cloak over her own +shoulders, Mrs. Wilson followed Emily with the double purpose of +ascertaining her views, and if necessary, of interposing her own +authority against the repetition of similar excursions. + +As Emily approached the arbor, whither in truth she had directed her +steps, its faded vegetation and chilling aspect, so different from its +verdure and luxuriance when she last saw it, came over her heart as a +symbol of her own blighted prospects and deadened affections. The +recollection of Denbigh's conduct on that spot, of his general +benevolence and assiduity to please, being forcibly recalled to her mind +at the instant, forgetful of her object in visiting the arbor, Emily +yielded to her sensibilities, and sank on the seat weeping as if her +heart would break. + +She had not time to dry her eyes, and to collect her scattered thoughts, +before Mrs. Wilson entered the arbor. Eyeing her niece for a moment with +a sternness unusual for the one to adopt or the other to receive, she +said, + +"It is a solemn obligation we owe our religion and ourselves, to +endeavor to suppress such passions as are incompatible with our duties; +and there is no weakness greater than blindly adhering to the wrong, +when we are convinced of our error. It is as fatal to good morals as it +is unjust to ourselves to persevere, from selfish motives, in believing +those innocent whom evidence has convicted as guilty. Many a weak woman +has sealed her own misery by such wilful obstinacy, aided by the +unpardonable vanity of believing herself able to control a man that the +laws of God could not restrain." + +"Oh, dear madam, speak not so unkindly to me," sobbed the weeping girl; +"I--I am guilty of no such weakness, I assure you:" and looking up with +an air of profound resignation and piety, she continued: "Here, on this +spot, where he saved my life, I was about to offer up my prayers for his +conviction of the error of his ways, and for the pardon of his too--too +heavy transgressions." + +Mrs. Wilson, softened almost to tears herself, viewed her for a moment +with a mixture of delight, and continued in a milder tone,-- + +"I believe you, my dear. I am certain, although you may have loved +Denbigh much, that you love your Maker and his ordinances more; and I +have no apprehensions that, were he a disengaged man, and you alone in +the world--unsupported by anything but your sense of duty--you would +ever so far forget yourself as to become his wife But does not your +religion, does not your own usefulness in society, require you wholly to +free your heart from the power of a man who has so unworthily usurped a +dominion over it?" + +To this Emily replied, in a hardly audible voice, "Certainly--and I pray +constantly for it." + +"It is well, my love," said the aunt, soothingly; "you cannot fail with +such means, and your own exertions, finally to prevail over your own +worst enemies, your passions. The task our sex has to sustain is, at the +best, an arduous one; but so much the greater is our credit if we do it +well." + +"Oh! how is an unguided girl ever to judge aright, if,--" cried Emily, +clasping her hands and speaking with great energy, and she would have +said, "one like Denbigh in appearance, be so vile!" Shame, however, kept +her silent. + +"Few men can support such a veil of hypocrisy as that with which I +sometimes think Denbigh must deceive even himself. His case is an +extraordinary exception to a very sacred rule--'that the tree is known +by its fruits,'" replied her aunt. "There is no safer way of judging of +character that one's opportunities will not admit of more closely +investigating, than by examining into and duly appreciating early +impressions. The man or woman who has constantly seen the practice of +piety before them, from infancy to the noon of life, will seldom so far +abandon the recollection of virtue as to be guilty of great enormities. +Even Divine Truth has promised that his blessings or his curses shall +extend to many generations. It is true, that with our most most guarded +prudence we may be deceived." Mrs. Wilson paused and sighed heavily, as +her own case, connected with the loves of Denbigh and her niece, +occurred strongly to her mind. "Yet," she continued, "we may lessen the +danger much by guarding against it; and it seems to me no more than what +self-preservation requires in a young woman. But for a religious parent +to neglect it, is a wilful abandonment of a most solemn duty." + +As Mrs. Wilson concluded, her niece, who had recovered the command of +her feelings pressed her hand in silence to her lips, and showed a +disposition to retire from a spot which she found recalled too many +recollections of a man whose image it was her imperious duty to banish, +on every consideration of propriety and religion. + +Their walk into the house was silent, and their thoughts were drawn from +the unpleasant topic by finding a letter from Julia, announcing her +intended departure from this country, and her wish to take leave of them +in London before she sailed. As she had mentioned the probable day for +that event, both the ladies were delighted to find it was posterior to +the time fixed by Sir Edward for their own visit to the capital. + +Had Jane, instead of Emily, been the one that suffered through the +agency of Mrs. Fitzgerald, however innocently on the part of the lady, +her violent and uncontrolled passions would have either blindly united +the innocent with the guilty in her resentments; or, if a sense of +justice had vindicated the lady in her judgment, yet her pride and ill- +guided delicacy would have felt her name a reproach, that would have +forbidden any intercourse with her or any belonging to her. + +Not so with her sister. The sufferings of Mrs. Fitzgerald had taken a +strong hold on her youthful feelings, and a similarity of opinions and +practices on the great object of their lives, had brought them together +in a manner no misconduct in a third person could weaken. It is true, +the recollection of Denbigh was intimately blended with the fate of Mrs. +Fitzgerald. But Emily sought support against her feeling from a quarter +that rather required an investigation of them than a desire to drown +care with thought. + +She never indulged in romantic reflections in which the image of Denbigh +was associated. This she had hardly done in her happiest moments; and +his marriage, if nothing else had interfered, now absolutely put it out +of the question. But, although a Christian, and an humble and devout +one, Emily Moseley was a woman, and had loved ardently, confidingly, and +gratefully. Marriage is the business of life with her sex,--with all, +next to a preparation for a better world,--and it cannot be supposed +that a first passion in a bosom like that of our heroine was to be +suddenly erased and to leave no vestiges of its existence. + +Her partiality for the society of Derwent, her meditations in which she +sometimes detected herself drawing a picture of what Denbigh might have +been, if early care had been taken to impress him with his situation in +this world, and from which she generally retired to her closet and her +knees, were the remains of feelings too strong and too pure to be torn +from her in a moment. + +The arrival of John, with Grace and Jane, enlivened not only the family +but the neighborhood. Mr. Haughton and his numerous friends poured in on +the young couple with their congratulations, and a few weeks stole by +insensibly, previously to the commencement of the journeys of Sir Edward +and his son--the one to Benfield Lodge and the other to St. James's +Square. + +On the return of the travellers, a few days before they commenced their +journey to the capital, John laughingly told his uncle that, although he +himself greatly admired the taste of Mr. Peter Johnson in dress, yet he +doubted whether the present style of fashions in the metropolis would +not be scandalized by the appearance of the honest steward. + +John had in fact noticed, in their former visit to London, mob of +mischievous boys eyeing Peter with indications of rebellious movements +which threatened the old man, and from which he had retreated by taking +a coach, and he now made the suggestion from pure good-nature, to save +him any future trouble from a similar cause. + +They were at dinner when Moseley made the remark, and the steward was in +his place at the sideboard--for his master was his home. Drawing near at +the mention of his name first, and casting an eye over his figure to see +if all was decent, Peter respectfully broke silence, determined to +defend his own cause. + +"Why! Mr. John--Mr. John Moseley? if I might judge, for an elderly man, +and a serving man," said the steward, bowing humbly, "I am no +disparagement to my friends, or even to my honored master." + +Johnson's vindication of his wardrobe drew the eyes of the family upon +him, and an involuntary smile passed from one to the other, as they +admired his starched figure and drab frock, or rather doublet with +sleeves and skirts. Sir Edward, being of the same opinion with his son, +observed-- + +"I do think, Uncle Benfield, there might be an improvement in the dress +of your steward without much trouble to the ingenuity of his tailor." + +"Sir Edward Moseley--honorable sir," said the steward, beginning to grow +alarmed, "if I may be so bold, you young gentlemen may like gay clothes; +but as for me and his honor; we are used to such as we wear, and what we +are used to we love." + +The old man spoke with earnestness, and drew the particular attention of +his master to a review of his attire. After reflecting that no gentleman +in the house had been attended by any servitor in such a garb, Mr. +Benfield thought it time to give his sentiments on the subject. + +"Why I remember that my Lord Gosford's gentleman never wore a livery, +nor can I say that he dressed exactly after the manner of Johnson. Every +member had his body servant, and they were not unfrequently taken for +their masters. Lady Juliana, too, after the death of her nephew, had one +or two attendants out of livery, and in a different fashion from your +attire. Peter, I think with John Moseley there, we must alter you a +little for the sake of appearances." + +"Your honor!" stammered out Peter, in increased terror; "for Mr. John +Moseley and Sir Edward, and youngerly gentlemen like, dress may do. Now, +your honor, if--" and Peter, turning to Grace, bowed nearly to the +floor--"I had such a sweet, most beautiful young lady to smile on me, I +might wish to change; but, sir, my day has gone by." Peter sighed as the +recollection of Patty Steele and his youthful love floated across his +brain. Grace blushed and thanked him for the compliment, and gave her +opinion that his gallantry merited a better costume. + +"Peter," said his master, decidedly, "I think Mrs. Moseley is right. If +I should call on the viscountess (the Lady Juliana, who yet survived an +ancient dowager of seventy), I shall want your attendance, and in your +present garb you cannot fail to shock her delicate feelings. You remind +me now I think, every time I look at you, of old Harry, the earl's +gamekeeper, one of the most cruel men I ever knew." + +This decided the matter. Peter well knew that his master's antipathy to +old Harry arose from his having pursued a poacher one day, in place of +helping the Lady Juliana over a stile, in her flight from a bull that +was playing his gambols in the same field; and not for the world would +the faithful steward retain even a feature, if it brought unpleasant +recollections to his kind master. He at one time thought of closing his +innovations on his wardrobe, however, with a change of his nether +garment; as after a great deal of study he could only make out the +resemblance between himself and the obnoxious gamekeeper to consist in +the leathern breeches. But fearful of some points escaping his memory in +forty years, he tamely acquiesced in all John's alterations, and +appeared at his station three days afterwards newly decked from head to +foot in a more modern suit of snuff-color. + +The change once made, Peter greatly admired himself in a glass, and +thought, could he have had the taste of Mr. John Moseley in his youth to +direct his toilet, that the hard heart of Patty Steele would not always +have continued so obdurate. + +Sir Edward wished to collect his neighbors round him once more before he +left them for another four months; and accordingly the rector and his +wife, Francis and Clara, the Haughtons, with a few others, dined at the +Hall by invitation, the last day of their stay in Northamptonshire. The +company had left the table to join the ladies, when Grace came into the +drawing-room with a face covered with smiles and beaming with pleasure. + +"You look like the bearer of good news, Mrs. Moseley," cried the rector, +catching a glimpse of her countenance as she passed. + +"Good! I sincerely hope and believe," replied Grace. "My letters from my +brother announce that his marriage took place last week, and give us +hopes of seeing them all in town within the month." + +"Married!" exclaimed Mr. Haughton, casting his eyes unconsciously on +Emily, "my Lord Chatterton married! May I ask the name of the bride, my +dear Mrs. Moseley?" + +"To Lady Harriet Denbigh--and at Denbigh Castle in Westmoreland; but +very privately, as you may suppose from seeing Moseley and myself here," +answered Grace, her cheeks yet glowing with surprise and pleasure at the +intelligence. + +"Lady Harriet Denbigh?" echoed Mr. Haughton; "what! a kinswoman of our +old friend? your friend, Miss Emily?" The recollection of the service he +had performed at the arbor still-fresh in his memory. + +Emily commanded herself sufficiently to reply, "Brothers' children, I +believe, sir." + +"But a lady--how came she my lady?" continued the good man, anxious to +know the whole, and ignorant of any reasons for delicacy where so great +a favorite as Denbigh was in the question. + +"She is the daughter of the late Duke of Derwent," said Mrs. Moseley, as +willing as himself to talk of her new sister. + +"How happens it that the death of old Mr. Denbigh was announced as plain +Geo. Denbigh, Esq., if he was the brother of a duke?" said Jane, +forgetting for a moment the presence of Dr. and Mrs. Ives, in her +surviving passion for genealogy: "should he not have been called Lord +George, or honorable?" + +This was the first time any allusion had been made to the sudden death +in the church by any of the Moseleys in the hearing of the rector's +family; and the speaker sat in breathless terror at her own +inadvertency. But Dr. Ives, observing that a profound silence prevailed +as soon as Jane ended, answered, mildly, though in a way to prevent any +further comments-- + +"The late Duke's succeeding a cousin-german in the title, was the +reason, I presume. Emily, I am to hear from you by letter I hope, after +you enter into the gaieties of the metropolis?" + +This Emily cheerfully promised, and the conversation took another turn. + +Mrs. Wilson had carefully avoided all communications with the rector +concerning his youthful friend, and the Doctor appeared unwilling to +commence anything which might lead to his name being mentioned. "He is +disappointed in him as well as ourselves," thought the widow, "and it +must be unpleasant to have his image recalled. He saw his attentions to +Emily, and he knows of his marriage to Lady Laura of course, and he +loves us all, and Emily in particular, too well not to feel hurt by his +conduct." + +"Sir Edward!" cried Mr. Haughton, with a laugh, "Baronets are likely to +be plenty. Have you heard how near we were to have another in the +neighborhood lately?" Sir Edward answered in the negative, and his +neighbor continued-- + +"Why no less a man than Captain Jarvis, promoted to the bloody hand." + +"Captain Jarvis!" exclaimed five or six at once; "explain yourself, Mr. +Haughton." + +"My near neighbor, young Walker, has been to Bath on an unusual +business--his health--and for the benefit of the country he has brought +back a pretty piece of scandal. It seems that Lady Jarvis, as I am told +she is since she left here, wished to have her hopeful heir made a lord, +and that the two united for some six months in forming a kind of +savings' bank between themselves, to enable them at some future day to +bribe the minister to honor the peerage with such a prodigy. After +awhile the daughter of our late acquaintance, Sir William Harris, became +an accessory to the plot, and a contributor too, to the tune of a couple +of hundred pounds. Some circumstances, however, at length made this +latter lady suspicious, and she wished to audit the books. The Captain +prevaricated--the lady remonstrated, until the gentleman, with more +truth than manners, told her that she was a fool--the money he had +expended or lost at dice; and that he did not think the ministers quite +so silly as to make him a lord, or that he himself was such a fool as to +make her his wife; so the whole thing exploded." + +John listened with a delight but little short of what he had felt when +Grace owned her love, and anxious to know all, eagerly inquired-- + +"But, is it true? how was it found out?" + +"Oh, the lady complained of part, and the Captain tells all to get the +laugh on his side; so that Walker says the former is the derision and +the latter the contempt of all Bath." + +"Poor Sir William," said the baronet, with feeling; "he is much to be +pitied." + +"I am afraid he has nothing to blame but his own indulgence," remarked +the rector. + +"You don't know the worst of it," replied Mr. Haughton. "We poor people +are made to suffer--Lady Jarvis wept and fretted Sir Timo out of his +lease, which has been given up, and a new house is to be taken in +another part of the kingdom, where neither Miss Harris nor the story is +known." + +"Then Sir William has to procure a new tenant," said Lady Moseley, not +in the least regretting the loss of the old one. + +"No! my lady!" continued Mr. Haughton, with a smile. "Walker is, you +know, an attorney, and does some business occasionally for Sir William. +When Jarvis gave up the lease, the baronet, who finds himself a little +short of money, offered the deanery for sale, it being a useless place +to him; and the very next day, while Walker was with Sir William, a +gentleman called, and without higgling agreed to pay down at once his +thirty thousand pounds for it." + +"And who is the purchaser?" inquired Lady Moseley, eagerly. + +"The Earl of Pendennyss." + +"Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson in rapture. + +"Pendennyss!" cried the rector, eyeing the aunt and Emily with a smile. + +"Pendennyss!" echoed all in the room in amazement. + +"Yes," said Mr. Haughton, "it is now the property of the earl, who says +he has bought it for his sister." + + + +Chapter XXXIX. + +Mrs. Wilson found time the ensuing day to ascertain before they left the +hall, the truth of the tale related by Mr. Haughton. The deanery had +certainly changed its master, and a new steward had already arrived to +take possession in the name of his lord. What induced Pendennyss to make +this purchase she was at a loss to conceive--most probably some +arrangement between himself and Lord Bolton. But whatever might be his +motive, it in some measure insured his becoming for a season their +neighbor; and Mrs. Wilson felt a degree of pleasure at the circumstance +that she had been a stranger to for a long time--a pleasure which was +greatly heightened as she dwelt on the lovely face of the companion who +occupied the other seat in her travelling chaise. + +The road to London led by the gates of the deanery, and near them they +passed a servant in the livery of those they had once seen following the +equipage of the earl. Anxious to know anything which might hasten her +acquaintance with this admired nobleman, Mrs. Wilson stopped her +carriage to inquire. + +"Pray, sir, whom do you serve?" + +"My Lord Pendennyss, ma'am," replied the man, respectfully taking off +his hat. + +"The earl is not here?" asked Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + +"Oh, no, madam; I am here in waiting on his steward. My lord is in +Westmoreland, with his grace and Colonel Denbigh, and the ladies." + +"Does he remain there long?" continued the anxious widow, desirous of +knowing all she could learn. + +"I believe not, madam; most of our people have gone to Annerdale-House, +and my lord is expected in town with the duke and the colonel." + +As the servant was an elderly man, and appeared to understand the +movements of his master so well, Mrs. Wilson was put in unusual spirits +by this prospect of a speedy termination to her anxiety to meet +Pendennyss. + +"Annerdale-House is the earl's town residence?" quietly inquired Emily. + +"Yes; he got the fortune of the last duke of that title, but how I do +not exactly know. I believe, however, through his mother. General Wilson +did not know his family: indeed, Pendennyss bore a second title during +his lifetime; but did you observe how very civil his servant was, as +well as the one John spoke to before,--a sure sign their master is a +gentleman?" + +Emily smiled at the strong partialities of her aunt, and replied, "Your +handsome chaise and attendants will draw respect from most men in his +situation, dear aunt, be their masters who they may." + +The expected pleasure of meeting the earl was a topic frequently touched +upon between her aunt and Emily during their journey; the former +beginning to entertain hopes she would have laughed at herself for, +could they have been fairly laid before her; and the latter entertaining +a profound respect for his character, but chiefly governed by a wish to +gratify her companion. + +The third day they reached the baronet's handsome house in St. James's +Square, and found that the forethought of John had provided everything +in the best and most comfortable manner. + +It was the first visit of both Jane and Emily to the metropolis; and +under the protection of their almost equally curious mother, and +escorted by John, they wisely determined to visit the curiosities, while +their leisure yet admitted of the opportunity. For the first two weeks +their time was chiefly employed in the indulgence of this unfashionable +and vulgar propensity, which, if it had no other tendency, served +greatly to draw the thoughts of both the young women from the +recollections of the last few months. + +While her sister and nieces were thus employed, Mrs. Wilson, assisted by +Grace, was occupied in getting things in preparation to do credit to the +baronet's hospitality. + +The second week after their arrival, Mrs. Moseley was delighted by +seeing advance upon her unexpectedly through the door of the breakfast +parlor, her brother, with his bride leaning on his arm. After the most +sincere greetings and congratulations, Lady Chatterton cried out gaily, + +"You see, my dear Lady Moseley, I am determined to banish ceremony +between us, and so, instead of sending you my card, have come myself to +notify you of my arrival. Chatterton would not suffer me even to swallow +my breakfast, he was so impatient to show me off." + +"You are placing things exactly on the footing I wish to see ourselves +with all our connexions," replied Lady Moseley, kindly; "but what have +you done with the duke? is he not in your train?" + +"Oh! he is gone to Canterbury with George Denbigh, madam," cried the +lady, shaking her head reproachfully though affectionately at Emily; +"his grace dislikes London just now excessively, he says, and the +Colonel being obliged to leave his wife, on regimental business, Derwent +was good enough to keep him company during his exile." + +"And Lady Laura, do we see her?" inquired Lady Moseley. + +"She came with us. Pendennyss and his sister follow immediately; so, my +dear madam, the dramatis personæ will all be on the stage soon." + +Cards and visits now began to accumulate on the Moseleys, and their time +no longer admitted of that unfettered leisure which they had enjoyed at +their entrance on the scene. Mrs. Wilson, for herself and charge, +adopted a rule for the government of her manner of living, which was +consistent with her duties. They mixed in general society sparingly; +and, above all, they rigidly adhered to the obedience to the injunction +which commanded them to keep the Sabbath day holy; a duty of no trifling +difficulty to perform in fashionable society in the city of London, or, +indeed, in any other place, where the influence of fashion has +supplanted the laws of God. + +Mrs. Wilson was not a bigot; but she knew and performed her duty +rigidly. It was a pleasure to her to do so. It would have been misery to +do otherwise. In the singleness of heart and deep piety of her niece, +she had a willing pupil to her system of morals, and a rigid follower of +her religious practices. As they both knew that the temptations to go +astray were greater in town than in country, they kept a strict guard +over the tendency to err, and in watchfulness found their greatest +security. + +John Moseley, next to his friends, loved his bays: indeed, if the +aggregate of his affections for these and Lady Herriefield had been put +in opposite scales, we strongly suspect the side of the horses would +predominate. + +One Sunday, soon after being domesticated, John, who had soberly +attended morning service with the ladies, came into a little room where +the more reflecting part of the family were assembled, in search of his +wife. + +Grace, we have before mentioned, had become a real member of that church +in which she had been educated, and had entered, under the direction of +Dr. Ives and Mrs. Wilson, into an observance of its wholesome +ordinances. Grace was certainly piously inclined, if not devout. Her +feelings on the subject of religion had been sensibly awakened during +their voyage to Lisbon; and at the period of which we write, Mrs. +Moseley was as sincerely disposed to perform her duty as her powers +admitted. To the request of her husband, that she would take a seat in +his phaeton while he drove her round the park once or twice, Grace gave +a mild refusal, by saying, + +"It is Sunday, my dear Moseley." + +"Do you think I don't know that?" cried John, gaily. "There will be +everybody there, and, the better day, the better deed." + +Now, Moseley, if he had been asked to apply this speech to the case +before them, would have frankly owned his inability; but his wife did +not make the trial: she was contented with saying, as she laid down her +book to look on a face she so tenderly loved, + +"Ah! Moseley, you should set a better example to those below you in +life." + +"I wish to set an example," returned her husband, with an affectionate +smile, "to all above as well as below me, in order that they may find +out the path to happiness, by exhibiting to the world a model of a wife, +in yourself, dear Grace." + +As this was uttered with a sincerity which distinguished the manner of +Moseley, his wife was more pleased with the compliment than she would +have been willing to make known; and John spoke no more than he thought; +for a desire to show his handsome wife was the ruling passion for a +moment. + +The husband was too pressing and the wife too fond not to yield the +point; and Grace took her seat in the carriage with a kind of half- +formed resolution to improve the opportunity by a discourse on serious +subjects--a resolution which terminated as all others do, that postpone +one duty to discharge another of less magnitude; it was forgotten. + +Mrs. Wilson had listened with interest to the efforts of John to prevail +on his wife to take the ride, and on her leaving the room to comply she +observed to Emily, with whom she now remained alone-- + +"Here is a consequence of a difference in religious views between man +and wife, my child: John, in place of supporting Grace in the discharge +of her duties, has been the actual cause of her going astray." + +Emily felt the force of her aunt's remark, and saw its justice; yet her +love for the offender induced her to say-- + +"John will not lead her openly astray for he has a sincere respect for +religion, and this offence is not unpardonable, dear aunt." + +"The offence is assuredly not unpardonable," replied Mrs. Wilson, "and +to infinite mercy it is hard to say what is; but it is an offence, and +directly in the face of an express ordinance of the Lord; it is even +throwing off the appearance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, much less +observing the substance of the commandment; and as to John's respect for +holy things in this instance, it was injurious to his wife. Had he been +an open deist she would have shrunk from the act in suspicion of its +sinfulness. Either John must become Christian, or I am afraid Grace will +fall from her undertaking." + +Mrs. Wilson shook her head mournfully, while Emily offered up a silent +petition that the first might speedily be the case. + +Lady Laura had been early in her visit to the Moseleys; and as Denbigh +had both a town residence and a seat in parliament, it appeared next to +impossible to avoid meeting him or to requite the pressing civilities of +his wife by harsh refusals; that might prove in the end injurious to +themselves by creating a suspicion that resentment at his not choosing a +partner from amongst them, governed the conduct of the Moseleys towards +a man to whom they were under such a heavy obligation. + +Had Sir Edward known as much as his sister and daughters he would +probably have discountenanced the acquaintance altogether; but owing to +the ignorance of the rest of her friends of what had passed, Mrs. Wilson +and Emily had not only the assiduities of Lady Laura but the wishes of +their own family to contend with, and consequently she submitted to the +association with a reluctance that was in some measure counteracted by +their regard for Lady Laura, and by compassion for her abused +confidence. + +A distant connexion of Lady Moseley's had managed to collect in her +house a few hundred of her nominal friends, and as she had been +particularly attentive in calling in person on her venerable relative, +Mr. Benfield, soon after his arrival in town, out of respect to her +father's cousin, or perhaps mindful of his approaching end, and +remembering there were such things as codicils to wills, the old man, +flattered by her notice, and yet too gallant to reject the favor of a +lady, consented to accompany the remainder of the family on the +occasion. + +Most of their acquaintances were there, and Lady Moseley soon found +herself engaged in a party at quadrille, while the young people were +occupied by the usual amusements of their age in such scenes. Emily +alone feeling but little desire to enter into the gaiety of general +conversation with a host of gentlemen who had collected round her aunt +and sisters, offered her arm to Mr. Benfield, on seeing him manifest a +disposition to take a closer view of the company, and walked away with +him. + +They wandered from room to room, unconscious of the observation +attracted by the sight of a man in the costume of Mr. Benfield, leaning +on the arm of so young and lovely a woman as his niece; and many an +exclamation of surprise, ridicule, admiration, and wonder had been made, +unnoticed by the pair, until finding the crowd rather inconvenient to +her companion, Emily gently drew him into one of the apartments where +the card-tables, and the general absence of beauty, made room less +difficult to be found. + +"Ah! Emmy dear," said the old gentleman, wiping his face, "times are +much changed, I see, since my youth. Then you would see no such throngs +assembled in so small a space; gentlemen shoving ladies, and yes, Emmy," +continued her uncle in a lower tone, as if afraid of uttering something +dangerous, "the ladies themselves shouldering the men. I remember at a +drum given by Lady Gosford, that although I may, without vanity, say I +was one of the gallantest men in the rooms, I came in contact with but +one of the ladies during the whole evening, with the exception of +handing the Lady Juliana to a chair, and that," said her uncle, stopping +short and lowering his voice to a whisper, "was occasioned by a +mischance in the old duchess in rising from her seat when she had taken +too much strong waters, as she was at times a little troubled with a +pain in the chest." + +Emily smiled at the casualty of her grace, and they proceeded slowly +through the table until their passage was stopped by a party at the game +of whist, which, by its incongruous mixture of ages and character, +forcibly drew her attention. + +The party was composed of a young man of five or six and twenty, who +threw down his cards in careless indifference, and heedlessly played +with the guineas which were laid on the side of the table as markers, or +the fruits of a former victory: or by stealing hasty and repeated +glances through the vista of the tables into the gayer scenes of the +adjoining rooms, proved he was in duresse, and waited for an opportunity +to make his escape from the tedium of cards and ugliness to the life of +conversation and beauty. + +His partner was a woman of doubtful age, and one whose countenance +rather indicated that the uncertainty was likely to continue until the +record of the tomb-stone divulged the so often contested circumstance to +the world. Her eyes also wandered to the gayer scenes, but with an +expression of censoriousness mingled with longings; nor did she neglect +the progress of the game as frequently as her more heedless partner. A +glance thrown on the golden pair which was placed between her and her +neighbor on her right, marked the importance of the corner, and she +shuffled the cards with a nervousness which plainly denoted her +apprehension of the consequences of her partner's abstraction. + +Her neighbor on the right was a man of sixty, and his vestments +announced him a servant of the sanctuary. His intentness on the game +proceeded no doubt from his habits of reflection; his smile at success, +quite possibly from charity to his neighbors; his frown in adversity +from displeasure at the triumphs of the wicked, for such in his heart he +had set down Miss Wigram to be; and his unconquerable gravity in the +employment from a profound regard to the dignity of his holy office. + +The fourth performer in this trial of memories was an ancient lady, +gaily dressed, and intently eager on the game. Between her and the young +man was a large pile of guineas, which appeared to be her exclusive +property, from which she repeatedly, during the play, tendered one to +his acceptance on the event of a hand or a trick, and to which she +seldom failed from inadvertence to add his mite, contributing to +accumulate the pile. + +"Two double and the rub, my dear doctor," exclaimed the senior lady, in +triumph. "Sir William, you owe me ten." + +The money was paid as easily as it had been won, and the dowager +proceeded to settle some bets with her female antagonist. + +"Two more, I fancy, ma'am," said she, closely scanning the contributions +of the maiden. + +"I believe it is right, my lady," was the answer, with a look that said +pretty plainly, that or nothing. + +"I beg pardon, my dear, here are but four; and you remember two on the +corner, and four on the points. Doctor, I will trouble you for a couple +of guineas from Miss Wigram's store, I am in haste to get to the +Countess's route." + +The doctor was coolly helping himself from the said store, under the +watchful eyes of its owner, and secretly exulting in his own judgment in +requiring the stakes, when the maiden replied in great warmth, + +"Your ladyship forgets the two you lost to me at Mrs. Howard's." + +"It must be a mistake, my dear, I always pay as I lose," cried the +dowager, with great spirit, stretching over the table and helping +herself to the disputed money. + +Mr. Benfield and Emily had stood silent spectators of the whole scene, +the latter in astonishment to meet such manners in such society, and the +former under feelings it would have been difficult to describe; for in +the face of the Dowager which was inflamed partly from passion and more +from high living, he recognised the remains of his Lady Juliana, now the +Dowager Viscountess Haverford. + +"Emmy, dear," said the old man, with a heavy-drawn sigh, as if awaking +from a long and troubled dream, "we will go." + +The phantom of forty years had vanished before the truth and the fancies +of retirement, simplicity, and a diseased imagination yielded to the +influence of life and common sense. + + + +Chapter XL. + +With Harriet, now closely connected with them by marriage as well as +attachment, the baronet's family maintained a most friendly intercourse; +and Mrs. Wilson, and Emily, a prodigious favorite with her new cousin, +consented to pass a day soberly with her during an excursion of her +husband to Windsor on business connected with his station. They had, +accordingly, driven round to an early breakfast; and Chatterton, after +politely regretting his loss, and thanking them for their consideration +for his wife, made his bow. + +Lady Harriet Denbigh had brought the Baron a very substantial addition +to his fortune; and as his sisters were both provided for by ample +settlements, the pecuniary distresses which had existed a twelvemonth +before had been entirely removed. Chatterton's income was now large, his +demands upon it small, and he kept up an establishment in proportion to +the rank of both husband and wife. + +"Mrs. Wilson," cried the hostess, twirling her cup as she followed with +her eyes the retreating figure of her husband at the door, "I am about +to take up the trade of Miss Harris, and become a match-maker." + +"Not on your own behalf so soon, surely," rejoined the widow. + +"Oh no, my fortune is made for life, or not at all," continued the +other, gaily; "but in behalf of our little friend Emily here." + +"Me," cried Emily, starting from a reverie, in which the prospect of +happiness to Lady Laura was the subject; "you are very good, Harriet; +for whom do you intend me?" + +"Whom! Who is good enough for you, but my cousin Pendennyss? Ah!" she +cried, laughing, as she caught Emily by the hand, "Derwent and myself +both settled the matter long since, and I know you will yield when you +come to know him." + +"The duke!" cried the other, with a surprise and innocence that +immediately brought a blush of the brightest vermillion into her face. + +"Yes, the duke," said Lady Chatterton: "you may think it odd for a +discarded lover to dispose of his mistress so soon, but both our hearts +are set upon it. The earl arrived last night, and this day he and his +sister dine with us in a sober way: now, my dear madam," turning to Mrs. +Wilson, "have I not prepared an agreeable surprise for you?" + +"Surprise indeed," said the widow, excessively gratified at the probable +termination to her anxieties for this meeting; "but where are they +from?" + +"From Northamptonshire, where the earl has already purchased a +residence, I understand, and in your neighborhood too; so, you perceive, +he at least begins to think of the thing." + +"A certain evidence, truly," cried Emily, "his having purchased the +house. But was he without a residence that he bought the deanery?" + +"Oh no! he has a palace in town, and three seats in the country; but +none in Northamptonshire but this," said the lady, with a laugh. "To own +the truth he did offer to let George Denbigh have it for the next +summer, but the Colonel chose to be nearer Eltringham; and I take it, it +was only a ruse in the earl to cloak his own designs. You may depend +upon it, we trumpeted your praises to him incessantly in Westmoreland." + +"And is Colonel Denbigh in town?" said Mrs. Wilson, stealing an anxious +glance towards her niece, who, in spite of all her efforts, sensibly +changed color. + +"Oh, yes! and Laura is as happy--as happy--as myself," said Lady +Chatterton, with a glow on her cheeks, as she attended to the request of +her housekeeper, and left the room. + +Her guests sat in silence, occupied with their own reflections, while +they heard a summons at the door of the house. It was opened, and +footsteps approached the door of their own room. It was pushed partly +open, as a voice on the other side said, speaking to a servant without,- +- + +"Very well. Do not disturb your lady. I am in no haste." + +At the sound of its well known tones, both the ladies almost sprang from +their seats. Here could be no resemblance, and a moment removed their +doubts. The speaker entered. It was Denbigh. + +He stood for a moment fixed as a statue: It was evident the surprise was +mutual. His face was pale as death, and then instantly was succeeded by +a glow of fire. Approaching them, he paid his compliments with great +earnestness, and in a voice in which his softest tones preponderated. + +"I am happy, very happy, to be so fortunate in again meeting with such +friends, and so unexpectedly." + +Mrs. Wilson bowed in silence to his compliment, and Emily, pale as +himself, sat with her eyes fastened on the carpet, without daring to +trust her voice with an attempt to speak. + +After struggling with his mortified feelings for a moment, Denbigh rose +from the chair he had taken, and drawing near the sofa on which the +ladies were placed, exclaimed with fervor, + +"Tell me, dear madam, lovely, too lovely Miss Moseley, has one act of +folly, of wickedness if you please, lost me your good opinion for ever? +Derwent had given me hopes that you yet retained some esteem for my +character, lowered, as I acknowledge it to be, in my own estimation." + +"The Duke of Derwent? Mr. Denbigh!" + +"Do not; do not use a name, dear madam, almost hateful to me," cried he, +in a tone of despair. + +"If," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "you have made your own name +disreputable, I can only regret it, but--" + +"Call me by my title--oh! do not remind me of my folly; I cannot bear +it, and from you." + +"Your title!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a cry of wonder, and Emily +turned on him a face in which the flashes of color and succeeding +paleness were as quick, and almost as vivid, as the glow of lightning. +He caught their astonishment in equal surprise. + +"How is this? some dreadful mistake, of which I am yet in ignorance," he +cried, taking the unresisting hand of Mrs. Wilson, and pressing it with +warmth between both his own, as he added, "do not leave me in suspense." + +"For the sake of truth, for my sake, for the sake of this suffering +innocent, say, in sincerity, who and what you are," said Mrs. Wilson in +a solemn voice, gazing on him in dread of his reply. + +Still retaining her hand, he dropped on his knees before her, as he +answered,-- + +"I am the pupil, the child of your late husband, the companion of his +dangers, the sharer of his joys and griefs, and would I could add, the +friend of his widow. I am the Earl of Pendennyss." + +Mrs. Wilson's head dropped on the shoulders of the kneeling youth, her +arms were thrown in fervor around his neck, and she burst into a flood +of tears. For a moment, both were absorbed in their own feelings; but a +cry from Pendennyss aroused the aunt to the situation of her niece. + +Emily had fallen senseless on the sofa. + +An hour elapsed before her engagements admitted of the return of Lady +Chatterton to the breakfast parlor, where she was surprised to find the +breakfast equipage yet standing, and her cousin, the earl. Looking from +one to the other in surprise, she exclaimed,-- + +"Very sociable, upon my word; how long has your lordship honored my +house with your presence, and have you taken the liberty to introduce +yourself to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley?" + +"Sociability and ease are the fashion of the day. I have been here an +hour, my dear coz, and have taken the liberty of introducing myself to +Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley," replied the earl gravely, although a +smile of meaning lighted his handsome features as he uttered the latter +part of the sentence, which was returned by Emily with a look of +archness and pleasure that would have graced her happiest moments of +juvenile joy. + +There was such an interchange of looks, and such a visible alteration in +the appearance of her guests, that it could not but attract the notice +of Lady Chatterton. After listening to the conversation between them for +some time in silence; and wondering what could have wrought so sudden a +change below stairs, she broke forth with saying,--"Upon my word, you +are an incomprehensible party to me. I left you ladies alone, and find a +gentleman with you. I left you grave, if not melancholy, and find you +all life and gaiety. I find you with a stranger, and you talk with him +about walks, and rides, and scenes, and acquaintances. Will you, madam, +or you, my lord, be so kind as to explain these seeming +inconsistencies?" + +"No," cried the earl, "to punish your curiosity, I will keep you in +ignorance; but Marian is in waiting for me at your neighbor's, Mrs. +Wilmot, and I must hasten to her--- you will see us both by five." +Rising from his seat he took the offered hand of Mrs. Wilson and pressed +it to his lips. To Emily he also extended his hand, and received hers in +return, though with a face suffused with the color of the rose. +Pendennyss held it to his heart for a moment with fervor, and kissing +it, precipitately left the room. Emily concealed her face with her +hands, and, dissolving in tears, sought the retirement of an adjoining +apartment. + +All these unaccountable movements filled Lady Chatterton with amazement, +that would have been too painful for further endurance; and Mrs. Wilson, +knowing that further concealment with so near a connexion would be +impossible, if not unnecessary, entered into a brief explanation of the +earl's masquerade (although ignorant herself of its cause, or of the +means of supporting it), and his present relation with her niece. + +"I declare it is provoking," cried Lady Chatterton, with a tear in her +eye, "to have such ingenious plans as Derwent and I had made lost from +the want of necessity in putting them in force. Your demure niece has +deceived us all handsomely; and my rigid cousin, too--I will rate him +soundly for his deception." + +"I believe he already repents sincerely of his having practised it," +said Mrs. Wilson, "and is sufficiently punished for his error by its +consequence. A life of misery for four months is a serious penalty to a +lover." + +"Yes," said the other; "I am afraid his punishment was not confined to +himself alone: he has made others suffer from his misconduct. I will +rate him famously, depend upon it I will." + +If anything, the interest felt by Lady Chatterton for her friend was +increased by this discovery of the affections of Pendennyss, and a few +hours were passed by the three, in we will not say sober delight, for +transport would be a better word. Lady Chatterton frankly declared that +she would rather see Emily the wife of the earl than of her brother, for +he alone was good enough for her; and Mrs. Wilson felt an exhilaration +of spirits, in the completion of her most sanguine wishes, that neither +her years, her philosophy, nor even her religion, could entirely +restrain. The face of Emily was a continued blush, her eye sparkled with +the lustre of renewed hope, and her bosom was heaving with the purest +emotions of happiness. + +At the appointed hour the rattling of wheels announced the approach of +the earl and his sister. + +Pendennyss came into the room with a young woman of great personal +beauty and extremely feminine manners, leaning on his arm. He first +announced her to Mrs. Wilson as his sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, who +received her with a frank cordiality that made them instantly +acquainted. Emily, although confiding in the fullest manner in the truth +and worth of her lover, had felt an inexplicable sensation of pleasure, +as she heard the earl speak of his sister by the name of Marian; love is +such an unquiet, and generally such an engrossing passion, that few +avoid unnecessary uneasiness while under its influence, unless so +situated as to enjoy a mutual confidence. + +As this once so formidable Marian approached to salute her with an +extended hand, Emily rose, with a face illumined with pleasure, to +receive her. Marian viewed her for a moment intently, and folding her +arms around her, whispered softly as she pressed her to her heart, + +"My sister, my only sister." + +Our heroine was affected to tears, and Pendennyss gently separating the +two he loved best in the world, they soon became calm. + +Lady Marian was extremely like her brother, and had a family resemblance +to her cousin Harriet; but her manners were softer and more retiring, +and she had a slight tinge of a settled melancholy. When her brother +spoke she was generally silent, not in fear, but in love. She evidently +regarded him amongst the first of human beings, and all her love was +amply returned. + +Both the aunt and niece studied the manners of the earl closely, and +found several shades of distinction between what he was and what he had +been. He was now the perfect man of the world, without having lost the +frank sincerity which caused you to believe all he said. Had Pendennyss +once told Mrs. Wilson, with his natural air and manner, "I am innocent," +she would have believed him, and an earlier investigation would have +saved them months of misery; but the consciousness of his deception had +oppressed him with the curse of the wicked. + +Pendennyss had lost that air of embarrassment and alarm which had so +often startled the aunt, even in her hours of greatest confidence, and +which had their original in the awkwardness of disguise. But he retained +his softness, his respect, his modest diffidence of his opinions, +although somewhat corrected now by his acknowledged experience and +acquaintance with man. + +Mrs. Wilson thought these decided trifling alterations in manner were +improvements; but it required some days and a few tender speeches to +reconcile Emily to any change in the appearance of Denbigh. + +Lady Marian had ordered her carriage early, as she had not anticipated +the pleasure she found, and was engaged to accompany her cousin, Lady +Laura, to a fashionable rout that evening. Unwilling to be torn from ins +newly found friends, the earl proposed that the three ladies should +accompany his sister to Annerdale House, and then accept himself as an +escort to their own residence. To this Harriet assented, and leaving a +message for Chatterton, they entered the coach of Marian, and +Pendennyss, mounting the dickey, drove off. + +Annerdale House was amongst the best edifices of London. It had been +erected in the preceding century, and Emily for a moment felt, as she +went through its splendid apartments, that it threw a chill around her +domestic affections; but the figure of Pendennyss by her side reconciled +her to a magnificence she had been unused to, which looked the lord +indeed; but with so much modesty and softness, and so much attention to +herself, that before she left the house, Emily began to think it very +possible to enjoy happiness even in the lap of splendor. + +The names of Colonel Denbigh and Lady Laura were soon announced, and +this formidable gentleman made his appearance, He resembled Pendennyss +more than even the duke, and appeared about the same age. + +Mrs. Wilson soon saw that she had no grounds for pitying Lady Laura. The +colonel was a polished, elegant man, of evident good sense and knowledge +of the world, and apparently devoted to his wife. He was called George +frequently by all his relatives, and he, not unfrequently, used the same +term himself in speaking to the earl. Something was said of a much +admired bust, and the doors of a large library were opened to view it. +Emily was running over the backs of a case of books, until her eye +rested on one; and half smiling and blushing she turned to Pendennyss, +who watched every movement, as she said, playfully, + +"Pity me, my lord, and lend me this volume." + +"What is it you read?" he asked, as he bowed his cheerful assent. + +But Emily hid the book in her handkerchief. Pendennyss noticing an +unwillingness, though an extremely playful one, to let him into the +secret, examined the case, and perceiving her motive, smiled, as he took +down another volume and said-- + +"I am not an Irish, but an English peer, Emily. You have the wrong +volume." + +Emily laughed, with deeper blushes, when she found her wishes detected, +while the earl, opening the volume he held--the first of Debrett's +Peerage--pointed with his finger to the article concerning his own +family, and said to Mrs. Wilson, who had joined them at the instant-- + +"To-morrow, dear madam, I shall beg your attention to a melancholy tale, +and which may, in some slight degree, extenuate the offence I was guilty +of in assuming, or rather in maintaining an accidental disguise." + +As he ended, he went to the others, to draw off their attention, while +Emily and her aunt examined the paragraph. It was as follows: + +"George Denbigh--Earl of Pendennyss--and Baron Lumley, of Lumley Castle- +-- Baron Pendennyss--Beaumaris, and Fitzwalter, born----, of----, in the +year of----; a bachelor." The list of earls and nobles occupied several +pages, but the closing article was as follows: + +"George, the 21st earl, succeeded his mother Marian, late Countess of +Pendennyss, in her own right, being born of her marriage with George +Denbigh, Esq., a cousin-german to Frederick, the 9th Duke of Derwent." + +"Heir apparent. The titles being to heirs general, will descend to his +lordship's sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, should the present earl die +without lawful issue." + +As much of the explanation of the mystery of our tales, involved in the +foregoing paragraphs, we may be allowed to relate in our own language, +what Pendennyss made his friends acquainted with at different times, and +in a manner suitable to the subject and his situation. + + + +Chapter XLI. + +It was at the close of that war which lost this country the wealthiest +and most populous of her American colonies, that a fleet of ships were +returning from their service amongst the islands of the New World, to +seek for their worn out and battered hulks, and equally weakened crews, +the repairs and comforts of England and home. + +The latter word, to the mariner the most endearing of all sounds, had, +as it were, drawn together by instinct a group of sailors on the +forecastle of the proudest ship of the squadron, who gazed with varied +emotions on the land which gave them birth, but with one common feeling +of joy that the day of attaining it was at length arrived. + +The water curled from the bows of this castle of the ocean, in +increasing waves and growing murmurs, that at times drew the attention +of the veteran tar to their quickening progress, and having cheered his +heart with the sight, he cast his experienced eye in silence on the +swelling sails, to see if nothing more could be done to shorten the +distance between him and his country. + +Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the land of their birth, and hundreds of +hearts were beating in that one vessel with the awakening delights of +domestic love and renewed affections; but no tongue broke the +disciplined silence of the ship into sounds that overcame the propitious +ripple of the water. + +On the highest summit of their towering mast floated a small blue flag, +the symbol of authority, and beneath it paced a man to and fro the deck, +who was abandoned by his inferiors to his more elevated rank. His +square-built form and careworn features, which had lost the brilliancy +of an English complexion, and hair whitened prematurely, spoke of bodily +vigor, and arduous services which had put that vigor to the severest +trials. + +At each turn of his walk, as he faced the land of his nativity, a +lurking smile stole over his sun-burnt features, and then a glance of +his eye would scan the progress of the far-stretched squadron which +obeyed his orders, and which he was now returning to his superiors, +undiminished in numbers, and proud with victory. + +By himself stood an officer in a uniform differing from all around him. +His figure was small, his eye restless, quick, and piercing, and bent on +those shores to which he was unwillingly advancing, with a look of +anxiety and mortification, that showed him the late commander of those +vessels around them, which, by displaying their double flags, manifested +to the eye of the seaman a recent change of masters. + +Occasionally the conqueror would stop, and by some effort of well meant, +but rather uncouth civility, endeavor to soften the hours of captivity; +efforts which were received with the courtesy of the most punctilious +etiquette, but a restraint which showed that they were unwelcome. + +It was, perhaps, the most unlucky moment that had occurred within the +two months of their association, for an exchange of their better +feelings. The honest heart of the English tar dilated with ill-concealed +delight at his approach to the termination of labors performed with +credit and honor, and his smiles and good humor, which partly proceeded +from the feelings of a father and a friend, were daggers to the heart of +his discomfited rival. + +A third personage now appeared from the cabin of the vessel, and +approached the spot where the adverse admirals at the moment were +engaged in one of these constrained conferences. + +The appearance and dress of this gentleman differed widely from the two +just described. He was tall, graceful, and dignified; he was a soldier, +and clearly of high rank. His carefully dressed hair concealed the +ravages of time and on the quarter-deck of a first-rate his attire and +manners were suited to a field-day in the park. + +"I really insist, monsieur," cried the admiral, good-naturedly, "that +you shall take part of my chaise to London. You are a stranger, and it +will help to keep up your spirits by the way." + +"You are very good, Monsieur Howell," replied the Frenchman, with a +polite bow and forced smile, misconstruing ill-judged benevolence into a +wish for his person to grace a triumph--"but I have accepted the offer +Monsieur le General Denbigh was so good as to make me." + +"The comte is engaged to me, Howell," said the general, with a courtly +smile, "and, indeed, you must leave the ship to night, or as soon as we +anchor.--But I shall take daylight and to-morrow." + +"Well--well--Denbigh," exclaimed the other, rubbing his hands with +pleasure as he viewed the increasing power of the wind, "only make +yourselves happy, and I am contented." + +A few hours intervened before they reached the Bay of Plymouth, and +round the table, after their dinner, were seated the general and English +admiral. The comte, under the pretence of preparing his things for a +removal, had retired to his apartment to conceal his feelings;--and the +captain of the ship was above, superintending the approach of the vessel +to her anchorage. Two or three well emptied bottles of wine yet +remained; but as the healths of all the branches of the House of +Brunswick had been propitiated from their contents, with a polite +remembrance of Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette from General Denbigh, +neither of the superiors was much inclined for action. + +"Is the Thunderer in her station?" said the admiral to the signal +lieutenant, who at that moment came below with a report. + +"Yes, sir, and has answered." + +"Very well; make the signal to prepare to anchor." + +"Aye, aye, sir." + +"And here, Bennet," to the retiring lieutenant--"call the transports all +in shore of us." + +"Three hundred and eighty-four, sir," said the officer, looking at his +signal-book. + +The admiral cast his eye at the book, and nodded an assent. + +"And let the Mermaid--Flora--Weasel--Bruiser, and all the sloops lie +well off, until we have landed the soldiers: the pilot says the channel +is full of luggers, and Jonathan has grown very saucy." + +The lieutenant made a complying bow, and was retiring to execute these +orders, as Admiral Howell, taking up a bottle not yet entirely deserted +by its former tenant, cried stoutly--"Here, Bennet--I forgot--take a +glass of wine; drink success to ourselves, and defeat to the French all +over the world." + +The general pointed significantly to the adjoining cabin of the French +admiral, as he pressed his hand on his lips for silence. + +"Oh!" cried Admiral Howell, recollecting himself, continuing in a +whisper, "you can drink it in your heart, notwithstanding." + +The signal officer nodded, and drank the liquor. As he smacked his lips +while going on deck, he thought to himself, these nabobs drink famous +good wine. + +Although the feelings of General Denbigh were under much more command +and disciplined obedience than those of his friend, yet was he too +unusually elated with his return to home and expected honors. If the +admiral had captured a fleet, he had taken an island;--and hand in hand +they had co-operated in unusual harmony through the difficulties of an +arduous campaign. This rather singular circumstance was owing to their +personal friendship. From their youth they had been companions, and +although of very different characters and habits, chance had cemented +their intimacy in more advanced life. While in subordinate stations, +they had been associated together in service; and the general and +admiral, in command of an army and fleet, had once before returned to +England with less renown, as a colonel and a captain of a frigate. The +great family influence of the soldier, with the known circumstance of +their harmony, had procured them this later command, and home, with its +comforts and rewards, was close before them. Pouring out a glass of +Madeira, the general, who always calculated what he said, exclaimed, + +"Peter--we have been friends from boys." + +"To be sure we have," said the admiral, looking up in a little surprise +at this unexpected commencement--"and it will not be my fault if we do +not die such, Frederick." + +Dying was a subject the general did not much delight in although of +conspicuous courage in the field; and he proceeded to his more important +purpose--"I could never find, although I have looked over our family +tree so often, that we are in any manner related, Howell." + +"I believe it is too late to mend that matter now," said the admiral, +musing. + +"Why no--hem--I think not, Howell; take a glass of this Burgundy." + +The admiral shook his head with a stubborn resolution to taste nothing +French, but he helped himself to a bountiful stock of Madeira, as he +replied-- + +"I should like to know how you can bring it about this time of day, +Denbigh." + +"How much money will you be able to give that girl of yours, Peter?" +said his friend, evading the point. + +"Forty thousand down, my good fellow, and as much more when I die," +cried the open-hearted sailor, with a nod of exultation. + +"George, my youngest son, will not be rich--but Francis will be a duke, +and have a noble estate; yet," said the general; meditating, "he is so +unhappy in his disposition and uncouth in his manners, I cannot think of +offering him to your daughter as a husband." + +"Isabel shall marry a good-natured man, like myself, or not at all," +said the admiral, positively, but not in the least suspecting the drift +of his friend, who was influenced by anything but a regard for the +lady's happiness. + +Francis, his first born, was, in truth, as he had described; but his +governing wish was to provide for his favorite George. Dukes could never +want wives, but unportioned captains in the guards might. + +"George is one of the best tempers in the world," said his father, with +strong feeling, "and the delight of us all. I could wish he had been the +heir to the family honors." + +"That it is certainly too late to help," cried the admiral, wondering if +the ingenuity of his friend could devise a remedy for this evil too. + +"Too late, indeed," said the other, with a heavy sigh, "but Howell, what +say you to matching Isabel with my favorite George?" + +"Denbigh," cried the sailor, eyeing him keenly, "Isabel is my only +child, and a dutiful, good girl; one that will obey orders if she breaks +owners, as we sailors say. Now I did think of marrying her to a seaman, +when a proper man came athwart my course; yet your son is a soldier, and +that is next to being in the navy: if-so-be you had made him come aboard +me, when I wanted you to, there would have been no objection at all: +however, when occasion offers. I will overhaul the lad, and if I find +him staunch he may turn in with Bell and welcome." + +This was uttered in perfect simplicity, and with no intention of giving +offence, partaking partly of the nature of a soliloquy; so the general, +greatly encouraged, was about to push the point, when a gun was fired +from their own ship. + +"There's some of them lubberly transports won't mind our signals; they +have had these soldiers so long on board, they get as clumsy as the red- +coats themselves," muttered the admiral, hastening on deck to enforce +his commands. + +A shot or two, sent significantly in the direction of the wanderers, but +so as not to hit them, restored order; and within an hour forty line of +battle ships and a hundred transports were disposed in the best manner +for convenience and safety. + +On their presentation to their sovereign, both veterans were embellished +with the riband of the Bath; and as their exploits filled the mouths of +the newsmongers, and the columns of the public prints of the day, the +new knights began to think more seriously of building a monument to +their victories, in a union between their children. The admiral, +however, determined to do nothing with his eyes shut, and he demanded a +scrutiny. + +"Where is the boy who is to be a duke?" exclaimed he, one day, when his +friend had introduced the point with a view to a final arrangement. +"Bell has good blood in her veins--is a tight built little vessel--clean +heel'd and trim, and would make as good a duchess as the best of them; +so Denbigh, I will begin by taking a survey of the senior." To this the +general had no objection, as he well knew that Francis would be wide of +pleasing the tastes of an open-hearted, simple man, like the sailor. +They met, accordingly, for what the general facetiously called the +review, and what the admiral innocently termed his survey, at the house +of the former, when the young gentlemen were submitted to his +inspection. + +Francis Denbigh was about four and twenty, of a feeble body, and with a +face marked with the small-pox, to approaching deformity; his eye was +brilliant and piercing, but unsettled, and at times wild--his manner +awkward, constrained, and timid. There would be seen, it is true, an +intelligence and animation, which occasionally lighted his countenance +into gleams of sunshine, that caused you to overlook the lesser +accompaniments of complexion and features in the expression; but they +were transient, and inevitably vanished whenever his father spoke or in +any manner mingled in his pursuits. + +An observer close as Mrs. Wilson, would have said that the feelings of +the father and son were not such as ought to exist between parent and +child. + +But the admiral, who regarded model and rigging a good deal, satisfied +himself with muttering, as he turned his eye on the junior-- + +"He may do for a duke--but I would not have him for a cockswain." + +George was a year younger than Francis; in form, stature, and personal +grace, the counterpart of his father; his eye was less keen but more +attractive than that of his brother; his air open, polished, and manly. + +"Ah!" thought the sailor, as he ended a satisfactory survey of the +youth, "what a thousand pities Denbigh did not send him to sea!" + +The thing was soon settled, and George was to be the happy man. Sir +Peter concluded to dine with his friend, in order to settle +preliminaries over the bottle by themselves; the young men and their +mother being engaged to their uncle the duke. + +"Well, Denbigh," cried the admiral, as the last servant withdrew, "when +do you mean to have the young couple spliced?" + +"Why," replied the wary soldier, who knew he could not calculate on +obedience to his mandate with as great a certainty as his friend--"the +better way is to bring the young people together, in order that they may +become acquainted, you know." + +"Acquainted--together--" cried his companion, in a little surprise, +"what better way is there to bring them together, than to have them up +before a priest, or to make them acquainted by letting them swing in the +same hammock?" + +"It might answer the end, indeed," said the general, with a smile, "but +somehow or other, it is always the best method to bring young folks +together, to let them have their own way in the affair for a time." + +"Own way!" rejoined Sir Peter, bluntly, "did you ever find it answer to +let a woman have her own way, Sir Frederick?" + +"Not common women certainly, my good friend," said the general, "but +such a girl as my intended daughter is an exception." + +"I don't know that," cried the sailor; "Bell is a good girl, but she has +her quirks and whims like all the sex." + +"You have had no trouble with her as yet, I believe, Howell," said Sir +Frederick cavalierly, throwing an inquiring glance on his friend at the +same time. + +"No, not yet--nor do I think she will ever dare to mutiny; but there has +been one wishing to take her in tow already since we got in." + +"How!" said the other in alarm, "who--what is he? some officer in the +navy, I suppose." + +"No, he was a kind of chaplain, one Parson Ives, a good sort of a youth +enough, and a prodigious favorite with my sister, Lady Hawker." + +"Well, what did you answer, Peter?" said his companion in increasing +uneasiness; "did you put him off?" + +"Off! to be sure I did--do you think I wanted a barber's clerk for a +son-in-law? No, no, Denbigh; a soldier is bad enough, without having a +preacher." + +The general compressed his lips at this direct attack on a profession +that he thought the most honorable of any in the world, in some +resentment; but remembering the eighty thousand pounds, and accustomed +to the ways of the other, he curbed his temper, and inquired-- + +"But Miss Howell--your daughter--how did she stand affected to this +priest?" + +"How--why--how?--why I never asked her." + +"Never asked her?" + +"No, never asked her: she is my daughter, you know, and bound to obey my +orders, and I did not choose she should marry a parson; but, once for +all, when is the wedding to take place?" + +General Denbigh had indulged his younger son too blindly and too fondly +to expect that implicit obedience the admiral calculated to a certainty +on, and with every prospect of not being disappointed, from his +daughter. Isabel Howell was pretty, mild, and timid, and unused to +oppose any of her father's commands; but George Denbigh was haughty, +positive, and self-willed, and unless the affair could be so managed as +to make him a willing assistant in the courtship, his father knew it +might be abandoned at once. He thought his son might be led, but not +driven; and, relying on his own powers for managing, the general saw his +only safety in executing the scheme was in postponing his advances for a +regular siege to the lady's heart. + +Sir Peter chafed and swore at this circumlocution: the thing could be +done as well in a week as in a year; and the veterans, who, for a +miracle, had agreed in their rival stations, and in doubtful moments of +success, were near splitting on the point of marrying a girl of +nineteen. + +As Sir Peter both loved his friend, and had taken a prodigious fancy to +the youth, he however was fain to submit to a short probation. + +"You are always for going a round-about way to do a thing," said the +admiral, as he yielded the point. "Now, when you took that battery, had +you gone up in front, as I advised you, you would have taken it in ten +minutes, instead of five hours." + +"Yes," said the other, with a friendly shake of the hand at parting, +"and lost fifty men in place of one by the step." + + + +Chapter XLII. + +The Honorable General Denbigh was the youngest of three sons. His +seniors, Francis and George, were yet bachelors. The death of a cousin +had made Francis a duke while yet a child, and both he and his favorite +brother George, had decided on lives of inactivity and sluggishness. + +"When I die, brother," the oldest would say, "you will succeed me, and +Frederick can provide heirs for the name hereafter." + +This arrangement had been closely adhered to, and the two elder brothers +reached the ages of fifty-five and fifty-six, without altering their +condition. In the mean time, Frederick married a young woman of rank and +fortune; the fruits of their union being the two young candidates for +the hand of Isabel Howell. + +Francis Denbigh, the eldest son of the general, was naturally diffident, +and, in addition, it was his misfortune to be the reverse of captivating +in external appearance. The small-pox sealed his doom;--ignorance, and +the violence of the attack, left him indelibly impressed with the +ravages of that dreadful disorder. Oh the other hand, his brother +escaped without any vestiges of the complaint; and his spotless skin and +fine open countenance, met the gaze of his mother, after the recovery of +the two, in striking contrast to the deformed lineaments of his elder +brother. Such an occurrence is sure to excite one of two feelings in the +breast of every beholder--pity or disgust; and, unhappily for Francis, +maternal tenderness, in his case, was unable to counteract the latter +sensation. George become a favorite, and Francis a neutral. The effect +was easy to be seen, and it was rapid, as it was indelible. + +The feelings of Francis were sensitive to an extreme. He had more +quickness, more sensibility, more real talent than George; which enabled +him to perceive, and caused him to feel more acutely, the partiality of +his mother. + +As yet, the engagements and duties of the general had kept his children +and, their improvements out of his sight; but at the ages of eleven and +twelve, the feelings of a father, began, to take pride in the possession +of his sons. + +On his return from a foreign station, after an absence of two years, his +children were ordered from school to meet him. Francis had improved in +stature, but not in beauty; George had flourished in both. + +The natural diffidence of the former was increased, by perceiving that +he was no favorite, and the effect began to show itself on manners at no +time engaging. He met his father with doubt, and he saw with anguish, +that the embrace received by his brother much exceeded in warmth that +which had been bestowed on himself. + +"Lady Margaret," said the general to his wife, as he followed the boys +as they retired from the dinner table, with his eyes, "it is a thousand +pities George had not been the elder. He would have graced a dukedom or +a throne. Frank is only fit for a parson." + +This ill-judged speech was uttered sufficiently loud to be overheard by +both the sons: on the younger, it made a pleasurable sensation for the +moment. His father--his dear father, had thought him fit to be a king; +and his father must be a judge, whispered his native vanity; but all +this time the connexion between the speech and his brother's rights did +not present themselves to his mind. George loved this brother too well, +too sincerely, to have injured him even in thought; and so far as +Francis was concerned, his vanity was as blameless as it was natural. + +The effect produced on the mind of Francis was different both in +substance and in degree. It mortified his pride, alarmed his delicacy, +and wounded his already morbid sensibility to such an extent, as to make +him entertain the romantic notion of withdrawing from the world, and of +yielding a birthright to one so every way more deserving of it than +himself. + +From this period might be dated an opinion of Francis's, which never +afterwards left him; he fancied he was doing injustice to another, and +that other, a brother whom he ardently loved, by continuing to exist. +Had he met with fondness in his parents, or sociability in his +playfellows, these fancies would have left him as he grew into life. But +the affections of his parents were settled on his more promising +brother; and his manners daily increasing in their repulsive traits, +drove his companions to the society of others, more agreeable to their +own buoyancy and joy. + +Had Francis Denbigh, at this age, met with a guardian clear-sighted +enough to fathom his real character, and competent to direct his onward +course, he would yet have become an ornament to his name and country, +and a useful member of society. But no such guide existed. His natural +guardians, in his particular case, were his worst enemies; and the boys +left school for college four years afterwards, each advanced in his +respective properties of attraction and repulsion. + +Irreligion is hardly a worse evil in a family than favoritism. When once +allowed to exist, in the breast of the parent, though hid apparently +from all other eyes, its sad consequences begin to show themselves. +Effects are produced, and we look in vain for the cause. The awakened +sympathies of reciprocal caresses and fondness are mistaken for uncommon +feelings, and the forbidding aspect of deadened affections is miscalled +native sensibility. + +In this manner the evil increases itself, until manners are formed, and +characters created, that must descend with their possessor to the tomb. + +In the peculiar formation of the mind of Francis Denbigh, the evil was +doubly injurious. His feelings required sympathy and softness, and they +met only with coldness and disgust. George alone was an exception to the +rule. He did love his brother; but even his gaiety and spirits finally +tired of the dull uniformity of the diseased habits of his senior. + +The only refuge Francis found in his solitude, amidst the hundreds of +the university, was in his muse and in the powers of melody. The voice +of his family has been frequently mentioned in these pages; and if, as +Lady Laura had intimated, there had ever been a siren in the race, it +was a male one. He wrote prettily, and would sing these efforts of his +muse to music of his own, drawing crowds around his windows, in the +stillness of the night, to listen to sounds as melodious as they were +mournful. His poetical efforts partook of the distinctive character of +the man, being melancholy, wild, and sometimes pious. + +George was always amongst the most admiring of his brother's auditors, +and would feel a yearning of his heart towards him, at such moments, +that was painful. But George was too young and too heedless, to supply +the place of a monitor, or to draw his thoughts into a more salutary +train. This was the duty of his parents, and should have been their +task. But the world, his rising honors, and his professional +engagements, occupied the time of the father; and fashion, parties, and +pleasure, killed the time of his mother. When they did think of their +children, it was of George; the painful image of Francis being seldom +admitted to disturb their serenity. + +George Denbigh was open-hearted without suspicion, and a favorite. The +first quality taxed his generosity, the second subjected him to fraud, +and the third supplied him with the means. But these means sometimes +failed. The fortune of the general, though handsome, was not more than +competent to support his style of living. He expected to be a duke +himself one day, and was anxious to maintain an appearance now that +would not disgrace his future elevation. A system of strict but liberal +economy had been adopted in the case of his sons. They had, for the sake +of appearances, a stated and equal allowance. + +The duke had offered to educate the heir himself, and under his own eye. +But to this Lady Margaret had found some ingenious excuse, and one that +seemed to herself and the world honorable to her natural feeling; but +had the offer been made to George, these reasons would have vanished in +the desire to advance his interests, or to gratify his propensities. +Such decisions are by no means uncommon; parents having once decided on +the merits and abilities of their children, frequently decline the +interference of third persons, since the improvement of their denounced +offspring might bring their own judgment into question, if it did not +convey an indirect censure on their justice. + +The heedlessness of George brought his purse to a state of emptiness. +His last guinea was gone, and two months were wanting to the end of the +quarter. George had played and been cheated. He had ventured to apply to +his mother for small sums, when his dress or some trifling indulgence +required an advance; and always with success. But here were sixty +guineas gone at a blow, and pride, candor, forbade his concealing the +manner of his loss, if he made the application. This was dreadful; his +own conscience reproached him, and he had so often witnessed the +violence of his mother's resentments against Francis, for faults which +appeared to him very trivial, not to stand in the utmost dread of her +more just displeasure in the present case. + +Entering the apartment of his brother, in this disturbed condition, +George threw himself into a chair, and with his face concealed between +his hands, sat brooding over his forlorn situation. + +"George!" said his brother, soothingly, "you are in distress; can I +relieve you in any way?" + +"Oh no--no--no--Frank; it is entirely out of your power." + +"Perhaps not, my dear brother," continued the other, endeavoring to draw +his hand into his own. + +"Entirely! entirely!" said George. Then springing up in despair, he +exclaimed, "But I must live--I cannot die." + +"Live! die!" cried Francis, recoiling in horror. "What do you mean by +such language? Tell me, George, am I not your brother? Your only brother +and best friend?" + +Francis felt he had no friend if George was not that friend, and his +face grew pale while the tears flowed rapidly down his cheeks. + +George could not resist such an appeal. He caught the hand of his +brother and made him acquainted with his losses and his wants. + +Francis mused some little time over his narration, ere he broke silence. + +"It was all you had?" + +"The last shilling," cried George, beating his head with his hand. + +"How much will you require to make out the quarter?" + +"Oh I must have at least fifty guineas, or how can I live at all?" + +The ideas of life in George were connected a good deal with the manner +it was to be enjoyed. His brother appeared struggling with himself, and +then turning to the other, continued, + +"But surely, under present circumstances, you could make less do." + +"Less, never--hardly that"--interrupted George, vehemently. "If Lady +Margaret did not inclose me a note now and then, how could we get along +at all? don't you find it so yourself, brother?" + +"I don't know," said Francis, turning pale-- + +"Don't know!" cried George, catching a view of his altered countenance-- +"you get the money, though?" + +"I do not remember it," said the other, sighing heavily. + +"Francis," cried George, comprehending the truth, "you shall share every +shilling I receive in future--you shall--indeed you shall." + +"Well, then," rejoined Francis with a smile, "it is a bargain; and you +will receive from me a supply in your present necessities." + +Without waiting for an answer, Francis withdrew into an inner apartment, +and brought out the required sum for his brother's subsistence for two +months. George remonstrated, but Francis was positive; he had been +saving, and his stock was ample for his simple habits without it. + +"Besides, you forget we are partners, and in the end I shall be a +gainer." + +George yielded to his wants and his brother's entreaties, and he gave +him great credit for the disinterestedness of the act. Several weeks +passed without any further allusion to this disagreeable subject, which +had at least the favorable result of making George more guarded and a +better student. + +The brothers, from this period, advanced gradually in those distinctive +qualities which were to mark the future men; George daily improving in +grace and attraction, Francis, in an equal ratio, receding from those +very attainments which it was his too great desire to possess. In the +education of his sons, General Denbigh had preserved the appearance of +impartiality; his allowance to each was the same: they were at the same +college, they had been at the same school; and if Frank did not improve +as much as his younger brother, it was unquestionably his own obstinacy +and stupidity, and surely not want of opportunity or favor. + +Such, then, were the artificial and accidental causes, which kept a +noble, a proud, an acute but a diseased mind, in acquirements much below +another every way its inferior, excepting in the happy circumstance of +wanting those very excellences, the excess and indiscreet management of +which proved the ruin instead of the blessing of their possessor. + +The duke would occasionally rouse himself from his lethargy, and +complain to the father, that the heir of his honors was far inferior to +his younger brother in acquirements, and remonstrate against the course +which produced such an unfortunate inequality. On these occasions a +superficial statement of his system from the general met the objection; +they cost the same money, and he was sure he not only wished but did +everything an indulgent parent could, to render Francis worthy of his +future honors. Another evil of the admission of feelings of partiality, +in the favor of one child, to the prejudice of another, is that the +malady is contagious as well as lasting: it exists without our own +knowledge, and it seldom fails to affect those around us. The uncle soon +learnt to distinguish George as the hope of the family, yet Francis must +be the heir of its honors, and consequently of its wealth. + +The duke and his brother were not much addicted to action, hardly to +reflection; but if anything could rouse them to either, it was the +reputation of the house of Denbigh. Their ideas of reputation, it is +true, were of their own forming. + +The hour at length drew near when George expected a supply from the ill- +judged generosity of his mother; it came, and with a heart beating with +pleasure, the youth flew to the room of Francis with a determination to +force the whole of his twenty pounds on his acceptance. On throwing open +his door, he saw his brother evidently striving to conceal something +behind his books. It was at the hour of breakfast, and George had +intended for a novelty to share his brother's morning repast. They +always met at dinner, but the other meals were made in their own rooms. +George looked in vain for the usual equipage of the table; suspicion +flashed upon him; he threw aside the books, and a crust of bread and a +glass of water met his eye; the truth now flashed upon him in all its +force. + +"Francis, my brother, to what has my extravagance reduced you!" +exclaimed the contrite George with a heart nearly ready to burst. +Francis endeavored to explain, but a sacred regard to the truth held him +tongue-tied, until dropping his head on the shoulder of George, he +sobbed out-- + +"It is a trifle; nothing to what I would do for you, my brother." + +George felt all the horrors of remorse, and was much too generous to +conceal his error any longer; he wrote a circumstantial account of the +whole transaction to Lady Margaret. + +Francis for a few days was a new being. He had acted nobly, his +conscience approved of his motives, and of his delicate concealment of +them; he in fact began to think there were in himself the seeds of +usefulness, as his brother, who from this moment began to understand his +character better, attached himself more closely to him. + +The eye of Francis met that of George with the look of acknowledged +affection, his mind became less moody, and his face was sometimes +embellished with a smile. + +The reply of their mother to the communication of George threw a damp on +the revived hopes of the senior, and drove him back into himself with +tenfold humility. + +"I am shocked, my child, to find that you have lowered yourself, and +forgot the family you belong to, so much as to frequent those gambling- +houses, which ought not to be suffered in the neighborhood of the +universities: when at a proper age and in proper company, your +occasional indulgence at cards I could not object to, as both your +father and myself sometimes resort to it as an amusement, but never in +low company. The consequence of mingling in such society is, that you +were cheated, and such will always be your lot unless you confine +yourself to associates more becoming your rank and illustrious name. + +"As to Francis, I see every reason to condemn the course he has taken. +Being the senior by a year, he should have taken the means to prevent +your falling into such company; and he should have acquainted me +immediately with your loss, in place of wounding your pride by +subjecting you to the mortification of receiving a pecuniary obligation +from one so little older than yourself, and exposing his own health by a +diet on bread and water, as you wrote me, for a whole month. Both the +general and myself are seriously displeased with him, and think of +separating you, as you thus connive at each other's follies." + +George was too indignant to conceal this letter and the reflections of +Francis were dreadful. + +For a short time he actually meditated suicide, as the only method of +removing himself from before the advancement of George. Had not George +been more attentive and affectionate than formerly, the awful expedient +might have been resorted to. + +From college the young men went, one into the army and the other to the +mansion of his uncle. George became an elegant, gay, open-hearted, +admired captain in the guards; and Francis stalked through the halls of +his ancestors, their acknowledged future lord, but a misanthrope; +hateful to himself and disagreeable to all around him. + +This picture may be highly wrought, but the effects, in the case of +Francis, were increased by the peculiar tone of his diseased state of +mind. The indulgence of favoritism, nevertheless, always brings its own +sad consequences, in a greater or less degree, while it seldom fails to +give sorrow and penitence to the bosom of the parents. + + + +Chapter XLIII. + +No little art and management had been necessary to make the admiral +auxiliary to the indirect plan proposed by his friend to bring George +and Isabel together. This, however, effected, the general turned his +whole strategy to the impression to be made on the heart of the young +gentleman. + +Sir Frederick Denbigh had the same idea of the virtue of management as +the Dowager Lady Chatterton, but he understood human nature better. + +Like a prudent officer, his attacks were all masked, and, like a great +officer, they seldom failed of success. + +The young couple were thrown in each other's way, and as Isabel was +extremely attractive, somewhat the opposite to himself in ardor of +temperament and vivacity, modest, and sensible, it cannot be expected +that the association was maintained by the youth with perfect impunity. +Within a couple of months he fancied himself desperately in love with +Isabel Howell; and, in truth, he had some reason for the supposition. + +The general watched every movement of his son with a wary and vigilant +eye--occasionally adding fuel to the flame, by drawing his attention to +projects of matrimony in other quarters, until George began to think he +was soon to undergo a trial of his constancy, and in consequence he +armed himself with a double portion of admiration for his Isabel, in +order to enable himself to endure the persecution; while the admiral +several times endangered the success of the whole enterprise by +volunteer contributions to the hopes of the young man, which only +escaped producing an opposite effect to that which was intended, by +being mistaken for the overflowings of good nature and friendship. + +After suffering his son to get, as he thought, sufficiently entangled in +the snares of Cupid, Sir Frederick determined to fire a volley from one +of his masked batteries, which he rightly judged would bring on a +general engagement. They were sitting at the table after dinner, alone, +when the general took the advantage of the name of Miss Howell being +accidentally mentioned, to say-- + +"By the by, George, my friend the admiral said something yesterday on +the subject of your being so much with his daughter. I wish you to be +cautious, and not to give the old sailor offence in any way, for he is +my particular friend." + +"He need be under no violent apprehensions," cried George, coloring +highly with shame and pride, "I am sure a Denbigh is no unworthy match +for a daughter of Sir Peter Howell." + +"Oh! to be sure not, boy, we are as old a house as there is in the +kingdom, and as noble too; but the admiral has queer notions, and, +perhaps, he has some cub of a sailor in his eye for a son-in-law. Be +prudent, my boy, be prudent; that is all I ask of you." + +The general, satisfied with the effect he had produced, carelessly arose +from his seat, and joined Lady Margaret in her drawing-room. + +George remained for several minutes musing on his father's singular +request, as well as the admiral's caution, when he sprang from his seat, +caught up his hat and sword, and in ten minutes rang at Sir Peter's door +in Grosvenor Square. He was admitted, and ascending to the drawing-room, +he met the admiral on his way out. Nothing was further from the thoughts +of the veteran than a finesse like the general's; and, delighted to see +George on the battle-ground, he pointed significantly over his shoulder +towards the door of the room Isabel was in, and exclaimed, with a good- +natured smile, + +"There she is, my hearty; lay her aside, and hang me if she don't +strike. I say, George, faint heart never won fair lady: remember that, +my boy; no, nor a French ship." + +George would have been at some loss to have reconciled this speech to +his father's caution, if time had been allowed him to think at all; but +the door being open he entered, and found Isabel endeavoring to hide her +tears. + +The admiral, dissatisfied from the beginning with the tardy method of +despatching things, thought he might be of use in breaking the ice for +George, by trumpeting his praises on divers occasions to his daughter. +Under all circumstances, he thought she might be learning to love the +man, as he was to be her husband; and speeches like the following had +been frequent of late from the parent to the child: + +"There's that youngster, George Denbigh: now, Bell, is he not a fine +looking lad? Then I know he is brave. His father before him, was good +stuff and a true Englishman. What a proper husband he would make for a +young woman, he loves his king and country so; none of your new-fangled +notions about religion and government, but a sober, religious churchman; +that is, as much so, girl, as you can expect in the guards. No +Methodist, to be sure;--it's a great pity he wasn't sent to sea, don't +you think so? But cheer up, girl, one of these days he may be taking a +liking to you yet." + +Isabel, whose fears taught her the meaning of these eloquent praises of +Captain Denbigh, listened to these harangues in silence, and often +meditated on their import by herself in tears. + +George approached the sofa on which the lady was seated before she had +time to conceal the traces of her sorrow, and in a voice softened by +emotion, he took her hand gently as he said,-- + +"What can have occasioned this distress to Miss Howell. If anything in +my power to remove, or which a life devoted to her service can mitigate, +she has only to command me to find a cheerful obedience." + +"The trifling causes of sorrow in a young woman," replied Isabel, +endeavoring to smile, "will hardly require such serious services to +remove them." + +But the lady was extremely interesting at the moment. George was goaded +by his father's caution, and urged on by his own feelings, with great +sincerity, and certainly much eloquence, he therefore proffered his love +and hand to the acceptance of his mistress. + +Isabel heard him in painful silence. She respected him, and dreaded his +power over her father; but, unwilling to abandon hopes to which she yet +clung as to her spring of existence, with a violent effort she +determined to throw herself on the generosity of her lover. + +During her father's late absence Isabel had, as usual, since the death +of her mother, been left with his sister, and had formed an attachment +for a young clergyman, a younger son of a baronet, and the present Dr. +Ives. The inclination had been mutual; and as Lady Hawker knew her +brother to be perfectly indifferent to money, she could see no possible +objection to its indulgence. + +On his return, Ives made his proposals, as related; and although warmly +backed by the recommendations of the aunt, he was refused. Out of +delicacy the wishes of Isabel had not been mentioned by her clerical +lover, and the admiral supposed he had only complied with his agreement +with the general, without in any manner affecting the happiness of his +daughter by his answer. But the feelings which prompted the request +still remained in full vigor in the lovers; and Isabel now, with many +blushes and some hesitation of utterance, made George fully acquainted +with the state of her heart, giving him at the same time to understand +that he was the only obstacle to her happiness. + +It cannot be supposed that George heard her without pain or +mortification. The struggle with self-love was a severe one, but his +better feelings prevailed, and he assured the anxious Isabel that from +his importunities she had nothing to apprehend in future. The grateful +girl overwhelmed him with thanks, and George had to fly ere he repented +of his own generosity. + +Miss Howell intimated, in the course of her narrative, that a better +understanding existed between their parents than the caution of the +general had discovered to his unsuspecting child, and George was +determined to know the worst at once. + +At supper he mentioned, as if in remembrance of his father's injunction, +that he had been to take his leave of Miss Howell, since he found his +visits gave uneasiness to her friends. "On the whole," he added, +endeavoring to yawn carelessly, "I believe I shall visit there no more." + +"Nay, nay," returned Sir Frederick, a little displeased at his son's +obedience, "I meant no such thing. Neither the admiral nor myself, has +the least objection to your visiting in moderation; indeed, you may +marry the girl with all our hearts, if you can agree." + +"But we can't agree, I take it," said George, looking up at the wall. + +"Why not? what hinders?' cried his father unguardedly. + +"Only--only I don't like her," said the son, tossing off a glass of +wine, which nearly strangled him. + +"You don't," cried the general with great warmth, thrown entirely off +his guard by this unexpected declaration "and may I presume to ask the +reason why you do not like Miss Howell, sir?" + +"Oh! you know, one never pretends to give a reason for this sort of +feeling, my dear sir." + +"Then," cried his father with increasing heat, "you must allow me to +say, my dear sir, that the sooner you get rid of these sort of feelings +the better. I choose you shall not only like, but love Miss Howell; and +this I have promised her father." + +"I thought that the admiral was displeased with my coming to his house +so much--or did I not understand you this morning?" + +"I know nothing of his displeasure, and care less. He has agreed that +Isabel shall be your wife, and I have passed my word to the engagement; +and if, sir, you wish to be considered as my son, you will prepare to +comply." + +George was expecting to discover some management on the part of his +father, but by no means so settled an arrangement, and his anger was in +proportion to the deception. + +To annoy Isabel any further was out of the question; to betray her, +base; and the next morning he sought an audience with the Duke. To him +he mentioned his wish for actual service, but hinted that the maternal +fondness of Lady Margaret was averse to his seeking it. This was true, +and George now pressed his uncle to assist him in effecting an exchange. + +The boroughs of the Duke of Derwent were represented by loyal members of +parliament, his two brothers being contemporary with Mr. Benfield in +that honor; and a request from a man who sent six members to the +Commons, besides having a seat in the Lords in his own person, must be +listened to. + +Within the week George ceased to be a captain in the guards, and became +lieutenant-colonel of a regiment under orders for America. + +Sir Frederick soon became sensible of the error his warmth had led him +into, and endeavored, by soothing and indulgence, to gain the ground he +had so unguardedly lost. But terrible was his anger, and bitter his +denunciations, when his son acquainted him with his approaching +embarkation with his new regiment for America. They quarrelled; and as +the favorite child had never, until now, been thwarted or spoken harshly +to, they parted in mutual disgust. With his mother George was more +tender; and as Lady Margaret never thought the match such as the +descendant of two lines of dukes was entitled to form, she almost +pardoned the offence in the cause. + +"What's this here?" cried Sir Peter Howell, as he ran over a morning +paper at the breakfast table: "Captain Denbigh, late of the guards, has +been promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the ---- Foot, and sails +to-morrow to join that regiment, now on its way to America." + +"It's a lie, Bell!--it's all a lie! not but what he ought to be there, +too, serving his king and country; but he never would serve you so." + +"Me?" said Isabel, with a heart throbbing with the contending feelings +of admiration for George's generosity, and delight at her own +deliverance. "What have I to do with the movements of Mr. Denbigh?" + +"What!" cried her father in astonishment; "a'n't you to be his wife, +a'n't it all agreed upon--that is, between Sir Frederick and me, which +is the same thing, you know--" + +Here he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the general himself, +who had just learnt the departure of his son and hastened, with the +double purpose of breaking the intelligence to his friend, and of making +his own peace. + +"See here, Denbigh," exclaimed the admiral, pointing to the paragraph, +"what do you say to that?" + +"Too true--too true, my dear friend," replied the general shaking his +head mournfully. + +"Hark ye, Sir Frederick Denbigh," cried the admiral fiercely; "did you +not say that your son George was to marry my daughter?" + +"I certainly did, Sir Peter, and am sorry to say that, in defiance of my +entreaties and commands, he has deserted his home, and, in consequence, +I have discarded him for ever." + +"Now, Denbigh," said the admiral, a good deal mollified by this +declaration, "have I not always told you, that in the army you know +nothing of discipline? Why, sir, if he was a son of mine, he should +marry blindfolded, if I chose to order it. I wish, now, Bell had an +offer, and dared to refuse it." + +"There is the barber's clerk, you know," said the general, a good deal +irritated by the contemptuous manner of his friend. + +"And what of that, Sir Frederick?" said the sailor sternly; "if I choose +her to marry a quill-driver, she shall comply." + +"Ah! my good friend," said the general, willing to drop the disagreeable +subject, "I am afraid we shall both find it more difficult to control +the affections of our children than we at first imagined." + +"You do, General Denbigh?" said the admiral, with a curl of contempt on +his lip; and ringing the bell violently, he bid the servant send his +young lady to him. + +On the appearance of Isabel, her father inquired with an air of settled +meaning where young Mr. Ives resided. It was only in the next street, +and a messenger was sent to him, with Sir Peter Howell's compliments, +and a request to see him without a moment's delay. + +"We'll see, we'll see, my old friend, who keeps the best discipline," +muttered the admiral, as he paced up and down the room, in eager +expectation of the return of his messenger. + +The wondering general gazed on his friend, to ascertain if he was out of +his senses. He knew he was quick to decide, and excessively obstinate, +but he did not think him so crazy as to throw away his daughter in a fit +of spleen. It never occurred to Sir Frederick, however, that the +engagement with himself was an act of equal injustice and folly, because +it was done with more form and deliberation, which, to the eye of sober +reason, would rather make the matter worse. Isabel sat in trembling +suspense for the issue of the scene, and Ives in a few minutes made his +appearance in no little alarm. + +On entering, the admiral addressed him abruptly, by inquiring if he +still wished to marry that girl, pointing to his daughter. The reply was +an eager affirmative. Sir Peter beckoned to Isabel, who approached, +covered with blushes; and her father having placed her hand in that of +her lover, with an air of great solemnity he gave them his blessing. The +young people withdrew to another room at Sir Peter's request, when he +turned to his friend, delighted with his own decision and authority, and +exclaimed, + +"There, Fred. Denbigh, that is what I call being minded." + +The general had penetration enough to see that the result was agreeable +to both the young people, a thing he had long apprehended; and being +glad to get rid of the affair in any way that did not involve him in a +quarrel with his old comrade, he gravely congratulated the admiral on +his good fortune and retired. + +"Yes, yes," said Sir Peter to himself, as he paced up and down his room, +"Denbigh is mortified enough, with his joy, and felicity, and grand- +children. I never had any opinion of their manner of discipline at all; +too much bowing and scraping. I'm sorry, though, he is a priest; not but +what a priest may be as good a man as another, but let him behave ever +so well, he can only get to be a bishop at the most. Heaven forbid he +should ever get to be a Pope! After all, his boys may be admirals if +they behave themselves;" and he went to seek his daughter, having in +imagination manned her nursery with vice and rear admirals in embryo by +the half dozen. + +Sir Peter Howell survived the marriage of his daughter but eighteen +months; yet that was sufficient time to become attached to his +invaluable son-in-law. Mr. Ives insensibly led the admiral, during his +long indisposition, to a more correct view of sacred things, than he had +been wont to entertain; and the old man breathed his last, blessing both +his children for their kindness, and with an humble hope of future +happiness. Some time before his death, Isabel, whose conscience had +always reproached her with the deception practised on her father, and +with the banishment of George from his country and home, threw herself +at the feet of Sir Peter and acknowledged her transgression. + +The admiral heard her in astonishment, but not in anger. His opinions of +life had sensibly changed, and his great cause of satisfaction with his +new son removed all motives for regret for anything but for the fate of +poor George. With the noble forbearance and tenderness of the young man +to his daughter, the hardy veteran was sensibly touched; and his +entreaties with Sir Frederick made his peace with a father already +longing for the return of his only hope. + +The admiral left Colonel Denbigh his blessing, and his favorite pistols, +as a remembrance of his esteem; but he did not live to see the reunion +with his family. + +George had soon learnt, deprived of hope and in the midst of novelty, to +forget a passion which could no longer be prosperous; and two years from +his departure returned to England, glowing in health, and improved in +person and manners by a more extensive knowledge of the world and +mankind. + + + +Chapter XLIV. + +During the time occupied by the foregoing events, Francis continued a +gloomy inmate of his uncle's house. The duke and his brother George were +too indolent and inactive in their minds to pierce the cloud that +mortification and deadened affections had drawn around the real +character of their nephew; and although he was tolerated as the heir, he +was but little loved as a man. + +In losing his brother, Francis lost the only human being with whom he +possessed any sympathies in common; and he daily drew more and more into +himself, in gloomy meditation on his forlorn situation, in the midst of +wealth and expected honors. The attentions he received were paid to his +rank, and Francis had penetration enough to perceive it. His visits to +his parents were visits of ceremony, and in time all parties came to +look to their termination with pleasure, as to the discontinuance of +heartless and forced civilities. + +Affection, even in the young man, could not endure, repulsed as his +feelings were, for ever; and in the course of three years, if his +attachments were not alienated from his parents, his ardor had become +much abated. + +It is a dreadful truth, that the bonds of natural affection can be +broken by injustice and contumely; and it is yet more to be deplored, +that when from such causes we loosen the ties habit and education have +drawn around us, a reaction in our feelings commences; we seldom cease +to love, but we begin to hate. Against such awful consequences it is one +of the most solemn duties of the parent to provide in season; and what +surer safeguard is there, than to inculcate those feelings which teach +the mind to love God, and in so doing induce love to the whole human +family? + +Sir Frederick and Lady Margaret attended the church regularly, repeated +the responses with much decency, toasted the church next to the king, +even appeared at the altars of their God, and continued sinners. From +such sowings, no good fruit could be expected to flourish: yet Francis +was not without his hours of devotion; but his religion was, like +himself, reserved, superstitious, ascetic, and gloomy. He never entered +into social worship: if he prayed it was with an ill-concealed wish to +end this life of care. If he returned thanks, it was with a bitterness +that mocked the throne before which he was prostrate. Such pictures are +revolting; but their originals have and do exist; for what enormity is +there of which human frailty, unchecked by divine assistance, may not be +guilty? + +Francis received an invitation to visit a brother of his mother's at his +seat in the country, about the time of the expected return of George +from America; and in compliance with the wishes of his uncles he +accepted it. The house was thronged with visitors, and many of them were +ladies. To these, the arrival of the unmarried heir of the house of +Derwent was a subject of no little interest. His character had, however, +preceded him, and a few days of his awkward and, as they conceived, +sullen deportment, drove them back to their former beaux, with the +exception of one; and she was not only amongst the fairest of the +throng, but decidedly of the highest pretensions on the score of birth +and fortune. + +Marian Lumley was the only surviving child of the last Duke of +Annerdale, with whom had expired the higher honors of his house. But the +Earldom of Pendennyss, with numerous ancient baronies, were titles in +fee; and together with his princely estates had descended to his +daughter as heir-general of the family. A peeress in her own right, with +an income far exceeding her utmost means of expenditure, the lovely +Countess of Pendennyss was a prize aimed at by all the young nobles of +the empire. + +Educated in the midst of flatterers and dependants she had become +haughty, vain, and supercilious; still she was lovely, and no one knew +better how to practise the most winning arts of her sex, when whim or +interest prompted her to the trial. + +Her host was her guardian and relative; and through his agency she had +rejected, at the age of twenty, numerous suitors for her hand. Her eyes +were fixed on the ducal coronet; and unfortunately for Francis Denbigh, +he was, at the time, the only man of the proper age who could elevate +her to that enviable distinction in the kingdom; and an indirect measure +of her own had been the means of his invitation to the country. + +Like the rest of her young companions, Marian was greatly disappointed +on the view of her intended captive, and for a day or two she abandoned +him to his melancholy and himself. But ambition was her idol; and to its +powerful rival, love, she was yet a stranger. After a few struggles with +her inclinations the consideration that their united fortunes and family +alliances would make one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in +the kingdom, prevailed. Such early sacrifices of the inclinations in a +woman of her beauty, youth and accomplishments, may excite surprise; but +where the mind is left uncultivated by the hand of care, the soul +untouched by the love of goodness, the human heart seldom fails to set +up an idol of its own to worship. In the Countess of Pendennyss this +idol was pride. + +The remainder of the ladies, from ceasing to wonder at the manners of +Francis, had made them the subject of their mirth; and nettled at his +apparent indifference to their society, which they erroneously +attributed to his sense of his importance, they overstepped the bounds +of good-breeding in manifesting their displeasure. + +"Mr. Denbigh," cried one of the most thoughtless and pretty of the gay +tribe to him one day, as Francis sat in a corner abstracted from the +scene around him, "when do you mean to favor the world with your +brilliant ideas in the shape of a book?" + +"Oh! no doubt soon," said a second; "and I expect they will be homilies, +or another volume to the Whole Duty of Man." + +"Rather," cried a third, with bitter irony, "another canto to the Rape +of the Lock, his ideas are so vivid and full of imagery." + +"Or, what do you think," said a fourth, speaking in a voice of harmony, +and tones of the most soothing tenderness, "of pity and compassion, for +the follies of those inferior minds, who cannot enjoy the reflections of +a good sense and modesty peculiarly his own?" + +This might also be irony; and Francis thought it so; but the tones were +so soft and conciliating, that with a face pale with his emotions, he +ventured to look up and met the eye of Marian, fixed on him in an +expression that changed his death-like hue into the color of vermillion. + +He thought of this speech; he reasoned on it; he dreamt on it. But for +the looks which accompanied it, like the rest of the party, he would +have thought it the cruellest cut of them all. But that look, those +eyes, that voice, what a commentary on her language did they not afford! + +Francis was not long in suspense; the next morning an excursion was +proposed, which included all but himself in its arrangements. He was +either too reserved or too proud to offer services which were not +required. + +Several gentlemen had contended for the honor of driving the countess in +a beautiful phaeton of her own. They grew earnest in their claims: one +had been promised by its mistress with an opportunity of trying the ease +of the carriage; another was delighted with the excellent training of +her horses; in short, all had some particular claim to the distinction, +which was urged with a warmth and pertinacity proportionate to the value +of the prize to be obtained. Marian heard the several claimants with an +ease and indifference natural to her situation, and ended the dispute by +saying-- + +"Gentlemen, as I have made so many promises from the dread of giving +offence, I must throw myself on the mercy of Mr. Denbigh, who alone, +with the best claims, does not urge them; to you then," continued she, +approaching him with the whip which was to be given the victor, "I +adjudge the prize, if you will condescend to accept it." + +This was uttered with one of her most attractive smiles, and Francis +received the whip with an emotion that he with difficulty could control. + +The gentlemen were glad to have the contest decided by adjudging the +prize to one so little dangerous, and the ladies sneered at her choice +as they left the house. + +There was something so soothing in the manners of Lady Pendennyss, she +listened to the little he said with such a respectful attention, was so +anxious to have him give his opinions, that the unction of flattery, +thus sweetly applied, and for the first time, could not fail of its +wonted effects. + +The communications thus commenced were continued. It was so easy to be +attentive, by being simply polite to one unused to notice of any kind, +that Marian found the fate of the young man in her hands almost as soon +as she attempted to control it. + +A new existence opened upon Francis, as day after day she insensibly led +him to a display of powers he was unconscious until now of possessing +himself. His self-respect began to increase, his limited pleasures to +multiply, and he could now look around him with a sense of participation +in the delights of life, as he perceived himself of consequence to this +much admired woman. + +Trifling incidents, managed on her part with consummate art, had led him +to the daring inference that he was not entirely indifferent to her; and +Francis returned the incipient affection of his mistress with a feeling +but little removed from adoration. Week flew by after week, and still he +lingered at the residence of his kinsman, unable to tear himself from +the society of one so worshipped, and yet afraid to take a step by +making a distinct declaration which might involve him in disgrace or +ridicule. + +The condescension of the countess increased, and she had indirectly +given him the most flattering assurances of his success, when George, +just arrived from America, having first paid his greetings to his +reconciled parents, and the happy couple of his generosity, flew to the +arms of his brother in Suffolk. + +Francis was overjoyed to see George, and George delighted in the visible +improvement of his brother. Still Francis was far, very far behind his +junior in graces of mind and body; indeed, few men in England were more +adapted by nature and education for female society than was Colonel +Denbigh at the period of which we write. + +Marian witnessed all his attractions, and deeply felt their influence; +for the first time she felt the emotions of the gentle passion; and +after having sported in the gay world, and trifled with the feelings of +others for years, the countess in her turn became an unwilling victim to +its power. George met her flame with a corresponding ardor, and the +struggle between ambition and love became severe; the brothers +unconsciously were rivals. + +Had George for a moment suspected the situation of the feelings of +Francis, his very superiority in the contest would have induced him to +retreat from the unnatural rivalry. Had the elder dreamt of the views of +his junior, he would have abandoned his dearest hopes in utter despair. +Francis had so long been accustomed to consider George as his superior +in everything, that a competition with him would have appeared +desperate. Marian contrived to keep both in hopes, undecided herself +which to choose, and perhaps ready to yield to the first applicant. A +sudden event, however, removed all doubts, and decided the fate of the +three. + +The Duke of Derwent and his bachelor brother became so dissatisfied with +the character of their future heir, that they as coolly set about +providing themselves with wives as they had performed any other ordinary +transaction of life, They married cousins, and on the same day the +choice of the ladies was assigned between them by lots; and if his grace +got the prettier, his brother certainly got the richest; under the +circumstances a very tolerable distribution of fortune's favors. + +These double marriages dissolved the charm of Francis, and Lady +Pendennyss determined to consult her wishes; a little pointed +encouragement brought out the declaration of George, and he was +accepted. + +Francis, who had never communicated his feelings to any one but the +lady, and that only indirectly, was crushed by the blow. He continued in +public until the day of their union; was present, composed and silent; +but it was the silence of a mountain whose volcanic contents had not +reached the surface. The same day he disappeared, and every inquiry +after him proved fruitless; search was baffled, and for seven years it +was not known what had become of the general's eldest son. + +George on marrying resigned his commission, at the earnest entreaties of +his wife, and retired to one of her seats, to the enjoyment of ease and +domestic love. The countess was enthusiastically attached to him; and as +motives for the indulgence of coquetry were wanting, her character +became gradually improved by the contemplation of the excellent +qualities of her generous husband. + +A lurking suspicion of the cause of Francis's sudden disappearance +rendered her uneasy at times; but Marian was too much beloved, too +happy, in the enjoyment of too many honors, and of too great wealth, to +be open to the convictions of conscience. It is in our hours of pain and +privation that we begin to feel its sting: if we are prosperous, we +fancy we reap the fruits of our own merit; but if we are unfortunate, +the voice of truth seldom fails to remind us that we are deserving of +our fate:--a blessed provision of Providence that often makes the +saddest hours of our earthly career the morn of a day that is to endure +for ever. + +General Denbigh and Lady Margaret both died within five years of the +marriage of their favorite child, although both lived to see their +descendant, in the person of the infant Lord Lumley. + +The duke and his brother George were each blessed with offspring, and in +these several descendants of the different branches of the family of +Denbigh may be seen the different personages of our history. On the +birth of her youngest child, the Lady Marian, the Countess of Pendennyss +sustained a shock in her health from which she never wholly recovered: +she became nervous, and lost most of her energy both of mind and body. +Her husband was her solace; his tenderness remaining unextinguished, +while his attentions increased. + +As the fortune of Ives and Isabel put the necessity of a living out of +the question, and no cure offering for the acceptance of the first, he +was happy to avail himself of an offer to become domestic chaplain to +his now intimate friend, Mr. Denbigh. For the first six years they were +inmates of Pendennyss Castle. The rector of the parish was infirm, and +averse to a regular assistant; but the unobtrusive services of Mr. Ives +were not less welcome to the pastor than to his parishioners. + +Employed in the duties which of right fell to the incumbent, and +intrusted with the spiritual guardianship of the dependants of the +castle, our young clergyman had ample occupation for all his time, if +not a sufficient theatre for his usefulness. Isabel and himself remained +the year round in Wales, and the first dawnings of education received by +Lord Lumley were those he acquired conjointly with Francis from the care +of the latter's father. They formed, with the interval of the time spent +by Mr. Denbigh and Lady Pendennyss in town in winter, but one family. To +the gentleman, the attachment of the grateful Ives was as strong as it +was lasting. Mrs. Ives never ceased to consider him as a self-devoted +victim to her happiness; and although a far more brilliant lot had +awaited him by the change, yet her own husband could not think it a more +happy one. + +The birth of Lady Marian had already, in its consequences, begun, to +throw a gloom round the domestic comforts of Denbigh, when he was to +sustain another misfortune in a separation from his friends. + +Mr., now Dr. Ives, had early announced his firm intention, whenever an +opportunity was afforded him, to enter into the fullest functions of his +ministry, as a matter of duty. Such an opportunity now offered at B----, +and the doctor became its rector about the period Sir Edward became +possessor of his paternal estate. + +Denbigh tried every inducement within his power to keep the doctor in +his own society. If as many thousands as his living would give him +hundreds could effect it, they would have been at his service; but +Denbigh understood the character of the divine too well to offer such an +inducement: he however urged the claims of friendship to the utmost, but +without success. The doctor acknowledged the hold both himself and +family had gained upon his affections, but he added-- + +"Consider, my dear Mr. Denbigh, what we would have thought of one of the +earlier followers of our Saviour, who from motives of convenience or +worldly-mindedness could have deserted his sacred calling. Although the +changes in the times may have rendered the modes of conducting them +different, necessarily the duties remain the same. The minister of our +holy religion who has once submitted to the call of his divine Master, +must allow nothing but ungovernable necessity to turn him from the path +he has entered on; and should he so far forget himself, I greatly fear +he would plead, when too late to remedy the evil, his worldly duties, +his cares, or even his misfortunes, in vain. Solemn and arduous are his +obligations to labor, but when faithfully he has discharged these +duties, oh! how glorious must be his reward." + +Before such opinions every barrier must fall, and the doctor entered +into the cure of his parish without further opposition, though not +without unceasing regret on the part of his friend. Their intercourse +was, however, maintained by letter, and they also frequently met at +Lumley Castle, a seat of the countess's, within two days' ride of the +doctor's parish, until her increasing indisposition rendered journeying +impossible; then, indeed, the doctor extended his rides into Wales, but +with longer intervals between his visits, though with the happiest +effects to the objects of his journey. + +Mr. Denbigh, worn down with watching and blasted hopes, under the +direction of the spiritual watchfulness of the rector of B----, became +an humble, sincere, and pious Christian. + + + +Chapter XLV. + +It has been already mentioned, that the health of Lady Pendennyss +suffered a severe shock, in giving birth to a daughter. Change of scene +was prescribed as a remedy for her disorder, and Denbigh and his wife +were on their return from a fruitless excursion amongst the northern +lakes, in pursuit of amusement and relief for the latter when they were +compelled to seek shelter from the fury of a sudden gust in the first +building that offered. It was a farm-house of the better sort; and the +attendants, carriages, and appearance of their guests, caused no little +confusion to its simple inmates. A fire was lighted in the best parlor, +and every effort was made by the inhabitants to contribute to the +comforts of the travellers. + +The countess and her husband were sitting in that kind of listless +melancholy which had been too much the companion of their later hours, +when in the interval of the storm, a male voice in an adjoining room +commenced singing the following ballad, the notes being low, monotonous, +but unusually sweet, and the enunciation so distinct, as to rende every +syllable intelligible: + +Oh! I have lived in endless pain, And I have lived, alas! in vain, For +none regard my woe--No father's care conveyed the truth, No mother's +fondness blessed my youth, Ah! joys too great to know-- + +And Marian's love, and Marian's pride, Have crushed the heart that would +have died. To save my Marian's tears--A brother's hand has struck the +blow Oh! may that brother never know Such madly sorrowing years! + +But hush my griefs--and hush my song, I've mourned in vain--I've mourned +too long; When none have come to soothe--And dark's the path, that lies +before, And dark have been the days of yore, And all was dark in youth. + +The maids employed around the person of their comfortless mistress, the +valet of Denbigh engaged in arranging a dry coat for his master--all +suspended their employments to listen in breathless silence to the +mournful melody of the song. + +But Denbigh himself had started from his seat at the first notes, and he +continued until the voice ceased, gazing in vacant horror in the +direction of the sounds. A door opened from the parlor to the room of +the musician; he rushed through it, and there, in a kind of shed to the +building, which hardly sheltered him from the fury of the tempest, clad +in the garments of the extremest poverty, with an eye roving in madness, +and a body rocking to and fro from mental inquietude, he beheld seated +on a stone the remains of his long lost brother, Francis. + +The language of the song was too plain to be misunderstood. The truth +glared around George with a violence that dazzled his brain; but he saw +it all, he felt it all, and rushing to the feet of his brother, he +exclaimed in horror, pressing his hands between his own,-- + +"Francis--my own brother--do you not know me?" + +The maniac regarded him with a vacant gaze, but the voice and the person +recalled the compositions of his more reasonable moments to his +recollection; pushing back the hair of George, so as to expose his fine +forehead to view, he contemplated him for a few moments, and then +continued to sing, in a voice still rendered sweeter than before by his +faint impressions: + +His raven locks, that richly curled, His eye, that proud defiance +hurled. Have stol'n my Marian's love! Had I been blest by nature's +grace, With such a form, with such a face, Could I so treacherous prove? + +And what is man--and what is care--That he should let such passions tear +The bases of the soul! Oh! you should do, as I have done--And having +pleasure's summit won, Each bursting sob control! + +On ending the last stanza, the maniac released his brother, and broke +into the wildest laugh of madness. + +"Francis!--Oh! Francis, my brother," cried George, in bitterness. A +piercing shriek drew his eye to the door he had passed through--on its +threshold lay the senseless body of his wife. The distracted husband +forgot everything in the situation of his Marian, and raising her in his +arms, he exclaimed,-- + +"Marian--my Marian, revive--look up--know me." + +Francis had followed him, and now stood by his side, gazing intently on +the lifeless body; his looks became more soft--his eye glanced less +wildly--he too cried,-- + +"Marian--My Marian." + +There was a mighty effort; nature could endure no more, he broke a +blood-vessel and fell at the feet of George. They flew to his +assistance, giving the countess to her women; but he was dead. + +For seventeen years Lady Pendennyss survived this shock: but having +reached her own abode, during that long period she never left her room. + +In the confidence of his surviving hopes, Doctor Ives and his wife were +made acquainted with the real cause of the grief of their friend, but +the truth went no further. Denbigh was the guardian of his three young +cousins, the duke, his sister, and young George Denbigh; these, with his +son, Lord Lumley, and daughter, Lady Marian, were removed from the +melancholy of the Castle to scenes better adapted to their opening +prospects in life. Yet Lumley was fond of the society of his father, and +finding him a youth endowed beyond his years, the care of his parent was +early turned to the most important of his duties in that sacred office; +and when he yielded to his wishes to go into the army, he knew he went a +youth of sixteen, possessed of principles and self-denial that would +become a man of five-and-twenty. + +General Wilson completed the work which the father had begun; and Lord +Lumley formed a singular exception to the character of most of his +companions. + +At the close of the Spanish war, he returned home, and was just in time +to receive the parting breath of his mother. + +A few days before her death, the countess requested that her children +might be made acquainted with her history and misconduct; and she placed +in the hands of her son a letter; with directions for him to open it +after her decease. It was addressed to both children, and after +recapitulating generally the principal events of her life, continued: + +"Thus, my children, you perceive the consequences of indulgence and +hardness of heart, which made me insensible to the sufferings of others, +and regardless of the plainest dictates of justice. Self was my idol. +The love of admiration, which was natural to me, was increased by the +flatterers who surrounded me; and had the customs of our country +suffered royalty to descend in their unions to a grade in life below +their own, your uncle would have escaped the fangs of my baneful +coquetry. + +"Oh! Marian, my child, never descend so low as to practise those arts +which have degraded your unhappy mother. I would impress on you, as a +memorial of my parting affection, these simple truths--that coquetry +stands next to the want of chastity in the scale of female vices; it is +in fact a kind of mental prostitution; it is ruinous to all that +delicacy of feeling which gives added lustre to female charms; it is +almost destructive to modesty itself. A woman who has been addicted to +its practice, may strive long and in vain to regain that singleness of +heart, which can bind her up so closely in her husband and children as +to make her a good wife or a mother; and if it should have degenerated +into habit, it may lead to the awful result of infidelity to her +marriage vows. + +"It is vain for a coquette to pretend to religion; its practice involves +hypocrisy, falsehood, and deception--everything that is mean--everything +that is debasing. In short, as it is bottomed on selfishness and pride, +where it has once possessed the mind, it will only yield to the truth- +displaying banners of the cross. This, and this only, can remove the +evil; for without it she, whom the charms of youth and beauty have +enabled to act the coquette, will descend into the vale of life, +altered, it is true, but not amended. She will find the world, with its +allurements, clinging around her parting years, in vain regrets for days +that are flown, and in mercenary views for her descendants. Heaven bless +you, my children, console and esteem your inestimable father while he +yet remains with you; and place your reliance on that Heavenly Parent +who will never desert those who seek him in sincerity and love. Your +dying mother, + +"M. PENDENNYSS." + +This letter, evidently written under the excitement of deep remorse, +made a great impression on both her children. In Lady Marian it was +pity, regret, and abhorrence of the fault which had been the principal +cause of the wreck of her mother's peace of mind; but in her brother, +now Earl of Pendennyss, these feelings were united with a jealous dread +of his own probable lot in the chances of matrimony. + +His uncle had been the supposed heir to a more elevated title than his +own, but he was now the actual possessor of as honorable a name, and of +much larger revenues. The great wealth of his maternal grandfather, and +the considerable estate of his own father, were, or would soon be, +centred in himself; and if a woman as amiable, as faultless, as +affection had taught him to believe his mother to be, could yield in her +situation to the lure of worldly honors, had he not great reason to +dread, that a hand might be bestowed at some day upon himself, when the +heart would point out some other destination, if the real wishes of its +owner were consulted? + +Pendennyss was modest by nature, and humble from principle, though by no +means distrustful; yet the shock of discovering his mother's fault, the +gloom occasioned by her death and his father's declining health, +sometimes led him into a train of reflections which, at others, he would +have fervently deprecated. + +A short time after the decease of the countess, Mr. Denbigh, finding his +constitution fast giving way, under the wasting of a decline he had been +in for a year, resolved to finish his days in the abode of his Christian +friend, Doctor Ives. For several years they had not met; increasing +duties and infirmities on both sides having interrupted their visits. + +By easy stages he left the residence of his son in Wales, and +accompanied by both his children he reached Lumley Castle much +exhausted; here he took a solemn and final leave of Marian, unwilling +that she should so soon witness again the death of another parent, and +dismissing the earl's equipage and attendants a short day's ride from B- +---, they proceeded alone to the rectory. + +A letter had been forwarded acquainting the doctor of his approaching +visit, wishing it to be perfectly private, but not alluding to its +object, and naming a day, a week later than the one on which he arrived. +This plan was altered on perceiving the torch of life more rapidly +approaching the socket than he had at first supposed. His unexpected +appearance and reception are known. Denbigh's death and the departure of +his son followed; Francis having been Pendennyss's companion to the tomb +of his ancestors in Westmoreland. + +The earl had a shrinking delicacy, under the knowledge of his family +history, that made him anxious to draw all eyes from the contemplation +of his mother's conduct; how far the knowledge of it had extended in +society he could not know, but he wished it buried with her in the tomb. +The peculiar manner of his father's death would attract notice, and +might recall attention to the prime cause of his disorder; as yet all +was veiled, and he wished the doctor's family to let it remain so. It +was, however, impossible that the death of a man of Mr. Denbigh's rank +should be unnoticed in the prints, and the care of Francis dictated the +simple truth without comments, as it appeared. As regarded the Moseleys, +what was more natural than that the son of Mr. Denbigh should also be +Mr. Denbigh? + +In the presence of the rector's family no allusions were made to their +friends, and the villagers and the neighborhood spoke of them as old and +young Mr. Denbigh. + +The name of Lord Lumley, now Earl of Pendennyss, was known to the whole +British nation; but the long retirement of his father and mother had +driven them almost from the recollection of their friends. Even Mrs. +Wilson supposed her favorite hero a Lumley. Pendennyss Castle had been +for centuries the proud residence of that family; and the change of name +in its possessor was forgotten with the circumstances that had led to +it. + +When, therefore, Emily met the earl so unexpectedly the second time at +the rectory, she, of course, with all her companions, spoke of him as +Mr. Denbigh. On that occasion, Pendennyss had called in person, in +expectation of meeting his kinsman, Lord Bolton; but, finding him +absent, he could not resist his desire to visit the rectory. +Accordingly, he sent his carriage and servants on to London, leaving +them at a convenient spot, and arrived on foot at the house of Dr. Ives. +From the same motives which had influenced him before--a wish to +indulge, undisturbed by useless ceremony, his melancholy reflections--he +desired that his name might not be mentioned. + +This was an easy task. Both Doctor and Mrs. Ives had called him, when a +child, George or Lumley, and were unused to his new appellation of +Pendennyss; indeed, it rather recalled painful recollections to them +all. + +It may be remembered that circumstances removed the necessity of any +introduction to Mrs. Wilson and her party; and the difficulty in that +instance was happily got rid of. + +The earl had often heard Emily Moseley spoken of by his friends, and in +their letters they frequently mentioned her name as connected with their +pleasures and employments, and always with an affection Pendennyss +thought exceeding that which they manifested for their son's wife; and +Mrs Ives, the evening before, to remove unpleasant thoughts, had given +him a lively description of her person and character. The earl's +curiosity had been a little excited to see this paragon of female beauty +and virtue; and, unlike most curiosity on such subjects, he was +agreeably disappointed by the examination. He wished to know more, and +made interest with the doctor to assist him to continue the incognito +with which accident had favored him. + +The doctor objected on the ground of principle, and the earl desisted; +but the beauty of Emily, aided by her character, had made an impression +not to be easily shaken off, and Pendennyss returned to the charge. + +His former jealousies were awakened in proportion to his admiration; +and, after some time, he threw himself on the mercy of the divine, by +declaring his new motive, but without mentioning his parents. The doctor +pitied him, for he scanned his feelings thoroughly, and consented to +keep silent, but laughingly declared it was bad enough for a divine to +be accessory to, much less aiding in a deception; and that he knew if +Emily and Mrs. Wilson learnt his imposition, he would lose ground in +their favor by the discovery. + +"Surely, George," said the doctor with a laugh, "you don't mean to marry +the young lady as Mr. Denbigh?" + +"Oh, no! it is too soon to think of marrying her at all," replied the +earl with a smile; "but, somehow, I should like to see what my reception +in the world will be as plain Mr. Denbigh, unprovided for and unknown." + +"No doubt, my lord," said the rector archly, "in proportion to your +merits, very unfavorably indeed; but then your humility will be finally +elevated by the occasional praises I have heard Mrs. Wilson lavish on +your proper character of late." + +"I am much indebted to her partiality," continued the earl mournfully; +then throwing off his gloomy thoughts he added, "I wonder, my dear +doctor, your goodness did not set her right in the latter particular." + +"Why, she has hardly given me an opportunity; delicacy and my own +feelings have kept me very silent on the subject of your family to any +of that connexion. They think, I believe, I was a rector in Wales, +instead of your father's chaplain; and somehow," continued the doctor, +smiling on his wife, "the association with your late parents was so +connected in my mind with my most romantic feelings, that although I +have delighted in it, I have seldom alluded to it in conversation at +all. Mrs. Wilson has spoken of you but twice in my hearing, and that +since she has expected to meet you; your name has doubtless recalled the +remembrance of her husband." + +"I have many, many reasons to remember the general with gratitude," +cried the earl with fervor; "but doctor, do not forget my incognito: +only call me George; I ask no more." + +The plan of Pendennyss was put in execution. Day after day he lingered +in Northamptonshire, until his principles and character had grown upon +the esteem of the Moseleys in the manner we have mentioned. + +His frequent embarrassments were from the dread and shame of a +detection. With Sir Herbert Nicholson he had a narrow escape, and Mrs. +Fitzgerald and Lord Henry Stapleton he of course avoided; for having +gone so far, he was determined to persevere to the end. Egerton he +thought knew him, and he disliked his character and manners. + +When Chatterton appeared most attentive to Emily, the candor and good +opinion of that young nobleman made the earl acquainted with his wishes +and his situation. Pendennyss was too generous not to meet his rival on +fair grounds. His cousin and the duke were requested to use their united +influence secretly to obtain the desired station for the baron. The +result is known, and Pendennyss trusted his secret to Chatterton; he +took him to London, gave him in charge to Derwent, and returned to +prosecute his own suit. His note from Bolton Castle was a ruse to +conceal his character, as he knew the departure of the baronet's family +to an hour, and had so timed his visit to the earl as not to come in +collision with the Moseleys. + +"Indeed, my lord," cried the doctor to him one day, "your scheme goes on +swimmingly, and I am only afraid when your mistress discovers the +imposition, you will find your rank producing a different effect from +what you have apprehended." + + + +Chapter XLVI. + +But Dr. Ives was mistaken. Had he seen the sparkling eyes and glowing +cheeks of Miss Moseley, the smile of satisfaction and happiness which +played on the usually thoughtful face of Mrs. Wilson, when the earl +handed them into his own carriage, as they left his house on the evening +of the discovery, the doctor would have gladly acknowledged the failure +of his prognostics. In truth, there was no possible event that, under +the circumstances, could have given both aunt and niece such heartfelt +pleasure, as the knowledge that Denbigh and the earl were the same +person. + +Pendennyss stood holding the door of the carriage in his hand, +irresolute how to act, when Mrs. Wilson said-- + +"Surely, my lord, you sup with us." + +"A thousand thanks, my dear madam, for the privilege," cried the earl, +as he sprang into the coach; the door was closed, and they drove off. + +"After the explanations of this morning, my lord," said Mrs. Wilson, +willing to remove all doubts between him and Emily, and perhaps anxious +to satisfy her own curiosity, "it will be fastidious to conceal our +desire to know more of your movements. How came your pocket-book in the +possession of Mrs. Fitzgerald?" + +"Mrs. Fitzgerald!" cried Pendennyss, in astonishment "I lost the book in +one of the rooms of the Lodge, and supposed it had fallen into your +hands, and betrayed my disguise by Emily's rejection of me, and your own +altered eye. Was I mistaken then in both?" + +Mrs. Wilson now, for the first time, explained their real grounds for +refusing his offers, which, in the morning, she had loosely mentioned as +owing to a misapprehension of his just character, and recounted the +manner of the book falling into the hands of Mrs. Fitzgerald. + +The earl listened in amazement, and after musing with himself, +exclaimed-- + +"I remember taking it from my pocket, to show Colonel Egerton some +singular plants I had gathered, and think I first missed it when +returning to the place where I had then laid it; in some of the side- +pockets were letters from Marian, addressed to me, properly; and I +naturally thought they had met your eye." + +Mrs. Wilson and Emily immediately thought Egerton the real villain, who +had caused both themselves and Mrs. Fitzgerald so much uneasiness, and +the former mentioned her suspicions to the earl. + +"Nothing more probable, dear madam," cried he, "and this explains to me +his startled looks when we first met, and his evident dislike to my +society, for he must have seen my person, though the carriage hid him +from my sight." + +That Egerton was the wretch, and that through his agency the pocket-book +had been carried to the cottage, they all now agreed, and turned to more +pleasant subjects. + +"Master!--here--master," said Peter Johnson, as he stood at a window of +Mr. Benfield's room, stirring a gruel for the old gentleman's supper, +and stretching his neck and straining his eyes to distinguish objects by +the light of the lamps--"I do think there is Mr. Denbigh, handing Miss +Emmy from a coach, covered with gold, and two footmen, all dizened with +pride like." + +The spoon fell from the hands of Mr. Benfield. He rose briskly from his +seat, and adjusting his dress, took the arm of the steward, and +proceeded to the drawing-room. While these several movements were in +operation, which consumed some time, the old bachelor relieved the +tedium of Peter's impatience by the following speech:-- + +"Mr. Denbigh!--what, back?--I thought he never could let that rascal +John shoot him and forsake Emmy after all; (here the old gentleman +suddenly recollected Denbigh's marriage) but now, Peter, it can do no +good either.--I remember, that when my friend the Earl of Gosford "-- +(and again he was checked by the image of the card-table and the +viscountess) "but, Peter," he said with great warmth, "we can go down +and see him, notwithstanding." + +"Mr. Denbigh!" exclaimed Sir Edward, in astonishment, when he saw the +companion of his sister and child enter the drawing-room, "you are +welcome once more to your old friends: your sudden retreat from us gave +us much pain; but we suppose Lady Laura had too many attractions to +allow us to keep you any longer in Norfolk." + +The good Baronet sighed, as he held out his hand to the man whom he had +once hoped to receive as a son. + +"Neither Lady Laura nor any other lady, my dear Sir Edward," cried the +earl, as he took the baronet's hand, "drove me from you, but the frowns +of your own fair daughter; and here she is, ready to acknowledge her +offence, and, I hope, to atone for it." + +John, who knew of the refusal of his sister, and was not a little +displeased with the cavalier treatment he had received at Denbigh's +hands, felt indignant at such improper levity in a married man, and +approached with-- + +"Your servant, Mr. Denbigh--I hope my Lady Laura is well." + +Pendennyss understood his look, and replied very gravely-- + +"Your servant, Mr. John Moseley--my Lady Laura is, or certainly ought to +be, very well, as she has this moment gone to a rout, accompanied by her +husband." + +The quick eye of John glanced from the earl to his aunt, to Emily; a +lurking smile was on all their features. The heightened color of his +sister, the flashing eyes of the young nobleman, the face of his aunt, +all told him that something uncommon was about to be explained; and, +yielding to his feelings, he caught the hand which Pendennyss extended +to him, and cried, + +"Denbigh, I see--I feel--there is some unaccountable mistake--we are--" + +"Brothers!" said the earl, emphatically. "Sir Edward--dear Lady Moseley, +I throw myself on your mercy. I am an impostor: when your hospitality +received me into your house, it is true you admitted George Denbigh, but +he is better known as the Earl of Pendennyss." + +"The Earl of Pendennyss!" exclaimed Lady Moseley, in a glow of delight, +as she saw at once through some juvenile folly a deception which +promised both happiness and rank to one of her children. "Is it +possible, my dear Charlotte, that this is your unknown friend?" + +"The very same, Anne," replied the smiling widow, "and guilty of a folly +that, at all events, removes the distance between us a little, by +showing that he is subject to the failings of mortality. But the +masquerade is ended, and I hope you and Edward will not only treat him +as an earl, but receive him as a son." + +"Most willingly--most willingly," cried the baronet, with great energy; +"be he prince, peer, or beggar, he is the preserver of my child, and as +such he is always welcome." + +The door now slowly opened, and the venerable bachelor appeared on its +threshold. + +Pendennyss, who had never forgotten the good will manifested to him by +Mr. Benfield, met him with a look of pleasure, as he expressed his +happiness at seeing him again in London. + +"I never have forgotten your goodness in sending honest Peter such a +distance from home, on the object of his visit. I now regret that a +feeling of shame occasioned my answering your kindness so laconically:" +turning to Mrs. Wilson, he added, "for a time I knew not how to write a +letter even, being afraid to sign my proper appellation, and ashamed to +use my adopted." + +"Mr. Denbigh, I am happy to see you. I did send Peter, it is true, to +London, on a message to you--but it is all over now," the old man +sighed--"Peter, however, escaped the snares of this wicked place; and if +you are happy, I am content. I remember when the Earl of--" + +"Pendennyss!" exclaimed the other, "imposed on the hospitality of a +worthy man, under an assumed appellation, in order to pry into the +character of a lovely female, who was only too good for him, and who now +is willing to forget his follies, and make him not only the happiest of +men, but the nephew of Mr. Benfield." + +During this speech, the countenance of Mr. Benfield had manifested +evident emotion: he looked from one to another, until he saw Mrs. Wilson +smiling near him. Pointing to the earl with his finger, he stood unable +to speak, as she answered simply,-- + +"Lord Pendennyss." + +"And Emmy dear--will you--will you marry him?" cried Mr. Benfield, +suppressing his feelings, to give utterance to his question. + +Emily felt for her uncle, and blushing deeply, with great frankness she +put her hand in that of the earl, who pressed it with rapture again and +again to his lips. + +Mr. Benfield sank into a chair, and with a heart softened by emotion, +burst into tears. + +"Peter," he cried, struggling with his feelings, "I am now ready to +depart in peace--I shall see my darling Emmy happy, and to her care I +shall commit you." + +Emily, deeply affected with his love, threw herself into his arms, in a +torrent of tears, and was removed from them by Pendennyss, in +consideration for the feelings of both. + +Jane felt no emotions of envy for her sister's happiness; on the +contrary, she rejoiced in common with the rest of their friends in her +brightening prospects, and they all took their seats at the supper +table, as happy a group as was contained in the wide circle of the +metropolis. A few more particulars served to explain the mystery +sufficiently, until a more fitting opportunity made them acquainted with +the whole of the earl's proceedings. + +"My Lord Pendennyss," said Sir Edward, pouring out a glass of wine, and +passing the bottle to his neighbor: "I drink your health--and happiness +to yourself and my darling child." + +The toast was drunk by all the family, and the earl replied to the +compliments with his thanks and smiles, while Emily could only notice +them with her blushes and tears. + +But this was an opportunity not to be lost by the honest steward, who, +from affection and long services, had been indulged in familiarities +exceeding any other of his master's establishment. He very deliberately +helped himself to a glass of wine, and drawing near the seat of the +bride-elect, with an humble reverence, commenced his speech as follows: + +"My dear Miss Emmy:--Here's hoping you'll live to be a comfort to your +honored father, and your honored mother, and my dear honored master, and +yourself, and Madam Wilson." The steward paused to clear his voice, and +profited by the delay to cast his eye round the table to collect the +names; "and Mr. John Moseley, and sweet Mrs. Moseley, and pretty Miss +Jane" (Peter had lived too long in the world to compliment one handsome +woman in the presence of another, without the qualifying his speech a +little); "and Mr. Lord Denbigh--earl like, as they say he now is, and"-- +Peter stopped a moment to deliberate, and then making another reference, +he put the glass to his lips; but before he had got half through its +contents, recollected himself, and replenishing it to the brim, with a +smile acknowledging his forgetfulness, continued, "and the Rev. Mr. +Francis Ives, and the Rev. Mrs. Francis Ives." + +Here the unrestrained laugh of John interrupted him; and considering +with himself that he had included the whole family, he finished his +bumper. Whether it was pleasure at his own eloquence in venturing on so +long a speech, or the unusual allowance, that affected the steward, he +was evidently much satisfied with himself, and stepped back behind his +master's chair, in great good humor. + +Emily, as she thanked him, noticed a tear in the eye of the old man, as +he concluded his oration, that would have excused a thousand breaches of +fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat, and took him +kindly by the hand, and returned his own thanks for his good wishes. + +"I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for, your two journeys in my +behalf, and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed +your last mission in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life." + +"Thank you--thank your honor's lordship," said the steward, almost +unable to utter; "I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss +Emmy as happy--as I know she ought to be." + +"But really, my lord," cried John, observing that the steward's +affection for his sister had affected her to tears, "it was a singular +circumstance, the meeting of the four passengers of the stage so soon at +your hotel." + +Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company. + +"Not so much so as you imagine," said the earl in reply; "yourself and +Johnson were in quest of me. Lord Henry Stapleton was under an +engagement to meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going +to his sister's wedding--I having arranged the thing with him by letter +previously; and General M'Carthy was also in search of me, on business +relating to his niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House, +and, through my servants, heard I was at an hotel. It was the first +interview between us, and not quite as amicable a one as has since been +had in Wales. During my service in Spain, I saw the Conde, but not the +general. The letter he gave me was from the Spanish ambassador, claiming +a right to require Mrs. Fitzgerald from our government, and deprecating +my using an influence to counteract his exertions"-- + +"Which you refused," said Emily, eagerly. + +"Not refused," answered the earl, smiling at her warmth, while he +admired her friendly zeal, "for it was unnecessary: there is no such +power vested in the ministry. But I explicitly told the general, I would +oppose any violent measures to restore her to her country and a convent. +From the courts, I apprehended nothing for my fair friend." + +"Your honor--my lord," said Peter, who had been listening with great +attention, "if I may presume just to ask two questions, without +offence." + +"Say on, my good friend," said Pendennyss, with an encouraging smile. + +"Only" continued the steward--hemming, to give proper utterance to his +thoughts--"I wish to know, whether you stayed in that same street after +you left the hotel--for Mr. John Moseley and I had a slight difference +in opinion about it." + +The earl smiled, having caught the arch expression of John, and replied- +- + +"I believe I owe you an apology, Moseley, for my cavalier treatment; but +guilt makes us all cowards. I found you were ignorant of my incognito, +and I was equally ashamed to continue it, or to become the relater of my +own folly. Indeed," he continued, smiling on Emily as he spoke, "I +thought your sister had pronounced the opinion of all reflecting people +on my conduct. I went out of town, Johnson, at day-break. What is the +other query?" + +"Why, my lord," said Peter, a little disappointed at finding his first +surmise untrue, "that outlandish tongue your honor used--" + +"Was Spanish," cried the earl. + +"And not Greek, Peter," said his master, gravely. "I thought, from the +words you endeavored to repeat to me, that you had made a mistake. You +need not be disconcerted, however, for I know several members of the +parliament of this realm who could not talk the Greek language, that is, +fluently. So it can be no disgrace to a serving-man to be ignorant of +it." + +Somewhat consoled to find himself as well off as the representatives of +his country, Peter resumed his station in silence, when the carriages +began to announce the return from the opera. The earl took his leave, +and the party retired to rest. + +The thanksgivings of Emily that night, ere she laid her head on her +pillow, were the purest offering of mortal innocence. The prospect +before her was unsullied by a cloud and she poured out her heart in the +fullest confidence of pious love and heartfelt gratitude. + +As early on the succeeding morning as good-breeding would allow, and +much earlier than the hour sanctioned by fashion, the earl and Lady +Marian stopped in the carriage of the latter at the door of Sir Edward +Moseley. Their reception was the most flattering that could be offered +to people of their stamp; sincere, cordial, and, with a trifling +exception in Lady Moseley, unfettered with any useless ceremonies. + +Emily felt herself drawn to her new acquaintance with a fondness which +doubtless grew out of her situation with her brother; which soon found +reasons enough in the soft, lady-like, and sincere manners of Lady +Marian, to justify her attachment on her own account. + +There was a very handsome suite of drawing-rooms in Sir Edward's house, +and the communicating doors were carelessly open. Curiosity to view the +furniture, or some such trifling reasons, induced the earl to find his +way into the one adjoining that in which the family were seated. It was +unquestionably a dread of being lost in a strange house, that induced +him to whisper a request to the blushing Emily, to be his companion; and +lastly, it must have been nothing but a knowledge that a vacant room was +easier viewed than one filled with company, that prevented any one from +following them. John smiled archly at Grace, doubtless in approbation of +the comfortable time his friend was likely to enjoy, in his musings on +the taste of their mother. How the door became shut, we have ever been +at a loss to imagine. + +The company without were too good-natured and well satisfied with each +other to miss the absentees, until the figure of the earl appeared at +the reopened door, beckoning, with a face of rapture, to Lady Moseley +and Mrs. Wilson. Sir Edward next disappeared, then Jane, then Grace-- +then Marian; until John began to think a tête-à-tête with Mr. Benfield +was to be his morning's amusement. + +The lovely countenance of his wife, however, soon relieved his ennui, +and John's curiosity was gratified by an order to prepare for his +sister's wedding the following week. + +Emily might have blushed more than common during this interview, but it +is certain she did not smile less; and the earl, Lady Marian assured Sir +Edward, was so very different a creature from what he had recently been, +that she could hardly think it was the same sombre gentleman with whom +she had passed the last few months in Wales and Westmoreland. + +A messenger was dispatched for Dr. Ives and their friends at B----, to +be witnesses to the approaching nuptials; and Lady Moseley at length +found an opportunity of indulging her taste for splendor on this joyful +occasion. + +Money was no consideration; and Mr. Benfield absolutely pined at the +thought that the great wealth of the earl put it out of his power to +contribute in any manner to the comfort of his Emmy. However, a +fifteenth codicil was framed by the ingenuity of Peter and his master, +and if it did not contain the name of George Denbigh, it did that of his +expected second son, Roderick Benfield Denbigh, to the qualifying +circumstance of twenty thousand pounds, as a bribe for the name. + +"And a very pretty child, I dare say, it will be," said the steward, as +he placed the paper in its repository. "I don't know that I ever saw, +your honor, a couple that I thought would make a handsomer pair like, +except--" Peter's mind dwelt on his own youthful form coupled with the +smiling graces of Patty Steele. + +"Yes! they are as handsome as they are good!" replied his master. "I +remember now, when our Speaker took his third wife, the world said that +they were as pretty a couple as there was at court. But my Emma and the +earl will be a much finer pair. Oh! Peter Johnson; they are young, and +rich, and beloved; but, after all, it avails but little if they be not +good." + +"Good!" cried the steward in astonishment; "they are as good as angels." + +The master's ideas of human excellence had suffered a heavy blow in the +view of his viscountess, but he answered mildly, + +"As good as mankind can well be." + + + +Chapter XLVII. + +The warm weather had now commenced; and Sir Edward, unwilling to be shut +up in London at a time the appearance of vegetation gave the country a +new interest, and accustomed for many years of his life to devote an +hour in his garden each morn, had taken a little ready furnished cottage +a short ride from his residence, with the intention of frequenting it +until after the birthday. Thither then Pendennyss took his bride from +the altar, and a few days were passed by the newly married pair in this +little asylum. + +Doctor Ives, with Francis, Clara, and their mother, had obeyed the +summons with an alacrity in proportion to the joy they felt on receiving +it, and the former had the happiness of officiating on the occasion. It +would have been easy for the wealth of the earl to procure a license to +enable them to marry in the drawing-room; the permission was obtained, +but neither Emily nor himself felt a wish to utter their vows in any +other spot than at the altar, and in the house of their Maker. + +If there was a single heart that felt the least emotion of regret or +uneasiness, it was Lady Moseley, who little relished the retirement of +the cottage on so joyful an occasion; but Pendennyss silenced her +objections by good-humoredly replying-- + +"The fates have been so kind to me, in giving me castles and seats, you +ought to allow me, my dear Lady Moseley, the only opportunity I shall +probably ever have of enjoying love in a cottage." + +A few days, however, removed the uneasiness of the good matron, who had +the felicity within the week of seeing her daughter initiated mistress +of Annerdale House. + +The morning of their return to this noble mansion the earl presented +himself in St. James's Square, with the intelligence of their arrival, +and smiling as he bowed to Mrs. Wilson, he continued-- + +"And to escort you, dear madam, to your new abode." + +Mrs. Wilson started with surprise, and with a heart beating quick with +emotion, she required an explanation of his words. + +"Surely, dearest Mrs. Wilson--more than aunt--my mother--you cannot +mean, after having trained my Emily through infancy to maturity in the +paths of duty, to desert her in the moment of her greatest trial. I am +the pupil of your husband," he continued, taking her hands in his own +with reverence and affection; "we are the children of your joint care, +and one home, as there is but one heart, must in future contain us." + +Mrs. Wilson had wished for, but hardly dared to expect this invitation. +It was now urged from the right quarter, and in a manner that was as +sincere as it was gratifying. Unable to conceal her tears, the good +widow pressed the hand of Pendennyss to her lips as she murmured out her +thanks. Sir Edward was prepared also to lose his sister; but unwilling +to relinquish the pleasure of her society, he urged her making a common +residence between the two families. + +"Pendennyss has spoken truth, my dear brother," cried she, recovering +her voice; "Emily is the child of my care and my love--the two beings I +love best in this world are now united--but," she added, pressing Lady +Moseley to her bosom, "my heart is large enough for you all; you are of +my blood, and my gratitude for your affection is boundless. There shall +be but one large family of us; and although our duties may separate us +for a time, we will, I trust, ever meet in tenderness and love, though +with George and Emily I will take up my abode." + +"I hope your house in Northamptonshire is not to be vacant always," said +Lady Moseley to the earl, anxiously. + +"I have no house there, my dear madam," he replied; "when I thought +myself about to succeed in my suit before, I directed a lawyer at Bath, +where Sir William Harris resided most of his time, to endeavor to +purchase the deanery, whenever a good opportunity offered: in my +discomfiture," he added, smiling, "I forgot to countermand the order, +and he purchased it immediately on its being advertised. For a short +time it was an incumbrance to me, but it is now applied to its original +purpose. It is the sole property of the Countess of Pendennyss, and I +doubt not you will see it often and agreeably tenanted." + +This intelligence gave great satisfaction to his friends, and the +expected summer restored to even Jane a gleam of her former pleasure. + +If there be bliss in this life, approaching in any degree to the +happiness of the blessed, it is the fruition of long and ardent love, +where youth, innocence, piety, and family concord, smile upon the union. +And all these were united in the case of the new-married pair; but +happiness in this world cannot or does not, in any situation, exist +without alloy. + +The peace of mind and fortitude of Emily were fated to receive a blow, +as unlooked for to herself as it was unexpected to the world. Bonaparte +appeared in France, and Europe became in motion. + +From the moment the earl heard the intelligence his own course was +decided. His regiment was the pride of the army, and that it would be +ordered to join the duke he did not entertain a doubt. + +Emily was, therefore, in some little measure prepared for the blow. It +is at such moments as our own acts, or events affecting us, get to be +without our control, that faith in the justice and benevolence of God is +the most serviceable to the Christian. When others spend their time in +useless regrets he is piously resigned: it even so happens, that when +others mourn he can rejoice. + +The sound of the bugle, wildly winding its notes, broke on the stillness +of the morning in the little village in which was situated the cottage +tenanted by Sir Edward Moseley. Almost concealed by the shrubbery which +surrounded its piazza, stood the forms of the Countess of Pendennyss and +her sister Lady Marian, watching eagerly the appearance of those whose +approach was thus announced. + +The carriage of the ladies, with its idle attendants, was in waiting at +a short distance; and the pale face but composed resignation of its +mistress, indicated a struggle between conflicting duties. + +File after file of heavy horse passed them in military pomp, and the +wistful gaze of the two females had scanned them in vain for the well +known, much-beloved countenance of the leader. At length a single +horseman approached them, riding deliberately and musing: their forms +met his eye, and in an instant Emily was pressed to the bosom of her +husband. + +"It is the doom of a soldier," said the earl, dashing a tear from his +eye; "I had hoped that the peace of the world would not again be +assailed for years, and that ambition and jealousy would yield a respite +to our bloody profession; but cheer up, my love--hope for the best--your +trust is not in the things of this life, and your happiness is without +the power of man." + +"Ah! Pendennyss--my husband," sobbed Emily, sinking on his bosom, "take +with you my prayers--my love--everything that can console you-- +everything that may profit you. I will not tell you to be careful of +your life; your duty teaches you that. As a soldier, expose it; as a +husband guard it; and return to me as you leave me, a lover, the dearest +of men, and a Christian." + +Unwilling to prolong the pain of parting, the earl gave his wife a last +embrace, held Marian affectionately to his bosom, and mounting his +horse, was out of sight in an instant. + +Within a few days of the departure of Pendennyss, Chatterton was +surprised with the entrance of his mother and Catharine. His reception +of them was that of a respectful child, and his wife exerted herself to +be kind to connexions she could not love, in order to give pleasure to a +husband she adored. Their tale was soon told. Lord and Lady Herriefield +were separated; and the dowager, alive to the dangers of a young woman +in Catharine's situation, and without a single principle on which to +rest the assurance of her blameless conduct in future, had brought her +to England, in order to keep off disgrace, by residing with her child +herself. + +There was nothing in his wife to answer the expectations with which Lord +Herriefield married. She had beauty, but with that he was already sated; +her simplicity, which, by having her attention drawn elsewhere, had at +first charmed him, was succeeded by the knowing conduct of a determined +follower of the fashions, and a decided woman of the world. + +It had never struck the viscount as impossible that an artless and +innocent girl would fall in love with his faded and bilious face, but +the moment Catharine betrayed the arts of a manager, he saw at once the +artifice that had been practised; of course he ceased to love her. + +Men are flattered for a season with notice that has been unsought, but +it never fails to injure the woman who practises it in the opinion of +the other sex, in time. Without a single feeling in common, without a +regard to anything but self, in either husband or wife, it could not but +happen that a separation must follow, or their days be spent in +wrangling and misery. Catharine willingly left her husband; her husband +more willingly got rid of her. + +During all these movements the dowager had a difficult game to play. It +was unbecoming her to encourage the strife, and it was against her +wishes to suppress it; she therefore moralized with the peer, and +frowned upon her daughter. + +The viscount listened to her truisms with the attention of a boy who is +told by a drunken father how wicked it is to love liquor, and heeded +them about as much; while Kate, mistress at all events of two thousand a +year, minded her mother's frowns as little as she regarded her smiles; +both were indifferent to her. + +A few days after the ladies left Lisbon, the viscount proceeded to Italy +in company with the repudiated wife of a British naval officer; and if +Kate was not guilty of an offence of equal magnitude, it was more owing +to her mother's present vigilance than to her previous care. + +The presence of Mrs. Wilson was a great source of consolation to Emily +in the absence of her husband; and as their longer abode in town was +useless, the countess declining to be presented without the earl, the +whole family decided upon a return into Northamptonshire. + +The deanery had been furnished by order of Pendennyss immediately on his +marriage; and its mistress hastened to take possession of her new +dwelling. The amusement and occupation of this movement, the planning of +little improvements, her various duties under her increased +responsibilities, kept Emily from dwelling unduly upon the danger of her +husband. She sought out amongst the first objects of her bounty the +venerable peasant whose loss had been formerly supplied by Pendennyss on +his first visit to B----, after the death of his father. There might not +have been the usual discrimination and temporal usefulness in this +instance which generally accompanied her benevolent acts; but it was +associated with the image of her husband, and it could excite no +surprise in Mrs. Wilson, although it did in Marian, to see her sister +driving two or three times a week to relieve the necessities of a man +who appeared actually to be in want of nothing. + +Sir Edward was again amongst those he loved, and his hospitable board +was once more surrounded with the faces of his friends and neighbors. +The good-natured Mr. Haughton was always a welcome guest at the hall, +and met, soon after their return, the collected family of the baronet, +at a dinner given by the latter to his children and one or two of his +most intimate neighbors-- + +"My Lady Pendennyss," cried Mr. Haughton, in the course of the +afternoon, "I have news from the earl, which I know it will do your +heart good to hear." + +Emily smiled at the prospect of hearing in any manner of her husband, +although she internally questioned the probability of Mr. Haughton's +knowing anything of his movements, of which her daily letters did not +apprise her. + +"Will you favor me with the particulars of your intelligence, sir?" said +the countess. + +"He has arrived safe with his regiment near Brussels; heard it from a +neighbor's son who saw him enter the house occupied by Wellington, while +he was standing in the crowd without, waiting to get a peep at the +duke." + +"Oh!" said Mrs. Wilson with a laugh, "Emily knew that ten days ago. +Could your friend tell us anything of Bonaparte? We are much interested +in his movements just now." + +Mr. Haughton, a good deal mortified to find his news stale, mused a +moment, as if in doubt to proceed or not; but liking of all things to +act the part of a newspaper, he continued-- + +"Nothing more than you see in the prints; but I suppose your ladyship +has heard about Captain Jarvis too?" + +"Why, no," said Emily, laughing; "the movements of Captain Jarvis are +not quite as interesting to me as those of Lord Pendennyss--has the duke +made him an aide-de-camp?" + +"Oh! no," cried the other, exulting at his having something new: "as +soon as he heard of the return of Boney, he threw up his commission and +got married." + +"Married!" cried John; "not to Miss Harris, surely." + +"No; to a silly girl he met in Cornwall, who was fool enough to be +caught with his gold lace. He married one day, and the next told his +disconsolate wife and panic-stricken mother that the honor of the +Jarvises must sleep until the supporters of the name became sufficiently +numerous to risk them in the field of battle." + +"And how did Mrs. Jarvis and Sir Timo's lady relish the news?" inquired +John, expecting something ridiculous. + +"Not at all," rejoined Mr. Haughton; "the former sobbed, and said she +had only married him for his bravery and red coat, and the lady +exclaimed against the destruction of his budding honors." + +"How did it terminate?" asked Mrs. Wilson. + +"Why, it seems while they were quarrelling about it, the War-Office cut +the matter short by accepting his resignation, I suppose the commander- +in-chief had learned his character; but the matter was warmly contested: +they even drove the captain to a declaration of his principles." + +"And what kind of ones might they have been, Haughton?" said Sir Edward, +drily. + +"Republican." + +"Republican!" exclaimed two or three in surprise. + +"Yes, liberty and equality, he contended, were his idols, and he could +not find it in his heart to fight against Bonaparte." + +"A somewhat singular conclusion," said Mr. Benfield, musing. "I remember +when I sat in the House, there was a party who were fond of the cry of +this said liberty; but when they got the power they did not seem to me +to suffer people to go more at large than they went before; but I +suppose they were diffident of telling the world their minds after they +were put in such responsible stations, for fear of the effect of +example." + +"Most people like liberty as servants but not as masters, uncle," cried +John, with a sneer. + +"Captain Jarvis, it seems, liked it as a preservative against danger," +continued Mr. Haughton; "to avoid ridicule in his new neighborhood, he +has consented to his father's wishes, and turned merchant in the city +again." + +"Where I sincerely hope he will remain," cried John, who since the +accident of the arbor, could not tolerate the unfortunate youth. + +"Amen!" said Emily, in an under tone, heard only by her brother. + +"But Sir Timo--what has become of Sir Timo--the good, honest merchant?" +asked John. + +"He has dropt the title, insists on being called plain Mr. Jarvis, and +lives entirely in Cornwall. His hopeful son-in-law has gone with his +regiment to Flanders; and Lady Egerton, being unable to live without her +father's assistance, is obliged to hide her consequence in the west +also." + +The subject became now disagreeable to Lady Moseley, and it was changed. +Such conversations made Jane more reserved and dissatisfied than ever. +She had no one respectable excuse to offer for her partiality to her +former lover, and when her conscience told her the mortifying fact, was +apt to think that others remembered it too. + +The letters from the continent now teemed with preparations for the +approaching contest; and the apprehensions of our heroine and her +friends increased, in proportion to the nearness of the struggle, on +which hung not only the fates of thousands of individuals, but of +adverse princes and mighty empires. In this confusion of interests, and +of jarring of passions, there were offered prayers almost hourly for the +safety of Pendennyss, which were as pure and ardent as the love which +prompted them. + + + +Chapter XLVIII. + +Napoleon had commenced those daring and rapid movements, which for a +time threw the peace of the world into the scale of fortune, and which +nothing but the interposition of a ruling Providence could avert from +their threatened success. As the the ----th dragoons wheeled into a +field already deluged with English blood, on the heights of Quatre Bras, +the eye of its gallant colonel saw a friendly battalion falling beneath +the sabres of the enemy's cuirassiers. The word was passed, the column +opens, the sounds of the quivering bugle were heard for a moment above +the roar of the cannon and the shouts of the combatants; the charge, +sweeping like a whirlwind, fell heavily on those treacherous Frenchmen, +who to-day had sworn fidelity to Louis, and to-morrow intended lifting +their hands in allegiance to his rival. + +"Spare my life in mercy," cried an officer, already dreadfully wounded, +who stood shrinking from the impending blow of an enraged Frenchman. An +English dragoon dashed at the cuirassier, and with one blow severed his +arm from his body. + +"Thank God," sighed the wounded officer, sinking beneath the horse's +feet. + +His rescuer threw himself from the saddle, and raising the fallen man +inquired into his wounds. It was Pendennyss, and it was Egerton. The +wounded man groaned aloud, as he saw the face of him who had averted the +fatal blow; but it was not the hour for explanations or confessions, +other than those with which the dying soldiers endeavored to make their +tardy peace with their God. + +Sir Henry was given in charge to two slightly wounded British soldiers, +and the earl remounted: the scattered troops were rallied at the sound +of the trumpet, and again and again, led by their dauntless colonel, +were seen in the thickest of the fray, with sabres drenched in blood, +and voices hoarse with the shouts of victory. + +The period between the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo was a trying +one to the discipline and courage of the British army. The discomfited +Prussians on their flank had been routed and compelled to retire, and in +their front was an enemy, brave, skilful, and victorious, led by the +greatest captain of the age. The prudent commander of the English forces +fell back with dignity and reluctance to the field of Waterloo; here the +mighty struggle was to terminate, and the eye of every experienced +soldier looked on those eminences as on the future graves for thousands. + +During this solemn interval of comparative inactivity the mind of +Pendennyss dwelt on the affection, the innocence, the beauty and worth +of his Emily, until the curdling blood, as he thought on her lot should +his life be the purchase of the coming victory, warned him to quit the +gloomy subject, for the consolations of that religion which only could +yield him the solace his wounded feelings required. In his former +campaigns the earl had been sensible of the mighty changes of death, and +had ever kept in view the preparations necessary to meet it with hope +and joy; but the world clung around him now, in the best affections of +his nature, and it was only as he could picture the happy reunion with +his Emily in a future life, that he could look on a separation in this +without despair. + +The vicinity of the enemy admitted of no relaxation in the strictest +watchfulness in the British lines: and the comfortless night of the +seventeenth was passed by the earl, and his Lieutenant Colonel, George +Denbigh, on the same cloak, and under the open canopy of Heaven. + +As the opening cannon of the enemy gave the signal for the commencing +conflict, Pendennyss mounted his charger with a last thought on his +distant wife. With a mighty struggle he tore her as it were from his +bosom, and gave the remainder of the day to duty. + +Who has not heard of the events of that fearful hour, on which the fate +of Europe hung as it were suspended in the scale? On one side supported +by the efforts of desperate resolution, guided by the most consummate +art; and on the other defended by a discipline and enduring courage +almost without a parallel. + +The indefatigable Blucher arrived, and the star of Napoleon sank. + +Pendennyss threw himself from his horse, on the night of the eighteenth +of June, as he gave way by orders, in the pursuit, to the fresher +battalions of the Prussians, with the languor that follows unusual +excitement, and mental thanksgivings that this bloody work was at length +ended. The image of his Emily again broke over the sterner feelings of +the battle, like the first glimmerings of light which succeed the awful +darkness of the eclipse of the sun: and he again breathed freely, in the +consciousness of the happiness which would await his speedy return. + +"I am sent for the colonel of the ----th dragoons," said a courier in +broken English to a soldier, near where the earl lay on the ground, +waiting the preparations of his attendants "have I found the right +regiment, my friend?" + +"To be sure you have," answered the man, without looking up from his +toil on his favorite animal, "you might have tracked us by the dead +Frenchmen, I should think. So you want my lord, my lad, do you? do we +move again to-night?" suspending his labor for a moment in expectation +of a reply. + +"Not to my knowledge," rejoined the courier; "my message is to your +colonel, from a dying man. Will you point out his station?" + +The soldier complied, the message was soon delivered, and Pendennyss +prepared to obey its summons immediately. Preceded by the messenger as a +guide, and followed by Harmer, the earl retraced his steps over that +ground on which he had but a few hours before been engaged in the deadly +strife of man to man, hand to hand. + +How different is the contemplation of a field of battle during and after +the conflict! The excitement, suspended success, shouts, uproar, and +confusion of the former, prevent any contemplation of the nicer parts of +this confused mass of movements, charges, and retreats; or if a +brilliant advance is made, a masterly retreat effected, the imagination +is chained by the splendor and glory of the act, without resting for a +moment on the sacrifice of individual happiness with which it is +purchased. A battle-ground from which the whirlwind of the combat has +passed, presents a different sight; it offers the very consummation of +human misery. + +There may occasionally be an individual, who from station, distempered +mind, or the encouragement of chimerical ideas of glory, quits the +theatre of life with at least the appearance of pleasure in his +triumphs. If such there be in reality, if this rapture of departing +glory be anything more than the deception of a distempered excitement, +the subject of its exhibition is to be greatly pitied. To the Christian, +dying in peace with both God and man, can it alone be ceded in the eye +of reason, to pour out his existence with a smile on his quivering lip. + +And the warrior, who falls in the very arms of victory, after passing a +life devoted to the world; even, if he sees kingdoms hang suspended on +his success, may smile indeed, may utter sentiments full of loyalty and +zeal, may be the admiration of the world, and what is his reward? a +deathless name, and an existence of misery, which knows no termination. + +Christianity alone can make us good soldiers in any cause, for he who +knows how to live, is always the least afraid to die. + +Pendennyss and his companions pushed their way over the ground occupied +before the battle by the enemy; descended into and through that little +valley, in which yet lay, in undistinguished confusion, masses of the +dead and dying of either side; and again over the ridge, on which could +be marked the situation of those gallant squares which had so long +resisted the efforts of the horse and artillery by the groups of bodies, +fallen where they had bravely stood, until even the callous Harmer +sickened with the sight of a waste of life that he had but a few hours +before exultingly contributed to increase. + +Appeals to their feelings as they rode through the field had been +frequent, and their progress was much retarded by attempts to contribute +to the ease of a wounded or a dying man; but as the courier constantly +urged speed, as the only means of securing the object of their ride, +these halts were reluctantly abandoned. + +It was ten o'clock before they reached the farm-house, where, in the +midst of hundreds of his countrymen, lay the former lover of Jane. + +As the subject of his confession must be anticipated by the reader, we +will give a short relation of his life, and of those acts which more +materially affect our history. + +Henry Egerton had been turned early on the world, hundreds of his +countrymen, without any principle to counteract the arts of infidelity, +or resist the temptations of life. His father held a situation under +government, and was devoted to his rise in the diplomatic line. His +mother was a woman of fashion, who lived for effect and idle competition +with her sisters in weakness and folly. All he learnt in his father's +house was selfishness, from the example of one, and a love of high life +and its extravagance from the other. + +He entered the army young, and from choice. The splendor and reputation +of the service caught his fancy; and, by pride and constitution, he was +indifferent to personal danger. Yet he loved London and its amusements +better than glory; and the money of his uncle, Sir Edgar, whose heir he +was reputed to be, raised him to the rank of lieutenant colonel, without +his spending an hour in the field. + +Egerton had some abilities, and a good deal of ardor of temperament, by +nature. The former, from indulgence and example, degenerated into +acquiring the art to please in mixed society; and the latter, from want +of employment, expended itself at the card table. + +The association between the vices is intimate. There really appears to +be a kind of modesty in sin that makes it ashamed of good company. If we +are unable to reconcile a favorite propensity to our principles, we are +apt to abandon the unpleasant restraint on our actions, rather than +admit the incongruous mixture. Freed entirely from the fetters of our +morals, what is there that our vices will not prompt us to commit? +Egerton, like thousands of others, went on from step to step, until he +found himself in the world; free to follow all his inclinations, so he +violated none of the decencies of life. + +When in Spain, in his only campaign, he was accidentally, as has been +mentioned, thrown in the way of the Donna Julia, and brought her off the +ground under the influence of natural sympathy and national feeling; a +kind of merit that makes vice only more dangerous, by making it +sometimes amiable. He had not seen his dependant long before her beauty, +situation, and his passions decided him to effect her ruin. + +This was an occupation that his figure, manners, and propensities had +made him an adept in, and nothing was further from his thoughts than the +commission of any other than the crime that, according to his code, a +gentleman might be guilty of with impunity. + +It is, however, the misfortune of sin, that from being our slave it +becomes a tyrant; and Egerton attempted what in other countries, and +where the laws ruled, might have cost him his life. + +The conjecture of Pendennyss was true. He saw the face of the officer +who interposed between him and his villanous attempt, but was hid +himself from view. He aimed not at his life, but at his own escape. +Happily his first shot succeeded, for the earl would have been +sacrificed to preserve the character of a man of honor; though no one +was more regardless of the estimation he was held in by the virtuous +than Colonel Egerton. + +In pursuance of his plans on Mrs. Fitzgerald, the colonel had sedulously +avoided admitting any of his companions into the secret of his having a +female in his care. + +When he left the army to return home, he remained until a movement of +the troops to a distant part of the country enabled him to effect his +own purposes, without incurring their ridicule; and when he found +himself obliged to abandon his vehicle for a refuge in the woods, the +fear of detection made him alter his course; and under the pretence of +wishing to be in a battle about to be fought, he secretly rejoined the +army, and the gallantry of Colonel Egerton was mentioned in the next +despatches. + +Sir Herbert Nicholson commanded the advanced guard, at which the earl +arrived with the Donna Julia; and like every other brave man (unless +guilty himself) was indignant at the villany of the fugitive. The +confusion and enormities daily practised in the theatre of the war +prevented any close inquiries into the subject, and circumstances had so +enveloped Egerton in mystery, that nothing but an interview with the +lady herself was likely to expose him. + +With Sir Herbert Nicholson, he had been in habits of intimacy, and on +that gentleman's alluding in a conversation in the barracks at F---- to +the lady brought into his quarters before Lisbon, he accidentally +omitted mentioning the name of her rescuer. Egerton had never before +heard the transaction spoken of, and as he had of course never mentioned +the subject himself, was ignorant who had interfered between him and his +views; also of the fate of Donna Julia; indeed, he thought it probable +that it had not much improved by a change of guardians. + +In coming into Northamptonshire he had several views; he wanted a +temporary retreat from his creditors. Jarvis had an infant fondness for +play, without an adequate skill, and the money of the young ladies, in +his necessities, was becoming of importance; but the daughters of Sir +Edward Moseley were of a description more suited to his taste, and their +portions were as ample as the others. He had become in some degree +attached to Jane; and as her imprudent parents, satisfied with his +possessing the exterior and requisite recommendations of a gentleman +admitted his visits freely, he determined to make her his wife. + +When he met Denbigh the first time, he saw that chance had thrown him in +the way of a man who might hold his character in his power. He had never +seen him as Pendennyss, and, it will be remembered, was ignorant of the +name of Julia's friend: he now learnt for the first time that it was +Denbigh. Uneasy at he knew not what, fearful of some exposure he knew +not how, when Sir Herbert alluded to the occurrence, with a view to +rebut the charge, if Denbigh should choose to make one, and with the +near-sightedness of guilt, he pretended to know the occurrence, and +under the promise of secresy, mentioned that the name of the officer was +Denbigh. He had noticed Denbigh avoiding Sir Herbert at the ball; and +judging others from himself, thought it was a wish to avoid any +allusions to the lady he had brought into the other's quarters that +induced the measure; for he was in hopes that if Denbigh was not as +guilty as himself, he was sufficiently so to wish to keep the +transaction from the eyes of Emily. He was, however, prepared for an +explosion or an alliance with him, when the sudden departure of Sir +Herbert removed the danger of a collision. Believing at last that they +were to be brothers-in-law, and mistaking the earl for his cousin, whose +name he bore, Egerton became reconciled to the association; while +Pendennyss, having in his absence heard, on inquiring, some of the vices +of the colonel, was debating with himself whether he should expose them +to Sir Edward or not. + +It was in their occasional interchange of civilities that Pendennyss +placed his pocket-book upon a table, while he exhibited the plants to +the colonel: the figure of Emily passing the window drew him from the +room, and Egerton having ended his examination, observing the book, put +it in his own pocket, to return it to its owner when they next met. + +The situation, name, and history of Mrs. Fitzgerald were never mentioned +by the Moseleys in public; but Jane, in the confidence of her +affections, had told her lover who the inmate of the cottage was. The +idea of her being kept there by Denbigh immediately occurred to him, and +although he was surprised at the audacity of the thing, he was +determined to profit by the occasion. + +To pay this visit, he stayed away from the excursion on the water, as +Pendennyss had done to avoid his friend, Lord Henry Stapleton. An excuse +of business, which served for his apology, kept the colonel from seeing +Denbigh to return the book, until after his visit to the cottage. His +rhapsody of love, and offers to desert his intended wife, were nothing +but the common-place talk of his purposes; and his presumption in +alluding to his situation with Miss Moseley, proceeded from his +impressions as to Julia's real character. In the struggle for the bell, +the pocket-book of Denbigh accidentally fell from his coat, and the +retreat of the colonel was too precipitate to enable him to recover it. + +Mrs. Fitzgerald was too much alarmed to distinguish nicely, and Egerton +proceeded to the ball-room with the indifference of a hardened offender. +When the arrival of Miss Jarvis, to whom he had committed himself, +prompted him to a speedy declaration, and the unlucky conversation of +Mr. Holt brought about a probable detection of his gaming propensities, +the colonel determined to get rid of his awkward situation and his debts +by a coup-de-main. He accordingly eloped with Miss Jarvis. + +What portion of the foregoing narrative made the dying confession of +Egerton to the man he had so lately discovered to be the Earl of +Pendennyss, the reader can easily imagine. + + + +Chapter XLIX. + +The harvest had been gathered, and the beautiful vales of Pendennyss +were shooting forth a second crop of verdure. The husbandman was turning +his prudent forethought to the promises of the coming year, while the +castle itself exhibited to the gaze of the wondering peasant a sight of +cheerfulness and animation which had not been seen in it since the days +of the good duke. Its numerous windows were opened to the light of the +sun, its halls teemed with the faces of its happy inmates. Servants in +various liveries were seen gliding through its magnificent apartments +and multiplied passages. Horses, grooms, and carriages, with varied +costumes and different armorial bearings, crowded its spacious stables +and offices. Everything spoke society, splendor, and activity without; +everything denoted order, propriety, and happiness within. + +In a long range of spacious apartments were grouped in the pursuit of +their morning employments, or in arranging their duties and pleasures of +the day, the guests and owners of the princely abode. + +In one room was John Moseley, carefully examining the properties of some +flints which were submitted to his examination by his attending servant; +while Grace, sitting at his side, playfully snatches the stones from his +hand, as she cries half reproachfully, half tenderly--- + +"You must not devote yourself to your gun so incessantly, Moseley; it is +cruel to kill inoffensive birds for your amusement only." + +"Ask Emily's cook, and Mr. Haughton's appetite," said John, coolly +extending his hand towards her for the flint--"whether no one is +gratified but myself. I tell you, Grace, I seldom fire in vain." + +"That only makes the matter worse; the slaughter you commit is +dreadful." + +"Oh!" cried John, with a laugh, "the ci-devant Captain Jarvis is a +sportsman to your mind. He would shoot a month without moving a feather; +he was a great friend to," throwing an arch look to his solitary sister, +who sat on a sofa at a distance perusing a book, "Jane's feathered +songsters." + +"But now, Mosely," said Grace, yielding the flints, but gently retaining +the hand that took them, "Pendenyss and Chatterton intend driving their +wives, like good husbands, to see the beautiful waterfall in the +mountains; and what am I to do this long tedious morning?" + +John stole an enquiring glance, to see if his wife was very anxious to +join the party--cast one look of regret on a beautiful agate that he had +selected, and inquired-- + +"Do you wish to go very much, Mrs. Mosely?" + +"Indeed--indeed I do," said the other, eagerly, "if--" + +"If what?" + +"You will drive me?" continued she, with a cheek slightly tinged with +color. + +"Well, then," answered John, with deliberation, and regarding his wife +with affection "I will go on one condition." + +"Name it!" cried Grace, with still increasing color. + +"That you will not expose your health again in going to the church on a +Sunday, if it rains." + +"The carriage is so close, Mosely," answered Grace, with a paler cheek +than beforehand eyes fixed on the carpet, "it is impossible I can take +cold: you see the earl, and countess, and aunt Wilson never miss public +worship, when possibly within their power." + +"The earl goes with his wife; but what becomes of poor me at such +times!" said John, taking her hand and pressing it kindly. "I like to +hear a good sermon, but not in bad weather. You must consent to oblige +me, who only live in your presence." + +Grace smiled faintly, as John, pursuing the point, said--"What do you +say to my condition?" + +"Well then, if you wish," replied Graces without the look of gaiety her +hopes had first inspired, "I will not go if it rain." + +John ordered his phaeton, and his wife went to her room to prepare for +the trip, and to regret her own resolution. + +In, the recess of a window, in which bloomed a profusion of exotics, +stood the figure of Lady Marian Denbigh, playing with a half-blown rose +of the richest colors; and before her, leaning against the angle of the +wall, stood her kinsman the Duke of Derwent. + +"You heard the plan at the breakfast table," said his Grace, "to visit +the little falls in the hills. But I suppose you have seen them too +often to undergo the fatigue?" + +"Oh no! I love that ride dearly, and should wish to accompany the +countess in her first visit to it. I had half a mind to ask George to +take me in his phaeton." + +"My curricle would be honored with the presence of Lady Marian Denbigh," +cried the duke with animation, "if, she would accept me for her knight +on the occasion." + +Marian bowed an assent, in evident satisfaction, as the duke proceeded-- + +"But if you take me as your knight I should wear your ladyship's +colors;" and he held out his hand towards the budding rose. Lady Marian +hesitated a moment--looked out at the prospect--up at the wall--turned, +and wondered where her brother was; and still finding the hand of the +duke extended, while his eye rested on her in admiration, she gave him +the boon with a cheek that vied with the richest tints of the flower. +They separated to prepare, and it was on their return from the falls +that the duke seemed uncommonly gay and amusing, and the lady silent +with her tongue, though her eyes danced in every direction but towards +her cousin. + +"Really, my dear Lady Mosely," said the dowager, as, seated by the side +of her companion, her eyes roved over the magnificence within, and +widely extended domains without--"Emily is well established indeed-- +better even than my Grace." + +"Grace has an affectionate husband," replied the other, gravely, "and +one that I hope will make her happy." + +"Oh! no doubt happy!" said Lady Chatterton, hastily: "but they say Emily +has a jointure of twelve thousand a year--by-the-by," she added, in a +low tone, though no one was near enough to hear what she said, "could +not the earl have settled Lumley Castle on her instead of the deanery?" + +"Upon my word I never think of such gloomy subjects as provisions for +widowhood," cried Lady Mosely: "you have been in Annerdale House--is it +not a princely mansion?" + +"Princely, indeed," rejoined the dowager, sighing: "don't the earl +intend increasing the rents of this estate as the leases fall in? I am +told they are very low now!" + +"I believe not," said the other. "He has enough, and is willing others +should prosper. But there is Clara, with her little boy--is he not a +lovely child?" cried the grandmother, rising to take the infant in her +arms. + +"Oh! excessively beautiful!" said the dowager, looking the other way, +and observing Catharine making a movement towards Lord Henry Stapleton, +she called to her. "Lady Herriefield--come this way, my dear--I wish to +speak to you." + +Kate obeyed with a sullen pout of her pretty lip, and entered into some +idle discussion about a cap, though her eyes wandered round the rooms in +listless vacancy. + +The dowager had the curse of bad impressions in youth to contend with, +and labored infinitely harder now to make her daughter act right, than +formerly she had ever done to make her act wrong. + +"Here! uncle Benfield," cried Emily, with a face glowing with health and +animation, as she approached his seat with a glass in her hands. "Here +is the negus you wished; I have made it myself, and you will praise it +of course." + +"Oh! my dear Lady Pendennyss," said the old gentleman, rising politely +from his seat to receive the beverage: "you are putting yourself to a +great deal of trouble for an old bachelor like me; too much indeed, too +much." + +"Old bachelors are sometimes more esteemed than young one," cried the +earl gaily, joining them in time to hear this speech. "Here is my +friend, Mr. Peter Johnson; who knows when we may dance at his wedding?" + +"My lord, and my lady, and my honored master," said Peter gravely, in +reply, bowing respectfully where he stood, waiting to take his master's +glass--"I am past the age to think of a wife: I am seventy-three coming +next 'lammas, counting by the old style." + +"What do you intend to do with your three hundred a year," said Emily +with a smile, "unless you bestow it on some good woman, for making the +evening of your life comfortable?' + +"My lady--hem--my lady," said the steward, blushing, "I had a little +thought, with your kind ladyship's consent, as I have no relations, +chick or child in the world, what to do with it." + +"I should be happy to hear your plan," said the countess, observing that +the steward was anxious to communicate something. + +"Why, my lady, if my lord and my honored master's agreeable, I did think +of making another codicil to master's will in order to dispose of it." + +"Your master's will," said the earl laughing; "why not to your own, good +Peter?" + +"My honored lord," said the steward, with great humility, "it don't +become a poor serving-man like me to make a will." + +"But how will you prove it?" said the earl, kindly, willing to convince +him of his error; "you must be both dead to prove it." + +"Our wills," said Peter, gulping his words, "will be proved on the same +day." + +His master looked round at him with great affection, and both the earl +and Emily were too much struck to say anything. Peter had, however, the +subject too much at heart to abandon it, just as he had broken the ice. +He anxiously wished for the countess's consent to the scheme, for he +would not affront her, even after he was dead. + +"My lady--Miss Emmy," said Johnson, eagerly, "my plan is, if my honored +master's agreeable--to make a codicil, and give my mite to a little-- +Lady Emily Denbigh." + +"Oh! Peter, you and uncle Benfield are both too good," cried Emily, +laughing and blushing, as she hastened to Clara and her mother. + +"Thank you, thank you," cried the delighted earl, following his wife +with his eyes, and shaking the steward cordially by the hand; "and, if +no better expedient be adopted by us, you have full permission to do as +you please with your money. + +"Peter," said his master to him in a low tone, "you should never speak +of such things prematurely; now I remember when the Earl of Pendennyss, +my nephew, was first presented to me, I was struck with the delicacy and +propriety of his demeanor, and the Lady Pendennyss, my niece, too; you +never see any thing forward, or--Ah! Emmy, dear," said the old man, +tenderly interrupting himself, "you are too good to remember your old +uncle," taking one of the fine peaches she handed him from a plate. + +"My lord," said Mr. Haughton to the earl, "Mrs. Ives and myself have had +a contest about the comforts of matrimony; she insists she may be quite +as happy at Bolton Parsonage as in this noble castle, and with this rich +prospect in view." + +"I hope," said Francis, "you are not teaching my wife to be discontented +with her humble lot--if so, both hers and your visit will be an unhappy +one." + +"It would be no easy task, if our good friend intended any such thing by +his jests," said Clara, smiling. "I know my true interests, I trust, too +well, to wish to change my fortune." + +"You are right," said Pendennyss; "it is wonderful how little our +happiness depends on a temporal condition. When here, or at Lumley +Castle, surrounded by my tenantry, there are, I confess, moments of +weakness, in which the loss of my wealth or rank would be missed +greatly; but when on service, subjected to great privations, and +surrounded by men superior to me in military rank, who say unto me--go, +and I go--come, and I come--I find my enjoyments intrinsically the +same." + +"That," said Francis, "may be owing to your Lordship's tempered +feelings, which have taught you to look beyond this world for pleasures +and consolation." + +"It has, doubtless, an effect," said the earl, "but there is no truth of +which I am more fully persuaded, than that our happiness here does not +depend upon our lot in life, so we are not suffering for necessaries-- +even changes bring less real misery than they are supposed to do." + +"Doubtless," cried Mr. Haughton, "under the circumstances, I would not +wish to change even with your lordship--unless, indeed," he continued, +with a smile and bow to the countess, "it were the temptation of your +lovely wife." + +"You are quite polite," said Emily laughing, "but I have no desire to +deprive Mrs. Haughton of a companion she has made out so well with these +twenty years past." + +"Thirty, my lady, if you please." + +"And thirty more, I hope," continued Emily, as a servant announced the +several carriages at the door. The younger part of the company now +hastened to their different engagements, and Chatterton handed Harriet; +John, Grace; and Pendennyss, Emily, into their respective carriages; the +duke and Lady Marian following, but at some little distance from the +rest of the party. + +As the earl drove from the door, the countess looked up to a window, at +which were standing her aunt and Doctor Ives. She kissed her hand to +them, with a face, in which glowed the mingled expression of innocence, +love, and joy. + +Before leaving the Park, the party passed Sir Edward; with his wife +leaning on one arm and Jane on the other, pursuing their daily walk. The +baronet followed the carriages with his eyes, and exchanged looks of the +fondest love with his children, as they drove slowly and respectfully by +him; and if the glance which followed on Jane, did not speak equal +pleasure, it surely denoted its proper proportion of paternal love. + +"You have much reason to congratulate yourself on the happy termination +of your labors," said the doctor, with a smile, to the widow; "Emily is +placed, so far as human foresight can judge, in the happiest of all +stations a female can be in: she is the pious wife of a pious husband, +beloved, and deserving of it." + +"Yes," said Mrs. Wilson, drawing back from following the phaeton with +her eyes, "they are as happy as this world will admit, and, what is +better, they are well prepared to meet any reverse of fortune which may +occur, as well as to discharge the duties on which they have entered. I +do not think," continued she, musing, "that Pendennyss can ever doubt +the affections of such a woman as Emily." + +"I should think not" said the doctor, "but what can excite such a +thought in your breast, and one so much to the prejudice of George?" + +"The only unpleasant thing I have ever observed in him," said Mrs. +Wilson gravely, "is the suspicion which induced him to adopt the +disguise in which he entered our family." + +"He did not adopt it, madam--- chance and circumstances drew it around +him accidentally; and when you consider the peculiar state of his mind +from the discovery of his mother's misconduct--his own great wealth and +rank--- it is not so surprising that he should yield to a deception, +rather harmless than injurious." + +"Dr. Ives," said Mrs. Wilson, "is not wont to defend deceit." + +"Nor do I now, madam;" replied the doctor with a smile; "I acknowledge +the offence of George, myself, wife, and son. I remonstrated at the time +upon principle; I said the end would not justify the means; that a +departure from ordinary rules of propriety was at all times dangerous, +and seldom practised with impunity." + +"And you failed to convince your hearers," cried Mrs. Wilson, gaily; "a +novelty in your case, my good rector." + +"I thank you for the compliment," said the doctor; "I did convince them +as to the truth of the principle, but the earl contended that his case +might make an innocent exception. He had the vanity to think, I believe, +that by concealing his real name, he injured himself more than any one +else, and got rid of the charge in some such way. He is however, +thoroughly convinced of the truth of the position, by practice; his +sufferings, growing out of the mistake of his real character, and which +could not have happened had he appeared in proper person, having been +greater than he is ready to acknowledge." + +"If they study the fate of the Donna Julia, and his own weakness," said +the widow, "they will have a salutary moral always at hand, to teach +them the importance of two cardinal virtues at least--obedience and +truth." + +"Julia has suffered much," replied the doctor; "and although she has +returned to her father, the consequences of her imprudence are likely to +continue. When once the bonds of mutual confidence and respect are +broken, they may be partially restored, it is true, but never with a +warmth and reliance such as existed previously. To return, however, to +yourself, do you not feel a sensation of delight at the prosperous end +of your exertions in behalf of Emily?" + +"It is certainly pleasant to think we have discharged our duties, and +the task is much easier than we are apt to suppose," said Mrs. Wilson; +"it is only to commence the foundation, so that it will be able to +support the superstructure. I have endeavored to make Emily a Christian. +I have endeavored to form such a taste and principles in her, that she +would not be apt to admire an improper suitor and I have labored to +prepare her to discharge her continued duties through life, in such a +manner and with such a faith, as under the providence of God will result +in happiness far exceeding anything she now enjoys. In all these, by the +blessing of Heaven, I have succeeded, and had occasion offered, I would +have assisted her inexperience through the more delicate decisions of +her sex, though in no instance would I attempt to control them." + +"You are right, my dear madam," said the doctor, taking her kindly by +the hand, "and had I a daughter, I would follow a similar course. Give +her delicacy, religion, and a proper taste, aided by the unseen +influence of a prudent parent's care, and the chances of a woman for +happiness would be much greater than they are; and I am entirely of your +opinion--'That prevention is at all times better than cure.'" + +The End. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Precaution, by James Fenimore +Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRECAUTION *** + +***** This file should be named 10365-8.txt or 10365-8.zip ***** This +and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/3/6/10365/ + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Precaution + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: December 2, 2003 [EBook #10365] + +Last Updated: April 29, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRECAUTION *** + + + + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + <h1> + Precaution. + </h1> + <h2 class="subtitle"> + A Novel. + </h2> + <h2 class="author"> + By J. Fenimore Cooper. + </h2> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Be wise to-day. It is madness to defer;<br /> To-morrow's caution may + arrive too late." + </p> + </blockquote> + <h2> + W. C. Bryant's Discourse on the Life, Genius, and Writings of James + Fenimore Cooper, + </h2> + <h3> + Delivered at Metropolitan Hall, N.Y., February 25, 1852. + </h3> + <p> + It is now somewhat more than a year, since the friends of <span + class="smallcaps">James Fenimore Cooper</span>, in this city; were + planning to give a public dinner to his honor. It was intended as an + expression both of the regard they bore him personally, and of the pride + they took in the glory his writings had reflected on the American name. We + thought of what we should say in his hearing; in what terms, worthy of him + and of us, we should speak of the esteem in which we held him, and of the + interest we felt in a fame which had already penetrated to the remotest + nook of the earth inhabited by civilized man. + </p> + <p> + To-day we assemble for a sadder purpose: to pay to the dead some part of + the honors then intended for the living. We bring our offering, but he is + not here who should receive it; in his stead are vacancy and silence; + there is no eye to brighten at our words, and no voice to answer. "It is + an empty office that we perform," said Virgil, in his melodious verses, + when commemorating the virtues of the young Marcellus, and bidding flowers + be strewn, with full hands, over his early grave. We might apply the + expression to the present occasion, but it would be true in part only. We + can no longer do anything for him who is departed, but we may do what will + not be without fruit to those who remain. It is good to occupy our + thoughts with the example of great talents in conjunction with great + virtues. His genius has passed away with him; but we may learn, from the + history of his life, to employ the faculties we possess with useful + activity and noble aims; we may copy his magnanimous frankness, his + disdain of everything that wears the faintest semblance of deceit, his + refusal to comply with current abuses, and the courage with which, on all + occasions, he asserted what he deemed truth, and combated what he thought + error. + </p> + <p> + The circumstances of Cooper's early life were remarkably suited to confirm + the natural hardihood and manliness of his character, and to call forth + and exercise that extraordinary power of observation, which accumulated + the materials afterwards wielded and shaped by his genius. His father, + while an inhabitant of Burlington, in New Jersey, on the pleasant banks of + the Delaware, was the owner of large possessions on the borders of the + Otsego Lake in our own state, and here, in the newly-cleared fields, he + built, in 1786, the first house in Cooperstown. To this home, Cooper, who + was born in Burlington, in the year 1789, was conveyed in his infancy, and + here, as he informs us in his preface to the <i>Pioneers</i>, his first + impressions of the external world were obtained. Here he passed his + childhood, with the vast forest around him, stretching up the mountains + that overlook the lake, and far beyond, in a region where the Indian yet + roamed, and the white hunter, half Indian in his dress and mode of life, + sought his game,--a region in which the bear and the wolf were yet hunted, + and the panther, more formidable than either, lurked in the thickets, and + tales of wanderings in the wilderness, and encounters with these fierce + animals, beguiled the length of the winter nights. Of this place, Cooper, + although early removed from it to pursue his studies, was an occasional + resident throughout his life, and here his last years were wholly passed. + </p> + <p> + At the age of thirteen he was sent to Yale College, where, notwithstanding + his extreme youth,--for, with the exception of the poet Hillhouse, he was + the youngest of his class, and Hillhouse was afterwards withdrawn,--his + progress in his studies is said to have been honorable to his talents. He + left the college, after a residence of three years, and became a + midshipman in the United States navy. Six years he followed the sea, and + there yet wanders, among those who are fond of literary anecdote, a story + of the young sailor who, in the streets of one of the English ports, + attracted the curiosity of the crowd by explaining to his companions a + Latin motto in some public place. That during this period he made himself + master of the knowledge and the imagery which he afterwards employed to so + much advantage in his romances of the sea, the finest ever written, is a + common and obvious remark; but it has not been so far as I know, observed + that from the discipline of a seaman's life he may have derived much of + his readiness and fertility of invention, much of his skill in surrounding + the personages of his novels with imaginary perils, and rescuing them by + probable expedients. Of all pursuits, the life of a sailor is that which + familiarizes men to danger in its most fearful shapes, most cultivates + presence of mind, and most effectually calls forth the resources of a + prompt and fearless dexterity by which imminent evil is avoided. + </p> + <p> + In 1811, Cooper, having resigned his post as midshipman, began the year by + marrying Miss Delaney, sister of the present bishop; of the diocese of + Western New York, and entered upon a domestic life happily passed to its + close. He went to live at Mamaroneck, in the county of Westchester, and + while here he wrote and published the first of his novels, entitled <i>Precaution</i>. + Concerning the occasion of writing this work, it is related, that once, as + he was reading an English novel to Mrs. Cooper, who has, within a short + time past, been laid in the grave beside her illustrious husband, and of + whom we may now say, that her goodness was no less eminent than his + genius, he suddenly laid down the book, and said, "I believe I could write + a better myself." Almost immediately he composed a chapter of a projected + work of fiction, and read it to the same friendly judge, who encouraged + him to finish it, and when it was completed, suggested its publication. Of + this he had at the time no intention, but he was at length induced to + submit the manuscript to the examination of the late Charles Wilkes, of + this city, in whose literary opinions he had great confidence. Mr. Wilkes + advised that it should be published, and to these circumstances we owe it + that Cooper became an author. + </p> + <p> + I confess I have merely dipped into this work. The experiment was made + with the first edition, deformed by a strange punctuation--a profusion of + commas, and other pauses, which puzzled and repelled me. Its author, many + years afterwards, revised and republished it, correcting this fault, and + some faults of style also, so that to a casual inspection it appeared + almost another work. It was a professed delineation of English manners, + though the author had then seen nothing of English society. It had, + however, the honor of being adopted by the country whose manners it + described, and, being early republished in Great Britain, passed from the + first for an English novel. I am not unwilling to believe what is said of + it, that it contained a promise of the powers which its author afterwards + put forth. + </p> + <p> + Thirty years ago, in the year 1821, and in the thirty-second of his life, + Cooper published the first of the works by which he will be known to + posterity, the <i>Spy</i>. It took the reading world by a kind of + surprise; its merit was acknowledged by a rapid sale; the public read with + eagerness and the critics wondered. Many withheld their commendations on + account of defects in the plot or blemishes in the composition, arising + from want of practice, and some waited till they could hear the judgment + of European readers. Yet there were not wanting critics in this country, + of whose good opinion any author in any part of the world might be proud, + who spoke of it in terms it deserved. "Are you not delighted," wrote a + literary friend to me, who has since risen to high distinction as a + writer, both in verse and in prose, "are you not delighted with the <i>Spy</i>, + as a work of infinite spirit and genius?" In that word genius lay the + explanation of the hold which the work had taken on the minds of men. What + it had of excellence was peculiar and unborrowed; its pictures of life, + whether in repose or activity, were drawn, with broad lights and shadows, + immediately from living originals in nature or in his own imagination. To + him, whatever he described was true; it was made a reality to him by the + strength with which he conceived it. His power in the delineation of + character was shown in the principal personage of his story, Harvey Birch, + on whom, though he has chosen to employ him in the ignoble office of a + spy, and endowed him with the qualities necessary to his + profession,--extreme circumspection, fertility in stratagem, and the art + of concealing his real character--qualities which, in conjunction with + selfishness and greediness, make the scoundrel, he has bestowed the + virtues of generosity, magnanimity, an intense love of country, a fidelity + not to be corrupted, and a disinterestedness beyond temptation. Out of + this combination of qualities he has wrought a character which is a + favorite in all nations, and with all classes of mankind. + </p> + <p> + It is said that if you cast a pebble into the ocean, at the mouth of our + harbor, the vibration made in the water passes gradually on till it + strikes the icy barriers of the deep at the south pole. The spread of + Cooper's reputation is not confined within narrower limits. The <i>Spy</i> + is read in all the written dialects of Europe, and in some of those of + Asia. The French, immediately after its first appearance, gave it to the + multitudes who read their far-diffused language, and placed it among the + first works of its class. It was rendered into Castilian, and passed into + the hands of those who dwell under the beams of the Southern Cross. At + length it passed the eastern frontier of Europe, and the latest record I + have seen of its progress towards absolute universality, is contained in a + statement of the <i>International Magazine</i>, derived, I presume, from + its author, that in 1847 it was published in a Persian translation at + Ispahan. Before this time, I doubt not, they are reading it in some of the + languages of Hindostan, and, if the Chinese ever translated anything, it + would be in the hands of the many millions who inhabit the far Cathay. + </p> + <p> + I have spoken of the hesitation which American critics felt in admitting + the merits of the <i>Spy</i>, on account of crudities in the plot or the + composition, some of which, no doubt, really existed. An exception must be + made in favor of the <i>Port Folio</i>, which, in a notice written by Mrs. + Sarah Hall, mother of the editor of that periodical, and author of <i>Conversations + on the Bible</i>, gave the work a cordial welcome; and Cooper, as I am + informed, never forgot this act of timely and ready kindness. + </p> + <p> + It was perhaps favorable to the immediate success of the <i>Spy</i>, that + Cooper had few American authors to divide with him the public attention. + That crowd of clever men and women who now write for the magazines, who + send out volumes of essays, sketches, and poems, and who supply the press + with novels, biographies, and historical works, were then, for the most + part, either stammering their lessons in the schools, or yet unborn. Yet + it is worthy of note, that just about the time that the <i>Spy</i> made + its appearance, the dawn of what we now call our literature was just + breaking. The concluding number of Dana's <i>Idle Man</i>, a work + neglected at first, but now numbered among the best things of the kind in + our language, was issued in the same month. The <i>Sketch Book</i> was + then just completed; the world was admiring it, and its author was + meditating <i>Bracebridge Hall</i>. Miss Sedgwick, about the same time, + made her first essay in that charming series of novels of domestic life in + New England, which have gained her so high a reputation. Percival, now + unhappily silent, had just put to press a volume of poems. I have a copy + of an edition of Hallock's <i>Fanny</i>, published in the same year; the + poem of <i>Yamoyden,</i> by Eastburn and Sands, appeared almost + simultaneously with it. Livingston was putting the finishing hand to his + <i>Report on the Penal Code of Louisiana,</i> a work written with such + grave, persuasive eloquence, that it belongs as much to our literature as + to our jurisprudence. Other contemporaneous American works there were, now + less read. Paul Allen's poem of <i>Noah</i> was just laid on the counters + of the booksellers. Arden published, at the same time, in this city, a + translation of Ovid's <i>Tristia</i>, in heroic verse, in which the + complaints of the effeminate Roman poet were rendered with great fidelity + to the original, and sometimes not without beauty. If I may speak of + myself, it was in that year that I timidly intrusted to the winds and + waves of public opinion a small cargo of my own--a poem entitled <i>The + Ages,</i> and half a dozen shorter ones, in a thin duodecimo volume, + printed at Cambridge. + </p> + <p> + We had, at the same time, works of elegant literature, fresh from the + press of Great Britain, which are still read and admired. Barry Cornwall, + then a young suitor for fame, published in the same year his <i>Marcia + Colonna</i>; Byron, in the full strength and fertility of his genius, gave + the readers of English his tragedy of <i>Marino Faliero</i>, and was in + the midst of his spirited controversy with Bowles concerning the poetry of + Pope. The <i>Spy</i> had to sustain a comparison with Scott's <i>Antiquary</i>, + published simultaneously with it, and with Lockhart's <i>Valerius</i>, + which seems to me one of the most remarkable works of fiction ever + composed. + </p> + <p> + In 1823, and in his thirty-fourth year, Cooper brought out his novel of + the <i>Pioneers</i>, the scene of which was laid on the borders of his: + own beautiful lake. In a recent survey of Mr; Cooper's works, by one of + his admirers, it is intimated that the reputation of this work may have + been, in some degree factitious. I cannot think so; I cannot see how such + a work could fail of becoming, sooner or later, a favorite. It was several + years after its first appearance that I read the <i>Pioneers</i>, and I + read it with a delighted astonishment. Here, said I to myself, is the poet + of rural life in this country--our Hesiod, our Theocritus, except that he + writes without the restraint of numbers, and is a greater poet than they. + In the <i>Pioneers</i>, as in a moving picture, are made to pass before us + the hardy occupations and spirited, amusements of a prosperous settlement, + in, a fertile region, encompassed for leagues around with the primeval + wilderness of woods. The seasons in their different aspects, bringing with + them, their different employments; forests falling before the axe; the + cheerful population, with the first mild; day of spring, engaged in the + sugar orchards; the chase of the deer through the deep woods, and into the + lake; turkey-shooting, during the Christmas holidays, in which the Indian + marksman vied for the prize of skill with the white man; swift sleigh + rides under the bright winter sun, and, perilous encounters with wild + animals in the forests; these, and other scenes of rural life, drawn, as + Cooper knew how to draw them, in the bright and healthful coloring of + which he was master are interwoven with a regular narrative of human + fortunes, not unskilfully constructed; and how could such a work be + otherwise than popular? + </p> + <p> + In the <i>Pioneers</i>, Leatherstocking; is first introduced--a + philosopher of the woods, ignorant of books, but instructed in all that + nature, without the aid of, science, could reveal to the man of quick + senses and inquiring intellect, whose life has been passed under the open + sky, and in companionship with a race whose animal perceptions are the + acutest and most cultivated of which there is any example. But + Leatherstocking has higher qualities; in him there is a genial blending of + the gentlest virtues of the civilized man with the better nature of the + aboriginal tribes; all that in them is noble, generous, and ideal, is + adopted into his own kindly character, and all that is evil is rejected. + But why should I attempt to analyse a character so familiar? + Leatherstocking is acknowledged, on all hands, to be one of the noblest, + as well as most striking and original creations of fiction. In some of his + subsequent novels, Cooper--for he had not yet Attained to the full + maturity of his powers--heightened and ennobled his first conception of + the character, but in the <i>Pioneers</i> it dazzled the world with the + splendor of novelty; + </p> + <p> + His next work was the <i>Pilot</i>, in which he showed how, from the + vicissitudes of a life at sea, its perils and escapes, from the beauty and + terrors of the great deep, from the working of a vessel on a long voyage, + and from the frank, brave, and generous but peculiar character of the + seaman, may be drawn materials of romance by which the minds of men may be + as deeply moved as by anything in the power of romance to present. In this + walk, Cooper has had many disciples but no rival. All who have since + written romances of the sea have been but travellers in a country of which + he was the great discoverer; and none of them all seemed to have loved a + ship as Cooper loved it, or have been able so strongly to interest all + classes of readers in its fortunes. Among other personages drawn with + great strength in the <i>Pilot</i>, is the general favorite, Tom Coffin, + the thorough seaman with all the virtues and one or two of the infirmities + of his profession, superstitious, as seamen are apt to be, yet whose + superstitions strike us as but an irregular growth of his devout + recognition of the Power who holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand; + true-hearted, gentle, full of resources, collected in danger, and at last + calmly perishing at the post of duty, with the vessel he has long guided, + by what I may call a great and magnanimous death. His rougher and coarser + companion, Boltrope, is drawn with scarcely less skill, and with a no less + vigorous hand. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Pioneers</i> is not Cooper's best tale of the American forest, nor, + the <i>Pilot</i>, perhaps, in all respects, his best tale of the sea; yet, + if he had ceased to write here, the measure of his fame would possibly + have been scarcely less ample than it now is. Neither of them is far below + the best of his productions, and in them appear the two most remarkable + creations of his imagination--two of the most remarkable characters in all + fiction. + </p> + <p> + It was about this time that my acquaintance with Cooper began, an + acquaintance of more than a quarter of a century, in which his deportment + towards me was that of unvaried kindness. He then resided a considerable + part of the year in this city, and here he had founded a weekly club, to + which many of the most distinguished men of the place belonged. Of the + members who have since passed away, were Chancellor Kent, the jurist; + Wiley the intelligent and liberal bookseller; Henry D. Sedgwick, always + active in schemes of benevolence; Jarvis, the painter, a man of infinite + humor, whose jests awoke inextinguishable laughter; De Kay, the + naturalist; Sands, the poet; Jacob Harvey whose genial memory is cherished + by many friends. Of those who are yet living was Morse, the inventor of + the electric telegraph; Durand, then, one of the first of engravers, and + now no less illustrious as a painter; Henry James Anderson, whose + acquirements might awaken the envy of the ripest scholars of the old + world; Halleck, the poet and wit; Verplanck, who has given the world the + best edition of Shakspeare for general readers; Dr. King, now at the head + of Columbia College, and his two immediate predecessors in that office. I + might enlarge the list with many other names of no less distinction. The + army and navy contributed their proportion of members, whose names are on + record in our national history. Cooper when in town was always present, + and I remember being struck with the inexhaustible vivacity of his + conversation and the minuteness of his knowledge, in everything which + depended upon acuteness of observation and exactness of recollection. I + remember, too, being somewhat startled, coming as I did from the seclusion + of a country life, with a certain emphatic frankness in his manner, which, + however, I came at last to like and to admire. The club met in the hotel + called Washington Hall, the site of which, is now occupied by part of the + circuit of Stewart's marble building. + </p> + <p> + <i>Lionel Lincoln</i>, which cannot be ranked among the successful + productions of Cooper, was published in 1825; and in the year following + appeared the <i>Last of the Mohicans</i> which more than recovered the + ground lost by its predecessor. In this work, the construction of the + narrative has signal defects, but it is one of the triumphs of the + author's genius that he makes us unconscious of them while we read. It is + only when we have had time to awake from the intense interest in which he + has held us by the vivid reality of his narrative, and have begun to + search for faults in cold blood, that we are able to find them, In the <i>Last + of the Mohicans,</i> we have a bolder portraiture of. Leatherstocking than + in the <i>Pioneers</i>. + </p> + <p> + This work was published in 1826, and in the same year Cooper sailed with + his family for Europe. He left New York as one of the vessels of war, + described in his romances of the sea, goes out of port, amidst the thunder + of a parting salute from the big guns on the batteries. A dinner was given + him just before his departure, attended by most of the distinguished men + of the city, at which Peter A. Jay presided, and Dr. King addressed him in + terms which some then thought too glowing, but which would now seem + sufficiently temperate, expressing the good wishes of his friends, and + dwelling on the satisfaction they promised themselves in possessing so + illustrious a representative of American literature in the old world. + Cooper was scarcely in France when he remembered his friends of the weekly + club, and sent frequent missives to be read at its meetings; but the club + missed its founder went into a decline, and not long afterwards quietly + expired. + </p> + <p> + The first of Cooper's novels published after leaving America: was the <i>Prairie</i>, + which appeared early in 1827, a work with the admirers of which I wholly + agree. I read it with a certain awe, an undefined sense of sublimity, such + as one experiences on entering, for the first time, upon those immense + grassy deserts from which the work takes its name. The squatter and his + family--that brawny old man and his large-limbed sons, living in a sort of + primitive and patriarchal barbarism, sluggish on ordinary occasions, but + terrible when roused, like the hurricane that sweeps the grand but + monotonous wilderness in which they dwell--seem a natural growth of + ancient fields of the West. Leatherstocking, a hunter in the <i>Pioneers</i>, + a warrior in the <i>Last of the Mohicans</i>, and now, in his extreme old + age, a trapper on the prairie, declined in strength, but undecayed in + intellect, and looking to the near close of his life, and a grave under + the long grass, as calmly as the laborer at sunset looks to his evening + slumber, is no less in harmony with the silent desert in which he wanders. + Equally so are the Indians, still his companions, copies of the American + savage somewhat idealized, but not the less a part of the wild nature in + which they have their haunts. + </p> + <p> + Before the year closed, Cooper had given the world another nautical tale, + the <i>Red Rover</i>, which, with many, is a greater favorite than the <i>Pilot</i>, + and with reason, perhaps, if we consider principally the incidents, which + are conducted and described with a greater mastery over the springs of + pity and terror. + </p> + <p> + It happened to Cooper while he was abroad, as it not unfrequently happens + to our countrymen, to hear the United States disadvantageously compared + with Europe. He had himself been a close observer of things both here and + in the old world, and was conscious of being able to refute the detractors + of his country in regard to many points. He published in 1828, after he + had been two years in Europe, a series of letters, entitled <i>Notions of + the Americans, by a Travelling Bachelor</i>, in which he gave a favorable + account of the working of our institutions, and vindicated his country + from various flippant and ill-natured misrepresentations of foreigners. It + is rather too measured in style, but is written from a mind full of the + subject, and from a memory wonderfully stored with particulars. Although + twenty-four years have elapsed since its publication, but little of the + vindication has become obsolete. + </p> + <p> + Cooper loved his country and was proud of her history and her + institutions, but it puzzles many that he should have appeared, at + different times, as her eulogist, and her censor. My friends, she is + worthy both of praise and of blame, and Cooper was not the man to shrink + from bestowing either, at what seemed to him the proper time. He defended + her from detractors abroad; he sought to save her from flatterers at home. + I will not say that he was in as good humor with his country when he wrote + <i>Home at Found</i>, as when he wrote his <i>Notions of the Americans</i>, + but this I will say that whether he commended or censured, he did it in + the sincerity of his heart, as a true American, and in the belief that it + would do good. His <i>Notions of the Americans</i> were more likely to + lessen than to increase his popularity in Europe, inasmuch as they were + put forth without the slightest regard to European prejudices. + </p> + <p> + In 1829, he brought out the novel entitled the <i>Wept of Wishton-Wish</i>, + one of the few of his works which we now rarely hear mentioned. He was + engaged in the composition of a third nautical tale, which he afterwards + published under the name of the <i>Water-Witch,</i> when the memorable + revolution of the Three Days of July broke out. He saw a government, + ruling by fear and in defiance of public opinion, overthrown in a few + hours, with little bloodshed; he saw the French nation, far from being + intoxicated with their new liberty, peacefully addressing themselves to + the discussion of the institutions under which they were to live. A work + which Cooper afterwards published, his <i>Residence in Europe</i>, gives + the outline of a plan of government for France furnished by him at that + time, to La Fayette, with whom he was in habits of close and daily + intimacy. It was his idea to give permanence to the new order of things by + associating two strong parties in its support, the friends of legitimacy + and the republicans. He suggested that Henry V. should be called to the + hereditary throne of France, a youth yet to be educated as the head of a + free people, that the peerage should be abolished, and a legislature of + two chambers established, with a constituency of at least a million and a + half of electors; the senate to be chosen by the general vote, as the + representative of the entire nation, and the members of the other house to + be chosen by districts, as the representatives of the local interests. To + the middle ground of politics so ostentatiously occupied by Louis Philippe + at the beginning of his reign, he predicted a brief duration, believing + that it would speedily be merged in despotism, or supplanted by the + popular rule. His prophecy has been fulfilled more amply than he could + have imagined--fulfilled in both its alternatives. + </p> + <p> + In one of the controversies of that time, Cooper bore a distinguished + part. The <i>Revue Britannique</i>, a periodical published in Paris, + boldly affirmed the government of the United States to be one of the most + expensive in the world, and its people among the most heavily taxed of + mankind. This assertion was supported with a certain show of proof, and + the writer affected to have established the conclusion that a republic + must necessarily be more expensive than a monarchy. The partisans of the + court were delighted with the reasoning of the article, and claimed a + triumph over our ancient friend La Fayette, who, during forty years, had + not ceased to hold up the government of the United States as the cheapest + in the world. At the suggestion of La Fayette, Cooper replied to this + attack upon his country in a letter which was translated into French, and, + together with, another from General Bertrand, for many years a resident in + America, was laid before the people of France. + </p> + <p> + These, two letters provoked a shower of rejoinders, in which, according to + Cooper, misstatements were mingled with scurrility. He commenced a series + of letters on the question in dispute, which were published in the <i>National</i>, + a daily sheet, and gave the first evidence of that extraordinary acuteness + in controversy which was no less characteristic of his mind than the vigor + of his imagination. The enemies of La Fayette pressed into their service + Mr. Leavitt Harris, of New Jersey, afterwards our <i>chargé + d'affaires</i> at the court of France, but Cooper replied to Mr. Harris in + the <i>National</i> of May 2d, 1832, closing a discussion in which he had + effectually silenced those who objected to our institutions on the score + of economy. Of these letters, which would form an important chapter in + political science, no entire copy, I have been told, is to be found in + this country. + </p> + <p> + One of the consequences of earnest controversy is almost invariably + personal ill-will. Cooper was told by one who held an official station + under the French government, that the part he had taken in this dispute + concerning taxation would neither be forgotten nor forgiven. The dislike + he had incurred in that quarter was strengthened by his novel of the <i>Bravo</i>, + published in the year 1831, while he was in the midst of his quarrel with + the aristocratic party. In that work, of which he has himself justly said + that it was thoroughly American in all that belonged to it, his object was + to show how institutions, professedly created to prevent violence and + wrong, become, when perverted from their natural destination, the + instruments of injustice; and how, in every system which makes power the + exclusive property of the strong, the weak are sure to be oppressed. The + work is written with all the vigor and spirit of his best novels; the + magnificent city of Venice, in which the scene of the story is laid, + stands continually before the imagination; and from time to time the + gorgeous ceremonies of the Venetian republic pass under our eyes, such as + the marriage of the Doge with the Adriatic, and the, contest of the + gondolas for the prize of speed. The Bravo himself and several of the + other characters are strongly conceived and distinguished, but the most + remarkable of them all is the spirited and generous-hearted daughter of + the jailer. + </p> + <p> + It has been said by some critics, who judge of Cooper by his failures, + that he had no skill in drawing female characters. By the same process, it + might, I suppose, be shown that Raphael was but an ordinary painter. It + must be admitted that when Cooper drew a lady of high breeding, he was apt + to pay too much attention to the formal part of her character, and to make + her a mere bundle of cold proprieties. But when he places his heroines in + some situation in life which leaves him nothing to do but to make them + natural and true, I know of nothing finer, nothing more attractive or more + individual than the portraitures he has given us. + </p> + <p> + <i>Figaro</i>, the wittiest of the French periodicals, and at that time on + the liberal side, commended the <i>Bravo</i>; the journals on the side of + the government censured it. <i>Figaro</i> afterwards passed into the hands + of the aristocratic party, and Cooper became the object of its attacks. He + was not, however, a man to be driven from any purpose which he had formed, + either by flattery or abuse, and both were tried with equal ill success. + In 1832 he published his <i>Heidenmauer</i>, and in 1833 his <i>Headsman + of Berne</i>, both with a political design similar to that of the <i>Bravo</i>, + though neither of them takes the same high rank among his works. + </p> + <p> + In 1833, after a residence of seven years in different parts of Europe, + but mostly in France, Cooper returned to his native country. The welcome + which met him here was somewhat chilled by the effect of the attacks made + upon him in France, and remembering with what zeal, and at what sacrifice + of the universal acceptance which his works would otherwise have met, he + had maintained the cause of his country against the wits and orators of + the court party in France, we cannot wonder that he should have felt this + coldness as undeserved. He published, shortly after his arrival in this + country, <i>A Letter to his Countrymen</i> in which he complained of the + censures cast upon him in the American newspapers, gave a history of the + part he had taken in exposing the misstatements of the <i>Révue + Britannique</i>, and warned his countrymen against the too common error of + resorting, with a blind deference, to foreign authorities, often swayed by + national or political prejudices, for our opinions of American authors. + Going beyond this topic, he examined and reprehended the habit of applying + to the interpretation of our own constitution maxims derived from the + practice of other governments, particularly that of Great Britain. The + importance of construing that instrument by its own principles, he + illustrated by considering several points in dispute between parties of + the day, on which he gave very decided opinions. + </p> + <p> + The principal effect of this pamphlet, as it seemed to me, was to awaken + in certain quarters a kind of resentment that a successful writer of + fiction should presume to give lessons in politics. I meddle not here with + the conclusions to which he arrived, though must be allowed to say that + they were stated and argued with great ability. In 1835 Cooper published + <i>The Monnikins</i>, a satirical work, partly with a political aim; and + in the same year appeared his <i>American Democrat</i>, a view of the + civil and social relations of the United States, discussing more gravely + various topics touched upon in the former work, and pointing out in what + respects he deemed the American people in their practice to have fallen + short of the excellence of their institutions. + </p> + <p> + He found time, however, for a more genial task--that of giving to the + world his observations on foreign countries. In 1836 appeared his <i>Sketches + of Switzerland</i>, a series of letters in four volumes, the second part + published about two months after the first, a delightful work, written in + a more fluent and flexible style than his <i>Notions of the Americans</i>. + The first part of <i>Gleanings in Europe,</i> giving an account of his + residence in France, followed in the same year; and the second part of the + same work, containing his observations on England, was published in April, + 1837. In these works, forming a series of eight volumes, he relates and + describes with much of the same distinctness as in his novels; and his + remarks on the manners and institutions of the different countries, often + sagacious, and always peculiarly his own, derive, from their frequent + reference to contemporary events, an historical interest. + </p> + <p> + In 1838 appeared <i>Homeward Bound</i> and <i>Home as Found</i>, two + satirical novels, in which Cooper held up to ridicule a certain class of + conductors of the newspaper press in America. These works had not the good + fortune to become popular. Cooper did not, and, because he was too deeply + in earnest, perhaps would not, infuse into his satirical works that gaiety + without which satire becomes wearisome. I believe, however, that if they + had been written by anybody else they would have met with more favor; but + the world knew that Cooper was able to give them something better, and + would not be satisfied with anything short of his best, Some childishly + imagined that because, in the two works I have just mentioned, a newspaper + editor is introduced, in whose character almost every possible vice of his + profession is made to find a place, Cooper intended an indiscriminate + attack upon the whole body of writers for the newspaper press, forgetting + that such a portraiture was a satire only on those to whom it bore a + likeness We have become less sensitive and more reasonable of late, and + the monthly periodicals make sport for their readers of the follies and + ignorance of the newspaper editors, without awakening the slightest + resentment; but Cooper led the way in this sort of discipline, and I + remember some instances of towering indignation at his audacity expressed + in the journals of that time. + </p> + <p> + The next year Cooper made his appearance before the public in a new + department of writing; his <i>Naval History of the United States</i> was + brought out in two octavo volumes at Philadelphia, by Carey and Lea. In + writing his stories of the sea, his attention had been much turned to this + subject, and his mind filled with striking incidents from expeditions and + battles in which our naval commanders had been engaged. This made his task + the lighter; but he gathered his materials with great industry, and with a + conscientious attention to exactness, for he was not a man to take a fact + for granted, or allow imagination to usurp the place of inquiry He + digested our naval annals into a narrative, written with spirit it is + true, but with that air of sincere dealing which the reader willingly + takes as a pledge of its authenticity. + </p> + <p> + An abridgment of the work was afterwards prepared and published by the + author. The <i>Edinburgh Review</i>, in an article professing to examine + the statements both of Cooper's work and of <i>The History of the English + Navy</i>, written by Mr. James, a surgeon by profession, made a violent + attack upon the American historian. Unfortunately, it took James's + narrative as its sole guide, and followed it implicitly. Cooper replied in + the <i>Democratic Review</i> for January, 1840, and by a masterly analysis + of his statements, convicting James of self-contradiction in almost every + particular in which he differed from himself, refuted both James and the + reviewer. It was a refutation which admitted of no rejoinder. + </p> + <p> + Scarce anything in Cooper's life was so remarkable, or so strikingly + illustrated his character, as his contest with the newspaper press. He + engaged in it after provocations, many and long endured, and prosecuted it + through years with great energy, perseverance, and practical dexterity, + till he was left master of the field. In what I am about to say of it, I + hope I shall not give offence to any one, as I shall speak without the + slightest malevolence towards those with whom he waged this controversy. + Over some of them, as over their renowned adversary, the grave has now + closed. Yet where shall the truth be spoken, if not beside the grave? + </p> + <p> + I have already alluded to the principal causes which provoked the + newspaper attacks upon Cooper. If he had never meddled with questions of + government on either side of the Atlantic, and never satirized the + newspaper press, I have little doubt that he would have been spared these + attacks. I cannot, however, ascribe them all, or even the greater part of + them, to personal malignity. One journal followed the example of another, + with little reflection, I think, in most cases, till it became a sort of + fashion, not merely to decry his works, but to arraign his motives. + </p> + <p> + It is related that, in 1832, while he was at Paris, an article was shown + him in an American newspaper, purporting to be a criticism on one of his + works, but reflecting with much asperity on his personal character. "I + care nothing," he is reported to have said, "for the criticism, but I am + not indifferent to the slander. If these attacks on my character should be + kept up five years after my return to America, I shall resort to the New + York courts for protection." He gave the newspaper press of this state the + full period of forbearance on which he had fixed, but finding that + forbearance seemed to encourage assault, he sought redress in the courts + of law. + </p> + <p> + When these litigations were first begun, I recollect it seemed to me that + Cooper had taken a step which would give him a great deal of trouble, and + effect but little good. I said to myself-- + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + "Alas! Leviathan is not so tamed!" + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + As he proceeded, however, I saw that he had understood the matter better + than I. He put a hook into the nose of this huge monster, wallowing in his + inky pool and bespattering the passers-by; he dragged him to the land and + made him tractable. One suit followed another; one editor was sued, I + think half-a-dozen times; some of them found themselves under a second + indictment before the first was tried. In vindicating himself to his + reader, against the charge of publishing one libel, the angry journalist + often floundered into another. The occasions of these prosecutions seem to + have been always carefully considered, for Cooper was almost uniformly + successful in obtaining verdicts. In a letter of his, written in February, + 1843, about five years, I think, from the commencement of the first + prosecutions, he says, "I have beaten every man I have sued, who has not + retracted his libels." + </p> + <p> + In one of these suits, commenced against the late William L. Stone of the + <i>Commercial Advertiser</i>, and referred to the arbitration of three + distinguished lawyers, he argued himself the question of the authenticity + of his account of the battle of Lake Erie, which was the matter in + dispute. I listened to his opening; it was clear, skilful, and persuasive, + but his closing argument was said to be splendidly eloquent. "I have heard + nothing like it," said a barrister to me, "since the days of Emmet." + </p> + <p> + Cooper behaved liberally towards his antagonists, so far as pecuniary + damages were concerned, though some of them wholly escaped their payment + by bankruptcy. After, I believe, about, six years of litigation, the + newspaper press gradually subsided into a pacific disposition towards its + adversary, and the contest closed with the account of pecuniary profit and + loss, so far as he was concerned, nearly balanced. The occasion of these + suits was far from honorable to those who provoked them, but the result + was I had almost said, creditable to all parties; to him, as the + courageous prosecutor, to the administration of justice in this country, + and to the docility of the newspaper press, which he had disciplined into + good manners. + </p> + <p> + It was while he was in the midst of these litigations, that he published, + in 1840, the <i>Pathfinder</i>. People had begun to think of him as a + controversialist, acute, keen, and persevering, occupied with his personal + wrongs and schemes of attack and defence. They were startled from this + estimate of his character by the moral duty of that glorious work--I must + so call it; by the vividness and force of its delineations, by the + unspoiled love of nature apparent in every page, and by the fresh and warm + emotions which everywhere gave life to the narrative and the dialogue. + Cooper was now in his fifty-first year, but nothing which he had produced + in the earlier part of his literary life was written with so much of what + might seem the generous fervor of youth, or showed the faculty of + invention in higher vigor. I recollect that near the time of its + appearance I was informed of an observation made upon it by one highly + distinguished in the literature of our country and of the age, between + whom and the author an unhappy coolness had for some years existed. As he + finished the reading of the Pathfinder, he exclaimed, "They may say what + they will of Cooper; the man who wrote this book is not only a great man, + but a good man." + </p> + <p> + The readers of the <i>Pathfinder</i> were quickly reconciled to the fourth + appearance of Leatherstocking, when they saw him made to act a different + part from any which the author had hitherto assigned him--when they saw + him shown as a lover, and placed in the midst of associations which + invested his character with a higher and more affecting heroism. In this + work are two female characters, portrayed in a masterly manner,--the + corporal's daughter, Mabel Dunham, generous, resolute, yet womanly, and + the young Indian woman, called by her tribe the Dew of June, a + personification of female truth, affection, and sympathy, with a strong + aboriginal cast, yet a product of nature as bright and pure as that from + which she is named. + </p> + <p> + <i>Mercedes of Castile</i>, published near the close of the same year, has + none of the stronger characteristics of Cooper's genius; but in the <i>Deerslayer</i>, + which appeared in 1841, another of his Leatherstocking tales, he gave us a + work rivalling the Pathfinder. Leatherstocking is brought before us in his + early youth, in the first exercise of that keen sagacity which is blended + so harmoniously with a simple and ingenuous goodness. The two daughters of + the retired freebooter dwelling on the Otsego lake, inspire scarcely less + interest than the principal personage; Judith, in the pride of her beauty + and intellect, her good impulses contending with a fatal love of + admiration, holding us fascinated with a constant interest in her fate, + which, with consummate skill, we are permitted rather to conjecture than + to know; and Hetty, scarcely less beautiful in person, weak-minded, but + wise in the midst, of that weakness beyond the wisdom of the loftiest + intellect, through the power of conscience and religion. The character of + Hetty would have been a hazardous experiment in feebler hands, but in his + it was admirably successful. + </p> + <p> + The <i>Two Admirals</i> and <i>Wing-and-Wing</i> were given to the public + in 1842, both of them taking a high rank among Cooper's sea-tales. The + first of these is a sort of naval epic in prose; the flight and chase of + armed vessels hold us in breathless suspense, and the sea-fights are + described with a terrible power. In the later sea-tales of Cooper, it + seems to me that the mastery with which he makes his grand processions of + events pass before the mind's eye is even greater than in his earlier. The + next year he published the <i>Wyandotte or Hutted Knoll</i>, one of his + beautiful romances of the woods, and in 1844 two more of his sea-stories, + <i>Afloat and Ashore</i> and <i>Miles Wallingford</i>its sequel. The long + series of his nautical tales was closed by <i>Jack Tier or the Florida + Reef,</i> published in 1848, when Cooper was in his sixtieth year, and it + is as full of spirit, energy, invention, life-like presentation of objects + and events-- + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + The vision and the faculty divine-- + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + as anything he has written. + </p> + <p> + Let me pause here to say that Cooper, though not a manufacturer of verse, + was in the highest sense of the word a poet; his imagination wrought nobly + and grandly, and imposed its creations on the mind of the reader for + realities. With him there was no withering, or decline, or disuse of the + poetic faculty; as he stepped downwards from the zenith of life, no shadow + or chill came over it; it was like the year of some genial climates, a + perpetual season of verdure, bloom, and fruitfulness. As these works came + out, I was rejoiced to see that he was unspoiled by the controversies in + which he had allowed, himself to become engaged; that they had not given + to these better expressions of his genius, any tinge of misanthropy, or + appearance of contracting and closing sympathies any trace of an interest + in his fellow-beings less large and free than in his earlier works. + </p> + <p> + Before the, appearance of his <i>Jack Tier</i>, Cooper published, in 1845 + and the following year, a series of novels relating to the Anti-rent + question, in which he took great interest. He thought that the disposition + manifested in certain quarters to make con cessions, to what he deemed a + denial of the rights of property was a first step in a most dangerous + path. To discourage this disposition, he wrote <i>Satanstoe, The + Chainbearer,</i> and <i>The Redskins</i>. They are didactic in their + design, and want the freedom of invention which belongs to Cooper's best + novels; but if they had been written by anybody but Cooper,--by a member + of Congress, for example, or an eminent politician of any class,--they + would have made his reputation. It was said, I am told, by a distinguished + jurist of our state, that they entitled the author to as high a place in + law as his other works had won for him in literature. + </p> + <p> + I had thought, in meditating the plan of this discourse, to mention all + the works of Mr. Cooper, but the length to which I have found it extending + has induced me to pass over several written in the last ten years of his + life, and to confine myself to those which best illustrate his literary + character. The last of his novels was <i>The Ways of the Hour</i>, a work + in which the objections he entertained to the trial by jury in civil + causes were stated in the form of a narrative. + </p> + <p> + It is a voluminous catalogue--that of Cooper's published works--but it + comprises not all he wrote. He committed to the fire, without remorse, + many of the fruits of his literary industry. It was understood, some years + since, that he had a work ready for the press on the <i>Middle States of + the Union</i>, principally illustrative of their social history; but it + has not been found among his manuscripts, and the presumption is that he + must have destroyed it. He had planned a work on the <i>Towns of Manhattan</i>, + for the publication of which he made arrangements with Mr. Putnam of this + city, and a part of which, already written, was in press at the time of + his death. The printed part has since been destroyed by fire, but a + portion of the manuscript was recovered. The work, I learn, will be + completed by one of the family, who, within a few years past, has earned + an honorable name among the authors of our country. Great as was the + number of his works, and great as was the favor with which they were + received, the pecuniary rewards of his success were far less than has been + generally supposed--scarcely, as I am informed, a tenth part of what the + common rumor made them. His fame was infinitely the largest acknowledgment + which this most successful of American authors received for his labors. + </p> + <p> + <i>The Ways of the Hour</i> appeared in 1850. At this time his personal + appearance was remarkable. He seemed in perfect health, and in the highest + energy and activity of his faculties. I have scarcely seen any man at that + period of life on whom his years sat more lightly. His conversation had + lost none of its liveliness, though it seemed somewhat more genial and + forbearing in tone, and his spirits none of their elasticity. He was + contemplating, I have since been told, another Leatherstocking tale, + deeming that he had not yet exhausted the character; and those who + consider what new resources it yielded him in the <i>Pathfinder</i> and + the <i>Deerslayer</i>, will readily conclude that he was not mistaken. + </p> + <p> + The disease, however, by which he was removed, was even then impending + over him, and not long afterwards his friends here were grieved to learn + that his health was declining. He came to New York so changed that they + looked at him with sorrow, and after a stay of some weeks, partly for the + benefits of medical advice returned to Cooperstown, to leave it no more. + His complaint gradually gained strength, subdued a constitution originally + robust, and finally passed into a confirmed dropsy. In August, 1851, he + was visited by his excellent and learned friend, Dr. Francis, a member of + the weekly club which he had founded in the early part of his literary + career. He found him bearing the sufferings of his disease with manly + firmness, gave him such medical counsels as the malady appeared to + require, prepared him delicately for its fatal termination, and returned + to New York with the most melancholy anticipations. In a few days + afterwards, Cooper expired, amid the deep affliction of his family, on the + 14th of September, the day before that on which he should have completed + his sixty-second year. He died, apparently without pain, in peace and + religious hope. The relations of man to his Maker, and to that state of + being for which the present is but a preparation, had occupied much of his + thoughts during his whole lifetime, and he crossed, with a serene + composure, the mysterious boundary which divides this life from the next. + </p> + <p> + The departure of such a man, in the full strength of his faculties,--on + whom the country had for thirty years looked as one of the permanent + ornaments of its literature, and whose name had been so often associated + with praise, with renown, with controversy, with blame, but never with + death,--diffused a universal awe. It was as if an earthquake had shaken + the ground on which we stood, and showed the grave opening by our path. In + the general grief for his loss, his virtues only were remembered; and his + failings forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Of his failings I have said little; such as he had were obvious to all the + world; they lay on the surface of his character; those who knew him least + made the most account of them. With a character so made up of positive + qualities--a character so independent and uncompromising, and with a + sensitiveness far more acute than he was willing to acknowledge, it is not + surprising that occasions frequently arose to bring him, sometimes into + friendly collision, and sometimes in to graver disagreements and + misunderstandings with his fellow-men. For his infirmities, his friends + found an ample counterpoise in the generous sincerity of his nature. He + never thought of disguising his opinions, and he abhorred all disguise in + others; he did not even deign to use that show of regard towards those of + whom he did not think well, which the world tolerates, and almost demands. + A manly expression of opinion, however different from his own, commanded + his respect. Of his own works, he spoke with the same freedom as of the + works of others; and never hesitated to express his judgment of a book for + the reason that it was written by himself: yet he could bear with + gentleness any dissent from the estimate lie placed on his own writings. + His character was like the bark of the cinnamon, a rough and astringent + rind without, and an intense sweetness within. Those who penetrated below + the surface found a genial temper, warm affections, and a heart with ample + place for his friends, their pursuits, their good name, their welfare. + They found him a philanthropist, though not precisely after the fashion of + the day; a religious man, most devout where devotion is most apt to be a + feeling rather than a custom, in the household circle; hospitable, and to + the extent of his means liberal-handed in acts of charity. They found, + also, that though in general he would as soon have thought of giving up an + old friend as of giving up an opinion, he was not proof against testimony, + and could part with a mistaken opinion as one parts with an old friend who + has been proved faithless and unworthy. In short, Cooper was one of those + who, to be loved, must be intimately known. + </p> + <p> + Of his literary character I have spoken largely in the narrative of his + life, but there are yet one or two remarks which must be made to do it + justice. In that way of writing in which he excelled, it seems to me that + he united, in a pre-eminent degree, those qualities which enabled him to + interest the largest number of readers. He wrote not for the fastidious, + the over-refined, the morbidly delicate; for these find in his genius + something too robust for their liking--something by which their + sensibilities are too rudely shaken; but he wrote for mankind at + large--for men and women in the ordinary healthful state of feeling--and + in their admiration he found his reward. It is for this class that public + libraries are obliged to provide themselves with an extraordinary number + of copies of his works: the number in the Mercantile Library in this city, + I am told, is forty. Hence it is, that he has earned a fame, wider, I + think, than any author of modern times--wider, certainly, than any author, + of any age, ever enjoyed in his lifetime. All his excellences are + translatable--they pass readily into languages the least allied in their + genius to that in which he wrote, and in them he touches the heart and + kindles the imagination with the same power as in the original English. + </p> + <p> + Cooper was not wholly without humor; it is sometimes found lurking in the + dialogue of Harvey Birch, and of Leatherstocking but it forms no + considerable element in his works; and if it did, it would have stood in + the way of his universal popularity; since of all qualities, it is the + most difficult to transfuse into a foreign language. Nor did the effect he + produced upon the reader depend on any grace of style which would escape a + translator of ordinary skill. With his style, it is true, he took great + pains, and in his earlier works, I am told, sometimes altered the proofs + sent from the printer so largely that they might be said to be written + over Yet he attained no special felicity, variety, or compass of + expression. His style, however, answered his purpose; it has defects, but + it is manly and clear, and stamps on the mind of the reader the impression + he desired to convey. I am not sure that some of the very defects of + Cooper's novels do not add, by a certain force of contrast, to their power + over the mind. He is long in getting at the interest of his narrative. The + progress of the plot, at first, is like that of one of his own vessels of + war, slowly, heavily, and even awkwardly working out of a harbor. We are + impatient and weary, but when the vessel is once in the open sea, and + feels the free breath of heaven in her full sheets, our delight and + admiration is all the greater at the grace, the majesty, and power with + which she divides and bears down the waves, and pursues her course, at + will, over the great waste of waters. + </p> + <p> + Such are the works so widely read, and so universally admired, in all the + zones of the globe, and by men of every kindred and every tongue; works + which have made of those who dwell in remote latitudes, wanderers in our + forests, and observers of our manners, and have inspired them with an + interest in our history. A gentleman who had returned from Europe just + before the death of Cooper, was asked what he found the people of the + Continent doing. "They all are reading Cooper," he answered; "in the + little kingdom of Holland, with its three millions of inhabitants, I + looked into four different translations of Cooper in the language of the + country." A traveller, who has seen much of the middle classes of Italy, + lately said to me, "I found that all they knew of America, and that was + not little, they had learned from Cooper's novels; from him they had + learned the story of American liberty, and through him they had been + introduced to our Washington; they had read his works till the shores of + the Hudson, and the valleys of Westchester, and the banks of Otsego lake, + had become to them familiar ground." + </p> + <p> + Over all the countries into whose speech this great man's works have been + rendered by the labors of their scholars, the sorrow of that loss which we + deplore is now diffusing itself. Here we lament the ornament of our + country, there they mourn the death of him who delighted the human race. + Even now, while I speak, the pulse of grief which is passing through the + nations has haply just reached some remote neighborhood; the news of his + death has been brought to some dwelling on the slopes of the Andes, or + amidst the snowy wastes of the North, and the dark-eyed damsel of Chile, + or the fair-haired maid of Norway, is sad to think that he whose stories + of heroism and true love have so often kept her for hours from her pillow, + lives no more. + </p> + <p> + He is gone! but the creations of his genius, fixed in living words, + survive the frail material organs by which the words were first traced. + They partake of a middle nature, between the deathless mind and the + decaying body of which they are the common offspring, and are, therefore, + destined to a duration, if not eternal, yet indefinite. The examples he + has given in his glorious fictions, of heroism, honor, and truth, of large + sympathies between man and man, of all that is good, great, and excellent, + embodied in personages marked with so strong an individuality that we + place them among our friends and favorites; his frank and generous men, + his gentle and noble women, shall live through centuries to come, and only + perish with our language. I have said with our language; but who shall say + when it may be the fate of the English language to be numbered with the + extinct forms of human speech? Who shall declare which of the present + tongues of the civilized world will survive its fellows? It may be that + some one of them, more fortunate than the rest, will long outlast them, in + some undisturbed quarter of the globe, and in the midst of a new + civilization. The creations of Cooper's genius, even now transferred to + that language, may remain to be the delight of the nations through another + great cycle of centuries, beginning after the English language and its + contemporaneous form of civilization shall have passed away. + </p> + <h2> + Preface to the New Edition + </h2> + <p> + This book originally owed its existence to an accident, and it was printed + under circumstances that prevented the usual supervision of the press by + the author. The consequences were many defects in plot, style, and + arrangement, that were entirely owing to precipitation and inexperience; + and quite as many faults, of another nature, that are to be traced solely + to a bad manuscript and worse proof reading. Perhaps no novel of our times + was worst printed than the first edition of this work. More than a hundred + periods were placed in the middle of sentences, and perhaps five times + that number were omitted in places where they ought to have been inserted. + It is scarcely necessary to add, that passages were rendered obscure, and + that entire paragraphs were unintelligible. + </p> + <p> + Most of the faults just mentioned have now been corrected, though it would + require more labor than would produce an entirely new work, to repair all + the inherent defects that are attributable to haste, and to the + awkwardness of a novice in the art of composing. In this respect, the work + and its blemishes are probably inseparable. Still, the reader will now be + better rewarded for his time, and, on the whole; the book is much more + worthy of his attention. + </p> + <p> + It has been said that Precaution owes its existence to fortuitous + circumstances. The same causes induced its English plot, and, in a + measure, the medley of characters that no doubt will appear a mistake in + the conception. It can scarcely be said that the work was commenced with + any view to publication; and when it was finally put into a publisher's + hands, with "all its imperfections on its head," the last thought of the + writer was any expectation that it would be followed by a series of + similar tales from the same pen. + </p> + <p> + More than this the public will feel no interest in knowing, and less than + this the author could not consent to say on presenting to the world a + reprint of a book with so few claims to notice. + </p> + <h1> + Precaution. + </h1> + <h2> + Chapter I. + </h2> + <p> + "I wonder if we are to have a neighbor in the Deanery soon," inquired + Clara Moseley, addressing herself to a small party assembled in her + father's drawing-room, while standing at a window which commanded a + distant view of the house in question. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," replied her brother, "the agent has let it to a Mr. Jarvis for a + couple of years, and he is to take possession this week." + </p> + <p> + "And who is the Mr. Jarvis that is about to become so near a neighbor?" + asked Sir Edward Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Why, sir, I learn he has been a capital merchant; that he has retired + from business with a large fortune; that he has, like yourself, sir, an + only hope for his declining years in son, an officer in the army; and, + moreover, that he has couple of fine daughters; so, sir, he is a man of + family in one sense, at least, you see. But," dropping his voice, "whether + he is a man of family in your sense, Jane," looking at his second sister, + "is more than I could discover." + </p> + <p> + "I hope you did not take the trouble, sir, to inquire on my account," + retorted Jane, coloring slightly with vexation at his speech. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed I did, my dear sis, and solely on your account," replied the + laughing brother, "for you well know that no gentility, no husband; and + it's dull work to you young ladies without at least a possibility of + matrimony; as for Clara, she is----" + </p> + <p> + Here he was stopped by his youngest sister Emily placing her hand on his + mouth, as she whispered in his ear, "John, you forget the anxiety of a + certain gentleman about a fair incognita at Bath, and a list of inquiries + concerning her lineage, and a few other indispensables." John, in his + turn, colored, and affectionately kissing the hand which kept him silent, + addressed himself to Jane, and by his vivacity and good humor soon + restored her to complacency. + </p> + <p> + "I rejoice," said Lady Moseley, "that Sir William has found a tenant, + however; for next to occupying it himself, it is a most desirable thing to + have a good tenant in it, on account of the circle in which we live." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Jarvis has the great goodness of money, by John's account," + caustically observed Mrs. Wilson, who was a sister of Sir Edward's. + </p> + <p> + "Let me tell you, madam," cried the rector of the parish, looking around + him pleasantly, and who was pretty constant, and always a welcome visitor + in the family, "that a great deal of money is a very good thing in itself, + and that a great many very good things may be done with it." + </p> + <p> + "Such as paying tythes, ha! doctor," cried Mr. Haughton, a gentleman of + landed property in the neighborhood, of plain exterior, but great goodness + of heart, and between whom and the rector subsisted the most cordial good + will. + </p> + <p> + "Aye, tythes, or halves, as the baronet did here, when he forgave old + Gregson one half his rent, and his children the other." + </p> + <p> + "Well, but, my dear," said Sir Edward to his wife, "you must not starve + our friends because we are to have a neighbor. William has stood with the + dining-room door open these five minutes--" + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley gave her hand to the rector, and the company followed them, + without any order, to the dinner table. + </p> + <p> + The party assembled around the hospitable board of the baronet was + composed, besides the before-mentioned persons, of the wife of Mr. + Haughton, a woman of much good sense and modesty of deportment: their + daughter, a young lady conspicuous for nothing but good nature; and the + wife and son of the rector--the latter but lately admitted to holy orders + himself. + </p> + <p> + The remainder of the day passed in an uninterrupted flow of pleasant + conversation, the natural consequence of a unison of opinions on all + leading questions, the parties having long known and esteemed each other + for those qualities which soonest reconcile us to the common frailties of + our nature. On parting at the usual hour, it was agreed to meet that day + week at the rectory, and the doctor, on making his bow to Lady Moseley, + observed, that he intended, in virtue of his office, to make an early call + on the Jarvis family, and that, if possible, he would persuade them to be + of the party. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward Moseley was descended from one of the most respectable of the + creations of his order by James, and had inherited, with many of the + virtues of his ancestor, an estate which placed him amongst the greatest + landed proprietors of the county. But, as it had been an invariable rule + never to deduct a single acre from the inheritance of the eldest son, and + the extravagance of his mother, who was the daughter of a nobleman, had + much embarrassed the affairs of his father, Sir Edward, on coming into + possession of his estate, had wisely determined to withdraw from the gay + world, by renting his house in town, and retiring altogether to his + respectable mansion, about a hundred miles from the metropolis. Here he + hoped, by a course of systematic but liberal economy, to release himself + from all embarrassments, and to make such a provision for his younger + children, the three daughters already mentioned, as he conceived their + birth entitled them to expect. Seventeen years enabled him to accomplish + this plan; and for more than eighteen months, Sir Edward had resumed the + hospitality and appearance usual in his family, and had even promised his + delighted girls to take possession, the ensuing winter, of the house in + St. James's Square. Nature had not qualified Sir Edward for great or + continued exertions, and the prudent decision he had taken to retrieve his + fortunes, was perhaps an act of as much forecast and vigor as his talents + or energy would afford; it was the step most obviously for his interests, + and the one that was safest both in its execution and consequences, and as + such it had been adopted: but, had it required a single particle more of + enterprise or calculation, it would have been beyond his powers, and the + heir might have yet labored under the difficulties which distressed his + more brilliant, but less prudent parent. + </p> + <p> + The baronet was warmly attached to his wife; and as she was a woman of + many valuable and no obnoxious qualities, civil and attentive by habit to + all around her, and perfectly disinterested in her attachments to her own + family, nothing in nature could partake more of perfection in the eyes of + her husband and children than the conduct of this beloved relative. Yet + Lady Moseley had her failings, however, although few were disposed to view + her errors with that severity which truth and a just discrimination of + character render necessary. Her union had been one of love, and for a time + it had been objected to by the friends of her husband, on the score of + fortune; but constancy and perseverance prevailed, and the protracted and + inconsequent opposition of his parents had left no other effects than an + aversion in the children to the exercise of parental authority, in + marrying their own descendents: an aversion which, though common to both + the worthy baronet and his wife, was somewhat different in its two + subjects. In the husband it was quiescent; but in the wife, it was + slightly shaded with the female <i>esprit de corps</i>, of having her + daughters comfortably established, and that in due season. Lady Moseley + was religious, but hardly pious; she was charitable in deeds, but not + always in opinions; her intentions were pure, but neither her prejudices + nor her reasoning powers suffered her to be at all times consistent. Still + few knew her that did not love her, and none were ever heard to say aught + against her breeding, her morals, or her disposition. + </p> + <p> + The sister of Sir Edward had been married, early in life, to an officer in + the army, who, spending much of his time abroad on service, had left her a + prey to that solicitude to which she was necessarily a prey by her + attachment to her husband. To find relief from this perpetual and + life-wearing anxiety, an invaluable friend had pointed out the only true + remedy of which her case admitted, a research into her own heart, and the + employments of active benevolence. The death of her husband, who lost his + life in battle, caused her to withdraw in a great measure from the world, + and gave time and inducement for reflections, which led to impressions on + religion that were sufficiently correct in themselves, and indispensable + as the basis of future happiness, but which became slightly tinctured with + the sternness of her vigorous mind, and possibly, at times were more + unbending than was compatible with the comforts of this world; a fault, + however, of manner, more than of matter. Warmly attached to her brother + and his children, Mrs. Wilson, who had never been a mother herself, + yielded to their earnest entreaties to become one of the family; and + although left by the late General Wilson with a large income, ever since + his death she had given up her own establishment, and devoted most of her + time to the formation of the character of her youngest niece. Lady Moseley + had submitted this child entirely to the control of the aunt; and it was + commonly thought Emily would inherit the very handsome sum left at the + disposal of the General's widow. + </p> + <p> + Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley possessed a large share of personal + beauty when young, and it had descended in common to all their children, + but more particularly to the two youngest daughters. Although a strong + family resemblance, both in person and character, existed between these + closely connected relatives, yet it existed with shades of distinction + that had very different effects on their conduct, and led to results which + stamped their lives with widely differing degrees of happiness. + </p> + <p> + Between the families at Moseley Hall and the rectory, there had existed + for many years an intimacy founded on esteem and on long intercourse. + Doctor Ives was a clergyman of deep piety; and of very considerable + talents; he possessed, in addition to a moderate benefice, an independent + fortune in right of his wife, who was the only child of a distinguished + naval officer. Both were well connected, well bred, and well disposed to + their fellow creatures. They were blessed with but one child, the young + divine we have mentioned, who promised to equal his father in all those + qualities which had made the Doctor the delight of his friends, and almost + the idol of his parishioners. + </p> + <p> + Between Francis Ives and Clara Moseley, there had been an attachment, + which had grown with their years, from childhood. He had been her + companion in their youthful recreations, had espoused her little quarrels, + and participated in her innocent pleasures, for so many years, and with + such an evident preference for each other in the youthful pair, that, on + leaving college to enter on the studies of his sacred calling with his + father, Francis rightly judged that none other would make his future life + as happy, as the mild, the tender, the unassuming Clara. Their passion, if + so gentle a feeling deserve the term, received the sanction of their + parents, and the two families waited only for the establishment of the + young divine, to perfect the union. + </p> + <p> + The retirement of Sir Edward's family had been uniform, with the exception + of an occasional visit to an aged uncle of his wife's, and who, in return, + spent much of his time with them at the Hall, and who had openly declared + his intention of making the children of Lady Moseley his heirs. The visits + of Mr. Benfield were always hailed with joy, and as an event that called + for more than ordinary gaiety; for, although rough in manner, and somewhat + infirm from years, the old bachelor, who was rather addicted to the + customs in which he had indulged in his youth, and was fond of dwelling on + the scenes of former days, was universally beloved where he was intimately + known, for an unbounded though eccentric philanthropy. + </p> + <p> + The illness of the mother-in-law of Mrs. Wilson had called her to Bath the + winter preceding the spring when our history commences, and she had been + accompanied thither by her nephew and favorite niece. John and Emily, + during the month of their residence in that city, were in the practice of + making daily excursions in its environs. It was in one of these little + drives that they were of accidental service to a very young and very + beautiful woman, apparently in low health. They had taken her up in their + carriage, and conveyed her to a farm-house where she resided, during a + faintness which had come over her in a walk; and her beauty, air, and + manner, altogether so different from those around her, had interested them + both to a painful degree. They had ventured to call the following day to + inquire after her welfare, and this visit led to a slight intercourse, + which continued for the fortnight they remained there. + </p> + <p> + John had given himself some trouble to ascertain who she was, but in vain. + They could merely learn that her life was blameless, that she saw no one + but themselves, and her dialect raised a suspicion that she was not + English, It was to this unknown fair Emily alluded in her playful attempt + to stop the heedless rattle of her brother, who was not always restrained + from uttering what he thought by a proper regard for the feelings of + others. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter II. + </h2> + <p> + The morning succeeding the day of the dinner at the Hall, Mrs. Wilson, + with all her nieces and her nephew, availed herself of the fineness of the + weather to walk to the rectory, where they were all in the habit of making + informal and friendly visits. They had just got out of the little village + of B----, which lay in their route, when a rather handsome travelling + carriage and four passed them, and took the road which led to the Deanery. + </p> + <p> + "As I live," cried John, "there go our new neighbors the Jarvis's; yes, + yes, that must be the old merchant muffled up in the corner; I mistook him + at first for a pile of bandboxes; then the rosy-cheeked lady, with so many + feathers, must be the old lady--heaven forgive me, Mrs. Jarvis I + mean--aye, and the two others the belles." + </p> + <p> + "You are in a hurry to pronounce them belles, John," said Jane, pettishly; + "it would be well to see more of them before you speak so decidedly." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" replied John, "I have seen <i>enough</i> of them, and"--he was + interrupted by the whirling of a tilbury and tandem followed by a couple + of servants on horseback. All about this vehicle and its masters bore the + stamp of decided fashion; and our party had followed it with their eyes + for a short distance, when, having reached a fork in the roads, it + stopped, and evidently waited the coming up of the pedestrians, as if to + make an inquiry. A single glance of the eye was sufficient to apprise the + gentleman on the cushion (who held the reins) of the kind of people he had + to deal with, and stepping from his carriage, he met them with a graceful + bow, and after handsomely apologizing for the trouble he was giving, he + desired to know which road led to the Deanery. "The right," replied John, + returning his salutation. + </p> + <p> + "Ask them, Colonel," cried the charioteer, "whether the old gentleman went + right or not." + </p> + <p> + The Colonel, in the manner of a perfect gentleman, but with a look of + compassion for his companion's want of tact, made the desired inquiry; + which being satisfactorily answered, he again bowed and was retiring, as + one of several pointers who followed the cavalcade sprang upon Jane, and + soiled her walking dress with his dirty feet. + </p> + <p> + "Come hither, Dido," cried the Colonel, hastening to beat the dog back + from the young lady; and again he apologized in the same collected and + handsome manner, then turning to one of the servants, he said, "call in + the dog, sir," and rejoined his companion. The air of this gentleman was + peculiarly pleasant; it would not have been difficult to pronounce him a + soldier had he not been addressed as such by his younger and certainly + less polished companion. The Colonel was apparently about thirty, and of + extremely handsome face and figure, while his driving friend appeared + several years younger, and of altogether different materials. + </p> + <p> + "I wonder," said Jane, as they turned a corner which hid them from view, + "who they are?" + </p> + <p> + "Who they are?" cried the brother, "why the Jarvis's to be sure; didn't + you hear them ask the road to the Deanery? + </p> + <p> + "Oh! the one that drove, <i>he</i> may be a Jarvis, but not the gentleman + who spoke to us--surely not, John; besides, he was called Colonel, you + know." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said John, with one of his quizzing expressions, "Colonel + Jarvis, that must be the alderman; they are commonly colonels of city + volunteers: yes, that must have been the old gem'mun who spoke to us, and + I was right after all about the bandboxes." + </p> + <p> + "You forget," said Clara, smiling, "the polite inquiry concerning the old + gem'mun." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! true; who the deuce can this Colonel be then, for young Jarvis is + only a captain, I know; who do you think he is, Jane?" + </p> + <p> + "How do you think I can tell you, John? But whoever he is, he owns the + tilbury, although he did not drive it; and he is a gentleman both by birth + and manners." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Jane, if you know so much of him, you should know more; but it is + all guess with you." + </p> + <p> + "No; it is not guess--I am certain of what I say." + </p> + <p> + The aunt and sisters, who had taken little interest in the dialogue, + looked at her with some surprise, which John observing, he exclaimed, + "Poh: she knows no more than we all know." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed I do." + </p> + <p> + "Poh, poh, if you know, tell." + </p> + <p> + "Why, the arms were different." + </p> + <p> + John laughed as he said, "That <i>is</i> a good reason, sure enough, for + the tilbury's being the colonel's property; but now for his blood; how did + you discover that, sis--by his gait and actions, as we say of horses?" + </p> + <p> + Jane colored a little, and laughed faintly. "The arms on the tilbury had + six quarterings." + </p> + <p> + Emily now laughed, and Mrs. Wilson and Clara smiled while John continued + his teazing until they reached the rectory. + </p> + <p> + While chatting with the doctor and his wife, Francis returned from his + morning ride, and told them the Jarvis family had arrived; he had + witnessed an unpleasant accident to a gig, in which were Captain Jarvis, + and a friend, a Colonel Egerton; it had been awkwardly driven in turning + into the Deanery gate, and upset: the colonel received some injury to his + ankle, nothing, however, serious he hoped, but such as to put him under + the care of the young ladies, probably, for a few days. After the + exclamations which usually follow such details, Jane ventured to inquire + who Colonel Egerton was. + </p> + <p> + "I understood at the time, from one of the servants, that he is a nephew + of Sir Edgar Egerton, and a lieutenant-colonel on half-pay, or furlough, + or some such thing." + </p> + <p> + "How did he bear his misfortune, Mr. Francis?" inquired Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly as a gentleman, madam, if not as a Christian," replied the + young clergyman, slily smiling; "indeed, most men of gallantry would, I + believe, rejoice in an accident which drew forth so much sympathy as both + the Miss Jarvis's manifested." + </p> + <p> + "How fortunate you should all happen to be near!" said the tender-hearted + Clara. + </p> + <p> + "Are the young ladies pretty?" asked Jane, with something of hesitation in + her manner. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I rather think they are; but I took very little notice of their + appearance, as the colonel was really in evident pain." + </p> + <p> + "This, then," cried the doctor, "affords me an additional excuse for + calling on them at an early day, so I'll e'en go to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "I trust Doctor Ives wants no apologies for performing his duty," said + Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "He is fond of making them, though," said Mrs. Ives, speaking with a + benevolent smile, and for the first time in the little conversation. + </p> + <p> + It was then arranged that the rector should make his official visit, as + intended by himself; and on his report, the ladies would act. After + remaining at the rectory an hour, they returned to the hall, attended by + Francis. + </p> + <p> + The next day the doctor drove in, and informed them the Jarvis family were + happily settled, and the colonel in no danger, excepting from the + fascinations of the two young ladies, who took such palpable care of him + that he wanted for nothing, and they might drive over whenever they + pleased, without fear of intruding unseasonably. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jarvis received his guests with the frankness of good feelings, if not + with the polish of high life; while his wife, who seldom thought of the + former, would have been mortally offended with the person who could have + suggested that she omitted any of the elegancies of the latter. Her + daughters were rather pretty, but wanted, both in appearance and manner, + the inexpressible air of <i>haut ton</i> which so eminently distinguished + the easy but polished deportment of Colonel Egerton, whom they found + reclining on a sofa with his leg on a chair, amply secured in numerous + bandages, but unable to rise. Notwithstanding the awkwardness of his + situation, he was by far the least discomposed person of the party, and + having pleasantly excused himself, he appeared to think no more of the + matter. + </p> + <p> + The captain, Mrs. Jarvis remarked, had gone out with his dogs to try the + grounds around them, "for he seems to live only with his horses and his + gun: young men, my lady, nowadays, appear to forget that there are any + things in the world but themselves; now I told Harry that your ladyship + and daughters would favor us with a call this morning--but no: there he + went, as if Mr. Jarvis was unable to buy us a dinner, and we should all + starve but for his quails and pheasants." + </p> + <p> + "Quails and pheasants," cried John, in consternation, "does Captain Jarvis + shoot quails and pheasants at this time of the year?" + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Jarvis, sir," said Colonel Egerton, with a correcting smile, + "understands the allegiance due from us gentlemen to the ladies, better + than the rules of sporting; my friend, the captain, has taken his fishing + rod, I believe." + </p> + <p> + "It is all one, fish or birds," continued Mrs. Jarvis, "he is out of the + way when he is wanted, and I believe we can buy fish as easily as birds; I + wish he would take pattern after yourself, colonel, in these matters." + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton laughed pleasantly, but he did not blush; and Miss Jarvis + observed, with a look, of something like admiration thrown on his + reclining figure, "that when Harry had been in the army as long as his + friend, he would know the usages of good society, she hoped, as well." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said her mother, "the army is certainly the place to polish a young + man;" and turning to Mrs. Wilson, she abruptly added, "Your husband, I + believe, was in the army, ma'am?" + </p> + <p> + "I hope," said Emily hastily, "that we shall have the pleasure of seeing + you soon, Miss Jarvis, at the Hall," preventing by her promptitude the + necessity of a reply from her aunt. The young lady promised to make an + early visit, and the subject changed to a general and uninteresting + discourse on the neighborhood, the country, the weather, and other + ordinary topics. + </p> + <p> + "Now, John," cried Jane in triumph, as they drove from the door, "you must + acknowledge my heraldic witchcraft, as you are pleased to call it, is + right for once at least." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no doubt, Jenny," said John, who was accustomed to use that + appellation to her as a provocation, when he wished what he called an + enlivening scene; but Mrs. Wilson put a damper on his hopes by a remark to + his mother, and the habitual respect of both the combatants kept them + silent. + </p> + <p> + Jane Moseley was endowed by nature with an excellent understanding, one at + least equal to that of her brother, but the wanted the more essential + requisites of a well governed mind. Masters had been provided by Sir + Edward for all his daughters, and if they were not acquainted with the + usual acquirements of young women in their rank of life, it was not his + fault: his system of economy had not embraced a denial of opportunity to + any of his children, and the baronet was apt to think all <i>was</i> done, + when they were put where all <i>might</i> be done. Feeling herself and + parents entitled to enter into all the gaieties and splendors of some of + the richer families in their vicinity, Jane, who had grown up during the + temporary eclipse of Sir Edward's fortunes, had sought that + self-consolation so common to people in her situation, which was to be + found in reviewing the former grandeur of her house, and she had thus + contracted a degree of family pride. If Clara's weaknesses were less + striking than those of Jane, it was because she had less imagination, and + because that in loving Francis Ives she had so long admired a character, + where so little was to be found that could be censured, that she might be + said to have contracted a habit of judging correctly, without being able + at all times to give a reason for her conduct or her opinions. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter III. + </h2> + <p> + The day fixed for one of the stated visits of Mr. Benfield had now + arrived, and John, with Emily, who was the old bachelor's favorite niece, + went in the baronet's post-chaise to the town of F----, a distance of + twenty miles, to meet him, in order to accompany him in the remainder of + his journey to the Hall, it being a settled rule with the old man, that + his carriage horses should return to their own stables every night, where + he imagined they could alone find that comfort and care to which their age + and services gave them a claim. The day was uncommonly pleasant, and the + young people were in high spirits with the expectation of meeting their + respected relative, whose absence had been prolonged a few days by a + severe fit of the gout. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Emily," cried John, as he settled himself comfortably by the side of + his sister in the chaise, "let me know honestly how you like the Jarvis's, + and particularly how you like the handsome colonel." + </p> + <p> + "Then, John, honestly, I neither like nor dislike the Jarvis's or the + handsome colonel." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then, there is no great diversity in our sentiments, as Jane would + say." + </p> + <p> + "John!" + </p> + <p> + "Emily!" + </p> + <p> + "I do not like to hear you speak so disrespectfully of out sister, whom I + am sure you love as tenderly as I do myself." + </p> + <p> + "I acknowledge my error," said the brother, taking her hand and + affectionately kissing it, "and will endeavor to offend no more; but this + Colonel Egerton, sister, is certainly a gentleman, both by blood and in + manners, as Jane"--Emily interrupted him with a laugh, which John took + very good-naturedly, repeating his remark without alluding to their + sister. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Emily, "he is genteel in his deportment, if that be what you + mean; I know nothing of his family." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I have taken a peep into Jane's Baronetage, where find him set down + as Sir Edgar's heir." + </p> + <p> + "There is something about him," said Emily, musing, "that I do not much + admire; he is too easy--there is no nature; I always feel afraid such + people will laugh at me as soon as my back is turned, and for those very + things they seem most to admire to my face. If I might be allowed to + judge, I should say his manner wants one thing, without which no one can + be truly agreeable." + </p> + <p> + "What's that?" + </p> + <p> + "Sincerity." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! that's my great recommendation; but I am afraid I shall have to take + the poacher up, with his quails and his pheasants, indeed." + </p> + <p> + "You know the colonel explained that to be a mistake." + </p> + <p> + "What they call explaining away; but unluckily I saw the gentleman + returning with his gun on his shoulder, and followed by a brace of + pointers." + </p> + <p> + "There's a specimen of the colonel's manners then," said Emily, smiling; + "it will do until the truth be known." + </p> + <p> + "And Jane, when she saw him also, praised his good nature and + consideration, in what she was pleased to call relieving the awkwardness + of my remark." + </p> + <p> + Emily finding her brother disposed to dwell on the foibles of Jane, a + thing he was rather addicted to at times, was silent. They rode some + distance before John, who was ever as ready to atone as he was to offend, + again apologized, again promised reformation, and during the remainder of + the ride only forgot himself twice more in the same way. + </p> + <p> + They reached F---- two hours before the lumbering coach of their uncle + drove into the yard of the inn, and had sufficient time to refresh their + own horses for the journey homewards. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield was a bachelor of eighty, but retained the personal activity + of a man of sixty. He was strongly attached to all the fashions and + opinions of his youth, during which he had sat one term in parliament, + having been a great beau and courtier in the commencement of the reign. A + disappointment in an affair of the heart drove him into retirement; and + for the last fifty years he had dwelt exclusively at a seat he owned + within forty miles of Moseley Hall, the mistress of which was the only + child of his only brother. In figure, he was tall and spare, very erect + for his years, and he faithfully preserved in his attire, servants, + carriages, and indeed everything around him, as much of the fashions of + his youth as circumstances would allow: such then was a faint outline of + the character and appearance of the old man, who, dressed in a cocked hat, + bag wig, and sword, took the offered arm of John Moseley to alight from + his coach. + </p> + <p> + "So," cried the old gentleman, having made good his footing on the ground, + as he stopped short and stared John in the face, "you have made out to + come twenty miles to meet an old cynic, have you, sir? but I thought I bid + thee bring Emmy with thee." + </p> + <p> + John pointed to the window, where his sister stood anxiously watching her + uncle's movements. On catching her eye, he smiled kindly, and pursued his + way into the house, talking to himself. + </p> + <p> + "Aye, there she is indeed; I remember now, when I was a youngster, of + going with my kinsman, old Lord Gosford, to meet his sister, the Lady + Juliana, when she first came from school (this was the lady whose + infidelity had driven him from the world); and a beauty she was indeed, + something like Emmy there; only she was taller, and her eyes were black, + and her hair too, that was black; and she was not so fair as Emmy, and she + was fatter, and she stooped a little--very little; oh! they are + wonderfully alike though; don't you think they were, nephew?" he stopped + at the door of the room; while John, who in this description could not see + a resemblance, which existed nowhere but in the old man's affections, was + fain to say, "yes; but they were related, you know, uncle, and that + explains the likeness." + </p> + <p> + "True, boy, true," said his uncle, pleased at a reason for a thing he + wished, and which flattered his propensities. He had once before told + Emily she put him in mind of his housekeeper, a woman as old as himself, + and without a tooth in her head. + </p> + <p> + On meeting his niece, Mr. Benfield (who, like many others that feel + strongly, wore in common the affectation of indifference and displeasure) + yielded to his fondness, and folding her in his arms, kissed her + affectionately, while a tear glistened in his eye; and then pushing her + gently from him, he exclaimed, "Come, come, Emmy, don't strangle me, don't + strangle me, girl; let me live in peace the little while I have to remain + here--so," seating himself composedly in an arm chair his niece had placed + for him with a cushion, "so Anne writes me, Sir William Harris has let the + deanery." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes, uncle," cried John. + </p> + <p> + "I'll thank you, young gentleman," said Mr. Benfield, sternly, "not to + interrupt me when I am speaking to a lady that is, if you please, sir. + Then Sir William has let the deanery to a London merchant, a Mr. Jarvis. + Now I knew three people of that name; one was a hackney coachman, when I + was a member of the parliament of this realm, and drove me often to the + house; the other was <i>valet-de-chambre</i> to my Lord Gosford; and the + third, I take it, is the very man who has become your neighbor. If it be + the person I mean, Emmy dear, he is like--like--aye, very like old Peter, + my steward." + </p> + <p> + John, unable to contain his mirth at this discovery of a likeness between + the prototype of Mr. Benfield himself in leanness of figure, and the jolly + rotundity of the merchant, was obliged to leave the room; Emily, though + she could not forbear smiling at the comparison, quietly said, "You will + meet him to-morrow, dear uncle, and then you will be able to judge for + yourself." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," muttered the old man, "very like old Peter, my steward; as + like as two peas." The parallel was by no means as ridiculous as might be + supposed; its history being as follows: + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield had placed twenty thousand pounds in the hands of a broker, + with positive orders for him to pay it away immediately for government + stock, bought by the former on his account; but disregarding this + injunction, the broker had managed the transaction in such a way as to + postpone the payment, until, on his failure, he had given up that and a + much larger sum to Mr. Jarvis, to satisfy what he called an honorary debt. + In elucidating the transaction Mr. Jarvis paid Benfield Lodge a visit, and + honestly restored the bachelor his property. This act, and the high + opinion he entertained of Mrs. Wilson, with his unbounded love for Emily, + were the few things which prevented his believing some dreadful judgment + was about to visit this world, for its increasing wickedness and follies. + As his own steward was one of the honestest fellows living, he had ever + after fancied that there was a personal resemblance between him and the + conscientious merchant. + </p> + <p> + The horses being ready, the old bachelor was placed carefully between his + nephew and niece, and in that manner they rode on quietly to the Hall, the + dread of accident keeping Mr. Benfield silent most of the way. On passing, + however a stately castle, about ten miles from the termination of their + ride, he began one of his speeches with, + </p> + <p> + "Emmy, dear, does Lord Bolton come often to see you?" + </p> + <p> + "Very seldom, sir; his employment keeps him much of his time at St. + James's, and then he has an estate in Ireland." + </p> + <p> + "I knew his father well--he was distantly connected by marriage with my + friend Lord Gosford; you could not remember him, I suspect" (John rolled + his eyes at this suggestion of his sister's recollection of a man who had + been forty years dead); "he always voted with me in the parliament of this + realm; he was a thoroughly honest man; very much such a man to look at as + Peter Johnson, my steward: but I am told his son likes the good things of + the ministry; well, well, William Pitt was the only minister to my mind. + There was the Scotchman of whom they made a Marquis; I never could endure + him--always voted against him." + </p> + <p> + "Right or wrong, uncle," cried John, who loved a little mischief in his + heart. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir--right, but never wrong. Lord Gosford always voted against him + too; and do you think, jackanapes, that my friend the Earl of Gosford + and--and--myself were ever wrong? No, sir, men in my day were different + creatures from what they are now: we were never wrong, sir; we loved our + country, and had no motive for being in the wrong." + </p> + <p> + "How was it with Lord Bute, uncle?" + </p> + <p> + "Lord Bute, sir," cried the old man with great warmth, "was the minister, + sir--he was the minister; aye, he was the minister, sir, and was paid for + what he did." + </p> + <p> + "But Lord Chatham, was he not the minister too?" + </p> + <p> + Now, nothing vexed the old gentleman more than to hear William Pitt called + by his tardy honors; and yet, unwilling to give up what he thought his + political opinions, he exclaimed, with an unanswerable positiveness of + argument, + </p> + <p> + "Billy Pitt, sir, was the minister, sir; but--but--but--he was <i>our</i> + minister, sir." + </p> + <p> + Emily, unable to see her uncle agitated by such useless disputes, threw a + reproachful glance on her brother, as she observed timidly, + </p> + <p> + "That was a glorious administration, sir, I believe." + </p> + <p> + "Glorious indeed! Emmy dear," said the bachelor, softening with the sound + of her voice, and the recollections of his younger days, "we beat the + French everywhere--in America--in Germany;--we took--(counting on his + fingers)--we took Quebec--yes, Lord Gosford lost a cousin there; and we + took all the Canadas; and we took their fleets: there was a young man + killed in the battle between Hawke and Conflans, who was much attached to + Lady Juliana--poor soul! how much she regretted him when dead, though she + never could abide him when living--ah! she was a tender-hearted creature!" + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield, like many others, continued to love imaginary qualities in + his mistress, long after her heartless coquetry had disgusted him with her + person: a kind of feeling which springs from self-love, which finds it + necessary to seek consolation in creating beauties, that may justify our + follies to ourselves; and which often keeps alive the semblance of the + passion, when even hope, or real admiration, is extinct. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the Hall, every one was rejoiced to see their really + affectionate and worthy relative, and the evening passed in the tranquil + enjoyment of the blessings which Providence had profusely scattered around + the family of the baronet, but which are too often hazarded by a neglect + of duty that springs from too great security, or an indolence which + renders us averse to the precaution necessary to insure their continuance. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter IV. + </h2> + <p> + "You are welcome, Sir Edward," said the venerable rector, as he took the + baronet by the hand; "I was fearful a return of your rheumatism would + deprive us of this pleasure, and prevent my making you acquainted with the + new occupants of the deanery, who have consented to dine with us to-day, + and to whom I have promised, in particular, an introduction to Sir Edward + Moseley." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, my dear doctor," rejoined the baronet; "I have not only come + myself, but have persuaded Mr. Benfield to make one of the party; there he + comes, leaning on Emily's arm, and finding fault with Mrs. Wilson's + new-fashioned barouche, which he says has given him cold." + </p> + <p> + The rector received the unexpected guest with the kindness of his nature, + and an inward smile at the incongruous assemblage he was likely to have + around him by the arrival of the Jarvis's, who, at that moment, drove to + his door. The introductions between the baronet and the new comers had + passed, and Miss Jarvis had made a prettily worded apology on behalf of + the colonel, who was not yet well enough to come out, but whose politeness + had insisted on their not remaining a home on his account, as Mr. + Benfield, having composedly put on his spectacles, walked deliberately up + to the place where the merchant had seated himself, and having examined + him through his glasses to his satisfaction, took them off, and carefully + wiping them, he began to talk to himself as he put them into his + pocket--"No, no; it's not Jack, the hackney coachman, nor my Lord + Gosford's gentleman, but"--cordially holding out both hands, "it's the man + who saved my twenty thousand pounds." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jarvis, whom shame and embarrassment had kept silent during this + examination, exchanged greetings sincerely with his old acquaintance, who + now took a seat in silence by his side; while his wife, whose face had + begun to kindle with indignation at the commencement of the old + gentleman's soliloquy, observing that somehow or other it had not only + terminated without degradation to her spouse, but with something like + credit, turned complacently to Mrs. Ives, with an apology for the absence + of her son. + </p> + <p> + "I cannot divine, ma'am, where he has got to; he is ever keeping us + waiting for him;" and, addressing Jane, "these military men become so + unsettled in their habits, that I often tell Harry he should never quit + the camp." + </p> + <p> + "In Hyde Park, you should add, my dear, for he has never been in any + other," bluntly observed her husband. + </p> + <p> + To this speech no reply was made, but it was evidently little relished by + the ladies of the family, who were a good deal jealous of the laurels of + the only hero their race had ever produced. The arrival and introduction + of the captain himself changed the discourse, which turned on the comforts + of their present residence. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, my lady," cried the captain, who had taken a chair familiarly by + the side of the baronet's wife, "why is the house called the deanery? I am + afraid I shall be taken for a son of the church, when I invite my friends + to visit my father at the deanery." + </p> + <p> + "But you may add, at the same time, sir, if you please," dryly remarked + Mr. Jarvis, "that it is occupied by an old man, who has been preaching and + lecturing all his life; and, like others of the trade, I believe, in + vain." + </p> + <p> + "You must except our good friend, the doctor here, at least, sir," said + Mrs. Wilson; who, observing that her sister shrank from a familiarity she + was unused to, took upon herself the office of replying to the captain's + question: "The father of the present Sir William Harris held that station + in the church, and although the house was his private property it took its + name from the circumstance, which has been continued ever since." + </p> + <p> + "Is it not a droll life Sir William leads," cried Miss Jarvis, looking at + John Moseley, "riding about all summer from one watering-place to another, + and letting his house year after year in the manner he does?" + </p> + <p> + "Sir William," said Dr. Ives, gravely, "is devoted to his daughter's + wishes; and since his accession to his title, has come into possession of + another residence in an adjoining county, which, I believe, he retains in + his own hands." + </p> + <p> + "Are you acquainted with Miss Harris?" continued the lady, addressing + herself to Clara; though, without waiting for an answer, she added, "She + is a great belle--all the gentlemen are dying for her." + </p> + <p> + "Or her fortune," said her sister, with a pretty toss of the head; "for my + part, I never could see anything so captivating in her, although so much + is said about her at Bath and Brighton." + </p> + <p> + "You know her then," mildly observed Clara. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I cannot say--we are exactly acquainted," the young lady + hesitatingly answered, coloring violently. + </p> + <p> + "What do you mean by exactly acquainted, Sally?" put in the father with a + laugh; "did you ever speak to or were you ever in a room with her, in your + life, unless it might be at a concert or a ball?" + </p> + <p> + The mortification of Miss Sarah was too evident for concealment, and it + happily was relieved by a summons to dinner. + </p> + <p> + "Never, my dear child," said Mrs. Wilson to Emily, the aunt being fond of + introducing a moral from the occasional incidents of every-day life, + "never subject yourself to a similar mortification, by commenting on the + characters of those you don't know: ignorance makes you liable to great + errors; and if they should happen to be above you in life, it will only + excite their contempt, should it reach their ears, while those to whom + your remarks are made will think it envy." + </p> + <p> + "Truth is sometimes blundered on," whispered John, who held his sister's + arm, waiting for his aunt to precede them to the dining-room. + </p> + <p> + The merchant paid too great a compliment to the rector's dinner to think + of renewing the disagreeable conversation, and as John Moseley and the + young clergyman were seated next the two ladies, they soon forgot what, + among themselves, they would call their father's rudeness, in receiving + the attentions of a couple of remarkably agreeable young men. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, Mr. Francis, when do you preach for us?" asked Mr. Haughton; "I'm + very anxious to hear you hold forth from the pulpit, where I have so often + heard your father with pleasure: I doubt not you will prove orthodox, or + you will be the only man, I believe, in the congregation, the rector has + left in ignorance of the theory of our religion, at least." + </p> + <p> + The doctor bowed to the compliment, as he replied to the question for his + son, that on the next Sunday they were to have the pleasure of hearing + Frank, who had promised to assist him on that day. + </p> + <p> + "Any prospects of a living soon?" continued Mr. Haughton, helping himself + bountifully to a piece of plum pudding as he spoke. John Moseley laughed + aloud, and Clara blushed to the eyes, while the doctor, turning to Sir + Edward, observed with an air of interest, "Sir Edward, the living of + Bolton is vacant, and I should like exceedingly to obtain it for my son. + The advowson belongs to the Earl, who will dispose of it only to great + interest, I am afraid." + </p> + <p> + Clara was certainly, too busily occupied in picking raisins from her + pudding to hear this remark, but accidentally stole, from under her long + eyelashes, a timid glance at her father as he replied: + </p> + <p> + "I am sorry, my friend, I have not sufficient interest with his lordship + to apply on my own account; but he is so seldom here, we are barely + acquainted;" and the good baronet looked really concerned. + </p> + <p> + "Clara," said Francis Ives in a low and affectionate tone, "have you read + the books I sent you?" + </p> + <p> + Clara answered him with a smile in the negative, but promised amendment as + soon as she had leisure. + </p> + <p> + "Do you ride much, on horseback, Mr. Moseley?" abruptly asked Miss Sarah, + turning her back on the young divine, and facing the gentleman she + addressed. John, who was now hemmed in between the sisters, replied with a + rueful expression that brought a smile into the face of Emily, who was + placed opposite to him-- + </p> + <p> + "Yes, ma'am, and sometimes I am ridden." + </p> + <p> + "Ridden, sir, what do you mean by that?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! only my aunt there occasionally gives me a lecture." + </p> + <p> + "I understand," said the lady, pointing slily with her finger at her own + father. + </p> + <p> + "Does it feel good?" John inquired, with a look of, great sympathy. But + the lady, who now felt awkwardly, without knowing exactly why, shook her + head in silence, and forced a faint laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Whom have we here?" cried Captain Jarvis, who was looking out at a window + which commanded a view of the approach to the house--"the apothecary and + his attendant judging from the equipage." + </p> + <p> + The rector threw an inquiring look on a servant, who told his master they + were strangers to him. + </p> + <p> + "Have them shown up, doctor," cried the benevolent baronet, who loved to + see every one as happy as himself, "and give them some of your excellent + pasty, for the sake of hospitality and the credit of your cook, I beg of + you." + </p> + <p> + As this request was politely seconded by others of the party, the rector + ordered his servants to show in the strangers. + </p> + <p> + On opening the parlor door, a gentleman, apparently sixty years of age, + appeared, leaning on the arm of a youth of five-and-twenty. There was + sufficient resemblance between the two for the most indifferent observer + to pronounce them father and son; but the helpless debility and emaciated + figure of the former, were finely contrasted by the vigorous health and + manly beauty of the latter, who supported his venerable parent into the + room with a grace and tenderness that struck most of the beholders with a + sensation of pleasure. The doctor and Mrs. Ives rose from their seats + involuntarily, and each stood for a moment, lost in an astonishment that + was mingled with grief. Recollecting himself, the rector grasped the + extended hand of the senior in both his own, and endeavored to utter + something, but in vain. The tears followed each other down his cheeks, as + he looked on the faded and careworn figure which stood before him; while + his wife, unable to control her feelings, sank back into a chair and wept + aloud. + </p> + <p> + Throwing open the door of an adjoining room, and retaining the hand of the + invalid, the doctor gently led the way, followed by his wife and son. The + former, having recovered from the first burst of her sorrow, and + regardless of everything else, now anxiously watched the enfeebled step of + the stranger. On reaching the door, they both turned and bowed to the + company in a manner of so much dignity, mingled with sweetness, that all, + not excepting Mr. Benfield, rose from their seats to return the + salutation. On passing from the dining parlor, the door was closed, + leaving the company standing round the table in mute astonishment and + commiseration. Not a word had been spoken, and the rector's family had + left them without apology or explanation. Francis, however soon returned, + and was followed in a few minutes by his mother, who, slightly apologizing + for her absence, turned the discourse on the approaching Sunday, and the + intention of Francis to preach on that day. The Moseleys were too well + bred to make any inquiries, and the deanery family was afraid. Sir Edward + retired at a very early hour, and was followed by the remainder of the + party. + </p> + <p> + "Well," cried Mrs. Jarvis, as they drove from the door, "this may be good + breeding, but, for my part, I think both the doctor and Mrs. Ives behaved + very rudely, with the crying and sobbing." + </p> + <p> + "They are nobody of much consequence," cried her eldest daughter, casting + a contemptuous glance on a plain travelling chaise which stood before the + rector's stables. + </p> + <p> + "'Twas sickening," said Miss Sarah, with a shrug; while her father, + turning his eyes on each speaker in succession, very deliberately helped + himself to a pinch of snuff, his ordinary recourse against a family + quarrel. The curiosity of the ladies was, however, more lively than they + chose to avow and Mrs. Jarvis bade her maid go over to the rectory that + evening, with her compliments to Mrs. Ives; she had lost a lace veil, + which her maid knew, and she thought it might have been left at the + rectory. + </p> + <p> + "And, Jones, when you are there, you can inquire of the servants; mind, of + the servants--I would not distress Mrs. Ives for the world; how + Mr.--Mr.--what's his name--Oh!--I have forgotten his name; just bring me + his name too, Jones; and, as it may make some difference in our party, + just find out how long they stay; and--and--- any other little thing, + Jones, which can be of use, you know." + </p> + <p> + Off went Jones, and within an hour she had returned. With an important + look, she commenced her narrative, the daughters being accidentally + present, and it might be on purpose. + </p> + <p> + "Why, ma'am, I went across the fields, and William was good enough to go + with me; so when we got there, I rang, and they showed us into the + servants' room, and I gave my message, and the veil was not there. Why, + ma'am, there's the veil now, on the back o' that chair." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, very well, Jones, never mind the veil," cried the impatient + mistress. + </p> + <p> + "So, ma'am, while they were looking for the veil, I just asked one of the + maids, what company had arrived, but"--(here Jones looked very suspicious, + and shook her head ominously:) "would you think it, ma'am, not a soul of + them knew! But, ma'am, there was the doctor and his son, praying and + reading with the old gentleman the whole time--and"-- + </p> + <p> + "And what, Jones?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, ma'am, I expect he has been a great sinner, or he wouldn't want so + much praying just as he is about to die." + </p> + <p> + "Die!" cried all three at once: "will he die?" + </p> + <p> + "O yes," continued Jones, "they all agree he must die; but this praying so + much, is just like the criminals. I'm sure no honest person needs so much + praying, ma'am." + </p> + <p> + "No, indeed," said the mother. "No, indeed," responded the daughters, as + they retired to their several rooms for the night. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter V. + </h2> + <p> + There is something in the season of Spring which peculiarly excites the + feelings of devotion. The dreariness of winter has passed, and with it, + the deadened affections of our nature. New life, new vigor, arises within + us, as we walk abroad and feel the genial gales of April breathe upon us; + and our hopes, our wishes, awaken with the revival of the vegetable world. + It is then that the heart, which has been impressed with the goodness of + the Creator, feels that goodness brought, as it were, into very contact + with the senses. The eye loves to wander over the bountiful provisions + nature is throwing forth in every direction for our comfort, and fixes its + gaze on the clouds, which, having lost the chilling thinness of winter, + roll in rich volumes, amidst the clear and softened fields of azure so + peculiar to the season, leading the mind insensibly, to dwell on the + things of another and a better world. It was on such a day, that the + inhabitants of B---- thronged toward the village church, for the double + purpose of pouring out their thanksgivings, and of hearing the first + efforts of their rector's son in the duties of his sacred calling. + </p> + <p> + Amongst the crowd whom curiosity or a better feeling had drawn forth, were + to be seen the flaring equipage of the Jarvises, and the handsome + carriages of Sir Edward Moseley and his sister. All the members of the + latter family felt a lively anxiety for the success of the young divine. + But knowing, as they well did, the strength of his native talents, the + excellence of his education, and the fervor of his piety, it was an + anxiety that partook more of hope than of fear. There was one heart, + however, amongst them, that palpitated with an emotion that hardly + admitted of control, as they approached the sacred edifice, for it had + identified itself completely with the welfare of the rector's son. There + never was a softer, truer heart, than that which now almost audibly beat + within the bosom of Clara Moseley; and she had given it to the young + divine with all its purity and truth. + </p> + <p> + The entrance of a congregation into the sanctuary will at all times + furnish, to an attentive observer, food for much useful speculation, if it + be chastened with a proper charity for the weaknesses of others; and most + people are ignorant of the insight they are giving into their characters + and dispositions, by such an apparently trivial circumstance as their + weekly approach to the tabernacles of the Lord. Christianity, while it + chastens and amends the heart, leaves the natural powers unaltered; and it + cannot be doubted that its operation is, or ought to be, proportionate to + the abilities and opportunities of the subject of its holy + impression--"Unto whomsoever much is given, much will be required." While + we acknowledge, that the thoughts might be better employed in preparing + for those humiliations of the spirit and thanksgiving of the heart which + are required of all, and are so necessary to all, we must be indulged in a + hasty view of some of the personages of our history, as they entered the + church of B----. + </p> + <p> + On the countenance of the baronet, was the dignity and composure of a mind + at peace with itself and mankind. His step was rather more deliberate than + common; his eye rested on the pavement, and on turning into his pew, as he + prepared to kneel, in the first humble petition of our beautiful service, + he raised it towards the altar with an expression of benevolence and + reverence, that spoke contentment, not unmixed with faith. + </p> + <p> + In the demeanor of Lady Moseley, all was graceful and decent, while + nothing could be properly said to be studied. She followed her husband + with a step of equal deliberation, though it was slightly varied by a + manner which, while it appeared natural to herself, might have been + artificial in another: a cambric handkerchief concealed her face as she + sank composedly by the side of Sir Edward, in a style which showed, that + while she remembered her Maker, she had not entirely forgotten herself. + </p> + <p> + The walk of Mrs. Wilson was quicker than that of her sister. Her eye, + directed before her, was fixed, as if in settled gaze, on that eternity + which she was approaching. The lines of her contemplative face were + unaltered, unless there might be traced a deeper shade of humility than + was ordinarily seen on her pale, but expressive countenance: her petition + was long; and on rising from her humble posture, the person was indeed to + be seen, but the soul appeared absorbed in contemplations beyond the + limits of this sphere. + </p> + <p> + There was a restlessness and varying of color, in the ordinarily placid + Clara, which prevented a display of her usual manner; while Jane walked + gracefully, and with a tincture of her mother's manner, by her side. She + stole one hastily withdrawn glance to the deanery pew ere she kneeled, and + then, on rising, handed her smelling-bottle affectionately to her elder + sister. + </p> + <p> + Emily glided behind her companions with a face beaming with a look of + innocence and love. As she sank in the act of supplication, the rich glow + of her healthful cheek lost some of its brilliancy; but, on rising, it + beamed with a renewed lustre, that plainly indicated a heart touched with + the sanctity of its situation. + </p> + <p> + In the composed and sedate manner of Mr. Jarvis, as he steadily pursued + his way to the pew of Sir William Harris, you might have been justified in + expecting the entrance of another Sir Edward Moseley in substance, if not + in externals. But the deliberate separation of the flaps of his coat, as + he comfortably seated himself, when you thought him about to kneel, + followed by a pinch of snuff as he threw his eye around the building, led + you at once to conjecture, that what at first had been mistaken for + reverence, was the abstraction of some earthly calculation; and that his + attendance was in compliance with custom, and not a little depended upon + the thickness of his cushions, and the room he found for the disposition + of two rather unwieldy legs. + </p> + <p> + The ladies of the family followed, in garments carefully selected for the + advantageous display of their persons. As they sailed into their seats, + where it would seem the improvidence of Sir William's steward had + neglected some important accommodation (some time being spent in + preparation to be seated), the old lady, whose size and flesh really put + kneeling out of the question, bent forward for a moment at an angle of + eighty with the horizon, while her daughters prettily bowed their heads, + with all proper precaution for the safety of their superb millinery. + </p> + <p> + At length the rector, accompanied by his son, appeared from the vestry. + There was a dignity and solemnity in the manner in which this pious divine + entered on the duties of his profession, which disposed the heart to + listen with reverence and humility to precepts that were accompanied with + so impressive an exterior. The stillness of expectation pervaded the + church, when the pew opener led the way to the same interesting father and + son whose entrance had interrupted the guests the preceding day, at the + rectory. Every eye was turned on the emaciated parent, bending into the + grave, and, as it were, kept from it by the supporting tenderness of his + child. Hastily throwing open the door of her own pew, Mrs. Ives buried her + face in her handkerchief; and her husband had proceeded far in the morning + service before she raised it again to the view of the congregation. In the + voice of the rector, there was an unusual softness and tremor that his + people attributed to the feelings of a father about to witness the first + efforts of an only child, but which in reality were owing to another and a + deeper cause. + </p> + <p> + Prayers were ended, and the younger Ives ascended the pulpit. For a moment + he paused; when, casting an anxious glance to the pew of the baronet, he + commenced his sermon. He had chosen for his discourse the necessity of + placing our dependence on divine grace. After having learnedly, but in the + most unaffected manner, displayed the necessity of this dependence, as + derived from revelation, he proceeded to paint the hope, the resignation, + the felicity of a Christian's death-bed. Warmed by the subject, his + animation soon lent a heightened interest to his language; and at a moment + when all around him were entranced by the eloquence of the youthful + divine, a sudden and deep-drawn sigh drew every eye to the rector's pew. + The younger stranger sat motionless as a statue, holding in his arms the + lifeless body of his parent, who had fallen that moment a corpse by his + side. All was now confusion: the almost insensible young man was relieved + from his burden; and, led by the rector, they left the church. The + congregation dispersed in silence, or assembled in little groups, to + converse on the awful event they had witnessed. None knew the deceased; he + was the rector's friend, and to his residence the body was removed. The + young man was evidently his child; but here all information ended. They + had arrived in a private chaise, but with post horses, and without + attendants. Their arrival at the parsonage was detailed by the Jarvis + ladies with a few exaggerations that gave additional interest to the whole + event, and which, by creating an impression with some whom gentler + feelings would not have restrained, that there was something of mystery + about them, prevented many distressing questions to the Ives's, that the + baronet's family forbore putting, on the score of delicacy. The body left + B---- at the close of the week, accompanied by Francis Ives and the + unweariedly attentive and interesting son. The doctor and his wife went + into deep mourning, and Clara received a short note from her lover, on the + morning of their departure, acquainting her with his intended absence for + a month, but throwing no light upon the affair. The London papers, + however, contained the following obituary notice, and which, as it could + refer to no other person, as a matter of course, was supposed to allude to + the rector's friend. + </p> + <p> + "Died, suddenly, at B----, on the 20th instant, George Denbigh, Esq., aged + 63." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter VI. + </h2> + <p> + During the week of mourning, the intercourse between Moseley Hall and the + rectory was confined to messages and notes of inquiry after each other's + welfare: but the visit of the Moseleys to the deanery had been returned; + and the day after the appearance of the obituary paragraph, the family of + the latter dined by invitation at the Hall. Colonel Egerton had recovered + the use of his leg, and was included in the party. Between this gentleman + and Mr. Benfield there appeared, from the first moment of their + introduction, a repugnance which was rather increased by time, and which + the old gentleman manifested by a demeanor loaded with the overstrained + ceremony of the day, and which, in the colonel, only showed itself by + avoiding, when possible, all intercourse with the object of his aversion. + Both Sir Edward and Lady Moseley, on the contrary, were not slow in + manifesting their favorable impressions in behalf of the gentleman. The + latter, in particular, having ascertained to her satisfaction that he was + the undoubted heir to the title, and most probably to the estates of his + uncle, Sir Edgar Egerton, felt herself strongly disposed to encourage an + acquaintance she found so agreeable, and to which she could see no + reasonable objection. Captain Jarvis, who was extremely offensive to her, + from his vulgar familiarity, she barely tolerated, from the necessity of + being civil, and keeping up sociability in the neighborhood. It is true, + she could not help being surprised that a gentleman, as polished as the + colonel, could find any pleasure in an associate like his friend, or even + in the hardly more softened females of his family; then again, the + flattering suggestion would present itself, that possibly he might have + seen Emily at Bath, or Jane elsewhere, and availed himself of the + acquaintance of young Jarvis to get into their neighborhood. Lady Moseley + had never been vain, or much interested about the disposal of her own + person, previously to her attachment to her husband: but her daughters + called forth not a little of her natural pride--we had almost said of her + selfishness. + </p> + <p> + The attentions of the colonel were of the most delicate and insinuating + kind; and Mrs. Wilson several times turned away in displeasure at herself, + for listening with too much satisfaction to nothings, uttered in an + agreeable manner, or, what was worse, false sentiments supported with the + gloss of language and a fascinating deportment. The anxiety of this lady + on behalf of Emily kept her ever on the alert, when chance, or any chain + of circumstances, threw her in the way of forming new connexions of any + kind; and of late, as her charge approached the period of life her sex + were apt to make that choice from which there is no retreat, her + solicitude to examine the characters of the men who approached her was + really painful. As to Lady Moseley, her wishes disposed her to be easily + satisfied, and her mind naturally shrank from an investigation to which + she felt herself unequal; while Mrs. Wilson was governed by the + convictions of a sound discretion, matured by long and deep reasoning, all + acting on a temper at all times ardent, and a watchfulness calculated to + endure to the end. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, my lady," said Mrs. Jarvis, with a look of something like + importance, "have you made any discovery about this Mr. Denbigh, who died + in the church lately?" + </p> + <p> + "I did not know, ma'am," replied Lady Moseley, "there was any discovery to + be made." + </p> + <p> + "You know, Lady Moseley," said Colonel Egerton, "that in town, all the + little accompaniments of such a melancholy death would have found their + way into the prints; and I suppose this is what Mrs. Jarvis alludes to." + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," cried Mrs. Jarvis, "the colonel is right." But the colonel was + always right with that lady. + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley bowed her head with dignity, and the colonel had too much + tact to pursue the conversation; but the captain, whom nothing had ever + yet abashed, exclaimed, + </p> + <p> + "These Denbighs could not be people of much importance--I have never heard + the name before." + </p> + <p> + "It is the family name of the Duke of Derwent, I believe," dryly remarked + Sir Edward. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I am sure neither the old man nor his son looked much like a duke, or + so much as an officer either," exclaimed Mrs. Jarvis, who thought the + latter rank the dignity in degree next below nobility. + </p> + <p> + "There sat, in the parliament of this realm, when I was a member, a + General Denbigh," said Mr. Benfield, with his usual deliberation; "he was + always on the same side with Lord Gosford and myself. He and his friend, + Sir Peter Howell, who was the admiral that took the French squadron, in + the glorious administration of Billy Pitt, and afterwards took an island + with this same General Denbigh: aye, the old admiral was a hearty blade; a + good deal such a looking man as my Hector would make." + </p> + <p> + Hector was Mr. Benfield's bull dog. + </p> + <p> + "Mercy," whispered John to Clara, "that's your grandfather that is to be + uncle Benfield is speaking of." + </p> + <p> + Clara smiled, as she ventured to say, "Sir Peter was Mrs. Ives's father, + sir." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" said the old gentleman, with a look of surprise, "I never knew + that before; I cannot say they resemble each other much." + </p> + <p> + "Pray, uncle, does Frank look much like the family?" asked John, with an + air of unconquerable gravity. + </p> + <p> + "But, sir," interrupted Emily, "were General Denbigh and Admiral Howell + related?" + </p> + <p> + "Not that I ever knew, Emmy dear. Sir Frederick Denbigh did not look much + like the admiral; he rather resembled (gathering himself up into an air of + formality, and bowing stiffly to Colonel Egerton) this gentleman, here." + </p> + <p> + "I have not the honor of the connexion," observed the colonel, withdrawing + behind the chair of Jane. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson changed the conversation to one more general; but the little + that had fallen from Mr. Benfield gave reason for believing a connexion, + in some way of which they were ignorant, existed between the descendants + of the two veterans, and which explained the interest they felt in each + other. + </p> + <p> + During dinner, Colonel Egerton placed himself next to Emily, and Miss + Jarvis took the chair on the other side. He spoke of the gay world, of + watering-places, novels, plays, and still finding his companion reserved, + and either unwilling or unable to talk freely, he tried his favorite + sentiment. He had read poetry, and a remark of his lighted up a spark of + intelligence in the beautiful face of his companion that for a moment + deceived him; but as he went on to point out his favorite beauties, it + gave place to a settled composure, which at last led him to imagine the + casket contained no gem equal to the promise of its brilliant exterior. + After resting from one of his most labored displays of feeling and + imagery, he accidentally caught the eyes of Jane fastened on him with an + expression of no dubious import, and the soldier changed his battery. In + Jane he found a more willing auditor; poetry was the food she lived on, + and in works of the imagination she found her greatest delight. An + animated discussion of the merits of their favorite authors now took + place; to renew which, the colonel early left the dining-room for the + society of the ladies; John, who disliked drinking excessively, being + happy of an excuse to attend him. + </p> + <p> + The younger ladies had clustered together round a window and even Emily in + her heart rejoiced that the gentlemen had come to relieve herself and + sisters from the arduous task of entertaining women who appeared not to + possess a single taste or opinion in common with themselves. + </p> + <p> + "You were saying, Miss Moseley," observed the colonel in his most + agreeable manner, as he approached them, "you thought Campbell the most + musical poet we have; I hope you will unite with me in excepting Moore." + </p> + <p> + Jane colored, as with some awkwardness she replied, "Moore was certainly + very poetical." + </p> + <p> + "Has Moore written much?" innocently asked Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Not half as much as he ought," cried Miss Jarvis. "Oh! I could live on + his beautiful lines." + </p> + <p> + Jane turned away in disgust; and that evening, while alone with Clara, she + took a volume of Moore's songs, and very coolly consigned them to the + flames. Her sister naturally asked an explanation of so extraordinary a + procedure. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried Jane, "I can't abide the book, since that vulgar Miss Jarvis + speaks of it with so much interest. I really believe aunt Wilson is right + in not suffering Emily to read such things." And Jane, who had often + devoured the treacherous lines with ardor, shrank with fastidious delicacy + from the indulgence of a perverted taste, when it became exposed, coupled + with the vulgarity of unblushing audacity. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton immediately changed the subject to one less objectionable, + and spoke of a campaign he had made in Spain. He possessed the happy + faculty of giving an interest to all he advanced, whether true or not; and + as he never contradicted, or even opposed unless to yield gracefully, when + a lady was his opponent, his conversation insensibly attracted, by putting + the sex in good humor with themselves. Such a man, aided by the powerful + assistants of person and manners, and no inconsiderable colloquial + talents, Mrs. Wilson knew to be extremely dangerous as a companion to a + youthful female heart; and as his visit was to extend to a couple of + months, she resolved to reconnoitre the state of her pupil's opinion + forthwith in reference to his merits. She had taken too much pains in + forming the mind of Emily to apprehend she would fall a victim to the eye; + but she also knew that personal grace sweetened a benevolent expression, + and added force even to the oracles of wisdom. She labored a little + herself under the disadvantage of what John called a didactic manner, and + which, although she had not the ability, or rather taste, to amend, she + had yet the sense to discern. It was the great error of Mrs. Wilson to + attempt to convince, where she might have influenced; but her ardor of + temperament, and great love of truth, kept her, as it were, tilting with + the vices of mankind, and consequently sometimes in unprofitable combat. + With her charge, however, this could never be said to be the case, Emily + knew her heart, felt her love, and revered her principles too deeply, to + throw away an admonition, or disregard a precept, that fell from lips she + knew never spoke idly or without consideration. + </p> + <p> + John had felt tempted to push the conversation with Miss Jarvis, and he + was about to utter something rapturous respecting the melodious poison of + Little's poems, as the blue eye of Emily rested on him in the fulness of + sisterly affection and checking his love of the ridiculous, he quietly + yielded to his respect for the innocence of his sisters; and, as if eager + to draw the attention of all from the hateful subject, he put question + after question to Egerton concerning the Spaniards and their customs. + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever meet Lord Pendennyss in Spain, Colonel Egerton?" inquired + Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + </p> + <p> + "Never, madam," he replied. "I have much reason to regret that our service + lay in different parts of the country: his lordship was much with the + duke, and I made the campaign under Marshal Beresford." + </p> + <p> + Emily left the group at the window, and taking a seat on the sofa by the + side of her aunt, insensibly led her to forget the gloomy thoughts which + had begun to steal over her; which the colonel, approaching where they + sat, continued, by asking-- + </p> + <p> + "Are you acquainted with the earl, madam?" + </p> + <p> + "Not in person, but by character," said Mrs. Wilson, in a melancholy + manner. + </p> + <p> + "His character as a soldier was very high. He had no superior of his years + in Spain, I am told." + </p> + <p> + No reply was made to this remark, and Emily endeavored anxiously to draw + the mind of her aunt to reflections of a more agreeable nature. The + colonel, whose vigilance to please was ever on the alert, kindly aided + her, and they soon succeeded. + </p> + <p> + The merchant withdrew, with his family and guest, in proper season: and + Mrs. Wilson, heedful of her duty, took the opportunity of a quarter of an + hour's privacy in her own dressing-room in the evening, to touch gently on + the subject of the gentlemen they had seen that day. + </p> + <p> + "How are you pleased, Emily, with your new acquaintances?" familiarly + commenced Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! aunt, don't ask me; as John says, they are <i>net</i> indeed." + </p> + <p> + "I am not sorry," continued the aunt, "to have you observe more closely + than you have been used to the manners of such women as the Jarvises; they + are too abrupt and unpleasant to create a dread of any imitation; but the + gentlemen are heroes in very different styles." + </p> + <p> + "Different from each other, indeed." + </p> + <p> + "To which do you give the preference, my dear?" + </p> + <p> + "Preference, aunt!" said her niece, with a look of astonishment; + "preference is a strong word for either; but I rather think the captain + the most eligible companion of the two. I do believe you see the worst of + him; and although I acknowledge it to be bad enough, he might amend; but + the colonel"-- + </p> + <p> + "Go on," said Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Why, everything about the colonel seems so seated, so ingrafted in his + nature, so--so very self-satisfied, that I am afraid it would be a + difficult task to take the first step in amendment--to convince him of its + necessity? + </p> + <p> + "And is it then so necessary?" + </p> + <p> + Emily looked up from arranging some laces, with an expression of surprise, + as he replied: + </p> + <p> + "Did you not hear him talk of those poems, and attempt to point out the + beauties of several works? I thought everything he uttered was referred to + taste, and that not a very natural one; at least," she added with a laugh, + "it differed greatly from mine. He seemed to forget altogether there was + such a thing as principle: and then he spoke of some woman to Jane, who + had left her father for her lover, with so much admiration of her + feelings, to take up with poverty and love, as he called it, in place of + condemning her want of filial piety--I am sure, aunt, if you had heard + that, you would not admire him so much." + </p> + <p> + "I do not admire him at all, child; I only want to know your sentiments, + and I am happy to find them so correct. It is as you think; Colonel + Egerton appears to refer nothing to principle: even the more generous + feelings I am afraid are corrupted in him, from too low intercourse with + the surface of society. There is by far too much pliability about him for + principle of any kind, unless indeed it be a principle to please, no + matter how. No one, who has deeply seated opinions of right and wrong, + will ever abandon them, even in the courtesies of polite intercourse: they + may be silent but never acquiescent: in short, my dear, the dread of + offending our Maker ought to be so superior to that of offending our + fellow creatures, that we should endeavor, I believe, to be even more + unbending to the follies of the world than we are." + </p> + <p> + "And yet the colonel is what they call a good companion--I mean a pleasant + one." + </p> + <p> + "In the ordinary meaning of the words, he is certainly, my dear; yet you + soon tire of sentiments which will not stand the test of examination, and + of a manner you cannot but see is artificial. He may do very well for a + companion, but very ill for a friend; in short, Colonel Egerton has + neither been satisfied to yield to his natural impressions, nor to obtain + new ones from a proper source; he has copied from bad models, and his work + must necessarily be imperfect." + </p> + <p> + Kissing her niece, Mrs. Wilson then retired into her own room, with the + happy assurance that she had not labored in vain; but that, with divine + aid, she had implanted a guide in the bosom of her charge that could not + fail, with ordinary care, to lead her straight through the devious path of + female duties. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter VII. + </h2> + <p> + A month now passed in the ordinary occupations and amusements of a country + life, during which both Lady Moseley and Jane manifested a desire to keep + up the deanery acquaintance, that surprised Emily a little, who had ever + seen her mother shrink from communications with those whose breeding + subjected her own delicacy, to the little shocks she could but ill + conceal. In Jane this desire was still more inexplicable; for Jane had, in + a decided way very common to her, avowed her disgust of the manners of + their new associates at the commencement of the acquaintance; and yet Jane + would now even quit her own society for that of Miss Jarvis, especially if + Colonel Egerton happened to be of the party. The innocence of Emily + prevented her scanning the motives for the conduct of her sister; and she + set seriously about an examination into her own deportment to find the + latent cause, in order, wherever an opportunity should offer, to evince + her regret, had it been her misfortune, to have erred by the tenderness of + her own manner. + </p> + <p> + For a short time the colonel seemed at a loss where to make his choice; + but a few days determined him, and Jane was evidently the favorite. It is + true, that in the presence of the Jarvis ladies he was more guarded and + general in his attentions; but as John, from a motive of charity, had + taken the direction of the captain's sports into his own hands; and as + they were in the frequent habit of meeting at the Hall preparatory to + their morning excursion, the colonel suddenly became a sportsman. The + ladies would often accompany them in their morning excursions; and as John + would certainly be a baronet, and the colonel might not if his uncle + married, he had the comfort of being sometimes ridden, as well as of + riding. + </p> + <p> + One morning, having all prepared for an excursion on horseback, as they + stood at the door ready to mount, Francis Ives drove up in his father's + gig, and for a moment arrested the party. Francis was a favorite with the + whole Moseley family, and their greetings were warm and sincere. He found + they meant to take the rectory in their ride, and insisted that they + should proceed. "Clara would take a seat with him." As he spoke, the cast + of his countenance brought the color into the cheeks of his intended; she + suffered herself, however, to be handed into the vacant seat in the gig, + and they moved on. John, who was at the bottom good-natured, and loved + both Francis and Clara very sincerely, soon set Captain Jarvis and his + sister what he called "scrub racing," and necessity, in some measure, + compelled the rest of the equestrians to hard riding, in order to keep up + with the sports. + </p> + <p> + "That will do, that will do," cried John, casting his eye back, and + perceiving they had lost sight of the gig, and nearly so of Colonel + Egerton and Jane, "why you carry it off like a jockey, captain; better + than any amateur I have ever seen, unless indeed it be your sister." + </p> + <p> + The lady encouraged by his commendations, whipped on, followed by her + brother and sister at half speed. + </p> + <p> + "There, Emily," said John, quietly dropping by her side "I see no reason + you and I should break our necks, to show the blood of our horses. Now do + you know I think we are going to have a wedding in the family soon?" + </p> + <p> + Emily looked at him in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Frank has got a living; I saw it the moment he drove up. He came in like + somebody. Yes, I dare say he has calculated the tithes already a dozen + times." + </p> + <p> + John was right. The Earl of Bolton had, unsolicited, given him the desired + living of his own parish; and Francis was at the moment pressing the + blushing Clara to fix the day that was to put a period to his long + probation. Clara, who had not a particle of coquetry about her, promised + to be his as soon as he was inducted, an event that was to take place the + following week; and then followed those delightful little arrangements and + plans with which youthful hope is so fond of filling up the void of life. + </p> + <p> + "Doctor," said John, as he came out of the rectory to assist Clara from + the gig, "the parson here is a careful driver; see, he has not turned a + hair." + </p> + <p> + He kissed the burning cheek of his sister as she touched the ground, and + whispered significantly. + </p> + <p> + "You need tell me nothing, my dear--I know all--I consent." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ives folded her future daughter to her bosom; and the benevolent + smile of the good rector, together with the kind and affectionate manner + of her sisters, assured Clara the approaching nuptials were anticipated, + as a matter of course. Colonel Egerton offered his compliments to Francis + on his preferment to the living, with the polish of high breeding, and not + without an appearance of interest; and Emily thought him for the first + time as handsome as he was generally reputed to be. The ladies undertook + to say something civil in their turn, and John put the captain, by a hint, + on the same track. + </p> + <p> + "You are quite lucky, sir," said the captain, "in getting so good a living + with so little trouble; I wish you joy of it with all my heart: Mr. + Moseley tells me it is a capital thing now for a gentleman of your + profession. For my part. I prefer a scarlet coat to a black one, but there + must be parsons you know, or how should we get married or say grace?" + </p> + <p> + Francis thanked him for his good wishes, and Egerton paid a handsome + compliment to the liberality of the earl; "he doubted not he found that + gratification which always attends a disinterested act;" and Jane + applauded the sentiment with a smile. + </p> + <p> + The baronet, when he was made acquainted with the situation of affairs, + promised Francis that no unnecessary delay should intervene, and the + marriage was happily arranged for the following week. Lady Moseley, when + she retired to the drawing-room after dinner, commenced a recital of the + ceremony and company to be invited on the occasion. Etiquette and the + decencies of life were not only the forte, but the fault of this lady; and + she had gone on to the enumeration of about the fortieth personage in the + ceremonials, before Clara found courage to say, that "Mr. Ives and myself + both wish to be married at the altar, and to proceed to Bolton Rectory + immediately after the ceremony." To this her mother warmly objected; and + argument and respectful remonstrance had followed each other for some + time, before Clara submitted in silence, with difficulty restraining her + tears. This appeal to the better feelings of the mother triumphed; and the + love of parade yielded to love of her offspring. Clara, with a lightened + heart, kissed and thanked her, and accompanied by Emily left the room; + Jane had risen to follow them, but catching a glimpse of the tilbury of + Colonel Egerton she reseated herself. + </p> + <p> + He had merely driven over at the earnest entreaties of the ladies to beg + Miss Jane would accept a seat back with him; "they had some little project + on foot, and could not proceed without her assistance." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson looked gravely at her sister, as she smiled acquiescence to + his wishes; and the daughter, who but the minute before had forgotten + there was any other person in the world but Clara, flew for her hat and + shawl, in order, as he said to herself, that the politeness of Colonel + Egerton might not keep him waiting. Lady Moseley resumed her seat by the + side of her sister with an air of great complacency, as she returned from + the window, after having seen her daughter off. For some time each was + occupied quietly with her needle, when Mrs. Wilson suddenly broke the + silence by saying: + </p> + <p> + "Who is Colonel Egerton?" + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley looked up for a moment in amazement, but recollecting + herself, answered, + </p> + <p> + "The nephew and heir of Sir Edgar Egerton, sister." + </p> + <p> + This was spoken in a rather positive way, as if it were unanswerable; yet + as there was nothing harsh in the reply, Mrs. Wilson continued, + </p> + <p> + "Do you not think him attentive to Jane?" + </p> + <p> + Pleasure sparkled in the still brilliant eyes of Lady Moseley, as she + exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "Do you think so?" + </p> + <p> + "I do; and you will pardon me if I say improperly so. I think you were + wrong in suffering Jane to go with him this afternoon." + </p> + <p> + "Why improperly, Charlotte? If Colonel Egerton is polite enough to show + Jane such attentions, should I not be wrong in rudely rejecting them?" + </p> + <p> + "The rudeness of refusing a request that is improper to grant is a very + venial offence. I confess I think it improper to allow any attentions to + be forced on us that may subject us to disagreeable consequences; but the + attentions of Colonel Egerton are becoming marked, Anne." + </p> + <p> + "Do you for a moment doubt their being honorable, or that he dares to + trifle with a daughter of Sir Edward Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "I should hope not, certainly, although it may be well to guard even + against such a misfortune. But I am of opinion it is quite as important to + know whether he is <i>worthy</i> to be her husband as it is to know that + he is in a situation to become so." + </p> + <p> + "On what points, Charlotte, would you wish to be more assured? You know + his birth and probable fortune--you see his manners and disposition; but + these latter are things for Jane to decide on; <i>she</i> is to live with + him, and it is proper she should be suited in these respects." + </p> + <p> + "I do not deny his fortune or his disposition, but I complain that we give + him credit for the last, and for still more important requisites, without + evidence of his possessing any of them. His principles, his habits, his + very character, what do we know of them? I say we, for you know, Anne, + your children are as dear to me as my own would have been." + </p> + <p> + "I believe you sincerely, but the things you mention are points for Jane + to decide on. If she be pleased, I have no right to complain. I am + determined never to control the affections of my children." + </p> + <p> + "Had you said, never <i>to force</i> the affections of your children, you + would have said enough, Anne; but to control, or rather to guide the + affections of a child, especially a daughter, is, in some cases, a duty as + imperative as it would be to avert any other impending calamity. Surely + the proper time to do this is before the affections of the child are + likely to endanger her peace of mind." + </p> + <p> + "I have seldom seen much good result from the interference of parents," + said Lady Moseley, a little pertinaciously. + </p> + <p> + "True; for to be of use, unless in extraordinary cases, it should not be + seen. You will pardon me, Anne, but I have often thought parents are too + often in extremes--determined to make the election for their children, or + leaving them entirely to their own vanity and inexperience, to govern not + only their own lives, but, I may say, to leave an impression on future + generations. And, after all, what is this love? In nineteen cases in + twenty of what we call affairs of the heart, it would be better to term + them affairs of the <i>imagination."</i> + </p> + <p> + "And is there not a great deal of imagination in all love?" inquired Lady + Moseley, smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Undoubtedly, there is some; but there is one important difference: in + affairs of the imagination, the admired object is gifted with all those + qualities we esteem, as a matter of course, and there is a certain set of + females who are ever ready to bestow this admiration on any applicant for + their favors who may not be strikingly objectionable. The necessity of + being courted makes our sex rather too much disposed to admire improper + suitors." + </p> + <p> + "But how do you distinguish affairs of the heart, Charlotte, from those of + the fancy?" + </p> + <p> + "When the heart takes the lead, it is not difficult to detect it. Such + sentiments generally follow long intercourse, and opportunities of judging + the real character. They are the only attachments that are likely to stand + the test of worldly trials." + </p> + <p> + "Suppose Emily to be the object of Colonel Egerton's pursuit, then, + sister, in what manner would you proceed to destroy the influence I + acknowledge he is gaining over Jane?" + </p> + <p> + "I cannot suppose such a case," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely; and then, + observing that her sister looked as if she required an explanation, she + continued-- + </p> + <p> + "My attention has been directed to the forming of such principles, and + such a taste, if I may use the expression, under those principles, that I + feel no apprehension Emily will ever allow her affections to be ensnared + by a man of the opinions and views of Colonel Egerton. I am impressed with + a twofold duty in watching the feelings of my charge. She has so much + singleness of heart, such real strength of native feeling, that, should an + improper man gain possession of her affections, the struggle between her + duty and her love would be weighty indeed; and should it proceed so far as + to make it her duty to love an unworthy object, I am sure she would sink + under it. Emily would die in the same circumstances under which Jane would + only awake from a dream, and be wretched." + </p> + <p> + "I thought you entertained a better opinion of Jane, sister," said Lady + Moseley, reproachfully. + </p> + <p> + "I think her admirably calculated to make an invaluable wife and mother; + but she is so much under the influence of her fancy, that she seldom gives + her heart an opportunity of displaying its excellences; and again, she + dwells so much upon imaginary perfections, that adulation has become + necessary to her. The man who flatters her delicately will be sure to win + her esteem; and every woman might love the being possessed of the + qualities she will not fail to endow him with." + </p> + <p> + "I do not know that I rightly understand how you would avert all these sad + consequences of improvident affections?" said Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Prevention is better than cure--I would first implant such opinions as + would lessen the danger of intercourse; and as for particular attentions + from improper objects, it should be my care to prevent them, by + prohibiting, or rather impeding, the intimacy which might give rise to + them. And least of all," said Mrs. Wilson, with a friendly smile, as she + rose to leave the room, "would I suffer a fear of being impolite to + endanger the happiness of a young woman intrusted to my care." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter VIII. + </h2> + <p> + Francis, who labored with the ardor of a lover, soon completed the + necessary arrangements and alterations in his new parsonage. The living + was a good one, and as the rector was enabled to make a very considerable + annual allowance from the private fortune his wife had brought him, and as + Sir Edward had twenty thousand pounds in the funds for each of his + daughters, one portion of which was immediately settled on Clara, the + youthful couple had not only a sufficient, but an abundant provision for + their station in life; and they entered on their matrimonial duties with + as good a prospect of happiness as the ills of this world can give to + health, affection, and competency. Their union had been deferred by Dr. + Ives until his son was established, with a view to keep him under his own + direction during the critical period of his first impressions in the + priesthood; and as no objection now remained, or rather, the only one he + ever felt was removed by the proximity of Bolton to his own parish, he now + joyfully united the lovers at the altar of the village church, in the + presence of his wife and Clara's immediate relatives. On leaving the + church Francis handed his bride into his own carriage, which conveyed them + to their new residence, amidst the good wishes of his parishioners, and + the prayers of their relatives and friends. Dr. and Mrs. Ives retired to + the rectory, to the sober enjoyment of the felicity of their only child; + while the baronet and his lady felt a gloom that belied all the wishes of + the latter for the establishment of her daughters. Jane and Emily acted as + bridesmaids to their sister, and as both the former and her mother had + insisted there should be two groomsmen as a counterpoise, John was + empowered with a carte-blanche to make a provision accordingly. At first + he intimated his intention of calling on Mr. Benfield, but he finally + settled down, to the no small mortification of the before-mentioned + ladies, into writing a note to his kinsman, Lord Chatterton, whose + residence was then in London, and who in reply, after expressing his + sincere regret that an accident would prevent his having the pleasure of + attending, stated the intention of his mother and two sisters to pay them + an early visit of congratulation, as soon as his own health would allow of + his travelling. This answer arrived only the day preceding that fixed for + the wedding, and at the very moment they were expecting his lordship in + proper person. + </p> + <p> + "There," cried Jane, in triumph, "I told you it was silly to send so far + on so sudden an occasion; now, after all, what is to be done--it will be + so awkward when Clara's friends call to see her--Oh! John, John, you are a + Marplot." + </p> + <p> + "Jenny, Jenny, you are a make-plot," said John, coolly taking up his hat + to leave the room. + </p> + <p> + "Which way, my son?" said the baronet, who met him at the door. + </p> + <p> + "To the deanery, sir, to try to get Captain Jarvis to act as bridesmaid--I + beg his pardon, groomsman, to-morrow--Chatterton has been thrown from a + horse and can't come.'' + </p> + <p> + "John!" + </p> + <p> + "Jenny!" + </p> + <p> + "I am sure," said Jane, indignation glowing in her pretty face, "that if + Captain Jarvis is to be an attendant, Clara must excuse my acting. I do + not choose to be associated with Captain Jarvis." + </p> + <p> + "John," said his mother, with dignity, "your trifling is unseasonable; + certainly Colonel Egerton is a more fitting person on every account, and I + desire, under present circumstances, that you ask the colonel." + </p> + <p> + "Your ladyship's wishes are orders to me," said John, gaily kissing his + hand as he left the room. + </p> + <p> + The colonel was but too happy in having it in his power to be of service + in any manner to a gentleman he respected as much as Mr. Francis Ives. He + accepted the duty, and was the only person present at the ceremony who did + not stand within the bonds of consanguinity to the parties. He was invited + by the baronet to dine at the hall, as a matter of course, and + notwithstanding the repeated injunctions of Mrs. Jarvis and her daughters, + to return immediately with an account of the dress of the bride, and with + other important items of a similar nature, the invitation was accepted. On + reaching the hall, Emily retired immediately to her own room, and at her + reappearance when the dinner bell rang, the paleness of her cheeks and the + redness of her eyes afforded sufficient proof that the translation of a + companion from her own to another family was an event, however happy in + itself, not unmingled with grief. The day, however, passed off tolerably + well for people who are expected to be premeditatedly happy, and when, in + their hearts, they are really more disposed to weep than to laugh. Jane + and the colonel had most of the conversation to themselves during dinner: + even the joyous and thoughtless John wearing his gaiety in a less graceful + manner than usual. He was actually detected by his aunt in looking with + moistened eyes at the vacant chair a servant had, from habit, placed at + the table, in the spot where Clara had been accustomed to sit. + </p> + <p> + "This beef is not done, Saunders," said the baronet to his butler, "or my + appetite is not as good as usual to-day. Colonel Egerton, will you allow + me the pleasure of a glass of sherry?" + </p> + <p> + The wine was drunk, and the game succeeded the beef; but still Sir Edward + could not eat. + </p> + <p> + "How glad Clara will be to see us all the day after to-morrow," said Mrs. + Wilson; "your new housekeepers delight in their first efforts in + entertaining their friends." + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley smiled through her tears, and turning to her husband said, + "We will go early, my dear, that we may see the improvements Francis has + been making before we dine." The baronet nodded assent, but his heart was + too full to speak; and apologizing to the colonel for his absence, on the + plea of some business with his people, he left the room. + </p> + <p> + All this time, the attentions of Colonel Egerton to both mother and + daughter were of the most delicate kind. He spoke of Clara as if his + office of groomsman entitled him to an interest in her welfare; with John + he was kind and sociable; and even Mrs. Wilson acknowledged, after he had + taken his leave, that he possessed a wonderful faculty of making himself + agreeable, and she began to think that, under all circumstances, he might + possibly prove as advantageous a connexion as Jane could expect to form. + Had any one, however, proposed him as a husband for Emily, affection would + have quickened her judgment in a way that would have urged her to a very + different decision. + </p> + <p> + Soon after the baronet left the room, a travelling carriage, with suitable + attendants, drove to the door; the sound of the wheels drew most of the + company to a window. "A baron's coronet!" cried Jane, catching a glimpse + of the ornaments of the harness. + </p> + <p> + "The Chattertons," echoed her brother, running out of the room to meet + them. + </p> + <p> + The mother of Sir Edward was a daughter of this family, and the sister of + the grandfather of the present lord. The connexion had always been kept up + with a show of cordiality between Sir Edward and his cousin, although + their manner of living and habits were very different. The baron was a + courtier and a placeman. His estates, which he could not alienate, + produced about ten thousand a year, but the income he could and did spend; + and the high perquisites of his situation under government, amounting to + as much more were melted away year after year, without making the + provision for his daughters that his duty and the observance of his + promise to his wife's father required at his hands. He had been dead about + two years, and his son found himself saddled with the support of an + unjointured mother and unportioned sisters. Money was not the idol the + young lord worshipped, nor even pleasure. He was affectionate to his + surviving parent, and his first act was to settle, during his own life, + two thousand a year on her, while he commenced setting aside as much more + for each of his sisters annually. This abridged him greatly in his own + expenditures; yet, as they made but one family, and the dowager was really + a <i>managing</i> woman in more senses than one, they made a very + tolerable figure. The son was anxious to follow the example of Sir Edward + Moseley, and give up his town house, for at least a time; but his mother + had exclaimed, with something like horror, at the proposal: + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton, would you give it up at the moment it can be of the most use + to us?" and she threw a glance at her daughters that would have discovered + her motive to Mrs Wilson, which was lost on her son; he, poor soul, + thinking she found it convenient to support the interest he had been + making for the place held by his father one of more emolument than + service, or even honor. The contending parties were so equally matched, + that this situation was kept, as it were, in abeyance, waiting the arrival + of some acquisition of interest to one or other of the claimants. The + interest of the peer, however, had begun to lose ground at the period of + which we speak, and his careful mother saw new motives for activity in + providing for her children. Mrs. Wilson herself could not be more vigilant + in examining the candidates for Emily's favors than was the dowager Lady + Chatterton in behalf of her daughter. It is true, the task of the former + lady was by far the most arduous, for it involved a study of character and + development of principle; while that of the latter would have ended with + the footing of a rent-roll, provided it contained five figures. Sir + Edward's was well known to contain that number, and two of them were not + ciphers. Mr. Benfield was rich, and John Moseley was a very agreeable + young man. Weddings are the season of love, thought the prudent dowager, + and Grace is extremely pretty. Chatterton, who never refused his mother + anything in his power to grant, and who was particularly dutiful when a + visit to Moseley Hall was in question, suffered himself to be persuaded + his shoulder was well, and they had left town the day before the wedding, + thinking to be in time for all the gaieties, if not for the ceremony + itself. + </p> + <p> + There existed but little similarity between the persons and manners of + this young nobleman and the baronet's heir. The beauty of Chatterton was + almost feminine; his skin, his color, his eyes, his teeth, were such as + many a belle had sighed after; and his manners were bashful and retiring. + Yet an intimacy had commenced between the boys at school, which ripened + into friendship between the young men at college, and had been maintained + ever since, probably as much from the contrarieties of character as from + any other cause. With the baron, John was more sedate than ordinary; with + John, Chatterton found unusual animation. But a secret charm which John + held over the young peer was his profound respect and unvarying affection + for his youngest sister, Emily. This was common ground; and no dreams of + future happiness, no visions of dawning wealth, crossed the imagination of + Chatterton in which Emily was not the fairy to give birth to the one, or + the benevolent dispenser of the hoards of the other. + </p> + <p> + The arrival of this family was a happy relief from the oppression which + hung on the spirits of the Moseleys, and their reception marked with the + mild benevolence which belonged to the nature of the baronet, and that <i>impressement</i> + which so eminently distinguished the manners of his wife. + </p> + <p> + The honorable Misses Chatterton were both handsome; but the younger was, + if possible, a softened picture of her brother. There was the same + retiring bashfulness and the same sweetness of temper as distinguished the + baron, and Grace was the peculiar favorite of Emily Moseley. Nothing of + the strained or sentimental nature which so often characterize what is + called female friendships, however, had crept into the communications + between these young women. Emily loved her sisters too well to go out of + her own family for a repository of her griefs or a partaker in her joys. + Had her life been chequered with such passions, her own sisters were too + near her own age to suffer her to think of a confidence in which the holy + ties of natural affection did not give a claim to a participation. Mrs. + Wilson had found it necessary to give her charge very different views on + many subjects from those which Jane and Clara had been suffered to imbibe + of themselves; but in no degree had she impaired the obligations of filial + piety or family concord. Emily was, if anything, more respectful to her + parents, more affectionate to her friends, than any of her connexions; for + in her the warmth of natural feeling was heightened by an unvarying sense + of duty. + </p> + <p> + In Grace Chatterton she found, in many respects, a temper and taste + resembling her own. She therefore loved her better than others who had + equally general claims on her partiality, and as such a friend she now + received her with cordial and sincere affection. + </p> + <p> + Jane, who had not felt satisfied with the ordering of Providence for the + disposal of her sympathies, and had long felt a restlessness that prompted + her to look abroad for a confiding spirit to whom to communicate + her--secrets she had none that delicacy would suffer her to reveal--but to + communicate her crude opinions and reflections, she had early selected + Catherine for this person. Catherine, however, had not stood the test of + trial. For a short time the love of heraldry kept them together; but Jane, + finding her companion's gusto limited to the charms of the coronet and + supporters chiefly, abandoned the attempt in despair, and was actually on + the look-out for a new candidate for the vacant station as Colonel Egerton + came into the neighborhood. A really delicate female mind shrinks from the + exposure of its love to the other sex, and Jane began to be less anxious + to form a connexion which would either violate the sensibility of her + nature, or lead to treachery to her friend. + </p> + <p> + "I regret extremely, Lady Moseley," said the dowager, as they entered the + drawing-room, "that the accident which befel Chatterton should have kept + us until it was too late for the ceremony: we made it a point to hasten + with our congratulations, however, as soon as Astley Cooper thought it + safe for him to travel." + </p> + <p> + "I feel indebted for your kindness," replied the smiling hostess. "We are + always happy to have our friends around us, and none more than yourself + and family. We were fortunate in finding a friend to supply your son's + place, in order that the young people might go to the altar in a proper + manner. Lady Chatterton, allow me to present our friend, Colonel + Egerton"--adding, in a low tone, and with a little emphasis,--"heir to Sir + Edgar." + </p> + <p> + The colonel bowed gracefully, and the dowager dropped a hasty courtesy at + the commencement of the speech; but lower bend followed the closing + remark, and a glance of the eye was thrown in quest of her daughters, as + if she instinctively wished to bring them into what the sailors term "the + line of battle." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter IX. + </h2> + <p> + The following morning, Emily and Grace, declining the invitation to join + the colonel and John in their usual rides, walked to the rectory, + accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Chatterton. The ladies felt a desire to + witness the happiness that they so well knew reigned in the rectory, for + Francis had promised his father to drive Clara over in the course of the + day. Emily longed to see Clara, from whom it appeared that she had been + already separated a month. Her impatience as they approached the house + hurried her ahead of her companions, who waited the more sober gait of + Mrs. Wilson. She entered the parlor at the rectory without meeting any + one, glowing with exercise, her hair falling over her shoulders, released + from the confinement of the hat she had thrown down hastily as she reached + the door. In the room there stood a gentleman in deep black, with his back + towards the entrance, intent on a book, and she naturally concluded it was + Francis. + </p> + <p> + "Where is dear Clara, Frank?" cried the beautiful girl, faying her hand + affectionately on his shoulder. + </p> + <p> + The gentleman turned suddenly, and presented to her astonished gaze the + well remembered countenance of the young man whose parent's death was not + likely to be forgotten at B----. + </p> + <p> + "I thought, sir," said Emily, almost sinking with confusion, "that Mr. + Francis Ives--" + </p> + <p> + "Your brother 'has not yet arrived, Miss Moseley," simply replied the + stranger, who felt for her embarrassment. "But I will immediately acquaint + Mrs. Ives with your visit." Bowing, he delicately left the room. + </p> + <p> + Emily, who felt greatly relieved by his manner, immediately confined her + hair in its proper bounds, and had recovered her composure by the time her + aunt and friends joined her. She had not time to mention the incident, and + laughed at her own precipitation, when the rector's wife came into the + room. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton and his sister were both known to Mrs. Ives, and both were + favorites. She was pleased to see them, and after reproaching the brother + with compelling her son to ask a favor of a comparative stranger, she + turned to Emily, and smilingly said-- + </p> + <p> + "You found the parlor occupied, I believe?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Emily, laughing and blushing, "I suppose Mr. Denbigh told you + of my heedlessness." + </p> + <p> + "He told me of your attention in calling so soon to inquire after Clara, + but said nothing more"--a servant just then telling her Francis wished to + see her, she excused herself and withdrew. In the door she met Mr. + Denbigh, who made way for her, saying, "your son has arrived, ma'am," and + in an easy but respectful manner he took his place with the guests, no + introduction passing, and none seeming necessary. His misfortunes appeared + to have made him acquainted with Mrs. Wilson, and his strikingly ingenuous + manner won insensibly on the confidence of those who heard him. Everything + was natural, yet everything was softened by education; and the little + party in the rector's parlor in fifteen minutes felt as if they had known + him for years. The doctor and his son now joined them. Clara had not come, + but she was looking forward in delightful expectation of to-morrow, and + wished greatly for Emily as a guest at the new abode. This pleasure Mrs. + Wilson promised she should have as soon as they had got over the hurry of + their visit; "our friends," she added, turning to Grace, "will overlook + the nicer punctilios of ceremony, where sisterly regard calls for the + discharge of more important duties. Clara needs the society of Emily just + now." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," said Grace, mildly; "I hope no useless ceremony on the part + of Emily would prevent her manifesting natural attachment to her sister--I + should feel hurt at her not entertaining a better opinion of us than to + suppose so for a moment." + </p> + <p> + "This, young ladies, is the real feeling to keep alive esteem," cried the + doctor, gaily: "go on, and say and do nothing of which either can + disapprove, when tried by the standard of duty, and you need never be + afraid of losing a friend that is worth keeping." + </p> + <p> + It was three o'clock before the carriage of Mrs. Wilson arrived at the + rectory; and the time stole away insensibly in free and friendly + communications. Denbigh had joined modestly, and with the degree of + interest a stranger might be supposed to feel, in the occurrences of a + circle to which he was nearly a stranger; there was at times a slight + display of awkwardness, however, about both him and Mrs. Ives, for which + Mrs. Wilson easily accounted by recollections of his recent loss and the + scene they had all witnessed in that very room. This embarrassment escaped + the notice of the rest of the party. On the arrival of the carriage, Mrs. + Wilson took her leave. + </p> + <p> + "I like this Mr. Denbigh greatly," said Lord Chatterton, as they drove + from the door; "there is something strikingly natural and winning in his + manner." + </p> + <p> + "In his matter too, judging of the little we have seen of him," replied + Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Who is he, ma'am?" + </p> + <p> + "I rather suspect he is someway related to Mrs. Ives; her staying from + Bolton to-day must be owing to Mr. Denbigh, and as the doctor has just + gone he must be near enough to them to be neither wholly neglected nor yet + a tax upon their politeness. I rather wonder he did not go with them." + </p> + <p> + "I heard him tell Francis," remarked Emily, "that he could not think of + intruding, and he insisted on Mrs. Ives's going, but she had employments + to keep her at home." + </p> + <p> + The carriage soon reached an angle in the road where the highways between + Bolton Castle and Moseley Hall intersected each other, at a point on the + estate of the former. Mrs. Wilson stopped a moment to inquire after an + aged pensioner, who had lately met with a loss in business, which she was + fearful must have greatly distressed him. In crossing a ford in the little + river between his cottage and the market-town, the stream, which had been + swollen unexpectedly higher than usual by heavy rains, had swept away his + horse and cart loaded with the entire produce of his small field, and with + much difficulty he had saved even his own life. Mrs. Wilson had not had it + in her power until this moment to inquire particularly into the affair, or + to offer the relief she was ever ready to bestow on proper objects. + Contrary to her expectations, she found Humphreys in high spirits, showing + his delighted grand-children a new cart and horse which stood at the door, + and exultingly pointing out the excellent qualities of both. He ceased + talking on the approach of the party, and at the request of his ancient + benefactress he gave a particular account of the affair. + </p> + <p> + "And where did you get this new cart and horse, Humphreys?" inquired Mrs. + Wilson, when he had ended. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, madam, I went up to the castle to see the steward, and Mr. Martin + just mentioned my loss to Lord Pendennyss, ma'am, and my lord ordered me + this cart, ma'am, and this noble horse, and twenty golden guineas into the + bargain to put me on my legs again--God bless him for it, for ever!" + </p> + <p> + "It was very kind of his lordship, indeed," said Mrs. Wilson, + thoughtfully: "I did not know he was at the castle." + </p> + <p> + "He's gone, already, madam; the servants told me that he just called to + see the earl, on his way to Lon'on; but finding he'd went a few days agone + to Ireland my lord went for Lon'on, without stopping the night even. Ah! + madam," continued the old man, who stood leaning on a stick, with his hat + in his hand, "he's a great blessing to the poor; his servants say he gives + thousands every year to the poor who are in want--he is main rich, too; + some people say, much richer and more great like than the earl himself. + I'm sure I have need to bless him every day of my life." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled mournfully as she wished Humphreys good day and put up + her purse, finding the old man so well provided for; a display or + competition in charity never entering into her system of benevolence. + </p> + <p> + "His lordship is munificent in his bounty," said Emily, as they drove from + the door. + </p> + <p> + "Does it not savor of thoughtlessness to bestow so much where he can know + so little?" Lord Chatterton ventured to inquire. + </p> + <p> + "He is," replied Mrs. Wilson, "as old Humphrey says, main rich; but the + son of the old man and the father of these children is a soldier in the + ----th dragoons, of which the earl is colonel, and that accounts to me for + his liberality," recollecting, with a sigh, the feelings which had drawn + her out of the usual circle of her charities in the case of the same man. + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever see Lord Pendennyss, aunt?" + </p> + <p> + "Never, my dear; he has been much abroad, but my letters were filled with + his praises, and I confess my disappointment is great in not seeing him on + this visit to Lord Bolton who is his relation; but," fixing her eyes + thoughtfully on her niece, "we shall meet in London this winter, I trust." + </p> + <p> + As she spoke a cloud passed over her features, and she continued much + absorbed in thought for the remainder of their drive. + </p> + <p> + General Wilson had been a cavalry officer, and he commanded the very + regiment now held by Lord Pendennyss. In an excursion near the British + camp he had been rescued from captivity, if not from death, by a gallant + and timely interference of this young nobleman, then in command of a troop + in the same corps. He had mentioned the occurrence to his wife in his + letters, and from that day his correspondence was filled with the praises + of the bravery and goodness to the soldiery of his young comrade. When he + fell he had been supported from the field by, and he actually died in the + arms of the young peer. A letter announcing his death had been received by + his widow from the earl himself, and the tender and affectionate manner in + which he spoke of her husband had taken a deep hold on her affections. All + the circumstances together threw an interest around him that had made Mrs. + Wilson almost entertain the romantic wish he might be found worthy and + disposed to solicit the hand of Emily. Her anxious inquiries into his + character had been attended with such answers as flattered her wishes; but + the military duties of the earl or his private affairs had never allowed a + meeting; and she was now compelled to look forward to what John laughingly + termed their winter campaign, as the only probable place where she could + be gratified with the sight of a young man to whom she owed so much, and + whose name was connected with some of the most tender though most + melancholy recollections of her life. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton, who now appeared to be almost domesticated in the family, + was again of the party at dinner, to the no small satisfaction of the + dowager, who from proper inquiries in the course of the day had learned + that Sir Edgar's heir was likely to have the necessary number of figures + in the sum total of his rental. While sitting in the drawing-room that + afternoon she made an attempt to bring her eldest daughter and the elegant + soldier together over a chess-board; a game the young lady had been + required to learn because it was one at which a gentleman could be kept + longer than any other without having his attention drawn away by any of + those straggling charms which might be travelling a drawing-room "seeking + whom they may devour." It was also a game admirably suited to the display + of a beautiful hand and arm. But the mother had for a long time been + puzzled to discover a way of bringing in the foot also, the young lady + being particularly remarkable for the beauty of that portion of the frame. + In vain her daughter hinted at dancing, an amusement of which she was + passionately fond. The wary mother knew too well the effects of + concentrated force to listen to the suggestion: dancing might do for every + manager, but she prided herself in acting <i>en masse</i>, like Napoleon, + whose tactics consisted in overwhelming by uniting his forces on a given + point. After many experiments in her own person she endeavored to improve + Catharine's manner of sitting, and by dint of twisting and turning she + contrived that her pretty foot and ankle should be thrown forward in a way + that the eye dropping from the move, should unavoidably rest on this + beauteous object; giving, as it were, a Scylla and Charybdis to her + daughter's charms. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley was the first person on whom she undertook to try the effect + of her invention; and after comfortably seating the parties she withdrew + to a little distance to watch the effect. + </p> + <p> + "Check to your king, Miss Chatterton," cried John, early in the game--and + the young lady thrust out her foot. "Check to <i>your</i> king, Mr. + Moseley," echoed the damsel, and John's eyes wandered from hand to foot + and foot to hand. "Check king and queen, sir."--"Check-mate."--"Did you + speak?" said John. Looking up he caught the eye of the dowager fixed on + him in triumph--"Oh, ho," said the young man, internally, "Mother + Chatterton, are you playing too?" and, coolly taking up his hat, he walked + off, nor could they ever get him seated at the game again. + </p> + <p> + "You beat me too easily, Miss Chatterton," he would say when pressed to + play, "before I have time to look up it's check-mate--excuse me." + </p> + <p> + The dowager next settled down into a more covert attack through Grace; but + here she had two to contend with: her own forces rebelled, and the war had + been protracted to the present hour with varied success, and at least + without any material captures, on one side. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton entered on the duties of his dangerous undertaking with + the indifference of foolhardiness. The game was played with tolerable + ability by both parties; but no emotions, no absence of mind could be + discovered on the part of the gentleman. Feet and hands were in motion; + still the colonel played as well as usual; he had answers for all Jane's + questions, and smiles for his partner; but no check-mate could she obtain, + until wilfully throwing away an advantage he suffered the lady to win the + game. The dowager was satisfied nothing could be done with the colonel. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter X. + </h2> + <p> + The first carriages that rolled over the lawn to Bolton parsonage, on the + succeeding day, were those of the baronet and his sister; the latter in + advance. + </p> + <p> + "There, Francis," cried Emily, who was impatiently waiting for him to + remove some slight obstruction to her alighting, "thank you, thank you; + that will do." + </p> + <p> + In the next moment she was in the extended arms of Clara. After pressing + each other to their bosoms for a few moments in silence, Emily looked up, + with a tear glistening in her eye, and first noticed the form of Denbigh, + who was modestly withdrawing, as if unwilling to intrude on such pure and + domestic feelings as the sisters were betraying, unconscious of the + presence of a witness. Mrs. Wilson and Jane, followed by Miss Chatterton, + now entered, and cordial salutes and greetings flowed upon Clara from her + various friends. + </p> + <p> + The baronet's coach reached the door; it contained himself and wife, Mr. + Benfield, and Lady Chatterton. Clara stood on the portico of the building, + ready to receive them; her face all smiles, and tears, and blushes, and + her arm locked in that of Emily. + </p> + <p> + "I wish you joy of your new abode, Mrs. Francis." Lady Moseley forgot her + form, and bursting into tears, she pressed her daughter with ardor to her + bosom. + </p> + <p> + "Clara, my love!" said the baronet, hastily wiping his eyes, and + succeeding his wife in the embrace of their child. He kissed her, and, + pressing Francis by the hand, walked into the house in silence. + </p> + <p> + "Well, well," cried the dowager, as she saluted her cousin, "all looks + comfortable and genteel here, upon my word, Mrs. Ives: + grapery--hot-houses--everything in good style too; and Sir Edward tells me + the living is worth a good five hundred a year." + </p> + <p> + "So, girl, I suppose you expect a kiss," said Mr. Benfield who ascended + the steps slowly, and with difficulty. "Kissing has gone much out of + fashion lately. I remember, on the marriage of my friend, Lord Gosford, in + the year fifty-eight, that all the maids and attendants were properly + saluted in order. The lady Juliana was quite young then; not more than + fifteen: it was there I got my first salute from her--but--so--kiss me." + After which he continued, as they went into the house, "Marrying in that + day was a serious business. You might visit a lady a dozen times before + you could get a sight of her naked hand. Who's that?" stopping short, and + looking earnestly at Denbigh, who now approached them. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, sir," said Clara, "my uncle, Mr. Benfield." + </p> + <p> + "Did you ever know, sir, a gentleman of your name, who sat in the + parliament of this realm in the year sixty?" Mr. Benfield abruptly asked, + as soon as the civilities of the introduction were exchanged. "You don't + look much like him." + </p> + <p> + "That was rather before my day, sir," said Denbigh, with a smile, + respectfully offering to relieve Clara, who supported him on one side, + while Emily held his arm on the other. + </p> + <p> + The old gentleman was particularly averse to strangers, and Emily was in + terror lest he should say something rude; but, after examining Denbigh + again from head to foot, he took the offered arm, and coolly replied-- + </p> + <p> + "True; very true; that was sixty years ago; you can hardly recollect as + long. Ah! Mr. Denbigh, times are sadly altered since my youth. People who + were then glad to ride on a pillion now drive their coaches; men who + thought ale a luxury, drink their port; aye! and those who went barefoot + must have their shoes and stockings, too. Luxury, sir, and the love of + ease, will ruin this mighty empire. Corruption has taken hold of + everything; the ministry buy the members, the members buy the ministry; + everything is bought and sold. Now, sir, in the parliament in which I had + the honor of a seat, there was a knot of us, as upright as posts, sir. My + Lord Gosford was one, and General Denbigh was another, although I can't + say he was much a favorite with me. You do not look in the least like him. + How was he related to you, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "He was my grandfather," replied Denbigh, looking pleasantly at Emily, as + if to tell her he understood the character of her uncle. + </p> + <p> + Had the old man continued his speech an hour longer, Denbigh would not + have complained. They had stopped while talking, and he thus became + confronted with the beautiful figure that supported the other arm. Denbigh + contemplated in admiration the varying countenance which now blushed with + apprehension, and now smiled in affection, or even with an archer + expression, as her uncle proceeded in his harangue on the times. But all + felicity in this world has an end, as well as misery. Denbigh retained the + recollection of that speech long after Mr. Benfield was comfortably seated + in the parlor, though for his life he could not recollect a word he had + said. + </p> + <p> + The Haughtons, the Jarvises, and a few more of their intimate + acquaintances, arrived, and the parsonage had a busy air; but John, who + had undertaken to drive Grace Chatterton in his own phaeton, was yet + absent. Some little anxiety had begun to be manifested, when he appeared, + dashing through the gates at a great rate, and with the skill of a member + of the four-in-hand. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton had begun to be seriously uneasy, and she was about to + speak to her son to go in quest of them, as they came in sight; but now + her fears vanished, and she could only suppose that a desire to have Grace + alone could keep one who had the reputation of a Jehu so much behind the + rest of the party. She met them in great spirits, crying, + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word, Mr. Moseley, I began to think you had taken the road to + Scotland, you stayed so long." + </p> + <p> + "Your daughter, my Lady Chatterton," said John, pithily, "would go to + Scotland neither with me nor any other man, or I am greatly deceived in + her character. Clara, my sister, how do you do?" He saluted the bride with + great warmth and affection. + </p> + <p> + "But what detained you, Moseley?" inquired the mother. + </p> + <p> + "One of the horses was restive, and he broke the harness. We merely + stopped in the village while it was mended." + </p> + <p> + "And how did Grace behave?" asked Emily, laughing. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, a thousand times better than you would, sister; as she always does, + and like an angel." + </p> + <p> + The only point in dispute between Emily and her brother was her want of + faith in his driving; while poor Grace, naturally timid, and unwilling to + oppose any one, particularly the gentleman who then held the reins, had + governed herself sufficiently to be silent and motionless. Indeed, she + could hardly do otherwise had she wished it, so great was his impetuosity + of character; and John felt flattered to a degree of which he was himself + unconscious. Self-complacency, aided by the merit, the beauty, and the + delicacy of the young lady herself, might have led to the very results her + mother so anxiously wished to produce, had that mother been satisfied with + letting things take their course. But managers very generally overdo their + work. + </p> + <p> + "Grace <i>is</i> a good girl," said her gratified mother; "and you found + her very valiant, Mr. Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, as brave as Cæsar," answered John, carelessly, in a way that + was not quite free from irony. + </p> + <p> + Grace, whose burning cheek showed but too plainly that praise from John + Moseley was an incense too powerful for her resistance, now sank back + behind some of the company, endeavoring to conceal the tears that almost + gushed from her eyes. Denbigh was a silent spectator of the whole scene, + and he now considerately observed, that he had lately seen an improvement + which would obviate the difficulty Mr. Moseley had experienced. John + turned to the speaker, and they were soon engaged in the discussion of + curbs and buckles, when the tilbury of Colonel Egerton drove to the door, + containing himself and his friend the captain. + </p> + <p> + The bride undoubtedly received congratulations that day more sincere than + those which were now offered, but none were delivered in a more graceful + and insinuating manner than the compliments which fell from Colonel + Egerton. He passed round the room, speaking to his acquaintances, until he + arrived at the chair of Jane, who was seated next her aunt. Here he + stopped, and glancing his eye round, and saluting with bows and smiles the + remainder of the party, he appeared fixed at the centre of all attraction. + </p> + <p> + "There is a gentleman I think I have never seen before," he observed, to + Mrs. Wilson, casting his eyes on Denbigh, whose back was towards him in + discourse with Mr. Benfield. + </p> + <p> + "It is Mr. Denbigh, of whom you heard us speak," replied Mrs. Wilson. + While she spoke, Denbigh faced them. Egerton started as he caught a view + of his face, and seemed to gaze on the countenance which was open to his + inspection with an earnestness that showed an interest of some kind, but + of a nature that was inexplicable to Mrs. Wilson, who was the only + observer of this singular recognition; for such it evidently was. All was + now natural in the colonel for the moment; his color sensibly changed, and + there was an expression of doubt in his face. It might be fear, it might + be horror, it might be a strong aversion; it clearly was not love. Emily + sat by her aunt, and Denbigh approached them, making a cheerful remark. It + was impossible for the colonel to avoid him had he wished it, and he kept + his ground. Mrs. Wilson thought she would try the experiment of an + introduction. + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Egerton--Mr. Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + Both gentlemen bowed, but nothing striking was seen in the deportment of + either. The colonel, who was not exactly at ease, said hastily-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh is, or has been in the army, I believe." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was now taken by surprise in his turn: he cast a look on Egerton + of fixed and settled meaning; then carelessly observed, but still as if + requiring an answer: + </p> + <p> + "I am yet; but I do not recollect having had the pleasure of meeting with + Colonel Egerton on service." + </p> + <p> + "Your countenance is familiar, sir," replied the colonel, coldly; "but at + this moment I cannot tax my memory with the place of our meeting, though + one sees so many strange faces in a campaign, that they come and go like + shadows." + </p> + <p> + He then changed the conversation. It was some time, however, before either + gentleman entirely recovered his ease--and many days elapsed ere anything + like intercourse passed between them. The colonel attached himself during + this visit to Jane, with occasional notices of the Misses Jarvis, who + began to manifest symptoms of uneasiness at the decided preference he + showed to a lady they now chose to look upon, in some measure, as a rival. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson and her charge, on the other hand, were entertained by the + conversation of Chatterton and Denbigh, relieved by occasional sallies + from the lively John. There was something in the person and manners of + Denbigh that insensibly attracted those whom chance threw in his way. His + face was not strikingly handsome, but it was noble; and when he smiled, or + was much animated, it invariably communicated a spark of his own + enthusiasm to the beholder. His figure was faultless; his air and manner, + if less easy than those of Colonel Egerton, were more sincere and + ingenuous; his breeding was clearly higher; his respect for others rather + bordering on the old school. But in his voice there existed a charm which + would make him, when he spoke, to a female ear, almost resistless: it was + soft, deep, melodious, and winning. + </p> + <p> + "Baronet," said the rector, looking with a smile towards his son and + daughter, "I love to see my children happy, and Mrs. Ives threatens a + divorce if I go on in the manner I have commenced. She says I desert her + for Bolton." + </p> + <p> + "Why, doctor, if our wives conspire against us, and prevent our enjoying a + comfortable dish of tea with Clara, or a glass of wine with Frank, we must + call in the higher authorities as umpires. What say you, sister? Is a + parent to desert his child in any case?" + </p> + <p> + "My opinion is," said Mrs. Wilson, with a smile, yet speaking with + emphasis, "that a parent is <i>not</i> to desert a child, in any case or + in any manner." + </p> + <p> + "Do you hear that, my Lady Moseley?" cried the good-humored baronet. + </p> + <p> + "Do you hear that, my Lady Chatterton?" echoed John, who had just taken a + seat by Grace, when her mother approached them. + </p> + <p> + "I hear it, but do not see the application, Mr. Moseley." + </p> + <p> + "No, my lady! Why, there is the honorable Miss Chatterton almost dying to + play a game of her favorite chess with Mr. Denbigh. She has beaten us all + but him, and her triumph will not be complete until she has him too at her + feet." + </p> + <p> + And as Denbigh politely offered to meet the challenge, the board was + produced, and the parties were seated. Lady Chatterton stood leaning over + her daughter's chair, with a view, however, to prevent any of those + consequences she was generally fond of seeing result from this amusement; + every measure taken by this prudent mother being literally governed by + judicious calculation. + </p> + <p> + "Umph," thought John, as he viewed the players, while listening with + pleasure to the opinions of Grace, who had recovered her composure and + spirits; "Kate, after all, has played one game without using her feet." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XI. + </h2> + <p> + Ten days or a fortnight flew swiftly by, during which Mrs. Wilson suffered + Emily to give Clara a week, having first ascertained that Denbigh was a + settled resident at the rectory, and thereby not likely to be oftener at + the House of Francis than at the hall, where he was a frequent and welcome + guest, both on his own account and as a friend of Doctor Ives. Emily had + returned, and she brought the bride and groom with her; when one evening + as they were pleasantly seated at their various amusements, with the ease + of old acquaintances, Mr. Haughton entered. It was at an hour rather + unusual for his visits; and throwing down his hat, after making the usual + inquiries, he began without preface-- + </p> + <p> + "I know, good people, you are all wondering what has brought me out this + time of night, but the truth is, Lucy has coaxed her mother to persuade me + into a ball in honor of the times; so, my lady, I have consented, and my + wife and daughter have been buying up all the finery in B----, by the way, + I suppose, of anticipating their friends. There is a regiment of foot come + into barracks within fifteen miles of us, and to-morrow I must beat up for + recruits among the officers--girls are never wanting on such occasions." + </p> + <p> + "Why," cried the baronet, "you are growing young again, my friend." "No, + Sir Edward, but my daughter is young, and life has so many cares that I am + willing she should get rid of as many as she can at my expense." + </p> + <p> + "Surely you would not wish her to dance them away," said Mrs. Wilson; + "such relief I am afraid will prove temporary." + </p> + <p> + "Do you disapprove of dancing, ma'am?" said Mr. Haughton, who held her + opinions in great respect as well as a little dread. + </p> + <p> + "I neither approve nor disapprove of it--jumping up and down is innocent + enough in itself, and if it must be done it is well it were done + gracefully; as for the accompaniments of dancing I say nothing--what do + you say, Doctor Ives?" + </p> + <p> + "To what, my dear madam?" + </p> + <p> + "To dancing." + </p> + <p> + "Oh let the girls dance if they enjoy it." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad you think so, doctor," cried the delighted Mr. Haughton; I was + afraid I recollected your advising your son never to dance nor to play at + games of chance." + </p> + <p> + "You thought right, my friend," said the doctor, laying down his + newspaper; "I did give that advice to Frank, whom you will please to + remember is now rector of Bolton. I do not object to dancing as not + innocent in itself or as an elegant exercise; but it is like drinking, + generally carried to excess: now as a Christian I am opposed to all + excesses; the music and company lead to intemperance in the recreation, + and they often induce neglect of duties--but so may anything else." + </p> + <p> + "I like a game of whist, doctor, greatly," said Mr. Haughton; "but + observing that you never play, and recollecting your advice to Mr. + Francis, I have forbidden cards when you are my guest." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you for the compliment, good sir," replied the doctor, with a + smile; "still I would much rather see you play cards than hear you talk + scandal, as you sometimes do." + </p> + <p> + "Scandal!" echoed Mr. Haughton. + </p> + <p> + "Ay, scandal," said the doctor, coolly, "such as the remark you made the + last time, which was only yesterday, I called to see you. You accused Sir + Edward of being wrong in letting that poacher off so easily; the baronet, + you said, did not shoot himself, and did not know how to prize game as he + ought." + </p> + <p> + "Scandal, Doctor--do you call that scandal? why I told Sir Edward so + himself, two or three times." + </p> + <p> + "I know you did, and that was rude." + </p> + <p> + "Rude! I hope sincerely Sir Edward has put no such construction on it?" + </p> + <p> + The baronet smiled kindly, and shook his head. + </p> + <p> + "Because the baronet chooses to forgive your offences, it does not alter + their nature," said the doctor, gravely: "no, you must repent and amend; + you impeached his motives for doing a benevolent act, and that I call + scandal." + </p> + <p> + "Why, doctor, I was angry the fellow should be let loose; he is a pest to + all the game in the county, and every sportsman will tell you so--here, + Mr. Moseley, you know Jackson, the poacher." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! a poacher is an intolerable wretch!" cried Captain Jarvis. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! a poacher," echoed John, looking drolly at Emily, "hang all + poachers." + </p> + <p> + "Poacher or no poacher, does not alter the scandal," said the doctor; "now + let me tell you, good sir, I would rather play at fifty games of whist + than make one such speech, unless indeed it interfered with my duties; + now, sir, with your leave I'll explain myself as to my son. There is an + artificial levity about dancing that adds to the dignity of no man: from + some it may detract: a clergyman for instance is supposed to have other + things to do, and it might hurt him in the opinions of those with whom his + influence is necessary, and impair his usefulness; therefore a clergyman + should never dance. In the same way with cards; they are the common + instruments of gambling, and an odium is attached to them on that account; + women and clergymen must respect the prejudices of mankind in some cases, + or lose their influence in society." + </p> + <p> + "I did hope to have the pleasure of your company, doctor, said Mr. + Haughton, hesitatingly. + </p> + <p> + "And if it will give you pleasure," cried the rector, "you shall have it + with all my heart, good sir; it would be a greater evil to wound the + feelings of such a neighbor as Mr. Haughton, than to show my face once at + a ball," and rising, he laid his hand on the shoulder of the other kindly. + "Both your scandal and rudeness are easily forgiven; but I wished to show + you the common error of the world which has attached odium to certain + things, while it charitably overlooks others of a more heinous nature." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Haughton, who had at first been a little staggered with the attack of + the doctor, recovered himself, and laying a handful of notes on the table, + hoped he should have the pleasure of seeing every body. The invitation was + generally accepted, and the worthy man departed, happy if his friends did + but come, and were pleased. + </p> + <p> + "Do you dance, Miss Moseley?" inquired Denbigh of Emily, as he sat + watching her graceful movements in netting a purse for her father. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes! the doctor said nothing of us girls, you know I suppose he + thinks we have no dignity to lose." + </p> + <p> + "Admonitions are generally thrown away on young ladies when pleasure is in + the question," said the doctor, with a look of almost paternal affection. + </p> + <p> + "I hope you do not seriously disapprove of it in moderation," said Mrs. + Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "That depends, madam, upon circumstances; if it is to be made subsidiary + to envy, malice, coquetry, vanity, or any other such little lady-like + accomplishment, it certainly had better be let alone. But in moderation, + and with the feelings of my little pet here, I should be cynical, indeed, + to object." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh appeared lost in his own ruminations during this dialogue; and as + the doctor ended, he turned to the captain, who was overlooking a game of + chess between the colonel and Jane, of which the latter had become + remarkably fond of late, playing with her hands and eyes instead of her + feet--and inquired the name of the corps in barracks at F----. + </p> + <p> + "The ----th foot, sir," replied the captain, haughtily, who neither + respected him, owing to his want of consequence, nor loved him, from the + manner in which Emily listened to his conversation. + </p> + <p> + "Will Miss Moseley forgive a bold request," said Denbigh, with some + hesitation. + </p> + <p> + Emily looked up from her work in silence, but with some little flutterings + at the heart. + </p> + <p> + "The honor of her hand for the first dance," continued Denbigh, observing + she was in expectation that he would proceed. + </p> + <p> + Emily laughingly said, "Certainly, Mr. Denbigh, if you can submit to the + degradation." + </p> + <p> + The London papers now came in, and most of the gentlemen sat down to their + perusal. The colonel, however, replaced the men for a second game, and + Denbigh still kept his place beside Mrs. Wilson and her niece. The + manners, the sentiments, the whole exterior of this gentleman were such as + both the taste and judgment of the aunt approved of; his qualities were + those which insensibly gained on the heart, and yet Mrs. Wilson noticed, + with a slight uneasiness, the very evident satisfaction her niece took in + his society. In Dr. Ives she had great confidence, yet Dr. Ives was a + friend, and probably judged him favorably; and again, Dr. Ives was not to + suppose he was introducing a candidate for the hand of Emily in every + gentleman he brought to the hall. Mrs. Wilson had seen too often the ill + consequences of trusting to impressions received from inferences of + companionship, not to know the only safe way was to judge for ourselves: + the opinions of others might be partial--might be prejudiced--and many an + improper connexion had been formed by listening to the sentiments of those + who spoke without interest, and consequently without examination. Not a + few matches are made by this idle commendation of others, uttered by those + who are respected, and which are probably suggested more by a desire to + please than by reflection or even knowledge. In short Mrs. Wilson knew + that as our happiness chiefly interests ourselves, so it was to ourselves, + or to those few whose interest was equal to our own, we could only trust + those important inquiries necessary to establish a permanent opinion of + character. With Doctor Ives her communications on subjects of duty were + frequent and confiding, and although she sometimes thought his benevolence + disposed him to be rather too lenient to the faults of mankind, she + entertained a profound respect for his judgment. It had great influence + with her, if it were not always conclusive; she determined, therefore, to + have an early conversation with him on the subject so near her heart, and + be in a great measure regulated by his answers in the steps to be + immediately taken. Every day gave her what he thought melancholy proof of + the ill consequences of neglecting a duty, in the increasing intimacy of + Colonel Egerton and Jane. + </p> + <p> + "Here, aunt," cried John, as he ran over a paper, "is a paragraph relating + to your favorite youth, our trusty and well beloved cousin the Earl of + Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "Read it," said Mrs. Wilson, with an interest his name never failed to + excite. + </p> + <p> + "We noticed to-day the equipage of the gallant Lord Pendennyss before the + gates of Annandale-house, and understand the noble earl is last from + Bolton castle, Northamptonshire." + </p> + <p> + "A very important fact," said Captain Jarvis, sarcastically; "Colonel + Egerton and myself got as far as the village, to pay our respects to him, + when we heard he had gone on to town." + </p> + <p> + "The earl's character, both as a man and a soldier," observed the colonel, + "gives him a claim to our attentions that his rank would not: on that + account we would have called." + </p> + <p> + "Brother," said Mrs. Wilson, "you would oblige me greatly by asking his + lordship to waive ceremony; his visits to Bolton castle will probably be + frequent, now we have peace; and the owner is so much from home that we + may never see him without some such invitation." + </p> + <p> + "Do you want him as a husband for Emily?" cried John, as he gaily seated + himself by the side of his sister. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled at an observation which reminded her of one of her + romantic wishes; and as she raised her head to reply in the same tone, met + the eye of Denbigh fixed on her with an expression that kept her silent. + This is really an incomprehensible young man in some respects, thought the + cautious widow, his startling looks on the introduction to the colonel + crossing her mind at the same time; and observing the doctor opening the + door that led to the baronet's library, Mrs. Wilson, who generally acted + as soon as she had decided, followed him. As their conversations were + known often to relate to the little offices of charity in which they both + delighted, the movement excited no surprise, and she entered the library + with the doctor uninterrupted. + </p> + <p> + "Doctor," said Mrs. Wilson, impatient to proceed to the point, "you know + my maxim, prevention is better than cure. This young friend of yours is + very interesting." + </p> + <p> + "Do you feel yourself in danger?" said the rector, smiling. + </p> + <p> + "Not very imminent," replied the lady, laughing good-naturedly. Seating + herself, she continued, "Who is he? and who was his father, if I may ask?" + </p> + <p> + "George Denbigh, madam, both father and son," said the doctor, gravely. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, doctor, I am almost tempted to wish Frank had been a girl. You know + what I wish to learn." + </p> + <p> + "Put your questions in order, dear madam," said the doctor, in a kind + manner, "and they shall be answered." + </p> + <p> + "His principles?" + </p> + <p> + "So far as I can learn, they are good. His acts, as they have come to my + notice, are highly meritorious, and I hope they originated in proper + motives. I have seen but little of him of late years, however, and on this + head you are nearly as good a judge as myself. His filial piety," said the + doctor, dashing a tear from his eye, and speaking with fervor, "was + lovely." + </p> + <p> + "His temper--his disposition?" + </p> + <p> + "His temper is under great command, although naturally ardent; his + disposition eminently benevolent towards his fellow-creatures." + </p> + <p> + "His connexions?" + </p> + <p> + "Suitable," said the doctor, gravely. + </p> + <p> + His fortune was of but little moment. Emily would be amply provided, for + all the customary necessaries of her station; and, thanking the divine, + Mrs. Wilson returned to the parlor, easy in mind, and determined to let + things take their own course for a time, but in no degree to relax the + vigilance of her observation. + </p> + <p> + On her return to the room, Mrs. Wilson observed Denbigh approach Egerton, + and enter into conversation of a general nature. It was the first time + anything more than unavoidable courtesies had passed between them. The + colonel appeared slightly uneasy under his novel situation, while, on the + other hand, his companion showed an anxiety to be on a more friendly + footing than heretofore. There was something mysterious in the feelings + manifested by both these gentlemen that greatly puzzled the good lady; and + from its complexion, she feared one or the other was not entirely free + from censure. It could not have been a quarrel, or their names would have + been familiar to each other. They had both served in Spain, she knew, and + excesses were often committed by gentlemen at a distance from home their + pride would have prevented where they were anxious to maintain a + character. Gambling, and a few other prominent vices, floated through her + imagination, until, wearied of conjectures where she had no data, and + supposing, after all, it might be only her imagination, the turned to more + pleasant reflections. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XII. + </h2> + <p> + The bright eyes of Emily Moseley unconsciously wandered round the + brilliant assemblage at Mr. Haughton's, as she took her seat, in search of + her partner. The rooms were filled with scarlet coats, and belles from the + little town of F----; and if the company were not the most select + imaginable, it was disposed to enjoy the passing moment cheerfully and in + lightness of heart. Ere, however, she could make out to scan the + countenances of the men, young Jarvis, decked in the full robes of his + dignity, as captain in the ----th foot, approached and solicited the honor + of her hand. The colonel had already secured her sister, and it was by the + instigation of his friend, Jarvis had been thus early in his application. + Emily thanked him, and pleaded her engagement. The mortified youth, who + had thought dancing with the ladies a favor conferred on them, from the + anxiety his sister always manifested to get partners, stood for a few + moments in sullen silence; and then, as if to be revenged on the sex, he + determined not to dance the whole evening. Accordingly, he withdrew to a + room appropriated to the gentlemen, where he found a few of the military + beaux, keeping alive the stimulus they had brought with them from the + mess-table. + </p> + <p> + Clara had prudently decided to comport herself as became a clergyman's + wife, and she declined dancing altogether. Catherine Chatterton was + entitled to open the ball, as superior in years and rank to any who were + disposed to enjoy the amusement. The dowager, who in her heart loved to + show her airs upon such occasions, had chosen to be later than the rest of + the family; and Lucy had to entreat her father to have patience more than + once during the interregnum in their sports created by Lady Chatterton's + fashion. This lady at length appeared, attended by her son, and followed + by her daughters, ornamented in all the taste of the reigning fashions. + Doctor Ives and his wife, who came late from choice, soon appeared, + accompanied by their guest, and the dancing commenced. Denbigh had thrown + aside his black for the evening, and as he approached to claim her + promised hand, Emily thought him, if not as handsome, much more + interesting than Colonel Egerton, who just then passed them while leading + her sister to the set. Emily danced beautifully, but perfectly like a + lady, as did Jane; but Denbigh, although graceful in his movements and in + time, knew but little of the art; and but for the assistance of his + partner, he would have more than once gone wrong in the figure. He very + gravely asked her opinion of his performance as he handed her to a chair, + and she laughingly told him his movements were but a better sort of march. + He was about to reply, when Jarvis approached. By the aid of a pint of + wine and his own reflections, the youth wrought himself into something of + a passion, especially as he saw Denbigh enter, after Emily had declined + dancing with himself. There was a gentleman in the corps who unfortunately + was addicted to the bottle, and he had fastened on Jarvis as a man at + leisure to keep him company. Wine openeth the heart, and the captain + having taken a peep at the dancers, and seen the disposition of affairs, + returned to his bottle companion, bursting with the indignity offered to + his person. He dropped a hint, and a question or two brought the whole + grievance forth. + </p> + <p> + There is a certain set of men in every service who imbibe extravagant + notions that are revolting to humanity, and which too often prove to be + fatal in their results. Their morals are never correct, and the little + they have set loosely about them. In their own cases, their appeals to + arms are not always so prompt; but in that of their friends, their + perceptions of honor are intuitively keen, and their inflexibility in + preserving it from reproach unbending; and such is the weakness of + mankind, their "tenderness on points where the nicer feelings of a soldier + are involved, that these machines of custom, these thermometers graduated + to the scale of false honor, usurp the place of reason and benevolence, + and become too often the arbiters of life and death to a whole corps. + Such, then, was the confidant to whom Jarvis communicated the cause of his + disgust, and the consequences may easily be imagined. As he passed Emily + and Denbigh, he threw a look of fierceness at the latter, which he meant + as an indication of his hostile intentions. It was lost on his rival, who + at that moment was filled with passions of a very different kind from + those which Captain Jarvis thought agitated his own bosom; for had his new + friend let him alone, the captain would have gone quietly home and gone to + sleep. + </p> + <p> + "Have you ever fought?" said Captain Digby coolly to his companion, as + they seated themselves in his father's parlor, whither they had retired to + make their arrangements for the following morning. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Jarvis, with a stupid look, "I fought once with Tom Halliday + at school." + </p> + <p> + "At school! My dear friend, you commenced young indeed," said Digby, + helping himself to another glass. "And how did it end?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Tom got the better, and so I cried enough," said Jarvis, surlily. + </p> + <p> + "Enough! I hope you did not flinch," eyeing him keenly "Where were you + hit?" + </p> + <p> + "He hit me all over." + </p> + <p> + "All over! The d---l! Did you use small shot? How did you fight?" + </p> + <p> + "With fists," said Jarvis, yawning. + </p> + <p> + His companion, seeing how matters were, rang for his servant to put him to + bed, remaining himself an hour longer to finish the bottle. + </p> + <p> + Soon after Jarvis had given Denbigh the look big with his intended + vengeance, Colonel Egerton approached Emily, asking permission to present + Sir Herbert Nicholson, the lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, and a + gentleman who was ambitious of the honor of her acquaintance; a particular + friend of his own. Emily gracefully bowed her assent. Soon after, turning + her eyes on Denbigh, who had been speaking to her at the moment, she saw + him looking intently on the two soldiers, who were making their way + through the crowd to the place where she sat. He stammered, said something + she could not understand, and precipitately withdrew; and although both + she and her aunt sought his figure in the gay throng that flitted around + them, he was seen no more that evening. + </p> + <p> + "Are you acquainted with Mr. Denbigh?" said Emily to her partner, after + looking in vain to find his person in the crowd. + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh! Denbigh! I have known one or two of that name" replied the + gentleman. "In the army there are several." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Emily, musing, "he is in the army;" and looking up, she saw + her companion reading her countenance with an expression that brought the + color to her cheeks with a glow that was painful. Sir Herbert smiled, and + observed that the room was warm. Emily acquiesced in the remark, for the + first time in her life conscious of a feeling she was ashamed to have + scrutinized, and glad of any excuse to hide her confusion. + </p> + <p> + "Grace Chatterton is really beautiful to-night," whispered John Moseley to + his sister Clara. "I have a mind to ask her to dance." + </p> + <p> + "Do, John." replied his sister, looking with pleasure on her beautiful + cousin, who, observing the movements of John as he drew near where she + sat, moved her face on each side rapidly, in search of some one who was + apparently not to be found. Her breathing became sensibly quicker, and + John was on the point of speaking to her as the dowager stepped in between + them. There is nothing so flattering to the vanity of a man as the + discovery of emotions in a young woman excited by himself, and which the + party evidently wishes to conceal; there is nothing so touching, so sure + to captivate; or, if it seem to be affected, so sure to disgust. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Mr. Moseley," cried the mother, "you shall not ask Grace to dance! + She can refuse you nothing, and she has been up the last two figures." + </p> + <p> + "Your wishes are irresistible, Lady Chatterton," said John, coolly turning + on his heel. On gaining the other side of the room, he turned to + reconnoitre the scene. The dowager was fanning herself as violently as if + <i>she</i> had been up the last two figures instead of her daughter, while + Grace sat with her eyes fastened on the floor, paler than usual. "Grace," + thought the young man, "would be very handsome--very sweet--very--very + everything that is agreeable, if--if it were not for Mother Chatterton." + He then led out one of the prettiest girls in the room. + </p> + <p> + Col. Egerton was peculiarly fitted to shine in a ball room. He danced + gracefully and with spirit; was perfectly at home with all the usages of + the best society, and was never neglectful of any of those little + courtesies which have their charm for the moment; and Jane Moseley, who + saw all those she loved around her, apparently as happy as herself, found + in her judgment or the convictions of her principles, no counterpoise + against the weight of such attractions, all centred as it were in one + effort to please herself. His flattery was deep for it was respectful--his + tastes were her tastes--his opinions her opinions. On the formation of + their acquaintance they differed on some trifling point of poetical + criticism, and for near a month the colonel had maintained his opinion + with a show of firmness; but opportunities not wanting for the discussion, + he had felt constrained to yield to her better judgment, her purer taste. + The conquest of Colonel Egerton was complete, and Jane who saw in his + attentions the submission of a devoted heart, began to look forward to the + moment with trembling that was to remove the thin barrier that existed + between the adulation of the eyes and the most delicate assiduity to + please, and the open confidence of declared love. Jane Moseley had a heart + to love, and to love strongly; her danger existed in her imagination: it + was brilliant, unchastened by her judgment, we had almost said unfettered + by her principles. Principles such as are found in every-day maxims and + rules of conduct sufficient to restrain her within the bounds of perfect + decorum she was furnished with in abundance; but to that principle which + was to teach her submission in opposition to her wishes, to that principle + that could alone afford her security against the treachery of her own + passions, she was an utter stranger. + </p> + <p> + The family of Sir Edward were, among the first to retire, and as the + Chattertons had their own carriage, Mrs. Wilson and her charge returned + alone in the coach of the former. Emily, who had been rather out of + spirits the latter-part of the evening, broke the silence by suddenly + observing, + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Egerton is, or soon will be, a perfect hero!" + </p> + <p> + Her aunt somewhat surprised, both with the abruptness and with the + strength of the remark, inquired her meaning. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Jane will make him one, whether or not." + </p> + <p> + This was spoken with an air of vexation which she was unused to, and Mrs. + Wilson gravely corrected her for speaking in a disrespectful manner of her + sister, one whom neither her years nor situation entitled her in any + measure to advise or control. There was an impropriety in judging so near + and dear a relation harshly, even in thought. Emily pressed the hand of + her aunt and tremulously acknowledged her error; but she added, that she + felt a momentary irritation at the idea of a man of Colonel Egerton's + character gaining the command over feelings such as her sister possessed. + Mrs. Wilson kissed the cheek of her niece, while she inwardly acknowledged + the probable truth of the very remark she had thought it her duty to + censure. That the imagination of Jane would supply her lover with those + qualities she most honored herself, she believed was taken as a matter of + course; and that when the veil she had helped to throw before her own eyes + was removed, she would cease to respect, and of course cease to love him, + when too late to remedy the evil, she greatly feared. But in the + approaching fate of Jane she saw new cause to call forth her own activity. + </p> + <p> + Emily Moseley had just completed her eighteenth year, and was gifted by + nature with a vivacity and ardency of feeling that gave a heightened zest + to the enjoyments of that happy age. She was artless but intelligent; + cheerful, with a deep conviction of the necessity of piety; and uniform in + her practice of all the important duties. The unwearied exertions of her + aunt, aided by her own quickness of perception, had made her familiar with + the attainments suitable to her sex and years. For music she had no taste, + and the time which would have been thrown away in endeavoring to cultivate + a talent she did not possess, was dedicated under the discreet guidance of + her aunt, to works which had a tendency both to qualify her for the duties + of this life, and fit her for that which comes hereafter. It might be said + Emily Moseley had never read a book that contained a sentiment or + inculcated an opinion improper for her sex or dangerous to her morals; and + it was not difficult for those who knew the fact, to fancy they could + perceive the consequences in her guileless countenance and innocent + deportment. Her looks--her actions--her thoughts, wore as much of nature + as the discipline of her well-regulated mind and softened manners could + admit. In person she was of the middle size, exquisitely formed, graceful + and elastic in her step, without, however, the least departure from her + natural movements; her eye was a dark blue, with an expression of joy and + intelligence; at times it seemed all soul, and again all heart; her color + was rather high, but it varied with every emotion of her bosom; her + feelings were strong, ardent, and devoted to those she loved. Her + preceptress had never found it necessary to repeat an admonition of any + kind, since her arrival at years to discriminate between the right and the + wrong. + </p> + <p> + "I wish," said Doctor Ives to his wife, the evening his son had asked + their permission to address Clara, "Francis had chosen my little Emily." + </p> + <p> + "Clara is a good girl," replied his wife; "she is so mild, so + affectionate, that I doubt not she will make him happy--Frank might have + done worse at the Hall." + </p> + <p> + "For himself he has done well, I hope," said the father, "a young woman of + Clara's heart may make any man happy but a union with purity, sense, + principles, like those of Emily would be more--it would be blissful." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Ives smiled at her husband's animation. "You remind me more of the + romantic youth I once knew than of the grave divine. There is but one man + I know that I could wish to give Emily to; it is Lumley. If Lumley sees + her, he will woo her; and if he wooes, he will win her." + </p> + <p> + "And Lumley I believe to be worthy of her," cried the rector, now taking + up a candle to retire for the night. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XIII. + </h2> + <p> + The following day brought a large party of the military <i>elegants</i> to + the Hall, in acceptance of the baronet's hospitable invitation to dinner. + Lady Moseley was delighted; so long as her husband's or her children's + interest had demanded a sacrifice of her love of society it had been made + without a sigh, almost without a thought. The ties of affinity in her were + sacred; and to the happiness, the comfort of those in which she felt an + interest, there were few sacrifices of her own propensities she would not + cheerfully have made: it was this very love of her offspring that made her + anxious to dispose of her daughters in wedlock. Her own marriage had been + so happy, that she naturally concluded it the state most likely to ensure + the happiness of her children; and with Lady Moseley, as with thousands of + others, who averse or unequal to the labors of investigation, jump to + conclusions over the long line of connecting reasons, marriage was + marriage, a husband was a husband. It is true there were certain + indispensables, without which the formation of a connexion was a thing she + considered not within the bounds of nature. There must be fitness in + fortune, in condition, in education, and manners; there must be no glaring + evil, although she did not ask for positive good. A professor of religion + herself, had any one told her it was a duty of her calling to guard + against a connexion with any but a Christian for her girls, she would have + wondered at the ignorance that would embarrass the married state, with + feelings exclusively belonging to the individual. Had any one told her it + were possible to give her child to any but a gentleman, she would have + wondered at the want of feeling that could devote the softness of Jane or + Emily, to the association with rudeness or vulgarity. It was the + misfortune of Lady Moseley to limit her views of marriage to the scene of + this life, forgetful that every union gives existence to a long line of + immortal beings, whose future welfare depends greatly on the force of + early examples, or the strength of early impressions. + </p> + <p> + The necessity for restriction in their expenditures had ceased, and the + baronet and his wife greatly enjoyed the first opportunity their secluded + situation had given them, to draw around their board their + fellow-creatures of their own stamp. In the former, it was pure + philanthropy; the same feeling urged him to seek out and relieve distress + in humble life; while in the latter it was love of station and seemliness. + It was becoming the owner of Moseley Hall, and it was what the daughters + of the Benfield family had done since the conquest. + </p> + <p> + "I am extremely sorry," said the good baronet at dinner, "Mr. Denbigh + declined our invitation to-day; I hope he will yet ride over in the + evening." + </p> + <p> + Looks of a singular import were exchanged between Colonel Egerton and Sir + Herbert Nicholson, at the mention of Denbigh's name; which, as the latter + had just asked the favor of taking wine with Mrs. Wilson, did not escape + her notice. Emily had innocently mentioned his precipitate retreat the + night before; and he had, when reminded of his engagement to dine with + them that very day, and promised an introduction to Sir Herbert Nicholson + by John, in her presence, suddenly excused himself and withdrawn. With an + indefinite suspicion of something wrong, she ventured, therefore, to + address Sir Herbert Nicholson. + </p> + <p> + "Did you know Mr. Denbigh, in Spain?" + </p> + <p> + "I told Miss Emily Moseley, I believe, last evening, that I knew some of + the name," replied the gentleman evasively; then pausing a moment, he + added with great emphasis, "there is a circumstance connected with <i>one</i> + of that name, I shall ever remember." + </p> + <p> + "It was creditable, no doubt, Sir Herbert," cried young Jarvis, + sarcastically. The soldier affected not to hear the question, and asked + Jane to take wine with him. Lord Chatterton, however, putting his knife + and fork down gravely, and with a glow of animation, observed with unusual + spirit, + </p> + <p> + "I have no doubt it was, sir." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis in his turn, affected not to hear this speech, and nothing farther + was said, as Sir Edward saw that the name of Mr. Denbigh excited a + sensation amongst his guests for which he was unable to account, and which + he soon forgot himself. + </p> + <p> + After the company had retired, Lord Chatterton, however, related to the + astonished and indignant family of the baronet the substance of the + following scene, of which he had been a witness that morning, while on a + visit to Denbigh at the rectory. They had been sitting in the parlor by + themselves, over their breakfast, when a Captain Digby was announced. + </p> + <p> + "I have the honor of waiting upon you, Mr. Denbigh," said the soldier, + with the stiff formality of a professed duellist, "on behalf of Captain + Jarvis, but will postpone my business until you are at leisure," glancing + his eye on Chatterton. + </p> + <p> + "I know of no business with Captain Jarvis," said Denbigh, politely + handing the stranger a chair, "to which Lord Chatterton cannot be privy; + if he will excuse the interruption. The nobleman bowed, and Captain Digby, + a little awed by the rank of Denbigh's friend, proceeded in a more + measured manner. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis has empowered me, sir, to make any arrangement with + yourself or friend, previously to your meeting, which he hopes may be as + soon as possible, if convenient to yourself," replied the soldier, coolly. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh viewed him for a moment with astonishment, in silence; when + recollecting himself, he said mildly, and without the least agitation, "I + cannot affect, sir, not to understand your meaning, but am at a loss to + imagine what act of mine can have made Mr. Jarvis wish to make such an + appeal." + </p> + <p> + "Surely Mr. Denbigh cannot think a man of Captain Jarvis's spirit can + quietly submit to the indignity put upon him last evening, by your dancing + with Miss Moseley, after she had declined the honor to himself," said the + captain, affecting an incredulous smile. "My Lord Chatterton and myself + can easily settle the preliminaries, as Captain Jarvis is much disposed to + consult your wishes, sir, in this affair." + </p> + <p> + "If he consults my wishes," said Denbigh, smiling, "he will think no more + about it." + </p> + <p> + "At what time, sir, will it be convenient to give him the meeting?" then, + speaking with a kind of bravado gentlemen of his cast are fond of + assuming, "my friend would not hurry any settlement of your affairs." + </p> + <p> + "I can never meet Captain Jarvis with hostile intentions," replied + Denbigh, calmly. + </p> + <p> + "Sir!" + </p> + <p> + "I decline the combat, sir," said Denbigh, with more firmness. + </p> + <p> + "Your reasons, sir, if you please?" asked Captain Digby compressing his + lips, and drawing up with an air of personal interest. + </p> + <p> + "Surely," cried Chatterton, who had with difficulty estrained his + feelings, "surely Mr. Denbigh could never so far forget himself as cruelly + to expose Miss Moseley by accepting this invitation." + </p> + <p> + "Your reason, my lord," said Denbigh, with interest, "would at all times + have its weight; but I wish not to qualify an act of what I conceive to be + principle by any lesser consideration. I cannot meet Captain Jarvis, or + any other man, in private combat. There can exist no necessity for an + appeal to arms in any society where the laws rule, and I am averse to + bloodshed." + </p> + <p> + "Very extraordinary," muttered Captain Digby, somewhat at a loss how to + act; but the calm and collected manner of Denbigh prevented a reply; and + after declining a cup of tea, a liquor he never drank, he withdrew, saying + he would acquaint his friend with Mr. Denbigh's singular notions. + </p> + <p> + Captain Digby had left Jarvis at an inn, about half a mile from the + rectory, for the convenience of receiving early information of the result + of his conference. The young man had walked up and down the room during + Digby's absence, in a train of reflections entirely new to him. He was the + only son of his aged father and mother, the protector of his sisters, and, + he might say, the sole hope of a rising family; and then, possibly, + Denbigh might not have meant to offend him--he might even have been + engaged before they came to the house; or if not, it might have been + inadvertence on the part of Miss Moseley. That Denbigh would offer some + explanation he believed, and he had fully made up his mind to accept it, + let it be what it might, as his fighting friend entered. + </p> + <p> + "Well," said Jarvis, in a tone that denoted anything but a consciousness + that all <i>was</i> well. + </p> + <p> + "He says he will not meet you," dryly exclaimed his friend, throwing + himself into a chair, and ordering a glass of brandy and water. + </p> + <p> + "Not meet me!" exclaimed Jarvis, in surprise. "Engaged, perhaps?" + </p> + <p> + "Engaged to his d--d conscience." + </p> + <p> + "To his conscience! I do not know whether I rightly understand you, + Captain Digby," said Jarvis, catching his breath, and raising his voice a + very little. + </p> + <p> + "Then, Captain Jarvis," said his friend, tossing off his brandy, and + speaking with great deliberation, "he says that nothing--understand me--<i>nothing</i> + will ever make him fight a duel." + </p> + <p> + "He will not!" cried Jarvis, in a loud voice. + </p> + <p> + "No, he will not," said Digby, handing his glass to the waiter for a fresh + supply. + </p> + <p> + "He shall, by----!" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know how you will make him." + </p> + <p> + "Make him! I'll--I'll post him." + </p> + <p> + "Never do that," said the captain, turning to him, as he leaned his elbows + on the table. "It only makes both parties ridiculous. But I'll tell you + what you may do. There's a Lord Chatterton who takes the matter up with + warmth. If I were not afraid of his interests hurting my promotion, I + should have resented something that fell from him myself. He will fight, I + dare say, and I'll just return and require an explanation of his words on + your behalf." + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said Jarvis, rather hastily; "he--<i>he</i> is related to the + Moseleys, and I have views there it might injure." + </p> + <p> + "Did you think to forward your views by making the young lady the subject + of a duel?" asked Captain Digby sarcastically, and eyeing his companion + with contempt. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said Jarvis; "it would certainly hurt my views." + </p> + <p> + "Here's to the health of His Majesty's gallant ---- regiment of foot!" + cried Captain Digby, in a tone of irony, when three-quarters drunk, at the + mess-table, that evening, "and to its champion, Captain Henry Jarvis!" + </p> + <p> + One of the corps was present accidentally as a guest; and the following + week, the inhabitants of F---- saw the regiment in their barracks, + marching to slow time after the body of Horace Digby. + </p> + <p> + Lord Chatterton, in relating the part of the foregoing circumstances which + fell under his observation, did ample justice to the conduct of Denbigh; a + degree of liberality which did him no little credit, as he plainly saw in + that gentleman he had, or soon would have, a rival in the dearest wish of + his heart; and the smiling approbation with which his cousin Emily + rewarded him for his candor almost sickened him with apprehension. The + ladies were not slow in expressing their disgust at the conduct of Jarvis, + or backward in their approval of Denbigh's forbearance. Lady Moseley + turned with horror from a picture in which she could see nothing but + murder and bloodshed; but both Mrs. Wilson and her niece secretly + applauded a sacrifice of worldly feelings on the altar of duty; the former + admiring the consistent refusal of admitting any collateral inducements, + in explanation of his decision: the latter, while she saw the act in its + true colors, could hardly help believing that a regard for <i>her</i> + feelings had, in a trifling degree, its influence in inducing him to + decline the meeting. Mrs. Wilson saw at once what a hold such unusual + conduct would take on the feelings of her niece, and inwardly determined + to increase, if possible, the watchfulness she had invariably observed on + all he said or did, as likely to elucidate his real character, well + knowing that the requisites to bring or to keep happiness in the married + state were numerous and indispensable; and that the display of a + particular excellence, however good in itself, was by no means conclusive + as to character; in short, that we perhaps as often meet with a favorite + principle as with a besetting sin. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XIV. + </h2> + <p> + Sir Edward Moseley had some difficulty in restraining the impetuosity of + his son, who was disposed to resent this impertinent interference of young + Jarvis with the conduct of his favorite sister; indeed, the young man only + yielded to his profound respect to his father's commands, aided by a + strong representation on the part of his sister of the disagreeable + consequences of connecting her name with such a quarrel. It was seldom the + good baronet felt himself called on to act as decidedly as on the present + occasion. He spoke to the merchant in warm, but gentleman-like terms, of + the consequences which might have resulted to his own child from the + intemperate act of his son; exculpated Emily entirely from censure, by + explaining her engagement to dance with Denbigh, previously to Captain + Jarvis's application; and hinted the necessity, if the affair was not + amicably terminated, of protecting the peace of mind of his daughters + against any similar exposures, by declining the acquaintance of a neighbor + he respected as much as Mr. Jarvis. + </p> + <p> + The merchant was a man of few words, but of great promptitude. He had made + his fortune, and more than once saved it, by his decision; and assuring + the baronet he should hear no more of it, he took his hat and hurried home + from the village, where the conversation passed. On arriving at his own + house, he found the family collected in the parlor for a morning ride, and + throwing himself into a chair, he broke out on the whole party with great + violence. + </p> + <p> + "So, Mrs. Jarvis," he cried, "you <i>would</i> spoil a very tolerable + book-keeper, by wishing to have a soldier in your family; and there stands + the puppy who would have blown out the brains of a deserving young man, if + the good sense of Mr. Denbigh had not denied him the opportunity." + </p> + <p> + "Mercy!" cried the alarmed matron, on whom Newgate (for her early life had + been passed near its walls), with all its horrors, floated, and a + contemplation of its punishments had been her juvenile lessons of + morality--"Harry! Harry! would you commit murder?" + </p> + <p> + "Murder!" echoed her son, looking askance, as if dodging the bailiffs. + "No, mother; I wanted nothing but what was fair. Mr. Denbigh would have + had an equal chance to blow out my brains; I am sure everything would have + been fair." + </p> + <p> + "Equal chance!" muttered his father, who had cooled himself, in some + measure, by an extra pinch of snuff. "No, sir, you have no brains to lose. + But I have promised Sir Edward that you shall make proper apologies to + himself, to his daughter, and to Mr. Denbigh." This was rather exceeding + the truth, but the alderman prided himself on performing rather more than + he promised. + </p> + <p> + "Apology!" exclaimed the captain. "Why, sir, the apology is due to me. Ask + Colonel Egerton if he ever heard of apologies being made by the + challenger." + </p> + <p> + "No, sure," said the mother, who, having made out the truth of the matter, + thought it was likely enough to be creditable to her child; "Colonel + Egerton never heard of such a thing. Did you, colonel?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, madam," said the colonel, hesitatingly, and politely handing the + merchant his snuff-box, which, in his agitation, had fallen on the floor, + "circumstances sometimes justify a departure from ordinary measures. You + are certainly right as a rule; but not knowing the particulars in the + present case, it is difficult for me to decide. Miss Jarvis, the tilbury + is ready." + </p> + <p> + The colonel bowed respectfully to the merchant, kissed his hand to his + wife, and led their daughter to his carriage. + </p> + <p> + "Do you make the apologies?" asked Mr. Jarvis, as the door closed. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir," replied the captain, sullenly. + </p> + <p> + "Then you must make your pay answer for the next six months," cried the + father, taking a signed draft on his banker from his pocket, coolly + tearing it in two pieces, carefully putting the name in his mouth, and + chewing it into a ball. + </p> + <p> + "Why, alderman," said his wife (a name she never used unless she had + something to gain from her spouse, who loved to hear the appellation after + he had relinquished the office), "it appears to me that Harry has shown + nothing but a proper spirit. You are unkind--indeed you are." + </p> + <p> + "A proper spirit? In what way? Do you know anything of the matter?" + </p> + <p> + "It is a proper spirit for a soldier to fight, I suppose," said the wife, + a little at a loss to explain. + </p> + <p> + "Spirit, or no spirit, apology, or ten and sixpence." + </p> + <p> + "Harry," said his mother, holding up her finger in a menacing attitude, as + soon as her husband had left the room (for he had last spoken with the + door in his hand), "if you <i>do</i> beg his pardon, you are no son of + mine." + </p> + <p> + "No," cried Miss Sarah, "nor any brother of mine. It would be insufferably + mean." + </p> + <p> + "Who will pay my debts?" asked the son, looking up at the ceiling. + </p> + <p> + "Why, I would, my child, if--if--I had not spent my own allowance." + </p> + <p> + "I would," echoed the sister; "but if we go to Bath, you know, I shall + want all my money." + </p> + <p> + "Who will pay my debts?" repeated the son. + </p> + <p> + "Apology, indeed! Who is he, that you, a son of Alderman--of--Mr. Jarvis, + of the deanery, B----, North 'amptonshire, should beg his pardon--a + vagrant that nobody knows!" + </p> + <p> + "Who will pay my debts?" again inquired the captain drumming with his + foot. + </p> + <p> + "Harry," exclaimed the mother, "do you love money better than honor--a + soldier's honor?" + </p> + <p> + "No, mother; but I like good eating and drinking. Think mother; it's a + cool five hundred, and that's a famous deal of money." + </p> + <p> + "Harry," cried the mother, in a rage, "you are not fit for a soldier. I + wish I were in your place." + </p> + <p> + "I wish, with all my heart, you had been for an hour this morning," + thought the son. After arguing for some time longer, they compromised, by + agreeing to leave it to the decision of Colonel Egerton, who, the mother + did not doubt, would applaud her maintaining the Jarvis dignity, a family + in which he took quite as much interest as he felt for his own--so he had + told her fifty times. The captain, however, determined within himself to + touch the five hundred, let the colonel decide as he might; but the + colonel's decision obviated all difficulties. The question was put to him + by Mrs. Jarvis, on his return from the airing, with no doubt the decision + would be favorable to her opinion. The colonel and herself, she said, + never disagreed; and the lady was right--for wherever his interest made it + desirable to convert Mrs. Jarvis to his side of the question, Egerton had + a manner of doing it that never failed to succeed. + </p> + <p> + "Why, madam," said he, with one of his most agreeable smiles, "apologies + are different things, at different times. You are certainly right in your + sentiments, as relates to a proper spirit in a soldier; but no one can + doubt the spirit of the captain, after the stand he took in this affair; + if Mr. Denbigh would not meet him (a very extraordinary measure, in deed, + I confess), what can your son do more? He cannot <i>make</i> a man fight + against his will, you know." + </p> + <p> + "True, true," cried the matron, impatiently, "I do not want him to fight; + heaven forbid! but why should he, the challenger, beg pardon? I am sure, + to have the thing regular, Mr. Denbigh is the one to ask forgiveness." + </p> + <p> + The colonel felt at a little loss how to reply, when Jarvis, in whom the + thoughts of the five hundred pounds had worked a revolution, exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "You know, mother, I accused him--that is, I suspected him of dancing with + Miss Moseley against my right to her; now you find that it was all a + mistake, and so I had better act with dignity, and confess my error." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, by all means," cried the colonel, who saw the danger of an + embarrassing rupture between the families, otherwise: "delicacy to <i>your</i> + sex particularly requires that, ma'am, from your son;" and he accidentally + dropped a letter as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + "From Sir Edgar, colonel?" asked Mrs. Jarvis, as he stooped to pick it up. + </p> + <p> + "From Sir Edgar, ma'am, and he begs to be remembered to yourself and all + of your amiable family." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Jarvis inclined her body, in what she intended for a graceful bend, + and sighed--a casual observer might have thought, with maternal anxiety + for the reputation of her child--but it was conjugal regret, that the + political obstinacy of the alderman had prevented his carrying up an + address, and thus becoming Sir Timothy. Sir Edgar's heir prevailed, and + the captain received permission to do what he had done several hours + before. + </p> + <p> + On leaving the room, after the first discussion, and before the appeal, + the captain had hastened to his father with his concessions. The old + gentleman knew too well the influence of five hundred pounds to doubt the + effect in the present instance, and he had ordered his carriage for the + excursion. It came, and to the hall they proceeded. The captain found his + intended antagonist, and in a rather uncouth manner, he made the required + concession. He was restored to his former favor--no great distinction--and + his visits to the hall were suffered, but with a dislike Emily could never + conquer, nor at all times conceal. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was occupied with a book, when Jarvis commenced his speech to the + baronet and his daughter, and was apparently too much engaged with its + contents, to understand what was going on, as the captain blundered + through. It was necessary, the captain saw by a glance of his father's + eyes, to say something to that gentleman, who had delicately withdrawn to + a distant window. His speech was consequently made here too, and Mrs. + Wilson could not avoid stealing a look at them. Denbigh smiled, and bowed + in silence. It is enough, thought the widow; the offence was not against + him, it was against his Maker; he should not arrogate to himself, in any + manner, the right to forgive, or to require apologies--the whole is + consistent. The subject was never afterwards alluded to: Denbigh appeared + to have forgotten it; and Jane sighed gently, as she devoutly hoped the + colonel was not a duellist. + </p> + <p> + Several days passed before the deanery ladies could sufficiently forgive + the indignity their family had sustained, to resume the customary + intercourse. Like all other grievances, where the passions are chiefly + interested, it was forgotten in time, however, and things were put in some + measure on their former footing. The death of Digby served to increase the + horror of the Moseleys, and Jarvis himself felt rather uncomfortable, on + more accounts than one, at the fatal termination of the unpleasant + business. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton, who to his friends had not hesitated to avow his attachment to + his cousin, but who had never proposed for her, as his present views and + fortune were not, in his estimation, sufficient for her proper support, + had pushed every interest he possessed, and left no steps unattempted an + honorable man could resort to, to effect his object. The desire to provide + for his sisters had been backed by the ardor of a passion that had reached + its crisis; and the young peer who could not, in the present state of + things, abandon the field to a rival so formidable as Denbigh, even to + further his views to preferment, was waiting in anxious suspense the + decision on his application. A letter from his friend informed him, his + opponent was likely to succeed; that, in short, all hopes of success had + left him. Chatterton was in despair. On the following day, however, he + received a second letter from the same friend, unexpectedly announcing his + appointment. After mentioning the fact, he went on to say--"The cause of + this sudden revolution in your favor is unknown to me, and unless your + lordship has obtained interest I am ignorant of, it is one of the most + singular instances of ministerial caprice I have ever known." Chatterton + was as much at a loss as his friend, to understand the affair; but it + mattered not; he could now offer to Emily--it was a patent office of great + value, and a few years would amply portion his sisters. That very day, + therefore, he proposed, and was refused. + </p> + <p> + Emily had a difficult task to avoid self-reproach, in regulating her + deportment on this occasion. She was fond of Chatterton as a relation--as + her brother's friend--as the brother of Grace, and even on his own + account; but it was the fondness of a sister. His manner--his words, + which, although never addressed to herself, were sometimes overheard + unintentionally, and sometimes reached her through her sisters, had left + her in no doubt of his attachment; she was excessively grieved at the + discovery, and had innocently appealed to her aunt for directions how to + proceed. Of his intentions she had no doubt, but at the same time he had + not put her in a situation to dispel his hopes; as to encouragement, in + the usual meaning of the term, she gave none to him, nor to any one else. + There are no little attentions that lovers are fond of showing to their + mistresses, and which mistresses are fond of receiving, that Emily ever + permitted to any gentleman--no rides--no walks--no tête-à-têtes. + Always natural and unaffected, there was a simple dignity about her that + forbade the request, almost the thought, in the gentlemen of her + acquaintance: she had no amusements, no pleasures of any kind in which her + sisters were not her companions; and if anything was on the carpet that + required an attendant, John was ever ready. He was devoted to her; the + decided preference she gave him over every other man, upon such occasions, + flattered his affection; and he would, at any time, leave even Grace + Chatterton to attend his sister. All this too was without affectation, and + generally without notice. Emily so looked the delicacy and reserve she + acted with so little ostentation that not even her own sex had affixed to + her conduct the epithet of squeamish; it was difficult, therefore, for her + to do anything which would show Lord Chatterton her disinclination to his + suit, without assuming a dislike she did not feel, or giving him slights + that neither good breeding nor good nature could justify. At one time, + indeed, she had expressed a wish to return to Clara; but this Mrs. Wilson + thought would only protract the evil, and she was compelled to wait his + own time. The peer himself did not rejoice more in his ability to make the + offer, therefore, than Emily did to have it in her power to decline it. + Her rejection was firm and unqualified, but uttered with a grace and a + tenderness to his feelings, that bound her lover tighter than ever in her + chains, and he resolved on immediate flight as his only recourse. + </p> + <p> + "I hope nothing unpleasant has occurred to Lord Chatterton," said Denbigh, + with great interest, as he reached the spot where the young peer stood + leaning his head against a tree, on his way from the rectory to the hall. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton raised his face as he spoke: there were evident traces of tears + on it, and Denbigh, greatly shocked, was about to proceed as the other + caught his arm. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh," said the young man, in a voice almost choked with emotion, + "may you never know the pain I have felt this morning. Emily--Emily + Moseley--is lost to me--for ever." + </p> + <p> + For a moment the blood rushed to the face of Denbigh, and his eyes flashed + with a look that Chatterton could not stand. He turned, as the voice of + Denbigh, in those remarkable tones which distinguished it from every other + voice he had ever heard, uttered-- + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton, my lord, we are friends, I hope--I wish it; from my heart." + </p> + <p> + "Go, Mr. Denbigh--go. You were going to Miss Moseley--do not let me detain + you." "I am going with <i>you</i>, Lord Chatterton, unless you forbid it," + said Denbigh, with emphasis, slipping his arm through that of the peer. + </p> + <p> + For two hours they walked together in the park; and when they appeared at + dinner, Emily wondered why Mr. Denbigh had taken a seat next to her + mother, instead of his usual place between herself and her aunt. In the + evening, he announced his intention of leaving B---- for a short time with + Lord Chatterton. They were going to London together; but he hoped to + return within ten days. This sudden determination caused some surprise; + but, as the dowager supposed it was to secure the new situation, and the + remainder of their friends thought it might be business, it was soon + forgotten, though much regretted for the time. The gentlemen left the hall + that night to proceed to an inn, from which they could obtain a chaise and + horses; and the following morning, when the baronet's family assembled + around their social breakfast, they were many miles on the road to the + metropolis. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XV. + </h2> + <p> + Lady Chatterton, finding that little was to be expected in her present + situation, excepting what she looked forward to from the varying + admiration of John Moseley to her youngest daughter, determined to accept + an invitation of some standing to a nobleman's seat about fifty miles from + the hall, and, in order to keep things in their proper places, to leave + Grace with her friends, who had expressed a wish to that effect. + Accordingly, the day succeeding the departure of her son, she proceeded on + her expedition, accompanied by her willing assistant in the matrimonial + speculations. + </p> + <p> + Grace Chatterton was by nature retiring and delicate; but her feelings + were acute, and on the subject of female propriety sensitive to a degree, + that the great want of it in a relation she loved as much as her mother + had possibly in some measure increased. Her affections were too single in + their objects to have left her long in doubt as to their nature with + respect to the baronet's son; and it was one of the most painful orders + she had ever received, that which compelled her to accept her cousin's + invitation. Her mother was peremptory, however, and Grace was obliged to + comply. Every delicate feeling she possessed revolted at the step: the + visit itself was unwished for on her part; but there did exist a reason + which had reconciled her to that--the wedding of Clara. But now to remain, + after all her family had gone, in the house where resided the man who had + as yet never solicited those affections she had been unable to withhold, + it was humiliating--it was degrading her in her own esteem, and she could + scarcely endure it. + </p> + <p> + It is said that women are fertile in inventions to further their schemes + of personal gratification, vanity, or even mischief. It may be it is true; + but the writer of these pages is a man--one who has seen much of the other + sex, and he is happy to have an opportunity of paying a tribute to female + purity and female truth. That there are hearts so disinterested as to lose + the considerations of self, in advancing the happiness of those they love; + that there are minds so pure as to recoil with disgust from the admission + of deception, indelicacy, or management, he knows; for he has seen it from + long and close examination. He regrets that the very artlessness of those + who are most pure in the one sex, subjects them to the suspicions of the + grosser materials which compose the other. He believes that innocency, + singleness of heart, ardency of feeling, and unalloyed, shrinking + delicacy, sometimes exist in the female bosom, to an extent that but few + men are happy enough to discover, and that most men believe incompatible + with the frailties of human nature. Grace Chatterton possessed no little + of what may almost be called this ethereal spirit and a visit to Bolton + parsonage was immediately proposed by her to Emily. The latter, too + innocent herself to suspect the motives of her cousin, was happy to be + allowed to devote a fortnight to Clara, uninterrupted by the noisy round + of visiting and congratulations which had attended her first week; and + Mrs. Wilson and the two girls left the hall the same day with the Dowager + Lady Chatterton. Francis and Clara were happy to receive them, and they + were immediately domesticated in their new abode. Doctor Ives and his wife + had postponed an annual visit to a relation of the former on account of + the marriage of their son, and they now availed themselves of this visit + to perform their own engagement. B---- appeared in some measure deserted, + and Egerton had the field almost to himself. Summer had arrived, and the + country bloomed in all its luxuriance of vegetation: everything was + propitious to the indulgence of the softer passions; and Lady Moseley, + ever a strict adherent to forms and decorum, admitted the intercourse + between Jane and her admirer to be carried to as great lengths as those + forms would justify. Still the colonel was not explicit; and Jane, whose + delicacy dreaded the exposure of feelings that was involved in his + declaration, gave or sought no marked opportunities for the avowal of his + passion. Yet they were seldom separate, and both Sir Edward and his wife + looked forward to their future union as a thing not to be doubted. Lady + Moseley had given up her youngest child so absolutely to the government of + her aunt, that she seldom thought of her future establishment. She had + that kind of reposing confidence in Mrs. Wilson's proceedings that feeble + minds ever bestow on those who are much superior to them; and she even + approved of a system in many respects which she could not endeavor to + imitate. Her affection for Emily was not, however, less than what she felt + for her other children: she was, in fact, her favorite, and, had the + discipline of Mrs. Wilson admitted of so weak an interference, might have + been injured as such. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley had been able to find out exactly the hour they breakfasted + at the deanery, the length of time it took Egerton's horses to go the + distance between that house and the hall; and on the sixth morning after + the departure of his aunt, John's bays were in his phaeton, and allowing + ten minutes for the mile and a half to the park gates, John had got + happily off his own territories, before he met the tilbury travelling + eastward. I am not to know which road the colonel may turn, thought John: + and after a few friendly, but rather hasty greetings, the bays were again + in full trot to the parsonage. + </p> + <p> + "John," said Emily, holding out her hand affectionately, and smiling a + little archly, as he approached the window where she stood, "you should + take a lesson in driving from Frank; you have turned more than one hair, I + believe." + </p> + <p> + "How is Clara?" cried John, hastily, taking the offered hand, with a kiss, + "aye, and aunt Wilson?" + </p> + <p> + "Both well, brother, and out walking this fine morning." + </p> + <p> + "How happens it you are not with them?" inquired the brother, throwing his + eyes round the room. "Have they left you alone?" + </p> + <p> + "No Grace has this moment left me." + </p> + <p> + "Well, Emily," said John, taking his seat very composedly, but keeping his + eyes on the door, "I have come to dine with you. I thought I owed Clara a + visit, and have managed nicely to give the colonel the go-by." + </p> + <p> + "Clara will be happy to see you, dear John, and so will aunt, and so am + I"--as she drew aside his fine hair with her fingers to cool his forehead. + </p> + <p> + "And why not Grace, too?" asked John, with a look of a little alarm. + </p> + <p> + "And Grace, too, I fancy--but here she is, to answer for herself." + </p> + <p> + Grace said little on her entrance, but her eyes were brighter than usual, + and she looked so contented and happy that Emily observed to her, in an + affectionate manner-- + </p> + <p> + "I knew the eau-de-Cologne would do your head good." + </p> + <p> + "Is Miss Chatterton unwell?" asked John, with a look of interest. + </p> + <p> + "A slight headache," said Grace, faintly, "but I feel much better." + </p> + <p> + "Want of air and exercise: my horses are at the door; phaeton will hold + three easily; run, sister, for your hat," almost pushing Emily out of the + room as he spoke. In a few minutes the horses might have been suffering + for air, but surely not for exercise. + </p> + <p> + "I wish," cried John, with impatience, when at the distance of a couple of + miles from the parsonage, "that gentleman had driven his gig out of the + road." + </p> + <p> + There was a small group on one side of the road, consisting of a man, a + woman, and several children. The owner of the gig had alighted, and was in + the act of speaking to them, as the phaeton approached at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + "John," cried Emily, in terror, "You never can pass--you will upset us." + </p> + <p> + "There is no danger, dear Grace," said the brother, endeavoring to check + his horses; he succeeded in part, but not so as to prevent his passing at + a spot where the road was very narrow; a wheel hit violently against a + stone, and some of his works gave way. The gentleman immediately hastened + to his assistance--it was Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Moseley!" cried he, in a voice of the tenderest interest "you are + not hurt in the least, I hope." + </p> + <p> + "No," said Emily, recovering her breath, "only frightened;" and taking his + hand, she sprang from the carriage. + </p> + <p> + Miss Chatterton found courage to wait quietly for the care of John. His + "dear Grace," had thrilled on every nerve, and she afterwards often + laughed at Emily for her terror when there was so little danger. The + horses were not in the least frightened, and after a little mending, John + declared all was safe. To ask Emily to enter, the carriage again, was to + exact no little sacrifice of her feelings to her reason; and she stood in + a suspense that too plainly showed that, the terror she had been in had + not left her. + </p> + <p> + "If," said Denbigh, modestly, "if Mr. Moseley will take the ladies in my + gig, I will drive the phaeton to the hall, as it is rather unsafe for so + heavy a load." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, Denbigh," said John, coolly, "you are not used to such mettled + nags as mine--it would be indiscreet for you to drive them: if, however, + you will be good enough to take Emily into your gig--Grace Chatterton, I + am sure, is not afraid to trust my driving, and we might all get back as + well as ever." + </p> + <p> + Grace gave her hand almost unconsciously to John, and he handed her into + the phaeton, as Denbigh stood willing to execute his part of the + arrangement, but too diffident to speak. It was not a moment for + affectation, if Emily had been capable of it, and blushing with the + novelty of her situation, she took her place in the gig. Denbigh stopped + and turned his eyes on the little group with which he had been talking, + and at that moment they caught the attention of John also. The latter + inquired after their situation. The tale was a piteous one, the distress + evidently real. The husband had been gardener to a gentleman in a + neighboring county, and he had been lately discharged, to make way, in the + difficulty of the times, for a relation of the steward, who was in want of + the place. Suddenly thrown on the world, with a wife and four children, + with but the wages of a week for his and their support, they had travelled + thus far on the way to a neighboring parish, where he said he had a right + to, and must seek, public assistance. The children were crying for hunger, + and the mother, who was a nurse, had been unable to walk further than + where she sat, but had sunk on the ground overcome with fatigue, and weak + from the want of nourishment. Neither Emily nor Grace could refrain from + tears at the recital of these heavy woes; the want of sustenance was + something so shocking in itself, and brought, as it were, immediately + before their eyes, the appeal was irresistible. John forgot his + bays--forgot even Grace, as he listened to the affecting story related by + the woman, who was much revived by some nutriment Denbigh had obtained + from a cottage near them, and to which they were about to proceed by his + directions, as Moseley interrupted them. His hand shook, his eyes + glistened as he took his purse from his pocket, and gave several guineas + from it to the mendicant. Grace thought John had never appeared so + handsome as the moment he handed the money to the gardener; his face + glowed with unusual excitement, and his symmetry had lost the only charm + he wanted in common, softness. Denbigh, after waiting patiently until + Moseley had bestowed his alms, gravely repeated his directions for their + proceeding to the cottage, when the carriages moved on. + </p> + <p> + Emily revolved, in her mind, during their short ride, the horrid distress + she had witnessed. It had taken a strong hold on her feelings. Like her + brother, she was warm-hearted and compassionate, if we may use the term, + to excess; and had she been prepared with the means, the gardener would + have reaped a double harvest of donations. It struck her, at the moment, + unpleasantly, that Denbigh had been so backward in his liberality. The man + had rather sullenly displayed half a crown as his gift, in contrast with + the golden shower of John's generosity. It had been even somewhat + offensive in its exhibition, and urged her brother to a more hasty + departure than, under other circumstances, he would just at the moment + have felt disposed to make. Denbigh, however, had taken no notice of the + indignity, and continued his directions in the same mild and benevolent + manner he had used during the whole interview. Half a crown was but + little, thought Emily, for a family that was starving; and, unwilling to + judge harshly of one she had begun to value so highly, she came to the + painful conclusion, her companion was not as rich as he deserved to be. + Emily had not yet to learn that charity was in proportion to the means of + the donor, and a gentle wish insensibly stole over her that Denbigh might + in some way become more richly endowed with the good things of this world. + Until this moment her thoughts had never turned to his temporal condition. + She knew he was an officer in the army, but of what rank, or even of what + regiment, she was ignorant. He had frequently touched in his conversations + on the customs of the different countries he had seen. He had served in + Italy, in the north of Europe, in the West Indies, in Spain. Of the + manners of the people, of their characters, he not unfrequently spoke, and + with a degree of intelligence, a liberality, a justness of discrimination, + that had charmed his auditors; but on the point of personal service he had + maintained a silence that was inflexible, and not a little + surprising--more particularly of that part of his history which related to + the latter country; from all which she was rather inclined to think his + military rank was not as high as she thought he merited, and that possibly + he felt an awkwardness of putting it in contrast with the more elevated + station of Colonel Egerton. The same idea had struck the whole family, and + prevented any inquiries which might be painful. He was so connected with + the mournful event of his father's death, that no questions could be put + with propriety to the doctor's family; and if Francis had been more + communicative to Clara, she was too good a wife to mention it, and her own + family was possessed of too just a sense of propriety to touch upon points + that might bring her conjugal fidelity in question. + </p> + <p> + Though Denbigh appeared a little abstracted during the ride, his questions + concerning Sir Edward and her friends were kind and affectionate. As they + approached the house he suffered his horse to walk, and, after some + hesitation, he took a letter from his pocket, and handing it to her, + said-- + </p> + <p> + "I hope Miss Moseley will not think me impertinent in becoming the bearer + of a letter from her cousin, Lord Chatterton. He requested it so + earnestly, that I could not refuse taking what I am sensible is a great + liberty; for it would be deception did I affect to be ignorant of his + admiration, or of his generous treatment of a passion she cannot return. + Chatterton," and he smiled mournfully, "is yet too true to cease his + commendations." + </p> + <p> + Emily blushed painfully, but she took the letter in silence; and as + Denbigh pursued the topic no further, the little distance they had to go + was ridden in silence. On entering the gates, however, he said, + inquiringly, and with much interest-- + </p> + <p> + "I sincerely hope I have not given offence to your delicacy, Miss Moseley. + Lord Chatterton has made me an unwilling confidant. I need not say the + secret is sacred, on more accounts than one." + </p> + <p> + "Surely not, Mr. Denbigh," replied Emily, in a low tone; and the gig + stopping, she hastened to accept the assistance of her brother to alight. + </p> + <p> + "Well, sister," cried John, laughing, "Denbigh is a disciple to Frank's + system of horse-flesh. Hairs smooth enough here, I see. Grace and I + thought you would never get home." Now, John fibbed a little, for neither + Grace nor he had thought in the least about them, or anything else but + each other, from the moment they separated until the gig arrived. + </p> + <p> + Emily made no reply to this speech, and as the gentlemen were engaged in + giving directions concerning their horses, she seized an opportunity to + read Chatterton's letter. + </p> + <p> + "I avail myself of the return of my friend Mr. Denbigh to that happy + family from which reason requires my self-banishment to assure my amiable + cousin, of my continued respect for her character, and to convince her of + my gratitude for the tenderness she has manifested to feelings she cannot + return. I may even venture to tell her what few women would be pleased to + hear, but what I know Emily Moseley too well to doubt, for a moment, will + give her unalloyed pleasure--that owing to the kind, the benevolent, the + brotherly attentions of my true friend, Mr. Denbigh, I have already gained + a peace of mind and resignation I once thought was lost to me for ever. + Ah! Emily, my beloved cousin, in Denbigh you will find, I doubt not, a + mind, principles, congenial to your own. It is impossible that he could + see you without wishing to possess such a treasure; and, if I have a wish + that is now uppermost in my heart, it is, that you may learn to esteem + each other as you ought, when, I doubt not, you will become as happy as + you both deserve to be. What greater earthly blessing can I implore upon + you! + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton." + </p> + <p> + Emily, while reading this epistle, felt a confusion but little inferior to + that which would have oppressed her had Denbigh himself been at her feet, + soliciting that love Chatterton thought him so worthy of possessing; and + when they met, she could hardly look in the face a man who, it would seem, + had been so openly selected by another, as the fittest to be her partner + for life. The unaltered manner of Denbigh himself, however, soon convinced + her that he was entirely ignorant of the contents of the note, and it + greatly relieved her from the awkwardness his presence at first + occasioned. + </p> + <p> + Francis soon returned, accompanied by his wife and aunt, and was overjoyed + to find the guest who had so unexpectedly arrived. His parents had not yet + returned from their visit, and Denbigh, of course, would remain at his + present quarters. John promised to continue with them for a couple of + days: and everything was soon settled to the perfect satisfaction of the + whole party. Mrs. Wilson knew the great danger of suffering young people + to be inmates of the same house too well, wantonly to incur the penalties, + but her visit had nearly expired, and it might give her a better + opportunity of judging Denbigh's character; and Grace Chatterton, though + too delicate to follow herself, was well contented to be followed, + especially when John Moseley was the pursuer. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XVI. + </h2> + <p> + "I am sorry, aunt, Mr. Denbigh is not rich," said Emily to Mrs. Wilson, + after they had retired in the evening, almost unconscious of what she + uttered. The latter looked at her niece in surprise, at a remark so + abrupt, and one so very different from the ordinary train of Emily's + reflections, as she required an explanation. Emily, slightly coloring at + the channel her thoughts had insensibly strayed into, gave her aunt an + account of their adventure in the course of the morning's drive, and + touched lightly on the difference in the amount of the alms of her brother + and those of Mr. Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + "The bestowal of money is not always an act of charity," observed Mrs. + Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped: though neither ceased to + dwell on it in her thoughts, until sleep closed the eyes of both. + </p> + <p> + The following day Mrs. Wilson invited Grace and Emily to accompany her in + a walk; the gentlemen having preceded them in pursuit of their different + avocations. Francis had his regular visits of spiritual consolation; John + had gone to the hall for his pointers and fowling-piece, the season for + woodcock having arrived; and Denbigh had proceeded no one knew whither. On + gaining the high-road, Mrs. Wilson desired her companions to lead the way + to the cottage where the family of the mendicant gardener had been lodged, + and thither they soon arrived. On knocking at the door, they were + immediately admitted to an outer room; in which they found the wife of the + laborer who inhabited the building, engaged in her customary morning + employments. They explained the motives of the visit, and were told that + the family they sought were in an adjoining room, but she rather thought + at that moment engaged with a clergyman who had called a quarter of an + hour before. "I expect, my lady, it's the new rector, who everybody says + is so good to the poor and needy; but I have not found time yet to go to + church to hear his reverence preach, ma'am," courtseying and handing the + fresh dusted chairs to her unexpected visitors. The ladies seated + themselves, too delicate to interrupt Francis in his sacred duties, and + were silently waiting his appearance, when a voice was distinctly heard + through the thin partition, the first note of which undeceived them as to + the character of the gardener's visitor. + </p> + <p> + "It appears then, Davis, by your own confession," said Denbigh, mildly, + but in a tone of reproof, "that your frequent acts of intemperance have at + least given ground for the steward's procuring your discharge if it has + not justified him in doing that which his duty to your common employer + required." + </p> + <p> + "It is hard, sir," replied the man sullenly, "to be thrown on the world + with a family like mine, to make way for a younger man with but one + child." + </p> + <p> + "It may be unfortunate for your wife and children," said Denbigh, "but + just, as respects yourself. I have already convinced you, that my + interference or reproof is not an empty one: carry the letter to the + person to whom it is directed, and I pledge you, you shall have a new + trial; and should you conduct yourself soberly, and with propriety, + continued and ample support; the second letter will gain you children + immediate admission to the school I mentioned; and I now leave you, with + an earnest injunction to remember that habits of intemperance not only + disqualify you to support those who have such great claims on your + protection, but inevitably lead to a loss of those powers which are + necessary to insure your own eternal welfare." + </p> + <p> + "May Heaven bless your honor," cried the woman, with fervor, and evidently + in tears, "both for what you have said, and what you have done. Thomas + only wants to be taken from temptation, to become a sober man again--an + honest one he has ever been, I am sure." + </p> + <p> + "I have selected a place for him," replied Denbigh "where there is no + exposure through improper companions, and everything now depends upon + himself, under Providence." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had risen from her chair on the first intimation given by + Denbigh of his intention to go, but had paused at the door to listen to + this last speech; when beckoning her companions, she hastily withdrew, + having first made a small present to the woman of the cottage, and + requested her not to mention their having called. + </p> + <p> + "What becomes now of the comparative charity of your brother and Mr. + Denbigh, Emily?" asked Mrs. Wilson, as they gained the road on their + return homewards. Emily was not accustomed to hear any act of John + slightly spoken of without at least manifesting some emotion, which + betrayed her sisterly regard; but on the present occasion she chose to be + silent; while Grace, after waiting in expectation that her cousin would + speak, ventured to say timidly-- + </p> + <p> + "I am sure, dear madam, Mr. Moseley was very liberal and the tears were in + his eyes while he gave the money. I was looking directly at them the whole + time." + </p> + <p> + "John is compassionate by nature," continued Mrs. Wilson with an almost + imperceptible smile. "I have no doubt his sympathies were warmly enlisted + in behalf of this family and possessing much, he gave liberally. I have no + doubt he would have undergone personal privation to have relieved their + distress, and endured both pain and labor, with such an excitement before + him. But what is all that to the charity of Mr. Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + Grace was unused to contend, and, least of all, with Mrs. Wilson; but, + unwilling to abandon John to such censure, with increased animation, she + said-- + </p> + <p> + "If bestowing freely, and feeling for the distress you relieve, be not + commendable, madam, I am sure I am ignorant what is." + </p> + <p> + "That compassion for the woes of others is beautiful in itself, and the + want of it an invariable evidence of corruption from too much, and an + ill-governed intercourse with the world, I am willing to acknowledge, my + dear Grace," said Mrs. Wilson, kindly; "but the relief of misery, where + the heart has not undergone this hardening ordeal, is only a relief to our + own feelings: this is compassion; but Christian charity is a higher order + of duty: it enters into every sensation of the heart; disposes us to + judge, as well as to act, favorably to our fellow creatures; is deeply + seated in the sense of our own unworthiness; keeps a single eye, in its + dispensations of temporal benefits, to the everlasting happiness of the + objects of its bounty; is consistent, well regulated; in short,"--and Mrs. + Wilson's pale cheek glowed with an unusual richness of color--"it is an + humble attempt to copy after the heavenly example of our Redeemer, in + sacrificing ourselves to the welfare of others, and does and must proceed + from a love of his person, and an obedience to his mandates." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Denbigh, aunt," exclaimed Emily, the blood mantling to her cheeks + with a sympathetic glow, while she lost all consideration for John in the + strength of her feelings, "his charity you think to be of this + description?" + </p> + <p> + "So far, my child, as we can understand motives from the nature of the + conduct, such appears to have been the charity of Mr. Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + Grace was silenced, if not convinced; and the ladies continued their walk, + lost in their own reflections, until they reached a bend in the road which + hid the cottage from view. Emily involuntarily turned her head as they + arrived at the spot, and saw that Denbigh had approached within a few + paces of them. On joining them, he commenced his complimentary address in + such a way as convinced them the cottager had been true to the injunction + given by Mrs. Wilson. No mention was made of the gardener, and Denbigh + began a lively description of some foreign scenery, of which their present + situation reminded him. The discourse was maintained with great interest + by himself and Mrs. Wilson for the remainder of their walk. + </p> + <p> + It was yet early when they reached the parsonage, where they found John, + who had driven to the hall to breakfast, and who, instead of pursuing his + favorite amusement of shooting, laid down his gun as they entered, + observing, "It is rather soon yet for the woodcocks, and I believe I will + listen to your entertaining conversation, ladies, for the remainder of the + morning." He threw himself upon a sofa at no great distance from Grace, + and in such a position as enabled him, without rudeness, to study the + features of her lovely face, while Denbigh read aloud to the ladies + Campbell's beautiful description of wedded love, in Gertrude of Wyoming. + </p> + <p> + There was a chastened correctness in the ordinary manner of Denbigh which + wore the appearance of the influence of his reason, and a subjection of + the passions, that, if anything, gave him less interest with Emily than + had it been marked by an evidence of stronger feeling. But on the present + occasion, this objection was removed: his reading was impressive; he dwelt + on those passages which most pleased him with a warmth of eulogium fully + equal to her own undisguised sensations. In the hour occupied in the + reading this exquisite little poem, and in commenting on its merits and + sentiments, Denbigh gained more on her imagination than in all their + former intercourse. His ideas were as pure, as chastened, and almost as + vivid as those of the poet; and Emily listened to his periods with intense + attention, as they flowed from him in language as glowing as his ideas. + The poem had been first read to her by her brother, and she was surprised + to discover how she had overlooked its beauties on that occasion. Even + John acknowledged that it certainly appeared a different thing now from + what he had then thought it; but Emily had taxed his declamatory power in + the height of the pheasant season, and, somehow or other, John now + imagined that Gertrude was just such a delicate, feminine, warm-hearted + domestic girl as Grace Chatterton. As Denbigh closed the book, and entered + into a general conversation with Clara and her sister, John followed Grace + to a window, and speaking in a tone of unusual softness for him, he said-- + </p> + <p> + "Do you know, Miss Chatterton, I have accepted your brother's invitation + to go into Suffolk this summer, and that you are to be plagued with me and + my pointers again?" + </p> + <p> + "Plagued, Mr. Moseley!" said Grace, in a voice even softer than his own. + "I am sure--I am sure, we none of us think you or your dogs in the least a + plague." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Grace," and John was about to become what he had never been + before--sentimental--- when he saw the carriage of Chatterton, containing + the dowager and Catherine entering the parsonage gates. + </p> + <p> + Pshaw! <i>thought</i> John, there comes Mother Chatterton "Ah! Grace," + said John, "there are your mother and sister returned already." + </p> + <p> + "Already!" said the young lady, and, for the first time in her life, she + felt rather unlike a dutiful child. Five minutes could have made no great + difference to her mother, and she would greatly have liked to hear what + John Moseley meant to have said; for the alteration in his manner + convinced her that his first "ah! Grace" was to have been continued in a + somewhat different language from that in which the second "ah! Grace" was + ended. + </p> + <p> + Young Moseley and her daughter, standing together at the open window, + caught the attention of Lady Chatterton the moment she got a view of the + house, and she entered with a good humor she had not felt since the + disappointment in her late expedition in behalf of Catherine; for the + gentleman she had had in view in this excursion had been taken up by + another rover, acting on her own account, and backed by a little more wit + and a good deal more money than what Kate could be fairly thought to + possess. Nothing further in that quarter offering in the way of her + occupation, she turned her horses' heads towards London, that great + theatre on which there never was a loss for actors. The salutations had + hardly passed before, turning to John, she exclaimed, with what she + intended for a most motherly smile, "What! not shooting this fine day, Mr. + Moseley? I thought you never missed a day in the season." + </p> + <p> + "It is rather early yet, my lady," said John, coolly, a little alarmed by + the expression of her countenance. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" continued the dowager, in the same strain, "I see how it is; the + ladies have too many attractions for so gallant a young man as yourself." + Now, as Grace, her own daughter, was the only lady of the party who could + reasonably be supposed to have much influence over John's movements--a + young gentleman seldom caring as much for his own as for other people's + sisters, this may be fairly set down as a pretty broad hint of the opinion + the dowager entertained of the real state of things; and John saw it, and + Grace saw it. The former coolly replied, "Why, upon the whole, if you will + excuse the neglect, I will try a shot this fine day." In five minutes, + Carlo and Rover were both delighted. Grace kept her place at the window, + from a feeling she could not define, and of which perhaps she was + unconscious, until the gate closed, and the shrubbery hid the sportsman + from her sight, and then she withdrew to her room to weep. + </p> + <p> + Had Grace Chatterton been a particle less delicate--less retiring--blessed + with a managing mother, as she was, John Moseley would not have thought + another moment about her. But, on every occasion when the dowager made any + of her open attacks, Grace discovered so much distress, so much + unwillingness to second them, that a suspicion of a confederacy never + entered his brain. It is not to be supposed that Lady Chattelton's + manoeuvres were limited to the direct and palpable schemes we have + mentioned; no--these were the effervescence, the exuberance of her zeal; + but as is generally the case, they sufficiently proved the ground-work of + all her other machinations; none of the little artifices of such as + placing--of leaving alone--of showing similarity of tastes:--of + compliments to the gentlemen, were neglected.--This latter business she + had contrived to get Catherine to take off her hands; but Grace could + never pay a compliment in her life, unless changing of color, trembling, + undulations of the bosom, and such natural movements can be so called; but + she loved dearly to receive them from John Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Well, my child," said the mother, as she seated herself by the side of + her daughter, who hastily endeavored to conceal her tears, "when are we to + have another wedding? I trust everything is settled between you and Mr. + Moseley, by this time." + </p> + <p> + "Mother! Mother!" said Grace, nearly gasping for breath, "Mother, you will + break my heart, indeed you will." She hid her face in the clothes of the + bed by which she sat, and wept with a feeling of despair. + </p> + <p> + "Tut, my dear," replied the dowager, not noticing her anguish, or + mistaking it for a girlish shame, "you young people are fools in these + matters, but Sir Edward and myself will arrange everything as it should + be." + </p> + <p> + The daughter now not only looked up, but sprang from her seat, her hands + clasped together, her eyes fixed in horror, her cheek pale as death; but + the mother had retired, and Grace sank back into her chair with a + sensation of disgrace, of despair, which could not have been surpassed, + had she really merited the obloquy and shame which she thought were about + to be heaped upon her. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XVII. + </h2> + <p> + The succeeding morning, the whole party, with, the exception of Denbigh, + returned to the hall. Nothing had occurred out of the ordinary course of + the colonel's assiduities; and Jane, whose sense of propriety forbad the + indulgence of premeditated tête-à-têtes, and such + little accompaniments of every-day attachments, was rejoiced to see a + sister she loved, and an aunt she respected, once more in the bosom of her + family. + </p> + <p> + The dowager impatiently waited an opportunity to effect, what she intended + for a master-stroke of policy in the disposal of Grace. Like all other + managers, she thought no one equal to herself in devising ways and means, + and was unwilling to leave anything to nature. Grace had invariably + thwarted all her schemes by her obstinacy; and as she thought young + Moseley really attached to her, she determined by a bold stroke to remove + the impediments of false shame, and the dread of repulse, which she + believed alone kept the youth from an avowal of his wishes, and get rid at + once of a plague that had annoyed her not a little--her daughter's + delicacy. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward spent an hour every morning in his library, overlooking his + accounts, and in other necessary employments of a similar nature, and it + was here she determined to have the conference. + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Chatterton, you do me honor," said the baronet, handing her a + chair on her entrance. + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word, cousin," cried the dowager, "you have a very convenient + apartment here," looking around her in affected admiration of all she saw. + </p> + <p> + The baronet replied, and a short discourse on the arrangements of the + whole house insensibly led to some remarks on the taste of his mother, the + Honorable Lady Moseley (a Chatterton), until, having warmed the feelings + of the old gentleman by some well-timed compliments of that nature, she + ventured on the principal object of her visit. + </p> + <p> + "I am happy to find, Sir Edward, you are so well pleased with the family + as to wish to make another selection from it. I sincerely hope it may + prove as judicious as the former one." + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward was a little at a loss to understand her meaning, although he + thought it might allude to his son, who he had some time suspected had + views on Grace Chatterton; and willing to know the truth, and rather + pleased to find John had selected a young woman he loved in his heart, he + observed-- + </p> + <p> + "I am not sure I rightly understand your ladyship, though I hope I do." + </p> + <p> + "No!" cried the dowager, in well-counterfeited affectation of surprise. + "Perhaps, after all, maternal anxiety has deceived me, then. Mr. Moseley + could hardly have ventured to proceed without your approbation." + </p> + <p> + "I have ever declined influencing any of my children, Lady Chatterton," + said the baronet, "and John is not ignorant of my sentiments. I sincerely + hope, however, you allude to an attachment to Grace?" + </p> + <p> + "I did certainly, Sir Edward," said the lady, hesitatingly. "I may be + deceived; but you must understand the feelings of a mother, and a young + woman ought not to be trifled with." + </p> + <p> + "My son is incapable of trifling, I hope," cried Sir Edward; with + animation, "and, least of all, with Grace Chatterton. No; you are quite + right. If he has made his choice, he should not be ashamed to avow it." + </p> + <p> + "I would not wish, on any account, to hurry matters," said the dowager; + "but the report which is abroad will prevent other young men from putting + in their claims, Sir Edward" (sighing). "I have a mother's feelings: if I + have been hasty, your goodness will overlook it." And Lady Chatterton + placed her handkerchief to her eyes, to conceal the tears that did not + flow. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward thought all this very natural, and as it should be, and he + sought an early conference with his son. + </p> + <p> + "John," said the father, taking his hand kindly, "you have no reason to + doubt my affection or my compliance to your wishes. Fortune is a thing out + of the question with a young man of your expectations." And Sir Edward, in + his eagerness to smoothe the way, went on: "You can live here, or occupy + my small seat in Wiltshire. I can allow you five thousand a year, with + much ease to myself. Indeed, your mother and myself would both straighten + ourselves, to add to your comforts; but it is unnecessary--we have enough, + and you have enough." + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward, in a few moments, would have settled everything to the + dowager's perfect satisfaction, had not John interrupted him by the + exclamation of-- + </p> + <p> + "To what do you allude, father?" + </p> + <p> + "Allude?" said Sir Edward, simply. "Why, Grace Chatterton, my son." + </p> + <p> + "Grace Chatterton! Sir Edward. What have I to do with Grace Chatterton?" + </p> + <p> + "Her mother has made me acquainted with your proposals, and"-- + </p> + <p> + "Proposals!" + </p> + <p> + "Attentions, I ought to have said; and you have no reason to apprehend + anything from me, my child." + </p> + <p> + "Attentions!" said John, haughtily. "I hope Lady Chatterton does not + accuse me of improper attentions to her daughter?" + </p> + <p> + "No, not improper, my son," said his father: "on the contrary, she is much + pleased with them." + </p> + <p> + "She is, is she? But I am displeased that she should undertake to put + constructions on my acts that no attention or words of mine will justify." + </p> + <p> + It was now Sir Edward's turn to be surprised. He had thought he was doing + his son a kindness, when he had only been forwarding the dowager's + schemes; but averse from contention, and wondering at his cousin's + mistake, which he at once attributed to her anxiety in behalf of a + favorite daughter, he told John he was sorry there had been any + misapprehension, and left him. + </p> + <p> + "No, no," said Moseley, internally, as he paced up and down his father's + library, "my lady dowager, you are not going to force a wife down my + throat. If you do, I am mistaken; and Grace, if Grace"--John softened and + began to feel unhappy a little, but anger prevailed. + </p> + <p> + From the moment Grace Chatterton conceived a dread of her mother's saying + anything to Sir Edward, her whole conduct was altered. She could hardly + look any of the family in the face, and it was her most ardent wish that + they might depart. John she avoided as she would an adder, although it + nearly broke her heart to do so. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield had stayed longer than usual, and he now wished to return. + John Moseley eagerly profited by this opportunity, and the very day after + the conversation in the library he went to Benfield Lodge as a dutiful + nephew, to see his venerable uncle safely restored once more to the abode + of his ancestors. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton now perceived, when too late, that she had overshot her + mark, while, at the same time, she wondered at the reason of a result so + strange from such well-digested and well-conducted plans. She determined, + however, never again to interfere between her daughter and the baronet's + heir; concluding, with a nearer approach to the truth than always + accompanied her deductions, that they resembled ordinary lovers in neither + their temperaments nor opinions. + </p> + <p> + Perceiving no further use in remaining any longer at the hall, she took + her leave, and, accompanied by both her daughters, proceeded to the + capital, where she expected to meet her son. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Ives and his wife returned to the rectory on the same day, and Denbigh + immediately resumed his abode under their roof. The intercourse between + the rector's family and Sir Edward's was renewed with all its former + friendly confidence. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton began to speak of his departure also, but hinted at + intentions of visiting L---- at the period of the baronet's visit to his + uncle, before he proceeded to town in the winter. + </p> + <p> + L---- was a small village on the coast, within a mile of Benfield Lodge; + and from its natural convenience, it had long been resorted to by the + neighboring gentry for the benefit of sea bathing. The baronet had + promised Mr. Benfield his visit should be made at an earlier day than + usual, in order to gratify Jane with a visit to Bath, before they went to + London, at which town they were promised by Mrs. Jarvis the pleasure of + her society, and that of her son and daughters. + </p> + <p> + Precaution is a word of simple meaning in itself, but various are the ways + adopted by different individuals in this life to enforce its import; and + not a few are the evils which it is thought necessary to guard against. To + provide in season against the dangers of want; personal injury, loss of + character, and a great many other such acknowledged misfortunes, has + become a kind of instinctive process of our natures. The few exceptions + which exist only go to prove the rule: in addition to these, almost every + man has some ruling propensity to gratify, to advance which his ingenuity + is ever on the alert, or some apprehended evil to avert, which calls all + his prudence into activity. Yet how seldom is it exerted, in order to give + a rational ground to expect permanent happiness in wedlock. + </p> + <p> + Marriage is called a lottery, and it is thought, like all other lotteries, + there are more blanks than prizes; yet is it not made more precarious than + it ought to be, by our neglect of that degree of precaution which we would + be ridiculed for omitting in conducting our every-day concerns? Is not the + standard of matrimonial felicity placed too low? Ought we not to look more + to the possession of principles than to the possession of wealth? Or is it + at all justifiable in a Christian to commit a child, a daughter, to the + keeping of a man who wants the very essential they acknowledge most + necessary to constitute a perfect character? Most men revolt at infidelity + in a woman, and most men, however licentious themselves, look for, at + least, the exterior of religion in their wives. The education of their + children is a serious responsibility; and although seldom conducted on + such rules as will stand the test of reason, it is not to be entirely + shaken off: they choose their early impressions should be correct, their + infant conduct at least blameless. And are not one half mankind of the + male sex? Are precepts in religion, in morals, only for females? Are we to + reverse the theory of the Mahommedans, and though we do not believe it, + act as if <i>men</i> had no souls. Is not the example of the father as + important to the son as that of the mother to the daughter? In short, is + there any security against the commission of enormities, but an humble and + devout dependence on the assistance of that Almighty Power, which alone is + able to hold us up against temptation? + </p> + <p> + Uniformity of taste is no doubt necessary to what we call love, but is not + taste acquired? Would our daughters admire a handsome deist, if properly + impressed with a horror of his doctrines, sooner than they now would + admire a handsome Mahommedan? We would refuse our children to a pious + dissenter, to give them to impious members of the establishment: we make + the substance less than the shadow. + </p> + <p> + Our principal characters are possessed of these diversified views of the + evils to be averted. Mrs. Wilson considers Christianity an indispensable + requisite in the husband to be <i>permitted</i> to her charge, and watches + against the <i>possibility</i> of any other than a Christian's gaining the + affections of Emily. Lady Chatterton considers the want of an + establishment as the unpardonable sin, and directs her energies to prevent + this evil; while John Moseley looks upon a free will as the birthright of + an Englishman, and is, at the present moment, anxiously alive to prevent + the dowager's making him the husband of Grace, the thing of all others he + most strenuously desires. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XVIII. + </h2> + <p> + John Moseley returned from L---- within a week, and appeared as if his + whole delight consisted in knocking over the inoffensive birds. His + restlessness induced him to make Jarvis his companion; for although he + abhorred the captain's style of pursuing the sport, being in his opinion + both out of rule and without taste, yet he was a constitutional fidget, + and suited his own moving propensities at the moment. Egerton and Denbigh + were both frequently at the hall, but generally gave their time to the + ladies, neither being much inclined to the favorite amusement of John. + </p> + <p> + There was a little arbor within the walls of the park, which for years had + been a retreat from the summer heats to the ladies of the Moseley family; + even so long as the youth of Mrs. Wilson it had been in vogue, and she + loved it with a kind of melancholy pleasure, as the spot where she had + first listened to the language of love from the lips of her late husband. + Into this arbor the ladies had one day retired, during the warmth of a + noon-day sun, with the exception of Lady Moseley, who had her own + engagement in the house. Between Egerton and Denbigh there was maintained + a kind of courtly intercourse, which prevented any disagreeable collision + from their evident dislike. Mrs. Wilson thought, on the part of Denbigh, + it was the forbearance of a principled indulgence to another's weakness; + while the colonel's otherwise uniform good breeding was hardly able to + conceal a something amounting to very near repugnance. Egerton had taken + his seat on the ground, near the feet of Jane; and Denbigh was stationed + on a bench placed without the arbor but so near as to have the full + benefit of the shade of the noble oak, branches of which had been trained + so as to compose its principal covering. It might have been accident, that + gave each his particular situation; but it is certain they were so placed + as not to be in sight of each other, and so placed that the colonel was + ready to hand Jane her scissors, or any other little implement that she + occasionally dropped, and that Denbigh could read every lineament of the + animated countenance of Emily as she listened to his description of the + curiosities of Egypt, a country in which he had spent a few months while + attached to the army in Sicily. In this situation we will leave them for + an hour, happy in the society of each other, while we trace the route of + John Moseley and his companion, in their pursuit of woodcock, on the same + day. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know, Moseley," said Jarvis, who began to think he was a favorite + with John, now that he was admitted to his <i>menus plaisirs</i>, "that I + have taken it into my head this Mr. Denbigh was very happy to plead his + morals for not meeting me. He is a soldier, but I cannot find out what + battles he has been in." + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis," said John, coolly, "the less you say about that business + the better. Call in Rover." + </p> + <p> + Now, another of Jarvis's recommendations was a set of lungs that might + have been heard half a mile with great ease on a still morning. + </p> + <p> + "Why," said Jarvis, rather humbly, "I am sensible, Mr Moseley, I was very + wrong as regards your sister; but don't you think it a little odd in a + soldier not to fight when properly called upon?" + </p> + <p> + "I suppose Mr. Denbigh did not think himself properly called upon, or + perhaps he had heard what a great shot you were." + </p> + <p> + Six months before his appearance in B----, Captain Jarvis had been a clerk + in the counting-room of Jarvis, Baxter & Co., and had never held + fire-arms of any kind in his hand, with the exception of an old + blunderbuss, which had been a kind of sentinel over the iron chest for + years. On mounting the cockade, he had taken up shooting as a martial + exercise, inasmuch as the burning of gunpowder was an attendant of the + recreation. He had never killed but one bird in his life, and that was an + owl, of which he took the advantage of daylight and his stocking feet to + knock off a tree in the deanery grounds, very early after his arrival. In + his trials with John, he sometimes pulled trigger at the same moment with + his companion; and as the bird generally fell, he thought he had an equal + claim to the honor. He was fond of warring with crows and birds of the + larger sort, and invariably went provided with small balls fitted to the + bore of his fowling-piece for such accidental rencontres. He had another + habit, which was not a little annoying to John, who had several times + tried in vain to break him of it--that of shooting at marks. If birds were + not plenty, he would throw up a chip, and sometimes his hat, by way of + shooting on the wing. + </p> + <p> + As the day was excessively hot, and the game kept close, John felt willing + to return from such unprofitable labor. The captain now commenced his chip + firing, which in a few minutes was succeeded by his hat. + </p> + <p> + "See, Moseley, see; I have hit the band," cried the captain, delighted to + find he had at last wounded his old antagonist. "I don't think you can + beat that yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I am not sure I can," said John, slipping a handful of gravel in the + muzzle of his piece slily, "but I can do, as you did--try." + </p> + <p> + "Do," cried the captain, pleased to get his companion down to his own + level of amusements. "Are you ready?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes; throw." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis threw, and John fired: the hat fairly bounced. + </p> + <p> + "Have I hit it?" asked John, while reloading the barrel he had discharged. + </p> + <p> + "Hit it!" said the captain, looking ruefully at his hat. "It looks like a + cullender; but, Moseley, your gun don't scatter well: a dozen shot have + gone through in the same place." + </p> + <p> + "It does look rather like a cullender," said John, as he overlooked his + companion's beaver, "and, by the <i>size</i> of some of the holes, one + that has been a good deal used." + </p> + <p> + The reports of the fowling-pieces announced to the party in the arbor the + return of the sportsmen, it being an invariable practice with John Moseley + to discharge his gun before he came in; and Jarvis had imitated him, from + a wish to be what he called in rule. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh," said John, as he put down his gun, "Captain Jarvis has got + the better of his hat at last." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh smiled without speaking; and the captain, unwilling to have + anything to say to a gentleman to whom be had been obliged to apologize, + went into the arbor to show the mangled condition of his head-piece to the + colonel, on whose sympathies he felt a kind of claim, being of the same + corps. John complained of thirst, and went to a little run of water but a + short distance from them, in order to satisfy it. The interruption of + Jarvis was particularly unseasonable. Jane was relating, in a manner + peculiar to herself, in which was mingled that undefinable exchange of + looks lovers are so fond of, some incident of her early life to the + colonel that greatly interested him. Knowing the captain's foibles, he + pointed, therefore, with his finger, as he said-- + </p> + <p> + "There is one of your old enemies, a hawk." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis threw down his hat, and ran with boyish eagerness to drive away the + intruder. In his haste, he caught up the gun of John Moseley, and loading + it rapidly/threw in a ball from his usual stock; but whether the hawk saw + and knew him, or whether it saw something else it liked better, it made a + dart for the baronet's poultry-yard at no great distance, and was out of + sight in a minute. Seeing that his foe had vanished, the captain laid the + piece where he had found it, and, recovering his old train of ideas, + picked up his hat again. + </p> + <p> + "John," said Emily, as she approached him affectionately, "you were too + warm to drink." + </p> + <p> + "Stand off, sis," cried John, playfully, taking up the gun from against + the body of the tree, and dropping it towards her. + </p> + <p> + Jarvis had endeavored to make an appeal to the commiseration of Emily in + favor of the neglected beaver, and was within a few feet of them. At this + moment, recoiling from the muzzle of the gun, he exclaimed, "It is + loaded!" "Hold," cried Denbigh, in a voice of horror, as he sprang between + John and his sister. Both were too late; the piece was discharged. + Denbigh, turning to Emily, and smiling mournfully, gazed for a moment at + her with an expression of tenderness, of pleasure, of sorrow, so blended + that she retained the recollection of it for life, and fell at her feet. + </p> + <p> + The gun dropped from the nerveless grasp of young Moseley. Emily sank in + insensibility by the side of her preserver. Mrs. Wilson and Jane stood + speechless and aghast. The colonel alone retained the presence of mind + necessary to devise the steps to be immediately taken. He sprang to the + examination of Denbigh; the eyes of the wounded man were open, and his + recollection perfect: the first were fixed in intense observation on the + inanimate body which lay at his side. + </p> + <p> + "Leave me, Colonel Egerton," he said, speaking with difficulty, and + pointing in the direction of the little run of water, "assist Miss + Moseley--your hat--your hat will answer." + </p> + <p> + Accustomed to scenes of blood, and not ignorant that time and care were + the remedies to be applied to the wounded man, Egerton flew to the stream, + and returning immediately, by the help of her sister and Mrs. Wilson, soon + restored Emily to life. The ladies and John had now begun to act. The + tenderest assiduities of Jane were devoted to her sister; while Mrs. + Wilson observing her niece to be uninjured by anything but the shock, + assisted John in supporting the wounded man. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh spoke, requesting to be carried to the house; and Jarvis was + despatched for help. Within half an hour, Denbigh was placed on a couch in + the house of Sir Edward, and was quietly waiting for that professional aid + which could only decide on his probable fate. The group assembled in the + room were in fearful expectation of the arrival of the surgeons, in + pursuit of whom messengers had been sent both to the barracks in F---- and + to the town itself. Sir Edward sat by the side of the sufferer, holding + one of his hands in his own, now turning his tearful eyes on that daughter + who had so lately been rescued as it were from the certainty of death, in + mute gratitude and thanksgiving; and now dwelling on the countenance of + him, who, by bravely interposing his bosom to the blow, had incurred in + his own person the imminent danger of a similar fate, with a painful sense + of his perilous situation, and devout and earnest prayers for his safety. + Emily was with her father, as with the rest of his family, a decided + favorite; and no reward would have been sufficient, no gratitude lively + enough, in the estimation of the baronet, to compensate the protector of + such a child. She sat between her mother and Jane, with a hand held by + each, pale and oppressed with a load of gratitude, of thanksgiving, of + woe, that almost bowed her to the earth. Lady Moseley and Jane were both + sensibly touched with the deliverance of Emily, and manifested the + interest they took in her by the tenderest caresses, while Mrs. Wilson sat + calmly collected within herself, occasionally giving those few directions + which were necessary under the circumstances, and offering up her silent + petitions in behalf of the sufferer. John had taken horse immediately for + F----, and Jarvis had volunteered to go to the rectory and Bolton. Denbigh + inquired frequently and with much anxiety for Dr. Ives; but the rector was + absent from home on a visit to a sick parishioner, and it was late in the + evening before he arrived. Within three hours of the accident, however, + Dr. Black, the surgeon of the ----th, reached the hall, and immediately + proceeded to examine the wound. The ball had penetrated the right breast, + and gone directly through the body; it was extracted with very little + difficulty, and his attendant acquainted the anxious friends of Denbigh + that the heart certainly, and he hoped the lungs, had escaped uninjured. + The ball was a very small one, and the principal danger to be apprehended + was from fever: he had taken the usual precautions against that, and + should it not set in with a violence greater than he apprehended at + present, the patient might be abroad within the month. + </p> + <p> + "But," continued the surgeon, with the hardened indifference of his + profession, "the gentleman has had a narrow chance in the passage of the + ball itself; half an inch would have settled his accounts with this + world." + </p> + <p> + This information greatly relieved the family, and orders were given to + preserve a silence in the house that would favor the patient's disposition + to quiet, or, if possible, sleep. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Ives now reached the hall. Mrs. Wilson had never seen the rector in + the agitation, or with the want of self-command he was in, as she met him + at the entrance of the house. + </p> + <p> + "Is he alive?--is there hope?--where is George?"--cried the doctor, as he + caught the extended hand of Mrs. Wilson. She briefly acquainted him with + the surgeon's report, and the reasonable ground there was to expect + Denbigh would survive the injury. + </p> + <p> + "May God be praised," said the rector, in a suppressed voice, and he + hastily withdrew into another room. Mrs. Wilson followed him slowly and in + silence; but was checked on opening the door with the sight of the rector + on his knees, the tears stealing down his venerable cheeks in quick + succession. "Surely," thought the widow, as she drew back unnoticed, "a + youth capable of exciting such affection in a man like Dr. Ives, cannot be + unworthy." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh, hearing of the arrival of his friend, desired to see him alone. + Their conference was short, and the rector returned from it with increased + hopes of the termination of this dreadful accident. He immediately left + the hall for his own house, with a promise of returning early on the + following morning. + </p> + <p> + During the night, however, the symptoms became unfavorable; and before the + return of Dr. Ives, Denbigh was in a state of delirium from the height of + his fever, and the apprehensions of his friends were renewed with + additional force. + </p> + <p> + "What, what, my good sir, do you think of him?" said the baronet to the + family physician, with an emotion that the danger of his dearest child + would not have exceeded, and within hearing of most of his children, who + were collected in the ante-chamber of the room in which Denbigh was + placed. + </p> + <p> + "It is impossible to say, Sir Edward," replied the physician: "he refuses + all medicines, and unless this fever abates, there is but little hope of + recovery." + </p> + <p> + Emily stood during this question and answer, motionless, pale as death, + and with her hands clasped together, betraying by the workings of her + fingers in a kind of convulsive motion, the intensity of her interest. She + had seen the draught prepared which it was so desirable that Denbigh + should take, and it now stood rejected on a table, where it could be seen + through the open door of his room. Almost breathless, she glided in, and + taking the draught in her hand, she approached the bed, by which sat John + alone, listening with a feeling of despair to the wanderings of the sick + man. Emily hesitated once or twice, as she drew near Denbigh; her face had + lost the paleness of anxiety, and glowed with another emotion. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh--dear Denbigh." said Emily, with energy, unconsciously + dropping her voice into the softest notes of persuasion, "will you refuse + <i>me?--me</i>, Emily Moseley, whose life you have saved?" + </p> + <p> + "Emily Moseley!" repeated Denbigh, and in those tones so remarkable to his + natural voice. "Is she safe? I thought she was killed--dead." Then, as if + recollecting himself, he gazed intently on her countenance--his eye became + less fiery--his muscles relaxed--he smiled, and took, with the docility of + a well-trained child, the prescribed medicines from her hand. His ideas + still wandered, but his physician, profiting by the command Emily + possessed over his patient, increased his care, and by night the fever had + abated, and before morning the wounded man was in a profound sleep. During + the whole day, it was thought necessary to keep Emily by the side of his + bed; but at times it was no trifling tax on her feelings to remain there. + He spoke of her by name in the tenderest manner, although incoherently, + and in terms that restored to the blanched cheeks of the distressed girl + more than the richness of their native color. His thoughts were not + confined to Emily, however: he talked of his father, of his mother, and + frequently spoke of his poor deserted Marian. The latter name he dwelt on + in the language of the warmest affection, condemned his own desertion of + her, and, taking Emily for her, would beg her forgiveness, tell her her + sufferings had been enough, and that he would return, and never leave her + again. At such moments his nurse would sometimes show, by the paleness of + her cheeks, her anxiety for his health; and then, as he addressed her by + her proper appellation, all her emotions appeared absorbed in the sense of + shame at the praises with which he overwhelmed her. Mrs. Wilson succeeded + her in the charge of the patient, and she retired to seek that repose she + so greatly needed. + </p> + <p> + On the second morning after receiving the wound, Denbigh dropped into a + deep sleep, from which he awoke refreshed and perfectly collected in mind. + The fever had left him, and his attendants pronounced, with the usual + cautions to prevent a relapse, his recovery certain. It were impossible to + have communicated any intelligence more grateful to all the members of the + Moseley family; for Jane had even lost sight of her own lover, in sympathy + for the fate of a man who had sacrificed himself to save her beloved + sister. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XIX. + </h2> + <p> + The recovery of Denbigh was as rapid as the most sanguine expectation of + his friends could hope for, and in ten days he left his bed, and would sit + an hour or two at a time in his dressing-room, where Mrs. Wilson, + accompanied by Jane or Emily, came and read to him; and it was a remark of + Sir Edward's gamekeeper, that the woodcocks had become so tame during the + time Mr. Moseley was shut up in attendance on his friend, that Captain + Jarvis was at last actually seen to bag one honestly. + </p> + <p> + As Jarvis felt something like a consciousness that but for his folly the + accident would not have happened, and also something very like shame for + the manner he had shrunk from the danger Denbigh had so nobly met, he + pretended a recall to his regiment, then on duty near London, and left the + deanery. He went off as he came in--in the colonel's tilbury, and + accompanied by his friend and his pointers, John, who saw them pass from + the windows of Denbigh's dressing-room, fervently prayed he might never + come back again--the chip-shooting poacher! + </p> + <p> + Colonel Egerton had taken leave of Jane the evening preceding, with many + assurances of the anxiety with which he should look forward to the moment + of their meeting at L----, whither he intended repairing as soon as his + corps had gone through its annual review. Jane had followed the bent of + her natural feelings too much, during the period of Denbigh's uncertain + fate, to think much of her lover, or anything else but her rescued sister + and her preserver; but now the former was pronounced in safety, and the + latter, by the very reaction of her grief, was, if possible, happier than + ever, Jane dwelt in melancholy sadness on the perfections of the man who + had taken with him the best affections (as she thought) of her heart. With + him all was perfect: his morals were unexceptionable; his manners showed + it; his tenderness of disposition manifest, for they had wept together + over the distresses of more than one fictitious heroine; his temper, how + amiable! he was never angry--she had never seen it; his opinions, his + tastes, how correct! they were her own; his form, his face, how + agreeable!--her eyes had seen it, and her heart acknowledged it; besides, + his eyes confessed the power of her own charms; he was brave, for he was a + soldier;--in short, as Emily had predicted, he was a hero--for he was + Colonel Egerton. + </p> + <p> + Had Jane been possessed of less exuberance of fancy, she might have been a + little at a loss to identify all these good properties with her hero: or + had she possessed a matured or well-regulated judgment to control that + fancy, they might possibly have assumed a different appearance. No + explanation had taken place between them, however. Jane knew, both by her + own feelings and by all the legends of love from its earliest days, that + the moment of parting was generally a crisis in affairs of the heart, and, + with a backwardness occasioned by her modesty, had rather avoided than + sought an opportunity to favor the colonel's wishes. Egerton had not been + over anxious to come to the point, and everything was left as heretofore: + neither, however, appeared to doubt in the least the state of the other's + affections; and there might be said to exist between them one of those not + unusual engagements by implication which it would have been, in their own + estimation, a breach of faith to recede from, but which, like all other + bargains that are loosely made, are sometimes violated when convenient. + Man is a creature that, as experience has sufficiently proved, it is + necessary to keep in his proper place in society by wholesome + restrictions; and we have often thought it a matter of regret that some + well understood regulations did not exist by which it became not only + customary, but incumbent on him, to proceed in his road to the temple of + Hymen. We know that it is ungenerous, ignoble, almost unprecedented, to + doubt the faith, the constancy, of a male paragon; yet, somehow, as the + papers occasionally give us a sample of such infidelity; as we have + sometimes seen a solitary female brooding over her woes in silence, and, + with the seemliness of feminine decorum shrinking from the discovery of + its cause, or which the grave has revealed for the first time, we cannot + but wish that either the watchfulness of the parent, or a sense of + self-preservation in the daughter, would, for the want of a better, cause + them to adhere to those old conventional forms of courtship which require + a man to speak to be understood, and a woman to answer to be committed. + </p> + <p> + There was a little parlor in the house of Sir Edward Moseley, that was the + privileged retreat of none but the members of his own family. Here the + ladies were accustomed to withdraw into the bosom of their domestic + quietude, when occasional visitors had disturbed their ordinary + intercourse; and many were the hasty and unreserved communications it had + witnessed between the sisters, in their stolen flights from the graver + scenes of the principal apartments. It might be said to be sacred to the + pious feelings of the domestic affections. Sir Edward would retire to it + when fatigued with his occupations, certain of finding some one of those + he loved to draw his thoughts off from the cares of life to the little + incidents of his children's happiness; and Lady Moseley, even in the + proudest hours of her reviving splendor, seldom passed the door without + looking in, with a smile, on the faces she might find there. It was, in + fact, the room in the large mansion of the baronet, expressly devoted, by + long usage and common consent, to the purest feelings of human nature. + Into this apartment Denbigh had gained admission, as the one nearest to + his own room and requiring the least effort of his returning strength to + reach; and, perhaps, by an undefinable feeling of the Moseleys which had + begun to connect him with themselves, partly from his winning manners, and + partly by the sense of the obligation he had laid them under. + </p> + <p> + One warm day, John and his friend had sought this retreat, in expectation + of meeting his sisters, who they found, however, on inquiry, had walked to + the arbor. After remaining conversing for an hour by themselves, John was + called away to attend to a pointer that had been taken ill, and Denbigh + throwing a handkerchief over his head to guard against the danger of cold, + quietly composed himself on one of the comfortable sofas of the room, with + a disposition to sleep. Before he had entirely lost his consciousness, a + light step moving near him, caught his ear; believing it to be a servant + unwilling to disturb him, he endeavored to continue in his present mood, + until the quick but stifled breathing of some one nearer than before + roused his curiosity. He commanded himself, however, sufficiently, to + remain quiet; a blind of a window near him was carefully closed; a screen + drawn from a corner and placed so as sensibly to destroy the slight + draught of air in which he laid himself; and other arrangements were + making, but with a care to avoid disturbing him that rendered them hardly + audible. Presently the step approached him again, the breathing was + quicker, though gentle, the handkerchief was moved, but the hand was with + drawn hastily as if afraid of itself. Another effort was successful, and + Denbigh stole a glance through his dark lashes, on the figure of Emily as + she stood over him in the fulness of her charms, and with a face in which + glowed an interest he had never witnessed in it before. It undoubtedly was + <i>gratitude</i>. For a moment she gazed on him, as her color increased in + richness. His hand was carelessly thrown over an arm of the sofa; she + stooped towards it with her face gently, but with an air of modesty that + shone in her very figure. Denbigh felt the warmth of her breath, but her + lips did not touch it. Had he been inclined to judge the actions of Emily + Moseley harshly, it were impossible to mistake the movement for anything + but the impulse of natural feeling. There was a pledge of innocence, of + modesty in her countenance, that would have prevented any misconstruction; + and he continued quietly awaiting what the preparations on her little + mahogany secretary were intended for. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson entertained a great abhorrence of what is commonly called + accomplishments in a woman; she knew that too much of that precious time + which could never be recalled, was thrown away in endeavoring to acquire a + smattering in what, if known, could never be of use to the party, and what + can never be well known but to a few, whom nature and long practice have + enabled to conquer. Yet as her niece had early manifested a taste for + painting, and a vivid perception of the beauties of nature, her + inclination had been indulged, and Emily Moseley sketched with neatness + and accuracy, and with great readiness. It would have been no subject of + surprise, had admiration, or some more powerful feeling, betrayed to the + artist, on this occasion, the deception the young man was practising. She + had entered the room from her walk, warm and careless; her hair, than + which none was more beautiful, had strayed on her shoulders, freed, from + the confinement of the comb, and a lock was finely contrasted to the rich + color of a cheek that almost burnt with the exercise and the excitement. + Her dress, white as the first snow of the winter; her looks, as she now + turned them on the face of the sleeper, and betrayed by their animation + the success of her art; formed a picture in itself, that Denbigh would + have been content to gaze on for ever. Her back was to a window that threw + its strong light on the paper--the figures of which were reflected, as she + occasionally held it up to study its effect, in a large mirror so placed + that Denbigh caught a view of her subject. He knew it at a glance--the + arbor--the gun--himself, all were there; it appeared to have been drawn + before--it must have been, from its perfect state, and Emily had seized a + favorable moment to complete his own resemblance. Her touches were light + and finishing, and as the picture was frequently held up for + consideration, he had some time allowed for studying it. His own + resemblance was strong; his eyes were turned on herself, to whom Denbigh + thought she had not done ample justice, but the man who held the gun bore + no likeness to John Moseley, except in dress. A slight movement of the + muscles of the sleeper's mouth might have betrayed his consciousness, had + not Emily been too intent on the picture, as she turned it in such a way + that a strong light fell on the recoiling figure of Captain Jarvis. The + resemblance was wonderful. Denbigh thought he would have known it, had he + seen it in the Academy itself. The noise of some one approaching closed + the portfolio; it was only a servant, yet Emily did not resume her pencil. + Denbigh watched her motions, as she put the picture carefully in a private + drawer of the secretary, reopened the blind, replaced the screen, and laid + the handkerchief, the last thing on his face, with a movement almost + imperceptible to himself. + </p> + <p> + "It is later than I thought," said Denbigh, looking at his watch; "I owe + an apology, Miss Moseley, for making so free with your parlor; but I was + too lazy to move." + </p> + <p> + "Apology! Mr. Denbigh," cried Emily, with a color varying with every word + she spoke, and trembling at what she thought the nearness of detection, + "you have no apology to make for your present debility; and surely, + surely, least of all to me!" + </p> + <p> + "I understand from Mr. Moseley," continued Denbigh, with a smile, "that + our obligation is at least mutual; to your perseverance and care, Miss + Moseley, after the physicians had given me up, I believe I am, under + Providence, indebted for my recovery." + </p> + <p> + Emily was not vain, and least of all addicted to a display of any of her + acquirements; very few even of her friends knew she ever held a pencil in + her hand; yet did she now unaccountably throw open her portfolio, and + offer its contents to the examination of her companion. It was done almost + instantaneously, and with great freedom, though not without certain + flushings of the face and heavings of the bosom, that would have eclipsed + Grace Chatterton in her happiest moments of natural flattery. Whatever + might have been the wishes of Mr. Denbigh to pursue a subject which had + begun to grow extremely interesting, both from its import and the + feelings' of the parties, it would have been rude to decline viewing the + contents of a lady's portfolio. The drawings were, many of them, + interesting, and the exhibitor of them now appeared as anxious to remove + them in haste, as she had but the moment before been to direct his + attention to her performances. Denbigh would have given much to dare to + ask for the paper so carefully secreted in the private drawer; but neither + the principal agency he had himself in the scene, nor delicacy to his + companion's wish for concealment, would allow of the request. + </p> + <p> + "Doctor Ives! how happy I am to see you," said Emily, hastily closing her + portfolio, and before Denbigh had gone half through its contents; "you + have become almost a stranger to us since Clara left us." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, my little friend, never a stranger, I hope, at Moseley Hall," + cried the doctor, pleasantly; "George, I am happy to see you look so + well--you have even a color--there is a letter for you, from Marian." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh took the letter eagerly, and retired to a window to peruse it. His + hand shook as he broke the seal, and his interest in the writer, or its + contents, could not have escaped the notice of any observer, however + indifferent. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Miss Emily, if you will have the goodness to order me a glass of + wine and water after my ride, believe me, you will do a very charitable + act," cried the doctor, as he took his seat on the sofa. + </p> + <p> + Emily was standing by the little table, deeply musing on the contents of + her portfolio; for her eyes were intently fixed on the outside, as if she + expected to see through the leather covering their merits and faults. + </p> + <p> + "Miss Emily Moseley," continued the doctor, gravely, "am I to die of + thirst or not, this warm day?" + </p> + <p> + "Do you wish anything, Doctor Ives?" + </p> + <p> + "A servant to get me a glass of wine and water." + </p> + <p> + "Why did you not ask me, my dear sir?" said Emily, as she threw open a + cellaret, and handed him what he wanted. + </p> + <p> + "There, my dear, there is a great plenty," said the doctor, with an arch + expression; "I really thought I had asked you thrice--but I believe you + were studying something in that portfolio." + </p> + <p> + Emily blushed, and endeavored to laugh at her own absence of mind; but she + would have given the world to know who Marian was. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XX. + </h2> + <p> + As a month had elapsed since he received his wound, Denbigh took an + opportunity, one morning at breakfast, where he was well enough now to + meet his friends, to announce his intention of trespassing no longer on + their kindness, but of returning that day to the rectory. The + communication distressed the whole family, and the baronet turned to him + in the most cordial manner, as he took one of his hands; and said with an + air of solemnity-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, I could wish you to make this house your home; Dr. Ives may + have known you longer, and may have the claim of relationship on you, but + I am certain he cannot love you better; and are not the ties of gratitude + as binding as those of blood?" + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was affected by the kindness of Sir Edward's manner. + </p> + <p> + "The regiment I belong to, Sir Edward, will be reviewed next week, and it + has become my duty to leave here; there is one it is proper I should + visit, a near connexion, who is acquainted with the escape I have met + with, and wishes naturally to see me; besides, my dear Sir Edward, she has + many causes of sorrow, and it is a debt I owe her affection to endeavor to + relieve them." + </p> + <p> + It was the first time he had ever spoken of his family, or hardly of + himself, and the silence which prevailed plainly showed the interest his + listeners took in the little he uttered. + </p> + <p> + That connexion, thought Emily--I wonder if her name be Marian? But nothing + further passed, excepting the affectionate regrets of her father, and the + promises of Denbigh to visit them again before he left B----, and of + joining them at L---- immediately after the review of which he had spoken. + As soon as he had breakfasted, John drove him in his phaeton to the + rectory. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson, like the rest of the baronet's family, had been too deeply + impressed with the debt they owed this young man to interfere with her + favorite system of caution against too great an intimacy between her niece + and her preserver. Close observation and the opinion of Dr. Ives had + prepared her to give him her esteem; but the gallantry, the self-devotion + he had displayed to Emily was an act calculated to remove heavier + objections than she could imagine as likely to exist to his becoming her + husband. That he meant it, was evident from his whole deportment of late. + Since the morning the portfolio was produced, Denbigh had given a more + decided preference to her niece. The nice discrimination of Mrs. Wilson + would not have said his feelings had become stronger, but that he labored + less to conceal them. That he loved her niece she suspected from the first + fortnight of their acquaintance, and it had given additional stimulus to + her investigation into his character; but to doubt it, after stepping + between her and death, would have been to have mistaken human nature. + There was one qualification she would have wished to have been certain he + possessed: before this accident, she would have made it an indispensable + one; but the gratitude, the affections of Emily, she believed now to be + too deeply engaged to make the strict inquiry she otherwise would have + done; and she had the best of reasons for believing that if Denbigh were + not a true Christian, he was at least a strictly moral man, and assuredly + one who well understood the beauties of a religion she almost conceived it + impossible for any impartial and intelligent man long to resist. Perhaps + Mrs. Wilson, having in some measure interfered with her system, like + others, had, on finding it impossible to conduct so that reason would + justify all she did, began to find reasons for what she thought best to be + done under the circumstances. Denbigh, however, both by his acts and his + opinions, had created such an estimate of his worth in the breast of Mrs. + Wilson, that there would have been but little danger of a repulse had no + fortuitous accident helped him in his way to her favor. + </p> + <p> + "Who have we here?" said Lady Moseley. "A landaulet and four--the Earl of + Bolton, I declare!" + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley turned from the window with that collected grace she so well + loved, and so well knew how to assume, to receive her noble visitor. Lord + Bolton was a bachelor of sixty-five, who had long been attached to the + court, and retained much of the manners of the old school. His principal + estate was in Ireland, and most of that time which his duty at Windsor did + not require he gave to the improvement of his Irish property. Thus, + although on perfectly good terms with the baronet's family, they seldom + met. With General Wilson he had been at college, and to his widow he + always showed much of that regard he had invariably professed for her + husband, The obligation he had conferred, unasked, on Francis Ives, was + one conferred on all his friends, and his reception was now warmer than + usual. + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Moseley," said the earl, bowing formally on her hand, "your looks + do ample justice to the air of Northamptonshire. I hope you enjoy your + usual health." + </p> + <p> + Then, waiting her equally courteous answer, he paid his compliments, in + succession, to all the members of the family; a mode undoubtedly well + adapted to discover their several conditions, but not a little tedious in + its operations, and somewhat tiresome to the legs. + </p> + <p> + "We are under a debt of gratitude to your lordship," said Sir Edward, in + his simple and warm-hearted way, "that I am sorry it is not in our power + to repay more amply than by our thanks." + </p> + <p> + The earl was, or affected to be, surprised, as he required an explanation. + </p> + <p> + "The living at Bolton," said Lady Moseley, with dignity. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," continued her husband; "in giving the living to Frank you did me a + favor, equal to what you would have done had he been my own child; and + unsolicited, too, my lord, it was an additional compliment." + </p> + <p> + The earl sat rather uneasy during this speech, but the love of truth + prevailed; for he had been too much round the person of our beloved + sovereign not to retain all the impressions of his youth; and after a + little struggle with his self-love, he answered-- + </p> + <p> + "Not unsolicited, Sir Edward. I have no doubt, had nay better fortune + allowed me the acquaintance of my present rector, his own merit would have + obtained what a sense of justice requires I should say was granted to an + applicant to whom the ear of royalty itself would not have been deaf." + </p> + <p> + It was the turn of the Moseleys now to look surprised, and Sir Edward + ventured to ask an explanation. + </p> + <p> + "It was my cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss, who applied for it, as a favor + done to himself; and Pendennyss is a man not to be refused anything." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with animation; "and in what way + came we to be under this obligation to Lord Pendennyss?" + </p> + <p> + "He did me the honor of a call during my visit to Ireland, madam," replied + the earl; "and on inquiring of my steward after his old friend, Doctor + Stevens, learnt his death, and the claims of Mr. Ives; but the reason he + gave <i>me</i> was his interest in the widow of General Wilson," bowing + with much solemnity to the lady as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + "I am gratified to find the earl yet remembers us," said Mrs. Wilson, + struggling to restrain her tears. "Are we to have the pleasure of seeing + him soon?" + </p> + <p> + "I received a letter from him yesterday, saying he should be here in all + next week, madam." And turning pleasantly to Jane and her sister, he + continued, "Sir Edward, you have here rewards fit for heavier services, + and the earl is a great admirer of female charms." + </p> + <p> + "Is he not married, my lord?" asked the baronet, with great simplicity. + </p> + <p> + "No, baronet, nor engaged; but how long he will remain so after his + hardihood in venturing into this neighborhood, will, I trust, depend on + one of these young ladies." + </p> + <p> + Jane looked grave--for trifling on love was heresy, in her estimation; but + Emily laughed, with an expression in which a skilful physiognomist might + have read--if he means me, he is mistaken. + </p> + <p> + "Your cousin, Lord Chatterton, has found interest, Sir Edward," continued + the peer, "to obtain his father's situation; and if reports speak truth, + he wishes to become more nearly related to you, baronet." + </p> + <p> + "I do not well see how that can happen," said Sir Edward with a smile, and + who had not art enough to conceal his thoughts, "unless he takes my sister + here." + </p> + <p> + The cheeks of both the young ladies now vied with the rose; and the peer, + observing he had touched on forbidden ground, added, "Chatterton was + fortunate to find friends able to bear up against the powerful interest of + Lord Haverford." + </p> + <p> + "To whom was he indebted for the place, my lord?" asked Mis. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "It was whispered at court, madam," said the earl, sensibly lowering his + voice, and speaking with an air of mystery "and a lord of the bed-chamber + is fonder of discoveries than a lord of the council--that His Grace of + Derwent threw the whole of his parliamentary interest into the scale on + the baron's side, but you are not to suppose," raising his hand + gracefully, with a wave of rejection, "that I speak from authority; only a + surmise, Sir Edward, only a surmise, my lady." + </p> + <p> + "Is not the name of the Duke of Derwent, Denbigh?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, + with a thoughtful manner. + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, madam, Denbigh," replied the earl, with a gravity with which + he always spoke of dignities; "one of our most ancient names, and + descended on the female side from the Plantagenets and Tudors." + </p> + <p> + He now rose to take his leave, and on bowing to the younger ladies, + laughingly repeated his intention of bringing his cousin (an epithet he + never omitted), Pendennyss, to their feet. + </p> + <p> + "Do you think, sister," said Lady Moseley, after the earl had retired, + "that Mr. Denbigh is of the house of Derwent?" + </p> + <p> + "I cannot say," replied Mrs. Wilson, musing, "yet it is odd, Chatterton + told me of his acquaintance with Lady Harriet Denbigh, but not with the + Duke." + </p> + <p> + As this was spoken in the manner of a soliloquy, it received no answer, + and was in fact but little attended to by any of the party, excepting + Emily, who glanced her eye once or twice at her aunt as she was speaking, + with an interest the name of Denbigh never failed to excite. Harriet was, + she thought, a pretty name, but Marian was a prettier; if, thought Emily, + I could know a Marian Denbigh, I am sure I could love her, and her name + too. + </p> + <p> + The Moseleys now began to make their preparations for their departure to + L----, and the end of the succeeding week was fixed for the period at + which they were to go. Mrs. Wilson urged a delay of two or three days, in + order to give her an opportunity of meeting with the Earl of Pendennyss, a + young man in whom, although she had relinquished her former romantic wish + of uniting him to Emily, in favor of Denbigh, she yet felt a deep + interest, growing out of his connexion with the last moments of her + husband, and his uniformly high character. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward accordingly acquainted his uncle, that on the following + Saturday he might expect to receive himself and family, intending to leave + the hall in the afternoon of the preceding day, and reach Benfield lodge + to dinner. This arrangement once made, and Mr. Benfield notified of it, + was unalterable, the old man holding a variation from an engagement a + deadly sin. The week succeeding the accident which had nearly proved so + fatal to Denbigh, the inhabitants of the hall were surprised with the + approach of a being, as singular in his manners and dress as the equipage + which conveyed him to the door of the house. The latter consisted of a + high-backed, old-fashioned sulky, loaded with leather and large-headed + brass nails; wheels at least a quarter larger in circumference than those + of the present day, and wings on each side large enough to have supported + a full grown roc in the highest regions of the upper air. It was drawn by + a horse, once white, but whose milky hue was tarnished through age with + large and numerous red spots, and whose mane and tail did not appear to + have suffered by the shears during the present reign. The being who + alighted from this antiquated vehicle was tall and excessively thin, wore + his own hair drawn over his almost naked head into a long thin queue, + which reached half way down his back, closely cased in numerous windings + of leather, or the skin of some fish. His drab coat was in shape between a + frock and a close-body--close-body, indeed, it was; for the buttons, which + were in size about equal to an old-fashioned China saucer, were buttoned + to the very throat, thereby setting off his shape to peculiar advantage; + his breeches were buckskin, and much soiled; his stockings blue yarn, + although it was midsummer; and his shoes were provided with buckles of + dimensions proportionate to the aforesaid buttons; his age might have been + seventy, but his walk was quick, and the movements of his whole system + showed great activity both of mind and body. He was ushered into the room + where the gentlemen were sitting, and having made a low and extremely + modest bow, he deliberately put on his spectacles, thrust his hand into an + outside pocket of his coat, and produced from under its huge flaps a black + leathern pocket-book about as large as a good-sized octavo volume; after + examining the multitude of papers it contained carefully, he selected a + letter, and having returned the pocket-book to its ample apartment, read + aloud, + </p> + <p> + "For Sir Edward Moseley, bart. of Moseley Hall, B----, + Northamptonshire--with care and speed, by the hands of Mr. Peter Johnson, + steward of Benfield Lodge, Norfolk;" and dropping his sharp voice, he + stalked up to the baronet, and presented the epistle, with another + reverence. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, my good friend, Johnson," said Sir Edward as soon as he delivered his + errand (for until he saw the contents of the letter, he had thought some + accident had occurred to his uncle), "this is the first visit you have + ever honored me with; come, take a glass of wine before you go to your + dinner; let us drink, that it may not be the last." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward Moseley, and you, honorable gentlemen, will pardon me," + replied the steward, in his own solemn key, "this is the first time I was + ever out of his majesty's county of Norfolk, and I devoutly wish it may + prove the last--Gentlemen, I drink your honorable healths." + </p> + <p> + This was the only real speech the old man made during his visit, unless an + occasional monosyllabic reply to a question could be thought so. He + remained, by Sir Edward's positive order, until the following day; for + having delivered his message, and receiving its answer, he was about to + take his departure that evening, thinking he might get a good piece on his + road homewards, as it wanted half an hour to sunset. On the following + morning, with the sun, he was on his way to the house in which he had been + born, and which he had never left for twenty-four hours at a time in his + life. In the evening, as he was ushered in by John (who had known him from + his own childhood, and loved to show him attention) to the room in which + he was to sleep, he broke what the young man called his inveterate + silence, with, "Young Mr. Moseley--young gentleman--might I presume--to + ask--to see the gentleman?" + </p> + <p> + "What gentleman?" cried John, astonished at the request, and at his + speaking so much. + </p> + <p> + "That saved Miss Emmy's life, sir." + </p> + <p> + John now fully comprehended him, and led the way to Denbigh's room; he was + asleep, but they were admitted to his bed-side. The steward stood for ten + minutes gazing on the sleeper in silence; and John observed, as he blew + his nose on regaining his own apartment, that his little grey eyes + twinkled with a lustre which could not be taken for anything but a tear. + </p> + <p> + As the letter was as characteristic of the writer as its bearer was of his + vocation, we may be excused giving it at length. + </p> + <p> + <i>"Dear Sir Edward and Nephew</i>, + </p> + <p> + "Your letter reached the lodge too late to be answered that evening, as I + was about to step into my bed; but I hasten to write my congratulations, + remembering the often repeated maxim of my kinsman Lord Gosford, that + letters should be answered immediately; indeed, a neglect of it had very + nigh brought about an affair of honor between the earl and Sir Stephens + Hallett. Sir Stephens was always opposed to us in the House of Commons of + this realm; and I have often thought something might have passed in the + debate itself, which commenced the correspondence, as the earl certainly + told him as much as if he were a traitor to his King and country. + </p> + <p> + "But it seems that your daughter Emily has been rescued from death by the + grandson of General Denbigh, who sat with us in the house. Now I always + had a good opinion of this young Denbigh, who reminds me, every time I + look at him, of my late brother, your father-in-law that was; and I send + my steward, Peter Johnson, express to the hall in order that he may see + the sick man, and bring me back a true account how he fares: for should he + be wanting for anything within the gift of Roderic Benfield, he has only + to speak to have it; not that I suppose, nephew, you will willingly allow + him to suffer for anything, but Peter is a man of close observation, + although he is of few words, and may suggest something beneficial, that + might escape younger heads. I pray for--that is, I hope, the young man + will recover, as your letter gives great hopes; and if he should want any + little matter to help him along in the army, as I take it he is not over + wealthy, you have now a good opportunity to offer your assistance + handsomely; and that it may not interfere with your arrangements for this + winter, your draft on me for five thousand pounds will be paid at sight; + for fear he may be proud, and not choose to accept your assistance, I have + this morning detained Peter, while he has put a codicil to my will, + leaving him ten thousand pounds. You may tell Emily she is a naughty + child, or she would have written me the whole story; but, poor dear, I + suppose she has other things on her mind just now. God bless Mr. ---- that + is, God bless, you all, and try if you cannot get a lieutenant-colonelcy + at once--the brother of Lady Juliana's friend was made a + lieutenant-colonel at the first step. + </p> + <p> + "RODERIC BENFIELD." + </p> + <p> + The result of Peter's reconnoitering expedition has never reached our + knowledge, unless the arrival of a servant some days after he took his + leave, with a pair of enormous-goggles, and which the old gentleman + assured his nephew in a note, both Peter and himself had found useful to + weak eyes in their occasional sickness, might have been owing to the + prudent forecast of the sagacious steward. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXI. + </h2> + <p> + The morning on which Denbigh left B---- was a melancholy one to all the + members of the little circle, in which he had been so distinguished for + his modesty, his intelligence, and his disinterested intrepidity. Sir + Edward took an opportunity solemnly to express his gratitude for the + services he had rendered him, and having retired to his library, + delicately and earnestly pressed his availing himself of the liberal offer + of Mr. Benfield to advance his interest in the army. + </p> + <p> + "Look upon me, my dear Mr. Denbigh," said the good baronet, pressing him + by the hand, while the tears stood in his eyes, "as a father, to supply + the place of the one you have so recently lost. You <i>are</i> my child; I + feel as a parent to you, and must be suffered to act as one." + </p> + <p> + To this affectionate offer of Sir Edward, Denbigh replied with an emotion + equal to that of the baronet, though he declined, with respectful + language, his offered assistance as unnecessary. He had friends powerful + enough to advance his interests, without resorting to the use of money; + and on taking Sir Edward's hand, as he left the apartment, he added with + great warmth, "yet, my dear Sir, the day will come, I hope, when I shall + ask a boon from your hands, that no act of mine or a life of service could + entitle me to receive." + </p> + <p> + The baronet smiled his assent to a request he already understood, and + Denbigh withdrew. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley insisted on putting the bays in requisition to carry Denbigh + for the first stage, and they now stood caparisoned for the jaunt, with + their master in a less joyous mood than common, waiting the appearance of + his companion. + </p> + <p> + Emily delighted in their annual excursion to Benfield Lodge. She was + beloved so warmly, and returned the affection of its owner so sincerely, + that the arrival of the day never failed to excite that flow of spirits + which generally accompanies anticipated pleasures, ere experience has + proved how trifling are the greatest enjoyments the scenes of this life + bestow. Yet as the day of their departure drew near, her spirits sunk in + proportion; and on the morning of Denbigh's leave-taking, Emily seemed + anything but excessively happy. There was a tremor in her voice and a + redness about her eyes that alarmed Lady Moseley; but as the paleness of + her cheeks was immediately succeeded by as fine a color as the heart could + wish, the anxious mother allowed herself to be persuaded by Mrs. Wilson + there was no danger, and she accompanied her sister to her own room for + some purpose of domestic economy. It was at this moment Denbigh entered: + he had paid his adieus to the matrons at the door, and been directed by + them to the little parlor in quest of Emily. + </p> + <p> + "I have come to make my parting compliments, Miss Moseley," he said, in a + tremulous voice, as he ventured to hold forth his hand. "May heaven + preserve you," he continued, holding it in fervor to his bosom: then + dropping it, he hastily retired, as if unwilling to trust himself any + longer to utter all he felt. Emily stood a few moments, pale and almost + inanimate, as the tears flowed rapidly from her eyes; and then she sought + a shelter in a seat of the window. Lady Moseley, on returning, was alarmed + lest the draught would increase her indisposition; but her sister, + observing that the window commanded a view of the road, thought the air + too mild to do her injury. + </p> + <p> + The personages who composed the society at B---- had now, in a great + measure, separated, in pursuit of their duties or their pleasures. The + merchant and his family left the deanery for a watering-place. Francis and + Clara had gone on a little tour of pleasure in the northern counties, to + take L---- in their return homeward; and the morning arrived for the + commencement of the baronet's journey to the same place. The carriages had + been ordered, and servants were running in various ways, busily employed + in their several occupations, when Mrs. Wilson, accompanied by John and + his sisters, returned from a walk they had taken to avoid the bustle of + the house. A short distance from the park gates, an equipage was observed + approaching, creating by its numerous horses and attendants a dust which + drove the pedestrians to one side of the road. An uncommonly elegant and + admirably fitted travelling barouche and six rolled by, with the graceful + steadiness of an English equipage: several servants on horseback were in + attendance; and our little party were struck with the beauty of the whole + <i>establishment</i>. + </p> + <p> + "Can it be possible Lord Bolton drives such elegant horses?" cried John, + with the ardor of a connoisseur in that noble animal. "They are the finest + set in the kingdom." + </p> + <p> + Jane's eye had seen, through the clouds of dust, the armorial bearings, + which seemed to float in the dark glossy panels of the carriage, and she + observed, "It is an earl's coronet, but they are not the Bolton arms." + Mrs. Wilson and Emily had noticed a gentleman reclining at his ease, as + the owner of the gallant show; but its passage was too rapid to enable + them to distinguish the features of the courteous old earl; indeed, Mrs. + Wilson remarked, she thought him a younger man than her friend. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, sir," said John to a tardy groom, as he civilly walked his horse by + the ladies, "who has passed in the barouche?" + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Pendennyss, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a tone of regret, "how + unfortunate!" + </p> + <p> + She had seen the day named for his visit pass without his arrival, and + now, as it was too late to profit by the opportunity, he had come for the + second time into her neighborhood. Emily had learnt, by the solicitude of + her aunt, to take an interest in the young peer's movements, and desired + John to ask a question or two of the groom. + </p> + <p> + "Where does your lord stop to-night?" + </p> + <p> + "At Bolton Castle, sir; and I heard my lord tell his valet that he + intended staying one day hereabouts, and the day after to-morrow he goes + to Wales, your honor." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, friend," said John; when the man spurred his horse after the + cavalcade. The carriages were at the door, and Sir Edward had been + hurrying Jane to enter, as a servant, in a rich livery and well mounted, + galloped up and delivered a letter for Mrs. Wilson, who, on opening it, + read the following: + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss begs leave to present his most respectful + compliments to Mrs. Wilson and the family of Sir Edward Moseley. Lord + Pendennyss will have the honor of paying his respects in person at any + moment that the widow of his late invaluable friend, Lieutenant-General + Wilson, will please to appoint. + </p> + <p> + "Bolton Castle, Friday evening." + </p> + <p> + To this note Mrs. Wilson, bitterly regretting the necessity which + compelled her to forego the pleasure of meeting her paragon, wrote in + reply a short letter, disliking the formality of a note. + </p> + <p> + "My LORD, "I sincerely regret that an engagement which cannot be postponed + compels us to leave Moseley Hall within the hour, and must, in + consequence, deprive us of the pleasure of your intended visit. But as + circumstances have connected your Lordship with some of the dearest, + although the most melancholy events of my life, I earnestly beg you will + no longer consider us as strangers to your person, as we have long ceased + to be to your character. It will afford me the greatest pleasure to hear + that there will be a prospect of our meeting in town next winter, where I + may find a more fitting opportunity of expressing those grateful feelings + so long due to your lordship from your sincere friend, + </p> + <p> + "CHARLOTTE WILSON. + </p> + <p> + "Moseley Hall, Friday morning." + </p> + <p> + With this answer the servant was despatched, and the carriages moved on. + John had induced Emily to trust herself once more to the bays and his + skill; but on perceiving the melancholy of her aunt, she insisted on + exchanging seats with Jane, who had accepted a place in the carriage of + Mrs. Wilson. No objection being made, Mrs. Wilson and her niece rode the + first afternoon together in her travelling chaise. The road ran within a + quarter of a mile of Bolton Castle, and the ladies endeavored in vain to + get a glimpse of the person of the young nobleman. Emily was willing to + gratify her aunt's propensity to dwell on the character and history of her + favorite; and hoping to withdraw her attention gradually from more + unpleasant recollections, asked several trifling questions relating to + those points. + </p> + <p> + "The earl must be very rich, aunt, from the style he maintains." + </p> + <p> + "Very, my dear; his family I am unacquainted with, but I understand his + title is an extremely ancient one; and some one, I believe Lord Bolton, + mentioned that his estates in Wales alone, exceeded fifty thousand a + year." + </p> + <p> + "Much good might be done," said Emily, thoughtfully, "with such a + fortune." + </p> + <p> + "Much good <i>is</i> done," cried her aunt, with fervor. "I am told by + every one who knows him, his donations are large and frequent. Sir Herbert + Nicholson said he was extremely simple in his habits, and it leaves large + sums at his disposal every year." + </p> + <p> + "The bestowal of money is not always charity," said Emily, with an arch + smile and a slight color. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled in her turn as she answered, "not always, but it is + charity to hope for the best." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Herbert knew him, then?" said Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly well; they were associated together in the service for several + years, and he spoke of him with a fervor equal to my warmest + expectations." + </p> + <p> + The Moseley arms in F---- was kept by an old butler of the family, and Sir + Edward every year, in going to or coming from L----, spent a night under + its roof. He was received by its master with a respect that none who ever + knew the baronet well, could withhold from his goodness of heart and many + virtues. + </p> + <p> + "Well, Jackson," said the baronet, kindly, as he was seated at the supper + table, "how does custom increase with you--I hope you and the master of + the Dun Cow are more amicable than formerly." + </p> + <p> + "Why, Sir Edward," replied the host, who had lost a little of the + deference of the servant in the landlord, but none of his real respect, + "Mr. Daniels and I are more upon a footing of late than we was, when your + goodness enabled me to take the house; then he got all the great + travellers, and for more than a twelvemonth I had not a title in my house + but yourself and a great London doctor, that was called here to see a sick + person in the town. He had the impudence to call me the knight + barrow-knight, your honor, and we had a quarrel upon that account." + </p> + <p> + "I am glad, however, to find you are gaining in the rank of your + customers, and trust, as the occasion has ceased, you will be more + inclined to be good-natured to each other." + </p> + <p> + "Why, as to good-nature, Sir Edward, I lived with your honor ten years, + and you must know somewhat of my temper," said Jackson, with the + self-satisfaction of an approving conscience; "but Sam Daniels is a man + who is never easy unless he is left quietly at the top of the ladder; + however," continued the host, with a chuckle, "I have given him a dose + lately." + </p> + <p> + "How so, Jackson?" inquired the baronet, willing to gratify the man's wish + to relate his triumphs. + </p> + <p> + "Your honor must have heard mention made of a great lord, the Duke of + Derwent; well, Sir Edward, about six weeks agone he passed through with my + Lord Chatterton." + </p> + <p> + "Chatterton!" exclaimed John, interrupting him, "has he been so near us + again, and so lately?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Mr. Moseley," replied Jackson with a look of importance: "they + dashed into my yard with their chaise and four, with five servants, and + would you think it, Sir Edward, they hadn't been in the house ten minutes, + before Daniel's son was fishing from the servants, who they were; I told + him, Sir Edward--dukes don't come every day." + </p> + <p> + "How came you to get his grace away from the Dun Cow--chance?" + </p> + <p> + "No, your honor," said the host, pointing to his sign, and bowing + reverently to his old master, "the Moseley Arms did it. Mr. Daniels used + to taunt me with having worn a livery, and has said more than once he + could milk his cow, but that your honor's arms would never lift me into a + comfortable seat for life; so I just sent him a message by the way of + letting him know my good fortune, your honor." + </p> + <p> + "And what was it?" + </p> + <p> + "Only that your honor's arms had shoved a duke and a baron into my + house--that's all." + </p> + <p> + "And I suppose Daniels' legs shoved your messenger out of his," said John, + laughing. + </p> + <p> + "No, Mr. Moseley; Daniels would hardly dare do that: but yesterday, your + honor, yesterday evening, beat everything. Daniels was seated before his + door, and I was taking a pipe at mine, Sir Edward, as a coach and six, + with servants upon servants, drove down the street; it got near us, and + the boys were reining the horses into the yard of the Dun Cow, as the + gentleman in the coach saw my sign: he sent a groom to inquire who kept + the house; I got up, your honor, and told him my name, sir. 'Mr. Jackson,' + said his lordship, 'my respect for the family of Sir Edward Moseley is too + great not to give my custom to an old servant of his family.'" + </p> + <p> + "Indeed," said the baronet; "pray who was my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss, your honor. Oh, he is a sweet gentleman, and he + asked all about my living with your honor, and about Madam Wilson." + </p> + <p> + "Did his lordship stay the night?" inquired Mrs. Wilson, excessively + gratified at a discovery of the disposition manifested by the earl towards + her. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, madam, he left here after breakfast." + </p> + <p> + "What message did you send the Dun Cow this time, Jackson?" cried John. + </p> + <p> + Jackson looked a little foolish, but the question being repeated, he + answered--"Why, sir, I was a little crowded for room, and so your honor, + so I just sent Tom across the street, to know if Mr. Daniels couldn't keep + a couple of the grooms." + </p> + <p> + "And Tom got his head broke." + </p> + <p> + "No, Mr. John, the tankard missed him; but if--" + </p> + <p> + "Very well," said the baronet, willing to change the conversation, "you + have been so fortunate of late, you can afford to be generous; and I + advise you to cultivate harmony with your neighbor, or I may take my arms + down, and you may lose your noble visiters--see my room prepared." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, your honor," said the host, and bowing respectfully he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + "At least, aunt," cried John, pleasantly, "we have the pleasure of supping + in the same room with the puissant earl, albeit there be twenty-four + hours' difference in the time." + </p> + <p> + "I sincerely wish there had not been that difference," observed his + father, taking his sister kindly by the hand. + </p> + <p> + "Such an equipage must have been a harvest indeed to Jackson," remarked + the mother; as they broke up for the evening. + </p> + <p> + The whole establishment at Benfield Lodge, were drawn up to receive them + on the following day in the great hall, and in the centre was fixed the + upright and lank figure of its master, with his companion in leanness, + honest Peter Johnson, on his right. + </p> + <p> + "I have made out, Sir Edward and my Lady Moseley, to get as far as my + entrance, to receive the favor you are conferring upon me. It was a rule + in my day, and one invariably practised by all the great nobility, such as + Lord Gosford--and--and--his sister, the lady Juliana Dayton, always to + receive and quit their guests in the country at the great entrance; and in + conformity--ah, Emmy dear," cried the old gentleman, folding her in his + arms as the tears rolled down his cheeks, forgetting his speech in the + warmth of his feeling, "You are saved to us again; God be praised--there, + that will do, let me breathe--let me breathe;" and then by the way of + getting rid of his softer feelings, he turned upon John; "so, youngster, + you would be playing with edge tools, and put the life of your sister in + danger. No gentleman held a gun in my day; that is, no gentleman about the + court. My Lord Gosford had never killed a bird in his life, or drove his + horse; no sir, gentlemen then were not coachmen. Peter how old was I + before I took the reins of the chaise, in driving round the estate--the + time you broke your arm? it was--" + </p> + <p> + Peter, who stood a little behind his master, in modest retirement, and who + had only thought his elegant form brought thither to embellish the show, + when called upon, advanced a step, made a low bow, and answered in his + sharp key: + </p> + <p> + "In the year 1798, your honor, and the 38th of his present majesty, and + the 64th year of your life, sir, June the 12th, about meridian." + </p> + <p> + Peter dropped back as he finished; but recollecting himself, regained his + place with a bow, as he added, "new style." + </p> + <p> + "How are you, old style?" cried John, with a slap on the back, that made + the steward jump again. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. John Moseley--young gentleman"--a term Peter had left off using to + the baronet within the last ten years, "did you think--to bring home--the + goggles?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes," said John, gravely, producing them from his pocket. Most of the + party having entered the parlor, he put them carefully on the bald head of + the steward--"There, Mr Peter Johnson, you have your property again, safe + and sound." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. Denbigh said he felt much indebted to your consideration in + sending them," said Emily, soothingly, as she took them off with her + beautiful hands. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, Miss Emmy," said the steward, with one of his best bows, "that was--a + noble act; God bless him!" then holding up his finger significantly, "the + fourteenth codicil--to master's will," and Peter laid his finger alongside + his nose, as he nodded his head in silence. + </p> + <p> + "I hope the thirteenth contains the name of honest Peter Johnson," said + the young lady, who felt herself uncommonly well pleased with the + steward's conversation. + </p> + <p> + "As witness, Miss Emmy--witness to all--but God forbid," said the steward + with solemnity, "I should ever live to see the proving of them: no, Miss + Emmy, master has done for me what he intended, while I had youth to enjoy + it. I am rich, Miss Emmy--good three hundred a year." Emily, who had + seldom heard so long a speech as the old man's gratitude drew from him, + expressed her pleasure at hearing it, and shaking him kindly by the hand, + left him for the parlor. + </p> + <p> + "Niece," said Mr. Benfield, having scanned the party closely with his + eyes, "where is Colonel Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Colonel Egerton, you mean, sir," interrupted Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "No, my Lady Moseley," replied her uncle, with great formality, "I mean + Colonel Denbigh. I take it he is a colonel by this time," looking + expressively at the baronet; "and who is fitter to be a colonel or a + general, than a man who is not afraid of gunpowder?" + </p> + <p> + "Colonels must have been scarce in your youth, sir," cried John, who had + rather a mischievous propensity to start the old man on his hobby. + </p> + <p> + "No, jackanapes, gentlemen killed one another then, although they did not + torment the innocent birds: honor was as dear to a gentleman of George the + Second's court, as to those of his grandson's, and honesty too, + sirrah--ay, honesty. I remember when we were in, there was not a man of + doubtful integrity in the ministry, or on our side even; and then again, + when we went out, the opposition benches were filled with sterling + characters, making a parliament that was correct throughout. Can you show + me such a thing at this day?" + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXII. + </h2> + <p> + A few days after the arrival of the Moseleys at the lodge John drove his + sisters to the little village of L----, which at that time was thronged + with an unusual number of visiters. It had, among other fashionable + arrangements for the accommodation of its guests, one of those circulators + of good and evil, a public library. Books are, in a great measure, the + instruments of controlling the opinions of a nation like ours. They are an + engine, alike powerful to save or to destroy. It cannot be denied, that + our libraries contain as many volumes of the latter, as the former + description; for we rank amongst the latter that long catalogue of idle + productions, which, if they produce no other evil, lead to the misspending + of time, <i>our own</i> perhaps included. But we cannot refrain expressing + our regret, that such formidable weapons in the cause of morality, should + be suffered to be wielded by any indifferent or mercenary dealer, who + undoubtedly will consult rather the public tastes than the private good: + the evil may be remediless, yet we love to express our sentiments, though + we should suggest nothing new or even profitable. Into one of these haunts + of the idle, then, John Moseley entered with a lovely sister leaning on + either arm. Books were the entertainers of Jane, and instructors of Emily. + Sir Edward was fond of reading of a certain sort--that which required no + great depth of thought, or labor of research; and, like most others who + are averse to contention, and disposed to be easily satisfied, the baronet + sometimes found he had harbored opinions on things not exactly + reconcileable with the truth, or even with each other. It is quite as + dangerous to give up your faculties to the guidance of the author you are + perusing, as it is unprofitable to be captiously scrutinizing every + syllable he may happen to advance; and Sir Edward was, if anything, a + little inclined to the dangerous propensity. Unpleasant, Sir Edward + Moseley never was. Lady Moseley very seldom took a book in her hand: her + opinions were established to her own satisfaction on all important points, + and on the minor ones, she made it a rule to coincide with the popular + feeling. Jane had a mind more active than her father, and more brilliant + than her mother; and if she had not imbibed injurious impressions from the + unlicensed and indiscriminate reading she practised, it was more owing to + the fortunate circumstance, that the baronet's library contained nothing + extremely offensive to a pure taste, nor dangerous to good morals, than to + any precaution of her parents against the deadly, the irretrievable injury + to be sustained from ungoverned liberty in this respect to a female mind. + On the other hand, Mrs. Wilson had inculcated the necessity of restraint, + in selecting the books for her perusal, so strenuously on her niece, that + what at first had been the effects of obedience and submission, had now + settled into taste and habit; and Emily seldom opened a book, unless in + search of information; or if it were the indulgence of a less commendable + spirit, it was an indulgence chastened by a taste and judgment that + lessened the danger, if it did not entirely remove it. + </p> + <p> + The room was filled with gentlemen and ladies; and while John was + exchanging his greetings with several of the neighboring gentry of his + acquaintance, his sisters were running hastily over a catalogue of the + books kept for circulation, as an elderly lady, of foreign accent and + dress, entered; and depositing a couple of religious works on the counter, + she inquired for the remainder of the set. The peculiarity of her idiom + and her proximity to the sisters caused them both to look up at the + moment, and, to the surprise of Jane, her sister uttered a slight + exclamation of pleasure. The foreigner was attracted by the sound, and + after a moment's hesitation, she respectfully curtsied. Emily, advancing, + kindly offered her hand, and the usual inquiries after each other's + welfare succeeded. To the questions asked after the friend of the matron + Emily learnt, with some surprise, and no less satisfaction, that she + resided in a retired cottage, about five miles from L----, where they had + been for the last six months, and where they expected to remain for some + time, "until she could prevail on Mrs. Fitzgerald to return to Spain; a + thing, now there was peace, of which she did not despair." After asking + leave to call on them in their retreat, and exchanging good wishes, the + Spanish lady withdrew, and, as Jane had made her selection, was followed + immediately by John Moseley and his sisters. Emily, in their walk home, + acquainted her brother that the companion of their Bath incognita had been + at the library, and that for the first time she had learnt that their + young acquaintance was, or had been, married, and her name. John listened + to his sister with the interest which the beautiful Spaniard had excited + at the time they first met, and laughingly told her he could not believe + their unknown friend had ever been a wife. To satisfy this doubt, and to + gratify a wish they both had to renew their acquaintance with the + foreigner, they agreed to drive to the cottage the following morning, + accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and Jane, if she would go; but the next day was + the one appointed by Egerton for his arrival at L----, and Jane, under a + pretence of writing letters, declined the excursion. She had carefully + examined the papers since his departure; had seen his name included in the + arrivals at London; and at a later day, had read an account of the review + by the commander-in-chief of the regiment to which he belonged. He had + never written to any of her friends; but, judging from her own feelings, + she did not in the least doubt he would be as punctual as love could make + him. Mrs. Wilson listened to her niece's account of the unexpected + interview in the library with pleasure, and cheerfully promised to + accompany them in their morning's excursion, as she had both a wish to + alleviate sorrow, and a desire to better understand the character of this + accidental acquaintance of Emily's. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield and the baronet had a long conversation in relation to + Denbigh's fortune the morning after their arrival; and the old man was + loud in his expression of dissatisfaction at the youngster's pride. As the + baronet, however, in the fulness of his affection and simplicity, betrayed + to his uncle his expectation of a union between Denbigh and his daughter, + Mr. Benfield became contented with this reward; one fit, he thought, for + any services. On the whole, "it was best, as he was to marry Emmy, he + should sell out of the army; and as there would be an election soon, he + would bring him into parliament--yes--- yes--it did a man so much good to + sit one term in the parliament of this realm--to study human nature. All + his own knowledge in that way was raised on the foundations laid in the + House." To this Sir Edward cordially assented, and the gentlemen + separated, happy in their arrangements to advance the welfare of two + beings they so sincerely loved. + </p> + <p> + Although the care and wisdom of Mrs. Wilson had prohibited the admission + of any romantic or enthusiastic expectations of happiness into the + day-dreams of her charge, yet the buoyancy of health, of hope, of youth, + of innocence, had elevated Emily to a height of enjoyment hitherto unknown + to her usually placid and disciplined pleasures. Denbigh certainly mingled + in most of her thoughts, both of the past and the future, and she stood on + the threshold of that fantastic edifice in which Jane ordinarily resided. + Emily was in the situation perhaps the most dangerous to a young female + Christian: her heart, her affections, were given to a man, to appearance, + every way worthy of possessing them, it is true but she had admitted a + rival in her love to her Maker; and to keep those feelings distinct, to + bend the passions in due submission to the more powerful considerations of + endless duty, of unbounded gratitude, is one of the most trying struggles + of Christian fortitude. We are much more apt to forget our God in + prosperity than adversity. The weakness of human nature drives us to seek + assistance in distress; but vanity and worldly-mindedness often induce us + to imagine we control the happiness we only enjoy. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward and Lady Moseley could see nothing in the prospect of the + future but lives of peace and contentment for their children. Clara was + happily settled, and her sisters were on the eve of making connexions with + men of family, condition, and certain character. What more could be done + for them? They must, like other people, take their chances in the lottery + of life; they could only hope and pray for their prosperity, and this they + did with great sincerity. Not so Mrs. Wilson: she had guarded the + invaluable charge intrusted to her keeping with too much assiduity, too + keen an interest, too just a sense of the awful responsibility she had + undertaken, to desert her post at the moment watchfulness was most + required. By a temperate, but firm and well-chosen conversation she kept + alive the sense of her real condition in her niece, and labored hard to + prevent the blandishments of life from supplanting the lively hope of + enjoying another existence. She endeavored, by her pious example, her + prayers, and her judicious allusions, to keep the passion of love in the + breast of Emily secondary to the more important object of her creation; + and, by the aid of a kind and Almighty Providence, her labors, though + arduous, were crowned with success. + </p> + <p> + As the family were seated round the table after dinner, on the day of + their walk to the library, John Moseley, awakening from a reverie, + exclaimed suddenly, + </p> + <p> + "Which do you think the handsomest, Emily, Grace Chatterton or Miss + Fitzgerald?" + </p> + <p> + Emily laughed, as she answered, "Grace, certainly; do you not think so, + brother?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, on the whole; but don't you think Grace looks like her mother at + times?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no, she is the image of Chatterton." + </p> + <p> + "She is very like yourself, Emmy dear," said Mr. Benfield, who was + listening to their conversation. + </p> + <p> + "Me, dear uncle; I have never heard it remarked before." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes, she is as much like you as she can stare. I never saw as great + a resemblance, excepting between you and Lady Juliana--Lady Juliana, Emmy, + was a beauty in her day; very like her uncle, old Admiral Griffin--you + can't remember the admiral--he lost an eye in a battle with the Dutch, and + part of his cheek in a frigate, when a young man fighting the Dons. Oh, he + was a pleasant old gentleman; many a guinea has he given me when I was a + boy at school." + </p> + <p> + "And he looked like Grace Chatterton, uncle, did he?" asked John, + innocently. + </p> + <p> + "No, sir, he did not; who said he looked like Grace Chatterton, + jackanapes?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, I thought you made it out, sir: but perhaps it was the description + that deceived me--his eye and cheek, uncle." + </p> + <p> + "Did Lord Gosford leave children, uncle?" inquired Emily, throwing a look + of reproach at John. + </p> + <p> + "No, Emmy dear; his only child, a son, died at school. I shall never + forget the grief of poor Lady Juliana. She postponed a visit to Bath three + weeks on account of it. A gentleman who was paying his addresses to her at + the time, offered then, and was refused--indeed, her self-denial raised + such an admiration of her in the men, that immediately after the death of + young Lord Dayton, no less than seven gentlemen offered, and were refused + in one week. I heard Lady Juliana say, that what between lawyers and + suitors, she had not a moment's peace." + </p> + <p> + "Lawyers?" cried Sir Edward: "what had she to do with lawyers?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, Sir Edward, six thousand a year fell to her by the death of her + nephew; and there were trustees and deeds to be made out--poor young + woman, she was so affected, Emmy, I don't think she went out for a + week--all the time at home reading papers, and attending to her important + concerns. Oh! she was a woman of taste; her mourning, and liveries, and + new carriage, were more admired than those of any one about the court. + Yes, yes, the title is extinct; I know of none of the name now. The Earl + did not survive his loss but six years, and the countess died + broken-hearted, about a twelvemonth before him." + </p> + <p> + "And Lady Juliana, uncle," inquired John, "what became of her, did she + marry?" + </p> + <p> + The old man helped himself to a glass of wine, and looked over his + shoulder to see if Peter was at hand. Peter, who had been originally + butler, and had made it a condition of his preferment, that whenever there + was company, he should be allowed to preside at the sideboard, was now at + his station. Mr. Benfield, seeing his old friend near him, ventured to + talk on a subject he seldom trusted himself with in company. + </p> + <p> + "Why, yes--yes--she <i>did</i> marry, it's true, although she did tell me + she intended to die a maid; but--hem--I suppose--hem--it was compassion + for the old viscount, who often said he could not live without her; and + then it gave her the power of doing so much good, a jointure of five + thousand a year added to her own income: yet--hem--I do confess I did not + think she would have chosen such an old and infirm man--- but, Peter, give + me a glass of claret." Peter handed the claret, and the old man + proceeded:--"They say he was very cross to her, and that, no doubt, must + have made her unhappy, she was so very tender-hearted." + </p> + <p> + How much longer the old gentleman would have continued in this strain, it + is impossible to say; but he was interrupted by the opening of the parlor + door, and the sudden appearance on its threshold of Denbigh. Every + countenance glowed with pleasure at this unexpected return of their + favorite; and but for the prudent caution of Mrs. Wilson, in handing a + glass of water to her niece, the surprise might have proved too much for + her. The salutations of Denbigh were returned by the different members of + the family with a cordiality that must have told him how much he was + valued by all its branches; and after briefly informing them that his + review was over, and that he had thrown himself into a chaise and + travelled post until he had rejoined them, he took his seat by Mr. + Benfield, who received him with a marked preference, exceeding that which + he had shown to any man who had ever entered his doors, Lord Gosford + himself not excepted. Peter removed from his station behind his master's + chair to one where he could face the new comer; and after wiping his eyes + until they filled so rapidly with water, that at last he was noticed by + the delighted John to put on the identical goggles which his care had + provided for Denbigh in his illness. His laugh drew the attention of the + rest to the honest steward, and when Denbigh was told this was Mr. + Benfield's ambassador to the hall, he rose from his chair, and taking the + old man by the hand, kindly thanked him for his thoughtful consideration + for his weak eyes. + </p> + <p> + Peter took the offered hand in both his own, and after making one or two + unsuccessful efforts to speak, he uttered, "Thank you, thank you; may + Heaven bless you," and burst into tears. This stopped the laugh, and John + followed the steward from the room, while his master exclaimed, wiping his + eyes, "Kind and condescending; just such another as my old friend, the + Earl of Gosford." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXIII. + </h2> + <p> + At the appointed hour, the carriage of Mrs. Wilson was ready to convey + herself and niece to the cottage of Mrs. Fitzgerald. John was left behind, + under the pretence of keeping Denbigh company in his morning avocations, + but really because Mrs. Wilson doubted the propriety of his becoming a + visiting acquaintance at the house, tenanted as the cottage was + represented to be. John was too fond of his friend to make any serious + objections, and was satisfied for the present, by sending his compliments, + and requesting his sister to ask permission for him to call in one of his + morning excursions, in order to pay his personal respects. + </p> + <p> + They found the cottage a beautiful and genteel, though a very small and + retired dwelling, almost hid by the trees and shrubs which surrounded it, + and its mistress in its little veranda, expecting the arrival of Emily. + Mrs. Fitzgerald was a Spaniard, under twenty, of a melancholy, yet highly + interesting countenance; her manners were soft and retiring, but evidently + bore the impression of good company, if not of high life. She was + extremely pleased with this renewal of attention on the part of Emily, and + expressed her gratitude to both ladies for their kindness in seeking her + out in her solitude. She presented her more matronly companion to them, by + the name of Donna Lorenza; and as nothing but good feeling prevailed, and + useless ceremony was banished, the little party were soon on terms of + friendly intercourse. The young widow (for such her dress indicated her to + be), did the honors of her house with graceful ease, and conducted her + visiters into her little grounds, which; together the cottage, gave + evident proofs of the taste and elegance of its occupant. The + establishment she supported she represented as very small; two women and + an aged man servant, with occasionally a laborer for her garden and + shrubbery. They never visited; it was a resolution she had made on fixing + her residence here, but if Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley would forgive the + rudeness of not returning their call, nothing would give her more + satisfaction than a frequent renewal of their visits. Mrs. Wilson took so + deep an interest in the misfortunes of this young female, and was so much + pleased with the modest resignation of her manner, that it required little + persuasion on the part of the recluse to obtain a promise of soon + repeating her visit. Emily mentioned the request of John, and Mrs. + Fitzgerald received it with a mournful smile, as she replied that Mr. + Moseley had laid her under such an obligation in their first interview, + she could not deny herself the pleasure of again thanking him for it; but + she must be excused if she desired they would limit their attendants to + him, as there was but one gentleman in England whose visits she admitted, + and it was seldom indeed he called; he had seen her but once since she had + resided in Norfolk. + </p> + <p> + After giving a promise not to suffer any one else to accompany them, and + promising an early call again, our ladies returned to Benfield Lodge in + season to dress for dinner. On entering the drawing-room, they found the + elegant person of Colonel Egerton leaning on the back of Jane's chair. He + had arrived during their absence, and immediately sought the baronet's + family. His reception, if not as warm as that given to Denbigh, was + cordial from all but the master of the house; and even he was in such + spirits by the company around him, and the prospects of Emily's marriage + (which he considered as settled), that he forced himself to an appearance + of good will he did not feel. Colonel Egerton was either deceived by his + manner, or too much a man of the world to discover his suspicion, and + everything in consequence was very harmoniously, if not sincerely + conducted between them. + </p> + <p> + Lady Moseley was completely happy. If she had the least doubts before, as + to the intentions of Egerton, they were now removed. His journey to that + unfashionable watering-place, was owing to his passion; and however she + might at times have doubted as to Sir Edgar's heir, Denbigh she thought a + man of too little consequence in the world, to make it possible he would + neglect to profit by his situation in the family of Sir Edward Moseley. + She was satisfied with both connexions. Mr. Benfield had told her General + Sir Frederic Denbigh was nearly allied to the Duke of Derwent, and Denbigh + had said the general was his grandfather. Wealth, she knew Emily would + possess from both her uncle and aunt; and the services of the gentleman + had their due weight upon the feelings of the affectionate mother. The + greatest of her maternal anxieties was removed, and she looked forward to + the peaceful enjoyment of the remnant of her days in the bosom of her + descendants. John, the heir of a baronetcy, and 15,000 pounds a year, + might suit himself; and Grace Chatterton, she thought, would be likely to + prove the future Lady Moseley. Sir Edward, without entering so deeply into + anticipations of the future as his wife, experienced an equal degree of + contentment; and it would have been a difficult task to discover in the + island a roof, under which there resided at the moment more happy + countenances than at Benfield Lodge; for as its master had insisted on + Denbigh becoming an inmate, he was obliged to extend his hospitality in an + equal degree to Colonel Egerton: indeed, the subject had been fully + canvassed between him and Peter the morning of his arrival, and was near + being decided against his admission, when the steward, who had picked up + all the incidents of the arbor scene from the servants (and of course with + many exaggerations), mentioned to his master that the colonel was very + active, and that he even contrived to bring water to revive Miss Emmy, a + great distance, in the hat of Captain Jarvis, which was full of holes, Mr. + John having blown it off the head of the captain without hurting a hair, + in firing at a woodcock. This mollified the master a little, and he agreed + to suspend his decision for further observation. At dinner, the colonel + happening to admire the really handsome face of Lord Gosford, as + delineated by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which graced the dining-room of + Benfield Lodge, its master, in a moment of unusual kindness, gave the + invitation; it was politely accepted, and the colonel at once + domesticated. + </p> + <p> + The face of John Moseley alone, at times, exhibited evidences of care and + thought, and at such moments it might be a subject of doubt whether he + thought the most of Grace Chatterton or her mother: if the latter, the + former was sure to lose ground in his estimation; a serious misfortune to + John, not to be able to love Grace without alloy. His letters from her + brother mentioned his being still at Denbigh castle, in Westmoreland, the + seat of his friend the Duke of Derwent; and John thought one or two of his + encomiums on Lady Harriet Denbigh, the sister of his grace, augured that + the unkindness of Emily might in time be forgotten. The dowager and her + daughters were at the seat of a maiden aunt in Yorkshire, where as John + knew no male animal was allowed admittance, he was tolerably easy at the + disposition of things. Nothing but legacy-hunting he knew would induce the + dowager to submit to such a banishment from the other sex; but that was so + preferable to husband-hunting he was satisfied. "I wish," said John + mentally, as he finished the perusal of his letter, "mother Chatterton + would get married herself, and she might let Kate and Grace manage for + themselves. Kate would do very well, I dare say, and how would Grace make + out!" John sighed, and whistled for Dido and Rover. + </p> + <p> + In the manners of Colonel Egerton there was the same general disposition + to please, and the same unremitted attention to the wishes and amusements + of Jane. They had renewed their poetical investigations, and Jane eagerly + encouraged a taste which afforded her delicacy some little coloring for + the indulgence of an association different from the real truth, and which, + in her estimation, was necessary to her happiness. Mrs. Wilson thought the + distance between the two suitors for the favor of her nieces was, if + anything, increased by their short separation, and particularly noticed on + the part of the colonel an aversion to Denbigh that at times painfully + alarmed, by exciting apprehensions for the future happiness of the + precious treasure she had prepared herself to yield to his solicitations, + whenever properly proffered. In the intercourse between Emily and her + preserver, as there was nothing to condemn, so there was much to admire. + The attentions of Denbigh were pointed, although less exclusive than those + of the colonel; and the aunt was pleased to observe that if the manners of + Egerton had more of the gloss of life, those of Denbigh were certainly + distinguished by a more finished delicacy and propriety. The one appeared + the influence of custom and association, with a tincture of artifice; the + other, benevolence, with a just perception of what was due to others, and + with an air of sincerity, when speaking of sentiments and principles, that + was particularly pleasing to the watchful widow. At times, however, she + could not but observe an air of restraint, if not of awkwardness, about + him that was a little surprising. It was most observable in mixed society, + and once or twice her imagination pictured his sensations into something + like alarm. These unpleasant interruptions to her admiration were soon + forgotten in her just appreciation of the more solid parts of his + character, which appeared literally to be unexceptionable; and when + momentary uneasiness would steal over her, the remembrance of the opinion + of Dr. Ives, his behavior with Jarvis, his charity, and chiefly his + devotion to her niece, would not fail to drive the disagreeable thoughts + from her mind. Emily herself moved about, the image of joy and innocence. + If Denbigh were near her, she was happy; if absent, she suffered no + uneasiness. Her feelings were so ardent, and yet so pure, that jealousy + had no admission. Perhaps no circumstances existed to excite this usual + attendant of the passion; but as the heart of Emily was more enchained + than her imagination, her affections were not of the restless nature of + ordinary attachments, though more dangerous to her peace of mind in the + event of an unfortunate issue. With Denbigh she never walked or rode + alone. He had never made the request, and her delicacy would have shrunk + from such an open manifestation of her preference; but he read to her and + her aunt; he accompanied them in their little excursions; and once or + twice John noticed that she took the offered hand of Denbigh to assist her + over any little impediment in their course, instead of her usual + unobtrusive custom of taking his arm on such occasions. "Well, Miss + Emily," thought John, "you appear to have chosen another favorite," on her + doing this three times in succession in one of their walks. "How strange + it is women will quit their natural friends for a face they have hardly + seen." John forgot his own--"There is no danger, dear Grace," when his + sister was almost dead with apprehension. But John loved Emily too well to + witness her preference of another with satisfaction, even though Denbigh + was the favorite; a feeling which soon wore away, however, by dint of + custom and reflection. Mr. Benfield had taken it into his head that if the + wedding of Emily could be solemnized while the family was at the lodge, it + would render him the happiest of men; and how to compass this object, was + the occupation of a whole morning's contemplation. Happily for Emily's + blushes, the old gentleman harbored the most fastidious notions of female + delicacy, and never in conversation made the most distant allusion to the + expected connexion. He, therefore, in conformity with these feelings, + could do nothing openly; all must be the effect of management; and as he + thought Peter one of the best contrivers in the world, to his ingenuity he + determined to refer the arrangement. + </p> + <p> + The bell rang--"Send Johnson to me, David." + </p> + <p> + In a few minutes, the drab coat and blue yarn stockings entered his + dressing-room with the body of Mr. Peter Johnson snugly cased within them. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," commenced Mr. Benfield, pointing kindly to a chair, which the + steward respectfully declined, "I suppose you know that Mr. Denbigh, the + grandson of General Denbigh, who was in parliament with me, is about to + marry my little Emmy?" + </p> + <p> + Peter smiled, as he bowed an assent. + </p> + <p> + "Now, Peter, a wedding would, of all things, make me most happy; that is, + to have it here in the lodge. It would remind me so much of the marriage + of Lord Gosford, and the bridemaids. I wish your opinion how to bring it + about before they leave us. Sir Edward and Anne decline interfering, and + Mrs. Wilson I am afraid to speak to on the subject." + </p> + <p> + Peter was not a little alarmed by this sudden requisition on his inventive + faculties, especially as a lady was in the case; but, as he prided himself + on serving his master, and loved the hilarity of a wedding in his heart, + he cogitated for some time in silence, when, having thought a preliminary + question or two necessary, he broke it with saying-- + </p> + <p> + "Everything, I suppose, master, is settled between the young people?" + </p> + <p> + "Everything, I take it, Peter." + </p> + <p> + "And Sir Edward and my lady?" + </p> + <p> + "Willing; perfectly willing." + </p> + <p> + "And Madam Wilson, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Willing, Peter, willing." + </p> + <p> + "And Mr. John and Miss Jane?" + </p> + <p> + "All willing; the whole family is willing, to the best of my belief.'" + </p> + <p> + "There is the Rev. Mr. Ives and Mrs. Ives, master?" + </p> + <p> + "They wish it, I know. Don't you think they wish others as happy as + themselves, Peter?" + </p> + <p> + "No doubt they do, master. Well, then, as everybody is willing, and the + young people agreeable, the only thing to be done, sir, is--" + </p> + <p> + "Is what, Peter?" exclaimed his impatient master observing him to + hesitate. + </p> + <p> + "Why, sir, to send for the priest, I take it." + </p> + <p> + "Pshaw! Peter Johnson, I know that myself," replied the dissatisfied old + man. "Cannot you help me to a better plan?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, master," said Peter, "I would have done as well for Miss Emmy and + your honor as I would have done for myself. Now, sir, when I courted Patty + Steele, your honor, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and + sixty-five, I should have been married but for one difficulty, which your + honor says is removed in the case of Miss Emmy." + </p> + <p> + "What was that, Peter?" asked his master, in a tender tone. + </p> + <p> + "She wasn't willing, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, poor Peter," replied Mr. Benfield, mildly "you may go." And + the steward, bowing low, withdrew. + </p> + <p> + The similarity of their fortunes in love was a strong link in the + sympathies which bound the master and man together and the former never + failed to be softened by an allusion to Patty. The want of tact in the + man, on the present occasion, after much reflection, was attributed by his + master to the fact that Peter had never sat in parliament. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXIV. + </h2> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson and Emily, in the fortnight they had been at Benfield Lodge, + paid frequent and long visits to the cottage: and each succeeding + interview left a more favorable impression of the character of its + mistress, and a greater certainty that she was unfortunate. The latter, + however, alluded very slightly to her situation or former life; she was a + Protestant, to the great surprise of Mrs. Wilson; and one that misery had + made nearly acquainted with the religion she professed. Their + conversations chiefly turned on the customs of her own, as contrasted with + those of her adopted country, or in a pleasant exchange of opinions, which + the ladies possessed in complete unison. One morning John had accompanied + them and been admitted; Mrs. Fitzgerald receiving him with the frankness + of an old acquaintance, though with the reserve of a Spanish lady. His + visits were permitted under the direction of his aunt, but no others of + the gentlemen were included amongst her guests. Mrs. Wilson had casually + mentioned, in the absence of her niece, the interposition of Denbigh + between her and death; and Mrs. Fitzgerald was so much pleased at the + noble conduct of the gentleman, as to express a desire to see him; but the + impressions of the moment appeared to have died away, a nothing more was + said by either lady on the subject, and it was apparently forgotten. Mrs. + Fitzgerald was found one morning, weeping over a letter she held in her + hand, and the Donna Lorenza was endeavoring to console her. The situation + of this latter lady was somewhat doubtful; she appeared neither wholly a + friend nor a menial. In the manners of the two there was a striking + difference; although the Donna was not vulgar, she was far from possessing + the polish of her more juvenile friend, and Mrs. Wilson considered her to + be in a station between that of a housekeeper and that of a companion. + After hoping that no unpleasant intelligence occasioned the distress they + witnessed, the ladies were delicately about to take their leave, when Mrs. + Fitzgerald entreated them to remain. + </p> + <p> + "Your kind attention to me, dear madam, and the goodness of Miss Moseley, + give you a claim to know more of the unfortunate being your sympathy has + so greatly assisted to attain her peace of mind. This letter is from the + gentleman of whom you have heard me speak, as once visiting me, and though + it has struck me with unusual force, it contains no more than I expected + to hear, perhaps no more than I deserve to hear." + </p> + <p> + "I hope your friend has not been unnecessarily harsh: severity is not the + best way, always, of effecting repentance, and I feel certain that you, my + young friend, can have been guilty of no offence that does not rather + require gentle than stern reproof," said Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "I thank you, dear madam, for your indulgent opinion of me, but although I + have suffered much, I am willing to confess it is a merited punishment; + you are, however, mistaken as to the source of my present sorrow. Lord + Pendennyss is the cause of grief, I believe, to no one, much less to me." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Emily, in surprise, unconsciously looking at + her aunt. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" reiterated Mrs. Wilson, with animation "and is he your + friend, too?" "Yes, madam; to his lordship I owe + everything--honor--comfort--religion--and even life itself." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson's cheek glowed with an unusual color, at this discovery of + another act of benevolence and virtue, in a young nobleman whose character + she had so long admired, and whose person she had in vain wished to meet. + </p> + <p> + "You know the earl, then?" inquired Mrs. Fitzgerald. + </p> + <p> + "By reputation, only, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "but that is enough to + convince me a friend of his must be a worthy character, if anything were + wanting to make us your friends." + </p> + <p> + The conversation was continued for some time, and Mrs. Fitzgerald saying + she did not feel equal just then to the undertaking, but the next day, if + they would honor her with another call, she would make them acquainted + with the incidents of her life, and the reasons she had for speaking in + such terms of Lord Pendennyss. The promise to see her was cheerfully made + by Mrs. Wilson, and her confidence accepted; not from a desire to gratify + an idle curiosity, but a belief that it was necessary to probe a wound to + cure it; and a correct opinion, that she would be a better adviser for a + young and lovely woman, than even Pendennyss; for the Donna Lorenza she + could hardly consider in a capacity to offer advice, much less dictation. + They then took their leave, and Emily, during their ride, broke the + silence with exclaiming,-- + </p> + <p> + "Wherever we hear of Lord Pendennyss, aunt, we hear of him favorably." + </p> + <p> + "A certain sign, my dear, he is deserving of it. There is hardly any man + who has not his enemies, and those are seldom just; but we have met with + none of the earl's yet." + </p> + <p> + "Fifty thousand a year will make many friends," observed Emily, shaking + her head. + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless, my love, or as many enemies; but honor, life, and religion, my + child, are debts not owing to money--in this country at least." + </p> + <p> + To this remark Emily assented; and after expressing her own admiration of + the character of the young nobleman, she dropped into a reverie. How many + of his virtues she identified with the person of Mr. Denbigh, it is not, + just now, our task to enumerate; but judges of human nature may easily + determine, and that too without having sat in the parliament of this + realm. + </p> + <p> + The morning this conversation occurred at the cottage, Mr. and Mrs. + Jarvis, with their daughters, made their unexpected appearance at L----. + The arrival of a post-chaise and four with a gig, was an event soon + circulated through the little village, and the names of its owners reached + the lodge just as Jane had allowed herself to be persuaded by the colonel + to take her first walk with him unaccompanied by a third person. Walking + is much more propitious to declarations than riding; and whether it was + premeditated on the part of the colonel or not, or whether he was afraid + that Mrs. Jarvis or some one else would interfere, he availed himself of + this opportunity, and had hardly got out of hearing of her brother and + Denbigh, before he made Jane an explicit offer of his hand. The surprise + was so great, that some time elapsed before the distressed girl could + reply. This she, however, at length did, but incoherently: she referred + him to her parents, as the arbiters of her fate, well knowing that her + wishes had long been those of her father and mother. With this the colonel + was obliged to be satisfied for the present. But their walk had not ended, + before he gradually drew from the confiding girl an acknowledgment that, + should her parents decline his offer, she would be very little less + miserable than himself; indeed, the most tenacious lover might have been + content with the proofs of regard that Jane, unused to control her + feelings, allowed herself to manifest on this occasion. Egerton was in + raptures; a life devoted to her would never half repay her condescension; + and as their confidence increased with their walk, Jane re-entered the + lodge with a degree of happiness in her heart she had never before + experienced. The much dreaded declaration--her own distressing + acknowledgements, were made, and nothing farther remained but to live and + be happy. She flew into the arms of her mother, and; hiding her blushes in + her bosom, acquainted her with the colonel's offer and her own wishes. + Lady Moseley, who was prepared for such a communication, and had rather + wondered at its tardiness, kissed her daughter affectionately, as she + promised to speak to her father, and to obtain his approbation. + </p> + <p> + "But," she added, with a degree of formality and caution which had better + preceded than have followed the courtship, "we must make the usual + inquiries, my child, into the fitness of Colonel Egerton as a husband for + our daughter. Once assured of that, you have nothing to fear." + </p> + <p> + The baronet was requested to grant an audience to Colonel Egerton, who now + appeared as determined to expedite things, as he had been dilatory before. + On meeting Sir Edward, he made known his pretensions and hopes. The + father, who had been previously notified by his wife of what was + forthcoming, gave a general answer, similar to the speech of the mother, + and the colonel bowed in acquiescence. + </p> + <p> + In the evening, the Jarvis family favored the inhabitants of the lodge + with a visit, and Mrs. Wilson was struck with the singularity of their + reception of the colonel. Miss Jarvis, especially, was rude to both him + and Jane, and it struck all who witnessed it as a burst of jealous feeling + for disappointed hopes; but to no one, excepting Mrs. Wilson, did it occur + that the conduct of the gentleman could be at all implicated in the + transaction. Mr. Benfield was happy to see under his roof again the best + of the trio of Jarvises he had known, and something like sociability + prevailed. There was to be a ball, Miss Jarvis remarked, at L----, the + following day, which would help to enliven the scene a little, especially + as there were a couple of frigates at anchor, a few miles off, and the + officers were expected to join the party. This intelligence had but little + effect on the ladies of the Moseley family; yet, as their uncle desired + that, out of respect to his neighbors, if invited, they would go, they + cheerfully assented. During the evening, Mrs. Wilson observed Egerton in + familiar conversation with Miss Jarvis; and as she had been notified of + his situation with respect to Jane, she determined to watch narrowly into + the causes of so singular a change of deportment in the young lady. Mrs. + Jarvis retained her respect for the colonel in full force; and called out + to him across the room, a few minutes before she departed-- + </p> + <p> + "Well, colonel, I am happy to tell you I have heard very lately from your + uncle, Sir Edgar." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, madam!" replied the colonel, starting. "He was well, I hope." + </p> + <p> + "Very well, the day before yesterday. His neighbor, old, Mr. Holt, is a + lodger in the same house with us at L----; and as I thought you would like + to hear, I made particular inquiries about the baronet." The word baronet + was pronounced with emphasis and a look of triumph, as if it would say, + you see <i>we</i> have baronets as well as you. As no answer was made by + Egerton, excepting an acknowledging bow, the merchant and his family + departed. + </p> + <p> + "Well, John," cried Emily, with a smile, "we have heard more good to-day + of our trusty and well-beloved cousin, the Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "Indeed!" exclaimed her brother. "You must keep Emily for his lordship, + positively, aunt: she is almost as great an admirer of him as yourself." + </p> + <p> + "I apprehend it is necessary she should be quite as much so, to become his + wife," said Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Really," said Emily, more gravely, "if all one hears of him be true, or + even half, it would be no difficult task to admire him." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh was standing leaning on the back of a chair, in situation where he + could view the animated countenance of Emily as she spoke, and Mrs. Wilson + noticed an uneasiness and a changing of color in him that appeared + uncommon from so trifling a cause. Is it possible, she thought, Denbigh + can harbor so mean a passion as envy? He walked away, as if unwilling to + hear more, and appeared much engrossed with his own reflections for the + remainder of the evening. There were moments of doubting which crossed the + mind of Mrs. Wilson with a keenness of apprehension proportionate to her + deep interest in Emily, with respect to certain traits in the character of + Denbigh; and this, what she thought a display of unworthy feeling, was one + of them. In the course of the evening, the cards for the expected ball + arrived, and were accepted. As this new arrangement for the morrow + interfered with their intended visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald, a servant was + sent with a note of explanation in the morning and a request that on the + following day the promised communication might be made. To this + arrangement the recluse assented, and Emily prepared for the ball with a + melancholy recollection of the consequences which grew out of the last she + had attended--melancholy at the fate of Digby, and pleasure at the + principles manifested by Denbigh, on the occasion. The latter, however, + with a smile, excused himself from being of the party, telling Emily he + was so awkward that he feared some unpleasant consequences to himself or + his friends would arise from his inadvertencies, did he venture again with + her into such an assembly. + </p> + <p> + Emily sighed gently, as she entered the carriage of her aunt early in the + afternoon, leaving Denbigh in the door of the lodge, and Egerton absent on + the execution of some business; the former to amuse himself as he could + until the following morning, and the latter to join them in the dance in + the evening. + </p> + <p> + The arrangement included an excursion on the water, attended by the bands + from the frigates, a collation, and in the evening a ball. One of the + vessels was commanded by a Lord Henry Stapleton, a fine young man, who, + struck with the beauty and appearance of the sisters, sought an + introduction to the baronet's family, and engaged the hand of Emily for + the first dance. His frank and gentleman-like deportment was pleasing to + his new acquaintances; the more so, as it was peculiarly suited to their + situation at the moment. Mrs. Wilson was in unusual spirits, and + maintained an animated conversation with the young sailor, in the course + of which, he spoke of his cruising on the coast of Spain, and by accident + he mentioned his having carried out to that country, upon one occasion, + Lord Pendennyss. This was common ground between them, and Lord Henry was + as enthusiastic in his praises of the earl, as Mrs. Wilson's partiality + could desire. He also knew Colonel Egerton slightly, and expressed his + pleasure, in polite terms, when they met in the evening in the ball-room, + at being able to renew his acquaintance. The evening passed off as such + evenings generally do--in gaiety, listlessness, dancing, gaping, and + heartburnings, according to the dispositions and good or ill fortune of + the several individuals who compose the assembly. Mrs. Wilson, while her + nieces were dancing, moved her seat to be near a window, and found herself + in the vicinity of two elderly gentlemen, who were commenting on the + company. After making several common-place remarks, one of them inquired + of the other--"Who is that military gentleman amongst the naval beaux, + Holt?" + </p> + <p> + "That is the hopeful nephew of my friend and neighbor, Sir Edgar Egerton; + he is here dancing, and misspending his time and money, when I know Sir + Edgar gave him a thousand pounds six months ago, on express condition, he + should not leave the regiment or take a card in his hand for twelvemonth." + </p> + <p> + "He plays, then?" + </p> + <p> + "Sadly; he is, on the whole, a very bad young man." + </p> + <p> + As they changed their topic, Mrs. Wilson joined her sister, dreadfully + shocked at this intimation of the vices of a man so near an alliance with + her brother's child. She was thankful it was not too late to avert part of + the evil, and determined to acquaint Sir Edward, at once, with what she + had heard, in order that an investigation might establish the colonel's + innocence or guilt. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXV. + </h2> + <p> + They returned to the lodge at an early hour, and Mrs Wilson, after + meditating upon the course she ought to take, resolved to have a + conversation with her brother that evening after supper. Accordingly, as + they were among the last to retire, she mentioned her wish to detain him, + and when left by themselves, the baronet taking his seat by her on a sofa, + she commenced as follows, willing to avoid her unpleasant information + until the last moment. + </p> + <p> + "I wished to say something to you, brother, relating to my charge: you + have, no doubt, observed the attentions of Mr. Denbigh to Emily?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, sister, and with great pleasure; you must not suppose I wish + to interfere with the authority I have so freely relinquished to you, + Charlotte, when I inquire if Emily favors his views or not?" + </p> + <p> + "Neither Emily nor I, my dear brother, wish ever to question your right, + not only to inquire into, but to control the conduct of your child;--she + is yours, Edward, by a tie nothing can break, and we both love you too + much to wish it. There is nothing you may be more certain of, than that, + without the approbation of her parents, Emily would accept of no offer, + however splendid or agreeable to her own wishes." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, sister, I would not wish unduly to influence my child in an affair + of so much importance to herself; but my interest in Denbigh is little + short of that I feel for my daughter." + </p> + <p> + "I trust," continued Mrs. Wilson, "Emily is too deeply impressed with her + duty to forget the impressive mandate, 'to honor her father and mother:' + yes, Sir Edward, I am mistaken if she would not relinquish the dearest + object of her affections, at your request; and at the same time, I am + persuaded she would, under no circumstances, approach the altar with a man + she did not both love and esteem." + </p> + <p> + The baronet did not appear exactly to understand his sister's distinction, + as he observed, "I am not sure I rightly comprehend the difference you + make, Charlotte." + </p> + <p> + "Only, brother, that she would feel that a promise made at the altar to + love a man she felt averse to, or honor one she could not esteem, as a + breach of a duty, paramount to all earthly considerations," replied his + sister; "but to answer your question--Denbigh has never offered, and when + he does, I do not think he will be refused." + </p> + <p> + "Refused!" cried the baronet, "I sincerely hope not; I wish, with all my + heart, they were married already." + </p> + <p> + "Emily is very young," said Mrs. Wilson, "and need not hurry: I was in + hopes she would remain single a few years longer." + </p> + <p> + "Well," said the baronet, "you and Lady Moseley, sister, have different + notions on the subject of marrying the girls." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson replied, with a good-humored smile, "you have made Anne so + good a husband, Ned, that she forgets there are any bad ones in the world; + <i>my</i> greatest anxiety is, that the husband of my niece may be a + Christian; indeed, I know not how I can reconcile it to my conscience, as + a Christian myself, to omit this important qualification," + </p> + <p> + "I am sure, Charlotte, both Denbigh and Egerton appear to have a great + respect for religion; they are punctual at church, and very attentive to + the service:" Mrs. Wilson smiled as he proceeded, "but religion may come + after marriage, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, brother, and I know it may not come at all; no really pious woman + can be happy, without her husband is in what she deems the road to future + happiness himself; and it is idle--it is worse--it is almost impious to + marry with a view to reform a husband: indeed, she greatly endangers her + own safety thereby; for few of us, I believe, but find the temptation to + err as much as we can contend with, without calling in the aid of example + against us, in an object we love; indeed it appears to me, the life of + such a woman must be a struggle between conflicting duties." + </p> + <p> + "Why," said the baronet, "if your plan were generally adopted, I am afraid + it would give a deadly blow to matrimony." + </p> + <p> + "I have nothing to do with generals, brother, I am acting for individual + happiness, and discharging individual duties: at the same time I cannot + agree with you in its effects on the community. I think no man who + dispassionately examines the subject, will be other than a Christian; and + rather than remain bachelors, they would take even that trouble; if the + strife in our sex were less for a husband, wives would increase in value." + </p> + <p> + "But how is it, Charlotte," said the baronet, pleasantly, "your sex do not + use your power and reform the age?" + </p> + <p> + "The work of reformation, Sir Edward," replied his sister, gravely, "is an + arduous one indeed, and I despair of seeing it general, in my day; but + much, very much, might be done towards it, if those who have the guidance + of youth would take that trouble with their pupils that good faith + requires of them, to discharge the minor duties of life." + </p> + <p> + "Women ought to marry," observed the baronet, musing. + </p> + <p> + "Marriage is certainly the natural and most desirable state for a woman," + but how few are there who, having entered it, know how to discharge its + duties; more particularly those of a mother! On the subject of marrying + our daughters, for instance, instead of qualifying them to make a proper + choice, they are generally left to pick up such principles and opinions as + they may come at, as it were by chance. It is true, if the parent be a + Christian in name, certain of the externals of religion are observed; but + what are these, if not enforced by a consistent example in the + instructor?" + </p> + <p> + "Useful precepts are seldom lost, I believe, sister," said Sir Edward, + with confidence. + </p> + <p> + "Always useful, my dear brother; but young people are more observant than + we are apt to imagine, and are wonderfully ingenious in devising excuses + to themselves for their conduct. I have often heard it offered as an + apology, that father or mother knew it, or perhaps did it, and therefore + it could not be wrong: association is all-important to a child." + </p> + <p> + "I believe no family of consequence admits of improper associates within + my knowledge," said the baronet. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson smiled as she answered, "I am sure I hope not, Edward; but are + the qualifications we require in companions for our daughters, always such + as are most reconcileable with our good sense or our consciences; a single + communication with an objectionable character is a precedent, if known and + unobserved, which will be offered to excuse acquaintances with worse + persons: with the other sex, especially, their acquaintance should be very + guarded and select." + </p> + <p> + "You would make many old maids, sister." + </p> + <p> + "I doubt it greatly, brother; it would rather bring female society in + demand. I often regret that selfishness, cupidity, and the kind of strife + which prevails in our sex, on the road to matrimony, have brought celibacy + into disrepute. For my part, I never see an old maid, but I am willing to + think she is so from choice or principle, and although not in her proper + place, serviceable, by keeping alive feelings necessary to exist, that + marriages may not become curses instead of blessings." + </p> + <p> + "A kind of Eddystone, to prevent matrimonial shipwrecks," said the + brother, gayly. + </p> + <p> + "Their lot may be solitary, baronet, and in some measure cheerless, but + infinitely preferable to a marriage that may lead them astray from their + duties, or give birth to a family which are to be turned on the + world--without any religion but form--without any morals but truisms--or + without even a conscience which has not been seared by indulgence. I hope + that Anne, in the performance of her system, will have no cause to regret + its failure." + </p> + <p> + "Clara chose for herself, and has done well, Charlotte; and so, I doubt + not, will Jane and Emily: and I confess I think their mother is right." + </p> + <p> + "It is true," said Mrs. Wilson, "Clara has done well, though under + circumstances of but little risk; she might have jumped into your + fish-pond, and escaped with life, but the chances are she would drown: nor + do I dispute the right of the girls to choose for themselves; but I say + the rights extend to requiring us to qualify them to make their choice. I + am sorry, Edward, to be the instigator of doubts in your breast of the + worth of any one, especially as it may give you pain." Here Mrs. Wilson + took her brother affectionately by the hand, and communicated what she had + overheard that evening. Although the impressions of the baronet were not + as vivid, or as deep as those of his sister, his parental love was too + great not to make him extremely uneasy under the intelligence and after + thanking her for her attention to his children's welfare, he kissed her, + and withdrew. In passing to his own room, he met Egerton, that moment + returned from escorting the Jarvis ladies to their lodgings; a task he had + undertaken at the request of Jane, as they were without any male + attendant. Sir Edward's heart was too full not to seek immediate relief, + and as he had strong hopes of the innocence of the colonel, though he + could give no reason for his expectation, he returned with him to the + parlor, and in a few words acquainted him with the slanders which had been + circulated at his expense; begging him by all means to disprove them as + soon as possible. The colonel was struck with the circumstance at first, + but assured Sir Edward, it was entirely untrue. He never played, as he + might have noticed, and that Mr. Holt was an ancient enemy of his. He + would in the morning take measures to convince Sir Edward, that he stood + higher in the estimation of his uncle, than Mr. Holt had thought proper to + state. Much relieved by this explanation, the baronet, forgetting that + this heavy charge removed, he only stood where he did before he took time + for his inquiries, assured him, that if he could convince him, or rather + his sister, he did not gamble, he would receive him as a son-in-law with + pleasure. The gentlemen shook hands and parted. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh had retired to his room early, telling Mr. Benfield he did not + feel well, and thus missed the party at supper; and by twelve, silence + prevailed in the house. + </p> + <p> + As usual after a previous day of pleasure, the party were late in + assembling on the following, yet Denbigh was the last who made his + appearance. Mrs. Wilson thought he threw a look round the room as he + entered, which prevented his making his salutations in his usual easy and + polished manner. In a few minutes, however, his awkwardness was removed, + and they took their seats at the table. At that moment the door of the + room was thrown hastily open, and Mr. Jarvis entered abruptly, and with a + look bordering on wildness in his eye--"Is she not here?" exclaimed the + merchant scanning the company closely. + </p> + <p> + "Who?" inquired all in a breath. + </p> + <p> + "Polly--my daughter--my child," said the merchant, endeavoring to control + his feelings; "did she not come here this morning with Colonel Egerton?" + </p> + <p> + He was answered in the negative, and he briefly explained the cause of his + anxiety. The colonel had called very early, and sent her maid up to his + daughter who rose immediately. They had quitted the house together, + leaving word the Miss Moseleys had sent for the young lady to breakfast, + for some particular reason. Such was the latitude allowed by his wife, + that nothing was suspected until one of the servants of the house said he + had seen Colonel Egerton and a lady drive out of the village that morning + in a post-chaise and four. + </p> + <p> + Then the old gentleman first took the alarm, and he proceeded instantly to + the lodge in quest of his daughter. Of the elopement there now remained no + doubt, and an examination into the state of the colonel's room, who, it + had been thought, was not yet risen, gave assurance of it. Here was at + once sad confirmation that the opinion of Mr. Holt was a just one. + Although every heart felt for Jane during this dreadful explanation, no + eye was turned on her excepting the stolen, and anxious glances of her + sister; but when all was confirmed, and nothing remained but to reflect or + act upon the circumstances, she naturally engrossed the whole attention of + her fond parents. Jane had listened in indignation to the commencement of + the narrative of Mr. Jarvis, and so firmly was Egerton enshrined in purity + within her imagination, that not until it was ascertained that both his + servant and clothes were missing, would she admit a thought injurious to + his truth. Then indeed the feelings of Mr. Jarvis, his plain statement + corroborated by this testimony, struck her at once as true; and as she + rose to leave the room, she fell senseless into the arms of Emily who + observing her movement and loss of color had flown to her assistance. + Denbigh had drawn the merchant out in vain efforts to appease him, and + happily no one witnessed this effect of Jane's passion but her nearest + relatives. She was immediately removed to her own room, and in a short + time was in bed with a burning fever. The bursts of her grief were + uncontrolled and violent. At times she reproached herself--her + friends--Egerton; in short, she was guilty of all the inconsistent + sensations that disappointed hopes, accompanied by the consciousness of + weakness on our part seldom fail to give rise to; the presence of her + friends was irksome to her, and it was only to the soft and insinuating + blandishments of Emily's love that she would at all yield. Perseverance + and affection at length prevailed, and as Emily took the opportunity of + some refreshments to infuse a strong soporific, Jane lost her + consciousness of misery in a temporary repose. In the mean time a more + searching inquiry had been able to trace out the manner and direction of + the journey of the fugitives. + </p> + <p> + It appeared the colonel left the lodge immediately after his conversation + with Sir Edward; he slept at a tavern, and caused his servant to remove + his baggage at daylight; here he had ordered a chaise and horses, and then + proceeded, as mentioned, to the lodgings of Mr. Jarvis. What arguments he + used with Miss Jarvis to urge her to so sudden a flight, remained a + secret; but from the remarks of Mrs. Jarvis and Miss Sarah, there was + reason to believe that he had induced them to think from the commencement, + that his intentions were single, and Mary Jarvis their object. How he + contrived to gloss over his attentions to Jane in such a manner as to + deceive those ladies, caused no little surprise; but it was obvious it had + been done, and the Moseleys were not without hopes his situation with Jane + would not make the noise in the world such occurrences seldom fail to + excite. In the afternoon a letter was handed to Mr. Jarvis, and by him + immediately communicated to the baronet and Denbigh, both of whom he + considered as among his best friends. It was from Egerton, and written in + a respectful manner: he apologized for his elopement, and excused it on + the ground of a wish to avoid the delay of a license or the publishing of + bans, as he was in hourly expectation of a summons to his regiment, and + contained many promises of making an attentive husband, and an + affectionate son. The fugitives were on the road to Scotland, whence they + intended immediately to return to London and to wait the commands of their + parents. The baronet in a voice trembling with emotion at the sufferings + of his own child, congratulated the merchant that things were no worse; + while Denbigh curled his lips as he read the epistle, and thought + settlements were a greater inconvenience than the bans--for it was a well + known fact, a maiden aunt had left the Jarvises twenty thousand pounds + between them. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXVI. + </h2> + <p> + Although the affections of Jane had sustained a blow, her pride had + received a greater, and no persuasions of her mother or sister could + induce her to leave her room. She talked little, but once or twice she + yielded to the affectionate attentions of Emily, and poured out her + sorrows into the bosom of her sister. At such moments she would declare + her intention of never appearing in the world again. One of these + paroxysms of sorrow was witnessed by her mother, and, for the first time, + self-reproach mingled in the grief of the matron. Had she trusted less to + appearances and to the opinions of indifferent and ill-judging + acquaintances, her daughter might have been apprized in season of the + character of the man who had stolen her affections. To a direct exhibition + of misery Lady Moseley was always sensible, and, for the moment, she + became alive to its causes and consequences; but a timely and judicious + safeguard against future moral evils was a forecast neither her inactivity + of mind nor abilities were equal to. + </p> + <p> + We shall leave Jane to brood over her lover's misconduct, while we regret + she is without the consolation alone able to bear her up against the + misfortunes of life, and return to the other personages of our history. + </p> + <p> + The visit to Mrs. Fitzgerald had been postponed in consequence of Jane's + indisposition; but a week after the colonel's departure, Mrs. Wilson + thought, as Jane had consented to leave her room, and Emily really began + to look pale from her confinement by the side of a sick bed, she would + redeem the pledge she had given the recluse on the following morning. They + found the ladies at the cottage happy to see them, and anxious to hear of + the health of Jane, of whose illness they had been informed by note. After + offering her guests some refreshments, Mrs. Fitzgerald, who appeared + laboring under a greater melancholy than usual, proceeded to make them + acquainted with the incidents of her life. + </p> + <p> + The daughter of an English merchant at Lisbon had fled from the house of + her father to the protection of an Irish officer in the service of his + Catholic Majesty: they were united, and the colonel immediately took his + bride to Madrid. The offspring of this union were a son and daughter. The + former, at an early age, had entered into the service of his king, and + had, as usual, been bred in the faith of his ancestors; but the Señora + McCarthy had been educated, and yet remained a Protestant, and, contrary + to her faith to her husband, secretly instructed her daughter in the same + belief. At the age of seventeen, a principal grandee of the court of + Charles sought the hand of the general's child. The Conde d'Alzada was a + match not to be refused, and they were united in the heartless and formal + manner in which marriages are too often entered into, in countries where + the customs of society prevent an intercourse between the sexes. The Conde + never possessed the affections of his wife. Of a stern and unyielding + disposition, his harshness repelled her love; and as she naturally turned + her eyes to the home of her childhood, she cherished all those peculiar + sentiments she had imbibed from her mother. Thus, although she appeared to + the world a Catholic, she lived in secret a Protestant. Her parents had + always used the English language in their family, and she spoke it as + fluently as the Spanish. To encourage her recollections of this strong + feature, which distinguished the house of her father from the others she + entered, she perused closely and constantly those books which the death of + her mother placed at her disposal. These were principally Protestant works + on religious subjects, and the countess became a strong sectarian, without + becoming a Christian. As she was compelled to use the same books in + teaching her only child, the Donna Julia, English, the consequences of the + original false step of her grandmother were perpetuated in the person of + this young lady. In learning English, she also learned to secede from the + faith of her father, and entailed upon herself a life of either + persecution or hypocrisy. The countess was guilty of the unpardonable + error of complaining to their child of the treatment she received from her + husband; and as these conversations were held in English, and were + consecrated by the tears of the mother, they made an indelible impression + on the youthful mind of Julia, who grew up with the conviction that next + to being a Catholic herself, the greatest evil of life was to be the wife + of one. + </p> + <p> + On her attaining her fifteenth year, she had the misfortune (if it could + be termed one) to lose her mother, and within the year her father + presented to her a nobleman of the vicinity as her future husband. How + long the religious faith of Julia would have endured, unsupported by + example in others, and assailed by the passions soliciting in behalf of a + young and handsome cavalier, it might be difficult to pronounce; but as + suitor was neither very young, and the reverse of very handsome, it is + certain the more he wooed, the more confirmed she became in her heresy, + until, in a moment of desperation, and as an only refuge against his + solicitations, she candidly avowed her creed. The anger of her father was + violent and lasting: she was doomed to a convent, as both a penance for + her sins and a means of reformation. Physical resistance was not in her + power, but mentally she determined never to yield. Her body was immured, + but her mind continued unshaken and rather more settled in her belief, by + the aid of those passions which had been excited by injudicious harshness. + For two years she continued in her novitiate, obstinately refusing to take + the vows of the order, and at the end of that period the situation of her + country had called her father and uncle to the field as defenders of the + rights of their lawful prince. Perhaps to this it was owing that harsher + measures were not adopted in her case. + </p> + <p> + The war now raged around them in its greatest horrors, until at length a + general battle was fought in the neighborhood, and the dormitories of the + peaceful nuns were crowded with wounded British officers. Amongst others + of his nation was a Major Fitzgerald, a young man of strikingly handsome + countenance and pleasant manners. Chance threw him under the more + immediate charge of Julia: his recovery was slow, and for a time doubtful, + and as much owing to good nursing as science. The major was grateful, and + Julia unhappy as she was beautiful. That love should be the offspring of + this association, will excite no surprise. A brigade of British encamping + in the vicinity of the convent, the young couple sought its protection + from Spanish vengeance and Romish cruelty. They were married by the + chaplain of the brigade, and for a month they were happy. + </p> + <p> + As Napoleon was daily expected in person at the seat of war, his generals + were alive to their own interests, if not to that of their master. The + body of troops in which Fitzgerald had sought a refuge, being an advanced + party of the main army, were surprised and defeated with loss. After doing + his duty as a soldier at his post, the major, in endeavoring to secure the + retreat of Julia, was intercepted, and they both fell into the hands of + the enemy. They were kindly treated, and allowed every indulgence their + situation admitted, until a small escort of prisoners was sent to the + frontiers; in this they were included, and had proceeded to the + neighborhood of the Pyrenees, when, in their turn, the French were + assailed suddenly, and entirely routed; and the captive Spaniards, of + which the party, with the exception of our young couple, consisted, + released. As the French guard made a resistance until overpowered by + numbers, an unfortunate ball struck Major Fitzgerald to the earth--he + survived but an hour, and died where he fell, on the open field. An + English officer, the last of his retiring countrymen, was attracted by the + sight of a woman weeping over the body of a fallen man, and approached + them. In a few words Fitzgerald explained his situation to this gentleman, + and exacted a pledge from him to guard his Julia, in safety, to his mother + in England. + </p> + <p> + The stranger promised everything the dying husband required, and by the + time death had closed the eyes of Fitzgerald, he had procured from some + peasants a rude conveyance, into which the body, with its almost equally + lifeless widow, were placed. The party which intercepted the convoy of + prisoners, had been out from the British camp on other duty, but its + commander hearing of the escort, had pushed rapidly into a country covered + by the enemy to effect their rescue; and his service done, he was + compelled to make a hasty retreat to ensure his own security. To this was + owing the indifference, which left the major to the care of the Spanish + peasantry who had gathered to the spot, and the retreating troops had got + several miles on their return, before the widow and her protector + commenced their journey. It was impossible to overtake them, and the + inhabitants acquainting the gentleman that a body of French dragoons were + already harassing their rear, he was compelled to seek another route to + the camp. This, with some trouble and no little danger, he at last + effected; and the day following the skirmish, Julia found herself lodged + in a retired Spanish dwelling, several miles within the advanced posts of + the British army. The body of her husband was respectfully interred, and + Julia was left to mourn her irretrievable loss, uninterrupted by anything + but by the hasty visits of the officer in whose care she had been + left--visits which he stole from his more important duties as a soldier. + </p> + <p> + A month glided by in this melancholy manner, leaving to Mrs. Fitzgerald + the only consolation she would receive--her incessant visits to the grave + of her husband. The calls of her protector, however, became more frequent; + and at length he announced his intended departure for Lisbon, on his way + to England. A small covered vehicle, drawn by one horse, was to convey + them to the city, at which place he promised to procure her a female + attendant, and necessaries for the voyage home. It was no time or place + for delicate punctilio; and Julia quietly, but with a heart nearly broken, + prepared to submit to the wishes of her late husband. After leaving the + dwelling, the manners of her guide sensibly altered; he became + complimentary and assiduous to please, but in a way rather to offend than + conciliate; until his attentions became so irksome, that Julia actually + meditated stopping at some of the villages through which they passed, and + abandoning the attempt of visiting England entirely. But the desire to + comply with Fitzgerald's wish, that she would console his mother for the + loss of an only child, and the dread of the anger of her relatives, + determined her to persevere until they reached Lisbon, where she was + resolved to separate for ever from the disagreeable and unknown guardian + into whose keeping she had been thrown by chance. + </p> + <p> + The last day of their weary ride, while passing a wood, the officer so far + forgot his own character and Julia's misfortunes, as to offer personal + indignities. Grown desperate from her situation, Mrs. Fitzgerald sprang + from the vehicle, and by her cries attracted the notice of an officer who + was riding express on the same road with themselves. He advanced to her + assistance at speed, but as he arrived near them, a pistol fired from the + carriage brought his horse down, and the treacherous friend was enabled to + escape undetected. Julia endeavored to explain her situation to her + rescuer; and by her distress and appearance, satisfied him at once of its + truth. Within a short time, a strong escort of light dragoons came up, and + the officer despatched some for a conveyance, and others in pursuit of + that disgrace to the army, the villanous guide: the former was soon + obtained, but no tidings could be had of the latter. The carriage was + found at a short distance, without the horse and with the baggage of + Julia, but with no vestige of its owner. She never knew his name, and + either accident or art had so completely enveloped him in mystery, that + all efforts to unfold it then were fruitless, and had continued so ever + since. + </p> + <p> + On their arrival in Lisbon, every attention was shown to the disconsolate + widow the most refined delicacy could dictate, and every comfort and + respect were procured for her which the princely fortune, high rank, and + higher character of the Earl of Pendennyss, could command. It was this + nobleman, who, on his way from head-quarters with despatches for England, + had been the means of preserving Julia from a fate worse than death. A + packet was in waiting for the earl, and they proceeded in her for home. + The Donna Lorenza was the widow of a subaltern Spanish officer, who had + fallen under the orders and near Pendennyss, and the interest he took in + her brave husband had induced him to offer her, in the destruction of her + little fortune by the enemy, his protection: for near two years he had + maintained her at Lisbon and now, judging her a proper person, had + persuaded her to accompany Mrs. Fitzgerald to England. + </p> + <p> + On the passage, which was very tedious, the earl became more intimately + acquainted with the history and character of his young friend, and by a + course of gentle yet powerful expedients had drawn her mind gradually from + its gloomy contemplation of futurity, to a juster sense of good and evil. + The peculiarity of her religious persuasion afforded an introduction to + frequent discussions of the real opinions of that church, to which Julia + had hitherto belonged, although ignorant of all its essential and vital + truths. These conversations, which were renewed repeatedly in their + intercourse while under the protection of his sister in London, laid the + foundations of a faith which left her nothing to hope for but the happy + termination of her earthly probation. + </p> + <p> + The mother of Fitzgerald was dead, and as he had no near relative left, + Julia found herself alone in the world. Her husband had taken the + precaution to make a will in season it was properly authenticated, and his + widow, by the powerful assistance of Pendennyss, was put in quiet + possession of a little independency. It was while waiting the decision of + this affair that Mrs. Fitzgerald resided for a short time near Bath. As + soon as it was terminated, the earl and his sister had seen her settled in + her present abode, and once since had they visited her; but delicacy had + kept him away from the cottage, although his attempts to serve her had + been constant, though not always successful. He had, on his return to + Spain, seen her father, and interceded with him on her behalf, but in + vain. The anger of the Spaniard remained unappeased, and for a season he + did not renew his efforts; out having heard that her father was + indisposed, Julia had employed the earl once more to make her peace with + him, without prevailing. The letter the ladies had found her weeping over + was from Pendennyss, informing her of his want of success on that + occasion. + </p> + <p> + The substance of the foregoing narrative was related by Mrs. Fitzgerald to + Mrs. Wilson, who repeated it to Emily in their ride home. The compassion + of both ladies was strongly moved in behalf of the young widow; yet Mrs. + Wilson did not fail to point out to her niece the consequences of + deception, and chiefly the misery which had followed from an abandonment + of some of the primary duties of life--obedience and respect to her + parent. Emily, though keenly alive to all the principles inculcated by her + aunt, found so much to be pitied in the fate of her friend, that her + failings lost their proper appearance in her eyes, and for a while she + could think of nothing but Julia and her misfortunes. Previously to their + leaving the cottage, Mrs. Fitzgerald, with glowing cheeks and some + hesitation, informed Mrs. Wilson she had yet another important + communication to make, but would postpone it until her next visit, which + Mrs. Wilson promised should be on the succeeding day. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXVII. + </h2> + <p> + Emily threw a look of pleasure on Denbigh, as he handed her from the + carriage, which would have said, if looks could talk, "In the principles + you have displayed on more than one occasion, I have a pledge of <i>your</i> + worth." As he led her into the house, he laughingly informed her that he + had that morning received a letter which would make his absence from L---- + necessary for a short time, and that he must remonstrate against these + long and repeated visits to a cottage where all attendants of the male sex + were excluded, as they encroached greatly on his pleasures and + improvements, bowing, as he spoke, to Mrs. Wilson. To this Emily replied, + gaily, that possibly, if he conducted himself to their satisfaction; they + would intercede for <i>his</i> admission. Expressing his pleasure at this + promise, as Mrs. Wilson thought rather awkwardly, Denbigh changed the + conversation. At dinner he repeated to the family what he had mentioned to + Emily of his departure, and also his expectation of meeting with Lord + Chatterton during his journey. + </p> + <p> + "Have you heard from Chatterton lately, John?" inquired Sir Edward + Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir, to-day: he had left Denbigh Castle a fortnight since, and + writes he is to meet his friend, the duke, at Bath." + </p> + <p> + "Are you connected with his grace, Mr. Denbigh?" asked Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + A smile of indefinite meaning played on the expressive face of Denbigh, as + he answered slightly-- + </p> + <p> + "On the side of my father, madam." + </p> + <p> + "He has a sister," continued Lady Moseley, willing to know more of + Chatterton's friends and Denbigh's relatives. + </p> + <p> + "He has," was the brief reply. + </p> + <p> + "Her name is Harriet," observed Mrs. Wilson. Denbigh bowed his assent in + silence, and Emily timidly added-- + </p> + <p> + "Lady Harriet Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Lady Harriet Denbigh--will you do me the favor to take wine?" + </p> + <p> + The manner of the gentleman during this dialogue had not been in the least + unpleasant, but it was peculiar; it prohibited anything further on the + subject; and Emily was obliged to be content without knowing who Marian + was, or whether her name was to be found in the Denbigh family or not. + Emily was not in the least jealous, but she wished to know all to whom her + lover was dear. + </p> + <p> + "Do the Dowager and the young ladies accompany Chatterton?" asked Sir + Edward, as he turned to John, who was eating his fruit in silence. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir--I hope--that is, I believe she will," was the answer. + </p> + <p> + "She! Who is she, my son?" + </p> + <p> + "Grace Chatterton," said John, starting from his meditations. "Did you not + ask me about Grace, Sir Edward?" + </p> + <p> + "Not particularly, I believe," said the baronet, dryly. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh again smiled: it was a smile different from any Mrs. Wilson had + ever seen on his countenance, and gave an entirely novel expression to his + face; it was full of meaning, it was knowing--spoke more of the man of the + world than anything she had before noticed in him, and left on her mind + one of those vague impressions she was often troubled with, that there was + something about Denbigh in character or condition, or both, that was + mysterious. + </p> + <p> + The spirit of Jane was too great to leave her a pining or pensive maiden; + yet her feelings had sustained a shock that time alone could cure. She + appeared again amongst her friends; but the consciousness of her + expectations with respect to the colonel being known to them, threw around + her a hauteur and distance very foreign to her natural manner. Emily + alone, whose every movement sprang from the spontaneous feelings of her + heart, and whose words and actions were influenced by the finest and most + affectionate delicacy, such as she was not conscious of possessing + herself, won upon the better feelings of her sister so far, as to restore + between them the usual exchange of kindness and sympathy. But Jane + admitted no confidence; she found nothing consoling, nothing solid, to + justify her attachment to Egerton; nothing indeed, excepting such external + advantages as she was now ashamed to admit had ever the power over her + they in reality had possessed. The marriage of the fugitives in Scotland + had been announced; and as the impression that Egerton was to be connected + with the Moseleys was destroyed of course, their every-day acquaintances, + feeling the restraints removed that such an opinion had once imposed, were + free in their comments on his character. Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were + astonished to find how many things to his disadvantage were generally + known; that he gambled--intrigued--and was in debt--were no secrets + apparently to anybody, but to those who were most interested in knowing + the truth; while Mrs. Wilson saw in these facts additional reasons for + examining and judging for ourselves; the world uniformly concealing from + the party and his friends their honest opinions of his character. Some of + these insinuations reached the ears of Jane: her aunt having rightly + judged, that the surest way to destroy Egerton's power over the + imagination of her niece was to strip him of his fictitious qualities, + suggested this expedient to Lady Moseley; and some of their visitors had + though as the colonel had certainly been attentive to Miss Moseley, it + would give her pleasure to know that her rival had not made the most + eligible match in the kingdom. The project of Mrs. Wilson succeeded in a + great measure; but although Egerton fell, Jane did not find she rose in + her own estimation; and her friends wisely concluded that time was the + only remedy that could restore her former serenity. + </p> + <p> + In the morning, Mrs. Wilson, unwilling to have Emily present at a + conversation she intended to hold with Denbigh, with a view to satisfy her + annoying doubts as to some minor points in his character, after excusing + herself to her niece, invited that gentleman to a morning drive. He + accepted her invitation cheerfully; and Mrs. Wilson saw, it was only as + they drove from the door without Emily, that he betrayed the faintest + reluctance to the jaunt. When they had got a short distance from the lodge + she acquainted him with her intention of presenting him to Mrs. + Fitzgerald, whither she had ordered the coachman to proceed. Denbigh + started as she mentioned the name, and after a few moments' silence, + desired Mrs. Wilson to allow him to stop the carriage; he was not very + well--was sorry to be so rude--but with her permission, he would alight + and return to the house. As he requested in an earnest manner that she + would proceed without him, and by no means disappoint her friend, Mrs. + Wilson complied; yet, somewhat at a loss to account for his sudden + illness, she turned her head to see how the sick man fared, a short time + after he had left her, and was not a little surprised to see him talking + very composedly with John who had met him on his way to the fields with + his gun. Lovesick--thought Mrs. Wilson with a smile; and as she rode on + she came to the conclusion, that as Denbigh was to leave them soon, Emily + would have an important communication to make on her return. + </p> + <p> + "Well," thought Mrs. Wilson with a sigh, "if it is to happen, it may as + well be done at once." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald was expecting her, and appeared rather pleased than + otherwise that she had come alone. After some introductory conversation, + the ladies withdrew by themselves, and Julia acquainted Mrs. Wilson with a + new source of uneasiness. The day the ladies had promised to visit her, + but had been prevented by the arrangements for the ball, the Donna Lorenza + had driven to the village to make some purchases, attended as usual by + their only man-servant, and Mrs. Fitzgerald was sitting in the little + parlor in momentary expectation of her friends by herself. The sound of + footsteps drew her to the door, which she opened for the admission of the + wretch whose treachery to her dying husband's requests had given her so + much uneasiness. Horror--fear--surprise--altogether, prevented her from, + making any alarm at the moment, and she sank into a chair. He stood + between her and the door, as he endeavored to draw her into a + conversation; he assured her she had nothing to fear; that he loved her, + and her alone; that he was about to be married to a daughter of Sir Edward + Moseley, but would give her up, fortune, everything, if she would consent + to become his wife--that the views of her protector, he doubted not, were + dishonorable--that he himself was willing to atone for his former excess + of passion, by a life devoted to her. + </p> + <p> + How much longer he would have gone on, and what further he would have + offered, is unknown; for Mrs. Fitzgerald, having recovered herself a + little, darted to the bell on the other side of the room; he tried to + prevent her ringing it, but was too late; a short struggle followed, when + the sound of the footsteps of the maid compelled him to retreat + precipitately. Mrs. Fitzgerald added, that his assertion concerning Miss + Moseley had given her incredible uneasiness, and prevented her making the + communication yesterday; but she understood this morning through her maid, + that a Colonel Egerton, who had been supposed to be engaged to one of Sir + Edward's daughters, had eloped with another lady. That Egerton was her + persecutor, she did not now entertain a doubt; but that it was in the + power of Mrs. Wilson probably to make the discovery, as in the struggle + between them for the bell, a pocket-book had fallen from the breast-pocket + of his coat, and his retreat was too sudden to recover it. + </p> + <p> + As she put the book into the hands of Mrs. Wilson, she desired she would + take means to return it to its owner; its contents might be of value, + though she had not thought it correct to examine it. Mrs. Wilson took the + book, and as she dropped it into her work-bag, smiled at the Spanish + punctilio of her friend in not looking into her prize under the peculiar + circumstances. + </p> + <p> + A few questions as to the place and year of his first attempts, soon + convinced her it was Egerton whose unlicensed passions had given so much + trouble to Mrs. Fitzgerald. He had served but one campaign in Spain, and + in that year, and that division of the army; and surely <i>his principles</i> + were no restraint upon his conduct. Mrs. Fitzgerald begged the advice of + her more experienced friend as to the steps she ought to take; to which + the former asked if she had made Lord Pendennyss acquainted with the + occurrence. The young widow's cheek glowed as she answered, that, at the + same time she felt assured the base insinuation of Egerton was unfounded, + it had created a repugnance in her to troubling the earl any more than was + necessary in her affairs; and as she kissed the hand of Mrs. Wilson she + added--"besides, your goodness, my dear madam, renders any other adviser + unnecessary now." Mrs. Wilson pressed her hand affectionately, and assured + her of her good wishes and unaltered esteem. She commended her delicacy, + and plainly told the young widow, that how ever unexceptionable the + character of Pendennyss might be, a female friend was the only one a woman + in her situation could repose confidence in, without justly incurring the + sarcasms of the world. + </p> + <p> + As Egerton was now married, and would not probably offer, for the present + at least, any further molestation to Mrs. Fitzgerald, it was concluded to + be unnecessary to take any immediate measures of precaution; and Mrs. + Wilson thought the purse of Mr. Jarvis might be made the means of keeping + him within proper bounds in future. The merchant was prompt, and not + easily intimidated; and the slightest intimation of the truth would, she + knew, be sufficient to engage him on their side, heart and hand. + </p> + <p> + The ladies parted, with a promise of meeting soon again, and an additional + interest in each other by the communications of that and the preceding + day. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had ridden half the distance between the cottage and the + lodge, before it occurred to her they had not absolutely ascertained, by + the best means in their possession, the identity of Colonel Egerton with + Julia's persecutor. She accordingly took the pocket-book from her bag, and + opened it for examination: a couple of letters fell from it into her lap, + and conceiving their direction would establish all she wished to know, as + they had been read, she turned to the superscription of one of them, and + saw--"George Denbigh, Esq." in the well known hand-writing of Dr. + Ives.--Mrs. Wilson felt herself overcome to a degree that compelled her to + lower a glass of the carriage for air. She sat gazing on the letters until + the characters swam before her eyes in undistinguished confusion; and with + difficulty she rallied her thoughts to the point necessary for + investigation. As soon as she found herself equal to the task, she + examined the letters with the closest scrutiny, and opened them both to be + sure there was no mistake. She saw the dates, the "dear George" at the + commencements, and the doctor's name subscribed, before she would believe + they were real; it was then the truth appeared to break upon her in a + flood of light. The aversion of Denbigh to speak of Spain, or of his + services in that country--his avoiding Sir Herbert Nicholson, and that + gentleman's observations respecting him--Colonel Egerton's and his own + manners--his absence from the ball, and startling looks on the following + morning, and at different times before and since--his displeasure at the + name of Pendennyss on various occasions--and his cheerful acceptance of + her invitation to ride until he knew her destination, and singular manner + of leaving her--were all accounted for by this dreadful discovery, and + Mrs. Wilson found the solution of her doubts rushing on her mind with a + force and rapidity that sickened her. + </p> + <p> + The misfortunes of Mrs. Fitzgerald, the unfortunate issue to the passion + of Jane, were trifles in the estimation of Mrs. Wilson, compared to the + discovery of Denbigh's unworthiness. She revolved in her mind his conduct + on various occasions, and wondered how one who could behave so well in + common, could thus yield to temptation on a particular occasion. His + recent attempts, his hypocrisy, however, proved that his villany was + systematic, and she was not weak enough to hide from herself the evidence + of his guilt, or of its enormity. His interposition between Emily and + death, she attributed now to natural courage, and perhaps in some measure + to chance; but his profound and unvarying reverence for holy things, his + consistent charity, his refusing to fight, to what were they owing? And + Mrs. Wilson mourned the weakness of human nature, while she acknowledged + to her self, there might be men, qualified by nature, and even disposed by + reason and grace, to prove ornaments to religion and the world, who fell + beneath the maddening influence of their besetting sins. The superficial + and interested vices of Egerton vanished before these awful and deeply + seated offences of Denbigh, and the correct widow saw at a glance, that he + was the last man to be intrusted with the happiness of her niece; but how + to break this heartrending discovery to Emily was a new source of + uneasiness to her, and the carriage stopped at the door of the lodge, ere + she had determined on the first step required of her by duty. + </p> + <p> + Her brother handed her out, and, filled with the dread that Denbigh had + availed himself of the opportunity of her absence to press his suit with + Emily, she eagerly inquired after him. She was rejoiced to hear he had + returned with John for a fowling-piece, and together they had gone in + pursuit of game, although she saw in it a convincing proof that a desire + to avoid Mrs. Fitzgerald, and not indisposition, had induced him to leave + her.--As a last alternative, she resolved to have the pocket-book returned + to him in her presence, in order to see if he acknowledged it to be his + property; and, accordingly, she instructed her own man to hand it to him + while at dinner, simply saying he had lost it. + </p> + <p> + The open and unsuspecting air with which her niece met Denbigh on his + return gave Mrs. Wilson an additional shock, and she could hardly command + herself sufficiently to extend the common courtesies of good breeding to + Mr. Benfield's guest. + </p> + <p> + While sitting at the dessert, her servant handed the pocket book, as + directed by his mistress, to its owner, saying, "Your pocket-book, I + believe, Mr. Denbigh." Denbigh took the book, and held it in his hand for + a moment in surprise, and then fixed his eye keenly on the man, as he + inquired where he found it, and how he knew it was his. These were + interrogatories Francis was not prepared to answer, and in his confusion + he naturally turned his eyes on his mistress. Denbigh followed their + direction with his own, and in encountering the looks of the lady, he + asked in a stammering manner, and with a face of scarlet, + </p> + <p> + "Am I indebted to you, madam, for my property?" + </p> + <p> + "No, sir; it was given me by one who found it, to restore to you," said + Mrs. Wilson, gravely, and the subject was dropped, both appearing willing + to say no more. Yet Denbigh was abstracted and absent during the remainder + of the repast, and Emily spoke to him once or twice without obtaining an + answer. Mrs. Wilson caught his eye several times fixed on her with an + inquiring and doubtful expression, that convinced her he was alarmed. If + any confirmation of his guilt had been wanting, the consciousness he + betrayed during this scene afforded it; and she set seriously about + considering the shortest and best method of interrupting his intercourse + with Emily, before he had drawn from her an acknowledgment of her love. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + On withdrawing to her dressing-room after dinner, Mrs. Wilson commenced + the disagreeable duty of removing the veil from the eyes of her niece, by + recounting to her the substance of Mrs. Fitzgerald's last communication. + To the innocence of Emily such persecution could excite no other + sensations than surprise and horror; and as her aunt omitted the part + concerning the daughter of Sir Edward Moseley, she naturally expressed her + wonder as to who the wretch could be. + </p> + <p> + "Possibly, aunt," she said with an involuntary shudder, "some of the many + gentlemen we have lately seen, and one who has had art enough to conceal + his real character from the world." + </p> + <p> + "Concealment, my love," replied Mrs. Wilson, "would be hardly necessary. + Such is the fashionable laxity of morals, that I doubt not many of his + associates would laugh at his misconduct, and that he would still continue + to pass with the world as an honorable man." + </p> + <p> + "And ready," cried her niece, "to sacrifice human life, in the defence of + any ridiculous punctilio." + </p> + <p> + "Or," added Mrs. Wilson, striving to draw nearer to her subject, "with a + closer veil of hypocrisy, wear even an affectation of principle and moral + feeling that would seem to forbid such a departure from duty in favor of + custom." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no, dear aunt," exclaimed Emily, with glowing cheeks and eyes dancing + with pleasure, "he would hardly dare to be so very base. It would be + profanity." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson sighed heavily as she witnessed that confiding esteem which + would not permit her niece even to suspect that an act which in Denbigh + had been so warmly applauded, could, even in another, proceed from + unworthy motives; and she found it would be necessary to speak in the + plainest terms, to awaken her suspicions. Willing, however, to come + gradually to the distressing truth, she replied-- + </p> + <p> + "And yet, my dear, men who pride themselves greatly on their morals, nay, + even some who wear the mask of religion, and perhaps deceive themselves, + admit and practise this very appeal to arms. Such inconsistencies are by + no means uncommon. And why, then, might there not, with equal probability, + be others who would revolt at murder, and yet not hesitate being guilty of + lesser enormities? This is, in some measure, the case of every man; and it + is only to consider killing in unlawful encounters as murder, to make it + one in point." + </p> + <p> + "Hypocrisy is so mean a vice, I should not think a brave man could stoop + to it," said Emily, "and Julia admits he was brave." + </p> + <p> + "And would not a brave man revolt at the cowardice of insulting an + unprotected woman? And your hero did that too," replied Mrs. Wilson, + bitterly, losing her self-command in indignation. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! do not call him my hero, I beg of you, dear aunt," said Emily, + starting, excited by so extraordinary an allusion, but instantly losing + the unpleasant sensation in the delightful consciousness of the + superiority of the man on whom she had bestowed her own admiration. + </p> + <p> + "In fact, my child," continued her aunt, "our natures are guilty of the + grossest inconsistencies. The vilest wretch has generally some property or + which he values himself, and the most perfect are too often frail on some + tender point. Long and tried friendships are those only which can be + trusted, and these oftentimes fail." + </p> + <p> + Emily looked at her aunt in surprise at hearing her utter such unusual + sentiments; for Mrs. Wilson, at the same time she had, by divine + assistance, deeply impressed her niece with the frailty of her nature, had + withheld the disgusting representation of human vices from her view, as + unnecessary to her situation and dangerous to her humility. + </p> + <p> + After a short pause, Mrs. Wilson continued, "Marriage is a fearful step in + a woman, and one she is compelled, in some measure, to adventure her + happiness on, without fitting opportunities of judging of the merit of the + man she confides in. Jane is an instance in point, but I devoutly hope you + are not to be another." + </p> + <p> + While speaking, Mrs. Wilson had taken the hand of Emily, and by her looks + and solemn manner she had succeeded in alarming her niece, although + Denbigh was yet furthest from the thoughts of Emily. The aunt reached her + a glass of water, and willing to get rid of the hateful subject she + continued, hurriedly, "Did you not notice the pocket-book Francis gave to + Mr. Denbigh?" Emily fixed her inquiring eyes on her aunt, as the other + added, "It was the one Mrs. Fitzgerald gave me to-day." Something like an + indefinite glimpse of the facts crossed the mind of Emily; and as it most + obviously involved a separation from Denbigh, she sank lifeless into the + extended arms of her aunt. This had been anticipated by Mrs. Wilson, and a + timely application of restoratives soon brought her back to a + consciousness of misery. Mrs. Wilson, unwilling any one but herself should + witness this first burst of grief, succeeded in getting her niece to her + own room and in bed. Emily made no lamentations--shed no tears--asked no + questions--her eye was fixed, and every faculty appeared oppressed with + the load on her heart. Mrs. Wilson knew her situation too well to intrude + with unseasonable consolation or useless reflections, but sat patiently by + her side, waiting anxiously for the moment she could be of service. At + length the uplifted eyes and clasped hands of Emily assured her she had + not forgotten herself or her duty, and she was rewarded for her labor and + forbearance by a flood of tears. Emily was now able to listen to a more + full statement of the reasons her aunt had for believing in the guilt of + Denbigh, and she felt as if her heart was frozen up for ever, as the + proofs followed each other until they amounted to demonstration. As there + was some indication of fever from her agitated state of mind, her aunt + required she should remain in her room until morning; and Emily, feeling + every way unequal to a meeting with Denbigh, gladly assented. After + ringing for her maid to sit in the adjoining room, Mrs. Wilson went below, + and announced to the family the indisposition of her charge, and her + desire to obtain a little sleep. Denbigh looked anxious to inquire after + the health of Emily, but there was a restraint on all his actions, since + the return of his book, that persuaded Mrs. Wilson he apprehended that a + detection of his conduct had taken place. He did venture to ask when they + were to have the pleasure of seeing Miss Moseley again, hoping it would be + that evening, as he had fixed the morning for his departure; and when he + learnt that Emily had retired for the night, his anxiety was sensibly + increased, and he instantly withdrew. Mrs. Wilson was alone in the + drawing-room, and about to join her niece, as, Denbigh entered it with a + letter in his hand: he approached her with a diffident and constrained + manner, and commenced the following dialogue: + </p> + <p> + "My anxiety and situation will plead my apology for troubling Miss Moseley + at this time--may I ask you, madam, to deliver this letter--I hardly dare + ask you for your good offices." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson took the letter, and coldly replied, + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, sir; and I sincerely wish I could be of any real service to + you." + </p> + <p> + "I perceive, madam," said Denbigh, like one that was choking, "I have + forfeited your good opinion--that pocket book--" + </p> + <p> + "Has made a dreadful discovery," said Mrs. Wilson, shuddering. + </p> + <p> + "Will not one offence be pardoned, dear madam?" cried Denbigh, with + warmth; "if you knew my circumstances--the cruel reasons--why--why did I + neglect the paternal advice of Doctor Ives?" + </p> + <p> + "It is not yet too late, sir," said Mrs. Wilson, more mildly, "for your + own good; as for us, your deception--" + </p> + <p> + "Is unpardonable--I see it--I feel it," cried he, in the accent of + despair; "yet Emily--Emily may relent--you will at least give her my + letter--anything is better than this suspense." + </p> + <p> + "You shall have an answer from Emily this evening, and one entirely + unbiassed by me," said Mrs. Wilson. As she closed the door, she observed + Denbigh gazing on her retiring figure with a countenance of despair, that + caused a feeling of pity to mingle with her detestation of his vices. + </p> + <p> + On opening the door of Emily's room, Mrs. Wilson found her niece in tears, + and her anxiety for her health was alleviated. She knew or hoped, that if + she could once call in the assistance of her judgment and piety to lessen + her sorrows, Emily, however she might mourn, would become resigned to her + situation; and the first step to attain this was the exercise of those + faculties which had been, as it were, momentarily annihilated. Mrs. Wilson + kissed her niece with tenderness, as she placed the letter in her hand, + and told her she would call for her answer within an hour. Employment, and + the necessity of acting, would, she thought, be the surest means of + reviving her energies; nor was she disappointed. When the aunt returned + for the expected answer, she was informed by the maid in the ante-chamber, + that Miss Moseley was up, and had been writing. On entering, Mrs. Wilson + stood a moment in admiration of the picture before her. Emily was on her + knees, and by her side, on the carpet, lay the letter and its answer: her + face was hid by her hair, and her hands were closed in the fervent grasp + of petition. In a minute she rose, and approaching her aunt with an air of + profound resignation, but great steadiness, she handed her the letters, + her own unsealed: + </p> + <p> + "Read them, madam, and if you approve of mine, I will thank you to deliver + it." + </p> + <p> + Her aunt folded her in her arms, until Emily, finding herself yielding + under the effects of sympathy, begged to be left alone. On withdrawing to + her own room, Mrs. Wilson read the contents of the two letters. + </p> + <p> + "I rely greatly on the goodness of Miss Moseley to pardon the liberty I am + taking, at a moment she is so unfit for such a subject; but my + departure--my feelings--- must plead my apology. From the moment of my + first acquaintance with you, I have been a cheerful subject to your + loveliness and innocence. I feel--I know--I am not deserving of such a + blessing; but since knowing you, as I do, it is impossible not to strive + to win you. You have often thanked me as the preserver of your life, but + you little knew the deep interest I had in its safety. Without it my own + would be valueless. By accepting my offered hand, you will place me + amongst the happiest, or by rejecting it, the most wretched of men." + </p> + <p> + To this note, which was unsigned, and evidently written under great + agitation of mind, Emily had-penned the following reply: + </p> + <p> + "Sir--It is with much regret that I find myself reduced to the possibility + of giving uneasiness to one to whom I am under such heavy obligations. It + will never be in my power to accept the honor you have offered me; and I + beg you to receive my thanks for the compliment conveyed in your request, + as well as my good wishes for your happiness in future, and fervent + prayers that you may be ever found worthy of it--Your humble servant, + </p> + <p> + "EMILY MOSELEY." + </p> + <p> + Perfectly satisfied with this answer, Mrs. Wilson went below in order to + deliver it at once. She thought it probable, as Denbigh had already sent + his baggage to a tavern, preparatory to his intended journey, they would + not meet again; and as she felt a strong wish, both on account of Doctor + Ives, and out of respect to the services of the young man himself, to + conceal his conduct from the world entirely, she was in hopes that his + absence might make any disclosure unnecessary. He took the letter from her + with a trembling hand, and casting one of his very expressive looks at + her, as if to read her thoughts, he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + Emily had fallen asleep free from fever, and Mrs. Wilson had descended to + the supper-room, when Mr. Benfield was first struck with the absence of + his favorite. An inquiry after Denbigh was instituted, and while they were + waiting his appearance, a servant handed the old man a note. + </p> + <p> + "From whom?" cried Mr. Benfield, in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, sir," said the servant. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh?" exclaimed Mr. Benfield: "no accident, I hope--I remember + when Lord Gosford--here, Peter, your eyes are young; read it for me, read + it aloud." + </p> + <p> + As all but Mrs. Wilson were anxiously waiting to know the meaning of this + message, and Peter had many preparations to go through before his youthful + eyes could make out the contents, John hastily caught the letter out of + his hand, saying he would save him the trouble, and, in obedience to his + uncle's wishes, he read aloud: + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, being under the necessity of leaving L---- immediately, and + unable to endure the pain of taking leave, avails himself of this means of + tendering his warmest thanks to Mr. Benfield, for his hospitality, and to + his amiable guests for their many kindnesses. As he contemplates leaving + England, he desires to wish them all a long and an affectionate farewell." + </p> + <p> + "Farewell!" cried Mr. Benfield; "farewell--does he say farewell, John? + Here, Peter, run--no, you are too old--John, run--bring my hat; I'll go + myself to the village--some love-quarrel--Emmy sick--and Denbigh going + away--yes--yes, I did so myself--Lady Juliana, poor dear soul, she was a + long time before she could forget it--but Peter"--Peter had disappeared + the instant the letter was finished, and he was quickly followed by John. + Sir Edward and Lady Moseley were lost in amazement at this sudden and + unexpected movement of Denbigh, and the breast of each of the affectionate + parents was filled with a vague apprehension that the peace of mind of + another child was at stake. Jane felt a renewal of her woes, in the + anticipation of something similar for her sister--for the fancy of Jane + was yet active, and she did not cease to consider the defection of Egerton + a kind of unmerited misfortune and fatality, instead of a probable + consequence of want of principle. Like Mr. Benfield, she was in danger of + raising an ideal idol, and of spending the remainder of her days in + devotion to qualities, rarely if ever found identified with a person that + never had existed. The old gentleman was entirely engrossed by a different + object; and having in his own opinion decided there must have been one of + those misunderstandings which sometimes had occurred to himself and Lady + Juliana, he quietly composed himself to eat his salad at the supper table: + on turning his head, however, in quest of his first glass of wine, he + observed Peter standing quietly by the sideboard with the favorite goggles + over his eyes. Now Peter was troubled with two kinds of debility about his + organs of vision; one was age and natural weakness, while the other + proceeded more directly from the heart. His master knew of these facts, + and he took the alarm. Again the wine-glass dropped from his nerveless + hand, as he said in a trembling tone, + </p> + <p> + "Peter, I thought you went"-- + </p> + <p> + "Yes, master," said Peter, laconically. + </p> + <p> + "You saw him, Peter--will he return?" + </p> + <p> + Peter was busily occupied at his glasses, although no one was dry. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," repeated Mr. Benfield, rising from his seat; "is he coming in + time for supper?" Peter was obliged to reply, and deliberately uncasing + his eyes and blowing his nose, he was on the point of opening his mouth, + as John came into the room, and threw himself into a chair with an air of + great vexation. Peter pointed to the young gentleman in silence, and + retired. + </p> + <p> + "John," cried Sir Edward, "where is Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Gone, sir." + </p> + <p> + "Gone!" + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my dear father," said John, "gone without saying good-bye to one of + us--without telling us whither, or when to return. It was cruel in him--- + unkind--I'll never forgive him"--and John, whose feelings were strong, and + unusually excited, hid his face between his hands on the table.--As he + raised his head to reply to a question of Mr. Benfield--of "how he knew he + had gone, for the coach did not go until daylight?" Mrs. Wilson saw + evident marks of tears. Such proofs of emotion in one like John Moseley + gave her the satisfaction of knowing that if she had been deceived, it was + by a concurrence of circumstances and a depth of hypocrisy almost + exceeding belief: self-reproach added less than common, therefore, to the + uneasiness of the moment. + </p> + <p> + "I saw the innkeeper, uncle," said John, "who told me that Denbigh left + there at eight o'clock in a post-chaise and four; but I will go to London + in the morning myself." This was no sooner said than it was corroborated + by acts, for the young man immediately commenced his preparations for the + journey. The family separated that evening with melancholy hearts; and the + host and his privy counsellor were closeted for half an hour ere they + retired to their night's repose. John took his leave of them, and left the + lodge for the inn, with his man, in order to be ready for the mail. Mrs. + Wilson looked in upon Emily before she withdrew herself, and found her + awake, but perfectly calm and composed: she said but little, appearing + desirous of avoiding all allusions to Denbigh; and after her aunt had + simply acquainted her with his departure, and her resolution to conceal + the cause, the subject was dropped. Mrs. Wilson, on entering her own room, + thought deeply on the discoveries of the day: they had interfered with her + favorite system of morals, baffled her ablest calculations upon causes and + effects, but in no degree had impaired her faith or reliance on + Providence. She knew one exception did not destroy a rule: she was certain + without principles there was no security for good conduct, and the case of + Denbigh proved it. To discover these principles, might be difficult; but + was a task imperiously required at her hands, as she believed, ere she + yielded the present and future happiness of her pupil to the power of any + man. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXIX. + </h2> + <p> + The day had not yet dawned, when John Moseley was summoned to take his + seat in the mail for London. Three of the places were already occupied, + and John was compelled to get a seat for his man on the outside. An + intercourse with strangers is particularly irksome to an Englishman, and + none appeared disposed, for a long time, to break the silence. The coach + had left the little village of L---- far behind it, before any of the + rational beings it contained thought it prudent or becoming to bend in the + least to the charities of our nature, in a communication with a fellow + creature of whose name or condition he happened to be ignorant. This + reserve is unquestionably characteristic of the nation; to what is it + owing!--modesty? Did not national and deep personal vanity appear at once + to refute the assertion, we might enter into an investigation of it. The + good opinion of himself in an Englishman is more deeply seated, though + less buoyant, than that of his neighbors; in them it is more of manner, in + us more of feeling; and the wound inflicted on the self-love of the two is + very different. The Frenchman wonders at its rudeness, but soon forgets + the charge; while an Englishmam broods over it in silence and + mortification. It is said this distinction in character is owing to the + different estimation of principles and morals in the two nations. The + solidity and purity of our ethics and religious creeds may have given a + superior tone to our moral feeling; but has that man a tenable ground to + value himself on either, whose respect to sacred things grows out of a + respect to himself: on the other hand, is not humility the very foundation + of the real Christian? For our part, we should be glad to see this + national reserve lessened, if not done entirely away; we believe it is + founded in pride and uncharitableness, and could wish to see men thrown + accidentally together on the roads of the country, mindful that they are + also travelling in company the highway of life, and that the goal of their + destination is equally attainable by all. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley was occupied with thoughts very different from those of any + of his fellow-travellers, as they proceeded rapidly on their route; and it + was only when roused from his meditations by accidentally coming in + contact with the hilt of a sword, that he looked up, and in the + glimmerings of the morning's light, recognised the person of Lord Henry + Stapleton: their eyes met, and--"My lord,"--"Mr. Moseley,"--were repeated + in mutual surprise. John was eminently a social being, and he was happy to + find recourse against his gloomy thoughts in the conversation of the + dashing young sailor. The frigate of the other had entered the bay the + night before, and he was going to town to the wedding of his sister; the + coach of his brother the marquis was to meet him about twenty miles from + town, and the ship was ordered round to Yarmouth, where he was to rejoin + her. + </p> + <p> + "But how are your lovely sisters, Moseley?" cried the young sailor in a + frank and careless manner. "I should have been half in love with one of + them if I had time--and money; both are necessary to marriage nowadays, + you know." + </p> + <p> + "As to time," said John with a laugh, "I believe that may be dispensed + with, though money is certainly a different thing." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, time too," replied his lordship. "I have never time enough to do + anything as it ought to be done--always hurried--I wish you could + recommend to me a lady who would take the trouble off my hands." + </p> + <p> + "It might be done," said John with a smile, and the image of Kate + Chatterton crossed his brain, but it was soon succeeded by that of her + more lovely sister. "But how do you manage on board your ship--hurried + there too?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! never there," replied the captain gravely; "that's duty you know, and + everything must be regular of course; on shore it is a different + thing--there I am only a passenger. L---- has a charming society, Mr. + Moseley--a week or ten days ago I was shooting, and came to a beautiful + cottage about five miles from the village, that was the abode of a much + more beautiful woman, a Spaniard, a Mrs. Fitzgerald--I am positively in + love with her: so soft, so polished, so modest----" + </p> + <p> + "How came you acquainted with her?" inquired Moseley, interrupting him in + a little surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Chance, my dear fellow, chance. I was thirsty, and approached for a drink + of water; she was sitting in the veranda, and being hurried for time, you + know, it saved the trouble of introduction. I fancy she is troubled with + the same complaint; for she managed to get rid of me in no time, and with + a great deal of politeness. I found out her name, however, at the next + house." + </p> + <p> + During this rattling talk, John had fixed his eyes on the face of one of + the passengers who sat opposite to him. The stranger appeared to be about + fifty years of age, strongly pock-marked, with a stiff military air, and + had the dress and exterior of a gentlemen. His face was much sun-burnt, + though naturally very fair; and his dark keen eye was intently fixed on + the sailor as he continued his remarks. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know such a lady, Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said John, "though very slightly; she is visited by one of my + sisters, and--" + </p> + <p> + "Yourself," cried Lord Henry, with a laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Myself, once or twice, my lord, certainly," answered John, gravely; "but + a lady visited by Emily Moseley and Mrs. Wilson is a proper companion for + any one. Mrs. Fitzgerald is very retired in her manner of living, and + chance made us acquainted; but not being, like your lordship, in want of + time, we have endeavored to cultivate her society, as we have found it + very agreeable." + </p> + <p> + The countenance of the stranger underwent several changes during this + speech of John's, and at its close his eyes rested on him with a softer + expression than generally marked its rigid and compressed muscles. Willing + to change a discourse that was growing too particular for a mail-coach, + John addressed himself to the opposite passengers, while his eye yet dwelt + on the face of the military stranger. + </p> + <p> + "We are likely to have a fine day, gentlemen." The soldier bowed stiffly, + as he smiled his assent, and the other passenger humbly answered, "Very, + Mr. John," in the well known tones of honest Peter Johnson. Moseley + started, as he turned his face for the first time on the lank figure which + was modestly compressed into the smallest possible compass in the corner + of the coach, in a way not to come in contact with any of its neighbors. + </p> + <p> + "Johnson," exclaimed John, in astonishment, "you here! Where are you + going--to London?" + </p> + <p> + "To London, Mr. John," replied Peter, with a look of much importance; and + then, by way of silencing further interrogatories, he added, "On my + master's business, sir." + </p> + <p> + Both Moseley and Lord Henry examined him closely; the former wondering + what could take the steward, at the age of seventy, for the first time in + his life, into the vortex of the capital; and the latter in admiration at + this figure and equipments of the old man. Peter was in full costume, with + the exception of the goggles, and was in reality a subject to be gazed at; + but nothing relaxed the muscles or attracted the particular notice of the + soldier, who, having regained his set form of countenance, appeared drawn + up in himself, waiting patiently for the moment he was expected to act. + Nor did he utter more than as many words in the course of the first fifty + miles of their journey. His dialect was singular, and such as put his + hearers at a loss to determine his country. Lord Henry stared at him every + time he spoke, as if to say, what countryman are you? until at length he + suggested to John he was some officer whom the downfall of Bonaparte had + driven into retirement. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, Moseley," he added, as they were about to resume their carriage + after a change of horses, "we must draw him out, and see what he thinks of + his master now--delicately, you know." The soldier was, however, + impervious to his lordship's attacks, until the project was finally + abandoned in despair. As Peter was much too modest to talk in the presence + of Mr. John Moseley and a lord, the young men had most of the discourse to + themselves. At a village fifteen miles from London, a fashionable carriage + and four, with the coronet of a marquis was in waiting for Lord Henry. + John refused his invitation to take a seat with him to town; for he had + traced Denbigh from stage to stage, and was fearful of losing sight of + him, unless he persevered in the manner he had commenced. Peter and he + accordingly were put down safely at an inn in the Strand, and Moseley + hastened to make his inquiries after the object of his pursuit. Such a + chaise had arrived an hour before, and the gentleman had ordered his trunk + to a neighboring hotel. After obtaining the address, and ordering a + hackney coach, he hastened to the house; but on inquiring for Mr. Denbigh, + to his great mortification was told they knew of no such gentleman. John + turned away from the person he was speaking to in visible disappointment, + when a servant respectfully inquired if the gentleman had not come from + L----, in Norfolk, that day. "He had," was the reply. "Then follow me, + sir, if you please." They knocked at a door of one of the parlors, and the + servant entered: he returned, and John was shown into a room, where + Denbigh was sitting with his head resting on his hand, and apparently + musing. On seeing who required admittance, he sprang from his seat and + exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Moseley! Do I see aright?" + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh," cried John, stretching out his hand to him, "was this kind--was + it like yourself--to leave us so unexpectedly, and for so long a time, + too, as your note mentioned?" + </p> + <p> + Denbigh waved his hand to the servant to retire, and handed a chair to his + friend. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Moseley," said he, struggling with his feelings, "you appear ignorant + of my proposals to your sister." + </p> + <p> + "Perfectly," answered the amazed John. + </p> + <p> + "And her rejection of them." + </p> + <p> + "Is it possible!" cried the brother, pacing up and down the room. "I + acknowledge I did expect you to offer, but not to be refused." + </p> + <p> + Denbigh placed in the other hand the letter of Emily, which, having read, + John returned, with a sigh. "This, then, is the reason you left us," he + continued. "Emily is not capricious--it cannot be a sudden pique--she + means as she says." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Mr. Moseley," said Denbigh, mournfully; "your sister is + faultless--but I am not worthy of her--my deception"--here the door again + opened to the admission of Peter Johnson. Both the gentlemen rose at this + sudden interruption, and the steward advancing to the table, once more + produced the formidable pocket-book, the spectacles, and a letter. He ran + over its direction--"For George Denbigh, Esquire, London, by the hands of + Peter Johnson, with care and speed." After the observance of these + preliminaries, he delivered the missive to its lawful owner, who opened + it, and rapidly perused its contents. Denbigh was much affected with + whatever the latter might be, and kindly took the steward by the hand, as + he thanked him for this renewed instance of the interest he took in him. + If he would tell him where a letter would find him in the morning, he + would send a reply to the one he had received. Peter gave his address, but + appeared unwilling to go, until assured again and again that the answer + would be infallibly sent. Taking a small account-book out of his pocket, + and referring to its contents, the steward said, "Master has with Coutts + & Co. £7,000; in the bank, £5,000. It can be easily done, + sir, and never felt by us." Denbigh smiled in reply, as he assured the + steward he would take proper notice of his master's offers in his own + answer. The door again opened, and the military stranger was admitted to + their presence. He bowed, appeared not a little surprised to find two of + his mail-coach companions there, and handed Denbigh a letter, in quite as + formal, although in a more silent manner than the steward. The soldier was + invited to be seated, and the letter was perused with an evident curiosity + on the part of Denbigh. As soon as the latter ended it, he addressed the + stranger in a language which John rightly judged to be Spanish, and Peter + took to be Greek. For a few minutes the conversation was maintained + between them with great earnestness, his fellow travellers marvelling much + at the garrulity of the soldier however, the stranger soon rose to retire, + when the door thrown open for the fourth time, and a voice cried out, + </p> + <p> + "Here I am, George, safe and sound--ready to kiss the bridesmaids, if they + will let me--and I can find time--- bless me, Moseley!--old + marling-spike!--general!--whew, where is the coachman and guard?"--it was + Lord Henry Stapleton. The Spaniard bowed again in silence and withdrew, + while Denbigh threw open the door of an adjoining room and excused + himself, as he desired Lord Henry to walk in there for a few minutes. + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word," cried the heedless sailor, as he complied, "we might as + well have stuck together, Moseley; we were bound to one port, it seems." + </p> + <p> + "You know Lord Henry?" said John, as he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Denbigh, and he again required his address of Peter, which + having been given, the steward departed. The conversation between the two + friends did not return to the course it was taking when they were + interrupted, as Moseley felt a delicacy in making any allusion to the + probable cause of his sister's refusal. He had, however, begun to hope it + was not irremovable, and with the determination of renewing his visit in + the morning, he took his leave, to allow Denbigh to attend to his other + guest, Lord Henry Stapleton. + </p> + <p> + About twelve on the following morning, John and the steward met at the + door of the hotel where Denbigh lodged, in quest of the same person. The + latter held in his hand the answer to his master's letter, but wished + particularly to see its writer. On inquiring, to their mutual surprise + they were told, that the gentleman had left there early in the morning, + having discharged his lodgings, and that they were unable to say whither + he had gone. To hunt for a man without a clew, in the city of London, is + usually time misspent. Of this Moseley was perfectly sensible, and + disregarding a proposition of Peter's, he returned to his own lodgings. + The proposal of the steward, if it did not do much credit to his sagacity, + was much in favor of his perseverance and enterprise. It was no other than + that John should take one side of the street, and he the other, in order + to inquire at every house in the place, until the fugitive was discovered. + "Sir," said Peter, with great simplicity, "when our neighbor White lost + his little girl, this was the way we found her, although we went nearly + through L---- before we succeeded, Mr. John." Peter was obliged to abandon + this expedient for want of an associate, and as no message was left at the + lodgings of Moseley, he started with a heavy heart on his return to + Benfield Lodge. But Moseley's zeal was too warm in the cause of his + friend, notwithstanding his unmerited desertion, to discontinue the search + for him. He sought out the town residence of the Marquess of Eltringham, + the brother of Lord Henry, and was told that both the Marquess and his + brother had left town early that morning for his seat in Devonshire, to + attend the wedding of their sister. + </p> + <p> + "Did they go alone?" asked John musing. + </p> + <p> + "There were two chaises, the Marquess's and his Grace's" + </p> + <p> + "Who was his Grace?" inquired John. + </p> + <p> + "Why the Duke of Derwent, to be sure." + </p> + <p> + "And the Duke?--was he alone?" + </p> + <p> + "There was a gentleman with his Grace, but they did not know his name." + </p> + <p> + As nothing further could be learnt, John withdrew. A good deal of + irritation mixed with the vexation of Moseley at his disappointment; for + Denbigh, he thought, too evidently wished to avoid him. That he was the + companion of his kinsman, the Duke of Derwent, he had now no doubt, and he + entirely relinquished all expectations of finding him in London or its + environs. While retracing his steps in no enviable state of mind to his + lodgings, with a resolution of returning immediately to L----, his arm was + suddenly taken by his friend Chatterton. If any man could have consoled + John at that moment, it was the Baron. Questions and answers were rapidly + exchanged between them; and with increased satisfaction, John learnt that + in the next square, he could have the pleasure of paying his respects to + his kinswoman, the Dowager Lady Chatterton, and her two daughters. + Chatterton inquired warmly after Emily, and in a particularly kind manner + concerning Mr. Denbigh, hearing with undisguised astonishment the absence + of the latter from the Moseley family. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton had disciplined her feelings upon the subject of Grace and + John into such a state of subordination, that the fastidious jealousy of + the young man now found no ground of alarm in anything she said or did. It + cannot be denied the Dowager was delighted to see him again; and if it + were fair to draw any conclusions from coloring, palpitations, and other + such little accompaniments of female feeling, Grace was not excessively + sorry. It is true, it was the best possible opportunity to ascertain all + about her friend Emily and the rest of the family; and Grace was extremely + happy to have intelligence of their general welfare so direct as was + afforded by this visit of Mr. Moseley. Grace looked all she expressed, and + possibly a little more; and John thought he looked very beautiful. + </p> + <p> + There was present an elderly gentleman, of apparently indifferent health, + although his manners were extremely lively, and his dress particularly + studied. A few minutes observation convinced Moseley this gentleman was a + candidate for the favor of Kate; and a game of chess being soon + introduced, he also saw he was one thought worthy of peculiar care and + attention. He had been introduced to him as Lord Herriefield, and soon + discovered by his conversation that he was a peer who promised little + towards rendering the house of incurables more convalescent than it was + before his admission. Chatterton mentioned him as a distant connexion of + his mother; a gentleman who had lately returned from filling an official + situation in the East Indies, to take his seat among the lords by the + death of his brother. He was a bachelor, and reputed rich, much of his + wealth being personal property, acquired by himself abroad. The dutiful + son might have added, if respect and feeling had not kept him silent, that + his offers of settling a large jointure upon his elder sister had been + accepted, and that the following week was to make her the bride of the + emaciated debauchee who now sat by her side. He might also have said, that + when the proposition was made to himself and Grace, both had shrunk from + the alliance with disgust: and that both had united in humble though vain + remonstrances to their mother, against the sacrifice, and in petitions to + their sister, that she would not be accessary to her own misery. There was + no pecuniary sacrifice they would not make to her, to avert such a + connexion; but all was fruitless--Kate was resolved to be a viscountess, + and her mother was equally determined that she should be rich. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXX. + </h2> + <p> + A day elapsed between the departure of Denbigh and the reappearance of + Emily amongst her friends. An indifferent observer would have thought her + much graver and less animated than usual. A loss of the rich color which + ordinarily glowed on her healthful cheek might be noticed; but the placid + sweetness and graceful composure which regulated her former conduct + pervaded all she did or uttered. Not so with Jane: her pride had suffered + more than her feelings--her imagination had been more deceived than her + judgment--and although too well bred and soft by nature to become rude or + captious, she was changed from a communicative, to a reserved; from a + confiding, to a suspicious companion. Her parents noticed this alteration + with an uneasiness that was somewhat embittered by the consciousness of a + neglect of some of those duties that experience now seemed to indicate, + could never be forgotten with impunity. + </p> + <p> + Francis and Clara had arrived from their northern tour, so happy in each + other, and so contented with their lot, that it required some little + exercise of fortitude in both Lady Moseley and her daughters, to expel + unpleasant recollections while they contemplated it. Their relation of the + little incidents of their tour had, however, an effect to withdraw the + attention of their friends in some degree from late occurrences; and a + melancholy and sympathizing kind of association had taken place of the + unbounded confidence and gaiety; which so lately prevailed at Benfield + Lodge. Mr. Benfield mingled with his solemnity an air of mystery; and he + was frequently noticed by his relatives looking over old papers, and was + apparently employed in preparations that indicated movements of more than + usual importance. + </p> + <p> + The family were collected in one of the parlors on an extremely unpleasant + day, the fourth after the departure of John, when the thin person of + Johnson stalked in amongst them. All eyes were fixed on him in expectation + of what he had to communicate, and all apparently dreading to break the + silence, from an apprehension that his communication would be unpleasant. + In the meantime Peter, who had respectfully left his hat at the door, + proceeded to uncase his body from the multiplied defences he had taken + against the inclemency of the weather. His master stood erect, with an + outstretched hand, ready to receive the reply to his epistle; and Johnson + having liberated his body from thraldom, produced the black leathern + pocket-book, and from its contents a letter, when he read aloud--Roderic + Benfield, Esq., Benfield Lodge, Norfolk; favored by Mr.--here Peter's + modesty got the better of his method; he had never been called Mr. Johnson + by anybody, old or young; all knew him in that neighborhood as Peter + Johnson--and he had very nearly been guilty of the temerity of arrogating + to himself another title in the presence of those he most respected: a + degree of self-elevation from which he escaped with the loss of a small + piece of his tongue. Mr. Benfield took the letter with an eagerness that + plainly indicated the deep interest he took in its contents, while Emily, + with a tremulous voice and flushed cheek, approached the steward with a + glass of wine. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," she said, "take this; it will do you good." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, Miss Emma," said Peter, casting his eyes from her to his + master, as the latter, having finished his letter, exclaimed, with a + strange mixture of consideration and disappointment-- + </p> + <p> + "Johnson, you must change your clothes immediately, or you will take cold: + you look now like old Moses, the Jew beggar." + </p> + <p> + Peter sighed heavily at this comparison, and saw in it a confirmation of + his fears; for he well knew, that to his being the bearer of unpleasant + tidings was he indebted for a resemblance to anything unpleasant to his + master, and Moses was the old gentleman's aversion. + </p> + <p> + The baronet now followed his uncle from the room to his library, entering + it at the same moment with the steward, who had been summoned by his + master to an audience. + </p> + <p> + Pointing to a chair for his nephew, Mr. Benfield commenced the discourse + with saying, + </p> + <p> + "Peter, you saw Mr. Denbigh; how did he look?" + </p> + <p> + "As usual, master," said Peter, laconically, still piqued at being likened + to old Moses. + </p> + <p> + "And what did he say to the offer? did he not make any comments on it? He + was not offended at it, I hope," demanded Mr. Benfield. + </p> + <p> + "He said nothing but what he has written to your honor," replied the + steward, losing a little of his constrained manner in real good feeling to + his master. + </p> + <p> + "May I ask what the offer was?" inquired Sir Edward. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield regarding him a moment in silence, said, "Certainly, you are + nearly concerned in his welfare; your daughter"--the old man stopped, + turned to his letter-book, and handed the baronet a copy of the epistle he + had sent to Denbigh. It read as follows: + </p> + <p> + DEAR FRIEND MR. DENBIGH, + </p> + <p> + "I have thought a great deal on the reason of your sudden departure from a + house I had begun to hope you thought your own; and by calling to mind my + own feelings when Lady Juliana became the heiress to her nephew's estate, + take it for granted you have been governed by the same sentiments; which I + know both by my own experience and that of the bearer, Peter Johnson, is a + never-failing accompaniment of pure affection. Yes, my dear Denbigh, I + honor your delicacy in not wishing to become indebted to a stranger, as it + were, for the money on which you subsist, and that stranger your wife--who + ought in reason to look up to you, instead of your looking up to her; + which was the true cause Lord Gosford would not marry the countess--on + account of her great wealth, as he assured me himself; notwithstanding, + envious people said it was because her ladyship loved Mr Chaworth better: + so in order to remove these impediments of delicacy, I have to make three + propositions, namely, that I bring you into parliament the next election + for my own borough--that you take possession of the lodge the day you + marry Emmy, while I will live, for the little time I have to stay here, in + the large cottage built by my uncle--and that I give you your legacy of + ten thousand pounds down, to prevent trouble hereafter. + </p> + <p> + "As I know nothing but delicacy has driven you away from us, I make no + doubt you will now find all objections removed, and that Peter will bring + back the joyful intelligence of your return to us, as soon as the business + you left us on, is completed. + </p> + <p> + "Your uncle, that is to be, + </p> + <p> + "RODERIC BENFIELD." + </p> + <p> + "N.B. As Johnson is a stranger to the ways of the town, I wish you to + advise his inexperience, particularly against the arts of designing women, + Peter being a man of considerable estate, and great modesty." + </p> + <p> + "There, nephew," cried Mr. Benfield, as the baronet finished reading the + letter aloud, "is it not unreasonable to refuse my offers? Now read his + answer." + </p> + <p> + "Words are wanting to express the sensations which have been excited by + Mr. Benfield's letter; but it would be impossible for any man to be so + base as to avail himself of such liberality: the recollection of it, + together with that of his many virtues, will long continue deeply + impressed on the heart of him, whom Mr. Benfield would, if within the + power of man, render the happiest amongst human beings." + </p> + <p> + The steward listened eagerly to this answer, but after it was done he was + as much at a loss to know its contents as before its perusal. He knew it + was unfavorable to their wishes, but could not comprehend its meaning or + expressions, and immediately attributed their ambiguity to the strange + conference he had witnessed between Denbigh and the military stranger. + </p> + <p> + "Master," exclaimed Peter, with something of the elation of a discoverer, + "I know the cause, it shows itself in the letter: there was a man talking + Greek to him while he was reading your letter." + </p> + <p> + "Greek!" exclaimed Sir Edward in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + "Greek!" said the uncle. "Lord Gosford read Greek; but I believe never + conversed in that language." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Sir Edward--yes, your honor--pure wild Greek; it must have been + something of that kind," added Peter, with positiveness, "that would make + a man refuse such offers--Miss Emmy--the lodge--£10,000!"--and the + steward shook his head with much satisfaction at having discovered the + cause. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward smiled at the simplicity of Johnson, but disliking the idea + attached to the refusal of his daughter, said, "Perhaps, after all, uncle, + there has been some misunderstanding between Emily and Denbigh, which may + have driven him from us so suddenly." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield and his steward exchanged looks, and a new idea broke upon + them at the instant. They had both suffered in that way; and after all it + might prove that Emily was the one whose taste or feelings had subverted + their schemes. The impression, once made, soon became strong, and the + party separated; the master thinking alternately on Lady Juliana and his + niece, while the man, after heaving one heavy sigh to the memory of Patty + Steele, proceeded to the usual occupations of his office. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson thinking a ride would be of service to Emily, and having the + fullest confidence in her self-command and resignation, availed herself of + a fine day to pay a visit to their friend in the cottage. Mrs. Fitzgerald + received them in her usual manner, but a single glance of her eye sufficed + to show the aunt that she noticed the altered appearance of Emily and her + manners, although without knowing its true reason, which she did not deem + it prudent to explain. Julia handed her friend a note which she said she + had received the day before, and desired their counsel how to proceed in + the present emergency. As Emily was to be made acquainted with its + contents, her aunt read it aloud as follows: + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR NIECE, + </p> + <p> + "Your father and myself had been induced to think you were leading a + disgraceful life, with the officer your husband had consigned you to the + care of; for hearing of your captivity, I had arrived with a band of + Guerillas, on the spot where you were rescued, early the next morning, and + there learnt of the peasants your misfortunes and retreat. The enemy + pressed us too much to allow us to deviate from our route at the time; but + natural affection and the wishes of your father have led me to make a + journey to England, in order to satisfy our doubts as regards your + conduct. I have seen you, heard your character in the neighborhood, and + after much and long search have found out the officer, and am satisfied, + that so far as concerns your deportment, you are an injured woman. I have + therefore to propose to you, on my own behalf, and that of the Conde, that + you adopt the faith of your country, and return with me to the arms of + your parent, whose heiress you will be, and whose life you may be the + means of prolonging. Direct your answer to me, to the care of our + ambassador; and as you decide, I am your mother's brother, LOUIS M'CARTHY + Y HARRISON." + </p> + <p> + "On what point do you wish my advice?" said Mrs. Wilson, kindly, after she + had finished reading the letter, "and when do you expect to see your + uncle?" + </p> + <p> + "Would you have me accept the offer of my father, dear madam, or am I to + remain separated from him for the short residue of his life?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald was affected to tears, as she asked this question, and + waited her answer, in silent dread of its nature. + </p> + <p> + "Is the condition of a change of religion, an immovable one?" inquired + Mrs. Wilson, in a thoughtful manner. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! doubtless," replied Julia, shuddering; "but I am deservedly punished + for my early disobedience, and bow in submission to the will of + Providence. I feel now all that horror of a change of my religion, I once + only affected; I must live and die a Protestant, madam." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, I hope so, my dear," said Mrs. Wilson; "I am not a bigot, and + think it unfortunate you were not, in your circumstances, bred a pious + Catholic. It would have saved you much misery, and might have rendered the + close of your father's life more happy; but as your present creed embraces + doctrines too much at variance with the Romish church to renounce the one + or to adopt the other, with your views, it will be impossible to change + your church without committing a heavy offence against the opinions and + practices of every denomination of Christians. I should hope a proper + representation of this to your uncle would have its weight, or they might + be satisfied with your being a Christian, without becoming a Catholic." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! my dear madam," answered Mrs. Fitzgerald, despairingly, "you little + know the opinions of my countrymen on this subject." + </p> + <p> + "Surely, surely," cried Mrs. Wilson, "parental affection is a stronger + feeling than bigotry." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald shook her head in a manner which bespoke both her + apprehensions and her filial regard. + </p> + <p> + "Julia ought not, must not, desert her father, dear aunt," said Emily, her + face glowing with the ardency of her feelings. + </p> + <p> + "And ought she to desert her heavenly Father, my child?" asked the aunt, + mildly. + </p> + <p> + "Are the duties conflicting, dearest aunt?" + </p> + <p> + "The Conde makes them so. Julia is, I trust, in sincerity a Christian, and + with what face can she offer up her daily petitions to her Creator, while + she wears a mask to her earthly father; or how can she profess to honor + doctrines that she herself believes to be false, or practise customs she + thinks improper?" + </p> + <p> + "Never, never," exclaimed Julia, with fervor; "the struggle is dreadful, + but I submit to the greater duty." + </p> + <p> + "And you decide rightly, my friend," said Mrs. Wilson, soothingly; "but + you need relax no efforts to convince the Conde of your wishes: truth and + nature will finally conquer." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" cried Mrs. Fitzgerald, "the sad consequences of one false step in + early life!" + </p> + <p> + "Rather," added Mrs. Wilson, "the sad consequences of one false step in + generations gone by. Had your grandmother listened to the voice of + prudence and duty, she never would have deserted her parents for a + comparative stranger, and entailed upon her descendants a train of evils + which yet exist in your person." + </p> + <p> + "It will be a sad blow to my poor uncle too," said Mrs. Fitzgerald, "he + who once loved me so much." + </p> + <p> + "When do you expect to see him?" inquired Emily. + </p> + <p> + Julia informed them she expected him hourly; as, fearful a written + statement of her views would drive him from the country without paying her + a visit before he departed, she had earnestly entreated him to see her + without delay. + </p> + <p> + On taking their leave, the ladies promised to obey her summons whenever + called to meet the general, as Mrs. Wilson thought she might be better + able to give advice to a friend, by knowing more of the character of her + relatives, than she could do with her present information, + </p> + <p> + One day intervened, and it was spent in the united society of Lady Moseley + and her daughters, while Sir Edward and Francis rode to a neighboring town + on business; and on the succeeding, Mrs. Fitzgerald apprised them of the + arrival of General M'Carthy. Immediately after breakfast, Mrs. Wilson and + Emily drove to the cottage, the aunt both wishing the latter as a + companion in her ride, and believing the excitement would have a tendency + to prevent her niece from indulging in reflections, alike dangerous to her + peace of mind and at variance with her duties. + </p> + <p> + Our readers have probably anticipated, that the stage companion of John + Moseley was the Spanish general, who had just been making those inquiries + into the manner of his niece's living which terminated so happily in her + acquittal. With that part of her history which relates to the injurious + attempts on her before she arrived at Lisbon, he appears to have been + ignorant, or his interview with Denbigh might have terminated very + differently from the manner already related. + </p> + <p> + A description of the appearance of the gentleman presented to Mrs. Wilson + is unnecessary, as it has been given already; and the discerning matron + thought she read through the rigid and set features of the soldier, a + shade of kinder feelings, which might be wrought into an advantageous + intercession on behalf of Julia. The General was evidently endeavoring to + keep his feelings within due bounds, before the decision of his niece + might render it proper for him to indulge in that affection for her, which + his eye plainly showed existed under the cover of his assumed manner. + </p> + <p> + It was an effort of great fortitude on the part of Julia to acquaint her + uncle with her resolution; but as it must be done, she seized a moment + after Mrs. Wilson had at some length defended her adhering to her present + faith, until religiously impressed with its errors, to inform him such was + her unalterable resolution. He heard her patiently, and without anger, but + in visible surprise. He had construed her summons to her house into a + measure preparatory to accepting his conditions; yet he betrayed no + emotion, after the first expression of his wonder: he told her distinctly, + a renunciation of her heresy was the only condition on which her father + would own her either as his heiress or his child. Julia deeply regretted + the decision, but was firm; and her friends left her to enjoy + uninterruptedly for one day, the society of so near a relative. During + this day every doubt as to the propriety of her conduct, if any yet + remained, was removed by a relation of her little story to her uncle; and + after it was completed, he expressed great uneasiness to get to London + again, in order to meet a gentleman he had seen there, under a different + impression as to his merits, than what now appeared to be just. Who the + gentleman was, or what these impressions were, Julia was left to + conjecture, taciturnity being a favorite property in the general. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXI. + </h2> + <p> + The sun had just risen on one of the loveliest vales of Caernarvonshire, + as a travelling chaise and six swept up to the door of a princely mansion, + so situated as to command a prospect of the fertile and extensive domains, + the rental of which filled the coffers of its rich owner, having a + beautiful view of the Irish channel in the distance. + </p> + <p> + Everything around this stately edifice bespoke the magnificence of its + ancient possessors and the taste of its present master. It was irregular, + but built of the best materials, and in the tastes of the different ages + in which its various parts had been erected; and now in the nineteenth + century it preserved the baronial grandeur of the thirteenth, mingled with + the comforts of this later period. + </p> + <p> + The lofty turrets of its towers were tipt with the golden light of the + sun, and the neighboring peasantry had commenced their daily labors, as + the different attendants of the equipage we have mentioned collected + around it at the great entrance to the building. The beautiful black + horses, with coats as shining as the polished leather with which they were + caparisoned, the elegant and fashionable finish of the vehicle, with its + numerous grooms, postillions, and footmen, all wearing the livery of one + master, gave evidence of wealth and rank. + </p> + <p> + In attendance there were four outriders, walking leisurely about, awaiting + the appearance of those for whose comforts and pleasures they were kept to + contribute; while a fifth, who, like the others, was equipped with a + horse, appeared to bear a doubtful station. The form of the latter was + athletic, and apparently drilled into a severer submission than could be + seen in the movements of the liveried attendants: his dress was peculiar, + being neither quite menial nor quite military, but partaking of both + characters. His horse was heavier and better managed than those of the + others, and by its side was a charger, that was prepared for the use of no + common equestrian. Both were coal-black, as were all the others of the + cavalcade; but the pistols of the two latter, and housings of their + saddles, bore the aspect of use and elegance united. + </p> + <p> + The postillions were mounted, listlessly waiting the pleasure of their + superiors; when the laughs and jokes of the menials were instantly + succeeded by a respectful and profound silence, as a gentleman and lady + appeared on the portico of the building. The former was a young man of + commanding stature and genteel appearance; and his air, although that of + one used to command, was softened by a character of benevolence and + gentleness, that might be rightly supposed to give birth to the willing + alacrity with which all his requests or orders were attended to. + </p> + <p> + The lady was also young, and resembled her companion both in features and + expression, for both were noble, both were handsome. The former was + attired for the road; the latter had thrown a shawl around her elegant + form, and by her morning dress showed that a separation of the two was + about to happen. Taking the hand of the gentleman with both her own, as + she pressed it with fingers interlocked, the lady said, in a voice of + music, and with great affection, "Then, my dear brother, I shall certainly + hear from you within the week, and see you next?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly," replied the gentleman, as he tenderly paid his adieus; then + throwing himself into the chaise, it dashed from the door, like the + passage of a meteor. The horsemen followed; the unridden charger, obedient + to the orders of his keeper, wheeled gracefully into his station; and in + an instant they were all lost amidst the wood, through which the road to + the park gates conducted. + </p> + <p> + After lingering without until the last of her brother's followers had + receded from her sight, the lady retired through ranks of liveried footmen + and maids, whom curiosity or respect had collected. + </p> + <p> + The young traveller wore a gloom on his expressive features, amidst the + pageantry that surrounded him, which showed the insufficiency of wealth + and honors to fill the sum of human happiness. As his carriage rolled + proudly up an eminence ere he had reached the confines of his extensive + park, his eye rested, for a moment, on a scene in which meadows, forests, + fields waving with golden corn, comfortable farm-houses surrounded with + innumerable cottages, were seen, in almost endless variety. All these + owned him for their lord, and one quiet smile of satisfaction beamed on + his face as he gazed on the unlimited view. Could the heart of that youth + have been read, it would at that moment have told a story very different + from the feelings such a scene is apt to excite; it would have spoken the + consciousness of well applied wealth, the gratification of contemplating + meritorious deeds, and a heartfelt gratitude to the Being which had + enabled him to become the dispenser of happiness to so many of his + fellow-creatures. + </p> + <p> + "Which way, my lord, so early?" cried a gentleman in a phaeton, as he drew + up, on his way to a watering place, to pay his own parting compliments. + </p> + <p> + "To Eltringham, Sir Owen, to attend the marriage of my kinsman, Mr. + Denbigh, to one of the sisters of the marquess." + </p> + <p> + A few more questions and answers, and the gentlemen, exchanging friendly + adieus, pursued each his own course; Sir Owen Ap Rice pushing forward for + Cheltenham, and the Earl of Pendennyss proceeding to act as groomsman to + his cousin. + </p> + <p> + The gates of Eltringham were open to the admission of many an equipage on + the following day, and the heart of the Lady Laura beat quick, as the + sound of wheels, at different times, reached her ears. At last an unusual + movement in the house drew her to a window of her dressing-room, and the + blood rushed to her heart as she beheld the equipages which were rapidly + approaching, and through the mist which stole over her eyes she saw alight + from the first, the Duke of Derwent and the bridegroom. The next contained + Lord Pendennyss, and the last the Bishop of----. Lady Laura waited to see + no more, but with a heart filled with terror, hope, joy, and uneasiness, + she threw herself into the arms of one of her sisters. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" exclaimed Lord Henry Stapleton, about a week after the wedding of + his sister, seizing John suddenly by the arm, while the latter was taking + his morning walk to the residence of the dowager Lady Chatterton, + "Moseley, you dissipated youth, in town yet: you told me you should stay + but a day, and here I find you at the end of a fortnight." + </p> + <p> + John blushed a little at the consciousness of his reason for sending a + written, instead of carrying a verbal report, of the result of his + journey, but replied, + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my friend Chatterton unexpectedly arrived, and so--and so--" + </p> + <p> + "And so you did not go, I presume you mean," cried Lord Henry, with a + laugh. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said John, "and so I stayed--but where is Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Where?--why with his wife, where every well-behaved man should be, + especially for the first month," rejoined the sailor, gaily. + </p> + <p> + "Wife!" echoed John, as soon as he felt able to give utterance to his + words--"wife! is he married?" + </p> + <p> + "Married," cried Lord Henry, imitating his manner, "are you yet to learn + that? why did you ask for him?" + </p> + <p> + "Ask for him!" said Moseley, yet lost in astonishment; "but + when--how--where did he marry--my lord?" + </p> + <p> + Lord Henry looked at him for a moment with a surprise little short of his + own, as he answered more gravely: + </p> + <p> + "When?--last Tuesday; how? by special license, and the Bishop of----; + where?--at Eltringham:--yes, my dear fellow," continued he, with his + former gaiety, "George is my brother now--and a fine fellow he is." + </p> + <p> + "I really wish your lordship much joy," said John, struggling to command + his feelings. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you--thank you," replied the sailor; "a jolly time we had of it, + Moseley. I wish, with all my heart, you had been there; no bolting or + running away as soon as spliced, but a regularly constructed, + old-fashioned wedding; all my doings. I wrote Laura that time was scarce, + and I had none to throw away on fooleries; so dear, good soul, she + consented to let me have everything my own way. We had Derwent and + Pendennyss, the marquess, Lord William, and myself, for groomsmen, and my + three sisters--ah, that was bad, but there was no helping it--Lady Harriet + Denbigh, and an old maid, a cousin of ours, for bridesmaids; could not + help the old maid either, upon my honor, or be quite certain I would." + </p> + <p> + How much of what he said Moseley heard, we cannot say; for had he talked + an hour longer he would have been uninterrupted. Lord Henry was too much + engaged with his description to notice his companion's taciturnity or + surprise, and after walking a square or two together they parted; the + sailor being on the wing for his frigate at Yarmouth. + </p> + <p> + John continued his course, musing on the intelligence he had just heard. + That Denbigh could forget Emily so soon, he would not believe, and he + greatly feared he had been driven into a step, from despair, that he might + hereafter repent of. The avoiding of himself was now fully explained; but + would Lady Laura Stapleton accept a man for a husband at so short a + notice? and for the first time a suspicion that something in the character + of Denbigh was wrong, mingled in his reflections on his sister's refusal + of his offers. + </p> + <p> + Lord and Lady Herriefield were on the eve of their departure for the + continent (for Catherine had been led to the altar the preceding week), a + southern climate having been prescribed as necessary to the bridegroom's + constitution; and the dowager and Grace were about to proceed to a seat of + the baron's within a couple of miles of Bath. Chatterton himself had his + own engagements, but he promised to be there in company with his friend + Derwent within a fortnight; the former visit having been postponed by the + marriages in their respective families. + </p> + <p> + John had been assiduous in his attentions during the season of forced + gaiety which followed the nuptials of Kate; and as the dowager's time was + monopolized with the ceremonials of that event, Grace had risen greatly in + his estimation. If Grace Chatterton was not more miserable than usual, at + what she thought was the destruction of her sister's happiness, it was + owing to the presence and unconcealed affection of John Moseley. + </p> + <p> + The carriage of Lord Herriefield was in waiting when John rang for + admittance. On opening the door and entering the drawing-room, he saw the + bride and bridegroom, with their mother and sister, accoutred for an + excursion amongst the shops of Bond street: for Kate was dying to find a + vent for some of her surplus pin-money--her husband to show his handsome + wife in the face of the world--the mother to display the triumph of her + matrimonial schemes. And Grace was forced to obey her mother's commands, + in accompanying her sister as an attendant, not to be dispensed with at + all in her circumstances. + </p> + <p> + The entrance of John at that instant, though nothing more than what + occurred every day at that hour, deranged the whole plan: the dowager, for + a moment, forgot her resolution, and forgot the necessity of Grace's + appearance, exclaiming with evident satisfaction, + </p> + <p> + "Here is Mr. Moseley come to keep you company, Grace; so, after all, you + must consult your headache and stay at home. Indeed, my love, I never can + consent you should go out. I not only wish, but insist you remain within + this morning." + </p> + <p> + Lord Herriefield looked at his mother-in-law in some surprise, and threw a + suspicious glance on his own rib at the moment, which spoke as plainly as + looks can speak, + </p> + <p> + "Is it possible I have been taken in after all!" + </p> + <p> + Grace was unused to resist her mother's commands, and throwing off her hat + and shawl, reseated herself with more composure than she would probably + have done, had not the attentions of Moseley been more delicate and + pointed of late than formerly. + </p> + <p> + As they passed the porter, Lady Chatterton observed to him + significantly--"Nobody at home, Willis."--"Yes, my lady," was the laconic + reply, and Lord Herriefield, as he took his seat by the side of his wife + in the carriage, thought she was not as handsome as usual. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton that morning unguardedly laid the foundation of years of + misery for her eldest daughter; or rather the foundations were already + laid in the ill-assorted, and heartless, unprincipled union she had + labored with success to effect. But she, had that morning stripped the + mask from her own character prematurely, and excited suspicions in the + breast of her son-in-law, which time only served to confirm, and memory to + brood over. Lord Herriefield had been too long in the world not to + understand all the ordinary arts of match-makers and match-hunters. Like + most of his own sex who have associated freely with the worst part of the + other, his opinions of female excellences were by no means extravagant or + romantic. Kate had pleased his eye; she was of a noble family; young, and + at that moment interestingly quiet, having nothing particularly in view. + She had a taste of her own, and Lord Herriefield was by no means in + conformity with it; consequently, she expended none of those pretty little + arts upon him which she occasionally practised, and which his experience + would immediately have detected. Her disgust he had attributed to + disinterestedness; and as Kate had fixed her eye on a young officer lately + returned from France, and her mother on a Duke who was mourning the death + of a third wife, devising means to console him with a fourth--the Viscount + had got a good deal enamored with the lady, before either she or her + mother took any particular notice that there was such a being in + existence. His title was not the most elevated, but it was ancient. His + paternal acres were not numerous, but his East-India shares were. He was + not very young, but he was not very old; and as the Duke died of a fit of + the gout in his stomach, and the officer ran away with a girl in her teens + from a boarding-school, the dowager and her daughter, after thoroughly + scanning the fashionable world, determined, for want of a better, that <i>he</i> + would do. + </p> + <p> + It is not to be supposed that the mother and child held any open + communications with each other to this effect. The delicacy and pride of + both would have been greatly injured by such a suspicion; yet they arrived + simultaneously at the same conclusion, as well as at another of equal + importance to the completion of their schemes on the Viscount. It was + simply to adhere to the same conduct which had made him a captive, as most + likely to insure the victory. + </p> + <p> + There was such a general understanding between the two it can excite no + surprise that they co-operated harmoniously as it were by signal. + </p> + <p> + For two people, correctly impressed with their duties and + responsibilities, to arrive at the same conclusion in the government of + their conduct, would be merely a matter of course; and so with those who + are more or less under the dominion of the world. They will pursue their + plans with a degree of concurrence amounting nearly to sympathy; and thus + had Kate and her mother, until this morning, kept up the masquerade so + well that the Viscount was as confiding as a country Corydon. When he + first witnessed the dowager's management with Grace and John, however, and + his wife's careless disregard of a thing which appeared too much a matter + of course to be quite agreeable, his newly awakened distrust approached + conviction. + </p> + <p> + Grace Chatterton both sang and played exquisitely; it was, however, seldom + she could sufficiently overcome her desire, when John was an auditor, to + appear to advantage. + </p> + <p> + As the party went down stairs, and Moseley had gone with them part of the + way, she threw herself unconsciously in a seat, and began a beautiful + song, that was fashionable at the time. Her feelings were in consonance + with the words, and Grace was very happy both in execution and voice. + </p> + <p> + John had reached the back of her seat before she was at all sensible of + his return, and Grace lost her self-command immediately. She rose and took + a seat on a sofa, and the young man was immediately at her side. + </p> + <p> + "Ah, Grace," said John, the lady's heart beating high, "you certainly do + sing as you do everything, admirably." + </p> + <p> + "I am happy you think so, Mr. Moseley," returned Grace looking everywhere + but in his face. + </p> + <p> + John's eyes ran over her beauties, as with palpitating bosom and varying + color she sat confused at the unusual warmth of his language and manner. + </p> + <p> + Fortunately a remarkably striking likeness of the Dowager hung directly + over their heads, and John taking her unresisting hand, continued, + </p> + <p> + "Dear Grace, you resemble your brother very much in features, and what is + better still, in character." + </p> + <p> + "I could wish," said Grace, venturing to look up, "to resemble your sister + Emily in the latter." + </p> + <p> + "And why not to be her sister, dear Grace?" said he with ardor. "You are + worthy to become her sister. Tell me, Grace, dear Miss Chatterton--can + you--will you make me the happiest of men? may I present another + inestimable daughter to my parents?" + </p> + <p> + As John paused for an answer, Grace looked up, and he waited her reply in + evident anxiety; but she continued silent, now pale as death, and now of + the color of the rose, and he added: + </p> + <p> + "I hope I have not offended you, dearest Grace; you are all that is + desirable to me; my hopes, my happiness, are centred in you. Unless you + consent to become my wife, I must be very wretched." + </p> + <p> + Grace burst into a flood of tears, as her lover, interested deeply in + their cause, gently drew her towards him. Her head sank on his shoulder, + as she faintly whispered something that was inaudible, but which he did + not fail to interpret into everything he most wished to hear. John was in + ecstasies. Every unpleasant feeling of suspicion had left him. Of Grace's + innocence of manoeuvring he never doubted, but John did not relish the + idea of being entrapped into anything, even a step which he desired. An + uninterrupted communication followed; it was as confiding as their + affections: and the return of the dowager and her children first recalled + them to the recollection of other people. + </p> + <p> + One glance of the eye was enough for Lady Chatterton. She saw the traces + of tears on the cheeks and in the eyes of Grace, and the dowager was + satisfied; she knew his friends would not object; and as Grace attended + her to her dressing-room, she cried on entering it, "Well, child, when is + the wedding to be? You will wear me out with so much gaiety." + </p> + <p> + Grace was shocked, but did not as formerly weep over her mother's + interference in agony and dread. John had opened his whole soul to her, + observing the greatest delicacy towards her mother, and she now felt her + happiness placed in the keeping of a man whose honor she believed much + exceeded that of any other human being. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXII. + </h2> + <p> + The seniors of the party at Benfield Lodge were all assembled one morning + in a parlor, when its master and the baronet were occupied in the perusal + of the London papers. Clara had persuaded her sisters to accompany her and + Francis in an excursion as far as the village. + </p> + <p> + Jane yet continued reserved and distant to most of her friends; while + Emily's conduct would have escaped unnoticed, did not her blanched cheek + and wandering looks at times speak a language not to be misunderstood. + With all her relatives she maintained the affectionate intercourse she had + always supported; though not even to her aunt did the name of Denbigh pass + her lips. But in her most private and humble petitions to God, she never + forgot to mingle with her requests for spiritual blessings on herself, + fervent prayers for the conversion of the preserver of her life. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson, as she sat by the side of her sister at their needles, first + discovered an unusual uneasiness in their venerable host, while he turned + his paper over and over, as if unwilling or unable to comprehend some part + of its contents, until he rang the bell violently, and bid the servant to + send Johnson to him without a moment's delay. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said Mr. Benfield doubtingly, "read that--your eyes are young, + Peter; read that." + </p> + <p> + Peter took the paper, and after having adjusted his spectacles to his + satisfaction, he proceeded to obey his master's injunctions; but the same + defect of vision as suddenly seized the steward as it had affected his + master. He turned the paper sideways, and appeared to be spelling the + matter of the paragraph to himself. Peter would have given his three + hundred a year to have had the impatient John Moseley at hand, to relieve + him from his task; but the anxiety of Mr. Benfield overcoming his fear of + the worst, he inquired in tremulous tone-- + </p> + <p> + "Peter? hem! Peter, what do you think?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, your honor," replied the steward, stealing a look at his master, "it + does seem so indeed." + </p> + <p> + "I remember," said the master, "when Lord Gosford saw the marriage of the + countess announced he--" + </p> + <p> + Here the old gentleman was obliged to stop, and rising with dignity, and + leaning on the arm of his faithful servant, he left the room. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson immediately took up the paper, and her eye catching the + paragraph at a glance, she read aloud as follows to her expecting friends: + </p> + <p> + "Married by special license, at the seat of the Most Noble the Marquess of + Eltringham, in Devonshire, by the Right Rev. Lord Bishop of ----, George + Denbigh Esq., Lieutenant Colonel of his Majesty's ---- regiment of + dragoons, to the Right Honorable Lady Laura Stapleton, eldest sister of + the Marquess. Eltringham was honored on the present happy occasion with + the presence of his grace of Derwent, and the gallant Lord Pendennyss, + kinsmen of the bridegroom, and Captain Lord Henry Stapleton of the Royal + Navy. We understand that the happy couple proceed to Denbigh Castle + immediately after the honey-moon." + </p> + <p> + Although Mrs. Wilson had given up the expectation of ever seeing her niece + the wife of Denbigh, she felt an indescribable shock as she read this + paragraph. The strongest feeling was horror at the danger Emily had been + in of contracting an alliance with such a man. His avoiding the ball, at + which he knew Lord Henry was expected, was explained to her by this + marriage; for with John, she could not believe a woman like Lady Laura + Stapleton was to be won in the short space of one fortnight, or indeed + less. There was too evidently a mystery yet to be developed, and she felt + certain one that would not elevate his character in her opinion. + </p> + <p> + Neither Sir Edward nor Lady Moseley had given up the expectation of seeing + Denbigh again, as a suitor for Emily's hand, and to both of them this + certainty of his loss was a heavy blow. The baronet took up the paper, and + after perusing the article, he muttered in a low tone, as he wiped the + tears from his eyes, "Heaven bless him: I sincerely hope she is worthy of + him." Worthy of him, thought Mrs. Wilson, with a feeling of indignation, + as, taking up the paper, she retired to her own room, whither Emily, at + that moment returned from her walk, had proceeded. As her niece must hear + this news, she thought the sooner the better. The exercise, and the + unreserved conversation of Francis and Clara, had restored in some degree + the bloom to the cheek of Emily; and Mrs. Wilson felt it necessary to + struggle with herself, before she could summon sufficient resolution to + invade the returning peace of her charge. However, having already decided + on her course, she proceeded to the discharge of what she thought to be a + duty. + </p> + <p> + "Emily, my child," she whispered, pressing her affectionately to her + bosom, "you have been all I could wish, and more than I expected, under + your arduous struggles. But one more pang, and I trust your recollections + on this painful subject will be done away." + </p> + <p> + Emily looked at her aunt in anxious expectation of what was coming, and + quietly taking the paper, followed the direction of Mrs. Wilson's finger + to the article on the marriage of Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + There was a momentary struggle in Emily for self-command. She was obliged + to find support in a chair. The returning richness of color, excited by + her walk, vanished; but recovering herself, she pressed the hand of her + anxious guardian, and, gently waving her back, proceeded to her own room. + </p> + <p> + On her return to the company, the same control of her feelings which had + distinguished her conduct of late, was again visible; and, although her + aunt most narrowly watched her movements, looks, and speeches, she could + discern no visible alteration by this confirmation of misconduct. The + truth was, that in Emily Moseley the obligations of duty were so + imperative, her sense of her dependence on Providence so humbling and yet + so confiding, that, as soon as she was taught to believe her lover + unworthy of her esteem, that moment an insuperable barrier separated them. + His marriage could add nothing to the distance between them. It was + impossible they could be united; and although a secret lingering of the + affections over his fallen character might and did exist, it existed + without any romantic expectations of miracles in his favor, or vain wishes + of reformation, in which self was the prominent feeling. She might be said + to be keenly alive to all that concerned his welfare or movements, if she + did not harbor the passion of love; but it showed itself in prayers for + his amendment of life, and the most ardent petitions for his future and + eternal happiness. She had set about, seriously and with much energy, the + task of erasing from her heart sentiments which, however delightful she + had found it to entertain in times past, were now in direct variance with + her duty. She knew that a weak indulgence of such passions would tend to + draw her mind from, and disqualify her to discharge, those various calls + on her time and her exertions, which could alone enable her to assist + others, or effect in her own person the great purposes of her creation. It + was never lost sight of by Emily Moseley, that her existence here was + preparatory to an immensely more important state hereafter. She was + consequently in charity with all mankind; and if grown a little more + distrustful of the intentions of her fellow-creatures, it was a mistrust + bottomed in a clear view of the frailties of our nature; and + self-examination was amongst the not unfrequent speculations she made on + this hasty marriage of her former lover. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson saw all this, and was soon made acquainted by her niece in + terms, with her views of her own condition; and although she had to, and + did, deeply regret, that all her caution had not been able to guard + against deception, where it was most important for her to guide aright, + yet she was cheered with the reflection that her previous care, with the + blessings of Providence, had admirably fitted her charge to combat and + overcome the consequences of their mistaken confidence. + </p> + <p> + The gloom which this little paragraph excited, extended to every + individual in the family; for all had placed Denbigh by the side of John, + in their affections, ever since his weighty services to Emily. + </p> + <p> + A letter from John announcing his intention of meeting them at Bath, as + well as his new relation with Grace, relieved in some measure this general + depression of spirit. Mr. Benfield alone found no consolation in the + approaching nuptials. John he regarded as his nephew, and Grace he thought + a very good sort of young woman; but neither of them were beings of the + same genus with Emily and Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said he one day, after they had both been expending their + ingenuity in vain efforts to discover the cause of this so-much-desired + marriage's being so unexpectedly frustrated, "have I not often told you, + that fate governed these things, in order that men might be humble in this + life? Now, Peter, had the Lady Juliana wedded with a mind congenial to her + own, she might have been mistress of Benfield Lodge to this very hour." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, your honor--but there's Miss Emmy's legacy." + </p> + <p> + And Peter withdrew, thinking what would have been the consequences had + Patty Steele been more willing, when he wished to make her Mrs. Peter + Johnson--an association by no means uncommon in the mind of the steward; + for if Patty had ever a rival in his affections, it was in the person of + Emily Moseley, though, indeed, with very different degrees and coloring of + esteem. + </p> + <p> + The excursions to the cottage had been continued by Mrs. Wilson and Emily, + and as no gentleman was now in the family to interfere with their + communications, a general visit to the young widow had been made by the + Moseleys, including Sir Edward and Mr. Ives. + </p> + <p> + The Jarvises had gone to London to receive their children, now penitent in + more senses than one; and Sir Edward learnt with pleasure that Egerton and + his wife had been admitted into the family of the merchant. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edgar had died suddenly, and the entailed estates had fallen to his + successor the colonel, now Sir Harry; but the bulk of his wealth, being in + convertible property, he had given by will to his other nephew, a young + clergyman, and a son of a younger brother. Mary, as well as her mother, + were greatly disappointed, by this deprivation, of what they considered + their lawful splendor; but they found great consolation in the new dignity + of Lady Egerton, whose greatest wish now was to meet the Moseleys, in + order that she might precede them in or out of some place where such + ceremonials are observed. The sound of "Lady Egerton's carriage stops the + way," was delightful, and it never failed to be used on all occasions, + although her ladyship was mistress of only a hired vehicle. + </p> + <p> + A slight insight into the situation of things amongst them may be found in + the following narrative of their views, as revealed in a discussion which + took place about a fortnight after the reunion of the family under one + roof. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Jarvis was mistress of a very handsome coach, the gift of her husband + for her own private use. After having satisfied herself the baronet (a + dignity he had enjoyed just twenty-four hours) did not possess the ability + to furnish his lady, as she termed her daughter, with such a luxury, she + magnanimously determined to relinquish her own, in support of the + new-found elevation of her daughter. Accordingly, a consultation on the + alterations which were necessary took place between the ladies--"The arms + must be altered, of course," Lady Egerton observed, "and Sir Harry's, with + the bloody hand and six quarterings, put in their place; then the + liveries, they must be changed." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, mercy! my lady, if the arms are altered, Mr. Jarvis will be sure to + notice it, and he would never forgive me; and perhaps--" + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps what?" exclaimed the new-made lady, with a disdainful toss of her + head. + </p> + <p> + "Why," replied the mother, warmly, "not give me the hundred pounds he + promised, to have it new-lined and painted." + </p> + <p> + "Fiddlesticks with the painting, Mrs. Jarvis," cried the <i>lady</i> with + dignity: "no carriage shall be called mine that does not bear my arms and + the bloody hand." + </p> + <p> + "Why, your ladyship is unreasonable, indeed you are," said Mrs. Jarvis, + coaxingly; and then after a moment's thought she continued, "is it the + arms or the baronetcy you want, my dear?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I care nothing for the arms, but I am determined, now I am a + baronet's lady, Mrs. Jarvis, to have the proper emblem of my rank." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, my lady, that's true dignity: well, then, we will put the + bloody hand on your father's arms, and he will never notice it, for he + never sees such things." + </p> + <p> + The arrangement was happily completed, and for a few days the coach of Mr. + Jarvis bore about the titled dame, until one unlucky day the merchant, who + still went on 'change when any great bargain in the stocks was to be made, + arrived at his own door suddenly, to procure a calculation he had made on + the leaf of his prayer-book the last Sunday during sermon. This he + obtained after some search. In his haste he drove to his broker's in the + carriage of his wife, to save time, it happening to be in waiting at the + moment, and the distance not great. Mr. Jarvis forgot to order the man to + return, and for an hour the vehicle stood in one of the most public places + in the city. The consequence was, that when Mr. Jarvis undertook to + examine into his gains, with the account rendered of the transaction by + his broker, he was astonished to read, "Sir Timothy Jarvis, Bart., in + account with John Smith, Dr." Sir Timothy examined the account in as many + different ways as Mr. Benfield had examined the marriage of Denbigh, + before he would believe his eyes; and when assured of the fact, he + immediately caught up his hat, and went to find the man who had dared to + insult him, as it were, in defiance of the formality of business. He had + not proceeded one square in the city before he met a friend, who spoke to + him by the title; an explanation of the mistake followed, and the quasi + baronet proceeded to his stables. Here by actual examination he detected + the fraud. An explanation with his consort followed; and the painter's + brush soon effaced the emblem of dignity from the panels of the coach. All + this was easy but with his waggish companions on 'Change and in the city + (where, notwithstanding his wife's fashionable propensities, he loved to + resort) he was Sir Timothy still. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Jarvis, though a man of much modesty, was one of great decision, and + he determined to have the laugh on his side. A newly purchased borough of + his sent up an address flaming with patriotism, and it was presented by + his own hands. The merchant seldom kneeled to his Creator, but on this + occasion he humbled himself dutifully before his prince, and left the + presence with a legal right to the appellation which his old companions + had affixed to him sarcastically. + </p> + <p> + The rapture of Lady Jarvis may be more easily imagined than faithfully + described, the Christian name of her husband alone throwing any alloy into + the enjoyment of her elevation: but by a license of speech she ordered, + and addressed in her own practice, the softer and more familiar + appellation of Sir Timo. Two servants were discharged the first week, + because, unused to titles, they had addressed her as mistress; and her + son, the captain, then at a watering-place, was made acquainted by express + with the joyful intelligence. + </p> + <p> + All this time Sir Henry Egerton was but little seen amongst his new + relatives. He had his own engagements and haunts, and spent most of his + time at a fashionable gaming house in the West End. As, however, the town + was deserted, Lady Jarvis and her daughters, having condescended to pay a + round of city visits, to show off her airs and dignity to her old friends, + persuaded Sir Timo that the hour for their visit to Bath had arrived, and + they were soon comfortably settled in that city. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton and her youngest daughter had arrived at the seat of her + son, and John Moseley, as happy as the certainty of love returned and the + approbation of his friends could make him, was in lodgings in the town. + Sir Edward notified his son of his approaching visit to Bath, and John + took proper accommodations for the family, which he occupied for a few + days by himself as <i>locum tenens</i>. + </p> + <p> + Lord and Lady Herriefield had departed for the south of France; and Kate, + removed from the scenes of her earliest enjoyments and the bosom of her + own family, and under the protection of a man she neither loved nor + respected, began to feel the insufficiency of a name or of a fortune to + constitute felicity. Lord Herriefield was of a suspicious and harsh + temper, the first propensity being greatly increased by his former + associations, and the latter not being removed by the humility of his + eastern dependants. But the situation of her child gave no uneasiness to + the managing mother, who thought her in the high-road to happiness, and + was gratified at the result of her labors. Once or twice, indeed, her + habits had overcome her caution so much as to endeavor to promote, a day + or two sooner than had been arranged, the wedding of Grace; but her + imprudence was checked instantly by the recoiling of Moseley from her + insinuations in disgust; and the absence of the young man for twenty-four + hours gave her timely warning of the danger of such an interference with + one of such fastidious feelings. John punished himself as much as the + dowager on these occasions; but the smiling face of Grace, with her hand + frankly placed in his own at his return, never failed to do away the + unpleasant sensations created by her mother's care. + </p> + <p> + The Chatterton and Jarvis families met in the rooms, soon after the + arrival of the latter, when the lady of the knight, followed by both her + daughters, approached the dowager with a most friendly salute of + recognition. Lady Chatterton, really forgetful of the persons of her B---- + acquaintance, and disliking the vulgarity of her air, drew up into an + appearance of great dignity, as she hoped the lady was well. The + merchant's wife felt the consciousness of rank too much to be repulsed in + this manner, and believing that the dowager had merely forgotten her face, + she added, with a simpering smile, in imitation of what she had seen + better bred people practise with success-- + </p> + <p> + "Lady Jarvis--my lady--your ladyship don't remember me--Lady Jarvis of the + Deanery, B----, Northamptonshire, and my daughters, Lady Egerton and Miss + Jarvis." Lady Egerton bowed stiffly to the recognising smile the dowager + now condescended to bestow; but Sarah, remembering a certain handsome lord + in the family, was more urbane, determining at the moment to make the + promotion of her mother and sister stepping-stones to greater elevation + for herself. + </p> + <p> + "I hope my lord is well," continued the city lady. "I regret that Sir + Timo, and Sir Harry, and Captain Jarvis, are not here this morning to pay + their respects to your ladyship; but as we shall see naturally a good deal + of each other, it must be deferred to a more fitting opportunity." + </p> + <p> + "Certainly, madam," replied the dowager, as, passing her compliments with + those of Grace, she drew back from so open a conversation with creatures + of such doubtful standing in the fashionable world. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIII. + </h2> + <p> + On taking leave of Mrs. Fitzgerald, Emily and her aunt settled a plan of + correspondence; the deserted situation of this young woman having created + great interest in the breasts of her new friends. General M'Carthy had + returned to Spain without receding from his original proposal, and his + niece was left to mourn her early departure from one of the most solemn + duties of life. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield, thwarted in one of his most favorite schemes of happiness + for the residue of his life, obstinately refused to make one of the party + at Bath; and Ives and Clara having returned to Bolton, the remainder of + the Moseleys arrived at the lodgings of John a very few days after the + interview of the preceding chapter, with hearts ill qualified to enter + into the gaieties of the place, though, in obedience to the wishes of Lady + Moseley, to see and to be seen once more on that great theatre of + fashionable amusement. + </p> + <p> + The friends of the family who had known them in times past were numerous, + and were glad to renew their acquaintance with those they had always + esteemed; so that they found themselves immediately surrounded by a circle + of smiling faces and dashing equipages. + </p> + <p> + Sir William Harris, the proprietor of the deanery, and a former neighbor, + with his showy daughter, were amongst the first to visit them. Sir William + was a man of handsome estate and unexceptionable character, but entirely + governed by the whims and desires of his only child. Caroline Harris + wanted neither sense nor beauty, but expecting a fortune, she had placed + her views too high. She at first aimed at the peerage; and while she felt + herself entitled to suit her taste as well as her ambition, had failed of + her object by ill-concealed efforts to attain it. She had justly acquired + the reputation of the reverse of a coquette or yet of a prude; still she + had never received an offer, and at the age of twenty-six, had now begun + to lower her thoughts to the commonalty. Her fortune would have easily + obtained her husband here, but she was determined to pick amongst the + lower supporters of the aristocracy of the nation. With the Moseleys she + had been early acquainted, though some years their senior; a circumstance, + however, to which she took care never to allude unnecessarily. + </p> + <p> + The meeting between Grace and the Moseleys was tender and sincere. John's + countenance glowed with delight, as he saw his future wife folded + successively in the arms of those he loved, and Grace's tears and blushes + added twofold charms to her native beauty. Jane relaxed from her reserve + to receive her future sister, and determined with herself to appear in the + world, in order to show Sir Henry Egerton that she did not feel the blow + he had inflicted as severely as the truth might have proved. + </p> + <p> + The Dowager found some little occupation, for a few days, in settling with + Lady Moseley the preliminaries of the wedding; but the latter had suffered + too much through her youngest daughters, to enter into these formalities + with her ancient spirit. All things were, however, happily settled; and + Ives making a journey for the express purpose, John and Grace were united + privately at the altar of one of the principal churches in Bath. + Chatterton had been summoned on the occasion; and the same paper which + announced the nuptials, contained, amongst the fashionable arrivals, the + names of the Duke of Derwent and his sister, the Marquess of Eltringham + and sisters, amongst whom was to be found Lady Laura Denbigh. Lady + Chatterton carelessly remarked, in presence of her friends, the husband of + the latter was summoned to the death-bed of a relative, from whom he had + great expectations. Emily's color did certainly change as she listened to + this news, but not allowing her thoughts to dwell on the subject, she was + soon enabled to recall her serenity of appearance. + </p> + <p> + But Jane and Emily were delicately placed. The lover of the former, and + the wives of the lovers of both, were in the way of daily, if not hourly + rencounters; and it required all the energies of the young women to appear + with composure before them. The elder was supported by pride, the younger + by principle. The first was restless, haughty, distant, and repulsive. The + last mild, humble, reserved, but eminently attractive. The one was + suspected by all around her; the other was unnoticed by any, but by her + nearest and dearest friends. + </p> + <p> + The first rencounter with these dreaded guests occurred at the rooms one + evening, where the elder ladies had insisted on the bride's making her + appearance. The Jarvises were there before them, and at their entrance + caught the eyes of the group. Lady Jarvis approached immediately, filled + with exultation--her husband with respect. The latter was received with + cordiality--the former politely, but with distance. The young ladies and + Sir Henry bowed distantly, and the gentleman soon drew off into another + part of the room: his absence alone kept Jane from fainting. The handsome + figure of Egerton standing by the side of Mary Jarvis, as her acknowledged + husband, was near proving too much for her pride, notwithstanding all her + efforts; and he looked so like the imaginary being she had set up as the + object of her worship, that her heart was also in danger of rebelling. + </p> + <p> + "Positively, Sir Edward and my lady, both Sir Timo and myself, and, I dare + say, Sir Harry and Lady Egerton too, are delighted to see you comfortably + at Bath among us. Mrs. Moseley, I wish you much happiness; Lady Chatterton + too. I suppose your ladyship recollects me now; I am Lady Jarvis. Mr. + Moseley, I regret, for your sake, that my son Captain Jarvis is not here; + you were so fond of each other, and both so loved your guns." + </p> + <p> + "Positively, my Lady Jarvis," said Moseley, drily, "my feelings on the + occasion are as strong as your own; but I presume the captain is much too + good a shot for me by this time." + </p> + <p> + "Why, yes; he improves greatly in most things he undertakes," rejoined the + smiling dame, "and I hope he will soon learn, like you, to shoot with the + <i>h</i>arrows of Cupid. I hope the Honorable Mrs. Moseley is well." + </p> + <p> + Grace bowed mildly, as she answered to the interrogatory, and smiled at + the thought of Jarvis put in competition with her husband in this species + of archery, when a voice immediately behind where they sat caught the ears + of the whole party; all it said was-- + </p> + <p> + "Harriet, you forgot to show me Marian's letter." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, but I will to-morrow," was the reply. + </p> + <p> + It was the tone of Denbigh. Emily almost fell from her seat as it first + reached her, and the eyes of all but herself were immediately turned in + quest of the speaker. He had approached within a very few feet of them, + supporting a lady on each arm. A second look convinced the Moseleys that + they were mistaken. It was not Denbigh, but a young man whose figure, + face, and air resembled him strongly, and whose voice possessed the same + soft melodious tones which had distinguished that of Denbigh. This party + seated themselves within a very short distance of the Moseleys, and they + continued their conversation. + </p> + <p> + "You heard from the Colonel to-day, too, I believe," continued the + gentleman, turning to the lady who sat next to Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, he is a very punctual correspondent; I hear every other day." + </p> + <p> + "How is his uncle, Laura?" inquired her female companion. + </p> + <p> + "Rather better; but I will thank your grace to find the Marquess and Miss + Howard." + </p> + <p> + "Bring them to us," rejoined the other. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the former lady, with a laugh, "and Eltringham will thank you + too, I dare say." + </p> + <p> + In an instant the duke returned, accompanied by a gentleman of thirty and + an elderly lady, who might have been safely taken for fifty without + offence to anybody but herself. + </p> + <p> + During these speeches their auditors had listened with almost breathless + interest. Emily had stolen a glance which satisfied her it was not Denbigh + himself and it greatly relieved her; but was startled at discovering that + she was actually seated by the side of his young and lovely wife. When an + opportunity offered, she dwelt on the amiable, frank countenance of her + rival with melancholy satisfaction: at least, she thought, he may yet be + happy, and I hope penitent. + </p> + <p> + It was a mixture of love and gratitude which prompted this wish, both + sentiments not easily got rid of when once ingrafted in our better + feelings. John eyed the strangers with a displeasure for which he could + not account at once, and saw, in the ancient lady, the bridesmaid Lord + Henry had so unwillingly admitted to that distinction. + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis was astounded with her vicinity to so much nobility, and she + drew back to her family to study its movements to advantage; while Lady + Chatterton sighed heavily, as she contemplated the fine figures of an + unmarried Duke and Marquess, and she without a single child to dispose of. + The remainder of the party continued to view them with curiosity, and + listened with interest to what they said. + </p> + <p> + Two or three young ladies had now joined the strangers, attended by a + couple of gentlemen, and the conversation became general. The ladies + declined dancing entirely, but appeared willing to throw away an hour in + comments on their neighbors. + </p> + <p> + "William," said one of the young ladies, "there is your old messmate, Col. + Egerton." + </p> + <p> + "Yes, I observe him," replied her brother, "I see him;" but, smiling + significantly, he continued, "we are messmates no longer." + </p> + <p> + "He is a sad character," said the Marquess, with a shrug. "William, I + would advise you to be cautious of his acquaintance." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you," replied Lord William, "but I believe I understand him + thoroughly." + </p> + <p> + Jane manifested strong emotion during these remarks, while Sir Edward and + his wife averted their faces from a simultaneous feeling of self-reproach. + Their eyes met, and mutual concessions were contained in the glance; yet + their feelings were unnoticed by their companions, for over the fulfilment + of her often repeated forewarnings of neglect and duty to our children, + Mrs. Wilson had mourned in sincerity, but she had forgotten to triumph. + </p> + <p> + "When are we to see Pendennyss?" inquired the Marquess; "I hope he will be + here with George--I have a mind to beat up his quarters in Wales this + season--what say you, Derwent?" + </p> + <p> + "I intend it, if I can persuade Lady Harriet to quit the gaieties of Bath + so soon--what say <i>you</i>, sister--will you be in readiness to attend + me so early?" + </p> + <p> + This question was asked in an arch tone, and drew the eyes of her friends + on the person to whom it was addressed. + </p> + <p> + "I am ready now, Frederick, if you wish it," answered the sister hastily, + and coloring excessively as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + "But where is Chatterton? I thought he was here--he had a sister married + here last week," inquired Lord William Stapleton, addressing no one in + particular. + </p> + <p> + A slight movement in their neighbors attracted the attention of the party. + </p> + <p> + "What a lovely young woman," whispered the duke to Lady Laura, "your + neighbor is!" + </p> + <p> + The lady smiled her assent, and as Emily overheard it, she rose with + glowing cheeks, and proposed a walk round the room. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton soon after entered. The young peer had acknowledged to Emily + that, deprived of hope as he had been by her firm refusal of his hand, his + efforts had been directed to the suppression of a passion which could + never be successful; but his esteem, his respect, remained in full force. + He did not touch at all on the subject of Denbigh, and she supposed that + he thought his marriage was a step that required justification. + </p> + <p> + The Moseleys had commenced their promenade round the room as Chatterton + came in. He paid his compliments to them as soon as he entered, and walked + with their party. The noble visitors followed their example, and the two + parties met. Chatterton was delighted to see them, the Duke was + particularly fond of him; and, had one been present of sufficient + observation, the agitation of his sister, the Lady Harriet Denbigh, would + have accounted for the doubts of her brother as respects her willingness + to leave Bath. + </p> + <p> + A few words of explanation passed; the duke and his friends appeared to + urge something on Chatterton, who acted as their ambassador, and the + consequence was, an introduction of the two parties to each other. This + was conducted with the ease of the present fashion--it was general, and + occurred, as it were incidentally, in the course of the evening. + </p> + <p> + Both Lady Harriet and Lady Laura Denbigh were particularly attentive to + Emily. They took their seats by her, and manifested a preference for her + conversation that struck Mrs. Wilson as remarkable. Could it be that the + really attractive manners and beauty of her niece had caught the fancy of + these ladies, or was there a deeper seated cause for the desire to draw + Emily out, that both of them evinced? Mrs. Wilson had heard a rumor that + Chatterton was thought attentive to Lady Harriet, and the other was the + wife of Denbigh; was it possible the quondam suitors of her niece had + related to their present favorites the situation they had stood in as + regarded Emily? It was odd, to say no more; and the widow dwelt on the + innocent countenance of the bride with pity and admiration. Emily herself + was not a little abashed at the notice of her new acquaintances, + especially Lady Laura's; but as their admiration appeared sincere, as well + as their desire to be on terms of intimacy with the Moseleys, they parted, + on the whole, mutually pleased. + </p> + <p> + The conversation several times was embarrassing to the baronet's family, + and at moments distressingly so to their daughters. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the evening they all formed one group at a little distance + from the rest of the company, and in a situation to command a view of it. + </p> + <p> + "Who is that vulgar-looking woman," said Lady Sarah Stapleton, "seated + next to Sir Henry Egerton, brother?" + </p> + <p> + "No less a personage than my Lady Jarvis," replied the marquess, gravely, + "and the mother-in-law of Sir Harry, and the wife to Sir Timo--;" this was + said, with a look of drollery that showed the marquess was a bit of a + quiz. + </p> + <p> + "Married!" cried Lord William, "mercy on the woman who is Egerton's wife. + He is the greatest latitudinarian amongst the ladies, of any man in + England--nothing--no, nothing would tempt me to let such a man marry a + sister of mine!" + </p> + <p> + Ah, thought Mrs. Wilson, how we may be deceived in character, with the + best intentions, after all! In what are the open vices of Egerton worse + than the more hidden ones of Denbigh? + </p> + <p> + These freely expressed opinions on the character of Sir Henry were + excessively awkward to some of the listeners, to whom they were connected + with unpleasant recollections of duties neglected, and affections thrown + away. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward Moseley was not disposed to judge his fellow-creatures harshly; + and it was as much owing to his philanthropy as to his indolence, that he + had been so remiss in his attention to the associates of his daughters. + But the veil once removed, and the consequences brought home to him + through his child, no man was more alive to the necessity of caution on + this important particular; and Sir Edward formed many salutary resolutions + for the government of his future conduct in relation to those whom an + experience nearly fatal in its results had now greatly qualified to take + care of themselves. But to resume our narrative--Lady Laura had maintained + with Emily a conversation, which was enlivened by occasional remarks from + the rest of the party, in the course of which the nerves as well as the + principles of Emily were put to a severe trial. + </p> + <p> + "My brother Henry," said Lady Laura, "who is a captain in the navy, once + had the pleasure of seeing you, Miss Moseley, and in some measure made me + acquainted with you before we met." + </p> + <p> + "I dined with Lord Henry at L----, and was much indebted to his polite + attentions in an excursion on the water," replied Emily, simply. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, I am sure his attentions were exclusive," cried the sister; "indeed, + he told us that nothing but want of time prevented his being deeply in + love--he had even the audacity to tell Denbigh it was fortunate for me he + had never seen you, or I should have been left to lead apes." + </p> + <p> + "And I suppose you believe him now," cried Lord William, laughing, as he + bowed to Emily. + </p> + <p> + His sister laughed in her turn, but shook her head, in the confidence of + conjugal affection. + </p> + <p> + "It is all conjecture, for the Colonel said he had never enjoyed the + pleasure of meeting Miss Moseley, so I will not boast of what my powers + might have done; Miss Moseley," continued Lady Laura, blushing slightly at + her inclination to talk of an absent husband, so lately her lover, "I hope + to have the pleasure of presenting Colonel Denbigh to you soon." + </p> + <p> + "I think," said Emily, with a strong horror of deception, and a mighty + struggle to suppress her feelings, "Colonel Denbigh was mistaken in saying + that we had never met; he was of material service to me once, and I owe + him a debt of gratitude that I only wish I could properly repay." + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura listened in surprise; but as Emily paused, she could not + delicately, as his wife, remind her further of the obligation, by asking + what the service was, and hesitating a moment, continued-- + </p> + <p> + "Henry quite made you the subject of conversation amongst us; Lord + Chatterton too, who visited us for a day, was equally warm in his + eulogiums. I really thought they created a curiosity in the Duke and + Pendennyss to behold their idol." + </p> + <p> + "A curiosity that would be ill rewarded in its indulgence," said Emily, + abashed by the personality of the discourse. + </p> + <p> + "So says the modesty of Miss Moseley," said the Duke of Derwent, in the + peculiar tone which distinguished the softer keys of Denbigh's voice. + Emily's heart beat quick as she heard them, and she was afterwards vexed + to remember with how much pleasure she had listened to this opinion of the + duke. Was it the sentiment, or was it the voice? She, however, gathered + strength to answer, with a dignity that repressed further praises:-- + </p> + <p> + "Your grace is willing to divest me of what little I possess." + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss is a man of a thousand," continued Lady Laura, with the + privilege of a married woman. "I do wish he would join us at Bath--is + there no hope, duke?" + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid not," replied his grace: "he keeps himself immured in Wales + with his sister, who is as much of a hermit as he is himself." + </p> + <p> + "There was a story of an inamorata in private somewhere," cried the + marquess; "why at one time it was even said he was privately married to + her." + </p> + <p> + "Scandal, my lord," said the duke, gravely: "Pendennyss is of + unexceptionable morals, and the lady you mean is the widow of Major + Fitzgerald, whom you knew. Pendennyss never sees her, though by accident + he was once of very great service to her." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson breathed freely again, as she heard this explanation, and + thought if the Marquess knew all, how differently would he judge + Pendennyss, as well as others. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! I have the highest opinion of Lord Pendennyss," cried the Marquess. + </p> + <p> + The Moseleys were not sorry that the usual hour of retiring put an end to + the conversation and their embarrassment. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIV. + </h2> + <p> + During the succeeding fortnight, the intercourse between the Moseleys and + their new acquaintances increased daily. It was rather awkward at first on + the part of Emily; and her beating pulse and changing color too often + showed the alarm of feelings not yet overcome, when any allusions were + made to the absent husband of one of the ladies. Still, as her parents + encouraged the acquaintance, and her aunt thought the best way to get rid + of the remaining weakness with respect to Denbigh was not to shrink from + even an interview with the gentleman himself, Emily succeeded in + conquering her reluctance; and as the high opinion entertained by Lady + Laura of her husband was expressed in a thousand artless ways, an interest + was created in her that promised in time to weaken if not destroy the + impression that had been made by Denbigh himself. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, Egerton carefully avoided all collision with the + Moseleys. Once, indeed, he endeavored to renew his acquaintance with John, + but a haughty repulse almost produced a quarrel. + </p> + <p> + What representations Egerton had thought proper to make to his wife, we + are unable to say; but she appeared to resent something, as she never + approached the dwelling or persons of her quondam associates, although in + her heart she was dying to be on terms of intimacy with their titled + friends. Her incorrigible mother was restrained by no such or any other + consideration, and contrived to fasten on the Dowager and Lady Harriet a + kind of bowing acquaintance, which she made great use of at the rooms. + </p> + <p> + The Duke sought out the society of Emily wherever he could obtain it; and + Mrs. Wilson thought her niece admitted his approaches with less reluctance + than that of any other of the gentlemen around her. At first she was + surprised, but a closer observation betrayed to her the latent cause. + </p> + <p> + Derwent resembled Denbigh greatly in person and voice, although there were + distinctions easily to be made on an acquaintance. The Duke had an air of + command and hauteur that was never to be seen in his cousin. But his + admiration of Emily he did not attempt to conceal; and, as he ever + addressed her in the respectful language and identical voice of Denbigh, + the observant widow easily perceived, that it was the remains of her + attachment to the one that induced her niece to listen, with such evident + pleasure, to the conversation of the other. + </p> + <p> + The Duke of Derwent wanted many of the indispensable requisites of a + husband, in the eyes of Mrs. Wilson; yet, as she thought Emily out of all + danger at the present of any new attachment, she admitted the association, + under no other restraint than the uniform propriety of all that Emily said + or did. + </p> + <p> + "Your niece will one day be a Duchess, Mrs. Wilson," whispered Lady Laura, + as Derwent and Emily were running over a new poem one morning, in the + lodgings of Sir Edward; the former reading a fine extract aloud so + strikingly in the air and voice of Denbigh, as to call all the animation + of the unconscious Emily into her expressive face. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson sighed, as she reflected on the strength of those feelings + which even principles and testimony had not been able wholly to subdue, as + she answered-- + </p> + <p> + "Not of Derwent, I believe. But how wonderfully the Duke resembles your + husband at times," she added, entirely thrown off her guard. + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura was evidently surprised. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, at times he does; they are brothers' children, you know: the voice + in all that connexion is remarkable. Pendennyss, though a degree further + off in blood, possesses it; and Lady Harriet, you perceive, has the same + characteristic; there has been some syren in the family, in days past." + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward and Lady Moseley saw the attention of the Duke with the + greatest pleasure. Though not slaves to the ambition of wealth and rank, + they were certainly no objections in their eyes; and a proper suitor Lady + Moseley thought the most probable means of driving the recollection of + Denbigh from the mind of her daughter. The latter consideration had great + weight in inducing her to cultivate an acquaintance so embarrassing on + many accounts. + </p> + <p> + The Colonel, however, wrote to his wife the impossibility of his quitting + his uncle while he continued so unwell, and it was settled that the bride + should join him, under the escort of Lord William. + </p> + <p> + The same tenderness distinguished Denbigh on this occasion that had + appeared so lovely when exercised to his dying father. Yet, thought Mrs. + Wilson, how insufficient are good feelings to effect what can only be the + result of good principles. + </p> + <p> + Caroline Harris was frequently of the parties of pleasure, walks, rides, + and dinners, which the Moseleys were compelled to join in; and as the + Marquess of Eltringham had given her one day some little encouragement, + she determined to make an expiring effort at the peerage, before she + condescended to enter into an examination of the qualities of Capt. + Jarvis, who, his mother had persuaded her, was an Apollo, that had great + hopes of being one day a Lord, as both the Captain and herself had + commenced laying up a certain sum quarterly for the purpose of buying a + title hereafter--an ingenious expedient of Jarvis's to get into his hands + a portion of the allowance of his mother. + </p> + <p> + Eltringham was strongly addicted to the ridiculous; and without committing + himself in the least, drew the lady out on divers occasions, for the + amusement of himself and the Duke--who enjoyed, without practising, that + species of joke. + </p> + <p> + The collisions between ill-concealed art and as ill-concealed irony had + been practised with impunity by the Marquess for a fortnight, and the + lady's imagination began to revel in the delights of a triumph, when a + really respectable offer was made to Miss Harris by a neighbor of her + father's in the country--one she would rejoice to have received a few days + before, but which, in consequence of hopes created by the following + occurrence, she haughtily rejected. + </p> + <p> + It was at the lodgings of the Baronet that Lady Laura exclaimed one day,-- + </p> + <p> + "Marriage is a lottery, certainly, and neither Sir Henry nor Lady Egerton + appears to have drawn a prize." + </p> + <p> + Here Jane stole from the room. + </p> + <p> + "Never, sister," cried the Marquess. "I will deny that. Any man can select + a prize from your sex, if he only knows his own taste." + </p> + <p> + "Taste is a poor criterion, I am afraid," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "on + which to found matrimonial felicity." + </p> + <p> + "To what would you refer the decision, my dear madam?" inquired the Lady + Laura. + </p> + <p> + "Judgment." + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura shook her hear doubtingly. + </p> + <p> + "You remind me so much of Lord Pendennyss! Everything he wishes to bring + under the subjection of judgment and principles." + </p> + <p> + "And is he wrong, Lady Laura?" asked Mrs. Wilson, pleased to find such + correct views existed in one of whom she thought so highly. + </p> + <p> + "Not wrong, my dear madam, only impracticable. What do you think, + Marquess, of choosing a wife in conformity to your principles, and without + consulting your tastes?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson shook her head with a laugh, and disclaimed any such statement + of the case; but the Marquess, who disliked one of John's didactic + conversations very much, gaily interrupted her by saying-- + </p> + <p> + "Oh! taste is everything with me. The woman of my heart against the world, + if she suits my fancy, and satisfies my judgment." + </p> + <p> + "And what may this fancy of your Lordship be?" said Mrs. Wilson, willing + to gratify the trifling. "What kind of a woman do you mean to choose? How + tall for instance?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, madam," cried the Marquess, rather unprepared for such a catechism, + and looking around him until the outstretched neck and the eager attention + of Caroline Harris caught his eye, when he added with an air of great + simplicity--"about the height of Miss Harris." + </p> + <p> + "How old?" asked Mrs. Wilson with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "Not too young, ma'am, certainly. I am thirty-two--my wife must be five or + six and twenty. Am I old enough, do you think, Derwent?" he added in a + whisper to the Duke. + </p> + <p> + "Within ten years," was the reply. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson continued-- + </p> + <p> + "She must read and write, I suppose?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, faith," said the Marquess, "I am not fond of a bookish sort of a + woman, and least of all a scholar." + </p> + <p> + "You had better take Miss Howard," whispered his brother. "She is old + enough--never reads--and is just the height." + </p> + <p> + "No, no, Will," rejoined the brother. "Rather too old that. Now, I admire + a woman who has confidence in herself. One that understands the + proprieties of life, and has, if possible, been at the head of an + establishment before she is to take charge of mine." + </p> + <p> + The delighted Caroline wriggled about in her chair, and, unable to contain + herself longer, inquired:-- + </p> + <p> + "Noble blood of course, you would require, my Lord?" + </p> + <p> + "Why no! I rather think the best wives are to be found in a medium. I + would wish to elevate my wife myself. A Baronet's daughter for instance." + </p> + <p> + Here Lady Jarvis, who had entered during the dialogue, and caught a clue + to the topic they were engaged in, drew near, and ventured to ask if he + thought a simple knight too low. The Marquess, who did not expect such an + attack, was a little at a loss for an answer; but recovering himself + answered gravely, under the apprehension of another design on his person, + that "he did think that would be forgetting his duty to his descendants." + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis sighed, and fell back in disappointment; while Miss Harris, + turning to the nobleman, in a soft voice, desired him to ring for her + carriage. As he handed her down, she ventured to inquire if his lordship + had ever met with such a woman as he described. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, Miss Harris," he whispered, as he handed her into the coach, "how can + you ask me such a question? You are very cruel. Drive on, coachman." + </p> + <p> + "How, cruel, my Lord?" said Miss Harris eagerly. "Stop, John. How, cruel, + my Lord?" and she stretched her neck out of the window as the Marquess, + kissing his hand to her, ordered the man to proceed. + </p> + <p> + "Don't you hear your lady, sir?" + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis had followed them down, also with a view to catch anything + which might be said, having apologized for her hasty visit; and as the + Marquess handed her politely into her carriage, she also begged "he would + favor Sir Timo and Sir Henry with a call;" which being promised, + Eltringham returned to the room. + </p> + <p> + "When am I to salute a Marchioness of Eltringham?" cried Lady Laura to her + brother, "one on the new standard set up by your Lordship." + </p> + <p> + "Whenever Miss Harris can make up her mind to the sacrifice," replied the + brother very gravely. "Ah me! how very considerate some of your sex are, + for the modesty of ours." + </p> + <p> + "I wish you joy with all my heart, my Lord Marquess," exclaimed John + Moseley. "I was once favored with the notice of that same lady for a week + or two, but a viscount saved me from capture." + </p> + <p> + "I really think, Moseley," said the Duke innocently, but speaking with + animation, "an intriguing daughter worse than a managing mother." + </p> + <p> + John's gravity for a moment vanished, as he replied in a lowered key, + </p> + <p> + "Oh, much worse." + </p> + <p> + Grace's heart was in her throat, until, by stealing a glance at her + husband, she saw the cloud passing over his fine brow; and happening to + catch her affectionate smile; his face was at once lighted into a look of + pleasantry. + </p> + <p> + "I would advise caution, my Lord. Caroline Harris has the advantage of + experience in her trade, and was expert from the first." + </p> + <p> + "John--John," said Sir Edward with warmth, "Sir William is my friend, and + his daughter must be respected." + </p> + <p> + "Then, baronet," cried the Marquess, "she has one recommendation I was + ignorant of, and as such I am silent: but ought not Sir William to teach + his daughter to respect herself? I view these husband-hunting ladies as + pirates on the ocean of love, and lawful objects for any roving cruiser + like myself to fire at. At one time I was simple enough to retire as they + advanced, but you know, madam," turning to Mrs. Wilson with a droll look, + "flight only encourages pursuit, so I now give battle in self-defence." + </p> + <p> + "And I hope successfully, my Lord," observed the Lady. "Miss Harris, + brother, does appear to have grown desperate in her attacks, which were + formerly much more masked than at present. I believe it is generally the + case, when a young worman throws aside the delicacy and feelings which + ought to be the characteristics of her sex, and which teach her studiously + to conceal her admiration, that she either becomes in time cynical and + disagreeable to all around her from disappointment, or persevering in her + efforts, as it were, runs a muck for a husband. Now in justice to the + gentlemen, I must say, baronet, there are strong symptoms of the Malay + about Caroline Harris." + </p> + <p> + "A muck, a muck," cried the marquess, as, in obedience to the signal of + his sister, he rose to withdraw. + </p> + <p> + Jane had retired to her own room in a mortification of spirit she could + ill conceal during this conversation, and she felt a degree of humiliation + which almost drove her to the desperate resolution of hiding herself for + ever from the world. The man she had so fondly enshrined in her heart + proving to be so notoriously unworthy as to be the subject of unreserved + censure in general company, was a reproach to her delicacy, her + observation, her judgment, that was the more severe, from being true; and + she wept in bitterness over her fallen happiness. + </p> + <p> + Emily had noticed the movement of Jane, and waited anxiously for the + departure of the visitors to hasten to her room. She knocked two or three + times before her sister replied to her request for admittance. + </p> + <p> + "Jane, my dear Jane," said Emily, soothingly, "will you not admit me?" + </p> + <p> + Jane could not resist any longer the affection of her sister, and the door + was opened; but as Emily endeavored to take her hand, she drew back + coldly, and cried-- + </p> + <p> + "I wonder you, who are so happy, will leave the gay scene below for the + society of an humbled wretch like me;" and overcome with the violence of + her emotion, she burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + "Happy!" repeated Emily, in a tone of anguish, "happy, did you say, Jane? + Oh, little do you know my sufferings, or you would never speak so + cruelly!" + </p> + <p> + Jane, in her turn, surprised at the strength of Emily's language, + considered her weeping sister with commiseration; and then her thoughts + recurring to her own case, she continued with energy-- + </p> + <p> + "Yes, Emily, happy; for whatever may have been the reason of Denbigh's + conduct, he is respected; and if you do or did love him, he was worthy of + it. But I," said Jane, wildly, "threw away my affections on a wretch--<i>a + mere impostor</i>--and I am miserable for ever." + </p> + <p> + "No, dear Jane," rejoined Emily, having recovered her self-possession, + "not miserable--nor for ever. You have many, very many sources of + happiness yet within your reach, even in this world. I--I do think, even + our strongest attachments may be overcome by energy and a sense of duty. + And oh! how I wish I could see you make the effort." + </p> + <p> + For a moment the voice of the youthful moralist had failed her; but + anxiety in behalf of her sister overcame her feelings, and she ended the + sentence with earnestness. + </p> + <p> + "Emily," said Jane, with obstinacy, and yet in tears, "you don't know what + blighted affections are. To endure the scorn of the world, and see the man + you once thought near being your husband married to another, who is + showing herself in triumph before you, wherever you go!" + </p> + <p> + "Hear me, Jane, before you reproach me further, and then judge between + us." Emily paused a moment to acquire nerve to proceed, and then related + to her astonished sister the little history of her own disappointments. + She did not affect to conceal her attachment for Denbigh. With glowing + cheeks she acknowledged, that she found a necessity for all her efforts to + keep her rebellious feelings yet in subjection; and as she recounted + generally his conduct to Mrs. Fitzgerald, she concluded by saying, "But, + Jane, I can see enough to call forth my gratitude; and although, with + yourself, I feel at this moment as if my affections were sealed for ever, + I wish to make no hasty resolutions, nor act in any manner as if I were + unworthy of the lot Providence has assigned me." + </p> + <p> + "Unworthy? no!--you have no reasons for self-reproach. If Mr. Denbigh has + had the art to conceal his crimes from you, he did it to the rest of the + world also, and has married a woman of rank and character. But how + differently are we situated! Emily--I--I have no such consolation." + </p> + <p> + "You have the consolation, my sister, of knowing there is an interest made + for you where we all require it most, and it is there I endeavor to seek + my support," said Emily, in a low and humble tone. "A review of our own + errors takes away the keenness of our perception of the wrongs done us, + and by placing us in charity with the rest of the world, disposes us to + enjoy calmly the blessings within our reach. Besides, Jane, we have + parents whose happiness is locked up in that of their children, and we + should--we must overcome the feelings which disqualify us for our common + duties, on their account." + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" cried Jane, "how can I move about in the world, while I know the + eyes of all are on me, in curiosity to discover how I bear my + disappointments. But you, Emily, are unsuspected. It is easy for you to + affect a gaiety you do not feel." + </p> + <p> + "I neither affect nor feel any gaiety," said her sister, mildly. "But are + there not the eyes of One on us, of infinitely more power to punish or + reward than what may be found in the opinions of the world? Have we no + duties? For what is our wealth, our knowledge, our time given us, but to + improve for our own and for the eternal welfare of those around us? Come + then, my sister, we have both been deceived--let us endeavor not to be + culpable." + </p> + <p> + "I wish, from my soul, we could leave Bath," cried Jane. "The place, the + people are hateful to me!" + </p> + <p> + "Jane," said Emily, "rather say you hate their vices, and wish for their + amendment: but do not indiscriminately condemn a whole community for the + wrongs you have sustained from one of its members." + </p> + <p> + Jane allowed herself to be consoled, though by no means convinced, by this + effort of her sister; and they both found a relief by thus unburdening + their hearts to each other, that in future brought them more nearly + together, and was of mutual assistance in supporting them in the + promiscuous circles in which they were obliged to mix. + </p> + <p> + With all her fortitude and principle, one of the last things Emily would + have desired was an interview with Denbigh, and she was happily relieved + from the present danger of it by the departure of Lady Laura and her + brother, to go to the residence of the Colonel's sick uncle. + </p> + <p> + Both Mrs. Wilson and Emily suspected that a dread of meeting them had + detained him from his intended journey to Bath; and neither was sorry to + perceive, what they considered as latent signs of grace--a grace of which + Egerton appeared entirely to be without. + </p> + <p> + "He may yet see his errors, and make a kind and affectionate husband," + thought Emily; and then, as the image of Denbigh rose in her imagination, + surrounded with the domestic virtues, she roused herself from the + dangerous reflection to the exercise of the duties in which she found a + refuge from unpardonable wishes. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXV. + </h2> + <p> + Nothing material occurred for a fortnight after the departure of Lady + Laura, the Moseleys entering soberly into the amusements of the place, and + Derwent and Chatterton becoming more pointed every day in their + attentions--the one to Emily, and the other to Lady Harriet; when the + dowager received a pressing entreaty from Catherine to hasten to her at + Lisbon, where her husband had taken up his abode for a time, after much + doubt and indecision as to his place of residence. Lady Herriefield stated + generally in her letter, that she was miserable, and that without the + support of her mother she could not exist under the present grievances; + but what was the cause of those grievances, or what grounds she had for + her misery, she left unexplained. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton was not wanting in maternal regard, and she promptly + determined to proceed to Portugal in the next packet. John felt inclined + for a little excursion with his bride; and out of compassion to the baron, + who was in a dilemma between his duty and his love (for Lady Harriet about + that time was particularly attractive), he offered his services. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton allowed himself to be persuaded by the good-natured John, that + his mother could safely cross the ocean under the protection of the + latter. Accordingly, at the end of the before mentioned fortnight, the + dowager, John, Grace, and Jane, commenced their journey to Falmouth. + </p> + <p> + Jane had offered to accompany Grace, as a companion in her return (it + being expected Lady Chatterton would remain in the country with her + daughter); and her parents appreciating her motives, permitted the + excursion, with a hope it would draw her thoughts from past events. + </p> + <p> + Although Grace shed a few tears at parting with Emily and her friends, it + was impossible for Mrs. Moseley to be long unhappy, with the face of John + smiling by her side; and they pursued their route uninterruptedly. In due + season they reached the port of embarkation. + </p> + <p> + The following morning the packet got under weigh, and a favorable breeze + soon wafted them out of sight of their native shores. The ladies were too + much indisposed the first day to appear on the deck; but the weather + becoming calm and the sea smooth, Grace and Jane ventured out of the + confinement of their state-rooms, to respire the fresh air above. + </p> + <p> + There were but few passengers, and those chiefly ladies--the wives of + officers on foreign stations, on their way to join their husbands. As + these had been accustomed to moving in the world, their disposition to + accommodate soon removed the awkwardness of a first meeting, and our + travellers began to be at home in their novel situation. + </p> + <p> + While Grace stood leaning on the arm of her husband, and clinging to his + support, both from affection and a dread of the motion of the vessel, Jane + ventured with one of the ladies to attempt a walk round the deck of the + ship. Unaccustomed to such an uncertain foothold, the walkers were + prevented falling by the kind interposition of a gentleman, who for the + first time had shown himself among them at that moment. The accident, and + their situation, led to a conversation which was renewed at different + times during their passage, and in some measure created an intimacy + between our party and the stranger. He was addressed by the commander of + the vessel as Mr. Harland; and Lady Chatterton exercised her ingenuity in + the investigation of his history, by which she made the following + discovery: + </p> + <p> + The Rev. and Hon. Mr. Harland was the younger son of an Irish earl, who + had early embraced his sacred profession in that church, in which he held + a valuable living in the gift of his father's family. His father was yet + alive, and then at Lisbon with his mother and sister, in attendance on his + elder brother, who had been sent there in a deep decline a couple of + months before. It had been the wish of his parents to have taken all their + children with them; but a sense of duty had kept the young clergyman in + the exercise of his holy office, until a request of his dying brother, and + the directions of his father, caused him to hasten abroad to witness the + decease of the one, and to afford all the solace within his power to the + others. + </p> + <p> + It may be easily imagined that the discovery of the rank of their + accidental acquaintance, with the almost certainty that existed of his + being the heir of his father's honors, in no degree impaired his + consequence in the eyes of the dowager; and it is certain, his visible + anxiety and depressed spirits, his unaffected piety, and disinterested + hopes for his brother's recovery, no less elevated him in the opinions of + her companions. + </p> + <p> + There was, at the moment, a kind of sympathy between Harland and Jane, + notwithstanding the melancholy which gave rise to it proceeding from such + very different causes and as the lady, although with diminished bloom, + retained all her personal charms, rather heightened than otherwise by the + softness of low spirits, the young clergyman sometimes relieved his + apprehensions of his brother's death by admitting the image of Jane among + his more melancholy reflections. + </p> + <p> + The voyage was tedious, and some time before it was ended the dowager had + given Grace an intimation of the probability there was of Jane's becoming, + at some future day, a countess. Grace sincerely hoped that whatever she + became she would be as happy as she thought all allied to John deserved to + be. + </p> + <p> + They entered the bay of Lisbon early in the morning; and as the ship had + been expected for some days, a boat came alongside with a note for Mr. + Harland, before they had anchored. It apprised him of the death of his + brother. The young man threw himself precipitately into it, and was soon + employed in one of the loveliest offices of his vocation, that of healing + the wounds of the afflicted. + </p> + <p> + Lady Herriefield received her mother in a sort of sullen satisfaction, and + her companions with an awkwardness she could ill conceal. It required no + great observation in the travellers to discover, that their arrival was + entirely unexpected by the viscount, if it were not equally disagreeable; + indeed, one day's residence under his roof assured them all that no great + degree of domestic felicity was an inmate of the dwelling. + </p> + <p> + From the moment Lord Herriefield became suspicious that he had been the + dupe of the management of Kate and her mother, he viewed every act of his + wife with a prejudiced eye. It was easy, with his knowledge of human + nature, to detect her selfishness and worldly-mindedness; for as these + were faults she was unconscious of possessing, so she was unguarded in her + exposure of them. But her designs, in a matrimonial point of view, having + ended with her marriage, had the viscount treated her with any of the + courtesies due her sex and station, she might, with her disposition, have + been contented in the enjoyment of rank and in the possession of wealth; + but their more private hours were invariably rendered unpleasant, by the + overflowings of her husband's resentment at having been deceived in his + judgment of the female sex. + </p> + <p> + There is no point upon which men are more tender than their privilege of + suiting themselves in a partner for life, although many of both sexes are + influenced in this important selection more by the wishes and whims of + others than is usually suspected; yet, as all imagine what is the result + of contrivance and management is the election of free will and taste, so + long as they are ignorant, they are contented. Lord Herriefield wanted + this bliss of ignorance; and, with contempt for his wife, was mingled + anger at his own want of foresight. + </p> + <p> + Very few people can tamely submit to self-reproach; and as the cause of + this irritated state of mind was both not only constantly present, but + completely within his power, the viscount seemed determined to give her as + little reason to exult in the success of her plans as possible. Jealous he + was, from temperament, from bad associations, and a want of confidence in + the principles of his wife, the freedom of foreign manners having an + additional tendency to excite this baneful passion to an unusual degree. + Abridged in her pleasures, reproached with motives she was incapable of + harboring, and disappointed in all those enjoyments her mother had ever + led her to believe the invariable accompaniments of married life, where + proper attention had been paid to the necessary qualifications of riches + and rank, Kate had written to the dowager with the hope her presence might + restrain, or her advice teach her, successfully to oppose the unfeeling + conduct of the viscount. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton never having implanted any of her favorite systems in her + daughter, so much by precept as by the force of example in her own person, + as well as by indirect eulogiums on certain people who were endowed with + those qualities and blessings she most admired, on the present occasion + Catherine did not unburden herself in terms to her mother; but by a + regular gradation of complaints, aimed more at the world than at her + husband, she soon let the knowing dowager see their application, and in + the end completely removed the veil from her domestic grievances. + </p> + <p> + The example of John and Grace for a short time awed the peer into + dissembling his disgust for his spouse; but the ice once broken, their + presence soon ceased to affect either the frequency or the severity of his + remarks, when under its influence. + </p> + <p> + From such exhibitions of matrimonial discord, Grace shrank timidly into + the retirement of her room, and Jane, with dignity, would follow her + example; while John at times became a listener, with a spirit barely + curbed within the bounds of prudence, and at others, he sought in the + company of his wife and sister, relief from the violence of his feelings. + </p> + <p> + John never admired nor respected Catherine, for she wanted those very + qualities he chiefly loved in her sister; yet, as she was a woman, and one + nearly connected with him, he found it impossible to remain a quiet + spectator of the unmanly treatment she often received from her husband; he + therefore made preparations for his return to England by the first packet, + abridging his intended residence in Lisbon more than a month. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton endeavored all within her power to heal the breach between + Kate and her husband, but it greatly exceeded her abilities. It was too + late to implant such principles in her daughter, as by a long course of + self-denial and submission might have won the love of the viscount, had + the mother been acquainted with them herself; so that having induced her + child to marry with a view to obtaining precedence and a jointure, she + once more set to work to undo part of her former labors, by bringing about + a decent separation between the husband and wife, in such a manner as to + secure to her child the possession of her wealth, and the esteem of the + world. The latter, though certainly a somewhat difficult undertaking, was + greatly lessened by the assistance of the former. + </p> + <p> + John and his wife determined to seize the opportunity to examine the + environs of the city. In one of these daily rides, they met their fellow + traveller, Mr. now Lord Harland. He was rejoiced to see them again, and + hearing of their intended departure, informed them of his being about to + return to England in the same vessel--his parents and sister contemplating + ending the winter in Portugal. + </p> + <p> + The intercourse between the two families was kept up with a show of + civilities between the noblemen, and much real good-will on the part of + the juniors of the circle, until the day arrived for the sailing of the + packet. + </p> + <p> + Lady Chatterton was left behind with Catherine, as yet unable to + circumvent her schemes with prudence; it being deemed by the world a worse + offence to separate, than to join together one's children in the bands of + wedlock. + </p> + <p> + The confinement of a vessel is very propitious to those intimacies which + lead to attachments. The necessity of being agreeable is a check upon the + captious, and the desire to lessen the dulness of the scene a stimulus to + the lively; and though the noble divine and Jane could not possibly be + ranked in either class, the effect was the same. The noble man was much + enamored, and Jane unconsciously gratified. It is true, love had never + entered her thoughts in its direct and unequivocal form; but admiration is + so consoling to those laboring under self-condemnation, and flattery of a + certain kind so very soothing to all, it is not to be wondered that she + listened with increasing pleasure to the interesting conversation of + Harland on all occasions, and more particularly, as often happened, when + exclusively addressed to herself. + </p> + <p> + Grace had of late reflected more seriously on the subject of her eternal + welfare than she had been accustomed to do in the house of her mother; and + the example of Emily, with the precepts of Mrs. Wilson, had not been + thrown away upon her. It is a singular fact, that more women feel a + disposition to religion soon after marriage than at any other period of + life; and whether it is, that having attained the most important station + this life affords the sex, they are more willing to turn their thoughts to + a provision for the next, or whether it be owing to any other cause, Mrs. + Moseley was included in the number. She became sensibly touched with her + situation, and as Harland was both devout and able as well as anxious to + instruct, one of the party, at least, had cause to rejoice in the journey + for the remainder of her days. But precisely as Grace increased in her own + faith, so did her anxiety after the welfare of her husband receive new + excitement; and John, for the first time, became the cause of sorrow to + his affectionate companion. + </p> + <p> + The deep interest Harland took in the opening conviction of Mrs. Moseley, + did not so entirely engross his thoughts as to prevent the too frequent + contemplation of the charms of her friend for his own peace of mind; and + by the time the vessel reached Falmouth, he had determined to make a + tender of his hand and title to the acceptance of Miss Moseley. Jane did + not love Egerton; on the contrary, she despised him; but the time had + been, when all her romantic feelings, every thought of her brilliant + imagination, had been filled with his image, and Jane felt it a species of + indelicacy to admit the impression of another so soon, or even at all. + These objections would, in time, have been overcome, as her affections + became more and more enlisted on behalf of Harland, had she admitted his + addresses; but there was an impediment that Jane considered insurmountable + to a union with any man. + </p> + <p> + She had once communicated her passion to its object. There had been the + confidence of approved love; and she had now no heart for Harland, but one + that had avowedly been a slave to another. To conceal this from him would + be unjust, and not reconcilable to good faith; to confess it, humiliating, + and without the pale of probability. It was the misfortune of Jane to keep + the world too constantly before her, and to lose sight too much of her + really depraved nature, to relish the idea of humbling herself so low in + the opinion of a fellow-creature. The refusal of Harland's offer was the + consequence, although she had begun to feel an esteem for him, that would + no doubt have given rise to an attachment in time, far stronger and more + deeply seated than her passing fancy for Colonel Egerton had been. + </p> + <p> + If the horror of imposing on the credulity of Harland a wounded heart, was + creditable to Jane, and showed an elevation of character that under proper + guidance would have placed her in the first ranks of her sex; the pride + which condemned her to a station nature did not design her for was + irreconcilable with the humility a just view of her condition could not + fail to produce; and the second sad consequence of the indulgent weakness + of her parents, was confirming their child in passions directly at + variance with the first duties of a Christian. + </p> + <p> + We have so little right to value ourselves on anything, that pride is a + sentiment of very doubtful service, and one certainly, that is unable to + effect any useful results which will not equally flow from good + principles. + </p> + <p> + Harland was disappointed and grieved, but prudently judging that + occupation and absence would remove recollections which could not be very + deep, they parted at Falmouth, and our travellers proceeded on their + journey for B----, whither, during their absence, Sir Edward's family had + returned to spend a month, before they removed to town for the residue of + the winter. + </p> + <p> + The meeting of the two parties was warm and tender, and as Jane had many + things to recount, and John as many to laugh at, their arrival threw a + gaiety around Moseley Hall to which it had for months been a stranger. + </p> + <p> + One of the first acts of Grace, after her return, was to enter strictly + into the exercise of all those duties and ordinances required by her + church, and the present state of her mind, and from the hands of Dr. Ives + she received her first communion at the altar. + </p> + <p> + As the season had now become far advanced, and the fashionable world had + been some time assembled in the metropolis, the Baronet commenced his + arrangements to take possession of his town-house, after an interval of + nineteen years. John proceeded to the capital first; and the necessary + domestics procured, furniture supplied, and other arrangements usual to + the appearance of a wealthy family in the world having been completed, he + returned with the information that all was ready for their triumphal + entrance. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward, feeling that a separation for so long a time, and at such an + unusual distance, in the very advanced age of Mr. Benfield, would be + improper, paid him a visit, with the intention of persuading him to make + one of his family for the next four months. Emily was his companion, and + their solicitations were happily crowned with a success they had not + anticipated. Averse to be deprived of Peter's society, the honest steward + was included in the party. + </p> + <p> + "Nephew," said Mr. Benfield, beginning to waver in his objections to the + undertaking, as the arguments pro and con were produced, "there are + instances of gentlemen, not in parliament, going to town in the winter, I + know. You are one yourself; and old Sir John Cowel, who never could get + in, although he ran for every city in the kingdom, never missed his winter + in Soho. Yes, yes--the thing is admissible--but had I known your wishes + before, I would certainly have kept my borough if it were only for the + appearance of the thing--besides," continued the old man, shaking his + head, "his majesty's ministers require the aid of some more experienced + members in these critical times; for what should an old man like me do in + Westminster, unless it were to aid his country with his advice?" + </p> + <p> + "Make his friends happy with his company, dear uncle," said Emily, taking + his hand between both her own, and smiling affectionately on the old + gentleman as she spoke. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Emmy dear!" cried Mr. Benfield, looking on her with melancholy + pleasure, "you are not to be resisted--just such another as the sister of + my old friend Lord Gosford; she could always coax me out of anything. I + remember now, I heard the earl tell her once he could not afford to buy a + pair of diamond ear-rings; and she looked--only looked--did not speak! + Emmy!--that I bought them with intent to present them to her myself." + </p> + <p> + "And did she take them, uncle?" asked his niece, in a little surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Oh yes! When I told her if she did not I would throw them into the river, + as no one else should wear what had been intended for her; poor soul! how + delicate and unwilling she was. I had to convince her they cost three + hundred pounds, before she would listen to it; and then she thought it + such a pity to throw away a thing of so much value. It would have been + wicked, you know, Emmy, dear; and she was much opposed to wickedness and + sin in any shape." + </p> + <p> + "She must have been a very unexceptionable character indeed," cried the + Baronet, with a smile, as he proceeded to make the necessary orders for + their journey. "But we must return to the party left at Bath." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVI. + </h2> + <p> + The letters of Lady Laura informed her friends, that she and Colonel + Denbigh had decided to remain with his uncle until the recovery of the + latter was complete, and then to proceed to Denbigh Castle, to meet the + Duke and his sister during the approaching holidays. + </p> + <p> + Emily was much relieved by this postponement of an interview which she + would gladly have avoided for ever; and her aunt sincerely rejoiced that + her niece was allowed more time to eradicate impressions, which, she saw + with pain, her charge had yet a struggle to overcome. + </p> + <p> + There were so many points to admire in the character of Denbigh; his + friends spoke of him with such decided partiality; Dr. Ives, in his + frequent letters, alluded to him with so much affection; that Emily + frequently detected herself in weighing the testimony of his guilt, and + indulging the expectation that circumstances had deceived them all in + their judgment of his conduct. Then his marriage would cross her mind; and + with the conviction of the impropriety of admitting him to her thoughts at + all, would come the mass of circumstantial testimony which had accumulated + against him. + </p> + <p> + Derwent served greatly to keep alive the recollections of his person, + however; and as Lady Harriet seemed to live only in the society of the + Moseleys, not a day passed without giving the Duke some opportunity of + indirectly preferring his suit. + </p> + <p> + Emily not only appeared, but in fact was, unconscious of his admiration; + and entered into their amusements with a satisfaction that was increased + by the belief that the unfortunate attachment her cousin Chatterton had + once professed for herself, was forgotten in the more certain enjoyments + of a successful love. + </p> + <p> + Lady Harriet was a woman of manners and character very different from + Emily Moseley; yet had she in a great measure erased the impressions made + by the beauty of his kinswoman from the bosom of the baron. + </p> + <p> + Chatterton, under the depression of his first disappointment, it will be + remembered, had left B---- in company with Mr. Denbigh. The interest of + the duke had been unaccountably exerted to procure him the place he had so + long solicited in vain, and gratitude required his early acknowledgments + for the favor. His manner, so very different from a successful applicant + for a valuable office, had struck both Derwent and his sister as singular. + Before, however, a week's intercourse had passed between them, his own + frankness had made them acquainted with the cause; and a double wish + prevailed in the bosom of Lady Harriet, to know the woman who could resist + the beauty of Chatterton, and to relieve him from the weight imposed on + his spirits by disappointed affection. + </p> + <p> + The manners of Lady Harriet Denbigh were not in the least forward or + masculine; but they had the freedom of high rank, mingled with a good deal + of the ease of fashionable life. Mrs. Wilson noticed, moreover, in her + conduct to Chatterton, a something exceeding the interest of ordinary + communications in their situation, which might possibly have been + attributed more to feeling than to manner. It is certain, one of the + surest methods to drive Emily from his thoughts, was to dwell on the + perfections of some other lady; and Lady Harriet was so constantly before + him in his visit into Westmoreland, so soothing, so evidently pleased with + his presence, that the baron made rapid advances in attaining his object. + </p> + <p> + He had alluded, in his letter to Emily, to the obligation he was under to + the services of Denbigh, in erasing his unfortunate partiality for her: + but what those services were, we are unable to say, unless they were the + usual arguments of the plainest good sense, enforced in the singularly + insinuating and kind manner which distinguished that gentleman. In fact, + Lord Chatterton was not formed by nature to love long, deprived of hope, + or to resist long the flattery of a preference from such a woman as + Harriet Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, Derwent was warm in his encomiums on Emily to all but + herself; and Mrs. Wilson again thought it prudent to examine into the + state of her feelings, in order to discover if there was any danger of his + unremitted efforts drawing Emily into a connexion that neither her + religion nor prudence could wholly approve. + </p> + <p> + Derwent was a man of the world--a Christian only in name; and the cautious + widow determined to withdraw in season, should she find grounds for her + apprehensions. + </p> + <p> + About ten days after the departure of the Dowager and her companions, Lady + Harriet exclaimed, in one of her morning visits-- + </p> + <p> + "Lady Moseley! I have now hopes of presenting to you soon the most + polished man in the United Kingdom!" + </p> + <p> + "As a husband! Lady Harriet?" inquired the other, with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no! only as a cousin, a second cousin! madam!" replied Lady Harriet, + blushing a little, and looking in the opposite direction to the one in + which Chatterton was placed. + </p> + <p> + "But his name? You forget our curiosity! What is his name?" cried Mrs. + Wilson, entering into the trifling for the moment. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss, to be sure, my dear madam: whom else can I mean?" + </p> + <p> + "And you expect the earl at Bath?" Mrs. Wilson eagerly inquired. + </p> + <p> + "He has given us such hopes, and Derwent has written him to-day, pressing + the journey." + </p> + <p> + "You will be disappointed, I am afraid, sister," said the duke. + "Pendennyss has become so fond of Wales of late, that it is difficult to + get him out of it." + </p> + <p> + "But," said Mrs. Wilson, "he will take his seat in parliament during the + winter, my lord?" + </p> + <p> + "I hope he will, madam; though Lord Eltringham holds his proxies, in my + absence, in all important questions before the house." + </p> + <p> + "Your grace will attend, I trust," said Sir Edward. "The pleasure of your + company is among my expected enjoyments in the town." + </p> + <p> + "You are very good, Sir Edward," replied the duke, looking at Emily. "It + will somewhat depend on circumstances, I believe." + </p> + <p> + Lady Harriet smiled, and the speech seemed understood by all but the lady + most concerned in it. + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss is a universal favorite, and deservedly so," cried the + duke. "He has set an example to the nobility, which few are equal to + imitate. An only son, with an immense estate, he has devoted himself to + the profession of a soldier, and gained great reputation by it in the + world; nor has he neglected any of his private duties as a man----" + </p> + <p> + "Or a Christian, I hope," said Mrs. Wilson, delighted with the praises of + the earl. + </p> + <p> + "Nor of a Christian, I believe," continued the duke; "he appears + consistent, humble, and sincere--three requisites, I believe, for that + character." + </p> + <p> + "Does not your grace know?" said Emily, with a benevolent smile. + </p> + <p> + Derwent colored slightly as he answered-- + </p> + <p> + "Not as well as I ought; but"--lowering his voice for her ear alone, he + added, "under proper instruction I think I might learn." + </p> + <p> + "Then I would recommend that book to you, my lord," rejoined Emily, with a + blush, pointing to a pocket Bible which lay near her, though still + ignorant of the allusion he meant to convey. + </p> + <p> + "May I ask the honor of an audience of Miss Moseley," said Derwent, in the + same low tone, "whenever her leisure will admit of her granting the + favor?" + </p> + <p> + Emily was surprised; but from the previous conversation and the current of + her thoughts at the moment, supposing his communication had some reference + to the subject before them, she rose from her chair, and unobtrusively, + but certainly with an air of perfect innocence and composure, she went + into the adjoining room, the door of which was open very near them. + </p> + <p> + Caroline Harris had abandoned all ideas of a coronet with the departure of + the Marquess of Eltringham and his sisters for their own seat; and as a + final effort of her fading charms, had begun to calculate the capabilities + of Captain Jarvis, who had at this time honored Bath with his company. + </p> + <p> + It is true, the lady would have greatly preferred her father's neighbor, + but that was an irretrievable step. He had retired, disgusted with her + haughty dismissal of his hopes, and was a man who, although he greatly + admired her fortune, was not to be recalled by any beck or smile which + might grow out of caprice. + </p> + <p> + Lady Jarvis had, indeed, rather magnified the personal qualifications of + her son; but the disposition they had manifested, to devote some of their + surplus wealth to purchasing a title, had great weight, for Miss Harris + would cheerfully, at any time, have sacrificed one half her own fortune to + be called my lady. Jarvis would make but a shabby-looking lord, 'tis true; + but then what a lord's wife would she not make herself! His father was a + merchant, to be sure, but then merchants were always immensely rich, and a + few thousand pounds, properly applied, might make the merchant's son a + baron. She therefore resolved to inquire, the first opportunity, into the + condition of the sinking fund of his plebeianism, and had serious thoughts + of contributing her mite towards the advancement of the desired object, + did she find it within the bounds of probable success. + </p> + <p> + An occasion soon offered, by the invitation of the Captain to accompany + him in an excursion in the tilbury of his brother-in-law. + </p> + <p> + In this ride they passed the equipages of Lady Harriet and Mrs. Wilson, + with their respective mistresses, taking an airing. In passing the latter, + Jarvis bowed (for he had renewed his acquaintance at the rooms, without + daring to visit at the lodgings of Sir Edward), and Miss Harris saw both + parties as they dashed by them. + </p> + <p> + "You know the Moseleys, Caroline?" said Jarvis, with the freedom her + manners had established between them. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," replied the lady, drawing her head back from a view of the + carriages; "what fine arms those of the Duke's are--and the coronet, it is + so noble--so rich--I am sure if I were a man," laying great emphasis on + the word--"I would be a Lord." + </p> + <p> + "If you could, you mean," cried the captain. + </p> + <p> + "Could--why money will buy a title, you know--only most people are fonder + of their cash than of honor." + </p> + <p> + "That's right," said the unreflecting captain; "money is the thing, after + all. Now what do you suppose our last mess-bill came to?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, don't talk of eating and drinking," cried Miss Harris, in affected + aversion; "is it beneath the consideration of nobility." + </p> + <p> + "Then any one may be a lord for me," said Jarvis, drily "if they are not + to eat and drink; why, what do they live for, but such sort of things!" + </p> + <p> + "A soldier lives to fight and gain honor and distinction"--for his + wife--Miss Harris would have added, had she spoken all she thought. + </p> + <p> + "A poor way that of spending a man's time," said the Captain. "Now there + is Captain Jones in our regiment; they say he loves fighting as much as + eating: if he do, he is a bloodthirsty fellow." + </p> + <p> + "You know how intimate I am with your dear mother," continued the lady, + bent on the principal object; "she has made me acquainted with her + greatest wish." + </p> + <p> + "Her greatest wish!" cried the Captain, in astonishment; "why, what can + that be?--a new coach and horses?" + </p> + <p> + "No, I mean one much dearer to us--I should say, to her, than any such + trifles: she has told me of the <i>plan</i>." + </p> + <p> + "Plan!" said Jarvis, still in wonder, "what plan?" + </p> + <p> + "About the fund for the peerage, you know. Of course, the thing is sacred + with me, as, indeed, I am equally interested with you all in its success." + </p> + <p> + Jarvis eyed her with a knowing look, and as she concluded, rolling his + eyes in an expression of significance, he said-- + </p> + <p> + "What, serve Sir William some such way, eh?" + </p> + <p> + "I will assist a little, if it be necessary, Henry," said the lady, + tenderly, "although my mite cannot amount to a great deal." + </p> + <p> + During this speech, the Captain was wondering what she could mean; but, + having had a suspicion, from something that had fallen from his mother, + that the lady was intended for him as a wife, and that she might be as + great a dupe as Lady Jarvis herself, he was resolved to know the whole, + and to act accordingly. + </p> + <p> + "I think it might be made to do," he replied, evasively in order to + discover the extent of his companion's information. + </p> + <p> + "Do!", cried Miss Harris, with fervor, "it cannot fail! How much do you + suppose will be wanting to buy a barony, for instance?" + </p> + <p> + "Hem!" said Jarvis; "you mean more than we have already?" + </p> + <p> + "Certainly." + </p> + <p> + "Why, about a thousand pounds, I think, will do it, with what we have," + said Jarvis, affecting to calculate. + </p> + <p> + "Is that all?" cried the delighted Caroline; and the captain grew in an + instant, in her estimation, three inches higher;--quite noble in his air, + and, in short, very tolerably handsome. + </p> + <p> + From that moment, Miss Harris, in her own mind, had fixed the fate of + Captain Jarvis, and had determined to be his wife, whenever she could + persuade him to offer himself; a thing she had no doubt of accomplishing + with comparative ease. Not so the Captain. Like all weak men, there was + nothing of which he stood more in terror than of ridicule. He had heard + the manoeuvres of Miss Harris laughed at by many of the young men in Bath, + and was by no means disposed to add himself to the food for mirth of these + wags; and, indeed, had cultivated her acquaintance with a kind of bravado + to some of his bottle companions, in order to show his ability to oppose + all her arts, when most exposed to them: for it is one of the greatest + difficulties to the success of this description of ladies, that their + characters soon become suspected, and do them infinitely more injury than + all their skill in their vocation. + </p> + <p> + With these views in the respective champions the campaign opened, and the + lady, on her return, acquainted his mother with the situation of the privy + purse, that was to promote her darling child to the enviable distinction + of the peerage. Lady Jarvis was for purchasing a baronetcy on the spot, + with what they had, under the impression that when ready for another + promotion they would only have to pay the difference, as they did in the + army when he received his captaincy. As, however, the son was opposed to + any arrangement that might make the producing the few hundred pounds he + had obtained from his mother's folly necessary, she was obliged to + postpone the wished-for day, until their united efforts could compass the + means of effecting the main point. As an earnest, however, of her spirit + in the cause, she gave him a fifty pound note, that morning obtained from + her husband, and which the Captain lost at one throw of the dice to his + brother-in-law the same evening. + </p> + <p> + During the preceding events, Egerton had either studiously avoided all + collision with the Moseleys, or his engagements had confined him to such + very different scenes, that they never met. + </p> + <p> + The Baronet had felt his presence a reproach, and Lady Moseley rejoiced + that Egerton yet possessed sufficient shame to keep him from insulting her + with his company. + </p> + <p> + It was a month after the departure of Lady Chatterton that Sir Edward + returned to B----, as related in the preceding chapter, and that the + arrangements for the London winter were commenced. + </p> + <p> + The day preceding their leaving Bath, the engagement of Chatterton with + Lady Harriet was made public amongst their mutual friends, and an + intimation was given that their nuptials would be celebrated before the + family of the Duke left his seat for the capital. + </p> + <p> + Something of the pleasure that she had for a long time been a stranger to, + was felt by Emily Moseley, as the well remembered tower of the village + church of B---- struck her sight on their return from their protracted + excursion. More than four months had elapsed since they had commenced + their travels, and in that period what changes of sentiments had she not + witnessed in others; of opinions of mankind in general, and of one + individual in particular, had she not experienced in her own person. The + benevolent smiles, the respectful salutations they received, in passing + the little group of houses which, clustered round the church, had obtained + the name of "the village," conveyed a sensation of delight that can only + be felt by the deserving and virtuous; and the smiling faces, in several + instances glistening with tears, which met them at the Hall, gave ample + testimony to the worth of both the master and his servants. + </p> + <p> + Francis and Clara were in waiting to receive them, and a very few minutes + elapsed before the rector and Mrs. Ives, having heard they had passed, + drove in also. In saluting the different members of the family, Mrs. + Wilson noticed the startled look of the doctor, as the change in Emily's + appearance first met his eyes. Her bloom, if not gone, was greatly + diminished; and it was only when under the excitement of strong emotions, + that her face possessed that radiance which had so eminently distinguished + it before her late journey. + </p> + <p> + "Where did you last see my friend George?" said the Doctor to Mrs. Wilson, + in the course of the first afternoon, as he took a seat by her side, apart + from the rest of the family. + </p> + <p> + "At L----," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely. + </p> + <p> + "L----!" cried the doctor, in evident amazement. "Was he not at Bath then + during your stay there?" + </p> + <p> + "No; I understand he was in attendance on some sick relative, which + detained him from his friends," said Mrs. Wilson, wondering why the doctor + chose to introduce so delicate a topic. Of his guilt in relation to Mrs. + Fitzgerald he was doubtless ignorant, but surely not of his marriage. + </p> + <p> + "It is now some time since I heard from him," continued the doctor, + regarding Mrs. Wilson expressively, but to which the lady only replied + with a gentle inclination of the body; and the Rector, after pausing a + moment, continued: + </p> + <p> + "You will not think me impertinent if I am bold enough to ask, has George + ever expressed a wish to become connected with your niece by other ties + than those of friendship?" + </p> + <p> + "He did," answered the widow, after a little hesitation. + </p> + <p> + "He did, and--" + </p> + <p> + "Was refused," continued Mrs. Wilson, with a slight feeling for the + dignity of her sex, which for a moment caused her to lose sight of justice + to Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + Dr. Ives was silent; but manifested by his dejected countenance the + interest he had taken in this anticipated connexion, and as Mrs. Wilson + had spoken with ill-concealed reluctance on the subject at all, the Rector + did not attempt a renewal of the disagreeable. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVII. + </h2> + <p> + "Samvenson has returned, and I certainly must hear from Harriet," + exclaimed the sister of Pendennyss, as she stood at a window watching the + return of a servant from the neighboring post-office. + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid," rejoined the Earl, who was seated by the breakfast table, + waiting the leisure of the lady to give him his cup of tea--"You find + Wales very dull, sister. I sincerely hope both Derwent and Harriet will + not forget their promise of visiting us this month." + </p> + <p> + The lady slowly took her seat at the table, engrossed in her own + reflections, when the man entered with his budget of news; and having + deposited sundry papers and letters he respectfully withdrew. The Earl + glanced his eyes over the directions of the epistles, and turning to his + servants said, "Answer the bell when called." Three or four liveried + footmen deposited their silver salvers and different implements of + servitude, and the peer and his sister were left to themselves. + </p> + <p> + "Here is one from the Duke to me, and one for you from his sister," said + the brother; "I propose they be read aloud for our mutual advantage." To + this proposal the lady, whose curiosity to hear the contents of Derwent's + letter greatly exceeded her interest in that of his sister, cheerfully + acquiesced, and her brother first broke the seal of his own epistle, and + read its contents as follow: + </p> + <p> + "Notwithstanding my promise of seeing you this month in Caernarvonshire, I + remain here yet, my dear Pendennyss, unable to tear myself from the + attractions I have found in this city, although the pleasure of their + contemplation has been purchased at the expense of mortified feelings and + unrequited affections. It is a truth (though possibly difficult to be + believed), that this mercenary age has produced a female disengaged, + young, and by no means very rich, who has refused a jointure of six + thousand a year, with the privilege of walking at a coronation within a + dozen of royalty itself." + </p> + <p> + Here the accidental falling of a cup from the hands of the fair listener + caused some little interruption to the reading of the brother; but as the + lady, with a good deal of trepidation and many blushes, apologized hastily + for the confusion her awkwardness had made, the Earl continued to read. + </p> + <p> + "I could almost worship her independence: for I know the wishes of both + her parents were for my success. I confess to you freely, that my vanity + has been a good deal hurt, as I really thought myself agreeable to her. + She certainly listened to my conversation, and admitted my approaches, + with more satisfaction than those of any other of the men around her; and + when I ventured to hint to her this circumstance, as some justification + for my presumption, she frankly acknowledged the truth of my impression, + and, without explaining the reasons for her conduct, deeply regretted the + construction I had been led to place upon the circumstance. Yes, my lord, + I felt it necessary to apologize to Emily Moseley for presuming to aspire + to the honor of possessing so much loveliness and virtue. The accidental + advantages of rank and wealth lose all their importance, when opposed to + her delicacy, ingenuousness, and unaffected principles. + </p> + <p> + "I have heard it intimated lately, that George Denbigh was in some way or + other instrumental in saving her life once; and that to her gratitude, and + to my resemblance to the colonel, am I indebted to a consideration with + Miss Moseley, which, although it has been the means of buoying me up with + false hopes, I can never regret, from the pleasure her society has + afforded me. I have remarked, on my mentioning his name to her, that she + showed unusual emotion; and as Denbigh is already a husband, and myself + rejected, the field is now fairly open to you. You will enter on your + enterprise with great advantage, as you have the same flattering + resemblance, and, if anything, the voice, which, I am told, is our + greatest recommendation with the ladies, in higher perfection than either + George or your humble servant." + </p> + <p> + Here the reader stopped of his own accord, and was so intently absorbed in + his meditations, that the almost breathless curiosity of his sister was + obliged to find relief by desiring him to proceed. Roused by the sound of + her voice, the earl changed color sensibly, and continued: + </p> + <p> + "But to be serious on a subject of great importance to my future life (for + I sometimes think her negative will make Denbigh a duke), the lovely girl + did not appear happy at the time of our interview, nor do I think she + enjoys at any time the spirits nature has evidently given her. Harriet is + nearly as great an admirer of Miss Moseley, and takes her refusal to heart + as much as myself; she even attempted to intercede with her in my behalf. + But the charming girl though mild, grateful, and delicate, was firm and + unequivocal, and left no grounds for the remotest expectation of success + from perseverance on my part. + </p> + <p> + "As Harriet had received an intimation that both Miss Moseley and her aunt + entertained extremely rigid notions on the score of religion, she took + occasion to introduce the subject in her conference with the former, and + was told in reply, 'that other considerations would have determined her to + decline the honor I intended her; but that, under any circumstances, a + more intimate knowledge of my principles would be necessary before she + could entertain a thought of accepting my hand, or, indeed, that of any + other man.' Think of that, Pendennyss! The principles of a duke!--now, a + dukedom and forty thousand a year would furnish a character, with most + people, for a Nero. + </p> + <p> + "I trust the important object I have had in view here is a sufficient + excuse for my breach of promise to you; and I am serious when I wish you + (unless the pretty Spaniard has, as I sometimes suspect, made you a + captive) to see, and endeavor to bring me in some degree connected with, + the charming family of Sir Edward Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "The aunt, Mrs. Wilson, often speaks of you with the greatest interest, + and, from some cause or other, is strongly enlisted in your favor, and + Miss Moseley hears your name mentioned with evident pleasure. <i>Your</i> + religion or principles cannot be doubted. You can offer larger + settlements, as honorable if not as elevated a title, a far more + illustrious name, purchased by your own services, and personal merit + greatly exceeding the pretensions of your assured friend and relative, + </p> + <p> + "DERWENT." + </p> + <p> + Both brother and sister were occupied with their own reflections for + several minutes after the letter was ended, and the silence was broken + first, by the latter saying with a low tone to her brother,-- + </p> + <p> + "You must endeavor to become acquainted with Mrs. Wilson; she is, I know, + very anxious to see you, and your friendship for the general requires it + of you." + </p> + <p> + "I owe General Wilson much," replied the brother, in a melancholy voice; + "and when we go to Annerdale House, I wish you to make the acquaintance of + the ladies of the Moseley family, should they be in town this winter;--but + you have yet the letter of Harriet to read." + </p> + <p> + After first hastily running over its contents, the lady commenced the + fulfilment of her part of the engagement. + </p> + <p> + "Frederick has been so much engrossed of late with his own affairs, that + he has forgotten there is such a creature in existence as his sister, or, + indeed, any one else but a Miss Emily Moseley, and consequently I have + been unable to fulfil my promise of making you a visit, for want of a + proper escort, and--and--perhaps some other considerations, not worth + mentioning in a letter I know you will read to the earl. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, my dear cousin, Frederick Denbigh has supplicated the daughter of a + country baronet to become a duchess; and, hear it, ye marriage-seeking + nymphs and marriage-making dames! has supplicated in vain! + </p> + <p> + "I confess to you, when the thing was first in agitation, my aristocratic + blood roused itself a little at the anticipated connexion; but finding on + examination that Sir Edward was of no doubtful lineage, and that the blood + of the Chattertons runs in his veins, and finding the young lady + everything I could wish in a sister, my scruples soon disappeared, with + the folly that engendered them. + </p> + <p> + "There was no necessity for any alarm, for the lady very decidedly refused + the honor offered her by Derwent, and what makes the matter worse, refused + the solicitations of his sister also. + </p> + <p> + "I have fifty times been surprised at my own condescension, and to this + moment am at a loss to know whether it was to the lady's worth, my + brother's happiness, or the Chatterton blood, that I finally yielded. + Heigho! this Chatterton is certainly much too handsome for a man; but I + forget you have never seen him." (Here an arch smile stole over the + features of the listener, as his sister continued)--"To return to my + narration, I had half a mind to send for a Miss Harris there is here, to + learn the most approved fashion of a lady preferring a suit, but as fame + said she was just now practising on a certain hero ycleped Captain Jarvis, + heir to Sir Timo of that name, it struck me her system might be rather too + abrupt, so I was fain to adopt the best plan--that of trusting to nature + and my own feelings for words. + </p> + <p> + "Nobility is certainly a very pretty thing (for those who have it), but I + would defy the old Margravine of ---- to keep up the semblance of + superiority with Emily Moseley. She is so very natural, so very beautiful, + and withal at times a little arch, that one is afraid to set up any other + distinctions than such as can be fairly supported. + </p> + <p> + "I commenced with hoping her determination to reject the hand of Frederick + was not an unalterable one. (Yes, I called him Frederick, what I never did + out of my own family before in my life.) There was a considerable tremor + in the voice of Miss Moseley, as she replied, 'I now perceive, when too + late, that my indiscretion has given reason to my friends to think that I + have entertained intentions towards his grace, of which I entreat you to + believe me, Lady Harriet, I am innocent. Indeed--indeed, as anything more + than an agreeable acquaintance I have never allowed myself to think of + your brother:' and from my soul I believe her. We continued our + conversation for half an hour longer, and such was the ingenuousness, + delicacy, and high religious feeling displayed by the charming girl, that + if I entered the room with a spark of regret that I was compelled to + solicit another to favor my brother's love, I left it with a feeling that + my efforts had been unsuccessful. Yes! thou peerless sister of the more + peerless Pendennyss! I once thought of your ladyship as a wife for + Derwent--" + </p> + <p> + A glass of water was necessary to enable the reader to clear her voice, + which grew husky from speaking so long. + </p> + <p> + "But I now openly avow, neither your birth, your hundred thousand pounds, + nor your merit, would put you on a footing, in my estimation, with my + Emily. You may form some idea of her power to captivate, and of her + indifference to her conquests, when I mention that she once refused--but I + forget, you don't know him, and therefore cannot be a judge. The thing is + finally decided, and we shortly go into Westmoreland, and next week, the + Moseleys return to Northamptonshire. I don't know when I shall be able to + visit you, and think I may <i>now</i> safely invite you to Denbigh Castle, + although a month ago I might have hesitated. Love to the earl, and kind + assurance to yourself of unalterable regard. + </p> + <p> + "HARRIET DENBIGH." + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I believe I forgot to mention that Mrs. Moseley, a sister of Lord + Chatterton, has gone to Portugal, and that the peer himself is to go into + the country with us: there is, I suppose, a fellow-feeling between <i>them</i> + just now, though I do not think Chatterton looks so very miserable as he + might. Adieu." + </p> + <p> + On ending this second epistle the same silence which had succeeded the + reading of the first prevailed, until the lady with an arch expression, + interrupted it by saying, + </p> + <p> + "Harriet will, I think, soon grace the peerage." + </p> + <p> + "And happily, I trust," replied the brother. + </p> + <p> + "Do you know Lord Chatterton?" + </p> + <p> + "I do; he is very amiable, and admirably calculated to contrast with the + lively gaiety of Harriet Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + "You believe in loving our opposites, I see," rejoined the lady; and then + affectionately stretching out her hand to him, she added, "but, + Pendennyss, you must give me for a sister one as nearly like yourself as + possible." + </p> + <p> + "That might please your affections," answered the earl with a smile, "but + how would it comport with my tastes? Will you suffer me to describe the + kind of man <i>you</i> are to select for your future lord, unless, indeed, + you have decided the point already?" + </p> + <p> + The lady colored violently, and appearing anxious to change the subject, + she tumbled over two or three unopened letters, as she cried eagerly-- + </p> + <p> + "Here is one from the Donna Julia." The earl instantly broke the seal and + read aloud; no secrets existing between them in relation to their mutual + friend. + </p> + <p> + "My Lord, + </p> + <p> + "I hasten to write you what I know it will give you pleasure to hear, + concerning my future prospects in life. My uncle, General M'Carthy, has + written me the cheerful tidings, that my father has consented to receive + his only child, without any other sacrifice than a condition of attending + the service of the Catholic Church without any professions on my side, or + even an understanding that I am conforming to its peculiar tenets. This + may be, in some measure, irksome at times, and possibly distressing; but + the worship of God with a proper humiliation of spirit, I have learnt to + consider as a privilege to us here, and I owe a duty to my earthly father + of penitence and care in his later years that will justify the measure in + the eyes of my heavenly One. I have, therefore, acquainted my uncle in + reply, that I am willing to attend the Conde's summons at any moment he + will choose to make them; and I thought it a debt due your care and + friendship to apprise your lordship of my approaching departure from this + country; indeed, I have great reasons for believing that your kind and + unremitted efforts to attain this object have already prepared you to + expect this result. + </p> + <p> + "I feel it will be impossible to quit England without seeing you and your + sister, to thank you for the many, very many favors, of both a temporal + and eternal nature, you have been the agents of conferring on me. The + cruel suggestions which I dreaded, and which it appears had reached the + ears of my friends in Spain, have prevented my troubling your lordship of + late unnecessarily with my concerns. The consideration of a friend to your + character (Mrs. Wilson) has removed the necessity of applying for your + advice; she and her charming niece, Miss Emily Moseley, have been, next to + yourselves, the greatest solace I have had in my exile, and united you + will be remembered in my prayers. I will merely mention here, deferring + the explanation until I see you in London, that I have been visited by the + wretch from whom you delivered me in Portugal, and that the means of + ascertaining his name have fallen into my hands. You will be the best + judge of the proper steps to be taken; but I wish, by all means, something + may be done to prevent his attempting to see me in Spain. Should it be + discovered to my relations there that he has any such intentions, it would + certainly terminate in his death, and possibly in my disgrace. Wishing you + and your kind sister all possible happiness, I remain, + </p> + <p> + "Your Lordship's obliged friend, + </p> + <p> + "JULIA FITZGERALD." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried the sister as she concluded the letter, "we must certainly see + her before she goes. What a wretch that persecutor of hers must be! how + persevering in his villainy!" + </p> + <p> + "He does exceed my ideas of effrontery," said the earl, in great + warmth--"but he may offend too far; the laws shall interpose their power + to defeat his schemes, should he ever repeat them." + </p> + <p> + "He attempted to take your life, brother," said the lady shuddering, "if I + remember the tale aright." + </p> + <p> + "Why, I have endeavored to free him from that imputation," rejoined the + brother, musing, "he certainly fired a pistol, but the latter hit my horse + at such a distance from myself, that I believe his object was to disable + me and not murder. His escape has astonished me; he must have fled by + himself into the woods, as Harmer was but a short distance behind me, + admirably mounted, and the escort was up and in full pursuit within ten + minutes. After all it may be for the best he was not taken; for I am + persuaded the dragoons would have sabred him on the spot, and he may have + parents of respectability, or a wife to kill by the knowledge of his + misconduct." + </p> + <p> + "This Emily Moseley must be a faultless being," cried the sister, as she + ran over the contents of Julia's letter. "Three different letters, and + each containing her praises!" + </p> + <p> + The earl made no reply, but opening the duke's letter again, he appeared + to be studying its contents. His color slightly changed as he dwelt on its + passages, and turning to his sister he inquired if she had a mind to try + the air of Westmoreland for a couple of weeks or a month. + </p> + <p> + "As you say, my Lord," replied the lady, with cheeks of scarlet. + </p> + <p> + "Then I say we will go. I wish much to see Derwent and I think there will + be a wedding during our visit." + </p> + <p> + He rang the bell, and the almost untasted breakfast was removed in a few + minutes. A servant announced that his horse was in readiness. The earl + wished his sister a friendly good morning, and proceeded to the door, + where was standing one of the noble black horses before mentioned, held by + a groom, and the military-looking attendant ready mounted on another. + </p> + <p> + Throwing himself into the saddle, the young peer rode gracefully from the + door, followed by his attendant horseman. During this ride, the master + suffered his steed to take whatever course most pleased himself, and his + follower looked up in surprise more than once, to see the careless manner + in which the Earl of Pendennyss, confessedly one of the best horsemen in + England, managed the noble animal. Having, however, got without the gates + of his own park, and into the vicinity of numberless cottages and + farm-houses, the master recovered his recollection, and the man ceased to + wonder. + </p> + <p> + For three hours the equestrians pursued their course through the beautiful + vale which opened gracefully opposite one of the fronts of the castle; and + if faces of smiling welcome, inquiries after his own and his sister's + welfare, which evidently sprang from the heart, or the most familiar but + respectful representations of their own prosperity or misfortunes, gave + any testimony of the feelings entertained by the tenantry of this noble + estate for their landlord, the situation of the young nobleman might be + justly considered envied. + </p> + <p> + As the hour for dinner approached, they turned the heads of their horses + towards home; and on entering the park, removed from the scene of industry + and activity without, the earl relapsed into his fit of musing. A short + distance from the house he suddenly called, "Harmer." The man drove his + spurs into the loins of his horse, and in an instant was by the side of + his master, which he signified by raising his hand to his cap with the + palm opening outward. + </p> + <p> + "You must prepare to go to Spain when required, in attendance on Mrs. + Fitzgerald." + </p> + <p> + The man received his order with the indifference of one used to adventures + and movements, and having laconically dignified his assent, he drew his + horse back again into his station in the rear. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXVIII. + </h2> + <p> + The day succeeding the arrival of the Moseleys at the seat of their + ancestors, Mrs. Wilson observed Emily silently putting on her pelisse, and + walking out unattended by either of the domestics or any of the family. + There was a peculiar melancholy in her air and manner, which inclined the + cautious aunt to suspect that her charge was bent on the indulgence of + some ill-judged weakness; more particularly, as the direction she took led + to the arbor, a theatre in which Denbigh had been so conspicuous an actor. + Hastily throwing a cloak over her own shoulders, Mrs. Wilson followed + Emily with the double purpose of ascertaining her views, and if necessary, + of interposing her own authority against the repetition of similar + excursions. + </p> + <p> + As Emily approached the arbor, whither in truth she had directed her + steps, its faded vegetation and chilling aspect, so different from its + verdure and luxuriance when she last saw it, came over her heart as a + symbol of her own blighted prospects and deadened affections. The + recollection of Denbigh's conduct on that spot, of his general benevolence + and assiduity to please, being forcibly recalled to her mind at the + instant, forgetful of her object in visiting the arbor, Emily yielded to + her sensibilities, and sank on the seat weeping as if her heart would + break. + </p> + <p> + She had not time to dry her eyes, and to collect her scattered thoughts, + before Mrs. Wilson entered the arbor. Eyeing her niece for a moment with a + sternness unusual for the one to adopt or the other to receive, she said, + </p> + <p> + "It is a solemn obligation we owe our religion and ourselves, to endeavor + to suppress such passions as are incompatible with our duties; and there + is no weakness greater than blindly adhering to the wrong, when we are + convinced of our error. It is as fatal to good morals as it is unjust to + ourselves to persevere, from selfish motives, in believing those innocent + whom evidence has convicted as guilty. Many a weak woman has sealed her + own misery by such wilful obstinacy, aided by the unpardonable vanity of + believing herself able to control a man that the laws of God could not + restrain." + </p> + <p> + "Oh, dear madam, speak not so unkindly to me," sobbed the weeping girl; + "I--I am guilty of no such weakness, I assure you:" and looking up with an + air of profound resignation and piety, she continued: "Here, on this spot, + where he saved my life, I was about to offer up my prayers for his + conviction of the error of his ways, and for the pardon of his too--too + heavy transgressions." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson, softened almost to tears herself, viewed her for a moment + with a mixture of delight, and continued in a milder tone,-- + </p> + <p> + "I believe you, my dear. I am certain, although you may have loved Denbigh + much, that you love your Maker and his ordinances more; and I have no + apprehensions that, were he a disengaged man, and you alone in the + world--unsupported by anything but your sense of duty--you would ever so + far forget yourself as to become his wife But does not your religion, does + not your own usefulness in society, require you wholly to free your heart + from the power of a man who has so unworthily usurped a dominion over it?" + </p> + <p> + To this Emily replied, in a hardly audible voice, "Certainly--and I pray + constantly for it." + </p> + <p> + "It is well, my love," said the aunt, soothingly; "you cannot fail with + such means, and your own exertions, finally to prevail over your own worst + enemies, your passions. The task our sex has to sustain is, at the best, + an arduous one; but so much the greater is our credit if we do it well." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! how is an unguided girl ever to judge aright, if,--" cried Emily, + clasping her hands and speaking with great energy, and she would have + said, "one like Denbigh in appearance, be so vile!" Shame, however, kept + her silent. + </p> + <p> + "Few men can support such a veil of hypocrisy as that with which I + sometimes think Denbigh must deceive even himself. His case is an + extraordinary exception to a very sacred rule--'that the tree is known by + its fruits,'" replied her aunt. "There is no safer way of judging of + character that one's opportunities will not admit of more closely + investigating, than by examining into and duly appreciating early + impressions. The man or woman who has constantly seen the practice of + piety before them, from infancy to the noon of life, will seldom so far + abandon the recollection of virtue as to be guilty of great enormities. + Even Divine Truth has promised that his blessings or his curses shall + extend to many generations. It is true, that with our most most guarded + prudence we may be deceived." Mrs. Wilson paused and sighed heavily, as + her own case, connected with the loves of Denbigh and her niece, occurred + strongly to her mind. "Yet," she continued, "we may lessen the danger much + by guarding against it; and it seems to me no more than what + self-preservation requires in a young woman. But for a religious parent to + neglect it, is a wilful abandonment of a most solemn duty." + </p> + <p> + As Mrs. Wilson concluded, her niece, who had recovered the command of her + feelings pressed her hand in silence to her lips, and showed a disposition + to retire from a spot which she found recalled too many recollections of a + man whose image it was her imperious duty to banish, on every + consideration of propriety and religion. + </p> + <p> + Their walk into the house was silent, and their thoughts were drawn from + the unpleasant topic by finding a letter from Julia, announcing her + intended departure from this country, and her wish to take leave of them + in London before she sailed. As she had mentioned the probable day for + that event, both the ladies were delighted to find it was posterior to the + time fixed by Sir Edward for their own visit to the capital. + </p> + <p> + Had Jane, instead of Emily, been the one that suffered through the agency + of Mrs. Fitzgerald, however innocently on the part of the lady, her + violent and uncontrolled passions would have either blindly united the + innocent with the guilty in her resentments; or, if a sense of justice had + vindicated the lady in her judgment, yet her pride and ill-guided delicacy + would have felt her name a reproach, that would have forbidden any + intercourse with her or any belonging to her. + </p> + <p> + Not so with her sister. The sufferings of Mrs. Fitzgerald had taken a + strong hold on her youthful feelings, and a similarity of opinions and + practices on the great object of their lives, had brought them together in + a manner no misconduct in a third person could weaken. It is true, the + recollection of Denbigh was intimately blended with the fate of Mrs. + Fitzgerald. But Emily sought support against her feeling from a quarter + that rather required an investigation of them than a desire to <i>drown</i> + care with thought. + </p> + <p> + She never indulged in romantic reflections in which the image of Denbigh + was associated. This she had hardly done in her happiest moments; and his + marriage, if nothing else had interfered, now absolutely put it out of the + question. But, although a Christian, and an humble and devout one, Emily + Moseley was a woman, and had loved ardently, confidingly, and gratefully. + Marriage is the business of life with her sex,--with all, next to a + preparation for a better world,--and it cannot be supposed that a first + passion in a bosom like that of our heroine was to be suddenly erased and + to leave no vestiges of its existence. + </p> + <p> + Her partiality for the society of Derwent, her meditations in which she + sometimes detected herself drawing a picture of what Denbigh might have + been, if early care had been taken to impress him with his situation in + this world, and from which she generally retired to her closet and her + knees, were the remains of feelings too strong and too pure to be torn + from her in a moment. + </p> + <p> + The arrival of John, with Grace and Jane, enlivened not only the family + but the neighborhood. Mr. Haughton and his numerous friends poured in on + the young couple with their congratulations, and a few weeks stole by + insensibly, previously to the commencement of the journeys of Sir Edward + and his son--the one to Benfield Lodge and the other to St. James's + Square. + </p> + <p> + On the return of the travellers, a few days before they commenced their + journey to the capital, John laughingly told his uncle that, although he + himself greatly admired the taste of Mr. Peter Johnson in dress, yet he + doubted whether the present style of fashions in the metropolis would not + be scandalized by the appearance of the honest steward. + </p> + <p> + John had in fact noticed, in their former visit to London, mob of + mischievous boys eyeing Peter with indications of rebellious movements + which threatened the old man, and from which he had retreated by taking a + coach, and he now made the suggestion from pure good-nature, to save him + any future trouble from a similar cause. + </p> + <p> + They were at dinner when Moseley made the remark, and the steward was in + his place at the sideboard--for his master was his home. Drawing near at + the mention of his name first, and casting an eye over his figure to see + if all was decent, Peter respectfully broke silence, determined to defend + his own cause. + </p> + <p> + "Why! Mr. John--Mr. John Moseley? if I might judge, for an elderly man, + and a serving man," said the steward, bowing humbly, "I am no + disparagement to my friends, or even to my honored master." + </p> + <p> + Johnson's vindication of his wardrobe drew the eyes of the family upon + him, and an involuntary smile passed from one to the other, as they + admired his starched figure and drab frock, or rather doublet with sleeves + and skirts. Sir Edward, being of the same opinion with his son, observed-- + </p> + <p> + "I do think, Uncle Benfield, there might be an improvement in the dress of + your steward without much trouble to the ingenuity of his tailor." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward Moseley--honorable sir," said the steward, beginning to grow + alarmed, "if I may be so bold, you young gentlemen may like gay clothes; + but as for me and his honor; we are used to such as we wear, and what we + are used to we love." + </p> + <p> + The old man spoke with earnestness, and drew the particular attention of + his master to a review of his attire. After reflecting that no gentleman + in the house had been attended by any servitor in such a garb, Mr. + Benfield thought it time to give his sentiments on the subject. + </p> + <p> + "Why I remember that my Lord Gosford's gentleman never wore a livery, nor + can I say that he dressed exactly after the manner of Johnson. Every + member had his body servant, and they were not unfrequently taken for + their masters. Lady Juliana, too, after the death of her nephew, had one + or two attendants out of livery, and in a different fashion from your + attire. Peter, I think with John Moseley there, we must alter you a little + for the sake of appearances." + </p> + <p> + "Your honor!" stammered out Peter, in increased terror; "for Mr. John + Moseley and Sir Edward, and youngerly gentlemen like, dress may do. Now, + your honor, if--" and Peter, turning to Grace, bowed nearly to the + floor--"I had such a sweet, most beautiful young lady to smile on me, I + might wish to change; but, sir, my day has gone by." Peter sighed as the + recollection of Patty Steele and his youthful love floated across his + brain. Grace blushed and thanked him for the compliment, and gave her + opinion that his gallantry merited a better costume. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said his master, decidedly, "I think Mrs. Moseley is right. If I + should call on the viscountess (the Lady Juliana, who yet survived an + ancient dowager of seventy), I shall want your attendance, and in your + present garb you cannot fail to shock her delicate feelings. You remind me + now I think, every time I look at you, of old Harry, the earl's + gamekeeper, one of the most cruel men I ever knew." + </p> + <p> + This decided the matter. Peter well knew that his master's antipathy to + old Harry arose from his having pursued a poacher one day, in place of + helping the Lady Juliana over a stile, in her flight from a bull that was + playing his gambols in the same field; and not for the world would the + faithful steward retain even a feature, if it brought unpleasant + recollections to his kind master. He at one time thought of closing his + innovations on his wardrobe, however, with a change of his nether garment; + as after a great deal of study he could only make out the resemblance + between himself and the obnoxious gamekeeper to consist in the leathern + breeches. But fearful of some points escaping his memory in forty years, + he tamely acquiesced in all John's alterations, and appeared at his + station three days afterwards newly decked from head to foot in a more + modern suit of snuff-color. + </p> + <p> + The change once made, Peter greatly admired himself in a glass, and + thought, could he have had the taste of Mr. John Moseley in his youth to + direct his toilet, that the hard heart of Patty Steele would not always + have continued so obdurate. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward wished to collect his neighbors round him once more before he + left them for another four months; and accordingly the rector and his + wife, Francis and Clara, the Haughtons, with a few others, dined at the + Hall by invitation, the last day of their stay in Northamptonshire. The + company had left the table to join the ladies, when Grace came into the + drawing-room with a face covered with smiles and beaming with pleasure. + </p> + <p> + "You look like the bearer of good news, Mrs. Moseley," cried the rector, + catching a glimpse of her countenance as she passed. + </p> + <p> + "Good! I sincerely hope and believe," replied Grace. "My letters from my + brother announce that his marriage took place last week, and give us hopes + of seeing them all in town within the month." + </p> + <p> + "Married!" exclaimed Mr. Haughton, casting his eyes unconsciously on + Emily, "my Lord Chatterton married! May I ask the name of the bride, my + dear Mrs. Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "To Lady Harriet Denbigh--and at Denbigh Castle in Westmoreland; but very + privately, as you may suppose from seeing Moseley and myself here," + answered Grace, her cheeks yet glowing with surprise and pleasure at the + intelligence. + </p> + <p> + "Lady Harriet Denbigh?" echoed Mr. Haughton; "what! a kinswoman of our old + friend? <i>your</i> friend, Miss Emily?" The recollection of the service + he had performed at the arbor still-fresh in his memory. + </p> + <p> + Emily commanded herself sufficiently to reply, "Brothers' children, I + believe, sir." + </p> + <p> + "But a <i>lady</i>--how came she my lady?" continued the good man, anxious + to know the whole, and ignorant of any reasons for delicacy where so great + a favorite as Denbigh was in the question. + </p> + <p> + "She is the daughter of the late Duke of Derwent," said Mrs. Moseley, as + willing as himself to talk of her new sister. + </p> + <p> + "How happens it that the death of old Mr. Denbigh was announced as plain + Geo. Denbigh, Esq., if he was the brother of a duke?" said Jane, + forgetting for a moment the presence of Dr. and Mrs. Ives, in her + surviving passion for genealogy: "should he not have been called Lord + George, or honorable?" + </p> + <p> + This was the first time any allusion had been made to the sudden death in + the church by any of the Moseleys in the hearing of the rector's family; + and the speaker sat in breathless terror at her own inadvertency. But Dr. + Ives, observing that a profound silence prevailed as soon as Jane ended, + answered, mildly, though in a way to prevent any further comments-- + </p> + <p> + "The late Duke's succeeding a cousin-german in the title, was the reason, + I presume. Emily, I am to hear from you by letter I hope, after you enter + into the gaieties of the metropolis?" + </p> + <p> + This Emily cheerfully promised, and the conversation took another turn. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had carefully avoided all communications with the rector + concerning his youthful friend, and the Doctor appeared unwilling to + commence anything which might lead to his name being mentioned. "He is + disappointed in him as well as ourselves," thought the widow, "and it must + be unpleasant to have his image recalled. He saw his attentions to Emily, + and he knows of his marriage to Lady Laura of course, and he loves us all, + and Emily in particular, too well not to feel hurt by his conduct." + </p> + <p> + "Sir Edward!" cried Mr. Haughton, with a laugh, "Baronets are likely to be + plenty. Have you heard how near we were to have another in the + neighborhood lately?" Sir Edward answered in the negative, and his + neighbor continued-- + </p> + <p> + "Why no less a man than Captain Jarvis, promoted to the bloody hand." + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis!" exclaimed five or six at once; "explain yourself, Mr. + Haughton." + </p> + <p> + "My near neighbor, young Walker, has been to Bath on an unusual + business--his health--and for the benefit of the country he has brought + back a pretty piece of scandal. It seems that Lady Jarvis, as I am told + she is since she left here, wished to have her hopeful heir made a lord, + and that the two united for some six months in forming a kind of savings' + bank between themselves, to enable them at some future day to bribe the + minister to honor the peerage with such a prodigy. After awhile the + daughter of our late acquaintance, Sir William Harris, became an accessory + to the plot, and a contributor too, to the tune of a couple of hundred + pounds. Some circumstances, however, at length made this latter lady + suspicious, and she wished to audit the books. The Captain + prevaricated--the lady remonstrated, until the gentleman, with more truth + than manners, told her that she was a fool--the money he had expended or + lost at dice; and that he did not think the ministers quite so silly as to + make him a lord, or that he himself was such a fool as to make her his + wife; so the whole thing exploded." + </p> + <p> + John listened with a delight but little short of what he had felt when + Grace owned her love, and anxious to know all, eagerly inquired-- + </p> + <p> + "But, is it true? how was it found out?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, the lady complained of part, and the Captain tells all to get the + laugh on his side; so that Walker says the former is the derision and the + latter the contempt of all Bath." + </p> + <p> + "Poor Sir William," said the baronet, with feeling; "he is much to be + pitied." + </p> + <p> + "I am afraid he has nothing to blame but his own indulgence," remarked the + rector. + </p> + <p> + "You don't know the worst of it," replied Mr. Haughton. "We poor people + are made to suffer--Lady Jarvis wept and fretted Sir Timo out of his + lease, which has been given up, and a new house is to be taken in another + part of the kingdom, where neither Miss Harris nor the story is known." + </p> + <p> + "Then Sir William has to procure a new tenant," said Lady Moseley, not in + the least regretting the loss of the old one. + </p> + <p> + "No! my lady!" continued Mr. Haughton, with a smile. "Walker is, you know, + an attorney, and does some business occasionally for Sir William. When + Jarvis gave up the lease, the baronet, who finds himself a little short of + money, offered the deanery for sale, it being a useless place to him; and + the very next day, while Walker was with Sir William, a gentleman called, + and without higgling agreed to pay down at once his thirty thousand pounds + for it." + </p> + <p> + "And who is the purchaser?" inquired Lady Moseley, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson in rapture. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" cried the rector, eyeing the aunt and Emily with a smile. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" echoed all in the room in amazement. + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Mr. Haughton, "it is now the property of the earl, who says he + has bought it for his sister." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XXXIX. + </h2> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson found time the ensuing day to ascertain before they left the + hall, the truth of the tale related by Mr. Haughton. The deanery had + certainly changed its master, and a new steward had already arrived to + take possession in the name of his lord. What induced Pendennyss to make + this purchase she was at a loss to conceive--most probably some + arrangement between himself and Lord Bolton. But whatever might be his + motive, it in some measure insured his becoming for a season their + neighbor; and Mrs. Wilson felt a degree of pleasure at the circumstance + that she had been a stranger to for a long time--a pleasure which was + greatly heightened as she dwelt on the lovely face of the companion who + occupied the other seat in her travelling chaise. + </p> + <p> + The road to London led by the gates of the deanery, and near them they + passed a servant in the livery of those they had once seen following the + equipage of the earl. Anxious to know anything which might hasten her + acquaintance with this admired nobleman, Mrs. Wilson stopped her carriage + to inquire. + </p> + <p> + "Pray, sir, whom do you serve?" + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Pendennyss, ma'am," replied the man, respectfully taking off his + hat. + </p> + <p> + "The earl is not here?" asked Mrs. Wilson, with interest. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no, madam; I am here in waiting on his steward. My lord is in + Westmoreland, with his grace and Colonel Denbigh, and the ladies." + </p> + <p> + "Does he remain there long?" continued the anxious widow, desirous of + knowing all she could learn. + </p> + <p> + "I believe not, madam; most of our people have gone to Annerdale-House, + and my lord is expected in town with the duke and the colonel." + </p> + <p> + As the servant was an elderly man, and appeared to understand the + movements of his master so well, Mrs. Wilson was put in unusual spirits by + this prospect of a speedy termination to her anxiety to meet Pendennyss. + </p> + <p> + "Annerdale-House is the earl's town residence?" quietly inquired Emily. + </p> + <p> + "Yes; he got the fortune of the last duke of that title, but how I do not + exactly know. I believe, however, through his mother. General Wilson did + not know his family: indeed, Pendennyss bore a second title during his + lifetime; but did you observe how very civil his servant was, as well as + the one John spoke to before,--a sure sign their master is a gentleman?" + </p> + <p> + Emily smiled at the strong partialities of her aunt, and replied, "Your + handsome chaise and attendants will draw respect from most men in his + situation, dear aunt, be their masters who they may." + </p> + <p> + The expected pleasure of meeting the earl was a topic frequently touched + upon between her aunt and Emily during their journey; the former beginning + to entertain hopes she would have laughed at herself for, could they have + been fairly laid before her; and the latter entertaining a profound + respect for his character, but chiefly governed by a wish to gratify her + companion. + </p> + <p> + The third day they reached the baronet's handsome house in St. James's + Square, and found that the forethought of John had provided everything in + the best and most comfortable manner. + </p> + <p> + It was the first visit of both Jane and Emily to the metropolis; and under + the protection of their almost equally curious mother, and escorted by + John, they wisely determined to visit the curiosities, while their leisure + yet admitted of the opportunity. For the first two weeks their time was + chiefly employed in the indulgence of this unfashionable and vulgar + propensity, which, if it had no other tendency, served greatly to draw the + thoughts of both the young women from the recollections of the last few + months. + </p> + <p> + While her sister and nieces were thus employed, Mrs. Wilson, assisted by + Grace, was occupied in getting things in preparation to do credit to the + baronet's hospitality. + </p> + <p> + The second week after their arrival, Mrs. Moseley was delighted by seeing + advance upon her unexpectedly through the door of the breakfast parlor, + her brother, with his bride leaning on his arm. After the most sincere + greetings and congratulations, Lady Chatterton cried out gaily, + </p> + <p> + "You see, my dear Lady Moseley, I am determined to banish ceremony between + us, and so, instead of sending you my card, have come myself to notify you + of my arrival. Chatterton would not suffer me even to swallow my + breakfast, he was so impatient to show me off." + </p> + <p> + "You are placing things exactly on the footing I wish to see ourselves + with all our connexions," replied Lady Moseley, kindly; "but what have you + done with the duke? is he not in your train?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! he is gone to Canterbury with George Denbigh, madam," cried the lady, + shaking her head reproachfully though affectionately at Emily; "his grace + dislikes London just now excessively, he says, and the Colonel being + obliged to leave his wife, on regimental business, Derwent was good enough + to keep him company during his exile." + </p> + <p> + "And Lady Laura, do we see her?" inquired Lady Moseley. + </p> + <p> + "She came with us. Pendennyss and his sister follow immediately; so, my + dear madam, the dramatis personæ will all be on the stage soon." + </p> + <p> + Cards and visits now began to accumulate on the Moseleys, and their time + no longer admitted of that unfettered leisure which they had enjoyed at + their entrance on the scene. Mrs. Wilson, for herself and charge, adopted + a rule for the government of her manner of living, which was consistent + with her duties. They mixed in general society sparingly; and, above all, + they rigidly adhered to the obedience to the injunction which commanded + them to keep the Sabbath day holy; a duty of no trifling difficulty to + perform in fashionable society in the city of London, or, indeed, in any + other place, where the influence of fashion has supplanted the laws of + God. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson was not a bigot; but she knew and performed her duty rigidly. + It was a pleasure to her to do so. It would have been misery to do + otherwise. In the singleness of heart and deep piety of her niece, she had + a willing pupil to her system of morals, and a rigid follower of her + religious practices. As they both knew that the temptations to go astray + were greater in town than in country, they kept a strict guard over the + tendency to err, and in watchfulness found their greatest security. + </p> + <p> + John Moseley, next to his friends, loved his bays: indeed, if the + aggregate of his affections for these and Lady Herriefield had been put in + opposite scales, we strongly suspect the side of the horses would + predominate. + </p> + <p> + One Sunday, soon after being domesticated, John, who had soberly attended + morning service with the ladies, came into a little room where the more + reflecting part of the family were assembled, in search of his wife. + </p> + <p> + Grace, we have before mentioned, had become a real member of that church + in which she had been educated, and had entered, under the direction of + Dr. Ives and Mrs. Wilson, into an observance of its wholesome ordinances. + Grace was certainly piously inclined, if not devout. Her feelings on the + subject of religion had been sensibly awakened during their voyage to + Lisbon; and at the period of which we write, Mrs. Moseley was as sincerely + disposed to perform her duty as her powers admitted. To the request of her + husband, that she would take a seat in his phaeton while he drove her + round the park once or twice, Grace gave a mild refusal, by saying, + </p> + <p> + "It is Sunday, my dear Moseley." + </p> + <p> + "Do you think I don't know that?" cried John, gaily. "There will be + everybody there, and, the better day, the better deed." + </p> + <p> + Now, Moseley, if he had been asked to apply this speech to the case before + them, would have frankly owned his inability; but his wife did not make + the trial: she was contented with saying, as she laid down her book to + look on a face she so tenderly loved, + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Moseley, you should set a better example to those below you in life." + </p> + <p> + "I wish to set an example," returned her husband, with an affectionate + smile, "to all above as well as below me, in order that they may find out + the path to happiness, by exhibiting to the world a model of a wife, in + yourself, dear Grace." + </p> + <p> + As this was uttered with a sincerity which distinguished the manner of + Moseley, his wife was more pleased with the compliment than she would have + been willing to make known; and John spoke no more than he thought; for a + desire to show his handsome wife was the ruling passion for a moment. + </p> + <p> + The husband was too pressing and the wife too fond not to yield the point; + and Grace took her seat in the carriage with a kind of half-formed + resolution to improve the opportunity by a discourse on serious + subjects--a resolution which terminated as all others do, that postpone + one duty to discharge another of less magnitude; it was forgotten. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had listened with interest to the efforts of John to prevail + on his wife to take the ride, and on her leaving the room to comply she + observed to Emily, with whom she now remained alone-- + </p> + <p> + "Here is a consequence of a difference in religious views between man and + wife, my child: John, in place of supporting Grace in the discharge of her + duties, has been the actual cause of her going astray." + </p> + <p> + Emily felt the force of her aunt's remark, and saw its justice; yet her + love for the offender induced her to say-- + </p> + <p> + "John will not lead her openly astray for he has a sincere respect for + religion, and this offence is not unpardonable, dear aunt." + </p> + <p> + "The offence is assuredly not unpardonable," replied Mrs. Wilson, "and to + infinite mercy it is hard to say what is; but it is an offence, and + directly in the face of an express ordinance of the Lord; it is even + throwing off the <i>appearance</i> of keeping the Sabbath day holy, much + less observing the substance of the commandment; and as to John's respect + for holy things in this instance, it was injurious to his wife. Had he + been an open deist she would have shrunk from the act in suspicion of its + sinfulness. Either John must become Christian, or I am afraid Grace will + fall from her undertaking." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson shook her head mournfully, while Emily offered up a silent + petition that the first might speedily be the case. + </p> + <p> + Lady Laura had been early in her visit to the Moseleys; and as Denbigh had + both a town residence and a seat in parliament, it appeared next to + impossible to avoid meeting him or to requite the pressing civilities of + his wife by harsh refusals; that might prove in the end injurious to + themselves by creating a suspicion that resentment at his not choosing a + partner from amongst them, governed the conduct of the Moseleys towards a + man to whom they were under such a heavy obligation. + </p> + <p> + Had Sir Edward known as much as his sister and daughters he would probably + have discountenanced the acquaintance altogether; but owing to the + ignorance of the rest of her friends of what had passed, Mrs. Wilson and + Emily had not only the assiduities of Lady Laura but the wishes of their + own family to contend with, and consequently she submitted to the + association with a reluctance that was in some measure counteracted by + their regard for Lady Laura, and by compassion for her abused confidence. + </p> + <p> + A distant connexion of Lady Moseley's had managed to collect in her house + a few hundred of her nominal friends, and as she had been particularly + attentive in calling in person on her venerable relative, Mr. Benfield, + soon after his arrival in town, out of respect to her father's cousin, or + perhaps mindful of his approaching end, and remembering there were such + things as codicils to wills, the old man, flattered by her notice, and yet + too gallant to reject the favor of a lady, consented to accompany the + remainder of the family on the occasion. + </p> + <p> + Most of their acquaintances were there, and Lady Moseley soon found + herself engaged in a party at quadrille, while the young people were + occupied by the usual amusements of their age in such scenes. Emily alone + feeling but little desire to enter into the gaiety of general conversation + with a host of gentlemen who had collected round her aunt and sisters, + offered her arm to Mr. Benfield, on seeing him manifest a disposition to + take a closer view of the company, and walked away with him. + </p> + <p> + They wandered from room to room, unconscious of the observation attracted + by the sight of a man in the costume of Mr. Benfield, leaning on the arm + of so young and lovely a woman as his niece; and many an exclamation of + surprise, ridicule, admiration, and wonder had been made, unnoticed by the + pair, until finding the crowd rather inconvenient to her companion, Emily + gently drew him into one of the apartments where the card-tables, and the + general absence of beauty, made room less difficult to be found. + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Emmy dear," said the old gentleman, wiping his face, "times are much + changed, I see, since my youth. Then you would see no such throngs + assembled in so small a space; gentlemen shoving ladies, and yes, Emmy," + continued her uncle in a lower tone, as if afraid of uttering something + dangerous, "the ladies themselves shouldering the men. I remember at a + drum given by Lady Gosford, that although I may, without vanity, say I was + one of the gallantest men in the rooms, I came in contact with but one of + the ladies during the whole evening, with the exception of handing the + Lady Juliana to a chair, and that," said her uncle, stopping short and + lowering his voice to a whisper, "was occasioned by a mischance in the old + duchess in rising from her seat when she had taken too much strong waters, + as she was at times a little troubled with a pain in the chest." + </p> + <p> + Emily smiled at the casualty of her grace, and they proceeded slowly + through the table until their passage was stopped by a party at the game + of whist, which, by its incongruous mixture of ages and character, + forcibly drew her attention. + </p> + <p> + The party was composed of a young man of five or six and twenty, who threw + down his cards in careless indifference, and heedlessly played with the + guineas which were laid on the side of the table as markers, or the fruits + of a former victory: or by stealing hasty and repeated glances through the + vista of the tables into the gayer scenes of the adjoining rooms, proved + he was in duresse, and waited for an opportunity to make his escape from + the tedium of cards and ugliness to the life of conversation and beauty. + </p> + <p> + His partner was a woman of doubtful age, and one whose countenance rather + indicated that the uncertainty was likely to continue until the record of + the tomb-stone divulged the so often contested circumstance to the world. + Her eyes also wandered to the gayer scenes, but with an expression of + censoriousness mingled with longings; nor did she neglect the progress of + the game as frequently as her more heedless partner. A glance thrown on + the golden pair which was placed between her and her neighbor on her + right, marked the importance of the <i>corner</i>, and she shuffled the + cards with a nervousness which plainly denoted her apprehension of the + consequences of her partner's abstraction. + </p> + <p> + Her neighbor on the right was a man of sixty, and his vestments announced + him a servant of the sanctuary. His intentness on the game proceeded no + doubt from his habits of reflection; his smile at success, quite possibly + from charity to his neighbors; his frown in adversity from displeasure at + the triumphs of the wicked, for such in his heart he had set down Miss + Wigram to be; and his unconquerable gravity in the employment from a + profound regard to the dignity of his holy office. + </p> + <p> + The fourth performer in this trial of memories was an ancient lady, gaily + dressed, and intently eager on the game. Between her and the young man was + a large pile of guineas, which appeared to be her exclusive property, from + which she repeatedly, during the play, tendered one to his acceptance on + the event of a hand or a trick, and to which she seldom failed from + inadvertence to add his mite, contributing to accumulate the pile. + </p> + <p> + "Two double and the rub, my dear doctor," exclaimed the senior lady, in + triumph. "Sir William, you owe me ten." + </p> + <p> + The money was paid as easily as it had been won, and the dowager proceeded + to settle some bets with her female antagonist. + </p> + <p> + "Two more, I fancy, ma'am," said she, closely scanning the contributions + of the maiden. + </p> + <p> + "I believe it is right, my lady," was the answer, with a look that said + pretty plainly, that or nothing. + </p> + <p> + "I beg pardon, my dear, here are but four; and you remember two on the + corner, and four on the points. Doctor, I will trouble you for a couple of + guineas from Miss Wigram's store, I am in haste to get to the Countess's + route." + </p> + <p> + The doctor was coolly helping himself from the said store, under the + watchful eyes of its owner, and secretly exulting in his own judgment in + requiring the stakes, when the maiden replied in great warmth, + </p> + <p> + "Your ladyship forgets the two you lost to me at Mrs. Howard's." + </p> + <p> + "It must be a mistake, my dear, I always pay as I lose," cried the + dowager, with great spirit, stretching over the table and helping herself + to the disputed money. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield and Emily had stood silent spectators of the whole scene, the + latter in astonishment to meet such manners in such society, and the + former under feelings it would have been difficult to describe; for in the + face of the Dowager which was inflamed partly from passion and more from + high living, he recognised the remains of his Lady Juliana, now the + Dowager Viscountess Haverford. + </p> + <p> + "Emmy, dear," said the old man, with a heavy-drawn sigh, as if awaking + from a long and troubled dream, "we will go." + </p> + <p> + The phantom of forty years had vanished before the truth and the fancies + of retirement, simplicity, and a diseased imagination yielded to the + influence of life and common sense. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XL. + </h2> + <p> + With Harriet, now closely connected with them by marriage as well as + attachment, the baronet's family maintained a most friendly intercourse; + and Mrs. Wilson, and Emily, a prodigious favorite with her new cousin, + consented to pass a day soberly with her during an excursion of her + husband to Windsor on business connected with his station. They had, + accordingly, driven round to an early breakfast; and Chatterton, after + politely regretting his loss, and thanking them for their consideration + for his wife, made his bow. + </p> + <p> + Lady Harriet Denbigh had brought the Baron a very substantial addition to + his fortune; and as his sisters were both provided for by ample + settlements, the pecuniary distresses which had existed a twelvemonth + before had been entirely removed. Chatterton's income was now large, his + demands upon it small, and he kept up an establishment in proportion to + the rank of both husband and wife. + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Wilson," cried the hostess, twirling her cup as she followed with + her eyes the retreating figure of her husband at the door, "I am about to + take up the trade of Miss Harris, and become a match-maker." + </p> + <p> + "Not on your own behalf so soon, surely," rejoined the widow. + </p> + <p> + "Oh no, my fortune is made for life, or not at all," continued the other, + gaily; "but in behalf of our little friend Emily here." + </p> + <p> + "Me," cried Emily, starting from a reverie, in which the prospect of + happiness to Lady Laura was the subject; "you are very good, Harriet; for + whom do you intend me?" + </p> + <p> + "Whom! Who is good enough for you, but my cousin Pendennyss? Ah!" she + cried, laughing, as she caught Emily by the hand, "Derwent and myself both + settled the matter long since, and I know you will yield when you come to + know him." + </p> + <p> + "The duke!" cried the other, with a surprise and innocence that + immediately brought a blush of the brightest vermillion into her face. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, the duke," said Lady Chatterton: "you may think it odd for a + discarded lover to dispose of his mistress so soon, but both our hearts + are set upon it. The earl arrived last night, and this day he and his + sister dine with us in a sober way: now, my dear madam," turning to Mrs. + Wilson, "have I not prepared an agreeable surprise for you?" + </p> + <p> + "Surprise indeed," said the widow, excessively gratified at the probable + termination to her anxieties for this meeting; "but where are they from?" + </p> + <p> + "From Northamptonshire, where the earl has already purchased a residence, + I understand, and in your neighborhood too; so, you perceive, <i>he</i> at + least begins to think of the thing." + </p> + <p> + "A certain evidence, truly," cried Emily, "his having purchased the house. + But was he without a residence that he bought the deanery?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no! he has a palace in town, and three seats in the country; but none + in Northamptonshire but this," said the lady, with a laugh. "To own the + truth he did offer to let George Denbigh have it for the next summer, but + the Colonel chose to be nearer Eltringham; and I take it, it was only a + ruse in the earl to cloak his own designs. You may depend upon it, we + trumpeted your praises to him incessantly in Westmoreland." + </p> + <p> + "And is Colonel Denbigh in town?" said Mrs. Wilson, stealing an anxious + glance towards her niece, who, in spite of all her efforts, sensibly + changed color. + </p> + <p> + "Oh, yes! and Laura is as happy--as happy--as myself," said Lady + Chatterton, with a glow on her cheeks, as she attended to the request of + her housekeeper, and left the room. + </p> + <p> + Her guests sat in silence, occupied with their own reflections, while they + heard a summons at the door of the house. It was opened, and footsteps + approached the door of their own room. It was pushed partly open, as a + voice on the other side said, speaking to a servant without,-- + </p> + <p> + "Very well. Do not disturb your lady. I am in no haste." + </p> + <p> + At the sound of its well known tones, both the ladies almost sprang from + their seats. Here could be no resemblance, and a moment removed their + doubts. The speaker entered. It was Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + He stood for a moment fixed as a statue: It was evident the surprise was + mutual. His face was pale as death, and then instantly was succeeded by a + glow of fire. Approaching them, he paid his compliments with great + earnestness, and in a voice in which his softest tones preponderated. + </p> + <p> + "I am happy, very happy, to be so fortunate in again meeting with such + friends, and so unexpectedly." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson bowed in silence to his compliment, and Emily, pale as + himself, sat with her eyes fastened on the carpet, without daring to trust + her voice with an attempt to speak. + </p> + <p> + After struggling with his mortified feelings for a moment, Denbigh rose + from the chair he had taken, and drawing near the sofa on which the ladies + were placed, exclaimed with fervor, + </p> + <p> + "Tell me, dear madam, lovely, too lovely Miss Moseley, has one act of + folly, of wickedness if you please, lost me your good opinion for ever? + Derwent had given me hopes that you yet retained some esteem for my + character, lowered, as I acknowledge it to be, in my own estimation." + </p> + <p> + "The Duke of Derwent? Mr. Denbigh!" + </p> + <p> + "Do not; do not use a name, dear madam, almost hateful to me," cried he, + in a tone of despair. + </p> + <p> + "If," said Mrs. Wilson, gravely, "you have made your own name + disreputable, I can only regret it, but--" + </p> + <p> + "Call me by my title--oh! do not remind me of my folly; I cannot bear it, + and from you." + </p> + <p> + "Your title!" exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a cry of wonder, and Emily + turned on him a face in which the flashes of color and succeeding paleness + were as quick, and almost as vivid, as the glow of lightning. He caught + their astonishment in equal surprise. + </p> + <p> + "How is this? some dreadful mistake, of which I am yet in ignorance," he + cried, taking the unresisting hand of Mrs. Wilson, and pressing it with + warmth between both his own, as he added, "do not leave me in suspense." + </p> + <p> + "For the sake of truth, for my sake, for the sake of this suffering + innocent, say, in sincerity, who and what you are," said Mrs. Wilson in a + solemn voice, gazing on him in dread of his reply. + </p> + <p> + Still retaining her hand, he dropped on his knees before her, as he + answered,-- + </p> + <p> + "I am the pupil, the child of your late husband, the companion of his + dangers, the sharer of his joys and griefs, and would I could add, the + friend of his widow. I am the Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson's head dropped on the shoulders of the kneeling youth, her + arms were thrown in fervor around his neck, and she burst into a flood of + tears. For a moment, both were absorbed in their own feelings; but a cry + from Pendennyss aroused the aunt to the situation of her niece. + </p> + <p> + Emily had fallen senseless on the sofa. + </p> + <p> + An hour elapsed before her engagements admitted of the return of Lady + Chatterton to the breakfast parlor, where she was surprised to find the + breakfast equipage yet standing, and her cousin, the earl. Looking from + one to the other in surprise, she exclaimed,-- + </p> + <p> + "Very sociable, upon my word; how long has your lordship honored my house + with your presence, and have you taken the liberty to introduce yourself + to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley?" + </p> + <p> + "Sociability and ease are the fashion of the day. I have been here an + hour, my dear coz, and <i>have</i> taken the liberty of <i>introducing + myself</i> to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley," replied the earl gravely, + although a smile of meaning lighted his handsome features as he uttered + the latter part of the sentence, which was returned by Emily with a look + of archness and pleasure that would have graced her happiest moments of + juvenile joy. + </p> + <p> + There was such an interchange of looks, and such a visible alteration in + the appearance of her guests, that it could not but attract the notice of + Lady Chatterton. After listening to the conversation between them for some + time in silence; and wondering what could have wrought so sudden a change + below stairs, she broke forth with saying,--"Upon my word, you are an + incomprehensible party to me. I left you ladies alone, and find a + gentleman with you. I left you grave, if not melancholy, and find you all + life and gaiety. I find you with a stranger, and you talk with him about + walks, and rides, and scenes, and acquaintances. Will <i>you</i>, madam, + or <i>you</i>, my lord, be so kind as to explain these seeming + inconsistencies?" + </p> + <p> + "No," cried the earl, "to punish your curiosity, I will keep you in + ignorance; but Marian is in waiting for me at your neighbor's, Mrs. + Wilmot, and I must hasten to her--- you will see us both by five." Rising + from his seat he took the offered hand of Mrs. Wilson and pressed it to + his lips. To Emily he also extended his hand, and received hers in return, + though with a face suffused with the color of the rose. Pendennyss held it + to his heart for a moment with fervor, and kissing it, precipitately left + the room. Emily concealed her face with her hands, and, dissolving in + tears, sought the retirement of an adjoining apartment. + </p> + <p> + All these unaccountable movements filled Lady Chatterton with amazement, + that would have been too painful for further endurance; and Mrs. Wilson, + knowing that further concealment with so near a connexion would be + impossible, if not unnecessary, entered into a brief explanation of the + earl's masquerade (although ignorant herself of its cause, or of the means + of supporting it), and his present relation with her niece. + </p> + <p> + "I declare it is provoking," cried Lady Chatterton, with a tear in her + eye, "to have such ingenious plans as Derwent and I had made lost from the + want of necessity in putting them in force. Your demure niece has deceived + us all handsomely; and my rigid cousin, too--I will rate him soundly for + his deception." + </p> + <p> + "I believe he already repents sincerely of his having practised it," said + Mrs. Wilson, "and is sufficiently punished for his error by its + consequence. A life of misery for four months is a serious penalty to a + lover." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the other; "I am afraid his punishment was not confined to + himself alone: he has made others suffer from his misconduct. I will rate + him famously, depend upon it I will." + </p> + <p> + If anything, the interest felt by Lady Chatterton for her friend was + increased by this discovery of the affections of Pendennyss, and a few + hours were passed by the three, in we will not say sober delight, for + transport would be a better word. Lady Chatterton frankly declared that + she would rather see Emily the wife of the earl than of her brother, for + <i>he</i> alone was good enough for her; and Mrs. Wilson felt an + exhilaration of spirits, in the completion of her most sanguine wishes, + that neither her years, her philosophy, nor even her religion, could + entirely restrain. The face of Emily was a continued blush, her eye + sparkled with the lustre of renewed hope, and her bosom was heaving with + the purest emotions of happiness. + </p> + <p> + At the appointed hour the rattling of wheels announced the approach of the + earl and his sister. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss came into the room with a young woman of great personal beauty + and extremely feminine manners, leaning on his arm. He first announced her + to Mrs. Wilson as his sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, who received her with a + frank cordiality that made them instantly acquainted. Emily, although + confiding in the fullest manner in the truth and worth of her lover, had + felt an inexplicable sensation of pleasure, as she heard the earl speak of + his sister by the name of Marian; love is such an unquiet, and generally + such an engrossing passion, that few avoid unnecessary uneasiness while + under its influence, unless so situated as to enjoy a mutual confidence. + </p> + <p> + As this once so formidable Marian approached to salute her with an + extended hand, Emily rose, with a face illumined with pleasure, to receive + her. Marian viewed her for a moment intently, and folding her arms around + her, whispered softly as she pressed her to her heart, + </p> + <p> + "My sister, my only sister." + </p> + <p> + Our heroine was affected to tears, and Pendennyss gently separating the + two he loved best in the world, they soon became calm. + </p> + <p> + Lady Marian was extremely like her brother, and had a family resemblance + to her cousin Harriet; but her manners were softer and more retiring, and + she had a slight tinge of a settled melancholy. When her brother spoke she + was generally silent, not in fear, but in love. She evidently regarded him + amongst the first of human beings, and all her love was amply returned. + </p> + <p> + Both the aunt and niece studied the manners of the earl closely, and found + several shades of distinction between what he was and what he had been. He + was now the perfect man of the world, without having lost the frank + sincerity which caused you to believe all he said. Had Pendennyss once + told Mrs. Wilson, with his natural air and manner, "I am innocent," she + would have believed him, and an earlier investigation would have saved + them months of misery; but the consciousness of his deception had + oppressed him with the curse of the wicked. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss had lost that air of embarrassment and alarm which had so often + startled the aunt, even in her hours of greatest confidence, and which had + their original in the awkwardness of disguise. But he retained his + softness, his respect, his modest diffidence of his opinions, although + somewhat corrected now by his acknowledged experience and acquaintance + with man. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson thought these decided trifling alterations in manner were + improvements; but it required some days and a few tender speeches to + reconcile Emily to any change in the appearance of Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + Lady Marian had ordered her carriage early, as she had not anticipated the + pleasure she found, and was engaged to accompany her cousin, Lady Laura, + to a fashionable rout that evening. Unwilling to be torn from ins newly + found friends, the earl proposed that the three ladies should accompany + his sister to Annerdale House, and then accept himself as an escort to + their own residence. To this Harriet assented, and leaving a message for + Chatterton, they entered the coach of Marian, and Pendennyss, mounting the + dickey, drove off. + </p> + <p> + Annerdale House was amongst the best edifices of London. It had been + erected in the preceding century, and Emily for a moment felt, as she went + through its splendid apartments, that it threw a chill around her domestic + affections; but the figure of Pendennyss by her side reconciled her to a + magnificence she had been unused to, which looked the lord indeed; but + with so much modesty and softness, and so much attention to herself, that + before she left the house, Emily began to think it very possible to enjoy + happiness even in the lap of splendor. + </p> + <p> + The names of Colonel Denbigh and Lady Laura were soon announced, and this + formidable gentleman made his appearance, He resembled Pendennyss more + than even the duke, and appeared about the same age. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson soon saw that she had no grounds for pitying Lady Laura. The + colonel was a polished, elegant man, of evident good sense and knowledge + of the world, and apparently devoted to his wife. He was called George + frequently by all his relatives, and he, not unfrequently, used the same + term himself in speaking to the earl. Something was said of a much admired + bust, and the doors of a large library were opened to view it. Emily was + running over the backs of a case of books, until her eye rested on one; + and half smiling and blushing she turned to Pendennyss, who watched every + movement, as she said, playfully, + </p> + <p> + "Pity me, my lord, and lend me this volume." + </p> + <p> + "What is it you read?" he asked, as he bowed his cheerful assent. + </p> + <p> + But Emily hid the book in her handkerchief. Pendennyss noticing an + unwillingness, though an extremely playful one, to let him into the + secret, examined the case, and perceiving her motive, smiled, as he took + down another volume and said-- + </p> + <p> + "I am not an Irish, but an English peer, Emily. You have the wrong + volume." + </p> + <p> + Emily laughed, with deeper blushes, when she found her wishes detected, + while the earl, opening the volume he held--the first of Debrett's + Peerage--pointed with his finger to the article concerning his own family, + and said to Mrs. Wilson, who had joined them at the instant-- + </p> + <p> + "To-morrow, dear madam, I shall beg your attention to a melancholy tale, + and which may, in some slight degree, extenuate the offence I was guilty + of in assuming, or rather in maintaining an accidental disguise." + </p> + <p> + As he ended, he went to the others, to draw off their attention, while + Emily and her aunt examined the paragraph. It was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "George Denbigh--Earl of Pendennyss--and Baron Lumley, of Lumley Castle--- + Baron Pendennyss--Beaumaris, and Fitzwalter, born----, of----, in the year + of----; a bachelor." The list of earls and nobles occupied several pages, + but the closing article was as follows: + </p> + <p> + "George, the 21st earl, succeeded his mother Marian, late Countess of + Pendennyss, in her own right, being born of her marriage with George + Denbigh, Esq., a cousin-german to Frederick, the 9th Duke of Derwent." + </p> + <p> + "Heir apparent. The titles being to heirs general, will descend to his + lordship's sister, Lady Marian Denbigh, should the present earl die + without lawful issue." + </p> + <p> + As much of the explanation of the mystery of our tales, involved in the + foregoing paragraphs, we may be allowed to relate in our own language, + what Pendennyss made his friends acquainted with at different times, and + in a manner suitable to the subject and his situation. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLI. + </h2> + <p> + It was at the close of that war which lost this country the wealthiest and + most populous of her American colonies, that a fleet of ships were + returning from their service amongst the islands of the New World, to seek + for their worn out and battered hulks, and equally weakened crews, the + repairs and comforts of England and home. + </p> + <p> + The latter word, to the mariner the most endearing of all sounds, had, as + it were, drawn together by instinct a group of sailors on the forecastle + of the proudest ship of the squadron, who gazed with varied emotions on + the land which gave them birth, but with one common feeling of joy that + the day of attaining it was at length arrived. + </p> + <p> + The water curled from the bows of this castle of the ocean, in increasing + waves and growing murmurs, that at times drew the attention of the veteran + tar to their quickening progress, and having cheered his heart with the + sight, he cast his experienced eye in silence on the swelling sails, to + see if nothing more could be done to shorten the distance between him and + his country. + </p> + <p> + Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the land of their birth, and hundreds of + hearts were beating in that one vessel with the awakening delights of + domestic love and renewed affections; but no tongue broke the disciplined + silence of the ship into sounds that overcame the propitious ripple of the + water. + </p> + <p> + On the highest summit of their towering mast floated a small blue flag, + the symbol of authority, and beneath it paced a man to and fro the deck, + who was abandoned by his inferiors to his more elevated rank. His + square-built form and careworn features, which had lost the brilliancy of + an English complexion, and hair whitened prematurely, spoke of bodily + vigor, and arduous services which had put that vigor to the severest + trials. + </p> + <p> + At each turn of his walk, as he faced the land of his nativity, a lurking + smile stole over his sun-burnt features, and then a glance of his eye + would scan the progress of the far-stretched squadron which obeyed his + orders, and which he was now returning to his superiors, undiminished in + numbers, and proud with victory. + </p> + <p> + By himself stood an officer in a uniform differing from all around him. + His figure was small, his eye restless, quick, and piercing, and bent on + those shores to which he was unwillingly advancing, with a look of anxiety + and mortification, that showed him the late commander of those vessels + around them, which, by displaying their double flags, manifested to the + eye of the seaman a recent change of masters. + </p> + <p> + Occasionally the conqueror would stop, and by some effort of well meant, + but rather uncouth civility, endeavor to soften the hours of captivity; + efforts which were received with the courtesy of the most punctilious + etiquette, but a restraint which showed that they were unwelcome. + </p> + <p> + It was, perhaps, the most unlucky moment that had occurred within the two + months of their association, for an exchange of their better feelings. The + honest heart of the English tar dilated with ill-concealed delight at his + approach to the termination of labors performed with credit and honor, and + his smiles and good humor, which partly proceeded from the feelings of a + father and a friend, were daggers to the heart of his discomfited rival. + </p> + <p> + A third personage now appeared from the cabin of the vessel, and + approached the spot where the adverse admirals at the moment were engaged + in one of these constrained conferences. + </p> + <p> + The appearance and dress of this gentleman differed widely from the two + just described. He was tall, graceful, and dignified; he was a soldier, + and clearly of high rank. His carefully dressed hair concealed the ravages + of time and on the quarter-deck of a first-rate his attire and manners + were suited to a field-day in the park. + </p> + <p> + "I really insist, monsieur," cried the admiral, good-naturedly, "that you + shall take part of my chaise to London. You are a stranger, and it will + help to keep up your spirits by the way." + </p> + <p> + "You are very good, Monsieur Howell," replied the Frenchman, with a polite + bow and forced smile, misconstruing ill-judged benevolence into a wish for + his person to grace a triumph--"but I have accepted the offer Monsieur le + General Denbigh was so good as to make me." + </p> + <p> + "The comte is engaged to me, Howell," said the general, with a courtly + smile, "and, indeed, you must leave the ship to night, or as soon as we + anchor.--But I shall take daylight and to-morrow." + </p> + <p> + "Well--well--Denbigh," exclaimed the other, rubbing his hands with + pleasure as he viewed the increasing power of the wind, "only make + yourselves happy, and I am contented." + </p> + <p> + A few hours intervened before they reached the Bay of Plymouth, and round + the table, after their dinner, were seated the general and English + admiral. The comte, under the pretence of preparing his things for a + removal, had retired to his apartment to conceal his feelings;--and the + captain of the ship was above, superintending the approach of the vessel + to her anchorage. Two or three well emptied bottles of wine yet remained; + but as the healths of all the branches of the House of Brunswick had been + propitiated from their contents, with a polite remembrance of Louis XVI. + and Marie Antoinette from General Denbigh, neither of the superiors was + much inclined for action. + </p> + <p> + "Is the Thunderer in her station?" said the admiral to the signal + lieutenant, who at that moment came below with a report. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, sir, and has answered." + </p> + <p> + "Very well; make the signal to prepare to anchor." + </p> + <p> + "Aye, aye, sir." + </p> + <p> + "And here, Bennet," to the retiring lieutenant--"call the transports all + in shore of us." + </p> + <p> + "Three hundred and eighty-four, sir," said the officer, looking at his + signal-book. + </p> + <p> + The admiral cast his eye at the book, and nodded an assent. + </p> + <p> + "And let the Mermaid--Flora--Weasel--Bruiser, and all the sloops lie well + off, until we have landed the soldiers: the pilot says the channel is full + of luggers, and Jonathan has grown very saucy." + </p> + <p> + The lieutenant made a complying bow, and was retiring to execute these + orders, as Admiral Howell, taking up a bottle not yet entirely deserted by + its former tenant, cried stoutly--"Here, Bennet--I forgot--take a glass of + wine; drink success to ourselves, and defeat to the French all over the + world." + </p> + <p> + The general pointed significantly to the adjoining cabin of the French + admiral, as he pressed his hand on his lips for silence. + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried Admiral Howell, recollecting himself, continuing in a whisper, + "you can drink it in your heart, notwithstanding." + </p> + <p> + The signal officer nodded, and drank the liquor. As he smacked his lips + while going on deck, he thought to himself, these nabobs drink famous good + wine. + </p> + <p> + Although the feelings of General Denbigh were under much more command and + disciplined obedience than those of his friend, yet was he too unusually + elated with his return to home and expected honors. If the admiral had + captured a fleet, <i>he</i> had taken an island;--and hand in hand they + had co-operated in unusual harmony through the difficulties of an arduous + campaign. This rather singular circumstance was owing to their personal + friendship. From their youth they had been companions, and although of + very different characters and habits, chance had cemented their intimacy + in more advanced life. While in subordinate stations, they had been + associated together in service; and the general and admiral, in command of + an army and fleet, had once before returned to England with less renown, + as a colonel and a captain of a frigate. The great family influence of the + soldier, with the known circumstance of their harmony, had procured them + this later command, and home, with its comforts and rewards, was close + before them. Pouring out a glass of Madeira, the general, who always + calculated what he said, exclaimed, + </p> + <p> + "Peter--we have been friends from boys." + </p> + <p> + "To be sure we have," said the admiral, looking up in a little surprise at + this unexpected commencement--"and it will not be my fault if we do not + die such, Frederick." + </p> + <p> + Dying was a subject the general did not much delight in although of + conspicuous courage in the field; and he proceeded to his more important + purpose--"I could never find, although I have looked over our family tree + so often, that we are in any manner related, Howell." + </p> + <p> + "I believe it is too late to mend that matter now," said the admiral, + musing. + </p> + <p> + "Why no--hem--I think not, Howell; take a glass of this Burgundy." + </p> + <p> + The admiral shook his head with a stubborn resolution to taste nothing + French, but he helped himself to a bountiful stock of Madeira, as he + replied-- + </p> + <p> + "I should like to know how you can bring it about this time of day, + Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + "How much money will you be able to give that girl of yours, Peter?" said + his friend, evading the point. + </p> + <p> + "Forty thousand down, my good fellow, and as much more when I die," cried + the open-hearted sailor, with a nod of exultation. + </p> + <p> + "George, my youngest son, will not be rich--but Francis will be a duke, + and have a noble estate; yet," said the general; meditating, "he is so + unhappy in his disposition and uncouth in his manners, I cannot think of + offering him to your daughter as a husband." + </p> + <p> + "Isabel shall marry a good-natured man, like myself, or not at all," said + the admiral, positively, but not in the least suspecting the drift of his + friend, who was influenced by anything but a regard for the lady's + happiness. + </p> + <p> + Francis, his first born, was, in truth, as he had described; but his + governing wish was to provide for his favorite George. Dukes could never + want wives, but unportioned captains in the guards might. + </p> + <p> + "George is one of the best tempers in the world," said his father, with + strong feeling, "and the delight of us all. I could wish he had been the + heir to the family honors." + </p> + <p> + "<i>That</i> it is certainly too late to help," cried the admiral, + wondering if the ingenuity of his friend could devise a remedy for this + evil too. + </p> + <p> + "Too late, indeed," said the other, with a heavy sigh, "but Howell, what + say you to matching Isabel with my favorite George?" + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh," cried the sailor, eyeing him keenly, "Isabel is my only child, + and a dutiful, good girl; one that will obey orders if she breaks owners, + as we sailors say. Now I did think of marrying her to a seaman, when a + proper man came athwart my course; yet your son is a soldier, and that is + next to being in the navy: if-so-be you had made him come aboard me, when + I wanted you to, there would have been no objection at all: however, when + occasion offers. I will overhaul the lad, and if I find him staunch he may + turn in with Bell and welcome." + </p> + <p> + This was uttered in perfect simplicity, and with no intention of giving + offence, partaking partly of the nature of a soliloquy; so the general, + greatly encouraged, was about to push the point, when a gun was fired from + their own ship. + </p> + <p> + "There's some of them lubberly transports won't mind our signals; they + have had these soldiers so long on board, they get as clumsy as the + red-coats themselves," muttered the admiral, hastening on deck to enforce + his commands. + </p> + <p> + A shot or two, sent significantly in the direction of the wanderers, but + so as not to hit them, restored order; and within an hour forty line of + battle ships and a hundred transports were disposed in the best manner for + convenience and safety. + </p> + <p> + On their presentation to their sovereign, both veterans were embellished + with the riband of the Bath; and as their exploits filled the mouths of + the newsmongers, and the columns of the public prints of the day, the new + knights began to think more seriously of building a monument to their + victories, in a union between their children. The admiral, however, + determined to do nothing with his eyes shut, and he demanded a scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + "Where is the boy who is to be a duke?" exclaimed he, one day, when his + friend had introduced the point with a view to a final arrangement. "Bell + has good blood in her veins--is a tight built little vessel--clean heel'd + and trim, and would make as good a duchess as the best of them; so + Denbigh, I will begin by taking a survey of the senior." To this the + general had no objection, as he well knew that Francis would be wide of + pleasing the tastes of an open-hearted, simple man, like the sailor. They + met, accordingly, for what the general facetiously called the review, and + what the admiral innocently termed his survey, at the house of the former, + when the young gentlemen were submitted to his inspection. + </p> + <p> + Francis Denbigh was about four and twenty, of a feeble body, and with a + face marked with the small-pox, to approaching deformity; his eye was + brilliant and piercing, but unsettled, and at times wild--his manner + awkward, constrained, and timid. There would be seen, it is true, an + intelligence and animation, which occasionally lighted his countenance + into gleams of sunshine, that caused you to overlook the lesser + accompaniments of complexion and features in the expression; but they were + transient, and inevitably vanished whenever his father spoke or in any + manner mingled in his pursuits. + </p> + <p> + An observer close as Mrs. Wilson, would have said that the feelings of the + father and son were not such as ought to exist between parent and child. + </p> + <p> + But the admiral, who regarded model and rigging a good deal, satisfied + himself with muttering, as he turned his eye on the junior-- + </p> + <p> + "He may do for a duke--but I would not have him for a cockswain." + </p> + <p> + George was a year younger than Francis; in form, stature, and personal + grace, the counterpart of his father; his eye was less keen but more + attractive than that of his brother; his air open, polished, and manly. + </p> + <p> + "Ah!" thought the sailor, as he ended a satisfactory survey of the youth, + "what a thousand pities Denbigh did not send him to sea!" + </p> + <p> + The thing was soon settled, and George was to be the happy man. Sir Peter + concluded to dine with his friend, in order to settle preliminaries over + the bottle by themselves; the young men and their mother being engaged to + their uncle the duke. + </p> + <p> + "Well, Denbigh," cried the admiral, as the last servant withdrew, "when do + you mean to have the young couple spliced?" + </p> + <p> + "Why," replied the wary soldier, who knew he could not calculate on + obedience to his mandate with as great a certainty as his friend--"the + better way is to bring the young people together, in order that they may + become acquainted, you know." + </p> + <p> + "Acquainted--together--" cried his companion, in a little surprise, "what + better way is there to bring them together, than to have them up before a + priest, or to make them acquainted by letting them swing in the same + hammock?" + </p> + <p> + "It might answer the end, indeed," said the general, with a smile, "but + somehow or other, it is always the best method to bring young folks + together, to let them have their own way in the affair for a time." + </p> + <p> + "Own way!" rejoined Sir Peter, bluntly, "did you ever find it answer to + let a woman have her own way, Sir Frederick?" + </p> + <p> + "Not common women certainly, my good friend," said the general, "but such + a girl as my intended daughter is an exception." + </p> + <p> + "I don't know that," cried the sailor; "Bell is a good girl, but she has + her quirks and whims like all the sex." + </p> + <p> + "You have had no trouble with her as yet, I believe, Howell," said Sir + Frederick cavalierly, throwing an inquiring glance on his friend at the + same time. + </p> + <p> + "No, not yet--nor do I think she will ever dare to mutiny; but there has + been one wishing to take her in tow already since we got in." + </p> + <p> + "How!" said the other in alarm, "who--what is he? some officer in the + navy, I suppose." + </p> + <p> + "No, he was a kind of chaplain, one Parson Ives, a good sort of a youth + enough, and a prodigious favorite with my sister, Lady Hawker." + </p> + <p> + "Well, what did you answer, Peter?" said his companion in increasing + uneasiness; "did you put him off?" + </p> + <p> + "Off! to be sure I did--do you think I wanted a barber's clerk for a + son-in-law? No, no, Denbigh; a soldier is bad enough, without having a + preacher." + </p> + <p> + The general compressed his lips at this direct attack on a profession that + he thought the most honorable of any in the world, in some resentment; but + remembering the eighty thousand pounds, and accustomed to the ways of the + other, he curbed his temper, and inquired-- + </p> + <p> + "But Miss Howell--your daughter--how did she stand affected to this + priest?" + </p> + <p> + "How--why--how?--why I never asked her." + </p> + <p> + "Never asked her?" + </p> + <p> + "No, never asked her: she is my daughter, you know, and bound to obey my + orders, and I did not choose she should marry a parson; but, once for all, + when is the wedding to take place?" + </p> + <p> + General Denbigh had indulged his younger son too blindly and too fondly to + expect that implicit obedience the admiral calculated to a certainty on, + and with every prospect of not being disappointed, from his daughter. + Isabel Howell was pretty, mild, and timid, and unused to oppose any of her + father's commands; but George Denbigh was haughty, positive, and + self-willed, and unless the affair could be so managed as to make him a + willing assistant in the courtship, his father knew it might be abandoned + at once. He thought his son might be led, but not driven; and, relying on + his own powers for managing, the general saw his only safety in executing + the scheme was in postponing his advances for a regular siege to the + lady's heart. + </p> + <p> + Sir Peter chafed and swore at this circumlocution: the thing could be done + as well in a week as in a year; and the veterans, who, for a miracle, had + agreed in their rival stations, and in doubtful moments of success, were + near splitting on the point of marrying a girl of nineteen. + </p> + <p> + As Sir Peter both loved his friend, and had taken a prodigious fancy to + the youth, he however was fain to submit to a short probation. + </p> + <p> + "You are always for going a round-about way to do a thing," said the + admiral, as he yielded the point. "Now, when you took that battery, had + you gone up in front, as I advised you, you would have taken it in ten + minutes, instead of five hours." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said the other, with a friendly shake of the hand at parting, "and + lost fifty men in place of one by the step." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLII. + </h2> + <p> + The Honorable General Denbigh was the youngest of three sons. His seniors, + Francis and George, were yet bachelors. The death of a cousin had made + Francis a duke while yet a child, and both he and his favorite brother + George, had decided on lives of inactivity and sluggishness. + </p> + <p> + "When I die, brother," the oldest would say, "you will succeed me, and + Frederick can provide heirs for the name hereafter." + </p> + <p> + This arrangement had been closely adhered to, and the two elder brothers + reached the ages of fifty-five and fifty-six, without altering their + condition. In the mean time, Frederick married a young woman of rank and + fortune; the fruits of their union being the two young candidates for the + hand of Isabel Howell. + </p> + <p> + Francis Denbigh, the eldest son of the general, was naturally diffident, + and, in addition, it was his misfortune to be the reverse of captivating + in external appearance. The small-pox sealed his doom;--ignorance, and the + violence of the attack, left him indelibly impressed with the ravages of + that dreadful disorder. Oh the other hand, his brother escaped without any + vestiges of the complaint; and his spotless skin and fine open + countenance, met the gaze of his mother, after the recovery of the two, in + striking contrast to the deformed lineaments of his elder brother. Such an + occurrence is sure to excite one of two feelings in the breast of every + beholder--pity or disgust; and, unhappily for Francis, maternal + tenderness, in his case, was unable to counteract the latter sensation. + George become a favorite, and Francis a neutral. The effect was easy to be + seen, and it was rapid, as it was indelible. + </p> + <p> + The feelings of Francis were sensitive to an extreme. He had more + quickness, more sensibility, more real talent than George; which enabled + him to perceive, and caused him to feel more acutely, the partiality of + his mother. + </p> + <p> + As yet, the engagements and duties of the general had kept his children + and, their improvements out of his sight; but at the ages of eleven and + twelve, the feelings of a father, began, to take pride in the possession + of his sons. + </p> + <p> + On his return from a foreign station, after an absence of two years, his + children were ordered from school to meet him. Francis had improved in + stature, but not in beauty; George had flourished in both. + </p> + <p> + The natural diffidence of the former was increased, by perceiving that he + was no favorite, and the effect began to show itself on manners at no time + engaging. He met his father with doubt, and he saw with anguish, that the + embrace received by his brother much exceeded in warmth that which had + been bestowed on himself. + </p> + <p> + "Lady Margaret," said the general to his wife, as he followed the boys as + they retired from the dinner table, with his eyes, "it is a thousand + pities George had not been the elder. <i>He</i> would have graced a + dukedom or a throne. Frank is only fit for a parson." + </p> + <p> + This ill-judged speech was uttered sufficiently loud to be overheard by + both the sons: on the younger, it made a pleasurable sensation for the + moment. His father--his dear father, had thought him fit to be a king; and + his father must be a judge, whispered his native vanity; but all this time + the connexion between the speech and his brother's rights did not present + themselves to his mind. George loved this brother too well, too sincerely, + to have injured him even in thought; and so far as Francis was concerned, + his vanity was as blameless as it was natural. + </p> + <p> + The effect produced on the mind of Francis was different both in substance + and in degree. It mortified his pride, alarmed his delicacy, and wounded + his already morbid sensibility to such an extent, as to make him entertain + the romantic notion of withdrawing from the world, and of yielding a + birthright to one so every way more deserving of it than himself. + </p> + <p> + From this period might be dated an opinion of Francis's, which never + afterwards left him; he fancied he was doing injustice to another, and + that other, a brother whom he ardently loved, by continuing to exist. Had + he met with fondness in his parents, or sociability in his playfellows, + these fancies would have left him as he grew into life. But the affections + of his parents were settled on his more promising brother; and his manners + daily increasing in their repulsive traits, drove his companions to the + society of others, more agreeable to their own buoyancy and joy. + </p> + <p> + Had Francis Denbigh, at this age, met with a guardian clear-sighted enough + to fathom his real character, and competent to direct his onward course, + he would yet have become an ornament to his name and country, and a useful + member of society. But no such guide existed. His natural guardians, in + his particular case, were his worst enemies; and the boys left school for + college four years afterwards, each advanced in his respective properties + of attraction and repulsion. + </p> + <p> + Irreligion is hardly a worse evil in a family than favoritism. When once + allowed to exist, in the breast of the parent, though hid apparently from + all other eyes, its sad consequences begin to show themselves. Effects are + produced, and we look in vain for the cause. The awakened sympathies of + reciprocal caresses and fondness are mistaken for uncommon feelings, and + the forbidding aspect of deadened affections is miscalled native + sensibility. + </p> + <p> + In this manner the evil increases itself, until manners are formed, and + characters created, that must descend with their possessor to the tomb. + </p> + <p> + In the peculiar formation of the mind of Francis Denbigh, the evil was + doubly injurious. His feelings required sympathy and softness, and they + met only with coldness and disgust. George alone was an exception to the + rule. <i>He</i> did love his brother; but even his gaiety and spirits + finally tired of the dull uniformity of the diseased habits of his senior. + </p> + <p> + The only refuge Francis found in his solitude, amidst the hundreds of the + university, was in his muse and in the powers of melody. The voice of his + family has been frequently mentioned in these pages; and if, as Lady Laura + had intimated, there had ever been a siren in the race, it was a male one. + He wrote prettily, and would sing these efforts of his muse to music of + his own, drawing crowds around his windows, in the stillness of the night, + to listen to sounds as melodious as they were mournful. His poetical + efforts partook of the distinctive character of the man, being melancholy, + wild, and sometimes pious. + </p> + <p> + George was always amongst the most admiring of his brother's auditors, and + would feel a yearning of his heart towards him, at such moments, that was + painful. But George was too young and too heedless, to supply the place of + a monitor, or to draw his thoughts into a more salutary train. This was + the <i>duty</i> of his parents, and should have been their <i>task</i>. + But the world, his rising honors, and his professional engagements, + occupied the time of the father; and fashion, parties, and pleasure, + killed the time of his mother. When they did think of their children, it + was of George; the painful image of Francis being seldom admitted to + disturb their serenity. + </p> + <p> + George Denbigh was open-hearted without suspicion, and a favorite. The + first quality taxed his generosity, the second subjected him to fraud, and + the third supplied him with the means. But these means sometimes failed. + The fortune of the general, though handsome, was not more than competent + to support his style of living. He expected to be a duke himself one day, + and was anxious to maintain an appearance now that would not disgrace his + future elevation. A system of strict but liberal economy had been adopted + in the case of his sons. They had, for the sake of appearances, a stated + and equal allowance. + </p> + <p> + The duke had offered to educate the heir himself, and under his own eye. + But to this Lady Margaret had found some ingenious excuse, and one that + seemed to herself and the world honorable to her natural feeling; but had + the offer been made to George, these reasons would have vanished in the + desire to advance his interests, or to gratify his propensities. Such + decisions are by no means uncommon; parents having once decided on the + merits and abilities of their children, frequently decline the + interference of third persons, since the improvement of their denounced + offspring might bring their own judgment into question, if it did not + convey an indirect censure on their justice. + </p> + <p> + The heedlessness of George brought his purse to a state of emptiness. His + last guinea was gone, and two months were wanting to the end of the + quarter. George had played and been cheated. He had ventured to apply to + his mother for small sums, when his dress or some trifling indulgence + required an advance; and always with success. But here were sixty guineas + gone at a blow, and pride, candor, forbade his concealing the manner of + his loss, if he made the application. This was dreadful; his own + conscience reproached him, and he had so often witnessed the violence of + his mother's resentments against Francis, for faults which appeared to him + very trivial, not to stand in the utmost dread of her more just + displeasure in the present case. + </p> + <p> + Entering the apartment of his brother, in this disturbed condition, George + threw himself into a chair, and with his face concealed between his hands, + sat brooding over his forlorn situation. + </p> + <p> + "George!" said his brother, soothingly, "you are in distress; can I + relieve you in any way?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no--no--no--Frank; it is entirely out of your power." + </p> + <p> + "Perhaps not, my dear brother," continued the other, endeavoring to draw + his hand into his own. + </p> + <p> + "Entirely! entirely!" said George. Then springing up in despair, he + exclaimed, "But I must live--I cannot die." + </p> + <p> + "Live! die!" cried Francis, recoiling in horror. "What do you mean by such + language? Tell me, George, am I not your brother? Your only brother and + best friend?" + </p> + <p> + Francis felt he had no friend if George was not that friend, and his face + grew pale while the tears flowed rapidly down his cheeks. + </p> + <p> + George could not resist such an appeal. He caught the hand of his brother + and made him acquainted with his losses and his wants. + </p> + <p> + Francis mused some little time over his narration, ere he broke silence. + </p> + <p> + "It was all you had?" + </p> + <p> + "The last shilling," cried George, beating his head with his hand. + </p> + <p> + "How much will you require to make out the quarter?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh I must have at least fifty guineas, or how can I live at all?" + </p> + <p> + The ideas of life in George were connected a good deal with the manner it + was to be enjoyed. His brother appeared struggling with himself, and then + turning to the other, continued, + </p> + <p> + "But surely, under present circumstances, you could make less do." + </p> + <p> + "Less, never--hardly that"--interrupted George, vehemently. "If Lady + Margaret did not inclose me a note now and then, how could we get along at + all? don't you find it so yourself, brother?" + </p> + <p> + "I don't know," said Francis, turning pale-- + </p> + <p> + "Don't know!" cried George, catching a view of his altered + countenance--"you get the money, though?" + </p> + <p> + "I do not remember it," said the other, sighing heavily. + </p> + <p> + "Francis," cried George, comprehending the truth, "you shall share every + shilling I receive in future--you shall--indeed you shall." + </p> + <p> + "Well, then," rejoined Francis with a smile, "it is a bargain; and you + will receive from me a supply in your present necessities." + </p> + <p> + Without waiting for an answer, Francis withdrew into an inner apartment, + and brought out the required sum for his brother's subsistence for two + months. George remonstrated, but Francis was positive; he had been saving, + and his stock was ample for his simple habits without it. + </p> + <p> + "Besides, you forget we are partners, and in the end I shall be a gainer." + </p> + <p> + George yielded to his wants and his brother's entreaties, and he gave him + great credit for the disinterestedness of the act. Several weeks passed + without any further allusion to this disagreeable subject, which had at + least the favorable result of making George more guarded and a better + student. + </p> + <p> + The brothers, from this period, advanced gradually in those distinctive + qualities which were to mark the future men; George daily improving in + grace and attraction, Francis, in an equal ratio, receding from those very + attainments which it was his too great desire to possess. In the education + of his sons, General Denbigh had preserved the appearance of impartiality; + his allowance to each was the same: they were at the same college, they + had been at the same school; and if Frank did not improve as much as his + younger brother, it was unquestionably his own obstinacy and stupidity, + and surely not want of opportunity or favor. + </p> + <p> + Such, then, were the artificial and accidental causes, which kept a noble, + a proud, an acute but a diseased mind, in acquirements much below another + every way its inferior, excepting in the happy circumstance of wanting + those very excellences, the excess and indiscreet management of which + proved the ruin instead of the blessing of their possessor. + </p> + <p> + The duke would occasionally rouse himself from his lethargy, and complain + to the father, that the heir of his honors was far inferior to his younger + brother in acquirements, and remonstrate against the course which produced + such an unfortunate inequality. On these occasions a superficial statement + of his system from the general met the objection; they cost the same + money, and he was sure he not only wished but did everything an indulgent + parent could, to render Francis worthy of his future honors. Another evil + of the admission of feelings of partiality, in the favor of one child, to + the prejudice of another, is that the malady is contagious as well as + lasting: it exists without our own knowledge, and it seldom fails to + affect those around us. The uncle soon learnt to distinguish George as the + hope of the family, yet Francis must be the heir of its honors, and + consequently of its wealth. + </p> + <p> + The duke and his brother were not much addicted to action, hardly to + reflection; but if anything could rouse them to either, it was the + reputation of the house of Denbigh. Their ideas of reputation, it is true, + were of their own forming. + </p> + <p> + The hour at length drew near when George expected a supply from the + ill-judged generosity of his mother; it came, and with a heart beating + with pleasure, the youth flew to the room of Francis with a determination + to force the whole of his twenty pounds on his acceptance. On throwing + open his door, he saw his brother evidently striving to conceal something + behind his books. It was at the hour of breakfast, and George had intended + for a novelty to share his brother's morning repast. They always met at + dinner, but the other meals were made in their own rooms. George looked in + vain for the usual equipage of the table; suspicion flashed upon him; he + threw aside the books, and a crust of bread and a glass of water met his + eye; the truth now flashed upon him in all its force. + </p> + <p> + "Francis, my brother, to what has my extravagance reduced you!" exclaimed + the contrite George with a heart nearly ready to burst. Francis endeavored + to explain, but a sacred regard to the truth held him tongue-tied, until + dropping his head on the shoulder of George, he sobbed out-- + </p> + <p> + "It is a trifle; nothing to what I would do for you, my brother." + </p> + <p> + George felt all the horrors of remorse, and was much too generous to + conceal his error any longer; he wrote a circumstantial account of the + whole transaction to Lady Margaret. + </p> + <p> + Francis for a few days was a new being. He had acted nobly, his conscience + approved of his motives, and of his delicate concealment of them; he in + fact began to think there were in himself the seeds of usefulness, as his + brother, who from this moment began to understand his character better, + attached himself more closely to him. + </p> + <p> + The eye of Francis met that of George with the look of acknowledged + affection, his mind became less moody, and his face was sometimes + embellished with a smile. + </p> + <p> + The reply of their mother to the communication of George threw a damp on + the revived hopes of the senior, and drove him back into himself with + tenfold humility. + </p> + <p> + "I am shocked, my child, to find that you have lowered yourself, and + forgot the family you belong to, so much as to frequent those + gambling-houses, which ought not to be suffered in the neighborhood of the + universities: when at a proper age and in proper company, your occasional + indulgence at cards I could not object to, as both your father and myself + sometimes resort to it as an amusement, but never in low company. The + consequence of mingling in such society is, that you were cheated, and + such will always be your lot unless you confine yourself to associates + more becoming your rank and illustrious name. + </p> + <p> + "As to Francis, I see every reason to condemn the course he has taken. + Being the senior by a year, he should have taken the means to prevent your + falling into such company; and he should have acquainted me immediately + with your loss, in place of wounding your pride by subjecting you to the + mortification of receiving a pecuniary obligation from one so little older + than yourself, and exposing his own health by a diet on bread and water, + as you wrote me, for a whole month. Both the general and myself are + seriously displeased with him, and think of separating you, as you thus + connive at each other's follies." + </p> + <p> + George was too indignant to conceal this letter and the reflections of + Francis were dreadful. + </p> + <p> + For a short time he actually meditated suicide, as the only method of + removing himself from before the advancement of George. Had not George + been more attentive and affectionate than formerly, the awful expedient + might have been resorted to. + </p> + <p> + From college the young men went, one into the army and the other to the + mansion of his uncle. George became an elegant, gay, open-hearted, admired + captain in the guards; and Francis stalked through the halls of his + ancestors, their acknowledged future lord, but a misanthrope; hateful to + himself and disagreeable to all around him. + </p> + <p> + This picture may be highly wrought, but the effects, in the case of + Francis, were increased by the peculiar tone of his diseased state of + mind. The indulgence of favoritism, nevertheless, always brings its own + sad consequences, in a greater or less degree, while it seldom fails to + give sorrow and penitence to the bosom of the parents. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLIII. + </h2> + <p> + No little art and management had been necessary to make the admiral + auxiliary to the indirect plan proposed by his friend to bring George and + Isabel together. This, however, effected, the general turned his whole + strategy to the impression to be made on the heart of the young gentleman. + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick Denbigh had the same idea of the virtue of management as the + Dowager Lady Chatterton, but he understood human nature better. + </p> + <p> + Like a prudent officer, his attacks were all masked, and, like a great + officer, they seldom failed of success. + </p> + <p> + The young couple were thrown in each other's way, and as Isabel was + extremely attractive, somewhat the opposite to himself in ardor of + temperament and vivacity, modest, and sensible, it cannot be expected that + the association was maintained by the youth with perfect impunity. Within + a couple of months he fancied himself desperately in love with Isabel + Howell; and, in truth, he had some reason for the supposition. + </p> + <p> + The general watched every movement of his son with a wary and vigilant + eye--occasionally adding fuel to the flame, by drawing his attention to + projects of matrimony in other quarters, until George began to think he + was soon to undergo a trial of his constancy, and in consequence he armed + himself with a double portion of admiration for his Isabel, in order to + enable himself to endure the persecution; while the admiral several times + endangered the success of the whole enterprise by volunteer contributions + to the hopes of the young man, which only escaped producing an opposite + effect to that which was intended, by being mistaken for the overflowings + of good nature and friendship. + </p> + <p> + After suffering his son to get, as he thought, sufficiently entangled in + the snares of Cupid, Sir Frederick determined to fire a volley from one of + his masked batteries, which he rightly judged would bring on a general + engagement. They were sitting at the table after dinner, alone, when the + general took the advantage of the name of Miss Howell being accidentally + mentioned, to say-- + </p> + <p> + "By the by, George, my friend the admiral said something yesterday on the + subject of your being so much with his daughter. I wish you to be + cautious, and not to give the old sailor offence in any way, for he is my + particular friend." + </p> + <p> + "He need be under no violent apprehensions," cried George, coloring highly + with shame and pride, "I am sure a Denbigh is no unworthy match for a + daughter of Sir Peter Howell." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! to be sure not, boy, we are as old a house as there is in the + kingdom, and as noble too; but the admiral has queer notions, and, + perhaps, he has some cub of a sailor in his eye for a son-in-law. Be + prudent, my boy, be prudent; that is all I ask of you." + </p> + <p> + The general, satisfied with the effect he had produced, carelessly arose + from his seat, and joined Lady Margaret in her drawing-room. + </p> + <p> + George remained for several minutes musing on his father's singular + request, as well as the admiral's caution, when he sprang from his seat, + caught up his hat and sword, and in ten minutes rang at Sir Peter's door + in Grosvenor Square. He was admitted, and ascending to the drawing-room, + he met the admiral on his way out. Nothing was further from the thoughts + of the veteran than a finesse like the general's; and, delighted to see + George on the battle-ground, he pointed significantly over his shoulder + towards the door of the room Isabel was in, and exclaimed, with a + good-natured smile, + </p> + <p> + "There she is, my hearty; lay her aside, and hang me if she don't strike. + I say, George, faint heart never won fair lady: remember that, my boy; no, + nor a French ship." + </p> + <p> + George would have been at some loss to have reconciled this speech to his + father's caution, if time had been allowed him to think at all; but the + door being open he entered, and found Isabel endeavoring to hide her + tears. + </p> + <p> + The admiral, dissatisfied from the beginning with the tardy method of + despatching things, thought he might be of use in breaking the ice for + George, by trumpeting his praises on divers occasions to his daughter. + Under all circumstances, he thought she might be learning to love the man, + as he was to be her husband; and speeches like the following had been + frequent of late from the parent to the child: + </p> + <p> + "There's that youngster, George Denbigh: now, Bell, is he not a fine + looking lad? Then I know he is brave. His father before him, was good + stuff and a true Englishman. What a proper husband he would make for a + young woman, he loves his king and country so; none of your new-fangled + notions about religion and government, but a sober, religious churchman; + that is, as much so, girl, as you can expect in the guards. No Methodist, + to be sure;--it's a great pity he wasn't sent to sea, don't you think so? + But cheer up, girl, one of these days he may be taking a liking to you + yet." + </p> + <p> + Isabel, whose fears taught her the meaning of these eloquent praises of + Captain Denbigh, listened to these harangues in silence, and often + meditated on their import by herself in tears. + </p> + <p> + George approached the sofa on which the lady was seated before she had + time to conceal the traces of her sorrow, and in a voice softened by + emotion, he took her hand gently as he said,-- + </p> + <p> + "What can have occasioned this distress to Miss Howell. If anything in my + power to remove, or which a life devoted to her service can mitigate, she + has only to command me to find a cheerful obedience." + </p> + <p> + "The trifling causes of sorrow in a young woman," replied Isabel, + endeavoring to smile, "will hardly require such serious services to remove + them." + </p> + <p> + But the lady was extremely interesting at the moment. George was goaded by + his father's caution, and urged on by his own feelings, with great + sincerity, and certainly much eloquence, he therefore proffered his love + and hand to the acceptance of his mistress. + </p> + <p> + Isabel heard him in painful silence. She respected him, and dreaded his + power over her father; but, unwilling to abandon hopes to which she yet + clung as to her spring of existence, with a violent effort she determined + to throw herself on the generosity of her lover. + </p> + <p> + During her father's late absence Isabel had, as usual, since the death of + her mother, been left with his sister, and had formed an attachment for a + young clergyman, a younger son of a baronet, and the present Dr. Ives. The + inclination had been mutual; and as Lady Hawker knew her brother to be + perfectly indifferent to money, she could see no possible objection to its + indulgence. + </p> + <p> + On his return, Ives made his proposals, as related; and although warmly + backed by the recommendations of the aunt, he was refused. Out of delicacy + the wishes of Isabel had not been mentioned by her clerical lover, and the + admiral supposed he had only complied with his agreement with the general, + without in any manner affecting the happiness of his daughter by his + answer. But the feelings which prompted the request still remained in full + vigor in the lovers; and Isabel now, with many blushes and some hesitation + of utterance, made George fully acquainted with the state of her heart, + giving him at the same time to understand that he was the only obstacle to + her happiness. + </p> + <p> + It cannot be supposed that George heard her without pain or mortification. + The struggle with self-love was a severe one, but his better feelings + prevailed, and he assured the anxious Isabel that from his importunities + she had nothing to apprehend in future. The grateful girl overwhelmed him + with thanks, and George had to fly ere he repented of his own generosity. + </p> + <p> + Miss Howell intimated, in the course of her narrative, that a better + understanding existed between their parents than the caution of the + general had discovered to his unsuspecting child, and George was + determined to know the worst at once. + </p> + <p> + At supper he mentioned, as if in remembrance of his father's injunction, + that he had been to take his leave of Miss Howell, since he found his + visits gave uneasiness to her friends. "On the whole," he added, + endeavoring to yawn carelessly, "I believe I shall visit there no more." + </p> + <p> + "Nay, nay," returned Sir Frederick, a little displeased at his son's + obedience, "I meant no such thing. Neither the admiral nor myself, has the + least objection to your visiting in moderation; indeed, you may marry the + girl with all our hearts, if you can agree." + </p> + <p> + "But we can't agree, I take it," said George, looking up at the wall. + </p> + <p> + "Why not? what hinders?' cried his father unguardedly. + </p> + <p> + "Only--only I don't like her," said the son, tossing off a glass of wine, + which nearly strangled him. + </p> + <p> + "You don't," cried the general with great warmth, thrown entirely off his + guard by this unexpected declaration "and may I presume to ask the reason + why you do not like Miss Howell, sir?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! you know, one never pretends to give a reason for this sort of + feeling, my dear sir." + </p> + <p> + "Then," cried his father with increasing heat, "you must allow me to say, + my dear sir, that the sooner you get rid of these sort of feelings the + better. I choose you shall not only like, but love Miss Howell; and this I + have promised her father." + </p> + <p> + "I thought that the admiral was displeased with my coming to his house so + much--or did I not understand you this morning?" + </p> + <p> + "I know nothing of his displeasure, and care less. He has agreed that + Isabel shall be your wife, and I have passed my word to the engagement; + and if, sir, you wish to be considered as my son, you will prepare to + comply." + </p> + <p> + George was expecting to discover some management on the part of his + father, but by no means so settled an arrangement, and his anger was in + proportion to the deception. + </p> + <p> + To annoy Isabel any further was out of the question; to betray her, base; + and the next morning he sought an audience with the Duke. To him he + mentioned his wish for actual service, but hinted that the maternal + fondness of Lady Margaret was averse to his seeking it. This was true, and + George now pressed his uncle to assist him in effecting an exchange. + </p> + <p> + The boroughs of the Duke of Derwent were represented by loyal members of + parliament, his two brothers being contemporary with Mr. Benfield in that + honor; and a request from a man who sent six members to the Commons, + besides having a seat in the Lords in his own person, must be listened to. + </p> + <p> + Within the week George ceased to be a captain in the guards, and became + lieutenant-colonel of a regiment under orders for America. + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick soon became sensible of the error his warmth had led him + into, and endeavored, by soothing and indulgence, to gain the ground he + had so unguardedly lost. But terrible was his anger, and bitter his + denunciations, when his son acquainted him with his approaching + embarkation with his new regiment for America. They quarrelled; and as the + favorite child had never, until now, been thwarted or spoken harshly to, + they parted in mutual disgust. With his mother George was more tender; and + as Lady Margaret never thought the match such as the descendant of two + lines of dukes was entitled to form, she almost pardoned the offence in + the cause. + </p> + <p> + "What's this here?" cried Sir Peter Howell, as he ran over a morning paper + at the breakfast table: "Captain Denbigh, late of the guards, has been + promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the ---- Foot, and sails to-morrow + to join that regiment, now on its way to America." + </p> + <p> + "It's a lie, Bell!--it's all a lie! not but what he ought to be there, + too, serving his king and country; but he never would serve you so." + </p> + <p> + "Me?" said Isabel, with a heart throbbing with the contending feelings of + admiration for George's generosity, and delight at her own deliverance. + "What have I to do with the movements of Mr. Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "What!" cried her father in astonishment; "a'n't you to be his wife, a'n't + it all agreed upon--that is, between Sir Frederick and me, which is the + same thing, you know--" + </p> + <p> + Here he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the general himself, + who had just learnt the departure of his son and hastened, with the double + purpose of breaking the intelligence to his friend, and of making his own + peace. + </p> + <p> + "See here, Denbigh," exclaimed the admiral, pointing to the paragraph, + "what do you say to that?" + </p> + <p> + "Too true--too true, my dear friend," replied the general shaking his head + mournfully. + </p> + <p> + "Hark ye, Sir Frederick Denbigh," cried the admiral fiercely; "did you not + say that your son George was to marry my daughter?" + </p> + <p> + "I certainly did, Sir Peter, and am sorry to say that, in defiance of my + entreaties and commands, he has deserted his home, and, in consequence, I + have discarded him for ever." + </p> + <p> + "Now, Denbigh," said the admiral, a good deal mollified by this + declaration, "have I not always told you, that in the army you know + nothing of discipline? Why, sir, if he was a son of mine, he should marry + blindfolded, if I chose to order it. I wish, now, Bell had an offer, and + dared to refuse it." + </p> + <p> + "There is the barber's clerk, you know," said the general, a good deal + irritated by the contemptuous manner of his friend. + </p> + <p> + "And what of that, Sir Frederick?" said the sailor sternly; "if I choose + her to marry a quill-driver, she shall comply." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! my good friend," said the general, willing to drop the disagreeable + subject, "I am afraid we shall both find it more difficult to control the + affections of our children than we at first imagined." + </p> + <p> + "You do, General Denbigh?" said the admiral, with a curl of contempt on + his lip; and ringing the bell violently, he bid the servant send his young + lady to him. + </p> + <p> + On the appearance of Isabel, her father inquired with an air of settled + meaning where young Mr. Ives resided. It was only in the next street, and + a messenger was sent to him, with Sir Peter Howell's compliments, and a + request to see him without a moment's delay. + </p> + <p> + "We'll see, we'll see, my old friend, who keeps the best discipline," + muttered the admiral, as he paced up and down the room, in eager + expectation of the return of his messenger. + </p> + <p> + The wondering general gazed on his friend, to ascertain if he was out of + his senses. He knew he was quick to decide, and excessively obstinate, but + he did not think him so crazy as to throw away his daughter in a fit of + spleen. It never occurred to Sir Frederick, however, that the engagement + with himself was an act of equal injustice and folly, because it was done + with more form and deliberation, which, to the eye of sober reason, would + rather make the matter worse. Isabel sat in trembling suspense for the + issue of the scene, and Ives in a few minutes made his appearance in no + little alarm. + </p> + <p> + On entering, the admiral addressed him abruptly, by inquiring if he still + wished to marry that girl, pointing to his daughter. The reply was an + eager affirmative. Sir Peter beckoned to Isabel, who approached, covered + with blushes; and her father having placed her hand in that of her lover, + with an air of great solemnity he gave them his blessing. The young people + withdrew to another room at Sir Peter's request, when he turned to his + friend, delighted with his own decision and authority, and exclaimed, + </p> + <p> + "There, Fred. Denbigh, that is what I call being minded." + </p> + <p> + The general had penetration enough to see that the result was agreeable to + both the young people, a thing he had long apprehended; and being glad to + get rid of the affair in any way that did not involve him in a quarrel + with his old comrade, he gravely congratulated the admiral on his good + fortune and retired. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, yes," said Sir Peter to himself, as he paced up and down his room, + "Denbigh is mortified enough, with his joy, and felicity, and + grand-children. I never had any opinion of their manner of discipline at + all; too much bowing and scraping. I'm sorry, though, he is a priest; not + but what a priest may be as good a man as another, but let him behave ever + so well, he can only get to be a bishop at the most. Heaven forbid he + should ever get to be a Pope! After all, his boys may be admirals if they + behave themselves;" and he went to seek his daughter, having in + imagination manned her nursery with vice and rear admirals in embryo by + the half dozen. + </p> + <p> + Sir Peter Howell survived the marriage of his daughter but eighteen + months; yet that was sufficient time to become attached to his invaluable + son-in-law. Mr. Ives insensibly led the admiral, during his long + indisposition, to a more correct view of sacred things, than he had been + wont to entertain; and the old man breathed his last, blessing both his + children for their kindness, and with an humble hope of future happiness. + Some time before his death, Isabel, whose conscience had always reproached + her with the deception practised on her father, and with the banishment of + George from his country and home, threw herself at the feet of Sir Peter + and acknowledged her transgression. + </p> + <p> + The admiral heard her in astonishment, but not in anger. His opinions of + life had sensibly changed, and his great cause of satisfaction with his + new son removed all motives for regret for anything but for the fate of + poor George. With the noble forbearance and tenderness of the young man to + his daughter, the hardy veteran was sensibly touched; and his entreaties + with Sir Frederick made his peace with a father already longing for the + return of his only hope. + </p> + <p> + The admiral left Colonel Denbigh his blessing, and his favorite pistols, + as a remembrance of his esteem; but he did not live to see the reunion + with his family. + </p> + <p> + George had soon learnt, deprived of hope and in the midst of novelty, to + forget a passion which could no longer be prosperous; and two years from + his departure returned to England, glowing in health, and improved in + person and manners by a more extensive knowledge of the world and mankind. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLIV. + </h2> + <p> + During the time occupied by the foregoing events, Francis continued a + gloomy inmate of his uncle's house. The duke and his brother George were + too indolent and inactive in their minds to pierce the cloud that + mortification and deadened affections had drawn around the real character + of their nephew; and although he was tolerated as the heir, he was but + little loved as a man. + </p> + <p> + In losing his brother, Francis lost the only human being with whom he + possessed any sympathies in common; and he daily drew more and more into + himself, in gloomy meditation on his forlorn situation, in the midst of + wealth and expected honors. The attentions he received were paid to his + rank, and Francis had penetration enough to perceive it. His visits to his + parents were visits of ceremony, and in time all parties came to look to + their termination with pleasure, as to the discontinuance of heartless and + forced civilities. + </p> + <p> + Affection, even in the young man, could not endure, repulsed as his + feelings were, for ever; and in the course of three years, if his + attachments were not alienated from his parents, his ardor had become much + abated. + </p> + <p> + It is a dreadful truth, that the bonds of natural affection can be broken + by injustice and contumely; and it is yet more to be deplored, that when + from such causes we loosen the ties habit and education have drawn around + us, a reaction in our feelings commences; we seldom cease to love, but we + begin to hate. Against such awful consequences it is one of the most + solemn duties of the parent to provide in season; and what surer safeguard + is there, than to inculcate those feelings which teach the mind to love + God, and in so doing induce love to the whole human family? + </p> + <p> + Sir Frederick and Lady Margaret attended the church regularly, repeated + the responses with much decency, toasted the church next to the king, even + appeared at the altars of their God, and continued sinners. From such + sowings, no good fruit could be expected to flourish: yet Francis was not + without his hours of devotion; but his religion was, like himself, + reserved, superstitious, ascetic, and gloomy. He never entered into social + worship: if he prayed it was with an ill-concealed wish to end this life + of care. If he returned thanks, it was with a bitterness that mocked the + throne before which he was prostrate. Such pictures are revolting; but + their originals have and do exist; for what enormity is there of which + human frailty, unchecked by divine assistance, may not be guilty? + </p> + <p> + Francis received an invitation to visit a brother of his mother's at his + seat in the country, about the time of the expected return of George from + America; and in compliance with the wishes of his uncles he accepted it. + The house was thronged with visitors, and many of them were ladies. To + these, the arrival of the unmarried heir of the house of Derwent was a + subject of no little interest. His character had, however, preceded him, + and a few days of his awkward and, as they conceived, sullen deportment, + drove them back to their former beaux, with the exception of one; and she + was not only amongst the fairest of the throng, but decidedly of the + highest pretensions on the score of birth and fortune. + </p> + <p> + Marian Lumley was the only surviving child of the last Duke of Annerdale, + with whom had expired the higher honors of his house. But the Earldom of + Pendennyss, with numerous ancient baronies, were titles in fee; and + together with his princely estates had descended to his daughter as + heir-general of the family. A peeress in her own right, with an income far + exceeding her utmost means of expenditure, the lovely Countess of + Pendennyss was a prize aimed at by all the young nobles of the empire. + </p> + <p> + Educated in the midst of flatterers and dependants she had become haughty, + vain, and supercilious; still she was lovely, and no one knew better how + to practise the most winning arts of her sex, when whim or interest + prompted her to the trial. + </p> + <p> + Her host was her guardian and relative; and through his agency she had + rejected, at the age of twenty, numerous suitors for her hand. Her eyes + were fixed on the ducal coronet; and unfortunately for Francis Denbigh, he + was, at the time, the only man of the proper age who could elevate her to + that enviable distinction in the kingdom; and an indirect measure of her + own had been the means of his invitation to the country. + </p> + <p> + Like the rest of her young companions, Marian was greatly disappointed on + the view of her intended captive, and for a day or two she abandoned him + to his melancholy and himself. But ambition was her idol; and to its + powerful rival, love, she was yet a stranger. After a few struggles with + her inclinations the consideration that their united fortunes and family + alliances would make one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in the + kingdom, prevailed. Such early sacrifices of the inclinations in a woman + of her beauty, youth and accomplishments, may excite surprise; but where + the mind is left uncultivated by the hand of care, the soul untouched by + the love of goodness, the human heart seldom fails to set up an idol of + its own to worship. In the Countess of Pendennyss this idol was pride. + </p> + <p> + The remainder of the ladies, from ceasing to wonder at the manners of + Francis, had made them the subject of their mirth; and nettled at his + apparent indifference to their society, which they erroneously attributed + to his sense of his importance, they overstepped the bounds of + good-breeding in manifesting their displeasure. + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh," cried one of the most thoughtless and pretty of the gay + tribe to him one day, as Francis sat in a corner abstracted from the scene + around him, "when do you mean to favor the world with your brilliant ideas + in the shape of a book?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no doubt soon," said a second; "and I expect they will be homilies, + or another volume to the Whole Duty of Man." + </p> + <p> + "Rather," cried a third, with bitter irony, "another canto to the Rape of + the Lock, his ideas are so vivid and full of imagery." + </p> + <p> + "Or, what do you think," said a fourth, speaking in a voice of harmony, + and tones of the most soothing tenderness, "of pity and compassion, for + the follies of those inferior minds, who cannot enjoy the reflections of a + good sense and modesty peculiarly his own?" + </p> + <p> + This might also be irony; and Francis thought it so; but the tones were so + soft and conciliating, that with a face pale with his emotions, he + ventured to look up and met the eye of Marian, fixed on him in an + expression that changed his death-like hue into the color of vermillion. + </p> + <p> + He thought of this speech; he reasoned on it; he dreamt on it. But for the + looks which accompanied it, like the rest of the party, he would have + thought it the cruellest cut of them all. But that look, those eyes, that + voice, what a commentary on her language did they not afford! + </p> + <p> + Francis was not long in suspense; the next morning an excursion was + proposed, which included all but himself in its arrangements. He was + either too reserved or too proud to offer services which were not + required. + </p> + <p> + Several gentlemen had contended for the honor of driving the countess in a + beautiful phaeton of her own. They grew earnest in their claims: one had + been promised by its mistress with an opportunity of trying the ease of + the carriage; another was delighted with the excellent training of her + horses; in short, all had some particular claim to the distinction, which + was urged with a warmth and pertinacity proportionate to the value of the + prize to be obtained. Marian heard the several claimants with an ease and + indifference natural to her situation, and ended the dispute by saying-- + </p> + <p> + "Gentlemen, as I have made so many promises from the dread of giving + offence, I must throw myself on the mercy of Mr. Denbigh, who alone, with + the best claims, does not urge them; to you then," continued she, + approaching him with the whip which was to be given the victor, "I adjudge + the prize, if you will condescend to accept it." + </p> + <p> + This was uttered with one of her most attractive smiles, and Francis + received the whip with an emotion that he with difficulty could control. + </p> + <p> + The gentlemen were glad to have the contest decided by adjudging the prize + to one so little dangerous, and the ladies sneered at her choice as they + left the house. + </p> + <p> + There was something so soothing in the manners of Lady Pendennyss, she + listened to the little he said with such a respectful attention, was so + anxious to have him give his opinions, that the unction of flattery, thus + sweetly applied, and for the first time, could not fail of its wonted + effects. + </p> + <p> + The communications thus commenced were continued. It was so easy to be + attentive, by being simply polite to one unused to notice of any kind, + that Marian found the fate of the young man in her hands almost as soon as + she attempted to control it. + </p> + <p> + A new existence opened upon Francis, as day after day she insensibly led + him to a display of powers he was unconscious until now of possessing + himself. His self-respect began to increase, his limited pleasures to + multiply, and he could now look around him with a sense of participation + in the delights of life, as he perceived himself of consequence to this + much admired woman. + </p> + <p> + Trifling incidents, managed on her part with consummate art, had led him + to the daring inference that he was not entirely indifferent to her; and + Francis returned the incipient affection of his mistress with a feeling + but little removed from adoration. Week flew by after week, and still he + lingered at the residence of his kinsman, unable to tear himself from the + society of one so worshipped, and yet afraid to take a step by making a + distinct declaration which might involve him in disgrace or ridicule. + </p> + <p> + The condescension of the countess increased, and she had indirectly given + him the most flattering assurances of his success, when George, just + arrived from America, having first paid his greetings to his reconciled + parents, and the happy couple of his generosity, flew to the arms of his + brother in Suffolk. + </p> + <p> + Francis was overjoyed to see George, and George delighted in the visible + improvement of his brother. Still Francis was far, very far behind his + junior in graces of mind and body; indeed, few men in England were more + adapted by nature and education for female society than was Colonel + Denbigh at the period of which we write. + </p> + <p> + Marian witnessed all his attractions, and deeply felt their influence; for + the first time she felt the emotions of the gentle passion; and after + having sported in the gay world, and trifled with the feelings of others + for years, the countess in her turn became an unwilling victim to its + power. George met her flame with a corresponding ardor, and the struggle + between ambition and love became severe; the brothers unconsciously were + rivals. + </p> + <p> + Had George for a moment suspected the situation of the feelings of + Francis, his very superiority in the contest would have induced him to + retreat from the unnatural rivalry. Had the elder dreamt of the views of + his junior, he would have abandoned his dearest hopes in utter despair. + Francis had so long been accustomed to consider George as his superior in + everything, that a competition with him would have appeared desperate. + Marian contrived to keep both in hopes, undecided herself which to choose, + and perhaps ready to yield to the first applicant. A sudden event, + however, removed all doubts, and decided the fate of the three. + </p> + <p> + The Duke of Derwent and his bachelor brother became so dissatisfied with + the character of their future heir, that they as coolly set about + providing themselves with wives as they had performed any other ordinary + transaction of life, They married cousins, and on the same day the choice + of the ladies was assigned between them by lots; and if his grace got the + prettier, his brother certainly got the richest; under the circumstances a + very tolerable distribution of fortune's favors. + </p> + <p> + These double marriages dissolved the charm of Francis, and Lady Pendennyss + determined to consult her wishes; a little pointed encouragement brought + out the declaration of George, and he was accepted. + </p> + <p> + Francis, who had never communicated his feelings to any one but the lady, + and that only indirectly, was crushed by the blow. He continued in public + until the day of their union; was present, composed and silent; but it was + the silence of a mountain whose volcanic contents had not reached the + surface. The same day he disappeared, and every inquiry after him proved + fruitless; search was baffled, and for seven years it was not known what + had become of the general's eldest son. + </p> + <p> + George on marrying resigned his commission, at the earnest entreaties of + his wife, and retired to one of her seats, to the enjoyment of ease and + domestic love. The countess was enthusiastically attached to him; and as + motives for the indulgence of coquetry were wanting, her character became + gradually improved by the contemplation of the excellent qualities of her + generous husband. + </p> + <p> + A lurking suspicion of the cause of Francis's sudden disappearance + rendered her uneasy at times; but Marian was too much beloved, too happy, + in the enjoyment of too many honors, and of too great wealth, to be open + to the convictions of conscience. It is in our hours of pain and privation + that we begin to feel its sting: if we are prosperous, we fancy we reap + the fruits of our own merit; but if we are unfortunate, the voice of truth + seldom fails to remind us that we are deserving of our fate:--a blessed + provision of Providence that often makes the saddest hours of our earthly + career the morn of a day that is to endure for ever. + </p> + <p> + General Denbigh and Lady Margaret both died within five years of the + marriage of their favorite child, although both lived to see their + descendant, in the person of the infant Lord Lumley. + </p> + <p> + The duke and his brother George were each blessed with offspring, and in + these several descendants of the different branches of the family of + Denbigh may be seen the different personages of our history. On the birth + of her youngest child, the Lady Marian, the Countess of Pendennyss + sustained a shock in her health from which she never wholly recovered: she + became nervous, and lost most of her energy both of mind and body. Her + husband was her solace; his tenderness remaining unextinguished, while his + attentions increased. + </p> + <p> + As the fortune of Ives and Isabel put the necessity of a living out of the + question, and no cure offering for the acceptance of the first, he was + happy to avail himself of an offer to become domestic chaplain to his now + intimate friend, Mr. Denbigh. For the first six years they were inmates of + Pendennyss Castle. The rector of the parish was infirm, and averse to a + regular assistant; but the unobtrusive services of Mr. Ives were not less + welcome to the pastor than to his parishioners. + </p> + <p> + Employed in the duties which of right fell to the incumbent, and intrusted + with the spiritual guardianship of the dependants of the castle, our young + clergyman had ample occupation for all his time, if not a sufficient + theatre for his usefulness. Isabel and himself remained the year round in + Wales, and the first dawnings of education received by Lord Lumley were + those he acquired conjointly with Francis from the care of the latter's + father. They formed, with the interval of the time spent by Mr. Denbigh + and Lady Pendennyss in town in winter, but one family. To the gentleman, + the attachment of the grateful Ives was as strong as it was lasting. Mrs. + Ives never ceased to consider him as a self-devoted victim to her + happiness; and although a far more brilliant lot had awaited him by the + change, yet her own husband could not think it a more happy one. + </p> + <p> + The birth of Lady Marian had already, in its consequences, begun, to throw + a gloom round the domestic comforts of Denbigh, when he was to sustain + another misfortune in a separation from his friends. + </p> + <p> + Mr., now Dr. Ives, had early announced his firm intention, whenever an + opportunity was afforded him, to enter into the fullest functions of his + ministry, as a matter of duty. Such an opportunity now offered at B----, + and the doctor became its rector about the period Sir Edward became + possessor of his paternal estate. + </p> + <p> + Denbigh tried every inducement within his power to keep the doctor in his + own society. If as many thousands as his living would give him hundreds + could effect it, they would have been at his service; but Denbigh + understood the character of the divine too well to offer such an + inducement: he however urged the claims of friendship to the utmost, but + without success. The doctor acknowledged the hold both himself and family + had gained upon his affections, but he added-- + </p> + <p> + "Consider, my dear Mr. Denbigh, what we would have thought of one of the + earlier followers of our Saviour, who from motives of convenience or + worldly-mindedness could have deserted his sacred calling. Although the + changes in the times may have rendered the modes of conducting them + different, necessarily the duties remain the same. The minister of our + holy religion who has once submitted to the call of his divine Master, + must allow nothing but ungovernable necessity to turn him from the path he + has entered on; and should he so far forget himself, I greatly fear he + would plead, when too late to remedy the evil, his worldly duties, his + cares, or even his misfortunes, in vain. Solemn and arduous are his + obligations to labor, but when faithfully he has discharged these duties, + oh! how glorious must be his reward." + </p> + <p> + Before such opinions every barrier must fall, and the doctor entered into + the cure of his parish without further opposition, though not without + unceasing regret on the part of his friend. Their intercourse was, + however, maintained by letter, and they also frequently met at Lumley + Castle, a seat of the countess's, within two days' ride of the doctor's + parish, until her increasing indisposition rendered journeying impossible; + then, indeed, the doctor extended his rides into Wales, but with longer + intervals between his visits, though with the happiest effects to the + objects of his journey. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Denbigh, worn down with watching and blasted hopes, under the + direction of the spiritual watchfulness of the rector of B----, became an + humble, sincere, and pious Christian. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLV. + </h2> + <p> + It has been already mentioned, that the health of Lady Pendennyss suffered + a severe shock, in giving birth to a daughter. Change of scene was + prescribed as a remedy for her disorder, and Denbigh and his wife were on + their return from a fruitless excursion amongst the northern lakes, in + pursuit of amusement and relief for the latter when they were compelled to + seek shelter from the fury of a sudden gust in the first building that + offered. It was a farm-house of the better sort; and the attendants, + carriages, and appearance of their guests, caused no little confusion to + its simple inmates. A fire was lighted in the best parlor, and every + effort was made by the inhabitants to contribute to the comforts of the + travellers. + </p> + <p> + The countess and her husband were sitting in that kind of listless + melancholy which had been too much the companion of their later hours, + when in the interval of the storm, a male voice in an adjoining room + commenced singing the following ballad, the notes being low, monotonous, + but unusually sweet, and the enunciation so distinct, as to rende every + syllable intelligible: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + Oh! I have lived in endless pain,<br /> And I have lived, alas! in vain,<br /> + For none regard my woe--<br /> No father's care conveyed the + truth,<br /> No mother's fondness blessed my youth,<br /> Ah! + joys too great to know-- + </p> + </blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + And Marian's love, and Marian's pride,<br /> Have crushed the heart that + would have died.<br /> To save my Marian's tears--<br /> A + brother's hand has struck the blow<br /> Oh! may that brother never know<br /> + Such madly sorrowing years! + </p> + </blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + But hush my griefs--and hush my song,<br /> I've mourned in vain--I've + mourned too long;<br /> When none have come to soothe--<br /> + And dark's the path, that lies before,<br /> And dark have been the days + of yore,<br /> And all was dark in youth. + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + The maids employed around the person of their comfortless mistress, the + valet of Denbigh engaged in arranging a dry coat for his master--all + suspended their employments to listen in breathless silence to the + mournful melody of the song. + </p> + <p> + But Denbigh himself had started from his seat at the first notes, and he + continued until the voice ceased, gazing in vacant horror in the direction + of the sounds. A door opened from the parlor to the room of the musician; + he rushed through it, and there, in a kind of shed to the building, which + hardly sheltered him from the fury of the tempest, clad in the garments of + the extremest poverty, with an eye roving in madness, and a body rocking + to and fro from mental inquietude, he beheld seated on a stone the remains + of his long lost brother, Francis. + </p> + <p> + The language of the song was too plain to be misunderstood. The truth + glared around George with a violence that dazzled his brain; but he saw it + all, he felt it all, and rushing to the feet of his brother, he exclaimed + in horror, pressing his hands between his own,-- + </p> + <p> + "Francis--my own brother--do you not know me?" + </p> + <p> + The maniac regarded him with a vacant gaze, but the voice and the person + recalled the compositions of his more reasonable moments to his + recollection; pushing back the hair of George, so as to expose his fine + forehead to view, he contemplated him for a few moments, and then + continued to sing, in a voice still rendered sweeter than before by his + faint impressions: + </p> + <blockquote> + <p> + His raven locks, that richly curled,<br /> His eye, that proud defiance + hurled.<br /> Have stol'n my Marian's love!<br /> Had I been + blest by nature's grace,<br /> With such a form, with such a face,<br /> + Could I so treacherous prove? + </p> + </blockquote> + <blockquote> + <p> + And what is man--and what is care--<br /> That he should let such + passions tear<br /> The bases of the soul!<br /> Oh! you + should do, as I have done--<br /> And having pleasure's summit won,<br /> + Each bursting sob control! + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + On ending the last stanza, the maniac released his brother, and broke into + the wildest laugh of madness. + </p> + <p> + "Francis!--Oh! Francis, my brother," cried George, in bitterness. A + piercing shriek drew his eye to the door he had passed through--on its + threshold lay the senseless body of his wife. The distracted husband + forgot everything in the situation of his Marian, and raising her in his + arms, he exclaimed,-- + </p> + <p> + "Marian--my Marian, revive--look up--know me." + </p> + <p> + Francis had followed him, and now stood by his side, gazing intently on + the lifeless body; his looks became more soft--his eye glanced less + wildly--he too cried,-- + </p> + <p> + "Marian--<i>My</i> Marian." + </p> + <p> + There was a mighty effort; nature could endure no more, he broke a + blood-vessel and fell at the feet of George. They flew to his assistance, + giving the countess to her women; but he was dead. + </p> + <p> + For seventeen years Lady Pendennyss survived this shock: but having + reached her own abode, during that long period she never left her room. + </p> + <p> + In the confidence of his surviving hopes, Doctor Ives and his wife were + made acquainted with the real cause of the grief of their friend, but the + truth went no further. Denbigh was the guardian of his three young + cousins, the duke, his sister, and young George Denbigh; these, with his + son, Lord Lumley, and daughter, Lady Marian, were removed from the + melancholy of the Castle to scenes better adapted to their opening + prospects in life. Yet Lumley was fond of the society of his father, and + finding him a youth endowed beyond his years, the care of his parent was + early turned to the most important of his duties in that sacred office; + and when he yielded to his wishes to go into the army, he knew he went a + youth of sixteen, possessed of principles and self-denial that would + become a man of five-and-twenty. + </p> + <p> + General Wilson completed the work which the father had begun; and Lord + Lumley formed a singular exception to the character of most of his + companions. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the Spanish war, he returned home, and was just in time to + receive the parting breath of his mother. + </p> + <p> + A few days before her death, the countess requested that her children + might be made acquainted with her history and misconduct; and she placed + in the hands of her son a letter; with directions for him to open it after + her decease. It was addressed to both children, and after recapitulating + generally the principal events of her life, continued: + </p> + <p> + "Thus, my children, you perceive the consequences of indulgence and + hardness of heart, which made me insensible to the sufferings of others, + and regardless of the plainest dictates of justice. Self was my idol. The + love of admiration, which was natural to me, was increased by the + flatterers who surrounded me; and had the customs of our country suffered + royalty to descend in their unions to a grade in life below their own, + your uncle would have escaped the fangs of my baneful coquetry. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Marian, my child, never descend so low as to practise those arts + which have degraded your unhappy mother. I would impress on you, as a + memorial of my parting affection, these simple truths--that coquetry + stands next to the want of chastity in the scale of female vices; it is in + fact a kind of mental prostitution; it is ruinous to all that delicacy of + feeling which gives added lustre to female charms; it is almost + destructive to modesty itself. A woman who has been addicted to its + practice, may strive long and in vain to regain that singleness of heart, + which can bind her up so closely in her husband and children as to make + her a good wife or a mother; and if it should have degenerated into habit, + it may lead to the awful result of infidelity to her marriage vows. + </p> + <p> + "It is vain for a coquette to pretend to religion; its practice involves + hypocrisy, falsehood, and deception--everything that is mean--everything + that is debasing. In short, as it is bottomed on selfishness and pride, + where it has once possessed the mind, it will only yield to the + truth-displaying banners of the cross. This, and this only, can remove the + evil; for without it she, whom the charms of youth and beauty have enabled + to act the coquette, will descend into the vale of life, altered, it is + true, but not amended. She will find the world, with its allurements, + clinging around her parting years, in vain regrets for days that are + flown, and in mercenary views for her descendants. Heaven bless you, my + children, console and esteem your inestimable father while he yet remains + with you; and place your reliance on that Heavenly Parent who will never + desert those who seek him in sincerity and love. Your dying mother, + </p> + <p> + "M. PENDENNYSS." + </p> + <p> + This letter, evidently written under the excitement of deep remorse, made + a great impression on both her children. In Lady Marian it was pity, + regret, and abhorrence of the fault which had been the principal cause of + the wreck of her mother's peace of mind; but in her brother, now Earl of + Pendennyss, these feelings were united with a jealous dread of his own + probable lot in the chances of matrimony. + </p> + <p> + His uncle had been the supposed heir to a more elevated title than his + own, but he was now the actual possessor of as honorable a name, and of + much larger revenues. The great wealth of his maternal grandfather, and + the considerable estate of his own father, were, or would soon be, centred + in himself; and if a woman as amiable, as faultless, as affection had + taught him to believe his mother to be, could yield in her situation to + the lure of worldly honors, had he not great reason to dread, that a hand + might be bestowed at some day upon himself, when the heart would point out + some other destination, if the real wishes of its owner were consulted? + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss was modest by nature, and humble from principle, though by no + means distrustful; yet the shock of discovering his mother's fault, the + gloom occasioned by her death and his father's declining health, sometimes + led him into a train of reflections which, at others, he would have + fervently deprecated. + </p> + <p> + A short time after the decease of the countess, Mr. Denbigh, finding his + constitution fast giving way, under the wasting of a decline he had been + in for a year, resolved to finish his days in the abode of his Christian + friend, Doctor Ives. For several years they had not met; increasing duties + and infirmities on both sides having interrupted their visits. + </p> + <p> + By easy stages he left the residence of his son in Wales, and accompanied + by both his children he reached Lumley Castle much exhausted; here he took + a solemn and final leave of Marian, unwilling that she should so soon + witness again the death of another parent, and dismissing the earl's + equipage and attendants a short day's ride from B----, they proceeded + alone to the rectory. + </p> + <p> + A letter had been forwarded acquainting the doctor of his approaching + visit, wishing it to be perfectly private, but not alluding to its object, + and naming a day, a week later than the one on which he arrived. This plan + was altered on perceiving the torch of life more rapidly approaching the + socket than he had at first supposed. His unexpected appearance and + reception are known. Denbigh's death and the departure of his son + followed; Francis having been Pendennyss's companion to the tomb of his + ancestors in Westmoreland. + </p> + <p> + The earl had a shrinking delicacy, under the knowledge of his family + history, that made him anxious to draw all eyes from the contemplation of + his mother's conduct; how far the knowledge of it had extended in society + he could not know, but he wished it buried with her in the tomb. The + peculiar manner of his father's death would attract notice, and might + recall attention to the prime cause of his disorder; as yet all was + veiled, and he wished the doctor's family to let it remain so. It was, + however, impossible that the death of a man of Mr. Denbigh's rank should + be unnoticed in the prints, and the care of Francis dictated the simple + truth without comments, as it appeared. As regarded the Moseleys, what was + more natural than that the son of <i>Mr. Denbigh</i> should also be <i>Mr. + Denbigh?</i> + </p> + <p> + In the presence of the rector's family no allusions were made to their + friends, and the villagers and the neighborhood spoke of them as old and + young Mr. Denbigh. + </p> + <p> + The name of Lord Lumley, now Earl of Pendennyss, was known to the whole + British nation; but the long retirement of his father and mother had + driven them almost from the recollection of their friends. Even Mrs. + Wilson supposed her favorite hero a Lumley. Pendennyss Castle had been for + centuries the proud residence of that family; and the change of name in + its possessor was forgotten with the circumstances that had led to it. + </p> + <p> + When, therefore, Emily met the earl so unexpectedly the second time at the + rectory, she, of course, with all her companions, spoke of him as Mr. + Denbigh. On that occasion, Pendennyss had called in person, in expectation + of meeting his kinsman, Lord Bolton; but, finding him absent, he could not + resist his desire to visit the rectory. Accordingly, he sent his carriage + and servants on to London, leaving them at a convenient spot, and arrived + on foot at the house of Dr. Ives. From the same motives which had + influenced him before--a wish to indulge, undisturbed by useless ceremony, + his melancholy reflections--he desired that his name might not be + mentioned. + </p> + <p> + This was an easy task. Both Doctor and Mrs. Ives had called him, when a + child, George or Lumley, and were unused to his new appellation of + Pendennyss; indeed, it rather recalled painful recollections to them all. + </p> + <p> + It may be remembered that circumstances removed the necessity of any + introduction to Mrs. Wilson and her party; and the difficulty in that + instance was happily got rid of. + </p> + <p> + The earl had often heard Emily Moseley spoken of by his friends, and in + their letters they frequently mentioned her name as connected with their + pleasures and employments, and always with an affection Pendennyss thought + exceeding that which they manifested for their son's wife; and Mrs Ives, + the evening before, to remove unpleasant thoughts, had given him a lively + description of her person and character. The earl's curiosity had been a + little excited to see this paragon of female beauty and virtue; and, + unlike most curiosity on such subjects, he was agreeably disappointed by + the examination. He wished to know more, and made interest with the doctor + to assist him to continue the incognito with which accident had favored + him. + </p> + <p> + The doctor objected on the ground of principle, and the earl desisted; but + the beauty of Emily, aided by her character, had made an impression not to + be easily shaken off, and Pendennyss returned to the charge. + </p> + <p> + His former jealousies were awakened in proportion to his admiration; and, + after some time, he threw himself on the mercy of the divine, by declaring + his new motive, but without mentioning his parents. The doctor pitied him, + for he scanned his feelings thoroughly, and consented to keep silent, but + laughingly declared it was bad enough for a divine to be accessory to, + much less aiding in a deception; and that he knew if Emily and Mrs. Wilson + learnt his imposition, he would lose ground in their favor by the + discovery. + </p> + <p> + "Surely, George," said the doctor with a laugh, "you don't mean to marry + the young lady as Mr. Denbigh?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh, no! it is too soon to think of marrying her at all," replied the earl + with a smile; "but, somehow, I should like to see what my reception in the + world will be as plain Mr. Denbigh, unprovided for and unknown." + </p> + <p> + "No doubt, my lord," said the rector archly, "in proportion to your + merits, very unfavorably indeed; but then your humility will be finally + elevated by the occasional praises I have heard Mrs. Wilson lavish on your + proper character of late." + </p> + <p> + "I am much indebted to her partiality," continued the earl mournfully; + then throwing off his gloomy thoughts he added, "I wonder, my dear doctor, + your goodness did not set her right in the latter particular." + </p> + <p> + "Why, she has hardly given me an opportunity; delicacy and my own feelings + have kept me very silent on the subject of your family to any of that + connexion. They think, I believe, I was a rector in Wales, instead of your + father's chaplain; and somehow," continued the doctor, smiling on his + wife, "the association with your late parents was so connected in my mind + with my most romantic feelings, that although I have delighted in it, I + have seldom alluded to it in conversation at all. Mrs. Wilson has spoken + of you but twice in my hearing, and that since she has expected to meet + you; your name has doubtless recalled the remembrance of her husband." + </p> + <p> + "I have many, many reasons to remember the general with gratitude," cried + the earl with fervor; "but doctor, do not forget my incognito: only call + me George; I ask no more." + </p> + <p> + The plan of Pendennyss was put in execution. Day after day he lingered in + Northamptonshire, until his principles and character had grown upon the + esteem of the Moseleys in the manner we have mentioned. + </p> + <p> + His frequent embarrassments were from the dread and shame of a detection. + With Sir Herbert Nicholson he had a narrow escape, and Mrs. Fitzgerald and + Lord Henry Stapleton he of course avoided; for having gone so far, he was + determined to persevere to the end. Egerton he thought knew him, and he + disliked his character and manners. + </p> + <p> + When Chatterton appeared most attentive to Emily, the candor and good + opinion of that young nobleman made the earl acquainted with his wishes + and his situation. Pendennyss was too generous not to meet his rival on + fair grounds. His cousin and the duke were requested to use their united + influence secretly to obtain the desired station for the baron. The result + is known, and Pendennyss trusted his secret to Chatterton; he took him to + London, gave him in charge to Derwent, and returned to prosecute his own + suit. His note from Bolton Castle was a <i>ruse</i> to conceal his + character, as he knew the departure of the baronet's family to an hour, + and had so timed his visit to the earl as not to come in collision with + the Moseleys. + </p> + <p> + "Indeed, my lord," cried the doctor to him one day, "your scheme goes on + swimmingly, and I am only afraid when your mistress discovers the + imposition, you will find your rank producing a different effect from what + you have apprehended." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLVI. + </h2> + <p> + But Dr. Ives was mistaken. Had he seen the sparkling eyes and glowing + cheeks of Miss Moseley, the smile of satisfaction and happiness which + played on the usually thoughtful face of Mrs. Wilson, when the earl handed + them into his own carriage, as they left his house on the evening of the + discovery, the doctor would have gladly acknowledged the failure of his + prognostics. In truth, there was no possible event that, under the + circumstances, could have given both aunt and niece such heartfelt + pleasure, as the knowledge that Denbigh and the earl were the same person. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss stood holding the door of the carriage in his hand, irresolute + how to act, when Mrs. Wilson said-- + </p> + <p> + "Surely, my lord, you sup with us." + </p> + <p> + "A thousand thanks, my dear madam, for the privilege," cried the earl, as + he sprang into the coach; the door was closed, and they drove off. + </p> + <p> + "After the explanations of this morning, my lord," said Mrs. Wilson, + willing to remove all doubts between him and Emily, and perhaps anxious to + satisfy her own curiosity, "it will be fastidious to conceal our desire to + know more of your movements. How came your pocket-book in the possession + of Mrs. Fitzgerald?" + </p> + <p> + "Mrs. Fitzgerald!" cried Pendennyss, in astonishment "I lost the book in + one of the rooms of the Lodge, and supposed it had fallen into your hands, + and betrayed my disguise by Emily's rejection of me, and your own altered + eye. Was I mistaken then in both?" + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson now, for the first time, explained their real grounds for + refusing his offers, which, in the morning, she had loosely mentioned as + owing to a misapprehension of his just character, and recounted the manner + of the book falling into the hands of Mrs. Fitzgerald. + </p> + <p> + The earl listened in amazement, and after musing with himself, exclaimed-- + </p> + <p> + "I remember taking it from my pocket, to show Colonel Egerton some + singular plants I had gathered, and think I first missed it when returning + to the place where I had then laid it; in some of the side-pockets were + letters from Marian, addressed to me, properly; and I naturally thought + they had met your eye." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson and Emily immediately thought Egerton the real villain, who + had caused both themselves and Mrs. Fitzgerald so much uneasiness, and the + former mentioned her suspicions to the earl. + </p> + <p> + "Nothing more probable, dear madam," cried he, "and this explains to me + his startled looks when we first met, and his evident dislike to my + society, for he must have seen my person, though the carriage hid <i>him</i> + from my sight." + </p> + <p> + That Egerton was the wretch, and that through his agency the pocket-book + had been carried to the cottage, they all now agreed, and turned to more + pleasant subjects. + </p> + <p> + "Master!--here--master," said Peter Johnson, as he stood at a window of + Mr. Benfield's room, stirring a gruel for the old gentleman's supper, and + stretching his neck and straining his eyes to distinguish objects by the + light of the lamps--"I do think there is Mr. Denbigh, handing Miss Emmy + from a coach, covered with gold, and two footmen, all dizened with pride + like." + </p> + <p> + The spoon fell from the hands of Mr. Benfield. He rose briskly from his + seat, and adjusting his dress, took the arm of the steward, and proceeded + to the drawing-room. While these several movements were in operation, + which consumed some time, the old bachelor relieved the tedium of Peter's + impatience by the following speech:-- + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh!--what, back?--I thought he never could let that rascal John + shoot him and forsake Emmy after all; (here the old gentleman suddenly + recollected Denbigh's marriage) but now, Peter, it can do no good + either.--I remember, that when my friend the Earl of Gosford "--(and again + he was checked by the image of the card-table and the viscountess) "but, + Peter," he said with great warmth, "we can go down and see him, + notwithstanding." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh!" exclaimed Sir Edward, in astonishment, when he saw the + companion of his sister and child enter the drawing-room, "you are welcome + once more to your old friends: your sudden retreat from us gave us much + pain; but we suppose Lady Laura had too many attractions to allow us to + keep you any longer in Norfolk." + </p> + <p> + The good Baronet sighed, as he held out his hand to the man whom he had + once hoped to receive as a son. + </p> + <p> + "Neither Lady Laura nor any other lady, my dear Sir Edward," cried the + earl, as he took the baronet's hand, "drove me from you, but the frowns of + your own fair daughter; and here she is, ready to acknowledge her offence, + and, I hope, to atone for it." + </p> + <p> + John, who knew of the refusal of his sister, and was not a little + displeased with the cavalier treatment he had received at Denbigh's hands, + felt indignant at such improper levity in a married man, and approached + with-- + </p> + <p> + "Your servant, Mr. Denbigh--I hope my Lady Laura is well." + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss understood his look, and replied very gravely-- + </p> + <p> + "Your servant, Mr. John Moseley--my Lady Laura is, or certainly ought to + be, very well, as she has this moment gone to a rout, accompanied by her + husband." + </p> + <p> + The quick eye of John glanced from the earl to his aunt, to Emily; a + lurking smile was on all their features. The heightened color of his + sister, the flashing eyes of the young nobleman, the face of his aunt, all + told him that something uncommon was about to be explained; and, yielding + to his feelings, he caught the hand which Pendennyss extended to him, and + cried, + </p> + <p> + "Denbigh, I see--I feel--there is some unaccountable mistake--we are--" + </p> + <p> + "Brothers!" said the earl, emphatically. "Sir Edward--dear Lady Moseley, I + throw myself on your mercy. I am an impostor: when your hospitality + received me into your house, it is true you admitted George Denbigh, but + he is better known as the Earl of Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "The Earl of Pendennyss!" exclaimed Lady Moseley, in a glow of delight, as + she saw at once through some juvenile folly a deception which promised + both happiness and rank to one of her children. "Is it possible, my dear + Charlotte, that this is your unknown friend?" + </p> + <p> + "The very same, Anne," replied the smiling widow, "and guilty of a folly + that, at all events, removes the distance between us a little, by showing + that he is subject to the failings of mortality. But the masquerade is + ended, and I hope you and Edward will not only treat him as an earl, but + receive him as a son." + </p> + <p> + "Most willingly--most willingly," cried the baronet, with great energy; + "be he prince, peer, or beggar, he is the preserver of my child, and as + such he is always welcome." + </p> + <p> + The door now slowly opened, and the venerable bachelor appeared on its + threshold. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss, who had never forgotten the good will manifested to him by Mr. + Benfield, met him with a look of pleasure, as he expressed his happiness + at seeing him again in London. + </p> + <p> + "I never have forgotten your goodness in sending honest Peter such a + distance from home, on the object of his visit. I now regret that a + feeling of shame occasioned my answering your kindness so laconically:" + turning to Mrs. Wilson, he added, "for a time I knew not how to write a + letter even, being afraid to sign my proper appellation, and ashamed to + use my adopted." + </p> + <p> + "Mr. Denbigh, I am happy to see you. I did send Peter, it is true, to + London, on a message to you--but it is all over now," the old man + sighed--"Peter, however, escaped the snares of this wicked place; and if + you are happy, I am content. I remember when the Earl of--" + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss!" exclaimed the other, "imposed on the hospitality of a worthy + man, under an assumed appellation, in order to pry into the character of a + lovely female, who was only too good for him, and who now is willing to + forget his follies, and make him not only the happiest of men, but the + nephew of Mr. Benfield." + </p> + <p> + During this speech, the countenance of Mr. Benfield had manifested evident + emotion: he looked from one to another, until he saw Mrs. Wilson smiling + near him. Pointing to the earl with his finger, he stood unable to speak, + as she answered simply,-- + </p> + <p> + "Lord Pendennyss." + </p> + <p> + "And Emmy dear--will you--will you marry him?" cried Mr. Benfield, + suppressing his feelings, to give utterance to his question. + </p> + <p> + Emily felt for her uncle, and blushing deeply, with great frankness she + put her hand in that of the earl, who pressed it with rapture again and + again to his lips. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Benfield sank into a chair, and with a heart softened by emotion, + burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," he cried, struggling with his feelings, "I am now ready to depart + in peace--I shall see my darling Emmy happy, and to her care I shall + commit you." + </p> + <p> + Emily, deeply affected with his love, threw herself into his arms, in a + torrent of tears, and was removed from them by Pendennyss, in + consideration for the feelings of both. + </p> + <p> + Jane felt no emotions of envy for her sister's happiness; on the contrary, + she rejoiced in common with the rest of their friends in her brightening + prospects, and they all took their seats at the supper table, as happy a + group as was contained in the wide circle of the metropolis. A few more + particulars served to explain the mystery sufficiently, until a more + fitting opportunity made them acquainted with the whole of the earl's + proceedings. + </p> + <p> + "My Lord Pendennyss," said Sir Edward, pouring out a glass of wine, and + passing the bottle to his neighbor: "I drink your health--and happiness to + yourself and my darling child." + </p> + <p> + The toast was drunk by all the family, and the earl replied to the + compliments with his thanks and smiles, while Emily could only notice them + with her blushes and tears. + </p> + <p> + But this was an opportunity not to be lost by the honest steward, who, + from affection and long services, had been indulged in familiarities + exceeding any other of his master's establishment. He very deliberately + helped himself to a glass of wine, and drawing near the seat of the + bride-elect, with an humble reverence, commenced his speech as follows: + </p> + <p> + "My dear Miss Emmy:--Here's hoping you'll live to be a comfort to your + honored father, and your honored mother, and my dear honored master, and + yourself, and Madam Wilson." The steward paused to clear his voice, and + profited by the delay to cast his eye round the table to collect the + names; "and Mr. John Moseley, and sweet Mrs. Moseley, and pretty Miss + Jane" (Peter had lived too long in the world to compliment one handsome + woman in the presence of another, without the qualifying his speech a + little); "and Mr. Lord Denbigh--earl like, as they say he now is, + and"--Peter stopped a moment to deliberate, and then making another + reference, he put the glass to his lips; but before he had got half + through its contents, recollected himself, and replenishing it to the + brim, with a smile acknowledging his forgetfulness, continued, "and the + Rev. Mr. Francis Ives, and the Rev. Mrs. Francis Ives." + </p> + <p> + Here the unrestrained laugh of John interrupted him; and considering with + himself that he had included the whole family, he finished his bumper. + Whether it was pleasure at his own eloquence in venturing on so long a + speech, or the unusual allowance, that affected the steward, he was + evidently much satisfied with himself, and stepped back behind his + master's chair, in great good humor. + </p> + <p> + Emily, as she thanked him, noticed a tear in the eye of the old man, as he + concluded his oration, that would have excused a thousand breaches of + fastidious ceremony. But Pendennyss rose from his seat, and took him + kindly by the hand, and returned his own thanks for his good wishes. + </p> + <p> + "I owe you much good will, Mr. Johnson, for, your two journeys in my + behalf, and trust I never shall forget the manner in which you executed + your last mission in particular. We are friends, I trust, for life." + </p> + <p> + "Thank you--thank your honor's lordship," said the steward, almost unable + to utter; "I hope you may live long, to make dear little Miss Emmy as + happy--as I know she ought to be." + </p> + <p> + "But really, my lord," cried John, observing that the steward's affection + for his sister had affected her to tears, "it was a singular circumstance, + the meeting of the four passengers of the stage so soon at your hotel." + </p> + <p> + Moseley explained his meaning to the rest of the company. + </p> + <p> + "Not so much so as you imagine," said the earl in reply; "yourself and + Johnson were in quest of me. Lord Henry Stapleton was under an engagement + to meet me that evening at the hotel, as we were both going to his + sister's wedding--I having arranged the thing with him by letter + previously; and General M'Carthy was also in search of me, on business + relating to his niece, the Donna Julia. He had been to Annerdale House, + and, through my servants, heard I was at an hotel. It was the first + interview between us, and not quite as amicable a one as has since been + had in Wales. During my service in Spain, I saw the Conde, but not the + general. The letter he gave me was from the Spanish ambassador, claiming a + right to require Mrs. Fitzgerald from our government, and deprecating my + using an influence to counteract his exertions"-- + </p> + <p> + "Which you refused," said Emily, eagerly. + </p> + <p> + "Not refused," answered the earl, smiling at her warmth, while he admired + her friendly zeal, "for it was unnecessary: there is no such power vested + in the ministry. But I explicitly told the general, I would oppose any + violent measures to restore her to her country and a convent. From the + courts, I apprehended nothing for my fair friend." + </p> + <p> + "Your honor--my lord," said Peter, who had been listening with great + attention, "if I may presume just to ask two questions, without offence." + </p> + <p> + "Say on, my good friend," said Pendennyss, with an encouraging smile. + </p> + <p> + "Only" continued the steward--hemming, to give proper utterance to his + thoughts--"I wish to know, whether you stayed in that same street after + you left the hotel--for Mr. John Moseley and I had a slight difference in + opinion about it." + </p> + <p> + The earl smiled, having caught the arch expression of John, and replied-- + </p> + <p> + "I believe I owe you an apology, Moseley, for my cavalier treatment; but + guilt makes us all cowards. I found you were ignorant of my incognito, and + I was equally ashamed to continue it, or to become the relater of my own + folly. Indeed," he continued, smiling on Emily as he spoke, "I thought + your sister had pronounced the opinion of all reflecting people on my + conduct. I went out of town, Johnson, at day-break. What is the other + query?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, my lord," said Peter, a little disappointed at finding his first + surmise untrue, "that outlandish tongue your honor used--" + </p> + <p> + "Was Spanish," cried the earl. + </p> + <p> + "And not Greek, Peter," said his master, gravely. "I thought, from the + words you endeavored to repeat to me, that you had made a mistake. You + need not be disconcerted, however, for I know several members of the + parliament of this realm who could not talk the Greek language, that is, + fluently. So it can be no disgrace to a serving-man to be ignorant of it." + </p> + <p> + Somewhat consoled to find himself as well off as the representatives of + his country, Peter resumed his station in silence, when the carriages + began to announce the return from the opera. The earl took his leave, and + the party retired to rest. + </p> + <p> + The thanksgivings of Emily that night, ere she laid her head on her + pillow, were the purest offering of mortal innocence. The prospect before + her was unsullied by a cloud and she poured out her heart in the fullest + confidence of pious love and heartfelt gratitude. + </p> + <p> + As early on the succeeding morning as good-breeding would allow, and much + earlier than the hour sanctioned by fashion, the earl and Lady Marian + stopped in the carriage of the latter at the door of Sir Edward Moseley. + Their reception was the most flattering that could be offered to people of + their stamp; sincere, cordial, and, with a trifling exception in Lady + Moseley, unfettered with any useless ceremonies. + </p> + <p> + Emily felt herself drawn to her new acquaintance with a fondness which + doubtless grew out of her situation with her brother; which soon found + reasons enough in the soft, lady-like, and sincere manners of Lady Marian, + to justify her attachment on her own account. + </p> + <p> + There was a very handsome suite of drawing-rooms in Sir Edward's house, + and the communicating doors were carelessly open. Curiosity to view the + furniture, or some such trifling reasons, induced the earl to find his way + into the one adjoining that in which the family were seated. It was + unquestionably a dread of being lost in a strange house, that induced him + to whisper a request to the blushing Emily, to be his companion; and + lastly, it must have been nothing but a knowledge that a vacant room was + easier viewed than one filled with company, that prevented any one from + following them. John smiled archly at Grace, doubtless in approbation of + the comfortable time his friend was likely to enjoy, in his musings on the + taste of their mother. How the door became shut, we have ever been at a + loss to imagine. + </p> + <p> + The company without were too good-natured and well satisfied with each + other to miss the absentees, until the figure of the earl appeared at the + reopened door, beckoning, with a face of rapture, to Lady Moseley and Mrs. + Wilson. Sir Edward next disappeared, then Jane, then Grace--then Marian; + until John began to think a tête-à-tête with Mr. + Benfield was to be his morning's amusement. + </p> + <p> + The lovely countenance of his wife, however, soon relieved his ennui, and + John's curiosity was gratified by an order to prepare for his sister's + wedding the following week. + </p> + <p> + Emily might have blushed more than common during this interview, but it is + certain she did not smile less; and the earl, Lady Marian assured Sir + Edward, was so very different a creature from what he had recently been, + that she could hardly think it was the same sombre gentleman with whom she + had passed the last few months in Wales and Westmoreland. + </p> + <p> + A messenger was dispatched for Dr. Ives and their friends at B----, to be + witnesses to the approaching nuptials; and Lady Moseley at length found an + opportunity of indulging her taste for splendor on this joyful occasion. + </p> + <p> + Money was no consideration; and Mr. Benfield absolutely pined at the + thought that the great wealth of the earl put it out of his power to + contribute in any manner to the comfort of his Emmy. However, a fifteenth + codicil was framed by the ingenuity of Peter and his master, and if it did + not contain the name of George Denbigh, it did that of his expected second + son, Roderick Benfield Denbigh, to the qualifying circumstance of twenty + thousand pounds, as a bribe for the name. + </p> + <p> + "And a very pretty child, I dare say, it will be," said the steward, as he + placed the paper in its repository. "I don't know that I ever saw, your + honor, a couple that I thought would make a handsomer pair like, except--" + Peter's mind dwelt on his own youthful form coupled with the smiling + graces of Patty Steele. + </p> + <p> + "Yes! they are as handsome as they are good!" replied his master. "I + remember now, when our Speaker took his third wife, the world said that + they were as pretty a couple as there was at court. But my Emma and the + earl will be a much finer pair. Oh! Peter Johnson; they are young, and + rich, and beloved; but, after all, it avails but little if they be not + good." + </p> + <p> + "Good!" cried the steward in astonishment; "they are as good as angels." + </p> + <p> + The master's ideas of human excellence had suffered a heavy blow in the + view of his viscountess, but he answered mildly, + </p> + <p> + "As good as mankind can well be." + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLVII. + </h2> + <p> + The warm weather had now commenced; and Sir Edward, unwilling to be shut + up in London at a time the appearance of vegetation gave the country a new + interest, and accustomed for many years of his life to devote an hour in + his garden each morn, had taken a little ready furnished cottage a short + ride from his residence, with the intention of frequenting it until after + the birthday. Thither then Pendennyss took his bride from the altar, and a + few days were passed by the newly married pair in this little asylum. + </p> + <p> + Doctor Ives, with Francis, Clara, and their mother, had obeyed the summons + with an alacrity in proportion to the joy they felt on receiving it, and + the former had the happiness of officiating on the occasion. It would have + been easy for the wealth of the earl to procure a license to enable them + to marry in the drawing-room; the permission was obtained, but neither + Emily nor himself felt a wish to utter their vows in any other spot than + at the altar, and in the house of their Maker. + </p> + <p> + If there was a single heart that felt the least emotion of regret or + uneasiness, it was Lady Moseley, who little relished the retirement of the + cottage on so joyful an occasion; but Pendennyss silenced her objections + by good-humoredly replying-- + </p> + <p> + "The fates have been so kind to me, in giving me castles and seats, you + ought to allow me, my dear Lady Moseley, the only opportunity I shall + probably ever have of enjoying love in a cottage." + </p> + <p> + A few days, however, removed the uneasiness of the good matron, who had + the felicity within the week of seeing her daughter initiated mistress of + Annerdale House. + </p> + <p> + The morning of their return to this noble mansion the earl presented + himself in St. James's Square, with the intelligence of their arrival, and + smiling as he bowed to Mrs. Wilson, he continued-- + </p> + <p> + "And to escort you, dear madam, to your new abode." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson started with surprise, and with a heart beating quick with + emotion, she required an explanation of his words. + </p> + <p> + "Surely, dearest Mrs. Wilson--more than aunt--my mother--you cannot mean, + after having trained my Emily through infancy to maturity in the paths of + duty, to desert her in the moment of her greatest trial. I am the pupil of + your husband," he continued, taking her hands in his own with reverence + and affection; "we are the children of your joint care, and one home, as + there is but one heart, must in future contain us." + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Wilson had wished for, but hardly dared to expect this invitation. It + was now urged from the right quarter, and in a manner that was as sincere + as it was gratifying. Unable to conceal her tears, the good widow pressed + the hand of Pendennyss to her lips as she murmured out her thanks. Sir + Edward was prepared also to lose his sister; but unwilling to relinquish + the pleasure of her society, he urged her making a common residence + between the two families. + </p> + <p> + "Pendennyss has spoken truth, my dear brother," cried she, recovering her + voice; "Emily is the child of my care and my love--the two beings I love + best in this world are now united--but," she added, pressing Lady Moseley + to her bosom, "my heart is large enough for you all; you are of my blood, + and my gratitude for your affection is boundless. There shall be but one + large family of us; and although our duties may separate us for a time, we + will, I trust, ever meet in tenderness and love, though with George and + Emily I will take up my abode." + </p> + <p> + "I hope your house in Northamptonshire is not to be vacant always," said + Lady Moseley to the earl, anxiously. + </p> + <p> + "I have no house there, my dear madam," he replied; "when I thought myself + about to succeed in my suit before, I directed a lawyer at Bath, where Sir + William Harris resided most of his time, to endeavor to purchase the + deanery, whenever a good opportunity offered: in my discomfiture," he + added, smiling, "I forgot to countermand the order, and he purchased it + immediately on its being advertised. For a short time it was an + incumbrance to me, but it is now applied to its original purpose. It is + the sole property of the Countess of Pendennyss, and I doubt not you will + see it often and agreeably tenanted." + </p> + <p> + This intelligence gave great satisfaction to his friends, and the expected + summer restored to even Jane a gleam of her former pleasure. + </p> + <p> + If there be bliss in this life, approaching in any degree to the happiness + of the blessed, it is the fruition of long and ardent love, where youth, + innocence, piety, and family concord, smile upon the union. And all these + were united in the case of the new-married pair; but happiness in this + world cannot or does not, in any situation, exist without alloy. + </p> + <p> + The peace of mind and fortitude of Emily were fated to receive a blow, as + unlooked for to herself as it was unexpected to the world. Bonaparte + appeared in France, and Europe became in motion. + </p> + <p> + From the moment the earl heard the intelligence his own course was + decided. His regiment was the pride of the army, and that it would be + ordered to join the duke he did not entertain a doubt. + </p> + <p> + Emily was, therefore, in some little measure prepared for the blow. It is + at such moments as our own acts, or events affecting us, get to be without + our control, that faith in the justice and benevolence of God is the most + serviceable to the Christian. When others spend their time in useless + regrets he is piously resigned: it even so happens, that when others mourn + he can rejoice. + </p> + <p> + The sound of the bugle, wildly winding its notes, broke on the stillness + of the morning in the little village in which was situated the cottage + tenanted by Sir Edward Moseley. Almost concealed by the shrubbery which + surrounded its piazza, stood the forms of the Countess of Pendennyss and + her sister Lady Marian, watching eagerly the appearance of those whose + approach was thus announced. + </p> + <p> + The carriage of the ladies, with its idle attendants, was in waiting at a + short distance; and the pale face but composed resignation of its + mistress, indicated a struggle between conflicting duties. + </p> + <p> + File after file of heavy horse passed them in military pomp, and the + wistful gaze of the two females had scanned them in vain for the well + known, much-beloved countenance of the leader. At length a single horseman + approached them, riding deliberately and musing: their forms met his eye, + and in an instant Emily was pressed to the bosom of her husband. + </p> + <p> + "It is the doom of a soldier," said the earl, dashing a tear from his eye; + "I had hoped that the peace of the world would not again be assailed for + years, and that ambition and jealousy would yield a respite to our bloody + profession; but cheer up, my love--hope for the best--your trust is not in + the things of this life, and your happiness is without the power of man." + </p> + <p> + "Ah! Pendennyss--my husband," sobbed Emily, sinking on his bosom, "take + with you my prayers--my love--everything that can console you--everything + that may profit you. I will not tell you to be careful of your life; your + duty teaches you that. As a soldier, expose it; as a husband guard it; and + return to me as you leave me, a lover, the dearest of men, and a + Christian." + </p> + <p> + Unwilling to prolong the pain of parting, the earl gave his wife a last + embrace, held Marian affectionately to his bosom, and mounting his horse, + was out of sight in an instant. + </p> + <p> + Within a few days of the departure of Pendennyss, Chatterton was surprised + with the entrance of his mother and Catharine. His reception of them was + that of a respectful child, and his wife exerted herself to be kind to + connexions she could not love, in order to give pleasure to a husband she + adored. Their tale was soon told. Lord and Lady Herriefield were + separated; and the dowager, alive to the dangers of a young woman in + Catharine's situation, and without a single principle on which to rest the + assurance of her blameless conduct in future, had brought her to England, + in order to keep off disgrace, by residing with her child herself. + </p> + <p> + There was nothing in his wife to answer the expectations with which Lord + Herriefield married. She had beauty, but with that he was already sated; + her simplicity, which, by having her attention drawn elsewhere, had at + first charmed him, was succeeded by the knowing conduct of a determined + follower of the fashions, and a decided woman of the world. + </p> + <p> + It had never struck the viscount as impossible that an artless and + innocent girl would fall in love with his faded and bilious face, but the + moment Catharine betrayed the arts of a manager, he saw at once the + artifice that had been practised; of course he ceased to love her. + </p> + <p> + Men are flattered for a season with notice that has been unsought, but it + never fails to injure the woman who practises it in the opinion of the + other sex, in time. Without a single feeling in common, without a regard + to anything but self, in either husband or wife, it could not but happen + that a separation must follow, or their days be spent in wrangling and + misery. Catharine willingly left her husband; her husband more willingly + got rid of her. + </p> + <p> + During all these movements the dowager had a difficult game to play. It + was unbecoming her to encourage the strife, and it was against her wishes + to suppress it; she therefore moralized with the peer, and frowned upon + her daughter. + </p> + <p> + The viscount listened to her truisms with the attention of a boy who is + told by a drunken father how wicked it is to love liquor, and heeded them + about as much; while Kate, mistress at all events of two thousand a year, + minded her mother's frowns as little as she regarded her smiles; both were + indifferent to her. + </p> + <p> + A few days after the ladies left Lisbon, the viscount proceeded to Italy + in company with the repudiated wife of a British naval officer; and if + Kate was not guilty of an offence of equal magnitude, it was more owing to + her mother's present vigilance than to her previous care. + </p> + <p> + The presence of Mrs. Wilson was a great source of consolation to Emily in + the absence of her husband; and as their longer abode in town was useless, + the countess declining to be presented without the earl, the whole family + decided upon a return into Northamptonshire. + </p> + <p> + The deanery had been furnished by order of Pendennyss immediately on his + marriage; and its mistress hastened to take possession of her new + dwelling. The amusement and occupation of this movement, the planning of + little improvements, her various duties under her increased + responsibilities, kept Emily from dwelling unduly upon the danger of her + husband. She sought out amongst the first objects of her bounty the + venerable peasant whose loss had been formerly supplied by Pendennyss on + his first visit to B----, after the death of his father. There might not + have been the usual discrimination and temporal usefulness in this + instance which generally accompanied her benevolent acts; but it was + associated with the image of her husband, and it could excite no surprise + in Mrs. Wilson, although it did in Marian, to see her sister driving two + or three times a week to relieve the necessities of a man who appeared + actually to be in want of nothing. + </p> + <p> + Sir Edward was again amongst those he loved, and his hospitable board was + once more surrounded with the faces of his friends and neighbors. The + good-natured Mr. Haughton was always a welcome guest at the hall, and met, + soon after their return, the collected family of the baronet, at a dinner + given by the latter to his children and one or two of his most intimate + neighbors-- + </p> + <p> + "My Lady Pendennyss," cried Mr. Haughton, in the course of the afternoon, + "I have news from the earl, which I know it will do your heart good to + hear." + </p> + <p> + Emily smiled at the prospect of hearing in any manner of her husband, + although she internally questioned the probability of Mr. Haughton's + knowing anything of his movements, of which her daily letters did not + apprise her. + </p> + <p> + "Will you favor me with the particulars of your intelligence, sir?" said + the countess. + </p> + <p> + "He has arrived safe with his regiment near Brussels; heard it from a + neighbor's son who saw him enter the house occupied by Wellington, while + he was standing in the crowd without, waiting to get a peep at the duke." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" said Mrs. Wilson with a laugh, "Emily knew that ten days ago. Could + your friend tell us anything of Bonaparte? We are much interested in his + movements just now." + </p> + <p> + Mr. Haughton, a good deal mortified to find his news stale, mused a + moment, as if in doubt to proceed or not; but liking of all things to act + the part of a newspaper, he continued-- + </p> + <p> + "Nothing more than you see in the prints; but I suppose your ladyship has + heard about Captain Jarvis too?" + </p> + <p> + "Why, no," said Emily, laughing; "the movements of Captain Jarvis are not + quite as interesting to me as those of Lord Pendennyss--has the duke made + him an aide-de-camp?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no," cried the other, exulting at his having something new: "as soon + as he heard of the return of Boney, he threw up his commission and got + married." + </p> + <p> + "Married!" cried John; "not to Miss Harris, surely." + </p> + <p> + "No; to a silly girl he met in Cornwall, who was fool enough to be caught + with his gold lace. He married one day, and the next told his disconsolate + wife and panic-stricken mother that the honor of the Jarvises must sleep + until the supporters of the name became sufficiently numerous to risk them + in the field of battle." + </p> + <p> + "And how did Mrs. Jarvis and Sir Timo's lady relish the news?" inquired + John, expecting something ridiculous. + </p> + <p> + "Not at all," rejoined Mr. Haughton; "the former sobbed, and said she had + only married him for his bravery and red coat, and the <i>lady</i> + exclaimed against the destruction of his budding honors." + </p> + <p> + "How did it terminate?" asked Mrs. Wilson. + </p> + <p> + "Why, it seems while they were quarrelling about it, the War-Office cut + the matter short by accepting his resignation, I suppose the + commander-in-chief had learned his character; but the matter was warmly + contested: they even drove the captain to a declaration of his + principles." + </p> + <p> + "And what kind of ones might they have been, Haughton?" said Sir Edward, + drily. + </p> + <p> + "Republican." + </p> + <p> + "Republican!" exclaimed two or three in surprise. + </p> + <p> + "Yes, liberty and equality, he contended, were his idols, and he could not + find it in his heart to fight against Bonaparte." + </p> + <p> + "A somewhat singular conclusion," said Mr. Benfield, musing. "I remember + when I sat in the House, there was a party who were fond of the cry of + this said liberty; but when they got the power they did not seem to me to + suffer people to go more at large than they went before; but I suppose + they were diffident of telling the world their minds after they were put + in such responsible stations, for fear of the effect of example." + </p> + <p> + "Most people like liberty as servants but not as masters, uncle," cried + John, with a sneer. + </p> + <p> + "Captain Jarvis, it seems, liked it as a preservative against danger," + continued Mr. Haughton; "to avoid ridicule in his new neighborhood, he has + consented to his father's wishes, and turned merchant in the city again." + </p> + <p> + "Where I sincerely hope he will remain," cried John, who since the + accident of the arbor, could not tolerate the unfortunate youth. + </p> + <p> + "Amen!" said Emily, in an under tone, heard only by her brother. + </p> + <p> + "But Sir Timo--what has become of Sir Timo--the good, honest merchant?" + asked John. + </p> + <p> + "He has dropt the title, insists on being called plain Mr. Jarvis, and + lives entirely in Cornwall. His hopeful son-in-law has gone with his + regiment to Flanders; and Lady Egerton, being unable to live without her + father's assistance, is obliged to hide her consequence in the west also." + </p> + <p> + The subject became now disagreeable to Lady Moseley, and it was changed. + Such conversations made Jane more reserved and dissatisfied than ever. She + had no one respectable excuse to offer for her partiality to her former + lover, and when her conscience told her the mortifying fact, was apt to + think that others remembered it too. + </p> + <p> + The letters from the continent now teemed with preparations for the + approaching contest; and the apprehensions of our heroine and her friends + increased, in proportion to the nearness of the struggle, on which hung + not only the fates of thousands of individuals, but of adverse princes and + mighty empires. In this confusion of interests, and of jarring of + passions, there were offered prayers almost hourly for the safety of + Pendennyss, which were as pure and ardent as the love which prompted them. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLVIII. + </h2> + <p> + Napoleon had commenced those daring and rapid movements, which for a time + threw the peace of the world into the scale of fortune, and which nothing + but the interposition of a ruling Providence could avert from their + threatened success. As the the ----th dragoons wheeled into a field + already deluged with English blood, on the heights of Quatre Bras, the eye + of its gallant colonel saw a friendly battalion falling beneath the sabres + of the enemy's cuirassiers. The word was passed, the column opens, the + sounds of the quivering bugle were heard for a moment above the roar of + the cannon and the shouts of the combatants; the charge, sweeping like a + whirlwind, fell heavily on those treacherous Frenchmen, who to-day had + sworn fidelity to Louis, and to-morrow intended lifting their hands in + allegiance to his rival. + </p> + <p> + "Spare my life in mercy," cried an officer, already dreadfully wounded, + who stood shrinking from the impending blow of an enraged Frenchman. An + English dragoon dashed at the cuirassier, and with one blow severed his + arm from his body. + </p> + <p> + "Thank God," sighed the wounded officer, sinking beneath the horse's feet. + </p> + <p> + His rescuer threw himself from the saddle, and raising the fallen man + inquired into his wounds. It was Pendennyss, and it was Egerton. The + wounded man groaned aloud, as he saw the face of him who had averted the + fatal blow; but it was not the hour for explanations or confessions, other + than those with which the dying soldiers endeavored to make their tardy + peace with their God. + </p> + <p> + Sir Henry was given in charge to two slightly wounded British soldiers, + and the earl remounted: the scattered troops were rallied at the sound of + the trumpet, and again and again, led by their dauntless colonel, were + seen in the thickest of the fray, with sabres drenched in blood, and + voices hoarse with the shouts of victory. + </p> + <p> + The period between the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo was a trying + one to the discipline and courage of the British army. The discomfited + Prussians on their flank had been routed and compelled to retire, and in + their front was an enemy, brave, skilful, and victorious, led by the + greatest captain of the age. The prudent commander of the English forces + fell back with dignity and reluctance to the field of Waterloo; here the + mighty struggle was to terminate, and the eye of every experienced soldier + looked on those eminences as on the future graves for thousands. + </p> + <p> + During this solemn interval of comparative inactivity the mind of + Pendennyss dwelt on the affection, the innocence, the beauty and worth of + his Emily, until the curdling blood, as he thought on her lot should his + life be the purchase of the coming victory, warned him to quit the gloomy + subject, for the consolations of that religion which only could yield him + the solace his wounded feelings required. In his former campaigns the earl + had been sensible of the mighty changes of death, and had ever kept in + view the preparations necessary to meet it with hope and joy; but the + world clung around him now, in the best affections of his nature, and it + was only as he could picture the happy reunion with his Emily in a future + life, that he could look on a separation in this without despair. + </p> + <p> + The vicinity of the enemy admitted of no relaxation in the strictest + watchfulness in the British lines: and the comfortless night of the + seventeenth was passed by the earl, and his Lieutenant Colonel, George + Denbigh, on the same cloak, and under the open canopy of Heaven. + </p> + <p> + As the opening cannon of the enemy gave the signal for the commencing + conflict, Pendennyss mounted his charger with a last thought on his + distant wife. With a mighty struggle he tore her as it were from his + bosom, and gave the remainder of the day to duty. + </p> + <p> + Who has not heard of the events of that fearful hour, on which the fate of + Europe hung as it were suspended in the scale? On one side supported by + the efforts of desperate resolution, guided by the most consummate art; + and on the other defended by a discipline and enduring courage almost + without a parallel. + </p> + <p> + The indefatigable Blucher arrived, and the star of Napoleon sank. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss threw himself from his horse, on the night of the eighteenth of + June, as he gave way by orders, in the pursuit, to the fresher battalions + of the Prussians, with the languor that follows unusual excitement, and + mental thanksgivings that this bloody work was at length ended. The image + of his Emily again broke over the sterner feelings of the battle, like the + first glimmerings of light which succeed the awful darkness of the eclipse + of the sun: and he again breathed freely, in the consciousness of the + happiness which would await his speedy return. + </p> + <p> + "I am sent for the colonel of the ----th dragoons," said a courier in + broken English to a soldier, near where the earl lay on the ground, + waiting the preparations of his attendants "have I found the right + regiment, my friend?" + </p> + <p> + "To be sure you have," answered the man, without looking up from his toil + on his favorite animal, "you might have tracked us by the dead Frenchmen, + I should think. So you want my lord, my lad, do you? do we move again + to-night?" suspending his labor for a moment in expectation of a reply. + </p> + <p> + "Not to my knowledge," rejoined the courier; "my message is to your + colonel, from a dying man. Will you point out his station?" + </p> + <p> + The soldier complied, the message was soon delivered, and Pendennyss + prepared to obey its summons immediately. Preceded by the messenger as a + guide, and followed by Harmer, the earl retraced his steps over that + ground on which he had but a few hours before been engaged in the deadly + strife of man to man, hand to hand. + </p> + <p> + How different is the contemplation of a field of battle during and after + the conflict! The excitement, suspended success, shouts, uproar, and + confusion of the former, prevent any contemplation of the nicer parts of + this confused mass of movements, charges, and retreats; or if a brilliant + advance is made, a masterly retreat effected, the imagination is chained + by the splendor and glory of the act, without resting for a moment on the + sacrifice of individual happiness with which it is purchased. A + battle-ground from which the whirlwind of the combat has passed, presents + a different sight; it offers the very consummation of human misery. + </p> + <p> + There may occasionally be an individual, who from station, distempered + mind, or the encouragement of chimerical ideas of glory, quits the theatre + of life with at least the appearance of pleasure in his triumphs. If such + there be in reality, if this rapture of departing glory be anything more + than the deception of a distempered excitement, the subject of its + exhibition is to be greatly pitied. To the Christian, dying in peace with + both God and man, can it alone be ceded in the eye of reason, to pour out + his existence with a smile on his quivering lip. + </p> + <p> + And the warrior, who falls in the very arms of victory, after passing a + life devoted to the world; even, if he sees kingdoms hang suspended on his + success, may smile indeed, may utter sentiments full of loyalty and zeal, + may be the admiration of the world, and what is his reward? a deathless + name, and an existence of misery, which knows no termination. + </p> + <p> + Christianity alone can make us good soldiers in any cause, for he who + knows how to live, is always the least afraid to die. + </p> + <p> + Pendennyss and his companions pushed their way over the ground occupied + before the battle by the enemy; descended into and through that little + valley, in which yet lay, in undistinguished confusion, masses of the dead + and dying of either side; and again over the ridge, on which could be + marked the situation of those gallant squares which had so long resisted + the efforts of the horse and artillery by the groups of bodies, fallen + where they had bravely stood, until even the callous Harmer sickened with + the sight of a waste of life that he had but a few hours before exultingly + contributed to increase. + </p> + <p> + Appeals to their feelings as they rode through the field had been + frequent, and their progress was much retarded by attempts to contribute + to the ease of a wounded or a dying man; but as the courier constantly + urged speed, as the only means of securing the object of their ride, these + halts were reluctantly abandoned. + </p> + <p> + It was ten o'clock before they reached the farm-house, where, in the midst + of hundreds of his countrymen, lay the former lover of Jane. + </p> + <p> + As the subject of his confession must be anticipated by the reader, we + will give a short relation of his life, and of those acts which more + materially affect our history. + </p> + <p> + Henry Egerton had been turned early on the world, hundreds of his + countrymen, without any principle to counteract the arts of infidelity, or + resist the temptations of life. His father held a situation under + government, and was devoted to his rise in the diplomatic line. His mother + was a woman of fashion, who lived for effect and idle competition with her + sisters in weakness and folly. All he learnt in his father's house was + selfishness, from the example of one, and a love of high life and its + extravagance from the other. + </p> + <p> + He entered the army young, and from choice. The splendor and reputation of + the service caught his fancy; and, by pride and constitution, he was + indifferent to personal danger. Yet he loved London and its amusements + better than glory; and the money of his uncle, Sir Edgar, whose heir he + was reputed to be, raised him to the rank of lieutenant colonel, without + his spending an hour in the field. + </p> + <p> + Egerton had some abilities, and a good deal of ardor of temperament, by + nature. The former, from indulgence and example, degenerated into + acquiring the art to please in mixed society; and the latter, from want of + employment, expended itself at the card table. + </p> + <p> + The association between the vices is intimate. There really appears to be + a kind of modesty in sin that makes it ashamed of good company. If we are + unable to reconcile a favorite propensity to our principles, we are apt to + abandon the unpleasant restraint on our actions, rather than admit the + incongruous mixture. Freed entirely from the fetters of our morals, what + is there that our vices will not prompt us to commit? Egerton, like + thousands of others, went on from step to step, until he found himself in + the world; free to follow all his inclinations, so he violated none of the + decencies of life. + </p> + <p> + When in Spain, in his only campaign, he was accidentally, as has been + mentioned, thrown in the way of the Donna Julia, and brought her off the + ground under the influence of natural sympathy and national feeling; a + kind of merit that makes vice only more dangerous, by making it sometimes + amiable. He had not seen his dependant long before her beauty, situation, + and his passions decided him to effect her ruin. + </p> + <p> + This was an occupation that his figure, manners, and propensities had made + him an adept in, and nothing was further from his thoughts than the + commission of any other than the crime that, according to his code, a + gentleman might be guilty of with impunity. + </p> + <p> + It is, however, the misfortune of sin, that from being our slave it + becomes a tyrant; and Egerton attempted what in other countries, and where + the laws ruled, might have cost him his life. + </p> + <p> + The conjecture of Pendennyss was true. He saw the face of the officer who + interposed between him and his villanous attempt, but was hid himself from + view. He aimed not at his life, but at his own escape. Happily his first + shot succeeded, for the earl would have been sacrificed to preserve the + character of a man of honor; though no one was more regardless of the + estimation he was held in by the virtuous than Colonel Egerton. + </p> + <p> + In pursuance of his plans on Mrs. Fitzgerald, the colonel had sedulously + avoided admitting any of his companions into the secret of his having a + female in his care. + </p> + <p> + When he left the army to return home, he remained until a movement of the + troops to a distant part of the country enabled him to effect his own + purposes, without incurring their ridicule; and when he found himself + obliged to abandon his vehicle for a refuge in the woods, the fear of + detection made him alter his course; and under the pretence of wishing to + be in a battle about to be fought, he secretly rejoined the army, and the + gallantry of Colonel Egerton was mentioned in the next despatches. + </p> + <p> + Sir Herbert Nicholson commanded the advanced guard, at which the earl + arrived with the Donna Julia; and like every other brave man (unless + guilty himself) was indignant at the villany of the fugitive. The + confusion and enormities daily practised in the theatre of the war + prevented any close inquiries into the subject, and circumstances had so + enveloped Egerton in mystery, that nothing but an interview with the lady + herself was likely to expose him. + </p> + <p> + With Sir Herbert Nicholson, he had been in habits of intimacy, and on that + gentleman's alluding in a conversation in the barracks at F---- to the + lady brought into his quarters before Lisbon, he accidentally omitted + mentioning the name of her rescuer. Egerton had never before heard the + transaction spoken of, and as he had of course never mentioned the subject + himself, was ignorant who had interfered between him and his views; also + of the fate of Donna Julia; indeed, he thought it probable that it had not + much improved by a change of guardians. + </p> + <p> + In coming into Northamptonshire he had several views; he wanted a + temporary retreat from his creditors. Jarvis had an infant fondness for + play, without an adequate skill, and the money of the young ladies, in his + necessities, was becoming of importance; but the daughters of Sir Edward + Moseley were of a description more suited to his taste, and their portions + were as ample as the others. He had become in some degree attached to + Jane; and as her imprudent parents, satisfied with his possessing the + exterior and requisite recommendations of a gentleman admitted his visits + freely, he determined to make her his wife. + </p> + <p> + When he met Denbigh the first time, he saw that chance had thrown him in + the way of a man who might hold his character in his power. He had never + seen him as Pendennyss, and, it will be remembered, was ignorant of the + name of Julia's friend: he now learnt for the first time that it was + Denbigh. Uneasy at he knew not what, fearful of some exposure he knew not + how, when Sir Herbert alluded to the occurrence, with a view to rebut the + charge, if Denbigh should choose to make one, and with the + near-sightedness of guilt, he pretended to know the occurrence, and under + the promise of secresy, mentioned that the name of the officer was + Denbigh. He had noticed Denbigh avoiding Sir Herbert at the ball; and + judging others from himself, thought it was a wish to avoid any allusions + to the lady he had brought into the other's quarters that induced the + measure; for he was in hopes that if Denbigh was not as guilty as himself, + he was sufficiently so to wish to keep the transaction from the eyes of + Emily. He was, however, prepared for an explosion or an alliance with him, + when the sudden departure of Sir Herbert removed the danger of a + collision. Believing at last that they were to be brothers-in-law, and + mistaking the earl for his cousin, whose name he bore, Egerton became + reconciled to the association; while Pendennyss, having in his absence + heard, on inquiring, some of the vices of the colonel, was debating with + himself whether he should expose them to Sir Edward or not. + </p> + <p> + It was in their occasional interchange of civilities that Pendennyss + placed his pocket-book upon a table, while he exhibited the plants to the + colonel: the figure of Emily passing the window drew him from the room, + and Egerton having ended his examination, observing the book, put it in + his own pocket, to return it to its owner when they next met. + </p> + <p> + The situation, name, and history of Mrs. Fitzgerald were never mentioned + by the Moseleys in public; but Jane, in the confidence of her affections, + had told her lover who the inmate of the cottage was. The idea of her + being kept there by Denbigh immediately occurred to him, and although he + was surprised at the audacity of the thing, he was determined to profit by + the occasion. + </p> + <p> + To pay this visit, he stayed away from the excursion on the water, as + Pendennyss had done to avoid his friend, Lord Henry Stapleton. An excuse + of business, which served for his apology, kept the colonel from seeing + Denbigh to return the book, until after his visit to the cottage. His + rhapsody of love, and offers to desert his intended wife, were nothing but + the common-place talk of his purposes; and his presumption in alluding to + his situation with Miss Moseley, proceeded from his impressions as to + Julia's real character. In the struggle for the bell, the pocket-book of + Denbigh accidentally fell from his coat, and the retreat of the colonel + was too precipitate to enable him to recover it. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Fitzgerald was too much alarmed to distinguish nicely, and Egerton + proceeded to the ball-room with the indifference of a hardened offender. + When the arrival of Miss Jarvis, to whom he had committed himself, + prompted him to a speedy declaration, and the unlucky conversation of Mr. + Holt brought about a probable detection of his gaming propensities, the + colonel determined to get rid of his awkward situation and his debts by a + coup-de-main. He accordingly eloped with Miss Jarvis. + </p> + <p> + What portion of the foregoing narrative made the dying confession of + Egerton to the man he had so lately discovered to be the Earl of + Pendennyss, the reader can easily imagine. + </p> + <h2> + Chapter XLIX. + </h2> + <p> + The harvest had been gathered, and the beautiful vales of Pendennyss were + shooting forth a second crop of verdure. The husbandman was turning his + prudent forethought to the promises of the coming year, while the castle + itself exhibited to the gaze of the wondering peasant a sight of + cheerfulness and animation which had not been seen in it since the days of + the good duke. Its numerous windows were opened to the light of the sun, + its halls teemed with the faces of its happy inmates. Servants in various + liveries were seen gliding through its magnificent apartments and + multiplied passages. Horses, grooms, and carriages, with varied costumes + and different armorial bearings, crowded its spacious stables and offices. + Everything spoke society, splendor, and activity without; everything + denoted order, propriety, and happiness within. + </p> + <p> + In a long range of spacious apartments were grouped in the pursuit of + their morning employments, or in arranging their duties and pleasures of + the day, the guests and owners of the princely abode. + </p> + <p> + In one room was John Moseley, carefully examining the properties of some + flints which were submitted to his examination by his attending servant; + while Grace, sitting at his side, playfully snatches the stones from his + hand, as she cries half reproachfully, half tenderly--- + </p> + <p> + "You must not devote yourself to your gun so incessantly, Moseley; it is + cruel to kill inoffensive birds for your amusement only." + </p> + <p> + "Ask Emily's cook, and Mr. Haughton's appetite," said John, coolly + extending his hand towards her for the flint--"whether no one is gratified + but myself. I tell you, Grace, I seldom fire in vain." + </p> + <p> + "That only makes the matter worse; the slaughter you commit is dreadful." + </p> + <p> + "Oh!" cried John, with a laugh, "the ci-devant Captain Jarvis is a + sportsman to your mind. He would shoot a month without moving a feather; + he was a great friend to," throwing an arch look to his solitary sister, + who sat on a sofa at a distance perusing a book, "Jane's feathered + songsters." + </p> + <p> + "But now, Mosely," said Grace, yielding the flints, but gently retaining + the hand that took them, "Pendenyss and Chatterton intend driving their + wives, like good husbands, to see the beautiful waterfall in the + mountains; and what am I to do this long tedious morning?" + </p> + <p> + John stole an enquiring glance, to see if his wife was very anxious to + join the party--cast one look of regret on a beautiful agate that he had + selected, and inquired-- + </p> + <p> + "Do you wish to go very much, Mrs. Mosely?" + </p> + <p> + "Indeed--indeed I do," said the other, eagerly, "if--" + </p> + <p> + "If what?" + </p> + <p> + "You will drive me?" continued she, with a cheek slightly tinged with + color. + </p> + <p> + "Well, then," answered John, with deliberation, and regarding his wife + with affection "I will go on one condition." + </p> + <p> + "Name it!" cried Grace, with still increasing color. + </p> + <p> + "That you will not expose your health again in going to the church on a + Sunday, if it rains." + </p> + <p> + "The carriage is so close, Mosely," answered Grace, with a paler cheek + than beforehand eyes fixed on the carpet, "it is impossible I can take + cold: you see the earl, and countess, and aunt Wilson never miss public + worship, when possibly within their power." + </p> + <p> + "The earl goes with his wife; but what becomes of poor me at such times!" + said John, taking her hand and pressing it kindly. "I like to hear a good + sermon, but not in bad weather. You must consent to oblige me, who only + live in your presence." + </p> + <p> + Grace smiled faintly, as John, pursuing the point, said--"What do you say + to my condition?" + </p> + <p> + "Well then, if you wish," replied Graces without the look of gaiety her + hopes had first inspired, "I will not go if it rain." + </p> + <p> + John ordered his phaeton, and his wife went to her room to prepare for the + trip, and to regret her own resolution. + </p> + <p> + In, the recess of a window, in which bloomed a profusion of exotics, stood + the figure of Lady Marian Denbigh, playing with a half-blown rose of the + richest colors; and before her, leaning against the angle of the wall, + stood her kinsman the Duke of Derwent. + </p> + <p> + "You heard the plan at the breakfast table," said his Grace, "to visit the + little falls in the hills. But I suppose you have seen them too often to + undergo the fatigue?" + </p> + <p> + "Oh no! I love that ride dearly, and should wish to accompany the countess + in her first visit to it. I had half a mind to ask George to take me in + his phaeton." + </p> + <p> + "My curricle would be honored with the presence of Lady Marian Denbigh," + cried the duke with animation, "if, she would accept me for her knight on + the occasion." + </p> + <p> + Marian bowed an assent, in evident satisfaction, as the duke proceeded-- + </p> + <p> + "But if you take me as your knight I should wear your ladyship's colors;" + and he held out his hand towards the budding rose. Lady Marian hesitated a + moment--looked out at the prospect--up at the wall--turned, and wondered + where her brother was; and still finding the hand of the duke extended, + while his eye rested on her in admiration, she gave him the boon with a + cheek that vied with the richest tints of the flower. They separated to + prepare, and it was on their return from the falls that the duke seemed + uncommonly gay and amusing, and the lady silent with her tongue, though + her eyes danced in every direction but towards her cousin. + </p> + <p> + "Really, my dear Lady Mosely," said the dowager, as, seated by the side of + her companion, her eyes roved over the magnificence within, and widely + extended domains without--"Emily is well established indeed--better even + than my Grace." + </p> + <p> + "Grace has an affectionate husband," replied the other, gravely, "and one + that I hope will make her happy." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! no doubt happy!" said Lady Chatterton, hastily: "but they say Emily + has a jointure of twelve thousand a year--by-the-by," she added, in a low + tone, though no one was near enough to hear what she said, "could not the + earl have settled Lumley Castle on her instead of the deanery?" + </p> + <p> + "Upon my word I never think of such gloomy subjects as provisions for + widowhood," cried Lady Mosely: "you have been in Annerdale House--is it + not a princely mansion?" + </p> + <p> + "Princely, indeed," rejoined the dowager, sighing: "don't the earl intend + increasing the rents of this estate as the leases fall in? I am told they + are very low now!" + </p> + <p> + "I believe not," said the other. "He has enough, and is willing others + should prosper. But there is Clara, with her little boy--is he not a + lovely child?" cried the grandmother, rising to take the infant in her + arms. + </p> + <p> + "Oh! excessively beautiful!" said the dowager, looking the other way, and + observing Catharine making a movement towards Lord Henry Stapleton, she + called to her. "Lady Herriefield--come this way, my dear--I wish to speak + to you." + </p> + <p> + Kate obeyed with a sullen pout of her pretty lip, and entered into some + idle discussion about a cap, though her eyes wandered round the rooms in + listless vacancy. + </p> + <p> + The dowager had the curse of bad impressions in youth to contend with, and + labored infinitely harder now to make her daughter act right, than + formerly she had ever done to make her act wrong. + </p> + <p> + "Here! uncle Benfield," cried Emily, with a face glowing with health and + animation, as she approached his seat with a glass in her hands. "Here is + the negus you wished; I have made it myself, and you will praise it of + course." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! my dear Lady Pendennyss," said the old gentleman, rising politely + from his seat to receive the beverage: "you are putting yourself to a + great deal of trouble for an old bachelor like me; too much indeed, too + much." + </p> + <p> + "Old bachelors are sometimes more esteemed than young one," cried the earl + gaily, joining them in time to hear this speech. "Here is my friend, Mr. + Peter Johnson; who knows when we may dance at his wedding?" + </p> + <p> + "My lord, and my lady, and my honored master," said Peter gravely, in + reply, bowing respectfully where he stood, waiting to take his master's + glass--"I am past the age to think of a wife: I am seventy-three coming + next 'lammas, counting by the old style." + </p> + <p> + "What do you intend to do with your three hundred a year," said Emily with + a smile, "unless you bestow it on some good woman, for making the evening + of your life comfortable?' + </p> + <p> + "My lady--hem--my lady," said the steward, blushing, "I had a little + thought, with your kind ladyship's consent, as I have no relations, chick + or child in the world, what to do with it." + </p> + <p> + "I should be happy to hear your plan," said the countess, observing that + the steward was anxious to communicate something. + </p> + <p> + "Why, my lady, if my lord and my honored master's agreeable, I did think + of making another codicil to master's will in order to dispose of it." + </p> + <p> + "Your master's will," said the earl laughing; "why not to your own, good + Peter?" + </p> + <p> + "My honored lord," said the steward, with great humility, "it don't become + a poor serving-man like me to make a will." + </p> + <p> + "But how will you prove it?" said the earl, kindly, willing to convince + him of his error; "you must be both dead to prove it." + </p> + <p> + "Our wills," said Peter, gulping his words, "will be proved on the same + day." + </p> + <p> + His master looked round at him with great affection, and both the earl and + Emily were too much struck to say anything. Peter had, however, the + subject too much at heart to abandon it, just as he had broken the ice. He + anxiously wished for the countess's consent to the scheme, for he would + not affront her, even after he was dead. + </p> + <p> + "My lady--Miss Emmy," said Johnson, eagerly, "my plan is, if my honored + master's agreeable--to make a codicil, and give my mite to a little--Lady + Emily Denbigh." + </p> + <p> + "Oh! Peter, you and uncle Benfield are both too good," cried Emily, + laughing and blushing, as she hastened to Clara and her mother. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you, thank you," cried the delighted earl, following his wife with + his eyes, and shaking the steward cordially by the hand; "and, if no + better expedient be adopted by us, you have full permission to do as you + please with your money. + </p> + <p> + "Peter," said his master to him in a low tone, "you should never speak of + such things prematurely; now I remember when the Earl of Pendennyss, my + nephew, was first presented to me, I was struck with the delicacy and + propriety of his demeanor, and the Lady Pendennyss, my niece, too; you + never see any thing forward, or--Ah! Emmy, dear," said the old man, + tenderly interrupting himself, "you are too good to remember your old + uncle," taking one of the fine peaches she handed him from a plate. + </p> + <p> + "My lord," said Mr. Haughton to the earl, "Mrs. Ives and myself have had a + contest about the comforts of matrimony; she insists she may be quite as + happy at Bolton Parsonage as in this noble castle, and with this rich + prospect in view." + </p> + <p> + "I hope," said Francis, "you are not teaching my wife to be discontented + with her humble lot--if so, both hers and your visit will be an unhappy + one." + </p> + <p> + "It would be no easy task, if our good friend intended any such thing by + his jests," said Clara, smiling. "I know my true interests, I trust, too + well, to wish to change my fortune." + </p> + <p> + "You are right," said Pendennyss; "it is wonderful how little our + happiness depends on a temporal condition. When here, or at Lumley Castle, + surrounded by my tenantry, there are, I confess, moments of weakness, in + which the loss of my wealth or rank would be missed greatly; but when on + service, subjected to great privations, and surrounded by men superior to + me in military rank, who say unto me--go, and I go--come, and I come--I + find my enjoyments intrinsically the same." + </p> + <p> + "That," said Francis, "may be owing to your Lordship's tempered feelings, + which have taught you to look beyond this world for pleasures and + consolation." + </p> + <p> + "It has, doubtless, an effect," said the earl, "but there is no truth of + which I am more fully persuaded, than that our happiness here does not + depend upon our lot in life, so we are not suffering for necessaries--even + changes bring less real misery than they are supposed to do." + </p> + <p> + "Doubtless," cried Mr. Haughton, "under the circumstances, I would not + wish to change even with your lordship--unless, indeed," he continued, + with a smile and bow to the countess, "it were the temptation of your + lovely wife." + </p> + <p> + "You are quite polite," said Emily laughing, "but I have no desire to + deprive Mrs. Haughton of a companion she has made out so well with these + twenty years past." + </p> + <p> + "<i>Thirty</i>, my lady, if you please." + </p> + <p> + "And thirty more, I hope," continued Emily, as a servant announced the + several carriages at the door. The younger part of the company now + hastened to their different engagements, and Chatterton handed Harriet; + John, Grace; and Pendennyss, Emily, into their respective carriages; the + duke and Lady Marian following, but at some little distance from the rest + of the party. + </p> + <p> + As the earl drove from the door, the countess looked up to a window, at + which were standing her aunt and Doctor Ives. She kissed her hand to them, + with a face, in which glowed the mingled expression of innocence, love, + and joy. + </p> + <p> + Before leaving the Park, the party passed Sir Edward; with his wife + leaning on one arm and Jane on the other, pursuing their daily walk. The + baronet followed the carriages with his eyes, and exchanged looks of the + fondest love with his children, as they drove slowly and respectfully by + him; and if the glance which followed on Jane, did not speak equal + pleasure, it surely denoted its proper proportion of paternal love. + </p> + <p> + "You have much reason to congratulate yourself on the happy termination of + your labors," said the doctor, with a smile, to the widow; "Emily is + placed, so far as human foresight can judge, in the happiest of all + stations a female can be in: she is the pious wife of a pious husband, + beloved, and deserving of it." + </p> + <p> + "Yes," said Mrs. Wilson, drawing back from following the phaeton with her + eyes, "they are as happy as this world will admit, and, what is better, + they are well prepared to meet any reverse of fortune which may occur, as + well as to discharge the duties on which they have entered. I do not + think," continued she, musing, "that Pendennyss can ever doubt the + affections of such a woman as Emily." + </p> + <p> + "I should think not" said the doctor, "but what can excite such a thought + in your breast, and one so much to the prejudice of George?" + </p> + <p> + "The only unpleasant thing I have ever observed in him," said Mrs. Wilson + gravely, "is the suspicion which induced him to adopt the disguise in + which he entered our family." + </p> + <p> + "He did not adopt it, madam--- chance and circumstances drew it around him + accidentally; and when you consider the peculiar state of his mind from + the discovery of his mother's misconduct--his own great wealth and rank--- + it is not so surprising that he should yield to a deception, rather + harmless than injurious." + </p> + <p> + "Dr. Ives," said Mrs. Wilson, "is not wont to defend deceit." + </p> + <p> + "Nor do I now, madam;" replied the doctor with a smile; "I acknowledge the + offence of George, myself, wife, and son. I remonstrated at the time upon + principle; I said the end would not justify the means; that a departure + from ordinary rules of propriety was at all times dangerous, and seldom + practised with impunity." + </p> + <p> + "And you failed to convince your hearers," cried Mrs. Wilson, gaily; "a + novelty in your case, my good rector." + </p> + <p> + "I thank you for the compliment," said the doctor; "I did convince them as + to the truth of the principle, but the earl contended that his case might + make an innocent exception. He had the vanity to think, I believe, that by + concealing his real name, he injured himself more than any one else, and + got rid of the charge in some such way. He is however, thoroughly + convinced of the truth of the position, by practice; his sufferings, + growing out of the mistake of his real character, and which could not have + happened had he appeared in proper person, having been greater than he is + ready to acknowledge." + </p> + <p> + "If they study the fate of the Donna Julia, and his own weakness," said + the widow, "they will have a salutary moral always at hand, to teach them + the importance of two cardinal virtues at least--obedience and truth." + </p> + <p> + "Julia has suffered much," replied the doctor; "and although she has + returned to her father, the consequences of her imprudence are likely to + continue. When once the bonds of mutual confidence and respect are broken, + they may be partially restored, it is true, but never with a warmth and + reliance such as existed previously. To return, however, to yourself, do + you not feel a sensation of delight at the prosperous end of your + exertions in behalf of Emily?" + </p> + <p> + "It is certainly pleasant to think we have discharged our duties, and the + task is much easier than we are apt to suppose," said Mrs. Wilson; "it is + only to commence the foundation, so that it will be able to support the + superstructure. I have endeavored to make Emily a Christian. I have + endeavored to form such a taste and principles in her, that she would not + be apt to admire an improper suitor and I have labored to prepare her to + discharge her continued duties through life, in such a manner and with + such a faith, as under the providence of God will result in happiness far + exceeding anything she now enjoys. In all these, by the blessing of + Heaven, I have succeeded, and had occasion offered, I would have assisted + her inexperience through the more delicate decisions of her sex, though in + no instance would I attempt to control them." + </p> + <p> + "You are right, my dear madam," said the doctor, taking her kindly by the + hand, "and had I a daughter, I would follow a similar course. Give her + delicacy, religion, and a proper taste, aided by the unseen influence of a + prudent parent's care, and the chances of a woman for happiness would be + much greater than they are; and I am entirely of your opinion--'That + prevention is at all times better than cure.'" + </p> + <p class="smallcaps"> + The End. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Precaution, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRECAUTION *** + +***** This file should be named 10365-h.htm or 10365-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/3/6/10365/ + +Produced by Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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