diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 37908-8.txt | 12399 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 37908-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 237440 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 37908-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 242589 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 37908-h/37908-h.htm | 12582 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 37908.txt | 12399 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 37908.zip | bin | 0 -> 237367 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 37396 insertions, 0 deletions
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/37908-8.txt b/37908-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5cec244 --- /dev/null +++ b/37908-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12399 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adeline Mowbray, by Amelia Alderson Opie + +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: Adeline Mowbray + or, The Mother and Daughter + +Author: Amelia Alderson Opie + +Release Date: November 2, 2011 [EBook #37908] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELINE MOWBRAY *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + ADELINE MOWBRAY + + OR + THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER + + MRS OPIE + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +In an old family mansion, situated on an estate in Gloucestershire known +by the name of Rosevalley, resided Mrs Mowbray, and Adeline her only +child. + +Mrs Mowbray's father, Mr Woodville, a respectable country gentleman, +married, in obedience to the will of his mother, the sole surviving +daughter of an opulent merchant in London, whose large dower paid off +some considerable mortgages on the Woodville estates, and whose mild and +unoffending character soon gained that affection from her husband after +marriage, which he denied her before it. + +Nor was it long before their happiness was increased, and their union +cemented, by the birth of a daughter; who continuing to be an only +child, and the probable heiress of great possessions, became the idol +of her parents, and the object of unremitted attention to those who +surrounded her. Consequently, one of the first lessons which Editha +Woodville learnt was that of egotism, and to consider it as the chief +duty of all who approached her, to study the gratification of her whims +and caprices. + +But, though rendered indolent in some measure by the blind folly of her +parents, and the homage of her dependents, she had a taste above the +enjoyments which they offered her. + +She had a decided passion for literature, which she had acquired from +a sister of Mr Woodville, who had been brought up amongst literary +characters of various pursuits and opinions; and this lady had imbibed +from them a love of free inquiry, which she had little difficulty in +imparting to her young and enthusiastic relation. + +But, alas! that inclination for study, which, had it been directed to +proper objects, would have been the charm of Miss Woodville's life, +and the safeguard of her happiness, by giving her a constant source of +amusement within herself; proved to her, from the unfortunate direction +which it took, the abundant cause of misery and disappointment. + +For her, history, biography, poetry, and discoveries in natural +philosophy, had few attractions, while she pored with still unsatisfied +delight over abstruse systems of morals and metaphysics, or new theories +in politics; and scarcely a week elapsed in which she did not receive, +from her aunt's bookseller in London, various tracts on these her +favourite subjects. + +Happy would it have been for Miss Woodville, if the merits of the works +which she so much admired could have been canvassed in her presence by +rational and unprejudiced persons: but, her parents and friends being +too ignorant to discuss philosophical opinions or political controversies, +the young speculator was left to the decision of her own inexperienced +enthusiasm. To her, therefore, whatever was bold and uncommon seemed new +and wise; and every succeeding theory held her imagination captive till +its power was weakened by one of equal claims to singularity. + +She soon, however, ceased to be contented with reading, and was eager +to become a writer also. But, as she was strongly imbued with the +prejudices of an ancient family, she could not think of disgracing that +family by turning professed author: she therefore confined her little +effusions to a society of admiring friends, secretly lamenting the loss +which the literary world sustained in her being born a gentlewoman. + +Nor is it to be wondered at, that, as she was ambitious to be, and to be +thought, a deep thinker, she should have acquired habits of abstraction, +and absence, which imparted a look of wildness to a pair of dark eyes, +that beamed with intelligence, and gave life to features of the most +perfect regularity. + +To reverie, indeed, she was from childhood inclined; and her life was +long a life of reverie. To her the present moment had scarcely ever +existence; and this propensity to lose herself in a sort of ideal world, +was considerably increased by the nature of her studies. + +Fatal and unproductive studies! While, wrapt in philosophical abstraction, +she was trying to understand a metaphysical question on the mechanism +of the human mind, or what constituted the true nature of virtue, she +suffered day after day to pass in the culpable neglect of positive +duties; and while imagining systems for the good of society, and the +furtherance of general philanthropy, she allowed individual suffering in +her neighbourhood to pass unobserved and unrelieved. While professing +her unbounded love for the great family of the world, she suffered her +own family to pine under the consciousness of her neglect; and viciously +devoted those hours to the vanity of abstruse and solitary study, +which might have been better spent in amusing the declining age of her +venerable parents, whom affection had led to take up their abode with +her. + +Let me observe, before I proceed further, that Mrs Mowbray scrupulously +confined herself to theory, even in her wisest speculations; and being +too timid, and too indolent, to illustrate by her conduct the various +and opposing doctrines which it was her pride to maintain by turns, her +practice was ever in opposition to her opinions. + +Hence, after haranguing with all the violence of a true Whig on the +natural rights of man, or the blessings of freedom, she would 'turn +to a Tory in her elbow chair', and govern her household with despotic +authority; and after embracing at some moments the doubts of the +sceptic, she would often lie motionless in her bed, from apprehension +of ghosts, a helpless prey to the most abject superstition. + +Such was the mother of ADELINE MOWBRAY! such was the woman who, having +married the heir of Rosevalley, merely to oblige her parents, saw +herself in the prime of life a rich widow, with an only child, who was +left by Mr Mowbray, a fond husband, but an ill-judging parent, entirely +dependent on her! + +At the time of Mr Mowbray's death, Adeline Mowbray was ten years old, +and Mrs Mowbray thirty; and like an animal in an exhausted receiver, +she had during her short existence been tormented by the experimental +philosophy of her mother. + +Now it was judged right that she should learn nothing, and now that she +should learn every thing. Now, her graceful form and well-turned limbs +were to be free from any bandage, and any clothing save what decency +required,--and now they were to be tortured by stiff stays, and fettered +by the stocks and the back-board. + +All Mrs Mowbray's ambition had settled in one point, one passion, +and that was EDUCATION. For this purpose she turned over innumerable +volumes in search of rules on the subject, on which she might improve, +anticipating with great satisfaction the moment when she should be held +up as a pattern of imitation to mothers, and be prevailed upon, though +with graceful reluctance, to publish her system, without a name, for the +benefit of society. + +But, however good her intentions were, the execution of them was +continually delayed by her habits of abstraction and reverie. After +having over night arranged the tasks of Adeline for the next day,--lost +in some new speculations for the good of her child, she would lie in bed +all the morning, exposing that child to the dangers of idleness. + +At one time Mrs Mowbray had studied herself into great nicety with +regard to the diet of her daughter; but, as she herself was too much +used to the indulgences of the palate to be able to set her in reality +an example of temperance, she dined in appearance with Adeline at one +o'clock on pudding without butter, and potatoes without salt; but while +the child was taking her afternoon's walk, her own table was covered +with viands fitted for the appetite of opulence. + +Unfortunately, however, the servants conceived that the daughter as +well as the mother had a right to regale clandestinely; and the little +Adeline used to eat for her supper, with a charge not to tell her mamma, +some of the good things set by from Mrs Mowbray's dinner. + +It happened that, as Mrs Mowbray was one evening smoothing Adeline's +flowing curls, and stroking her ruddy cheek, she exclaimed triumphantly, +raising Adeline to the glass, 'See the effect of temperance and low +living! If you were accustomed to eat meat, and butter, and drink any +thing but water, you would not look so healthy, my love, as you do now. +O the excellent effects of a vegetable diet!' + +The artless girl, whose conscience smote her during the whole of this +speech, hung her blushing head on her bosom:--it was the confusion of +guilt; and Mrs Mowbray perceiving it earnestly demanded what it meant, +when Adeline, half crying, gave a full explanation. + +Nothing could exceed the astonishment and mortification of Mrs Mowbray; +but, though usually tenacious of her opinions, she in this case profited +by the lesson of experience. She no longer expected any advantage from +clandestine measures:--but Adeline, her appetites regulated by a proper +exertion of parental authority, was allowed to sit at the well-furnished +table of her mother, and was precluded, by a judicious and open +indulgence, from wishing for a secret and improper one; while the +judicious praises which Mrs Mowbray bestowed on Adeline's ingenuous +confession endeared to her the practice of truth, and laid the foundation +of a habit of ingenuousness which formed through life one of the +ornaments of her character--Would that Mrs Mowbray had always been +equally judicious! + +Another great object of anxiety to her was the method of clothing +children; whether they should wear flannel, or no flannel; light shoes, +to give agility to the motions of the limbs; or heavy shoes, in order to +strengthen the muscles by exertion;--when one day, as she was turning +over a voluminous author on this subject, the nurserymaid hastily +entered the room, and claimed her attention, but in vain; Mrs Mowbray +went on reading aloud:-- + +'Some persons are of opinion that thin shoes are most beneficial to +health; others, equally worthy of respect, think thick ones of most use: +and the reasons for these different opinions we shall class under two +heads--' + +'Dear me, ma'am!' cried Bridget, 'and in the meantime Miss Adeline will +go without any shoes at all.' + +'Do not interrupt me, Bridget,' cried Mrs Mowbray, and proceeded to read +on. 'In the first place, it is not clear, says a learned writer, whether +children require any clothing at all for their feet.' + +At this moment Adeline burst open the parlour door, and, crying bitterly, +held up her bleeding toes to her mother. + +'Mamma, mamma!' cried she, 'you forget to send for a pair of new shoes +for me; and see, how the stones in the gravel have cut me!' + +This sight, this appeal, decided the question in dispute. The feet of +Adeline bleeding on a new Turkey carpet proved that some clothing for +the feet was necessary; and even Mrs Mowbray for a moment began to +suspect that a little experience is better than a great deal of theory. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Meanwhile, in spite of all Mrs Mowbray's eccentricities and caprices, +Adeline, as she grew up, continued to entertain for her the most perfect +respect and affection. + +Her respect was excited by the high idea which she had formed of her +abilities,--an idea founded on the veneration which all the family +seemed to feel for her on that account,--and her affection was excited +even to an enthusiastic degree by the tenderness with which Mrs Mowbray +had watched over her during an alarming illness. + +For twenty-one days Adeline had been in the utmost danger; nor is it +probable that she would have been able to struggle against the force +of the disease, but for the unremitting attention of her mother. It +was then, perhaps, for the first time that Mrs Mowbray felt herself a +mother:--all her vanities, all her systems, were forgotten in the danger +of Adeline,--she did not even hazard an opinion on the medical treatment +to be observed. For once she was contented to obey instructions in +silence; for once she was never caught in a reverie; but, like the +most common-place woman of her acquaintance, she lived to the present +moment:--and she was rewarded for her cares by the recovery of her +daughter, and by that daughter's most devoted attachment. + +Not even the parents of Mrs Mowbray, who, because she talked on subjects +which they could not understand, looked up to her as a superior being, +could exceed Adeline in deference to her mother's abilities; and when, +as she advanced in life, she was sometimes tempted to think her deficient +in maternal fondness, the idea of Mrs Mowbray bending with pale and +speechless anxiety over her sleepless pillow used to recur to her +remembrance, and in a moment the recent indifference was forgotten. + +Nor could she entirely acquit herself of ingratitude in observing this +seeming indifference: for, whence did the abstraction and apparent +coldness of Mrs Mowbray proceed? From her mind's being wholly engrossed +in studies for the future benefit of Adeline. Why did she leave the +concerns of her family to others? why did she allow her infirm but +active mother to superintend all the household duties? and why did she +seclude herself from all society, save that of her own family, and Dr +Norberry, her physician and friend, but that she might devote every hour +to endeavours to perfect a system of education for her beloved and only +daughter, to whom the work was to be dedicated? + +'And yet,' said Adeline mentally, 'I am so ungrateful sometimes as to +think she does not love me sufficiently.' + +But while Mrs Mowbray was busying herself in plans for Adeline's +education, she reached the age of fifteen, and was in a manner educated; +not, however, by her,--though Mrs Mowbray would, no doubt, have been +surprised to have heard this assertion. + +Mrs Mowbray, as I have before said, was the spoiled child of rich +parents; who, as geniuses were rarer in those days than they are now, +spite of their own ignorance, rejoiced to find themselves the parents of +a genius; and as their daughter always disliked the usual occupations +of her sex, the admiring father and mother contented themselves with +allowing her to please herself; say to each other, 'She must not be +managed in a common way; for you know, my dear, she is one of your +geniuses,--and they are never like other folks.' + +Mrs Woodville, the mother, had been brought up with all the ideas of +economy and housewifery which at that time of day prevailed in the city, +and influenced the education of the daughters of citizens. + +'My dear,' said she one day to Adeline, 'as you are no genius, you know, +like your mother, (and God forbid you should! for one is quite enough in +a family,) I shall make bold to teach you every thing that young women +in my young days used to learn, and my daughter may thank me for it some +time or other: for you know, my dear, when I and my good man die, what +in the world would come of my poor Edith, if so be she had no one to +manage for her! for, Lord love you! she knows no more of managing a +family, and such-like, than a newborn babe.' + +'And can you, dear grandmother, teach me to be of use to my mother?' +said Adeline. + +'To be sure, child; for as you are no genius, no doubt you can learn all +them sort of things that women commonly know:--so we will begin +directly.' + +In a short time Adeline, stimulated by the ambition of being useful, +(for she had often heard her mother assert that utility was the +foundation of all virtue,) became as expert in household affairs as Mrs +Woodville herself: even the department of making pastry was now given up +to Adeline, and the servants always came to her for orders, saying, that +'as their mistress was a learned lady, and that, and so could not be +spoken with except here and there on occasion, they wished their young +mistress, who was more easy spoken, would please to order:' and as Mr +and Mrs Woodville's infirmities increased every day, Adeline soon +thought it right to assume the entire management of the family. + +She also took upon herself the office of almoner to Mrs Woodville, and +performed it with an activity unknown to her; for she herself carried +the broth and wine that were to comfort the infirm cottager; she herself +saw the medicine properly administered that was to preserve his suffering +existence: the comforts the poor required she purchased herself; and in +sickness she visited, in sorrow she wept with them. And though Adeline +was almost unknown personally to the neighbouring gentry, she was +followed with blessings by the surrounding cottagers; while many a +humble peasant watched at the gate of the park to catch a glimpse of +his young benefactress, and pray to God to repay to the heiress of +Rosevalley the kindness which she had shown to him and his offspring. + +Thus happy, because usefully employed, and thus beloved and respected, +because actively benevolent, passed the early years of Adeline Mowbray; +and thus was she educated, before her mother had completed her system of +education. + +It was not long before Adeline took on herself a still more important +office. Mrs Mowbray's steward was detected in very dishonest practices; +but, as she was too much devoted to her studies to like to look into her +affairs with a view to dismiss him, she could not be prevailed on to +discharge him from her service. Fortunately, however, her father on his +death-bed made it his request that she would do so; and Mrs Mowbray +pledged herself to obey him. + +'But what shall I do for a steward in Davison's place?' said she soon +after her father died. + +'Is one absolutely necessary?' returned Adeline modestly. 'Surely +farmer Jenkins would undertake to do all that is necessary for half the +money; and, if he were properly overlooked--' + +'And pray who can overlook him properly?' asked Mrs Mowbray. + +'My grandmother and I,' replied Adeline timidly: 'we both like business +and--' + +'Like business!--but what do you know of it?' + +'Know!' cried Mrs Woodville, 'why, daughter, Lina is very clever at it, +I assure you!' + +'Astonishing! She knows nothing yet of accounts.' + +'Dear me! how mistaken you are, child! She knows accounts perfectly +well.' + +'Impossible!' replied Mrs Mowbray: 'who should have taught her? I have +been inventing an easy method of learning arithmetic, by which I was +going to teach her in a few months.' + +'Yes, child: but I, thinking it a pity that the poor girl should learn +nothing, like, till she was to learn every thing, taught her according +to the old way; and I cannot but say she took to it very kindly. Did not +you, Lina?' + +'Yes, grandmother,' said Adeline; 'and as I love arithmetic very much, +I am quite anxious to keep all my mother's accounts, and overlook the +accounts of the person whom she shall employ to manage her estates in +future.' + +To this Mrs Mowbray, half pleased and half mortified, at length +consented; and Adeline and farmer Jenkins entered upon their +occupations. Shortly after Mrs Woodville was seized with her last +illness; and Adeline neglected every other duty, and Mrs Mowbray +her studies, 'to watch, and weep, beside a parent's bed.' + +But watch and weep was all that Mrs Mowbray did: with every possible +wish to be useful, she had so long given way to habits of abstraction, +and neglect of everyday occupations, that she was rather a hindrance +than a help in the sick room. + +During Adeline's illness, excessive fear of losing her only child had +indeed awakened her to unusual exertion; and as all that she had to +do was to get down, at stated times, a certain quantity of wine and +nourishment, her task though wearisome was not difficult: but to sooth +the declining hours of an aged parent, to please the capricious appetite +of decay, to assist with ready and skilful alacrity the shaking hand of +the invalid, jealous of waiting on herself and wanting to be cheated +into being waited upon;--these trifling yet important details did not +suit the habits of Mrs Mowbray. But Adeline was versed in them all; and +her mother, conscious of her superiority in these things, was at last +contented to sit by inactive, though not unmoved. + +One day, when Mrs Mowbray had been prevailed upon to lie down for an +hour or two in another apartment, and Adeline was administering to Mrs +Woodville some broth which she had made herself, the old lady pressed +her hand affectionately, and cried, 'Ah! child, in a lucky hour I made +bold to interfere, and teach you what your mother was too clever to +learn. Wise was I to think one genius enough in a family,--else, what +should I have done now? My daughter, though the best child in the world, +could never have made such nice broth as this to comfort me, so hot, and +boiled to a minute like! bless her! she'd have tried, that she would, +but ten to one but she'd have smoked it, overturned it, and scalt her +fingers into the bargain.--Ah, Lina, Lina! mayhap the time will come +when you, should you have a sick husband or a child to nurse, may bless +your poor grandmother for having taught you to be useful.' + +'Dear grandmother,' said Adeline tenderly, 'the time has come: I am, you +see, useful to you; and therefore I bless you already for having taught +me to be so.' + +'Good girl, good girl! just what I would have you! And forgive me, Lina, +when I own that I have often thanked God for not making you a genius! +Not but what no child can behave better than mine; for, with all her +wit and learning, she was always so respectful, and so kind to me and +my dear good man, that I am sure I could not but rejoice in such a +daughter; though, to be sure, I used to wish she was more conversible +like; for, as to the matter of a bit of chat, we never gossiped together +in our lives. And though, to be sure, the squires' ladies about are none +of the brightest, and not to compare with my Edith, yet still they would +have done for me and my dear good man to gossip a bit with. So I was +vexed when my daughter declared she wanted all her time for her studies, +and would not visit any body, no, not even Mrs Norberry, who is to be +sure a very good sort of a woman, though a little given to speak ill of +her neighbours. But then so we are all, you know: and, as I say, why, if +one spoke well of all alike, what would be the use of one person's being +better than his neighbours, except for conscience's sake? But, as I was +going to say, my daughter was pleased to compliment me, and declare she +was sure I could amuse myself without visiting women so much inferior to +me; and she advised my beginning a course of study, as she called it.' + +'And did you?' asked Adeline with surprise. + +'Yes. To oblige her, my good man and I began to read one Mr Locke on the +Conduct of the Human Understanding; which my daughter said would teach +us to think.' + +'To think?' said Adeline. + +'Yes.--Now, you must know, my poor husband did not look upon it as very +respectful like in Edith to say that, because it seemed to say that we +had lived all these years without having thought at all; which was not +true, to be sure, because we were never thoughtless like, and my husband +was so staid when a boy that he was called a little old man.' + +'But I am sure,' said Adeline, half smiling, 'that my mother did not +mean to insinuate that you wanted proper thought.' + +'No, I dare say not,' resumed the old lady, 'and so I told my husband, +and so we set to study this book: but, dear me! it was Hebrew Greek to +us--and so dull!' + +'Then you did not get through it, I suppose?' + +'Through it, bless your heart! No--not three pages! So my good man says +to Edith, says he, "You gave us this book, I think, child, to teach us +to think?" "Yes, sir," says she. "And it has taught us to think," says +he:--"it has taught us to think that it is very dull and disagreeable." +So my daughter laughed, and said her father was witty; but, poor soul! +he did not mean it. + +'Well, then: as, to amuse us, we liked to look at the stars sometimes, +she told us we had better learn their names, and study astronomy; and so +we began that: but that was just as bad as Mr Locke; and we knew no more +of the stars and planets, than the man in the moon. Yet that's not right +to say, neither; for, as he is so much nearer the stars, he must know +more about them than any one whomsoever. So at last my daughter found +out that learning was not our taste; so she left us to please ourselves, +and play cribbage and draughts in an evening as usual.' + +Here the old lady paused, and Adeline said affectionately, 'Dear +grandmother, I doubt you exert yourself too much: so much talking can't +be good for you.' + +'O! yes, child!' replied Mrs. Woodville: 'it is no trouble at all to me, +I assure you, but quite natural and pleasant like: besides, you know I +shall not be able to talk much longer, so let me make the most of my +time now.' + +This speech brought tears into the eyes of Adeline; and seeing her +mother re-enter the room, she withdrew to conceal the emotion which she +felt, lest the cheerful loquacity of the invalid, which she was fond of +indulging, should be checked by seeing her tears. But it had already +received a check from the presence of Mrs Mowbray, of whose superior +abilities Mrs Woodville was so much in awe, that, concluding her daughter +could not bear to hear her nonsense, the old lady smiled kindly on her +when with a look of tender anxiety she hastened to her bedside, and +then, holding her hand, composed herself to sleep. + +In a few days more, she breathed her last on the supporting arm of +Adeline; and lamented in her dying moments, that she had nothing +valuable in money to leave, in order to show Adeline how sensible she +was of her affectionate attentions: 'but you are an only child,' she +added, 'and all your mother has will be yours.' + +'No doubt,' observed Mrs Mowbray eagerly; and her mother died +contented. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +At this period Adeline's ambition had led her to form new plans, which +Mrs Woodville's death left her at liberty to put in execution. Whenever +the old lady reminded her that she was no genius, Adeline had felt as +much degraded as if she had said that she was no conjuror; and though +she was too humble to suppose that she could ever equal her mother, she +was resolved to try to make herself more worthy of her, by imitating +her in those pursuits and studies on which were founded Mrs Mowbray's +pretensions to superior talents. + +She therefore made it her business to inquire what those studies and +pursuits were; and finding that Mrs Mowbray's noted superiority was +built on her passion for abstruse speculations, Adeline eagerly devoted +her leisure hours to similar studies: but, unfortunately, these new +theories, and these romantic reveries, which only served to amuse +Mrs Mowbray's fancy, her more enthusiastic daughter resolved to make +conscientiously the rules of her practice. And while Mrs Mowbray +expended her eccentric philosophy in words, as Mr Shandy did his grief, +Adeline carefully treasured up hers in her heart, to be manifested only +by its fruits. + +One author in particular, by a train of reasoning captivating though +sophistical, and plausible though absurd, made her a delighted convert +to his opinions, and prepared her young and impassioned heart for the +practice of vice, by filling her mind, ardent in the love of virtue, +with new and singular opinions on the subject of moral duty. On the works +of this writer Adeline had often heard her mother descant in terms of +the highest praise; but she did not feel herself so completely his +convert on her own conviction, till she had experienced the fatal +fascination of his style, and been conveyed by his bewitching pen from +the world as it is, into a world as it _ought_ to be. + +This writer, whose name was Glenmurray, amongst other institutions, +attacked the institution of marriage; and after having elaborately +pointed out its folly and its wickedness, he drew so delightful a +picture of the superior purity, as well as happiness, of an union +cemented by no ties but those of love and honour, that Adeline, wrought +to the highest pitch of enthusiasm for a new order of things, entered +into a solemn compact with herself to act, when she was introduced into +society, according to the rules laid down by this writer. + +Unfortunately for her, she had no opportunity of hearing these opinions +combated by the good sense and sober experience of Dr Norberry then +their sole visitant; for at this time the American war was the object +of attention to all Europe: and as Mrs Mowbray, as well as Dr Norberry, +were deeply interested in this subject, they scarcely ever talked on +any other; and even Glenmurray and his theories were driven from Mrs +Mowbray's remembrance by political tracts and the eager anxieties of +a politician. Nor had she even leisure to observe, that while she was +feeling all the generous anxiety of a citizen of the world for the sons +and daughters of American independence, her own child was imbibing, +through her means, opinions dangerous to her well-being as a member of +any civilized society, and laying, perhaps, the foundation to herself +and her mother of future misery and disgrace. Alas! the astrologer in +the fable was but too like Mrs Mowbray! + +But even had Adeline had an opportunity of discussing her new opinions +with Dr Norberry, it is not at all certain that she would have had the +power. + +Mrs Mowbray was, if I may be allowed the expression, a showing-off +woman, and loved the information which she acquired, less for its own +sake than for the supposed importance which it gave her amongst her +acquaintance, and the means of displaying her superiority over other +women. Before she secluded herself from society in order to study +education, she had been the terror of the ladies in the neighbourhood; +since, despising small talk, she would always insist on making the +gentlemen of her acquaintance (as much terrified sometimes as their +wives) engage with her in some literary or political conversation. +She wanted to convert every drawing-room into an arena for the mind, +and all her guests into intellectual gladiators. She was often heard +to interrupt two grave matrons in an interesting discussion of an +accouchement, by asking them if they had read a new theological tract, +or a pamphlet against the minister? If they softly expatiated on the +lady-like fatigue of body which they had endured, she discoursed in +choice terms on the energies of the mind; and she never received or paid +visits without convincing the company that she was the most wise, most +learned, and most disagreeable of companions. + +But Adeline, on the contrary, studied merely from the love of study, +and not with a view to shine in conversation; nor dared she venture +to expatiate on subjects which she had often heard Mrs Woodville say +were very rarely canvassed, or even alluded to, by women. She remained +silent, therefore, on the subject nearest her heart, from choice as well +as necessity, in the presence of Dr Norberry, till at length she imbibed +the political mania herself, and soon found it impossible to conceal +the interest which she took in the success of the infant republic. She +therefore one day put into the doctor's hands some _bouts rimes_ which +she had written on some recent victory of the American arms; exclaiming +with a smile, 'I, too, am a politician!' and was rewarded by an +exclamation of 'Why girl--I protest you are as clever as your mother!' + +This unexpected declaration fixed her in the path of literary ambition: +and though wisely resolved to fulfil, as usual, every feminine duty, +Adeline was convinced that she, like her mother, had a right to be an +author, a politician, and a philosopher; while Dr Norberry's praises of +her daughter convinced Mrs Mowbray, that almost unconsciously she had +educated her into a prodigy, and confirmed her in her intention of +exhibiting herself and Adeline to the admiring world during the next +season at Bath; for at Bath she expected to receive that admiration +which she had vainly sought in London. + +Soon after their marriage, Mr Mowbray had carried his lively bride to +the metropolis, where she expected to receive the same homage which had +been paid to her charms at the assize-balls in her neighbourhood. What +then must have been her disappointment, when, instead of hearing as +she passed, 'That is Miss Woodville, the rich heiress--or the great +genius--or the great beauty'--or, 'That is the beautiful Mrs Mowbray,' +she walked unknown and unobserved in public and in private, and found +herself of as little importance in the wide world of the metropolis, as +the most humble of her acquaintance in a country ball-room. True, she +had beauty, but then it was unset-off by fashion; nay, more, it was +eclipsed by unfashionable and tasteless attire; and her manner, though +stately and imposing in an assembly where she was known, was wholly +unlike the manners of the world, and in a London party appeared arrogant +and offensive. Her remarks, too, wise as they appeared to her and Mr +Mowbray, excited little attention,--as the few persons to whom they were +known in the metropolis were wholly ignorant of her high pretensions, +and knew not that they were discoursing with a professed genius, and +the oracle of a provincial circle. Some persons, indeed, surprised at +hearing from the lips of eighteen, observations on morals, theology, and +politics, listened to her with wonder, and even attention, but turned +away observing-- + + 'Such things, 'tis true, are neither new nor rare, + The only wonder is, how they got there:' + +till at length, disappointed, mortified, and disgusted, Mrs Mowbray +impatiently returned to Rosevalley, where in beauty, in learning, and in +grandeur she was unrivalled, and where she might deal out her dogmas, +sure of exciting respectful attention, however she might fail of calling +for a more flattering tribute from her auditors. But in the narrower +field of Bath she expected to shine forth with greater éclat than in +London, and to obtain admiration more worthy of her acceptance than any +which a country circle could offer. To Bath, therefore, she prepared to +go; and the young heart of Adeline beat high with pleasure at the idea +of mixing with that busy world which her fancy had often clothed in the +most winning attractions. + +But her joy, and Mrs Mowbray's was a little over-clouded at the +moment of their departure, by the sight of Dr Norberry's melancholy +countenance. What was to be, as they fondly imagined, their gain, was +his loss, and with a full heart he came to bid them adieu. + +For Adeline he had conceived not only affection, but esteem amounting +almost to veneration; for she appeared to him to unite various and +opposing excellencies. Though possessed of taste and talents for +literature, she was skilled in the minutest details of housewifery and +feminine occupations: and at the same time she bore her faculties so +meekly, that she never wounded the self-love of any one, by arrogating +to herself any superiority. + +Such Adeline appeared to her excellent old friend; and his affection +for her was, perhaps, increased by the necessity which he was under +of concealing it at home. The praises of Mrs Mowbray and Adeline were +odious to the ears of Mrs Norberry and her daughters,--but especially +the praises of the latter,--as the merit of Adeline was so uniform, that +even the eye of envy could not at that period discover any thing in +her vulnerable to censure: and as the sound of her name excited in +his family a number of bad passions and corresponding expressions of +countenance, the doctor wisely resolved to keep his feelings, with +regard to her, locked up in his own bosom. + +But he persisted in visiting at the Park daily; and it is no wonder, +therefore, that the loss, even for a few months, of the society of its +inhabitants should by him be anticipated as a serious calamity. + +'Pshaw!' cried he, as Adeline, with an exulting bound sprung after her +mother into the carriage, 'how gay and delighted you are! though my +heart feels sadly queer and heavy.' + +'My dear friend,' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'I must miss your society wherever +I go.'--'I wish you were going too,' said Adeline: 'I shall often think +of you.' 'Pshaw, girl! don't lie,' replied Dr Norberry, swallowing a +sigh as he spoke: 'you will soon forget an old fellow like me.'--'Then +I conclude that you will soon forget us.'--'He! how! what! think so +at your peril.'--'I must think so, as we usually judge of others +by ourselves.'--'Go to--go, miss mal-a-pert.--Well, but, drive on, +coachman--this taking leave is plaguey disagreeable, so shake hands and +be off.' + +They gave him their hands, which he pressed very affectionately, and the +carriage drove on. + +'I am an old fool,' cried the doctor, wiping his eyes as the carriage +disappeared. 'Well: Heaven grant, sweet innocent, that you may return to +me as happy and spotless as you now are!' + +Mrs Mowbray had been married at a very early age, and had accepted in Mr +Mowbray the first man who addressed her: consequently that passion for +personal admiration, so natural to women, had in her never been gratified, +nor even called forth. But seeing herself, at the age of thirty-eight, +possessed of almost undiminished beauty, she recollected that her charms +had never received that general homage for which nature intended them; +and she who at twenty had disregarded, even to a fault, the ornaments +of dress, was now, at the age of thirty-eight, eager to indulge in the +extremes of decoration, and to share in the delights of conquest and +admiration with her youthful and attractive daughter. + +Attractive, rather than handsome, was the epithet best suited to +describe Adeline Mowbray. Her beauty was the beauty of expression of +countenance, not regularity of feature, though the uncommon fairness and +delicacy of her complexion, the lustre of her hazel eyes, her long dark +eye-lashes, and the profusion of soft light hair which curled over the +ever-mantling colour of her cheek, gave her some pretensions to what is +denominated beauty. But her own sex declared she was plain--and perhaps +they were right--though the other protested against the decision--and +probably they were right also: but women criticize in detail, men admire +in the aggregate. Women reason, and men feel, when passing judgment +on female beauty: and when a woman declares another to be plain, the +chances are that she is right in her opinion, as she cannot, from her +being a woman, feel the charm of that power to please, that 'something +than beauty dearer,' which often throws a veil over the irregularity of +features and obtains, for even a plain woman, from men at least, the +appellation of pretty. + +Whether Adeline's face were plain or not, her form could defy even the +severity of female criticism. She was indeed tall, almost to a masculine +degree; but such were the roundness and proportion of her limbs, such +the symmetry of her whole person, such the lightness and gracefulness +of her movements, and so truly feminine were her look and manner, that +superior height was forgotten in the superior loveliness of her figure. + +It is not to be wondered at, then, that Miss Mowbray was an object of +attention and admiration at Bath, as soon as she appeared, nor that her +mother had her share of flattery and followers. Indeed, when it was +known that Mrs Mowbray was a rich widow, and Adeline dependent upon her, +the mother became, in the eyes of some people, much more attractive than +her daughter. + +It was impossible, however, that, in such a place as Bath, Mrs Mowbray +and Adeline could make, or rather retain, a general acquaintance. Their +opinions on most subjects were so very different from those of the world, +and they were so little conscious, from the retirement in which they +lived, that this difference existed, or was likely to make them enemies, +that not a day elapsed in which they did not shock the prejudices of +some, and excite the contemptuous pity of others; and they soon saw +their acquaintance coolly dropped by those who, as persons of family +and fortune, had on their first arrival sought it with eagerness. + +But this was not entirely owing to the freedom of their sentiments on +politics, or on other subjects; but, because they associated with a +well-known but obnoxious author;--a man whose speculations had delighted +the inquiring but ignorant lover of novelty, terrified the timid idolater +of ancient usages, and excited the regret of the cool and rational +observer:--regret, that eloquence so overwhelming, powers of reasoning +so acute, activity of research so praise-worthy, and a love of +investigation so ardent, should be thrown away on the discussion of +moral and political subjects, incapable of teaching the world to build +up again with more beauty and propriety, a fabric, which they were +perhaps, calculated to pull down: in short, Mrs Mowbray and Adeline +associated with Glenmurray, that author over whose works they had long +delighted to meditate, and who had completely led their imagination +captive, before the fascination of his countenance and manners had come +in aid of his eloquence. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Frederic Glenmurray was a man of family, and of a small independent +estate, which, in case he died without children, was to go to the next +male heir; and to that heir it was certain it would go, as Glenmurray on +principle was an enemy to marriage, and consequently not likely to have +a child born in wedlock. + +It was unfortunate circumstance for Glenmurray, that, with the ardour of +a young and inexperienced mind, he had given his eccentric opinions to +the world as soon as they were conceived and arranged,--as he, by so +doing, prejudiced the world against him in so unconquerable a degree, +that to him almost every door and heart was shut; and he by that means +excluded from every chance of having the errors of his imagination +corrected by the arguments of the experienced and enlightened--and +corrected, no doubt, they would have been, for he had a mild and candid +spirit, and mind open to conviction. + +'I consider myself,' he used to say, 'as a sceptic, not as a man really +certain of the truth of any thing which he advances. I doubt of all +things, because I look upon doubt as the road to truth; and do but +convince me what is the truth, and at what risk, whatever sacrifice, I +am ready to embrace it.' + +But, alas! neither the blamelessness of his life, nor even his active +virtue, assisted by the most courteous manners, were deemed sufficient +to counteract the mischievous tendency of his works; or rather, it was +supposed impossible that his life could be blameless and his seeming +virtues sincere:--and unheard, unknown, this unfortunate young man was +excluded from those circles which his talents would have adorned, and +forced to lead a life of solitude, or associate with persons unlike to +him in most things, except in a passion for the bold in theory, and the +almost impossible in practice. + +Of this description of persons he soon became the oracle--the head of a +sect, as it were; and those tenets which at first he embraced, and put +forth more for amusement than from conviction, as soon as he began to +suffer on their account, became as clear to him as the cross to the +Christian martyr: and deeming persecution a test of truth, he considered +the opposition made to him and his doctrines, not as the result of +dispassionate reason striving to correct absurdity, but as selfishness +and fear endeavouring to put out the light which showed the weakness of +the foundation on which were built their claims to exclusive respect. + +When Mrs Mowbray and Adeline first arrived at Bath, the latter had +attracted the attention and admiration of Colonel Mordaunt, an Irishman +of fortune, and an officer in the guards; and Adeline had not been +insensible to the charms of the very fine person and engaging manners, +united to powers of conversation which displayed an excellent +understanding improved by education and reading. But Colonel Mordaunt +was not a _marrying man_, as it is called: therefore, as soon as he +began to feel the influence of Adeline growing too powerful for his +freedom, and to observe that his attentions were far from unpleasing to +her,--too honourable to excite an attachment in her which he resolved to +combat in himself, he resolved to fly from the danger, which he knew he +could not face and overcome; and after a formal but embarrassed adieu to +Mrs Mowbray and Adeline, he suddenly left Bath. + +This unexpected departure both surprised and grieved Adeline; but, as +her feelings of delicacy were too strong to allow her to sigh for a +man who, evidently, had no thoughts of sighing for her, she dismissed +Colonel Mordaunt from her remembrance, and tried to find as much +interest still in the ball-rooms, and the promenades, as his presence +had given them: nor was it long before she found in them an attraction +and an interest stronger than any which she had yet felt. + +It is naturally to be supposed that Adeline had often wished to +know personally an author whose writings delighted her as much +as Glenmurray's had done, and that her fancy had often portrayed +him: but though it had clothed him in a form at once pleasing and +respectable,--still, from an idea of his superior wisdom, she had +imagined him past the meridian of life, and not likely to excite warmer +feelings than those of esteem and veneration: and such continued to be +Adeline's idea of Glenmurray, when he arrived at Bath, having been sent +thither by his physicians for the benefit of his health. + +Glenmurray, though a sense of his unpopularity had long banished him +from scenes of public resort in general, was so pleased with the +novelties of Bath, that, though he walked wholly unnoticed except by the +lovers of genius in whatsoever shape it showed itself, he frequented +daily the pump-room, and the promenades; and Adeline had long admired +the countenance and dignified person of this young and interesting +invalid, without the slightest suspicion of his being the man of all +others whom she most wished to see. + +Nor had Glenmurray been slow to admire Adeline: and so strong, so +irresistible was the feeling of admiration which she had excited in +him, that, as soon as she appeared, all other objects vanished from his +sight; and as women are generally quick-sighted to the effect of their +charms, Adeline never beheld the stranger without a suffusion of +pleasurable confusion on her cheek. + +One morning at the pump-room, when Glenmurray, unconscious that Adeline +was near, was reading the newspaper with great attention, and Adeline +for the first time was looking at him unobserved, she heard the name of +Glenmurray pronounced, and turned her head towards the person who spoke, +in hopes of seeing Glenmurray himself; when Mrs Mowbray, turning round +and looking at the invalid, said to a gentleman next her, 'Did you say, +Sir, that that tall, pale, dark, interesting-looking young man is Mr +Glenmurray, the celebrated author?' + +'Yes, ma'am,' replied the gentleman with a sneer: 'that is Mr +Glenmurray, the celebrated author.' + +'Oh! how I should like to speak to him!' cried Mrs Mowbray. + +'It will be no difficult matter,' replied her informant: 'the gentleman +is always quite as much at leisure as you see him now; for _all_ persons +have not the same taste as Mrs Mowbray.' + +So saying, he bowed and departed, leaving Mrs Mowbray, to whom the sight +of a great author was new, so lost in contemplating Glenmurray, that the +sarcasm with which he spoke entirely escaped her observation. + +Nor was Adeline less abstracted: she too was contemplating Glenmurray, +and with mixed but delightful feelings. + +'So then he is young and handsome too!' said she mentally: 'it is a pity +he looks so _ill_,' added she _sighing_: but the sigh was caused rather +by his looking so _well_--though Adeline was not conscious of it. + +By this time Glenmurray had observed who were his neighbours, and the +newspaper was immediately laid down. + +'Is there any news to-day?' said Mrs Mowbray to Glenmurray, resolved to +make a bold effort to become acquainted with him. Glenmurray, with a bow +and a blush of mingled surprise and pleasure, replied that there was a +great deal,--and immediately presented to her the paper which he had +relinquished, setting chairs at the same time for her and Adeline. + +Mrs Mowbray, however, only slightly glanced her eye over the paper:--her +desire was to talk to Glenmurray; and in order to accomplish this point, +and prejudice him in her favour, she told him how much she rejoiced +in seeing an author whose works were the delight and instruction of +her life. 'Speak, Adeline,' cried she, turning to her blushing daughter; +'do we not almost daily read and daily admire Mr Glenmurray's +writings?'--'Yes, certainly,' replied Adeline, unable to articulate +more, awed no doubt by the presence of so superior a being; while +Glenmurray, more proud of being an author than ever, said internally, +'Is it possible that that sweet creature should have read and admired my +works?' + +But in vain, encouraged by the smiles and even by the blushes of +Adeline, did he endeavour to engage her in conversation. Adeline was +unusually silent, unusually bashful. But Mrs Mowbray made ample amends +for her deficiency; and Mr Glenmurray, flattered and amused, would +have continued to converse with her and look at Adeline, had he not +observed the impertinent sneers and rude laughter to which conversing so +familiarly with him exposed Mrs Mowbray. As soon as he observed this, he +arose to depart; for Glenmurray was, according to Rochefoucault's maxim, +so exquisitely selfish, that he always considered the welfare of others +before his own; and heroically sacrificing his own gratification to save +Mrs Mowbray and Adeline from further censure, he bowed with the greatest +respect to Mrs Mowbray, sighed as he paid the same compliment to +Adeline, and, lamenting his being forced to quit them so soon, with +evident reluctance left the room. + +'What an elegant bow he makes!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray. Adeline had +observed nothing but the sigh; and on that she did not choose to make +any comment. + +The next day Mrs Mowbray, having learned Glenmurray's address, sent him +a card for a party at her lodgings. Nothing but Glenmurray's delight +could exceed his astonishment at this invitation. He had observed Mrs +Mowbray and Adeline, even before Adeline had observed him; and, as he +gazed upon the fascinating Adeline, he had sighed to think that she too +would be taught to avoid the dangerous and disreputable acquaintance of +Glenmurray. To him, therefore, this mark of attention was a source both +of consolation and joy. But, being well convinced that it was owing to +her ignorance of the usual customs and opinions of those with whom she +associated, he was too generous to accept the invitation, as he knew +that his presence at a rout at Bath would cause general dismay, and +expose the mistress to disagreeable remarks at least: but he endeavoured +to make himself amends for his self-denial, by asking leave to wait on +them when they were alone. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +A day or two after, as Adeline was leaning on the arm of a young lady, +Glenmurray passed them, and to his respectful bow she returned a most +cordial salutation. 'Gracious me! my dear,' said her companion, 'do you +know who that man is?' + +'Certainly:--it is Mr Glenmurray.' + +'And do you speak to him?' + +'Yes:--why should I not?' + +'Dear me! Why, I am sure! Why--don't you know what he is?' + +'Yes, a celebrated writer, and a man of genius.' + +'Oh, that may be, Miss Mowbray: but they say one should not notice him, +because he is--' + +'He is what?' said Adeline eagerly. + +'I do not exactly know what; but I believe it is a French spy, or a +Jesuit.' + +'Indeed?' replied Adeline laughing. 'But I am used to have better +evidence against a person than a _they say_ before I neglect an +acknowledged acquaintance: therefore, with your leave, I shall turn back +and talk a little to poor Mr Glenmurray.' + +It so happened that _poor Mr Glenmurray_ heard every word of this +conversation; for he had turned round and followed Adeline and her fair +companion, to present to the former the glove which she had dropped; and +as they were prevented from proceeding by the crowd on the parade, which +was assembled to see some unusual sight, he, being immediately behind +them, could distinguish all that passed; so that Adeline turned round +to go in search of him before the blush of grateful admiration for her +kindness had left his cheek. + +'Then she seeks me because I am shunned by others!' said Glenmurray +to himself. In a moment the world to him seemed to contain only two +beings, Adeline Mowbray and Frederic Glenmurray; and that Adeline, +starting and blushing with joyful surprise at seeing him so near her, +was then coming in search of him!--of him, the neglected Glenmurray! +Scarcely could he refrain catching the lovely and ungloved hand next him +to his heart; but he contented himself with keeping the glove that he +was before so eager to restore, and in a moment it was lodged in his +bosom. + +Nor could 'I can't think what I have done with my glove,' which every +now and then escaped Adeline, prevail on him to own that he had found +it. At last, indeed, it became unnecessary; for Adeline, as she glanced +her eye towards Glenmurray, discovered it in the hiding-place: but, +as delicacy forbade her to declare the discovery which she had made, +he was suffered to retain his prize; though a deep and sudden blush +which overspread his cheek, and a sudden pause which she made in her +conversation, convinced Glenmurray that she had detected his secret. +Perhaps he was not sorry--nor Adeline; but certain it is that Adeline +was for the remainder of the morning more lost in reverie than ever her +mother had been; and that from that day every one, but Adeline and +Glenmurray, saw that they were mutually enamoured. + +Glenmurray was the first of the two lovers to perceive that they were +so; and he made the discovery with a mixture of pain and pleasure. For +what could be the result of such an attachment? He was firmly resolved +never to marry; and it was very unlikely that Adeline, though she had +often expressed to him her approbation of his writings and opinions, +should be willing to sacrifice everything to love, and become his +mistress. But a circumstance took place which completely removed his +doubts on this subject. + +Several weeks had elapsed since the first arrival of the Mowbrays at +Bath, and in that time almost all their acquaintances had left them one +by one; but neither Mrs Mowbray nor Adeline had paid much attention to +this circumstance. Mrs Mowbray's habits of abstraction, as usual, made +her regardless of common occurrences; and to these were added the more +delightful reverie occasioned by the attentions of a very handsome and +insinuating man, and the influence of a growing passion. Mrs Mowbray, +as we have before observed, married from duty, not inclination; and to +the passion of love she had remained a total stranger, till she became +acquainted at Bath with Sir Patrick O'Carrol. Yes; Mrs Mowbray was in +love for the first time when she was approaching her fortieth year! and +a woman is never so likely to be the fool of love, as when it assails +her late in life, especially if a lover be as great a novelty to her as +the passion itself. Though not, alas! restored to a second youth, the +tender victim certainly enjoys a second childhood, and exhibits but too +openly all the little tricks and _minaudieres_ of a love-sick girl, +without the youthful appearance that in a degree excuses them. This was +the case with Mrs Mowbray; and while, regardless of her daughter's +interest and happiness, she was lost in the pleasing hopes of marrying +the agreeable baronet, no wonder the cold neglect of her Bath associates +was not seen by her. + +Adeline, engrossed also by the pleasing reveries of a first love, was +as unconscious of it as herself. Indeed she thought of nothing but love +and Glenmurray; else, she could not have failed to see, that, while Sir +Patrick's attentions and flatteries were addressed to her mother, his +ardent looks and passionate sighs were all directed to herself. + +Sir Patrick O'Carrol was a young Irishman, of an old family but an +encumbered estate; and it was his wish to set his estate free by +marrying a rich wife, and one as little disagreeable as possible. With +this view he came to Bath; and in Mrs Mowbray he not only beheld a woman +of large independent fortune, but possessed of great personal beauty, +and young enough to be attractive. Still, though much pleased with the +wealth and appearance of the mother, he soon became enamoured of the +daughter's person; and had he not gone so far in his addresses to Mrs +Mowbray as to make it impossible she should willingly transfer him to +Adeline, and give her a fortune at all adequate to his wants, he would +have endeavoured honourably to gain her affections, and entered the +lists against the favoured Glenmurray. + +But, as he wanted the mother's wealth, he resolved to pursue his +advantage with her, and trust to some future chance for giving him +possession of the daughter. In his dealings with men, Sir Patrick was +a man of honour; in his dealings with women, completely the reverse: +he considered them as a race of subordinate beings, and that if, like +horses, they were well lodged, fed, and kept clean, they had no right to +complain. + +Constantly therefore did he besiege Mrs. Mowbray with his conversation, +and Adeline with his eyes; and the very libertine gaze with which he +often beheld her, gave a pang to Glenmurray which was but too soon +painfully increased. + +Sir Patrick was the only man of fashion who did not object to visit at +Mrs. Mowbray's on account of her intimacy with Glenmurray; but he had +his own private reasons for going thither, and continued to visit at Mrs +Mowbray's though Glenmurray was generally there, and sometimes he and +the latter gentleman were the whole of their company. + +One evening they and two ladies were drinking tea at Mrs Mowbray's +lodgings, when Mrs Mowbray was unusually silent and Adeline unusually +talkative. Adeline scarcely ever spoke in her mother's presence, from +deference to her abilities; and whatever might be Mrs Mowbray's defects +in other respects, her conversational talents and her uncommon command +of words were indisputable. But this evening, as I before observed, +Adeline, owing to her mother's tender abstractions, was obliged to exert +herself for the entertainment of the guests. + +It so happened, also, that something was said by one of the party which +led to the subject of marriage, and Adeline was resolved not to let so +good an opportunity pass of proving to Glenmurray how sincerely she +approved his doctrine on that subject. Immediately, with an unreserve +which nothing but her ignorance of the world, and the strange education +which she had received, could at all excuse, she began to declaim +against marriage, as an institution at once absurd, unjust, and immoral, +and to declare that she would never submit to so contemptible a form, or +profane the sacred ties of love by so odious and unnecessary a ceremony. + +This extraordinary speech, though worded elegantly and delivered +gracefully, was not received by any of her hearers, except Sir Patrick, +with any thing like admiration. The baronet, indeed, clapped his hands, +and cried 'Bravo! a fine spirited girl, upon my word!' in a manner so +loud, and so offensive to the feelings of Adeline, that, like the orator +of old, she was tempted to exclaim, 'What foolish thing can I have said, +that has drawn forth this applause?' + +But Mrs Mowbray, though she could not help admiring the eloquence which +she attributed to her example,--was shocked at hearing Adeline declare +that her practice should be consonant to her theory; while Glenmurray, +though Adeline had only expressed his sentiments, and his reason +approved what she had uttered, felt his delicacy and his feelings +wounded by so open and decided an avowal of her opinions, and intended +conduct in consequence of them; and he was still more hurt, when he +saw how much it delighted Sir Patrick, and offended the rest of the +company; who, after a silence, the result of surprise and disgust, +suddenly arose, and, coldly wishing Mrs Mowbray good night, left the +house. + +By Mrs Mowbray the cause of this abrupt departure was unsuspected: but +Adeline, who had more observation, was convinced that she was the cause +of it; and sighing deeply at the prejudices of the world, she sought to +console herself by looking at Glenmurray, expecting to find in his eyes +an expression of delight and approbation. To her great disappointment, +however, his countenance was sad; while Sir Patrick, on the contrary, +had an expression of impudent triumph in his look, which made her turn +blushing from his ardent gaze, and indignantly follow her mother, who +was then leaving the room. + +As she passed him, Sir Patrick caught her hand rapturously to his lips +(an action which made Glenmurray start from his chair), and exclaimed, +'Really you are the only honest little woman I ever knew! I always was +sure that what you just now said was the opinion of all your sex, though +they were so confounded coy they would not own it.' + +'Own what Sir?' asked the astonished Adeline. + +'That they thought marriage a cursed bore, and preferred leading the +life of honour, to be sure.' + +'The life of honour! What is that?' demanded Adeline, while Glenmurray +paced the room in agitation. + +'That life, my dear girl, which you mean to lead;--love and liberty with +the man of your heart.' + +'Sir Patrick,' cried Glenmurray impatiently, 'this conversation is--' + +'Prodigiously amusing to me,' returned the baronet, 'especially as I +never could hold it to a modest woman before.' + +'Nor shall you now, Sir,' fiercely interrupted Glenmurray. + +'Shall not, Sir?' vociferated Sir Patrick. + +'Pray, gentlemen, be less violent,' exclaimed the terrified and +astonished Adeline. 'I can't think what could offend you, Mr Glenmurray, +in Sir Patrick's original observation: the life of honour appears to me +a very excellent name for the pure and honourable union which it is my +wish to form; and--' + +'There; I told you so;' triumphantly interrupted Sir Patrick: 'and I +never was better pleased in life:--sweet creature! at once so lovely, so +wise, and so liberal!' + +'Sir,' cried Glenmurray, 'this is a mistake: your life of honour and +Miss Mowbray's are as different as possible; you are talking of what +you are grossly ignorant of.' + +'Ignorant! I ignorant! Look you, Mr Glenmurray, do you pretend to tell +me I know not what the life of honour is, when I have led it so many +times with so many different women?' + +'How, Sir!' replied Adeline: 'many times? and with many different women? +My life of honour can be led with one only.' + +'Well, my dear soul, I only led it with one at a time.' + +'O Sir! you are indeed ignorant of my meaning,' she rejoined: 'It is the +individuality of an attachment that constitutes its purity; and--' + +'Ba-ba-bu, my lovely girl! which has purity to do in the business?' + +'Indeed, Sir Patrick,' meekly returned Adeline, 'I--' + +'Miss Mowbray,' angrily interrupted Glenmurray, 'I beg, I conjure you to +drop this conversation: your innocence is no match for--' + +'For what, Sir?' furiously demanded Sir Patrick. + +'Your licentiousness,' replied Glenmurray. + +'Sir, I wear a sword,' cried the baronet.--'And I a cane,' said +Glenmurray calmly, 'either to defend myself or chastise insolence.' + +'Mr Glenmurray! Sir Patrick!' exclaimed the agitated Adeline: 'for my +sake, for pity's sake desist!' + +'For the present I will, madam,' faltered out Sir Patrick;--'but I know +Mr Glenmurray's address, and he shall hear from me.' + +'Hear from you! Why, you do not mean to challenge him? you can't suppose +Mr Glenmurray would do so absurd a thing as fight a duel? Sir, he has +written a volume to prove the absurdity of the custom.--No, no! you +threaten his life in vain,' she added, giving her hand to Glenmurray; +who, in the tenderness of the action and the tone of her voice, forgot +the displeasure which her inadvertency had caused, and pressing her hand +to his lips, secretly renewed his vows of unalterable attachment. + +'Very well, madam,' exclaimed Sir Patrick in a tone of pique: 'then, so +as Mr Glenmurray's life is safe, you care not what becomes of mine!' + +'Sir,' replied Adeline, 'the safety of a fellow-creature is always of +importance in my eyes.' + +'Then you care for me as a fellow-creature only,' retorted Sir +Patrick, 'not as Sir Patrick O'Carrol?--Mighty fine, truly, you dear +ungrateful--' seizing her hand; which he relinquished, as well as the +rest of his speech, on the entrance of Mrs Mowbray. + +Soon after Adeline left the room, and Glenmurray bowed and retired; +while Sir Patrick, having first repeated his vows of admiration to the +mother, returned home to muse on the charms of the daughter, and the +necessity of challenging the moral Glenmurray. + +Sir Patrick was a man of courage, and had fought several duels: but as +life at this time had a great many charms for him, he resolved to defer +at least putting himself in the way of getting rid of it; and after +having slept late in the morning, to make up for the loss of sleep in +the night, occasioned by his various cogitations, he rose, resolved to +go to Mrs Mowbray's, and if he had an opportunity, indulge himself in +some practical comments on the singular declaration made the evening +before by her lovely daughter. + +Glenmurray meanwhile had passed the night in equal watchfulness and +greater agitation. To fight a duel would be, as Adeline observed, +contrary to his principles; and to decline one, irritated as he was +against Sir Patrick, was repugnant to his feelings. + +To no purpose did he peruse and re-peruse nearly the whole of his +own book against duelling; he had few religious restraints to make +him resolve on declining a challenge, and he felt moral ones of little +avail: but in vain did he sit at home till the morning was far advanced, +expecting a messenger from Sir Patrick;--no messenger came:--he +therefore left word with his servant, that, if wanted, he might be found +at Mrs Mowbray's, and went thither, in hopes of enjoying an hour's +conversation with Adeline; resolving to hint to her, as delicately as he +could, that the opinions which she had expressed were better confined, +in the present dark state of the public mind, to a select and +discriminating circle. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Sir Patrick had reached Mrs Mowbray's some time before him, and had, +to his great satisfaction, found Adeline alone; nor did it escape his +penetration that her cheeks glowed, and her eyes sparkled with pleasure, +at his approach. + +But he would not have rejoiced in this circumstance, had he known +that Adeline was pleased to see him merely because she considered his +appearance as a proof of Glenmurray's safety; for, in spite of his +having written against duelling, and of her confidence in his firmness +and consistency, she was not quite convinced that the reasoning +philosopher would triumph over the feeling man. + +'You are welcome, Sir Patrick!' cried Adeline, as he entered, with a +most winning smile: 'I am very glad to see you: pray sit down.' + +The baronet, who, audacious as his hopes and intentions were, had not +expected so kind a reception, was quite thrown off his guard by it, and +catching her suddenly in his arms, endeavoured to obtain a still kinder +welcome. Adeline as suddenly disengaged herself from him, and, with the +dignity of offended modesty, desired him to quit the room, as, after +such an insolent attempt, she could not think herself justified in +suffering him to remain with her. + +But her anger was soon changed into pity, when she saw Sir Patrick lay +down his hat, seat himself, and burst into a long deliberate laugh. + +'He is certainly mad!' she exclaimed; and, leaning against the +chimney-piece, she began to contemplate him with a degree of fearful +interest. + +'Upon my soul! now,' cried the baronet, when his laugh was over, 'you +do not suppose, my dear creature, that you and I do not understand one +another! Telling a young fellow to leave the house on such occasions, +means, in the pretty no meaning of your sex, "Stay, and offend again," +to be sure.' + +'He is certainly mad!' said Adeline, more confirmed than before in her +idea of his insanity, and immediately endeavoured to reach the door: but +in so doing she approached Sir Patrick, who, rather roughly seizing her +trembling hand, desired her to sit down, and hear what he had to say to +her. Adeline, thinking it not right to irritate him, instantly obeyed. + +'Now, then, to open my mind to you,' said the baronet, drawing his chair +close to hers: 'From the very first moment I saw you, I felt that we +were made for one another; though, being bothered by my debts, I made up +to the old duchess, and she nibbled the bait directly,--deeming my clean +inches (six feet one, without shoes) well worth her dirty acres.' + +'How dreadfully incoherent he is!' thought Adeline, not suspecting for a +moment that, by the old duchess, he meant her still blooming mother. + +'But, my lovely dear!' continued Sir Patrick, most ardently pressing her +hand, 'so much have your sweet person, and your frank and liberal way of +thinking, charmed me, that I here freely offer myself to you, and we will +begin the life of honour together as soon as you please.' + +Still Adeline, who was unconscious how much her avowed opinions, had +exposed her to insult, continued to believe Sir Patrick insane; a belief +which the wildness of his eyes confirmed. 'I really know not,--you +surprise me, Sir Patrick,--I--' + +'Surprise you, my dear soul! How could you expect anything else from +a man of my spirit, after your honest declaration last night?--All I +feared was, that Glenmurray should get the start of me.' + +Adeline, though alarmed, bewildered, and confounded, had still +recollection enough to know that, whether sane or insane, the words and +looks of Sir Patrick were full of increasing insult. 'I believe, I think +I had better retire', faltered out Adeline. + +'Retire!--No, indeed,' exclaimed the baronet; rudely seizing her. + +This outrage restored Adeline to her usual spirit and self-possession; +and bestowing on him the epithet of 'mean-soul'd ruffian!' she had +almost freed herself from his grasp, when a quick step was heard on the +stairs, and the door was thrown open by Glenmurray. In a moment Adeline, +bursting into tears, threw herself into his arms, as if in search of +protection. + +Glenmurray required no explanation of the scene before him: the +appearance of the actors in it was explanation sufficient; and while +with one arm he fondly held Adeline to his bosom, he raised the other in +a threatening attitude against Sir Patrick, exclaiming as he did it, +'Base, unmanly villain!' + +'Villain!' echoed Sir Patrick--'but it is very well--very well for the +present--Good morning to you, sir!' So saying he hastily withdrew. + +As soon as he was gone, Glenmurray for the first time declared to +Adeline the ardent passion with which she had inspired him; and she, +with equal frankness, confessed that her heart was irrevocably his. + +From this interesting tête-à-tête Adeline was summoned to attend a +person on business to her mother; and during her absence Glenmurray +received a challenge from the angry baronet, appointing him to meet him +that afternoon at five o'clock, about two miles from Bath. To this note, +for fear of alarming the suspicions of Adeline, Glenmurray returned only +a verbal message, saying he would answer it in two hours: but as soon as +she returned he pleaded indispensable business; and before she could +mention any fears respecting the consequences of what had passed between +him and Sir Patrick, he had left the room, having, to prevent any alarm, +requested leave to wait on her early the next day. + +As soon as Glenmurray reached his lodgings, he again revolved in his +mind the propriety of accepting the challenge. 'How can I expect to +influence others by my theories to act right, if my practice sets them +a bad example?' But then again he exclaimed, 'How can I expect to have +any thing I say attended to, when, by refusing to fight, I put it in +the power of my enemies to assert I am a poltroon, and worthy only of +neglect and contempt? No, no; I must fight:--even Adeline herself, +especially as it is on her account, will despise me if I do not:'--and +then, without giving himself any more time to deliberate, he sent an +answer to Sir Patrick, promising to meet him at the time appointed. + +But after he had sent it he found himself a prey to so much self-reproach, +and after he had forfeited his claims to consistency of conduct, he felt +himself so strongly aware of the value of it, that, had not the time of +the meeting been near at hand, he would certainly have deliberated upon +some means of retracting his consent to it. + +Being resolved to do as little mischief as he could, he determined on +having no second in the business; and accordingly repaired to the field +accompanied only by a trusty servant, who had orders to wait his master's +pleasure at a distance. + +Contrary to Glenmurray's expectations, Sir Patrick also came unattended +by a second; while his servant, who was with him, was, like the other, +desired to remain in the back ground. + +'I wish, Mr Glenmurray, to do every thing honourable,' said the baronet, +after they had exchanged salutations: 'therefore, Sir, as I concluded +you would find it difficult to get a second, I am come without one, and +I _conclude_ that I _concluded_ right.--Aye, men of your principle can +have but few friends.' + +'And men of your practice ought to have none, Sir Patrick,' retorted +Glenmurray: 'but, as I don't think it worth while to explain to you my +reasons for not having a second, as I fear that you are incapable of +understanding them, I must desire you to take your ground.' + +'With all my heart,' replied his antagonist; and then taking aim, they +agreed to fire at the same moment. + +They did so; and the servants, hearing the report of the pistols, ran to +the scene of action, and saw Sir Patrick bleeding in the sword-arm, and +Glenmurray, also wounded, leaning against a tree. + +'This is cursed unlucky,' said Sir Patrick coolly: 'you have disabled my +right arm. I can't go on with this business at present; but when I am +well again command me. Your wound, I believe, is as slight as mine; but +as I can walk, and you cannot, and as I have a chaise, and you not, you +shall use it to convey you and your servant home, and I and mine will go +on foot.' + +To this obliging offer Glenmurray was incapable of giving denial; for he +became insensible from loss of blood, and with the assistance of his +antagonist was carried to the chaise, and supported by his terrified +servant, conveyed back to Bath. + +It is not to be supposed that an event of this nature should be long +unknown. It was soon told all over the city that Sir Patrick O'Carrol +and Mr Glenmurray had fought a duel, and that the latter was dangerously +wounded; the quarrel having originated in Mr Glenmurray's scoffing at +religion, king, and constitution, before the pious and loyal baronet. + +This story soon reached the ears of Mrs Mowbray, who, in an agony of +tender sorrow, and in defiance of all decorum, went in person to call +on her admired Sir Patrick; and Adeline, who heard of the affair soon +after, as regardless of appearances as her mother, and more alarmed, +went in person to inquire concerning her wounded Glenmurray. + +By the time that she had arrived at his lodgings, not only his own +surgeon but Sir Patrick's had seen him, as his antagonist thought it +necessary to ascertain the true state of his wound, that he might know +whether he ought to stay, or fly his country. + +The account of both the surgeons was, however, so favourable, and +Glenmurray in all respects so well, that Sir Patrick's alarms were soon +quite at an end; and the wounded man was lying on a sofa, lost in no +very pleasant reflections, when Adeline knocked at his door. Glenmurray +at that very moment was saying to himself, 'Well;--so much for principle +and consistency! Now, my next step must be to marry, and then I shall +have made myself a complete fool, and the worst of all fools,--a man +presuming to instruct others by his precepts, when he finds them +incapable of influencing even his own actions.' + +At this moment his servant came up with Miss Mowbray's compliments, and, +if he was well enough to see her, she would come up and speak to him. + +In an instant all his self-reproaches were forgotten; and when Adeline +hung weeping and silent on his shoulder, he could not but rejoice in an +affair which had procured him a moment of such heartfelt delight. At +first Adeline expressed nothing but terror at the consequences of his +wound, and pity for his sufferings; but when she found that he was in +no danger, and in very little pain, the tender mistress yielded to the +severe monitress, and she began to upbraid Glenmurray for having acted +not only in defiance of her wishes and principles, but of his own; of +principles laid down by him to the world in the strongest point of view, +and in a manner convincing to every mind. + +'Dearest Adeline, consider the provocation,' cried Glenmurray:--'a gross +insult offered to the woman I love!' + +'But who ever fought a duel without provocation, Glenmurray? If +provocation be a justification, your book was unnecessary; and did not +you offer an insult to the understanding of the woman you love, in +supposing that she could be obliged to you for playing the fool on her +account?' + +'But I should have been called a coward had I declined the challenge; +and though I can bear the world's hatred, I could not its contempt:--I +could not endure the loss of what the world calls honour.' + +'Is it possible,' rejoined Adeline, 'that I hear the philosophical +Glenmurray talking thus, in the silly jargon of a man of the world?' + +'Alas! I am a man, not a philosopher, Adeline!' + +'At least be a sensible one;--consistent I dare not now call you. But +have you forgotten the distinction which, in your volume on the subject +of duels, you so strongly lay down between real and apparent honour? +In which of the two classes do you put the honour of which, in this +instance, you were so tenacious? What is there in common between the +glory of risking the life of a fellow-creature, and testimony of an +approving conscience?' + +'An excellent observation that of yours, indeed, my sweet monitress,' +said Glenmurray. + +'An observation of mine; It is your own,' replied Adeline: 'but see, I +have the book in my muff; and I will punish you for the badness of your +practice, by giving you a dose of your theory.' + +'Cruel girl!' cried Glenmurray, 'I am not ordered a sleeping draught!' + +Adeline was however resolved; and, opening the book, she read argument +after argument with unyielding perseverance, till Glenmurray, who, +like the eagle in the song, saw on the dart that wounded him his own +feathers, cried 'Quarter!' + +'But tell me, dear Adeline,' said Glenmurray, a little piqued at her too +just reproofs, 'you, who are so severe on my want of consistency, are +you yourself capable of acting up in every respect to your precepts?' + +'After your weakness,' replied Adeline, smiling, 'it becomes me to +doubt my own strength; but I assure you that I make it a scruple of +conscience, to show by my conduct my confidence in the truth of my +opinions.' + +'Then, in defiance of the world's opinion, that opinion which I, you +see, had not resolution to brave, you will be mine--not according to the +ties of marriage, but with no other ties or sanction than those of love +and reason?' + +'I will,' said Adeline: 'and may He whom I worship' (raising her fine +eyes and white arms to heaven) 'desert me when I desert you!' + +Who that had seen her countenance and gesture at that moment, could have +imagined she was calling on heaven to witness an engagement to lead a +life of infamy? Rather would they have thought her a sublime enthusiast +breathing forth the worship of a grateful soul. + +It may be supposed that Glenmurray's heart beat with exultation at this +confession from Adeline, and that he forgot, in the promised indulgence +of his passion, those bounds which strict decorum required. But +Glenmurray did her justice; he beheld her as she was--all purity of +feeling and all delicacy; and, if possible, the slight favours by which +true love is long contented to be fed, though granted by Adeline with +more conscious emotion, were received by him with more devoted respect: +besides, he again felt that mixture of pain with pleasure, on this +assurance of her love, which he had experienced before. For he knew, +though Adeline did not, the extent of the degradation into which the +step which her conscience approved would necessarily precipitate her; +and experience alone could convince him that her sensibility to shame, +when she was for the first time exposed to it, would not overcome her +supposed fortitude and boasted contempt of the world's opinion, and +change all the roses of love into the thorns of regret and remorse. + +And could he who doted on her;--he, too, who admired her as much for her +consummate purity as for any other of her qualities;--could he bear to +behold this fair creature, whose open eye beamed with the consciousness +of virtue, casting her timid glances to the earth, and shrinking with +horror from the conviction of having in the world's eye forfeited all +pretensions to that virtue which alone was the end of her actions! Would +the approbation of her own mind be sufficient to support her under such +a trial, though she had with such sweet earnestness talked to him of its +efficacy! These reflections had for some time past been continually +occurring to him, and now they came across his mind blighting the +triumphs of successful passion:--nay, but from the dread of incurring +yet more ridicule, on account of the opposition of his practice to his +theory, and perhaps the indignant contempt of Adeline, he could have +thrown himself at her feet, conjuring her to submit to the degradation +of being a wife. + +But, unknown to Glenmurray, perhaps, another reason prompted him to +desire this concession from Adeline. We are never more likely to be in +reality the slaves of selfishness, than when we fancy ourselves acting +with most heroic disinterestedness.--Egotism loves a becoming dress, and +is always on the watch to hide her ugliness by the robe of benevolence. +Glenmurray thought that he was willing to marry Adeline merely for _her_ +sake! but I suspect it was chiefly for _his_. The true and delicate +lover is always a monopolizer, always desirous of calling the woman +of his affections his own: it is not only because he considers marriage +as a holy institution that the lover leads his mistress to the altar; +but because it gives him a right to appropriate the fair treasure to +himself,--because it sanctions and perpetuates the dearest of all +monopolies, and erects a sacred barrier to guard his rights,--around +which, all that is respectable in society, all that is most powerful and +effectual in its organization, is proud and eager to rally. + +But while Glenmurray, in spite of his happiness, was sensible to an +alloy of it, and Adeline was tenderly imputing to the pain of his wound +the occasionally mournful expression of his countenance, Adeline took +occasion to declare that she would live with Glenmurray only on condition +that such a step met with her mother's approbation. + +'Then are my hopes for ever at an end,' said Glenmurray:--'or,--or' (and +spite of himself his eyes sparkled as he spoke)--'or we must submit to +the absurd ceremony of marriage.' + +'Marriage!' replied the astonished Adeline: 'can you think so meanly +of my mother, as to suppose her practice so totally opposite to her +principles, that she would require her daughter to submit to a ceremony +which she herself regards with contempt?--Impossible. I am sure, when I +solicit her consent to my being yours, she will be pleased to find that +her sentiments and observations have not been thrown away on me.' + +Glenmurray thought otherwise: however, he bowed and was silent; and +Adeline declared that, to put an end to all doubt on the subject, she +would instantly go in search of Mrs Mowbray and propose the question to +her: and Glenmurray, feeling himself more weak and indisposed than he +chose to own to her, allowed her, though reluctantly, to depart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Mrs Mowbray was but just returned from her charitable visit when Adeline +entered the room. 'And pray, Miss Mowbray, where have you been?' she +exclaimed, seeing Adeline with her hat and cloak on. + +'I have been visiting poor Mr Glenmurray,' she replied. + +'Indeed!' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'and without my leave! and pray who went +with you?' + +'Nobody, ma'am.' + +'Nobody!--What! visit a man alone at his lodgings, after the education +which you have received!' + +'Indeed, madam,' replied Adeline meekly, 'my education never taught me +that such conduct was improper; nor, as you did the same this afternoon, +could I have dared to think it so.' + +'You are mistaken, Miss Mowbray,' replied her mother: 'I did not do the +same; for the terms which I am upon with Sir Patrick made my visiting +him no impropriety at all.' + +'If you think I have acted wrong,' replied Adeline timidly, 'no doubt I +have done so; though you were quite right in visiting Sir Patrick, as +the respectability of your age and character, and Sir Patrick's youth, +warranted the propriety of the visit:--but, surely the terms which I am +upon with Mr Glenmurray--' + +'The terms which you are upon with Mr Glenmurray! and my age and +character! what can you mean?' angrily exclaimed Mrs Mowbray. + +'I hope, my dear mother,' said Adeline tenderly, 'that you had long +ere this guessed the attachment which subsists between Mr Glenmurray +and me;--an attachment cherished by your high opinion of him and his +writings; but which respect has till now made me hesitate to mention to +you.' + +'Would to heaven!' replied Mrs Mowbray, 'that respect had made you +for ever silent on the subject! Do you suppose that I would marry my +daughter to a man of small fortune,--but more especially to one who, as +Sir Patrick informs me, is shunned for his principles and profligacy by +all the world?' + +'To what Sir Patrick says of Mr Glenmurray I pay no attention,' answered +Adeline; 'nor are you, my dear mother, capable, I am sure, of being +influenced by the prejudices of the world.--But you are quite mistaken +in supposing me so lost to consistency, and so regardless of your +liberal opinions and the books which we have studied, as to think of +_marrying_ Mr Glenmurray.' + +'Grant me patience!' cried Mrs Mowbray; 'why, to be sure you do not +think of living with him _without_ being married?' + +'Certainly, madam; that you may have the pleasure of beholding one union +founded on rational grounds and cemented by rational ties.' + +'How!' cried Mrs Mowbray, turning pale. 'I!--I have pleasure in seeing +my daughter a kept mistress!--You are mad, quite mad.--_I_ approve such +unhallowed connexions!' + +'My dearest mother,' replied Adeline, 'your agitation terrifies me,--but +indeed what I say is strictly true; and see here, in Mr Glenmurray's +book, the very passage which I so often have heard you admire.' As she +said this, Adeline pointed to the passage; but in an instant Mrs Mowbray +seized the book and threw it on the fire. + +Before Adeline had recovered her consternation Mrs Mowbray fell into a +violent hysteric; and long was it before she was restored to composure. +When she recovered she was so exhausted that Adeline dared not renew +the conversation; but leaving her to rest, she made up a bed on the +floor in her mother's room, and passed a night of wretchedness and +watchfulness,--the first of the kind which she had ever known.--Would +it had been the last! + +In the morning Mrs Mowbray awoke, refreshed and calm; and, affected at +seeing the pale cheek and sunk eye of Adeline, indicative of a sleepless +and unhappy night, she held out her hand to her with a look of kindness; +Adeline pressed it to her lips, as she knelt by the bed-side, and +moistened it with tears of regret for the past and alarm for the future. + +'Adeline, my dear child,' said Mrs Mowbray in a faint voice, 'I hope you +will no longer think of putting a design in execution so fraught with +mischief to you, and horror to me. Little did I think that you were so +romantic as to see no difference between amusing one's imagination with +new theories and new systems, and acting upon them in defiance of common +custom, and the received usages of society. I admire the convenient +trousers and graceful dress of the Turkish women; but I would not wear +them myself, lest it should expose me to derision.' + +'Is there no difference,' thought Adeline, 'between the importance of a +dress and an opinion!--Is the one to be taken up, and laid down again, +with the same indifference as the other!' But she continued silent, and +Mrs Mowbray went on. + +'The poetical philosophy which I have so much delighted to study, has +served me to ornament my conversation, and make persons less enlightened +than myself wonder at the superior boldness of my fancy, and the acuteness +of my reasoning powers;--but I should as soon have thought of making +this little gold chain round my neck fasten the hall-door, as act upon +the precepts laid down in those delightful books. No; though I think all +they say is true, I believe the purity they inculcate too much for this +world.' + +Adeline listened in silent astonishment and consternation. Conscience, +and the conviction of what is right, she then for the first time learned, +were not to be the rule of action; and though filial tenderness made her +resolve never to be the mistress of Glenmurray, she also resolved never +to be his wife, or that of any other man; while, in spite of herself, +the great respect with which she had hitherto regarded her mother's +conduct and opinions began to diminish. + +'Would to heaven, my dear mother,' said Adeline, when Mrs Mowbray had +done speaking, 'that you had said all this to me ere my mind had been +indelibly impressed with the truth of these forbidden doctrines; for now +my conscience tells me that I ought to act up to them!' + +'How!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, starting up in her bed, and in a voice +shrill with emotion, 'are you then resolved to disobey me, and dishonour +yourself?' + +'Oh! never, never!' replied Adeline, alarmed at her mother's violence, +and fearful of a relapse. 'Be but the kind affectionate parent that you +have ever been to me; and though I will never marry out of regard to +my own principles, I will also never contract any other union, out +of respect to your wishes,--but will lead with you a quiet, if not a +_happy_ life; for never, never can I forget Glenmurray.' + +'There speaks the excellent child I always thought you to be!' replied +Mrs Mowbray; 'and I shall leave it to time and good counsels to convince +you, that the opinions of a girl of eighteen, as they are not founded +on long experience, may possibly be erroneous.' + +Mrs Mowbray never made a truer observation; but Adeline was not in a +frame of mind to assent to it. + +'Besides,' continued Mrs Mowbray, 'had I ever been disposed to accept +of Mr Glenmurray as a son-in-law, it is very unlikely that I should be +so now; as the duel took place not only, I find, from the treasonable +opinions which he put forth, but from some disrespectful language which +he held concerning me.' + +'Who could dare to invent so infamous a calumny!' exclaimed Adeline. + +'My authority is unquestionable, Miss Mowbray; I speak from Sir Patrick +himself.' + +'Then he adds falsehood to his other villanies!' returned Adeline, +almost inarticulate with rage:--'but what could be expected from a man +who could dare to insult a young woman under the roof of her mother with +his licentious addresses?' + +'What mean you?' cried Mrs Mowbray, turning pale. + +'I mean that Sir Patrick yesterday morning insulted me by the grossest +familiarities, and--' + +'My dear child,' replied Mrs Mowbray laughing, 'that is only the usual +freedom of his manner; a manner which your ignorance of the world led +you to mistake. He did not mean to insult you, believe me, I am sure +that, spite of his ardent passion for me, he never, even when alone with +me, hazarded any improper liberty.' + +'The ardent passion which he feels for you, madam!' exclaimed Adeline, +turning pale in her turn. + +'Yes, Miss Mowbray! What, I suppose you think me too old to inspire +one!--But, I assure you, there are people who think the mother handsomer +than the daughter!' + +'No doubt, dear mother, every one ought to think so,--and would to +heaven Sir Patrick were one of those! But he, unfortunately--' + +'Is of that opinion,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray angrily: 'and to convince +you--so tenderly does he love me, and so fondly do I return his passion, +that in a few days I shall become his wife.' + +Adeline, on hearing this terrible information, fell insensible on the +ground. When she recovered she saw Mrs Mowbray anxiously watching by +her, but not with that look of alarm and tenderness with which she had +attended her during her long illness; that look which was always present +to her graceful and affectionate remembrance. No; Mrs Mowbray's eye was +cast down with a half-mournful, half-reproachful, and half-fearful +expression, when it met that of Adeline. + +The emotion of anguish which her fainting had evinced was a reproach to +the proud heart of Mrs Mowbray, and Adeline felt that it was so; but +when she recollected that her mother was going to marry a man who had +so lately declared a criminal passion for herself, she was very near +relapsing into insensibility. She however struggled with her feelings, +in order to gain resolution to disclose to Mrs Mowbray all that had +passed between her and Sir Patrick. But as soon as she offered to renew +the conversation, Mrs Mowbray sternly commanded her to be silent; and +insisting on her going to bed, she left her to her own reflections, till +wearied and exhausted she fell into a sound sleep: nor, as it was late +in the evening when she awoke, did she rise again till the next morning. + +Mrs Mowbray entered her room as she was dressing and inquired how she +did, with some kindness. + +'I shall be better, dear mother, if you will but hear what I have to say +concerning Sir Patrick,' replied Adeline, bursting into tears. + +'You can say nothing that will shake my opinion of him, Miss Mowbray,' +replied her mother coldly: 'so I advise you to reconcile yourself to a +circumstance which it is not in your power to prevent.' So saying, she +left the room: and Adeline, convinced that all she could say would be +vain, endeavoured to console herself, by thinking that, as soon as Sir +Patrick became the husband of her mother, his wicked designs on her +would undoubtedly cease; and that, therefore, in one respect, that +ill-assorted union would be beneficial to her. + +Sir Patrick, meanwhile, was no less sanguine in his expectations from +his marriage. Unlike the innocent Adeline, he did not consider his union +with the mother as a necessary check to his attempts on the daughter; +but, emboldened by what to him appeared the libertine sentiments of +Adeline, and relying on the opportunities of being with her, which he +must infallibly enjoy under the same roof in the country, he looked on +her as his certain prey. Though he believed Glenmurray to be at that +moment preferred to himself, he thought it impossible that the superior +beauty of his person should not, in the end, have its due weight: as a +passion founded in esteem, and the admiration of intellectual beauty, +could not, in his opinion, subsist: besides, Adeline appeared in his +eyes not a deceived enthusiast, but a susceptible and forward girl, +endeavouring to hide her frailty under fine sentiments and high-sounding +theories. Nor was Sir Patrick's inference an unnatural one. Every man +of the world would have thought the same; and on very plausible +grounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +As Sir Patrick was not 'punctual as lovers to the moment sworn', Mrs +Mowbray resolved to sit down and write immediately to Glenmurray; +flattering herself at the same time, that the letter which was designed +to confound Glenmurray would delight the tender baronet;--for Mrs +Mowbray piqued herself on her talents for letter-writing, and was not a +little pleased with an opportunity of displaying them to a celebrated +author. But never before did she find writing a letter so difficult a +task. Her eager wish of excelling deprived her of the means; and she +who, in a letter to a friend or relation, would have written in a +style at once clear and elegant, after two hours' effort produced the +following specimen of the obscure, the pedantic, and affected.-- + + + 'SIR, + + 'The light which cheers and attracts, if we follow its + guidance, often leads us into bogs and quagmires:--Verbum + sapienti. Your writings are the lights, and the practice to + which you advise my deluded daughter is the bog and quagmire. I + agree with you in all you have said against marriage;--I agree + with the savage nations in the total uselessness of clothing; + still I condescend to wear clothes, though neither becoming nor + useful, because I respect public opinion; and I submit to the + institution of marriage for reasons equally cogent. Such being + my sentiments, Sir, I must desire you never to see my daughter + more. Nor could you expect to be received with open arms by me, + whom the shafts of your ridicule have pierced, though warded + off by the shield of love and gallantry;--but for this I thank + you! Now shall I possess, owing to your baseness, at once a + declared lover and a tried avenger; and the chains of Hymen + will be rendered more charming by gratitude's having blown the + flame, while love forged the fetters. + + 'But with your writings I continue to amuse my + imagination.--Lovely is the flower of the nightshade, though + its berry be poison. Still shall I admire and wonder at you as + an author, though I avoid and detest you as a man. + + 'EDITHA MOWBRAY.' + +This letter was just finished when Sir Patrick arrived, and to him it +was immediately shown. + +'Heh! what have we here?' cried he laughing violently as he perused it. +'Here you talk of being pierced by shafts which were warded off. Now, +had I said that, it would have been called a bull. As to the concluding +paragraph--' + +'O! that, I flatter myself,' said Mrs Mowbray, 'will tear him with +remorse.' + +'He must first understand it,' cried Sir Patrick: 'I can but just +comprehend it, and am sure it will be all botheration to him.' + +'I am sorry to find such is your opinion,' replied Mrs Mowbray; 'for I +think that sentence the best written of any.' + +'I did not say it was not fine writing,' replied the baronet, 'I only +said it was not to be understood.--But, with your leave, you shall send +the letter, and we'll drop the subject.' + +So said, so done, to the great satisfaction of Sir Patrick, who felt +that it was for his interest to suffer the part of Mrs Mowbray's letter +which alluded to Glenmurray's supposed calumnies against her to remain +obscurely worded, as he well knew that what he had asserted on this +subject was wholly void of foundation. + +Glenmurray did not receive it with equal satisfaction. He was indignant +at the charge of having advised Adeline to become his mistress rather +than his wife; and as so much of the concluding passage as he could +understand seemed to imply that he had calumniated her mother, to remain +silent a moment would have been to confess himself guilty: he therefore +answered Mrs Mowbray's letter immediately. The answer was as follows:-- + + + 'MADAM, + + 'To clear myself from the charge of having advised Miss Mowbray + to a step contrary to the common customs, however erroneous, + of society at this period, I appeal to the testimony of Miss + Mowbray herself; and I here repeat to you the assurance which + I made to her, that I am willing to marry her when and where + she chooses. I love my system and my opinions, but the + respectability of the woman of my affections _more_. Allow me, + therefore, to make you a little acquainted with my situation in + life: + + 'To you it is well known, madam, that wealth, honours, and + titles have no value in my eyes; and that I reverence talents + and virtues, though they wear the garb of poverty, and are born + in the most obscure stations. But you, or rather those who are + so fortunate as to influence your determinations, may consider + my sentiments on this subject as romantic and absurd. It is + necessary, therefore, that I should tell you, as an excuse in + their eyes for presuming to address your daughter, that, by the + accident of birth, I am descended from an ancient family, and + nearly allied to a noble one; and that my paternal inheritance, + though not large enough for splendour and luxury, is sufficient + for all the purposes of comfort and genteel affluence. I would + say more on this subject, but I am impatient to remove from + your mind the prejudice which you seem to have imbibed against + me. I do not perfectly understand the last paragraph in your + letter. If you will be so kind as to explain it to me, you may + depend on my being perfectly ingenuous: indeed, I have no + difficulty in declaring, that I have neither encouraged a + feeling, nor uttered a word, capable of giving the lie to the + declaration which I am now going to make--That I am, + + 'With respect and esteem, + + 'Your obedient servant, + + 'F. GLENMURRAY.' + + +This letter had an effect on Mrs Mowbray's feelings so much in favour +of Glenmurray, that she was almost determined to let him marry Adeline. +She felt that she owed her some amends for contracting a marriage so +suddenly, and without either her knowledge or approbation; and she +thought that, by marrying her to the man of her heart, she should make +her peace both with Adeline and herself. But, unfortunately, this +design, as soon as it began to be formed, was communicated to Sir +Patrick. + +'So then!' exclaimed he, 'you have forgotten and forgiven the +impertinent things which the puppy said! things which obliged me to wear +this little useless appendage in a sling thus (pointing to his wounded +arm).' + +'O! no, my dear Sir Patrick! But though what Mr Glenmurray said might +alarm the scrupulous tenderness of a lover, perhaps it was a remark +which might only suit the sincerity of a friend. Perhaps, if Mr +Glenmurray had made it to me, I should have heard it with thanks, and +with candour have approved it.' + +'My sweet soul!' replied Sir Patrick, 'you may be as candid and amiable +as ever you please, but, 'by St. Patrick!' never shall Sir Patrick +O'Carrol be father-in-law to the notorious and infamous Glenmurray--that +subverter of all religion and order, and that scourge of civilized +society!' + +So saying, he stalked about the room; and Mrs Mowbray, as she gazed on +his handsome person, thought it would be absurd for her to sacrifice her +own happiness to her daughter's, and give up Sir Patrick as her husband +in order to make Glenmurray her son. She therefore wrote another letter +to Glenmurray, forbidding him any further intercourse with Adeline, on +any pretence whatever; and delayed not a moment to send him her final +decision. + +'That is acting like the sensible woman I took you for,' said Sir +Patrick: 'the fellow has now gotten his quietus, I trust, and the dear +little Adeline is reserved for happier fate. Sweet soul! you do not know +how fond she will be of me! I protest that I shall be so kind to her, it +will be difficult for people to decide which I love best, the daughter +or the mother.' + +'But I hope _I_ shall always know, Sir Patrick,' said Mrs Mowbray +gravely. + +'You!--O yes, to be sure. But I mean that my fatherly attentions shall +be of the warmest kind. But now do me the favour of telling me what hour +tomorrow I may appoint the clergyman to bring the license?' + +The conversation that followed, it were needless and tedious to describe. +Suffice, that eight o'clock the next morning was fixed for the marriage; +and Mrs Mowbray, either from shame or compassion, resolved that Adeline +should not accompany her to church, nor even know of the ceremony till +it was over. + +Nor was this a difficult matter. Adeline remained in her own apartment +all the preceding day, endeavouring, but in vain, to reconcile herself +to what she justly termed the degradation of her mother. She felt, alas! +the most painful of all feelings, next to that of self-abasement, the +consciousness of the abasement of one to whom she had all her life +looked up with love and veneration. To write to Glenmurray while +oppressed by such contending emotions she knew to be impossible; she +therefore contented herself with sending a verbal message, importing +that he should hear from her the next day: and poor Glenmurray passed +the rest of that day and the night in a state little better than her +own. + +The next morning Adeline, who had not closed her eyes till daylight, +woke late, and from a sound but unrefreshing sleep. The first object she +saw was her maid, smartly dressed, sitting by her bed-side; and she also +saw that she had been crying. + +'Is my mother ill, Evans?' she exclaimed. + +'O! no, Miss Adeline, quite well,' replied the girl, sighing. + +'But why are you so much dressed?' demanded Adeline. + +'I have been out,' answered the maid. + +'Not on unpleasant business?' + +'That's as it may be,' she cried, turning away; and Adeline, from +delicacy, forebore to press her further. + +''Tis very late--is it not?' asked Adeline, 'and time for me to rise!' + +'Yes, miss--I believe you had better get up.' + +Adeline immediately rose.--'Give me the dark gown I wore yesterday,' +said she. + +'I think, miss, you had better put on your new white one,' returned the +maid. + +'My new white one!' exclaimed Adeline, astonished at an interference so +new. + +'Yes, miss--I think it will be taken kinder, and look better.' + +At these words Adeline's suspicions were awakened. 'I see, Evans,' she +cried, 'you have something extraordinary to tell me:--I partly guess; +I,--my mother--' Here, unable to proceed, she lay down on the bed which +she had just quitted. + +'Yes, Miss Adeline--'tis very true; but pray compose yourself, I am sure +I have cried enough on your account, that I have.' + +'What is true, my good Evans?' said Adeline faintly. + +'Why, miss, my lady was married this morning to Sir Patrick +O'Carrol!--Mercy on me, how pale you look! I am sure I wish the villain +was at the bottom of the sea, so I do.' + +'Leave me,' said Adeline faintly, struggling for utterance. + +'No--that I will not,' bluntly replied Evans; 'you are not fit to be +left; and they are rejoicing below with Sir Pat's great staring servant. +But, for my part, I had rather stay here and cry with you than laugh +with them.' + +Adeline hid her face in the pillow, incapable of further resistance, and +groaned aloud. + +'Who should ever have thought my lady would have done so!' continued the +maid.--'Only think, miss! they say, and I doubt it is too true, that +there have been no writings, or settlements, I think they call them, +drawn up; and so Sir Pat have got all, and he is over head and ears in +debt, and my lady is to pay him out on't! + +At this account, which Adeline feared was a just one, as she had seen no +preparations for a wedding going on, and had observed no signs of deeds, +or any thing of the kind, she started up in an agony of grief--'Then +has my mother given me up, indeed!' she exclaimed, clasping her hands +together, 'and the once darling child may soon be a friendless outcast!' + +'You want a friend, Miss Adeline!' said the kind girl, bursting into +tears.--'Never, while I live, or any of my fellow-servants.' And +Adeline, whose heart was bursting with a sense of forlornness and +abandonment, felt consoled by the artless sympathy of her attendant; +and, giving way to a violent flood of tears, she threw her arms round +her neck, and sobbed upon her bosom. + +Having thus eased her feelings, she recollected that it was incumbent on +her to exert her fortitude; and that it was a duty which she owed her +mother not to condemn her conduct openly herself, nor suffer any one else +to do it in her presence: still, at that moment, she could not find in +her heart to reprove the observations by which, in spite of her sense of +propriety, she had been soothed and gratified; but she hastened to dress +herself as became a bridal dinner, and dismissed, as soon as she could, +the affectionate Evans from her presence. She then walked up and down +her chamber, in order to summon courage to enter the drawing-room.--'But +how strange, how cruel it was,' said she, 'that my mother did not come +to inform me of this important event herself!' + +In this respect, however, Mrs Mowbray had acted kindly. Reluctant, even +more than she was willing to confess to her own heart, to meet Adeline +alone, she had chosen to conclude that she was still asleep, and had +desired she might not be disturbed; but soon after her return from +church, being assured that she was in a sound slumber, she had stolen to +her bed-side and put a note under her pillow, acquainting her with what +had passed: but this note Adeline in her restlessness had, with her +pillow, pushed on the floor, and there unseen it had remained. But, as +Adeline was pacing to and fro, she luckily observed it; and, by proving +that her mother had not been so very neglectful of her, it tended to +fortify her mind against the succeeding interview. The note began:-- + + 'My dearest child! to spare you, in your present weak state, the + emotion which you would necessarily feel in attending me to the + altar, I have resolved to let the ceremony be performed unknown + to you. But, my beloved Adeline, I trust that your affection for + me will make you rejoice in a step, which you may, perhaps, at + present disapprove, when convinced that it was absolutely + necessary to my happiness, and can, in no way, be the means of + diminishing yours. + + 'I remain + + 'Your ever affectionate mother.' + +'She loves me still then!' cried Adeline, shedding tears of tenderness, +'and I accused her unjustly.--O my dear mother, if this event should +indeed increase your happiness, never shall I repine at not having been +able to prevent it.' And then, after taking two or three hasty turns +round the room, and bathing her eyes to remove in a degree the traces of +her tears, she ventured into the drawing-room. + +But the sight of her mother seated by Sir Patrick, his arm encircling +her waist, in that very room which had so lately witnessed his +profligate attempts on herself, deprived her of the little resolution +which she had been able to assume, and pale and trembling she sunk +speechless with emotion on the first chair near her. + +Mrs Mowbray, or, as we must at present call her, Lady O'Carrol, was +affected by Adeline's distress, and, hastening to her, received the +almost fainting girl in her arms; while even Sir Patrick, feeling +compassion for the unhappiness which he could more readily understand +than his bride, was eager to hide his confusion by calling for water, +drops, and servants. + +'I want neither medicine nor assistance now,' said Adeline, gently +raising her head from her mother's shoulder: 'the shock is over, and I +shall, I trust, behave in future with proper self-command.' + +'Better late than never,' muttered Lady O'Carrol, on whom the word +_shock_ had not made a pleasant impression; while Sir Patrick, +approaching Adeline, exclaimed, 'If you have not self-command, Miss +Mowbray, it is the only command which you cannot boast; for your power +of commanding others no one can dispute, who has ever had the happiness +of beholding you.' + +So saying, he took her hand; and, as her mother's husband, claimed the +privilege of saluting her,--a privilege which Adeline, though she almost +shrunk with horror from his touch, had _self-command_ enough not to +deny him: immediately after he claimed the same favour from his bride; +and they resumed their position on the sofa. + +But so embarrassing was the situation of all parties that no +conversation took place; and Adeline, unable any longer to endure the +restraint to which she was obliged, rose, to return to her own room, in +order to hide the sorrow which she was on the point of betraying, when +her mother in a tone of reproach exclaimed, 'It grieves me to the soul, +Miss Mowbray, to perceive that you appear to consider as a day of +mourning the day which I consider as the happiest of my life.' + +'Oh! my dearest mother!' replied Adeline, returning and approaching her, +'it is the dread of your deceiving yourself, only, that makes me sad at +a time like this: if this day in its consequences prove a happy one--' + +'And wherefore should you doubt that it will, Miss Mowbray?' + +'Miss Mowbray, do you doubt my honour?' cried Sir Patrick hastily. + +Adeline instantly fixed her fine eyes on his face with a look which he +knew how to interpret, but not how to support: and he cast his to the +ground with painful consciousness. + +She saw her triumph, and it gave her courage to proceed:--'O sir!' she +cried, 'it is in your power to convert all my painful doubts into joyful +certainties; make but my mother happy, and I will love and bless you +ever.--Promise me, sir,' she continued, her enthusiasm and affection +kindling as she spoke, 'promise me to be kind and indulgent to her;--she +has never known contradiction; she has been through life the darling +object of all who surrounded her; the pride of her parents, her husband, +and her child: neglect, injury, and unkindness she would inevitably sink +under: and I conjure you (here she dropped on her knees and extended her +arms in an attitude of entreaty) by all your hopes of happiness +hereafter, to give her reason to continue to name this the happiest day +of her life.' + +Here she ceased, overcome by the violence of her emotions; but continued +her look and attitude of entreaty, full of such sweet earnestness, +that the baronet could hardly conceal the variety of feelings which +assailed him; amongst which, passion for the lovely object before him +predominated. To make a jest of Adeline's seriousness he conceived to be +the best way to conceal what he felt; and while Mrs Mowbray, overcome +with Adeline's expressions of tenderness, was giving way to them by a +flood of tears, and grasping in both hers the clasped hands of Adeline, +he cried, in an ironical tone,--'You are the most extraordinary motherly +young creature that I ever saw in my life, my dear girl! Instead of your +mother giving the nuptial benediction to you, the order of nature is +reversed, and you are giving it to her. Upon my word I begin to think, +seeing you in that posture, that you are my bride begging a blessing of +mamma on our union, and that I ought to be on my knees too.' + +So saying, he knelt beside Adeline at Lady O'Carrol's feet, and in a +tone of mock solemnity besought her to bless both her affectionate +children: and as he did this, he threw his arm round the weeping girl, +and pressed her to his bosom. This speech, and this action, at once +banished all self-command from the indignant Adeline, and in an instant +she sprung from his embrace; and forgetting how much her violence must +surprise, if not alarm and offend, her mother, she rushed out of the +room, and did not stop till she had reached her own chamber. + +When there, she was alarmed lest her conduct should have occasioned +both pain and resentment to Lady O'Carrol; and it was with trembling +reluctance that she obeyed the summons to dinner; but her fears were +groundless. The bride had fallen into one of her reveries during Sir +Patrick's strange speech, from which she awakened only at the last words +of it, viz. 'affectionate children:' and seeing Sir Patrick at her +feet, with a very tender expression on his face, and hearing the words +'affectionate children,' she conceived that he was expressing his hopes +of their being blest with progeny, and that a selfish feeling of fear at +such a prospect had hurried Adeline out of the room. She was therefore +disposed to regard her daughter with pity, but not with resentment, when +she entered the dinner-room, and Adeline's tranquillity in a degree +returned: but when she retired for the night she could not help owning +to herself, that that day, her mother's wedding day, had been the most +painful of her existence--and she literally sobbed herself to sleep. + +The next morning a new trial awaited her; she had to write a final +farewell to Glenmurray. Many letters did she begin, many did she finish, +and many did she tear; but recollecting that the longer she delayed +sending him one, the longer she kept him in a state of agitating +suspense, she resolved to send the last written, even though it appeared +to her not quite so strong a transcript of her feelings as the former +ones. Whether it was so or not, Glenmurray received it with alternate +agony and transport;--with agony because it destroyed every hope of +Adeline's being his,--and with transport, because every line breathed +the purest and yet most ardent attachment, and convinced him that, +however long their separation, the love of Adeline would experience no +change. + +Many days elapsed before Glenmurray could bear any companion but the +letter of Adeline; and during that time she was on the road with the +bride and bridegroom to a beautiful seat in Berkshire, called the +Pavilion, hired by Sir Patrick, the week before his marriage, of one of +his profligate friends. As the road lay through a very fine country, +Adeline would have thought the journey a pleasant one, had not the idea +of Glenmurray ill and dejected continually haunted her. Sir Patrick +appeared to be engrossed by his bride, and she was really wholly wrapt +up in him; and at times the beauties of the scenery around had power to +engage Adeline's attention: but she immediately recollected how much +Glenmurray would have participated in her delight, and the contemplation +of the prospect ended in renewed recollections of him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +At length they arrived at the place of their destination; and Sir +Patrick, warmly embracing his bride, bade her welcome to her new abode; +and immediately approaching Adeline, he bestowed on her an embrace no +less cordial:--or, to say the truth, so ardent seemed the welcome, even +to the innocent Adeline, that she vainly endeavoured to persuade herself +that, as her father-in-law, Sir Patrick's tenderness was excusable. + +Spite of her efforts to be cheerful she was angry and suspicious, and +had an indistinct feeling of remote danger; which though she could not +define even to herself, it was new and painful to her to experience. +But as the elastic mind of eighteen soon rebounds from the pressure of +sorrow, and forgets in present enjoyment the prospect of evil, Adeline +gazed on the elegant apartment she was in with joyful surprise; while, +through folding doors on either side of it, she beheld a suite of rooms, +all furnished with a degree of tasteful simplicity such as she had never +before beheld: and through the windows, which opened on a lawn that +sloped to the banks of a rapid river, she saw an amphitheatre of wooded +hills, which proved that, how great soever had been the efforts of art +to decorate their new habitation, the hand of Nature had done still more +to embellish it; and all fear of Sir Patrick was lost in gratitude for +his having chosen such a retirement. + +With eager curiosity Adeline hurried from room to room; admired in the +western apartments the fine effect of the declining sun shining through +rose-coloured window curtains; gazed with delight on the statues and +pictures that every where met the eye, and reposed with unsuspecting +gaiety on the couches of eider down which were in profusion around. +Every thing in the house spoke it to be the temple of Pleasure: but the +innocent Adeline and her unobservant mother saw nothing but elegant +convenience in an abode in which the disciples of Epicurus might have +delighted; and while Æolian harps in the windows, and perfumes of all +kinds, added to the enchantment of the scene, the bride only beheld in +the choice of the villa a proof of her husband's desire of making her +happy; and Adeline sighed for virtuous love and Glenmurray, as all that +was wanting to complete her fascination. + +Sir Patrick, meanwhile, was not blind to the impressions made on Adeline +by the beauty of the spot which he had chosen, though he was far from +suspecting the companion she had pictured to herself as most fitted +to enjoy and embellish it; and pleased because she was pleased, and +delighted to be regarded by her with such unusual looks of complacency, +he gave himself up to his natural vivacity; and Adeline passed a merry, +if not a happy, evening with the bride and bridegroom. + +But the next morning she arose with the painful conviction as fresh as +ever on her mind, that day would succeed to day; and yet she should not +behold Glenmurray: and that day would succeed to day, and still should +she see O'Carrol, still be exposed to his noisy mirth, to his odious +familiarities, which, though she taught herself to believe they +proceeded merely from the customs of his country, and the nearness of +their relationship, it was to her most painful to endure. + +Her only resource, therefore, from unpleasant thoughts was reading; +and she eagerly opened the cases of books in the library, which were +unlocked. But, on taking down some of the books, she was disappointed to +find none of the kind to which she had been accustomed. Mrs Mowbray's +peculiar taste had led her, as we have before observed, to the perusal +of nothing but political tracts, systems of philosophy, and Scuderi's +and other romances. Scarcely had the works of our best poets found their +way to her library; and novels, plays, and works of a lighter kind she +was never in the habit of reading herself, and consequently had not put +in the hands of her daughter. Adeline had, therefore, read Rousseau's +_Contrat Social_, but not his _Julie_; Montesquieu's _Esprit des Loix_, +but not his _Lettres Persanes_; and had glowed with republican ardour +over the scenes of Voltaire's _Brutus_, but had never had her mind +polluted by the pages of his romances. + +Different had been the circumstances, and consequently the practice, +of the owner of Sir Patrick's new abode. Of all Rousseau's works, he +had in his library only the _New Heloise_ and his _Confessions_; of +Montesquieu, none but the glowing letters above-mentioned; and while +Voltaire's chaste and moral tragedies were excluded, his profligate +tales attracted the eye by the peculiar elegance of their binding, while +dangerous French novels of all descriptions met the view under the downy +pillows of the inviting sofas around, calculated to inflame the fancy +and corrupt the morals. + +But Adeline, unprepared by any reading of the kind to receive and +relish the poison contained in them, turned with disgust from pages so +uncongenial to her feelings; nor did her eye dwell delighted on any of +the stores which the shelves contained. + +Disappointment in her hopes of finding amusement in reading, Adeline had +recourse to walking; and none of the beautiful scenes around remained +long unexplored by her. In her rambles she but too frequently saw +scenes of poverty and distress, which ill contrasted with the beauty of +the house which she inhabited; scenes, which even a small portion of +the money expended there in useless decoration would have entirely +alleviated: and they were scenes, too, which Adeline had been accustomed +to relieve. The extreme of poverty in the cottage did not disgrace, on +the Mowbray estate, the well-furnished mansion-house; but Adeline, as +we have observed before, was allowed to draw on her mother for money +sufficient to prevent industrious labour from knowing the distress of +want. + +'And why should I not draw on her here for money for the same purposes?' +cried Adeline to herself, as she beheld one spectacle of peculiar +hardships.--'Surely my mother is not dependent on her husband? and even +if she were, Sir Patrick has not a hard heart, and will not refuse my +prayer': and therefore, promising the sufferers instant relief, she left +them, saying she should soon reach the Pavilion and be back again; while +the objects of her bounty were silent with surprise at hearing that +their relief was to come from the Pavilion, a place hitherto closed to +the solicitations of poverty, though ever open to the revels and the +votaries of pleasure. + +Adeline found her mother alone; and with a beating heart and a flushed +cheek, she described the scene which she had witnessed, and begged to be +restored to her old office of almoner on such occasions. + +'A sad scene, indeed, my dear Adeline!' replied the bride in evident +embarrassment, 'and I will speak to Sir Patrick about it.' + +'Speak to Sir Patrick, madam! cannot you follow the impulse of humanity +without consulting him?' + +'I can't give the relief you ask without his assistance,' replied her +mother; 'for, except a guinea or so, I have no loose cash about me for +my own uses.--Sir Patrick's benevolence has long ago emptied his purse, +and I gladly surrendered mine to him.' + +'And shall you in future have no money for the purposes of charity but +that you must claim from Sir Patrick?' asked Adeline mournfully. + +'O dear! yes,--I have a very handsome allowance settled on me; but then +at present he wants it himself (Adeline involuntarily clasped her hands +together in an agony, and sighed deeply.) But, however, child,' added +the bride, 'as you seem to make such a point of it, take this guinea to +the cottage you mention, _en attendant_!' + +Adeline took the guinea: but it was very insufficient to pay for medical +attendance, to discharge the rent due to a clamorous landlord, and to +purchase several things necessary for the relief of the poor sufferers: +therefore she added another guinea to it, and, not liking to relate her +disappointment, sent the money to them, desiring the servant to say that +she would see them the next morning, when she resolved to apply to Sir +Patrick for the relief which her mother could not give; feeling at the +same time the mournful conviction, that she herself, as well as her +mother, would be in future dependent on his bounty. + +Though disposed to give way to mournful reflections on her own account, +Adeline roused herself from the melancholy abstraction into which she +was falling, by reflecting that she had still to plead the cause of the +poor cottagers with Sir Patrick; and hearing he was in the house, she +hastened to prefer her petition. + +Sir Patrick listened to her tone of voice, and gazed on her expressive +countenance with delight; but when she had concluded her narration a +solitary half-guinea was all he bestowed on her, saying, 'I am never +roused to charity by the descriptions of others; I must always see the +distress which I am solicited to relieve.' + +'Then go with me to the cottage,' exclaimed Adeline; but to her great +mortification he only smiled, bowed, and disappeared: and when he +returned to supper, Adeline could scarcely prevail on herself to look at +him without displeasure, and could not endure the unfeeling vivacity of +his manner. + +Mortified and unhappy, she next morning went to the cottage, reluctant +to impart to its expecting inhabitants the ill success she had +experienced. But what was her surprise when they came out joyfully to +meet her, and told her that a gentleman had been there that morning +very early, had discharged their debts, and given them a sum of money +for their future wants! + +'His name, his name?' eagerly inquired Adeline: but that they said he +refused to give; and as he was in a horseman's large coat, and held a +hankerchief to his face, they were sure they should not know him again. + +A pleasing suspicion immediately came across Adeline's mind that this +benevolent unknown might be Glenmurray: and the idea that he was perhaps +unseen hovering round her, gave her one of the most exquisite feelings +which she had ever known. But this agreeable delusion was soon +dissipated by one of the children's giving her a card which the kind +stranger had dropped from his pocket; and this card had on it 'Sir +Patrick O'Carrol.' + +At first it was natural for her to be hurt and disappointed at finding +that her hopes concerning Glenmurray had no foundation in truth; but her +benevolence, and indeed regard for her mother's happiness as well as her +own, led her to rejoice in this unexpected proof of excellence in Sir +Patrick.--He had evidently proved that he loved to do good by stealth, +and had withdrawn himself even from her thanks. + +In a moment, therefore, she banished from her mind every trace of his +unworthiness. She had done him injustice, and she sought refuge from the +remorse which this consciousness inflicted on her, by going into the +opposite extreme. From that hour, indeed, her complaisance to his +opinions, and her attentions to him, were so unremitting and evident, +that Sir Patrick's passion became stronger than ever, and his hopes of a +return to it seemed to be built on a very strong foundation. + +Adeline had given all her former suspicions to the wind; daily instances +of his benevolence came to her knowledge, and threw such a charm over +all he said and did, that even the familiarity in his conduct, look, and +manner towards her, appeared to her now nothing more than the result of +the free manners of his countrymen:--and she sometimes could not help +wishing Sir Patrick to be known to, and intimate with, Glenmurray. But +the moment was now at hand that was to unveil the real character of Sir +Patrick, and determine the destiny of Adeline. + +One day Sir Patrick proposed taking his bride to see a beautiful +_ferme ornee_ at about twelve miles' distance; and if it answered the +expectations which he had formed of it, they were determined to spend +two or three days in the neighbourhood to enjoy the beauty of the +grounds;--in that case he was to return in the evening to the Pavilion, +and drive Adeline over the next morning to partake in their pleasure. + +To this scheme both the ladies gladly consented, as it was impossible +for them to suspect the villainous design which it was intended to aid. + +The truth was, that Sir Patrick, having, as he fondly imagined, gained +Adeline's affections, resolved to defer no longer the profligate attempt +which he had long meditated; and had contrived this excursion in order +to insure his wife's absence from home, and a tête-à-tête with her +daughter. + +At an early hour the curricle was at the door, and Sir Patrick, having +handed his lady in, took leave of Adeline. He told her that he should +probably return early in the evening, pressed her hand more tenderly +than usual, and, springing into the carriage, drove off with a +countenance animated with expected triumph. + +Adeline immediately set out on a long walk to the adjoining villages, +visited the cottages near the Pavilion, and, having dined at an early +hour, determined to pass the rest of the day in reading, provided it was +possible for her to find any book in the house proper for her perusal. + +With this intention she repaired to an apartment called the library, but +what in these times would be denominated a _boudoir_, and this, even in +Paris, would have been admired for its voluptuous elegance.--On the +table lay several costly volumes, which seemed to have been very lately +perused by Sir Patrick, as some of them were open, some turned down +at particular passages: but as soon as she glanced her eye over their +contents, Adeline indignantly threw them down again; and, while her +cheek glowed with the blush of offended modesty she threw herself on +a sofa, and fell into a long and mournful reverie on the misery which +awaited her mother, in consequence of her having madly dared to unite +herself for life to a young libertine, who could delight in no other +reading but what was offensive to good morals and to delicacy. Nor could +she dwell upon this subject without recurring to her former fears for +herself; and so lost was she in agonizing reflections, that it was some +time before she recollected herself sufficiently to remember that she +was guilty of an indecorum, in staying so long in an apartment which +contained books that she ought not even to be suspected of having had an +opportunity to peruse. + +Having once entertained this consciousness, Adeline hastily arose, and +had just reached the door when Sir Patrick himself appeared at it. +She started back in terror when she beheld him, on observing in his +countenance and manner evident marks not only of determined profligacy, +but of intoxication. Her suspicions were indeed just. Bold as he was in +iniquity, he dared not in a cool and sober moment put his guilty purpose +in execution; and he shrunk with temporary horror from an attempt on the +honour of the daughter of his wife, though he believed that she would be +a willing victim. He had therefore stopped on the road to fortify his +courage with wine; and, luckily for Adeline, he had taken more than he +was aware of; for when, after a vehement declaration of the ardour of +his passion, he dared irreverently to approach her, Adeline, strong +in innocence, aware of his intention, and presuming on his situation, +disengaged herself from his grasp with ease; and pushing him with +violence from her, he fell with such force against the brass edge of one +of the sofas, that, stunned and wounded by the fall, he lay bleeding on +the ground. Adeline involuntarily was hastening to his assistance: but +recollecting how mischievous to her such an exertion of humanity might +be, she contented herself with ringing the bell violently to call the +servants to his aid. Then, in almost frantic haste, she rushed out of +the house, ran across the park, and when she recovered her emotion she +found herself, she scarcely knew how, sitting on a turf seat by the road +side. + +'What will become of me!' she wildly exclaimed: 'my mother's roof is +no longer a protection to me;--I cannot absent myself from it without +alleging a reason for my conduct, which will ruin her peace of mind +for ever. Wretch that I am! whither can I go, and where can I seek for +refuge?' + +At this moment, as she looked around in wild dismay, and raised her +streaming eyes to heaven, she saw a man's face peeping from between the +branches of a tree opposite to her, and observed that he was gazing on +her intently. Alarmed and fluttered, she instantly started from her +seat, and was hastening away, when the man suddenly dropped from his +hiding-place, and, running after her, called her by her name, and +conjured her to stop; while, with an emotion of surprise and delight, +she recognized in him Arthur, the servant of Glenmurray! + +Instantly, scarcely knowing what she did, she pressed the astonished +Arthur's rough hand in hers; and by this action confused and confounded +the poor fellow so much, that the speech which he was going to make +faltered on his tongue. + +'Oh! where is your master?' eagerly inquired Adeline. + +'My master has sent you this, miss,' replied Arthur, holding out a +letter, which Adeline joyfully received; and, spite of her intended +obedience to her mother's will, Glenmurray himself could not have met +with a more favourable reception, for the moment was a most propitious +one to his love: nor, as it happened, was Glenmurray too far off to +profit by it. On his way from Bath he went a few miles out of his road, +in order, as he said, and perhaps as he thought, to pay a visit to an +old servant of his mother's, who was married to a respectable farmer; +but, fortunately, the farm commanded a view of the Pavilion, and +Glenmurray could from his window gaze on the house that contained the +woman of his affections. + +But to return to Adeline, who, while hastily tearing open the letter, +asked Arthur where his master was, and heard with indescribable emotion +that he was in the neighbourhood. + +'Here! so providentially!' she exclaimed, and proceeded to read the +letter; but her emotion forbade her to read it entirely. She only saw +that it contained banknotes; that Glenmurray was going abroad for his +health; and, in case he should die there, had sent her the money which +he had meant to leave her in his will,--lest she should be, in the +meanwhile, any way dependent on Sir Patrick. + +Numberless conflicting emotions took possession of Adeline's heart while +the new proof of her lover's attentive tenderness met her view: and, as +she contrasted his generous and delicate attachment with the licentious +passion of her mother's libertine husband, a burst of uncontrollable +affection for Glenmurray agitated her bosom; and, rendered superstitious +by her fears, she looked on him as sent by Providence to save her from +the dangers of her home. + +'This is the second time,' cried she, 'that Glenmurray, as my guardian +angel, has appeared at the moment when I was exposed to danger from the +same guilty quarter! Ah! surely there is more than accident in this! and +he is ordained to be my guide and my protector!' + +When once a woman has associated with an amiable man the idea of +protection, he can never again be indifferent to her: and when the +protector happens to be the chosen object of her love, his power becomes +fixed on a basis never to be shaken. + +'It is enough,' said Adeline in a faltering voice, pressing the letter +to her lips, and bursting into tears of grateful tenderness as she +spoke: 'Lead me to your master directly.' + +'Bless my heart! will you see him then, miss?' cried Arthur. + +'See him?' replied Adeline--'see the only friend I now can boast?--But +let us be gone this moment, lest I should be seen and pursued.' + +Instantly, guided by Arthur, Adeline set off full speed for the +farm-house, nor stopped till she found herself in the presence of +Glenmurray! + +'O! I am safe now!' exclaimed Adeline, throwing herself into his arms; +while he was so overcome with surprise and joy that he could not speak +the welcome which his heart gave her: and Adeline, happy to behold him +again, was as silent as her lover. At length Glenmurray exclaimed:-- + +'Do we then meet again, Adeline!' + +'Yes,' replied she; 'and we meet to part no more.' + +'Do not mock me,' cried Glenmurray starting from his seat, and seizing +her extended hand; 'my feelings must not be trifled with.' + +'Nor am I a woman to trifle with them. Glenmurray, I come to you for +safety and protection;--I come to seek shelter in your arms from misery +and dishonour. You are ill, you are going into a foreign country: and +from this moment look on me as your nurse, your companion;--your home +shall be my home, your country my country!' + +Glenmurray, too much agitated, too happy to speak, could only press the +agitated girl to his bosom, and fold his arms round her, as if to assure +her of the protection which she claimed. + +'But there is not a moment to be lost,' cried Adeline: 'I may be missed +and pursued: let us be gone directly.' + +The first word was enough for Glenmurray: eager to secure the recovered +treasure which he had thought for ever lost, his orders were given, and +executed by the faithful Arthur with the utmost dispatch; and even +before Adeline had explained to him the cause of her resolution to elope +with him they were on their road to Cornwall, meaning to embark at +Falmouth for Lisbon. + +But Arthur, who was going to marry, and leave Glenmurray's service, +received orders to stay at the farm till he had learned how Sir Patrick +was: and having obtained the necessary information, he was to send it +to Glenmurray at Falmouth. The next morning he saw Sir Patrick himself +driving full speed past the farm; and having written immediately to +his master, Adeline had the satisfaction of knowing that she had not +purchased her own safety by the sufferings or danger of her persecutor, +and the consequent misery of her mother. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +But Glenmurray's heart needed no explanation of the cause of Adeline's +elopement. She was with him--with him, as she said, for ever. True, she +had talked of flying from misery and dishonour; but he knew they could +not reach her in his arms,--not even dishonour according to the ideas of +society,--for he meant to make Adeline legally his as soon as they were +safe from pursuit, and his illness was forgotten in the fond transport +of the present moment. + +Adeline's joy was of a much shorter duration. Recollections of a most +painful nature were continually recurring. True it was that it was no +longer possible for her to reside under the roof of her mother: but was +it necessary for her to elope with Glenmurray? the man whom she had +solemnly promised her mother to renounce! Then, on the other side, +she argued that the appearance of love for Glenmurray was an excuse +sufficient to conceal from her deluded parent the real cause of her +elopement. + +'It was my sole alternative,' said she mentally:--'my mother must either +suppose me an unworthy child, or know Sir Patrick to be an unworthy +husband; and it will be easier for her to support the knowledge of the +one than the other: then, when she forgives me, as no doubt she will in +time, I shall be happy: but that I could never be, while convinced that +I had made her miserable by revealing to her the wickedness of Sir +Patrick.' + +While this was passing in her mind, her countenance was full of such +anxious and mournful expression, that Glenmurray, unable to keep silence +any longer, conjured her to tell him what so evidently weighed upon her +spirits. + +'The difficulty that oppressed me is past,' she replied, wiping from +her eyes the tears which the thought of having left her mother so +unexpectedly, and for the first time, produced. 'I have convinced +myself, that to leave home and commit myself to your protection was the +most proper and virtuous step that I could take: I have not obeyed the +dictates of love, but of reason.' + +'I am very sorry to hear it,' said Glenmurray mournfully. + +'It seems to me so very rational to love you,' returned Adeline tenderly, +shocked at the sad expression of his countenance, 'that what seems to be +the dictates of reason may be those of love only.' + +To a reply like this, Glenmurray could only answer by close involvement +not intelligible expressions of fondness to the object of them, which +are so delightful to lovers themselves, and so uninteresting to other +people: nay, so entirely was Glenmurray again engrossed by the sense of +present happiness, that his curiosity was still suspended, and Adeline's +story remained untold. But Adeline's pleasure was damped by painful +recollections, and still more by her not being able to hide from herself +the mournful consciousness that the ravages of sickness were but +too visible in Glenmurray's face and figure, and that the flush of +unexpected delight could but ill conceal the hollow paleness of his +cheek, and the sunk appearance of his eyes. + +Meanwhile the chaise rolled on,--post succeeded to post; and though +night was far advanced, Adeline, fearful of being pursued, would not +consent to stop, and they travelled till morning. But Glenmurray, +feeling himself exhausted, prevailed on her, for his sake, to alight at +a small inn on the road side near Marlborough. + +There Adeline narrated the occurrences of the past day; but with +difficulty could she prevail on herself to own to Glenmurray that she +had been the object of such an outrage as she had experienced from Sir +Patrick. + +A truly delicate woman feels degraded, not flattered, by being the +object of libertine attempts; and, situated as Adeline and Glenmurray +now were, to disclose the insult which had been offered to her was a +still more difficult task: but to conceal it was impossible. She felt +that, even to him, some justification of her precipitate and unsolicited +flight was necessary; and nothing but Sir Patrick's attempt could +justify it. She, therefore, blushing and hesitating, revealed the +disgraceful secret; but such was its effect on the weak spirits and +delicate health of Glenmurray, that the violent emotions which he +underwent brought on a return of his most alarming symptoms; and in a +few hours Adeline, bending over the sick bed of her lover, experienced +for the first time that most dreadful of feelings, fear for the life of +the object of her affections. + +Two days, however, restored him to comparative safety, and they reached +a small and obscure village within a short distance from Falmouth, most +conveniently situated. There they took up their abode, and resolved to +remain till the wind should change, and enable them to sail for Lisbon. + +In this retreat, situated in air as salubrious as that of the south of +France, Glenmurray was soon restored to health, especially as happy love +was now his, and brought back the health of which hopeless love had +contributed to deprive him. The woman whom he loved was his companion +and his nurse; and so dear had the quiet scene of their happiness +become to them, that, forgetful there was still a danger of their being +discovered, it was with considerable regret that they received a summons +to embark, and saw themselves on their voyage to Portugal. + +But before she left England Adeline wrote to her mother. + +After a pleasant and short voyage the lovers found themselves at Lisbon; +and Glenmurray, pursuant to his resolution, immediately proposed to +Adeline, to unite himself to her by the indissoluble ties of marriage. + +Nothing could exceed Adeline's surprise at this proposal: at first she +could not believe Glenmurray was in earnest; but seeing that he looked +not only grave but anxious, and as if earnestly expecting an answer, she +asked him whether he had convinced himself that what he had written +against marriage was a tissue of mischievous absurdity. + +Glenmurray, blushing, with the conceit of an author replied 'that he +still thought his arguments unanswerable.' + +'Then, if you still are convinced your theory is good, why let your +practice be bad? It is incumbent on you to act up to the principles that +you profess, in order to give them their proper weight in society--else +you give the lie to your own declarations.' + +'But it is better for me to do that, than for you to be the sacrifice to +my reputation.' + +'I,' replied Adeline, 'am entirely out of the question: you are to be +governed by no other law but your desire to promote general utility, and +are not to think at all of the interest of an individual.' + +'How can I do so, when that individual is dearer to me than all the +world beside?' cried Glenmurray passionately. + +'And if you but once recollect that you are dearer to me than all +the world beside, you will cease to suppose that my happiness can be +affected by the opinion entertained of my conduct by others.' As Adeline +said this, she twisted both her hands in his arms so affectionately, and +looked up in his face with so satisfied and tender an expression, that +Glenmurray could not bear to go on with a subject which evidently drew a +cloud across her brow; and hours, days, weeks, and months passed rapidly +over their heads before he had resolution to renew it. + +Hours, days, weeks, and months spent in a manner most dear to the heart +and most salutary to the mind of Adeline!--Her taste for books, which +had hitherto been cultivated in a partial manner, and had led her to one +range of study only, was now directed by Glenmurray to the perusal of +general literature; and the historian, the biographer, the poet, and the +novelist, obtained alternately her attention and her praises. + +In her knowledge of the French and Italian languages, too, she was now +considerably improved by the instructions of her lover; and while his +occasional illnesses were alleviated by her ever watchful attentions, +their attachment was cemented by one of the strongest of all ties--the +consciousness of mutual benefit and assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +One evening, as they were sitting on a bench in one of the public walks, +a gentleman approached them, whose appearance bespoke him to be an +Englishman, though his sun-burnt complexion showed that he had been for +years exposed to a more ardent climate than that of Britain. + +As he came nearer, Glenmurray thought his features were familiar to him; +and the stranger, starting with joyful surprise, seized his hand, and +welcomed him as an old friend. Glenmurray returned his salutation with +great cordiality, and recognized in the stranger, a Mr Maynard, an +amiable man, who had gone to seek his fortune in India, and was returned +a nabob, but with an irreproachable character. + +'So, then,' cried Mr Maynard gaily, 'this is the elegant young English +couple that my servant, and even the inn-keeper himself, was so loud in +praise of! Little did I think the happy man was my old friend,--though +no man is more deserving of being happy: but I beg you will introduce me +to your lady.' + +Glenmurray, though conscious of the mistake he was under, had not +resolution enough to avow that he was not married; and Adeline, unaware +of the difficulty of Glenmurray's situation, received Mr Maynard's +salutation with the utmost ease, though the tremor of her lover's voice, +and the blush on his cheek, as he said--'Adeline, give me leave to +introduce to you Mr Maynard, an old friend of mine,'--were sufficient +indications that the rencontre disturbed him. + +In a few minutes Adeline and Mr Maynard were no longer strangers. Mr +Maynard, who had not lived much in the society of well-informed women, +and not at all in that of women accustomed to original thinking, was +at once astonished and delighted at the variety of Adeline's remarks, +at the playfulness of her imagination, and the eloquence of her +expressions. But it was very evident, at length, to Mr Maynard, that in +proportion as Adeline and he became more acquainted and more satisfied +with each other, Glenmurray grew more silent and more uneasy. The +consequence was unavoidable: as most men would have done on a like +occasion, Mr Maynard thought Glenmurray was jealous of him. + +But no thought so vexatious to himself, and so degrading to Adeline, had +entered the confiding and discriminating mind of Glenmurray. The truth +was, he knew that Mr Maynard, whom he had seen in the walks, though he +had not known him again, had ladies of his party; and he expected that +the more Mr Maynard admired his supposed wife, the more would he be +eager to introduce her to his companions. + +Nor was Glenmurray wrong in his conjectures. + +'I have two sisters with me, madam,' said Mr Maynard, 'whom I shall be +happy and proud to introduce to you. One of them is a widow, and has +lived several years in India, but returned with me in delicate health, +and was ordered hither: she is not a woman of great reading, but has an +excellent understanding, and will admire you. The other is several years +younger; and I am sure she would be happy in an opportunity of profiting +by the conversation of a lady, who, though not older than herself, seems +to have had so many more opportunities of improvement.' + +Adeline bowed, and expressed her impatience to form this new acquaintance; +and looked triumphantly at Glenmurray, meaning to express--'See, spite +of the supposed prejudices of the world, here is a man who wants to +introduce me to his sisters.' Little did she know that Maynard concluded +she was a wife: his absence from England had made him ignorant of the +nature of Glenmurray's works, or even that he was an author; so that he +was not at all likely to suppose that the moral, pious youth, whom he +had always respected, was become a visionary philosopher, and, in +defiance of the laws of society, was living openly with a mistress. + +'But my sister will wonder what is become of me;' suddenly cried +Maynard; 'and as Emily is so unwell as to keep her room to-day, I must +not make her anxious. But for her illness, I should have requested your +company to supper.' + +'And I should have liked to accept the invitation,' replied Adeline; +'but I will hope to see the ladies soon.' + +'Oh! without fail, to-morrow,' cried Maynard: 'if Emily be not well +enough to call on you, perhaps you will come to her apartments.' + +'Undoubtedly: expect me at twelve o'clock.' + +Maynard then shook his grave and silent friend by the hand and, +departed,--his vanity not a little flattered by the supposed jealousy of +Glenmurray. + +'There now,' said Adeline, when he was out of hearing. 'I hope some +of your tender fears are done away. You see there are liberal and +unprejudiced persons in the world; and Mr Maynard, instead of shunning +me, courts my acquaintance for his sisters.' + +Glenmurray shook his head, and remained silent; and Adeline was +distressed to feel by his burning hand that he was seriously uneasy. + +'I shall certainly call on these ladies to-morrow,' continued +Adeline:--'I really pine for the society of amiable women.' + +Glenmurray sighed deeply: he dreaded to tell her that he could not allow +her to call on them, and yet he knew that this painful task awaited him. +Besides, she wished, she said, to know some amiable women; and, eager as +he was to indulge all her wishes, he felt but too certainly that in this +wish she could never be indulged. Even had he been capable of doing so +dishonourable an action as introducing his mistress as his wife, he +was sure that Adeline would have spurned at the deception; and silent +and sad he grasped Adeline's hand as her arm rested within his, and +complaining of indisposition, slowly returned to the inn. + +The next morning at breakfast, Adeline again expressed her eagerness to +form an acquaintance with the sisters of Mr Maynard; when Glenmurray, +starting from his seat, paced the room in considerable agitation. + +'What is the matter!' cried Adeline, hastily rising and laying her hand +on his arm. + +Glenmurray grasped her hand, and replied with assumed firmness: +'Adeline, it is impossible for you to form an acquaintance with Mr +Maynard's sisters: propriety and honour both forbid me to allow it.' + +'Indeed!' exclaimed Adeline, 'are they not as amiable, then, as he +described them? are they improper acquaintances for me? Well then--I am +disappointed: but you are the best judge of what is right, and I am +contented to obey you.' + +The simple, ingenuous and acquiescent sweetness with which she said +this, was a new pang to her lover:--had she repined, had she looked +ill-humoured, his task would not have been so difficult. + +'But what reason can you give for declining this acquaintance?' resumed +Adeline. + +'Aye! there's the difficulty,' replied Glenmurray: 'pure-minded and +amiable as I know you to be, how can I bear to tell these children of +prejudice that you are not my wife, but my mistress?' + +Adeline started; and, turning pale, exclaimed, 'Are you sure, then, that +they do not know it already?' + +'Quite sure--else Maynard would not have thought you a fit companion for +his sisters.' + +'But surely--he must know your principles;--he must have read your +works?' + +'I am certain he is ignorant of both, and does not even know that I am +an author.' + +'Is it possible?' cried Adeline: 'is there any one so unfortunate to be +unacquainted with your writings?' + +Glenmurray at another time would have been elated at a compliment like +this from the woman whom he idolized; but at this moment he heard it +with a feeling of pain which he would not have liked to define to +himself, and casting his eyes to the ground he said nothing. + +'So then,' said Adeline mournfully, 'I am an improper companion for +them, not they for me!' and spite of herself her eyes filled with +tears.--At this moment a waiter brought in a note for Glenmurray;--it +was from Maynard, and as follows:-- + + + MY DEAR FRIEND, + + Emily is better to-day; and both my sisters are so impatient to + see, and know, your charming wife, that they beg me to present + their compliments to Mrs Glenmurray and you; and request the + honour of your company to a late breakfast:--at eleven o'clock + we hope to see you. + + Ever yours, + G. M. + +'We will send an answer,' said Glenmurray: but the waiter had been +gone some minutes before either Adeline or Glenmurray spoke. At length +Adeline, struggling with her feelings, observed, 'Mr Maynard seems so +amiable a man, that I should think it would not be difficult to convince +him of his errors: surely, therefore, it is your duty to call on him, +state our real situation, and our reasons for it, and endeavour to +convince him that our attachment is sanctioned both by reason and +virtue.' + +'But not by the church,' replied Glenmurray, 'and Maynard is of the old +school: besides, a man of forty-eight is not likely to be convinced by +the arguments of a young man of twenty-eight, and the example of a girl +of nineteen.' + +'If age be necessary to give weight to arguments,' returned Adeline, 'I +wonder that you thought proper to publish four years ago.' + +'Would to God I never had published!' exclaimed Glenmurray, almost +pettishly. + +'If you had not, I probably should never have been yours,' replied +Adeline, fondly leaning her head on his shoulder, and then looking up in +his face. Glenmurray clasped her to his bosom; but again the pleasure +was mixed with pain. 'All this time,' rejoined Adeline, 'your friends +are expecting an answer: you had better carry it in person.' + +'I cannot,' replied Glenmurray, 'and there is only one way of getting +out of this business to my satisfaction.' + +'Name it; and rest assured that I shall approve it.' + +'Then I wish to order horses immediately, and set off on our road to +France.' + +'So soon,--though the air agrees with you so well?' + +'O yes;--for when the mind is uneasy no air can be of use to the body.' + +'But why is your mind uneasy?' + +'Here I should be exposed to see Maynard, and--and--he would see you +too.' + +'And what then?' + +'What then?--Why, I could not bear to see him look on you with an eye of +disrespect.' + +'And wherefore should he?' + +'O Adeline, the name of wife imposes restraint even on a libertine; but +that of mistress--' + +'Is Mr Maynard a libertine?' said Adeline gravely: and Glenmurray, +afraid of wounding her feelings by entering into a further explanation, +changed the subject, and again requested her consent to leave Lisbon. + +'I have often told you,' said Adeline sighing, 'that my will is yours; +and if you will give strict orders to have letters sent after us to the +towns that we shall stop at, I am ready to set off immediately.' + +Glenmurray then gave his orders; wrote a letter explaining his situation +to Maynard, and in an hour they were on their journey to France. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +In the meanwhile Mr Maynard, Miss Maynard, and Mrs Wallington his +widowed sister, were impatiently expecting Glenmurray's answer, and +earnestly hoping to see him and his lovely companion,--but from +different motives. Maynard was impatient to see Adeline because he +really admired her; his sisters, because they hoped to find her unworthy +of such violent admiration. + +Their vanity had been piqued, and their envy excited, by the extravagant +praises of their brother; and they had interrupted him by the first +questions which all women ask on such occasions,--'Is she pretty?' + +And he answered, 'Very pretty.' + +'Is she tall?' + +'Very tall, taller than I am.' + +'I hate tall women,' replied Miss Maynard (a little round girl of +nineteen). + +'Is she fair?' + +'Exquisitely fair.' + +'I like brown women,' cried the widow: 'fair people always look silly.' + +'But Mrs Glenmurray's eyes are hazel, and her eyelashes long and dark.' + +'Hazel eyes are always bold-looking,' cried Miss Maynard. + +'Not Mrs Glenmurray's; for her expression is the most pure and ingenuous +that I ever saw. Some girls, indecent in their dress, and very licentious +in their manner, passed us as we sat on the walk; and the comments +which I made on them provoked from Mrs Glenmurray some remarks on the +behaviour and dress of women; and, as she commented on the disgusting +expression of vice in women, and the charm of modest dignity both in +dress and manners, her own dress, manners, and expression, were such an +admirable comment on her words, and she shone so brightly, if I may use +the expression, in the graceful awfulness of virtue, that I gazed with +delight, and somewhat of apprehension lest this fair perfection should +suddenly take flight to her native skies, toward which her fine eyes +were occasionally turned.' + +'Bless me! if our brother is not quite poetical! This prodigy has +inspired him,' replied the widow with a sneer. + +'For my part, I hate prodigies,' said Miss Maynard: 'I feel myself +unworthy to associate with them.' + +When one woman calls another a prodigy, and expresses herself as +unworthy to associate with her, it is very certain that she means +to insult rather than compliment her; and in this sense Mr Maynard +understood his sister's words: therefore after having listened with +tolerable patience to a few more sneers at the unconscious Adeline, he +was provoked to say that, ill-disposed as he found they were toward his +new acquaintance, he hoped that when they became acquainted with her +they would still give him reason to say, as he always had done, that he +was proud of his sisters; for, in his opinion, no woman ever looked so +lovely as when she was doing justice to the merits and extenuating the +faults of a rival. + +'A rival!' exclaimed the sisters at once:--'And, pray, what rivalship +could there be in this case?' + +'My remark was a general one: but since you choose to make it a +particular one, I will answer to it as such,' continued Mr Maynard. 'All +women are rivals in one sense--rivals for general esteem and admiration; +and she only shall have my suffrage in her favour, who can point out a +beauty or a merit in another woman without insinuating at the same time +a counterbalancing effect.' + +'But Mrs Glenmurray, it seems, has no defects!' + +'At least I have not known her long enough to find them out; but you, no +doubt, will, when you know her, very readily spare me that trouble.' + +How injudiciously had Maynard prepared the minds of his sisters to +admire Adeline. It was a preparation to make them hate her; and they +were very impatient to begin the task of depreciating both her _morale_ +and her _physique_, when Glenmurray's note arrived. + +'It is not Glenmurray's hand,' said Maynard--(indeed, from agitation +of mind the writing was not recognizable). 'It must be hers then,' +continued he, affecting to kiss the address with rapture. + +'It is the hand of a sloven,' observed Mrs Wallington, studying the +writing. + +'But in dress she is as neat as a Quaker,' retorted the brother, eagerly +snatching the letter back, 'and her mind seems as pure as her dress.' + +He then broke the seal, and read out what follows:-- + + + 'DEAR MAYNARD, + + 'When you receive this, Adeline and I shall be on our road to + France, and you,--start not!--are the occasion of our abrupt + departure.' + +'So, so, jealous indeed,' said Maynard to himself, and more impressed +than ever with the charms of Adeline; for he concluded that Glenmurray +had discovered in her an answering prepossession. + +'You the occasion, brother!' cried both sisters. + +'Have patience.' + + 'You saw Adeline; you admired her; and wished to introduce her + to your sisters--this, honour forbad me to allow'--(the sisters + started from their seats) 'for Adeline is not my wife, but my + companion.' + +Here Maynard made a full pause--at once surprised and confounded. His +sisters, pleased as well as astonished, looked triumphantly at each +other; and Mrs Wallington exclaimed. 'So, then, this angel of purity +turns out to be a kept lady!' At this remark Miss Maynard laughed +heartily, but Maynard, to hide his confusion, commanded silence, and +went on with the letter: + + 'But spite of her situation, strange as it may seem to you, + believe me, no wife was ever more pure than Adeline.' + +At this passage the sisters could no longer contain themselves, and they +gave way to loud bursts of laughter, which Maynard could hardly help +joining in; but being angry at the same time he uttered nothing but an +oath, which I shall not repeat, and retreated to his chamber to finish +the letter alone. + +During his absence the laughters redoubled;--but in the midst of it +Maynard re-entered, and desired they would allow him to read the letter +to the end. The sisters immediately begged that he would proceed, as it +was so amusing that they wished to hear more.--Glenmurray continued +thus: + + 'You have no doubt yet to learn that some few years ago I + commenced author, and published opinions contrary to the + established usage of society: amongst other things I proved the + absurdity of the institution of marriage; and Adeline, who at + an early age read my works, became one of my converts.' + +'The man is certainly mad,' cried Maynard, 'and how dreadful it is that +this angelic creature should have been his victim.' + +'But perhaps this _fallen_ angel, brother, for such you will allow she +is, spite of her _purity_, was as wicked as he. I know people in general +only blame the seducer, but I always blame the seduced equally.' + +'I do not doubt it,' said her brother sneeringly, and going on with the +letter. + + 'No wonder then, that, being forced to fly from her maternal + roof, she took refuge in my arms.' + +'Lucky dog!' + + 'But though Adeline was the victim neither of her own weakness + nor of my seductions, but was merely urged by circumstances to + act up to the principles which she openly professed, I felt so + conscious that she would be degraded in your eyes after you + were acquainted with her situation, though in mine she appears + as spotless as ever, that I could not bear to expose her even + to a glance from you less respectful than those with which you + beheld her last night. I therefore prevailed on her to leave + Lisbon; nor had I any difficulty in so doing, when she found + that your wish of introducing her to your sisters was founded + on your supposition of her being my wife, and that all chance + of your desiring her acquaintance for them would be over, when + you knew the nature of her connexion with me. I shall now bid + you farewell. I write in haste and agitation, and have not time + to say more than God bless you! + + 'F. G.' + +'Yes, yes, I see how it is,' muttered Mr Maynard to himself when he had +finished the letter, 'he was jealous of me. I wish (raising his voice) +that he had not been in such a hurry to go away.' + +'Why, brother,' replied Mrs Wallington, 'to be sure you would not have +introduced us to this piece of angelic purity a little the worse for +the wear!' + +'No,' replied he; 'but I might have enjoyed her company myself.' + +'And perhaps, brother, you might have rivalled the philosophic author in +time,' observed Miss Maynard. + +'If I had not, it would have been from no want of good will on my part,' +returned Maynard. + +'Well, then I rejoice that the creature is gone,' replied Mrs Wallington, +drawing up. + +'And I too,' said Miss Maynard disdainfully: 'but I think we had better +drop this subject; I have had quite enough of it.' + +'And so have I,' cried Mrs Wallington: 'but I must observe, before we +drop it entirely, that when next my brother comes home and wearies his +sisters by exaggerated praises of another woman, I hope he will take +care that his goddess, or rather his angel of purity, does not turn out +to be a kept mistress.' + +So saying she left the room, and Miss Maynard, tittering, followed her; +while Maynard, too sore on this subject to bear to be laughed at, took +his hat in a pet, and, flinging the door after him with great violence, +walked out to muse on the erring but interesting companion of +Glenmurray. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +While these conversations were passing at Lisbon, Glenmurray and Adeline +were pursuing their journey to France; and insensibly did the charm of +being together obliterate from the minds of each the rencontre which had +so much disturbed them. + +But Adeline began to be uneasy on a subject of much greater importance; +she every day expected an answer from her mother, but no answer arrived; +and they had been stationary at Perpignan some days, to which place they +had desired their letters to be addressed, _poste restante_, and still +none were forwarded thither from Lisbon. + +The idea that her mother had utterly renounced her now took possession +of her imagination, and love had no charm to offer her capable of +affording her consolation: the care which she had taken of her infancy, +the affectionate attentions that had preserved her life, and the +uninterrupted kindness which she had shown towards her till her +attachment to Sir Patrick took place,--all these pressed powerfully and +painfully on her memory, till her elopement seemed wholly unjustifiable +in her eyes, and she reprobated her conduct in terms of the most bitter +self-reproach. + +At these moments even Glenmurray seemed to become the object of her +aversion. Her mother had forbidden her to think of him; yet, to make her +flight more agonizing to her injured parent, she had eloped with _him_. +But as soon as ever she beheld him he regained his wonted influence over +her heart, and her self-reproaches became less poignant: she became +sensible that Sir Patrick's guilt and her mother's imprudent marriage +were the causes of her own fault, and not Glenmurray; and could she but +receive a letter of pardon from England, she felt that her conscience +would again be at peace. + +But soon an idea of a still more harassing nature succeeded and +overwhelmed her. Perhaps her desertion had injured her mother's health; +perhaps she was too ill to write; perhaps she was dead:--and when this +horrible supposition took possession of her mind she used to avoid even +the presence of her lover; and as her spirits commonly sunk towards +evening, when the still renewed expectations of the day had been +deceived, she used to hasten to a neighbouring church when the bell +called to vespers, and, prostrate on the steps of the altar, lift up her +soul to heaven in the silent breathings of penitence and prayer. Having +thus relieved her heart she returned to Glenmurray, pensive but +resigned. + +One evening after she had unburthened her feelings in this manner, +Glenmurray prevailed on her to walk with him to a public promenade; and +being tired they sat down on a bench in a shady part of the mall. They +had not sat long before a gentleman and two ladies seated themselves +beside them. + +Glenmurray instantly rose up to depart; but the gentleman also rose and +exclaimed, ''Tis he indeed! Glenmurray, have you forgotten your old +friend Willie Douglas?' + +Glenmurray, pleased to see a friend whom he had once so highly valued, +returned the salutation with marked cordiality; while the ladies with +great kindness accosted Adeline, and begged she would allow them the +honour of her acquaintance. + +Taught by the rencontre at Lisbon, Adeline for a moment felt +embarrassed; but there was something so truly benevolent in the +countenance of both ladies, and she was so struck by the extreme beauty +of the younger one, that she had not resolution to avoid, or even to +receive their advances coldly; and while the gentlemen were commenting +on each other's looks, and in an instant going over the occurrences of +past years, the ladies, pleased with each other, had entered into +conversation. + +'But I expected to see you and your lady,' said Major Douglas; 'for +Maynard was writing to me from Lisbon when he laid by his pen and took +the walk in which he met you; and on his return he filled up the rest of +his letter with the praises of Mrs Glenmurray, and expressions of envy +at your happiness.' + +Glenmurray and Adeline both blushed deeply. 'So!' said Adeline to +herself, 'here will be another letter to write when we get home;' for, +though ingenuousness was one of her most striking qualities, she had not +resolution enough to tell her new acquaintance that she was not married: +besides, she flattered herself, that, could she once interest these +charming women in her favour, they would not refuse her their society +even when they knew her real situation; for she thought them too amiable +to be prejudiced, as she called it, and was not yet aware how much the +perfection of the female character depends on respect even to what may +be called the prejudices of others. + +The day began to close in; but Major Douglas, though Glenmurray was too +uneasy to answer him except by monosyllables, would not hear of going +home, and continued to talk with cheerfulness and interest of the scenes +of his and Glenmurray's early youth. He too was ignorant of his friend's +notoriety as an author: he had lived chiefly at his estates in the +Highlands; nor would he have left them, but because he was advised to +travel for his health: and the lovely creature whom he had married, as +well as his only sister, was anxious on his account to put the advice in +execution. He therefore made no allusions to Glenmurray's opinions that +could give him an opportunity of explaining his real situation; and he +saw with confusion, that every moment increased the intimacy of Adeline +and the wife and sister of his friend. + +At length his feelings operated so powerfully on his weak frame, that a +sudden faintness seized him, and supported by Adeline and the major, +and followed by his two kind companions, he returned to the inn: there, +to get rid of the Douglases and avoid the inquiries of Adeline, who +suspected the cause of his illness, he immediately retired to bed. + +His friends also returned home, lamenting the apparently declining +health of Glenmurray, and expatiating with delight on the winning graces +of his supposed wife; for these ladies were of a different class of +women to the sisters of Maynard.--Mrs Douglas was so confessedly a +beauty, so rich in acknowledged attractions, that she could afford to do +justice to the attractions of another: and Miss Douglas was so decidedly +devoid of all pretensions to the lovely in person, that the idea of +competition with the beautiful never entered her mind, and she was +always eager to admire what she knew that she was incapable of rivalling. +Unexposed, therefore, to feel those petty jealousies, those paltry +competitions which injure the character of women in general, Emma +Douglas's mind was the seat of benevolence and candour,--as was her +beautiful sister's from a different cause; and they were both warmer +even than the major in praise of Adeline. + +But a second letter from Mr Maynard awaited Major Douglas at the inn, +which put a fatal stop to their self-congratulations at having met +Glenmurray and his companion. + +Mr Maynard, full of Glenmurray's letter, and still more deeply impressed +than ever with the image of Adeline, could not forbear writing to the +major on the subject; giving as a reason, that he wished to let him know +the true state of affairs, in order that he might avoid Glenmurray.--The +letter came too late. + +'And I have seen him, have welcomed him as a friend, and he has had the +impudence to introduce his harlot to my wife and sister!' + +So spoke the major in the language of passion,--and passion is never +accurate.--Glenmurray had _not_ introduced Adeline: and this was gently +hinted by the kind and candid Emma Douglas; while the younger and more +inexperienced wife sat silent with consternation, at having pressed with +the utmost kindness the hand of a kept mistress. + +Vain were the representations of his sister to sooth the wounded +pride of Major Douglas. Without considering the difficulty of such a +proceeding, he insisted upon it that Glenmurray should have led Adeline +away instantly, as unworthy to breathe the same air with his wife and +sister. + +'You find by that letter, brother,' said Miss Douglas, 'that this +unhappy Adeline is still an object of respect in his eyes, and he could +not wound her feelings so publicly, especially as she seems to be more +ill-judging than vicious.' + +She spoke in vain.--The major was a soldier, and so delicate in his +ideas of the honour of women, that he thought his wife and sister +polluted from having, though unconsciously, associated with Adeline; +being violently irritated therefore at the supposed insult offered him +by Glenmurray, he left the room, and, having dispatched a challenge to +him, told the ladies he had letters to write to England till bed-time +arrived: then, after having settled his affairs in case he should fall +in the conflict, he sat brooding alone over the insolence of his former +friend. + +There was a consciousness too which aggravated his resentment. Calumny +had been busy with his reputation; and, though he deserved it not, had +once branded him with the name of coward. Besides, his elder sister had +been seduced by a man of very high rank, and was then living with him as +his mistress. Made still more susceptible therefore of affront by this +distressing consciousness, he suspected that Glenmurray, from being +acquainted with these circumstances, had presumed on them, and dared to +take a liberty with him, situated as he then was, which in former times +he would not have ventured to offer. + +As Adeline and Glenmurray were both retired for the night when the +major's note arrived, it was not delivered till morning,--nor then, +luckily, till Adeline, supposing Glenmurray asleep, was gone to take her +usual walk to the post-office: Glenmurray, little aware of its contents, +opened it, and read as follows:-- + + 'SIR, + + 'For your conduct in introducing your mistress to my wife and + sister, I demand immediate satisfaction. As you may possibly + not have recovered your indisposition of last night, and I wish + to take no unfair advantages, I do not desire you to meet me + till evening; but at six o'clock, a mile out of the north side + of the town, I shall expect you.--I can lend you pistols if you + have none.' + +'There is only one step to be taken,' said Glenmurray mentally, starting +up and dressing himself: and in a few moments he was at Major Douglas's +lodgings. + +The major had just finished dressing, when Glenmurray was announced. He +started and turned pale at seeing him; then, dismissing his servant and +taking up his hat and his pistols, he desired Glenmurray to walk out +with him. + +'With all my heart,' replied Glenmurray. But recollecting himself, 'No, +no,' said he: 'I come hither now, merely to talk to you; and if, after +what has passed, the ladies should see us go out together, they would be +but too sure of what was going to happen, and might follow us.' + +'Well, then sir,' cried the major, 'we had better separate till +evening.' + +'I shall not leave you, Major Douglas,' replied Glenmurray solemnly, +'whatever harsh things you may say or do, till I have made you listen to +me.' + +'How can I listen to you, when nothing you can say can be a justification +of your conduct?' + +'I do not mean to offer any.--I am only come to tell you my story, with +that of my companion, and my resolutions in consequence of my situation; +and I conjure you, by the recollections of our early days, of our past +pleasures and fatigues, those days when fatigue itself was a pleasure, +and I was not the weak emaciated being that I am now, unable to bear +exertion, and overcome even to female weakness by agitation of mind such +as I experienced last night--' + +'For God's sake sit down,' cried the major, glancing his eye over the +faded form of Glenmurray.--Glenmurray sat down. + +'I say, I conjure you by these recollections,' he continued, 'to hear me +with candour and patience. Weakness will render me brief.' Here he +paused to wipe the damps from his forehead; and Douglas, in a voice of +emotion, desired him to say whatever he chose, but to say it directly. + +'I will,' replied Glenmurray; 'for indeed there is one at home who will +be alarmed at my absence.' + +The major frowned; and, biting his lip, said, 'Proceed, Mr Glenmurray,' +in his usual tone. + +Glenmurray obeyed. He related his commencing author,--the nature of his +works,--his acquaintance with Adeline,--its consequences,--her mother's +marriage,--Sir Patrick's villany,--Adeline's elopement, her refusal to +marry him, and the grounds on which it was founded. 'And now,' cried +Glenmurray when his narration was ended, 'hear my firm resolve. Let the +consequences to my reputation be what they may, let your insults be what +they may, I will not accept your challenge; I will not expose Adeline +to the risk of being left without a protector in a foreign land, and +probably without one in her own. I fear that, in the natural course of +things, I shall not continue with her long; but while I can watch over +and contribute to her happiness, no dread of shame, no fear for what +others may think of me, no selfish consideration whatever shall induce +me to hazard a life which belongs to her, and on which at present her +happiness depends. I think, Douglas, you are incapable of treating me +with dignity; but even to that I will patiently submit, rather than +expose my life; while consoled by my motive, I will triumphantly +exclaim--'See, Adeline, what I can endure for thy sake!' + +Here he paused; and the major, interested and affected, had involuntarily +put out his hand to him; but, drawing it back, he said, 'Then I may be +sure that you meant no affront to me by suffering my wife and sister to +converse with Miss Mowbray?' + +Glenmurray having put an end to these suspicions entirely, by a candid +avowal of his feelings, and of his wish to have escaped directly if +possible, the major shook him affectionately by the hand, and told him +that though he firmly believed too much learning had made him mad, yet, +that he was as much his friend as ever. 'But what vexes me is,' said he, +'that you should have turned the head of that sweet girl. The opinion of +the world is every thing to a woman.' + +'Aye, it is indeed,' replied Glenmurray; 'and, spite of ridicule, I +would marry Adeline directly, as I said before, to guaranty her against +reproach,--I wish you would try to persuade her to be mine legally.' + +'That I will,' eagerly replied the major; 'I am sure I shall prevail +with her. I am sure I shall soon convince her that the opinions she +holds are nothing but nonsense.' + +'You will find,' replied Glenmurray, blushing, 'that her arguments are +unanswerable notwithstanding.' + +'What, though taken from the cursed books you mentioned?' + +'You forget that I wrote these books.' + +'So I did; and I wish she could forget it also: and then they would +appear to her, as they must do no doubt to all people of common sense, +and that is, abominable stuff.' + +Glenmurray bit his lips,--but the author did not long absorb the lover, +and he urged the major to return with him to his lodgings. + +'Aye, that I will,' cried he: 'and what is more, my sister Emma, who +writes admirably, shall write her a letter to convince her that she had +better be married directly.' + +'She had better converse with her,' said Glenmurray. + +The major looked grave, and observed that they would do well to go and +consult the women on the subject, and tell them the whole story. So +saying, he opened the door of a closet leading to their apartment: but +there, to their great surprise, they found Mrs Douglas and Emma, and as +well informed of everything as themselves;--for, expecting that a duel +might be the consequence of the major's impetuosity, and hearing Mr +Glenmurray announced, they resolved to listen to the conversation, and, +if it took the turn which they expected, to rush in and endeavour to +mollify the disputants. + +'So, ladies; this is very pretty indeed! Eaves-droppers, I protest,' +cried Major Douglas: but he said no more; for his wife, affected by the +recital which she had heard, and delighted to find that there would be +no duel, threw her arms round his neck, and burst into tears. Emma, +almost equally affected, gave her hand to Glenmurray, and told him +nothing on her part should be omitted to prevail on Adeline to sacrifice +her opinions to her welfare. + +'I said so,' cried the major. 'You will write to her.' + +'No; I will see her, and argue with her.' + +'And so will I,' cried the wife. + +'That you shall not,' bluntly replied the major. + +'Why not? I think it my duty to do all I can to save a fellow-creature +from ruin; and words spoken from the heart are always more powerful than +words written.' + +'But what will the world say, if I permit you to converse with a kept +mistress?' + +'The world here to us, as we associate with none and are known to none, +is Mr Glenmurray and Miss Mowbray; and of their good word we are sure.' + +'Aye,' cried Emma, 'and sure of succeeding with this interesting Adeline +too; for if she likes us, as I think she does--' + +'She adores you,' replied Glenmurray. + +'So much the better:--then, when we shall tell her that we cannot +associate with her, much as we admire her, unless she consents to become +a wife, surely she will hear reason.' + +'No doubt,' cried Mrs Douglas; 'and then we will go to church with her, +and you, Emma, shall be bride's maid.' + +'I see no necessity for that,' observed the major gravely. + +'But I do,' replied Emma. 'She will repeat her vows with more heartfelt +reverence, when two respectable women, deeply impressed themselves with +their importance, shall be there to witness them.' + +'But there is no Protestant church here,' exclaimed Glenmurray: +'however, we can go back to Lisbon, and you are already resolved to +return thither.' + +This point being settled, it was agreed that Glenmurray should prepare +Adeline for their visit; and with a lightened heart he went to execute +his commission. But when he saw Adeline he forgot his commission and +every thing but her distress; for he found her with an open letter in +her hand, and an unopened one on the floor, in a state of mind almost +bordering on phrensy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +As soon as Adeline beheld Glenmurray, 'See!' she exclaimed in a +hoarse and agitated tone, 'there is my letter to my mother, returned +unopened, and here is a letter from Dr Norberry which has broken my +heart:--however, we must go to England directly.' + +The letter was as follows:-- + + 'You have made a pretty fool of me, deluded but still dear + girl! for you have made me believe in forebodings. You may + remember with what a full heart I bade you adieu, and I + recollect what a devilish queer sensation I had when the + park-gates closed on your fleet carriage. I almost swore at the + postillions for driving so fast, as I wished to see you as long + as I could; and now I protest that I believe I was actuated by + a foreboding that at that house, and on that spot, I should + never behold you again. (Here a tear had fallen on the paper, + and the word, '_again_' was nearly blotted out.) Dear, lost + Adeline, I prayed for you too! I prayed that you might return + as innocent and happy as you left me. Heaven have mercy on us! + who should have thought it?--But this is nothing to the + purpose, and I suppose you think you have done nought but what + is right and clever.' + +He then proceeded to inform Adeline, who had written to him to implore +his mediation between her and her mother, 'that the latter had sent +express for him on finding, by the hasty scrawl which came the day after +Adeline's departure from the farm-house, that she had eloped, and who +was the companion of her flight; that he found her in violent agitation, +as Sir Patrick, stung to madness at the success of his rival, had with +an ingenuousness worthy a better cause avowed to her his ardent passion +for her daughter, his resolution to follow the fugitives, and by every +means possible separate Adeline from her lover; and that, after having +thanked Lady O'Carrol for her great generosity to him, he had taken his +pistols, mounted his horse, attended by his groom also well armed, and +vowed that he would never return unless accompanied by the woman whom he +adored.' + + 'No wonder therefore,' continued the doctor, 'that I was an + unsuccessful advocate for you,--especially as I was not + inclined to manage the old bride's self-love; for I was so + provoked at her folly in marrying the handsome profligate, + that, if she had not been in distress, I never meant to see her + again. But, poor silly you! she suffers enough for her folly, + and so do you;--for, her affections and her self-love being + equally wounded by Sir Patrick's confession, you are at present + the object of her aversion. To you she attributes all the + misery of having lost the man on whom she still dotes; and when + she found from your last letter to me that you are not the wife + but the mistress of Glenmurray, (by the bye, your letter to her + from Lisbon she desires me to return unopened,) and that the + child once her pride is become her disgrace, she declared her + solemn resolution never to see you more, and to renounce you + for ever--(Terrible words, Adeline, I tremble to write them.) + But a circumstance has since occurred which gives me hopes that + she may yet forgive, and receive you on certain conditions. + About a fortnight after Sir Patrick's departure, a letter from + Ireland, directed to him in a woman's hand, arrived at the + Pavilion. Your mother opened it, and found it was from a wife + of her amiable husband, whom he had left in the north of + Ireland, and who, having heard of his second marriage, wrote to + tell him that, unless he came quickly back to her, she would + prosecute him for bigamy, as he knew very well that undoubted + proofs of the marriage were in her possession. At first this + new proof of her beautiful spouse's villany drove your mother + almost to phrensy, and I was again sent for; but time, + reflection, and perhaps my arguments, convinced her, that + to be able to free herself from this rascal for ever, and + consequently her fortune, losing only the ten thousand pounds + which she had given him to pay his debts, was in reality a + consoling circumstance. Accordingly, she wrote to the real Lady + O'Carrol, promising to accede quietly to her claim, and wishing + that she would spare her and herself the disgrace of a public + trial; especially as it must end in the conviction of Sir + Patrick. She then, on hearing from him that he had traced you + to Falmouth, and was going to embark for Lisbon when the wind + was favourable, enclosed him a copy of his wife's letter, and + bade him an eternal farewell!--But be not alarmed lest this + insane profligate should overtake and distress you. He is gone + to his final account. In his hurry to get on board, overcome as + he was with the great quantity of liquor which he had drunk to + banish care, he sprung from the boat before it was near enough + to reach the vessel; his foot slipped against the side, he fell + into the water, and, going under the ship, never rose again. I + leave you to imagine how the complicated distresses of the last + three months, and this awful climax to them, have affected your + mother's mind; even I cannot scold her, now, for the life of + me: she is not yet, I believe, disposed in your favour; but + were you here, and were you to meet, it is possible that, + forlorn, lonely, and deserted as she now feels, the tie between + you might be once more cemented; and much as I resent your + conduct, you may depend on my exertions.--O Adeline, child of + my affection, why must I blush to subscribe myself + + 'Your sincere friend, + 'J. N.?' + +Words cannot describe the feelings of anguish which this letter +excited in Adeline: nor could she make known her sensations otherwise +than by reiterated requests to be allowed to set off for England +directly--requests to which Glenmurray, alarmed for her intellects, +immediately assented. Therefore, leaving a hasty note for the Douglases, +they soon bade farewell to Perpignan; and after a long laborious +journey, but a short passage, they landed at Brighton. + +It was a fine evening; and numbers of the gay and fashionable of both +sexes were assembled on the beach, to see the passengers land. Adeline +and Glenmurray were amongst the first: and while heartsick, fatigued, +and melancholy, Adeline took the arm of her lover, and turned disgusted +from the brilliant groups before her, she saw, walking along the shore, +Dr Norberry, his wife, and his two daughters. + +Instantly, unmindful of every thing but the delight of seeing old +acquaintances, and of being able to gain some immediate tiding of her +mother, she ran up to them: and just as they turned round, she met +them, extending her hand in friendship as she was wont to do.--But in +vain;--no hand was stretched out to meet hers, nor tongue nor look +proclaimed a welcome to her; Dr Norberry himself coldly touched his hat, +and passed on, while his wife and daughters looked scornfully at her, +and, without deigning to notice her, pursued their walk. + +Astonished and confounded, Adeline had not power to articulate a word; +and had not Glenmurray caught her in his arms, she would have fallen to +the ground. + +'Then now I am indeed an outcast! even my oldest and best friend +renounces me,' she exclaimed. + +'But I am left to you,' cried Glenmurray. + +Adeline sighed. She could not say, as she had formerly done, 'and you +are all to me.' The image of her mother, happy as the wife of a man she +loved, could not long rival Glenmurray; but the image of her mother, +disgraced and wretched, awoke all the habitual but dormant tenderness of +years; every feeling of filial gratitude revived in all its force; and, +even while leaning on the shoulder of her lover, she sighed to be once +more clasped to the bosom of her mother. + +Glenmurray felt the change, but, though grieved, was not offended:--'I +shall die in peace,' he cried, 'if I can but see you restored to your +mother's affection, even though the surrender of my happiness is to be +the purchase.' + +'You shall die in peace!' replied Adeline shuddering. The phrase was +well-timed, though perhaps undesignedly so. Adeline clung close to his +arm, her eyes filled with tears, and all the way to the inn she thought +only of Glenmurray with an apprehension which she could not conquer. + +'What do you mean to do now?' said Glenmurray. + +'Write to Dr Norberry. I think he will at least have humanity enough to +let me know where to find my mother.' + +'No doubt; and you had better write directly.' + +Adeline took up her pen. A letter was written,--and as quickly torn. +Letter succeeded to letter; but not one of them answered her wishes. The +dark hour arrived, and the letter remained unwritten. + +'It is too soon to ring for candles,' said Glenmurray, putting his arm +round her waist and leading her to the window. The sun was below the +horizon, but the reflection of his beams still shone beautifully on the +surrounding objects. Adeline, reclining her cheek on Glenmurray's arm, +gazed in silence on the scene before her: when the door suddenly opened, +and a gentleman was announced. It was now so dark that all objects were +indistinctly seen, and the gentleman had advanced close to Adeline +before she knew him to be Dr Norberry: and before she could decide how +she should receive him, she felt herself clasped to his bosom with the +affection of a father. + +Surprised and affected, she could not speak; and Glenmurray had ordered +candles before Adeline had recovered herself sufficiently to say these +words, 'After your conduct on the beach, I little expected this visit.' + +'Pshaw!' replied the doctor: 'when a man out of regard to society has +performed a painful task, surely he may be allowed, out of regard to +himself, to follow the dictates of his heart.--I obeyed my head when I +passed you so cavalierly, and I thought I should never have gone through +my task as I did;--but then for the sake of my daughters, I gave a gulp, +and called up a fierce look. But I told madam that I meant to call on +you, and she insisted, very properly, that it should be in the dark +hour.' + +'But what of my mother?' + +'She is a miserable woman, as she deserved to be--an old fool.' + +'Pray do not call her so; to hear she is miserable is torment sufficient +to me:--where is she?' + +'Still at the Pavilion: but she is going to let Rosevalley, retire to +her estate in Cumberland, and live unknown and unseen.' + +'But will she not allow me to live with her?' + +'What! as Mr Glenmurray's mistress? receive under her roof the seducer +of her daughter?' + +'Sir, I am no seducer.' + +'No,' cried Adeline: 'I became the mistress of Mr Glenmurray from the +dictates of my reason, not my weakness or his persuasions.' + +'Humph!' replied the doctor, 'I should expect to find such reason in +Moorfields: besides, had not Mr Glenmurray's books turned your head, you +would not have thought it pretty and right to become the mistress of any +man: so he is your seducer, after all.' + +'So far I plead guilty,' replied Glenmurray; 'but whatever my opinions +are, I have ever been willing to sacrifice them to the welfare of Miss +Mowbray, and have, from the first moment that we were safe from pursuit, +been urgent to marry her.' + +'Then why are you not married?' + +'Because I would not consent,' said Adeline coldly. + +'Mad, certainly mad,' exclaimed the doctor: 'but you, 'faith, you are an +honest fellow after all,' turning to Glenmurray and shaking him by the +hand; 'weak of the head, not bad in the heart; burn your vile books, +and I am your friend for ever.' + +'We will discuss that point another time,' replied Glenmurray: 'at +present the most interesting subject to us is the question whether Mrs +Mowbray will forgive her daughter or not?' + +'Why, man, if I may judge of Mrs Mowbray by myself, one condition of her +forgiveness will be your marrying her daughter.' + +'O blest condition!' cried Glenmurray. + +'I should think,' replied Adeline coldly, 'my mother must have had too +much of marriage to wish me to marry; but if she should insist on my +marrying, I will comply, and on no other account.' + +'Strange infatuation! To me appears only justice and duty. But your +reasons, girl, your reasons?' + +'They are few, but strong. Glenmurray, philanthropically bent on +improving the state of society, puts forth opinions counteracting its +received usages, backed by arguments which are in my opinion +incontrovertible.' + +'In your opinion!--Pray, child, how old are you?' + +'Nineteen.' + +'And at that age you set up for a reformer? Well,--go on.' + +'But though it be important to the success of his opinions, and indeed +to the respectability of his character, that he should act according to +his precepts, he, for the sake of preserving to me the notice of persons +whose narrowness of mind I despise, would conform to an institution +which both he and I think unworthy of regard from a rational being.--And +shall not I be as generous as he is? shall I scruple to give up for his +honour and fame the petty advantages which marriage would give me? +Never--his honour and fame are too dear to me; but the claims which my +mother has on me are in my eyes so sacred that, for her sake, though not +for my own, I would accept the sacrifice which Glenmurray offers. If, +then, she says that she will never see or pardon me till I am become +a wife, I will follow him to the altar directly; but till then I must +insist on remaining as I am. It is necessary that I should respect the +man I love; and I should not respect Glenmurray were he not capable of +supporting with fortitude the consequences of his opinions; and could +he, for motives less strong than those he avows, cease to act up to what +he believes to be right. For, never can I respect or believe firmly in +the truth of those doctrines, the followers of which shrink from a sort +of martyrdom in support of them.' + +'O Mr Glenmurray!' cried the doctor shaking his head, 'what have you +to answer for! What a glorious champion would that creature have +been in the support of truth, when even error in her looks so like to +virtue!--And then the amiable disinterestedness of you both!--What +a powerful thing must true love be, when it can make a speculative +philosopher indifferent to the interests of his system, and ready to act +in direct opposition to it, rather than injure the respectability of the +woman he loves! Well, well, the Lord forgive you, young man, for having +taken it into your head to set up for a great author!' + +Glenmurray answered by a deep-drawn sigh; and the doctor continued: +'Then there is that girl again, with a heart so fond and true that her +love comes in aid of her integrity, and makes her think no sacrifice +too great, in order to prove her confidence in the wisdom of her +lover,--urging her to disregard all personal inconveniences rather than +let him forfeit, for her sake, his pretensions to independence and +consistency of character! girl, I can't help admiring you, but no more I +could a Malabar widow, who with fond and pious enthusiasm, from an idea +of duty, throws herself on the funeral pile of her husband. But still +I should think you a great fool, notwithstanding, for professing the +opinions that led to such an exertion of duty. And now here are you, +possessed of every quality both of head and heart to bless others and to +bless yourself--owing to your foolish and pernicious opinions;--here you +are, I say blasted in reputation in the prime of your days, and doomed +perhaps to pine through existence in--Pshaw! I can't support the idea!' +added he, gulping down a sob as he spoke, and traversing the room in +great emotion. + +Adeline and Glenmurray were both of them deeply and painfully affected; +and the latter was going to express what he felt, when the doctor +seizing Adeline's hand, affectionately exclaimed, 'Well, my poor child! +I will see your mother once more; I will go to London tomorrow--by this +time she is there--and you had better follow me; you will hear of me at +the Old Hummums; and here is a card of address to an hotel near it, +where I would advise you to take up your abode.' + +So saying he shook Glenmurray by the hand; when, starting back, he +exclaimed 'Why, man! here is a skin like fire, and a pulse like +lightning. My dear fellow, you must take care of yourself.' + +Adeline burst into tears. + +'Indeed, doctor, I am only nervous.' + +'Nervous!--What, I suppose you think you understand my profession better +than I do. But don't cry, my child: when your mind is easier, perhaps, +he will do very well; and, as one thing likely to give him immediate +ease, I prescribe a visit to the altar of the next parish church.' + +So saying he departed; and all other considerations were again swallowed +up in Adeline's mind by the idea of Glenmurray's danger. + +'Is it possible that my marrying you would have such a blessed effect on +your health?' cried Adeline after a pause. + +'It certainly would make my mind easier than it now is,' replied he. + +'If I thought so,' said Adeline: 'but no--regard for my supposed +interest merely makes you say so; and indeed I should not think so well +of you as I now do, if I imagined that you could be made easy by an +action by which you forfeited all pretensions to that consistency of +character so requisite to the true dignity of a philosopher.' + +A deep sigh from Glenmurray, in answer, proved that he was no +philosopher. + +In the morning the lovers set off for London, Dr Norberry having +preceded them by a few hours. This blunt but benevolent man had returned +the evening before slowly and pensively to his lodgings, his heart full +of pity for the errors of the well-meaning enthusiasts whom he had left, +and his head full of plans for their assistance, or rather for that of +Adeline. But he entered his own doors again reluctantly--he knew but too +well that no sympathy with his feelings awaited him there. His wife, a +woman of narrow capacity and no talents or accomplishments, had, like +all women of that sort, a great aversion to those of her sex who +united to feminine graces and gentleness, the charms of a cultivated +understanding and pretensions to accomplishments or literature. + +Of Mrs Mowbray, as we have before observed, she had always been +peculiarly jealous, because Dr Norberry spoke of her knowledge +with wonder, and of her understanding with admiration; not that he +entertained one moment a feeling of preference towards her, inconsistent +with an almost idolatrous love of his wife, whose skill in all the +domestic duties, and whose very pretty face and person, were the daily +themes of his praise. But Mrs Norberry wished to engross all his +panegyrics to herself, and she never failed to expatiate on Mrs +Mowbray's foibles and flightiness as long as the doctor had expatiated +on her charms. + +Sometimes, indeed, this last subject was sooner exhausted than the one +which she had chosen; but when Adeline grew up, and became as it were +the rival of her daughters in the praises of her husband, she found it +difficult as we have said before, to bring faults in array against +excellencies. + +Mrs Norberry could with propriety observe, when the doctor, was +exclaiming, 'What a charming essay Mrs Mowbray has just written!' + +'Aye,--but I dare say she can't write a market bill.' + +When he said, 'How well she comprehends the component parts of the +animal system!' + +She could with great justice reply, 'But she knows nothing of the +component parts of a plum pudding.' + +But when Adeline became the object of the husband's admiration and the +wife's enmity, Mrs Norberry could not make these pertinent remarks, as +Adeline was as conversant with all branches of housewifery as herself; +and, though as learned in all systems as her mother, was equally learned +in the component parts of puddings and pies. She was therefore at a loss +what to say when Adeline was praised by the doctor; and all she could +observe on the occasion was, that the girl might be clever, but was +certainly very ugly, very affected, and very conceited. + +It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Mrs Mowbray's degrading and +unhappy marriage, and Adeline's elopement, should have been sources of +triumph to Mrs Norberry and her daughters; who, though they liked Mrs +Mowbray very well, could not bear Adeline. + +'So Dr Norberry, these are your uncommon folks!'--exclaimed Mrs Norberry +on hearing of the marriage and of the subsequent elopement;--'I suppose +you are now well satisfied at not having a genius for your wife, or +geniuses for your daughters?' + +'I always was, my dear,' meekly replied the mortified and afflicted +doctor, and dropped the subject as soon as possible; nor had it been +resumed for some time when Adeline accosted them on the beach at +Brighton. But her appearance called forth their dormant enmity; and the +whole way to their lodgings the good doctor heard her guilt expatiated +upon with as much violence as ever: but just as they got home he coldly +and firmly observed, 'I shall certainly call on the poor deluded girl +this evening.' + +And Mrs Norberry, knowing by the tone and manner in which he spoke, that +this was a point which he would not give up, contented herself with +requiring only that he should go in the dark hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +It was to a wife and daughters such as these that he was returning, with +the benevolent wish of interesting them for the guilty Adeline. + +'So, Dr Norberry, you are come back at last!' was his first salutation, +'and what does the creature say for herself?' + +'The creature!--Your fellow-creature, my dear, says very little--grief +is not wordy.' + +'Grief!--So then she is unhappy, is she?' cries Miss Norberry; 'I am +monstrous glad of it.' + +The doctor started; and an oath nearly escaped his lips. He did say, +'Why, zounds, Jane!'--but then he added, in a softer tone, 'Why do you +rejoice in a poor girl's affliction?' + +'Because I think it is for the good of her soul.' + +'Good girl!' replied the father:--'Jane, (seizing her hand,) may your +soul never need such a medicine!' + +'It never will,' said her mother proudly: 'she has been differently +brought up.' + +'She has been well brought up, you might have added,' observed the +doctor, 'had modesty permitted it. Mrs Mowbray, poor woman, had good +intentions; but she was too flighty. Had Adeline, my children, had such +a mother as yours, she would have been like you.' + +'But not half so handsome,' interrupted the mother in a low voice. + +'But as our faults and our virtues, my dear, depend so much on the care +and instruction of others, we should look with pity, as well as aversion +on the faults of those less fortunate in instructors than we have been.' + +'Certainly;--very true,' said Mrs Norberry, flattered and affected by +this compliment from her husband: 'but you know, James Norberry,' laying +her hand on his, 'I always told you you overrated Mrs Mowbray; and that +she was but a dawdle after all.' + +'You always did, my good woman,' replied he, raising her hand to his +lips. + +'But you men think yourselves much wiser than we are!' + +'We do so,' replied the doctor. + +The tone was equivocal--Mrs Norberry felt it to be so, and looked up +in his face.--The doctor understood the look: it was one of doubt and +inquiry; and, as it was his interest to sooth her in order to carry his +point, he exclaimed, 'We men are, indeed, too apt to pride ourselves in +our supposed superior wisdom: but I, you will own, my dear, have always +done your sex justice; and you in particular.' + +'You have been a good husband indeed, James Norberry,' replied his wife +in a faltering voice; 'and I believe you to be, to every one, a just and +honourable man.' + +'And I dare say, dame, I do no more than justice to you, when I think +you will approve and further a plan for Adeline Mowbray's good, which I +am going to propose to you.' + +Mrs Norberry withdrew her hand; but returning it again:--'To be sure, +my dear,' she cried. 'Any thing you wish; that is, if I see right to--' + +'I will explain myself,' continued the doctor gently. + +'I have promised this poor girl to endeavour to bring about a +reconciliation between her and her mother; but though Adeline wishes +to receive her pardon on any terms, and even, if it be required, to +renounce her lover, I fear Mrs Mowbray is too much incensed against her, +to see or forgive her.' + +'Hard-hearted woman!' cried Mrs Norberry. + +'Cruel, indeed!' cried her daughters. + +'But a mother ought to be severe, very severe, on such occasions, young +ladies,' hastily added Mrs Norberry: 'but go on, my dear.' + +'Now it is but too probable,' continued the doctor, 'that Glenmurray +will not live long, and then this young creature will be left to +struggle unprotected with the difficulties of her situation; and who +knows but that she may, from poverty, and the want of a protector, be +tempted to continue in the paths of vice?' + +'Well, Dr Norberry, and what then?--Who or what is to prevent it?--You +know we have three children to provide for; and I am a young woman as +yet.' + +'True, Hannah,' giving her a kiss, 'and a very pretty woman too.' + +'Well, my dear love, anything we can do with prudence I am ready to do; +I can say no more.' + +'You have said enough,' cried the doctor exultingly; 'then hear my plan: +Adeline shall, in the event of Glenmurray's death, which though not +certain seems likely--to be sure, I did not inquire into the nature of +his nocturnal perspirations, his expectoration, and so forth--' + +'Dear papa, you are so professional!' affectedly exclaimed his youngest +daughter. + +'Well, child, I have done; and to return to my subject--if Glenmurray +lives or dies, I think it advisable that Adeline should go into +retirement to lie-in. And where can she be better than in my little +cottage now empty, within a four-miles ride of our house? If she wants +protection, I can protect her; and if she wants money before her mother +forgives her, you can give it to her.' + +'Indeed, papa,' cried both the girls, 'we shall not grudge it.' + +The doctor started from his chair, and embraced his daughters with joy +mixed with wonder; for he knew they had always disliked Adeline.--True; +but then, she was prosperous, and their superior. Little minds love to +bestow protection; and it was easy to be generous to the fallen Adeline +Mowbray: had her happiness continued, so would their hatred. + +'Then it is a settled point, is it not dame?' asked the doctor, chucking +his wife under the chin; when, to his great surprise and consternation, +she threw his hand indignantly from her, and vociferated, 'She shall +never live within a ride of our house, I can assure you, Dr Norberry.' + +The doctor was petrified into silence, and the girls could only +articulate 'La! mamma?' But what could produce this sudden and violent +change? Nothing but a simple and natural operation of the human mind. +Though a very kind husband, and an indulgent father, Dr Norberry was +suspected, though unjustly, of being a very gallant man: and some of Mrs +Norberry's good-natured friends had occasionally hinted to her their +sorrow at hearing such and such reports; reports which were indeed +destitute of foundation; but which served to excite suspicions in the +mind of the tenacious Mrs Norberry. And what more likely to re-awaken +them than the young and frail Adeline Mowbray living in a cottage of her +husband's, protected, supported, and visited by him! The moment this +idea occurred, its influence was unconquerable; and with a voice and +manner of determined hostility she made known her resolves in +consequence of it. + +After a pause of dismay and astonishment, the doctor cried, 'Dame, what +have you gotten in your head? What, all on a sudden, has had such an +ugly effect on you?' + +'Second thoughts are best, doctor; and I now feel that it would be +highly improper for you, with daughters grown up, to receive with such +marked kindness a single young woman at a cottage of yours, who is going +to lie-in.' + +'But, my dear, it is a different case, when I do it to keep her out of +the way of further harm.' + +'That is more than I know, Dr Norberry,' replied the wife bridling, and +fanning herself. + +'Whew!' whistled the doctor; and then addressing his daughters, 'Girls, +you had better go to bed; it grows late.' + +The young ladies obeyed; but first hung round their mother's neck, as +they bade her good night, and hoped she would not be so cruel to the +poor deluded Adeline. + +Mrs Norberry angrily shook them off, with a peevish--'Get along, girls.' +The doctor cordially kissed, and bade God bless them; while the door +closed and left the loving couple alone. + +What passed, it were tedious to repeat: suffice that after a long +altercation, continued even after they were retired to rest, the doctor +found his wife, on this subject, incapable of listening to reason, and +that, as a finishing stroke, she exclaimed, 'It does not signify talking, +Dr Norberry, while I have my senses, and can see into a mill-stone a +little, the hussey shall never come near us.' + +The doctor sighed deeply; turned himself round, not to sleep but to +think, and rose the next morning to go in search of Mrs Mowbray, +dreading the interview which he was afterwards to have with Adeline; for +he did not expect to succeed in his application to her mother, and he +could not now soften his intelligence with a 'but,' as he intended. +'True,' he meant to have said to her, 'your mother will not receive you; +but if you ever want a home or a place of retirement, I have a cottage, +and so forth.' + +'Pshaw!' cried the doctor to himself, as these thoughts came across him +on the road, and made him hastily let down the front window of the +post-chaise for air. + +'Did your honour speak?' cries the post-boy. + +'Not I. But can't you drive faster and be hanged to you?' + +The boy whipped his horses.--The doctor then found that it was up +hill--down went the glass again:--'Hold, you brute, why do you not see +it is up hill?' For find fault he must; and with his wife he could not, +or dared not, even in fancy. + +'Dear me! Why, your honour bade me put it on.' + +'Devilishly obedient,' muttered the doctor: 'I wish every one was like +you in that respect.'--And in a state of mind not the pleasantest +possible the doctor drove into town, and to the hotel where Mrs Mowbray +was to be found. + +Dr Norberry was certainly now not in a humour to sooth any woman whom he +thought in the wrong, except his wife; and, whether from carelessness or +design, he did not, unfortunately for Adeline, manage the self-love of +her unhappy mother. + +He found Mrs Mowbray with her heart shut up, not softened by sorrow. +The hands once stretched forth with kindness to welcome him, were +now stiffly laid one upon the other; and 'How are you, sir?' coldly +articulated, was followed by as cold a 'Pray sit down.' + +'Why, how ill you look!' exclaimed the doctor. + +'I attend more to my feelings than my looks,' with a deep sigh, answered +Mrs Mowbray. + +'Your feelings are as bad as your looks, I dare say.' + +'They are worse, sir,' said Mrs Mowbray piqued. + +'There was no need of that,' replied the doctor: 'but I am come to +point out to you one way of getting rid of some of your unpleasant +feelings:--see, and forgive your daughter.' + +Mrs Mowbray started, changed colour, and exclaimed with quickness, 'Is +she in England?' but added instantly, 'I have no daughter:--she, who was +my child, is my most inveterate foe; she has involved me in disgrace and +misery.' + +'With a little of your own help she has,' replied the doctor. 'Come, +come, my old friend, you have both of you something to forget and +forgive; and the sooner you set about it the better. Now do write, and +tell Adeline, who is by this time in London, that you forgive her.' + +'Never:--after having promised me not to hold converse with that villain +without my consent? Had I no other cause of complaint against her;--had +she not by her coquettish arts seduced the affections of the man I +loved:--never, never would I forgive her having violated the sacred +promise which she gave me.' + +'A promise,' interrupted the doctor, 'which she would never have +violated, had not you first violated that sacred compact which you +entered into at her birth.' + +'What mean you, sir?' + +'I mean, that though a parent does not, at a child's birth, solemnly +make a vow to do all in his or her power to promote the happiness of +that child,--still, as he has given it birth, he has tacitly bound +himself to make it happy. This tacit agreement you broke, when at the +age of forty, you, regardless of your daughter's welfare, played the +fool and married a pennyless profligate, merely because he had a fine +person and a handsome leg.' + +Mrs Mowbray was too angry and too agitated to interrupt him, and he went +on: + +'Well, what was the consequence? The young fellow very naturally +preferred the daughter to the mother; and, as he could not have her by +fair, was resolved to have her by foul means; and so he--' + +'I beg, Dr Norberry,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray in a faint voice, 'that +you would spare the disgusting recital.' + +'Well, well, I will. Now do consider the dilemma your child was in: she +must either elope, or by her presence keep alive a criminal passion in +her father-in-law, which you sooner or later must discover; and be +besides exposed to fresh insults.--Well, Glenmurray by chance happened +to be on the spot just as she escaped from that villanous fellow's +clutches, and--' + +'He is dead, Dr Norberry,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray; 'and you know the +old adage, "Do not speak ill of the dead."' + +'And a very silly adage it is. I had rather speak ill of the dead than +the living, for my part: but let me go on.--Well, love taking the name +and habit of prudence and filial piety, (for she thought she consulted +your happiness, and not her own,) bade her fly to and with her lover; +and now there she is, owing to the pretty books which you let her read, +living with him as his mistress, and glorying in it, as if it was a +notable praiseworthy action.' + +'And you would have me forgive her?' + +'Certainly: a fault which both your precepts and conduct occasioned. Not +but what the girl has been wrong, terribly wrong:--no one ought to do +evil that good may come. You had forbidden her to have any intercourse +with Glenmurray; and she therefore knew that disobeying you would make +you unhappy--that was a certainty. That fellow's persevering in his +attempts, after the fine rebuff which she had given him, was an +uncertainty; and she ought to have run the risk of it, and not committed +a positive fault to avoid a possible evil. But then hers was a fault +which she could not have committed had not you married that--but I +forbear. And as to her not being married to Glenmurray, that is no +fault of his; and with your consent, he will marry your daughter +to-morrow morning. That ever so good, cleanly-hearted a youth should +have poked his nose into the filthy mess of eccentric philosophy!' + +'Have you done, doctor?' cried Mrs Mowbray haughtily: 'have you said all +that Miss Mowbray and you have invented to insult me?' + +'Your child send me to insult you!--She!--Adeline!--Why, the poor soul +came broken-hearted and post haste from France, when she heard of your +misfortunes, to offer her services to console you.' + +'She console me?--she, the first occasion of them?--But for her, I might +still have indulged the charming delusion, even if it were delusion, +that love of me, not of my wealth, induced the man I doted upon to +commit a crime to gain possession of me.' + +'Why!' hastily interrupted the doctor, 'everyone saw that he loved her +long before he married you.' + +The storm, long gathering, now burst forth; and rising, with the tears, +high colour, and vehement voice of unbridled passion, Mrs Mowbray +exclaimed, raising her arm and clenching her fist as she spoke, 'And it +is being the object of that cruel preference, which I never, never will +forgive her!' + +The doctor, after ejaculating 'Whew!' as much as to say 'The murder is +out,' instantly took his hat and departed, convinced his labour was +vain. 'There,' muttered he as he went down stairs, 'two instances in one +day! Ah, ah,--that jealousy is the devil.' He then slowly walked to the +hotel, where he expected to find Adeline and Glenmurray. + +They had arrived about two hours before; and Adeline in a frame of mind +but ill fitted to bear the disappointment which awaited her. For, with +the sanguine expectations natural to her age, she had been castle-building +as usual; and their journey to London had been rendered a very short +one, by the delightful plans, for the future, which she had been forming +and imparting to Glenmurray. + +'When I consider,' said she, 'the love which my mother has always shown +for me, I cannot think it possible that she can persist in renouncing +me; and however her respect for the prejudices of the world, a world +which she intended to live in at the time of her unfortunate connexion, +might make her angry at my acting in defiance of its laws,--now that she +herself, from a sense of injury and disgrace, is about to retire from +it, she will no longer have a motive to act contrary to the dictates of +reason herself, or to wish me to do so.' + +'But your ideas of reason and hers may be so different--' + +'No. Our practice may be different, but our theory is the same, and I +have no doubt but that my mother will now forgive and receive us; and +that, living in a romantic solitude, being the whole world to each +other, our days will glide away in uninterrupted felicity.' + +'And how shall we employ ourselves?' said Glenmurray smiling. + +'You shall continue to write for the instruction of your fellow-creatures; +while my mother and I shall be employed in endeavouring to improve the +situation of the poor around us, and perhaps in educating our children.' + +Adeline, when animated by any prospect of happiness, was irresistible: +she was really Hope herself, as described by Collins-- + + 'But thou, oh Hope, with eyes so fair, + What was thy delighted measure!' + +and Glenmurray, as he listened to her, forgot his illness; forgot every +thing, but what Adeline chose to imagine. The place of their retreat was +fixed upon. It was to be a little village near Falmouth, the scene of +their first happiness. The garden was laid out; Mrs Mowbray's library +planned; and so completely were they lost in their charming prospects +for the future, that every turnpike-man had to wait a longer time than +he was accustomed to for his money; and the postillion had driven into +London in the way to the hotel, before Adeline recollected that she was, +for the first time, in a city which she had long wished most ardently to +see. + +They had scarcely taken up their abode at the hotel recommended to them +by Dr Norberry, when he knocked at the door. Adeline from the window had +seen him coming; and sure as she thought herself to be of her mother's +forgiveness, she turned sick and faint when the decisive moment was at +hand; and, hurrying out of the room, she begged Glenmurray to receive +the doctor, and apologize for her absence. + +Glenmurray awaited him with a beating heart. He listened to his step +on the stairs: it was slow and heavy; unlike that of a benevolent man +coming to communicate good news. Glenmurray began immediately to tremble +for the peace of Adeline; and, hastily pouring out a glass of wine, was +on the point of drinking it when Dr Norberry entered. + +'Give me a glass,' cried he: 'I want one, I am sure, to recruit my +spirits.' Glenmurray in silence complied with his desire. 'Come, I'll +give you a toast,' cried the doctor: 'Here is--' + +At this moment Adeline entered. She had heard the doctor's last words, +and she thought he was going to drink to the reconciliation of her +mother and herself; and hastily opening the door she came to receive +the good news which awaited her. But, at sight of her, the toast died +unfinished on her old friend's lips; he swallowed down the wine in +silence, and then taking her hand led her to the sofa. + +Adeline's heart began to die within her; and before the doctor, after +having taken a pinch of snuff and blowed his nose full three times, was +prepared to speak, she was convinced that she had nothing but unwelcome +intelligence to receive; and she awaited in trembling expectation an +answer to a 'Well, sir,' from Glenmurray, spoken in a tone of fearful +emotion. + +'No, it is not well, sir,' replied the doctor. + +'You have seen my mother?' said Adeline, catching hold of the arm of the +sofa for support: and in an instant Glenmurray was by her side. + +'I have seen Mrs Mowbray, but not your mother: for I have seen a woman +dead to every graceful impulse of maternal affection, and alive only to +a selfish sense of rivalship and hatred. My poor child! God forgive the +deluded woman! But I declare she detests you!' + +'Detests me?' exclaimed Adeline. + +'Yes; she swears that she can never forgive the preference which that +vile fellow gave you, and I am convinced that she will keep her word;' +and here the doctor, turning round, saw Adeline lying immoveable in +Glenmurray's arms. But she did not long remain so, and with a frantic +scream kept repeating the words 'She detests me!' till unable to contend +any longer with the acuteness of her feelings, she sunk, sobbing +convulsively, exhausted on the bed to which they carried her. + +'My good friend, my only friend,' cried Glenmurray, 'what is to be done? +Will she scream again, think you, in that most dreadful and unheard-of +manner? For, if she does, I must run out of the house.' + +'What, then, she never treated you in this pretty way before, heh?' + +'Never, never. Her self-command has always been exemplary.' + +'Indeed?--Lucky fellow! My wife and daughters often scream just as loud, +on very trifling occasions: but that scream went to my heart; for I well +know how to distinguish between the shriek of agony and that of passion.' + +When Adeline recovered, she ardently conjured Dr Norberry to procure +her an interview with her mother; contending that it was absolutely +impossible to suppose, that the sight of a child so long and tenderly +loved should not renew a little of her now dormant affection. + +'But you were her rival, as well as her child; remember that. However, +you look so ill, that now, if ever, she will forgive you, I think: +therefore I will go back to Mrs Mowbray; and while I am there do you +come, ask for me, and follow the servant into the room.' + +'I will,' replied Adeline: and leaning on the arm of her lover, she +slowly followed the doctor to her mother's hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +'This is the most awful moment of my life,' said Adeline. + +'And the most anxious one of mine,' replied Glenmurray. 'If Mrs Mowbray +forgives you, it will be probably on condition that--' + +'Whatever be the conditions, I must accept them,' said Adeline. + +'True,' returned Glenmurray, wiping the cold dews of weakness from his +forehead: 'but no matter--at any rate, I should not have been with you +long.' + +Adeline, with a look of agony, pressed the arm she held to her bosom. + +Glenmurray's heart smote him immediately--he felt he had been +ungenerous; and, while the hectic of a moment passed across his cheek, +he added, 'But I do not do myself justice in saying so. I believe my +best chance of recovery is the certainty of your being easy. Let me but +see you happy, and so disinterested is my affection, as I have often +told you, that I shall cheerfully assent to any thing that may ensure +your happiness.' + +'And can you think,' answered Adeline, 'that my happiness can be +independent of yours? Do you not see that I am only trying to prepare +my mind for being called upon to surrender my inclinations to my duty?' + +At this moment they found themselves at the door of the hotel. Neither +of them spoke; the moment of trial was come; and both were unable to +encounter it firmly. At last Adeline grasped her lover's hand, bade him +wait for her at the end of the street, and with some degree of firmness +she entered the vestibule, and asked for Dr Norberry. + +Dr Norberry, meanwhile, with the best intentions in the world, had but +ill prepared Mrs Mowbray's mind for the intended visit. He had again +talked to her of her daughter; and urged the propriety of forgiving her; +but he had at the same time renewed his animadversions on her own +conduct. + +'You know not, Dr Norberry,' observed Mrs Mowbray, 'the pains I took +with the education of that girl; and I expected to be repaid for it by +being styled the happiest as well as best of mothers.' + +'And so you would, perhaps, had you not wished to be a wife as well as +mother.' + +'No more on that subject, sir,' haughtily returned Mrs Mowbray.--'Yes, +--Adeline was indeed my joy, my pride.' + +'Aye, and pride will have a fall; and a pretty tumble yours has had, to +be sure, my old friend; and it has broke its knees--never to be sound +again.' + +At this unpropitious moment 'a lady to Dr Norberry' was announced, and +Adeline tottered into the room. + +'What strange intrusion is this?' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'who is this +woman?' + +Adeline threw back her veil, and falling on her knees, stretched out +her arms in an attitude of entreaty: speak she could not, but her +countenance was sufficiently expressive of her meaning; and her pale +sunk cheek spoke forcibly to the heart of her mother.--At this moment, +when a struggle which might have ended favourably for Adeline was taking +place in the mind of Mrs Mowbray, Dr Norberry injudiciously exclaimed, + +'There,--there she is! Look at her, poor soul! There is little fear, I +think, of her ever rivalling you again.' + +At these words Mrs Mowbray darted an angry look at the doctor, and +desired him to take away that woman; who came, no doubt instigated by +him, to insult her. + +'Take her away,' she said, 'and never let me see her again.' + +'O my mother, hear me, in pity hear me!' exclaimed Adeline. + +'As it is for the last time, I will hear you,' replied Mrs Mowbray; 'for +never, no never will I behold you more! Hear me vow--' + +'Mother, for mercy's sake, make not a vow so terrible!' cried Adeline, +gathering courage from despair, and approaching her: 'I have grievously +erred, and will cheerfully devote the rest of my life to endeavour, by +the most submissive obedience and attention, to atone for my past +guilt.' + +'Atone for it! Impossible; for the misery which I owe to you, no +submission, no future conduct can make me amends. Away! I say: your +presence conjures up recollections which distract me, and I solemnly +swear--' + +'Hold, hold, if you have any mercy in your nature,' cried Adeline almost +frantic: 'this is, I feel but too sensibly, the most awful and important +moment of my life: on the result of this interview depends my future +happiness or misery. Hear me, O my mother! You, who can so easily +resolve to tear the heart of a child that adores you, hear me! reflect +that, if you vow to abandon me for ever, you blast all the happiness +and prospects of my life; and at nineteen 'tis hard to be deprived of +happiness for ever. True, I may not long survive the anguish of being +renounced by my mother, a mother whom I love with even enthusiastic +fondness; but then could you ever know peace again with the conviction +of having caused my death? Oh! no, Save then yourself and me from these +miseries, by forgiving my past errors, and deigning sometimes to see and +converse with me!' + +The eager and animated volubility with which Adeline spoke made it +impossible to interrupt her, even had Mrs Mowbray been inclined to do +so: but she was not; nor, when Adeline had done speaking, could she find +in her heart to break silence. + +It was evident to Dr Norberry that Mrs Mowbray's countenance expressed +a degree of softness which augured well for her daughter; and, as if +conscious that it did so, she covered her face suddenly with her +handkerchief. + +'Now then is the time,' thought the doctor. 'Go nearer her, my child,' +said he in a low voice to Adeline, 'embrace her knees.' + +Adeline rose, and approached Mrs Mowbray; she seized her hand, she +pressed it to her lips. Mrs Mowbray's bosom heaved violently: she almost +returned the pressure of Adeline's hand. + +'Victory, victory!' muttered the doctor to himself, cutting a caper +behind Mrs Mowbray's chair. + +Mrs Mowbray took the handkerchief from her face. + +'My mother, my dear mother! look on me, look on me with kindness only +one moment, and only say that you do not hate me!' + +Mrs Mowbray turned round and fixed her eyes on Adeline with a look of +kindness, and Adeline's began to sparkle with delight; when, as she +threw back her cloak, which, hanging over her arm, embarrassed her as +she knelt to embrace her mother's knees, Mrs Mowbray's eyes glanced from +her face to her shape. + +In an instant the fierceness of her look returned: 'Shame to thy race, +disgrace to thy family!' she exclaimed, spurning her kneeling child +from her: 'and canst thou, while conscious of carrying in thy bosom the +proof of thy infamy, dare to solicit and expect my pardon?--Hence! ere I +load thee with maledictions.' + +Adeline wrapped her cloak round her, and sunk terrified and desponding +to the ground. + +'Why, what a ridiculous caprice is this!' cried the doctor. 'Is it a +greater crime to be in a family way, than to live with a man as his +mistress?--You knew your daughter had done the last: therefore it is +nonsense to be so affected at the former.--Come, come, forget and +forgive!' + +'Never: and if you do not leave the house with her this moment, I will +not stay in it. My injuries are so great that they cannot admit +forgiveness.' + +'What a horrible, unforgiving spirit yours must be!' cried Dr Norberry: +'and after all, I tell you again, that Adeline has something to forgive +and forget too; and she sets you an example of Christian charity in +coming hither to console and comfort you, poor forsaken woman as you +are!' + +'Forsaken!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray: 'aye; why, and for whom, was I +forsaken? There's the pang! and yet you wonder that I cannot instantly +forgive and receive the woman who injured me where I was most +vulnerable.' + +'O my mother!' cried Adeline, almost indignantly, 'and can that wretch, +though dead, still have power to influence my fate in this dreadful +manner? and can you still regret the loss of the affection of that man +whose addresses were a disgrace to you?' + +At these unguarded words, and too just reproaches, Mrs Mowbray lost +all self-command; and, in a voice almost inarticulate with rage, +exclaimed:--'I loved that wretch, as you are pleased to call him. I +gloried in the addresses which you are pleased to call my disgrace. But +he loved you--he left me for you--and on your account he made me endure +the pangs of being forsaken and despised by the man whom I adored. Then +mark my words: I solemnly swear,' dropping on her knees as she spoke, +'by all my hopes of happiness hereafter, that until you shall have +experienced the anguish of having lost the man whom you adore, till +_you_ shall have been as wretched in love, and as disgraced in the eye +of the world, as I have been, I never will see you more, or pardon your +many sins against me--No--not even were you on your death-bed. Yet, +no; I am wrong there--Yes; on your death-bed,' she added, her voice +faltering as she spoke, and passion giving way in a degree to the +dictates of returning nature,--'Yes, there; there I should--I should +forgive you.' + +'Then I feel that you will forgive me soon,' faintly articulated Adeline +sinking on the ground; while Mrs Mowbray was leaving the room, and Dr +Norberry was standing motionless with horror, from the rash oath which +he had just heard. But Adeline's fall aroused him from his stupor. + +'For pity's sake, do not go and leave your daughter dying!' cried he: +'your vow does not forbid you to continue to see her now.' Mrs Mowbray +turned back, and started with horror at beholding the countenance of +Adeline. + +'Is she really dying?' cried she eagerly, 'and have I killed her?' These +words, spoken in a faltering tone, and with a look of anxiety, seemed +to recall the fleeting spirit of Adeline. She looked up at her mother, +a sort of smile quivered on her lip; and faintly articulating 'I am +better,' she burst into a convulsive flood of tears, and laid her head +on the bosom of her compassionate friend. + +'She will do now,' cried he exultingly to Mrs Mowbray: 'You need alarm +yourself no longer.' + +But alarm was perhaps a feeling of enjoyment, to the sensations which +then took possession of Mrs Mowbray. The apparent danger of Adeline had +awakened her long dormant tenderness: but she had just bound herself +by an oath not to give way to it, except under circumstances the most +unwelcome and affecting, and had therefore embittered her future days +with remorse and unavailing regret.--For some minutes she stood looking +wildly and mournfully on Adeline, longing to clasp her to her bosom, and +pronounce her pardon, but not daring to violate her oath. At length, 'I +cannot bear this torment,' she exclaimed, and rushed out of the room: +and when in another apartment, she recollected, and uttered a scream of +agony as she did so, that she had seen Adeline probably for the last +time; for, voluntarily, she was now to see her no more. + +The same recollections occurred to Adeline; and as the door closed on +her mother, she raised herself up, and looked eagerly to catch the last +glimpse of her gown, as the door shut it from her sight. 'Let us go away +directly now,' said she, 'for the air of this room is not good for me.' + +The doctor, affected beyond measure at the expression of quiet despair +with which she spoke, went out to order a coach; and Adeline instantly +rose, and kissed with fond devotion the chair on which her mother had +sat. Suddenly she heard a deep sigh--it came from the next room--perhaps +it came from her mother; perhaps she could still see her again: and with +cautious step she knelt down and looked through the key-hole of the +door. + +She did see her mother once more. Mrs Mowbray was lying on the bed, +beating the ground with her foot, and sighing as if her heart would +break. + +'O that I dare go in to her!' said Adeline to herself: 'but I can at +least bid her farewell here.' She then put her mouth to the aperture, +and exclaimed, 'Mother, dearest mother! since we meet now for the last +time--' (Mrs Mowbray started from the bed) 'let me thank you for all the +affection, all the kindness which you lavished on me during eighteen +happy years. I shall never cease to love and pray for you.' (Mrs Mowbray +sobbed aloud.) 'Perhaps, you will some day or other think you have been +harsh to me, and may wish that you had not taken so cruel a vow.' (Mrs +Mowbray beat her breast in agony: the moment of repentance was already +come.) 'It may therefore be a comfort to you at such moments to know, +that I sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, forgive this rash +action:--and now, my dearest mother, hear my parting prayers for your +happiness!' + +At this moment a noise in the next room convinced Adeline that her +mother had fallen down in a fainting fit, and the doctor entered the +room. + +'What have I done?' she exclaimed. 'Go to her this instant.'--He obeyed. +Raising up Mrs Mowbray in his arms, he laid her on the bed, while +Adeline bent over her in silent anguish, with all the sorrow of filial +anxiety. But when the remedies which Dr Norberry administered began to +take effect, she exclaimed, 'For the last time! Cruel, but most dear +mother!' and pressed her head to her bosom, and kissed her pale lips +with almost frantic emotion. + +Mrs Mowbray opened her eyes; they met those of Adeline and instantly +closed again. + +'She has looked at me for the last time,' said Adeline; 'and now this +one kiss, my mother, and farewell for ever!' So saying she rushed out of +the room, and did not stop till she reached the coach, which Glenmurray +had called, and springing into it, was received into the arms of +Glenmurray. + +'You, are my all now,' said she. 'You have long been mine,' replied he: +but respecting the anguish and disappointment depicted on her countenance, +he forbore to ask for an explanation; and resting her pale cheek on his +bosom, they reached the inn in silence. + +Adeline had walked up and down the room a number of times, had as +often looked out of the window, before Dr Norberry, whom she had been +anxiously expecting and looking for, made his appearance. 'Thank God, +you are come at last!' said she, seizing his hand as he entered. + +'I left Mrs Mowbray,' replied he, 'much better both in mind and body.' + +'A blessed hearing! replied Adeline. + +'And you, my child, how are you?' asked the doctor affectionately. + +'I know not yet,' answered Adeline mournfully: 'as yet I am stunned by +the blow which I have received; but pray tell me what has passed between +you and my mother since we left the hotel.' + +'What has passed?' cried Dr Norberry, starting from his chair, taking +two hasty strides across the room, pulling up the cape of his coat, +and muttering an oath between his shut teeth--'Why, this passed:--The +deluded woman renounced her daughter; and her friend, her old and +faithful friend, has renounced her.' + +'Oh! my poor mother!' exclaimed Adeline. + +'Girl! girl! don't be foolish,' replied the doctor; 'keep your pity for +more deserving objects; and, as the wisest thing you can do, endeavour +to forget your mother.' + +'Forget her! Never.' + +'Well, well, you will be wiser in time; and now you shall hear all that +passed. When she recovered entirely, and found that you were gone, she +gave way to an agony of sorrow, such as I never before witnessed; for I +believe that I never beheld before the agony of remorse.' + +'My poor mother!' cried Adeline, again bursting into tears. + +'What! again!' exclaimed the doctor. (Adeline motioned to him to go on, +and he continued.) 'At sight of this, I was weak enough to pity her; +and, with the greatest simplicity, I told her, that I was glad to see +that she felt penitent for her conduct, since penitence paved the way to +amendment; when, to my great surprise, all the vanished fierceness and +haughtiness of her look returned, and she told me, that so far from +repenting she approved of her conduct; and that remorse had no share in +her sorrow; that she wept from consciousness of misery inflicted by the +faults of others, not her own.' + +'Oh! Dr Norberry,' cried Adeline reproachfully, 'I doubt, by awakening +her pride, you destroyed the tenderness returning towards me.' + +'May be so. However, so much the better; for anger is a less painful +state of mind to endure than that of remorse: and while she thinks +herself only injured and aggrieved, she will be less unhappy.' + +'Then,' continued Adeline in a faltering voice, 'I care not how long she +hates me.' + +Dr Norberry looked at Adeline a moment with tears in his eyes, and +evidently gulped down a rising sob, 'Good child! good child!' he at +length articulated. 'But she'll forget and forgive all in time, I do +not doubt.' + +'Impossible: remember her oath.' + +'And do you really suppose that she will think herself bound to keep so +silly and rash an oath; an oath made in the heat of passion?' + +'Undoubtedly I do; and I know, that were she to break it, she would +never be otherwise than wretched all her life after. Therefore, unless +Glenmurray forsakes me (she added, trying to smile archly as she spoke), +and this I am not happy enough to expect, I look on our separation in +this world to be eternal.' + +'You do?--Then, poor devil! how miserable she will be, when her present +resentment shall subside! Well; when that time comes I may perhaps see +her again,' added the doctor, gulping again. + +'Heaven bless you for that intention!' cried Adeline. 'But how could you +ever have the heart to renounce her?' + +'Girl! you are almost as provoking as your mother. Why, how could I have +the heart to do otherwise, when she whitewashed herself and blackened +you? To be sure, it did cause me a twinge or two to do it; and had she +been an iota less haughty, I should have turned back and said, "Kiss and +be friends again." But she seemed so provokingly anxious to get rid of +me, and waved me with her hand to the door in such a tragedy queen sort +of a manner, that, having told her very civilly to go to the devil her +own way, I gulped down a sort of a tender choking in my throat, and made +as rapid an exit as possible. And now another trial awaits me. I came to +town, at some inconvenience to myself, to try to do you service. I have +failed, and I have now no further business here: so we must part, and I +know not when we shall meet again. For I rarely leave home, and may not +see you again for years.' + +'Indeed!' exclaimed Adeline, 'Surely,' looking at Glenmurray, 'we might +settle in Dr Norberry's neighbourhood?' + +Glenmurray said nothing, but looked at the doctor; who seemed confused, +and was silent. + +'Look ye, my dear girl,' said he at length: 'the idea of your settling +near me occurred to me, but--' here he took two hasty strides across the +room--'in short, that's an impossible thing; so I beg you to think no +more about it. If, indeed, you mean to marry Mr Glenmurray--' + +'Which I shall not do,' replied Adeline coldly. + +'There again, now!' cried the doctor pettishly: 'you, in your way, are +quite as obstinate and ridiculous as your mother. However, I hope you +will know better in time. But it grows late--'tis time I should be in my +chaise, and I hear it driving up. Mr Glenmurray,' continued he in an +altered tone of voice, 'to your care and your tenderness I leave this +poor child; and, zounds, man! if you will but burn your books before her +face, and swear they are stuff, why, 'sdeath, I say, I would come to +town on purpose to do you homage.--Adeline, my child, God bless you! I +have loved you from your infancy, and I wish, from my soul, that I left +you in a better situation. But you will write to me, heh?' + +'Undoubtedly.' + +'Well, one kiss:--don't be jealous, Glenmurray. Your hand, man.--Woons, +what a hand! My dear fellow, take care of yourself, for that poor +child's sake: get the advice which I recommended, and good air.' A +rising sob interrupted him--he hemmed it off, and ran into his chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +'Now then,' said Adeline, her tears dropping fast as she spoke, 'now, +then, we are alone in the world; henceforward we must be all to each +other.' + +'Is the idea a painful one, Adeline?' replied Glenmurray reproachfully. + +'Not so,' returned Adeline, 'Still I can't yet forget that I had a +mother, and a kind one too.' + +'And may have again.' + +'Impossible:--there is a vow in heaven against it. No--My plans for +future happiness must be laid unmindful and independent of her. They +must have you and your happiness for their sole object; I must live for +you alone: and you,' added she in a faltering voice, 'must live for me.' + +'I will live as long as I can,' replied Glenmurray sighing, 'and as one +step towards it I shall keep early hours: so to rest, dear Adeline, and +let us forget our sorrows as soon as possible.' + +The next morning Adeline's and Glenmurray's first care was to determine +on their future residence. It was desirable that it should be at a +sufficient distance from London, to deserve the name and have the +conveniences of a country abode, yet sufficiently near it for Glenmurray +to have the advice of a London physician if necessary. + +'Suppose we fix at Richmond?' said Glenmurray: and Adeline, to whom the +idea of dwelling on a spot at once so classical and beautiful was most +welcome, joyfully consented; and in a few days they were settled there +in a pleasant but expensive lodging. + +But here, as when abroad, Glenmurray occasionally saw old acquaintances, +many of whom were willing to renew their intercourse with him for the +sake of being introduced to Adeline; and who, from a knowledge of her +situation, presumed to pay her that sort of homage, which, though not +understood by her, gave pangs unutterable to the delicate mind of +Glenmurray. 'Were she my wife, they dared not pay her such marked +attention,' said he to himself; and again, as delicately as he could, he +urged Adeline to sacrifice her principles to the prejudices of society. + +'I thought,' replied Adeline gravely, 'that, as we lived for each other, +we might act independent of society, and serve it by our example even +against its will.' + +Glenmurray was silent.--He did not like to own how painful and +mischievous he found in practice the principles which he admired in +theory--and Adeline continued: + +'Believe me, Glenmurray, ours is the very situation calculated to urge +us on in the pursuit of truth. We are answerable to no one for our +conduct; and we can make any experiments in morals that we choose. I am +wholly at a loss to comprehend why you persist in urging me to marry +you. Take care, my dear Glenmurray--the high respect I bear your +character was shaken a little by your fighting a duel in defiance of +your principles; and your eagerness to marry, in further defiance of +them, may weaken my esteem, if not my love.' + +Adeline smiled as she said this: but Glenmurray thought she spoke more +in earnest than she was willing to allow; and, alarmed at the threat, he +only answered, 'You know it is for your sake merely that I speak,' and +dropped the subject; secretly resolving, however, that he would not walk +with Adeline in the fashionable promenades, at the hours commonly spent +there by the beau monde. + +But, in spite of this precaution, they could not escape the assiduities +of some gay men of fashion, who knew Glenmurray and admired his +companion; and Adeline at length suspected that Glenmurray was jealous. +But in this she wronged him; it was not the attention paid her, but the +nature of it, that disturbed him. Nor is it to be wondered at that +Adeline herself was eager to avoid the public walks, when it is known +that one of her admirers at Richmond was the Colonel Mordaunt whom she +had become acquainted with at Bath. + +Colonel Mordaunt, 'curst with every granted prayer,' was just beginning +to feel the tedium of life, when he saw Adeline unexpectedly at +Richmond; and though he felt shocked at first, at beholding her in so +different a situation from that in which he had first beheld her, still +that very situation, by holding forth to him a prospect of being +favoured by her in his turn, revived his admiration with more than its +original violence, and he resolved to be, if possible, the lover of +Adeline, after Glenmurray should have fallen a victim, as he had no +doubt but he would, to his dangerous illness. + +But the opportunities which he had of seeing her suddenly ceased. She +no longer frequented the public walks; and him, though he suspected it +not, she most studiously avoided; for she could not bear to behold the +alteration in his manner when be addressed her, an alteration perhaps +unknown to himself. True, it was not insulting; but Adeline, who had +admired him too much at Bath not to have examined with minute attention +the almost timid expression of his countenance, and the respectfulness +of his manner when he addressed her, shrunk abashed from the ardent and +impassioned expression with which he now met her--an expression which +Adeline used to call 'looking like Sir Patrick;' and which indicated +even to her inexperience, that the admiration which he then felt was of +a nature less pure and flattering than the one which she excited before; +and though in her own eyes she appeared as worthy of respect as ever, +she was forced to own even to herself, that persons in general would be +of a contrary opinion. + +But in vain did she resolve to walk very early in a morning only, being +fully persuaded that she should then meet with no one. Colonel Mordaunt +was as wakeful as she was; and being convinced that she walked during +some part of the day, and probably early in a morning, he resolved to +watch near the door of her lodgings, in hopes to obtain an hour's +conversation with her. The consequence was, that he saw Adeline one +morning walk pensively alone, down the shady road that leads from the +terrace to Petersham. + +This opportunity was not to be overlooked; and he overtook and accosted +her with such an expression of pleasure on his countenance, as was +sufficient to alarm the now suspicious delicacy of Adeline; and, conscious +as she was that Glenmurray beheld Colonel Mordaunt's attentions with +pain, a deep blush overspread her cheek at his approach, while her eyes +were timidly cast down. + +Colonel Mordaunt saw her emotion, and attributed it to a cause flattering +to his vanity; it even encouraged him to seize her hand; and, while he +openly congratulated himself on his good fortune in meeting her alone, +he presumed to press her hand to his lips. Adeline indignantly withdrew +it, and replied very coldly to his inquiries concerning her health. + +'But where have you hidden yourself lately?' cried he.--'O Miss Mowbray! +loveliest and, I may add, most beloved of women, how have I longed to +see you alone, and pour out my whole soul to you!' + +Adeline answered this rhapsody by a look of astonishment only--being +silent from disgust and consternation,--while involuntarily she +quickened her pace, as if wishing to avoid him. + +'O hear me, and hear me patiently!' he resumed. 'You must have noticed +the effect which your charms produced on me at Bath; and may I dare to +add that my attentions then did not seem displeasing to you?' + +'Sir!' interrupted Adeline, sighing deeply, 'my situation is now +changed; and--' + +'It is so, I thank Fortune that it is so,' replied Colonel Mordaunt; +'and I am happy to say, it is changed by no crime of mine.' (Here +Adeline started and turned pale.) 'But I were unworthy all chance of +happiness, were I to pass by the seeming opportunity of being blest, +which the alteration to which you allude holds forth to me.' + +Here he paused, as if in embarrassment, but Adeline was unable to +interrupt him. + +'Miss Mowbray,' he at length continued, 'I am told that you are not on +good terms with your mother; nay, I have heard that she has renounced +you; may I presume to ask if this be true?' + +'It is,' answered Adeline trembling with emotion. + +'Then, as before long it is probable that you will be without--without a +protector--' (Adeline turned round and fixed her eyes wildly upon him.) +'To be sure,' continued he, avoiding her steadfast gaze, 'I could wish +to call you mine this moment; but, unhappy as you appear to be in your +present situation, I know, unlike many women circumstanced as you are, +you are too generous and noble-minded to be capable of forsaking in his +last illness the man whom in his happier moments you have honoured with +your love.' As he said this, Adeline, her lips parched with agitation, +and breathing short, caught hold of his arm; and pressing her cold hand, +he went on: 'Therefore, I will not venture even to wish to be honoured +with a kind look from you till Mr Glenmurray is removed to a happier +world. But then, dearest of women, you whom I loved without hope of +possessing you, and whom now I dote upon to madness, I conjure you to +admit my visits, and let my attentions prevail on you to accept my +protection, and allow me to devote the remainder of my days to love and +you!' + +'Merciful Heaven!' exclaimed Adeline, clasping her hands together, 'to +what insults am I reserved!' + +'Insults!' echoed Colonel Mordaunt. + +'Yes, Sir,' replied Adeline: 'you have insulted me, grossly insulted me, +and know not the woman whom you have tortured to the very soul.' + +'Hear me, hear me, Miss Mowbray!' exclaimed Colonel Mordaunt, almost +as much agitated as herself: 'by heaven I meant not to insult you! and +perhaps I--perhaps I have been misinformed--No! Yes, yes, it must be so; +your indignation proves that I have--You are, no doubt--and on my knees +I implore your pardon--you are the wife of Mr Glenmurray.' + +'And suppose I am _not_ his wife,' cried Adeline, 'is it then given to +a wife only to be secure from being insulted by offers horrible to the +delicacy, and wounding to the sensibility, like those which I have heard +from you?' But before Colonel Mordaunt could reply, Adeline's thoughts +had reverted to what he had said of Glenmurray's certain danger; and, +unable to bear this confirmation of her fears, with the speed of phrensy +she ran towards home, and did not stop till she was in sight of her +lodging, and the still closed curtain of her apartment met her view. + +'He is still sleeping, then,' she exclaimed, 'and I have time to recover +myself, and endeavour to hide from him the emotion of which I could not +tell the reason.' So saying, she softly entered the house, and by the +time Glenmurray rose she had regained her composure. Still there was a +look of anxiety on her fine countenance, which could not escape the +penetrating eye of love. + +'Why are you so grave this morning?' said Glenmurray, as Adeline seated +herself at the breakfast table:--'I feel much better and more cheerful +to-day.' + +'But are you, indeed, better?' replied Adeline, fixing her tearful eyes +on him. + +'Or I much deceive myself,' said Glenmurray. + +'Thank Heaven!' devoutly replied Adeline. 'I thought--I thought--' Here +tears choked her utterance, and Glenmurray drew from her a confession of +her anxious fears for him, though she prudently resolved not to agitate +him by telling him of the rencontre with Colonel Mordaunt. + +But when the continued assurances of Glenmurray that he was better, and +the animation of his countenance, had in a degree removed her fears for +his life, she had leisure to revert to another source of uneasiness, +and to dwell on the insult which she had experienced from Colonel +Mordaunt's offer of protection. + +'How strange and irrational,' thought Adeline, 'are the prejudices of +society! Because an idle ceremony has not been muttered over me at the +altar, I am liable to be thought a woman of vicious inclinations, and to +be exposed to the most daring insults.' + +As these reflections occurred to her, she could scarcely help regretting +that her principles would not allow her delicacy and virtue to be placed +under the sacred shelter bestowed by that ceremony which she was pleased +to call idle. And she was not long without experiencing still further +hardships from the situation in which she had persisted so obstinately +to remain. Their establishment consisted of a footman and a maid servant; +but the latter had of late been so remiss in the performance of her +duties, and so impertinent when reproved for her faults, that Adeline +was obliged to give her warning. + +'Warning, indeed!' replied the girl: 'a mighty hardship, truly! I can +promise you I did not mean to stay long; it is no such favour to live +with a kept miss; and if you come to that, I think I am as good as you.' + +Shocked, surprised, and unable to answer, Adeline took refuge in her +room. Never before had she been accosted by her inferiors without +respectful attention; and now, owing to her situation, even a +servant-maid thought herself authorised to insult her, and to raise +herself to her level! + +'But surely,' said Adeline mentally, 'I ought to reason with her, and +try to convince her that I am in reality as virtuous as if I were +Glenmurray's wife, instead of his mistress.' + +Accordingly she went back into the kitchen; but her resolution failed +her when she found the footman there, listening with a broad grin on +his countenance to the relation which Mary was giving him of the 'fine +trimming' which she had given 'madam.' + +Scarcely did the presence of Adeline interrupt or restrain her; but at +last she turned round and said, 'And, pray, have you got anything to say +to me?' + +'Nothing more now,' meekly replied Adeline, 'unless you will follow me +to my chamber.' + +'With all my heart,' cried the girl; and Adeline returned to her own +room. + +'I wish, Mary, to set you right,' said Adeline, 'with respect to my +situation. You called me, I think, a kept miss, and seemed to think ill +of me.' + +'Why, to be sure, ma'am,' replied Mary, a little alarmed--'every body +says you are a kept lady, and so I made no bones of saying so; but I am +sure if so be you are not so, why I ax pardon.' + +'But what do you mean by the term kept lady?' + +'Why, a lady who lives with a man without being married to him, I take +it; and that I take to be your case, ain't it, I pray?' + +Adeline blushed and was silent:--it certainly was her case. However, she +took courage and went on. + +'But mistresses, or kept ladies in general, are women of bad character, +and would live with any man; but I never loved, nor ever shall love, any +man but Mr Glenmurray. I look on myself as his wife in the sight of God; +nor will I quit him till death shall separate us.' + +'Then if so be that you don't want to change, I think you might as well +be married to him.' + +Adeline was again silent for a moment, but continued-- + +'Mr Glenmurray would marry me to-morrow, if I chose.' + +'Indeed! Well, if master is inclined to make an honest woman of you, you +had better take him at his word, I think.' + +'Gracious heaven!' cried Adeline, 'what an expression! Why will you +persist to confound me with those deluded women who are victims of their +own weakness?' + +'As to that,' replied Mary, 'you talk too fine for me; but a fact is a +fact--are you or are you not my master's wife?' + +'I am not.' + +'Why then you are his mistress, and a kept lady to all intents and +purposes: so what signifies argufying the matter? I lived with a kept +madam before; and she was as good as you, for aught I know.' + +Adeline, shocked and disappointed, told her she might leave the room. + +'I am going,' pertly answered Mary, 'and to seek for a place; but I must +beg that you will not own you are no better than you should be, when a +lady comes to ask my character; for then perhaps I should not get any +one to take me. I shall call you Mrs Glenmurray.' + +'But I shall not call _myself_ so,' replied Adeline. 'I will not say +what is not true, on any account.' + +'There now, there's spite! and yet you pretend to call yourself a +gentlewoman, and to be better than other kept ladies! Why, you are not +worthy to tie the shoestrings of my last mistress--she did not mind +telling a lie rather than lose a poor servant a place; and she called +herself a married woman rather than hurt me.' + +'Neither she nor you, then,' replied Adeline gravely, 'were sensible +of what great importance a strict adherence to veracity is, to the +interests of society. I am;--and for the sake of mankind I will always +tell the truth.' + +'You had better tell one innocent lie for mine,' replied the girl +pertly. 'I dare to say the world will neither know nor care anything +about it: and I can tell you I shall expect you will.' + +So saying she shut the door with violence, leaving Adeline mournfully +musing on the distress attending on her situation, and even disposed to +question the propriety of remaining in it. + +The inquietude of her mind, as usual, showed itself in her countenance, +and involved her in another difficulty: to make Glenmurray uneasy by an +avowal of what had passed between her and Mary was impossible; yet how +could she conceal it from him? And while she was deliberating on this +point, Glenmurray entered the room, and tenderly inquired what had so +evidently disturbed her. + +'Nothing of any consequence,' she faltered out, and burst into tears. + +'Could "nothing of consequence" produce such emotion?' answered +Glenmurray. + +'But I am ashamed to own the cause of my uneasiness.' + +'Ashamed to own it to me, Adeline? To be sure, you have a great deal to +fear from my severity!' said he, faintly smiling. + +Adeline for a moment resolved to tell him the whole truth; but fearful +of throwing him into a degree of agitation hurtful to his weak frame, +she, who had the moment before so nobly supported the necessity of a +strict adherence to truth, condescended to equivocate and evade; and +turning away her head, while a conscious blush overspread her cheek, she +replied, 'You know that I look forward with anxiety and uneasiness to +the time of my approaching confinement.' + +Glenmurray believed her; and overcome by some painful feelings, which +fears for himself and anxiety for her occasioned him, he silently +pressed her to his bosom; and, choked with contending emotions, returned +to his own apartment. + +'And I have stooped to the meanness of disguising the truth!' cried +Adeline, clasping her hands convulsively together: 'surely, surely, +there must be something radically wrong in a situation which exposes one +to such a variety of degradations!' + +Mary, meanwhile, had gone in search of a place; and having found the +lady to whom she had been advised to offer herself, at home, she +returned to tell Adeline that Mrs Pemberton would call in half an hour +to inquire her character. The half-hour, an anxious one to Adeline, +having elapsed, a lady knocked at the door, and inquired, in Adeline's +hearing for Mrs Glenmurray. + +'Tell the lady,' cried Adeline immediately from the top of the +staircase, 'that Miss Mowbray will wait on her directly.' The footman +obeyed, and Mrs Pemberton was ushered into the parlour: and now, for the +first time in her life, Adeline trembled to approach a stranger; for the +first time she was going to appear before a fellow-creature, conscious +she was become an object of scorn, and, though an enthusiast for virtue, +would be considered as a votary of vice. But it was a mortification +which she must submit to undergo; and hastily throwing a large shawl +over her shoulders, to hide her figure as much as possible, with a +trembling hand she opened the door, and found herself in the dreaded +presence of Mrs Pemberton. + +Nor was she at all re-assured when she found that lady dressed in the +neat, modest garb of a strict Quaker--a garb which creates an immediate +idea in the mind, of more than common rigidness of principles and +sanctity of conduct in the wearer of it. Adeline curtsied in silence. + +Mrs Pemberton bowed her head courteously; then, with a countenance of +great sweetness, and a voice calculated to inspire confidence, said, 'I +believe thy name is Mowbray; but I came to see Mrs Glenmurray; and as +on these occasions I always wish to confer with the principal, wouldst +thou, if it be not inconvenient, ask the mistress of Mary to let me see +her?' + +'I am myself the mistress of Mary,' replied Adeline in a faint voice. + +'I ask thine excuse,' answered Mrs Pemberton, re-seating herself: 'as +thou art Mrs Glenmurray, thou art the person I wanted to see.' + +Here Adeline changed colour, overcome with the consciousness that she +ought to undeceive her, and the sense of the difficulty of doing so. + +'But thou art very pale, and seemest uneasy,' continued the gentle +Quaker--'I hope thy husband is not worse?' + +'Mr Glenmurray, but not my husband,' said Adeline, 'is better to-day.' + +'Art thou not married?' asked Mrs Pemberton with quickness. + +'I am not.' + +'And yet thou livest with the gentleman I named, and art the person whom +Mary called Mrs Glenmurray!' + +'I am,' replied Adeline, her paleness yielding to a deep crimson, and +her eyes filling with tears. + +Mrs Pemberton sat for a minute in silence; then rising with an air +of cold dignity, 'I fear thy servant is not likely to suit me,' she +observed, 'and I will not detain thee any longer.' + +'She can be an excellent servant,' faltered out Adeline. + +'Very likely--but there are objections.' So saying she reached the door: +but as she passed Adeline she stopped, interested and affected by the +mournful expression of her countenance, and the visible effort she made +to retain her tears. + +Adeline saw, and felt humbled at the compassion which her countenance +expressed: to be an object of pity was as mortifying as to be an object +of scorn, and she turned her eyes on Mrs Pemberton with a look of proud +indignation: but they met those of Mrs Pemberton fixed on her with a +look of such benevolence, that her anger was instantly subdued; and it +occurred to her that she might make the benevolent compassion visible in +Mrs Pemberton's countenance serviceable to her discarded servant. + +'Stay, madam,' she cried, as Mrs Pemberton was about to leave the room, +'allow me a moment's conversation with you.' + +Mrs Pemberton, with an eagerness which she suddenly endeavoured to +check, returned to her seat. + +'I suspect,' said Adeline, (gathering courage from the conscious +kindness of her motive,) 'that your objection to take Mary Warner into +your service proceeds wholly from the situation of her present +mistress.' + +'Thou judgest rightly,' was Mrs Pemberton's answer. + +'Nor do I wonder,' continued Adeline, 'that you make this objection, +when I consider the present prejudices of society.' + +'Prejudices!' softly exclaimed the benevolent Quaker. + +Adeline faintly smiled, and went on--'But surely you will allow, that in +a family quiet and secluded as ours, and in daily contemplation of an +union uninterrupted, faithful, and virtuous, and possessing all the +sacredness of marriage, though without the name, it is not likely that +the young woman in question should have imbibed any vicious habits or +principles?' + +'But in contemplating thy union itself, she has lived in the +contemplation of vice; and thou wilt own, that, by having given it an +air of respectability, thou hast only made it more dangerous.' + +'On this point,' cried Adeline, 'I see we must disagree--I shall +therefore, without further preamble, inform you, madam, that Mary, aware +of the difficulty of procuring a service, if it were known that she had +lived with a kept mistress, as the phrase is,' (here an indignant blush +overspread the face of Adeline,) 'desired me to call myself the wife of +Glenmurray: but this, from my abhorrence of all falsehood, I +peremptorily refused.' + +'And thou didst well,' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton, 'and I respect thy +resolution.' + +'But my sincerity will, I fear, prevent the poor girl's obtaining other +reputable places; and I, alas! am not rich enough to make her amends for +the injury which my conscience forces me to do her. But if you, madam, +could be prevailed upon to take her into your family, even for a short +time only, to wipe away the disgrace which her living with me has +brought upon her--' + +'Why can she not remain with thee?' asked Mrs Pemberton hastily. + +'Because she neglected her duty, and, when reproved for it, replied in +very injurious language.' + +'Presuming probably on thy way of life?' + +'I must confess that she has reproached me with it.' + +'And this was all her fault?' + +'It was:--she can be an excellent servant.' + +'Thou hast said enough; thy conscience shall not have the additional +burthen to bear, of having deprived a poor girl of her maintenance--I +will take her.' + +'A thousand thanks to you,' replied Adeline: 'you have removed a weight +off my mind; but my conscience, has none to bear.' + +'No?' returned Mrs Pemberton: 'dost thou deem thy conduct blameless in +the eyes of that Being whom thou hast just blessed?' + +'As far as my connexion with Mr Glenmurray is concerned, I do.' + +'Indeed?' + +'Nay, doubt me not--believe me that I never wantonly violate the truth; +and that even an evasion, which I, for the first time in my life, was +guilty of to-day, has given me a pang to which I will not again expose +myself.' + +'And yet, inconsistent beings as we are,' cried Mrs Pemberton, +'straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel, what is the guilt of the +evasion which weighs on thy mind, compared to that of living, as thou +dost, in an illicit commerce? Surely, surely, thine heart accuses thee; +for thy face bespeaks uneasiness, and thou wilt listen to the whispers +of penitence, and leave, ere long, the man who has betrayed thee.' + +'The man who has betrayed me! Mr Glenmurray is no betrayer--he is one of +the best of human beings. No, madam: if I had acceded to his wishes, I +should long ago have been his wife, but, from a conviction of the folly +of marriage, I have preferred living with him without the performance of +a ceremony which, in the eye of reason, can confer neither honour nor +happiness.' + +'Poor thing!' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton, rising as she spoke, 'I +understand thee now--Thou art one of the enlightened, as they call +themselves--Thou art one of those wise in their own conceit, who, +disregarding the customs of ages, and the dictates of experience, set up +their own opinions against the hallowed institutions of men and the will +of the Most High.' + +'Can you blame me,' interrupted Adeline, 'for acting according to what I +think right?' + +'But hast thou well studied the subject on which thou hast decided? Yet, +alas! to thee how vain must be the voice of admonition!' (she continued, +her countenance kindling into strong expression as she spoke)--'From the +poor victim of passion and persuasion, penitence and amendment might be +rationally expected; and she, from the path of frailty, might turn again +to that of virtue: but for one like thee, glorying in thine iniquity, +and erring, not from the too tender heart, but the vain-glorious +head,--for thee there is, I fear, no blessed return to the right way; +and I, who would have tarried with thee even in the house of sin, to +have reclaimed thee, penitent, now hasten from thee, and for ever--firm +as thou art in guilt.' + +As she said this she reached the door; while Adeline, affected by her +emotion, and distressed by her language, stood silent and almost abashed +before her. + +But with her hand on the lock she turned round, and in a gentler voice +said, 'Yet not even against a wilful offender like thee, should one +gate that may lead to amendment be shut. Thy situation and thy fortunes +may soon be greatly changed; affliction may subdue thy pride, and the +counsel of a friend of thine own sex might then sound sweetly in thine +ears. Should that time come, I will be that friend. I am now about +to set off for Lisbon with a very dear friend, about whom I feel as +solicitous as thou about thy Glenmurray; and there I shall remain some +time. Here then is my address; and if thou shouldest want my advice or +assistance write to me, and be assured that Rachel Pemberton will try +to forget thy errors in thy distresses.' + +So saying she left the room, but returned again, before Adeline had +recovered herself from the various emotions which she had experienced +during her address, to ask her Christian name. But when Adeline replied, +'My name is Adeline Mowbray,' Mrs Pemberton started, and eagerly +exclaimed, 'Art thou Adeline Mowbray of Gloucestershire--the young +heiress, as she was called, of Rosevalley?' + +'I was once,' replied Adeline, sinking back into a chair, 'Adeline +Mowbray of Rosevalley.' + +Mrs Pemberton for a few minutes gazed on her in mournful silence: +'And art thou,' she cried, 'Adeline Mowbray? Art thou that courteous, +blooming, blessed being, (for every tongue that I heard name thee +blessed thee,) whom I saw only three years ago bounding over thy native +hills, all grace, and joy, and innocence?' + +Adeline tried to speak, but her voice failed her. + +'Art thou she,' continued Mrs Pemberton, 'whom I saw also leaning from +the window of her mother's mansion, and inquiring with the countenance +of a pitying angel concerning the health of a wan labourer who limped +past the door?' + +Adeline hid her face with her hands. + +Mrs Pemberton went on in a lower tone of voice,--'I came with some +companions to see thy mother's grounds, and to hear the nightingales in +her groves; but' (here Mrs Pemberton's voice faltered) 'I have seen a +sight far beyond that of the proudest mansion, said I to those who asked +me of thy mother's seat; I have heard what was sweeter to my ear than +the voice of the nightingale; I have seen a blooming girl nursed in +idleness and prosperity, yet active in the discharge of every Christian +duty; and I have heard her speak in the soothing accents of kindness and +of pity, while her name was followed by blessings, and parents prayed to +have a child like her. O lost, unhappy girl! such _was_ Adeline Mowbray: +and often, very often, has thy graceful image recurred to my remembrance: +but, how art thou changed! Where is the open eye of happiness? where is +the bloom that spoke a heart at peace with itself? I repeat it, and I +repeat it with agony. Father of mercies! is this thy Adeline Mowbray?' + +Here, overcome with emotion, Mrs Pemberton paused; but Adeline could +not break silence: she rose, she stretched out her hand as if going to +speak, but her utterance failed her, and again she sunk on a chair. + +'It was thine,' resumed Mrs Pemberton in a faint and broken voice, 'to +diffuse happiness around thee, and to enjoy wealth unhated, because thy +hand dispensed nobly the riches which it had received bounteously: when +the ear heard thee, then it blessed thee; when the eye saw thee, it gave +witness to thee; and yet--' + +Here again she paused, and raised her fine eyes to heaven for a few +minutes, as if in prayer; then, pressing Adeline's hand with an almost +convulsive grasp, she drew her bonnet over her face, as if eager to hide +the emotion which she was unable to subdue, and suddenly left the house; +while Adeline, stunned and overwhelmed by the striking contrast which +Mrs Pemberton had drawn between her past and present situation, remained +for some minutes motionless on her seat, a prey to a variety of feelings +which she dared not venture to analyse. + +But, amidst the variety of her feelings, Adeline soon found that sorrow, +sorrow of the bitterest kind, was uppermost. Mrs Pemberton had said that +she was about to be visited by affliction--alluding, there was no doubt, +to the probable death of Glenmurray--And was his fate so certain that it +was the theme of conversation at Richmond? Were only _her_ eyes blind to +the certainty of his danger? + +On these ideas did Adeline chiefly dwell after the departure of her +monitress; and in an agony unspeakable she entered the room where +Glenmurray was sitting, in order to look at him, and form her own +judgment on a subject of such importance. But, alas! she found him with +the brilliant deceitful appearance that attends his complaint--a bloom +resembling health on his cheek, and a brightness in his eye rivalling +that of the undimmed lustre of youth. Surprised, delighted, and overcome +by these appearances, which her inexperience rendered her incapable of +appreciating justly, Adeline threw herself on the sofa by him; and, as +she pressed her cold cheek to his glowing one, her tearful eye was +raised to heaven with an expression of devout thankfulness. + +'Mrs Pemberton paid you a long visit,' said Glenmurray, 'and I thought +once, by the elevated tone of her voice, that she was preaching to you.' + +'I believe she was,' cheerfully replied Adeline, 'and now I have a +confession to make; the season of reserve shall be over, and I will tell +you all the adventures of this day without _evasion_.' + +'Aye, I thought you were not ingenuous with me this morning,' replied +Glenmurray: 'but better late than never.' + +Adeline then told him all that had passed between her and Mary and Mrs +Pemberton, and concluded with saying, 'But the surety of your better +health, which your looks give me, has dissipated every uneasiness; and +if you are but spared to me, sorrow cannot reach me, and I despise the +censure of the ignorant and the prejudiced. The world approve! What is +the world to me?'-- + + 'The conscious mind is its own awful world!' + +Glenmurray sighed deeply as she concluded her narration. + +'I have only one request to make,' said he--'Never let that Mary come +into my presence again; and be sure to take care of Mrs Pemberton's +address.' + +Adeline promised that both his requests should be attended to. Mary was +paid her wages, and dismissed immediately; and a girl being hired to +supply her place, the ménage went on quietly again. + +But a new mortification awaited Glenmurray and Adeline. In spite of +Glenmurray's eccentricities and opinions, he was still remembered with +interest by some of the female part of his family; and two of his +cousins, more remarkable for their beauty than their virtue, hearing +that he was at Richmond, made known to him their intention of paying him +a morning visit on their way to their country-seat in the neighbourhood. + +'Most unwelcome visitors, indeed!' cried Glenmurray, throwing the letter +down; 'I will write to them and forbid them to come.' + +'That's impossible,' replied Adeline, 'for by this time they must be on +the road, if you look at the date of the letter: besides, I wish you to +receive them; I should like to see any relations or friends of yours, +especially those who have liberality of sentiment enough to esteem you +as you deserve.' + +'You!--you see them!' exclaimed Glenmurray, pacing the room impatiently: +'O Adeline, that is _impossible_!' + +'I understand you,' replied Adeline, changing colour: 'they will not +deem me worthy,' forcing a smile, 'to be introduced to them.' + +'And therefore would I forbid their coming. I cannot bear to _exclude_ +you from my presence in order that I may receive them. No: when they +arrive, I will send them word that I am unable to see them.' + +'While they will attribute the refusal to the influence of the +_creature_ who lives with you! No, Glenmurray, for my sake I must insist +on your not being denied to them; and, believe me, I should consider +myself as unworthy to be the choice of your heart, if I were not able +to bear with firmness a mortification like that which awaits me.' + +'But you allow it to be a mortification?' + +'Yes; it is mortifying to a woman who knows herself to be virtuous, and +is an idolater of virtue, to pay the penalty of vice, and be thought +unworthy to associate with the relations of the man whom she loves.' + +'They shall not come, I protest,' exclaimed Glenmurray. + +But Adeline was resolute; and she carried her point. Soon after this +conversation the ladies arrived, and Adeline shut herself up in her +own apartment, where she gave way to no very pleasant reflections. Nor +was she entirely satisfied with Glenmurray's conduct:--true, he had +earnestly and sincerely wished to refuse to see his unexpected and +unwelcome guests; but he had never once expressed a desire of combating +their prejudices for Adeline's sake, and an intention of requesting that +she might be introduced to them; but, as any common man would have done +under similar circumstances, he was contented to do homage to 'things as +they are,' without an effort to resist the prejudice to which he was +superior. + +'Alas!' cried Adeline, 'when can we hope to see society enlightened and +improved, when even those who see and strive to amend its faults in +theory, in practice tamely submit to the trammels which it imposes?' + +An hour, a tedious hour to Adeline, having elapsed, Glenmurray's +visitors departed; and by the disappointment that Adeline experienced at +hearing the door close on them, she felt that she had had a secret hope +of being summoned to be presented to them; and, with a bitter feeling of +mortification, she reflected, that she was probably to the man whom she +adored a shame and a reproach. + +'Yet I should like to see them,' she said, running to the window as +the carriage drove up, and the ladies entered it. At that moment they, +whether from curiosity to see her, or accident, looked up at the window +where she was. Adeline started back indignant and confused; for, +thrusting their heads eagerly forward, they looked at her with the bold +unfeeling stare of imagined superiority; and Adeline, spite of her +reason, sunk abashed and conscious from their gaze. + +'And this insult,' exclaimed she, clasping her hands and bursting into +tears, 'I experience from Glenmurray's _relations_! I think I could have +borne it better from any one else.' + +She had not recovered her disorder when Glenmurray entered the room, +and, tenderly embracing her, exclaimed, 'Never, never again, my love, +will I submit to such a sacrifice as I have now made;' when seeing her +in tears, too well aware of the cause, he gave way to such a passionate +burst of tenderness and regret, that Adeline, terrified at his +agitation, though soothed by his fondness, affected the cheerfulness +which she did not feel, and promised to drive the intruders from her +remembrance. + +Had Glenmurray and Adeline known the real character of the unwelcome +visitors, neither of them would have regretted that Adeline was not +presented to them. One of them was married, and to so accommodating a +husband, that his wife's known gallant was his intimate friend; and +under the sanction of his protection she was received every where, and +visited by every one, as the world did not think proper to be more +clear-sighted than the husband himself chose to be. The other lady was a +young and attractive widow, who coquetted with many men, but intrigued +with only one at a time; for which self-denial she was rewarded by being +allowed to pass unquestioned through the portals of fashionable society. +But these ladies would have scorned to associate with Adeline; and +Adeline, had she known their private history, would certainly have +returned the compliment. + +The peace of Adeline was soon after disturbed in another way. Glenmurray +finding himself disposed to sleep in the middle of the day, his cough +having kept him waking all night, Adeline took her usual walk, and +returned by the church-yard. The bell was tolling; and as she passed she +saw a funeral enter the church-yard, and instantly averted her head. + +In so doing her eyes fell on a decent-looking woman, who with a sort of +angry earnestness was watching the progress of the procession. + +'Aye, there goes your body, you rogue!' she exclaimed indignantly, 'but +I wonder where your soul is now?--where I would not be for something.' + +Adeline was shocked, and gently observed, 'What crime did the person of +whom you are speaking, that you should suppose his soul so painfully +disposed of?' + +'What crime?' returned the woman: 'crime enough, I think:--why, he +ruined a poor girl here in the neighbourhood: and then, because he never +chose to make a will, there is she lying-in of a little by-blow, with +not a farthing of money to maintain her or the child, and the fellow's +money is gone to the heir-at-law, scarce of kin to him, while his own +flesh and blood is left to starve.' + +Adeline shuddered:--if Glenmurray were to die, she and the child which +she bore would, she knew, be beggars. + +'Well, miss, or madam, belike, by the look of you,' continued the woman +glancing her eye over Adeline's person, 'what say you? Don't you think +the fellow's soul is where we should not like to be? However, he had his +hell here too, to be sure! for, when speechless and unable to move his +fingers, he seemed by signs to ask for pen and ink, and he looked in +agonies; and there was the poor young woman crying over him, and holding +in her arms the poor destitute baby, who would as he grew up be taught, +he must think, to curse the wicked father who begot him, and the naughty +mother who bore him!' + +Adeline turned very sick, and was forced to seat herself on a tombstone. +'Curse the mother who bore him!' she inwardly repeated,--'and will my +child curse me? Rather let me undergo the rites I have despised!' and +instantly starting from her seat she ran down the road to her lodgings, +resolving to propose to Glenmurray their immediate marriage. + +'But is the possession of property, then,' she said to herself as +she stopped to take breath, 'so supreme a good, that the want of it, +through the means of his mother, should dispose a child to curse that +mother?--No: my child shall be taught to consider nothing valuable but +virtue, nothing disgraceful but _vice_.--Fool that I am! a bugbear +frightened me; and to my foolish fears I was about to sacrifice my own +principles, and the respectability of Glenmurray. No--Let his property +go to the heir-at-law--let me be forced to labour to support my babe, +when its father--' Here a flood of tears put an end to her soliloquy, +and slowly and pensively she returned home. + +But the conversation of the woman in the church-yard haunted her while +waking, and continued to distress her in her dreams that night, and she +was resolved to do all she could to relieve the situation of the poor +destitute girl and child, in whose fate she might possibly see an +anticipation of her own: and as soon as breakfast was over, and +Glenmurray was engaged in his studies, she walked out to make the +projected inquiries. + +The season of the year was uncommonly fine; and the varied scenery +visible from the terrace was, at the moment of Adeline's approach to it, +glowing with more than common beauty. Adeline stood for some minutes +gazing on it in silent delight; when her reverie was interrupted by the +sound of boyish merriment, and she saw, at one end of the terrace, some +well-dressed boys at play. + + 'Alas! regardless of their doom + The little victims play!' + +immediately recurred to her: for, contemplating the probable evils of +existence, she was darkly brooding over the imagined fate of her own +offspring, should it live to see the light; and the children at their +sport, having no care of ills to come, naturally engaged her attention. + +But these happy children ceased to interest her, when she saw standing +at a distance from the group, and apparently looking at it with an eye +of envy, a little boy, even better dressed than the rest; who was +sobbing violently, yet evidently trying to conceal his grief. And while +she was watching the young mourner attentively, he suddenly threw +himself on a seat; and, taking out his handkerchief, indignantly and +impatiently wiped away the tears that would no longer be restrained. + +'Poor child!' thought Adeline, seating herself beside him; 'and has +affliction reached thee so soon!' + +The child was beautiful: and his clustering locks seemed to have been +combed with so much care; the frill of his shirt was so fine, and had +been so very neatly plaited; and his sun-burnt neck and hands were so +very very clean, that Adeline was certain he was the darling object of +some fond mother's attention. 'And yet he is unhappy!' she inwardly +exclaimed. 'When my fate resembled his, how happy I was!' But from the +recollections like these she always hastened; and checking the rising +sigh, she resolved to enter into conversation with the little boy. + +'What is the matter?' she cried.--No answer. 'Why are you not playing +with the young gentlemen yonder?' + +She had touched the right string:--and bursting into tears, he sobbed +out, 'Because they won't let me.' + +'No? and why will they not let you?' To this he replied not; but +sullenly hung his blushing face on his bosom. + +'Perhaps you have made them angry?' gently asked Adeline. 'Oh! no, no,' +cried the boy; 'but--' 'But what?' Here he turned from her, and with his +nail began scratching the arm of the seat. + +'Well; this is very strange, and seems very unkind,' cried Adeline: 'I +will speak to them.' So saying, she drew near the other children, who +had interrupted their play to watch Adeline and their rejected playmate. +'What can be the reason,' said she, 'that you will not let that little +boy play with you?' The boys looked down, and said nothing. + +'Is he ill-natured?' + +'No.' + +'Does he not play fair?' + +'Yes.' + +'Don't you like him?' + +'Yes.' + +'Then why do you make him unhappy, by not letting him join in your +sport?' + +'Tell the lady. Jack,' cries one; and Jack, the biggest boy of the +party, said: 'Because he is not a gentleman's son like us, and is only a +little bastard.' + +'Yes,' cried one of the other children; 'and his mamma is so proud she +dresses him finer than we are, for all he is base-born: and our papas +and mammas don't think him fit company for us.' + +They might have gone on for an hour--Adeline could not interrupt them. +The cause of the child's affliction was a dagger in her heart; and, +while she listened to the now redoubled sobs of the disgraced and +proudly afflicted boy, she was driven almost to phrensy: for 'Such,' she +exclaimed, 'may one time or other be the pangs of my child, and so to +him may the hours of childhood be embittered!' Again she seated herself +by the little mourner--and her tears accompanied his. + +'My dear child, you had better go home,' said she, struggling with her +feelings; 'your mother will certainly be glad of your company.' + +'No, I won't go to her; I don't love her: they say she is a bad woman, +and my papa a bad man, because they are not married.' + +Again Adeline's horrors returned. 'But, my dear, they love you, no +doubt; and you ought to love them,' she replied with effort. + +'There, there comes your papa,' cried one of the boys; 'go and cry to +him;--go.' + +At these words Adeline looked up, and saw an elegant-looking man +approaching with a look of anxiety. + +'Charles, my dear boy, what has happened?' said he, taking his hand; +which the boy sullenly withdrew. 'Come home directly,' continued his +father, 'and tell me what is the matter, as we go along.' But again +snatching his hand away, the proud and deeply wounded child resentfully +pushed the shoulder next him forward, whenever his father tried to take +his arm, and elbowed him angrily as he went. + +Adeline felt the child's action to the bottom of her heart. It was a +volume of reproach to the father; and she sighed to think what the +parents, if they had hearts, must feel, when the afflicted boy told the +cause of his grief. 'But, unhappy boy, perhaps my child may live to +bless you!' she exclaimed, clasping her hands together: 'never, never +will I expose my child to the pangs which you have experienced to-day.' +So saying, she returned instantly to her lodgings; and having just +strength left to enter Glenmurray's room, she faintly exclaimed: 'For +pity's sake, make me your wife to-morrow!' and fell senseless on the +floor. + +On her recovery she saw Glenmurray pale with agitation, yet with an +expression of satisfaction in his countenance, bending over her. +'Adeline! my dearest love!' he whispered as her head lay on his bosom, +'blessed be the words you have spoken, whatever be their cause! +To-morrow you shall be my wife.' + +'And then our child will be legitimate, will he not?' she eagerly +replied. + +'It will.' + +'Thank God!' cried Adeline, and relapsed into a fainting fit. For it was +not decreed that the object of her maternal solicitude should ever be +born to reward it. Anxiety and agitation had had a fatal effect on the +health of Adeline; and the day after her encounter on the terrace she +brought forth a dead child. + +As soon as Adeline, languid and disappointed, was able to leave +her room, Glenmurray, whom anxiety during her illness had rendered +considerably weaker, urged her to let the marriage ceremony be performed +immediately. But with her hopes of being a mother vanished her wishes to +become a wife, and all her former reasons against marriage recurred in +their full force. + +In vain did Glenmurray entreat her to keep her lately formed resolution: +she still attributed his persuasions to generosity, and the heroic +resolve of sacrificing his principles, with the consistency of his +character, to her supposed good, and it was a point of honour with her +to be as generous in return: consequently the subject was again dropped; +nor was it likely to be soon renewed; and anxiety of a more pressing +nature disturbed their peace and engrossed their attention. They had +been three months at Richmond, and had incurred there a considerable +debt; and Glenmurray, not having sufficient money with him to discharge +it, drew upon his banker for half the half-year's rents from his estate, +which he had just deposited in his hands; when to his unspeakable +astonishment he found that the house had stopped payment, and that the +principal partner had gone off with the deposits! + +Scarcely could the firm mind of Glenmurray support itself under the +stroke. He looked forward to the certainty of passing the little +remainder of his life not only in pain but in poverty, and of seeing +increase as fast as his wants the difficulty of supplying them; while +the woman of his heart bent in increased agony over his restless couch; +for he well knew that to raise money on his estate, or to anticipate the +next half-year's rents, was impossible, as he had only a life interest +in it; and, as he held the fatal letter in his hand, his frame shook +with agitation. + +'I could not have believed,' cried Adeline, 'that the loss of any sum of +money could have so violently affected you.' + +'Not the loss of my all! my support during the tedious scenes of +illness!' + +'Your all!' faltered out Adeline; and when she heard the true state of +the case she found her agitation equalled that of Glenmurray, and in +hopeless anguish she leaned on the table beside him. + +'What is to be done,' said she, 'till the next half-year's rents become +due? Where can we procure money?' + +'Till the next half-year's rents become due!' replied he, looking at her +mournfully: 'I shall not be distressed for money then.' + +'No?' answered Adeline (not understanding him): 'our expenses have never +yet been more than that sum can supply.' + +Glenmurray looked at her, and, seeing how unconscious she was of the +certainty of the evil that awaited her, had not the courage to distress +her by explaining his meaning; and she went on to ask him what steps he +meant to take to raise money. + +'My only resource,' said he, 'is dunning a near relation of mine who +owes me three hundred pounds: he is now, I believe, able to pay it. He +is in Holland, indeed, at present; but he is daily expected in England, +and will come to see me here. I have named him to you before, I believe. +His name is Berrendale.' + +It was then agreed that Glenmurray should write to Mr Berrendale +immediately; and that, to prevent the necessity of incurring a further +debt for present provisions and necessaries, some of their books and +linen should be sold:--but week after week elapsed, and no letter was +received from Mr Berrendale. + +Glenmurray grew rapidly worse;--and their landlord was clamorous for +his rent;--advice from London also became necessary to quiet Adeline's +mind,--though Glenmurray knew that he was past cure: and after she had +paid a small sum to quiet the demands of the landlord for a while, she +had scarcely enough left to pay a physician: however, she sent for one +recommended by Dr Norberry, and by selling a writing-desk inlaid with +silver, which she valued because it was the gift of her father, she +raised money sufficient for the occasion. + +Dr. ---- arrived, but not to speak peace to the mind of Adeline. +She saw, though he did not absolutely say so, that all chance of +Glenmurray's recovery was over: and though with the sanguine feelings +of nineteen she could 'hope though hope were lost,' when she watched +Dr. ----'s countenance as he turned from the bed-side of Glenmurray, she +felt the coldness of despair thrill through her frame; and, scarcely +able to stand, she followed him into the next room, and awaited his +orders with a sort of desperate tranquillity. + +After prescribing alleviations of the ill beyond his power to cure, Dr. +---- added that terrible confirmation of the fears of anxious affection. +'Let him have whatever he likes; nothing can hurt him now; and all your +endeavours must be to make the remaining hours of his existence as +comfortable as you can, by every indulgence possible: and indeed, my +dear madam,' he continued, 'you must be prepared for the trial that +awaits you.' + +'Prepared! did you say?' cried Adeline in the broken voice of tearless +and almost phrensied sorrow. 'O God! if he must die, in mercy let me die +with him. If I have sinned,' (here she fell on her knees,) 'surely, +surely, the agony of this moment is atonement sufficient.' + +Dr. ----, greatly affected, raised her from the ground, and conjured her +for the sake of Glenmurray, and that she might not make his last hours +miserable, to bear her trial with more fortitude. + +'And can you talk of his "last hours" and yet expect me to be composed?--O +sir! say but there is one little little gleam of hope for me, and I will +be calm.' + +'Well,' replied Dr. ----, 'I _may_ be mistaken; Mr Glenmurray is young, +and--and--' here his voice faltered, and he was unable to proceed; for +the expression of Adeline's countenance, changing as it instantly did +from misery to joy,--joy of which he knew the fallacy,--while her eyes +were intently fixed on him, was too much for a man of any feeling to +support; and when she pressed his hand in the convulsive emotions of +her gratitude, he was forced to turn away his head to conceal the +starting tear. + +'Well, I may be mistaken--Mr Glenmurray is young,' Adeline repeated +again and again, as his carriage drove off; and she flew to Glenmurray's +bed-side to impart to him the satisfaction which he rejoiced to see her +feel, but in which he could not share. + +Her recovered security did not, however, last long; the change in +Glenmurray grew every day more visible; and to increase her distress, +they were forced, to avoid disagreeable altercations, to give the +landlord a draft on Mr Berrendale for the sum due to him, and remove to +very humble lodgings in a closer part of the town. + +Here their misery was a little alleviated by the unexpected receipt of +twenty pounds, sent to Glenmurray by a tenant who was in arrears to +him, which enabled Adeline to procure Glenmurray every thing that his +capricious appetite required; and at his earnest entreaty, in order that +she might sometimes venture to leave him, lest her health should suffer, +she hired a nurse to assist her in her attendance upon him. + +A hasty letter too was at length received from Mr Berrendale, saying, +that he should very soon be in England, and should hasten to Richmond +immediately on his landing. The terror of wanting money, therefore, +began to subside; but day after day elapsed, and Mr Berrendale came not; +and Adeline, being obliged to deny herself almost necessary sustenance +that Glenmurray's appetite might be tempted, and his nurse, by the +indulgence of hers, kept in good humour, resolved, presuming on the +arrival of Mr Berrendale, to write to Dr Norberry and solicit the loan +of twenty pounds. + +Having done so, she ceased to be alarmed, though she found herself in +possession of only three guineas to defray the probable expenses of +the ensuing week; and in somewhat less misery than usual, she, at the +earnest entreaty of Glenmurray, set out to take a walk. + +Scarcely conscious what she did, she strolled through the town, and +seeing some fine grapes at the window of a fruiterer, she went in to ask +the price of them, knowing how welcome fruit was to the feverish palate +of Glenmurray. While the shopman was weighing the grapes, she saw a +pine-apple on the counter, and felt a strong wish to carry it home as a +more welcome present; but with unspeakable disappointment she heard that +the price of it was two guineas--a sum which she could not think herself +justified in expending, in the present state of their finances, even to +please Glenmurray, especially as he had not expressed a wish for such an +indulgence; besides, he liked grapes; and, as medicine, neither of them +could be effectual. + +It was fortunate for Adeline's feelings that she had not overheard what +the mistress of the shop said to her maid as she left it. + +'I should have asked another person only a guinea; but as those sort of +women never mind what they give, I asked two, and I dare say she will +come back for it.' + +'I have brought you some grapes,' cried Adeline as she entered +Glenmurray's chamber, 'and I would have brought you a pine-apple, but +that it was too dear.' + +'A pine-apple!' said Glenmurray, languidly turning over the grapes, and +with a sort of distaste putting one of them in his mouth, 'a +pine-apple!--I wish you had brought it with all my heart! I protest that +I feel as if I could eat a whole one.' + +'Well,' replied Adeline, 'if you would enjoy it so much, you certainly +ought to have it.' + +'But the price, my dear girl!--what was it?' + +'Only two guineas,' replied Adeline, forcing a smile. + +'Two guineas!' exclaimed Glenmurray: 'No,--that is too much to give--I +will not indulge my appetite at such a rate--but, take away the +grapes--I can't eat them.' + +Adeline, disappointed, removed them from his sight; and, to increase +her vexation, Glenmurray was continually talking of pine-apples, and in +that way that showed how strongly his diseased appetite wished to enjoy +the gratification of eating one. At last, unable to bear to see him +struggling with an ungratified wish, she told him that she believed they +could afford to buy the pine-apple, as she had written to borrow some +money of Dr Norberry, to be paid as soon as Mr Berrendale arrived. In a +moment the dull eye of Glenmurray lighted up with expectation; and he, +who in health was remarkable for self-denial and temperance, scrupled +not, overcome by the influence of the fever which consumed him, to +gratify his palate at a rate the most extravagant. + +Adeline sighed as she contemplated this change effected by illness; and, +promising to be back as soon as possible, she proceeded to a shop to +dispose of her lace veil, the only ornament which she had retained; and +that not from vanity, but because it concealed from the eye of curiosity +the sorrow marked on her countenance. But she knew a piece of muslin +would do as well; and for two guineas sold a veil worth treble that +sum; but it was to give a minute's pleasure to Glenmurray, and that was +enough for Adeline. + +On her way to the fruiterer's she saw a crowd at the door of a +mean-looking house, and in the midst of it she beheld a mulatto woman, +the picture of sickness and despair, supporting a young man who seemed +ready to faint every moment, but whom a rough-featured man, regardless +of his weakness, was trying to force from the grasp of the unhappy +woman; while a mulatto boy, known in Richmond by the name of the Tawny +Boy, to whom Adeline had often given halfpence in her walks, was crying +bitterly, and hiding his face in the poor woman's apron. + +Adeline immediately pressed forward to inquire into the cause of a +distress only too congenial to her feelings; and as she did so, the +tawny boy looked up, and, knowing her immediately, ran eagerly forward +to meet her, seeming, though he did not speak, to associate with her +presence an idea of certain relief. + +'Oh! it is only a poor man,' replied an old woman in answer to Adeline's +inquiries, 'who can't pay his debts,--and so they are dragging him to +prison--that's all.' 'They are dragging him to his death too,' cried a +younger woman in a gentle accent; 'for he is only just recovering from a +bad fever: and if he goes to jail the bad air will certainly kill him, +poor soul!' + +'Is that his wife?' said Adeline. 'Yes, and my mammy,' said the tawny +boy, looking up in her face, 'and she so ill and sorry.' + +'Yes, unhappy creatures,' replied her informant, 'and they have known +great trouble; and now, just as they had got a little money together, +William fell ill, and in doctor's stuff Savanna (that's the mulatto's +name) has spent all the money she had earned, as well as her husband's; +and now she is ill herself, and I am sure William's going to jail will +kill her. And a hard-hearted, wicked wretch Mr Davis is, to arrest +him--that he is--not but what it is his due, I cannot say but it +is--but, poor souls! he'll die, and she'll die, and then what will +become of their poor little boy?' + +The tawny boy all this time was standing, crying, by Adeline's side, and +had twisted his fingers in her gown, while her heart sympathized most +painfully in the anguish of the mulatto woman. 'What is the amount of +the sum for which he is taken up?' said Adeline. + +'Oh! trifling: but Mr Davis owes him a grudge, and so will not wait any +longer. It is in all only ten pounds; and he says if they will pay part +he will wait for the rest; but then he knows they could as well pay all +as part.' + +Adeline, shocked at the knowledge of a distress which she was not able +to remove, was turning away as the woman said this, when she felt +that the little boy pulled her gown gently, as if appealing to her +generosity; while a surly-looking man, who was the creditor himself, +forcing a passage through the crowd, said, 'Why, bring him along, and +have done with it; here is a fuss to make indeed about that idle dog, +and that ugly black toad!' + +Adeline till then had not recollected that she was a mulatto; and this +speech, reflecting so brutally on her colour,--a circumstance which made +her an object of greater interest to Adeline,--urged her to step forward +to their joint relief with an almost irresistible impulse; especially +when another man reproached the fellow for his brutality, and added, +that he knew them both to be hard-working, deserving persons. But to +disappoint Glenmurray of his promised pleasure was impossible; and +having put sixpence in the tawny boy's hand, she was hastening to the +fruiterer's, when the crowd, who were following William and the mulatto +to the jail, whither the bailiffs were dragging rather than leading him, +fell back to give air to the poor man, who had fainted on Savanna's +shoulder, and seemed on the point of expiring--while she, with an +expression of fixed despair, was gazing on his wan cheek. + +Adeline thought on Glenmurray's danger, and shuddered as she beheld the +scene; she felt it but a too probable anticipation of the one in which +she might soon be an actor. + +At this moment a man observed, 'If he goes to prison he will not live +two days, that every one may see;' and the mulatto uttered a shriek of +agony. + +Adeline felt it to her very soul; and, rushing forward, 'Sir, sir,' she +exclaimed to the unfeeling creditor, 'if I were to give you a guinea +now, and promise you two more a fortnight hence, would you release this +poor man for the present?' + +'No: I must have three guineas this moment,' replied he. Adeline sighed, +and withdrew her hand from her pocket. 'But were Glenmurray here, he +would give up his indulgence, I am sure, to save the lives of, probably +two fellow-creatures,' thought Adeline: 'and he would not forgive me if +I were to sacrifice such an opportunity to the sole gratification of +his palate.'--But then again, Glenmurray eagerly expecting her with +the promised treat, so gratifying to the feverish taste of sickness, +seemed to appear before her, and she turned away; but the eyes of the +mulatto, who had heard her words, and had hung on them breathless with +expectation, followed her with a look of such sad reproach for the +disappointment which she had occasioned her, and the little boy looked +up so wistfully in her face, crying, 'Poor fader, and poor mammy!' +that Adeline could not withstand the force of the appeal; but almost +exclaiming 'Glenmurray would upbraid me if I did not act thus,' she gave +the creditor the three guineas, paid the bailiffs their demand, and then +made her way through the crowd, who respectfully drew back to give her +room to pass, saying, 'God bless you, lady! God bless you!' + +But William was too ill, and Savanna felt too much to speak; and the +surly creditor said, sneeringly, 'If I had been you, I would, at least, +have thanked the lady.' This reproach restored Savanna to the use of +speech; and (but with a violent effort) she uttered in a hoarse and +broken voice, '_I_ tank her! God tank her! I never can:' and Adeline, +kindly pressing her hand, hurried away from her in silence, though +scarcely able to refrain exclaiming, 'you know not the sacrifice which +you have cost me!' The tawny boy still followed her, as loath to leave +her. 'God bless you, my dear!' said she kindly to him: 'there, go to +your mother, and be good to her.' His dark face glowed as she spoke to +him, and holding up his chin, 'Tiss me!' cried he, 'poor tawny boy love +you!' She did so; and then reluctantly, he left her, nodding his head, +and saying, 'Dood bye' till he was out of sight. + +With him, and with the display of his grateful joy, vanished all that +could give Adeline resolution to bear her own reflections at the idea of +returning home, and of the trial that awaited her. In vain did she now +try to believe that Glenmurray would applaud what she had done.--He was +now the slave of disease, nor was it likely that even his self-denial +and principle benevolence could endure with patience so cruel a +disappointment--and from the woman whom he loved too!--and to whom the +indulgence of his slightest wishes ought to have been the first object. + +'What shall I do?' cried she: 'what will he say?--No doubt he is +impatiently expecting me; and, in his weak state, disappointment may--' +Here, unable to hear her apprehensions, she wrung her hands in agony; +and when she arrived in sight of her lodgings she dared not look up, +lest she should see Glenmurray at the window watching for her return. +Slowly and fearfully did she open the door; and the first sound she +heard was Glenmurray's voice from the door of his room, saying, 'So, you +are come at last!--I have been so impatient!' And indeed he had risen +and dressed himself, that he might enjoy his treat more than he could do +in a sick-bed. + +'How can I bear to look him in the face!' thought Adeline, lingering on +the stairs. + +'Adeline, my love! why do you make me wait so long?' cried Glenmurray. +'Here are knives and plates ready; where is the treat I have been so +long expecting?' + +Adeline entered the room and threw herself on the first chair, avoiding +the sight of Glenmurray, whose countenance, as she hastily glanced her +eyes over it, was animated with the expectation of a pleasure which he +was not to enjoy. 'I have not brought the pine-apple,' she faintly +articulated. 'No!' replied Glenmurray, 'how hard upon me!--the only +thing for weeks that I have wished for, or could have eaten with +pleasure! I suppose you were so long going that it was disposed of +before you got there?' + +'No,' replied Adeline, struggling with her tears at this first instance +of pettishness in Glenmurray. + +'Pardon me the supposition,' replied Glenmurray, recovering himself: +'more likely you met some dun on the road, and so the two guineas were +disposed of another way--If so, I can't blame you. What say you? Am I +right?' + +'No.' 'Then how was it?' gravely asked Glenmurray. 'You must have had a +very powerful and a sufficient reason, to induce you to disappoint a +poor invalid of the indulgence which you had yourself excited him to +wish for.' + +'This is terrible, indeed!' thought Adeline, 'and never was I so tempted +to tell a falsehood.' + +'Still silent! You are very unkind, Miss Mowbray,' said Glenmurray; 'I +see that I have tired even _you_ out.' + +These words, by the agony which they excited, restored to Adeline all +her resolution. She ran to Glenmurray; she clasped his burning hands in +hers; and as succinctly as possible she related what had passed. When +she had finished, Glenmurray was silent; the fretfulness of disease +prompted him to say, 'So then, to the relief of strangers you sacrificed +the gratification of the man whom you love, and deprived him of the +only pleasure he may live to enjoy!' But the habitual sweetness and +generosity of his temper struggled, and struggled effectually, with his +malady; and while Adeline, pale and trembling, awaited her sentence, he +caught her suddenly to his bosom, and held her there a few moments in +silence. + +'Then you forgive me?' faltered out Adeline. + +'Forgive you! I love and admire you more than ever! I know your heart, +Adeline; and I am convinced that depriving yourself of the delight of +giving me the promised treat, in order to do a benevolent action, was +an effort of virtue of the highest order; and never, I trust, have you +known, or will you know again, such bitter feelings as you this moment +experienced.' + +Adeline, gratified by his generous kindness, and charmed with his +praise, could only weep her thanks. 'And now,' said Glenmurray, +laughing, 'you may bring back the grapes--I am not like Sterne's dear +Jenny; if I cannot get pine-apple, I will not insist on eating crab.' + +The grapes were brought; but in vain did he try to eat them. At this +time, however, he did not send them away without highly commending their +flavour, and wishing that he dared give way to his inclinations, and +feast upon them. + +'O God of mercy!' cried Adeline, bursting into an agony of grief as she +reached her own apartment, and throwing herself on her knees by the +bed-side, 'Must that benevolent being be taken from me for ever, and +must I, must I survive him!' + +She continued for some minutes in this attitude, and with her heart +devoutly raised to heaven; till every feeling yielded to resignation, +and she arose calm, if not contented; when, on turning round, she saw +Glenmurray leaning against the door, and gazing on her. + +'Sweet enthusiast!' cried he smiling: 'so, thus, when you are +distressed, you seek consolation.' + +'I do,' she replied: 'Sceptic, wouldst thou wish to deprive me of it?' + +'No, by heaven!' warmly exclaimed Glenmurray; and the evening passed +more cheerfully than usual. + +The next post brought a letter, not from Dr. Norberry, but from his +wife; it was as follows, and contained three pound-notes:-- + + 'Mrs Norberry's compliments to Miss Mowbray, having opened her + letter, poor Dr Norberry being dangerously ill of a fever, find + her distress; of which shall not inform the doctor, as he feels + so much for his friend's misfortunes, specially when brought on + by misconduct. But, out of respect for your mother, who is a + good sort of woman, though rather particular, as all learned + ladies are, have sent three pound-notes; the Miss Norberrys + giving one a-piece, not to lend, but a gift, and they join Mrs + Norberry in hoping Miss Mowbray will soon see the error of her + ways; and, if so be, no doubt Dr Norberry will use his interest + to get her into the Magdalen.' + +This curious epistle would have excited in Glenmurray and Adeline no +other feelings save those of contempt, but for the information it +contained of the doctor's being dangerously ill; and, in fear for the +worthy husband, they forgot the impertinence of the wife and daughters. + +The next day, fortunately, Mr Berrendale arrived, and with him the three +hundred pounds. Consequently, all Glenmurray's debts were discharged, +better lodgings procured, and the three pound-notes returned in a blank +cover to Mrs Norberry. Charles Berrendale was first-cousin to +Glenmurray, and so like him in face, that they were, at first, mistaken +for brothers: but to a physiognomist they must always have been unlike; +as Glenmurray was remarkable for the character and expression of his +countenance, and Berrendale for the extreme beauty of his features and +complexion. Glenmurray was pale and thin, and his eyes and hair dark. +Berrendale's eyes were of a light blue; and though his eye-lashes were +black, his hair was of a rich auburn; Glenmurray was thin and muscular; +Berrendale, round and corpulent: still they were alike; and it was not +ill observed of them, that Berrendale was Glenmurray in good health. + +But Berrendale could not be flattered by the resemblance, as his face +and person were so truly what is called handsome, that, partial as our +sex is said to be to beauty, any woman would have been excused for +falling in love with him. Whether his mind was equal to his person we +shall show hereafter. + +The meeting between Berrendale and Glenmurray was affectionate on both +sides; but Berrendale could scarcely hide the pain he felt on seeing +the situation of Glenmurray, whose virtues he had always loved, whose +talents he had always respected, and to whose active friendship towards +himself he owed eternal gratitude. + +But he soon learnt to think Glenmurray, in one respect, an object of +envy, when he beheld the constant, skilful, and tender attentions of +his nurse, and saw in that nurse every gift of heart, mind, and person, +which could make a woman amiable. + +Berrendale had heard that his eccentric cousin was living with a girl as +odd as himself; who thought herself a genius, and pretended to universal +knowledge; great then was his astonishment to find this imagined pedant, +and pretender, not only an adept in every useful and feminine pursuit, +but modest in her demeanour, and gentle in her manners: little did he +expect to see her capable of serving the table of Glenmurray with dishes +made by herself, not only tempting to the now craving appetite of the +invalid but to the palate of an epicure,--while all his wants were +anticipated by her anxious attention, and many of the sufferings of +sickness alleviated by her inventive care. + +Adeline, meanwhile, was agreeably surprised to see the good effect +produced on Glenmurray's spirits, and even his health, by the arrival of +his cousin; and her manner became even affectionate to Berrendale, from +gratitude for the change which his presence seemed to have occasioned. + +Adeline had now a companion in her occasional walks;--Glenmurray +insisted on her walking, and insisted on Berrendale's accompanying +her. In these tête-à-têtes Adeline unburthened her heart, by telling +Berrendale of the agony she felt at the idea of losing Glenmurray; and +while drowned in tears she leaned on his arm, she unconsciously suffered +him to press the hand that leaned against him; nor would she have felt +it a freedom to be reproved, had she been conscious that he did so. But +these trifling indulgences were fuel to the flame that she had kindled +in the heart of Berrendale; a flame which he saw no guilt in indulging, +as he looked on Glenmurray's death as certain, and Adeline would then be +free. + +But though Adeline was perfectly unconscious of his attachment, +Glenmurray had seen it even before Berrendale himself discovered it; and +he only waited a favourable opportunity to make the discovery known to +the parties. All he had as yet ventured to say was, 'Charles, my Adeline +is an excellent nurse!--You would like such as one during your fits of +the gout;' and Berrendale had blushed deeply while he assented to +Glenmurray's remarks, because he was conscious that, while enumerating +Adeline's perfections, he had figured her to himself warming his +flannels, and leaning tenderly over his gouty couch. + +One day, while Adeline was reading to Glenmurray, and Berrendale was +attending not to what she read, but to the beauty of her mouth while +reading, the nurse came in, and said that 'a mulatto woman wished to +speak to Miss Mowbray.' + +'Show her up,' immediately cried Glenmurray; 'and if her little boy is +with her, let him come too.' + +In vain did Adeline expostulate--Glenmurray wished to enjoy the +mulatto's expressions of gratitude; and, in spite of all she could say, +the mother and child were introduced. + +'So!' cried the mulatto, (whose looks were so improved that Adeline +scarcely knew her again,) 'So! me find you at last; and, please God! we +not soon part more.' As she said this, she pressed the hem of Adeline's +gown to her lips with fervent emotion. + +'Not part from her again!' cried Glenmurray, 'What do you mean, my good +woman?' + +'Oh! when she gave tree guinea for me, me tought she mus be rich lady, +but now dey say she be poor, and me mus work for her.' + +'And who told you I was poor?' + +'Dat cross man where you live once--he say you could not pay him, and +you go away--and he tell me that your love be ill; and me so sorry, yet +so glad! for my love be well aden, and he have good employ; and now +I can come and serve you, and nurse dis poor gentleman, and all for +nothing but my meat and drink; and I know dat great fat nurse have gold +wages, and eat and drink fat beside,--I knowd her well.' + +All this was uttered with volubility, and in a tone between laughing and +crying. + +'Well, Adeline,' said Glenmurray when she had ended, 'you did not throw +away your kindness on an unworthy and ungrateful object; so I am quite +reconciled to the loss of the pine-apple; and I will tell your honest +friend here the story,--to show her, as she has a tender heart herself, +the greatness of the sacrifice you made for her sake.' + +Adeline begged him to desist; but he went on; and the mulatto could not +keep herself quiet on the chair while he related the circumstance. + +'And did she do dat to save me?' she passionately exclaimed: 'Angel +woman! I should have let poor man go to prison, before disappoint my +William!' + +'And did you forgive her immediately?' said Berrendale. + +'Yes, certainly.' + +'Well, that was heroic too,' returned he. + +'And no one but Glenmurray would have been so heroic, I believe,' said +Adeline. + +'But, lady, you break my heart,' cried the mulatto, 'if you not take +my service. Mr William and me, too poor to live togedder of some year +perhaps. Here, child, tawny boy, down on knees, and vow wid me to be +faithful and grateful to this our mistress, till our last day; and +never to forsake her in sickness or in sorrow! I swear dis to my great +God:--and now say dat after me.' She then clasped the little boy's +hands, bade him raise his eyes to heaven, and made him repeat what she +had said, ending it with 'I swear dis, to my great God.' + +There was such an affecting solemnity in this action, and in the mulatto +such a determined enthusiasm of manner incapable of being controlled, +that Adeline, Glenmurray, and Berrendale observed what passed in +respectful silence: and when it was over, Glenmurray said, in a voice of +emotion, 'I think, Adeline, we must accept this good creature's offer; +and as nurse grows lazy and saucy, we had better part with her: and as +for your young knight there,' (the tawny boy had by this time nestled +himself close to Adeline, who, with no small emotion, was playing with +his woolly curls,) 'we must send him to school; for, my good woman, we +are not so poor as you imagine.' + +'God be thanked!' cried the mulatto. + +'But what is your name?' + +'I was christened Savanna,' replied she. + +'Then, good Savanna,' cried Adeline, 'I hope we shall both have reason +to bless the day when first we met; and to-morrow you shall come home to +us.' Savanna, on hearing this, almost screamed with joy, and as she took +her leave Berrendale slipped a guinea into her hand: the tawny boy +meanwhile slowly followed his mother, as if unwilling to leave Adeline, +even though she gave him halfpence to spend in cakes: but on being told +that she would let him come again the next day, he tripped gaily down +after Savanna. + +The quiet of the chamber being then restored, Glenmurray fell into a +calm slumber. Adeline took up her work; and Berrendale, pretending +to read, continued to feed his passion by gazing on the unconscious +Adeline. + +While they were thus engaged, Glenmurray, unobserved, awoke; and he soon +guessed how Berrendale's eyes were employed, as the book which he held +in his hand was upside down; and through the fingers of the hand which +he held before his face, he saw his looks fixed on Adeline. + +The moment was a favourable one for Glenmurray's purpose: and just as he +raised himself from his pillow, Adeline had discovered the earnest gaze +of Berrendale; and a suspicion of the truth that instant darting across +her mind, disconcerted and blushing, she had cast her eyes on the +ground. + +'That is an interesting study which you are engaged in, Charles,' cried +Glenmurray smiling. + +Berrendale started; and, deeply blushing, faltered out, 'Yes.' + +Adeline looked at Glenmurray, and seeing a very arch and meaning +expression on his countenance, suspected that he had made the same +discovery as herself: yet, if so, she wondered at his looking so +pleasantly on Berrendale as he spoke. + +'It is a book, Charles,' continued Glenmurray, 'which the more you study +the more you will admire; and I wish to give you a clue to understand +some passages in it better than you can now do.' + +This speech deceived Adeline, and made her suppose that Glenmurray +really alluded to the book which lay before Berrendale: but it convinced +_him_ that Glenmurray spoke metaphorically; and as his manner was kind, +it also made him think that he saw and did not disapprove his +attachment. + +For a few minutes, each of them being engrossed in different +contemplations, there was a complete silence; but Glenmurray interrupted +it by saying, 'My dear Adeline, it is your hour for walking; but, as +I am not disposed to sleep again, will you forgive me if I keep your +walking companion to myself to-day?--I wish to converse with him alone.' + +'Oh! most cheerfully,' she replied with quickness: 'you know I love a +solitary ramble of all things.' + +'Not very flattering that to my cousin,' observed Glenmurray. + +'I did not wish to flatter him,' said Adeline gravely; and Berrendale, +fluttered at the idea of the coming conversation with Glenmurray, and +mortified by Adeline's words and manner, turned to the window to conceal +his emotion. + +Adeline, then, with more than usual tenderness, conjured Glenmurray not +to talk too much, nor do anything to destroy the hopes on which her only +chance of happiness depended, viz. the now possible chance of his +recovery, and then set out for her walk; while, with a restraint and +coldness which she could not conquer, she bade Berrendale farewell for +the present. + +The walk was long, and her thoughts perturbed:--'What could Glenmurray +want to say to Mr Berrendale?'--'Why did Mr Berrendale sit with his eyes +so intently and clandestinely, as it were, fixed on me?' were thoughts +perpetually recurring to her: and half impatient, and half reluctant, +she at length returned to her lodgings. + +When she entered the apartment, she saw signs of great emotion in the +countenance of both the gentlemen; and in Berrendale's eyes the traces +of recent tears. The tone of Glenmurray's voice too, when he addressed +her, was even more tender than usual, and Berrendale's attentions more +marked, yet more respectful; and Adeline observed that Glenmurray was +unusually thoughtful and absent, and that the cough and other symptoms +of his complaint were more troublesome than ever. + +'I see you have exerted yourself and talked too much during my absence,' +cried Adeline, 'and I will never leave you again for so long a time.' + +'You never shall,' said Glenmurray. 'I must leave _you_ for so long a +time at last, that I will be blessed with the sight of you as long as I +can.' + +Adeline whose hopes had been considerably revived during the last few +days, looked mournfully and reproachfully in his face as he uttered +these words. + +'It is even so, my dearest girl,' continued Glenmurray, 'and I say this +to guard you against a melancholy surprise:--I wish to prepare you for +an event which to me seems unavoidable.' + +'Prepare me!' exclaimed Adeline wildly. 'Can there be any preparation to +enable one to bear such a calamity? Absurd idea! However, I shall derive +consolation from the severity of the stroke: I feel that I shall not be +able to survive it.' So saying, her head fell on Glenmurray's pillow; +and for some time, her sorrow almost suspended the consciousness of +suffering. + +From this state she was aroused by Glenmurray's being attacked with a +violent paroxysm of his complaint, and all selfish distress was lost in +the consciousness of his sufferings: again he struggled through, and +seemed so relieved by the effort, that again Adeline's hopes revived; +and she could scarcely return, with temper, Berrendale's 'good night,' +when Glenmurray expressed a wish to rest, because his spirits had not +risen in any proportion to hers. + +The nurse had been dismissed that afternoon; and Adeline, as Savanna +was not to come home till the next morning, was to sit up alone with +Glenmurray that night; and, contrary to his usual custom, he did not +insist that she should have a companion. + +For a few hours his exhausted frame was recruited by a sleep more than +usually quiet, and but for a few hours only. He then became restless, +and so wakeful and disturbed, that he professed to Adeline an utter +inability to sleep, and therefore he wished to pass the rest of the +night in serious conversation with her. + +Adeline, alarmed at this intention, conjured him not to irritate his +complaint by so dangerous an exertion. + +'My mind will irritate it more,' replied he, 'if I refrain from it; for +it is burthened, my Adeline, and it longs to throw off its burthen. Now, +then, ere my senses wander, hear what I wish to communicate to you, and +interrupt me as little as possible.' + +Adeline, oppressed and awed beyond measure at the unusual solemnity of +his manner, made no answer; but, leaning her cheek on his hand, awaited +his communication in silence. + +'I think,' said Glenmurray, 'I shall begin with telling you Berrendale's +history; it is proper that you should know all that concerns him.' + +Adeline raising her head, replied hastily,--'Not to satisfy any +curiosity of mine; for I feel none, I assure you.' + +'Well, then,' returned Glenmurray, sighing, 'to please me, be +it.--Berrendale is the son of my mother's sister, by a merchant of +the neighbourhood of the 'Change, who hurt the family pride so much by +marrying a tradesman, that I am the only one of the clan who has noticed +her since. He ran away, about four years ago, with the only child of a +rich West Indian from a boarding-school. The consequence was, that her +father renounced her; but, when, three years ago, she died in giving +birth to a son, the unhappy parent repented of his displeasure, and +offered to allow Berrendale, who from the bankruptcy and sudden death +of both his parents had been left destitute, an annuity of 300_l._ for +life, provided he would send the child over to Jamaica, and allow him to +have all the care of his education. To this Berrendale consented.' + +'Reluctantly, I hope,' said Adeline, 'and merely out of pity for the +feelings of the childless father.' + +'I hope so too,' continued Glenmurray; 'for I do not think the chance of +inheriting all his grandfather's property a sufficient reason to lead +him to give up to another, and in a foreign land too, the society and +education of his child: but, whatever were his reasons, Berrendale +acceded to the request, and the infant was sent to Jamaica; and ever +since the 300_l._ has been regularly remitted to him: besides that, he +has recovered two thousand and odd hundred pounds from the wreck of his +father's property; and with economy, and had he a good wife to manage +his affairs for him, Berrendale might live very comfortably.' + +'My dear Glenmurray,' cried Adeline impatiently, 'what is this to +me? and why do you weary yourself to tell me particulars so little +interesting to me?' + +Glenmurray bade her have patience, and continued thus: 'And now, +Adeline,' (here his voice evidently faltered,) 'I must open my whole +heart to you, and confess that the idea of leaving you friendless, +unprotected, and poor, your reputation injured, and your peace of mind +destroyed, is more than I am able to bear, and will give me, in my last +moments, the torments of the damned.' Here a violent burst of tears +interrupted him; and Adeline, overcome with emotion and surprise at the +sight of the agitation which his own sufferings could never occasion in +him, hung over him in speechless woe. + +'Besides,' continued Glenmurray, recovering himself a little, 'I--O +Adeline!' seizing her cold hand, 'can you forgive me for having been the +means of blasting all your fair fame and prospects in life?' + +'For the sake of justice, if not of mercy,' exclaimed Adeline, 'forbear +thus cruelly to accuse yourself. You know that from my own free, +unbiassed choice I gave myself to you, and in compliance with my own +principles.' + +'But who taught you those principles?--who led you to a train of +reasoning, so alluring in theory, so pernicious in practice? Had not +I, with the heedless vanity of youth, given to the world the crude +conceptions of four-and-twenty, you might at this moment have been the +idol of a respectable society; and I, equally respected, have been the +husband of your heart; while happiness would perhaps have kept the fatal +disease at bay, of which anxiety has facilitated the approach.' + +He was going on: but Adeline, who had till now struggled successfully +with her feelings, wound up almost to phrensy at the possibility that +anxiety had shortened Glenmurray's life, gave way to a violent paroxysm +of sorrow, which, for a while, deprived her of consciousness; and when +she recovered she found Berrendale bending over her, while her head lay +on Glenmurray's pillow. + +The sight of Berrendale in a moment roused her to exertion:--his look +was so full of anxious tenderness, and she was at that moment so ill +disposed to regard it with complacency, that she eagerly declared she +was quite recovered, and begged Mr Berrendale would return to bed; and +Glenmurray seconding her request, with a deep sigh he departed. + +'Poor fellow!' said Glenmurray, 'I wish you had seen his anxiety during +your illness!' + +'I am glad I did _not_,' replied Adeline: 'but how can you persist in +talking to me of any other person's anxiety, when I am tortured with +yours? Your conversation of to-night has made me even more miserable +than I was before. By what strange fatality do you blame yourself for +the conduct worthy of admiration?--for giving to the world, as soon as +produced, opinions which were calculated to enlighten it?' + +'But,' replied Glenmurray, 'as those opinions militated against the +experience and custom of ages, ought I not to have paused before I +published, and kept them back till they had received the sanction of my +maturer judgment?' + +'And does your maturer judgment condemn them?' + +'Four years cannot have added much to the maturity of my judgment,' +replied Glenmurray: 'but I will own that some of my opinions are changed; +and that, though I believe those which are unchanged are right in +theory, I think, as the mass of society could never _at once_ adopt +them, they had better remain unacted upon, than that a few lonely +individuals should expose themselves to certain distress, by making them +the rules of their conduct. You, for instance, you, my Adeline, what +misery--!' Here his voice again faltered, and emotion impeded his +utterance. + +'Live--do but live,' exclaimed Adeline passionately, 'and I can know of +misery but the name.' + +'But I cannot live, I cannot live,' replied Glenmurray, 'and the sooner +I die the better;--for thus to waste your youth and health in the +dreadful solitude of a sick-room is insupportable to me.' + +'O Glenmurray!' replied Adeline, fondly throwing herself on his neck, +'could you but live free from any violent pain, and were neither you nor +I ever to leave this room again, believe me, I should not have a wish +beyond it. To see you, to hear you, to prove to you how much I love you, +would, indeed it would, be happiness sufficient for me!' After this burst +of true and heartfelt tenderness, there was a pause of some moments: +Glenmurray felt too much to speak, and Adeline was sobbing on his +pillow. At length she pathetically again exclaimed, 'Live! only live! +and I am blest!' + +'But I _cannot_ live, I _cannot_ live,' again replied Glenmurray; 'and +when I die, what will become of you?' + +'I care not,' cried Adeline: 'if I lose you, may the same grave receive +us!' + +'But it _will_ not, my dearest:--grief does not kill; and, entailed as +my estate is, I have nothing to leave you: and though richly qualified +to undertake the care of children, in order to maintain yourself, your +unfortunate connexion, and singular opinions, will be an eternal bar to +your being so employed. O Adeline! these cutting fears, these dreadful +reflections, are indeed the bitterness of death: but there is one way of +alleviating my pangs.' + +'Name it,' replied Adeline with quickness. + +'But you must promise then to hear me with patience.--Had I been able to +live through my illness, I should have conjured you to let me endeavour +to restore you to your place in society, and consequently to your +usefulness, by making you my wife: and young, and I may add innocent and +virtuous, as you are, I doubt not but the world would at length have +received you into its favour again.' + +'But you must, you will, you shall live,' interrupted Adeline, 'and I +shall be your happy wife.' + +'Not _mine_' replied Glenmurray, laying an emphasis on the last word. + +Adeline started, and, fixing her eyes wildly on his, demanded what he +meant. + +'I mean,' replied he, 'to prevail on you to make my last moments happy, +by promising, some time hence, to give yourself a tender, a respectable, +and a legal protector.' + +'O Glenmurray!' exclaimed Adeline, 'and can you insult my tenderness for +you with such a proposal? If I can even survive you, do you think that I +can bear to give you a successor in my affection? or, how can you bear +to imagine that I shall?' + +'Because my love for you is without selfishness, and I wish you to be +happy even though another makes you so. The lover, or the husband, who +wishes the woman of his affection to form no second attachment, is, in +my opinion, a selfish, contemptible being. Perhaps I do not expect that +you will ever feel, for another man, an attachment like that which has +subsisted between us--the first affection of young and impassioned +hearts; but I am sure that you may again feel love enough to make +yourself and the man of your choice perfectly happy; and I hope and +trust that you will be so.' + +'And forget you, I suppose?' interrupted Adeline reproachfully. + +'Not so: I would have you remember me always, but with a chastized and +even a pleasing sorrow; nay, I would wish you to imagine me a sort of +guardian spirit watching your actions and enjoying your happiness.' + +'I have _listened_ to you,' cried Adeline in a tone of suppressed +anguish, 'and, I trust, with tolerable patience: there is one thing yet +for me to learn--the name of the object whom you wish me to marry, for I +suppose _he_ is found.' + +'He is,' returned Glenmurray, 'Berrendale loves you; and he it is whom I +wish you to choose.' + +'I thought so,' exclaimed Adeline, rising and traversing the room +hastily, and wringing her hands. + +'But wherefore does his name,' said Glenmurray, 'excite such angry +emotion? Perhaps self-love makes me recommend him,' continued he, +forcing a smile, 'as he is reckoned like me, and I thought that likeness +might make him more agreeable to you.' + +'Only the more odious,' impatiently interrupted Adeline. 'To look like +you, and not _be_ you, Oh! insupportable idea!' she exclaimed, throwing +herself on Glenmurray's pillow, and pressing his burning temples to her +cold cheek. + +'Adeline,' said Glenmurray solemnly, 'this is, perhaps, the last moment +of confidential and uninterrupted intercourse that we shall ever have +together;' Adeline started, but spoke not; 'allow me, therefore, to +tell you it is my _dying request_, that you would endeavour to dispose +your mind in favour of Berrendale, and to become in time his wife. +Circumstanced as you are, your only chance for happiness is becoming a +wife: but it is too certain that few men worthy of you, in the most +essential points, will be likely to marry you after your connexion with +me.' + +'Strange prejudice!' cried Adeline, 'to consider as my disgrace, what I +deem my glory!' + +Glenmurray continued thus: 'Berrendale himself has a great deal of the +old school about him, but I have convinced him that you are not to be +classed with the frail of your sex; and that you are one of the purest +as well as loveliest of human beings.' + +'And did he want to be convinced of this?' cried Adeline indignantly; +'and _yet_ you advise me to marry him?' + +'My dearest love,' replied Glenmurray, 'in all cases the most we can +expect is, to choose the best _possible_ means of happiness. Berrendale +is not perfect; but I am convinced that you would commit a fatal error +in not making him your husband; and when I tell you it is my _dying +request_ that you should do so--' + +'If you wish me to retain my senses,' exclaimed Adeline, 'repeat that +dreadful phrase no more.' + +'I will not say any more at all now,' faintly observed Glenmurray, 'for +I am exhausted:--still, as morning begins to dawn, I should like to sit +up in my bed and gaze on it, perhaps for--' Here Adeline put her hand to +his mouth: Glenmurray kissed it, sighed, and did not finish the sentence. +She then opened the shutters to let in the rising splendour of day, and, +turning round towards Glenmurray, almost shrieked with terror at seeing +the visible alteration a night had made in his appearance; while the +yellow rays of the dawn played on his sallow cheek, and his dark curls, +once crisped and glossy, hung faint and moist on his beating temples. + +'It is strange, Adeline,' said Glenmurray (but with great effort), +'that, even in my situation, the sight of morning, and the revival as it +were of nature, seems to invigorate my whole frame. I long to breathe +the freshness of its breeze also.' + +Adeline, conscious for the first time that all hope was over, opened the +window, and felt even her sick soul and languid frame revived by the +chill but refreshing breeze. To Glenmurray it imparted a feeling of +physical pleasure, to which he had long been a stranger: 'I breathe +freely,' he exclaimed, 'I feel alive again!'--and, strange as it may +seem, Adeline's hopes began to revive also.--'I feel as if I could sleep +now,' said Glenmurray, 'the feverish restlessness seems abated; but, +lest my dreams be disturbed, promise me, ere I lie down again, that you +will behave kindly to Berrendale.' + +'Impossible! The only tie that bound me to him is broken:--I thought +he sincerely sympathized with me in my wishes for your recovery; but +now that, as he loves me, his wishes must be in direct opposition to +mine,--I cannot, indeed I cannot, endure the sight of him.' + +Glenmurray could not reply to this natural observation: he knew that, in +a similar situation, his feelings would have been like Adeline's; and, +pressing her hand with all the little strength left him, he said 'Poor +Berrendale!' and tried to compose himself to sleep; while Adeline, lost +in sad contemplation, threw herself in a chair by his bed-side, and +anxiously awaited the event of his re-awaking. + +But it was not long before Adeline herself, exhausted both in body and +mind, fell into a deep sleep; and it was mid-day before she awoke: for +no careless, heavy-treading, and hired nurse now watched the slumbers of +the unhappy lovers; but the mulatto, stepping light as air, and afraid +even of breathing lest she should disturb their repose, had assumed her +station at the bed-side, and taken every precaution lest any noise +should awake them. Hers was the service of the heart; and there is none +like it. + +At twelve o'clock Adeline awoke; and her first glance met the dark eyes +of Savanna kindly fixed upon her. Adeline started, not immediately +recollecting who it could be; but in a moment the idea of the mulatto, +and of the service which she had rendered her, recurred to her mind, and +diffused a sensation of pleasure through her frame. 'There is a being +whom I have served,' said Adeline to herself, and, extending her hand to +Savanna, she started from her seat, invigorated by the thought: but she +felt depressed again by the consciousness that she, who had been able to +impart so much joy and help to another, was herself a wretch for ever; +and in a moment her eyes filled with tears, while the mulatto gazed on +her with a look of inquiring solicitude. + +'Poor Savanna!' cried Adeline in a low and plaintive tone. + +There are moments when the sound of one's own voice has a mournful +effect on one's feelings--this was one of those moments to Adeline; +the pathos of her own tone overcame her, and she burst into tears: but +Glenmurray slept on; and Adeline hoped nothing would suddenly disturb +his rest, when Berrendale opened the door with what appeared unnecessary +noise, and Glenmurray hastily awoke. + +Adeline immediately started from her seat, and, looking at him with +great indignation, demanded why he came in in such a manner, when he +knew Mr Glenmurray was asleep. + +Berrendale, shocked and alarmed at Adeline's words and expression, so +unlike her usual manner, stammered out an excuse. 'Another time, Sir', +replied Adeline coldly, 'I hope you will be more _careful_.' + +'What is the matter?' said Glenmurray, raising himself in the bed. 'Are +you scolding, Adeline? If so, let me hear you: I like novelty.' + +Here Adeline and Berrendale both hastened to him, and Adeline almost +looked with complacency on Berrendale; when Glenmurray, declaring +himself wonderfully refreshed by his long sleep, expressed a great +desire for his breakfast, and said he had a most voracious appetite. + +But to all Berrendale's attentions she returned the most forbidding +reserve; nor could she for a moment lose the painful idea, that the +death of Glenmurray would be to him a source of joy, not of anguish. +Berrendale was not slow to observe this change in her conduct; and he +conceived that, as he knew Glenmurray had mentioned his pretensions +to her, his absence would be of more service to his wishes than his +presence; and he resolved to leave Richmond that afternoon,--especially +as he had a dinner engagement at a tavern in London, which, in spite of +love and friendship, he was desirous of keeping. + +He was not mistaken in his ideas: the countenance of Adeline assumed +less severity when he mentioned his intention of going away, nor could +she express regret at his resolution, even though Glenmurray with +anxious earnestness requested him to stay. But Glenmurray entreated in +vain: used to consider his own interest and pleasure in preference to +that of others, Berrendale resolved to go; and resisted the prayers of a +man who had often obliged him with the greatest difficulty to himself. + +'Well, then,' said Glenmurray mournfully, 'if you must go, God bless +you! I wish you, Charles, all possible earthly happiness; nay, I have +done all I can to ensure it you: but you have disappointed me. I hoped +to have joined your hand, in my last moments, to that of this dear girl, +and to have bequeathed her in the most solemn manner to your care and +tenderness; but no matter, farewell! we shall probably meet no more.' + +Here Berrendale's heart failed him, and he almost resolved to stay: but +a look of angry repugnance which he saw on Adeline's countenance, even +amidst her sorrow, got the better of his kind emotions, by wounding his +self-love; and grasping Glenmurray's hand, and saying 'I shall be back +in a day or two,' he rushed out of the room. + +'I am sorry Mr Berrendale is forced to go,' said Adeline involuntarily +when the street door closed after him. + +'Had you condescended to tell him so, he would undoubtedly have staid,' +replied Glenmurray rather peevishly. Adeline instantly felt, and +regretted, the selfishness of her conduct. To avoid the sight of a +disagreeable object, she had given pain to Glenmurray; or, rather, she +had not done her utmost to prevent his being exposed to it. + +'Forgive me,' said Adeline, bursting into tears: 'I own I thought only +of myself, when I forbore to urge his stay. Alas! with you, and you +alone, I believe, is the gratification of self always a secondary +consideration.' + +'You forget that I am a philanthropist,' replied Glenmurray, 'and cannot +bear to be praised, even by you, at the expense of my fellow-creatures. +But come, hasten dinner; my breakfast agreed with me so well, that I am +impatient for another meal.' + +'You certainly are better to-day,' exclaimed Adeline with unwonted +cheerfulness. + +'My feelings are more tolerable, at least,' replied Glenmurray: and +Adeline and the mulatto began to prepare the dinner immediately. How +often during her attendance on Glenmurray had she recollected the words +of her grandmother, and blessed her for having taught her to be +_useful_! + +As soon as dinner was over, Glenmurray complained of being drowsy: still +he declared he would not go to bed till he had seen the sun set, as he +had that day, for the second time since his illness, seen it rise; and +therefore, when it was setting, Adeline and Savanna led him into a room +adjoining, which had a western aspect. Glenmurray fixed his eyes on +the crimson horizon with a peculiar expression; and his lips seemed to +murmur, 'For the last time! Let me breathe the evening air, too, once +more,' said he. + +'It is too chill, dear Glenmurray.' + +'It will not hurt me,' replied Glenmurray; and Adeline complied with his +request. + +'The breeze of evening is not refreshing like that of morning,' he +observed; 'but the beauty of the setting is, perhaps, superior to that +of the rising sun:--they are both glorious sights, and I have enjoyed +them both to-day, nor have I for years experienced so strong a feeling +of devotion.' + +'Thank God!' cried Adeline. 'O Glenmurray! there has been one thing only +wanting to the completion of our union; and that was, that we should +worship together.' + +'Perhaps, had I remained longer here,' replied Glenmurray, 'we might +have done so; for, believe me, Adeline, though my feelings have +continually hurried me into adoration of the Supreme Being, I have often +wished my homage to be as regular and as founded on immutable conviction +as it once was: but it is too late now for amendment, though, alas! not +for _regret_, _deep_ regret: yet He who reads the heart knows that my +intentions were pure, and that I was not fixed in the stubbornness of +error.' + +'Let us change this discourse,' cried Adeline, seeing on Glenmurray's +countenance an expression of uncommon sadness, which he, from a regard +to her feelings, struggled to cover. He did indeed feel sadness--a +sadness of the most painful nature; and while Adeline hung over him with +all the anxious and soothing attention of unbounded love, he seemed to +shrink from her embrace with horror, and, turning away his head, feebly +murmured. 'O Adeline! this faithful kindness wounds me to the very soul. +Alas! alas! how little have I deserved it!' + +If Glenmurray, who had been the means of injuring the woman he loved, +merely by following the dictates of his conscience, and a love of what +he imagined to be truth, without any view of his own benefit or the +gratification of his personal wishes, felt thus acutely the anguish of +self-upbraiding,--what ought to be, and what must be, sooner or later, +the agony and remorse of that man, who, merely for the gratification of +his own illicit desires, has seduced the woman whom he loved from the +path of virtue, and ruined for ever her reputation and her peace of +mind! + +'It is too late now for you to sit at an open window, indeed it is,' +cried Adeline, after having replied to Glenmurray's self-reproaches by +the touching language of tears, and incoherent expressions of confiding +and unchanged attachment; 'and as you are evidently better to-day, do +not, by breathing too much cold air, run the risk of making yourself +worse again.' + +'Would I were really better! would I could live!' passionately exclaimed +Glenmurray: 'but indeed I do feel stronger to-night than I have felt for +many months.' In a moment the fine eyes of Adeline were raised to heaven +with an expression of devout thankfulness; and, eager to make the most +of a change so favourable, she hurried Glenmurray back to his chamber, +and, with a feeling of renewed hope, sat by to watch his slumbers. +She had not sat long before the door opened, and the little tawny boy +entered. He had watched all day to see the good lady, as he called +Adeline; but, as she had not left Glenmurray's chamber except to prepare +dinner, he had been disappointed: so he was resolved to seek her in her +own apartment. He had bought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had +given him, and he was eager to give her a piece of them. + +'Hush!' cried Adeline, as she held out her hand to him; and he in a +whisper crying 'Bite,' held his purchase to her lips. Adeline tasted +it, said it was very good, and, giving him a halfpenny, the tawny boy +disappeared again: the noise he made as he bounded down the stairs woke +Glenmurray. Adeline was sitting on the side of the bed; and as he turned +round to sleep again he grasped her hand in his, and its feverish touch +damped her hopes, and re-awakened her fears. For a short time she +mournfully gazed on his flushed cheek, and then, gently sliding off the +bed, and dropping on one knee, she addressed the Deity in the language +of humble supplication. + +Insensibly she ceased to pray in thought only, and the lowly-murmured +prayer became audible. Again Glenmurray awoke, and Adeline reproached +herself as the cause. + +'My rest was uneasy,' cried he, 'and I rejoice that you woke me: +besides, I like to hear you--Go on, my dearest girl; there is a +something in the breathings of your pious fondness that soothes me,' +added he, pressing the hand he held to his parched lips. + +Adeline obeyed: and as she continued, she felt ever and anon, by the +pressure of Glenmurray's hand, how much he was affected by what she +uttered. + +'But must he be taken from me!' she exclaimed in one part of her prayer. +'Father, if it be possible, permit this cup to pass by me untasted.' +Here she felt the hand of Glenmurray grasp hers most vehemently; and, +delighted to think that he had pleasure in hearing her, she went on to +breathe forth all the wishes of a trembling yet confiding spirit, till +overcome with her own emotions she ceased and arose, and leaning over +Glenmurray's pillow was going to take his hand:--but the hand which she +pressed returned not her pressure; the eyes were fixed whose approving +glance she sought; and the horrid truth rushed at once on her mind, that +the last convulsive grasp had been an eternal farewell, and that he had +in that grasp expired. + +Alas! what preparation however long, what anticipation however sure, can +enable the mind to bear a shock like this! It came on Adeline like a +thunder-stroke: she screamed not; she moved not; but, fixing a dim and +glassy eye on the pale countenance of her lover, she seemed as insensible +as poor Glenmurray himself; and hours might have elapsed--hours +immediately fatal both to her senses and existence--ere any one had +entered the room, since she had given orders to be disturbed by no one, +had not the tawny boy, encouraged by his past success, stolen in again, +unperceived, to give her a piece of the apple which he had bought with +her last bounty. + +The delighted boy tripped gaily to the bed-side, holding up his +treasure; but he started back, and screamed in all the agony of terror, +at the sight which he beheld--the face of Glenmurray ghastly, and the +mouth distorted as if in the last agony, and Adeline in the stupor of +despair. + +The affectionate boy's repeated screams soon summoned the whole family +into the room, while he, vainly hanging on Adeline's arm, begged her +to speak to him. But nothing could at first rouse Adeline, not even +Savanna's loud and extravagant grief. When, however, they tried to force +her from the body, she recovered her recollection and her strength; and +it was with great difficulty she could be carried out of the room, and +kept out when they had accomplished their purpose. + +But Savanna was sure that looking at such a sad sight would kill her +mistress; for she should die herself if she saw William dead, she +declared; and the people of the house agreed with her. They knew not +that grief is the best medicine for itself; and that the overcharged +heart is often relieved by the sight which standers-by conceive likely +to snap the very threads of existence. + +As Adeline and Glenmurray had both of them excited some interest in +Richmond, the news of the death of the latter was immediately abroad; +and it was told to Mrs Pemberton, with a pathetic account of Adeline's +distress, just as the carriage was preparing to convey her and her sick +friend on their way to Lisbon. It was a relation to call forth all the +humanity of Mrs Pemberton's nature. She forgot Adeline's crime in her +distress; and knowing she had no female friend with her, she hastened on +the errand of pity to the abode of vice. Alas! Mrs Pemberton had learnt +but too well to sympathize in grief like that of Adeline. She had seen +a beloved husband expire in her arms, and had afterwards followed two +children to the grave. But she had taken refuge from sorrow in the +active duties of her religion, and was enabled to become a teacher of +those truths to others, by which she had so much benefited herself. + +Mrs Pemberton entered the room just as Adeline, on her knees, was +conjuring the persons with her to allow her to see Glenmurray once more. + +Adeline did not at all observe the entrance of Mrs Pemberton, who, in +spite of the self-command which her principles and habits gave her, was +visibly affected when she beheld the mourner's tearless affliction: and +the hands which, on her entrance, were quietly crossed on each other, +confining the modest folds of her simple cloak, were suddenly and +involuntarily separated by the irresistible impulse of pity; while, +catching hold of the wall for support, she leaned against it, covering +her face with her hands. 'Let me see him! only let me see him once +more!' cried Adeline, gazing on Mrs Pemberton, but unconscious who she +was. + +'Thou shalt see him,' replied Mrs Pemberton with considerable effort; +'give me thy hand, and I will go with thee to the chamber of death.' +Adeline gave a scream of mournful joy at this permission, and suffered +herself to be led into Glenmurray's apartment. As soon as she entered it +she sprang to the bed, and, throwing herself beside the corpse, began to +contemplate it with an earnestness and firmness which surprised every +one. Mrs Pemberton also fixedly gazed on the wan face of Glenmurray: +'And art thou fallen!' she exclaimed, 'thou, wise in thine own conceit, +who presumedst, perhaps, sometimes to question even the existence of the +Most High, and to set up thy vain chimeras of yesterday against the +wisdom and experience of centuries? Child of the dust! child of error! +what art thou now, and whither is thy guilty spirit fled? But balmy is +the hand of affliction; and she, thy mourning victim, may learn to bless +the hand that chastizes her, nor add to the offences which will weigh +down thy soul, a dread responsibility for hers!' + +Here she was interrupted by the voice of Adeline; who, in a deep and +hollow tone, was addressing the unconscious corpse. 'For God's sake, +speak! for this silence is dreadful--it looks so like death.' + +'Poor thing!' said Mrs Pemberton, kneeling beside her, 'and is it even +thus with thee? Would thou couldst shed tears, afflicted one!' + +'It is very strange,' continued Adeline: 'he loved me so tenderly, and +he used to speak and look so tenderly, and now, see how he neglects me! +Glenmurray, my love! for mercy's sake, speak to me!' As she said this, +she laid her lips to his: but, feeling on them the icy coldness of +death, she started back, screaming in all the violence of phrensy; and, +recovered to the full consciousness of her misfortune, she was carried +back to her room in violent convulsions. + +'Would I could stay and watch over thee!' said Mrs Pemberton, as she +gazed on Adeline's distorted countenance; 'for thou, young as thou art, +wert well known in the chambers of sorrow and of sickness; and I should +rejoice to pay back to thee part of the debt of those whom thy presence +so often soothed: but I must leave thee to the care of others.' + +'You leave her to my care,' cried Savanna reproachfully,--who felt even +her violent sorrow suspended while Mrs Pemberton spoke in accents at +once sad yet soothing,--'you leave her to my care, and who watch, who +love her more than me?' + +'Good Savanna!' replied Mrs Pemberton, pressing the mulatto's hand as +she returned to her station beside Adeline, who was fallen into a calm +slumber, 'to thy care, with confidence, I commit her. But perhaps there +may be an immediate necessity for money, and I had better leave this +with thee,' she added, taking out her purse: but Savanna assured her +that Mr Berrendale was sent for, and to him all those concerns were to +be left. Mrs Pemberton stood for a few moments looking at Adeline in +silence, then slowly left the house. + +When Adeline awoke, she seemed so calm and resigned, that her earnest +request of being allowed to pass the night alone was granted, especially +as Mrs Pemberton had desired that her wish, even to see Glenmurray +again, should be complied with: but the faithful mulatto watched till +morning at the door. No bed that night received the weary limbs of +Adeline. She threw herself on the ground, and in alternate prayer and +phrensy passed the first night of her woe: towards morning, however, she +fell into a perturbed sleep. But when the light of day darting into the +room awakened her to consciousness; and when she recollected that he +to whom it usually summoned her existed no longer; that the eyes which +but the preceding morning had opened with enthusiastic ardour to hail +its beams, were now for ever closed; and that the voice which used +to welcome her so tenderly, she should never, never hear again; the +forlornness of her situation, the hopelessness of her sorrow burst upon +her with a violence too powerful for her reason: and when Berrendale +arrived, he found Glenmurray in his shroud, and Adeline in a state +of insanity. For six months her phrensy resisted all the efforts of +medicine, and the united care which Berrendale's love and Savanna's +grateful attachment could bestow; while with Adeline's want of their +care seemed to increase their desire of bestowing it, and their +affection gathered new strength from the duration of her helpless +malady. So true is it, that we become attached more from the aid which +we give than that which we receive; and that the love of the obliger +is more apt to increase than that of the obliged by the obligation +conferred. At length, however, Adeline's reason slowly yet surely +returned; and she, by degrees, learnt to contemplate with firmness, +and even calmness, the loss which she had sustained. She even looked +on Berrendale and his attentions not with anger, but gratitude and +complacency; she had even pleasure in observing the likeness he bore +Glenmurray; she felt that it endeared him to her. In the first paroxysms +of her phrensy, the sight of him threw her into fits of ravings; but +as she grew better she had pleasure in seeing him: and when, on her +recovery, she heard how much she was indebted to his persevering +tenderness, she felt for him a decided regard, which Berrendale tried +to flatter himself might be ripened into love. + +But he was mistaken; the heart of Adeline was formed to feel violent +and lasting attachments only. She had always loved her mother with a +tenderness of a most uncommon nature; she had felt for Glenmurray the +fondest enthusiasm of passion: she was now separated from them both. +But her mother still lived: and though almost hopeless of ever being +restored to her society, all her love for her returned; and she pined +for that consoling fondness, those soothing attentions, which, in a time +of such affliction, a mother on a widowed daughter can alone bestow. + +'Yet, surely,' cried she in the solitude of her own room, 'her oath +cannot now forbid her to forgive me; for, am I not as WRETCHED IN LOVE, +nay more, far more so, than _she_ has been? Yes--yes; I will write to +her: besides HE wished me to do so' (meaning Glenmurray, whom she never +named); and she did write to her, according to the address which Dr +Norberry sent soon after he returned to his own house. Still week after +week elapsed, and month after month, but no answer came. + +Again she wrote, and again she was disappointed; though her loss, her +illness in consequence of it, her pecuniary distress, and the large debt +which she had incurred to Berrendale, were all detailed in a manner +calculated to move the most obdurate heart. What then could Adeline +suppose? Perhaps her mother was ill; perhaps she was dead: and her +reason was again on the point of yielding to this horrible supposition, +when she received her two letters in a cover, directed in her mother's +hand-writing. + +At first she was overwhelmed by this dreadful proof of the continuance +of Mrs Mowbray's deep resentment; but, ever sanguine, the circumstance +of Mrs Mowbray's having written the address herself appeared to Adeline +a favourable symptom; and with renewed hope she wrote to Dr Norberry +to become her mediator once more: but to this letter no answer was +returned; and Adeline concluded her only friend had died of the fever +which Mrs Norberry had mentioned in her letter. + +'Then I have lost my only friend!' cried Adeline, wringing her hands +in agony, as this idea recurred to her. 'Your only friend?' repeated +Berrendale, who happened to be present, 'O Adeline!' + +Her heart smote her as he said this. 'My oldest friend I should have +said,' she replied, holding out her hand to him; and Berrendale thought +himself happy. + +But Adeline was far from meaning to give the encouragement which this +action seemed to bestow: wholly occupied by her affliction, her mind +had lost its energy, and she would not have made an effort to dissipate +her grief by employment and exertion, had not that virtuous pride and +delicacy, which in happier hours had been the ornament of her character, +rebelled against the consciousness of owing pecuniary obligations to the +lover whose suit she was determined to reject, and urged her to make +some vigorous attempt to maintain herself. + +Many were the schemes which occurred to her; but none seemed so +practicable as that of keeping a day-school in some village near the +metropolis.--True, Glenmurray had said, that her having been his +mistress would prevent her obtaining scholars; but his fears, perhaps, +were stronger than his justice in this case. These fears, however, she +found existed in Berrendale's mind also, though he ventured only to hint +them with great caution. + +'You think, then, no prudent parents, if my story should be known to +them, would send their children to me?' said Adeline to Berrendale. + +'I fear--I--that is to say, I am sure they would not.' + +'Under such circumstances,' said Adeline, 'you yourself would not send a +child to my school?' + +'Why--really--I--as the world goes,' replied Berrendale. + +'I am answered,' said Adeline with a look and tone of displeasure; and +retired to her chamber, intending not to return till Berrendale was +gone to his own lodging. But her heart soon reproached her with unjust +resentment; and, coming back, she apologized to Berrendale for being +angry at his laudable resolution of acting according to those principles +which he thought most virtuous, especially as she claimed for herself a +similar right. + +Berrendale, gratified by her apology, replied, 'that he saw no objection +to her plan, if she chose to deny him the happiness of sharing his +income with her, provided she would settle in a village where she was +not likely to be known, and change her name.' + +'Change my name! Never. Concealment of any kind almost always implies +the consciousness of guilt; and while my heart does not condemn me, my +conduct shall not seem to accuse me. I will go to whatever place you +shall recommend; but I beg your other request may be mentioned no +more.' + +Berrendale, glad to be forgiven on any terms, promised to comply with +her wishes; and he having recommended to her to settle at a village some +few miles north of London, Adeline hired there a small but commodious +lodging, and issued immediately cards of advertisement, stating what she +meant to teach, and on what terms; while Berrendale took lodgings within +a mile of her, and the faithful mulatto attended her as a servant of +all-work. + +Fortunately, at this time, a lady at Richmond, who had a son the age +of the tawny boy, became so attached to him, that she was desirous of +bringing him up to be the play-fellow and future attendant on her son; +and the mulatto, pleased to have him so well disposed of, resisted the +poor little boy's tears and reluctance at the idea of being separated +from her and Adeline: and before she left Richmond she had the +satisfaction of seeing him comfortably settled in the house of his +patroness. + +Adeline succeeded in her undertaking even beyond her utmost wishes. +Though unknown and unrecommended, there was in her countenance and +manner a something so engaging, so strongly inviting confidence, and +so decisively bespeaking the gentlewoman, that she soon excited in the +village general respect and attention: and no sooner were scholars +entrusted to her care, than she became the idol of her pupils; and their +improvement was rapid in proportion to the love which they bore her. + +This fortunate circumstance proved a balm to the wounded mind +of Adeline. She felt that she had recovered her usefulness--that +desideratum in morals; and life, spite of her misfortunes, acquired a +charm in her eyes. True it was, that she was restored to her capability +of being useful, by being where she was unknown; and because the +mulatto, unknown to her, had described her as reduced to earn her +living, on account of the death of the man to whom she was about to be +married: but she did not revert to the reasons of her being so generally +esteemed; she contented herself with the consciousness of being so; and +for some months she was tranquil, though not happy. But her tranquillity +was destined to be of short duration. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +The village in which Adeline resided happened to be the native place +of Mary Warner, the servant whom she had been forced to dismiss at +Richmond; and who having gone from Mrs Pemberton to another situation, +which she had also quitted, came to visit her friends. + +The wish of saying lessening things of those of whom one hears extravagant +commendations, is, I fear, common to almost every one, even where the +object praised comes in no competition with oneself:--and when Mary +Warner heard from every quarter of the grace and elegance, affability +and active benevolence of the new comer, it was no doubt infinitely +gratifying to her to be able to exclaim,--'Mowbray! did you say her name +is? La! I dares to say it is my old mistress, who was kept by one Mr +Glenmurray!' But so greatly were her auditors prepossessed in favour of +Adeline, that very few of them could be prevailed upon to believe Mary's +supposition was just; and so much was she piqued at the disbelief which +she met with, that she declared she would go to church the next Sunday +to shame the hussey, and go up and speak to her in the church-yard +before all the people. + +'Ah! do so, if you ever saw our Miss Mowbray before,' was the answer: +and Mary eagerly looked forward to the approaching Sunday. Meanwhile, +as we are all of us but too apt to repeat stories to the prejudice of +others, even though we do not believe them, this strange assertion of +Mary was circulated through the village even by Adeline's admirers; and +the next Sunday was expected by the unconscious Adeline alone with no +unusual eagerness. + +Sunday came; and Adeline, as she was wont to do, attended the service: +but from the situation of her pew, she could neither see Mary nor be +seen by her till church was over. Adeline then, as usual, was walking +down the broad walk of the church-yard, surrounded by the parents of the +children who came to her school, and receiving from them the customary +marks of respect, when Mary, bustling through the crowd, accosted her +with:--'So!--your sarvant, Miss Mowbray, I am glad to see you here in +such a respectable situation.' + +Adeline, though in the gaily-dressed lady who accosted her she had some +difficulty in recognizing her quondam servant, recollected the pert +shrill voice and insolent manner of Mary immediately; and involuntarily +starting when she addressed her, from painful associations and fear of +impending evil, she replied, 'How are you, Mary?' in a faltering tone. + +'Then it is Mary's Miss Mowbray,' whispered Mary's auditors of the +day before to each other; while Mary, proud of her success, looked +triumphantly at them, and was resolved to pursue the advantage which +she had gained. + +'So you have lost Mr Glenmurray, I find!' continued Mary. + +Adeline spoke not, but walked hastily on:--but Mary kept pace with her, +speaking as loud as she could. + +'And did the little one live, pray?' + +Still Adeline spoke not. + +'What sort of a getting-up had you, Miss Mowbray?' + +At this mischievously-intended question Adeline's other sensations were +lost in strong indignation; and resuming all the modest but collected +dignity of her manner, she turned round, and fixing her eyes steadily on +the insulting girl, exclaimed aloud, 'Woman, I never injured you either +in thought, word, or deed:--Whence comes it, then, that you endeavour to +make the finger of scorn point at me, and make me shrink with shame and +confusion from the eye of observation?' + +'Woman! indeed!' replied Mary--but she was not allowed to proceed; for a +gentleman hastily stepped forward, crying, 'It is impossible for us to +suffer such insults to be offered to Miss Mowbray:--I desire, therefore, +that you will take your daughter away (turning to Mary's father); and, +if possible, teach her better manners.' Having said this, he overtook +the agitated Adeline; and offering her his arm, saw her home to her +lodgings: while those who had heard with surprise and suspicion the +strange and impertinent questions and insolent tone of Mary, resumed +in a degree their confidence in Adeline, and turned a disgusted and +deaf ear to the hysterical vehemence with which the half-sobbing +Mary defended herself, and vilified Adeline, as her father and +brother-in-law, almost by force, led her out of the church-yard. + +The gentleman who had so kindly stepped forward to the assistance of +Adeline was Mr Beauclerc, the surgeon of the village, a man of +considerable abilities and liberal principles; and when he bade Adeline +farewell, he said, 'My wife will do herself the pleasure of calling on +you this evening:' then, kindly pressing her hand, he with a respectful +bow took his leave. + +Luckily for Adeline, Berrendale was detained in town that day; and she +was spared the mortification of showing herself to him, writhing as +she was under the agonies of public shame, for such it seemed to her. +Convinced as she was of the light in which she must have appeared +to the persons around her from the malicious interrogatories of +Mary;--convinced too, as she was more than beginning to be, of the +fallacy of the reasoning which had led her to deserve, and even to +glory in, the situation which she now blushed to hear disclosed;--and +conscious as she was, that to remain in the village, and expect to +retain her school, was now impossible--she gave herself up to a burst of +sorrow and despondence; during which her only consolation was, that it +was not witnessed by Berrendale. + +It never for a moment entered into the ingenuous mind of Adeline, that +her declaration would have more weight than that of Mary Warner; and +that she might, with almost a certainty of being believed, deny her +charge entirely: on the contrary, she had no doubt but that Mrs +Beauclerc was coming to inquire into the grounds for Mary's gross +address; and she was resolved to confess to her all the circumstances +of her story. + +After church in the afternoon Mrs Beauclerc arrived, and Adeline +observed, with pleasure, that her manner was even kinder than usual; it +was such as to ensure the innocent of the most strenuous support, and to +invite the guilty to confidence and penitence. + +'Never, my dear Miss Mowbray,' said Mrs Beauclerc, 'did I call on you +with more readiness than now; as I come assured that you will give me +not only the most ample authority to contradict, but the fullest means +to confute, the vile calumnies which that malicious girl, Mary Warner, +has, ever since she entered the village, been propagating against you: +but, indeed, she is so little respected in her rank of life, and you so +highly in yours, that your mere denial of the truth of her statement +will, to every candid mind, be sufficient to clear your character.' + +Adeline never before was so strongly tempted to violate the truth; +and there was a friendly earnestness in Mrs Beauclerc's manner, which +proved that it would be almost cruel to destroy the opinion which she +entertained of her virtue. For a moment Adeline felt disposed to yield +to the temptation, but it was only for a moment,--and in a hurried and +broken voice she replied, 'Mary Warner has asserted of me nothing but--' +Here her voice faltered. + +'Nothing but falsehoods, no doubt, interrupted Mrs Beauclerc +triumphantly,--'I thought so.' + +'Nothing but the TRUTH!' resumed Adeline. + +'Impossible!' cried Mrs Beauclerc, dropping the cold hand which she +held: and Adeline, covering her face, and throwing herself back in the +chair, sobbed aloud. + +Mrs Beauclerc was herself for some time unable to speak; but at length +she faintly said--'So sensible, so pious, so well-informed, and so +pure-minded as you seem!--to what strange arts, what wicked seductions, +did you fall a victim?' + +'To no arts--to no seductions'--replied Adeline, recovering all her +energy at this insinuation against Glenmurray. 'My fall from virtue as +you would call it, was, I may say, from love of what I thought virtue; +and if there be any blame, it attaches merely to my confidence in my +lover's wisdom and my own too obstinate self-conceit. But you, dear +madam, deserve to hear my whole story; and, if you can favour me with an +hour's attention, I hope, at least, to convince you that I was worthy of +a better fate than to be publicly disgraced by a malicious and ignorant +girl.' + +Mrs Beauclerc promised the most patient attention; and Adeline related +the eventful history of her life, slightly dwelling on those parts of it +which in any degree reflected on her mother, and extolling most highly +her sense, her accomplishments, and her maternal tenderness. When she +came to the period of Glenmurray's illness and death, she broke abruptly +off and rushed into her own chamber; and it was some minutes before she +could return to Mrs Beauclerc, or before her visitor could wish her to +return, as she was herself agitated and affected by the relation which +she had heard:--and when Adeline came in she threw her arms round her +neck, and pressed her to her heart with a feeling of affection that +spoke consolation to the wounded spirit of the mourner. + +She then resumed her narration;--and, having concluded it, Mrs +Beauclerc, seizing her hand, exclaimed, 'For God's sake, marry Mr +Berrendale immediately; and adjure for ever, at the foot of the altar, +those errors in opinion to which all your misery has been owing!' + +'Would I could atone for them some other way!' she replied. + +'Impossible! and if you have any regard for me you will become the wife +of your generous lover; for then, and not till then, can I venture to +associate with you.' + +'I thought so,' cried Adeline; 'I thought all idea of remaining here, +with any chance of keeping my scholars, was now impossible.' + +'It would not be so,' replied Mrs Beauclerc, 'if every one thought like +me: I should consider your example as a warning to all young people; and +to preserve my children from evil I should only wish them to hear your +story, as it inculcates most powerfully how vain are personal graces, +talents, sweetness of temper, and even active benevolence, to ensure +respectability and confer happiness, without a strict regard to the +long-established rules for conduct, and a continuance in those paths of +virtue and decorum which the wisdom of ages has pointed out to the steps +of every one.--But others will, no doubt, consider, that continuing to +patronize you, would be patronizing vice; and my rank in life is not +high enough to enable me to countenance you with any chance of leading +others to follow my example; while I should not be able to serve you, +but should infallibly lose myself. But some time hence, as the wife of +Mr Berrendale, I might receive you as your merits deserve: till then--' +Here Mrs Beauclerc paused, and she hesitated to add, 'we meet no more.' + +Indeed it was long before the parting took place. Mrs Beauclerc had +justly appreciated the merits of Adeline, and thought she had found in +her a friend and companion for years to come: besides, her children were +most fondly attached to her; and Mrs Beauclerc, while she contemplated +their daily improvement under her care, felt grateful to Adeline for the +unfolding excellencies of her daughters. Still, to part with her was +unavoidable; but the pang of separation was in a degree soothed to +Adeline by the certainty which Mrs Beauclerc's sorrow gave her, that, +spite of her errors, she had inspired a real friendship in the bosom of +a truly virtuous and respectable woman; and this idea gave a sensation +of joy to her heart to which it had long been a stranger. + +The next morning some of the parents, whom Mary's tale had not yet +reached, sent their children as usual. But Adeline refused to enter upon +any school duties, bidding them affectionately farewell, and telling +them that she was going to write to their parents, as she was obliged +to leave her present situation, and, declining keeping school, meant to +reside, she believed in London. + +The children on hearing this looked at each other with almost tearful +consternation; and Adeline observed, with pleasure, the interest which +she had made to herself in their young hearts. After they were gone she +sent a circular letter to her friends in the village, importing that +she was under the necessity of leaving her present residence; but that, +whatever her future situation might be, she should always remember, with +gratitude, the favours which she had received at ----. + +The necessity that drove her away was, by this time, very well +understood by every one; but Mrs Beauclerc took care to tell those who +mentioned the subject to her, the heads of Adeline's story; and to add +always, 'and I have reason to believe that, as soon as she is settled in +town, she will be extremely well married.' + +To the mulatto the change in Adeline's plans was particularly pleasing, +as it would bring her nearer her son, and nearer William, from whom +nothing but a sense of grateful duty to Adeline would so long have +divided her. But Savanna imagined that Adeline's removal was owing to +her having at last determined to marry Mr Berrendale; an event which +she, for Adeline's sake, earnestly wished to take place, though for her +own she was undecided whether to desire it or not, as Mr Berrendale +might not, perhaps, be as contented with her services as Adeline was. + +While these thoughts were passing in Savanna's mind, and her warm and +varying feelings were expressed by alternate smiles and tears, Mr +Berrendale arrived from town: and as Savanna opened the door to him, +she, half whimpering, half smiling, dropped him a very respectful +curtsey, and looked at him with eyes full of unusual significance. + +'Well, Savanna, what has happened?--Anything new or extraordinary since +my absence?' said Berrendale. + +'Me tink not of wat hav appen, but what will happen,' replied Savanna. + +'And what is going to happen?' returned Berrendale, seating himself in +the parlour, 'and where is your mistress?' + +'She dress herself, that dear misses,' replied Savanna, lingering with +the door in her hand, 'and I,--ope to have a dear massa too.' + +'What!' cried Berrendale, starting wildly from his seat, 'what did you +say?' + +'Why me ope my misses be married soon.' + +'Married! to whom?' cried Berrendale, seizing her hand, and almost +breathless with alarm. + +'Why, to you, sure,' exclaimed Savanna, 'and den me hope you will not +turn away poor Savanna?' + +'What reason you have, my dear Savanna, for talking thus, I cannot tell; +nor dare I give way to the sweet hopes which you excite: but, if it be +true that I may hope, depend on it you shall cook my wedding dinner, and +then I am sure it will be a good one.' + +'Can full joy eat?' asked the mulatto thoughtfully. + +'A good dinner is a good thing, Savanna,' replied Berrendale, 'and ought +never to be slighted.' + +'Me good dinner day I marry, but I not eat it.--O sir, pity people look +best in dere wedding clothes, but my William look well all day and every +day, and perhaps you will too, sir; and den I ope to cook your wedding +dinner, next day dinner, and all your dinners.' + +'And so you shall, Savanna,' cried Berrendale, grasping her hand, 'and +I--' Here the door opened, and Adeline appeared; who, surprised at +Berrendale's familiarity with her servant, looked gravely, and stopped +at the door with a look of cold surprise. Berrendale, awed into +immediate respect--for what is so timid and respectful as a man truly +in love?--bowed low, and lost in an instant all the hopes which had +elevated his spirits to such an unusual degree. + +Adeline with an air of pique observed, that she feared she interrupted +them unpleasantly, as something unusually agreeable and enlivening +seemed to occupy them as she came in, over which her entrance seemed to +have cast a cloud. + +The mulatto had by this time retreated to the door, and was on the point +of closing it when Berrendale stammered out, as well as he could, +'Savanna was, indeed, raising my hopes to such an unexpected height, +that I felt almost bewildered with joy; but the coldness of your manner, +Miss Mowbray, has sobered me again.' + +'And what did Savanna say to you?' cried Adeline. + +'I--I say,' cried Savanna returning, 'dat is, he say, I should be let +cook de wedding dinner.' + +Adeline, returning even paler than she was before, desired her coldly to +leave the room; and, seating herself at the greatest possible distance +from Berrendale, leaned for some time in silence on her hand--he not +daring to interrupt her meditations. But at last she said, 'What could +give rise to this singular conversation between you and Savanna I am +wholly at a loss to imagine: still I--I must own that it is not so +ill-timed as it would have been some weeks ago. I will own, that since +yesterday I have been considering your generous proposals with the +serious attention which they deserve.' + +On hearing this, which Adeline uttered with considerable effort, +Berrendale in a moment was at her side, and almost at her feet. + +'I--I wish you to return to your seat,' said Adeline coldly: but hope +had emboldened him, and he chose to stay where he was. + +'But, before I require you to renew your promises, or make any on my +side, it is proper that I should tell you what passed yesterday; and if +the additional load of obloquy which I have acquired does not frighten +you from continuing your addresses--' Here Adeline paused:--and +Berrendale, rather drawing back, then pushing his chair nearer her as +he spoke, gravely answered, that his affection was proof against all +trials. + +Adeline then briefly related the scene in the church-yard, and her +conversation with Mrs Beauclerc, and concluded thus:--'In consequence of +this, and of the recollections of HIS advice, and HIS decided opinion, +that by becoming the wife of a respectable man I could alone expect to +recover my rank in society, and consequently my usefulness, I offer you +my hand; and promise, in the course of a few months, to become yours in +the sight of God and man.' + +'And from no other reason?--from no preference, no regard for me?' +demanded Berrendale reproachfully. + +'Oh! pardon me; from decided preference; there is not another being in +the creation whom I could bear to call husband.' + +Berrendale, gratified and surprised, attempted to take her hand; but, +withdrawing it, she continued thus;--'Still I almost scruple to let +you, unblasted as your prospects are, take a wife a beggar, blasted in +reputation, broken in spirits, with a heart whose best affections lie +buried in the grave, and which can offer you in return for your faithful +tenderness nothing but cold respect and esteem; one too who is not only +despicable to others, but also self-condemned.' + +While Adeline said this, Berrendale, almost shuddering at the picture +which she drew, paced the room in great agitation; and even the +gratification of his passion, used as he was to the indulgence of every +wish, seemed, for a moment, a motive not sufficiently powerful to enable +him to unite his fate to that of a woman so degraded as Adeline appeared +to be; and he would, perhaps, have hesitated to accept the hand she +offered, had she not added, as a contrast to the picture which she had +drawn--'But if, in spite of all these unwelcome considerations, you +persist in your resolution of making me yours, and I have resolution +enough to conquer the repugnance that I feel to make a second connexion, +you may depend on possessing in me one who will study your happiness +and wishes in the minutest particulars;--one who will cherish you in +sickness and in sorrow;--' (here a twinge of the gout assisted Adeline's +appeal very powerfully;) 'and who, conscious of the generosity of your +attachment, and her own unworthiness, will strive, by every possible +effort, not to remain your debtor even in affection.' + +Saying this, she put out her hand to Berrendale; and that hand, and +the arm belonging to it, were so beautiful, and he had so often envied +Glenmurray while he saw them tenderly supporting his head, that while a +vision of approaching gout, and Adeline bending over his restless couch, +floated before him, all his prudent considerations vanished; and, +eagerly pressing the proffered hand to his lips, he thanked her most +ardently for her kind promise; and, putting his arm round her waist, +would have pressed her to his bosom. + +But the familiarity was ill-timed;--Adeline was already surprised, and +even shocked, at the lengths to which she had gone; and starting almost +with loathing from his embrace, she told him it grew late, and it was +time for him to go to his lodgings. She then retired to her own room, +and spent half the night at least in weeping over the remembrance of +Glenmurray, and in loudly apostrophizing his departed spirit. + +The next day Adeline, out of the money which she had earned, discharged +her lodgings; and having written a farewell note to Mrs Beauclerc, +begging to hear of her now and then, she and the mulatto proceeded to +town, with Berrendale, in search of apartments; and having procured +them, Adeline began to consider by what means, till she could resolve to +marry Berrendale, she should help to maintain herself, and also contrive +to increase their income if she became his wife. + +The success which she had met with in instructing children, led her +to believe that she might succeed in writing little hymns and tales +for their benefit; a method of getting money which she looked upon to +be more rapid and more lucrative than working plain or fancy works: +and, in a short time, a little volume was ready to be offered to a +bookseller:--nor was it offered in vain. Glenmurray's bookseller +accepted it; and the sum which he gave, though trifling, imparted a +balsam to the wounded mind of Adeline: it seemed to open to her the path +of independence; and to give her, in spite of her past errors, the means +of serving her fellow-creatures. + +But month after month elapsed, and Glenmurray had been dead two years, +yet still Adeline could not prevail on herself to fix a time for her +marriage. + +But next to the aversion she felt to marrying at all, was that which +she experienced at the idea of having no fortune to bestow on the +disinterested Berrendale; and so desirous was she of his acquiring +some little property by his union with her, that she resolved to ask +counsel's opinion on the possibility of her claiming a sum of money +which Glenmurray had bequeathed to her, but without, as Berrendale had +assured her, the customary formalities. + +The money was near £300; but Berrendale had allowed it to go to +Glenmurray's legal heir, because he was sure that the writing which +bequeathed it would not hold good in law. Still Adeline was so unwilling +to be under so many pecuniary obligations to a man whom she did not +love, that she resolved to take advice on the subject, much against the +will of Berrendale, who thought the money for fees might as well be +saved; but as a chance for saving the fee he resolved to let Adeline go +to the lawyer's chambers alone, thinking it likely that no fee would be +accepted from so fine a woman. Accordingly, more alive to economy than +to delicacy or decorum, Berrendale, when Adeline, desiring a coach to be +called, summoned him to accompany her to the Temple, pleaded terror of +an impending fit of the gout, and begged her to excuse his attendance; +and Adeline, unsuspicious of the real cause of his refusal, kindly +expressing her sorrow for the one he feigned, took the counsellor's +address, and got into the coach, Berrendale taking care to tell her, as +she got in, that the fare was but a shilling. + +The gentleman, Mr Langley, to whom Adeline was going, was celebrated for +his abilities as a chamber counsellor, and no less remarkable for his +gallantries: but Berrendale was not acquainted with this part of his +history: else he would not, even to save a lawyer's fee, have exposed +his intended wife to a situation of such extreme impropriety; and +Adeline was too much a stranger to the rules of general society, to feel +any great repugnance to go alone on an errand so interesting to her +feelings. + +The coach having stopped near the entrance of the court to which she was +directed, Adeline, resolving to walk home, discharged the coach, and +knocked at the door of Mr Langley's chambers. A very smart servant out +of livery answered the knock; and Mr Langley being at home, Adeline was +introduced into his apartment. + +Mr Langley, though surprised at seeing a lady of a deportment so +correct and of so dignified an appearance enter his room unattended, was +inspired with so much respect at the sight of Adeline, whose mourning +habit added to the interest which her countenance never failed to +excite, that he received her with bows down to the ground, and, leading +her to a chair, begged she would do him the honour to be seated, and +impart her commands. + +Adeline, embarrassed, she scarcely knew why, at the novelty of her +situation, drew the paper from her pocket, and presented it to him. + +'Mr Berrendale recommended me to you, sir,' said Adeline faintly. + +'Berrendale, Berrendale, O, aye,--I remember--the cousin of Mr +Glenmurray: you know Mr Glenmurray too, ma'am, I presume; pray how +is he?'--Adeline, unprepared for this question, could not speak; and +the voluble counsellor went on--'Oh!--I ask your pardon, madam, I +see;--pray, might I presume so far, how long has that extraordinary +clever man been lost to the world?' + +'More than two years, sir,' replied Adeline faintly. + +'You are,--may I presume so far,--you are his widow?'--Adeline bowed. +There was a something in Mr Langley's manner and look so like Sir +Patrick's, that she could not bear to let him know she was only +Glenmurray's companion. + +'Gone more than two years, and you still in deep mourning!--Amiable +susceptibility!--How unlike the wives of the present day! But I beg +pardon.--Now to business.' So saying, he perused the paper which Adeline +had given him, in which Glenmurray simply stated, that he bequeathed to +Adeline Mowbray the sum of £260 in the 5 per cents, but it was signed by +only one witness. + +'What do you wish to know, Madam?' asked the counsellor. + +'Whether this will be valid, as it is not signed by two witnesses, sir?' + +'Why,--really not,' replied Langley; 'though the heir-at-law, if we have +either equity or gallantry, could certainly not refuse to fulfil what +evidently was the intention of the testator:--but then, it is very +surprising to me that Mr Glenmurray should have wished to leave any +thing from the lady whom I have the honour to behold. Pray, madam,--if +I may presume to ask,--Who is Adeline Mowbray?' + +'I--I am Adeline Mowbray,' replied Adeline in great confusion. + +'You, madam! Bless me, I presumed;--and pray, madam,--if I may make so +bold,--what was your relationship to that wonderfully clever man?--his +niece,--his cousin,--or,--?' + +'I was no relation of his,' said Adeline still more confused; and this +confusion confirmed the suspicions which Langley entertained, and also +brought to his recollection something which he had heard of Glenmurray's +having a very elegant and accomplished mistress. + +'Pardon me, dear madam,' said Mr Langley, 'I perceive now my mistake; +and I now perceive why Mr Glenmurray was so much the envy of those who +had the honour of visiting at his house. 'Pon my soul,' taking her hand, +which Adeline indignantly, withdrew, 'I am grieved beyond words at being +unable to give you a more favourable opinion.' + +'But you said, sir,' said Adeline, 'that the heir-at-law, if he had +any equity, would certainly be guided by the evident intention of the +testator.' + +'I did, madam,' replied the lawyer, evidently piqued by the proud and +cold air which Adeline assumed;--'but then,--excuse me,--the applicant +would not stand much chance of being attended to, who is neither the +_widow_ nor _relation_ of Mr Glenmurray.' + +'I understand you, sir,' replied Adeline, 'and need trouble you no +longer.' + +'Trouble! my sweet girl!' returned Mr Langley, 'call it not trouble; +I--' Here his gallant effusions were interrupted by the sudden entrance +of a very showy woman, highly rouged, and dressed in the extremity of +the fashion; and who in no very pleasant tone of voice exclaimed,--'I +fear I interrupt you.' + +'Oh! not in the least,' replied Langley, blushing even more than +Adeline, 'my fair client was just going. Allow me, madam, to see you +to the door,' continued he, attempting to take Adeline's hand, and +accompanying her to the bottom of the first flight of stairs. + +'Charming fine woman upon my soul!' cried he, speaking through his shut +teeth, and forcibly squeezing her fingers as he spoke; 'and if you ever +want advice I should be proud to see you here, (with a significant +smile).' Here Adeline, too angry to speak, put the fee in his hand, +which he insisted on returning, and, in the struggle, he forcibly kissed +the ungloved hand which was held out, praising its beauty at the same +time, and endeavouring to close her fingers on the money: but Adeline +indignantly threw it on the ground, and rushed down the remaining +staircase; over-hearing the lady, as she did so, exclaim, 'Langley! is +not that black mawkin gone yet! Come up this moment, you devil!' while +Langley obsequiously replied, 'Coming this moment, my angel!' + +Adeline felt so disappointed, so ashamed, and so degraded, that she +walked on some way without knowing whither she was going; and when she +recollected herself, she found that she was wandering from court to +court, and unable to find the avenue to the street down which the coach +had come: while her very tall figure, heightened colour, and graceful +carriage, made her an object of attention to every one whom she met. + +At last she saw herself followed by two young men; and as she walked +very fast to avoid them, she by accident turned into the very lane which +she had been seeking: but her pursuers kept pace with her; and she +overheard one of them say to the other, 'A devilish fine girl! moves +well too,--I cannot help thinking that I have seen her before.' + +'And I think so too!--by her height, it must be that sweet creature who +lived at Richmond with that crazy fellow, Glenmurray.' + +Here Adeline relaxed in her pace: the name of Glenmurray--that +name which no one since his death had ventured to pronounce in her +presence,--had, during the last half hour, been pronounced several +times; and, unable to support herself from a variety of emotions, she +stopped, and leaned for support against the wall. + +'How do you do, my fleet and swift girl?' said one of the gentlemen:--and +Adeline, roused at the insult, looked at him proudly and angrily, and +walked on. 'What! angry! If I may be so bold,' (with a sneering smile), +'fair creature, may I ask where you live now?' + +'No, sir,' replied Adeline; 'you are wholly unknown to me.' + +'But were you to tell me where you live, we might cease to be strangers; +pray who is your friend now?' + +Here, as his companion gave way to a loud fit of laughter, Adeline +clearly understood what he meant by the term 'friend;' and summoning +up all her spirit, she called a coach which luckily was passing; and +turning round to her tormentor, with great dignity said,--'Though the +situation, sir, in which I once was, may in the eyes of the world, and +in yours, authorize and excuse your present insulting address, yet, when +I tell you that I am on the eve of marriage with a most respectable man, +I trust that you will feel the impropriety of your conduct, and be +convinced of the fruitlessness and impertinence of the questions which +you have put to me.' + +'If this be the case, madam,' cried the gentleman, 'I beg your pardon, +and shall take my leave, wishing you all possible happiness, and begging +you to attribute my impertinence wholly to my ignorance.' So saying, he +bowed and left her, and Adeline was driven to her lodgings. + +'Now,' said Adeline, 'the die is cast;--I have used the sacred name of +wife to shield me from insult; and I am therefore pledged to assume it +directly. Yes, HE was right--I find I must have a legal protector.' + +She found Berrendale rather alarmed at her long absence; and, with a +beating heart, she related her adventures to him: but when she said that +Langley was not willing to take the fee, he exclaimed, 'Very genteel in +him, indeed! I suppose you took him at his word?' + +'Good Heavens!' replied Adeline, 'Do you think I would deign to owe +such a man a pecuniary obligation?--No, indeed; I threw it with proud +indignation on the floor.' + +'What madness!' returned Berrendale: 'you had much better have put it in +your pocket.' + +'Mr Berrendale,' cried Adeline gravely, and with a look bordering on +contempt, 'I trust that you are not in earnest: for if these are your +sentiments,--if this is your delicacy, sir--' + +'Say no more, dearest of women,' replied Berrendale pretending to laugh, +alarmed at the seriousness with which she spoke: 'how could you for one +moment suppose me in earnest? Insolent coxcomb!--I wish I had been +there.' + +'I wish you had,' said Adeline, 'for then no one would have dared to +insult me:' and Berrendale, delighted at this observation, listened to +the rest of her story with a spirit of indignant knight-errantry which +he never experienced before; and at the end of her narration he felt +supremely happy; for Adeline assured him that the next week she would +make him her protector for life:--and this assurance opened his heart so +much, that he vowed he would not condescend to claim of the heir-at-law +the pitiful sum which he might think proper to withhold. + +To be brief.--Adeline kept her word: and resolutely struggling with her +feelings, she became the next week the wife of Berrendale. + +For the first six months the union promised well. Adeline was so +assiduous to anticipate her husband's wishes, and contrived so many +dainties for his table, which she cooked with her own hands, that +Berrendale, declaring himself completely happy for the first time in +his life, had not a thought or a wish beyond his own fireside; while +Adeline, happy because she conferred happiness, and proud of the name of +wife, which she had before despised, began to hope that her days would +glide on in humble tranquillity. + +It was natural enough that Adeline should be desirous of imparting this +change in her situation to Mrs Pemberton, whose esteem she was eager to +recover, and whose kind intentions towards her, at a moment when she +was incapable of appreciating them, Savanna had, with great feeling, +expatiated upon. She therefore wrote to her according to the address +which Mrs Pemberton had left for her, and received a most friendly +letter in return. In a short time Adeline had again an expectation of +being a mother; and though she could not yet entertain for her husband +more than cold esteem, she felt that as the father of her child he would +insensibly become more dear to her. + +But Berrendale awoke from his dream of bliss, on finding to what a large +sum the bills for the half-year's housekeeping amounted. Nor was he +surprised without reason. Adeline, more eager to gratify Berrendale's +palate than considerate as to the means, had forgotten that she was no +longer at the head of a liberal establishment like her mother's, and had +bought for the supply of the table many expensive articles. + +In consequence of this terrible discovery Berrendale remonstrated very +seriously with Adeline; who meekly answered, 'My dear friend, good +dinners cannot be had without good ingredients, and good ingredients +cannot be had without money.' + +'But, madam,' cried Berrendale, knitting his brows, but not elevating +his voice, for he was one of those soft-speaking beings who in the +sweetest tones possible can say the most heart-wounding things, and give +a mortal stab to your self-love in the same gentle manner in which they +flatter it:--'there must have been great waste, great mismanagement +here, or these expenses could not have been incurred.' + +'There may have been both,' returned Adeline, 'for I have not been used +to economize, but I will try to learn;--but I doubt, my dear Berrendale, +you must endeavour to be contented with plainer food; for not all the +economy in the world can make rich gravies and high sauces cheap +things.' + +'Oh! care and skill can do much,' said Berrendale;--'and I find a +certain person deceived me very much when he said you were a good +manager.' + +'He only said,' replied Adeline sighing deeply, 'that I was a good +cook, and you yourself allow that; but I hope in time to please your +appetite at less expense: as to myself, a little suffices me, and I care +not how plain that food is.' + +'Still, I think I have seen you eat with a most excellent appetite,' +said Berrendale, with a very significant expression. + +Adeline shocked at the manner more than the words, replied in a +faltering voice, 'As a proof of my being in health, no doubt you +rejoiced in the sight.' + +'Certainly; but less robust health would suit our finances better.' + +Adeline looked up, wishing, though not expecting, to see by his face +that he was joking: but such serious displeasure appeared on it, that +the sordid selfishness of his character was at once unveiled to her +view; and clasping her hands in agony, she exclaimed, 'Oh Glenmurray!' +and ran into her own room. + +It was the first time that she had pronounced his name since the hour +of his death, and now it was wrung from her by a sensation of acute +anguish; no wonder, then, that the feelings which followed completely +overcame her, and that Berrendale had undisputed and solitary possession +of his supper. + +But he, on his side, was deeply irritated. The 'Oh, Glenmurray!' was +capable of being interpreted two ways:--either it showed how much she +regretted Glenmurray, and preferred him to his successor in spite of +the superior beauty of his person, of which he was very vain; or it +reproached Glenmurray for having recommended her to marry him. In either +case it was an unpardonable fault; and this unhappy conversation laid +the foundation of future discontent. + +Adeline arose the next day dejected, pensive, and resolved that her +appetite should never again, if possible, force a reproach from the lips +of her husband. She therefore took care that whatever she provided for +the table, besides the simplest fare, should be for Berrendale alone; +and she flattered herself that he would be shamed into repentance of +what he had observed, by seeing her scrupulous self-denial:--she even +resolved, if he pressed her to partake of his dainties, that she would, +to show that she forgave him, accept what he offered. + +But Berrendale gave her no such opportunity of showing her +generosity;--busy in the gratification of his own appetite, he never +observed whether any other persons ate or not, except when by eating +they curtailed his share of good things:--besides, to have an exclusive +dish to himself seemed to him quite natural and proper; he had been a +pampered child; and, being no advocate for the equality of the sexes, he +thought it only a matter of course that he should fare better than his +wife. + +Adeline, though more surprised and more shocked than ever, could not +help laughing internally, at her not being able to put her projected +generosity in practice; but her laughter and indignation soon yielding +to contempt, she ate her simple meal in silence: and while her pampered +husband sought to lose the fumes of indigestion in sleep, she blessed +God that temperance, industry and health went hand-in-hand, and, +retiring to her own room, sat down to write, in order to increase, if +possible, her means of living, and consequently her power of being +generous to others. + +But though Adeline resolved to forget, if possible, the petty conduct +of Berrendale, the mulatto, who, from the door's being open, had heard +every word of the conversation which had so disturbed Adeline, neither +could nor would forget it; and though she did not vow eternal hatred to +her master, she felt herself very capable of indulging it, and from that +moment it was her resolution to thwart him. + +Whenever he was present, she was always urging Adeline to eat some +refreshments between meals, and drink wine or lemonade, and tempting +her weak appetite with some pleasant but expensive sweetmeats. In vain +did Adeline refuse them; sometimes they were bought, sometimes only +threatened to be bought; and once when Adeline had accepted some, rather +than mortify Savanna by a refusal, and Berrendale, by his accent and +expression, showed how much he grudged the supposed expense,--the +mulatto, snapping her fingers in his face, and looking at him with an +expression of indignant contempt, exclaimed, 'I buy dem, and pay for dem +wid mine nown money; and my angel lady sall no be oblige to you!' + +This was a declaration of war against Berrendale, which Adeline heard +with anger and sorrow, and her husband with rage. In vain did Adeline +promise that she would seriously reprove Savanna (who had disappeared) +for her impertinence; Berrendale insisted on her being discharged +immediately; and nothing but Adeline's assurances that she, for slender +wages, did more work than two other servants would do for enormous ones, +could pacify his displeasure: but at length he was appeased. And as +Berrendale, from a principle of economy, resumed his old habit of dining +out amongst his friends, getting good dinners by that means without +paying for them, family expenses ceased to disturb the quiet of their +marriage; and after she had been ten months a wife Adeline gave birth to +a daughter. + +That moment, the moment when she heard her infant's first cry, seem +to repay her for all she had suffered; every feeling was lost in the +maternal one; and she almost fancied that she loved, fondly loved, the +father of her child: but this idea vanished when she saw the languid +pleasure, if pleasure it could be called, with which Berrendale +congratulated her on her pain and danger being passed, and received his +child in his arms. + +The mulatto was wild with joy: she almost stifled the babe with her +kisses, and talked even the next day of sending for the tawny boy to +come and see his new mistress, and vow to her, as he had done to her +mother, eternal fealty and allegiance. + +But Adeline saw on Berrendale's countenance a mixed expression,--and he +had mixed feelings. True, he rejoiced in Adeline's safety; but he said +within himself, 'Children are expensive things, and we may have a large +family;' and, leaving the bedside as soon as he could, he retired, to +endeavour to lose in an afternoon's nap his unpleasant reflections. + +'How different,' thought Adeline, 'would have been HIS feelings and HIS +expressions of them at such a time! Oh!--' but the name of Glenmurray +died away on her lips; and hastily turning to gaze on her sleeping babe, +she tried to forget the disappointed emotions of the wife in the +gratified feelings of the mother. + +Still Adeline, who had been used to attentions, could not but feel the +neglect of Berrendale. Even while she kept her room he passed only a few +hours in her society, and dined out; and when she was well enough to +have accompanied him on his visits, she found that he never even wished +her to go with him, though the friends whom he visited were married; +and he met, from his own confessions, other ladies at their tables. She +therefore began to suspect that Berrendale did not mean to introduce her +as his wife; nay, she doubted whether he avowed her to be such; and at +last she brought him to own that, ashamed of having married what the +world must consider as a kept mistress, he resolved to keep her still in +the retirement to which she was habituated. + +This was a severe disappointment indeed to Adeline: she longed for the +society of the amiable and accomplished of her own sex; and hoped that, +as Mr Berrendale's wife, that intercourse with her own sex might be +restored to her which she had forfeited as the mistress of Glenmurray. +Nor could she help reproaching Berrendale for the selfish ease and +indifference with which he saw her deprived of those social enjoyments +which he daily enjoyed himself, convinced as she was that he might, if +he chose, have introduced her at least to his intimate friends. + +But she pleaded and reasoned in vain. Contented with the access which he +had to the tables of his friends, it was of little importance to him +that his wife ate her humble meal alone. His habits of enjoyment had +ever been solitary: the school-boy, who had at school eaten his tart and +cake by stealth in a corner, that he might not be asked to share them +with another, had grown up with the same dispositions to manhood: and as +his parents, thought opulent, were vulgar in their manners and low in +their origin, he had never been taught those graceful self-denials +inculcated into the children of polished life, which, though taught from +factitious and not real benevolence, have certainly a tendency, by long +habit, to make that benevolence real which at first was only artificial. + +Adeline had both sorts of kindness and affection, those untaught of +the heart, and those of education;--she was polite from the situation +into which the accident of birth had thrown her, and also from the +generous impulse of her nature. To her, therefore, the uncultivated and +unblushing _personnalité_, as the French call it, of Berrendale, was a +source of constant wonder and distress: and often, very often did she +feel the utmost surprise at Berrendale's having appeared to Glenmurray +a man likely to make her happy. Often did she wonder how the defects of +Berrendale's character could have escaped his penetrating eyes. + +Adeline forgot that the faults of her husband were such as could be +known only by an intimate connexion, and which cohabitation could alone +call forth;--faults, the existence of which such a man as Glenmurray, +who never considered himself in any transaction whatever, could not +suppose possible; and which, though they inflicted the most bitter pangs +on Adeline, and gradually untwisted the slender thread which had began +to unite her heart with Berrendale's, were of so slight a fabric as +almost to elude the touch, and of a nature to appear almost too trivial +to be mentioned in the narration of a biographer. + +But though it has been long said that trifles make the sum of human +things, inattention to trifles continues to be the vice of every one; +and many a conjugal union which has never been assailed by the battery +of crime, has fallen a victim to the slowly undermining power of petty +quarrels, trivial unkindnesses and thoughtless neglect;--like the +gallant officer, who, after escaping unhurt all the rage of battle by +land and water, tempest on sea and earthquake on shore, returns perhaps +to his native country, and perishes by the power of a slow fever. + +But Adeline, who, amidst all the chimaeras of her fancy and singularities +of her opinions, had happily held fast her religion, began at this +moment to entertain a belief that soothed in some measure the sorrows +which it could not cure. She fancied that all the sufferings she +underwent were trials which she was doomed to undergo, as punishments +for the crime she had committed in leaving her mother and living with +Glenmurray. She therefore welcomed her afflictions, and lifted up her +meek eyes to her God and Saviour, in every hour of her trials, with the +look of tearful but grateful resignation. + +Meanwhile her child, whom, after her mother, she called Editha, was +nursed at her own bosom, and thrived even beyond her expectations. Even +Berrendale beheld its growing beauty with delight, and the mulatto was +wild in praise of it; while Adeline, wholly taken up all day in nursing +and in working for it, and every evening in writing stories and hymns to +publish, which would, she hoped, one day be useful to her own child as +well as to the children of others, soon ceased to regret her seclusion +from society; and by the time Editha was a year old she had learnt to +bear with patience the disappointment she had experienced in Berrendale. + +Soon after she became a mother she again wrote to Mrs Pemberton, as she +longed to impart to her sympathizing bosom those feelings of parental +delight which Berrendale could not understand, and the expression of +which he witnessed with contemptuous and chilling gravity. To this +letter she anticipated a most gratifying return; but month after month +passed away, and no letter from Lisbon arrived. 'No doubt my letter +miscarried,' said Adeline to Savanna, 'and I will write again:' but +she never had resolution to do so; for she felt that her prospects of +conjugal happiness were obscured, and she shrunk equally from the task +of expressing the comfort which she did not feel, or unveiling to +another the errors of her husband. The little regard, meanwhile, which +she had endeavoured to return for Berrendale soon vanished, being unable +to withstand a new violence offered to it. + +Editha was seized with the hooping-cough; and as Adeline had sold her +last little volume to advantage, Berrendale allowed her to take a +lodging at a short distance from town, as change of air was good for the +complaint. She did so, and remained there two months. At her return she +had the mortification to find that her husband, during her absence, had +intrigued with the servant of the house:--a circumstance of which she +would probably have remained ignorant, but for the indiscreet affection +of Savanna, who, in the first transports of her indignation on +discovering the connexion, had been unable to conceal from her mistress +what drove her almost frantic with indignation. + +But Adeline, though she felt disgust and aversion swallowing up the few +remaining sparks of regard for Berrendale which she felt, had one great +consolation under this new calamity.--Berrendale had not been the choice +of her heart: 'But, thank Heaven! I never loved this man,' escaped her +lips as she ran into her own room; and pressing her child to her bosom, +she shed on its unconscious cheeks the tears which resentment and a deep +sense of injury wrung from her.--'Oh! had I loved him,' she exclaimed, +'this blow would have been mortal!' + +She, however, found herself in one respect the better for Berrendale's +guilt. Conscious that the mulatto was aware of what had passed, and +afraid lest she should have mentioned her discovery to Adeline, +Berrendale endeavoured to make amends for his infidelity by attention +such as he had never shown her since the first weeks of his marriage; +and had she not been aware of the motive, the change in his behaviour +would have re-awakened her tenderness. However, it claimed at least +complaisance and gentleness from her while it lasted: which was not +long; for Berrendale, fancying from the apparent tranquillity of Adeline +(the result of indifference, not ignorance,) that she was not informed +of his fault, and that the mulatto was too prudent to betray him, began +to relapse into his old habits; and one day, forgetting his assumed +liberality, he ventured, when alone with Savanna, who was airing one of +Editha's caps, to expatiate on the needless extravagance of his wife in +trimming her child's caps with lace. + +This was enough to rouse the quick feelings of the mulatto, and she +poured forth all her long concealed wrath in a torrent of broken +English, but plain enough to be well understood.--'You man!' she cried +at last, 'you will kill her; she pine at your no kindness;--and if she +die, mind me, man! never you marry aden.--You marry, forsoot! you marry +a lady! true bred lady like mine! No, man!--You best get a cheap miss +from de street and be content--' + +As she said this, and in an accent so provoking that Berrendale was pale +and speechless with rage, Adeline entered the room; and Savanna, +self-condemned already from what she had uttered, was terrified when +Adeline, in a tone of voice unusually severe, said, 'Leave the room; you +have offended me past forgiveness.' + +These words, in a great measure, softened the angry feelings of +Berrendale, as they proved that Adeline resented the insult offered to +him as deeply as he could wish; and with some calmness he exclaimed, +'Then I conclude, Mrs Berrendale, that you will have no objection to +discharge your mulatto directly?' + +This conclusion, though a very natural one, was both a shock and a +surprise to Adeline; nor could she at first reply. + +'You are _silent_, madam,' said Berrendale; 'what is your answer? Yes, +or No?' + +'Yes,--yes,--certainly,' faltered out Adeline; 'she--she ought to go--I +mean that she has used very improper language to you.' + +'And, therefore, a wife who resents as she ought to do, injuries offered +to her husband cannot hesitate for a moment to discharge her.' + +'True, very true in some measure,' replied Adeline; 'but--' + +'But what?' demanded Berrendale. 'O Berrendale!' cried Adeline, bursting +into an agony of frantic sorrow, 'if she leaves me, what will become of +me! I shall lose the only person now in the world, perhaps, who loves me +with sincere and faithful affection!' + +Berrendale was wholly unprepared for an appeal like this; and, +speechless from surprise not unmixed with confusion, staggered into the +next chair. He was conscious, indeed, that his fidelity to his wife had +not been proof against a few weeks' absence; but then, being, like most +men, not over delicate in his idea on such subjects, as soon as Adeline +returned he had given up the connexion which he had formed, and +therefore he thought she had not much reason to complain. In all other +respects he was sure that he was an exemplary husband, and she had no +just grounds for doubting his affection. He was sure that she had no +reason to accuse him of unkindness; and, unless she wished him to be +always tied to her apron-string, he was certain he had never omitted to +pay her all proper attention. + +Alas! he felt not the many wounds he had inflicted by + + 'The word whose meaning kills; yet, told, + The speaker wonders that you thought it cold.' + +and he had yet to learn, that in order to excite or testify affection, +it is necessary to seem to derive exclusive enjoyment from the society +of the object avowed to be beloved, and to seek its gratification in +preference to one's own, even in the most trivial things. He knew +not that opportunities of conferring large benefits, like bank-bills +for £1,000, rarely come into use; but little attentions, friendly +participations and kindnesses, are wanted daily, and like small change, +are necessary to carry on the business of life and happiness. + +A minute more perhaps, elapsed, before Berrendale recovered himself +sufficiently to speak: and the silence was made still more awful to +Adeline, by her hearing from the adjoining room the sobs of the mulatto. +At length, 'I cannot find words to express my surprise at what you have +just uttered,' exclaimed Berrendale. 'My conscience does not reproach me +with deserving the reproof it contained.' + +'Indeed!' replied Adeline, fixing her penetrating eyes on his, which +shrunk downcast and abashed from her gaze. Adeline saw her advantage, +and pursued it. + +'Mr Berrendale,' continued she, 'it is indeed true, that the mulatto has +offended both of us; for in offending _you_ she has offended _me_; but, +have you committed no fault, nothing for _me_ to forgive? I know that +you are too great a lover of truth, too honourable a man, to declare +that you have not deserved the just anger of your wife: but you know +that I have never reproached you, nor should you ever have been aware +that I was privy to the distressing circumstance to which I allude, but +for what has just passed: and, now, do but forgive the poor mulatto, who +sinned only from regard for me, and from supposed slight offered to her +mistress, and I will not only assure you of my forgiveness, but, from +this moment, will strenuously endeavour to blot from my remembrance +every trace of what has passed.' + +Berrendale, conscious and self-condemned, scarcely knew what to answer; +but, thinking that it was better to accept Adeline's offer even on her +own conditions, he said, that if Savanna would make a proper apology, +and Adeline would convince her that she was seriously displeased with +her, he would allow her to stay; and Adeline having promised every thing +which he asked, peace was again restored. + +'But what can you mean, Adeline,' said Berrendale, 'by doubting my +affection? I think I gave a sufficient proof of that, when, disregarding +the opinion of the world, I married you, though you had been the +mistress of another: and I really think that, by accusing me of +unkindness, you make me a very ungrateful return.' To this indelicate +and unfeeling remark Adeline vainly endeavoured to reply; but, starting +from her chair, she paced the room in violent agitation. 'Answer me,' +continued Berrendale, 'name one instance in which I have been unkind to +you.' Adeline suddenly stopped, and, looking steadfastly at him, smiled +with a sort of contemptuous pity, and was on the point of saying, 'Is +not what you have now said an instance of unkindness?' But she saw that +the same want of delicacy, and of that fine moral _tact_ which led him +to commit this and similar assaults on her feelings, made him +unconscious of the violence which he offered. + +Finding, therefore, that he could not understand her causes of +complaint, even if it were possible for her to define them, she replied, +'Well, perhaps I was too hasty, and in a degree unjust: so let us drop +the subject; and, indeed, my dear Berrendale, you must bear with my +weakness: remember, I have always been a spoiled child.' + +Here the image of Glenmurray and that of _home_, the home which she once +knew, the home of her childhood, and of her _earliest_ youth, pressed +on her recollection. She thought of her mother, of the indulgencies +which she had once known, of the advantages, of opulence, the value of +which she had never felt till deprived of them; and, struck with the +comparative forlornness of her situation--united for life to a being +whose sluggish sensibilities could not understand, and consequently not +soothe, the quick feelings and jealous susceptibility of her nature--she +could hardly forbear falling at the feet of her husband, and conjuring +him to behave, at least, with forbearance to her, and to speak and look +at her with kindness. + +She did stretch out her hand to him with a look of mournful entreaty, +which, though not understood by Berrendale, was not lost upon him +entirely. He thought it was a confession of her weakness and his +superiority; and, flattered by the thought into unusual softness, he +caught her fondly to his bosom, and gave up an engagement to sup at an +oyster club, in order to spend the evening tête-à-tête with his wife. +Nay, he allowed the little Editha to remain in the room for a whole +hour, though she cried when he attempted to take her in his arms, and, +observing that it was a cold evening, allowed Adeline her due share of +the fire-side. + +These circumstances, trivial as they were, had more than their due +effect on Adeline, whose heart was more alive to kindness than +unkindness; and those paltry attentions of which happy wives would not +have been conscious, were to her a source of unfeigned pleasure.--As +sailors are grateful, after a voyage unexpectedly long, for the muddy +water which at their first embarking they would have turned from with +disgust. + +That very night Adeline remonstrated with the mulatto on the impropriety +of her conduct; and, having convinced her that in insulting her husband +she failed in respect to her, Savanna was prevailed upon the next +morning to ask pardon of Berrendale; and, out of love for her mistress, +she took care in future to do nothing that required forgiveness. + +As Adeline's way of life admitted of but little variety, Berrendale +having persisted in not introducing her to his friends, on the plea of +not being rich enough to receive company in return, I shall pass over in +silence what occurred to her till Editha was two years old; premising +that a series of little injuries on the part of Berrendale, and a quick +resentment of them on the part of Adeline, which not even her habitual +good humour could prevent, had, during that time, nearly eradicated +every trace of love for each other from their hearts. + +One evening Adeline as usual, in the absence of her husband, undressed +Editha by the parlour fire, and, playing with the laughing child, was +enjoying the rapturous praises which Savanna put forth of its growing +beauty; while the tawny boy, who had spent the day with them, built +houses with cards on the table, which Editha threw down as soon as they +were built, and he with good-humoured perseverance raised up again. + +Adeline, alive only to the maternal feeling, at this moment had +forgotten all her cares; she saw nothing but the happy group around her, +and her countenance wore the expression of recovered serenity. + +At this moment a loud knock was heard at the door, and Adeline, starting +up, exclaimed, 'It is my husband's knock!' + +'O! no:--he never come so soon,' replied the mulatto running to the +door; but she was mistaken--it was Berrendale: and Adeline, hearing his +voice, began instantly to snatch up Editha's clothes, and to knock down +the tawny boy's newly-raised edifice: but order was not restored when +Berrendale entered; and, with a look and tone of impatience, he said, +'So! fine confusion indeed! Here's a fire-side to come to! Pretty +amusement too, for a literary lady--building houses of cards! Shame on +your extravagance, Mrs Berrendale, to let that brat spoil cards in that +way!' + +The sunshine of Adeline's countenance on hearing this vanished: to be +sure, she was accustomed to such speeches; but the moment before she had +felt happy, for the first time, for years. She, however, replied not; +but hurrying Editha to bed, ordering the reluctant tawny boy into the +kitchen, and setting Berrendale's chair, as usual, in the warmest place, +she ventured in a faint voice to ask, what had brought him home so +early. + +'More early than welcome,' replied Berrendale, 'if I may judge from the +bustle I have occasioned.' + +'It is very true,' replied Adeline, 'that, had I expected you, I should +have been better prepared for your reception; and then you, perhaps, +would have spoken more kindly to me.' + +'There--there you go again.--If I say but a word to you, then I am +called unkind, though I never speak without just provocation: and, I +declare, I came home in the best humour possible, to tell you what +may turn out of great profit to us both:--but when a man has an +uncomfortable home to come to, it is enough to put him out of humour.' + +The mulatto, who was staying to gather up the cards which had fallen, +turned herself round on hearing this, and exclaimed, 'Home was very +comfortable till you come;' and then with a look of the most angry +contempt she left the room, and threw the door to with great violence. + +'But what is this good news, my dear?' said Adeline, eager to turn +Berrendale's attention from Savanna's insolent reply. + +'I have received a letter,' he replied, 'which, by the by, I ought to +have had some weeks ago, from my father-in-law in Jamaica, authorizing +me to draw on his banker for £900, and inviting me to come over to him; +as he feels himself declining, and wishes to give me the care of his +estate, and of my son, to whom all his fortune will descend: and of +whose interest, he properly thinks, no one can be so likely to take good +care as his own father.' + +'And do you mean that I and Editha should go with you?' said Adeline +turning pale. + +'No, to be sure not,' eagerly replied Berrendale; 'I must first see how +the land lies. But if I go--as the old man no doubt will make a handsome +settlement on me--I shall be able to remit to you a very respectable +annuity.' + +Adeline's heart, spite of herself, bounded with joy at this discovery; +but she had resolution to add,--and if duplicity can ever be pardonable, +this was,--'So then the good news which you had to impart to me was, +that we were going to be separated!' But as she said this, the +consciousness that she was artfully trying to impress Berrendale with +an idea of her feeling a sorrow which was foreign to her heart, overcame +her; and affected also at being under the necessity of rejoicing at the +departure of that being who ought to be the source of her comfort, she +vainly struggled to regain composure, and burst into an agony of tears. + +But her consternation cannot be expressed, when she found that +Berrendale imputed her tears to tender anguish at the idea of parting +with him: and when, his vanity being delighted by this homage to his +attractions, he felt all his fondness for her revive, and, overwhelming +her with caresses, he declared that he would reject the offer entirely +if by accepting it he should give her a moment's uneasiness; Adeline, +shocked at his error, yet not daring to set him right, could only weep +on his shoulder in silence: but, in order to make real the distress +which he only fancied so, she enumerated to herself all the diseases +incident to the climate, and the danger of the voyage. Still the idea of +Berrendale's departure was so full of comfort to her, that, though her +tears continued to flow, they flowed not for his approaching absence. At +length, ashamed of fortifying him in so gross an error, she made an +effort to regain her calmness, and found words to assure him, that she +would no longer give way to such unpardonable weakness, as she could +assure him that she wished his acceptance of his father-in-law's offer, +and had no desire to oppose a scheme so just and so profitable. + +But Berrendale, to whose vanity she had never before offered such a +tribute as her tears seemed to be, imputed these assurances to +disinterested love and female delicacy, afraid to own the fondness which +it felt; and the rest of the evening was spent in professions of love on +his part, which, on Adeline's, called forth at least some grateful and +kind expressions in return. + +Still, however, she persisted in urging Berrendale to go to Jamaica: +but, at the same time, she earnestly begged him to remember, that +temperance could alone preserve his health in such a climate:--'or the +use of pepper in great quantities,' replied he, 'to counteract the +effects of good living?'--and Adeline, though convinced temperance was +the _best_ preservation, was forced to give up the point, especially as +Berrendale began to enumerate the number of delicious things for the +table which Jamaica afforded. + +To be brief: Berrendale, after taking a most affectionate leave of his +wife and child, a leave which almost made the mulatto his friend, and +promising to allow them £200, a-year till he should be able to send +over for them, set sail for Jamaica; while Adeline, the night of his +departure, endeavoured, by conjuring up all the horrors of a tempest at +sea on his passage, and of a hurricane and an earthquake on shore when +he arrived, to force herself to feel such sorrow as the tenderness which +he had expressed at the moment of parting seemed to make it her duty to +feel. + +But morning came, and with it a feeling of liberty and independence so +delightful, that she no longer tried to grieve on speculation as it +were; but giving up her whole soul to the joys of maternal fondness, she +looked forward with pious gratitude to days of tranquil repose, save +when she thought with bitter regret of the obdurate anger of her mother, +and with tender regret of the lost and ever lamented Glenmurray. + +Berrendale had been arrived at Jamaica some months, when Adeline +observed a most alarming change in Savanna. She became thin, her +appetite entirely failed, and she looked the image of despondence. In +vain did Adeline ask the reason of a change so apparent: the only answer +she could obtain was, 'Me better soon;' and, continuing every day to +give this answer, she in a short time became so languid as to be obliged +to lie down half the day. + +Adeline then found that it was necessary to be more serious in her +interrogatories; but the mulatto at first only answered, 'No, me die, +but me never break my duty vow to you: no, me die, but never leave you.' + +These words implying a wish to leave her, with a resolution not to +do so how much soever it might cost her, alarmed in a moment the ever +disinterested sensibility of Adeline; and she at length wrung from her a +confession that her dear William, who was gone to Jamaica as a servant +to a gentleman, was, she was credibly informed, very ill and like to +die. + +'You therefore wish to go and nurse him, I suppose, Savanna?' + +'Oh! me no wish; me only tink dat me like to go to Jamaica, see if be +true dat he be so bad; and if he die, I den return and die wid you.' + +'Live with me, you mean, Savanna; for, indeed, I cannot spare you. +Remember, you have given me a right to claim your life as mine; nor can +I allow you to throw away my property in fruitless lamentations, and the +indolent indulgence of regret. You shall go to Jamaica, Savanna: Heaven +forbid that I should keep a wife from her duty! You shall see and try +to recover William if he be really ill,' (Savanna here threw herself +on Adeline's neck,) 'and then you shall return to me, who will either +warmly share in your satisfaction or fondly sooth your distress.' + +'Den you do love poor Savanna?' + +'Love you! Indeed I do, next to my child, and,--and my mother,' replied +Adeline, her voice faltering. + +'Name not dat woman,' cried Savanna hastily; 'me will never see, never +speak to her even in heaven.' + +'Savanna, remember, she is my mother.' + +'Yes, and Mr Berrendale be your husban; and yet, who dat love you can +love dem?' + +'Savanna,' replied Adeline, 'these proofs of your regard, though +reprehensible, are not likely to reconcile me to your departure; and I +already feel that in losing you--' Here she paused, unable to proceed. + +'Den me no go--me no go:--yet, dearest lady, you have love yourself.' + +'Aye, Savanna, and can feel for you: so say no more. The only difficulty +will be to raise money enough to pay for your passage, and expenses +while there.' + +'Oh! me once nurse the captain's wife who now going to Jamaica, and +she love me very much; and he tell me yesterday that he let me go +for nothing, because I am good nurse to his wife, if me wish to see +William.' + +'Enough,' replied Adeline: 'then all I have to do is to provide you with +money for your maintenance when you arrive; and I have no doubt but that +what I cannot supply the tawny boy's generous patroness will.' + +Adeline was not mistaken. Savanna obtained from her son's benefactress +a sum equal to her wants; and almost instantly restored to her wonted +health, by her mind's being lightened of the load which oppressed it, +she took her passage on board her friend's vessel, and set sail for +Jamaica, carrying with her letters from Adeline to Berrendale; while +Adeline felt the want of Savanna in various ways, so forcibly, that not +even Editha could, for a time at least, console her for her loss. It had +been so grateful to her feelings to meet every day the eyes of one being +fixed with never-varying affection on hers, that, when she beheld those +eyes no longer, she felt alone in the universe,--nor had she a single +female friend to whom she could turn for relief or consolation. + +Mrs Beauclerc, to whose society she had expected to be restored by +her marriage, had been forced to give up all intercourse with her, in +compliance with the peremptory wishes of a rich old maid, from whom her +children had great expectations, and who threatened to leave her fortune +away from them, if Mrs Beauclerc persisted in corresponding with a woman +so bad in principle, and so wicked in practice, as Adeline appeared to +her to be. + +But, at length, from a mother's employments, from writing, and, above +all, from the idea that by suffering she was making some atonement for +her past sins, she derived consolation, and became resigned to every +evil that had befallen, and to every evil that might still befall her. + +Perhaps she did not consider as an evil what now took place: increasing +coldness in the letters of Berrendale, till he said openly at last, that +as they were, he was forced to confess, far from happy together, and +as the air of Jamaica agreed with him, and as he was resolved to stay +there, he thought she had better remain in England, and he would remit +her as much money occasionally as his circumstances would admit of. + +But she thought this a greater evil than it at first appeared; when +an agent of Berrendale's father-in-law in England, and a friend of +Berrendale himself, called on her, pretending that he came to inquire +concerning her health, and raised in her mind suspicions of a very +painful nature. + +After the usual compliments:--'I find, madam,' said Mr Drury, 'that our +friend is very much admired by the ladies in Jamaica.' + +'I am glad to hear it, sir,' coolly answered Adeline. + +'Well, that's kind and generous now,' replied Drury, 'and very +disinterested.' + +'I see no virtue, sir, in my rejoicing of what must make Mr Berrendale's +abode in Jamaica pleasant to him.' + +'May be so; but most women, I believe, would be apt to be jealous on the +occasion.' + +'But it has been the study of my life, sir, to endeavour to consider my +own interest, when it comes in competition with another's, as little as +possible;--I doubt I have not always succeeded in my endeavours: but on +this occasion I am certain that I have expressed no sentiment which I do +not feel.' + +'Then, madam, if my friend should have an opportunity, as indeed I +believe he has, of forming a most agreeable and advantageous marriage, +you would not try to prevent it?' + +'Good heavens! sir,' replied Adeline; 'What can you mean? Mr Berrendale +form an advantageous marriage when he is already married to me?' + +'Married to you, ma'am!' answered Mr Drury with a look of incredulity. +'Excuse me, but I know that such marriages as yours may be easily +dissolved.' + +At first Adeline was startled at this assertion; but recollecting that +it was impossible any form or ceremony should have been wanting at the +marriage, she recovered herself, and demanded, with an air of severity, +what Mr Drury meant by so alarming and ill-founded a speech. + +'My meaning, ma'am,' replied he, 'must be pretty evident to you: I mean +that I do not look upon you, though you bear Mr Berrendale's name, to be +his lawful wife; but that you live with him on the same terms on which +you lived with Mr Glenmurray.' + +'And on what, sir, could you build such an erroneous supposition?' + +'On Mr Berrendale's own words, madam; who always spoke of his connexion +with you, as of a connexion which he had formed in compliance with love +and in defiance of prudence.' + +'And is it possible that he could be such a villain?' exclaimed +Adeline. 'Oh my child! and does thy father brand thee with the stain of +illegitimacy?--But, sir, whatever appellation Mr Berrendale might choose +to give his union with me to his friends in England, I am sure he will +not dare to incur the penalty attendant on a man's marrying one wife +while he has another living; for, that I am his wife, I can bring pretty +sufficient evidence to prove.' + +'Indeed, madam! You can produce a witness of the ceremony, then, I +presume?' + +'No, sir; the woman who attended me to the altar, and the clergyman who +married us, are dead; and the only witness is a child now only ten years +old.' + +'That is unfortunate!' (with a look of incredulity) 'but, no doubt, when +you hear that Mr Berrendale is married to a West Indian heiress, you +will come forward with incontrovertible proofs of your prior claims; and +if you do that, madam, you may command my good offices:--but, till then, +I humbly take my leave.'--Saying this, with a very visible sneer on his +countenance he departed, leaving Adeline in a state of distress--the +more painful to endure from her having none to participate in it,--no +one to whom she could impart the cause of it. + +That Mr Drury did not speak of the possible marriage of Berrendale from +mere conjecture, was very apparent; and Adeline resolved not to delay +writing to her husband immediately, to inform him of what had passed, +and put before his eyes, in the strongest possible manner, the guilt of +what he was about to do; and also the utter impossibility of its being +successful guilt, as she was resolved to assert her claims for the sake +of her child, if not for her own. This letter she concluded, and with +truth too, with protestations of believing all Mr Drury said to be +false: for, indeed, the more she considered Berrendale's character, +the more she was convinced that, however selfish and defective his +disposition might be, it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, +than Berrendale be a villain. + +But, where a man's conduct is not founded on virtuous motives and +immutable principles, he may not err while temptation is absent; but +once expose him to her presence, and he is capable of falling into the +very vices the most abhorrent to his nature: and though Adeline knew it +not, such a man was Berrendale. + +Adeline, having relieved her mind by this appeal to her husband, and +being assured that Berrendale could not be married before her letter +could reach him, as it was impossible that he should dare to marry while +the mulatto was in the very town near which he resided, felt herself +capable of attending to her usual employments again, and had recovered +her tranquillity, when an answer to her letter arrived; and Adeline, +being certain that the letter itself would be a proof of the marriage, +had resolved to show it, in justification of her claims, to Mr Drury. + +What then must have been her surprise, to find it exactly such a letter +as would be evidence against a marriage between her and Berrendale +having ever taken place! He thanked her for the expressions of fond +regret which her letter contained, and for the many happy hours which he +owed to her society; but hoped that, as Fate had now separated their +destinies, she could be as happy without him as she had been with him; +and assuring her that he should, according to his promise, regularly +remit her £150 a-year if possible, but that he could at present only +inclose a draft for £50. + +Adeline was absolutely stupified with horror at reading this apparent +confirmation of the villany of her husband and the father of her child; +but roused to indignant exertion by the sense of Berrendale's baseness, +and of what she owed her daughter, she resolved to take counsel's +opinion in what manner she should proceed to prove her marriage, as soon +as she was assured that Berrendale's (which she had no doubt was fixed +upon) should have taken place; and this intelligence she received +a short time after the mulatto herself, who, worn out with sorrow, +sickness, and hardship, one day tottered into the house, seeming as if +she indeed only returned to die with her mistress. + +At first the joy of seeing Savanna restored to her swallowed up every +other feeling; but tender apprehension for the poor creature's health +soon took possession of her mind, and Adeline drew from her a narrative, +which exhibited Berrendale to her eyes as capable of most atrocious +actions. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +It is very certain that when Berrendale left England, though he meant to +conceal his marriage entirely, he had not even the slightest wish to +contract another; and had any one told him that he was capable of such +wicked conduct, he would have answered, like Hazael, 'Is thy servant +a dog that he should do this thing?' But he was then unassailed by +temptations:--and habituated as he was to selfish indulgence, it was +impossible that to strong temptation he should not fall an immediate +victim. + +This strong temptation assailed him soon after his arrival, in the +person of a very lovely and rich widow, a relation of his first wife, +who, having no children of her own, had long been very fond of his +child, then a very fine boy, and with great readiness transferred to the +father the affection which she bore the son. For some time conscience +and Adeline stood their ground against this new mistress and her immense +property; but at length, being pressed by his father-in-law, who wished +the match, to assign a sufficient reason for his coldness to so fine +a woman, and not daring to give the true one, he returned the lady's +fondness: and though he had not yet courage enough to name the marriage +day, it was known that it would some time or other take place. + +But all his scruples soon yielded to the dominion which the attractions +of the lady, who was well versed in the arts of seduction, obtained over +his senses, and to the strong power which the sight of the splendour in +which she lived, acquired over his avarice; when, just as every thing +was on the point of being concluded, the poor mulatto, who had found her +husband dead, arrived almost broken-hearted at the place of Berrendale's +abode, and delivered to him letters from Adeline. + +Terrified and confounded at her presence, he received her with +such evident marks of guilty confusion in his face, that Savanna's +apprehensive and suspicious attachment to her mistress took the alarm; +and, as she had seen a very fine woman leave the room as she entered, +she, on pretence of leaving Berrendale alone to read his letters, +repaired to the servants' apartments, where she learnt the intended +marriage. Immediately forgetting her own distresses in those of Adeline, +she returned to Berrendale, not with the languid, mournful pace with +which she had first entered, but with the firm, impetuous and intrepid +step of conscious integrity going to confound vice in the moment of its +triumph. + +Berrendale read his doom, the moment he beheld her, in her dark and +fiery eye, and awaited in trembling silence the torrent of reproaches +that trembled on her lip. But I shall not repeat what passed. Suffice +that Berrendale pretended to be moved by what she said, and promised +to break off the marriage,--only exacting from Savanna, in return, a +promise of not imparting to the servants, or to any one, that he had a +wife in England. + +In the meanwhile he commended her most affectionately to the care of the +steward; and confessing to his intended bride that he had a mistress in +England, who had sent the mulatto over to prevent the match if possible, +by persuading her he was already married, he conjured her to consent to +a private marriage; and to prevent some dreadful scene, occasioned by +the revenge of disappointed passion, should his mistress, as she had +threatened, come over in person, he entreated her to let every splendid +preparation for their nuptials be laid aside, in order to deceive +Savanna, and induce her to return quietly to England. + +The credulous woman, too much in love to believe what she did not wish, +consented to all he proposed: but Berrendale, still fearful of the +watchful jealousy of Savanna, contrived to find out the master to whom +she belonged before she had escaped, early in life, with her first +husband to England; and as she had never been made free, as soon as he +arrived, he, on a summons from Berrendale, seized her as his property; +and poor Savanna, in spite of her cries and struggles, was conveyed some +miles up the country. + +At length, however, she found means to escape to the coast; and, having +discovered an old acquaintance in an English sailor on board a vessel +then ready to sail, and who had great influence with the captain, she +was by him concealed on board, with the approbation of the commander, +and was on her way to England before Berrendale was informed of her +escape. + +I will not endeavour to describe Adeline's feelings on hearing this +narration, and on finding also that Savanna before she left the island +had been assured that Berrendale was really married, though privately, +but that the marriage could not long be attempted to be concealed, as +the lady even before it took place was likely to become a mother; and, +that as a large estate depended on her giving birth to a son, the event +of her confinement was looked for with great anxiety. + +Still, in the midst of her distress, a sudden thought struck Adeline, +which converted her anger into joy, and her sorrow into exultation. +'Yes, my mother may now forgive me without violating any part of her +oath,' she exclaimed.--'I am now forsaken, despised and disgraced!'--and +instantly she wrote to Mrs Mowbray a letter calculated to call forth +all her sympathy and affection. Then, with a mind relieved beyond +expression, she sat down to deliberate in what manner she should act to +do herself justice as a wife and a mother, cruelly aggrieved in both +these intimate relations. Nor could she persuade herself that she should +act properly by her child, if she did not proceed vigorously to prove +herself Berrendale's wife, and substantiate Editha's claim to his +property; and as Mr Langley was, she knew, a very great lawyer, she +resolved, in spite of his improper conduct to her, to apply to him +again. + +Indeed she could not divest herself of a wish to let him know that she +was become a wife, and no longer liable to be treated with that freedom +with which, as a mistress, he had thought himself at liberty to address +her. However, she wished that she had not been obliged to go to him +alone; but, as the mulatto was in too weak a state of health to allow of +her going out, and she could not speak of business like hers before any +one else, she was forced to proceed unaccompanied to the Temple; and on +the evening of the day after Savanna's return, she with a beating heart, +repaired once more to Mr Langley's chambers. + +Luckily, however, she met the tawny boy on her way, and took him for +her escort. 'Tell your master,' said she to the servant, 'that Mrs +Berrendale wishes to speak to him:' and in a few minutes she was +introduced. + +'Mrs Berrendale!' cried Langley with a sarcastic smile; 'pray be seated, +madam! I hope Mr Berrendale is well.' + +'He is in Jamaica, sir,' replied Adeline. + +'Indeed!' returned Langley. 'May I presume so far as to ask,--hem, +hem,--whether your visit to me be merely of a professional nature?' + +'Certainly, sir,' replied Adeline: 'of what other nature should it be?' + +Langley replied to this only by a significant smile. At this moment the +tawny boy asked leave to walk in the temple gardens; and Adeline, though +reluctantly, granted his request. + +'Oh! à propos, John,' cried Langley to the servant, 'let Mrs Montgomery +know that her friend Miss Mowbray, Mrs Berrendale I mean, is here--she +is walking in the garden.' + +'My friend Mrs Montgomery, sir! I have no friend of that name.' + +'No, my sweet soul? You may not know her by that name; but names change, +you know. You, for instance, are Mrs Berrendale now, but when I see you +again you may be Mrs Somebody else.' + +'Never, sir,' cried Adeline indignantly; 'but, though I do not exactly +understand your meaning, I feel as if you meant to insult me, and +therefore--' + +'Oh no--sit down again, my angel; you are mistaken, and so apt to fly +off in a tangent! But--so--that wonderfully handsome man, Berrendale, is +off--heh? Your friend and mine, heh! pretty one!' + +'If, sir, Mr Berrendale ever considered you as his friend, it is very +strange that you should presume to insult his wife.' + +'Madam,' replied Langley with a most provoking sneer, 'Mr Berrendale's +wife shall always be treated by me with proper respect.' + +'Gracious Heaven!' cried Adeline, clasping her hands and looking upwards +with tearful eyes, 'when shall my persecutions cease! and how much +greater must my offences be than even my remorse paints them, when their +consequences still torment me so long after the crime which occasioned +them has ceased to exist! But it is Thy will, and I will submit even to +indignity with patience.' + +There was a touching solemnity in this appeal to Heaven, an expression +of truth, which it was so impossible for art to imitate, that Langley +felt in a moment the injustice of which he had been guilty, and an +apology was on his lips, when the door opened, and a lady rouged like a +French countess of the ancien régime, her hair covered with a profusion +of brown powder, and dressed in the height of fashion, ambled into the +room; and saying, 'How d'ye do, Miss Mowbray?' threw herself carelessly +on the sofa, to the astonishment of Adeline, who did not recollect her, +and to the confusion of Langley, who now, impressed with involuntary +respect for Adeline, repented of having exposed her to the scene that +awaited her: but to prevent it was impossible; he was formed to be a +slave of woman, and had not courage to protect another from the +insolence to which he tamely yielded himself. + +Adeline at first did not answer this soi-disant acquaintance of hers; +but, in looking at her more attentively, she exclaimed, 'What do I see? +Is it possible that this can be Mary Warner!' + +'Yes, it is, my dear, indeed,' replied she with a loud laugh, 'Mary +Warner, alias Mrs Montgomery; as you, you know, are Miss Mowbray, alias +Mrs Berrendale.' + +Adeline, incapable of speaking, only gazed at her in silence, but with +'a countenance more in sorrow than in anger.' + +'But, come sit down, my dear,' cried Mary; 'no ceremony, you know, among +friends and equals, you know; and you and I have been mighty familiar, +you know, before now. The last time we met you called me _woman_, you +know--yes, "woman!" says you--and I have not forgotten it, I assure +you,' she added with a sort of loud hysterical laugh, and a look of the +most determined malice. + +'Come, come, my dear Montgomery,' said Langley, 'you must forget and +forgive;--I dare say Miss Mowbray, that is to say Mrs Berrendale, did +not mean--' + +'What should you know about the matter, Lang.?' replied Mary; 'I wish +you would mind your own business, and let me talk to my dumb friend +here.--Well, I suppose you are quite surprised to see how smart I +am!--seeing as how I once overheard you say to Glenthingymy, "How very +plain Mary is!" though, to be sure, it was never a barrel the better +herring, and 'twas the kettle in my mind calling the pot--Heh, Lang.?' + +Here was the clue to the inveterate dislike which this unhappy girl had +conceived against Adeline. So true is it that little wounds inflicted +on the self-love are never forgotten or forgiven, and that it is safer +to censure the morals of acquaintances than to ridicule them on their +dress, or laugh at a defect in their person. Adeline, indeed, did +not mean that her observation should be overheard by the object of +it,--still she was hated: but many persons make mortifying remarks +purposely, and yet wonder that they have enemies! + +Motionless and almost lifeless Adeline continued to stand and to listen, +and Mary went on-- + +'Well, but I thank you for one thing. You taught me that marriage was +all nonsense, you know; and so, thought I, Miss Mowbray is a learned +lady, she must know best, and so I followed your example--that's all, +you know.' + +This dreadful information roused the feelings of Adeline even to +phrensy, and with a shriek of anguish she seized her hand, and conjured +her by all her hopes of mercy to retract what she had said, and not to +let her depart with the horrible consciousness of having been the means +of plunging a fellow-being into vice and infamy. + +A loud unfeeling laugh, and an exclamation of 'The woman is mad,' was +all the answer to this. + +'This then is the completion of my sufferings,' cried Adeline,--'this +only was wanted to complete the misery of my remorse.' + +'This is too much,' exclaimed Langley. 'Mary, you know very well that--' + +'Hold your tongue, Lang.; you know nothing about the matter: it is all +nothing, but that Miss Mowbray, like a lawyer, can change sides, you +see, and attack one day what she defended the day before, you know; +and she has made you believe that she thinks now being kept a shameful +thing.' + +'I do believe so,' hastily replied Adeline; 'and if it be true that my +sentiments and my example led you to adopt your present guilty mode +of life,--oh! save me from the pangs of remorse which I now feel, by +letting my present example recall you from the paths of error to those +of virtue.' + +'Well pleaded,' cried the cold-hearted Mary--'Lang., you could not have +done't so well--not up to that.' + +'Mrs Montgomery,' said Langley with great severity, 'if you cannot treat +Mrs Berrendale with more propriety and respect, I must beg you to leave +the room; she is come to speak to me on business, and--' + +'I sha'nt stir, for all that: and mark me, Lang., if you turn me out of +the room, you know, hang me if ever I enter it again!' + +'But your little boy may want you; you have left him now some time.' + +'Aye, that may be true, to be sure, poor little dear! Have you any +family, Miss Mowbray?'--when, without waiting for an answer, she added, +'My little boy have got the small-pox very bad, and has been likely to +die from convulsion fits, you know. Poor dear! I had been nursing it so +long that I could not bear the stench of the room, and so I was glad, +you know, to come and get a little fresh air in the gardens.' + +At this speech Adeline's fortitude entirely gave way. _Her_ child had +not had the small-pox, and she had been for some minutes in reach of the +infection; and with a look of horror, forgetting her business, and every +thing but Editha, she was on the point of leaving the room, when a +servant hastily entered, and told Mary that her little boy was dead. + +At hearing this, even her cold heart was moved, and throwing herself +back on the sofa she fell into a strong hysteric; while Adeline, losing +all remembrance of her insolence in her distress, flew to her assistance; +and, in pity for a mother weeping the loss of her infant, forgot for a +moment that she was endangering the life of her own child. + +Mr Langley, mean time, though grieved for the death of the infant, was +alive to the generous forgiving disposition which Adeline evinced; and +could not help exclaiming. 'Oh, Mrs Berrendale! forgive us! we deserved +not such kindness at your hands:' and Adeline, wanting to loosen the +tight stays of Mary, and not choosing to undress her before such a +witness, coldly begged him to withdraw, advising him at the same time to +go and see whether the child was really dead, as it might possibly only +appear so. + +Revived by this possibility, Mr Langley left Mary to the care of +Adeline, and left the room. But whether it was that Mary had a mind +to impress her lover and the father of her child with an idea of her +sensibility, or whether she had overheard Adeline's supposition, certain +it is, that as soon as Langley went away, and Adeline began to unlace +her stays, she hastily recovered, and declared her stays should remain +as they were: but still exclaiming about her poor dear Benny, she kept +her arms closely clasped round Adeline's waist, and reposed her head on +her bosom. + +Adeline's fears and pity for her being thus allayed, she began to have +leisure to feel and fear for herself; and the idea, that, by being in +such close contact with Mary, she was imbibing so much of the disease +as must inevitably communicate it to Editha, recurred so forcibly to +her mind, that, begging for mercy's sake she would loose her hold, she +endeavoured to break from the arms of her tormentor. + +But in vain.--As soon as Mary saw that Adeline wished to leave her, +she was the more eager to hold her fast; and protesting she should die +if she had the barbarity to leave her alone, she only hugged her the +closer. 'Well, then, I'll try to stay till Mr Langley returns,' cried +Adeline: but some minutes elapsed, and Mr Langley did not return; and +then Adeline, recollecting that when he did return he would come fresh +fraught with the pestilence from the dead body of his infant, could no +longer master her feelings, but screaming wildly,--'I shall be the death +of my child; let me go,'--she struggled with the determined Mary. 'You +will drive me mad if you detain me,' cried Adeline. + +'You will drive me mad if you go,' replied Mary, giving way to a violent +hysterical scream, while with successful strength she parried all +Adeline's endeavours to break from her. But what can resist the strength +of phrensy and despair? Adeline, at length worked up to madness by the +fatal control exercised over her, by one great effort threw the sobbing +Mary from her, and, darting down stairs with the rapidity of phrensy, +nearly knocked down Mr Langley in her passage, who was coming to +announce the restoration of the little boy. + +She soon reached Fleet-street, and was on her road home before Langley +and Mary had recovered their consternation: but she suddenly recollected +that homewards she must not proceed; that she carried death about her; +and wholly bewildered by this insupportable idea, she ran along the +Strand, muttering the incoherencies of phrensy as she went, till she +was intercepted in her passage by some young men of _ton_, who had been +dining together, and, being half intoxicated, were on their way to the +theatre. + +Two of these gentlemen, with extended arms, prevented her further +progress. + +'Where are you going, my pretty girl,' cried one, 'in this hurry? shall +I see you home? heh!' + +'Home!' replied Adeline; 'name it not. My child! my child! thy mother +has destroyed thee.' + +'So!' cried another, 'actress, by all that's tragical!' + +'Unhand me!' exclaimed Adeline wildly. 'Do not you know, poor babe, that +I carry death and infection about with me!' + +'The devil you do!' returned the gentleman; 'then the sooner you take +yourself off the better.' + +'I believe the poor soul is mad,' said a third, making way for Adeline +to pass. + +'But,' cried the first who spoke, catching hold of her, 'if so, there is +method and meaning in her madness; for she called Jaby here a poor babe, +and we all know he is little better.' + +By this time Adeline was in a state of complete phrensy, and was again +darting down the street in spite of the gentleman's efforts to hold her, +when another gentleman, whom curiosity had induced to stop and listen +to what passed, suddenly seized hold of her arm, and exclaimed, 'Good +Heavens! what can this mean? It is--it can be no other than Miss +Mowbray.' + +At the sound of her own name Adeline started: but in a moment her senses +were quite lost again; and the gentleman, who was no other than Colonel +Mordaunt, being fully aware of her situation, after reproving the +young men for sporting with distress so apparent, called a coach which +happened to be passing, and desired to know whither he should have the +honour of conducting her. + +But she was too lost to be able to answer the question: he therefore, +lifting her into the coach, desired the man to drive towards +Dover-street; and when there, he ordered him to drive to Margaret-street, +Oxford-street; when, not being able to obtain one coherent word +from Adeline, and nothing but expressions of agony, terror, and +self-condemnation, he desired him to stop at such a house, and, +conducting Adeline up stairs, desired the first assistance to be +procured immediately. + +It was not to his own lodgings that Colonel Mordaunt had conducted +Adeline, but to the house of a convenient friend of his, who, though not +generally known as such, and bearing a tolerably good character in the +world, was very kind to the tender distresses of her friends, and had no +objection to assist the meetings of two fond lovers. + +It is to be supposed, then, that she was surprised at seeing Colonel +Mordaunt with a companion, who was an object of pity and horror rather +than of love: but she did not want humanity; and when the colonel +recommended Adeline to her tenderest care, she with great readiness +ordered a bed to be prepared, and assisted in prevailing on Adeline +to lie down on it. In a short time a physician and a surgeon arrived; +and Adeline, having been bled and made to swallow strong opiates, was +undressed by her attentive landlady; and though still in a state of +unconsciousness, she fell into a sound sleep which lasted till morning. + +But Colonel Mordaunt passed a sleepless night. The sight of Adeline, +even frantic and wretched as she appeared, had revived the passion which +he had conceived for her; and if on her awaking the next morning she +should appear perfectly rational, and her phrensy merely the result +of some great fright which she had received, he resolved to renew his +addresses, and take advantage of the opportunity now offered him, while +she was as it were in his power. + +But to return to the Temple.--Soon after Mr Langley had entered his own +room, and while Mary and he were commenting on the frantic behaviour of +Adeline, the tawny boy came back from his walk, and heard with marks of +emotion, apparently beyond his age, (for though near twelve he did not +look above eight years old,) of the sudden and frantic disappearance of +Adeline. + +'Oh! my dear friend,' cried he, 'if, you are not gone home you will +break my poor mother's heart!' + +'And who is your mother?' + +'Her name is Savanna; and she lives with Mrs Berrendale.' + +'Mrs Berrendale!' cried Mary, 'Miss Mowbray you mean.' + +'No, I do not; her name was Mowbray, but is now Berrendale.' + +'What! is she really married?' asked Langley. + +'Yes to be sure.' + +'But how do you know that she is?' + +'Oh! because I went to church with them, and my mother cooked the +wedding-dinner, and I ate plum-pudding and drank punch, and we were very +merry,--only my mother cried, because my father could not come.' + +'Very circumstantial evidence indeed!' cried Langley, 'and I am very +sorry that I did not know so much before. So you and your mother love +this extraordinary fine woman, Mrs Berrendale, heh?' + +'Love her! To be sure--we should be very wicked if we did not. Did you +never hear the story of the pineapple?' said the tawny boy. + +'Not I. What was it?' and the tawny boy, delighted to tell the story, +with sparkling eyes sat down to relate it. + +'You must know, Mr Glenmurray longed for a pineapple.' + +'Mrs Glenmurray you mean,' said Mary laughing immoderately. + +'I know what I say,' replied the tawny boy angrily; 'and so Miss +Adeline, as she was then called, went out to buy one;--well, and so she +met my poor father going to prison, and I was crying after her, and +so--' Here he paused, and bursting into tears exclaimed, 'And perhaps +she is crying herself now, and I must go and see for her directly.' + +'Do so, my fine fellow,' cried Langley: 'you had better go home, tell +your mother what has passed, and to-morrow' (accompanying him down +stairs, and speaking in a low voice) 'I will either write a note of +apology or call on Mrs Berrendale myself.' + +The tawny boy instantly set off, running as fast as he could, telling +Langley first, that if any harm had happened to his friend, both he and +his mother should lie down and die. And this further proof of Adeline's +merit did not tend to calm Langley's remorse for having exposed her to +the various distresses which she had undergone at his chambers. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +Adeline awoke early the next morning perfectly sane, though weakened by +the exertions which she had experienced the night before, and saw with +surprise and alarm that she was not in her own lodging. + +But she had scarcely convinced herself that she was awake, when Mrs +Selby, the mistress of the house, appeared at her bed-side, and, seeing +what was passing in her mind by her countenance, explained to her as +delicately as she could the situation in which she had been brought +there. + +'And who brought me hither?' replied Adeline, dreadfully agitated, as +the remembrance of what had passed by degrees burst upon her. + +'Colonel Mordaunt of the guards,' was the answer; and Adeline was +shocked to find that he was the person to whom she was under so +essential an obligation. She then hastily arose, being eager to return +home; and in a short time she was ready to enter the drawing-room, and +to express her thanks to Colonel Mordaunt. + +But in vain did she insist on going home directly, to ease the fears of +her family. The physician, who arrived at the moment, forbade her going +out without having first taken both medicine and refreshment; and by +the time that, after the most earnest entreaties, she obtained leave to +depart, she recollected that, as her clothes were the same, she might +still impart disease to her child, and therefore must on no account +think of returning to Editha. + +'Whither, whither then can I go?' cried she, forgetting she was not +alone. + +'Why not stay here?' said the colonel, who had been purposely left +alone with her. 'O dearest of women! that you would but accept the +protection of a man who adores you; who has long loved you; who has +been so fortunate as to rescue you from a situation of misery and +danger, and the study of whose life it shall be to make you happy.' + +He uttered this with such volubility, that Adeline could not find an +opportunity to interrupt him; but when he concluded, she calmly replied, +'I am willing to believe, Colonel Mordaunt, from a conversation which I +once had with you, that you are not aware of the extent of the insult +which you are now offering to me. You probably do not know that I have +been for years a married woman?' + +Colonel Mordaunt started and turned pale at this intelligence; and in a +faltering voice replied, that he was indeed a stranger to her present +situation;--for that, libertine as he confessed himself to be, he had +never yet allowed himself to address the wife of another. + +This speech restored him immediately to the confidence of Adeline. 'Then +I hope,' cried she, holding out her hand to him, which in spite of his +virtue he passionately kissed, 'that, as a friend, you will have the +kindness to procure me a coach to take me to a lodging a few miles out +of town, where I once was before; and that you will be so good as to +drive directly to my lodgings, and let my poor maid know what is become +of me. I dread to think,' added she bursting into tears, 'of the agony +that my unaccountable absence must have occasioned her.' + +The colonel, too seriously attached to Adeline to know yet what he +wished, or what he hoped on this discovery of her situation, promised to +obey her, provided she would allow him to call on her now and then; and +Adeline was too full of gratitude to him for the service which he had +rendered her, to have resolution enough to deny his request. He then +called a coach for himself, and for Adeline, as she insisted on his +going immediately to her lodgings; and also begged that he would tell +the mulatto to send for advice, and prepare her little girl for +inoculation directly. + +Adeline drove directly to her old lodgings in the country, where she was +most gladly received; and the colonel went to deliver his commission to +the mulatto. + +He found her in strong hysterics; the tawny boy crying over her, and +the woman of the house holding her down on the bed by force, while the +little Editha had been conveyed to a neighbour's house, that she might +not hear the screams which had surprised and terrified her. + +Colonel Mordaunt had opened the door, and was witnessing this +distressing scene, before any one was conscious of his presence; but +the tawny boy soon discovered him, and crying out-- + +'Oh! sir, do you bring us news of our friend?' sprang to him, and hung +almost breathless on his arm. + +Savanna, who was conscious enough to know what passed, though too much +weakened from her own sufferings and anxieties to be able to struggle +with this new affliction, started up on hearing these words, and +screamed out 'Does she live? Blessed man! but say so, dat's all,' in +a tone so affecting, and with an expression of agonized curiosity so +overwhelming to the feelings, that Colonel Mordaunt, whose spirits were +not very high, was so choked that he could not immediately answer her; +and when at last he faltered out, 'She lives, and is quite well,' the +frantic joy of the mulatto overcame him still more. She jumped about his +neck, she hugged the tawny boy; and her delight was as extravagant as +her grief had been; till exhausted and silent she sunk upon the bed, and +was unable for some minutes to listen quietly to the story which Colonel +Mordaunt came to relate. + +When she was composed enough to listen to it, she did not long remain +so; for as soon as she heard that Colonel Mordaunt had met Adeline in +her phrensy, and conveyed her to a place of safety, she fell at his +feet, embraced his knees, and, making the tawny boy kneel down by her, +invoked the blessing of God on him so fervently and so eloquently that +Colonel Mordaunt wept like a child, and, exclaiming, 'Upon my soul, my +good woman, I cannot bear this,' was forced to run out of the house to +recover his emotion. + +When he returned, Savanna said 'Well--now, blessed sir, take me to my +dear lady.' + +'Indeed,' replied he, 'I must not; you are forbidden to see her.' + +'Forbidden!' replied she, her eyes flashing fire; 'and who dare to keep +Savanna from her own mistress?--I will see her.' + +'Not if she forbids it, Savanna; and if her child's life should be +endangered by it?' + +'O, no, to be sure not,' cried the tawny boy, who doted upon Editha, +and, having fetched her back from the next house, was lulling her to +sleep in his arms. + +Colonel Mordaunt started at sight of the child, and, stooping down to +kiss its rosy cheek, sighed deeply as he turned away again. + +'Well,' cried Savanna, 'you talk very strange--me no understand.' + +'But you shall, my excellent creature,' replied the colonel, +'immediately.' He then entered on a full explanation to Savanna; who +had no sooner heard that her mistress feared that she had been so much +exposed to the infection of the small-pox, as to make her certain of +giving it to her child, than she exclaimed, 'Oh, my good God! save and +protect her own self! She never have it, and she may get it and die!' + +'Surely you must be mistaken,' replied the colonel, 'Mrs Berrendale must +have recollected and mentioned her own danger if this be the case.' + +'She!' hastily interrupted the mulatto, 'she tink of herself! Never--she +only mind others' good. Do you tink, if she be one selfish beast like +her husban, Savanna love her so dear? No, Mr Colonel, me know her, and +me know though we may save the child we may lose the mother.' Here she +began to weep bitterly; while the colonel, more in love than ever with +Adeline from these proofs of her goodness, resolved to lose no time in +urging her to undergo herself the operation which she desired for +Editha. + +Then, begging the mulatto to send for a surgeon directly, in spite +of the tears of the tawny boy, who thought it cruel to run the risk +of spoiling Miss Editha's pretty face, he took his leave, saying +to himself, 'What a heart has this Adeline! how capable of feeling +affection! for no one can inspire it who is not able to feel it: and +this creature is thrown away on a man undeserving her, it seems!' + +On this intelligence he continued to muse till he arrived at Adeline's +lodgings, to whom he communicated all that had passed; and from whom +he learned, with great anxiety, that it was but too true that she had +never had the small-pox; and that, therefore, she should probably show +symptoms of the disease in a few days: consequently, as she considered +it too late for her to be inoculated, she should do all that now +remained to be done for her security, by low living and good air. + +That same evening Colonel Mordaunt returned to Savanna, in hopes of +learning from her some further particulars respecting Adeline's husband; +as he felt that his conscience would not be much hurt by inducing +Adeline to leave the protection of a man who was unworthy of possessing +her. Fortunately for his wishes, he could not wish to hear more than +Savanna wished to tell every thing relating to her adored lady: and +Colonel Mordaunt heard with generous indignation of the perfidious +conduct of Berrendale; vowing, at the same time, that his time, his +interest, and his fortune, should all be devoted to bring such a villain +to justice, and to secure to the injured Editha her rightful +inheritance. + +The mulatto was in raptures:--she told Colonel Mordaunt that he was a +charming man, and infinitely handsomer than Berrendale, though she must +own he was very good to look at; and she wished with all her soul that +Colonel Mordaunt was married to her lady; for then she believed she +would have never known sorrow, but been as happy as the day was long. + +Colonel Mordaunt could not hear this without a secret pang. 'Had I +followed,' said he mentally, 'the dictates of my heart when I saw +Adeline at Bath, I might now, perhaps, instead of being a forlorn +unattached being, have been a happy husband and father; and Adeline, +instead of having been the mistress of one man, the disowned wife of +another, might have been happy and beloved, and as respectable in the +eyes of the world as she is in those of her grateful mulatto.' + +However, there was some hope left for him yet.--Adeline, he thought, was +not a woman likely to be over-scrupulous in her ideas; and might very +naturally think herself at liberty to accept the protection of a lover, +when, from no fault of hers, she had lost that of her husband. + +It is natural to suppose that, while elevated with these hopes, he did +not fail to be very constant in his visits to Adeline; and that at +length, more led by passion than policy, he abruptly, at the end of ten +days, informed Adeline that he knew her situation, and that he trusted +that she would allow him to hope that in due time his love, which had +been proof against time, absence, and disdain, would meet with reward; +and that, on his settling a handsome income on her and her child for +their joint lives, she would allow him to endeavour to make her as happy +as she, and she only, could make him. + +To this proposal, which was in form of a letter, Colonel Mordaunt did +not receive an immediate answer; nor was it at first likely that he +should ever receive an answer to it at all, as Adeline was at the moment +of its arrival confined to her bed, according to her expectations, with +the disease which she had been but too fearful of imbibing: while the +half-distracted mulatto was forced to give up to others the care of the +sickening Editha, to watch over the delirious and unconscious Adeline. + +But the tawny boy's generous benefactress gave him leave to remain at +Adeline's lodgings, in order to calm his fears for Editha, and assist +in amusing and keeping her quiet; and if attention had any share in +preserving the life and beauty of Editha, it was to the affectionate +tawny boy that she owed them; and he was soon rewarded for all his care +and anxiety by seeing his little charge able to play about as usual. + +Colonel Mordaunt and the mulatto meanwhile did not obtain so speedy a +termination to their anxieties: Adeline's recovery was for a long time +a matter of doubt; and her weakness so great after the crisis of the +disorder was past, that none ventured to pronounce her, even then, out +of danger. + +But at length she was in a great measure restored to health, and able to +determine what line of conduct it was necessary for her to pursue.--To +return an answer to Colonel Mordaunt's proposals was certainly her first +business; but as she felt that the situation in which he had once +known her made his offer less affronting than it would have been under +other circumstances, she resolved to speak to him on the subject with +gentleness, not severity; especially as during her illness, to amuse the +anxiety that had preyed upon him, he had taken every possible step to +procure evidence of the marriage, and gave into Savanna's hands, the +first day that he was permitted to see her, an attested certificate of +it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +The first question which Adeline asked on her recovery was, Whether any +letter had come by the general-post during her illness; and Savanna gave +one to her immediately. + +It was the letter so ardently desired; for the direction was in her +mother's hand-writing! and she opened it full of eager expectation, +while her whole existence seemed to depend on the nature of its contents. +What then must have been her agony on finding that the _enveloppe_ +contained nothing but her own letter returned! For some time she spoke +not, she breathed not; while Savanna mixed with expressions of terror, +at sight of her mistress's distress, poured execrations on the unnatural +parent who had so cruelly occasioned it. + +After a few days' incessant struggle to overcome the violence of her +sorrow, Adeline recovered the shock, in appearance at least: yet to +Savanna's self-congratulations she could not help answering (laying her +hand on her heart) 'The blow is here, Savanna, and the wound incurable.' + +Soon after she thought herself well enough to see Colonel Mordaunt, +and to thank him for the recent proof of his attention to her and her +interest. But no obligation, however great, could shut the now vigilant +eyes of Adeline to the impropriety of receiving further visits from him, +or to the guilt of welcoming to her house a man who made open +professions to her of illicit love. + +She however thought it her duty to see him once more, in order to try +to reconcile him to the necessity of the rule of conduct which she was +going to lay down for herself; nor was she without hope that the yet +recent traces of the disease, to which she had so nearly fallen a +victim, would make her appearance so unpleasing to the eyes of her +lover, that he would be very willing to absent himself from the house, +for some time at least, and probably give up all thoughts of her. + +But she did neither herself nor Colonel Mordaunt justice.--She was +formed to inspire a real and lasting passion--a passion that no external +change could destroy--since it was founded on the unchanging qualities +of the heart and mind: and Colonel Mordaunt felt for her such an +attachment in all its force. He had always admired the attractive person +and winning graces of Adeline, and felt for her what he denominated +love; but that rational though enthusiastic preference, which is +deserving of the name of true love, he never felt till he had had an +opportunity to appreciate justly the real character of Adeline: still +there were times when he felt almost gratified to reflect that she could +not legally be his; for, whatever might have been the cause and excuse +of her errors, she had erred, and the delicacy of his mind revolted at +the idea of marrying the mistress of another. + +But when he saw and heard Adeline, this repugnance vanished; and he knew +that, could he at those moments lead her to the altar, he should not +have hesitated to bind himself to her for ever by the sacred ties which +the early errors of her judgment had made her even in his opinion almost +unworthy to form. + +At length a day was fixed for his interview with Adeline, and with a +beating heart he entered the apartment; nor was his emotion diminished +when he beheld not only the usual vestiges of her complaint, but +symptoms of debility, and a death-like meagreness of aspect, which +made him fear that though one malady was conquered, another, even more +dangerous, remained. The idea overcame him; and he was forced to turn +to the window to hide his emotion: and his manner was so indicative of +ardent yet respectful attachment, that Adeline began to feel in spite of +herself that her projected task was difficult of execution. + +For some minutes neither of them spoke: Mordaunt held the hand which she +gave him to his heart, kissed it as she withdrew it, and again turned +away his head to conceal a starting tear: while Adeline was not sorry to +have a few moments in which to recover herself, before she addressed him +on the subject at that time nearest to the heart of both. At length she +summoned resolution enough to say:-- + +'Much as I have been mortified and degraded, Colonel Mordaunt, by +the letter which I have received from you, still I rejoice that I did +receive it:--in the first place, I rejoice, because I look on all the +sufferings and mortifications which I meet with as merciful chastisements, +as expiations inflicted on me in mercy by the Being whom I adore, for +the sins of which I have been guilty; and, in the second place, because +it gives me an opportunity of proving, incontrovertibly, my full +conviction of the fallacy of my past opinions, and that I became a wife, +after my idle declamations against marriage, from change of principle, +on assurance of error, and not from interest, or necessity.' + +Here she paused, overcome with the effort which she had made; and +Colonel Mordaunt would have interrupted her, but, earnestly conjuring +him to give her a patient hearing, she proceeded thus:-- + +'Had the change in my practice been the result of any thing but rational +conviction, I should now, unfortunate as I have been in the choice of a +husband, regret that ever I formed so foolish a tie, and perhaps be +induced to enter into a less sacred connexion, from an idea that that +state which forced me to drag out existence in hopeless misery was +contrary to reason, justice, and the benefit of society; and that, the +sooner its ties were dissolved, the better it would be for individual +happiness and for the world at large.' + +'And do you not think so?' cried Colonel Mordaunt; 'cannot your own +individual experience convince you of it?' + +'Far from it,' replied Adeline: 'and I bless God that it does not: for +thence, and thence only, do I begin to be reconciled to myself. I have +no doubt that there is a great deal of individual suffering in the +marriage state, from a contrariety of temper and other causes; but I +believe that the mass of happiness and virtue is certainly increased by +it. Individual suffering, therefore, is no argument for the abolition +of marriage, than the accidental bursting of a musket would be for the +total abolition of fire-arms.' + +'But, surely, dear Mrs Berrendale, you would wish divorce to be made +easier than it is?' + +'By no means.' interrupted Adeline, understanding what he was going to +say: 'to BEAR and FORBEAR I believe to be the grand secret of happiness, +and that it ought to be the great study of life: therefore, whatever +would enable married persons to separate on the slightest quarrel or +disgust, would make it so much the less necessary for us to learn this +important lesson; a lesson so needful in order to perfect the human +character, that I believe the difficulty of divorce to be one of the +greatest blessings of society.' + +'What can have so completely changed your opinions on this subject?' +replied Colonel Mordaunt. + +'Not my own experience,' returned Adeline; 'for the painful situations +in which I have been placed, I might attribute, not to the fallacy of +the system on which I have acted, but to those existing prejudices in +society which I wish to see destroyed.' + +'Then, to what else is the change in your sentiments to be attributed?' + +'To a more serious, unimpassioned, and unprejudiced view of the subject +than I had before taken: at present I am not equal to expatiate on +matters so important: however, some time or other, perhaps, I may make +known to you my sentiments on them in a more ample manner: but I have, I +trust, said enough to lead you to conclude, that though Mr Berrendale's +conduct to me has been atrocious, and that you are in many respects +entitled to my gratitude and thanks, you and I must henceforward be +strangers to each other.' + +Colonel Mordaunt, little expecting such a total overthrow to his hopes, +was, on receiving it, choked with contending emotions; and his broken +sentences and pale cheek were sufficiently expressive of the distress +which he endured. But I shall not enter into a detail of all he urged +in favour of his passion; nor the calm, dignified, manner in which +Adeline replied. Suffice that, at last, from a sort of intuitive +knowledge of the human heart, as it were, which persons of quick talent +and sensibilities possess however defective their experience, Adeline +resolved to try to soothe the self-love which she had wounded, knowing +that self-love is scarcely to be distinguished in its effects from love +itself; and that the agony of disappointed passion is always greater +when it is inflicted by the coldness or falsehood of the beloved object, +than when it proceeds from parental prohibition, or the cruel separation +enjoined by conscious poverty. She therefore told Colonel Mordaunt that +he was once very near being the first choice of her heart: when she +first saw him, she said, his person, and manners, and attentions, had so +strongly prepossessed her in his favour, that he himself, by ceasing to +see and converse with her, could alone have saved her from the pain of a +hopeless attachment. + +'In pity, spare me,' cried Mordaunt, 'the contemplation of the happiness +I might have enjoyed!' + +'But you know you were not a marrying-man, as it is called; and forgive +me if I say, that men who can on system suppress the best feelings of +their nature, and prefer a course of libertine indulgence to a virtuous +connexion, at that time of life when they might become happy husbands +and fathers, with the reasonable expectation of living to see their +children grown up to manhood, and superintending their education +themselves--such men, Colonel Mordaunt, deserve, in the decline of life, +to feel that regret and that self-condemnation which you this moment +anticipate.' + +'True--too true!' replied the colonel; 'but, for mercy's sake, torture +me no more.' + +'I would not probe where I did not intend to make a cure,' replied +Adeline. + +'A cure!--what mean you!' + +'I mean to induce you, ere it be yet too late, to endeavour to form a +virtuous attachment, and to unite yourself for life with some amiable +young woman who will make you as happy as I would have endeavoured to +make you, had it been my fortunate lot to be yours: for, believe me, +Colonel Mordaunt,' and her voice faltered as she said it, 'had _he_, +whom I still continue to love with unabated tenderness, though years +have elapsed since he was taken from me,--had he bequeathed me to you on +his death-bed, the reluctance with which I went to the altar would have +been more easily overcome.' + +Saying this, she suddenly left the room, leaving Colonel Mordaunt +surprised, gratified, and his mind struggling between hopes and fears; +for Adeline was not conscious that she imparted hope as well as +consolation by the method which she pursued; and though she sent Savanna +to tell the colonel she could see him no more that evening, he departed +in firm expectation that Adeline would not have resolution to forbid him +to see her again. + +In this, however, he was mistaken; Adeline had learnt the best of all +lessons, distrust of her own strength:--and she resolved to put it out +of her power to receive visits which a regard to propriety forbade, and +which might injure her reputation, if not her peace of mind. Therefore, +as soon as Colonel Mordaunt was gone, she summoned Savanna, and desired +her to proceed to business. + +'What!' cried the delighted mulatto, 'are we going to prosecu massa?' + +'No,' replied Adeline, 'we are going into the country: I am come to +a determination to take no legal steps in this affair, but leave Mr +Berrendale to the reproaches of his own conscience.' + +'A fiddle's end!' replied Savanna, 'he have no conscience, or he no +leave you: better get him hang, if you can; den you marry de colonel.' + +'I had better hang the father of my child, had I, Savanna?' + +'Oh! no, no, no, no,--me forget dat.' + +'But I do not, nor can I even bear to disgrace the father of Editha: +therefore, trusting that I can dispose of her, and secure her interest +better than by forcing her father to do her justice, and bastardize the +poor innocent whom his wife will soon bring into the world, I am going +to bury myself in retirement, and live the short remainder of my days +unknowing and unknown.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Savanna was going to remonstrate, but the words 'short remainder of my +days' distressed her so much, that tears choked her words; and she +obeyed in silence her mistress's orders to pack up, except when she +indulged in a few exclamations against her lady's cruelty in going away +without taking leave of Colonel Mordaunt, who, sweet gentleman, would +break his heart at her departure, especially as he was not to know +whither she was going. A postchaise was at the door the next morning at +six o'clock; and as Adeline had not much luggage, having left the chief +part of her furniture to be divided between the mistresses of her two +lodgings, in return for their kind attention to her and her child, she +took an affectionate leave of her landlady, and desired the post-boy +to drive a mile on the road before him: and when he had done so, she +ordered him to go on to Barnet; while the disappointed mulatto thanked +God that the tawny boy was gone to Scotland with his protectress, as it +prevented her having the mortification of leaving him behind her, as +well as the colonel.--'O had I such a lover,' cried she, (her eyes +filling with tears,) 'me never leave him, nor he me!' and for the first +time she thought her angel-lady hard-hearted. + +For some miles they proceeded in silence, for Adeline was too much +engrossed to speak; and the little Editha, being fast asleep in the +mulatto's arms, did not draw her mother out of the reverie into which she +had fallen. + +'And where now?' said the mulatto, when the chaise stopped. + +'To the next stage on the high north road.' And on they went again; nor +did they stop, except for refreshments, till they had travelled thirty +miles; when Adeline, worn out with fatigue, staid all night at the +inn where the chaise stopped, and the next morning they resumed their +journey, but not their silence. The mulatto could no longer restrain her +curiosity; and she begged to know whither they were going, and why they +were to be buried in the country? + +Adeline, sighing deeply, answered, that they were going to live in +Cumberland; and then sunk into silence again, as she could not give the +mulatto her true reasons for the plan that she was pursuing without +wounding her affectionate heart in a manner wholly incurable. The truth +was, that Adeline supposed herself to be declining: she thought that +she experienced those dreadful languors, those sensations of internal +weakness, which, however veiled to the eye of the observer, speak in +forcible language to the heart of the conscious sufferer. Indeed, +Adeline had long struggled, but in vain, against feelings of a most +overwhelming nature; amongst which, remorse and horror, for having led +by her example and precepts an innocent girl into a life of infamy, were +the most painfully predominant: for, believing Mary Warner's assertion +when she saw her at Mr Langley's chambers, she looked upon that unhappy +girl's guilt as the consequence of her own; and mourned, incessantly +mourned, over the fatal errors of her early judgment, which had made +her, though an idolater of virtue, a practical assistant to the cause +of vice. When Adeline imagined the term of her existence to be drawing +nigh, her mother, her obdurate but still dear mother, regained her +wonted ascendancy over her affections; and to her, the approach of +death seemed fraught with satisfaction. For that parent, so long, so +repeatedly deaf to her prayers, and to the detail of those sufferings +which she had made one of the conditions of her forgiveness, had +promised to see and to forgive her on her _death-bed_; and her heart +yearned, fondly yearned, for the moment when she should be pressed to +the bosom of a relenting parent. + +To Cumberland, therefore, she was resolved to hasten, and into the very +neighbourhood of Mrs Mowbray; while, as the chaise wheeled them along to +the place of their destination, even the prattle of her child could not +always withdraw her from the abstraction into which she was plunged, as +the scenes of her early years thronged upon her memory, and with them +the recollection of those proofs of a mother's fondness, for a renewal +of which, even in the society of Glenmurray, she had constantly and +despondingly sighed. + +As they approached Penrith, her emotion redoubled, and she involuntarily +exclaimed--'Cruel, but still dear, mother, you little think your child +is so near!' + +'Heaven save me!' cried Savanna; 'are we to go and be near dat woman?' + +'Yes,' replied Adeline. 'Did she not say she would forgive me on my +death-bed?' + +'But you not there yet, dear missess,' sobbed Savanna; 'you not there of +long years!' + +'Savanna,' returned Adeline, 'I should die contented to purchase my +mother's blessing and forgiveness.' + +Savanna, speechless with contending emotions, could not express by words +the feeling of mixed sorrow and indignation which overwhelmed her; but +she replied by putting Editha in Adeline's arms; then articulating with +effort, 'Look there!' she sobbed aloud. + +'I understand you,' said Adeline, kissing away the tears gathering in +Editha's eyes, at sight of Savanna's distress: 'but perhaps I think my +death would be of more service to my child than my life.' + +'And to me too, I suppose,' replied Savanna reproachfully. 'Well,--me go +to Scotland; for no one love me but the tawny boy.' + +'You will stay and close my eyes first, I hope!' observed Adeline +mournfully. + +In a moment Savanna's resentment vanished. 'Me will live and die vid +you,' she replied, her tears redoubling, while Adeline again sunk into +thoughtful silence. + +As soon as they reached Penrith, Adeline inquired for lodgings out +of the town, on that side nearest to her mother's abode; and was so +fortunate, as she esteemed herself, to procure two apartments at a small +house within two miles of Mrs Mowbray's. + +'Then I breathe once more the same air with my mother!' exclaimed +Adeline as she took possession of her lodging. 'Savanna, methinks I +breathe freer already!' + +'Me more choked,' replied the mulatto, and turned sullenly away. + +'Nay, I--I feel so much better, that to-morrow I will--I will take a +walk,' said Adeline hesitatingly. + +'And where?' asked Savanna eagerly. + +'Oh, to-night I shall only walk to bed,' replied Adeline smiling; and +with unusual cheerfulness she retired to rest. + +The next morning she arose early; and being informed that a stile near a +peasant's cottage commanded a view of Mrs Mowbray's house, she hired a +man and cart to convey her to the bottom of the hill, and with Editha by +her side she set out to indulge her feelings by gazing on the house +which contained her mother. + +When they alighted, Editha gaily endeavoured to climb the hill, and +urged her mother to follow her; but Adeline, rendered weak by illness +and breathless by emotion, felt the ascent so difficult, that no motive +less powerful than the one which actuated her could have enabled her to +reach the summit. + +At length, however, she did reach it:--and the lawn before Mrs Mowbray's +white house, her hay-fields, and the running stream at the bottom of +it, burst in all their beauty on her view.--'And this is my mother's +dwelling!' exclaimed Adeline: 'and there was I born: and near here--' +shall I die, she would have added, but her voice failed her. + +'Oh! what a pretty house and garden!' cried Editha in the unformed +accents of childhood;--'how I should like to live there!' + +This artless remark awakened a thousand mixed and overpowering feelings +in the bosom of Adeline; and, after a pause of strong emotion, she +exclaimed, catching the little prattler to her heart--'you _shall_ live +there, my child!--yes, yes, you _shall_ live there!' + +'But when?' resumed Editha. + +'When I am in my grave,' answered Adeline. + +'And when shall you be there?' replied the unconscious child, fondly +caressing her: 'pray, mamma--pray be there soon!' + +Adeline turned away, unable to answer her. + +'Look--look, mamma!'--resumed Editha: 'there are ladies.--Oh! do let us +go there now!--why can't we?' + +'Would to God we could!' replied Adeline; as in one of the ladies she +recognized Mrs Mowbray, and stood gazing on her till her eyes ached +again: but what she felt on seeing her she will herself describe in the +succeeding pages: and I shall only add, that, as soon as Mrs Mowbray +returned into the house, Adeline, wrapped in a long and mournful +reverie, returned, full of a new plan, to her lodgings. + +There is no love so disinterested as parental love; and Adeline had all +the keen sensibilities of a parent. To make, therefore, 'assurance +doubly sure' that Mrs Mowbray should receive and should love her orphan +when she was no more, she resolved to give up the gratification to which +she had looked forward, the hope, before she died, of obtaining her +forgiveness--that she might not weaken, by directing any part of them to +herself, those feelings of remorse, fruitless tenderness, and useless +regret in her mother's bosom, which she wished should be concentrated on +her child. + +'No,' said Adeline to herself, 'I am sure that she will not refuse to +receive my orphan to her love and protection when I am no more, and am +become alike insensible of reproaches and of blessings; and I think that +she will love my child the more tenderly, because to me she will be +unable to express the compunction which, sooner or later, she will feel +from the recollection of her conduct towards me: therefore, I will make +no demands on her love for myself; but, in a letter to be given her +after my decease, bequeath my orphan to her care;'--and with this +determination she returned from her ride. + +'Have you see her?' said Savanna, running out to meet her. + +'Yes--but not spoken to her; nor shall I see her again.' + +'What--I suppose she see you, and not speak?' + +'Oh, no; she did not see me, nor shall I urge her to see me: my plans +are altered,' replied Adeline. + +'And we go back to town and Colonel Mordaunt?' + +'No,' resumed Adeline, sighing deeply, and preparing to write to Mrs +Mowbray. + +But it is necessary that we should for a short time go back to +Berrendale, and relate that, while Adeline and Editha were confined with +the small-pox, Mr Drury received a summons from his employer in Jamaica +to go over thither, to be intrusted with some particular business: in +consequence of this he resolved to call again on Adeline, and inquire +whether she still persisted in styling herself Mrs Berrendale; as he +concluded that Berrendale would be very glad of all the information +relative to her and her child which he could possibly procure, whether +his curiosity on the subject proceeded from fear or love. + +It so happened, that as soon as Editha, as well as her mother, was in +the height of the disorder, Mr Drury called; and finding that they were +both very bad, he thought that his friend Berrendale was likely to get +rid of both his encumbrances at once; and being eager to communicate +good news to a man whose influence in the island might be a benefit to +him, he every day called to inquire concerning their health. + +The second floor in the house where Adeline lodged was then occupied by +a young woman in indigent circumstances, who, as well as her child, had +sickened with the distemper the very day that Editha was inoculated: and +when Drury, just as he was setting off for Portsmouth, ran to gain the +latest intelligence of the invalids, a charwoman, who attended to the +door, not being acquainted with the name of the poor young woman and her +little girl, concluding that Mr Drury, by Mrs Berrendale and miss who +were ill with the small-pox, meant them, replied to his inquiries,--'Ah, +poor things! it is all over with them, they died last night.' + +On which, not staying for any further intelligence, Drury set off for +Portsmouth, and arrived at Jamaica just as Berrendale was going to remit +to Adeline a draft for a hundred pounds. For Adeline and the injury +which he had done her, had been for some days constantly present to +his thoughts. He had been ill; and as indigestion, the cause of his +complaints, is apt to occasion disturbed dreams, he had in his dreams +been haunted by the image of Glenmurray, who, with a threatening aspect, +had reproached him with cruelty and base ingratitude to him, in +deserting in such a manner the wife whom he had bequeathed to him. + +The constant recurrence of these dreams had depressed his spirits and +excited his remorse so much, that he could calm his feelings in no other +way than by writing a kind letter to Adeline, and enclosing her a draft +on his banker. This letter was on the point of being sent when Drury +arrived, and, with very little ceremony, informed him that Adeline was +dead. + +'Dead!' exclaimed Berrendale, falling almost sensless on his couch: +'Dead!--Oh! for God's sake, tell me of what she died!--Surely, surely, +she--' Here his voice failed him. + +Drury coolly replied, that she and her child both died of the small-pox. + +'But _when_? my dear fellow!--when? Say that they died nine months ago' +(that was previous to his marriage) 'and you make me your friend for +life!' + +Drury, so _bribed_, would have said _any thing_; and, with all the +coolness possible, he replied, 'Then be my friend for life:--they died +rather better than nine months ago.' + +Berrendale, being then convinced that bigamy was not likely to be proved +against him, soon forgot, in the joy which this thought occasioned him, +remorse for his conduct to Adeline, and regret for her early fate: +besides, he concluded that he saved £100 by the means; for he knew not +that the delicate mind of Adeline would have scorned to owe pecuniary +obligations to the husband who had basely and unwarrantably deserted +her. + +But he was soon undeceived on this subject, by a letter which Colonel +Mordaunt wrote in confidence to a friend in Jamaica, begging him to +inquire concerning Mr Berrendale's second marriage; and to inform him +privately that his injured wife had zealous and powerful friends in +England, who were continually urging her to prosecute him for bigamy. + +This intelligence had a fatal effect on the health of Berrendale; for +though the violent temper and overbearing disposition of his second +wife had often made him regret the gentle and compliant Adeline, and a +separation from her, consequently, would be a blessing, still he feared +to encounter the disgrace of a prosecution, and still more the anger of +his West Indian wife; who, it was not improbable, might even attack his +life in the first moment of ungoverned passion. + +And to these fears he soon fell a sacrifice; for a frame debilitated by +intemperance could not support the assaults made on it by the continued +apprehensions which Colonel Mordaunt's friend had excited in him; and he +died in that gentleman's presence, whom in his last moments he had +summoned to his apartment to witness a will, by which he owned Adeline +Mowbray to be his lawful wife, and left Editha, his acknowledged and +only heir, a very considerable fortune. + +But this circumstance, an account of which, with the will, was +transmitted to Colonel Mordaunt, did not take place till long after +Adeline took up her abode in Cumberland. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +But to return to Colonel Mordaunt. Though Adeline had said that he +must discontinue his visits, he resolved to disobey her; and the next +morning, as soon as he thought she had breakfasted, he repaired to her +lodgings; where he heard, with mixed sorrow and indignation, that she +had set off in a post-chaise at six o'clock, and was gone no one knew +whither. + +'But, surely she has left some note or message for me!' exclaimed +Colonel Mordaunt. + +'Neither the one nor the other,' was the answer; and he returned home in +no very enviable state of mind. + +Various, indeed, and contradictory were his feelings: yet still +affection was uppermost; and he could not but respect in Adeline the +conduct which drove him to despair. Nor was self-love backward to +suggest to him, that had not Adeline felt his presence and attentions to +be dangerous, she would not so suddenly have withdrawn from them; and +this idea was the only one on which he could at all bear to dwell: for, +when he reflected that day after day might pass without his either +seeing or hearing from her, existence seemed to become suddenly a +burthen, and he wandered from place to place with joyless and unceasing +restlessness. + +At one time he resolved to pursue her; but the next, piqued at not +having received from her even a note of farewell, he determined to +endeavour to forget her: and this was certainly the wiser plan of the +two: but the succeeding moment he determined to let a week pass, in +hopes of receiving a letter from her, and, in case he did not, to set +off in search of her, being assured of succeeding in his search of her, +because the singularity of Savanna's appearance, and the traces of the +small-pox visible in the face of Adeline, made them liable to be +observed, and easy for him to describe. + +But before the week elapsed, from agitation of mind, and from having +exposed himself unnecessarily to cold, by lying on damp grass at +midnight, after having heated himself by immoderate walking, Colonel +Mordaunt became ill of a fever; and when, after a confinement of several +weeks, he was restored to health, he despaired of being able to learn +tidings of the fugitives; and disappointed and dejected, he sought +in the gayest scenes of the metropolis and its environs to drown the +remembrances, from which in solitude he had vainly endeavoured to fly. +At this time a faded but attractive woman of quality, with whom he had +formerly been intimate, returned from abroad, and, meeting Colonel +Mordaunt at the house of a mutual friend, endeavoured to revive in him +his former attachment: but it was a difficult task for a woman, who had +never been able to touch the heart, to excite an attachment in a man +already sentimentally devoted to another. + +Her advances, however, flattered Colonel Mordaunt, and her society +amused him, till, at length, their intimacy was renewed on its former +footing: but soon tired of his mistress, and displeased with himself, he +took an abrupt leave of her, and throwing himself into his post-chaise, +retired to the seat of a relation in Herefordshire. + +Near this gentleman's house lived Mr Maynard and his two sisters, +who had taken up their abode there immediately on their return from +Portugal. Major Douglas, his wife, and Emma Douglas, were then on a +visit to them. Mordaunt had known Major Douglas in early life; and as +soon as he found that he was in the neighbourhood, he rode over to renew +his acquaintance with him; and received so cordial a welcome, not only +from the major, but the master of the house and his sisters, that he was +strongly induced to repeat his visits, and not a day passed in which he +was not, during some part of it, a guest at Mr Maynard's. + +Mrs Wallington and Miss Maynard, indeed, received him with such pointed +marks of distinction and preference, as to make it visible to every +observer that it was not as a friend only they were desirous of +considering Colonel Mordaunt; while, by spiteful looks and acrimonious +remarks directed to each other, the sisters expressed the jealousy which +rankled in their hearts, whenever he seemed by design or inadvertency to +make one of them the particular object of his attention. + +Of Emma Douglas's chance for his favour, they were not at all +fearful:--they thought her too plain, and too unattractive, to be +capable of rivalling them; especially in the favour of an officer, a man +of fashion; and therefore they beheld without emotion the attention +which Colonel Mordaunt paid to her whenever she spoke, and the deference +which he evidently felt for her opinion, as her remarks on whatever +subject she conversed were formed always to interest, and often to +instruct. + +One evening, while Major Douglas was amusing himself in looking over +some magazines which had lately been bound up together, and had not yet +been deposited in Mr Maynard's library, he suddenly started, laid down +the book, and turning to the window, with an exclamation of--'Poor +fellow!'--passed his hand across his eyes, as if meaning to disperse an +involuntary tear. + +'What makes you exclaim "Poor fellow?"' asked his lovely wife: 'have you +met with an affecting story in those magazines?' + +'No, Louisa,' replied he, 'but I met in the obituary with a confirmation +of the death of an old friend, which I suspected must have happened by +this time, though I never knew it before; I see by this magazine that +poor Glenmurray died a very few months after we saw him at Perpignan.' + +'Poor fellow!' exclaimed Mrs Douglas. + +'I wish I knew what is become of his interesting companion, Miss +Mowbray,' said Emma Douglas. + +'I wish I did too,' secretly sighed Colonel Mordaunt: but his heart +palpitated so violently at this unexpected mention of the woman for whom +he still pined in secret, that he had not resolution to say that he knew +her. + +'Become of her!' cried Miss Maynard sneeringly: 'you need not wonder, +I think, what her fate is: no doubt Mr Glenmurray's _interesting +companion_ has not lost her companionable qualities, and is a companion +still.' + +'Yes,' observed Mrs Wallington; 'or, rather, I dare say that angel of +purity is gone upon the town.' + +It was the dark hour, else Colonel Mordaunt's agitation, on hearing +these gross and unjust remarks, must have betrayed his secret to every +eye; while indignation now impeded his utterance as much as confusion +had done before. + +'Surely, surely,' cried the kind and candid Emma Douglas, 'I must +grossly have mistaken Miss Mowbray's character, if she was capable of +the conduct which you attribute to her!' + +'My dear creature!' replied Mrs Wallington, 'how should you know +any thing of her character, when it was gone long before you knew +her?--_Character_, indeed! you remind me of my brother--Mr Davenport,' +continued she to a gentleman present, 'did you ever hear the story of +my brother and an angel of purity whom he met with abroad?' + +'No--never.' + +'Be quiet,' said Maynard; 'I will not be laughed at.' + +However, Mrs Wallington and Miss Maynard, who had not yet forgiven +the deep impression which Adeline's graces had made on their brother, +insisted on telling the story; to which Colonel Mordaunt listened with +eager and anxious curiosity. It received all the embellishments which +female malice could give it; and if it amused any one, certainly that +person was neither Mordaunt, nor Emma Douglas, nor her gentle sister. + +'But how fortunate it was,' added Miss Maynard, 'that we were not with +my brother! as we should unavoidably have walked and talked with this +angel.' + +Mordaunt longed to say, 'I think the good fortune was all on Miss +Mowbray's side.' + +But Adeline and her cause were in good hands: Emma Douglas stood forth +as her champion.--'We feel very differently on that subject,' she +replied. 'I shall ever regret, not that I saw and conversed with Miss +Mowbray, but that I did not see and converse with her again and again.' + +At this moment Emma was standing by Colonel Mordaunt, who involuntarily +caught her hand and pressed it eagerly; but tried to disguise his +motives by suddenly seating her in a chair behind her, saying, 'You had +better sit down; I am sure you must be tired with standing so long.' + +'No; really, Emma,' cried Major Douglas, 'you go too far there; though +to be sure, if by seeing and conversing with Miss Mowbray you could have +convinced her of her errors, I should not have objected to your seeing +her once more or so.' + +'Surely,' said Mrs Douglas timidly, 'we ought, my love, to have repeated +our visits till we had made a convert of her.' + +'A _convert_ of her!' exclaimed Mr Maynard's sisters, 'a convert of a +kept mistress!' bursting into a violent laugh, which had a most painful +effect on the irritable nerves of Colonel Mordaunt, whose tongue, +parched with emotion, cleaved to the roof of his mouth whenever he +attempted to speak. + +'Pray, to what other circumstance, yet untold, do you allude?' said Mr +Davenport. + +'Oh, we too had a rencontre with the philosopher and his charming +friend,' said Major Douglas, 'and--but, Emma, do you tell the +story.--'Sdeath!--Poor fellow!--Well, but we parted good friends,' added +the kind-hearted Caledonian, dispersing a tear; while Emma, in simple +but impressive language, related all that passed at Perpignan between +themselves, Adeline, and Glenmurray; and concluded with saying, that, +'from the almost idolatrous respect with which Glenmurray spoke and +apparently thought of Adeline, and from the account of her conduct and +its motives, which he so fully detailed, she was convinced that, so +far from being influenced by depravity in connecting herself with +Glenmurray, Adeline was the victim of a romantic, absurd, and false +conception of virtue; and she should have thought it her duty to have +endeavoured, assisted by her sister, to have prevailed on her to +renounce her opinions, and, by becoming the wife of Glenmurray, to +restore to the society of her own sex, a woman formed to be its ornament +and its example. 'Poor thing!' she added in a faltering voice, 'would +that I knew her fate!' + +'I can guess it, I tell you,' said Mrs Wallington. + +'We had better drop the subject, madam,' replied Emma Douglas +indignantly, 'as it is one that we shall never agree upon. If I supposed +Miss Mowbray happy, I should feel for her, and feel interest sufficient +in her fate to make me combat your prejudices concerning her; but now +that she is perhaps afflicted, poor, friendless, and scorned, though +unjustly, by every "virtuous she that knows her story," I cannot command +my feelings when she is named with sarcastic respect, nor can I bear to +hear an unhappy woman supposed to be plunged in the lowest depths of +vice, whom I, on the contrary, believe to be at this moment atoning for +the error of her judgment by a life of lonely penitence, or sunk perhaps +already in the grave, the victim of a broken heart.' + +Colonel Mordaunt, affected and delighted, hung on Emma Douglas's words +with breathless attention, resolving when she had ended her narration to +begin his, and clear Adeline from the calumnies of Mrs Wallington and +Miss Maynard: but after articulating with some difficulty--'Ladies,--I +--Miss Douglas,--I--' he found that his feelings would not allow him to +proceed: therefore, suddenly raising Emma's hand to his lips, imprinted +on it a kiss, at once fervent and respectful, and, making a hasty bow, +ran out of the house. + +Every one was astonished; but none so much as Emma Douglas. + +'Why, Emma!' cried the major, 'who should have thought it? I verily +believe you have turned Mordaunt's head;--I protest that he kissed your +hand:--I suppose he will be here to-morrow, making proposals in form.' + +'I wish he may!' exclaimed Mrs Douglas. + +'It is not very likely, I think,' cried Miss Maynard. + +Mrs Wallington said nothing; but she fanned herself violently. + +'How do you know that?' said Maynard. 'He kissed your hand very +tenderly--did he not, Miss Douglas? and took advantage of the dark hour: +that looks very lover-like.' + +Emma Douglas, who, in spite of her reason, was both embarrassed and +flattered by Colonel Mordaunt's unexpected mode of taking leave, said +not a word; but Mrs Wallington, in a voice hoarse with angry emotion, +cried: + +'It was very free in him, I think, and very unlike Colonel Mordaunt; for +he was not a sort of man to take liberties but where he met with +encouragement.' + +'Then I am sure he would be free with you, sister, sometimes,' +sarcastically observed Miss Maynard. + +'Nay, with both of you, I think,' replied Maynard, who had not forgiven +the laugh at his expense which they had tried to excite; on which an +angry dialogue took place between the brother and sisters: and the +Douglases, disgusted and provoked, retired to their apartment. + +'There was something very strange and uncommon,' said Mrs Douglas, +detaining Emma in her dressing-room, 'in Colonel Mordaunt's behaviour--Do +you not think so, Emma?--If it should have any meaning!' + +'Meaning!' cried the major: 'what meaning should it have? Why, my dear, +do you think Mordaunt never kissed a woman's hand before?' + +'But it was so _particular_.--Well, Emma, if it should lead to +consequences!' + +'Consequences!' cried the major: 'my dear girl, what can you mean?' + +'Why, if he should _really love_ our Emma?' + +'Why then I hope our Emma will love him.--What say you, Emma?' + +'I say?--I--' she replied: 'really I never thought it possible that +Colonel Mordaunt should have any thoughts of me, nor do I now;--but it +is very strange that he should kiss my hand!' + +The major could not help laughing at the _naiveté_ of this reply, and in +a mutual whisper they agreed how much they wished to see their sister +so happily disposed of; while Emma paced up and down her own apartment +some time before she undressed herself; and after seeming to convince +herself, by recollecting all Colonel Mordaunt's conduct towards her, +that he could not possibly _mean_ any thing by his unusual adieu, she +went to sleep, exclaiming, 'But it is very strange that he should kiss +my hand!' + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +The next morning explained the mystery: for breakfast was scarcely over, +when Colonel Mordaunt appeared; and his presence occasioned a blush, +from different causes, on the cheeks of all the ladies, and a smile on +the countenances of both the gentlemen. + +'You left us very abruptly last night,' said Major Douglas. + +'I did so,' replied Mordaunt with a sort of grave smile. + +'Were you taken ill?' asked Maynard. + +'I--I was not quite easy,' answered he: 'but, Miss Douglas, may I +request the honour of seeing you alone for a few minutes?' + +Again the ladies blushed, and the gentlemen smiled. But Emma's weakness +had been temporary: she had convinced herself that Colonel Mordaunt's +action had been nothing more than a tribute to what he fancied her +generous defence of an unfortunate woman: and with an air of embarrassed +dignity she gave him her hand to lead her into an adjoining apartment. + +'This is very good of you,' cried Colonel Mordaunt: 'but you are all +goodness!--My dear Miss Douglas, had I not gone away as I did last +night, I believe I should have fallen down and worshipped you, or +committed some other extravagance.' + +'Indeed!--What could I say to excite such enthusiasm!' replied Emma +deeply blushing. + +'What!--Oh, Miss Douglas!'--Then after a few more ohs, and other +exclamations, he related to her the whole progress of his acquaintance +with an attachment to Adeline, adding as he concluded, 'Now then judge +what feelings you must have excited in my bosom:--yes, Miss Douglas, I +reverenced you before for your own sake, I now adore you for that of my +lost Adeline.' + +'So!' thought Emma, 'the kiss of the hand is explained,'--and she +sighed as she thought it; nor did she much like the word _reverenced_: +but she had ample amends for her mortification by what followed. + +'Really,' cried Colonel Mordaunt, gazing very earnestly at her, 'I do +not mean to flatter you, but there is something in your countenance that +reminds me very strongly of Adeline.' + +'Is it possible?' said Emma, her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling +as she spoke: 'you may not mean to flatter me, but I assure you I am +flattered; for I never saw any woman whom in appearance I so much wished +to resemble.' + +'You do resemble her indeed,' cried Colonel Mordaunt, 'and the likeness +grows stronger and stronger.' + +Emma blushed deeper and deeper. + +'But come,' exclaimed he, 'let us go; and I will--no, _you_ shall--relate +to the party in the next room what I have been telling you, for I long +to shame those d--' + +'Fye!' said Emma smiling, and holding up her hand as if to stop the +coming word. And she did stop it; for Colonel Mordaunt conveyed the +reproving hand to his lips; and Emma said to herself, as she half +frowning withdrew it, 'I am glad my brother was not present.' + +Their return to the breakfast-room was welcome to every one, from +different causes, as Colonel Mordaunt's motives for requesting a +tête-à-tête had given rise to various conjectures. But all conjecture +was soon lost in certainty: for Emma Douglas, with more than usual +animation of voice and countenance, related what Colonel Mordaunt had +authorized her to relate; and the envious sisters heard, with increased +resentment, that Adeline, were she unmarried, would be the choice of the +man whose affections they were eagerly endeavouring to captivate. + +'You can't think,' said Colonel Mordaunt, when Emma had concluded, +leaving him charmed with the manner in which she had told his story, and +with the generous triumph which sparkled in her eyes at being able to +exhibit Adeline's character in so favourable a point of view, 'you can't +think how much Miss Douglas reminds me of Mrs Berrendale!' + +'Lord!' said Miss Maynard with a toss of the head, 'my brother told us +that she was handsome!' + +'And so she is,' replied the colonel, provoked at this brutal speech: +'she has one of the finest countenances that I ever saw,--a countenance +never distorted by those feelings of envy, and expressions of spite, +which so often disfigure some women,--converting even a beauty into a +fiend; and in this respect no one will doubt that Miss Douglas resembles +her: + + 'What's female beauty--but an air divine, + Thro' which the mind's all gentle graces shine?' + +says one of our first poets: therefore, in Dr Young's opinion, madam,' +continued Mordaunt, turning to Emma, 'you would have been a perfect +beauty.' + +This speech, so truly gratifying to the amiable girl to whom it was +addressed, was a dagger in the heart of both the sisters. Nor was Emma's +pleasure unalloyed by pain; for she feared that Mordaunt's attentions +might become dangerous to her peace of mind, as she could not disguise +to herself, that his visits at Mr Maynard's had been the chief cause of +her reluctance to return to Scotland whenever their journey home was +mentioned. For, always humble in her ideas of her own charms, Emma +Douglas could not believe that Mordaunt would ever entertain any feeling +for her at all resembling love, except when he fancied that she looked +like Adeline. + +But however unlikely it seemed that Mordaunt should become attached to +her, and however resolved she was to avoid his society, certain it is +that he soon found he could be happy in the society of no other woman, +since to no other could he talk on the subject nearest his heart; and +Emma, though blaming herself daily for her temerity, could not refuse to +receive Mordaunt's visits: and her patient attention to his conversation, +of which Adeline was commonly the theme, seemed to have a salutary +effect on his wounded feelings. + +But the time for their departure arrived, much to the joy of Mrs +Wallington and her sister, who hoped when Emma was gone to have a chance +of being noticed by Mordaunt. + +What then must have been their confusion and disappointment, when +Colonel Mordaunt begged to be allowed to attend the Douglases on their +journey home, as he had never seen the Highlands, and wished to see them +in such good company! Major Douglas and his charming wife gave a glad +consent to this proposal: but Emma Douglas heard it with more alarm than +pleasure; for, though her heart rejoiced at it, her reason condemned it. + +A few days, however, convinced her apprehensive delicacy, that, if she +loved Colonel Mordaunt, it was not without hope of a return. + +Colonel Mordaunt declared that every day seemed to increase her +resemblance to Adeline in expression and manner; and in conduct his +reason told him that she was her superior; nor could he for a moment +hesitate to prefer as a wife, Emma Douglas who had never erred, to +Adeline who had. + +Colonel Mordaunt felt, to borrow the words of a celebrated female +writer,[1] that 'though it is possible to love and esteem a woman who +has expiated the faults of her youth by a sincere repentance; and though +before God and man her errors may be obliterated; still there exists one +being in whose eyes she can never hope to efface them, and that is her +lover or her husband.' He felt that no man of acute sensibility can +be happy with a woman whose recollections are not pure: she must +necessarily be jealous of the opinion which he entertains of her; and he +must be often afraid of speaking, lest he utter a sentiment that may +wound and mortify her. Besides, he was, on just grounds, more desirous +of marrying a woman whom he 'admired, than one whom he forgave;' and +therefore, while he addressed Emma, he no longer regretted Adeline. + + 1: Madame de Stael, _Recueil de Morceaux détachés_, page 208. + +In short, he at length ceased to talk of Emma's resemblance to Adeline, +but seemed to admire her wholly for her own sake; and having avowed his +attachment, and been assured of Emma's in return, by Major Douglas, he +came back to England in the ensuing autumn, the happy husband of one of +the best of women. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +We left Adeline preparing to address Mrs Mowbray and recommend her child +to her protection:--but being deeply impressed with the importance of +the task which she was about to undertake, she timidly put it off +from day to day; and having convinced herself that it was her duty to +endeavour to excite her husband to repentance, and make him acknowledge +Editha as his legitimate child, she determined to write to him before +she addressed her mother, and also to bid a last farewell to Colonel +Mordaunt, whose respectful attachment had soothed some of the pangs +which consciousness of her past follies had inflicted, and whose active +friendship deserved her warmest acknowledgment. Little did she think the +fatal effect which one instance of his friendly zeal in her cause had +had on Berrendale; unconscious was she that the husband, whose neglect +she believed to be intentional, great as were his crimes against her, +was not guilty of the additional crime of suffering her to pine in +poverty without making a single inquiry concerning her, but was +convinced that both she and her child were no longer in existence. + +In her letter to him, she conjured him by the love which he _always_ +bore Glenmurray, by the love he _once_ bore her, and by the remorse +which he would sooner or later feel for his conduct towards her and her +child, to acknowledge Editha to be his lawful heir, but to suffer her to +remain under that protection to which she meant to bequeath her; and on +these conditions she left him her blessing and her pardon. + +The letter to Colonel Mordaunt was long, and perhaps diffuse: but +Adeline was jealous of his esteem, though regardless of his love; and as +he had known her while acting under the influence of a fatal error of +opinion, she wished to show him that on conviction she had abandoned +her former way of thinking, and was candid enough to own that she had +been wrong. + +'You, no doubt,' she said, 'are well acquainted with the arguments urged +by different writers in favour of marriage. I shall therefore only +mention the argument which carried at length full conviction to _my_ +mind, and conquered even my deep and heartfelt reverence for the +opinions of one who long was, and ever will be, the dearest object of my +love and regret. But _he_, had he lived, would I am sure have altered +his sentiments; and had he been a parent, the argument I allude to, as +it is founded on a consideration of the interest of children, would have +found its way to his reason, through his affections. + +'It is evident that on the education given to children must depend the +welfare of the community; and, consequently, that whatever is likely +to induce parents to neglect the education of their children must be +_hurtful_ to the welfare of the community. It is also certain, that +though the agency of the _passions_ be necessary to the existence of all +society, it is on the cultivation and influence of the _affections_ that +the happiness and improvement of social life depend. + +'Hence it follows that marriage must be more beneficial to society +in its consequences, than connexions capable of being dissolved at +pleasure; because it has a tendency to call forth and exercise the +affections, and control the passions. It has been said, that, were we +free to dissolve at will a connexion formed by love, we should not wish +to do it, as constancy is natural to us, and there is in all of us a +tendency to form an exclusive attachment. But though I believe, from my +own experience, that the few are capable of unforced constancy, and +could love for life one dear and honoured object, still I believe that +the many are given to the love of change;--that, in men especially, a +new object can excite new passion; and, judging from the increasing +depravity of both sexes, in spite of existing laws, and in defiance of +shame,--I am convinced, that if the ties of marriage were dissolved, or +it were no longer to be judged infamous to act in contempt of them, +unbridled licentiousness would soon be in general practice. What, then, +in such a state of society, would be the fate of the children born in +it?--What would their education be? Parents continually engrossed in +the enervating but delightful egotism of a new and happy love, lost in +selfish indulgence, the passions awake, but the affections slumbering, +and the sacred ties of parental feeling not having time nor opportunity +to fasten on the heart,--their offspring would either die the victims +of neglect, and the very existence of the human race be threatened; or, +without morals or instruction, they would grow up to scourge the world +by their vices, till the whole fabric of civilized society was gradually +destroyed. + +'On this ground, therefore, this strong ground, I venture to build +my present opinion, that marriage is a wise and ought to be a sacred +institution; and I bitterly regret the hour when, with the hasty and +immature judgment of eighteen, and with a degree of presumption scarcely +pardonable at any time of life, I dared to think and act contrary to +this opinion and the reverend experience of ages, and became in the eyes +of the world an example of vice, when I believed myself the champion of +virtue.' + +She then went on to express the following sentiments. 'You will think, +perhaps, that I ought to struggle against the weakness which is hurrying +me to the grave, and live for the sake of my child.--Alas! it is for her +sake that I most wish to die. + +'There are two ways in which a mother can be of use to her daughter: the +one is by instilling into her mind virtuous principles, and by setting +her a virtuous example: the other is, by being to her in her own person +an awful warning, a melancholy proof of the dangers which attend a +deviation from the path of virtue. But, oh! how jealous must a mother be +of her child's esteem and veneration! and how could she bear to humble +herself in the eyes of the beloved object, by avowing that she had +committed crimes against society, however atoned for by penitence and +sorrow! I can never, now, be a correct example for my Editha, nor could +I endure to live to be a warning to her.--Nay, if I lived, I should +be most probably a dangerous example to her; for I should be (on my +death-bed I think I may be allowed the boast) respected and esteemed; +while the society around me would forget my past errors, in the +sincerity of my repentance. + +'If then a strong temptation should assail my child, might she not yield +to it from an idea that "one false step may be retrieved," and cite her +mother as an example of this truth? while, unconscious of the many +secret heart-aches of that repentant mother, unconscious of the sorrows +and degradations she had experienced, she regarded nothing but the +present respectability of her mother's life, and contented herself with +hoping one day to resemble her. + +'Believe me, that were it possible for me to choose between life and +death, for my child's sake, the choice would be the latter. Now, when +she shall see in my mournful and eventful history, written as it has +been by me in moments of melancholy leisure, that all my sorrows were +consequent on one presumptuous error of judgment in early youth, and +shall see a long and minute detail of the secret agonies which I have +endured, those agonies wearing away my existence, and ultimately +hurrying me to an untimely grave; she will learn that the woman who +feels justly, yet has been led even into the practice of vice, however +she may be forgiven by others, can never forgive herself; and though she +may dare to lift an eye of hope to that Being who promises pardon on +repentance, she will still recollect with anguish the fair and glorious +course which she might have run: and that, instead of humbly imploring +forbearance and forgiveness, she might have demanded universal respect +and esteem. + +'True it is, that I did not act in defiance of the world's opinion, from +any depraved feeling, or vicious inclinations: but the world could not +be expected to believe this, since motives are known only to our own +hearts, and the great Searcher of hearts: therefore, as far as example +goes, I was as great a stumbling-block to others as if the life I led +had been owing to the influence of lawless desires; and society was +right in making, and in seeing, no distinction between me and any other +woman living in an unsanctioned connexion. + +'But methinks I hear you say, that Editha might never be informed of +my past errors. Alas! wretched must that woman be whose happiness and +respectability depend on the secrecy of others! Besides, did I not think +the concealment of crime in itself a crime, how could I know an hour +of peace while I reflected that a moment's malice, or inadvertency, in +one of Editha's companions might cause her to blush at her mother's +disgrace?--that, while her young cheek was flushed perhaps with the +artless triumphs of beauty, talent, and virtue, the parent who envied +me, or the daughter who envied her might suddenly convert her joy into +anguish and mortification, by artfully informing her, with feigned pity +for my sorrows and admiration of my penitence, that I had once been a +_disgrace_ to that family of which I was now the pride?--No--even if I +were not for ever separated in this world from the only man whom I ever +loved with passionate and well-founded affection, united for life to +the object of my just aversion, and were I not conscious (horrible and +overwhelming thought!) of having by my example led another into the path +of sin,--still, I repeat it, for my child's sake I should wish to die, +and should consider, not early death, but lengthened existence, as a +curse.' + +So Adeline reasoned and felt in her moments of reflection: but the heart +had sometimes dominion over her; and as she gazed on Editha, and thought +that Mrs Mowbray might be induced to receive her again to her favour, +she wished even on any terms to have her life prolonged. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Having finished her letter to Colonel Mordaunt and Berrendale, she again +prepared to write to her mother; a few transient fears overcoming every +now and then those hopes of success in her application, which, till she +took up her pen, she had so warmly encouraged. + +Alas! little did she know how erroneously for years she had judged of +Mrs Mowbray. Little did she suspect that her mother had long forgiven +her; had pined after her; had sought, though in vain, to procure +intelligence of her; and was then wearing away her existence in solitary +woe, a prey to self-reproach, and to the corroding fear that her +daughter, made desperate by her renunciation of her, had, on the death +of Glenmurray, plunged into a life of shame, or sunk, broken-hearted, +into the grave! for not one of Adeline's letters had ever reached Mrs +Mowbray; and the mother and daughter had both been the victims of female +treachery and jealousy. + +Mrs Mowbray, as soon as she had parted with Adeline for the last time, +had dismissed all her old servants, the witnesses of her sorrows and +disgrace, and retired to her estate in Cumberland,--an estate where +Adeline had first seen the light, and where Mrs Mowbray had first +experienced the transport of a mother. This spot was therefore ill +calculated to banish Adeline from her mother's thoughts, and to continue +her seclusion from her affections. + +On the contrary, her image haunted Mrs Mowbray:--whithersoever she went, +she still saw her in an attitude of supplication; she still heard the +plaintive accents of her voice;--and often did she exclaim, 'My child, +my child! wretch that I am! must I never see thee more!' + +These ideas increased to so painful a degree, that, finding her solitude +insupportable, she invited an orphan relation in narrow circumstances +to take up her abode with her. + +This young woman, whose ruling passion was avarice, and whose greatest +talent was cunning, resolved to spare no pains to keep the situation +which she had gained, even to the exclusion of Adeline, should Mrs +Mowbray be weak enough to receive her again. She therefore intercepted +all the letters which were in or like Adeline's hand-writing; and having +learnt to imitate Mrs Mowbray's, she enclosed them in a blank cover to +Adeline, who, thinking the direction was written in her mother's hand, +desisted, as the artful girl expected she would do, from what appeared +to her a hopeless application. + +And she exulted in her contrivance;--when Mrs Mowbray, on seeing in a +magazine that Glenmurray was dead, (full a year after his decease,) +bursting into a passion of tears, protested that she would instantly +invite Adeline to her house. + +'Yes,' cried she, 'I can do so without infringement of my oath.--She is +disgraced in the eye of the world by her connexion with Glenmurray, and +she is wretched in love; nay, more so, perhaps, than I have been; and I +can, I will invite her to lose the remembrance of her misfortunes in my +love!' + +Thus did her ardent wish to be re-united to Adeline deceive her +conscience; for by the phrase 'wretched in love,' she meant, forsaken by +the object of her attachment,--and that Adeline had not been: therefore +her oath remained in full force against her. But where could she seek +Adeline? Dr Norberry could, perhaps, give her this information; and to +him she resolved to write--though he had cast her from his acquaintance: +'but her pride,' as she said, 'fell with her fortunes;' and she scrupled +not to humble herself before the zealous friend of her daughter. But +this letter would never have reached him, had not her treacherous +relation been ill at the time when it was written. + +Dr Norberry had recovered the illness of which Adeline supposed him to +have died: but as her letter to him, to which she received no answer, +alluded to the money transaction between her and Mrs Norberry; and as +she commented on the insulting expressions in Mrs Norberry's note, that +lady thought proper to suppress the second letter as well as the first; +and when the doctor, on his recovery, earnestly demanded to know whether +any intelligence had been received of Miss Mowbray, Mrs Norberry, with +pretended reluctance, told him that she had written to him in great +distress, while he was delirious, to borrow money; that she had sent +her ten pounds, which Adeline had returned, reproaching her for her +parsimony, and saying that she had found a friend who would not suffer +her to want. + +'But did you tell her that you thought me in great danger?' + +'I did.' + +'Why, what, woman! did she not, after that, write to know how I was?' + +'Never.' + +'I could not have thought it of her!' answered the doctor--who could not +but believe this story for the sake of his own peace, as it was less +destructive to his happiness to think Adeline in fault, than his wife or +children guilty of profligate falsehood: he therefore, with a deep sigh, +begged Adeline's name might never be mentioned to him again; and though +he secretly wished to hear of her welfare, he no longer made her the +subject of conversation. + +But Mrs Mowbray's letter recalled her powerfully both to his memory and +affections, while, with many a deep-drawn sigh, he regretted that he had +no possible means of discovering where she was;--and with a heavy heart +he wrote the following letter, which Miss Woodville, Mrs Mowbray's +relation, having first contrived to open and read it, ventured to give +into her hands, as it contained no satisfactory information concerning +Adeline. + + 'I look on the separation of my mother and me in this world to + be eternal,' said the poor dear lost Adeline to me, the last + time we met. 'You do!' replied I: 'then, poor devil! how + miserable will your mother be when her resentment + subsides!--Well, when that time comes, I may, perhaps see her + again,' added I, with a queer something rising in my throat + as I said it, and your poor girl blessed me for the kind + intention.--(Pshaw! I have blotted the paper: at my years it is + a shame to be so watery-eyed.) Well,--the time above-mentioned + is come--you are miserable, you are repentant--and you ask me + to forget and forgive.--I do forget, I do forgive: some time or + other, too, I will tell you so in person; and were the lost + Adeline to know that I did so, she would bless me for the act, + as she did before for the intention. But, alas! where she is, + what she is, I know not, and have not any means of knowing. To + say the truth, her conduct to me and mine has been odd, not to + say wrong. But, poor thing! she is either dead or miserable, + and I forgive her:--so I do you, as I said before, and the Lord + give you all the consolation which you so greatly need! + + Yours once more, + In true kindness of spirit, + JAMES NORBERRY.' + +This letter made Mrs Mowbray's wounds bleed afresh, at the same time +that it destroyed all her expectations of finding Adeline; and the only +hope that remained to cheer her was, that she might perhaps, if yet +alive, write sooner or later, to implore forgiveness, but month after +month elapsed, and no tidings of Adeline reached her despairing mother. + +She then put an advertisement in the paper, so worded that Adeline, had +she seen it, must have known to whom it alluded; but it never met her +eyes, and Mrs Mowbray gave herself up to almost absolute despair; when +accident introduced her to a new acquaintance, whose example taught her +patience, and whose soothing benevolence bade her hope for happier days. + +One day as Mrs Mowbray, regardless of a heavy shower, and lost in +melancholy reflections, was walking with irregular steps on the road to +Penrith, with an unopened umbrella in her hand, she suddenly raised her +eyes from the ground, and beheld a Quaker lady pursued by an over-driven +bullock, and unable any longer to make an effort to escape its fury. At +this critical moment Mrs Mowbray, from a sort of irresistible impulse, +as fortunate in its effects as presence of mind, yet scarcely perhaps to +be denominated such, suddenly opened her umbrella; and, approaching +the animal, brandished it before his eyes. Alarmed at this unusual +appearance, he turned hastily and ran towards the town, where she saw +that he was immediately met and secured. + +'Thou hast doubtless saved my life,' said the Quaker, grasping Mrs +Mowbray's hand with an emotion which she vainly tried to suppress; 'and +I pray that thine may be blest!' + +Mrs Mowbray returned the pressure of her hand, and burst into tears; +overcome with joy for having saved a fellow-creature's life; with +terror, which she was now at leisure to feel for the danger to which +she had herself been exposed; and with mournful emotion from the +consciousness how much she needed the blessing which the grateful Quaker +invoked on her head. + +'Thou tremblest even more than I do,' observed the lady, smiling, but +seeming ready to faint; 'I believe we had better, both of us, sit down +on the bank; but it is so wet that perhaps we may as well endeavour to +reach my house, which is only at the end of yon field.' Mrs Mowbray +bowed her assent; and, supporting each other, they at length arrived at +a neat white house, to which the Quaker cordially bade her welcome. + +'It was but this morning,' said Mrs Mowbray, struggling for utterance, +'that I called upon Death to relieve me from an existence at once +wretched and useless.' Here she paused:--and her new acquaintance, +cordially pressing her hand, waited for the conclusion of her +speech;--'but now,' continued Mrs Mowbray, 'I revoke, and repent my idle +and vicious impatience of life. I have probably saved your life, and +something like enjoyment now seems to enliven mine.' + +'I suspect,' replied the lady, 'that thou hast known deep affliction; +and I rejoice that at this moment, and in so providential a manner, I +have been introduced to thy acquaintance:--for I too have known sorrow, +and the mourner knows how to speak comfort to the heart of the mourner. +My name is Rachel Pemberton; and I hope that when I know thy name, and +thy story, thou wilt allow me to devote to thy comfort some hours of +the existence which thou hast preserved.' She then hastily withdrew, to +pour forth in solitude the breathings of devout gratitude:--while Mrs +Mowbray, having communed with her own thoughts, felt a glow of unwonted +satisfaction steal over her mind; and by the time Mrs Pemberton +returned, she was able to meet her with calmness and cheerfulness. + +'Thou knowest my name,' said Mrs Pemberton as she entered, seating +herself by Mrs Mowbray, 'but I have yet to learn thine.' + +'My name is Mowbray,' she replied sighing deeply. + +'Mowbray!--The lady of Rosevalley in Gloucestershire; and the mother of +Adeline Mowbray?' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton. + +'What of Adeline Mowbray? What of my child?' cried Mrs Mowbray, seizing +Mrs Pemberton's hand. 'Blessed woman! tell me,--Do you indeed know +her?--can you tell me where to find her?' + +'I will tell thee all that I know of her,' replied Mrs Pemberton in +a faltering voice; 'but thy emotion overpowers me.--I--I was once a +mother, and I can feel for thee.' She then turned away her head to +conceal a starting tear; while Mrs Mowbray, in incoherent eagerness, +repeated her questions, and tremblingly awaited her answer. + +'Is she well? Is she happy?--say but that!' she exclaimed, sobbing as +she spoke. + +'She was well and contented when I last heard from her,' replied Mrs +Pemberton calmly. + +'Heard from her? Then she writes to you! Oh, blessed, blessed woman! +show me her letters, and tell me only that she has forgiven me for all +my unkindness to her--' As she said this, Mrs Mowbray threw her arms +round Mrs Pemberton, and sunk half-fainting on her shoulder. + +'I will tell thee all that has ever passed between us, if thou wilt be +composed,' gravely answered Mrs Pemberton; 'but this violent expression +of thy feelings is unseemly and detrimental.' + +'Well--well--I will be calm,' said Mrs Mowbray; and Mrs Pemberton began +to relate the interview which she had with Adeline at Richmond. + +'How long ago did this take place?' eagerly interrupted Mrs Mowbray. + +'Full six years.' + +'Oh, God!' exclaimed she, impatiently,--'Six years! By this time then +she may be dead--she may--' + +'Thou art incorrigible, I fear,' said Mrs Pemberton, 'but thou art +afflicted, and I will bear with thy impatience:--sit down again and +attend to me, and thou wilt hear much later intelligence of thy +daughter.' + +'How late?' asked Mrs Mowbray with frantic eagerness;--and Mrs +Pemberton, overcome with the manner in which she spoke, could scarcely +falter out, 'Within a twelvemonth I have heard of her.' + +'Within a twelvemonth!' joyfully cried Mrs Mowbray: but, recollecting +herself, she added mournfully--'but in that time what--what may not have +happened!' + +'I know not what to do with thee nor for thee,' observed Mrs Pemberton; +'but do try, I beseech thee, to hear me patiently!' + +Mrs Mowbray then re-seated herself; and Mrs Pemberton informed her of +Adeline's premature confinement at Richmond; of her distress on +Glenmurray's death, and of her having witnessed it. + +'Ah! you acted a mother's part--you did what I ought to have done,' +cried Mrs Mowbray, bursting into tears,--'but, go on--I will be +patient.' + +Yet that was impossible; for, when she heard of Adeline's insanity, her +emotions became so strong that Mrs Pemberton, alarmed for her life, was +obliged to ring for assistance. + +When she recovered,--'Thou hast heard the worst now,' said Mrs +Pemberton, 'and all I have yet to say of thy child is satisfactory.' + +She then related the contents of Adeline's first letter, informing her +of her marriage:--and Mrs Mowbray, clasping her hands together, blessed +God that Adeline was become a wife. The next letter Mrs Pemberton read +informed her that she was the mother of a fine girl. + +'A mother!' she exclaimed, 'Oh, how I should like to see her child!'--But +at the same moment she recollected how bitterly she had reviled her when +she saw her about to become a mother, at their last meeting; and, torn +with conflicting emotions, she was again insensible to aught but her +self-upbraidings. + +'Well--but where is she now? where is the child? and when did you hear +from her last?' cried she. + +'I have not heard from her since,' hesitatingly replied Mrs Pemberton. + +'But can't you write to her?' + +'Yes;--but in her last letter she said she was going to change her +lodgings, and would write again when settled in a new habitation.' + +Again Mrs Mowbray paced the room in wild and violent distress: but her +sorrows at length yielded to the gentle admonitions and soothings of Mrs +Pemberton, who bade her remember, that when she rose in the morning she +had not expected the happiness and consolation which she had met with +that day; and that a short time might bring forth still greater comfort. + +'For,' said Mrs Pemberton, 'I can write to the house where she formerly +lodged, and perhaps the person who keeps it can give us intelligence of +her.' + +On hearing this, Mrs Mowbray became more composed, and diverted her +sorrow by a thousand fond inquiries concerning Adeline, which none but a +mother could make, and none but a mother could listen to with patience. + +While this conversation was going on, a knock at the door was heard, and +Miss Woodville entered the room in great emotion; for she had heard, on +the road, that a mad bullock had attacked a lady; and also that Mrs +Mowbray, scarcely able to walk, had been led into the white house in the +field by the road side. + +Miss Woodville was certainly as much alarmed as she pretended to be: +but there was a somewhat in the expression of her alarm which, though +it gratified Mrs Mowbray, was displeasing to the more penetrating Mrs +Pemberton. She could not indeed guess that Miss Woodville's alarm sprung +merely from apprehension lest Mrs Mowbray should die before she had +provided for her in her will: yet, notwithstanding, she felt that her +expressions of concern and anxiety had no resemblance to those of real +affection; and in spite of her habitual candour, she beheld Miss +Woodville with distrust. + +But this feeling was considerably increased on observing, that when Mrs +Mowbray exultingly introduced her, not only as the lady whose life she +had been the means of preserving, but as the friend and correspondent +of her daughter, she evidently changed colour; and, in spite of her +habitual plausibility, could not utter a single coherent sentence of +pleasure or congratulation:--and it was also evident, that, being +conscious of Mrs Pemberton's regarding her with a scrutinizing eye, she +was not easy till, on pretence of Mrs Mowbray's requiring rest after her +alarm, she had prevailed on her to return home. + +But she could not prevent the new friends from parting with eager +assurances of meeting again and again; and it was agreed between them, +that Mrs Pemberton should spend the next day at the Lawn. + +Mrs Pemberton, who is thus again introduced to the notice of my readers, +had been, as well as Mrs Mowbray, the pupil of adversity. She had been +born and educated in fashionable life; and she united to a very lovely +face and elegant form, every feminine grace and accomplishment. + +When she was only eighteen, Mr Pemberton, a young and gay Quaker, fell +in love with her; and having inspired her with a mutual passion, he +married her, notwithstanding the difference of their religious opinions, +and the displeasure of his friends. He was consequently disowned by the +society: but being weaned by the happiness which he found at home from +those public amusements which had first lured him from the strict habits +of his sect, he was soon desirous of being again admitted a member of +it; and in process of time he was once more received into it; while +his amiable wife, having no wish beyond her domestic circle, and being +disposed to think her husband's opinions right, became in time a convert +to the same profession of faith, and exhibited in her manners the rare +union of the easy elegance of a woman of the world with the rigid +decorum and unadorned dress of a strict Quaker. + +But in the midst of her happiness, and whilst looking forward to a +long continuance of it, a fever, caught in visiting the sick bed of a +cottager, carried off her husband, and next two lovely children; and Mrs +Pemberton would have sunk under the stroke, but for the watchful care +and affectionate attentions of the friend of her youth, who resided +near her, and who, in time, prevailed on her to receive with becoming +fortitude and resignation the trials which she was appointed to undergo. + +During this season of affliction, as we have before stated, she became +a minister in the Quaker society: but at the time of her meeting +Adeline at Richmond, she had been called from the duties of her public +profession to watch over the declining health of her friend and +consoler, and to accompany her to Lisbon. + +There, during four long years, she bent over her sick couch, now elated +with hope, and now sunk into despondence; when, at the beginning of the +fifth year, her friend died in her arms, and she returned to England, +resolved to pass her days, except when engaged in active duties, on a +little estate in Cumberland, bequeathed to her by her friend on her +death-bed. But ill health and various events had detained her in the +west of England since her return; and she had not long taken possession +of her house near Penrith, when she became introduced in so singular a +manner to Mrs Mowbray's acquaintance--an acquaintance which would, she +hoped, prove of essential service to them both; and as soon as her guest +departed, Mrs Pemberton resolved to inquire what character Mrs Mowbray +bore in the neighbourhood, and whether her virtues at all kept pace with +her misfortunes. + +Her inquiries were answered in the most satisfactory manner; as, +fortunately for Mrs Mowbray, with the remembrance of her daughter had +recurred to her that daughter's benevolent example. She remembered the +satisfaction which used to beam from Adeline's countenance when she +returned from her visits to the sick and the afflicted; and she resolved +to try whether those habits of charitable exertion which could increase +the happiness of the young and light-hearted Adeline, might not have +power to alleviate the sorrows of her own drooping age, and broken +joyless heart. + +'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'--She who, while the child of +prosperity, was a romantic, indolent theorist, an inactive speculator, +a proud contemner of the dictates of sober experience, and a neglecter +of that practical benevolence which can in days produce more benefit to +others than theories and theorists can accomplish in years--this erring +woman, awakened from her dreams and reveries, to habits of useful +exertion, by the stimulating touch of affliction, was become the +visitor of the sick, the consoler of the sorrowful, the parent of the +fatherless, while virtuous industry looked up to her with hope; and her +name, like that of Adeline in happier days, was pronounced with prayers +and blessings. + +But, alas! she felt that blessing could reach her only in the shape of +her lost child: and though she was conscious of being useful to others, +though she had the satisfaction of knowing that she had but the day +before been the means of preserving a valuable life, she met Mrs +Pemberton, when she arrived at the Lawn, with a countenance of fixed +melancholy, and was at first disposed to expect but little success from +the project of writing to Adeline's former lodgings in order to inquire. + +The truth was, that Miss Woodville had artfully insinuated the +improbability of such an inquiry's succeeding; and, though Mrs Mowbray +had angrily asserted her hopes when Miss Woodville provokingly asserted +her _fears_, the treacherous girl's insinuations had sunk deeply into +her mind, and Mrs Pemberton saw, with pain and wonder, an effect +produced of which the cause was wholly unseen. But she at length +succeeded in awakening Mrs Mowbray's hopes; and in a letter written by +Mrs Pemberton to the mistress of the house whence Adeline formerly +dated, she enclosed one to her daughter glowing with maternal +tenderness, and calculated to speak peace to her sorrows. + +These letters were sent, as soon as written, to the post by Mrs +Mowbray's footman; but Miss Woodville contrived to meet him near the +post-office, and telling him she would put the letter in the receiver, +she gave him a commission to call at a shop in Penrith for her, at which +she had not time to call herself. + +Thus was another scheme for restoring Adeline to her afflicted mother +frustrated by the treachery of this interested woman; who, while Mrs +Pemberton and Mrs Mowbray looked anxiously forward to the receipt of an +answer from London, triumphed with malignant pleasure in the success of +her artifice.--But, spite of herself, she feared Mrs Pemberton, and was +not at all pleased to find that, till the answer from London could +arrive, that lady was to remain at the Lawn. + +She contrived, however, to be as little in her presence as possible; +for, contrary to Mrs Pemberton's usual habits, she felt a distrust of +Miss Woodville, which her intelligent eye could not help expressing, and +which consequently alarmed the conscious heart of the culprit. Being +left therefore, by Miss Woodville's fears, alone with Mrs Mowbray, +she drew from her, at different times, ample details of Adeline's +childhood, and the method which Mrs Mowbray had pursued in her +education. + +'Ah! 'tis as I suspected,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton during one of +these conversations. 'Thy daughter's _faults_ originated in thee! her +education was cruelly defective.' + +'No!' replied Mrs Mowbray with almost angry eagerness, 'whatever my +errors as a mother have been, and for the rash marriage which I made I +own myself culpable in the highest degree, I am sure that I paid the +greatest attention to my daughter's education. If you were but to +see the voluminous manuscript on the subject, which I wrote for her +improvement--' + +'But where was thy daughter; and how was she employed during the time +that thou wert writing a book by which to educate her?' + +Mrs Mowbray was silent: she recollected that, while she was gratifying +her own vanity in composing her system of education, Adeline was almost +banished her presence; and, but for the humble instruction of her +grandmother, would, at the age of fifteen, have run a great risk of +being both an ignorant and useless being. + +'Forgive me, friend Mowbray,' resumed Mrs Pemberton, aware in some +measure of what was passing in Mrs Mowbray's mind--'forgive me if I +venture to observe, that till of late years a thick curtain of self-love +seems to have been dropped between thy heart and maternal affection. It +is now, and now only, that thou hast learned to feel like a true and +affectionate mother!' + +'Perhaps you are right,' replied Mrs Mowbray mournfully, 'still, I +always meant well; and hoped that my studies would conduce to the +benefit of my child.' + +'So they might, perhaps, to that of thy second, third, or fourth child, +hadst thou been possessed of so many; but, in the meanwhile, thy +first-born must have been fatally neglected. A child's education begins +almost from the hour of its birth; and the mother who understands her +task, knows that the circumstances which every moment calls forth, are +the tools with which she is to work in order to fashion her child's mind +and character. What would you think of the farmer who was to let his +fields lie fallow for years, while he was employed in contriving a +method of cultivating land to increase his gains ten-fold?' + +'But I did not suffer Adeline's mind to lie fallow.--I allowed her to +read, and I directed her studies.' + +'Thou didst so; but what were those studies? and didst thou acquaint +thyself with the deductions which her quick mind formed from them? +No--thou didst not, as parents should do, inquire into the impressions +made on thy daughter's mind by the books which she perused. Prompt to +feel, and hasty to decide, as Adeline was, how necessary was to her the +warning voice of judgment and experience!' + +'But how could I imagine that a girl so young should dare to act, +whatever her opinions might be, in open defiance of the opinions of the +world?' + +'But she had not lived in the world; therefore, scarcely knew how +repugnant to it her opinions were; nor, as she did not mix in general +society, could she care sufficiently for its good opinion, to be willing +to act contrary to her own ideas of right, rather than forfeit it: +besides, thou ownest that thou didst openly profess thy admiration +of the sentiments which she adopted; nor, till they were confirmed +irrevocably hers, didst thou declare, that to act up to them was, in thy +opinion, vicious. And then it was too late: she thought thy timidity, +and not thy wisdom, spoke, and she set thee the virtuous example of +acting up to the dictates of conscience. But Adeline and thou are both +the pupils of affliction and experience; and I trust that, all your +errors repented of, you will meet once more to expiate your past follies +by your future conduct.' + +'I hope so too,' meekly replied Mrs Mowbray, whose pride had been +completely subdued by self-upbraidings and distress: 'Oh! when--when +will an answer arrive from London?' + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +Alas! day after day elapsed, and no letter came; but while Mrs Mowbray +was almost frantic with disappointment and anxiety, Mrs Pemberton +thought that she observed in Miss Woodville's countenance a look of +triumphant malice, which ill accorded with the fluent expressions of +sympathy and regret with which she gratified her unsuspicious relation, +and she determined to watch her very narrowly; for she thought it +strange that Adeline, however she might respect her mother's oath, +should never, in the bitterness of her sorrows, have unburthened her +heart by imparting them to her: one day, when, as usual, the post had +been anxiously expected, and, as usual, had brought no letter from +London concerning Adeline; and while Miss Woodville was talking on +indifferent subjects with ill suppressed gaiety, though Mrs Mowbray, +sunk into despondence, was lying on the sofa by her; Mrs Pemberton +suddenly exclaimed--'There is only one right way of proceeding, friend +Mowbray,--thou and I must go to London, and make our inquiries in +person, and then we shall have a great chance of succeeding.' As she +said this, she looked steadfastly at Miss Woodville, and saw her turn +very pale, while her eye was hastily averted from the penetrating glance +of Mrs Pemberton; and when she heard Mrs Mowbray, in a transport of +joy, declare that they had better set off that very evening,--unable to +conceal her terror and agitation, she hastily left the room. + +Mrs Pemberton instantly followed her into the apartment to which she had +retired, and the door of which she had closed with much violence. She +found her walking to and fro, and wringing her hands, as if in agony. +On seeing Mrs Pemberton, she started, and sinking into a chair, she +complained of being very ill, and desired to be left alone. + +'Thou art ill, and thy illness is of the worst sort, I fear,' replied +Mrs Pemberton; 'but I will stay, and be thy physician.' + +'_You_, my physician?' replied Miss Woodville, with fury in her looks; +'You?' + +'Yes--_I_--I see that thou art afraid lest Adeline should be restored to +her paternal roof.' + +'Who told you so, officious, insolent woman?' returned Miss Woodville. + +'Thy own looks--but all this is very natural in thee: thou fearest that +Adeline's favour should annihilate thine.' + +'Perhaps I do,' cried Miss Woodville, a little less alarmed, and +catching at this plausible excuse for her uneasiness; 'for, should I be +forced to leave my cousin's house, I shall be reduced to comparative +poverty and solitude again.' + +'But why shouldest thou be forced to leave it? Art thou not Adeline's +friend?' + +'Ye--yes,' faltered out Miss Woodville. + +'But it is uncertain whether we can find Adeline--still we shall be very +diligent in our inquiries; yet it is so strange that she should never +have written to her mother, if alive, that perhaps--' + +'Oh, I dare say she is dead,' hastily interrupted Miss Woodville. + +'Has she been dead long, thinkest thou?' + +'No--not long--not above six months, I dare say.' + +'No!--Hast thou any reason then for knowing that she was alive six +months ago?' asked Mrs Pemberton, looking steadily at Miss Woodville, as +she spoke. + +'I?--Lord--no--How should I know?' she replied, her lip quivering, and +her whole frame trembling. + +'I tell thee how.--Art thou not conscious of having intercepted letters +from thy cousin to her relenting parent?' + +Mrs Pemberton had scarcely uttered these words, when Miss Woodville fell +back nearly _insensible_ in her chair--a proof that the accusation was +only too well founded. As soon as she recovered, Mrs Pemberton said, +with great gentleness, 'Thou art ill,--ill indeed, but, as I suspected, +thy illness is of the mind; there is a load of guilt on it; throw it off +then by a full confession, and be the sinner that repenteth.' + +In a few moments Miss Woodville, conscious that her emotion had betrayed +her, and suspecting that Mrs Pemberton had by some means or other +received hints of her treachery, confessed that she had intercepted and +destroyed letters from Adeline to her mother; and also owned, to the +great joy of Mrs Pemberton, that Adeline's last letter, the letter +in which she informed Mrs Mowbray, that all the conditions were then +fulfilled, without which alone she had sworn never to forgive her, had +arrived only two months before; and that it was dated from such a +street, and such a number, in London. + +'My poor friend will be so happy!' said Mrs Pemberton; and, her own eyes +filling with tears of joy, she hastened to find Mrs Mowbray. + +'But what will become of _me_?' exclaimed Miss Woodville, detaining +her--'_I_ am ruined--ruined for ever!' + +'Not so,' replied Mrs Pemberton, 'thou art _saved_,--saved, I trust, for +_ever_--Thou hast confessed thy guilt, and made all the atonement now in +thy power. Go to thine own room, and I will soon make known to thee thy +relation's sentiments towards thee.' + +So saying, she hastened to Mrs Mowbray, whom she found giving orders, +with eager impatience, to have post horses sent for immediately. + +'Then thou art full of expectation, I conclude, from the event of our +journey to town?' said Mrs Pemberton, smiling. + +'To be sure I am,' replied Mrs Mowbray. + +'And so am I,' she answered,--'for I think that I know the present abode +of thy daughter.' + +Mrs Mowbray started--her friend's countenance expressed more joy and +exultation than she had ever seen on it before; and, almost breathless +with new hope, she seized her hand and conjured her to explain herself. + +The explanation was soon given; and Mrs Mowbray's joy, in consequence of +it, unbounded. + +'But what is thy will,' observed Mrs Pemberton, 'with regard to thy +guilty relation?' + +'I cannot--cannot see her again now, if ever;--and she must immediately +leave my house.' + +'Immediately?' + +'Yes,--but I will settle on her a handsome allowance; for my conscience +tells me, that, had I behaved like a mother to my child, no one could +have been tempted to injure her thus,--I put this unhappy woman into +a state of temptation, and she yielded to it:--but I feel only too +sensibly, that no one has been such an enemy to my poor Adeline as I +have been; nor, conscious of my own offences towards her, dare I resent +those of another.' + +'I love, I honour thee for what thou hast now uttered,' cried Mrs +Pemberton with unusual animation.--'I see that thou art now indeed a +Christian; such are the breathings of a truly contrite spirit; and, +verily, she who can so easily forgive the crimes of others may hope to +have her own forgiven.' + +Mrs Pemberton then hastened to speak hope and comfort to the mind of +the penitent offender, while Mrs Mowbray ran to meet her servant, who, +to her surprise, was returning without horses, for none were to be +procured; and Mrs Mowbray saw herself obliged to delay her journey till +noon the next day, when she was assured of having horses from Penrith. +But when, after a long and restless night, she arose in the morning, +anticipating with painful impatience the hour of her departure, Mrs +Pemberton entered her room, and informed her that she had passed nearly +all the night at Miss Woodville's bed-side, who had been seized with a +violent delirium at one o'clock in the morning, and in her ravings was +continually calling on Mrs Mowbray, and begging to see her once more. + +'I will see her directly,' replied Mrs Mowbray, without a moment's +hesitation; and hastened to Miss Woodville's apartment, where she found +the medical attendant whom Mrs Pemberton had sent for just arrived. He +immediately declared the disorder to be an inflammation on the brain, +and left them with little or no hope of her recovery. + +Mrs Mowbray, affected beyond measure at the pathetic appeals for pardon +addressed to her continually by the unconscious sufferer, took her +station at the bed-side; and, hanging over her pillow, watched for the +slightest gleam of returning reason, in order to speak the pardon so +earnestly implored: and while thus piously engaged, the chaise that was +to convey her and her friend to London, and perhaps to Adeline, drove up +to the gate. + +'Art thou ready?' said Mrs Pemberton, entering the room equipped for her +journey. + +At this moment the poor invalid reiterated her cries for pardon, and +begged Mrs Mowbray not to leave her without pronouncing her forgiveness. + +Mrs Mowbray burst into tears; and though sure that she was not even +conscious of her presence, she felt herself almost unable to forsake +her:--still it was in search of her daughter that she was going--nay, +perhaps, it was to her daughter that she was hastening; and, as this +thought occurred to her, she hurried to the door of the chamber, saying +she should be ready in a moment. + +But the eye of the phrensied sufferer followed her as she did so, and in +a tone of unspeakable agony she begged, she entreated that she might not +be left to die in solitude and sorrow, however guilty she might have +been.--Then again she implored Mrs Mowbray to speak peace and pardon +to her drooping soul; while, unable to withstand these solicitations, +though she knew them to be the unconscious ravings of the disorder, she +slowly and mournfully returned to the bed-side. + +'It is late,' said Mrs Pemberton--'we ought ere now to be on the road.' + +'How can I go, and leave this poor creature in such a state?--But then +should we find my poor injured child at the end of the journey! Such an +expectation as that!--' + +'Thou must decide quickly,' replied Mrs Pemberton gently. + +'Decide! Then I will go with you.--Yet still should Anna recover her +senses before her death, and wish to see me, I should never forgive +myself for being absent--it might soothe the anguish of her last moments +to know how freely I pardon her.--No, no:--after all, if pleasure awaits +me, it is only delaying it a few days; and this, this unhappy girl is on +her _death-bed_.--You, you must go _without_ me.' + +As she said this, Mrs Pemberton pressed her hand with affectionate +eagerness, and murmured out in broken accents, 'I honour thy decision, +and may I return with comfort to thee!' + +'Yet though I wish you to go,' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'I grieve to expose +you to such fatigue and trouble in your weak state of health, and--' + +'Say no more,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton, 'I am only doing my duty; and +reflect on my happiness if I am allowed to restore the lost sheep to +the fold again!'--So saying she set off on her journey, and arrived in +London only four days after Adeline had arrived in Cumberland. + +Mrs Pemberton drove immediately to Adeline's lodgings, but received the +same answer as Colonel Mordaunt had received; namely, that she was gone +no one knew whither. Still she did not despair of finding her: she, like +the Colonel, thought that a mulatto, a lady just recovered from the +small-pox, and a child, were likely to be easily traced; and having +written to Mrs Mowbray, owning her disappointment, but bidding her not +despair, she set off on her journey back, and had succeeded in tracing +Adeline as far as an inn on the high North road,--when an event took +place which made her further inquiries needless. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Adeline, after several repeated trials, succeeded in writing the +following letter to her mother:-- + + + 'Dearest of Mothers, + + 'When this letter reaches you, I shall be no more; and however + I may hitherto have offended you, I shall then be able to + offend you no longer; and that child, whom you bound yourself + by oath never to see or forgive but on the most cruel of + conditions while living, dead you may perhaps deign to receive + to your pardon and your love.--Nay, my heart tells me that you + will do more,--that you will transfer the love which you once + felt for me, to my poor helpless orphan; and in full confidence + that you will be this indulgent, I bequeath her to you with my + dying breath.--O! look on her, my mother, nor shrink from her + with disgust, although you see in her my features; but rather + rejoice in the resemblance, and fancy that I am restored to you + pure, happy, and beloved as I once was.--Yes, yes,--it will be + so: I have known a great deal of sorrow--let me then indulge + the little ray of pleasure that breaks in upon me when I think + that you will not resist my dying prayer, but bestow on my + child the long arrears of tenderness due to me. + + 'Yes, yes, you will receive, you will be kind to her; and by so + doing you will make me ample amends for all the sorrow which + your harshness caused me when we met last.--That was a dreadful + day! How you frowned on me! I did not think you could have + frowned so dreadfully--but then I was uninjured by affliction, + unaltered by illness. Were you to see me now, you would not + have the heart to frown on me: and yet my letters being + repeatedly returned, and even the last unnoticed and unanswered, + though it told you that even on your own conditions I could now + claim your pardon, for that I had been "wretched in love," and + had experienced "the anguish of being forsaken, despised, and + disgraced in the eye of the world," proves but too surely that + the bitterness of resentment is not yet passed!--But on my + _death-bed_ you promised to see and forgive me--_and I am there, + my mother_!! Yet will I not claim that promise;--I will not + weaken, by directing it towards myself, the burst of sorrow, + of too late regret, of self-upbraidings, and long-restrained + affection, which must be directed towards my child when I am + not alive to profit by it. No:--though I would give worlds to + embrace you once more, for the sake of my child I resign the + gratification. + + 'Oh, mother! you little think that I saw you, only a few days + ago, from the stile by the cottage which overlooks your house: + you were walking with a lady, and my child was with me + (my Editha, for I have called her after you.) You seemed, + methought, even cheerful, and I was so selfish that I felt + shocked to think I was so entirely forgotten by you; for I was + sure that if you thought of me you could not be cheerful. But + your companion left you; and then you looked so very sad, that + I was wretched from the idea that you were then thinking too + much of me, and I wished you to resume your cheerfulness again. + + '_I_ was not cheerful, and Editha by her artless prattle + wounded me to the very soul.--She wished, she said, to live in + that sweet house, and asked why she should not live there? _I + could_ have told her why, but dared not do it; but I assured + her, and do not for mercy's sake prove that assurance false! + that she _should_ live there _one day_. + + '"But when--when?" she asked. + + '"When I am in my grave,"' replied I: and, poor innocent! + throwing herself into my arms with playful fondness, she begged + me to go to my grave directly. I feel but too sensibly that her + desire will soon be accomplished. + + 'But must I die unblest by you? True, I am watched by the + kindest of human beings! but then she is not my mother--that + mother, who, with the joys of my childhood and my home, is so + continually recurring to my memory. Oh! I forget all your + unkindness, my mother, and remember only your affection. How I + should like to feel your hand supporting my head, and see you + perform the little offices which sickness requires!--And must + I never, never see you more? Yes! you will come, I am sure you + will: but come, come quickly, or I shall die without your + blessing. + + 'I have had a fainting fit--but I am recovered, and can address + you again.--Oh! teach my Editha to be humble, teach her to be + slow to call the experience of ages contemptible prejudices; + teach her no opinions that can destroy her sympathies with + general society, and make her an alien to the hearts of those + amongst whom she lives. + + 'Be above all things careful that she wanders not in the night + of scepticism. But for the support of religion, what, amidst my + various sorrows, what would have become of _me_? + + 'There is something more that I would say. Should my existence + be prolonged even but a few days, I shall have to struggle with + poverty as well as sickness; and the anxious friend (I will not + call her servant) who is now my all of earthly comfort, will + scarcely have money sufficient to pay me the last sad duties; + and I owe her, my mother, a world of obligation! She will make + my last moments easy, and _you_ must reward her. From her you + will receive this letter when I am no more, and to your care + and protection I bequeath her. She is--my eyes grow dim, and I + must leave off for the present.' + +On the very evening in which Adeline had written this address to her +mother, Mrs Mowbray had received Mrs Pemberton's letter; and as Miss +Woodville had been interred that morning, she felt herself at liberty to +join Mrs Pemberton in her search after Adeline. While various plans for +this purpose presented themselves to her mind, and each of them was +dismissed in its turn as fruitless or impracticable,--full of these +thoughts she pensively walked along the lawn before her door, till sad +and weary she leaned on a little gate at the bottom of it; which, as she +did so, swung slowly backwards and forwards, responsive as it were to +her feelings. + +But, as she continued to muse, and to recall the varied sorrows of her +past life, the gate on which she leaned began to vibrate more quickly; +till, unable to bear the recollections which assailed her, she was +hastening with almost frantic speed towards the house, when she saw a +cottager approaching, to whose sick daughter and helpless family she had +long been a bountiful benefactress. + +'What is the matter, John?' cried Mrs Mowbray, hastening forward to meet +him--'you seem agitated.' + +'My poor daughter, madam;' replied the man, bursting into tears. + +At the sight of his distress, his _parental_ distress, Mrs Mowbray +sighed deeply, and asked if Lucy was worse. + +'I doubt she is dying,' said the afflicted father. + +'Heaven forbid!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, throwing her shawl over her +shoulders; 'I will go and see her myself.' + +'What, really?--But the way is so long, and the road is so miry?' + +'No matter--I must do my duty.' + +'God bless you, and reward you!' cried the grateful father--'that is so +like you! Lucy said you would come!' + +Mrs Mowbray then filled a basket with medicine and refreshments, and set +out on her charitable visit. + +She found the poor girl in a very weak and alarming state; but the +sight of her benefactress, and the tender manner in which she supported +her languid head, and administered wine and other cordials to her, +insensibly revived her; and while writhing under the feelings of an +unhappy parent herself, Mrs Mowbray was soothed by the blessings of the +parent whom she comforted. + +At this moment they were alarmed by a shriek from a neighbouring +cottage, and a woman who was attending on the sick girl ran out to +inquire into the cause of it. + +She returned, saying that a poor sick young gentlewoman, who lodged at +the next house, was fallen back in a fit, and they thought she was dead. + +'A young gentlewoman,' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, 'at the next cottage!' +rising up. + +'Aye sure,' cried the woman, 'she looks like a lady for certain, and she +has the finest child I ever saw.' + +'Perhaps she is not dead,' said Mrs Mowbray:--'let us go see.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +Little did Mrs Mowbray think that it was her own child whom she was +hastening to relieve; and that, while meditating a kind action, +recompense was so near. + +Adeline, while trying to finish her letter to her mother, had scarcely +traced a few illegible lines, when she fell back insensible on her +pillow; and at the moment of Mrs Mowbray's entering the cottage, +Savanna, who had uttered the shriek which had excited her curiosity, +had convinced herself that she was gone for ever. + +The woman who accompanied Mrs Mowbray entered the house first; and +opening a back chamber, low-roofed, narrow, and lighted only by one +solitary and slender candle, Mrs Mowbray, beheld through the door the +lifeless form of the object of her solicitude, which Savanna was +contemplating with loud and frantic sorrow. + +'Here is a lady come to see what she can do for your mistress,' cried +the woman, while Savanna turned hastily round:--'Here she is--here is +good Madam Mowbray.' + +'Madam Mowbray!' shrieked Savanna, fixing her dark eyes on Mrs Mowbray, +and raising her arm in a threatening manner as she approached her: then +snatching up the letter which lay on the bed,--'Woman!' she exclaimed, +grasping Mrs Mowbray's arm with frightful earnestness, 'read that--'tis +for you!' + +Mrs Mowbray, speechless with alarm and awe, involuntarily seized the +letter--but scarcely had she read the first words, when uttering a deep +groan she sprung forward, to clasp the unconscious form before her, and +fell beside it equally insensible. + +But she recovered almost immediately to a sense of her misery; and +while, in speechless agony, she knelt by the bed-side, Savanna, +beholding her distress, with a sort of dreadful pleasure exclaimed, +'Ah! have you at last learn to feel?' + +'But is she, is she _indeed_ gone?' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'is there _no_ +hope?' and instantly seizing the cordial which she had brought with her, +assisted by the woman, she endeavoured to force it down the throat of +Adeline. + +Their endeavours were for some time vain: at length however, she +exhibited signs of life, and in a few minutes more she opened her sunk +eye, and gazed unconsciously around her. + +'My God! I thank you!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, falling on her knees; +while Savanna, laying her mistress's head on her bosom, sobbed with +fearful joy. + +'Adeline! my child, my dear, dear child!' cried Mrs Mowbray, seizing her +clammy hand. + +That voice, those words which she had so long wished to hear, though +hopeless of ever hearing them again, seemed to recall the fast fading +recollection of Adeline: she raised her head from Savanna's bosom, and, +looking earnestly at Mrs Mowbray, faintly smiled, and endeavoured to +throw herself into her arms,--but fell back again exhausted on the +pillow. + +But in a few minutes she recovered so far as to be able to speak; and +while she hung round her mother's neck, and gazed upon her with eager +and delighted earnestness, she desired Savanna to bring Editha to her +immediately. + +'Will you, will you--,' said Adeline, vainly trying to speak her +wishes, as Savanna put the sleeping girl in Mrs Mowbray's arms: but +she easily divined them; and, clasping her to her heart, wept over +her convulsively--'She shall be dear to me as my own soul!' said Mrs +Mowbray. + +'Then I die contented,' replied Adeline. + +'Die!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray hastily: 'no, you must not, shall not die; +you must live to see me atone for--' + +'It is in vain,' said Adeline faintly. 'I bless God that he allows me to +enjoy this consolation--say that you forgive me.' + +'Forgive you! Oh, Adeline! for years have I forgiven and pined after +you; but a wicked woman intercepted all your letters; and I thought you +were dead, or had renounced me for ever.' + +'Indeed!' cried Adeline. 'Oh! had I suspected that!' + +'Nay more, Mrs Pemberton is now in London, in search of you, in order to +bring you back to happiness!' As Mrs Mowbray said this, Savanna, drawing +near, took her hand and gently pressed it. + +Adeline observed the action, and seeing by it that Savanna's heart +relented towards her mother, said, 'I owe that faithful creature more +than I can express; but to your care I bequeath her.' + +'I will love her as my child,' said Mrs Mowbray, 'and behave to her +better than I did to--' + +'Hush!' cried Adeline, putting her hand to Mrs Mowbray's lips. + +'But you _shall_ live! I will send for Dr Norberry; you shall be moved +to my house, and all will be well--all our past grief be forgotten,' +returned Mrs Mowbray with almost convulsive eagerness. + +Adeline faintly smiled, but repeated that every hope of that kind was +over, but that her utmost wish has gratified in seeing her mother, and +receiving her full forgiveness. + +'But you must live for my sake!' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'and for mine,' +sobbed out Savanna. + +'Could you not be moved to my house?' said Mrs Mowbray. 'There every +indulgence and attention that money can procure shall be yours. Is this +a place,--is this poverty--this--' Here her voice failed her, and she +burst into tears. + +'Mother, dearest mother,' replied Adeline, 'I see you, I am assured of +your love again, and I have not a want beside. Still, I could like, I +could wish, to be once more under a _parent's roof_.' + +In a moment, the cottager who was present, and returning with usury to +Mrs Mowbray's daughter the anxious interest which she had taken in his, +proposed various means of transporting Adeline to the Lawn; a difficult +and a hazardous undertaking: but the poor invalid was willing to risk +the danger and the fatigue; and her mother could not but indulge her. At +length the cottager, as it was for the _general benefactress_, having +with care procured even more assistance than was necessary, Adeline was +conveyed on a sort of a litter, along the valley, and found herself once +more in the house of her mother; while Savanna, sharing in the joy which +Adeline's countenance expressed, threw herself on Mrs Mowbray's neck, +and exclaimed, 'Now I forgive you!' + +'Mother, dear mother,' cried Adeline, after having for some minutes +vainly endeavoured to speak--'I am so happy! no more an outcast, but +under my mother's roof!--Nay, I even think I _can_ live now,' added she +with a faint smile. + +Had Adeline risen from her bed in complete health and vigour, she would +scarcely have excited more joy in her mother, and in Savanna, than she +did by this expression. + +'Can live!' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'O! you shall, you must live.' And an +express was sent off immediately to Dr Norberry too, who was removed to +Kendal, to be near his elder daughter, lately married in the +neighbourhood. + +Dr Norberry arrived in a few hours. Mrs Mowbray ran out to meet him; but +a welcome died on her tongue, and she could only speak by her tears. + +'There, there, my good woman, don't be foolish,' replied he: 'it is very +silly to blubber, you know: besides, it can do no good,' giving her a +kiss, while the tears trickled down his rough cheek. 'So, the lost sheep +is found?' + +'But, O! she will be lost again,' faltered Mrs Mowbray; 'I doubt nothing +can save her!' + +'No!' cried the old man, with a gulp, 'no! not my coming so many miles +on purpose?--Well, but where is she?' + +'She will see you presently, but begged to be excused for a few +minutes.' 'You see,' said he, 'by my dress, what has happened,' gulping +as he spoke. 'I have lost the companion of thirty years!--and--and--' +here he paused, and after an effort went on to say, that his wife in her +last illness had owned that she had suppressed Adeline's letters, and +had declared the reason of it--'But, poor soul!' continued the doctor, +'it was the only sin against me, I believe, or any one else, that she +ever committed--so I forgave her: and I trust that God will.' + +Soon after they were summoned to the sick room, and Dr Norberry beheld +with a degree of fearful emotion, which he vainly endeavoured to hide +under a cloak of pleasantry, the dreadful ravages which sorrow and +sickness had made in the face and form of Adeline. + +'So, here you are at last!' cried he, trying to smile while he sobbed +audibly, 'and a pretty figure you make, don't you?--But we have you +again, and we will not part with you so soon, I can tell you (almost +starting as the faint but rapid pulse met his fingers)--that is, I +mean,' added he, 'unless it please God.' Mrs Mowbray and Savanna, during +this speech, gazed on his countenance in breathless anxiety, and read in +it a confirmation of their fears. 'But who's afraid?' cried the doctor, +forcing a laugh, while his tone and his looks expressed the extreme of +apprehension, and his laugh ended in a sob. + +Mrs Mowbray turned away in a sort of desperate silence; but the mulatto +still kept her penetrating eye fixed upon him, and with a look so full +of woe! + +'I'll trouble you, mistress, to take those formidable eyes of yours +off my face,' cried the doctor pettishly; 'for I can't stand their +inquiry!--But who the devil are you?' + +'She is my nurse, my consoler, and my friend,' said Adeline. + +'Then she is mine of course,' cried the doctor, 'though she has a +terrible stare with her eyes:--but give me your hand, mistress. What is +your name?' + +'Me be name Savanna,' replied the mulatto; 'and me die and live wid my +dear mistress,' she added, bursting into tears. + +'Pshaw!' cried the doctor, 'I can't bear this--here I came as a +physician, and these blubberers melt me down into an old woman. Adeline, +I must order all these people out of the room, and have you to myself, +or I can do nothing.' + +He was obeyed; and on inquiring into all Adeline's symptoms, he found +little to hope and every thing to fear--'But your mind is relieved, and +you have youth on your side; and who knows what good air, good food, and +good nurses may do for you!' + +'Not to mention a good physician,' added Adeline, smiling, 'and a good +friend in that physician.' + +'This it be to have money,' said Savanna, as she saw the various things +prepared and made to tempt Adeline's weak appetite:--'poor Savanna mean +as well--her heart make all these, but her hand want power.' + +During this state of alarming suspense Mrs Pemberton was hourly expected, +as she had written word that she had traced Adeline into Lancashire, +and suspected that she was in her mother's neighbourhood.--It may be +supposed that Mrs Mowbray, Adeline, and Savanna, looked forward to her +arrival with eager impatience; but not so Dr Norberry--he said that +no doubt she was a very good sort of woman, but that he did not like +pretensions to righteousness over much, and had a particular aversion to +a piece of formal drab-coloured morality. + +Adeline only laughed at these prejudices, without attempting to confute +them; for she knew that Mrs Pemberton's appearance and manners would +soon annihilate them. At length she reached the Lawn; and Savanna, +who saw her alight, announced her arrival to her mistress, and was +commissioned by her to introduce her immediately into the sick +chamber.--She did so; but Mrs Pemberton, almost overpowered with joy +at the intelligence which awaited her, and ill fortified by Savanna's +violent and mixed emotions against the indulgence of her own, begged to +compose herself a few moments before she met Adeline: but Savanna was +not to be denied; and seizing her hand she led her up to the bedside of +the invalid.--Adeline smiled affectionately when she saw her; but Mrs +Pemberton started back, and, scarcely staying to take the hand which +she offered her, rushed out of the room, to vent in solitude the burst +of uncontrollable anguish which the sight of her altered countenance +occasioned her.--Alas! her eye had been but too well tutored to read +the characters of death in the face, and it was some time before she +recovered herself sufficiently to appear before the anxious watchers by +the bed of Adeline with that composure which on principle she always +endeavoured to display.--At length, however, she re-entered the room, +and approaching the poor invalid, kissed in silence her wan flushed +cheek. + +'I am very different now, my kind friend, to what I was when you _first_ +saw me,' said Adeline, faintly smiling. + +To the moment when they _last_ met, Adeline had not resolution enough to +revert, for then she was mourning by the dead body of Glenmurray. + +Mrs Pemberton was silent for a moment; but, making an effort, she +replied, 'Thou art now more like what thou wert in _mind_, when I +_first_ met thee at Rosevalley, than when I first saw thee at Richmond. +At Rosevalley I beheld thee innocent, at Richmond guilty, and here I see +thee penitent, and, I hope, resigned to thy fate.'--She spoke the word +_resigned_ with emphasis, and Adeline _understood_ her. + +'I am indeed resigned,' replied Adeline in a low voice: 'nay, I feel +that I am much favoured in being spared so long. But there is one thing +that weighs heavily on my mind; Mary Warner is leading a life of shame, +and she told me when I last saw her, that she was corrupted by my +precept and example: if so--' + +'Set thy conscience at rest on that subject,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton: +'while she lived with me, I discovered, long before she ever saw thee, +that she had been known to have been faulty.' + +'Oh! what a load have you removed from my mind!' replied Adeline. 'Still +it would be more relieved, if you would promise to find her out; and she +may be heard of at Mr Langley's chambers in the Temple. Offer her a +yearly allowance for life, provided she will quit her present vicious +habits; I am sure my mother will gladly fulfil my wishes in this +respect.' + +'And so will I,' replied Mrs Pemberton. 'Is there any thing else that I +can do for thee?' + +'Yes: I have two pensioners at Richmond,--a poor young woman, and her +orphan boy,--an illegitimate child,' she added, deeply sighing, as she +recollected what had interested her in their fate. 'I bequeath them to +your care: Savanna knows where they are to be found. And now, all that +disturbs my thoughts at this awful moment is, the grief which my poor +mother and Savanna will feel;--nay, they will be quite unprepared for +it; for they persist to hope still, and I believe that even Dr Norberry +allows his wishes to deceive his judgment.' + +'They will suffer, indeed!' cried Mrs Pemberton: 'but I give thee my +word, that I will never leave thy mother, and that Savanna shall be our +joint care.' + +'It is enough--I shall now die in peace,' said Adeline; and Mrs +Pemberton turned away to meet Mrs Mowbray, who, with Dr Norberry at that +moment entered the room. Mrs Mowbray met her, and welcomed her audibly +and joyfully: but Mrs Pemberton, aware of the blow which impended over +her, vainly endeavoured to utter a congratulation; but throwing herself +into Mrs Mowbray's extended arms, she forgot her usual self-command, and +sobbed loudly on her bosom. + +Dr Norberry gazed at the benevolent Quaker with astonishment. True, she +was '_drab-coloured_;' but where was the repulsive formality that he had +expected? 'This woman can feel like other women, and is as good a hand +at a crying-bout as myself.' But Mrs Pemberton did not long give way to +so violent an indulgence of her feelings; and gently withdrawing herself +from Mrs Mowbray's embrace, she turned to the window, while Mrs Mowbray +hastened to the bed-side of Adeline. Mrs Pemberton then turned round +again, and, seizing Dr Norberry's hand, which she fervently pressed, +said in a faltering voice, 'Would thou couldst _save_ her!' + +'And--and _can't_ I? can't I?' replied he, gulping. Mrs Pemberton looked +at him with an expression which he could neither mistake nor endure; but +muttering in a low tone, 'No! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't, I doubt +I can't, by the Lord!' he rushed out of the room. + +From that moment he never was easy but when he could converse with Mrs +Pemberton; for he knew that she, and she only, sympathized in his +feelings, as she only knew that Adeline was not likely to recover. The +invalid herself observed his attention to her friend, nor could she +forbear to rally him on the total disappearance of his prejudices +against the fair Quaker; for, such was the influence of Mrs Pemberton's +dignified yet winning manners, and such was the respect with which she +inspired him, that, if he had his hat on, he always took it off when she +entered the room, and never uttered any thing like an oath, without +humbly begging her pardon; and he told Adeline, that were all Quakers +like Mrs Pemberton, he should be tempted to cry. 'Drab is your only +wear.' + +Another and another day elapsed, and Adeline still lived.--On the +evening of the third day, as she lay half-slumbering with her head on +Savanna's arm, and Mrs Mowbray, lulling Editha to sleep on her lap, was +watching beside her, glancing her eye alternately with satisfied and +silent affection from the child to the mother, whom she thought in a +fair way of recovery; while Dr Norberry, stifling an occasional sob, was +contemplating the group, and Mrs Pemberton, her hands clasped in each +other, seemed lost in devout contemplation, Adeline awoke, and as she +gazed on Editha, who was fondly held to Mrs Mowbray's bosom, a smile +illumined her sunk countenance. Mrs Mowbray at that moment eagerly and +anxiously pressed forward to catch her weak accents, and inquire how +she felt. 'I have seen that fond and anxious look before,' she faintly +articulated, 'but in happier times! and it assures me that you love me +still.' + +'Love you still!' replied Mrs Mowbray with passionate fondness:--'never, +never were you so dear to me as now!' + +Adeline tried to express the joy which flushed her cheek at these words, +and lighted up her closing eyes: but she tried in vain. At length she +grasped Mrs Mowbray's hand to her lips, and in imperfect accents +exclaiming 'I thank thee, blessed Lord!' she laid her head on Savanna's +bosom, and expired. + + +END OF ADELINE MOWBRAY. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + + +The period spelling has generally been retained along with the often +inconsistent hyphenation. Obvious spelling errors (e.g. Patrtick, Diety, +solioquy, forigve, loking, pwoerfully) have been silently corrected. + +The following additional changes were made to the text, in some of the +subtler cases with reference to the 1805 edition. In each instance, the +corrected version follows the original. + + Adeline was leaning o the arm of a young lady. + Adeline was leaning on the arm of a young lady. + + little tricks and minauderies + little tricks and minaudieres + + Adeline, bursting into tears, threw himself into his arms + Adeline, bursting into tears, threw herself into his arms + + he dreaded to tell her that he could now allow her to call on them + he dreaded to tell her that he could not allow her to call on them + + the slight favours by which true love is long contended to be fed + the slight favours by which true love is long contented to be fed + + though I think all they say are true + though I think all they say is true + + your writing are the lights + your writings are the lights + + as a author + as an author + + but in the mildst of it Maynard re-entered + but in the midst of it Maynard re-entered + + continued to feel his passion + continued to feed his passion + + He had brought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had given + He had bought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had given + + who felt even her violet sorrow suspended + who felt even her violent sorrow suspended + + it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, than + Berrendale to be a villain + it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, than + Berrendale be a villain + + Berrendale, (...) scarcely know what to answer + Berrendale, (...) scarcely knew what to answer + + though near twelve he did not look about eight years old + though near twelve he did not look above eight years old + + no motive less powerful (...) could have enable her to reach + the summit + no motive less powerful (...) could have enabled her to reach + the summit + + for mercy's safe, torture me no more + for mercy's sake, torture me no more + + she hurried to the door of the chamber, saving she should be ready + she hurried to the door of the chamber, saying she should be ready + + Po! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't + No! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adeline Mowbray, by Amelia Alderson Opie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELINE MOWBRAY *** + +***** This file should be named 37908-8.txt or 37908-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/0/37908/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/37908-8.zip b/37908-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..57c3c83 --- /dev/null +++ b/37908-8.zip diff --git a/37908-h.zip b/37908-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9fea9d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/37908-h.zip diff --git a/37908-h/37908-h.htm b/37908-h/37908-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e515d88 --- /dev/null +++ b/37908-h/37908-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12582 @@ +<!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> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Adeline Mowbray by Amelia Opie.</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body {background:#fdfdfd; + color:black; + font-size: large; + margin-top:100px; + margin-left:15%; + margin-right:15%; + text-align:justify; } + h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {text-align: center; } + hr.minimal { width: 25%; + text-align: center; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; } + hr { width: 100%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 3em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + height: 3px; + border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ + border-style: solid; + border-color: #000000; + clear: both; } + blockquote { font-size: large; margin-left: 8%; margin-right: 8% } + table {font-size: large; } + table.sm {font-size: medium; } + td.w50 { width: 50%; } + p {text-indent: 3%; } + p.noindent { text-indent: 0%; } + .big { font-size: 130%} + .center { text-align: center; } + .ind1 { margin-left: 1em; } + .ind2 { margin-left: 2em; } + .ind3 { margin-left: 3em; } + .ind4 { margin-left: 4em; } + .ind6 { margin-left: 6em; } + ins { text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + .nowrap { white-space: nowrap; } + .revind { margin-left: 0em; text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em; } + .right { text-align: right; } + .small { font-size: 70%; } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps; } + a:link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:blue; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:red; + text-decoration: underline; } + pre {font-size: 70%; } +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adeline Mowbray, by Amelia Alderson Opie + +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: Adeline Mowbray + or, The Mother and Daughter + +Author: Amelia Alderson Opie + +Release Date: November 2, 2011 [EBook #37908] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELINE MOWBRAY *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<h1>ADELINE MOWBRAY</h1> +<div class="center"> + <p class="noindent"> + or<br /> +<br /> + <b>THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER</b></p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p class="noindent"><b><span class="big">MRS OPIE</span></b></p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<div class="center"> +<table class="sm" style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_1">CHAPTER I</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_2">CHAPTER II</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_3">CHAPTER III</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_4">CHAPTER IV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_5">CHAPTER V</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_6">CHAPTER VI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_7">CHAPTER VII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_8">CHAPTER VIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_9">CHAPTER IX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_10">CHAPTER X</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_11">CHAPTER XI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_12">CHAPTER XII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_13">CHAPTER XIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_14">CHAPTER XIV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_15">CHAPTER XV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_16">CHAPTER XVI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_17">CHAPTER XVII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_18">CHAPTER XVIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_19">CHAPTER XIX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_20">CHAPTER XX</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_21">CHAPTER XXI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_22">CHAPTER XXII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_23">CHAPTER XXIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_24">CHAPTER XXIV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_25">CHAPTER XXV</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_26">CHAPTER XXVI</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_27">CHAPTER XXVII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_28">CHAPTER XXVIII</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left" valign="top"><a href="#ch_29">CHAPTER XXIX</a></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_1" id="ch_1"></a>CHAPTER I</h3> + +<p>In an old family mansion, situated on an estate in Gloucestershire known +by the name of Rosevalley, resided Mrs Mowbray, and Adeline her only +child.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray's father, Mr Woodville, a respectable country gentleman, +married, in obedience to the will of his mother, the sole surviving +daughter of an opulent merchant in London, whose large dower paid off +some considerable mortgages on the Woodville estates, and whose mild +and unoffending character soon gained that affection from her husband +after marriage, which he denied her before it.</p> + +<p>Nor was it long before their happiness was increased, and their union +cemented, by the birth of a daughter; who continuing to be an only +child, and the probable heiress of great possessions, became the idol +of her parents, and the object of unremitted attention to those who +surrounded her. Consequently, one of the first lessons which Editha +Woodville learnt was that of egotism, and to consider it as the chief +duty of all who approached her, to study the gratification of her whims +and caprices.</p> + +<p>But, though rendered indolent in some measure by the blind folly of her +parents, and the homage of her dependents, she had a taste above the +enjoyments which they offered her.</p> + +<p>She had a decided passion for literature, which she had acquired from +a sister of Mr Woodville, who had been brought up amongst literary +characters of various pursuits and opinions; and this lady had imbibed +from them a love of free inquiry, which she had little difficulty in +imparting to her young and enthusiastic relation.</p> + +<p>But, alas! that inclination for study, which, had it been directed to +proper objects, would have been the charm of Miss Woodville's life, +and the safeguard of her happiness, by giving her a constant source of +amusement within herself; proved to her, from the unfortunate direction +which it took, the abundant cause of misery and disappointment.</p> + +<p>For her, history, biography, poetry, and discoveries in natural +philosophy, had few attractions, while she pored with still unsatisfied +delight over abstruse systems of morals and metaphysics, or new theories +in politics; and scarcely a week elapsed in which she did not receive, +from her aunt's bookseller in London, various tracts on these her +favourite subjects.</p> + +<p>Happy would it have been for Miss Woodville, if the merits of the works +which she so much admired could have been canvassed in her presence by +rational and unprejudiced persons: but, her parents and friends being too +ignorant to discuss philosophical opinions or political controversies, +the young speculator was left to the decision of her own inexperienced +enthusiasm. To her, therefore, whatever was bold and uncommon seemed new +and wise; and every succeeding theory held her imagination captive till +its power was weakened by one of equal claims to singularity.</p> + +<p>She soon, however, ceased to be contented with reading, and was eager +to become a writer also. But, as she was strongly imbued with the +prejudices of an ancient family, she could not think of disgracing that +family by turning professed author: she therefore confined her little +effusions to a society of admiring friends, secretly lamenting the loss +which the literary world sustained in her being born a gentlewoman.</p> + +<p>Nor is it to be wondered at, that, as she was ambitious to be, and to be +thought, a deep thinker, she should have acquired habits of abstraction, +and absence, which imparted a look of wildness to a pair of dark eyes, +that beamed with intelligence, and gave life to features of the most +perfect regularity.</p> + +<p>To reverie, indeed, she was from childhood inclined; and her life was +long a life of reverie. To her the present moment had scarcely ever +existence; and this propensity to lose herself in a sort of ideal world, +was considerably increased by the nature of her studies.</p> + +<p>Fatal and unproductive studies! While, wrapt in philosophical abstraction, +she was trying to understand a metaphysical question on the mechanism +of the human mind, or what constituted the true nature of virtue, she +suffered day after day to pass in the culpable neglect of positive +duties; and while imagining systems for the good of society, and the +furtherance of general philanthropy, she allowed individual suffering in +her neighbourhood to pass unobserved and unrelieved. While professing +her unbounded love for the great family of the world, she suffered her +own family to pine under the consciousness of her neglect; and viciously +devoted those hours to the vanity of abstruse and solitary study, +which might have been better spent in amusing the declining age of her +venerable parents, whom affection had led to take up their abode with +her.</p> + +<p>Let me observe, before I proceed further, that Mrs Mowbray scrupulously +confined herself to theory, even in her wisest speculations; and being +too timid, and too indolent, to illustrate by her conduct the various +and opposing doctrines which it was her pride to maintain by turns, her +practice was ever in opposition to her opinions.</p> + +<p>Hence, after haranguing with all the violence of a true Whig on the +natural rights of man, or the blessings of freedom, she would 'turn +to a Tory in her elbow chair', and govern her household with despotic +authority; and after embracing at some moments the doubts of the +sceptic, she would often lie motionless in her bed, from apprehension +of ghosts, a helpless prey to the most abject superstition.</p> + +<p>Such was the mother of <span class="smallcaps">Adeline Mowbray</span>! such was the woman who, having +married the heir of Rosevalley, merely to oblige her parents, saw +herself in the prime of life a rich widow, with an only child, who was +left by Mr Mowbray, a fond husband, but an ill-judging parent, entirely +dependent on her!</p> + +<p>At the time of Mr Mowbray's death, Adeline Mowbray was ten years old, +and Mrs Mowbray thirty; and like an animal in an exhausted receiver, she +had during her short existence been tormented by the experimental +philosophy of her mother.</p> + +<p>Now it was judged right that she should learn nothing, and now that she +should learn every thing. Now, her graceful form and well-turned limbs +were to be free from any bandage, and any clothing save what decency +required,—and now they were to be tortured by stiff stays, and fettered +by the stocks and the back-board.</p> + +<p>All Mrs Mowbray's ambition had settled in one point, one passion, and +that was <span class="smallcaps">Education</span>. For this purpose she turned over innumerable volumes +in search of rules on the subject, on which she might improve, +anticipating with great satisfaction the moment when she should be held +up as a pattern of imitation to mothers, and be prevailed upon, though +with graceful reluctance, to publish her system, without a name, for the +benefit of society.</p> + +<p>But, however good her intentions were, the execution of them was +continually delayed by her habits of abstraction and reverie. After +having over night arranged the tasks of Adeline for the next day,—lost +in some new speculations for the good of her child, she would lie in bed +all the morning, exposing that child to the dangers of idleness.</p> + +<p>At one time Mrs Mowbray had studied herself into great nicety with +regard to the diet of her daughter; but, as she herself was too much +used to the indulgences of the palate to be able to set her in reality +an example of temperance, she dined in appearance with Adeline at one +o'clock on pudding without butter, and potatoes without salt; but while +the child was taking her afternoon's walk, her own table was covered +with viands fitted for the appetite of opulence.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, however, the servants conceived that the daughter as well +as the mother had a right to regale clandestinely; and the little +Adeline used to eat for her supper, with a charge not to tell her mamma, +some of the good things set by from Mrs Mowbray's dinner.</p> + +<p>It happened that, as Mrs Mowbray was one evening smoothing Adeline's +flowing curls, and stroking her ruddy cheek, she exclaimed triumphantly, +raising Adeline to the glass, 'See the effect of temperance and low +living! If you were accustomed to eat meat, and butter, and drink any +thing but water, you would not look so healthy, my love, as you do now. +O the excellent effects of a vegetable diet!'</p> + +<p>The artless girl, whose conscience smote her during the whole of this +speech, hung her blushing head on her bosom:—it was the confusion of +guilt; and Mrs Mowbray perceiving it earnestly demanded what it meant, +when Adeline, half crying, gave a full explanation.</p> + +<p>Nothing could exceed the astonishment and mortification of Mrs Mowbray; +but, though usually tenacious of her opinions, she in this case profited +by the lesson of experience. She no longer expected any advantage from +clandestine measures:—but Adeline, her appetites regulated by a proper +exertion of parental authority, was allowed to sit at the well-furnished +table of her mother, and was precluded, by a judicious and open +indulgence, from wishing for a secret and improper one; while the +judicious praises which Mrs Mowbray bestowed on Adeline's ingenuous +confession endeared to her the practice of truth, and laid the +foundation of a habit of ingenuousness which formed through life one of +the ornaments of her character—Would that Mrs Mowbray had always been +equally judicious!</p> + +<p>Another great object of anxiety to her was the method of clothing +children; whether they should wear flannel, or no flannel; light shoes, +to give agility to the motions of the limbs; or heavy shoes, in order to +strengthen the muscles by exertion;—when one day, as she was turning +over a voluminous author on this subject, the nurserymaid hastily +entered the room, and claimed her attention, but in vain; Mrs Mowbray +went on reading aloud:—</p> + +<p>'Some persons are of opinion that thin shoes are most beneficial to +health; others, equally worthy of respect, think thick ones of most use: +and the reasons for these different opinions we shall class under two +heads—'</p> + +<p>'Dear me, ma'am!' cried Bridget, 'and in the meantime Miss Adeline will +go without any shoes at all.'</p> + +<p>'Do not interrupt me, Bridget,' cried Mrs Mowbray, and proceeded to read +on. 'In the first place, it is not clear, says a learned writer, whether +children require any clothing at all for their feet.'</p> + +<p>At this moment Adeline burst open the parlour door, and, crying +bitterly, held up her bleeding toes to her mother.</p> + +<p>'Mamma, mamma!' cried she, 'you forget to send for a pair of new shoes +for me; and see, how the stones in the gravel have cut me!'</p> + +<p>This sight, this appeal, decided the question in dispute. The feet of +Adeline bleeding on a new Turkey carpet proved that some clothing for +the feet was necessary; and even Mrs Mowbray for a moment began to +suspect that a little experience is better than a great deal of theory.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_2" id="ch_2"></a>CHAPTER II</h3> + +<p>Meanwhile, in spite of all Mrs Mowbray's eccentricities and caprices, +Adeline, as she grew up, continued to entertain for her the most perfect +respect and affection.</p> + +<p>Her respect was excited by the high idea which she had formed of her +abilities,—an idea founded on the veneration which all the family +seemed to feel for her on that account,—and her affection was excited +even to an enthusiastic degree by the tenderness with which Mrs Mowbray +had watched over her during an alarming illness.</p> + +<p>For twenty-one days Adeline had been in the utmost danger; nor is it +probable that she would have been able to struggle against the force of +the disease, but for the unremitting attention of her mother. It was +then, perhaps, for the first time that Mrs Mowbray felt herself a +mother:—all her vanities, all her systems, were forgotten in the danger +of Adeline,—she did not even hazard an opinion on the medical treatment +to be observed. For once she was contented to obey instructions in +silence; for once she was never caught in a reverie; but, like the most +common-place woman of her acquaintance, she lived to the present +moment:—and she was rewarded for her cares by the recovery of her +daughter, and by that daughter's most devoted attachment.</p> + +<p>Not even the parents of Mrs Mowbray, who, because she talked on subjects +which they could not understand, looked up to her as a superior being, +could exceed Adeline in deference to her mother's abilities; and when, +as she advanced in life, she was sometimes tempted to think her +deficient in maternal fondness, the idea of Mrs Mowbray bending with +pale and speechless anxiety over her sleepless pillow used to recur to +her remembrance, and in a moment the recent indifference was forgotten.</p> + +<p>Nor could she entirely acquit herself of ingratitude in observing this +seeming indifference: for, whence did the abstraction and apparent +coldness of Mrs Mowbray proceed? From her mind's being wholly engrossed +in studies for the future benefit of Adeline. Why did she leave the +concerns of her family to others? why did she allow her infirm but +active mother to superintend all the household duties? and why did she +seclude herself from all society, save that of her own family, and Dr +Norberry, her physician and friend, but that she might devote every hour +to endeavours to perfect a system of education for her beloved and only +daughter, to whom the work was to be dedicated?</p> + +<p>'And yet,' said Adeline mentally, 'I am so ungrateful sometimes as to +think she does not love me sufficiently.'</p> + +<p>But while Mrs Mowbray was busying herself in plans for Adeline's +education, she reached the age of fifteen, and was in a manner educated; +not, however, by her,—though Mrs Mowbray would, no doubt, have been +surprised to have heard this assertion.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray, as I have before said, was the spoiled child of rich +parents; who, as geniuses were rarer in those days than they are now, +spite of their own ignorance, rejoiced to find themselves the parents of +a genius; and as their daughter always disliked the usual occupations of +her sex, the admiring father and mother contented themselves with +allowing her to please herself; say to each other, 'She must not be +managed in a common way; for you know, my dear, she is one of your +geniuses,—and they are never like other folks.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Woodville, the mother, had been brought up with all the ideas of +economy and housewifery which at that time of day prevailed in the city, +and influenced the education of the daughters of citizens.</p> + +<p>'My dear,' said she one day to Adeline, 'as you are no genius, you know, +like your mother, (and God forbid you should! for one is quite enough in +a family,) I shall make bold to teach you every thing that young women +in my young days used to learn, and my daughter may thank me for it some +time or other: for you know, my dear, when I and my good man die, what +in the world would come of my poor Edith, if so be she had no one to +manage for her! for, Lord love you! she knows no more of managing a +family, and such-like, than a newborn babe.'</p> + +<p>'And can you, dear grandmother, teach me to be of use to my mother?' +said Adeline.</p> + +<p>'To be sure, child; for as you are no genius, no doubt you can learn all +them sort of things that women commonly know:—so we will begin +directly.'</p> + +<p>In a short time Adeline, stimulated by the ambition of being useful, +(for she had often heard her mother assert that utility was the +foundation of all virtue,) became as expert in household affairs as Mrs +Woodville herself: even the department of making pastry was now given up +to Adeline, and the servants always came to her for orders, saying, that +'as their mistress was a learned lady, and that, and so could not be +spoken with except here and there on occasion, they wished their young +mistress, who was more easy spoken, would please to order:' and as Mr +and Mrs Woodville's infirmities increased every day, Adeline soon +thought it right to assume the entire management of the family.</p> + +<p>She also took upon herself the office of almoner to Mrs Woodville, and +performed it with an activity unknown to her; for she herself carried +the broth and wine that were to comfort the infirm cottager; she herself +saw the medicine properly administered that was to preserve his +suffering existence: the comforts the poor required she purchased +herself; and in sickness she visited, in sorrow she wept with them. And +though Adeline was almost unknown personally to the neighbouring gentry, +she was followed with blessings by the surrounding cottagers; while many +a humble peasant watched at the gate of the park to catch a glimpse of +his young benefactress, and pray to God to repay to the heiress of +Rosevalley the kindness which she had shown to him and his offspring.</p> + +<p>Thus happy, because usefully employed, and thus beloved and respected, +because actively benevolent, passed the early years of Adeline Mowbray; +and thus was she educated, before her mother had completed her system of +education.</p> + +<p>It was not long before Adeline took on herself a still more important +office. Mrs Mowbray's steward was detected in very dishonest practices; +but, as she was too much devoted to her studies to like to look into her +affairs with a view to dismiss him, she could not be prevailed on to +discharge him from her service. Fortunately, however, her father on his +death-bed made it his request that she would do so; and Mrs Mowbray +pledged herself to obey him.</p> + +<p>'But what shall I do for a steward in Davison's place?' said she soon +after her father died.</p> + +<p>'Is one absolutely necessary?' returned Adeline modestly. 'Surely +farmer Jenkins would undertake to do all that is necessary for half the +money; and, if he were properly overlooked—'</p> + +<p>'And pray who can overlook him properly?' asked Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'My grandmother and I,' replied Adeline timidly: 'we both like business +and—'</p> + +<p>'Like business!—but what do you know of it?'</p> + +<p>'Know!' cried Mrs Woodville, 'why, daughter, Lina is very clever at it, +I assure you!'</p> + +<p>'Astonishing! She knows nothing yet of accounts.'</p> + +<p>'Dear me! how mistaken you are, child! She knows accounts perfectly +well.'</p> + +<p>'Impossible!' replied Mrs Mowbray: 'who should have taught her? I have +been inventing an easy method of learning arithmetic, by which I was +going to teach her in a few months.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, child: but I, thinking it a pity that the poor girl should learn +nothing, like, till she was to learn every thing, taught her according +to the old way; and I cannot but say she took to it very kindly. Did not +you, Lina?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, grandmother,' said Adeline; 'and as I love arithmetic very much, I +am quite anxious to keep all my mother's accounts, and overlook the +accounts of the person whom she shall employ to manage her estates in +future.'</p> + +<p>To this Mrs Mowbray, half pleased and half mortified, at length +consented; and Adeline and farmer Jenkins entered upon their +occupations. Shortly after Mrs Woodville was seized with her last +illness; and Adeline neglected every other duty, and Mrs Mowbray her +studies, 'to watch, and weep, beside a parent's bed.'</p> + +<p>But watch and weep was all that Mrs Mowbray did: with every possible +wish to be useful, she had so long given way to habits of abstraction, +and neglect of everyday occupations, that she was rather a hindrance +than a help in the sick room.</p> + +<p>During Adeline's illness, excessive fear of losing her only child had +indeed awakened her to unusual exertion; and as all that she had to do +was to get down, at stated times, a certain quantity of wine and +nourishment, her task though wearisome was not difficult: but to sooth +the declining hours of an aged parent, to please the capricious appetite +of decay, to assist with ready and skilful alacrity the shaking hand of +the invalid, jealous of waiting on herself and wanting to be cheated +into being waited upon;—these trifling yet important details did not +suit the habits of Mrs Mowbray. But Adeline was versed in them all; and +her mother, conscious of her superiority in these things, was at last +contented to sit by inactive, though not unmoved.</p> + +<p>One day, when Mrs Mowbray had been prevailed upon to lie down for an +hour or two in another apartment, and Adeline was administering to Mrs +Woodville some broth which she had made herself, the old lady pressed +her hand affectionately, and cried, 'Ah! child, in a lucky hour I made +bold to interfere, and teach you what your mother was too clever to +learn. Wise was I to think one genius enough in a family,—else, what +should I have done now? My daughter, though the best child in the world, +could never have made such nice broth as this to comfort me, so hot, and +boiled to a minute like! bless her! she'd have tried, that she would, +but ten to one but she'd have smoked it, overturned it, and scalt her +fingers into the bargain.—Ah, Lina, Lina! mayhap the time will come +when you, should you have a sick husband or a child to nurse, may bless +your poor grandmother for having taught you to be useful.'</p> + +<p>'Dear grandmother,' said Adeline tenderly, 'the time has come: I am, you +see, useful to you; and therefore I bless you already for having taught +me to be so.'</p> + +<p>'Good girl, good girl! just what I would have you! And forgive me, Lina, +when I own that I have often thanked God for not making you a genius! +Not but what no child can behave better than mine; for, with all her wit +and learning, she was always so respectful, and so kind to me and my +dear good man, that I am sure I could not but rejoice in such a +daughter; though, to be sure, I used to wish she was more conversible +like; for, as to the matter of a bit of chat, we never gossiped together +in our lives. And though, to be sure, the squires' ladies about are none +of the brightest, and not to compare with my Edith, yet still they would +have done for me and my dear good man to gossip a bit with. So I was +vexed when my daughter declared she wanted all her time for her studies, +and would not visit any body, no, not even Mrs Norberry, who is to be +sure a very good sort of a woman, though a little given to speak ill of +her neighbours. But then so we are all, you know: and, as I say, why, if +one spoke well of all alike, what would be the use of one person's being +better than his neighbours, except for conscience's sake? But, as I was +going to say, my daughter was pleased to compliment me, and declare she +was sure I could amuse myself without visiting women so much inferior to +me; and she advised my beginning a course of study, as she called it.'</p> + +<p>'And did you?' asked Adeline with surprise.</p> + +<p>'Yes. To oblige her, my good man and I began to read one Mr Locke on the +Conduct of the Human Understanding; which my daughter said would teach +us to think.'</p> + +<p>'To think?' said Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Yes.—Now, you must know, my poor husband did not look upon it as very +respectful like in Edith to say that, because it seemed to say that we +had lived all these years without having thought at all; which was not +true, to be sure, because we were never thoughtless like, and my husband +was so staid when a boy that he was called a little old man.'</p> + +<p>'But I am sure,' said Adeline, half smiling, 'that my mother did not +mean to insinuate that you wanted proper thought.'</p> + +<p>'No, I dare say not,' resumed the old lady, 'and so I told my husband, +and so we set to study this book: but, dear me! it was Hebrew Greek to +us—and so dull!'</p> + +<p>'Then you did not get through it, I suppose?'</p> + +<p>'Through it, bless your heart! No—not three pages! So my good man says +to Edith, says he, "You gave us this book, I think, child, to teach us +to think?" "Yes, sir," says she. "And it has taught us to think," says +he:—"it has taught us to think that it is very dull and disagreeable." +So my daughter laughed, and said her father was witty; but, poor soul! +he did not mean it.</p> + +<p>'Well, then: as, to amuse us, we liked to look at the stars sometimes, +she told us we had better learn their names, and study astronomy; and so +we began that: but that was just as bad as Mr Locke; and we knew no more +of the stars and planets, than the man in the moon. Yet that's not right +to say, neither; for, as he is so much nearer the stars, he must know +more about them than any one whomsoever. So at last my daughter found +out that learning was not our taste; so she left us to please ourselves, +and play cribbage and draughts in an evening as usual.'</p> + +<p>Here the old lady paused, and Adeline said affectionately, 'Dear +grandmother, I doubt you exert yourself too much: so much talking can't +be good for you.'</p> + +<p>'O! yes, child!' replied Mrs. Woodville: 'it is no trouble at all to me, +I assure you, but quite natural and pleasant like: besides, you know I +shall not be able to talk much longer, so let me make the most of my +time now.'</p> + +<p>This speech brought tears into the eyes of Adeline; and seeing her +mother re-enter the room, she withdrew to conceal the emotion which she +felt, lest the cheerful loquacity of the invalid, which she was fond of +indulging, should be checked by seeing her tears. But it had already +received a check from the presence of Mrs Mowbray, of whose superior +abilities Mrs Woodville was so much in awe, that, concluding her +daughter could not bear to hear her nonsense, the old lady smiled kindly +on her when with a look of tender anxiety she hastened to her bedside, +and then, holding her hand, composed herself to sleep.</p> + +<p>In a few days more, she breathed her last on the supporting arm of +Adeline; and lamented in her dying moments, that she had nothing +valuable in money to leave, in order to show Adeline how sensible she +was of her affectionate attentions: 'but you are an only child,' she +added, 'and all your mother has will be yours.'</p> + +<p>'No doubt,' observed Mrs Mowbray eagerly; and her mother died +contented.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_3" id="ch_3"></a>CHAPTER III</h3> + +<p>At this period Adeline's ambition had led her to form new plans, which +Mrs Woodville's death left her at liberty to put in execution. Whenever +the old lady reminded her that she was no genius, Adeline had felt as +much degraded as if she had said that she was no conjuror; and though +she was too humble to suppose that she could ever equal her mother, she +was resolved to try to make herself more worthy of her, by imitating her +in those pursuits and studies on which were founded Mrs Mowbray's +pretensions to superior talents.</p> + +<p>She therefore made it her business to inquire what those studies and +pursuits were; and finding that Mrs Mowbray's noted superiority was +built on her passion for abstruse speculations, Adeline eagerly devoted +her leisure hours to similar studies: but, unfortunately, these new +theories, and these romantic reveries, which only served to amuse Mrs +Mowbray's fancy, her more enthusiastic daughter resolved to make +conscientiously the rules of her practice. And while Mrs Mowbray +expended her eccentric philosophy in words, as Mr Shandy did his grief, +Adeline carefully treasured up hers in her heart, to be manifested only +by its fruits.</p> + +<p>One author in particular, by a train of reasoning captivating though +sophistical, and plausible though absurd, made her a delighted convert +to his opinions, and prepared her young and impassioned heart for the +practice of vice, by filling her mind, ardent in the love of virtue, +with new and singular opinions on the subject of moral duty. On the +works of this writer Adeline had often heard her mother descant in terms +of the highest praise; but she did not feel herself so completely his +convert on her own conviction, till she had experienced the fatal +fascination of his style, and been conveyed by his bewitching pen from +the world as it is, into a world as it <i>ought</i> to be.</p> + +<p>This writer, whose name was Glenmurray, amongst other institutions, +attacked the institution of marriage; and after having elaborately +pointed out its folly and its wickedness, he drew so delightful a +picture of the superior purity, as well as happiness, of an union +cemented by no ties but those of love and honour, that Adeline, wrought +to the highest pitch of enthusiasm for a new order of things, entered +into a solemn compact with herself to act, when she was introduced into +society, according to the rules laid down by this writer.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for her, she had no opportunity of hearing these opinions +combated by the good sense and sober experience of Dr Norberry then +their sole visitant; for at this time the American war was the object of +attention to all Europe: and as Mrs Mowbray, as well as Dr Norberry, +were deeply interested in this subject, they scarcely ever talked on any +other; and even Glenmurray and his theories were driven from Mrs +Mowbray's remembrance by political tracts and the eager anxieties of a +politician. Nor had she even leisure to observe, that while she was +feeling all the generous anxiety of a citizen of the world for the sons +and daughters of American independence, her own child was imbibing, +through her means, opinions dangerous to her well-being as a member of +any civilized society, and laying, perhaps, the foundation to herself +and her mother of future misery and disgrace. Alas! the astrologer in +the fable was but too like Mrs Mowbray!</p> + +<p>But even had Adeline had an opportunity of discussing her new opinions +with Dr Norberry, it is not at all certain that she would have had the +power.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray was, if I may be allowed the expression, a showing-off +woman, and loved the information which she acquired, less for its own +sake than for the supposed importance which it gave her amongst her +acquaintance, and the means of displaying her superiority over other +women. Before she secluded herself from society in order to study +education, she had been the terror of the ladies in the neighbourhood; +since, despising small talk, she would always insist on making the +gentlemen of her acquaintance (as much terrified sometimes as their +wives) engage with her in some literary or political conversation. She +wanted to convert every drawing-room into an arena for the mind, and all +her guests into intellectual gladiators. She was often heard to +interrupt two grave matrons in an interesting discussion of an +accouchement, by asking them if they had read a new theological tract, +or a pamphlet against the minister? If they softly expatiated on the +lady-like fatigue of body which they had endured, she discoursed in +choice terms on the energies of the mind; and she never received or paid +visits without convincing the company that she was the most wise, most +learned, and most disagreeable of companions.</p> + +<p>But Adeline, on the contrary, studied merely from the love of study, and +not with a view to shine in conversation; nor dared she venture to +expatiate on subjects which she had often heard Mrs Woodville say were +very rarely canvassed, or even alluded to, by women. She remained +silent, therefore, on the subject nearest her heart, from choice as well +as necessity, in the presence of Dr Norberry, till at length she imbibed +the political mania herself, and soon found it impossible to conceal the +interest which she took in the success of the infant republic. She +therefore one day put into the doctor's hands some <i>bouts rimes</i> which +she had written on some recent victory of the American arms; exclaiming +with a smile, 'I, too, am a politician!' and was rewarded by an +exclamation of 'Why girl—I protest you are as clever as your mother!'</p> + +<p>This unexpected declaration fixed her in the path of literary ambition: +and though wisely resolved to fulfil, as usual, every feminine duty, +Adeline was convinced that she, like her mother, had a right to be an +author, a politician, and a philosopher; while Dr Norberry's praises of +her daughter convinced Mrs Mowbray, that almost unconsciously she had +educated her into a prodigy, and confirmed her in her intention of +exhibiting herself and Adeline to the admiring world during the next +season at Bath; for at Bath she expected to receive that admiration +which she had vainly sought in London.</p> + +<p>Soon after their marriage, Mr Mowbray had carried his lively bride to +the metropolis, where she expected to receive the same homage which had +been paid to her charms at the assize-balls in her neighbourhood. What +then must have been her disappointment, when, instead of hearing as she +passed, 'That is Miss Woodville, the rich heiress—or the great +genius—or the great beauty'—or, 'That is the beautiful Mrs Mowbray,' +she walked unknown and unobserved in public and in private, and found +herself of as little importance in the wide world of the metropolis, as +the most humble of her acquaintance in a country ball-room. True, she +had beauty, but then it was unset-off by fashion; nay, more, it was +eclipsed by unfashionable and tasteless attire; and her manner, though +stately and imposing in an assembly where she was known, was wholly +unlike the manners of the world, and in a London party appeared arrogant +and offensive. Her remarks, too, wise as they appeared to her and Mr +Mowbray, excited little attention,—as the few persons to whom they were +known in the metropolis were wholly ignorant of her high pretensions, +and knew not that they were discoursing with a professed genius, and the +oracle of a provincial circle. Some persons, indeed, surprised at +hearing from the lips of eighteen, observations on morals, theology, and +politics, listened to her with wonder, and even attention, but turned +away observing—</p> + +<div class="center"> + <table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left">'Such things, 'tis true, are neither new nor rare,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> The only wonder is, how they got there:'</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">till at length, disappointed, mortified, and disgusted, Mrs Mowbray +impatiently returned to Rosevalley, where in beauty, in learning, and in +grandeur she was unrivalled, and where she might deal out her dogmas, +sure of exciting respectful attention, however she might fail of calling +for a more flattering tribute from her auditors. But in the narrower +field of Bath she expected to shine forth with greater éclat than in +London, and to obtain admiration more worthy of her acceptance than any +which a country circle could offer. To Bath, therefore, she prepared to +go; and the young heart of Adeline beat high with pleasure at the idea +of mixing with that busy world which her fancy had often clothed in the +most winning attractions.</p> + +<p>But her joy, and Mrs Mowbray's was a little over-clouded at the moment +of their departure, by the sight of Dr Norberry's melancholy +countenance. What was to be, as they fondly imagined, their gain, was +his loss, and with a full heart he came to bid them adieu.</p> + +<p>For Adeline he had conceived not only affection, but esteem amounting +almost to veneration; for she appeared to him to unite various and +opposing excellencies. Though possessed of taste and talents for +literature, she was skilled in the minutest details of housewifery and +feminine occupations: and at the same time she bore her faculties so +meekly, that she never wounded the self-love of any one, by arrogating +to herself any superiority.</p> + +<p>Such Adeline appeared to her excellent old friend; and his affection for +her was, perhaps, increased by the necessity which he was under of +concealing it at home. The praises of Mrs Mowbray and Adeline were +odious to the ears of Mrs Norberry and her daughters,—but especially +the praises of the latter,—as the merit of Adeline was so uniform, that +even the eye of envy could not at that period discover any thing in her +vulnerable to censure: and as the sound of her name excited in his +family a number of bad passions and corresponding expressions of +countenance, the doctor wisely resolved to keep his feelings, with +regard to her, locked up in his own bosom.</p> + +<p>But he persisted in visiting at the Park daily; and it is no wonder, +therefore, that the loss, even for a few months, of the society of its +inhabitants should by him be anticipated as a serious calamity.</p> + +<p>'Pshaw!' cried he, as Adeline, with an exulting bound sprung after her +mother into the carriage, 'how gay and delighted you are! though my +heart feels sadly queer and heavy.'</p> + +<p>'My dear friend,' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'I must miss your society wherever +I go.'—'I wish you were going too,' said Adeline: 'I shall often think +of you.' 'Pshaw, girl! don't lie,' replied Dr Norberry, swallowing a +sigh as he spoke: 'you will soon forget an old fellow like me.'—'Then I +conclude that you will soon forget us.'—'He! how! what! think so at +your peril.'—'I must think so, as we usually judge of others by +ourselves.'—'Go to—go, miss mal-a-pert.—Well, but, drive on, +coachman—this taking leave is plaguey disagreeable, so shake hands and +be off.'</p> + +<p>They gave him their hands, which he pressed very affectionately, and the +carriage drove on.</p> + +<p>'I am an old fool,' cried the doctor, wiping his eyes as the carriage +disappeared. 'Well: Heaven grant, sweet innocent, that you may return to +me as happy and spotless as you now are!'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray had been married at a very early age, and had accepted in Mr +Mowbray the first man who addressed her: consequently that passion for +personal admiration, so natural to women, had in her never been +gratified, nor even called forth. But seeing herself, at the age of +thirty-eight, possessed of almost undiminished beauty, she recollected +that her charms had never received that general homage for which nature +intended them; and she who at twenty had disregarded, even to a fault, +the ornaments of dress, was now, at the age of thirty-eight, eager to +indulge in the extremes of decoration, and to share in the delights of +conquest and admiration with her youthful and attractive daughter.</p> + +<p>Attractive, rather than handsome, was the epithet best suited to +describe Adeline Mowbray. Her beauty was the beauty of expression of +countenance, not regularity of feature, though the uncommon fairness and +delicacy of her complexion, the lustre of her hazel eyes, her long dark +eye-lashes, and the profusion of soft light hair which curled over the +ever-mantling colour of her cheek, gave her some pretensions to what is +denominated beauty. But her own sex declared she was plain—and perhaps +they were right—though the other protested against the decision—and +probably they were right also: but women criticize in detail, men admire +in the aggregate. Women reason, and men feel, when passing judgment on +female beauty: and when a woman declares another to be plain, the +chances are that she is right in her opinion, as she cannot, from her +being a woman, feel the charm of that power to please, that 'something +than beauty dearer,' which often throws a veil over the irregularity of +features and obtains, for even a plain woman, from men at least, the +appellation of pretty.</p> + +<p>Whether Adeline's face were plain or not, her form could defy even the +severity of female criticism. She was indeed tall, almost to a masculine +degree; but such were the roundness and proportion of her limbs, such +the symmetry of her whole person, such the lightness and gracefulness of +her movements, and so truly feminine were her look and manner, that +superior height was forgotten in the superior loveliness of her figure.</p> + +<p>It is not to be wondered at, then, that Miss Mowbray was an object of +attention and admiration at Bath, as soon as she appeared, nor that her +mother had her share of flattery and followers. Indeed, when it was +known that Mrs Mowbray was a rich widow, and Adeline dependent upon her, +the mother became, in the eyes of some people, much more attractive than +her daughter.</p> + +<p>It was impossible, however, that, in such a place as Bath, Mrs Mowbray +and Adeline could make, or rather retain, a general acquaintance. Their +opinions on most subjects were so very different from those of the +world, and they were so little conscious, from the retirement in which +they lived, that this difference existed, or was likely to make them +enemies, that not a day elapsed in which they did not shock the +prejudices of some, and excite the contemptuous pity of others; and they +soon saw their acquaintance coolly dropped by those who, as persons of +family and fortune, had on their first arrival sought it with eagerness.</p> + +<p>But this was not entirely owing to the freedom of their sentiments on +politics, or on other subjects; but, because they associated with a +well-known but obnoxious author;—a man whose speculations had delighted +the inquiring but ignorant lover of novelty, terrified the timid +idolater of ancient usages, and excited the regret of the cool and +rational observer:—regret, that eloquence so overwhelming, powers of +reasoning so acute, activity of research so praise-worthy, and a love of +investigation so ardent, should be thrown away on the discussion of +moral and political subjects, incapable of teaching the world to build +up again with more beauty and propriety, a fabric, which they were +perhaps, calculated to pull down: in short, Mrs Mowbray and Adeline +associated with Glenmurray, that author over whose works they had long +delighted to meditate, and who had completely led their imagination +captive, before the fascination of his countenance and manners had come +in aid of his eloquence.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_4" id="ch_4"></a>CHAPTER IV</h3> + +<p>Frederic Glenmurray was a man of family, and of a small independent +estate, which, in case he died without children, was to go to the next +male heir; and to that heir it was certain it would go, as Glenmurray on +principle was an enemy to marriage, and consequently not likely to have +a child born in wedlock.</p> + +<p>It was unfortunate circumstance for Glenmurray, that, with the ardour of +a young and inexperienced mind, he had given his eccentric opinions to +the world as soon as they were conceived and arranged,—as he, by so +doing, prejudiced the world against him in so unconquerable a degree, +that to him almost every door and heart was shut; and he by that means +excluded from every chance of having the errors of his imagination +corrected by the arguments of the experienced and enlightened—and +corrected, no doubt, they would have been, for he had a mild and candid +spirit, and mind open to conviction.</p> + +<p>'I consider myself,' he used to say, 'as a sceptic, not as a man really +certain of the truth of any thing which he advances. I doubt of all +things, because I look upon doubt as the road to truth; and do but +convince me what is the truth, and at what risk, whatever sacrifice, I +am ready to embrace it.'</p> + +<p>But, alas! neither the blamelessness of his life, nor even his active +virtue, assisted by the most courteous manners, were deemed sufficient +to counteract the mischievous tendency of his works; or rather, it was +supposed impossible that his life could be blameless and his seeming +virtues sincere:—and unheard, unknown, this unfortunate young man was +excluded from those circles which his talents would have adorned, and +forced to lead a life of solitude, or associate with persons unlike to +him in most things, except in a passion for the bold in theory, and the +almost impossible in practice.</p> + +<p>Of this description of persons he soon became the oracle—the head of a +sect, as it were; and those tenets which at first he embraced, and put +forth more for amusement than from conviction, as soon as he began to +suffer on their account, became as clear to him as the cross to the +Christian martyr: and deeming persecution a test of truth, he considered +the opposition made to him and his doctrines, not as the result of +dispassionate reason striving to correct absurdity, but as selfishness +and fear endeavouring to put out the light which showed the weakness of +the foundation on which were built their claims to exclusive respect.</p> + +<p>When Mrs Mowbray and Adeline first arrived at Bath, the latter had +attracted the attention and admiration of Colonel Mordaunt, an Irishman +of fortune, and an officer in the guards; and Adeline had not been +insensible to the charms of the very fine person and engaging manners, +united to powers of conversation which displayed an excellent +understanding improved by education and reading. But Colonel Mordaunt +was not a <i>marrying man</i>, as it is called: therefore, as soon as he +began to feel the influence of Adeline growing too powerful for his +freedom, and to observe that his attentions were far from unpleasing to +her,—too honourable to excite an attachment in her which he resolved to +combat in himself, he resolved to fly from the danger, which he knew he +could not face and overcome; and after a formal but embarrassed adieu to +Mrs Mowbray and Adeline, he suddenly left Bath.</p> + +<p>This unexpected departure both surprised and grieved Adeline; but, as +her feelings of delicacy were too strong to allow her to sigh for a man +who, evidently, had no thoughts of sighing for her, she dismissed +Colonel Mordaunt from her remembrance, and tried to find as much +interest still in the ball-rooms, and the promenades, as his presence +had given them: nor was it long before she found in them an attraction +and an interest stronger than any which she had yet felt.</p> + +<p>It is naturally to be supposed that Adeline had often wished to know +personally an author whose writings delighted her as much as +Glenmurray's had done, and that her fancy had often portrayed him: but +though it had clothed him in a form at once pleasing and +respectable,—still, from an idea of his superior wisdom, she had +imagined him past the meridian of life, and not likely to excite warmer +feelings than those of esteem and veneration: and such continued to be +Adeline's idea of Glenmurray, when he arrived at Bath, having been sent +thither by his physicians for the benefit of his health.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray, though a sense of his unpopularity had long banished him +from scenes of public resort in general, was so pleased with the +novelties of Bath, that, though he walked wholly unnoticed except by the +lovers of genius in whatsoever shape it showed itself, he frequented +daily the pump-room, and the promenades; and Adeline had long admired +the countenance and dignified person of this young and interesting +invalid, without the slightest suspicion of his being the man of all +others whom she most wished to see.</p> + +<p>Nor had Glenmurray been slow to admire Adeline: and so strong, so +irresistible was the feeling of admiration which she had excited in him, +that, as soon as she appeared, all other objects vanished from his +sight; and as women are generally quick-sighted to the effect of their +charms, Adeline never beheld the stranger without a suffusion of +pleasurable confusion on her cheek.</p> + +<p>One morning at the pump-room, when Glenmurray, unconscious that Adeline +was near, was reading the newspaper with great attention, and Adeline +for the first time was looking at him unobserved, she heard the name of +Glenmurray pronounced, and turned her head towards the person who spoke, +in hopes of seeing Glenmurray himself; when Mrs Mowbray, turning round +and looking at the invalid, said to a gentleman next her, 'Did you say, +Sir, that that tall, pale, dark, interesting-looking young man is Mr +Glenmurray, the celebrated author?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, ma'am,' replied the gentleman with a sneer: 'that is Mr +Glenmurray, the celebrated author.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! how I should like to speak to him!' cried Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'It will be no difficult matter,' replied her informant: 'the gentleman +is always quite as much at leisure as you see him now; for <i>all</i> persons +have not the same taste as Mrs Mowbray.'</p> + +<p>So saying, he bowed and departed, leaving Mrs Mowbray, to whom the sight +of a great author was new, so lost in contemplating Glenmurray, that the +sarcasm with which he spoke entirely escaped her observation.</p> + +<p>Nor was Adeline less abstracted: she too was contemplating Glenmurray, +and with mixed but delightful feelings.</p> + +<p>'So then he is young and handsome too!' said she mentally: 'it is a pity +he looks so <i>ill</i>,' added she <i>sighing</i>: but the sigh was caused rather +by his looking so <i>well</i>—though Adeline was not conscious of it.</p> + +<p>By this time Glenmurray had observed who were his neighbours, and the +newspaper was immediately laid down.</p> + +<p>'Is there any news to-day?' said Mrs Mowbray to Glenmurray, resolved to +make a bold effort to become acquainted with him. Glenmurray, with a bow +and a blush of mingled surprise and pleasure, replied that there was a +great deal,—and immediately presented to her the paper which he had +relinquished, setting chairs at the same time for her and Adeline.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray, however, only slightly glanced her eye over the paper:—her +desire was to talk to Glenmurray; and in order to accomplish this point, +and prejudice him in her favour, she told him how much she rejoiced in +seeing an author whose works were the delight and instruction of her +life. 'Speak, Adeline,' cried she, turning to her blushing daughter; 'do +we not almost daily read and daily admire Mr Glenmurray's +writings?'—'Yes, certainly,' replied Adeline, unable to articulate +more, awed no doubt by the presence of so superior a being; while +Glenmurray, more proud of being an author than ever, said internally, +'Is it possible that that sweet creature should have read and admired my +works?'</p> + +<p>But in vain, encouraged by the smiles and even by the blushes of +Adeline, did he endeavour to engage her in conversation. Adeline was +unusually silent, unusually bashful. But Mrs Mowbray made ample amends +for her deficiency; and Mr Glenmurray, flattered and amused, would have +continued to converse with her and look at Adeline, had he not observed +the impertinent sneers and rude laughter to which conversing so +familiarly with him exposed Mrs Mowbray. As soon as he observed this, he +arose to depart; for Glenmurray was, according to Rochefoucault's maxim, +so exquisitely selfish, that he always considered the welfare of others +before his own; and heroically sacrificing his own gratification to save +Mrs Mowbray and Adeline from further censure, he bowed with the greatest +respect to Mrs Mowbray, sighed as he paid the same compliment to +Adeline, and, lamenting his being forced to quit them so soon, with +evident reluctance left the room.</p> + +<p>'What an elegant bow he makes!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray. Adeline had +observed nothing but the sigh; and on that she did not choose to make +any comment.</p> + +<p>The next day Mrs Mowbray, having learned Glenmurray's address, sent him +a card for a party at her lodgings. Nothing but Glenmurray's delight +could exceed his astonishment at this invitation. He had observed Mrs +Mowbray and Adeline, even before Adeline had observed him; and, as he +gazed upon the fascinating Adeline, he had sighed to think that she too +would be taught to avoid the dangerous and disreputable acquaintance of +Glenmurray. To him, therefore, this mark of attention was a source both +of consolation and joy. But, being well convinced that it was owing to +her ignorance of the usual customs and opinions of those with whom she +associated, he was too generous to accept the invitation, as he knew +that his presence at a rout at Bath would cause general dismay, and +expose the mistress to disagreeable remarks at least: but he endeavoured +to make himself amends for his self-denial, by asking leave to wait on +them when they were alone.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_5" id="ch_5"></a>CHAPTER V</h3> + +<p>A day or two after, as Adeline was leaning <ins title="original has o">on</ins> the arm of a young lady, +Glenmurray passed them, and to his respectful bow she returned a most +cordial salutation. 'Gracious me! my dear,' said her companion, 'do you +know who that man is?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly:—it is Mr Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'And do you speak to him?'</p> + +<p>'Yes:—why should I not?'</p> + +<p>'Dear me! Why, I am sure! Why—don't you know what he is?'</p> + +<p>'Yes, a celebrated writer, and a man of genius.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, that may be, Miss Mowbray: but they say one should not notice him, +because he is—'</p> + +<p>'He is what?' said Adeline eagerly.</p> + +<p>'I do not exactly know what; but I believe it is a French spy, or a +Jesuit.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed?' replied Adeline laughing. 'But I am used to have better +evidence against a person than a <i>they say</i> before I neglect an +acknowledged acquaintance: therefore, with your leave, I shall turn back +and talk a little to poor Mr Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>It so happened that <i>poor Mr Glenmurray</i> heard every word of this +conversation; for he had turned round and followed Adeline and her fair +companion, to present to the former the glove which she had dropped; and +as they were prevented from proceeding by the crowd on the parade, which +was assembled to see some unusual sight, he, being immediately behind +them, could distinguish all that passed; so that Adeline turned round to +go in search of him before the blush of grateful admiration for her +kindness had left his cheek.</p> + +<p>'Then she seeks me because I am shunned by others!' said Glenmurray to +himself. In a moment the world to him seemed to contain only two +beings, Adeline Mowbray and Frederic Glenmurray; and that Adeline, +starting and blushing with joyful surprise at seeing him so near her, +was then coming in search of him!—of him, the neglected Glenmurray! +Scarcely could he refrain catching the lovely and ungloved hand next him +to his heart; but he contented himself with keeping the glove that he +was before so eager to restore, and in a moment it was lodged in his +bosom.</p> + +<p>Nor could 'I can't think what I have done with my glove,' which every +now and then escaped Adeline, prevail on him to own that he had found +it. At last, indeed, it became unnecessary; for Adeline, as she glanced +her eye towards Glenmurray, discovered it in the hiding-place: but, as +delicacy forbade her to declare the discovery which she had made, he was +suffered to retain his prize; though a deep and sudden blush which +overspread his cheek, and a sudden pause which she made in her +conversation, convinced Glenmurray that she had detected his secret. +Perhaps he was not sorry—nor Adeline; but certain it is that Adeline +was for the remainder of the morning more lost in reverie than ever her +mother had been; and that from that day every one, but Adeline and +Glenmurray, saw that they were mutually enamoured.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray was the first of the two lovers to perceive that they were +so; and he made the discovery with a mixture of pain and pleasure. For +what could be the result of such an attachment? He was firmly resolved +never to marry; and it was very unlikely that Adeline, though she had +often expressed to him her approbation of his writings and opinions, +should be willing to sacrifice everything to love, and become his +mistress. But a circumstance took place which completely removed his +doubts on this subject.</p> + +<p>Several weeks had elapsed since the first arrival of the Mowbrays at +Bath, and in that time almost all their acquaintances had left them one +by one; but neither Mrs Mowbray nor Adeline had paid much attention to +this circumstance. Mrs Mowbray's habits of abstraction, as usual, made +her regardless of common occurrences; and to these were added the more +delightful reverie occasioned by the attentions of a very handsome and +insinuating man, and the influence of a growing passion. Mrs Mowbray, as +we have before observed, married from duty, not inclination; and to the +passion of love she had remained a total stranger, till she became +acquainted at Bath with Sir Patrick O'Carrol. Yes; Mrs Mowbray was in +love for the first time when she was approaching her fortieth year! and +a woman is never so likely to be the fool of love, as when it assails +her late in life, especially if a lover be as great a novelty to her as +the passion itself. Though not, alas! restored to a second youth, the +tender victim certainly enjoys a second childhood, and exhibits but too +openly all the little tricks and <ins title="original has minauderies"><i>minaudieres</i></ins> of a love-sick girl, +without the youthful appearance that in a degree excuses them. This was +the case with Mrs Mowbray; and while, regardless of her daughter's +interest and happiness, she was lost in the pleasing hopes of marrying +the agreeable baronet, no wonder the cold neglect of her Bath associates +was not seen by her.</p> + +<p>Adeline, engrossed also by the pleasing reveries of a first love, was as +unconscious of it as herself. Indeed she thought of nothing but love and +Glenmurray; else, she could not have failed to see, that, while Sir +Patrick's attentions and flatteries were addressed to her mother, his +ardent looks and passionate sighs were all directed to herself.</p> + +<p>Sir Patrick O'Carrol was a young Irishman, of an old family but an +encumbered estate; and it was his wish to set his estate free by +marrying a rich wife, and one as little disagreeable as possible. With +this view he came to Bath; and in Mrs Mowbray he not only beheld a woman +of large independent fortune, but possessed of great personal beauty, +and young enough to be attractive. Still, though much pleased with the +wealth and appearance of the mother, he soon became enamoured of the +daughter's person; and had he not gone so far in his addresses to Mrs +Mowbray as to make it impossible she should willingly transfer him to +Adeline, and give her a fortune at all adequate to his wants, he would +have endeavoured honourably to gain her affections, and entered the +lists against the favoured Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>But, as he wanted the mother's wealth, he resolved to pursue his +advantage with her, and trust to some future chance for giving him +possession of the daughter. In his dealings with men, Sir Patrick was a +man of honour; in his dealings with women, completely the reverse: he +considered them as a race of subordinate beings, and that if, like +horses, they were well lodged, fed, and kept clean, they had no right to +complain.</p> + +<p>Constantly therefore did he besiege Mrs. Mowbray with his conversation, +and Adeline with his eyes; and the very libertine gaze with which he +often beheld her, gave a pang to Glenmurray which was but too soon +painfully increased.</p> + +<p>Sir Patrick was the only man of fashion who did not object to visit at +Mrs. Mowbray's on account of her intimacy with Glenmurray; but he had +his own private reasons for going thither, and continued to visit at Mrs +Mowbray's though Glenmurray was generally there, and sometimes he and +the latter gentleman were the whole of their company.</p> + +<p>One evening they and two ladies were drinking tea at Mrs Mowbray's +lodgings, when Mrs Mowbray was unusually silent and Adeline unusually +talkative. Adeline scarcely ever spoke in her mother's presence, from +deference to her abilities; and whatever might be Mrs Mowbray's defects +in other respects, her conversational talents and her uncommon command +of words were indisputable. But this evening, as I before observed, +Adeline, owing to her mother's tender abstractions, was obliged to exert +herself for the entertainment of the guests.</p> + +<p>It so happened, also, that something was said by one of the party which +led to the subject of marriage, and Adeline was resolved not to let so +good an opportunity pass of proving to Glenmurray how sincerely she +approved his doctrine on that subject. Immediately, with an unreserve +which nothing but her ignorance of the world, and the strange education +which she had received, could at all excuse, she began to declaim +against marriage, as an institution at once absurd, unjust, and immoral, +and to declare that she would never submit to so contemptible a form, or +profane the sacred ties of love by so odious and unnecessary a ceremony.</p> + +<p>This extraordinary speech, though worded elegantly and delivered +gracefully, was not received by any of her hearers, except Sir Patrick, +with any thing like admiration. The baronet, indeed, clapped his hands, +and cried 'Bravo! a fine spirited girl, upon my word!' in a manner so +loud, and so offensive to the feelings of Adeline, that, like the orator +of old, she was tempted to exclaim, 'What foolish thing can I have said, +that has drawn forth this applause?'</p> + +<p>But Mrs Mowbray, though she could not help admiring the eloquence which +she attributed to her example,—was shocked at hearing Adeline declare +that her practice should be consonant to her theory; while Glenmurray, +though Adeline had only expressed his sentiments, and his reason +approved what she had uttered, felt his delicacy and his feelings +wounded by so open and decided an avowal of her opinions, and intended +conduct in consequence of them; and he was still more hurt, when he saw +how much it delighted Sir Patrick, and offended the rest of the +company; who, after a silence, the result of surprise and disgust, +suddenly arose, and, coldly wishing Mrs Mowbray good night, left the +house.</p> + +<p>By Mrs Mowbray the cause of this abrupt departure was unsuspected: but +Adeline, who had more observation, was convinced that she was the cause +of it; and sighing deeply at the prejudices of the world, she sought to +console herself by looking at Glenmurray, expecting to find in his eyes +an expression of delight and approbation. To her great disappointment, +however, his countenance was sad; while Sir Patrick, on the contrary, +had an expression of impudent triumph in his look, which made her turn +blushing from his ardent gaze, and indignantly follow her mother, who +was then leaving the room.</p> + +<p>As she passed him, Sir Patrick caught her hand rapturously to his lips +(an action which made Glenmurray start from his chair), and exclaimed, +'Really you are the only honest little woman I ever knew! I always was +sure that what you just now said was the opinion of all your sex, though +they were so confounded coy they would not own it.'</p> + +<p>'Own what Sir?' asked the astonished Adeline.</p> + +<p>'That they thought marriage a cursed bore, and preferred leading the +life of honour, to be sure.'</p> + +<p>'The life of honour! What is that?' demanded Adeline, while Glenmurray +paced the room in agitation.</p> + +<p>'That life, my dear girl, which you mean to lead;—love and liberty with +the man of your heart.'</p> + +<p>'Sir Patrick,' cried Glenmurray impatiently, 'this conversation is—'</p> + +<p>'Prodigiously amusing to me,' returned the baronet, 'especially as I +never could hold it to a modest woman before.'</p> + +<p>'Nor shall you now, Sir,' fiercely interrupted Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'Shall not, Sir?' vociferated Sir Patrick.</p> + +<p>'Pray, gentlemen, be less violent,' exclaimed the terrified and +astonished Adeline. 'I can't think what could offend you, Mr Glenmurray, +in Sir Patrick's original observation: the life of honour appears to me +a very excellent name for the pure and honourable union which it is my +wish to form; and—'</p> + +<p>'There; I told you so;' triumphantly interrupted Sir Patrick: 'and I +never was better pleased in life:—sweet creature! at once so lovely, so +wise, and so liberal!'</p> + +<p>'Sir,' cried Glenmurray, 'this is a mistake: your life of honour and +Miss Mowbray's are as different as possible; you are talking of what +you are grossly ignorant of.'</p> + +<p>'Ignorant! I ignorant! Look you, Mr Glenmurray, do you pretend to tell +me I know not what the life of honour is, when I have led it so many +times with so many different women?'</p> + +<p>'How, Sir!' replied Adeline: 'many times? and with many different women? +My life of honour can be led with one only.'</p> + +<p>'Well, my dear soul, I only led it with one at a time.'</p> + +<p>'O Sir! you are indeed ignorant of my meaning,' she rejoined: 'It is the +individuality of an attachment that constitutes its purity; and—'</p> + +<p>'Ba-ba-bu, my lovely girl! which has purity to do in the business?'</p> + +<p>'Indeed, Sir Patrick,' meekly returned Adeline, 'I—'</p> + +<p>'Miss Mowbray,' angrily interrupted Glenmurray, 'I beg, I conjure you to +drop this conversation: your innocence is no match for—'</p> + +<p>'For what, Sir?' furiously demanded Sir Patrick.</p> + +<p>'Your licentiousness,' replied Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'Sir, I wear a sword,' cried the baronet.—'And I a cane,' said +Glenmurray calmly, 'either to defend myself or chastise insolence.'</p> + +<p>'Mr Glenmurray! Sir Patrick!' exclaimed the agitated Adeline: 'for my +sake, for pity's sake desist!'</p> + +<p>'For the present I will, madam,' faltered out Sir Patrick;—'but I know +Mr Glenmurray's address, and he shall hear from me.'</p> + +<p>'Hear from you! Why, you do not mean to challenge him? you can't suppose +Mr Glenmurray would do so absurd a thing as fight a duel? Sir, he has +written a volume to prove the absurdity of the custom.—No, no! you +threaten his life in vain,' she added, giving her hand to Glenmurray; +who, in the tenderness of the action and the tone of her voice, forgot +the displeasure which her inadvertency had caused, and pressing her hand +to his lips, secretly renewed his vows of unalterable attachment.</p> + +<p>'Very well, madam,' exclaimed Sir Patrick in a tone of pique: 'then, so +as Mr Glenmurray's life is safe, you care not what becomes of mine!'</p> + +<p>'Sir,' replied Adeline, 'the safety of a fellow-creature is always of +importance in my eyes.'</p> + +<p>'Then you care for me as a fellow-creature only,' retorted Sir Patrick, +'not as Sir Patrick O'Carrol?—Mighty fine, truly, you dear +ungrateful—' seizing her hand; which he relinquished, as well as the +rest of his speech, on the entrance of Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>Soon after Adeline left the room, and Glenmurray bowed and retired; +while Sir Patrick, having first repeated his vows of admiration to the +mother, returned home to muse on the charms of the daughter, and the +necessity of challenging the moral Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>Sir Patrick was a man of courage, and had fought several duels: but as +life at this time had a great many charms for him, he resolved to defer +at least putting himself in the way of getting rid of it; and after +having slept late in the morning, to make up for the loss of sleep in +the night, occasioned by his various cogitations, he rose, resolved to +go to Mrs Mowbray's, and if he had an opportunity, indulge himself in +some practical comments on the singular declaration made the evening +before by her lovely daughter.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray meanwhile had passed the night in equal watchfulness and +greater agitation. To fight a duel would be, as Adeline observed, +contrary to his principles; and to decline one, irritated as he was +against Sir Patrick, was repugnant to his feelings.</p> + +<p>To no purpose did he peruse and re-peruse nearly the whole of his own +book against duelling; he had few religious restraints to make him +resolve on declining a challenge, and he felt moral ones of little +avail: but in vain did he sit at home till the morning was far advanced, +expecting a messenger from Sir Patrick;—no messenger came:—he +therefore left word with his servant, that, if wanted, he might be found +at Mrs Mowbray's, and went thither, in hopes of enjoying an hour's +conversation with Adeline; resolving to hint to her, as delicately as he +could, that the opinions which she had expressed were better confined, +in the present dark state of the public mind, to a select and +discriminating circle.</p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_6" id="ch_6"></a>CHAPTER VI</h3> + +<p>Sir Patrick had reached Mrs Mowbray's some time before him, and had, to +his great satisfaction, found Adeline alone; nor did it escape his +penetration that her cheeks glowed, and her eyes sparkled with pleasure, +at his approach.</p> + +<p>But he would not have rejoiced in this circumstance, had he known that +Adeline was pleased to see him merely because she considered his +appearance as a proof of Glenmurray's safety; for, in spite of his +having written against duelling, and of her confidence in his firmness +and consistency, she was not quite convinced that the reasoning +philosopher would triumph over the feeling man.</p> + +<p>'You are welcome, Sir Patrick!' cried Adeline, as he entered, with a +most winning smile: 'I am very glad to see you: pray sit down.'</p> + +<p>The baronet, who, audacious as his hopes and intentions were, had not +expected so kind a reception, was quite thrown off his guard by it, and +catching her suddenly in his arms, endeavoured to obtain a still kinder +welcome. Adeline as suddenly disengaged herself from him, and, with the +dignity of offended modesty, desired him to quit the room, as, after +such an insolent attempt, she could not think herself justified in +suffering him to remain with her.</p> + +<p>But her anger was soon changed into pity, when she saw Sir Patrick lay +down his hat, seat himself, and burst into a long deliberate laugh.</p> + +<p>'He is certainly mad!' she exclaimed; and, leaning against the +chimney-piece, she began to contemplate him with a degree of fearful +interest.</p> + +<p>'Upon my soul! now,' cried the baronet, when his laugh was over, 'you do +not suppose, my dear creature, that you and I do not understand one +another! Telling a young fellow to leave the house on such occasions, +means, in the pretty no meaning of your sex, "Stay, and offend again," +to be sure.'</p> + +<p>'He is certainly mad!' said Adeline, more confirmed than before in her +idea of his insanity, and immediately endeavoured to reach the door: but +in so doing she approached Sir Patrick, who, rather roughly seizing her +trembling hand, desired her to sit down, and hear what he had to say to +her. Adeline, thinking it not right to irritate him, instantly obeyed.</p> + +<p>'Now, then, to open my mind to you,' said the baronet, drawing his chair +close to hers: 'From the very first moment I saw you, I felt that we +were made for one another; though, being bothered by my debts, I made up +to the old duchess, and she nibbled the bait directly,—deeming my clean +inches (six feet one, without shoes) well worth her dirty acres.'</p> + +<p>'How dreadfully incoherent he is!' thought Adeline, not suspecting for a +moment that, by the old duchess, he meant her still blooming mother.</p> + +<p>'But, my lovely dear!' continued Sir Patrick, most ardently pressing her +hand, 'so much have your sweet person, and your frank and liberal way of +thinking, charmed me, that I here freely offer myself to you, and we +will begin the life of honour together as soon as you please.'</p> + +<p>Still Adeline, who was unconscious how much her avowed opinions, had +exposed her to insult, continued to believe Sir Patrick insane; a belief +which the wildness of his eyes confirmed. 'I really know not,—you +surprise me, Sir Patrick,—I—'</p> + +<p>'Surprise you, my dear soul! How could you expect anything else from a +man of my spirit, after your honest declaration last night?—All I +feared was, that Glenmurray should get the start of me.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, though alarmed, bewildered, and confounded, had still +recollection enough to know that, whether sane or insane, the words and +looks of Sir Patrick were full of increasing insult. 'I believe, I think +I had better retire', faltered out Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Retire!—No, indeed,' exclaimed the baronet; rudely seizing her.</p> + +<p>This outrage restored Adeline to her usual spirit and self-possession; +and bestowing on him the epithet of 'mean-soul'd ruffian!' she had +almost freed herself from his grasp, when a quick step was heard on the +stairs, and the door was thrown open by Glenmurray. In a moment Adeline, +bursting into tears, threw <ins title="original has himself">herself</ins> into his arms, as if in search of +protection.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray required no explanation of the scene before him: the +appearance of the actors in it was explanation sufficient; and while +with one arm he fondly held Adeline to his bosom, he raised the other in +a threatening attitude against Sir Patrick, exclaiming as he did it, +'Base, unmanly villain!'</p> + +<p>'Villain!' echoed Sir Patrick—'but it is very well—very well for the +present—Good morning to you, sir!' So saying he hastily withdrew.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was gone, Glenmurray for the first time declared to +Adeline the ardent passion with which she had inspired him; and she, +with equal frankness, confessed that her heart was irrevocably his.</p> + +<p>From this interesting tête-à-tête Adeline was summoned to attend a +person on business to her mother; and during her absence Glenmurray +received a challenge from the angry baronet, appointing him to meet him +that afternoon at five o'clock, about two miles from Bath. To this note, +for fear of alarming the suspicions of Adeline, Glenmurray returned only +a verbal message, saying he would answer it in two hours: but as soon as +she returned he pleaded indispensable business; and before she could +mention any fears respecting the consequences of what had passed between +him and Sir Patrick, he had left the room, having, to prevent any alarm, +requested leave to wait on her early the next day.</p> + +<p>As soon as Glenmurray reached his lodgings, he again revolved in his +mind the propriety of accepting the challenge. 'How can I expect to +influence others by my theories to act right, if my practice sets them a +bad example?' But then again he exclaimed, 'How can I expect to have any +thing I say attended to, when, by refusing to fight, I put it in the +power of my enemies to assert I am a poltroon, and worthy only of +neglect and contempt? No, no; I must fight:—even Adeline herself, +especially as it is on her account, will despise me if I do not:'—and +then, without giving himself any more time to deliberate, he sent an +answer to Sir Patrick, promising to meet him at the time appointed.</p> + +<p>But after he had sent it he found himself a prey to so much +self-reproach, and after he had forfeited his claims to consistency of +conduct, he felt himself so strongly aware of the value of it, that, had +not the time of the meeting been near at hand, he would certainly have +deliberated upon some means of retracting his consent to it.</p> + +<p>Being resolved to do as little mischief as he could, he determined on +having no second in the business; and accordingly repaired to the field +accompanied only by a trusty servant, who had orders to wait his +master's pleasure at a distance.</p> + +<p>Contrary to Glenmurray's expectations, Sir Patrick also came unattended +by a second; while his servant, who was with him, was, like the other, +desired to remain in the back ground.</p> + +<p>'I wish, Mr Glenmurray, to do every thing honourable,' said the baronet, +after they had exchanged salutations: 'therefore, Sir, as I concluded +you would find it difficult to get a second, I am come without one, and +I <i>conclude</i> that I <i>concluded</i> right.—Aye, men of your principle can +have but few friends.'</p> + +<p>'And men of your practice ought to have none, Sir Patrick,' retorted +Glenmurray: 'but, as I don't think it worth while to explain to you my +reasons for not having a second, as I fear that you are incapable of +understanding them, I must desire you to take your ground.'</p> + +<p>'With all my heart,' replied his antagonist; and then taking aim, they +agreed to fire at the same moment.</p> + +<p>They did so; and the servants, hearing the report of the pistols, ran to +the scene of action, and saw Sir Patrick bleeding in the sword-arm, and +Glenmurray, also wounded, leaning against a tree.</p> + +<p>'This is cursed unlucky,' said Sir Patrick coolly: 'you have disabled my +right arm. I can't go on with this business at present; but when I am +well again command me. Your wound, I believe, is as slight as mine; but +as I can walk, and you cannot, and as I have a chaise, and you not, you +shall use it to convey you and your servant home, and I and mine will go +on foot.'</p> + +<p>To this obliging offer Glenmurray was incapable of giving denial; for he +became insensible from loss of blood, and with the assistance of his +antagonist was carried to the chaise, and supported by his terrified +servant, conveyed back to Bath.</p> + +<p>It is not to be supposed that an event of this nature should be long +unknown. It was soon told all over the city that Sir Patrick O'Carrol +and Mr Glenmurray had fought a duel, and that the latter was dangerously +wounded; the quarrel having originated in Mr Glenmurray's scoffing at +religion, king, and constitution, before the pious and loyal baronet.</p> + +<p>This story soon reached the ears of Mrs Mowbray, who, in an agony of +tender sorrow, and in defiance of all decorum, went in person to call on +her admired Sir Patrick; and Adeline, who heard of the affair soon +after, as regardless of appearances as her mother, and more alarmed, +went in person to inquire concerning her wounded Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>By the time that she had arrived at his lodgings, not only his own +surgeon but Sir Patrick's had seen him, as his antagonist thought it +necessary to ascertain the true state of his wound, that he might know +whether he ought to stay, or fly his country.</p> + +<p>The account of both the surgeons was, however, so favourable, and +Glenmurray in all respects so well, that Sir Patrick's alarms were soon +quite at an end; and the wounded man was lying on a sofa, lost in no +very pleasant reflections, when Adeline knocked at his door. Glenmurray +at that very moment was saying to himself, 'Well;—so much for principle +and consistency! Now, my next step must be to marry, and then I shall +have made myself a complete fool, and the worst of all fools,—a man +presuming to instruct others by his precepts, when he finds them +incapable of influencing even his own actions.'</p> + +<p>At this moment his servant came up with Miss Mowbray's compliments, and, +if he was well enough to see her, she would come up and speak to him.</p> + +<p>In an instant all his self-reproaches were forgotten; and when Adeline +hung weeping and silent on his shoulder, he could not but rejoice in an +affair which had procured him a moment of such heartfelt delight. At +first Adeline expressed nothing but terror at the consequences of his +wound, and pity for his sufferings; but when she found that he was in no +danger, and in very little pain, the tender mistress yielded to the +severe monitress, and she began to upbraid Glenmurray for having acted +not only in defiance of her wishes and principles, but of his own; of +principles laid down by him to the world in the strongest point of view, +and in a manner convincing to every mind.</p> + +<p>'Dearest Adeline, consider the provocation,' cried Glenmurray:—'a gross +insult offered to the woman I love!'</p> + +<p>'But who ever fought a duel without provocation, Glenmurray? If +provocation be a justification, your book was unnecessary; and did not +you offer an insult to the understanding of the woman you love, in +supposing that she could be obliged to you for playing the fool on her +account?'</p> + +<p>'But I should have been called a coward had I declined the challenge; +and though I can bear the world's hatred, I could not its contempt:—I +could not endure the loss of what the world calls honour.'</p> + +<p>'Is it possible,' rejoined Adeline, 'that I hear the philosophical +Glenmurray talking thus, in the silly jargon of a man of the world?'</p> + +<p>'Alas! I am a man, not a philosopher, Adeline!'</p> + +<p>'At least be a sensible one;—consistent I dare not now call you. But +have you forgotten the distinction which, in your volume on the subject +of duels, you so strongly lay down between real and apparent honour? In +which of the two classes do you put the honour of which, in this +instance, you were so tenacious? What is there in common between the +glory of risking the life of a fellow-creature, and testimony of an +approving conscience?'</p> + +<p>'An excellent observation that of yours, indeed, my sweet monitress,' +said Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'An observation of mine; It is your own,' replied Adeline: 'but see, I +have the book in my muff; and I will punish you for the badness of your +practice, by giving you a dose of your theory.'</p> + +<p>'Cruel girl!' cried Glenmurray, 'I am not ordered a sleeping draught!'</p> + +<p>Adeline was however resolved; and, opening the book, she read argument +after argument with unyielding perseverance, till Glenmurray, who, like +the eagle in the song, saw on the dart that wounded him his own +feathers, cried 'Quarter!'</p> + +<p>'But tell me, dear Adeline,' said Glenmurray, a little piqued at her too +just reproofs, 'you, who are so severe on my want of consistency, are +you yourself capable of acting up in every respect to your precepts?'</p> + +<p>'After your weakness,' replied Adeline, smiling, 'it becomes me to doubt +my own strength; but I assure you that I make it a scruple of +conscience, to show by my conduct my confidence in the truth of my +opinions.'</p> + +<p>'Then, in defiance of the world's opinion, that opinion which I, you +see, had not resolution to brave, you will be mine—not according to the +ties of marriage, but with no other ties or sanction than those of love +and reason?'</p> + +<p>'I will,' said Adeline: 'and may He whom I worship' (raising her fine +eyes and white arms to heaven) 'desert me when I desert you!'</p> + +<p>Who that had seen her countenance and gesture at that moment, could have +imagined she was calling on heaven to witness an engagement to lead a +life of infamy? Rather would they have thought her a sublime enthusiast +breathing forth the worship of a grateful soul.</p> + +<p>It may be supposed that Glenmurray's heart beat with exultation at this +confession from Adeline, and that he forgot, in the promised indulgence +of his passion, those bounds which strict decorum required. But +Glenmurray did her justice; he beheld her as she was—all purity of +feeling and all delicacy; and, if possible, the slight favours by which +true love is long <ins title="original has contended">contented</ins> to be fed, though granted by Adeline with +more conscious emotion, were received by him with more devoted respect: +besides, he again felt that mixture of pain with pleasure, on this +assurance of her love, which he had experienced before. For he knew, +though Adeline did not, the extent of the degradation into which the +step which her conscience approved would necessarily precipitate her; +and experience alone could convince him that her sensibility to shame, +when she was for the first time exposed to it, would not overcome her +supposed fortitude and boasted contempt of the world's opinion, and +change all the roses of love into the thorns of regret and remorse.</p> + +<p>And could he who doted on her;—he, too, who admired her as much for her +consummate purity as for any other of her qualities;—could he bear to +behold this fair creature, whose open eye beamed with the consciousness +of virtue, casting her timid glances to the earth, and shrinking with +horror from the conviction of having in the world's eye forfeited all +pretensions to that virtue which alone was the end of her actions! Would +the approbation of her own mind be sufficient to support her under such +a trial, though she had with such sweet earnestness talked to him of its +efficacy! These reflections had for some time past been continually +occurring to him, and now they came across his mind blighting the +triumphs of successful passion:—nay, but from the dread of incurring +yet more ridicule, on account of the opposition of his practice to his +theory, and perhaps the indignant contempt of Adeline, he could have +thrown himself at her feet, conjuring her to submit to the degradation +of being a wife.</p> + +<p>But, unknown to Glenmurray, perhaps, another reason prompted him to +desire this concession from Adeline. We are never more likely to be in +reality the slaves of selfishness, than when we fancy ourselves acting +with most heroic disinterestedness.—Egotism loves a becoming dress, and +is always on the watch to hide her ugliness by the robe of benevolence. +Glenmurray thought that he was willing to marry Adeline merely for <i>her</i> +sake! but I suspect it was chiefly for <i>his</i>. The true and delicate +lover is always a monopolizer, always desirous of calling the woman of +his affections his own: it is not only because he considers marriage as +a holy institution that the lover leads his mistress to the altar; but +because it gives him a right to appropriate the fair treasure to +himself,—because it sanctions and perpetuates the dearest of all +monopolies, and erects a sacred barrier to guard his rights,—around +which, all that is respectable in society, all that is most powerful and +effectual in its organization, is proud and eager to rally.</p> + +<p>But while Glenmurray, in spite of his happiness, was sensible to an +alloy of it, and Adeline was tenderly imputing to the pain of his wound +the occasionally mournful expression of his countenance, Adeline took +occasion to declare that she would live with Glenmurray only on +condition that such a step met with her mother's approbation.</p> + +<p>'Then are my hopes for ever at an end,' said Glenmurray:—'or,—or' (and +spite of himself his eyes sparkled as he spoke)—'or we must submit to +the absurd ceremony of marriage.'</p> + +<p>'Marriage!' replied the astonished Adeline: 'can you think so meanly of +my mother, as to suppose her practice so totally opposite to her +principles, that she would require her daughter to submit to a ceremony +which she herself regards with contempt?—Impossible. I am sure, when I +solicit her consent to my being yours, she will be pleased to find that +her sentiments and observations have not been thrown away on me.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray thought otherwise: however, he bowed and was silent; and +Adeline declared that, to put an end to all doubt on the subject, she +would instantly go in search of Mrs Mowbray and propose the question to +her: and Glenmurray, feeling himself more weak and indisposed than he +chose to own to her, allowed her, though reluctantly, to depart.</p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_7" id="ch_7"></a>CHAPTER VII</h3> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray was but just returned from her charitable visit when Adeline +entered the room. 'And pray, Miss Mowbray, where have you been?' she +exclaimed, seeing Adeline with her hat and cloak on.</p> + +<p>'I have been visiting poor Mr Glenmurray,' she replied.</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'and without my leave! and pray who went +with you?'</p> + +<p>'Nobody, ma'am.'</p> + +<p>'Nobody!—What! visit a man alone at his lodgings, after the education +which you have received!'</p> + +<p>'Indeed, madam,' replied Adeline meekly, 'my education never taught me +that such conduct was improper; nor, as you did the same this afternoon, +could I have dared to think it so.'</p> + +<p>'You are mistaken, Miss Mowbray,' replied her mother: 'I did not do the +same; for the terms which I am upon with Sir Patrick made my visiting +him no impropriety at all.'</p> + +<p>'If you think I have acted wrong,' replied Adeline timidly, 'no doubt I +have done so; though you were quite right in visiting Sir Patrick, as +the respectability of your age and character, and Sir Patrick's youth, +warranted the propriety of the visit:—but, surely the terms which I am +upon with Mr Glenmurray—'</p> + +<p>'The terms which you are upon with Mr Glenmurray! and my age and +character! what can you mean?' angrily exclaimed Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'I hope, my dear mother,' said Adeline tenderly, 'that you had long ere +this guessed the attachment which subsists between Mr Glenmurray and +me;—an attachment cherished by your high opinion of him and his +writings; but which respect has till now made me hesitate to mention to +you.'</p> + +<p>'Would to heaven!' replied Mrs Mowbray, 'that respect had made you for +ever silent on the subject! Do you suppose that I would marry my +daughter to a man of small fortune,—but more especially to one who, as +Sir Patrick informs me, is shunned for his principles and profligacy by +all the world?'</p> + +<p>'To what Sir Patrick says of Mr Glenmurray I pay no attention,' answered +Adeline; 'nor are you, my dear mother, capable, I am sure, of being +influenced by the prejudices of the world.—But you are quite mistaken +in supposing me so lost to consistency, and so regardless of your +liberal opinions and the books which we have studied, as to think of +<i>marrying</i> Mr Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'Grant me patience!' cried Mrs Mowbray; 'why, to be sure you do not +think of living with him <i>without</i> being married?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly, madam; that you may have the pleasure of beholding one union +founded on rational grounds and cemented by rational ties.'</p> + +<p>'How!' cried Mrs Mowbray, turning pale. 'I!—I have pleasure in seeing +my daughter a kept mistress!—You are mad, quite mad.—<i>I</i> approve such +unhallowed connexions!'</p> + +<p>'My dearest mother,' replied Adeline, 'your agitation terrifies me,—but +indeed what I say is strictly true; and see here, in Mr Glenmurray's +book, the very passage which I so often have heard you admire.' As she +said this, Adeline pointed to the passage; but in an instant Mrs Mowbray +seized the book and threw it on the fire.</p> + +<p>Before Adeline had recovered her consternation Mrs Mowbray fell into a +violent hysteric; and long was it before she was restored to composure. +When she recovered she was so exhausted that Adeline dared not renew the +conversation; but leaving her to rest, she made up a bed on the floor in +her mother's room, and passed a night of wretchedness and +watchfulness,—the first of the kind which she had ever known.—Would it +had been the last!</p> + +<p>In the morning Mrs Mowbray awoke, refreshed and calm; and, affected at +seeing the pale cheek and sunk eye of Adeline, indicative of a sleepless +and unhappy night, she held out her hand to her with a look of kindness; +Adeline pressed it to her lips, as she knelt by the bed-side, and +moistened it with tears of regret for the past and alarm for the future.</p> + +<p>'Adeline, my dear child,' said Mrs Mowbray in a faint voice, 'I hope you +will no longer think of putting a design in execution so fraught with +mischief to you, and horror to me. Little did I think that you were so +romantic as to see no difference between amusing one's imagination with +new theories and new systems, and acting upon them in defiance of common +custom, and the received usages of society. I admire the convenient +trousers and graceful dress of the Turkish women; but I would not wear +them myself, lest it should expose me to derision.'</p> + +<p>'Is there no difference,' thought Adeline, 'between the importance of a +dress and an opinion!—Is the one to be taken up, and laid down again, +with the same indifference as the other!' But she continued silent, and +Mrs Mowbray went on.</p> + +<p>'The poetical philosophy which I have so much delighted to study, has +served me to ornament my conversation, and make persons less enlightened +than myself wonder at the superior boldness of my fancy, and the +acuteness of my reasoning powers;—but I should as soon have thought of +making this little gold chain round my neck fasten the hall-door, as act +upon the precepts laid down in those delightful books. No; though I +think all they say <ins title="original has are">is</ins> true, I believe the purity they inculcate too +much for this world.'</p> + +<p>Adeline listened in silent astonishment and consternation. Conscience, +and the conviction of what is right, she then for the first time +learned, were not to be the rule of action; and though filial tenderness +made her resolve never to be the mistress of Glenmurray, she also +resolved never to be his wife, or that of any other man; while, in spite +of herself, the great respect with which she had hitherto regarded her +mother's conduct and opinions began to diminish.</p> + +<p>'Would to heaven, my dear mother,' said Adeline, when Mrs Mowbray had +done speaking, 'that you had said all this to me ere my mind had been +indelibly impressed with the truth of these forbidden doctrines; for now +my conscience tells me that I ought to act up to them!'</p> + +<p>'How!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, starting up in her bed, and in a voice +shrill with emotion, 'are you then resolved to disobey me, and dishonour +yourself?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! never, never!' replied Adeline, alarmed at her mother's violence, +and fearful of a relapse. 'Be but the kind affectionate parent that you +have ever been to me; and though I will never marry out of regard to my +own principles, I will also never contract any other union, out of +respect to your wishes,—but will lead with you a quiet, if not a +<i>happy</i> life; for never, never can I forget Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'There speaks the excellent child I always thought you to be!' replied +Mrs Mowbray; 'and I shall leave it to time and good counsels to +convince you, that the opinions of a girl of eighteen, as they are not +founded on long experience, may possibly be erroneous.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray never made a truer observation; but Adeline was not in a +frame of mind to assent to it.</p> + +<p>'Besides,' continued Mrs Mowbray, 'had I ever been disposed to accept of +Mr Glenmurray as a son-in-law, it is very unlikely that I should be so +now; as the duel took place not only, I find, from the treasonable +opinions which he put forth, but from some disrespectful language which +he held concerning me.'</p> + +<p>'Who could dare to invent so infamous a calumny!' exclaimed Adeline.</p> + +<p>'My authority is unquestionable, Miss Mowbray; I speak from Sir Patrick +himself.'</p> + +<p>'Then he adds falsehood to his other villanies!' returned Adeline, +almost inarticulate with rage:—'but what could be expected from a man +who could dare to insult a young woman under the roof of her mother with +his licentious addresses?'</p> + +<p>'What mean you?' cried Mrs Mowbray, turning pale.</p> + +<p>'I mean that Sir Patrick yesterday morning insulted me by the grossest +familiarities, and—'</p> + +<p>'My dear child,' replied Mrs Mowbray laughing, 'that is only the usual +freedom of his manner; a manner which your ignorance of the world led +you to mistake. He did not mean to insult you, believe me, I am sure +that, spite of his ardent passion for me, he never, even when alone with +me, hazarded any improper liberty.'</p> + +<p>'The ardent passion which he feels for you, madam!' exclaimed Adeline, +turning pale in her turn.</p> + +<p>'Yes, Miss Mowbray! What, I suppose you think me too old to inspire +one!—But, I assure you, there are people who think the mother handsomer +than the daughter!'</p> + +<p>'No doubt, dear mother, every one ought to think so,—and would to +heaven Sir Patrick were one of those! But he, unfortunately—'</p> + +<p>'Is of that opinion,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray angrily: 'and to convince +you—so tenderly does he love me, and so fondly do I return his passion, +that in a few days I shall become his wife.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, on hearing this terrible information, fell insensible on the +ground. When she recovered she saw Mrs Mowbray anxiously watching by +her, but not with that look of alarm and tenderness with which she had +attended her during her long illness; that look which was always present +to her graceful and affectionate remembrance. No; Mrs Mowbray's eye was +cast down with a half-mournful, half-reproachful, and half-fearful +expression, when it met that of Adeline.</p> + +<p>The emotion of anguish which her fainting had evinced was a reproach to +the proud heart of Mrs Mowbray, and Adeline felt that it was so; but +when she recollected that her mother was going to marry a man who had so +lately declared a criminal passion for herself, she was very near +relapsing into insensibility. She however struggled with her feelings, +in order to gain resolution to disclose to Mrs Mowbray all that had +passed between her and Sir Patrick. But as soon as she offered to renew +the conversation, Mrs Mowbray sternly commanded her to be silent; and +insisting on her going to bed, she left her to her own reflections, till +wearied and exhausted she fell into a sound sleep: nor, as it was late +in the evening when she awoke, did she rise again till the next morning.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray entered her room as she was dressing and inquired how she +did, with some kindness.</p> + +<p>'I shall be better, dear mother, if you will but hear what I have to say +concerning Sir Patrick,' replied Adeline, bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>'You can say nothing that will shake my opinion of him, Miss Mowbray,' +replied her mother coldly: 'so I advise you to reconcile yourself to a +circumstance which it is not in your power to prevent.' So saying, she +left the room: and Adeline, convinced that all she could say would be +vain, endeavoured to console herself, by thinking that, as soon as Sir +Patrick became the husband of her mother, his wicked designs on her +would undoubtedly cease; and that, therefore, in one respect, that +ill-assorted union would be beneficial to her.</p> + +<p>Sir Patrick, meanwhile, was no less sanguine in his expectations from +his marriage. Unlike the innocent Adeline, he did not consider his union +with the mother as a necessary check to his attempts on the daughter; +but, emboldened by what to him appeared the libertine sentiments of +Adeline, and relying on the opportunities of being with her, which he +must infallibly enjoy under the same roof in the country, he looked on +her as his certain prey. Though he believed Glenmurray to be at that +moment preferred to himself, he thought it impossible that the superior +beauty of his person should not, in the end, have its due weight: as a +passion founded in esteem, and the admiration of intellectual beauty, +could not, in his opinion, subsist: besides, Adeline appeared in his +eyes not a deceived enthusiast, but a susceptible and forward girl, +endeavouring to hide her frailty under fine sentiments and high-sounding +theories. Nor was Sir Patrick's inference an unnatural one. Every man +of the world would have thought the same; and on very plausible +grounds.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_8" id="ch_8"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h3> + +<p>As Sir Patrick was not 'punctual as lovers to the moment sworn', Mrs +Mowbray resolved to sit down and write immediately to Glenmurray; +flattering herself at the same time, that the letter which was designed +to confound Glenmurray would delight the tender baronet;—for Mrs +Mowbray piqued herself on her talents for letter-writing, and was not a +little pleased with an opportunity of displaying them to a celebrated +author. But never before did she find writing a letter so difficult a +task. Her eager wish of excelling deprived her of the means; and she +who, in a letter to a friend or relation, would have written in a style +at once clear and elegant, after two hours' effort produced the +following specimen of the obscure, the pedantic, and affected.—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="ind1"> </span>'<span class="smallcaps">Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>'The light which cheers and attracts, if we follow its +guidance, often leads us into bogs and quagmires:—Verbum +sapienti. Your <ins title="original has writing">writings</ins> are the lights, and the practice to +which you advise my deluded daughter is the bog and quagmire. I +agree with you in all you have said against marriage;—I agree +with the savage nations in the total uselessness of clothing; +still I condescend to wear clothes, though neither becoming nor +useful, because I respect public opinion; and I submit to the +institution of marriage for reasons equally cogent. Such being +my sentiments, Sir, I must desire you never to see my daughter +more. Nor could you expect to be received with open arms by me, +whom the shafts of your ridicule have pierced, though warded +off by the shield of love and gallantry;—but for this I thank +you! Now shall I possess, owing to your baseness, at once a +declared lover and a tried avenger; and the chains of Hymen +will be rendered more charming by gratitude's having blown the +flame, while love forged the fetters.</p> + +<p>'But with your writings I continue to amuse my +imagination.—Lovely is the flower of the nightshade, though +its berry be poison. Still shall I admire and wonder at you as +<ins title="original has a">an</ins> author, though I avoid and detest you as a man.</p> + +<p class="right">'<span class="smallcaps">Editha Mowbray.</span>'</p> +</blockquote> +<p>This letter was just finished when Sir Patrick arrived, and to him it +was immediately shown.</p> + +<p>'Heh! what have we here?' cried he laughing violently as he perused it. +'Here you talk of being pierced by shafts which were warded off. Now, +had I said that, it would have been called a bull. As to the concluding +paragraph—'</p> + +<p>'O! that, I flatter myself,' said Mrs Mowbray, 'will tear him with +remorse.'</p> + +<p>'He must first understand it,' cried Sir Patrick: 'I can but just +comprehend it, and am sure it will be all botheration to him.'</p> + +<p>'I am sorry to find such is your opinion,' replied Mrs Mowbray; 'for I +think that sentence the best written of any.'</p> + +<p>'I did not say it was not fine writing,' replied the baronet, 'I only +said it was not to be understood.—But, with your leave, you shall send +the letter, and we'll drop the subject.'</p> + +<p>So said, so done, to the great satisfaction of Sir Patrick, who felt +that it was for his interest to suffer the part of Mrs Mowbray's letter +which alluded to Glenmurray's supposed calumnies against her to remain +obscurely worded, as he well knew that what he had asserted on this +subject was wholly void of foundation.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray did not receive it with equal satisfaction. He was indignant +at the charge of having advised Adeline to become his mistress rather +than his wife; and as so much of the concluding passage as he could +understand seemed to imply that he had calumniated her mother, to remain +silent a moment would have been to confess himself guilty: he therefore +answered Mrs Mowbray's letter immediately. The answer was as follows:—</p> +<blockquote> + +<p><span class="ind1"> </span>'<span class="smallcaps">Madam</span>,</p> + +<p>'To clear myself from the charge of having advised Miss Mowbray +to a step contrary to the common customs, however erroneous, of +society at this period, I appeal to the testimony of Miss +Mowbray herself; and I here repeat to you the assurance which I +made to her, that I am willing to marry her when and where she +chooses. I love my system and my opinions, but the +respectability of the woman of my affections <i>more</i>. Allow me, +therefore, to make you a little acquainted with my situation in +life:</p> + +<p>'To you it is well known, madam, that wealth, honours, and +titles have no value in my eyes; and that I reverence talents +and virtues, though they wear the garb of poverty, and are born +in the most obscure stations. But you, or rather those who are +so fortunate as to influence your determinations, may consider +my sentiments on this subject as romantic and absurd. It is +necessary, therefore, that I should tell you, as an excuse in +their eyes for presuming to address your daughter, that, by the +accident of birth, I am descended from an ancient family, and +nearly allied to a noble one; and that my paternal inheritance, +though not large enough for splendour and luxury, is sufficient +for all the purposes of comfort and genteel affluence. I would +say more on this subject, but I am impatient to remove from +your mind the prejudice which you seem to have imbibed against +me. I do not perfectly understand the last paragraph in your +letter. If you will be so kind as to explain it to me, you may +depend on my being perfectly ingenuous: indeed, I have no +difficulty in declaring, that I have neither encouraged a +feeling, nor uttered a word, capable of giving the lie to the +declaration which I am now going to make—That I am,</p> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="ind2"> </span>'With respect and esteem,<br /> +<span class="ind4"> </span>'Your obedient servant,</p> + +<p class="right">'<span class="smallcaps">F. Glenmurray</span>.'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>This letter had an effect on Mrs Mowbray's feelings so much in favour of +Glenmurray, that she was almost determined to let him marry Adeline. She +felt that she owed her some amends for contracting a marriage so +suddenly, and without either her knowledge or approbation; and she +thought that, by marrying her to the man of her heart, she should make +her peace both with Adeline and herself. But, unfortunately, this +design, as soon as it began to be formed, was communicated to Sir +Patrick.</p> + +<p>'So then!' exclaimed he, 'you have forgotten and forgiven the +impertinent things which the puppy said! things which obliged me to wear +this little useless appendage in a sling thus (pointing to his wounded +arm).'</p> + +<p>'O! no, my dear Sir Patrick! But though what Mr Glenmurray said might +alarm the scrupulous tenderness of a lover, perhaps it was a remark +which might only suit the sincerity of a friend. Perhaps, if Mr +Glenmurray had made it to me, I should have heard it with thanks, and +with candour have approved it.'</p> + +<p>'My sweet soul!' replied Sir Patrick, 'you may be as candid and amiable +as ever you please, but, 'by St. Patrick!' never shall Sir Patrick +O'Carrol be father-in-law to the notorious and infamous Glenmurray—that +subverter of all religion and order, and that scourge of civilized +society!'</p> + +<p>So saying, he stalked about the room; and Mrs Mowbray, as she gazed on +his handsome person, thought it would be absurd for her to sacrifice her +own happiness to her daughter's, and give up Sir Patrick as her husband +in order to make Glenmurray her son. She therefore wrote another letter +to Glenmurray, forbidding him any further intercourse with Adeline, on +any pretence whatever; and delayed not a moment to send him her final +decision.</p> + +<p>'That is acting like the sensible woman I took you for,' said Sir +Patrick: 'the fellow has now gotten his quietus, I trust, and the dear +little Adeline is reserved for happier fate. Sweet soul! you do not know +how fond she will be of me! I protest that I shall be so kind to her, it +will be difficult for people to decide which I love best, the daughter +or the mother.'</p> + +<p>'But I hope <i>I</i> shall always know, Sir Patrick,' said Mrs Mowbray +gravely.</p> + +<p>'You!—O yes, to be sure. But I mean that my fatherly attentions shall +be of the warmest kind. But now do me the favour of telling me what hour +tomorrow I may appoint the clergyman to bring the license?'</p> + +<p>The conversation that followed, it were needless and tedious to +describe. Suffice, that eight o'clock the next morning was fixed for the +marriage; and Mrs Mowbray, either from shame or compassion, resolved +that Adeline should not accompany her to church, nor even know of the +ceremony till it was over.</p> + +<p>Nor was this a difficult matter. Adeline remained in her own apartment +all the preceding day, endeavouring, but in vain, to reconcile herself +to what she justly termed the degradation of her mother. She felt, alas! +the most painful of all feelings, next to that of self-abasement, the +consciousness of the abasement of one to whom she had all her life +looked up with love and veneration. To write to Glenmurray while +oppressed by such contending emotions she knew to be impossible; she +therefore contented herself with sending a verbal message, importing +that he should hear from her the next day: and poor Glenmurray passed +the rest of that day and the night in a state little better than her +own.</p> + +<p>The next morning Adeline, who had not closed her eyes till daylight, +woke late, and from a sound but unrefreshing sleep. The first object she +saw was her maid, smartly dressed, sitting by her bed-side; and she also +saw that she had been crying.</p> + +<p>'Is my mother ill, Evans?' she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>'O! no, Miss Adeline, quite well,' replied the girl, sighing.</p> + +<p>'But why are you so much dressed?' demanded Adeline.</p> + +<p>'I have been out,' answered the maid.</p> + +<p>'Not on unpleasant business?'</p> + +<p>'That's as it may be,' she cried, turning away; and Adeline, from +delicacy, forebore to press her further.</p> + +<p>''Tis very late—is it not?' asked Adeline, 'and time for me to rise!'</p> + +<p>'Yes, miss—I believe you had better get up.'</p> + +<p>Adeline immediately rose.—'Give me the dark gown I wore yesterday,' +said she.</p> + +<p>'I think, miss, you had better put on your new white one,' returned the +maid.</p> + +<p>'My new white one!' exclaimed Adeline, astonished at an interference so +new.</p> + +<p>'Yes, miss—I think it will be taken kinder, and look better.'</p> + +<p>At these words Adeline's suspicions were awakened. 'I see, Evans,' she +cried, 'you have something extraordinary to tell me:—I partly guess; +I,—my mother—' Here, unable to proceed, she lay down on the bed which +she had just quitted.</p> + +<p>'Yes, Miss Adeline—'tis very true; but pray compose yourself, I am sure +I have cried enough on your account, that I have.'</p> + +<p>'What is true, my good Evans?' said Adeline faintly.</p> + +<p>'Why, miss, my lady was married this morning to Sir Patrick +O'Carrol!—Mercy on me, how pale you look! I am sure I wish the villain +was at the bottom of the sea, so I do.'</p> + +<p>'Leave me,' said Adeline faintly, struggling for utterance.</p> + +<p>'No—that I will not,' bluntly replied Evans; 'you are not fit to be +left; and they are rejoicing below with Sir Pat's great staring servant. +But, for my part, I had rather stay here and cry with you than laugh +with them.'</p> + +<p>Adeline hid her face in the pillow, incapable of further resistance, and +groaned aloud.</p> + +<p>'Who should ever have thought my lady would have done so!' continued the +maid.—'Only think, miss! they say, and I doubt it is too true, that +there have been no writings, or settlements, I think they call them, +drawn up; and so Sir Pat have got all, and he is over head and ears in +debt, and my lady is to pay him out on't!</p> + +<p>At this account, which Adeline feared was a just one, as she had seen no +preparations for a wedding going on, and had observed no signs of deeds, +or any thing of the kind, she started up in an agony of grief—'Then has +my mother given me up, indeed!' she exclaimed, clasping her hands +together, 'and the once darling child may soon be a friendless outcast!'</p> + +<p>'You want a friend, Miss Adeline!' said the kind girl, bursting into +tears.—'Never, while I live, or any of my fellow-servants.' And +Adeline, whose heart was bursting with a sense of forlornness and +abandonment, felt consoled by the artless sympathy of her attendant; +and, giving way to a violent flood of tears, she threw her arms round +her neck, and sobbed upon her bosom.</p> + +<p>Having thus eased her feelings, she recollected that it was incumbent on +her to exert her fortitude; and that it was a duty which she owed her +mother not to condemn her conduct openly herself, nor suffer any one +else to do it in her presence: still, at that moment, she could not find +in her heart to reprove the observations by which, in spite of her sense +of propriety, she had been soothed and gratified; but she hastened to +dress herself as became a bridal dinner, and dismissed, as soon as she +could, the affectionate Evans from her presence. She then walked up and +down her chamber, in order to summon courage to enter the +drawing-room.—'But how strange, how cruel it was,' said she, 'that my +mother did not come to inform me of this important event herself!'</p> + +<p>In this respect, however, Mrs Mowbray had acted kindly. Reluctant, even +more than she was willing to confess to her own heart, to meet Adeline +alone, she had chosen to conclude that she was still asleep, and had +desired she might not be disturbed; but soon after her return from +church, being assured that she was in a sound slumber, she had stolen to +her bed-side and put a note under her pillow, acquainting her with what +had passed: but this note Adeline in her restlessness had, with her +pillow, pushed on the floor, and there unseen it had remained. But, as +Adeline was pacing to and fro, she luckily observed it; and, by proving +that her mother had not been so very neglectful of her, it tended to +fortify her mind against the succeeding interview. The note began:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'My dearest child! to spare +you, in your present weak state, the emotion which you would +necessarily feel in attending me to the altar, I have resolved +to let the ceremony be performed unknown to you. But, my +beloved Adeline, I trust that your affection for me will make +you rejoice in a step, which you may, perhaps, at present +disapprove, when convinced that it was absolutely necessary to +my happiness, and can, in no way, be the means of diminishing +yours.</p> +<div class="center"> +<p class="noindent">'I remain<br /> +'Your ever affectionate mother.'</p></div> +</blockquote> + +<p>'She loves me still then!' cried Adeline, shedding tears of tenderness, +'and I accused her unjustly.—O my dear mother, if this event should +indeed increase your happiness, never shall I repine at not having been +able to prevent it.' And then, after taking two or three hasty turns +round the room, and bathing her eyes to remove in a degree the traces of +her tears, she ventured into the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>But the sight of her mother seated by Sir Patrick, his arm encircling +her waist, in that very room which had so lately witnessed his +profligate attempts on herself, deprived her of the little resolution +which she had been able to assume, and pale and trembling she sunk +speechless with emotion on the first chair near her.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray, or, as we must at present call her, Lady O'Carrol, was +affected by Adeline's distress, and, hastening to her, received the +almost fainting girl in her arms; while even Sir Patrick, feeling +compassion for the unhappiness which he could more readily understand +than his bride, was eager to hide his confusion by calling for water, +drops, and servants.</p> + +<p>'I want neither medicine nor assistance now,' said Adeline, gently +raising her head from her mother's shoulder: 'the shock is over, and I +shall, I trust, behave in future with proper self-command.'</p> + +<p>'Better late than never,' muttered Lady O'Carrol, on whom the word +<i>shock</i> had not made a pleasant impression; while Sir Patrick, +approaching Adeline, exclaimed, 'If you have not self-command, Miss +Mowbray, it is the only command which you cannot boast; for your power +of commanding others no one can dispute, who has ever had the happiness +of beholding you.'</p> + +<p>So saying, he took her hand; and, as her mother's husband, claimed the +privilege of saluting her,—a privilege which Adeline, though she almost +shrunk with horror from his touch, had <i>self-command</i> enough not to +deny him: immediately after he claimed the same favour from his bride; +and they resumed their position on the sofa.</p> + +<p>But so embarrassing was the situation of all parties that no +conversation took place; and Adeline, unable any longer to endure the +restraint to which she was obliged, rose, to return to her own room, in +order to hide the sorrow which she was on the point of betraying, when +her mother in a tone of reproach exclaimed, 'It grieves me to the soul, +Miss Mowbray, to perceive that you appear to consider as a day of +mourning the day which I consider as the happiest of my life.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! my dearest mother!' replied Adeline, returning and approaching her, +'it is the dread of your deceiving yourself, only, that makes me sad at +a time like this: if this day in its consequences prove a happy one—'</p> + +<p>'And wherefore should you doubt that it will, Miss Mowbray?'</p> + +<p>'Miss Mowbray, do you doubt my honour?' cried Sir Patrick hastily.</p> + +<p>Adeline instantly fixed her fine eyes on his face with a look which he +knew how to interpret, but not how to support: and he cast his to the +ground with painful consciousness.</p> + +<p>She saw her triumph, and it gave her courage to proceed:—'O sir!' she +cried, 'it is in your power to convert all my painful doubts into joyful +certainties; make but my mother happy, and I will love and bless you +ever.—Promise me, sir,' she continued, her enthusiasm and affection +kindling as she spoke, 'promise me to be kind and indulgent to her;—she +has never known contradiction; she has been through life the darling +object of all who surrounded her; the pride of her parents, her husband, +and her child: neglect, injury, and unkindness she would inevitably sink +under: and I conjure you (here she dropped on her knees and extended her +arms in an attitude of entreaty) by all your hopes of happiness +hereafter, to give her reason to continue to name this the happiest day +of her life.'</p> + +<p>Here she ceased, overcome by the violence of her emotions; but continued +her look and attitude of entreaty, full of such sweet earnestness, that +the baronet could hardly conceal the variety of feelings which assailed +him; amongst which, passion for the lovely object before him +predominated. To make a jest of Adeline's seriousness he conceived to be +the best way to conceal what he felt; and while Mrs Mowbray, overcome +with Adeline's expressions of tenderness, was giving way to them by a +flood of tears, and grasping in both hers the clasped hands of Adeline, +he cried, in an ironical tone,—'You are the most extraordinary motherly +young creature that I ever saw in my life, my dear girl! Instead of your +mother giving the nuptial benediction to you, the order of nature is +reversed, and you are giving it to her. Upon my word I begin to think, +seeing you in that posture, that you are my bride begging a blessing of +mamma on our union, and that I ought to be on my knees too.'</p> + +<p>So saying, he knelt beside Adeline at Lady O'Carrol's feet, and in a +tone of mock solemnity besought her to bless both her affectionate +children: and as he did this, he threw his arm round the weeping girl, +and pressed her to his bosom. This speech, and this action, at once +banished all self-command from the indignant Adeline, and in an instant +she sprung from his embrace; and forgetting how much her violence must +surprise, if not alarm and offend, her mother, she rushed out of the +room, and did not stop till she had reached her own chamber.</p> + +<p>When there, she was alarmed lest her conduct should have occasioned both +pain and resentment to Lady O'Carrol; and it was with trembling +reluctance that she obeyed the summons to dinner; but her fears were +groundless. The bride had fallen into one of her reveries during Sir +Patrick's strange speech, from which she awakened only at the last words +of it, viz. 'affectionate children:' and seeing Sir Patrick at her feet, +with a very tender expression on his face, and hearing the words +'affectionate children,' she conceived that he was expressing his hopes +of their being blest with progeny, and that a selfish feeling of fear at +such a prospect had hurried Adeline out of the room. She was therefore +disposed to regard her daughter with pity, but not with resentment, when +she entered the dinner-room, and Adeline's tranquillity in a degree +returned: but when she retired for the night she could not help owning +to herself, that that day, her mother's wedding day, had been the most +painful of her existence—and she literally sobbed herself to sleep.</p> + +<p>The next morning a new trial awaited her; she had to write a final +farewell to Glenmurray. Many letters did she begin, many did she finish, +and many did she tear; but recollecting that the longer she delayed +sending him one, the longer she kept him in a state of agitating +suspense, she resolved to send the last written, even though it appeared +to her not quite so strong a transcript of her feelings as the former +ones. Whether it was so or not, Glenmurray received it with alternate +agony and transport;—with agony because it destroyed every hope of +Adeline's being his,—and with transport, because every line breathed +the purest and yet most ardent attachment, and convinced him that, +however long their separation, the love of Adeline would experience no +change.</p> + +<p>Many days elapsed before Glenmurray could bear any companion but the +letter of Adeline; and during that time she was on the road with the +bride and bridegroom to a beautiful seat in Berkshire, called the +Pavilion, hired by Sir Patrick, the week before his marriage, of one of +his profligate friends. As the road lay through a very fine country, +Adeline would have thought the journey a pleasant one, had not the idea +of Glenmurray ill and dejected continually haunted her. Sir Patrick +appeared to be engrossed by his bride, and she was really wholly wrapt +up in him; and at times the beauties of the scenery around had power to +engage Adeline's attention: but she immediately recollected how much +Glenmurray would have participated in her delight, and the contemplation +of the prospect ended in renewed recollections of him.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_9" id="ch_9"></a>CHAPTER IX</h3> + +<p>At length they arrived at the place of their destination; and Sir +Patrick, warmly embracing his bride, bade her welcome to her new abode; +and immediately approaching Adeline, he bestowed on her an embrace no +less cordial:—or, to say the truth, so ardent seemed the welcome, even +to the innocent Adeline, that she vainly endeavoured to persuade herself +that, as her father-in-law, Sir Patrick's tenderness was excusable.</p> + +<p>Spite of her efforts to be cheerful she was angry and suspicious, and +had an indistinct feeling of remote danger; which though she could not +define even to herself, it was new and painful to her to experience. But +as the elastic mind of eighteen soon rebounds from the pressure of +sorrow, and forgets in present enjoyment the prospect of evil, Adeline +gazed on the elegant apartment she was in with joyful surprise; while, +through folding doors on either side of it, she beheld a suite of rooms, +all furnished with a degree of tasteful simplicity such as she had never +before beheld: and through the windows, which opened on a lawn that +sloped to the banks of a rapid river, she saw an amphitheatre of wooded +hills, which proved that, how great soever had been the efforts of art +to decorate their new habitation, the hand of Nature had done still more +to embellish it; and all fear of Sir Patrick was lost in gratitude for +his having chosen such a retirement.</p> + +<p>With eager curiosity Adeline hurried from room to room; admired in the +western apartments the fine effect of the declining sun shining through +rose-coloured window curtains; gazed with delight on the statues and +pictures that every where met the eye, and reposed with unsuspecting +gaiety on the couches of eider down which were in profusion around. +Every thing in the house spoke it to be the temple of Pleasure: but the +innocent Adeline and her unobservant mother saw nothing but elegant +convenience in an abode in which the disciples of Epicurus might have +delighted; and while Æolian harps in the windows, and perfumes of all +kinds, added to the enchantment of the scene, the bride only beheld in +the choice of the villa a proof of her husband's desire of making her +happy; and Adeline sighed for virtuous love and Glenmurray, as all that +was wanting to complete her fascination.</p> + +<p>Sir Patrick, meanwhile, was not blind to the impressions made on Adeline +by the beauty of the spot which he had chosen, though he was far from +suspecting the companion she had pictured to herself as most fitted to +enjoy and embellish it; and pleased because she was pleased, and +delighted to be regarded by her with such unusual looks of complacency, +he gave himself up to his natural vivacity; and Adeline passed a merry, +if not a happy, evening with the bride and bridegroom.</p> + +<p>But the next morning she arose with the painful conviction as fresh as +ever on her mind, that day would succeed to day; and yet she should not +behold Glenmurray: and that day would succeed to day, and still should +she see O'Carrol, still be exposed to his noisy mirth, to his odious +familiarities, which, though she taught herself to believe they +proceeded merely from the customs of his country, and the nearness of +their relationship, it was to her most painful to endure.</p> + +<p>Her only resource, therefore, from unpleasant thoughts was reading; and +she eagerly opened the cases of books in the library, which were +unlocked. But, on taking down some of the books, she was disappointed to +find none of the kind to which she had been accustomed. Mrs Mowbray's +peculiar taste had led her, as we have before observed, to the perusal +of nothing but political tracts, systems of philosophy, and Scuderi's +and other romances. Scarcely had the works of our best poets found their +way to her library; and novels, plays, and works of a lighter kind she +was never in the habit of reading herself, and consequently had not put +in the hands of her daughter. Adeline had, therefore, read Rousseau's +<i>Contrat Social</i>, but not his <i>Julie</i>; Montesquieu's <i>Esprit des Loix</i>, +but not his <i>Lettres Persanes</i>; and had glowed with republican ardour +over the scenes of Voltaire's <i>Brutus</i>, but had never had her mind +polluted by the pages of his romances.</p> + +<p>Different had been the circumstances, and consequently the practice, of +the owner of Sir Patrick's new abode. Of all Rousseau's works, he had +in his library only the <i>New Heloise</i> and his <i>Confessions</i>; of +Montesquieu, none but the glowing letters above-mentioned; and while +Voltaire's chaste and moral tragedies were excluded, his profligate +tales attracted the eye by the peculiar elegance of their binding, while +dangerous French novels of all descriptions met the view under the downy +pillows of the inviting sofas around, calculated to inflame the fancy +and corrupt the morals.</p> + +<p>But Adeline, unprepared by any reading of the kind to receive and relish +the poison contained in them, turned with disgust from pages so +uncongenial to her feelings; nor did her eye dwell delighted on any of +the stores which the shelves contained.</p> + +<p>Disappointment in her hopes of finding amusement in reading, Adeline had +recourse to walking; and none of the beautiful scenes around remained +long unexplored by her. In her rambles she but too frequently saw scenes +of poverty and distress, which ill contrasted with the beauty of the +house which she inhabited; scenes, which even a small portion of the +money expended there in useless decoration would have entirely +alleviated: and they were scenes, too, which Adeline had been accustomed +to relieve. The extreme of poverty in the cottage did not disgrace, on +the Mowbray estate, the well-furnished mansion-house; but Adeline, as we +have observed before, was allowed to draw on her mother for money +sufficient to prevent industrious labour from knowing the distress of +want.</p> + +<p>'And why should I not draw on her here for money for the same purposes?' +cried Adeline to herself, as she beheld one spectacle of peculiar +hardships.—'Surely my mother is not dependent on her husband? and even +if she were, Sir Patrick has not a hard heart, and will not refuse my +prayer': and therefore, promising the sufferers instant relief, she left +them, saying she should soon reach the Pavilion and be back again; while +the objects of her bounty were silent with surprise at hearing that +their relief was to come from the Pavilion, a place hitherto closed to +the solicitations of poverty, though ever open to the revels and the +votaries of pleasure.</p> + +<p>Adeline found her mother alone; and with a beating heart and a flushed +cheek, she described the scene which she had witnessed, and begged to be +restored to her old office of almoner on such occasions.</p> + +<p>'A sad scene, indeed, my dear Adeline!' replied the bride in evident +embarrassment, 'and I will speak to Sir Patrick about it.'</p> + +<p>'Speak to Sir Patrick, madam! cannot you follow the impulse of humanity +without consulting him?'</p> + +<p>'I can't give the relief you ask without his assistance,' replied her +mother; 'for, except a guinea or so, I have no loose cash about me for +my own uses.—Sir Patrick's benevolence has long ago emptied his purse, +and I gladly surrendered mine to him.'</p> + +<p>'And shall you in future have no money for the purposes of charity but +that you must claim from Sir Patrick?' asked Adeline mournfully.</p> + +<p>'O dear! yes,—I have a very handsome allowance settled on me; but then +at present he wants it himself (Adeline involuntarily clasped her hands +together in an agony, and sighed deeply.) But, however, child,' added +the bride, 'as you seem to make such a point of it, take this guinea to +the cottage you mention, <i>en attendant!</i>'</p> + +<p>Adeline took the guinea: but it was very insufficient to pay for medical +attendance, to discharge the rent due to a clamorous landlord, and to +purchase several things necessary for the relief of the poor sufferers: +therefore she added another guinea to it, and, not liking to relate her +disappointment, sent the money to them, desiring the servant to say that +she would see them the next morning, when she resolved to apply to Sir +Patrick for the relief which her mother could not give; feeling at the +same time the mournful conviction, that she herself, as well as her +mother, would be in future dependent on his bounty.</p> + +<p>Though disposed to give way to mournful reflections on her own account, +Adeline roused herself from the melancholy abstraction into which she +was falling, by reflecting that she had still to plead the cause of the +poor cottagers with Sir Patrick; and hearing he was in the house, she +hastened to prefer her petition.</p> + +<p>Sir Patrick listened to her tone of voice, and gazed on her expressive +countenance with delight; but when she had concluded her narration a +solitary half-guinea was all he bestowed on her, saying, 'I am never +roused to charity by the descriptions of others; I must always see the +distress which I am solicited to relieve.'</p> + +<p>'Then go with me to the cottage,' exclaimed Adeline; but to her great +mortification he only smiled, bowed, and disappeared: and when he +returned to supper, Adeline could scarcely prevail on herself to look at +him without displeasure, and could not endure the unfeeling vivacity of +his manner.</p> + +<p>Mortified and unhappy, she next morning went to the cottage, reluctant +to impart to its expecting inhabitants the ill success she had +experienced. But what was her surprise when they came out joyfully to +meet her, and told her that a gentleman had been there that morning +very early, had discharged their debts, and given them a sum of money +for their future wants!</p> + +<p>'His name, his name?' eagerly inquired Adeline: but that they said he +refused to give; and as he was in a horseman's large coat, and held a +hankerchief to his face, they were sure they should not know him again.</p> + +<p>A pleasing suspicion immediately came across Adeline's mind that this +benevolent unknown might be Glenmurray: and the idea that he was perhaps +unseen hovering round her, gave her one of the most exquisite feelings +which she had ever known. But this agreeable delusion was soon +dissipated by one of the children's giving her a card which the kind +stranger had dropped from his pocket; and this card had on it 'Sir +Patrick O'Carrol.'</p> + +<p>At first it was natural for her to be hurt and disappointed at finding +that her hopes concerning Glenmurray had no foundation in truth; but her +benevolence, and indeed regard for her mother's happiness as well as her +own, led her to rejoice in this unexpected proof of excellence in Sir +Patrick.—He had evidently proved that he loved to do good by stealth, +and had withdrawn himself even from her thanks.</p> + +<p>In a moment, therefore, she banished from her mind every trace of his +unworthiness. She had done him injustice, and she sought refuge from the +remorse which this consciousness inflicted on her, by going into the +opposite extreme. From that hour, indeed, her complaisance to his +opinions, and her attentions to him, were so unremitting and evident, +that Sir Patrick's passion became stronger than ever, and his hopes of a +return to it seemed to be built on a very strong foundation.</p> + +<p>Adeline had given all her former suspicions to the wind; daily instances +of his benevolence came to her knowledge, and threw such a charm over +all he said and did, that even the familiarity in his conduct, look, and +manner towards her, appeared to her now nothing more than the result of +the free manners of his countrymen:—and she sometimes could not help +wishing Sir Patrick to be known to, and intimate with, Glenmurray. But +the moment was now at hand that was to unveil the real character of Sir +Patrick, and determine the destiny of Adeline.</p> + +<p>One day Sir Patrick proposed taking his bride to see a beautiful <i>ferme +ornee</i> at about twelve miles' distance; and if it answered the +expectations which he had formed of it, they were determined to spend +two or three days in the neighbourhood to enjoy the beauty of the +grounds;—in that case he was to return in the evening to the Pavilion, +and drive Adeline over the next morning to partake in their pleasure.</p> + +<p>To this scheme both the ladies gladly consented, as it was impossible +for them to suspect the villainous design which it was intended to aid.</p> + +<p>The truth was, that Sir Patrick, having, as he fondly imagined, gained +Adeline's affections, resolved to defer no longer the profligate attempt +which he had long meditated; and had contrived this excursion in order +to insure his wife's absence from home, and a tête-à-tête with her +daughter.</p> + +<p>At an early hour the curricle was at the door, and Sir Patrick, having +handed his lady in, took leave of Adeline. He told her that he should +probably return early in the evening, pressed her hand more tenderly +than usual, and, springing into the carriage, drove off with a +countenance animated with expected triumph.</p> + +<p>Adeline immediately set out on a long walk to the adjoining villages, +visited the cottages near the Pavilion, and, having dined at an early +hour, determined to pass the rest of the day in reading, provided it was +possible for her to find any book in the house proper for her perusal.</p> + +<p>With this intention she repaired to an apartment called the library, but +what in these times would be denominated a <i>boudoir</i>, and this, even in +Paris, would have been admired for its voluptuous elegance.—On the +table lay several costly volumes, which seemed to have been very lately +perused by Sir Patrick, as some of them were open, some turned down at +particular passages: but as soon as she glanced her eye over their +contents, Adeline indignantly threw them down again; and, while her +cheek glowed with the blush of offended modesty she threw herself on a +sofa, and fell into a long and mournful reverie on the misery which +awaited her mother, in consequence of her having madly dared to unite +herself for life to a young libertine, who could delight in no other +reading but what was offensive to good morals and to delicacy. Nor could +she dwell upon this subject without recurring to her former fears for +herself; and so lost was she in agonizing reflections, that it was some +time before she recollected herself sufficiently to remember that she +was guilty of an indecorum, in staying so long in an apartment which +contained books that she ought not even to be suspected of having had an +opportunity to peruse.</p> + +<p>Having once entertained this consciousness, Adeline hastily arose, and +had just reached the door when Sir Patrick himself appeared at it. She +started back in terror when she beheld him, on observing in his +countenance and manner evident marks not only of determined profligacy, +but of intoxication. Her suspicions were indeed just. Bold as he was in +iniquity, he dared not in a cool and sober moment put his guilty purpose +in execution; and he shrunk with temporary horror from an attempt on the +honour of the daughter of his wife, though he believed that she would be +a willing victim. He had therefore stopped on the road to fortify his +courage with wine; and, luckily for Adeline, he had taken more than he +was aware of; for when, after a vehement declaration of the ardour of +his passion, he dared irreverently to approach her, Adeline, strong in +innocence, aware of his intention, and presuming on his situation, +disengaged herself from his grasp with ease; and pushing him with +violence from her, he fell with such force against the brass edge of one +of the sofas, that, stunned and wounded by the fall, he lay bleeding on +the ground. Adeline involuntarily was hastening to his assistance: but +recollecting how mischievous to her such an exertion of humanity might +be, she contented herself with ringing the bell violently to call the +servants to his aid. Then, in almost frantic haste, she rushed out of +the house, ran across the park, and when she recovered her emotion she +found herself, she scarcely knew how, sitting on a turf seat by the road +side.</p> + +<p>'What will become of me!' she wildly exclaimed: 'my mother's roof is no +longer a protection to me;—I cannot absent myself from it without +alleging a reason for my conduct, which will ruin her peace of mind for +ever. Wretch that I am! whither can I go, and where can I seek for +refuge?'</p> + +<p>At this moment, as she looked around in wild dismay, and raised her +streaming eyes to heaven, she saw a man's face peeping from between the +branches of a tree opposite to her, and observed that he was gazing on +her intently. Alarmed and fluttered, she instantly started from her +seat, and was hastening away, when the man suddenly dropped from his +hiding-place, and, running after her, called her by her name, and +conjured her to stop; while, with an emotion of surprise and delight, +she recognized in him Arthur, the servant of Glenmurray!</p> + +<p>Instantly, scarcely knowing what she did, she pressed the astonished +Arthur's rough hand in hers; and by this action confused and confounded +the poor fellow so much, that the speech which he was going to make +faltered on his tongue.</p> + +<p>'Oh! where is your master?' eagerly inquired Adeline.</p> + +<p>'My master has sent you this, miss,' replied Arthur, holding out a +letter, which Adeline joyfully received; and, spite of her intended +obedience to her mother's will, Glenmurray himself could not have met +with a more favourable reception, for the moment was a most propitious +one to his love: nor, as it happened, was Glenmurray too far off to +profit by it. On his way from Bath he went a few miles out of his road, +in order, as he said, and perhaps as he thought, to pay a visit to an +old servant of his mother's, who was married to a respectable farmer; +but, fortunately, the farm commanded a view of the Pavilion, and +Glenmurray could from his window gaze on the house that contained the +woman of his affections.</p> + +<p>But to return to Adeline, who, while hastily tearing open the letter, +asked Arthur where his master was, and heard with indescribable emotion +that he was in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>'Here! so providentially!' she exclaimed, and proceeded to read the +letter; but her emotion forbade her to read it entirely. She only saw +that it contained banknotes; that Glenmurray was going abroad for his +health; and, in case he should die there, had sent her the money which +he had meant to leave her in his will,—lest she should be, in the +meanwhile, any way dependent on Sir Patrick.</p> + +<p>Numberless conflicting emotions took possession of Adeline's heart while +the new proof of her lover's attentive tenderness met her view: and, as +she contrasted his generous and delicate attachment with the licentious +passion of her mother's libertine husband, a burst of uncontrollable +affection for Glenmurray agitated her bosom; and, rendered superstitious +by her fears, she looked on him as sent by Providence to save her from +the dangers of her home.</p> + +<p>'This is the second time,' cried she, 'that Glenmurray, as my guardian +angel, has appeared at the moment when I was exposed to danger from the +same guilty quarter! Ah! surely there is more than accident in this! and +he is ordained to be my guide and my protector!'</p> + +<p>When once a woman has associated with an amiable man the idea of +protection, he can never again be indifferent to her: and when the +protector happens to be the chosen object of her love, his power becomes +fixed on a basis never to be shaken.</p> + +<p>'It is enough,' said Adeline in a faltering voice, pressing the letter +to her lips, and bursting into tears of grateful tenderness as she +spoke: 'Lead me to your master directly.'</p> + +<p>'Bless my heart! will you see him then, miss?' cried Arthur.</p> + +<p>'See him?' replied Adeline—'see the only friend I now can boast?—But +let us be gone this moment, lest I should be seen and pursued.'</p> + +<p>Instantly, guided by Arthur, Adeline set off full speed for the +farm-house, nor stopped till she found herself in the presence of +Glenmurray!</p> + +<p>'O! I am safe now!' exclaimed Adeline, throwing herself into his arms; +while he was so overcome with surprise and joy that he could not speak +the welcome which his heart gave her: and Adeline, happy to behold him +again, was as silent as her lover. At length Glenmurray exclaimed:—</p> + +<p>'Do we then meet again, Adeline!'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied she; 'and we meet to part no more.'</p> + +<p>'Do not mock me,' cried Glenmurray starting from his seat, and seizing +her extended hand; 'my feelings must not be trifled with.'</p> + +<p>'Nor am I a woman to trifle with them. Glenmurray, I come to you for +safety and protection;—I come to seek shelter in your arms from misery +and dishonour. You are ill, you are going into a foreign country: and +from this moment look on me as your nurse, your companion;—your home +shall be my home, your country my country!'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray, too much agitated, too happy to speak, could only press the +agitated girl to his bosom, and fold his arms round her, as if to assure +her of the protection which she claimed.</p> + +<p>'But there is not a moment to be lost,' cried Adeline: 'I may be missed +and pursued: let us be gone directly.'</p> + +<p>The first word was enough for Glenmurray: eager to secure the recovered +treasure which he had thought for ever lost, his orders were given, and +executed by the faithful Arthur with the utmost dispatch; and even +before Adeline had explained to him the cause of her resolution to elope +with him they were on their road to Cornwall, meaning to embark at +Falmouth for Lisbon.</p> + +<p>But Arthur, who was going to marry, and leave Glenmurray's service, +received orders to stay at the farm till he had learned how Sir Patrick +was: and having obtained the necessary information, he was to send it to +Glenmurray at Falmouth. The next morning he saw Sir Patrick himself +driving full speed past the farm; and having written immediately to his +master, Adeline had the satisfaction of knowing that she had not +purchased her own safety by the sufferings or danger of her persecutor, +and the consequent misery of her mother.</p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_10" id="ch_10"></a>CHAPTER X</h3> + +<p>But Glenmurray's heart needed no explanation of the cause of Adeline's +elopement. She was with him—with him, as she said, for ever. True, she +had talked of flying from misery and dishonour; but he knew they could +not reach her in his arms,—not even dishonour according to the ideas of +society,—for he meant to make Adeline legally his as soon as they were +safe from pursuit, and his illness was forgotten in the fond transport +of the present moment.</p> + +<p>Adeline's joy was of a much shorter duration. Recollections of a most +painful nature were continually recurring. True it was that it was no +longer possible for her to reside under the roof of her mother: but was +it necessary for her to elope with Glenmurray? the man whom she had +solemnly promised her mother to renounce! Then, on the other side, she +argued that the appearance of love for Glenmurray was an excuse +sufficient to conceal from her deluded parent the real cause of her +elopement.</p> + +<p>'It was my sole alternative,' said she mentally:—'my mother must either +suppose me an unworthy child, or know Sir Patrick to be an unworthy +husband; and it will be easier for her to support the knowledge of the +one than the other: then, when she forgives me, as no doubt she will in +time, I shall be happy: but that I could never be, while convinced that +I had made her miserable by revealing to her the wickedness of Sir +Patrick.'</p> + +<p>While this was passing in her mind, her countenance was full of such +anxious and mournful expression, that Glenmurray, unable to keep silence +any longer, conjured her to tell him what so evidently weighed upon her +spirits.</p> + +<p>'The difficulty that oppressed me is past,' she replied, wiping from her +eyes the tears which the thought of having left her mother so +unexpectedly, and for the first time, produced. 'I have convinced +myself, that to leave home and commit myself to your protection was the +most proper and virtuous step that I could take: I have not obeyed the +dictates of love, but of reason.'</p> + +<p>'I am very sorry to hear it,' said Glenmurray mournfully.</p> + +<p>'It seems to me so very rational to love you,' returned Adeline +tenderly, shocked at the sad expression of his countenance, 'that what +seems to be the dictates of reason may be those of love only.'</p> + +<p>To a reply like this, Glenmurray could only answer by close involvement +not intelligible expressions of fondness to the object of them, which +are so delightful to lovers themselves, and so uninteresting to other +people: nay, so entirely was Glenmurray again engrossed by the sense of +present happiness, that his curiosity was still suspended, and Adeline's +story remained untold. But Adeline's pleasure was damped by painful +recollections, and still more by her not being able to hide from herself +the mournful consciousness that the ravages of sickness were but too +visible in Glenmurray's face and figure, and that the flush of +unexpected delight could but ill conceal the hollow paleness of his +cheek, and the sunk appearance of his eyes.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the chaise rolled on,—post succeeded to post; and though +night was far advanced, Adeline, fearful of being pursued, would not +consent to stop, and they travelled till morning. But Glenmurray, +feeling himself exhausted, prevailed on her, for his sake, to alight at +a small inn on the road side near Marlborough.</p> + +<p>There Adeline narrated the occurrences of the past day; but with +difficulty could she prevail on herself to own to Glenmurray that she +had been the object of such an outrage as she had experienced from Sir +Patrick.</p> + +<p>A truly delicate woman feels degraded, not flattered, by being the +object of libertine attempts; and, situated as Adeline and Glenmurray +now were, to disclose the insult which had been offered to her was a +still more difficult task: but to conceal it was impossible. She felt +that, even to him, some justification of her precipitate and unsolicited +flight was necessary; and nothing but Sir Patrick's attempt could +justify it. She, therefore, blushing and hesitating, revealed the +disgraceful secret; but such was its effect on the weak spirits and +delicate health of Glenmurray, that the violent emotions which he +underwent brought on a return of his most alarming symptoms; and in a +few hours Adeline, bending over the sick bed of her lover, experienced +for the first time that most dreadful of feelings, fear for the life of +the object of her affections.</p> + +<p>Two days, however, restored him to comparative safety, and they reached +a small and obscure village within a short distance from Falmouth, most +conveniently situated. There they took up their abode, and resolved to +remain till the wind should change, and enable them to sail for Lisbon.</p> + +<p>In this retreat, situated in air as salubrious as that of the south of +France, Glenmurray was soon restored to health, especially as happy love +was now his, and brought back the health of which hopeless love had +contributed to deprive him. The woman whom he loved was his companion +and his nurse; and so dear had the quiet scene of their happiness become +to them, that, forgetful there was still a danger of their being +discovered, it was with considerable regret that they received a summons +to embark, and saw themselves on their voyage to Portugal.</p> + +<p>But before she left England Adeline wrote to her mother.</p> + +<p>After a pleasant and short voyage the lovers found themselves at Lisbon; +and Glenmurray, pursuant to his resolution, immediately proposed to +Adeline, to unite himself to her by the indissoluble ties of marriage.</p> + +<p>Nothing could exceed Adeline's surprise at this proposal: at first she +could not believe Glenmurray was in earnest; but seeing that he looked +not only grave but anxious, and as if earnestly expecting an answer, she +asked him whether he had convinced himself that what he had written +against marriage was a tissue of mischievous absurdity.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray, blushing, with the conceit of an author replied 'that he +still thought his arguments unanswerable.'</p> + +<p>'Then, if you still are convinced your theory is good, why let your +practice be bad? It is incumbent on you to act up to the principles that +you profess, in order to give them their proper weight in society—else +you give the lie to your own declarations.'</p> + +<p>'But it is better for me to do that, than for you to be the sacrifice to +my reputation.'</p> + +<p>'I,' replied Adeline, 'am entirely out of the question: you are to be +governed by no other law but your desire to promote general utility, and +are not to think at all of the interest of an individual.'</p> + +<p>'How can I do so, when that individual is dearer to me than all the +world beside?' cried Glenmurray passionately.</p> + +<p>'And if you but once recollect that you are dearer to me than all the +world beside, you will cease to suppose that my happiness can be +affected by the opinion entertained of my conduct by others.' As Adeline +said this, she twisted both her hands in his arms so affectionately, and +looked up in his face with so satisfied and tender an expression, that +Glenmurray could not bear to go on with a subject which evidently drew a +cloud across her brow; and hours, days, weeks, and months passed rapidly +over their heads before he had resolution to renew it.</p> + +<p>Hours, days, weeks, and months spent in a manner most dear to the heart +and most salutary to the mind of Adeline!—Her taste for books, which +had hitherto been cultivated in a partial manner, and had led her to one +range of study only, was now directed by Glenmurray to the perusal of +general literature; and the historian, the biographer, the poet, and the +novelist, obtained alternately her attention and her praises.</p> + +<p>In her knowledge of the French and Italian languages, too, she was now +considerably improved by the instructions of her lover; and while his +occasional illnesses were alleviated by her ever watchful attentions, +their attachment was cemented by one of the strongest of all ties—the +consciousness of mutual benefit and assistance.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_11" id="ch_11"></a>CHAPTER XI</h3> + +<p>One evening, as they were sitting on a bench in one of the public walks, +a gentleman approached them, whose appearance bespoke him to be an +Englishman, though his sun-burnt complexion showed that he had been for +years exposed to a more ardent climate than that of Britain.</p> + +<p>As he came nearer, Glenmurray thought his features were familiar to him; +and the stranger, starting with joyful surprise, seized his hand, and +welcomed him as an old friend. Glenmurray returned his salutation with +great cordiality, and recognized in the stranger, a Mr Maynard, an +amiable man, who had gone to seek his fortune in India, and was returned +a nabob, but with an irreproachable character.</p> + +<p>'So, then,' cried Mr Maynard gaily, 'this is the elegant young English +couple that my servant, and even the inn-keeper himself, was so loud in +praise of! Little did I think the happy man was my old friend,—though +no man is more deserving of being happy: but I beg you will introduce me +to your lady.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray, though conscious of the mistake he was under, had not +resolution enough to avow that he was not married; and Adeline, unaware +of the difficulty of Glenmurray's situation, received Mr Maynard's +salutation with the utmost ease, though the tremor of her lover's voice, +and the blush on his cheek, as he said—'Adeline, give me leave to +introduce to you Mr Maynard, an old friend of mine,'—were sufficient +indications that the rencontre disturbed him.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Adeline and Mr Maynard were no longer strangers. Mr +Maynard, who had not lived much in the society of well-informed women, +and not at all in that of women accustomed to original thinking, was at +once astonished and delighted at the variety of Adeline's remarks, at +the playfulness of her imagination, and the eloquence of her +expressions. But it was very evident, at length, to Mr Maynard, that in +proportion as Adeline and he became more acquainted and more satisfied +with each other, Glenmurray grew more silent and more uneasy. The +consequence was unavoidable: as most men would have done on a like +occasion, Mr Maynard thought Glenmurray was jealous of him.</p> + +<p>But no thought so vexatious to himself, and so degrading to Adeline, had +entered the confiding and discriminating mind of Glenmurray. The truth +was, he knew that Mr Maynard, whom he had seen in the walks, though he +had not known him again, had ladies of his party; and he expected that +the more Mr Maynard admired his supposed wife, the more would he be +eager to introduce her to his companions.</p> + +<p>Nor was Glenmurray wrong in his conjectures.</p> + +<p>'I have two sisters with me, madam,' said Mr Maynard, 'whom I shall be +happy and proud to introduce to you. One of them is a widow, and has +lived several years in India, but returned with me in delicate health, +and was ordered hither: she is not a woman of great reading, but has an +excellent understanding, and will admire you. The other is several years +younger; and I am sure she would be happy in an opportunity of profiting +by the conversation of a lady, who, though not older than herself, seems +to have had so many more opportunities of improvement.'</p> + +<p>Adeline bowed, and expressed her impatience to form this new +acquaintance; and looked triumphantly at Glenmurray, meaning to +express—'See, spite of the supposed prejudices of the world, here is a +man who wants to introduce me to his sisters.' Little did she know that +Maynard concluded she was a wife: his absence from England had made him +ignorant of the nature of Glenmurray's works, or even that he was an +author; so that he was not at all likely to suppose that the moral, +pious youth, whom he had always respected, was become a visionary +philosopher, and, in defiance of the laws of society, was living openly +with a mistress.</p> + +<p>'But my sister will wonder what is become of me;' suddenly cried +Maynard; 'and as Emily is so unwell as to keep her room to-day, I must +not make her anxious. But for her illness, I should have requested your +company to supper.'</p> + +<p>'And I should have liked to accept the invitation,' replied Adeline; +'but I will hope to see the ladies soon.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! without fail, to-morrow,' cried Maynard: 'if Emily be not well +enough to call on you, perhaps you will come to her apartments.'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly: expect me at twelve o'clock.'</p> + +<p>Maynard then shook his grave and silent friend by the hand and, +departed,—his vanity not a little flattered by the supposed jealousy of +Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'There now,' said Adeline, when he was out of hearing. 'I hope some of +your tender fears are done away. You see there are liberal and +unprejudiced persons in the world; and Mr Maynard, instead of shunning +me, courts my acquaintance for his sisters.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray shook his head, and remained silent; and Adeline was +distressed to feel by his burning hand that he was seriously uneasy.</p> + +<p>'I shall certainly call on these ladies to-morrow,' continued +Adeline:—'I really pine for the society of amiable women.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray sighed deeply: he dreaded to tell her that he could <ins title="original has now">not</ins> allow +her to call on them, and yet he knew that this painful task awaited him. +Besides, she wished, she said, to know some amiable women; and, eager as +he was to indulge all her wishes, he felt but too certainly that in this +wish she could never be indulged. Even had he been capable of doing so +dishonourable an action as introducing his mistress as his wife, he was +sure that Adeline would have spurned at the deception; and silent and +sad he grasped Adeline's hand as her arm rested within his, and +complaining of indisposition, slowly returned to the inn.</p> + +<p>The next morning at breakfast, Adeline again expressed her eagerness to +form an acquaintance with the sisters of Mr Maynard; when Glenmurray, +starting from his seat, paced the room in considerable agitation.</p> + +<p>'What is the matter!' cried Adeline, hastily rising and laying her hand +on his arm.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray grasped her hand, and replied with assumed firmness: +'Adeline, it is impossible for you to form an acquaintance with Mr +Maynard's sisters: propriety and honour both forbid me to allow it.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' exclaimed Adeline, 'are they not as amiable, then, as he +described them? are they improper acquaintances for me? Well then—I am +disappointed: but you are the best judge of what is right, and I am +contented to obey you.'</p> + +<p>The simple, ingenuous and acquiescent sweetness with which she said +this, was a new pang to her lover:—had she repined, had she looked +ill-humoured, his task would not have been so difficult.</p> + +<p>'But what reason can you give for declining this acquaintance?' resumed +Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Aye! there's the difficulty,' replied Glenmurray: 'pure-minded and +amiable as I know you to be, how can I bear to tell these children of +prejudice that you are not my wife, but my mistress?'</p> + +<p>Adeline started; and, turning pale, exclaimed, 'Are you sure, then, that +they do not know it already?'</p> + +<p>'Quite sure—else Maynard would not have thought you a fit companion for +his sisters.'</p> + +<p>'But surely—he must know your principles;—he must have read your +works?'</p> + +<p>'I am certain he is ignorant of both, and does not even know that I am +an author.'</p> + +<p>'Is it possible?' cried Adeline: 'is there any one so unfortunate to be +unacquainted with your writings?'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray at another time would have been elated at a compliment like +this from the woman whom he idolized; but at this moment he heard it +with a feeling of pain which he would not have liked to define to +himself, and casting his eyes to the ground he said nothing.</p> + +<p>'So then,' said Adeline mournfully, 'I am an improper companion for +them, not they for me!' and spite of herself her eyes filled with +tears.—At this moment a waiter brought in a note for Glenmurray;—it +was from Maynard, and as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="ind1"> </span><span class="smallcaps">My Dear Friend</span>,</p> + +<p>Emily is better to-day; and both my sisters are so impatient to +see, and know, your charming wife, that they beg me to present +their compliments to Mrs Glenmurray and you; and request the +honour of your company to a late breakfast:—at eleven o'clock +we hope to see you.</p> + +<p class="center">Ever yours,</p> +<p class="right">G. M.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>'We will send an answer,' said Glenmurray: but the waiter had been gone +some minutes before either Adeline or Glenmurray spoke. At length +Adeline, struggling with her feelings, observed, 'Mr Maynard seems so +amiable a man, that I should think it would not be difficult to convince +him of his errors: surely, therefore, it is your duty to call on him, +state our real situation, and our reasons for it, and endeavour to +convince him that our attachment is sanctioned both by reason and +virtue.'</p> + +<p>'But not by the church,' replied Glenmurray, 'and Maynard is of the old +school: besides, a man of forty-eight is not likely to be convinced by +the arguments of a young man of twenty-eight, and the example of a girl +of nineteen.'</p> + +<p>'If age be necessary to give weight to arguments,' returned Adeline, 'I +wonder that you thought proper to publish four years ago.'</p> + +<p>'Would to God I never had published!' exclaimed Glenmurray, almost +pettishly.</p> + +<p>'If you had not, I probably should never have been yours,' replied +Adeline, fondly leaning her head on his shoulder, and then looking up in +his face. Glenmurray clasped her to his bosom; but again the pleasure +was mixed with pain. 'All this time,' rejoined Adeline, 'your friends +are expecting an answer: you had better carry it in person.'</p> + +<p>'I cannot,' replied Glenmurray, 'and there is only one way of getting +out of this business to my satisfaction.'</p> + +<p>'Name it; and rest assured that I shall approve it.'</p> + +<p>'Then I wish to order horses immediately, and set off on our road to +France.'</p> + +<p>'So soon,—though the air agrees with you so well?'</p> + +<p>'O yes;—for when the mind is uneasy no air can be of use to the body.'</p> + +<p>'But why is your mind uneasy?'</p> + +<p>'Here I should be exposed to see Maynard, and—and—he would see you +too.'</p> + +<p>'And what then?'</p> + +<p>'What then?—Why, I could not bear to see him look on you with an eye of +disrespect.'</p> + +<p>'And wherefore should he?'</p> + +<p>'O Adeline, the name of wife imposes restraint even on a libertine; but +that of mistress—'</p> + +<p>'Is Mr Maynard a libertine?' said Adeline gravely: and Glenmurray, +afraid of wounding her feelings by entering into a further explanation, +changed the subject, and again requested her consent to leave Lisbon.</p> + +<p>'I have often told you,' said Adeline sighing, 'that my will is yours; +and if you will give strict orders to have letters sent after us to the +towns that we shall stop at, I am ready to set off immediately.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray then gave his orders; wrote a letter explaining his situation +to Maynard, and in an hour they were on their journey to France.</p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_12" id="ch_12"></a>CHAPTER XII</h3> + +<p>In the meanwhile Mr Maynard, Miss Maynard, and Mrs Wallington his +widowed sister, were impatiently expecting Glenmurray's answer, and +earnestly hoping to see him and his lovely companion,—but from +different motives. Maynard was impatient to see Adeline because he +really admired her; his sisters, because they hoped to find her unworthy +of such violent admiration.</p> + +<p>Their vanity had been piqued, and their envy excited, by the extravagant +praises of their brother; and they had interrupted him by the first +questions which all women ask on such occasions,—'Is she pretty?'</p> + +<p>And he answered, 'Very pretty.'</p> + +<p>'Is she tall?'</p> + +<p>'Very tall, taller than I am.'</p> + +<p>'I hate tall women,' replied Miss Maynard (a little round girl of +nineteen).</p> + +<p>'Is she fair?'</p> + +<p>'Exquisitely fair.'</p> + +<p>'I like brown women,' cried the widow: 'fair people always look silly.'</p> + +<p>'But Mrs Glenmurray's eyes are hazel, and her eyelashes long and dark.'</p> + +<p>'Hazel eyes are always bold-looking,' cried Miss Maynard.</p> + +<p>'Not Mrs Glenmurray's; for her expression is the most pure and ingenuous +that I ever saw. Some girls, indecent in their dress, and very +licentious in their manner, passed us as we sat on the walk; and the +comments which I made on them provoked from Mrs Glenmurray some remarks +on the behaviour and dress of women; and, as she commented on the +disgusting expression of vice in women, and the charm of modest dignity +both in dress and manners, her own dress, manners, and expression, were +such an admirable comment on her words, and she shone so brightly, if I +may use the expression, in the graceful awfulness of virtue, that I +gazed with delight, and somewhat of apprehension lest this fair +perfection should suddenly take flight to her native skies, toward which +her fine eyes were occasionally turned.'</p> + +<p>'Bless me! if our brother is not quite poetical! This prodigy has +inspired him,' replied the widow with a sneer.</p> + +<p>'For my part, I hate prodigies,' said Miss Maynard: 'I feel myself +unworthy to associate with them.'</p> + +<p>When one woman calls another a prodigy, and expresses herself as +unworthy to associate with her, it is very certain that she means to +insult rather than compliment her; and in this sense Mr Maynard +understood his sister's words: therefore after having listened with +tolerable patience to a few more sneers at the unconscious Adeline, he +was provoked to say that, ill-disposed as he found they were toward his +new acquaintance, he hoped that when they became acquainted with her +they would still give him reason to say, as he always had done, that he +was proud of his sisters; for, in his opinion, no woman ever looked so +lovely as when she was doing justice to the merits and extenuating the +faults of a rival.</p> + +<p>'A rival!' exclaimed the sisters at once:—'And, pray, what rivalship +could there be in this case?'</p> + +<p>'My remark was a general one: but since you choose to make it a +particular one, I will answer to it as such,' continued Mr Maynard. 'All +women are rivals in one sense—rivals for general esteem and admiration; +and she only shall have my suffrage in her favour, who can point out a +beauty or a merit in another woman without insinuating at the same time +a counterbalancing effect.'</p> + +<p>'But Mrs Glenmurray, it seems, has no defects!'</p> + +<p>'At least I have not known her long enough to find them out; but you, no +doubt, will, when you know her, very readily spare me that trouble.'</p> + +<p>How injudiciously had Maynard prepared the minds of his sisters to +admire Adeline. It was a preparation to make them hate her; and they +were very impatient to begin the task of depreciating both her <i>morale</i> +and her <i>physique</i>, when Glenmurray's note arrived.</p> + +<p>'It is not Glenmurray's hand,' said Maynard—(indeed, from agitation of +mind the writing was not recognizable). 'It must be hers then,' +continued he, affecting to kiss the address with rapture.</p> + +<p>'It is the hand of a sloven,' observed Mrs Wallington, studying the +writing.</p> + +<p>'But in dress she is as neat as a Quaker,' retorted the brother, eagerly +snatching the letter back, 'and her mind seems as pure as her dress.'</p> + +<p>He then broke the seal, and read out what follows:—<br /> + </p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="ind1"> </span>'<span class="smallcaps">Dear Maynard</span>,</p> + +<p>'When you receive this, Adeline and I shall be on our road to +France, and you,—start not!—are the occasion of our abrupt +departure.'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>'So, so, jealous indeed,' said Maynard to himself, and more impressed +than ever with the charms of Adeline; for he concluded that Glenmurray +had discovered in her an answering prepossession.</p> + +<p>'You the occasion, brother!' cried both sisters.</p> + +<p>'Have patience.'</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'You saw Adeline; you admired her; and wished to introduce her +to your sisters—this, honour forbad me to allow'—(the sisters +started from their seats) 'for Adeline is not my wife, but my +companion.'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Here Maynard made a full pause—at once surprised and confounded. His +sisters, pleased as well as astonished, looked triumphantly at each +other; and Mrs Wallington exclaimed. 'So, then, this angel of purity +turns out to be a kept lady!' At this remark Miss Maynard laughed +heartily, but Maynard, to hide his confusion, commanded silence, and +went on with the letter:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>'But spite of her situation, strange as it may seem to you, +believe me, no wife was ever more pure than Adeline.'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>At this passage the sisters could no longer contain themselves, and they +gave way to loud bursts of laughter, which Maynard could hardly help +joining in; but being angry at the same time he uttered nothing but an +oath, which I shall not repeat, and retreated to his chamber to finish +the letter alone.</p> + +<p>During his absence the laughters redoubled;—but in the <ins title="original has mildst">midst</ins> of it +Maynard re-entered, and desired they would allow him to read the letter +to the end. The sisters immediately begged that he would proceed, as it +was so amusing that they wished to hear more.—Glenmurray continued +thus:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'You have no doubt yet to learn that some few years ago I +commenced author, and published opinions contrary to the +established usage of society: amongst other things I proved the +absurdity of the institution of marriage; and Adeline, who at +an early age read my works, became one of my converts.'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>'The man is certainly mad,' cried Maynard, 'and how dreadful it is that +this angelic creature should have been his victim.'</p> + +<p>'But perhaps this <i>fallen</i> angel, brother, for such you will allow she +is, spite of her <i>purity</i>, was as wicked as he. I know people in general +only blame the seducer, but I always blame the seduced equally.'</p> + +<p>'I do not doubt it,' said her brother sneeringly, and going on with the +letter.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'No wonder then, that, being forced to fly from her maternal +roof, she took refuge in my arms.'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>'Lucky dog!'</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'But though Adeline was the victim neither of her own weakness +nor of my seductions, but was merely urged by circumstances to +act up to the principles which she openly professed, I felt so +conscious that she would be degraded in your eyes after you +were acquainted with her situation, though in mine she appears +as spotless as ever, that I could not bear to expose her even +to a glance from you less respectful than those with which you +beheld her last night. I therefore prevailed on her to leave +Lisbon; nor had I any difficulty in so doing, when she found +that your wish of introducing her to your sisters was founded +on your supposition of her being my wife, and that all chance +of your desiring her acquaintance for them would be over, when +you knew the nature of her connexion with me. I shall now bid +you farewell. I write in haste and agitation, and have not time +to say more than God bless you!</p> + +<p class="right">'F. G.'</p> +</blockquote> +<p>'Yes, yes, I see how it is,' muttered Mr Maynard to himself when he had +finished the letter, 'he was jealous of me. I wish (raising his voice) +that he had not been in such a hurry to go away.'</p> + +<p>'Why, brother,' replied Mrs Wallington, 'to be sure you would not have +introduced us to this piece of angelic purity a little the worse for +the wear!'</p> + +<p>'No,' replied he; 'but I might have enjoyed her company myself.'</p> + +<p>'And perhaps, brother, you might have rivalled the philosophic author in +time,' observed Miss Maynard.</p> + +<p>'If I had not, it would have been from no want of good will on my part,' +returned Maynard.</p> + +<p>'Well, then I rejoice that the creature is gone,' replied Mrs +Wallington, drawing up.</p> + +<p>'And I too,' said Miss Maynard disdainfully: 'but I think we had better +drop this subject; I have had quite enough of it.'</p> + +<p>'And so have I,' cried Mrs Wallington: 'but I must observe, before we +drop it entirely, that when next my brother comes home and wearies his +sisters by exaggerated praises of another woman, I hope he will take +care that his goddess, or rather his angel of purity, does not turn out +to be a kept mistress.'</p> + +<p>So saying she left the room, and Miss Maynard, tittering, followed her; +while Maynard, too sore on this subject to bear to be laughed at, took +his hat in a pet, and, flinging the door after him with great violence, +walked out to muse on the erring but interesting companion of +Glenmurray.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_13" id="ch_13"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h3> + +<p>While these conversations were passing at Lisbon, Glenmurray and Adeline +were pursuing their journey to France; and insensibly did the charm of +being together obliterate from the minds of each the rencontre which had +so much disturbed them.</p> + +<p>But Adeline began to be uneasy on a subject of much greater importance; +she every day expected an answer from her mother, but no answer arrived; +and they had been stationary at Perpignan some days, to which place they +had desired their letters to be addressed, <i>poste restante</i>, and still +none were forwarded thither from Lisbon.</p> + +<p>The idea that her mother had utterly renounced her now took possession +of her imagination, and love had no charm to offer her capable of +affording her consolation: the care which she had taken of her infancy, +the affectionate attentions that had preserved her life, and the +uninterrupted kindness which she had shown towards her till her +attachment to Sir Patrick took place,—all these pressed powerfully and +painfully on her memory, till her elopement seemed wholly unjustifiable +in her eyes, and she reprobated her conduct in terms of the most bitter +self-reproach.</p> + +<p>At these moments even Glenmurray seemed to become the object of her +aversion. Her mother had forbidden her to think of him; yet, to make her +flight more agonizing to her injured parent, she had eloped with <i>him</i>. +But as soon as ever she beheld him he regained his wonted influence over +her heart, and her self-reproaches became less poignant: she became +sensible that Sir Patrick's guilt and her mother's imprudent marriage +were the causes of her own fault, and not Glenmurray; and could she but +receive a letter of pardon from England, she felt that her conscience +would again be at peace.</p> + +<p>But soon an idea of a still more harassing nature succeeded and +overwhelmed her. Perhaps her desertion had injured her mother's health; +perhaps she was too ill to write; perhaps she was dead:—and when this +horrible supposition took possession of her mind she used to avoid even +the presence of her lover; and as her spirits commonly sunk towards +evening, when the still renewed expectations of the day had been +deceived, she used to hasten to a neighbouring church when the bell +called to vespers, and, prostrate on the steps of the altar, lift up her +soul to heaven in the silent breathings of penitence and prayer. Having +thus relieved her heart she returned to Glenmurray, pensive but +resigned.</p> + +<p>One evening after she had unburthened her feelings in this manner, +Glenmurray prevailed on her to walk with him to a public promenade; and +being tired they sat down on a bench in a shady part of the mall. They +had not sat long before a gentleman and two ladies seated themselves +beside them.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray instantly rose up to depart; but the gentleman also rose and +exclaimed, ''Tis he indeed! Glenmurray, have you forgotten your old +friend Willie Douglas?'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray, pleased to see a friend whom he had once so highly valued, +returned the salutation with marked cordiality; while the ladies with +great kindness accosted Adeline, and begged she would allow them the +honour of her acquaintance.</p> + +<p>Taught by the rencontre at Lisbon, Adeline for a moment felt +embarrassed; but there was something so truly benevolent in the +countenance of both ladies, and she was so struck by the extreme beauty +of the younger one, that she had not resolution to avoid, or even to +receive their advances coldly; and while the gentlemen were commenting +on each other's looks, and in an instant going over the occurrences of +past years, the ladies, pleased with each other, had entered into +conversation.</p> + +<p>'But I expected to see you and your lady,' said Major Douglas; 'for +Maynard was writing to me from Lisbon when he laid by his pen and took +the walk in which he met you; and on his return he filled up the rest of +his letter with the praises of Mrs Glenmurray, and expressions of envy +at your happiness.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray and Adeline both blushed deeply. 'So!' said Adeline to +herself, 'here will be another letter to write when we get home;' for, +though ingenuousness was one of her most striking qualities, she had not +resolution enough to tell her new acquaintance that she was not married: +besides, she flattered herself, that, could she once interest these +charming women in her favour, they would not refuse her their society +even when they knew her real situation; for she thought them too amiable +to be prejudiced, as she called it, and was not yet aware how much the +perfection of the female character depends on respect even to what may +be called the prejudices of others.</p> + +<p>The day began to close in; but Major Douglas, though Glenmurray was too +uneasy to answer him except by monosyllables, would not hear of going +home, and continued to talk with cheerfulness and interest of the scenes +of his and Glenmurray's early youth. He too was ignorant of his friend's +notoriety as an author: he had lived chiefly at his estates in the +Highlands; nor would he have left them, but because he was advised to +travel for his health: and the lovely creature whom he had married, as +well as his only sister, was anxious on his account to put the advice in +execution. He therefore made no allusions to Glenmurray's opinions that +could give him an opportunity of explaining his real situation; and he +saw with confusion, that every moment increased the intimacy of Adeline +and the wife and sister of his friend.</p> + +<p>At length his feelings operated so powerfully on his weak frame, that a +sudden faintness seized him, and supported by Adeline and the major, and +followed by his two kind companions, he returned to the inn: there, to +get rid of the Douglases and avoid the inquiries of Adeline, who +suspected the cause of his illness, he immediately retired to bed.</p> + +<p>His friends also returned home, lamenting the apparently declining +health of Glenmurray, and expatiating with delight on the winning graces +of his supposed wife; for these ladies were of a different class of +women to the sisters of Maynard.—Mrs Douglas was so confessedly a +beauty, so rich in acknowledged attractions, that she could afford to do +justice to the attractions of another: and Miss Douglas was so decidedly +devoid of all pretensions to the lovely in person, that the idea of +competition with the beautiful never entered her mind, and she was +always eager to admire what she knew that she was incapable of +rivalling. Unexposed, therefore, to feel those petty jealousies, those +paltry competitions which injure the character of women in general, Emma +Douglas's mind was the seat of benevolence and candour,—as was her +beautiful sister's from a different cause; and they were both warmer +even than the major in praise of Adeline.</p> + +<p>But a second letter from Mr Maynard awaited Major Douglas at the inn, +which put a fatal stop to their self-congratulations at having met +Glenmurray and his companion.</p> + +<p>Mr Maynard, full of Glenmurray's letter, and still more deeply impressed +than ever with the image of Adeline, could not forbear writing to the +major on the subject; giving as a reason, that he wished to let him know +the true state of affairs, in order that he might avoid Glenmurray.—The +letter came too late.</p> + +<p>'And I have seen him, have welcomed him as a friend, and he has had the +impudence to introduce his harlot to my wife and sister!'</p> + +<p>So spoke the major in the language of passion,—and passion is never +accurate.—Glenmurray had <i>not</i> introduced Adeline: and this was gently +hinted by the kind and candid Emma Douglas; while the younger and more +inexperienced wife sat silent with consternation, at having pressed with +the utmost kindness the hand of a kept mistress.</p> + +<p>Vain were the representations of his sister to sooth the wounded pride +of Major Douglas. Without considering the difficulty of such a +proceeding, he insisted upon it that Glenmurray should have led Adeline +away instantly, as unworthy to breathe the same air with his wife and +sister.</p> + +<p>'You find by that letter, brother,' said Miss Douglas, 'that this +unhappy Adeline is still an object of respect in his eyes, and he could +not wound her feelings so publicly, especially as she seems to be more +ill-judging than vicious.'</p> + +<p>She spoke in vain.—The major was a soldier, and so delicate in his +ideas of the honour of women, that he thought his wife and sister +polluted from having, though unconsciously, associated with Adeline; +being violently irritated therefore at the supposed insult offered him +by Glenmurray, he left the room, and, having dispatched a challenge to +him, told the ladies he had letters to write to England till bed-time +arrived: then, after having settled his affairs in case he should fall +in the conflict, he sat brooding alone over the insolence of his former +friend.</p> + +<p>There was a consciousness too which aggravated his resentment. Calumny +had been busy with his reputation; and, though he deserved it not, had +once branded him with the name of coward. Besides, his elder sister had +been seduced by a man of very high rank, and was then living with him as +his mistress. Made still more susceptible therefore of affront by this +distressing consciousness, he suspected that Glenmurray, from being +acquainted with these circumstances, had presumed on them, and dared to +take a liberty with him, situated as he then was, which in former times +he would not have ventured to offer.</p> + +<p>As Adeline and Glenmurray were both retired for the night when the +major's note arrived, it was not delivered till morning,—nor then, +luckily, till Adeline, supposing Glenmurray asleep, was gone to take her +usual walk to the post-office: Glenmurray, little aware of its contents, +opened it, and read as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="ind1"> </span>'<span class="smallcaps">Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>'For your conduct in introducing your mistress to my wife and +sister, I demand immediate satisfaction. As you may possibly +not have recovered your indisposition of last night, and I wish +to take no unfair advantages, I do not desire you to meet me +till evening; but at six o'clock, a mile out of the north side +of the town, I shall expect you.—I can lend you pistols if you +have none.'</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>'There is only one step to be taken,' said Glenmurray mentally, starting +up and dressing himself: and in a few moments he was at Major Douglas's +lodgings.</p> + +<p>The major had just finished dressing, when Glenmurray was announced. He +started and turned pale at seeing him; then, dismissing his servant and +taking up his hat and his pistols, he desired Glenmurray to walk out +with him.</p> + +<p>'With all my heart,' replied Glenmurray. But recollecting himself, 'No, +no,' said he: 'I come hither now, merely to talk to you; and if, after +what has passed, the ladies should see us go out together, they would be +but too sure of what was going to happen, and might follow us.'</p> + +<p>'Well, then sir,' cried the major, 'we had better separate till +evening.'</p> + +<p>'I shall not leave you, Major Douglas,' replied Glenmurray solemnly, +'whatever harsh things you may say or do, till I have made you listen to +me.'</p> + +<p>'How can I listen to you, when nothing you can say can be a +justification of your conduct?'</p> + +<p>'I do not mean to offer any.—I am only come to tell you my story, with +that of my companion, and my resolutions in consequence of my situation; +and I conjure you, by the recollections of our early days, of our past +pleasures and fatigues, those days when fatigue itself was a pleasure, +and I was not the weak emaciated being that I am now, unable to bear +exertion, and overcome even to female weakness by agitation of mind such +as I experienced last night—'</p> + +<p>'For God's sake sit down,' cried the major, glancing his eye over the +faded form of Glenmurray.—Glenmurray sat down.</p> + +<p>'I say, I conjure you by these recollections,' he continued, 'to hear me +with candour and patience. Weakness will render me brief.' Here he +paused to wipe the damps from his forehead; and Douglas, in a voice of +emotion, desired him to say whatever he chose, but to say it directly.</p> + +<p>'I will,' replied Glenmurray; 'for indeed there is one at home who will +be alarmed at my absence.'</p> + +<p>The major frowned; and, biting his lip, said, 'Proceed, Mr Glenmurray,' +in his usual tone.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray obeyed. He related his commencing author,—the nature of his +works,—his acquaintance with Adeline,—its consequences,—her mother's +marriage,—Sir Patrick's villany,—Adeline's elopement, her refusal to +marry him, and the grounds on which it was founded. 'And now,' cried +Glenmurray when his narration was ended, 'hear my firm resolve. Let the +consequences to my reputation be what they may, let your insults be what +they may, I will not accept your challenge; I will not expose Adeline to +the risk of being left without a protector in a foreign land, and +probably without one in her own. I fear that, in the natural course of +things, I shall not continue with her long; but while I can watch over +and contribute to her happiness, no dread of shame, no fear for what +others may think of me, no selfish consideration whatever shall induce +me to hazard a life which belongs to her, and on which at present her +happiness depends. I think, Douglas, you are incapable of treating me +with dignity; but even to that I will patiently submit, rather than +expose my life; while consoled by my motive, I will triumphantly +exclaim—'See, Adeline, what I can endure for thy sake!'</p> + +<p>Here he paused; and the major, interested and affected, had +involuntarily put out his hand to him; but, drawing it back, he said, +'Then I may be sure that you meant no affront to me by suffering my wife +and sister to converse with Miss Mowbray?'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray having put an end to these suspicions entirely, by a candid +avowal of his feelings, and of his wish to have escaped directly if +possible, the major shook him affectionately by the hand, and told him +that though he firmly believed too much learning had made him mad, yet, +that he was as much his friend as ever. 'But what vexes me is,' said he, +'that you should have turned the head of that sweet girl. The opinion of +the world is every thing to a woman.'</p> + +<p>'Aye, it is indeed,' replied Glenmurray; 'and, spite of ridicule, I +would marry Adeline directly, as I said before, to guaranty her against +reproach,—I wish you would try to persuade her to be mine legally.'</p> + +<p>'That I will,' eagerly replied the major; 'I am sure I shall prevail +with her. I am sure I shall soon convince her that the opinions she +holds are nothing but nonsense.'</p> + +<p>'You will find,' replied Glenmurray, blushing, 'that her arguments are +unanswerable notwithstanding.'</p> + +<p>'What, though taken from the cursed books you mentioned?'</p> + +<p>'You forget that I wrote these books.'</p> + +<p>'So I did; and I wish she could forget it also: and then they would +appear to her, as they must do no doubt to all people of common sense, +and that is, abominable stuff.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray bit his lips,—but the author did not long absorb the lover, +and he urged the major to return with him to his lodgings.</p> + +<p>'Aye, that I will,' cried he: 'and what is more, my sister Emma, who +writes admirably, shall write her a letter to convince her that she had +better be married directly.'</p> + +<p>'She had better converse with her,' said Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>The major looked grave, and observed that they would do well to go and +consult the women on the subject, and tell them the whole story. So +saying, he opened the door of a closet leading to their apartment: but +there, to their great surprise, they found Mrs Douglas and Emma, and as +well informed of everything as themselves;—for, expecting that a duel +might be the consequence of the major's impetuosity, and hearing Mr +Glenmurray announced, they resolved to listen to the conversation, and, +if it took the turn which they expected, to rush in and endeavour to +mollify the disputants.</p> + +<p>'So, ladies; this is very pretty indeed! Eaves-droppers, I protest,' +cried Major Douglas: but he said no more; for his wife, affected by the +recital which she had heard, and delighted to find that there would be +no duel, threw her arms round his neck, and burst into tears. Emma, +almost equally affected, gave her hand to Glenmurray, and told him +nothing on her part should be omitted to prevail on Adeline to sacrifice +her opinions to her welfare.</p> + +<p>'I said so,' cried the major. 'You will write to her.'</p> + +<p>'No; I will see her, and argue with her.'</p> + +<p>'And so will I,' cried the wife.</p> + +<p>'That you shall not,' bluntly replied the major.</p> + +<p>'Why not? I think it my duty to do all I can to save a fellow-creature +from ruin; and words spoken from the heart are always more powerful than +words written.'</p> + +<p>'But what will the world say, if I permit you to converse with a kept +mistress?'</p> + +<p>'The world here to us, as we associate with none and are known to none, +is Mr Glenmurray and Miss Mowbray; and of their good word we are sure.'</p> + +<p>'Aye,' cried Emma, 'and sure of succeeding with this interesting Adeline +too; for if she likes us, as I think she does—'</p> + +<p>'She adores you,' replied Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'So much the better:—then, when we shall tell her that we cannot +associate with her, much as we admire her, unless she consents to become +a wife, surely she will hear reason.'</p> + +<p>'No doubt,' cried Mrs Douglas; 'and then we will go to church with her, +and you, Emma, shall be bride's maid.'</p> + +<p>'I see no necessity for that,' observed the major gravely.</p> + +<p>'But I do,' replied Emma. 'She will repeat her vows with more heartfelt +reverence, when two respectable women, deeply impressed themselves with +their importance, shall be there to witness them.'</p> + +<p>'But there is no Protestant church here,' exclaimed Glenmurray: +'however, we can go back to Lisbon, and you are already resolved to +return thither.'</p> + +<p>This point being settled, it was agreed that Glenmurray should prepare +Adeline for their visit; and with a lightened heart he went to execute +his commission. But when he saw Adeline he forgot his commission and +every thing but her distress; for he found her with an open letter in +her hand, and an unopened one on the floor, in a state of mind almost +bordering on phrensy.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_14" id="ch_14"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h3> + +<p>As soon as Adeline beheld Glenmurray, 'See!' she exclaimed in a hoarse +and agitated tone, 'there is my letter to my mother, returned unopened, +and here is a letter from Dr Norberry which has broken my +heart:—however, we must go to England directly.'</p> + +<p>The letter was as follows:—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'You have made a pretty fool of me, deluded but still dear +girl! for you have made me believe in forebodings. You may +remember with what a full heart I bade you adieu, and I +recollect what a devilish queer sensation I had when the +park-gates closed on your fleet carriage. I almost swore at the +postillions for driving so fast, as I wished to see you as long +as I could; and now I protest that I believe I was actuated by +a foreboding that at that house, and on that spot, I should +never behold you again. (Here a tear had fallen on the paper, +and the word, '<i>again</i>' was nearly blotted out.) Dear, lost +Adeline, I prayed for you too! I prayed that you might return +as innocent and happy as you left me. Heaven have mercy on us! +who should have thought it?—But this is nothing to the +purpose, and I suppose you think you have done nought but what +is right and clever.' +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>He then proceeded to inform Adeline, who had written to him to implore +his mediation between her and her mother, 'that the latter had sent +express for him on finding, by the hasty scrawl which came the day after +Adeline's departure from the farm-house, that she had eloped, and who +was the companion of her flight; that he found her in violent agitation, +as Sir Patrick, stung to madness at the success of his rival, had with +an ingenuousness worthy a better cause avowed to her his ardent passion +for her daughter, his resolution to follow the fugitives, and by every +means possible separate Adeline from her lover; and that, after having +thanked Lady O'Carrol for her great generosity to him, he had taken his +pistols, mounted his horse, attended by his groom also well armed, and +vowed that he would never return unless accompanied by the woman whom he +adored.'</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'No wonder therefore,' continued the doctor, 'that I was an +unsuccessful advocate for you,—especially as I was not +inclined to manage the old bride's self-love; for I was so +provoked at her folly in marrying the handsome profligate, +that, if she had not been in distress, I never meant to see her +again. But, poor silly you! she suffers enough for her folly, +and so do you;—for, her affections and her self-love being +equally wounded by Sir Patrick's confession, you are at present +the object of her aversion. To you she attributes all the +misery of having lost the man on whom she still dotes; and when +she found from your last letter to me that you are not the wife +but the mistress of Glenmurray, (by the bye, your letter to her +from Lisbon she desires me to return unopened,) and that the +child once her pride is become her disgrace, she declared her +solemn resolution never to see you more, and to renounce you +for ever—(Terrible words, Adeline, I tremble to write them.) +But a circumstance has since occurred which gives me hopes that +she may yet forgive, and receive you on certain conditions. +About a fortnight after Sir Patrick's departure, a letter from +Ireland, directed to him in a woman's hand, arrived at the +Pavilion. Your mother opened it, and found it was from a wife +of her amiable husband, whom he had left in the north of +Ireland, and who, having heard of his second marriage, wrote to +tell him that, unless he came quickly back to her, she would +prosecute him for bigamy, as he knew very well that undoubted +proofs of the marriage were in her possession. At first this +new proof of her beautiful spouse's villany drove your mother +almost to phrensy, and I was again sent for; but time, +reflection, and perhaps my arguments, convinced her, that to be +able to free herself from this rascal for ever, and +consequently her fortune, losing only the ten thousand pounds +which she had given him to pay his debts, was in reality a +consoling circumstance. Accordingly, she wrote to the real Lady +O'Carrol, promising to accede quietly to her claim, and wishing +that she would spare her and herself the disgrace of a public +trial; especially as it must end in the conviction of Sir +Patrick. She then, on hearing from him that he had traced you +to Falmouth, and was going to embark for Lisbon when the wind +was favourable, enclosed him a copy of his wife's letter, and +bade him an eternal farewell!—But be not alarmed lest this +insane profligate should overtake and distress you. He is gone +to his final account. In his hurry to get on board, overcome as +he was with the great quantity of liquor which he had drunk to +banish care, he sprung from the boat before it was near enough +to reach the vessel; his foot slipped against the side, he fell +into the water, and, going under the ship, never rose again. I +leave you to imagine how the complicated distresses of the last +three months, and this awful climax to them, have affected your +mother's mind; even I cannot scold her, now, for the life of +me: she is not yet, I believe, disposed in your favour; but +were you here, and were you to meet, it is possible that, +forlorn, lonely, and deserted as she now feels, the tie between +you might be once more cemented; and much as I resent your +conduct, you may depend on my exertions.—O Adeline, child of +my affection, why must I blush to subscribe myself +</p> + +<p class="right">'Your sincere friend,<span class="ind6"> </span><br /> +'J. N.?'</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Words cannot describe the feelings of anguish which this letter excited +in Adeline: nor could she make known her sensations otherwise than by +reiterated requests to be allowed to set off for England +directly—requests to which Glenmurray, alarmed for her intellects, +immediately assented. Therefore, leaving a hasty note for the Douglases, +they soon bade farewell to Perpignan; and after a long laborious +journey, but a short passage, they landed at Brighton.</p> + +<p>It was a fine evening; and numbers of the gay and fashionable of both +sexes were assembled on the beach, to see the passengers land. Adeline +and Glenmurray were amongst the first: and while heartsick, fatigued, +and melancholy, Adeline took the arm of her lover, and turned disgusted +from the brilliant groups before her, she saw, walking along the shore, +Dr Norberry, his wife, and his two daughters.</p> + +<p>Instantly, unmindful of every thing but the delight of seeing old +acquaintances, and of being able to gain some immediate tiding of her +mother, she ran up to them: and just as they turned round, she met them, +extending her hand in friendship as she was wont to do.—But in +vain;—no hand was stretched out to meet hers, nor tongue nor look +proclaimed a welcome to her; Dr Norberry himself coldly touched his hat, +and passed on, while his wife and daughters looked scornfully at her, +and, without deigning to notice her, pursued their walk.</p> + +<p>Astonished and confounded, Adeline had not power to articulate a word; +and had not Glenmurray caught her in his arms, she would have fallen to +the ground.</p> + +<p>'Then now I am indeed an outcast! even my oldest and best friend +renounces me,' she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>'But I am left to you,' cried Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>Adeline sighed. She could not say, as she had formerly done, 'and you +are all to me.' The image of her mother, happy as the wife of a man she +loved, could not long rival Glenmurray; but the image of her mother, +disgraced and wretched, awoke all the habitual but dormant tenderness of +years; every feeling of filial gratitude revived in all its force; and, +even while leaning on the shoulder of her lover, she sighed to be once +more clasped to the bosom of her mother.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray felt the change, but, though grieved, was not offended:—'I +shall die in peace,' he cried, 'if I can but see you restored to your +mother's affection, even though the surrender of my happiness is to be +the purchase.'</p> + +<p>'You shall die in peace!' replied Adeline shuddering. The phrase was +well-timed, though perhaps undesignedly so. Adeline clung close to his +arm, her eyes filled with tears, and all the way to the inn she thought +only of Glenmurray with an apprehension which she could not conquer.</p> + +<p>'What do you mean to do now?' said Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'Write to Dr Norberry. I think he will at least have humanity enough to +let me know where to find my mother.'</p> + +<p>'No doubt; and you had better write directly.'</p> + +<p>Adeline took up her pen. A letter was written,—and as quickly torn. +Letter succeeded to letter; but not one of them answered her wishes. The +dark hour arrived, and the letter remained unwritten.</p> + +<p>'It is too soon to ring for candles,' said Glenmurray, putting his arm +round her waist and leading her to the window. The sun was below the +horizon, but the reflection of his beams still shone beautifully on the +surrounding objects. Adeline, reclining her cheek on Glenmurray's arm, +gazed in silence on the scene before her: when the door suddenly opened, +and a gentleman was announced. It was now so dark that all objects were +indistinctly seen, and the gentleman had advanced close to Adeline +before she knew him to be Dr Norberry: and before she could decide how +she should receive him, she felt herself clasped to his bosom with the +affection of a father.</p> + +<p>Surprised and affected, she could not speak; and Glenmurray had ordered +candles before Adeline had recovered herself sufficiently to say these +words, 'After your conduct on the beach, I little expected this visit.'</p> + +<p>'Pshaw!' replied the doctor: 'when a man out of regard to society has +performed a painful task, surely he may be allowed, out of regard to +himself, to follow the dictates of his heart.—I obeyed my head when I +passed you so cavalierly, and I thought I should never have gone through +my task as I did;—but then for the sake of my daughters, I gave a gulp, +and called up a fierce look. But I told madam that I meant to call on +you, and she insisted, very properly, that it should be in the dark +hour.'</p> + +<p>'But what of my mother?'</p> + +<p>'She is a miserable woman, as she deserved to be—an old fool.'</p> + +<p>'Pray do not call her so; to hear she is miserable is torment sufficient +to me:—where is she?'</p> + +<p>'Still at the Pavilion: but she is going to let Rosevalley, retire to +her estate in Cumberland, and live unknown and unseen.'</p> + +<p>'But will she not allow me to live with her?'</p> + +<p>'What! as Mr Glenmurray's mistress? receive under her roof the seducer +of her daughter?'</p> + +<p>'Sir, I am no seducer.'</p> + +<p>'No,' cried Adeline: 'I became the mistress of Mr Glenmurray from the +dictates of my reason, not my weakness or his persuasions.'</p> + +<p>'Humph!' replied the doctor, 'I should expect to find such reason in +Moorfields: besides, had not Mr Glenmurray's books turned your head, you +would not have thought it pretty and right to become the mistress of any +man: so he is your seducer, after all.'</p> + +<p>'So far I plead guilty,' replied Glenmurray; 'but whatever my opinions +are, I have ever been willing to sacrifice them to the welfare of Miss +Mowbray, and have, from the first moment that we were safe from pursuit, +been urgent to marry her.'</p> + +<p>'Then why are you not married?'</p> + +<p>'Because I would not consent,' said Adeline coldly.</p> + +<p>'Mad, certainly mad,' exclaimed the doctor: 'but you, 'faith, you are an +honest fellow after all,' turning to Glenmurray and shaking him by the +hand; 'weak of the head, not bad in the heart; burn your vile books, +and I am your friend for ever.'</p> + +<p>'We will discuss that point another time,' replied Glenmurray: 'at +present the most interesting subject to us is the question whether Mrs +Mowbray will forgive her daughter or not?'</p> + +<p>'Why, man, if I may judge of Mrs Mowbray by myself, one condition of her +forgiveness will be your marrying her daughter.'</p> + +<p>'O blest condition!' cried Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'I should think,' replied Adeline coldly, 'my mother must have had too +much of marriage to wish me to marry; but if she should insist on my +marrying, I will comply, and on no other account.'</p> + +<p>'Strange infatuation! To me appears only justice and duty. But your +reasons, girl, your reasons?'</p> + +<p>'They are few, but strong. Glenmurray, philanthropically bent on +improving the state of society, puts forth opinions counteracting its +received usages, backed by arguments which are in my opinion +incontrovertible.'</p> + +<p>'In your opinion!—Pray, child, how old are you?'</p> + +<p>'Nineteen.'</p> + +<p>'And at that age you set up for a reformer? Well,—go on.'</p> + +<p>'But though it be important to the success of his opinions, and indeed +to the respectability of his character, that he should act according to +his precepts, he, for the sake of preserving to me the notice of persons +whose narrowness of mind I despise, would conform to an institution +which both he and I think unworthy of regard from a rational being.—And +shall not I be as generous as he is? shall I scruple to give up for his +honour and fame the petty advantages which marriage would give me? +Never—his honour and fame are too dear to me; but the claims which my +mother has on me are in my eyes so sacred that, for her sake, though not +for my own, I would accept the sacrifice which Glenmurray offers. If, +then, she says that she will never see or pardon me till I am become a +wife, I will follow him to the altar directly; but till then I must +insist on remaining as I am. It is necessary that I should respect the +man I love; and I should not respect Glenmurray were he not capable of +supporting with fortitude the consequences of his opinions; and could +he, for motives less strong than those he avows, cease to act up to what +he believes to be right. For, never can I respect or believe firmly in +the truth of those doctrines, the followers of which shrink from a sort +of martyrdom in support of them.'</p> + +<p>'O Mr Glenmurray!' cried the doctor shaking his head, 'what have you to +answer for! What a glorious champion would that creature have been in +the support of truth, when even error in her looks so like to +virtue!—And then the amiable disinterestedness of you both!—What a +powerful thing must true love be, when it can make a speculative +philosopher indifferent to the interests of his system, and ready to act +in direct opposition to it, rather than injure the respectability of the +woman he loves! Well, well, the Lord forgive you, young man, for having +taken it into your head to set up for a great author!'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray answered by a deep-drawn sigh; and the doctor continued: +'Then there is that girl again, with a heart so fond and true that her +love comes in aid of her integrity, and makes her think no sacrifice too +great, in order to prove her confidence in the wisdom of her +lover,—urging her to disregard all personal inconveniences rather than +let him forfeit, for her sake, his pretensions to independence and +consistency of character! girl, I can't help admiring you, but no more I +could a Malabar widow, who with fond and pious enthusiasm, from an idea +of duty, throws herself on the funeral pile of her husband. But still I +should think you a great fool, notwithstanding, for professing the +opinions that led to such an exertion of duty. And now here are you, +possessed of every quality both of head and heart to bless others and to +bless yourself—owing to your foolish and pernicious opinions;—here you +are, I say blasted in reputation in the prime of your days, and doomed +perhaps to pine through existence in—Pshaw! I can't support the idea!' +added he, gulping down a sob as he spoke, and traversing the room in +great emotion.</p> + +<p>Adeline and Glenmurray were both of them deeply and painfully affected; +and the latter was going to express what he felt, when the doctor +seizing Adeline's hand, affectionately exclaimed, 'Well, my poor child! +I will see your mother once more; I will go to London tomorrow—by this +time she is there—and you had better follow me; you will hear of me at +the Old Hummums; and here is a card of address to an hotel near it, +where I would advise you to take up your abode.'</p> + +<p>So saying he shook Glenmurray by the hand; when, starting back, he +exclaimed 'Why, man! here is a skin like fire, and a pulse like +lightning. My dear fellow, you must take care of yourself.'</p> + +<p>Adeline burst into tears.</p> + +<p>'Indeed, doctor, I am only nervous.'</p> + +<p>'Nervous!—What, I suppose you think you understand my profession better +than I do. But don't cry, my child: when your mind is easier, perhaps, +he will do very well; and, as one thing likely to give him immediate +ease, I prescribe a visit to the altar of the next parish church.'</p> + +<p>So saying he departed; and all other considerations were again swallowed +up in Adeline's mind by the idea of Glenmurray's danger.</p> + +<p>'Is it possible that my marrying you would have such a blessed effect on +your health?' cried Adeline after a pause.</p> + +<p>'It certainly would make my mind easier than it now is,' replied he.</p> + +<p>'If I thought so,' said Adeline: 'but no—regard for my supposed +interest merely makes you say so; and indeed I should not think so well +of you as I now do, if I imagined that you could be made easy by an +action by which you forfeited all pretensions to that consistency of +character so requisite to the true dignity of a philosopher.'</p> + +<p>A deep sigh from Glenmurray, in answer, proved that he was no +philosopher.</p> + +<p>In the morning the lovers set off for London, Dr Norberry having +preceded them by a few hours. This blunt but benevolent man had returned +the evening before slowly and pensively to his lodgings, his heart full +of pity for the errors of the well-meaning enthusiasts whom he had left, +and his head full of plans for their assistance, or rather for that of +Adeline. But he entered his own doors again reluctantly—he knew but too +well that no sympathy with his feelings awaited him there. His wife, a +woman of narrow capacity and no talents or accomplishments, had, like +all women of that sort, a great aversion to those of her sex who united +to feminine graces and gentleness, the charms of a cultivated +understanding and pretensions to accomplishments or literature.</p> + +<p>Of Mrs Mowbray, as we have before observed, she had always been +peculiarly jealous, because Dr Norberry spoke of her knowledge with +wonder, and of her understanding with admiration; not that he +entertained one moment a feeling of preference towards her, inconsistent +with an almost idolatrous love of his wife, whose skill in all the +domestic duties, and whose very pretty face and person, were the daily +themes of his praise. But Mrs Norberry wished to engross all his +panegyrics to herself, and she never failed to expatiate on Mrs +Mowbray's foibles and flightiness as long as the doctor had expatiated +on her charms.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, indeed, this last subject was sooner exhausted than the one +which she had chosen; but when Adeline grew up, and became as it were +the rival of her daughters in the praises of her husband, she found it +difficult as we have said before, to bring faults in array against +excellencies.</p> + +<p>Mrs Norberry could with propriety observe, when the doctor, was +exclaiming, 'What a charming essay Mrs Mowbray has just written!'</p> + +<p>'Aye,—but I dare say she can't write a market bill.'</p> + +<p>When he said, 'How well she comprehends the component parts of the +animal system!'</p> + +<p>She could with great justice reply, 'But she knows nothing of the +component parts of a plum pudding.'</p> + +<p>But when Adeline became the object of the husband's admiration and the +wife's enmity, Mrs Norberry could not make these pertinent remarks, as +Adeline was as conversant with all branches of housewifery as herself; +and, though as learned in all systems as her mother, was equally learned +in the component parts of puddings and pies. She was therefore at a loss +what to say when Adeline was praised by the doctor; and all she could +observe on the occasion was, that the girl might be clever, but was +certainly very ugly, very affected, and very conceited.</p> + +<p>It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Mrs Mowbray's degrading and +unhappy marriage, and Adeline's elopement, should have been sources of +triumph to Mrs Norberry and her daughters; who, though they liked Mrs +Mowbray very well, could not bear Adeline.</p> + +<p>'So Dr Norberry, these are your uncommon folks!'—exclaimed Mrs Norberry +on hearing of the marriage and of the subsequent elopement;—'I suppose +you are now well satisfied at not having a genius for your wife, or +geniuses for your daughters?'</p> + +<p>'I always was, my dear,' meekly replied the mortified and afflicted +doctor, and dropped the subject as soon as possible; nor had it been +resumed for some time when Adeline accosted them on the beach at +Brighton. But her appearance called forth their dormant enmity; and the +whole way to their lodgings the good doctor heard her guilt expatiated +upon with as much violence as ever: but just as they got home he coldly +and firmly observed, 'I shall certainly call on the poor deluded girl +this evening.'</p> + +<p>And Mrs Norberry, knowing by the tone and manner in which he spoke, that +this was a point which he would not give up, contented herself with +requiring only that he should go in the dark hour.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_15" id="ch_15"></a>CHAPTER XV</h3> + +<p>It was to a wife and daughters such as these that he was returning, with +the benevolent wish of interesting them for the guilty Adeline.</p> + +<p>'So, Dr Norberry, you are come back at last!' was his first salutation, +'and what does the creature say for herself?'</p> + +<p>'The creature!—Your fellow-creature, my dear, says very little—grief +is not wordy.'</p> + +<p>'Grief!—So then she is unhappy, is she?' cries Miss Norberry; 'I am +monstrous glad of it.'</p> + +<p>The doctor started; and an oath nearly escaped his lips. He did say, +'Why, zounds, Jane!'—but then he added, in a softer tone, 'Why do you +rejoice in a poor girl's affliction?'</p> + +<p>'Because I think it is for the good of her soul.'</p> + +<p>'Good girl!' replied the father:—'Jane, (seizing her hand,) may your +soul never need such a medicine!'</p> + +<p>'It never will,' said her mother proudly: 'she has been differently +brought up.'</p> + +<p>'She has been well brought up, you might have added,' observed the +doctor, 'had modesty permitted it. Mrs Mowbray, poor woman, had good +intentions; but she was too flighty. Had Adeline, my children, had such +a mother as yours, she would have been like you.'</p> + +<p>'But not half so handsome,' interrupted the mother in a low voice.</p> + +<p>'But as our faults and our virtues, my dear, depend so much on the care +and instruction of others, we should look with pity, as well as aversion +on the faults of those less fortunate in instructors than we have been.'</p> + +<p>'Certainly;—very true,' said Mrs Norberry, flattered and affected by +this compliment from her husband: 'but you know, James Norberry,' laying +her hand on his, 'I always told you you overrated Mrs Mowbray; and that +she was but a dawdle after all.'</p> + +<p>'You always did, my good woman,' replied he, raising her hand to his +lips.</p> + +<p>'But you men think yourselves much wiser than we are!'</p> + +<p>'We do so,' replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>The tone was equivocal—Mrs Norberry felt it to be so, and looked up in +his face.—The doctor understood the look: it was one of doubt and +inquiry; and, as it was his interest to sooth her in order to carry his +point, he exclaimed, 'We men are, indeed, too apt to pride ourselves in +our supposed superior wisdom: but I, you will own, my dear, have always +done your sex justice; and you in particular.'</p> + +<p>'You have been a good husband indeed, James Norberry,' replied his wife +in a faltering voice; 'and I believe you to be, to every one, a just and +honourable man.'</p> + +<p>'And I dare say, dame, I do no more than justice to you, when I think +you will approve and further a plan for Adeline Mowbray's good, which I +am going to propose to you.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Norberry withdrew her hand; but returning it again:—'To be sure, my +dear,' she cried. 'Any thing you wish; that is, if I see right to—'</p> + +<p>'I will explain myself,' continued the doctor gently.</p> + +<p>'I have promised this poor girl to endeavour to bring about a +reconciliation between her and her mother; but though Adeline wishes to +receive her pardon on any terms, and even, if it be required, to +renounce her lover, I fear Mrs Mowbray is too much incensed against her, +to see or forgive her.'</p> + +<p>'Hard-hearted woman!' cried Mrs Norberry.</p> + +<p>'Cruel, indeed!' cried her daughters.</p> + +<p>'But a mother ought to be severe, very severe, on such occasions, young +ladies,' hastily added Mrs Norberry: 'but go on, my dear.'</p> + +<p>'Now it is but too probable,' continued the doctor, 'that Glenmurray +will not live long, and then this young creature will be left to +struggle unprotected with the difficulties of her situation; and who +knows but that she may, from poverty, and the want of a protector, be +tempted to continue in the paths of vice?'</p> + +<p>'Well, Dr Norberry, and what then?—Who or what is to prevent it?—You +know we have three children to provide for; and I am a young woman as +yet.'</p> + +<p>'True, Hannah,' giving her a kiss, 'and a very pretty woman too.'</p> + +<p>'Well, my dear love, anything we can do with prudence I am ready to do; +I can say no more.'</p> + +<p>'You have said enough,' cried the doctor exultingly; 'then hear my plan: +Adeline shall, in the event of Glenmurray's death, which though not +certain seems likely—to be sure, I did not inquire into the nature of +his nocturnal perspirations, his expectoration, and so forth—'</p> + +<p>'Dear papa, you are so professional!' affectedly exclaimed his youngest +daughter.</p> + +<p>'Well, child, I have done; and to return to my subject—if Glenmurray +lives or dies, I think it advisable that Adeline should go into +retirement to lie-in. And where can she be better than in my little +cottage now empty, within a four-miles ride of our house? If she wants +protection, I can protect her; and if she wants money before her mother +forgives her, you can give it to her.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed, papa,' cried both the girls, 'we shall not grudge it.'</p> + +<p>The doctor started from his chair, and embraced his daughters with joy +mixed with wonder; for he knew they had always disliked Adeline.—True; +but then, she was prosperous, and their superior. Little minds love to +bestow protection; and it was easy to be generous to the fallen Adeline +Mowbray: had her happiness continued, so would their hatred.</p> + +<p>'Then it is a settled point, is it not dame?' asked the doctor, chucking +his wife under the chin; when, to his great surprise and consternation, +she threw his hand indignantly from her, and vociferated, 'She shall +never live within a ride of our house, I can assure you, Dr Norberry.'</p> + +<p>The doctor was petrified into silence, and the girls could only +articulate 'La! mamma?' But what could produce this sudden and violent +change? Nothing but a simple and natural operation of the human mind. +Though a very kind husband, and an indulgent father, Dr Norberry was +suspected, though unjustly, of being a very gallant man: and some of Mrs +Norberry's good-natured friends had occasionally hinted to her their +sorrow at hearing such and such reports; reports which were indeed +destitute of foundation; but which served to excite suspicions in the +mind of the tenacious Mrs Norberry. And what more likely to re-awaken +them than the young and frail Adeline Mowbray living in a cottage of her +husband's, protected, supported, and visited by him! The moment this +idea occurred, its influence was unconquerable; and with a voice and +manner of determined hostility she made known her resolves in +consequence of it.</p> + +<p>After a pause of dismay and astonishment, the doctor cried, 'Dame, what +have you gotten in your head? What, all on a sudden, has had such an +ugly effect on you?'</p> + +<p>'Second thoughts are best, doctor; and I now feel that it would be +highly improper for you, with daughters grown up, to receive with such +marked kindness a single young woman at a cottage of yours, who is going +to lie-in.'</p> + +<p>'But, my dear, it is a different case, when I do it to keep her out of +the way of further harm.'</p> + +<p>'That is more than I know, Dr Norberry,' replied the wife bridling, and +fanning herself.</p> + +<p>'Whew!' whistled the doctor; and then addressing his daughters, 'Girls, +you had better go to bed; it grows late.'</p> + +<p>The young ladies obeyed; but first hung round their mother's neck, as +they bade her good night, and hoped she would not be so cruel to the +poor deluded Adeline.</p> + +<p>Mrs Norberry angrily shook them off, with a peevish—'Get along, girls.' +The doctor cordially kissed, and bade God bless them; while the door +closed and left the loving couple alone.</p> + +<p>What passed, it were tedious to repeat: suffice that after a long +altercation, continued even after they were retired to rest, the doctor +found his wife, on this subject, incapable of listening to reason, and +that, as a finishing stroke, she exclaimed, 'It does not signify +talking, Dr Norberry, while I have my senses, and can see into a +mill-stone a little, the hussey shall never come near us.'</p> + +<p>The doctor sighed deeply; turned himself round, not to sleep but to +think, and rose the next morning to go in search of Mrs Mowbray, +dreading the interview which he was afterwards to have with Adeline; for +he did not expect to succeed in his application to her mother, and he +could not now soften his intelligence with a 'but,' as he intended. +'True,' he meant to have said to her, 'your mother will not receive you; +but if you ever want a home or a place of retirement, I have a cottage, +and so forth.'</p> + +<p>'Pshaw!' cried the doctor to himself, as these thoughts came across him +on the road, and made him hastily let down the front window of the +post-chaise for air.</p> + +<p>'Did your honour speak?' cries the post-boy.</p> + +<p>'Not I. But can't you drive faster and be hanged to you?'</p> + +<p>The boy whipped his horses.—The doctor then found that it was up +hill—down went the glass again:—'Hold, you brute, why do you not see +it is up hill?' For find fault he must; and with his wife he could not, +or dared not, even in fancy.</p> + +<p>'Dear me! Why, your honour bade me put it on.'</p> + +<p>'Devilishly obedient,' muttered the doctor: 'I wish every one was like +you in that respect.'—And in a state of mind not the pleasantest +possible the doctor drove into town, and to the hotel where Mrs Mowbray +was to be found.</p> + +<p>Dr Norberry was certainly now not in a humour to sooth any woman whom he +thought in the wrong, except his wife; and, whether from carelessness or +design, he did not, unfortunately for Adeline, manage the self-love of +her unhappy mother.</p> + +<p>He found Mrs Mowbray with her heart shut up, not softened by sorrow. The +hands once stretched forth with kindness to welcome him, were now +stiffly laid one upon the other; and 'How are you, sir?' coldly +articulated, was followed by as cold a 'Pray sit down.'</p> + +<p>'Why, how ill you look!' exclaimed the doctor.</p> + +<p>'I attend more to my feelings than my looks,' with a deep sigh, answered +Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'Your feelings are as bad as your looks, I dare say.'</p> + +<p>'They are worse, sir,' said Mrs Mowbray piqued.</p> + +<p>'There was no need of that,' replied the doctor: 'but I am come to point +out to you one way of getting rid of some of your unpleasant +feelings:—see, and forgive your daughter.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray started, changed colour, and exclaimed with quickness, 'Is +she in England?' but added instantly, 'I have no daughter:—she, who was +my child, is my most inveterate foe; she has involved me in disgrace and +misery.'</p> + +<p>'With a little of your own help she has,' replied the doctor. 'Come, +come, my old friend, you have both of you something to forget and +forgive; and the sooner you set about it the better. Now do write, and +tell Adeline, who is by this time in London, that you forgive her.'</p> + +<p>'Never:—after having promised me not to hold converse with that villain +without my consent? Had I no other cause of complaint against her;—had +she not by her coquettish arts seduced the affections of the man I +loved:—never, never would I forgive her having violated the sacred +promise which she gave me.'</p> + +<p>'A promise,' interrupted the doctor, 'which she would never have +violated, had not you first violated that sacred compact which you +entered into at her birth.'</p> + +<p>'What mean you, sir?'</p> + +<p>'I mean, that though a parent does not, at a child's birth, solemnly +make a vow to do all in his or her power to promote the happiness of +that child,—still, as he has given it birth, he has tacitly bound +himself to make it happy. This tacit agreement you broke, when at the +age of forty, you, regardless of your daughter's welfare, played the +fool and married a pennyless profligate, merely because he had a fine +person and a handsome leg.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray was too angry and too agitated to interrupt him, and he went +on:</p> + +<p>'Well, what was the consequence? The young fellow very naturally +preferred the daughter to the mother; and, as he could not have her by +fair, was resolved to have her by foul means; and so he—'</p> + +<p>'I beg, Dr Norberry,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray in a faint voice, 'that +you would spare the disgusting recital.'</p> + +<p>'Well, well, I will. Now do consider the dilemma your child was in: she +must either elope, or by her presence keep alive a criminal passion in +her father-in-law, which you sooner or later must discover; and be +besides exposed to fresh insults.—Well, Glenmurray by chance happened +to be on the spot just as she escaped from that villanous fellow's +clutches, and—'</p> + +<p>'He is dead, Dr Norberry,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray; 'and you know the +old adage, "Do not speak ill of the dead."'</p> + +<p>'And a very silly adage it is. I had rather speak ill of the dead than +the living, for my part: but let me go on.—Well, love taking the name +and habit of prudence and filial piety, (for she thought she consulted +your happiness, and not her own,) bade her fly to and with her lover; +and now there she is, owing to the pretty books which you let her read, +living with him as his mistress, and glorying in it, as if it was a +notable praiseworthy action.'</p> + +<p>'And you would have me forgive her?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly: a fault which both your precepts and conduct occasioned. Not +but what the girl has been wrong, terribly wrong:—no one ought to do +evil that good may come. You had forbidden her to have any intercourse +with Glenmurray; and she therefore knew that disobeying you would make +you unhappy—that was a certainty. That fellow's persevering in his +attempts, after the fine rebuff which she had given him, was an +uncertainty; and she ought to have run the risk of it, and not committed +a positive fault to avoid a possible evil. But then hers was a fault +which she could not have committed had not you married that—but I +forbear. And as to her not being married to Glenmurray, that is no +fault of his; and with your consent, he will marry your daughter +to-morrow morning. That ever so good, cleanly-hearted a youth should +have poked his nose into the filthy mess of eccentric philosophy!'</p> + +<p>'Have you done, doctor?' cried Mrs Mowbray haughtily: 'have you said all +that Miss Mowbray and you have invented to insult me?'</p> + +<p>'Your child send me to insult you!—She!—Adeline!—Why, the poor soul +came broken-hearted and post haste from France, when she heard of your +misfortunes, to offer her services to console you.'</p> + +<p>'She console me?—she, the first occasion of them?—But for her, I might +still have indulged the charming delusion, even if it were delusion, +that love of me, not of my wealth, induced the man I doted upon to +commit a crime to gain possession of me.'</p> + +<p>'Why!' hastily interrupted the doctor, 'everyone saw that he loved her +long before he married you.'</p> + +<p>The storm, long gathering, now burst forth; and rising, with the tears, +high colour, and vehement voice of unbridled passion, Mrs Mowbray +exclaimed, raising her arm and clenching her fist as she spoke, 'And it +is being the object of that cruel preference, which I never, never will +forgive her!'</p> + +<p>The doctor, after ejaculating 'Whew!' as much as to say 'The murder is +out,' instantly took his hat and departed, convinced his labour was +vain. 'There,' muttered he as he went down stairs, 'two instances in one +day! Ah, ah,—that jealousy is the devil.' He then slowly walked to the +hotel, where he expected to find Adeline and Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>They had arrived about two hours before; and Adeline in a frame of mind +but ill fitted to bear the disappointment which awaited her. For, with +the sanguine expectations natural to her age, she had been +castle-building as usual; and their journey to London had been rendered +a very short one, by the delightful plans, for the future, which she had +been forming and imparting to Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'When I consider,' said she, 'the love which my mother has always shown +for me, I cannot think it possible that she can persist in renouncing +me; and however her respect for the prejudices of the world, a world +which she intended to live in at the time of her unfortunate connexion, +might make her angry at my acting in defiance of its laws,—now that she +herself, from a sense of injury and disgrace, is about to retire from +it, she will no longer have a motive to act contrary to the dictates of +reason herself, or to wish me to do so.'</p> + +<p>'But your ideas of reason and hers may be so different—'</p> + +<p>'No. Our practice may be different, but our theory is the same, and I +have no doubt but that my mother will now forgive and receive us; and +that, living in a romantic solitude, being the whole world to each +other, our days will glide away in uninterrupted felicity.'</p> + +<p>'And how shall we employ ourselves?' said Glenmurray smiling.</p> + +<p>'You shall continue to write for the instruction of your +fellow-creatures; while my mother and I shall be employed in +endeavouring to improve the situation of the poor around us, and perhaps +in educating our children.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, when animated by any prospect of happiness, was irresistible: +she was really Hope herself, as described by Collins—</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left">'But thou, oh Hope, with eyes so fair,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">What was thy delighted measure!'</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">and Glenmurray, as he listened to her, forgot his illness; forgot every +thing, but what Adeline chose to imagine. The place of their retreat was +fixed upon. It was to be a little village near Falmouth, the scene of +their first happiness. The garden was laid out; Mrs Mowbray's library +planned; and so completely were they lost in their charming prospects +for the future, that every turnpike-man had to wait a longer time than +he was accustomed to for his money; and the postillion had driven into +London in the way to the hotel, before Adeline recollected that she was, +for the first time, in a city which she had long wished most ardently to +see.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely taken up their abode at the hotel recommended to them +by Dr Norberry, when he knocked at the door. Adeline from the window had +seen him coming; and sure as she thought herself to be of her mother's +forgiveness, she turned sick and faint when the decisive moment was at +hand; and, hurrying out of the room, she begged Glenmurray to receive +the doctor, and apologize for her absence.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray awaited him with a beating heart. He listened to his step on +the stairs: it was slow and heavy; unlike that of a benevolent man +coming to communicate good news. Glenmurray began immediately to tremble +for the peace of Adeline; and, hastily pouring out a glass of wine, was +on the point of drinking it when Dr Norberry entered.</p> + +<p>'Give me a glass,' cried he: 'I want one, I am sure, to recruit my +spirits.' Glenmurray in silence complied with his desire. 'Come, I'll +give you a toast,' cried the doctor: 'Here is—'</p> + +<p>At this moment Adeline entered. She had heard the doctor's last words, +and she thought he was going to drink to the reconciliation of her +mother and herself; and hastily opening the door she came to receive the +good news which awaited her. But, at sight of her, the toast died +unfinished on her old friend's lips; he swallowed down the wine in +silence, and then taking her hand led her to the sofa.</p> + +<p>Adeline's heart began to die within her; and before the doctor, after +having taken a pinch of snuff and blowed his nose full three times, was +prepared to speak, she was convinced that she had nothing but unwelcome +intelligence to receive; and she awaited in trembling expectation an +answer to a 'Well, sir,' from Glenmurray, spoken in a tone of fearful +emotion.</p> + +<p>'No, it is not well, sir,' replied the doctor.</p> + +<p>'You have seen my mother?' said Adeline, catching hold of the arm of the +sofa for support: and in an instant Glenmurray was by her side.</p> + +<p>'I have seen Mrs Mowbray, but not your mother: for I have seen a woman +dead to every graceful impulse of maternal affection, and alive only to +a selfish sense of rivalship and hatred. My poor child! God forgive the +deluded woman! But I declare she detests you!'</p> + +<p>'Detests me?' exclaimed Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Yes; she swears that she can never forgive the preference which that +vile fellow gave you, and I am convinced that she will keep her word;' +and here the doctor, turning round, saw Adeline lying immoveable in +Glenmurray's arms. But she did not long remain so, and with a frantic +scream kept repeating the words 'She detests me!' till unable to contend +any longer with the acuteness of her feelings, she sunk, sobbing +convulsively, exhausted on the bed to which they carried her.</p> + +<p>'My good friend, my only friend,' cried Glenmurray, 'what is to be done? +Will she scream again, think you, in that most dreadful and unheard-of +manner? For, if she does, I must run out of the house.'</p> + +<p>'What, then, she never treated you in this pretty way before, heh?'</p> + +<p>'Never, never. Her self-command has always been exemplary.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed?—Lucky fellow! My wife and daughters often scream just as loud, +on very trifling occasions: but that scream went to my heart; for I well +know how to distinguish between the shriek of agony and that of +passion.'</p> + +<p>When Adeline recovered, she ardently conjured Dr Norberry to procure her +an interview with her mother; contending that it was absolutely +impossible to suppose, that the sight of a child so long and tenderly +loved should not renew a little of her now dormant affection.</p> + +<p>'But you were her rival, as well as her child; remember that. However, +you look so ill, that now, if ever, she will forgive you, I think: +therefore I will go back to Mrs Mowbray; and while I am there do you +come, ask for me, and follow the servant into the room.'</p> + +<p>'I will,' replied Adeline: and leaning on the arm of her lover, she +slowly followed the doctor to her mother's hotel.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_16" id="ch_16"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h3> + +<p>'This is the most awful moment of my life,' said Adeline.</p> + +<p>'And the most anxious one of mine,' replied Glenmurray. 'If Mrs Mowbray +forgives you, it will be probably on condition that—'</p> + +<p>'Whatever be the conditions, I must accept them,' said Adeline.</p> + +<p>'True,' returned Glenmurray, wiping the cold dews of weakness from his +forehead: 'but no matter—at any rate, I should not have been with you +long.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, with a look of agony, pressed the arm she held to her bosom.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray's heart smote him immediately—he felt he had been +ungenerous; and, while the hectic of a moment passed across his cheek, +he added, 'But I do not do myself justice in saying so. I believe my +best chance of recovery is the certainty of your being easy. Let me but +see you happy, and so disinterested is my affection, as I have often +told you, that I shall cheerfully assent to any thing that may ensure +your happiness.'</p> + +<p>'And can you think,' answered Adeline, 'that my happiness can be +independent of yours? Do you not see that I am only trying to prepare my +mind for being called upon to surrender my inclinations to my duty?'</p> + +<p>At this moment they found themselves at the door of the hotel. Neither +of them spoke; the moment of trial was come; and both were unable to +encounter it firmly. At last Adeline grasped her lover's hand, bade him +wait for her at the end of the street, and with some degree of firmness +she entered the vestibule, and asked for Dr Norberry.</p> + +<p>Dr Norberry, meanwhile, with the best intentions in the world, had but +ill prepared Mrs Mowbray's mind for the intended visit. He had again +talked to her of her daughter; and urged the propriety of forgiving her; +but he had at the same time renewed his animadversions on her own +conduct.</p> + +<p>'You know not, Dr Norberry,' observed Mrs Mowbray, 'the pains I took +with the education of that girl; and I expected to be repaid for it by +being styled the happiest as well as best of mothers.'</p> + +<p>'And so you would, perhaps, had you not wished to be a wife as well as +mother.'</p> + +<p>'No more on that subject, sir,' haughtily returned Mrs +Mowbray.—'Yes,—Adeline was indeed my joy, my pride.'</p> + +<p>'Aye, and pride will have a fall; and a pretty tumble yours has had, to +be sure, my old friend; and it has broke its knees—never to be sound +again.'</p> + +<p>At this unpropitious moment 'a lady to Dr Norberry' was announced, and +Adeline tottered into the room.</p> + +<p>'What strange intrusion is this?' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'who is this +woman?'</p> + +<p>Adeline threw back her veil, and falling on her knees, stretched out her +arms in an attitude of entreaty: speak she could not, but her +countenance was sufficiently expressive of her meaning; and her pale +sunk cheek spoke forcibly to the heart of her mother.—At this moment, +when a struggle which might have ended favourably for Adeline was taking +place in the mind of Mrs Mowbray, Dr Norberry injudiciously exclaimed,</p> + +<p>'There,—there she is! Look at her, poor soul! There is little fear, I +think, of her ever rivalling you again.'</p> + +<p>At these words Mrs Mowbray darted an angry look at the doctor, and +desired him to take away that woman; who came, no doubt instigated by +him, to insult her.</p> + +<p>'Take her away,' she said, 'and never let me see her again.'</p> + +<p>'O my mother, hear me, in pity hear me!' exclaimed Adeline.</p> + +<p>'As it is for the last time, I will hear you,' replied Mrs Mowbray; 'for +never, no never will I behold you more! Hear me vow—'</p> + +<p>'Mother, for mercy's sake, make not a vow so terrible!' cried Adeline, +gathering courage from despair, and approaching her: 'I have grievously +erred, and will cheerfully devote the rest of my life to endeavour, by +the most submissive obedience and attention, to atone for my past +guilt.'</p> + +<p>'Atone for it! Impossible; for the misery which I owe to you, no +submission, no future conduct can make me amends. Away! I say: your +presence conjures up recollections which distract me, and I solemnly +swear—'</p> + +<p>'Hold, hold, if you have any mercy in your nature,' cried Adeline almost +frantic: 'this is, I feel but too sensibly, the most awful and important +moment of my life: on the result of this interview depends my future +happiness or misery. Hear me, O my mother! You, who can so easily +resolve to tear the heart of a child that adores you, hear me! reflect +that, if you vow to abandon me for ever, you blast all the happiness and +prospects of my life; and at nineteen 'tis hard to be deprived of +happiness for ever. True, I may not long survive the anguish of being +renounced by my mother, a mother whom I love with even enthusiastic +fondness; but then could you ever know peace again with the conviction +of having caused my death? Oh! no, Save then yourself and me from these +miseries, by forgiving my past errors, and deigning sometimes to see and +converse with me!'</p> + +<p>The eager and animated volubility with which Adeline spoke made it +impossible to interrupt her, even had Mrs Mowbray been inclined to do +so: but she was not; nor, when Adeline had done speaking, could she find +in her heart to break silence.</p> + +<p>It was evident to Dr Norberry that Mrs Mowbray's countenance expressed a +degree of softness which augured well for her daughter; and, as if +conscious that it did so, she covered her face suddenly with her +handkerchief.</p> + +<p>'Now then is the time,' thought the doctor. 'Go nearer her, my child,' +said he in a low voice to Adeline, 'embrace her knees.'</p> + +<p>Adeline rose, and approached Mrs Mowbray; she seized her hand, she +pressed it to her lips. Mrs Mowbray's bosom heaved violently: she almost +returned the pressure of Adeline's hand.</p> + +<p>'Victory, victory!' muttered the doctor to himself, cutting a caper +behind Mrs Mowbray's chair.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray took the handkerchief from her face.</p> + +<p>'My mother, my dear mother! look on me, look on me with kindness only +one moment, and only say that you do not hate me!'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray turned round and fixed her eyes on Adeline with a look of +kindness, and Adeline's began to sparkle with delight; when, as she +threw back her cloak, which, hanging over her arm, embarrassed her as +she knelt to embrace her mother's knees, Mrs Mowbray's eyes glanced from +her face to her shape.</p> + +<p>In an instant the fierceness of her look returned: 'Shame to thy race, +disgrace to thy family!' she exclaimed, spurning her kneeling child +from her: 'and canst thou, while conscious of carrying in thy bosom the +proof of thy infamy, dare to solicit and expect my pardon?—Hence! ere I +load thee with maledictions.'</p> + +<p>Adeline wrapped her cloak round her, and sunk terrified and desponding +to the ground.</p> + +<p>'Why, what a ridiculous caprice is this!' cried the doctor. 'Is it a +greater crime to be in a family way, than to live with a man as his +mistress?—You knew your daughter had done the last: therefore it is +nonsense to be so affected at the former.—Come, come, forget and +forgive!'</p> + +<p>'Never: and if you do not leave the house with her this moment, I will +not stay in it. My injuries are so great that they cannot admit +forgiveness.'</p> + +<p>'What a horrible, unforgiving spirit yours must be!' cried Dr Norberry: +'and after all, I tell you again, that Adeline has something to forgive +and forget too; and she sets you an example of Christian charity in +coming hither to console and comfort you, poor forsaken woman as you +are!'</p> + +<p>'Forsaken!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray: 'aye; why, and for whom, was I +forsaken? There's the pang! and yet you wonder that I cannot instantly +forgive and receive the woman who injured me where I was most +vulnerable.'</p> + +<p>'O my mother!' cried Adeline, almost indignantly, 'and can that wretch, +though dead, still have power to influence my fate in this dreadful +manner? and can you still regret the loss of the affection of that man +whose addresses were a disgrace to you?'</p> + +<p>At these unguarded words, and too just reproaches, Mrs Mowbray lost all +self-command; and, in a voice almost inarticulate with rage, +exclaimed:—'I loved that wretch, as you are pleased to call him. I +gloried in the addresses which you are pleased to call my disgrace. But +he loved you—he left me for you—and on your account he made me endure +the pangs of being forsaken and despised by the man whom I adored. Then +mark my words: I solemnly swear,' dropping on her knees as she spoke, +'by all my hopes of happiness hereafter, that until you shall have +experienced the anguish of having lost the man whom you adore, till +<i>you</i> shall have been as wretched in love, and as disgraced in the eye +of the world, as I have been, I never will see you more, or pardon your +many sins against me—No—not even were you on your death-bed. Yet, no; +I am wrong there—Yes; on your death-bed,' she added, her voice +faltering as she spoke, and passion giving way in a degree to the +dictates of returning nature,—'Yes, there; there I should—I should +forgive you.'</p> + +<p>'Then I feel that you will forgive me soon,' faintly articulated Adeline +sinking on the ground; while Mrs Mowbray was leaving the room, and Dr +Norberry was standing motionless with horror, from the rash oath which +he had just heard. But Adeline's fall aroused him from his stupor.</p> + +<p>'For pity's sake, do not go and leave your daughter dying!' cried he: +'your vow does not forbid you to continue to see her now.' Mrs Mowbray +turned back, and started with horror at beholding the countenance of +Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Is she really dying?' cried she eagerly, 'and have I killed her?' These +words, spoken in a faltering tone, and with a look of anxiety, seemed to +recall the fleeting spirit of Adeline. She looked up at her mother, a +sort of smile quivered on her lip; and faintly articulating 'I am +better,' she burst into a convulsive flood of tears, and laid her head +on the bosom of her compassionate friend.</p> + +<p>'She will do now,' cried he exultingly to Mrs Mowbray: 'You need alarm +yourself no longer.'</p> + +<p>But alarm was perhaps a feeling of enjoyment, to the sensations which +then took possession of Mrs Mowbray. The apparent danger of Adeline had +awakened her long dormant tenderness: but she had just bound herself by +an oath not to give way to it, except under circumstances the most +unwelcome and affecting, and had therefore embittered her future days +with remorse and unavailing regret.—For some minutes she stood looking +wildly and mournfully on Adeline, longing to clasp her to her bosom, and +pronounce her pardon, but not daring to violate her oath. At length, 'I +cannot bear this torment,' she exclaimed, and rushed out of the room: +and when in another apartment, she recollected, and uttered a scream of +agony as she did so, that she had seen Adeline probably for the last +time; for, voluntarily, she was now to see her no more.</p> + +<p>The same recollections occurred to Adeline; and as the door closed on +her mother, she raised herself up, and looked eagerly to catch the last +glimpse of her gown, as the door shut it from her sight. 'Let us go away +directly now,' said she, 'for the air of this room is not good for me.'</p> + +<p>The doctor, affected beyond measure at the expression of quiet despair +with which she spoke, went out to order a coach; and Adeline instantly +rose, and kissed with fond devotion the chair on which her mother had +sat. Suddenly she heard a deep sigh—it came from the next room—perhaps +it came from her mother; perhaps she could still see her again: and with +cautious step she knelt down and looked through the key-hole of the +door.</p> + +<p>She did see her mother once more. Mrs Mowbray was lying on the bed, +beating the ground with her foot, and sighing as if her heart would +break.</p> + +<p>'O that I dare go in to her!' said Adeline to herself: 'but I can at +least bid her farewell here.' She then put her mouth to the aperture, +and exclaimed, 'Mother, dearest mother! since we meet now for the last +time—' (Mrs Mowbray started from the bed) 'let me thank you for all the +affection, all the kindness which you lavished on me during eighteen +happy years. I shall never cease to love and pray for you.' (Mrs Mowbray +sobbed aloud.) 'Perhaps, you will some day or other think you have been +harsh to me, and may wish that you had not taken so cruel a vow.' (Mrs +Mowbray beat her breast in agony: the moment of repentance was already +come.) 'It may therefore be a comfort to you at such moments to know, +that I sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, forgive this rash +action:—and now, my dearest mother, hear my parting prayers for your +happiness!'</p> + +<p>At this moment a noise in the next room convinced Adeline that her +mother had fallen down in a fainting fit, and the doctor entered the +room.</p> + +<p>'What have I done?' she exclaimed. 'Go to her this instant.'—He obeyed. +Raising up Mrs Mowbray in his arms, he laid her on the bed, while +Adeline bent over her in silent anguish, with all the sorrow of filial +anxiety. But when the remedies which Dr Norberry administered began to +take effect, she exclaimed, 'For the last time! Cruel, but most dear +mother!' and pressed her head to her bosom, and kissed her pale lips +with almost frantic emotion.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray opened her eyes; they met those of Adeline and instantly +closed again.</p> + +<p>'She has looked at me for the last time,' said Adeline; 'and now this +one kiss, my mother, and farewell for ever!' So saying she rushed out of +the room, and did not stop till she reached the coach, which Glenmurray +had called, and springing into it, was received into the arms of +Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'You, are my all now,' said she. 'You have long been mine,' replied he: +but respecting the anguish and disappointment depicted on her +countenance, he forbore to ask for an explanation; and resting her pale +cheek on his bosom, they reached the inn in silence.</p> + +<p>Adeline had walked up and down the room a number of times, had as often +looked out of the window, before Dr Norberry, whom she had been +anxiously expecting and looking for, made his appearance. 'Thank God, +you are come at last!' said she, seizing his hand as he entered.</p> + +<p>'I left Mrs Mowbray,' replied he, 'much better both in mind and body.'</p> + +<p>'A blessed hearing! replied Adeline.</p> + +<p>'And you, my child, how are you?' asked the doctor affectionately.</p> + +<p>'I know not yet,' answered Adeline mournfully: 'as yet I am stunned by +the blow which I have received; but pray tell me what has passed between +you and my mother since we left the hotel.'</p> + +<p>'What has passed?' cried Dr Norberry, starting from his chair, taking +two hasty strides across the room, pulling up the cape of his coat, and +muttering an oath between his shut teeth—'Why, this passed:—The +deluded woman renounced her daughter; and her friend, her old and +faithful friend, has renounced her.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! my poor mother!' exclaimed Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Girl! girl! don't be foolish,' replied the doctor; 'keep your pity for +more deserving objects; and, as the wisest thing you can do, endeavour +to forget your mother.'</p> + +<p>'Forget her! Never.'</p> + +<p>'Well, well, you will be wiser in time; and now you shall hear all that +passed. When she recovered entirely, and found that you were gone, she +gave way to an agony of sorrow, such as I never before witnessed; for I +believe that I never beheld before the agony of remorse.'</p> + +<p>'My poor mother!' cried Adeline, again bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>'What! again!' exclaimed the doctor. (Adeline motioned to him to go on, +and he continued.) 'At sight of this, I was weak enough to pity her; +and, with the greatest simplicity, I told her, that I was glad to see +that she felt penitent for her conduct, since penitence paved the way to +amendment; when, to my great surprise, all the vanished fierceness and +haughtiness of her look returned, and she told me, that so far from +repenting she approved of her conduct; and that remorse had no share in +her sorrow; that she wept from consciousness of misery inflicted by the +faults of others, not her own.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! Dr Norberry,' cried Adeline reproachfully, 'I doubt, by awakening +her pride, you destroyed the tenderness returning towards me.'</p> + +<p>'May be so. However, so much the better; for anger is a less painful +state of mind to endure than that of remorse: and while she thinks +herself only injured and aggrieved, she will be less unhappy.'</p> + +<p>'Then,' continued Adeline in a faltering voice, 'I care not how long she +hates me.'</p> + +<p>Dr Norberry looked at Adeline a moment with tears in his eyes, and +evidently gulped down a rising sob, 'Good child! good child!' he at +length articulated. 'But she'll forget and forgive all in time, I do not doubt.'</p> + +<p>'Impossible: remember her oath.'</p> + +<p>'And do you really suppose that she will think herself bound to keep so +silly and rash an oath; an oath made in the heat of passion?'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly I do; and I know, that were she to break it, she would +never be otherwise than wretched all her life after. Therefore, unless +Glenmurray forsakes me (she added, trying to smile archly as she spoke), +and this I am not happy enough to expect, I look on our separation in +this world to be eternal.'</p> + +<p>'You do?—Then, poor devil! how miserable she will be, when her present +resentment shall subside! Well; when that time comes I may perhaps see +her again,' added the doctor, gulping again.</p> + +<p>'Heaven bless you for that intention!' cried Adeline. 'But how could you +ever have the heart to renounce her?'</p> + +<p>'Girl! you are almost as provoking as your mother. Why, how could I have +the heart to do otherwise, when she whitewashed herself and blackened +you? To be sure, it did cause me a twinge or two to do it; and had she +been an iota less haughty, I should have turned back and said, "Kiss and +be friends again." But she seemed so provokingly anxious to get rid of +me, and waved me with her hand to the door in such a tragedy queen sort +of a manner, that, having told her very civilly to go to the devil her +own way, I gulped down a sort of a tender choking in my throat, and made +as rapid an exit as possible. And now another trial awaits me. I came to +town, at some inconvenience to myself, to try to do you service. I have +failed, and I have now no further business here: so we must part, and I +know not when we shall meet again. For I rarely leave home, and may not +see you again for years.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' exclaimed Adeline, 'Surely,' looking at Glenmurray, 'we might +settle in Dr Norberry's neighbourhood?'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray said nothing, but looked at the doctor; who seemed confused, +and was silent.</p> + +<p>'Look ye, my dear girl,' said he at length: 'the idea of your settling +near me occurred to me, but—' here he took two hasty strides across the +room—'in short, that's an impossible thing; so I beg you to think no +more about it. If, indeed, you mean to marry Mr Glenmurray—'</p> + +<p>'Which I shall not do,' replied Adeline coldly.</p> + +<p>'There again, now!' cried the doctor pettishly: 'you, in your way, are +quite as obstinate and ridiculous as your mother. However, I hope you +will know better in time. But it grows late—'tis time I should be in my +chaise, and I hear it driving up. Mr Glenmurray,' continued he in an +altered tone of voice, 'to your care and your tenderness I leave this +poor child; and, zounds, man! if you will but burn your books before her +face, and swear they are stuff, why, 'sdeath, I say, I would come to +town on purpose to do you homage.—Adeline, my child, God bless you! I +have loved you from your infancy, and I wish, from my soul, that I left +you in a better situation. But you will write to me, heh?'</p> + +<p>'Undoubtedly.'</p> + +<p>'Well, one kiss:—don't be jealous, Glenmurray. Your hand, man.—Woons, +what a hand! My dear fellow, take care of yourself, for that poor +child's sake: get the advice which I recommended, and good air.' A +rising sob interrupted him—he hemmed it off, and ran into his chaise.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_17" id="ch_17"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h3> + +<p>'Now then,' said Adeline, her tears dropping fast as she spoke, 'now, +then, we are alone in the world; henceforward we must be all to each +other.'</p> + +<p>'Is the idea a painful one, Adeline?' replied Glenmurray reproachfully.</p> + +<p>'Not so,' returned Adeline, 'Still I can't yet forget that I had a +mother, and a kind one too.'</p> + +<p>'And may have again.'</p> + +<p>'Impossible:—there is a vow in heaven against it. No—My plans for +future happiness must be laid unmindful and independent of her. They +must have you and your happiness for their sole object; I must live for +you alone: and you,' added she in a faltering voice, 'must live for me.'</p> + +<p>'I will live as long as I can,' replied Glenmurray sighing, 'and as one +step towards it I shall keep early hours: so to rest, dear Adeline, and +let us forget our sorrows as soon as possible.'</p> + +<p>The next morning Adeline's and Glenmurray's first care was to determine +on their future residence. It was desirable that it should be at a +sufficient distance from London, to deserve the name and have the +conveniences of a country abode, yet sufficiently near it for Glenmurray +to have the advice of a London physician if necessary.</p> + +<p>'Suppose we fix at Richmond?' said Glenmurray: and Adeline, to whom the +idea of dwelling on a spot at once so classical and beautiful was most +welcome, joyfully consented; and in a few days they were settled there +in a pleasant but expensive lodging.</p> + +<p>But here, as when abroad, Glenmurray occasionally saw old acquaintances, +many of whom were willing to renew their intercourse with him for the +sake of being introduced to Adeline; and who, from a knowledge of her +situation, presumed to pay her that sort of homage, which, though not +understood by her, gave pangs unutterable to the delicate mind of +Glenmurray. 'Were she my wife, they dared not pay her such marked +attention,' said he to himself; and again, as delicately as he could, he +urged Adeline to sacrifice her principles to the prejudices of society.</p> + +<p>'I thought,' replied Adeline gravely, 'that, as we lived for each other, +we might act independent of society, and serve it by our example even +against its will.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray was silent.—He did not like to own how painful and +mischievous he found in practice the principles which he admired in +theory—and Adeline continued:</p> + +<p>'Believe me, Glenmurray, ours is the very situation calculated to urge +us on in the pursuit of truth. We are answerable to no one for our +conduct; and we can make any experiments in morals that we choose. I am +wholly at a loss to comprehend why you persist in urging me to marry +you. Take care, my dear Glenmurray—the high respect I bear your +character was shaken a little by your fighting a duel in defiance of +your principles; and your eagerness to marry, in further defiance of +them, may weaken my esteem, if not my love.'</p> + +<p>Adeline smiled as she said this: but Glenmurray thought she spoke more +in earnest than she was willing to allow; and, alarmed at the threat, he +only answered, 'You know it is for your sake merely that I speak,' and +dropped the subject; secretly resolving, however, that he would not walk +with Adeline in the fashionable promenades, at the hours commonly spent +there by the beau monde.</p> + +<p>But, in spite of this precaution, they could not escape the assiduities +of some gay men of fashion, who knew Glenmurray and admired his +companion; and Adeline at length suspected that Glenmurray was jealous. +But in this she wronged him; it was not the attention paid her, but the +nature of it, that disturbed him. Nor is it to be wondered at that +Adeline herself was eager to avoid the public walks, when it is known +that one of her admirers at Richmond was the Colonel Mordaunt whom she +had become acquainted with at Bath.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt, 'curst with every granted prayer,' was just beginning +to feel the tedium of life, when he saw Adeline unexpectedly at +Richmond; and though he felt shocked at first, at beholding her in so +different a situation from that in which he had first beheld her, still +that very situation, by holding forth to him a prospect of being +favoured by her in his turn, revived his admiration with more than its +original violence, and he resolved to be, if possible, the lover of +Adeline, after Glenmurray should have fallen a victim, as he had no +doubt but he would, to his dangerous illness.</p> + +<p>But the opportunities which he had of seeing her suddenly ceased. She no +longer frequented the public walks; and him, though he suspected it not, +she most studiously avoided; for she could not bear to behold the +alteration in his manner when be addressed her, an alteration perhaps +unknown to himself. True, it was not insulting; but Adeline, who had +admired him too much at Bath not to have examined with minute attention +the almost timid expression of his countenance, and the respectfulness +of his manner when he addressed her, shrunk abashed from the ardent and +impassioned expression with which he now met her—an expression which +Adeline used to call 'looking like Sir Patrick;' and which indicated +even to her inexperience, that the admiration which he then felt was of +a nature less pure and flattering than the one which she excited before; +and though in her own eyes she appeared as worthy of respect as ever, +she was forced to own even to herself, that persons in general would be +of a contrary opinion.</p> + +<p>But in vain did she resolve to walk very early in a morning only, being +fully persuaded that she should then meet with no one. Colonel Mordaunt +was as wakeful as she was; and being convinced that she walked during +some part of the day, and probably early in a morning, he resolved to +watch near the door of her lodgings, in hopes to obtain an hour's +conversation with her. The consequence was, that he saw Adeline one +morning walk pensively alone, down the shady road that leads from the +terrace to Petersham.</p> + +<p>This opportunity was not to be overlooked; and he overtook and accosted +her with such an expression of pleasure on his countenance, as was +sufficient to alarm the now suspicious delicacy of Adeline; and, +conscious as she was that Glenmurray beheld Colonel Mordaunt's +attentions with pain, a deep blush overspread her cheek at his approach, +while her eyes were timidly cast down.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt saw her emotion, and attributed it to a cause +flattering to his vanity; it even encouraged him to seize her hand; and, +while he openly congratulated himself on his good fortune in meeting her +alone, he presumed to press her hand to his lips. Adeline indignantly +withdrew it, and replied very coldly to his inquiries concerning her +health.</p> + +<p>'But where have you hidden yourself lately?' cried he.—'O Miss Mowbray! +loveliest and, I may add, most beloved of women, how have I longed to +see you alone, and pour out my whole soul to you!'</p> + +<p>Adeline answered this rhapsody by a look of astonishment only—being +silent from disgust and consternation,—while involuntarily she +quickened her pace, as if wishing to avoid him.</p> + +<p>'O hear me, and hear me patiently!' he resumed. 'You must have noticed +the effect which your charms produced on me at Bath; and may I dare to +add that my attentions then did not seem displeasing to you?'</p> + +<p>'Sir!' interrupted Adeline, sighing deeply, 'my situation is now +changed; and—'</p> + +<p>'It is so, I thank Fortune that it is so,' replied Colonel Mordaunt; +'and I am happy to say, it is changed by no crime of mine.' (Here +Adeline started and turned pale.) 'But I were unworthy all chance of +happiness, were I to pass by the seeming opportunity of being blest, +which the alteration to which you allude holds forth to me.'</p> + +<p>Here he paused, as if in embarrassment, but Adeline was unable to +interrupt him.</p> + +<p>'Miss Mowbray,' he at length continued, 'I am told that you are not on +good terms with your mother; nay, I have heard that she has renounced +you; may I presume to ask if this be true?'</p> + +<p>'It is,' answered Adeline trembling with emotion.</p> + +<p>'Then, as before long it is probable that you will be without—without a +protector—' (Adeline turned round and fixed her eyes wildly upon him.) +'To be sure,' continued he, avoiding her steadfast gaze, 'I could wish +to call you mine this moment; but, unhappy as you appear to be in your +present situation, I know, unlike many women circumstanced as you are, +you are too generous and noble-minded to be capable of forsaking in his +last illness the man whom in his happier moments you have honoured with +your love.' As he said this, Adeline, her lips parched with agitation, +and breathing short, caught hold of his arm; and pressing her cold hand, +he went on: 'Therefore, I will not venture even to wish to be honoured +with a kind look from you till Mr Glenmurray is removed to a happier +world. But then, dearest of women, you whom I loved without hope of +possessing you, and whom now I dote upon to madness, I conjure you to +admit my visits, and let my attentions prevail on you to accept my +protection, and allow me to devote the remainder of my days to love and +you!'</p> + +<p>'Merciful Heaven!' exclaimed Adeline, clasping her hands together, 'to +what insults am I reserved!'</p> + +<p>'Insults!' echoed Colonel Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>'Yes, Sir,' replied Adeline: 'you have insulted me, grossly insulted me, +and know not the woman whom you have tortured to the very soul.'</p> + +<p>'Hear me, hear me, Miss Mowbray!' exclaimed Colonel Mordaunt, almost as +much agitated as herself: 'by heaven I meant not to insult you! and +perhaps I—perhaps I have been misinformed—No! Yes, yes, it must be so; +your indignation proves that I have—You are, no doubt—and on my knees +I implore your pardon—you are the wife of Mr Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'And suppose I am <i>not</i> his wife,' cried Adeline, 'is it then given to a +wife only to be secure from being insulted by offers horrible to the +delicacy, and wounding to the sensibility, like those which I have heard +from you?' But before Colonel Mordaunt could reply, Adeline's thoughts +had reverted to what he had said of Glenmurray's certain danger; and, +unable to bear this confirmation of her fears, with the speed of phrensy +she ran towards home, and did not stop till she was in sight of her +lodging, and the still closed curtain of her apartment met her view.</p> + +<p>'He is still sleeping, then,' she exclaimed, 'and I have time to recover +myself, and endeavour to hide from him the emotion of which I could not +tell the reason.' So saying, she softly entered the house, and by the +time Glenmurray rose she had regained her composure. Still there was a +look of anxiety on her fine countenance, which could not escape the +penetrating eye of love.</p> + +<p>'Why are you so grave this morning?' said Glenmurray, as Adeline seated +herself at the breakfast table:—'I feel much better and more cheerful +to-day.'</p> + +<p>'But are you, indeed, better?' replied Adeline, fixing her tearful eyes +on him.</p> + +<p>'Or I much deceive myself,' said Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'Thank Heaven!' devoutly replied Adeline. 'I thought—I thought—' Here +tears choked her utterance, and Glenmurray drew from her a confession of +her anxious fears for him, though she prudently resolved not to agitate +him by telling him of the rencontre with Colonel Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>But when the continued assurances of Glenmurray that he was better, and +the animation of his countenance, had in a degree removed her fears for +his life, she had leisure to revert to another source of uneasiness, +and to dwell on the insult which she had experienced from Colonel +Mordaunt's offer of protection.</p> + +<p>'How strange and irrational,' thought Adeline, 'are the prejudices of +society! Because an idle ceremony has not been muttered over me at the +altar, I am liable to be thought a woman of vicious inclinations, and to +be exposed to the most daring insults.'</p> + +<p>As these reflections occurred to her, she could scarcely help regretting +that her principles would not allow her delicacy and virtue to be placed +under the sacred shelter bestowed by that ceremony which she was pleased +to call idle. And she was not long without experiencing still further +hardships from the situation in which she had persisted so obstinately +to remain. Their establishment consisted of a footman and a maid +servant; but the latter had of late been so remiss in the performance of +her duties, and so impertinent when reproved for her faults, that +Adeline was obliged to give her warning.</p> + +<p>'Warning, indeed!' replied the girl: 'a mighty hardship, truly! I can +promise you I did not mean to stay long; it is no such favour to live +with a kept miss; and if you come to that, I think I am as good as you.'</p> + +<p>Shocked, surprised, and unable to answer, Adeline took refuge in her +room. Never before had she been accosted by her inferiors without +respectful attention; and now, owing to her situation, even a +servant-maid thought herself authorised to insult her, and to raise +herself to her level!</p> + +<p>'But surely,' said Adeline mentally, 'I ought to reason with her, and +try to convince her that I am in reality as virtuous as if I were +Glenmurray's wife, instead of his mistress.'</p> + +<p>Accordingly she went back into the kitchen; but her resolution failed +her when she found the footman there, listening with a broad grin on his +countenance to the relation which Mary was giving him of the 'fine +trimming' which she had given 'madam.'</p> + +<p>Scarcely did the presence of Adeline interrupt or restrain her; but at +last she turned round and said, 'And, pray, have you got anything to say +to me?'</p> + +<p>'Nothing more now,' meekly replied Adeline, 'unless you will follow me +to my chamber.'</p> + +<p>'With all my heart,' cried the girl; and Adeline returned to her own +room.</p> + +<p>'I wish, Mary, to set you right,' said Adeline, 'with respect to my +situation. You called me, I think, a kept miss, and seemed to think ill +of me.'</p> + +<p>'Why, to be sure, ma'am,' replied Mary, a little alarmed—'every body +says you are a kept lady, and so I made no bones of saying so; but I am +sure if so be you are not so, why I ax pardon.'</p> + +<p>'But what do you mean by the term kept lady?'</p> + +<p>'Why, a lady who lives with a man without being married to him, I take +it; and that I take to be your case, ain't it, I pray?'</p> + +<p>Adeline blushed and was silent:—it certainly was her case. However, she +took courage and went on.</p> + +<p>'But mistresses, or kept ladies in general, are women of bad character, +and would live with any man; but I never loved, nor ever shall love, any +man but Mr Glenmurray. I look on myself as his wife in the sight of God; +nor will I quit him till death shall separate us.'</p> + +<p>'Then if so be that you don't want to change, I think you might as well +be married to him.'</p> + +<p>Adeline was again silent for a moment, but continued—</p> + +<p>'Mr Glenmurray would marry me to-morrow, if I chose.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed! Well, if master is inclined to make an honest woman of you, you +had better take him at his word, I think.'</p> + +<p>'Gracious heaven!' cried Adeline, 'what an expression! Why will you +persist to confound me with those deluded women who are victims of their +own weakness?'</p> + +<p>'As to that,' replied Mary, 'you talk too fine for me; but a fact is a +fact—are you or are you not my master's wife?'</p> + +<p>'I am not.'</p> + +<p>'Why then you are his mistress, and a kept lady to all intents and +purposes: so what signifies argufying the matter? I lived with a kept +madam before; and she was as good as you, for aught I know.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, shocked and disappointed, told her she might leave the room.</p> + +<p>'I am going,' pertly answered Mary, 'and to seek for a place; but I must +beg that you will not own you are no better than you should be, when a +lady comes to ask my character; for then perhaps I should not get any +one to take me. I shall call you Mrs Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'But I shall not call <i>myself</i> so,' replied Adeline. 'I will not say +what is not true, on any account.'</p> + +<p>'There now, there's spite! and yet you pretend to call yourself a +gentlewoman, and to be better than other kept ladies! Why, you are not +worthy to tie the shoestrings of my last mistress—she did not mind +telling a lie rather than lose a poor servant a place; and she called +herself a married woman rather than hurt me.'</p> + +<p>'Neither she nor you, then,' replied Adeline gravely, 'were sensible of +what great importance a strict adherence to veracity is, to the +interests of society. I am;—and for the sake of mankind I will always +tell the truth.'</p> + +<p>'You had better tell one innocent lie for mine,' replied the girl +pertly. 'I dare to say the world will neither know nor care anything +about it: and I can tell you I shall expect you will.'</p> + +<p>So saying she shut the door with violence, leaving Adeline mournfully +musing on the distress attending on her situation, and even disposed to +question the propriety of remaining in it.</p> + +<p>The inquietude of her mind, as usual, showed itself in her countenance, +and involved her in another difficulty: to make Glenmurray uneasy by an +avowal of what had passed between her and Mary was impossible; yet how +could she conceal it from him? And while she was deliberating on this +point, Glenmurray entered the room, and tenderly inquired what had so +evidently disturbed her.</p> + +<p>'Nothing of any consequence,' she faltered out, and burst into tears.</p> + +<p>'Could "nothing of consequence" produce such emotion?' answered +Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'But I am ashamed to own the cause of my uneasiness.'</p> + +<p>'Ashamed to own it to me, Adeline? To be sure, you have a great deal to +fear from my severity!' said he, faintly smiling.</p> + +<p>Adeline for a moment resolved to tell him the whole truth; but fearful +of throwing him into a degree of agitation hurtful to his weak frame, +she, who had the moment before so nobly supported the necessity of a +strict adherence to truth, condescended to equivocate and evade; and +turning away her head, while a conscious blush overspread her cheek, she +replied, 'You know that I look forward with anxiety and uneasiness to +the time of my approaching confinement.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray believed her; and overcome by some painful feelings, which +fears for himself and anxiety for her occasioned him, he silently +pressed her to his bosom; and, choked with contending emotions, returned +to his own apartment.</p> + +<p>'And I have stooped to the meanness of disguising the truth!' cried +Adeline, clasping her hands convulsively together: 'surely, surely, +there must be something radically wrong in a situation which exposes one +to such a variety of degradations!'</p> + +<p>Mary, meanwhile, had gone in search of a place; and having found the +lady to whom she had been advised to offer herself, at home, she +returned to tell Adeline that Mrs Pemberton would call in half an hour +to inquire her character. The half-hour, an anxious one to Adeline, +having elapsed, a lady knocked at the door, and inquired, in Adeline's +hearing for Mrs Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'Tell the lady,' cried Adeline immediately from the top of the +staircase, 'that Miss Mowbray will wait on her directly.' The footman +obeyed, and Mrs Pemberton was ushered into the parlour: and now, for the +first time in her life, Adeline trembled to approach a stranger; for the +first time she was going to appear before a fellow-creature, conscious +she was become an object of scorn, and, though an enthusiast for virtue, +would be considered as a votary of vice. But it was a mortification +which she must submit to undergo; and hastily throwing a large shawl +over her shoulders, to hide her figure as much as possible, with a +trembling hand she opened the door, and found herself in the dreaded +presence of Mrs Pemberton.</p> + +<p>Nor was she at all re-assured when she found that lady dressed in the +neat, modest garb of a strict Quaker—a garb which creates an immediate +idea in the mind, of more than common rigidness of principles and +sanctity of conduct in the wearer of it. Adeline curtsied in silence.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton bowed her head courteously; then, with a countenance of +great sweetness, and a voice calculated to inspire confidence, said, 'I +believe thy name is Mowbray; but I came to see Mrs Glenmurray; and as on +these occasions I always wish to confer with the principal, wouldst +thou, if it be not inconvenient, ask the mistress of Mary to let me see +her?'</p> + +<p>'I am myself the mistress of Mary,' replied Adeline in a faint voice.</p> + +<p>'I ask thine excuse,' answered Mrs Pemberton, re-seating herself: 'as +thou art Mrs Glenmurray, thou art the person I wanted to see.'</p> + +<p>Here Adeline changed colour, overcome with the consciousness that she +ought to undeceive her, and the sense of the difficulty of doing so.</p> + +<p>'But thou art very pale, and seemest uneasy,' continued the gentle +Quaker—'I hope thy husband is not worse?'</p> + +<p>'Mr Glenmurray, but not my husband,' said Adeline, 'is better to-day.'</p> + +<p>'Art thou not married?' asked Mrs Pemberton with quickness.</p> + +<p>'I am not.'</p> + +<p>'And yet thou livest with the gentleman I named, and art the person whom +Mary called Mrs Glenmurray!'</p> + +<p>'I am,' replied Adeline, her paleness yielding to a deep crimson, and +her eyes filling with tears.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton sat for a minute in silence; then rising with an air of +cold dignity, 'I fear thy servant is not likely to suit me,' she +observed, 'and I will not detain thee any longer.'</p> + +<p>'She can be an excellent servant,' faltered out Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Very likely—but there are objections.' So saying she reached the door: +but as she passed Adeline she stopped, interested and affected by the +mournful expression of her countenance, and the visible effort she made +to retain her tears.</p> + +<p>Adeline saw, and felt humbled at the compassion which her countenance +expressed: to be an object of pity was as mortifying as to be an object +of scorn, and she turned her eyes on Mrs Pemberton with a look of proud +indignation: but they met those of Mrs Pemberton fixed on her with a +look of such benevolence, that her anger was instantly subdued; and it +occurred to her that she might make the benevolent compassion visible in +Mrs Pemberton's countenance serviceable to her discarded servant.</p> + +<p>'Stay, madam,' she cried, as Mrs Pemberton was about to leave the room, +'allow me a moment's conversation with you.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton, with an eagerness which she suddenly endeavoured to +check, returned to her seat.</p> + +<p>'I suspect,' said Adeline, (gathering courage from the conscious +kindness of her motive,) 'that your objection to take Mary Warner into +your service proceeds wholly from the situation of her present +mistress.'</p> + +<p>'Thou judgest rightly,' was Mrs Pemberton's answer.</p> + +<p>'Nor do I wonder,' continued Adeline, 'that you make this objection, +when I consider the present prejudices of society.'</p> + +<p>'Prejudices!' softly exclaimed the benevolent Quaker.</p> + +<p>Adeline faintly smiled, and went on—'But surely you will allow, that in +a family quiet and secluded as ours, and in daily contemplation of an +union uninterrupted, faithful, and virtuous, and possessing all the +sacredness of marriage, though without the name, it is not likely that +the young woman in question should have imbibed any vicious habits or +principles?'</p> + +<p>'But in contemplating thy union itself, she has lived in the +contemplation of vice; and thou wilt own, that, by having given it an +air of respectability, thou hast only made it more dangerous.'</p> + +<p>'On this point,' cried Adeline, 'I see we must disagree—I shall +therefore, without further preamble, inform you, madam, that Mary, aware +of the difficulty of procuring a service, if it were known that she had +lived with a kept mistress, as the phrase is,' (here an indignant blush +overspread the face of Adeline,) 'desired me to call myself the wife of +Glenmurray: but this, from my abhorrence of all falsehood, I +peremptorily refused.'</p> + +<p>'And thou didst well,' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton, 'and I respect thy +resolution.'</p> + +<p>'But my sincerity will, I fear, prevent the poor girl's obtaining other +reputable places; and I, alas! am not rich enough to make her amends for +the injury which my conscience forces me to do her. But if you, madam, +could be prevailed upon to take her into your family, even for a short +time only, to wipe away the disgrace which her living with me has +brought upon her—'</p> + +<p>'Why can she not remain with thee?' asked Mrs Pemberton hastily.</p> + +<p>'Because she neglected her duty, and, when reproved for it, replied in +very injurious language.'</p> + +<p>'Presuming probably on thy way of life?'</p> + +<p>'I must confess that she has reproached me with it.'</p> + +<p>'And this was all her fault?'</p> + +<p>'It was:—she can be an excellent servant.'</p> + +<p>'Thou hast said enough; thy conscience shall not have the additional +burthen to bear, of having deprived a poor girl of her maintenance—I +will take her.'</p> + +<p>'A thousand thanks to you,' replied Adeline: 'you have removed a weight +off my mind; but my conscience, has none to bear.'</p> + +<p>'No?' returned Mrs Pemberton: 'dost thou deem thy conduct blameless in +the eyes of that Being whom thou hast just blessed?'</p> + +<p>'As far as my connexion with Mr Glenmurray is concerned, I do.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed?'</p> + +<p>'Nay, doubt me not—believe me that I never wantonly violate the truth; +and that even an evasion, which I, for the first time in my life, was +guilty of to-day, has given me a pang to which I will not again expose +myself.'</p> + +<p>'And yet, inconsistent beings as we are,' cried Mrs Pemberton, +'straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel, what is the guilt of the +evasion which weighs on thy mind, compared to that of living, as thou +dost, in an illicit commerce? Surely, surely, thine heart accuses thee; +for thy face bespeaks uneasiness, and thou wilt listen to the whispers +of penitence, and leave, ere long, the man who has betrayed thee.'</p> + +<p>'The man who has betrayed me! Mr Glenmurray is no betrayer—he is one of +the best of human beings. No, madam: if I had acceded to his wishes, I +should long ago have been his wife, but, from a conviction of the folly +of marriage, I have preferred living with him without the performance of +a ceremony which, in the eye of reason, can confer neither honour nor +happiness.'</p> + +<p>'Poor thing!' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton, rising as she spoke, 'I +understand thee now—Thou art one of the enlightened, as they call +themselves—Thou art one of those wise in their own conceit, who, +disregarding the customs of ages, and the dictates of experience, set up +their own opinions against the hallowed institutions of men and the will +of the Most High.'</p> + +<p>'Can you blame me,' interrupted Adeline, 'for acting according to what I +think right?'</p> + +<p>'But hast thou well studied the subject on which thou hast decided? Yet, +alas! to thee how vain must be the voice of admonition!' (she continued, +her countenance kindling into strong expression as she spoke)—'From the +poor victim of passion and persuasion, penitence and amendment might be +rationally expected; and she, from the path of frailty, might turn again +to that of virtue: but for one like thee, glorying in thine iniquity, +and erring, not from the too tender heart, but the vain-glorious +head,—for thee there is, I fear, no blessed return to the right way; +and I, who would have tarried with thee even in the house of sin, to +have reclaimed thee, penitent, now hasten from thee, and for ever—firm +as thou art in guilt.'</p> + +<p>As she said this she reached the door; while Adeline, affected by her +emotion, and distressed by her language, stood silent and almost abashed +before her.</p> + +<p>But with her hand on the lock she turned round, and in a gentler voice +said, 'Yet not even against a wilful offender like thee, should one gate +that may lead to amendment be shut. Thy situation and thy fortunes may +soon be greatly changed; affliction may subdue thy pride, and the +counsel of a friend of thine own sex might then sound sweetly in thine +ears. Should that time come, I will be that friend. I am now about to +set off for Lisbon with a very dear friend, about whom I feel as +solicitous as thou about thy Glenmurray; and there I shall remain some +time. Here then is my address; and if thou shouldest want my advice or +assistance write to me, and be assured that Rachel Pemberton will try +to forget thy errors in thy distresses.'</p> + +<p>So saying she left the room, but returned again, before Adeline had +recovered herself from the various emotions which she had experienced +during her address, to ask her Christian name. But when Adeline replied, +'My name is Adeline Mowbray,' Mrs Pemberton started, and eagerly +exclaimed, 'Art thou Adeline Mowbray of Gloucestershire—the young +heiress, as she was called, of Rosevalley?'</p> + +<p>'I was once,' replied Adeline, sinking back into a chair, 'Adeline +Mowbray of Rosevalley.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton for a few minutes gazed on her in mournful silence: 'And +art thou,' she cried, 'Adeline Mowbray? Art thou that courteous, +blooming, blessed being, (for every tongue that I heard name thee +blessed thee,) whom I saw only three years ago bounding over thy native +hills, all grace, and joy, and innocence?'</p> + +<p>Adeline tried to speak, but her voice failed her.</p> + +<p>'Art thou she,' continued Mrs Pemberton, 'whom I saw also leaning from +the window of her mother's mansion, and inquiring with the countenance +of a pitying angel concerning the health of a wan labourer who limped +past the door?'</p> + +<p>Adeline hid her face with her hands.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton went on in a lower tone of voice,—'I came with some +companions to see thy mother's grounds, and to hear the nightingales in +her groves; but' (here Mrs Pemberton's voice faltered) 'I have seen a +sight far beyond that of the proudest mansion, said I to those who asked +me of thy mother's seat; I have heard what was sweeter to my ear than +the voice of the nightingale; I have seen a blooming girl nursed in +idleness and prosperity, yet active in the discharge of every Christian +duty; and I have heard her speak in the soothing accents of kindness and +of pity, while her name was followed by blessings, and parents prayed to +have a child like her. O lost, unhappy girl! such <i>was</i> Adeline Mowbray: +and often, very often, has thy graceful image recurred to my +remembrance: but, how art thou changed! Where is the open eye of +happiness? where is the bloom that spoke a heart at peace with itself? I +repeat it, and I repeat it with agony. Father of mercies! is this thy +Adeline Mowbray?'</p> + +<p>Here, overcome with emotion, Mrs Pemberton paused; but Adeline could not +break silence: she rose, she stretched out her hand as if going to +speak, but her utterance failed her, and again she sunk on a chair.</p> + +<p>'It was thine,' resumed Mrs Pemberton in a faint and broken voice, 'to +diffuse happiness around thee, and to enjoy wealth unhated, because thy +hand dispensed nobly the riches which it had received bounteously: when +the ear heard thee, then it blessed thee; when the eye saw thee, it gave +witness to thee; and yet—'</p> + +<p>Here again she paused, and raised her fine eyes to heaven for a few +minutes, as if in prayer; then, pressing Adeline's hand with an almost +convulsive grasp, she drew her bonnet over her face, as if eager to hide +the emotion which she was unable to subdue, and suddenly left the house; +while Adeline, stunned and overwhelmed by the striking contrast which +Mrs Pemberton had drawn between her past and present situation, remained +for some minutes motionless on her seat, a prey to a variety of feelings +which she dared not venture to analyse.</p> + +<p>But, amidst the variety of her feelings, Adeline soon found that sorrow, +sorrow of the bitterest kind, was uppermost. Mrs Pemberton had said that +she was about to be visited by affliction—alluding, there was no doubt, +to the probable death of Glenmurray—And was his fate so certain that it +was the theme of conversation at Richmond? Were only <i>her</i> eyes blind to +the certainty of his danger?</p> + +<p>On these ideas did Adeline chiefly dwell after the departure of her +monitress; and in an agony unspeakable she entered the room where +Glenmurray was sitting, in order to look at him, and form her own +judgment on a subject of such importance. But, alas! she found him with +the brilliant deceitful appearance that attends his complaint—a bloom +resembling health on his cheek, and a brightness in his eye rivalling +that of the undimmed lustre of youth. Surprised, delighted, and overcome +by these appearances, which her inexperience rendered her incapable of +appreciating justly, Adeline threw herself on the sofa by him; and, as +she pressed her cold cheek to his glowing one, her tearful eye was +raised to heaven with an expression of devout thankfulness.</p> + +<p>'Mrs Pemberton paid you a long visit,' said Glenmurray, 'and I thought +once, by the elevated tone of her voice, that she was preaching to you.'</p> + +<p>'I believe she was,' cheerfully replied Adeline, 'and now I have a +confession to make; the season of reserve shall be over, and I will tell +you all the adventures of this day without <i>evasion</i>.'</p> + +<p>'Aye, I thought you were not ingenuous with me this morning,' replied +Glenmurray: 'but better late than never.'</p> + +<p>Adeline then told him all that had passed between her and Mary and Mrs +Pemberton, and concluded with saying, 'But the surety of your better +health, which your looks give me, has dissipated every uneasiness; and +if you are but spared to me, sorrow cannot reach me, and I despise the +censure of the ignorant and the prejudiced. The world approve! What is +the world to me?'—</p> + +<div class="center"> + <p class="noindent">'The conscious mind is its own awful world!' + </p> +</div> + +<p>Glenmurray sighed deeply as she concluded her narration.</p> + +<p>'I have only one request to make,' said he—'Never let that Mary come +into my presence again; and be sure to take care of Mrs Pemberton's +address.'</p> + +<p>Adeline promised that both his requests should be attended to. Mary was +paid her wages, and dismissed immediately; and a girl being hired to +supply her place, the ménage went on quietly again.</p> + +<p>But a new mortification awaited Glenmurray and Adeline. In spite of +Glenmurray's eccentricities and opinions, he was still remembered with +interest by some of the female part of his family; and two of his +cousins, more remarkable for their beauty than their virtue, hearing +that he was at Richmond, made known to him their intention of paying him +a morning visit on their way to their country-seat in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>'Most unwelcome visitors, indeed!' cried Glenmurray, throwing the letter +down; 'I will write to them and forbid them to come.'</p> + +<p>'That's impossible,' replied Adeline, 'for by this time they must be on +the road, if you look at the date of the letter: besides, I wish you to +receive them; I should like to see any relations or friends of yours, +especially those who have liberality of sentiment enough to esteem you +as you deserve.'</p> + +<p>'You!—you see them!' exclaimed Glenmurray, pacing the room impatiently: +'O Adeline, that is <i>impossible!</i>'</p> + +<p>'I understand you,' replied Adeline, changing colour: 'they will not +deem me worthy,' forcing a smile, 'to be introduced to them.'</p> + +<p>'And therefore would I forbid their coming. I cannot bear to <i>exclude</i> +you from my presence in order that I may receive them. No: when they +arrive, I will send them word that I am unable to see them.'</p> + +<p>'While they will attribute the refusal to the influence of the +<i>creature</i> who lives with you! No, Glenmurray, for my sake I must insist +on your not being denied to them; and, believe me, I should consider +myself as unworthy to be the choice of your heart, if I were not able +to bear with firmness a mortification like that which awaits me.'</p> + +<p>'But you allow it to be a mortification?'</p> + +<p>'Yes; it is mortifying to a woman who knows herself to be virtuous, and +is an idolater of virtue, to pay the penalty of vice, and be thought +unworthy to associate with the relations of the man whom she loves.'</p> + +<p>'They shall not come, I protest,' exclaimed Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>But Adeline was resolute; and she carried her point. Soon after this +conversation the ladies arrived, and Adeline shut herself up in her own +apartment, where she gave way to no very pleasant reflections. Nor was +she entirely satisfied with Glenmurray's conduct:—true, he had +earnestly and sincerely wished to refuse to see his unexpected and +unwelcome guests; but he had never once expressed a desire of combating +their prejudices for Adeline's sake, and an intention of requesting that +she might be introduced to them; but, as any common man would have done +under similar circumstances, he was contented to do homage to 'things as +they are,' without an effort to resist the prejudice to which he was +superior.</p> + +<p>'Alas!' cried Adeline, 'when can we hope to see society enlightened and +improved, when even those who see and strive to amend its faults in +theory, in practice tamely submit to the trammels which it imposes?'</p> + +<p>An hour, a tedious hour to Adeline, having elapsed, Glenmurray's +visitors departed; and by the disappointment that Adeline experienced at +hearing the door close on them, she felt that she had had a secret hope +of being summoned to be presented to them; and, with a bitter feeling of +mortification, she reflected, that she was probably to the man whom she +adored a shame and a reproach.</p> + +<p>'Yet I should like to see them,' she said, running to the window as the +carriage drove up, and the ladies entered it. At that moment they, +whether from curiosity to see her, or accident, looked up at the window +where she was. Adeline started back indignant and confused; for, +thrusting their heads eagerly forward, they looked at her with the bold +unfeeling stare of imagined superiority; and Adeline, spite of her +reason, sunk abashed and conscious from their gaze.</p> + +<p>'And this insult,' exclaimed she, clasping her hands and bursting into +tears, 'I experience from Glenmurray's <i>relations!</i> I think I could have +borne it better from any one else.'</p> + +<p>She had not recovered her disorder when Glenmurray entered the room, +and, tenderly embracing her, exclaimed, 'Never, never again, my love, +will I submit to such a sacrifice as I have now made;' when seeing her +in tears, too well aware of the cause, he gave way to such a passionate +burst of tenderness and regret, that Adeline, terrified at his +agitation, though soothed by his fondness, affected the cheerfulness +which she did not feel, and promised to drive the intruders from her +remembrance.</p> + +<p>Had Glenmurray and Adeline known the real character of the unwelcome +visitors, neither of them would have regretted that Adeline was not +presented to them. One of them was married, and to so accommodating a +husband, that his wife's known gallant was his intimate friend; and +under the sanction of his protection she was received every where, and +visited by every one, as the world did not think proper to be more +clear-sighted than the husband himself chose to be. The other lady was a +young and attractive widow, who coquetted with many men, but intrigued +with only one at a time; for which self-denial she was rewarded by being +allowed to pass unquestioned through the portals of fashionable society. +But these ladies would have scorned to associate with Adeline; and +Adeline, had she known their private history, would certainly have +returned the compliment.</p> + +<p>The peace of Adeline was soon after disturbed in another way. Glenmurray +finding himself disposed to sleep in the middle of the day, his cough +having kept him waking all night, Adeline took her usual walk, and +returned by the church-yard. The bell was tolling; and as she passed she +saw a funeral enter the church-yard, and instantly averted her head.</p> + +<p>In so doing her eyes fell on a decent-looking woman, who with a sort of +angry earnestness was watching the progress of the procession.</p> + +<p>'Aye, there goes your body, you rogue!' she exclaimed indignantly, 'but +I wonder where your soul is now?—where I would not be for something.'</p> + +<p>Adeline was shocked, and gently observed, 'What crime did the person of +whom you are speaking, that you should suppose his soul so painfully +disposed of?'</p> + +<p>'What crime?' returned the woman: 'crime enough, I think:—why, he +ruined a poor girl here in the neighbourhood: and then, because he never +chose to make a will, there is she lying-in of a little by-blow, with +not a farthing of money to maintain her or the child, and the fellow's +money is gone to the heir-at-law, scarce of kin to him, while his own +flesh and blood is left to starve.'</p> + +<p>Adeline shuddered:—if Glenmurray were to die, she and the child which +she bore would, she knew, be beggars.</p> + +<p>'Well, miss, or madam, belike, by the look of you,' continued the woman +glancing her eye over Adeline's person, 'what say you? Don't you think +the fellow's soul is where we should not like to be? However, he had his +hell here too, to be sure! for, when speechless and unable to move his +fingers, he seemed by signs to ask for pen and ink, and he looked in +agonies; and there was the poor young woman crying over him, and holding +in her arms the poor destitute baby, who would as he grew up be taught, +he must think, to curse the wicked father who begot him, and the naughty +mother who bore him!'</p> + +<p>Adeline turned very sick, and was forced to seat herself on a tombstone. +'Curse the mother who bore him!' she inwardly repeated,—'and will my +child curse me? Rather let me undergo the rites I have despised!' and +instantly starting from her seat she ran down the road to her lodgings, +resolving to propose to Glenmurray their immediate marriage.</p> + +<p>'But is the possession of property, then,' she said to herself as she +stopped to take breath, 'so supreme a good, that the want of it, through +the means of his mother, should dispose a child to curse that +mother?—No: my child shall be taught to consider nothing valuable but +virtue, nothing disgraceful but <i>vice</i>.—Fool that I am! a bugbear +frightened me; and to my foolish fears I was about to sacrifice my own +principles, and the respectability of Glenmurray. No—Let his property +go to the heir-at-law—let me be forced to labour to support my babe, +when its father—' Here a flood of tears put an end to her soliloquy, +and slowly and pensively she returned home.</p> + +<p>But the conversation of the woman in the church-yard haunted her while +waking, and continued to distress her in her dreams that night, and she +was resolved to do all she could to relieve the situation of the poor +destitute girl and child, in whose fate she might possibly see an +anticipation of her own: and as soon as breakfast was over, and +Glenmurray was engaged in his studies, she walked out to make the +projected inquiries.</p> + +<p>The season of the year was uncommonly fine; and the varied scenery +visible from the terrace was, at the moment of Adeline's approach to it, +glowing with more than common beauty. Adeline stood for some minutes +gazing on it in silent delight; when her reverie was interrupted by the +sound of boyish merriment, and she saw, at one end of the terrace, some +well-dressed boys at play.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left">'Alas! regardless of their doom</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="ind1">The little victims play!'</span></td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">immediately recurred to her: for, contemplating the probable evils of +existence, she was darkly brooding over the imagined fate of her own +offspring, should it live to see the light; and the children at their +sport, having no care of ills to come, naturally engaged her attention.</p> + +<p>But these happy children ceased to interest her, when she saw standing +at a distance from the group, and apparently looking at it with an eye +of envy, a little boy, even better dressed than the rest; who was +sobbing violently, yet evidently trying to conceal his grief. And while +she was watching the young mourner attentively, he suddenly threw +himself on a seat; and, taking out his handkerchief, indignantly and +impatiently wiped away the tears that would no longer be restrained.</p> + +<p>'Poor child!' thought Adeline, seating herself beside him; 'and has +affliction reached thee so soon!'</p> + +<p>The child was beautiful: and his clustering locks seemed to have been +combed with so much care; the frill of his shirt was so fine, and had +been so very neatly plaited; and his sun-burnt neck and hands were so +very very clean, that Adeline was certain he was the darling object of +some fond mother's attention. 'And yet he is unhappy!' she inwardly +exclaimed. 'When my fate resembled his, how happy I was!' But from the +recollections like these she always hastened; and checking the rising +sigh, she resolved to enter into conversation with the little boy.</p> + +<p>'What is the matter?' she cried.—No answer. 'Why are you not playing +with the young gentlemen yonder?'</p> + +<p>She had touched the right string:—and bursting into tears, he sobbed +out, 'Because they won't let me.'</p> + +<p>'No? and why will they not let you?' To this he replied not; but +sullenly hung his blushing face on his bosom.</p> + +<p>'Perhaps you have made them angry?' gently asked Adeline. 'Oh! no, no,' +cried the boy; 'but—' 'But what?' Here he turned from her, and with his +nail began scratching the arm of the seat.</p> + +<p>'Well; this is very strange, and seems very unkind,' cried Adeline: 'I +will speak to them.' So saying, she drew near the other children, who +had interrupted their play to watch Adeline and their rejected playmate. +'What can be the reason,' said she, 'that you will not let that little +boy play with you?' The boys looked down, and said nothing.</p> + +<p>'Is he ill-natured?'</p> + +<p>'No.'</p> + +<p>'Does he not play fair?'</p> + +<p>'Yes.'</p> + +<p>'Don't you like him?'</p> + +<p>'Yes.'</p> + +<p>'Then why do you make him unhappy, by not letting him join in your +sport?'</p> + +<p>'Tell the lady. Jack,' cries one; and Jack, the biggest boy of the +party, said: 'Because he is not a gentleman's son like us, and is only a +little bastard.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' cried one of the other children; 'and his mamma is so proud she +dresses him finer than we are, for all he is base-born: and our papas +and mammas don't think him fit company for us.'</p> + +<p>They might have gone on for an hour—Adeline could not interrupt them. +The cause of the child's affliction was a dagger in her heart; and, +while she listened to the now redoubled sobs of the disgraced and +proudly afflicted boy, she was driven almost to phrensy: for 'Such,' she +exclaimed, 'may one time or other be the pangs of my child, and so to +him may the hours of childhood be embittered!' Again she seated herself +by the little mourner—and her tears accompanied his.</p> + +<p>'My dear child, you had better go home,' said she, struggling with her +feelings; 'your mother will certainly be glad of your company.'</p> + +<p>'No, I won't go to her; I don't love her: they say she is a bad woman, +and my papa a bad man, because they are not married.'</p> + +<p>Again Adeline's horrors returned. 'But, my dear, they love you, no +doubt; and you ought to love them,' she replied with effort.</p> + +<p>'There, there comes your papa,' cried one of the boys; 'go and cry to +him;—go.'</p> + +<p>At these words Adeline looked up, and saw an elegant-looking man +approaching with a look of anxiety.</p> + +<p>'Charles, my dear boy, what has happened?' said he, taking his hand; +which the boy sullenly withdrew. 'Come home directly,' continued his +father, 'and tell me what is the matter, as we go along.' But again +snatching his hand away, the proud and deeply wounded child resentfully +pushed the shoulder next him forward, whenever his father tried to take +his arm, and elbowed him angrily as he went.</p> + +<p>Adeline felt the child's action to the bottom of her heart. It was a +volume of reproach to the father; and she sighed to think what the +parents, if they had hearts, must feel, when the afflicted boy told the +cause of his grief. 'But, unhappy boy, perhaps my child may live to +bless you!' she exclaimed, clasping her hands together: 'never, never +will I expose my child to the pangs which you have experienced to-day.' +So saying, she returned instantly to her lodgings; and having just +strength left to enter Glenmurray's room, she faintly exclaimed: 'For +pity's sake, make me your wife to-morrow!' and fell senseless on the +floor.</p> + +<p>On her recovery she saw Glenmurray pale with agitation, yet with an +expression of satisfaction in his countenance, bending over her. +'Adeline! my dearest love!' he whispered as her head lay on his bosom, +'blessed be the words you have spoken, whatever be their cause! +To-morrow you shall be my wife.'</p> + +<p>'And then our child will be legitimate, will he not?' she eagerly +replied.</p> + +<p>'It will.'</p> + +<p>'Thank God!' cried Adeline, and relapsed into a fainting fit. For it was +not decreed that the object of her maternal solicitude should ever be +born to reward it. Anxiety and agitation had had a fatal effect on the +health of Adeline; and the day after her encounter on the terrace she +brought forth a dead child.</p> + +<p>As soon as Adeline, languid and disappointed, was able to leave her +room, Glenmurray, whom anxiety during her illness had rendered +considerably weaker, urged her to let the marriage ceremony be performed +immediately. But with her hopes of being a mother vanished her wishes to +become a wife, and all her former reasons against marriage recurred in +their full force.</p> + +<p>In vain did Glenmurray entreat her to keep her lately formed resolution: +she still attributed his persuasions to generosity, and the heroic +resolve of sacrificing his principles, with the consistency of his +character, to her supposed good, and it was a point of honour with her +to be as generous in return: consequently the subject was again dropped; +nor was it likely to be soon renewed; and anxiety of a more pressing +nature disturbed their peace and engrossed their attention. They had +been three months at Richmond, and had incurred there a considerable +debt; and Glenmurray, not having sufficient money with him to discharge +it, drew upon his banker for half the half-year's rents from his estate, +which he had just deposited in his hands; when to his unspeakable +astonishment he found that the house had stopped payment, and that the +principal partner had gone off with the deposits!</p> + +<p>Scarcely could the firm mind of Glenmurray support itself under the +stroke. He looked forward to the certainty of passing the little +remainder of his life not only in pain but in poverty, and of seeing +increase as fast as his wants the difficulty of supplying them; while +the woman of his heart bent in increased agony over his restless couch; +for he well knew that to raise money on his estate, or to anticipate the +next half-year's rents, was impossible, as he had only a life interest +in it; and, as he held the fatal letter in his hand, his frame shook +with agitation.</p> + +<p>'I could not have believed,' cried Adeline, 'that the loss of any sum of +money could have so violently affected you.'</p> + +<p>'Not the loss of my all! my support during the tedious scenes of +illness!'</p> + +<p>'Your all!' faltered out Adeline; and when she heard the true state of +the case she found her agitation equalled that of Glenmurray, and in +hopeless anguish she leaned on the table beside him.</p> + +<p>'What is to be done,' said she, 'till the next half-year's rents become +due? Where can we procure money?'</p> + +<p>'Till the next half-year's rents become due!' replied he, looking at her +mournfully: 'I shall not be distressed for money then.'</p> + +<p>'No?' answered Adeline (not understanding him): 'our expenses have never +yet been more than that sum can supply.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray looked at her, and, seeing how unconscious she was of the +certainty of the evil that awaited her, had not the courage to distress +her by explaining his meaning; and she went on to ask him what steps he +meant to take to raise money.</p> + +<p>'My only resource,' said he, 'is dunning a near relation of mine who +owes me three hundred pounds: he is now, I believe, able to pay it. He +is in Holland, indeed, at present; but he is daily expected in England, +and will come to see me here. I have named him to you before, I believe. +His name is Berrendale.'</p> + +<p>It was then agreed that Glenmurray should write to Mr Berrendale +immediately; and that, to prevent the necessity of incurring a further +debt for present provisions and necessaries, some of their books and +linen should be sold:—but week after week elapsed, and no letter was +received from Mr Berrendale.</p> + +<p>Glenmurray grew rapidly worse;—and their landlord was clamorous for +his rent;—advice from London also became necessary to quiet Adeline's +mind,—though Glenmurray knew that he was past cure: and after she had +paid a small sum to quiet the demands of the landlord for a while, she +had scarcely enough left to pay a physician: however, she sent for one +recommended by Dr Norberry, and by selling a writing-desk inlaid with +silver, which she valued because it was the gift of her father, she +raised money sufficient for the occasion.</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="nowrap">——</span> arrived, but not to speak peace to the mind of Adeline. She +saw, though he did not absolutely say so, that all chance of +Glenmurray's recovery was over: and though with the sanguine feelings of +nineteen she could 'hope though hope were lost,' when she watched Dr. +<span class="nowrap">——</span>'s countenance as he turned from the bed-side of Glenmurray, she +felt the coldness of despair thrill through her frame; and, scarcely +able to stand, she followed him into the next room, and awaited his +orders with a sort of desperate tranquillity.</p> + +<p>After prescribing alleviations of the ill beyond his power to cure, Dr. <span class="nowrap">——</span> +added that terrible confirmation of the fears of anxious affection. +'Let him have whatever he likes; nothing can hurt him now; and all your +endeavours must be to make the remaining hours of his existence as +comfortable as you can, by every indulgence possible: and indeed, my +dear madam,' he continued, 'you must be prepared for the trial that +awaits you.'</p> + +<p>'Prepared! did you say?' cried Adeline in the broken voice of tearless +and almost phrensied sorrow. 'O God! if he must die, in mercy let me die +with him. If I have sinned,' (here she fell on her knees,) 'surely, +surely, the agony of this moment is atonement sufficient.'</p> + +<p>Dr. <span class="nowrap">——</span>, greatly affected, raised her from the ground, and conjured her +for the sake of Glenmurray, and that she might not make his last hours +miserable, to bear her trial with more fortitude.</p> + +<p>'And can you talk of his "last hours" and yet expect me to be +composed?—O sir! say but there is one little little gleam of hope for +me, and I will be calm.'</p> + +<p>'Well,' replied Dr. <span class="nowrap">——</span>, 'I <i>may</i> be mistaken; Mr Glenmurray is young, +and—and—' here his voice faltered, and he was unable to proceed; for +the expression of Adeline's countenance, changing as it instantly did +from misery to joy,—joy of which he knew the fallacy,—while her eyes +were intently fixed on him, was too much for a man of any feeling to +support; and when she pressed his hand in the convulsive emotions of +her gratitude, he was forced to turn away his head to conceal the +starting tear.</p> + +<p>'Well, I may be mistaken—Mr Glenmurray is young,' Adeline repeated +again and again, as his carriage drove off; and she flew to Glenmurray's +bed-side to impart to him the satisfaction which he rejoiced to see her +feel, but in which he could not share.</p> + +<p>Her recovered security did not, however, last long; the change in +Glenmurray grew every day more visible; and to increase her distress, +they were forced, to avoid disagreeable altercations, to give the +landlord a draft on Mr Berrendale for the sum due to him, and remove to +very humble lodgings in a closer part of the town.</p> + +<p>Here their misery was a little alleviated by the unexpected receipt of +twenty pounds, sent to Glenmurray by a tenant who was in arrears to him, +which enabled Adeline to procure Glenmurray every thing that his +capricious appetite required; and at his earnest entreaty, in order that +she might sometimes venture to leave him, lest her health should suffer, +she hired a nurse to assist her in her attendance upon him.</p> + +<p>A hasty letter too was at length received from Mr Berrendale, saying, +that he should very soon be in England, and should hasten to Richmond +immediately on his landing. The terror of wanting money, therefore, +began to subside; but day after day elapsed, and Mr Berrendale came not; +and Adeline, being obliged to deny herself almost necessary sustenance +that Glenmurray's appetite might be tempted, and his nurse, by the +indulgence of hers, kept in good humour, resolved, presuming on the +arrival of Mr Berrendale, to write to Dr Norberry and solicit the loan +of twenty pounds.</p> + +<p>Having done so, she ceased to be alarmed, though she found herself in +possession of only three guineas to defray the probable expenses of the +ensuing week; and in somewhat less misery than usual, she, at the +earnest entreaty of Glenmurray, set out to take a walk.</p> + +<p>Scarcely conscious what she did, she strolled through the town, and +seeing some fine grapes at the window of a fruiterer, she went in to ask +the price of them, knowing how welcome fruit was to the feverish palate +of Glenmurray. While the shopman was weighing the grapes, she saw a +pine-apple on the counter, and felt a strong wish to carry it home as a +more welcome present; but with unspeakable disappointment she heard that +the price of it was two guineas—a sum which she could not think herself +justified in expending, in the present state of their finances, even to +please Glenmurray, especially as he had not expressed a wish for such an +indulgence; besides, he liked grapes; and, as medicine, neither of them +could be effectual.</p> + +<p>It was fortunate for Adeline's feelings that she had not overheard what +the mistress of the shop said to her maid as she left it.</p> + +<p>'I should have asked another person only a guinea; but as those sort of +women never mind what they give, I asked two, and I dare say she will +come back for it.'</p> + +<p>'I have brought you some grapes,' cried Adeline as she entered +Glenmurray's chamber, 'and I would have brought you a pine-apple, but +that it was too dear.'</p> + +<p>'A pine-apple!' said Glenmurray, languidly turning over the grapes, and +with a sort of distaste putting one of them in his mouth, 'a +pine-apple!—I wish you had brought it with all my heart! I protest that +I feel as if I could eat a whole one.'</p> + +<p>'Well,' replied Adeline, 'if you would enjoy it so much, you certainly +ought to have it.'</p> + +<p>'But the price, my dear girl!—what was it?'</p> + +<p>'Only two guineas,' replied Adeline, forcing a smile.</p> + +<p>'Two guineas!' exclaimed Glenmurray: 'No,—that is too much to give—I +will not indulge my appetite at such a rate—but, take away the +grapes—I can't eat them.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, disappointed, removed them from his sight; and, to increase her +vexation, Glenmurray was continually talking of pine-apples, and in that +way that showed how strongly his diseased appetite wished to enjoy the +gratification of eating one. At last, unable to bear to see him +struggling with an ungratified wish, she told him that she believed they +could afford to buy the pine-apple, as she had written to borrow some +money of Dr Norberry, to be paid as soon as Mr Berrendale arrived. In a +moment the dull eye of Glenmurray lighted up with expectation; and he, +who in health was remarkable for self-denial and temperance, scrupled +not, overcome by the influence of the fever which consumed him, to +gratify his palate at a rate the most extravagant.</p> + +<p>Adeline sighed as she contemplated this change effected by illness; and, +promising to be back as soon as possible, she proceeded to a shop to +dispose of her lace veil, the only ornament which she had retained; and +that not from vanity, but because it concealed from the eye of curiosity +the sorrow marked on her countenance. But she knew a piece of muslin +would do as well; and for two guineas sold a veil worth treble that +sum; but it was to give a minute's pleasure to Glenmurray, and that was +enough for Adeline.</p> + +<p>On her way to the fruiterer's she saw a crowd at the door of a +mean-looking house, and in the midst of it she beheld a mulatto woman, +the picture of sickness and despair, supporting a young man who seemed +ready to faint every moment, but whom a rough-featured man, regardless +of his weakness, was trying to force from the grasp of the unhappy +woman; while a mulatto boy, known in Richmond by the name of the Tawny +Boy, to whom Adeline had often given halfpence in her walks, was crying +bitterly, and hiding his face in the poor woman's apron.</p> + +<p>Adeline immediately pressed forward to inquire into the cause of a +distress only too congenial to her feelings; and as she did so, the +tawny boy looked up, and, knowing her immediately, ran eagerly forward +to meet her, seeming, though he did not speak, to associate with her +presence an idea of certain relief.</p> + +<p>'Oh! it is only a poor man,' replied an old woman in answer to Adeline's +inquiries, 'who can't pay his debts,—and so they are dragging him to +prison—that's all.' 'They are dragging him to his death too,' cried a +younger woman in a gentle accent; 'for he is only just recovering from a +bad fever: and if he goes to jail the bad air will certainly kill him, +poor soul!'</p> + +<p>'Is that his wife?' said Adeline. 'Yes, and my mammy,' said the tawny +boy, looking up in her face, 'and she so ill and sorry.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, unhappy creatures,' replied her informant, 'and they have known +great trouble; and now, just as they had got a little money together, +William fell ill, and in doctor's stuff Savanna (that's the mulatto's +name) has spent all the money she had earned, as well as her husband's; +and now she is ill herself, and I am sure William's going to jail will +kill her. And a hard-hearted, wicked wretch Mr Davis is, to arrest +him—that he is—not but what it is his due, I cannot say but it +is—but, poor souls! he'll die, and she'll die, and then what will +become of their poor little boy?'</p> + +<p>The tawny boy all this time was standing, crying, by Adeline's side, and +had twisted his fingers in her gown, while her heart sympathized most +painfully in the anguish of the mulatto woman. 'What is the amount of +the sum for which he is taken up?' said Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Oh! trifling: but Mr Davis owes him a grudge, and so will not wait any +longer. It is in all only ten pounds; and he says if they will pay part +he will wait for the rest; but then he knows they could as well pay all +as part.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, shocked at the knowledge of a distress which she was not able +to remove, was turning away as the woman said this, when she felt that +the little boy pulled her gown gently, as if appealing to her +generosity; while a surly-looking man, who was the creditor himself, +forcing a passage through the crowd, said, 'Why, bring him along, and +have done with it; here is a fuss to make indeed about that idle dog, +and that ugly black toad!'</p> + +<p>Adeline till then had not recollected that she was a mulatto; and this +speech, reflecting so brutally on her colour,—a circumstance which made +her an object of greater interest to Adeline,—urged her to step forward +to their joint relief with an almost irresistible impulse; especially +when another man reproached the fellow for his brutality, and added, +that he knew them both to be hard-working, deserving persons. But to +disappoint Glenmurray of his promised pleasure was impossible; and +having put sixpence in the tawny boy's hand, she was hastening to the +fruiterer's, when the crowd, who were following William and the mulatto +to the jail, whither the bailiffs were dragging rather than leading him, +fell back to give air to the poor man, who had fainted on Savanna's +shoulder, and seemed on the point of expiring—while she, with an +expression of fixed despair, was gazing on his wan cheek.</p> + +<p>Adeline thought on Glenmurray's danger, and shuddered as she beheld the +scene; she felt it but a too probable anticipation of the one in which +she might soon be an actor.</p> + +<p>At this moment a man observed, 'If he goes to prison he will not live +two days, that every one may see;' and the mulatto uttered a shriek of +agony.</p> + +<p>Adeline felt it to her very soul; and, rushing forward, 'Sir, sir,' she +exclaimed to the unfeeling creditor, 'if I were to give you a guinea +now, and promise you two more a fortnight hence, would you release this +poor man for the present?'</p> + +<p>'No: I must have three guineas this moment,' replied he. Adeline sighed, +and withdrew her hand from her pocket. 'But were Glenmurray here, he +would give up his indulgence, I am sure, to save the lives of, probably +two fellow-creatures,' thought Adeline: 'and he would not forgive me if +I were to sacrifice such an opportunity to the sole gratification of his +palate.'—But then again, Glenmurray eagerly expecting her with the +promised treat, so gratifying to the feverish taste of sickness, seemed +to appear before her, and she turned away; but the eyes of the mulatto, +who had heard her words, and had hung on them breathless with +expectation, followed her with a look of such sad reproach for the +disappointment which she had occasioned her, and the little boy looked +up so wistfully in her face, crying, 'Poor fader, and poor mammy!' that +Adeline could not withstand the force of the appeal; but almost +exclaiming 'Glenmurray would upbraid me if I did not act thus,' she gave +the creditor the three guineas, paid the bailiffs their demand, and then +made her way through the crowd, who respectfully drew back to give her +room to pass, saying, 'God bless you, lady! God bless you!'</p> + +<p>But William was too ill, and Savanna felt too much to speak; and the +surly creditor said, sneeringly, 'If I had been you, I would, at least, +have thanked the lady.' This reproach restored Savanna to the use of +speech; and (but with a violent effort) she uttered in a hoarse and +broken voice, '<i>I</i> tank her! God tank her! I never can:' and Adeline, +kindly pressing her hand, hurried away from her in silence, though +scarcely able to refrain exclaiming, 'you know not the sacrifice which +you have cost me!' The tawny boy still followed her, as loath to leave +her. 'God bless you, my dear!' said she kindly to him: 'there, go to +your mother, and be good to her.' His dark face glowed as she spoke to +him, and holding up his chin, 'Tiss me!' cried he, 'poor tawny boy love +you!' She did so; and then reluctantly, he left her, nodding his head, +and saying, 'Dood bye' till he was out of sight.</p> + +<p>With him, and with the display of his grateful joy, vanished all that +could give Adeline resolution to bear her own reflections at the idea of +returning home, and of the trial that awaited her. In vain did she now +try to believe that Glenmurray would applaud what she had done.—He was +now the slave of disease, nor was it likely that even his self-denial +and principle benevolence could endure with patience so cruel a +disappointment—and from the woman whom he loved too!—and to whom the +indulgence of his slightest wishes ought to have been the first object.</p> + +<p>'What shall I do?' cried she: 'what will he say?—No doubt he is +impatiently expecting me; and, in his weak state, disappointment may—' +Here, unable to hear her apprehensions, she wrung her hands in agony; +and when she arrived in sight of her lodgings she dared not look up, +lest she should see Glenmurray at the window watching for her return. +Slowly and fearfully did she open the door; and the first sound she +heard was Glenmurray's voice from the door of his room, saying, 'So, you +are come at last!—I have been so impatient!' And indeed he had risen +and dressed himself, that he might enjoy his treat more than he could do +in a sick-bed.</p> + +<p>'How can I bear to look him in the face!' thought Adeline, lingering on +the stairs.</p> + +<p>'Adeline, my love! why do you make me wait so long?' cried Glenmurray. +'Here are knives and plates ready; where is the treat I have been so +long expecting?'</p> + +<p>Adeline entered the room and threw herself on the first chair, avoiding +the sight of Glenmurray, whose countenance, as she hastily glanced her +eyes over it, was animated with the expectation of a pleasure which he +was not to enjoy. 'I have not brought the pine-apple,' she faintly +articulated. 'No!' replied Glenmurray, 'how hard upon me!—the only +thing for weeks that I have wished for, or could have eaten with +pleasure! I suppose you were so long going that it was disposed of +before you got there?'</p> + +<p>'No,' replied Adeline, struggling with her tears at this first instance +of pettishness in Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'Pardon me the supposition,' replied Glenmurray, recovering himself: +'more likely you met some dun on the road, and so the two guineas were +disposed of another way—If so, I can't blame you. What say you? Am I +right?'</p> + +<p>'No.' 'Then how was it?' gravely asked Glenmurray. 'You must have had a +very powerful and a sufficient reason, to induce you to disappoint a +poor invalid of the indulgence which you had yourself excited him to +wish for.'</p> + +<p>'This is terrible, indeed!' thought Adeline, 'and never was I so tempted +to tell a falsehood.'</p> + +<p>'Still silent! You are very unkind, Miss Mowbray,' said Glenmurray; 'I +see that I have tired even <i>you</i> out.'</p> + +<p>These words, by the agony which they excited, restored to Adeline all +her resolution. She ran to Glenmurray; she clasped his burning hands in +hers; and as succinctly as possible she related what had passed. When +she had finished, Glenmurray was silent; the fretfulness of disease +prompted him to say, 'So then, to the relief of strangers you sacrificed +the gratification of the man whom you love, and deprived him of the only +pleasure he may live to enjoy!' But the habitual sweetness and +generosity of his temper struggled, and struggled effectually, with his +malady; and while Adeline, pale and trembling, awaited her sentence, he +caught her suddenly to his bosom, and held her there a few moments in +silence.</p> + +<p>'Then you forgive me?' faltered out Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Forgive you! I love and admire you more than ever! I know your heart, +Adeline; and I am convinced that depriving yourself of the delight of +giving me the promised treat, in order to do a benevolent action, was an +effort of virtue of the highest order; and never, I trust, have you +known, or will you know again, such bitter feelings as you this moment +experienced.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, gratified by his generous kindness, and charmed with his +praise, could only weep her thanks. 'And now,' said Glenmurray, +laughing, 'you may bring back the grapes—I am not like Sterne's dear +Jenny; if I cannot get pine-apple, I will not insist on eating crab.'</p> + +<p>The grapes were brought; but in vain did he try to eat them. At this +time, however, he did not send them away without highly commending their +flavour, and wishing that he dared give way to his inclinations, and +feast upon them.</p> + +<p>'O God of mercy!' cried Adeline, bursting into an agony of grief as she +reached her own apartment, and throwing herself on her knees by the +bed-side, 'Must that benevolent being be taken from me for ever, and +must I, must I survive him!'</p> + +<p>She continued for some minutes in this attitude, and with her heart +devoutly raised to heaven; till every feeling yielded to resignation, +and she arose calm, if not contented; when, on turning round, she saw +Glenmurray leaning against the door, and gazing on her.</p> + +<p>'Sweet enthusiast!' cried he smiling: 'so, thus, when you are +distressed, you seek consolation.'</p> + +<p>'I do,' she replied: 'Sceptic, wouldst thou wish to deprive me of it?'</p> + +<p>'No, by heaven!' warmly exclaimed Glenmurray; and the evening passed +more cheerfully than usual.</p> + +<p>The next post brought a letter, not from Dr. Norberry, but from his +wife; it was as follows, and contained three pound-notes:—</p> + +<blockquote><p class="noindent">'Mrs Norberry's compliments to Miss Mowbray, having opened her +letter, poor Dr Norberry being dangerously ill of a fever, find +her distress; of which shall not inform the doctor, as he feels +so much for his friend's misfortunes, specially when brought on +by misconduct. But, out of respect for your mother, who is a +good sort of woman, though rather particular, as all learned +ladies are, have sent three pound-notes; the Miss Norberrys +giving one a-piece, not to lend, but a gift, and they join Mrs +Norberry in hoping Miss Mowbray will soon see the error of her +ways; and, if so be, no doubt Dr Norberry will use his interest +to get her into the Magdalen.'</p></blockquote> + +<p>This curious epistle would have excited in Glenmurray and Adeline no +other feelings save those of contempt, but for the information it +contained of the doctor's being dangerously ill; and, in fear for the +worthy husband, they forgot the impertinence of the wife and daughters.</p> + +<p>The next day, fortunately, Mr Berrendale arrived, and with him the three +hundred pounds. Consequently, all Glenmurray's debts were discharged, +better lodgings procured, and the three pound-notes returned in a blank +cover to Mrs Norberry. Charles Berrendale was first-cousin to +Glenmurray, and so like him in face, that they were, at first, mistaken +for brothers: but to a physiognomist they must always have been unlike; +as Glenmurray was remarkable for the character and expression of his +countenance, and Berrendale for the extreme beauty of his features and +complexion. Glenmurray was pale and thin, and his eyes and hair dark. +Berrendale's eyes were of a light blue; and though his eye-lashes were +black, his hair was of a rich auburn; Glenmurray was thin and muscular; +Berrendale, round and corpulent: still they were alike; and it was not +ill observed of them, that Berrendale was Glenmurray in good health.</p> + +<p>But Berrendale could not be flattered by the resemblance, as his face +and person were so truly what is called handsome, that, partial as our +sex is said to be to beauty, any woman would have been excused for +falling in love with him. Whether his mind was equal to his person we +shall show hereafter.</p> + +<p>The meeting between Berrendale and Glenmurray was affectionate on both +sides; but Berrendale could scarcely hide the pain he felt on seeing the +situation of Glenmurray, whose virtues he had always loved, whose +talents he had always respected, and to whose active friendship towards +himself he owed eternal gratitude.</p> + +<p>But he soon learnt to think Glenmurray, in one respect, an object of +envy, when he beheld the constant, skilful, and tender attentions of his +nurse, and saw in that nurse every gift of heart, mind, and person, +which could make a woman amiable.</p> + +<p>Berrendale had heard that his eccentric cousin was living with a girl as +odd as himself; who thought herself a genius, and pretended to universal +knowledge; great then was his astonishment to find this imagined pedant, +and pretender, not only an adept in every useful and feminine pursuit, +but modest in her demeanour, and gentle in her manners: little did he +expect to see her capable of serving the table of Glenmurray with dishes +made by herself, not only tempting to the now craving appetite of the +invalid but to the palate of an epicure,—while all his wants were +anticipated by her anxious attention, and many of the sufferings of +sickness alleviated by her inventive care.</p> + +<p>Adeline, meanwhile, was agreeably surprised to see the good effect +produced on Glenmurray's spirits, and even his health, by the arrival of +his cousin; and her manner became even affectionate to Berrendale, from +gratitude for the change which his presence seemed to have occasioned.</p> + +<p>Adeline had now a companion in her occasional walks;—Glenmurray +insisted on her walking, and insisted on Berrendale's accompanying her. +In these tête-à-têtes Adeline unburthened her heart, by telling +Berrendale of the agony she felt at the idea of losing Glenmurray; and +while drowned in tears she leaned on his arm, she unconsciously suffered +him to press the hand that leaned against him; nor would she have felt +it a freedom to be reproved, had she been conscious that he did so. But +these trifling indulgences were fuel to the flame that she had kindled +in the heart of Berrendale; a flame which he saw no guilt in indulging, +as he looked on Glenmurray's death as certain, and Adeline would then be +free.</p> + +<p>But though Adeline was perfectly unconscious of his attachment, +Glenmurray had seen it even before Berrendale himself discovered it; and +he only waited a favourable opportunity to make the discovery known to +the parties. All he had as yet ventured to say was, 'Charles, my Adeline +is an excellent nurse!—You would like such as one during your fits of +the gout;' and Berrendale had blushed deeply while he assented to +Glenmurray's remarks, because he was conscious that, while enumerating +Adeline's perfections, he had figured her to himself warming his +flannels, and leaning tenderly over his gouty couch.</p> + +<p>One day, while Adeline was reading to Glenmurray, and Berrendale was +attending not to what she read, but to the beauty of her mouth while +reading, the nurse came in, and said that 'a mulatto woman wished to +speak to Miss Mowbray.'</p> + +<p>'Show her up,' immediately cried Glenmurray; 'and if her little boy is +with her, let him come too.'</p> + +<p>In vain did Adeline expostulate—Glenmurray wished to enjoy the +mulatto's expressions of gratitude; and, in spite of all she could say, +the mother and child were introduced.</p> + +<p>'So!' cried the mulatto, (whose looks were so improved that Adeline +scarcely knew her again,) 'So! me find you at last; and, please God! we +not soon part more.' As she said this, she pressed the hem of Adeline's +gown to her lips with fervent emotion.</p> + +<p>'Not part from her again!' cried Glenmurray, 'What do you mean, my good +woman?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! when she gave tree guinea for me, me tought she mus be rich lady, +but now dey say she be poor, and me mus work for her.'</p> + +<p>'And who told you I was poor?'</p> + +<p>'Dat cross man where you live once—he say you could not pay him, and +you go away—and he tell me that your love be ill; and me so sorry, yet +so glad! for my love be well aden, and he have good employ; and now I +can come and serve you, and nurse dis poor gentleman, and all for +nothing but my meat and drink; and I know dat great fat nurse have gold +wages, and eat and drink fat beside,—I knowd her well.'</p> + +<p>All this was uttered with volubility, and in a tone between laughing and +crying.</p> + +<p>'Well, Adeline,' said Glenmurray when she had ended, 'you did not throw +away your kindness on an unworthy and ungrateful object; so I am quite +reconciled to the loss of the pine-apple; and I will tell your honest +friend here the story,—to show her, as she has a tender heart herself, +the greatness of the sacrifice you made for her sake.'</p> + +<p>Adeline begged him to desist; but he went on; and the mulatto could not +keep herself quiet on the chair while he related the circumstance.</p> + +<p>'And did she do dat to save me?' she passionately exclaimed: 'Angel +woman! I should have let poor man go to prison, before disappoint my +William!'</p> + +<p>'And did you forgive her immediately?' said Berrendale.</p> + +<p>'Yes, certainly.'</p> + +<p>'Well, that was heroic too,' returned he.</p> + +<p>'And no one but Glenmurray would have been so heroic, I believe,' said +Adeline.</p> + +<p>'But, lady, you break my heart,' cried the mulatto, 'if you not take my +service. Mr William and me, too poor to live togedder of some year +perhaps. Here, child, tawny boy, down on knees, and vow wid me to be +faithful and grateful to this our mistress, till our last day; and +never to forsake her in sickness or in sorrow! I swear dis to my great +God:—and now say dat after me.' She then clasped the little boy's +hands, bade him raise his eyes to heaven, and made him repeat what she +had said, ending it with 'I swear dis, to my great God.'</p> + +<p>There was such an affecting solemnity in this action, and in the mulatto +such a determined enthusiasm of manner incapable of being controlled, +that Adeline, Glenmurray, and Berrendale observed what passed in +respectful silence: and when it was over, Glenmurray said, in a voice of +emotion, 'I think, Adeline, we must accept this good creature's offer; +and as nurse grows lazy and saucy, we had better part with her: and as +for your young knight there,' (the tawny boy had by this time nestled +himself close to Adeline, who, with no small emotion, was playing with +his woolly curls,) 'we must send him to school; for, my good woman, we +are not so poor as you imagine.'</p> + +<p>'God be thanked!' cried the mulatto.</p> + +<p>'But what is your name?'</p> + +<p>'I was christened Savanna,' replied she.</p> + +<p>'Then, good Savanna,' cried Adeline, 'I hope we shall both have reason +to bless the day when first we met; and to-morrow you shall come home to +us.' Savanna, on hearing this, almost screamed with joy, and as she took +her leave Berrendale slipped a guinea into her hand: the tawny boy +meanwhile slowly followed his mother, as if unwilling to leave Adeline, +even though she gave him halfpence to spend in cakes: but on being told +that she would let him come again the next day, he tripped gaily down +after Savanna.</p> + +<p>The quiet of the chamber being then restored, Glenmurray fell into a +calm slumber. Adeline took up her work; and Berrendale, pretending to +read, continued to <ins title="original has feel">feed</ins> his passion by gazing on the unconscious +Adeline.</p> + +<p>While they were thus engaged, Glenmurray, unobserved, awoke; and he soon +guessed how Berrendale's eyes were employed, as the book which he held +in his hand was upside down; and through the fingers of the hand which +he held before his face, he saw his looks fixed on Adeline.</p> + +<p>The moment was a favourable one for Glenmurray's purpose: and just as he +raised himself from his pillow, Adeline had discovered the earnest gaze +of Berrendale; and a suspicion of the truth that instant darting across +her mind, disconcerted and blushing, she had cast her eyes on the +ground.</p> + +<p>'That is an interesting study which you are engaged in, Charles,' cried +Glenmurray smiling.</p> + +<p>Berrendale started; and, deeply blushing, faltered out, 'Yes.'</p> + +<p>Adeline looked at Glenmurray, and seeing a very arch and meaning +expression on his countenance, suspected that he had made the same +discovery as herself: yet, if so, she wondered at his looking so +pleasantly on Berrendale as he spoke.</p> + +<p>'It is a book, Charles,' continued Glenmurray, 'which the more you study +the more you will admire; and I wish to give you a clue to understand +some passages in it better than you can now do.'</p> + +<p>This speech deceived Adeline, and made her suppose that Glenmurray +really alluded to the book which lay before Berrendale: but it convinced +<i>him</i> that Glenmurray spoke metaphorically; and as his manner was kind, +it also made him think that he saw and did not disapprove his +attachment.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes, each of them being engrossed in different +contemplations, there was a complete silence; but Glenmurray interrupted +it by saying, 'My dear Adeline, it is your hour for walking; but, as I +am not disposed to sleep again, will you forgive me if I keep your +walking companion to myself to-day?—I wish to converse with him alone.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! most cheerfully,' she replied with quickness: 'you know I love a +solitary ramble of all things.'</p> + +<p>'Not very flattering that to my cousin,' observed Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>'I did not wish to flatter him,' said Adeline gravely; and Berrendale, +fluttered at the idea of the coming conversation with Glenmurray, and +mortified by Adeline's words and manner, turned to the window to conceal +his emotion.</p> + +<p>Adeline, then, with more than usual tenderness, conjured Glenmurray not +to talk too much, nor do anything to destroy the hopes on which her only +chance of happiness depended, viz. the now possible chance of his +recovery, and then set out for her walk; while, with a restraint and +coldness which she could not conquer, she bade Berrendale farewell for +the present.</p> + +<p>The walk was long, and her thoughts perturbed:—'What could Glenmurray +want to say to Mr Berrendale?'—'Why did Mr Berrendale sit with his eyes +so intently and clandestinely, as it were, fixed on me?' were thoughts +perpetually recurring to her: and half impatient, and half reluctant, +she at length returned to her lodgings.</p> + +<p>When she entered the apartment, she saw signs of great emotion in the +countenance of both the gentlemen; and in Berrendale's eyes the traces +of recent tears. The tone of Glenmurray's voice too, when he addressed +her, was even more tender than usual, and Berrendale's attentions more +marked, yet more respectful; and Adeline observed that Glenmurray was +unusually thoughtful and absent, and that the cough and other symptoms +of his complaint were more troublesome than ever.</p> + +<p>'I see you have exerted yourself and talked too much during my absence,' +cried Adeline, 'and I will never leave you again for so long a time.'</p> + +<p>'You never shall,' said Glenmurray. 'I must leave <i>you</i> for so long a +time at last, that I will be blessed with the sight of you as long as I +can.'</p> + +<p>Adeline whose hopes had been considerably revived during the last few +days, looked mournfully and reproachfully in his face as he uttered +these words.</p> + +<p>'It is even so, my dearest girl,' continued Glenmurray, 'and I say this +to guard you against a melancholy surprise:—I wish to prepare you for +an event which to me seems unavoidable.'</p> + +<p>'Prepare me!' exclaimed Adeline wildly. 'Can there be any preparation to +enable one to bear such a calamity? Absurd idea! However, I shall derive +consolation from the severity of the stroke: I feel that I shall not be +able to survive it.' So saying, her head fell on Glenmurray's pillow; +and for some time, her sorrow almost suspended the consciousness of +suffering.</p> + +<p>From this state she was aroused by Glenmurray's being attacked with a +violent paroxysm of his complaint, and all selfish distress was lost in +the consciousness of his sufferings: again he struggled through, and +seemed so relieved by the effort, that again Adeline's hopes revived; +and she could scarcely return, with temper, Berrendale's 'good night,' +when Glenmurray expressed a wish to rest, because his spirits had not +risen in any proportion to hers.</p> + +<p>The nurse had been dismissed that afternoon; and Adeline, as Savanna was +not to come home till the next morning, was to sit up alone with +Glenmurray that night; and, contrary to his usual custom, he did not +insist that she should have a companion.</p> + +<p>For a few hours his exhausted frame was recruited by a sleep more than +usually quiet, and but for a few hours only. He then became restless, +and so wakeful and disturbed, that he professed to Adeline an utter +inability to sleep, and therefore he wished to pass the rest of the +night in serious conversation with her.</p> + +<p>Adeline, alarmed at this intention, conjured him not to irritate his +complaint by so dangerous an exertion.</p> + +<p>'My mind will irritate it more,' replied he, 'if I refrain from it; for +it is burthened, my Adeline, and it longs to throw off its burthen. Now, +then, ere my senses wander, hear what I wish to communicate to you, and +interrupt me as little as possible.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, oppressed and awed beyond measure at the unusual solemnity of +his manner, made no answer; but, leaning her cheek on his hand, awaited +his communication in silence.</p> + +<p>'I think,' said Glenmurray, 'I shall begin with telling you Berrendale's +history; it is proper that you should know all that concerns him.'</p> + +<p>Adeline raising her head, replied hastily,—'Not to satisfy any +curiosity of mine; for I feel none, I assure you.'</p> + +<p>'Well, then,' returned Glenmurray, sighing, 'to please me, be +it.—Berrendale is the son of my mother's sister, by a merchant of the +neighbourhood of the 'Change, who hurt the family pride so much by +marrying a tradesman, that I am the only one of the clan who has noticed +her since. He ran away, about four years ago, with the only child of a +rich West Indian from a boarding-school. The consequence was, that her +father renounced her; but, when, three years ago, she died in giving +birth to a son, the unhappy parent repented of his displeasure, and +offered to allow Berrendale, who from the bankruptcy and sudden death of +both his parents had been left destitute, an annuity of 300<i>l.</i> for +life, provided he would send the child over to Jamaica, and allow him to +have all the care of his education. To this Berrendale consented.'</p> + +<p>'Reluctantly, I hope,' said Adeline, 'and merely out of pity for the +feelings of the childless father.'</p> + +<p>'I hope so too,' continued Glenmurray; 'for I do not think the chance of +inheriting all his grandfather's property a sufficient reason to lead +him to give up to another, and in a foreign land too, the society and +education of his child: but, whatever were his reasons, Berrendale +acceded to the request, and the infant was sent to Jamaica; and ever +since the 300<i>l.</i> has been regularly remitted to him: besides that, he +has recovered two thousand and odd hundred pounds from the wreck of his +father's property; and with economy, and had he a good wife to manage +his affairs for him, Berrendale might live very comfortably.'</p> + +<p>'My dear Glenmurray,' cried Adeline impatiently, 'what is this to me? +and why do you weary yourself to tell me particulars so little +interesting to me?'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray bade her have patience, and continued thus: 'And now, +Adeline,' (here his voice evidently faltered,) 'I must open my whole +heart to you, and confess that the idea of leaving you friendless, +unprotected, and poor, your reputation injured, and your peace of mind +destroyed, is more than I am able to bear, and will give me, in my last +moments, the torments of the damned.' Here a violent burst of tears +interrupted him; and Adeline, overcome with emotion and surprise at the +sight of the agitation which his own sufferings could never occasion in +him, hung over him in speechless woe.</p> + +<p>'Besides,' continued Glenmurray, recovering himself a little, 'I—O +Adeline!' seizing her cold hand, 'can you forgive me for having been the +means of blasting all your fair fame and prospects in life?'</p> + +<p>'For the sake of justice, if not of mercy,' exclaimed Adeline, 'forbear +thus cruelly to accuse yourself. You know that from my own free, +unbiassed choice I gave myself to you, and in compliance with my own +principles.'</p> + +<p>'But who taught you those principles?—who led you to a train of +reasoning, so alluring in theory, so pernicious in practice? Had not I, +with the heedless vanity of youth, given to the world the crude +conceptions of four-and-twenty, you might at this moment have been the +idol of a respectable society; and I, equally respected, have been the +husband of your heart; while happiness would perhaps have kept the fatal +disease at bay, of which anxiety has facilitated the approach.'</p> + +<p>He was going on: but Adeline, who had till now struggled successfully +with her feelings, wound up almost to phrensy at the possibility that +anxiety had shortened Glenmurray's life, gave way to a violent paroxysm +of sorrow, which, for a while, deprived her of consciousness; and when +she recovered she found Berrendale bending over her, while her head lay +on Glenmurray's pillow.</p> + +<p>The sight of Berrendale in a moment roused her to exertion:—his look +was so full of anxious tenderness, and she was at that moment so ill +disposed to regard it with complacency, that she eagerly declared she +was quite recovered, and begged Mr Berrendale would return to bed; and +Glenmurray seconding her request, with a deep sigh he departed.</p> + +<p>'Poor fellow!' said Glenmurray, 'I wish you had seen his anxiety during +your illness!'</p> + +<p>'I am glad I did <i>not</i>,' replied Adeline: 'but how can you persist in +talking to me of any other person's anxiety, when I am tortured with +yours? Your conversation of to-night has made me even more miserable +than I was before. By what strange fatality do you blame yourself for +the conduct worthy of admiration?—for giving to the world, as soon as +produced, opinions which were calculated to enlighten it?'</p> + +<p>'But,' replied Glenmurray, 'as those opinions militated against the +experience and custom of ages, ought I not to have paused before I +published, and kept them back till they had received the sanction of my +maturer judgment?'</p> + +<p>'And does your maturer judgment condemn them?'</p> + +<p>'Four years cannot have added much to the maturity of my judgment,' +replied Glenmurray: 'but I will own that some of my opinions are +changed; and that, though I believe those which are unchanged are right +in theory, I think, as the mass of society could never <i>at once</i> adopt +them, they had better remain unacted upon, than that a few lonely +individuals should expose themselves to certain distress, by making them +the rules of their conduct. You, for instance, you, my Adeline, what +misery—!' Here his voice again faltered, and emotion impeded his +utterance.</p> + +<p>'Live—do but live,' exclaimed Adeline passionately, 'and I can know of +misery but the name.'</p> + +<p>'But I cannot live, I cannot live,' replied Glenmurray, 'and the sooner +I die the better;—for thus to waste your youth and health in the +dreadful solitude of a sick-room is insupportable to me.'</p> + +<p>'O Glenmurray!' replied Adeline, fondly throwing herself on his neck, +'could you but live free from any violent pain, and were neither you nor +I ever to leave this room again, believe me, I should not have a wish +beyond it. To see you, to hear you, to prove to you how much I love you, +would, indeed it would, be happiness sufficient for me!' After this burst +of true and heartfelt tenderness, there was a pause of some moments: +Glenmurray felt too much to speak, and Adeline was sobbing on his +pillow. At length she pathetically again exclaimed, 'Live! only live! +and I am blest!'</p> + +<p>'But I <i>cannot</i> live, I <i>cannot</i> live,' again replied Glenmurray; 'and +when I die, what will become of you?'</p> + +<p>'I care not,' cried Adeline: 'if I lose you, may the same grave receive +us!'</p> + +<p>'But it <i>will</i> not, my dearest:—grief does not kill; and, entailed as +my estate is, I have nothing to leave you: and though richly qualified +to undertake the care of children, in order to maintain yourself, your +unfortunate connexion, and singular opinions, will be an eternal bar to +your being so employed. O Adeline! these cutting fears, these dreadful +reflections, are indeed the bitterness of death: but there is one way of +alleviating my pangs.'</p> + +<p>'Name it,' replied Adeline with quickness.</p> + +<p>'But you must promise then to hear me with patience.—Had I been able to +live through my illness, I should have conjured you to let me endeavour +to restore you to your place in society, and consequently to your +usefulness, by making you my wife: and young, and I may add innocent and +virtuous, as you are, I doubt not but the world would at length have +received you into its favour again.'</p> + +<p>'But you must, you will, you shall live,' interrupted Adeline, 'and I +shall be your happy wife.'</p> + +<p>'Not <i>mine</i>' replied Glenmurray, laying an emphasis on the last word.</p> + +<p>Adeline started, and, fixing her eyes wildly on his, demanded what he +meant.</p> + +<p>'I mean,' replied he, 'to prevail on you to make my last moments happy, +by promising, some time hence, to give yourself a tender, a respectable, +and a legal protector.'</p> + +<p>'O Glenmurray!' exclaimed Adeline, 'and can you insult my tenderness for +you with such a proposal? If I can even survive you, do you think that I +can bear to give you a successor in my affection? or, how can you bear +to imagine that I shall?'</p> + +<p>'Because my love for you is without selfishness, and I wish you to be +happy even though another makes you so. The lover, or the husband, who +wishes the woman of his affection to form no second attachment, is, in +my opinion, a selfish, contemptible being. Perhaps I do not expect that +you will ever feel, for another man, an attachment like that which has +subsisted between us—the first affection of young and impassioned +hearts; but I am sure that you may again feel love enough to make +yourself and the man of your choice perfectly happy; and I hope and +trust that you will be so.'</p> + +<p>'And forget you, I suppose?' interrupted Adeline reproachfully.</p> + +<p>'Not so: I would have you remember me always, but with a chastized and +even a pleasing sorrow; nay, I would wish you to imagine me a sort of +guardian spirit watching your actions and enjoying your happiness.'</p> + +<p>'I have <i>listened</i> to you,' cried Adeline in a tone of suppressed +anguish, 'and, I trust, with tolerable patience: there is one thing yet +for me to learn—the name of the object whom you wish me to marry, for I +suppose <i>he</i> is found.'</p> + +<p>'He is,' returned Glenmurray, 'Berrendale loves you; and he it is whom I +wish you to choose.'</p> + +<p>'I thought so,' exclaimed Adeline, rising and traversing the room +hastily, and wringing her hands.</p> + +<p>'But wherefore does his name,' said Glenmurray, 'excite such angry +emotion? Perhaps self-love makes me recommend him,' continued he, +forcing a smile, 'as he is reckoned like me, and I thought that likeness +might make him more agreeable to you.'</p> + +<p>'Only the more odious,' impatiently interrupted Adeline. 'To look like +you, and not <i>be</i> you, Oh! insupportable idea!' she exclaimed, throwing +herself on Glenmurray's pillow, and pressing his burning temples to her +cold cheek.</p> + +<p>'Adeline,' said Glenmurray solemnly, 'this is, perhaps, the last moment +of confidential and uninterrupted intercourse that we shall ever have +together;' Adeline started, but spoke not; 'allow me, therefore, to tell +you it is my <i>dying request</i>, that you would endeavour to dispose your +mind in favour of Berrendale, and to become in time his wife. +Circumstanced as you are, your only chance for happiness is becoming a +wife: but it is too certain that few men worthy of you, in the most +essential points, will be likely to marry you after your connexion with +me.'</p> + +<p>'Strange prejudice!' cried Adeline, 'to consider as my disgrace, what I +deem my glory!'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray continued thus: 'Berrendale himself has a great deal of the +old school about him, but I have convinced him that you are not to be +classed with the frail of your sex; and that you are one of the purest +as well as loveliest of human beings.'</p> + +<p>'And did he want to be convinced of this?' cried Adeline indignantly; +'and <i>yet</i> you advise me to marry him?'</p> + +<p>'My dearest love,' replied Glenmurray, 'in all cases the most we can +expect is, to choose the best <i>possible</i> means of happiness. Berrendale +is not perfect; but I am convinced that you would commit a fatal error +in not making him your husband; and when I tell you it is my <i>dying +request</i> that you should do so—'</p> + +<p>'If you wish me to retain my senses,' exclaimed Adeline, 'repeat that +dreadful phrase no more.'</p> + +<p>'I will not say any more at all now,' faintly observed Glenmurray, 'for +I am exhausted:—still, as morning begins to dawn, I should like to sit +up in my bed and gaze on it, perhaps for—' Here Adeline put her hand to +his mouth: Glenmurray kissed it, sighed, and did not finish the +sentence. She then opened the shutters to let in the rising splendour of +day, and, turning round towards Glenmurray, almost shrieked with terror +at seeing the visible alteration a night had made in his appearance; +while the yellow rays of the dawn played on his sallow cheek, and his +dark curls, once crisped and glossy, hung faint and moist on his beating +temples.</p> + +<p>'It is strange, Adeline,' said Glenmurray (but with great effort), +'that, even in my situation, the sight of morning, and the revival as it +were of nature, seems to invigorate my whole frame. I long to breathe +the freshness of its breeze also.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, conscious for the first time that all hope was over, opened the +window, and felt even her sick soul and languid frame revived by the +chill but refreshing breeze. To Glenmurray it imparted a feeling of +physical pleasure, to which he had long been a stranger: 'I breathe +freely,' he exclaimed, 'I feel alive again!'—and, strange as it may +seem, Adeline's hopes began to revive also.—'I feel as if I could sleep +now,' said Glenmurray, 'the feverish restlessness seems abated; but, +lest my dreams be disturbed, promise me, ere I lie down again, that you +will behave kindly to Berrendale.'</p> + +<p>'Impossible! The only tie that bound me to him is broken:—I thought he +sincerely sympathized with me in my wishes for your recovery; but now +that, as he loves me, his wishes must be in direct opposition to +mine,—I cannot, indeed I cannot, endure the sight of him.'</p> + +<p>Glenmurray could not reply to this natural observation: he knew that, in +a similar situation, his feelings would have been like Adeline's; and, +pressing her hand with all the little strength left him, he said 'Poor +Berrendale!' and tried to compose himself to sleep; while Adeline, lost +in sad contemplation, threw herself in a chair by his bed-side, and +anxiously awaited the event of his re-awaking.</p> + +<p>But it was not long before Adeline herself, exhausted both in body and +mind, fell into a deep sleep; and it was mid-day before she awoke: for +no careless, heavy-treading, and hired nurse now watched the slumbers of +the unhappy lovers; but the mulatto, stepping light as air, and afraid +even of breathing lest she should disturb their repose, had assumed her +station at the bed-side, and taken every precaution lest any noise +should awake them. Hers was the service of the heart; and there is none +like it.</p> + +<p>At twelve o'clock Adeline awoke; and her first glance met the dark eyes +of Savanna kindly fixed upon her. Adeline started, not immediately +recollecting who it could be; but in a moment the idea of the mulatto, +and of the service which she had rendered her, recurred to her mind, and +diffused a sensation of pleasure through her frame. 'There is a being +whom I have served,' said Adeline to herself, and, extending her hand to +Savanna, she started from her seat, invigorated by the thought: but she +felt depressed again by the consciousness that she, who had been able to +impart so much joy and help to another, was herself a wretch for ever; +and in a moment her eyes filled with tears, while the mulatto gazed on +her with a look of inquiring solicitude.</p> + +<p>'Poor Savanna!' cried Adeline in a low and plaintive tone.</p> + +<p>There are moments when the sound of one's own voice has a mournful +effect on one's feelings—this was one of those moments to Adeline; the +pathos of her own tone overcame her, and she burst into tears: but +Glenmurray slept on; and Adeline hoped nothing would suddenly disturb +his rest, when Berrendale opened the door with what appeared unnecessary +noise, and Glenmurray hastily awoke.</p> + +<p>Adeline immediately started from her seat, and, looking at him with +great indignation, demanded why he came in in such a manner, when he +knew Mr Glenmurray was asleep.</p> + +<p>Berrendale, shocked and alarmed at Adeline's words and expression, so +unlike her usual manner, stammered out an excuse. 'Another time, Sir', +replied Adeline coldly, 'I hope you will be more <i>careful</i>.'</p> + +<p>'What is the matter?' said Glenmurray, raising himself in the bed. 'Are +you scolding, Adeline? If so, let me hear you: I like novelty.'</p> + +<p>Here Adeline and Berrendale both hastened to him, and Adeline almost +looked with complacency on Berrendale; when Glenmurray, declaring +himself wonderfully refreshed by his long sleep, expressed a great +desire for his breakfast, and said he had a most voracious appetite.</p> + +<p>But to all Berrendale's attentions she returned the most forbidding +reserve; nor could she for a moment lose the painful idea, that the +death of Glenmurray would be to him a source of joy, not of anguish. +Berrendale was not slow to observe this change in her conduct; and he +conceived that, as he knew Glenmurray had mentioned his pretensions to +her, his absence would be of more service to his wishes than his +presence; and he resolved to leave Richmond that afternoon,—especially +as he had a dinner engagement at a tavern in London, which, in spite of +love and friendship, he was desirous of keeping.</p> + +<p>He was not mistaken in his ideas: the countenance of Adeline assumed +less severity when he mentioned his intention of going away, nor could +she express regret at his resolution, even though Glenmurray with +anxious earnestness requested him to stay. But Glenmurray entreated in +vain: used to consider his own interest and pleasure in preference to +that of others, Berrendale resolved to go; and resisted the prayers of a +man who had often obliged him with the greatest difficulty to himself.</p> + +<p>'Well, then,' said Glenmurray mournfully, 'if you must go, God bless +you! I wish you, Charles, all possible earthly happiness; nay, I have +done all I can to ensure it you: but you have disappointed me. I hoped +to have joined your hand, in my last moments, to that of this dear girl, +and to have bequeathed her in the most solemn manner to your care and +tenderness; but no matter, farewell! we shall probably meet no more.'</p> + +<p>Here Berrendale's heart failed him, and he almost resolved to stay: but +a look of angry repugnance which he saw on Adeline's countenance, even +amidst her sorrow, got the better of his kind emotions, by wounding his +self-love; and grasping Glenmurray's hand, and saying 'I shall be back +in a day or two,' he rushed out of the room.</p> + +<p>'I am sorry Mr Berrendale is forced to go,' said Adeline involuntarily +when the street door closed after him.</p> + +<p>'Had you condescended to tell him so, he would undoubtedly have staid,' +replied Glenmurray rather peevishly. Adeline instantly felt, and +regretted, the selfishness of her conduct. To avoid the sight of a +disagreeable object, she had given pain to Glenmurray; or, rather, she +had not done her utmost to prevent his being exposed to it.</p> + +<p>'Forgive me,' said Adeline, bursting into tears: 'I own I thought only +of myself, when I forbore to urge his stay. Alas! with you, and you +alone, I believe, is the gratification of self always a secondary +consideration.'</p> + +<p>'You forget that I am a philanthropist,' replied Glenmurray, 'and cannot +bear to be praised, even by you, at the expense of my fellow-creatures. +But come, hasten dinner; my breakfast agreed with me so well, that I am +impatient for another meal.'</p> + +<p>'You certainly are better to-day,' exclaimed Adeline with unwonted +cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>'My feelings are more tolerable, at least,' replied Glenmurray: and +Adeline and the mulatto began to prepare the dinner immediately. How +often during her attendance on Glenmurray had she recollected the words +of her grandmother, and blessed her for having taught her to be +<i>useful!</i></p> + +<p>As soon as dinner was over, Glenmurray complained of being drowsy: still +he declared he would not go to bed till he had seen the sun set, as he +had that day, for the second time since his illness, seen it rise; and +therefore, when it was setting, Adeline and Savanna led him into a room +adjoining, which had a western aspect. Glenmurray fixed his eyes on the +crimson horizon with a peculiar expression; and his lips seemed to +murmur, 'For the last time! Let me breathe the evening air, too, once +more,' said he.</p> + +<p>'It is too chill, dear Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'It will not hurt me,' replied Glenmurray; and Adeline complied with his +request.</p> + +<p>'The breeze of evening is not refreshing like that of morning,' he +observed; 'but the beauty of the setting is, perhaps, superior to that +of the rising sun:—they are both glorious sights, and I have enjoyed +them both to-day, nor have I for years experienced so strong a feeling +of devotion.'</p> + +<p>'Thank God!' cried Adeline. 'O Glenmurray! there has been one thing only +wanting to the completion of our union; and that was, that we should +worship together.'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps, had I remained longer here,' replied Glenmurray, 'we might +have done so; for, believe me, Adeline, though my feelings have +continually hurried me into adoration of the Supreme Being, I have often +wished my homage to be as regular and as founded on immutable conviction +as it once was: but it is too late now for amendment, though, alas! not +for <i>regret</i>, <i>deep</i> regret: yet He who reads the heart knows that my +intentions were pure, and that I was not fixed in the stubbornness of +error.'</p> + +<p>'Let us change this discourse,' cried Adeline, seeing on Glenmurray's +countenance an expression of uncommon sadness, which he, from a regard +to her feelings, struggled to cover. He did indeed feel sadness—a +sadness of the most painful nature; and while Adeline hung over him with +all the anxious and soothing attention of unbounded love, he seemed to +shrink from her embrace with horror, and, turning away his head, feebly +murmured. 'O Adeline! this faithful kindness wounds me to the very soul. +Alas! alas! how little have I deserved it!'</p> + +<p>If Glenmurray, who had been the means of injuring the woman he loved, +merely by following the dictates of his conscience, and a love of what +he imagined to be truth, without any view of his own benefit or the +gratification of his personal wishes, felt thus acutely the anguish of +self-upbraiding,—what ought to be, and what must be, sooner or later, +the agony and remorse of that man, who, merely for the gratification of +his own illicit desires, has seduced the woman whom he loved from the +path of virtue, and ruined for ever her reputation and her peace of +mind!</p> + +<p>'It is too late now for you to sit at an open window, indeed it is,' +cried Adeline, after having replied to Glenmurray's self-reproaches by +the touching language of tears, and incoherent expressions of confiding +and unchanged attachment; 'and as you are evidently better to-day, do +not, by breathing too much cold air, run the risk of making yourself +worse again.'</p> + +<p>'Would I were really better! would I could live!' passionately exclaimed +Glenmurray: 'but indeed I do feel stronger to-night than I have felt for +many months.' In a moment the fine eyes of Adeline were raised to heaven +with an expression of devout thankfulness; and, eager to make the most +of a change so favourable, she hurried Glenmurray back to his chamber, +and, with a feeling of renewed hope, sat by to watch his slumbers. She +had not sat long before the door opened, and the little tawny boy +entered. He had watched all day to see the good lady, as he called +Adeline; but, as she had not left Glenmurray's chamber except to prepare +dinner, he had been disappointed: so he was resolved to seek her in her +own apartment. He had <ins title="original has brought">bought</ins> some cakes with the penny which Adeline had +given him, and he was eager to give her a piece of them.</p> + +<p>'Hush!' cried Adeline, as she held out her hand to him; and he in a +whisper crying 'Bite,' held his purchase to her lips. Adeline tasted it, +said it was very good, and, giving him a halfpenny, the tawny boy +disappeared again: the noise he made as he bounded down the stairs woke +Glenmurray. Adeline was sitting on the side of the bed; and as he turned +round to sleep again he grasped her hand in his, and its feverish touch +damped her hopes, and re-awakened her fears. For a short time she +mournfully gazed on his flushed cheek, and then, gently sliding off the +bed, and dropping on one knee, she addressed the Deity in the language +of humble supplication.</p> + +<p>Insensibly she ceased to pray in thought only, and the lowly-murmured +prayer became audible. Again Glenmurray awoke, and Adeline reproached +herself as the cause.</p> + +<p>'My rest was uneasy,' cried he, 'and I rejoice that you woke me: +besides, I like to hear you—Go on, my dearest girl; there is a +something in the breathings of your pious fondness that soothes me,' +added he, pressing the hand he held to his parched lips.</p> + +<p>Adeline obeyed: and as she continued, she felt ever and anon, by the +pressure of Glenmurray's hand, how much he was affected by what she +uttered.</p> + +<p>'But must he be taken from me!' she exclaimed in one part of her prayer. +'Father, if it be possible, permit this cup to pass by me untasted.' +Here she felt the hand of Glenmurray grasp hers most vehemently; and, +delighted to think that he had pleasure in hearing her, she went on to +breathe forth all the wishes of a trembling yet confiding spirit, till +overcome with her own emotions she ceased and arose, and leaning over +Glenmurray's pillow was going to take his hand:—but the hand which she +pressed returned not her pressure; the eyes were fixed whose approving +glance she sought; and the horrid truth rushed at once on her mind, that +the last convulsive grasp had been an eternal farewell, and that he had +in that grasp expired.</p> + +<p>Alas! what preparation however long, what anticipation however sure, can +enable the mind to bear a shock like this! It came on Adeline like a +thunder-stroke: she screamed not; she moved not; but, fixing a dim and +glassy eye on the pale countenance of her lover, she seemed as +insensible as poor Glenmurray himself; and hours might have +elapsed—hours immediately fatal both to her senses and existence—ere +any one had entered the room, since she had given orders to be disturbed +by no one, had not the tawny boy, encouraged by his past success, stolen +in again, unperceived, to give her a piece of the apple which he had +bought with her last bounty.</p> + +<p>The delighted boy tripped gaily to the bed-side, holding up his +treasure; but he started back, and screamed in all the agony of terror, +at the sight which he beheld—the face of Glenmurray ghastly, and the +mouth distorted as if in the last agony, and Adeline in the stupor of +despair.</p> + +<p>The affectionate boy's repeated screams soon summoned the whole family +into the room, while he, vainly hanging on Adeline's arm, begged her to +speak to him. But nothing could at first rouse Adeline, not even +Savanna's loud and extravagant grief. When, however, they tried to force +her from the body, she recovered her recollection and her strength; and +it was with great difficulty she could be carried out of the room, and +kept out when they had accomplished their purpose.</p> + +<p>But Savanna was sure that looking at such a sad sight would kill her +mistress; for she should die herself if she saw William dead, she +declared; and the people of the house agreed with her. They knew not +that grief is the best medicine for itself; and that the overcharged +heart is often relieved by the sight which standers-by conceive likely +to snap the very threads of existence.</p> + +<p>As Adeline and Glenmurray had both of them excited some interest in +Richmond, the news of the death of the latter was immediately abroad; +and it was told to Mrs Pemberton, with a pathetic account of Adeline's +distress, just as the carriage was preparing to convey her and her sick +friend on their way to Lisbon. It was a relation to call forth all the +humanity of Mrs Pemberton's nature. She forgot Adeline's crime in her +distress; and knowing she had no female friend with her, she hastened on +the errand of pity to the abode of vice. Alas! Mrs Pemberton had learnt +but too well to sympathize in grief like that of Adeline. She had seen a +beloved husband expire in her arms, and had afterwards followed two +children to the grave. But she had taken refuge from sorrow in the +active duties of her religion, and was enabled to become a teacher of +those truths to others, by which she had so much benefited herself.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton entered the room just as Adeline, on her knees, was +conjuring the persons with her to allow her to see Glenmurray once more.</p> + +<p>Adeline did not at all observe the entrance of Mrs Pemberton, who, in +spite of the self-command which her principles and habits gave her, was +visibly affected when she beheld the mourner's tearless affliction: and +the hands which, on her entrance, were quietly crossed on each other, +confining the modest folds of her simple cloak, were suddenly and +involuntarily separated by the irresistible impulse of pity; while, +catching hold of the wall for support, she leaned against it, covering +her face with her hands. 'Let me see him! only let me see him once +more!' cried Adeline, gazing on Mrs Pemberton, but unconscious who she +was.</p> + +<p>'Thou shalt see him,' replied Mrs Pemberton with considerable effort; +'give me thy hand, and I will go with thee to the chamber of death.' +Adeline gave a scream of mournful joy at this permission, and suffered +herself to be led into Glenmurray's apartment. As soon as she entered it +she sprang to the bed, and, throwing herself beside the corpse, began to +contemplate it with an earnestness and firmness which surprised every +one. Mrs Pemberton also fixedly gazed on the wan face of Glenmurray: +'And art thou fallen!' she exclaimed, 'thou, wise in thine own conceit, +who presumedst, perhaps, sometimes to question even the existence of the +Most High, and to set up thy vain chimeras of yesterday against the +wisdom and experience of centuries? Child of the dust! child of error! +what art thou now, and whither is thy guilty spirit fled? But balmy is +the hand of affliction; and she, thy mourning victim, may learn to bless +the hand that chastizes her, nor add to the offences which will weigh +down thy soul, a dread responsibility for hers!'</p> + +<p>Here she was interrupted by the voice of Adeline; who, in a deep and +hollow tone, was addressing the unconscious corpse. 'For God's sake, +speak! for this silence is dreadful—it looks so like death.'</p> + +<p>'Poor thing!' said Mrs Pemberton, kneeling beside her, 'and is it even +thus with thee? Would thou couldst shed tears, afflicted one!'</p> + +<p>'It is very strange,' continued Adeline: 'he loved me so tenderly, and +he used to speak and look so tenderly, and now, see how he neglects me! +Glenmurray, my love! for mercy's sake, speak to me!' As she said this, +she laid her lips to his: but, feeling on them the icy coldness of +death, she started back, screaming in all the violence of phrensy; and, +recovered to the full consciousness of her misfortune, she was carried +back to her room in violent convulsions.</p> + +<p>'Would I could stay and watch over thee!' said Mrs Pemberton, as she +gazed on Adeline's distorted countenance; 'for thou, young as thou art, +wert well known in the chambers of sorrow and of sickness; and I should +rejoice to pay back to thee part of the debt of those whom thy presence +so often soothed: but I must leave thee to the care of others.'</p> + +<p>'You leave her to my care,' cried Savanna reproachfully,—who felt even +her <ins title="original has violet">violent</ins> sorrow suspended while Mrs Pemberton spoke in accents at +once sad yet soothing,—'you leave her to my care, and who watch, who +love her more than me?'</p> + +<p>'Good Savanna!' replied Mrs Pemberton, pressing the mulatto's hand as +she returned to her station beside Adeline, who was fallen into a calm +slumber, 'to thy care, with confidence, I commit her. But perhaps there +may be an immediate necessity for money, and I had better leave this +with thee,' she added, taking out her purse: but Savanna assured her +that Mr Berrendale was sent for, and to him all those concerns were to +be left. Mrs Pemberton stood for a few moments looking at Adeline in +silence, then slowly left the house.</p> + +<p>When Adeline awoke, she seemed so calm and resigned, that her earnest +request of being allowed to pass the night alone was granted, especially +as Mrs Pemberton had desired that her wish, even to see Glenmurray +again, should be complied with: but the faithful mulatto watched till +morning at the door. No bed that night received the weary limbs of +Adeline. She threw herself on the ground, and in alternate prayer and +phrensy passed the first night of her woe: towards morning, however, she +fell into a perturbed sleep. But when the light of day darting into the +room awakened her to consciousness; and when she recollected that he to +whom it usually summoned her existed no longer; that the eyes which but +the preceding morning had opened with enthusiastic ardour to hail its +beams, were now for ever closed; and that the voice which used to +welcome her so tenderly, she should never, never hear again; the +forlornness of her situation, the hopelessness of her sorrow burst upon +her with a violence too powerful for her reason: and when Berrendale +arrived, he found Glenmurray in his shroud, and Adeline in a state of +insanity. For six months her phrensy resisted all the efforts of +medicine, and the united care which Berrendale's love and Savanna's +grateful attachment could bestow; while with Adeline's want of their +care seemed to increase their desire of bestowing it, and their +affection gathered new strength from the duration of her helpless +malady. So true is it, that we become attached more from the aid which +we give than that which we receive; and that the love of the obliger is +more apt to increase than that of the obliged by the obligation +conferred. At length, however, Adeline's reason slowly yet surely +returned; and she, by degrees, learnt to contemplate with firmness, and +even calmness, the loss which she had sustained. She even looked on +Berrendale and his attentions not with anger, but gratitude and +complacency; she had even pleasure in observing the likeness he bore +Glenmurray; she felt that it endeared him to her. In the first paroxysms +of her phrensy, the sight of him threw her into fits of ravings; but as +she grew better she had pleasure in seeing him: and when, on her +recovery, she heard how much she was indebted to his persevering +tenderness, she felt for him a decided regard, which Berrendale tried +to flatter himself might be ripened into love.</p> + +<p>But he was mistaken; the heart of Adeline was formed to feel violent and +lasting attachments only. She had always loved her mother with a +tenderness of a most uncommon nature; she had felt for Glenmurray the +fondest enthusiasm of passion: she was now separated from them both. But +her mother still lived: and though almost hopeless of ever being +restored to her society, all her love for her returned; and she pined +for that consoling fondness, those soothing attentions, which, in a time +of such affliction, a mother on a widowed daughter can alone bestow.</p> + +<p>'Yet, surely,' cried she in the solitude of her own room, 'her oath +cannot now forbid her to forgive me; for, am I not as <span class="smallcaps">wretched in love</span>, +nay more, far more so, than <i>she</i> has been? Yes—yes; I will write to +her: besides <span class="smallcaps">he</span> wished me to do so' (meaning Glenmurray, whom she never +named); and she did write to her, according to the address which Dr +Norberry sent soon after he returned to his own house. Still week after +week elapsed, and month after month, but no answer came.</p> + +<p>Again she wrote, and again she was disappointed; though her loss, her +illness in consequence of it, her pecuniary distress, and the large debt +which she had incurred to Berrendale, were all detailed in a manner +calculated to move the most obdurate heart. What then could Adeline +suppose? Perhaps her mother was ill; perhaps she was dead: and her +reason was again on the point of yielding to this horrible supposition, +when she received her two letters in a cover, directed in her mother's +hand-writing.</p> + +<p>At first she was overwhelmed by this dreadful proof of the continuance +of Mrs Mowbray's deep resentment; but, ever sanguine, the circumstance +of Mrs Mowbray's having written the address herself appeared to Adeline +a favourable symptom; and with renewed hope she wrote to Dr Norberry to +become her mediator once more: but to this letter no answer was +returned; and Adeline concluded her only friend had died of the fever +which Mrs Norberry had mentioned in her letter.</p> + +<p>'Then I have lost my only friend!' cried Adeline, wringing her hands in +agony, as this idea recurred to her. 'Your only friend?' repeated +Berrendale, who happened to be present, 'O Adeline!'</p> + +<p>Her heart smote her as he said this. 'My oldest friend I should have +said,' she replied, holding out her hand to him; and Berrendale thought +himself happy.</p> + +<p>But Adeline was far from meaning to give the encouragement which this +action seemed to bestow: wholly occupied by her affliction, her mind had +lost its energy, and she would not have made an effort to dissipate her +grief by employment and exertion, had not that virtuous pride and +delicacy, which in happier hours had been the ornament of her character, +rebelled against the consciousness of owing pecuniary obligations to the +lover whose suit she was determined to reject, and urged her to make +some vigorous attempt to maintain herself.</p> + +<p>Many were the schemes which occurred to her; but none seemed so +practicable as that of keeping a day-school in some village near the +metropolis.—True, Glenmurray had said, that her having been his +mistress would prevent her obtaining scholars; but his fears, perhaps, +were stronger than his justice in this case. These fears, however, she +found existed in Berrendale's mind also, though he ventured only to hint +them with great caution.</p> + +<p>'You think, then, no prudent parents, if my story should be known to +them, would send their children to me?' said Adeline to Berrendale.</p> + +<p>'I fear—I—that is to say, I am sure they would not.'</p> + +<p>'Under such circumstances,' said Adeline, 'you yourself would not send a +child to my school?'</p> + +<p>'Why—really—I—as the world goes,' replied Berrendale.</p> + +<p>'I am answered,' said Adeline with a look and tone of displeasure; and +retired to her chamber, intending not to return till Berrendale was gone +to his own lodging. But her heart soon reproached her with unjust +resentment; and, coming back, she apologized to Berrendale for being +angry at his laudable resolution of acting according to those principles +which he thought most virtuous, especially as she claimed for herself a +similar right.</p> + +<p>Berrendale, gratified by her apology, replied, 'that he saw no objection +to her plan, if she chose to deny him the happiness of sharing his +income with her, provided she would settle in a village where she was +not likely to be known, and change her name.'</p> + +<p>'Change my name! Never. Concealment of any kind almost always implies +the consciousness of guilt; and while my heart does not condemn me, my +conduct shall not seem to accuse me. I will go to whatever place you +shall recommend; but I beg your other request may be mentioned no +more.'</p> + +<p>Berrendale, glad to be forgiven on any terms, promised to comply with +her wishes; and he having recommended to her to settle at a village some +few miles north of London, Adeline hired there a small but commodious +lodging, and issued immediately cards of advertisement, stating what she +meant to teach, and on what terms; while Berrendale took lodgings within +a mile of her, and the faithful mulatto attended her as a servant of +all-work.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, at this time, a lady at Richmond, who had a son the age of +the tawny boy, became so attached to him, that she was desirous of +bringing him up to be the play-fellow and future attendant on her son; +and the mulatto, pleased to have him so well disposed of, resisted the +poor little boy's tears and reluctance at the idea of being separated +from her and Adeline: and before she left Richmond she had the +satisfaction of seeing him comfortably settled in the house of his +patroness.</p> + +<p>Adeline succeeded in her undertaking even beyond her utmost wishes. +Though unknown and unrecommended, there was in her countenance and +manner a something so engaging, so strongly inviting confidence, and so +decisively bespeaking the gentlewoman, that she soon excited in the +village general respect and attention: and no sooner were scholars +entrusted to her care, than she became the idol of her pupils; and their +improvement was rapid in proportion to the love which they bore her.</p> + +<p>This fortunate circumstance proved a balm to the wounded mind of +Adeline. She felt that she had recovered her usefulness—that +desideratum in morals; and life, spite of her misfortunes, acquired a +charm in her eyes. True it was, that she was restored to her capability +of being useful, by being where she was unknown; and because the +mulatto, unknown to her, had described her as reduced to earn her +living, on account of the death of the man to whom she was about to be +married: but she did not revert to the reasons of her being so generally +esteemed; she contented herself with the consciousness of being so; and +for some months she was tranquil, though not happy. But her tranquillity +was destined to be of short duration.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_18" id="ch_18"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h3> + +<p>The village in which Adeline resided happened to be the native place of +Mary Warner, the servant whom she had been forced to dismiss at +Richmond; and who having gone from Mrs Pemberton to another situation, +which she had also quitted, came to visit her friends.</p> + +<p>The wish of saying lessening things of those of whom one hears +extravagant commendations, is, I fear, common to almost every one, even +where the object praised comes in no competition with oneself:—and when +Mary Warner heard from every quarter of the grace and elegance, +affability and active benevolence of the new comer, it was no doubt +infinitely gratifying to her to be able to exclaim,—'Mowbray! did you +say her name is? La! I dares to say it is my old mistress, who was kept +by one Mr Glenmurray!' But so greatly were her auditors prepossessed in +favour of Adeline, that very few of them could be prevailed upon to +believe Mary's supposition was just; and so much was she piqued at the +disbelief which she met with, that she declared she would go to church +the next Sunday to shame the hussey, and go up and speak to her in the +church-yard before all the people.</p> + +<p>'Ah! do so, if you ever saw our Miss Mowbray before,' was the answer: +and Mary eagerly looked forward to the approaching Sunday. Meanwhile, as +we are all of us but too apt to repeat stories to the prejudice of +others, even though we do not believe them, this strange assertion of +Mary was circulated through the village even by Adeline's admirers; and +the next Sunday was expected by the unconscious Adeline alone with no +unusual eagerness.</p> + +<p>Sunday came; and Adeline, as she was wont to do, attended the service: +but from the situation of her pew, she could neither see Mary nor be +seen by her till church was over. Adeline then, as usual, was walking +down the broad walk of the church-yard, surrounded by the parents of the +children who came to her school, and receiving from them the customary +marks of respect, when Mary, bustling through the crowd, accosted her +with:—'So!—your sarvant, Miss Mowbray, I am glad to see you here in +such a respectable situation.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, though in the gaily-dressed lady who accosted her she had some +difficulty in recognizing her quondam servant, recollected the pert +shrill voice and insolent manner of Mary immediately; and involuntarily +starting when she addressed her, from painful associations and fear of +impending evil, she replied, 'How are you, Mary?' in a faltering tone.</p> + +<p>'Then it is Mary's Miss Mowbray,' whispered Mary's auditors of the day +before to each other; while Mary, proud of her success, looked +triumphantly at them, and was resolved to pursue the advantage which she +had gained.</p> + +<p>'So you have lost Mr Glenmurray, I find!' continued Mary.</p> + +<p>Adeline spoke not, but walked hastily on:—but Mary kept pace with her, +speaking as loud as she could.</p> + +<p>'And did the little one live, pray?'</p> + +<p>Still Adeline spoke not.</p> + +<p>'What sort of a getting-up had you, Miss Mowbray?'</p> + +<p>At this mischievously-intended question Adeline's other sensations were +lost in strong indignation; and resuming all the modest but collected +dignity of her manner, she turned round, and fixing her eyes steadily on +the insulting girl, exclaimed aloud, 'Woman, I never injured you either +in thought, word, or deed:—Whence comes it, then, that you endeavour to +make the finger of scorn point at me, and make me shrink with shame and +confusion from the eye of observation?'</p> + +<p>'Woman! indeed!' replied Mary—but she was not allowed to proceed; for a +gentleman hastily stepped forward, crying, 'It is impossible for us to +suffer such insults to be offered to Miss Mowbray:—I desire, therefore, +that you will take your daughter away (turning to Mary's father); and, +if possible, teach her better manners.' Having said this, he overtook +the agitated Adeline; and offering her his arm, saw her home to her +lodgings: while those who had heard with surprise and suspicion the +strange and impertinent questions and insolent tone of Mary, resumed in +a degree their confidence in Adeline, and turned a disgusted and deaf +ear to the hysterical vehemence with which the half-sobbing Mary +defended herself, and vilified Adeline, as her father and +brother-in-law, almost by force, led her out of the church-yard.</p> + +<p>The gentleman who had so kindly stepped forward to the assistance of +Adeline was Mr Beauclerc, the surgeon of the village, a man of +considerable abilities and liberal principles; and when he bade Adeline +farewell, he said, 'My wife will do herself the pleasure of calling on +you this evening:' then, kindly pressing her hand, he with a respectful +bow took his leave.</p> + +<p>Luckily for Adeline, Berrendale was detained in town that day; and she +was spared the mortification of showing herself to him, writhing as she +was under the agonies of public shame, for such it seemed to her. +Convinced as she was of the light in which she must have appeared to the +persons around her from the malicious interrogatories of +Mary;—convinced too, as she was more than beginning to be, of the +fallacy of the reasoning which had led her to deserve, and even to glory +in, the situation which she now blushed to hear disclosed;—and +conscious as she was, that to remain in the village, and expect to +retain her school, was now impossible—she gave herself up to a burst of +sorrow and despondence; during which her only consolation was, that it +was not witnessed by Berrendale.</p> + +<p>It never for a moment entered into the ingenuous mind of Adeline, that +her declaration would have more weight than that of Mary Warner; and +that she might, with almost a certainty of being believed, deny her +charge entirely: on the contrary, she had no doubt but that Mrs +Beauclerc was coming to inquire into the grounds for Mary's gross +address; and she was resolved to confess to her all the circumstances of +her story.</p> + +<p>After church in the afternoon Mrs Beauclerc arrived, and Adeline +observed, with pleasure, that her manner was even kinder than usual; it +was such as to ensure the innocent of the most strenuous support, and to +invite the guilty to confidence and penitence.</p> + +<p>'Never, my dear Miss Mowbray,' said Mrs Beauclerc, 'did I call on you +with more readiness than now; as I come assured that you will give me +not only the most ample authority to contradict, but the fullest means +to confute, the vile calumnies which that malicious girl, Mary Warner, +has, ever since she entered the village, been propagating against you: +but, indeed, she is so little respected in her rank of life, and you so +highly in yours, that your mere denial of the truth of her statement +will, to every candid mind, be sufficient to clear your character.'</p> + +<p>Adeline never before was so strongly tempted to violate the truth; and +there was a friendly earnestness in Mrs Beauclerc's manner, which proved +that it would be almost cruel to destroy the opinion which she +entertained of her virtue. For a moment Adeline felt disposed to yield +to the temptation, but it was only for a moment,—and in a hurried and +broken voice she replied, 'Mary Warner has asserted of me nothing but—' +Here her voice faltered.</p> + +<p>'Nothing but falsehoods, no doubt, interrupted Mrs Beauclerc +triumphantly,—'I thought so.'</p> + +<p>'Nothing but the <span class="smallcaps">truth</span>!' resumed Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Impossible!' cried Mrs Beauclerc, dropping the cold hand which she +held: and Adeline, covering her face, and throwing herself back in the +chair, sobbed aloud.</p> + +<p>Mrs Beauclerc was herself for some time unable to speak; but at length +she faintly said—'So sensible, so pious, so well-informed, and so +pure-minded as you seem!—to what strange arts, what wicked seductions, +did you fall a victim?'</p> + +<p>'To no arts—to no seductions'—replied Adeline, recovering all her +energy at this insinuation against Glenmurray. 'My fall from virtue as +you would call it, was, I may say, from love of what I thought virtue; +and if there be any blame, it attaches merely to my confidence in my +lover's wisdom and my own too obstinate self-conceit. But you, dear +madam, deserve to hear my whole story; and, if you can favour me with an +hour's attention, I hope, at least, to convince you that I was worthy of +a better fate than to be publicly disgraced by a malicious and ignorant +girl.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Beauclerc promised the most patient attention; and Adeline related +the eventful history of her life, slightly dwelling on those parts of it +which in any degree reflected on her mother, and extolling most highly +her sense, her accomplishments, and her maternal tenderness. When she +came to the period of Glenmurray's illness and death, she broke abruptly +off and rushed into her own chamber; and it was some minutes before she +could return to Mrs Beauclerc, or before her visitor could wish her to +return, as she was herself agitated and affected by the relation which +she had heard:—and when Adeline came in she threw her arms round her +neck, and pressed her to her heart with a feeling of affection that +spoke consolation to the wounded spirit of the mourner.</p> + +<p>She then resumed her narration;—and, having concluded it, Mrs +Beauclerc, seizing her hand, exclaimed, 'For God's sake, marry Mr +Berrendale immediately; and adjure for ever, at the foot of the altar, +those errors in opinion to which all your misery has been owing!'</p> + +<p>'Would I could atone for them some other way!' she replied.</p> + +<p>'Impossible! and if you have any regard for me you will become the wife +of your generous lover; for then, and not till then, can I venture to +associate with you.'</p> + +<p>'I thought so,' cried Adeline; 'I thought all idea of remaining here, +with any chance of keeping my scholars, was now impossible.'</p> + +<p>'It would not be so,' replied Mrs Beauclerc, 'if every one thought like +me: I should consider your example as a warning to all young people; and +to preserve my children from evil I should only wish them to hear your +story, as it inculcates most powerfully how vain are personal graces, +talents, sweetness of temper, and even active benevolence, to ensure +respectability and confer happiness, without a strict regard to the +long-established rules for conduct, and a continuance in those paths of +virtue and decorum which the wisdom of ages has pointed out to the steps +of every one.—But others will, no doubt, consider, that continuing to +patronize you, would be patronizing vice; and my rank in life is not +high enough to enable me to countenance you with any chance of leading +others to follow my example; while I should not be able to serve you, +but should infallibly lose myself. But some time hence, as the wife of +Mr Berrendale, I might receive you as your merits deserve: till then—' +Here Mrs Beauclerc paused, and she hesitated to add, 'we meet no more.'</p> + +<p>Indeed it was long before the parting took place. Mrs Beauclerc had +justly appreciated the merits of Adeline, and thought she had found in +her a friend and companion for years to come: besides, her children were +most fondly attached to her; and Mrs Beauclerc, while she contemplated +their daily improvement under her care, felt grateful to Adeline for the +unfolding excellencies of her daughters. Still, to part with her was +unavoidable; but the pang of separation was in a degree soothed to +Adeline by the certainty which Mrs Beauclerc's sorrow gave her, that, +spite of her errors, she had inspired a real friendship in the bosom of +a truly virtuous and respectable woman; and this idea gave a sensation +of joy to her heart to which it had long been a stranger.</p> + +<p>The next morning some of the parents, whom Mary's tale had not yet +reached, sent their children as usual. But Adeline refused to enter upon +any school duties, bidding them affectionately farewell, and telling +them that she was going to write to their parents, as she was obliged +to leave her present situation, and, declining keeping school, meant to +reside, she believed in London.</p> + +<p>The children on hearing this looked at each other with almost tearful +consternation; and Adeline observed, with pleasure, the interest which +she had made to herself in their young hearts. After they were gone she +sent a circular letter to her friends in the village, importing that she +was under the necessity of leaving her present residence; but that, +whatever her future situation might be, she should always remember, with +gratitude, the favours which she had received at <span class="nowrap">——</span>.</p> + +<p>The necessity that drove her away was, by this time, very well +understood by every one; but Mrs Beauclerc took care to tell those who +mentioned the subject to her, the heads of Adeline's story; and to add +always, 'and I have reason to believe that, as soon as she is settled in +town, she will be extremely well married.'</p> + +<p>To the mulatto the change in Adeline's plans was particularly pleasing, +as it would bring her nearer her son, and nearer William, from whom +nothing but a sense of grateful duty to Adeline would so long have +divided her. But Savanna imagined that Adeline's removal was owing to +her having at last determined to marry Mr Berrendale; an event which +she, for Adeline's sake, earnestly wished to take place, though for her +own she was undecided whether to desire it or not, as Mr Berrendale +might not, perhaps, be as contented with her services as Adeline was.</p> + +<p>While these thoughts were passing in Savanna's mind, and her warm and +varying feelings were expressed by alternate smiles and tears, Mr +Berrendale arrived from town: and as Savanna opened the door to him, +she, half whimpering, half smiling, dropped him a very respectful +curtsey, and looked at him with eyes full of unusual significance.</p> + +<p>'Well, Savanna, what has happened?—Anything new or extraordinary since +my absence?' said Berrendale.</p> + +<p>'Me tink not of wat hav appen, but what will happen,' replied Savanna.</p> + +<p>'And what is going to happen?' returned Berrendale, seating himself in +the parlour, 'and where is your mistress?'</p> + +<p>'She dress herself, that dear misses,' replied Savanna, lingering with +the door in her hand, 'and I,—ope to have a dear massa too.'</p> + +<p>'What!' cried Berrendale, starting wildly from his seat, 'what did you +say?'</p> + +<p>'Why me ope my misses be married soon.'</p> + +<p>'Married! to whom?' cried Berrendale, seizing her hand, and almost +breathless with alarm.</p> + +<p>'Why, to you, sure,' exclaimed Savanna, 'and den me hope you will not +turn away poor Savanna?'</p> + +<p>'What reason you have, my dear Savanna, for talking thus, I cannot tell; +nor dare I give way to the sweet hopes which you excite: but, if it be +true that I may hope, depend on it you shall cook my wedding dinner, and +then I am sure it will be a good one.'</p> + +<p>'Can full joy eat?' asked the mulatto thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>'A good dinner is a good thing, Savanna,' replied Berrendale, 'and ought +never to be slighted.'</p> + +<p>'Me good dinner day I marry, but I not eat it.—O sir, pity people look +best in dere wedding clothes, but my William look well all day and every +day, and perhaps you will too, sir; and den I ope to cook your wedding +dinner, next day dinner, and all your dinners.'</p> + +<p>'And so you shall, Savanna,' cried Berrendale, grasping her hand, 'and +I—' Here the door opened, and Adeline appeared; who, surprised at +Berrendale's familiarity with her servant, looked gravely, and stopped +at the door with a look of cold surprise. Berrendale, awed into +immediate respect—for what is so timid and respectful as a man truly in +love?—bowed low, and lost in an instant all the hopes which had +elevated his spirits to such an unusual degree.</p> + +<p>Adeline with an air of pique observed, that she feared she interrupted +them unpleasantly, as something unusually agreeable and enlivening +seemed to occupy them as she came in, over which her entrance seemed to +have cast a cloud.</p> + +<p>The mulatto had by this time retreated to the door, and was on the point +of closing it when Berrendale stammered out, as well as he could, +'Savanna was, indeed, raising my hopes to such an unexpected height, +that I felt almost bewildered with joy; but the coldness of your manner, +Miss Mowbray, has sobered me again.'</p> + +<p>'And what did Savanna say to you?' cried Adeline.</p> + +<p>'I—I say,' cried Savanna returning, 'dat is, he say, I should be let +cook de wedding dinner.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, returning even paler than she was before, desired her coldly to +leave the room; and, seating herself at the greatest possible distance +from Berrendale, leaned for some time in silence on her hand—he not +daring to interrupt her meditations. But at last she said, 'What could +give rise to this singular conversation between you and Savanna I am +wholly at a loss to imagine: still I—I must own that it is not so +ill-timed as it would have been some weeks ago. I will own, that since +yesterday I have been considering your generous proposals with the +serious attention which they deserve.'</p> + +<p>On hearing this, which Adeline uttered with considerable effort, +Berrendale in a moment was at her side, and almost at her feet.</p> + +<p>'I—I wish you to return to your seat,' said Adeline coldly: but hope +had emboldened him, and he chose to stay where he was.</p> + +<p>'But, before I require you to renew your promises, or make any on my +side, it is proper that I should tell you what passed yesterday; and if +the additional load of obloquy which I have acquired does not frighten +you from continuing your addresses—' Here Adeline paused:—and +Berrendale, rather drawing back, then pushing his chair nearer her as he +spoke, gravely answered, that his affection was proof against all +trials.</p> + +<p>Adeline then briefly related the scene in the church-yard, and her +conversation with Mrs Beauclerc, and concluded thus:—'In consequence of +this, and of the recollections of <span class="smallcaps">his</span> advice, and <span class="smallcaps">his</span> decided opinion, +that by becoming the wife of a respectable man I could alone expect to +recover my rank in society, and consequently my usefulness, I offer you +my hand; and promise, in the course of a few months, to become yours in +the sight of God and man.'</p> + +<p>'And from no other reason?—from no preference, no regard for me?' +demanded Berrendale reproachfully.</p> + +<p>'Oh! pardon me; from decided preference; there is not another being in +the creation whom I could bear to call husband.'</p> + +<p>Berrendale, gratified and surprised, attempted to take her hand; but, +withdrawing it, she continued thus;—'Still I almost scruple to let you, +unblasted as your prospects are, take a wife a beggar, blasted in +reputation, broken in spirits, with a heart whose best affections lie +buried in the grave, and which can offer you in return for your faithful +tenderness nothing but cold respect and esteem; one too who is not only +despicable to others, but also self-condemned.'</p> + +<p>While Adeline said this, Berrendale, almost shuddering at the picture +which she drew, paced the room in great agitation; and even the +gratification of his passion, used as he was to the indulgence of every +wish, seemed, for a moment, a motive not sufficiently powerful to enable +him to unite his fate to that of a woman so degraded as Adeline appeared +to be; and he would, perhaps, have hesitated to accept the hand she +offered, had she not added, as a contrast to the picture which she had +drawn—'But if, in spite of all these unwelcome considerations, you +persist in your resolution of making me yours, and I have resolution +enough to conquer the repugnance that I feel to make a second connexion, +you may depend on possessing in me one who will study your happiness and +wishes in the minutest particulars;—one who will cherish you in +sickness and in sorrow;—' (here a twinge of the gout assisted Adeline's +appeal very powerfully;) 'and who, conscious of the generosity of your +attachment, and her own unworthiness, will strive, by every possible +effort, not to remain your debtor even in affection.'</p> + +<p>Saying this, she put out her hand to Berrendale; and that hand, and the +arm belonging to it, were so beautiful, and he had so often envied +Glenmurray while he saw them tenderly supporting his head, that while a +vision of approaching gout, and Adeline bending over his restless couch, +floated before him, all his prudent considerations vanished; and, +eagerly pressing the proffered hand to his lips, he thanked her most +ardently for her kind promise; and, putting his arm round her waist, +would have pressed her to his bosom.</p> + +<p>But the familiarity was ill-timed;—Adeline was already surprised, and +even shocked, at the lengths to which she had gone; and starting almost +with loathing from his embrace, she told him it grew late, and it was +time for him to go to his lodgings. She then retired to her own room, +and spent half the night at least in weeping over the remembrance of +Glenmurray, and in loudly apostrophizing his departed spirit.</p> + +<p>The next day Adeline, out of the money which she had earned, discharged +her lodgings; and having written a farewell note to Mrs Beauclerc, +begging to hear of her now and then, she and the mulatto proceeded to +town, with Berrendale, in search of apartments; and having procured +them, Adeline began to consider by what means, till she could resolve to +marry Berrendale, she should help to maintain herself, and also contrive +to increase their income if she became his wife.</p> + +<p>The success which she had met with in instructing children, led her to +believe that she might succeed in writing little hymns and tales for +their benefit; a method of getting money which she looked upon to be +more rapid and more lucrative than working plain or fancy works: and, in +a short time, a little volume was ready to be offered to a +bookseller:—nor was it offered in vain. Glenmurray's bookseller +accepted it; and the sum which he gave, though trifling, imparted a +balsam to the wounded mind of Adeline: it seemed to open to her the path +of independence; and to give her, in spite of her past errors, the means +of serving her fellow-creatures.</p> + +<p>But month after month elapsed, and Glenmurray had been dead two years, +yet still Adeline could not prevail on herself to fix a time for her +marriage.</p> + +<p>But next to the aversion she felt to marrying at all, was that which she +experienced at the idea of having no fortune to bestow on the +disinterested Berrendale; and so desirous was she of his acquiring some +little property by his union with her, that she resolved to ask +counsel's opinion on the possibility of her claiming a sum of money +which Glenmurray had bequeathed to her, but without, as Berrendale had +assured her, the customary formalities.</p> + +<p>The money was near £300; but Berrendale had allowed it to go to +Glenmurray's legal heir, because he was sure that the writing which +bequeathed it would not hold good in law. Still Adeline was so unwilling +to be under so many pecuniary obligations to a man whom she did not +love, that she resolved to take advice on the subject, much against the +will of Berrendale, who thought the money for fees might as well be +saved; but as a chance for saving the fee he resolved to let Adeline go +to the lawyer's chambers alone, thinking it likely that no fee would be +accepted from so fine a woman. Accordingly, more alive to economy than +to delicacy or decorum, Berrendale, when Adeline, desiring a coach to be +called, summoned him to accompany her to the Temple, pleaded terror of +an impending fit of the gout, and begged her to excuse his attendance; +and Adeline, unsuspicious of the real cause of his refusal, kindly +expressing her sorrow for the one he feigned, took the counsellor's +address, and got into the coach, Berrendale taking care to tell her, as +she got in, that the fare was but a shilling.</p> + +<p>The gentleman, Mr Langley, to whom Adeline was going, was celebrated for +his abilities as a chamber counsellor, and no less remarkable for his +gallantries: but Berrendale was not acquainted with this part of his +history: else he would not, even to save a lawyer's fee, have exposed +his intended wife to a situation of such extreme impropriety; and +Adeline was too much a stranger to the rules of general society, to feel +any great repugnance to go alone on an errand so interesting to her +feelings.</p> + +<p>The coach having stopped near the entrance of the court to which she was +directed, Adeline, resolving to walk home, discharged the coach, and +knocked at the door of Mr Langley's chambers. A very smart servant out +of livery answered the knock; and Mr Langley being at home, Adeline was +introduced into his apartment.</p> + +<p>Mr Langley, though surprised at seeing a lady of a deportment so correct +and of so dignified an appearance enter his room unattended, was +inspired with so much respect at the sight of Adeline, whose mourning +habit added to the interest which her countenance never failed to +excite, that he received her with bows down to the ground, and, leading +her to a chair, begged she would do him the honour to be seated, and +impart her commands.</p> + +<p>Adeline, embarrassed, she scarcely knew why, at the novelty of her +situation, drew the paper from her pocket, and presented it to him.</p> + +<p>'Mr Berrendale recommended me to you, sir,' said Adeline faintly.</p> + +<p>'Berrendale, Berrendale, O, aye,—I remember—the cousin of Mr +Glenmurray: you know Mr Glenmurray too, ma'am, I presume; pray how is +he?'—Adeline, unprepared for this question, could not speak; and the +voluble counsellor went on—'Oh!—I ask your pardon, madam, I +see;—pray, might I presume so far, how long has that extraordinary +clever man been lost to the world?'</p> + +<p>'More than two years, sir,' replied Adeline faintly.</p> + +<p>'You are,—may I presume so far,—you are his widow?'—Adeline bowed. +There was a something in Mr Langley's manner and look so like Sir +Patrick's, that she could not bear to let him know she was only +Glenmurray's companion.</p> + +<p>'Gone more than two years, and you still in deep mourning!—Amiable +susceptibility!—How unlike the wives of the present day! But I beg +pardon.—Now to business.' So saying, he perused the paper which Adeline +had given him, in which Glenmurray simply stated, that he bequeathed to +Adeline Mowbray the sum of £260 in the 5 per cents, but it was signed by +only one witness.</p> + +<p>'What do you wish to know, Madam?' asked the counsellor.</p> + +<p>'Whether this will be valid, as it is not signed by two witnesses, sir?'</p> + +<p>'Why,—really not,' replied Langley; 'though the heir-at-law, if we have +either equity or gallantry, could certainly not refuse to fulfil what +evidently was the intention of the testator:—but then, it is very +surprising to me that Mr Glenmurray should have wished to leave any +thing from the lady whom I have the honour to behold. Pray, madam,—if I +may presume to ask,—Who is Adeline Mowbray?'</p> + +<p>'I—I am Adeline Mowbray,' replied Adeline in great confusion.</p> + +<p>'You, madam! Bless me, I presumed;—and pray, madam,—if I may make so +bold,—what was your relationship to that wonderfully clever man?—his +niece,—his cousin,—or,—?'</p> + +<p>'I was no relation of his,' said Adeline still more confused; and this +confusion confirmed the suspicions which Langley entertained, and also +brought to his recollection something which he had heard of Glenmurray's +having a very elegant and accomplished mistress.</p> + +<p>'Pardon me, dear madam,' said Mr Langley, 'I perceive now my mistake; +and I now perceive why Mr Glenmurray was so much the envy of those who +had the honour of visiting at his house. 'Pon my soul,' taking her hand, +which Adeline indignantly, withdrew, 'I am grieved beyond words at being +unable to give you a more favourable opinion.'</p> + +<p>'But you said, sir,' said Adeline, 'that the heir-at-law, if he had any +equity, would certainly be guided by the evident intention of the +testator.'</p> + +<p>'I did, madam,' replied the lawyer, evidently piqued by the proud and +cold air which Adeline assumed;—'but then,—excuse me,—the applicant +would not stand much chance of being attended to, who is neither the +<i>widow</i> nor <i>relation</i> of Mr Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'I understand you, sir,' replied Adeline, 'and need trouble you no +longer.'</p> + +<p>'Trouble! my sweet girl!' returned Mr Langley, 'call it not trouble; +I—' Here his gallant effusions were interrupted by the sudden entrance +of a very showy woman, highly rouged, and dressed in the extremity of +the fashion; and who in no very pleasant tone of voice exclaimed,—'I +fear I interrupt you.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! not in the least,' replied Langley, blushing even more than +Adeline, 'my fair client was just going. Allow me, madam, to see you to +the door,' continued he, attempting to take Adeline's hand, and +accompanying her to the bottom of the first flight of stairs.</p> + +<p>'Charming fine woman upon my soul!' cried he, speaking through his shut +teeth, and forcibly squeezing her fingers as he spoke; 'and if you ever +want advice I should be proud to see you here, (with a significant +smile).' Here Adeline, too angry to speak, put the fee in his hand, +which he insisted on returning, and, in the struggle, he forcibly kissed +the ungloved hand which was held out, praising its beauty at the same +time, and endeavouring to close her fingers on the money: but Adeline +indignantly threw it on the ground, and rushed down the remaining +staircase; over-hearing the lady, as she did so, exclaim, 'Langley! is +not that black mawkin gone yet! Come up this moment, you devil!' while +Langley obsequiously replied, 'Coming this moment, my angel!'</p> + +<p>Adeline felt so disappointed, so ashamed, and so degraded, that she +walked on some way without knowing whither she was going; and when she +recollected herself, she found that she was wandering from court to +court, and unable to find the avenue to the street down which the coach +had come: while her very tall figure, heightened colour, and graceful +carriage, made her an object of attention to every one whom she met.</p> + +<p>At last she saw herself followed by two young men; and as she walked +very fast to avoid them, she by accident turned into the very lane which +she had been seeking: but her pursuers kept pace with her; and she +overheard one of them say to the other, 'A devilish fine girl! moves +well too,—I cannot help thinking that I have seen her before.'</p> + +<p>'And I think so too!—by her height, it must be that sweet creature who +lived at Richmond with that crazy fellow, Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>Here Adeline relaxed in her pace: the name of Glenmurray—that name +which no one since his death had ventured to pronounce in her +presence,—had, during the last half hour, been pronounced several +times; and, unable to support herself from a variety of emotions, she +stopped, and leaned for support against the wall.</p> + +<p>'How do you do, my fleet and swift girl?' said one of the +gentlemen:—and Adeline, roused at the insult, looked at him proudly and +angrily, and walked on. 'What! angry! If I may be so bold,' (with a +sneering smile), 'fair creature, may I ask where you live now?'</p> + +<p>'No, sir,' replied Adeline; 'you are wholly unknown to me.'</p> + +<p>'But were you to tell me where you live, we might cease to be strangers; +pray who is your friend now?'</p> + +<p>Here, as his companion gave way to a loud fit of laughter, Adeline +clearly understood what he meant by the term 'friend;' and summoning up +all her spirit, she called a coach which luckily was passing; and +turning round to her tormentor, with great dignity said,—'Though the +situation, sir, in which I once was, may in the eyes of the world, and +in yours, authorize and excuse your present insulting address, yet, when +I tell you that I am on the eve of marriage with a most respectable man, +I trust that you will feel the impropriety of your conduct, and be +convinced of the fruitlessness and impertinence of the questions which +you have put to me.'</p> + +<p>'If this be the case, madam,' cried the gentleman, 'I beg your pardon, +and shall take my leave, wishing you all possible happiness, and begging +you to attribute my impertinence wholly to my ignorance.' So saying, he +bowed and left her, and Adeline was driven to her lodgings.</p> + +<p>'Now,' said Adeline, 'the die is cast;—I have used the sacred name of +wife to shield me from insult; and I am therefore pledged to assume it +directly. Yes, <span class="smallcaps">he</span> was right—I find I must have a legal protector.'</p> + +<p>She found Berrendale rather alarmed at her long absence; and, with a +beating heart, she related her adventures to him: but when she said that +Langley was not willing to take the fee, he exclaimed, 'Very genteel in +him, indeed! I suppose you took him at his word?'</p> + +<p>'Good Heavens!' replied Adeline, 'Do you think I would deign to owe such +a man a pecuniary obligation?—No, indeed; I threw it with proud +indignation on the floor.'</p> + +<p>'What madness!' returned Berrendale: 'you had much better have put it in +your pocket.'</p> + +<p>'Mr Berrendale,' cried Adeline gravely, and with a look bordering on +contempt, 'I trust that you are not in earnest: for if these are your +sentiments,—if this is your delicacy, sir—'</p> + +<p>'Say no more, dearest of women,' replied Berrendale pretending to laugh, +alarmed at the seriousness with which she spoke: 'how could you for one +moment suppose me in earnest? Insolent coxcomb!—I wish I had been +there.'</p> + +<p>'I wish you had,' said Adeline, 'for then no one would have dared to +insult me:' and Berrendale, delighted at this observation, listened to +the rest of her story with a spirit of indignant knight-errantry which +he never experienced before; and at the end of her narration he felt +supremely happy; for Adeline assured him that the next week she would +make him her protector for life:—and this assurance opened his heart so +much, that he vowed he would not condescend to claim of the heir-at-law +the pitiful sum which he might think proper to withhold.</p> + +<p>To be brief.—Adeline kept her word: and resolutely struggling with her +feelings, she became the next week the wife of Berrendale.</p> + +<p>For the first six months the union promised well. Adeline was so +assiduous to anticipate her husband's wishes, and contrived so many +dainties for his table, which she cooked with her own hands, that +Berrendale, declaring himself completely happy for the first time in his +life, had not a thought or a wish beyond his own fireside; while +Adeline, happy because she conferred happiness, and proud of the name of +wife, which she had before despised, began to hope that her days would +glide on in humble tranquillity.</p> + +<p>It was natural enough that Adeline should be desirous of imparting this +change in her situation to Mrs Pemberton, whose esteem she was eager to +recover, and whose kind intentions towards her, at a moment when she was +incapable of appreciating them, Savanna had, with great feeling, +expatiated upon. She therefore wrote to her according to the address +which Mrs Pemberton had left for her, and received a most friendly +letter in return. In a short time Adeline had again an expectation of +being a mother; and though she could not yet entertain for her husband +more than cold esteem, she felt that as the father of her child he would +insensibly become more dear to her.</p> + +<p>But Berrendale awoke from his dream of bliss, on finding to what a large +sum the bills for the half-year's housekeeping amounted. Nor was he +surprised without reason. Adeline, more eager to gratify Berrendale's +palate than considerate as to the means, had forgotten that she was no +longer at the head of a liberal establishment like her mother's, and had +bought for the supply of the table many expensive articles.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this terrible discovery Berrendale remonstrated very +seriously with Adeline; who meekly answered, 'My dear friend, good +dinners cannot be had without good ingredients, and good ingredients +cannot be had without money.'</p> + +<p>'But, madam,' cried Berrendale, knitting his brows, but not elevating +his voice, for he was one of those soft-speaking beings who in the +sweetest tones possible can say the most heart-wounding things, and give +a mortal stab to your self-love in the same gentle manner in which they +flatter it:—'there must have been great waste, great mismanagement +here, or these expenses could not have been incurred.'</p> + +<p>'There may have been both,' returned Adeline, 'for I have not been used +to economize, but I will try to learn;—but I doubt, my dear Berrendale, +you must endeavour to be contented with plainer food; for not all the +economy in the world can make rich gravies and high sauces cheap +things.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! care and skill can do much,' said Berrendale;—'and I find a +certain person deceived me very much when he said you were a good +manager.'</p> + +<p>'He only said,' replied Adeline sighing deeply, 'that I was a good +cook, and you yourself allow that; but I hope in time to please your +appetite at less expense: as to myself, a little suffices me, and I care +not how plain that food is.'</p> + +<p>'Still, I think I have seen you eat with a most excellent appetite,' +said Berrendale, with a very significant expression.</p> + +<p>Adeline shocked at the manner more than the words, replied in a +faltering voice, 'As a proof of my being in health, no doubt you +rejoiced in the sight.'</p> + +<p>'Certainly; but less robust health would suit our finances better.'</p> + +<p>Adeline looked up, wishing, though not expecting, to see by his face +that he was joking: but such serious displeasure appeared on it, that +the sordid selfishness of his character was at once unveiled to her +view; and clasping her hands in agony, she exclaimed, 'Oh Glenmurray!' +and ran into her own room.</p> + +<p>It was the first time that she had pronounced his name since the hour of +his death, and now it was wrung from her by a sensation of acute +anguish; no wonder, then, that the feelings which followed completely +overcame her, and that Berrendale had undisputed and solitary possession +of his supper.</p> + +<p>But he, on his side, was deeply irritated. The 'Oh, Glenmurray!' was +capable of being interpreted two ways:—either it showed how much she +regretted Glenmurray, and preferred him to his successor in spite of the +superior beauty of his person, of which he was very vain; or it +reproached Glenmurray for having recommended her to marry him. In either +case it was an unpardonable fault; and this unhappy conversation laid +the foundation of future discontent.</p> + +<p>Adeline arose the next day dejected, pensive, and resolved that her +appetite should never again, if possible, force a reproach from the lips +of her husband. She therefore took care that whatever she provided for +the table, besides the simplest fare, should be for Berrendale alone; +and she flattered herself that he would be shamed into repentance of +what he had observed, by seeing her scrupulous self-denial:—she even +resolved, if he pressed her to partake of his dainties, that she would, +to show that she forgave him, accept what he offered.</p> + +<p>But Berrendale gave her no such opportunity of showing her +generosity;—busy in the gratification of his own appetite, he never +observed whether any other persons ate or not, except when by eating +they curtailed his share of good things:—besides, to have an exclusive +dish to himself seemed to him quite natural and proper; he had been a +pampered child; and, being no advocate for the equality of the sexes, he +thought it only a matter of course that he should fare better than his +wife.</p> + +<p>Adeline, though more surprised and more shocked than ever, could not +help laughing internally, at her not being able to put her projected +generosity in practice; but her laughter and indignation soon yielding +to contempt, she ate her simple meal in silence: and while her pampered +husband sought to lose the fumes of indigestion in sleep, she blessed +God that temperance, industry and health went hand-in-hand, and, +retiring to her own room, sat down to write, in order to increase, if +possible, her means of living, and consequently her power of being +generous to others.</p> + +<p>But though Adeline resolved to forget, if possible, the petty conduct of +Berrendale, the mulatto, who, from the door's being open, had heard +every word of the conversation which had so disturbed Adeline, neither +could nor would forget it; and though she did not vow eternal hatred to +her master, she felt herself very capable of indulging it, and from that +moment it was her resolution to thwart him.</p> + +<p>Whenever he was present, she was always urging Adeline to eat some +refreshments between meals, and drink wine or lemonade, and tempting her +weak appetite with some pleasant but expensive sweetmeats. In vain did +Adeline refuse them; sometimes they were bought, sometimes only +threatened to be bought; and once when Adeline had accepted some, rather +than mortify Savanna by a refusal, and Berrendale, by his accent and +expression, showed how much he grudged the supposed expense,—the +mulatto, snapping her fingers in his face, and looking at him with an +expression of indignant contempt, exclaimed, 'I buy dem, and pay for dem +wid mine nown money; and my angel lady sall no be oblige to you!'</p> + +<p>This was a declaration of war against Berrendale, which Adeline heard +with anger and sorrow, and her husband with rage. In vain did Adeline +promise that she would seriously reprove Savanna (who had disappeared) +for her impertinence; Berrendale insisted on her being discharged +immediately; and nothing but Adeline's assurances that she, for slender +wages, did more work than two other servants would do for enormous ones, +could pacify his displeasure: but at length he was appeased. And as +Berrendale, from a principle of economy, resumed his old habit of dining +out amongst his friends, getting good dinners by that means without +paying for them, family expenses ceased to disturb the quiet of their +marriage; and after she had been ten months a wife Adeline gave birth to +a daughter.</p> + +<p>That moment, the moment when she heard her infant's first cry, seem to +repay her for all she had suffered; every feeling was lost in the +maternal one; and she almost fancied that she loved, fondly loved, the +father of her child: but this idea vanished when she saw the languid +pleasure, if pleasure it could be called, with which Berrendale +congratulated her on her pain and danger being passed, and received his +child in his arms.</p> + +<p>The mulatto was wild with joy: she almost stifled the babe with her +kisses, and talked even the next day of sending for the tawny boy to +come and see his new mistress, and vow to her, as he had done to her +mother, eternal fealty and allegiance.</p> + +<p>But Adeline saw on Berrendale's countenance a mixed expression,—and he +had mixed feelings. True, he rejoiced in Adeline's safety; but he said +within himself, 'Children are expensive things, and we may have a large +family;' and, leaving the bedside as soon as he could, he retired, to +endeavour to lose in an afternoon's nap his unpleasant reflections.</p> + +<p>'How different,' thought Adeline, 'would have been <span class="smallcaps">his</span> feelings and <span class="smallcaps">his</span> +expressions of them at such a time! Oh!—' but the name of Glenmurray +died away on her lips; and hastily turning to gaze on her sleeping babe, +she tried to forget the disappointed emotions of the wife in the +gratified feelings of the mother.</p> + +<p>Still Adeline, who had been used to attentions, could not but feel the +neglect of Berrendale. Even while she kept her room he passed only a few +hours in her society, and dined out; and when she was well enough to +have accompanied him on his visits, she found that he never even wished +her to go with him, though the friends whom he visited were married; and +he met, from his own confessions, other ladies at their tables. She +therefore began to suspect that Berrendale did not mean to introduce her +as his wife; nay, she doubted whether he avowed her to be such; and at +last she brought him to own that, ashamed of having married what the +world must consider as a kept mistress, he resolved to keep her still in +the retirement to which she was habituated.</p> + +<p>This was a severe disappointment indeed to Adeline: she longed for the +society of the amiable and accomplished of her own sex; and hoped that, +as Mr Berrendale's wife, that intercourse with her own sex might be +restored to her which she had forfeited as the mistress of Glenmurray. +Nor could she help reproaching Berrendale for the selfish ease and +indifference with which he saw her deprived of those social enjoyments +which he daily enjoyed himself, convinced as she was that he might, if +he chose, have introduced her at least to his intimate friends.</p> + +<p>But she pleaded and reasoned in vain. Contented with the access which he +had to the tables of his friends, it was of little importance to him +that his wife ate her humble meal alone. His habits of enjoyment had +ever been solitary: the school-boy, who had at school eaten his tart and +cake by stealth in a corner, that he might not be asked to share them +with another, had grown up with the same dispositions to manhood: and as +his parents, thought opulent, were vulgar in their manners and low in +their origin, he had never been taught those graceful self-denials +inculcated into the children of polished life, which, though taught from +factitious and not real benevolence, have certainly a tendency, by long +habit, to make that benevolence real which at first was only artificial.</p> + +<p>Adeline had both sorts of kindness and affection, those untaught of the +heart, and those of education;—she was polite from the situation into +which the accident of birth had thrown her, and also from the generous +impulse of her nature. To her, therefore, the uncultivated and +unblushing <i>personnalité</i>, as the French call it, of Berrendale, was a +source of constant wonder and distress: and often, very often did she +feel the utmost surprise at Berrendale's having appeared to Glenmurray a +man likely to make her happy. Often did she wonder how the defects of +Berrendale's character could have escaped his penetrating eyes.</p> + +<p>Adeline forgot that the faults of her husband were such as could be +known only by an intimate connexion, and which cohabitation could alone +call forth;—faults, the existence of which such a man as Glenmurray, +who never considered himself in any transaction whatever, could not +suppose possible; and which, though they inflicted the most bitter pangs +on Adeline, and gradually untwisted the slender thread which had began +to unite her heart with Berrendale's, were of so slight a fabric as +almost to elude the touch, and of a nature to appear almost too trivial +to be mentioned in the narration of a biographer.</p> + +<p>But though it has been long said that trifles make the sum of human +things, inattention to trifles continues to be the vice of every one; +and many a conjugal union which has never been assailed by the battery +of crime, has fallen a victim to the slowly undermining power of petty +quarrels, trivial unkindnesses and thoughtless neglect;—like the +gallant officer, who, after escaping unhurt all the rage of battle by +land and water, tempest on sea and earthquake on shore, returns perhaps +to his native country, and perishes by the power of a slow fever.</p> + +<p>But Adeline, who, amidst all the chimaeras of her fancy and +singularities of her opinions, had happily held fast her religion, began +at this moment to entertain a belief that soothed in some measure the +sorrows which it could not cure. She fancied that all the sufferings she +underwent were trials which she was doomed to undergo, as punishments +for the crime she had committed in leaving her mother and living with +Glenmurray. She therefore welcomed her afflictions, and lifted up her +meek eyes to her God and Saviour, in every hour of her trials, with the +look of tearful but grateful resignation.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile her child, whom, after her mother, she called Editha, was +nursed at her own bosom, and thrived even beyond her expectations. Even +Berrendale beheld its growing beauty with delight, and the mulatto was +wild in praise of it; while Adeline, wholly taken up all day in nursing +and in working for it, and every evening in writing stories and hymns to +publish, which would, she hoped, one day be useful to her own child as +well as to the children of others, soon ceased to regret her seclusion +from society; and by the time Editha was a year old she had learnt to +bear with patience the disappointment she had experienced in Berrendale.</p> + +<p>Soon after she became a mother she again wrote to Mrs Pemberton, as she +longed to impart to her sympathizing bosom those feelings of parental +delight which Berrendale could not understand, and the expression of +which he witnessed with contemptuous and chilling gravity. To this +letter she anticipated a most gratifying return; but month after month +passed away, and no letter from Lisbon arrived. 'No doubt my letter +miscarried,' said Adeline to Savanna, 'and I will write again:' but she +never had resolution to do so; for she felt that her prospects of +conjugal happiness were obscured, and she shrunk equally from the task +of expressing the comfort which she did not feel, or unveiling to +another the errors of her husband. The little regard, meanwhile, which +she had endeavoured to return for Berrendale soon vanished, being unable +to withstand a new violence offered to it.</p> + +<p>Editha was seized with the hooping-cough; and as Adeline had sold her +last little volume to advantage, Berrendale allowed her to take a +lodging at a short distance from town, as change of air was good for the +complaint. She did so, and remained there two months. At her return she +had the mortification to find that her husband, during her absence, had +intrigued with the servant of the house:—a circumstance of which she +would probably have remained ignorant, but for the indiscreet affection +of Savanna, who, in the first transports of her indignation on +discovering the connexion, had been unable to conceal from her mistress +what drove her almost frantic with indignation.</p> + +<p>But Adeline, though she felt disgust and aversion swallowing up the few +remaining sparks of regard for Berrendale which she felt, had one great +consolation under this new calamity.—Berrendale had not been the choice +of her heart: 'But, thank Heaven! I never loved this man,' escaped her +lips as she ran into her own room; and pressing her child to her bosom, +she shed on its unconscious cheeks the tears which resentment and a deep +sense of injury wrung from her.—'Oh! had I loved him,' she exclaimed, +'this blow would have been mortal!'</p> + +<p>She, however, found herself in one respect the better for Berrendale's +guilt. Conscious that the mulatto was aware of what had passed, and +afraid lest she should have mentioned her discovery to Adeline, +Berrendale endeavoured to make amends for his infidelity by attention +such as he had never shown her since the first weeks of his marriage; +and had she not been aware of the motive, the change in his behaviour +would have re-awakened her tenderness. However, it claimed at least +complaisance and gentleness from her while it lasted: which was not +long; for Berrendale, fancying from the apparent tranquillity of Adeline +(the result of indifference, not ignorance,) that she was not informed +of his fault, and that the mulatto was too prudent to betray him, began +to relapse into his old habits; and one day, forgetting his assumed +liberality, he ventured, when alone with Savanna, who was airing one of +Editha's caps, to expatiate on the needless extravagance of his wife in +trimming her child's caps with lace.</p> + +<p>This was enough to rouse the quick feelings of the mulatto, and she +poured forth all her long concealed wrath in a torrent of broken +English, but plain enough to be well understood.—'You man!' she cried +at last, 'you will kill her; she pine at your no kindness;—and if she +die, mind me, man! never you marry aden.—You marry, forsoot! you marry +a lady! true bred lady like mine! No, man!—You best get a cheap miss +from de street and be content—'</p> + +<p>As she said this, and in an accent so provoking that Berrendale was pale +and speechless with rage, Adeline entered the room; and Savanna, +self-condemned already from what she had uttered, was terrified when +Adeline, in a tone of voice unusually severe, said, 'Leave the room; you +have offended me past forgiveness.'</p> + +<p>These words, in a great measure, softened the angry feelings of +Berrendale, as they proved that Adeline resented the insult offered to +him as deeply as he could wish; and with some calmness he exclaimed, +'Then I conclude, Mrs Berrendale, that you will have no objection to +discharge your mulatto directly?'</p> + +<p>This conclusion, though a very natural one, was both a shock and a +surprise to Adeline; nor could she at first reply.</p> + +<p>'You are <i>silent</i>, madam,' said Berrendale; 'what is your answer? Yes, +or No?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,—yes,—certainly,' faltered out Adeline; 'she—she ought to go—I +mean that she has used very improper language to you.'</p> + +<p>'And, therefore, a wife who resents as she ought to do, injuries offered +to her husband cannot hesitate for a moment to discharge her.'</p> + +<p>'True, very true in some measure,' replied Adeline; 'but—'</p> + +<p>'But what?' demanded Berrendale. 'O Berrendale!' cried Adeline, bursting +into an agony of frantic sorrow, 'if she leaves me, what will become of +me! I shall lose the only person now in the world, perhaps, who loves me +with sincere and faithful affection!'</p> + +<p>Berrendale was wholly unprepared for an appeal like this; and, +speechless from surprise not unmixed with confusion, staggered into the +next chair. He was conscious, indeed, that his fidelity to his wife had +not been proof against a few weeks' absence; but then, being, like most +men, not over delicate in his idea on such subjects, as soon as Adeline +returned he had given up the connexion which he had formed, and +therefore he thought she had not much reason to complain. In all other +respects he was sure that he was an exemplary husband, and she had no +just grounds for doubting his affection. He was sure that she had no +reason to accuse him of unkindness; and, unless she wished him to be +always tied to her apron-string, he was certain he had never omitted to +pay her all proper attention.</p> + +<p>Alas! he felt not the many wounds he had inflicted by</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left">'The word whose meaning kills; yet, told,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The speaker wonders that you thought it cold.'</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">and he had yet to learn, that in order to excite or testify affection, +it is necessary to seem to derive exclusive enjoyment from the society +of the object avowed to be beloved, and to seek its gratification in +preference to one's own, even in the most trivial things. He knew not +that opportunities of conferring large benefits, like bank-bills for +£1,000, rarely come into use; but little attentions, friendly +participations and kindnesses, are wanted daily, and like small change, +are necessary to carry on the business of life and happiness.</p> + +<p>A minute more perhaps, elapsed, before Berrendale recovered himself +sufficiently to speak: and the silence was made still more awful to +Adeline, by her hearing from the adjoining room the sobs of the mulatto. +At length, 'I cannot find words to express my surprise at what you have +just uttered,' exclaimed Berrendale. 'My conscience does not reproach me +with deserving the reproof it contained.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' replied Adeline, fixing her penetrating eyes on his, which +shrunk downcast and abashed from her gaze. Adeline saw her advantage, +and pursued it.</p> + +<p>'Mr Berrendale,' continued she, 'it is indeed true, that the mulatto has +offended both of us; for in offending <i>you</i> she has offended <i>me</i>; but, +have you committed no fault, nothing for <i>me</i> to forgive? I know that +you are too great a lover of truth, too honourable a man, to declare +that you have not deserved the just anger of your wife: but you know +that I have never reproached you, nor should you ever have been aware +that I was privy to the distressing circumstance to which I allude, but +for what has just passed: and, now, do but forgive the poor mulatto, who +sinned only from regard for me, and from supposed slight offered to her +mistress, and I will not only assure you of my forgiveness, but, from +this moment, will strenuously endeavour to blot from my remembrance +every trace of what has passed.'</p> + +<p>Berrendale, conscious and self-condemned, scarcely <ins title="original has know">knew</ins> what to answer; +but, thinking that it was better to accept Adeline's offer even on her +own conditions, he said, that if Savanna would make a proper apology, +and Adeline would convince her that she was seriously displeased with +her, he would allow her to stay; and Adeline having promised every thing +which he asked, peace was again restored.</p> + +<p>'But what can you mean, Adeline,' said Berrendale, 'by doubting my +affection? I think I gave a sufficient proof of that, when, disregarding +the opinion of the world, I married you, though you had been the +mistress of another: and I really think that, by accusing me of +unkindness, you make me a very ungrateful return.' To this indelicate +and unfeeling remark Adeline vainly endeavoured to reply; but, starting +from her chair, she paced the room in violent agitation. 'Answer me,' +continued Berrendale, 'name one instance in which I have been unkind to +you.' Adeline suddenly stopped, and, looking steadfastly at him, smiled +with a sort of contemptuous pity, and was on the point of saying, 'Is +not what you have now said an instance of unkindness?' But she saw that +the same want of delicacy, and of that fine moral <i>tact</i> which led him +to commit this and similar assaults on her feelings, made him +unconscious of the violence which he offered.</p> + +<p>Finding, therefore, that he could not understand her causes of +complaint, even if it were possible for her to define them, she replied, +'Well, perhaps I was too hasty, and in a degree unjust: so let us drop +the subject; and, indeed, my dear Berrendale, you must bear with my +weakness: remember, I have always been a spoiled child.'</p> + +<p>Here the image of Glenmurray and that of <i>home</i>, the home which she once +knew, the home of her childhood, and of her <i>earliest</i> youth, pressed on +her recollection. She thought of her mother, of the indulgencies which +she had once known, of the advantages, of opulence, the value of which +she had never felt till deprived of them; and, struck with the +comparative forlornness of her situation—united for life to a being +whose sluggish sensibilities could not understand, and consequently not +soothe, the quick feelings and jealous susceptibility of her nature—she +could hardly forbear falling at the feet of her husband, and conjuring +him to behave, at least, with forbearance to her, and to speak and look +at her with kindness.</p> + +<p>She did stretch out her hand to him with a look of mournful entreaty, +which, though not understood by Berrendale, was not lost upon him +entirely. He thought it was a confession of her weakness and his +superiority; and, flattered by the thought into unusual softness, he +caught her fondly to his bosom, and gave up an engagement to sup at an +oyster club, in order to spend the evening tête-à-tête with his wife. +Nay, he allowed the little Editha to remain in the room for a whole +hour, though she cried when he attempted to take her in his arms, and, +observing that it was a cold evening, allowed Adeline her due share of +the fire-side.</p> + +<p>These circumstances, trivial as they were, had more than their due +effect on Adeline, whose heart was more alive to kindness than +unkindness; and those paltry attentions of which happy wives would not +have been conscious, were to her a source of unfeigned pleasure.—As +sailors are grateful, after a voyage unexpectedly long, for the muddy +water which at their first embarking they would have turned from with +disgust.</p> + +<p>That very night Adeline remonstrated with the mulatto on the impropriety +of her conduct; and, having convinced her that in insulting her husband +she failed in respect to her, Savanna was prevailed upon the next +morning to ask pardon of Berrendale; and, out of love for her mistress, +she took care in future to do nothing that required forgiveness.</p> + +<p>As Adeline's way of life admitted of but little variety, Berrendale +having persisted in not introducing her to his friends, on the plea of +not being rich enough to receive company in return, I shall pass over in +silence what occurred to her till Editha was two years old; premising +that a series of little injuries on the part of Berrendale, and a quick +resentment of them on the part of Adeline, which not even her habitual +good humour could prevent, had, during that time, nearly eradicated +every trace of love for each other from their hearts.</p> + +<p>One evening Adeline as usual, in the absence of her husband, undressed +Editha by the parlour fire, and, playing with the laughing child, was +enjoying the rapturous praises which Savanna put forth of its growing +beauty; while the tawny boy, who had spent the day with them, built +houses with cards on the table, which Editha threw down as soon as they +were built, and he with good-humoured perseverance raised up again.</p> + +<p>Adeline, alive only to the maternal feeling, at this moment had +forgotten all her cares; she saw nothing but the happy group around her, +and her countenance wore the expression of recovered serenity.</p> + +<p>At this moment a loud knock was heard at the door, and Adeline, starting +up, exclaimed, 'It is my husband's knock!'</p> + +<p>'O! no:—he never come so soon,' replied the mulatto running to the +door; but she was mistaken—it was Berrendale: and Adeline, hearing his +voice, began instantly to snatch up Editha's clothes, and to knock down +the tawny boy's newly-raised edifice: but order was not restored when +Berrendale entered; and, with a look and tone of impatience, he said, +'So! fine confusion indeed! Here's a fire-side to come to! Pretty +amusement too, for a literary lady—building houses of cards! Shame on +your extravagance, Mrs Berrendale, to let that brat spoil cards in that +way!'</p> + +<p>The sunshine of Adeline's countenance on hearing this vanished: to be +sure, she was accustomed to such speeches; but the moment before she had +felt happy, for the first time, for years. She, however, replied not; +but hurrying Editha to bed, ordering the reluctant tawny boy into the +kitchen, and setting Berrendale's chair, as usual, in the warmest place, +she ventured in a faint voice to ask, what had brought him home so +early.</p> + +<p>'More early than welcome,' replied Berrendale, 'if I may judge from the +bustle I have occasioned.'</p> + +<p>'It is very true,' replied Adeline, 'that, had I expected you, I should +have been better prepared for your reception; and then you, perhaps, +would have spoken more kindly to me.'</p> + +<p>'There—there you go again.—If I say but a word to you, then I am +called unkind, though I never speak without just provocation: and, I +declare, I came home in the best humour possible, to tell you what may +turn out of great profit to us both:—but when a man has an +uncomfortable home to come to, it is enough to put him out of humour.'</p> + +<p>The mulatto, who was staying to gather up the cards which had fallen, +turned herself round on hearing this, and exclaimed, 'Home was very +comfortable till you come;' and then with a look of the most angry +contempt she left the room, and threw the door to with great violence.</p> + +<p>'But what is this good news, my dear?' said Adeline, eager to turn +Berrendale's attention from Savanna's insolent reply.</p> + +<p>'I have received a letter,' he replied, 'which, by the by, I ought to +have had some weeks ago, from my father-in-law in Jamaica, authorizing +me to draw on his banker for £900, and inviting me to come over to him; +as he feels himself declining, and wishes to give me the care of his +estate, and of my son, to whom all his fortune will descend: and of +whose interest, he properly thinks, no one can be so likely to take good +care as his own father.'</p> + +<p>'And do you mean that I and Editha should go with you?' said Adeline +turning pale.</p> + +<p>'No, to be sure not,' eagerly replied Berrendale; 'I must first see how +the land lies. But if I go—as the old man no doubt will make a handsome +settlement on me—I shall be able to remit to you a very respectable +annuity.'</p> + +<p>Adeline's heart, spite of herself, bounded with joy at this discovery; +but she had resolution to add,—and if duplicity can ever be pardonable, +this was,—'So then the good news which you had to impart to me was, +that we were going to be separated!' But as she said this, the +consciousness that she was artfully trying to impress Berrendale with +an idea of her feeling a sorrow which was foreign to her heart, overcame +her; and affected also at being under the necessity of rejoicing at the +departure of that being who ought to be the source of her comfort, she +vainly struggled to regain composure, and burst into an agony of tears.</p> + +<p>But her consternation cannot be expressed, when she found that +Berrendale imputed her tears to tender anguish at the idea of parting +with him: and when, his vanity being delighted by this homage to his +attractions, he felt all his fondness for her revive, and, overwhelming +her with caresses, he declared that he would reject the offer entirely +if by accepting it he should give her a moment's uneasiness; Adeline, +shocked at his error, yet not daring to set him right, could only weep +on his shoulder in silence: but, in order to make real the distress +which he only fancied so, she enumerated to herself all the diseases +incident to the climate, and the danger of the voyage. Still the idea of +Berrendale's departure was so full of comfort to her, that, though her +tears continued to flow, they flowed not for his approaching absence. At +length, ashamed of fortifying him in so gross an error, she made an +effort to regain her calmness, and found words to assure him, that she +would no longer give way to such unpardonable weakness, as she could +assure him that she wished his acceptance of his father-in-law's offer, +and had no desire to oppose a scheme so just and so profitable.</p> + +<p>But Berrendale, to whose vanity she had never before offered such a +tribute as her tears seemed to be, imputed these assurances to +disinterested love and female delicacy, afraid to own the fondness which +it felt; and the rest of the evening was spent in professions of love on +his part, which, on Adeline's, called forth at least some grateful and +kind expressions in return.</p> + +<p>Still, however, she persisted in urging Berrendale to go to Jamaica: +but, at the same time, she earnestly begged him to remember, that +temperance could alone preserve his health in such a climate:—'or the +use of pepper in great quantities,' replied he, 'to counteract the +effects of good living?'—and Adeline, though convinced temperance was +the <i>best</i> preservation, was forced to give up the point, especially as +Berrendale began to enumerate the number of delicious things for the +table which Jamaica afforded.</p> + +<p>To be brief: Berrendale, after taking a most affectionate leave of his +wife and child, a leave which almost made the mulatto his friend, and +promising to allow them £200, a-year till he should be able to send +over for them, set sail for Jamaica; while Adeline, the night of his +departure, endeavoured, by conjuring up all the horrors of a tempest at +sea on his passage, and of a hurricane and an earthquake on shore when +he arrived, to force herself to feel such sorrow as the tenderness which +he had expressed at the moment of parting seemed to make it her duty to +feel.</p> + +<p>But morning came, and with it a feeling of liberty and independence so +delightful, that she no longer tried to grieve on speculation as it +were; but giving up her whole soul to the joys of maternal fondness, she +looked forward with pious gratitude to days of tranquil repose, save +when she thought with bitter regret of the obdurate anger of her mother, +and with tender regret of the lost and ever lamented Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>Berrendale had been arrived at Jamaica some months, when Adeline +observed a most alarming change in Savanna. She became thin, her +appetite entirely failed, and she looked the image of despondence. In +vain did Adeline ask the reason of a change so apparent: the only answer +she could obtain was, 'Me better soon;' and, continuing every day to +give this answer, she in a short time became so languid as to be obliged +to lie down half the day.</p> + +<p>Adeline then found that it was necessary to be more serious in her +interrogatories; but the mulatto at first only answered, 'No, me die, +but me never break my duty vow to you: no, me die, but never leave you.'</p> + +<p>These words implying a wish to leave her, with a resolution not to do so +how much soever it might cost her, alarmed in a moment the ever +disinterested sensibility of Adeline; and she at length wrung from her a +confession that her dear William, who was gone to Jamaica as a servant +to a gentleman, was, she was credibly informed, very ill and like to +die.</p> + +<p>'You therefore wish to go and nurse him, I suppose, Savanna?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! me no wish; me only tink dat me like to go to Jamaica, see if be +true dat he be so bad; and if he die, I den return and die wid you.'</p> + +<p>'Live with me, you mean, Savanna; for, indeed, I cannot spare you. +Remember, you have given me a right to claim your life as mine; nor can +I allow you to throw away my property in fruitless lamentations, and the +indolent indulgence of regret. You shall go to Jamaica, Savanna: Heaven +forbid that I should keep a wife from her duty! You shall see and try to +recover William if he be really ill,' (Savanna here threw herself on +Adeline's neck,) 'and then you shall return to me, who will either +warmly share in your satisfaction or fondly sooth your distress.'</p> + +<p>'Den you do love poor Savanna?'</p> + +<p>'Love you! Indeed I do, next to my child, and,—and my mother,' replied +Adeline, her voice faltering.</p> + +<p>'Name not dat woman,' cried Savanna hastily; 'me will never see, never +speak to her even in heaven.'</p> + +<p>'Savanna, remember, she is my mother.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, and Mr Berrendale be your husban; and yet, who dat love you can +love dem?'</p> + +<p>'Savanna,' replied Adeline, 'these proofs of your regard, though +reprehensible, are not likely to reconcile me to your departure; and I +already feel that in losing you—' Here she paused, unable to proceed.</p> + +<p>'Den me no go—me no go:—yet, dearest lady, you have love yourself.'</p> + +<p>'Aye, Savanna, and can feel for you: so say no more. The only difficulty +will be to raise money enough to pay for your passage, and expenses +while there.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! me once nurse the captain's wife who now going to Jamaica, and she +love me very much; and he tell me yesterday that he let me go for +nothing, because I am good nurse to his wife, if me wish to see +William.'</p> + +<p>'Enough,' replied Adeline: 'then all I have to do is to provide you with +money for your maintenance when you arrive; and I have no doubt but that +what I cannot supply the tawny boy's generous patroness will.'</p> + +<p>Adeline was not mistaken. Savanna obtained from her son's benefactress a +sum equal to her wants; and almost instantly restored to her wonted +health, by her mind's being lightened of the load which oppressed it, +she took her passage on board her friend's vessel, and set sail for +Jamaica, carrying with her letters from Adeline to Berrendale; while +Adeline felt the want of Savanna in various ways, so forcibly, that not +even Editha could, for a time at least, console her for her loss. It had +been so grateful to her feelings to meet every day the eyes of one being +fixed with never-varying affection on hers, that, when she beheld those +eyes no longer, she felt alone in the universe,—nor had she a single +female friend to whom she could turn for relief or consolation.</p> + +<p>Mrs Beauclerc, to whose society she had expected to be restored by her +marriage, had been forced to give up all intercourse with her, in +compliance with the peremptory wishes of a rich old maid, from whom her +children had great expectations, and who threatened to leave her fortune +away from them, if Mrs Beauclerc persisted in corresponding with a woman +so bad in principle, and so wicked in practice, as Adeline appeared to +her to be.</p> + +<p>But, at length, from a mother's employments, from writing, and, above +all, from the idea that by suffering she was making some atonement for +her past sins, she derived consolation, and became resigned to every +evil that had befallen, and to every evil that might still befall her.</p> + +<p>Perhaps she did not consider as an evil what now took place: increasing +coldness in the letters of Berrendale, till he said openly at last, that +as they were, he was forced to confess, far from happy together, and as +the air of Jamaica agreed with him, and as he was resolved to stay +there, he thought she had better remain in England, and he would remit +her as much money occasionally as his circumstances would admit of.</p> + +<p>But she thought this a greater evil than it at first appeared; when an +agent of Berrendale's father-in-law in England, and a friend of +Berrendale himself, called on her, pretending that he came to inquire +concerning her health, and raised in her mind suspicions of a very +painful nature.</p> + +<p>After the usual compliments:—'I find, madam,' said Mr Drury, 'that our +friend is very much admired by the ladies in Jamaica.'</p> + +<p>'I am glad to hear it, sir,' coolly answered Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Well, that's kind and generous now,' replied Drury, 'and very +disinterested.'</p> + +<p>'I see no virtue, sir, in my rejoicing of what must make Mr Berrendale's +abode in Jamaica pleasant to him.'</p> + +<p>'May be so; but most women, I believe, would be apt to be jealous on the +occasion.'</p> + +<p>'But it has been the study of my life, sir, to endeavour to consider my +own interest, when it comes in competition with another's, as little as +possible;—I doubt I have not always succeeded in my endeavours: but on +this occasion I am certain that I have expressed no sentiment which I do +not feel.'</p> + +<p>'Then, madam, if my friend should have an opportunity, as indeed I +believe he has, of forming a most agreeable and advantageous marriage, +you would not try to prevent it?'</p> + +<p>'Good heavens! sir,' replied Adeline; 'What can you mean? Mr Berrendale +form an advantageous marriage when he is already married to me?'</p> + +<p>'Married to you, ma'am!' answered Mr Drury with a look of incredulity. +'Excuse me, but I know that such marriages as yours may be easily +dissolved.'</p> + +<p>At first Adeline was startled at this assertion; but recollecting that +it was impossible any form or ceremony should have been wanting at the +marriage, she recovered herself, and demanded, with an air of severity, +what Mr Drury meant by so alarming and ill-founded a speech.</p> + +<p>'My meaning, ma'am,' replied he, 'must be pretty evident to you: I mean +that I do not look upon you, though you bear Mr Berrendale's name, to be +his lawful wife; but that you live with him on the same terms on which +you lived with Mr Glenmurray.'</p> + +<p>'And on what, sir, could you build such an erroneous supposition?'</p> + +<p>'On Mr Berrendale's own words, madam; who always spoke of his connexion +with you, as of a connexion which he had formed in compliance with love +and in defiance of prudence.'</p> + +<p>'And is it possible that he could be such a villain?' exclaimed Adeline. +'Oh my child! and does thy father brand thee with the stain of +illegitimacy?—But, sir, whatever appellation Mr Berrendale might choose +to give his union with me to his friends in England, I am sure he will +not dare to incur the penalty attendant on a man's marrying one wife +while he has another living; for, that I am his wife, I can bring pretty +sufficient evidence to prove.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed, madam! You can produce a witness of the ceremony, then, I +presume?'</p> + +<p>'No, sir; the woman who attended me to the altar, and the clergyman who +married us, are dead; and the only witness is a child now only ten years +old.'</p> + +<p>'That is unfortunate!' (with a look of incredulity) 'but, no doubt, when +you hear that Mr Berrendale is married to a West Indian heiress, you +will come forward with incontrovertible proofs of your prior claims; and +if you do that, madam, you may command my good offices:—but, till then, +I humbly take my leave.'—Saying this, with a very visible sneer on his +countenance he departed, leaving Adeline in a state of distress—the +more painful to endure from her having none to participate in it,—no +one to whom she could impart the cause of it.</p> + +<p>That Mr Drury did not speak of the possible marriage of Berrendale from +mere conjecture, was very apparent; and Adeline resolved not to delay +writing to her husband immediately, to inform him of what had passed, +and put before his eyes, in the strongest possible manner, the guilt of +what he was about to do; and also the utter impossibility of its being +successful guilt, as she was resolved to assert her claims for the sake +of her child, if not for her own. This letter she concluded, and with +truth too, with protestations of believing all Mr Drury said to be +false: for, indeed, the more she considered Berrendale's character, the +more she was convinced that, however selfish and defective his +disposition might be, it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, +than Berrendale <ins title="original has to be">be</ins> a villain.</p> + +<p>But, where a man's conduct is not founded on virtuous motives and +immutable principles, he may not err while temptation is absent; but +once expose him to her presence, and he is capable of falling into the +very vices the most abhorrent to his nature: and though Adeline knew it +not, such a man was Berrendale.</p> + +<p>Adeline, having relieved her mind by this appeal to her husband, and +being assured that Berrendale could not be married before her letter +could reach him, as it was impossible that he should dare to marry while +the mulatto was in the very town near which he resided, felt herself +capable of attending to her usual employments again, and had recovered +her tranquillity, when an answer to her letter arrived; and Adeline, +being certain that the letter itself would be a proof of the marriage, +had resolved to show it, in justification of her claims, to Mr Drury.</p> + +<p>What then must have been her surprise, to find it exactly such a letter +as would be evidence against a marriage between her and Berrendale +having ever taken place! He thanked her for the expressions of fond +regret which her letter contained, and for the many happy hours which he +owed to her society; but hoped that, as Fate had now separated their +destinies, she could be as happy without him as she had been with him; +and assuring her that he should, according to his promise, regularly +remit her £150 a-year if possible, but that he could at present only +inclose a draft for £50.</p> + +<p>Adeline was absolutely stupified with horror at reading this apparent +confirmation of the villany of her husband and the father of her child; +but roused to indignant exertion by the sense of Berrendale's baseness, +and of what she owed her daughter, she resolved to take counsel's +opinion in what manner she should proceed to prove her marriage, as soon +as she was assured that Berrendale's (which she had no doubt was fixed +upon) should have taken place; and this intelligence she received a +short time after the mulatto herself, who, worn out with sorrow, +sickness, and hardship, one day tottered into the house, seeming as if +she indeed only returned to die with her mistress.</p> + +<p>At first the joy of seeing Savanna restored to her swallowed up every +other feeling; but tender apprehension for the poor creature's health +soon took possession of her mind, and Adeline drew from her a narrative, +which exhibited Berrendale to her eyes as capable of most atrocious +actions.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_19" id="ch_19"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h3> + +<p>It is very certain that when Berrendale left England, though he meant to +conceal his marriage entirely, he had not even the slightest wish to +contract another; and had any one told him that he was capable of such +wicked conduct, he would have answered, like Hazael, 'Is thy servant a +dog that he should do this thing?' But he was then unassailed by +temptations:—and habituated as he was to selfish indulgence, it was +impossible that to strong temptation he should not fall an immediate +victim.</p> + +<p>This strong temptation assailed him soon after his arrival, in the +person of a very lovely and rich widow, a relation of his first wife, +who, having no children of her own, had long been very fond of his +child, then a very fine boy, and with great readiness transferred to the +father the affection which she bore the son. For some time conscience +and Adeline stood their ground against this new mistress and her immense +property; but at length, being pressed by his father-in-law, who wished +the match, to assign a sufficient reason for his coldness to so fine a +woman, and not daring to give the true one, he returned the lady's +fondness: and though he had not yet courage enough to name the marriage +day, it was known that it would some time or other take place.</p> + +<p>But all his scruples soon yielded to the dominion which the attractions +of the lady, who was well versed in the arts of seduction, obtained over +his senses, and to the strong power which the sight of the splendour in +which she lived, acquired over his avarice; when, just as every thing +was on the point of being concluded, the poor mulatto, who had found her +husband dead, arrived almost broken-hearted at the place of Berrendale's +abode, and delivered to him letters from Adeline.</p> + +<p>Terrified and confounded at her presence, he received her with such +evident marks of guilty confusion in his face, that Savanna's +apprehensive and suspicious attachment to her mistress took the alarm; +and, as she had seen a very fine woman leave the room as she entered, +she, on pretence of leaving Berrendale alone to read his letters, +repaired to the servants' apartments, where she learnt the intended +marriage. Immediately forgetting her own distresses in those of Adeline, +she returned to Berrendale, not with the languid, mournful pace with +which she had first entered, but with the firm, impetuous and intrepid +step of conscious integrity going to confound vice in the moment of its +triumph.</p> + +<p>Berrendale read his doom, the moment he beheld her, in her dark and +fiery eye, and awaited in trembling silence the torrent of reproaches +that trembled on her lip. But I shall not repeat what passed. Suffice +that Berrendale pretended to be moved by what she said, and promised to +break off the marriage,—only exacting from Savanna, in return, a +promise of not imparting to the servants, or to any one, that he had a +wife in England.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile he commended her most affectionately to the care of the +steward; and confessing to his intended bride that he had a mistress in +England, who had sent the mulatto over to prevent the match if possible, +by persuading her he was already married, he conjured her to consent to +a private marriage; and to prevent some dreadful scene, occasioned by +the revenge of disappointed passion, should his mistress, as she had +threatened, come over in person, he entreated her to let every splendid +preparation for their nuptials be laid aside, in order to deceive +Savanna, and induce her to return quietly to England.</p> + +<p>The credulous woman, too much in love to believe what she did not wish, +consented to all he proposed: but Berrendale, still fearful of the +watchful jealousy of Savanna, contrived to find out the master to whom +she belonged before she had escaped, early in life, with her first +husband to England; and as she had never been made free, as soon as he +arrived, he, on a summons from Berrendale, seized her as his property; +and poor Savanna, in spite of her cries and struggles, was conveyed some +miles up the country.</p> + +<p>At length, however, she found means to escape to the coast; and, having +discovered an old acquaintance in an English sailor on board a vessel +then ready to sail, and who had great influence with the captain, she +was by him concealed on board, with the approbation of the commander, +and was on her way to England before Berrendale was informed of her +escape.</p> + +<p>I will not endeavour to describe Adeline's feelings on hearing this +narration, and on finding also that Savanna before she left the island +had been assured that Berrendale was really married, though privately, +but that the marriage could not long be attempted to be concealed, as +the lady even before it took place was likely to become a mother; and, +that as a large estate depended on her giving birth to a son, the event +of her confinement was looked for with great anxiety.</p> + +<p>Still, in the midst of her distress, a sudden thought struck Adeline, +which converted her anger into joy, and her sorrow into exultation. +'Yes, my mother may now forgive me without violating any part of her +oath,' she exclaimed.—'I am now forsaken, despised and disgraced!'—and +instantly she wrote to Mrs Mowbray a letter calculated to call forth all +her sympathy and affection. Then, with a mind relieved beyond +expression, she sat down to deliberate in what manner she should act to +do herself justice as a wife and a mother, cruelly aggrieved in both +these intimate relations. Nor could she persuade herself that she should +act properly by her child, if she did not proceed vigorously to prove +herself Berrendale's wife, and substantiate Editha's claim to his +property; and as Mr Langley was, she knew, a very great lawyer, she +resolved, in spite of his improper conduct to her, to apply to him +again.</p> + +<p>Indeed she could not divest herself of a wish to let him know that she +was become a wife, and no longer liable to be treated with that freedom +with which, as a mistress, he had thought himself at liberty to address +her. However, she wished that she had not been obliged to go to him +alone; but, as the mulatto was in too weak a state of health to allow of +her going out, and she could not speak of business like hers before any +one else, she was forced to proceed unaccompanied to the Temple; and on +the evening of the day after Savanna's return, she with a beating heart, +repaired once more to Mr Langley's chambers.</p> + +<p>Luckily, however, she met the tawny boy on her way, and took him for her +escort. 'Tell your master,' said she to the servant, 'that Mrs +Berrendale wishes to speak to him:' and in a few minutes she was +introduced.</p> + +<p>'Mrs Berrendale!' cried Langley with a sarcastic smile; 'pray be seated, +madam! I hope Mr Berrendale is well.'</p> + +<p>'He is in Jamaica, sir,' replied Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' returned Langley. 'May I presume so far as to ask,—hem, +hem,—whether your visit to me be merely of a professional nature?'</p> + +<p>'Certainly, sir,' replied Adeline: 'of what other nature should it be?'</p> + +<p>Langley replied to this only by a significant smile. At this moment the +tawny boy asked leave to walk in the temple gardens; and Adeline, though +reluctantly, granted his request.</p> + +<p>'Oh! à propos, John,' cried Langley to the servant, 'let Mrs Montgomery +know that her friend Miss Mowbray, Mrs Berrendale I mean, is here—she +is walking in the garden.'</p> + +<p>'My friend Mrs Montgomery, sir! I have no friend of that name.'</p> + +<p>'No, my sweet soul? You may not know her by that name; but names change, +you know. You, for instance, are Mrs Berrendale now, but when I see you +again you may be Mrs Somebody else.'</p> + +<p>'Never, sir,' cried Adeline indignantly; 'but, though I do not exactly +understand your meaning, I feel as if you meant to insult me, and +therefore—'</p> + +<p>'Oh no—sit down again, my angel; you are mistaken, and so apt to fly +off in a tangent! But—so—that wonderfully handsome man, Berrendale, is +off—heh? Your friend and mine, heh! pretty one!'</p> + +<p>'If, sir, Mr Berrendale ever considered you as his friend, it is very +strange that you should presume to insult his wife.'</p> + +<p>'Madam,' replied Langley with a most provoking sneer, 'Mr Berrendale's +wife shall always be treated by me with proper respect.'</p> + +<p>'Gracious Heaven!' cried Adeline, clasping her hands and looking upwards +with tearful eyes, 'when shall my persecutions cease! and how much +greater must my offences be than even my remorse paints them, when their +consequences still torment me so long after the crime which occasioned +them has ceased to exist! But it is Thy will, and I will submit even to +indignity with patience.'</p> + +<p>There was a touching solemnity in this appeal to Heaven, an expression +of truth, which it was so impossible for art to imitate, that Langley +felt in a moment the injustice of which he had been guilty, and an +apology was on his lips, when the door opened, and a lady rouged like a +French countess of the ancien régime, her hair covered with a profusion +of brown powder, and dressed in the height of fashion, ambled into the +room; and saying, 'How d'ye do, Miss Mowbray?' threw herself carelessly +on the sofa, to the astonishment of Adeline, who did not recollect her, +and to the confusion of Langley, who now, impressed with involuntary +respect for Adeline, repented of having exposed her to the scene that +awaited her: but to prevent it was impossible; he was formed to be a +slave of woman, and had not courage to protect another from the +insolence to which he tamely yielded himself.</p> + +<p>Adeline at first did not answer this soi-disant acquaintance of hers; +but, in looking at her more attentively, she exclaimed, 'What do I see? +Is it possible that this can be Mary Warner!'</p> + +<p>'Yes, it is, my dear, indeed,' replied she with a loud laugh, 'Mary +Warner, alias Mrs Montgomery; as you, you know, are Miss Mowbray, alias +Mrs Berrendale.'</p> + +<p>Adeline, incapable of speaking, only gazed at her in silence, but with +'a countenance more in sorrow than in anger.'</p> + +<p>'But, come sit down, my dear,' cried Mary; 'no ceremony, you know, among +friends and equals, you know; and you and I have been mighty familiar, +you know, before now. The last time we met you called me <i>woman</i>, you +know—yes, "woman!" says you—and I have not forgotten it, I assure +you,' she added with a sort of loud hysterical laugh, and a look of the +most determined malice.</p> + +<p>'Come, come, my dear Montgomery,' said Langley, 'you must forget and +forgive;—I dare say Miss Mowbray, that is to say Mrs Berrendale, did +not mean—'</p> + +<p>'What should you know about the matter, Lang.?' replied Mary; 'I wish +you would mind your own business, and let me talk to my dumb friend +here.—Well, I suppose you are quite surprised to see how smart I +am!—seeing as how I once overheard you say to Glenthingymy, "How very +plain Mary is!" though, to be sure, it was never a barrel the better +herring, and 'twas the kettle in my mind calling the pot—Heh, Lang?'</p> + +<p>Here was the clue to the inveterate dislike which this unhappy girl had +conceived against Adeline. So true is it that little wounds inflicted on +the self-love are never forgotten or forgiven, and that it is safer to +censure the morals of acquaintances than to ridicule them on their +dress, or laugh at a defect in their person. Adeline, indeed, did not +mean that her observation should be overheard by the object of +it,—still she was hated: but many persons make mortifying remarks +purposely, and yet wonder that they have enemies!</p> + +<p>Motionless and almost lifeless Adeline continued to stand and to listen, +and Mary went on—</p> + +<p>'Well, but I thank you for one thing. You taught me that marriage was +all nonsense, you know; and so, thought I, Miss Mowbray is a learned +lady, she must know best, and so I followed your example—that's all, +you know.'</p> + +<p>This dreadful information roused the feelings of Adeline even to +phrensy, and with a shriek of anguish she seized her hand, and conjured +her by all her hopes of mercy to retract what she had said, and not to +let her depart with the horrible consciousness of having been the means +of plunging a fellow-being into vice and infamy.</p> + +<p>A loud unfeeling laugh, and an exclamation of 'The woman is mad,' was +all the answer to this.</p> + +<p>'This then is the completion of my sufferings,' cried Adeline,—'this +only was wanted to complete the misery of my remorse.'</p> + +<p>'This is too much,' exclaimed Langley. 'Mary, you know very well that—'</p> + +<p>'Hold your tongue, Lang.; you know nothing about the matter: it is all +nothing, but that Miss Mowbray, like a lawyer, can change sides, you +see, and attack one day what she defended the day before, you know; and +she has made you believe that she thinks now being kept a shameful +thing.'</p> + +<p>'I do believe so,' hastily replied Adeline; 'and if it be true that my +sentiments and my example led you to adopt your present guilty mode of +life,—oh! save me from the pangs of remorse which I now feel, by +letting my present example recall you from the paths of error to those +of virtue.'</p> + +<p>'Well pleaded,' cried the cold-hearted Mary—'Lang., you could not have +done't so well—not up to that.'</p> + +<p>'Mrs Montgomery,' said Langley with great severity, 'if you cannot treat +Mrs Berrendale with more propriety and respect, I must beg you to leave +the room; she is come to speak to me on business, and—'</p> + +<p>'I sha'nt stir, for all that: and mark me, Lang., if you turn me out of +the room, you know, hang me if ever I enter it again!'</p> + +<p>'But your little boy may want you; you have left him now some time.'</p> + +<p>'Aye, that may be true, to be sure, poor little dear! Have you any +family, Miss Mowbray?'—when, without waiting for an answer, she added, +'My little boy have got the small-pox very bad, and has been likely to +die from convulsion fits, you know. Poor dear! I had been nursing it so +long that I could not bear the stench of the room, and so I was glad, +you know, to come and get a little fresh air in the gardens.'</p> + +<p>At this speech Adeline's fortitude entirely gave way. <i>Her</i> child had +not had the small-pox, and she had been for some minutes in reach of the +infection; and with a look of horror, forgetting her business, and every +thing but Editha, she was on the point of leaving the room, when a +servant hastily entered, and told Mary that her little boy was dead.</p> + +<p>At hearing this, even her cold heart was moved, and throwing herself +back on the sofa she fell into a strong hysteric; while Adeline, losing +all remembrance of her insolence in her distress, flew to her +assistance; and, in pity for a mother weeping the loss of her infant, +forgot for a moment that she was endangering the life of her own child.</p> + +<p>Mr Langley, mean time, though grieved for the death of the infant, was +alive to the generous forgiving disposition which Adeline evinced; and +could not help exclaiming. 'Oh, Mrs Berrendale! forgive us! we deserved +not such kindness at your hands:' and Adeline, wanting to loosen the +tight stays of Mary, and not choosing to undress her before such a +witness, coldly begged him to withdraw, advising him at the same time to +go and see whether the child was really dead, as it might possibly only +appear so.</p> + +<p>Revived by this possibility, Mr Langley left Mary to the care of +Adeline, and left the room. But whether it was that Mary had a mind to +impress her lover and the father of her child with an idea of her +sensibility, or whether she had overheard Adeline's supposition, certain +it is, that as soon as Langley went away, and Adeline began to unlace +her stays, she hastily recovered, and declared her stays should remain +as they were: but still exclaiming about her poor dear Benny, she kept +her arms closely clasped round Adeline's waist, and reposed her head on +her bosom.</p> + +<p>Adeline's fears and pity for her being thus allayed, she began to have +leisure to feel and fear for herself; and the idea, that, by being in +such close contact with Mary, she was imbibing so much of the disease as +must inevitably communicate it to Editha, recurred so forcibly to her +mind, that, begging for mercy's sake she would loose her hold, she +endeavoured to break from the arms of her tormentor.</p> + +<p>But in vain.—As soon as Mary saw that Adeline wished to leave her, she +was the more eager to hold her fast; and protesting she should die if +she had the barbarity to leave her alone, she only hugged her the +closer. 'Well, then, I'll try to stay till Mr Langley returns,' cried +Adeline: but some minutes elapsed, and Mr Langley did not return; and +then Adeline, recollecting that when he did return he would come fresh +fraught with the pestilence from the dead body of his infant, could no +longer master her feelings, but screaming wildly,—'I shall be the death +of my child; let me go,'—she struggled with the determined Mary. 'You +will drive me mad if you detain me,' cried Adeline.</p> + +<p>'You will drive me mad if you go,' replied Mary, giving way to a violent +hysterical scream, while with successful strength she parried all +Adeline's endeavours to break from her. But what can resist the strength +of phrensy and despair? Adeline, at length worked up to madness by the +fatal control exercised over her, by one great effort threw the sobbing +Mary from her, and, darting down stairs with the rapidity of phrensy, +nearly knocked down Mr Langley in her passage, who was coming to +announce the restoration of the little boy.</p> + +<p>She soon reached Fleet-street, and was on her road home before Langley +and Mary had recovered their consternation: but she suddenly recollected +that homewards she must not proceed; that she carried death about her; +and wholly bewildered by this insupportable idea, she ran along the +Strand, muttering the incoherencies of phrensy as she went, till she was +intercepted in her passage by some young men of <i>ton</i>, who had been +dining together, and, being half intoxicated, were on their way to the +theatre.</p> + +<p>Two of these gentlemen, with extended arms, prevented her further +progress.</p> + +<p>'Where are you going, my pretty girl,' cried one, 'in this hurry? shall +I see you home? heh!'</p> + +<p>'Home!' replied Adeline; 'name it not. My child! my child! thy mother +has destroyed thee.'</p> + +<p>'So!' cried another, 'actress, by all that's tragical!'</p> + +<p>'Unhand me!' exclaimed Adeline wildly. 'Do not you know, poor babe, that +I carry death and infection about with me!'</p> + +<p>'The devil you do!' returned the gentleman; 'then the sooner you take +yourself off the better.'</p> + +<p>'I believe the poor soul is mad,' said a third, making way for Adeline +to pass.</p> + +<p>'But,' cried the first who spoke, catching hold of her, 'if so, there is +method and meaning in her madness; for she called Jaby here a poor babe, +and we all know he is little better.'</p> + +<p>By this time Adeline was in a state of complete phrensy, and was again +darting down the street in spite of the gentleman's efforts to hold her, +when another gentleman, whom curiosity had induced to stop and listen +to what passed, suddenly seized hold of her arm, and exclaimed, 'Good +Heavens! what can this mean? It is—it can be no other than Miss +Mowbray.'</p> + +<p>At the sound of her own name Adeline started: but in a moment her senses +were quite lost again; and the gentleman, who was no other than Colonel +Mordaunt, being fully aware of her situation, after reproving the young +men for sporting with distress so apparent, called a coach which +happened to be passing, and desired to know whither he should have the +honour of conducting her.</p> + +<p>But she was too lost to be able to answer the question: he therefore, +lifting her into the coach, desired the man to drive towards +Dover-street; and when there, he ordered him to drive to +Margaret-street, Oxford-street; when, not being able to obtain one +coherent word from Adeline, and nothing but expressions of agony, +terror, and self-condemnation, he desired him to stop at such a house, +and, conducting Adeline up stairs, desired the first assistance to be +procured immediately.</p> + +<p>It was not to his own lodgings that Colonel Mordaunt had conducted +Adeline, but to the house of a convenient friend of his, who, though not +generally known as such, and bearing a tolerably good character in the +world, was very kind to the tender distresses of her friends, and had no +objection to assist the meetings of two fond lovers.</p> + +<p>It is to be supposed, then, that she was surprised at seeing Colonel +Mordaunt with a companion, who was an object of pity and horror rather +than of love: but she did not want humanity; and when the colonel +recommended Adeline to her tenderest care, she with great readiness +ordered a bed to be prepared, and assisted in prevailing on Adeline to +lie down on it. In a short time a physician and a surgeon arrived; and +Adeline, having been bled and made to swallow strong opiates, was +undressed by her attentive landlady; and though still in a state of +unconsciousness, she fell into a sound sleep which lasted till morning.</p> + +<p>But Colonel Mordaunt passed a sleepless night. The sight of Adeline, +even frantic and wretched as she appeared, had revived the passion which +he had conceived for her; and if on her awaking the next morning she +should appear perfectly rational, and her phrensy merely the result of +some great fright which she had received, he resolved to renew his +addresses, and take advantage of the opportunity now offered him, while +she was as it were in his power.</p> + +<p>But to return to the Temple.—Soon after Mr Langley had entered his own +room, and while Mary and he were commenting on the frantic behaviour of +Adeline, the tawny boy came back from his walk, and heard with marks of +emotion, apparently beyond his age, (for though near twelve he did not +look <ins title="original has about">above</ins> eight years old,) of the sudden and frantic disappearance of +Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Oh! my dear friend,' cried he, 'if, you are not gone home you will +break my poor mother's heart!'</p> + +<p>'And who is your mother?'</p> + +<p>'Her name is Savanna; and she lives with Mrs Berrendale.'</p> + +<p>'Mrs Berrendale!' cried Mary, 'Miss Mowbray you mean.'</p> + +<p>'No, I do not; her name was Mowbray, but is now Berrendale.'</p> + +<p>'What! is she really married?' asked Langley.</p> + +<p>'Yes to be sure.'</p> + +<p>'But how do you know that she is?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! because I went to church with them, and my mother cooked the +wedding-dinner, and I ate plum-pudding and drank punch, and we were very +merry,—only my mother cried, because my father could not come.'</p> + +<p>'Very circumstantial evidence indeed!' cried Langley, 'and I am very +sorry that I did not know so much before. So you and your mother love +this extraordinary fine woman, Mrs Berrendale, heh?'</p> + +<p>'Love her! To be sure—we should be very wicked if we did not. Did you +never hear the story of the pineapple?' said the tawny boy.</p> + +<p>'Not I. What was it?' and the tawny boy, delighted to tell the story, +with sparkling eyes sat down to relate it.</p> + +<p>'You must know, Mr Glenmurray longed for a pineapple.'</p> + +<p>'Mrs Glenmurray you mean,' said Mary laughing immoderately.</p> + +<p>'I know what I say,' replied the tawny boy angrily; 'and so Miss +Adeline, as she was then called, went out to buy one;—well, and so she +met my poor father going to prison, and I was crying after her, and +so—' Here he paused, and bursting into tears exclaimed, 'And perhaps +she is crying herself now, and I must go and see for her directly.'</p> + +<p>'Do so, my fine fellow,' cried Langley: 'you had better go home, tell +your mother what has passed, and to-morrow' (accompanying him down +stairs, and speaking in a low voice) 'I will either write a note of +apology or call on Mrs Berrendale myself.'</p> + +<p>The tawny boy instantly set off, running as fast as he could, telling +Langley first, that if any harm had happened to his friend, both he and +his mother should lie down and die. And this further proof of Adeline's +merit did not tend to calm Langley's remorse for having exposed her to +the various distresses which she had undergone at his chambers.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_20" id="ch_20"></a>CHAPTER XX</h3> + +<p>Adeline awoke early the next morning perfectly sane, though weakened by +the exertions which she had experienced the night before, and saw with +surprise and alarm that she was not in her own lodging.</p> + +<p>But she had scarcely convinced herself that she was awake, when Mrs +Selby, the mistress of the house, appeared at her bed-side, and, seeing +what was passing in her mind by her countenance, explained to her as +delicately as she could the situation in which she had been brought +there.</p> + +<p>'And who brought me hither?' replied Adeline, dreadfully agitated, as +the remembrance of what had passed by degrees burst upon her.</p> + +<p>'Colonel Mordaunt of the guards,' was the answer; and Adeline was +shocked to find that he was the person to whom she was under so +essential an obligation. She then hastily arose, being eager to return +home; and in a short time she was ready to enter the drawing-room, and +to express her thanks to Colonel Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>But in vain did she insist on going home directly, to ease the fears of +her family. The physician, who arrived at the moment, forbade her going +out without having first taken both medicine and refreshment; and by the +time that, after the most earnest entreaties, she obtained leave to +depart, she recollected that, as her clothes were the same, she might +still impart disease to her child, and therefore must on no account +think of returning to Editha.</p> + +<p>'Whither, whither then can I go?' cried she, forgetting she was not +alone.</p> + +<p>'Why not stay here?' said the colonel, who had been purposely left alone +with her. 'O dearest of women! that you would but accept the protection +of a man who adores you; who has long loved you; who has been so +fortunate as to rescue you from a situation of misery and danger, and +the study of whose life it shall be to make you happy.'</p> + +<p>He uttered this with such volubility, that Adeline could not find an +opportunity to interrupt him; but when he concluded, she calmly replied, +'I am willing to believe, Colonel Mordaunt, from a conversation which I +once had with you, that you are not aware of the extent of the insult +which you are now offering to me. You probably do not know that I have +been for years a married woman?'</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt started and turned pale at this intelligence; and in a +faltering voice replied, that he was indeed a stranger to her present +situation;—for that, libertine as he confessed himself to be, he had +never yet allowed himself to address the wife of another.</p> + +<p>This speech restored him immediately to the confidence of Adeline. 'Then +I hope,' cried she, holding out her hand to him, which in spite of his +virtue he passionately kissed, 'that, as a friend, you will have the +kindness to procure me a coach to take me to a lodging a few miles out +of town, where I once was before; and that you will be so good as to +drive directly to my lodgings, and let my poor maid know what is become +of me. I dread to think,' added she bursting into tears, 'of the agony +that my unaccountable absence must have occasioned her.'</p> + +<p>The colonel, too seriously attached to Adeline to know yet what he +wished, or what he hoped on this discovery of her situation, promised to +obey her, provided she would allow him to call on her now and then; and +Adeline was too full of gratitude to him for the service which he had +rendered her, to have resolution enough to deny his request. He then +called a coach for himself, and for Adeline, as she insisted on his +going immediately to her lodgings; and also begged that he would tell +the mulatto to send for advice, and prepare her little girl for +inoculation directly.</p> + +<p>Adeline drove directly to her old lodgings in the country, where she was +most gladly received; and the colonel went to deliver his commission to +the mulatto.</p> + +<p>He found her in strong hysterics; the tawny boy crying over her, and the +woman of the house holding her down on the bed by force, while the +little Editha had been conveyed to a neighbour's house, that she might +not hear the screams which had surprised and terrified her.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt had opened the door, and was witnessing this +distressing scene, before any one was conscious of his presence; but +the tawny boy soon discovered him, and crying out—</p> + +<p>'Oh! sir, do you bring us news of our friend?' sprang to him, and hung +almost breathless on his arm.</p> + +<p>Savanna, who was conscious enough to know what passed, though too much +weakened from her own sufferings and anxieties to be able to struggle +with this new affliction, started up on hearing these words, and +screamed out 'Does she live? Blessed man! but say so, dat's all,' in a +tone so affecting, and with an expression of agonized curiosity so +overwhelming to the feelings, that Colonel Mordaunt, whose spirits were +not very high, was so choked that he could not immediately answer her; +and when at last he faltered out, 'She lives, and is quite well,' the +frantic joy of the mulatto overcame him still more. She jumped about his +neck, she hugged the tawny boy; and her delight was as extravagant as +her grief had been; till exhausted and silent she sunk upon the bed, and +was unable for some minutes to listen quietly to the story which Colonel +Mordaunt came to relate.</p> + +<p>When she was composed enough to listen to it, she did not long remain +so; for as soon as she heard that Colonel Mordaunt had met Adeline in +her phrensy, and conveyed her to a place of safety, she fell at his +feet, embraced his knees, and, making the tawny boy kneel down by her, +invoked the blessing of God on him so fervently and so eloquently that +Colonel Mordaunt wept like a child, and, exclaiming, 'Upon my soul, my +good woman, I cannot bear this,' was forced to run out of the house to +recover his emotion.</p> + +<p>When he returned, Savanna said 'Well—now, blessed sir, take me to my +dear lady.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed,' replied he, 'I must not; you are forbidden to see her.'</p> + +<p>'Forbidden!' replied she, her eyes flashing fire; 'and who dare to keep +Savanna from her own mistress?—I will see her.'</p> + +<p>'Not if she forbids it, Savanna; and if her child's life should be +endangered by it?'</p> + +<p>'O, no, to be sure not,' cried the tawny boy, who doted upon Editha, +and, having fetched her back from the next house, was lulling her to +sleep in his arms.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt started at sight of the child, and, stooping down to +kiss its rosy cheek, sighed deeply as he turned away again.</p> + +<p>'Well,' cried Savanna, 'you talk very strange—me no understand.'</p> + +<p>'But you shall, my excellent creature,' replied the colonel, +'immediately.' He then entered on a full explanation to Savanna; who had +no sooner heard that her mistress feared that she had been so much +exposed to the infection of the small-pox, as to make her certain of +giving it to her child, than she exclaimed, 'Oh, my good God! save and +protect her own self! She never have it, and she may get it and die!'</p> + +<p>'Surely you must be mistaken,' replied the colonel, 'Mrs Berrendale must +have recollected and mentioned her own danger if this be the case.'</p> + +<p>'She!' hastily interrupted the mulatto, 'she tink of herself! Never—she +only mind others' good. Do you tink, if she be one selfish beast like +her husban, Savanna love her so dear? No, Mr Colonel, me know her, and +me know though we may save the child we may lose the mother.' Here she +began to weep bitterly; while the colonel, more in love than ever with +Adeline from these proofs of her goodness, resolved to lose no time in +urging her to undergo herself the operation which she desired for +Editha.</p> + +<p>Then, begging the mulatto to send for a surgeon directly, in spite of +the tears of the tawny boy, who thought it cruel to run the risk of +spoiling Miss Editha's pretty face, he took his leave, saying to +himself, 'What a heart has this Adeline! how capable of feeling +affection! for no one can inspire it who is not able to feel it: and +this creature is thrown away on a man undeserving her, it seems!'</p> + +<p>On this intelligence he continued to muse till he arrived at Adeline's +lodgings, to whom he communicated all that had passed; and from whom he +learned, with great anxiety, that it was but too true that she had never +had the small-pox; and that, therefore, she should probably show +symptoms of the disease in a few days: consequently, as she considered +it too late for her to be inoculated, she should do all that now +remained to be done for her security, by low living and good air.</p> + +<p>That same evening Colonel Mordaunt returned to Savanna, in hopes of +learning from her some further particulars respecting Adeline's husband; +as he felt that his conscience would not be much hurt by inducing +Adeline to leave the protection of a man who was unworthy of possessing +her. Fortunately for his wishes, he could not wish to hear more than +Savanna wished to tell every thing relating to her adored lady: and +Colonel Mordaunt heard with generous indignation of the perfidious +conduct of Berrendale; vowing, at the same time, that his time, his +interest, and his fortune, should all be devoted to bring such a villain +to justice, and to secure to the injured Editha her rightful +inheritance.</p> + +<p>The mulatto was in raptures:—she told Colonel Mordaunt that he was a +charming man, and infinitely handsomer than Berrendale, though she must +own he was very good to look at; and she wished with all her soul that +Colonel Mordaunt was married to her lady; for then she believed she +would have never known sorrow, but been as happy as the day was long.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt could not hear this without a secret pang. 'Had I +followed,' said he mentally, 'the dictates of my heart when I saw +Adeline at Bath, I might now, perhaps, instead of being a forlorn +unattached being, have been a happy husband and father; and Adeline, +instead of having been the mistress of one man, the disowned wife of +another, might have been happy and beloved, and as respectable in the +eyes of the world as she is in those of her grateful mulatto.'</p> + +<p>However, there was some hope left for him yet.—Adeline, he thought, was +not a woman likely to be over-scrupulous in her ideas; and might very +naturally think herself at liberty to accept the protection of a lover, +when, from no fault of hers, she had lost that of her husband.</p> + +<p>It is natural to suppose that, while elevated with these hopes, he did +not fail to be very constant in his visits to Adeline; and that at +length, more led by passion than policy, he abruptly, at the end of ten +days, informed Adeline that he knew her situation, and that he trusted +that she would allow him to hope that in due time his love, which had +been proof against time, absence, and disdain, would meet with reward; +and that, on his settling a handsome income on her and her child for +their joint lives, she would allow him to endeavour to make her as happy +as she, and she only, could make him.</p> + +<p>To this proposal, which was in form of a letter, Colonel Mordaunt did +not receive an immediate answer; nor was it at first likely that he +should ever receive an answer to it at all, as Adeline was at the moment +of its arrival confined to her bed, according to her expectations, with +the disease which she had been but too fearful of imbibing: while the +half-distracted mulatto was forced to give up to others the care of the +sickening Editha, to watch over the delirious and unconscious Adeline.</p> + +<p>But the tawny boy's generous benefactress gave him leave to remain at +Adeline's lodgings, in order to calm his fears for Editha, and assist in +amusing and keeping her quiet; and if attention had any share in +preserving the life and beauty of Editha, it was to the affectionate +tawny boy that she owed them; and he was soon rewarded for all his care +and anxiety by seeing his little charge able to play about as usual.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt and the mulatto meanwhile did not obtain so speedy a +termination to their anxieties: Adeline's recovery was for a long time a +matter of doubt; and her weakness so great after the crisis of the +disorder was past, that none ventured to pronounce her, even then, out +of danger.</p> + +<p>But at length she was in a great measure restored to health, and able to +determine what line of conduct it was necessary for her to pursue.—To +return an answer to Colonel Mordaunt's proposals was certainly her first +business; but as she felt that the situation in which he had once known +her made his offer less affronting than it would have been under other +circumstances, she resolved to speak to him on the subject with +gentleness, not severity; especially as during her illness, to amuse the +anxiety that had preyed upon him, he had taken every possible step to +procure evidence of the marriage, and gave into Savanna's hands, the +first day that he was permitted to see her, an attested certificate of +it.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_21" id="ch_21"></a>CHAPTER XXI</h3> + +<p>The first question which Adeline asked on her recovery was, Whether any +letter had come by the general-post during her illness; and Savanna gave +one to her immediately.</p> + +<p>It was the letter so ardently desired; for the direction was in her +mother's hand-writing! and she opened it full of eager expectation, +while her whole existence seemed to depend on the nature of its +contents. What then must have been her agony on finding that the +<i>enveloppe</i> contained nothing but her own letter returned! For some time +she spoke not, she breathed not; while Savanna mixed with expressions of +terror, at sight of her mistress's distress, poured execrations on the +unnatural parent who had so cruelly occasioned it.</p> + +<p>After a few days' incessant struggle to overcome the violence of her +sorrow, Adeline recovered the shock, in appearance at least: yet to +Savanna's self-congratulations she could not help answering (laying her +hand on her heart) 'The blow is here, Savanna, and the wound incurable.'</p> + +<p>Soon after she thought herself well enough to see Colonel Mordaunt, and +to thank him for the recent proof of his attention to her and her +interest. But no obligation, however great, could shut the now vigilant +eyes of Adeline to the impropriety of receiving further visits from him, +or to the guilt of welcoming to her house a man who made open +professions to her of illicit love.</p> + +<p>She however thought it her duty to see him once more, in order to try to +reconcile him to the necessity of the rule of conduct which she was +going to lay down for herself; nor was she without hope that the yet +recent traces of the disease, to which she had so nearly fallen a +victim, would make her appearance so unpleasing to the eyes of her +lover, that he would be very willing to absent himself from the house, +for some time at least, and probably give up all thoughts of her.</p> + +<p>But she did neither herself nor Colonel Mordaunt justice.—She was +formed to inspire a real and lasting passion—a passion that no external +change could destroy—since it was founded on the unchanging qualities +of the heart and mind: and Colonel Mordaunt felt for her such an +attachment in all its force. He had always admired the attractive person +and winning graces of Adeline, and felt for her what he denominated +love; but that rational though enthusiastic preference, which is +deserving of the name of true love, he never felt till he had had an +opportunity to appreciate justly the real character of Adeline: still +there were times when he felt almost gratified to reflect that she could +not legally be his; for, whatever might have been the cause and excuse +of her errors, she had erred, and the delicacy of his mind revolted at +the idea of marrying the mistress of another.</p> + +<p>But when he saw and heard Adeline, this repugnance vanished; and he knew +that, could he at those moments lead her to the altar, he should not +have hesitated to bind himself to her for ever by the sacred ties which +the early errors of her judgment had made her even in his opinion almost +unworthy to form.</p> + +<p>At length a day was fixed for his interview with Adeline, and with a +beating heart he entered the apartment; nor was his emotion diminished +when he beheld not only the usual vestiges of her complaint, but +symptoms of debility, and a death-like meagreness of aspect, which made +him fear that though one malady was conquered, another, even more +dangerous, remained. The idea overcame him; and he was forced to turn to +the window to hide his emotion: and his manner was so indicative of +ardent yet respectful attachment, that Adeline began to feel in spite of +herself that her projected task was difficult of execution.</p> + +<p>For some minutes neither of them spoke: Mordaunt held the hand which she +gave him to his heart, kissed it as she withdrew it, and again turned +away his head to conceal a starting tear: while Adeline was not sorry to +have a few moments in which to recover herself, before she addressed him +on the subject at that time nearest to the heart of both. At length she +summoned resolution enough to say:—</p> + +<p>'Much as I have been mortified and degraded, Colonel Mordaunt, by the +letter which I have received from you, still I rejoice that I did +receive it:—in the first place, I rejoice, because I look on all the +sufferings and mortifications which I meet with as merciful +chastisements, as expiations inflicted on me in mercy by the Being whom +I adore, for the sins of which I have been guilty; and, in the second +place, because it gives me an opportunity of proving, incontrovertibly, +my full conviction of the fallacy of my past opinions, and that I became +a wife, after my idle declamations against marriage, from change of +principle, on assurance of error, and not from interest, or necessity.'</p> + +<p>Here she paused, overcome with the effort which she had made; and +Colonel Mordaunt would have interrupted her, but, earnestly conjuring +him to give her a patient hearing, she proceeded thus:—</p> + +<p>'Had the change in my practice been the result of any thing but rational +conviction, I should now, unfortunate as I have been in the choice of a +husband, regret that ever I formed so foolish a tie, and perhaps be +induced to enter into a less sacred connexion, from an idea that that +state which forced me to drag out existence in hopeless misery was +contrary to reason, justice, and the benefit of society; and that, the +sooner its ties were dissolved, the better it would be for individual +happiness and for the world at large.'</p> + +<p>'And do you not think so?' cried Colonel Mordaunt; 'cannot your own +individual experience convince you of it?'</p> + +<p>'Far from it,' replied Adeline: 'and I bless God that it does not: for +thence, and thence only, do I begin to be reconciled to myself. I have +no doubt that there is a great deal of individual suffering in the +marriage state, from a contrariety of temper and other causes; but I +believe that the mass of happiness and virtue is certainly increased by +it. Individual suffering, therefore, is no argument for the abolition of +marriage, than the accidental bursting of a musket would be for the +total abolition of fire-arms.'</p> + +<p>'But, surely, dear Mrs Berrendale, you would wish divorce to be made +easier than it is?'</p> + +<p>'By no means.' interrupted Adeline, understanding what he was going to +say: 'to <span class="smallcaps">bear</span> and <span class="smallcaps">forbear</span> I believe to be the grand secret of happiness, +and that it ought to be the great study of life: therefore, whatever +would enable married persons to separate on the slightest quarrel or +disgust, would make it so much the less necessary for us to learn this +important lesson; a lesson so needful in order to perfect the human +character, that I believe the difficulty of divorce to be one of the +greatest blessings of society.'</p> + +<p>'What can have so completely changed your opinions on this subject?' +replied Colonel Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>'Not my own experience,' returned Adeline; 'for the painful situations +in which I have been placed, I might attribute, not to the fallacy of +the system on which I have acted, but to those existing prejudices in +society which I wish to see destroyed.'</p> + +<p>'Then, to what else is the change in your sentiments to be attributed?'</p> + +<p>'To a more serious, unimpassioned, and unprejudiced view of the subject +than I had before taken: at present I am not equal to expatiate on +matters so important: however, some time or other, perhaps, I may make +known to you my sentiments on them in a more ample manner: but I have, I +trust, said enough to lead you to conclude, that though Mr Berrendale's +conduct to me has been atrocious, and that you are in many respects +entitled to my gratitude and thanks, you and I must henceforward be +strangers to each other.'</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt, little expecting such a total overthrow to his hopes, +was, on receiving it, choked with contending emotions; and his broken +sentences and pale cheek were sufficiently expressive of the distress +which he endured. But I shall not enter into a detail of all he urged in +favour of his passion; nor the calm, dignified, manner in which Adeline +replied. Suffice that, at last, from a sort of intuitive knowledge of +the human heart, as it were, which persons of quick talent and +sensibilities possess however defective their experience, Adeline +resolved to try to soothe the self-love which she had wounded, knowing +that self-love is scarcely to be distinguished in its effects from love +itself; and that the agony of disappointed passion is always greater +when it is inflicted by the coldness or falsehood of the beloved object, +than when it proceeds from parental prohibition, or the cruel separation +enjoined by conscious poverty. She therefore told Colonel Mordaunt that +he was once very near being the first choice of her heart: when she +first saw him, she said, his person, and manners, and attentions, had so +strongly prepossessed her in his favour, that he himself, by ceasing to +see and converse with her, could alone have saved her from the pain of a +hopeless attachment.</p> + +<p>'In pity, spare me,' cried Mordaunt, 'the contemplation of the happiness +I might have enjoyed!'</p> + +<p>'But you know you were not a marrying-man, as it is called; and forgive +me if I say, that men who can on system suppress the best feelings of +their nature, and prefer a course of libertine indulgence to a virtuous +connexion, at that time of life when they might become happy husbands +and fathers, with the reasonable expectation of living to see their +children grown up to manhood, and superintending their education +themselves—such men, Colonel Mordaunt, deserve, in the decline of life, +to feel that regret and that self-condemnation which you this moment +anticipate.'</p> + +<p>'True—too true!' replied the colonel; 'but, for mercy's <ins title="original has safe">sake</ins>, torture +me no more.'</p> + +<p>'I would not probe where I did not intend to make a cure,' replied +Adeline.</p> + +<p>'A cure!—what mean you!'</p> + +<p>'I mean to induce you, ere it be yet too late, to endeavour to form a +virtuous attachment, and to unite yourself for life with some amiable +young woman who will make you as happy as I would have endeavoured to +make you, had it been my fortunate lot to be yours: for, believe me, +Colonel Mordaunt,' and her voice faltered as she said it, 'had <i>he</i>, +whom I still continue to love with unabated tenderness, though years +have elapsed since he was taken from me,—had he bequeathed me to you on +his death-bed, the reluctance with which I went to the altar would have +been more easily overcome.'</p> + +<p>Saying this, she suddenly left the room, leaving Colonel Mordaunt +surprised, gratified, and his mind struggling between hopes and fears; +for Adeline was not conscious that she imparted hope as well as +consolation by the method which she pursued; and though she sent Savanna +to tell the colonel she could see him no more that evening, he departed +in firm expectation that Adeline would not have resolution to forbid him +to see her again.</p> + +<p>In this, however, he was mistaken; Adeline had learnt the best of all +lessons, distrust of her own strength:—and she resolved to put it out +of her power to receive visits which a regard to propriety forbade, and +which might injure her reputation, if not her peace of mind. Therefore, +as soon as Colonel Mordaunt was gone, she summoned Savanna, and desired +her to proceed to business.</p> + +<p>'What!' cried the delighted mulatto, 'are we going to prosecu massa?'</p> + +<p>'No,' replied Adeline, 'we are going into the country: I am come to a +determination to take no legal steps in this affair, but leave Mr +Berrendale to the reproaches of his own conscience.'</p> + +<p>'A fiddle's end!' replied Savanna, 'he have no conscience, or he no +leave you: better get him hang, if you can; den you marry de colonel.'</p> + +<p>'I had better hang the father of my child, had I, Savanna?'</p> + +<p>'Oh! no, no, no, no,—me forget dat.'</p> + +<p>'But I do not, nor can I even bear to disgrace the father of Editha: +therefore, trusting that I can dispose of her, and secure her interest +better than by forcing her father to do her justice, and bastardize the +poor innocent whom his wife will soon bring into the world, I am going +to bury myself in retirement, and live the short remainder of my days +unknowing and unknown.'</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_22" id="ch_22"></a>CHAPTER XXII</h3> + +<p>Savanna was going to remonstrate, but the words 'short remainder of my +days' distressed her so much, that tears choked her words; and she +obeyed in silence her mistress's orders to pack up, except when she +indulged in a few exclamations against her lady's cruelty in going away +without taking leave of Colonel Mordaunt, who, sweet gentleman, would +break his heart at her departure, especially as he was not to know +whither she was going. A postchaise was at the door the next morning at +six o'clock; and as Adeline had not much luggage, having left the chief +part of her furniture to be divided between the mistresses of her two +lodgings, in return for their kind attention to her and her child, she +took an affectionate leave of her landlady, and desired the post-boy to +drive a mile on the road before him: and when he had done so, she +ordered him to go on to Barnet; while the disappointed mulatto thanked +God that the tawny boy was gone to Scotland with his protectress, as it +prevented her having the mortification of leaving him behind her, as +well as the colonel.—'O had I such a lover,' cried she, (her eyes +filling with tears,) 'me never leave him, nor he me!' and for the first +time she thought her angel-lady hard-hearted.</p> + +<p>For some miles they proceeded in silence, for Adeline was too much +engrossed to speak; and the little Editha, being fast asleep in the +mulatto's arms, did not draw her mother out of the reverie into which she +had fallen.</p> + +<p>'And where now?' said the mulatto, when the chaise stopped.</p> + +<p>'To the next stage on the high north road.' And on they went again; nor +did they stop, except for refreshments, till they had travelled thirty +miles; when Adeline, worn out with fatigue, staid all night at the inn +where the chaise stopped, and the next morning they resumed their +journey, but not their silence. The mulatto could no longer restrain her +curiosity; and she begged to know whither they were going, and why they +were to be buried in the country?</p> + +<p>Adeline, sighing deeply, answered, that they were going to live in +Cumberland; and then sunk into silence again, as she could not give the +mulatto her true reasons for the plan that she was pursuing without +wounding her affectionate heart in a manner wholly incurable. The truth +was, that Adeline supposed herself to be declining: she thought that she +experienced those dreadful languors, those sensations of internal +weakness, which, however veiled to the eye of the observer, speak in +forcible language to the heart of the conscious sufferer. Indeed, +Adeline had long struggled, but in vain, against feelings of a most +overwhelming nature; amongst which, remorse and horror, for having led +by her example and precepts an innocent girl into a life of infamy, were +the most painfully predominant: for, believing Mary Warner's assertion +when she saw her at Mr Langley's chambers, she looked upon that unhappy +girl's guilt as the consequence of her own; and mourned, incessantly +mourned, over the fatal errors of her early judgment, which had made +her, though an idolater of virtue, a practical assistant to the cause of +vice. When Adeline imagined the term of her existence to be drawing +nigh, her mother, her obdurate but still dear mother, regained her +wonted ascendancy over her affections; and to her, the approach of death +seemed fraught with satisfaction. For that parent, so long, so +repeatedly deaf to her prayers, and to the detail of those sufferings +which she had made one of the conditions of her forgiveness, had +promised to see and to forgive her on her <i>death-bed</i>; and her heart +yearned, fondly yearned, for the moment when she should be pressed to +the bosom of a relenting parent.</p> + +<p>To Cumberland, therefore, she was resolved to hasten, and into the very +neighbourhood of Mrs Mowbray; while, as the chaise wheeled them along to +the place of their destination, even the prattle of her child could not +always withdraw her from the abstraction into which she was plunged, as +the scenes of her early years thronged upon her memory, and with them +the recollection of those proofs of a mother's fondness, for a renewal +of which, even in the society of Glenmurray, she had constantly and +despondingly sighed.</p> + +<p>As they approached Penrith, her emotion redoubled, and she involuntarily +exclaimed—'Cruel, but still dear, mother, you little think your child +is so near!'</p> + +<p>'Heaven save me!' cried Savanna; 'are we to go and be near dat woman?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' replied Adeline. 'Did she not say she would forgive me on my +death-bed?'</p> + +<p>'But you not there yet, dear missess,' sobbed Savanna; 'you not there of +long years!'</p> + +<p>'Savanna,' returned Adeline, 'I should die contented to purchase my +mother's blessing and forgiveness.'</p> + +<p>Savanna, speechless with contending emotions, could not express by words +the feeling of mixed sorrow and indignation which overwhelmed her; but +she replied by putting Editha in Adeline's arms; then articulating with +effort, 'Look there!' she sobbed aloud.</p> + +<p>'I understand you,' said Adeline, kissing away the tears gathering in +Editha's eyes, at sight of Savanna's distress: 'but perhaps I think my +death would be of more service to my child than my life.'</p> + +<p>'And to me too, I suppose,' replied Savanna reproachfully. 'Well,—me go +to Scotland; for no one love me but the tawny boy.'</p> + +<p>'You will stay and close my eyes first, I hope!' observed Adeline +mournfully.</p> + +<p>In a moment Savanna's resentment vanished. 'Me will live and die vid +you,' she replied, her tears redoubling, while Adeline again sunk into +thoughtful silence.</p> + +<p>As soon as they reached Penrith, Adeline inquired for lodgings out of +the town, on that side nearest to her mother's abode; and was so +fortunate, as she esteemed herself, to procure two apartments at a small +house within two miles of Mrs Mowbray's.</p> + +<p>'Then I breathe once more the same air with my mother!' exclaimed +Adeline as she took possession of her lodging. 'Savanna, methinks I +breathe freer already!'</p> + +<p>'Me more choked,' replied the mulatto, and turned sullenly away.</p> + +<p>'Nay, I—I feel so much better, that to-morrow I will—I will take a +walk,' said Adeline hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>'And where?' asked Savanna eagerly.</p> + +<p>'Oh, to-night I shall only walk to bed,' replied Adeline smiling; and +with unusual cheerfulness she retired to rest.</p> + +<p>The next morning she arose early; and being informed that a stile near a +peasant's cottage commanded a view of Mrs Mowbray's house, she hired a +man and cart to convey her to the bottom of the hill, and with Editha by +her side she set out to indulge her feelings by gazing on the house +which contained her mother.</p> + +<p>When they alighted, Editha gaily endeavoured to climb the hill, and +urged her mother to follow her; but Adeline, rendered weak by illness +and breathless by emotion, felt the ascent so difficult, that no motive +less powerful than the one which actuated her could have <ins title="original has enable">enabled</ins> her to +reach the summit.</p> + +<p>At length, however, she did reach it:—and the lawn before Mrs Mowbray's +white house, her hay-fields, and the running stream at the bottom of it, +burst in all their beauty on her view.—'And this is my mother's +dwelling!' exclaimed Adeline: 'and there was I born: and near here—' +shall I die, she would have added, but her voice failed her.</p> + +<p>'Oh! what a pretty house and garden!' cried Editha in the unformed +accents of childhood;—'how I should like to live there!'</p> + +<p>This artless remark awakened a thousand mixed and overpowering feelings +in the bosom of Adeline; and, after a pause of strong emotion, she +exclaimed, catching the little prattler to her heart—'you <i>shall</i> live +there, my child!—yes, yes, you <i>shall</i> live there!'</p> + +<p>'But when?' resumed Editha.</p> + +<p>'When I am in my grave,' answered Adeline.</p> + +<p>'And when shall you be there?' replied the unconscious child, fondly +caressing her: 'pray, mamma—pray be there soon!'</p> + +<p>Adeline turned away, unable to answer her.</p> + +<p>'Look—look, mamma!'—resumed Editha: 'there are ladies.—Oh! do let us +go there now!—why can't we?'</p> + +<p>'Would to God we could!' replied Adeline; as in one of the ladies she +recognized Mrs Mowbray, and stood gazing on her till her eyes ached +again: but what she felt on seeing her she will herself describe in the +succeeding pages: and I shall only add, that, as soon as Mrs Mowbray +returned into the house, Adeline, wrapped in a long and mournful +reverie, returned, full of a new plan, to her lodgings.</p> + +<p>There is no love so disinterested as parental love; and Adeline had all +the keen sensibilities of a parent. To make, therefore, 'assurance +doubly sure' that Mrs Mowbray should receive and should love her orphan +when she was no more, she resolved to give up the gratification to which +she had looked forward, the hope, before she died, of obtaining her +forgiveness—that she might not weaken, by directing any part of them to +herself, those feelings of remorse, fruitless tenderness, and useless +regret in her mother's bosom, which she wished should be concentrated on +her child.</p> + +<p>'No,' said Adeline to herself, 'I am sure that she will not refuse to +receive my orphan to her love and protection when I am no more, and am +become alike insensible of reproaches and of blessings; and I think that +she will love my child the more tenderly, because to me she will be +unable to express the compunction which, sooner or later, she will feel +from the recollection of her conduct towards me: therefore, I will make +no demands on her love for myself; but, in a letter to be given her +after my decease, bequeath my orphan to her care;'—and with this +determination she returned from her ride.</p> + +<p>'Have you see her?' said Savanna, running out to meet her.</p> + +<p>'Yes—but not spoken to her; nor shall I see her again.'</p> + +<p>'What—I suppose she see you, and not speak?'</p> + +<p>'Oh, no; she did not see me, nor shall I urge her to see me: my plans +are altered,' replied Adeline.</p> + +<p>'And we go back to town and Colonel Mordaunt?'</p> + +<p>'No,' resumed Adeline, sighing deeply, and preparing to write to Mrs +Mowbray.</p> + +<p>But it is necessary that we should for a short time go back to +Berrendale, and relate that, while Adeline and Editha were confined with +the small-pox, Mr Drury received a summons from his employer in Jamaica +to go over thither, to be intrusted with some particular business: in +consequence of this he resolved to call again on Adeline, and inquire +whether she still persisted in styling herself Mrs Berrendale; as he +concluded that Berrendale would be very glad of all the information +relative to her and her child which he could possibly procure, whether +his curiosity on the subject proceeded from fear or love.</p> + +<p>It so happened, that as soon as Editha, as well as her mother, was in +the height of the disorder, Mr Drury called; and finding that they were +both very bad, he thought that his friend Berrendale was likely to get +rid of both his encumbrances at once; and being eager to communicate +good news to a man whose influence in the island might be a benefit to +him, he every day called to inquire concerning their health.</p> + +<p>The second floor in the house where Adeline lodged was then occupied by +a young woman in indigent circumstances, who, as well as her child, had +sickened with the distemper the very day that Editha was inoculated: and +when Drury, just as he was setting off for Portsmouth, ran to gain the +latest intelligence of the invalids, a charwoman, who attended to the +door, not being acquainted with the name of the poor young woman and her +little girl, concluding that Mr Drury, by Mrs Berrendale and miss who +were ill with the small-pox, meant them, replied to his inquiries,—'Ah, +poor things! it is all over with them, they died last night.'</p> + +<p>On which, not staying for any further intelligence, Drury set off for +Portsmouth, and arrived at Jamaica just as Berrendale was going to remit +to Adeline a draft for a hundred pounds. For Adeline and the injury +which he had done her, had been for some days constantly present to his +thoughts. He had been ill; and as indigestion, the cause of his +complaints, is apt to occasion disturbed dreams, he had in his dreams +been haunted by the image of Glenmurray, who, with a threatening aspect, +had reproached him with cruelty and base ingratitude to him, in +deserting in such a manner the wife whom he had bequeathed to him.</p> + +<p>The constant recurrence of these dreams had depressed his spirits and +excited his remorse so much, that he could calm his feelings in no other +way than by writing a kind letter to Adeline, and enclosing her a draft +on his banker. This letter was on the point of being sent when Drury +arrived, and, with very little ceremony, informed him that Adeline was +dead.</p> + +<p>'Dead!' exclaimed Berrendale, falling almost sensless on his couch: +'Dead!—Oh! for God's sake, tell me of what she died!—Surely, surely, +she—' Here his voice failed him.</p> + +<p>Drury coolly replied, that she and her child both died of the small-pox.</p> + +<p>'But <i>when</i>? my dear fellow!—when? Say that they died nine months ago' +(that was previous to his marriage) 'and you make me your friend for +life!'</p> + +<p>Drury, so <i>bribed</i>, would have said <i>any thing</i>; and, with all the +coolness possible, he replied, 'Then be my friend for life:—they died +rather better than nine months ago.'</p> + +<p>Berrendale, being then convinced that bigamy was not likely to be proved +against him, soon forgot, in the joy which this thought occasioned him, +remorse for his conduct to Adeline, and regret for her early fate: +besides, he concluded that he saved £100 by the means; for he knew not +that the delicate mind of Adeline would have scorned to owe pecuniary +obligations to the husband who had basely and unwarrantably deserted +her.</p> + +<p>But he was soon undeceived on this subject, by a letter which Colonel +Mordaunt wrote in confidence to a friend in Jamaica, begging him to +inquire concerning Mr Berrendale's second marriage; and to inform him +privately that his injured wife had zealous and powerful friends in +England, who were continually urging her to prosecute him for bigamy.</p> + +<p>This intelligence had a fatal effect on the health of Berrendale; for +though the violent temper and overbearing disposition of his second wife +had often made him regret the gentle and compliant Adeline, and a +separation from her, consequently, would be a blessing, still he feared +to encounter the disgrace of a prosecution, and still more the anger of +his West Indian wife; who, it was not improbable, might even attack his +life in the first moment of ungoverned passion.</p> + +<p>And to these fears he soon fell a sacrifice; for a frame debilitated by +intemperance could not support the assaults made on it by the continued +apprehensions which Colonel Mordaunt's friend had excited in him; and he +died in that gentleman's presence, whom in his last moments he had +summoned to his apartment to witness a will, by which he owned Adeline +Mowbray to be his lawful wife, and left Editha, his acknowledged and +only heir, a very considerable fortune.</p> + +<p>But this circumstance, an account of which, with the will, was +transmitted to Colonel Mordaunt, did not take place till long after +Adeline took up her abode in Cumberland.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_23" id="ch_23"></a>CHAPTER XXIII</h3> + +<p>But to return to Colonel Mordaunt. Though Adeline had said that he must +discontinue his visits, he resolved to disobey her; and the next +morning, as soon as he thought she had breakfasted, he repaired to her +lodgings; where he heard, with mixed sorrow and indignation, that she +had set off in a post-chaise at six o'clock, and was gone no one knew +whither.</p> + +<p>'But, surely she has left some note or message for me!' exclaimed +Colonel Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>'Neither the one nor the other,' was the answer; and he returned home in +no very enviable state of mind.</p> + +<p>Various, indeed, and contradictory were his feelings: yet still +affection was uppermost; and he could not but respect in Adeline the +conduct which drove him to despair. Nor was self-love backward to +suggest to him, that had not Adeline felt his presence and attentions to +be dangerous, she would not so suddenly have withdrawn from them; and +this idea was the only one on which he could at all bear to dwell: for, +when he reflected that day after day might pass without his either +seeing or hearing from her, existence seemed to become suddenly a +burthen, and he wandered from place to place with joyless and unceasing +restlessness.</p> + +<p>At one time he resolved to pursue her; but the next, piqued at not +having received from her even a note of farewell, he determined to +endeavour to forget her: and this was certainly the wiser plan of the +two: but the succeeding moment he determined to let a week pass, in +hopes of receiving a letter from her, and, in case he did not, to set +off in search of her, being assured of succeeding in his search of her, +because the singularity of Savanna's appearance, and the traces of the +small-pox visible in the face of Adeline, made them liable to be +observed, and easy for him to describe.</p> + +<p>But before the week elapsed, from agitation of mind, and from having +exposed himself unnecessarily to cold, by lying on damp grass at +midnight, after having heated himself by immoderate walking, Colonel +Mordaunt became ill of a fever; and when, after a confinement of several +weeks, he was restored to health, he despaired of being able to learn +tidings of the fugitives; and disappointed and dejected, he sought in +the gayest scenes of the metropolis and its environs to drown the +remembrances, from which in solitude he had vainly endeavoured to fly. +At this time a faded but attractive woman of quality, with whom he had +formerly been intimate, returned from abroad, and, meeting Colonel +Mordaunt at the house of a mutual friend, endeavoured to revive in him +his former attachment: but it was a difficult task for a woman, who had +never been able to touch the heart, to excite an attachment in a man +already sentimentally devoted to another.</p> + +<p>Her advances, however, flattered Colonel Mordaunt, and her society +amused him, till, at length, their intimacy was renewed on its former +footing: but soon tired of his mistress, and displeased with himself, he +took an abrupt leave of her, and throwing himself into his post-chaise, +retired to the seat of a relation in Herefordshire.</p> + +<p>Near this gentleman's house lived Mr Maynard and his two sisters, who +had taken up their abode there immediately on their return from +Portugal. Major Douglas, his wife, and Emma Douglas, were then on a +visit to them. Mordaunt had known Major Douglas in early life; and as +soon as he found that he was in the neighbourhood, he rode over to renew +his acquaintance with him; and received so cordial a welcome, not only +from the major, but the master of the house and his sisters, that he was +strongly induced to repeat his visits, and not a day passed in which he +was not, during some part of it, a guest at Mr Maynard's.</p> + +<p>Mrs Wallington and Miss Maynard, indeed, received him with such pointed +marks of distinction and preference, as to make it visible to every +observer that it was not as a friend only they were desirous of +considering Colonel Mordaunt; while, by spiteful looks and acrimonious +remarks directed to each other, the sisters expressed the jealousy which +rankled in their hearts, whenever he seemed by design or inadvertency to +make one of them the particular object of his attention.</p> + +<p>Of Emma Douglas's chance for his favour, they were not at all +fearful:—they thought her too plain, and too unattractive, to be +capable of rivalling them; especially in the favour of an officer, a man +of fashion; and therefore they beheld without emotion the attention +which Colonel Mordaunt paid to her whenever she spoke, and the deference +which he evidently felt for her opinion, as her remarks on whatever +subject she conversed were formed always to interest, and often to +instruct.</p> + +<p>One evening, while Major Douglas was amusing himself in looking over +some magazines which had lately been bound up together, and had not yet +been deposited in Mr Maynard's library, he suddenly started, laid down +the book, and turning to the window, with an exclamation of—'Poor +fellow!'—passed his hand across his eyes, as if meaning to disperse an +involuntary tear.</p> + +<p>'What makes you exclaim "Poor fellow?"' asked his lovely wife: 'have you +met with an affecting story in those magazines?'</p> + +<p>'No, Louisa,' replied he, 'but I met in the obituary with a confirmation +of the death of an old friend, which I suspected must have happened by +this time, though I never knew it before; I see by this magazine that +poor Glenmurray died a very few months after we saw him at Perpignan.'</p> + +<p>'Poor fellow!' exclaimed Mrs Douglas.</p> + +<p>'I wish I knew what is become of his interesting companion, Miss +Mowbray,' said Emma Douglas.</p> + +<p>'I wish I did too,' secretly sighed Colonel Mordaunt: but his heart +palpitated so violently at this unexpected mention of the woman for whom +he still pined in secret, that he had not resolution to say that he knew +her.</p> + +<p>'Become of her!' cried Miss Maynard sneeringly: 'you need not wonder, I +think, what her fate is: no doubt Mr Glenmurray's <i>interesting +companion</i> has not lost her companionable qualities, and is a companion +still.'</p> + +<p>'Yes,' observed Mrs Wallington; 'or, rather, I dare say that angel of +purity is gone upon the town.'</p> + +<p>It was the dark hour, else Colonel Mordaunt's agitation, on hearing +these gross and unjust remarks, must have betrayed his secret to every +eye; while indignation now impeded his utterance as much as confusion +had done before.</p> + +<p>'Surely, surely,' cried the kind and candid Emma Douglas, 'I must +grossly have mistaken Miss Mowbray's character, if she was capable of +the conduct which you attribute to her!'</p> + +<p>'My dear creature!' replied Mrs Wallington, 'how should you know any +thing of her character, when it was gone long before you knew +her?—<i>Character</i>, indeed! you remind me of my brother—Mr Davenport,' +continued she to a gentleman present, 'did you ever hear the story of my +brother and an angel of purity whom he met with abroad?'</p> + +<p>'No—never.'</p> + +<p>'Be quiet,' said Maynard; 'I will not be laughed at.'</p> + +<p>However, Mrs Wallington and Miss Maynard, who had not yet forgiven the +deep impression which Adeline's graces had made on their brother, +insisted on telling the story; to which Colonel Mordaunt listened with +eager and anxious curiosity. It received all the embellishments which +female malice could give it; and if it amused any one, certainly that +person was neither Mordaunt, nor Emma Douglas, nor her gentle sister.</p> + +<p>'But how fortunate it was,' added Miss Maynard, 'that we were not with +my brother! as we should unavoidably have walked and talked with this +angel.'</p> + +<p>Mordaunt longed to say, 'I think the good fortune was all on Miss +Mowbray's side.'</p> + +<p>But Adeline and her cause were in good hands: Emma Douglas stood forth +as her champion.—'We feel very differently on that subject,' she +replied. 'I shall ever regret, not that I saw and conversed with Miss +Mowbray, but that I did not see and converse with her again and again.'</p> + +<p>At this moment Emma was standing by Colonel Mordaunt, who involuntarily +caught her hand and pressed it eagerly; but tried to disguise his +motives by suddenly seating her in a chair behind her, saying, 'You had +better sit down; I am sure you must be tired with standing so long.'</p> + +<p>'No; really, Emma,' cried Major Douglas, 'you go too far there; though +to be sure, if by seeing and conversing with Miss Mowbray you could have +convinced her of her errors, I should not have objected to your seeing +her once more or so.'</p> + +<p>'Surely,' said Mrs Douglas timidly, 'we ought, my love, to have repeated +our visits till we had made a convert of her.'</p> + +<p>'A <i>convert</i> of her!' exclaimed Mr Maynard's sisters, 'a convert of a +kept mistress!' bursting into a violent laugh, which had a most painful +effect on the irritable nerves of Colonel Mordaunt, whose tongue, +parched with emotion, cleaved to the roof of his mouth whenever he +attempted to speak.</p> + +<p>'Pray, to what other circumstance, yet untold, do you allude?' said Mr +Davenport.</p> + +<p>'Oh, we too had a rencontre with the philosopher and his charming +friend,' said Major Douglas, 'and—but, Emma, do you tell the +story.—'Sdeath!—Poor fellow!—Well, but we parted good friends,' added +the kind-hearted Caledonian, dispersing a tear; while Emma, in simple +but impressive language, related all that passed at Perpignan between +themselves, Adeline, and Glenmurray; and concluded with saying, that, +'from the almost idolatrous respect with which Glenmurray spoke and +apparently thought of Adeline, and from the account of her conduct and +its motives, which he so fully detailed, she was convinced that, so far +from being influenced by depravity in connecting herself with +Glenmurray, Adeline was the victim of a romantic, absurd, and false +conception of virtue; and she should have thought it her duty to have +endeavoured, assisted by her sister, to have prevailed on her to +renounce her opinions, and, by becoming the wife of Glenmurray, to +restore to the society of her own sex, a woman formed to be its ornament +and its example. 'Poor thing!' she added in a faltering voice, 'would +that I knew her fate!'</p> + +<p>'I can guess it, I tell you,' said Mrs Wallington.</p> + +<p>'We had better drop the subject, madam,' replied Emma Douglas +indignantly, 'as it is one that we shall never agree upon. If I supposed +Miss Mowbray happy, I should feel for her, and feel interest sufficient +in her fate to make me combat your prejudices concerning her; but now +that she is perhaps afflicted, poor, friendless, and scorned, though +unjustly, by every "virtuous she that knows her story," I cannot command +my feelings when she is named with sarcastic respect, nor can I bear to +hear an unhappy woman supposed to be plunged in the lowest depths of +vice, whom I, on the contrary, believe to be at this moment atoning for +the error of her judgment by a life of lonely penitence, or sunk perhaps +already in the grave, the victim of a broken heart.'</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt, affected and delighted, hung on Emma Douglas's words +with breathless attention, resolving when she had ended her narration to +begin his, and clear Adeline from the calumnies of Mrs Wallington and +Miss Maynard: but after articulating with some +difficulty—'Ladies,—I—Miss Douglas,—I—' he found that his feelings +would not allow him to proceed: therefore, suddenly raising Emma's hand +to his lips, imprinted on it a kiss, at once fervent and respectful, +and, making a hasty bow, ran out of the house.</p> + +<p>Every one was astonished; but none so much as Emma Douglas.</p> + +<p>'Why, Emma!' cried the major, 'who should have thought it? I verily +believe you have turned Mordaunt's head;—I protest that he kissed your +hand:—I suppose he will be here to-morrow, making proposals in form.'</p> + +<p>'I wish he may!' exclaimed Mrs Douglas.</p> + +<p>'It is not very likely, I think,' cried Miss Maynard.</p> + +<p>Mrs Wallington said nothing; but she fanned herself violently.</p> + +<p>'How do you know that?' said Maynard. 'He kissed your hand very +tenderly—did he not, Miss Douglas? and took advantage of the dark hour: +that looks very lover-like.'</p> + +<p>Emma Douglas, who, in spite of her reason, was both embarrassed and +flattered by Colonel Mordaunt's unexpected mode of taking leave, said +not a word; but Mrs Wallington, in a voice hoarse with angry emotion, +cried:</p> + +<p>'It was very free in him, I think, and very unlike Colonel Mordaunt; for +he was not a sort of man to take liberties but where he met with +encouragement.'</p> + +<p>'Then I am sure he would be free with you, sister, sometimes,' +sarcastically observed Miss Maynard.</p> + +<p>'Nay, with both of you, I think,' replied Maynard, who had not forgiven +the laugh at his expense which they had tried to excite; on which an +angry dialogue took place between the brother and sisters: and the +Douglases, disgusted and provoked, retired to their apartment.</p> + +<p>'There was something very strange and uncommon,' said Mrs Douglas, +detaining Emma in her dressing-room, 'in Colonel Mordaunt's +behaviour—Do you not think so, Emma?—If it should have any meaning!'</p> + +<p>'Meaning!' cried the major: 'what meaning should it have? Why, my dear, +do you think Mordaunt never kissed a woman's hand before?'</p> + +<p>'But it was so <i>particular</i>.—Well, Emma, if it should lead to +consequences!'</p> + +<p>'Consequences!' cried the major: 'my dear girl, what can you mean?'</p> + +<p>'Why, if he should <i>really love</i> our Emma?'</p> + +<p>'Why then I hope our Emma will love him.—What say you, Emma?'</p> + +<p>'I say?—I—' she replied: 'really I never thought it possible that +Colonel Mordaunt should have any thoughts of me, nor do I now;—but it +is very strange that he should kiss my hand!'</p> + +<p>The major could not help laughing at the <i>naiveté</i> of this reply, and in +a mutual whisper they agreed how much they wished to see their sister so +happily disposed of; while Emma paced up and down her own apartment +some time before she undressed herself; and after seeming to convince +herself, by recollecting all Colonel Mordaunt's conduct towards her, +that he could not possibly <i>mean</i> any thing by his unusual adieu, she +went to sleep, exclaiming, 'But it is very strange that he should kiss +my hand!'</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_24" id="ch_24"></a>CHAPTER XXIV</h3> + +<p>The next morning explained the mystery: for breakfast was scarcely over, +when Colonel Mordaunt appeared; and his presence occasioned a blush, +from different causes, on the cheeks of all the ladies, and a smile on +the countenances of both the gentlemen.</p> + +<p>'You left us very abruptly last night,' said Major Douglas.</p> + +<p>'I did so,' replied Mordaunt with a sort of grave smile.</p> + +<p>'Were you taken ill?' asked Maynard.</p> + +<p>'I—I was not quite easy,' answered he: 'but, Miss Douglas, may I +request the honour of seeing you alone for a few minutes?'</p> + +<p>Again the ladies blushed, and the gentlemen smiled. But Emma's weakness +had been temporary: she had convinced herself that Colonel Mordaunt's +action had been nothing more than a tribute to what he fancied her +generous defence of an unfortunate woman: and with an air of embarrassed +dignity she gave him her hand to lead her into an adjoining apartment.</p> + +<p>'This is very good of you,' cried Colonel Mordaunt: 'but you are all +goodness!—My dear Miss Douglas, had I not gone away as I did last +night, I believe I should have fallen down and worshipped you, or +committed some other extravagance.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed!—What could I say to excite such enthusiasm!' replied Emma +deeply blushing.</p> + +<p>'What!—Oh, Miss Douglas!'—Then after a few more ohs, and other +exclamations, he related to her the whole progress of his acquaintance +with an attachment to Adeline, adding as he concluded, 'Now then judge +what feelings you must have excited in my bosom:—yes, Miss Douglas, I +reverenced you before for your own sake, I now adore you for that of my +lost Adeline.'</p> + +<p>'So!' thought Emma, 'the kiss of the hand is explained,'—and she +sighed as she thought it; nor did she much like the word <i>reverenced</i>: +but she had ample amends for her mortification by what followed.</p> + +<p>'Really,' cried Colonel Mordaunt, gazing very earnestly at her, 'I do +not mean to flatter you, but there is something in your countenance that +reminds me very strongly of Adeline.'</p> + +<p>'Is it possible?' said Emma, her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling +as she spoke: 'you may not mean to flatter me, but I assure you I am +flattered; for I never saw any woman whom in appearance I so much wished +to resemble.'</p> + +<p>'You do resemble her indeed,' cried Colonel Mordaunt, 'and the likeness +grows stronger and stronger.'</p> + +<p>Emma blushed deeper and deeper.</p> + +<p>'But come,' exclaimed he, 'let us go; and I will—no, <i>you</i> +shall—relate to the party in the next room what I have been telling +you, for I long to shame those d—'</p> + +<p>'Fye!' said Emma smiling, and holding up her hand as if to stop the +coming word. And she did stop it; for Colonel Mordaunt conveyed the +reproving hand to his lips; and Emma said to herself, as she half +frowning withdrew it, 'I am glad my brother was not present.'</p> + +<p>Their return to the breakfast-room was welcome to every one, from +different causes, as Colonel Mordaunt's motives for requesting a +tête-à-tête had given rise to various conjectures. But all conjecture +was soon lost in certainty: for Emma Douglas, with more than usual +animation of voice and countenance, related what Colonel Mordaunt had +authorized her to relate; and the envious sisters heard, with increased +resentment, that Adeline, were she unmarried, would be the choice of the +man whose affections they were eagerly endeavouring to captivate.</p> + +<p>'You can't think,' said Colonel Mordaunt, when Emma had concluded, +leaving him charmed with the manner in which she had told his story, and +with the generous triumph which sparkled in her eyes at being able to +exhibit Adeline's character in so favourable a point of view, 'you can't +think how much Miss Douglas reminds me of Mrs Berrendale!'</p> + +<p>'Lord!' said Miss Maynard with a toss of the head, 'my brother told us +that she was handsome!'</p> + +<p>'And so she is,' replied the colonel, provoked at this brutal speech: +'she has one of the finest countenances that I ever saw,—a countenance +never distorted by those feelings of envy, and expressions of spite, +which so often disfigure some women,—converting even a beauty into a +fiend; and in this respect no one will doubt that Miss Douglas resembles +her:</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table style="margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="poem"> +<tr><td align="left">'What's female beauty—but an air divine,</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Thro' which the mind's all gentle graces shine?'</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">says one of our first poets: therefore, in Dr Young's opinion, madam,' +continued Mordaunt, turning to Emma, 'you would have been a perfect +beauty.'</p> + +<p>This speech, so truly gratifying to the amiable girl to whom it was +addressed, was a dagger in the heart of both the sisters. Nor was Emma's +pleasure unalloyed by pain; for she feared that Mordaunt's attentions +might become dangerous to her peace of mind, as she could not disguise +to herself, that his visits at Mr Maynard's had been the chief cause of +her reluctance to return to Scotland whenever their journey home was +mentioned. For, always humble in her ideas of her own charms, Emma +Douglas could not believe that Mordaunt would ever entertain any feeling +for her at all resembling love, except when he fancied that she looked +like Adeline.</p> + +<p>But however unlikely it seemed that Mordaunt should become attached to +her, and however resolved she was to avoid his society, certain it is +that he soon found he could be happy in the society of no other woman, +since to no other could he talk on the subject nearest his heart; and +Emma, though blaming herself daily for her temerity, could not refuse to +receive Mordaunt's visits: and her patient attention to his +conversation, of which Adeline was commonly the theme, seemed to have a +salutary effect on his wounded feelings.</p> + +<p>But the time for their departure arrived, much to the joy of Mrs +Wallington and her sister, who hoped when Emma was gone to have a chance +of being noticed by Mordaunt.</p> + +<p>What then must have been their confusion and disappointment, when +Colonel Mordaunt begged to be allowed to attend the Douglases on their +journey home, as he had never seen the Highlands, and wished to see them +in such good company! Major Douglas and his charming wife gave a glad +consent to this proposal: but Emma Douglas heard it with more alarm than +pleasure; for, though her heart rejoiced at it, her reason condemned it.</p> + +<p>A few days, however, convinced her apprehensive delicacy, that, if she +loved Colonel Mordaunt, it was not without hope of a return.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt declared that every day seemed to increase her +resemblance to Adeline in expression and manner; and in conduct his +reason told him that she was her superior; nor could he for a moment +hesitate to prefer as a wife, Emma Douglas who had never erred, to +Adeline who had.</p> + +<p>Colonel Mordaunt felt, to borrow the words of a celebrated female +writer,<a name="fn_1r" id="fn_1r"></a><a href="#fn_1"><sup><span class="small">1</span></sup></a> that 'though it is possible to love and esteem a woman who +has expiated the faults of her youth by a sincere repentance; and though +before God and man her errors may be obliterated; still there exists one +being in whose eyes she can never hope to efface them, and that is her +lover or her husband.' He felt that no man of acute sensibility can be +happy with a woman whose recollections are not pure: she must +necessarily be jealous of the opinion which he entertains of her; and he +must be often afraid of speaking, lest he utter a sentiment that may +wound and mortify her. Besides, he was, on just grounds, more desirous +of marrying a woman whom he 'admired, than one whom he forgave;' and +therefore, while he addressed Emma, he no longer regretted Adeline.</p> + +<p>In short, he at length ceased to talk of Emma's resemblance to Adeline, +but seemed to admire her wholly for her own sake; and having avowed his +attachment, and been assured of Emma's in return, by Major Douglas, he +came back to England in the ensuing autumn, the happy husband of one of +the best of women.</p> + +<p class="revind"><a name="fn_1" id="fn_1"></a><a href="#fn_1r">1:</a> Madame de Stael, <i>Recueil de Morceaux détachés</i>, page +208.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_25" id="ch_25"></a>CHAPTER XXV</h3> + +<p>We left Adeline preparing to address Mrs Mowbray and recommend her child +to her protection:—but being deeply impressed with the importance of +the task which she was about to undertake, she timidly put it off from +day to day; and having convinced herself that it was her duty to +endeavour to excite her husband to repentance, and make him acknowledge +Editha as his legitimate child, she determined to write to him before +she addressed her mother, and also to bid a last farewell to Colonel +Mordaunt, whose respectful attachment had soothed some of the pangs +which consciousness of her past follies had inflicted, and whose active +friendship deserved her warmest acknowledgment. Little did she think the +fatal effect which one instance of his friendly zeal in her cause had +had on Berrendale; unconscious was she that the husband, whose neglect +she believed to be intentional, great as were his crimes against her, +was not guilty of the additional crime of suffering her to pine in +poverty without making a single inquiry concerning her, but was +convinced that both she and her child were no longer in existence.</p> + +<p>In her letter to him, she conjured him by the love which he <i>always</i> +bore Glenmurray, by the love he <i>once</i> bore her, and by the remorse +which he would sooner or later feel for his conduct towards her and her +child, to acknowledge Editha to be his lawful heir, but to suffer her to +remain under that protection to which she meant to bequeath her; and on +these conditions she left him her blessing and her pardon.</p> + +<p>The letter to Colonel Mordaunt was long, and perhaps diffuse: but +Adeline was jealous of his esteem, though regardless of his love; and as +he had known her while acting under the influence of a fatal error of +opinion, she wished to show him that on conviction she had abandoned +her former way of thinking, and was candid enough to own that she had +been wrong.</p> + +<p>'You, no doubt,' she said, 'are well acquainted with the arguments urged +by different writers in favour of marriage. I shall therefore only +mention the argument which carried at length full conviction to <i>my</i> +mind, and conquered even my deep and heartfelt reverence for the +opinions of one who long was, and ever will be, the dearest object of my +love and regret. But <i>he</i>, had he lived, would I am sure have altered +his sentiments; and had he been a parent, the argument I allude to, as +it is founded on a consideration of the interest of children, would have +found its way to his reason, through his affections.</p> + +<p>'It is evident that on the education given to children must depend the +welfare of the community; and, consequently, that whatever is likely to +induce parents to neglect the education of their children must be +<i>hurtful</i> to the welfare of the community. It is also certain, that +though the agency of the <i>passions</i> be necessary to the existence of all +society, it is on the cultivation and influence of the <i>affections</i> that +the happiness and improvement of social life depend.</p> + +<p>'Hence it follows that marriage must be more beneficial to society in +its consequences, than connexions capable of being dissolved at +pleasure; because it has a tendency to call forth and exercise the +affections, and control the passions. It has been said, that, were we +free to dissolve at will a connexion formed by love, we should not wish +to do it, as constancy is natural to us, and there is in all of us a +tendency to form an exclusive attachment. But though I believe, from my +own experience, that the few are capable of unforced constancy, and +could love for life one dear and honoured object, still I believe that +the many are given to the love of change;—that, in men especially, a +new object can excite new passion; and, judging from the increasing +depravity of both sexes, in spite of existing laws, and in defiance of +shame,—I am convinced, that if the ties of marriage were dissolved, or +it were no longer to be judged infamous to act in contempt of them, +unbridled licentiousness would soon be in general practice. What, then, +in such a state of society, would be the fate of the children born in +it?—What would their education be? Parents continually engrossed in the +enervating but delightful egotism of a new and happy love, lost in +selfish indulgence, the passions awake, but the affections slumbering, +and the sacred ties of parental feeling not having time nor opportunity +to fasten on the heart,—their offspring would either die the victims +of neglect, and the very existence of the human race be threatened; or, +without morals or instruction, they would grow up to scourge the world +by their vices, till the whole fabric of civilized society was gradually +destroyed.</p> + +<p>'On this ground, therefore, this strong ground, I venture to build my +present opinion, that marriage is a wise and ought to be a sacred +institution; and I bitterly regret the hour when, with the hasty and +immature judgment of eighteen, and with a degree of presumption scarcely +pardonable at any time of life, I dared to think and act contrary to +this opinion and the reverend experience of ages, and became in the eyes +of the world an example of vice, when I believed myself the champion of +virtue.'</p> + +<p>She then went on to express the following sentiments. 'You will think, +perhaps, that I ought to struggle against the weakness which is hurrying +me to the grave, and live for the sake of my child.—Alas! it is for her +sake that I most wish to die.</p> + +<p>'There are two ways in which a mother can be of use to her daughter: the +one is by instilling into her mind virtuous principles, and by setting +her a virtuous example: the other is, by being to her in her own person +an awful warning, a melancholy proof of the dangers which attend a +deviation from the path of virtue. But, oh! how jealous must a mother be +of her child's esteem and veneration! and how could she bear to humble +herself in the eyes of the beloved object, by avowing that she had +committed crimes against society, however atoned for by penitence and +sorrow! I can never, now, be a correct example for my Editha, nor could +I endure to live to be a warning to her.—Nay, if I lived, I should be +most probably a dangerous example to her; for I should be (on my +death-bed I think I may be allowed the boast) respected and esteemed; +while the society around me would forget my past errors, in the +sincerity of my repentance.</p> + +<p>'If then a strong temptation should assail my child, might she not yield +to it from an idea that "one false step may be retrieved," and cite her +mother as an example of this truth? while, unconscious of the many +secret heart-aches of that repentant mother, unconscious of the sorrows +and degradations she had experienced, she regarded nothing but the +present respectability of her mother's life, and contented herself with +hoping one day to resemble her.</p> + +<p>'Believe me, that were it possible for me to choose between life and +death, for my child's sake, the choice would be the latter. Now, when +she shall see in my mournful and eventful history, written as it has +been by me in moments of melancholy leisure, that all my sorrows were +consequent on one presumptuous error of judgment in early youth, and +shall see a long and minute detail of the secret agonies which I have +endured, those agonies wearing away my existence, and ultimately +hurrying me to an untimely grave; she will learn that the woman who +feels justly, yet has been led even into the practice of vice, however +she may be forgiven by others, can never forgive herself; and though she +may dare to lift an eye of hope to that Being who promises pardon on +repentance, she will still recollect with anguish the fair and glorious +course which she might have run: and that, instead of humbly imploring +forbearance and forgiveness, she might have demanded universal respect +and esteem.</p> + +<p>'True it is, that I did not act in defiance of the world's opinion, from +any depraved feeling, or vicious inclinations: but the world could not +be expected to believe this, since motives are known only to our own +hearts, and the great Searcher of hearts: therefore, as far as example +goes, I was as great a stumbling-block to others as if the life I led +had been owing to the influence of lawless desires; and society was +right in making, and in seeing, no distinction between me and any other +woman living in an unsanctioned connexion.</p> + +<p>'But methinks I hear you say, that Editha might never be informed of my +past errors. Alas! wretched must that woman be whose happiness and +respectability depend on the secrecy of others! Besides, did I not think +the concealment of crime in itself a crime, how could I know an hour of +peace while I reflected that a moment's malice, or inadvertency, in one +of Editha's companions might cause her to blush at her mother's +disgrace?—that, while her young cheek was flushed perhaps with the +artless triumphs of beauty, talent, and virtue, the parent who envied +me, or the daughter who envied her might suddenly convert her joy into +anguish and mortification, by artfully informing her, with feigned pity +for my sorrows and admiration of my penitence, that I had once been a +<i>disgrace</i> to that family of which I was now the pride?—No—even if I +were not for ever separated in this world from the only man whom I ever +loved with passionate and well-founded affection, united for life to the +object of my just aversion, and were I not conscious (horrible and +overwhelming thought!) of having by my example led another into the path +of sin,—still, I repeat it, for my child's sake I should wish to die, +and should consider, not early death, but lengthened existence, as a +curse.'</p> + +<p>So Adeline reasoned and felt in her moments of reflection: but the heart +had sometimes dominion over her; and as she gazed on Editha, and thought +that Mrs Mowbray might be induced to receive her again to her favour, +she wished even on any terms to have her life prolonged.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_26" id="ch_26"></a>CHAPTER XXVI</h3> + +<p>Having finished her letter to Colonel Mordaunt and Berrendale, she again +prepared to write to her mother; a few transient fears overcoming every +now and then those hopes of success in her application, which, till she +took up her pen, she had so warmly encouraged.</p> + +<p>Alas! little did she know how erroneously for years she had judged of +Mrs Mowbray. Little did she suspect that her mother had long forgiven +her; had pined after her; had sought, though in vain, to procure +intelligence of her; and was then wearing away her existence in solitary +woe, a prey to self-reproach, and to the corroding fear that her +daughter, made desperate by her renunciation of her, had, on the death +of Glenmurray, plunged into a life of shame, or sunk, broken-hearted, +into the grave! for not one of Adeline's letters had ever reached Mrs +Mowbray; and the mother and daughter had both been the victims of female +treachery and jealousy.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray, as soon as she had parted with Adeline for the last time, +had dismissed all her old servants, the witnesses of her sorrows and +disgrace, and retired to her estate in Cumberland,—an estate where +Adeline had first seen the light, and where Mrs Mowbray had first +experienced the transport of a mother. This spot was therefore ill +calculated to banish Adeline from her mother's thoughts, and to continue +her seclusion from her affections.</p> + +<p>On the contrary, her image haunted Mrs Mowbray:—whithersoever she went, +she still saw her in an attitude of supplication; she still heard the +plaintive accents of her voice;—and often did she exclaim, 'My child, +my child! wretch that I am! must I never see thee more!'</p> + +<p>These ideas increased to so painful a degree, that, finding her solitude +insupportable, she invited an orphan relation in narrow circumstances +to take up her abode with her.</p> + +<p>This young woman, whose ruling passion was avarice, and whose greatest +talent was cunning, resolved to spare no pains to keep the situation +which she had gained, even to the exclusion of Adeline, should Mrs +Mowbray be weak enough to receive her again. She therefore intercepted +all the letters which were in or like Adeline's hand-writing; and having +learnt to imitate Mrs Mowbray's, she enclosed them in a blank cover to +Adeline, who, thinking the direction was written in her mother's hand, +desisted, as the artful girl expected she would do, from what appeared +to her a hopeless application.</p> + +<p>And she exulted in her contrivance;—when Mrs Mowbray, on seeing in a +magazine that Glenmurray was dead, (full a year after his decease,) +bursting into a passion of tears, protested that she would instantly +invite Adeline to her house.</p> + +<p>'Yes,' cried she, 'I can do so without infringement of my oath.—She is +disgraced in the eye of the world by her connexion with Glenmurray, and +she is wretched in love; nay, more so, perhaps, than I have been; and I +can, I will invite her to lose the remembrance of her misfortunes in my +love!'</p> + +<p>Thus did her ardent wish to be re-united to Adeline deceive her +conscience; for by the phrase 'wretched in love,' she meant, forsaken by +the object of her attachment,—and that Adeline had not been: therefore +her oath remained in full force against her. But where could she seek +Adeline? Dr Norberry could, perhaps, give her this information; and to +him she resolved to write—though he had cast her from his acquaintance: +'but her pride,' as she said, 'fell with her fortunes;' and she scrupled +not to humble herself before the zealous friend of her daughter. But +this letter would never have reached him, had not her treacherous +relation been ill at the time when it was written.</p> + +<p>Dr Norberry had recovered the illness of which Adeline supposed him to +have died: but as her letter to him, to which she received no answer, +alluded to the money transaction between her and Mrs Norberry; and as +she commented on the insulting expressions in Mrs Norberry's note, that +lady thought proper to suppress the second letter as well as the first; +and when the doctor, on his recovery, earnestly demanded to know whether +any intelligence had been received of Miss Mowbray, Mrs Norberry, with +pretended reluctance, told him that she had written to him in great +distress, while he was delirious, to borrow money; that she had sent +her ten pounds, which Adeline had returned, reproaching her for her +parsimony, and saying that she had found a friend who would not suffer +her to want.</p> + +<p>'But did you tell her that you thought me in great danger?'</p> + +<p>'I did.'</p> + +<p>'Why, what, woman! did she not, after that, write to know how I was?'</p> + +<p>'Never.'</p> + +<p>'I could not have thought it of her!' answered the doctor—who could not +but believe this story for the sake of his own peace, as it was less +destructive to his happiness to think Adeline in fault, than his wife or +children guilty of profligate falsehood: he therefore, with a deep sigh, +begged Adeline's name might never be mentioned to him again; and though +he secretly wished to hear of her welfare, he no longer made her the +subject of conversation.</p> + +<p>But Mrs Mowbray's letter recalled her powerfully both to his memory and +affections, while, with many a deep-drawn sigh, he regretted that he had +no possible means of discovering where she was;—and with a heavy heart +he wrote the following letter, which Miss Woodville, Mrs Mowbray's +relation, having first contrived to open and read it, ventured to give +into her hands, as it contained no satisfactory information concerning +Adeline.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>'I look on the separation of my mother and me in this world to +be eternal,' said the poor dear lost Adeline to me, the last +time we met. 'You do!' replied I: 'then, poor devil! how +miserable will your mother be when her resentment +subsides!—Well, when that time comes, I may, perhaps see her +again,' added I, with a queer something rising in my throat as +I said it, and your poor girl blessed me for the kind +intention.—(Pshaw! I have blotted the paper: at my years it is +a shame to be so watery-eyed.) Well,—the time above-mentioned +is come—you are miserable, you are repentant—and you ask me +to forget and forgive.—I do forget, I do forgive: some time or +other, too, I will tell you so in person; and were the lost +Adeline to know that I did so, she would bless me for the act, +as she did before for the intention. But, alas! where she is, +what she is, I know not, and have not any means of knowing. To +say the truth, her conduct to me and mine has been odd, not to +say wrong. But, poor thing! she is either dead or miserable, +and I forgive her:—so I do you, as I said before, and the Lord +give you all the consolation which you so greatly need!</p> + +<p class="center">Yours once more,</p> +<p class="right">In true kindness of spirit,<span class="ind3"> </span><br /><br /> +<span class="smallcaps">James Norberry</span>.'</p></blockquote> + +<p>This letter made Mrs Mowbray's wounds bleed afresh, at the same time +that it destroyed all her expectations of finding Adeline; and the only +hope that remained to cheer her was, that she might perhaps, if yet +alive, write sooner or later, to implore forgiveness, but month after +month elapsed, and no tidings of Adeline reached her despairing mother.</p> + +<p>She then put an advertisement in the paper, so worded that Adeline, had +she seen it, must have known to whom it alluded; but it never met her +eyes, and Mrs Mowbray gave herself up to almost absolute despair; when +accident introduced her to a new acquaintance, whose example taught her +patience, and whose soothing benevolence bade her hope for happier days.</p> + +<p>One day as Mrs Mowbray, regardless of a heavy shower, and lost in +melancholy reflections, was walking with irregular steps on the road to +Penrith, with an unopened umbrella in her hand, she suddenly raised her +eyes from the ground, and beheld a Quaker lady pursued by an over-driven +bullock, and unable any longer to make an effort to escape its fury. At +this critical moment Mrs Mowbray, from a sort of irresistible impulse, +as fortunate in its effects as presence of mind, yet scarcely perhaps to +be denominated such, suddenly opened her umbrella; and, approaching the +animal, brandished it before his eyes. Alarmed at this unusual +appearance, he turned hastily and ran towards the town, where she saw +that he was immediately met and secured.</p> + +<p>'Thou hast doubtless saved my life,' said the Quaker, grasping Mrs +Mowbray's hand with an emotion which she vainly tried to suppress; 'and +I pray that thine may be blest!'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray returned the pressure of her hand, and burst into tears; +overcome with joy for having saved a fellow-creature's life; with +terror, which she was now at leisure to feel for the danger to which she +had herself been exposed; and with mournful emotion from the +consciousness how much she needed the blessing which the grateful Quaker +invoked on her head.</p> + +<p>'Thou tremblest even more than I do,' observed the lady, smiling, but +seeming ready to faint; 'I believe we had better, both of us, sit down +on the bank; but it is so wet that perhaps we may as well endeavour to +reach my house, which is only at the end of yon field.' Mrs Mowbray +bowed her assent; and, supporting each other, they at length arrived at +a neat white house, to which the Quaker cordially bade her welcome.</p> + +<p>'It was but this morning,' said Mrs Mowbray, struggling for utterance, +'that I called upon Death to relieve me from an existence at once +wretched and useless.' Here she paused:—and her new acquaintance, +cordially pressing her hand, waited for the conclusion of her +speech;—'but now,' continued Mrs Mowbray, 'I revoke, and repent my idle +and vicious impatience of life. I have probably saved your life, and +something like enjoyment now seems to enliven mine.'</p> + +<p>'I suspect,' replied the lady, 'that thou hast known deep affliction; +and I rejoice that at this moment, and in so providential a manner, I +have been introduced to thy acquaintance:—for I too have known sorrow, +and the mourner knows how to speak comfort to the heart of the mourner. +My name is Rachel Pemberton; and I hope that when I know thy name, and +thy story, thou wilt allow me to devote to thy comfort some hours of the +existence which thou hast preserved.' She then hastily withdrew, to pour +forth in solitude the breathings of devout gratitude:—while Mrs +Mowbray, having communed with her own thoughts, felt a glow of unwonted +satisfaction steal over her mind; and by the time Mrs Pemberton +returned, she was able to meet her with calmness and cheerfulness.</p> + +<p>'Thou knowest my name,' said Mrs Pemberton as she entered, seating +herself by Mrs Mowbray, 'but I have yet to learn thine.'</p> + +<p>'My name is Mowbray,' she replied sighing deeply.</p> + +<p>'Mowbray!—The lady of Rosevalley in Gloucestershire; and the mother of +Adeline Mowbray?' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton.</p> + +<p>'What of Adeline Mowbray? What of my child?' cried Mrs Mowbray, seizing +Mrs Pemberton's hand. 'Blessed woman! tell me,—Do you indeed know +her?—can you tell me where to find her?'</p> + +<p>'I will tell thee all that I know of her,' replied Mrs Pemberton in a +faltering voice; 'but thy emotion overpowers me.—I—I was once a +mother, and I can feel for thee.' She then turned away her head to +conceal a starting tear; while Mrs Mowbray, in incoherent eagerness, +repeated her questions, and tremblingly awaited her answer.</p> + +<p>'Is she well? Is she happy?—say but that!' she exclaimed, sobbing as +she spoke.</p> + +<p>'She was well and contented when I last heard from her,' replied Mrs +Pemberton calmly.</p> + +<p>'Heard from her? Then she writes to you! Oh, blessed, blessed woman! +show me her letters, and tell me only that she has forgiven me for all +my unkindness to her—' As she said this, Mrs Mowbray threw her arms +round Mrs Pemberton, and sunk half-fainting on her shoulder.</p> + +<p>'I will tell thee all that has ever passed between us, if thou wilt be +composed,' gravely answered Mrs Pemberton; 'but this violent expression +of thy feelings is unseemly and detrimental.'</p> + +<p>'Well—well—I will be calm,' said Mrs Mowbray; and Mrs Pemberton began +to relate the interview which she had with Adeline at Richmond.</p> + +<p>'How long ago did this take place?' eagerly interrupted Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'Full six years.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, God!' exclaimed she, impatiently,—'Six years! By this time then +she may be dead—she may—'</p> + +<p>'Thou art incorrigible, I fear,' said Mrs Pemberton, 'but thou art +afflicted, and I will bear with thy impatience:—sit down again and +attend to me, and thou wilt hear much later intelligence of thy +daughter.'</p> + +<p>'How late?' asked Mrs Mowbray with frantic eagerness;—and Mrs +Pemberton, overcome with the manner in which she spoke, could scarcely +falter out, 'Within a twelvemonth I have heard of her.'</p> + +<p>'Within a twelvemonth!' joyfully cried Mrs Mowbray: but, recollecting +herself, she added mournfully—'but in that time what—what may not have +happened!'</p> + +<p>'I know not what to do with thee nor for thee,' observed Mrs Pemberton; +'but do try, I beseech thee, to hear me patiently!'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray then re-seated herself; and Mrs Pemberton informed her of +Adeline's premature confinement at Richmond; of her distress on +Glenmurray's death, and of her having witnessed it.</p> + +<p>'Ah! you acted a mother's part—you did what I ought to have done,' +cried Mrs Mowbray, bursting into tears,—'but, go on—I will be +patient.'</p> + +<p>Yet that was impossible; for, when she heard of Adeline's insanity, her +emotions became so strong that Mrs Pemberton, alarmed for her life, was +obliged to ring for assistance.</p> + +<p>When she recovered,—'Thou hast heard the worst now,' said Mrs +Pemberton, 'and all I have yet to say of thy child is satisfactory.'</p> + +<p>She then related the contents of Adeline's first letter, informing her +of her marriage:—and Mrs Mowbray, clasping her hands together, blessed +God that Adeline was become a wife. The next letter Mrs Pemberton read +informed her that she was the mother of a fine girl.</p> + +<p>'A mother!' she exclaimed, 'Oh, how I should like to see her +child!'—But at the same moment she recollected how bitterly she had +reviled her when she saw her about to become a mother, at their last +meeting; and, torn with conflicting emotions, she was again insensible +to aught but her self-upbraidings.</p> + +<p>'Well—but where is she now? where is the child? and when did you hear +from her last?' cried she.</p> + +<p>'I have not heard from her since,' hesitatingly replied Mrs Pemberton.</p> + +<p>'But can't you write to her?'</p> + +<p>'Yes;—but in her last letter she said she was going to change her +lodgings, and would write again when settled in a new habitation.'</p> + +<p>Again Mrs Mowbray paced the room in wild and violent distress: but her +sorrows at length yielded to the gentle admonitions and soothings of Mrs +Pemberton, who bade her remember, that when she rose in the morning she +had not expected the happiness and consolation which she had met with +that day; and that a short time might bring forth still greater comfort.</p> + +<p>'For,' said Mrs Pemberton, 'I can write to the house where she formerly +lodged, and perhaps the person who keeps it can give us intelligence of +her.'</p> + +<p>On hearing this, Mrs Mowbray became more composed, and diverted her +sorrow by a thousand fond inquiries concerning Adeline, which none but a +mother could make, and none but a mother could listen to with patience.</p> + +<p>While this conversation was going on, a knock at the door was heard, and +Miss Woodville entered the room in great emotion; for she had heard, on +the road, that a mad bullock had attacked a lady; and also that Mrs +Mowbray, scarcely able to walk, had been led into the white house in the +field by the road side.</p> + +<p>Miss Woodville was certainly as much alarmed as she pretended to be: but +there was a somewhat in the expression of her alarm which, though it +gratified Mrs Mowbray, was displeasing to the more penetrating Mrs +Pemberton. She could not indeed guess that Miss Woodville's alarm sprung +merely from apprehension lest Mrs Mowbray should die before she had +provided for her in her will: yet, notwithstanding, she felt that her +expressions of concern and anxiety had no resemblance to those of real +affection; and in spite of her habitual candour, she beheld Miss +Woodville with distrust.</p> + +<p>But this feeling was considerably increased on observing, that when Mrs +Mowbray exultingly introduced her, not only as the lady whose life she +had been the means of preserving, but as the friend and correspondent of +her daughter, she evidently changed colour; and, in spite of her +habitual plausibility, could not utter a single coherent sentence of +pleasure or congratulation:—and it was also evident, that, being +conscious of Mrs Pemberton's regarding her with a scrutinizing eye, she +was not easy till, on pretence of Mrs Mowbray's requiring rest after her +alarm, she had prevailed on her to return home.</p> + +<p>But she could not prevent the new friends from parting with eager +assurances of meeting again and again; and it was agreed between them, +that Mrs Pemberton should spend the next day at the Lawn.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton, who is thus again introduced to the notice of my readers, +had been, as well as Mrs Mowbray, the pupil of adversity. She had been +born and educated in fashionable life; and she united to a very lovely +face and elegant form, every feminine grace and accomplishment.</p> + +<p>When she was only eighteen, Mr Pemberton, a young and gay Quaker, fell +in love with her; and having inspired her with a mutual passion, he +married her, notwithstanding the difference of their religious opinions, +and the displeasure of his friends. He was consequently disowned by the +society: but being weaned by the happiness which he found at home from +those public amusements which had first lured him from the strict habits +of his sect, he was soon desirous of being again admitted a member of +it; and in process of time he was once more received into it; while his +amiable wife, having no wish beyond her domestic circle, and being +disposed to think her husband's opinions right, became in time a convert +to the same profession of faith, and exhibited in her manners the rare +union of the easy elegance of a woman of the world with the rigid +decorum and unadorned dress of a strict Quaker.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of her happiness, and whilst looking forward to a long +continuance of it, a fever, caught in visiting the sick bed of a +cottager, carried off her husband, and next two lovely children; and Mrs +Pemberton would have sunk under the stroke, but for the watchful care +and affectionate attentions of the friend of her youth, who resided +near her, and who, in time, prevailed on her to receive with becoming +fortitude and resignation the trials which she was appointed to undergo.</p> + +<p>During this season of affliction, as we have before stated, she became a +minister in the Quaker society: but at the time of her meeting Adeline +at Richmond, she had been called from the duties of her public +profession to watch over the declining health of her friend and +consoler, and to accompany her to Lisbon.</p> + +<p>There, during four long years, she bent over her sick couch, now elated +with hope, and now sunk into despondence; when, at the beginning of the +fifth year, her friend died in her arms, and she returned to England, +resolved to pass her days, except when engaged in active duties, on a +little estate in Cumberland, bequeathed to her by her friend on her +death-bed. But ill health and various events had detained her in the +west of England since her return; and she had not long taken possession +of her house near Penrith, when she became introduced in so singular a +manner to Mrs Mowbray's acquaintance—an acquaintance which would, she +hoped, prove of essential service to them both; and as soon as her guest +departed, Mrs Pemberton resolved to inquire what character Mrs Mowbray +bore in the neighbourhood, and whether her virtues at all kept pace with +her misfortunes.</p> + +<p>Her inquiries were answered in the most satisfactory manner; as, +fortunately for Mrs Mowbray, with the remembrance of her daughter had +recurred to her that daughter's benevolent example. She remembered the +satisfaction which used to beam from Adeline's countenance when she +returned from her visits to the sick and the afflicted; and she resolved +to try whether those habits of charitable exertion which could increase +the happiness of the young and light-hearted Adeline, might not have +power to alleviate the sorrows of her own drooping age, and broken +joyless heart.</p> + +<p>'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'—She who, while the child of +prosperity, was a romantic, indolent theorist, an inactive speculator, a +proud contemner of the dictates of sober experience, and a neglecter of +that practical benevolence which can in days produce more benefit to +others than theories and theorists can accomplish in years—this erring +woman, awakened from her dreams and reveries, to habits of useful +exertion, by the stimulating touch of affliction, was become the visitor +of the sick, the consoler of the sorrowful, the parent of the +fatherless, while virtuous industry looked up to her with hope; and her +name, like that of Adeline in happier days, was pronounced with prayers +and blessings.</p> + +<p>But, alas! she felt that blessing could reach her only in the shape of +her lost child: and though she was conscious of being useful to others, +though she had the satisfaction of knowing that she had but the day +before been the means of preserving a valuable life, she met Mrs +Pemberton, when she arrived at the Lawn, with a countenance of fixed +melancholy, and was at first disposed to expect but little success from +the project of writing to Adeline's former lodgings in order to inquire.</p> + +<p>The truth was, that Miss Woodville had artfully insinuated the +improbability of such an inquiry's succeeding; and, though Mrs Mowbray +had angrily asserted her hopes when Miss Woodville provokingly asserted +her <i>fears</i>, the treacherous girl's insinuations had sunk deeply into +her mind, and Mrs Pemberton saw, with pain and wonder, an effect +produced of which the cause was wholly unseen. But she at length +succeeded in awakening Mrs Mowbray's hopes; and in a letter written by +Mrs Pemberton to the mistress of the house whence Adeline formerly +dated, she enclosed one to her daughter glowing with maternal +tenderness, and calculated to speak peace to her sorrows.</p> + +<p>These letters were sent, as soon as written, to the post by Mrs +Mowbray's footman; but Miss Woodville contrived to meet him near the +post-office, and telling him she would put the letter in the receiver, +she gave him a commission to call at a shop in Penrith for her, at which +she had not time to call herself.</p> + +<p>Thus was another scheme for restoring Adeline to her afflicted mother +frustrated by the treachery of this interested woman; who, while Mrs +Pemberton and Mrs Mowbray looked anxiously forward to the receipt of an +answer from London, triumphed with malignant pleasure in the success of +her artifice.—But, spite of herself, she feared Mrs Pemberton, and was +not at all pleased to find that, till the answer from London could +arrive, that lady was to remain at the Lawn.</p> + +<p>She contrived, however, to be as little in her presence as possible; +for, contrary to Mrs Pemberton's usual habits, she felt a distrust of +Miss Woodville, which her intelligent eye could not help expressing, and +which consequently alarmed the conscious heart of the culprit. Being +left therefore, by Miss Woodville's fears, alone with Mrs Mowbray, she +drew from her, at different times, ample details of Adeline's +childhood, and the method which Mrs Mowbray had pursued in her +education.</p> + +<p>'Ah! 'tis as I suspected,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton during one of these +conversations. 'Thy daughter's <i>faults</i> originated in thee! her +education was cruelly defective.'</p> + +<p>'No!' replied Mrs Mowbray with almost angry eagerness, 'whatever my +errors as a mother have been, and for the rash marriage which I made I +own myself culpable in the highest degree, I am sure that I paid the +greatest attention to my daughter's education. If you were but to see +the voluminous manuscript on the subject, which I wrote for her +improvement—'</p> + +<p>'But where was thy daughter; and how was she employed during the time +that thou wert writing a book by which to educate her?'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray was silent: she recollected that, while she was gratifying +her own vanity in composing her system of education, Adeline was almost +banished her presence; and, but for the humble instruction of her +grandmother, would, at the age of fifteen, have run a great risk of +being both an ignorant and useless being.</p> + +<p>'Forgive me, friend Mowbray,' resumed Mrs Pemberton, aware in some +measure of what was passing in Mrs Mowbray's mind—'forgive me if I +venture to observe, that till of late years a thick curtain of self-love +seems to have been dropped between thy heart and maternal affection. It +is now, and now only, that thou hast learned to feel like a true and +affectionate mother!'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps you are right,' replied Mrs Mowbray mournfully, 'still, I +always meant well; and hoped that my studies would conduce to the +benefit of my child.'</p> + +<p>'So they might, perhaps, to that of thy second, third, or fourth child, +hadst thou been possessed of so many; but, in the meanwhile, thy +first-born must have been fatally neglected. A child's education begins +almost from the hour of its birth; and the mother who understands her +task, knows that the circumstances which every moment calls forth, are +the tools with which she is to work in order to fashion her child's mind +and character. What would you think of the farmer who was to let his +fields lie fallow for years, while he was employed in contriving a +method of cultivating land to increase his gains ten-fold?'</p> + +<p>'But I did not suffer Adeline's mind to lie fallow.—I allowed her to +read, and I directed her studies.'</p> + +<p>'Thou didst so; but what were those studies? and didst thou acquaint +thyself with the deductions which her quick mind formed from them? +No—thou didst not, as parents should do, inquire into the impressions +made on thy daughter's mind by the books which she perused. Prompt to +feel, and hasty to decide, as Adeline was, how necessary was to her the +warning voice of judgment and experience!'</p> + +<p>'But how could I imagine that a girl so young should dare to act, +whatever her opinions might be, in open defiance of the opinions of the +world?'</p> + +<p>'But she had not lived in the world; therefore, scarcely knew how +repugnant to it her opinions were; nor, as she did not mix in general +society, could she care sufficiently for its good opinion, to be willing +to act contrary to her own ideas of right, rather than forfeit it: +besides, thou ownest that thou didst openly profess thy admiration of +the sentiments which she adopted; nor, till they were confirmed +irrevocably hers, didst thou declare, that to act up to them was, in thy +opinion, vicious. And then it was too late: she thought thy timidity, +and not thy wisdom, spoke, and she set thee the virtuous example of +acting up to the dictates of conscience. But Adeline and thou are both +the pupils of affliction and experience; and I trust that, all your +errors repented of, you will meet once more to expiate your past follies +by your future conduct.'</p> + +<p>'I hope so too,' meekly replied Mrs Mowbray, whose pride had been +completely subdued by self-upbraidings and distress: 'Oh! when—when +will an answer arrive from London?'</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_27" id="ch_27"></a>CHAPTER XXVII</h3> + +<p>Alas! day after day elapsed, and no letter came; but while Mrs Mowbray +was almost frantic with disappointment and anxiety, Mrs Pemberton +thought that she observed in Miss Woodville's countenance a look of +triumphant malice, which ill accorded with the fluent expressions of +sympathy and regret with which she gratified her unsuspicious relation, +and she determined to watch her very narrowly; for she thought it +strange that Adeline, however she might respect her mother's oath, +should never, in the bitterness of her sorrows, have unburthened her +heart by imparting them to her: one day, when, as usual, the post had +been anxiously expected, and, as usual, had brought no letter from +London concerning Adeline; and while Miss Woodville was talking on +indifferent subjects with ill suppressed gaiety, though Mrs Mowbray, +sunk into despondence, was lying on the sofa by her; Mrs Pemberton +suddenly exclaimed—'There is only one right way of proceeding, friend +Mowbray,—thou and I must go to London, and make our inquiries in +person, and then we shall have a great chance of succeeding.' As she +said this, she looked steadfastly at Miss Woodville, and saw her turn +very pale, while her eye was hastily averted from the penetrating glance +of Mrs Pemberton; and when she heard Mrs Mowbray, in a transport of joy, +declare that they had better set off that very evening,—unable to +conceal her terror and agitation, she hastily left the room.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton instantly followed her into the apartment to which she had +retired, and the door of which she had closed with much violence. She +found her walking to and fro, and wringing her hands, as if in agony. On +seeing Mrs Pemberton, she started, and sinking into a chair, she +complained of being very ill, and desired to be left alone.</p> + +<p>'Thou art ill, and thy illness is of the worst sort, I fear,' replied +Mrs Pemberton; 'but I will stay, and be thy physician.'</p> + +<p>'<i>You</i>, my physician?' replied Miss Woodville, with fury in her looks; +'You?'</p> + +<p>'Yes—<i>I</i>—I see that thou art afraid lest Adeline should be restored to +her paternal roof.'</p> + +<p>'Who told you so, officious, insolent woman?' returned Miss Woodville.</p> + +<p>'Thy own looks—but all this is very natural in thee: thou fearest that +Adeline's favour should annihilate thine.'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps I do,' cried Miss Woodville, a little less alarmed, and +catching at this plausible excuse for her uneasiness; 'for, should I be +forced to leave my cousin's house, I shall be reduced to comparative +poverty and solitude again.'</p> + +<p>'But why shouldest thou be forced to leave it? Art thou not Adeline's +friend?'</p> + +<p>'Ye—yes,' faltered out Miss Woodville.</p> + +<p>'But it is uncertain whether we can find Adeline—still we shall be very +diligent in our inquiries; yet it is so strange that she should never +have written to her mother, if alive, that perhaps—'</p> + +<p>'Oh, I dare say she is dead,' hastily interrupted Miss Woodville.</p> + +<p>'Has she been dead long, thinkest thou?'</p> + +<p>'No—not long—not above six months, I dare say.'</p> + +<p>'No!—Hast thou any reason then for knowing that she was alive six +months ago?' asked Mrs Pemberton, looking steadily at Miss Woodville, as +she spoke.</p> + +<p>'I?—Lord—no—How should I know?' she replied, her lip quivering, and +her whole frame trembling.</p> + +<p>'I tell thee how.—Art thou not conscious of having intercepted letters +from thy cousin to her relenting parent?'</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton had scarcely uttered these words, when Miss Woodville fell +back nearly <i>insensible</i> in her chair—a proof that the accusation was +only too well founded. As soon as she recovered, Mrs Pemberton said, +with great gentleness, 'Thou art ill,—ill indeed, but, as I suspected, +thy illness is of the mind; there is a load of guilt on it; throw it off +then by a full confession, and be the sinner that repenteth.'</p> + +<p>In a few moments Miss Woodville, conscious that her emotion had betrayed +her, and suspecting that Mrs Pemberton had by some means or other +received hints of her treachery, confessed that she had intercepted and +destroyed letters from Adeline to her mother; and also owned, to the +great joy of Mrs Pemberton, that Adeline's last letter, the letter in +which she informed Mrs Mowbray, that all the conditions were then +fulfilled, without which alone she had sworn never to forgive her, had +arrived only two months before; and that it was dated from such a +street, and such a number, in London.</p> + +<p>'My poor friend will be so happy!' said Mrs Pemberton; and, her own eyes +filling with tears of joy, she hastened to find Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'But what will become of <i>me</i>?' exclaimed Miss Woodville, detaining +her—'<i>I</i> am ruined—ruined for ever!'</p> + +<p>'Not so,' replied Mrs Pemberton, 'thou art <i>saved</i>,—saved, I trust, for +<i>ever</i>—Thou hast confessed thy guilt, and made all the atonement now in +thy power. Go to thine own room, and I will soon make known to thee thy +relation's sentiments towards thee.'</p> + +<p>So saying, she hastened to Mrs Mowbray, whom she found giving orders, +with eager impatience, to have post horses sent for immediately.</p> + +<p>'Then thou art full of expectation, I conclude, from the event of our +journey to town?' said Mrs Pemberton, smiling.</p> + +<p>'To be sure I am,' replied Mrs Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'And so am I,' she answered,—'for I think that I know the present abode +of thy daughter.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray started—her friend's countenance expressed more joy and +exultation than she had ever seen on it before; and, almost breathless +with new hope, she seized her hand and conjured her to explain herself.</p> + +<p>The explanation was soon given; and Mrs Mowbray's joy, in consequence of +it, unbounded.</p> + +<p>'But what is thy will,' observed Mrs Pemberton, 'with regard to thy +guilty relation?'</p> + +<p>'I cannot—cannot see her again now, if ever;—and she must immediately +leave my house.'</p> + +<p>'Immediately?'</p> + +<p>'Yes,—but I will settle on her a handsome allowance; for my conscience +tells me, that, had I behaved like a mother to my child, no one could +have been tempted to injure her thus,—I put this unhappy woman into a +state of temptation, and she yielded to it:—but I feel only too +sensibly, that no one has been such an enemy to my poor Adeline as I +have been; nor, conscious of my own offences towards her, dare I resent +those of another.'</p> + +<p>'I love, I honour thee for what thou hast now uttered,' cried Mrs +Pemberton with unusual animation.—'I see that thou art now indeed a +Christian; such are the breathings of a truly contrite spirit; and, +verily, she who can so easily forgive the crimes of others may hope to +have her own forgiven.'</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton then hastened to speak hope and comfort to the mind of the +penitent offender, while Mrs Mowbray ran to meet her servant, who, to +her surprise, was returning without horses, for none were to be +procured; and Mrs Mowbray saw herself obliged to delay her journey till +noon the next day, when she was assured of having horses from Penrith. +But when, after a long and restless night, she arose in the morning, +anticipating with painful impatience the hour of her departure, Mrs +Pemberton entered her room, and informed her that she had passed nearly +all the night at Miss Woodville's bed-side, who had been seized with a +violent delirium at one o'clock in the morning, and in her ravings was +continually calling on Mrs Mowbray, and begging to see her once more.</p> + +<p>'I will see her directly,' replied Mrs Mowbray, without a moment's +hesitation; and hastened to Miss Woodville's apartment, where she found +the medical attendant whom Mrs Pemberton had sent for just arrived. He +immediately declared the disorder to be an inflammation on the brain, +and left them with little or no hope of her recovery.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray, affected beyond measure at the pathetic appeals for pardon +addressed to her continually by the unconscious sufferer, took her +station at the bed-side; and, hanging over her pillow, watched for the +slightest gleam of returning reason, in order to speak the pardon so +earnestly implored: and while thus piously engaged, the chaise that was +to convey her and her friend to London, and perhaps to Adeline, drove up +to the gate.</p> + +<p>'Art thou ready?' said Mrs Pemberton, entering the room equipped for her +journey.</p> + +<p>At this moment the poor invalid reiterated her cries for pardon, and +begged Mrs Mowbray not to leave her without pronouncing her forgiveness.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray burst into tears; and though sure that she was not even +conscious of her presence, she felt herself almost unable to forsake +her:—still it was in search of her daughter that she was going—nay, +perhaps, it was to her daughter that she was hastening; and, as this +thought occurred to her, she hurried to the door of the chamber, <ins title="original has saving">saying</ins> +she should be ready in a moment.</p> + +<p>But the eye of the phrensied sufferer followed her as she did so, and in +a tone of unspeakable agony she begged, she entreated that she might not +be left to die in solitude and sorrow, however guilty she might have +been.—Then again she implored Mrs Mowbray to speak peace and pardon to +her drooping soul; while, unable to withstand these solicitations, +though she knew them to be the unconscious ravings of the disorder, she +slowly and mournfully returned to the bed-side.</p> + +<p>'It is late,' said Mrs Pemberton—'we ought ere now to be on the road.'</p> + +<p>'How can I go, and leave this poor creature in such a state?—But then +should we find my poor injured child at the end of the journey! Such an +expectation as that!—'</p> + +<p>'Thou must decide quickly,' replied Mrs Pemberton gently.</p> + +<p>'Decide! Then I will go with you.—Yet still should Anna recover her +senses before her death, and wish to see me, I should never forgive +myself for being absent—it might soothe the anguish of her last moments +to know how freely I pardon her.—No, no:—after all, if pleasure awaits +me, it is only delaying it a few days; and this, this unhappy girl is on +her <i>death-bed</i>.—You, you must go <i>without</i> me.'</p> + +<p>As she said this, Mrs Pemberton pressed her hand with affectionate +eagerness, and murmured out in broken accents, 'I honour thy decision, +and may I return with comfort to thee!'</p> + +<p>'Yet though I wish you to go,' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'I grieve to expose +you to such fatigue and trouble in your weak state of health, and—'</p> + +<p>'Say no more,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton, 'I am only doing my duty; and +reflect on my happiness if I am allowed to restore the lost sheep to the +fold again!'—So saying she set off on her journey, and arrived in +London only four days after Adeline had arrived in Cumberland.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton drove immediately to Adeline's lodgings, but received the +same answer as Colonel Mordaunt had received; namely, that she was gone +no one knew whither. Still she did not despair of finding her: she, like +the Colonel, thought that a mulatto, a lady just recovered from the +small-pox, and a child, were likely to be easily traced; and having +written to Mrs Mowbray, owning her disappointment, but bidding her not +despair, she set off on her journey back, and had succeeded in tracing +Adeline as far as an inn on the high North road,—when an event took +place which made her further inquiries needless.</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_28" id="ch_28"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII</h3> + +<p>Adeline, after several repeated trials, succeeded in writing the +following letter to her mother:—</p> +<blockquote> +<p><span class="ind1">'Dearest of Mothers,</span></p> + +<p>'When this letter reaches you, I shall be no more; and however +I may hitherto have offended you, I shall then be able to +offend you no longer; and that child, whom you bound yourself +by oath never to see or forgive but on the most cruel of +conditions while living, dead you may perhaps deign to receive +to your pardon and your love.—Nay, my heart tells me that you +will do more,—that you will transfer the love which you once +felt for me, to my poor helpless orphan; and in full confidence +that you will be this indulgent, I bequeath her to you with my +dying breath.—O! look on her, my mother, nor shrink from her +with disgust, although you see in her my features; but rather +rejoice in the resemblance, and fancy that I am restored to you +pure, happy, and beloved as I once was.—Yes, yes,—it will be +so: I have known a great deal of sorrow—let me then indulge +the little ray of pleasure that breaks in upon me when I think +that you will not resist my dying prayer, but bestow on my +child the long arrears of tenderness due to me.</p> + +<p>'Yes, yes, you will receive, you will be kind to her; and by so +doing you will make me ample amends for all the sorrow which +your harshness caused me when we met last.—That was a dreadful +day! How you frowned on me! I did not think you could have +frowned so dreadfully—but then I was uninjured by affliction, +unaltered by illness. Were you to see me now, you would not +have the heart to frown on me: and yet my letters being +repeatedly returned, and even the last unnoticed and +unanswered, though it told you that even on your own +conditions I could now claim your pardon, for that I had been +"wretched in love," and had experienced "the anguish of being +forsaken, despised, and disgraced in the eye of the world," +proves but too surely that the bitterness of resentment is not +yet passed!—But on my <i>death-bed</i> you promised to see and +forgive me—<i>and I am there, my mother</i>!! Yet will I not claim +that promise;—I will not weaken, by directing it towards +myself, the burst of sorrow, of too late regret, of +self-upbraidings, and long-restrained affection, which must be +directed towards my child when I am not alive to profit by it. +No:—though I would give worlds to embrace you once more, for +the sake of my child I resign the gratification.</p> + +<p>'Oh, mother! you little think that I saw you, only a few days +ago, from the stile by the cottage which overlooks your house: +you were walking with a lady, and my child was with me (my +Editha, for I have called her after you.) You seemed, +methought, even cheerful, and I was so selfish that I felt +shocked to think I was so entirely forgotten by you; for I was +sure that if you thought of me you could not be cheerful. But +your companion left you; and then you looked so very sad, that +I was wretched from the idea that you were then thinking too +much of me, and I wished you to resume your cheerfulness again.</p> + +<p>'<i>I</i> was not cheerful, and Editha by her artless prattle +wounded me to the very soul.—She wished, she said, to live in +that sweet house, and asked why she should not live there? <i>I</i> +<i>could</i> have told her why, but dared not do it; but I assured +her, and do not for mercy's sake prove that assurance false! +that she <i>should</i> live there <i>one day</i>.</p> + +<p>'"But when—when?" she asked.</p> + +<p>'"When I am in my grave,"' replied I: and, poor innocent! +throwing herself into my arms with playful fondness, she begged +me to go to my grave directly. I feel but too sensibly that her +desire will soon be accomplished.</p> + +<p>'But must I die unblest by you? True, I am watched by the +kindest of human beings! but then she is not my mother—that +mother, who, with the joys of my childhood and my home, is so +continually recurring to my memory. Oh! I forget all your +unkindness, my mother, and remember only your affection. How I +should like to feel your hand supporting my head, and see you +perform the little offices which sickness requires!—And must +I never, never see you more? Yes! you will come, I am sure you +will: but come, come quickly, or I shall die without your +blessing.</p> + +<p>'I have had a fainting fit—but I am recovered, and can address +you again.—Oh! teach my Editha to be humble, teach her to be +slow to call the experience of ages contemptible prejudices; +teach her no opinions that can destroy her sympathies with +general society, and make her an alien to the hearts of those +amongst whom she lives.</p> + +<p>'Be above all things careful that she wanders not in the night +of scepticism. But for the support of religion, what, amidst my +various sorrows, what would have become of <i>me</i>?</p> + +<p>'There is something more that I would say. Should my existence +be prolonged even but a few days, I shall have to struggle with +poverty as well as sickness; and the anxious friend (I will not +call her servant) who is now my all of earthly comfort, will +scarcely have money sufficient to pay me the last sad duties; +and I owe her, my mother, a world of obligation! She will make +my last moments easy, and <i>you</i> must reward her. From her you +will receive this letter when I am no more, and to your care +and protection I bequeath her. She is—my eyes grow dim, and I +must leave off for the present.'</p> +</blockquote> +<p>On the very evening in which Adeline had written this address to her +mother, Mrs Mowbray had received Mrs Pemberton's letter; and as Miss +Woodville had been interred that morning, she felt herself at liberty to +join Mrs Pemberton in her search after Adeline. While various plans for +this purpose presented themselves to her mind, and each of them was +dismissed in its turn as fruitless or impracticable,—full of these +thoughts she pensively walked along the lawn before her door, till sad +and weary she leaned on a little gate at the bottom of it; which, as she +did so, swung slowly backwards and forwards, responsive as it were to +her feelings.</p> + +<p>But, as she continued to muse, and to recall the varied sorrows of her +past life, the gate on which she leaned began to vibrate more quickly; +till, unable to bear the recollections which assailed her, she was +hastening with almost frantic speed towards the house, when she saw a +cottager approaching, to whose sick daughter and helpless family she had +long been a bountiful benefactress.</p> + +<p>'What is the matter, John?' cried Mrs Mowbray, hastening forward to meet +him—'you seem agitated.'</p> + +<p>'My poor daughter, madam;' replied the man, bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>At the sight of his distress, his <i>parental</i> distress, Mrs Mowbray +sighed deeply, and asked if Lucy was worse.</p> + +<p>'I doubt she is dying,' said the afflicted father.</p> + +<p>'Heaven forbid!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, throwing her shawl over her +shoulders; 'I will go and see her myself.'</p> + +<p>'What, really?—But the way is so long, and the road is so miry?'</p> + +<p>'No matter—I must do my duty.'</p> + +<p>'God bless you, and reward you!' cried the grateful father—'that is so +like you! Lucy said you would come!'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray then filled a basket with medicine and refreshments, and set +out on her charitable visit.</p> + +<p>She found the poor girl in a very weak and alarming state; but the sight +of her benefactress, and the tender manner in which she supported her +languid head, and administered wine and other cordials to her, +insensibly revived her; and while writhing under the feelings of an +unhappy parent herself, Mrs Mowbray was soothed by the blessings of the +parent whom she comforted.</p> + +<p>At this moment they were alarmed by a shriek from a neighbouring +cottage, and a woman who was attending on the sick girl ran out to +inquire into the cause of it.</p> + +<p>She returned, saying that a poor sick young gentlewoman, who lodged at +the next house, was fallen back in a fit, and they thought she was dead.</p> + +<p>'A young gentlewoman,' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, 'at the next cottage!' +rising up.</p> + +<p>'Aye sure,' cried the woman, 'she looks like a lady for certain, and she +has the finest child I ever saw.'</p> + +<p>'Perhaps she is not dead,' said Mrs Mowbray:—'let us go see.'</p> + +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> +<h3><a name="ch_29" id="ch_29"></a>CHAPTER XXIX</h3> + +<p>Little did Mrs Mowbray think that it was her own child whom she was +hastening to relieve; and that, while meditating a kind action, +recompense was so near.</p> + +<p>Adeline, while trying to finish her letter to her mother, had scarcely +traced a few illegible lines, when she fell back insensible on her +pillow; and at the moment of Mrs Mowbray's entering the cottage, +Savanna, who had uttered the shriek which had excited her curiosity, had +convinced herself that she was gone for ever.</p> + +<p>The woman who accompanied Mrs Mowbray entered the house first; and +opening a back chamber, low-roofed, narrow, and lighted only by one +solitary and slender candle, Mrs Mowbray, beheld through the door the +lifeless form of the object of her solicitude, which Savanna was +contemplating with loud and frantic sorrow.</p> + +<p>'Here is a lady come to see what she can do for your mistress,' cried +the woman, while Savanna turned hastily round:—'Here she is—here is +good Madam Mowbray.'</p> + +<p>'Madam Mowbray!' shrieked Savanna, fixing her dark eyes on Mrs Mowbray, +and raising her arm in a threatening manner as she approached her: then +snatching up the letter which lay on the bed,—'Woman!' she exclaimed, +grasping Mrs Mowbray's arm with frightful earnestness, 'read that—'tis +for you!'</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray, speechless with alarm and awe, involuntarily seized the +letter—but scarcely had she read the first words, when uttering a deep +groan she sprung forward, to clasp the unconscious form before her, and +fell beside it equally insensible.</p> + +<p>But she recovered almost immediately to a sense of her misery; and +while, in speechless agony, she knelt by the bed-side, Savanna, +beholding her distress, with a sort of dreadful pleasure exclaimed, +'Ah! have you at last learn to feel?'</p> + +<p>'But is she, is she <i>indeed</i> gone?' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'is there <i>no</i> +hope?' and instantly seizing the cordial which she had brought with her, +assisted by the woman, she endeavoured to force it down the throat of +Adeline.</p> + +<p>Their endeavours were for some time vain: at length however, she +exhibited signs of life, and in a few minutes more she opened her sunk +eye, and gazed unconsciously around her.</p> + +<p>'My God! I thank you!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, falling on her knees; +while Savanna, laying her mistress's head on her bosom, sobbed with +fearful joy.</p> + +<p>'Adeline! my child, my dear, dear child!' cried Mrs Mowbray, seizing her +clammy hand.</p> + +<p>That voice, those words which she had so long wished to hear, though +hopeless of ever hearing them again, seemed to recall the fast fading +recollection of Adeline: she raised her head from Savanna's bosom, and, +looking earnestly at Mrs Mowbray, faintly smiled, and endeavoured to +throw herself into her arms,—but fell back again exhausted on the +pillow.</p> + +<p>But in a few minutes she recovered so far as to be able to speak; and +while she hung round her mother's neck, and gazed upon her with eager +and delighted earnestness, she desired Savanna to bring Editha to her +immediately.</p> + +<p>'Will you, will you—,' said Adeline, vainly trying to speak her wishes, +as Savanna put the sleeping girl in Mrs Mowbray's arms: but she easily +divined them; and, clasping her to her heart, wept over her +convulsively—'She shall be dear to me as my own soul!' said Mrs +Mowbray.</p> + +<p>'Then I die contented,' replied Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Die!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray hastily: 'no, you must not, shall not die; +you must live to see me atone for—'</p> + +<p>'It is in vain,' said Adeline faintly. 'I bless God that he allows me to +enjoy this consolation—say that you forgive me.'</p> + +<p>'Forgive you! Oh, Adeline! for years have I forgiven and pined after +you; but a wicked woman intercepted all your letters; and I thought you +were dead, or had renounced me for ever.'</p> + +<p>'Indeed!' cried Adeline. 'Oh! had I suspected that!'</p> + +<p>'Nay more, Mrs Pemberton is now in London, in search of you, in order to +bring you back to happiness!' As Mrs Mowbray said this, Savanna, drawing +near, took her hand and gently pressed it.</p> + +<p>Adeline observed the action, and seeing by it that Savanna's heart +relented towards her mother, said, 'I owe that faithful creature more +than I can express; but to your care I bequeath her.'</p> + +<p>'I will love her as my child,' said Mrs Mowbray, 'and behave to her +better than I did to—'</p> + +<p>'Hush!' cried Adeline, putting her hand to Mrs Mowbray's lips.</p> + +<p>'But you <i>shall</i> live! I will send for Dr Norberry; you shall be moved +to my house, and all will be well—all our past grief be forgotten,' +returned Mrs Mowbray with almost convulsive eagerness.</p> + +<p>Adeline faintly smiled, but repeated that every hope of that kind was +over, but that her utmost wish has gratified in seeing her mother, and +receiving her full forgiveness.</p> + +<p>'But you must live for my sake!' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'and for mine,' +sobbed out Savanna.</p> + +<p>'Could you not be moved to my house?' said Mrs Mowbray. 'There every +indulgence and attention that money can procure shall be yours. Is this +a place,—is this poverty—this—' Here her voice failed her, and she +burst into tears.</p> + +<p>'Mother, dearest mother,' replied Adeline, 'I see you, I am assured of +your love again, and I have not a want beside. Still, I could like, I +could wish, to be once more under a <i>parent's roof</i>.'</p> + +<p>In a moment, the cottager who was present, and returning with usury to +Mrs Mowbray's daughter the anxious interest which she had taken in his, +proposed various means of transporting Adeline to the Lawn; a difficult +and a hazardous undertaking: but the poor invalid was willing to risk +the danger and the fatigue; and her mother could not but indulge her. At +length the cottager, as it was for the <i>general benefactress</i>, having +with care procured even more assistance than was necessary, Adeline was +conveyed on a sort of a litter, along the valley, and found herself once +more in the house of her mother; while Savanna, sharing in the joy which +Adeline's countenance expressed, threw herself on Mrs Mowbray's neck, +and exclaimed, 'Now I forgive you!'</p> + +<p>'Mother, dear mother,' cried Adeline, after having for some minutes +vainly endeavoured to speak—'I am so happy! no more an outcast, but +under my mother's roof!—Nay, I even think I <i>can</i> live now,' added she +with a faint smile.</p> + +<p>Had Adeline risen from her bed in complete health and vigour, she would +scarcely have excited more joy in her mother, and in Savanna, than she +did by this expression.</p> + +<p>'Can live!' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'O! you shall, you must live.' And an +express was sent off immediately to Dr Norberry too, who was removed to +Kendal, to be near his elder daughter, lately married in the +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>Dr Norberry arrived in a few hours. Mrs Mowbray ran out to meet him; but +a welcome died on her tongue, and she could only speak by her tears.</p> + +<p>'There, there, my good woman, don't be foolish,' replied he: 'it is very +silly to blubber, you know: besides, it can do no good,' giving her a +kiss, while the tears trickled down his rough cheek. 'So, the lost sheep +is found?'</p> + +<p>'But, O! she will be lost again,' faltered Mrs Mowbray; 'I doubt nothing +can save her!'</p> + +<p>'No!' cried the old man, with a gulp, 'no! not my coming so many miles +on purpose?—Well, but where is she?'</p> + +<p>'She will see you presently, but begged to be excused for a few +minutes.' 'You see,' said he, 'by my dress, what has happened,' gulping +as he spoke. 'I have lost the companion of thirty years!—and—and—' +here he paused, and after an effort went on to say, that his wife in her +last illness had owned that she had suppressed Adeline's letters, and +had declared the reason of it—'But, poor soul!' continued the doctor, +'it was the only sin against me, I believe, or any one else, that she +ever committed—so I forgave her: and I trust that God will.'</p> + +<p>Soon after they were summoned to the sick room, and Dr Norberry beheld +with a degree of fearful emotion, which he vainly endeavoured to hide +under a cloak of pleasantry, the dreadful ravages which sorrow and +sickness had made in the face and form of Adeline.</p> + +<p>'So, here you are at last!' cried he, trying to smile while he sobbed +audibly, 'and a pretty figure you make, don't you?—But we have you +again, and we will not part with you so soon, I can tell you (almost +starting as the faint but rapid pulse met his fingers)—that is, I +mean,' added he, 'unless it please God.' Mrs Mowbray and Savanna, during +this speech, gazed on his countenance in breathless anxiety, and read in +it a confirmation of their fears. 'But who's afraid?' cried the doctor, +forcing a laugh, while his tone and his looks expressed the extreme of +apprehension, and his laugh ended in a sob.</p> + +<p>Mrs Mowbray turned away in a sort of desperate silence; but the mulatto +still kept her penetrating eye fixed upon him, and with a look so full +of woe!</p> + +<p>'I'll trouble you, mistress, to take those formidable eyes of yours off +my face,' cried the doctor pettishly; 'for I can't stand their +inquiry!—But who the devil are you?'</p> + +<p>'She is my nurse, my consoler, and my friend,' said Adeline.</p> + +<p>'Then she is mine of course,' cried the doctor, 'though she has a +terrible stare with her eyes:—but give me your hand, mistress. What is +your name?'</p> + +<p>'Me be name Savanna,' replied the mulatto; 'and me die and live wid my +dear mistress,' she added, bursting into tears.</p> + +<p>'Pshaw!' cried the doctor, 'I can't bear this—here I came as a +physician, and these blubberers melt me down into an old woman. Adeline, +I must order all these people out of the room, and have you to myself, +or I can do nothing.'</p> + +<p>He was obeyed; and on inquiring into all Adeline's symptoms, he found +little to hope and every thing to fear—'But your mind is relieved, and +you have youth on your side; and who knows what good air, good food, and +good nurses may do for you!'</p> + +<p>'Not to mention a good physician,' added Adeline, smiling, 'and a good +friend in that physician.'</p> + +<p>'This it be to have money,' said Savanna, as she saw the various things +prepared and made to tempt Adeline's weak appetite:—'poor Savanna mean +as well—her heart make all these, but her hand want power.'</p> + +<p>During this state of alarming suspense Mrs Pemberton was hourly +expected, as she had written word that she had traced Adeline into +Lancashire, and suspected that she was in her mother's +neighbourhood.—It may be supposed that Mrs Mowbray, Adeline, and +Savanna, looked forward to her arrival with eager impatience; but not so +Dr Norberry—he said that no doubt she was a very good sort of woman, +but that he did not like pretensions to righteousness over much, and had +a particular aversion to a piece of formal drab-coloured morality.</p> + +<p>Adeline only laughed at these prejudices, without attempting to confute +them; for she knew that Mrs Pemberton's appearance and manners would +soon annihilate them. At length she reached the Lawn; and Savanna, who +saw her alight, announced her arrival to her mistress, and was +commissioned by her to introduce her immediately into the sick +chamber.—She did so; but Mrs Pemberton, almost overpowered with joy at +the intelligence which awaited her, and ill fortified by Savanna's +violent and mixed emotions against the indulgence of her own, begged to +compose herself a few moments before she met Adeline: but Savanna was +not to be denied; and seizing her hand she led her up to the bedside of +the invalid.—Adeline smiled affectionately when she saw her; but Mrs +Pemberton started back, and, scarcely staying to take the hand which she +offered her, rushed out of the room, to vent in solitude the burst of +uncontrollable anguish which the sight of her altered countenance +occasioned her.—Alas! her eye had been but too well tutored to read the +characters of death in the face, and it was some time before she +recovered herself sufficiently to appear before the anxious watchers by +the bed of Adeline with that composure which on principle she always +endeavoured to display.—At length, however, she re-entered the room, +and approaching the poor invalid, kissed in silence her wan flushed +cheek.</p> + +<p>'I am very different now, my kind friend, to what I was when you <i>first</i> +saw me,' said Adeline, faintly smiling.</p> + +<p>To the moment when they <i>last</i> met, Adeline had not resolution enough to +revert, for then she was mourning by the dead body of Glenmurray.</p> + +<p>Mrs Pemberton was silent for a moment; but, making an effort, she +replied, 'Thou art now more like what thou wert in <i>mind</i>, when I +<i>first</i> met thee at Rosevalley, than when I first saw thee at Richmond. +At Rosevalley I beheld thee innocent, at Richmond guilty, and here I see +thee penitent, and, I hope, resigned to thy fate.'—She spoke the word +<i>resigned</i> with emphasis, and Adeline <i>understood</i> her.</p> + +<p>'I am indeed resigned,' replied Adeline in a low voice: 'nay, I feel +that I am much favoured in being spared so long. But there is one thing +that weighs heavily on my mind; Mary Warner is leading a life of shame, +and she told me when I last saw her, that she was corrupted by my +precept and example: if so—'</p> + +<p>'Set thy conscience at rest on that subject,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton: +'while she lived with me, I discovered, long before she ever saw thee, +that she had been known to have been faulty.'</p> + +<p>'Oh! what a load have you removed from my mind!' replied Adeline. 'Still +it would be more relieved, if you would promise to find her out; and she +may be heard of at Mr Langley's chambers in the Temple. Offer her a +yearly allowance for life, provided she will quit her present vicious +habits; I am sure my mother will gladly fulfil my wishes in this +respect.'</p> + +<p>'And so will I,' replied Mrs Pemberton. 'Is there any thing else that I +can do for thee?'</p> + +<p>'Yes: I have two pensioners at Richmond,—a poor young woman, and her +orphan boy,—an illegitimate child,' she added, deeply sighing, as she +recollected what had interested her in their fate. 'I bequeath them to +your care: Savanna knows where they are to be found. And now, all that +disturbs my thoughts at this awful moment is, the grief which my poor +mother and Savanna will feel;—nay, they will be quite unprepared for +it; for they persist to hope still, and I believe that even Dr Norberry +allows his wishes to deceive his judgment.'</p> + +<p>'They will suffer, indeed!' cried Mrs Pemberton: 'but I give thee my +word, that I will never leave thy mother, and that Savanna shall be our +joint care.'</p> + +<p>'It is enough—I shall now die in peace,' said Adeline; and Mrs +Pemberton turned away to meet Mrs Mowbray, who, with Dr Norberry at that +moment entered the room. Mrs Mowbray met her, and welcomed her audibly +and joyfully: but Mrs Pemberton, aware of the blow which impended over +her, vainly endeavoured to utter a congratulation; but throwing herself +into Mrs Mowbray's extended arms, she forgot her usual self-command, and +sobbed loudly on her bosom.</p> + +<p>Dr Norberry gazed at the benevolent Quaker with astonishment. True, she +was '<i>drab-coloured</i>;' but where was the repulsive formality that he had +expected? 'This woman can feel like other women, and is as good a hand +at a crying-bout as myself.' But Mrs Pemberton did not long give way to +so violent an indulgence of her feelings; and gently withdrawing herself +from Mrs Mowbray's embrace, she turned to the window, while Mrs Mowbray +hastened to the bed-side of Adeline. Mrs Pemberton then turned round +again, and, seizing Dr Norberry's hand, which she fervently pressed, +said in a faltering voice, 'Would thou couldst <i>save</i> her!'</p> + +<p>'And—and <i>can't</i> I? can't I?' replied he, gulping. Mrs Pemberton looked +at him with an expression which he could neither mistake nor endure; but +muttering in a low tone, '<ins title="original has Po">No</ins>! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't, I doubt +I can't, by the Lord!' he rushed out of the room.</p> + +<p>From that moment he never was easy but when he could converse with Mrs +Pemberton; for he knew that she, and she only, sympathized in his +feelings, as she only knew that Adeline was not likely to recover. The +invalid herself observed his attention to her friend, nor could she +forbear to rally him on the total disappearance of his prejudices +against the fair Quaker; for, such was the influence of Mrs Pemberton's +dignified yet winning manners, and such was the respect with which she +inspired him, that, if he had his hat on, he always took it off when she +entered the room, and never uttered any thing like an oath, without +humbly begging her pardon; and he told Adeline, that were all Quakers +like Mrs Pemberton, he should be tempted to cry. 'Drab is your only +wear.'</p> + +<p>Another and another day elapsed, and Adeline still lived.—On the +evening of the third day, as she lay half-slumbering with her head on +Savanna's arm, and Mrs Mowbray, lulling Editha to sleep on her lap, was +watching beside her, glancing her eye alternately with satisfied and +silent affection from the child to the mother, whom she thought in a +fair way of recovery; while Dr Norberry, stifling an occasional sob, was +contemplating the group, and Mrs Pemberton, her hands clasped in each +other, seemed lost in devout contemplation, Adeline awoke, and as she +gazed on Editha, who was fondly held to Mrs Mowbray's bosom, a smile +illumined her sunk countenance. Mrs Mowbray at that moment eagerly and +anxiously pressed forward to catch her weak accents, and inquire how she +felt. 'I have seen that fond and anxious look before,' she faintly +articulated, 'but in happier times! and it assures me that you love me +still.'</p> + +<p>'Love you still!' replied Mrs Mowbray with passionate fondness:—'never, +never were you so dear to me as now!'</p> + +<p>Adeline tried to express the joy which flushed her cheek at these words, +and lighted up her closing eyes: but she tried in vain. At length she +grasped Mrs Mowbray's hand to her lips, and in imperfect accents +exclaiming 'I thank thee, blessed Lord!' she laid her head on Savanna's +bosom, and expired.</p> +<p> </p> + +<h4>END OF ADELINE MOWBRAY.</h4> +<p> </p> +<hr class="minimal" /> +<p> </p> + +<table class="sm" border="0" style="background-color: #E6F6FA; margin: 0 auto" cellpadding="6" summary="NOTES"> +<tr> +<td colspan="2"> + <div class="center">TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</div> + +<p class="noindent" style="background-color: #E6F6FA"> +The period spelling has generally been retained along with the often +inconsistent hyphenation. Obvious spelling errors (e.g. Patrtick, Diety, +solioquy, forigve, loking, pwoerfully) have been silently corrected.<br /> +<br /> +The following additional changes were made to the text (in some of the +subtler cases with reference to the 1805 edition) and can be identified +in the body of the text by a grey dotted underline:</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td class="w50" align="left" valign="top">Adeline was leaning o the arm of a young lady.</td> +<td align="left" valign="top">Adeline was leaning <b>on</b> the arm of a young lady.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">little tricks and minauderies</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">little tricks and <b>minaudieres</b></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">Adeline, bursting into tears, threw himself into his arms</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">Adeline, bursting into tears, threw <b>herself</b> into his arms</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">he dreaded to tell her that he could now allow her to call on them</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">he dreaded to tell her that he could <b>not</b> allow her to call on them</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">the slight favours by which true love is long contended to be fed</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">the slight favours by which true love is long <b>contented</b> to be fed</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">though I think all they say are true</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">though I think all they say <b>is</b> true</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">your writing are the lights</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">your <b>writings</b> are the lights</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">as a author</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">as <b>an</b> author</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">but in the mildst of it Maynard re-entered</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">but in the <b>midst</b> of it Maynard re-entered</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">continued to feel his passion</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">continued to <b>feed</b> his passion</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">He had brought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had given</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">He had <b>bought</b> some cakes with the penny which Adeline had given</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">who felt even her violet sorrow suspended</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">who felt even her <b>violent</b> sorrow suspended</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, than + Berrendale to be a villain</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, than + Berrendale <b>be</b> a villain</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">Berrendale, (…) scarcely know what to answer</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">Berrendale, (…) scarcely <b>knew</b> what to answer</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">though near twelve he did not look about eight years old</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">though near twelve he did not look <b>above</b> eight years old</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">no motive less powerful (…) could have enable her to reach + the summit</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">no motive less powerful (…) could have <b>enabled</b> her to reach + the summit</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">for mercy's safe, torture me no more</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">for mercy's <b>sake</b>, torture me no more</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">she hurried to the door of the chamber, saving she should be ready</td> + <td align="left" valign="top">she hurried to the door of the chamber, <b>saying</b> she should be ready</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="left" valign="top">Po! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't</td> + <td align="left" valign="top"><b>No</b>! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't</td> +</tr> +</table> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adeline Mowbray, by Amelia Alderson Opie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELINE MOWBRAY *** + +***** This file should be named 37908-h.htm or 37908-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/0/37908/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/37908.txt b/37908.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b94637 --- /dev/null +++ b/37908.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12399 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Adeline Mowbray, by Amelia Alderson Opie + +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: Adeline Mowbray + or, The Mother and Daughter + +Author: Amelia Alderson Opie + +Release Date: November 2, 2011 [EBook #37908] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELINE MOWBRAY *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + ADELINE MOWBRAY + + OR + THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER + + MRS OPIE + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +In an old family mansion, situated on an estate in Gloucestershire known +by the name of Rosevalley, resided Mrs Mowbray, and Adeline her only +child. + +Mrs Mowbray's father, Mr Woodville, a respectable country gentleman, +married, in obedience to the will of his mother, the sole surviving +daughter of an opulent merchant in London, whose large dower paid off +some considerable mortgages on the Woodville estates, and whose mild and +unoffending character soon gained that affection from her husband after +marriage, which he denied her before it. + +Nor was it long before their happiness was increased, and their union +cemented, by the birth of a daughter; who continuing to be an only +child, and the probable heiress of great possessions, became the idol +of her parents, and the object of unremitted attention to those who +surrounded her. Consequently, one of the first lessons which Editha +Woodville learnt was that of egotism, and to consider it as the chief +duty of all who approached her, to study the gratification of her whims +and caprices. + +But, though rendered indolent in some measure by the blind folly of her +parents, and the homage of her dependents, she had a taste above the +enjoyments which they offered her. + +She had a decided passion for literature, which she had acquired from +a sister of Mr Woodville, who had been brought up amongst literary +characters of various pursuits and opinions; and this lady had imbibed +from them a love of free inquiry, which she had little difficulty in +imparting to her young and enthusiastic relation. + +But, alas! that inclination for study, which, had it been directed to +proper objects, would have been the charm of Miss Woodville's life, +and the safeguard of her happiness, by giving her a constant source of +amusement within herself; proved to her, from the unfortunate direction +which it took, the abundant cause of misery and disappointment. + +For her, history, biography, poetry, and discoveries in natural +philosophy, had few attractions, while she pored with still unsatisfied +delight over abstruse systems of morals and metaphysics, or new theories +in politics; and scarcely a week elapsed in which she did not receive, +from her aunt's bookseller in London, various tracts on these her +favourite subjects. + +Happy would it have been for Miss Woodville, if the merits of the works +which she so much admired could have been canvassed in her presence by +rational and unprejudiced persons: but, her parents and friends being +too ignorant to discuss philosophical opinions or political controversies, +the young speculator was left to the decision of her own inexperienced +enthusiasm. To her, therefore, whatever was bold and uncommon seemed new +and wise; and every succeeding theory held her imagination captive till +its power was weakened by one of equal claims to singularity. + +She soon, however, ceased to be contented with reading, and was eager +to become a writer also. But, as she was strongly imbued with the +prejudices of an ancient family, she could not think of disgracing that +family by turning professed author: she therefore confined her little +effusions to a society of admiring friends, secretly lamenting the loss +which the literary world sustained in her being born a gentlewoman. + +Nor is it to be wondered at, that, as she was ambitious to be, and to be +thought, a deep thinker, she should have acquired habits of abstraction, +and absence, which imparted a look of wildness to a pair of dark eyes, +that beamed with intelligence, and gave life to features of the most +perfect regularity. + +To reverie, indeed, she was from childhood inclined; and her life was +long a life of reverie. To her the present moment had scarcely ever +existence; and this propensity to lose herself in a sort of ideal world, +was considerably increased by the nature of her studies. + +Fatal and unproductive studies! While, wrapt in philosophical abstraction, +she was trying to understand a metaphysical question on the mechanism +of the human mind, or what constituted the true nature of virtue, she +suffered day after day to pass in the culpable neglect of positive +duties; and while imagining systems for the good of society, and the +furtherance of general philanthropy, she allowed individual suffering in +her neighbourhood to pass unobserved and unrelieved. While professing +her unbounded love for the great family of the world, she suffered her +own family to pine under the consciousness of her neglect; and viciously +devoted those hours to the vanity of abstruse and solitary study, +which might have been better spent in amusing the declining age of her +venerable parents, whom affection had led to take up their abode with +her. + +Let me observe, before I proceed further, that Mrs Mowbray scrupulously +confined herself to theory, even in her wisest speculations; and being +too timid, and too indolent, to illustrate by her conduct the various +and opposing doctrines which it was her pride to maintain by turns, her +practice was ever in opposition to her opinions. + +Hence, after haranguing with all the violence of a true Whig on the +natural rights of man, or the blessings of freedom, she would 'turn +to a Tory in her elbow chair', and govern her household with despotic +authority; and after embracing at some moments the doubts of the +sceptic, she would often lie motionless in her bed, from apprehension +of ghosts, a helpless prey to the most abject superstition. + +Such was the mother of ADELINE MOWBRAY! such was the woman who, having +married the heir of Rosevalley, merely to oblige her parents, saw +herself in the prime of life a rich widow, with an only child, who was +left by Mr Mowbray, a fond husband, but an ill-judging parent, entirely +dependent on her! + +At the time of Mr Mowbray's death, Adeline Mowbray was ten years old, +and Mrs Mowbray thirty; and like an animal in an exhausted receiver, +she had during her short existence been tormented by the experimental +philosophy of her mother. + +Now it was judged right that she should learn nothing, and now that she +should learn every thing. Now, her graceful form and well-turned limbs +were to be free from any bandage, and any clothing save what decency +required,--and now they were to be tortured by stiff stays, and fettered +by the stocks and the back-board. + +All Mrs Mowbray's ambition had settled in one point, one passion, +and that was EDUCATION. For this purpose she turned over innumerable +volumes in search of rules on the subject, on which she might improve, +anticipating with great satisfaction the moment when she should be held +up as a pattern of imitation to mothers, and be prevailed upon, though +with graceful reluctance, to publish her system, without a name, for the +benefit of society. + +But, however good her intentions were, the execution of them was +continually delayed by her habits of abstraction and reverie. After +having over night arranged the tasks of Adeline for the next day,--lost +in some new speculations for the good of her child, she would lie in bed +all the morning, exposing that child to the dangers of idleness. + +At one time Mrs Mowbray had studied herself into great nicety with +regard to the diet of her daughter; but, as she herself was too much +used to the indulgences of the palate to be able to set her in reality +an example of temperance, she dined in appearance with Adeline at one +o'clock on pudding without butter, and potatoes without salt; but while +the child was taking her afternoon's walk, her own table was covered +with viands fitted for the appetite of opulence. + +Unfortunately, however, the servants conceived that the daughter as +well as the mother had a right to regale clandestinely; and the little +Adeline used to eat for her supper, with a charge not to tell her mamma, +some of the good things set by from Mrs Mowbray's dinner. + +It happened that, as Mrs Mowbray was one evening smoothing Adeline's +flowing curls, and stroking her ruddy cheek, she exclaimed triumphantly, +raising Adeline to the glass, 'See the effect of temperance and low +living! If you were accustomed to eat meat, and butter, and drink any +thing but water, you would not look so healthy, my love, as you do now. +O the excellent effects of a vegetable diet!' + +The artless girl, whose conscience smote her during the whole of this +speech, hung her blushing head on her bosom:--it was the confusion of +guilt; and Mrs Mowbray perceiving it earnestly demanded what it meant, +when Adeline, half crying, gave a full explanation. + +Nothing could exceed the astonishment and mortification of Mrs Mowbray; +but, though usually tenacious of her opinions, she in this case profited +by the lesson of experience. She no longer expected any advantage from +clandestine measures:--but Adeline, her appetites regulated by a proper +exertion of parental authority, was allowed to sit at the well-furnished +table of her mother, and was precluded, by a judicious and open +indulgence, from wishing for a secret and improper one; while the +judicious praises which Mrs Mowbray bestowed on Adeline's ingenuous +confession endeared to her the practice of truth, and laid the foundation +of a habit of ingenuousness which formed through life one of the +ornaments of her character--Would that Mrs Mowbray had always been +equally judicious! + +Another great object of anxiety to her was the method of clothing +children; whether they should wear flannel, or no flannel; light shoes, +to give agility to the motions of the limbs; or heavy shoes, in order to +strengthen the muscles by exertion;--when one day, as she was turning +over a voluminous author on this subject, the nurserymaid hastily +entered the room, and claimed her attention, but in vain; Mrs Mowbray +went on reading aloud:-- + +'Some persons are of opinion that thin shoes are most beneficial to +health; others, equally worthy of respect, think thick ones of most use: +and the reasons for these different opinions we shall class under two +heads--' + +'Dear me, ma'am!' cried Bridget, 'and in the meantime Miss Adeline will +go without any shoes at all.' + +'Do not interrupt me, Bridget,' cried Mrs Mowbray, and proceeded to read +on. 'In the first place, it is not clear, says a learned writer, whether +children require any clothing at all for their feet.' + +At this moment Adeline burst open the parlour door, and, crying bitterly, +held up her bleeding toes to her mother. + +'Mamma, mamma!' cried she, 'you forget to send for a pair of new shoes +for me; and see, how the stones in the gravel have cut me!' + +This sight, this appeal, decided the question in dispute. The feet of +Adeline bleeding on a new Turkey carpet proved that some clothing for +the feet was necessary; and even Mrs Mowbray for a moment began to +suspect that a little experience is better than a great deal of theory. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Meanwhile, in spite of all Mrs Mowbray's eccentricities and caprices, +Adeline, as she grew up, continued to entertain for her the most perfect +respect and affection. + +Her respect was excited by the high idea which she had formed of her +abilities,--an idea founded on the veneration which all the family +seemed to feel for her on that account,--and her affection was excited +even to an enthusiastic degree by the tenderness with which Mrs Mowbray +had watched over her during an alarming illness. + +For twenty-one days Adeline had been in the utmost danger; nor is it +probable that she would have been able to struggle against the force +of the disease, but for the unremitting attention of her mother. It +was then, perhaps, for the first time that Mrs Mowbray felt herself a +mother:--all her vanities, all her systems, were forgotten in the danger +of Adeline,--she did not even hazard an opinion on the medical treatment +to be observed. For once she was contented to obey instructions in +silence; for once she was never caught in a reverie; but, like the +most common-place woman of her acquaintance, she lived to the present +moment:--and she was rewarded for her cares by the recovery of her +daughter, and by that daughter's most devoted attachment. + +Not even the parents of Mrs Mowbray, who, because she talked on subjects +which they could not understand, looked up to her as a superior being, +could exceed Adeline in deference to her mother's abilities; and when, +as she advanced in life, she was sometimes tempted to think her deficient +in maternal fondness, the idea of Mrs Mowbray bending with pale and +speechless anxiety over her sleepless pillow used to recur to her +remembrance, and in a moment the recent indifference was forgotten. + +Nor could she entirely acquit herself of ingratitude in observing this +seeming indifference: for, whence did the abstraction and apparent +coldness of Mrs Mowbray proceed? From her mind's being wholly engrossed +in studies for the future benefit of Adeline. Why did she leave the +concerns of her family to others? why did she allow her infirm but +active mother to superintend all the household duties? and why did she +seclude herself from all society, save that of her own family, and Dr +Norberry, her physician and friend, but that she might devote every hour +to endeavours to perfect a system of education for her beloved and only +daughter, to whom the work was to be dedicated? + +'And yet,' said Adeline mentally, 'I am so ungrateful sometimes as to +think she does not love me sufficiently.' + +But while Mrs Mowbray was busying herself in plans for Adeline's +education, she reached the age of fifteen, and was in a manner educated; +not, however, by her,--though Mrs Mowbray would, no doubt, have been +surprised to have heard this assertion. + +Mrs Mowbray, as I have before said, was the spoiled child of rich +parents; who, as geniuses were rarer in those days than they are now, +spite of their own ignorance, rejoiced to find themselves the parents of +a genius; and as their daughter always disliked the usual occupations +of her sex, the admiring father and mother contented themselves with +allowing her to please herself; say to each other, 'She must not be +managed in a common way; for you know, my dear, she is one of your +geniuses,--and they are never like other folks.' + +Mrs Woodville, the mother, had been brought up with all the ideas of +economy and housewifery which at that time of day prevailed in the city, +and influenced the education of the daughters of citizens. + +'My dear,' said she one day to Adeline, 'as you are no genius, you know, +like your mother, (and God forbid you should! for one is quite enough in +a family,) I shall make bold to teach you every thing that young women +in my young days used to learn, and my daughter may thank me for it some +time or other: for you know, my dear, when I and my good man die, what +in the world would come of my poor Edith, if so be she had no one to +manage for her! for, Lord love you! she knows no more of managing a +family, and such-like, than a newborn babe.' + +'And can you, dear grandmother, teach me to be of use to my mother?' +said Adeline. + +'To be sure, child; for as you are no genius, no doubt you can learn all +them sort of things that women commonly know:--so we will begin +directly.' + +In a short time Adeline, stimulated by the ambition of being useful, +(for she had often heard her mother assert that utility was the +foundation of all virtue,) became as expert in household affairs as Mrs +Woodville herself: even the department of making pastry was now given up +to Adeline, and the servants always came to her for orders, saying, that +'as their mistress was a learned lady, and that, and so could not be +spoken with except here and there on occasion, they wished their young +mistress, who was more easy spoken, would please to order:' and as Mr +and Mrs Woodville's infirmities increased every day, Adeline soon +thought it right to assume the entire management of the family. + +She also took upon herself the office of almoner to Mrs Woodville, and +performed it with an activity unknown to her; for she herself carried +the broth and wine that were to comfort the infirm cottager; she herself +saw the medicine properly administered that was to preserve his suffering +existence: the comforts the poor required she purchased herself; and in +sickness she visited, in sorrow she wept with them. And though Adeline +was almost unknown personally to the neighbouring gentry, she was +followed with blessings by the surrounding cottagers; while many a +humble peasant watched at the gate of the park to catch a glimpse of +his young benefactress, and pray to God to repay to the heiress of +Rosevalley the kindness which she had shown to him and his offspring. + +Thus happy, because usefully employed, and thus beloved and respected, +because actively benevolent, passed the early years of Adeline Mowbray; +and thus was she educated, before her mother had completed her system of +education. + +It was not long before Adeline took on herself a still more important +office. Mrs Mowbray's steward was detected in very dishonest practices; +but, as she was too much devoted to her studies to like to look into her +affairs with a view to dismiss him, she could not be prevailed on to +discharge him from her service. Fortunately, however, her father on his +death-bed made it his request that she would do so; and Mrs Mowbray +pledged herself to obey him. + +'But what shall I do for a steward in Davison's place?' said she soon +after her father died. + +'Is one absolutely necessary?' returned Adeline modestly. 'Surely +farmer Jenkins would undertake to do all that is necessary for half the +money; and, if he were properly overlooked--' + +'And pray who can overlook him properly?' asked Mrs Mowbray. + +'My grandmother and I,' replied Adeline timidly: 'we both like business +and--' + +'Like business!--but what do you know of it?' + +'Know!' cried Mrs Woodville, 'why, daughter, Lina is very clever at it, +I assure you!' + +'Astonishing! She knows nothing yet of accounts.' + +'Dear me! how mistaken you are, child! She knows accounts perfectly +well.' + +'Impossible!' replied Mrs Mowbray: 'who should have taught her? I have +been inventing an easy method of learning arithmetic, by which I was +going to teach her in a few months.' + +'Yes, child: but I, thinking it a pity that the poor girl should learn +nothing, like, till she was to learn every thing, taught her according +to the old way; and I cannot but say she took to it very kindly. Did not +you, Lina?' + +'Yes, grandmother,' said Adeline; 'and as I love arithmetic very much, +I am quite anxious to keep all my mother's accounts, and overlook the +accounts of the person whom she shall employ to manage her estates in +future.' + +To this Mrs Mowbray, half pleased and half mortified, at length +consented; and Adeline and farmer Jenkins entered upon their +occupations. Shortly after Mrs Woodville was seized with her last +illness; and Adeline neglected every other duty, and Mrs Mowbray +her studies, 'to watch, and weep, beside a parent's bed.' + +But watch and weep was all that Mrs Mowbray did: with every possible +wish to be useful, she had so long given way to habits of abstraction, +and neglect of everyday occupations, that she was rather a hindrance +than a help in the sick room. + +During Adeline's illness, excessive fear of losing her only child had +indeed awakened her to unusual exertion; and as all that she had to +do was to get down, at stated times, a certain quantity of wine and +nourishment, her task though wearisome was not difficult: but to sooth +the declining hours of an aged parent, to please the capricious appetite +of decay, to assist with ready and skilful alacrity the shaking hand of +the invalid, jealous of waiting on herself and wanting to be cheated +into being waited upon;--these trifling yet important details did not +suit the habits of Mrs Mowbray. But Adeline was versed in them all; and +her mother, conscious of her superiority in these things, was at last +contented to sit by inactive, though not unmoved. + +One day, when Mrs Mowbray had been prevailed upon to lie down for an +hour or two in another apartment, and Adeline was administering to Mrs +Woodville some broth which she had made herself, the old lady pressed +her hand affectionately, and cried, 'Ah! child, in a lucky hour I made +bold to interfere, and teach you what your mother was too clever to +learn. Wise was I to think one genius enough in a family,--else, what +should I have done now? My daughter, though the best child in the world, +could never have made such nice broth as this to comfort me, so hot, and +boiled to a minute like! bless her! she'd have tried, that she would, +but ten to one but she'd have smoked it, overturned it, and scalt her +fingers into the bargain.--Ah, Lina, Lina! mayhap the time will come +when you, should you have a sick husband or a child to nurse, may bless +your poor grandmother for having taught you to be useful.' + +'Dear grandmother,' said Adeline tenderly, 'the time has come: I am, you +see, useful to you; and therefore I bless you already for having taught +me to be so.' + +'Good girl, good girl! just what I would have you! And forgive me, Lina, +when I own that I have often thanked God for not making you a genius! +Not but what no child can behave better than mine; for, with all her +wit and learning, she was always so respectful, and so kind to me and +my dear good man, that I am sure I could not but rejoice in such a +daughter; though, to be sure, I used to wish she was more conversible +like; for, as to the matter of a bit of chat, we never gossiped together +in our lives. And though, to be sure, the squires' ladies about are none +of the brightest, and not to compare with my Edith, yet still they would +have done for me and my dear good man to gossip a bit with. So I was +vexed when my daughter declared she wanted all her time for her studies, +and would not visit any body, no, not even Mrs Norberry, who is to be +sure a very good sort of a woman, though a little given to speak ill of +her neighbours. But then so we are all, you know: and, as I say, why, if +one spoke well of all alike, what would be the use of one person's being +better than his neighbours, except for conscience's sake? But, as I was +going to say, my daughter was pleased to compliment me, and declare she +was sure I could amuse myself without visiting women so much inferior to +me; and she advised my beginning a course of study, as she called it.' + +'And did you?' asked Adeline with surprise. + +'Yes. To oblige her, my good man and I began to read one Mr Locke on the +Conduct of the Human Understanding; which my daughter said would teach +us to think.' + +'To think?' said Adeline. + +'Yes.--Now, you must know, my poor husband did not look upon it as very +respectful like in Edith to say that, because it seemed to say that we +had lived all these years without having thought at all; which was not +true, to be sure, because we were never thoughtless like, and my husband +was so staid when a boy that he was called a little old man.' + +'But I am sure,' said Adeline, half smiling, 'that my mother did not +mean to insinuate that you wanted proper thought.' + +'No, I dare say not,' resumed the old lady, 'and so I told my husband, +and so we set to study this book: but, dear me! it was Hebrew Greek to +us--and so dull!' + +'Then you did not get through it, I suppose?' + +'Through it, bless your heart! No--not three pages! So my good man says +to Edith, says he, "You gave us this book, I think, child, to teach us +to think?" "Yes, sir," says she. "And it has taught us to think," says +he:--"it has taught us to think that it is very dull and disagreeable." +So my daughter laughed, and said her father was witty; but, poor soul! +he did not mean it. + +'Well, then: as, to amuse us, we liked to look at the stars sometimes, +she told us we had better learn their names, and study astronomy; and so +we began that: but that was just as bad as Mr Locke; and we knew no more +of the stars and planets, than the man in the moon. Yet that's not right +to say, neither; for, as he is so much nearer the stars, he must know +more about them than any one whomsoever. So at last my daughter found +out that learning was not our taste; so she left us to please ourselves, +and play cribbage and draughts in an evening as usual.' + +Here the old lady paused, and Adeline said affectionately, 'Dear +grandmother, I doubt you exert yourself too much: so much talking can't +be good for you.' + +'O! yes, child!' replied Mrs. Woodville: 'it is no trouble at all to me, +I assure you, but quite natural and pleasant like: besides, you know I +shall not be able to talk much longer, so let me make the most of my +time now.' + +This speech brought tears into the eyes of Adeline; and seeing her +mother re-enter the room, she withdrew to conceal the emotion which she +felt, lest the cheerful loquacity of the invalid, which she was fond of +indulging, should be checked by seeing her tears. But it had already +received a check from the presence of Mrs Mowbray, of whose superior +abilities Mrs Woodville was so much in awe, that, concluding her daughter +could not bear to hear her nonsense, the old lady smiled kindly on her +when with a look of tender anxiety she hastened to her bedside, and +then, holding her hand, composed herself to sleep. + +In a few days more, she breathed her last on the supporting arm of +Adeline; and lamented in her dying moments, that she had nothing +valuable in money to leave, in order to show Adeline how sensible she +was of her affectionate attentions: 'but you are an only child,' she +added, 'and all your mother has will be yours.' + +'No doubt,' observed Mrs Mowbray eagerly; and her mother died +contented. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +At this period Adeline's ambition had led her to form new plans, which +Mrs Woodville's death left her at liberty to put in execution. Whenever +the old lady reminded her that she was no genius, Adeline had felt as +much degraded as if she had said that she was no conjuror; and though +she was too humble to suppose that she could ever equal her mother, she +was resolved to try to make herself more worthy of her, by imitating +her in those pursuits and studies on which were founded Mrs Mowbray's +pretensions to superior talents. + +She therefore made it her business to inquire what those studies and +pursuits were; and finding that Mrs Mowbray's noted superiority was +built on her passion for abstruse speculations, Adeline eagerly devoted +her leisure hours to similar studies: but, unfortunately, these new +theories, and these romantic reveries, which only served to amuse +Mrs Mowbray's fancy, her more enthusiastic daughter resolved to make +conscientiously the rules of her practice. And while Mrs Mowbray +expended her eccentric philosophy in words, as Mr Shandy did his grief, +Adeline carefully treasured up hers in her heart, to be manifested only +by its fruits. + +One author in particular, by a train of reasoning captivating though +sophistical, and plausible though absurd, made her a delighted convert +to his opinions, and prepared her young and impassioned heart for the +practice of vice, by filling her mind, ardent in the love of virtue, +with new and singular opinions on the subject of moral duty. On the works +of this writer Adeline had often heard her mother descant in terms of +the highest praise; but she did not feel herself so completely his +convert on her own conviction, till she had experienced the fatal +fascination of his style, and been conveyed by his bewitching pen from +the world as it is, into a world as it _ought_ to be. + +This writer, whose name was Glenmurray, amongst other institutions, +attacked the institution of marriage; and after having elaborately +pointed out its folly and its wickedness, he drew so delightful a +picture of the superior purity, as well as happiness, of an union +cemented by no ties but those of love and honour, that Adeline, wrought +to the highest pitch of enthusiasm for a new order of things, entered +into a solemn compact with herself to act, when she was introduced into +society, according to the rules laid down by this writer. + +Unfortunately for her, she had no opportunity of hearing these opinions +combated by the good sense and sober experience of Dr Norberry then +their sole visitant; for at this time the American war was the object +of attention to all Europe: and as Mrs Mowbray, as well as Dr Norberry, +were deeply interested in this subject, they scarcely ever talked on +any other; and even Glenmurray and his theories were driven from Mrs +Mowbray's remembrance by political tracts and the eager anxieties of +a politician. Nor had she even leisure to observe, that while she was +feeling all the generous anxiety of a citizen of the world for the sons +and daughters of American independence, her own child was imbibing, +through her means, opinions dangerous to her well-being as a member of +any civilized society, and laying, perhaps, the foundation to herself +and her mother of future misery and disgrace. Alas! the astrologer in +the fable was but too like Mrs Mowbray! + +But even had Adeline had an opportunity of discussing her new opinions +with Dr Norberry, it is not at all certain that she would have had the +power. + +Mrs Mowbray was, if I may be allowed the expression, a showing-off +woman, and loved the information which she acquired, less for its own +sake than for the supposed importance which it gave her amongst her +acquaintance, and the means of displaying her superiority over other +women. Before she secluded herself from society in order to study +education, she had been the terror of the ladies in the neighbourhood; +since, despising small talk, she would always insist on making the +gentlemen of her acquaintance (as much terrified sometimes as their +wives) engage with her in some literary or political conversation. +She wanted to convert every drawing-room into an arena for the mind, +and all her guests into intellectual gladiators. She was often heard +to interrupt two grave matrons in an interesting discussion of an +accouchement, by asking them if they had read a new theological tract, +or a pamphlet against the minister? If they softly expatiated on the +lady-like fatigue of body which they had endured, she discoursed in +choice terms on the energies of the mind; and she never received or paid +visits without convincing the company that she was the most wise, most +learned, and most disagreeable of companions. + +But Adeline, on the contrary, studied merely from the love of study, +and not with a view to shine in conversation; nor dared she venture +to expatiate on subjects which she had often heard Mrs Woodville say +were very rarely canvassed, or even alluded to, by women. She remained +silent, therefore, on the subject nearest her heart, from choice as well +as necessity, in the presence of Dr Norberry, till at length she imbibed +the political mania herself, and soon found it impossible to conceal +the interest which she took in the success of the infant republic. She +therefore one day put into the doctor's hands some _bouts rimes_ which +she had written on some recent victory of the American arms; exclaiming +with a smile, 'I, too, am a politician!' and was rewarded by an +exclamation of 'Why girl--I protest you are as clever as your mother!' + +This unexpected declaration fixed her in the path of literary ambition: +and though wisely resolved to fulfil, as usual, every feminine duty, +Adeline was convinced that she, like her mother, had a right to be an +author, a politician, and a philosopher; while Dr Norberry's praises of +her daughter convinced Mrs Mowbray, that almost unconsciously she had +educated her into a prodigy, and confirmed her in her intention of +exhibiting herself and Adeline to the admiring world during the next +season at Bath; for at Bath she expected to receive that admiration +which she had vainly sought in London. + +Soon after their marriage, Mr Mowbray had carried his lively bride to +the metropolis, where she expected to receive the same homage which had +been paid to her charms at the assize-balls in her neighbourhood. What +then must have been her disappointment, when, instead of hearing as +she passed, 'That is Miss Woodville, the rich heiress--or the great +genius--or the great beauty'--or, 'That is the beautiful Mrs Mowbray,' +she walked unknown and unobserved in public and in private, and found +herself of as little importance in the wide world of the metropolis, as +the most humble of her acquaintance in a country ball-room. True, she +had beauty, but then it was unset-off by fashion; nay, more, it was +eclipsed by unfashionable and tasteless attire; and her manner, though +stately and imposing in an assembly where she was known, was wholly +unlike the manners of the world, and in a London party appeared arrogant +and offensive. Her remarks, too, wise as they appeared to her and Mr +Mowbray, excited little attention,--as the few persons to whom they were +known in the metropolis were wholly ignorant of her high pretensions, +and knew not that they were discoursing with a professed genius, and +the oracle of a provincial circle. Some persons, indeed, surprised at +hearing from the lips of eighteen, observations on morals, theology, and +politics, listened to her with wonder, and even attention, but turned +away observing-- + + 'Such things, 'tis true, are neither new nor rare, + The only wonder is, how they got there:' + +till at length, disappointed, mortified, and disgusted, Mrs Mowbray +impatiently returned to Rosevalley, where in beauty, in learning, and in +grandeur she was unrivalled, and where she might deal out her dogmas, +sure of exciting respectful attention, however she might fail of calling +for a more flattering tribute from her auditors. But in the narrower +field of Bath she expected to shine forth with greater eclat than in +London, and to obtain admiration more worthy of her acceptance than any +which a country circle could offer. To Bath, therefore, she prepared to +go; and the young heart of Adeline beat high with pleasure at the idea +of mixing with that busy world which her fancy had often clothed in the +most winning attractions. + +But her joy, and Mrs Mowbray's was a little over-clouded at the +moment of their departure, by the sight of Dr Norberry's melancholy +countenance. What was to be, as they fondly imagined, their gain, was +his loss, and with a full heart he came to bid them adieu. + +For Adeline he had conceived not only affection, but esteem amounting +almost to veneration; for she appeared to him to unite various and +opposing excellencies. Though possessed of taste and talents for +literature, she was skilled in the minutest details of housewifery and +feminine occupations: and at the same time she bore her faculties so +meekly, that she never wounded the self-love of any one, by arrogating +to herself any superiority. + +Such Adeline appeared to her excellent old friend; and his affection +for her was, perhaps, increased by the necessity which he was under +of concealing it at home. The praises of Mrs Mowbray and Adeline were +odious to the ears of Mrs Norberry and her daughters,--but especially +the praises of the latter,--as the merit of Adeline was so uniform, that +even the eye of envy could not at that period discover any thing in +her vulnerable to censure: and as the sound of her name excited in +his family a number of bad passions and corresponding expressions of +countenance, the doctor wisely resolved to keep his feelings, with +regard to her, locked up in his own bosom. + +But he persisted in visiting at the Park daily; and it is no wonder, +therefore, that the loss, even for a few months, of the society of its +inhabitants should by him be anticipated as a serious calamity. + +'Pshaw!' cried he, as Adeline, with an exulting bound sprung after her +mother into the carriage, 'how gay and delighted you are! though my +heart feels sadly queer and heavy.' + +'My dear friend,' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'I must miss your society wherever +I go.'--'I wish you were going too,' said Adeline: 'I shall often think +of you.' 'Pshaw, girl! don't lie,' replied Dr Norberry, swallowing a +sigh as he spoke: 'you will soon forget an old fellow like me.'--'Then +I conclude that you will soon forget us.'--'He! how! what! think so +at your peril.'--'I must think so, as we usually judge of others +by ourselves.'--'Go to--go, miss mal-a-pert.--Well, but, drive on, +coachman--this taking leave is plaguey disagreeable, so shake hands and +be off.' + +They gave him their hands, which he pressed very affectionately, and the +carriage drove on. + +'I am an old fool,' cried the doctor, wiping his eyes as the carriage +disappeared. 'Well: Heaven grant, sweet innocent, that you may return to +me as happy and spotless as you now are!' + +Mrs Mowbray had been married at a very early age, and had accepted in Mr +Mowbray the first man who addressed her: consequently that passion for +personal admiration, so natural to women, had in her never been gratified, +nor even called forth. But seeing herself, at the age of thirty-eight, +possessed of almost undiminished beauty, she recollected that her charms +had never received that general homage for which nature intended them; +and she who at twenty had disregarded, even to a fault, the ornaments +of dress, was now, at the age of thirty-eight, eager to indulge in the +extremes of decoration, and to share in the delights of conquest and +admiration with her youthful and attractive daughter. + +Attractive, rather than handsome, was the epithet best suited to +describe Adeline Mowbray. Her beauty was the beauty of expression of +countenance, not regularity of feature, though the uncommon fairness and +delicacy of her complexion, the lustre of her hazel eyes, her long dark +eye-lashes, and the profusion of soft light hair which curled over the +ever-mantling colour of her cheek, gave her some pretensions to what is +denominated beauty. But her own sex declared she was plain--and perhaps +they were right--though the other protested against the decision--and +probably they were right also: but women criticize in detail, men admire +in the aggregate. Women reason, and men feel, when passing judgment +on female beauty: and when a woman declares another to be plain, the +chances are that she is right in her opinion, as she cannot, from her +being a woman, feel the charm of that power to please, that 'something +than beauty dearer,' which often throws a veil over the irregularity of +features and obtains, for even a plain woman, from men at least, the +appellation of pretty. + +Whether Adeline's face were plain or not, her form could defy even the +severity of female criticism. She was indeed tall, almost to a masculine +degree; but such were the roundness and proportion of her limbs, such +the symmetry of her whole person, such the lightness and gracefulness +of her movements, and so truly feminine were her look and manner, that +superior height was forgotten in the superior loveliness of her figure. + +It is not to be wondered at, then, that Miss Mowbray was an object of +attention and admiration at Bath, as soon as she appeared, nor that her +mother had her share of flattery and followers. Indeed, when it was +known that Mrs Mowbray was a rich widow, and Adeline dependent upon her, +the mother became, in the eyes of some people, much more attractive than +her daughter. + +It was impossible, however, that, in such a place as Bath, Mrs Mowbray +and Adeline could make, or rather retain, a general acquaintance. Their +opinions on most subjects were so very different from those of the world, +and they were so little conscious, from the retirement in which they +lived, that this difference existed, or was likely to make them enemies, +that not a day elapsed in which they did not shock the prejudices of +some, and excite the contemptuous pity of others; and they soon saw +their acquaintance coolly dropped by those who, as persons of family +and fortune, had on their first arrival sought it with eagerness. + +But this was not entirely owing to the freedom of their sentiments on +politics, or on other subjects; but, because they associated with a +well-known but obnoxious author;--a man whose speculations had delighted +the inquiring but ignorant lover of novelty, terrified the timid idolater +of ancient usages, and excited the regret of the cool and rational +observer:--regret, that eloquence so overwhelming, powers of reasoning +so acute, activity of research so praise-worthy, and a love of +investigation so ardent, should be thrown away on the discussion of +moral and political subjects, incapable of teaching the world to build +up again with more beauty and propriety, a fabric, which they were +perhaps, calculated to pull down: in short, Mrs Mowbray and Adeline +associated with Glenmurray, that author over whose works they had long +delighted to meditate, and who had completely led their imagination +captive, before the fascination of his countenance and manners had come +in aid of his eloquence. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Frederic Glenmurray was a man of family, and of a small independent +estate, which, in case he died without children, was to go to the next +male heir; and to that heir it was certain it would go, as Glenmurray on +principle was an enemy to marriage, and consequently not likely to have +a child born in wedlock. + +It was unfortunate circumstance for Glenmurray, that, with the ardour of +a young and inexperienced mind, he had given his eccentric opinions to +the world as soon as they were conceived and arranged,--as he, by so +doing, prejudiced the world against him in so unconquerable a degree, +that to him almost every door and heart was shut; and he by that means +excluded from every chance of having the errors of his imagination +corrected by the arguments of the experienced and enlightened--and +corrected, no doubt, they would have been, for he had a mild and candid +spirit, and mind open to conviction. + +'I consider myself,' he used to say, 'as a sceptic, not as a man really +certain of the truth of any thing which he advances. I doubt of all +things, because I look upon doubt as the road to truth; and do but +convince me what is the truth, and at what risk, whatever sacrifice, I +am ready to embrace it.' + +But, alas! neither the blamelessness of his life, nor even his active +virtue, assisted by the most courteous manners, were deemed sufficient +to counteract the mischievous tendency of his works; or rather, it was +supposed impossible that his life could be blameless and his seeming +virtues sincere:--and unheard, unknown, this unfortunate young man was +excluded from those circles which his talents would have adorned, and +forced to lead a life of solitude, or associate with persons unlike to +him in most things, except in a passion for the bold in theory, and the +almost impossible in practice. + +Of this description of persons he soon became the oracle--the head of a +sect, as it were; and those tenets which at first he embraced, and put +forth more for amusement than from conviction, as soon as he began to +suffer on their account, became as clear to him as the cross to the +Christian martyr: and deeming persecution a test of truth, he considered +the opposition made to him and his doctrines, not as the result of +dispassionate reason striving to correct absurdity, but as selfishness +and fear endeavouring to put out the light which showed the weakness of +the foundation on which were built their claims to exclusive respect. + +When Mrs Mowbray and Adeline first arrived at Bath, the latter had +attracted the attention and admiration of Colonel Mordaunt, an Irishman +of fortune, and an officer in the guards; and Adeline had not been +insensible to the charms of the very fine person and engaging manners, +united to powers of conversation which displayed an excellent +understanding improved by education and reading. But Colonel Mordaunt +was not a _marrying man_, as it is called: therefore, as soon as he +began to feel the influence of Adeline growing too powerful for his +freedom, and to observe that his attentions were far from unpleasing to +her,--too honourable to excite an attachment in her which he resolved to +combat in himself, he resolved to fly from the danger, which he knew he +could not face and overcome; and after a formal but embarrassed adieu to +Mrs Mowbray and Adeline, he suddenly left Bath. + +This unexpected departure both surprised and grieved Adeline; but, as +her feelings of delicacy were too strong to allow her to sigh for a +man who, evidently, had no thoughts of sighing for her, she dismissed +Colonel Mordaunt from her remembrance, and tried to find as much +interest still in the ball-rooms, and the promenades, as his presence +had given them: nor was it long before she found in them an attraction +and an interest stronger than any which she had yet felt. + +It is naturally to be supposed that Adeline had often wished to +know personally an author whose writings delighted her as much +as Glenmurray's had done, and that her fancy had often portrayed +him: but though it had clothed him in a form at once pleasing and +respectable,--still, from an idea of his superior wisdom, she had +imagined him past the meridian of life, and not likely to excite warmer +feelings than those of esteem and veneration: and such continued to be +Adeline's idea of Glenmurray, when he arrived at Bath, having been sent +thither by his physicians for the benefit of his health. + +Glenmurray, though a sense of his unpopularity had long banished him +from scenes of public resort in general, was so pleased with the +novelties of Bath, that, though he walked wholly unnoticed except by the +lovers of genius in whatsoever shape it showed itself, he frequented +daily the pump-room, and the promenades; and Adeline had long admired +the countenance and dignified person of this young and interesting +invalid, without the slightest suspicion of his being the man of all +others whom she most wished to see. + +Nor had Glenmurray been slow to admire Adeline: and so strong, so +irresistible was the feeling of admiration which she had excited in +him, that, as soon as she appeared, all other objects vanished from his +sight; and as women are generally quick-sighted to the effect of their +charms, Adeline never beheld the stranger without a suffusion of +pleasurable confusion on her cheek. + +One morning at the pump-room, when Glenmurray, unconscious that Adeline +was near, was reading the newspaper with great attention, and Adeline +for the first time was looking at him unobserved, she heard the name of +Glenmurray pronounced, and turned her head towards the person who spoke, +in hopes of seeing Glenmurray himself; when Mrs Mowbray, turning round +and looking at the invalid, said to a gentleman next her, 'Did you say, +Sir, that that tall, pale, dark, interesting-looking young man is Mr +Glenmurray, the celebrated author?' + +'Yes, ma'am,' replied the gentleman with a sneer: 'that is Mr +Glenmurray, the celebrated author.' + +'Oh! how I should like to speak to him!' cried Mrs Mowbray. + +'It will be no difficult matter,' replied her informant: 'the gentleman +is always quite as much at leisure as you see him now; for _all_ persons +have not the same taste as Mrs Mowbray.' + +So saying, he bowed and departed, leaving Mrs Mowbray, to whom the sight +of a great author was new, so lost in contemplating Glenmurray, that the +sarcasm with which he spoke entirely escaped her observation. + +Nor was Adeline less abstracted: she too was contemplating Glenmurray, +and with mixed but delightful feelings. + +'So then he is young and handsome too!' said she mentally: 'it is a pity +he looks so _ill_,' added she _sighing_: but the sigh was caused rather +by his looking so _well_--though Adeline was not conscious of it. + +By this time Glenmurray had observed who were his neighbours, and the +newspaper was immediately laid down. + +'Is there any news to-day?' said Mrs Mowbray to Glenmurray, resolved to +make a bold effort to become acquainted with him. Glenmurray, with a bow +and a blush of mingled surprise and pleasure, replied that there was a +great deal,--and immediately presented to her the paper which he had +relinquished, setting chairs at the same time for her and Adeline. + +Mrs Mowbray, however, only slightly glanced her eye over the paper:--her +desire was to talk to Glenmurray; and in order to accomplish this point, +and prejudice him in her favour, she told him how much she rejoiced +in seeing an author whose works were the delight and instruction of +her life. 'Speak, Adeline,' cried she, turning to her blushing daughter; +'do we not almost daily read and daily admire Mr Glenmurray's +writings?'--'Yes, certainly,' replied Adeline, unable to articulate +more, awed no doubt by the presence of so superior a being; while +Glenmurray, more proud of being an author than ever, said internally, +'Is it possible that that sweet creature should have read and admired my +works?' + +But in vain, encouraged by the smiles and even by the blushes of +Adeline, did he endeavour to engage her in conversation. Adeline was +unusually silent, unusually bashful. But Mrs Mowbray made ample amends +for her deficiency; and Mr Glenmurray, flattered and amused, would +have continued to converse with her and look at Adeline, had he not +observed the impertinent sneers and rude laughter to which conversing so +familiarly with him exposed Mrs Mowbray. As soon as he observed this, he +arose to depart; for Glenmurray was, according to Rochefoucault's maxim, +so exquisitely selfish, that he always considered the welfare of others +before his own; and heroically sacrificing his own gratification to save +Mrs Mowbray and Adeline from further censure, he bowed with the greatest +respect to Mrs Mowbray, sighed as he paid the same compliment to +Adeline, and, lamenting his being forced to quit them so soon, with +evident reluctance left the room. + +'What an elegant bow he makes!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray. Adeline had +observed nothing but the sigh; and on that she did not choose to make +any comment. + +The next day Mrs Mowbray, having learned Glenmurray's address, sent him +a card for a party at her lodgings. Nothing but Glenmurray's delight +could exceed his astonishment at this invitation. He had observed Mrs +Mowbray and Adeline, even before Adeline had observed him; and, as he +gazed upon the fascinating Adeline, he had sighed to think that she too +would be taught to avoid the dangerous and disreputable acquaintance of +Glenmurray. To him, therefore, this mark of attention was a source both +of consolation and joy. But, being well convinced that it was owing to +her ignorance of the usual customs and opinions of those with whom she +associated, he was too generous to accept the invitation, as he knew +that his presence at a rout at Bath would cause general dismay, and +expose the mistress to disagreeable remarks at least: but he endeavoured +to make himself amends for his self-denial, by asking leave to wait on +them when they were alone. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +A day or two after, as Adeline was leaning on the arm of a young lady, +Glenmurray passed them, and to his respectful bow she returned a most +cordial salutation. 'Gracious me! my dear,' said her companion, 'do you +know who that man is?' + +'Certainly:--it is Mr Glenmurray.' + +'And do you speak to him?' + +'Yes:--why should I not?' + +'Dear me! Why, I am sure! Why--don't you know what he is?' + +'Yes, a celebrated writer, and a man of genius.' + +'Oh, that may be, Miss Mowbray: but they say one should not notice him, +because he is--' + +'He is what?' said Adeline eagerly. + +'I do not exactly know what; but I believe it is a French spy, or a +Jesuit.' + +'Indeed?' replied Adeline laughing. 'But I am used to have better +evidence against a person than a _they say_ before I neglect an +acknowledged acquaintance: therefore, with your leave, I shall turn back +and talk a little to poor Mr Glenmurray.' + +It so happened that _poor Mr Glenmurray_ heard every word of this +conversation; for he had turned round and followed Adeline and her fair +companion, to present to the former the glove which she had dropped; and +as they were prevented from proceeding by the crowd on the parade, which +was assembled to see some unusual sight, he, being immediately behind +them, could distinguish all that passed; so that Adeline turned round +to go in search of him before the blush of grateful admiration for her +kindness had left his cheek. + +'Then she seeks me because I am shunned by others!' said Glenmurray +to himself. In a moment the world to him seemed to contain only two +beings, Adeline Mowbray and Frederic Glenmurray; and that Adeline, +starting and blushing with joyful surprise at seeing him so near her, +was then coming in search of him!--of him, the neglected Glenmurray! +Scarcely could he refrain catching the lovely and ungloved hand next him +to his heart; but he contented himself with keeping the glove that he +was before so eager to restore, and in a moment it was lodged in his +bosom. + +Nor could 'I can't think what I have done with my glove,' which every +now and then escaped Adeline, prevail on him to own that he had found +it. At last, indeed, it became unnecessary; for Adeline, as she glanced +her eye towards Glenmurray, discovered it in the hiding-place: but, +as delicacy forbade her to declare the discovery which she had made, +he was suffered to retain his prize; though a deep and sudden blush +which overspread his cheek, and a sudden pause which she made in her +conversation, convinced Glenmurray that she had detected his secret. +Perhaps he was not sorry--nor Adeline; but certain it is that Adeline +was for the remainder of the morning more lost in reverie than ever her +mother had been; and that from that day every one, but Adeline and +Glenmurray, saw that they were mutually enamoured. + +Glenmurray was the first of the two lovers to perceive that they were +so; and he made the discovery with a mixture of pain and pleasure. For +what could be the result of such an attachment? He was firmly resolved +never to marry; and it was very unlikely that Adeline, though she had +often expressed to him her approbation of his writings and opinions, +should be willing to sacrifice everything to love, and become his +mistress. But a circumstance took place which completely removed his +doubts on this subject. + +Several weeks had elapsed since the first arrival of the Mowbrays at +Bath, and in that time almost all their acquaintances had left them one +by one; but neither Mrs Mowbray nor Adeline had paid much attention to +this circumstance. Mrs Mowbray's habits of abstraction, as usual, made +her regardless of common occurrences; and to these were added the more +delightful reverie occasioned by the attentions of a very handsome and +insinuating man, and the influence of a growing passion. Mrs Mowbray, +as we have before observed, married from duty, not inclination; and to +the passion of love she had remained a total stranger, till she became +acquainted at Bath with Sir Patrick O'Carrol. Yes; Mrs Mowbray was in +love for the first time when she was approaching her fortieth year! and +a woman is never so likely to be the fool of love, as when it assails +her late in life, especially if a lover be as great a novelty to her as +the passion itself. Though not, alas! restored to a second youth, the +tender victim certainly enjoys a second childhood, and exhibits but too +openly all the little tricks and _minaudieres_ of a love-sick girl, +without the youthful appearance that in a degree excuses them. This was +the case with Mrs Mowbray; and while, regardless of her daughter's +interest and happiness, she was lost in the pleasing hopes of marrying +the agreeable baronet, no wonder the cold neglect of her Bath associates +was not seen by her. + +Adeline, engrossed also by the pleasing reveries of a first love, was +as unconscious of it as herself. Indeed she thought of nothing but love +and Glenmurray; else, she could not have failed to see, that, while Sir +Patrick's attentions and flatteries were addressed to her mother, his +ardent looks and passionate sighs were all directed to herself. + +Sir Patrick O'Carrol was a young Irishman, of an old family but an +encumbered estate; and it was his wish to set his estate free by +marrying a rich wife, and one as little disagreeable as possible. With +this view he came to Bath; and in Mrs Mowbray he not only beheld a woman +of large independent fortune, but possessed of great personal beauty, +and young enough to be attractive. Still, though much pleased with the +wealth and appearance of the mother, he soon became enamoured of the +daughter's person; and had he not gone so far in his addresses to Mrs +Mowbray as to make it impossible she should willingly transfer him to +Adeline, and give her a fortune at all adequate to his wants, he would +have endeavoured honourably to gain her affections, and entered the +lists against the favoured Glenmurray. + +But, as he wanted the mother's wealth, he resolved to pursue his +advantage with her, and trust to some future chance for giving him +possession of the daughter. In his dealings with men, Sir Patrick was +a man of honour; in his dealings with women, completely the reverse: +he considered them as a race of subordinate beings, and that if, like +horses, they were well lodged, fed, and kept clean, they had no right to +complain. + +Constantly therefore did he besiege Mrs. Mowbray with his conversation, +and Adeline with his eyes; and the very libertine gaze with which he +often beheld her, gave a pang to Glenmurray which was but too soon +painfully increased. + +Sir Patrick was the only man of fashion who did not object to visit at +Mrs. Mowbray's on account of her intimacy with Glenmurray; but he had +his own private reasons for going thither, and continued to visit at Mrs +Mowbray's though Glenmurray was generally there, and sometimes he and +the latter gentleman were the whole of their company. + +One evening they and two ladies were drinking tea at Mrs Mowbray's +lodgings, when Mrs Mowbray was unusually silent and Adeline unusually +talkative. Adeline scarcely ever spoke in her mother's presence, from +deference to her abilities; and whatever might be Mrs Mowbray's defects +in other respects, her conversational talents and her uncommon command +of words were indisputable. But this evening, as I before observed, +Adeline, owing to her mother's tender abstractions, was obliged to exert +herself for the entertainment of the guests. + +It so happened, also, that something was said by one of the party which +led to the subject of marriage, and Adeline was resolved not to let so +good an opportunity pass of proving to Glenmurray how sincerely she +approved his doctrine on that subject. Immediately, with an unreserve +which nothing but her ignorance of the world, and the strange education +which she had received, could at all excuse, she began to declaim +against marriage, as an institution at once absurd, unjust, and immoral, +and to declare that she would never submit to so contemptible a form, or +profane the sacred ties of love by so odious and unnecessary a ceremony. + +This extraordinary speech, though worded elegantly and delivered +gracefully, was not received by any of her hearers, except Sir Patrick, +with any thing like admiration. The baronet, indeed, clapped his hands, +and cried 'Bravo! a fine spirited girl, upon my word!' in a manner so +loud, and so offensive to the feelings of Adeline, that, like the orator +of old, she was tempted to exclaim, 'What foolish thing can I have said, +that has drawn forth this applause?' + +But Mrs Mowbray, though she could not help admiring the eloquence which +she attributed to her example,--was shocked at hearing Adeline declare +that her practice should be consonant to her theory; while Glenmurray, +though Adeline had only expressed his sentiments, and his reason +approved what she had uttered, felt his delicacy and his feelings +wounded by so open and decided an avowal of her opinions, and intended +conduct in consequence of them; and he was still more hurt, when he +saw how much it delighted Sir Patrick, and offended the rest of the +company; who, after a silence, the result of surprise and disgust, +suddenly arose, and, coldly wishing Mrs Mowbray good night, left the +house. + +By Mrs Mowbray the cause of this abrupt departure was unsuspected: but +Adeline, who had more observation, was convinced that she was the cause +of it; and sighing deeply at the prejudices of the world, she sought to +console herself by looking at Glenmurray, expecting to find in his eyes +an expression of delight and approbation. To her great disappointment, +however, his countenance was sad; while Sir Patrick, on the contrary, +had an expression of impudent triumph in his look, which made her turn +blushing from his ardent gaze, and indignantly follow her mother, who +was then leaving the room. + +As she passed him, Sir Patrick caught her hand rapturously to his lips +(an action which made Glenmurray start from his chair), and exclaimed, +'Really you are the only honest little woman I ever knew! I always was +sure that what you just now said was the opinion of all your sex, though +they were so confounded coy they would not own it.' + +'Own what Sir?' asked the astonished Adeline. + +'That they thought marriage a cursed bore, and preferred leading the +life of honour, to be sure.' + +'The life of honour! What is that?' demanded Adeline, while Glenmurray +paced the room in agitation. + +'That life, my dear girl, which you mean to lead;--love and liberty with +the man of your heart.' + +'Sir Patrick,' cried Glenmurray impatiently, 'this conversation is--' + +'Prodigiously amusing to me,' returned the baronet, 'especially as I +never could hold it to a modest woman before.' + +'Nor shall you now, Sir,' fiercely interrupted Glenmurray. + +'Shall not, Sir?' vociferated Sir Patrick. + +'Pray, gentlemen, be less violent,' exclaimed the terrified and +astonished Adeline. 'I can't think what could offend you, Mr Glenmurray, +in Sir Patrick's original observation: the life of honour appears to me +a very excellent name for the pure and honourable union which it is my +wish to form; and--' + +'There; I told you so;' triumphantly interrupted Sir Patrick: 'and I +never was better pleased in life:--sweet creature! at once so lovely, so +wise, and so liberal!' + +'Sir,' cried Glenmurray, 'this is a mistake: your life of honour and +Miss Mowbray's are as different as possible; you are talking of what +you are grossly ignorant of.' + +'Ignorant! I ignorant! Look you, Mr Glenmurray, do you pretend to tell +me I know not what the life of honour is, when I have led it so many +times with so many different women?' + +'How, Sir!' replied Adeline: 'many times? and with many different women? +My life of honour can be led with one only.' + +'Well, my dear soul, I only led it with one at a time.' + +'O Sir! you are indeed ignorant of my meaning,' she rejoined: 'It is the +individuality of an attachment that constitutes its purity; and--' + +'Ba-ba-bu, my lovely girl! which has purity to do in the business?' + +'Indeed, Sir Patrick,' meekly returned Adeline, 'I--' + +'Miss Mowbray,' angrily interrupted Glenmurray, 'I beg, I conjure you to +drop this conversation: your innocence is no match for--' + +'For what, Sir?' furiously demanded Sir Patrick. + +'Your licentiousness,' replied Glenmurray. + +'Sir, I wear a sword,' cried the baronet.--'And I a cane,' said +Glenmurray calmly, 'either to defend myself or chastise insolence.' + +'Mr Glenmurray! Sir Patrick!' exclaimed the agitated Adeline: 'for my +sake, for pity's sake desist!' + +'For the present I will, madam,' faltered out Sir Patrick;--'but I know +Mr Glenmurray's address, and he shall hear from me.' + +'Hear from you! Why, you do not mean to challenge him? you can't suppose +Mr Glenmurray would do so absurd a thing as fight a duel? Sir, he has +written a volume to prove the absurdity of the custom.--No, no! you +threaten his life in vain,' she added, giving her hand to Glenmurray; +who, in the tenderness of the action and the tone of her voice, forgot +the displeasure which her inadvertency had caused, and pressing her hand +to his lips, secretly renewed his vows of unalterable attachment. + +'Very well, madam,' exclaimed Sir Patrick in a tone of pique: 'then, so +as Mr Glenmurray's life is safe, you care not what becomes of mine!' + +'Sir,' replied Adeline, 'the safety of a fellow-creature is always of +importance in my eyes.' + +'Then you care for me as a fellow-creature only,' retorted Sir +Patrick, 'not as Sir Patrick O'Carrol?--Mighty fine, truly, you dear +ungrateful--' seizing her hand; which he relinquished, as well as the +rest of his speech, on the entrance of Mrs Mowbray. + +Soon after Adeline left the room, and Glenmurray bowed and retired; +while Sir Patrick, having first repeated his vows of admiration to the +mother, returned home to muse on the charms of the daughter, and the +necessity of challenging the moral Glenmurray. + +Sir Patrick was a man of courage, and had fought several duels: but as +life at this time had a great many charms for him, he resolved to defer +at least putting himself in the way of getting rid of it; and after +having slept late in the morning, to make up for the loss of sleep in +the night, occasioned by his various cogitations, he rose, resolved to +go to Mrs Mowbray's, and if he had an opportunity, indulge himself in +some practical comments on the singular declaration made the evening +before by her lovely daughter. + +Glenmurray meanwhile had passed the night in equal watchfulness and +greater agitation. To fight a duel would be, as Adeline observed, +contrary to his principles; and to decline one, irritated as he was +against Sir Patrick, was repugnant to his feelings. + +To no purpose did he peruse and re-peruse nearly the whole of his +own book against duelling; he had few religious restraints to make +him resolve on declining a challenge, and he felt moral ones of little +avail: but in vain did he sit at home till the morning was far advanced, +expecting a messenger from Sir Patrick;--no messenger came:--he +therefore left word with his servant, that, if wanted, he might be found +at Mrs Mowbray's, and went thither, in hopes of enjoying an hour's +conversation with Adeline; resolving to hint to her, as delicately as he +could, that the opinions which she had expressed were better confined, +in the present dark state of the public mind, to a select and +discriminating circle. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Sir Patrick had reached Mrs Mowbray's some time before him, and had, +to his great satisfaction, found Adeline alone; nor did it escape his +penetration that her cheeks glowed, and her eyes sparkled with pleasure, +at his approach. + +But he would not have rejoiced in this circumstance, had he known +that Adeline was pleased to see him merely because she considered his +appearance as a proof of Glenmurray's safety; for, in spite of his +having written against duelling, and of her confidence in his firmness +and consistency, she was not quite convinced that the reasoning +philosopher would triumph over the feeling man. + +'You are welcome, Sir Patrick!' cried Adeline, as he entered, with a +most winning smile: 'I am very glad to see you: pray sit down.' + +The baronet, who, audacious as his hopes and intentions were, had not +expected so kind a reception, was quite thrown off his guard by it, and +catching her suddenly in his arms, endeavoured to obtain a still kinder +welcome. Adeline as suddenly disengaged herself from him, and, with the +dignity of offended modesty, desired him to quit the room, as, after +such an insolent attempt, she could not think herself justified in +suffering him to remain with her. + +But her anger was soon changed into pity, when she saw Sir Patrick lay +down his hat, seat himself, and burst into a long deliberate laugh. + +'He is certainly mad!' she exclaimed; and, leaning against the +chimney-piece, she began to contemplate him with a degree of fearful +interest. + +'Upon my soul! now,' cried the baronet, when his laugh was over, 'you +do not suppose, my dear creature, that you and I do not understand one +another! Telling a young fellow to leave the house on such occasions, +means, in the pretty no meaning of your sex, "Stay, and offend again," +to be sure.' + +'He is certainly mad!' said Adeline, more confirmed than before in her +idea of his insanity, and immediately endeavoured to reach the door: but +in so doing she approached Sir Patrick, who, rather roughly seizing her +trembling hand, desired her to sit down, and hear what he had to say to +her. Adeline, thinking it not right to irritate him, instantly obeyed. + +'Now, then, to open my mind to you,' said the baronet, drawing his chair +close to hers: 'From the very first moment I saw you, I felt that we +were made for one another; though, being bothered by my debts, I made up +to the old duchess, and she nibbled the bait directly,--deeming my clean +inches (six feet one, without shoes) well worth her dirty acres.' + +'How dreadfully incoherent he is!' thought Adeline, not suspecting for a +moment that, by the old duchess, he meant her still blooming mother. + +'But, my lovely dear!' continued Sir Patrick, most ardently pressing her +hand, 'so much have your sweet person, and your frank and liberal way of +thinking, charmed me, that I here freely offer myself to you, and we will +begin the life of honour together as soon as you please.' + +Still Adeline, who was unconscious how much her avowed opinions, had +exposed her to insult, continued to believe Sir Patrick insane; a belief +which the wildness of his eyes confirmed. 'I really know not,--you +surprise me, Sir Patrick,--I--' + +'Surprise you, my dear soul! How could you expect anything else from +a man of my spirit, after your honest declaration last night?--All I +feared was, that Glenmurray should get the start of me.' + +Adeline, though alarmed, bewildered, and confounded, had still +recollection enough to know that, whether sane or insane, the words and +looks of Sir Patrick were full of increasing insult. 'I believe, I think +I had better retire', faltered out Adeline. + +'Retire!--No, indeed,' exclaimed the baronet; rudely seizing her. + +This outrage restored Adeline to her usual spirit and self-possession; +and bestowing on him the epithet of 'mean-soul'd ruffian!' she had +almost freed herself from his grasp, when a quick step was heard on the +stairs, and the door was thrown open by Glenmurray. In a moment Adeline, +bursting into tears, threw herself into his arms, as if in search of +protection. + +Glenmurray required no explanation of the scene before him: the +appearance of the actors in it was explanation sufficient; and while +with one arm he fondly held Adeline to his bosom, he raised the other in +a threatening attitude against Sir Patrick, exclaiming as he did it, +'Base, unmanly villain!' + +'Villain!' echoed Sir Patrick--'but it is very well--very well for the +present--Good morning to you, sir!' So saying he hastily withdrew. + +As soon as he was gone, Glenmurray for the first time declared to +Adeline the ardent passion with which she had inspired him; and she, +with equal frankness, confessed that her heart was irrevocably his. + +From this interesting tete-a-tete Adeline was summoned to attend a +person on business to her mother; and during her absence Glenmurray +received a challenge from the angry baronet, appointing him to meet him +that afternoon at five o'clock, about two miles from Bath. To this note, +for fear of alarming the suspicions of Adeline, Glenmurray returned only +a verbal message, saying he would answer it in two hours: but as soon as +she returned he pleaded indispensable business; and before she could +mention any fears respecting the consequences of what had passed between +him and Sir Patrick, he had left the room, having, to prevent any alarm, +requested leave to wait on her early the next day. + +As soon as Glenmurray reached his lodgings, he again revolved in his +mind the propriety of accepting the challenge. 'How can I expect to +influence others by my theories to act right, if my practice sets them +a bad example?' But then again he exclaimed, 'How can I expect to have +any thing I say attended to, when, by refusing to fight, I put it in +the power of my enemies to assert I am a poltroon, and worthy only of +neglect and contempt? No, no; I must fight:--even Adeline herself, +especially as it is on her account, will despise me if I do not:'--and +then, without giving himself any more time to deliberate, he sent an +answer to Sir Patrick, promising to meet him at the time appointed. + +But after he had sent it he found himself a prey to so much self-reproach, +and after he had forfeited his claims to consistency of conduct, he felt +himself so strongly aware of the value of it, that, had not the time of +the meeting been near at hand, he would certainly have deliberated upon +some means of retracting his consent to it. + +Being resolved to do as little mischief as he could, he determined on +having no second in the business; and accordingly repaired to the field +accompanied only by a trusty servant, who had orders to wait his master's +pleasure at a distance. + +Contrary to Glenmurray's expectations, Sir Patrick also came unattended +by a second; while his servant, who was with him, was, like the other, +desired to remain in the back ground. + +'I wish, Mr Glenmurray, to do every thing honourable,' said the baronet, +after they had exchanged salutations: 'therefore, Sir, as I concluded +you would find it difficult to get a second, I am come without one, and +I _conclude_ that I _concluded_ right.--Aye, men of your principle can +have but few friends.' + +'And men of your practice ought to have none, Sir Patrick,' retorted +Glenmurray: 'but, as I don't think it worth while to explain to you my +reasons for not having a second, as I fear that you are incapable of +understanding them, I must desire you to take your ground.' + +'With all my heart,' replied his antagonist; and then taking aim, they +agreed to fire at the same moment. + +They did so; and the servants, hearing the report of the pistols, ran to +the scene of action, and saw Sir Patrick bleeding in the sword-arm, and +Glenmurray, also wounded, leaning against a tree. + +'This is cursed unlucky,' said Sir Patrick coolly: 'you have disabled my +right arm. I can't go on with this business at present; but when I am +well again command me. Your wound, I believe, is as slight as mine; but +as I can walk, and you cannot, and as I have a chaise, and you not, you +shall use it to convey you and your servant home, and I and mine will go +on foot.' + +To this obliging offer Glenmurray was incapable of giving denial; for he +became insensible from loss of blood, and with the assistance of his +antagonist was carried to the chaise, and supported by his terrified +servant, conveyed back to Bath. + +It is not to be supposed that an event of this nature should be long +unknown. It was soon told all over the city that Sir Patrick O'Carrol +and Mr Glenmurray had fought a duel, and that the latter was dangerously +wounded; the quarrel having originated in Mr Glenmurray's scoffing at +religion, king, and constitution, before the pious and loyal baronet. + +This story soon reached the ears of Mrs Mowbray, who, in an agony of +tender sorrow, and in defiance of all decorum, went in person to call +on her admired Sir Patrick; and Adeline, who heard of the affair soon +after, as regardless of appearances as her mother, and more alarmed, +went in person to inquire concerning her wounded Glenmurray. + +By the time that she had arrived at his lodgings, not only his own +surgeon but Sir Patrick's had seen him, as his antagonist thought it +necessary to ascertain the true state of his wound, that he might know +whether he ought to stay, or fly his country. + +The account of both the surgeons was, however, so favourable, and +Glenmurray in all respects so well, that Sir Patrick's alarms were soon +quite at an end; and the wounded man was lying on a sofa, lost in no +very pleasant reflections, when Adeline knocked at his door. Glenmurray +at that very moment was saying to himself, 'Well;--so much for principle +and consistency! Now, my next step must be to marry, and then I shall +have made myself a complete fool, and the worst of all fools,--a man +presuming to instruct others by his precepts, when he finds them +incapable of influencing even his own actions.' + +At this moment his servant came up with Miss Mowbray's compliments, and, +if he was well enough to see her, she would come up and speak to him. + +In an instant all his self-reproaches were forgotten; and when Adeline +hung weeping and silent on his shoulder, he could not but rejoice in an +affair which had procured him a moment of such heartfelt delight. At +first Adeline expressed nothing but terror at the consequences of his +wound, and pity for his sufferings; but when she found that he was in +no danger, and in very little pain, the tender mistress yielded to the +severe monitress, and she began to upbraid Glenmurray for having acted +not only in defiance of her wishes and principles, but of his own; of +principles laid down by him to the world in the strongest point of view, +and in a manner convincing to every mind. + +'Dearest Adeline, consider the provocation,' cried Glenmurray:--'a gross +insult offered to the woman I love!' + +'But who ever fought a duel without provocation, Glenmurray? If +provocation be a justification, your book was unnecessary; and did not +you offer an insult to the understanding of the woman you love, in +supposing that she could be obliged to you for playing the fool on her +account?' + +'But I should have been called a coward had I declined the challenge; +and though I can bear the world's hatred, I could not its contempt:--I +could not endure the loss of what the world calls honour.' + +'Is it possible,' rejoined Adeline, 'that I hear the philosophical +Glenmurray talking thus, in the silly jargon of a man of the world?' + +'Alas! I am a man, not a philosopher, Adeline!' + +'At least be a sensible one;--consistent I dare not now call you. But +have you forgotten the distinction which, in your volume on the subject +of duels, you so strongly lay down between real and apparent honour? +In which of the two classes do you put the honour of which, in this +instance, you were so tenacious? What is there in common between the +glory of risking the life of a fellow-creature, and testimony of an +approving conscience?' + +'An excellent observation that of yours, indeed, my sweet monitress,' +said Glenmurray. + +'An observation of mine; It is your own,' replied Adeline: 'but see, I +have the book in my muff; and I will punish you for the badness of your +practice, by giving you a dose of your theory.' + +'Cruel girl!' cried Glenmurray, 'I am not ordered a sleeping draught!' + +Adeline was however resolved; and, opening the book, she read argument +after argument with unyielding perseverance, till Glenmurray, who, +like the eagle in the song, saw on the dart that wounded him his own +feathers, cried 'Quarter!' + +'But tell me, dear Adeline,' said Glenmurray, a little piqued at her too +just reproofs, 'you, who are so severe on my want of consistency, are +you yourself capable of acting up in every respect to your precepts?' + +'After your weakness,' replied Adeline, smiling, 'it becomes me to +doubt my own strength; but I assure you that I make it a scruple of +conscience, to show by my conduct my confidence in the truth of my +opinions.' + +'Then, in defiance of the world's opinion, that opinion which I, you +see, had not resolution to brave, you will be mine--not according to the +ties of marriage, but with no other ties or sanction than those of love +and reason?' + +'I will,' said Adeline: 'and may He whom I worship' (raising her fine +eyes and white arms to heaven) 'desert me when I desert you!' + +Who that had seen her countenance and gesture at that moment, could have +imagined she was calling on heaven to witness an engagement to lead a +life of infamy? Rather would they have thought her a sublime enthusiast +breathing forth the worship of a grateful soul. + +It may be supposed that Glenmurray's heart beat with exultation at this +confession from Adeline, and that he forgot, in the promised indulgence +of his passion, those bounds which strict decorum required. But +Glenmurray did her justice; he beheld her as she was--all purity of +feeling and all delicacy; and, if possible, the slight favours by which +true love is long contented to be fed, though granted by Adeline with +more conscious emotion, were received by him with more devoted respect: +besides, he again felt that mixture of pain with pleasure, on this +assurance of her love, which he had experienced before. For he knew, +though Adeline did not, the extent of the degradation into which the +step which her conscience approved would necessarily precipitate her; +and experience alone could convince him that her sensibility to shame, +when she was for the first time exposed to it, would not overcome her +supposed fortitude and boasted contempt of the world's opinion, and +change all the roses of love into the thorns of regret and remorse. + +And could he who doted on her;--he, too, who admired her as much for her +consummate purity as for any other of her qualities;--could he bear to +behold this fair creature, whose open eye beamed with the consciousness +of virtue, casting her timid glances to the earth, and shrinking with +horror from the conviction of having in the world's eye forfeited all +pretensions to that virtue which alone was the end of her actions! Would +the approbation of her own mind be sufficient to support her under such +a trial, though she had with such sweet earnestness talked to him of its +efficacy! These reflections had for some time past been continually +occurring to him, and now they came across his mind blighting the +triumphs of successful passion:--nay, but from the dread of incurring +yet more ridicule, on account of the opposition of his practice to his +theory, and perhaps the indignant contempt of Adeline, he could have +thrown himself at her feet, conjuring her to submit to the degradation +of being a wife. + +But, unknown to Glenmurray, perhaps, another reason prompted him to +desire this concession from Adeline. We are never more likely to be in +reality the slaves of selfishness, than when we fancy ourselves acting +with most heroic disinterestedness.--Egotism loves a becoming dress, and +is always on the watch to hide her ugliness by the robe of benevolence. +Glenmurray thought that he was willing to marry Adeline merely for _her_ +sake! but I suspect it was chiefly for _his_. The true and delicate +lover is always a monopolizer, always desirous of calling the woman +of his affections his own: it is not only because he considers marriage +as a holy institution that the lover leads his mistress to the altar; +but because it gives him a right to appropriate the fair treasure to +himself,--because it sanctions and perpetuates the dearest of all +monopolies, and erects a sacred barrier to guard his rights,--around +which, all that is respectable in society, all that is most powerful and +effectual in its organization, is proud and eager to rally. + +But while Glenmurray, in spite of his happiness, was sensible to an +alloy of it, and Adeline was tenderly imputing to the pain of his wound +the occasionally mournful expression of his countenance, Adeline took +occasion to declare that she would live with Glenmurray only on condition +that such a step met with her mother's approbation. + +'Then are my hopes for ever at an end,' said Glenmurray:--'or,--or' (and +spite of himself his eyes sparkled as he spoke)--'or we must submit to +the absurd ceremony of marriage.' + +'Marriage!' replied the astonished Adeline: 'can you think so meanly +of my mother, as to suppose her practice so totally opposite to her +principles, that she would require her daughter to submit to a ceremony +which she herself regards with contempt?--Impossible. I am sure, when I +solicit her consent to my being yours, she will be pleased to find that +her sentiments and observations have not been thrown away on me.' + +Glenmurray thought otherwise: however, he bowed and was silent; and +Adeline declared that, to put an end to all doubt on the subject, she +would instantly go in search of Mrs Mowbray and propose the question to +her: and Glenmurray, feeling himself more weak and indisposed than he +chose to own to her, allowed her, though reluctantly, to depart. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Mrs Mowbray was but just returned from her charitable visit when Adeline +entered the room. 'And pray, Miss Mowbray, where have you been?' she +exclaimed, seeing Adeline with her hat and cloak on. + +'I have been visiting poor Mr Glenmurray,' she replied. + +'Indeed!' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'and without my leave! and pray who went +with you?' + +'Nobody, ma'am.' + +'Nobody!--What! visit a man alone at his lodgings, after the education +which you have received!' + +'Indeed, madam,' replied Adeline meekly, 'my education never taught me +that such conduct was improper; nor, as you did the same this afternoon, +could I have dared to think it so.' + +'You are mistaken, Miss Mowbray,' replied her mother: 'I did not do the +same; for the terms which I am upon with Sir Patrick made my visiting +him no impropriety at all.' + +'If you think I have acted wrong,' replied Adeline timidly, 'no doubt I +have done so; though you were quite right in visiting Sir Patrick, as +the respectability of your age and character, and Sir Patrick's youth, +warranted the propriety of the visit:--but, surely the terms which I am +upon with Mr Glenmurray--' + +'The terms which you are upon with Mr Glenmurray! and my age and +character! what can you mean?' angrily exclaimed Mrs Mowbray. + +'I hope, my dear mother,' said Adeline tenderly, 'that you had long +ere this guessed the attachment which subsists between Mr Glenmurray +and me;--an attachment cherished by your high opinion of him and his +writings; but which respect has till now made me hesitate to mention to +you.' + +'Would to heaven!' replied Mrs Mowbray, 'that respect had made you +for ever silent on the subject! Do you suppose that I would marry my +daughter to a man of small fortune,--but more especially to one who, as +Sir Patrick informs me, is shunned for his principles and profligacy by +all the world?' + +'To what Sir Patrick says of Mr Glenmurray I pay no attention,' answered +Adeline; 'nor are you, my dear mother, capable, I am sure, of being +influenced by the prejudices of the world.--But you are quite mistaken +in supposing me so lost to consistency, and so regardless of your +liberal opinions and the books which we have studied, as to think of +_marrying_ Mr Glenmurray.' + +'Grant me patience!' cried Mrs Mowbray; 'why, to be sure you do not +think of living with him _without_ being married?' + +'Certainly, madam; that you may have the pleasure of beholding one union +founded on rational grounds and cemented by rational ties.' + +'How!' cried Mrs Mowbray, turning pale. 'I!--I have pleasure in seeing +my daughter a kept mistress!--You are mad, quite mad.--_I_ approve such +unhallowed connexions!' + +'My dearest mother,' replied Adeline, 'your agitation terrifies me,--but +indeed what I say is strictly true; and see here, in Mr Glenmurray's +book, the very passage which I so often have heard you admire.' As she +said this, Adeline pointed to the passage; but in an instant Mrs Mowbray +seized the book and threw it on the fire. + +Before Adeline had recovered her consternation Mrs Mowbray fell into a +violent hysteric; and long was it before she was restored to composure. +When she recovered she was so exhausted that Adeline dared not renew +the conversation; but leaving her to rest, she made up a bed on the +floor in her mother's room, and passed a night of wretchedness and +watchfulness,--the first of the kind which she had ever known.--Would +it had been the last! + +In the morning Mrs Mowbray awoke, refreshed and calm; and, affected at +seeing the pale cheek and sunk eye of Adeline, indicative of a sleepless +and unhappy night, she held out her hand to her with a look of kindness; +Adeline pressed it to her lips, as she knelt by the bed-side, and +moistened it with tears of regret for the past and alarm for the future. + +'Adeline, my dear child,' said Mrs Mowbray in a faint voice, 'I hope you +will no longer think of putting a design in execution so fraught with +mischief to you, and horror to me. Little did I think that you were so +romantic as to see no difference between amusing one's imagination with +new theories and new systems, and acting upon them in defiance of common +custom, and the received usages of society. I admire the convenient +trousers and graceful dress of the Turkish women; but I would not wear +them myself, lest it should expose me to derision.' + +'Is there no difference,' thought Adeline, 'between the importance of a +dress and an opinion!--Is the one to be taken up, and laid down again, +with the same indifference as the other!' But she continued silent, and +Mrs Mowbray went on. + +'The poetical philosophy which I have so much delighted to study, has +served me to ornament my conversation, and make persons less enlightened +than myself wonder at the superior boldness of my fancy, and the acuteness +of my reasoning powers;--but I should as soon have thought of making +this little gold chain round my neck fasten the hall-door, as act upon +the precepts laid down in those delightful books. No; though I think all +they say is true, I believe the purity they inculcate too much for this +world.' + +Adeline listened in silent astonishment and consternation. Conscience, +and the conviction of what is right, she then for the first time learned, +were not to be the rule of action; and though filial tenderness made her +resolve never to be the mistress of Glenmurray, she also resolved never +to be his wife, or that of any other man; while, in spite of herself, +the great respect with which she had hitherto regarded her mother's +conduct and opinions began to diminish. + +'Would to heaven, my dear mother,' said Adeline, when Mrs Mowbray had +done speaking, 'that you had said all this to me ere my mind had been +indelibly impressed with the truth of these forbidden doctrines; for now +my conscience tells me that I ought to act up to them!' + +'How!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, starting up in her bed, and in a voice +shrill with emotion, 'are you then resolved to disobey me, and dishonour +yourself?' + +'Oh! never, never!' replied Adeline, alarmed at her mother's violence, +and fearful of a relapse. 'Be but the kind affectionate parent that you +have ever been to me; and though I will never marry out of regard to +my own principles, I will also never contract any other union, out +of respect to your wishes,--but will lead with you a quiet, if not a +_happy_ life; for never, never can I forget Glenmurray.' + +'There speaks the excellent child I always thought you to be!' replied +Mrs Mowbray; 'and I shall leave it to time and good counsels to convince +you, that the opinions of a girl of eighteen, as they are not founded +on long experience, may possibly be erroneous.' + +Mrs Mowbray never made a truer observation; but Adeline was not in a +frame of mind to assent to it. + +'Besides,' continued Mrs Mowbray, 'had I ever been disposed to accept +of Mr Glenmurray as a son-in-law, it is very unlikely that I should be +so now; as the duel took place not only, I find, from the treasonable +opinions which he put forth, but from some disrespectful language which +he held concerning me.' + +'Who could dare to invent so infamous a calumny!' exclaimed Adeline. + +'My authority is unquestionable, Miss Mowbray; I speak from Sir Patrick +himself.' + +'Then he adds falsehood to his other villanies!' returned Adeline, +almost inarticulate with rage:--'but what could be expected from a man +who could dare to insult a young woman under the roof of her mother with +his licentious addresses?' + +'What mean you?' cried Mrs Mowbray, turning pale. + +'I mean that Sir Patrick yesterday morning insulted me by the grossest +familiarities, and--' + +'My dear child,' replied Mrs Mowbray laughing, 'that is only the usual +freedom of his manner; a manner which your ignorance of the world led +you to mistake. He did not mean to insult you, believe me, I am sure +that, spite of his ardent passion for me, he never, even when alone with +me, hazarded any improper liberty.' + +'The ardent passion which he feels for you, madam!' exclaimed Adeline, +turning pale in her turn. + +'Yes, Miss Mowbray! What, I suppose you think me too old to inspire +one!--But, I assure you, there are people who think the mother handsomer +than the daughter!' + +'No doubt, dear mother, every one ought to think so,--and would to +heaven Sir Patrick were one of those! But he, unfortunately--' + +'Is of that opinion,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray angrily: 'and to convince +you--so tenderly does he love me, and so fondly do I return his passion, +that in a few days I shall become his wife.' + +Adeline, on hearing this terrible information, fell insensible on the +ground. When she recovered she saw Mrs Mowbray anxiously watching by +her, but not with that look of alarm and tenderness with which she had +attended her during her long illness; that look which was always present +to her graceful and affectionate remembrance. No; Mrs Mowbray's eye was +cast down with a half-mournful, half-reproachful, and half-fearful +expression, when it met that of Adeline. + +The emotion of anguish which her fainting had evinced was a reproach to +the proud heart of Mrs Mowbray, and Adeline felt that it was so; but +when she recollected that her mother was going to marry a man who had +so lately declared a criminal passion for herself, she was very near +relapsing into insensibility. She however struggled with her feelings, +in order to gain resolution to disclose to Mrs Mowbray all that had +passed between her and Sir Patrick. But as soon as she offered to renew +the conversation, Mrs Mowbray sternly commanded her to be silent; and +insisting on her going to bed, she left her to her own reflections, till +wearied and exhausted she fell into a sound sleep: nor, as it was late +in the evening when she awoke, did she rise again till the next morning. + +Mrs Mowbray entered her room as she was dressing and inquired how she +did, with some kindness. + +'I shall be better, dear mother, if you will but hear what I have to say +concerning Sir Patrick,' replied Adeline, bursting into tears. + +'You can say nothing that will shake my opinion of him, Miss Mowbray,' +replied her mother coldly: 'so I advise you to reconcile yourself to a +circumstance which it is not in your power to prevent.' So saying, she +left the room: and Adeline, convinced that all she could say would be +vain, endeavoured to console herself, by thinking that, as soon as Sir +Patrick became the husband of her mother, his wicked designs on her +would undoubtedly cease; and that, therefore, in one respect, that +ill-assorted union would be beneficial to her. + +Sir Patrick, meanwhile, was no less sanguine in his expectations from +his marriage. Unlike the innocent Adeline, he did not consider his union +with the mother as a necessary check to his attempts on the daughter; +but, emboldened by what to him appeared the libertine sentiments of +Adeline, and relying on the opportunities of being with her, which he +must infallibly enjoy under the same roof in the country, he looked on +her as his certain prey. Though he believed Glenmurray to be at that +moment preferred to himself, he thought it impossible that the superior +beauty of his person should not, in the end, have its due weight: as a +passion founded in esteem, and the admiration of intellectual beauty, +could not, in his opinion, subsist: besides, Adeline appeared in his +eyes not a deceived enthusiast, but a susceptible and forward girl, +endeavouring to hide her frailty under fine sentiments and high-sounding +theories. Nor was Sir Patrick's inference an unnatural one. Every man +of the world would have thought the same; and on very plausible +grounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +As Sir Patrick was not 'punctual as lovers to the moment sworn', Mrs +Mowbray resolved to sit down and write immediately to Glenmurray; +flattering herself at the same time, that the letter which was designed +to confound Glenmurray would delight the tender baronet;--for Mrs +Mowbray piqued herself on her talents for letter-writing, and was not a +little pleased with an opportunity of displaying them to a celebrated +author. But never before did she find writing a letter so difficult a +task. Her eager wish of excelling deprived her of the means; and she +who, in a letter to a friend or relation, would have written in a +style at once clear and elegant, after two hours' effort produced the +following specimen of the obscure, the pedantic, and affected.-- + + + 'SIR, + + 'The light which cheers and attracts, if we follow its + guidance, often leads us into bogs and quagmires:--Verbum + sapienti. Your writings are the lights, and the practice to + which you advise my deluded daughter is the bog and quagmire. I + agree with you in all you have said against marriage;--I agree + with the savage nations in the total uselessness of clothing; + still I condescend to wear clothes, though neither becoming nor + useful, because I respect public opinion; and I submit to the + institution of marriage for reasons equally cogent. Such being + my sentiments, Sir, I must desire you never to see my daughter + more. Nor could you expect to be received with open arms by me, + whom the shafts of your ridicule have pierced, though warded + off by the shield of love and gallantry;--but for this I thank + you! Now shall I possess, owing to your baseness, at once a + declared lover and a tried avenger; and the chains of Hymen + will be rendered more charming by gratitude's having blown the + flame, while love forged the fetters. + + 'But with your writings I continue to amuse my + imagination.--Lovely is the flower of the nightshade, though + its berry be poison. Still shall I admire and wonder at you as + an author, though I avoid and detest you as a man. + + 'EDITHA MOWBRAY.' + +This letter was just finished when Sir Patrick arrived, and to him it +was immediately shown. + +'Heh! what have we here?' cried he laughing violently as he perused it. +'Here you talk of being pierced by shafts which were warded off. Now, +had I said that, it would have been called a bull. As to the concluding +paragraph--' + +'O! that, I flatter myself,' said Mrs Mowbray, 'will tear him with +remorse.' + +'He must first understand it,' cried Sir Patrick: 'I can but just +comprehend it, and am sure it will be all botheration to him.' + +'I am sorry to find such is your opinion,' replied Mrs Mowbray; 'for I +think that sentence the best written of any.' + +'I did not say it was not fine writing,' replied the baronet, 'I only +said it was not to be understood.--But, with your leave, you shall send +the letter, and we'll drop the subject.' + +So said, so done, to the great satisfaction of Sir Patrick, who felt +that it was for his interest to suffer the part of Mrs Mowbray's letter +which alluded to Glenmurray's supposed calumnies against her to remain +obscurely worded, as he well knew that what he had asserted on this +subject was wholly void of foundation. + +Glenmurray did not receive it with equal satisfaction. He was indignant +at the charge of having advised Adeline to become his mistress rather +than his wife; and as so much of the concluding passage as he could +understand seemed to imply that he had calumniated her mother, to remain +silent a moment would have been to confess himself guilty: he therefore +answered Mrs Mowbray's letter immediately. The answer was as follows:-- + + + 'MADAM, + + 'To clear myself from the charge of having advised Miss Mowbray + to a step contrary to the common customs, however erroneous, + of society at this period, I appeal to the testimony of Miss + Mowbray herself; and I here repeat to you the assurance which + I made to her, that I am willing to marry her when and where + she chooses. I love my system and my opinions, but the + respectability of the woman of my affections _more_. Allow me, + therefore, to make you a little acquainted with my situation in + life: + + 'To you it is well known, madam, that wealth, honours, and + titles have no value in my eyes; and that I reverence talents + and virtues, though they wear the garb of poverty, and are born + in the most obscure stations. But you, or rather those who are + so fortunate as to influence your determinations, may consider + my sentiments on this subject as romantic and absurd. It is + necessary, therefore, that I should tell you, as an excuse in + their eyes for presuming to address your daughter, that, by the + accident of birth, I am descended from an ancient family, and + nearly allied to a noble one; and that my paternal inheritance, + though not large enough for splendour and luxury, is sufficient + for all the purposes of comfort and genteel affluence. I would + say more on this subject, but I am impatient to remove from + your mind the prejudice which you seem to have imbibed against + me. I do not perfectly understand the last paragraph in your + letter. If you will be so kind as to explain it to me, you may + depend on my being perfectly ingenuous: indeed, I have no + difficulty in declaring, that I have neither encouraged a + feeling, nor uttered a word, capable of giving the lie to the + declaration which I am now going to make--That I am, + + 'With respect and esteem, + + 'Your obedient servant, + + 'F. GLENMURRAY.' + + +This letter had an effect on Mrs Mowbray's feelings so much in favour +of Glenmurray, that she was almost determined to let him marry Adeline. +She felt that she owed her some amends for contracting a marriage so +suddenly, and without either her knowledge or approbation; and she +thought that, by marrying her to the man of her heart, she should make +her peace both with Adeline and herself. But, unfortunately, this +design, as soon as it began to be formed, was communicated to Sir +Patrick. + +'So then!' exclaimed he, 'you have forgotten and forgiven the +impertinent things which the puppy said! things which obliged me to wear +this little useless appendage in a sling thus (pointing to his wounded +arm).' + +'O! no, my dear Sir Patrick! But though what Mr Glenmurray said might +alarm the scrupulous tenderness of a lover, perhaps it was a remark +which might only suit the sincerity of a friend. Perhaps, if Mr +Glenmurray had made it to me, I should have heard it with thanks, and +with candour have approved it.' + +'My sweet soul!' replied Sir Patrick, 'you may be as candid and amiable +as ever you please, but, 'by St. Patrick!' never shall Sir Patrick +O'Carrol be father-in-law to the notorious and infamous Glenmurray--that +subverter of all religion and order, and that scourge of civilized +society!' + +So saying, he stalked about the room; and Mrs Mowbray, as she gazed on +his handsome person, thought it would be absurd for her to sacrifice her +own happiness to her daughter's, and give up Sir Patrick as her husband +in order to make Glenmurray her son. She therefore wrote another letter +to Glenmurray, forbidding him any further intercourse with Adeline, on +any pretence whatever; and delayed not a moment to send him her final +decision. + +'That is acting like the sensible woman I took you for,' said Sir +Patrick: 'the fellow has now gotten his quietus, I trust, and the dear +little Adeline is reserved for happier fate. Sweet soul! you do not know +how fond she will be of me! I protest that I shall be so kind to her, it +will be difficult for people to decide which I love best, the daughter +or the mother.' + +'But I hope _I_ shall always know, Sir Patrick,' said Mrs Mowbray +gravely. + +'You!--O yes, to be sure. But I mean that my fatherly attentions shall +be of the warmest kind. But now do me the favour of telling me what hour +tomorrow I may appoint the clergyman to bring the license?' + +The conversation that followed, it were needless and tedious to describe. +Suffice, that eight o'clock the next morning was fixed for the marriage; +and Mrs Mowbray, either from shame or compassion, resolved that Adeline +should not accompany her to church, nor even know of the ceremony till +it was over. + +Nor was this a difficult matter. Adeline remained in her own apartment +all the preceding day, endeavouring, but in vain, to reconcile herself +to what she justly termed the degradation of her mother. She felt, alas! +the most painful of all feelings, next to that of self-abasement, the +consciousness of the abasement of one to whom she had all her life +looked up with love and veneration. To write to Glenmurray while +oppressed by such contending emotions she knew to be impossible; she +therefore contented herself with sending a verbal message, importing +that he should hear from her the next day: and poor Glenmurray passed +the rest of that day and the night in a state little better than her +own. + +The next morning Adeline, who had not closed her eyes till daylight, +woke late, and from a sound but unrefreshing sleep. The first object she +saw was her maid, smartly dressed, sitting by her bed-side; and she also +saw that she had been crying. + +'Is my mother ill, Evans?' she exclaimed. + +'O! no, Miss Adeline, quite well,' replied the girl, sighing. + +'But why are you so much dressed?' demanded Adeline. + +'I have been out,' answered the maid. + +'Not on unpleasant business?' + +'That's as it may be,' she cried, turning away; and Adeline, from +delicacy, forebore to press her further. + +''Tis very late--is it not?' asked Adeline, 'and time for me to rise!' + +'Yes, miss--I believe you had better get up.' + +Adeline immediately rose.--'Give me the dark gown I wore yesterday,' +said she. + +'I think, miss, you had better put on your new white one,' returned the +maid. + +'My new white one!' exclaimed Adeline, astonished at an interference so +new. + +'Yes, miss--I think it will be taken kinder, and look better.' + +At these words Adeline's suspicions were awakened. 'I see, Evans,' she +cried, 'you have something extraordinary to tell me:--I partly guess; +I,--my mother--' Here, unable to proceed, she lay down on the bed which +she had just quitted. + +'Yes, Miss Adeline--'tis very true; but pray compose yourself, I am sure +I have cried enough on your account, that I have.' + +'What is true, my good Evans?' said Adeline faintly. + +'Why, miss, my lady was married this morning to Sir Patrick +O'Carrol!--Mercy on me, how pale you look! I am sure I wish the villain +was at the bottom of the sea, so I do.' + +'Leave me,' said Adeline faintly, struggling for utterance. + +'No--that I will not,' bluntly replied Evans; 'you are not fit to be +left; and they are rejoicing below with Sir Pat's great staring servant. +But, for my part, I had rather stay here and cry with you than laugh +with them.' + +Adeline hid her face in the pillow, incapable of further resistance, and +groaned aloud. + +'Who should ever have thought my lady would have done so!' continued the +maid.--'Only think, miss! they say, and I doubt it is too true, that +there have been no writings, or settlements, I think they call them, +drawn up; and so Sir Pat have got all, and he is over head and ears in +debt, and my lady is to pay him out on't! + +At this account, which Adeline feared was a just one, as she had seen no +preparations for a wedding going on, and had observed no signs of deeds, +or any thing of the kind, she started up in an agony of grief--'Then +has my mother given me up, indeed!' she exclaimed, clasping her hands +together, 'and the once darling child may soon be a friendless outcast!' + +'You want a friend, Miss Adeline!' said the kind girl, bursting into +tears.--'Never, while I live, or any of my fellow-servants.' And +Adeline, whose heart was bursting with a sense of forlornness and +abandonment, felt consoled by the artless sympathy of her attendant; +and, giving way to a violent flood of tears, she threw her arms round +her neck, and sobbed upon her bosom. + +Having thus eased her feelings, she recollected that it was incumbent on +her to exert her fortitude; and that it was a duty which she owed her +mother not to condemn her conduct openly herself, nor suffer any one else +to do it in her presence: still, at that moment, she could not find in +her heart to reprove the observations by which, in spite of her sense of +propriety, she had been soothed and gratified; but she hastened to dress +herself as became a bridal dinner, and dismissed, as soon as she could, +the affectionate Evans from her presence. She then walked up and down +her chamber, in order to summon courage to enter the drawing-room.--'But +how strange, how cruel it was,' said she, 'that my mother did not come +to inform me of this important event herself!' + +In this respect, however, Mrs Mowbray had acted kindly. Reluctant, even +more than she was willing to confess to her own heart, to meet Adeline +alone, she had chosen to conclude that she was still asleep, and had +desired she might not be disturbed; but soon after her return from +church, being assured that she was in a sound slumber, she had stolen to +her bed-side and put a note under her pillow, acquainting her with what +had passed: but this note Adeline in her restlessness had, with her +pillow, pushed on the floor, and there unseen it had remained. But, as +Adeline was pacing to and fro, she luckily observed it; and, by proving +that her mother had not been so very neglectful of her, it tended to +fortify her mind against the succeeding interview. The note began:-- + + 'My dearest child! to spare you, in your present weak state, the + emotion which you would necessarily feel in attending me to the + altar, I have resolved to let the ceremony be performed unknown + to you. But, my beloved Adeline, I trust that your affection for + me will make you rejoice in a step, which you may, perhaps, at + present disapprove, when convinced that it was absolutely + necessary to my happiness, and can, in no way, be the means of + diminishing yours. + + 'I remain + + 'Your ever affectionate mother.' + +'She loves me still then!' cried Adeline, shedding tears of tenderness, +'and I accused her unjustly.--O my dear mother, if this event should +indeed increase your happiness, never shall I repine at not having been +able to prevent it.' And then, after taking two or three hasty turns +round the room, and bathing her eyes to remove in a degree the traces of +her tears, she ventured into the drawing-room. + +But the sight of her mother seated by Sir Patrick, his arm encircling +her waist, in that very room which had so lately witnessed his +profligate attempts on herself, deprived her of the little resolution +which she had been able to assume, and pale and trembling she sunk +speechless with emotion on the first chair near her. + +Mrs Mowbray, or, as we must at present call her, Lady O'Carrol, was +affected by Adeline's distress, and, hastening to her, received the +almost fainting girl in her arms; while even Sir Patrick, feeling +compassion for the unhappiness which he could more readily understand +than his bride, was eager to hide his confusion by calling for water, +drops, and servants. + +'I want neither medicine nor assistance now,' said Adeline, gently +raising her head from her mother's shoulder: 'the shock is over, and I +shall, I trust, behave in future with proper self-command.' + +'Better late than never,' muttered Lady O'Carrol, on whom the word +_shock_ had not made a pleasant impression; while Sir Patrick, +approaching Adeline, exclaimed, 'If you have not self-command, Miss +Mowbray, it is the only command which you cannot boast; for your power +of commanding others no one can dispute, who has ever had the happiness +of beholding you.' + +So saying, he took her hand; and, as her mother's husband, claimed the +privilege of saluting her,--a privilege which Adeline, though she almost +shrunk with horror from his touch, had _self-command_ enough not to +deny him: immediately after he claimed the same favour from his bride; +and they resumed their position on the sofa. + +But so embarrassing was the situation of all parties that no +conversation took place; and Adeline, unable any longer to endure the +restraint to which she was obliged, rose, to return to her own room, in +order to hide the sorrow which she was on the point of betraying, when +her mother in a tone of reproach exclaimed, 'It grieves me to the soul, +Miss Mowbray, to perceive that you appear to consider as a day of +mourning the day which I consider as the happiest of my life.' + +'Oh! my dearest mother!' replied Adeline, returning and approaching her, +'it is the dread of your deceiving yourself, only, that makes me sad at +a time like this: if this day in its consequences prove a happy one--' + +'And wherefore should you doubt that it will, Miss Mowbray?' + +'Miss Mowbray, do you doubt my honour?' cried Sir Patrick hastily. + +Adeline instantly fixed her fine eyes on his face with a look which he +knew how to interpret, but not how to support: and he cast his to the +ground with painful consciousness. + +She saw her triumph, and it gave her courage to proceed:--'O sir!' she +cried, 'it is in your power to convert all my painful doubts into joyful +certainties; make but my mother happy, and I will love and bless you +ever.--Promise me, sir,' she continued, her enthusiasm and affection +kindling as she spoke, 'promise me to be kind and indulgent to her;--she +has never known contradiction; she has been through life the darling +object of all who surrounded her; the pride of her parents, her husband, +and her child: neglect, injury, and unkindness she would inevitably sink +under: and I conjure you (here she dropped on her knees and extended her +arms in an attitude of entreaty) by all your hopes of happiness +hereafter, to give her reason to continue to name this the happiest day +of her life.' + +Here she ceased, overcome by the violence of her emotions; but continued +her look and attitude of entreaty, full of such sweet earnestness, +that the baronet could hardly conceal the variety of feelings which +assailed him; amongst which, passion for the lovely object before him +predominated. To make a jest of Adeline's seriousness he conceived to be +the best way to conceal what he felt; and while Mrs Mowbray, overcome +with Adeline's expressions of tenderness, was giving way to them by a +flood of tears, and grasping in both hers the clasped hands of Adeline, +he cried, in an ironical tone,--'You are the most extraordinary motherly +young creature that I ever saw in my life, my dear girl! Instead of your +mother giving the nuptial benediction to you, the order of nature is +reversed, and you are giving it to her. Upon my word I begin to think, +seeing you in that posture, that you are my bride begging a blessing of +mamma on our union, and that I ought to be on my knees too.' + +So saying, he knelt beside Adeline at Lady O'Carrol's feet, and in a +tone of mock solemnity besought her to bless both her affectionate +children: and as he did this, he threw his arm round the weeping girl, +and pressed her to his bosom. This speech, and this action, at once +banished all self-command from the indignant Adeline, and in an instant +she sprung from his embrace; and forgetting how much her violence must +surprise, if not alarm and offend, her mother, she rushed out of the +room, and did not stop till she had reached her own chamber. + +When there, she was alarmed lest her conduct should have occasioned +both pain and resentment to Lady O'Carrol; and it was with trembling +reluctance that she obeyed the summons to dinner; but her fears were +groundless. The bride had fallen into one of her reveries during Sir +Patrick's strange speech, from which she awakened only at the last words +of it, viz. 'affectionate children:' and seeing Sir Patrick at her +feet, with a very tender expression on his face, and hearing the words +'affectionate children,' she conceived that he was expressing his hopes +of their being blest with progeny, and that a selfish feeling of fear at +such a prospect had hurried Adeline out of the room. She was therefore +disposed to regard her daughter with pity, but not with resentment, when +she entered the dinner-room, and Adeline's tranquillity in a degree +returned: but when she retired for the night she could not help owning +to herself, that that day, her mother's wedding day, had been the most +painful of her existence--and she literally sobbed herself to sleep. + +The next morning a new trial awaited her; she had to write a final +farewell to Glenmurray. Many letters did she begin, many did she finish, +and many did she tear; but recollecting that the longer she delayed +sending him one, the longer she kept him in a state of agitating +suspense, she resolved to send the last written, even though it appeared +to her not quite so strong a transcript of her feelings as the former +ones. Whether it was so or not, Glenmurray received it with alternate +agony and transport;--with agony because it destroyed every hope of +Adeline's being his,--and with transport, because every line breathed +the purest and yet most ardent attachment, and convinced him that, +however long their separation, the love of Adeline would experience no +change. + +Many days elapsed before Glenmurray could bear any companion but the +letter of Adeline; and during that time she was on the road with the +bride and bridegroom to a beautiful seat in Berkshire, called the +Pavilion, hired by Sir Patrick, the week before his marriage, of one of +his profligate friends. As the road lay through a very fine country, +Adeline would have thought the journey a pleasant one, had not the idea +of Glenmurray ill and dejected continually haunted her. Sir Patrick +appeared to be engrossed by his bride, and she was really wholly wrapt +up in him; and at times the beauties of the scenery around had power to +engage Adeline's attention: but she immediately recollected how much +Glenmurray would have participated in her delight, and the contemplation +of the prospect ended in renewed recollections of him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +At length they arrived at the place of their destination; and Sir +Patrick, warmly embracing his bride, bade her welcome to her new abode; +and immediately approaching Adeline, he bestowed on her an embrace no +less cordial:--or, to say the truth, so ardent seemed the welcome, even +to the innocent Adeline, that she vainly endeavoured to persuade herself +that, as her father-in-law, Sir Patrick's tenderness was excusable. + +Spite of her efforts to be cheerful she was angry and suspicious, and +had an indistinct feeling of remote danger; which though she could not +define even to herself, it was new and painful to her to experience. +But as the elastic mind of eighteen soon rebounds from the pressure of +sorrow, and forgets in present enjoyment the prospect of evil, Adeline +gazed on the elegant apartment she was in with joyful surprise; while, +through folding doors on either side of it, she beheld a suite of rooms, +all furnished with a degree of tasteful simplicity such as she had never +before beheld: and through the windows, which opened on a lawn that +sloped to the banks of a rapid river, she saw an amphitheatre of wooded +hills, which proved that, how great soever had been the efforts of art +to decorate their new habitation, the hand of Nature had done still more +to embellish it; and all fear of Sir Patrick was lost in gratitude for +his having chosen such a retirement. + +With eager curiosity Adeline hurried from room to room; admired in the +western apartments the fine effect of the declining sun shining through +rose-coloured window curtains; gazed with delight on the statues and +pictures that every where met the eye, and reposed with unsuspecting +gaiety on the couches of eider down which were in profusion around. +Every thing in the house spoke it to be the temple of Pleasure: but the +innocent Adeline and her unobservant mother saw nothing but elegant +convenience in an abode in which the disciples of Epicurus might have +delighted; and while AEolian harps in the windows, and perfumes of all +kinds, added to the enchantment of the scene, the bride only beheld in +the choice of the villa a proof of her husband's desire of making her +happy; and Adeline sighed for virtuous love and Glenmurray, as all that +was wanting to complete her fascination. + +Sir Patrick, meanwhile, was not blind to the impressions made on Adeline +by the beauty of the spot which he had chosen, though he was far from +suspecting the companion she had pictured to herself as most fitted +to enjoy and embellish it; and pleased because she was pleased, and +delighted to be regarded by her with such unusual looks of complacency, +he gave himself up to his natural vivacity; and Adeline passed a merry, +if not a happy, evening with the bride and bridegroom. + +But the next morning she arose with the painful conviction as fresh as +ever on her mind, that day would succeed to day; and yet she should not +behold Glenmurray: and that day would succeed to day, and still should +she see O'Carrol, still be exposed to his noisy mirth, to his odious +familiarities, which, though she taught herself to believe they +proceeded merely from the customs of his country, and the nearness of +their relationship, it was to her most painful to endure. + +Her only resource, therefore, from unpleasant thoughts was reading; +and she eagerly opened the cases of books in the library, which were +unlocked. But, on taking down some of the books, she was disappointed to +find none of the kind to which she had been accustomed. Mrs Mowbray's +peculiar taste had led her, as we have before observed, to the perusal +of nothing but political tracts, systems of philosophy, and Scuderi's +and other romances. Scarcely had the works of our best poets found their +way to her library; and novels, plays, and works of a lighter kind she +was never in the habit of reading herself, and consequently had not put +in the hands of her daughter. Adeline had, therefore, read Rousseau's +_Contrat Social_, but not his _Julie_; Montesquieu's _Esprit des Loix_, +but not his _Lettres Persanes_; and had glowed with republican ardour +over the scenes of Voltaire's _Brutus_, but had never had her mind +polluted by the pages of his romances. + +Different had been the circumstances, and consequently the practice, +of the owner of Sir Patrick's new abode. Of all Rousseau's works, he +had in his library only the _New Heloise_ and his _Confessions_; of +Montesquieu, none but the glowing letters above-mentioned; and while +Voltaire's chaste and moral tragedies were excluded, his profligate +tales attracted the eye by the peculiar elegance of their binding, while +dangerous French novels of all descriptions met the view under the downy +pillows of the inviting sofas around, calculated to inflame the fancy +and corrupt the morals. + +But Adeline, unprepared by any reading of the kind to receive and +relish the poison contained in them, turned with disgust from pages so +uncongenial to her feelings; nor did her eye dwell delighted on any of +the stores which the shelves contained. + +Disappointment in her hopes of finding amusement in reading, Adeline had +recourse to walking; and none of the beautiful scenes around remained +long unexplored by her. In her rambles she but too frequently saw +scenes of poverty and distress, which ill contrasted with the beauty of +the house which she inhabited; scenes, which even a small portion of +the money expended there in useless decoration would have entirely +alleviated: and they were scenes, too, which Adeline had been accustomed +to relieve. The extreme of poverty in the cottage did not disgrace, on +the Mowbray estate, the well-furnished mansion-house; but Adeline, as +we have observed before, was allowed to draw on her mother for money +sufficient to prevent industrious labour from knowing the distress of +want. + +'And why should I not draw on her here for money for the same purposes?' +cried Adeline to herself, as she beheld one spectacle of peculiar +hardships.--'Surely my mother is not dependent on her husband? and even +if she were, Sir Patrick has not a hard heart, and will not refuse my +prayer': and therefore, promising the sufferers instant relief, she left +them, saying she should soon reach the Pavilion and be back again; while +the objects of her bounty were silent with surprise at hearing that +their relief was to come from the Pavilion, a place hitherto closed to +the solicitations of poverty, though ever open to the revels and the +votaries of pleasure. + +Adeline found her mother alone; and with a beating heart and a flushed +cheek, she described the scene which she had witnessed, and begged to be +restored to her old office of almoner on such occasions. + +'A sad scene, indeed, my dear Adeline!' replied the bride in evident +embarrassment, 'and I will speak to Sir Patrick about it.' + +'Speak to Sir Patrick, madam! cannot you follow the impulse of humanity +without consulting him?' + +'I can't give the relief you ask without his assistance,' replied her +mother; 'for, except a guinea or so, I have no loose cash about me for +my own uses.--Sir Patrick's benevolence has long ago emptied his purse, +and I gladly surrendered mine to him.' + +'And shall you in future have no money for the purposes of charity but +that you must claim from Sir Patrick?' asked Adeline mournfully. + +'O dear! yes,--I have a very handsome allowance settled on me; but then +at present he wants it himself (Adeline involuntarily clasped her hands +together in an agony, and sighed deeply.) But, however, child,' added +the bride, 'as you seem to make such a point of it, take this guinea to +the cottage you mention, _en attendant_!' + +Adeline took the guinea: but it was very insufficient to pay for medical +attendance, to discharge the rent due to a clamorous landlord, and to +purchase several things necessary for the relief of the poor sufferers: +therefore she added another guinea to it, and, not liking to relate her +disappointment, sent the money to them, desiring the servant to say that +she would see them the next morning, when she resolved to apply to Sir +Patrick for the relief which her mother could not give; feeling at the +same time the mournful conviction, that she herself, as well as her +mother, would be in future dependent on his bounty. + +Though disposed to give way to mournful reflections on her own account, +Adeline roused herself from the melancholy abstraction into which she +was falling, by reflecting that she had still to plead the cause of the +poor cottagers with Sir Patrick; and hearing he was in the house, she +hastened to prefer her petition. + +Sir Patrick listened to her tone of voice, and gazed on her expressive +countenance with delight; but when she had concluded her narration a +solitary half-guinea was all he bestowed on her, saying, 'I am never +roused to charity by the descriptions of others; I must always see the +distress which I am solicited to relieve.' + +'Then go with me to the cottage,' exclaimed Adeline; but to her great +mortification he only smiled, bowed, and disappeared: and when he +returned to supper, Adeline could scarcely prevail on herself to look at +him without displeasure, and could not endure the unfeeling vivacity of +his manner. + +Mortified and unhappy, she next morning went to the cottage, reluctant +to impart to its expecting inhabitants the ill success she had +experienced. But what was her surprise when they came out joyfully to +meet her, and told her that a gentleman had been there that morning +very early, had discharged their debts, and given them a sum of money +for their future wants! + +'His name, his name?' eagerly inquired Adeline: but that they said he +refused to give; and as he was in a horseman's large coat, and held a +hankerchief to his face, they were sure they should not know him again. + +A pleasing suspicion immediately came across Adeline's mind that this +benevolent unknown might be Glenmurray: and the idea that he was perhaps +unseen hovering round her, gave her one of the most exquisite feelings +which she had ever known. But this agreeable delusion was soon +dissipated by one of the children's giving her a card which the kind +stranger had dropped from his pocket; and this card had on it 'Sir +Patrick O'Carrol.' + +At first it was natural for her to be hurt and disappointed at finding +that her hopes concerning Glenmurray had no foundation in truth; but her +benevolence, and indeed regard for her mother's happiness as well as her +own, led her to rejoice in this unexpected proof of excellence in Sir +Patrick.--He had evidently proved that he loved to do good by stealth, +and had withdrawn himself even from her thanks. + +In a moment, therefore, she banished from her mind every trace of his +unworthiness. She had done him injustice, and she sought refuge from the +remorse which this consciousness inflicted on her, by going into the +opposite extreme. From that hour, indeed, her complaisance to his +opinions, and her attentions to him, were so unremitting and evident, +that Sir Patrick's passion became stronger than ever, and his hopes of a +return to it seemed to be built on a very strong foundation. + +Adeline had given all her former suspicions to the wind; daily instances +of his benevolence came to her knowledge, and threw such a charm over +all he said and did, that even the familiarity in his conduct, look, and +manner towards her, appeared to her now nothing more than the result of +the free manners of his countrymen:--and she sometimes could not help +wishing Sir Patrick to be known to, and intimate with, Glenmurray. But +the moment was now at hand that was to unveil the real character of Sir +Patrick, and determine the destiny of Adeline. + +One day Sir Patrick proposed taking his bride to see a beautiful +_ferme ornee_ at about twelve miles' distance; and if it answered the +expectations which he had formed of it, they were determined to spend +two or three days in the neighbourhood to enjoy the beauty of the +grounds;--in that case he was to return in the evening to the Pavilion, +and drive Adeline over the next morning to partake in their pleasure. + +To this scheme both the ladies gladly consented, as it was impossible +for them to suspect the villainous design which it was intended to aid. + +The truth was, that Sir Patrick, having, as he fondly imagined, gained +Adeline's affections, resolved to defer no longer the profligate attempt +which he had long meditated; and had contrived this excursion in order +to insure his wife's absence from home, and a tete-a-tete with her +daughter. + +At an early hour the curricle was at the door, and Sir Patrick, having +handed his lady in, took leave of Adeline. He told her that he should +probably return early in the evening, pressed her hand more tenderly +than usual, and, springing into the carriage, drove off with a +countenance animated with expected triumph. + +Adeline immediately set out on a long walk to the adjoining villages, +visited the cottages near the Pavilion, and, having dined at an early +hour, determined to pass the rest of the day in reading, provided it was +possible for her to find any book in the house proper for her perusal. + +With this intention she repaired to an apartment called the library, but +what in these times would be denominated a _boudoir_, and this, even in +Paris, would have been admired for its voluptuous elegance.--On the +table lay several costly volumes, which seemed to have been very lately +perused by Sir Patrick, as some of them were open, some turned down +at particular passages: but as soon as she glanced her eye over their +contents, Adeline indignantly threw them down again; and, while her +cheek glowed with the blush of offended modesty she threw herself on +a sofa, and fell into a long and mournful reverie on the misery which +awaited her mother, in consequence of her having madly dared to unite +herself for life to a young libertine, who could delight in no other +reading but what was offensive to good morals and to delicacy. Nor could +she dwell upon this subject without recurring to her former fears for +herself; and so lost was she in agonizing reflections, that it was some +time before she recollected herself sufficiently to remember that she +was guilty of an indecorum, in staying so long in an apartment which +contained books that she ought not even to be suspected of having had an +opportunity to peruse. + +Having once entertained this consciousness, Adeline hastily arose, and +had just reached the door when Sir Patrick himself appeared at it. +She started back in terror when she beheld him, on observing in his +countenance and manner evident marks not only of determined profligacy, +but of intoxication. Her suspicions were indeed just. Bold as he was in +iniquity, he dared not in a cool and sober moment put his guilty purpose +in execution; and he shrunk with temporary horror from an attempt on the +honour of the daughter of his wife, though he believed that she would be +a willing victim. He had therefore stopped on the road to fortify his +courage with wine; and, luckily for Adeline, he had taken more than he +was aware of; for when, after a vehement declaration of the ardour of +his passion, he dared irreverently to approach her, Adeline, strong +in innocence, aware of his intention, and presuming on his situation, +disengaged herself from his grasp with ease; and pushing him with +violence from her, he fell with such force against the brass edge of one +of the sofas, that, stunned and wounded by the fall, he lay bleeding on +the ground. Adeline involuntarily was hastening to his assistance: but +recollecting how mischievous to her such an exertion of humanity might +be, she contented herself with ringing the bell violently to call the +servants to his aid. Then, in almost frantic haste, she rushed out of +the house, ran across the park, and when she recovered her emotion she +found herself, she scarcely knew how, sitting on a turf seat by the road +side. + +'What will become of me!' she wildly exclaimed: 'my mother's roof is +no longer a protection to me;--I cannot absent myself from it without +alleging a reason for my conduct, which will ruin her peace of mind +for ever. Wretch that I am! whither can I go, and where can I seek for +refuge?' + +At this moment, as she looked around in wild dismay, and raised her +streaming eyes to heaven, she saw a man's face peeping from between the +branches of a tree opposite to her, and observed that he was gazing on +her intently. Alarmed and fluttered, she instantly started from her +seat, and was hastening away, when the man suddenly dropped from his +hiding-place, and, running after her, called her by her name, and +conjured her to stop; while, with an emotion of surprise and delight, +she recognized in him Arthur, the servant of Glenmurray! + +Instantly, scarcely knowing what she did, she pressed the astonished +Arthur's rough hand in hers; and by this action confused and confounded +the poor fellow so much, that the speech which he was going to make +faltered on his tongue. + +'Oh! where is your master?' eagerly inquired Adeline. + +'My master has sent you this, miss,' replied Arthur, holding out a +letter, which Adeline joyfully received; and, spite of her intended +obedience to her mother's will, Glenmurray himself could not have met +with a more favourable reception, for the moment was a most propitious +one to his love: nor, as it happened, was Glenmurray too far off to +profit by it. On his way from Bath he went a few miles out of his road, +in order, as he said, and perhaps as he thought, to pay a visit to an +old servant of his mother's, who was married to a respectable farmer; +but, fortunately, the farm commanded a view of the Pavilion, and +Glenmurray could from his window gaze on the house that contained the +woman of his affections. + +But to return to Adeline, who, while hastily tearing open the letter, +asked Arthur where his master was, and heard with indescribable emotion +that he was in the neighbourhood. + +'Here! so providentially!' she exclaimed, and proceeded to read the +letter; but her emotion forbade her to read it entirely. She only saw +that it contained banknotes; that Glenmurray was going abroad for his +health; and, in case he should die there, had sent her the money which +he had meant to leave her in his will,--lest she should be, in the +meanwhile, any way dependent on Sir Patrick. + +Numberless conflicting emotions took possession of Adeline's heart while +the new proof of her lover's attentive tenderness met her view: and, as +she contrasted his generous and delicate attachment with the licentious +passion of her mother's libertine husband, a burst of uncontrollable +affection for Glenmurray agitated her bosom; and, rendered superstitious +by her fears, she looked on him as sent by Providence to save her from +the dangers of her home. + +'This is the second time,' cried she, 'that Glenmurray, as my guardian +angel, has appeared at the moment when I was exposed to danger from the +same guilty quarter! Ah! surely there is more than accident in this! and +he is ordained to be my guide and my protector!' + +When once a woman has associated with an amiable man the idea of +protection, he can never again be indifferent to her: and when the +protector happens to be the chosen object of her love, his power becomes +fixed on a basis never to be shaken. + +'It is enough,' said Adeline in a faltering voice, pressing the letter +to her lips, and bursting into tears of grateful tenderness as she +spoke: 'Lead me to your master directly.' + +'Bless my heart! will you see him then, miss?' cried Arthur. + +'See him?' replied Adeline--'see the only friend I now can boast?--But +let us be gone this moment, lest I should be seen and pursued.' + +Instantly, guided by Arthur, Adeline set off full speed for the +farm-house, nor stopped till she found herself in the presence of +Glenmurray! + +'O! I am safe now!' exclaimed Adeline, throwing herself into his arms; +while he was so overcome with surprise and joy that he could not speak +the welcome which his heart gave her: and Adeline, happy to behold him +again, was as silent as her lover. At length Glenmurray exclaimed:-- + +'Do we then meet again, Adeline!' + +'Yes,' replied she; 'and we meet to part no more.' + +'Do not mock me,' cried Glenmurray starting from his seat, and seizing +her extended hand; 'my feelings must not be trifled with.' + +'Nor am I a woman to trifle with them. Glenmurray, I come to you for +safety and protection;--I come to seek shelter in your arms from misery +and dishonour. You are ill, you are going into a foreign country: and +from this moment look on me as your nurse, your companion;--your home +shall be my home, your country my country!' + +Glenmurray, too much agitated, too happy to speak, could only press the +agitated girl to his bosom, and fold his arms round her, as if to assure +her of the protection which she claimed. + +'But there is not a moment to be lost,' cried Adeline: 'I may be missed +and pursued: let us be gone directly.' + +The first word was enough for Glenmurray: eager to secure the recovered +treasure which he had thought for ever lost, his orders were given, and +executed by the faithful Arthur with the utmost dispatch; and even +before Adeline had explained to him the cause of her resolution to elope +with him they were on their road to Cornwall, meaning to embark at +Falmouth for Lisbon. + +But Arthur, who was going to marry, and leave Glenmurray's service, +received orders to stay at the farm till he had learned how Sir Patrick +was: and having obtained the necessary information, he was to send it +to Glenmurray at Falmouth. The next morning he saw Sir Patrick himself +driving full speed past the farm; and having written immediately to +his master, Adeline had the satisfaction of knowing that she had not +purchased her own safety by the sufferings or danger of her persecutor, +and the consequent misery of her mother. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +But Glenmurray's heart needed no explanation of the cause of Adeline's +elopement. She was with him--with him, as she said, for ever. True, she +had talked of flying from misery and dishonour; but he knew they could +not reach her in his arms,--not even dishonour according to the ideas of +society,--for he meant to make Adeline legally his as soon as they were +safe from pursuit, and his illness was forgotten in the fond transport +of the present moment. + +Adeline's joy was of a much shorter duration. Recollections of a most +painful nature were continually recurring. True it was that it was no +longer possible for her to reside under the roof of her mother: but was +it necessary for her to elope with Glenmurray? the man whom she had +solemnly promised her mother to renounce! Then, on the other side, +she argued that the appearance of love for Glenmurray was an excuse +sufficient to conceal from her deluded parent the real cause of her +elopement. + +'It was my sole alternative,' said she mentally:--'my mother must either +suppose me an unworthy child, or know Sir Patrick to be an unworthy +husband; and it will be easier for her to support the knowledge of the +one than the other: then, when she forgives me, as no doubt she will in +time, I shall be happy: but that I could never be, while convinced that +I had made her miserable by revealing to her the wickedness of Sir +Patrick.' + +While this was passing in her mind, her countenance was full of such +anxious and mournful expression, that Glenmurray, unable to keep silence +any longer, conjured her to tell him what so evidently weighed upon her +spirits. + +'The difficulty that oppressed me is past,' she replied, wiping from +her eyes the tears which the thought of having left her mother so +unexpectedly, and for the first time, produced. 'I have convinced +myself, that to leave home and commit myself to your protection was the +most proper and virtuous step that I could take: I have not obeyed the +dictates of love, but of reason.' + +'I am very sorry to hear it,' said Glenmurray mournfully. + +'It seems to me so very rational to love you,' returned Adeline tenderly, +shocked at the sad expression of his countenance, 'that what seems to be +the dictates of reason may be those of love only.' + +To a reply like this, Glenmurray could only answer by close involvement +not intelligible expressions of fondness to the object of them, which +are so delightful to lovers themselves, and so uninteresting to other +people: nay, so entirely was Glenmurray again engrossed by the sense of +present happiness, that his curiosity was still suspended, and Adeline's +story remained untold. But Adeline's pleasure was damped by painful +recollections, and still more by her not being able to hide from herself +the mournful consciousness that the ravages of sickness were but +too visible in Glenmurray's face and figure, and that the flush of +unexpected delight could but ill conceal the hollow paleness of his +cheek, and the sunk appearance of his eyes. + +Meanwhile the chaise rolled on,--post succeeded to post; and though +night was far advanced, Adeline, fearful of being pursued, would not +consent to stop, and they travelled till morning. But Glenmurray, +feeling himself exhausted, prevailed on her, for his sake, to alight at +a small inn on the road side near Marlborough. + +There Adeline narrated the occurrences of the past day; but with +difficulty could she prevail on herself to own to Glenmurray that she +had been the object of such an outrage as she had experienced from Sir +Patrick. + +A truly delicate woman feels degraded, not flattered, by being the +object of libertine attempts; and, situated as Adeline and Glenmurray +now were, to disclose the insult which had been offered to her was a +still more difficult task: but to conceal it was impossible. She felt +that, even to him, some justification of her precipitate and unsolicited +flight was necessary; and nothing but Sir Patrick's attempt could +justify it. She, therefore, blushing and hesitating, revealed the +disgraceful secret; but such was its effect on the weak spirits and +delicate health of Glenmurray, that the violent emotions which he +underwent brought on a return of his most alarming symptoms; and in a +few hours Adeline, bending over the sick bed of her lover, experienced +for the first time that most dreadful of feelings, fear for the life of +the object of her affections. + +Two days, however, restored him to comparative safety, and they reached +a small and obscure village within a short distance from Falmouth, most +conveniently situated. There they took up their abode, and resolved to +remain till the wind should change, and enable them to sail for Lisbon. + +In this retreat, situated in air as salubrious as that of the south of +France, Glenmurray was soon restored to health, especially as happy love +was now his, and brought back the health of which hopeless love had +contributed to deprive him. The woman whom he loved was his companion +and his nurse; and so dear had the quiet scene of their happiness +become to them, that, forgetful there was still a danger of their being +discovered, it was with considerable regret that they received a summons +to embark, and saw themselves on their voyage to Portugal. + +But before she left England Adeline wrote to her mother. + +After a pleasant and short voyage the lovers found themselves at Lisbon; +and Glenmurray, pursuant to his resolution, immediately proposed to +Adeline, to unite himself to her by the indissoluble ties of marriage. + +Nothing could exceed Adeline's surprise at this proposal: at first she +could not believe Glenmurray was in earnest; but seeing that he looked +not only grave but anxious, and as if earnestly expecting an answer, she +asked him whether he had convinced himself that what he had written +against marriage was a tissue of mischievous absurdity. + +Glenmurray, blushing, with the conceit of an author replied 'that he +still thought his arguments unanswerable.' + +'Then, if you still are convinced your theory is good, why let your +practice be bad? It is incumbent on you to act up to the principles that +you profess, in order to give them their proper weight in society--else +you give the lie to your own declarations.' + +'But it is better for me to do that, than for you to be the sacrifice to +my reputation.' + +'I,' replied Adeline, 'am entirely out of the question: you are to be +governed by no other law but your desire to promote general utility, and +are not to think at all of the interest of an individual.' + +'How can I do so, when that individual is dearer to me than all the +world beside?' cried Glenmurray passionately. + +'And if you but once recollect that you are dearer to me than all +the world beside, you will cease to suppose that my happiness can be +affected by the opinion entertained of my conduct by others.' As Adeline +said this, she twisted both her hands in his arms so affectionately, and +looked up in his face with so satisfied and tender an expression, that +Glenmurray could not bear to go on with a subject which evidently drew a +cloud across her brow; and hours, days, weeks, and months passed rapidly +over their heads before he had resolution to renew it. + +Hours, days, weeks, and months spent in a manner most dear to the heart +and most salutary to the mind of Adeline!--Her taste for books, which +had hitherto been cultivated in a partial manner, and had led her to one +range of study only, was now directed by Glenmurray to the perusal of +general literature; and the historian, the biographer, the poet, and the +novelist, obtained alternately her attention and her praises. + +In her knowledge of the French and Italian languages, too, she was now +considerably improved by the instructions of her lover; and while his +occasional illnesses were alleviated by her ever watchful attentions, +their attachment was cemented by one of the strongest of all ties--the +consciousness of mutual benefit and assistance. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +One evening, as they were sitting on a bench in one of the public walks, +a gentleman approached them, whose appearance bespoke him to be an +Englishman, though his sun-burnt complexion showed that he had been for +years exposed to a more ardent climate than that of Britain. + +As he came nearer, Glenmurray thought his features were familiar to him; +and the stranger, starting with joyful surprise, seized his hand, and +welcomed him as an old friend. Glenmurray returned his salutation with +great cordiality, and recognized in the stranger, a Mr Maynard, an +amiable man, who had gone to seek his fortune in India, and was returned +a nabob, but with an irreproachable character. + +'So, then,' cried Mr Maynard gaily, 'this is the elegant young English +couple that my servant, and even the inn-keeper himself, was so loud in +praise of! Little did I think the happy man was my old friend,--though +no man is more deserving of being happy: but I beg you will introduce me +to your lady.' + +Glenmurray, though conscious of the mistake he was under, had not +resolution enough to avow that he was not married; and Adeline, unaware +of the difficulty of Glenmurray's situation, received Mr Maynard's +salutation with the utmost ease, though the tremor of her lover's voice, +and the blush on his cheek, as he said--'Adeline, give me leave to +introduce to you Mr Maynard, an old friend of mine,'--were sufficient +indications that the rencontre disturbed him. + +In a few minutes Adeline and Mr Maynard were no longer strangers. Mr +Maynard, who had not lived much in the society of well-informed women, +and not at all in that of women accustomed to original thinking, was +at once astonished and delighted at the variety of Adeline's remarks, +at the playfulness of her imagination, and the eloquence of her +expressions. But it was very evident, at length, to Mr Maynard, that in +proportion as Adeline and he became more acquainted and more satisfied +with each other, Glenmurray grew more silent and more uneasy. The +consequence was unavoidable: as most men would have done on a like +occasion, Mr Maynard thought Glenmurray was jealous of him. + +But no thought so vexatious to himself, and so degrading to Adeline, had +entered the confiding and discriminating mind of Glenmurray. The truth +was, he knew that Mr Maynard, whom he had seen in the walks, though he +had not known him again, had ladies of his party; and he expected that +the more Mr Maynard admired his supposed wife, the more would he be +eager to introduce her to his companions. + +Nor was Glenmurray wrong in his conjectures. + +'I have two sisters with me, madam,' said Mr Maynard, 'whom I shall be +happy and proud to introduce to you. One of them is a widow, and has +lived several years in India, but returned with me in delicate health, +and was ordered hither: she is not a woman of great reading, but has an +excellent understanding, and will admire you. The other is several years +younger; and I am sure she would be happy in an opportunity of profiting +by the conversation of a lady, who, though not older than herself, seems +to have had so many more opportunities of improvement.' + +Adeline bowed, and expressed her impatience to form this new acquaintance; +and looked triumphantly at Glenmurray, meaning to express--'See, spite +of the supposed prejudices of the world, here is a man who wants to +introduce me to his sisters.' Little did she know that Maynard concluded +she was a wife: his absence from England had made him ignorant of the +nature of Glenmurray's works, or even that he was an author; so that he +was not at all likely to suppose that the moral, pious youth, whom he +had always respected, was become a visionary philosopher, and, in +defiance of the laws of society, was living openly with a mistress. + +'But my sister will wonder what is become of me;' suddenly cried +Maynard; 'and as Emily is so unwell as to keep her room to-day, I must +not make her anxious. But for her illness, I should have requested your +company to supper.' + +'And I should have liked to accept the invitation,' replied Adeline; +'but I will hope to see the ladies soon.' + +'Oh! without fail, to-morrow,' cried Maynard: 'if Emily be not well +enough to call on you, perhaps you will come to her apartments.' + +'Undoubtedly: expect me at twelve o'clock.' + +Maynard then shook his grave and silent friend by the hand and, +departed,--his vanity not a little flattered by the supposed jealousy of +Glenmurray. + +'There now,' said Adeline, when he was out of hearing. 'I hope some +of your tender fears are done away. You see there are liberal and +unprejudiced persons in the world; and Mr Maynard, instead of shunning +me, courts my acquaintance for his sisters.' + +Glenmurray shook his head, and remained silent; and Adeline was +distressed to feel by his burning hand that he was seriously uneasy. + +'I shall certainly call on these ladies to-morrow,' continued +Adeline:--'I really pine for the society of amiable women.' + +Glenmurray sighed deeply: he dreaded to tell her that he could not allow +her to call on them, and yet he knew that this painful task awaited him. +Besides, she wished, she said, to know some amiable women; and, eager as +he was to indulge all her wishes, he felt but too certainly that in this +wish she could never be indulged. Even had he been capable of doing so +dishonourable an action as introducing his mistress as his wife, he +was sure that Adeline would have spurned at the deception; and silent +and sad he grasped Adeline's hand as her arm rested within his, and +complaining of indisposition, slowly returned to the inn. + +The next morning at breakfast, Adeline again expressed her eagerness to +form an acquaintance with the sisters of Mr Maynard; when Glenmurray, +starting from his seat, paced the room in considerable agitation. + +'What is the matter!' cried Adeline, hastily rising and laying her hand +on his arm. + +Glenmurray grasped her hand, and replied with assumed firmness: +'Adeline, it is impossible for you to form an acquaintance with Mr +Maynard's sisters: propriety and honour both forbid me to allow it.' + +'Indeed!' exclaimed Adeline, 'are they not as amiable, then, as he +described them? are they improper acquaintances for me? Well then--I am +disappointed: but you are the best judge of what is right, and I am +contented to obey you.' + +The simple, ingenuous and acquiescent sweetness with which she said +this, was a new pang to her lover:--had she repined, had she looked +ill-humoured, his task would not have been so difficult. + +'But what reason can you give for declining this acquaintance?' resumed +Adeline. + +'Aye! there's the difficulty,' replied Glenmurray: 'pure-minded and +amiable as I know you to be, how can I bear to tell these children of +prejudice that you are not my wife, but my mistress?' + +Adeline started; and, turning pale, exclaimed, 'Are you sure, then, that +they do not know it already?' + +'Quite sure--else Maynard would not have thought you a fit companion for +his sisters.' + +'But surely--he must know your principles;--he must have read your +works?' + +'I am certain he is ignorant of both, and does not even know that I am +an author.' + +'Is it possible?' cried Adeline: 'is there any one so unfortunate to be +unacquainted with your writings?' + +Glenmurray at another time would have been elated at a compliment like +this from the woman whom he idolized; but at this moment he heard it +with a feeling of pain which he would not have liked to define to +himself, and casting his eyes to the ground he said nothing. + +'So then,' said Adeline mournfully, 'I am an improper companion for +them, not they for me!' and spite of herself her eyes filled with +tears.--At this moment a waiter brought in a note for Glenmurray;--it +was from Maynard, and as follows:-- + + + MY DEAR FRIEND, + + Emily is better to-day; and both my sisters are so impatient to + see, and know, your charming wife, that they beg me to present + their compliments to Mrs Glenmurray and you; and request the + honour of your company to a late breakfast:--at eleven o'clock + we hope to see you. + + Ever yours, + G. M. + +'We will send an answer,' said Glenmurray: but the waiter had been +gone some minutes before either Adeline or Glenmurray spoke. At length +Adeline, struggling with her feelings, observed, 'Mr Maynard seems so +amiable a man, that I should think it would not be difficult to convince +him of his errors: surely, therefore, it is your duty to call on him, +state our real situation, and our reasons for it, and endeavour to +convince him that our attachment is sanctioned both by reason and +virtue.' + +'But not by the church,' replied Glenmurray, 'and Maynard is of the old +school: besides, a man of forty-eight is not likely to be convinced by +the arguments of a young man of twenty-eight, and the example of a girl +of nineteen.' + +'If age be necessary to give weight to arguments,' returned Adeline, 'I +wonder that you thought proper to publish four years ago.' + +'Would to God I never had published!' exclaimed Glenmurray, almost +pettishly. + +'If you had not, I probably should never have been yours,' replied +Adeline, fondly leaning her head on his shoulder, and then looking up in +his face. Glenmurray clasped her to his bosom; but again the pleasure +was mixed with pain. 'All this time,' rejoined Adeline, 'your friends +are expecting an answer: you had better carry it in person.' + +'I cannot,' replied Glenmurray, 'and there is only one way of getting +out of this business to my satisfaction.' + +'Name it; and rest assured that I shall approve it.' + +'Then I wish to order horses immediately, and set off on our road to +France.' + +'So soon,--though the air agrees with you so well?' + +'O yes;--for when the mind is uneasy no air can be of use to the body.' + +'But why is your mind uneasy?' + +'Here I should be exposed to see Maynard, and--and--he would see you +too.' + +'And what then?' + +'What then?--Why, I could not bear to see him look on you with an eye of +disrespect.' + +'And wherefore should he?' + +'O Adeline, the name of wife imposes restraint even on a libertine; but +that of mistress--' + +'Is Mr Maynard a libertine?' said Adeline gravely: and Glenmurray, +afraid of wounding her feelings by entering into a further explanation, +changed the subject, and again requested her consent to leave Lisbon. + +'I have often told you,' said Adeline sighing, 'that my will is yours; +and if you will give strict orders to have letters sent after us to the +towns that we shall stop at, I am ready to set off immediately.' + +Glenmurray then gave his orders; wrote a letter explaining his situation +to Maynard, and in an hour they were on their journey to France. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +In the meanwhile Mr Maynard, Miss Maynard, and Mrs Wallington his +widowed sister, were impatiently expecting Glenmurray's answer, and +earnestly hoping to see him and his lovely companion,--but from +different motives. Maynard was impatient to see Adeline because he +really admired her; his sisters, because they hoped to find her unworthy +of such violent admiration. + +Their vanity had been piqued, and their envy excited, by the extravagant +praises of their brother; and they had interrupted him by the first +questions which all women ask on such occasions,--'Is she pretty?' + +And he answered, 'Very pretty.' + +'Is she tall?' + +'Very tall, taller than I am.' + +'I hate tall women,' replied Miss Maynard (a little round girl of +nineteen). + +'Is she fair?' + +'Exquisitely fair.' + +'I like brown women,' cried the widow: 'fair people always look silly.' + +'But Mrs Glenmurray's eyes are hazel, and her eyelashes long and dark.' + +'Hazel eyes are always bold-looking,' cried Miss Maynard. + +'Not Mrs Glenmurray's; for her expression is the most pure and ingenuous +that I ever saw. Some girls, indecent in their dress, and very licentious +in their manner, passed us as we sat on the walk; and the comments +which I made on them provoked from Mrs Glenmurray some remarks on the +behaviour and dress of women; and, as she commented on the disgusting +expression of vice in women, and the charm of modest dignity both in +dress and manners, her own dress, manners, and expression, were such an +admirable comment on her words, and she shone so brightly, if I may use +the expression, in the graceful awfulness of virtue, that I gazed with +delight, and somewhat of apprehension lest this fair perfection should +suddenly take flight to her native skies, toward which her fine eyes +were occasionally turned.' + +'Bless me! if our brother is not quite poetical! This prodigy has +inspired him,' replied the widow with a sneer. + +'For my part, I hate prodigies,' said Miss Maynard: 'I feel myself +unworthy to associate with them.' + +When one woman calls another a prodigy, and expresses herself as +unworthy to associate with her, it is very certain that she means +to insult rather than compliment her; and in this sense Mr Maynard +understood his sister's words: therefore after having listened with +tolerable patience to a few more sneers at the unconscious Adeline, he +was provoked to say that, ill-disposed as he found they were toward his +new acquaintance, he hoped that when they became acquainted with her +they would still give him reason to say, as he always had done, that he +was proud of his sisters; for, in his opinion, no woman ever looked so +lovely as when she was doing justice to the merits and extenuating the +faults of a rival. + +'A rival!' exclaimed the sisters at once:--'And, pray, what rivalship +could there be in this case?' + +'My remark was a general one: but since you choose to make it a +particular one, I will answer to it as such,' continued Mr Maynard. 'All +women are rivals in one sense--rivals for general esteem and admiration; +and she only shall have my suffrage in her favour, who can point out a +beauty or a merit in another woman without insinuating at the same time +a counterbalancing effect.' + +'But Mrs Glenmurray, it seems, has no defects!' + +'At least I have not known her long enough to find them out; but you, no +doubt, will, when you know her, very readily spare me that trouble.' + +How injudiciously had Maynard prepared the minds of his sisters to +admire Adeline. It was a preparation to make them hate her; and they +were very impatient to begin the task of depreciating both her _morale_ +and her _physique_, when Glenmurray's note arrived. + +'It is not Glenmurray's hand,' said Maynard--(indeed, from agitation +of mind the writing was not recognizable). 'It must be hers then,' +continued he, affecting to kiss the address with rapture. + +'It is the hand of a sloven,' observed Mrs Wallington, studying the +writing. + +'But in dress she is as neat as a Quaker,' retorted the brother, eagerly +snatching the letter back, 'and her mind seems as pure as her dress.' + +He then broke the seal, and read out what follows:-- + + + 'DEAR MAYNARD, + + 'When you receive this, Adeline and I shall be on our road to + France, and you,--start not!--are the occasion of our abrupt + departure.' + +'So, so, jealous indeed,' said Maynard to himself, and more impressed +than ever with the charms of Adeline; for he concluded that Glenmurray +had discovered in her an answering prepossession. + +'You the occasion, brother!' cried both sisters. + +'Have patience.' + + 'You saw Adeline; you admired her; and wished to introduce her + to your sisters--this, honour forbad me to allow'--(the sisters + started from their seats) 'for Adeline is not my wife, but my + companion.' + +Here Maynard made a full pause--at once surprised and confounded. His +sisters, pleased as well as astonished, looked triumphantly at each +other; and Mrs Wallington exclaimed. 'So, then, this angel of purity +turns out to be a kept lady!' At this remark Miss Maynard laughed +heartily, but Maynard, to hide his confusion, commanded silence, and +went on with the letter: + + 'But spite of her situation, strange as it may seem to you, + believe me, no wife was ever more pure than Adeline.' + +At this passage the sisters could no longer contain themselves, and they +gave way to loud bursts of laughter, which Maynard could hardly help +joining in; but being angry at the same time he uttered nothing but an +oath, which I shall not repeat, and retreated to his chamber to finish +the letter alone. + +During his absence the laughters redoubled;--but in the midst of it +Maynard re-entered, and desired they would allow him to read the letter +to the end. The sisters immediately begged that he would proceed, as it +was so amusing that they wished to hear more.--Glenmurray continued +thus: + + 'You have no doubt yet to learn that some few years ago I + commenced author, and published opinions contrary to the + established usage of society: amongst other things I proved the + absurdity of the institution of marriage; and Adeline, who at + an early age read my works, became one of my converts.' + +'The man is certainly mad,' cried Maynard, 'and how dreadful it is that +this angelic creature should have been his victim.' + +'But perhaps this _fallen_ angel, brother, for such you will allow she +is, spite of her _purity_, was as wicked as he. I know people in general +only blame the seducer, but I always blame the seduced equally.' + +'I do not doubt it,' said her brother sneeringly, and going on with the +letter. + + 'No wonder then, that, being forced to fly from her maternal + roof, she took refuge in my arms.' + +'Lucky dog!' + + 'But though Adeline was the victim neither of her own weakness + nor of my seductions, but was merely urged by circumstances to + act up to the principles which she openly professed, I felt so + conscious that she would be degraded in your eyes after you + were acquainted with her situation, though in mine she appears + as spotless as ever, that I could not bear to expose her even + to a glance from you less respectful than those with which you + beheld her last night. I therefore prevailed on her to leave + Lisbon; nor had I any difficulty in so doing, when she found + that your wish of introducing her to your sisters was founded + on your supposition of her being my wife, and that all chance + of your desiring her acquaintance for them would be over, when + you knew the nature of her connexion with me. I shall now bid + you farewell. I write in haste and agitation, and have not time + to say more than God bless you! + + 'F. G.' + +'Yes, yes, I see how it is,' muttered Mr Maynard to himself when he had +finished the letter, 'he was jealous of me. I wish (raising his voice) +that he had not been in such a hurry to go away.' + +'Why, brother,' replied Mrs Wallington, 'to be sure you would not have +introduced us to this piece of angelic purity a little the worse for +the wear!' + +'No,' replied he; 'but I might have enjoyed her company myself.' + +'And perhaps, brother, you might have rivalled the philosophic author in +time,' observed Miss Maynard. + +'If I had not, it would have been from no want of good will on my part,' +returned Maynard. + +'Well, then I rejoice that the creature is gone,' replied Mrs Wallington, +drawing up. + +'And I too,' said Miss Maynard disdainfully: 'but I think we had better +drop this subject; I have had quite enough of it.' + +'And so have I,' cried Mrs Wallington: 'but I must observe, before we +drop it entirely, that when next my brother comes home and wearies his +sisters by exaggerated praises of another woman, I hope he will take +care that his goddess, or rather his angel of purity, does not turn out +to be a kept mistress.' + +So saying she left the room, and Miss Maynard, tittering, followed her; +while Maynard, too sore on this subject to bear to be laughed at, took +his hat in a pet, and, flinging the door after him with great violence, +walked out to muse on the erring but interesting companion of +Glenmurray. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +While these conversations were passing at Lisbon, Glenmurray and Adeline +were pursuing their journey to France; and insensibly did the charm of +being together obliterate from the minds of each the rencontre which had +so much disturbed them. + +But Adeline began to be uneasy on a subject of much greater importance; +she every day expected an answer from her mother, but no answer arrived; +and they had been stationary at Perpignan some days, to which place they +had desired their letters to be addressed, _poste restante_, and still +none were forwarded thither from Lisbon. + +The idea that her mother had utterly renounced her now took possession +of her imagination, and love had no charm to offer her capable of +affording her consolation: the care which she had taken of her infancy, +the affectionate attentions that had preserved her life, and the +uninterrupted kindness which she had shown towards her till her +attachment to Sir Patrick took place,--all these pressed powerfully and +painfully on her memory, till her elopement seemed wholly unjustifiable +in her eyes, and she reprobated her conduct in terms of the most bitter +self-reproach. + +At these moments even Glenmurray seemed to become the object of her +aversion. Her mother had forbidden her to think of him; yet, to make her +flight more agonizing to her injured parent, she had eloped with _him_. +But as soon as ever she beheld him he regained his wonted influence over +her heart, and her self-reproaches became less poignant: she became +sensible that Sir Patrick's guilt and her mother's imprudent marriage +were the causes of her own fault, and not Glenmurray; and could she but +receive a letter of pardon from England, she felt that her conscience +would again be at peace. + +But soon an idea of a still more harassing nature succeeded and +overwhelmed her. Perhaps her desertion had injured her mother's health; +perhaps she was too ill to write; perhaps she was dead:--and when this +horrible supposition took possession of her mind she used to avoid even +the presence of her lover; and as her spirits commonly sunk towards +evening, when the still renewed expectations of the day had been +deceived, she used to hasten to a neighbouring church when the bell +called to vespers, and, prostrate on the steps of the altar, lift up her +soul to heaven in the silent breathings of penitence and prayer. Having +thus relieved her heart she returned to Glenmurray, pensive but +resigned. + +One evening after she had unburthened her feelings in this manner, +Glenmurray prevailed on her to walk with him to a public promenade; and +being tired they sat down on a bench in a shady part of the mall. They +had not sat long before a gentleman and two ladies seated themselves +beside them. + +Glenmurray instantly rose up to depart; but the gentleman also rose and +exclaimed, ''Tis he indeed! Glenmurray, have you forgotten your old +friend Willie Douglas?' + +Glenmurray, pleased to see a friend whom he had once so highly valued, +returned the salutation with marked cordiality; while the ladies with +great kindness accosted Adeline, and begged she would allow them the +honour of her acquaintance. + +Taught by the rencontre at Lisbon, Adeline for a moment felt +embarrassed; but there was something so truly benevolent in the +countenance of both ladies, and she was so struck by the extreme beauty +of the younger one, that she had not resolution to avoid, or even to +receive their advances coldly; and while the gentlemen were commenting +on each other's looks, and in an instant going over the occurrences of +past years, the ladies, pleased with each other, had entered into +conversation. + +'But I expected to see you and your lady,' said Major Douglas; 'for +Maynard was writing to me from Lisbon when he laid by his pen and took +the walk in which he met you; and on his return he filled up the rest of +his letter with the praises of Mrs Glenmurray, and expressions of envy +at your happiness.' + +Glenmurray and Adeline both blushed deeply. 'So!' said Adeline to +herself, 'here will be another letter to write when we get home;' for, +though ingenuousness was one of her most striking qualities, she had not +resolution enough to tell her new acquaintance that she was not married: +besides, she flattered herself, that, could she once interest these +charming women in her favour, they would not refuse her their society +even when they knew her real situation; for she thought them too amiable +to be prejudiced, as she called it, and was not yet aware how much the +perfection of the female character depends on respect even to what may +be called the prejudices of others. + +The day began to close in; but Major Douglas, though Glenmurray was too +uneasy to answer him except by monosyllables, would not hear of going +home, and continued to talk with cheerfulness and interest of the scenes +of his and Glenmurray's early youth. He too was ignorant of his friend's +notoriety as an author: he had lived chiefly at his estates in the +Highlands; nor would he have left them, but because he was advised to +travel for his health: and the lovely creature whom he had married, as +well as his only sister, was anxious on his account to put the advice in +execution. He therefore made no allusions to Glenmurray's opinions that +could give him an opportunity of explaining his real situation; and he +saw with confusion, that every moment increased the intimacy of Adeline +and the wife and sister of his friend. + +At length his feelings operated so powerfully on his weak frame, that a +sudden faintness seized him, and supported by Adeline and the major, +and followed by his two kind companions, he returned to the inn: there, +to get rid of the Douglases and avoid the inquiries of Adeline, who +suspected the cause of his illness, he immediately retired to bed. + +His friends also returned home, lamenting the apparently declining +health of Glenmurray, and expatiating with delight on the winning graces +of his supposed wife; for these ladies were of a different class of +women to the sisters of Maynard.--Mrs Douglas was so confessedly a +beauty, so rich in acknowledged attractions, that she could afford to do +justice to the attractions of another: and Miss Douglas was so decidedly +devoid of all pretensions to the lovely in person, that the idea of +competition with the beautiful never entered her mind, and she was +always eager to admire what she knew that she was incapable of rivalling. +Unexposed, therefore, to feel those petty jealousies, those paltry +competitions which injure the character of women in general, Emma +Douglas's mind was the seat of benevolence and candour,--as was her +beautiful sister's from a different cause; and they were both warmer +even than the major in praise of Adeline. + +But a second letter from Mr Maynard awaited Major Douglas at the inn, +which put a fatal stop to their self-congratulations at having met +Glenmurray and his companion. + +Mr Maynard, full of Glenmurray's letter, and still more deeply impressed +than ever with the image of Adeline, could not forbear writing to the +major on the subject; giving as a reason, that he wished to let him know +the true state of affairs, in order that he might avoid Glenmurray.--The +letter came too late. + +'And I have seen him, have welcomed him as a friend, and he has had the +impudence to introduce his harlot to my wife and sister!' + +So spoke the major in the language of passion,--and passion is never +accurate.--Glenmurray had _not_ introduced Adeline: and this was gently +hinted by the kind and candid Emma Douglas; while the younger and more +inexperienced wife sat silent with consternation, at having pressed with +the utmost kindness the hand of a kept mistress. + +Vain were the representations of his sister to sooth the wounded +pride of Major Douglas. Without considering the difficulty of such a +proceeding, he insisted upon it that Glenmurray should have led Adeline +away instantly, as unworthy to breathe the same air with his wife and +sister. + +'You find by that letter, brother,' said Miss Douglas, 'that this +unhappy Adeline is still an object of respect in his eyes, and he could +not wound her feelings so publicly, especially as she seems to be more +ill-judging than vicious.' + +She spoke in vain.--The major was a soldier, and so delicate in his +ideas of the honour of women, that he thought his wife and sister +polluted from having, though unconsciously, associated with Adeline; +being violently irritated therefore at the supposed insult offered him +by Glenmurray, he left the room, and, having dispatched a challenge to +him, told the ladies he had letters to write to England till bed-time +arrived: then, after having settled his affairs in case he should fall +in the conflict, he sat brooding alone over the insolence of his former +friend. + +There was a consciousness too which aggravated his resentment. Calumny +had been busy with his reputation; and, though he deserved it not, had +once branded him with the name of coward. Besides, his elder sister had +been seduced by a man of very high rank, and was then living with him as +his mistress. Made still more susceptible therefore of affront by this +distressing consciousness, he suspected that Glenmurray, from being +acquainted with these circumstances, had presumed on them, and dared to +take a liberty with him, situated as he then was, which in former times +he would not have ventured to offer. + +As Adeline and Glenmurray were both retired for the night when the +major's note arrived, it was not delivered till morning,--nor then, +luckily, till Adeline, supposing Glenmurray asleep, was gone to take her +usual walk to the post-office: Glenmurray, little aware of its contents, +opened it, and read as follows:-- + + 'SIR, + + 'For your conduct in introducing your mistress to my wife and + sister, I demand immediate satisfaction. As you may possibly + not have recovered your indisposition of last night, and I wish + to take no unfair advantages, I do not desire you to meet me + till evening; but at six o'clock, a mile out of the north side + of the town, I shall expect you.--I can lend you pistols if you + have none.' + +'There is only one step to be taken,' said Glenmurray mentally, starting +up and dressing himself: and in a few moments he was at Major Douglas's +lodgings. + +The major had just finished dressing, when Glenmurray was announced. He +started and turned pale at seeing him; then, dismissing his servant and +taking up his hat and his pistols, he desired Glenmurray to walk out +with him. + +'With all my heart,' replied Glenmurray. But recollecting himself, 'No, +no,' said he: 'I come hither now, merely to talk to you; and if, after +what has passed, the ladies should see us go out together, they would be +but too sure of what was going to happen, and might follow us.' + +'Well, then sir,' cried the major, 'we had better separate till +evening.' + +'I shall not leave you, Major Douglas,' replied Glenmurray solemnly, +'whatever harsh things you may say or do, till I have made you listen to +me.' + +'How can I listen to you, when nothing you can say can be a justification +of your conduct?' + +'I do not mean to offer any.--I am only come to tell you my story, with +that of my companion, and my resolutions in consequence of my situation; +and I conjure you, by the recollections of our early days, of our past +pleasures and fatigues, those days when fatigue itself was a pleasure, +and I was not the weak emaciated being that I am now, unable to bear +exertion, and overcome even to female weakness by agitation of mind such +as I experienced last night--' + +'For God's sake sit down,' cried the major, glancing his eye over the +faded form of Glenmurray.--Glenmurray sat down. + +'I say, I conjure you by these recollections,' he continued, 'to hear me +with candour and patience. Weakness will render me brief.' Here he +paused to wipe the damps from his forehead; and Douglas, in a voice of +emotion, desired him to say whatever he chose, but to say it directly. + +'I will,' replied Glenmurray; 'for indeed there is one at home who will +be alarmed at my absence.' + +The major frowned; and, biting his lip, said, 'Proceed, Mr Glenmurray,' +in his usual tone. + +Glenmurray obeyed. He related his commencing author,--the nature of his +works,--his acquaintance with Adeline,--its consequences,--her mother's +marriage,--Sir Patrick's villany,--Adeline's elopement, her refusal to +marry him, and the grounds on which it was founded. 'And now,' cried +Glenmurray when his narration was ended, 'hear my firm resolve. Let the +consequences to my reputation be what they may, let your insults be what +they may, I will not accept your challenge; I will not expose Adeline +to the risk of being left without a protector in a foreign land, and +probably without one in her own. I fear that, in the natural course of +things, I shall not continue with her long; but while I can watch over +and contribute to her happiness, no dread of shame, no fear for what +others may think of me, no selfish consideration whatever shall induce +me to hazard a life which belongs to her, and on which at present her +happiness depends. I think, Douglas, you are incapable of treating me +with dignity; but even to that I will patiently submit, rather than +expose my life; while consoled by my motive, I will triumphantly +exclaim--'See, Adeline, what I can endure for thy sake!' + +Here he paused; and the major, interested and affected, had involuntarily +put out his hand to him; but, drawing it back, he said, 'Then I may be +sure that you meant no affront to me by suffering my wife and sister to +converse with Miss Mowbray?' + +Glenmurray having put an end to these suspicions entirely, by a candid +avowal of his feelings, and of his wish to have escaped directly if +possible, the major shook him affectionately by the hand, and told him +that though he firmly believed too much learning had made him mad, yet, +that he was as much his friend as ever. 'But what vexes me is,' said he, +'that you should have turned the head of that sweet girl. The opinion of +the world is every thing to a woman.' + +'Aye, it is indeed,' replied Glenmurray; 'and, spite of ridicule, I +would marry Adeline directly, as I said before, to guaranty her against +reproach,--I wish you would try to persuade her to be mine legally.' + +'That I will,' eagerly replied the major; 'I am sure I shall prevail +with her. I am sure I shall soon convince her that the opinions she +holds are nothing but nonsense.' + +'You will find,' replied Glenmurray, blushing, 'that her arguments are +unanswerable notwithstanding.' + +'What, though taken from the cursed books you mentioned?' + +'You forget that I wrote these books.' + +'So I did; and I wish she could forget it also: and then they would +appear to her, as they must do no doubt to all people of common sense, +and that is, abominable stuff.' + +Glenmurray bit his lips,--but the author did not long absorb the lover, +and he urged the major to return with him to his lodgings. + +'Aye, that I will,' cried he: 'and what is more, my sister Emma, who +writes admirably, shall write her a letter to convince her that she had +better be married directly.' + +'She had better converse with her,' said Glenmurray. + +The major looked grave, and observed that they would do well to go and +consult the women on the subject, and tell them the whole story. So +saying, he opened the door of a closet leading to their apartment: but +there, to their great surprise, they found Mrs Douglas and Emma, and as +well informed of everything as themselves;--for, expecting that a duel +might be the consequence of the major's impetuosity, and hearing Mr +Glenmurray announced, they resolved to listen to the conversation, and, +if it took the turn which they expected, to rush in and endeavour to +mollify the disputants. + +'So, ladies; this is very pretty indeed! Eaves-droppers, I protest,' +cried Major Douglas: but he said no more; for his wife, affected by the +recital which she had heard, and delighted to find that there would be +no duel, threw her arms round his neck, and burst into tears. Emma, +almost equally affected, gave her hand to Glenmurray, and told him +nothing on her part should be omitted to prevail on Adeline to sacrifice +her opinions to her welfare. + +'I said so,' cried the major. 'You will write to her.' + +'No; I will see her, and argue with her.' + +'And so will I,' cried the wife. + +'That you shall not,' bluntly replied the major. + +'Why not? I think it my duty to do all I can to save a fellow-creature +from ruin; and words spoken from the heart are always more powerful than +words written.' + +'But what will the world say, if I permit you to converse with a kept +mistress?' + +'The world here to us, as we associate with none and are known to none, +is Mr Glenmurray and Miss Mowbray; and of their good word we are sure.' + +'Aye,' cried Emma, 'and sure of succeeding with this interesting Adeline +too; for if she likes us, as I think she does--' + +'She adores you,' replied Glenmurray. + +'So much the better:--then, when we shall tell her that we cannot +associate with her, much as we admire her, unless she consents to become +a wife, surely she will hear reason.' + +'No doubt,' cried Mrs Douglas; 'and then we will go to church with her, +and you, Emma, shall be bride's maid.' + +'I see no necessity for that,' observed the major gravely. + +'But I do,' replied Emma. 'She will repeat her vows with more heartfelt +reverence, when two respectable women, deeply impressed themselves with +their importance, shall be there to witness them.' + +'But there is no Protestant church here,' exclaimed Glenmurray: +'however, we can go back to Lisbon, and you are already resolved to +return thither.' + +This point being settled, it was agreed that Glenmurray should prepare +Adeline for their visit; and with a lightened heart he went to execute +his commission. But when he saw Adeline he forgot his commission and +every thing but her distress; for he found her with an open letter in +her hand, and an unopened one on the floor, in a state of mind almost +bordering on phrensy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +As soon as Adeline beheld Glenmurray, 'See!' she exclaimed in a +hoarse and agitated tone, 'there is my letter to my mother, returned +unopened, and here is a letter from Dr Norberry which has broken my +heart:--however, we must go to England directly.' + +The letter was as follows:-- + + 'You have made a pretty fool of me, deluded but still dear + girl! for you have made me believe in forebodings. You may + remember with what a full heart I bade you adieu, and I + recollect what a devilish queer sensation I had when the + park-gates closed on your fleet carriage. I almost swore at the + postillions for driving so fast, as I wished to see you as long + as I could; and now I protest that I believe I was actuated by + a foreboding that at that house, and on that spot, I should + never behold you again. (Here a tear had fallen on the paper, + and the word, '_again_' was nearly blotted out.) Dear, lost + Adeline, I prayed for you too! I prayed that you might return + as innocent and happy as you left me. Heaven have mercy on us! + who should have thought it?--But this is nothing to the + purpose, and I suppose you think you have done nought but what + is right and clever.' + +He then proceeded to inform Adeline, who had written to him to implore +his mediation between her and her mother, 'that the latter had sent +express for him on finding, by the hasty scrawl which came the day after +Adeline's departure from the farm-house, that she had eloped, and who +was the companion of her flight; that he found her in violent agitation, +as Sir Patrick, stung to madness at the success of his rival, had with +an ingenuousness worthy a better cause avowed to her his ardent passion +for her daughter, his resolution to follow the fugitives, and by every +means possible separate Adeline from her lover; and that, after having +thanked Lady O'Carrol for her great generosity to him, he had taken his +pistols, mounted his horse, attended by his groom also well armed, and +vowed that he would never return unless accompanied by the woman whom he +adored.' + + 'No wonder therefore,' continued the doctor, 'that I was an + unsuccessful advocate for you,--especially as I was not + inclined to manage the old bride's self-love; for I was so + provoked at her folly in marrying the handsome profligate, + that, if she had not been in distress, I never meant to see her + again. But, poor silly you! she suffers enough for her folly, + and so do you;--for, her affections and her self-love being + equally wounded by Sir Patrick's confession, you are at present + the object of her aversion. To you she attributes all the + misery of having lost the man on whom she still dotes; and when + she found from your last letter to me that you are not the wife + but the mistress of Glenmurray, (by the bye, your letter to her + from Lisbon she desires me to return unopened,) and that the + child once her pride is become her disgrace, she declared her + solemn resolution never to see you more, and to renounce you + for ever--(Terrible words, Adeline, I tremble to write them.) + But a circumstance has since occurred which gives me hopes that + she may yet forgive, and receive you on certain conditions. + About a fortnight after Sir Patrick's departure, a letter from + Ireland, directed to him in a woman's hand, arrived at the + Pavilion. Your mother opened it, and found it was from a wife + of her amiable husband, whom he had left in the north of + Ireland, and who, having heard of his second marriage, wrote to + tell him that, unless he came quickly back to her, she would + prosecute him for bigamy, as he knew very well that undoubted + proofs of the marriage were in her possession. At first this + new proof of her beautiful spouse's villany drove your mother + almost to phrensy, and I was again sent for; but time, + reflection, and perhaps my arguments, convinced her, that + to be able to free herself from this rascal for ever, and + consequently her fortune, losing only the ten thousand pounds + which she had given him to pay his debts, was in reality a + consoling circumstance. Accordingly, she wrote to the real Lady + O'Carrol, promising to accede quietly to her claim, and wishing + that she would spare her and herself the disgrace of a public + trial; especially as it must end in the conviction of Sir + Patrick. She then, on hearing from him that he had traced you + to Falmouth, and was going to embark for Lisbon when the wind + was favourable, enclosed him a copy of his wife's letter, and + bade him an eternal farewell!--But be not alarmed lest this + insane profligate should overtake and distress you. He is gone + to his final account. In his hurry to get on board, overcome as + he was with the great quantity of liquor which he had drunk to + banish care, he sprung from the boat before it was near enough + to reach the vessel; his foot slipped against the side, he fell + into the water, and, going under the ship, never rose again. I + leave you to imagine how the complicated distresses of the last + three months, and this awful climax to them, have affected your + mother's mind; even I cannot scold her, now, for the life of + me: she is not yet, I believe, disposed in your favour; but + were you here, and were you to meet, it is possible that, + forlorn, lonely, and deserted as she now feels, the tie between + you might be once more cemented; and much as I resent your + conduct, you may depend on my exertions.--O Adeline, child of + my affection, why must I blush to subscribe myself + + 'Your sincere friend, + 'J. N.?' + +Words cannot describe the feelings of anguish which this letter +excited in Adeline: nor could she make known her sensations otherwise +than by reiterated requests to be allowed to set off for England +directly--requests to which Glenmurray, alarmed for her intellects, +immediately assented. Therefore, leaving a hasty note for the Douglases, +they soon bade farewell to Perpignan; and after a long laborious +journey, but a short passage, they landed at Brighton. + +It was a fine evening; and numbers of the gay and fashionable of both +sexes were assembled on the beach, to see the passengers land. Adeline +and Glenmurray were amongst the first: and while heartsick, fatigued, +and melancholy, Adeline took the arm of her lover, and turned disgusted +from the brilliant groups before her, she saw, walking along the shore, +Dr Norberry, his wife, and his two daughters. + +Instantly, unmindful of every thing but the delight of seeing old +acquaintances, and of being able to gain some immediate tiding of her +mother, she ran up to them: and just as they turned round, she met +them, extending her hand in friendship as she was wont to do.--But in +vain;--no hand was stretched out to meet hers, nor tongue nor look +proclaimed a welcome to her; Dr Norberry himself coldly touched his hat, +and passed on, while his wife and daughters looked scornfully at her, +and, without deigning to notice her, pursued their walk. + +Astonished and confounded, Adeline had not power to articulate a word; +and had not Glenmurray caught her in his arms, she would have fallen to +the ground. + +'Then now I am indeed an outcast! even my oldest and best friend +renounces me,' she exclaimed. + +'But I am left to you,' cried Glenmurray. + +Adeline sighed. She could not say, as she had formerly done, 'and you +are all to me.' The image of her mother, happy as the wife of a man she +loved, could not long rival Glenmurray; but the image of her mother, +disgraced and wretched, awoke all the habitual but dormant tenderness of +years; every feeling of filial gratitude revived in all its force; and, +even while leaning on the shoulder of her lover, she sighed to be once +more clasped to the bosom of her mother. + +Glenmurray felt the change, but, though grieved, was not offended:--'I +shall die in peace,' he cried, 'if I can but see you restored to your +mother's affection, even though the surrender of my happiness is to be +the purchase.' + +'You shall die in peace!' replied Adeline shuddering. The phrase was +well-timed, though perhaps undesignedly so. Adeline clung close to his +arm, her eyes filled with tears, and all the way to the inn she thought +only of Glenmurray with an apprehension which she could not conquer. + +'What do you mean to do now?' said Glenmurray. + +'Write to Dr Norberry. I think he will at least have humanity enough to +let me know where to find my mother.' + +'No doubt; and you had better write directly.' + +Adeline took up her pen. A letter was written,--and as quickly torn. +Letter succeeded to letter; but not one of them answered her wishes. The +dark hour arrived, and the letter remained unwritten. + +'It is too soon to ring for candles,' said Glenmurray, putting his arm +round her waist and leading her to the window. The sun was below the +horizon, but the reflection of his beams still shone beautifully on the +surrounding objects. Adeline, reclining her cheek on Glenmurray's arm, +gazed in silence on the scene before her: when the door suddenly opened, +and a gentleman was announced. It was now so dark that all objects were +indistinctly seen, and the gentleman had advanced close to Adeline +before she knew him to be Dr Norberry: and before she could decide how +she should receive him, she felt herself clasped to his bosom with the +affection of a father. + +Surprised and affected, she could not speak; and Glenmurray had ordered +candles before Adeline had recovered herself sufficiently to say these +words, 'After your conduct on the beach, I little expected this visit.' + +'Pshaw!' replied the doctor: 'when a man out of regard to society has +performed a painful task, surely he may be allowed, out of regard to +himself, to follow the dictates of his heart.--I obeyed my head when I +passed you so cavalierly, and I thought I should never have gone through +my task as I did;--but then for the sake of my daughters, I gave a gulp, +and called up a fierce look. But I told madam that I meant to call on +you, and she insisted, very properly, that it should be in the dark +hour.' + +'But what of my mother?' + +'She is a miserable woman, as she deserved to be--an old fool.' + +'Pray do not call her so; to hear she is miserable is torment sufficient +to me:--where is she?' + +'Still at the Pavilion: but she is going to let Rosevalley, retire to +her estate in Cumberland, and live unknown and unseen.' + +'But will she not allow me to live with her?' + +'What! as Mr Glenmurray's mistress? receive under her roof the seducer +of her daughter?' + +'Sir, I am no seducer.' + +'No,' cried Adeline: 'I became the mistress of Mr Glenmurray from the +dictates of my reason, not my weakness or his persuasions.' + +'Humph!' replied the doctor, 'I should expect to find such reason in +Moorfields: besides, had not Mr Glenmurray's books turned your head, you +would not have thought it pretty and right to become the mistress of any +man: so he is your seducer, after all.' + +'So far I plead guilty,' replied Glenmurray; 'but whatever my opinions +are, I have ever been willing to sacrifice them to the welfare of Miss +Mowbray, and have, from the first moment that we were safe from pursuit, +been urgent to marry her.' + +'Then why are you not married?' + +'Because I would not consent,' said Adeline coldly. + +'Mad, certainly mad,' exclaimed the doctor: 'but you, 'faith, you are an +honest fellow after all,' turning to Glenmurray and shaking him by the +hand; 'weak of the head, not bad in the heart; burn your vile books, +and I am your friend for ever.' + +'We will discuss that point another time,' replied Glenmurray: 'at +present the most interesting subject to us is the question whether Mrs +Mowbray will forgive her daughter or not?' + +'Why, man, if I may judge of Mrs Mowbray by myself, one condition of her +forgiveness will be your marrying her daughter.' + +'O blest condition!' cried Glenmurray. + +'I should think,' replied Adeline coldly, 'my mother must have had too +much of marriage to wish me to marry; but if she should insist on my +marrying, I will comply, and on no other account.' + +'Strange infatuation! To me appears only justice and duty. But your +reasons, girl, your reasons?' + +'They are few, but strong. Glenmurray, philanthropically bent on +improving the state of society, puts forth opinions counteracting its +received usages, backed by arguments which are in my opinion +incontrovertible.' + +'In your opinion!--Pray, child, how old are you?' + +'Nineteen.' + +'And at that age you set up for a reformer? Well,--go on.' + +'But though it be important to the success of his opinions, and indeed +to the respectability of his character, that he should act according to +his precepts, he, for the sake of preserving to me the notice of persons +whose narrowness of mind I despise, would conform to an institution +which both he and I think unworthy of regard from a rational being.--And +shall not I be as generous as he is? shall I scruple to give up for his +honour and fame the petty advantages which marriage would give me? +Never--his honour and fame are too dear to me; but the claims which my +mother has on me are in my eyes so sacred that, for her sake, though not +for my own, I would accept the sacrifice which Glenmurray offers. If, +then, she says that she will never see or pardon me till I am become +a wife, I will follow him to the altar directly; but till then I must +insist on remaining as I am. It is necessary that I should respect the +man I love; and I should not respect Glenmurray were he not capable of +supporting with fortitude the consequences of his opinions; and could +he, for motives less strong than those he avows, cease to act up to what +he believes to be right. For, never can I respect or believe firmly in +the truth of those doctrines, the followers of which shrink from a sort +of martyrdom in support of them.' + +'O Mr Glenmurray!' cried the doctor shaking his head, 'what have you +to answer for! What a glorious champion would that creature have +been in the support of truth, when even error in her looks so like to +virtue!--And then the amiable disinterestedness of you both!--What +a powerful thing must true love be, when it can make a speculative +philosopher indifferent to the interests of his system, and ready to act +in direct opposition to it, rather than injure the respectability of the +woman he loves! Well, well, the Lord forgive you, young man, for having +taken it into your head to set up for a great author!' + +Glenmurray answered by a deep-drawn sigh; and the doctor continued: +'Then there is that girl again, with a heart so fond and true that her +love comes in aid of her integrity, and makes her think no sacrifice +too great, in order to prove her confidence in the wisdom of her +lover,--urging her to disregard all personal inconveniences rather than +let him forfeit, for her sake, his pretensions to independence and +consistency of character! girl, I can't help admiring you, but no more I +could a Malabar widow, who with fond and pious enthusiasm, from an idea +of duty, throws herself on the funeral pile of her husband. But still +I should think you a great fool, notwithstanding, for professing the +opinions that led to such an exertion of duty. And now here are you, +possessed of every quality both of head and heart to bless others and to +bless yourself--owing to your foolish and pernicious opinions;--here you +are, I say blasted in reputation in the prime of your days, and doomed +perhaps to pine through existence in--Pshaw! I can't support the idea!' +added he, gulping down a sob as he spoke, and traversing the room in +great emotion. + +Adeline and Glenmurray were both of them deeply and painfully affected; +and the latter was going to express what he felt, when the doctor +seizing Adeline's hand, affectionately exclaimed, 'Well, my poor child! +I will see your mother once more; I will go to London tomorrow--by this +time she is there--and you had better follow me; you will hear of me at +the Old Hummums; and here is a card of address to an hotel near it, +where I would advise you to take up your abode.' + +So saying he shook Glenmurray by the hand; when, starting back, he +exclaimed 'Why, man! here is a skin like fire, and a pulse like +lightning. My dear fellow, you must take care of yourself.' + +Adeline burst into tears. + +'Indeed, doctor, I am only nervous.' + +'Nervous!--What, I suppose you think you understand my profession better +than I do. But don't cry, my child: when your mind is easier, perhaps, +he will do very well; and, as one thing likely to give him immediate +ease, I prescribe a visit to the altar of the next parish church.' + +So saying he departed; and all other considerations were again swallowed +up in Adeline's mind by the idea of Glenmurray's danger. + +'Is it possible that my marrying you would have such a blessed effect on +your health?' cried Adeline after a pause. + +'It certainly would make my mind easier than it now is,' replied he. + +'If I thought so,' said Adeline: 'but no--regard for my supposed +interest merely makes you say so; and indeed I should not think so well +of you as I now do, if I imagined that you could be made easy by an +action by which you forfeited all pretensions to that consistency of +character so requisite to the true dignity of a philosopher.' + +A deep sigh from Glenmurray, in answer, proved that he was no +philosopher. + +In the morning the lovers set off for London, Dr Norberry having +preceded them by a few hours. This blunt but benevolent man had returned +the evening before slowly and pensively to his lodgings, his heart full +of pity for the errors of the well-meaning enthusiasts whom he had left, +and his head full of plans for their assistance, or rather for that of +Adeline. But he entered his own doors again reluctantly--he knew but too +well that no sympathy with his feelings awaited him there. His wife, a +woman of narrow capacity and no talents or accomplishments, had, like +all women of that sort, a great aversion to those of her sex who +united to feminine graces and gentleness, the charms of a cultivated +understanding and pretensions to accomplishments or literature. + +Of Mrs Mowbray, as we have before observed, she had always been +peculiarly jealous, because Dr Norberry spoke of her knowledge +with wonder, and of her understanding with admiration; not that he +entertained one moment a feeling of preference towards her, inconsistent +with an almost idolatrous love of his wife, whose skill in all the +domestic duties, and whose very pretty face and person, were the daily +themes of his praise. But Mrs Norberry wished to engross all his +panegyrics to herself, and she never failed to expatiate on Mrs +Mowbray's foibles and flightiness as long as the doctor had expatiated +on her charms. + +Sometimes, indeed, this last subject was sooner exhausted than the one +which she had chosen; but when Adeline grew up, and became as it were +the rival of her daughters in the praises of her husband, she found it +difficult as we have said before, to bring faults in array against +excellencies. + +Mrs Norberry could with propriety observe, when the doctor, was +exclaiming, 'What a charming essay Mrs Mowbray has just written!' + +'Aye,--but I dare say she can't write a market bill.' + +When he said, 'How well she comprehends the component parts of the +animal system!' + +She could with great justice reply, 'But she knows nothing of the +component parts of a plum pudding.' + +But when Adeline became the object of the husband's admiration and the +wife's enmity, Mrs Norberry could not make these pertinent remarks, as +Adeline was as conversant with all branches of housewifery as herself; +and, though as learned in all systems as her mother, was equally learned +in the component parts of puddings and pies. She was therefore at a loss +what to say when Adeline was praised by the doctor; and all she could +observe on the occasion was, that the girl might be clever, but was +certainly very ugly, very affected, and very conceited. + +It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Mrs Mowbray's degrading and +unhappy marriage, and Adeline's elopement, should have been sources of +triumph to Mrs Norberry and her daughters; who, though they liked Mrs +Mowbray very well, could not bear Adeline. + +'So Dr Norberry, these are your uncommon folks!'--exclaimed Mrs Norberry +on hearing of the marriage and of the subsequent elopement;--'I suppose +you are now well satisfied at not having a genius for your wife, or +geniuses for your daughters?' + +'I always was, my dear,' meekly replied the mortified and afflicted +doctor, and dropped the subject as soon as possible; nor had it been +resumed for some time when Adeline accosted them on the beach at +Brighton. But her appearance called forth their dormant enmity; and the +whole way to their lodgings the good doctor heard her guilt expatiated +upon with as much violence as ever: but just as they got home he coldly +and firmly observed, 'I shall certainly call on the poor deluded girl +this evening.' + +And Mrs Norberry, knowing by the tone and manner in which he spoke, that +this was a point which he would not give up, contented herself with +requiring only that he should go in the dark hour. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +It was to a wife and daughters such as these that he was returning, with +the benevolent wish of interesting them for the guilty Adeline. + +'So, Dr Norberry, you are come back at last!' was his first salutation, +'and what does the creature say for herself?' + +'The creature!--Your fellow-creature, my dear, says very little--grief +is not wordy.' + +'Grief!--So then she is unhappy, is she?' cries Miss Norberry; 'I am +monstrous glad of it.' + +The doctor started; and an oath nearly escaped his lips. He did say, +'Why, zounds, Jane!'--but then he added, in a softer tone, 'Why do you +rejoice in a poor girl's affliction?' + +'Because I think it is for the good of her soul.' + +'Good girl!' replied the father:--'Jane, (seizing her hand,) may your +soul never need such a medicine!' + +'It never will,' said her mother proudly: 'she has been differently +brought up.' + +'She has been well brought up, you might have added,' observed the +doctor, 'had modesty permitted it. Mrs Mowbray, poor woman, had good +intentions; but she was too flighty. Had Adeline, my children, had such +a mother as yours, she would have been like you.' + +'But not half so handsome,' interrupted the mother in a low voice. + +'But as our faults and our virtues, my dear, depend so much on the care +and instruction of others, we should look with pity, as well as aversion +on the faults of those less fortunate in instructors than we have been.' + +'Certainly;--very true,' said Mrs Norberry, flattered and affected by +this compliment from her husband: 'but you know, James Norberry,' laying +her hand on his, 'I always told you you overrated Mrs Mowbray; and that +she was but a dawdle after all.' + +'You always did, my good woman,' replied he, raising her hand to his +lips. + +'But you men think yourselves much wiser than we are!' + +'We do so,' replied the doctor. + +The tone was equivocal--Mrs Norberry felt it to be so, and looked up +in his face.--The doctor understood the look: it was one of doubt and +inquiry; and, as it was his interest to sooth her in order to carry his +point, he exclaimed, 'We men are, indeed, too apt to pride ourselves in +our supposed superior wisdom: but I, you will own, my dear, have always +done your sex justice; and you in particular.' + +'You have been a good husband indeed, James Norberry,' replied his wife +in a faltering voice; 'and I believe you to be, to every one, a just and +honourable man.' + +'And I dare say, dame, I do no more than justice to you, when I think +you will approve and further a plan for Adeline Mowbray's good, which I +am going to propose to you.' + +Mrs Norberry withdrew her hand; but returning it again:--'To be sure, +my dear,' she cried. 'Any thing you wish; that is, if I see right to--' + +'I will explain myself,' continued the doctor gently. + +'I have promised this poor girl to endeavour to bring about a +reconciliation between her and her mother; but though Adeline wishes +to receive her pardon on any terms, and even, if it be required, to +renounce her lover, I fear Mrs Mowbray is too much incensed against her, +to see or forgive her.' + +'Hard-hearted woman!' cried Mrs Norberry. + +'Cruel, indeed!' cried her daughters. + +'But a mother ought to be severe, very severe, on such occasions, young +ladies,' hastily added Mrs Norberry: 'but go on, my dear.' + +'Now it is but too probable,' continued the doctor, 'that Glenmurray +will not live long, and then this young creature will be left to +struggle unprotected with the difficulties of her situation; and who +knows but that she may, from poverty, and the want of a protector, be +tempted to continue in the paths of vice?' + +'Well, Dr Norberry, and what then?--Who or what is to prevent it?--You +know we have three children to provide for; and I am a young woman as +yet.' + +'True, Hannah,' giving her a kiss, 'and a very pretty woman too.' + +'Well, my dear love, anything we can do with prudence I am ready to do; +I can say no more.' + +'You have said enough,' cried the doctor exultingly; 'then hear my plan: +Adeline shall, in the event of Glenmurray's death, which though not +certain seems likely--to be sure, I did not inquire into the nature of +his nocturnal perspirations, his expectoration, and so forth--' + +'Dear papa, you are so professional!' affectedly exclaimed his youngest +daughter. + +'Well, child, I have done; and to return to my subject--if Glenmurray +lives or dies, I think it advisable that Adeline should go into +retirement to lie-in. And where can she be better than in my little +cottage now empty, within a four-miles ride of our house? If she wants +protection, I can protect her; and if she wants money before her mother +forgives her, you can give it to her.' + +'Indeed, papa,' cried both the girls, 'we shall not grudge it.' + +The doctor started from his chair, and embraced his daughters with joy +mixed with wonder; for he knew they had always disliked Adeline.--True; +but then, she was prosperous, and their superior. Little minds love to +bestow protection; and it was easy to be generous to the fallen Adeline +Mowbray: had her happiness continued, so would their hatred. + +'Then it is a settled point, is it not dame?' asked the doctor, chucking +his wife under the chin; when, to his great surprise and consternation, +she threw his hand indignantly from her, and vociferated, 'She shall +never live within a ride of our house, I can assure you, Dr Norberry.' + +The doctor was petrified into silence, and the girls could only +articulate 'La! mamma?' But what could produce this sudden and violent +change? Nothing but a simple and natural operation of the human mind. +Though a very kind husband, and an indulgent father, Dr Norberry was +suspected, though unjustly, of being a very gallant man: and some of Mrs +Norberry's good-natured friends had occasionally hinted to her their +sorrow at hearing such and such reports; reports which were indeed +destitute of foundation; but which served to excite suspicions in the +mind of the tenacious Mrs Norberry. And what more likely to re-awaken +them than the young and frail Adeline Mowbray living in a cottage of her +husband's, protected, supported, and visited by him! The moment this +idea occurred, its influence was unconquerable; and with a voice and +manner of determined hostility she made known her resolves in +consequence of it. + +After a pause of dismay and astonishment, the doctor cried, 'Dame, what +have you gotten in your head? What, all on a sudden, has had such an +ugly effect on you?' + +'Second thoughts are best, doctor; and I now feel that it would be +highly improper for you, with daughters grown up, to receive with such +marked kindness a single young woman at a cottage of yours, who is going +to lie-in.' + +'But, my dear, it is a different case, when I do it to keep her out of +the way of further harm.' + +'That is more than I know, Dr Norberry,' replied the wife bridling, and +fanning herself. + +'Whew!' whistled the doctor; and then addressing his daughters, 'Girls, +you had better go to bed; it grows late.' + +The young ladies obeyed; but first hung round their mother's neck, as +they bade her good night, and hoped she would not be so cruel to the +poor deluded Adeline. + +Mrs Norberry angrily shook them off, with a peevish--'Get along, girls.' +The doctor cordially kissed, and bade God bless them; while the door +closed and left the loving couple alone. + +What passed, it were tedious to repeat: suffice that after a long +altercation, continued even after they were retired to rest, the doctor +found his wife, on this subject, incapable of listening to reason, and +that, as a finishing stroke, she exclaimed, 'It does not signify talking, +Dr Norberry, while I have my senses, and can see into a mill-stone a +little, the hussey shall never come near us.' + +The doctor sighed deeply; turned himself round, not to sleep but to +think, and rose the next morning to go in search of Mrs Mowbray, +dreading the interview which he was afterwards to have with Adeline; for +he did not expect to succeed in his application to her mother, and he +could not now soften his intelligence with a 'but,' as he intended. +'True,' he meant to have said to her, 'your mother will not receive you; +but if you ever want a home or a place of retirement, I have a cottage, +and so forth.' + +'Pshaw!' cried the doctor to himself, as these thoughts came across him +on the road, and made him hastily let down the front window of the +post-chaise for air. + +'Did your honour speak?' cries the post-boy. + +'Not I. But can't you drive faster and be hanged to you?' + +The boy whipped his horses.--The doctor then found that it was up +hill--down went the glass again:--'Hold, you brute, why do you not see +it is up hill?' For find fault he must; and with his wife he could not, +or dared not, even in fancy. + +'Dear me! Why, your honour bade me put it on.' + +'Devilishly obedient,' muttered the doctor: 'I wish every one was like +you in that respect.'--And in a state of mind not the pleasantest +possible the doctor drove into town, and to the hotel where Mrs Mowbray +was to be found. + +Dr Norberry was certainly now not in a humour to sooth any woman whom he +thought in the wrong, except his wife; and, whether from carelessness or +design, he did not, unfortunately for Adeline, manage the self-love of +her unhappy mother. + +He found Mrs Mowbray with her heart shut up, not softened by sorrow. +The hands once stretched forth with kindness to welcome him, were +now stiffly laid one upon the other; and 'How are you, sir?' coldly +articulated, was followed by as cold a 'Pray sit down.' + +'Why, how ill you look!' exclaimed the doctor. + +'I attend more to my feelings than my looks,' with a deep sigh, answered +Mrs Mowbray. + +'Your feelings are as bad as your looks, I dare say.' + +'They are worse, sir,' said Mrs Mowbray piqued. + +'There was no need of that,' replied the doctor: 'but I am come to +point out to you one way of getting rid of some of your unpleasant +feelings:--see, and forgive your daughter.' + +Mrs Mowbray started, changed colour, and exclaimed with quickness, 'Is +she in England?' but added instantly, 'I have no daughter:--she, who was +my child, is my most inveterate foe; she has involved me in disgrace and +misery.' + +'With a little of your own help she has,' replied the doctor. 'Come, +come, my old friend, you have both of you something to forget and +forgive; and the sooner you set about it the better. Now do write, and +tell Adeline, who is by this time in London, that you forgive her.' + +'Never:--after having promised me not to hold converse with that villain +without my consent? Had I no other cause of complaint against her;--had +she not by her coquettish arts seduced the affections of the man I +loved:--never, never would I forgive her having violated the sacred +promise which she gave me.' + +'A promise,' interrupted the doctor, 'which she would never have +violated, had not you first violated that sacred compact which you +entered into at her birth.' + +'What mean you, sir?' + +'I mean, that though a parent does not, at a child's birth, solemnly +make a vow to do all in his or her power to promote the happiness of +that child,--still, as he has given it birth, he has tacitly bound +himself to make it happy. This tacit agreement you broke, when at the +age of forty, you, regardless of your daughter's welfare, played the +fool and married a pennyless profligate, merely because he had a fine +person and a handsome leg.' + +Mrs Mowbray was too angry and too agitated to interrupt him, and he went +on: + +'Well, what was the consequence? The young fellow very naturally +preferred the daughter to the mother; and, as he could not have her by +fair, was resolved to have her by foul means; and so he--' + +'I beg, Dr Norberry,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray in a faint voice, 'that +you would spare the disgusting recital.' + +'Well, well, I will. Now do consider the dilemma your child was in: she +must either elope, or by her presence keep alive a criminal passion in +her father-in-law, which you sooner or later must discover; and be +besides exposed to fresh insults.--Well, Glenmurray by chance happened +to be on the spot just as she escaped from that villanous fellow's +clutches, and--' + +'He is dead, Dr Norberry,' interrupted Mrs Mowbray; 'and you know the +old adage, "Do not speak ill of the dead."' + +'And a very silly adage it is. I had rather speak ill of the dead than +the living, for my part: but let me go on.--Well, love taking the name +and habit of prudence and filial piety, (for she thought she consulted +your happiness, and not her own,) bade her fly to and with her lover; +and now there she is, owing to the pretty books which you let her read, +living with him as his mistress, and glorying in it, as if it was a +notable praiseworthy action.' + +'And you would have me forgive her?' + +'Certainly: a fault which both your precepts and conduct occasioned. Not +but what the girl has been wrong, terribly wrong:--no one ought to do +evil that good may come. You had forbidden her to have any intercourse +with Glenmurray; and she therefore knew that disobeying you would make +you unhappy--that was a certainty. That fellow's persevering in his +attempts, after the fine rebuff which she had given him, was an +uncertainty; and she ought to have run the risk of it, and not committed +a positive fault to avoid a possible evil. But then hers was a fault +which she could not have committed had not you married that--but I +forbear. And as to her not being married to Glenmurray, that is no +fault of his; and with your consent, he will marry your daughter +to-morrow morning. That ever so good, cleanly-hearted a youth should +have poked his nose into the filthy mess of eccentric philosophy!' + +'Have you done, doctor?' cried Mrs Mowbray haughtily: 'have you said all +that Miss Mowbray and you have invented to insult me?' + +'Your child send me to insult you!--She!--Adeline!--Why, the poor soul +came broken-hearted and post haste from France, when she heard of your +misfortunes, to offer her services to console you.' + +'She console me?--she, the first occasion of them?--But for her, I might +still have indulged the charming delusion, even if it were delusion, +that love of me, not of my wealth, induced the man I doted upon to +commit a crime to gain possession of me.' + +'Why!' hastily interrupted the doctor, 'everyone saw that he loved her +long before he married you.' + +The storm, long gathering, now burst forth; and rising, with the tears, +high colour, and vehement voice of unbridled passion, Mrs Mowbray +exclaimed, raising her arm and clenching her fist as she spoke, 'And it +is being the object of that cruel preference, which I never, never will +forgive her!' + +The doctor, after ejaculating 'Whew!' as much as to say 'The murder is +out,' instantly took his hat and departed, convinced his labour was +vain. 'There,' muttered he as he went down stairs, 'two instances in one +day! Ah, ah,--that jealousy is the devil.' He then slowly walked to the +hotel, where he expected to find Adeline and Glenmurray. + +They had arrived about two hours before; and Adeline in a frame of mind +but ill fitted to bear the disappointment which awaited her. For, with +the sanguine expectations natural to her age, she had been castle-building +as usual; and their journey to London had been rendered a very short +one, by the delightful plans, for the future, which she had been forming +and imparting to Glenmurray. + +'When I consider,' said she, 'the love which my mother has always shown +for me, I cannot think it possible that she can persist in renouncing +me; and however her respect for the prejudices of the world, a world +which she intended to live in at the time of her unfortunate connexion, +might make her angry at my acting in defiance of its laws,--now that she +herself, from a sense of injury and disgrace, is about to retire from +it, she will no longer have a motive to act contrary to the dictates of +reason herself, or to wish me to do so.' + +'But your ideas of reason and hers may be so different--' + +'No. Our practice may be different, but our theory is the same, and I +have no doubt but that my mother will now forgive and receive us; and +that, living in a romantic solitude, being the whole world to each +other, our days will glide away in uninterrupted felicity.' + +'And how shall we employ ourselves?' said Glenmurray smiling. + +'You shall continue to write for the instruction of your fellow-creatures; +while my mother and I shall be employed in endeavouring to improve the +situation of the poor around us, and perhaps in educating our children.' + +Adeline, when animated by any prospect of happiness, was irresistible: +she was really Hope herself, as described by Collins-- + + 'But thou, oh Hope, with eyes so fair, + What was thy delighted measure!' + +and Glenmurray, as he listened to her, forgot his illness; forgot every +thing, but what Adeline chose to imagine. The place of their retreat was +fixed upon. It was to be a little village near Falmouth, the scene of +their first happiness. The garden was laid out; Mrs Mowbray's library +planned; and so completely were they lost in their charming prospects +for the future, that every turnpike-man had to wait a longer time than +he was accustomed to for his money; and the postillion had driven into +London in the way to the hotel, before Adeline recollected that she was, +for the first time, in a city which she had long wished most ardently to +see. + +They had scarcely taken up their abode at the hotel recommended to them +by Dr Norberry, when he knocked at the door. Adeline from the window had +seen him coming; and sure as she thought herself to be of her mother's +forgiveness, she turned sick and faint when the decisive moment was at +hand; and, hurrying out of the room, she begged Glenmurray to receive +the doctor, and apologize for her absence. + +Glenmurray awaited him with a beating heart. He listened to his step +on the stairs: it was slow and heavy; unlike that of a benevolent man +coming to communicate good news. Glenmurray began immediately to tremble +for the peace of Adeline; and, hastily pouring out a glass of wine, was +on the point of drinking it when Dr Norberry entered. + +'Give me a glass,' cried he: 'I want one, I am sure, to recruit my +spirits.' Glenmurray in silence complied with his desire. 'Come, I'll +give you a toast,' cried the doctor: 'Here is--' + +At this moment Adeline entered. She had heard the doctor's last words, +and she thought he was going to drink to the reconciliation of her +mother and herself; and hastily opening the door she came to receive +the good news which awaited her. But, at sight of her, the toast died +unfinished on her old friend's lips; he swallowed down the wine in +silence, and then taking her hand led her to the sofa. + +Adeline's heart began to die within her; and before the doctor, after +having taken a pinch of snuff and blowed his nose full three times, was +prepared to speak, she was convinced that she had nothing but unwelcome +intelligence to receive; and she awaited in trembling expectation an +answer to a 'Well, sir,' from Glenmurray, spoken in a tone of fearful +emotion. + +'No, it is not well, sir,' replied the doctor. + +'You have seen my mother?' said Adeline, catching hold of the arm of the +sofa for support: and in an instant Glenmurray was by her side. + +'I have seen Mrs Mowbray, but not your mother: for I have seen a woman +dead to every graceful impulse of maternal affection, and alive only to +a selfish sense of rivalship and hatred. My poor child! God forgive the +deluded woman! But I declare she detests you!' + +'Detests me?' exclaimed Adeline. + +'Yes; she swears that she can never forgive the preference which that +vile fellow gave you, and I am convinced that she will keep her word;' +and here the doctor, turning round, saw Adeline lying immoveable in +Glenmurray's arms. But she did not long remain so, and with a frantic +scream kept repeating the words 'She detests me!' till unable to contend +any longer with the acuteness of her feelings, she sunk, sobbing +convulsively, exhausted on the bed to which they carried her. + +'My good friend, my only friend,' cried Glenmurray, 'what is to be done? +Will she scream again, think you, in that most dreadful and unheard-of +manner? For, if she does, I must run out of the house.' + +'What, then, she never treated you in this pretty way before, heh?' + +'Never, never. Her self-command has always been exemplary.' + +'Indeed?--Lucky fellow! My wife and daughters often scream just as loud, +on very trifling occasions: but that scream went to my heart; for I well +know how to distinguish between the shriek of agony and that of passion.' + +When Adeline recovered, she ardently conjured Dr Norberry to procure +her an interview with her mother; contending that it was absolutely +impossible to suppose, that the sight of a child so long and tenderly +loved should not renew a little of her now dormant affection. + +'But you were her rival, as well as her child; remember that. However, +you look so ill, that now, if ever, she will forgive you, I think: +therefore I will go back to Mrs Mowbray; and while I am there do you +come, ask for me, and follow the servant into the room.' + +'I will,' replied Adeline: and leaning on the arm of her lover, she +slowly followed the doctor to her mother's hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +'This is the most awful moment of my life,' said Adeline. + +'And the most anxious one of mine,' replied Glenmurray. 'If Mrs Mowbray +forgives you, it will be probably on condition that--' + +'Whatever be the conditions, I must accept them,' said Adeline. + +'True,' returned Glenmurray, wiping the cold dews of weakness from his +forehead: 'but no matter--at any rate, I should not have been with you +long.' + +Adeline, with a look of agony, pressed the arm she held to her bosom. + +Glenmurray's heart smote him immediately--he felt he had been +ungenerous; and, while the hectic of a moment passed across his cheek, +he added, 'But I do not do myself justice in saying so. I believe my +best chance of recovery is the certainty of your being easy. Let me but +see you happy, and so disinterested is my affection, as I have often +told you, that I shall cheerfully assent to any thing that may ensure +your happiness.' + +'And can you think,' answered Adeline, 'that my happiness can be +independent of yours? Do you not see that I am only trying to prepare +my mind for being called upon to surrender my inclinations to my duty?' + +At this moment they found themselves at the door of the hotel. Neither +of them spoke; the moment of trial was come; and both were unable to +encounter it firmly. At last Adeline grasped her lover's hand, bade him +wait for her at the end of the street, and with some degree of firmness +she entered the vestibule, and asked for Dr Norberry. + +Dr Norberry, meanwhile, with the best intentions in the world, had but +ill prepared Mrs Mowbray's mind for the intended visit. He had again +talked to her of her daughter; and urged the propriety of forgiving her; +but he had at the same time renewed his animadversions on her own +conduct. + +'You know not, Dr Norberry,' observed Mrs Mowbray, 'the pains I took +with the education of that girl; and I expected to be repaid for it by +being styled the happiest as well as best of mothers.' + +'And so you would, perhaps, had you not wished to be a wife as well as +mother.' + +'No more on that subject, sir,' haughtily returned Mrs Mowbray.--'Yes, +--Adeline was indeed my joy, my pride.' + +'Aye, and pride will have a fall; and a pretty tumble yours has had, to +be sure, my old friend; and it has broke its knees--never to be sound +again.' + +At this unpropitious moment 'a lady to Dr Norberry' was announced, and +Adeline tottered into the room. + +'What strange intrusion is this?' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'who is this +woman?' + +Adeline threw back her veil, and falling on her knees, stretched out +her arms in an attitude of entreaty: speak she could not, but her +countenance was sufficiently expressive of her meaning; and her pale +sunk cheek spoke forcibly to the heart of her mother.--At this moment, +when a struggle which might have ended favourably for Adeline was taking +place in the mind of Mrs Mowbray, Dr Norberry injudiciously exclaimed, + +'There,--there she is! Look at her, poor soul! There is little fear, I +think, of her ever rivalling you again.' + +At these words Mrs Mowbray darted an angry look at the doctor, and +desired him to take away that woman; who came, no doubt instigated by +him, to insult her. + +'Take her away,' she said, 'and never let me see her again.' + +'O my mother, hear me, in pity hear me!' exclaimed Adeline. + +'As it is for the last time, I will hear you,' replied Mrs Mowbray; 'for +never, no never will I behold you more! Hear me vow--' + +'Mother, for mercy's sake, make not a vow so terrible!' cried Adeline, +gathering courage from despair, and approaching her: 'I have grievously +erred, and will cheerfully devote the rest of my life to endeavour, by +the most submissive obedience and attention, to atone for my past +guilt.' + +'Atone for it! Impossible; for the misery which I owe to you, no +submission, no future conduct can make me amends. Away! I say: your +presence conjures up recollections which distract me, and I solemnly +swear--' + +'Hold, hold, if you have any mercy in your nature,' cried Adeline almost +frantic: 'this is, I feel but too sensibly, the most awful and important +moment of my life: on the result of this interview depends my future +happiness or misery. Hear me, O my mother! You, who can so easily +resolve to tear the heart of a child that adores you, hear me! reflect +that, if you vow to abandon me for ever, you blast all the happiness +and prospects of my life; and at nineteen 'tis hard to be deprived of +happiness for ever. True, I may not long survive the anguish of being +renounced by my mother, a mother whom I love with even enthusiastic +fondness; but then could you ever know peace again with the conviction +of having caused my death? Oh! no, Save then yourself and me from these +miseries, by forgiving my past errors, and deigning sometimes to see and +converse with me!' + +The eager and animated volubility with which Adeline spoke made it +impossible to interrupt her, even had Mrs Mowbray been inclined to do +so: but she was not; nor, when Adeline had done speaking, could she find +in her heart to break silence. + +It was evident to Dr Norberry that Mrs Mowbray's countenance expressed +a degree of softness which augured well for her daughter; and, as if +conscious that it did so, she covered her face suddenly with her +handkerchief. + +'Now then is the time,' thought the doctor. 'Go nearer her, my child,' +said he in a low voice to Adeline, 'embrace her knees.' + +Adeline rose, and approached Mrs Mowbray; she seized her hand, she +pressed it to her lips. Mrs Mowbray's bosom heaved violently: she almost +returned the pressure of Adeline's hand. + +'Victory, victory!' muttered the doctor to himself, cutting a caper +behind Mrs Mowbray's chair. + +Mrs Mowbray took the handkerchief from her face. + +'My mother, my dear mother! look on me, look on me with kindness only +one moment, and only say that you do not hate me!' + +Mrs Mowbray turned round and fixed her eyes on Adeline with a look of +kindness, and Adeline's began to sparkle with delight; when, as she +threw back her cloak, which, hanging over her arm, embarrassed her as +she knelt to embrace her mother's knees, Mrs Mowbray's eyes glanced from +her face to her shape. + +In an instant the fierceness of her look returned: 'Shame to thy race, +disgrace to thy family!' she exclaimed, spurning her kneeling child +from her: 'and canst thou, while conscious of carrying in thy bosom the +proof of thy infamy, dare to solicit and expect my pardon?--Hence! ere I +load thee with maledictions.' + +Adeline wrapped her cloak round her, and sunk terrified and desponding +to the ground. + +'Why, what a ridiculous caprice is this!' cried the doctor. 'Is it a +greater crime to be in a family way, than to live with a man as his +mistress?--You knew your daughter had done the last: therefore it is +nonsense to be so affected at the former.--Come, come, forget and +forgive!' + +'Never: and if you do not leave the house with her this moment, I will +not stay in it. My injuries are so great that they cannot admit +forgiveness.' + +'What a horrible, unforgiving spirit yours must be!' cried Dr Norberry: +'and after all, I tell you again, that Adeline has something to forgive +and forget too; and she sets you an example of Christian charity in +coming hither to console and comfort you, poor forsaken woman as you +are!' + +'Forsaken!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray: 'aye; why, and for whom, was I +forsaken? There's the pang! and yet you wonder that I cannot instantly +forgive and receive the woman who injured me where I was most +vulnerable.' + +'O my mother!' cried Adeline, almost indignantly, 'and can that wretch, +though dead, still have power to influence my fate in this dreadful +manner? and can you still regret the loss of the affection of that man +whose addresses were a disgrace to you?' + +At these unguarded words, and too just reproaches, Mrs Mowbray lost +all self-command; and, in a voice almost inarticulate with rage, +exclaimed:--'I loved that wretch, as you are pleased to call him. I +gloried in the addresses which you are pleased to call my disgrace. But +he loved you--he left me for you--and on your account he made me endure +the pangs of being forsaken and despised by the man whom I adored. Then +mark my words: I solemnly swear,' dropping on her knees as she spoke, +'by all my hopes of happiness hereafter, that until you shall have +experienced the anguish of having lost the man whom you adore, till +_you_ shall have been as wretched in love, and as disgraced in the eye +of the world, as I have been, I never will see you more, or pardon your +many sins against me--No--not even were you on your death-bed. Yet, +no; I am wrong there--Yes; on your death-bed,' she added, her voice +faltering as she spoke, and passion giving way in a degree to the +dictates of returning nature,--'Yes, there; there I should--I should +forgive you.' + +'Then I feel that you will forgive me soon,' faintly articulated Adeline +sinking on the ground; while Mrs Mowbray was leaving the room, and Dr +Norberry was standing motionless with horror, from the rash oath which +he had just heard. But Adeline's fall aroused him from his stupor. + +'For pity's sake, do not go and leave your daughter dying!' cried he: +'your vow does not forbid you to continue to see her now.' Mrs Mowbray +turned back, and started with horror at beholding the countenance of +Adeline. + +'Is she really dying?' cried she eagerly, 'and have I killed her?' These +words, spoken in a faltering tone, and with a look of anxiety, seemed +to recall the fleeting spirit of Adeline. She looked up at her mother, +a sort of smile quivered on her lip; and faintly articulating 'I am +better,' she burst into a convulsive flood of tears, and laid her head +on the bosom of her compassionate friend. + +'She will do now,' cried he exultingly to Mrs Mowbray: 'You need alarm +yourself no longer.' + +But alarm was perhaps a feeling of enjoyment, to the sensations which +then took possession of Mrs Mowbray. The apparent danger of Adeline had +awakened her long dormant tenderness: but she had just bound herself +by an oath not to give way to it, except under circumstances the most +unwelcome and affecting, and had therefore embittered her future days +with remorse and unavailing regret.--For some minutes she stood looking +wildly and mournfully on Adeline, longing to clasp her to her bosom, and +pronounce her pardon, but not daring to violate her oath. At length, 'I +cannot bear this torment,' she exclaimed, and rushed out of the room: +and when in another apartment, she recollected, and uttered a scream of +agony as she did so, that she had seen Adeline probably for the last +time; for, voluntarily, she was now to see her no more. + +The same recollections occurred to Adeline; and as the door closed on +her mother, she raised herself up, and looked eagerly to catch the last +glimpse of her gown, as the door shut it from her sight. 'Let us go away +directly now,' said she, 'for the air of this room is not good for me.' + +The doctor, affected beyond measure at the expression of quiet despair +with which she spoke, went out to order a coach; and Adeline instantly +rose, and kissed with fond devotion the chair on which her mother had +sat. Suddenly she heard a deep sigh--it came from the next room--perhaps +it came from her mother; perhaps she could still see her again: and with +cautious step she knelt down and looked through the key-hole of the +door. + +She did see her mother once more. Mrs Mowbray was lying on the bed, +beating the ground with her foot, and sighing as if her heart would +break. + +'O that I dare go in to her!' said Adeline to herself: 'but I can at +least bid her farewell here.' She then put her mouth to the aperture, +and exclaimed, 'Mother, dearest mother! since we meet now for the last +time--' (Mrs Mowbray started from the bed) 'let me thank you for all the +affection, all the kindness which you lavished on me during eighteen +happy years. I shall never cease to love and pray for you.' (Mrs Mowbray +sobbed aloud.) 'Perhaps, you will some day or other think you have been +harsh to me, and may wish that you had not taken so cruel a vow.' (Mrs +Mowbray beat her breast in agony: the moment of repentance was already +come.) 'It may therefore be a comfort to you at such moments to know, +that I sincerely, and from the bottom of my heart, forgive this rash +action:--and now, my dearest mother, hear my parting prayers for your +happiness!' + +At this moment a noise in the next room convinced Adeline that her +mother had fallen down in a fainting fit, and the doctor entered the +room. + +'What have I done?' she exclaimed. 'Go to her this instant.'--He obeyed. +Raising up Mrs Mowbray in his arms, he laid her on the bed, while +Adeline bent over her in silent anguish, with all the sorrow of filial +anxiety. But when the remedies which Dr Norberry administered began to +take effect, she exclaimed, 'For the last time! Cruel, but most dear +mother!' and pressed her head to her bosom, and kissed her pale lips +with almost frantic emotion. + +Mrs Mowbray opened her eyes; they met those of Adeline and instantly +closed again. + +'She has looked at me for the last time,' said Adeline; 'and now this +one kiss, my mother, and farewell for ever!' So saying she rushed out of +the room, and did not stop till she reached the coach, which Glenmurray +had called, and springing into it, was received into the arms of +Glenmurray. + +'You, are my all now,' said she. 'You have long been mine,' replied he: +but respecting the anguish and disappointment depicted on her countenance, +he forbore to ask for an explanation; and resting her pale cheek on his +bosom, they reached the inn in silence. + +Adeline had walked up and down the room a number of times, had as +often looked out of the window, before Dr Norberry, whom she had been +anxiously expecting and looking for, made his appearance. 'Thank God, +you are come at last!' said she, seizing his hand as he entered. + +'I left Mrs Mowbray,' replied he, 'much better both in mind and body.' + +'A blessed hearing! replied Adeline. + +'And you, my child, how are you?' asked the doctor affectionately. + +'I know not yet,' answered Adeline mournfully: 'as yet I am stunned by +the blow which I have received; but pray tell me what has passed between +you and my mother since we left the hotel.' + +'What has passed?' cried Dr Norberry, starting from his chair, taking +two hasty strides across the room, pulling up the cape of his coat, +and muttering an oath between his shut teeth--'Why, this passed:--The +deluded woman renounced her daughter; and her friend, her old and +faithful friend, has renounced her.' + +'Oh! my poor mother!' exclaimed Adeline. + +'Girl! girl! don't be foolish,' replied the doctor; 'keep your pity for +more deserving objects; and, as the wisest thing you can do, endeavour +to forget your mother.' + +'Forget her! Never.' + +'Well, well, you will be wiser in time; and now you shall hear all that +passed. When she recovered entirely, and found that you were gone, she +gave way to an agony of sorrow, such as I never before witnessed; for I +believe that I never beheld before the agony of remorse.' + +'My poor mother!' cried Adeline, again bursting into tears. + +'What! again!' exclaimed the doctor. (Adeline motioned to him to go on, +and he continued.) 'At sight of this, I was weak enough to pity her; +and, with the greatest simplicity, I told her, that I was glad to see +that she felt penitent for her conduct, since penitence paved the way to +amendment; when, to my great surprise, all the vanished fierceness and +haughtiness of her look returned, and she told me, that so far from +repenting she approved of her conduct; and that remorse had no share in +her sorrow; that she wept from consciousness of misery inflicted by the +faults of others, not her own.' + +'Oh! Dr Norberry,' cried Adeline reproachfully, 'I doubt, by awakening +her pride, you destroyed the tenderness returning towards me.' + +'May be so. However, so much the better; for anger is a less painful +state of mind to endure than that of remorse: and while she thinks +herself only injured and aggrieved, she will be less unhappy.' + +'Then,' continued Adeline in a faltering voice, 'I care not how long she +hates me.' + +Dr Norberry looked at Adeline a moment with tears in his eyes, and +evidently gulped down a rising sob, 'Good child! good child!' he at +length articulated. 'But she'll forget and forgive all in time, I do +not doubt.' + +'Impossible: remember her oath.' + +'And do you really suppose that she will think herself bound to keep so +silly and rash an oath; an oath made in the heat of passion?' + +'Undoubtedly I do; and I know, that were she to break it, she would +never be otherwise than wretched all her life after. Therefore, unless +Glenmurray forsakes me (she added, trying to smile archly as she spoke), +and this I am not happy enough to expect, I look on our separation in +this world to be eternal.' + +'You do?--Then, poor devil! how miserable she will be, when her present +resentment shall subside! Well; when that time comes I may perhaps see +her again,' added the doctor, gulping again. + +'Heaven bless you for that intention!' cried Adeline. 'But how could you +ever have the heart to renounce her?' + +'Girl! you are almost as provoking as your mother. Why, how could I have +the heart to do otherwise, when she whitewashed herself and blackened +you? To be sure, it did cause me a twinge or two to do it; and had she +been an iota less haughty, I should have turned back and said, "Kiss and +be friends again." But she seemed so provokingly anxious to get rid of +me, and waved me with her hand to the door in such a tragedy queen sort +of a manner, that, having told her very civilly to go to the devil her +own way, I gulped down a sort of a tender choking in my throat, and made +as rapid an exit as possible. And now another trial awaits me. I came to +town, at some inconvenience to myself, to try to do you service. I have +failed, and I have now no further business here: so we must part, and I +know not when we shall meet again. For I rarely leave home, and may not +see you again for years.' + +'Indeed!' exclaimed Adeline, 'Surely,' looking at Glenmurray, 'we might +settle in Dr Norberry's neighbourhood?' + +Glenmurray said nothing, but looked at the doctor; who seemed confused, +and was silent. + +'Look ye, my dear girl,' said he at length: 'the idea of your settling +near me occurred to me, but--' here he took two hasty strides across the +room--'in short, that's an impossible thing; so I beg you to think no +more about it. If, indeed, you mean to marry Mr Glenmurray--' + +'Which I shall not do,' replied Adeline coldly. + +'There again, now!' cried the doctor pettishly: 'you, in your way, are +quite as obstinate and ridiculous as your mother. However, I hope you +will know better in time. But it grows late--'tis time I should be in my +chaise, and I hear it driving up. Mr Glenmurray,' continued he in an +altered tone of voice, 'to your care and your tenderness I leave this +poor child; and, zounds, man! if you will but burn your books before her +face, and swear they are stuff, why, 'sdeath, I say, I would come to +town on purpose to do you homage.--Adeline, my child, God bless you! I +have loved you from your infancy, and I wish, from my soul, that I left +you in a better situation. But you will write to me, heh?' + +'Undoubtedly.' + +'Well, one kiss:--don't be jealous, Glenmurray. Your hand, man.--Woons, +what a hand! My dear fellow, take care of yourself, for that poor +child's sake: get the advice which I recommended, and good air.' A +rising sob interrupted him--he hemmed it off, and ran into his chaise. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + +'Now then,' said Adeline, her tears dropping fast as she spoke, 'now, +then, we are alone in the world; henceforward we must be all to each +other.' + +'Is the idea a painful one, Adeline?' replied Glenmurray reproachfully. + +'Not so,' returned Adeline, 'Still I can't yet forget that I had a +mother, and a kind one too.' + +'And may have again.' + +'Impossible:--there is a vow in heaven against it. No--My plans for +future happiness must be laid unmindful and independent of her. They +must have you and your happiness for their sole object; I must live for +you alone: and you,' added she in a faltering voice, 'must live for me.' + +'I will live as long as I can,' replied Glenmurray sighing, 'and as one +step towards it I shall keep early hours: so to rest, dear Adeline, and +let us forget our sorrows as soon as possible.' + +The next morning Adeline's and Glenmurray's first care was to determine +on their future residence. It was desirable that it should be at a +sufficient distance from London, to deserve the name and have the +conveniences of a country abode, yet sufficiently near it for Glenmurray +to have the advice of a London physician if necessary. + +'Suppose we fix at Richmond?' said Glenmurray: and Adeline, to whom the +idea of dwelling on a spot at once so classical and beautiful was most +welcome, joyfully consented; and in a few days they were settled there +in a pleasant but expensive lodging. + +But here, as when abroad, Glenmurray occasionally saw old acquaintances, +many of whom were willing to renew their intercourse with him for the +sake of being introduced to Adeline; and who, from a knowledge of her +situation, presumed to pay her that sort of homage, which, though not +understood by her, gave pangs unutterable to the delicate mind of +Glenmurray. 'Were she my wife, they dared not pay her such marked +attention,' said he to himself; and again, as delicately as he could, he +urged Adeline to sacrifice her principles to the prejudices of society. + +'I thought,' replied Adeline gravely, 'that, as we lived for each other, +we might act independent of society, and serve it by our example even +against its will.' + +Glenmurray was silent.--He did not like to own how painful and +mischievous he found in practice the principles which he admired in +theory--and Adeline continued: + +'Believe me, Glenmurray, ours is the very situation calculated to urge +us on in the pursuit of truth. We are answerable to no one for our +conduct; and we can make any experiments in morals that we choose. I am +wholly at a loss to comprehend why you persist in urging me to marry +you. Take care, my dear Glenmurray--the high respect I bear your +character was shaken a little by your fighting a duel in defiance of +your principles; and your eagerness to marry, in further defiance of +them, may weaken my esteem, if not my love.' + +Adeline smiled as she said this: but Glenmurray thought she spoke more +in earnest than she was willing to allow; and, alarmed at the threat, he +only answered, 'You know it is for your sake merely that I speak,' and +dropped the subject; secretly resolving, however, that he would not walk +with Adeline in the fashionable promenades, at the hours commonly spent +there by the beau monde. + +But, in spite of this precaution, they could not escape the assiduities +of some gay men of fashion, who knew Glenmurray and admired his +companion; and Adeline at length suspected that Glenmurray was jealous. +But in this she wronged him; it was not the attention paid her, but the +nature of it, that disturbed him. Nor is it to be wondered at that +Adeline herself was eager to avoid the public walks, when it is known +that one of her admirers at Richmond was the Colonel Mordaunt whom she +had become acquainted with at Bath. + +Colonel Mordaunt, 'curst with every granted prayer,' was just beginning +to feel the tedium of life, when he saw Adeline unexpectedly at +Richmond; and though he felt shocked at first, at beholding her in so +different a situation from that in which he had first beheld her, still +that very situation, by holding forth to him a prospect of being +favoured by her in his turn, revived his admiration with more than its +original violence, and he resolved to be, if possible, the lover of +Adeline, after Glenmurray should have fallen a victim, as he had no +doubt but he would, to his dangerous illness. + +But the opportunities which he had of seeing her suddenly ceased. She +no longer frequented the public walks; and him, though he suspected it +not, she most studiously avoided; for she could not bear to behold the +alteration in his manner when be addressed her, an alteration perhaps +unknown to himself. True, it was not insulting; but Adeline, who had +admired him too much at Bath not to have examined with minute attention +the almost timid expression of his countenance, and the respectfulness +of his manner when he addressed her, shrunk abashed from the ardent and +impassioned expression with which he now met her--an expression which +Adeline used to call 'looking like Sir Patrick;' and which indicated +even to her inexperience, that the admiration which he then felt was of +a nature less pure and flattering than the one which she excited before; +and though in her own eyes she appeared as worthy of respect as ever, +she was forced to own even to herself, that persons in general would be +of a contrary opinion. + +But in vain did she resolve to walk very early in a morning only, being +fully persuaded that she should then meet with no one. Colonel Mordaunt +was as wakeful as she was; and being convinced that she walked during +some part of the day, and probably early in a morning, he resolved to +watch near the door of her lodgings, in hopes to obtain an hour's +conversation with her. The consequence was, that he saw Adeline one +morning walk pensively alone, down the shady road that leads from the +terrace to Petersham. + +This opportunity was not to be overlooked; and he overtook and accosted +her with such an expression of pleasure on his countenance, as was +sufficient to alarm the now suspicious delicacy of Adeline; and, conscious +as she was that Glenmurray beheld Colonel Mordaunt's attentions with +pain, a deep blush overspread her cheek at his approach, while her eyes +were timidly cast down. + +Colonel Mordaunt saw her emotion, and attributed it to a cause flattering +to his vanity; it even encouraged him to seize her hand; and, while he +openly congratulated himself on his good fortune in meeting her alone, +he presumed to press her hand to his lips. Adeline indignantly withdrew +it, and replied very coldly to his inquiries concerning her health. + +'But where have you hidden yourself lately?' cried he.--'O Miss Mowbray! +loveliest and, I may add, most beloved of women, how have I longed to +see you alone, and pour out my whole soul to you!' + +Adeline answered this rhapsody by a look of astonishment only--being +silent from disgust and consternation,--while involuntarily she +quickened her pace, as if wishing to avoid him. + +'O hear me, and hear me patiently!' he resumed. 'You must have noticed +the effect which your charms produced on me at Bath; and may I dare to +add that my attentions then did not seem displeasing to you?' + +'Sir!' interrupted Adeline, sighing deeply, 'my situation is now +changed; and--' + +'It is so, I thank Fortune that it is so,' replied Colonel Mordaunt; +'and I am happy to say, it is changed by no crime of mine.' (Here +Adeline started and turned pale.) 'But I were unworthy all chance of +happiness, were I to pass by the seeming opportunity of being blest, +which the alteration to which you allude holds forth to me.' + +Here he paused, as if in embarrassment, but Adeline was unable to +interrupt him. + +'Miss Mowbray,' he at length continued, 'I am told that you are not on +good terms with your mother; nay, I have heard that she has renounced +you; may I presume to ask if this be true?' + +'It is,' answered Adeline trembling with emotion. + +'Then, as before long it is probable that you will be without--without a +protector--' (Adeline turned round and fixed her eyes wildly upon him.) +'To be sure,' continued he, avoiding her steadfast gaze, 'I could wish +to call you mine this moment; but, unhappy as you appear to be in your +present situation, I know, unlike many women circumstanced as you are, +you are too generous and noble-minded to be capable of forsaking in his +last illness the man whom in his happier moments you have honoured with +your love.' As he said this, Adeline, her lips parched with agitation, +and breathing short, caught hold of his arm; and pressing her cold hand, +he went on: 'Therefore, I will not venture even to wish to be honoured +with a kind look from you till Mr Glenmurray is removed to a happier +world. But then, dearest of women, you whom I loved without hope of +possessing you, and whom now I dote upon to madness, I conjure you to +admit my visits, and let my attentions prevail on you to accept my +protection, and allow me to devote the remainder of my days to love and +you!' + +'Merciful Heaven!' exclaimed Adeline, clasping her hands together, 'to +what insults am I reserved!' + +'Insults!' echoed Colonel Mordaunt. + +'Yes, Sir,' replied Adeline: 'you have insulted me, grossly insulted me, +and know not the woman whom you have tortured to the very soul.' + +'Hear me, hear me, Miss Mowbray!' exclaimed Colonel Mordaunt, almost +as much agitated as herself: 'by heaven I meant not to insult you! and +perhaps I--perhaps I have been misinformed--No! Yes, yes, it must be so; +your indignation proves that I have--You are, no doubt--and on my knees +I implore your pardon--you are the wife of Mr Glenmurray.' + +'And suppose I am _not_ his wife,' cried Adeline, 'is it then given to +a wife only to be secure from being insulted by offers horrible to the +delicacy, and wounding to the sensibility, like those which I have heard +from you?' But before Colonel Mordaunt could reply, Adeline's thoughts +had reverted to what he had said of Glenmurray's certain danger; and, +unable to bear this confirmation of her fears, with the speed of phrensy +she ran towards home, and did not stop till she was in sight of her +lodging, and the still closed curtain of her apartment met her view. + +'He is still sleeping, then,' she exclaimed, 'and I have time to recover +myself, and endeavour to hide from him the emotion of which I could not +tell the reason.' So saying, she softly entered the house, and by the +time Glenmurray rose she had regained her composure. Still there was a +look of anxiety on her fine countenance, which could not escape the +penetrating eye of love. + +'Why are you so grave this morning?' said Glenmurray, as Adeline seated +herself at the breakfast table:--'I feel much better and more cheerful +to-day.' + +'But are you, indeed, better?' replied Adeline, fixing her tearful eyes +on him. + +'Or I much deceive myself,' said Glenmurray. + +'Thank Heaven!' devoutly replied Adeline. 'I thought--I thought--' Here +tears choked her utterance, and Glenmurray drew from her a confession of +her anxious fears for him, though she prudently resolved not to agitate +him by telling him of the rencontre with Colonel Mordaunt. + +But when the continued assurances of Glenmurray that he was better, and +the animation of his countenance, had in a degree removed her fears for +his life, she had leisure to revert to another source of uneasiness, +and to dwell on the insult which she had experienced from Colonel +Mordaunt's offer of protection. + +'How strange and irrational,' thought Adeline, 'are the prejudices of +society! Because an idle ceremony has not been muttered over me at the +altar, I am liable to be thought a woman of vicious inclinations, and to +be exposed to the most daring insults.' + +As these reflections occurred to her, she could scarcely help regretting +that her principles would not allow her delicacy and virtue to be placed +under the sacred shelter bestowed by that ceremony which she was pleased +to call idle. And she was not long without experiencing still further +hardships from the situation in which she had persisted so obstinately +to remain. Their establishment consisted of a footman and a maid servant; +but the latter had of late been so remiss in the performance of her +duties, and so impertinent when reproved for her faults, that Adeline +was obliged to give her warning. + +'Warning, indeed!' replied the girl: 'a mighty hardship, truly! I can +promise you I did not mean to stay long; it is no such favour to live +with a kept miss; and if you come to that, I think I am as good as you.' + +Shocked, surprised, and unable to answer, Adeline took refuge in her +room. Never before had she been accosted by her inferiors without +respectful attention; and now, owing to her situation, even a +servant-maid thought herself authorised to insult her, and to raise +herself to her level! + +'But surely,' said Adeline mentally, 'I ought to reason with her, and +try to convince her that I am in reality as virtuous as if I were +Glenmurray's wife, instead of his mistress.' + +Accordingly she went back into the kitchen; but her resolution failed +her when she found the footman there, listening with a broad grin on +his countenance to the relation which Mary was giving him of the 'fine +trimming' which she had given 'madam.' + +Scarcely did the presence of Adeline interrupt or restrain her; but at +last she turned round and said, 'And, pray, have you got anything to say +to me?' + +'Nothing more now,' meekly replied Adeline, 'unless you will follow me +to my chamber.' + +'With all my heart,' cried the girl; and Adeline returned to her own +room. + +'I wish, Mary, to set you right,' said Adeline, 'with respect to my +situation. You called me, I think, a kept miss, and seemed to think ill +of me.' + +'Why, to be sure, ma'am,' replied Mary, a little alarmed--'every body +says you are a kept lady, and so I made no bones of saying so; but I am +sure if so be you are not so, why I ax pardon.' + +'But what do you mean by the term kept lady?' + +'Why, a lady who lives with a man without being married to him, I take +it; and that I take to be your case, ain't it, I pray?' + +Adeline blushed and was silent:--it certainly was her case. However, she +took courage and went on. + +'But mistresses, or kept ladies in general, are women of bad character, +and would live with any man; but I never loved, nor ever shall love, any +man but Mr Glenmurray. I look on myself as his wife in the sight of God; +nor will I quit him till death shall separate us.' + +'Then if so be that you don't want to change, I think you might as well +be married to him.' + +Adeline was again silent for a moment, but continued-- + +'Mr Glenmurray would marry me to-morrow, if I chose.' + +'Indeed! Well, if master is inclined to make an honest woman of you, you +had better take him at his word, I think.' + +'Gracious heaven!' cried Adeline, 'what an expression! Why will you +persist to confound me with those deluded women who are victims of their +own weakness?' + +'As to that,' replied Mary, 'you talk too fine for me; but a fact is a +fact--are you or are you not my master's wife?' + +'I am not.' + +'Why then you are his mistress, and a kept lady to all intents and +purposes: so what signifies argufying the matter? I lived with a kept +madam before; and she was as good as you, for aught I know.' + +Adeline, shocked and disappointed, told her she might leave the room. + +'I am going,' pertly answered Mary, 'and to seek for a place; but I must +beg that you will not own you are no better than you should be, when a +lady comes to ask my character; for then perhaps I should not get any +one to take me. I shall call you Mrs Glenmurray.' + +'But I shall not call _myself_ so,' replied Adeline. 'I will not say +what is not true, on any account.' + +'There now, there's spite! and yet you pretend to call yourself a +gentlewoman, and to be better than other kept ladies! Why, you are not +worthy to tie the shoestrings of my last mistress--she did not mind +telling a lie rather than lose a poor servant a place; and she called +herself a married woman rather than hurt me.' + +'Neither she nor you, then,' replied Adeline gravely, 'were sensible +of what great importance a strict adherence to veracity is, to the +interests of society. I am;--and for the sake of mankind I will always +tell the truth.' + +'You had better tell one innocent lie for mine,' replied the girl +pertly. 'I dare to say the world will neither know nor care anything +about it: and I can tell you I shall expect you will.' + +So saying she shut the door with violence, leaving Adeline mournfully +musing on the distress attending on her situation, and even disposed to +question the propriety of remaining in it. + +The inquietude of her mind, as usual, showed itself in her countenance, +and involved her in another difficulty: to make Glenmurray uneasy by an +avowal of what had passed between her and Mary was impossible; yet how +could she conceal it from him? And while she was deliberating on this +point, Glenmurray entered the room, and tenderly inquired what had so +evidently disturbed her. + +'Nothing of any consequence,' she faltered out, and burst into tears. + +'Could "nothing of consequence" produce such emotion?' answered +Glenmurray. + +'But I am ashamed to own the cause of my uneasiness.' + +'Ashamed to own it to me, Adeline? To be sure, you have a great deal to +fear from my severity!' said he, faintly smiling. + +Adeline for a moment resolved to tell him the whole truth; but fearful +of throwing him into a degree of agitation hurtful to his weak frame, +she, who had the moment before so nobly supported the necessity of a +strict adherence to truth, condescended to equivocate and evade; and +turning away her head, while a conscious blush overspread her cheek, she +replied, 'You know that I look forward with anxiety and uneasiness to +the time of my approaching confinement.' + +Glenmurray believed her; and overcome by some painful feelings, which +fears for himself and anxiety for her occasioned him, he silently +pressed her to his bosom; and, choked with contending emotions, returned +to his own apartment. + +'And I have stooped to the meanness of disguising the truth!' cried +Adeline, clasping her hands convulsively together: 'surely, surely, +there must be something radically wrong in a situation which exposes one +to such a variety of degradations!' + +Mary, meanwhile, had gone in search of a place; and having found the +lady to whom she had been advised to offer herself, at home, she +returned to tell Adeline that Mrs Pemberton would call in half an hour +to inquire her character. The half-hour, an anxious one to Adeline, +having elapsed, a lady knocked at the door, and inquired, in Adeline's +hearing for Mrs Glenmurray. + +'Tell the lady,' cried Adeline immediately from the top of the +staircase, 'that Miss Mowbray will wait on her directly.' The footman +obeyed, and Mrs Pemberton was ushered into the parlour: and now, for the +first time in her life, Adeline trembled to approach a stranger; for the +first time she was going to appear before a fellow-creature, conscious +she was become an object of scorn, and, though an enthusiast for virtue, +would be considered as a votary of vice. But it was a mortification +which she must submit to undergo; and hastily throwing a large shawl +over her shoulders, to hide her figure as much as possible, with a +trembling hand she opened the door, and found herself in the dreaded +presence of Mrs Pemberton. + +Nor was she at all re-assured when she found that lady dressed in the +neat, modest garb of a strict Quaker--a garb which creates an immediate +idea in the mind, of more than common rigidness of principles and +sanctity of conduct in the wearer of it. Adeline curtsied in silence. + +Mrs Pemberton bowed her head courteously; then, with a countenance of +great sweetness, and a voice calculated to inspire confidence, said, 'I +believe thy name is Mowbray; but I came to see Mrs Glenmurray; and as +on these occasions I always wish to confer with the principal, wouldst +thou, if it be not inconvenient, ask the mistress of Mary to let me see +her?' + +'I am myself the mistress of Mary,' replied Adeline in a faint voice. + +'I ask thine excuse,' answered Mrs Pemberton, re-seating herself: 'as +thou art Mrs Glenmurray, thou art the person I wanted to see.' + +Here Adeline changed colour, overcome with the consciousness that she +ought to undeceive her, and the sense of the difficulty of doing so. + +'But thou art very pale, and seemest uneasy,' continued the gentle +Quaker--'I hope thy husband is not worse?' + +'Mr Glenmurray, but not my husband,' said Adeline, 'is better to-day.' + +'Art thou not married?' asked Mrs Pemberton with quickness. + +'I am not.' + +'And yet thou livest with the gentleman I named, and art the person whom +Mary called Mrs Glenmurray!' + +'I am,' replied Adeline, her paleness yielding to a deep crimson, and +her eyes filling with tears. + +Mrs Pemberton sat for a minute in silence; then rising with an air +of cold dignity, 'I fear thy servant is not likely to suit me,' she +observed, 'and I will not detain thee any longer.' + +'She can be an excellent servant,' faltered out Adeline. + +'Very likely--but there are objections.' So saying she reached the door: +but as she passed Adeline she stopped, interested and affected by the +mournful expression of her countenance, and the visible effort she made +to retain her tears. + +Adeline saw, and felt humbled at the compassion which her countenance +expressed: to be an object of pity was as mortifying as to be an object +of scorn, and she turned her eyes on Mrs Pemberton with a look of proud +indignation: but they met those of Mrs Pemberton fixed on her with a +look of such benevolence, that her anger was instantly subdued; and it +occurred to her that she might make the benevolent compassion visible in +Mrs Pemberton's countenance serviceable to her discarded servant. + +'Stay, madam,' she cried, as Mrs Pemberton was about to leave the room, +'allow me a moment's conversation with you.' + +Mrs Pemberton, with an eagerness which she suddenly endeavoured to +check, returned to her seat. + +'I suspect,' said Adeline, (gathering courage from the conscious +kindness of her motive,) 'that your objection to take Mary Warner into +your service proceeds wholly from the situation of her present +mistress.' + +'Thou judgest rightly,' was Mrs Pemberton's answer. + +'Nor do I wonder,' continued Adeline, 'that you make this objection, +when I consider the present prejudices of society.' + +'Prejudices!' softly exclaimed the benevolent Quaker. + +Adeline faintly smiled, and went on--'But surely you will allow, that in +a family quiet and secluded as ours, and in daily contemplation of an +union uninterrupted, faithful, and virtuous, and possessing all the +sacredness of marriage, though without the name, it is not likely that +the young woman in question should have imbibed any vicious habits or +principles?' + +'But in contemplating thy union itself, she has lived in the +contemplation of vice; and thou wilt own, that, by having given it an +air of respectability, thou hast only made it more dangerous.' + +'On this point,' cried Adeline, 'I see we must disagree--I shall +therefore, without further preamble, inform you, madam, that Mary, aware +of the difficulty of procuring a service, if it were known that she had +lived with a kept mistress, as the phrase is,' (here an indignant blush +overspread the face of Adeline,) 'desired me to call myself the wife of +Glenmurray: but this, from my abhorrence of all falsehood, I +peremptorily refused.' + +'And thou didst well,' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton, 'and I respect thy +resolution.' + +'But my sincerity will, I fear, prevent the poor girl's obtaining other +reputable places; and I, alas! am not rich enough to make her amends for +the injury which my conscience forces me to do her. But if you, madam, +could be prevailed upon to take her into your family, even for a short +time only, to wipe away the disgrace which her living with me has +brought upon her--' + +'Why can she not remain with thee?' asked Mrs Pemberton hastily. + +'Because she neglected her duty, and, when reproved for it, replied in +very injurious language.' + +'Presuming probably on thy way of life?' + +'I must confess that she has reproached me with it.' + +'And this was all her fault?' + +'It was:--she can be an excellent servant.' + +'Thou hast said enough; thy conscience shall not have the additional +burthen to bear, of having deprived a poor girl of her maintenance--I +will take her.' + +'A thousand thanks to you,' replied Adeline: 'you have removed a weight +off my mind; but my conscience, has none to bear.' + +'No?' returned Mrs Pemberton: 'dost thou deem thy conduct blameless in +the eyes of that Being whom thou hast just blessed?' + +'As far as my connexion with Mr Glenmurray is concerned, I do.' + +'Indeed?' + +'Nay, doubt me not--believe me that I never wantonly violate the truth; +and that even an evasion, which I, for the first time in my life, was +guilty of to-day, has given me a pang to which I will not again expose +myself.' + +'And yet, inconsistent beings as we are,' cried Mrs Pemberton, +'straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel, what is the guilt of the +evasion which weighs on thy mind, compared to that of living, as thou +dost, in an illicit commerce? Surely, surely, thine heart accuses thee; +for thy face bespeaks uneasiness, and thou wilt listen to the whispers +of penitence, and leave, ere long, the man who has betrayed thee.' + +'The man who has betrayed me! Mr Glenmurray is no betrayer--he is one of +the best of human beings. No, madam: if I had acceded to his wishes, I +should long ago have been his wife, but, from a conviction of the folly +of marriage, I have preferred living with him without the performance of +a ceremony which, in the eye of reason, can confer neither honour nor +happiness.' + +'Poor thing!' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton, rising as she spoke, 'I +understand thee now--Thou art one of the enlightened, as they call +themselves--Thou art one of those wise in their own conceit, who, +disregarding the customs of ages, and the dictates of experience, set up +their own opinions against the hallowed institutions of men and the will +of the Most High.' + +'Can you blame me,' interrupted Adeline, 'for acting according to what I +think right?' + +'But hast thou well studied the subject on which thou hast decided? Yet, +alas! to thee how vain must be the voice of admonition!' (she continued, +her countenance kindling into strong expression as she spoke)--'From the +poor victim of passion and persuasion, penitence and amendment might be +rationally expected; and she, from the path of frailty, might turn again +to that of virtue: but for one like thee, glorying in thine iniquity, +and erring, not from the too tender heart, but the vain-glorious +head,--for thee there is, I fear, no blessed return to the right way; +and I, who would have tarried with thee even in the house of sin, to +have reclaimed thee, penitent, now hasten from thee, and for ever--firm +as thou art in guilt.' + +As she said this she reached the door; while Adeline, affected by her +emotion, and distressed by her language, stood silent and almost abashed +before her. + +But with her hand on the lock she turned round, and in a gentler voice +said, 'Yet not even against a wilful offender like thee, should one +gate that may lead to amendment be shut. Thy situation and thy fortunes +may soon be greatly changed; affliction may subdue thy pride, and the +counsel of a friend of thine own sex might then sound sweetly in thine +ears. Should that time come, I will be that friend. I am now about +to set off for Lisbon with a very dear friend, about whom I feel as +solicitous as thou about thy Glenmurray; and there I shall remain some +time. Here then is my address; and if thou shouldest want my advice or +assistance write to me, and be assured that Rachel Pemberton will try +to forget thy errors in thy distresses.' + +So saying she left the room, but returned again, before Adeline had +recovered herself from the various emotions which she had experienced +during her address, to ask her Christian name. But when Adeline replied, +'My name is Adeline Mowbray,' Mrs Pemberton started, and eagerly +exclaimed, 'Art thou Adeline Mowbray of Gloucestershire--the young +heiress, as she was called, of Rosevalley?' + +'I was once,' replied Adeline, sinking back into a chair, 'Adeline +Mowbray of Rosevalley.' + +Mrs Pemberton for a few minutes gazed on her in mournful silence: +'And art thou,' she cried, 'Adeline Mowbray? Art thou that courteous, +blooming, blessed being, (for every tongue that I heard name thee +blessed thee,) whom I saw only three years ago bounding over thy native +hills, all grace, and joy, and innocence?' + +Adeline tried to speak, but her voice failed her. + +'Art thou she,' continued Mrs Pemberton, 'whom I saw also leaning from +the window of her mother's mansion, and inquiring with the countenance +of a pitying angel concerning the health of a wan labourer who limped +past the door?' + +Adeline hid her face with her hands. + +Mrs Pemberton went on in a lower tone of voice,--'I came with some +companions to see thy mother's grounds, and to hear the nightingales in +her groves; but' (here Mrs Pemberton's voice faltered) 'I have seen a +sight far beyond that of the proudest mansion, said I to those who asked +me of thy mother's seat; I have heard what was sweeter to my ear than +the voice of the nightingale; I have seen a blooming girl nursed in +idleness and prosperity, yet active in the discharge of every Christian +duty; and I have heard her speak in the soothing accents of kindness and +of pity, while her name was followed by blessings, and parents prayed to +have a child like her. O lost, unhappy girl! such _was_ Adeline Mowbray: +and often, very often, has thy graceful image recurred to my remembrance: +but, how art thou changed! Where is the open eye of happiness? where is +the bloom that spoke a heart at peace with itself? I repeat it, and I +repeat it with agony. Father of mercies! is this thy Adeline Mowbray?' + +Here, overcome with emotion, Mrs Pemberton paused; but Adeline could +not break silence: she rose, she stretched out her hand as if going to +speak, but her utterance failed her, and again she sunk on a chair. + +'It was thine,' resumed Mrs Pemberton in a faint and broken voice, 'to +diffuse happiness around thee, and to enjoy wealth unhated, because thy +hand dispensed nobly the riches which it had received bounteously: when +the ear heard thee, then it blessed thee; when the eye saw thee, it gave +witness to thee; and yet--' + +Here again she paused, and raised her fine eyes to heaven for a few +minutes, as if in prayer; then, pressing Adeline's hand with an almost +convulsive grasp, she drew her bonnet over her face, as if eager to hide +the emotion which she was unable to subdue, and suddenly left the house; +while Adeline, stunned and overwhelmed by the striking contrast which +Mrs Pemberton had drawn between her past and present situation, remained +for some minutes motionless on her seat, a prey to a variety of feelings +which she dared not venture to analyse. + +But, amidst the variety of her feelings, Adeline soon found that sorrow, +sorrow of the bitterest kind, was uppermost. Mrs Pemberton had said that +she was about to be visited by affliction--alluding, there was no doubt, +to the probable death of Glenmurray--And was his fate so certain that it +was the theme of conversation at Richmond? Were only _her_ eyes blind to +the certainty of his danger? + +On these ideas did Adeline chiefly dwell after the departure of her +monitress; and in an agony unspeakable she entered the room where +Glenmurray was sitting, in order to look at him, and form her own +judgment on a subject of such importance. But, alas! she found him with +the brilliant deceitful appearance that attends his complaint--a bloom +resembling health on his cheek, and a brightness in his eye rivalling +that of the undimmed lustre of youth. Surprised, delighted, and overcome +by these appearances, which her inexperience rendered her incapable of +appreciating justly, Adeline threw herself on the sofa by him; and, as +she pressed her cold cheek to his glowing one, her tearful eye was +raised to heaven with an expression of devout thankfulness. + +'Mrs Pemberton paid you a long visit,' said Glenmurray, 'and I thought +once, by the elevated tone of her voice, that she was preaching to you.' + +'I believe she was,' cheerfully replied Adeline, 'and now I have a +confession to make; the season of reserve shall be over, and I will tell +you all the adventures of this day without _evasion_.' + +'Aye, I thought you were not ingenuous with me this morning,' replied +Glenmurray: 'but better late than never.' + +Adeline then told him all that had passed between her and Mary and Mrs +Pemberton, and concluded with saying, 'But the surety of your better +health, which your looks give me, has dissipated every uneasiness; and +if you are but spared to me, sorrow cannot reach me, and I despise the +censure of the ignorant and the prejudiced. The world approve! What is +the world to me?'-- + + 'The conscious mind is its own awful world!' + +Glenmurray sighed deeply as she concluded her narration. + +'I have only one request to make,' said he--'Never let that Mary come +into my presence again; and be sure to take care of Mrs Pemberton's +address.' + +Adeline promised that both his requests should be attended to. Mary was +paid her wages, and dismissed immediately; and a girl being hired to +supply her place, the menage went on quietly again. + +But a new mortification awaited Glenmurray and Adeline. In spite of +Glenmurray's eccentricities and opinions, he was still remembered with +interest by some of the female part of his family; and two of his +cousins, more remarkable for their beauty than their virtue, hearing +that he was at Richmond, made known to him their intention of paying him +a morning visit on their way to their country-seat in the neighbourhood. + +'Most unwelcome visitors, indeed!' cried Glenmurray, throwing the letter +down; 'I will write to them and forbid them to come.' + +'That's impossible,' replied Adeline, 'for by this time they must be on +the road, if you look at the date of the letter: besides, I wish you to +receive them; I should like to see any relations or friends of yours, +especially those who have liberality of sentiment enough to esteem you +as you deserve.' + +'You!--you see them!' exclaimed Glenmurray, pacing the room impatiently: +'O Adeline, that is _impossible_!' + +'I understand you,' replied Adeline, changing colour: 'they will not +deem me worthy,' forcing a smile, 'to be introduced to them.' + +'And therefore would I forbid their coming. I cannot bear to _exclude_ +you from my presence in order that I may receive them. No: when they +arrive, I will send them word that I am unable to see them.' + +'While they will attribute the refusal to the influence of the +_creature_ who lives with you! No, Glenmurray, for my sake I must insist +on your not being denied to them; and, believe me, I should consider +myself as unworthy to be the choice of your heart, if I were not able +to bear with firmness a mortification like that which awaits me.' + +'But you allow it to be a mortification?' + +'Yes; it is mortifying to a woman who knows herself to be virtuous, and +is an idolater of virtue, to pay the penalty of vice, and be thought +unworthy to associate with the relations of the man whom she loves.' + +'They shall not come, I protest,' exclaimed Glenmurray. + +But Adeline was resolute; and she carried her point. Soon after this +conversation the ladies arrived, and Adeline shut herself up in her +own apartment, where she gave way to no very pleasant reflections. Nor +was she entirely satisfied with Glenmurray's conduct:--true, he had +earnestly and sincerely wished to refuse to see his unexpected and +unwelcome guests; but he had never once expressed a desire of combating +their prejudices for Adeline's sake, and an intention of requesting that +she might be introduced to them; but, as any common man would have done +under similar circumstances, he was contented to do homage to 'things as +they are,' without an effort to resist the prejudice to which he was +superior. + +'Alas!' cried Adeline, 'when can we hope to see society enlightened and +improved, when even those who see and strive to amend its faults in +theory, in practice tamely submit to the trammels which it imposes?' + +An hour, a tedious hour to Adeline, having elapsed, Glenmurray's +visitors departed; and by the disappointment that Adeline experienced at +hearing the door close on them, she felt that she had had a secret hope +of being summoned to be presented to them; and, with a bitter feeling of +mortification, she reflected, that she was probably to the man whom she +adored a shame and a reproach. + +'Yet I should like to see them,' she said, running to the window as +the carriage drove up, and the ladies entered it. At that moment they, +whether from curiosity to see her, or accident, looked up at the window +where she was. Adeline started back indignant and confused; for, +thrusting their heads eagerly forward, they looked at her with the bold +unfeeling stare of imagined superiority; and Adeline, spite of her +reason, sunk abashed and conscious from their gaze. + +'And this insult,' exclaimed she, clasping her hands and bursting into +tears, 'I experience from Glenmurray's _relations_! I think I could have +borne it better from any one else.' + +She had not recovered her disorder when Glenmurray entered the room, +and, tenderly embracing her, exclaimed, 'Never, never again, my love, +will I submit to such a sacrifice as I have now made;' when seeing her +in tears, too well aware of the cause, he gave way to such a passionate +burst of tenderness and regret, that Adeline, terrified at his +agitation, though soothed by his fondness, affected the cheerfulness +which she did not feel, and promised to drive the intruders from her +remembrance. + +Had Glenmurray and Adeline known the real character of the unwelcome +visitors, neither of them would have regretted that Adeline was not +presented to them. One of them was married, and to so accommodating a +husband, that his wife's known gallant was his intimate friend; and +under the sanction of his protection she was received every where, and +visited by every one, as the world did not think proper to be more +clear-sighted than the husband himself chose to be. The other lady was a +young and attractive widow, who coquetted with many men, but intrigued +with only one at a time; for which self-denial she was rewarded by being +allowed to pass unquestioned through the portals of fashionable society. +But these ladies would have scorned to associate with Adeline; and +Adeline, had she known their private history, would certainly have +returned the compliment. + +The peace of Adeline was soon after disturbed in another way. Glenmurray +finding himself disposed to sleep in the middle of the day, his cough +having kept him waking all night, Adeline took her usual walk, and +returned by the church-yard. The bell was tolling; and as she passed she +saw a funeral enter the church-yard, and instantly averted her head. + +In so doing her eyes fell on a decent-looking woman, who with a sort of +angry earnestness was watching the progress of the procession. + +'Aye, there goes your body, you rogue!' she exclaimed indignantly, 'but +I wonder where your soul is now?--where I would not be for something.' + +Adeline was shocked, and gently observed, 'What crime did the person of +whom you are speaking, that you should suppose his soul so painfully +disposed of?' + +'What crime?' returned the woman: 'crime enough, I think:--why, he +ruined a poor girl here in the neighbourhood: and then, because he never +chose to make a will, there is she lying-in of a little by-blow, with +not a farthing of money to maintain her or the child, and the fellow's +money is gone to the heir-at-law, scarce of kin to him, while his own +flesh and blood is left to starve.' + +Adeline shuddered:--if Glenmurray were to die, she and the child which +she bore would, she knew, be beggars. + +'Well, miss, or madam, belike, by the look of you,' continued the woman +glancing her eye over Adeline's person, 'what say you? Don't you think +the fellow's soul is where we should not like to be? However, he had his +hell here too, to be sure! for, when speechless and unable to move his +fingers, he seemed by signs to ask for pen and ink, and he looked in +agonies; and there was the poor young woman crying over him, and holding +in her arms the poor destitute baby, who would as he grew up be taught, +he must think, to curse the wicked father who begot him, and the naughty +mother who bore him!' + +Adeline turned very sick, and was forced to seat herself on a tombstone. +'Curse the mother who bore him!' she inwardly repeated,--'and will my +child curse me? Rather let me undergo the rites I have despised!' and +instantly starting from her seat she ran down the road to her lodgings, +resolving to propose to Glenmurray their immediate marriage. + +'But is the possession of property, then,' she said to herself as +she stopped to take breath, 'so supreme a good, that the want of it, +through the means of his mother, should dispose a child to curse that +mother?--No: my child shall be taught to consider nothing valuable but +virtue, nothing disgraceful but _vice_.--Fool that I am! a bugbear +frightened me; and to my foolish fears I was about to sacrifice my own +principles, and the respectability of Glenmurray. No--Let his property +go to the heir-at-law--let me be forced to labour to support my babe, +when its father--' Here a flood of tears put an end to her soliloquy, +and slowly and pensively she returned home. + +But the conversation of the woman in the church-yard haunted her while +waking, and continued to distress her in her dreams that night, and she +was resolved to do all she could to relieve the situation of the poor +destitute girl and child, in whose fate she might possibly see an +anticipation of her own: and as soon as breakfast was over, and +Glenmurray was engaged in his studies, she walked out to make the +projected inquiries. + +The season of the year was uncommonly fine; and the varied scenery +visible from the terrace was, at the moment of Adeline's approach to it, +glowing with more than common beauty. Adeline stood for some minutes +gazing on it in silent delight; when her reverie was interrupted by the +sound of boyish merriment, and she saw, at one end of the terrace, some +well-dressed boys at play. + + 'Alas! regardless of their doom + The little victims play!' + +immediately recurred to her: for, contemplating the probable evils of +existence, she was darkly brooding over the imagined fate of her own +offspring, should it live to see the light; and the children at their +sport, having no care of ills to come, naturally engaged her attention. + +But these happy children ceased to interest her, when she saw standing +at a distance from the group, and apparently looking at it with an eye +of envy, a little boy, even better dressed than the rest; who was +sobbing violently, yet evidently trying to conceal his grief. And while +she was watching the young mourner attentively, he suddenly threw +himself on a seat; and, taking out his handkerchief, indignantly and +impatiently wiped away the tears that would no longer be restrained. + +'Poor child!' thought Adeline, seating herself beside him; 'and has +affliction reached thee so soon!' + +The child was beautiful: and his clustering locks seemed to have been +combed with so much care; the frill of his shirt was so fine, and had +been so very neatly plaited; and his sun-burnt neck and hands were so +very very clean, that Adeline was certain he was the darling object of +some fond mother's attention. 'And yet he is unhappy!' she inwardly +exclaimed. 'When my fate resembled his, how happy I was!' But from the +recollections like these she always hastened; and checking the rising +sigh, she resolved to enter into conversation with the little boy. + +'What is the matter?' she cried.--No answer. 'Why are you not playing +with the young gentlemen yonder?' + +She had touched the right string:--and bursting into tears, he sobbed +out, 'Because they won't let me.' + +'No? and why will they not let you?' To this he replied not; but +sullenly hung his blushing face on his bosom. + +'Perhaps you have made them angry?' gently asked Adeline. 'Oh! no, no,' +cried the boy; 'but--' 'But what?' Here he turned from her, and with his +nail began scratching the arm of the seat. + +'Well; this is very strange, and seems very unkind,' cried Adeline: 'I +will speak to them.' So saying, she drew near the other children, who +had interrupted their play to watch Adeline and their rejected playmate. +'What can be the reason,' said she, 'that you will not let that little +boy play with you?' The boys looked down, and said nothing. + +'Is he ill-natured?' + +'No.' + +'Does he not play fair?' + +'Yes.' + +'Don't you like him?' + +'Yes.' + +'Then why do you make him unhappy, by not letting him join in your +sport?' + +'Tell the lady. Jack,' cries one; and Jack, the biggest boy of the +party, said: 'Because he is not a gentleman's son like us, and is only a +little bastard.' + +'Yes,' cried one of the other children; 'and his mamma is so proud she +dresses him finer than we are, for all he is base-born: and our papas +and mammas don't think him fit company for us.' + +They might have gone on for an hour--Adeline could not interrupt them. +The cause of the child's affliction was a dagger in her heart; and, +while she listened to the now redoubled sobs of the disgraced and +proudly afflicted boy, she was driven almost to phrensy: for 'Such,' she +exclaimed, 'may one time or other be the pangs of my child, and so to +him may the hours of childhood be embittered!' Again she seated herself +by the little mourner--and her tears accompanied his. + +'My dear child, you had better go home,' said she, struggling with her +feelings; 'your mother will certainly be glad of your company.' + +'No, I won't go to her; I don't love her: they say she is a bad woman, +and my papa a bad man, because they are not married.' + +Again Adeline's horrors returned. 'But, my dear, they love you, no +doubt; and you ought to love them,' she replied with effort. + +'There, there comes your papa,' cried one of the boys; 'go and cry to +him;--go.' + +At these words Adeline looked up, and saw an elegant-looking man +approaching with a look of anxiety. + +'Charles, my dear boy, what has happened?' said he, taking his hand; +which the boy sullenly withdrew. 'Come home directly,' continued his +father, 'and tell me what is the matter, as we go along.' But again +snatching his hand away, the proud and deeply wounded child resentfully +pushed the shoulder next him forward, whenever his father tried to take +his arm, and elbowed him angrily as he went. + +Adeline felt the child's action to the bottom of her heart. It was a +volume of reproach to the father; and she sighed to think what the +parents, if they had hearts, must feel, when the afflicted boy told the +cause of his grief. 'But, unhappy boy, perhaps my child may live to +bless you!' she exclaimed, clasping her hands together: 'never, never +will I expose my child to the pangs which you have experienced to-day.' +So saying, she returned instantly to her lodgings; and having just +strength left to enter Glenmurray's room, she faintly exclaimed: 'For +pity's sake, make me your wife to-morrow!' and fell senseless on the +floor. + +On her recovery she saw Glenmurray pale with agitation, yet with an +expression of satisfaction in his countenance, bending over her. +'Adeline! my dearest love!' he whispered as her head lay on his bosom, +'blessed be the words you have spoken, whatever be their cause! +To-morrow you shall be my wife.' + +'And then our child will be legitimate, will he not?' she eagerly +replied. + +'It will.' + +'Thank God!' cried Adeline, and relapsed into a fainting fit. For it was +not decreed that the object of her maternal solicitude should ever be +born to reward it. Anxiety and agitation had had a fatal effect on the +health of Adeline; and the day after her encounter on the terrace she +brought forth a dead child. + +As soon as Adeline, languid and disappointed, was able to leave +her room, Glenmurray, whom anxiety during her illness had rendered +considerably weaker, urged her to let the marriage ceremony be performed +immediately. But with her hopes of being a mother vanished her wishes to +become a wife, and all her former reasons against marriage recurred in +their full force. + +In vain did Glenmurray entreat her to keep her lately formed resolution: +she still attributed his persuasions to generosity, and the heroic +resolve of sacrificing his principles, with the consistency of his +character, to her supposed good, and it was a point of honour with her +to be as generous in return: consequently the subject was again dropped; +nor was it likely to be soon renewed; and anxiety of a more pressing +nature disturbed their peace and engrossed their attention. They had +been three months at Richmond, and had incurred there a considerable +debt; and Glenmurray, not having sufficient money with him to discharge +it, drew upon his banker for half the half-year's rents from his estate, +which he had just deposited in his hands; when to his unspeakable +astonishment he found that the house had stopped payment, and that the +principal partner had gone off with the deposits! + +Scarcely could the firm mind of Glenmurray support itself under the +stroke. He looked forward to the certainty of passing the little +remainder of his life not only in pain but in poverty, and of seeing +increase as fast as his wants the difficulty of supplying them; while +the woman of his heart bent in increased agony over his restless couch; +for he well knew that to raise money on his estate, or to anticipate the +next half-year's rents, was impossible, as he had only a life interest +in it; and, as he held the fatal letter in his hand, his frame shook +with agitation. + +'I could not have believed,' cried Adeline, 'that the loss of any sum of +money could have so violently affected you.' + +'Not the loss of my all! my support during the tedious scenes of +illness!' + +'Your all!' faltered out Adeline; and when she heard the true state of +the case she found her agitation equalled that of Glenmurray, and in +hopeless anguish she leaned on the table beside him. + +'What is to be done,' said she, 'till the next half-year's rents become +due? Where can we procure money?' + +'Till the next half-year's rents become due!' replied he, looking at her +mournfully: 'I shall not be distressed for money then.' + +'No?' answered Adeline (not understanding him): 'our expenses have never +yet been more than that sum can supply.' + +Glenmurray looked at her, and, seeing how unconscious she was of the +certainty of the evil that awaited her, had not the courage to distress +her by explaining his meaning; and she went on to ask him what steps he +meant to take to raise money. + +'My only resource,' said he, 'is dunning a near relation of mine who +owes me three hundred pounds: he is now, I believe, able to pay it. He +is in Holland, indeed, at present; but he is daily expected in England, +and will come to see me here. I have named him to you before, I believe. +His name is Berrendale.' + +It was then agreed that Glenmurray should write to Mr Berrendale +immediately; and that, to prevent the necessity of incurring a further +debt for present provisions and necessaries, some of their books and +linen should be sold:--but week after week elapsed, and no letter was +received from Mr Berrendale. + +Glenmurray grew rapidly worse;--and their landlord was clamorous for +his rent;--advice from London also became necessary to quiet Adeline's +mind,--though Glenmurray knew that he was past cure: and after she had +paid a small sum to quiet the demands of the landlord for a while, she +had scarcely enough left to pay a physician: however, she sent for one +recommended by Dr Norberry, and by selling a writing-desk inlaid with +silver, which she valued because it was the gift of her father, she +raised money sufficient for the occasion. + +Dr. ---- arrived, but not to speak peace to the mind of Adeline. +She saw, though he did not absolutely say so, that all chance of +Glenmurray's recovery was over: and though with the sanguine feelings +of nineteen she could 'hope though hope were lost,' when she watched +Dr. ----'s countenance as he turned from the bed-side of Glenmurray, she +felt the coldness of despair thrill through her frame; and, scarcely +able to stand, she followed him into the next room, and awaited his +orders with a sort of desperate tranquillity. + +After prescribing alleviations of the ill beyond his power to cure, Dr. +---- added that terrible confirmation of the fears of anxious affection. +'Let him have whatever he likes; nothing can hurt him now; and all your +endeavours must be to make the remaining hours of his existence as +comfortable as you can, by every indulgence possible: and indeed, my +dear madam,' he continued, 'you must be prepared for the trial that +awaits you.' + +'Prepared! did you say?' cried Adeline in the broken voice of tearless +and almost phrensied sorrow. 'O God! if he must die, in mercy let me die +with him. If I have sinned,' (here she fell on her knees,) 'surely, +surely, the agony of this moment is atonement sufficient.' + +Dr. ----, greatly affected, raised her from the ground, and conjured her +for the sake of Glenmurray, and that she might not make his last hours +miserable, to bear her trial with more fortitude. + +'And can you talk of his "last hours" and yet expect me to be composed?--O +sir! say but there is one little little gleam of hope for me, and I will +be calm.' + +'Well,' replied Dr. ----, 'I _may_ be mistaken; Mr Glenmurray is young, +and--and--' here his voice faltered, and he was unable to proceed; for +the expression of Adeline's countenance, changing as it instantly did +from misery to joy,--joy of which he knew the fallacy,--while her eyes +were intently fixed on him, was too much for a man of any feeling to +support; and when she pressed his hand in the convulsive emotions of +her gratitude, he was forced to turn away his head to conceal the +starting tear. + +'Well, I may be mistaken--Mr Glenmurray is young,' Adeline repeated +again and again, as his carriage drove off; and she flew to Glenmurray's +bed-side to impart to him the satisfaction which he rejoiced to see her +feel, but in which he could not share. + +Her recovered security did not, however, last long; the change in +Glenmurray grew every day more visible; and to increase her distress, +they were forced, to avoid disagreeable altercations, to give the +landlord a draft on Mr Berrendale for the sum due to him, and remove to +very humble lodgings in a closer part of the town. + +Here their misery was a little alleviated by the unexpected receipt of +twenty pounds, sent to Glenmurray by a tenant who was in arrears to +him, which enabled Adeline to procure Glenmurray every thing that his +capricious appetite required; and at his earnest entreaty, in order that +she might sometimes venture to leave him, lest her health should suffer, +she hired a nurse to assist her in her attendance upon him. + +A hasty letter too was at length received from Mr Berrendale, saying, +that he should very soon be in England, and should hasten to Richmond +immediately on his landing. The terror of wanting money, therefore, +began to subside; but day after day elapsed, and Mr Berrendale came not; +and Adeline, being obliged to deny herself almost necessary sustenance +that Glenmurray's appetite might be tempted, and his nurse, by the +indulgence of hers, kept in good humour, resolved, presuming on the +arrival of Mr Berrendale, to write to Dr Norberry and solicit the loan +of twenty pounds. + +Having done so, she ceased to be alarmed, though she found herself in +possession of only three guineas to defray the probable expenses of +the ensuing week; and in somewhat less misery than usual, she, at the +earnest entreaty of Glenmurray, set out to take a walk. + +Scarcely conscious what she did, she strolled through the town, and +seeing some fine grapes at the window of a fruiterer, she went in to ask +the price of them, knowing how welcome fruit was to the feverish palate +of Glenmurray. While the shopman was weighing the grapes, she saw a +pine-apple on the counter, and felt a strong wish to carry it home as a +more welcome present; but with unspeakable disappointment she heard that +the price of it was two guineas--a sum which she could not think herself +justified in expending, in the present state of their finances, even to +please Glenmurray, especially as he had not expressed a wish for such an +indulgence; besides, he liked grapes; and, as medicine, neither of them +could be effectual. + +It was fortunate for Adeline's feelings that she had not overheard what +the mistress of the shop said to her maid as she left it. + +'I should have asked another person only a guinea; but as those sort of +women never mind what they give, I asked two, and I dare say she will +come back for it.' + +'I have brought you some grapes,' cried Adeline as she entered +Glenmurray's chamber, 'and I would have brought you a pine-apple, but +that it was too dear.' + +'A pine-apple!' said Glenmurray, languidly turning over the grapes, and +with a sort of distaste putting one of them in his mouth, 'a +pine-apple!--I wish you had brought it with all my heart! I protest that +I feel as if I could eat a whole one.' + +'Well,' replied Adeline, 'if you would enjoy it so much, you certainly +ought to have it.' + +'But the price, my dear girl!--what was it?' + +'Only two guineas,' replied Adeline, forcing a smile. + +'Two guineas!' exclaimed Glenmurray: 'No,--that is too much to give--I +will not indulge my appetite at such a rate--but, take away the +grapes--I can't eat them.' + +Adeline, disappointed, removed them from his sight; and, to increase +her vexation, Glenmurray was continually talking of pine-apples, and in +that way that showed how strongly his diseased appetite wished to enjoy +the gratification of eating one. At last, unable to bear to see him +struggling with an ungratified wish, she told him that she believed they +could afford to buy the pine-apple, as she had written to borrow some +money of Dr Norberry, to be paid as soon as Mr Berrendale arrived. In a +moment the dull eye of Glenmurray lighted up with expectation; and he, +who in health was remarkable for self-denial and temperance, scrupled +not, overcome by the influence of the fever which consumed him, to +gratify his palate at a rate the most extravagant. + +Adeline sighed as she contemplated this change effected by illness; and, +promising to be back as soon as possible, she proceeded to a shop to +dispose of her lace veil, the only ornament which she had retained; and +that not from vanity, but because it concealed from the eye of curiosity +the sorrow marked on her countenance. But she knew a piece of muslin +would do as well; and for two guineas sold a veil worth treble that +sum; but it was to give a minute's pleasure to Glenmurray, and that was +enough for Adeline. + +On her way to the fruiterer's she saw a crowd at the door of a +mean-looking house, and in the midst of it she beheld a mulatto woman, +the picture of sickness and despair, supporting a young man who seemed +ready to faint every moment, but whom a rough-featured man, regardless +of his weakness, was trying to force from the grasp of the unhappy +woman; while a mulatto boy, known in Richmond by the name of the Tawny +Boy, to whom Adeline had often given halfpence in her walks, was crying +bitterly, and hiding his face in the poor woman's apron. + +Adeline immediately pressed forward to inquire into the cause of a +distress only too congenial to her feelings; and as she did so, the +tawny boy looked up, and, knowing her immediately, ran eagerly forward +to meet her, seeming, though he did not speak, to associate with her +presence an idea of certain relief. + +'Oh! it is only a poor man,' replied an old woman in answer to Adeline's +inquiries, 'who can't pay his debts,--and so they are dragging him to +prison--that's all.' 'They are dragging him to his death too,' cried a +younger woman in a gentle accent; 'for he is only just recovering from a +bad fever: and if he goes to jail the bad air will certainly kill him, +poor soul!' + +'Is that his wife?' said Adeline. 'Yes, and my mammy,' said the tawny +boy, looking up in her face, 'and she so ill and sorry.' + +'Yes, unhappy creatures,' replied her informant, 'and they have known +great trouble; and now, just as they had got a little money together, +William fell ill, and in doctor's stuff Savanna (that's the mulatto's +name) has spent all the money she had earned, as well as her husband's; +and now she is ill herself, and I am sure William's going to jail will +kill her. And a hard-hearted, wicked wretch Mr Davis is, to arrest +him--that he is--not but what it is his due, I cannot say but it +is--but, poor souls! he'll die, and she'll die, and then what will +become of their poor little boy?' + +The tawny boy all this time was standing, crying, by Adeline's side, and +had twisted his fingers in her gown, while her heart sympathized most +painfully in the anguish of the mulatto woman. 'What is the amount of +the sum for which he is taken up?' said Adeline. + +'Oh! trifling: but Mr Davis owes him a grudge, and so will not wait any +longer. It is in all only ten pounds; and he says if they will pay part +he will wait for the rest; but then he knows they could as well pay all +as part.' + +Adeline, shocked at the knowledge of a distress which she was not able +to remove, was turning away as the woman said this, when she felt +that the little boy pulled her gown gently, as if appealing to her +generosity; while a surly-looking man, who was the creditor himself, +forcing a passage through the crowd, said, 'Why, bring him along, and +have done with it; here is a fuss to make indeed about that idle dog, +and that ugly black toad!' + +Adeline till then had not recollected that she was a mulatto; and this +speech, reflecting so brutally on her colour,--a circumstance which made +her an object of greater interest to Adeline,--urged her to step forward +to their joint relief with an almost irresistible impulse; especially +when another man reproached the fellow for his brutality, and added, +that he knew them both to be hard-working, deserving persons. But to +disappoint Glenmurray of his promised pleasure was impossible; and +having put sixpence in the tawny boy's hand, she was hastening to the +fruiterer's, when the crowd, who were following William and the mulatto +to the jail, whither the bailiffs were dragging rather than leading him, +fell back to give air to the poor man, who had fainted on Savanna's +shoulder, and seemed on the point of expiring--while she, with an +expression of fixed despair, was gazing on his wan cheek. + +Adeline thought on Glenmurray's danger, and shuddered as she beheld the +scene; she felt it but a too probable anticipation of the one in which +she might soon be an actor. + +At this moment a man observed, 'If he goes to prison he will not live +two days, that every one may see;' and the mulatto uttered a shriek of +agony. + +Adeline felt it to her very soul; and, rushing forward, 'Sir, sir,' she +exclaimed to the unfeeling creditor, 'if I were to give you a guinea +now, and promise you two more a fortnight hence, would you release this +poor man for the present?' + +'No: I must have three guineas this moment,' replied he. Adeline sighed, +and withdrew her hand from her pocket. 'But were Glenmurray here, he +would give up his indulgence, I am sure, to save the lives of, probably +two fellow-creatures,' thought Adeline: 'and he would not forgive me if +I were to sacrifice such an opportunity to the sole gratification of +his palate.'--But then again, Glenmurray eagerly expecting her with +the promised treat, so gratifying to the feverish taste of sickness, +seemed to appear before her, and she turned away; but the eyes of the +mulatto, who had heard her words, and had hung on them breathless with +expectation, followed her with a look of such sad reproach for the +disappointment which she had occasioned her, and the little boy looked +up so wistfully in her face, crying, 'Poor fader, and poor mammy!' +that Adeline could not withstand the force of the appeal; but almost +exclaiming 'Glenmurray would upbraid me if I did not act thus,' she gave +the creditor the three guineas, paid the bailiffs their demand, and then +made her way through the crowd, who respectfully drew back to give her +room to pass, saying, 'God bless you, lady! God bless you!' + +But William was too ill, and Savanna felt too much to speak; and the +surly creditor said, sneeringly, 'If I had been you, I would, at least, +have thanked the lady.' This reproach restored Savanna to the use of +speech; and (but with a violent effort) she uttered in a hoarse and +broken voice, '_I_ tank her! God tank her! I never can:' and Adeline, +kindly pressing her hand, hurried away from her in silence, though +scarcely able to refrain exclaiming, 'you know not the sacrifice which +you have cost me!' The tawny boy still followed her, as loath to leave +her. 'God bless you, my dear!' said she kindly to him: 'there, go to +your mother, and be good to her.' His dark face glowed as she spoke to +him, and holding up his chin, 'Tiss me!' cried he, 'poor tawny boy love +you!' She did so; and then reluctantly, he left her, nodding his head, +and saying, 'Dood bye' till he was out of sight. + +With him, and with the display of his grateful joy, vanished all that +could give Adeline resolution to bear her own reflections at the idea of +returning home, and of the trial that awaited her. In vain did she now +try to believe that Glenmurray would applaud what she had done.--He was +now the slave of disease, nor was it likely that even his self-denial +and principle benevolence could endure with patience so cruel a +disappointment--and from the woman whom he loved too!--and to whom the +indulgence of his slightest wishes ought to have been the first object. + +'What shall I do?' cried she: 'what will he say?--No doubt he is +impatiently expecting me; and, in his weak state, disappointment may--' +Here, unable to hear her apprehensions, she wrung her hands in agony; +and when she arrived in sight of her lodgings she dared not look up, +lest she should see Glenmurray at the window watching for her return. +Slowly and fearfully did she open the door; and the first sound she +heard was Glenmurray's voice from the door of his room, saying, 'So, you +are come at last!--I have been so impatient!' And indeed he had risen +and dressed himself, that he might enjoy his treat more than he could do +in a sick-bed. + +'How can I bear to look him in the face!' thought Adeline, lingering on +the stairs. + +'Adeline, my love! why do you make me wait so long?' cried Glenmurray. +'Here are knives and plates ready; where is the treat I have been so +long expecting?' + +Adeline entered the room and threw herself on the first chair, avoiding +the sight of Glenmurray, whose countenance, as she hastily glanced her +eyes over it, was animated with the expectation of a pleasure which he +was not to enjoy. 'I have not brought the pine-apple,' she faintly +articulated. 'No!' replied Glenmurray, 'how hard upon me!--the only +thing for weeks that I have wished for, or could have eaten with +pleasure! I suppose you were so long going that it was disposed of +before you got there?' + +'No,' replied Adeline, struggling with her tears at this first instance +of pettishness in Glenmurray. + +'Pardon me the supposition,' replied Glenmurray, recovering himself: +'more likely you met some dun on the road, and so the two guineas were +disposed of another way--If so, I can't blame you. What say you? Am I +right?' + +'No.' 'Then how was it?' gravely asked Glenmurray. 'You must have had a +very powerful and a sufficient reason, to induce you to disappoint a +poor invalid of the indulgence which you had yourself excited him to +wish for.' + +'This is terrible, indeed!' thought Adeline, 'and never was I so tempted +to tell a falsehood.' + +'Still silent! You are very unkind, Miss Mowbray,' said Glenmurray; 'I +see that I have tired even _you_ out.' + +These words, by the agony which they excited, restored to Adeline all +her resolution. She ran to Glenmurray; she clasped his burning hands in +hers; and as succinctly as possible she related what had passed. When +she had finished, Glenmurray was silent; the fretfulness of disease +prompted him to say, 'So then, to the relief of strangers you sacrificed +the gratification of the man whom you love, and deprived him of the +only pleasure he may live to enjoy!' But the habitual sweetness and +generosity of his temper struggled, and struggled effectually, with his +malady; and while Adeline, pale and trembling, awaited her sentence, he +caught her suddenly to his bosom, and held her there a few moments in +silence. + +'Then you forgive me?' faltered out Adeline. + +'Forgive you! I love and admire you more than ever! I know your heart, +Adeline; and I am convinced that depriving yourself of the delight of +giving me the promised treat, in order to do a benevolent action, was +an effort of virtue of the highest order; and never, I trust, have you +known, or will you know again, such bitter feelings as you this moment +experienced.' + +Adeline, gratified by his generous kindness, and charmed with his +praise, could only weep her thanks. 'And now,' said Glenmurray, +laughing, 'you may bring back the grapes--I am not like Sterne's dear +Jenny; if I cannot get pine-apple, I will not insist on eating crab.' + +The grapes were brought; but in vain did he try to eat them. At this +time, however, he did not send them away without highly commending their +flavour, and wishing that he dared give way to his inclinations, and +feast upon them. + +'O God of mercy!' cried Adeline, bursting into an agony of grief as she +reached her own apartment, and throwing herself on her knees by the +bed-side, 'Must that benevolent being be taken from me for ever, and +must I, must I survive him!' + +She continued for some minutes in this attitude, and with her heart +devoutly raised to heaven; till every feeling yielded to resignation, +and she arose calm, if not contented; when, on turning round, she saw +Glenmurray leaning against the door, and gazing on her. + +'Sweet enthusiast!' cried he smiling: 'so, thus, when you are +distressed, you seek consolation.' + +'I do,' she replied: 'Sceptic, wouldst thou wish to deprive me of it?' + +'No, by heaven!' warmly exclaimed Glenmurray; and the evening passed +more cheerfully than usual. + +The next post brought a letter, not from Dr. Norberry, but from his +wife; it was as follows, and contained three pound-notes:-- + + 'Mrs Norberry's compliments to Miss Mowbray, having opened her + letter, poor Dr Norberry being dangerously ill of a fever, find + her distress; of which shall not inform the doctor, as he feels + so much for his friend's misfortunes, specially when brought on + by misconduct. But, out of respect for your mother, who is a + good sort of woman, though rather particular, as all learned + ladies are, have sent three pound-notes; the Miss Norberrys + giving one a-piece, not to lend, but a gift, and they join Mrs + Norberry in hoping Miss Mowbray will soon see the error of her + ways; and, if so be, no doubt Dr Norberry will use his interest + to get her into the Magdalen.' + +This curious epistle would have excited in Glenmurray and Adeline no +other feelings save those of contempt, but for the information it +contained of the doctor's being dangerously ill; and, in fear for the +worthy husband, they forgot the impertinence of the wife and daughters. + +The next day, fortunately, Mr Berrendale arrived, and with him the three +hundred pounds. Consequently, all Glenmurray's debts were discharged, +better lodgings procured, and the three pound-notes returned in a blank +cover to Mrs Norberry. Charles Berrendale was first-cousin to +Glenmurray, and so like him in face, that they were, at first, mistaken +for brothers: but to a physiognomist they must always have been unlike; +as Glenmurray was remarkable for the character and expression of his +countenance, and Berrendale for the extreme beauty of his features and +complexion. Glenmurray was pale and thin, and his eyes and hair dark. +Berrendale's eyes were of a light blue; and though his eye-lashes were +black, his hair was of a rich auburn; Glenmurray was thin and muscular; +Berrendale, round and corpulent: still they were alike; and it was not +ill observed of them, that Berrendale was Glenmurray in good health. + +But Berrendale could not be flattered by the resemblance, as his face +and person were so truly what is called handsome, that, partial as our +sex is said to be to beauty, any woman would have been excused for +falling in love with him. Whether his mind was equal to his person we +shall show hereafter. + +The meeting between Berrendale and Glenmurray was affectionate on both +sides; but Berrendale could scarcely hide the pain he felt on seeing +the situation of Glenmurray, whose virtues he had always loved, whose +talents he had always respected, and to whose active friendship towards +himself he owed eternal gratitude. + +But he soon learnt to think Glenmurray, in one respect, an object of +envy, when he beheld the constant, skilful, and tender attentions of +his nurse, and saw in that nurse every gift of heart, mind, and person, +which could make a woman amiable. + +Berrendale had heard that his eccentric cousin was living with a girl as +odd as himself; who thought herself a genius, and pretended to universal +knowledge; great then was his astonishment to find this imagined pedant, +and pretender, not only an adept in every useful and feminine pursuit, +but modest in her demeanour, and gentle in her manners: little did he +expect to see her capable of serving the table of Glenmurray with dishes +made by herself, not only tempting to the now craving appetite of the +invalid but to the palate of an epicure,--while all his wants were +anticipated by her anxious attention, and many of the sufferings of +sickness alleviated by her inventive care. + +Adeline, meanwhile, was agreeably surprised to see the good effect +produced on Glenmurray's spirits, and even his health, by the arrival of +his cousin; and her manner became even affectionate to Berrendale, from +gratitude for the change which his presence seemed to have occasioned. + +Adeline had now a companion in her occasional walks;--Glenmurray +insisted on her walking, and insisted on Berrendale's accompanying +her. In these tete-a-tetes Adeline unburthened her heart, by telling +Berrendale of the agony she felt at the idea of losing Glenmurray; and +while drowned in tears she leaned on his arm, she unconsciously suffered +him to press the hand that leaned against him; nor would she have felt +it a freedom to be reproved, had she been conscious that he did so. But +these trifling indulgences were fuel to the flame that she had kindled +in the heart of Berrendale; a flame which he saw no guilt in indulging, +as he looked on Glenmurray's death as certain, and Adeline would then be +free. + +But though Adeline was perfectly unconscious of his attachment, +Glenmurray had seen it even before Berrendale himself discovered it; and +he only waited a favourable opportunity to make the discovery known to +the parties. All he had as yet ventured to say was, 'Charles, my Adeline +is an excellent nurse!--You would like such as one during your fits of +the gout;' and Berrendale had blushed deeply while he assented to +Glenmurray's remarks, because he was conscious that, while enumerating +Adeline's perfections, he had figured her to himself warming his +flannels, and leaning tenderly over his gouty couch. + +One day, while Adeline was reading to Glenmurray, and Berrendale was +attending not to what she read, but to the beauty of her mouth while +reading, the nurse came in, and said that 'a mulatto woman wished to +speak to Miss Mowbray.' + +'Show her up,' immediately cried Glenmurray; 'and if her little boy is +with her, let him come too.' + +In vain did Adeline expostulate--Glenmurray wished to enjoy the +mulatto's expressions of gratitude; and, in spite of all she could say, +the mother and child were introduced. + +'So!' cried the mulatto, (whose looks were so improved that Adeline +scarcely knew her again,) 'So! me find you at last; and, please God! we +not soon part more.' As she said this, she pressed the hem of Adeline's +gown to her lips with fervent emotion. + +'Not part from her again!' cried Glenmurray, 'What do you mean, my good +woman?' + +'Oh! when she gave tree guinea for me, me tought she mus be rich lady, +but now dey say she be poor, and me mus work for her.' + +'And who told you I was poor?' + +'Dat cross man where you live once--he say you could not pay him, and +you go away--and he tell me that your love be ill; and me so sorry, yet +so glad! for my love be well aden, and he have good employ; and now +I can come and serve you, and nurse dis poor gentleman, and all for +nothing but my meat and drink; and I know dat great fat nurse have gold +wages, and eat and drink fat beside,--I knowd her well.' + +All this was uttered with volubility, and in a tone between laughing and +crying. + +'Well, Adeline,' said Glenmurray when she had ended, 'you did not throw +away your kindness on an unworthy and ungrateful object; so I am quite +reconciled to the loss of the pine-apple; and I will tell your honest +friend here the story,--to show her, as she has a tender heart herself, +the greatness of the sacrifice you made for her sake.' + +Adeline begged him to desist; but he went on; and the mulatto could not +keep herself quiet on the chair while he related the circumstance. + +'And did she do dat to save me?' she passionately exclaimed: 'Angel +woman! I should have let poor man go to prison, before disappoint my +William!' + +'And did you forgive her immediately?' said Berrendale. + +'Yes, certainly.' + +'Well, that was heroic too,' returned he. + +'And no one but Glenmurray would have been so heroic, I believe,' said +Adeline. + +'But, lady, you break my heart,' cried the mulatto, 'if you not take +my service. Mr William and me, too poor to live togedder of some year +perhaps. Here, child, tawny boy, down on knees, and vow wid me to be +faithful and grateful to this our mistress, till our last day; and +never to forsake her in sickness or in sorrow! I swear dis to my great +God:--and now say dat after me.' She then clasped the little boy's +hands, bade him raise his eyes to heaven, and made him repeat what she +had said, ending it with 'I swear dis, to my great God.' + +There was such an affecting solemnity in this action, and in the mulatto +such a determined enthusiasm of manner incapable of being controlled, +that Adeline, Glenmurray, and Berrendale observed what passed in +respectful silence: and when it was over, Glenmurray said, in a voice of +emotion, 'I think, Adeline, we must accept this good creature's offer; +and as nurse grows lazy and saucy, we had better part with her: and as +for your young knight there,' (the tawny boy had by this time nestled +himself close to Adeline, who, with no small emotion, was playing with +his woolly curls,) 'we must send him to school; for, my good woman, we +are not so poor as you imagine.' + +'God be thanked!' cried the mulatto. + +'But what is your name?' + +'I was christened Savanna,' replied she. + +'Then, good Savanna,' cried Adeline, 'I hope we shall both have reason +to bless the day when first we met; and to-morrow you shall come home to +us.' Savanna, on hearing this, almost screamed with joy, and as she took +her leave Berrendale slipped a guinea into her hand: the tawny boy +meanwhile slowly followed his mother, as if unwilling to leave Adeline, +even though she gave him halfpence to spend in cakes: but on being told +that she would let him come again the next day, he tripped gaily down +after Savanna. + +The quiet of the chamber being then restored, Glenmurray fell into a +calm slumber. Adeline took up her work; and Berrendale, pretending +to read, continued to feed his passion by gazing on the unconscious +Adeline. + +While they were thus engaged, Glenmurray, unobserved, awoke; and he soon +guessed how Berrendale's eyes were employed, as the book which he held +in his hand was upside down; and through the fingers of the hand which +he held before his face, he saw his looks fixed on Adeline. + +The moment was a favourable one for Glenmurray's purpose: and just as he +raised himself from his pillow, Adeline had discovered the earnest gaze +of Berrendale; and a suspicion of the truth that instant darting across +her mind, disconcerted and blushing, she had cast her eyes on the +ground. + +'That is an interesting study which you are engaged in, Charles,' cried +Glenmurray smiling. + +Berrendale started; and, deeply blushing, faltered out, 'Yes.' + +Adeline looked at Glenmurray, and seeing a very arch and meaning +expression on his countenance, suspected that he had made the same +discovery as herself: yet, if so, she wondered at his looking so +pleasantly on Berrendale as he spoke. + +'It is a book, Charles,' continued Glenmurray, 'which the more you study +the more you will admire; and I wish to give you a clue to understand +some passages in it better than you can now do.' + +This speech deceived Adeline, and made her suppose that Glenmurray +really alluded to the book which lay before Berrendale: but it convinced +_him_ that Glenmurray spoke metaphorically; and as his manner was kind, +it also made him think that he saw and did not disapprove his +attachment. + +For a few minutes, each of them being engrossed in different +contemplations, there was a complete silence; but Glenmurray interrupted +it by saying, 'My dear Adeline, it is your hour for walking; but, as +I am not disposed to sleep again, will you forgive me if I keep your +walking companion to myself to-day?--I wish to converse with him alone.' + +'Oh! most cheerfully,' she replied with quickness: 'you know I love a +solitary ramble of all things.' + +'Not very flattering that to my cousin,' observed Glenmurray. + +'I did not wish to flatter him,' said Adeline gravely; and Berrendale, +fluttered at the idea of the coming conversation with Glenmurray, and +mortified by Adeline's words and manner, turned to the window to conceal +his emotion. + +Adeline, then, with more than usual tenderness, conjured Glenmurray not +to talk too much, nor do anything to destroy the hopes on which her only +chance of happiness depended, viz. the now possible chance of his +recovery, and then set out for her walk; while, with a restraint and +coldness which she could not conquer, she bade Berrendale farewell for +the present. + +The walk was long, and her thoughts perturbed:--'What could Glenmurray +want to say to Mr Berrendale?'--'Why did Mr Berrendale sit with his eyes +so intently and clandestinely, as it were, fixed on me?' were thoughts +perpetually recurring to her: and half impatient, and half reluctant, +she at length returned to her lodgings. + +When she entered the apartment, she saw signs of great emotion in the +countenance of both the gentlemen; and in Berrendale's eyes the traces +of recent tears. The tone of Glenmurray's voice too, when he addressed +her, was even more tender than usual, and Berrendale's attentions more +marked, yet more respectful; and Adeline observed that Glenmurray was +unusually thoughtful and absent, and that the cough and other symptoms +of his complaint were more troublesome than ever. + +'I see you have exerted yourself and talked too much during my absence,' +cried Adeline, 'and I will never leave you again for so long a time.' + +'You never shall,' said Glenmurray. 'I must leave _you_ for so long a +time at last, that I will be blessed with the sight of you as long as I +can.' + +Adeline whose hopes had been considerably revived during the last few +days, looked mournfully and reproachfully in his face as he uttered +these words. + +'It is even so, my dearest girl,' continued Glenmurray, 'and I say this +to guard you against a melancholy surprise:--I wish to prepare you for +an event which to me seems unavoidable.' + +'Prepare me!' exclaimed Adeline wildly. 'Can there be any preparation to +enable one to bear such a calamity? Absurd idea! However, I shall derive +consolation from the severity of the stroke: I feel that I shall not be +able to survive it.' So saying, her head fell on Glenmurray's pillow; +and for some time, her sorrow almost suspended the consciousness of +suffering. + +From this state she was aroused by Glenmurray's being attacked with a +violent paroxysm of his complaint, and all selfish distress was lost in +the consciousness of his sufferings: again he struggled through, and +seemed so relieved by the effort, that again Adeline's hopes revived; +and she could scarcely return, with temper, Berrendale's 'good night,' +when Glenmurray expressed a wish to rest, because his spirits had not +risen in any proportion to hers. + +The nurse had been dismissed that afternoon; and Adeline, as Savanna +was not to come home till the next morning, was to sit up alone with +Glenmurray that night; and, contrary to his usual custom, he did not +insist that she should have a companion. + +For a few hours his exhausted frame was recruited by a sleep more than +usually quiet, and but for a few hours only. He then became restless, +and so wakeful and disturbed, that he professed to Adeline an utter +inability to sleep, and therefore he wished to pass the rest of the +night in serious conversation with her. + +Adeline, alarmed at this intention, conjured him not to irritate his +complaint by so dangerous an exertion. + +'My mind will irritate it more,' replied he, 'if I refrain from it; for +it is burthened, my Adeline, and it longs to throw off its burthen. Now, +then, ere my senses wander, hear what I wish to communicate to you, and +interrupt me as little as possible.' + +Adeline, oppressed and awed beyond measure at the unusual solemnity of +his manner, made no answer; but, leaning her cheek on his hand, awaited +his communication in silence. + +'I think,' said Glenmurray, 'I shall begin with telling you Berrendale's +history; it is proper that you should know all that concerns him.' + +Adeline raising her head, replied hastily,--'Not to satisfy any +curiosity of mine; for I feel none, I assure you.' + +'Well, then,' returned Glenmurray, sighing, 'to please me, be +it.--Berrendale is the son of my mother's sister, by a merchant of +the neighbourhood of the 'Change, who hurt the family pride so much by +marrying a tradesman, that I am the only one of the clan who has noticed +her since. He ran away, about four years ago, with the only child of a +rich West Indian from a boarding-school. The consequence was, that her +father renounced her; but, when, three years ago, she died in giving +birth to a son, the unhappy parent repented of his displeasure, and +offered to allow Berrendale, who from the bankruptcy and sudden death +of both his parents had been left destitute, an annuity of 300_l._ for +life, provided he would send the child over to Jamaica, and allow him to +have all the care of his education. To this Berrendale consented.' + +'Reluctantly, I hope,' said Adeline, 'and merely out of pity for the +feelings of the childless father.' + +'I hope so too,' continued Glenmurray; 'for I do not think the chance of +inheriting all his grandfather's property a sufficient reason to lead +him to give up to another, and in a foreign land too, the society and +education of his child: but, whatever were his reasons, Berrendale +acceded to the request, and the infant was sent to Jamaica; and ever +since the 300_l._ has been regularly remitted to him: besides that, he +has recovered two thousand and odd hundred pounds from the wreck of his +father's property; and with economy, and had he a good wife to manage +his affairs for him, Berrendale might live very comfortably.' + +'My dear Glenmurray,' cried Adeline impatiently, 'what is this to +me? and why do you weary yourself to tell me particulars so little +interesting to me?' + +Glenmurray bade her have patience, and continued thus: 'And now, +Adeline,' (here his voice evidently faltered,) 'I must open my whole +heart to you, and confess that the idea of leaving you friendless, +unprotected, and poor, your reputation injured, and your peace of mind +destroyed, is more than I am able to bear, and will give me, in my last +moments, the torments of the damned.' Here a violent burst of tears +interrupted him; and Adeline, overcome with emotion and surprise at the +sight of the agitation which his own sufferings could never occasion in +him, hung over him in speechless woe. + +'Besides,' continued Glenmurray, recovering himself a little, 'I--O +Adeline!' seizing her cold hand, 'can you forgive me for having been the +means of blasting all your fair fame and prospects in life?' + +'For the sake of justice, if not of mercy,' exclaimed Adeline, 'forbear +thus cruelly to accuse yourself. You know that from my own free, +unbiassed choice I gave myself to you, and in compliance with my own +principles.' + +'But who taught you those principles?--who led you to a train of +reasoning, so alluring in theory, so pernicious in practice? Had not +I, with the heedless vanity of youth, given to the world the crude +conceptions of four-and-twenty, you might at this moment have been the +idol of a respectable society; and I, equally respected, have been the +husband of your heart; while happiness would perhaps have kept the fatal +disease at bay, of which anxiety has facilitated the approach.' + +He was going on: but Adeline, who had till now struggled successfully +with her feelings, wound up almost to phrensy at the possibility that +anxiety had shortened Glenmurray's life, gave way to a violent paroxysm +of sorrow, which, for a while, deprived her of consciousness; and when +she recovered she found Berrendale bending over her, while her head lay +on Glenmurray's pillow. + +The sight of Berrendale in a moment roused her to exertion:--his look +was so full of anxious tenderness, and she was at that moment so ill +disposed to regard it with complacency, that she eagerly declared she +was quite recovered, and begged Mr Berrendale would return to bed; and +Glenmurray seconding her request, with a deep sigh he departed. + +'Poor fellow!' said Glenmurray, 'I wish you had seen his anxiety during +your illness!' + +'I am glad I did _not_,' replied Adeline: 'but how can you persist in +talking to me of any other person's anxiety, when I am tortured with +yours? Your conversation of to-night has made me even more miserable +than I was before. By what strange fatality do you blame yourself for +the conduct worthy of admiration?--for giving to the world, as soon as +produced, opinions which were calculated to enlighten it?' + +'But,' replied Glenmurray, 'as those opinions militated against the +experience and custom of ages, ought I not to have paused before I +published, and kept them back till they had received the sanction of my +maturer judgment?' + +'And does your maturer judgment condemn them?' + +'Four years cannot have added much to the maturity of my judgment,' +replied Glenmurray: 'but I will own that some of my opinions are changed; +and that, though I believe those which are unchanged are right in +theory, I think, as the mass of society could never _at once_ adopt +them, they had better remain unacted upon, than that a few lonely +individuals should expose themselves to certain distress, by making them +the rules of their conduct. You, for instance, you, my Adeline, what +misery--!' Here his voice again faltered, and emotion impeded his +utterance. + +'Live--do but live,' exclaimed Adeline passionately, 'and I can know of +misery but the name.' + +'But I cannot live, I cannot live,' replied Glenmurray, 'and the sooner +I die the better;--for thus to waste your youth and health in the +dreadful solitude of a sick-room is insupportable to me.' + +'O Glenmurray!' replied Adeline, fondly throwing herself on his neck, +'could you but live free from any violent pain, and were neither you nor +I ever to leave this room again, believe me, I should not have a wish +beyond it. To see you, to hear you, to prove to you how much I love you, +would, indeed it would, be happiness sufficient for me!' After this burst +of true and heartfelt tenderness, there was a pause of some moments: +Glenmurray felt too much to speak, and Adeline was sobbing on his +pillow. At length she pathetically again exclaimed, 'Live! only live! +and I am blest!' + +'But I _cannot_ live, I _cannot_ live,' again replied Glenmurray; 'and +when I die, what will become of you?' + +'I care not,' cried Adeline: 'if I lose you, may the same grave receive +us!' + +'But it _will_ not, my dearest:--grief does not kill; and, entailed as +my estate is, I have nothing to leave you: and though richly qualified +to undertake the care of children, in order to maintain yourself, your +unfortunate connexion, and singular opinions, will be an eternal bar to +your being so employed. O Adeline! these cutting fears, these dreadful +reflections, are indeed the bitterness of death: but there is one way of +alleviating my pangs.' + +'Name it,' replied Adeline with quickness. + +'But you must promise then to hear me with patience.--Had I been able to +live through my illness, I should have conjured you to let me endeavour +to restore you to your place in society, and consequently to your +usefulness, by making you my wife: and young, and I may add innocent and +virtuous, as you are, I doubt not but the world would at length have +received you into its favour again.' + +'But you must, you will, you shall live,' interrupted Adeline, 'and I +shall be your happy wife.' + +'Not _mine_' replied Glenmurray, laying an emphasis on the last word. + +Adeline started, and, fixing her eyes wildly on his, demanded what he +meant. + +'I mean,' replied he, 'to prevail on you to make my last moments happy, +by promising, some time hence, to give yourself a tender, a respectable, +and a legal protector.' + +'O Glenmurray!' exclaimed Adeline, 'and can you insult my tenderness for +you with such a proposal? If I can even survive you, do you think that I +can bear to give you a successor in my affection? or, how can you bear +to imagine that I shall?' + +'Because my love for you is without selfishness, and I wish you to be +happy even though another makes you so. The lover, or the husband, who +wishes the woman of his affection to form no second attachment, is, in +my opinion, a selfish, contemptible being. Perhaps I do not expect that +you will ever feel, for another man, an attachment like that which has +subsisted between us--the first affection of young and impassioned +hearts; but I am sure that you may again feel love enough to make +yourself and the man of your choice perfectly happy; and I hope and +trust that you will be so.' + +'And forget you, I suppose?' interrupted Adeline reproachfully. + +'Not so: I would have you remember me always, but with a chastized and +even a pleasing sorrow; nay, I would wish you to imagine me a sort of +guardian spirit watching your actions and enjoying your happiness.' + +'I have _listened_ to you,' cried Adeline in a tone of suppressed +anguish, 'and, I trust, with tolerable patience: there is one thing yet +for me to learn--the name of the object whom you wish me to marry, for I +suppose _he_ is found.' + +'He is,' returned Glenmurray, 'Berrendale loves you; and he it is whom I +wish you to choose.' + +'I thought so,' exclaimed Adeline, rising and traversing the room +hastily, and wringing her hands. + +'But wherefore does his name,' said Glenmurray, 'excite such angry +emotion? Perhaps self-love makes me recommend him,' continued he, +forcing a smile, 'as he is reckoned like me, and I thought that likeness +might make him more agreeable to you.' + +'Only the more odious,' impatiently interrupted Adeline. 'To look like +you, and not _be_ you, Oh! insupportable idea!' she exclaimed, throwing +herself on Glenmurray's pillow, and pressing his burning temples to her +cold cheek. + +'Adeline,' said Glenmurray solemnly, 'this is, perhaps, the last moment +of confidential and uninterrupted intercourse that we shall ever have +together;' Adeline started, but spoke not; 'allow me, therefore, to +tell you it is my _dying request_, that you would endeavour to dispose +your mind in favour of Berrendale, and to become in time his wife. +Circumstanced as you are, your only chance for happiness is becoming a +wife: but it is too certain that few men worthy of you, in the most +essential points, will be likely to marry you after your connexion with +me.' + +'Strange prejudice!' cried Adeline, 'to consider as my disgrace, what I +deem my glory!' + +Glenmurray continued thus: 'Berrendale himself has a great deal of the +old school about him, but I have convinced him that you are not to be +classed with the frail of your sex; and that you are one of the purest +as well as loveliest of human beings.' + +'And did he want to be convinced of this?' cried Adeline indignantly; +'and _yet_ you advise me to marry him?' + +'My dearest love,' replied Glenmurray, 'in all cases the most we can +expect is, to choose the best _possible_ means of happiness. Berrendale +is not perfect; but I am convinced that you would commit a fatal error +in not making him your husband; and when I tell you it is my _dying +request_ that you should do so--' + +'If you wish me to retain my senses,' exclaimed Adeline, 'repeat that +dreadful phrase no more.' + +'I will not say any more at all now,' faintly observed Glenmurray, 'for +I am exhausted:--still, as morning begins to dawn, I should like to sit +up in my bed and gaze on it, perhaps for--' Here Adeline put her hand to +his mouth: Glenmurray kissed it, sighed, and did not finish the sentence. +She then opened the shutters to let in the rising splendour of day, and, +turning round towards Glenmurray, almost shrieked with terror at seeing +the visible alteration a night had made in his appearance; while the +yellow rays of the dawn played on his sallow cheek, and his dark curls, +once crisped and glossy, hung faint and moist on his beating temples. + +'It is strange, Adeline,' said Glenmurray (but with great effort), +'that, even in my situation, the sight of morning, and the revival as it +were of nature, seems to invigorate my whole frame. I long to breathe +the freshness of its breeze also.' + +Adeline, conscious for the first time that all hope was over, opened the +window, and felt even her sick soul and languid frame revived by the +chill but refreshing breeze. To Glenmurray it imparted a feeling of +physical pleasure, to which he had long been a stranger: 'I breathe +freely,' he exclaimed, 'I feel alive again!'--and, strange as it may +seem, Adeline's hopes began to revive also.--'I feel as if I could sleep +now,' said Glenmurray, 'the feverish restlessness seems abated; but, +lest my dreams be disturbed, promise me, ere I lie down again, that you +will behave kindly to Berrendale.' + +'Impossible! The only tie that bound me to him is broken:--I thought +he sincerely sympathized with me in my wishes for your recovery; but +now that, as he loves me, his wishes must be in direct opposition to +mine,--I cannot, indeed I cannot, endure the sight of him.' + +Glenmurray could not reply to this natural observation: he knew that, in +a similar situation, his feelings would have been like Adeline's; and, +pressing her hand with all the little strength left him, he said 'Poor +Berrendale!' and tried to compose himself to sleep; while Adeline, lost +in sad contemplation, threw herself in a chair by his bed-side, and +anxiously awaited the event of his re-awaking. + +But it was not long before Adeline herself, exhausted both in body and +mind, fell into a deep sleep; and it was mid-day before she awoke: for +no careless, heavy-treading, and hired nurse now watched the slumbers of +the unhappy lovers; but the mulatto, stepping light as air, and afraid +even of breathing lest she should disturb their repose, had assumed her +station at the bed-side, and taken every precaution lest any noise +should awake them. Hers was the service of the heart; and there is none +like it. + +At twelve o'clock Adeline awoke; and her first glance met the dark eyes +of Savanna kindly fixed upon her. Adeline started, not immediately +recollecting who it could be; but in a moment the idea of the mulatto, +and of the service which she had rendered her, recurred to her mind, and +diffused a sensation of pleasure through her frame. 'There is a being +whom I have served,' said Adeline to herself, and, extending her hand to +Savanna, she started from her seat, invigorated by the thought: but she +felt depressed again by the consciousness that she, who had been able to +impart so much joy and help to another, was herself a wretch for ever; +and in a moment her eyes filled with tears, while the mulatto gazed on +her with a look of inquiring solicitude. + +'Poor Savanna!' cried Adeline in a low and plaintive tone. + +There are moments when the sound of one's own voice has a mournful +effect on one's feelings--this was one of those moments to Adeline; +the pathos of her own tone overcame her, and she burst into tears: but +Glenmurray slept on; and Adeline hoped nothing would suddenly disturb +his rest, when Berrendale opened the door with what appeared unnecessary +noise, and Glenmurray hastily awoke. + +Adeline immediately started from her seat, and, looking at him with +great indignation, demanded why he came in in such a manner, when he +knew Mr Glenmurray was asleep. + +Berrendale, shocked and alarmed at Adeline's words and expression, so +unlike her usual manner, stammered out an excuse. 'Another time, Sir', +replied Adeline coldly, 'I hope you will be more _careful_.' + +'What is the matter?' said Glenmurray, raising himself in the bed. 'Are +you scolding, Adeline? If so, let me hear you: I like novelty.' + +Here Adeline and Berrendale both hastened to him, and Adeline almost +looked with complacency on Berrendale; when Glenmurray, declaring +himself wonderfully refreshed by his long sleep, expressed a great +desire for his breakfast, and said he had a most voracious appetite. + +But to all Berrendale's attentions she returned the most forbidding +reserve; nor could she for a moment lose the painful idea, that the +death of Glenmurray would be to him a source of joy, not of anguish. +Berrendale was not slow to observe this change in her conduct; and he +conceived that, as he knew Glenmurray had mentioned his pretensions +to her, his absence would be of more service to his wishes than his +presence; and he resolved to leave Richmond that afternoon,--especially +as he had a dinner engagement at a tavern in London, which, in spite of +love and friendship, he was desirous of keeping. + +He was not mistaken in his ideas: the countenance of Adeline assumed +less severity when he mentioned his intention of going away, nor could +she express regret at his resolution, even though Glenmurray with +anxious earnestness requested him to stay. But Glenmurray entreated in +vain: used to consider his own interest and pleasure in preference to +that of others, Berrendale resolved to go; and resisted the prayers of a +man who had often obliged him with the greatest difficulty to himself. + +'Well, then,' said Glenmurray mournfully, 'if you must go, God bless +you! I wish you, Charles, all possible earthly happiness; nay, I have +done all I can to ensure it you: but you have disappointed me. I hoped +to have joined your hand, in my last moments, to that of this dear girl, +and to have bequeathed her in the most solemn manner to your care and +tenderness; but no matter, farewell! we shall probably meet no more.' + +Here Berrendale's heart failed him, and he almost resolved to stay: but +a look of angry repugnance which he saw on Adeline's countenance, even +amidst her sorrow, got the better of his kind emotions, by wounding his +self-love; and grasping Glenmurray's hand, and saying 'I shall be back +in a day or two,' he rushed out of the room. + +'I am sorry Mr Berrendale is forced to go,' said Adeline involuntarily +when the street door closed after him. + +'Had you condescended to tell him so, he would undoubtedly have staid,' +replied Glenmurray rather peevishly. Adeline instantly felt, and +regretted, the selfishness of her conduct. To avoid the sight of a +disagreeable object, she had given pain to Glenmurray; or, rather, she +had not done her utmost to prevent his being exposed to it. + +'Forgive me,' said Adeline, bursting into tears: 'I own I thought only +of myself, when I forbore to urge his stay. Alas! with you, and you +alone, I believe, is the gratification of self always a secondary +consideration.' + +'You forget that I am a philanthropist,' replied Glenmurray, 'and cannot +bear to be praised, even by you, at the expense of my fellow-creatures. +But come, hasten dinner; my breakfast agreed with me so well, that I am +impatient for another meal.' + +'You certainly are better to-day,' exclaimed Adeline with unwonted +cheerfulness. + +'My feelings are more tolerable, at least,' replied Glenmurray: and +Adeline and the mulatto began to prepare the dinner immediately. How +often during her attendance on Glenmurray had she recollected the words +of her grandmother, and blessed her for having taught her to be +_useful_! + +As soon as dinner was over, Glenmurray complained of being drowsy: still +he declared he would not go to bed till he had seen the sun set, as he +had that day, for the second time since his illness, seen it rise; and +therefore, when it was setting, Adeline and Savanna led him into a room +adjoining, which had a western aspect. Glenmurray fixed his eyes on +the crimson horizon with a peculiar expression; and his lips seemed to +murmur, 'For the last time! Let me breathe the evening air, too, once +more,' said he. + +'It is too chill, dear Glenmurray.' + +'It will not hurt me,' replied Glenmurray; and Adeline complied with his +request. + +'The breeze of evening is not refreshing like that of morning,' he +observed; 'but the beauty of the setting is, perhaps, superior to that +of the rising sun:--they are both glorious sights, and I have enjoyed +them both to-day, nor have I for years experienced so strong a feeling +of devotion.' + +'Thank God!' cried Adeline. 'O Glenmurray! there has been one thing only +wanting to the completion of our union; and that was, that we should +worship together.' + +'Perhaps, had I remained longer here,' replied Glenmurray, 'we might +have done so; for, believe me, Adeline, though my feelings have +continually hurried me into adoration of the Supreme Being, I have often +wished my homage to be as regular and as founded on immutable conviction +as it once was: but it is too late now for amendment, though, alas! not +for _regret_, _deep_ regret: yet He who reads the heart knows that my +intentions were pure, and that I was not fixed in the stubbornness of +error.' + +'Let us change this discourse,' cried Adeline, seeing on Glenmurray's +countenance an expression of uncommon sadness, which he, from a regard +to her feelings, struggled to cover. He did indeed feel sadness--a +sadness of the most painful nature; and while Adeline hung over him with +all the anxious and soothing attention of unbounded love, he seemed to +shrink from her embrace with horror, and, turning away his head, feebly +murmured. 'O Adeline! this faithful kindness wounds me to the very soul. +Alas! alas! how little have I deserved it!' + +If Glenmurray, who had been the means of injuring the woman he loved, +merely by following the dictates of his conscience, and a love of what +he imagined to be truth, without any view of his own benefit or the +gratification of his personal wishes, felt thus acutely the anguish of +self-upbraiding,--what ought to be, and what must be, sooner or later, +the agony and remorse of that man, who, merely for the gratification of +his own illicit desires, has seduced the woman whom he loved from the +path of virtue, and ruined for ever her reputation and her peace of +mind! + +'It is too late now for you to sit at an open window, indeed it is,' +cried Adeline, after having replied to Glenmurray's self-reproaches by +the touching language of tears, and incoherent expressions of confiding +and unchanged attachment; 'and as you are evidently better to-day, do +not, by breathing too much cold air, run the risk of making yourself +worse again.' + +'Would I were really better! would I could live!' passionately exclaimed +Glenmurray: 'but indeed I do feel stronger to-night than I have felt for +many months.' In a moment the fine eyes of Adeline were raised to heaven +with an expression of devout thankfulness; and, eager to make the most +of a change so favourable, she hurried Glenmurray back to his chamber, +and, with a feeling of renewed hope, sat by to watch his slumbers. +She had not sat long before the door opened, and the little tawny boy +entered. He had watched all day to see the good lady, as he called +Adeline; but, as she had not left Glenmurray's chamber except to prepare +dinner, he had been disappointed: so he was resolved to seek her in her +own apartment. He had bought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had +given him, and he was eager to give her a piece of them. + +'Hush!' cried Adeline, as she held out her hand to him; and he in a +whisper crying 'Bite,' held his purchase to her lips. Adeline tasted +it, said it was very good, and, giving him a halfpenny, the tawny boy +disappeared again: the noise he made as he bounded down the stairs woke +Glenmurray. Adeline was sitting on the side of the bed; and as he turned +round to sleep again he grasped her hand in his, and its feverish touch +damped her hopes, and re-awakened her fears. For a short time she +mournfully gazed on his flushed cheek, and then, gently sliding off the +bed, and dropping on one knee, she addressed the Deity in the language +of humble supplication. + +Insensibly she ceased to pray in thought only, and the lowly-murmured +prayer became audible. Again Glenmurray awoke, and Adeline reproached +herself as the cause. + +'My rest was uneasy,' cried he, 'and I rejoice that you woke me: +besides, I like to hear you--Go on, my dearest girl; there is a +something in the breathings of your pious fondness that soothes me,' +added he, pressing the hand he held to his parched lips. + +Adeline obeyed: and as she continued, she felt ever and anon, by the +pressure of Glenmurray's hand, how much he was affected by what she +uttered. + +'But must he be taken from me!' she exclaimed in one part of her prayer. +'Father, if it be possible, permit this cup to pass by me untasted.' +Here she felt the hand of Glenmurray grasp hers most vehemently; and, +delighted to think that he had pleasure in hearing her, she went on to +breathe forth all the wishes of a trembling yet confiding spirit, till +overcome with her own emotions she ceased and arose, and leaning over +Glenmurray's pillow was going to take his hand:--but the hand which she +pressed returned not her pressure; the eyes were fixed whose approving +glance she sought; and the horrid truth rushed at once on her mind, that +the last convulsive grasp had been an eternal farewell, and that he had +in that grasp expired. + +Alas! what preparation however long, what anticipation however sure, can +enable the mind to bear a shock like this! It came on Adeline like a +thunder-stroke: she screamed not; she moved not; but, fixing a dim and +glassy eye on the pale countenance of her lover, she seemed as insensible +as poor Glenmurray himself; and hours might have elapsed--hours +immediately fatal both to her senses and existence--ere any one had +entered the room, since she had given orders to be disturbed by no one, +had not the tawny boy, encouraged by his past success, stolen in again, +unperceived, to give her a piece of the apple which he had bought with +her last bounty. + +The delighted boy tripped gaily to the bed-side, holding up his +treasure; but he started back, and screamed in all the agony of terror, +at the sight which he beheld--the face of Glenmurray ghastly, and the +mouth distorted as if in the last agony, and Adeline in the stupor of +despair. + +The affectionate boy's repeated screams soon summoned the whole family +into the room, while he, vainly hanging on Adeline's arm, begged her +to speak to him. But nothing could at first rouse Adeline, not even +Savanna's loud and extravagant grief. When, however, they tried to force +her from the body, she recovered her recollection and her strength; and +it was with great difficulty she could be carried out of the room, and +kept out when they had accomplished their purpose. + +But Savanna was sure that looking at such a sad sight would kill her +mistress; for she should die herself if she saw William dead, she +declared; and the people of the house agreed with her. They knew not +that grief is the best medicine for itself; and that the overcharged +heart is often relieved by the sight which standers-by conceive likely +to snap the very threads of existence. + +As Adeline and Glenmurray had both of them excited some interest in +Richmond, the news of the death of the latter was immediately abroad; +and it was told to Mrs Pemberton, with a pathetic account of Adeline's +distress, just as the carriage was preparing to convey her and her sick +friend on their way to Lisbon. It was a relation to call forth all the +humanity of Mrs Pemberton's nature. She forgot Adeline's crime in her +distress; and knowing she had no female friend with her, she hastened on +the errand of pity to the abode of vice. Alas! Mrs Pemberton had learnt +but too well to sympathize in grief like that of Adeline. She had seen +a beloved husband expire in her arms, and had afterwards followed two +children to the grave. But she had taken refuge from sorrow in the +active duties of her religion, and was enabled to become a teacher of +those truths to others, by which she had so much benefited herself. + +Mrs Pemberton entered the room just as Adeline, on her knees, was +conjuring the persons with her to allow her to see Glenmurray once more. + +Adeline did not at all observe the entrance of Mrs Pemberton, who, in +spite of the self-command which her principles and habits gave her, was +visibly affected when she beheld the mourner's tearless affliction: and +the hands which, on her entrance, were quietly crossed on each other, +confining the modest folds of her simple cloak, were suddenly and +involuntarily separated by the irresistible impulse of pity; while, +catching hold of the wall for support, she leaned against it, covering +her face with her hands. 'Let me see him! only let me see him once +more!' cried Adeline, gazing on Mrs Pemberton, but unconscious who she +was. + +'Thou shalt see him,' replied Mrs Pemberton with considerable effort; +'give me thy hand, and I will go with thee to the chamber of death.' +Adeline gave a scream of mournful joy at this permission, and suffered +herself to be led into Glenmurray's apartment. As soon as she entered it +she sprang to the bed, and, throwing herself beside the corpse, began to +contemplate it with an earnestness and firmness which surprised every +one. Mrs Pemberton also fixedly gazed on the wan face of Glenmurray: +'And art thou fallen!' she exclaimed, 'thou, wise in thine own conceit, +who presumedst, perhaps, sometimes to question even the existence of the +Most High, and to set up thy vain chimeras of yesterday against the +wisdom and experience of centuries? Child of the dust! child of error! +what art thou now, and whither is thy guilty spirit fled? But balmy is +the hand of affliction; and she, thy mourning victim, may learn to bless +the hand that chastizes her, nor add to the offences which will weigh +down thy soul, a dread responsibility for hers!' + +Here she was interrupted by the voice of Adeline; who, in a deep and +hollow tone, was addressing the unconscious corpse. 'For God's sake, +speak! for this silence is dreadful--it looks so like death.' + +'Poor thing!' said Mrs Pemberton, kneeling beside her, 'and is it even +thus with thee? Would thou couldst shed tears, afflicted one!' + +'It is very strange,' continued Adeline: 'he loved me so tenderly, and +he used to speak and look so tenderly, and now, see how he neglects me! +Glenmurray, my love! for mercy's sake, speak to me!' As she said this, +she laid her lips to his: but, feeling on them the icy coldness of +death, she started back, screaming in all the violence of phrensy; and, +recovered to the full consciousness of her misfortune, she was carried +back to her room in violent convulsions. + +'Would I could stay and watch over thee!' said Mrs Pemberton, as she +gazed on Adeline's distorted countenance; 'for thou, young as thou art, +wert well known in the chambers of sorrow and of sickness; and I should +rejoice to pay back to thee part of the debt of those whom thy presence +so often soothed: but I must leave thee to the care of others.' + +'You leave her to my care,' cried Savanna reproachfully,--who felt even +her violent sorrow suspended while Mrs Pemberton spoke in accents at +once sad yet soothing,--'you leave her to my care, and who watch, who +love her more than me?' + +'Good Savanna!' replied Mrs Pemberton, pressing the mulatto's hand as +she returned to her station beside Adeline, who was fallen into a calm +slumber, 'to thy care, with confidence, I commit her. But perhaps there +may be an immediate necessity for money, and I had better leave this +with thee,' she added, taking out her purse: but Savanna assured her +that Mr Berrendale was sent for, and to him all those concerns were to +be left. Mrs Pemberton stood for a few moments looking at Adeline in +silence, then slowly left the house. + +When Adeline awoke, she seemed so calm and resigned, that her earnest +request of being allowed to pass the night alone was granted, especially +as Mrs Pemberton had desired that her wish, even to see Glenmurray +again, should be complied with: but the faithful mulatto watched till +morning at the door. No bed that night received the weary limbs of +Adeline. She threw herself on the ground, and in alternate prayer and +phrensy passed the first night of her woe: towards morning, however, she +fell into a perturbed sleep. But when the light of day darting into the +room awakened her to consciousness; and when she recollected that he +to whom it usually summoned her existed no longer; that the eyes which +but the preceding morning had opened with enthusiastic ardour to hail +its beams, were now for ever closed; and that the voice which used +to welcome her so tenderly, she should never, never hear again; the +forlornness of her situation, the hopelessness of her sorrow burst upon +her with a violence too powerful for her reason: and when Berrendale +arrived, he found Glenmurray in his shroud, and Adeline in a state +of insanity. For six months her phrensy resisted all the efforts of +medicine, and the united care which Berrendale's love and Savanna's +grateful attachment could bestow; while with Adeline's want of their +care seemed to increase their desire of bestowing it, and their +affection gathered new strength from the duration of her helpless +malady. So true is it, that we become attached more from the aid which +we give than that which we receive; and that the love of the obliger +is more apt to increase than that of the obliged by the obligation +conferred. At length, however, Adeline's reason slowly yet surely +returned; and she, by degrees, learnt to contemplate with firmness, +and even calmness, the loss which she had sustained. She even looked +on Berrendale and his attentions not with anger, but gratitude and +complacency; she had even pleasure in observing the likeness he bore +Glenmurray; she felt that it endeared him to her. In the first paroxysms +of her phrensy, the sight of him threw her into fits of ravings; but +as she grew better she had pleasure in seeing him: and when, on her +recovery, she heard how much she was indebted to his persevering +tenderness, she felt for him a decided regard, which Berrendale tried +to flatter himself might be ripened into love. + +But he was mistaken; the heart of Adeline was formed to feel violent +and lasting attachments only. She had always loved her mother with a +tenderness of a most uncommon nature; she had felt for Glenmurray the +fondest enthusiasm of passion: she was now separated from them both. +But her mother still lived: and though almost hopeless of ever being +restored to her society, all her love for her returned; and she pined +for that consoling fondness, those soothing attentions, which, in a time +of such affliction, a mother on a widowed daughter can alone bestow. + +'Yet, surely,' cried she in the solitude of her own room, 'her oath +cannot now forbid her to forgive me; for, am I not as WRETCHED IN LOVE, +nay more, far more so, than _she_ has been? Yes--yes; I will write to +her: besides HE wished me to do so' (meaning Glenmurray, whom she never +named); and she did write to her, according to the address which Dr +Norberry sent soon after he returned to his own house. Still week after +week elapsed, and month after month, but no answer came. + +Again she wrote, and again she was disappointed; though her loss, her +illness in consequence of it, her pecuniary distress, and the large debt +which she had incurred to Berrendale, were all detailed in a manner +calculated to move the most obdurate heart. What then could Adeline +suppose? Perhaps her mother was ill; perhaps she was dead: and her +reason was again on the point of yielding to this horrible supposition, +when she received her two letters in a cover, directed in her mother's +hand-writing. + +At first she was overwhelmed by this dreadful proof of the continuance +of Mrs Mowbray's deep resentment; but, ever sanguine, the circumstance +of Mrs Mowbray's having written the address herself appeared to Adeline +a favourable symptom; and with renewed hope she wrote to Dr Norberry +to become her mediator once more: but to this letter no answer was +returned; and Adeline concluded her only friend had died of the fever +which Mrs Norberry had mentioned in her letter. + +'Then I have lost my only friend!' cried Adeline, wringing her hands +in agony, as this idea recurred to her. 'Your only friend?' repeated +Berrendale, who happened to be present, 'O Adeline!' + +Her heart smote her as he said this. 'My oldest friend I should have +said,' she replied, holding out her hand to him; and Berrendale thought +himself happy. + +But Adeline was far from meaning to give the encouragement which this +action seemed to bestow: wholly occupied by her affliction, her mind +had lost its energy, and she would not have made an effort to dissipate +her grief by employment and exertion, had not that virtuous pride and +delicacy, which in happier hours had been the ornament of her character, +rebelled against the consciousness of owing pecuniary obligations to the +lover whose suit she was determined to reject, and urged her to make +some vigorous attempt to maintain herself. + +Many were the schemes which occurred to her; but none seemed so +practicable as that of keeping a day-school in some village near the +metropolis.--True, Glenmurray had said, that her having been his +mistress would prevent her obtaining scholars; but his fears, perhaps, +were stronger than his justice in this case. These fears, however, she +found existed in Berrendale's mind also, though he ventured only to hint +them with great caution. + +'You think, then, no prudent parents, if my story should be known to +them, would send their children to me?' said Adeline to Berrendale. + +'I fear--I--that is to say, I am sure they would not.' + +'Under such circumstances,' said Adeline, 'you yourself would not send a +child to my school?' + +'Why--really--I--as the world goes,' replied Berrendale. + +'I am answered,' said Adeline with a look and tone of displeasure; and +retired to her chamber, intending not to return till Berrendale was +gone to his own lodging. But her heart soon reproached her with unjust +resentment; and, coming back, she apologized to Berrendale for being +angry at his laudable resolution of acting according to those principles +which he thought most virtuous, especially as she claimed for herself a +similar right. + +Berrendale, gratified by her apology, replied, 'that he saw no objection +to her plan, if she chose to deny him the happiness of sharing his +income with her, provided she would settle in a village where she was +not likely to be known, and change her name.' + +'Change my name! Never. Concealment of any kind almost always implies +the consciousness of guilt; and while my heart does not condemn me, my +conduct shall not seem to accuse me. I will go to whatever place you +shall recommend; but I beg your other request may be mentioned no +more.' + +Berrendale, glad to be forgiven on any terms, promised to comply with +her wishes; and he having recommended to her to settle at a village some +few miles north of London, Adeline hired there a small but commodious +lodging, and issued immediately cards of advertisement, stating what she +meant to teach, and on what terms; while Berrendale took lodgings within +a mile of her, and the faithful mulatto attended her as a servant of +all-work. + +Fortunately, at this time, a lady at Richmond, who had a son the age +of the tawny boy, became so attached to him, that she was desirous of +bringing him up to be the play-fellow and future attendant on her son; +and the mulatto, pleased to have him so well disposed of, resisted the +poor little boy's tears and reluctance at the idea of being separated +from her and Adeline: and before she left Richmond she had the +satisfaction of seeing him comfortably settled in the house of his +patroness. + +Adeline succeeded in her undertaking even beyond her utmost wishes. +Though unknown and unrecommended, there was in her countenance and +manner a something so engaging, so strongly inviting confidence, and +so decisively bespeaking the gentlewoman, that she soon excited in the +village general respect and attention: and no sooner were scholars +entrusted to her care, than she became the idol of her pupils; and their +improvement was rapid in proportion to the love which they bore her. + +This fortunate circumstance proved a balm to the wounded mind +of Adeline. She felt that she had recovered her usefulness--that +desideratum in morals; and life, spite of her misfortunes, acquired a +charm in her eyes. True it was, that she was restored to her capability +of being useful, by being where she was unknown; and because the +mulatto, unknown to her, had described her as reduced to earn her +living, on account of the death of the man to whom she was about to be +married: but she did not revert to the reasons of her being so generally +esteemed; she contented herself with the consciousness of being so; and +for some months she was tranquil, though not happy. But her tranquillity +was destined to be of short duration. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + + +The village in which Adeline resided happened to be the native place +of Mary Warner, the servant whom she had been forced to dismiss at +Richmond; and who having gone from Mrs Pemberton to another situation, +which she had also quitted, came to visit her friends. + +The wish of saying lessening things of those of whom one hears extravagant +commendations, is, I fear, common to almost every one, even where the +object praised comes in no competition with oneself:--and when Mary +Warner heard from every quarter of the grace and elegance, affability +and active benevolence of the new comer, it was no doubt infinitely +gratifying to her to be able to exclaim,--'Mowbray! did you say her name +is? La! I dares to say it is my old mistress, who was kept by one Mr +Glenmurray!' But so greatly were her auditors prepossessed in favour of +Adeline, that very few of them could be prevailed upon to believe Mary's +supposition was just; and so much was she piqued at the disbelief which +she met with, that she declared she would go to church the next Sunday +to shame the hussey, and go up and speak to her in the church-yard +before all the people. + +'Ah! do so, if you ever saw our Miss Mowbray before,' was the answer: +and Mary eagerly looked forward to the approaching Sunday. Meanwhile, +as we are all of us but too apt to repeat stories to the prejudice of +others, even though we do not believe them, this strange assertion of +Mary was circulated through the village even by Adeline's admirers; and +the next Sunday was expected by the unconscious Adeline alone with no +unusual eagerness. + +Sunday came; and Adeline, as she was wont to do, attended the service: +but from the situation of her pew, she could neither see Mary nor be +seen by her till church was over. Adeline then, as usual, was walking +down the broad walk of the church-yard, surrounded by the parents of the +children who came to her school, and receiving from them the customary +marks of respect, when Mary, bustling through the crowd, accosted her +with:--'So!--your sarvant, Miss Mowbray, I am glad to see you here in +such a respectable situation.' + +Adeline, though in the gaily-dressed lady who accosted her she had some +difficulty in recognizing her quondam servant, recollected the pert +shrill voice and insolent manner of Mary immediately; and involuntarily +starting when she addressed her, from painful associations and fear of +impending evil, she replied, 'How are you, Mary?' in a faltering tone. + +'Then it is Mary's Miss Mowbray,' whispered Mary's auditors of the +day before to each other; while Mary, proud of her success, looked +triumphantly at them, and was resolved to pursue the advantage which +she had gained. + +'So you have lost Mr Glenmurray, I find!' continued Mary. + +Adeline spoke not, but walked hastily on:--but Mary kept pace with her, +speaking as loud as she could. + +'And did the little one live, pray?' + +Still Adeline spoke not. + +'What sort of a getting-up had you, Miss Mowbray?' + +At this mischievously-intended question Adeline's other sensations were +lost in strong indignation; and resuming all the modest but collected +dignity of her manner, she turned round, and fixing her eyes steadily on +the insulting girl, exclaimed aloud, 'Woman, I never injured you either +in thought, word, or deed:--Whence comes it, then, that you endeavour to +make the finger of scorn point at me, and make me shrink with shame and +confusion from the eye of observation?' + +'Woman! indeed!' replied Mary--but she was not allowed to proceed; for a +gentleman hastily stepped forward, crying, 'It is impossible for us to +suffer such insults to be offered to Miss Mowbray:--I desire, therefore, +that you will take your daughter away (turning to Mary's father); and, +if possible, teach her better manners.' Having said this, he overtook +the agitated Adeline; and offering her his arm, saw her home to her +lodgings: while those who had heard with surprise and suspicion the +strange and impertinent questions and insolent tone of Mary, resumed +in a degree their confidence in Adeline, and turned a disgusted and +deaf ear to the hysterical vehemence with which the half-sobbing +Mary defended herself, and vilified Adeline, as her father and +brother-in-law, almost by force, led her out of the church-yard. + +The gentleman who had so kindly stepped forward to the assistance of +Adeline was Mr Beauclerc, the surgeon of the village, a man of +considerable abilities and liberal principles; and when he bade Adeline +farewell, he said, 'My wife will do herself the pleasure of calling on +you this evening:' then, kindly pressing her hand, he with a respectful +bow took his leave. + +Luckily for Adeline, Berrendale was detained in town that day; and she +was spared the mortification of showing herself to him, writhing as +she was under the agonies of public shame, for such it seemed to her. +Convinced as she was of the light in which she must have appeared +to the persons around her from the malicious interrogatories of +Mary;--convinced too, as she was more than beginning to be, of the +fallacy of the reasoning which had led her to deserve, and even to +glory in, the situation which she now blushed to hear disclosed;--and +conscious as she was, that to remain in the village, and expect to +retain her school, was now impossible--she gave herself up to a burst of +sorrow and despondence; during which her only consolation was, that it +was not witnessed by Berrendale. + +It never for a moment entered into the ingenuous mind of Adeline, that +her declaration would have more weight than that of Mary Warner; and +that she might, with almost a certainty of being believed, deny her +charge entirely: on the contrary, she had no doubt but that Mrs +Beauclerc was coming to inquire into the grounds for Mary's gross +address; and she was resolved to confess to her all the circumstances +of her story. + +After church in the afternoon Mrs Beauclerc arrived, and Adeline +observed, with pleasure, that her manner was even kinder than usual; it +was such as to ensure the innocent of the most strenuous support, and to +invite the guilty to confidence and penitence. + +'Never, my dear Miss Mowbray,' said Mrs Beauclerc, 'did I call on you +with more readiness than now; as I come assured that you will give me +not only the most ample authority to contradict, but the fullest means +to confute, the vile calumnies which that malicious girl, Mary Warner, +has, ever since she entered the village, been propagating against you: +but, indeed, she is so little respected in her rank of life, and you so +highly in yours, that your mere denial of the truth of her statement +will, to every candid mind, be sufficient to clear your character.' + +Adeline never before was so strongly tempted to violate the truth; +and there was a friendly earnestness in Mrs Beauclerc's manner, which +proved that it would be almost cruel to destroy the opinion which she +entertained of her virtue. For a moment Adeline felt disposed to yield +to the temptation, but it was only for a moment,--and in a hurried and +broken voice she replied, 'Mary Warner has asserted of me nothing but--' +Here her voice faltered. + +'Nothing but falsehoods, no doubt, interrupted Mrs Beauclerc +triumphantly,--'I thought so.' + +'Nothing but the TRUTH!' resumed Adeline. + +'Impossible!' cried Mrs Beauclerc, dropping the cold hand which she +held: and Adeline, covering her face, and throwing herself back in the +chair, sobbed aloud. + +Mrs Beauclerc was herself for some time unable to speak; but at length +she faintly said--'So sensible, so pious, so well-informed, and so +pure-minded as you seem!--to what strange arts, what wicked seductions, +did you fall a victim?' + +'To no arts--to no seductions'--replied Adeline, recovering all her +energy at this insinuation against Glenmurray. 'My fall from virtue as +you would call it, was, I may say, from love of what I thought virtue; +and if there be any blame, it attaches merely to my confidence in my +lover's wisdom and my own too obstinate self-conceit. But you, dear +madam, deserve to hear my whole story; and, if you can favour me with an +hour's attention, I hope, at least, to convince you that I was worthy of +a better fate than to be publicly disgraced by a malicious and ignorant +girl.' + +Mrs Beauclerc promised the most patient attention; and Adeline related +the eventful history of her life, slightly dwelling on those parts of it +which in any degree reflected on her mother, and extolling most highly +her sense, her accomplishments, and her maternal tenderness. When she +came to the period of Glenmurray's illness and death, she broke abruptly +off and rushed into her own chamber; and it was some minutes before she +could return to Mrs Beauclerc, or before her visitor could wish her to +return, as she was herself agitated and affected by the relation which +she had heard:--and when Adeline came in she threw her arms round her +neck, and pressed her to her heart with a feeling of affection that +spoke consolation to the wounded spirit of the mourner. + +She then resumed her narration;--and, having concluded it, Mrs +Beauclerc, seizing her hand, exclaimed, 'For God's sake, marry Mr +Berrendale immediately; and adjure for ever, at the foot of the altar, +those errors in opinion to which all your misery has been owing!' + +'Would I could atone for them some other way!' she replied. + +'Impossible! and if you have any regard for me you will become the wife +of your generous lover; for then, and not till then, can I venture to +associate with you.' + +'I thought so,' cried Adeline; 'I thought all idea of remaining here, +with any chance of keeping my scholars, was now impossible.' + +'It would not be so,' replied Mrs Beauclerc, 'if every one thought like +me: I should consider your example as a warning to all young people; and +to preserve my children from evil I should only wish them to hear your +story, as it inculcates most powerfully how vain are personal graces, +talents, sweetness of temper, and even active benevolence, to ensure +respectability and confer happiness, without a strict regard to the +long-established rules for conduct, and a continuance in those paths of +virtue and decorum which the wisdom of ages has pointed out to the steps +of every one.--But others will, no doubt, consider, that continuing to +patronize you, would be patronizing vice; and my rank in life is not +high enough to enable me to countenance you with any chance of leading +others to follow my example; while I should not be able to serve you, +but should infallibly lose myself. But some time hence, as the wife of +Mr Berrendale, I might receive you as your merits deserve: till then--' +Here Mrs Beauclerc paused, and she hesitated to add, 'we meet no more.' + +Indeed it was long before the parting took place. Mrs Beauclerc had +justly appreciated the merits of Adeline, and thought she had found in +her a friend and companion for years to come: besides, her children were +most fondly attached to her; and Mrs Beauclerc, while she contemplated +their daily improvement under her care, felt grateful to Adeline for the +unfolding excellencies of her daughters. Still, to part with her was +unavoidable; but the pang of separation was in a degree soothed to +Adeline by the certainty which Mrs Beauclerc's sorrow gave her, that, +spite of her errors, she had inspired a real friendship in the bosom of +a truly virtuous and respectable woman; and this idea gave a sensation +of joy to her heart to which it had long been a stranger. + +The next morning some of the parents, whom Mary's tale had not yet +reached, sent their children as usual. But Adeline refused to enter upon +any school duties, bidding them affectionately farewell, and telling +them that she was going to write to their parents, as she was obliged +to leave her present situation, and, declining keeping school, meant to +reside, she believed in London. + +The children on hearing this looked at each other with almost tearful +consternation; and Adeline observed, with pleasure, the interest which +she had made to herself in their young hearts. After they were gone she +sent a circular letter to her friends in the village, importing that +she was under the necessity of leaving her present residence; but that, +whatever her future situation might be, she should always remember, with +gratitude, the favours which she had received at ----. + +The necessity that drove her away was, by this time, very well +understood by every one; but Mrs Beauclerc took care to tell those who +mentioned the subject to her, the heads of Adeline's story; and to add +always, 'and I have reason to believe that, as soon as she is settled in +town, she will be extremely well married.' + +To the mulatto the change in Adeline's plans was particularly pleasing, +as it would bring her nearer her son, and nearer William, from whom +nothing but a sense of grateful duty to Adeline would so long have +divided her. But Savanna imagined that Adeline's removal was owing to +her having at last determined to marry Mr Berrendale; an event which +she, for Adeline's sake, earnestly wished to take place, though for her +own she was undecided whether to desire it or not, as Mr Berrendale +might not, perhaps, be as contented with her services as Adeline was. + +While these thoughts were passing in Savanna's mind, and her warm and +varying feelings were expressed by alternate smiles and tears, Mr +Berrendale arrived from town: and as Savanna opened the door to him, +she, half whimpering, half smiling, dropped him a very respectful +curtsey, and looked at him with eyes full of unusual significance. + +'Well, Savanna, what has happened?--Anything new or extraordinary since +my absence?' said Berrendale. + +'Me tink not of wat hav appen, but what will happen,' replied Savanna. + +'And what is going to happen?' returned Berrendale, seating himself in +the parlour, 'and where is your mistress?' + +'She dress herself, that dear misses,' replied Savanna, lingering with +the door in her hand, 'and I,--ope to have a dear massa too.' + +'What!' cried Berrendale, starting wildly from his seat, 'what did you +say?' + +'Why me ope my misses be married soon.' + +'Married! to whom?' cried Berrendale, seizing her hand, and almost +breathless with alarm. + +'Why, to you, sure,' exclaimed Savanna, 'and den me hope you will not +turn away poor Savanna?' + +'What reason you have, my dear Savanna, for talking thus, I cannot tell; +nor dare I give way to the sweet hopes which you excite: but, if it be +true that I may hope, depend on it you shall cook my wedding dinner, and +then I am sure it will be a good one.' + +'Can full joy eat?' asked the mulatto thoughtfully. + +'A good dinner is a good thing, Savanna,' replied Berrendale, 'and ought +never to be slighted.' + +'Me good dinner day I marry, but I not eat it.--O sir, pity people look +best in dere wedding clothes, but my William look well all day and every +day, and perhaps you will too, sir; and den I ope to cook your wedding +dinner, next day dinner, and all your dinners.' + +'And so you shall, Savanna,' cried Berrendale, grasping her hand, 'and +I--' Here the door opened, and Adeline appeared; who, surprised at +Berrendale's familiarity with her servant, looked gravely, and stopped +at the door with a look of cold surprise. Berrendale, awed into +immediate respect--for what is so timid and respectful as a man truly +in love?--bowed low, and lost in an instant all the hopes which had +elevated his spirits to such an unusual degree. + +Adeline with an air of pique observed, that she feared she interrupted +them unpleasantly, as something unusually agreeable and enlivening +seemed to occupy them as she came in, over which her entrance seemed to +have cast a cloud. + +The mulatto had by this time retreated to the door, and was on the point +of closing it when Berrendale stammered out, as well as he could, +'Savanna was, indeed, raising my hopes to such an unexpected height, +that I felt almost bewildered with joy; but the coldness of your manner, +Miss Mowbray, has sobered me again.' + +'And what did Savanna say to you?' cried Adeline. + +'I--I say,' cried Savanna returning, 'dat is, he say, I should be let +cook de wedding dinner.' + +Adeline, returning even paler than she was before, desired her coldly to +leave the room; and, seating herself at the greatest possible distance +from Berrendale, leaned for some time in silence on her hand--he not +daring to interrupt her meditations. But at last she said, 'What could +give rise to this singular conversation between you and Savanna I am +wholly at a loss to imagine: still I--I must own that it is not so +ill-timed as it would have been some weeks ago. I will own, that since +yesterday I have been considering your generous proposals with the +serious attention which they deserve.' + +On hearing this, which Adeline uttered with considerable effort, +Berrendale in a moment was at her side, and almost at her feet. + +'I--I wish you to return to your seat,' said Adeline coldly: but hope +had emboldened him, and he chose to stay where he was. + +'But, before I require you to renew your promises, or make any on my +side, it is proper that I should tell you what passed yesterday; and if +the additional load of obloquy which I have acquired does not frighten +you from continuing your addresses--' Here Adeline paused:--and +Berrendale, rather drawing back, then pushing his chair nearer her as +he spoke, gravely answered, that his affection was proof against all +trials. + +Adeline then briefly related the scene in the church-yard, and her +conversation with Mrs Beauclerc, and concluded thus:--'In consequence of +this, and of the recollections of HIS advice, and HIS decided opinion, +that by becoming the wife of a respectable man I could alone expect to +recover my rank in society, and consequently my usefulness, I offer you +my hand; and promise, in the course of a few months, to become yours in +the sight of God and man.' + +'And from no other reason?--from no preference, no regard for me?' +demanded Berrendale reproachfully. + +'Oh! pardon me; from decided preference; there is not another being in +the creation whom I could bear to call husband.' + +Berrendale, gratified and surprised, attempted to take her hand; but, +withdrawing it, she continued thus;--'Still I almost scruple to let +you, unblasted as your prospects are, take a wife a beggar, blasted in +reputation, broken in spirits, with a heart whose best affections lie +buried in the grave, and which can offer you in return for your faithful +tenderness nothing but cold respect and esteem; one too who is not only +despicable to others, but also self-condemned.' + +While Adeline said this, Berrendale, almost shuddering at the picture +which she drew, paced the room in great agitation; and even the +gratification of his passion, used as he was to the indulgence of every +wish, seemed, for a moment, a motive not sufficiently powerful to enable +him to unite his fate to that of a woman so degraded as Adeline appeared +to be; and he would, perhaps, have hesitated to accept the hand she +offered, had she not added, as a contrast to the picture which she had +drawn--'But if, in spite of all these unwelcome considerations, you +persist in your resolution of making me yours, and I have resolution +enough to conquer the repugnance that I feel to make a second connexion, +you may depend on possessing in me one who will study your happiness +and wishes in the minutest particulars;--one who will cherish you in +sickness and in sorrow;--' (here a twinge of the gout assisted Adeline's +appeal very powerfully;) 'and who, conscious of the generosity of your +attachment, and her own unworthiness, will strive, by every possible +effort, not to remain your debtor even in affection.' + +Saying this, she put out her hand to Berrendale; and that hand, and +the arm belonging to it, were so beautiful, and he had so often envied +Glenmurray while he saw them tenderly supporting his head, that while a +vision of approaching gout, and Adeline bending over his restless couch, +floated before him, all his prudent considerations vanished; and, +eagerly pressing the proffered hand to his lips, he thanked her most +ardently for her kind promise; and, putting his arm round her waist, +would have pressed her to his bosom. + +But the familiarity was ill-timed;--Adeline was already surprised, and +even shocked, at the lengths to which she had gone; and starting almost +with loathing from his embrace, she told him it grew late, and it was +time for him to go to his lodgings. She then retired to her own room, +and spent half the night at least in weeping over the remembrance of +Glenmurray, and in loudly apostrophizing his departed spirit. + +The next day Adeline, out of the money which she had earned, discharged +her lodgings; and having written a farewell note to Mrs Beauclerc, +begging to hear of her now and then, she and the mulatto proceeded to +town, with Berrendale, in search of apartments; and having procured +them, Adeline began to consider by what means, till she could resolve to +marry Berrendale, she should help to maintain herself, and also contrive +to increase their income if she became his wife. + +The success which she had met with in instructing children, led her +to believe that she might succeed in writing little hymns and tales +for their benefit; a method of getting money which she looked upon to +be more rapid and more lucrative than working plain or fancy works: +and, in a short time, a little volume was ready to be offered to a +bookseller:--nor was it offered in vain. Glenmurray's bookseller +accepted it; and the sum which he gave, though trifling, imparted a +balsam to the wounded mind of Adeline: it seemed to open to her the path +of independence; and to give her, in spite of her past errors, the means +of serving her fellow-creatures. + +But month after month elapsed, and Glenmurray had been dead two years, +yet still Adeline could not prevail on herself to fix a time for her +marriage. + +But next to the aversion she felt to marrying at all, was that which +she experienced at the idea of having no fortune to bestow on the +disinterested Berrendale; and so desirous was she of his acquiring +some little property by his union with her, that she resolved to ask +counsel's opinion on the possibility of her claiming a sum of money +which Glenmurray had bequeathed to her, but without, as Berrendale had +assured her, the customary formalities. + +The money was near L300; but Berrendale had allowed it to go to +Glenmurray's legal heir, because he was sure that the writing which +bequeathed it would not hold good in law. Still Adeline was so unwilling +to be under so many pecuniary obligations to a man whom she did not +love, that she resolved to take advice on the subject, much against the +will of Berrendale, who thought the money for fees might as well be +saved; but as a chance for saving the fee he resolved to let Adeline go +to the lawyer's chambers alone, thinking it likely that no fee would be +accepted from so fine a woman. Accordingly, more alive to economy than +to delicacy or decorum, Berrendale, when Adeline, desiring a coach to be +called, summoned him to accompany her to the Temple, pleaded terror of +an impending fit of the gout, and begged her to excuse his attendance; +and Adeline, unsuspicious of the real cause of his refusal, kindly +expressing her sorrow for the one he feigned, took the counsellor's +address, and got into the coach, Berrendale taking care to tell her, as +she got in, that the fare was but a shilling. + +The gentleman, Mr Langley, to whom Adeline was going, was celebrated for +his abilities as a chamber counsellor, and no less remarkable for his +gallantries: but Berrendale was not acquainted with this part of his +history: else he would not, even to save a lawyer's fee, have exposed +his intended wife to a situation of such extreme impropriety; and +Adeline was too much a stranger to the rules of general society, to feel +any great repugnance to go alone on an errand so interesting to her +feelings. + +The coach having stopped near the entrance of the court to which she was +directed, Adeline, resolving to walk home, discharged the coach, and +knocked at the door of Mr Langley's chambers. A very smart servant out +of livery answered the knock; and Mr Langley being at home, Adeline was +introduced into his apartment. + +Mr Langley, though surprised at seeing a lady of a deportment so +correct and of so dignified an appearance enter his room unattended, was +inspired with so much respect at the sight of Adeline, whose mourning +habit added to the interest which her countenance never failed to +excite, that he received her with bows down to the ground, and, leading +her to a chair, begged she would do him the honour to be seated, and +impart her commands. + +Adeline, embarrassed, she scarcely knew why, at the novelty of her +situation, drew the paper from her pocket, and presented it to him. + +'Mr Berrendale recommended me to you, sir,' said Adeline faintly. + +'Berrendale, Berrendale, O, aye,--I remember--the cousin of Mr +Glenmurray: you know Mr Glenmurray too, ma'am, I presume; pray how +is he?'--Adeline, unprepared for this question, could not speak; and +the voluble counsellor went on--'Oh!--I ask your pardon, madam, I +see;--pray, might I presume so far, how long has that extraordinary +clever man been lost to the world?' + +'More than two years, sir,' replied Adeline faintly. + +'You are,--may I presume so far,--you are his widow?'--Adeline bowed. +There was a something in Mr Langley's manner and look so like Sir +Patrick's, that she could not bear to let him know she was only +Glenmurray's companion. + +'Gone more than two years, and you still in deep mourning!--Amiable +susceptibility!--How unlike the wives of the present day! But I beg +pardon.--Now to business.' So saying, he perused the paper which Adeline +had given him, in which Glenmurray simply stated, that he bequeathed to +Adeline Mowbray the sum of L260 in the 5 per cents, but it was signed by +only one witness. + +'What do you wish to know, Madam?' asked the counsellor. + +'Whether this will be valid, as it is not signed by two witnesses, sir?' + +'Why,--really not,' replied Langley; 'though the heir-at-law, if we have +either equity or gallantry, could certainly not refuse to fulfil what +evidently was the intention of the testator:--but then, it is very +surprising to me that Mr Glenmurray should have wished to leave any +thing from the lady whom I have the honour to behold. Pray, madam,--if +I may presume to ask,--Who is Adeline Mowbray?' + +'I--I am Adeline Mowbray,' replied Adeline in great confusion. + +'You, madam! Bless me, I presumed;--and pray, madam,--if I may make so +bold,--what was your relationship to that wonderfully clever man?--his +niece,--his cousin,--or,--?' + +'I was no relation of his,' said Adeline still more confused; and this +confusion confirmed the suspicions which Langley entertained, and also +brought to his recollection something which he had heard of Glenmurray's +having a very elegant and accomplished mistress. + +'Pardon me, dear madam,' said Mr Langley, 'I perceive now my mistake; +and I now perceive why Mr Glenmurray was so much the envy of those who +had the honour of visiting at his house. 'Pon my soul,' taking her hand, +which Adeline indignantly, withdrew, 'I am grieved beyond words at being +unable to give you a more favourable opinion.' + +'But you said, sir,' said Adeline, 'that the heir-at-law, if he had +any equity, would certainly be guided by the evident intention of the +testator.' + +'I did, madam,' replied the lawyer, evidently piqued by the proud and +cold air which Adeline assumed;--'but then,--excuse me,--the applicant +would not stand much chance of being attended to, who is neither the +_widow_ nor _relation_ of Mr Glenmurray.' + +'I understand you, sir,' replied Adeline, 'and need trouble you no +longer.' + +'Trouble! my sweet girl!' returned Mr Langley, 'call it not trouble; +I--' Here his gallant effusions were interrupted by the sudden entrance +of a very showy woman, highly rouged, and dressed in the extremity of +the fashion; and who in no very pleasant tone of voice exclaimed,--'I +fear I interrupt you.' + +'Oh! not in the least,' replied Langley, blushing even more than +Adeline, 'my fair client was just going. Allow me, madam, to see you +to the door,' continued he, attempting to take Adeline's hand, and +accompanying her to the bottom of the first flight of stairs. + +'Charming fine woman upon my soul!' cried he, speaking through his shut +teeth, and forcibly squeezing her fingers as he spoke; 'and if you ever +want advice I should be proud to see you here, (with a significant +smile).' Here Adeline, too angry to speak, put the fee in his hand, +which he insisted on returning, and, in the struggle, he forcibly kissed +the ungloved hand which was held out, praising its beauty at the same +time, and endeavouring to close her fingers on the money: but Adeline +indignantly threw it on the ground, and rushed down the remaining +staircase; over-hearing the lady, as she did so, exclaim, 'Langley! is +not that black mawkin gone yet! Come up this moment, you devil!' while +Langley obsequiously replied, 'Coming this moment, my angel!' + +Adeline felt so disappointed, so ashamed, and so degraded, that she +walked on some way without knowing whither she was going; and when she +recollected herself, she found that she was wandering from court to +court, and unable to find the avenue to the street down which the coach +had come: while her very tall figure, heightened colour, and graceful +carriage, made her an object of attention to every one whom she met. + +At last she saw herself followed by two young men; and as she walked +very fast to avoid them, she by accident turned into the very lane which +she had been seeking: but her pursuers kept pace with her; and she +overheard one of them say to the other, 'A devilish fine girl! moves +well too,--I cannot help thinking that I have seen her before.' + +'And I think so too!--by her height, it must be that sweet creature who +lived at Richmond with that crazy fellow, Glenmurray.' + +Here Adeline relaxed in her pace: the name of Glenmurray--that +name which no one since his death had ventured to pronounce in her +presence,--had, during the last half hour, been pronounced several +times; and, unable to support herself from a variety of emotions, she +stopped, and leaned for support against the wall. + +'How do you do, my fleet and swift girl?' said one of the gentlemen:--and +Adeline, roused at the insult, looked at him proudly and angrily, and +walked on. 'What! angry! If I may be so bold,' (with a sneering smile), +'fair creature, may I ask where you live now?' + +'No, sir,' replied Adeline; 'you are wholly unknown to me.' + +'But were you to tell me where you live, we might cease to be strangers; +pray who is your friend now?' + +Here, as his companion gave way to a loud fit of laughter, Adeline +clearly understood what he meant by the term 'friend;' and summoning +up all her spirit, she called a coach which luckily was passing; and +turning round to her tormentor, with great dignity said,--'Though the +situation, sir, in which I once was, may in the eyes of the world, and +in yours, authorize and excuse your present insulting address, yet, when +I tell you that I am on the eve of marriage with a most respectable man, +I trust that you will feel the impropriety of your conduct, and be +convinced of the fruitlessness and impertinence of the questions which +you have put to me.' + +'If this be the case, madam,' cried the gentleman, 'I beg your pardon, +and shall take my leave, wishing you all possible happiness, and begging +you to attribute my impertinence wholly to my ignorance.' So saying, he +bowed and left her, and Adeline was driven to her lodgings. + +'Now,' said Adeline, 'the die is cast;--I have used the sacred name of +wife to shield me from insult; and I am therefore pledged to assume it +directly. Yes, HE was right--I find I must have a legal protector.' + +She found Berrendale rather alarmed at her long absence; and, with a +beating heart, she related her adventures to him: but when she said that +Langley was not willing to take the fee, he exclaimed, 'Very genteel in +him, indeed! I suppose you took him at his word?' + +'Good Heavens!' replied Adeline, 'Do you think I would deign to owe +such a man a pecuniary obligation?--No, indeed; I threw it with proud +indignation on the floor.' + +'What madness!' returned Berrendale: 'you had much better have put it in +your pocket.' + +'Mr Berrendale,' cried Adeline gravely, and with a look bordering on +contempt, 'I trust that you are not in earnest: for if these are your +sentiments,--if this is your delicacy, sir--' + +'Say no more, dearest of women,' replied Berrendale pretending to laugh, +alarmed at the seriousness with which she spoke: 'how could you for one +moment suppose me in earnest? Insolent coxcomb!--I wish I had been +there.' + +'I wish you had,' said Adeline, 'for then no one would have dared to +insult me:' and Berrendale, delighted at this observation, listened to +the rest of her story with a spirit of indignant knight-errantry which +he never experienced before; and at the end of her narration he felt +supremely happy; for Adeline assured him that the next week she would +make him her protector for life:--and this assurance opened his heart so +much, that he vowed he would not condescend to claim of the heir-at-law +the pitiful sum which he might think proper to withhold. + +To be brief.--Adeline kept her word: and resolutely struggling with her +feelings, she became the next week the wife of Berrendale. + +For the first six months the union promised well. Adeline was so +assiduous to anticipate her husband's wishes, and contrived so many +dainties for his table, which she cooked with her own hands, that +Berrendale, declaring himself completely happy for the first time in +his life, had not a thought or a wish beyond his own fireside; while +Adeline, happy because she conferred happiness, and proud of the name of +wife, which she had before despised, began to hope that her days would +glide on in humble tranquillity. + +It was natural enough that Adeline should be desirous of imparting this +change in her situation to Mrs Pemberton, whose esteem she was eager to +recover, and whose kind intentions towards her, at a moment when she +was incapable of appreciating them, Savanna had, with great feeling, +expatiated upon. She therefore wrote to her according to the address +which Mrs Pemberton had left for her, and received a most friendly +letter in return. In a short time Adeline had again an expectation of +being a mother; and though she could not yet entertain for her husband +more than cold esteem, she felt that as the father of her child he would +insensibly become more dear to her. + +But Berrendale awoke from his dream of bliss, on finding to what a large +sum the bills for the half-year's housekeeping amounted. Nor was he +surprised without reason. Adeline, more eager to gratify Berrendale's +palate than considerate as to the means, had forgotten that she was no +longer at the head of a liberal establishment like her mother's, and had +bought for the supply of the table many expensive articles. + +In consequence of this terrible discovery Berrendale remonstrated very +seriously with Adeline; who meekly answered, 'My dear friend, good +dinners cannot be had without good ingredients, and good ingredients +cannot be had without money.' + +'But, madam,' cried Berrendale, knitting his brows, but not elevating +his voice, for he was one of those soft-speaking beings who in the +sweetest tones possible can say the most heart-wounding things, and give +a mortal stab to your self-love in the same gentle manner in which they +flatter it:--'there must have been great waste, great mismanagement +here, or these expenses could not have been incurred.' + +'There may have been both,' returned Adeline, 'for I have not been used +to economize, but I will try to learn;--but I doubt, my dear Berrendale, +you must endeavour to be contented with plainer food; for not all the +economy in the world can make rich gravies and high sauces cheap +things.' + +'Oh! care and skill can do much,' said Berrendale;--'and I find a +certain person deceived me very much when he said you were a good +manager.' + +'He only said,' replied Adeline sighing deeply, 'that I was a good +cook, and you yourself allow that; but I hope in time to please your +appetite at less expense: as to myself, a little suffices me, and I care +not how plain that food is.' + +'Still, I think I have seen you eat with a most excellent appetite,' +said Berrendale, with a very significant expression. + +Adeline shocked at the manner more than the words, replied in a +faltering voice, 'As a proof of my being in health, no doubt you +rejoiced in the sight.' + +'Certainly; but less robust health would suit our finances better.' + +Adeline looked up, wishing, though not expecting, to see by his face +that he was joking: but such serious displeasure appeared on it, that +the sordid selfishness of his character was at once unveiled to her +view; and clasping her hands in agony, she exclaimed, 'Oh Glenmurray!' +and ran into her own room. + +It was the first time that she had pronounced his name since the hour +of his death, and now it was wrung from her by a sensation of acute +anguish; no wonder, then, that the feelings which followed completely +overcame her, and that Berrendale had undisputed and solitary possession +of his supper. + +But he, on his side, was deeply irritated. The 'Oh, Glenmurray!' was +capable of being interpreted two ways:--either it showed how much she +regretted Glenmurray, and preferred him to his successor in spite of +the superior beauty of his person, of which he was very vain; or it +reproached Glenmurray for having recommended her to marry him. In either +case it was an unpardonable fault; and this unhappy conversation laid +the foundation of future discontent. + +Adeline arose the next day dejected, pensive, and resolved that her +appetite should never again, if possible, force a reproach from the lips +of her husband. She therefore took care that whatever she provided for +the table, besides the simplest fare, should be for Berrendale alone; +and she flattered herself that he would be shamed into repentance of +what he had observed, by seeing her scrupulous self-denial:--she even +resolved, if he pressed her to partake of his dainties, that she would, +to show that she forgave him, accept what he offered. + +But Berrendale gave her no such opportunity of showing her +generosity;--busy in the gratification of his own appetite, he never +observed whether any other persons ate or not, except when by eating +they curtailed his share of good things:--besides, to have an exclusive +dish to himself seemed to him quite natural and proper; he had been a +pampered child; and, being no advocate for the equality of the sexes, he +thought it only a matter of course that he should fare better than his +wife. + +Adeline, though more surprised and more shocked than ever, could not +help laughing internally, at her not being able to put her projected +generosity in practice; but her laughter and indignation soon yielding +to contempt, she ate her simple meal in silence: and while her pampered +husband sought to lose the fumes of indigestion in sleep, she blessed +God that temperance, industry and health went hand-in-hand, and, +retiring to her own room, sat down to write, in order to increase, if +possible, her means of living, and consequently her power of being +generous to others. + +But though Adeline resolved to forget, if possible, the petty conduct +of Berrendale, the mulatto, who, from the door's being open, had heard +every word of the conversation which had so disturbed Adeline, neither +could nor would forget it; and though she did not vow eternal hatred to +her master, she felt herself very capable of indulging it, and from that +moment it was her resolution to thwart him. + +Whenever he was present, she was always urging Adeline to eat some +refreshments between meals, and drink wine or lemonade, and tempting +her weak appetite with some pleasant but expensive sweetmeats. In vain +did Adeline refuse them; sometimes they were bought, sometimes only +threatened to be bought; and once when Adeline had accepted some, rather +than mortify Savanna by a refusal, and Berrendale, by his accent and +expression, showed how much he grudged the supposed expense,--the +mulatto, snapping her fingers in his face, and looking at him with an +expression of indignant contempt, exclaimed, 'I buy dem, and pay for dem +wid mine nown money; and my angel lady sall no be oblige to you!' + +This was a declaration of war against Berrendale, which Adeline heard +with anger and sorrow, and her husband with rage. In vain did Adeline +promise that she would seriously reprove Savanna (who had disappeared) +for her impertinence; Berrendale insisted on her being discharged +immediately; and nothing but Adeline's assurances that she, for slender +wages, did more work than two other servants would do for enormous ones, +could pacify his displeasure: but at length he was appeased. And as +Berrendale, from a principle of economy, resumed his old habit of dining +out amongst his friends, getting good dinners by that means without +paying for them, family expenses ceased to disturb the quiet of their +marriage; and after she had been ten months a wife Adeline gave birth to +a daughter. + +That moment, the moment when she heard her infant's first cry, seem +to repay her for all she had suffered; every feeling was lost in the +maternal one; and she almost fancied that she loved, fondly loved, the +father of her child: but this idea vanished when she saw the languid +pleasure, if pleasure it could be called, with which Berrendale +congratulated her on her pain and danger being passed, and received his +child in his arms. + +The mulatto was wild with joy: she almost stifled the babe with her +kisses, and talked even the next day of sending for the tawny boy to +come and see his new mistress, and vow to her, as he had done to her +mother, eternal fealty and allegiance. + +But Adeline saw on Berrendale's countenance a mixed expression,--and he +had mixed feelings. True, he rejoiced in Adeline's safety; but he said +within himself, 'Children are expensive things, and we may have a large +family;' and, leaving the bedside as soon as he could, he retired, to +endeavour to lose in an afternoon's nap his unpleasant reflections. + +'How different,' thought Adeline, 'would have been HIS feelings and HIS +expressions of them at such a time! Oh!--' but the name of Glenmurray +died away on her lips; and hastily turning to gaze on her sleeping babe, +she tried to forget the disappointed emotions of the wife in the +gratified feelings of the mother. + +Still Adeline, who had been used to attentions, could not but feel the +neglect of Berrendale. Even while she kept her room he passed only a few +hours in her society, and dined out; and when she was well enough to +have accompanied him on his visits, she found that he never even wished +her to go with him, though the friends whom he visited were married; +and he met, from his own confessions, other ladies at their tables. She +therefore began to suspect that Berrendale did not mean to introduce her +as his wife; nay, she doubted whether he avowed her to be such; and at +last she brought him to own that, ashamed of having married what the +world must consider as a kept mistress, he resolved to keep her still in +the retirement to which she was habituated. + +This was a severe disappointment indeed to Adeline: she longed for the +society of the amiable and accomplished of her own sex; and hoped that, +as Mr Berrendale's wife, that intercourse with her own sex might be +restored to her which she had forfeited as the mistress of Glenmurray. +Nor could she help reproaching Berrendale for the selfish ease and +indifference with which he saw her deprived of those social enjoyments +which he daily enjoyed himself, convinced as she was that he might, if +he chose, have introduced her at least to his intimate friends. + +But she pleaded and reasoned in vain. Contented with the access which he +had to the tables of his friends, it was of little importance to him +that his wife ate her humble meal alone. His habits of enjoyment had +ever been solitary: the school-boy, who had at school eaten his tart and +cake by stealth in a corner, that he might not be asked to share them +with another, had grown up with the same dispositions to manhood: and as +his parents, thought opulent, were vulgar in their manners and low in +their origin, he had never been taught those graceful self-denials +inculcated into the children of polished life, which, though taught from +factitious and not real benevolence, have certainly a tendency, by long +habit, to make that benevolence real which at first was only artificial. + +Adeline had both sorts of kindness and affection, those untaught of +the heart, and those of education;--she was polite from the situation +into which the accident of birth had thrown her, and also from the +generous impulse of her nature. To her, therefore, the uncultivated and +unblushing _personnalite_, as the French call it, of Berrendale, was a +source of constant wonder and distress: and often, very often did she +feel the utmost surprise at Berrendale's having appeared to Glenmurray +a man likely to make her happy. Often did she wonder how the defects of +Berrendale's character could have escaped his penetrating eyes. + +Adeline forgot that the faults of her husband were such as could be +known only by an intimate connexion, and which cohabitation could alone +call forth;--faults, the existence of which such a man as Glenmurray, +who never considered himself in any transaction whatever, could not +suppose possible; and which, though they inflicted the most bitter pangs +on Adeline, and gradually untwisted the slender thread which had began +to unite her heart with Berrendale's, were of so slight a fabric as +almost to elude the touch, and of a nature to appear almost too trivial +to be mentioned in the narration of a biographer. + +But though it has been long said that trifles make the sum of human +things, inattention to trifles continues to be the vice of every one; +and many a conjugal union which has never been assailed by the battery +of crime, has fallen a victim to the slowly undermining power of petty +quarrels, trivial unkindnesses and thoughtless neglect;--like the +gallant officer, who, after escaping unhurt all the rage of battle by +land and water, tempest on sea and earthquake on shore, returns perhaps +to his native country, and perishes by the power of a slow fever. + +But Adeline, who, amidst all the chimaeras of her fancy and singularities +of her opinions, had happily held fast her religion, began at this +moment to entertain a belief that soothed in some measure the sorrows +which it could not cure. She fancied that all the sufferings she +underwent were trials which she was doomed to undergo, as punishments +for the crime she had committed in leaving her mother and living with +Glenmurray. She therefore welcomed her afflictions, and lifted up her +meek eyes to her God and Saviour, in every hour of her trials, with the +look of tearful but grateful resignation. + +Meanwhile her child, whom, after her mother, she called Editha, was +nursed at her own bosom, and thrived even beyond her expectations. Even +Berrendale beheld its growing beauty with delight, and the mulatto was +wild in praise of it; while Adeline, wholly taken up all day in nursing +and in working for it, and every evening in writing stories and hymns to +publish, which would, she hoped, one day be useful to her own child as +well as to the children of others, soon ceased to regret her seclusion +from society; and by the time Editha was a year old she had learnt to +bear with patience the disappointment she had experienced in Berrendale. + +Soon after she became a mother she again wrote to Mrs Pemberton, as she +longed to impart to her sympathizing bosom those feelings of parental +delight which Berrendale could not understand, and the expression of +which he witnessed with contemptuous and chilling gravity. To this +letter she anticipated a most gratifying return; but month after month +passed away, and no letter from Lisbon arrived. 'No doubt my letter +miscarried,' said Adeline to Savanna, 'and I will write again:' but +she never had resolution to do so; for she felt that her prospects of +conjugal happiness were obscured, and she shrunk equally from the task +of expressing the comfort which she did not feel, or unveiling to +another the errors of her husband. The little regard, meanwhile, which +she had endeavoured to return for Berrendale soon vanished, being unable +to withstand a new violence offered to it. + +Editha was seized with the hooping-cough; and as Adeline had sold her +last little volume to advantage, Berrendale allowed her to take a +lodging at a short distance from town, as change of air was good for the +complaint. She did so, and remained there two months. At her return she +had the mortification to find that her husband, during her absence, had +intrigued with the servant of the house:--a circumstance of which she +would probably have remained ignorant, but for the indiscreet affection +of Savanna, who, in the first transports of her indignation on +discovering the connexion, had been unable to conceal from her mistress +what drove her almost frantic with indignation. + +But Adeline, though she felt disgust and aversion swallowing up the few +remaining sparks of regard for Berrendale which she felt, had one great +consolation under this new calamity.--Berrendale had not been the choice +of her heart: 'But, thank Heaven! I never loved this man,' escaped her +lips as she ran into her own room; and pressing her child to her bosom, +she shed on its unconscious cheeks the tears which resentment and a deep +sense of injury wrung from her.--'Oh! had I loved him,' she exclaimed, +'this blow would have been mortal!' + +She, however, found herself in one respect the better for Berrendale's +guilt. Conscious that the mulatto was aware of what had passed, and +afraid lest she should have mentioned her discovery to Adeline, +Berrendale endeavoured to make amends for his infidelity by attention +such as he had never shown her since the first weeks of his marriage; +and had she not been aware of the motive, the change in his behaviour +would have re-awakened her tenderness. However, it claimed at least +complaisance and gentleness from her while it lasted: which was not +long; for Berrendale, fancying from the apparent tranquillity of Adeline +(the result of indifference, not ignorance,) that she was not informed +of his fault, and that the mulatto was too prudent to betray him, began +to relapse into his old habits; and one day, forgetting his assumed +liberality, he ventured, when alone with Savanna, who was airing one of +Editha's caps, to expatiate on the needless extravagance of his wife in +trimming her child's caps with lace. + +This was enough to rouse the quick feelings of the mulatto, and she +poured forth all her long concealed wrath in a torrent of broken +English, but plain enough to be well understood.--'You man!' she cried +at last, 'you will kill her; she pine at your no kindness;--and if she +die, mind me, man! never you marry aden.--You marry, forsoot! you marry +a lady! true bred lady like mine! No, man!--You best get a cheap miss +from de street and be content--' + +As she said this, and in an accent so provoking that Berrendale was pale +and speechless with rage, Adeline entered the room; and Savanna, +self-condemned already from what she had uttered, was terrified when +Adeline, in a tone of voice unusually severe, said, 'Leave the room; you +have offended me past forgiveness.' + +These words, in a great measure, softened the angry feelings of +Berrendale, as they proved that Adeline resented the insult offered to +him as deeply as he could wish; and with some calmness he exclaimed, +'Then I conclude, Mrs Berrendale, that you will have no objection to +discharge your mulatto directly?' + +This conclusion, though a very natural one, was both a shock and a +surprise to Adeline; nor could she at first reply. + +'You are _silent_, madam,' said Berrendale; 'what is your answer? Yes, +or No?' + +'Yes,--yes,--certainly,' faltered out Adeline; 'she--she ought to go--I +mean that she has used very improper language to you.' + +'And, therefore, a wife who resents as she ought to do, injuries offered +to her husband cannot hesitate for a moment to discharge her.' + +'True, very true in some measure,' replied Adeline; 'but--' + +'But what?' demanded Berrendale. 'O Berrendale!' cried Adeline, bursting +into an agony of frantic sorrow, 'if she leaves me, what will become of +me! I shall lose the only person now in the world, perhaps, who loves me +with sincere and faithful affection!' + +Berrendale was wholly unprepared for an appeal like this; and, +speechless from surprise not unmixed with confusion, staggered into the +next chair. He was conscious, indeed, that his fidelity to his wife had +not been proof against a few weeks' absence; but then, being, like most +men, not over delicate in his idea on such subjects, as soon as Adeline +returned he had given up the connexion which he had formed, and +therefore he thought she had not much reason to complain. In all other +respects he was sure that he was an exemplary husband, and she had no +just grounds for doubting his affection. He was sure that she had no +reason to accuse him of unkindness; and, unless she wished him to be +always tied to her apron-string, he was certain he had never omitted to +pay her all proper attention. + +Alas! he felt not the many wounds he had inflicted by + + 'The word whose meaning kills; yet, told, + The speaker wonders that you thought it cold.' + +and he had yet to learn, that in order to excite or testify affection, +it is necessary to seem to derive exclusive enjoyment from the society +of the object avowed to be beloved, and to seek its gratification in +preference to one's own, even in the most trivial things. He knew +not that opportunities of conferring large benefits, like bank-bills +for L1,000, rarely come into use; but little attentions, friendly +participations and kindnesses, are wanted daily, and like small change, +are necessary to carry on the business of life and happiness. + +A minute more perhaps, elapsed, before Berrendale recovered himself +sufficiently to speak: and the silence was made still more awful to +Adeline, by her hearing from the adjoining room the sobs of the mulatto. +At length, 'I cannot find words to express my surprise at what you have +just uttered,' exclaimed Berrendale. 'My conscience does not reproach me +with deserving the reproof it contained.' + +'Indeed!' replied Adeline, fixing her penetrating eyes on his, which +shrunk downcast and abashed from her gaze. Adeline saw her advantage, +and pursued it. + +'Mr Berrendale,' continued she, 'it is indeed true, that the mulatto has +offended both of us; for in offending _you_ she has offended _me_; but, +have you committed no fault, nothing for _me_ to forgive? I know that +you are too great a lover of truth, too honourable a man, to declare +that you have not deserved the just anger of your wife: but you know +that I have never reproached you, nor should you ever have been aware +that I was privy to the distressing circumstance to which I allude, but +for what has just passed: and, now, do but forgive the poor mulatto, who +sinned only from regard for me, and from supposed slight offered to her +mistress, and I will not only assure you of my forgiveness, but, from +this moment, will strenuously endeavour to blot from my remembrance +every trace of what has passed.' + +Berrendale, conscious and self-condemned, scarcely knew what to answer; +but, thinking that it was better to accept Adeline's offer even on her +own conditions, he said, that if Savanna would make a proper apology, +and Adeline would convince her that she was seriously displeased with +her, he would allow her to stay; and Adeline having promised every thing +which he asked, peace was again restored. + +'But what can you mean, Adeline,' said Berrendale, 'by doubting my +affection? I think I gave a sufficient proof of that, when, disregarding +the opinion of the world, I married you, though you had been the +mistress of another: and I really think that, by accusing me of +unkindness, you make me a very ungrateful return.' To this indelicate +and unfeeling remark Adeline vainly endeavoured to reply; but, starting +from her chair, she paced the room in violent agitation. 'Answer me,' +continued Berrendale, 'name one instance in which I have been unkind to +you.' Adeline suddenly stopped, and, looking steadfastly at him, smiled +with a sort of contemptuous pity, and was on the point of saying, 'Is +not what you have now said an instance of unkindness?' But she saw that +the same want of delicacy, and of that fine moral _tact_ which led him +to commit this and similar assaults on her feelings, made him +unconscious of the violence which he offered. + +Finding, therefore, that he could not understand her causes of +complaint, even if it were possible for her to define them, she replied, +'Well, perhaps I was too hasty, and in a degree unjust: so let us drop +the subject; and, indeed, my dear Berrendale, you must bear with my +weakness: remember, I have always been a spoiled child.' + +Here the image of Glenmurray and that of _home_, the home which she once +knew, the home of her childhood, and of her _earliest_ youth, pressed +on her recollection. She thought of her mother, of the indulgencies +which she had once known, of the advantages, of opulence, the value of +which she had never felt till deprived of them; and, struck with the +comparative forlornness of her situation--united for life to a being +whose sluggish sensibilities could not understand, and consequently not +soothe, the quick feelings and jealous susceptibility of her nature--she +could hardly forbear falling at the feet of her husband, and conjuring +him to behave, at least, with forbearance to her, and to speak and look +at her with kindness. + +She did stretch out her hand to him with a look of mournful entreaty, +which, though not understood by Berrendale, was not lost upon him +entirely. He thought it was a confession of her weakness and his +superiority; and, flattered by the thought into unusual softness, he +caught her fondly to his bosom, and gave up an engagement to sup at an +oyster club, in order to spend the evening tete-a-tete with his wife. +Nay, he allowed the little Editha to remain in the room for a whole +hour, though she cried when he attempted to take her in his arms, and, +observing that it was a cold evening, allowed Adeline her due share of +the fire-side. + +These circumstances, trivial as they were, had more than their due +effect on Adeline, whose heart was more alive to kindness than +unkindness; and those paltry attentions of which happy wives would not +have been conscious, were to her a source of unfeigned pleasure.--As +sailors are grateful, after a voyage unexpectedly long, for the muddy +water which at their first embarking they would have turned from with +disgust. + +That very night Adeline remonstrated with the mulatto on the impropriety +of her conduct; and, having convinced her that in insulting her husband +she failed in respect to her, Savanna was prevailed upon the next +morning to ask pardon of Berrendale; and, out of love for her mistress, +she took care in future to do nothing that required forgiveness. + +As Adeline's way of life admitted of but little variety, Berrendale +having persisted in not introducing her to his friends, on the plea of +not being rich enough to receive company in return, I shall pass over in +silence what occurred to her till Editha was two years old; premising +that a series of little injuries on the part of Berrendale, and a quick +resentment of them on the part of Adeline, which not even her habitual +good humour could prevent, had, during that time, nearly eradicated +every trace of love for each other from their hearts. + +One evening Adeline as usual, in the absence of her husband, undressed +Editha by the parlour fire, and, playing with the laughing child, was +enjoying the rapturous praises which Savanna put forth of its growing +beauty; while the tawny boy, who had spent the day with them, built +houses with cards on the table, which Editha threw down as soon as they +were built, and he with good-humoured perseverance raised up again. + +Adeline, alive only to the maternal feeling, at this moment had +forgotten all her cares; she saw nothing but the happy group around her, +and her countenance wore the expression of recovered serenity. + +At this moment a loud knock was heard at the door, and Adeline, starting +up, exclaimed, 'It is my husband's knock!' + +'O! no:--he never come so soon,' replied the mulatto running to the +door; but she was mistaken--it was Berrendale: and Adeline, hearing his +voice, began instantly to snatch up Editha's clothes, and to knock down +the tawny boy's newly-raised edifice: but order was not restored when +Berrendale entered; and, with a look and tone of impatience, he said, +'So! fine confusion indeed! Here's a fire-side to come to! Pretty +amusement too, for a literary lady--building houses of cards! Shame on +your extravagance, Mrs Berrendale, to let that brat spoil cards in that +way!' + +The sunshine of Adeline's countenance on hearing this vanished: to be +sure, she was accustomed to such speeches; but the moment before she had +felt happy, for the first time, for years. She, however, replied not; +but hurrying Editha to bed, ordering the reluctant tawny boy into the +kitchen, and setting Berrendale's chair, as usual, in the warmest place, +she ventured in a faint voice to ask, what had brought him home so +early. + +'More early than welcome,' replied Berrendale, 'if I may judge from the +bustle I have occasioned.' + +'It is very true,' replied Adeline, 'that, had I expected you, I should +have been better prepared for your reception; and then you, perhaps, +would have spoken more kindly to me.' + +'There--there you go again.--If I say but a word to you, then I am +called unkind, though I never speak without just provocation: and, I +declare, I came home in the best humour possible, to tell you what +may turn out of great profit to us both:--but when a man has an +uncomfortable home to come to, it is enough to put him out of humour.' + +The mulatto, who was staying to gather up the cards which had fallen, +turned herself round on hearing this, and exclaimed, 'Home was very +comfortable till you come;' and then with a look of the most angry +contempt she left the room, and threw the door to with great violence. + +'But what is this good news, my dear?' said Adeline, eager to turn +Berrendale's attention from Savanna's insolent reply. + +'I have received a letter,' he replied, 'which, by the by, I ought to +have had some weeks ago, from my father-in-law in Jamaica, authorizing +me to draw on his banker for L900, and inviting me to come over to him; +as he feels himself declining, and wishes to give me the care of his +estate, and of my son, to whom all his fortune will descend: and of +whose interest, he properly thinks, no one can be so likely to take good +care as his own father.' + +'And do you mean that I and Editha should go with you?' said Adeline +turning pale. + +'No, to be sure not,' eagerly replied Berrendale; 'I must first see how +the land lies. But if I go--as the old man no doubt will make a handsome +settlement on me--I shall be able to remit to you a very respectable +annuity.' + +Adeline's heart, spite of herself, bounded with joy at this discovery; +but she had resolution to add,--and if duplicity can ever be pardonable, +this was,--'So then the good news which you had to impart to me was, +that we were going to be separated!' But as she said this, the +consciousness that she was artfully trying to impress Berrendale with +an idea of her feeling a sorrow which was foreign to her heart, overcame +her; and affected also at being under the necessity of rejoicing at the +departure of that being who ought to be the source of her comfort, she +vainly struggled to regain composure, and burst into an agony of tears. + +But her consternation cannot be expressed, when she found that +Berrendale imputed her tears to tender anguish at the idea of parting +with him: and when, his vanity being delighted by this homage to his +attractions, he felt all his fondness for her revive, and, overwhelming +her with caresses, he declared that he would reject the offer entirely +if by accepting it he should give her a moment's uneasiness; Adeline, +shocked at his error, yet not daring to set him right, could only weep +on his shoulder in silence: but, in order to make real the distress +which he only fancied so, she enumerated to herself all the diseases +incident to the climate, and the danger of the voyage. Still the idea of +Berrendale's departure was so full of comfort to her, that, though her +tears continued to flow, they flowed not for his approaching absence. At +length, ashamed of fortifying him in so gross an error, she made an +effort to regain her calmness, and found words to assure him, that she +would no longer give way to such unpardonable weakness, as she could +assure him that she wished his acceptance of his father-in-law's offer, +and had no desire to oppose a scheme so just and so profitable. + +But Berrendale, to whose vanity she had never before offered such a +tribute as her tears seemed to be, imputed these assurances to +disinterested love and female delicacy, afraid to own the fondness which +it felt; and the rest of the evening was spent in professions of love on +his part, which, on Adeline's, called forth at least some grateful and +kind expressions in return. + +Still, however, she persisted in urging Berrendale to go to Jamaica: +but, at the same time, she earnestly begged him to remember, that +temperance could alone preserve his health in such a climate:--'or the +use of pepper in great quantities,' replied he, 'to counteract the +effects of good living?'--and Adeline, though convinced temperance was +the _best_ preservation, was forced to give up the point, especially as +Berrendale began to enumerate the number of delicious things for the +table which Jamaica afforded. + +To be brief: Berrendale, after taking a most affectionate leave of his +wife and child, a leave which almost made the mulatto his friend, and +promising to allow them L200, a-year till he should be able to send +over for them, set sail for Jamaica; while Adeline, the night of his +departure, endeavoured, by conjuring up all the horrors of a tempest at +sea on his passage, and of a hurricane and an earthquake on shore when +he arrived, to force herself to feel such sorrow as the tenderness which +he had expressed at the moment of parting seemed to make it her duty to +feel. + +But morning came, and with it a feeling of liberty and independence so +delightful, that she no longer tried to grieve on speculation as it +were; but giving up her whole soul to the joys of maternal fondness, she +looked forward with pious gratitude to days of tranquil repose, save +when she thought with bitter regret of the obdurate anger of her mother, +and with tender regret of the lost and ever lamented Glenmurray. + +Berrendale had been arrived at Jamaica some months, when Adeline +observed a most alarming change in Savanna. She became thin, her +appetite entirely failed, and she looked the image of despondence. In +vain did Adeline ask the reason of a change so apparent: the only answer +she could obtain was, 'Me better soon;' and, continuing every day to +give this answer, she in a short time became so languid as to be obliged +to lie down half the day. + +Adeline then found that it was necessary to be more serious in her +interrogatories; but the mulatto at first only answered, 'No, me die, +but me never break my duty vow to you: no, me die, but never leave you.' + +These words implying a wish to leave her, with a resolution not to +do so how much soever it might cost her, alarmed in a moment the ever +disinterested sensibility of Adeline; and she at length wrung from her a +confession that her dear William, who was gone to Jamaica as a servant +to a gentleman, was, she was credibly informed, very ill and like to +die. + +'You therefore wish to go and nurse him, I suppose, Savanna?' + +'Oh! me no wish; me only tink dat me like to go to Jamaica, see if be +true dat he be so bad; and if he die, I den return and die wid you.' + +'Live with me, you mean, Savanna; for, indeed, I cannot spare you. +Remember, you have given me a right to claim your life as mine; nor can +I allow you to throw away my property in fruitless lamentations, and the +indolent indulgence of regret. You shall go to Jamaica, Savanna: Heaven +forbid that I should keep a wife from her duty! You shall see and try +to recover William if he be really ill,' (Savanna here threw herself +on Adeline's neck,) 'and then you shall return to me, who will either +warmly share in your satisfaction or fondly sooth your distress.' + +'Den you do love poor Savanna?' + +'Love you! Indeed I do, next to my child, and,--and my mother,' replied +Adeline, her voice faltering. + +'Name not dat woman,' cried Savanna hastily; 'me will never see, never +speak to her even in heaven.' + +'Savanna, remember, she is my mother.' + +'Yes, and Mr Berrendale be your husban; and yet, who dat love you can +love dem?' + +'Savanna,' replied Adeline, 'these proofs of your regard, though +reprehensible, are not likely to reconcile me to your departure; and I +already feel that in losing you--' Here she paused, unable to proceed. + +'Den me no go--me no go:--yet, dearest lady, you have love yourself.' + +'Aye, Savanna, and can feel for you: so say no more. The only difficulty +will be to raise money enough to pay for your passage, and expenses +while there.' + +'Oh! me once nurse the captain's wife who now going to Jamaica, and +she love me very much; and he tell me yesterday that he let me go +for nothing, because I am good nurse to his wife, if me wish to see +William.' + +'Enough,' replied Adeline: 'then all I have to do is to provide you with +money for your maintenance when you arrive; and I have no doubt but that +what I cannot supply the tawny boy's generous patroness will.' + +Adeline was not mistaken. Savanna obtained from her son's benefactress +a sum equal to her wants; and almost instantly restored to her wonted +health, by her mind's being lightened of the load which oppressed it, +she took her passage on board her friend's vessel, and set sail for +Jamaica, carrying with her letters from Adeline to Berrendale; while +Adeline felt the want of Savanna in various ways, so forcibly, that not +even Editha could, for a time at least, console her for her loss. It had +been so grateful to her feelings to meet every day the eyes of one being +fixed with never-varying affection on hers, that, when she beheld those +eyes no longer, she felt alone in the universe,--nor had she a single +female friend to whom she could turn for relief or consolation. + +Mrs Beauclerc, to whose society she had expected to be restored by +her marriage, had been forced to give up all intercourse with her, in +compliance with the peremptory wishes of a rich old maid, from whom her +children had great expectations, and who threatened to leave her fortune +away from them, if Mrs Beauclerc persisted in corresponding with a woman +so bad in principle, and so wicked in practice, as Adeline appeared to +her to be. + +But, at length, from a mother's employments, from writing, and, above +all, from the idea that by suffering she was making some atonement for +her past sins, she derived consolation, and became resigned to every +evil that had befallen, and to every evil that might still befall her. + +Perhaps she did not consider as an evil what now took place: increasing +coldness in the letters of Berrendale, till he said openly at last, that +as they were, he was forced to confess, far from happy together, and +as the air of Jamaica agreed with him, and as he was resolved to stay +there, he thought she had better remain in England, and he would remit +her as much money occasionally as his circumstances would admit of. + +But she thought this a greater evil than it at first appeared; when +an agent of Berrendale's father-in-law in England, and a friend of +Berrendale himself, called on her, pretending that he came to inquire +concerning her health, and raised in her mind suspicions of a very +painful nature. + +After the usual compliments:--'I find, madam,' said Mr Drury, 'that our +friend is very much admired by the ladies in Jamaica.' + +'I am glad to hear it, sir,' coolly answered Adeline. + +'Well, that's kind and generous now,' replied Drury, 'and very +disinterested.' + +'I see no virtue, sir, in my rejoicing of what must make Mr Berrendale's +abode in Jamaica pleasant to him.' + +'May be so; but most women, I believe, would be apt to be jealous on the +occasion.' + +'But it has been the study of my life, sir, to endeavour to consider my +own interest, when it comes in competition with another's, as little as +possible;--I doubt I have not always succeeded in my endeavours: but on +this occasion I am certain that I have expressed no sentiment which I do +not feel.' + +'Then, madam, if my friend should have an opportunity, as indeed I +believe he has, of forming a most agreeable and advantageous marriage, +you would not try to prevent it?' + +'Good heavens! sir,' replied Adeline; 'What can you mean? Mr Berrendale +form an advantageous marriage when he is already married to me?' + +'Married to you, ma'am!' answered Mr Drury with a look of incredulity. +'Excuse me, but I know that such marriages as yours may be easily +dissolved.' + +At first Adeline was startled at this assertion; but recollecting that +it was impossible any form or ceremony should have been wanting at the +marriage, she recovered herself, and demanded, with an air of severity, +what Mr Drury meant by so alarming and ill-founded a speech. + +'My meaning, ma'am,' replied he, 'must be pretty evident to you: I mean +that I do not look upon you, though you bear Mr Berrendale's name, to be +his lawful wife; but that you live with him on the same terms on which +you lived with Mr Glenmurray.' + +'And on what, sir, could you build such an erroneous supposition?' + +'On Mr Berrendale's own words, madam; who always spoke of his connexion +with you, as of a connexion which he had formed in compliance with love +and in defiance of prudence.' + +'And is it possible that he could be such a villain?' exclaimed +Adeline. 'Oh my child! and does thy father brand thee with the stain of +illegitimacy?--But, sir, whatever appellation Mr Berrendale might choose +to give his union with me to his friends in England, I am sure he will +not dare to incur the penalty attendant on a man's marrying one wife +while he has another living; for, that I am his wife, I can bring pretty +sufficient evidence to prove.' + +'Indeed, madam! You can produce a witness of the ceremony, then, I +presume?' + +'No, sir; the woman who attended me to the altar, and the clergyman who +married us, are dead; and the only witness is a child now only ten years +old.' + +'That is unfortunate!' (with a look of incredulity) 'but, no doubt, when +you hear that Mr Berrendale is married to a West Indian heiress, you +will come forward with incontrovertible proofs of your prior claims; and +if you do that, madam, you may command my good offices:--but, till then, +I humbly take my leave.'--Saying this, with a very visible sneer on his +countenance he departed, leaving Adeline in a state of distress--the +more painful to endure from her having none to participate in it,--no +one to whom she could impart the cause of it. + +That Mr Drury did not speak of the possible marriage of Berrendale from +mere conjecture, was very apparent; and Adeline resolved not to delay +writing to her husband immediately, to inform him of what had passed, +and put before his eyes, in the strongest possible manner, the guilt of +what he was about to do; and also the utter impossibility of its being +successful guilt, as she was resolved to assert her claims for the sake +of her child, if not for her own. This letter she concluded, and with +truth too, with protestations of believing all Mr Drury said to be +false: for, indeed, the more she considered Berrendale's character, +the more she was convinced that, however selfish and defective his +disposition might be, it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, +than Berrendale be a villain. + +But, where a man's conduct is not founded on virtuous motives and +immutable principles, he may not err while temptation is absent; but +once expose him to her presence, and he is capable of falling into the +very vices the most abhorrent to his nature: and though Adeline knew it +not, such a man was Berrendale. + +Adeline, having relieved her mind by this appeal to her husband, and +being assured that Berrendale could not be married before her letter +could reach him, as it was impossible that he should dare to marry while +the mulatto was in the very town near which he resided, felt herself +capable of attending to her usual employments again, and had recovered +her tranquillity, when an answer to her letter arrived; and Adeline, +being certain that the letter itself would be a proof of the marriage, +had resolved to show it, in justification of her claims, to Mr Drury. + +What then must have been her surprise, to find it exactly such a letter +as would be evidence against a marriage between her and Berrendale +having ever taken place! He thanked her for the expressions of fond +regret which her letter contained, and for the many happy hours which he +owed to her society; but hoped that, as Fate had now separated their +destinies, she could be as happy without him as she had been with him; +and assuring her that he should, according to his promise, regularly +remit her L150 a-year if possible, but that he could at present only +inclose a draft for L50. + +Adeline was absolutely stupified with horror at reading this apparent +confirmation of the villany of her husband and the father of her child; +but roused to indignant exertion by the sense of Berrendale's baseness, +and of what she owed her daughter, she resolved to take counsel's +opinion in what manner she should proceed to prove her marriage, as soon +as she was assured that Berrendale's (which she had no doubt was fixed +upon) should have taken place; and this intelligence she received +a short time after the mulatto herself, who, worn out with sorrow, +sickness, and hardship, one day tottered into the house, seeming as if +she indeed only returned to die with her mistress. + +At first the joy of seeing Savanna restored to her swallowed up every +other feeling; but tender apprehension for the poor creature's health +soon took possession of her mind, and Adeline drew from her a narrative, +which exhibited Berrendale to her eyes as capable of most atrocious +actions. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + + +It is very certain that when Berrendale left England, though he meant to +conceal his marriage entirely, he had not even the slightest wish to +contract another; and had any one told him that he was capable of such +wicked conduct, he would have answered, like Hazael, 'Is thy servant +a dog that he should do this thing?' But he was then unassailed by +temptations:--and habituated as he was to selfish indulgence, it was +impossible that to strong temptation he should not fall an immediate +victim. + +This strong temptation assailed him soon after his arrival, in the +person of a very lovely and rich widow, a relation of his first wife, +who, having no children of her own, had long been very fond of his +child, then a very fine boy, and with great readiness transferred to the +father the affection which she bore the son. For some time conscience +and Adeline stood their ground against this new mistress and her immense +property; but at length, being pressed by his father-in-law, who wished +the match, to assign a sufficient reason for his coldness to so fine +a woman, and not daring to give the true one, he returned the lady's +fondness: and though he had not yet courage enough to name the marriage +day, it was known that it would some time or other take place. + +But all his scruples soon yielded to the dominion which the attractions +of the lady, who was well versed in the arts of seduction, obtained over +his senses, and to the strong power which the sight of the splendour in +which she lived, acquired over his avarice; when, just as every thing +was on the point of being concluded, the poor mulatto, who had found her +husband dead, arrived almost broken-hearted at the place of Berrendale's +abode, and delivered to him letters from Adeline. + +Terrified and confounded at her presence, he received her with +such evident marks of guilty confusion in his face, that Savanna's +apprehensive and suspicious attachment to her mistress took the alarm; +and, as she had seen a very fine woman leave the room as she entered, +she, on pretence of leaving Berrendale alone to read his letters, +repaired to the servants' apartments, where she learnt the intended +marriage. Immediately forgetting her own distresses in those of Adeline, +she returned to Berrendale, not with the languid, mournful pace with +which she had first entered, but with the firm, impetuous and intrepid +step of conscious integrity going to confound vice in the moment of its +triumph. + +Berrendale read his doom, the moment he beheld her, in her dark and +fiery eye, and awaited in trembling silence the torrent of reproaches +that trembled on her lip. But I shall not repeat what passed. Suffice +that Berrendale pretended to be moved by what she said, and promised +to break off the marriage,--only exacting from Savanna, in return, a +promise of not imparting to the servants, or to any one, that he had a +wife in England. + +In the meanwhile he commended her most affectionately to the care of the +steward; and confessing to his intended bride that he had a mistress in +England, who had sent the mulatto over to prevent the match if possible, +by persuading her he was already married, he conjured her to consent to +a private marriage; and to prevent some dreadful scene, occasioned by +the revenge of disappointed passion, should his mistress, as she had +threatened, come over in person, he entreated her to let every splendid +preparation for their nuptials be laid aside, in order to deceive +Savanna, and induce her to return quietly to England. + +The credulous woman, too much in love to believe what she did not wish, +consented to all he proposed: but Berrendale, still fearful of the +watchful jealousy of Savanna, contrived to find out the master to whom +she belonged before she had escaped, early in life, with her first +husband to England; and as she had never been made free, as soon as he +arrived, he, on a summons from Berrendale, seized her as his property; +and poor Savanna, in spite of her cries and struggles, was conveyed some +miles up the country. + +At length, however, she found means to escape to the coast; and, having +discovered an old acquaintance in an English sailor on board a vessel +then ready to sail, and who had great influence with the captain, she +was by him concealed on board, with the approbation of the commander, +and was on her way to England before Berrendale was informed of her +escape. + +I will not endeavour to describe Adeline's feelings on hearing this +narration, and on finding also that Savanna before she left the island +had been assured that Berrendale was really married, though privately, +but that the marriage could not long be attempted to be concealed, as +the lady even before it took place was likely to become a mother; and, +that as a large estate depended on her giving birth to a son, the event +of her confinement was looked for with great anxiety. + +Still, in the midst of her distress, a sudden thought struck Adeline, +which converted her anger into joy, and her sorrow into exultation. +'Yes, my mother may now forgive me without violating any part of her +oath,' she exclaimed.--'I am now forsaken, despised and disgraced!'--and +instantly she wrote to Mrs Mowbray a letter calculated to call forth +all her sympathy and affection. Then, with a mind relieved beyond +expression, she sat down to deliberate in what manner she should act to +do herself justice as a wife and a mother, cruelly aggrieved in both +these intimate relations. Nor could she persuade herself that she should +act properly by her child, if she did not proceed vigorously to prove +herself Berrendale's wife, and substantiate Editha's claim to his +property; and as Mr Langley was, she knew, a very great lawyer, she +resolved, in spite of his improper conduct to her, to apply to him +again. + +Indeed she could not divest herself of a wish to let him know that she +was become a wife, and no longer liable to be treated with that freedom +with which, as a mistress, he had thought himself at liberty to address +her. However, she wished that she had not been obliged to go to him +alone; but, as the mulatto was in too weak a state of health to allow of +her going out, and she could not speak of business like hers before any +one else, she was forced to proceed unaccompanied to the Temple; and on +the evening of the day after Savanna's return, she with a beating heart, +repaired once more to Mr Langley's chambers. + +Luckily, however, she met the tawny boy on her way, and took him for +her escort. 'Tell your master,' said she to the servant, 'that Mrs +Berrendale wishes to speak to him:' and in a few minutes she was +introduced. + +'Mrs Berrendale!' cried Langley with a sarcastic smile; 'pray be seated, +madam! I hope Mr Berrendale is well.' + +'He is in Jamaica, sir,' replied Adeline. + +'Indeed!' returned Langley. 'May I presume so far as to ask,--hem, +hem,--whether your visit to me be merely of a professional nature?' + +'Certainly, sir,' replied Adeline: 'of what other nature should it be?' + +Langley replied to this only by a significant smile. At this moment the +tawny boy asked leave to walk in the temple gardens; and Adeline, though +reluctantly, granted his request. + +'Oh! a propos, John,' cried Langley to the servant, 'let Mrs Montgomery +know that her friend Miss Mowbray, Mrs Berrendale I mean, is here--she +is walking in the garden.' + +'My friend Mrs Montgomery, sir! I have no friend of that name.' + +'No, my sweet soul? You may not know her by that name; but names change, +you know. You, for instance, are Mrs Berrendale now, but when I see you +again you may be Mrs Somebody else.' + +'Never, sir,' cried Adeline indignantly; 'but, though I do not exactly +understand your meaning, I feel as if you meant to insult me, and +therefore--' + +'Oh no--sit down again, my angel; you are mistaken, and so apt to fly +off in a tangent! But--so--that wonderfully handsome man, Berrendale, is +off--heh? Your friend and mine, heh! pretty one!' + +'If, sir, Mr Berrendale ever considered you as his friend, it is very +strange that you should presume to insult his wife.' + +'Madam,' replied Langley with a most provoking sneer, 'Mr Berrendale's +wife shall always be treated by me with proper respect.' + +'Gracious Heaven!' cried Adeline, clasping her hands and looking upwards +with tearful eyes, 'when shall my persecutions cease! and how much +greater must my offences be than even my remorse paints them, when their +consequences still torment me so long after the crime which occasioned +them has ceased to exist! But it is Thy will, and I will submit even to +indignity with patience.' + +There was a touching solemnity in this appeal to Heaven, an expression +of truth, which it was so impossible for art to imitate, that Langley +felt in a moment the injustice of which he had been guilty, and an +apology was on his lips, when the door opened, and a lady rouged like a +French countess of the ancien regime, her hair covered with a profusion +of brown powder, and dressed in the height of fashion, ambled into the +room; and saying, 'How d'ye do, Miss Mowbray?' threw herself carelessly +on the sofa, to the astonishment of Adeline, who did not recollect her, +and to the confusion of Langley, who now, impressed with involuntary +respect for Adeline, repented of having exposed her to the scene that +awaited her: but to prevent it was impossible; he was formed to be a +slave of woman, and had not courage to protect another from the +insolence to which he tamely yielded himself. + +Adeline at first did not answer this soi-disant acquaintance of hers; +but, in looking at her more attentively, she exclaimed, 'What do I see? +Is it possible that this can be Mary Warner!' + +'Yes, it is, my dear, indeed,' replied she with a loud laugh, 'Mary +Warner, alias Mrs Montgomery; as you, you know, are Miss Mowbray, alias +Mrs Berrendale.' + +Adeline, incapable of speaking, only gazed at her in silence, but with +'a countenance more in sorrow than in anger.' + +'But, come sit down, my dear,' cried Mary; 'no ceremony, you know, among +friends and equals, you know; and you and I have been mighty familiar, +you know, before now. The last time we met you called me _woman_, you +know--yes, "woman!" says you--and I have not forgotten it, I assure +you,' she added with a sort of loud hysterical laugh, and a look of the +most determined malice. + +'Come, come, my dear Montgomery,' said Langley, 'you must forget and +forgive;--I dare say Miss Mowbray, that is to say Mrs Berrendale, did +not mean--' + +'What should you know about the matter, Lang.?' replied Mary; 'I wish +you would mind your own business, and let me talk to my dumb friend +here.--Well, I suppose you are quite surprised to see how smart I +am!--seeing as how I once overheard you say to Glenthingymy, "How very +plain Mary is!" though, to be sure, it was never a barrel the better +herring, and 'twas the kettle in my mind calling the pot--Heh, Lang.?' + +Here was the clue to the inveterate dislike which this unhappy girl had +conceived against Adeline. So true is it that little wounds inflicted +on the self-love are never forgotten or forgiven, and that it is safer +to censure the morals of acquaintances than to ridicule them on their +dress, or laugh at a defect in their person. Adeline, indeed, did +not mean that her observation should be overheard by the object of +it,--still she was hated: but many persons make mortifying remarks +purposely, and yet wonder that they have enemies! + +Motionless and almost lifeless Adeline continued to stand and to listen, +and Mary went on-- + +'Well, but I thank you for one thing. You taught me that marriage was +all nonsense, you know; and so, thought I, Miss Mowbray is a learned +lady, she must know best, and so I followed your example--that's all, +you know.' + +This dreadful information roused the feelings of Adeline even to +phrensy, and with a shriek of anguish she seized her hand, and conjured +her by all her hopes of mercy to retract what she had said, and not to +let her depart with the horrible consciousness of having been the means +of plunging a fellow-being into vice and infamy. + +A loud unfeeling laugh, and an exclamation of 'The woman is mad,' was +all the answer to this. + +'This then is the completion of my sufferings,' cried Adeline,--'this +only was wanted to complete the misery of my remorse.' + +'This is too much,' exclaimed Langley. 'Mary, you know very well that--' + +'Hold your tongue, Lang.; you know nothing about the matter: it is all +nothing, but that Miss Mowbray, like a lawyer, can change sides, you +see, and attack one day what she defended the day before, you know; +and she has made you believe that she thinks now being kept a shameful +thing.' + +'I do believe so,' hastily replied Adeline; 'and if it be true that my +sentiments and my example led you to adopt your present guilty mode +of life,--oh! save me from the pangs of remorse which I now feel, by +letting my present example recall you from the paths of error to those +of virtue.' + +'Well pleaded,' cried the cold-hearted Mary--'Lang., you could not have +done't so well--not up to that.' + +'Mrs Montgomery,' said Langley with great severity, 'if you cannot treat +Mrs Berrendale with more propriety and respect, I must beg you to leave +the room; she is come to speak to me on business, and--' + +'I sha'nt stir, for all that: and mark me, Lang., if you turn me out of +the room, you know, hang me if ever I enter it again!' + +'But your little boy may want you; you have left him now some time.' + +'Aye, that may be true, to be sure, poor little dear! Have you any +family, Miss Mowbray?'--when, without waiting for an answer, she added, +'My little boy have got the small-pox very bad, and has been likely to +die from convulsion fits, you know. Poor dear! I had been nursing it so +long that I could not bear the stench of the room, and so I was glad, +you know, to come and get a little fresh air in the gardens.' + +At this speech Adeline's fortitude entirely gave way. _Her_ child had +not had the small-pox, and she had been for some minutes in reach of the +infection; and with a look of horror, forgetting her business, and every +thing but Editha, she was on the point of leaving the room, when a +servant hastily entered, and told Mary that her little boy was dead. + +At hearing this, even her cold heart was moved, and throwing herself +back on the sofa she fell into a strong hysteric; while Adeline, losing +all remembrance of her insolence in her distress, flew to her assistance; +and, in pity for a mother weeping the loss of her infant, forgot for a +moment that she was endangering the life of her own child. + +Mr Langley, mean time, though grieved for the death of the infant, was +alive to the generous forgiving disposition which Adeline evinced; and +could not help exclaiming. 'Oh, Mrs Berrendale! forgive us! we deserved +not such kindness at your hands:' and Adeline, wanting to loosen the +tight stays of Mary, and not choosing to undress her before such a +witness, coldly begged him to withdraw, advising him at the same time to +go and see whether the child was really dead, as it might possibly only +appear so. + +Revived by this possibility, Mr Langley left Mary to the care of +Adeline, and left the room. But whether it was that Mary had a mind +to impress her lover and the father of her child with an idea of her +sensibility, or whether she had overheard Adeline's supposition, certain +it is, that as soon as Langley went away, and Adeline began to unlace +her stays, she hastily recovered, and declared her stays should remain +as they were: but still exclaiming about her poor dear Benny, she kept +her arms closely clasped round Adeline's waist, and reposed her head on +her bosom. + +Adeline's fears and pity for her being thus allayed, she began to have +leisure to feel and fear for herself; and the idea, that, by being in +such close contact with Mary, she was imbibing so much of the disease +as must inevitably communicate it to Editha, recurred so forcibly to +her mind, that, begging for mercy's sake she would loose her hold, she +endeavoured to break from the arms of her tormentor. + +But in vain.--As soon as Mary saw that Adeline wished to leave her, +she was the more eager to hold her fast; and protesting she should die +if she had the barbarity to leave her alone, she only hugged her the +closer. 'Well, then, I'll try to stay till Mr Langley returns,' cried +Adeline: but some minutes elapsed, and Mr Langley did not return; and +then Adeline, recollecting that when he did return he would come fresh +fraught with the pestilence from the dead body of his infant, could no +longer master her feelings, but screaming wildly,--'I shall be the death +of my child; let me go,'--she struggled with the determined Mary. 'You +will drive me mad if you detain me,' cried Adeline. + +'You will drive me mad if you go,' replied Mary, giving way to a violent +hysterical scream, while with successful strength she parried all +Adeline's endeavours to break from her. But what can resist the strength +of phrensy and despair? Adeline, at length worked up to madness by the +fatal control exercised over her, by one great effort threw the sobbing +Mary from her, and, darting down stairs with the rapidity of phrensy, +nearly knocked down Mr Langley in her passage, who was coming to +announce the restoration of the little boy. + +She soon reached Fleet-street, and was on her road home before Langley +and Mary had recovered their consternation: but she suddenly recollected +that homewards she must not proceed; that she carried death about her; +and wholly bewildered by this insupportable idea, she ran along the +Strand, muttering the incoherencies of phrensy as she went, till she +was intercepted in her passage by some young men of _ton_, who had been +dining together, and, being half intoxicated, were on their way to the +theatre. + +Two of these gentlemen, with extended arms, prevented her further +progress. + +'Where are you going, my pretty girl,' cried one, 'in this hurry? shall +I see you home? heh!' + +'Home!' replied Adeline; 'name it not. My child! my child! thy mother +has destroyed thee.' + +'So!' cried another, 'actress, by all that's tragical!' + +'Unhand me!' exclaimed Adeline wildly. 'Do not you know, poor babe, that +I carry death and infection about with me!' + +'The devil you do!' returned the gentleman; 'then the sooner you take +yourself off the better.' + +'I believe the poor soul is mad,' said a third, making way for Adeline +to pass. + +'But,' cried the first who spoke, catching hold of her, 'if so, there is +method and meaning in her madness; for she called Jaby here a poor babe, +and we all know he is little better.' + +By this time Adeline was in a state of complete phrensy, and was again +darting down the street in spite of the gentleman's efforts to hold her, +when another gentleman, whom curiosity had induced to stop and listen +to what passed, suddenly seized hold of her arm, and exclaimed, 'Good +Heavens! what can this mean? It is--it can be no other than Miss +Mowbray.' + +At the sound of her own name Adeline started: but in a moment her senses +were quite lost again; and the gentleman, who was no other than Colonel +Mordaunt, being fully aware of her situation, after reproving the +young men for sporting with distress so apparent, called a coach which +happened to be passing, and desired to know whither he should have the +honour of conducting her. + +But she was too lost to be able to answer the question: he therefore, +lifting her into the coach, desired the man to drive towards +Dover-street; and when there, he ordered him to drive to Margaret-street, +Oxford-street; when, not being able to obtain one coherent word +from Adeline, and nothing but expressions of agony, terror, and +self-condemnation, he desired him to stop at such a house, and, +conducting Adeline up stairs, desired the first assistance to be +procured immediately. + +It was not to his own lodgings that Colonel Mordaunt had conducted +Adeline, but to the house of a convenient friend of his, who, though not +generally known as such, and bearing a tolerably good character in the +world, was very kind to the tender distresses of her friends, and had no +objection to assist the meetings of two fond lovers. + +It is to be supposed, then, that she was surprised at seeing Colonel +Mordaunt with a companion, who was an object of pity and horror rather +than of love: but she did not want humanity; and when the colonel +recommended Adeline to her tenderest care, she with great readiness +ordered a bed to be prepared, and assisted in prevailing on Adeline +to lie down on it. In a short time a physician and a surgeon arrived; +and Adeline, having been bled and made to swallow strong opiates, was +undressed by her attentive landlady; and though still in a state of +unconsciousness, she fell into a sound sleep which lasted till morning. + +But Colonel Mordaunt passed a sleepless night. The sight of Adeline, +even frantic and wretched as she appeared, had revived the passion which +he had conceived for her; and if on her awaking the next morning she +should appear perfectly rational, and her phrensy merely the result +of some great fright which she had received, he resolved to renew his +addresses, and take advantage of the opportunity now offered him, while +she was as it were in his power. + +But to return to the Temple.--Soon after Mr Langley had entered his own +room, and while Mary and he were commenting on the frantic behaviour of +Adeline, the tawny boy came back from his walk, and heard with marks of +emotion, apparently beyond his age, (for though near twelve he did not +look above eight years old,) of the sudden and frantic disappearance of +Adeline. + +'Oh! my dear friend,' cried he, 'if, you are not gone home you will +break my poor mother's heart!' + +'And who is your mother?' + +'Her name is Savanna; and she lives with Mrs Berrendale.' + +'Mrs Berrendale!' cried Mary, 'Miss Mowbray you mean.' + +'No, I do not; her name was Mowbray, but is now Berrendale.' + +'What! is she really married?' asked Langley. + +'Yes to be sure.' + +'But how do you know that she is?' + +'Oh! because I went to church with them, and my mother cooked the +wedding-dinner, and I ate plum-pudding and drank punch, and we were very +merry,--only my mother cried, because my father could not come.' + +'Very circumstantial evidence indeed!' cried Langley, 'and I am very +sorry that I did not know so much before. So you and your mother love +this extraordinary fine woman, Mrs Berrendale, heh?' + +'Love her! To be sure--we should be very wicked if we did not. Did you +never hear the story of the pineapple?' said the tawny boy. + +'Not I. What was it?' and the tawny boy, delighted to tell the story, +with sparkling eyes sat down to relate it. + +'You must know, Mr Glenmurray longed for a pineapple.' + +'Mrs Glenmurray you mean,' said Mary laughing immoderately. + +'I know what I say,' replied the tawny boy angrily; 'and so Miss +Adeline, as she was then called, went out to buy one;--well, and so she +met my poor father going to prison, and I was crying after her, and +so--' Here he paused, and bursting into tears exclaimed, 'And perhaps +she is crying herself now, and I must go and see for her directly.' + +'Do so, my fine fellow,' cried Langley: 'you had better go home, tell +your mother what has passed, and to-morrow' (accompanying him down +stairs, and speaking in a low voice) 'I will either write a note of +apology or call on Mrs Berrendale myself.' + +The tawny boy instantly set off, running as fast as he could, telling +Langley first, that if any harm had happened to his friend, both he and +his mother should lie down and die. And this further proof of Adeline's +merit did not tend to calm Langley's remorse for having exposed her to +the various distresses which she had undergone at his chambers. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + + +Adeline awoke early the next morning perfectly sane, though weakened by +the exertions which she had experienced the night before, and saw with +surprise and alarm that she was not in her own lodging. + +But she had scarcely convinced herself that she was awake, when Mrs +Selby, the mistress of the house, appeared at her bed-side, and, seeing +what was passing in her mind by her countenance, explained to her as +delicately as she could the situation in which she had been brought +there. + +'And who brought me hither?' replied Adeline, dreadfully agitated, as +the remembrance of what had passed by degrees burst upon her. + +'Colonel Mordaunt of the guards,' was the answer; and Adeline was +shocked to find that he was the person to whom she was under so +essential an obligation. She then hastily arose, being eager to return +home; and in a short time she was ready to enter the drawing-room, and +to express her thanks to Colonel Mordaunt. + +But in vain did she insist on going home directly, to ease the fears of +her family. The physician, who arrived at the moment, forbade her going +out without having first taken both medicine and refreshment; and by +the time that, after the most earnest entreaties, she obtained leave to +depart, she recollected that, as her clothes were the same, she might +still impart disease to her child, and therefore must on no account +think of returning to Editha. + +'Whither, whither then can I go?' cried she, forgetting she was not +alone. + +'Why not stay here?' said the colonel, who had been purposely left +alone with her. 'O dearest of women! that you would but accept the +protection of a man who adores you; who has long loved you; who has +been so fortunate as to rescue you from a situation of misery and +danger, and the study of whose life it shall be to make you happy.' + +He uttered this with such volubility, that Adeline could not find an +opportunity to interrupt him; but when he concluded, she calmly replied, +'I am willing to believe, Colonel Mordaunt, from a conversation which I +once had with you, that you are not aware of the extent of the insult +which you are now offering to me. You probably do not know that I have +been for years a married woman?' + +Colonel Mordaunt started and turned pale at this intelligence; and in a +faltering voice replied, that he was indeed a stranger to her present +situation;--for that, libertine as he confessed himself to be, he had +never yet allowed himself to address the wife of another. + +This speech restored him immediately to the confidence of Adeline. 'Then +I hope,' cried she, holding out her hand to him, which in spite of his +virtue he passionately kissed, 'that, as a friend, you will have the +kindness to procure me a coach to take me to a lodging a few miles out +of town, where I once was before; and that you will be so good as to +drive directly to my lodgings, and let my poor maid know what is become +of me. I dread to think,' added she bursting into tears, 'of the agony +that my unaccountable absence must have occasioned her.' + +The colonel, too seriously attached to Adeline to know yet what he +wished, or what he hoped on this discovery of her situation, promised to +obey her, provided she would allow him to call on her now and then; and +Adeline was too full of gratitude to him for the service which he had +rendered her, to have resolution enough to deny his request. He then +called a coach for himself, and for Adeline, as she insisted on his +going immediately to her lodgings; and also begged that he would tell +the mulatto to send for advice, and prepare her little girl for +inoculation directly. + +Adeline drove directly to her old lodgings in the country, where she was +most gladly received; and the colonel went to deliver his commission to +the mulatto. + +He found her in strong hysterics; the tawny boy crying over her, and +the woman of the house holding her down on the bed by force, while the +little Editha had been conveyed to a neighbour's house, that she might +not hear the screams which had surprised and terrified her. + +Colonel Mordaunt had opened the door, and was witnessing this +distressing scene, before any one was conscious of his presence; but +the tawny boy soon discovered him, and crying out-- + +'Oh! sir, do you bring us news of our friend?' sprang to him, and hung +almost breathless on his arm. + +Savanna, who was conscious enough to know what passed, though too much +weakened from her own sufferings and anxieties to be able to struggle +with this new affliction, started up on hearing these words, and +screamed out 'Does she live? Blessed man! but say so, dat's all,' in +a tone so affecting, and with an expression of agonized curiosity so +overwhelming to the feelings, that Colonel Mordaunt, whose spirits were +not very high, was so choked that he could not immediately answer her; +and when at last he faltered out, 'She lives, and is quite well,' the +frantic joy of the mulatto overcame him still more. She jumped about his +neck, she hugged the tawny boy; and her delight was as extravagant as +her grief had been; till exhausted and silent she sunk upon the bed, and +was unable for some minutes to listen quietly to the story which Colonel +Mordaunt came to relate. + +When she was composed enough to listen to it, she did not long remain +so; for as soon as she heard that Colonel Mordaunt had met Adeline in +her phrensy, and conveyed her to a place of safety, she fell at his +feet, embraced his knees, and, making the tawny boy kneel down by her, +invoked the blessing of God on him so fervently and so eloquently that +Colonel Mordaunt wept like a child, and, exclaiming, 'Upon my soul, my +good woman, I cannot bear this,' was forced to run out of the house to +recover his emotion. + +When he returned, Savanna said 'Well--now, blessed sir, take me to my +dear lady.' + +'Indeed,' replied he, 'I must not; you are forbidden to see her.' + +'Forbidden!' replied she, her eyes flashing fire; 'and who dare to keep +Savanna from her own mistress?--I will see her.' + +'Not if she forbids it, Savanna; and if her child's life should be +endangered by it?' + +'O, no, to be sure not,' cried the tawny boy, who doted upon Editha, +and, having fetched her back from the next house, was lulling her to +sleep in his arms. + +Colonel Mordaunt started at sight of the child, and, stooping down to +kiss its rosy cheek, sighed deeply as he turned away again. + +'Well,' cried Savanna, 'you talk very strange--me no understand.' + +'But you shall, my excellent creature,' replied the colonel, +'immediately.' He then entered on a full explanation to Savanna; who +had no sooner heard that her mistress feared that she had been so much +exposed to the infection of the small-pox, as to make her certain of +giving it to her child, than she exclaimed, 'Oh, my good God! save and +protect her own self! She never have it, and she may get it and die!' + +'Surely you must be mistaken,' replied the colonel, 'Mrs Berrendale must +have recollected and mentioned her own danger if this be the case.' + +'She!' hastily interrupted the mulatto, 'she tink of herself! Never--she +only mind others' good. Do you tink, if she be one selfish beast like +her husban, Savanna love her so dear? No, Mr Colonel, me know her, and +me know though we may save the child we may lose the mother.' Here she +began to weep bitterly; while the colonel, more in love than ever with +Adeline from these proofs of her goodness, resolved to lose no time in +urging her to undergo herself the operation which she desired for +Editha. + +Then, begging the mulatto to send for a surgeon directly, in spite +of the tears of the tawny boy, who thought it cruel to run the risk +of spoiling Miss Editha's pretty face, he took his leave, saying +to himself, 'What a heart has this Adeline! how capable of feeling +affection! for no one can inspire it who is not able to feel it: and +this creature is thrown away on a man undeserving her, it seems!' + +On this intelligence he continued to muse till he arrived at Adeline's +lodgings, to whom he communicated all that had passed; and from whom +he learned, with great anxiety, that it was but too true that she had +never had the small-pox; and that, therefore, she should probably show +symptoms of the disease in a few days: consequently, as she considered +it too late for her to be inoculated, she should do all that now +remained to be done for her security, by low living and good air. + +That same evening Colonel Mordaunt returned to Savanna, in hopes of +learning from her some further particulars respecting Adeline's husband; +as he felt that his conscience would not be much hurt by inducing +Adeline to leave the protection of a man who was unworthy of possessing +her. Fortunately for his wishes, he could not wish to hear more than +Savanna wished to tell every thing relating to her adored lady: and +Colonel Mordaunt heard with generous indignation of the perfidious +conduct of Berrendale; vowing, at the same time, that his time, his +interest, and his fortune, should all be devoted to bring such a villain +to justice, and to secure to the injured Editha her rightful +inheritance. + +The mulatto was in raptures:--she told Colonel Mordaunt that he was a +charming man, and infinitely handsomer than Berrendale, though she must +own he was very good to look at; and she wished with all her soul that +Colonel Mordaunt was married to her lady; for then she believed she +would have never known sorrow, but been as happy as the day was long. + +Colonel Mordaunt could not hear this without a secret pang. 'Had I +followed,' said he mentally, 'the dictates of my heart when I saw +Adeline at Bath, I might now, perhaps, instead of being a forlorn +unattached being, have been a happy husband and father; and Adeline, +instead of having been the mistress of one man, the disowned wife of +another, might have been happy and beloved, and as respectable in the +eyes of the world as she is in those of her grateful mulatto.' + +However, there was some hope left for him yet.--Adeline, he thought, was +not a woman likely to be over-scrupulous in her ideas; and might very +naturally think herself at liberty to accept the protection of a lover, +when, from no fault of hers, she had lost that of her husband. + +It is natural to suppose that, while elevated with these hopes, he did +not fail to be very constant in his visits to Adeline; and that at +length, more led by passion than policy, he abruptly, at the end of ten +days, informed Adeline that he knew her situation, and that he trusted +that she would allow him to hope that in due time his love, which had +been proof against time, absence, and disdain, would meet with reward; +and that, on his settling a handsome income on her and her child for +their joint lives, she would allow him to endeavour to make her as happy +as she, and she only, could make him. + +To this proposal, which was in form of a letter, Colonel Mordaunt did +not receive an immediate answer; nor was it at first likely that he +should ever receive an answer to it at all, as Adeline was at the moment +of its arrival confined to her bed, according to her expectations, with +the disease which she had been but too fearful of imbibing: while the +half-distracted mulatto was forced to give up to others the care of the +sickening Editha, to watch over the delirious and unconscious Adeline. + +But the tawny boy's generous benefactress gave him leave to remain at +Adeline's lodgings, in order to calm his fears for Editha, and assist +in amusing and keeping her quiet; and if attention had any share in +preserving the life and beauty of Editha, it was to the affectionate +tawny boy that she owed them; and he was soon rewarded for all his care +and anxiety by seeing his little charge able to play about as usual. + +Colonel Mordaunt and the mulatto meanwhile did not obtain so speedy a +termination to their anxieties: Adeline's recovery was for a long time +a matter of doubt; and her weakness so great after the crisis of the +disorder was past, that none ventured to pronounce her, even then, out +of danger. + +But at length she was in a great measure restored to health, and able to +determine what line of conduct it was necessary for her to pursue.--To +return an answer to Colonel Mordaunt's proposals was certainly her first +business; but as she felt that the situation in which he had once +known her made his offer less affronting than it would have been under +other circumstances, she resolved to speak to him on the subject with +gentleness, not severity; especially as during her illness, to amuse the +anxiety that had preyed upon him, he had taken every possible step to +procure evidence of the marriage, and gave into Savanna's hands, the +first day that he was permitted to see her, an attested certificate of +it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + +The first question which Adeline asked on her recovery was, Whether any +letter had come by the general-post during her illness; and Savanna gave +one to her immediately. + +It was the letter so ardently desired; for the direction was in her +mother's hand-writing! and she opened it full of eager expectation, +while her whole existence seemed to depend on the nature of its contents. +What then must have been her agony on finding that the _enveloppe_ +contained nothing but her own letter returned! For some time she spoke +not, she breathed not; while Savanna mixed with expressions of terror, +at sight of her mistress's distress, poured execrations on the unnatural +parent who had so cruelly occasioned it. + +After a few days' incessant struggle to overcome the violence of her +sorrow, Adeline recovered the shock, in appearance at least: yet to +Savanna's self-congratulations she could not help answering (laying her +hand on her heart) 'The blow is here, Savanna, and the wound incurable.' + +Soon after she thought herself well enough to see Colonel Mordaunt, +and to thank him for the recent proof of his attention to her and her +interest. But no obligation, however great, could shut the now vigilant +eyes of Adeline to the impropriety of receiving further visits from him, +or to the guilt of welcoming to her house a man who made open +professions to her of illicit love. + +She however thought it her duty to see him once more, in order to try +to reconcile him to the necessity of the rule of conduct which she was +going to lay down for herself; nor was she without hope that the yet +recent traces of the disease, to which she had so nearly fallen a +victim, would make her appearance so unpleasing to the eyes of her +lover, that he would be very willing to absent himself from the house, +for some time at least, and probably give up all thoughts of her. + +But she did neither herself nor Colonel Mordaunt justice.--She was +formed to inspire a real and lasting passion--a passion that no external +change could destroy--since it was founded on the unchanging qualities +of the heart and mind: and Colonel Mordaunt felt for her such an +attachment in all its force. He had always admired the attractive person +and winning graces of Adeline, and felt for her what he denominated +love; but that rational though enthusiastic preference, which is +deserving of the name of true love, he never felt till he had had an +opportunity to appreciate justly the real character of Adeline: still +there were times when he felt almost gratified to reflect that she could +not legally be his; for, whatever might have been the cause and excuse +of her errors, she had erred, and the delicacy of his mind revolted at +the idea of marrying the mistress of another. + +But when he saw and heard Adeline, this repugnance vanished; and he knew +that, could he at those moments lead her to the altar, he should not +have hesitated to bind himself to her for ever by the sacred ties which +the early errors of her judgment had made her even in his opinion almost +unworthy to form. + +At length a day was fixed for his interview with Adeline, and with a +beating heart he entered the apartment; nor was his emotion diminished +when he beheld not only the usual vestiges of her complaint, but +symptoms of debility, and a death-like meagreness of aspect, which +made him fear that though one malady was conquered, another, even more +dangerous, remained. The idea overcame him; and he was forced to turn +to the window to hide his emotion: and his manner was so indicative of +ardent yet respectful attachment, that Adeline began to feel in spite of +herself that her projected task was difficult of execution. + +For some minutes neither of them spoke: Mordaunt held the hand which she +gave him to his heart, kissed it as she withdrew it, and again turned +away his head to conceal a starting tear: while Adeline was not sorry to +have a few moments in which to recover herself, before she addressed him +on the subject at that time nearest to the heart of both. At length she +summoned resolution enough to say:-- + +'Much as I have been mortified and degraded, Colonel Mordaunt, by +the letter which I have received from you, still I rejoice that I did +receive it:--in the first place, I rejoice, because I look on all the +sufferings and mortifications which I meet with as merciful chastisements, +as expiations inflicted on me in mercy by the Being whom I adore, for +the sins of which I have been guilty; and, in the second place, because +it gives me an opportunity of proving, incontrovertibly, my full +conviction of the fallacy of my past opinions, and that I became a wife, +after my idle declamations against marriage, from change of principle, +on assurance of error, and not from interest, or necessity.' + +Here she paused, overcome with the effort which she had made; and +Colonel Mordaunt would have interrupted her, but, earnestly conjuring +him to give her a patient hearing, she proceeded thus:-- + +'Had the change in my practice been the result of any thing but rational +conviction, I should now, unfortunate as I have been in the choice of a +husband, regret that ever I formed so foolish a tie, and perhaps be +induced to enter into a less sacred connexion, from an idea that that +state which forced me to drag out existence in hopeless misery was +contrary to reason, justice, and the benefit of society; and that, the +sooner its ties were dissolved, the better it would be for individual +happiness and for the world at large.' + +'And do you not think so?' cried Colonel Mordaunt; 'cannot your own +individual experience convince you of it?' + +'Far from it,' replied Adeline: 'and I bless God that it does not: for +thence, and thence only, do I begin to be reconciled to myself. I have +no doubt that there is a great deal of individual suffering in the +marriage state, from a contrariety of temper and other causes; but I +believe that the mass of happiness and virtue is certainly increased by +it. Individual suffering, therefore, is no argument for the abolition +of marriage, than the accidental bursting of a musket would be for the +total abolition of fire-arms.' + +'But, surely, dear Mrs Berrendale, you would wish divorce to be made +easier than it is?' + +'By no means.' interrupted Adeline, understanding what he was going to +say: 'to BEAR and FORBEAR I believe to be the grand secret of happiness, +and that it ought to be the great study of life: therefore, whatever +would enable married persons to separate on the slightest quarrel or +disgust, would make it so much the less necessary for us to learn this +important lesson; a lesson so needful in order to perfect the human +character, that I believe the difficulty of divorce to be one of the +greatest blessings of society.' + +'What can have so completely changed your opinions on this subject?' +replied Colonel Mordaunt. + +'Not my own experience,' returned Adeline; 'for the painful situations +in which I have been placed, I might attribute, not to the fallacy of +the system on which I have acted, but to those existing prejudices in +society which I wish to see destroyed.' + +'Then, to what else is the change in your sentiments to be attributed?' + +'To a more serious, unimpassioned, and unprejudiced view of the subject +than I had before taken: at present I am not equal to expatiate on +matters so important: however, some time or other, perhaps, I may make +known to you my sentiments on them in a more ample manner: but I have, I +trust, said enough to lead you to conclude, that though Mr Berrendale's +conduct to me has been atrocious, and that you are in many respects +entitled to my gratitude and thanks, you and I must henceforward be +strangers to each other.' + +Colonel Mordaunt, little expecting such a total overthrow to his hopes, +was, on receiving it, choked with contending emotions; and his broken +sentences and pale cheek were sufficiently expressive of the distress +which he endured. But I shall not enter into a detail of all he urged +in favour of his passion; nor the calm, dignified, manner in which +Adeline replied. Suffice that, at last, from a sort of intuitive +knowledge of the human heart, as it were, which persons of quick talent +and sensibilities possess however defective their experience, Adeline +resolved to try to soothe the self-love which she had wounded, knowing +that self-love is scarcely to be distinguished in its effects from love +itself; and that the agony of disappointed passion is always greater +when it is inflicted by the coldness or falsehood of the beloved object, +than when it proceeds from parental prohibition, or the cruel separation +enjoined by conscious poverty. She therefore told Colonel Mordaunt that +he was once very near being the first choice of her heart: when she +first saw him, she said, his person, and manners, and attentions, had so +strongly prepossessed her in his favour, that he himself, by ceasing to +see and converse with her, could alone have saved her from the pain of a +hopeless attachment. + +'In pity, spare me,' cried Mordaunt, 'the contemplation of the happiness +I might have enjoyed!' + +'But you know you were not a marrying-man, as it is called; and forgive +me if I say, that men who can on system suppress the best feelings of +their nature, and prefer a course of libertine indulgence to a virtuous +connexion, at that time of life when they might become happy husbands +and fathers, with the reasonable expectation of living to see their +children grown up to manhood, and superintending their education +themselves--such men, Colonel Mordaunt, deserve, in the decline of life, +to feel that regret and that self-condemnation which you this moment +anticipate.' + +'True--too true!' replied the colonel; 'but, for mercy's sake, torture +me no more.' + +'I would not probe where I did not intend to make a cure,' replied +Adeline. + +'A cure!--what mean you!' + +'I mean to induce you, ere it be yet too late, to endeavour to form a +virtuous attachment, and to unite yourself for life with some amiable +young woman who will make you as happy as I would have endeavoured to +make you, had it been my fortunate lot to be yours: for, believe me, +Colonel Mordaunt,' and her voice faltered as she said it, 'had _he_, +whom I still continue to love with unabated tenderness, though years +have elapsed since he was taken from me,--had he bequeathed me to you on +his death-bed, the reluctance with which I went to the altar would have +been more easily overcome.' + +Saying this, she suddenly left the room, leaving Colonel Mordaunt +surprised, gratified, and his mind struggling between hopes and fears; +for Adeline was not conscious that she imparted hope as well as +consolation by the method which she pursued; and though she sent Savanna +to tell the colonel she could see him no more that evening, he departed +in firm expectation that Adeline would not have resolution to forbid him +to see her again. + +In this, however, he was mistaken; Adeline had learnt the best of all +lessons, distrust of her own strength:--and she resolved to put it out +of her power to receive visits which a regard to propriety forbade, and +which might injure her reputation, if not her peace of mind. Therefore, +as soon as Colonel Mordaunt was gone, she summoned Savanna, and desired +her to proceed to business. + +'What!' cried the delighted mulatto, 'are we going to prosecu massa?' + +'No,' replied Adeline, 'we are going into the country: I am come to +a determination to take no legal steps in this affair, but leave Mr +Berrendale to the reproaches of his own conscience.' + +'A fiddle's end!' replied Savanna, 'he have no conscience, or he no +leave you: better get him hang, if you can; den you marry de colonel.' + +'I had better hang the father of my child, had I, Savanna?' + +'Oh! no, no, no, no,--me forget dat.' + +'But I do not, nor can I even bear to disgrace the father of Editha: +therefore, trusting that I can dispose of her, and secure her interest +better than by forcing her father to do her justice, and bastardize the +poor innocent whom his wife will soon bring into the world, I am going +to bury myself in retirement, and live the short remainder of my days +unknowing and unknown.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + +Savanna was going to remonstrate, but the words 'short remainder of my +days' distressed her so much, that tears choked her words; and she +obeyed in silence her mistress's orders to pack up, except when she +indulged in a few exclamations against her lady's cruelty in going away +without taking leave of Colonel Mordaunt, who, sweet gentleman, would +break his heart at her departure, especially as he was not to know +whither she was going. A postchaise was at the door the next morning at +six o'clock; and as Adeline had not much luggage, having left the chief +part of her furniture to be divided between the mistresses of her two +lodgings, in return for their kind attention to her and her child, she +took an affectionate leave of her landlady, and desired the post-boy +to drive a mile on the road before him: and when he had done so, she +ordered him to go on to Barnet; while the disappointed mulatto thanked +God that the tawny boy was gone to Scotland with his protectress, as it +prevented her having the mortification of leaving him behind her, as +well as the colonel.--'O had I such a lover,' cried she, (her eyes +filling with tears,) 'me never leave him, nor he me!' and for the first +time she thought her angel-lady hard-hearted. + +For some miles they proceeded in silence, for Adeline was too much +engrossed to speak; and the little Editha, being fast asleep in the +mulatto's arms, did not draw her mother out of the reverie into which she +had fallen. + +'And where now?' said the mulatto, when the chaise stopped. + +'To the next stage on the high north road.' And on they went again; nor +did they stop, except for refreshments, till they had travelled thirty +miles; when Adeline, worn out with fatigue, staid all night at the +inn where the chaise stopped, and the next morning they resumed their +journey, but not their silence. The mulatto could no longer restrain her +curiosity; and she begged to know whither they were going, and why they +were to be buried in the country? + +Adeline, sighing deeply, answered, that they were going to live in +Cumberland; and then sunk into silence again, as she could not give the +mulatto her true reasons for the plan that she was pursuing without +wounding her affectionate heart in a manner wholly incurable. The truth +was, that Adeline supposed herself to be declining: she thought that +she experienced those dreadful languors, those sensations of internal +weakness, which, however veiled to the eye of the observer, speak in +forcible language to the heart of the conscious sufferer. Indeed, +Adeline had long struggled, but in vain, against feelings of a most +overwhelming nature; amongst which, remorse and horror, for having led +by her example and precepts an innocent girl into a life of infamy, were +the most painfully predominant: for, believing Mary Warner's assertion +when she saw her at Mr Langley's chambers, she looked upon that unhappy +girl's guilt as the consequence of her own; and mourned, incessantly +mourned, over the fatal errors of her early judgment, which had made +her, though an idolater of virtue, a practical assistant to the cause +of vice. When Adeline imagined the term of her existence to be drawing +nigh, her mother, her obdurate but still dear mother, regained her +wonted ascendancy over her affections; and to her, the approach of +death seemed fraught with satisfaction. For that parent, so long, so +repeatedly deaf to her prayers, and to the detail of those sufferings +which she had made one of the conditions of her forgiveness, had +promised to see and to forgive her on her _death-bed_; and her heart +yearned, fondly yearned, for the moment when she should be pressed to +the bosom of a relenting parent. + +To Cumberland, therefore, she was resolved to hasten, and into the very +neighbourhood of Mrs Mowbray; while, as the chaise wheeled them along to +the place of their destination, even the prattle of her child could not +always withdraw her from the abstraction into which she was plunged, as +the scenes of her early years thronged upon her memory, and with them +the recollection of those proofs of a mother's fondness, for a renewal +of which, even in the society of Glenmurray, she had constantly and +despondingly sighed. + +As they approached Penrith, her emotion redoubled, and she involuntarily +exclaimed--'Cruel, but still dear, mother, you little think your child +is so near!' + +'Heaven save me!' cried Savanna; 'are we to go and be near dat woman?' + +'Yes,' replied Adeline. 'Did she not say she would forgive me on my +death-bed?' + +'But you not there yet, dear missess,' sobbed Savanna; 'you not there of +long years!' + +'Savanna,' returned Adeline, 'I should die contented to purchase my +mother's blessing and forgiveness.' + +Savanna, speechless with contending emotions, could not express by words +the feeling of mixed sorrow and indignation which overwhelmed her; but +she replied by putting Editha in Adeline's arms; then articulating with +effort, 'Look there!' she sobbed aloud. + +'I understand you,' said Adeline, kissing away the tears gathering in +Editha's eyes, at sight of Savanna's distress: 'but perhaps I think my +death would be of more service to my child than my life.' + +'And to me too, I suppose,' replied Savanna reproachfully. 'Well,--me go +to Scotland; for no one love me but the tawny boy.' + +'You will stay and close my eyes first, I hope!' observed Adeline +mournfully. + +In a moment Savanna's resentment vanished. 'Me will live and die vid +you,' she replied, her tears redoubling, while Adeline again sunk into +thoughtful silence. + +As soon as they reached Penrith, Adeline inquired for lodgings out +of the town, on that side nearest to her mother's abode; and was so +fortunate, as she esteemed herself, to procure two apartments at a small +house within two miles of Mrs Mowbray's. + +'Then I breathe once more the same air with my mother!' exclaimed +Adeline as she took possession of her lodging. 'Savanna, methinks I +breathe freer already!' + +'Me more choked,' replied the mulatto, and turned sullenly away. + +'Nay, I--I feel so much better, that to-morrow I will--I will take a +walk,' said Adeline hesitatingly. + +'And where?' asked Savanna eagerly. + +'Oh, to-night I shall only walk to bed,' replied Adeline smiling; and +with unusual cheerfulness she retired to rest. + +The next morning she arose early; and being informed that a stile near a +peasant's cottage commanded a view of Mrs Mowbray's house, she hired a +man and cart to convey her to the bottom of the hill, and with Editha by +her side she set out to indulge her feelings by gazing on the house +which contained her mother. + +When they alighted, Editha gaily endeavoured to climb the hill, and +urged her mother to follow her; but Adeline, rendered weak by illness +and breathless by emotion, felt the ascent so difficult, that no motive +less powerful than the one which actuated her could have enabled her to +reach the summit. + +At length, however, she did reach it:--and the lawn before Mrs Mowbray's +white house, her hay-fields, and the running stream at the bottom of +it, burst in all their beauty on her view.--'And this is my mother's +dwelling!' exclaimed Adeline: 'and there was I born: and near here--' +shall I die, she would have added, but her voice failed her. + +'Oh! what a pretty house and garden!' cried Editha in the unformed +accents of childhood;--'how I should like to live there!' + +This artless remark awakened a thousand mixed and overpowering feelings +in the bosom of Adeline; and, after a pause of strong emotion, she +exclaimed, catching the little prattler to her heart--'you _shall_ live +there, my child!--yes, yes, you _shall_ live there!' + +'But when?' resumed Editha. + +'When I am in my grave,' answered Adeline. + +'And when shall you be there?' replied the unconscious child, fondly +caressing her: 'pray, mamma--pray be there soon!' + +Adeline turned away, unable to answer her. + +'Look--look, mamma!'--resumed Editha: 'there are ladies.--Oh! do let us +go there now!--why can't we?' + +'Would to God we could!' replied Adeline; as in one of the ladies she +recognized Mrs Mowbray, and stood gazing on her till her eyes ached +again: but what she felt on seeing her she will herself describe in the +succeeding pages: and I shall only add, that, as soon as Mrs Mowbray +returned into the house, Adeline, wrapped in a long and mournful +reverie, returned, full of a new plan, to her lodgings. + +There is no love so disinterested as parental love; and Adeline had all +the keen sensibilities of a parent. To make, therefore, 'assurance +doubly sure' that Mrs Mowbray should receive and should love her orphan +when she was no more, she resolved to give up the gratification to which +she had looked forward, the hope, before she died, of obtaining her +forgiveness--that she might not weaken, by directing any part of them to +herself, those feelings of remorse, fruitless tenderness, and useless +regret in her mother's bosom, which she wished should be concentrated on +her child. + +'No,' said Adeline to herself, 'I am sure that she will not refuse to +receive my orphan to her love and protection when I am no more, and am +become alike insensible of reproaches and of blessings; and I think that +she will love my child the more tenderly, because to me she will be +unable to express the compunction which, sooner or later, she will feel +from the recollection of her conduct towards me: therefore, I will make +no demands on her love for myself; but, in a letter to be given her +after my decease, bequeath my orphan to her care;'--and with this +determination she returned from her ride. + +'Have you see her?' said Savanna, running out to meet her. + +'Yes--but not spoken to her; nor shall I see her again.' + +'What--I suppose she see you, and not speak?' + +'Oh, no; she did not see me, nor shall I urge her to see me: my plans +are altered,' replied Adeline. + +'And we go back to town and Colonel Mordaunt?' + +'No,' resumed Adeline, sighing deeply, and preparing to write to Mrs +Mowbray. + +But it is necessary that we should for a short time go back to +Berrendale, and relate that, while Adeline and Editha were confined with +the small-pox, Mr Drury received a summons from his employer in Jamaica +to go over thither, to be intrusted with some particular business: in +consequence of this he resolved to call again on Adeline, and inquire +whether she still persisted in styling herself Mrs Berrendale; as he +concluded that Berrendale would be very glad of all the information +relative to her and her child which he could possibly procure, whether +his curiosity on the subject proceeded from fear or love. + +It so happened, that as soon as Editha, as well as her mother, was in +the height of the disorder, Mr Drury called; and finding that they were +both very bad, he thought that his friend Berrendale was likely to get +rid of both his encumbrances at once; and being eager to communicate +good news to a man whose influence in the island might be a benefit to +him, he every day called to inquire concerning their health. + +The second floor in the house where Adeline lodged was then occupied by +a young woman in indigent circumstances, who, as well as her child, had +sickened with the distemper the very day that Editha was inoculated: and +when Drury, just as he was setting off for Portsmouth, ran to gain the +latest intelligence of the invalids, a charwoman, who attended to the +door, not being acquainted with the name of the poor young woman and her +little girl, concluding that Mr Drury, by Mrs Berrendale and miss who +were ill with the small-pox, meant them, replied to his inquiries,--'Ah, +poor things! it is all over with them, they died last night.' + +On which, not staying for any further intelligence, Drury set off for +Portsmouth, and arrived at Jamaica just as Berrendale was going to remit +to Adeline a draft for a hundred pounds. For Adeline and the injury +which he had done her, had been for some days constantly present to +his thoughts. He had been ill; and as indigestion, the cause of his +complaints, is apt to occasion disturbed dreams, he had in his dreams +been haunted by the image of Glenmurray, who, with a threatening aspect, +had reproached him with cruelty and base ingratitude to him, in +deserting in such a manner the wife whom he had bequeathed to him. + +The constant recurrence of these dreams had depressed his spirits and +excited his remorse so much, that he could calm his feelings in no other +way than by writing a kind letter to Adeline, and enclosing her a draft +on his banker. This letter was on the point of being sent when Drury +arrived, and, with very little ceremony, informed him that Adeline was +dead. + +'Dead!' exclaimed Berrendale, falling almost sensless on his couch: +'Dead!--Oh! for God's sake, tell me of what she died!--Surely, surely, +she--' Here his voice failed him. + +Drury coolly replied, that she and her child both died of the small-pox. + +'But _when_? my dear fellow!--when? Say that they died nine months ago' +(that was previous to his marriage) 'and you make me your friend for +life!' + +Drury, so _bribed_, would have said _any thing_; and, with all the +coolness possible, he replied, 'Then be my friend for life:--they died +rather better than nine months ago.' + +Berrendale, being then convinced that bigamy was not likely to be proved +against him, soon forgot, in the joy which this thought occasioned him, +remorse for his conduct to Adeline, and regret for her early fate: +besides, he concluded that he saved L100 by the means; for he knew not +that the delicate mind of Adeline would have scorned to owe pecuniary +obligations to the husband who had basely and unwarrantably deserted +her. + +But he was soon undeceived on this subject, by a letter which Colonel +Mordaunt wrote in confidence to a friend in Jamaica, begging him to +inquire concerning Mr Berrendale's second marriage; and to inform him +privately that his injured wife had zealous and powerful friends in +England, who were continually urging her to prosecute him for bigamy. + +This intelligence had a fatal effect on the health of Berrendale; for +though the violent temper and overbearing disposition of his second +wife had often made him regret the gentle and compliant Adeline, and a +separation from her, consequently, would be a blessing, still he feared +to encounter the disgrace of a prosecution, and still more the anger of +his West Indian wife; who, it was not improbable, might even attack his +life in the first moment of ungoverned passion. + +And to these fears he soon fell a sacrifice; for a frame debilitated by +intemperance could not support the assaults made on it by the continued +apprehensions which Colonel Mordaunt's friend had excited in him; and he +died in that gentleman's presence, whom in his last moments he had +summoned to his apartment to witness a will, by which he owned Adeline +Mowbray to be his lawful wife, and left Editha, his acknowledged and +only heir, a very considerable fortune. + +But this circumstance, an account of which, with the will, was +transmitted to Colonel Mordaunt, did not take place till long after +Adeline took up her abode in Cumberland. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + + +But to return to Colonel Mordaunt. Though Adeline had said that he +must discontinue his visits, he resolved to disobey her; and the next +morning, as soon as he thought she had breakfasted, he repaired to her +lodgings; where he heard, with mixed sorrow and indignation, that she +had set off in a post-chaise at six o'clock, and was gone no one knew +whither. + +'But, surely she has left some note or message for me!' exclaimed +Colonel Mordaunt. + +'Neither the one nor the other,' was the answer; and he returned home in +no very enviable state of mind. + +Various, indeed, and contradictory were his feelings: yet still +affection was uppermost; and he could not but respect in Adeline the +conduct which drove him to despair. Nor was self-love backward to +suggest to him, that had not Adeline felt his presence and attentions to +be dangerous, she would not so suddenly have withdrawn from them; and +this idea was the only one on which he could at all bear to dwell: for, +when he reflected that day after day might pass without his either +seeing or hearing from her, existence seemed to become suddenly a +burthen, and he wandered from place to place with joyless and unceasing +restlessness. + +At one time he resolved to pursue her; but the next, piqued at not +having received from her even a note of farewell, he determined to +endeavour to forget her: and this was certainly the wiser plan of the +two: but the succeeding moment he determined to let a week pass, in +hopes of receiving a letter from her, and, in case he did not, to set +off in search of her, being assured of succeeding in his search of her, +because the singularity of Savanna's appearance, and the traces of the +small-pox visible in the face of Adeline, made them liable to be +observed, and easy for him to describe. + +But before the week elapsed, from agitation of mind, and from having +exposed himself unnecessarily to cold, by lying on damp grass at +midnight, after having heated himself by immoderate walking, Colonel +Mordaunt became ill of a fever; and when, after a confinement of several +weeks, he was restored to health, he despaired of being able to learn +tidings of the fugitives; and disappointed and dejected, he sought +in the gayest scenes of the metropolis and its environs to drown the +remembrances, from which in solitude he had vainly endeavoured to fly. +At this time a faded but attractive woman of quality, with whom he had +formerly been intimate, returned from abroad, and, meeting Colonel +Mordaunt at the house of a mutual friend, endeavoured to revive in him +his former attachment: but it was a difficult task for a woman, who had +never been able to touch the heart, to excite an attachment in a man +already sentimentally devoted to another. + +Her advances, however, flattered Colonel Mordaunt, and her society +amused him, till, at length, their intimacy was renewed on its former +footing: but soon tired of his mistress, and displeased with himself, he +took an abrupt leave of her, and throwing himself into his post-chaise, +retired to the seat of a relation in Herefordshire. + +Near this gentleman's house lived Mr Maynard and his two sisters, +who had taken up their abode there immediately on their return from +Portugal. Major Douglas, his wife, and Emma Douglas, were then on a +visit to them. Mordaunt had known Major Douglas in early life; and as +soon as he found that he was in the neighbourhood, he rode over to renew +his acquaintance with him; and received so cordial a welcome, not only +from the major, but the master of the house and his sisters, that he was +strongly induced to repeat his visits, and not a day passed in which he +was not, during some part of it, a guest at Mr Maynard's. + +Mrs Wallington and Miss Maynard, indeed, received him with such pointed +marks of distinction and preference, as to make it visible to every +observer that it was not as a friend only they were desirous of +considering Colonel Mordaunt; while, by spiteful looks and acrimonious +remarks directed to each other, the sisters expressed the jealousy which +rankled in their hearts, whenever he seemed by design or inadvertency to +make one of them the particular object of his attention. + +Of Emma Douglas's chance for his favour, they were not at all +fearful:--they thought her too plain, and too unattractive, to be +capable of rivalling them; especially in the favour of an officer, a man +of fashion; and therefore they beheld without emotion the attention +which Colonel Mordaunt paid to her whenever she spoke, and the deference +which he evidently felt for her opinion, as her remarks on whatever +subject she conversed were formed always to interest, and often to +instruct. + +One evening, while Major Douglas was amusing himself in looking over +some magazines which had lately been bound up together, and had not yet +been deposited in Mr Maynard's library, he suddenly started, laid down +the book, and turning to the window, with an exclamation of--'Poor +fellow!'--passed his hand across his eyes, as if meaning to disperse an +involuntary tear. + +'What makes you exclaim "Poor fellow?"' asked his lovely wife: 'have you +met with an affecting story in those magazines?' + +'No, Louisa,' replied he, 'but I met in the obituary with a confirmation +of the death of an old friend, which I suspected must have happened by +this time, though I never knew it before; I see by this magazine that +poor Glenmurray died a very few months after we saw him at Perpignan.' + +'Poor fellow!' exclaimed Mrs Douglas. + +'I wish I knew what is become of his interesting companion, Miss +Mowbray,' said Emma Douglas. + +'I wish I did too,' secretly sighed Colonel Mordaunt: but his heart +palpitated so violently at this unexpected mention of the woman for whom +he still pined in secret, that he had not resolution to say that he knew +her. + +'Become of her!' cried Miss Maynard sneeringly: 'you need not wonder, +I think, what her fate is: no doubt Mr Glenmurray's _interesting +companion_ has not lost her companionable qualities, and is a companion +still.' + +'Yes,' observed Mrs Wallington; 'or, rather, I dare say that angel of +purity is gone upon the town.' + +It was the dark hour, else Colonel Mordaunt's agitation, on hearing +these gross and unjust remarks, must have betrayed his secret to every +eye; while indignation now impeded his utterance as much as confusion +had done before. + +'Surely, surely,' cried the kind and candid Emma Douglas, 'I must +grossly have mistaken Miss Mowbray's character, if she was capable of +the conduct which you attribute to her!' + +'My dear creature!' replied Mrs Wallington, 'how should you know +any thing of her character, when it was gone long before you knew +her?--_Character_, indeed! you remind me of my brother--Mr Davenport,' +continued she to a gentleman present, 'did you ever hear the story of +my brother and an angel of purity whom he met with abroad?' + +'No--never.' + +'Be quiet,' said Maynard; 'I will not be laughed at.' + +However, Mrs Wallington and Miss Maynard, who had not yet forgiven +the deep impression which Adeline's graces had made on their brother, +insisted on telling the story; to which Colonel Mordaunt listened with +eager and anxious curiosity. It received all the embellishments which +female malice could give it; and if it amused any one, certainly that +person was neither Mordaunt, nor Emma Douglas, nor her gentle sister. + +'But how fortunate it was,' added Miss Maynard, 'that we were not with +my brother! as we should unavoidably have walked and talked with this +angel.' + +Mordaunt longed to say, 'I think the good fortune was all on Miss +Mowbray's side.' + +But Adeline and her cause were in good hands: Emma Douglas stood forth +as her champion.--'We feel very differently on that subject,' she +replied. 'I shall ever regret, not that I saw and conversed with Miss +Mowbray, but that I did not see and converse with her again and again.' + +At this moment Emma was standing by Colonel Mordaunt, who involuntarily +caught her hand and pressed it eagerly; but tried to disguise his +motives by suddenly seating her in a chair behind her, saying, 'You had +better sit down; I am sure you must be tired with standing so long.' + +'No; really, Emma,' cried Major Douglas, 'you go too far there; though +to be sure, if by seeing and conversing with Miss Mowbray you could have +convinced her of her errors, I should not have objected to your seeing +her once more or so.' + +'Surely,' said Mrs Douglas timidly, 'we ought, my love, to have repeated +our visits till we had made a convert of her.' + +'A _convert_ of her!' exclaimed Mr Maynard's sisters, 'a convert of a +kept mistress!' bursting into a violent laugh, which had a most painful +effect on the irritable nerves of Colonel Mordaunt, whose tongue, +parched with emotion, cleaved to the roof of his mouth whenever he +attempted to speak. + +'Pray, to what other circumstance, yet untold, do you allude?' said Mr +Davenport. + +'Oh, we too had a rencontre with the philosopher and his charming +friend,' said Major Douglas, 'and--but, Emma, do you tell the +story.--'Sdeath!--Poor fellow!--Well, but we parted good friends,' added +the kind-hearted Caledonian, dispersing a tear; while Emma, in simple +but impressive language, related all that passed at Perpignan between +themselves, Adeline, and Glenmurray; and concluded with saying, that, +'from the almost idolatrous respect with which Glenmurray spoke and +apparently thought of Adeline, and from the account of her conduct and +its motives, which he so fully detailed, she was convinced that, so +far from being influenced by depravity in connecting herself with +Glenmurray, Adeline was the victim of a romantic, absurd, and false +conception of virtue; and she should have thought it her duty to have +endeavoured, assisted by her sister, to have prevailed on her to +renounce her opinions, and, by becoming the wife of Glenmurray, to +restore to the society of her own sex, a woman formed to be its ornament +and its example. 'Poor thing!' she added in a faltering voice, 'would +that I knew her fate!' + +'I can guess it, I tell you,' said Mrs Wallington. + +'We had better drop the subject, madam,' replied Emma Douglas +indignantly, 'as it is one that we shall never agree upon. If I supposed +Miss Mowbray happy, I should feel for her, and feel interest sufficient +in her fate to make me combat your prejudices concerning her; but now +that she is perhaps afflicted, poor, friendless, and scorned, though +unjustly, by every "virtuous she that knows her story," I cannot command +my feelings when she is named with sarcastic respect, nor can I bear to +hear an unhappy woman supposed to be plunged in the lowest depths of +vice, whom I, on the contrary, believe to be at this moment atoning for +the error of her judgment by a life of lonely penitence, or sunk perhaps +already in the grave, the victim of a broken heart.' + +Colonel Mordaunt, affected and delighted, hung on Emma Douglas's words +with breathless attention, resolving when she had ended her narration to +begin his, and clear Adeline from the calumnies of Mrs Wallington and +Miss Maynard: but after articulating with some difficulty--'Ladies,--I +--Miss Douglas,--I--' he found that his feelings would not allow him to +proceed: therefore, suddenly raising Emma's hand to his lips, imprinted +on it a kiss, at once fervent and respectful, and, making a hasty bow, +ran out of the house. + +Every one was astonished; but none so much as Emma Douglas. + +'Why, Emma!' cried the major, 'who should have thought it? I verily +believe you have turned Mordaunt's head;--I protest that he kissed your +hand:--I suppose he will be here to-morrow, making proposals in form.' + +'I wish he may!' exclaimed Mrs Douglas. + +'It is not very likely, I think,' cried Miss Maynard. + +Mrs Wallington said nothing; but she fanned herself violently. + +'How do you know that?' said Maynard. 'He kissed your hand very +tenderly--did he not, Miss Douglas? and took advantage of the dark hour: +that looks very lover-like.' + +Emma Douglas, who, in spite of her reason, was both embarrassed and +flattered by Colonel Mordaunt's unexpected mode of taking leave, said +not a word; but Mrs Wallington, in a voice hoarse with angry emotion, +cried: + +'It was very free in him, I think, and very unlike Colonel Mordaunt; for +he was not a sort of man to take liberties but where he met with +encouragement.' + +'Then I am sure he would be free with you, sister, sometimes,' +sarcastically observed Miss Maynard. + +'Nay, with both of you, I think,' replied Maynard, who had not forgiven +the laugh at his expense which they had tried to excite; on which an +angry dialogue took place between the brother and sisters: and the +Douglases, disgusted and provoked, retired to their apartment. + +'There was something very strange and uncommon,' said Mrs Douglas, +detaining Emma in her dressing-room, 'in Colonel Mordaunt's behaviour--Do +you not think so, Emma?--If it should have any meaning!' + +'Meaning!' cried the major: 'what meaning should it have? Why, my dear, +do you think Mordaunt never kissed a woman's hand before?' + +'But it was so _particular_.--Well, Emma, if it should lead to +consequences!' + +'Consequences!' cried the major: 'my dear girl, what can you mean?' + +'Why, if he should _really love_ our Emma?' + +'Why then I hope our Emma will love him.--What say you, Emma?' + +'I say?--I--' she replied: 'really I never thought it possible that +Colonel Mordaunt should have any thoughts of me, nor do I now;--but it +is very strange that he should kiss my hand!' + +The major could not help laughing at the _naivete_ of this reply, and in +a mutual whisper they agreed how much they wished to see their sister +so happily disposed of; while Emma paced up and down her own apartment +some time before she undressed herself; and after seeming to convince +herself, by recollecting all Colonel Mordaunt's conduct towards her, +that he could not possibly _mean_ any thing by his unusual adieu, she +went to sleep, exclaiming, 'But it is very strange that he should kiss +my hand!' + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + +The next morning explained the mystery: for breakfast was scarcely over, +when Colonel Mordaunt appeared; and his presence occasioned a blush, +from different causes, on the cheeks of all the ladies, and a smile on +the countenances of both the gentlemen. + +'You left us very abruptly last night,' said Major Douglas. + +'I did so,' replied Mordaunt with a sort of grave smile. + +'Were you taken ill?' asked Maynard. + +'I--I was not quite easy,' answered he: 'but, Miss Douglas, may I +request the honour of seeing you alone for a few minutes?' + +Again the ladies blushed, and the gentlemen smiled. But Emma's weakness +had been temporary: she had convinced herself that Colonel Mordaunt's +action had been nothing more than a tribute to what he fancied her +generous defence of an unfortunate woman: and with an air of embarrassed +dignity she gave him her hand to lead her into an adjoining apartment. + +'This is very good of you,' cried Colonel Mordaunt: 'but you are all +goodness!--My dear Miss Douglas, had I not gone away as I did last +night, I believe I should have fallen down and worshipped you, or +committed some other extravagance.' + +'Indeed!--What could I say to excite such enthusiasm!' replied Emma +deeply blushing. + +'What!--Oh, Miss Douglas!'--Then after a few more ohs, and other +exclamations, he related to her the whole progress of his acquaintance +with an attachment to Adeline, adding as he concluded, 'Now then judge +what feelings you must have excited in my bosom:--yes, Miss Douglas, I +reverenced you before for your own sake, I now adore you for that of my +lost Adeline.' + +'So!' thought Emma, 'the kiss of the hand is explained,'--and she +sighed as she thought it; nor did she much like the word _reverenced_: +but she had ample amends for her mortification by what followed. + +'Really,' cried Colonel Mordaunt, gazing very earnestly at her, 'I do +not mean to flatter you, but there is something in your countenance that +reminds me very strongly of Adeline.' + +'Is it possible?' said Emma, her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling +as she spoke: 'you may not mean to flatter me, but I assure you I am +flattered; for I never saw any woman whom in appearance I so much wished +to resemble.' + +'You do resemble her indeed,' cried Colonel Mordaunt, 'and the likeness +grows stronger and stronger.' + +Emma blushed deeper and deeper. + +'But come,' exclaimed he, 'let us go; and I will--no, _you_ shall--relate +to the party in the next room what I have been telling you, for I long +to shame those d--' + +'Fye!' said Emma smiling, and holding up her hand as if to stop the +coming word. And she did stop it; for Colonel Mordaunt conveyed the +reproving hand to his lips; and Emma said to herself, as she half +frowning withdrew it, 'I am glad my brother was not present.' + +Their return to the breakfast-room was welcome to every one, from +different causes, as Colonel Mordaunt's motives for requesting a +tete-a-tete had given rise to various conjectures. But all conjecture +was soon lost in certainty: for Emma Douglas, with more than usual +animation of voice and countenance, related what Colonel Mordaunt had +authorized her to relate; and the envious sisters heard, with increased +resentment, that Adeline, were she unmarried, would be the choice of the +man whose affections they were eagerly endeavouring to captivate. + +'You can't think,' said Colonel Mordaunt, when Emma had concluded, +leaving him charmed with the manner in which she had told his story, and +with the generous triumph which sparkled in her eyes at being able to +exhibit Adeline's character in so favourable a point of view, 'you can't +think how much Miss Douglas reminds me of Mrs Berrendale!' + +'Lord!' said Miss Maynard with a toss of the head, 'my brother told us +that she was handsome!' + +'And so she is,' replied the colonel, provoked at this brutal speech: +'she has one of the finest countenances that I ever saw,--a countenance +never distorted by those feelings of envy, and expressions of spite, +which so often disfigure some women,--converting even a beauty into a +fiend; and in this respect no one will doubt that Miss Douglas resembles +her: + + 'What's female beauty--but an air divine, + Thro' which the mind's all gentle graces shine?' + +says one of our first poets: therefore, in Dr Young's opinion, madam,' +continued Mordaunt, turning to Emma, 'you would have been a perfect +beauty.' + +This speech, so truly gratifying to the amiable girl to whom it was +addressed, was a dagger in the heart of both the sisters. Nor was Emma's +pleasure unalloyed by pain; for she feared that Mordaunt's attentions +might become dangerous to her peace of mind, as she could not disguise +to herself, that his visits at Mr Maynard's had been the chief cause of +her reluctance to return to Scotland whenever their journey home was +mentioned. For, always humble in her ideas of her own charms, Emma +Douglas could not believe that Mordaunt would ever entertain any feeling +for her at all resembling love, except when he fancied that she looked +like Adeline. + +But however unlikely it seemed that Mordaunt should become attached to +her, and however resolved she was to avoid his society, certain it is +that he soon found he could be happy in the society of no other woman, +since to no other could he talk on the subject nearest his heart; and +Emma, though blaming herself daily for her temerity, could not refuse to +receive Mordaunt's visits: and her patient attention to his conversation, +of which Adeline was commonly the theme, seemed to have a salutary +effect on his wounded feelings. + +But the time for their departure arrived, much to the joy of Mrs +Wallington and her sister, who hoped when Emma was gone to have a chance +of being noticed by Mordaunt. + +What then must have been their confusion and disappointment, when +Colonel Mordaunt begged to be allowed to attend the Douglases on their +journey home, as he had never seen the Highlands, and wished to see them +in such good company! Major Douglas and his charming wife gave a glad +consent to this proposal: but Emma Douglas heard it with more alarm than +pleasure; for, though her heart rejoiced at it, her reason condemned it. + +A few days, however, convinced her apprehensive delicacy, that, if she +loved Colonel Mordaunt, it was not without hope of a return. + +Colonel Mordaunt declared that every day seemed to increase her +resemblance to Adeline in expression and manner; and in conduct his +reason told him that she was her superior; nor could he for a moment +hesitate to prefer as a wife, Emma Douglas who had never erred, to +Adeline who had. + +Colonel Mordaunt felt, to borrow the words of a celebrated female +writer,[1] that 'though it is possible to love and esteem a woman who +has expiated the faults of her youth by a sincere repentance; and though +before God and man her errors may be obliterated; still there exists one +being in whose eyes she can never hope to efface them, and that is her +lover or her husband.' He felt that no man of acute sensibility can +be happy with a woman whose recollections are not pure: she must +necessarily be jealous of the opinion which he entertains of her; and he +must be often afraid of speaking, lest he utter a sentiment that may +wound and mortify her. Besides, he was, on just grounds, more desirous +of marrying a woman whom he 'admired, than one whom he forgave;' and +therefore, while he addressed Emma, he no longer regretted Adeline. + + 1: Madame de Stael, _Recueil de Morceaux detaches_, page 208. + +In short, he at length ceased to talk of Emma's resemblance to Adeline, +but seemed to admire her wholly for her own sake; and having avowed his +attachment, and been assured of Emma's in return, by Major Douglas, he +came back to England in the ensuing autumn, the happy husband of one of +the best of women. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + + +We left Adeline preparing to address Mrs Mowbray and recommend her child +to her protection:--but being deeply impressed with the importance of +the task which she was about to undertake, she timidly put it off +from day to day; and having convinced herself that it was her duty to +endeavour to excite her husband to repentance, and make him acknowledge +Editha as his legitimate child, she determined to write to him before +she addressed her mother, and also to bid a last farewell to Colonel +Mordaunt, whose respectful attachment had soothed some of the pangs +which consciousness of her past follies had inflicted, and whose active +friendship deserved her warmest acknowledgment. Little did she think the +fatal effect which one instance of his friendly zeal in her cause had +had on Berrendale; unconscious was she that the husband, whose neglect +she believed to be intentional, great as were his crimes against her, +was not guilty of the additional crime of suffering her to pine in +poverty without making a single inquiry concerning her, but was +convinced that both she and her child were no longer in existence. + +In her letter to him, she conjured him by the love which he _always_ +bore Glenmurray, by the love he _once_ bore her, and by the remorse +which he would sooner or later feel for his conduct towards her and her +child, to acknowledge Editha to be his lawful heir, but to suffer her to +remain under that protection to which she meant to bequeath her; and on +these conditions she left him her blessing and her pardon. + +The letter to Colonel Mordaunt was long, and perhaps diffuse: but +Adeline was jealous of his esteem, though regardless of his love; and as +he had known her while acting under the influence of a fatal error of +opinion, she wished to show him that on conviction she had abandoned +her former way of thinking, and was candid enough to own that she had +been wrong. + +'You, no doubt,' she said, 'are well acquainted with the arguments urged +by different writers in favour of marriage. I shall therefore only +mention the argument which carried at length full conviction to _my_ +mind, and conquered even my deep and heartfelt reverence for the +opinions of one who long was, and ever will be, the dearest object of my +love and regret. But _he_, had he lived, would I am sure have altered +his sentiments; and had he been a parent, the argument I allude to, as +it is founded on a consideration of the interest of children, would have +found its way to his reason, through his affections. + +'It is evident that on the education given to children must depend the +welfare of the community; and, consequently, that whatever is likely +to induce parents to neglect the education of their children must be +_hurtful_ to the welfare of the community. It is also certain, that +though the agency of the _passions_ be necessary to the existence of all +society, it is on the cultivation and influence of the _affections_ that +the happiness and improvement of social life depend. + +'Hence it follows that marriage must be more beneficial to society +in its consequences, than connexions capable of being dissolved at +pleasure; because it has a tendency to call forth and exercise the +affections, and control the passions. It has been said, that, were we +free to dissolve at will a connexion formed by love, we should not wish +to do it, as constancy is natural to us, and there is in all of us a +tendency to form an exclusive attachment. But though I believe, from my +own experience, that the few are capable of unforced constancy, and +could love for life one dear and honoured object, still I believe that +the many are given to the love of change;--that, in men especially, a +new object can excite new passion; and, judging from the increasing +depravity of both sexes, in spite of existing laws, and in defiance of +shame,--I am convinced, that if the ties of marriage were dissolved, or +it were no longer to be judged infamous to act in contempt of them, +unbridled licentiousness would soon be in general practice. What, then, +in such a state of society, would be the fate of the children born in +it?--What would their education be? Parents continually engrossed in +the enervating but delightful egotism of a new and happy love, lost in +selfish indulgence, the passions awake, but the affections slumbering, +and the sacred ties of parental feeling not having time nor opportunity +to fasten on the heart,--their offspring would either die the victims +of neglect, and the very existence of the human race be threatened; or, +without morals or instruction, they would grow up to scourge the world +by their vices, till the whole fabric of civilized society was gradually +destroyed. + +'On this ground, therefore, this strong ground, I venture to build +my present opinion, that marriage is a wise and ought to be a sacred +institution; and I bitterly regret the hour when, with the hasty and +immature judgment of eighteen, and with a degree of presumption scarcely +pardonable at any time of life, I dared to think and act contrary to +this opinion and the reverend experience of ages, and became in the eyes +of the world an example of vice, when I believed myself the champion of +virtue.' + +She then went on to express the following sentiments. 'You will think, +perhaps, that I ought to struggle against the weakness which is hurrying +me to the grave, and live for the sake of my child.--Alas! it is for her +sake that I most wish to die. + +'There are two ways in which a mother can be of use to her daughter: the +one is by instilling into her mind virtuous principles, and by setting +her a virtuous example: the other is, by being to her in her own person +an awful warning, a melancholy proof of the dangers which attend a +deviation from the path of virtue. But, oh! how jealous must a mother be +of her child's esteem and veneration! and how could she bear to humble +herself in the eyes of the beloved object, by avowing that she had +committed crimes against society, however atoned for by penitence and +sorrow! I can never, now, be a correct example for my Editha, nor could +I endure to live to be a warning to her.--Nay, if I lived, I should +be most probably a dangerous example to her; for I should be (on my +death-bed I think I may be allowed the boast) respected and esteemed; +while the society around me would forget my past errors, in the +sincerity of my repentance. + +'If then a strong temptation should assail my child, might she not yield +to it from an idea that "one false step may be retrieved," and cite her +mother as an example of this truth? while, unconscious of the many +secret heart-aches of that repentant mother, unconscious of the sorrows +and degradations she had experienced, she regarded nothing but the +present respectability of her mother's life, and contented herself with +hoping one day to resemble her. + +'Believe me, that were it possible for me to choose between life and +death, for my child's sake, the choice would be the latter. Now, when +she shall see in my mournful and eventful history, written as it has +been by me in moments of melancholy leisure, that all my sorrows were +consequent on one presumptuous error of judgment in early youth, and +shall see a long and minute detail of the secret agonies which I have +endured, those agonies wearing away my existence, and ultimately +hurrying me to an untimely grave; she will learn that the woman who +feels justly, yet has been led even into the practice of vice, however +she may be forgiven by others, can never forgive herself; and though she +may dare to lift an eye of hope to that Being who promises pardon on +repentance, she will still recollect with anguish the fair and glorious +course which she might have run: and that, instead of humbly imploring +forbearance and forgiveness, she might have demanded universal respect +and esteem. + +'True it is, that I did not act in defiance of the world's opinion, from +any depraved feeling, or vicious inclinations: but the world could not +be expected to believe this, since motives are known only to our own +hearts, and the great Searcher of hearts: therefore, as far as example +goes, I was as great a stumbling-block to others as if the life I led +had been owing to the influence of lawless desires; and society was +right in making, and in seeing, no distinction between me and any other +woman living in an unsanctioned connexion. + +'But methinks I hear you say, that Editha might never be informed of +my past errors. Alas! wretched must that woman be whose happiness and +respectability depend on the secrecy of others! Besides, did I not think +the concealment of crime in itself a crime, how could I know an hour +of peace while I reflected that a moment's malice, or inadvertency, in +one of Editha's companions might cause her to blush at her mother's +disgrace?--that, while her young cheek was flushed perhaps with the +artless triumphs of beauty, talent, and virtue, the parent who envied +me, or the daughter who envied her might suddenly convert her joy into +anguish and mortification, by artfully informing her, with feigned pity +for my sorrows and admiration of my penitence, that I had once been a +_disgrace_ to that family of which I was now the pride?--No--even if I +were not for ever separated in this world from the only man whom I ever +loved with passionate and well-founded affection, united for life to +the object of my just aversion, and were I not conscious (horrible and +overwhelming thought!) of having by my example led another into the path +of sin,--still, I repeat it, for my child's sake I should wish to die, +and should consider, not early death, but lengthened existence, as a +curse.' + +So Adeline reasoned and felt in her moments of reflection: but the heart +had sometimes dominion over her; and as she gazed on Editha, and thought +that Mrs Mowbray might be induced to receive her again to her favour, +she wished even on any terms to have her life prolonged. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + + +Having finished her letter to Colonel Mordaunt and Berrendale, she again +prepared to write to her mother; a few transient fears overcoming every +now and then those hopes of success in her application, which, till she +took up her pen, she had so warmly encouraged. + +Alas! little did she know how erroneously for years she had judged of +Mrs Mowbray. Little did she suspect that her mother had long forgiven +her; had pined after her; had sought, though in vain, to procure +intelligence of her; and was then wearing away her existence in solitary +woe, a prey to self-reproach, and to the corroding fear that her +daughter, made desperate by her renunciation of her, had, on the death +of Glenmurray, plunged into a life of shame, or sunk, broken-hearted, +into the grave! for not one of Adeline's letters had ever reached Mrs +Mowbray; and the mother and daughter had both been the victims of female +treachery and jealousy. + +Mrs Mowbray, as soon as she had parted with Adeline for the last time, +had dismissed all her old servants, the witnesses of her sorrows and +disgrace, and retired to her estate in Cumberland,--an estate where +Adeline had first seen the light, and where Mrs Mowbray had first +experienced the transport of a mother. This spot was therefore ill +calculated to banish Adeline from her mother's thoughts, and to continue +her seclusion from her affections. + +On the contrary, her image haunted Mrs Mowbray:--whithersoever she went, +she still saw her in an attitude of supplication; she still heard the +plaintive accents of her voice;--and often did she exclaim, 'My child, +my child! wretch that I am! must I never see thee more!' + +These ideas increased to so painful a degree, that, finding her solitude +insupportable, she invited an orphan relation in narrow circumstances +to take up her abode with her. + +This young woman, whose ruling passion was avarice, and whose greatest +talent was cunning, resolved to spare no pains to keep the situation +which she had gained, even to the exclusion of Adeline, should Mrs +Mowbray be weak enough to receive her again. She therefore intercepted +all the letters which were in or like Adeline's hand-writing; and having +learnt to imitate Mrs Mowbray's, she enclosed them in a blank cover to +Adeline, who, thinking the direction was written in her mother's hand, +desisted, as the artful girl expected she would do, from what appeared +to her a hopeless application. + +And she exulted in her contrivance;--when Mrs Mowbray, on seeing in a +magazine that Glenmurray was dead, (full a year after his decease,) +bursting into a passion of tears, protested that she would instantly +invite Adeline to her house. + +'Yes,' cried she, 'I can do so without infringement of my oath.--She is +disgraced in the eye of the world by her connexion with Glenmurray, and +she is wretched in love; nay, more so, perhaps, than I have been; and I +can, I will invite her to lose the remembrance of her misfortunes in my +love!' + +Thus did her ardent wish to be re-united to Adeline deceive her +conscience; for by the phrase 'wretched in love,' she meant, forsaken by +the object of her attachment,--and that Adeline had not been: therefore +her oath remained in full force against her. But where could she seek +Adeline? Dr Norberry could, perhaps, give her this information; and to +him she resolved to write--though he had cast her from his acquaintance: +'but her pride,' as she said, 'fell with her fortunes;' and she scrupled +not to humble herself before the zealous friend of her daughter. But +this letter would never have reached him, had not her treacherous +relation been ill at the time when it was written. + +Dr Norberry had recovered the illness of which Adeline supposed him to +have died: but as her letter to him, to which she received no answer, +alluded to the money transaction between her and Mrs Norberry; and as +she commented on the insulting expressions in Mrs Norberry's note, that +lady thought proper to suppress the second letter as well as the first; +and when the doctor, on his recovery, earnestly demanded to know whether +any intelligence had been received of Miss Mowbray, Mrs Norberry, with +pretended reluctance, told him that she had written to him in great +distress, while he was delirious, to borrow money; that she had sent +her ten pounds, which Adeline had returned, reproaching her for her +parsimony, and saying that she had found a friend who would not suffer +her to want. + +'But did you tell her that you thought me in great danger?' + +'I did.' + +'Why, what, woman! did she not, after that, write to know how I was?' + +'Never.' + +'I could not have thought it of her!' answered the doctor--who could not +but believe this story for the sake of his own peace, as it was less +destructive to his happiness to think Adeline in fault, than his wife or +children guilty of profligate falsehood: he therefore, with a deep sigh, +begged Adeline's name might never be mentioned to him again; and though +he secretly wished to hear of her welfare, he no longer made her the +subject of conversation. + +But Mrs Mowbray's letter recalled her powerfully both to his memory and +affections, while, with many a deep-drawn sigh, he regretted that he had +no possible means of discovering where she was;--and with a heavy heart +he wrote the following letter, which Miss Woodville, Mrs Mowbray's +relation, having first contrived to open and read it, ventured to give +into her hands, as it contained no satisfactory information concerning +Adeline. + + 'I look on the separation of my mother and me in this world to + be eternal,' said the poor dear lost Adeline to me, the last + time we met. 'You do!' replied I: 'then, poor devil! how + miserable will your mother be when her resentment + subsides!--Well, when that time comes, I may, perhaps see her + again,' added I, with a queer something rising in my throat + as I said it, and your poor girl blessed me for the kind + intention.--(Pshaw! I have blotted the paper: at my years it is + a shame to be so watery-eyed.) Well,--the time above-mentioned + is come--you are miserable, you are repentant--and you ask me + to forget and forgive.--I do forget, I do forgive: some time or + other, too, I will tell you so in person; and were the lost + Adeline to know that I did so, she would bless me for the act, + as she did before for the intention. But, alas! where she is, + what she is, I know not, and have not any means of knowing. To + say the truth, her conduct to me and mine has been odd, not to + say wrong. But, poor thing! she is either dead or miserable, + and I forgive her:--so I do you, as I said before, and the Lord + give you all the consolation which you so greatly need! + + Yours once more, + In true kindness of spirit, + JAMES NORBERRY.' + +This letter made Mrs Mowbray's wounds bleed afresh, at the same time +that it destroyed all her expectations of finding Adeline; and the only +hope that remained to cheer her was, that she might perhaps, if yet +alive, write sooner or later, to implore forgiveness, but month after +month elapsed, and no tidings of Adeline reached her despairing mother. + +She then put an advertisement in the paper, so worded that Adeline, had +she seen it, must have known to whom it alluded; but it never met her +eyes, and Mrs Mowbray gave herself up to almost absolute despair; when +accident introduced her to a new acquaintance, whose example taught her +patience, and whose soothing benevolence bade her hope for happier days. + +One day as Mrs Mowbray, regardless of a heavy shower, and lost in +melancholy reflections, was walking with irregular steps on the road to +Penrith, with an unopened umbrella in her hand, she suddenly raised her +eyes from the ground, and beheld a Quaker lady pursued by an over-driven +bullock, and unable any longer to make an effort to escape its fury. At +this critical moment Mrs Mowbray, from a sort of irresistible impulse, +as fortunate in its effects as presence of mind, yet scarcely perhaps to +be denominated such, suddenly opened her umbrella; and, approaching +the animal, brandished it before his eyes. Alarmed at this unusual +appearance, he turned hastily and ran towards the town, where she saw +that he was immediately met and secured. + +'Thou hast doubtless saved my life,' said the Quaker, grasping Mrs +Mowbray's hand with an emotion which she vainly tried to suppress; 'and +I pray that thine may be blest!' + +Mrs Mowbray returned the pressure of her hand, and burst into tears; +overcome with joy for having saved a fellow-creature's life; with +terror, which she was now at leisure to feel for the danger to which +she had herself been exposed; and with mournful emotion from the +consciousness how much she needed the blessing which the grateful Quaker +invoked on her head. + +'Thou tremblest even more than I do,' observed the lady, smiling, but +seeming ready to faint; 'I believe we had better, both of us, sit down +on the bank; but it is so wet that perhaps we may as well endeavour to +reach my house, which is only at the end of yon field.' Mrs Mowbray +bowed her assent; and, supporting each other, they at length arrived at +a neat white house, to which the Quaker cordially bade her welcome. + +'It was but this morning,' said Mrs Mowbray, struggling for utterance, +'that I called upon Death to relieve me from an existence at once +wretched and useless.' Here she paused:--and her new acquaintance, +cordially pressing her hand, waited for the conclusion of her +speech;--'but now,' continued Mrs Mowbray, 'I revoke, and repent my idle +and vicious impatience of life. I have probably saved your life, and +something like enjoyment now seems to enliven mine.' + +'I suspect,' replied the lady, 'that thou hast known deep affliction; +and I rejoice that at this moment, and in so providential a manner, I +have been introduced to thy acquaintance:--for I too have known sorrow, +and the mourner knows how to speak comfort to the heart of the mourner. +My name is Rachel Pemberton; and I hope that when I know thy name, and +thy story, thou wilt allow me to devote to thy comfort some hours of +the existence which thou hast preserved.' She then hastily withdrew, to +pour forth in solitude the breathings of devout gratitude:--while Mrs +Mowbray, having communed with her own thoughts, felt a glow of unwonted +satisfaction steal over her mind; and by the time Mrs Pemberton +returned, she was able to meet her with calmness and cheerfulness. + +'Thou knowest my name,' said Mrs Pemberton as she entered, seating +herself by Mrs Mowbray, 'but I have yet to learn thine.' + +'My name is Mowbray,' she replied sighing deeply. + +'Mowbray!--The lady of Rosevalley in Gloucestershire; and the mother of +Adeline Mowbray?' exclaimed Mrs Pemberton. + +'What of Adeline Mowbray? What of my child?' cried Mrs Mowbray, seizing +Mrs Pemberton's hand. 'Blessed woman! tell me,--Do you indeed know +her?--can you tell me where to find her?' + +'I will tell thee all that I know of her,' replied Mrs Pemberton in +a faltering voice; 'but thy emotion overpowers me.--I--I was once a +mother, and I can feel for thee.' She then turned away her head to +conceal a starting tear; while Mrs Mowbray, in incoherent eagerness, +repeated her questions, and tremblingly awaited her answer. + +'Is she well? Is she happy?--say but that!' she exclaimed, sobbing as +she spoke. + +'She was well and contented when I last heard from her,' replied Mrs +Pemberton calmly. + +'Heard from her? Then she writes to you! Oh, blessed, blessed woman! +show me her letters, and tell me only that she has forgiven me for all +my unkindness to her--' As she said this, Mrs Mowbray threw her arms +round Mrs Pemberton, and sunk half-fainting on her shoulder. + +'I will tell thee all that has ever passed between us, if thou wilt be +composed,' gravely answered Mrs Pemberton; 'but this violent expression +of thy feelings is unseemly and detrimental.' + +'Well--well--I will be calm,' said Mrs Mowbray; and Mrs Pemberton began +to relate the interview which she had with Adeline at Richmond. + +'How long ago did this take place?' eagerly interrupted Mrs Mowbray. + +'Full six years.' + +'Oh, God!' exclaimed she, impatiently,--'Six years! By this time then +she may be dead--she may--' + +'Thou art incorrigible, I fear,' said Mrs Pemberton, 'but thou art +afflicted, and I will bear with thy impatience:--sit down again and +attend to me, and thou wilt hear much later intelligence of thy +daughter.' + +'How late?' asked Mrs Mowbray with frantic eagerness;--and Mrs +Pemberton, overcome with the manner in which she spoke, could scarcely +falter out, 'Within a twelvemonth I have heard of her.' + +'Within a twelvemonth!' joyfully cried Mrs Mowbray: but, recollecting +herself, she added mournfully--'but in that time what--what may not have +happened!' + +'I know not what to do with thee nor for thee,' observed Mrs Pemberton; +'but do try, I beseech thee, to hear me patiently!' + +Mrs Mowbray then re-seated herself; and Mrs Pemberton informed her of +Adeline's premature confinement at Richmond; of her distress on +Glenmurray's death, and of her having witnessed it. + +'Ah! you acted a mother's part--you did what I ought to have done,' +cried Mrs Mowbray, bursting into tears,--'but, go on--I will be +patient.' + +Yet that was impossible; for, when she heard of Adeline's insanity, her +emotions became so strong that Mrs Pemberton, alarmed for her life, was +obliged to ring for assistance. + +When she recovered,--'Thou hast heard the worst now,' said Mrs +Pemberton, 'and all I have yet to say of thy child is satisfactory.' + +She then related the contents of Adeline's first letter, informing her +of her marriage:--and Mrs Mowbray, clasping her hands together, blessed +God that Adeline was become a wife. The next letter Mrs Pemberton read +informed her that she was the mother of a fine girl. + +'A mother!' she exclaimed, 'Oh, how I should like to see her child!'--But +at the same moment she recollected how bitterly she had reviled her when +she saw her about to become a mother, at their last meeting; and, torn +with conflicting emotions, she was again insensible to aught but her +self-upbraidings. + +'Well--but where is she now? where is the child? and when did you hear +from her last?' cried she. + +'I have not heard from her since,' hesitatingly replied Mrs Pemberton. + +'But can't you write to her?' + +'Yes;--but in her last letter she said she was going to change her +lodgings, and would write again when settled in a new habitation.' + +Again Mrs Mowbray paced the room in wild and violent distress: but her +sorrows at length yielded to the gentle admonitions and soothings of Mrs +Pemberton, who bade her remember, that when she rose in the morning she +had not expected the happiness and consolation which she had met with +that day; and that a short time might bring forth still greater comfort. + +'For,' said Mrs Pemberton, 'I can write to the house where she formerly +lodged, and perhaps the person who keeps it can give us intelligence of +her.' + +On hearing this, Mrs Mowbray became more composed, and diverted her +sorrow by a thousand fond inquiries concerning Adeline, which none but a +mother could make, and none but a mother could listen to with patience. + +While this conversation was going on, a knock at the door was heard, and +Miss Woodville entered the room in great emotion; for she had heard, on +the road, that a mad bullock had attacked a lady; and also that Mrs +Mowbray, scarcely able to walk, had been led into the white house in the +field by the road side. + +Miss Woodville was certainly as much alarmed as she pretended to be: +but there was a somewhat in the expression of her alarm which, though +it gratified Mrs Mowbray, was displeasing to the more penetrating Mrs +Pemberton. She could not indeed guess that Miss Woodville's alarm sprung +merely from apprehension lest Mrs Mowbray should die before she had +provided for her in her will: yet, notwithstanding, she felt that her +expressions of concern and anxiety had no resemblance to those of real +affection; and in spite of her habitual candour, she beheld Miss +Woodville with distrust. + +But this feeling was considerably increased on observing, that when Mrs +Mowbray exultingly introduced her, not only as the lady whose life she +had been the means of preserving, but as the friend and correspondent +of her daughter, she evidently changed colour; and, in spite of her +habitual plausibility, could not utter a single coherent sentence of +pleasure or congratulation:--and it was also evident, that, being +conscious of Mrs Pemberton's regarding her with a scrutinizing eye, she +was not easy till, on pretence of Mrs Mowbray's requiring rest after her +alarm, she had prevailed on her to return home. + +But she could not prevent the new friends from parting with eager +assurances of meeting again and again; and it was agreed between them, +that Mrs Pemberton should spend the next day at the Lawn. + +Mrs Pemberton, who is thus again introduced to the notice of my readers, +had been, as well as Mrs Mowbray, the pupil of adversity. She had been +born and educated in fashionable life; and she united to a very lovely +face and elegant form, every feminine grace and accomplishment. + +When she was only eighteen, Mr Pemberton, a young and gay Quaker, fell +in love with her; and having inspired her with a mutual passion, he +married her, notwithstanding the difference of their religious opinions, +and the displeasure of his friends. He was consequently disowned by the +society: but being weaned by the happiness which he found at home from +those public amusements which had first lured him from the strict habits +of his sect, he was soon desirous of being again admitted a member of +it; and in process of time he was once more received into it; while +his amiable wife, having no wish beyond her domestic circle, and being +disposed to think her husband's opinions right, became in time a convert +to the same profession of faith, and exhibited in her manners the rare +union of the easy elegance of a woman of the world with the rigid +decorum and unadorned dress of a strict Quaker. + +But in the midst of her happiness, and whilst looking forward to a +long continuance of it, a fever, caught in visiting the sick bed of a +cottager, carried off her husband, and next two lovely children; and Mrs +Pemberton would have sunk under the stroke, but for the watchful care +and affectionate attentions of the friend of her youth, who resided +near her, and who, in time, prevailed on her to receive with becoming +fortitude and resignation the trials which she was appointed to undergo. + +During this season of affliction, as we have before stated, she became +a minister in the Quaker society: but at the time of her meeting +Adeline at Richmond, she had been called from the duties of her public +profession to watch over the declining health of her friend and +consoler, and to accompany her to Lisbon. + +There, during four long years, she bent over her sick couch, now elated +with hope, and now sunk into despondence; when, at the beginning of the +fifth year, her friend died in her arms, and she returned to England, +resolved to pass her days, except when engaged in active duties, on a +little estate in Cumberland, bequeathed to her by her friend on her +death-bed. But ill health and various events had detained her in the +west of England since her return; and she had not long taken possession +of her house near Penrith, when she became introduced in so singular a +manner to Mrs Mowbray's acquaintance--an acquaintance which would, she +hoped, prove of essential service to them both; and as soon as her guest +departed, Mrs Pemberton resolved to inquire what character Mrs Mowbray +bore in the neighbourhood, and whether her virtues at all kept pace with +her misfortunes. + +Her inquiries were answered in the most satisfactory manner; as, +fortunately for Mrs Mowbray, with the remembrance of her daughter had +recurred to her that daughter's benevolent example. She remembered the +satisfaction which used to beam from Adeline's countenance when she +returned from her visits to the sick and the afflicted; and she resolved +to try whether those habits of charitable exertion which could increase +the happiness of the young and light-hearted Adeline, might not have +power to alleviate the sorrows of her own drooping age, and broken +joyless heart. + +'Sweet are the uses of adversity!'--She who, while the child of +prosperity, was a romantic, indolent theorist, an inactive speculator, +a proud contemner of the dictates of sober experience, and a neglecter +of that practical benevolence which can in days produce more benefit to +others than theories and theorists can accomplish in years--this erring +woman, awakened from her dreams and reveries, to habits of useful +exertion, by the stimulating touch of affliction, was become the +visitor of the sick, the consoler of the sorrowful, the parent of the +fatherless, while virtuous industry looked up to her with hope; and her +name, like that of Adeline in happier days, was pronounced with prayers +and blessings. + +But, alas! she felt that blessing could reach her only in the shape of +her lost child: and though she was conscious of being useful to others, +though she had the satisfaction of knowing that she had but the day +before been the means of preserving a valuable life, she met Mrs +Pemberton, when she arrived at the Lawn, with a countenance of fixed +melancholy, and was at first disposed to expect but little success from +the project of writing to Adeline's former lodgings in order to inquire. + +The truth was, that Miss Woodville had artfully insinuated the +improbability of such an inquiry's succeeding; and, though Mrs Mowbray +had angrily asserted her hopes when Miss Woodville provokingly asserted +her _fears_, the treacherous girl's insinuations had sunk deeply into +her mind, and Mrs Pemberton saw, with pain and wonder, an effect +produced of which the cause was wholly unseen. But she at length +succeeded in awakening Mrs Mowbray's hopes; and in a letter written by +Mrs Pemberton to the mistress of the house whence Adeline formerly +dated, she enclosed one to her daughter glowing with maternal +tenderness, and calculated to speak peace to her sorrows. + +These letters were sent, as soon as written, to the post by Mrs +Mowbray's footman; but Miss Woodville contrived to meet him near the +post-office, and telling him she would put the letter in the receiver, +she gave him a commission to call at a shop in Penrith for her, at which +she had not time to call herself. + +Thus was another scheme for restoring Adeline to her afflicted mother +frustrated by the treachery of this interested woman; who, while Mrs +Pemberton and Mrs Mowbray looked anxiously forward to the receipt of an +answer from London, triumphed with malignant pleasure in the success of +her artifice.--But, spite of herself, she feared Mrs Pemberton, and was +not at all pleased to find that, till the answer from London could +arrive, that lady was to remain at the Lawn. + +She contrived, however, to be as little in her presence as possible; +for, contrary to Mrs Pemberton's usual habits, she felt a distrust of +Miss Woodville, which her intelligent eye could not help expressing, and +which consequently alarmed the conscious heart of the culprit. Being +left therefore, by Miss Woodville's fears, alone with Mrs Mowbray, +she drew from her, at different times, ample details of Adeline's +childhood, and the method which Mrs Mowbray had pursued in her +education. + +'Ah! 'tis as I suspected,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton during one of +these conversations. 'Thy daughter's _faults_ originated in thee! her +education was cruelly defective.' + +'No!' replied Mrs Mowbray with almost angry eagerness, 'whatever my +errors as a mother have been, and for the rash marriage which I made I +own myself culpable in the highest degree, I am sure that I paid the +greatest attention to my daughter's education. If you were but to +see the voluminous manuscript on the subject, which I wrote for her +improvement--' + +'But where was thy daughter; and how was she employed during the time +that thou wert writing a book by which to educate her?' + +Mrs Mowbray was silent: she recollected that, while she was gratifying +her own vanity in composing her system of education, Adeline was almost +banished her presence; and, but for the humble instruction of her +grandmother, would, at the age of fifteen, have run a great risk of +being both an ignorant and useless being. + +'Forgive me, friend Mowbray,' resumed Mrs Pemberton, aware in some +measure of what was passing in Mrs Mowbray's mind--'forgive me if I +venture to observe, that till of late years a thick curtain of self-love +seems to have been dropped between thy heart and maternal affection. It +is now, and now only, that thou hast learned to feel like a true and +affectionate mother!' + +'Perhaps you are right,' replied Mrs Mowbray mournfully, 'still, I +always meant well; and hoped that my studies would conduce to the +benefit of my child.' + +'So they might, perhaps, to that of thy second, third, or fourth child, +hadst thou been possessed of so many; but, in the meanwhile, thy +first-born must have been fatally neglected. A child's education begins +almost from the hour of its birth; and the mother who understands her +task, knows that the circumstances which every moment calls forth, are +the tools with which she is to work in order to fashion her child's mind +and character. What would you think of the farmer who was to let his +fields lie fallow for years, while he was employed in contriving a +method of cultivating land to increase his gains ten-fold?' + +'But I did not suffer Adeline's mind to lie fallow.--I allowed her to +read, and I directed her studies.' + +'Thou didst so; but what were those studies? and didst thou acquaint +thyself with the deductions which her quick mind formed from them? +No--thou didst not, as parents should do, inquire into the impressions +made on thy daughter's mind by the books which she perused. Prompt to +feel, and hasty to decide, as Adeline was, how necessary was to her the +warning voice of judgment and experience!' + +'But how could I imagine that a girl so young should dare to act, +whatever her opinions might be, in open defiance of the opinions of the +world?' + +'But she had not lived in the world; therefore, scarcely knew how +repugnant to it her opinions were; nor, as she did not mix in general +society, could she care sufficiently for its good opinion, to be willing +to act contrary to her own ideas of right, rather than forfeit it: +besides, thou ownest that thou didst openly profess thy admiration +of the sentiments which she adopted; nor, till they were confirmed +irrevocably hers, didst thou declare, that to act up to them was, in thy +opinion, vicious. And then it was too late: she thought thy timidity, +and not thy wisdom, spoke, and she set thee the virtuous example of +acting up to the dictates of conscience. But Adeline and thou are both +the pupils of affliction and experience; and I trust that, all your +errors repented of, you will meet once more to expiate your past follies +by your future conduct.' + +'I hope so too,' meekly replied Mrs Mowbray, whose pride had been +completely subdued by self-upbraidings and distress: 'Oh! when--when +will an answer arrive from London?' + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + + +Alas! day after day elapsed, and no letter came; but while Mrs Mowbray +was almost frantic with disappointment and anxiety, Mrs Pemberton +thought that she observed in Miss Woodville's countenance a look of +triumphant malice, which ill accorded with the fluent expressions of +sympathy and regret with which she gratified her unsuspicious relation, +and she determined to watch her very narrowly; for she thought it +strange that Adeline, however she might respect her mother's oath, +should never, in the bitterness of her sorrows, have unburthened her +heart by imparting them to her: one day, when, as usual, the post had +been anxiously expected, and, as usual, had brought no letter from +London concerning Adeline; and while Miss Woodville was talking on +indifferent subjects with ill suppressed gaiety, though Mrs Mowbray, +sunk into despondence, was lying on the sofa by her; Mrs Pemberton +suddenly exclaimed--'There is only one right way of proceeding, friend +Mowbray,--thou and I must go to London, and make our inquiries in +person, and then we shall have a great chance of succeeding.' As she +said this, she looked steadfastly at Miss Woodville, and saw her turn +very pale, while her eye was hastily averted from the penetrating glance +of Mrs Pemberton; and when she heard Mrs Mowbray, in a transport of +joy, declare that they had better set off that very evening,--unable to +conceal her terror and agitation, she hastily left the room. + +Mrs Pemberton instantly followed her into the apartment to which she had +retired, and the door of which she had closed with much violence. She +found her walking to and fro, and wringing her hands, as if in agony. +On seeing Mrs Pemberton, she started, and sinking into a chair, she +complained of being very ill, and desired to be left alone. + +'Thou art ill, and thy illness is of the worst sort, I fear,' replied +Mrs Pemberton; 'but I will stay, and be thy physician.' + +'_You_, my physician?' replied Miss Woodville, with fury in her looks; +'You?' + +'Yes--_I_--I see that thou art afraid lest Adeline should be restored to +her paternal roof.' + +'Who told you so, officious, insolent woman?' returned Miss Woodville. + +'Thy own looks--but all this is very natural in thee: thou fearest that +Adeline's favour should annihilate thine.' + +'Perhaps I do,' cried Miss Woodville, a little less alarmed, and +catching at this plausible excuse for her uneasiness; 'for, should I be +forced to leave my cousin's house, I shall be reduced to comparative +poverty and solitude again.' + +'But why shouldest thou be forced to leave it? Art thou not Adeline's +friend?' + +'Ye--yes,' faltered out Miss Woodville. + +'But it is uncertain whether we can find Adeline--still we shall be very +diligent in our inquiries; yet it is so strange that she should never +have written to her mother, if alive, that perhaps--' + +'Oh, I dare say she is dead,' hastily interrupted Miss Woodville. + +'Has she been dead long, thinkest thou?' + +'No--not long--not above six months, I dare say.' + +'No!--Hast thou any reason then for knowing that she was alive six +months ago?' asked Mrs Pemberton, looking steadily at Miss Woodville, as +she spoke. + +'I?--Lord--no--How should I know?' she replied, her lip quivering, and +her whole frame trembling. + +'I tell thee how.--Art thou not conscious of having intercepted letters +from thy cousin to her relenting parent?' + +Mrs Pemberton had scarcely uttered these words, when Miss Woodville fell +back nearly _insensible_ in her chair--a proof that the accusation was +only too well founded. As soon as she recovered, Mrs Pemberton said, +with great gentleness, 'Thou art ill,--ill indeed, but, as I suspected, +thy illness is of the mind; there is a load of guilt on it; throw it off +then by a full confession, and be the sinner that repenteth.' + +In a few moments Miss Woodville, conscious that her emotion had betrayed +her, and suspecting that Mrs Pemberton had by some means or other +received hints of her treachery, confessed that she had intercepted and +destroyed letters from Adeline to her mother; and also owned, to the +great joy of Mrs Pemberton, that Adeline's last letter, the letter +in which she informed Mrs Mowbray, that all the conditions were then +fulfilled, without which alone she had sworn never to forgive her, had +arrived only two months before; and that it was dated from such a +street, and such a number, in London. + +'My poor friend will be so happy!' said Mrs Pemberton; and, her own eyes +filling with tears of joy, she hastened to find Mrs Mowbray. + +'But what will become of _me_?' exclaimed Miss Woodville, detaining +her--'_I_ am ruined--ruined for ever!' + +'Not so,' replied Mrs Pemberton, 'thou art _saved_,--saved, I trust, for +_ever_--Thou hast confessed thy guilt, and made all the atonement now in +thy power. Go to thine own room, and I will soon make known to thee thy +relation's sentiments towards thee.' + +So saying, she hastened to Mrs Mowbray, whom she found giving orders, +with eager impatience, to have post horses sent for immediately. + +'Then thou art full of expectation, I conclude, from the event of our +journey to town?' said Mrs Pemberton, smiling. + +'To be sure I am,' replied Mrs Mowbray. + +'And so am I,' she answered,--'for I think that I know the present abode +of thy daughter.' + +Mrs Mowbray started--her friend's countenance expressed more joy and +exultation than she had ever seen on it before; and, almost breathless +with new hope, she seized her hand and conjured her to explain herself. + +The explanation was soon given; and Mrs Mowbray's joy, in consequence of +it, unbounded. + +'But what is thy will,' observed Mrs Pemberton, 'with regard to thy +guilty relation?' + +'I cannot--cannot see her again now, if ever;--and she must immediately +leave my house.' + +'Immediately?' + +'Yes,--but I will settle on her a handsome allowance; for my conscience +tells me, that, had I behaved like a mother to my child, no one could +have been tempted to injure her thus,--I put this unhappy woman into +a state of temptation, and she yielded to it:--but I feel only too +sensibly, that no one has been such an enemy to my poor Adeline as I +have been; nor, conscious of my own offences towards her, dare I resent +those of another.' + +'I love, I honour thee for what thou hast now uttered,' cried Mrs +Pemberton with unusual animation.--'I see that thou art now indeed a +Christian; such are the breathings of a truly contrite spirit; and, +verily, she who can so easily forgive the crimes of others may hope to +have her own forgiven.' + +Mrs Pemberton then hastened to speak hope and comfort to the mind of +the penitent offender, while Mrs Mowbray ran to meet her servant, who, +to her surprise, was returning without horses, for none were to be +procured; and Mrs Mowbray saw herself obliged to delay her journey till +noon the next day, when she was assured of having horses from Penrith. +But when, after a long and restless night, she arose in the morning, +anticipating with painful impatience the hour of her departure, Mrs +Pemberton entered her room, and informed her that she had passed nearly +all the night at Miss Woodville's bed-side, who had been seized with a +violent delirium at one o'clock in the morning, and in her ravings was +continually calling on Mrs Mowbray, and begging to see her once more. + +'I will see her directly,' replied Mrs Mowbray, without a moment's +hesitation; and hastened to Miss Woodville's apartment, where she found +the medical attendant whom Mrs Pemberton had sent for just arrived. He +immediately declared the disorder to be an inflammation on the brain, +and left them with little or no hope of her recovery. + +Mrs Mowbray, affected beyond measure at the pathetic appeals for pardon +addressed to her continually by the unconscious sufferer, took her +station at the bed-side; and, hanging over her pillow, watched for the +slightest gleam of returning reason, in order to speak the pardon so +earnestly implored: and while thus piously engaged, the chaise that was +to convey her and her friend to London, and perhaps to Adeline, drove up +to the gate. + +'Art thou ready?' said Mrs Pemberton, entering the room equipped for her +journey. + +At this moment the poor invalid reiterated her cries for pardon, and +begged Mrs Mowbray not to leave her without pronouncing her forgiveness. + +Mrs Mowbray burst into tears; and though sure that she was not even +conscious of her presence, she felt herself almost unable to forsake +her:--still it was in search of her daughter that she was going--nay, +perhaps, it was to her daughter that she was hastening; and, as this +thought occurred to her, she hurried to the door of the chamber, saying +she should be ready in a moment. + +But the eye of the phrensied sufferer followed her as she did so, and in +a tone of unspeakable agony she begged, she entreated that she might not +be left to die in solitude and sorrow, however guilty she might have +been.--Then again she implored Mrs Mowbray to speak peace and pardon +to her drooping soul; while, unable to withstand these solicitations, +though she knew them to be the unconscious ravings of the disorder, she +slowly and mournfully returned to the bed-side. + +'It is late,' said Mrs Pemberton--'we ought ere now to be on the road.' + +'How can I go, and leave this poor creature in such a state?--But then +should we find my poor injured child at the end of the journey! Such an +expectation as that!--' + +'Thou must decide quickly,' replied Mrs Pemberton gently. + +'Decide! Then I will go with you.--Yet still should Anna recover her +senses before her death, and wish to see me, I should never forgive +myself for being absent--it might soothe the anguish of her last moments +to know how freely I pardon her.--No, no:--after all, if pleasure awaits +me, it is only delaying it a few days; and this, this unhappy girl is on +her _death-bed_.--You, you must go _without_ me.' + +As she said this, Mrs Pemberton pressed her hand with affectionate +eagerness, and murmured out in broken accents, 'I honour thy decision, +and may I return with comfort to thee!' + +'Yet though I wish you to go,' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'I grieve to expose +you to such fatigue and trouble in your weak state of health, and--' + +'Say no more,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton, 'I am only doing my duty; and +reflect on my happiness if I am allowed to restore the lost sheep to +the fold again!'--So saying she set off on her journey, and arrived in +London only four days after Adeline had arrived in Cumberland. + +Mrs Pemberton drove immediately to Adeline's lodgings, but received the +same answer as Colonel Mordaunt had received; namely, that she was gone +no one knew whither. Still she did not despair of finding her: she, like +the Colonel, thought that a mulatto, a lady just recovered from the +small-pox, and a child, were likely to be easily traced; and having +written to Mrs Mowbray, owning her disappointment, but bidding her not +despair, she set off on her journey back, and had succeeded in tracing +Adeline as far as an inn on the high North road,--when an event took +place which made her further inquiries needless. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Adeline, after several repeated trials, succeeded in writing the +following letter to her mother:-- + + + 'Dearest of Mothers, + + 'When this letter reaches you, I shall be no more; and however + I may hitherto have offended you, I shall then be able to + offend you no longer; and that child, whom you bound yourself + by oath never to see or forgive but on the most cruel of + conditions while living, dead you may perhaps deign to receive + to your pardon and your love.--Nay, my heart tells me that you + will do more,--that you will transfer the love which you once + felt for me, to my poor helpless orphan; and in full confidence + that you will be this indulgent, I bequeath her to you with my + dying breath.--O! look on her, my mother, nor shrink from her + with disgust, although you see in her my features; but rather + rejoice in the resemblance, and fancy that I am restored to you + pure, happy, and beloved as I once was.--Yes, yes,--it will be + so: I have known a great deal of sorrow--let me then indulge + the little ray of pleasure that breaks in upon me when I think + that you will not resist my dying prayer, but bestow on my + child the long arrears of tenderness due to me. + + 'Yes, yes, you will receive, you will be kind to her; and by so + doing you will make me ample amends for all the sorrow which + your harshness caused me when we met last.--That was a dreadful + day! How you frowned on me! I did not think you could have + frowned so dreadfully--but then I was uninjured by affliction, + unaltered by illness. Were you to see me now, you would not + have the heart to frown on me: and yet my letters being + repeatedly returned, and even the last unnoticed and unanswered, + though it told you that even on your own conditions I could now + claim your pardon, for that I had been "wretched in love," and + had experienced "the anguish of being forsaken, despised, and + disgraced in the eye of the world," proves but too surely that + the bitterness of resentment is not yet passed!--But on my + _death-bed_ you promised to see and forgive me--_and I am there, + my mother_!! Yet will I not claim that promise;--I will not + weaken, by directing it towards myself, the burst of sorrow, + of too late regret, of self-upbraidings, and long-restrained + affection, which must be directed towards my child when I am + not alive to profit by it. No:--though I would give worlds to + embrace you once more, for the sake of my child I resign the + gratification. + + 'Oh, mother! you little think that I saw you, only a few days + ago, from the stile by the cottage which overlooks your house: + you were walking with a lady, and my child was with me + (my Editha, for I have called her after you.) You seemed, + methought, even cheerful, and I was so selfish that I felt + shocked to think I was so entirely forgotten by you; for I was + sure that if you thought of me you could not be cheerful. But + your companion left you; and then you looked so very sad, that + I was wretched from the idea that you were then thinking too + much of me, and I wished you to resume your cheerfulness again. + + '_I_ was not cheerful, and Editha by her artless prattle + wounded me to the very soul.--She wished, she said, to live in + that sweet house, and asked why she should not live there? _I + could_ have told her why, but dared not do it; but I assured + her, and do not for mercy's sake prove that assurance false! + that she _should_ live there _one day_. + + '"But when--when?" she asked. + + '"When I am in my grave,"' replied I: and, poor innocent! + throwing herself into my arms with playful fondness, she begged + me to go to my grave directly. I feel but too sensibly that her + desire will soon be accomplished. + + 'But must I die unblest by you? True, I am watched by the + kindest of human beings! but then she is not my mother--that + mother, who, with the joys of my childhood and my home, is so + continually recurring to my memory. Oh! I forget all your + unkindness, my mother, and remember only your affection. How I + should like to feel your hand supporting my head, and see you + perform the little offices which sickness requires!--And must + I never, never see you more? Yes! you will come, I am sure you + will: but come, come quickly, or I shall die without your + blessing. + + 'I have had a fainting fit--but I am recovered, and can address + you again.--Oh! teach my Editha to be humble, teach her to be + slow to call the experience of ages contemptible prejudices; + teach her no opinions that can destroy her sympathies with + general society, and make her an alien to the hearts of those + amongst whom she lives. + + 'Be above all things careful that she wanders not in the night + of scepticism. But for the support of religion, what, amidst my + various sorrows, what would have become of _me_? + + 'There is something more that I would say. Should my existence + be prolonged even but a few days, I shall have to struggle with + poverty as well as sickness; and the anxious friend (I will not + call her servant) who is now my all of earthly comfort, will + scarcely have money sufficient to pay me the last sad duties; + and I owe her, my mother, a world of obligation! She will make + my last moments easy, and _you_ must reward her. From her you + will receive this letter when I am no more, and to your care + and protection I bequeath her. She is--my eyes grow dim, and I + must leave off for the present.' + +On the very evening in which Adeline had written this address to her +mother, Mrs Mowbray had received Mrs Pemberton's letter; and as Miss +Woodville had been interred that morning, she felt herself at liberty to +join Mrs Pemberton in her search after Adeline. While various plans for +this purpose presented themselves to her mind, and each of them was +dismissed in its turn as fruitless or impracticable,--full of these +thoughts she pensively walked along the lawn before her door, till sad +and weary she leaned on a little gate at the bottom of it; which, as she +did so, swung slowly backwards and forwards, responsive as it were to +her feelings. + +But, as she continued to muse, and to recall the varied sorrows of her +past life, the gate on which she leaned began to vibrate more quickly; +till, unable to bear the recollections which assailed her, she was +hastening with almost frantic speed towards the house, when she saw a +cottager approaching, to whose sick daughter and helpless family she had +long been a bountiful benefactress. + +'What is the matter, John?' cried Mrs Mowbray, hastening forward to meet +him--'you seem agitated.' + +'My poor daughter, madam;' replied the man, bursting into tears. + +At the sight of his distress, his _parental_ distress, Mrs Mowbray +sighed deeply, and asked if Lucy was worse. + +'I doubt she is dying,' said the afflicted father. + +'Heaven forbid!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, throwing her shawl over her +shoulders; 'I will go and see her myself.' + +'What, really?--But the way is so long, and the road is so miry?' + +'No matter--I must do my duty.' + +'God bless you, and reward you!' cried the grateful father--'that is so +like you! Lucy said you would come!' + +Mrs Mowbray then filled a basket with medicine and refreshments, and set +out on her charitable visit. + +She found the poor girl in a very weak and alarming state; but the +sight of her benefactress, and the tender manner in which she supported +her languid head, and administered wine and other cordials to her, +insensibly revived her; and while writhing under the feelings of an +unhappy parent herself, Mrs Mowbray was soothed by the blessings of the +parent whom she comforted. + +At this moment they were alarmed by a shriek from a neighbouring +cottage, and a woman who was attending on the sick girl ran out to +inquire into the cause of it. + +She returned, saying that a poor sick young gentlewoman, who lodged at +the next house, was fallen back in a fit, and they thought she was dead. + +'A young gentlewoman,' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, 'at the next cottage!' +rising up. + +'Aye sure,' cried the woman, 'she looks like a lady for certain, and she +has the finest child I ever saw.' + +'Perhaps she is not dead,' said Mrs Mowbray:--'let us go see.' + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + + +Little did Mrs Mowbray think that it was her own child whom she was +hastening to relieve; and that, while meditating a kind action, +recompense was so near. + +Adeline, while trying to finish her letter to her mother, had scarcely +traced a few illegible lines, when she fell back insensible on her +pillow; and at the moment of Mrs Mowbray's entering the cottage, +Savanna, who had uttered the shriek which had excited her curiosity, +had convinced herself that she was gone for ever. + +The woman who accompanied Mrs Mowbray entered the house first; and +opening a back chamber, low-roofed, narrow, and lighted only by one +solitary and slender candle, Mrs Mowbray, beheld through the door the +lifeless form of the object of her solicitude, which Savanna was +contemplating with loud and frantic sorrow. + +'Here is a lady come to see what she can do for your mistress,' cried +the woman, while Savanna turned hastily round:--'Here she is--here is +good Madam Mowbray.' + +'Madam Mowbray!' shrieked Savanna, fixing her dark eyes on Mrs Mowbray, +and raising her arm in a threatening manner as she approached her: then +snatching up the letter which lay on the bed,--'Woman!' she exclaimed, +grasping Mrs Mowbray's arm with frightful earnestness, 'read that--'tis +for you!' + +Mrs Mowbray, speechless with alarm and awe, involuntarily seized the +letter--but scarcely had she read the first words, when uttering a deep +groan she sprung forward, to clasp the unconscious form before her, and +fell beside it equally insensible. + +But she recovered almost immediately to a sense of her misery; and +while, in speechless agony, she knelt by the bed-side, Savanna, +beholding her distress, with a sort of dreadful pleasure exclaimed, +'Ah! have you at last learn to feel?' + +'But is she, is she _indeed_ gone?' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'is there _no_ +hope?' and instantly seizing the cordial which she had brought with her, +assisted by the woman, she endeavoured to force it down the throat of +Adeline. + +Their endeavours were for some time vain: at length however, she +exhibited signs of life, and in a few minutes more she opened her sunk +eye, and gazed unconsciously around her. + +'My God! I thank you!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray, falling on her knees; +while Savanna, laying her mistress's head on her bosom, sobbed with +fearful joy. + +'Adeline! my child, my dear, dear child!' cried Mrs Mowbray, seizing her +clammy hand. + +That voice, those words which she had so long wished to hear, though +hopeless of ever hearing them again, seemed to recall the fast fading +recollection of Adeline: she raised her head from Savanna's bosom, and, +looking earnestly at Mrs Mowbray, faintly smiled, and endeavoured to +throw herself into her arms,--but fell back again exhausted on the +pillow. + +But in a few minutes she recovered so far as to be able to speak; and +while she hung round her mother's neck, and gazed upon her with eager +and delighted earnestness, she desired Savanna to bring Editha to her +immediately. + +'Will you, will you--,' said Adeline, vainly trying to speak her +wishes, as Savanna put the sleeping girl in Mrs Mowbray's arms: but +she easily divined them; and, clasping her to her heart, wept over +her convulsively--'She shall be dear to me as my own soul!' said Mrs +Mowbray. + +'Then I die contented,' replied Adeline. + +'Die!' exclaimed Mrs Mowbray hastily: 'no, you must not, shall not die; +you must live to see me atone for--' + +'It is in vain,' said Adeline faintly. 'I bless God that he allows me to +enjoy this consolation--say that you forgive me.' + +'Forgive you! Oh, Adeline! for years have I forgiven and pined after +you; but a wicked woman intercepted all your letters; and I thought you +were dead, or had renounced me for ever.' + +'Indeed!' cried Adeline. 'Oh! had I suspected that!' + +'Nay more, Mrs Pemberton is now in London, in search of you, in order to +bring you back to happiness!' As Mrs Mowbray said this, Savanna, drawing +near, took her hand and gently pressed it. + +Adeline observed the action, and seeing by it that Savanna's heart +relented towards her mother, said, 'I owe that faithful creature more +than I can express; but to your care I bequeath her.' + +'I will love her as my child,' said Mrs Mowbray, 'and behave to her +better than I did to--' + +'Hush!' cried Adeline, putting her hand to Mrs Mowbray's lips. + +'But you _shall_ live! I will send for Dr Norberry; you shall be moved +to my house, and all will be well--all our past grief be forgotten,' +returned Mrs Mowbray with almost convulsive eagerness. + +Adeline faintly smiled, but repeated that every hope of that kind was +over, but that her utmost wish has gratified in seeing her mother, and +receiving her full forgiveness. + +'But you must live for my sake!' cried Mrs Mowbray: 'and for mine,' +sobbed out Savanna. + +'Could you not be moved to my house?' said Mrs Mowbray. 'There every +indulgence and attention that money can procure shall be yours. Is this +a place,--is this poverty--this--' Here her voice failed her, and she +burst into tears. + +'Mother, dearest mother,' replied Adeline, 'I see you, I am assured of +your love again, and I have not a want beside. Still, I could like, I +could wish, to be once more under a _parent's roof_.' + +In a moment, the cottager who was present, and returning with usury to +Mrs Mowbray's daughter the anxious interest which she had taken in his, +proposed various means of transporting Adeline to the Lawn; a difficult +and a hazardous undertaking: but the poor invalid was willing to risk +the danger and the fatigue; and her mother could not but indulge her. At +length the cottager, as it was for the _general benefactress_, having +with care procured even more assistance than was necessary, Adeline was +conveyed on a sort of a litter, along the valley, and found herself once +more in the house of her mother; while Savanna, sharing in the joy which +Adeline's countenance expressed, threw herself on Mrs Mowbray's neck, +and exclaimed, 'Now I forgive you!' + +'Mother, dear mother,' cried Adeline, after having for some minutes +vainly endeavoured to speak--'I am so happy! no more an outcast, but +under my mother's roof!--Nay, I even think I _can_ live now,' added she +with a faint smile. + +Had Adeline risen from her bed in complete health and vigour, she would +scarcely have excited more joy in her mother, and in Savanna, than she +did by this expression. + +'Can live!' cried Mrs Mowbray, 'O! you shall, you must live.' And an +express was sent off immediately to Dr Norberry too, who was removed to +Kendal, to be near his elder daughter, lately married in the +neighbourhood. + +Dr Norberry arrived in a few hours. Mrs Mowbray ran out to meet him; but +a welcome died on her tongue, and she could only speak by her tears. + +'There, there, my good woman, don't be foolish,' replied he: 'it is very +silly to blubber, you know: besides, it can do no good,' giving her a +kiss, while the tears trickled down his rough cheek. 'So, the lost sheep +is found?' + +'But, O! she will be lost again,' faltered Mrs Mowbray; 'I doubt nothing +can save her!' + +'No!' cried the old man, with a gulp, 'no! not my coming so many miles +on purpose?--Well, but where is she?' + +'She will see you presently, but begged to be excused for a few +minutes.' 'You see,' said he, 'by my dress, what has happened,' gulping +as he spoke. 'I have lost the companion of thirty years!--and--and--' +here he paused, and after an effort went on to say, that his wife in her +last illness had owned that she had suppressed Adeline's letters, and +had declared the reason of it--'But, poor soul!' continued the doctor, +'it was the only sin against me, I believe, or any one else, that she +ever committed--so I forgave her: and I trust that God will.' + +Soon after they were summoned to the sick room, and Dr Norberry beheld +with a degree of fearful emotion, which he vainly endeavoured to hide +under a cloak of pleasantry, the dreadful ravages which sorrow and +sickness had made in the face and form of Adeline. + +'So, here you are at last!' cried he, trying to smile while he sobbed +audibly, 'and a pretty figure you make, don't you?--But we have you +again, and we will not part with you so soon, I can tell you (almost +starting as the faint but rapid pulse met his fingers)--that is, I +mean,' added he, 'unless it please God.' Mrs Mowbray and Savanna, during +this speech, gazed on his countenance in breathless anxiety, and read in +it a confirmation of their fears. 'But who's afraid?' cried the doctor, +forcing a laugh, while his tone and his looks expressed the extreme of +apprehension, and his laugh ended in a sob. + +Mrs Mowbray turned away in a sort of desperate silence; but the mulatto +still kept her penetrating eye fixed upon him, and with a look so full +of woe! + +'I'll trouble you, mistress, to take those formidable eyes of yours +off my face,' cried the doctor pettishly; 'for I can't stand their +inquiry!--But who the devil are you?' + +'She is my nurse, my consoler, and my friend,' said Adeline. + +'Then she is mine of course,' cried the doctor, 'though she has a +terrible stare with her eyes:--but give me your hand, mistress. What is +your name?' + +'Me be name Savanna,' replied the mulatto; 'and me die and live wid my +dear mistress,' she added, bursting into tears. + +'Pshaw!' cried the doctor, 'I can't bear this--here I came as a +physician, and these blubberers melt me down into an old woman. Adeline, +I must order all these people out of the room, and have you to myself, +or I can do nothing.' + +He was obeyed; and on inquiring into all Adeline's symptoms, he found +little to hope and every thing to fear--'But your mind is relieved, and +you have youth on your side; and who knows what good air, good food, and +good nurses may do for you!' + +'Not to mention a good physician,' added Adeline, smiling, 'and a good +friend in that physician.' + +'This it be to have money,' said Savanna, as she saw the various things +prepared and made to tempt Adeline's weak appetite:--'poor Savanna mean +as well--her heart make all these, but her hand want power.' + +During this state of alarming suspense Mrs Pemberton was hourly expected, +as she had written word that she had traced Adeline into Lancashire, +and suspected that she was in her mother's neighbourhood.--It may be +supposed that Mrs Mowbray, Adeline, and Savanna, looked forward to her +arrival with eager impatience; but not so Dr Norberry--he said that +no doubt she was a very good sort of woman, but that he did not like +pretensions to righteousness over much, and had a particular aversion to +a piece of formal drab-coloured morality. + +Adeline only laughed at these prejudices, without attempting to confute +them; for she knew that Mrs Pemberton's appearance and manners would +soon annihilate them. At length she reached the Lawn; and Savanna, +who saw her alight, announced her arrival to her mistress, and was +commissioned by her to introduce her immediately into the sick +chamber.--She did so; but Mrs Pemberton, almost overpowered with joy +at the intelligence which awaited her, and ill fortified by Savanna's +violent and mixed emotions against the indulgence of her own, begged to +compose herself a few moments before she met Adeline: but Savanna was +not to be denied; and seizing her hand she led her up to the bedside of +the invalid.--Adeline smiled affectionately when she saw her; but Mrs +Pemberton started back, and, scarcely staying to take the hand which +she offered her, rushed out of the room, to vent in solitude the burst +of uncontrollable anguish which the sight of her altered countenance +occasioned her.--Alas! her eye had been but too well tutored to read +the characters of death in the face, and it was some time before she +recovered herself sufficiently to appear before the anxious watchers by +the bed of Adeline with that composure which on principle she always +endeavoured to display.--At length, however, she re-entered the room, +and approaching the poor invalid, kissed in silence her wan flushed +cheek. + +'I am very different now, my kind friend, to what I was when you _first_ +saw me,' said Adeline, faintly smiling. + +To the moment when they _last_ met, Adeline had not resolution enough to +revert, for then she was mourning by the dead body of Glenmurray. + +Mrs Pemberton was silent for a moment; but, making an effort, she +replied, 'Thou art now more like what thou wert in _mind_, when I +_first_ met thee at Rosevalley, than when I first saw thee at Richmond. +At Rosevalley I beheld thee innocent, at Richmond guilty, and here I see +thee penitent, and, I hope, resigned to thy fate.'--She spoke the word +_resigned_ with emphasis, and Adeline _understood_ her. + +'I am indeed resigned,' replied Adeline in a low voice: 'nay, I feel +that I am much favoured in being spared so long. But there is one thing +that weighs heavily on my mind; Mary Warner is leading a life of shame, +and she told me when I last saw her, that she was corrupted by my +precept and example: if so--' + +'Set thy conscience at rest on that subject,' interrupted Mrs Pemberton: +'while she lived with me, I discovered, long before she ever saw thee, +that she had been known to have been faulty.' + +'Oh! what a load have you removed from my mind!' replied Adeline. 'Still +it would be more relieved, if you would promise to find her out; and she +may be heard of at Mr Langley's chambers in the Temple. Offer her a +yearly allowance for life, provided she will quit her present vicious +habits; I am sure my mother will gladly fulfil my wishes in this +respect.' + +'And so will I,' replied Mrs Pemberton. 'Is there any thing else that I +can do for thee?' + +'Yes: I have two pensioners at Richmond,--a poor young woman, and her +orphan boy,--an illegitimate child,' she added, deeply sighing, as she +recollected what had interested her in their fate. 'I bequeath them to +your care: Savanna knows where they are to be found. And now, all that +disturbs my thoughts at this awful moment is, the grief which my poor +mother and Savanna will feel;--nay, they will be quite unprepared for +it; for they persist to hope still, and I believe that even Dr Norberry +allows his wishes to deceive his judgment.' + +'They will suffer, indeed!' cried Mrs Pemberton: 'but I give thee my +word, that I will never leave thy mother, and that Savanna shall be our +joint care.' + +'It is enough--I shall now die in peace,' said Adeline; and Mrs +Pemberton turned away to meet Mrs Mowbray, who, with Dr Norberry at that +moment entered the room. Mrs Mowbray met her, and welcomed her audibly +and joyfully: but Mrs Pemberton, aware of the blow which impended over +her, vainly endeavoured to utter a congratulation; but throwing herself +into Mrs Mowbray's extended arms, she forgot her usual self-command, and +sobbed loudly on her bosom. + +Dr Norberry gazed at the benevolent Quaker with astonishment. True, she +was '_drab-coloured_;' but where was the repulsive formality that he had +expected? 'This woman can feel like other women, and is as good a hand +at a crying-bout as myself.' But Mrs Pemberton did not long give way to +so violent an indulgence of her feelings; and gently withdrawing herself +from Mrs Mowbray's embrace, she turned to the window, while Mrs Mowbray +hastened to the bed-side of Adeline. Mrs Pemberton then turned round +again, and, seizing Dr Norberry's hand, which she fervently pressed, +said in a faltering voice, 'Would thou couldst _save_ her!' + +'And--and _can't_ I? can't I?' replied he, gulping. Mrs Pemberton looked +at him with an expression which he could neither mistake nor endure; but +muttering in a low tone, 'No! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't, I doubt +I can't, by the Lord!' he rushed out of the room. + +From that moment he never was easy but when he could converse with Mrs +Pemberton; for he knew that she, and she only, sympathized in his +feelings, as she only knew that Adeline was not likely to recover. The +invalid herself observed his attention to her friend, nor could she +forbear to rally him on the total disappearance of his prejudices +against the fair Quaker; for, such was the influence of Mrs Pemberton's +dignified yet winning manners, and such was the respect with which she +inspired him, that, if he had his hat on, he always took it off when she +entered the room, and never uttered any thing like an oath, without +humbly begging her pardon; and he told Adeline, that were all Quakers +like Mrs Pemberton, he should be tempted to cry. 'Drab is your only +wear.' + +Another and another day elapsed, and Adeline still lived.--On the +evening of the third day, as she lay half-slumbering with her head on +Savanna's arm, and Mrs Mowbray, lulling Editha to sleep on her lap, was +watching beside her, glancing her eye alternately with satisfied and +silent affection from the child to the mother, whom she thought in a +fair way of recovery; while Dr Norberry, stifling an occasional sob, was +contemplating the group, and Mrs Pemberton, her hands clasped in each +other, seemed lost in devout contemplation, Adeline awoke, and as she +gazed on Editha, who was fondly held to Mrs Mowbray's bosom, a smile +illumined her sunk countenance. Mrs Mowbray at that moment eagerly and +anxiously pressed forward to catch her weak accents, and inquire how +she felt. 'I have seen that fond and anxious look before,' she faintly +articulated, 'but in happier times! and it assures me that you love me +still.' + +'Love you still!' replied Mrs Mowbray with passionate fondness:--'never, +never were you so dear to me as now!' + +Adeline tried to express the joy which flushed her cheek at these words, +and lighted up her closing eyes: but she tried in vain. At length she +grasped Mrs Mowbray's hand to her lips, and in imperfect accents +exclaiming 'I thank thee, blessed Lord!' she laid her head on Savanna's +bosom, and expired. + + +END OF ADELINE MOWBRAY. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + + +The period spelling has generally been retained along with the often +inconsistent hyphenation. Obvious spelling errors (e.g. Patrtick, Diety, +solioquy, forigve, loking, pwoerfully) have been silently corrected. + +The following additional changes were made to the text, in some of the +subtler cases with reference to the 1805 edition. In each instance, the +corrected version follows the original. + + Adeline was leaning o the arm of a young lady. + Adeline was leaning on the arm of a young lady. + + little tricks and minauderies + little tricks and minaudieres + + Adeline, bursting into tears, threw himself into his arms + Adeline, bursting into tears, threw herself into his arms + + he dreaded to tell her that he could now allow her to call on them + he dreaded to tell her that he could not allow her to call on them + + the slight favours by which true love is long contended to be fed + the slight favours by which true love is long contented to be fed + + though I think all they say are true + though I think all they say is true + + your writing are the lights + your writings are the lights + + as a author + as an author + + but in the mildst of it Maynard re-entered + but in the midst of it Maynard re-entered + + continued to feel his passion + continued to feed his passion + + He had brought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had given + He had bought some cakes with the penny which Adeline had given + + who felt even her violet sorrow suspended + who felt even her violent sorrow suspended + + it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, than + Berrendale to be a villain + it was more likely Mr Drury should be mistaken, than + Berrendale be a villain + + Berrendale, (...) scarcely know what to answer + Berrendale, (...) scarcely knew what to answer + + though near twelve he did not look about eight years old + though near twelve he did not look above eight years old + + no motive less powerful (...) could have enable her to reach + the summit + no motive less powerful (...) could have enabled her to reach + the summit + + for mercy's safe, torture me no more + for mercy's sake, torture me no more + + she hurried to the door of the chamber, saving she should be ready + she hurried to the door of the chamber, saying she should be ready + + Po! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't + No! dear, sweet soul! I doubt I can't + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Adeline Mowbray, by Amelia Alderson Opie + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADELINE MOWBRAY *** + +***** This file should be named 37908.txt or 37908.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/9/0/37908/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/37908.zip b/37908.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aec35b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/37908.zip 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..9c089c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #37908 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/37908) |