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+The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10), by Maria Edgeworth
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you
+will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
+using this eBook.
+
+Title: Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
+       Tales of a Fashionable Life: Manoeuvring; Almeria; and Vivian.
+
+Author: Maria Edgeworth
+
+Release Date: September 30, 2003 [eBook #9414]
+[Most recently updated: March 5, 2021]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: UTF-8
+
+Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Tapio Riikonen and PG Distributed Proofreaders and David Widger
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES AND NOVELS, VOLUME 5 (OF 10) ***
+
+
+
+
+TALES AND NOVELS, VOL. V
+
+MANOEUVRING; ALMERIA; AND VIVIAN. (TALES OF FASHIONABLE LIFE.)
+
+By Maria Edgeworth
+
+
+In Ten Volumes. With Engravings On Steel.
+
+
+1857.
+
+
+
+
+MANOEUVRING.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+“And gave her words, where oily Flatt’ry lays The pleasing colours of
+the art of praise.”--PARNELL.
+
+
+NOTE FROM MRS. BEAUMONT TO MISS WALSINGHAM.
+
+“I am more grieved than I can express, my dearest Miss Walsingham, by
+a cruel _contre-temps_, which must prevent my indulging myself in the
+long-promised and long-expected pleasure of being at your _fête de
+famille_ on Tuesday, to celebrate your dear father’s birthday. I
+trust, however, to your conciliating goodness, my kind young friend, to
+represent my distress properly to Mr. Walsingham. Make him sensible, I
+conjure you, that my _heart_ is with you all, and assure him that this
+is no common apology. Indeed, I never employ such artifices with my
+friends: to them, and to you in particular, my dear, I always speak with
+perfect frankness and candour. Amelia, with whom, _entre nous_, you
+are more a favourite than ever, is so much vexed and mortified by this
+disappointment, that I see I shall not be restored to favour till I can
+fix a day for going to you: yet when that may be, circumstances, which I
+should not feel myself quite justified in mentioning, will not permit me
+to decide.
+
+“Kindest regards and affectionate remembrances to all your dear
+circle.--Any news of the young captain? Any hopes of his return from
+sea?
+
+“Ever with perfect truth, my dearest Miss Walsingham’s sincere friend,
+
+“EUGENIA BEAUMONT.
+
+“P.S.--Private--read to yourself.
+
+“To be candid with you, my dear young friend, my secret reason for
+denying myself the pleasure of Tuesday’s fête is, that I have just heard
+that there is a shocking chicken-pox in the village near you; and I
+confess it is one of my weaknesses to dread even the bare rumour of such
+a thing, on account of my Amelia: but I should not wish to have this
+mentioned in your house, because you must be sensible your father would
+think it an idle womanish fear; and you know how anxious I am for his
+esteem.
+
+“Burn this, I beseech you----
+
+“Upon second thoughts, I believe it will be best to tell the truth, and
+the whole truth, to your father, if you should see that nothing else
+will do----In short, I write in haste, and must trust now, as ever,
+entirely to your discretion.”
+
+
+“Well, my dear,” said Mr. Walsingham to his daughter, as the young lady
+sat at the breakfast table looking over this note, “how long do you mean
+to sit the picture of The Delicate Embarrassment? To relieve you as far
+as in me lies, let me assure you that I shall not ask to see this
+note of Mrs. Beaumont’s, which as usual seems to contain some mighty
+mystery.”
+
+“No great mystery; only----”
+
+“Only--some minikin mystery?” said Mr. Walsingham. “Yes, ‘_Elle est
+politique pour des choux et des raves_.’--This charming widow Beaumont
+is _manoeuvrer_.[1] We can’t well make an English word of it. The
+species, thank Heaven! is not so numerous yet in England as to require
+a generic name. The description, however, has been touched by one of our
+poets:
+
+     ‘Julia’s a manager: she’s born for rule,
+     And knows her wiser husband is a fool.
+     For her own breakfast she’ll project a scheme,
+     Nor take her tea without a stratagem.’
+
+Even from the time when Mrs. Beaumont was a girl of sixteen I remember
+her manoeuvring to gain a husband, and then manoeuvring to manage him,
+which she did with triumphant address.”
+
+“What sort of a man was Colonel Beaumont?”
+
+“An excellent man; an open-hearted soldier, of the strictest honour and
+integrity.”
+
+“Then is it not much in Mrs. Beaumont’s favour, that she enjoyed the
+confidence of such a man, and that he left her guardian to his son and
+daughter?”
+
+“If he had lived with her long enough to become acquainted with her real
+character, what you say, my dear, would be unanswerable. But Colonel
+Beaumont died a few years after his marriage, and during those few years
+he was chiefly with his regiment.”
+
+“You will, however, allow,” said Miss Walsingham, “that since his death
+Mrs. Beaumont has justified his confidence.--Has she not been a good
+guardian, and an affectionate mother?”
+
+“Why--as a guardian, I think she has allowed her son too much liberty,
+and too much money. I have heard that young Beaumont has lost a
+considerable sum at Newmarket. I grant you that Mrs. Beaumont is an
+affectionate mother, and I am convinced that she is extremely anxious to
+advance the worldly interests of her children; still I cannot, my dear,
+agree with you, that she is a good mother. In the whole course of the
+education of her son and daughter, she has pursued a system of artifice.
+Whatever she wanted them to learn, or to do, or to leave undone, some
+stratagem, sentimental or scenic, was employed; somebody was to hint
+to some other body to act upon Amelia to make her do so and so.
+Nothing--that is, nothing like truth, ever came directly from the
+mother: there were always whisperings and mysteries, and ‘Don’t say that
+before Amelia!’ and ‘I would not have this told to Edward,’ because it
+might make him like something that she did not wish that he should like,
+and that she had _her reasons_ for not letting him know that she did not
+wish him to like. There was always some truth to be concealed for some
+mighty good purpose; and things and persons were to be represented
+in false lights, to produce on some particular occasion some partial
+effect. All this succeeded admirably in detail, and for the management
+of helpless, ignorant, credulous childhood. But mark the consequences
+of this system: children grow up, and cannot always see, hear, and
+understand, just as their mothers please. They will go into the world;
+they will mix with others; their eyes will be opened; they will see
+through the whole system of artifice by which their childhood was so
+cleverly managed; and then, confidence in the parent must be destroyed
+for ever.”
+
+Miss Walsingham acknowledged the truth of what her father said; but
+she observed that this was a common error in education, which had the
+sanction of high authority in its favour; even the eloquent Rousseau,
+and the elegant and ingenious Madame de Genlis. “And it is certain,”
+ continued Miss Walsingham, “that Mrs. Beaumont has not made her children
+artful; both Amelia and Mr. Beaumont are remarkably open, sincere,
+honourable characters. Mr. Beaumont, indeed, carries his sincerity
+almost to a fault: he is too blunt, perhaps, in his manner;--and Amelia,
+though she is of such a timid, gentle temper, and so much afraid of
+giving pain, has always courage enough to speak the truth, even in
+circumstances where it is most difficult. So at least you must allow, my
+dear father, that Mrs. Beaumont has made her children sincere.”
+
+“I am sorry, my dear, to seem uncharitable; but I must observe, that
+sometimes the very faults of parents produce a tendency to opposite
+virtues in their children: for the children suffer by the consequences
+of these faults, and detecting, despise, and resolve to avoid them. As
+to Amelia and Mr. Beaumont, their acquaintance with our family has been
+no unfavourable circumstance in their education. They saw amongst us
+the advantages of sincerity: they became attached to you, and to my
+excellent ward Captain Walsingham; he obtained strong power over young
+Beaumont’s mind, and used it to the best purposes. Your friendship for
+Amelia was, I think, equally advantageous to her: as you are nearly of
+the same age, you had opportunities of winning her confidence; and your
+stronger mind fortified hers, and inspired her timid character with the
+courage necessary to be sincere.”
+
+“Well,” persisted Miss Walsingham, “though Mrs. Beaumont may have used
+a little _finesse_ towards her children in trifles, yet in matters of
+consequence, I do think that she has no interest but theirs; and her
+affection for them will make her lay aside all art, when their happiness
+is at stake.”
+
+Mr. Walsingham shook his head.--“And do you then really believe, my dear
+Marianne, that Mrs. Beaumont would consider any thing, for instance, in
+the marriage of her son and daughter, but fortune, and what the world
+calls _connexion and establishments_?”
+
+“Certainly I cannot think that these are Mrs. Beaumont’s first objects;
+because we are people but of small fortune, and yet she prefers us to
+many of large estates and higher station.”
+
+“You should say, she professes to prefer us,” replied Mr. Walsingham.
+“And do you really believe her to be sincere? Now, there is my ward,
+Captain Walsingham, for whom she pretends to have such a regard, do you
+think that Mrs. Beaumont wishes her daughter should marry him?”
+
+“I do, indeed; but Mrs. Beaumont must speak cautiously on that subject;
+this is prudence, not dissimulation: for you know that my cousin
+Walsingham never declared his attachment to Miss Beaumont; on the
+contrary, he always took the most scrupulous pains to conceal it
+from her, because he had not fortune enough to marry, and he was too
+honourable to attempt, or even to wish, to engage the affections of one
+to whom he had no prospect of being united.”
+
+“He is a noble fellow!” exclaimed Mr. Walsingham. “There is no sacrifice
+of pleasure or interest he would hesitate to make to his duty. For his
+friends there is no exertion, no endurance, no forbearance, of which he
+has not shown himself capable. For his country----All I ask from Heaven
+for him is, opportunity to serve his country. Whether circumstances,
+whether success, will ever prove his merits to the world, I cannot
+foretell; but I shall always glory in him as my ward, my relation, my
+friend.”
+
+“Mrs. Beaumont speaks of him just as you do,” said Miss Walsingham.
+
+“Speaks, but not thinks,” said Mr. Walsingham. “No, no! Captain
+Walsingham is not the man she desires for a son-in-law. She wants to
+marry Amelia to Sir John Hunter.”
+
+“To Sir John Hunter!”
+
+“Yes, to Sir John Hunter, a being without literature, without morals,
+without even youth, to plead in his favour. He is nearly forty years
+old, old enough to be Amelia’s father; yet this is the man whom Mrs.
+Beaumont prefers for the husband of her beloved daughter, because he is
+heir presumptive to a great estate, and has the chance of a reversionary
+earldom.--And this is your modern good mother.”
+
+“Oh, no, no!” cried Miss Walsingham, “you do Mrs. Beaumont injustice; I
+assure you she despises Sir John Hunter as much as we do.”
+
+“Yet observe the court she has paid to the whole family of the Hunters.”
+
+“Yes, but that has been merely from regard to the late Lady Hunter, who
+was her particular friend.”
+
+“_Particular friend!_ a vamped-up, sentimental conversation reason.”
+
+“But I assure you,” persisted Miss Walsingham, “that I know Mrs.
+Beaumont’s mind better than you do, father, at least on this subject.”
+
+“You! a girl of eighteen, pretend to know a manoeuvrer of her age!”
+
+“Only let me tell you my reasons.--It was but last week that Mrs.
+Beaumont told me that she did not wish to encourage Sir John Hunter,
+and that she should be perfectly happy if she could see Amelia united to
+such a man as Captain Walsingham.”
+
+“Such a man as Captain Walsingham! nicely guarded expression!”
+
+“But you have not heard all yet.--Mrs. Beaumont anxiously inquired from
+me whether he had made any prize-money, whether there was any chance of
+his returning soon; and she added, with particular emphasis, ‘You
+don’t know how much I wish it! You don’t know what a favourite he is of
+mine!’”
+
+“That last, I will lay any wager,” cried Mr. Walsingham, “she said in a
+whisper, and in a corner.”
+
+“Yes, but she could not do otherwise, for Amelia was present. Mrs.
+Beaumont took me aside.”
+
+“Aside; ay, ay, but take care, I advise you, of her _asides_, and her
+whisperings, and her cornerings, and her inuendoes, and semiconfidences,
+lest your own happiness, my dear, unsuspecting, enthusiastic daughter,
+should be the sacrifice.”
+
+Miss Walsingham now stood perfectly silent, in embarrassed and
+breathless anxiety.
+
+“I see,” continued her father, “that Mrs. Beaumont, for whose mighty
+genius one intrigue at a time is not sufficient, wants also to persuade
+you, my dear, that she wishes to have you for a daughter-in-law: and yet
+all the time she is doing every thing she can to make her son marry that
+fool, Miss Hunter, merely because she has two hundred thousand pounds
+fortune.”
+
+“There I can assure you that you are mistaken,” said Miss Walsingham;
+“Mrs. Beaumont dreads that her son should marry Miss Hunter. Mrs.
+Beaumont thinks her as silly as you do, and complained to me of her
+having no taste for literature, or for any thing, but dress, and
+trifling conversation.”
+
+“I wonder, then, that Mrs. Beaumont selects her continually for her
+companion.”
+
+“She thinks Miss Hunter the most insipid companion in the world; but I
+dare not tell you, lest you should laugh at me again, that it was for
+the sake of the late Lady Hunter that Mrs. Beaumont was so kind to the
+daughter; and now Miss Hunter is so fond of her, and so grateful, that,
+as Mrs. Beaumont says, it would be cruelty to shake her off.”
+
+“Mighty plausible! But the truth of all this, begging Mrs. Beaumont’s
+pardon, I doubt; I will not call it a falsehood, but I may be permitted
+to call it a _Beaumont_. Time will show: and in the mean time, my dear
+daughter, be on your guard against Mrs. Beaumont’s art, and against
+your own credulity. The momentary pain I give my friends by speaking
+the plain truth, I have always found overbalanced by the pleasure
+and advantage of mutual confidence. Our domestic happiness has arisen
+chiefly from our habits of openness and sincerity. Our whole souls
+are laid open; there is no management, no ‘_intrigue de cabinet_, no
+‘_esprit de la ligue_.’”
+
+Mr. Walsingham now left the room; and Miss Walsingham, absorbed in
+reflections more interesting to her than even the defence of Mrs.
+Beaumont, went out to walk. Her father’s house was situated in a
+beautiful part of Devonshire, near the sea-shore, in the neighbourhood
+of Plymouth; and as Miss Walsingham was walking on the beach, she saw
+an old fisherman mooring his boat to the projecting stump of a tree. His
+figure was so picturesque, that she stopped to sketch it; and as she
+was drawing, a woman came from the cottage near the shore to ask
+the fisherman what luck he had had. “A fine turbot,” says he, “and a
+john-doree.”
+
+“Then away with them this minute to Beaumont Park,” said the woman; “for
+here’s Madam Beaumont’s man, Martin, called _in a flustrum_ while you
+was away, to say madam must have the nicest of our fish, whatsomever it
+might be, and a john-doree, if it could be had for love or money, for
+Tuesday.”--Here the woman, perceiving Miss Walsingham, dropped a curtsy.
+“Your humble servant, Miss Walsingham,” said the woman.
+
+“On Tuesday?” said Miss Walsingham: “are you sure that Mrs. Beaumont
+bespoke the fish for Tuesday?”
+
+“Oh, _sartin_ sure, miss; for Martin mentioned, moreover, what he had
+heard talk in the servants’ hall, that there is to be a very _pettiklar_
+old gentleman, as rich! as rich! as rich can be! from foreign parts,
+and a great friend of the colonel that’s dead; and he--that is, the old
+_pettiklar_ gentleman--is to be down all the way from Lon’on to dine at
+the park on Tuesday for _sartin_: so, husband, away with the john-doree
+and the turbot, while they be fresh.”
+
+“But why,” thought Miss Walsingham, “did not Mrs. Beaumont tell us the
+plain truth, if this is the truth?”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     “_Young Hermes next, a close contriving god,
+     Her brows encircled with his serpent rod;
+     Then plots and fair excuses fill her brain,
+     And views of breaking am’rous vows for gain_.”
+
+
+The information which Mrs. Beaumont’s man, Martin, had learned from the
+servants’ hall, and had communicated to the fisherman’s wife, was more
+correct, and had been less amplified, embellished, misunderstood, or
+misrepresented, than is usually found to be the case with pieces of
+news which are so heard and so repeated. It was true that Mrs. Beaumont
+expected to see on Tuesday an old gentleman, a Mr. Palmer, who had been
+a friend of her husband’s; he had lately returned from Jamaica, where he
+had made a large fortune. It is true, also, that this old gentleman
+was _a little particular_, but not precisely in the sense in which the
+fisherman’s wife understood the phrase; he was not particularly fond
+of john-dorees and turbots, but he was particularly fond of making his
+fellow-creatures happy; particularly generous, particularly open and
+honest in his nature, abhorring all artifice himself, and unsuspicious
+of it in others. He was unacquainted with Mrs. Beaumont’s character, as
+he had been for many years in the West Indies, and he knew her only
+from her letters, in which she appeared every thing that was candid and
+amiable. His great friendship for her deceased husband also inclined him
+to like her. Colonel Beaumont had appointed him one of the guardians of
+his children, but Mr. Palmer, being absent from England, had declined to
+act: he was also trustee to Mrs. Beaumont’s marriage-settlement, and
+she had represented that it was necessary he should be present at the
+settlement of her family affairs upon her son’s coming of age; an event
+which was to take place in a few days. The urgent representations of
+Mrs. Beaumont, and the anxious desire she expressed to see Mr. Palmer,
+had at last prevailed with the good old gentleman to journey down
+to Beaumont Park, though he was a valetudinarian, and though he was
+obliged, he said, to return to Jamaica with the West India fleet, which
+was expected to sail in ten days; so that he announced positively that
+he could stay but a week at Beaumont Park with his good friends and
+relations.
+
+He was related but distantly to the Beaumonts, and he stood in precisely
+the same degree of relationship to the Walsinghams. He had no other
+relations, and his fortune was completely at his own disposal. On this
+fortune our cunning widow had speculated long and deeply, though in fact
+there was no occasion for art: it was Mr. Palmer’s intention to leave
+his large fortune to the Beaumonts; or to divide it between the Beaumont
+and Walsingham families; and had she been sincere in her professed
+desire of a complete union by a double marriage between the
+representatives of the families, her favourite object would have been,
+in either case, equally secure. Here was a plain, easy road to her
+object; but it was too direct for Mrs. Beaumont. With all her abilities,
+she could never comprehend the axiom that a right line is the shortest
+possible line between any two points:--an axiom equally true in morals
+and in mathematics. No, the serpentine line was, in her opinion, not
+only the most beautiful, but the most expeditious, safe, and convenient.
+
+She had formed a triple scheme of such intricacy, that it is necessary
+distinctly to state the argument of her plot, lest the action should be
+too complicated to be easily developed.
+
+She had, in the first place, a design of engrossing the whole of Mr.
+Palmer’s fortune for her own family; and for this purpose she determined
+to prevent Mr. Palmer from becoming acquainted with his other relations,
+the Walsinghams, to whom she had always had a secret dislike, because
+they were of remarkably open, sincere characters. As Mr. Palmer proposed
+to stay but a week in the country, this scheme of preventing their
+meeting seemed feasible.
+
+In the second place, Mrs. Beaumont wished to marry her daughter to Sir
+John Hunter, because Sir John was heir expectant to a large estate,
+called the Wigram estate, and because there was in his family a certain
+reversionary title, the earldom of Puckeridge, which would devolve to
+Sir John after the death of a near relation.
+
+In the third place, Mrs. Beaumont wished to marry her own son to Miss
+Hunter, who was Sir John’s sister by a second marriage, and above twenty
+years younger than he was: this lady was preferred to Miss Walsingham
+for a daughter-in-law, for the reasons which Mr. Walsingham had given;
+because she possessed an independent fortune of two hundred thousand
+pounds, and because she was so childish and silly that Mrs. Beaumont
+thought she could always manage her easily, and by this means retain
+power over her son. Miss Hunter was very pretty, and Mrs. Beaumont
+had observed that her son had sometimes been struck with her beauty
+sufficiently to give hopes that, by proper management, he might be
+diverted from his serious, sober preference of Miss Walsingham.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont foresaw many difficulties in the execution of these
+plans. She knew that Amelia liked Captain Walsingham, and that Captain
+Walsingham was attached to her, though he had never declared his love:
+and she dreaded that Captain Walsingham, who was at this time at sea,
+should return, just whilst Mr. Palmer was with her; because she was well
+aware that the captain was a kind of man Mr. Palmer would infinitely
+prefer to Sir John Hunter. Indeed, she had been secretly informed that
+Mr. Palmer hated every one who had a title; therefore she could
+not, whilst he was with her, openly encourage Sir John Hunter in his
+addresses to Amelia. To conciliate these seemingly incompatible schemes,
+she determined----But let our heroine speak for herself.
+
+“My dearest Miss Hunter,” said she, “now we are by ourselves, let me
+open my mind to you; I have been watching for an opportunity these two
+days, but so hurried as I have been!--Where’s Amelia?”
+
+“Out walking, ma’am. She told me you begged her to walk to get rid of
+her head-ache; and that she might look well to-day, as Mr. Palmer is to
+come. I would not go with her, because you whispered to me at breakfast
+that you had something very particular to say to me.”
+
+“But you did not give _that_ as a reason, I hope! Surely you didn’t tell
+Amelia that I had something particular to say to you?”
+
+“Oh, no, ma’am; I told her that I had something to do about my
+dress--and so I had--my new hat to try on.”
+
+“True, my love; quite right; for you know I wouldn’t have her suspect
+that we had any thing to say to each other that we didn’t wish her to
+hear, especially as it is about herself.”
+
+“Herself!--Oh, is it?” said Miss Hunter, in a tone of disappointment.
+
+“And about you, too, my darling. Be assured I have no daughter I
+love better, or ever shall. With such a son as I have, and such a
+daughter-in-law as I hope and trust I shall have ere long, I shall think
+myself the most fortunate of mothers.”
+
+Silly Miss Hunter’s face brightened up again. “But now, my love,”
+ continued Mrs. Beaumont, taking her hand, leading her to a window, and
+speaking very low, though no one else was in the room, “before we talk
+any more of what is nearest my heart, I must get you to write a note
+for me to your brother, directly, for there is a circumstance I
+forgot--thoughtless creature that I am! but indeed, I never can _think_
+when I _feel_ much. Some people are always so collected and prudent.
+But I have none of that!--Heigho! Well, my dear, you must supply my
+deficiencies. You will write and tell Sir John, that in my agitation
+when he made his proposal for my Amelia, of which I so frankly approved,
+I omitted to warn him, that no hint must be given that I do any thing
+more than permit him to address my daughter upon an equal footing with
+any other gentleman who might address her. Stay, my dear; you don’t
+understand me, I see. In short, to be candid with you--old Mr. Palmer is
+coming to-day, you know. Now, my dear, you must be aware that it is of
+the greatest consequence to the interests of my family, of which I
+hope you always consider yourself (for I have always considered you) as
+forming a part, and a very distinguished part--I say, my darling, that
+we must consider that it is our interest in all things to please and
+humour this good old gentleman. He will be with us but for a week,
+you know. Well, the point is this. I have been informed from undoubted
+authority, people who were about him at the time, and knew, that the
+reason he quarrelled with that nephew of his, who died two years ago,
+was the young man’s having accepted a baronetage: and at that time
+old Palmer swore, that _no sprig of quality_--those were the very
+words--should ever inherit a shilling of his money. Such a ridiculous
+whim! But these London merchants, who make great fortunes from nothing,
+are apt to have their little eccentricities; and then, they have so
+much pride in their own way, and so much self-will and mercantile
+downrightness in their manners, that there’s no managing them but by
+humouring their fancies. I’m convinced, if Mr. Palmer suspected that I
+even wished Amelia to marry Sir John, he would never leave any of us a
+farthing, and it would all go to the Walsinghams. So, my dear, do you
+explain to your brother, that though I have not the least objection to
+his coming here whilst Mr. Palmer is with us, he must not take umbrage
+at any seeming coldness in my manner. He knows my heart, I trust; at
+least, you do, my Albina. And even if I should be obliged to receive or
+to go to see the Walsinghams, which, by-the-bye, I have taken means
+to prevent; but if it should happen that they were to hear of Palmer’s
+being with us, and come, and Sir John should meet them, he must not
+be surprised or jealous at my speaking in the highest terms of Captain
+Walsingham. This I shall be obliged to do as a blind before Mr. Palmer.
+I must make him believe that I prefer a commoner for my son-in-law, or
+we are all undone with him. You know it is my son’s interest, and yours,
+as well as your brother’s and Amelia’s, that I consider. So explain all
+this to him, my dear; you will explain it so much better, and make it so
+much more palpable to your brother than I could.”
+
+“Dear Mrs. Beaumont, how can you think so? You who write so well, and
+such long letters about every thing, and so quick! But goodness! I shall
+never get it all into a letter I’m afraid, and before Mr. Palmer comes,
+and then it will soon be dressing-time! La! I could say it all to John
+in five minutes: what a pity he is not here to-day!”
+
+“Well, my love, then suppose you were to go to him; as you so prudently
+remark, things of this sort are always so much easier and better said
+than written. And now I look at my watch, I see you cannot have time to
+write a long letter, and to dress. So I believe, though I shall grieve
+to lose you, I must consent to your going for this one day to your
+brother’s. My carriage and Williamson shall attend you,” said Mrs.
+Beaumont, ringing the bell to order the carriage; “but remember you
+promise me now to come back, positively, to-morrow, or next day at
+farthest, if I should not be able to send the carriage again to-morrow.
+I would not, upon any account, have you away, if it can possibly be
+helped, whilst Mr. Palmer is here, considering you as I do [The carriage
+to the door directly, and Williamson to attend Miss Hunter]--considering
+you as I do, my dearest Albina, quite as my own daughter.”
+
+“Oh, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont, you are so kind!” said the poor girl,
+whom Mrs. Beaumont could always thus easily _pay with words_.
+
+The carriage came to the door with such prompt obedience to Mrs.
+Beaumont’s summons, that one of a more reflecting or calculating nature
+than Miss Hunter might have suspected that it had been ordered to be in
+readiness to carry her away this morning.
+
+“Fare ye well, my own Albina! be sure you don’t stay long from us,”
+ said Mrs. Beaumont, accompanying her to the hall-door. “A thousand kind
+things to everybody, and your brother in particular. But, my dear Miss
+Hunter, one word more,” said she, following to the carriage door, and
+whispering: “there’s another thing that I must trust to your management
+and cleverness;--I mentioned that Mr. Palmer was to know nothing of _the
+approbation_ of Sir John’s suit.”
+
+“Oh, yes, yes, ma’am, I understand perfectly.”
+
+“But stay, my love; you must understand, too, that it is to be quite a
+secret between ourselves, not to be mentioned to my son even; for you
+know he is sudden in his temper, and warm and quite in the Walsingham
+interest, and there’s no knowing what might be the consequence if
+it were to be let out imprudently, and Sir John and Edward both so
+high-spirited. One can’t be too cautious, my dear, to prevent mischief
+between gentlemen. So caution your brother to leave it to me to break
+it, and bring things about with Edward and Amelia,”--[stopping
+Miss Hunter again as she made a second effort to get into the
+carriage,]--“You comprehend, my dear, that Amelia is not in the
+secret yet--so not a word from your brother to her about _my
+approbation!_--that would ruin all. I trust to his honour; and
+besides--” drawing the young lady back for the third whisper.--Miss
+Hunter stood suspended with one foot in air, and the other on the
+step; the coachman, impatient to be off, manoeuvred to make his
+horses restless, whilst at the same time he cried aloud--“So! so!
+Prancer--stand still, Peacock; stand still, sir!”
+
+Miss Hunter jumped down on terra firma. “Those horses frighten me so
+for you, my dear!” said Mrs. Beaumont. “Martin, stand at their heads. My
+dear child, I won’t detain you, for you’ll be late. I had only to say,
+that--oh! that I trust implicitly to your brother’s honour; but,
+besides this, it will not be amiss for you to hint, as you know you can
+delicately--_delicately_, you understand--that it is for his interest
+to leave me to manage every thing. Yet none of this is to be said _as
+if from me_--pray don’t let it come from me. Say it all from yourself.
+Don’t let my name be mentioned at all. Don’t commit me, you understand?”
+
+“Perfectly, perfectly, ma’am: one kiss, dear Mrs. Beaumont, and adieu.
+Is my dressing-box in? Tell him to drive fast, for I hate going slow.
+Dearest Mrs. Beaumont, good bye. I feel as if I were going for an age,
+though it is only for one day.”
+
+“Dear, affectionate girl! I love _heart_--Good bye--Drive fast, as Miss
+Hunter desires you.”
+
+Our fair politician, well satisfied with the understanding of her
+confidante, which never comprehended more than met the ear, and secure
+in a chargé d’affaires, whose powers it was never necessary to limit,
+stood on the steps before the house-door, deep in reverie, for some
+minutes after the carriage had driven away, till she was roused by
+seeing her son returning from his morning’s ride.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     _“Will you hear a Spanish lady,
+     How she woo’d an English man?
+     Garments gay as rich as may be,
+     Deck’d with jewels, she had on.”_
+
+     THE SPANISH LADY’S LOVE. _Percy’s Reliques of Ancient Poetry_
+
+
+Mr. Beaumont had just been at a neighbouring farm-house, where there
+lived one of Mr. Walsingham’s tenants; a man of the name of Birch, a
+respectable farmer, who was originally from Ireland, and whose son was
+at sea with Captain Walsingham. The captain had taken young Birch under
+his particular care, at Mr. Walsingham’s request.
+
+Birch’s parents had this day received a letter from their son, which in
+the joy and pride of their hearts they showed to Mr. Beaumont, who was
+in the habit of calling at their house to inquire if they had heard any
+news of their son, or of Captain Walsingham. Mr. Beaumont liked to
+read Birch’s letters, because they were written with characteristic
+simplicity and affection, and somewhat in the Irish idiom, which this
+young sailor’s English education had not made him entirely forget.
+
+
+LETTER FROM BIRCH TO HIS PARENTS.
+
+“H.M.S. l’Ambuscade.
+
+“HONOURED PARENTS,
+
+“I write this from sea, lat. N. 44.15--long. W. 9.45--wind N.N.E.--to
+let you know you will not see me so soon as I said in my last, of the
+16th. Yesterday, P.M. two o’clock, some despatches were brought to
+my good captain, by the Pickle sloop, which will to-morrow, wind and
+weather permitting, alter our destination. What the nature of them is I
+cannot impart to you, for it has not transpired beyond the lieutenants;
+but whatever I do under the orders of my good captain, I am satisfied
+and confident all is for the best. For my own share, I long for an
+opportunity of fighting the French, and of showing the captain _what
+is in me_, and that the pains he has took to make a gentleman, and an
+honour to his majesty’s service, of me, is not thrown away. Had he been
+my own father, or brother, he could not be better, or _done more_.
+God willing, I will never disgrace his principles, for it would be
+my ambition to be like him in every respect; and he says, if I behave
+myself as I ought, I shall soon be a lieutenant; and a lieutenant in his
+majesty’s navy is as good a gentleman as any in England, and has a right
+(tell my sister Kitty) to hand the first woman in Lon’on out of her
+carriage, if he pleases, and if she pleases.
+
+“Now we talk of ladies, and as please God we shall soon be in action,
+and may not have another opportunity of writing to you this great while,
+for there is talk of our sailing southward with the fleet to bring the
+French and Spaniards to action, I think it best to send you all the news
+I have in this letter. But pray bid Kate, with my love, mind this, that
+not a word of the following is to take wind for her life, on account of
+my not knowing if it might be agreeable, or how it might affect my good
+captain, and others that shall be nameless. You must know then that when
+we were at ----, where we were stationed six weeks and two days, waiting
+for the winds, and one cause or other, we used to employ ourselves,
+I and my captain, taking soundings (which I can’t more particularly
+explain the nature of to you, especially in a letter); for he always
+took me out to attend him in preference to any other; and after he had
+completed his soundings, and had no farther use for me in that job, I
+asked him leave to go near the same place in the evening to fish, which
+my good captain consented to (as he always does to what (duty done) can
+gratify me), provided I was in my ship by ten. Now you must know that
+there are convents in this country (which you have often heard of,
+Kitty, no doubt), being damnable places, where young _Catholic_ women
+are shut up unmarried, often, it is to be reasonably supposed, against
+their wills. And there is a convent in one of the suburbs which has a
+high back wall to the garden of it that comes down near the strand; and
+it was under this wall we two used to sound, and that afterwards I used
+to be fishing. And one evening, when I was not thinking of any such
+thing, there comes over the wall a huge nosegay of flowers, with a stone
+in it, that made me jump. And this for three evenings running the same
+way, about the same hour; till at last one evening as I was looking up
+at the wall, as I had now learned to do about the time the nosegays
+were thrown over, I saw coming down a stone tied to a string, and to the
+stone a letter, the words of which I can’t particularly take upon me to
+recollect, because I gave up the paper to my captain, who desired it of
+me, and took no copy; but the sense was, that in that convent there was
+shut up a lady, the daughter of an English gentleman by a Spanish
+wife, both her parents being dead, and her Spanish relations and
+father-confessor (or catholic priest of a man), not wishing she should
+get to England, where she might be what she had a right to be by birth,
+at least by her father’s side (a _protestant_), shut her up since she
+was a child. And that there was a relative of hers in England, who with
+a wicked lawyer or attorney had got possession of her estate, and made
+every body believe she was dead. And so, it being seven years and more
+since she was heard of, she is what is called dead in law, which sort of
+death however won’t signify, if she appears again. Wherefore the letter
+goes on to say, she would be particularly glad to make her escape, and
+get over to old England. But she confesses that she is neither young nor
+handsome, and may-be never may be rich; therefore, that whoever helps
+her must do it for the sake of doing good and nothing else; for though
+she would pay all expenses handsomely, she could not promise more. And
+that she knew the danger of the undertaking to be great; greater for
+them that would carry her off even than for herself. That she knows,
+however, that British sailors are brave as they are generous (this part
+of the letter was very well indited, and went straight to my heart
+the minute ever I read it); and she wished it could be in the power of
+Captain Walsingham to take her under his immediate protection, and
+that she had taken measures so as she could escape over the wall of the
+garden if he would have a boat in readiness to carry her to his ship;
+and at the same hour next evening the stone should be let down as usual,
+and he might fasten his answer to it, which would be drawn up in due
+course. Concluding all this with, ‘That she would not go at all unless
+Captain Walsingham came for her himself (certifying himself to be
+himself, I suppose), for she knew him to be a gentleman by reputation,
+and she should be safe under his protection, and so would her secret,
+she was confident, at all events.’ This was the entire and sum total of
+the letter. So when I had read to the end, and looked for the postscript
+and all, I found for my pains that the lady mistook me for my captain,
+or would not have written or thrown the nosegays. So I took the letter
+to my captain; and what he answered, and how it was settled (by signals,
+I suppose) between them after, it was not for me to inquire. Not a word
+more was said by him to me or I to him on the topic, till the very night
+we were to sail for England. It was then that our captain took me aside,
+and he says, ‘Birch, will you assist me? I ask this not as your captain,
+so you are at liberty to do as you please. Will you help me to rescue
+this lady, who seems to be unjustly detained, and to carry her back safe
+to her country and her friends?’ I told him I would do that or any thing
+else he bid me, confident he would never ask me to do a wrong thing;
+and as to the lady, I should be proud to help to carry her off to old
+England and her lawful friends, only I thought (if I might be so bold)
+it was a pity she was not young and handsome, for his sake. At that he
+smiled, and only said, ‘Perhaps it was best for him as it was.’ Then
+he settled about the boat, and who were to go, and when. It was twelve
+o’clock striking by the great town clock when we were under the walls of
+the convent, as appointed. And all was hush and silent as the grave for
+our very lives. For it was a matter of life or death, I promise you, and
+we all knew as much, and the sailors had a dread of the Inquisition upon
+them that was beyond all terrible! So we watched and waited, and waited
+and watched so long, that we thought something must have gone wrong,
+or that all was found out, and the captain could not delay the ship’s
+sailing; and he struck his repeater, and it was within a quarter of one,
+and he said, ‘It is too late; we must put back.’ Just then, I, that was
+watching with the lantern in my hand, gave notice, and first there comes
+down a white bundle, fastened to the stone and cord. Then the captain
+and I fixed the ladder of ropes, and down came the lady, as well as ever
+she went up, and not a word but away with her: the captain had her in
+a trice in our boat, safe and snug, and off we put, rowing for the bare
+life, all silent as ever. I think I hear the striking of our oars
+and the plashing of the water this minute, which we would have gladly
+silenced, but could not any way in nature. But none heard it, or at
+least took any notice against us. I can give you no idea of the terror
+which the lady manifested when the boat stood out to sea, at the
+slightest squall of wind, or the least agitation of the waves; for
+besides being naturally cowardly, as all or most women are for the first
+time at sea, here was a poor soul who had been watching, and may be
+fasting, and worn out mind and body with the terror of perfecting her
+escape from the convent, where she had been immured all her life, and as
+helpless as a child. So it was wonderful she went through it as well as
+she did and without screaming, which should be an example to Kate and
+others. Glad enough even we men were when we reached the ship. There
+was, at that time, a silence on board you could have heard a pin drop,
+all being in perfect readiness for getting under way, the sails
+ready for dropping, and officers and sailors waiting in the greatest
+expectation of our boat’s return. Our boat passed swiftly alongside,
+and great beyond belief was the astonishment of all at seeing a woman
+veiled, hoisted out, and in, and ushered below, half fainting. I never
+felt more comfortable in my life than when we found her and ourselves
+safe aboard l’Ambuscade. The anchor was instantly weighed, all sail
+made, and the ship stood out to sea. To the lady the captain gave up his
+cabin: double sentries were placed, and as the captain ordered,
+every precaution that could shield her character in such suspicious
+circumstances were enforced with the utmost punctilio. I cannot
+describe, nor can you even conceive, Kate, the degree of curiosity shown
+about her; all striving to get a sight of her when she first went down,
+and most zealous they were to bring lights; but that would not do, for
+they could not see her for her veil. Yet through all we could make out
+that she was a fine figure of a woman at any rate, and something more
+than ordinary, from the air she had with her. The next day when she was
+sitting on deck the wind by times would blow aside her veil so as to
+give us glimpses of her face; when, to our surprise, and I am sure to
+the captain’s satisfaction, we found she was beyond all contradiction
+young and handsome. And moreover I have reason to believe she has fine
+jewels with her, besides a ring from her own finger, which with a very
+pretty action she put on his, that next day on deck, as I noticed, when
+nobody was minding. So that no doubt she is as much richer as she is
+handsomer than she made believe, contrary to the ways of other women,
+which is in her favour and my good captain’s; for from what I can judge,
+after all he has done for her, she has no dislike nor objection to him.
+
+“I have not time to add any thing more, but my love to Kitty, and Nancy,
+and Tom, and Mary, and little Bess; and, honoured parents, wishing you
+good health as I am in, thank God, at this present,
+
+“I am your dutiful and loving son,
+
+“JOHN BIRCH.
+
+“P.S. I open my letter to tell you we are going southward immediately,
+all in high spirits, as there is hopes of meeting the French and
+Spaniards. We have just hoisted the nun-lady on board an English packet.
+God send her and this letter safe to England.”
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. Beaumont might perhaps have been amused by this romantic story, and
+by the style in which it was told, if he had not been alarmed by the
+hint at the conclusion of the letter, that the lady was not indifferent
+to her deliverer. Now Mr. Beaumont earnestly wished that his friend
+Captain Walsingham might become his brother-in-law; and he began to have
+fears about this Spanish lady, with her gratitude, her rings, and the
+advantages of the great interest her misfortunes and helpless condition
+would excite, together with the vast temptations to fall in love that
+might occur during the course of a voyage. Had he taken notice of the
+postscript, his mind would have been somewhat relieved. On this subject
+Mr. Beaumont pondered all the way that he rode home, and on this subject
+he was still meditating when he saw his mother standing on the steps,
+where we left her when Miss Hunter’s carriage drove away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+“I shall in all my best obey you, madam.” HAMLET.
+
+
+“Did you meet Miss Hunter, my dear son?” said she.
+
+“Yes, ma’am, I just passed the carriage in the avenue: she is going
+home, is not she?” said he, rather in a tone of satisfaction.
+
+“Ah, poor thing! yes,” said Mrs. Beaumont, in a most pathetic tone: “ah,
+poor thing!”
+
+“Why, ma’am, what has happened to her? What’s the matter?”
+
+“Matter? Oh, nothing!--Did I say that any thing was the matter? Don’t
+speak so loud,” whispered she: “your groom heard every word we said;
+stay till he is out of hearing, and then we can talk.”
+
+“I don’t care if all the world hears what I say,” cried Mr. Beaumont
+hastily: but, as if suppressing his rising indignation, he, with a
+milder look and tone, added, “I cannot conceive, my dear mother, why you
+are always so afraid of being overheard.”
+
+“Servants, my dear, make such mischief, you know, by misunderstanding
+and misrepresenting every thing they hear; and they repeat things so
+oddly, and raise such strange reports!”
+
+“True--very true indeed, ma’am,” said Mr. Beaumont. “You are quite
+right, and I beg pardon for being so hasty--I wish you could teach me a
+little of your patience and prudence.”
+
+“Prudence! ah! my dear Edward, ‘tis only time and sad experience of the
+world can teach that to people of _our_ open tempers. I was at your age
+ten times more imprudent and unsuspicious than you are.”
+
+“Were you, ma’am?--But I don’t think I am unsuspicious. I was when I was
+a boy--I wish we could continue children always in some things. I hate
+suspicion in any body--but more than in any one else, I hate it in
+myself. And yet--”
+
+Mr. Beaumont hesitated, and his mother instantly went on with a fluent
+panegyric upon the hereditary unsuspiciousness of his temper.
+
+“But, madam, were you not saying something to me about Miss Hunter?”
+
+“Was I?--Oh, I was merely going to say, that I was sorry you did not
+know she was going this morning, that you might have taken leave of her,
+poor thing!”
+
+“Take leave of her! ma’am: I bowed to her, and wished her a good
+morning, when I met her just now, and she told me she was only going to
+the hall for a day. Surely no greater leave-taking was requisite, when I
+am to see the lady again to-morrow, I presume.”
+
+“That is not quite so certain as she thinks, poor soul! I told her
+I would send for her again to-morrow, just to keep up her spirits at
+leaving me. Walk this way, Edward, under the shade of the trees, for I
+am dead with the heat; and you, too, look so hot! I say I am not so sure
+that it would be prudent to have her here so much, especially whilst Mr.
+Palmer is with us, you know--” Mrs. Beaumont paused, as if waiting for
+an assent, or a dissent, or a leading hint how to proceed: but her son
+persisting in perverse silence, she was forced to repeat, “You know,
+Edward, my dear, you know?”
+
+“I don’t know, indeed, ma’am.”
+
+“You don’t know!”
+
+“Faith, not I, ma’am. I don’t know, for the soul of me, what Mr.
+Palmer’s coming has to do with Miss Hunter’s going. There’s room enough
+in the house, I suppose, for each of them, and all of us to play our
+parts. As to the rest, the young lady’s coming or going is quite a
+matter of indifference to me, except, of course, as far as politeness
+and hospitality go. But all that I leave to you, who do the honours for
+me so well.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont’s ideas were utterly thrown out of their order by this
+speech, no part of which was exactly what she wished or expected: not
+that any of the sentiments it contained or suggested were new to her;
+but she was not prepared to meet them thus clothed in distinct words,
+and in such a compact form. She had drawn up her forces for battle in
+an order which this unexpectedly decisive movement of the enemy
+discomfited; and a less able tactician might have been, in these
+circumstances, not only embarrassed, but utterly defeated: yet, however
+unprepared for this sudden shock, with admirable generalship our female
+Hannibal, falling back in the centre, admitted him to advance impetuous
+and triumphant, till she had him completely surrounded.
+
+“My being of age in a few days,” continued Mr. Beaumont, “will not make
+any difference, surely; I depend upon it, that you will always invite
+whomever you like to this house, of which I hope, my dear mother, you
+will always do me the favour to be the mistress--till I marry, at least.
+For my wife’s feelings,” added he, smiling, “I can’t engage, before I
+have her.”
+
+“And before we know who she is to be,” said Mrs. Beaumont, carelessly.
+“Time enough, as you say, to think of that. Besides, there are few women
+in the world, I know scarcely one, with whom, in the relation of mother
+and daughter-in-law, I should wish to live. But wherever I live, my dear
+son, as long as I have a house, I hope you will always do me the justice
+and the pleasure to consider yourself as its master. Heaven knows
+I shall never give any other man a right to dispute with you the
+sovereignty of my castle, or my cottage, whichever it may be. As to the
+rest,” pursued Mrs. Beaumont, “you cannot marry against my wishes, my
+dear Edward; for your wishes on this, as on all other subjects, will
+ever govern mine.”
+
+Her son kissed her hand with warm gratitude.
+
+“You will not, I hope, think that I seek to prolong my regency, or to
+assume undue power or influence in affairs,” continued Mrs. Beaumont,
+“if I hint to you in general terms what I think may contribute to your
+happiness. You must afterwards decide for yourself; and are now, as you
+have ever been, master, to do as you please.”
+
+“Too much--too much. I have had too much liberty, and have too little
+acquired the habit of commanding my will and my passions by my reason.
+Of this I am sensible. My excellent friend, Captain Walsingham, told me,
+some years ago, that this was the fault of my character, and he charged
+me to watch over myself; and so I have; but not so strictly, I fear, as
+if he had watched along with me.----Well, ma’am, you were going to give
+me some advice; I am all attention.”
+
+“My dear son, Captain Walsingham showed his judgment more, perhaps, in
+pointing out causes than effects. The weakness of a fond mother, I am
+sensible, did indulge you in childhood, and, perhaps, more imprudently
+in youth, with an unlimited liberty to judge and act for yourself. Your
+mother’s system of education came, alas! more from her heart than her
+head. Captain Walsingham himself cannot be more sensible of my errors
+than I am.”
+
+“Captain Walsingham, believe me, mother, never mentioned this in
+reproach to you. He is not a man to teach a son to see his mother’s
+errors--if she had any. He always spoke of you with the greatest
+respect. And since I must, at my own expense, do him justice, it was,
+I well remember, upon some occasion where I spoke too hastily, and
+insisted upon my will in opposition to yours, madam, that Captain
+Walsingham took me aside, and represented to me the fault into which my
+want of command over myself had betrayed me. This he did so forcibly,
+that I have never from that hour to this (I flatter myself) on any
+material occasion, forgotten the impression he made on my mind. But,
+madam, I interrupt you: you were going to give me your advice about--”
+
+“No, no--no advice--no advice; you are, in my opinion, fully adequate to
+the direction of your own conduct. I was merely going to suggest, that,
+since you have not been accustomed to control from a mother, and since
+you have, thank Heaven! a high spirit, that would sooner break than
+bend, it must be essential to your happiness to have a wife of a
+compliant, gentle temper; not fond of disputing the right, or attached
+to her own opinions; not one who would be tenacious of rule, and
+unseasonably inflexible.”
+
+“Unseasonably inflexible! Undoubtedly, ma’am. Yet I should despise a
+mean-spirited wife.”
+
+“I am sure you would. But compliance that proceeds from affection, you
+know, can never deserve to be called mean-spirited--nor would it so
+appear to you. I am persuaded that there is a degree of fondness, of
+affection, enthusiastic affection, which disposes the temper always to
+a certain softness and yieldingness, which, I conceive, would be
+peculiarly attractive to you, and essential to your happiness: in short,
+I know your temper could not bear contradiction.”
+
+“Oh, indeed, ma’am, you are quite mistaken.”
+
+“Quite mistaken! and at the very moment he reddens with anger, because
+I contradict, even in the softest, gentlest manner in my power, his
+opinion of himself!”
+
+“You don’t understand me, indeed, you don’t understand me,” said Mr.
+Beaumont, beating with his whip the leaves of a bush which was near him.
+“Either you don’t understand me, or I don’t understand you. I am much
+more able to bear contradiction than you think I am, provided it be
+direct. But I do not love--what I am doing at this instant,” added he,
+smiling--“I don’t love beating about the bush.”
+
+“Look there now!--Strange creatures you men are! So like he looks to his
+poor father, who used to tell me that he loved to be contradicted, and
+yet who would not, I am sure, have lived three days with any woman who
+had ventured to contradict him directly. Whatever influence I obtained
+in his heart, and whatever happiness we enjoyed in our union, I
+attribute to my trusting to my observations on his character rather than
+to his own account of himself. Therefore I may be permitted to claim
+some judgment of what would suit your hereditary temper.”
+
+“Certainly, ma’am, certainly. But to come to the point at once, may I
+ask this plain question--Do you, by these reflections, mean to allude
+to any particular persons? Is there any woman in the world you at this
+instant would wish me to marry?”
+
+“Yes--Miss Walsingham.”
+
+Mr. Beaumont started with joyful surprise, when his mother thus
+immediately pronounced the very name he wished to hear.
+
+“You surprise and delight me, my dear mother!”
+
+“Surprise!--How can that be?--Surely you must know my high opinion of
+Miss Walsingham. But----”
+
+“But--you added _but_----”
+
+“There is no woman who may not be taxed with a _but_--yet it is not
+for her friend to lower her merit. My only objection to her is--I shall
+infallibly affront you, if I name it.”
+
+“Name it! name it! You will not affront me.”
+
+“My only objection to her then is, her superiority. She is so superior,
+that, forgive me, I don’t know any man, yourself not excepted, who is at
+all her equal.”
+
+“I think precisely as you do, and rejoice.”
+
+“Rejoice? why there I cannot sympathize with you. I own, as a mother, I
+should feel a little--a little mortified to see my son not the superior;
+and when the comparison is to be daily and hourly made, and to last
+for life, and all the world to see it as well as myself. I own I have a
+mother’s vanity. I should wish to see my son always what he has hitherto
+been--the superior, and master in his own house.”
+
+Mr. Beaumont made no reply to these insinuations, but walked on in
+silence; and his mother, unable to determine precisely whether the
+vexation apparent in his countenance proceeded from disapprobation of
+her observations, or from their working the effect she desired upon his
+pride, warily waited till he should betray some decisive symptom of his
+feelings. But she waited in vain--he was resolved not to speak.
+
+“There is not a woman upon earth I should wish so much to have as a
+daughter-in-law, a companion, and a friend, as Miss Walsingham. You must
+be convinced,” resumed Mrs. Beaumont, “so far as I am concerned, it is
+the most desirable thing in the world. But I should think it my duty to
+put my own feelings and wishes out of the question, and to make myself
+prefer whomsoever, all things considered, my judgment tells me would
+make you the happiest.”
+
+“And whom would your judgment prefer, madam?”
+
+“Why--I am not at liberty to tell--unless I could explain all my
+reasons. Indeed, I know not what to say.”
+
+“Dear madam, explain all your reasons, or we shall never understand one
+another, and never come to an end of these half explanations.”
+
+Here they were interrupted by seeing Mr. Twigg, a courtly clergyman,
+coming towards them. Beaumont was obliged to endure his tiresome
+flattery upon the beauties of Beaumont Park, and upon the judicious
+improvements that were making, had been made, and would, no doubt,
+be very soon made. Mrs. Beaumont, at last, relieved his or her own
+impatience by commissioning Mr. Twigg to walk round the improvements by
+himself. By himself she insisted it should be, that she might have his
+unbiassed judgment upon the two lines which had been marked for the new
+belt or screen; and he was also to decide whether they should call it a
+belt or a screen.--Honoured with this commission, he struck off into the
+walk to which Mrs. Beaumont pointed, and began his solitary progress.
+
+Mr. Beaumont then urged his mother to go on with her explanation. Mrs.
+Beaumont thought that she could not hazard much by flattering the vanity
+of a man on that subject on which perhaps it is most easily flattered;
+therefore, after sufficient delicacy of circumlocution, she informed her
+son that there was a young lady who was actually dying for love of him;
+whose extreme fondness would make her live but in him; and who, besides
+having a natural ductility of character, and softness of temper, was
+perfectly free from any formidable superiority of intellect, and had the
+most exalted opinion of his capacity, as well as of his character and
+accomplishments; in short, such an enthusiastic adoration, as would
+induce that belief in the infallibility of a husband, which must secure
+to him the fullest enjoyment of domestic peace, power, and pre-eminence.
+
+Mr. Beaumont seemed less moved than his mother had calculated that the
+vanity of man must be, by such a declaration--discovery it could not
+be called. “If I am to take all this seriously, madam,” replied he,
+laughing, “and if, _au pied de la lettre_ my vanity is to believe that
+this damsel is dying for love; yet, still I have so little chivalry in
+my nature, that I cannot understand how it would add to my happiness to
+sacrifice myself to save her life. That I am well suited to her, I am
+as willing as vanity can make me to believe; but how is it to be proved
+that the lady is suited to me?”
+
+“My dear, these things do not admit of logical proof.”
+
+“Well--moral, sentimental, or any kind of proof you please.”
+
+“Have you no pity? and is not pity akin to love?”
+
+“Akin! Oh, yes, ma’am, it is akin; but for that very reason it may not
+be a friend--relations, you know, in these days, are as often enemies as
+friends.”
+
+“Vile pun! far-fetched quibble!--provoking boy!--But I see you are not
+in a humour to be serious, so I will take another time to talk to you of
+this affair.”
+
+“Now or never, ma’am, for mercy’s sake!”
+
+“Mercy’s sake! you who show none--Ah! this is the way with you men; all
+this is play to you, but death to us.”
+
+“Death! dear ma’am; ladies, you know as well as I do, don’t die of love
+in these days--you would not make a fool of your son.”
+
+“I could not; nor could any other woman--that is clear: but amongst us,
+I am afraid we have, undesignedly indeed, but irremediably, made a fool
+of this poor confiding girl.”
+
+“But, ma’am, in whom did she confide? not in me, I’ll swear. I have
+nothing to reproach myself with, thank God!--My conscience is clear; I
+have been as ungallant as possible. I have been as cruel as my
+nature would permit. I am sure no one can charge me with giving false
+promises--I scarcely speak--nor false hopes, for I scarcely look at the
+young lady.”
+
+“So, then, you know who the young lady in question is?”
+
+“Perhaps I ought not to pretend to know.”
+
+“That would be useless affectation, alas! for I fear many know, and have
+seen, and heard, much more than you have--or I either.”
+
+Here Mrs. Beaumont observed that her son’s colour changed, and that he
+suddenly grew serious: aware that she had now touched upon the right
+chord, she struck it again “with a master’s hand and prophet’s fire.”
+ She declared that all the world took it for granted that Miss Hunter was
+to be married to Mr. Beaumont; that it was talked of every where; that
+she was asked continually by her correspondents, when the marriage was
+to take place?--in confirmation of which assertion, she produced bundles
+of letters from her pockets, from Mrs. and Miss, and from Lady This, and
+Lady That.
+
+“Nay,” continued she, “if it were confined even to the circle of one’s
+private friends and acquaintance, I should not so much mind it, for one
+might contradict, and have it contradicted, and one might send the poor
+thing away to some watering-place, and the report might die away, as
+reports do--sometimes. But all that sort of thing it is too late to
+think of now--for the thing is public! quite public! got into the
+newspapers! Here’s a paragraph I cut out this very morning from my
+paper, lest the poor girl should see it. The other day, I believe you
+saw it yourself, there was something of the same sort. ‘We hear that, as
+soon as he comes of age, Mr. Beaumont, of Beaumont Park, is to lead
+to the altar of Hymen, Miss Hunter, sister to Sir John Hunter, of
+Devonshire.’ Well,--after you left the room, Albina took up the paper
+you had been reading; and when she saw this paragraph, I thought she
+would have dropped. I did not know what to do. Whatever I could say, you
+know, would only make it worse. I tried to turn it off, and talked of
+twenty things; but it would not do--no, no, it is too serious for that:
+well, though I believe she would rather have put her hand in the fire,
+she had the courage to speak to me about it herself.”
+
+“And what did she say, ma’am?” inquired Mr. Beaumont, eagerly.
+
+“Poor simple creature! she had but one idea--that you had seen it! that
+she would not for the world you had read it. What would you think of
+her--she should never be able to meet you again--What could she do? It
+must be contradicted--somebody must contradict it. Then she worried me
+to have it contradicted in the papers. I told her I did not well know
+how that could be done, and urged that it would be much more prudent not
+to fix attention upon the parties by more paragraphs. But she was _not_
+in a state to think of prudence;--_no_. What would you think was the
+only idea in her mind?--If I would not write, she would write that
+minute herself, and sign her name. This, and a thousand wild things, she
+said, till I was forced to be quite angry, and to tell her she must be
+governed by those who had more discretion than herself. Then she was so
+subdued, so ashamed--really my heart bled for her, even whilst I scolded
+her. But it is quite necessary to be harsh with her; for she has no more
+foresight, nor art, nor command of herself sometimes, than a child of
+five years old. I assure you, I was rejoiced to get her away before
+Mr. Palmer came, for a new eye coming into a family sees so much one
+wouldn’t wish to be seen. You know it would be terrible to have the poor
+young creature _commit_ and expose herself to a stranger so early
+in life. Indeed, as it is, I am persuaded no one will ever think of
+marrying her, if you do not.----In worldly prudence--but of that she
+has not an atom--in worldly prudence she might do better, or as well,
+certainly; for her fortune will be very considerable. Sir John means to
+add to it, when he gets the Wigram estate; and the old uncle, Wigram,
+can’t live for ever. But poor Albina, I dare swear, does not know
+what fortune she is to have, nor what you have. Love! love! all for
+love!--and all in vain. She is certainly very much to be pitied.”
+
+Longer might Mrs. Beaumont have continued in monologue, without danger
+of interruption from her son, who stood resolved to hear the utmost sum
+of all that she should say on the subject. Never interrupting her, he
+only filled certain pauses, that seemed expectant of reply, with the
+phrases--“I am very sorry, indeed, ma’am”--and, “Really, ma’am, it is
+out of my power to help it.” But Mrs. Beaumont observed that the latter
+phrase had been omitted as she proceeded--and “_I am very sorry indeed,
+ma’am,_” he repeated less as words of course, and more and more as if
+they came from the heart. Having so far, successfully, as she thought,
+worked upon her son’s good-nature, and seeing her daughter through the
+trees coming towards them, she abruptly exclaimed, “Promise me, at all
+events, dearest Edward, I conjure you; promise me that you will not
+make proposals _any where else_, without letting me know of it
+beforehand,--and give me time,” joining her hands in a supplicating
+attitude, “give me but a few weeks, to prepare my poor little Albina for
+this sad, sad stroke!”
+
+“I promise you, madam, that I will not, directly or indirectly, make an
+offer of my hand or heart to any woman, without previously letting you
+know my determination. And as for a few weeks, more or less--my mother,
+surely, need not supplicate, but simply let me know her wishes--even
+without her reasons, they would have been sufficient with me. Do I
+satisfy you now, madam?”
+
+“More than satisfy--as you ever do, ever will, my dear son.”
+
+“But you will require no more on this subject--I must be left master of
+myself.”
+
+“Indubitably--certainly--master of yourself--most certainly--of course.”
+
+Mr. Beaumont was going to add something beginning with, “It is better,
+at once, to tell you, that I can never--” But Mrs. Beaumont stopped him
+with, “Hush! my dear, hush! not a word more, for here is Amelia, and I
+cannot talk on this subject before her, you know.----My beloved Amelia,
+how languid you look! I fear that, to please me, you have taken too
+long a walk; and Mr. Palmer won’t see you in your best looks, after
+all.--What note is that you have in your hand?”
+
+“A note from Miss Walsingham, mamma.”
+
+“Oh! the chickenpox! take care! letters, notes, every thing may convey
+the infection,” cried Mrs. Beaumont, snatching the paper. “How could
+dearest Miss Walsingham be so giddy as to answer my note, after what I
+said in my postscript!--How did this note come?”
+
+“By the little postboy, mamma; I met him at the porter’s lodge.”
+
+“But what is all this strange thing?” said Mrs. Beaumont, after having
+read the note twice over.--It contained a certificate from the parish
+minister and churchwardens, apothecary, and surgeon, bearing witness,
+one and all, that there was no individual, man, woman, or child, in the
+parish, or within three miles of Walsingham House, who was even under
+any suspicion of having the chickenpox.
+
+“My father desires me to send Mrs. Beaumont the enclosed _clean bill
+of health_--by which she will find that we need be no longer subject
+to quarantine; and, unless some other reasons prevent our having the
+pleasure of seeing her, we may hope soon that she will favour us with
+her long promised visit.
+
+“Yours, sincerely,
+
+“MARIANNE WALSINGHAM.”
+
+“I am delighted,” said Mrs. Beaumont, “to find it was a false report,
+and that we shall not be kept, the Lord knows how long, away from the
+dear Walsinghams.”
+
+“Then we can go to them to-morrow, can’t we, mamma? And I will write,
+and say so, shall I?” said Amelia.
+
+“No need to write, my dear; if we promise for any particular day, and
+are not able to go, that seems unkind, and is taken ill, you see. And as
+Mr. Palmer is coming, we can’t leave him.”
+
+“But he will go with us surely,” said Mr. Beaumont. “The Walsinghams are
+as much his relations as we are; and if he comes two hundred miles to
+see us, he will, surely, go seven to see them.”
+
+“True,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “but it is civil and kind to leave him to
+fix his own day, poor old gentleman. After so long a journey, we must
+allow him some rest. Consider, he can’t go galloping about as you do,
+dear Edward.”
+
+“But,” said Amelia, “as the Walsinghams know he is to be in the country,
+they will of course come to see him immediately.”
+
+“How do they know he is to be in the country?”
+
+“I thought--I took it for granted, you told them so, mamma, when
+you wrote about not going to Walsingham House, on Mr. Walsingham’s
+birthday.”
+
+“No, my dear; I was so full of the chickenpox, and terror about you, I
+could think of nothing else.”
+
+“Thank you, dear mother--but now that is out of the question, I had best
+write a line by the return of the postboy, to say, that Mr. Palmer is to
+be here to-day, and that he stays only one week.”
+
+“Certainly! love--but let me write about it, for I have particular
+reasons. And, my dear, now we are by ourselves, let me caution you not
+to mention that Mr. Palmer can stay but one week: in the first place it
+is uncivil to him, for we are not sure of it, and it is like driving him
+away; and in the next place, there are reasons I can’t explain to you,
+that know so little of the world, my dear Amelia--but, in general, it is
+always foolish to mention things.”
+
+“Always foolish to mention things!” cried Mr. Beaumont, smiling.
+
+“Of this sort, I mean,” said Mrs. Beaumont, a little disconcerted.
+
+“Of what sort?” persisted her son.
+
+“Hush! my dear; here’s the postboy and the ass.”
+
+“Any letters, my good little boy? Any letters for me?”
+
+“I has, madam, a many for the house. I does not know for who--the bag
+will tell,” said the boy, unstrapping the bag from his shoulders.
+
+“Give it to me, then,” said Mrs. Beaumont: “I am anxious for letters
+always.” She was peculiarly anxious now to open the post-bag, to put
+a stop to a conversation which did not please her. Whilst seated on a
+rustic seat, under a spreading beech, our heroine, with her accustomed
+looks of mystery, examined the seals of her numerous and important
+letters, to ascertain whether they had been opened at the post-office,
+or whether their folds might have been pervious to any prying eye. Her
+son tore the covers off the newspapers; and, as he unfolded one, Amelia
+leaned upon his shoulder, and whispered softly, “Any news of the fleet,
+brother?”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, than whom Fine-ear himself had not quicker auditory
+nerves, especially for indiscreet whispers, looked up from her letters,
+and examined, unperceived, the countenance of Amelia, who was searching
+with eagerness the columns of the paper. As Mr. Beaumont turned over the
+leaf, Amelia looked up, and, seeing her mother’s eyes fixed upon her,
+coloured; and from want of presence of mind to invent any thing better
+to say, asked if her mother wished to have the papers?
+
+“No,” said Mrs. Beaumont, coldly, “not I, Amelia; I am not such a
+politician as you are grown.”
+
+Amelia withdrew her attention, or at least her eyes, from the paper,
+and had recourse to the beech-tree, the beautiful foliage of which she
+studied with profound attention.
+
+“God bless me! here’s news! news of the fleet!” cried Beaumont, turning
+suddenly to his sister; and then recollecting himself, to his mother.
+“Ma’am, they say there has been a great engagement between the French
+and Spaniards, and the English--particulars not known yet: but, they
+say, ten sail of the French line are taken, and four Spaniards blown
+up, and six Spanish men-of-war disabled, and a treasure-ship taken.
+Walsingham must have been in the engagement--My horse!--I’ll gallop over
+this minute, and know from the Walsinghams if they have seen the papers,
+and if there’s any thing more about it in their papers.”
+
+“Gallop! my dearest Edward,” said his mother, standing in his path; “but
+you don’t consider Mr. Palmer--”
+
+“Damn Mr. Palmer! I beg your pardon, mother--I mean no harm to the old
+gentleman--friend of my father’s--great respect for him--I’ll be back by
+dinner-time, back ready to receive him--he can’t be here till six--only
+five by me, now! Ma’am, I shall have more than time to dress, too, cool
+as a cucumber, ready to receive the good old fellow.”
+
+“In one short hour, my dear!--seven miles to Walsingham House, and
+seven back again, and all the time you will waste there, and to dress
+too--only consider!”
+
+“I do consider, ma’am; and have considered every thing in the world. My
+horse will carry me there and back in fifty minutes, easily, and five to
+spare, I’ll be bound. I sha’n’t light--so where’s the paper? I’m off.”
+
+“Well--order your horse, and leave me the paper, at least, while he is
+getting ready. Ride by this way, and you will find us here--where is
+this famous paragraph?”
+
+Beaumont drew the paper crumpled from the pocket into which he had
+thrust it--ran off for his horse, and quickly returned mounted. “Give me
+the paper, good friends!--I’m off.”
+
+“Away, then, my dear; since you will heat yourself for nothing. But only
+let me point out to you,” said she, holding the paper fast whilst
+she held it up to him, “that this whole report rests on no authority
+whatever; not a word of it in the gazette; not a line from the
+admiralty; no official account; no bulletin; no credit given to the
+rumour at Lloyd’s; stocks the same.--And how did the news come? Not
+even the news-writer pretends it came through any the least respectable
+channel. A frigate in latitude the Lord knows what! saw a fleet in a
+fog--might be Spanish--might be French--might be English--spoke another
+frigate some days afterwards, who heard firing: well--firing says
+nothing. But the frigate turns this firing into an engagement, and
+a victory; and presently communicates the news to a collier, and the
+collier tells another collier, and so it goes up the Thames, to some
+wonder-maker, standing agape for a paragraph, to secure a dinner. To the
+press the news goes, just as our paper is coming out; and to be sure we
+shall have a contradiction and an apology in our next.”
+
+“Well, ma’am; but I will ask Mr. Walsingham what he thinks, and show him
+the paper.”
+
+“Do, if you like it, my dear; I never control you; but don’t overheat
+yourself for nothing. What can Mr. Walsingham, or all the Walsinghams in
+the world, tell more than we can? and as to showing him the paper, you
+know he takes the same paper. But don’t let me detain you.--Amelia, who
+is that coming through the gate? Mr. Palmer’s servant, I protest!”
+
+“Well; it can’t be, I see!” said Beaumont, dismounting.
+
+“Take away your master’s horse--quick--quick!--Amelia, my love, to
+dress! I must have you ready to receive your godfather’s blessing.
+Consider, Mr. Palmer was your father’s earliest friend; and besides, he
+is a relation, though distant; and it is always a good and prudent thing
+to keep up relationships. Many a fine estate has come from very
+distant relations most unexpectedly. And even independently of all
+relationships, when friendships are properly cultivated, there’s no
+knowing to what they may lead;--not that I look to any thing of that
+sort here. But before you see Mr. Palmer, just as we are walking home,
+and quite to ourselves, let me give you some leading hints about this
+old gentleman’s character, which I have gathered, no matter how, for
+your advantage, my dear children. He is a humourist, and must not
+be opposed in any of his oddities: he is used to be waited upon, and
+attended to, as all these men are who have lived in the West Indies. A
+_bon vivant_, of course. Edward, produce your best wines--the pilau and
+currie, and all that, leave to me. I had special notice of his love for
+a john-doree, and a john-doree I have for him. But now I am going to
+give you the master-key to his heart. Like all men who have made
+great fortunes, he loves to feel continually the importance his wealth
+confers; he loves to feel that wealth does every thing; is superior to
+every thing--to birth and titles especially: it is his pride to think
+himself, though a commoner, far above any man who condescends to take a
+title. He hates persons of quality; therefore, whilst he is here, not
+a word in favour of any titled person. Forget the whole house of
+peers--send them all to Coventry--all to Coventry, remember.--And, now
+you have the key to his heart, go and dress, to be ready for him.”
+
+Having thus given her private instructions, and advanced her secret
+plans, Mrs. Beaumont repaired to her toilet, well satisfied with her
+morning’s work.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+“Chi mi fa piu carezze che non sole; O m’ha ingannato, o ingannar me
+vuole.”
+
+
+“By St. George, there’s nothing like Old England for comfort!” cried Mr.
+Palmer, settling himself in his arm-chair in the evening; “nothing after
+all in any part of the known world, like Old England for comfort. Why,
+madam, there’s not another people in the universe that have in any of
+their languages a name even for comfort. The French have been forced to
+borrow it; but now they have got it, they don’t know how to use it, nor
+even how to pronounce it, poor devils! Well, there’s nothing like Old
+England for comfort.”
+
+“Ah! nothing like Old England for comfort!” echoed Mrs. Beaumont, in a
+sentimental tone, though at that instant her thoughts were far distant
+from her words; for this declaration of his love for Old England alarmed
+her with the notion that he might change his mind about returning
+immediately to Jamaica, and that he might take root again and flourish
+for years to come in his native soil--perhaps in her neighbourhood, to
+the bane of all her favourite projects. What would become of her scheme
+of marrying Amelia to the baronet, and her son to the docile Albina?
+What would become of the scheme of preventing him from being acquainted
+with the Walsinghams? For a week it might be practicable to keep them
+asunder by _policising_, but this could never be effected if he were to
+settle, or even to make any long stay, in the country. The Walsinghams
+would be affronted, and then what would become of their interest in the
+county? Her son could not be returned without that. And, worse than all
+the rest, Mr. Palmer might take a fancy to see these Walsinghams, who
+were as nearly related to him as the Beaumonts; and seeing, he might
+prefer, and preferring, he might possibly leave half, nay, perhaps
+the whole, of his large fortune to them,--and thus all her hopes and
+projects might at once be frustrated. Little aware of the long and
+perplexing trains of ideas, which his honest ejaculation in favour
+of his native country had raised, Mr. Palmer went on with his own
+comfortable thoughts.
+
+“And of all the comforts our native land affords, I know of none so
+grateful to the heart,” continued he, “as good friends, which are to be
+found nowhere else in such perfection. A man at my time of life misses
+many an old friend on his return to his native country; but then he
+sees them still in their representatives, and loves them again in
+their children. Mr. Beaumont looked at me at that instant, so like his
+father--he is the image of what my friend was, when I first knew him.”
+
+“I am rejoiced you see the likeness,” said Mrs. Beaumont. “Amelia, my
+dear, pour out the coffee.”
+
+“And Miss Beaumont, too, has just his expression of countenance, which
+surprises me more, in her delicate features. Upon my word, I have reason
+to be proud of my god-daughter, as far as appearances go; and with
+English women, appearances, fair as they may be, seldom are even so good
+as the truth. There’s her father’s smile again for me--young lady, if
+that smile deceives, there’s no truth in woman.”
+
+“Do not you find our coffee here very bad, compared with what you have
+been used to abroad?” said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“I do rejoice to find myself here quiet in the country,” continued Mr.
+Palmer, without hearing the lady’s question; “nothing after all like
+a good old English family, where every thing speaks plenty and
+hospitality, without waste or ostentation; and where you are received
+with a hearty welcome, without compliments; and let do just as you
+please, without form, and without being persecuted by politeness.”
+
+This was the image of an English country family impressed early upon
+the good old gentleman’s imagination, which had remained there fresh and
+unchanged since the days of his youth; and he now took it for granted
+that he should see it realized in the family of his late friend.
+
+“I was afraid,” resumed Mrs. Beaumont, “that after being so long
+accustomed to a West-Indian life, you would find many things unpleasant
+to your feelings here. But you are so kind, so accommodating. Is
+it really possible that you have not, since your return to England,
+experienced any uncomfortable sensations, suffered any serious injury to
+your health, my dear sir, from the damps and chills of our climate?”
+
+“Why, now I think of it, I have--I have a cough,” said Mr. Palmer,
+coughing.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont officiously shut the window.
+
+“I do acknowledge that England is not quite so superior to all other
+countries in her climate as in every thing else: yet I don’t ‘damn the
+climate like a lord.’ At my time of life, a man must expect to be a
+valetudinarian, and it would be unjust to blame one’s native climate
+for that. But a man of seventy-five must live where he can, not where
+he will; and Dr. Y---- tells me that I can live nowhere but in the West
+Indies.”
+
+“Oh, sir, never mind Dr. Y----,” exclaimed young Beaumont: “live with us
+in England. Many Englishmen live to a great age surely, let people say
+what they will of the climate.”
+
+“But, perhaps, brother,” interposed Amelia, “those who, like Mr. Palmer,
+have lived much in a warm climate, might find a return to a cold country
+dangerous; and we should consider what is best for him, not merely what
+is most agreeable to ourselves.”
+
+“True, my dearest Amelia,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “and to be sure, Dr.
+Y---- is one of our most skilful physicians. I could not be so rash
+or so selfish as to set my private wishes, or my private opinion, in
+opposition to Dr. Y----‘s advice; but surely, my dear sir, you won’t let
+one physician, however eminent, send you away from us all, and banish
+you again from England? We have a very clever physician here, Dr.
+Wheeler, in whom I have the greatest confidence. In my own case, I
+confess, I should prefer his judgment to any of the London fashionable
+physicians, who are so fine and so hurried, that they can’t take time
+to study one’s particular constitution, and hear all one has to say to
+them. Now that is Wheeler’s great excellence--and I should so like to
+hear his opinion. I am sure, if he gives it against me, I will not say
+a word more: if he decide for Jamaica, I may be vexed, but I should make
+it a point of conscience to submit, and not to urge my good friend to
+stay in England at his own peril. Happy they who can live where they
+please, and whose fortune puts it in their power to purchase any
+climate, and to combine the comforts and luxuries of all countries!”
+
+Nothing more was said upon the subject: Mrs. Beaumont turned the
+conversation to the different luxuries of the West and East Indies. Mr.
+Palmer, fatigued by his journey, retired early to rest, little dreaming
+that his kind hostess waked, whilst he slept, for the purpose of
+preparing a physician to give a proper opinion upon his case. Mrs.
+Beaumont left a note to her favourite Dr. Wheeler, to be sent very early
+in the morning. As if by accident, the doctor dropped in at breakfast
+time, and Mrs. Beaumont declared that it was the luckiest chance
+imaginable, that he should happen to call just when she was wishing
+to see him. When the question in debate was stated to him, he, with
+becoming gravity of countenance and suavity of manner, entered into a
+discussion upon the effect of hot and cold climates upon the solids and
+fluids, and nervous system in general; then upon English constitutions
+in particular; and, lastly, upon _idiosyncrasies_.
+
+This last word cost Mr. Palmer half his breakfast: on hearing it he
+turned down his cup with a profound sigh, and pushed his plate from him;
+indications which did not escape the physician’s demure eye. Gaining
+confidence from the weakness of the patient, Dr. Wheeler now boldly
+pronounced, that, in his opinion, any gentleman who, after having
+habituated himself long to a hot climate, as Jamaica, for instance,
+should come late in life to reside in a colder climate, as England, for
+example, must run very great hazard indeed--nay, he could almost venture
+to predict, would fall a victim to the sudden tension of the lax fibres.
+
+Though a man of sound good sense in most things, Mr. Palmer’s weakness
+was, on medical subjects, as great as his ignorance; his superstitious
+faith in physicians was as implicit as either Dr. Wheeler or Mrs.
+Beaumont could desire.
+
+“Then,” said Mr. Palmer, with a sigh still deeper than the first--for
+the first was for himself, and the second for his country--“then
+England, Old England! farewell for ever! All my judges pronounce
+sentence of transportation upon me!”
+
+Mr. Beaumont and Amelia, in eager and persuasive tones of remonstrance
+and expostulation, at once addressed the doctor, to obtain a mitigation
+or suspension of his sentence. Dr. Wheeler, albeit unused to the
+imperative mood, reiterated his _dictum_. Though little accustomed to
+hold his opinion against the arguments or the wishes of the rich and
+fair, he, upon this occasion, stood his ground against Miss and Mr.
+Beaumont wonderfully well for nearly five minutes; till, to his
+utter perplexity and dismay, he saw Mrs. Beaumont appear amongst his
+assailants.
+
+“Well, I said I would submit, and not say a word, if Dr. Wheeler was
+against me,” she began; “but I cannot sit by silent: I must protest
+against this cruel, cruel decree, so contrary too to what I hoped and
+expected would be Dr. Wheeler’s opinion.”
+
+Poor Dr. Wheeler twinkled and seemed as if he would have rubbed his
+eyes, not sure whether he was awake or in a dream. In his perplexity, he
+apprehended that he had misunderstood Mrs. Beaumont’s note, and he now
+prepared to make his way round again through the solids and the fluids,
+and the whole nervous system, till, by favour of _idiosyncrasy_, he
+hoped to get out of his difficulty, and to allow Mr. Palmer to remain
+on British ground. Mrs. Beaumont’s face, in spite of her powers of
+simulation, lengthened and lengthened, and darkened and darkened, as
+he proceeded in his recantation; but, when the exception to the general
+axiom was fairly made out, and a clear permit to remain in England
+granted, by such high medical authority, she forced a smile, and joined
+loudly in the general congratulations. Whilst her son was triumphing
+and shaking hands with Mr. Palmer, she slipped down stairs after Dr.
+Wheeler.
+
+“Ah, doctor! What have you done! Ruined me! ruined me! Didn’t you read
+my note? Didn’t you _understand_ it?--I thought a word to the wise was
+enough.”
+
+“Why!--then it was as I understood it at first? So I thought; but then
+I fancied I must be mistaken afterwards; for when I expected support, my
+dear madam, you opposed my opinion in favour of Jamaica more warmly than
+any one, and what was I to think?”
+
+“To think! Oh, my dear doctor, you might have guessed that was only a
+sham opposition.”
+
+“But, my dear ma’am,” cried Dr. Wheeler, who, though the mildest of men,
+was now worked up to something like indignation, “my dear ma’am--sham
+upon sham is too much for any man!”
+
+The doctor went down stairs murmuring. Thus, by excess of hypocrisy, our
+heroine disgusted even her own adherents, in which she has the honour
+to resemble some of the most wily politicians famous in English history.
+But she was too wise ever to let any one who could serve or injure her
+go discontented out of her presence.
+
+“My dear, good Dr. Wheeler, I never saw you angry before. Come, come,”
+ cried Mrs. Beaumont, sliding a _douceur_ into his hand, “friends must
+not be vexed for trifles; it was only a mistake _de part et d’autre_,
+and you’ll return here to-morrow, in your way home, and breakfast with
+us; and now we understand one another. And,” added she, in a whisper,
+“we can talk over things, and have your cool judgment best, when only
+you, and I, and Mr. Palmer, are present. You comprehend.”
+
+Those who practise many manoeuvres, and carry on many intrigues at
+the same time, have this advantage, that if one fails, the success of
+another compensates for the disappointment. However she might have been
+vexed by this slight _contre-temps_ with Dr. Wheeler, Mrs. Beaumont
+had ample compensation of different sorts this day; some due to her own
+exertions, some owing to accident. Her own exertions prevented her dear
+Albina Hunter from returning; for Mrs. Beaumont never sent the promised
+carriage--only a note of apology--a nail had run into one of the
+coach-horse’s feet. To accident she owed that the Walsinghams were not
+at home when her son galloped over to see them the next morning, and to
+inquire what news from Captain Walsingham. That day’s paper also brought
+a contradiction of the report of the engagement and victory; so that
+Mrs. Beaumont’s apprehensions on this subject were allayed; and she had
+no doubt that, by proper management, with a sufficient number of notes
+and messages, misunderstandings, lame horses, and crossings upon the
+road, she might actually get through the week without letting the
+Walsinghams see Mr. Palmer; or at least without more than a _vis_, or
+a morning visit, from which no great danger could be apprehended. “Few,
+indeed, have so much character,” thought she, “or so much dexterity in
+showing it, as to make a dangerous impression in the course of a formal
+morning visit.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+“Ah! c’est mentir tant soit peu; j’en conviens; C’est un grand mal--mais
+il produit un bien.” VOLTAIRE.
+
+
+The third day went off still more successfully. Dr. Wheeler called at
+breakfast, frightened Mr. Palmer out of his senses about his health, and
+convinced him that his life depended upon his immediate return to the
+climate of Jamaica:--so this point was decided.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, calculating justly that the Walsinghams would return
+Mr. Beaumont’s visit, and come to pay their respects to Mr. Palmer this
+morning, settled, as soon as breakfast was over, a plan of operations
+which should keep Mr. Palmer out till dinner-time. He must see the
+charming drive which her son had made round his improvements; and she
+must have the pleasure of showing it to him herself; and she assured him
+that he might trust to her driving.
+
+So into Mrs. Beaumont’s garden-chair he got; and when she had him
+fairly prisoner, she carried him far away from all danger of intruding
+visitors. It may readily be supposed that our heroine made good use of
+the five or six hours’ leisure for manoeuvring which she thus secured.
+
+So frank and cordial was this simple-hearted old man, any one but Mrs.
+Beaumont would have thought that with him no manoeuvring was necessary;
+that she need only to have trusted to his friendship and generosity, and
+have directly told him her wishes. He was so prepossessed in her favour,
+as being the widow of his friend, that he was almost incapable of
+suspecting her of any unhandsome conduct; besides, having had little
+converse with modern ladies, his imagination was so prepossessed with
+the old-fashioned picture of a respectable widow lady and guardian
+mother, that he took it for granted Mrs. Beaumont was just like one of
+the good matrons of former times, like Lady Bountiful, or Lady Lizard;
+and, as such, he spoke to her of her family concerns, in all the
+openness of a heart which knew no guile.
+
+“Now, my good Mistress Beaumont, you must look upon me just as my friend
+the colonel would have done; as a man, who has your family interests at
+heart just as much as if I were one of yourselves. And let me in to all
+your little affairs, and trust me with all your little plans, and let
+us talk over things together, and settle how every thing can be done
+for the best for the young people. You know, I have no relations in the
+world but your family and the Walsinghams, of whom, by-the-bye, I know
+nothing. No one living has any claim upon me: I can leave or give my
+own just as I please; and you and yours are, of course, my first
+objects--and for the how, and the what, and the when, I must consult
+you; and only beg you to keep it in mind, that I would as soon _give_ as
+_bequeath_, and rather; for as to what a man leaves to his friends, he
+can only have the satisfaction of thinking that they will be the better
+for him after he is dead and gone, which is but cold comfort; but what
+he gives he has the warm comfort of seeing them enjoy whilst he is alive
+with them.”
+
+“Such a generous sentiment!” exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, “and so unlike
+persons in general who have large fortunes at their disposal! I feel so
+much obliged, so excessively--”
+
+“Not at all, not at all, not at all--no more of that, no more of
+that, my good lady. The colonel and I were friends; so there can be no
+obligation between us, nor thanks, nor speeches. But, just as if you
+were talking to yourself, tell me your mind. And if there are any little
+embarrassments that the son may want to clear off on coming of age;
+or if there’s any thing wanting to your jointure, my dear madam; or if
+there should be any marriages in the wind, where a few thousands, more
+or less, might be the making or the breaking of a heart;--let me hear
+about it all: and do me the justice to let me have the pleasure of
+making the young folks, and the old folks too, happy their own way; for
+I have no notion of insisting on all people being happy my way--no, no!
+I’ve too much English liberty in me for that; and I’m sure, you, my
+good lady, are as great a foe as I am to all family managements and
+mysteries, where the old don’t know what the young do, nor the young
+what the old think. No, no--that’s all nonsense and French convent
+work--nothing like a good old English family. So, my dear Mistress
+Beaumont, out with it all, and make me one of yourselves, free of the
+family from this minute. Here’s my hand and heart upon it--an old friend
+may presume so far.”
+
+This frankness would have opened any heart except Mrs. Beaumont’s; but
+it is the misfortune of artful people that they cannot believe others
+to be artless: either they think simplicity of character folly; or else
+they suspect that openness is only affected, as a bait to draw them into
+snares. Our heroine balanced for a moment between these two notions. She
+could not believe Mr. Palmer to be an absolute fool--no; his having
+made such a large fortune forbad that thought. Then he must have thrown
+himself thus open merely to _try her_, and to come at the knowledge of
+debts and embarrassments, which, if brought to light, would lower his
+opinion of the prudence of the family.
+
+“My excellent friend, to be candid with you,” she began, “there is
+no need of your generosity at present, to relieve my son from any
+embarrassments; for I know that he has no debts whatever. And I am
+confident he will make my jointure every thing, and more than every
+thing, I could desire. And, as to marriages, my Amelia is so young,
+there’s time enough to consider.”
+
+“True, true; and she does well to take time to consider. But though I
+don’t understand these matters much, she looks mightily like the notion
+I have of a girl that’s a little bit in love.”
+
+“In love! Oh, my dear sir! you don’t say so--in love?”
+
+“Why, I suppose I should not say _in love_; there’s some other way of
+expressing it come into fashion since my time, no doubt. And even then,
+I know that was not to be said of a young lady, till signing and sealing
+day; but it popped out, and I can’t get it back again, so you must even
+let it pass. And what harm? for you know, madam, without love, what
+would become of the world?--though I was jilted once and away, I
+acknowledge--but forgive and forget. I don’t like the girl a whit the
+worse for being a little bit tender-hearted. For I’m morally certain,
+even from the little I have heard her say, and from the way she has been
+brought up, and from her being her father’s daughter, and her mother’s,
+madam, she could not fix her affections on any one that would not do
+honour to her choice, or--which is only saying the same thing in other
+words--that you and I should not approve.”
+
+“Ah! there’s the thing!” said Mrs. Beaumont, sighing.
+
+“Why now I took it into my head from a blush I saw this morning, though
+how I came to notice it, I don’t know; for to my recollection I have not
+noticed a girl’s blushing before these twenty years--but, to be
+sure, here I have as near an interest, almost, as if she were my own
+daughter--I say, from the blush I saw this morning, when young Beaumont
+was talking of the gallop he had taken to inquire about Captain
+Walsingham, I took it into my head that he was the happy man.”
+
+“Oh! my dear sir, he never made any proposals for Amelia.” That was
+strictly true. “Nor, I am sure, ever thought of it, as far as ever I
+heard.”
+
+The saving clause of “_as far as ever I heard_,” prevented this last
+assertion from coming under that description of falsehoods denominated
+downright lies.
+
+“Indeed, how could he?” pursued Mrs. Beaumont, “for you know he is no
+match for Amelia; he has nothing in the world but his commission. No;
+there never was any proposal from that quarter; and, of course, it is
+impossible my daughter could think of a man who has no thoughts of her.”
+
+“You know best, my good madam; I merely spoke at random. I’m the worst
+guesser in the world, especially on these matters: what people tell me,
+I know; and neither more not less.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont rejoiced in the simplicity of her companion. “Then, my
+good friend, it is but fair to tell you,” said she, “that Amelia has an
+admirer.”
+
+“A lover, hey! Who?”
+
+“Ah, there’s the misfortune; it is a thing I never can consent to.”
+
+“Ha! then now it is out! There’s the reason the girl blushes, and is so
+absent at times.”
+
+A plan now occurred to Mrs. Beaumont’s scheming imagination which
+she thought the master-piece of policy. She determined to account for
+whatever symptoms of embarrassment Mr. Palmer might observe in her
+daughter, by attributing them to a thwarted attachment for Sir John
+Hunter; and Mrs. Beaumont resolved to make a merit to Mr. Palmer of
+opposing this match because the lover was a baronet, and she thought
+that Mr. Palmer would be pleased by her showing an aversion to the
+thoughts of her daughter’s marrying _a sprig of quality_. This ingenious
+method of paying her court to her open-hearted friend, at the expense
+equally of truth and of her daughter, she executed with her usual
+address.
+
+“Well, I’m heartily glad, my dear good madam, to find that you have the
+same prejudices against sprigs of quality that I have. One good commoner
+is worth a million of them to my mind. So I told a puppy of a nephew of
+mine, who would go and buy a baronetage, forsooth--disinherited him! but
+he is dead, poor puppy.”
+
+“Poor young man! But this is all new to me,” said Mrs. Beaumont, with
+well-feigned surprise.
+
+“But did not you know, my dear madam, that I had a nephew, and that he
+is dead?”
+
+“Oh, yes; but not the particulars.”
+
+“No; the particulars I never talk of--not to the poor dog’s credit. It’s
+well he’s dead, for if he had lived, I am afraid I should have forgiven
+him. No, no, I never would. But there is no use in thinking any more
+of that. What were we saying? Oh, about your Amelia--our Amelia, let me
+call her. If she is so much attached, poor thing, to this man, though
+he is a baronet, which I own is against him to my fancy, yet it is to
+be presumed he has good qualities to balance that, since she values
+him; and young people must be young, and have their little foolish
+prepossessions for title, and so forth. To be sure, I should have
+thought my friend’s daughter above that, of such a good family as she
+is, and with such good sense as she inherits too. But we have all our
+foibles, I suppose. And since it is so with Amelia, why do let me see
+this baronet-swain of hers, and let me try what good I can find out in
+him, and let me bring myself, if I can, over my prejudices. And then
+you, my dear madam, so good and kind a mother as you are, will make an
+effort too on your part; for we must see the girl happy, if it is not
+out of all sense and reason. And if the man be worthy of her, it is not
+his fault that he is a sprig of quality; and we must forgive and forget,
+and give our consent, my dear Mrs. Beaumont.”
+
+“And would you ever give your consent to her marrying Sir John Hunter?”
+ cried Mrs. Beaumont, breathless with amazement, and for a moment thrown
+off her guard so as to speak quite naturally. The sudden difference
+in her tone and manner struck even her unsuspicious companion, and he
+attributed it to displeasure at this last hint.
+
+“Why, my very dear good friend’s wife, forgive me,” said he, “for this
+interference, and for, as it seems, opposing your opinion about your
+daughter’s marriage, which no man has a right to do--but if you ask
+me plump whether I could forgive her for marrying Sir John Hunter,
+I answer, for I can speak nothing but the truth, I would, if he is a
+worthy man.”
+
+“I thought,” said Mrs. Beaumont, astonished, “you disinherited your own
+nephew, because he took a baronet’s title against your will.”
+
+“Bless you! no, my dear madam--that did displease me, to be sure--but
+that was the least cause of displeasure I had. I let the world fancy
+and say what they would, rather than bring faults to light.--But no more
+about that.”
+
+“But did not you take an oath that you would never leave a shilling of
+your fortune to any _sprig of quality?_”
+
+“Never! my dearest madam! never,” cried Mr. Palmer, laughing. “Never was
+such a gander. See what oaths people put into one’s mouth.”
+
+“And what lies the world tells,” said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“And believes,” said Mr. Palmer, with a sly smile.
+
+The surprise that Mrs. Beaumont felt was mixed with a strange and rapid
+confusion of other sentiments, regret for having wasted such a quantity
+of contrivance and manoeuvring against an imaginary difficulty. All this
+arose from her too easy belief of _secret underhand information_.
+
+Through the maze of artifice in which she had involved affairs, she now,
+with some difficulty, perceived that plain truth would have served her
+purpose better. But regret for the past was not in the least mixed with
+any thing like remorse or penitence; on the contrary, she instantly
+began to consider how she could best profit by her own wrong. She
+thought she saw two of her favourite objects almost within her reach,
+Mr. Palmer’s fortune, and the future title for her daughter: no obstacle
+seemed likely to oppose the accomplishment of her wishes, except
+Amelia’s own inclinations: these she thought she could readily prevail
+upon her to give up; for she knew that her daughter was both of a
+timid and of an affectionate temper; that she had never in any instance
+withstood, or even disputed, her maternal authority; and that dread of
+her displeasure had often proved sufficient to make Amelia suppress or
+sacrifice her own feelings. Combining all these reflections with her
+wonted rapidity, Mrs. Beaumont determined what her play should now be.
+She saw, or thought she saw, that she ought, either by gentle or strong
+means, to lure or intimidate Amelia to her purpose; and that, while
+she carried on this part of the plot with her daughter in private, she
+should appear to Mr. Palmer to yield to his persuasions by degrees,
+to make the young people happy their own way, and to be persuaded
+reluctantly out of her aversion to _sprigs of quality_. To be sure, it
+would be necessary to give fresh explanations and instructions to Sir
+John Hunter, through his sister, with the new parts that he and she were
+to act in this domestic drama. As soon as Mrs. Beaumont returned from
+her airing, therefore, she retired to her own apartment, and wrote
+a note of explanation, with a proper proportion of sentiment and
+_verbiage,_ to her dear Albina, begging to see her and Sir John Hunter
+the very next day. The horse, which had been lamed by the nail, now, of
+course, had recovered; and it was found by Mrs. Beaumont that she had
+been misinformed, and that he had been lamed only by sudden cramp. Any
+excuse she knew would be sufficient, in the present state of affairs, to
+the young lady, who was more ready to be deceived than even our heroine
+was disposed to deceive. Indeed, as Machiavel says, “as there are
+people willing to cheat, there will always be those who are ready to be
+cheated.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+“Vous m’enchantez, mais vous m’épouvantez; Ces pieges-là sont-ils bien
+ajustés? Craignez vous point de vous laisser surprendre Dans les filets
+que vos mains savent tendre?” VOLTAIRE.
+
+
+To prepare Amelia to receive Sir John Hunter _properly_ was Mrs.
+Beaumont’s next attempt; for as she had represented to Mr. Palmer that
+her daughter was attached to Sir John, it was necessary that her manner
+should in some degree accord with this representation, that at least it
+should not exhibit any symptoms of disapprobation or dislike: whatever
+coldness or reserve might appear, it would be easy to attribute to
+bashfulness and dread of Mr. Palmer’s observation. When Amelia was
+undressing at night, her mother went into her room; and, having
+dismissed the maid, threw herself into an arm-chair, and exclaimed,
+half-yawning, “How tired I am!--No wonder, such a long airing as we took
+to-day. But, my dear Amelia, I could not sleep to-night without telling
+you how glad I am to find that you are such a favourite with Mr.
+Palmer.”
+
+“I am glad he likes me,” said Amelia; “I am sure I like him. What a
+benevolent, excellent man he seems to be!”
+
+“Excellent, excellent--the best creature in the world!--And so
+interested about you! and so anxious that you should be well and soon
+established; almost as anxious about it as I am myself.”
+
+“He is very good--and you are very good, mamma; but there is no occasion
+that I should be _soon established_, as it is called--is there?”
+
+“That is the regular answer, you know, in these cases, from every young
+lady that ever was born, in or out of a book within the memory of man.
+But we will suppose all that to be said prettily on your part, and
+answered properly on mine: so give me leave to go on to something more
+to the purpose; and don’t look so alarmed, my love. You know, I am not a
+hurrying person; you shall take your own time, and every thing shall
+be done as you like, and the whole shall be kept amongst ourselves
+entirely; for nothing is so disadvantageous and distressing to a young
+woman as to have these things talked of in the world long before they
+take place.”
+
+“But, ma’am!--Surely there is no marriage determined upon for me,
+without my even knowing it.”
+
+“Determined upon!--Oh dear, no, my darling. You shall decide every thing
+for yourself.”
+
+“Thank you, mother; now you are kind indeed.”
+
+“Indubitably, my dearest Amelia, I would not decide on any thing without
+consulting you: for I have the greatest dependence on your prudence and
+judgment. With a silly romantic girl, who had no discretion, I should
+certainly think it my duty to do otherwise; and if I saw my daughter
+following headlong some idle fancy of fifteen, I should interpose my
+authority at once, and say, It must not be. But I know my Amelia so
+well, that I am confident she will judge as prudently for herself as I
+could for her; and indeed, I am persuaded that our opinions will be now,
+as they almost always are, my sweet girl, the same.”
+
+“I hope so mamma--but----”
+
+“Well, well, I’ll allow a maidenly _but_--and you will allow that Sir
+John Hunter shall be the man at last.”
+
+“Oh, mamma, that can never be,” said Amelia, with much earnestness.
+
+“_Never_--A young lady’s _never_, Amelia, I will allow too. Don’t
+interrupt me, my dear--but give me leave to tell you again, that
+you shall have your own time--Mr. Palmer has given his consent and
+approbation.”
+
+“Consent and approbation!” cried Amelia. “And is it come to this?
+without even consulting me! And is this the way I am left to judge for
+myself?--Oh, mother! mother! what will become of me?”
+
+Amelia, who had long had experience that it was vain for her to attempt
+to counteract or oppose any scheme that her mother had planned, sat down
+at this instant in despair: but even from despair she took courage;
+and, rising suddenly, exclaimed, “I never can or will marry Sir John
+Hunter--for I love another person--mother, you know I do--and I will
+speak truth, and abide by it, let the consequences be what they may.”
+
+“Well, my dear, don’t speak so loud, at all events; for though it may
+be very proper to speak the truth, it is not necessary that the whole
+universe should hear it. You speak of another attachment--is it possible
+that you allude to Captain Walsingham? But Captain Walsingham has never
+proposed for you, nor even given you any reason to think he would; or if
+he has, he must have deceived me in the grossest manner.”
+
+“He is incapable of deceiving any body,” said Amelia. “He never gave me
+any reason to think he would propose for me; nor ever made the slightest
+attempt to engage my affections. You saw his conduct: it was always
+uniform. He is incapable of any double or underhand practices.”
+
+“In the warmth of your eulogium on Captain Walsingham, you seem, Amelia,
+to forget that you reflect, in the most severe manner, upon yourself:
+for what woman, what young woman especially, who has either delicacy,
+pride, or prudence, can avow that she loves a man, who has never given,
+even by her own statement of the matter, the slightest reason to believe
+that he thinks of her?”
+
+Amelia stood abashed, and for some instants incapable of reply: but at
+last, approaching her mother, and hiding her face, as she hung over
+her shoulder, she said, in a low and timid voice, “It was only to my
+mother--I thought that could not be wrong--and when it was to prevent a
+greater wrong, the engaging myself to another person.”
+
+“Engaging yourself, my foolish child! but did I not tell you that you
+should have your own time?”
+
+“But no time, mother, will do.”
+
+“Try, my dear love; that is all I ask of you; and this you cannot, in
+duty, in kindness, in prudence, or with decency, refuse me.”
+
+“Cannot I?”
+
+“Indeed you cannot. So say not a word more that can lessen the high
+opinion I have of you; but show me that you have a becoming sense
+of your own and of female dignity, and that you are not the poor,
+mean-spirited creature, to pine for a man who disdains you.”
+
+“Disdain! I never saw any disdain. On the contrary, though he never gave
+me reason to think so, I cannot help fancying----”
+
+“That he likes you--and yet he never proposed for you! Do not believe
+it--a man may coquet as well as a woman, and often more; but till he
+makes his proposal, never, if you have any value for your own happiness
+or dignity, fancy for a moment that he loves you.”
+
+“But he cannot marry, because he is so poor.”
+
+“True--and if so, what stronger argument can be brought against your
+thinking of him?”
+
+“I do not think of him--I endeavour not to think of him.”
+
+“That is my own girl! Depend upon it, he thinks not of you. He is all in
+his profession--prefers it to every woman upon earth. I have heard him
+say he would not give it up for any consideration. All for glory, you
+see; nothing for love.”
+
+Amelia sighed. Her mother rose, and kissing her, said, as if she took
+every thing she wished for granted, “So, my Amelia, I am glad to see you
+reasonable, and ready to show a spirit that becomes you--Sir John Hunter
+breakfasts here to-morrow.”
+
+“But,” said Amelia, detaining her mother, who would have left the room,
+“I cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, for I do not esteem him; therefore
+I am sure I can never love him.”
+
+“You cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, Amelia?” replied Mrs. Beaumont.
+“It is extraordinary that this should appear to you an impossibility the
+very moment the gentleman proposes for you. It was not always so. Allow
+me to remind you of a ball last year, where you and I met both Sir
+John Hunter and Captain Walsingham; as I remember, you gave all your
+attention that evening to Sir John.”
+
+“Oh, mother, I am ashamed of that evening--I regret it more than
+any evening of my life. I did wrong, very wrong; and bitterly have I
+suffered for it, as people always do, sooner or later, by deceit. I was
+afraid that you should see my real feelings; and, to conceal them, I,
+for the first and last time of my life, acted like a coquette. But if
+you recollect, dear mother, the very next day I confessed the truth
+to you. My friend, Miss Walsingham, urged me to have the courage to be
+sincere.”
+
+“Miss Walsingham! On every occasion I find the secret influence of these
+Walsinghams operating in my family,” cried Mrs. Beaumont, from a sudden
+impulse of anger, which threw her off her guard.
+
+“Surely their influence has always been beneficial to us all. To me,
+Miss Walsingham’s friendship has been of the greatest service.”
+
+“Yes; by secretly encouraging you, against your mother’s approbation, in
+a ridiculous passion for a man who neither can nor will marry you.”
+
+“Far from encouraging me, madam, in any thing contrary to your
+wishes--and far from wishing to do any thing secretly, Miss Walsingham
+never spoke to me on this subject but once; and that was to advise me
+strongly not to conceal the truth from you, and not to make use of any
+artifices or manoeuvres.”
+
+“Possibly, very possibly; but I presume you could conduct yourself
+properly without Miss Walsingham’s interference or advice.”
+
+“I thought, mamma, you liked Miss Walsingham particularly, and that you
+wished I should cultivate her friendship.”
+
+“Certainly; I admire Miss Walsingham extremely, and wish to be on the
+best terms with the family; but I will never permit any one to interfere
+between me and my children. We should have gone on better without
+advisers.”
+
+“I am sure her advice and friendship have preserved me from many faults,
+but never led me into any. I might, from timidity, and from fear of your
+superior address and abilities, have become insincere and artful; but
+she has given me strength of mind enough to bear the present evil, and
+to dare at all hazards to speak the truth.”
+
+“But, my dearest Amelia,” said Mrs. Beaumont, softening her tone, “why
+so warm? What object can your mother have but your good? Can any Miss
+Walsingham, or any other friend upon earth, have your interest so much
+at heart as I have? Why am I so anxious, if it is not from love to you?”
+
+Amelia was touched by her mother’s looks and words of affection, and
+acknowledged that she had spoken with too much warmth.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont thought she could make advantage of this moment.
+
+“Then, my beloved child, if you are convinced of my affection for you,
+show at least some confidence in me in return: show some disposition to
+oblige me. Here is a match I approve; here is an establishment every way
+suitable.”
+
+“But why, mamma, must I be married?” interrupted Amelia. “I will not
+think, at least I will try not to think, of any one of whom you do not
+approve; but I cannot marry any other man while I feel such a partiality
+for--. So, dear mother, pray do not let Sir John Hunter come here any
+more on my account. It is not necessary that I should marry.”
+
+“It is necessary, however,” said Mrs. Beaumont, withdrawing her hand
+haughtily, and darting a look of contempt and anger upon her daughter,
+“it is necessary, however, that I should be mistress in my own house,
+and that I should invite here whomever I please. And it is necessary
+that you should receive them without airs, and with politeness. On this,
+observe, I insist, and will be obeyed.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont would receive no reply, but left the room seemingly in
+great displeasure: but even half her anger was affected, to intimidate
+this gentle girl.
+
+Sir John Hunter and his sister arrived to breakfast. Mrs. Beaumont
+played her part admirably; so that she seemed to Mr. Palmer only to
+be enduring Sir John from consideration for her daughter, and from
+compliance with Mr. Palmer’s own request that she would try what could
+be done to make the young people happy; yet she, with infinite address,
+_drew Sir John out_, and dexterously turned every thing he said into
+what she thought would please Mr. Palmer, though all the time she seemed
+to be misunderstanding or confuting him. Mr. Palmer’s attention, which
+was generally fixed exclusively on one object at a time, had ample
+occupation in studying Sir John, whom he examined, for Amelia’s sake,
+with all the honest penetration which he possessed. Towards Amelia
+herself he scarcely ever looked; for, without any refinement of
+delicacy, he had sufficient feeling and sense to avoid what he thought
+would embarrass a young lady. Amelia’s silence and reserve appeared
+to him, therefore, as her politic mother had foreseen, just what was
+natural and proper. He had been told that she was attached to Sir John
+Hunter; and the idea of doubting the truth of what Mrs. Beaumont had
+asserted could not enter his confiding mind.
+
+In the mean time, our heroine, to whom the conduct of a double intrigue
+was by no means embarrassing, did not neglect the affairs of her dear
+Albina: she had found time before breakfast, as she met Miss Hunter
+getting out of her carriage, to make herself sure that her notes of
+explanation had been understood; and she now, by a multitude of scarcely
+perceptible inuendoes, and seemingly suppressed looks of pity, contrived
+to carry on the representation she had made to her son of this damsel’s
+helpless and lovelorn state. Indeed, the young lady appeared as much in
+love as could have been desired for stage effect, and rather more than
+was necessary for propriety. All Mrs. Beaumont’s art, therefore, was
+exerted to throw a veil of becoming delicacy over what might have been
+too glaring, by hiding half to improve the whole. Where there was
+any want of management on the part of her young coadjutrix, she, with
+exquisite skill, made advantage even of these errors by look? and sighs,
+that implied almost as emphatically as words could have said to her
+son--“You see what I told you is too true. The simple creature has not
+art enough to conceal her passion. She is undone in the eyes of the
+world, if you do not confirm what report has said.”
+
+This she left to work its natural effect upon the vanity of man. And in
+the midst of these multiplied manoeuvres, Mrs. Beaumont sat with ease
+and unconcern, sometimes talking to one, sometimes to another; so that
+a stranger would have thought her a party uninterested in all that was
+going forward, and might have wondered at her blindness or indifference.
+
+But, alas! notwithstanding her utmost art, she failed this day in
+turning and twisting Sir John Hunter’s conversation and character so as
+to make them agreeable to Mr. Palmer. This she knew by his retiring
+at an early hour at night, as he sometimes did when company was not
+agreeable to him. His age gave him this privilege. Mrs. Beaumont
+followed, to inquire if he would not wish to _take something_ before he
+went to rest.
+
+“By St. George, Madam Beaumont, you are right,” said Mr. Palmer,
+“you are right, in not liking this baronet. I’m tired of him--sick of
+him--can’t like him!--sorry for it, since Amelia likes him. But what can
+a daughter of Colonel Beaumont find in this man to be pleased with? He
+is a baronet, to be sure, but that is all. Tell me, my good madam, what
+it is the girl likes in him?”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont could only answer by an equivocal smile, and a shrug, that
+seemed to say--there’s no accounting for these things.
+
+“But, my dear madam,” pursued Mr. Palmer, “the man is neither handsome
+nor young: he is old enough for her father, though he gives himself the
+airs of a youngster; and his manners are--I can allow for
+fashionable manners. But, madam, it is his character I don’t
+like--selfish--cold--designing--not a generous thought, not a good
+feeling about him. You are right, madam, quite right. In all his
+conversation such meanness, and even in what he means for wit, such
+a contempt of what is fair and honourable! Now that fellow does not
+believe that such a thing as virtue or patriotism, honour or friendship,
+exists. The jackanapes!--and as for love! why, madam, I’m convinced he
+is no more in love with the girl than I am, nor so much, ma’am, nor half
+so much!--does not feel her merit, does not value her accomplishments,
+does not Madam! madam! he is thinking of nothing but himself, and her
+fortune--fortune! fortune! fortune! that’s all. The man’s a miser.
+Madam, they that know no better fancy that there are none but old
+misers; but I can tell them there are young misers, and middle-aged
+misers, and misers of all ages. They say such a man can’t be a
+miser, because he is a spendthrift; but, madam, you know a man can be
+both--yes, and that’s what many of your young men of fashion are, and
+what, I’ll engage, this fellow is. And can Amelia like him? my poor
+child! and does she think he loves her? my poor, poor child! how can she
+be so blind? but love is always blind, they say. I’ve a great mind to
+take her to task, and ask her, between ourselves, what it is she likes
+in her baronet.”
+
+“Oh, my dear sir! she would sink to the centre of the earth if you were
+to speak. For Heaven’s sake, don’t take her to task, foolish as she is;
+besides, she would be so angry with me for telling you.”
+
+“Angry? the gipsy! Am not I her godfather and her guardian? though I
+could not act, because I was abroad, yet her guardian I was left by
+her father, and love her too as well as I should a daughter of her
+father’s--and she to have secrets, and mysteries! that would be worse
+than all the rest, for mysteries are what I abhor. Madam, wherever there
+are secrets and mysteries in a family, take my word for it, there is
+somethings wrong.”
+
+“True, my dear sir; but Amelia has no idea of mysteries or art. I only
+meant that young girls, you know, will be ashamed on these occasions,
+and we must make allowances. So do not speak to her, I conjure you.”
+
+“Well, madam, you are her mother, and must know best. I have only her
+interest at heart: but I won’t speak to her, since it will so distress
+her. But what shall be done about this lover? You are quite right about
+him, and I have not a word more to say.”
+
+“But I declare I think you judge him too harshly. Though I am not
+inclined to be his friend, yet I must do him the justice to say, he has
+more good qualities than you allow, or rather than you have seen yet. He
+is passionately fond of Amelia. Oh, there you’re wrong, quite wrong; he
+is passionately in love, whatever he may pretend to the contrary.”
+
+“Pretend! and why should the puppy pretend not to be in love?”
+
+“Pride, pride and fashion. Young men are so governed by fashion, and so
+afraid of ridicule. There’s a set of _fashionables_ now, with whom love
+is a _bore, _you know.”
+
+“I know! no, indeed, I know no such thing,” said Mr. Palmer. “But this
+I know, that I hate pretences of all sorts; and if the man is in love, I
+should, for my part, like him the better for showing it.”
+
+“So he will, when you know him a little better. You are quite a
+stranger, and he is bashful.”
+
+“Bashful! Never saw so confident a man in any country.”
+
+“But he is shy under all that.”
+
+“Under! But I don’t like characters where every thing is under something
+different from what appears at top.”
+
+“Well, take a day or two more to study him. Though I am his enemy, I
+must deal fairly by him, for poor Amelia’s sake.”
+
+“You are a good mother, madam, an indulgent mother, and I honour
+and love you for it. I’ll follow your example, and bear with this
+spendthrift-miser-coxcomb sprig of quality for a day or two more, and
+try to like him, for Amelia’s sake. But, if he’s not worthy of her, he
+sha’n’t have her, by St. George, he shall not--shall he, madam?”
+
+“Oh, no, no; good night, my good sir.”
+
+What the manoeuvres of the next day might have effected, and how far Sir
+John Hunter profited by the new instructions which were given to him in
+consequence of this conversation, can never be accurately ascertained,
+because the whole united plan of operations was disturbed by a new and
+unforeseen event.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+“Un volto senza senno, Un petto senza core, un cor senz’ alma, Un’ alma
+senza fede.” GUARINI.
+
+
+“Here’s glorious news of Captain Walsingham!” cried young Beaumont; “I
+always knew he would distinguish himself if he had an opportunity; and,
+thank God! he has had as fine an opportunity as heart could wish. Here,
+mother! here, Mr. Palmer, is an account of it in this day’s paper! and
+here is a letter from himself, which Mr. Walsingham has just sent me.”
+
+“Oh, give _me_ the letter,” cried Mrs. Beaumont, with affected
+eagerness.
+
+“Let me have the paper, then,” cried Mr. Palmer. “Where are my
+spectacles?”
+
+“Are there any letters for _me?_” said Sir John Hunter. “Did my
+newspapers come? Albina, I desired that they should be forwarded here.
+Mrs. Beaumont, can you tell me any thing of _my_ papers?”
+
+“Dear Amelia, how interesting your brother looks when he is pleased!”
+ Albina whispered, quite loud enough to be heard.
+
+“A most gallant action, by St. George!” exclaimed Mr. Palmer. “These are
+the things that keep up the honour of the British navy, and the glory of
+Britain.”
+
+“This Spanish ship that Captain Walsingham captured the day after the
+engagement is likely to turn out a valuable prize, too,” said Mrs.
+Beaumont. “I am vastly glad to find this by his letter, for the money
+will be useful to him, he wanted it so much. He does not say how much
+his share will come to, does he, Edward?”
+
+“No, ma’am: you see he writes in a great hurry, and he has only time, as
+he says, to mention _the needful_.”
+
+“And is not the money _the needful?_” said Sir John Hunter, with a
+splenetic smile.
+
+“With Walsingham it is only a secondary consideration,” replied
+Beaumont; “honour is Captain Walsingham’s first object. I dare say he
+has never yet calculated what his prize-money will be.”
+
+“Right, right!” reiterated Mr. Palmer; “then he is the right sort. Long
+may it be before our naval officers think more of prize-money than
+of glory! Long may it be before our honest tars turn into calculating
+pirates!”
+
+“They never will or can whilst they have such officers as Captain
+Walsingham,” said Beaumont.
+
+“By St. George, he seems to be a fine fellow, and you a warm friend,”
+ said Mr. Palmer. “Ay, ay, the colonel’s own son. But why have I never
+seen any of these Walsinghams since I came to the country? Are they
+ashamed of being related to me, because I am a merchant?”
+
+“More likely they are too proud to pay court to you because you are
+so rich,” said Mr. Beaumont. “But they did come to see you, sir,--the
+morning you were out so late, mother, you know.”
+
+“Oh, ay, true--how unfortunate!”
+
+“But have not we horses? have not we carriages? have not we legs?” said
+Mr. Palmer. “I’ll go and see these Walsinghams to-morrow, please God I
+live so long: for I am proud of my relationship to this young hero;
+and I won’t be cast off by good people, let them be as proud as they
+will--that’s their fault--but I will not stand on idle ceremony: so, my
+good Mistress Beaumont, we will all go in a body, and storm their castle
+to-morrow morning.”
+
+“An admirable plan! I like it of all things!” said Mrs. Beaumont. “How
+few, even in youth, are so active and enthusiastic as our good friend!
+But, my dear Mr. Palmer--”
+
+“But I wish I could see the captain himself. Is there any chance of his
+coming home?”
+
+“Home! yes,” said Beaumont: “did you not read his letter, sir? here it
+is; he will be at home directly. He says, ‘perhaps a few hours after
+this letter reaches you, you’ll see me.’”
+
+“See him! Odds my life, I’m glad of it. And you, my little Amelia,”
+ said Mr. Palmer, tapping her shoulders as she stood with her back to him
+reading the newspaper; “and you, my little silent one, not one word have
+I heard from you all this time. Does not some spark of your father’s
+spirit kindle within you on hearing of this heroic relation of ours?”
+
+“Luckily for the ladies, sir,” said Sir John Hunter, coming up, as he
+thought, to the lady’s assistance--“luckily for young ladies, sir, they
+are not called upon to be heroes; and it would be luckier still for
+us men, if they never set themselves up for heroines--Ha! ha! ha! Miss
+Beaumont,” continued he, “the shower is over; I’ll order the horses out,
+that we may have our ride.” Sir John left the room, evidently pleased
+with his own wit.
+
+“Amelia, my love,” said Mrs. Beaumont, who drew up also to give
+assistance at this critical juncture, “go, this moment, and write a note
+to your friend Miss Walsingham, to say that we shall all be with them
+early to-morrow: I will send a servant directly, that we may be sure to
+meet with them at home this time; you’ll find pen, ink, and paper in my
+dressing-room, love.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont drew Amelia’s arm within hers, and, dictating kindest
+messages for the Walsinghams, led her out of the room. Having thus
+successfully covered her daughter’s retreat, our skilful manoeuvrer
+returned, all self-complacent, to the company. And next, to please
+the warm-hearted Mr. Palmer, she seemed to sympathize in his patriotic
+enthusiasm for the British navy: she pronounced a panegyric on the
+_young hero,_ Captain Walsingham, which made the good old man rub his
+hands with exultation, and which irradiated with joy the countenance of
+her son. But, alas! Mrs. Beaumont’s endeavours to please, or rather to
+dupe all parties, could not, even with her consummate address, always
+succeed: though she had an excellent memory, and great presence of mind,
+with peculiar quickness both of eye and ear, yet she could not always
+register, arrange, and recollect all that was necessary for the various
+parts she undertook to act. Scarcely had she finished her eulogium on
+Captain Walsingham, when, to her dismay, she saw close behind her Sir
+John Hunter, who had entered the room without her perceiving it. He
+said not one word; but his clouded brow showed his suspicions, and his
+extreme displeasure.
+
+“Mrs. Beaumont,” said he, after some minutes’ silence, “I find I
+must have the honour of wishing you a good morning, for I have an
+indispensable engagement at home to dinner to-day.”
+
+“I thought, Sir John, you and Amelia were going to ride?”
+
+“Ma’am, Miss Beaumont does not choose to ride--she told me, so this
+instant as I passed her on the stairs. Oh! don’t disturb her, I beg--she
+is writing to Miss Walsingham--I have the honour to wish you a good
+morning, ma’am.”
+
+“Well, if you are determined to go, let me say three words to you in the
+music-room, Sir John: though,” added she, in a whisper intended to be
+heard by Mr. Palmer, “I know you do not look upon me as your friend,
+yet depend upon it I shall treat you and all the world with perfect
+candour.”
+
+Sir John, though sulky, could not avoid following the lady; and as soon
+as she had shut all the doors and double-doors of the music-room, she
+exclaimed, “It is always best to speak openly to one’s friends. Now, my
+dear Sir John Hunter, how can you be so childish as to take ill of me
+what I really was forced to say, for _your_ interest, about Captain
+Walsingham, to Mr. Palmer? You know old Palmer is the oddest, most
+self-willed man imaginable! humour and please him I must, the few days
+he is with me. You know he goes on Tuesday--that’s decided--Dr. Wheeler
+has seen him, has talked to him about his health, and it is absolutely
+necessary that he should return to the West Indies. Then he is perfectly
+determined to leave all he has to Amelia.”
+
+“Yes, ma’am; but how am I sure of being the better for that?”
+ interrupted Sir John, whose decided selfishness was a match for Mrs.
+Beaumont’s address, because it went without scruple or ceremony straight
+to his object; “for, ma’am, you can’t think I’m such a fool as not to
+see that Mr. Palmer wishes me at the devil. Miss Beaumont gives me no
+encouragement; and you, ma’am, I know, are too good a politician to
+offend Mr. Palmer: so, if he declares in favour of this young _hero,_
+Captain Walsingham, I may quit the field.”
+
+“But you don’t consider that Mr. Palmer’s young hero has never made any
+proposal for Amelia.”
+
+“Pshaw! ma’am--but I know, as well as you do, that he likes her, and
+propose he will for her now that he has money.”
+
+“Granting that; you forget that all this takes time, and that Palmer
+will be gone to the West Indies before they can bring out their
+proposal; and as soon as he is gone, and has left his will, as he means
+to do, with me, you and I have the game in our own hands. It is very
+extraordinary to me that you do not seem to understand my play, though I
+explained the whole to Albina; and I thought she had made you comprehend
+the necessity for my _seeming,_ for this one week, to be less your
+friend than I could wish, because of your title, and that odd whim of
+Palmer, you know: but I am sure we understand one another now.”
+
+“Excuse me,” said the invincible Sir John: “I confess, Mrs. Beaumont,
+you have so much more abilities, and _finesse_, and all that sort
+of thing, than I have, that I cannot help being afraid of--of not
+understanding the business rightly. In business there is nothing like
+understanding one another, and going on sure grounds. There has been so
+much going backwards and forwards, and explanations and manoeuvres,
+that I am not clear how it is; nor do I feel secure even that I have the
+honour of your approbation.”
+
+“What! not when I have assured you of it, Sir John, in the most
+unequivocal manner?”
+
+It was singular that the only person to whom in this affair Mrs.
+Beaumont spoke the real truth should not believe her. Sir John Hunter
+continued obstinately suspicious and incredulous. He had just heard that
+his uncle Wigram, his rich uncle Wigram, was taken ill, and not likely
+to recover. This intelligence had also reached Mrs. Beaumont, and
+she was anxious to secure the baronet and the Wigram fortune for her
+daughter; but nothing she could say seemed to satisfy him that she was
+not double-dealing. At last, to prove to him her sincerity, she gave
+him what he required, and what alone, he said, could make his mind
+easy, could bring him to make up his mind--_a written assurance_ of her
+approbation of his addresses to Amelia. With this he was content; “for,”
+ said he, “what is written remains, and there can be no misunderstandings
+in future, or changing of minds.”
+
+It was agreed between these confidential friends, that Sir John should
+depart, _as it were_, displeased; and she begged that he would not
+return till Mr. Palmer should have left the country.
+
+Now there was a numerous tribe of _hangers-on_, who were in the habit of
+frequenting Beaumont Park, whom Mrs. Beaumont loved to see at her
+house; because, besides making her feel her own importance, they were
+frequently useful to carry on the subordinate parts of her perpetual
+manoeuvres. Among these secondary personages who attended Mrs. Beaumont
+abroad to increase her consequence in the eyes of common spectators, and
+who at home filled the stage, and added to the bustle and effect, her
+chief favourites were Mr. Twigg (the same gentleman who was deputed to
+decide upon the belt or the screen) and Captain Lightbody. Mr. Twigg was
+the most, elegant flatterer of the two, but Captain Lightbody was
+the most assured, and upon the whole made his way the best. He was a
+handsome man, had a good address, could tell a good story, sing a good
+song, and _make things go off_ well, when there was company; so that he
+was a prodigious assistance to the mistress of the house. Then he danced
+with the young ladies when they had no other partners; he mounted guard
+regularly beside the piano-forte, or the harp, when the ladies were
+playing; and at dinner it was always the etiquette for him to sit beside
+Miss Beaumont, or Miss Hunter, when the gentlemen guests were not such
+as Mrs. Beaumont thought entitled to that honour, or such as she deemed
+_safe_ companions. These arrangements imply that Captain Lightbody
+thought himself in Mrs. Beaumont’s confidence: and so he was to a
+certain degree, just enough to flatter him into doing her high or low
+behests. Whenever she had a report to circulate, or to contradict,
+Captain Lightbody was put in play; and no man could be better calculated
+for this purpose, both from his love of talking, and of locomotion. He
+galloped about from place to place, and from one great house to
+another; knew all the lords and ladies, and generals and colonels,
+and brigade-majors and aides-de-camp, in the land. Could any mortal
+be better qualified to fetch and carry news for Mrs. Beaumont?
+Besides news, it was his office to carry compliments, and to speed the
+intercourse, not perhaps from soul to soul, but from house to house,
+which is necessary in a visiting country to keep up the character of
+an agreeable neighbour. Did Mrs. Beaumont forget to send a card of
+invitation, or neglect to return a visit, Lightbody was to set it to
+rights for her, Lightbody, the ready bearer of pretty notes, the maker
+always, the fabricator sometimes, of the civilest speeches imaginable.
+This expert speechifier, this ever idle, ever busy scamperer, our
+heroine dispatched to engage a neighbouring family to pay her a morning
+visit the next day, just about the time which was fixed for her going to
+see the Walsinghams. The usual caution was given. “Pray, Lightbody, do
+not let my name be used; do not let me be mentioned; but take it upon
+yourself, and say, as if from yourself, that you have reason to believe
+I take it ill that they have not been here lately. And then you can
+mention the hour that would be most convenient. But let me have nothing
+to do with it. I must not appear in it on any account.”
+
+In consequence of Captain Lightbody’s faithful execution of his secret
+instructions, a barouche full of morning visitors drove to the door,
+just at the time when Mrs. Beaumont had proposed to set out for
+Walsingham House. Mrs. Beaumont, with a well-dissembled look of
+vexation, exclaimed, as she looked out of the window at the carriage,
+“How provoking! Who can these people be? I hope Martin will say I am not
+at home. Ring--ring, Amelia. Oh, it’s too late, they have seen me! and
+Martin, stupid creature! has let them in.”
+
+Mr. Palmer was much discomfited, and grew more and more impatient when
+these troublesome visitors protracted their stay, and proposed a walk to
+see some improvements in the grounds.
+
+“But, my good Mistress Beaumont,” said he, “you know we are engaged to
+our cousin Walsingham this morning; and if you will give me leave, I
+will go on before you with Mr. Beaumont, and we can say what detains
+you.”
+
+Disconcerted by this simple determination of this straight-forward,
+plain-spoken old gentleman, Mrs. Beaumont saw that farther delay on her
+part would be not only inefficacious, but dangerous. She now was eager
+to be relieved from the difficulties which she had herself contrived.
+She would not, for any consideration, have trusted Mr. Palmer to pay
+this visit without her: therefore, by an able counter-movement, she
+extricated herself not only without loss, but with advantage, from this
+perilous situation. She made a handsome apology to her visitors for
+being obliged to run away from them. “She would leave Amelia to have the
+pleasure of showing them the grounds.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont was irresistible in her arrangements. Amelia, disappointed
+and afraid to show how deeply she felt the disappointment, was obliged
+to stay to do the honours of Beaumont Park, whilst her mother drove off
+rejoicing in half the success, at least, of her stratagem; but even as
+a politician she used upon every occasion too much artifice. It was said
+of Cardinal Mazarin, he is a great politician, but in all his politics
+there is one capital defect--“_C’est qu’il veut toujours tromper_.”
+
+“How tiresome those people were! I thought we never should have got
+away from them,” said Mrs. Beaumont. “What possessed them to come this
+morning, and to pay such a horrid long visit? Besides, those Duttons, at
+all times, are the most stupid creatures upon the face of the earth;
+I cannot endure them; so awkward and ill-bred too! and yet of a good
+family--who could think it? They are people one must see, but they are
+absolutely insufferable.”
+
+“Insufferable!” said Mr. Palmer; “why, my good madam, then you have the
+patience of a martyr; for you suffered them so patiently, that I never
+should have guessed you suffered at all. I protest I thought they were
+friends and favourites of yours, and that you were very glad to see
+them.”
+
+“Well, well, ‘tis the way of the world,” continued Mr. Palmer; “this
+sort of--what do you call it? double-dealing about visitors, goes on
+every where, Madam Beaumont. But how do I know, that when I go away, you
+may not be as glad to get rid of me as you were to get away from these
+Duttons?” added he, in a tone of forced jocularity. “How do I know,
+but that the minute my back is turned, you may not begin to take me to
+pieces in my turn, and say, ‘That old Palmer! he was the most tiresome,
+humoursome, strange, old-fashioned fellow; I thought we should never
+have got rid of him?”
+
+“My dear, dear sir, how can you speak in such a manner?” cried Mrs.
+Beaumont, who had made several vain attempts to interrupt this speech.
+“You, who are our best friend! is it possible you could suspect? Is
+there no difference to be made between friends and common acquaintance?”
+
+“I am sure I hope there is,” said Mr. Palmer, smiling.
+
+There was something so near the truth in Mr. Palmer’s raillery, that
+Mrs. Beaumont could not take it with as much easy unconcern as the
+occasion required, especially in the presence of her son, who maintained
+a provoking silence. Unhappy indeed are those, who cannot, in such
+moments of distress, in their own families, and in their nearest
+connexions, find any relief from their embarrassments, and who look
+round in vain for one to be _responsible_ for their sincerity. Mrs.
+Beaumont sat uneasy and almost disconcerted. Mr. Palmer felt for his
+snuff-box, his usual consolation; but it was not in his pocket: he
+had left it on his table. Now Mrs. Beaumont was relieved, for she had
+something to do, and something to say with her wonted politeness: in
+spite of all remonstrance from Mr. Palmer, her man Martin was sent back
+for the snuff-box; and conjectures about his finding it, and his being
+able to overtake them before they arrived at Walsingham house, supplied
+conversation for a mile or two.
+
+“Here’s Martin coming back full gallop, I vow,” said Miss Hunter, who
+could also talk on this topic.
+
+“Come, come, my good lady,” said Mr. Palmer, (taking the moment when the
+young lady had turned her back as she stretched out of the carriage
+for the pleasure of seeing Martin gallop)--“Come, come, my good Mrs.
+Beaumont, shake hands and be friends, and hang the Duttons! I did not
+mean to vex you by what I said. I am not so polite as I should be, I
+know, and you perhaps are a little too polite. But that is no great
+harm, especially in a woman.”
+
+Martin and the snuff-box came up at this instant; and all was apparently
+as well as ever. Yet Mrs. Beaumont, who valued a reputation for
+sincerity as much as Chartres valued a reputation for honesty, and
+nearly upon the same principle, was seriously vexed that even this
+transient light had been let in upon her real character. To such
+_accidents_ duplicity is continually subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+“Led by Simplicity divine, She pleased, and never tried to shine; She
+gave to chance each unschool’d feature, And left her cause to sense and
+nature.”--MORE.
+
+
+Arrived at Walsingham Park, they met Miss Walsingham walking at some
+distance from the house.
+
+“Is Captain Walsingham come?” was the first question asked. “No, but
+expected every hour.”
+
+That he had not actually arrived was a comfortable reprieve to Mrs.
+Beaumont. Breathing more freely, and in refreshed spirits, she prepared
+to alight from her carriage, to walk to the house with Miss Walsingham,
+as Mr. Palmer proposed. Miss Hunter, who was dressed with uncommon
+elegance, remonstrated in favour of her delicate slippers: not that she
+named the real object of her solicitude--no; she had not spent so much
+time with Mrs. Beaumont, that great mistress of the art of apologizing,
+without learning at least the inferior practices of the trade. Of course
+she had all the little common arts of excuse ever ready: and instead of
+saying that she did not like to walk because she was afraid to spoil her
+shoes, she protested she was afraid of the heat, and could not walk so
+far. But Mr. Beaumont had jumped out of the carriage, and Mrs.
+Beaumont did not wish that he should walk home _tête-à-tête_ with Miss
+Walsingham; therefore Miss Hunter’s remonstrances were of no avail.
+
+“My love, you, will not be heated, for our walk is through this charming
+shady grove; and if you are tired, here’s my son will give you his arm.”
+
+Satisfied with this arrangement, the young lady, thus supported, found
+it possible to walk. Mr. Palmer walked his own pace, looking round at
+the beauties of the place, and desiring that nobody might mind him. This
+was his way, and Mrs. Beaumont never teased him with talking to him,
+when he did not seem to be in the humour for it. She, who made something
+of every thing, began to manage the conversation with her other
+companions during the walk, so as to favour her views upon the several
+parties. Pursuing her principle, that love is in men’s minds generally
+independent of esteem, and believing that her son might be rendered
+afraid of the superiority of Miss Walsingham’s understanding, Mrs.
+Beaumont took treacherous pains to _draw her out_. Starting from chance
+seemingly, as she well knew how, a subject of debate, she went from
+talking of the late marriage of some neighbouring couple, to discuss
+a question on which she believed that Miss Walsingham’s opinion would
+differ from that of her son. The point was, whether a wife should
+or should not have pin-money. Miss Walsingham thought that a wife’s
+accepting it would tend to establish a separate interest between married
+people. Mr. Beaumont, on the contrary, was of opinion, that a wife’s
+having a separate allowance would prevent disputes. So Miss Hunter
+thought, of course, for she had been prepared to be precisely of Mr.
+Beaumont’s opinion; but reasons she had none in its support. Indeed, she
+said with a pretty simper, she thought that women had nothing to do
+with reason or reasoning; that she thought a woman who really loved _any
+body_ was always of that person’s opinion; and especially in a wife she
+did not see of what use reasoning and _all that_ could be, except to
+make a woman contradict, and be odd, and fond of ruling: that for her
+part she had no pretensions to any understanding, and if she had ever so
+much, she should be glad, she declared upon her honour, to get rid of it
+if she could; for what use could it possibly be of to her, when it must
+be the husband’s understanding that must always judge and rule, and a
+wife ought only to obey, and be always of the opinion of the man of her
+choice?--Having thus made her profession of folly in broken sentences,
+with pretty confusion and all-becoming graces, she leaned upon Mr.
+Beaumont’s arm with a bewitching air of languid delicacy, that solicited
+support. Mrs. Beaumont, suppressing a sigh, which, however, she took
+care that her son should hear, turned to Miss Walsingham, and, in a
+whisper, owned that she could not help loving abilities, and spirit too,
+even in her own sex. Then she observed aloud, that much might be urged
+on her side of the question with regard to pin-money; for not only, as
+Miss Walsingham justly said, it might tend to make a separate interest
+between husband and wife, but the wife would probably be kept in total
+ignorance of her husband’s affairs; and _that_ in some cases might
+be very disadvantageous, as some women are more capable, from their
+superior understanding, of managing every thing than most men, indeed,
+than any man she could name.
+
+Even under favour of this pretty compliment, which was plainly directed
+by a glance of Mrs. Beaumont’s eye, Miss Walsingham would not accept of
+this painful pre-eminence. She explained and made it clear, that she had
+not any ambition to rule or manage.
+
+“That I can readily believe,” said Mr. Beaumont; “for I have observed,
+that it is not always the women who are the most able to decide who are
+the most ambitious to govern.”
+
+This observation either was not heard or was not understood by Miss
+Hunter, whose whole soul was occupied in settling some fold of her
+drapery: but Mr. Beaumont’s speech had its full effect on Mrs. Beaumont,
+who bit her lip, and looked reproachfully at her son, as if she thought
+this an infringement of his promised truce. A moment afterwards she felt
+the imprudence of her own reproachful look, and was sensible that she
+would have done better not to have fixed the opinion or feeling in her
+son’s mind by noticing it thus with displeasure. Recovering, herself,
+for she never was disconcerted for more than half a minute, she passed
+on with easy grace to discuss the merits of the heroine of some new
+novel--an historic novel, which gave her opportunity of appealing to
+Miss Walsingham on some disputed points of history. She dexterously
+attempted to draw her _well-informed_ young friend into a display of
+literature which might alarm Mr. Beaumont. His education had in some
+respects been shamefully neglected; for his mother had calculated that
+ignorance would ensure dependence. He had endeavoured to supply, at a
+late period of his education, the defects of its commencement; but he
+was sensible that he had not supplied all his deficiencies, and he
+was apt to feel, with painful impatient sensibility, his inferiority,
+whenever literary subjects were introduced. Miss Walsingham, however,
+was so perfectly free from all the affectation and vanity of a
+bel-esprit, that she did not alarm even those who were inferior to her
+in knowledge; their self-complacency, instead of being depressed by the
+comparison of their attainments with hers, was insensibly raised, by the
+perception that notwithstanding these, she could take pleasure in
+their conversation, could appreciate their good sense or originality of
+thought, without recurring to the authority of books, or of great names.
+In fact, her mind had never been overwhelmed by a wasteful torrent of
+learning. That the stream of literature had passed over, it was apparent
+only from its fertility. Mrs. Beaumont repented of having drawn her
+into conversation. Indeed, our heroine had trusted too much to some
+expressions, which had at times dropped from her son, about _learned
+ladies_, and certain _conversaziones_. She had concluded that he would
+never endure literature in a wife; but she now perceived her mistake.
+She discerned it too late; and at this moment she was doubly vexed, for
+she saw Miss Hunter _produce_ herself in most disadvantageous contrast
+to her rival. In conformity to instructions, which Mrs. Beaumont had
+secretly given her, not to show too much sense or learning, because
+gentlemen in general, and in particular Mr. Beaumont, disliked it; this
+young lady now professed absolute ignorance and incapacity upon all
+subjects; and meaning to have an air of pretty childish innocence or
+timidity, really made herself appear quite like a simpleton. At the
+same time a tinge of ineffectual malice and envy appeared through her
+ill-feigned humility. She could give no opinion of any book--oh, she
+would not give any judgment for the whole world! She did not think
+herself qualified to speak, even if she had read the book, which indeed
+she had not, for, really, she never read--she was not a _reading lady_.
+
+As Miss Hunter had no portion of Mrs. Beaumont’s quick penetration, she
+did not see the unfavourable impression these words made: certain that
+she was following exactly her secret instructions, she was confident of
+being in the right line; so on she went, whilst Mrs. Beaumont sighed in
+vain; and Miss Walsingham, who now saw and understood her whole play,
+almost smiled at the comic of the scene.
+
+“O dear, Mrs. Beaumont,” continued Miss Hunter, “how can you ever
+appeal to me about books and those sorts of things, when you know I know
+nothing about the matter? For mercy’s sake, never do so any more, for
+you know I’ve no taste for those sorts of things. And besides, I own,
+even if I could, I should so hate to be thought a blue-stocking--I would
+not have the least bit of blue in my stockings for the whole world--I’d
+rather have any other colour, black, white, red, green, yellow, any
+other colour. So I own I’m not sorry I’m not what they call a genius;
+for though genius to be sure’s a very fascinating sort of thing in
+gentlemen, yet in women it is not so becoming, I think, especially in
+ladies: it does very well on the stage, and for artists, and so on; but
+really now, in company, I think it’s an awkward thing, and would make
+one look so odd! Now, Mr. Beaumont, I must tell you an anecdote--”
+
+“Stop, my dear Miss Hunter, your ear-ring is coming out. Stay! let me
+clasp it, love!” exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, determined to stop her in the
+career of nonsense, by giving her sensations, since she could not give
+her ideas, a new turn.
+
+“Oh, ma’am! ma’am! Oh! my ear! you are killing me, dearest Mrs.
+Beaumont! pinching me to death, ma’am!”
+
+“Did I pinch, my dear? It was the hinge of the ear-ring, I suppose.”
+
+“I don’t know what it was; but here’s blood, I declare!”
+
+“My love, I beg you a thousand pardons. How could I be so awkward! But
+why could not you for one moment hold your little head still?”
+
+Miss Walsingham applied a patch to the wound.
+
+“Such a pretty ear as it is,” continued Mrs. Beaumont; “I am sure it was
+a pity to hurt it.”
+
+“You really did hurt it,” said Mr. Beaumont, in a tone of compassion.
+
+“Oh, horridly!” cried Miss Hunter--“and I, that always faint at the
+sight of blood!”
+
+Afraid that the young lady would again spoil her part in the acting, and
+lose all the advantages which might result from the combined effect of
+the pretty ear and of compassion, Mrs. Beaumont endeavoured to take off
+her attention from the wound, by attacking her ear-rings.
+
+“My love,” said she, “don’t wear these ear-rings any more, for I assure
+you there is no possibility of shutting or opening them, without hurting
+you.”
+
+This expedient, however, nearly proved fatal in its consequences.
+Miss Hunter entered most warmly into the defence of her ear-rings; and
+appealed to Mr. Beaumont to confirm her decision, that they were the
+prettiest and best ear-rings in the world. Unluckily, they did not
+particularly suit his fancy, and the young lady, who had, but half an
+hour before, professed that she could never be of a different opinion
+in any thing from that of the man she loved, now pettishly declared that
+she could not and would not give up her taste. Incensed still more by a
+bow of submission, but not of conviction, from Mr. Beaumont, she went
+on regardless of her dearest Mrs. Beaumont’s frowns, and vehemently
+maintained her judgment, quoting, with triumphant volubility,
+innumerable precedents of ladies, “who had just bought _the very same_
+ear-rings, and whose taste she believed nobody would dispute.”
+
+Mr. Beaumont had seen enough, now and upon many other occasions, to be
+convinced that it is not on matters of consequence that ladies are apt
+to grow most angry; and he stood confirmed in his belief that those who
+in theory professed to have such a humble opinion of their own abilities
+that they cannot do or understand any thing useful, are often, in
+practice, the most prone to insist upon the infallibility of their taste
+and judgment. Mrs. Beaumont, who saw with one glance of her quick
+eye what passed at this moment in her son’s mind, sighed, and said to
+herself--“How impossible to manage a fool, who ravels, as fast as one
+weaves, the web of her fortune!”
+
+Yet though Mrs. Beaumont perceived and acknowledged the impracticability
+of managing a fool for a single hour, it was one of the favourite
+objects of her manoeuvres to obtain this very fool for a
+daughter-in-law, with the hope of governing her for life. So
+inconsistent are cunning people, even of the best abilities; so ill do
+they calculate the value of their ultimate objects, however ingeniously
+they devise their means, or adapt them to their ends.
+
+During this walk Mr. Palmer had taken no part in the conversation; he
+had seemed engrossed with his own thoughts, or occupied with observing
+the beauties of the place. Tired with her walk--for Mrs. Beaumont always
+complained of being fatigued when she was vexed, thus at once concealing
+her vexation, and throwing the faults of her mind upon her body--she
+stretched herself upon a sofa as soon as she reached the house, nor
+did she recover from her exhausted state till she cast her eyes upon a
+tamborine, which she knew would afford means of showing Miss Hunter’s
+figure and graces to advantage. Slight as this resource may seem,
+Mrs. Beaumont well knew that slighter still have often produced great
+effects. Soon afterward she observed her son smile repeatedly as he
+read a passage in some book that lay upon the table, and she had the
+curiosity to take up the book when he turned away. She found that it
+was Cumberland’s Memoirs, and saw the following little poem marked with
+reiterated lines of approbation:
+
+      “Why, Affectation, why this mock grimace?
+      Go, silly thing, and hide that simp’ring face.
+      Thy lisping prattle, and thy mincing gait,
+      All thy false mimic fooleries I hate;
+      For thou art Folly’s counterfeit, and she
+      Who is right foolish hath the better plea;
+      Nature’s true idiot I prefer to thee.
+
+      Why that soft languish?
+      Why that drawling tone?
+      Art sick, art sleepy?
+      Get thee hence: begone.
+      I laugh at all thy pretty baby tears,
+      Those flutt’rings, faintings, and unreal fears.
+
+      Can they deceive us?
+      Can such mumm’ries move,
+      Touch us with pity, or inspire with love?
+      No, Affectation, vain is all thy art!
+      Those eyes may wander over ev’ry part;
+      They’ll never find their passage to the heart.”
+
+
+“Why, Affectation, why this mock grimace? Go, silly thing, and hide that
+simp’ring face. Thy lisping prattle, and thy mincing gait, All thy false
+mimic fooleries I hate; For thou art Folly’s counterfeit, and she Who
+is right foolish hath the better plea; Nature’s true idiot I prefer to
+thee.
+
+Why that soft languish? Why that drawling tone? Art sick, art sleepy?
+Get thee hence: begone. I laugh at all thy pretty baby tears, Those
+flutt’rings, faintings, and unreal fears.
+
+Can they deceive us? Can such mumm’ries move, Touch us with pity, or
+inspire with love? No, Affectation, vain is all thy art! Those eyes may
+wander over ev’ry part; They’ll never find their passage to the heart.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, the moment she had read these lines, perceived why her
+son had smiled. The portrait seemed really to have been drawn from Miss
+Hunter, and the lines were so _à propos_ to the scene which had just
+passed during the walk, that it was impossible to avoid the application.
+Mrs. Beaumont shut the book hastily as her dear Albina approached, for
+she was afraid that the young lady would have known her own picture.
+So few people, however, even of those much wiser than Miss Hunter, know
+themselves, that she need not have been alarmed. But she had no longer
+leisure to devote her thoughts to this subject, for Mr. Walsingham,
+who had been out riding, had by this time returned; and the moment he
+entered the room, Mrs. Beaumont’s attention was directed to him and to
+Mr. Palmer. She introduced them to each other, with many expressions of
+regret that they should not sooner have met.
+
+Characters that are free from artifice immediately coalesce, as metals
+that are perfectly pure can be readily cemented together. Mr. Palmer
+and Mr. Walsingham were intimate in half an hour. There was an air of
+openness and sincerity about Mr. Walsingham; a freedom and directness in
+his conversation, which delighted Mr. Palmer.
+
+“I am heartily glad we have met at last, my good cousin Walsingham,”
+ said he: “very sorry should I have been to have left the country without
+becoming acquainted with you: and now I wish your gallant captain was
+arrived. I am to set off the day after to-morrow, and I am sadly afraid
+I shall miss seeing him.”
+
+Mr. Walsingham said, that as they expected him every hour, he hoped
+Mr. Palmer would persuade Mrs. Beaumont to spend the day at Walsingham
+House.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont dared not object. On the contrary, it was now her policy
+to pretend the fondest friendship for all the Walsingham family: yet,
+all the time, pursuing her plan of preventing Mr. Palmer from discerning
+their real characters and superior merit, she managed with great
+dexterity to keep the conversation as much as possible upon general
+topics, and tried to prevent Mr. Palmer from being much alone with
+Mr. Walsingham, for she dreaded their growing intimacy. After dinner,
+however, when the ladies retired, the gentlemen drew their chairs close
+together, and had a great deal of conversation on interesting subjects.
+The most interesting was Captain Walsingham: Mr. Palmer earnestly
+desired to hear the particulars of his history.
+
+“And from whom,” said young Beaumont, turning to Mr. Walsingham, “can he
+hear them better than from Captain Walsingham’s guardian and friend?”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+     _“Yet never seaman more serenely brave
+     Led Britain’s conquering squadrons o’er the wave.”_
+
+
+“Friends are not always the best biographers,” said Mr. Walsingham; “but
+I will try to be impartial. My ward’s first desire to be a sailor was
+excited, as he has often since told me, by reading Robinson Crusoe. When
+he was scarcely thirteen he went out in the Resolute, a frigate, under
+the command of Captain Campbell. Campbell was an excellent officer,
+and very strict in all that related to order and discipline. It was his
+principle and his practice never to forgive _a first offence_; by which
+the number of second faults was considerably diminished. My ward was not
+much pleased at first with his captain; but he was afterwards convinced
+that this strictness was what made a man of him. He was buffeted about,
+and shown the rough of life; made to work hard, and submit to authority.
+To reason he was always ready to yield; and by degrees he learned that
+his first duty as a sailor was implicit obedience. In due time he was
+made lieutenant: in this situation, his mixed duties of command and
+obedience were difficult, because his first-lieutenant, the captain’s
+son, was jealous of him.
+
+“Walsingham found it a more difficult task to win the confidence of
+the son than it had been to earn the friendship of the father. His
+punctuality in obeying orders, and his respectful manner to the
+lieutenant, availed but little; for young Campbell still viewed him with
+scornful yet with jealous eyes, imagining that he only wanted to show
+himself the better officer.
+
+“Of the falsehood of these suspicions Walsingham had at last an
+opportunity of giving unquestionable proof. It happened one day that
+Lieutenant Campbell, impatient at seeing a sailor doing some work
+awkwardly on the outside of the vessel, snatched the rope from his hand,
+and swore he would do it himself. In his hurry, Campbell missed his
+footing, and fell overboard:--he could not swim. Walsingham had
+the presence of mind to order the ship to be put about, and plunged
+instantly into the water to save his rival. With much exertion he
+reached Campbell, supported him till the boat was lowered down, and got
+him safe aboard again.”
+
+“Just like himself!” cried young Beaumont; “all he ever wanted was
+opportunity to show his soul.”
+
+“The first-lieutenant’s jealousy was now changed into gratitude,”
+ continued Mr. Walsingham; “and from this time forward, instead of
+suffering from that petty rivalship by which he used to be obstructed,
+Walsingham enjoyed the entire confidence of young Campbell. This good
+understanding between him and his brother officer not only made their
+every day lives pleasant, but in times of difficulty secured success.
+For three years that they lived together after this period, and during
+which time they were ordered to every quarter of the globe, they never
+had the slightest dispute, either in the busiest or the idlest times. At
+length, in some engagement with a Dutch ship, the particulars of which
+I forget, Lieutenant Campbell was mortally wounded: his last words
+were--‘Walsingham, comfort my father.’ That was no easy task. Stern as
+Captain Campbell seemed, the loss of his son was irreparable. He never
+shed a tear when he was told it was all over, but said, ‘God’s will be
+done;’ and turning into his cabin, desired to be left alone. Half an
+hour afterwards he sent for Walsingham, who found him quite calm. ‘We
+must see and do our duty together to the last,’ said he.
+
+“He exerted himself strenuously, and to all outward appearance was, as
+the sailors said, the same man as ever; but Walsingham, who knew him
+better, saw that his heart was broken, and that he wished for nothing
+but an honourable death. One morning as he was on deck looking through
+his glass, he called to Walsingham; ‘Your eyes are better than mine,’
+said he; ‘look here, and tell me, do you see yonder sail--she’s French?
+Le Magnanime frigate, if I’m not mistaken. ‘Yes,’ said Walsingham, ‘I
+know her by the patch in her main sail.’--‘We’ll give her something
+to do,’ said Campbell, ‘though she’s so much our superior. Please God,
+before the sun’s over our heads, you shall have her in tow, Walsingham.’
+‘_We_ shall, I trust,’ said Walsingham.--‘Perhaps not _we_; for I own
+I wish to fall,’ said Campbell. ‘You are first-lieutenant now; I can’t
+leave my men under better command, and I hope the Admiralty will give
+you the ship, if you give it to his Majesty.’--Then turning to the
+sailors, Captain Campbell addressed them with a countenance unusually
+cheerful; and, after a few words of encouragement, gave orders to clear
+decks for action. ‘Walsingham, you’ll see to every thing whilst I step
+down to write.’ He wrote, as it was afterwards found, two letters, both
+concerning Walsingham’s interests. The frigate with which they had to
+engage was indeed far superior to them in force; but Campbell trusted to
+the good order and steadiness as well as to the courage of his men. The
+action was long and obstinate. Twice the English attempted to board the
+enemy, and twice were repulsed. The third time, just as Captain Campbell
+had seized hold of the French colours, which hung in rags over the side
+of the enemy’s ship, he received a wound in his breast, fell back into
+Walsingham’s arms, and almost instantly expired. The event of this day
+was different from what Campbell had expected, for _Le Succès_ of fifty
+guns appeared in sight; and, after a desperate engagement with her, in
+which Walsingham was severely wounded, and every other officer on board
+killed or wounded, Walsingham saw that nothing was left but to make a
+wanton sacrifice of the remainder of his crew, or to strike.
+
+“After a contest of six hours, he struck to _Le Succès_. Perfect silence
+on his deck; a loud and insulting shout from the enemy!
+
+“No sooner had Walsingham struck, than La Force, the captain of _Le
+Succès_ hailed him, and ordered him to come in his own boat, and to
+deliver his sword. Walsingham replied, that ‘his sword, so demanded,
+should never be delivered but with his life.’[2] The Frenchman did not
+think proper to persist; but soon after sent his lieutenant on board
+the Resolute, where the men were found at their quarters with lighted
+matches in their hands, ready to be as good as their word. La Force,
+the captain of _Le Succès_, was a sailor of fortune, who had risen by
+chance, not merit.”
+
+“Ay, ay,” interrupted Mr. Palmer, “so I thought; and there was no great
+merit, or glory either, in a French fifty gun taking an English frigate,
+after standing a six hours’ contest with another ship. Well, my dear
+sir, what became of poor Walsingham? How did this rascally Frenchman
+treat his prisoners?”
+
+“Scandalously!” cried Beaumont; “and yet Walsingham is so generous that
+he will never let me damn the nation, for what he says was only the
+fault of an individual, who disgraced it.”
+
+“Well, let me hear and judge for myself,” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“La Force carried the Resolute in triumph into a French port,” continued
+Mr. Walsingham. “Vain of displaying his prisoners, he marched them up
+the country, under pretence that they would not be safe in a sea-port.
+Cambray was the town in which they were confined. Walsingham found the
+officers of the garrison very civil to him at first; but when they saw
+that he was not fond of high play, and that he declined being of their
+parties at billiards and _vingt-un_, they grew tired of him; for without
+these resources they declared they should perish with _ennui_ in a
+country town. Even under the penalty of losing all society, Walsingham
+resisted every temptation to game, and submitted to live with the
+strictest economy rather than to run in debt.”
+
+“But did you never send him any money? Or did not he get your
+remittances?” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“My dear sir, by some delays of letters, we did not hear for two months
+where he was imprisoned.”
+
+“And he was reduced to the greatest distress,” pursued Beaumont; “for
+he had shared all he had, to the utmost farthing, with his poor
+fellow-prisoners.”
+
+“Like a true British sailor!” said Mr. Palmer. “Well, sir, I hope he
+contrived to make his escape?”
+
+“No, for he would not break his parole,” said Beaumont,
+
+“His parole! I did not know he was on his parole,” said Mr. Palmer.
+“Then certainly he could not break it.”
+
+“He had two tempting opportunities, I can assure you,” said Beaumont;
+“one offered by the commandant’s lady, who was not insensible to his
+merit; the other, by the gratitude of some poor servant, whom he had
+obliged--Mr. Walsingham can tell you all the particulars.”
+
+“No, I need not detail the circumstances; it is enough to tell you,
+sir, that he withstood the temptations, would not break his parole, and
+remained four months a prisoner in Cambray. Like the officers of the
+garrison, he should have drunk or gamed, or else he must have died of
+vexation, he says, if he had not fortunately had a taste for reading,
+and luckily procured books from a good old priest’s library. At the end
+of four months the garrison of Cambray was changed; and instead of a set
+of dissipated officers, there came a well-conducted regiment, under the
+command of M. de Villars, an elderly officer of sense and discretion.”
+
+“An excellent man!” cried Beaumont: “I love him with all my soul,
+though I never saw him. But I beg your pardon for interrupting you, Mr.
+Walsingham.”
+
+“A prattling hairdresser at Cambray first prepossessed M. de Villars in
+Walsingham’s favour, by relating a number of anecdotes intended to
+throw abuse and ridicule upon the English captain, to convict him of
+misanthropy and economy; of having had his hair dressed but twice since
+he came to Cambray; of never having frequented the society of Madame
+la Marquise de Marsillac, the late commandant’s lady, for more than a
+fortnight after his arrival, and of having actually been detected in
+working with his own hand with smiths’ and carpenters’ tools. Upon
+the strength of the hairdresser’s information, M. de Villars paid the
+English captain a visit; was pleased by his conversation, and by all
+that he observed of his conduct and character.
+
+“As M. de Villars was going down stairs, after having spent an evening
+with Walsingham, a boy of twelve years old, the son of the master of
+the lodging-house, equipped in a military uniform, stood across the
+landing-place, as if determined to, stop him. ‘Mon petit militaire,’
+said the commandant, ‘do you mean to dispute my passage?’ ‘Non, mon
+général,’ said the boy; ‘I know my duty too well. But I post myself
+here to demand an audience, for I have a secret of importance to
+communicate.’ M. de Villars, smiling at the boy’s air of consequence,
+yet pleased with the steady earnestness of his manner, took him by
+the hand into an antechamber, and said that he was ready to listen
+to whatever he had to impart. The boy then told him that he had
+accidentally overheard a proposal which had been made to facilitate the
+English captain’s escape, and that the captain refused to comply with
+it, because it was not honourable to break his parole. The boy, who
+had been struck by the circumstance, and who, besides, was grateful
+to Walsingham for some little instances of kindness, spoke with much
+enthusiasm in his favour; and, as M. de Villars afterwards repeated,
+finished his speech by exclaiming, ‘I would give every thing I have
+in the world, except my sword and my honour, to procure this English
+captain his liberty.’
+
+“M. de Villars was pleased with the boy’s manner, and with the fact
+which he related; so much so, that he promised, that if Walsingham’s
+liberty could be obtained he would procure it. ‘And you, my good little
+friend, shall, if I succeed,’ added he, ‘have the pleasure of being the
+first to tell him the good news.’
+
+“Some days afterwards, the boy burst into Walsingham’s room, exclaiming,
+‘Liberty! liberty! you are at liberty!’--He danced and capered with
+such wild joy, that it was some time before Walsingham could obtain any
+explanation, or could prevail on him to let him look at a letter which
+he held in his hand, flourishing it about in triumph. At last he showed
+that it was an order from M. de Villars, for the release of Captain
+Walsingham, and of all the English prisoners, belonging to the Resolute,
+for whom exchanges had been effected. No favour could be granted in a
+manner more honourable to all the parties concerned. Walsingham arrived
+in England without any farther difficulties.”
+
+“Thank God!” said Mr. Palmer. “Well, now he has touched English ground
+again, I have some hopes for him. What next?”
+
+“The first thing he did, of course, was to announce his return to the
+Admiralty. A court-martial was held at Portsmouth; and, fortunately for
+him, was composed of officers of the highest distinction, so that
+the first men in his profession became thoroughly acquainted with the
+circumstances of his conduct. The enthusiasm with which his men bore
+testimony in his favour was gratifying to his feelings, and the minutes
+of the evidence were most honourable to him. The court pronounced, that
+Lieutenant Walsingham had done all that could be effected by the most
+gallant and judicious officer in the defence of His Majesty’s ship
+Resolute. The ministry who had employed Captain Campbell were no longer
+in place, and one of the Lords of the Admiralty at this time happened
+to have had some personal quarrel with him. A few days after the trial,
+Walsingham was at a public dinner, at which Campbell’s character became
+the subject of conversation. Walsingham was warned, in a whisper, that
+the first Lord of the Admiralty’s private secretary was present, and was
+advised to be _prudent_; but Walsingham’s prudence was not of that sort
+which can coolly hear a worthy man’s memory damned with faint praise;
+his prudence was not of that sort which can tamely sit by and see a
+friend’s reputation in danger. With all the warmth and eloquence of
+friendship, he spoke in Captain Campbell’s defence, and paid a just and
+energetic tribute of praise to his memory. He spoke, and not a word
+more was said against Campbell. The politicians looked down upon their
+plates; and there was a pause of that sort, which sometimes in a company
+of interested men of the world results from surprise at the imprudent
+honesty of a good-natured novice. Walsingham, as the company soon
+afterwards broke up, heard one gentleman say of him to another, as they
+went away, ‘There’s a fellow now, who has ruined himself without knowing
+it, and all for a dead man.’ It was not without knowing it: Walsingham
+was well aware what he hazarded, but he was then, and ever, ready to
+sacrifice his own interests in the defence of truth and of a friend. For
+two long years afterwards, Walsingham was, in the technical and elegant
+phrase, _left on the shelf, and the door of promotion was shut against
+him.”_
+
+“Yes, and there he might have remained till now,” said Beaumont, “if it
+had not been for that good Mr. Gaspar, a clerk in one of their offices;
+a man who, though used to live among courtiers and people hackneyed in
+the political ways of the world, was a plain, warm-hearted friend, a man
+of an upright character, who prized integrity and generosity the
+more because he met with them so seldom. But I beg your pardon, Mr.
+Walsingham; will you go on and tell Mr. Palmer how and why Gaspar served
+our friend?”
+
+“One day Walsingham had occasion to go to Mr. Gaspar’s office to search
+for some papers relative to certain charts which he had drawn, and
+intended to present to the Admiralty. In talking of the soundings of
+some bay he had taken whilst out with Captain Campbell, he mentioned
+him, as he always did, with terms of affection and respect. Mr. Gaspar
+immediately asked, ‘Are you, sir, that Lieutenant Walsingham, of
+the Resolute, who at a public dinner about two years ago made such a
+disinterested defence of your captain? If it is in my power to serve
+you, depend upon it I will. Leave your charts with me; I think I may
+have an opportunity of turning them to your advantage, and that of the
+service.’ Gaspar, who was thoroughly in earnest, took a happy moment to
+present Walsingham’s charts before the Admiralty, just at a time when
+they were wanted. The Admiralty were glad to employ an officer who had
+some local information, and they sent him out in the Dreadnought, a
+thirty-six gun frigate, with Captain Jemmison, to the West Indies.”
+
+“And what sort of a man was his new captain?” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“As unlike his old one as possible,” said Beaumont.
+
+“Yes,” continued Mr. Walsingham; “in every point, except courage,
+Captain Jemmison was as complete a contrast as could be imagined to
+Captain Campbell. Whatever else he might be, Jemmison was certainly a
+man of undaunted courage.”
+
+“That’s of course, if he was a captain in the British navy,” said Mr.
+Palmer.
+
+“From his appearance, however, you would never have taken him for a
+gallant sailor,” said Mr. Walsingham: “abhorring the rough, brutal,
+swearing, grog-drinking, tobacco-chewing, race of sea-officers, the Bens
+and the Mirvans of former times, Captain Jemmison, resolving, I suppose,
+to avoid their faults, went into the contrary extreme of refinement and
+effeminacy. A superlative coxcomb, and an epicure more from fashion than
+taste, he gloried in descanting, with technical precision, on the merits
+of dishes and of cooks. His table, even on shipboard, was to be equalled
+in elegance only by his toilet.”
+
+“The puppy!” exclaimed Mr. Palmer. “And how could Captain Walsingham go
+on with such a coxcomb?”
+
+“Very ill, you may be sure,” said Beaumont; “for Walsingham, I’ll answer
+for it, never could conceal or control his feelings of contempt or
+indignation.”
+
+“Yet, as Captain Jemmison’s lieutenant, he always behaved with perfect
+propriety,” said Mr. Walsingham, “and bore with his foppery and
+impertinence with the patience becoming a subordinate officer to his
+superior. Jemmison could not endure a lieutenant whose character and
+manners were a continual contrast and reproach to his own, and he
+disliked him the more because he could never provoke him to any
+disrespect. Jemmison often replied even to Walsingham’s silent contempt;
+as a French pamphleteer once published a book entitled, _Réponse au
+Silence de M. de la Motte_. On some points, where duty and principle
+were concerned, Walsingham, however, could not be silent. There was a
+lad of the name of Birch on board the Dreadnought, whom Walsingham had
+taken under his immediate care, and whom he was endeavouring to train
+up in every good habit. Jemmison, to torment Walsingham, made it his
+pleasure to counteract him in these endeavours, and continually did all
+he could to spoil Birch by foolish indulgence. Walsingham’s indignation
+was upon these occasions vehement, and his captain and he came to
+frequent quarrels. Young Birch, who had sense enough to know which
+was his true friend, one day threw himself on his knees to beseech his
+lieutenant not to hazard so much on his account, and solemnly swore that
+he would never be guilty of the slightest excess or negligence during
+the remainder of the voyage. The young man was steady to his promise,
+and by his resolution and temper prevented Walsingham and his captain
+from coming to a serious rupture. When they arrived at their place of
+destination, Jamaica, Captain Jemmison went on shore to divert himself,
+and spent his time in great dissipation at Spanish Town, eating,
+dressing, dancing, gallanting, and glorying in its being observed by
+all the ladies that he had nothing of a sea-captain about him. The other
+officers, encouraged by his precept and example, left the ship; but
+Walsingham stayed on board, and had severe duty to perform, for he could
+not allow the crew to go on shore, because they got into riots with the
+townspeople. Soon after their arrival, and even during the course
+of their voyage, he had observed among the sailors something like
+a disposition to mutiny, encouraged probably by the negligence and
+apparent effeminacy of their captain. Though they knew him to be a man
+of intrepidity, yet they ridiculed and despised his coxcombry, and his
+relaxation of discipline gave them hopes of succeeding in their mutinous
+schemes. Walsingham strongly and repeatedly represented to Captain
+Jemmison the danger, and remonstrated with him and the other officers
+upon the imprudence of leaving the ship at this juncture; but Jemmison,
+in a prettily rounded period, protested he saw no penumbra of danger,
+and that till he was called upon by Mars, he owned he preferred the
+charms of Venus.
+
+“This was vastly elegant; but, nevertheless, it happened one night,
+when the captain, after having eaten an admirable supper, was paying his
+court to a Creole lady of Spanish Town, news was brought him, that the
+crew of the Dreadnought had mutinied, and that Lieutenant Walsingham
+was killed. One half of the report was true, and the other nearly so. At
+midnight, after having been exhausted during the preceding week by his
+vigilance, Walsingham had just thrown himself into his cot, when he
+was roused by Birch at his cabin-door, crying, ‘A mutiny! a mutiny on
+deck!’--Walsingham seized his drawn cutlass, and ran up the ladder,
+determined to cut down the ringleader; but just as he reached the top,
+the sailors shut down the hatchway, which struck his head with such
+violence, that he fell, stunned, and, to all appearance, dead. Birch
+contrived, in the midst of the bustle, before he was himself seized
+by the mutineers, to convey, by signals to shore, news of what had
+happened. But Captain Jemmison could now be of no use. Before he could
+take any measures to prevent them, the mutineers weighed anchor, and
+the Dreadnought, under a brisk breeze, was out of the bay; all the other
+vessels in the harbour taking it for granted that her captain was on
+board, and that she was sailing under orders. In the mean time, whilst
+Walsingham was senseless, the sailors stowed him into his cabin, and set
+a guard over him. The ringleader, Jefferies, a revengeful villain, who
+bore malice against him for some just punishment, wanted to murder him,
+but the rest would not consent. Some would not dip their hands in blood;
+others pleaded for him, and said that he was never cruel. One man urged,
+that the lieutenant had been kind to him when he was sick. Another
+suggested, that it would be well to keep him alive to manage the ship
+for them, in case of difficulties. Conscious of their ignorance, they
+acceded to this advice; Jefferies’ proposal to murder him was overruled:
+and it was agreed to keep Walsingham close prisoner till they should
+need his assistance. He had his timekeeper and log-book locked up with
+him, which were totally forgotten by these miscreants. Never seaman
+prayed more fervently for fair weather than Walsingham now did for
+a storm. At last, one night he heard (and he says it was one of the
+pleasantest sounds he ever heard in his life) the wind rising. Soon it
+blew a storm. He heard one of the sailors say--‘A stiff gale, Jack!’ and
+another--‘An ugly night!’ Presently, great noise on deck, and the pumps
+at work. Every moment he now expected a deputation from the mutineers.
+The first person he saw was the carpenter, who came in to knock in the
+dead lights in the cabin windows. The man was surly, and would give no
+answer to any questions; but Walsingham knew, by the hurry of his work,
+that the fellow thought there was no time to be lost. Twice, before he
+could finish what he was about, messages came from _Captain Jefferies,_
+to order him to something else. Then a violent crash above from the fall
+of a mast; and then he heard one cry--‘I’ll be cursed if I should care,
+if we did but know where-abouts we are.’ Then all was in such uproar,
+that no voices could be distinguished. At last his cabin-door unlocked,
+and many voices called upon him at once to come upon deck that instant
+and save the ship. Walsingham absolutely refused to do any thing for
+them till they returned to their duty, delivered up to him their arms,
+and their ringleader, Jefferies. At this answer they stood aghast. Some
+tried entreaties, some threats: all in vain. Walsingham coolly said,
+he would go to the bottom along with the ship rather than say a word
+to save them, till they submitted. The storm blew stronger--the danger
+every moment increasing. One of the mutineers came with a drawn cutlass,
+another levelled a blunderbuss at Walsingham, swearing to despatch him
+that instant, if he would not tell them where they were. ‘Murder me,
+and you will be hanged; persist in your mutiny, you’ll be drowned,’
+said Walsingham. ‘You’ll never make me swerve from my duty--and you know
+it--you have my answer.’ The enraged sailors seized him in their arms,
+and carried him by force upon deck, where the sight of the danger,
+and the cries of ‘Throw him overboard!--over with him!’ only seemed to
+fortify his resolution. Not a word, not a sign could they get from him.
+The rudder was now unshipped! At this the sailors’ fury turned
+suddenly upon Jefferies, who between terror and ignorance was utterly
+incapacitated. They seized, bound, gave him up to Walsingham, returned
+to their duty; and then, and not till then, Walsingham resumed his
+command. Walsingham’s voice, once more heard, inspired confidence, and
+with the hopes revived the exertions of the sailors. I am not seaman
+enough to tell you how the ship was saved; but that it was saved, and
+saved by Walsingham, is certain. I remember only, that he made the ship
+manageable by some contrivance, which he substituted in the place of the
+rudder that had been unshipped. The storm abating, he made for the first
+port, to repair the ship’s damages, intending to return to Jamaica, to
+deliver her up to her captain; but, from a vessel they spoke at sea, he
+learned that Jemmison was gone to England in a merchantman. To England
+then Walsingham prepared to follow.”
+
+“And with this rebel crew!” cried Beaumont; “think, Mr. Palmer, what a
+situation he was in, knowing, as he did, that every rascal of them would
+sooner go to the devil than go home, where they knew they must be tried
+for their mutiny.”
+
+“Well, sir, well!” said Mr. Palmer. “Did they run away with the ship a
+second time? or how did he manage?”
+
+He called them all one morning together on deck; and pointing to the
+place where the gunpowder was kept, he said--‘I have means of blowing up
+the ship. If ever you attempt to mutiny again, the first finger you lay
+upon me, I blow her up instantly.’ They had found him to be a man of
+resolution. They kept to their duty. Not a symptom of disobedience
+during the rest of the voyage. In their passage they fell in with an
+enemy’s ship, far superior to them in force. ‘There, my lads!’ said
+Walsingham, ‘if you have a mind to earn your pardons, there’s your best
+chance. Take her home with you to your captain and your king.’ A loud
+cheer was their answer. They fought like devils to redeem themselves.
+Walsingham--but without stopping to make his panegyric, I need only tell
+you, that Walsingham’s conduct and intrepidity were this time crowned
+with success. He took the enemy’s ship, and carried it in triumph into
+Portsmouth. Jemmison was on the platform when they came in; and what a
+mortifying sight it was to him, and what a proud hour to Walsingham, you
+may imagine! Having delivered the Dreadnought and her prize over to his
+captain, the next thing to be thought of was the trial of the mutineers.
+All except Jefferies obtained a pardon, in consideration of their return
+to duty, and their subsequent services. Jefferies was hanged at the
+yard-arm. The trial of the mutineers brought on, as Jemmison foresaw it
+must, many animadversions on his own conduct. Powerful connexions, and
+his friends in place, silenced, as much as possible, the public voice.
+Jemmison gave excellent dinners, and endeavoured to drown the whole
+affair in his choice Champagne and _London particular Madeira_; so his
+health, and success to the British navy, was drunk in bumper toasts.
+
+“Ay, ay, they think to do every thing now in England by dinners, and
+bumper toasts, and three times three,” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“But it did not do in this instance,” said Beaumont, in a tone of
+exultation: “it did not do.”
+
+“No,” continued Mr. Walsingham; “though Jemmison’s dinners went
+down vastly well with a party, they did not satisfy the public. The
+opposition papers grew clamorous, and the business was taken up so
+strongly, and it raised such a cry against the ministry, that they were
+obliged to bring Jemmison to a court-martial.”
+
+“The puppy! I’m glad of it, with all my soul. And how did he look then?”
+ said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“Vastly like a gentleman; that was all that even his friends could say
+for him. The person he was most afraid of on the trial was Walsingham.
+In this apprehension he was confirmed by certain of his friends, who
+had attempted to sound Walsingham as to the nature of the evidence he
+intended to give. They all reported, that they could draw nothing out
+of him, and that he was an impracticable fellow; for his constant answer
+was, that his evidence should be given in court, and nowhere else.”
+
+“Even to his most intimate friends,” interrupted Mr. Beaumont, “even to
+me, who was in the house with him all the time the trial was going on,
+he did not tell what his evidence would be.”
+
+“When the day of trial came,” pursued Mr. Walsingham----
+
+“Don’t forget Admiral Dashleigh,” said Mr. Beaumont.
+
+“No; who can forget him that knows him?” said Walsingham: “a warm,
+generous friend, open-hearted as he is brave--he came to Captain
+Walsingham the day before the court-martial was to sit. ‘I know,
+Walsingham, you don’t like my cousin Jemmison (said he), nor do I much,
+for he is a puppy, and I never could like a puppy, related to me or not;
+be that as it may, you’ll do him justice, I’m sure; for though he is
+a puppy he is a brave fellow--and here, for party purposes, they
+have raised a cry of his being a coward, and want to shoot him _pour
+encourager les autres_. What you say will damn or save him; and I have
+too good an opinion of you to think that any old grudge, though you
+might have cause for it, would stand in his way.’ Walsingham answered
+as usual, that his opinion and his evidence would be known on the day
+of trial. Dashleigh went away very ill-satisfied, and persuaded that
+Walsingham harboured revenge against his relation. At last, when he was
+called upon in court, Walsingham’s conduct was both just and generous;
+for though his answers spoke the exact truth, yet he brought forward
+nothing to the disadvantage of Jemmison, but what truth compelled him
+to state, and in his captain’s favour; on the contrary, he spoke so
+strongly of his intrepidity, and of the gallant actions which in former
+instances he had performed in the service, as quite to efface the
+recollection of his foppery and epicurism, and, as much as possible,
+to excuse his negligence. Walsingham’s evidence absolutely confuted the
+unjust charge or suspicion of cowardice that had been raised against
+Jemmison; and made such an impression in his favour, that, instead of
+being dismissed the service, or even having his ship taken from him, as
+was expected, Jemmison got off with a reprimand.”
+
+“Which I am sure he well deserved,” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“But certainly Walsingham was right not to let him be run down by a
+popular cry, especially as he had used him ill,” said Mr. Beaumont.
+
+“Well, well!--I don’t care about the puppy,” cried Mr. Palmer; “only go
+on.”
+
+“No sooner was the trial over, and the sentence of the court made known,
+than Admiral Dashleigh, full of joy, admiration, and gratitude,
+pushed his way towards Walsingham, and stretching out his hand,
+exclaimed--‘Shake hands, Walsingham, and forgive me, or I can’t forgive
+myself. I suspected you yesterday morning of bearing malice against that
+coxcomb, who deserved to be laughed at, but not to be shot. By Jove,
+Walsingham, you’re an honest fellow, I find.’ ‘And have you but just
+found that out, admiral?’ said Walsingham, with a proud smile. ‘Harkee,
+my lad,’ said Dashleigh, calling after him, ‘remember, I’m _your_
+friend, at all events.--Take it as you will, I’ll make you mine yet,
+before I’ve done with you.’ Walsingham knew that at this time Admiral
+Dashleigh’s friends were in power, and that Dashleigh himself had great
+influence with the Admiralty; and he probably treated the admiral thus
+haughtily, to show that he had no interested views or hopes. Dashleigh
+understood this, for he now comprehended Walsingham’s character
+perfectly. Immediately after the trial, Walsingham was made commander,
+in consequence of his having saved the Dreadnought, and his having taken
+l’Ambuscade. With this appointment Dashleigh had nothing to do. But he
+never ceased exerting himself, employing all the interest of his high
+connexions, and all the personal influence of his great abilities, to
+have Walsingham made post, and to get him a ship. He succeeded at last;
+but he never gave the least hint that it was done by his interest; for,
+he said, he knew that Walsingham had such nice notions, and was such a
+proud principled fellow, that he would not enjoy his promotion, if
+he thought he owed it to any thing upon earth but his own merit. So a
+handsome letter was written by the secretary of the Admiralty to
+Captain Walsingham, by their lordships’ desire, informing him, ‘that in
+consideration of his services and merit, his majesty had been pleased to
+make him post-captain, and to appoint him to the command of l’Ambuscade
+(the prize he took), which would be sent out on the first occasion.’ The
+secretary ‘begged leave to add expressions of his private satisfaction
+on an appointment so likely to be advantageous to the public,’ &c.
+In short, it was all done so properly and so plausibly, that even
+Walsingham never suspected any secret influence, nor did he find out the
+part Dashleigh had taken in the business till several months afterwards,
+when a _discreet_ friend mentioned it by accident.”
+
+“I was that discreet friend,” said Mr. Beaumont.
+
+“Well, all this is very good, but there’s no love in this Story,” said
+Mr. Palmer. “I hope your hero is not too proud to fall in love?”
+
+“Too proud!--We are told, you know, that the greatest hero, in the
+intervals of war, resigned
+
+     ‘To tender passions all his mighty mind.’”
+
+“Tender passions!--Captain Walsingham is in love, then, hey?” said Mr.
+Palmer. “And may I ask--Bless me! I shall be very sorry if it is with
+any body but--may I ask to whom he is attached?”
+
+“That is a question that I am not quite at liberty perhaps to answer,”
+ said Mr. Walsingham. “During the interval between his return in the
+Dreadnought and his being appointed to l’Ambuscade, an interval of about
+eighteen months, which he spent in the country here with me, he had time
+to become thoroughly acquainted with a very amiable young lady--”
+
+“A very amiable young lady! and in this neighbourhood?” interrupted Mr.
+Palmer; “it must be the very person I mean, the very person I wish.”
+
+“Do not ask me any more,” said Mr. Walsingham; “for my friend never
+declared his attachment, and I have no right to declare it for him. He
+was not, at the time I speak of, in circumstances to marry; therefore he
+honourably concealed, or rather suppressed, his passion, resolving not
+to attempt to engage the young lady’s affections till he should have
+made a fortune sufficient to support her in her own rank in life.”
+
+“Well, now, that’s all done, thank Heaven!” cried Palmer: “he has
+fortune enough now, or we can help him out, you know. This is excellent,
+excellent!--Come, is it not time for us to go to the ladies? I’m
+impatient to tell this to Mrs. Beaumont.”
+
+“Stay, my good Mr. Palmer,” said Mr. Walsingham. “What are you going to
+do?”
+
+“Let me alone, let me alone--I’ll only tell what I guess--depend upon
+it, I guess right--and it may do a great deal of good to tell it to Mrs.
+Beaumont, and it will give her a great deal of pleasure--trust me--trust
+me.”
+
+“I do trust _you_--but perhaps you may be mistaken.”
+
+“Not at all, not at all, depend upon it; so let me go to her this
+minute.”
+
+“But stop, my dear sir,” cried Mr. Beaumont, “stop for another reason;
+let me beg you to sit down again--I am not clear that Captain Walsingham
+is not at this instant in love with--perhaps, as it is reported, married
+to a Spanish lady, whom he has carried off out of a convent at ----, and
+whom I understand he is bringing home with him.”
+
+“Heyday! a Spanish lady!” said Mr. Palmer, returning slowly to his seat
+with a fallen countenance. “How’s this?--By St. George, this is unlucky!
+But how’s this, I say?”
+
+“You did not let us finish our story,” said Mr. Beaumont, “or we should
+have told you.”
+
+“Let me hear the end of it now,” said Mr. Palmer, sitting down again,
+and preparing himself with several pinches of snuff. But just at this
+instant a servant came to say that coffee was ready.
+
+“I will never stir from this spot for coffee or any thing else,” said
+Mr. Palmer, “till I know the history of the Spanish lady.”
+
+“Then the shortest and best way I have of telling it to you is, to beg
+you to read this letter, which contains all I know of the matter,” said
+Mr. Beaumont. “This letter is from young Birch to his parents; we have
+never heard a syllable directly from Walsingham himself on this subject.
+Since he reached Lisbon, we have had no letters from him, except
+that short epistle which brought us an account of his taking the
+treasure-ship. But we shall see him soon, and know the truth of this
+story; and hear whether he prefers his Spanish or his English mistress.”
+
+“‘Fore George! I wish this Spanish woman had stayed in her convent,”
+ said Mr. Palmer; “I don’t like runaway ladies. But let us see what this
+letter says for her.”
+
+The letter is the same that Mr. Beaumont read some time ago, therefore
+it need not here be inserted. Before Mr. Palmer had finished perusing
+it, a second message came to say that the ladies waited tea, and that
+Mrs. Beaumont wished not to be late going home, as there was no moon.
+Mr. Palmer, nevertheless, finished the letter before he stirred: and
+then, with a heavy sigh, he rose and said, “I now wish, more than ever,
+that our captain would come home this night, before I go, and clear up
+this business. I don’t like this Spanish plot, this double intrigue. Ah,
+dear me!--I shall be obliged to sail--I shall be in Jamaica before the
+fifth act.”
+
+“How expectation loads the wings of time!” exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont,
+as the gentlemen entered the drawing-room. “Here we have been all
+day expecting our dear Captain Walsingham, and the time has seemed so
+long!--The only time I ever found long in this house.”
+
+“I should like to know,” said Mr. Walsingham, after a bow of due
+acknowledgment to Mrs. Beaumont for her compliment, “I should like to
+know whether time appears to pass more slowly to those that hope, or
+those that fear?”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont handed coffee to Mr. Palmer, without attempting to answer
+this question.
+
+“To those that hope, I should think,” said Mr. Palmer; “for hope long
+deferred maketh the heart sick; and time, I can answer for it, passes
+most slowly to those who are sick.”
+
+     “‘Slow as the year’s dull circle seems to run,
+     When the brisk minor pants for twenty-one,’”
+
+said Mr. Walsingham, smiling, as he looked at young Beaumont. “But I
+think it is the mixture of fear with hope that makes time appear to pass
+slowly.”
+
+“And is hope ever free from that mixture?” said Miss Walsingham. “Does
+not hope without fear become certainty, and fear without hope despair?
+Can hope ever be perfectly free from some mixture of fear?”
+
+“Oh, dear me! yes, to be sure,” said Miss Hunter; “for hope’s the most
+opposite thing that ever was to fear; as different as black and white;
+_for_, surely, every body knows that hope is just the contrary to fear;
+and when one says, _I hope_, one does not ever mean _I fear_--surely,
+you know, Mrs. Beaumont?”
+
+“I am the worst metaphysician in the world,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “I have
+not head enough to analyze my heart.”
+
+“Nor I neither,” said Miss Hunter: “Heigho!” (very audibly.)
+
+“Hark!” cried Mr. Beaumont, “I think I hear a horse galloping. It is he!
+it is Walsingham!”
+
+Out ran Beaumont, full speed, to meet his friend; whilst, with, more
+sober joy, Mr. Walsingham waited on the steps, where all the company
+assembled, Mr. Palmer foremost, with a face full of benevolent pleasure;
+Mrs. Beaumont congratulating every body, but nobody listening to her;
+luckily for her, all were too heartily occupied with their own feelings
+to see how ill her countenance suited her words. The sound of the
+galloping of the horse ceased for a minute--then recommenced; but before
+it could be settled whether it was coming nearer or going farther away,
+Mr. Beaumont returned with a note in his hand.
+
+“Not Walsingham--only Birch--confound him!” said Mr. Beaumont, out of
+breath. “Confound him, what a race I took, and how disappointed I was
+when I saw Birch’s face; and yet it is no fault of his, poor lad!”
+
+“But why did not he come up to the house? Why did not you let us see
+him?” said Mr. Walsingham.
+
+“I could not keep him, he was in such a hurry to go home to his father
+and mother, he would only stop to give this note.”
+
+“From Walsingham? Read, quick.”
+
+“Plymouth, 5 o’clock, A.M. just landed.
+
+“Dear friends, I cannot have the pleasure of seeing you, as I had hoped
+to do, this day--I am obliged to go to London instantly on business that
+must not be delayed--Cannot tell when I can be with you--hope in a few
+days--Well and happy, and ever yours, H. WALSINGHAM.”
+
+All stood silent with looks of disappointment, except Mrs. Beaumont, who
+reiterated, “What a pity! What a sad pity! What a disappointment! What a
+terrible disappointment!”
+
+“Business!” said Mr. Beaumont: “curse his business! he should think of
+his friends first.”
+
+“Most likely his business is for his friends,” said Miss Walsingham.
+
+“That’s right, my dear little defender of the absent,” said Mr.
+Walsingham.
+
+“Business!” repeated Mr. Palmer. “Hum! I like business better than
+pleasure--I will be patient, if it is really business that keeps him
+away from us.”
+
+“Depend upon it,” said Miss Walsingham, “nothing but business can keep
+him away from us; his pleasure is always at home.”
+
+“I am thinking,” said Mr. Palmer, drawing Mr. Walsingham aside, “I am
+thinking whether he has really brought this Spanish lady home with him,
+and what will become of her--of--him, I mean. I wish I was not going to
+Jamaica!”
+
+“Then, my dear sir, where is the necessity of your going?”
+
+“My health--my health--the physicians say I cannot live in England.”
+
+Mr. Walsingham, who had but little faith in physicians, laughed, and
+exclaimed, “But, my dear sir, when you see so many men alive in England
+at this instant, why should you believe in the impossibility of your
+living even in this pestiferous country?”
+
+Mr. Palmer half smiled, felt for his snuff-box, and then replied, “I am
+sure I should like to live in England, if my health would let me; but,”
+ continued he, his face growing longer, and taking the hypochondriac cast
+as he pronounced the word, “_but, _Mr. Walsingham, you don’t consider
+that my health is really--really--”
+
+“Really very good, I see,” interrupted Mr. Walsingham, “and I am
+heartily glad to see it.”
+
+“Sir! sir! you do not see it, I assure you. I have a great opinion of
+your judgment, but as you are not a physician--”
+
+“And because I have not taken out my diploma, you think I can neither
+see nor understand,” interrupted Mr. Walsingham. “But, nevertheless,
+give me leave to feel your pulse.”
+
+“Do you really understand a pulse?” said Mr. Palmer, baring his wrist,
+and sighing.
+
+“As good a pulse as ever man had,” pronounced Mr. Walsingham.
+
+“You don’t say so? why the physicians tell me--”
+
+“Never mind what they tell you--if they told you the _truth_, they’d
+tell you they want fees.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, quite startled by the tremendously loud voice in which
+Mr. Walsingham pronounced the word _truth_, rose, and rang the bell for
+her carriage.
+
+“Mr. Palmer,” said she, “I am afraid we must run away, for I dread the
+night air for invalids.”
+
+“My good madam, I am at your orders,” answered Mr. Palmer, buttoning
+himself up to the chin.
+
+“Mrs. Beaumont, surely you don’t think this gentleman an invalid?” said
+Mr. Walsingham.
+
+“I only wish he would not think himself such,” replied Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“Ah! my dear friends,” said Mr. Palmer, “I really am, I certainly am a
+sad--sad--”
+
+“Hypochondriac,” said Mr. Walsingham. “Pardon me--you are indeed, and
+every body is afraid to tell you so but myself.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont anxiously looked out of the window to see if her carriage
+was come to the door.
+
+“Hypochondriac! not in the least, my dear sir,” said Mr. Palmer. “If you
+were to hear what Dr. ---- and Dr. ---- say of my case, and your own Dr.
+Wheeler here, who has a great reputation too--shall I tell you what he
+says?”
+
+In a low voice, Mr. Palmer, holding Mr. Walsingham by the button,
+proceeded to recapitulate some of Dr. Wheeler’s prognostics; and at
+every pause, Mr. Walsingham turned impatiently, so as almost to twist
+off the detaining button, repeating, in the words of the king of Prussia
+to his physician, “_C’est un âne! C’est un âne! C’est un âne!_”--“Pshaw!
+I don’t understand French,” cried Mr. Palmer, angrily. His warmth
+obliged him to think of unbuttoning his coat, which operation (after
+stretching his neckcloth to remove an uneasy feeling in his throat) he
+was commencing, when Mrs. Beaumont graciously stopped his hand.
+
+“The carriage is at the door, my dear sir:--instead of unbuttoning your
+coat, had not you better put this cambric handkerchief round your throat
+before we go into the cold air?”
+
+Mr. Palmer put it on, as if in defiance of Mr. Walsingham, and followed
+Mrs. Beaumont, who led him off in triumph. Before he reached the
+carriage-door, however, his anger had spent its harmless force;
+and stopping to shake hands with him, Mr. Palmer said, “My good Mr.
+Walsingham, I am obliged to you. I am sure you wish me well, and I thank
+you for speaking so freely; I love honest friends--but as to my being a
+hypochondriac, believe me, you are mistaken!”
+
+“And as to Dr. Wheeler,” said Mrs. Beaumont, as she drew up the glass
+of the carriage, and as they drove from the door, “Dr. Wheeler certainly
+does not deserve to be called _un âne,_ for he is a man of whose medical
+judgment I have the highest opinion. Though I am sure I am very candid
+to acknowledge it in the present case, when his opinion is so much
+against my wishes, and all our wishes, and must, I fear, deprive us so
+soon of the company of our dear Mr. Palmer.”
+
+“Why, yes, I must go, I must go to Jamaica,” said Mr. Palmer in a more
+determined tone than he had yet spoken on the subject.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont silently rejoiced; and as her son imprudently went on
+arguing in favour of his own wishes, she leaned back in the carriage,
+and gave herself up to a pleasing reverie, in which she anticipated the
+successful completion of all her schemes. Relieved from the apprehension
+that Captain Walsingham’s arrival might disconcert her projects, she
+was now still further re-assured by Mr. Palmer’s resolution to sail
+immediately. One day more, and she was safe. Let Mr. Palmer but sail
+without seeing Captain Walsingham, and this was all Mrs. Beaumont asked
+of fortune; the rest her own genius would obtain. She was so absorbed
+in thought, that she did not know she was come home, till the carriage
+stopped at her door. Sometimes, indeed, her reverie had been interrupted
+by Mr. Palmer’s praises of the Walsinghams, and by a conversation which
+she heard going on about Captain Walsingham’s life and adventures:
+but Captain Walsingham was safe in London; and whilst he was at that
+distance, she could bear to hear his eulogium. Having lamented that she
+had been deprived of her dear Amelia all this day, and having arranged
+her plan of operations for the morrow, Mrs. Beaumont retired to rest.
+And even in dreams her genius invented fresh expedients, wrote notes of
+apology, or made speeches of circumvention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+“And now, as oft in some distempered state, On one nice trick depends
+the general fate.”--POPE.
+
+
+That old politician, the cardinal of Lorraine, used to say, that “a lie
+believed but for one hour doth many times in a nation produce effects of
+seven years’ continuance.” At this rate what wonderful effects might
+our heroine have produced, had she practised in public life, instead of
+confining her genius to family politics! The game seemed now in her own
+hands. The day, the important day, on which all her accounts with her
+son were to be settled; the day when Mr. Palmer’s will was to be
+signed, the last day he was to stay in England, arrived. Mr. Beaumont’s
+birthday, his coming of age, was of course hailed with every possible
+demonstration of joy. The village bells rang, the tenants were invited
+to a dinner and a dance, and an ox was to be roasted whole; and the
+preparations for rejoicing were heard all over the house. Mr. Palmer’s
+benevolent heart was ever ready to take a share in the pleasures of his
+fellow-creatures, especially in the festivities of the lower classes. He
+appeared this morning in high good humour. Mrs. Beaumont, with a smile
+on her lips, yet with a brow of care, was considering how she could make
+pleasure subservient to interest, and how she could get _business_ done
+in the midst of the amusements of the day. Most auspiciously did her
+day of business begin by Mr. Palmer’s declaring to her that his will was
+actually made; that with the exception of certain legacies, he had left
+his whole fortune to her during her life, with remainder to her son
+and daughter. “By this arrangement,” continued he, “I trust I shall
+ultimately serve my good friends the Walsinghams, as I wish: for though
+I have not seen as much of that family as I should have been glad to
+have done, yet the little I have seen convinces me that they are worthy
+people.”
+
+“The most worthy people upon earth. You know I have the greatest regard
+for them,” said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“I am really sorry,” pursued Mr. Palmer, “that I have not been able to
+make acquaintance with Captain Walsingham. Mr. Walsingham told me his
+whole history yesterday, and it has prepossessed me much in his favour.”
+
+“He is, indeed, a charming, noble-hearted young hero,” said Mrs.
+Beaumont; “and I regret, as much as you do, that you cannot see him
+before you leave England.”
+
+“However,” continued Mr. Palmer, “as I was saying, the Walsinghams will,
+I trust, be the better sooner or later by me; for I think I foresee that
+Captain Walsingham, if a certain Spanish lady were out of the question,
+would propose for Amelia, and would persuade her to give up this foolish
+fancy of hers for that baronet.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont shook her head, as if she believed this could not possibly
+be done.
+
+“Well, well, if it can’t be, it can’t. The girl’s inclination must not
+be controlled. I don’t wonder, however, that you are vexed at missing
+such a husband for her as young Walsingham. But, my good madam, we
+must make the best of it--let the girl marry her baronet. I have left a
+legacy of some thousands to Captain Walsingham, as a token of my esteem
+for his character; and I am sure, my dear Mrs. Beaumont, his interests
+are in good hands when I leave them in yours. In the mean time, I wish
+you, as the representative of my late good friend, Colonel Beaumont, to
+enjoy all I have during your life.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont poured forth such a profusion of kind and grateful
+expressions, that Mr. Palmer was quite disconcerted. “No more of this,
+my dear madam, no more of this. But there was something I was going
+to say, that has gone out of my head. Oh, it was, that the Walsinghams
+will, I think, stand a good chance of being the better for me in another
+way.”
+
+“How?”
+
+“Why you have seen so much more of them than I have--don’t you, my
+dear madam, see that Miss Walsingham has made a conquest of your son? I
+thought I was remarkably slow at seeing these things, and yet I saw it.”
+
+“Miss Walsingham is a prodigious favourite of mine. But you know Edward
+is so young, and men don’t like, now-a-days, to marry young,” said Mrs.
+Beaumont.
+
+“Well, let them manage their affairs their own way,” said Mr. Palmer;
+“all I wish upon earth is to see them happy, or rather to hear of their
+happiness, for I shall not see it you know in Jamaica.”
+
+“Alas!” said Mrs. Beaumont, in a most affectionate tone, and with a sigh
+that seemed to come from her heart; “alas! that is such a melancholy
+thought.”
+
+Mr. Palmer ended the conversation by inquiring whom he had best ask
+to witness his will. Mrs. Beaumont proposed Captain Lightbody and Dr.
+Wheeler. The doctor was luckily in the house, for he had been sent for
+this morning, to see her poor Amelia, who had caught cold yesterday, and
+had a slight feverish complaint.
+
+This was perfectly true. The anxiety that Amelia had suffered
+of late--the fear of being forced or ensnared to marry a man she
+disliked--apprehensions about the Spanish incognita, and at last the
+certainty that Captain Walsingham would not arrive before Mr. Palmer
+should have left England, and that consequently the hopes she had formed
+from this benevolent friend’s interference were vain--all these things
+had overpowered Amelia; she had passed a feverish night, and was really
+ill. Mrs. Beaumont at any other time would have been much alarmed; for,
+duplicity out of the question, she was a fond mother: but she now was
+well contented that her daughter should have a day’s confinement to her
+room, for the sake of keeping her safe out of the way. So leaving poor
+Amelia to her feverish thoughts, we proceed with the business of the
+day.
+
+Dr. Wheeler, Captain Lightbody, and Mr. Twigg witnessed the will; it was
+executed, and a copy of it deposited with Mrs. Beaumont. This was one
+great point gained. The next object was her jointure. She had employed
+her convenient tame man[3], Captain Lightbody, humbly to suggest to her
+son, that some increase of jointure would be proper; and she was now in
+anxiety to know how these hints, and others which had been made by more
+remote means, would operate. As she was waiting to see Mr. Lightbody
+in her dressing-room, to hear the result of his _suggestions_, the door
+opened.
+
+“Well, Lightbody! come in--what success?”
+
+She stopped short, for it was not Captain Lightbody, it was her son.
+Without taking any notice of what she said, he advanced towards her, and
+presented a deed.
+
+“You will do me the favour, mother, to accept of this addition to your
+jointure,” said he. “It was always my intention to do this, the moment
+it should be in my power; and I had flattered myself that you would not
+have thought it necessary to suggest to me what I knew I ought to do, or
+to hint to me your wishes by any intermediate person.”
+
+Colouring deeply, for it hurt her conscience to be found out, Mrs.
+Beaumont was upon the point of disavowing her emissary, but she
+recollected that the words which she had used when her son was coming
+into the room might have betrayed her. On the other hand, it was not
+certain that he had heard them. She hesitated. From the shame of a
+disavowal, which would have answered no purpose, but to sink her lower
+in her son’s opinion, she was, however, saved by his abrupt sincerity.
+
+“Don’t say any thing more about it, dear mother,” cried he, “but pardon
+me the pain I have given you at a time when indeed I wished only to give
+pleasure. Promise me, that in future you will let me know your wishes
+directly, and from your own lips.”
+
+“Undoubtedly--depend upon it, my dearest son. I am quite overpowered.
+The fact was, that I could not, however really and urgently necessary
+it was to me, bring myself to mention with my own lips what, as a direct
+request from me, I knew you could not and would not refuse, however
+inconvenient it might be to you to comply. On this account, and on this
+account only, I wished you not to know my wants from myself, but from an
+intermediate friend.”
+
+“Friend!”--Mr. Beaumont could not help repeating with an emphasis of
+disdain.
+
+“_Friend_, I only said by courtesy; but I wished you to know my wants
+from an intermediate person, that you might not feel yourself in any way
+bound, or called upon, and that the refusal might be implied and tacit,
+as it were, so that it could lead to no unpleasant feelings between us.”
+
+“Ah! my dear mother,” said Mr. Beaumont, “I have not your knowledge
+of the world, or of human nature; but from all I have heard, seen,
+and felt, I am convinced that more unpleasant feelings are created in
+families, by these false delicacies, and managements, and hints, and
+go-between friends by courtesy, than ever would have been caused by the
+parties speaking directly to one another, and telling the plain truth
+about their thoughts and wishes. Forgive me if I speak too plainly at
+this moment; as we are to live together, I hope, many years, it may
+spare us many an unhappy hour.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont wiped her eyes. Her son found it difficult to go on, and
+yet, upon his own principles, it was right to proceed.
+
+“Amelia, ma’am! I find she is ill this morning.”
+
+“Yes--poor child!”
+
+“I hope, mother--”
+
+“Since,” interrupted Mrs. Beaumont, “my dear son wishes always to
+hear from me the plain and direct truth, I must tell him, that, as the
+guardian of his sister, I think myself accountable to no one for
+my conduct with respect to her; and that I should look upon any
+interference as an unkind and unjustifiable doubt of my affection for my
+daughter. Rest satisfied with this assurance, that her happiness is, in
+all I do, my first object; and as I have told her a thousand times, no
+force shall be put on her inclinations.”
+
+“I have no more to say, no more to ask,” said Mr. Beaumont. “This is a
+distinct, positive declaration, in which I will confide, and, in future,
+not suffer appearances to alarm me. A mother would not keep the word of
+promise to the ear, and break it to the hope.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, feeling herself change countenance, made an attempt to
+blow her nose, and succeeded in hiding her face with her handkerchief.
+
+“With respect to myself,” continued Mr. Beaumont, “I should also say,
+lest you should be in any doubt concerning my sentiments, that though I
+have complied with your request to delay for a few weeks--”
+
+“_That_ you need not repeat, my dear,” interrupted Mrs. Beaumont. “I
+understand all that perfectly.”
+
+“Then at the end of this month I shall--and, I hope, with your entire
+approbation, propose for Miss Walsingham.”
+
+“Time enough,” said Mrs. Beaumont, smiling, and tapping her son
+playfully on the shoulder, “time enough to talk of that when the end of
+the month comes. How often have I seen young men like you change their
+minds, and fall in and out of love in the course of one short month!
+At any rate,” continued Mrs. Beaumont, “let us pass to the order of the
+day; for we have time enough to settle other matters; but the order of
+the day--a tiresome one, I confess--is to settle accounts.”
+
+“I am ready--”
+
+“So am I.”
+
+“Then let us go with the accounts to Mr. Palmer, who is also ready, I am
+sure.”
+
+“But, before we go,” said Mrs. Beaumont, whispering, “let us settle what
+is to be said about the debts--_your_ debts you know. I fancy you’ll
+agree with me, that the less is said about this the better; and that, in
+short, the best will be to say nothing.”
+
+“Why so, madam? Surely you don’t think I mean to conceal my debts from
+our friend Mr. Palmer, at the very moment when I profess to tell him all
+my affairs, and to settle accounts with him and you, as my guardians!”
+
+“With him? But he has never acted, you know, as one of the guardians;
+therefore you are not called upon to settle accounts with him.”
+
+“Then why, ma’am, did you urge him to come down from London, to be
+present at the settlement of these accounts?”
+
+“As a compliment, and because I wish him to be present, as your father’s
+friend; but it is by no means essential that he should know every
+detail.”
+
+“I will do whichever you please, ma’am; I will either settle accounts
+with or without him.”
+
+“Oh! _with_ him, that is, in his presence, to be sure.”
+
+“Then he must know the whole.”
+
+“Why so? Your having contracted such debts will alter his opinion of
+your prudence and of mine, and may, perhaps, essentially alter--alter--”
+
+“His will? Be it so; that is the worst that can happen. As far as I am
+concerned, I would rather a thousand times it were so, than deceive him
+into a better opinion of me than I deserve.”
+
+“Nobly said! so like yourself, and like every thing I could wish: but,
+forgive me, if I did for you, what indeed I would not wish you to do for
+yourself. I have already told Mr. Palmer that you had no embarrassments;
+therefore, you cannot, and I am sure would not, unsay what I have said.”
+
+Mr. Beaumont stood fixed in astonishment.
+
+“But why, mother, did not you tell him the whole?”
+
+“My dear love, delicacy prevented me. He offered to relieve you from
+any embarrassments, if you had any; but I, having too much delicacy and
+pride to let my son put himself under pecuniary obligations, hastily
+answered, that you had no debts; for there was no other reply to be
+made, without offending poor Palmer, and hurting his generous feelings,
+which I would not do for the universe: and I considered too, that as all
+Palmer’s fortune will come to us in the end--”
+
+“Well, ma’am,” interrupted Mr. Beaumont, impatient of all these glosses
+and excuses, “the plain state of the case is, that I cannot contradict
+what my mother has said; therefore I will not settle accounts at all
+with Mr. Palmer.”
+
+“And what excuse _can_ I make to him, after sending for him express from
+London?”
+
+“That I must leave to you, mother.”
+
+“And what reason _can_ I give for thus withdrawing our family-confidence
+from such an old friend, and at the very moment when he is doing so much
+for us all?”
+
+“That I must leave to you, mother. I withdraw no confidence. I have
+pretended none--I will break none.”
+
+“Good Heavens! was not all I did and said for _your_ interest?”
+
+“Nothing can be for my interest that is not for my honour, and for
+yours, mother. But let us never go over the business again. Now to the
+order of the day.”
+
+“My dear, dear son,” said Mrs. Beaumont, “don’t speak so roughly, so
+cruelly to me.”
+
+Suddenly softened, by seeing the tears standing in his mother’s eyes, he
+besought her pardon for the bluntness of his manner, and expressed his
+entire belief in her affection and zeal for his interests; but, on
+the main point, that he would not deceive Mr. Palmer, or directly or
+indirectly assert a falsehood, Mr. Beaumont was immoveable. In the midst
+of her entreaties a message came from Mr. Palmer, to say that he was
+waiting for the accounts, which Mrs. Beaumont wished to settle. “Well,”
+ said she, much perplexed, “well, come down to him--come, for it is
+impossible for me to find any excuse after sending for him from
+London; he would think there was something worse than there really is.
+Stay--I’ll go down first, and sound him; and if it won’t do without the
+accounts, do you come when I ring the bell; then all I have for it is
+to run my chance. Perhaps he may never recollect what passed about your
+debts, for the dear good old soul has not the best memory in the world;
+and if he should obstinately remember, why, after all, it’s only a bit
+of false delicacy, and a white lie for a friend and a son, and we can
+colour it.”
+
+Down went Mrs. Beaumont to sound Mr. Palmer; but though much might
+be expected from her address, yet she found it unequal to the task of
+convincing this gentleman’s plain good sense that it would fatigue him
+to see those accounts, which he came so many miles on purpose to
+settle. Perceiving him begin to waken to the suspicion that she had some
+interest in suppressing the accounts, and hearing him, in an altered
+tone, ask, “Madam, is there any mystery in these accounts, that I must
+not see them?” she instantly rang the bell, and answered, “Oh, none;
+none in the world; only we thought--that is, I feared it might fatigue
+you too much, my dear friend, just the day before your journey, and I
+was unwilling to lose so many hours of your good company; but since you
+are so very kind--here’s my son and the papers.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+      _“A face untaught to feign; a judging eye,
+      That darts severe upon a rising lie,
+      And strikes a blush through frontless flattery.”_
+
+To the settlement of accounts they sat down in due form; and it so
+happened, that though this dear good old soul had not the best memory
+in the world, yet he had an obstinate recollection of every word Mrs.
+Beaumont had said about her son’s having no debts or embarrassments.
+And great and unmanageable was his astonishment, when the truth came
+to light. “It is not,” said he, turning to Mr. Beaumont, “that I am
+astonished at your having debts; I am sorry for that, to be sure;
+but young men are often a little extravagant or so, and I dare
+say--particularly as you are so candid and make no excuses about it--I
+dare say you will be more prudent in future, and give up the race-horses
+as you promise. But--why did not Madam Beaumont tell me the truth? Why
+make a mystery, when I wanted nothing but to serve my friends? It was
+not using me well--it was not using yourself well. Madam, madam, I am
+vexed to the heart, and would not for a thousand pounds--ay, fool as I
+am, not for ten thousand pounds, this had happened to me from my good
+friend the colonel’s widow--a man that would as soon have cut his hand
+off. Oh, madam! Madam Beaumont! you have struck me a hard blow at my
+time of life. Any thing but this I could have borne; but to have one’s
+confidence and old friendships shaken at my time of life!”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont was, in her turn, in unfeigned astonishment; for Mr.
+Palmer took the matter more seriously, and seemed more hurt by this
+discovery of a trifling deviation from truth, than she had foreseen, or
+than she could have conceived to be possible, in a case where neither
+his interest nor any one of his passions was concerned. It was in
+vain that she palliated and explained, and talked of delicacy, and
+generosity, and pride, and maternal feelings, and the feelings of a
+friend, and all manner of fine and double-refined sentiments; still
+Mr. Palmer’s sturdy plain sense could not be made to comprehend that a
+falsehood is not a falsehood, or that deceiving a friend is using him
+well. Her son suffered for her, as his countenance and his painful and
+abashed silence plainly showed.
+
+“And does not even my son say any thing for me? Is this friendly?” said
+she, unable to enter into his feelings, and thinking that the part of
+a friend was to make apologies, right or wrong.--Mr. Palmer shook hands
+with Mr. Beaumont, and, without uttering a syllable, they understood one
+another perfectly. Mr. Beaumont left the room; and Mrs. Beaumont burst
+into tears. Mr. Palmer, with great good-nature, tried to assuage that
+shame and compunction which he imagined that she felt. He observed,
+that, to be sure, she must feel mortified and vexed with herself, but
+that he was persuaded nothing but some mistaken notion of delicacy could
+have led her to do what her principles must condemn. Immediately she
+said all that she saw would please Mr. Palmer; and following the lead
+of his mind, she at last confirmed him in the opinion, that this was an
+accidental not an habitual deviation from truth. His confidence in her
+was broken, but not utterly destroyed.
+
+“As to the debt,” resumed Mr. Palmer, “do not let that give you a
+moment’s concern; I will put that out of the question in a few minutes.
+My share in the cargo of the Anne, which I see is just safely arrived in
+the Downs, will more than pay this debt. Your son shall enter upon his
+estate unencumbered. No, no--don’t thank me; I won’t cheat you of your
+thanks; it is your son must thank me for this. I do it on his account.
+I like the young man. There is an ingenuousness, an honourable frankness
+about him, that I love. Instead of his bond for the money, I shall
+ask his promise never to have any thing more to do with race-horses or
+Newmarket; and his promise I shall think as good as if it were his bond.
+Now I am not throwing money away; I’m not doing an idle ostentatious
+thing, but one that may, and I hope will, be essentially useful. For,
+look you here, my good--look here, Mrs. Beaumont: a youth who finds
+himself encumbered with debt on coming to his estate is apt to think of
+freeing himself by marrying a fortune instead of a woman; now instead of
+freeing a man, this fetters him for life: and what sort of a friend must
+that be, who, if he could prevent it, would let this be done for a few
+thousand pounds? So I’ll go before I take another pinch of snuff, and
+draw him an order upon the cargo of the Anne, lest I should forget it
+in the hurry of packing and taking leave, and all those uncomfortable
+things.”
+
+He left _Madam_ Beaumont to her feelings, or her reflections; and, in
+a few minutes, with an order for the money in his hand, went over
+the house in search of his young friend. Mr. Beaumont came out of his
+sister’s room on hearing himself called.
+
+“Here,” said Mr. Palmer, “is a little business for you to do. Read this
+order over; see that it is right, and endorse it--mind--and never let
+me hear one word more about it--only by way of acknowledgment--ask your
+mother what you are to give me. But don’t read it till you are out of my
+sight--Is Amelia up? Can I see her?”
+
+“Yes; up and in her dressing-room. Do, dear sir, go in and see her, for
+my mother says she is too feverish to leave her room to-day; but I am
+sure that it will make her ten times worse to be prevented from seeing
+you the last day you are with us.”
+
+“Does the little gipsy then care so much for me?--that’s fair; for I
+am her friend, and will prove it to her, by giving up my own fancies to
+hers: so trust me with her, _tête-à-tête_,--young gentleman; go off, if
+you please, and do your own business.”
+
+Mr. Palmer knocked at Amelia’s door, and fancying he heard an answer of
+admittance, went in.
+
+“Oh, Mr. Palmer, my good Mr. Palmer, is it you?”
+
+“Yes; but you seem not above half to know whether you are glad or sorry
+to see your good Mr. Palmer; for while you hold out your hand, you turn
+away your face from me.--Dear, dear! what a burning hand, and how the
+pulse goes and flutters! What does Dr. Wheeler say to this? I am a bit
+of a physician myself--let me look at you. What’s this? eyes as red
+as ferret’s--begging your eyes’ pardon, young lady--What’s this about?
+Come,” said he, drawing a chair and sitting down close beside her, “no
+mysteries--no mysteries--I hate mysteries--besides, we have not time for
+them. Consider, I go to-morrow, and have all my shirts to pack up: ay,
+smile, lady, as your father used to do; and open your whole heart to me,
+as he always did. Consider me as an old friend.”
+
+“I do consider you as a sincere, excellent friend,” said Amelia; “but--”
+ Amelia knew that she could not explain herself without disobeying, and
+perhaps betraying, her mother.
+
+“No _buts_,” said Mr. Palmer, taking hold of her hand. “Come, my little
+Amelia, before you have put that ring on and off your pretty finger
+fifty times more, tell me whom you would wish to put a ring on this
+finger for life?”
+
+“Ah! that is the thing _I cannot_ tell you!” said Amelia. “Were I alone
+concerned, I would tell you every thing; but--ask me no more, I cannot
+tell you the whole truth.”
+
+“Then there’s something wrong somewhere or other. Whenever people tell
+me they cannot speak the truth, I always say, then there’s something
+wrong. Give me leave, Amelia, to ask--”
+
+“Don’t question me,” said Amelia: “talk to my mother. I don’t know how I
+ought to answer you.”
+
+“_Not know how!_ ‘Fore George! this is strange! A strange house,
+where one can’t get at the simplest truth without a world of
+difficulty--mother and daughter all alike; not one of ‘em but the son
+can, for the soul of ‘em, give a plain answer to a plain question. _Not
+know how!_ as if it was a science to tell the truth. Not know how! as
+if a person could not talk to me, honest old Richard Palmer,
+without _knowing how!_ as if it was how to baffle a lawyer on a
+cross-examination--_Not know how_ to answer one’s own friend! Ah! this
+is not the way your father and I used to go on, Miss Beaumont. Nay, nay,
+don’t cry now, or that will finish oversetting the little temper I have
+left, for I can’t bear to see a woman cry, especially a young woman like
+you; it breaks my heart, old as it is, and fool that I am, that ought
+to know your sex better by this time than to let a few tears drown my
+common sense. Well, young lady, be that as it may, since you won’t tell
+me your mind, I must tell you your mind, for I happen to know it--Yes, I
+do--your mother bid me spare your delicacy, and I would, but that I have
+not time; besides, I don’t understand, nor see what good is got, but
+a great deal of mischief, by these cursed new-fashioned delicacies:
+wherefore, in plain English, I tell you, I don’t like Sir John Hunter,
+and I do like Captain Walsingham; and I did wish you married to Captain
+Walsingham--you need not start so, for I say _did_--I don’t wish it now;
+for since your heart is set upon Sir John Hunter, God forbid I should
+want to give Captain Walsingham a wife without a heart. So I have only
+to add, that notwithstanding my own fancy or judgment, I have done my
+best to persuade your mother to let you have the man, or the baronet, of
+your choice. I will go farther: I’ll make it a point with her, and bring
+you both together; for there’s no other way, I see, of understanding
+you; and get a promise of her consent; and then I hope I shall leave you
+all satisfied, and without any mysteries. And, in the mean time,” added
+Mr. Palmer, taking out of his coat pocket a morocco leather case, and
+throwing it down on the table before Amelia, “every body should be made
+happy their own way: there are some diamonds for Lady Hunter, and God
+bless you.”
+
+“Oh, sir, stay!” cried Amelia, rising eagerly; “dear, good Mr. Palmer,
+keep your diamonds, and leave me your esteem and love.”
+
+“That I can’t, unless you speak openly to me. It is out of nature. Don’t
+kneel--don’t. God bless you! young lady, you have my pity; for indeed,”
+ turning and looking at her, “you seem very miserable, and look very
+sincere.”
+
+“If my mother was here!--I _must_ see my mother,” exclaimed Amelia.
+
+“Where’s the difficulty? I’ll go for her this instant,” said Mr. Palmer,
+who was not a man to let a romance trail on to six volumes for want of
+going six yards; or for want of somebody’s coming into a room at the
+right minute for explanation; or from some of those trivial causes by
+which adepts contrive to delude us at the very moment of expectation.
+Whilst Mr. Palmer was going for Mrs. Beaumont, Amelia waited in terrible
+anxiety. The door was open; and as she looked into the gallery which
+led to her room, she saw Mr. Palmer and her mother as they came along,
+talking together. Knowing every symptom of suppressed passion in her
+mother’s countenance, she was quite terrified, by indications which
+passed unnoticed by Mr. Palmer. As her mother approached, Amelia hid
+her face in her hands for a moment, but gaining courage from the
+consciousness of integrity, and from a determination to act openly,
+she looked up; and, rising with dignity, said, in a gentle but firm
+voice--“Mother, I hope you will not think that there is any impropriety
+in my speaking to our friend, Mr. Palmer, with the same openness with
+which I have always spoken to you?”
+
+“My dear child,” interrupted Mrs. Beaumont, embracing Amelia with a
+sudden change of manner and countenance, “my sweet child, I have tried
+you to the utmost; forgive me; all your trials now are over, and you
+must allow me the pleasure of telling our excellent friend, Mr. Palmer,
+what I know will delight him almost as much as it delights me--that the
+choice of Amelia’s heart, Mr. Palmer, is worthy of her, just what we all
+wished.”
+
+“Captain Walsingham?” exclaimed Mr. Palmer, with joyful astonishment.
+
+“Sit down, my love,” said Mrs. Beaumont, seating Amelia, who, from the
+surprise at this sudden change in her mother, and from the confusion of
+feelings which overwhelmed her at this moment, was near fainting: “we
+are too much for her, I have been too abrupt,” continued Mrs. Beaumont:
+“Open the window, will you, my good sir? and,” whispering, “let us not
+say any more to her at present; you see it won’t do.”
+
+“I am well, quite well again, now,” said Amelia, exerting herself.
+“Don’t leave, don’t forsake me, Mr. Palmer; pray don’t go,” holding out
+her hand to Mr. Palmer.
+
+“My dear Amelia,” said Mrs. Beaumont, “don’t talk, don’t exert yourself;
+pray lie still on the sofa.”
+
+“Her colour is come back; she looks like herself again,” said Mr.
+Palmer, seating himself beside her, regardless of Mrs. Beaumont’s
+prohibitory looks. “Since my little Amelia wished me to stay, I’ll not
+go. So, my child--but I won’t hurry you--only want one sign of the head
+to confirm the truth of what your mother has just told me, for nobody
+can tell what passes in a young lady’s heart but herself. So then, it
+is not that sprig of quality, that selfish spendthrift, that Sir John
+Hunter, who has your heart--hey?”
+
+“No, no, no,” answered Amelia; “I never did, I never could like such a
+man!”
+
+“Why, I thought not--I thought it was impossible; but--”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, alarmed beyond conception, suddenly put her hand before
+Mr. Palmer’s mouth, to prevent him from finishing his sentence, and
+exposing the whole of her shameful duplicity to her daughter.
+
+“Absolutely I must, and do hereby interpose my maternal authority, and
+forbid all agitating explanations whilst Amelia is in her present state.
+Dr. Wheeler says she is terribly feverish. Come, Mr. Palmer, I must
+carry you off by force, and from me you shall have all the explanations
+and all the satisfaction you can require.”
+
+“Well,” said Mr. Palmer, “good bye for the present, my little Amelia,
+my darling little Amelia! I am so delighted to find that Captain
+Walsingham’s the man, and so glad you have no mysteries: be well, be
+well soon. I am so pleased, so happy, that I am as unruly as a child,
+and as easily managed. You see, how I let myself be turned out of the
+room.”
+
+“Not turned out, only carried out,” said Mrs. Beaumont, who never, even
+in the most imminent perils, lost her polite presence of mind. Having
+thus carried off Mr. Palmer, she was in hopes that, in the joyful
+confusion of his mind, he would he easily satisfied with any plausible
+explanation. Therefore she dexterously fixed his attention on the
+future, and adverted as slightly as possible to the past.
+
+“Now, my good sir, congratulate me,” said she, “on the prospect I have
+of happiness in such a son-in-law as Captain Walsingham, if it be indeed
+true that Captain Walsingham is really attached to Amelia. But, on the
+other hand, what shall we do if there is any truth in the story of the
+Spanish lady? Oh, there’s the difficulty! Between hope and fear, I am in
+such a distracted state at this moment, I hardly know what I say. What
+shall we do about the Spanish lady?”
+
+“Do, my dear madam! we can do nothing at all in that case: but I will
+hope the best, and you’ll see that he will prove a constant man at last.
+In the mean time, how was all that about Sir John Hunter, and what are
+you to do with him?”
+
+“Leave that to me; I will settle all that,” cried Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“But I hope the poor man, though I don’t like him, has not been jilted?”
+
+“No, by no means; Amelia’s incapable of that. You know she told you just
+now that she never liked him.”
+
+“Ay; but I think, madam, you told me, that she _did_,” said Mr. Palmer,
+sticking to his point with a decided plainness, which quite disconcerted
+Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“It was all a mistake,” said she, “quite a mistake; and I am sure you
+rejoice with me that it was so: and, as to the rest--past blunders, like
+past misfortunes, are good for nothing but to be forgotten.”
+
+Observing that Mr. Palmer looked dissatisfied, Mrs. Beaumont continued
+apologizing. “I confess you have to all appearance some cause to be
+angry with me,” said she: “but now only hear me. Taking the blame upon
+myself, let me candidly tell you the whole truth, and all my reasons,
+foolish perhaps as they were. Captain Walsingham behaved so honourably,
+and had such command over his feelings, that I, who am really the most
+credulous creature in the world, was so completely deceived, that I
+fancied he never had a thought of Amelia, and that he never would think
+of her; and I own this roused both my pride and my prudence for my
+daughter; and I certainly thought it my duty, as her mother, to do
+every thing in my power to discourage in her young and innocent heart
+a hopeless passion. It was but within these few hours that I have
+been undeceived by you as to his sentiments. That, of course, made an
+immediate change, as you have seen, in my measures; for such is my high
+opinion of the young man, and indeed my desire to be connected with the
+Walsinghams is so great, that even whilst I am in total ignorance of
+what the amount or value may be of this prize that he has taken, and
+even whilst I am in doubt concerning this Spanish incognita, I have not
+hesitated to declare, perhaps imprudently, to Amelia, as you have just
+heard, my full approbation of the choice of her heart.”
+
+“Hum!--well--hey!--How’s this?” said Mr. Palmer to himself, as he tried
+to believe and to be satisfied with this apology. “Madam,” said he
+aloud to Mrs. Beaumont, “I comprehend that it might not be prudent to
+encourage Amelia’s partiality for Captain Walsingham till you were
+sure of the young man’s sentiments; but, excuse me, I am a very slow,
+unpractised man in these matters; I don’t yet understand why you told
+_me_ that she was in love with Sir John Hunter?”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, being _somewhat in the habit of self-contradiction_, was
+seldom unprovided with a concordance of excuses; but at this unlucky
+moment she was found unprepared. Hesitating she stood, all subtle as she
+was, deprived of ready wit, and actually abashed in the presence of a
+plain good man.
+
+“I candidly confess, my dear sir,” said she, apologizing to Mr. Palmer
+as he walked up and down, “that my delicacy or pride,--call it what you
+will,--my false pride for my daughter, led me into an error. I could not
+bring myself to acknowledge to any man, even to you--for you know that
+it’s contrary quite to the principles and pride of our sex--that she
+felt any partiality for a man who had shown none for her. You must be
+sensible it was, to say no more, an awkward, mortifying thing; and I
+was so afraid even of your finding it out, that--forgive me--I did, I
+candidly acknowledge, fabricate the foolish story of Sir John Hunter.
+But, believe me, I never seriously thought of her marrying him.”
+
+“‘Fore George! I don’t understand one word of it from beginning to end,”
+ said Mr. Palmer, speaking aloud to himself.
+
+Regardless of the profusion of words which Mrs. Beaumont continued
+pouring forth, he seated himself in an arm-chair, and, deep in reverie
+for some minutes, went on slowly striking his hands together, as he
+leaned with his arms on his knees. At length he rose, rang the bell, and
+said to the servant, “Sir, be so obliging as to let my man Crichton know
+that he need not hurry himself to pack up my clothes, for I shall not go
+to-morrow.”
+
+Struck with consternation at these words, Mrs. Beaumont, nevertheless,
+commanded the proper expression of joy on the occasion. “Delightful!
+I must go this instant,” cried she, “and be the first to tell this
+charming news to Amelia and Edward.”
+
+“Tell them, then, madam, if you please, that I have gained such a
+conquest over what Mr. Walsingham calls my hypochondriacism, that I am
+determined, at whatever risk, to stay another year in Old England, and
+that I hope to be present at both their weddings.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont’s quick exit was at this moment necessary to conceal her
+dismay. Instead of going to Amelia, she hurried to her own room, locked
+the door, and sat down to compose her feelings and to collect her
+thoughts; but scarcely had she been two minutes in her apartment, when
+a messenger came to summon her to the festive scene in the park. The
+tenants and villagers were all at dinner, and Mr. Beaumont sent to let
+her know that they were waiting to drink her health. She was obliged to
+go, and to appear all radiant with pleasure. The contrast between their
+honest mirth and her secret sufferings was great. She escaped as soon as
+she could from their _senseless_ joy, and again shut herself up in her
+own room.
+
+This sudden and totally unexpected resolution of Mr. Palmer’s so
+astonished her, that she could scarcely believe she had heard or
+understood his words rightly. Artful persons may, perhaps, calculate
+with expertness and accuracy what will, in any given case, be the
+determinations of the selfish and the interested; but they are liable to
+frequent mistakes in judging of the open-hearted and the generous: there
+is no sympathy to guide them, and all their habits tend to mislead them
+in forming opinions of the direct and sincere. It had never entered into
+Mrs. Beaumont’s imagination that Mr. Palmer would, notwithstanding
+his belief that he hazarded his life by so doing, defer a whole year
+returning to Jamaica, merely to secure the happiness of her son and
+daughter. She plainly saw that he now suspected her dislike to the
+Walsinghams, and her aversion to the double union with that family: she
+saw that the slightest circumstance in her conduct, which confirmed his
+suspicions, would not only utterly ruin her in his opinion, but might
+induce him to alter that part of his will which left her sole possessor
+of his fortune during her life. Bad as her affairs were at this moment,
+she knew that they might still be worse. She recollected the letter
+of _perfect approbation_ which Sir John Hunter had in his power. She
+foresaw that he would produce this letter on the first rumour of her
+favouring another lover for Amelia. She had just declared to Mr. Palmer,
+that she never seriously thought of Sir John Hunter for her daughter;
+and, should this letter be brought to light, she must be irremediably
+convicted of the basest duplicity, and there would be no escape from the
+shame of falsehood, or rather the disgrace of detection. In this grand
+difficulty, Mrs. Beaumont was too good a politician to waste time upon
+any inferior considerations. Instead of allowing herself leisure to
+reflect that all her present difficulties arose from her habits of
+insincerity, she, with the true spirit of intrigue, attributed her
+disappointments to some deficiency of artifice. “Oh!” said she to
+herself, “why did I _write?_ I should only have _spoken_ to Sir John.
+How could I be so imprudent as to _commit_ myself by writing? But what
+can be done to repair this error?”
+
+One web destroyed, she, with indefatigable subtlety, began to weave
+another. With that promptitude of invention which practice alone can
+give, she devised a scheme, by which she hoped not only to prevent Sir
+John Hunter from producing the written proof of her duplicity, but by
+which she could also secure the reversionary title, and the great Wigram
+estate. The nature of the scheme shall be unfolded in the next chapter;
+and it will doubtless procure for Mrs. Beaumont, from all proper
+judges, a just tribute of admiration. They will allow our heroine to
+be possessed not only of that address, which is the peculiar glory
+of female politicians, but also of that masculine quality, which the
+greatest, wisest, of mankind has pronounced to be the first, second, and
+third requisite for business--“Boldness--boldness--boldness.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+“The creature’s at her dirty work again.”--POPE.
+
+
+Amongst the infinite petty points of cunning of which that great
+practical philosopher Bacon has in vain essayed to make out a list,
+he notes that, “Because it worketh better when any thing seemeth to be
+gotten from you by question than if you offer it of yourself: you may
+lay a bait for a question, by showing another visage and countenance
+than you are wont, to the end to give occasion to the party to ask what
+the matter is of the change.”
+
+“What is the matter, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont? I never saw you look so
+sad before in all my life,” said Miss Hunter, meeting Mrs. Beaumont, who
+had walked out into the park on purpose to be so met, and in hopes of
+having the melancholy of her countenance thus observed. It was the more
+striking, and the more unseasonable, from its contrast with the gay
+scene in the park. The sound of music was heard, and the dancing had
+begun, and all was rural festivity: “What is the matter, my dearest Mrs.
+Beaumont?” repeated Miss Hunter; “at such a time as this to see you look
+so melancholy!”
+
+“Ah! my love! such a sad change in affairs! But,” whispered Mrs.
+Beaumont, “I cannot explain myself before your companion.”
+
+Mr. Lightbody was walking with Miss Hunter: but he was so complaisant,
+that he was easily despatched on some convenient errand; and then Mrs.
+Beaumont, with all her wonted delicacy of circumlocution, began to
+communicate her distress to her young friend.
+
+“You know, my beloved Albina,” said she, “it has been my most ardent
+wish that your brother should be connected with my family by the nearest
+and dearest ties.”
+
+“Yes; that is, married to Amelia,” said Miss Hunter. “And has any thing
+happened to prevent it?”
+
+“Oh, my dear! it is all over! It cannot be--must not be thought of--must
+not be spoken of any more; Mr. Palmer has been outrageous about it. Such
+a scene as I have had! and all to no purpose. Amelia has won him over to
+her party. Only conceive what I felt--she declared, beyond redemption,
+her preference of Captain Walsingham.”
+
+“Before the captain proposed for her! How odd! dear! Suppose he should
+never propose for her, what a way she will be in after affronting my
+brother and all! And only think! she gives up the title, and the great
+Wigram estate, and every thing. Why, my brother says, uncle Wigram can’t
+live three months; and Lord Puckeridge’s title, too, will come to my
+brother, you know; and Amelia might have been Lady Puckeridge. Only
+think! did you ever know any thing so foolish?”
+
+“Never!” said Mrs. Beaumont; “but you know, my dear, so few girls have
+the sense you show in taking advice: they all will judge for themselves.
+But I’m most hurt by Amelia’s want of gratitude and delicacy towards
+_me_,” continued Mrs. Beaumont; “only conceive the difficulty and
+distress in which she has left me about your poor brother. Such a shock
+as the disappointment will be to him! And he may--though Heaven knows
+how little I deserve it--he may suspect--for men, when they are vexed
+and angry, will, you know, suspect even their best friends; he might, I
+say, suspect me of not being warm in his cause.”
+
+“Dear, no! I have always told him how kind you were, and how much you
+wished the thing; and of all people in the world he can’t blame you,
+dearest Mrs. Beaumont.”
+
+At this instant Mrs. Beaumont saw a glimpse of somebody in a bye-path
+of the shrubbery near them. “Hush! Take care! Who is that lurking there?
+Some listener! Who can it be?”
+
+Miss Hunter applied her glass to her eye, but could not make out who it
+was.
+
+“It is Lightbody, I declare,” said Mrs. Beaumont. “Softly,--let us not
+pretend to see him, and watch what he will do. It is of the greatest
+consequence to me to know whether he is a listener or not; so much as he
+is about the house.”
+
+An irresistible fit of giggling, which seized Miss Hunter at the odd
+way in which Lightbody walked, prevented Mrs. Beaumont’s trial of his
+curiosity. At the noise which the young lady made, Mr. Lightbody turned
+his head, and immediately advancing, with his accustomed mixture of
+effrontery and servility, said, that “he had executed Mrs. Beaumont’s
+commands, and that he had returned in hopes of getting a moment to say a
+word to her when she was at leisure, about something he had just learned
+from Mr. Palmer’s man Crichton, which it was of consequence she should
+know without delay.”
+
+“Oh, thank you, you best of creatures; but I know all that already.”
+
+“You know that Mr. Palmer does not go to-morrow?”
+
+“Yes; and am so rejoiced at it! Do, my dear Lightbody, go to Amelia and
+my son from me, and tell them that charming news. And after that, pray
+have the compassion to inquire if the post is not come in yet, and run
+over the papers, to see if you can find any thing about Walsingham’s
+prize.”
+
+Mr. Lightbody obeyed, but not with his usual alacrity. Mrs. Beaumont
+mused for a moment, and then said, “I do believe he was listening. What
+could he be doing there?”
+
+“Doing!--Oh, nothing,” said Miss Hunter: “he’s never doing any thing,
+you know; and as to listening, he was so far off he could not hear a
+word we said: besides, he is such a simple creature, and loves you so!”
+
+“I don’t know,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “he either did not play me fair, or
+else he did a job I employed him in this morning so awkwardly, that I
+never wish to employ him again. He is but a _low_ kind of person, after
+all; I’ll get rid of him: that sort of people always grow tiresome and
+troublesome after a time, and one must shake them off. But I have not
+leisure to think of him now--Well, my dear, to go on with what I was
+saying to you.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont went on talking of her friendship for Sir John Hunter,
+and of the difficulty of appeasing him; but observing that Miss Hunter
+listened only with forced attention, she paused to consider what this
+could mean. Habitually suspicious, like all insincere people, Mrs.
+Beaumont now began to imagine that there was some plot carrying on
+against her by Sir John Hunter and Lightbody, and that Miss Hunter
+was made use of against her. Having a most contemptible opinion of her
+Albina’s understanding, and knowing that her young friend had too little
+capacity to be able to deceive her, or to invent a plausible excuse
+impromptu, Mrs. Beaumont turned quick, and exclaimed, “My dear, what
+could Lightbody be saying to you when I came up?--for I remember he
+stopped short, and you both looked so guilty.”
+
+“Guilty! did I?--Did he?--Dearest Mrs. Beaumont, don’t look at me so
+with your piercing eyes!--Oh! I vow and protest I can’t tell you; I
+won’t tell you.”
+
+The young lady tittered, and twisted herself into various affected
+attitudes; then kissing Mrs. Beaumont, and then turning her back with
+childish playfulness, she cried, “No, I won’t tell you; never, never,
+never!”
+
+“Come, come, my dear, don’t trifle; I have really business to do, and am
+in a hurry.”
+
+“Well, don’t look at me--never look at me again--promise me that, and
+I’ll tell you. Poor Lightbody--Oh, you’re looking at me!--Poor Lightbody
+was talking to me of _somebody_, and he laid me a wager--but I can’t
+tell you that--Ah, don’t be angry with me, and I will tell, if you’ll
+turn your head quite away!--that I should be married to _somebody_
+before the end of this year. Oh, now, don’t look at me, dearest, dearest
+Mrs. Beaumont.”
+
+“You dear little simpleton, and was that all?” said Mrs. Beaumont, vexed
+to have wasted her time upon such folly: “come, be serious now, my dear;
+if you knew the anxiety I am in at this moment--” But wisely judging
+that it would be in vain to hope for any portion of the love-sick
+damsel’s attention, until she had confirmed her hopes of being married
+to _somebody_ before the end of the year, Mrs. Beaumont scrupled not to
+throw out assurances, in which she had herself no further faith.
+After what she had heard from her son this morning, she must have been
+convinced that there was no chance of marrying him to Miss Hunter; she
+knew indeed positively, that he would soon declare his real attachment,
+but she could, she thought, during the interval retain her power over
+Miss Hunter, and secure her services, by concealing the truth.
+
+“Before I say one word more of my own affairs, let me, my dearest
+child, assure you, that in the midst of all these disappointments and
+mortifications about Amelia, I am supported by the hope--by something
+more than the hope--that I shall see the daughter of my heart happily
+settled soon: Lightbody does not want penetration, I see. But I am
+not at liberty to say more. So now, my dear, help me with all your
+cleverness to consider what I shall do in the difficulties I am in at
+this moment. Your brother has a letter of mine, approving, and so forth,
+his addresses to my daughter; now, if he, in the first rashness of his
+anger, should produce this to Palmer, I’m undone--or to my son, worse
+and worse! there would be a duel between them infallibly, for Beaumont
+is so warm on any point of honour--Oh, I dread to think of it, my dear!”
+
+“So do I, I’m sure; but, Lord, I’m the worst person to think in a
+hurry--But can’t you write a letter? for you always know what to say so
+well--And after all, do you know, I don’t think he’ll be half so angry
+or _so disappointed_ as you fancy, for I never thought he was so much in
+love with Amelia.”
+
+“Indeed!”
+
+“I know, if it was not a secret, I could tell you--”
+
+“What? No secrets between us, my darling child.”
+
+“Then I can tell you, that just before he proposed for Amelia, he was
+consulting with me about proposing for Mrs. Dutton.”
+
+“Mrs. Dutton, the widow! Mrs. Dutton! How you astonish me!” said Mrs.
+Beaumont (though she knew this before). “Why she is older than I am.”
+
+“Older! yes, a great deal; but then you know my brother is no chicken
+himself.”
+
+“To be sure, compared with you, my dear, he is not young. There’s a
+prodigious difference between you.”
+
+“Above twenty years; _for,_ you know, he’s by another marriage.”
+
+“True; but I can’t believe he proposed for Mrs. Dutton.”
+
+“Not actually proposed, because I would not let him; for I should
+have hated to have had such an unfashionable-looking woman for my
+sister-in-law. I never could have borne to go into public with her, you
+know: so I plagued my brother out of it; and luckily he found out that
+her jointure is not half so great as it was said to be.”
+
+“I could have told him that. Mrs. Dutton’s jointure is nothing nearly
+so large as mine was, even before the addition to it which my son so
+handsomely, and indeed unexpectedly, made to it this morning. And did I
+tell you, my dear? Mr. Palmer, this day, has been so kind as to leave me
+all his immense fortune for my own life. But don’t mention it, lest it
+should get round, and make ill-will: the Walsinghams know nothing of it.
+But to return to your poor brother--if I could any way serve him with
+Mrs. Dutton?”
+
+“La! he’d never think of her more--and I’m sure I would not have him.”
+
+“You dear little saucy creature! indeed I cannot wonder that you don’t
+like the thoughts of Mrs. Dutton for a _chaperon_ in town.”
+
+“Oh, horrid! horrid!”
+
+“And yet, would you condemn your poor brother to be an old bachelor,
+after this disappointment with Amelia?”
+
+“La, ma’am, can’t he marry any body but Mrs. Dutton?”
+
+“I wish I could think of any person would suit him. Can you?’
+
+“Oh, I know very well who I think would suit him, and one I like to go
+into public with of all things.”
+
+“Who?”
+
+“And one who has promised to present me at court next winter.”
+
+“My dearest child! is it possible that you mean me?”
+
+“I do;--and why not?”
+
+“Why not! My sweet love, do you consider my age?”
+
+“But you look so young.”
+
+“To be sure Mrs. Dutton looks older, and is older; but I could not bring
+myself, especially after being a widow so long, to think of marrying a
+young man--to be sure, your brother is not what one should call a very
+young man.”
+
+“Dear, no; you don’t look above three, or four, or five years older than
+he does; and in public, and with dress, and rouge, and fashion, and all
+that, I think it would do vastly well, and nobody would think it odd at
+all. There’s Lady ----, is not she ten years older than Lord ----? and
+every body says that’s nothing, and that she gives the most delightful
+parties. Oh, I declare, dearest Mrs. Beaumont, you must and shall marry
+my brother, and that’s the only way to make him amends, and prevent
+mischief between the gentlemen; the only way to settle every thing
+charmingly--and I shall so like it--and I’m so proud of its being my
+plan! I vow, I’ll go and write to my brother this minute, and--”
+
+“Stay, you dear mad creature; only consider what you are about.”
+
+“Consider! I have considered, and I must and will have my own way,” said
+the dear mad creature, struggling with Mrs. Beaumont, who detained her
+with an earnest hand. “My love,” said she, “I positively cannot let you
+use my name in such a strange way. If your brother or the world should
+think I had any share in the transaction, it would be so indelicate.”
+
+“Indelicate! Dear me, ma’am, but when nobody will know it, how can it
+be indelicate? and I will not mention your name, and nobody will ever
+imagine that you knew any thing of my writing; and I shall manage it
+all my own way; and the plan is all my own: so let me go and write this
+minute.”
+
+“Mercy upon me! what shall I do with this dear headstrong creature!”
+ said Mrs. Beaumont, letting Miss Hunter go, as if exhausted by the
+struggle she had made to detain her impetuous young friend. Away ran
+Miss Hunter, sometimes looking back in defiance and laughing, whilst
+Mrs. Beaumont shook her head at her whenever she looked back, but found
+it impossible to overtake her, and vain to make further opposition. As
+Mrs. Beaumont walked slowly homewards, she meditated her own epistle to
+Sir John Hunter, and arranged her future plan of operations.
+
+If, thought she, Miss Hunter’s letter should not succeed, it is only a
+suggestion of hers, of which I am not supposed to know any thing, and
+I am only just where I was before. If it does succeed, and if Sir
+John transfers his addresses to me, I avoid all danger of his anger on
+account of his disappointment with Amelia; for it must then be his play,
+to convince me that he is not at all disappointed, and then I shall
+have leisure to consider whether I shall marry Sir John or not. At all
+events, I can draw on his courtship as long as I please, till I have by
+degrees brought Mr. Palmer round to approve of the match.
+
+With these views Mrs. Beaumont wrote an incomparable letter to Sir John
+Hunter, in which she enveloped her meaning in so many words, and so
+much sentiment, that it was scarcely possible to comprehend any thing,
+except, “that she should be glad to see Sir John Hunter the next day,
+to explain to him a circumstance that had given her, on his account,
+heartfelt uneasiness.” Miss Hunter’s letter was carefully revised by
+Mrs. Beaumont, though she was to know nothing of it; and such was the
+art with which it was retouched, that, after all proper corrections,
+nothing appeared but the most childish and imprudent simplicity.
+
+After having despatched these letters, Mrs. Beaumont felt much anxiety
+about the effect which they might produce; but she was doomed by her own
+habits of insincerity to have perpetually the irksome task of assuming
+an appearance contrary to her real feelings. Amelia was better, and
+Mr. Palmer’s determination to stay in England had spread a degree of
+cheerfulness over the whole family, which had not been felt for some
+time at Beaumont Park. In this general delight Mrs. Beaumont was
+compelled seemingly to sympathize: she performed her part so well, that
+even Dr. Wheeler and Captain Lightbody, who had been behind the scenes,
+began to believe that the actress was in earnest. Amelia, alas! knew
+her mother too well to be the dupe even of her most consummate powers
+of acting. All that Mrs. Beaumont said about her joy, and her hopes
+that Captain Walsingham would soon appear and confirm her happy
+_pre-sentiments_, Amelia heard without daring to believe. She had such
+an opinion of her mother’s address, such a sublime superstitious dread
+that her mother would, by some inscrutable means, work out her own
+purposes, that she felt as if she could not escape from these secret
+machinations. Amelia still apprehended that Sir John Hunter would not be
+irrevocably dismissed, and that by some turn of artifice she should find
+herself bound to him. The next morning Sir John Hunter, however, finally
+relieved her from these apprehensions. After having been closeted for
+upwards of two hours with Mrs. Beaumont, he begged to speak to Miss
+Beaumont; and he resigned all pretensions to the honour which he had
+so long and so ardently aspired to. It was his pride to show that his
+spirits were not affected by this disappointment: he scarcely indeed
+exhibited that decent appearance of mortification which is usually
+expected on such an occasion; but with provoking haughtiness professed
+himself sincerely obliged to Miss Beaumont for having, _however late
+in the business_, prevented him, by her candour, from the danger of
+crossing her inclinations. For this he could scarcely be sufficiently
+thankful, when he considered how every day showed the consequences of
+marrying young ladies whose affections were previously engaged. He had
+only to add, that he hoped the world would see _the thing_ in the same
+light in which he took it, and that Miss Beaumont might not find herself
+blamed for breaking off _the matter_, after it had been so publicly
+reported: that, for his part, he assured her, he would, as far as he was
+concerned, do his utmost to silence unpleasant observations; and that,
+as the most effectual means to do this, he conceived, would be to show
+that he continued on an amicable footing with the family, he should
+do himself the honour to avail himself of the permission--invitation,
+indeed--he had just received from Mrs. Beaumont, to continue his visits
+as usual at Beaumont Park.
+
+To this Amelia could make no objection after the express declaration
+which he had just made, that he renounced all pretensions to her favour.
+However keenly she felt the implied reproach of having encouraged Sir
+John as her admirer, while her affections were previously engaged, and
+of having shown candour _late_ in this affair, she could not vindicate
+herself without accusing her mother; therefore she attempted neither
+excuse nor apology, submitted to let the unfeeling baronet enjoy her
+confusion, whilst she said, in general terms, she felt obliged by his
+assurance that she should not be the cause of any quarrel between two
+families who had hitherto lived in friendship.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+      _“Him no soft thoughts, no gratitude could move;
+      To gold he fled, from beauty and from love!”_
+
+                                         DRYDEN.
+
+All that passed in the two hours’ conversation between the discarded
+baronet and the mother of his late mistress did not transpire; but Mrs.
+Beaumont said that she had taken infinite pains to reconcile Sir John
+to his fate, and his subsequent behaviour showed that she had
+succeeded. His attention towards her also plainly proved that he was not
+dissatisfied by the part she had acted, or rather by the part that he
+thought she had acted. Thus all things went on smoothly. Mrs. Beaumont,
+in confidence, told her friend, Miss Hunter, that Sir John had behaved
+with the greatest propriety and candour (candour! that hackneyed word);
+that he had acknowledged that his principal inducement to propose for
+her daughter had been a desire to be connected with a family for which
+he had such peculiar regard.
+
+“This, my love,” continued Mrs. Beaumont, “was all, you know, that your
+brother could, with propriety, say on such an occasion; all indeed that
+I would permit him to say. As to the rest, on Amelia’s account, you
+know, I could not refuse his request to continue his visits in this
+family on the same footing of friendship as usual.”
+
+Whether this was the truth and the whole truth, the mystery that
+involves all cabinet-councils, and more especially those of female
+politicians, prevents the cautious historian from presuming to decide.
+But arguing from general causes, and from the established characters and
+ruling passions of the parties concerned, we may safely conjecture that
+the baronet did not at this time make any decisive proposal to the
+lady, but that he kept himself at liberty to advance or recede, as
+circumstances should render it expedient. His ruling passion was
+avarice; and though he had been allured by the hints which his sister
+had thrown out concerning Mrs. Beaumont’s increased jointure, and
+vast expectancies from Mr. Palmer, yet he was not so rash as to act
+decisively upon such vague information: he had wisely determined to
+obtain accurate and positive evidence from Captain Lightbody, who
+seemed, in this case, to be the common vouchee; but Lightbody happened
+to be gone out to shoot _flappers_.[4]
+
+Consequently Sir John wisely entrenched himself in general professions
+of regard to Mrs. Beaumont, and reflections on the happiness of being
+connected with such a respectable family. Mrs. Beaumont, who understood
+the whole of the game, now saw that her play must be to take Captain
+Lightbody again into her confidence.
+
+Ever careful not to commit herself, she employed Miss Hunter to
+communicate _her own scheme_ to the captain, and to prepare him on
+the requisite points with proper answers to those inquiries which she
+foresaw the baronet would make.
+
+“You know, my love,” said Mrs. Beaumont, “you can find a proper moment
+to say all you wish to Lightbody.”
+
+“Oh, yes,” said Miss Hunter, “I will if I possibly can this day; but it
+is so difficult to find a good time--”
+
+“At dinner, suppose?” said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“At dinner! surely, ma’am, that’s an awkward time, is not it, for
+talking of secrets?”
+
+“The best time in the world, my dear; you know we are to have the
+Duttons, and the Lord knows whom besides, to-day. And when there’s a
+large company, and every body talking at once, and eating, and drinking,
+and carving, it is the best time in the world! You may say what you
+please; your neighbours are all happily engaged, too busy to mind you.
+Get near fat Mr. Dutton, and behind the screen of his prodigious elbow
+you will be comfortably recessed from curious impertinents. My dear,
+the most perfect solitude is not so convenient as one of these great
+dinners.”
+
+Whilst Mrs. Beaumont was demonstrating to Miss Hunter that the most
+convenient and secure time for a _tête-à-tête_ is at a large dinner, she
+happened to look out of the window, near which they were standing, and
+she saw her son and daughter with Mr. Palmer walking in the park; they
+sat down under a tree within view of the house.
+
+“Come away from the window, my dear,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “they will
+observe us, and perhaps think we are plotting something. I wonder what
+they are talking of! Look how earnestly Amelia is stretching out her
+neck, and Mr. Palmer striking his cane upon the ground. Come back a
+little, my dear, come back; you can see as well here.”
+
+“But I see a gentleman on horseback, galloping. Oh, ma’am, look! he has
+stopped! he has jumped off his horse! Captain Walsingham it must be!”
+
+“Captain Walsingham it really is!” said Mrs. Beaumont, pressing forward
+to look out of the window, yet standing so, that she could not be seen
+from without.
+
+“Dear,” said Miss Hunter, “but how delighted Mr. Beaumont seems; and
+how Mr. Palmer shakes Captain Walsingham’s hand, as if he had known him
+these hundred years! What can make them so glad to see him? Do look at
+them, ma’am.”
+
+“I see it all!” said Mrs. Beaumont, with an involuntary sigh.
+
+“But, dear Mrs. Beaumont,” pursued Miss Hunter, “if he has actually
+come at last to propose for Amelia, don’t you think he is doing it in a
+shabby sort of way? When he has been in London too--and if he has taken
+such a treasure too, could not he have come down here a little more in
+style, with some sort of an equipage of his own at least? But now only
+look at him; would you, if you met him on the road, know him from any
+common man?”
+
+Another sigh, deep and sincere, was all the answer Mrs. Beaumont made.
+
+“I am sure,” continued Miss Hunter, as Mrs. Beaumont drew her away from
+the window, “I am sure, I think Amelia has not gained much by the change
+of admirers; for what’s a captain of a ship?”
+
+“He ranks with a colonel in the army, to be sure,” said Mrs. Beaumont;
+“but Amelia might have looked much higher. If she does not know her own
+interest and dignity, that is not my fault.”
+
+“If she had such a fortune as I shall have,” said Miss Hunter, “she
+might afford to marry for love, because you know she could make her
+husband afterwards keep her proper equipages, and take her to town, and
+go into parliament, and get a title for her too!”
+
+“Very true, my darling,” said Mrs. Beaumont, who was at this instant
+so absent, that she assented without having heard one syllable that her
+darling said.
+
+“But for Amelia, who has no such great fortune of her own, it is quite
+another thing, you know, dearest Mrs. Beaumont. Oh, you’ll see how
+she’ll repent when she sees you Lady Puckeridge, and herself plain
+Mrs. Walsingham. And when she sees the figure you’ll make in town next
+winter, and the style my brother will live in--Oh, then she’ll see what
+a difference there is between Sir John Hunter and Captain Walsingham!”
+
+“Very true, indeed, my dear,” said Mrs. Beaumont; and this time she did
+not answer without having heard the assertion. The door opened.
+
+“Captain Walsingham! dare I believe my eyes? And do I see our friend,
+Captain Walsingham, again at last?”
+
+“At last! Oh, Mrs. Beaumont, you don’t know how hard I have worked to
+get here.”
+
+“How kind! But won’t you sit down and tell me?”
+
+“No; I can neither sit, nor rest, nor speak, nor think upon any subject
+but one,” said Captain Walsingham.
+
+“That’s right,” cried Mr. Palmer.
+
+“Mrs. Beaumont--pardon my abruptness,” continued Captain Walsingham,
+“but you see before you a man whose whole happiness is at stake. May I
+beg a few minutes’ conversation with you?”
+
+“This instant,” said Mrs. Beaumont, hesitating; but she saw that Mr.
+Palmer’s eye was upon her, so with a smile she complied immediately; and
+giving her hand graciously to Captain Walsingham, she accompanied him
+into a little reading-room within the drawing-room.
+
+“May I hope that we are friends?” said Captain Walsingham; “may I hope
+so, Mrs. Beaumont--may I?”
+
+“Good Heavens! Friends! assuredly; I hope so. I have always had and
+expressed the highest opinion of you, Captain Walsingham.”
+
+“I have had one, and, hitherto, but one opportunity of showing
+myself, in any degree, deserving of your esteem, madam,” said Captain
+Walsingham. “When I was in this country some years ago, you must have
+seen how passionately I was in love with your daughter; but I knew that
+my circumstances were then such that I could not hope to obtain Miss
+Beaumont’s hand; and you will do me the justice to allow that I behaved
+with prudence. Of the difficulty of the task I alone can judge.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont declared, that she admired Captain Walsingham’s conduct
+inexpressibly, now that she understood what his feelings and motives had
+been; but really he had kept his own secret so honourably, that she had
+not, till within these few days, when it was _let out_ by Mr. Walsingham
+to Mr. Palmer, had the most distant idea of his being attached to her
+daughter.
+
+Captain Walsingham was too polite even to _look_ a doubt of the truth of
+a lady’s assertion: he therefore believed, because it was impossible.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, determining to make her story consistent, repeated nearly
+what she had said to Mr. Palmer, and went on to confess that she had
+often, with a mother’s pride, perhaps, in her own secret thoughts
+wondered at the indifference Captain Walsingham showed towards Amelia.
+
+Captain Walsingham was surprised that Mrs. Beaumont’s penetration
+should have been so strangely mistaken; especially as the symptoms of
+admiration and love must be so well known to a lady who had so many and
+such passionate admirers.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont smiled, and observed, that Captain Walsingham, though a
+seaman, had all the address of a courtier, and she acknowledged that she
+loved address.
+
+“If by address Mrs. Beaumont means politeness, I admire it as much as
+she does; but I disclaim and despise all that paltry system of artifice,
+which is sometimes called address. No person of a great mind ever
+condescends to use _address_ in that sense of the word; not because they
+cannot, but because they will not.”
+
+“Certainly--certainly,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “there is nothing I love so
+much as frankness.”
+
+“Then, frankly, Mrs. Beaumont, may I hope for your approbation in
+addressing Miss Beaumont?”
+
+“Frankly, then, you have my full approbation. This is the very thing
+I have long secretly wished, as Mr. Palmer can tell you. You have ever
+been the son-in-law of my choice, though not of my hopes.”
+
+Delighted with this frank answer, this full approbation, this assurance
+that he had always been the son-in-law of her choice, Captain Walsingham
+poured out his warm heart in joy and gratitude. All suspicions of Mrs.
+Beaumont were forgotten; for suspicion was unnatural to his mind:
+though he knew, though he had experience almost from childhood, of
+her character, yet, at this instant, he thought he had, till now, been
+always prejudiced, always mistaken. Happy those who can be thus duped by
+the warmth of their own hearts! It is a happiness which they who smile
+in scorn at their credulity can never enjoy.
+
+Wakening a little to the use of his understanding, Captain Walsingham
+disconcerted Mrs. Beaumont, by suddenly saying, “Then there was not any
+truth in the report, which I have heard with horror, that you were going
+to marry Miss Beaumont to Sir John Hunter?”
+
+“Then there was not any truth in the report I heard with horror, that
+you were going to marry yourself to a Spanish nun?” said Mrs. Beaumont,
+who had learned from a veteran in public warfare, that the best way to
+parry an attack is not to defend, but to make an assault.
+
+“My dear Captain Walsingham,” added she, with an arch smile, “I really
+thought you were a man of too much sense, and above all, too much
+courage, to be terror-struck by every idle report. You should leave
+such _horrors_ to us weak women--to the visionary mind. Now, I could not
+blame poor Amelia, if she were to ask, ‘Then was there no truth in
+the report of the Spanish incognita?’--No, no,” pursued Mrs. Beaumont,
+playfully, refusing to hear Captain Walsingham; “not to me, not to
+_me_, must your defence be made. Appear before your judge, appear before
+Amelia; I can only recommend you to mercy.”
+
+What a charming woman this Mrs. Beaumont would be, if one could feel
+quite sure of her sincerity, thought Captain Walsingham, as he followed
+the lady, who, with apparently playful, but really polite grace, thus
+eluded all further inquiry into her secret manoeuvres.
+
+“Here, my dearest Amelia,” cried she, “is a culprit, whom I am bringing
+to your august tribunal for mercy.”
+
+“For justice,” said Captain Walsingham.
+
+“Justice! Oh, the pride of the man’s heart, and the folly! Who ever
+talks of justice to a woman? My dear captain, talk of mercy, or cruelty,
+if you will; we ladies delight in being called cruel, you know, and
+sometimes are even pleased to be merciful--but to be just, is the last
+thing we think of: so now for your trial; public or private, Captain
+Walsingham?”
+
+“Public! as I am innocent.”
+
+“Oyes, oyes! all manner of men,” cried Mr. Beaumont.
+
+“The Spanish cause coming on!” cried Mr. Palmer: “let me hear it; and
+let me have a good seat that I may hear--a seat near the judge.”
+
+“Oh, you shall be judge, Mr. Palmer,” said Amelia; “and here is the best
+seat for our good judge.”
+
+“And you will remember,” said Mr. Beaumont, “that it is the duty of a
+good judge to lean towards the prisoner.”
+
+“To lean! No, to sit bolt upright, as I will if I can,” said old Mr.
+Palmer, entering into the pleasantry of the young people as readily as
+if he had been the youngest man in the company. As he looked round, his
+good countenance beamed with benevolent pleasure.
+
+“Now, sir captain, be pleased to inform the court what you have done,
+or mean to do, with a certain Spanish nun, whom, as it is confidently
+asserted in a letter from one of your own men, you carried off from her
+nunnery, and did bring, or cause to be brought, with you to England.”
+
+“My lord judge, will you do me the favour, or the justice, to order that
+the letter alluded to may be read in court?”
+
+This was ordered, and done accordingly.
+
+“My lord judge,” said Captain Walsingham, “I have nothing to object to
+the truth of the main points of this story; and considering that it was
+told by a very young man, and a traveller, it contains but a reasonable
+share of _‘travellers’ wonders.’_ Considering the opportunity and
+temptation for embellishments afforded by such a romantic tale, less
+has been added to it by the narrator than the usual progress of strange
+reports might have prepared me to expect. It is most true, as it has
+been stated, that I did, by her own desire, carry away from a nunnery,
+at ----, this lady, who was neither a nun nor a Spanish lady, nor, as I
+am compelled by my regard to truth to add, young, nor yet handsome.
+My lord judge, far be it from me to impeach the veracity of the
+letter-writer. It is admitted by the highest and the lowest authorities,
+that beauty is a matter of taste, and that for taste there is no
+standard; it is also notorious, that to a sailor every woman is fair and
+young, who is not as old as Hecuba, or as ugly as Caifacaratadaddera. I
+can therefore speak only to my own opinion and judgment. And really, my
+lord, it grieves me much to spoil the romance, to destroy the effect of
+a tale, which might in future serve for the foundation of some novel,
+over which belles and beaux, yet unborn, might weep and wonder:
+it grieves me much, I say, to be compelled by the severity of this
+cross-examination to declare the simple truth, that there was no love in
+the case; that, to the very best of my belief and judgment, the lady was
+not in love with any body, much less with me.”
+
+“As you have admitted, sir,” said the judge, “as you have voluntarily
+stated, that to a sailor every woman is fair and young, who is not as
+old as Hecuba, or as ugly as that other woman with the unspeakable name,
+you will be pleased to inform the court how it happened, or how it was
+possible, that in the course of a long voyage, you could avoid falling
+in love with the damsel whom you had thus rescued and carried off.
+Experience shows us, sir, that at land, and, I presume, at sea,
+proximity is one of the most common causes of love. Now, I understand,
+she was the only woman you saw for some months; and she had, I think
+you allow, possession of your cabin, to and from which you had of course
+constant egress and regress. Sir, human nature is human nature; here is
+temptation, and opportunity, and circumstantial evidence enough, in our
+days, to hang a man. What have you to offer in your defence, young man?”
+
+“The plain fact, my lord, is, that instead of three months, I was but
+three days in the dangerous state of proximity with the Spanish lady.
+But had it been three months, or three years, there is my defence, my
+lord,” said Captain Walsingham, bowing to Amelia. “At the first _blush_,
+you allow it, I see, to be powerful; but how powerful, you cannot feel
+as I do, without having looked, as I have done, into the mind.”
+
+“I have looked into the mind as well as you, sir. You have a great deal
+of assurance, to tell me I cannot feel and judge as well as you can.
+But, nevertheless, I shall do you justice. I think your defence is
+sufficient. I believe we must acquit him. But, pray--the plain matter of
+fact, which I wanted to hear, I have not yet got at. What have you done
+with this lady? and where is she?”
+
+“She was carried safely to her friends--to her friend, for she has but
+one friend, that I could find out, an old aunt, who lives in an obscure
+lodging, in a narrow street, in London.”
+
+“And, upon honour, this is all you know about her?” said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“All--except that she is in hopes of recovering some property, of which
+she says she has been unjustly defrauded by some of her relations. After
+I had paid my respects at the Admiralty, I made it my business to see
+the lady, and to offer my services; but into her lawsuits, I thank God,
+it was not my business to inquire, I recommended to her a good honest
+lawyer, and came here as fast as horses could carry me.”
+
+“But was not there some giving of diamonds, and exchanging of rings, one
+day, upon deck?” said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“None,” said Captain Walsingham; “that was a mere fable of poor Birch’s
+imagination. I recollect the lady showed me a Spanish motto upon her
+ring; that is all I can remember about rings.--She had no diamonds,
+and very few clothes. Now,” cried Captain Walsingham, growing a little
+impatient of the length of his trial, for he had not yet been able to
+speak for more than an instant to Amelia, “now, I hope, my trial is
+ended; else its length will be, as in some other cases, the worst of
+punishments.”
+
+“Acquitted! acquitted! honourably acquitted!” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“Acquitted, acquitted, honourably acquitted by general acclamation,”
+ cried Mr. Beaumont.
+
+“Acquitted by a smile from Amelia, worth all our acclamations,” said
+Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+“Captain Walsingham,” said Miss Hunter, “did the lady come to England
+and go to London in a Spanish dress and long waist?”
+
+She spoke, but Captain Walsingham did not hear her important question.
+She turned to repeat it, but the captain was gone, and Amelia with him.
+
+“Bless me! how quick! how odd!” said Miss Hunter, with a pouting look,
+which seemed to add--nobody carries me off!
+
+Mr. Beaumont looked duller than was becoming.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont applied herself to adjust the pretty curls of Miss
+Hunter’s hair; and Mr. Palmer, in one of his absent fits, hummed aloud,
+as he walked up and down the room,
+
+     “‘And it’s, Oh! what will become of me?
+     Oh! what shall I do?
+     Nobody coming to marry me,
+     Nobody coming to woo.’”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+      “True love’s the gift which God has giv’n
+      To man alone, beneath the heav’n;
+      It is the secret sympathy,
+      The silver link, the silken tie,
+      Which heart to heart, and mind to mind,
+      In body and in soul can bind.”
+
+Happy love, though the most delightful in reality, is the most
+uninteresting in description; and lovers are proverbially bad company,
+except for one another: therefore we shall not intrude on Captain
+Walsingham and Amelia, nor shall we give a journal of the days of
+courtship; those days which, by Rousseau, and many people, have been
+pronounced to be the happiest; by others, the only happy days of
+existence; and which, by some privileged or prudent few, have been found
+to be but the prelude to the increasing pleasures of domestic union.
+
+Now that Mr. Beaumont saw his sister and his friend thus gratified in
+their mutual esteem and affection,--now that he saw all obstacles to
+their union removed, he became uncontroulably impatient to declare his
+own attachment to Miss Walsingham.
+
+“My dear mother, I can bear it no longer. Believe me, you are mistaken
+in the whole romance you have imagined to yourself about Miss Hunter.
+She is no more in love with me than I am with her. Since you fixed my
+attention upon her, I have studied the young lady. She is not capable of
+love: I don’t mean that she is not capable of wishing to be married, but
+that is quite a different affair, which need not give me any peculiar
+disturbance. My dear mother, find another husband for her, and my life
+for it, her heart will not break; especially if you give her bales of
+wedding finery enough to think and talk about for a calendar year.
+
+“You abominably malicious monster of cruelty, I will not smile, nor will
+I allow you to indulge your humour in this manner at the expense of your
+poor victim.”
+
+“Victim! never saw a girl look less like a victim, except, indeed, as
+to her ornaments. I believe it is the etiquette for victims to appear
+dressed out with garlands, and ribands, and flowers.”
+
+“Positively, Edward, I won’t allow you to go on in this style;--do
+you know you seriously hurt and offend me? do you consider that Miss
+Hunter’s mother was my most intimate friend, and this match I have
+anxiously wished, in consequence of an agreement made between us at your
+birth and Albina’s?”
+
+“Oh, ma’am, those agreements never turned out well, from the time of the
+Arabian tales to the present moment. And you must pardon me if, after
+having tried all that reason and patience would do, in vain, I now come
+to impatience, and a little innocent ridicule. Except by laughing, I
+have no other way left of convincing you that I never can or will marry
+this young lady.”
+
+“But so pretty a creature! Surely you _have thought_ her pretty.”
+
+“Extremely pretty. And I acknowledge that there have been moments when
+the influence of her--beauty, I can’t call it--prettiness, joined to
+the power of my mother’s irresistible address, have almost lapped me
+in elysium--a fool’s paradise. But, thank Heaven and Miss Walsingham!
+I unlapped myself; and though the sweet airs took my fancy, they never
+imprisoned my soul.”
+
+“Vastly poetical! quite in the blue-stocking style.”
+
+“Blue-stocking! Dear mother, that expression is not elegant enough
+for you. That commonplace taunt is unworthy of my mother,” said Mr.
+Beaumont, warmly, for he was thrown off his guard by the reflection
+implied on Miss Walsingham. “Ignorant silly women may be allowed to
+sneer at information and talents in their own sex, and, if they have
+read them, may talk of _‘Les Précieuses Ridicules_,’ and _‘Les Femmes
+Savantes_,’ and may borrow from Molière all the wit they want,
+to support the cause of folly. But from women who are themselves
+distinguished for talents, such apostasy--but I am speaking to my
+mother--I forbear.”
+
+“Great forbearance to your mother you have shown, in truth,” cried Mrs.
+Beaumont, reddening with genuine anger: “Marry as you please! I
+have done. Fool that I have been, to devote my life to plans for the
+happiness and aggrandizement of my children! It is now time I should
+think of myself. You shall not see me the defeated, deserted, duped,
+despised mother--the old dowager _permitted_ in the house of which
+she was once the mistress! No, no, Mr. Beaumont,” cried she, rising
+indignantly, “this shall never, never be.”
+
+Touched and astonished by a burst of passion, such as he scarcely had
+ever before seen from his mother, Mr. Beaumont stopped her as she rose;
+and taking her hand in the most affectionate manner, “Forgive me, my
+dear mother, the hasty words I said just now. I was very much in the
+wrong. I beg your pardon. Forgive your son.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont struggled to withdraw the hand which her son forcibly
+detained.
+
+“Be always,” continued he, “be always mistress of this house, of me,
+and mine. The chosen wife of my heart will never torment you, or degrade
+herself, with paltry struggles for power. Your days shall be happy and
+honoured: believe me, I speak from my heart.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont looked as if her anger had subsided; yet, as if struggling
+with unusual feelings, she sat silent. Mr. Beaumont continued, “Your
+son--who is no sentimentalist, no speech-maker--your son, who has
+hitherto perhaps been too rough, too harsh--now implores you, by these
+sincere caresses, by all that is tender and true in nature, to believe
+in the filial affection of your children. Give us, simply give us your
+confidence; and our confidence, free and unconstrained, shall be given
+in return. Then we shall be happy indeed.”
+
+Touched, vanquished, Mrs. Beaumont leaned her head on her son, and said,
+“Then we shall be happy indeed!” The exclamation was sincere: at this
+moment she thought as she spoke. All her schemes were forgotten: the
+reversionary title, the Wigram estate--all, all forgotten: miraculous
+eloquence and power of truth!
+
+“What happiness!” said Mrs. Beaumont: “I ask no other. You are right,
+my dear son; marry Miss Walsingham, and we have enough, and more than
+enough, for happiness. You are right; and henceforward we shall have but
+one mind amongst us.”
+
+With true gratitude and joy her son embraced her; and this was the most
+delightful, perhaps the only really delightful, moment she had felt for
+years. She was sincere, and at ease. But this touch of nature, strong
+as it was, operated only for a moment: habit resumed her influence; art
+regained her pupil and her slave! Captain Lightbody and Miss Hunter came
+into the room; and with them came low thoughts of plots, and notes,
+and baronets, and equipages, and a reversionary title, and the Wigram
+estate. What different ideas of happiness! Her son, in the mean time,
+had started up, mounted his horse, and had galloped off to realize some
+of his ideas of felicity, by the immediate offer of his hand to the lady
+who possessed his whole heart. Cool as policy, just recovered from the
+danger of imprudent sensibility, could make her, Mrs. Beaumont was now
+all herself again.
+
+“Have you found much amusement shooting this morning, Lightbody?” said
+she, carelessly.
+
+“No, ma’am; done nothing--just nothing at all--for I met Sir John in the
+grounds, and could not leave him. Poor Sir John, ma’am; I tell him we
+must get him a crook; he is quite turned despairing shepherd. Never saw
+a man so changed. Upon my soul, he is--seriously now, Mrs. Beaumont, you
+need not laugh--I always told Sir John that his time of falling in love
+would come; and come it has, at last, with a vengeance.”
+
+“Oh, nonsense! nonsense, Lightbody! This to me! and of Sir John Hunter!”
+
+Though Mrs. Beaumont called it, and thought it nonsense, yet it
+flattered her; and though she appeared half offended by flattery so
+gross, as to seem almost an insult upon her understanding, yet her
+vanity was secretly gratified, even by feeling that she had dependents
+who were thus obliged to flatter; and though she despised Captain
+Lightbody for the meanness, yet he made his court to her successfully,
+by persisting in all the audacity of adulation. She knew Sir John Hunter
+too well to believe that he was liable to fall in love with any thing
+but a fair estate or a fine fortune; yet she was gratified by feeling
+that she possessed so great a share of those charms which age cannot
+wither; of that substantial power, to which men do not merely feign
+in poetical sport to submit, or to which they are slaves only for a
+honey-moon, but to which they do homage to the latest hour of life,
+with unabating, with increasing devotion. Besides this sense of pleasure
+arising from calculation, it may be presumed that, like all other female
+politicians, our heroine had something of the woman lurking at her
+heart; something of that feminine vanity, which inclines to believe in
+the potency of personal charms, even when they are in the wane. Captain
+Lightbody’s asseverations, and the notes Sir John Hunter wrote to his
+sister, were at last listened to by Mrs. Beaumont with patience, and
+even with smiles; and, after it had been sufficiently reiterated,
+that really it was using Sir John Hunter ill not to give him some more
+decisive answer, when he was so unhappy, so impatient, she at length
+exclaimed, “Well, Lightbody, tell your friend Sir John, then, since
+it must be so, I will consult my friends, and see what can be done for
+him.”
+
+“When may I say? for I dare not see Sir John again--positively I dare
+not meet him--without having some hope to give, something decisive. He
+says the next time he comes here he must be allowed to make it known to
+the family that he is Mrs. Beaumont’s admirer. So, when may I say?”
+
+“Oh, dearest Mrs. Beaumont,” cried Miss Hunter, “say to-morrow.”
+
+“To-morrow! impossible!”
+
+“But when?” said Miss Hunter: “only look at my brother’s note to me
+again; you see he is afraid of being cast off at last as he was
+before about Amelia, if Mr. Palmer should object; and he says this
+disappointment would be such a very different affair.”
+
+“Indeed,” said Captain Lightbody, “I, who am in Sir John’s confidence,
+can vouch for that; for I have reason to believe, that--that _the
+connexion_ was the charm, and that the daughter would not have been
+thought of. Stop, I was charged not to say this. But _when_ Mrs.
+Beaumont, to return to my point--”
+
+“Oh! name an early day,” cried Miss Hunter, in a fondling tone; “name
+an early day for my brother’s coming; and then, you know, it will be so
+_nice_ to have the wedding days fixed for both marriages. And, dearest
+Mrs. Beaumont, remember I am to be your bride’s-maid; and we’ll have a
+magnificent wedding, and I shall be bride’s-maid!”
+
+“The dear innocent little creature, how mad she is with spirits! Well,
+you shall be my bride’s-maid, if the thing takes place.”
+
+“_If.--If_ to the winds!--Captain Lightbody, tell my brother--No, I’ll
+write myself, and tell him he may come.”
+
+“How she distresses me! But she is so affectionate, one does not know
+how to be angry with her. But, my dear, as to naming the day when he may
+publicly declare himself, I cannot; for, you know, I have to break the
+affair to Mr. Palmer, and to my son and daughter, and I must take my own
+time, and find a happy moment for this; so name a day I cannot; but
+in general--and it’s always safest to use general terms--you may say,
+_soon_.”
+
+This was Mrs. Beaumont’s ultimatum. The note was written accordingly,
+and committed to the care of the confidential captain.
+
+This business of mysterious note-writing, and secret negotiations[5],
+was peculiarly suited to our heroine’s genius and taste. Considering
+the negotiation to be now in effect brought within view of a happy
+termination, her ambassador, furnished with her ultimatum, having now
+actually set out on his ostensible mission of duck-shooting, our fair
+negotiatrix prepared to show the usual degree of gratitude towards those
+who had been the principal instruments of her success. The proper time,
+she thought, was now arrived, when, having no further occasion for Miss
+Hunter’s services, she might finally undeceive her young friend as to
+any hopes she might retain of a union with Mr. Beaumont; and she felt
+that it was now indispensably necessary to disclose the truth, that her
+son had declared his attachment to Miss Walsingham.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont opened the delicate case with a sigh, which claimed the
+notice of her young confidante.
+
+“What a deep sigh!” said Miss Hunter, who was perfect, to use a musical
+term, in her lessons, _pour observer les soupirs_: “What a sigh! I hope
+it was for my poor brother?”
+
+“Ah, no, my love! for one nearer my heart--for you.”
+
+“For me!--dear me!”
+
+“You see before you a mother, all of whose fondest wishes and plans are
+doomed to be frustrated by her children. Amelia would have her way: I
+was forced to yield. My son follows her example, insists upon marrying
+without fortune, or extraordinary beauty, or any of the advantages which
+I had fondly pointed out in the daughter-in-law of my heart. You turn
+away from me, my darling! How shall I go on? how shall I tell you all
+the terrible truth?”
+
+“Oh, ma’am, pray go on; pray tell me all.”
+
+“Miss Walsingham; that’s all, in one word. These Walsinghams have forced
+themselves into my family,--fairly outwitted me. I cannot tell you how
+much, how deeply I am mortified!”
+
+“Thank Heaven! I am not mortified,” cried Miss Hunter, throwing back her
+head with pettish disdain.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, who had prepared herself for a fainting fit, or at least
+for a flood of tears, rejoiced to see this turn in the young lady’s
+temper.
+
+“That’s right, my own love. Hew I admire your spirit! This pride becomes
+you, and is what I expected from your understanding. Set a just value
+upon yourself, and show it.”
+
+“I should set but little value on myself, indeed, if I did not think
+myself equal to Miss Walsingham; but Mr. Beaumont knows best.”
+
+“Not best, I fear,” said Mrs. Beaumont; “but, from a child he was ever
+the most self-willed, uncontrollable being; there was no moving, no
+persuading him. There was no power, no appeal, my love, I did not try.”
+
+“Dear ma’am, I am excessively sorry you did.”
+
+“Why, my dear, I could not refrain from doing all I could, not only for
+my son’s sake, but for yours, when I saw your affections, as I feared,
+so deeply engaged. But your present magnanimity gives me hopes that the
+shock will not be irrecoverable.”
+
+“Irrecoverable! No, really, ma’am. If Mr. Beaumont expects to see me
+wear the willow for him all my life, his vanity will be mistaken.”
+
+“Certainly, my dear,” replied Mrs. Beaumont, “you would not be so weak
+as to wear the willow for any man. A young lady of your fortune should
+never wear the weeping but the golden willow. Turn your pretty little
+face again towards me, and smile once more upon me.”
+
+Miss Hunter had sat with her face turned from Mrs. Beaumont during the
+whole of this dialogue--“as if by hiding her face, she could conceal the
+emotions of her mind from me,” thought her penetrating observer.
+
+“Spare me, spare me, dearest Mrs. Beaumont,” cried Miss Hunter, hiding
+her face on the arm of the sofa, and seeming now disposed to pass from
+the heights of anger to the depths of despair.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, less hard-hearted than some politicians, who care not who
+dies or lives, provided they attain their own objects, now listened
+at least with seeming commiseration to her young friend, who, with
+intermitting sighs, and in a voice which her position or her sobs
+rendered scarcely audible, talked of dying, and of never marrying any
+other man upon the earth.
+
+Not much alarmed, however, by the dying words of young ladies, Mrs.
+Beaumont confined her attention to the absurdity of the resolution
+against marriage in general, and at this instant formed a plan of
+marrying Miss Hunter to one of her nephews instead of her son. She had
+one unmarried nephew, a young man of good figure and agreeable manners,
+but with only a younger brother’s portion. To him she thought Miss
+Hunter’s large fortune would be highly convenient; and she had reason to
+believe that his taste in the choice of a wife would be easily governed
+by her advice, or by his interest. Thus she could, at least, prevent her
+young friend’s affections and fortune from going out of the family.
+In consequence of this glimpse of a new scheme, our indefatigable
+politician applied herself to prepare the way for it with her wonted
+skill. She soothed the lovelorn and pettish damsel with every expression
+that could gratify pride and rouse high thoughts of revenge. She
+suggested that instead of making rash vows of celibacy, which would only
+show forlorn constancy, Miss Hunter should abide by her first spirited
+declaration, never to wear the willow for any man; and that the best way
+to assert her own dignity would be to marry as soon as possible. After
+having given this consolatory advice, Mrs. Beaumont left the young
+lady’s grief to wear itself out. “I know, my love,” added she, “a friend
+of mine who would die for the happiness which my obstinate son does not,
+it seems, know how to value.”
+
+“Who, ma’am?” said Miss Hunter, raising her head: “I’m sure I can’t
+guess whom you can possibly mean--who, ma’am?”
+
+“Ah! my dear, excuse me,” said Mrs. Beaumont, “that is a secret I cannot
+tell you yet. When you are ‘fit to hear yourself convinced,’ may be, I
+may obtain leave to tell you your admirer’s name. I can assure you, he’s
+a very fashionable and a very agreeable man; a great favourite with our
+sex, a particular friend of mine, and an officer.”
+
+“Lord bless me!” exclaimed Miss Hunter, starting quite up, “an officer!
+I can’t imagine whom you mean! Dear Mrs. Beaumont, whom can you mean?”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont walked towards the door.
+
+“Only tell me one thing, dearest Mrs. Beaumont--did I ever see him?”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, wisely declining to answer any more questions at present,
+quitted the room, and left Miss Hunter dying--with curiosity.
+
+The new delight of this fresh project, with the prospect of bringing to
+a happy termination her negotiation with Sir John Hunter, sustained Mrs.
+Beaumont’s spirits in the midst of the disappointments she experienced
+respecting the marriages of her son and daughter; and enabled her, with
+less effort of dissimulation, to take apparently a share in the general
+joy which now pervaded her family. Her son expressed his felicity
+with unbounded rapture, when he found his proposal to Miss Walsingham
+graciously received by the object of his affections, and by all her
+family: his gratitude to his mother for no longer opposing his wishes
+gave a tenderness to his manner which would have touched any heart but
+that of a politician. Amelia, also, even in the midst of her love for
+Captain Walsingham, was anxiously intent upon showing dutiful attention
+to her mother, and upon making her some amends for the pain she had
+caused her of late. Whenever the brother and sister were together,
+in all their views of future happiness their mother was one of their
+principal objects; and these dispositions both Miss Walsingham and
+Captain Walsingham were earnest to confirm. No young people could have
+higher ideas than they had of the duty of children towards parents, and
+of the delight of family confidence and union. In former times, when Mr.
+Beaumont had been somewhat to blame in the roughness of his sincerity
+towards his mother, and when he had been disposed to break from her
+artful restraints, Captain Walsingham, by his conversation, and by his
+letters, had always used his power and influence to keep him within
+bounds; and whenever he could do so with truth, to raise Mrs. Beaumont
+in his opinion. She now appeared in a more advantageous light to her
+family, and they were more disposed to believe in her sincerity than
+they had ever been since the credulous days of childhood. The days of
+love and childhood are perhaps, in good minds, almost equally credulous,
+or, at least, confiding. Even Mr. Walsingham was won over by the
+pleasure he felt in the prospect of his daughter’s happiness; and good
+Mr. Palmer was ten times more attentive than ever to Madam Beaumont.
+In his attention, however, there was something more ceremonious than
+formerly; it was evident, for he was too honest to conceal his feelings,
+that his opinion of her was changed, and that his attention was paid
+to her rather as the widow of his old friend than on her own account.
+Amelia, who particularly remarked this change, and who feared that it
+must be severely painful to her mother, tried by every honest art of
+kindness to reinstate her in his regard. Amelia, however, succeeded only
+in raising herself in his esteem.
+
+“Do not disturb yourself, my dear young lady,” said he to her, one day,
+“about your mother and me. Things are on their right footing between us,
+and can never be on any other. She, you see, is quite satisfied.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, indeed, had not Amelia’s quick sensibility with regard
+to the real affections of her friends, though she was awake to every
+external mark of attention. She was content, as Mr. Palmer before others
+always treated her with marked deference, and gave her no reason
+to apprehend any alteration in his testamentary dispositions. When
+settlements were talked of for the intended marriages, Mr. Palmer seemed
+to consider Mrs. Beaumont first in all their consultations, appealed for
+her opinion, and had ever a most cautious eye upon her interests.
+This she observed with satisfaction, and she was gratified by the
+demonstrations of increased regard from her son and daughter, because
+she thought it would facilitate her projects. She wished that her
+marriage with Sir John Hunter should appear well to the world; and for
+this reason she desired that it should _seem_ to be liked by all her
+family--seem, for as to their real opinions she was indifferent.
+
+Things were in this situation, when Mrs. Beaumont _caused herself to be
+surprised_[6] one morning by Mr. Palmer, with a letter in her hand, deep
+in reverie.
+
+“Oh! my dear Mr. Palmer, is it you?” cried she, starting very naturally;
+“I was really so lost in thought--”
+
+Mr. Palmer hoped that he did not disturb her.--“Disturb me! no, my good
+friend, you are the very person I wished to consult.” Her eye glanced
+again and again upon the letter she held in her hand, but Mr. Palmer
+seemed provokingly destitute of curiosity; he however took a chair,
+and his snuff-box, and with a polite but cold manner said he was much
+honoured by her consulting him, but that of course his judgment could be
+of little service to a lady of Mrs. Beaumont’s understanding.
+
+“Understanding! Ah!” said she, “there are cases where understanding is
+of no use to women, but quite the contrary.”
+
+Mr. Palmer did not contradict the assertion, nor did he assent to it,
+but waited, with a pinch of snuff arrested in its way, to have the cases
+specified.
+
+“In love affairs, for instance, we poor women,” said Mrs. Beaumont,
+looking down prettily; but Mr. Palmer afforded no assistance to her
+bashful hesitation; she was under the necessity of finishing her
+sentence, or of beginning another, upon a different construction.
+The latter was most convenient, and she took a new and franker
+tone:--“Here’s a letter from poor Sir John Hunter.”
+
+Mr. Palmer still sat bending forward to listen with the most composed
+deference, but pressed not in the slightest degree upon her confidence
+by any question or look down towards the letter, or up towards the
+lady’s face, but straightforward looked he, till, quite provoked by his
+dulness, Mrs. Beaumont took the matter up again, and, in a new tone,
+said, “To be candid with you, my dear friend, this is a subject on which
+I feel some awkwardness and reluctance in speaking to you--for of all
+men breathing, I should in any important action of my life wish for your
+approbation; and yet, on the present occasion, I fear, and so does Sir
+John, that you will utterly disapprove of the match.”
+
+She paused again, to be asked--What match? But compelled by her
+auditor’s invincible silence to make out her own case, she proceeded:
+“You must know, my good sir, that Sir John Hunter is, it seems,
+unconquerably bent upon a connexion with this family; for being refused
+by the daughter, he has proposed for the mother!”
+
+“Yes,” said Mr. Palmer, bowing.
+
+“I thought you would have been more surprised,” said Mrs. Beaumont: “I
+am glad the first sound of the thing does not, as I was afraid it would,
+startle or revolt you.”
+
+“Startle me, it could not, madam,” said Mr. Palmer, “for I have been
+prepared for it some time past.”
+
+“Is it possible? And who could have mentioned it to you--Captain
+Lightbody?”
+
+“Captain Lightbody!” cried Mr. Palmer, with a sudden flash of
+indignation: “believe me, madam, I never thought of speaking to Captain
+Lightbody of your affairs, I am not in the habit of listening to such
+people.”
+
+“But still, he might have spoken.”
+
+“No, madam, no; he would not have dared to bring me secret information.”
+
+“Honourable! quite honourable! But then, my dear sir, how came you to
+know the thing?”
+
+“I saw it. You know, madam, those who stand by always see more than the
+players.”
+
+“And do you think my son and daughter, and Captain Walsingham, know it
+too?”
+
+“I fancy not; for they have not been standers by: they have been deeply
+engaged themselves.”
+
+“That’s well--for I wished to have your opinion and advice in the first
+place, before I hinted it even to them, or any one else living. As I
+feared the match would not meet your approbation, I told Sir John so,
+and I gave him only a provisional consent.”
+
+“Like the provisional consent of that young Irish lady,” said Mr.
+Palmer, laughing, “who went through the marriage service with her
+lover, adding at the end of each response, ‘provided my father gives
+his consent.’[7] But, madam, though I am old enough certainly to be your
+father, yet even if I had the honour to be so in reality, as you are
+arrived at years of discretion, you know you cannot need my consent.”
+
+“But seriously, my excellent friend,” cried she, “I never could be happy
+in marrying against your approbation. And let me, in my own vindication,
+explain to you the whole of the affair.”
+
+Here Mr. Palmer, dreading one of her long explanations, which he knew
+he should never comprehend, besought her not to invest him with the
+unbecoming character of her judge. He represented that no vindication
+was necessary, and that none could be of any use. She however persisted
+in going through a sentimental defence of her conduct. She assured
+Mr. Palmer, that she had determined never to marry again; that her
+inviolable respect for her dear Colonel Beaumont’s memory had induced
+her to persist in this resolution for many years. That motives of
+delicacy and generosity were what first prevailed with her to listen to
+Sir John’s suit; and that now she consoled and supported herself by
+the proud reflection, that she was acting as her dear Colonel Beaumont
+himself, could he know the circumstances and read her heart, would wish
+and enjoin her to act.
+
+Here a smile seemed to play upon Mr. Palmer’s countenance; but the smile
+had vanished in an instant, and was followed by a sudden gush of tears,
+which were as suddenly wiped away; not, however, before they reminded
+Mrs. Beaumont to spread her handkerchief before her face.
+
+“Perhaps,” resumed she, after a decent pause, “perhaps I am doing wrong
+with the best intentions. Some people think that widows should never, on
+any account, marry again, and perhaps Mr. Palmer is of this opinion?”
+
+“No, by no means,” said Mr. Palmer; “nor was Colonel Beaumont. Often
+and often he said in his letters to me, that he wished his wife to marry
+again after he was gone, and to be as happy after his death as she
+had been during his life. I only hope that your choice may fulfil--may
+justify--” Mr. Palmer stopped again, something in Shakspeare, about
+preying on garbage, ran in his head; and, when Mrs. Beaumont went on
+to some fresh topics of vindication, and earnestly pressed for his
+_advice_, he broke up the conference by exclaiming, “‘Fore Jupiter,
+madam, we had better say nothing more about the matter; for, after all,
+what can the wit of man or woman make of it, but that you choose to
+marry Sir John Hunter, and that nobody in the world has a right to
+object to it? There is certainly no occasion to use any management
+with me; and your eloquence is only wasting itself, for I am not so
+presumptuous, or so unreasonable, as to set myself up for the judge of
+your actions. You do me honour by consulting me; but as you already know
+my opinion of the gentleman, I must decline saying any thing further on
+the subject.”
+
+Mrs. Beaumont was left in a painful state of doubt as to the main point,
+whether Mr. Palmer would or would not alter his will. However, as she
+was determined that the match should be accomplished, she took advantage
+of the declaration Mr. Palmer made, that he had no right to object to
+her following her own inclinations; and she told Sir John Hunter that
+Mr. Palmer was perfectly satisfied; and that he had indeed relieved
+her mind from some foolish scruples, by having assured her that it was
+Colonel Beaumont’s particular wish, often expressed in his confidential
+letters, that his widow should marry again. So far, so good. Then the
+affair was to be broken to her son and daughter. She begged Mr. Palmer
+would undertake, for her sake, this delicate task; but he declined it
+with a frank simplicity.
+
+“Surely, madam,” said he, “you can speak without difficulty to your own
+son and daughter; and I have through life observed, that employing
+one person to speak to another is almost always hurtful. I should not
+presume, however, to regulate your conduct, madam, by my observations;
+I should only give this as a reason for declining the office with which
+you proposed to honour me.”
+
+The lady, compelled to speak for herself to her son and daughter, opened
+the affair to them with as much delicacy and address as she had used
+with Mr. Palmer. Their surprise was great; for they had not the most
+remote idea of her intentions. The result of a tedious conversation of
+three hours’ length was perfectly satisfactory to her, though it would
+have been to the highest degree painful and mortifying to a woman of
+more feeling, or one less intent upon _an establishment_, a reversionary
+title, and the Wigram estate. How low she sunk in the opinion of her
+children and her friends was comparatively matter of small consequence
+to Mrs. Beaumont, provided she could keep fair appearances with the
+world. Whilst her son and daughter were so much ashamed of her intended
+marriage, that they would not communicate their sentiments even to each
+other,--they, with becoming duty, agreed that Mrs. Beaumont was very
+good in speaking to them on the subject; as she had an uncontroulable
+right to marry as she thought proper.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont now wrote letters innumerable to her extensive circle of
+connexions and acquaintance, announcing her approaching nuptials, and
+inviting them to her wedding. It was settled by Mrs. Beaumont, that
+the three marriages should _take place_ on the same day. This point
+she laboured with her usual address, and at last brought the parties
+concerned to give up their wishes for a private wedding, to gratify
+her love for show and parade. Nothing now remained but to draw the
+settlements. Mrs. Beaumont, who piqued herself upon her skill in
+business, and who thought the sum of wisdom was to excel in cunning,
+looked over her lawyer’s drafts, and suggested many nice emendations,
+which obtained for her from an attorney the praise of being a vastly
+clever woman. Sir John was not, on his side, deficient in attention
+to his own interests. Never was there a pair better matched in this
+respect; never were two people going to be married more afraid that
+each should _take the other in_. Sir John, however, pressed forward
+the business with an eagerness that surprised every body. Mrs. Beaumont
+again and again examined the settlements, to try to account prudentially
+for her lover’s impatience; but she _saw_ that _all_ was right there on
+her part, and her self-love at last acquiesced in the belief that
+Sir John’s was now the ardour of a real lover. To the lady’s
+entire satisfaction, the liveries, the equipages, the diamonds, the
+wedding-clothes were all bought, and the wedding-day approached. Mrs.
+Beaumont’s rich and fashionable connexions and acquaintance all promised
+to grace her nuptials. Nothing was talked of but the preparations for
+Mrs. Beaumont and Sir John Hunter’s marriage; and so full of business
+and bustle, and mysteries, and _sentimentalities_, and vanities was she,
+that she almost forgot that any body was to be married but herself. The
+marriages of her son and daughter seemed so completely to merge in the
+importance and splendour of her own, that she merely recollected them as
+things that were to be done on the same day, as subordinate parts that
+were to be acted by inferior performers, whilst she should engross the
+public interest and applause. In the mean time Miss Hunter was engaged,
+to Mrs. Beaumont’s satisfaction and her own, in superintending the
+wedding-dresses, and in preparing the most elegant dress imaginable for
+herself, as bride’s-maid. Now and then she interrupted these occupations
+with sighs and fits of pretty sentimental dejection; but Mrs. Beaumont
+was well convinced that a new lover would soon make her forget her
+disappointment. The nephew was written to, and invited to spend some
+time with his aunt, immediately after her marriage; for she determined
+that Miss Hunter should be her niece, since she could not be her
+daughter. This secondary intrigue went on delightfully in our heroine’s
+imagination, without interfering with the main business of her own
+marriage. The day, the long-expected day, that was to crown all her
+hopes, at length arrived.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+“On peut étre plus fin qu’un autre, mais pas plus fin que tous les
+autres.”--ROCHEFOUCAULT.
+
+
+The following paragraph[8] extracted from the newspapers of the day,
+will, doubtless, be acceptable to a large class of readers.
+
+
+“FASHIONABLE HYMENEALS.
+
+“Yesterday, Sir John Hunter, of Hunter Hall, Devonshire, Bart., led to
+the hymeneal altar the accomplished Mrs. Beaumont, relict of the late
+Colonel Beaumont, of Beaumont Park. On the same day her son and daughter
+were also married--Mr. Beaumont to Miss Walsingham, daughter of E.
+Walsingham, Esq., of Walsingham House;--and Miss Beaumont to Captain
+Walsingham of the navy, a near relation of Edward Walsingham, Esq., of
+Walsingham House.
+
+“These nuptials in the Beaumont family were graced by an overflowing
+concourse of beauty, nobility, and fashion, comprehending all the
+relations, connexions, intimate friends, and particular acquaintances
+of the interesting and popular Mrs. Beaumont. The cavalcade reached
+from the principal front of the house to the south gate of the park, a
+distance of three-quarters of a mile. Mrs. Beaumont and her daughter,
+two lovely brides, in a superb landau, were attired in the most elegant,
+becoming, fashionable, and costly manner, their dress consisting of the
+finest lace, over white satin. Mrs. Beaumont’s was point lace, and she
+was also distinguished by a long veil of the most exquisite texture,
+which added a tempered grace to beauty in its meridian. In the same
+landau appeared the charming brides’-maids, all in white, of course.
+Among these, Miss Hunter attracted particular attention, by the felicity
+of her costume. Her drapery, which was of delicate lace, being happily
+adapted to show to the greatest advantage the captivating contour of
+her elegant figure, and ornamented with white silk fringe and tassels,
+marked every airy motion of her sylph-like form.
+
+“The third bride on this auspicious day was Miss Walsingham, who, with
+her father and bride’s-maids, followed in Mr. Walsingham’s carriage.
+Miss Walsingham, we are informed, was dressed with simple elegance,
+in the finest produce of the Indian loom; but, as she was in a covered
+carriage, we could not obtain a full view of her attire. Next to the
+brides’ equipages, followed the bridegrooms’. And chief of these Sir
+John Hunter sported a splendid barouche. He was dressed in the height of
+the ton, and his horses deserved particular admiration. After Sir John’s
+barouche came the equipage belonging to Mr. Beaumont, highly finished
+but plain: in this were the two bridegrooms, Mr. Beaumont and Captain
+Walsingham, accompanied by Mr. Palmer (the great West-Indian Palmer),
+who, we understand, is the intimate friend and relative of the Beaumont
+family. Then followed, as our correspondent counted, above a hundred
+carriages of distinction, with a prodigious cavalcade of gentry. The
+whole was closed by a long line of attendants and domestics. The moment
+the park gates were opened, groups of young girls of the Beaumont
+tenantry, habited in white, with knots of ribands, and emblematical
+devices suited to the occasion, and with baskets of flowers in their
+hands, began to strew vegetable incense before the brides, especially
+before Mrs. Beaumont’s landau.
+
+     ‘And whilst the priests accuse the bride’s delay,
+     Roses and myrtles still obstruct her way.’
+
+“The crowd, which assembled as they proceeded along the road to the
+church, and in the churchyard, was such that, however gratefully
+it evinced the popularity of the amiable parties, it became at last
+evidently distressing to the principal object of their homage--Mrs.
+Beaumont, who could not have stood the gaze of public admiration but
+for the friendly and becoming, yet tantalizing refuge of her veil.
+Constables were obliged to interfere to clear the path to the church
+door, and the amiable almost fainting lady was from the arms of
+her anxious and alarmed bride’s-maids lifted out of her landau, and
+supported into the church and up the aisle with all the marked gallantry
+of true tenderness, by her happy bridegroom, Sir John Hunter.
+
+“After the ceremony was over, Sir John and Lady Hunter, and the two
+other new-married couples, returned to Beaumont Park with the _cortège_
+of their friends, where the company partook of an elegant collation. The
+artless graces and fascinating affability of Lady Hunter won all hearts;
+and the wit, festive spirits, and politeness of Sir John, attracted
+universal admiration--not to say envy, of all present. Immediately after
+the collation, the happy couple set off for their seat at Hunter Hall.
+
+“Mr. Beaumont, and the new Mrs. Beaumont, remained at Beaumont Park.
+Captain and Mrs. Walsingham repaired to Mr. Walsingham’s.
+
+“It is a singular circumstance, communicated to us by the indisputable
+authority of one of the bride’s-maids, that Miss Walsingham, as it was
+discovered after the ceremony, was actually married with her gown the
+wrong side outwards. Whether this be an omen announcing good fortune to
+_all_ the parties concerned, we cannot take upon us to determine; but
+this much we may safely assert, that never distinguished female in the
+annals of fashion was married under more favourable auspices than the
+amiable Lady Hunter. And it is universally acknowledged, that no lady
+is better suited to be, as in the natural course of things she will soon
+be, Countess of Puckeridge, and at the head of the great Wigram estate.”
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+So ends our newspaper writer.
+
+Probably this paragraph was sent to the press before the _fashionable
+hymeneals_ had actually taken place. This may in some measure account
+for the extraordinary omissions in the narrative. After the three
+marriages had been solemnized, just when the ceremony was over, and Lady
+Hunter was preparing to receive the congratulations of the brilliant
+congregation, she observed that the clergyman, instead of shutting his
+book, kept it open before him, and looked round as if expecting another
+bride. Mrs. Beaumont, we should say Lady Hunter, curtsied to him,
+smiled, and made a sign that the ceremony was finished; but at this
+instant, to her astonishment, she saw her bride’s-maid, Miss Hunter,
+quit her place, and beheld Captain Lightbody seize her hand, and lead
+her up towards the altar. Lady Hunter broke through the crowd that was
+congratulating her, and reaching Miss Hunter, drew her hack forcibly,
+and whispered, “Are you mad, Miss Hunter? Is this a place, a time for
+frolic? What are you about?”
+
+“Going to be married, ma’am! following your ladyship’s good example,”
+ answered her bride’s-maid, flippantly,--at the same time springing
+forward from the detaining grasp, regardless even of the rent she made
+in her lace dress, she hurried, or was hurried on by Captain Lightbody.
+
+“Captain Lightbody!” cried Lady Hunter; but, answering only with a
+triumphant bow, he passed on with his bride.
+
+“Heavens! will nobody stop him?” cried Lady Hunter, over-taking them
+again as they reached the steps. She addressed herself to the clergyman.
+“Sir, she is a ward in chancery, and under my protection: they have
+no licence; their banns have not been published: you cannot, dare not,
+surely, marry them?”
+
+“Pardon me, Lady Hunter,” said Captain Lightbody; “I have shown Mr.
+Twigg my licence.”
+
+“I have seen it--I thought it was with your ladyship’s knowledge,”
+ replied Mr. Twigg. “I--I cannot object--it would be at my own peril. If
+there is any lawful impediment, your ladyship will make it at the proper
+response.”
+
+A friend of Captain Lightbody’s appeared in readiness to give the young
+lady away.
+
+“The ceremony must go on, madam,” said the clergyman.
+
+“At your peril, sir!” said Lady Hunter. “This young lady, is a ward of
+chancery, and not of age!”
+
+“I am of age--of age last month,” cried the bride.
+
+“Not till next year.”
+
+“Of age last month. I have the parish register,” said Captain Lightbody.
+“Go on, sir, if you please.”
+
+“Good Heavens! Miss Hunter, can you bear,” said Lady Hunter, “to be the
+object of this indecent altercation? Retire with me, and only let me
+speak to you, I conjure you!”
+
+No--the young lady stood her ground, resolute to be a bride.
+
+“If there is any lawful impediment, your ladyship will please to make it
+at the proper response,” said the chaplain. “I am under a necessity of
+proceeding.”
+
+The ceremony went on.
+
+Lady Hunter, in high indignation, retired immediately to the vestry-room
+with her bridegroom. “At least,” cried she, throwing herself upon a
+seat, “it shall never be said that I countenanced, by my presence, such
+a scandalous marriage! Oh! Sir John Hunter, why did you not interfere to
+save your own sister?”
+
+“Save her! Egad, she did not choose to be saved. Who can save a woman
+that does not choose it? What could I do? Is not she your ladyship’s
+pupil?--he! he! he! But I’ll fight the rascal directly, if that will
+give you any satisfaction.”
+
+“And he shall have a lawsuit too for her fortune!” said Lady Hunter;
+“for she is not of age. I have a memorandum in an old pocket book. Oh!
+who would have thought such a girl could have duped me so!”
+
+Lady Hunter’s exclamations were interrupted by the entrance of her
+son and daughter, who came to offer what consolation they could. The
+brilliant congregation poured in a few minutes afterwards, with their
+mingled congratulations and condolence, eager, above all things, to
+satisfy their curiosity.
+
+Captain Lightbody, with invincible assurance, came up just as Lady
+Hunter was getting into her carriage, and besought permission to present
+his bride to her. But Lady Hunter, turning her back upon him without
+reply, said to her son, “If Captain Lightbody is going to Beaumont Park,
+I am not going there.”
+
+Mrs. Lightbody, who was now emancipated from all control, and from all
+sense of propriety, called out from her _own_ carriage, in which she was
+seated, “That, thank Heaven! she had a house of her own to go to,
+and that nothing was farther from her thoughts than to interrupt the
+festivities of Lady Hunter’s more mature nuptials.”
+
+Delighted with having made this tart answer, Mrs. Lightbody ordered
+her husband to order her coachman to drive off as fast as possible.
+The captain, by her particular desire, had taken a house for her at
+Brighton, the gayest place she could think of. We leave this amiable
+bride rejoicing in the glory of having duped a lady of Mrs. Beaumont’s
+penetration; and her bridegroom rejoicing still more in the parish
+register, by the help of which he hoped to obtain full enjoyment of what
+he knew to be his bride’s most valuable possession--her portion, and to
+defy Lady Hunter’s threatened lawsuit.
+
+In the mean time, Lady Hunter, in her point lace and beautiful veil,
+seated beside her baronet, in his new barouche, endeavoured to forget
+this interruption of her triumph. She considered, that though Miss
+Hunter’s fortune was lost to her family, yet the title of countess,
+and the Wigram estate, were _secure_: this was solid consolation; and
+recovering her features from their unprecedented discomposure, she
+forced smiles and looks suitable to the occasion, as she bowed to
+congratulating passengers.
+
+Arrived at Beaumont Park, she prepared, without appetite, to partake of
+the elegant collation, and to do the honours with her accustomed grace:
+she took care to seat Mr. Palmer beside her, that she might show the
+world on what good terms they were together. She was pleased to see,
+that though two younger brides sat near her, she engaged by far the
+largest share of public admiration. They were so fully content and
+engrossed by their own feelings, that they did not perceive that they
+were what is called _thrown into the shade_. All the pride, pomp, and
+circumstance of these glorious hymeneals appeared to them but as a
+dream, or as a scene that was acting before them, in which they were
+not called to take a part. Towards the end of the collation, one of the
+guests, my Lord Rider, a nobleman who always gave himself the air of
+being in a prodigious hurry, declared that he was under the necessity of
+going off, for he expected a person to meet him at his house in town, on
+some particular business, at an appointed day. His lordship’s travelling
+companion, who was unwilling to quit so prematurely the present scene of
+festivity, observed that the man of business had engaged to write to his
+lordship, and that he should at least wait till the post should come in.
+Lady Hunter politely sent to inquire if any letters had arrived for his
+lordship; and, in consequence of his impatience, all the letters for
+the family were brought: Lady Hunter distributed them. There was one for
+Captain Walsingham, with a Spanish motto on the seal: Lady Hunter, as
+she gave it to him, whispered to Amelia, “Don’t be jealous, my dear, but
+that, I can tell you, is a letter from his Spanish incognita.” Amelia
+smiled with a look of the most perfect confidence and love. Captain
+Walsingham immediately opened the letter, and, looking at the signature,
+said, “It is not from my Spanish incognita,--it is from her aunt; I will
+read it by and by.”
+
+“A fine evasion, indeed!” exclaimed Lady Hunter: “look how coolly he
+puts it into his pocket! Ah! my credulous Amelia, do you allow him to
+begin in this manner?” pursued she, in a tone of raillery, yet as if
+she really suspected something wrong in the letter; “and have you no
+_curiosity_, Mrs. Walsingham?”
+
+Amelia declared that she had none; that she was not one of those who
+think that jealousy is the best proof of love.
+
+“Right, right,” said Mr. Palmer; “confidence is the best proof of love;
+and yours, I’ll venture to say, is, and ever will be, well placed.”
+
+Captain Walsingham, with a grateful smile, took his letter again out of
+his pocket, and immediately began to read it in a low voice to Amelia,
+Lady Hunter, and Mr. Palmer.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+“DEAR SIR,
+
+“Though almost a stranger to you, I should think myself wanting in
+gratitude if I did not, after all the services you have done my family,
+write to thank you in my niece’s name and in my own: and much I regret
+that my words will so ill convey to you the sentiments of our hearts.
+I am an old woman, not well accustomed to use my pen in the way of
+letter-writing; but can say truly, that whilst I have life I shall be
+grateful to you. You have restored me to happiness by restoring to me my
+long-lost niece. It will, I am sure, give you satisfaction to hear, that
+my niece--”
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Captain Walsingham stopped short, with a look which confirmed Lady
+Hunter in all her suspicions,--which made Mr. Palmer take out his
+snuff-box,--which startled even Mr. Beaumont; but which did not raise
+in the mind of Amelia the slightest feeling of doubt or suspicion. She
+smiled, and looked round at her alarmed friends with a manner which
+seemed to say, “Can you suppose it possible that there can be any thing
+wrong?”
+
+“Pray go on, Captain Walsingham,” said Lady Hunter, “unless--unless you
+have particular, very particular reasons.”
+
+“I have particular, very particular reasons,” said Captain Walsingham;
+“and since,” turning to Amelia, “this confiding lady does not insist
+upon my going on--”
+
+“Oh!” said Lady Hunter, gaily, snatching the letter, “I am not such a
+credulous, or, as you call it, confiding lady.”
+
+“I beg of your ladyship not to read it,” said Captain Walsingham, in an
+earnest tone.
+
+“You beg of me not to read it, and with that alarmed look--Oh!
+positively, I must, and will read it.”
+
+“Not at present, then, I entreat you!”
+
+“This very instant,” cried Lady Hunter, affecting all the imperious
+vivacity of a young bride, under favour of which she determined to
+satisfy her malicious curiosity.
+
+“Pray, Lady Hunter, do not read it,” repeated Captain Walsingham, laying
+his hand over the letter. “It is for your own sake,” added he, in a low
+and earnest voice, “it is for your own sake, not mine, that I beg of you
+to forbear.”
+
+Lady Hunter, imagining this to be only a subterfuge, drew the letter
+from beneath Captain Walsingham’s hand, exclaiming, “For _my sake!_ Oh,
+Captain, that is a charming _ruse de guerre_, but do not hope that it
+shall succeed!”
+
+“Oh! mother, believe him, believe him,” cried Amelia: “I am sure he
+tells you the truth, and he speaks for your sake, not for his own.”
+
+Amelia interceded in vain.
+
+Mr. Palmer patted Amelia’s shoulder fondly, saying, “You are a dear good
+creature.”
+
+“A dear credulous creature!” exclaimed Lady Hunter. She had now
+undisturbed possession of the letter.
+
+Captain Walsingham stood by with a face of great concern; in which
+Amelia and Mr. Beaumont, without knowing the cause, seemed to
+sympathize.
+
+The contest had early attracted the attention of all within hearing
+or view of her ladyship, and by this time had been pointed out and
+accounted for in whispers, even to the most remote parts of the room; so
+that the eyes of almost every individual in the assembly were now fixed
+upon Lady Hunter. She had scarcely glanced her eye upon the letter, when
+she turned pale as death, and exclaimed, “He knew it! he knew it!” Then,
+recollecting herself, she made a struggle to conceal her dismay--the
+forced smile quivered on her lip,--she fell back in a swoon, and was
+carried out of the room by her son and daughter. Sir John Hunter was at
+another table, eating eel-pie, and was the last person present who was
+made to understand what had happened.
+
+“It is the damned heat of the room, I suppose,” said he, “that made her
+faint;” and swallowing the last morsel on his plate, and settling his
+collar, he came up to Captain Walsingham. “What’s this I hear?--that
+Lady Hunter has fainted? I hope they have carried her into the air. But
+where’s the letter they say affected her so?”
+
+“In my pocket,” said Captain Walsingham, coolly.
+
+“Any thing new in it?” said Sir John, with a sulky, fashionable
+indifference.
+
+“Nothing new to you, probably, Sir John,” said Captain Walsingham,
+walking away from him in disgust.
+
+“I suppose it was the heat overcame Lady Hunter,” continued Sir John,
+speaking to those who stood near him. “Is any body gone to see how she
+is now? I wonder if they’ll let me in to see her.”
+
+With assumed carelessness, but with real embarrassment, the bridegroom
+went to inquire for his bride.
+
+Good Mr. Palmer went soon afterwards, and knocked softly at the lady’s
+door. “Is poor Lady Hunter any better?”
+
+“Oh! yes; quite well again now,” cried Lady Hunter, raising herself from
+the bed, on which she had been laid; but Mr. Palmer thought, as he
+saw her through the half-opened door, she still looked a deplorable
+spectacle, in all her wedding finery. “Quite well again, now: it was
+nothing in the world but the heat. Amelia, my love, go back to the
+company, and say so, lest my friends should be uneasy. Thank you, kind
+Mr. Palmer, for coming to see me: excuse my not being able to let you
+in now, for I must change my dress. Sir John sends me word his barouche
+will be at the door in ten minutes, and I have to hurry on my travelling
+dress. Excuse me.”
+
+Mr. Palmer retired, seeing clearly that she wished to avoid any
+explanation of the real cause of her fainting. In the gallery, leading
+from her room, he met Captain Walsingham, who was coming to inquire for
+Lady Hunter.
+
+“Poor woman! do you know the cause of her fainting?” said Captain
+Walsingham.
+
+“No; and I believe she does not wish me to know it: therefore don’t tell
+it me,” said Mr. Palmer.
+
+“It is a secret that must be in the public papers in a few days,” said
+Captain Walsingham. “This lady that I brought over from Lisbon--”
+
+“Well, what can she have to say to Mrs. Beaumont?”
+
+“Nothing to Mrs. Beaumont, but a great deal to Lady Hunter. You
+may remember that I mentioned to you that some of her relations had
+contrived to have her kept in that convent abroad, and had spread a
+report of her death, that the heir-at-law might defraud her of her
+property, and get and keep possession of a large estate, which fell to
+him in case of her death. Of further particulars, or even of the name of
+this estate, I knew nothing till this morning, when that letter from
+the aunt--here it is--tells me, that the estate to which her niece
+was entitled is the great Wigram estate, and that old Wigram was the
+rascally heir-at-law. The lawyer I recommended to the lady was both an
+honest and a clever fellow; and he represented so forcibly to old Wigram
+the consequences of his having his fraud brought to light in a court of
+equity, that he made him soon agree to a private reference. The affair
+has been compromised, and settled thus:--The possession of the estate is
+given up, just as it stands, to the rightful owner; and she forbears
+to call the old sinner to an account for past arrears. She will let him
+make it out to the world and to his own conscience, if he can, that he
+bona-fide believed her to be dead.”
+
+“So,” said Mr. Palmer, “so end Madam Beaumont’s hopes of being at
+the head of the Wigram estate, and so end her hopes of being a
+countess!--And actually married to this ruined spendthrift!--Now we see
+the reason he pressed on the match so, and urged her to marry him before
+the affair should become public. She is duped, and for life!--poor Madam
+Beaumont!”
+
+At this moment Lady Hunter came out of her room, after having changed
+her dress, and repaired her smiles.
+
+“Ready for my journey now,” said she, passing by Mr. Palmer quickly. “I
+must show myself to the world of friends below, and bid them adieu. One
+word, Captain Walsingham: there’s no occasion, you know,” whispered she,
+“to say any thing _below_ of that letter; I really don’t believe it.”
+
+Too proud to let her mortification be known, Lady Hunter constrained
+her feelings with all her might. She appeared once more with a pleased
+countenance in the festive assembly. She received their compliments
+and congratulations, and invited them, with all the earnestness of
+friendship, to favour Sir John and her, as soon as possible, with their
+company at Hunter Hall. The company were now fast departing; carriages
+came to the door in rapid succession. Lady Hunter went through with
+admirable grace and variety the sentimental ceremony of taking leave;
+and when her splendid barouche was at the door, and when she was to bid
+adieu to her own family, still she acted her part inimitably. In all the
+becoming mixed smiles and tears of a bride, she was seen embracing by
+turns her beloved daughter and son, and daughter-in-law and son-in-law,
+over and over again, in the hall, on the steps; to the last moment
+contriving to be torn delightfully from the bosom of her family by her
+impatient bridegroom. Seated beside him in his barouche, she kissed her
+hand to Mr. Palmer,--smiled: all her family, who stood on the steps,
+bowed; and Sir John drove away with his prize.
+
+“He’s a swindler!” cried Mr. Palmer, “and she is--”
+
+“Amelia’s mother,” interrupted Captain Walsingham.
+
+“Right,” said Mr. Palmer; “but Amelia had a father too,--my excellent
+friend, Colonel Beaumont,--whom she and her brother resemble in all that
+is open-hearted and honourable. Well, well! I make no reflections; I
+hate moral reflections. Every body can think and feel for themselves, I
+presume. I only say,--Thank Heaven, we’ve done with _manoeuvring!_”
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ALMERIA.
+
+
+John Hodgkinson was an eminent and wealthy Yorkshire grazier, who had
+no children of his own, but who had brought up in his family Almeria
+Turnbull, the daughter of his wife by a former husband, a Mr. Turnbull.
+Mr. Turnbull had also been a grazier, but had not been successful in the
+management of his affairs, therefore he could not leave his daughter any
+fortune; and at the death of her mother, she became entirely dependent
+on her father-in-law. Old Hodgkinson was a whimsical man, who, except in
+eating and drinking, had no inclination to spend any part of the
+fortune he had made; but, enjoying the consequence which money confers,
+endeavoured to increase this importance by keeping all his acquaintance
+in uncertainty, as to what he called his “_testamentary dispositions_.”
+ Sometimes he hinted that his step-daughter should be a match for the
+proudest riband in England; sometimes he declared, that he did not know
+of what use money could be to a woman, except to make her a prey to
+a fortune-hunter, and that his girl should not be left in a way to be
+duped.
+
+As to his daughter’s education, that was an affair in which he did not
+interfere: all that he wished was, that the girl should be kept humble,
+and have no fine notions put into her head, nor any communication with
+fine people. He kept company only with men of his own sort; and as he
+had no taste for any kind of literature, Almeria’s time would have
+hung rather heavy upon her hands, had she been totally confined to his
+society: but, fortunately for her, there lived in the neighbourhood
+an elderly gentleman and his daughter, whom her father allowed her
+to visit. Mr. Elmour was a country gentleman of a moderate fortune,
+a respectable family, and of a most amiable character: between his
+daughter Ellen and Miss Turnbull there had subsisted an intimacy
+from their earliest childhood. The professions of this friendship had
+hitherto been much the warmest on the part of Almeria; the proofs
+were, perhaps, the strongest on the side of Ellen. Miss Elmour, as
+the daughter of a gentleman, whose family had been long settled in the
+country, was rather _more considered_ than Miss Turnbull, who was the
+daughter of a grazier, whose money had but lately raised him to the
+level of gentility. At Mr. Elmour’s house Almeria had an opportunity
+of being in much better company than she could ever have seen at her
+father’s; better company in every respect, but chiefly in the popular,
+or more properly in the aristocratic sense of the term: her visits had
+consequently been long and frequent; she appeared to have a peculiar
+taste for refinement in manners and conversation, and often deplored the
+want she felt of these at home. She expressed a strong desire to acquire
+information, and to improve herself in every elegant accomplishment;
+and Ellen, who was of a character far superior to the little meanness
+of female competition and jealousy, shared with her friend all the
+advantages of her situation. Old Hodgkinson never had any books in his
+house, but such as Almeria borrowed from Mr. Elmour’s library. Ellen
+constantly sent Miss Turnbull all the new publications which her father
+got from town--she copied for her friend the new music with which
+she was supplied, showed her every new drawing or print, gave her the
+advantage of the lessons she received from an excellent drawing master,
+and let her into those little mysteries of art which masters sometimes
+sell so dear.
+
+This was done with perfect readiness and simplicity: Ellen never seemed
+conscious that she was bestowing a favour; but appeared to consider
+what she did as matters of course, or as the necessary consequences of
+friendship. She treated her friend at all times, and in all companies,
+with that uniform attention and equality of manner, which most people
+profess, and which so few have strength of mind to practise. Almeria
+expressed, and probably at this time felt, unbounded gratitude and
+affection for Ellen; indeed her expressions were sometimes so vehement,
+that Miss Elmour rallied her for being romantic. Almeria one day
+declared, that she should wish to pass all the days of her life at
+Elmour Grove, without seeing any other human creatures but her friend
+and her friend’s father.
+
+“Your imagination deceives you, my dear Almeria,” said Ellen, smiling.
+
+“It is my heart, not my imagination, that speaks,” said Almeria, laying
+her hand upon her heart, or upon the place where she fancied her heart
+ought to be.
+
+“Your understanding will, perhaps, speak a different language by and by,
+and your heart will not be the worse for it, my good young lady,” said
+old Mr. Elmour.
+
+Almeria persisted even to tears; and it was not till young Mr. Elmour
+came home, and till she had spent a few weeks in his company, that she
+began to admit that three was the number sacred to friendship. Frederick
+Elmour was a man of honour, talents, spirit, and of a decided character:
+he was extremely fond of his sister, and was prepossessed in favour
+of every thing and person that she loved. Her intimate friend was
+consequently interesting to him; and it must be supposed, that Miss
+Elmour’s praises of Almeria were managed more judiciously than eulogiums
+usually are, by the effect which they produced. Frederick became
+attached to Miss Turnbull, though he perceived that, in firmness and
+dignity of character, she was not equal to his sister. This inferiority
+did not injure her in his opinion, because it was always acknowledged
+with so much candour and humility by Almeria, who seemed to look up to
+her friend as to a being of a superior order. This freedom from envy,
+and this generous enthusiasm, first touched young Mr. Elmour’s heart.
+Next to possessing his sister’s virtues and talents, loving them was,
+in his opinion, the greatest merit. He thought that a person capable
+of appreciating and admiring Ellen’s character, must be desirous
+of imitating her; and the similarity of their tastes, opinions,
+and principles, seemed to him the most secure pledge for his future
+happiness. Miss Turnbull’s fortune, whatever it might be, was an object
+of no great importance to him: his father, though not opulent, was in
+easy circumstances, and was “willing,” he said, “to deprive himself of
+some luxuries for the sake of his son, whom he would not controul in the
+choice of a wife--a choice on which he knew, from his own experience,
+that the happiness of life so much depends.”
+
+The benevolent old gentleman had peculiar merit in this conduct; because
+if he had a weakness in the world, it was a prejudice in favour of what
+is called _good family and birth_: it had long been the secret wish of
+his heart that his only son might marry into a family as ancient as his
+own. Frederick was fully sensible of the sacrifice that his father made
+of his pride: but that which he was willing to make of what he called
+his luxuries, his son’s affection and sense of justice forbade him
+to accept. He could not rob his father of any of the comforts of his
+declining years, whilst in the full vigour of youth it was in his power,
+by his own exertions, to obtain an independent maintenance. He had
+been bred to the bar; no expense had been spared by his father in his
+education, no efforts had been omitted by himself. He was now ready
+to enter on the duties of his profession with ardour, but without
+presumption.
+
+Our heroine must be pardoned by the most prudent, and admired by the
+most romantic, for being desperately in love with a youth of such a
+character and such expectations. Whilst the young lady’s passion was
+growing every hour more lively, her old father was growing every hour
+more lethargic. He had a superstitious dread of making a will, as if
+it were a preparation for death, which would hasten the fatal moment.
+Hodgkinson’s friends tried to conquer this prejudice: but it was in vain
+to reason with a man who had never reasoned during the whole of his life
+about any thing except bullocks. Old Hodgkinson died--that was a matter
+of no great consequence to any body--but he died without a will, and
+that was a matter of some importance to his daughter. After searching in
+every probable and improbable place, there was, at length, found in his
+own handwriting a memorandum, the beginning of which was in the
+first leaf of his cookery-book, and the end in the last leaf of his
+prayer-book. There was some difficulty in deciphering the memorandum,
+for it was cross-barred with miscellaneous observations in inks of
+various colours--red, blue, and green. As it is dangerous to garble law
+papers, we shall lay the document before the public just as it appeared.
+
+_Copy from first leaf of the Cookery-look_.
+
+I John Hodgkinson of Vetch-field, East Riding of Yorkshire, Grazier and
+so forth, not choosing to style myself Gentleman, though entitled so to
+do, do hereby certify, that when I can find an honest attorney, _it is
+my_ intention to make my will and to leave--
+
+[_Here the testator’s memorandum was interrupted by a receipt in a
+diminutive female hand, seemingly written some years before_.]
+
+Mrs. Turnbull’s recipe, infallible for all aches, bruises, and strains.
+
+Take a handful of these herbs following--Wormwood, Sage, Broom-flowers,
+Clown’s-All-heal, Chickweed, Cumphry, Birch, Groundsell, Agremony,
+Southernwood, Ribwort, Mary Gould leaves, Bramble, Rosemary, Rue,
+Eldertops, Camomile, Aly Campaigne-root, half a handful of Red
+Earthworms, two ounces of Cummins-seeds, Deasy-roots, Columbine, Sweet
+Marjoram, Dandylion, Devil’s bit, six pound of May butter, two pound of
+Sheep suet, half a pound of Deer suet, a quart of salet oil beat well in
+y’ boiling till the oil be green--Then strain--It will be better if you
+add a dozen of Swallows, and pound all their Feathers, Gizzards, and
+Heads before boiling--It will cure all aches--[9]
+
+[_Beneath this valuable recipe, Mr. Hodgkinson’s testamentary
+dispositions continued as follows_.]
+
+All I am worth in the world real or personal--
+
+To Collar a Pig.
+
+Take a young fat pig, and when he is well scalded, cut off his head,
+then slit him down the back, take out his bones, lay him in a dish of
+milk and water, and shift him twice a day--for the rest, turn to page
+103.
+
+To my step-daughter Almeria, who is now at Elmour Grove in her
+eighteenth year--
+
+[_Written across the above in red ink_.]
+
+Mem’m--I prophecy this third day of August, that the man from Hull will
+be here to-morrow with _fresh_ mullets.
+
+And as girls go, I believe a good girl, considering the times--but if
+she disoblige me by marriage, or otherwise, I hereby revoke the same.
+
+[_Written diagonally in red ink_.]
+
+Mem’m--Weight of the Big Bullock, 90 score, besides offal.
+
+[_The value was so pale it could not be deciphered_.]
+
+And I further intend to except out of my above bequest to my daughter
+Almeria, the sum of ...
+
+A fine method to make Punch of Valentia dram. v. page 7.
+
+Ten thousand pounds, now in Sir Thomas Stock’s my banker’s hands as a
+token of remembrance to John Hodgkinson of Hull, on account of his being
+my namesake, and, I believe, relation--
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[_Continuation in the last leaf of the prayer-book_.]
+
+It is my further intention (whenever I find said honest attorney fit
+for my will) to leave sundry mourning rings with my hair value
+(_blank_)--one in particular to Charles Elmour, sen. esquire, and also--
+
+[_Upside down, in red ink_.]
+
+Mem’m--Yorkshire Puddings--Knox says good in my case.
+
+Hodgkinson late Hannah A Turnbull (my wife) her prayer book, born Dec’r
+5th, 1700, died Jan’y 4th, 1760; leaving only behind her, in this world,
+Almeria Turnbull (my step daughter).
+
+Also another mourning ring to Frederick, the son of Charles Elmour, Esq.
+and ditto to Ellen his daughter, if I have hair enough under my wig.
+
+[_Diagonal in red ink_.]
+
+Mem’m--To know from Dr. Knox by return of post what is good against
+sleep--in my case--
+
+This is the short of my will--the attorney (when found) will make it
+long enough.--And I hereby declare, that I will write no other will with
+my own hand, for man, woman, or child--And that I will and do hereby
+disinherit any person or persons--male or female--good--bad--or
+indifferent--who shall take upon them to advise or speak to me about
+making or writing my will--which is no business of theirs--This my last
+resolution and memorandum, dated, this 5th of August--reap to-morrow,
+(glass rising)--1766, and signed with my own hand, same time.
+
+John Hodgkinson, grazier & so forth.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Now it happened, that Mr. Hodgkinson’s namesake and relation disdained
+the ten thousand pounds legacy, and claimed the whole property as
+heir-at-law. Almeria, who was utterly unacquainted with business,
+applied to Mr. Elmour in this difficulty, and he had the goodness to
+undertake the management of her affairs. Frederick engaged to carry
+on her law-suit, and to plead her cause against this rapacious Mr.
+Hodgkinson of Hull.--Whilst the suit was pending, Miss Turnbull had
+an opportunity of seeing something of the ways of the world; for the
+manners of her Yorkshire acquaintance, of all but Ellen and the Elmours,
+varied towards her, according to the opinion formed of the probable
+event of the trial on which her fortune depended. She felt these
+variations most keenly. In particular, she was provoked by the conduct
+of Lady Stock, who was at this time _the_ fashionable lady of York: Sir
+Thomas, her husband, was a great banker; and whenever she condescended
+to visit her friends in the country, she shone upon them in all the
+splendour and pride of wealth. Miss Turnbull, immediately after her
+father’s death, went, accompanied by old Mr. Elmour, to Sir Thomas
+Stock, to settle accounts with him: she was received by his lady as a
+great heiress, with infinite civility; her visit punctually returned,
+and an invitation to dinner sent to her and the Elmours with all due
+expedition. As she seemed to wish to accept of it, her friends agreed to
+accompany her, though in general they disliked fine dinners; and though
+they seldom left their retirement to mix in the gaieties of York.
+Miss Turnbull was received in rather a different manner from what she
+expected upon this occasion; for between the sending and the accepting
+of the invitation, Lady Stock had heard that her title to the fortune
+was disputed, and that many were of an opinion that, instead of having
+two hundred thousand pounds, she would not have a shilling. Almeria was
+scarcely noticed, on her entrance, by the lady of the house; she found
+herself in a formidable circle, where every body seemed to consider
+her as being out of her place. At dinner she was suffered to go to a
+side-table. From the moment she entered the house till she left it, Lady
+Stock never deigned to speak to her, nor for one instant to recollect
+that such a person existed. Not even Madame Roland, when she was sent
+to the second table at the fermier general’s, expressed more indignation
+than Almeria did, at the insolence of this banker’s lady. She could
+think and speak of nothing else, all the time she was going home in
+the evening to Elmour Grove. Ellen, who had more philosophy than our
+heroine, did not sympathize in the violence of her indignation: on the
+contrary, she was surprised that Almeria could feel so much hurt by the
+slights of a woman, for whom she had neither esteem nor affection, and
+with whom she was indeed scarcely acquainted.
+
+“But does not her conduct excite your indignation?” said Miss Turnbull.
+
+“No: it rather deserves my contempt. If a friend--if you, for instance,
+had treated me in such a manner, it would have provoked my anger, I dare
+say.”
+
+“I! Oh, how impossible!” cried Almeria. “Such insufferable pride! Such
+downright rudeness!--She was tolerably civil to you, but me she never
+noticed: and this sudden change, it seems, Frederick, arises from her
+doubts of my fortune.--Is not such meanness really astonishing?”
+
+“It would be astonishing, perhaps,” replied Frederick, “if we did not
+see similar instances every day.--Lady Stock, you know, is nothing but a
+mere woman of the world.”
+
+“I hate mere women of the world,” cried Almeria.
+
+Ellen observed, that it was not worth while to hate, it was sufficient
+to avoid them.--Almeria grew warmer in her abhorrence; and Ellen at
+last expressed, half in jest, half in earnest, some fear, that if Miss
+Turnbull felt with such exquisite sensibility the neglect of persons
+of fashion, she might in a different situation be ambitious, or vain of
+their favour. Almeria was offended, and was very near quarrelling with
+her friend for harbouring such a mean opinion of her character.
+
+“Do you imagine that _I could_ ever make a friend of such a person as
+Lady Stock?”
+
+“A friend! far from it. I am very sure that you could not.”
+
+“Then how could I be ambitious of her favour? I am desirous only of the
+favour, esteem, and affection of my friends.”
+
+“But people who live in what is called the world, you know, my dear
+Almeria, desire to have acquaintance as well as friends,” said Ellen;
+“and they value those by their fashion or rank, and by the honour which
+may be received from their notice in public places.”
+
+“Yes, my dear,” interrupted Almeria; “though I have never been in
+London, as you have, I understand all that perfectly well, I assure
+you; but I only say, that I am certain I should never judge, and that I
+should never act, in such a manner.”
+
+Ellen smiled, and said, “It is difficult to be certain of what we should
+do in situations in which we have never been placed.”--Almeria burst
+into tears, and her friend could scarcely pacify her by the kindest
+expressions.
+
+“Observe, my dear Almeria, that I said _we,_ not _you_: I do not pretend
+that, till I have been tried, I could be certain of my own strength of
+mind in new situations: I believe it is from weakness, that people are
+often so desirous of the notice of persons for whom they have no esteem.
+If I were forced to live among a certain set of company, I suppose I
+should, in time, do just as they do; for I confess, that I do not think
+I could bear every day to be utterly neglected in society, even such as
+we have been in to-day.”
+
+Almeria wondered to hear her friend speak with so little confidence of
+her own spirit and independence; and vehemently declared that she was
+certain no change of external circumstances could make any alteration in
+her sentiments and feelings. Ellen forbore to press the subject farther,
+although the proofs which Almeria had this day given of her stoicism
+were not absolutely conclusive.
+
+About a month after this conversation had passed, the suit against Miss
+Turnbull, to set aside Mr. Hodgkinson’s will, was tried at York. The
+court was crowded at an early hour; for much entertainment was expected,
+from the oddity of old Hodgkinson’s _testamentary dispositions_:
+besides, the large amount of the property at stake could not fail to
+make the cause interesting. Several ladies appeared in the galleries;
+among the rest, Lady Stock--Miss Elmour was there also, to accompany
+Almeria--Frederick was one of her counsel; and when it came to his turn
+to speak, he pleaded her cause with so much eloquence and ability, as to
+obtain universal approbation. After a trial, which lasted many hours,
+a verdict was given in Miss Turnbull’s favour. An immediate change
+appeared in the manners of all her acquaintance--they crowded round her
+with smiles and congratulations; and persons with whom she was scarcely
+acquainted, or who had, till now, hardly deigned to acknowledge her
+acquaintance, accosted her with an air of intimacy. Lady Stock, in
+particular, recovered, upon this occasion, both her sight and speech:
+she took Almeria’s hand most graciously, and went on chattering with the
+greatest volubility, as they stood at the door of the court-house. Her
+ladyship’s handsome equipage had drawn up, and she offered to carry Miss
+Turnbull home: Almeria excused herself, but felt ashamed, when she saw
+the look of contempt which her ladyship bestowed on Mr. Elmour’s old
+coach, which was far behind a number of others, and which could but ill
+bear a comparison with a new London carriage. Angry with herself for
+this weakness, our heroine endeavoured to conceal it even from her own
+mind; and feelings of gratitude to her friends revived in her heart the
+moment she was out of the sight of her fine acquaintance. She treated
+Ellen with even more than usual fondness; and her acknowledgments of
+obligation to her counsel and his father were expressed in the strongest
+terms. In a few days, there came a pressing invitation from Lady Stock;
+Mr. Elmour had accounts of Miss Turnbull’s to settle with Sir Thomas,
+and, notwithstanding the air of indifference with which she read the
+cards, Almeria was not sorry to accept of the invitation, as she knew
+that she should be received in a very different manner from that in
+which she had been treated on her former visit. She laughed, and said,
+“that she should be entertained by observing the change which a few
+thousand pounds more or less could produce in Lady Stock’s behaviour.”
+ Yet, such is the inconsistency or the weakness of human wishes, that the
+very attentions which our heroine knew were paid merely to her fortune,
+and not to her merit, flattered her vanity; and she observed, with a
+strange mixture of pain and pleasure, that there was a marked difference
+in Lady Stock’s manner towards her and _the Elmours_. When the evening
+was over, and when she “had leisure to be good,” Almeria called herself
+severely to account for this secret satisfaction, of which she had been
+conscious from the preference given her over her friends--she
+accused herself of ingratitude, and endeavoured to recover her own
+self-complacency by redoubled professions of esteem and affection
+for those to whom she had so much reason to be attached. But fresh
+invitations came from Lady Stock, and the course of her thoughts again
+changed. Ellen declined accompanying her; and Miss Turnbull regretted
+this exceedingly, because it would be so distressing and awkward for her
+to go _alone_.
+
+“Then why do you go at all, my dear?” said Ellen; “you speak as if there
+were some moral necessity for your visit.”
+
+“Moral necessity! oh, no,” said Almeria, laughing; “but I really think
+there is a _polite_ necessity, if you will allow me the expression.
+Would it not be rude for all of us to refuse, when Lady Stock has made
+this music party, as she says, entirely on my account--on our account,
+I mean? for you see she mentions your fondness for music; and if she had
+not written so remarkably civilly to you, I assure you I would neither
+go myself, nor think of pressing you to go.”
+
+This oratory had no effect upon Ellen: our heroine went alone to
+the music meeting. The old coach returned to Elmour Grove at night,
+empty--the servant brought “Lady Stock’s compliments, and she would
+send her carriage home with Miss Turnbull early the next morning.” After
+waiting above an hour and a half beyond their usual time, the family
+were sitting down to dinner the next day, when Miss Turnbull, in Lady
+Stock’s fine carriage, drove up the avenue--Frederick handed her out
+of the carriage with more ceremony and less affection than he had ever
+shown before. Old Mr. Elmour’s manner was also more distant, and Ellen’s
+colder. Almeria attempted to apologize, but could not get through her
+speech:--she then tried to laugh at her own awkwardness; but her
+laugh not being seconded, she sat down to dinner in silence, colouring
+prodigiously, and totally abashed. Good old Mr. Elmour was the first
+to relent, and to endeavour, by resuming his usual kind familiarity, to
+relieve her painful confusion. Ellen’s coolness was also dissipated when
+Miss Turnbull took her aside after dinner, and with tears in her eyes
+declared, “she was sorry she had not had sufficient strength of mind
+to resist Lady Stock’s importunities to stay all night;--that as to the
+carriage, it was sent back without her knowledge; and that this morning,
+though she had three or four times expressed her fears that she should
+keep her friends at Elmour Grove waiting for dinner, yet Lady Stock
+would not understand her hints;” and she declared, “she got away the
+very instant her ladyship’s carriage came to the door.” By Ellen’s kind
+interposition, Frederick, whose pride had been most ready to take the
+alarm at the least appearance of slight to his father and sister, was
+pacified--he laid aside his ceremony to _Miss Turnbull_; called her
+“Almeria,” as he used to do--and all was well again. With difficulty and
+blushes, Almeria came out with an after-confession, that she had been so
+silly as to make half a promise to Lady Stock, of going to her ball, and
+of spending a few days with her at York, before she left the country.
+
+“But this promise was only conditional,” said she: “if you or your
+father would take it the least ill or unkindly of me, I assure you I
+will not go--I would rather offend all the Lady Stocks in the world than
+you, my dearest Ellen, or your father, to whom I am so much obliged.”
+
+“Do not talk of obligations,” interrupted Ellen; “amongst friends there
+can be no obligations. I will answer for it that my father will not be
+offended at your going to this ball; and I assure you I shall not take
+it unkindly. If you would not think me very proud, I should tell you
+that I wish for our sakes, as well as your own, that you should see as
+much of this Lady Stock, and as many _Lady Stocks_, as possible; for I
+am convinced that, upon _intimate_ acquaintance, we must rise in your
+opinion.”
+
+Almeria protested that she had never for an instant thought of
+comparing Ellen with Lady Stock. “A friend, a bosom friend, with an
+acquaintance--an acquaintance of yesterday!--I never thought of making
+such a comparison.”
+
+“That is the very thing of which I complain,” said Ellen, smiling:
+“I beg you will make the comparison, my dear Almeria; and the more
+opportunities you have of forming your judgment, the better.”
+
+Notwithstanding that there was something rather humiliating to Miss
+Turnbull in the dignified composure with which Ellen now, for the first
+time in her life, implied her own superiority, Almeria secretly rejoiced
+that it was at her friend’s own request that the visits to her fine
+acquaintance were repeated. At Lady Stock’s ball Miss Turnbull was
+much _distinguished,_ as it is called--Sir Thomas’s eldest son was her
+partner; and though he was not remarkably agreeable, yet his attentions
+were flattering to her vanity, because the rival belles of York vied for
+his homage. The delight of being taken notice of in public was new to
+Almeria, and it quite intoxicated her brain. Six hours’ sleep afterwards
+were not sufficient to sober her completely; as her friends at Elmour
+Grove perceived the next morning--she neither talked, looked, nor moved
+like herself, though she was perfectly unconscious that in this delirium
+of vanity and affectation she was an object of pity and disgust to the
+man she loved.
+
+Ellen had sufficient good-nature and candour to make allowance for
+foibles in others from which her own character was totally free; she
+was clear-sighted to the merits, but not blind to the faults, of her
+friends; and she resolved to wait patiently till Almeria should return
+to herself. Miss Turnbull, in compliance with her friend’s advice,
+took as many opportunities as possible of being with Lady Stock. Her
+ladyship’s company was by no means agreeable to Almeria’s natural taste;
+for her ladyship had neither sense nor knowledge, and her conversation
+consisted merely of common-place phrases, or the second-hand affectation
+of fashionable nonsense: yet, though Miss Turnbull felt no actual
+pleasure in her company, she was vain of being of her parties, and even
+condescended to repeat some of her sayings, in which there was neither
+sense nor wit. From having lived much in the London world, her
+ladyship was acquainted with a prodigious number of names of persons of
+consequence and quality; and by these our heroine’s ears were charmed.
+Her ladyship’s dress was also an object of admiration and imitation,
+and the York ladies begged patterns of every thing she wore. Almeria
+consequently thought that no other clothes could be worn with propriety;
+and she was utterly ashamed of her past self for having lived so long
+in ignorance, and for having had so bad a taste, as ever to have thought
+Ellen Elmour a model for imitation.
+
+“Miss Elmour,” her ladyship said, “was a very sensible young woman, no
+doubt; but she could hardly be considered as a model of fashion.”
+
+A new standard for estimating merit was raised in Almeria’s mind; and
+her friend, for an instant, sunk before the vast advantage of having
+the most fashionable mantua-maker and milliner in town. Ashamed of this
+dereliction of principle, she a few minutes afterwards warmly pronounced
+a panegyric on Ellen, to which Lady Stock only replied with a vacant,
+supercilious countenance, “May be so--no doubt--of course--the Elmours
+are a very respectable family, I’m told--and really more genteel than
+the country families one sees: but is not it odd, they don’t _mix
+more?_ One seldom meets them in town any where, or at any of the
+watering-places in summer.”
+
+To this charge, Almeria, with blushes, was forced to plead guilty for
+her friends: she, however, observed, in mitigation, “that when they
+were in town, what company they did see was always the best, she
+believed--that she knew, for one person, the Duchess of A---- was a
+friend of the Elmours, and corresponded with Ellen.”
+
+This judicious defence produced an immediate effect upon Lady Stock’s
+countenance; her eyebrows descended from the high arch of contempt: and
+after a pause, she remarked, “it was strange that they had not accepted
+of any of the invitations she had lately sent them--she fancied they
+were, as indeed they had the character of being, very proud people--and
+very odd.”
+
+Almeria denied the pride and the oddity; but observed, “that they were
+all remarkably fond of _home_.”
+
+“Well, my dear Miss Turnbull, that’s what I call odd; but I am sure I
+have nothing to say against all that--it is the fashion now to let every
+body do as they please: if the Elmours like to bury themselves alive,
+I’m sure I can’t have the smallest objection; I only hope they don’t
+insist upon burying you along with them--I’m going to Harrowgate for a
+few days, and I must have you with me, my dear.”
+
+Our heroine hesitated. Lady Stock smiled, and said, she saw Miss
+Turnbull was terribly afraid of these Elmours; that for her part, she
+was the last person in the world to break through old connexions; but
+that really some people ought to consider that other people cannot
+always live as they do; that one style of life was fit for one style of
+fortune, and one for another; and that it would look very strange to the
+world, if an heiress with two hundred thousand pounds fortune, who if
+she produced herself might be in the first circles in town, were to be
+boxed up at Elmour Grove, and precluded from all advantages and offers
+that she might of course expect.
+
+To do our heroine justice, she here interrupted Lady Stock with more
+eagerness than strict politeness admitted, and positively declared that
+her friends never for one moment wished to confine her at Elmour Grove.
+“On the contrary,” said she, “they urged me to go into company, and to
+see something of the world, before I--” marry, she was going to say--but
+paused.
+
+Lady Stock waited for the finishing word; but when it did not come, she
+went on just as if it had been pronounced. “The Elmours do vastly right
+and proper to talk to you in this style, for they would be very much
+blamed in the world if they acted otherwise. You know, young Elmour
+has his fortune to make--very clever certainly he is, and will rise--no
+doubt--I’m told--in his profession--but all that is not the same as a
+ready-made fortune, which an heiress like you has a right to expect. But
+do not let me annoy you with my reflections. Perhaps there is nothing
+in the report--I really only repeat what I hear every body say. In what
+every body says, you know there must be something. I positively think
+you ought to show, in justice to the Elmours themselves, that you are
+at liberty, and that they do not want to monopolize you--in this
+unaccountable sort of way.”
+
+To this last argument our heroine yielded, or to this she chose to
+attribute her yielding. She went to Harrowgate with Lady Stock;
+and every day and every hour she became more desirous of appearing
+fashionable. To this one object all her thoughts were directed. Living
+in public was to her a new life, and she was continually sensible of her
+dependence upon the opinion of her more experienced companion. She
+felt the _awkwardness_ of being surrounded by people with whom she was
+unacquainted. At first, whenever she appeared she imagined that every
+body was looking at her, or talking about her, and she was in perpetual
+apprehension that something in her dress or manners should become
+the subject of criticism or ridicule: but from this fear she was soon
+relieved, by the conviction that most people were so occupied with
+themselves as totally to overlook her. Sometimes indeed she heard the
+whispered question of “Who is that with Lady Stock?” and the mortifying
+answer, “I do not know.” However, when Lady Stock had introduced her to
+some of her acquaintance as a great heiress, the scene changed, and
+she found herself treated with much _consideration_; though still the
+fashionable belles took sufficient care to make her sensible of her
+inferiority. She longed to be upon an equal footing with them. Whilst
+her mind was in this state, Sir Thomas Stock, one morning, when he
+was settling some money business with her, observed that she would in
+another year be of age, and of course would take her affairs into her
+own hands; but in the mean time it would be necessary to appoint a
+guardian; and that the choice depended upon herself. She instantly named
+her friend Mr. Elmour. Sir Thomas insinuated that old Mr. Elmour, though
+undoubtedly a most unexceptionable character, was not exactly the most
+eligible person for a guardian to a young lady, whose large fortune
+entitled her to live in a fashionable style. That if it was Miss
+Turnbull’s intention to fix in the country, Mr. Elmour certainly was
+upon the spot, and a very fit guardian; but that if she meant to appear,
+as doubtless she would, in town, she would of course want another
+conductor.
+
+“To cut the matter short at once, my dear,” said Lady Stock, “you
+must come to town with me next winter, and choose Sir Thomas for your
+guardian. I’m sure it will give him the greatest pleasure in the world
+to do any thing in his power--and you will have no difficulties with
+him; for you see he is not a man to bore you with all manner of advice;
+in short, he would only be your guardian for form’s sake; and that, you
+know, would be the pleasantest footing imaginable. Come, here is a pen
+and ink and gilt paper; write to old Elmour this minute, and let me have
+you all to myself.”
+
+Almeria was taken by surprise: she hesitated--all her former
+professions, all her obligations to the Elmour family, recurred to her
+mind--her friendship for Ellen--her love, or what she had thought love,
+for Frederick:--she could not decide upon a measure that might offend
+them, or appear ungrateful; yet her desire of going to town with Lady
+Stock was ardent, and she knew not how to refuse Sir Thomas’s offer
+without displeasing him. She saw that all future connexion with _the
+Stocks_ depended on her present determination--she took a middle course,
+and suggested that she might have two guardians, and then she should be
+able to avail herself of Sir Thomas’s obliging offer without offending
+her old friends. In consequence of this convenient arrangement, she
+wrote to Mr. Elmour, enclosing her letter in one to Ellen, in which the
+embarrassment and weakness of her mind were evident, notwithstanding all
+her endeavours to conceal them. After a whole page of incomprehensible
+apologies, for having so long delayed to write to her dearest Ellen; and
+after professions of the warmest affection, esteem, and gratitude,
+for her friends at Elmour Grove; she in the fourth page of her epistle
+opened her real business, by declaring that she should ever, from the
+conviction she felt of the superiority of Ellen’s understanding,
+follow her judgment, however repugnant it might sometimes be to her
+inclinations; that she therefore had resolved, in pursuance of Ellen’s
+advice, to take an opportunity of seeing the gay world, and had accepted
+of an invitation from Lady Stock to spend the winter with her in
+town--that she had also accepted of Sir Thomas Stock’s offer to become
+one of her guardians, as she thought it best to trouble her good friend
+Mr. Elmour as little as possible at his advanced age.
+
+In answer to this letter, she received a few lines from Mr. Elmour,
+requesting to see her before she should go to town: accordingly upon her
+return to York, she went to Elmour Grove to take leave of her friends.
+She was under some anxiety, but resolved to carry it off with that
+ease, or affectation of ease, which she had learnt during her six weeks’
+apprenticeship to a fine lady at Harrowgate. She was surprised that no
+Frederick appeared to greet her arrival; the servant showed her into Mr.
+Elmour’s study. The good old gentleman received her with that proud
+sort of politeness, which was always the sign, and the only sign, of his
+being displeased.
+
+“You will excuse me, Miss Turnbull,” said he, “for giving you the
+trouble of coming here; it was my business to have waited on you, but
+I have been so far unwell lately, that it was not in my power to leave
+home; and these are papers,” continued he, “which I thought it my duty
+to deliver into your own hands.”
+
+Whilst Mr. Elmour was tying up these papers, and writing upon them,
+Almeria began two sentences with “I hope,” and “I am afraid,” without in
+the least knowing what she hoped or feared. She was not yet sufficiently
+perfect in the part of a fine lady to play it well. Mr. Elmour looked up
+from his writing with an air of grave attention when she began to speak,
+but after waiting in vain for an intelligible sentence, he proceeded.
+
+“You have judged very wisely for me, Miss Turnbull, in relieving my
+declining years from the fatigue of business: no man understands the
+management or the value of money better than Sir Thomas Stock, and
+you could not, madam, in this point of view, have chosen a more proper
+guardian.”
+
+Almeria said, “that she hoped Mr. Elmour would always permit her
+to consider him as her best friend, to whose advice she should have
+recourse in preference to that of any person upon earth;” recovering her
+assurance as she went on speaking, and recollecting some of the hints
+Lady Stock had given her, about the envy and jealousy of the Elmours,
+and of their scheme of monopolizing her fortune; she added a few
+commonplace phrases about respectability--gratitude--and great
+obligations--then gave a glance at Lady Stock’s handsome carriage,
+which was waiting at the door--then asked for Miss Elmour--and hoped she
+should not be so unfortunate as to miss seeing her before she left the
+country, as she came on purpose to take leave of her--then looked at her
+watch:--but all this was said and done with the awkwardness of a novice
+in the art of giving herself airs. Mr. Elmour, without being in the
+least irritated by her manner, was all the time considering how he
+could communicate, with the least possible pain, what he had further to
+say--“You speak of me, Miss Turnbull, as of one of your guardians, in
+the letter I had the favour of receiving from you a few days ago,” said
+he; “but you must excuse me for declining that honour. Circumstances
+have altered materially since I first undertook the management of your
+affairs, and my future interference, or perhaps even my advice, might
+not appear as disinterested as formerly.”
+
+Miss Turnbull here interrupted him with an exclamation of astonishment,
+and made many protestations of entire dependence upon his disinterested
+friendship. He waited with proud patience till she had finished her
+eulogium.
+
+“How far the generous extent of your confidence, madam, reaches, or may
+hereafter reach,” said he, “must be tried by others, not by me--nor yet
+by my son.”
+
+Almeria changed colour.
+
+“He has left it to me, madam, to do that for him, which perhaps he
+feared he might not have sufficient resolution to do for himself--to
+return to you these letters and this picture; and to assure you that he
+considers you as entirely at liberty to form any connexion that may be
+suited to your present views and circumstances.”
+
+Mr. Elmour put into her hand a packet of her own letters to Frederick,
+and a miniature picture of herself, which she had formerly given to her
+lover. This was an unexpected stroke. His generosity--his firmness of
+character--the idea of losing him for ever--all rushed upon her mind at
+once.
+
+Artificial manners vanish the moment the natural passions are touched.
+Almeria clasped her hands in an agony of grief, and exclaimed, “Is he
+gone? gone for ever?--I have deserved it!”--The letters and picture fell
+from her hand, and she sunk back quite overpowered. When she recovered,
+she found herself in the open air on a seat under Mr. Elmour’s study
+windows, and Ellen beside her.
+
+“Pity, forgive, and advise me, my dear, my best, my only real friend,”
+ said Almeria: “never did I want your advice so much as at this moment.”
+
+“You shall have it, then, without reserve,” said Ellen, “and without
+fear that it should be attributed to any unworthy motive. I could almost
+as soon wish for my brother’s death as desire to see him united to any
+woman, let her beauty and accomplishments be what they might, who had
+a mean or frivolous character, such as could consider money as the
+greatest good, or dissipation as the prime object of life. I am firmly
+persuaded, my dear Almeria, that however you may be dazzled by the first
+view of what is called fashionable life, you will soon see things as
+they really are, and that you will return to your former tastes and
+feelings.”
+
+“Oh! I am, I am returned to them!” cried Almeria; “I will write directly
+to Lady Stock and to Sir Thomas, to tell them that I have changed my
+mind--only prevail upon your father to be my guardian.”
+
+“That is out of my power,” said Ellen; “and I think that it is much
+better you should be as you are, left completely at liberty, and
+entirely independent of us. I advise you, Almeria, to persist in your
+scheme of spending the ensuing winter in town with Lady Stock--then you
+will have an opportunity of comparing your own different feelings,
+and of determining what things are essential to your happiness. If
+you should find that the triumphs of fashion delight you more than the
+pleasures of domestic life; pursue them--your fortune will put it
+in your power; you will break no engagements; and you will have no
+reproaches to fear from us. On the contrary, if you find that your
+happiness depends upon friendship and love, and that the life we
+formerly led together is that which you prefer, you will return to
+Elmour Grove, to your friend and your lover, and your choice will not be
+that of romance, but of reason.”
+
+It was with difficulty that Almeria, in her present fit of enthusiasm,
+could be brought to listen to sober sense and true friendship. Her
+parting from Ellen and Mr. Elmour cost her many tears, and she returned
+to her fashionable friend with swollen eyes and a heavy heart. Her
+sorrow, however, was soon forgotten in the bustle and novelty of a
+new situation. Upon her arrival in London, fresh trains of ideas were
+quickly forced upon her mind, which were as dissimilar as possible from
+those associated with love, friendship, and Elmour Grove. At Sir Thomas
+Stock’s, every thing she saw and heard served to remind, or rather to
+convince her, of the opulence of the owner of the house. Here every
+object was estimated, not for its beauty or elegance, but by its
+costliness. Money was the grand criterion, by which the worth of animate
+and inanimate objects was alike decided. In this society, the worship of
+the golden idol was avowed without shame or mystery; and all who did not
+bow the knee to it were considered as hypocrites or fools. Our heroine,
+possessed of two hundred thousand pounds, could not fail to have a large
+share of incense--every thing she said, or looked, was applauded in Sir
+Thomas Stock’s family; and she would have found admiration delightful,
+if she had not suspected that her fortune alone entitled her to all this
+applause. This was rather a mortifying reflection. By degrees, however,
+her delicacy on this subject abated; she learned philosophically to
+consider her fortune a thing so immediately associated with herself
+as to form a part of her personal merit. Upon this principle, she soon
+became vain of her wealth, and she was led to overrate the consequence
+that riches bestow on their possessor.
+
+In a capital city, such numerous claimants for distinction appear, with
+beauty, birth, wit, fashion, or wealth to support their pretensions,
+that the vanity of an individual, however clamorous, is immediately
+silenced, if not humbled. When Miss Turnbull went into public, she
+was surprised by the discovery of her own, nay even of Lady Stock’s
+insignificance. At York her ladyship was considered as a personage high
+as human veneration could look; but in London she was lost in a crowd of
+fellow-mortals.
+
+It is, perhaps, from this sense of humiliation, that individuals combine
+together, to obtain by their union that importance and self-complacency,
+which separately they could never enjoy. Miss Turnbull observed, that
+a numerous acquaintance was essential to those who lived much in
+public--that the number of bows and curtsies, and the consequence of the
+persons by whom they are given or received, is the measure of merit and
+happiness. Nothing can be more melancholy than most places of public
+amusement, to those who are strangers to the crowds which fill them.
+
+Few people have such strength of mind as to be indifferent to the
+opinions of numbers, even considered merely as numbers; hence those who
+live in crowds, in fact surrender the power of thinking for themselves,
+either in trifles or matters of consequence. Our heroine had imagined
+before she came to town, that Lady Stock moved in the highest circle
+of fashion; but she soon perceived that many of the people of rank who
+visited her ladyship, and who partook of her sumptuous entertainments,
+thought they condescended extremely whilst they paid this homage to
+wealth.
+
+One night at the Opera, Almeria happened to be seated in the next box to
+Lady Bradstone, a proud woman of high family, who considered all whose
+genealogy could not vie in antiquity with her own as upstarts that ought
+to be kept down. Her ladyship, either not knowing or not caring who was
+in the next box to her, began to ridicule an entertainment which had
+been given a few days before by Lady Stock. From her entertainment, the
+transition was easy to her character, and to that of her whole family.
+Young Stock was pronounced to have all the purse-proud self-sufficiency
+of a banker, and all the pertness of a clerk; even his bow seemed as if
+it came from behind the counter.
+
+Till this moment Almeria had at least permitted, if not encouraged, this
+gentleman’s assiduities; for she had hitherto seen him only in
+company where he had been admired: his attentions, therefore, had been
+flattering to her vanity. But things now began to appear in quite a
+different light: she saw Mr. Stock in the point of view in which Lady
+Bradstone placed him; and felt that she might be degraded, but could not
+be elevated, in the ranks of fashion by such an admirer. She began to
+wish that she was not so intimately connected with a family which was
+ridiculed for want of taste, and whose wealth, as she now suspected, was
+their only ticket of admittance into the society of the truly elegant.
+In the land of fashion, “Alps on Alps arise;” and no sooner has the
+votary reached the summit of one weary ascent than another appears
+higher still and more difficult of attainment. Our heroine now became
+discontented in that situation, which but a few months before had been
+the grand object of her ambition.
+
+In the mean time, as Mr. Stock had not overheard Lady Bradstone’s
+conversation at the Opera, and as he had a comfortably good opinion of
+himself, he was sure that he was making a rapid progress in the lady’s
+favour. He had of late seldom heard her mention any of her friends
+at Elmour Grove; and he was convinced that her romantic attachment to
+Frederick must have been conquered by his own superior address. Her
+fortune was fully as agreeable to him as to his money-making father:
+the only difference between them was, that he loved to squander, and
+his father to hoard gold. Extravagance frequently produces premature
+avarice--young Mr. Stock calculated Miss Turnbull’s fortune, weighed
+it against that of every other young lady within the sphere of his
+attractions, found the balance in her favour by some thousands, made his
+proposal in form, and could not recover his astonishment, when he found
+himself in form rejected. Sir Thomas and Lady Stock used all their
+influence in his favour, but in vain: they concluded that Almeria’s
+passion for Frederick Elmour was the cause of this refusal; and they
+directed their arguments against the folly of marrying for love. Our
+heroine was at this time more in danger of the folly of marrying for
+fashion: not that she had fixed her fancy upon any man of fashion in
+particular, but she had formed an exalted idea of the whole species--and
+she regretted that Frederick was not in that magic circle in which
+all her hopes of happiness now centred. She wrote kind letters to Miss
+Elmour, but each letter was written with greater difficulty than the
+preceding; for she had lost all interest in the occupations which
+formerly were so delightful. She and Ellen had now few ideas in common;
+and her epistles dwindled into apologies for long silence--promises
+of being a better correspondent in future--reasons for breaking these
+promises--hopes of pardon, &c. Ellen, however, continued steady in her
+belief that her friend would at last prove worthy of her esteem, and of
+her brother’s love. The rejection of Mr. Stock, which Almeria did not
+fail to mention, confirmed this favourable opinion.
+
+When that gentleman was at length with some difficulty convinced that
+our heiress had decided against him, his manners and those of his
+family changed towards her from the extreme of civility to that of
+rudeness--they spoke of her as a coquette and a jilt, and a person who
+gave herself very extraordinary airs. She was vexed, and alarmed--and in
+her first confusion and distress thought of retreating to her friends
+at Elmour Grove. She wrote a folio sheet to Ellen, unlike her late
+apologetic epistles, full of the feelings of her heart, and of a
+warm invective against fashionable and interested _friends_. After a
+narrative of her quarrel with the Stocks, she declared that she would
+immediately quit her London acquaintance and return to her best friend.
+But the very day after she had despatched this letter she changed her
+mind, and formed a new idea of a _best friend_.
+
+One morning she went with Lady Stock to a bookseller’s, whose shop
+served as a fashionable _lounge_. Her ladyship valued books, like all
+other things, in proportion to the money which they cost: she had
+no taste for literature, but a great fancy for accumulating the most
+expensive publications, which she displayed ostentatiously as part of
+the costly furniture of her house. Whilst she was looking over some
+literary luxuries, rich in all the elegance of hot-press and vellum
+binding, Lady Bradstone and a party of her friends came into the room.
+She immediately attracted and engrossed the attention of all present.
+Lady Stock turned over the leaves of the fine books, and asked their
+prices; but she had the mortification to perceive that she was an object
+rather of derision than of admiration to the new comers. None are so
+easily put out of countenance by airs, as those who are most apt to
+play them off on their inferiors. Lady Stock bit her lips in evident
+embarrassment, and the awkwardness of her distress increased the
+confidence and triumph of her adversary. She had some time before
+provoked Lady Bradstone by giving a concert in opposition to one of
+hers, and by engaging, at an enormous expense, a celebrated performer
+for _her night_: hostilities had thenceforward been renewed at every
+convenient opportunity, by the contending fair ones. Lady Bradstone now
+took occasion loudly to lament her extreme poverty; and she put this
+question to all her party, whether if they had it in their power they
+should prefer having more money than taste, or more taste than money?
+They were going to decide _par acclamation_, but her ladyship insisted
+upon taking each vote separately, because this prolonged the torments of
+her rival, who heard the preference of taste to money reiterated half a
+dozen times over, with the most provoking variety of insulting emphasis.
+Almeria’s sufferings during this scene were far more poignant than those
+of the person against whom the ridicule was aimed: not that she pitied
+Lady Stock--no; she would have rejoiced to have seen her humbled to the
+dust, if she could have escaped all share in her mortification: but as
+she appeared as her ladyship’s acquaintance, she apprehended that she
+might be mistaken for her friend. An opportunity offered of marking the
+difference. The bookseller asked Lady Stock if she chose to put her name
+down in a list of subscribers to a new work. The book, she saw, was to
+be dedicated to Lady Bradstone--and that was sufficient to decide her
+against it.
+
+She declared that she never supported such things either by her name
+or her money; that for her part she was no politician; that she thought
+female patriots were absurd and odious; and that she was glad none of
+that description were of her acquaintance.
+
+All this was plainly directed against Lady Bradstone, who was a zealous
+patriot: her ladyship retorted, by some reflections equally keen, but
+rather more politely expressed, each party addressing their inuendoes
+to the bookseller, who afraid to disoblige either the rich or the
+fashionable, preserved, as much as it was in the power of his muscles, a
+perfectly neutral countenance. At last, in order to relieve himself from
+his constraint, he betook himself to count the subscribers, and Miss
+Turnbull seized this moment to desire that her name might be added to
+the list. Lady Bradstone’s eyes were immediately fixed upon her with
+complacency--Lady Stock’s flashed fire. Regardless of their fire,
+Almeria coolly added, “Twelve copies, sir, if you please.”
+
+“Twelve copies, Miss Turnbull, at a guinea a-piece! Lord bless me, do
+you know what you are about, my dear?” said Lady Stock.
+
+“Perfectly well,” replied our heroine; “I think twelve guineas, or
+twenty times that sum, would be well bestowed in asserting independence
+of sentiment, which I understand is the object of this work.”
+
+A whisper from Lady Bradstone to one of the shopmen, of “Who is that
+charming woman?” gave our heroine courage to pronounce these words. Lady
+Stock in great displeasure walked to her carriage, saying, “You are to
+consider what you will do with your twelve copies, Miss Turnbull; for I
+am convinced your guardian will never let such a parcel of inflammatory
+trash into his house: he admires female patriotism, and _all that sort
+of thing_, as little as I do.”
+
+The rudeness of this speech did not disconcert Almeria; for she was
+fortified by the consciousness that she had gained her point with Lady
+Bradstone. This lady piqued herself upon showing her preferences and
+aversions with equal enthusiasm and _éclat_. She declared before a large
+company at dinner, that notwithstanding Miss Turnbull was _nobody_ by
+birth, she had made herself _somebody_ by spirit; and that for her part,
+she should, contrary to her general principle, which she confessed was
+to keep a strong line of demarcation between nobility and mobility,
+take a pride in bringing forward merit even in the shape of a Yorkshire
+grazier’s daughter.
+
+Pursuant to this gracious declaration, she empowered a common friend to
+introduce Miss Turnbull to her, on the first opportunity. When people
+really wish to become acquainted with each other, opportunities are
+easily and quickly found. The parties met, to their mutual satisfaction,
+that very night in the waiting-room of the Opera-house, and conversed
+more in five minutes than people in town usually converse in five months
+or years, when it is their wish to keep on a merely civil footing. But
+this was not the footing on which Miss Turnbull desired to be with Lady
+Bradstone; she took the utmost pains to please, and succeeded. She owed
+her success chiefly to the dexterous manner in which she manifested
+her contempt for her late dear friend Lady Stock. Her having refused an
+alliance with the family was much in her favour; her ladyship admired
+her spirit, but little suspected that the contemptuous manner in which
+she had once been overheard to speak of this _banker’s son_ was the
+real and immediate cause of his rejection. The phrase--“_only_ Stock
+the banker’s son”--decided his fate: so much may be done by the mere
+emphasis on a single word from fashionable lips! Our heroine managed
+with considerable address in bringing her quarrel with one friend to
+a crisis at the moment when another was ready to receive her. An
+ostensible pretext is never wanting to those who are resolved on war.
+The book to which Miss Turnbull had subscribed was the pretext upon this
+occasion: nothing could be more indifferent to her than politics; but
+Lady Bradstone’s party and principles were to be defended at all events.
+Sir Thomas Stock protested that he might be hurt essentially in the
+opinion of those for whom he had the highest consideration if a young
+lady living under his roof, known to be his ward, and probably presumed
+to be guided by him, should put her name as subscriber to twelve copies
+of a work patronized by Lady Bradstone. “The mere circumstance of its
+being dedicated to her ladyship showed what it _must_ be,” Sir Thomas
+observed; and he made it a point with Miss Turnbull that she should
+withdraw her name from the subscription. This Miss Turnbull absolutely
+refused. Lady Bradstone was her confidante upon the occasion, and
+half-a-dozen notes a day passed between them: at length the affair
+was brought to the long wished-for crisis. Lady Bradstone invited Miss
+Turnbull to her house, feeling herself, as she said, bound in honour to
+_bear her out_ in a dispute of which she had been the original occasion.
+In this lady’s society Almeria found the style of dress, manners, and
+conversation, different from what she had seen at Lady Stock’s: she had
+without difficulty imitated the affectation of Lady Stock, but there
+was an ease in the decided tone of Lady Bradstone which could not be
+so easily acquired. Having lived from her infancy in the best company,
+there was no heterogeneous mixture in her manners; and the consciousness
+of this gave an habitual air of security to her words, looks, and
+motions. Lady Stock seemed forced to beg or buy--Lady Bradstone
+accustomed to command or levy admiration as her rightful tribute. The
+pride of Lady Bradstone was uniformly resolute, and successful; the
+insolence of Lady Stock, if it were opposed, became cowardly and
+ridiculous. Lady Bradstone seemed to have, on all occasions, an
+instinctive sense of what a person of fashion ought to do; Lady Stock,
+notwithstanding her bravadoing air, was frequently perplexed, and
+anxious, and therefore awkward: she had always recourse to precedents.
+“Lady P---- said so, or Lady Q---- did so; Lady G---- wore this, or Lady
+H---- was there, and therefore I am sure it is proper.”
+
+On the contrary, Lady Bradstone never quoted authorities, but presumed
+that she was a precedent for others. The one was eager to follow, the
+other determined to lead, the fashion.
+
+Our heroine, who was by no means deficient in penetration, and whose
+whole attention was now given to the study of externals, quickly
+perceived these shades of difference between her late and her present
+friend. She remarked, in particular, that she found herself much more
+at ease in Lady Bradstone’s society. Her ladyship’s pride was not so
+offensive as Lady Stock’s vanity: secure of her own superiority, Lady
+Bradstone did not want to measure herself every instant with inferiors.
+She treated Almeria as her equal in every respect; and in setting her
+right in points of fashion never seemed to triumph, but to consider her
+own knowledge as a necessary consequence of the life she had led from
+her infancy. With a sort of proud generosity, she always considered
+those whom she honoured with her friendship as thenceforward entitled to
+all the advantages of her own situation, and to all the respect due to
+a part of herself. She now always used the word _we_, with peculiar
+emphasis, in speaking of Miss Turnbull and herself. This was a signal
+perfectly well understood by her acquaintance. Almeria was received
+every where with the most distinguished attention; and she was
+delighted, and absolutely intoxicated, with her sudden rise in the world
+of fashion. She found that her former acquaintance at Lady Stock’s were
+extremely ambitious of claiming an intimacy; but this could not be done.
+Miss Turnbull had now acquired, by practice, the power of looking at
+people without seeming to see them, and of forgetting those with whom
+she was perfectly well acquainted. Her opinion of her own consequence
+was much raised by the court that was paid to her by several young
+men of fashion, who thought it expedient to marry two hundred thousand
+pounds.
+
+How quickly ambition extends her views! Our heroine’s highest object had
+lately been to form an alliance with a man of fashion; she had now three
+fashionable admirers in her train, but though she was flattered by their
+attention, she had not the least inclination to decide in favour of any
+of these candidates. The only young man of her present acquaintance who
+seemed to be out of the reach of her power was Lord Bradstone; and upon
+the conquest of his heart, or rather his pride, her fancy was fixed.
+He had all his mother’s family pride, and he had been taught by her to
+expect an alliance with a daughter of one of the first noble families in
+England. The possibility of his marrying a grazier’s daughter had never
+entered into his or Lady Bradstone’s thoughts: they saw, indeed, every
+day, examples, among the first nobility, of such matches; but they saw
+them with contempt. Almeria knew this, and yet she did not despair of
+success: nor was she wrong in her calculations. Lord Bradstone was fond
+of high play--his taste for gaming soon reduced him to distress--his
+guardian was enraged, and absolutely refused to pay his lordship’s
+debts. What was to be done?--He must extricate himself from his
+difficulties by marrying some rich heiress. Miss Turnbull was the
+heiress nearest at hand. Lord Bradstone’s pride was compelled to yield
+to his interest, and he resolved to pay his addresses to the Yorkshire
+grazier’s daughter: but he knew that his mother would be indignant at
+this idea; and he therefore determined to proceed cautiously, and to
+assure himself of the young lady’s approbation before he should brave
+his mother’s anger.
+
+The winter was now passed, and her ladyship invited Miss Turnbull to
+accompany her to Cheltenham;--her son was of the party. Our heroine
+plainly understood his intentions, and her friendship for Lady Bradstone
+did not prevent her from favouring his views: neither was she deterred
+by her knowledge of his lordship’s taste for play, so ardent was her
+desire for a coronet. The recollection of Frederick Elmour sometimes
+crossed her imagination, and struck her heart; but the pang was soon
+over, and she settled her conscience by the reflection, that she
+was not, in the least degree, bound in honour to him--he had set her
+entirely at liberty, and could not complain of her conduct. As to
+Ellen--every day she determined to write to her, and every day she put
+it off till to-morrow. At last she was saved the trouble of making and
+breaking any more resolutions: for one evening, as she was walking with
+Lady Bradstone and her noble admirer, in the public walk, she met Miss
+Elmour and her brother.
+
+She accosted Ellen with great eagerness; but it was plain to her
+friend’s discerning eyes that her joy was affected. After repeating
+several times that she was quite delighted at this unexpected meeting,
+she ran on with a number of commonplace questions, commencing and
+concluding with, “When did you come?--How long do you stay?--Where do
+you lodge?”
+
+“We have been here about a fortnight, and I believe we shall stay about
+a month longer.”
+
+“Indeed!--A month!--So long!--How fortunate!--But where are you?”
+
+“We lodge a little out of the town, on the road to Cirencester.”
+
+“How unfortunate!--We are at such a shocking distance!--I’m with Lady
+Bradstone--a most charming woman!--Whom are you with?”
+
+“With my poor father,” said Ellen; “he has been very ill lately, and we
+came here on his account.”
+
+“Ill!--Old Mr. Elmour!--I’m extremely concerned--but whom have you to
+attend him?--you should send to town for Dr. Grant--do you know he is
+the only man now?--the only man Lady Bradstone and I have any dependence
+on--if I were dying, he is the man I should send for. Do have him for
+Mr. Elmour, my dear--and don’t be alarmed, above all things--you know
+it’s so natural, at your father’s age, that he should not be as well as
+he has been--but I distress you--and detain you.”
+
+Our heroine, after running off these unmeaning sentences, passed on,
+being ashamed to walk with Ellen in public, because Lady Bradstone had
+whispered, “_Who is she?_”--Not to be known in the world of fashion is
+an unpardonable crime, for which no merit can atone. Three days elapsed
+before Miss Turnbull went to see her friends, notwithstanding her
+extreme concern for poor Mr. Elmour. Her excuse to her conscience was,
+that Lady Bradstone’s carriage could not sooner be spared. People in
+a certain rank of life are, or make themselves, slaves to horses
+and carriages; with every apparent convenience and luxury, they are
+frequently more dependent than their tradesmen or their servants.
+There was a time when Almeria would not have been restrained by these
+imaginary _impossibilities_ from showing kindness to her friends; but
+that time was now completely past. She was, at present, anxious to avoid
+having any private conversation with Ellen, because she was ashamed
+to avow her change of views and sentiments. In the short morning
+visit which she paid her, Almeria talked of public places, of public
+characters, of dress and equipages, &c. She inquired, indeed, with a
+modish air of infinite sensibility, for poor Mr. Elmour; and when she
+heard that he was confined to his bed, she regretted most excessively
+that she could not see him; but a few seconds afterwards, with a
+suitable change of voice and countenance, she made an easy transition
+to the praise of a new dress of Lady Bradstone’s invention. Frederick
+Elmour came into the room in the midst of the eulogium on her ladyship’s
+taste--she was embarrassed for a moment; but quickly recovering the tone
+of a fine lady, she spoke to him as if he had never been any thing to
+her but a common acquaintance. The dignity and firmness of his manner
+provoked her pride; she wished to coquet with him--she tried to excite
+his jealousy by talking of Lord Bradstone: but vain were all her airs
+and inuendoes; they could not extort from him even a sigh. She was
+somewhat consoled, however, by observing in his sister’s countenance the
+expression, as she thought, of extreme mortification.
+
+A few days after this visit, Miss Turnbull received the following note
+from Miss Elmour:
+
+“MY DEAR ALMERIA,
+
+“If you still wish that I should treat you as a friend, show me that you
+do, and you will find my affection unaltered. If, on the contrary, you
+have decided to pursue a mode of life, or to form connexions which make
+you ashamed to own any one for a friend who is not a fine lady, let
+our intimacy be dissolved for ever--it could only be a source of mutual
+pain. My father is better to-day, and wishes to see you. Will you spend
+this evening with him and with Your affectionate ELLEN ELMOUR?”
+
+It happened that the very day Miss Turnbull received this note, Lady
+Bradstone was to have a concert, and Almeria knew that her ladyship
+would be offended if she were to spend the evening with the Elmours:
+it was, as she said to herself, _impossible_, therefore, to accept of
+Ellen’s invitation. She called upon her in the course of the morning,
+to make an apology. She found Ellen beside her father, who was seated
+in his arm-chair: he looked extremely pale and weak: she was at first
+shocked at the change she saw in her old friend, and she could not utter
+the premeditated apology. Ellen took it for granted that she was come,
+in consequence of her note, to spend the day with her, and she embraced
+her with affectionate joy. Her whole countenance changed when our
+heroine began at last to talk of Lady Bradstone and the concert--Ellen
+burst into tears.
+
+“My dear child,” said Mr. Elmour, putting his hand upon his daughter’s,
+which rested upon the arm of his chair, “I did not expect this weakness
+from you.”
+
+Miss Turnbull, impatient to shorten a scene which she had neither
+strength of mind to endure nor to prevent, rose to take leave.
+
+“My dear Ellen,” said she, in an irresolute tone, “my dearest creature,
+you must not distress yourself in this way--I must have you keep up your
+spirits. You confine yourself too much, indeed you do; and you see you
+are not equal to it. Your father will be better, and he will persuade
+you to leave him for an hour or two, I am sure, and we must have you
+amongst us; and I must introduce you to Lady Bradstone--she’s a charming
+woman, I assure you--you would like her of all things, if you knew her.
+Come--don’t let me see you in this way. Really, my dear Ellen, this is
+so unlike you--I can assure you that, whatever you may think, I love you
+as well as ever I did, and never shall forget my obligations to _all_
+your family; but, you know, a person who lives in the world, as I do,
+must make such terrible sacrifices of their time--one can’t do as one
+pleases--one’s an absolute slave. So you must forgive me, dear Ellen,
+for bidding you farewell for the present.”
+
+Ellen hastily wiped away her tears, and turning to Almeria with an air
+of dignity, held out her hand to her, and said, “Farewell for ever,
+Almeria!--May you never feel the want of a sincere and affectionate
+friend!--May the triumphs of fashion make you amends for all you
+sacrifice to obtain them!”
+
+Miss Turnbull was abashed and agitated--she hurried out of the room to
+conceal her confusion, stepped into a carriage with a coronet, drove
+away, and endeavoured to forget all that had passed. The concert in the
+evening recalled her usual train of ideas, and she persuaded herself
+that she had done all, and more than was necessary, in offering to
+introduce Ellen to Lady Bradstone. “How could she neglect such an
+offer?”
+
+A few days after the concert, Almeria had the pleasure of being
+introduced to Lady Bradstone’s four daughters--Lady Gabriella, Lady
+Agnes, Lady Bab, and Lady Kitty. Of the existence of these young ladies
+Almeria had scarcely heard--they had been educated at a fashionable
+boarding-school; and their mother was now under the disagreeable
+necessity of bringing them home to live with her, because the eldest was
+past seventeen.
+
+Lady Gabriella was a beauty, and determined to be a Grace--but which of
+the three Graces, she had not yet decided.
+
+Lady Agnes was plain, and resolved to be a wit.
+
+Lady Bab and Lady Kitty were charming hoydens, with all the _modern_
+simplicity of fourteen or fifteen in their manners. Lady Bab had a fine
+long neck, which was always in motion--Lady Kitty had white teeth, and
+was always laughing;--but it is impossible to characterize them, for
+they differed in nothing from a thousand other young ladies.
+
+These four sisters agreed in but one point--in considering their mother
+as their common enemy. Taking it for granted that Miss Turnbull was her
+friend, she was looked upon by them as being naturally entitled to a
+share of their distrust and enmity. They found a variety of causes of
+complaint against our heroine; and if they had been at any loss, their
+respective waiting-maids would have furnished them with inexhaustible
+causes of quarrel.
+
+Lady Bradstone could not bear to go with more than four in a
+coach.--“Why was Miss Turnbull always to have a front seat in the
+coach, and two of the young ladies to be always left at home on
+her account?”--“How could Lady Bradstone make such a favourite of a
+grazier’s daughter, and prefer her to her own children as a companion?”
+ &c.
+
+The young ladies never discouraged their attendants from saying all the
+ill-natured things that they could devise of Miss Turnbull, and they
+invented a variety of methods of tormenting her. Lady Gabriella found
+out that Almeria was horridly ugly and awkward; Lady Agnes _quizzed_ her
+perpetually; and the Ladies Bab and Kitty played upon her innumerable
+practical jokes. She was astonished to find in high life a degree of
+vulgarity of which her country companions would have been ashamed: but
+all such things in high life go under the general term _dashing_.
+These young ladies were _dashers_. Alas! perhaps foreigners and future
+generations may not know the meaning of the term!
+
+Our heroine’s temper was not proof against the trials to which it was
+hourly exposed: perhaps the consciousness that she was not born to the
+situation in which she now moved, joined to her extreme anxiety to be
+thought genteel and fashionable, rendered her peculiarly irritable
+when her person and manners were attacked by ladies of quality. She
+endeavoured to conciliate her young enemies by every means in her
+power, and at length she found a method of pleasing them. They were
+immoderately fond of baubles, and they had not money enough to gratify
+this taste. Miss Turnbull at first, with great timidity, begged Lady
+Gabriella’s acceptance of a ring, which seemed particularly to catch her
+fancy: the facility with which the ring was accepted, and the favourable
+change it produced, as if by magic, in her ladyship’s manners towards
+our heroine, encouraged her to try similar experiments upon the
+other sisters. She spared not ear-rings, crosses, brooches, pins, and
+necklaces; and the young ladies in return began to show her all the
+friendship which can be purchased by such presents--or by any presents.
+Even whilst she rejoiced at the change in their behaviour, she could
+not avoid despising them for the cause to which she knew it must be
+attributed; nor did she long enjoy even the temporary calm procured by
+these peace-offerings; for the very same things which propitiated the
+daughters offended the mother. Lady Bradstone one morning insisted
+upon Lady Gabriella’s returning a necklace, which she had received from
+Almeria; and her ladyship informed Miss Turnbull, at the same time, with
+an air of supreme haughtiness, that “she could not possibly permit
+_her_ daughters to accept such valuable presents from any but their own
+relations; that if the Lady Bradstones did not know what became them, it
+was her duty to teach them propriety.”
+
+It was rather late in life to begin to teach, even if they had been
+inclined to learn. They resented her last lesson, or rather her last act
+of authority, with acrimony proportioned to the value of the object;
+and Miss Turnbull was compelled to hear their complaints. Lady Gabriella
+said, she was convinced that her mother’s only reason for making her
+return the necklace was because she had not one quite so handsome. Lady
+Agnes, between whom and her mamma there was pending a dispute about a
+pair of diamond ear-rings, left by her grandmother, observed, that her
+mother might, if she pleased, call _jealousy, propriety_; but that she
+must not be surprised if other people used the old vocabulary; that her
+mamma’s pride and vanity were always at war; for that though she
+was proud enough to see her daughters _show well_ in public, yet she
+required to have it said that she looked younger than any of them, and
+that she was infinitely better dressed.
+
+Lady Bab and Lady Kitty did not fail in this favourable moment of
+general discontent to bring forward their list of grievances; and in the
+discussion of their rights and wrongs they continually appealed to our
+heroine, crowding round her whilst she stood silent and embarrassed.
+Ashamed of them and of herself, she compared the Lady Bradstones with
+Ellen--she compared the sisters-in-law she was soon to have with the
+friend she had forsaken. The young ladies mistook the expression of
+melancholy in Almeria’s countenance at this instant, for sympathy in
+their sorrows; and her silence, for acquiescence in the justice of their
+complaints. They were reiterating their opinions with something like
+plebeian loudness of voice, when their mother entered the room. The ease
+with which her daughters changed their countenances and the subject of
+conversation, when she entered, might have prevented all suspicion but
+for the blushes of Almeria, who, though of all the party she was the
+least guilty, looked by far the most abashed. The necklace which hung
+from her hand, and on which in the midst of her embarrassment her eyes
+involuntarily fell, seemed to Lady Bradstone proof positive against her.
+Her ladyship recollected certain words she had heard as she opened the
+door, and now applied them without hesitation to herself. Politeness
+restrained the expression of her anger towards Miss Turnbull, but it
+burst furiously forth upon her daughters; and our heroine was now as
+much alarmed by the violence of her future mother-in-law as she had
+been disgusted by the meanness of her _intended_ sisters. From this
+day forward, Lady Bradstone’s manner changed towards Almeria, who could
+plainly perceive, by her altered eye, that she had lost her confidence,
+and that her ladyship considered her as one who was playing a double
+part, and fomenting dissensions in her family. She thought herself
+bound, in honour to the daughters, not to make any explanation that
+could throw the blame upon them; and she bore in painful silence the
+many oblique reproaches, reflections upon ingratitude, dissimulation,
+and treachery, which she knew were aimed at her. The consciousness that
+she was treating Lady Bradstone with insincerity, in encouraging the
+addresses of her son, increased Miss Turnbull’s embarrassment; she
+repented having for a moment encouraged his clandestine attachment; and
+she now urged him in the strongest manner to impart his intentions to
+his mother. He assured her that she should be obeyed; but his obedience
+was put off from day to day; and, in the mean time, the more Almeria saw
+of his family, the more her desire to be connected with them diminished.
+The affair of the necklace was continually renewed, in some shape or
+other, and a perpetual succession of petty disputes occurred, in which
+both parties were in the wrong, and each openly or secretly blamed her
+for not taking their part. Her mind was so much harassed, that all
+her natural cheerfulness forsook her; and the being obliged to assume
+spirits in company, and among people who were not worth the toil of
+pleasing, became every hour more irksome. The transition from these
+domestic miseries to public dissipation and gaieties made her still more
+melancholy.
+
+When she calmly examined her own heart, she perceived that she felt
+little or no affection for Lord Bradstone, though she had been flattered
+by his attentions, when the assiduity of a man of rank and fashion was
+new to her; but now the joys of being a countess began to fade in her
+imagination. She hesitated--she had not strength of mind sufficient to
+decide--she was afraid to proceed; yet she had not courage to retract.
+
+Ellen’s parting words recurred to her mind--“May you never feel the want
+of a sincere and affectionate friend! May the triumphs of fashion make
+you amends for all you sacrifice to obtain them!”--“Alas!” thought
+she, “Ellen foresaw that I should soon be disgusted with this joyless,
+heartless intercourse; but how can I recede? how can I disengage
+myself from this Lord Bradstone, now that I have encouraged his
+addresses?--Fool that I have been!--Oh! if I could now be advised by
+that best of friends, who used to assist me in all my difficulties!--But
+she despises, she has renounced me--she has bid me farewell for ever!”
+
+Notwithstanding this “farewell for ever,” there was still at the bottom
+of Almeria’s heart, even whilst she bewailed herself in this manner, a
+secret hope that Ellen’s esteem and friendship might be recovered, and
+she resolved to make the trial. She was eager to put this idea into
+execution the moment it occurred to her; and after apologizing to the
+Lady Bradstones for not, as usual, accompanying them in their morning
+ride, she set out to walk to Miss Elmour’s lodgings. It was a hot
+day--she walked fast from the hurry and impatience of her mind. The
+servant who attended her knocked twice at Mr. Elmour’s door before any
+one answered; at last the door was opened by a maid-servant, with a
+broom in her hand.
+
+“Is Miss Elmour at home?”
+
+“No, sir, she left Cheltenham this morning betimes, and we be getting
+the house ready for other lodgers.”
+
+Almeria was very much disappointed--she looked flushed and fatigued;
+and the maid said, “Ma’am, if you’ll be pleased to rest a while, you’re
+welcome, I’m sure--and the parlour’s cleaned out--be pleased to sit
+down, ma’am.”--Almeria followed, for she was really tired, and glad to
+accept the good-natured offer. She was shown into the same parlour where
+she had but a few weeks before taken leave of Ellen. The maid rolled
+forward the great arm-chair, in which old Mr. Elmour had been seated;
+and as she moved it, a gold-headed cane fell to the ground.
+
+Almeria’s eyes turned upon it directly as it fell; for it was an old
+friend of hers: many a time she had played with it when she was a child,
+and for many years she had been accustomed to see it in the hand of
+a man whom she loved and respected. It brought many pleasing and some
+painful associations to her mind--for she reflected how ill she had
+behaved to the owner of it the last time she saw him.
+
+“Ay, ma’am,” said the maid, “it is the poor old gentleman’s cane, sure
+enough--it has never been stirred from here, nor his hat and gloves,
+see, since the day he died.”
+
+“Died!--Good Heavens!--Is Mr. Elmour dead?”
+
+“Yes, sure--he died last Tuesday, and was buried yesterday. You’d better
+drink some of this water, ma’am,” said the girl, filling a glass that
+stood on the table. “Why! dear heart! I would not have mentioned it
+so sudden in this way, but I thought it could no way hurt you. Why, it
+never came into my head you could be a friend of the family’s, nor more,
+may be, at the utmost, than an acquaintance, as you never used to call
+much during his illness.”
+
+This was the most cutting reproach, and the innocence with which it was
+uttered made it still more severe. Almeria burst into tears; and the
+poor girl, not knowing what to say next, and sorry for all she had said,
+took up the cane, which had fallen from Almeria’s hands, and applied
+herself to brightening the gold head with great diligence. At this
+instant there was a double knock at the house-door.
+
+“It’s only the young gentleman, ma’am,” said the maid, as she went
+towards the door.
+
+“What young gentleman?” said Almeria, rising from her seat.
+
+“Young Mr. Elmour, ma’am: he did not go away with his sister, but stayed
+to settle some matters. Oh, they have let him in!”
+
+The maid stood with the parlour-door half open in her hand, not being
+able to decide in her own fancy whether the lady wished that he should
+come into the room or stay out; and before either she, or perhaps
+Almeria, had decided this point, it was settled for them by his walking
+in. Almeria was standing so as to be hid by the door; and he was so
+intent upon his own thoughts, that, without perceiving there was any
+body in the room, he walked straight forward to the table, took up
+his father’s hat and gloves, and gave a deep sigh. He heard his sigh
+echoed--looked up, and started at the sight of Almeria, but immediately
+assumed an air of distant and cold respect. He was in deep mourning, and
+looked pale, as if he had suffered much. Almeria endeavoured to speak;
+but could get out only a few words, expressive of _the shock and
+astonishment_ she had just felt.
+
+“Undoubtedly, madam, you must have been shocked,” replied Frederick, in
+a calm voice; “but you could not have reason to be much astonished. My
+father’s life had been despaired of some time--you must have seen how
+much he was changed when you were here a few weeks ago.” Almeria could
+make no reply; the tears, in spite of all her efforts to restrain them,
+rolled down her cheeks: the cold, and almost severe, manner, in which
+Frederick spoke, and the consciousness that she deserved it, struck her
+to the heart. He followed her, as she abruptly quitted the room, and
+in a tone of more kindness, but with the same distant manner, begged to
+have the honour of attending her home. She bowed her head, to give that
+assent which her voice could not at this instant utter; and she was
+involuntarily going to put her arm within his; but, as he did not seem
+to perceive this motion, she desisted, coloured violently, adjusted
+the drapery of her gown to give employment to the neglected hand, then
+walked on with precipitation. Her foot slipped as she was crossing the
+street; Frederick offered his arm--she could not guess, from the way in
+which it was presented, whether her former attempt had been perceived or
+not. This trifle appeared to her a point of the utmost importance; for
+by this she thought she could decide whether his feelings were really
+as cold towards her as they appeared, whether he felt love and anger, or
+contempt and indifference. Whilst she was endeavouring in vain to form
+her opinion, all the time she leant upon his arm, and walked on in
+silence, a carriage passed them; Frederick bowed, and his countenance
+was suddenly illuminated. Almeria turned eagerly to see the cause of the
+change, and as the carriage drove on she caught a glimpse of a beautiful
+young lady. A spasm of jealousy seized her heart--she withdrew her
+arm from Frederick’s. The abruptness of the action did not create any
+emotion in him--his thoughts were absent. In a few minutes he slackened
+his pace, and turned from the road towards a path across the fields,
+asking if Miss Turnbull had any objection to going that way to Lady
+Bradstone’s instead of along the dusty road. She made no objection--she
+thought she perceived that Frederick was preparing to say something of
+importance to her, and her heart beat violently.
+
+“Miss Turnbull will not, I hope, think what I am going to say
+impertinent; she may be assured that it proceeds from no motive but the
+desire to prevent the future unhappiness of one who once honoured my
+family with her friendship.”
+
+“You are too good--I do not deserve that you should be interested in
+my happiness or unhappiness--I cannot think you impertinent--pray speak
+freely.”
+
+“And quickly,” she would have added, if she dared. Without abating any
+of his reserve from this encouragement, he proceeded precisely in the
+same tone as before, and with the same steady composure.
+
+“An accidental acquaintance with a friend of my Lord Bradstone’s, has
+put me in possession of what, perhaps, you wish to be a secret, madam,
+and what I shall inviolably keep as such.”
+
+“I cannot pretend to be ignorant of what you allude to,” said Almeria;
+“but it is more than probable that you may not have heard the exact
+state of the business; indeed it is impossible that you should, because
+no one but myself could fully explain my sentiments. In fact they were
+undecided; I was this very morning going to consult your sister upon
+that subject.”
+
+“You will not suppose that I am going to intrude my counsels upon you,
+Miss Turnbull; nothing can be farther from my intention: I am merely
+going to mention a fact to you, of which I apprehend you are ignorant,
+and of which, as you are circumstanced, no one in your present society,
+perhaps no one in the world but myself, would choose to apprize you.
+Forgive me, madam, if I try your patience by this preface: I am very
+desirous not to wound your feelings more than is necessary.”
+
+“Perhaps,” said Almeria, with a doubtful smile, “perhaps you are under
+a mistake, and imagine my feelings to be much more interested than they
+really are. If you have any thing to communicate to Lord Bradstone’s
+disadvantage, you may mention it to me without hesitation, and without
+fear of injuring my happiness or his; for, to put you at ease at once,
+I am come to a determination positively to decline his lordship’s
+addresses.”
+
+“This assurance certainly puts me at ease at once,” said Frederick. But
+Almeria observed that he neither expressed by his voice nor countenance
+any of that joy which she had hoped to inspire by the assurance: on
+the contrary, he heard it as a determination in which he was personally
+unconcerned, and in which pure benevolence alone could give him an
+interest. “This relieves me,” continued he, “from all necessity of
+explaining myself further.”
+
+“Nay,” said Almeria, “but I must beg you will explain yourself. You do
+not know but it may be necessary for me to have your antidote ready in
+case of a relapse.”
+
+No change, at least none that betrayed the anxiety of a lover, was
+visible in Frederick’s countenance at this hint of a relapse; but he
+gravely answered, that, when so urged, he could not forbear to tell
+her the exact truth, that Lord Bradstone was a ruined man--ruined
+by gaming--and that he had been so indelicate as to declare to his
+_friend_, that his sole object in marrying was money. Our heroine’s
+pride was severely hurt by the last part of this information; but
+even that did not wound her so keenly as the manner in which Frederick
+behaved. She saw that he had no remains of affection for her lurking
+in his heart--she saw that he now acted merely as he declared, from a
+desire to save from misery one who had formerly honoured his family
+with her friendship. Stiff, cold words--she endeavoured to talk upon
+indifferent subjects, but could not--she was somewhat relieved when they
+reached Lady Bradstone’s door, and when Frederick left her. The moment
+he was gone, however, she ran up stairs to her own apartment, and looked
+eagerly out of her window to catch the last glimpse of him. Such is
+the strange caprice of the human heart, that a lover appears the
+most valuable at the moment he is lost. Our heroine had felt all her
+affection for Frederick revive with more than its former force within
+this last hour; and she thought she now loved with a degree of passion
+of which she had never before found herself capable. Hope is perhaps
+inseparable from the existence of the passion of love. She passed
+alternately from despair to the most flattering delusions: she fancied
+that Frederick’s coldness was affected--that he was acting only from
+honour--that he wished to leave her at liberty--and that as soon as he
+knew she was actually disengaged from Lord Bradstone, he would fly
+to her with all his former eagerness. This notion having once taken
+possession of her mind, she was impatient in the extreme to settle her
+affairs with Lord Bradstone. He was not at home--he did not come in till
+late in the evening. It happened, that the next day Almeria was to be of
+age; and Lord Bradstone, when he met her in the evening, reminded her
+of her promise not “to prolong the torments of suspense beyond that
+period.” She asked whether he had, in compliance with her request,
+communicated the affair to Lady Bradstone? No; but he would as soon as
+he had reasonable grounds of hope. Miss Turnbull rejoiced that he had
+disobeyed her injunctions--she said that Lady Bradstone might now be for
+ever spared hearing what would have inevitably excited her indignation.
+His lordship stared, and could not comprehend our heroine’s present
+meaning. She soon made it intelligible. We forbear to relate all that
+was said upon the occasion: as it was a disappointment of the purse
+and not of the heart, his lordship was of course obliged to make
+a proportional quantity of professions of eternal sorrow and
+disinterestedness. Almeria, partly to save her own pride the
+mortification of the repetition, forbore to allude to the confidential
+speech in which he had explained to _a friend_ his motives for marrying;
+she hoped that he would soon console himself with some richer heiress,
+and she rejoiced to be disencumbered of him, and even of his coronet;
+for in this moment coronets seemed to her but paltry things--so much
+does the appearance of objects vary according to the medium through
+which they are viewed!
+
+Better satisfied with herself after this refusal of the earl, and in
+better spirits than she had been for some months, she flattered herself
+with the hopes that Frederick would call upon her again before he left
+Cheltenham; he would then know that Lord Bradstone was no longer her
+lover.
+
+She fell asleep full of these imaginations--dreamed of Frederick and
+Elmour Grove--but this was only a dream. The next day--and the next--and
+the next--passed without her seeing or hearing any thing of Frederick;
+and the fourth day, as she rode by the house where the Elmours had
+lodged, she saw put up in the parlour window an advertisement of
+“_Lodgings to be let_.” She was now convinced that Frederick had left
+Cheltenham--left it without thinking of her or of Lord Bradstone. The
+young Lady Bradstones observed that she scarcely spoke a word during
+the remainder of her morning’s ride. At night she was attacked with a
+feverish complaint: the image of the beautiful person whom she had seen
+in the coach that passed while she was walking with Frederick, was now
+continually before her eyes. She had made all the inquiries she could,
+to find out who that young lady might be; but this point could not be
+ascertained, because, though she described the lady accurately, she was
+not equally exact about the description of the carriage. The arms and
+livery had totally escaped her observation. The different conjectures
+that had been made by the various people to whom she had applied, and
+the voices in which their answers were given, ran in her head all this
+feverish night.
+
+“Perhaps it was Lady Susanna Quin--very likely it was Lady Mary
+Lowther--very possibly Miss Grant; you know she goes about with old Mrs.
+Grant in a yellow coach--but there are so many yellow coaches--the arms
+or the livery would settle the point at once.” These words, _the arms
+and the livery would settle the point at once,_ she repeated to herself
+perpetually, though without annexing any ideas to the words. In
+short, she was very feverish all night; and in the morning, though she
+endeavoured to rise, she was obliged to lie down again. She was
+confined to her bed for about a week: Lady Bradstone sent for the best
+physicians; and the young ladies, in the intervals of dressing and going
+out, whenever they could remember it, came into Miss Turnbull’s room
+to “hope she found herself better.” It was obvious to her that no one
+person in the house cared a straw about her, and she was oppressed with
+the sense of being an encumbrance to the whole family. Whilst she was
+alone she formed many projects for her future life, which she resolved
+to execute as soon as she should recover. She determined immediately
+to go down to her own house in the country, and to write to Ellen a
+recantation of all her fine lady errors. She composed, whilst she lay on
+her feverish pillow, twenty letters to her former friend, each of them
+more eloquent and magnanimous than the other: but in proportion as her
+fever left her, the activity of her imagination abated, and with it her
+eloquence and magnanimity. Her mind, naturally weak, and now enfeebled
+by disease, became quite passive, and received and yielded to the
+impressions made by external circumstances. New trains of ideas,
+perfectly different from those which had occupied her mind during her
+fever, and in the days preceding her illness, were excited during her
+convalescence. She lay listening to, or rather hearing, the conversation
+of the young Lady Bradstones. They used to come into her room at night,
+and stay for some time whilst they had their hair curled, and talked
+over the events of the day--whom they had met--what dresses they had
+worn--what matches were on the tapis, &c. They happened one night to
+amuse themselves with reading an old newspaper, in which they came to
+an account of a splendid masquerade, which had been given the preceding
+winter in London by a rich heiress.
+
+“Lord! what charming entertainments Miss Turnbull might give if she
+pleased. Why, do you know, she is richer than this woman,” whispered
+Lady Bab; “and she is of age now, you know. If I were she, I’m sure I’d
+have a house of my own, and the finest I could get in London. Now such a
+house as my aunt Pierrepoint’s--and servants--and carriages--and I would
+make myself of some consequence.”
+
+This speech was not lost upon our heroine; and the whisper in which it
+was spoken increased its effect. The next day, as Lady Bab was sitting
+at the foot of Almeria’s bed, she asked for a description of “my aunt
+Pierrepoint’s house.” It was given to her _con amore_, and a character
+of “my aunt Pierrepoint” was added gratis. “She is the most charming
+amiable woman in the world--quite a different sort of person from mamma.
+She has lived all her life about court, and she is connected with all
+the great people, and a prodigious favourite at court--and she is of
+such consequence!--You cannot imagine of what consequence she is!”
+
+Lady Gabriella then continued the conversation, by telling Miss Turnbull
+a great secret, that her aunt Pierrepoint and her mother were not on
+the best terms in the world: “for mamma’s so violent, you know, about
+politics, and quite on a contrary side to my aunt. Mamma never goes to
+court; and, between you and me, they say she would not be received.
+Now that is a shocking thing for us; but the most provoking part of the
+business is, that mamma won’t let my aunt Pierrepoint present us. Why,
+when she cannot or will not go to the drawing-room herself, what
+could be more proper, you know, than to let us be presented by Lady
+Pierrepoint?--Lady Pierrepoint, you know, who is such a prodigious
+favourite, and knows every thing in the world that’s proper at court,
+and every where: it really is monstrous of mamma! Now if you were in
+our places, should not you be quite provoked? By-the-bye, you never were
+presented at court yourself, were you?”
+
+“Never,” said Almeria, with a sudden feeling of mortification.
+
+“No, you could not--of course you could not, living with mamma as you
+do; for I am sure she would quarrel with an angel for just only talking
+of going to court. Lord! if I was as rich as you, what beautiful
+birthday dresses I would have!”
+
+These and similar conversations wrought powerfully upon the weak mind of
+our poor heroine. She rose from her bed after her illness wondering what
+had become of her passion for Frederick Elmour: certainly she was now
+able to console herself for his loss, by the hopes of being presented at
+court, and of being dressed with uncommon splendour. She was surprised
+at this change in her own mind; but she justified it to herself by the
+reflection, that it would show an unbecoming want of spirit to retain
+any remains of regard for one who had treated her with so much coldness
+and indifference, and who in all probability was attached to another
+woman. Pride and resentment succeeded to tenderness; and she resolved
+to show Frederick and Ellen that she could be happy her own way. It
+is remarkable that her friendship for the sister always increased or
+decreased with her love for her brother. Ambition, as it has often been
+observed, is a passion that frequently succeeds to love, though love
+seldom follows ambition. Almeria, who had now recovered her strength,
+was one morning sitting in her own room, meditating arrangements for the
+next winter’s campaign, when she was roused by the voices of Lady Bab
+and Lady Kitty at her room door.
+
+“Miss Turnbull! Miss Turnbull! come! come!--Here’s the king and queen
+and all the royal family, and my aunt Pierrepoint--come quick to our
+dressing-room windows, or they will be out of sight.”
+
+The fair hoydens seized her between them, and dragged her away.
+
+“Mamma says it’s horribly vulgar to run to the windows, but never mind
+that. There’s my aunt Pierrepoint’s coach--is not it handsome?--Oh!
+everything about her is so handsome!--you know she has lived all her
+life at court.”
+
+The eulogiums of these young ladies, and the sight of Lady Pierrepoint’s
+entry in to Cheltenham in the wake of royalty, and the huzzas of the
+mob, and the curiosity of all ranks who crowded the public walks in
+the evening, to see the illustrious guest, contributed to raise our
+heroine’s enthusiasm. She was rather surprised afterwards to observe
+that Lady Pierrepoint passed her sister and nieces, on the public walk,
+without taking the slightest notice of them; her head was turned indeed
+quite another way when she passed, and she was in smiling conversation
+with one of her own party.
+
+Lady Gabriella whispered, “My aunt Pierrepoint cannot _know_ us now,
+because we are with mamma.”
+
+Miss Turnbull now, for the first time, saw Lady Bradstone in a situation
+in which she was neglected; this served to accelerate the decline and
+fall of her ladyship’s power over her mind. She began to consider her
+not as a person by whom she had been brought into notice in the circles
+of fashion, but as one by whom she was prevented from rising to a higher
+orbit. Lady Bradstone went to see her sister the day after her arrival,
+but she was _not at home_. Some days afterwards Lady Pierrepoint
+returned her visit: she came in a sedan chair, because she did not wish
+that her carriage should be seen standing at Lady Bradstone’s door. It
+was incumbent upon her to take every possible precaution to prevent the
+suspicion of her being biassed by sisterly affection; her sister and
+she were unfortunately of such different opinions in politics, and her
+sister’s politics were so much disapproved of, where Lady Pierrepoint
+most wished for approbation, that she could not, consistently with her
+principles or interest, countenance them, by appearing in public with
+one so obnoxious.
+
+Miss Turnbull observed, with the most minute attention, every word and
+gesture of Lady Pierrepoint. At first view, her ladyship appeared all
+smiling ease and affability; but in all her motions, even in those of
+her face, there was something that resembled a puppet--her very smiles,
+and the turns of her eyes, seemed to be governed by unseen wires. Upon
+still closer observation, however, there was reason to suspect that this
+puppet might be regulated by a mind within, of some sort or other; for
+it could not only answer questions by a voice of its own, and apparently
+without being prompted, but moreover it seemed to hesitate, and to take
+time for thought, before it hazarded any reply. Lady Pierrepoint spoke
+always as if she thought her words would be repeated, and must _lead to
+consequences_; and there was an air of vast circumspection and mystery
+about her, which appeared sublime or ridiculous according to the light
+in which it was considered. To our heroine it appeared sublime. Her
+ladyship’s conversation, if a set of unmeaning phrases be deserving of
+that name, at length turned upon the concern she felt that it had not
+been in her power to procure an increase of pension for a certain Mrs.
+Vickars. “Such a respectable character!--the widow of a distant relation
+of the Pierrepoints.” There was no probability, after all the interest
+and influence she had used, she said, that Mrs. Vickars could ever
+be gratified in the line she had attempted; that therefore it was her
+ladyship’s advice to her to look out for some situation of an eligible
+description, which might relieve her from the distressing apprehension
+of appearing burdensome or importunate.
+
+As well as her ladyship’s meaning could be made out, cleared from the
+superfluity of words with which it was covered, she wished to get rid of
+this poor widow, and to fasten her as an humble companion upon any body
+who would be troubled with _such a respectable character!_ Miss Turnbull
+foresaw the possibility of obliging her ladyship by means of Mrs.
+Vickars: for as she proposed to purchase a house in town, it would be
+convenient to her to have some companion; and this lady, who was of a
+certain age, and who had always lived in the best company, would be well
+suited to serve as her chaperon. To do our heroine justice, considering
+that she was unpractised in manoeuvring with court ladies, she conducted
+her scheme with a degree of address worthy of her object. Through the
+medium of Lady Bab and Lady Gabriella, she opened a correspondence with
+Lady Pierrepoint. Mrs. Vickars was introduced to Miss Turnbull--liked
+her prodigiously; and Lady Pierrepoint was most happy in the prospect
+of her relation’s being so eligibly situated. In proportion as Miss
+Turnbull advanced in the good graces of Lady Pierrepoint, she receded
+from Lady Bradstone. This lady’s indignation, which had been excited
+against Almeria by her not siding with her against her daughters, now
+rose to the highest pitch, when she perceived what was going on. No
+crime could in her eyes be greater than that of seceding from her party.
+Her violence in party matters was heightened by the desire to contrast
+herself with her sister Pierrepoint’s courtly policy. Lady Bradstone,
+all the time, knew and cared very little about politics, except so
+far as they afforded her opportunities for the display of spirit
+and eloquence. She had a fine flow of words, and loved to engage in
+argument, especially as she had often been told by gentlemen that her
+enthusiasm became her extremely, and that, even if a man could resist
+the force of her arguments, he must yield to the fire of her eyes. It
+happened that Miss Turnbull was present one day when Lady Bradstone had
+been unusually warm in a political argument, and Lady Pierrepoint as
+cool and guarded as her sister was eager. Almeria was appealed to, and
+gave judgment in favour of Lady Pierrepoint, who happened to be in the
+right. Regardless of right or wrong, Lady Bradstone became more and more
+vehement, whilst Lady Pierrepoint sat in all the composed superiority
+of silence, maintaining the most edifying meekness of countenance
+imaginable, as if it were incumbent on her to be, or at least to seem,
+penitent for a sister’s perversity. She sighed deeply when the _tirade_
+was finished, and fixed her eyes upon her beautiful niece Gabriella.
+Lady Gabriella immediately filled up the pause by declaring that she
+knew nothing of politics and hoped she never should, for that she did
+not know of what use they were to women, except to prevent them from
+going to court.
+
+Lady Bradstone expressed high indignation at perceiving that her
+daughters thought more of dancing at a birthnight ball than of the good
+of the nation.
+
+Mrs. Vickars, who was present, now interposed a word as mediatrix,
+observing, that it was natural for the young ladies at their age: and
+Miss Turnbull, catching or imitating something of the tone of Lady
+Pierrepoint, ventured to add, that “it was a pity that Lady Bradstone’s
+daughters did not enjoy all the advantages of their high rank, and that
+she really wished Lady Bradstone could be prevailed upon to enter into
+conciliatory measures.”
+
+On hearing this speech, Lady Bradstone, no longer able to restrain her
+anger within the bounds of politeness, exclaimed, “I am not surprised at
+receiving such advice from you, Miss Turnbull; but I own I am astonished
+at hearing such sentiments from my daughters. High sentiments are to be
+expected from high birth.”
+
+How Lady Bradstone contrived to make her aristocratic pride of birth
+agree with her democratic principles, it may be difficult to explain;
+but fortunately the idea of preserving consistency never disturbed her
+self-complacency. Besides, to keep her ladyship in countenance, there
+are so many examples of persons who live as royalists and talk as
+republicans.
+
+Almeria could not brook the affront implied by Lady Bradstone’s last
+speech; and matters were now brought to a crisis: she resolved not to
+remain longer in a house where she was exposed to such insults. She was
+of “age, and, thank Heaven! independent.”
+
+Lady Bradstone made no opposition to her determination; but
+congratulated her upon the prospect of becoming independent.
+
+“I agree with you, Miss Turnbull, in thanking Heaven for making me
+independent. Independence of mind, of course,” added she, “I value above
+independence of purse.”
+
+Whatever vexation our heroine might feel from this speech, and from
+the perfect indifference with which Lady Bradstone parted from her,
+was compensated by the belief that she had by her conduct this evening
+ingratiated herself with Lady Pierrepoint. She was confirmed in this
+opinion by Mrs. Vickars, who said that her ladyship afterwards spoke of
+Miss Turnbull as a very judicious and safe young person, whom she should
+not scruple to protect. She was even so condescending as to interest
+herself about the house in town, which Miss Turnbull talked of
+purchasing: she knew that a noble friend of hers, who was going on a
+foreign embassy, had thoughts of parting with his house; and it would
+certainly suit Miss Turnbull, if she could compass the purchase. Almeria
+felt herself highly honoured by her ladyship’s taking a concern in any
+of her affairs; and she begged of Mrs. Vickars to say, that “expense was
+no object to her.” She consequently paid a few hundred guineas more
+than the value of the house, for the honour of Lady Pierrepoint’s
+interference. Her ladyship saw into the weakness of our heroine’s
+character, and determined to make advantage of it. It was a maxim of
+hers, that there is no person so insignificant, but some advantage may
+be made of them; and she had acted upon this principle through life,
+sometimes so as to excite in the minds of the ignorant a high admiration
+of her affability. It is said, that when Lady Pierrepoint was asked why
+she married, she replied, “To increase my consequence, and strengthen my
+connexions.”
+
+Perhaps this speech was made for her by some malicious wit; but it
+is certain that she never upon any occasion of her life neglected an
+opportunity of acting upon this principle. She was anxious with this
+view to have as many dependents as possible: and she well knew that
+those who were ambitious of a curtsy from her at the playhouse, or
+a whisper at the opera, were as effectually her dependents as the
+mendicants at her door, who are in want of a shilling. The poor may be
+held in the iron fetters of necessity, but the rich are dragged behind
+the car of fashion by the golden chains of vanity.
+
+The summer in the life of a fine lady is a season comparatively of so
+little consequence, that the judicious historian may pass over some
+months of it without their being missed in the records of time. He
+hastens to the busy and important season of winter.
+
+Our heroine took possession of her magnificent house in town: and Mrs.
+Vickars was established as _arbitratrix elegantiarum_.
+
+This lady deemed herself a judge in the last appeal of every thing that
+became a person of fashion; and her claim to infallibility upon those
+points was established by her being fourth cousin to Lady Pierrepoint.
+Almeria soon discovered in her companion an inordinate love of power,
+and an irritability of temper, which misfortunes and ill health had
+increased to such a degree that it required more than the patience of
+a female Job to live with her upon good terms. Martyrs in the cause of
+vanity certainly exhibit wonderful, if not admirable, fortitude, in the
+midst of the absurd and extravagant torments which they inflict upon
+themselves. Our heroine endured for a whole season, without any outward
+complaint, but with many an inward groan, the penance which she had
+imposed upon herself: the extent of it can be comprehended only by those
+who have been doomed to live with a thoroughly ill-tempered woman. The
+reward was surely proportioned to the sufferings. Miss Turnbull received
+a smile, or a nod, or something like a curtsy from Lady Pierrepoint,
+whenever she met her in public; her ladyship’s cards were occasionally
+left at the Yorkshire heiress’s door; and she sometimes honoured Miss
+Turnbull’s crowded rooms, by crowding them still more with her august
+presence. There was further reason to hope, that her ladyship might be
+induced to present Almeria at court before the next birthday. All
+these advantages were to be attributed to Mrs. Vickars, for she was the
+connecting link between two beings of inferior and superior order.
+We forbear to describe, or even to enumerate, the variety of balls,
+suppers, dinners, déjeunés, galas, and masquerades, which Miss Turnbull
+gave to the fashionable world during this winter. The generous public
+forget these things the week after they are over; and the consequence
+they bestow endures no longer than the track of a triumphal chariot.
+
+Our heroine was never fully convinced of this truth till it was
+confirmed by her own experience. She found it necessary continually to
+renew her expensive efforts, to keep herself alive in the memory of her
+great acquaintance. Towards the time when she expected to be presented
+at court by Lady Pierrepoint, a sudden coolness was apparent in her
+ladyship’s manner; and one morning Almeria was surprised by a note from
+her, regretting, in the most polite but positive terms, that it would
+be absolutely out of her power to have the honour of presenting Miss
+Turnbull at St. James’s. In the utmost consternation, Almeria flew for
+an explanation to Mrs. Vickars. Mrs. Vickars was in a desperate fit of
+_the sullens_, which had lasted now upwards of eight-and-forty hours,
+ever since her advice had not been taken about the placing of certain
+bronze figures, with antique lamps in their hands, upon the great
+staircase. It was necessary to bring the lady into a good humour in
+the first place, by yielding to her uncontrolled dominion over the
+_candelabras_. This point being settled, and an unqualified submission
+in all matters of taste, past, present, or to come, declared or implied
+on the part of our heroine, Mrs. Vickars on her part promised to set out
+immediately on an embassy to Lady Pierrepoint, to discover the cause of
+the present discontent. After making sundry ineffectual attempts to
+see her noble relation, she was at last admitted; and after one hour’s
+private audience, she returned to the anxious Almeria with a countenance
+lengthened to the utmost stretch of melancholy significance.
+
+“What _is_ the matter, Mrs. Vickars?”
+
+It was long before this question was answered; but after many friendly
+lamentations, Mrs. Vickars could not help observing, that Miss Turnbull
+had nobody to blame in this business but herself. This, or any thing
+else, she was willing to admit, to get at the point, “But what have I
+done? I dare say it is, as you say, all my own fault--but tell me how?”
+
+“How!--Can you, my dearest Miss Turnbull, forget that you did the most
+imprudent and really unaccountable thing, that ever woman did?--Lady
+Pierrepoint _had it_ from Stock the banker. Now you must be certainly
+conscious to what I allude.”
+
+Almeria still looked innocent till Mrs. Vickars produced the book
+dedicated to Lady Bradstone, for twelve copies of which Miss Turnbull
+had subscribed. Her name was printed among the list of subscribers, and
+there was no palliating the fact. When her companion saw that she was
+quite overwhelmed with the sense of this misfortune, she began to hint,
+that though the evil was great, it was not without remedy; that in her
+own private opinion, Lady Pierrepoint might have passed over the thing,
+if she had not heard it at a most unlucky moment. The provoking banker
+mentioned it to her ladyship just after he had disappointed her of
+certain moneys, for which she was negotiating. From her situation and
+means of obtaining secret and early intelligence, she had it frequently
+in her power to make money by selling in or out of the stocks. Such an
+opportunity at present occurred; and “it was a great pity,” Mrs. Vickars
+observed, “that the want of a little ready money should preclude her
+from the possibility of profiting by her situation.” Miss Turnbull,
+who was not deficient in quickness of comprehension, upon this hint
+immediately said, “that her ladyship might command some thousands which
+she had in Sir Thomas Stock’s bank.” Lady Pierrepoint the next day found
+that it would be best to hush up the affair of the subscription to
+the fatal pamphlet. She said, “that she had with infinite satisfaction
+ascertained, that the thing had not been noticed in the quarter where
+she feared it would have created an insuperable prejudice--that there
+were other Turnbulls, as she was happy to understand, in the world,
+besides Mrs. Vickars’s friend; and that as, in the list of subscribers,
+she was mentioned only as _Miss_ Turnbull, not as Almeria Turnbull, all
+was safe, and nobody would suspect that a lady presented at court by my
+Lady Pierrepoint could be the same person that subscribed to a book of
+such a description.”
+
+This affair being adjusted, the league was tacitly formed between
+interest and vanity. Miss Turnbull was presented at court by Lady
+Pierrepoint, and her ladyship bought into the stocks with the Yorkshire
+heiress’s money. The gratification of Almeria’s ambition, however, did
+not complete her happiness. When she was at the summit of the Alps of
+fashion, she saw how little was to be seen.
+
+Though she liked to have it to say that she was a great deal with Lady
+Pierrepoint, yet the time always passed most heavily in her company;
+nor was the inferiority of this lady’s understanding compensated by
+an affectionate heart. Her smoothly polished exterior prevented all
+possibility of obtaining any hold over her. She had the art at once
+to seem to be intimate with people, and to keep them at the greatest
+distance; as, in certain optical deceptions, an object which appears
+close to us, eludes our hand if we attempt to grasp it. Almeria felt the
+want of that species of unreserved confidence and friendship which she
+had formerly enjoyed with Ellen. In judging of what will make us happy,
+we are apt to leave time out of the account; and this leads to most
+important errors. For a short period we may be amused or gratified by
+what will fatigue and disgust us if long continued. The first winter
+that she spent in dissipation she was amused; but winter after winter
+passed; and the recurrence of the same public diversions, and the
+same faces, and the same common-place conversation, wearied instead of
+interesting her. But as the pleasure of novelty declined, the power
+of habit increased; and she continued the same course of life for six
+years--six long years! against both her judgment and her feelings, the
+absolute slave of an imaginary necessity. Thus the silly chicken remains
+prisoner in a circle of chalk: even when the hand by which it was held
+down is removed, it feels an imaginary pressure, from which it dares not
+even attempt to escape.
+
+Almeria, however, was now arrived at an age when she could no longer,
+with any propriety, be called a chicken: she was seven-and-twenty; and
+the effect of keeping late hours, and the continual petty irritations
+to which she had been subject, were sufficiently visible in her
+countenance. She looked in a morning so faded and haggard, that any one
+not used to the _wear and tear_ of fashionable faces would have guessed
+Almeria’s age to be seven-and-thirty instead of seven-and-twenty. During
+her six campaigns in London, she or her fortune had made many conquests;
+but none of her London captives had ever obtained any power over her
+affections, and her ambition could not decide upon the pretensions of
+her several suitors. Lady Pierrepoint, who was her prime adviser, had an
+interest in keeping her unmarried; because during this time her ladyship
+employed most advantageously certain moneys, which she had borrowed
+from our heiress. This female politician made some objection to
+every proposal; continually repeating, that Miss Turnbull might do
+better--that she might look higher--that with her pretensions, there
+could be no doubt that she would have a variety of advantageous
+offers--and that her _play_ should be to raise her value by rejecting,
+without hesitation, all pretenders but those of the first distinction.
+Lady Pierrepoint, who usually spoke with all the ambiguity of an oracle,
+seemed on this subject more than usually mysterious. She dropped half
+sentences, then checked herself, hinted that she was not at liberty to
+speak out; but that she had her own private reasons for advising her
+friend Miss Turnbull not to be precipitate in her choice. Her ladyship’s
+looks said more than her words, and Almeria interpreted them precisely
+as she wished. There was a certain marquis, whom she sometimes met at
+Lady Pierrepoint’s, and whom she would have been pleased to meet more
+frequently. He was neither young, nor handsome, nor witty, nor wise.
+What was he then?--He was a marquis--and is not that enough?--Almeria
+saw that he was looked up to as a person of great influence and
+importance, and she now had the habit of trusting to the eyes and ears
+of others. She now considered what people were _thought of_, not what
+they really were; and according to this mode of estimation she could
+not fail to form a high opinion of this exalted personage. He paid her
+distinguished, but not decisive attention; and perhaps the uncertainty
+in which she was kept as to his views increased her interest upon the
+subject. There was always some obstacle, which seemed to prevent him
+from declaring himself:--at one time he was suddenly obliged to go
+ambassador to some foreign court; he went, and stayed a year; at his
+return he was immersed in politics, and deplored his hard fate in terms
+which Almeria thought it was impossible not to construe favourably
+to her wishes. She thought she was upon the point of becoming a
+marchioness, when his lordship was again sent into what he called
+banishment. Lady Pierrepoint had constantly letters from him, however;
+passages from which she from time to time read to Almeria, in whose weak
+mind this kept alive an indistinct hope, for which she had no rational
+foundation. She was confirmed in her belief that the marquis had serious
+thoughts of her, by the opinion of Mrs. Vickars, who she thought was
+in the secret, and who certainly would not speak decidedly without
+sufficient reason. Indeed, nothing but the pleasure she received from
+Mrs. Vickars’s favourable prognostics upon this subject could have in
+any degree balanced the pain she daily endured from this lady’s fretful
+temper. Almeria submitted to her domineering humour, and continued to
+propitiate her with petty sacrifices, more from fear than love--from
+fear that her adverse influence might be fatal to her present scheme of
+aggrandizement. Weak minds are subject to this apprehension of control
+from secret causes utterly inadequate to their supposed effects; and
+thus they put their destiny into the hands of persons who could not
+otherwise obtain influence over their fate.
+
+The time at length arrived when our heroine was to be confirmed in her
+expectations, or wakened from her state of self-delusion. The
+marquis returned from abroad, and Lady Pierrepoint wrote a note more
+mysteriously worded than usual, signifying that she “wished to have
+a conference with Miss Turnbull on a subject of some importance; and
+begged to know at what hour in the morning she might be secure of the
+pleasure of finding her at home.” Almeria named her hour, and waited
+for its arrival with no small impatience. Lady Pierrepoint’s thundering
+knock at the door was heard; her ladyship was shown up stairs; and she
+entered the room with a countenance that seemed to promise well. She
+preluded with many flattering phrases--declared that ever since she had
+been first acquainted with Miss Turnbull at Cheltenham, she had always
+considered her with sentiments of esteem, of which she had since given
+indeed the most convincing proofs, by accepting of obligations from her.
+
+“Obligations!” exclaimed Almeria, with an air of polite astonishment.
+
+“Yes, my dear Miss Turnbull,” continued her ladyship, with still more
+polite humility, “I am under obligations to you assuredly. Things of a
+pecuniary nature ought not to be named, I confess, in the same sentence
+with friendship; yet for the sake of one’s family it is, whilst we
+remain in this world, the duty of every one to pay a certain degree of
+attention to such points; and a person who has, like me, advantages of
+situation and connexions, would not be justifiable in neglecting, under
+due limitations, to make use of them.”
+
+Miss Turnbull readily assented to these guarded truisms, but wondered to
+what all this was to lead.
+
+“The money which you have had the goodness to trust in my hands,”
+ continued her ladyship, “has, without in the least impoverishing, or, I
+hope, _inconveniencing_ you, been of the most material advantage to me.”
+
+Almeria comprehended that her ladyship referred to her speculations
+in the stocks, and she congratulated her upon her success; and added
+assurances, that for her own part she had not been in the slightest
+degree _inconvenienced_. Whilst Miss Turnbull uttered these assurances,
+however, she was not sorry to see Lady Pierrepoint take out of her
+pocket-book bank notes to the amount of her debt; for in plain truth,
+the interest of this loan had never been punctually paid; and Almeria
+had often regretted that she had placed so much of her fortune out of
+her own power. “Let me now return these to you with a thousand thanks,”
+ said her ladyship. “Indeed, my niece Gabriella has more reason even than
+I have to thank you; for you must know, my dear Miss Turnbull, that all
+my speculations have been for her. From the time that she came to live
+with me, I was determined that she should be properly established; and
+you must be sensible that, for a young lady’s establishment in our days,
+money is as essential as beauty. La belle Gabrielle is now provided for
+as she ought to be, and of course the consequence will be a suitable
+alliance.” Miss Turnbull expressed her satisfaction at finding that
+her money had been instrumental in attaining so happy a purpose, and
+presumed to ask if her ladyship had any immediate alliance in view.
+
+“It is a secret as yet; but I have no secrets for you, my dear Miss
+Turnbull: indeed, I came here this morning by our dear Gabriella’s
+particular desire to communicate it to you. I flatter myself you will
+approve of her choice--our favourite marquis.”
+
+Almeria was so much astonished and shocked by these words, that she
+turned as pale as if she were going to faint. “Our favourite marquis!”
+ she repeated in a faltering voice; “I thought----”
+
+The fear of becoming ridiculous restrained her anger, and she
+paused.--“You thought, perhaps,” resumed the perfectly-composed Lady
+Pierrepoint, “you thought, perhaps, my dear, that there was too great a
+disparity of age between Gabriella and the marquis.”
+
+“Oh! no.”
+
+“Why, that is an objection, I confess; at least it would be to some
+young ladies: but as Gabriella is satisfied, we may waive that.”
+
+“Oh! yes, certainly.”
+
+“One cannot help being interested for him; he is such a respectable
+character--and so much in love! It would really surprise you, my dear;
+for you know he was a man, one would have imagined, so much immersed in
+politics--I protest I never had a suspicion of his having a thought of
+Gabriella, till the proposal was absolutely made.”
+
+“I am sure _I_ never suspected the marquis’s attachment to Lady
+Gabriella,” said Miss Turnbull: “on the contrary--”
+
+“On the contrary,” pursued Lady Pierrepoint, “he paid her always, as I
+remember, less attention than to twenty others, who were indifferent to
+him.”
+
+The struggle was still violent in our heroine’s mind between rage and
+the dread of exposing herself to ridicule. Lady Pierrepoint saw this,
+and coolly held her in this dilemma.
+
+“Now,” continued her ladyship, “men are such unaccountable creatures,
+one never can understand them. Do you know, my dear Miss Turnbull, I
+had, till his lordship explained himself unequivocally to me, a notion
+that he was in love with you.”
+
+“Really!” said our heroine, forcing a laugh.
+
+“Did your friend Mrs. Vickars never tell you so?”
+
+“Yes, she did--frequently.”
+
+“Both of us mistaken, you see, my dear. Mortifying! to find one’s
+judgment so fallible. I tell the marquis, he might absolutely have been
+privately married to Gabriella without my finding him out--it is so easy
+now, the easiest thing in the world, to impose upon me. Well, I must bid
+you adieu for the present, my dear Miss Turnbull--you may imagine I have
+a world of business on my hands.”
+
+With the utmost appearance of cordiality Lady Pierrepoint shook our
+heroine’s receding hand; and, without seeming to notice the painful
+emotions visible in Almeria’s countenance, departed smiling, and
+perfectly composed.
+
+The moment that her ladyship had left the room, our heroine retired to
+her own apartment, and hastily bolted the door to prevent the intrusion
+of Mrs. Vickars, whose curiosity and condolence, whether real or
+affected, she was not in a humour to endure. She walked up and down the
+room in great agitation, by turns angry with Lady Pierrepoint, with the
+marquis, with Lady Gabriella, with Mrs. Vickars, and with herself.
+After her anger had spent itself, the sorrowful certainty that it
+was unavailing remained; the disappointment was irremediable, and her
+mortification was the more poignant, because she had no human being to
+sympathize in her feelings, no one to whom she could complain.
+
+“So this is fashionable friendship!” said she to herself. “This is the
+end of all Lady Pierrepoint’s and Lady Gabriella’s professions of regard
+for me!--Fool that I have been, to become their dupe!--With my eyes
+open I saw nothing that was going forward, though now I can recollect
+a thousand and a thousand circumstances, by which I might have been
+undeceived. But I trusted implicitly--idiot that I was!--to the
+friendship of this treacherous, unfeeling courtier. Once I had a friend,
+to whom I might trust implicitly--I never, never, shall find her equal.”
+
+A transient recollection of former times crossed her mind--but those
+times could not be recalled; and the present pressed upon her most
+forcibly. Frustrated in all her ambitious schemes, she was sensible that
+all that now remained for her was to conceal her disappointment, and
+to avoid the contempt to which she would be exposed in the world, if it
+were whispered that Miss Turnbull had fancied that the Marquis of ----
+was in love with her, whilst he was all the while paying his addresses
+to Lady Gabriella Bradstone. This powerful fear of ridicule conquered,
+or suppressed, all other feelings. With all the resolution she could
+assume, Almeria went to Mrs. Vickars, and congratulated her upon the
+happy event which was soon likely to take place in her family: she even
+constrained herself so far, as, without expressing either suspicion or
+resentment, to hear her companion disclaim all knowledge of the affair,
+and declare that she had, that morning, for the first time, heard of it
+from Lady Pierrepoint, with a degree of astonishment from which she had
+not yet recovered.
+
+In a few weeks afterwards Lady Gabriella’s marriage took place. Our
+heroine’s mortification was much increased by the splendour in which the
+bride appeared, and by the great share of the public attention which
+the fair marchioness seemed for some days to engross. Miss Turnbull
+was weary of hearing the praises of her equipages and dress; and the
+dissimulation she was continually obliged to practise towards Mrs.
+Vickars became intolerable. Nothing but a pretext for quarrelling with
+this lady was wanting to Almeria, and nothing but an excuse for leaving
+Almeria was now desired by Mrs. Vickars, who had received an invitation
+from the marchioness, which she was impatient to accept. The ladies one
+morning after breakfast fell into a dispute upon the comparative
+merits of blue and green. It was not to all appearance a very dangerous
+subject, but in certain situations every subject becomes dangerous.
+
+“This riband is a beautiful blue,” said Miss Turnbull.
+
+“I confess I do not think so,” said Mrs. Vickars; “it is a very
+unbecoming shade of blue.”
+
+“Unbecoming!--I have been told by twenty people, that it is remarkably
+becoming to me. Mrs. Ingoldsby told me yesterday, that she never saw so
+beautiful a blue.”
+
+“Mrs. Ingoldsby’s taste is not infallible, I imagine,” said Mrs.
+Vickars, with a contemptuous smile.
+
+“It may not be infallible,” replied our heroine, “but it is at least as
+much to be relied upon as other people’s.”
+
+“I am sure I do not pretend to compare my taste to Mrs. Ingoldsby’s;
+but I may be permitted to have an opinion of my own, I hope: and in my
+opinion it is a frightful blue, and shockingly unbecoming. And at all
+events I like green infinitely better than blue; and I beseech you, Miss
+Turnbull, not to wear this hideous riband.”
+
+“I am sure I don’t pretend to set my taste in competition with Mrs.
+Vickars’s, but I must confess I cannot think this a frightful blue, or
+shockingly unbecoming; nor can I agree with any body in preferring
+green to blue; and for once I shall take the liberty of following my own
+fancy.”
+
+“For once!--I am sorry I ever presumed to offer an opinion upon this or
+any other subject to Miss Turnbull--I shall be more cautious in future;
+but I candidly own I did think I might prefer green to blue without
+giving offence.”
+
+“It gives me no offence, I assure you, Mrs. Vickars, that you should
+prefer green to blue; I am not so ridiculous. But people who cannot bear
+to be contradicted themselves are always apt to fancy that others have
+the same strange sort of domineering temper.”
+
+“People who can bear nothing but flattery, Miss Turnbull, should have
+such a friend as Mrs. Ingoldsby, who would swear that blue is green,
+and black white, I make no doubt,” said Mrs. Vickars; “for my part, I am
+sorry I cannot get rid of my troublesome sincerity.”
+
+“Sincerity! Sincerity!--To do you justice, Mrs. Vickars, whatever I may
+have felt about trifles, in affairs of importance I have never found
+your _sincerity_ troublesome.”
+
+The ironical accent upon the word _sincerity_ sufficiently marked Miss
+Turnbull’s meaning.
+
+The irritable temper of Mrs. Vickars put it out of her power to act a
+part with that “exquisite dissimulation,” for which some of her sex have
+been celebrated by the judicious Davila. Thrown off her guard by the
+last sarcastic insinuation, Mrs. Vickars burst into an angry defence
+of her own sincerity with respect to the affair of the marquis and Lady
+Gabriella. Almeria observed, that this “defence was quite unnecessary,
+as she had not made any accusation; and these apologies could be
+prompted only by Mrs. Vickars’s own _tenderness_ of conscience.” Mrs.
+Vickars replied with increasing acrimony. She said, that her “conduct
+needed no apologies, and that she should not stoop to make any, to
+soothe the disappointed ambition of any person whatever.” Reproach
+succeeded reproach--sarcasm produced sarcasm--till at last Mrs. Vickars
+declared, that after what had passed it was impossible she should remain
+another day in Miss Turnbull’s house. This declaration was heard
+by Almeria with undisguised satisfaction. The next day Mrs. Vickars
+accepted of an invitation from the marchioness; and our heroine
+afterwards protested that she was as much rejoiced to be freed from the
+encumbrance of such a companion as Sinbad the sailor was to get rid of
+the old man of the sea, who fastened himself upon his shoulders with
+such remorseless tenacity.
+
+She resolved to be more cautious in choice of her next companion. There
+were many candidates for the honour of supplying the place of Mrs.
+Vickars; amongst these was Mrs. Ingoldsby, a lady who was perfect
+mistress of the whole art of flattery, by means of which she had so
+far ingratiated herself with Miss Turnbull, that she felt secure of a
+preference over all competitors. Almeria had indeed almost decided in
+her favour, when she received a note from a Mrs. Wynne, an old lady with
+whom she had formerly been acquainted in Yorkshire, and who, being just
+come to town, was eager to renew her intimacy with Miss Turnbull.
+She was a woman of an excellent heart, and absolutely incapable of
+suspecting that others could be less frank or friendly than herself. She
+was sometimes led into mistakes by this undistinguishing benevolence;
+for she imagined that all which appeared wrong would prove right, if
+properly understood; that there must be some good reason for every thing
+that seemed to be bad; that every instance of unkindness or insolence
+was undesigned; and that every quarrel was only a misunderstanding.
+Possessed by this good-natured kind of wrong-headedness, she frequently
+did the most provoking, by way of doing the most obliging things
+imaginable.
+
+Upon this principle she would place contending parties by surprise in
+the very situation which of all others they most wished to avoid, and
+then give the signal for a pitched battle, by begging the enemies would
+shake hands with one another. Now she had heard it reported in Yorkshire
+that there was some coolness between the Elmours and Miss Turnbull; but
+she was morally certain there could be no truth in this report, for a
+variety of the very best reasons in the world.
+
+“In the first place,” argued Mrs. Wynne, “to my certain knowledge, Miss
+Turnbull was, from her infancy, always the greatest favourite at Elmour
+Grove, the pupil of the good old gentleman, and the intimate friend of
+the daughter. During that odd Hodgkinson’s lifetime, Almeria was always
+with Miss Ellen Elmour, who treated her quite like a sister. I am sure
+I remember, as if it was yesterday, her introducing Miss Turnbull to me,
+and the affectionate way in which she spoke of her--and I particularly
+recollect hearing Almeria Turnbull, amongst other grateful things, say,
+that she should wish to live and die with her friends at Elmour Grove.
+Then she had stronger reasons afterwards for being attached to them--you
+know it was Mr. Frederick Elmour who gained her large fortune for her. I
+was in the court-house in York the very day the cause was decided, and
+I never heard a man speak with more energy and eloquence than Frederick
+Elmour did in her defence. It was plain, indeed, that the eloquence came
+from his heart--as to the law part of the business, I know my nephew,
+who understands those things, said it was a very nice question, and that
+if her cause had not been managed as ably as it was, she would not have
+gained her fortune. Now of course this was a thing that never could be
+forgotten. I own, I expected that there would have been a match between
+Miss Turnbull and Mr. Elmour; but Sir Thomas Stock, her guardian, took
+her away from us, and Mr. Elmour fell in love with another lady. But all
+this time Miss Turnbull has never married, though she has been so much
+in the great world, and from her large fortune must have had so many
+offers. I heard it said yesterday, that she had refused Sir Thomas
+Stock’s eldest son, and my Lord Bradstone, and some others; now it is
+plain she would not marry merely for money or title. My nephew, who is
+so amiable and sensible, is just the man for her, and he had used to
+admire her very much in former times, when he met her at Elmour Grove.”
+ Mrs. Wynne hinted her wishes to her nephew, but he seemed not much
+inclined towards Miss Turnbull, “because,” said he, “though Frederick
+and his sister never uttered a syllable to her disadvantage, I cannot,
+from circumstances, help imagining, that she has not behaved well to
+them; and besides, after five or six years spent in the great world, and
+in all the dissipation in which she has lived, her disposition cannot
+probably be the same as it was when I knew her in the country.”
+
+Mrs. Wynne could not, with her good-natured eyes, see the force of any
+of these objections, and she was determined to convince her nephew of
+their futility. With this view she formed a scheme which was to be kept
+a profound secret from the parties concerned, till the moment when it
+should be ripe for execution. She heard that Miss Turnbull was in want
+of a companion; and she knew that Mrs. Henry Elmour, a very amiable
+young widow, distantly related to the Elmour family, and who had
+formerly been a friend of Almeria’s, was at this moment in great
+distress. She had no doubt that Miss Turnbull would be delighted with an
+opportunity of serving any one connected with a family to whom she
+owed such obligations. Mrs. Wynne fancied that this would be the finest
+occasion imaginable to prove to her nephew, that, notwithstanding
+Almeria had lately lived so much in the fashionable world, she had the
+same grateful heart as formerly.
+
+Eager to come to this demonstration, Mrs. Wynne wrote immediately to
+the distressed widow, begging her to come to town with all possible
+expedition; “for I have found, or at least I am morally sure of finding,
+the most charming situation your heart can desire. I say no more, that I
+may not deprive you of the pleasure of the surprise.”
+
+The same day that she sent this letter to the post, she despatched the
+following note to Almeria:
+
+
+‘MY DEAR MISS TURNBULL,
+
+“I am too well persuaded of the goodness of your heart to fear that you
+should think my present interference impertinent. We used to be very
+good friends in Yorkshire, and I am sure shall be just the same in
+London; therefore I write without ceremony, as friends should. I called
+upon you twice, but found you were, unluckily, not at home. Now I have a
+matter very near my heart to speak to you about, that perhaps will turn
+out as much to your satisfaction as to mine. I cannot express myself so
+well as I could wish in writing, but am sure you will not repent your
+kindness, if you will do us the honour of dining with us in a family
+way on Friday next; and in the mean time, let me beg you will not decide
+your choice of a companion. I cannot be more explicit, lest (as I have
+said once before to-day) I should deprive you of the pleasure of the
+surprise. Dear madam, forgive this freedom in one who most sincerely
+wishes you well (as Friday will prove). My nephew, Henry Wynne (whom you
+may remember a great admirer of yours), desires his best respects; and
+with every good wish I remain, Dear Miss Turnbull’s
+
+“Affectionate humble servant,
+
+“M. WYNNE.”
+
+
+This letter at first surprised our heroine, and afterwards afforded
+subject for much ridicule to Mrs. Ingoldsby, to whom Almeria showed
+it. She laughed at the odd freedom of the Yorkshire dame, at the
+old-fashioned plainness of the style--parenthesis within parenthesis--at
+last concluding with respects and best wishes, and _remaining_ dear Miss
+Turnbull’s humble servant. She opined, however, upon the third perusal
+of the letter, that Mrs. Wynne was anxious to present her nephew to Miss
+Turnbull, and that this was the real meaning of her curious note--that
+probably she wished to surprise her with the sight of some Yorkshire
+damsel, who had formed the reasonable expectation, that because Miss
+Turnbull had done her the honour to notice her ages ago in the country,
+she was to be her companion in town. Mrs. Ingoldsby further observed,
+that Mrs. Wynne, though she had not practised at court, was no bad
+politician in thus attempting to recommend a companion to Miss Turnbull,
+who would, of course, be entirely in her nephew’s interests. Almeria’s
+vanity was indirectly flattered by these insinuations, which tended
+to prove her vast consequence, in being thus the object of plots
+and counterplots; and she the more readily believed this, from the
+experience she had had of Lady Pierrepoint’s manoeuvres. “It is really
+a dreadful thing,” said she, “to be a great heiress. One must be so
+circumspect--so much upon one’s guard with all the world. But poor Mrs.
+Wynne shows her cards so plainly, one must be an idiot not to guess her
+whole play.”
+
+To “mistake reverse of wrong for right” is one of the most common errors
+in the conduct of life. Our heroine being sensible that she had been
+ridiculously credulous in her dealings with Lady Pierrepoint, was now
+inclined to be preposterously suspicious. She determined with her next
+admirer to pursue a system diametrically opposite to that which she had
+followed with the marquis; she had shown him attractive complaisance;
+she was now prepared to display the repulsive haughtiness becoming
+the representative of two hundred thousand pounds: she had completely
+adopted Lady Pierrepoint’s maxim. _That a lady should marry to increase
+her consequence and strengthen her connexions_. Her former ideas, that
+love and esteem were necessary to happiness in a union for life, seemed
+obsolete and romantic; and the good qualities of her admirers, though
+they were always to be mentioned as the ostensible reasons for her
+choice, were never in reality to influence her decision.
+
+To stoop at once from a marquis to a private gentleman would be
+terrible; yet that private gentleman was worthy of some little
+consideration, not because he was, as Almeria remembered, a man of
+excellent sense, temper, and character, but because he had a clear
+estate of eight thousand pounds a-year, and was next heir to an earldom.
+
+Miss Turnbull cannot properly be called a female fortune-hunter; but,
+to coin a new name for our heroine, which may be useful to designate
+a numerous class of her contemporaries, she was decidedly a female
+_title-hunter_.
+
+She accepted of the invitation to dinner, and, accompanied by a proper
+supporter in Mrs. Ingoldsby, went to Mrs. Wynne’s, dressed in the utmost
+extravagance of the mode, blazing in all the glory of diamonds, in hopes
+of striking admiration even unto awe upon the hearts of all beholders.
+Though she had been expressly invited to a _family party_, she
+considered that only as an humble country phrase to excuse, beforehand,
+any deficiency of magnificence. She had no doubt that the finest
+entertainment, and the finest company, Mrs. Wynne could procure
+or collect, would be prepared for her reception. She was somewhat
+surprised, especially as she came fashionably late, to find in the
+drawing-room only old Mrs. Wynne, her nephew, and a lady, who, from her
+dress and modest appearance, was evidently _nobody_. Miss Turnbull swept
+by her, though she had a disagreeable recollection of having somewhere
+seen this figure in a former state of existence. Mrs. Wynne, good
+soul! did not believe in wilful blindness, and she therefore said, with
+provoking simplicity, “Miss Turnbull, this is your good friend, Mrs.
+Henry Elmour--poor thing! she is sadly altered in her looks since you
+saw her, a gay rosy lass at Elmour Grove! But though her looks are
+changed, her heart, I can answer for it, is just the same as ever; and
+she remembers you with all the affection you could desire. She would not
+be like any other of her name, indeed, if she did otherwise. The Elmours
+were all so fond of you!”
+
+The name of Elmour, instead of having that irresistible charm, which
+Mrs. Wynne expected, over Almeria’s heart, produced a directly contrary
+effect. It recalled many associations that were painful to her pride;
+she was vexed to perceive that obligations and intimacies which she had
+forgotten, or which she wished to forget, were remembered so obstinately
+by others. All this passed in her mind whilst Mrs. Wynne was speaking.
+With a look of ill-humoured surprise, Almeria half rose from her seat,
+and, as Mrs. Henry Elmour was presented to her, uttered some phrases
+in an unintelligible voice, and then sunk back again on the sofa. Mrs.
+Wynne made room for the widow between her and Miss Turnbull--Mr. Wynne
+kept aloof--a dead silence ensued--and Miss Turnbull, seeing that in her
+present position there was nothing else to be done, condescended to hope
+that all Mrs. Henry Elmour’s friends in Yorkshire were well when she
+left them. Mrs. Wynne’s countenance brightened up, and she now addressed
+her conversation to Mrs. Ingoldsby, in order to leave the pair, whom she
+had destined to be friends, at perfect liberty to talk over “old times.”
+
+Mrs. Henry Elmour naturally spoke of the happy days which they had spent
+together at Elmour Grove; but Miss Turnbull was so much occupied in
+clasping one of her diamond bracelets, that half of what was said to her
+seemed not to be heard, and the other half to create no interest. She
+looked up, when she had at length adjusted her bracelet, and with an
+insipid smile (learnt from Lady Pierrepoint) seemed to beg pardon for
+her fit of absence. The unfortunate Mrs. Elmour recommenced all she had
+said; but though Miss Turnbull’s eyes were at this time directed towards
+the widow’s face, they wandered over her features with such insolent
+examination, that she was totally abashed. Having gained her point,
+our heroine now looked round as the door opened, in expectation of the
+entrance of some persons who might be worthy of her attention; but,
+lo! it was only a servant, who announced that dinner was served. Miss
+Turnbull’s surprise could be equalled only by her indignation, when she
+found that it was literally to a _family party_ she was invited. “Miss
+Turnbull,” said Mrs. Wynne, as they were sitting down to dinner, “I
+have been much disappointed in not having the company of some friends of
+yours, who I expected would dine with us to-day; but they will be with
+us, I hope, to-night--they were unluckily engaged to dine with the
+Duchess of A----.”
+
+Miss Turnbull vouchsafed to appear interested, when the name of
+a duchess was mentioned; but her countenance again changed to an
+expression of almost angry vexation, when Mrs. Wynne explained, that
+these friends were Mr. and Mrs. Elmour, and Mr. Charles Wynne and his
+lady. “Miss Ellen Elmour, you know: she was----“--“Very true, I saw
+her marriage in the papers, I remember, some time ago,” replied Miss
+Turnbull; “a year, if I’m not mistaken.”
+
+“Two years ago, madam,” said Mrs. Wynne.
+
+“Was it two?--I dare say it might--you know it is so impossible to keep
+a register of deaths and marriages in one’s head. Pray, are you at all
+acquainted, Mrs. Wynne, with the Duchess of A----? She was always a
+prodigious friend of the Elmours, as I remember. How is that?--Are they
+any way related, I wonder?”
+
+“Yes; they are now related by marriage,” said Mr. Wynne; “Mrs. Elmour is
+a niece of the duchess.”
+
+“Indeed!”
+
+“She is a charming woman,” said Mr. Wynne; “so beautiful and yet so
+unaffected--so sensible, yet so unassuming.”
+
+“Pray,” interrupted Mrs. Ingoldsby, “has not her grace conversaziones,
+or reading parties, or something in that style every week?--She is quite
+a learned lady, I understand. There was always something odd about her,
+and I cannot help being afraid of her.”
+
+“I assure you,” said Mrs. Wynne, “that there is nothing odd or strange
+about the Duchess of A----. She has always the most agreeable society
+that London can afford.”
+
+Miss Turnbull and Mrs. Ingoldsby interchanged looks of affected
+contempt: but Mr. Wynne added, “Her grace has, you know, a taste
+for literature and for the arts; and the most celebrated literary
+characters, as well as those who have distinguished themselves in active
+life, assemble at her house, where they can enjoy the most agreeable
+conversation--that in which a knowledge of books and of the world is
+happily blended.”
+
+“And as to being afraid of her grace,” resumed Mrs. Wynne, “that is
+quite impossible; she has such affable, engaging manners. I am sure,
+even I am not in the least afraid of her.”
+
+“But you know,” said Miss Turnbull, with a malicious look of mock
+humility, “there is a difference between you and me.--I would not meet
+her grace for the world, for I am persuaded I should not be able to
+articulate a syllable in her classical presence--I have not been used to
+that style of company, by any means. I assure you I should be, as Mrs.
+Ingoldsby says, horribly afraid of your witty duchess.”
+
+“She has none of the airs of a wit, believe me,” said Mrs. Wynne,
+growing more and more earnest; “and if you will not believe me, ask your
+friend Ellen.”
+
+“Oh, excuse me, I beseech; I shall ask no questions--I only beg leave to
+keep myself well when I am well. The Elmours who are so clever, and have
+such merit and so on, are all vastly better suited to her grace than I
+am.”
+
+No contradiction ensued--our heroine was mortified beyond the power of
+concealment.
+
+After dinner, when the ladies retired, Mrs. Wynne, though somewhat
+alarmed and puzzled by Miss Turnbull’s behaviour, summoned all the
+resolution which benevolence could inspire, and resolved at once to come
+to the point with our heroine. She flattered herself that all in Miss
+Turnbull that appeared inauspicious to her hopes was only _her manner,_
+that sort of manner which people, who live much in high life, catch and
+practise, without meaning to give themselves airs, or to humble their
+neighbours.
+
+Many persons will perhaps think good Mrs. Wynne almost an idiot: but she
+was a woman of abilities; and if she did not exert them in discovering
+with promptitude the follies of others, she enjoyed much happiness in
+her benevolent scepticism. This evening, however, she was doomed to
+be absolutely convinced, against her will, that she had formed too
+favourable an opinion of one of her fellow-creatures.
+
+She was eager to explain herself to Almeria before Ellen and Mr.
+Frederick Elmour should arrive; she therefore took her aside, and
+began without any preface:--“My dear Miss Turnbull, here is a charming
+opportunity for you to do a kind, and generous, and grateful action.
+This poor Mrs. Henry Elmour!--She has told you how she has been reduced
+to distress without any imprudence of hers. Now you could not, I am
+sure, prove the goodness of your own heart better to your friends
+(who will be here in half an hour) than by showing kindness to this
+unfortunate widow. I cannot presume to say more than that I think she
+would make a most agreeable companion to an amiable, sensible young
+lady--and you have not decided your choice, have you?”
+
+“Pardon me, I have decided, beyond a possibility of retracting,” replied
+Miss Turnbull, haughtily.
+
+“I am very sorry,” said Mrs. Wynne, with an expression of real concern
+in her countenance. “I have been very imprudent.”
+
+“Really I am infinitely distressed that it is out of my power to oblige
+her; but the lady who is with me now, Mrs. Ingoldsby, has a prior
+claim.”
+
+Prior claim!--prior to that of the Elmour family! thought Mrs. Wynne.
+
+The decisive manner in which Miss Turnbull spoke precluded all further
+hope.
+
+“Well, I did think it would have been such a pleasure to Miss Turnbull
+to meet Mrs. Henry Elmour, and all her old friends the Elmours here
+to-day; and I fancied, that if there had been any little coolness or
+misunderstanding, it would quite have passed off, and that I should have
+had the joy of seeing you all shake hands--I thought it would have been
+such an agreeable surprise to you to see all the Elmour family, and
+Ellen’s charming little girl, and Mr. Frederick Elmour’s boy!”
+
+A more disagreeable surprise could scarcely have been imagined for
+our heroine. She informed Mrs. Wynne, coldly, that there was not the
+slightest quarrel between her and any of the Elmours; and that therefore
+there was no necessity, or possible occasion, for any shaking of hands
+or reconciliation scenes: that undoubtedly the style of life she
+had been thrown into had entirely separated her from her Yorkshire
+acquaintance; and time had dissolved the sort of intimacy that
+neighbourhood had created: that she should always, notwithstanding, be
+most particularly happy to meet any of the Elmour family; though, from
+her situation, it was a good fortune she had not often enjoyed, nor
+indeed could in future expect: but that she wished it to be understood,
+and repeated, that she always in all companies properly acknowledged the
+obligations she had to Mr. Frederick Elmour as a lawyer. Her cause, she
+believed, was the first in which he had distinguished himself; and
+she was rejoiced to find that he had since risen so rapidly in his
+profession.--As to Miss Ellen Elmour, she was a very charming, sensible
+young woman, no doubt; and Miss Turnbull assured Mrs. Wynne she was
+delighted to hear she was so suitably married in point of understanding
+and temper, and all that sort of thing--and besides, to a gentleman of
+a reasonable fortune, which she was happy to hear Mr. Charles Wynne
+possessed.
+
+Here she was interrupted in her speech--the door opened, and the Duchess
+of A----, Mr. and Mrs. Elmour, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wynne, were
+announced. Our heroine was not prepared for the sight of the duchess;
+and her grace’s appearance made her receive her old friends in a manner
+very different from that in which she had determined to meet them.
+Practised as she was, she stood irresolute and awkward, whilst Ellen,
+with easy, graceful kindness, accosted her, and immediately introduced
+her to the Duchess of A----. As Mr. Frederick Elmour approached, and as
+his beautiful wife was presented to Miss Turnbull, not all her efforts
+could conceal the mortification she endured, whilst she pronounced that
+she was vastly happy--quite delighted--that all this was really such an
+agreeable and _unexpected surprise_ to her--for she did not even know
+any of her Yorkshire friends were in town.
+
+Mrs. Ingoldsby came up to her assistance. Miss Turnbull rallied her
+spirits, and determined to make her stand upon the exclusive ground of
+fashion. Those who comprehend the rights of the privileged orders of
+fashion are aware that even a commoner, who is in a certain _set_, is
+far superior to a duchess who is not supposed to move in that magic
+circle, Almeria, upon this principle, began to talk to the duchess
+of some of her acquaintance, who were of the highest _ton_; and then
+affectedly checked herself, and begged pardon, and looked surprised at
+Mrs. Ingoldsby, when she found that her grace was not acquainted with
+them. Much as Miss Turnbull had reason to complain of Lady Pierrepoint
+and the young bride the marchioness, she now thought that their names
+would do her honour; and she scrupled not to speak of them as her
+best friends, and as the most amiable creatures existing.--Such is the
+meanness and insufficiency of vanity!
+
+“Poor Lady Pierrepoint,” said the Duchess of A----: “with her
+independent fortune, what could tempt her to enslave herself, as she has
+done, to a court life?”
+
+“Her ladyship finds herself suited to her situation, I believe,” said
+Miss Turnbull. “Lady Pierrepoint is certainly formed, more than most
+people I know, to succeed and shine in a court; and she is in favour,
+and in power, and in fashion.”
+
+“Does it follow of course that she is happy?” said Ellen.
+
+“Oh! happy--of course; I suppose so.”
+
+“No doubt,” said Mrs. Ingoldsby; “she has every reason to be happy: has
+not she just made her niece marchioness?”
+
+Miss Turnbull repeated “_Happy!_ to be sure Lady Pierrepoint is happy,
+if any body in the world is happy.”--A short sigh escaped from our
+heroine.
+
+Ellen heard the sigh, and attended to it more than to her words;
+she looked upon her with compassion, and endeavoured to change the
+conversation.
+
+“We spend this winter in town; and as I think I know your _real_ tastes,
+Almeria,” said she, taking Almeria’s hand, “we must have the pleasure of
+introducing you to some of her grace’s literary friends, who will, I am
+sure, please and suit you particularly.”
+
+Mr. Frederick Elmour, who now really pitied Almeria, though in his
+pity there was a strong mixture of contempt, joined his sister in her
+kindness, and named and described some of the people whom he thought
+she would be most desirous of knowing. The names struck Miss Turnbull’s
+ears, for they were the names of persons distinguished in the
+fashionable as well as in the literary world; and she was dismayed and
+mortified by the discovery that her _country friends_ had by some means,
+incomprehensible to her, gained distinction and intimacy in society
+where she had merely admission; she was vexed beyond expression when she
+found that _the Elmours_ were superior to her even on her own ground.
+At this instant Mrs. Wynne, with her usual simplicity, asked Mrs. Elmour
+and Ellen why they had not brought their charming children with them;
+adding, “You are, my dears, without exception, the two happiest mothers
+and wives I am acquainted with. And after all, what happiness is there
+equal to domestic happiness?--Oh! my dear Miss Turnbull, trust me,
+though I am a silly old woman, there’s nothing like it--and friends at
+court are not like friends at home--and all the Lady Pierrepoints that
+ever were or ever will be born, are not, as you’ll find when you come to
+try them, like one of these plain good Ellens and Elmours.”
+
+The address, simple as it was, came so home to Almeria’s experience,
+and so many recollections rushed at once upon her memory, that all her
+factitious character of a fine lady gave way to natural feeling, and
+suddenly she burst into tears.
+
+“Good heavens! my dear Miss Turnbull,” cried Mrs. Ingoldsby, “what
+is the matter?--Are not you well?--Salts! salts!--the heat of the
+room!--Poor thing!--she has such weak nerves.--Mr. Elmour, may I
+trouble you to ring the bell for our carriage? Miss Turnbull has such
+sensibility! This meeting, so unexpected, with so many old friends, has
+quite overcome her.”
+
+Miss Turnbull, recalled to herself by Mrs. Ingoldsby’s voice, repeated
+the request to have her carriage immediately, and departed with Mrs.
+Ingoldsby as soon as she possibly could, utterly abashed and mortified;
+mortified most at not having been able to conceal her mortification.
+Incapable absolutely of articulating, she left Mrs. Ingoldsby to cover
+her retreat, as well as she could, with weak nerves and sensibility.
+
+Even the charitable Mrs. Wynne was now heard to acknowledge that she
+could neither approve of Miss Turnbull’s conduct, nor frame any apology
+for it. She confessed that it looked very like what she of all things
+detested most--_ingratitude_. Her nephew, who had been a cool observant
+spectator of this evening’s performance, was glad that his aunt’s mind
+was now decided by Almeria’s conduct. He exclaimed that he would not
+marry such a woman, if her portion were to be the mines of Peru.
+
+Thus Miss Turnbull lost all chance of the esteem and affection of
+another man of sense and temper, who might even at this late period of
+her life have recalled her from the follies of dissipation, and rendered
+her permanently happy.
+
+And now that our heroine must have lost all power of interesting the
+reader, now that the pity even of the most indulgent must be utterly
+sunk in contempt, we shall take our leave of her, resigning her to that
+misery which she had been long preparing for herself. It is sufficient
+to say, that after this period she had some offers from men of fashion
+of ruined fortunes; but these she rejected, still fancying that with
+her wealth she could not fail to make a splendid match. So she went on
+coquetting; and coquetting, rejecting and rejecting, till at length she
+arrived at an age when she could reject no longer. She ceased to be an
+object to matrimonial adventurers, but to these succeeded a swarm of
+female legacy-hunters. Among the most distinguished was her companion,
+Mrs. Ingoldsby, whose character she soon discovered to be artful and
+selfish in the extreme. This lady’s flattery, therefore, lost all its
+power to charm, but yet it became necessary to Almeria; and even when
+she knew that she was duped, she could not part with Mrs. Ingoldsby,
+because it was not in her power to supply the place of a flatterer with
+a _friend_.--A friend! that first blessing of life, cannot be bought--it
+must be deserved.
+
+Miss, or as she must now be called, _Mrs_. Almeria Turnbull, is still
+alive--probably at this moment haunting some place of public amusement,
+or stationary at the card-table. Wherever she may be, she is despised
+and discontented; one example more amongst thousands, that wealth cannot
+purchase, or fashion bestow, real happiness.
+
+“See how the world its veterans rewards--youth of folly, an old age of
+cards!”
+
+_Edgeworth’s-Town_, 1802.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+_VIVIAN_.
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
+
+
+Miss Edgeworth’s general views, in these stories, are explained in the
+preface to the first volume. I cannot, however, omit repeating, that
+public favour has not yet rendered her so presumptuous as to offer hasty
+effusions to her readers, but that she takes a longer time to revise
+what she writes than the severe ancients required for the highest
+species of moral fiction.
+
+Vivian exposes one of the most common defects of mankind. To be “infirm
+of purpose” is to be at the mercy of the artful or at the disposal of
+accident. Look round, and count the numbers who have, within your own
+knowledge, failed from want of firmness.
+
+An excellent and wise mother gave the following advice with her dying
+breath: “My son, learn early how to say, No!”--This precept gave the
+first idea of the story of Vivian.
+
+THE ABSENTEE is not intended as a censure upon those whose duties, and
+employments, and superior talents, lead them to the capital; but to warn
+the thoughtless and the unoccupied from seeking distinction by frivolous
+imitation of fashion and ruinous waste of fortune.
+
+A country gentleman, or even a nobleman, who does not sit in parliament,
+may be as usefully and as honourably employed in Yorkshire, Mid Lothian,
+or Ireland, as at a club-house or an assembly in London.
+
+Irish agents are here described as of two different species. That there
+have been bad and oppressive Irish agents, many great landed English
+proprietors have felt; that there are well-informed, just, and
+honourable Irish agents, every-day experience can testify.
+
+MADAME DE FLEURY points out some of the means which may be employed
+by the rich for the real advantage of the poor. This story shows that
+sowing gold does not always produce a golden harvest; but that knowledge
+and virtue, when early implanted in the human breast, seldom fail to
+make ample returns of prudence and felicity.
+
+EMILIE DE COULANGES exposes a fault into which the good and generous are
+liable to fall.
+
+Great sacrifices and great benefits cannot frequently be made or
+conferred by private individuals; but, every day, kindness and attention
+to the common feelings of others is within the power, and may be the
+practice, of every age, and sex, and station. Common faults are reproved
+by all writers on morality; but there are errors and defects that
+require to be treated in a lighter manner, and that come, with
+propriety, within the province of essayists and of writers for the
+stage.
+
+R. L. EDGEWORTH. _May_, 1812.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+“To see the best, and yet the worse pursue.”
+
+
+“Is it possible,” exclaimed Vivian, “that you, Russell, my friend, my
+best friend, can tell me that this line is the motto of my character!--’
+To see the best, and yet the worse pursue.--Then you must think me
+either a villain or a madman.”
+
+“No,” replied Russell, calmly; “I think you only weak.”
+
+“Weak--but you must think me an absolute fool.”
+
+“No, not a fool; the weakness of which I accuse you is not a weakness
+of the understanding. I find no fault either with the logical or the
+mathematical part of your understanding. It is not erroneous in either
+of the two great points in which Bacon says that most men’s minds be
+deficient in--the power of judging of consequences, or in the power of
+estimating the comparative value of objects.”
+
+“Well,” cried Vivian, impatiently, “but I don’t want to hear just now
+what Bacon says--but what _you_ think. Tell me all the faults of my
+character.”
+
+“All!--unconscionable!--after the fatigue of this long day’s journey,”
+ said Russell, laughing.
+
+These two friends were, at this time, travelling from Oxford to Vivian
+Hall (in ----shire), the superb seat of the Vivian family, to which
+Vivian was heir. Mr. Russell, though he was but a few years older than
+Vivian, had been his tutor at college; and by an uncommon transition,
+had, from his tutor, become his intimate friend.
+
+After a pause, Vivian resumed, “Now I think of it, Russell, you are to
+blame, if I have any faults. Don’t you say, that every thing is to
+be done by education? And are not you--though by much too young, and
+infinitely too handsome, for a philosopher--are not you my guide,
+philosopher, and friend?”
+
+“But I have had the honour to be your guide, philosopher, and friend,
+only for these three years,” said Russell. “I believe in the rational,
+but not in the magical, power of education. How could I do, or undo, in
+three years, the work of the preceding seventeen?”
+
+“Then, if you won’t let me blame you, I must blame my mother.”
+
+“Your mother!--I had always understood that she had paid particular
+attention to your early education, and all the world says that Lady
+Mary Vivian, though a woman of fashion, is remarkably well-informed and
+domestic; and, judging from those of her letters which you have shown
+me, I should think that, for once, what all the world says is right.”
+
+“What all the world says is right, and yet I am not wrong:--my mother
+is a very clever woman, and most affectionate, and she certainly paid
+particular attention to my early education; but her attention was too
+particular, her care was too great. You know I was an only son--then
+I lost my father when I was an infant; and a woman, let her be ever
+so sensible, cannot well educate an _only_ son, without some manly
+assistance; the fonder she is of the son the worse, even if her fondness
+is not foolish fondness--it makes her over-anxious--it makes her do too
+much. My mother took too much, a great deal too much, care of me; she
+over-educated, over-instructed, over-dosed me with premature lessons of
+prudence: she was so afraid that I should ever do a foolish thing, or
+not say a wise one, that she prompted my every word, and guided my every
+action. So I grew up, seeing with her eyes, hearing with her ears, and
+judging with her understanding, till, at length, it was found out that
+I had not eyes, ears, or understanding of my own. When I was
+between twelve and thirteen, my mother began to think that I was not
+sufficiently manly for my age, and that there was something too yielding
+and undecided in my character. Seized with a panic, my mother, to make
+a man of me at once, sent me to ---- school. There I was, with all
+convenient expedition, made ashamed of every thing good I had learned at
+home; and there I learned every thing bad, and nothing good, that could
+be learned at school. I was inferior in Latin and Greek; and this was a
+deficiency I could not make up without more labour than I had courage to
+undertake. I was superior in general literature, but this was of
+little value amongst my competitors, and therefore I despised it; and,
+overpowered by numbers and by ridicule, I was, of course, led into all
+sorts of folly, by mere _mauvaise honte_. Had I been in the habit of
+exercising my own judgment, or had my resolution been strengthened by
+degrees; had I, in short, been prepared for a school, I might, perhaps,
+have acquired, by a public education, a manly, independent spirit. If
+I had even been wholly bred up in a public school, I might have been
+forced, as others were, by early and fair competition, to exercise my
+own powers, and by my own experience in that microcosm, as it has been
+called, I might have formed some rules of conduct, some manliness
+of character, and might have made, at least, a good schoolboy. Half
+home-bred, and half school-bred, from want of proper preparation,
+one half of my education totally destroyed the other. From school, of
+course, I went to college, and at college, of course, I should have
+become one of the worst species of college lads, and should have had
+no chance, in my whole future life, of being any thing but a dissipated
+fool of fashion, one of the _Four-in-Hand Club_, or the _Barouche Club_,
+or the _Tandem Club_, or the _Defiance Club_, had not I, by the greatest
+good fortune, met with such a friend as you, and, by still greater good
+fortune, found you out for myself; for if my mother had recommended you
+to me, I should have considered you only as a college tutor; I should
+never have discovered half your real merit; I doubt whether I should
+have even seen that you are young and handsome: so prejudiced should I
+have been with the preconceived notion of a college tutor, that I am not
+certain whether I should have found out that you are a gentleman as well
+born and well bred as myself; but, be that as it may, I am positive that
+I never should have made you my companion and friend; I should never
+have thrown open my whole soul to you, as I have done; nor could you
+ever have obtained such wondrous power as you possess over my mind, if
+you had been recommended to me by my mother.”
+
+“I am sorry,” said Russell, smiling, “that, after so many wise
+reflections, and so many fine compliments, you end by proving to me that
+my wondrous power is founded on your wondrous weakness. I am mortified
+to find that your esteem and friendship for me depended so much upon my
+not having had the honour of your mother’s recommendation; and have not
+I reason to fear, that now, when I have a chance of becoming acquainted
+with Lady Mary Vivian, and, perhaps, a chance of her thinking me a fit
+companion and friend for her son, I must lose his regard and
+confidence, because I shall labour under the insuperable objection of an
+affectionate mother’s approbation?”
+
+“No, no,” said Vivian; “my wilful folly does not go quite so far as
+that. So that I maintain the privilege of choosing my friends for
+myself, I shall always be pleased and proud to find my mother approve my
+choice.”
+
+After a few moments’ pause, Vivian added, “You misunderstand, quite
+misunderstand me, if you think that I am not fond of my mother. I
+respect and love her with all my soul:--I should be a most ungrateful
+wretch if I did not. I did very wrong to speak as I did just now, of
+any little errors she may have made in my education; but, believe me, I
+would not have said so much to any one living but yourself, nor to you,
+but in strict confidence; and, after all, I don’t know whether I ought
+not to lay the blame of my faults on my masters more than on my poor
+mother.”
+
+“Lay the blame where we will,” said Russell, “remember, that the
+punishment will rest on ourselves. We may, with as much philosophic
+justice as possible, throw the blame of our faults on our parents and
+preceptors, and on the early mismanagement of our minds; yet, after we
+have made out our case in the abstract, to the perfect satisfaction of a
+jury of metaphysicians, when we come to _overt_ actions, all our judges,
+learned and unlearned, are so awed, by the ancient precedents and
+practice of society, and by the obsolete law of common sense, that they
+finish by pronouncing against us the barbarous sentence, that every man
+must suffer for his own faults.”
+
+“‘I hope I shall be able to bear it, my lord,’ as the English sailor
+said when the judge----But look out there! Let down that glass on your
+side of the carriage!” cried Vivian, starting forward. “There’s Vivian
+Hall!”
+
+“That fine old castle?” said Russell, looking out of the window.
+
+“No; but farther off to the left, don’t you see amongst the trees that
+house with wings?”
+
+“Ha! quite a new, modern house: I had always fancied that Vivian Hall
+was an old pile of building.”
+
+“So it was, till my father threw down the old hall, and built this new
+house.”
+
+“And a very handsome one it is.--Is it as good within as without?”
+
+“Quite, I think; but I’ll leave you to judge for yourself.--Are not
+those fine old trees in the park?”
+
+From this time till the travellers arrived at Vivian Hall, their
+conversation turned upon trees, and avenues, and serpentine
+_approaches_, and alterations that Vivian intended to make, when he
+should be of age, and master of this fine place; and he now wanted but a
+twelvemonth of being at legal years of discretion. When they arrived at
+the hall, Lady Mary Vivian showed much affectionate joy at the sight of
+her son, and received Mr. Russell with such easy politeness that he was
+prepossessed at first in her favour. To this charm of well-bred manners
+was united the appearance of sincerity and warmth of feeling. In
+her conversation there was a mixture of excellent sense and general
+literature with the frivolities of the fashionable world, and the
+anecdotes of the day in certain high circles, of which she seemed to
+talk more from habit than taste, and to annex importance more from the
+compulsion of external circumstances than from choice. But her son,--her
+son was the great object of all her thoughts, serious or frivolous.
+She was delighted by the improvements she saw in his understanding
+and character; by the taste and talents he displayed, both for fine
+literature and for solid information: this flattered her hope that he
+would both shine as a polished gentleman and make a figure in public
+life. To his friend Russell she attributed these happy improvements;
+and, though he was not a tutor of her own original selection, yet
+her pride, on this occasion, yielded to gratitude, and she graciously
+declared, that she could not feel jealous of the pre-eminent power he
+had obtained over her son, when she saw the admirable use he made of
+this influence. Vivian, like all candid and generous persons, being
+peculiarly touched by candour and generosity in others, felt his
+affection for his mother rapidly increased by this conduct; nor did his
+enthusiasm for his friend in the least abate, in consequence of the high
+approbation with which she honoured him, nor even in consequence of her
+ladyship’s frequent and rather injudicious expressions of her hopes,
+that her son would always preserve and show himself worthy of such a
+friend.
+
+He joined in his mother’s entreaties to Russell to prolong his visit;
+and as her ladyship declared she thought it of essential consequence to
+her son’s interest and future happiness, that he should, at this _turn
+of his life_, have such a companion, Russell consented to remain with
+him some time longer. All parties were thus pleased with each other, and
+remained united by one common interest about the same objects, during
+several weeks of a delightful summer. But, alas! this family harmony,
+and this accord of reason and _will_, between the mother and son, were
+not of longer duration. As usual, there were faults on both sides.
+
+Lady Mary Vivian, whose hopes of her son’s distinguishing himself by his
+abilities had been much exalted since his last return from Oxford, had
+indulged herself in pleasing anticipations of the time when he should
+make his appearance in the fashionable and in the political world. She
+foresaw the respect that would be paid to her, on his account, both by
+senators and by matrons; by ministers, who might want to gain a rising
+orator’s vote, and by mothers, who might wish to make an excellent match
+for their daughters: not only by all mothers who had daughters to marry,
+but by all daughters who had hearts or hands to dispose of, Lady
+Mary felt secure of having her society courted. Now, she had rather
+extravagant expectations for her son: she expected him to marry, so as
+to secure domestic happiness, and, at the same time, to have fashion,
+and beauty, and rank, and high connexions, and every amiable quality in
+a wife. This vision of a future daughter-in-law continually occupied her
+ladyship’s imagination. Already, with maternal _Alnascharism_, she had,
+in her reveries, thrown back her head with disdain, as she repulsed the
+family advances of some wealthy but low-born heiress, or as she rejected
+the alliance of some of the new nobility. Already she had arranged
+the very words of her answers to these, and determined the degrees and
+shades of her intimacies with those; already had she settled
+
+“To whom to nod, whom take into her coach, Whom honour with her hand;”
+
+when one morning, as she sat at work, absorbed in one of these reveries,
+she was so far “rapt into future times,” that, without perceiving that
+any body was present, she began to speak her thoughts, and said aloud to
+herself, “As if my son could possibly think of her!”
+
+Her son, who was opposite to her, lying on a sofa, reading, or seeming
+to read, started up, and putting down his book, exclaimed, in a
+voice which showed at once that he was conscious of thinking of some
+particular person, and determined to persist in the thought, “As if your
+son could possibly think of her!----Of whom, ma’am?”
+
+“What’s the matter, child? Are you mad?”
+
+“Not in the least, ma’am; but you said----”
+
+“What!” cried Lady Mary, looking round; “What did I say, that has
+occasioned so much disturbance?--I was not conscious of saying any
+thing. My dear Selina,” continued her ladyship, appealing to a young
+lady, who sat very intent upon some drawing beside her, “my dear Selina,
+you must have heard; what did I say?”
+
+The young lady looked embarrassed; and the colour which spread over her
+face, brought a sudden suspicion into Lady Mary’s mind: her eye darted
+back upon her son--the suspicion, the fear was confirmed; and she grew
+instantly pale, silent, and breathless, in the attitude in which she was
+struck with this panic. The young lady’s blush and embarrassment had a
+very different effect on Vivian; joy suddenly sparkled in his eyes, and
+illumined his whole countenance, for this was the first instant he had
+ever felt any hope of having obtained an interest in her heart. He was
+too much transported at this moment to think either of prudence or
+of his mother; and, when he recollected himself, he was too little
+practised in dissimulation to repair his indiscretion. Something he did
+attempt to say, and blundered, and laughed at his blunder; and when his
+mother looked up at him, in serious silence, he only begged pardon for
+his folly, confessed he believed he was mad, and, turning away abruptly,
+left the room, exclaiming that he wondered where Russell had been all
+the morning, and that he must go and look for him. A long silence
+ensued between Vivian’s mother and the young lady, who were left alone
+together. Lady Mary first broke the silence, and, in a constrained tone,
+asked, as she took up the newspaper, “Whether Miss Sidney had found any
+news?”
+
+“I don’t know, ma’am,” answered Miss Sidney, in a voice scarcely
+articulate.
+
+“I should have imagined there must be some news from the continent:
+but you did not find any, I think you say, Miss Sidney;” continued Lady
+Mary, with haughty, averted eyes. After turning over the pages of the
+paper, without knowing one word it contained, she laid it down, and rose
+to leave the room. Miss Sidney rose at the same time.
+
+“Lady Mary, one instant; my dear Lady Mary.”
+
+Lady Mary turned, and saw Selina’s supplicating eyes full of tears; but
+her ladyship, still retaining her severity of manner, coldly said, “Does
+Miss Sidney desire that I should stay?--Does Miss Sidney wish to speak
+to me?”
+
+“I do--as soon as I can,” said Selina in a faltering voice; but, raising
+her eyes, and perceiving the contemptuous expression of Lady Mary’s
+countenance, her own instantly changed. With the firm tone of conscious
+innocence, she repeated, “I do wish to speak to your ladyship, if you
+will hear me with your usual candour; I do not expect or solicit your
+usual indulgence.”
+
+“Miss Sidney,” replied Lady Mary, “before you say more, it becomes me to
+point out to you, that the moment is past for confidence between us two;
+and that in no moment could I wish to hear from any person, much less
+from one whom I had considered as my friend, confessions, extorted by
+circumstances, degrading and unavailing.”
+
+“Your ladyship need not be apprehensive of hearing from me any degrading
+confessions,” said Miss Sidney; “I have none to make: and since, without
+any just cause, without any cause for suspicion, but what a blush,
+perhaps, or a moment’s embarrassment of manner may have created, you
+think it becomes you to point out to me that the moment for confidence
+between us is past, I can only lament my mistake in having believed that
+it ever existed.”
+
+Lady Mary’s countenance and manner totally changed. The pride of rank
+yielded before the pride of virtue; and perhaps the hope that she had
+really no cause for suspicion at once restored her affection for her
+young friend. “Let us understand one another, my dear Selina,” said she;
+“if I said a hasty or a harsh word, forgive it. You know my affection
+for you, and my real confidence; in actions, not in words, I have shown
+it.--In thought, as well as in actions, my confidence in you has been
+entire; for, _upon my word,_ and you know this is not an asseveration I
+lightly use, _upon my word,_ till that unfortunate moment, a suspicion
+of you never crossed my imagination. The proof--if there could need any
+proof to you of what I assert--the proof is, the delight I take in your
+society, the urgent manner in which I have so frequently, this summer,
+begged your company from your mother. You know this would have not only
+been the height of insincerity, but of folly and madness, if I had
+not felt a reliance upon you that made me consider it as an absolute
+impossibility that you could ever disappoint my friendship.”
+
+“I thank your ladyship,” said Selina, softened by the kind tone in which
+Lady Mary now spoke, yet still retaining some reserve of manner;
+“I thank your ladyship for all your kindness--it has flattered me
+much--touched me deeply--commanded my gratitude, and influenced my
+conduct uniformly--I can and do entirely forgive the injustice of a
+moment; and I now bid you adieu, my dear Lady Mary, with the conviction
+that, if we were never to meet again, I should always hold that place in
+your esteem and affection with which you have honoured me, and which, if
+it be not too proud an expression, I hope I have deserved----Won’t you
+bid me farewell?”
+
+The tears gushed from Lady Mary’s eyes. “My dear, charming, and prudent
+Selina, I understand you perfectly--and I thank you: it grieves me to
+part with you--but I believe you are right--I believe there is no other
+safety--no other remedy. How, indeed, could I expect that my son could
+see and hear you--live in the house with you, and become intimately
+acquainted with such a character as yours, without danger! I have
+been very imprudent, unaccountably imprudent, to expose him to such
+a temptation; but I hope, I trust, that your prudence will repair, in
+time, the effects of my rashness--and again and again I thank you, my
+dear young friend--but, perhaps it might be still better that you should
+not leave us abruptly. Still better than your absence, I think, would be
+the conviction you might impress on his mind of the impossibility of
+his hopes: if you were to stay a day or two, and convince him by your
+indifference that----” “Excuse me, that is what I cannot undertake,”
+ said Selina, blushing, and conscious of blushing. Lady Mary was too
+polite and too delicate to seem to observe her confusion, but, embracing
+her, said--“If we must part, then take with you my highest esteem,
+affection, and gratitude; and this much let me add, that my most
+sanguine expectations for my son’s happiness would be realized, if
+amongst the women to whom family interests must restrict his choice, he
+could meet with one of half your merit, and half your attractions.”
+
+“_Amongst the women to whom family interests must restrict his choice_,”
+ repeated Selina to herself many times, as she journeyed homewards; and
+she pondered much upon the meaning of this phrase. Vivian was sole
+heir to a very large property, without encumbrances of any kind; what,
+therefore, was the necessity that restricted his choice? The imaginary
+necessity of ambition, which confined him to a certain circle of
+fashionable, or _highly connected_ people. Selina Sidney, though she was
+not rich, was of a very good gentleman’s family; her father had been a
+colonel in the British army: during his life, Mrs. Sidney had been in
+the habit of living a great deal in what is called _the world,_ and
+in the best company; and though, since his death, she had lived in
+retirement, Miss Sidney had received an education which put her upon a
+footing with young ladies of the highest accomplishments and refinement
+in the kingdom. With every solid and amiable quality, she had all those
+external advantages of appearance and manner which Lady Mary Vivian
+valued most highly. Selina, who was convinced that Lady Mary appreciated
+her character, and was peculiarly fond of her company and conversation,
+could not but feel surprise, mixed with some indignation, perhaps with a
+little resentment, when she perceived that her ladyship’s prejudices
+and ambition made her act so completely in contradiction to her better
+judgment, to her professions, and to her feelings of affection. Whatever
+Miss Sidney thought upon this subject, however, she determined to
+continue to avoid seeing Vivian any more--an excellent resolution, in
+which we leave her, and return to her lover.
+
+A walk with Russell had brought him back in the full determination of
+avowing his attachment sincerely to his mother, and of speaking to her
+ladyship in the most respectful manner; but, when he found that Miss
+Sidney was gone, anger and disappointment made him at once forget his
+prudence, and his intended respect; he declared, in the most passionate
+terms, his love for Selina Sidney, and his irrevocable determination
+to pursue her, to the end of time and space, in spite of all opposition
+whatsoever from any person whatever. His mother, who was prepared for a
+scene of this sort, though not for one of this violence, had sufficient
+command of temper to sustain it properly; her command of temper was,
+indeed, a little assisted by the hope that this passion would be
+transitory in proportion to its vehemence, much by the confidence she
+had in Miss Sidney’s _honour_, and in her absence: Lady Mary, therefore,
+calmly disclaimed having had any part in persuading Miss Sidney to that
+measure which had so much enraged her lover; but her ladyship avowed,
+that though it had not been necessary for her to suggest the measure,
+she highly approved of it, and admired now, as she had ever admired,
+that young lady’s prudent and noble conduct.
+
+Softened by the only thing that could, at this moment, soften
+him--praise of his mistress--Vivian, in a most affectionate manner,
+assured his mother that it was her warm eulogiums of Miss Sidney which
+had first turned his attention to the perfections of her character; and
+he now inquired what possible objections she could make to his choice.
+With the generous enthusiasm of his disposition, heightened by all the
+eloquence of love, he pleaded, that his fortune was surely sufficient to
+put him above mercenary considerations in the choice of a wife; that in
+every point, except this one of _money_, Selina Sidney was, in his own
+mother’s opinion, superior to every other woman she could name, or wish
+for, as a daughter-in-law.
+
+“But my tastes are not to blind me to your interests,” said Lady Mary;
+“you are entitled to look for rank and high connexion. You are the
+representative of an ancient family, have talents to make a figure in
+public; and, in short, prejudice or not, I confess it is one of the
+first wishes of my heart that you should marry into a noble family, or
+at least into one that shall strengthen your political interest, as well
+as secure your domestic happiness.”
+
+Vivian, of course, cursed ambition, as all men do whilst they are in
+love. His arguments and his eloquence in favour of a _private station_,
+and of the joys of _learned leisure, a competence, and domestic bliss_,
+were worthy of the most renowned of ancient or modern philosophers.
+Russell was appealed to with much eagerness, both by mother and son,
+during their debates. He frankly declared to Lady Mary, that he thought
+her son perfectly right in all he now urged, and especially in his
+opinion of Miss Sidney; “but at the same time,” added Russell, “I
+apprehend that he speaks, at this moment, more from passion than from
+reason; and I fear that, in the course of a few months, he might,
+perhaps, entirely change his mind: therefore, I think your ladyship is
+prudent in refusing, during the minority of your son, your consent to a
+hasty union, of which he might afterwards repent, and thus render both
+himself and a most amiable woman miserable.”
+
+Russell, after having given his opinion with the utmost freedom, when
+it was required by Lady Mary, assured her that he should no farther
+interfere; and he trusted his present sincerity would be the best pledge
+to her of his future discretion and honour. This equitable judgment and
+sincerity of Russell’s at first displeased both parties, but in time
+operated upon the reason of both; not, however, before contests had gone
+on long and loud between the mother and son--not before a great deal
+of nonsense had been talked on both sides. People of the best abilities
+often talk the most nonsense where their passions are concerned, because
+then the whole of their ingenuity is exercised to find arguments in
+favour of their folly. They are not, like fools, content to say, _This
+is my will_; but they pique themselves on giving reasons for their
+will; and their reasons are the reasons of madmen, excellent upon
+false premises. It happened here, as in most family quarrels, that the
+disputants did not allow sufficiently for the prejudices and errors
+incident to their different ages. The mother would not allow for the
+romantic notions of the son, nor could the son endure the worldly views
+of the mother. The son, who had as yet no experience of the transitory
+nature of the passion of love, thought his mother unfeeling and
+barbarous, for opposing him on the point where the whole happiness of
+his life was concerned; the mother, who had seen the decline and fall of
+so many _everlasting loves_, considered him only as a person in a fever;
+and thought she prevented him, by her calmness, from doing that which he
+would repent when he should regain his sober senses. Without detailing
+the daily disputes which now arose, it will be sufficient to mark the
+result.
+
+Vivian’s love had been silent, tranquil, and not seemingly of any great
+consequence, till it was opposed; but, from the instant that an obstacle
+intervened, it gathered strength and force, and it presently rose
+rapidly, with prodigious uproar, threatening to burst all bounds, and to
+destroy every thing that stopped its course. Lady Mary was now inclined
+to try what effect lessening the opposition might produce. To do her
+justice, she was also moved to this by some nobler motives than fear;
+or, at least, her fears were not of a selfish kind: she dreaded that her
+son’s health and permanent happiness might be injured by this violent
+passion; she was apprehensive of becoming an object of his aversion;
+of utterly losing his confidence, and all power over his mind; but,
+chiefly, her generous temper was moved and won by Selina Sidney’s
+admirable conduct. During the whole time that Vivian used every means
+to see her, to write to her, and to convince her of the fervour of his
+love, though he won all her friends over to his interests, though she
+heard his praises from morning till night from all who surrounded her,
+and though her own heart, perhaps, pleaded more powerfully than all
+the rest in his favour; yet she never, for one instant, gave him the
+slightest encouragement. Lady Mary’s esteem and affection were so much
+increased by these strong proofs of friendship and honour, that
+her prejudices yielded; and she at length declared, that if her son
+continued, till he was of age, to feel the same attachment for this
+amiable girl, she would give her consent to their union. But this, she
+added, she promised only on one condition--that her son should abstain
+from all attempts, in the interval, to see or correspond with Miss
+Sidney, and that he should set out immediately to travel with Mr.
+Russell. Transported with love, and joy, and victory, Vivian promised
+every thing that was required of him, embraced his mother, and set out
+upon his travels.
+
+“Allow,” said he triumphantly to Russell, as the chaise drove from the
+door, “allow, my good friend, that you were mistaken, in your fears of
+the weakness of my character, and of the yielding facility of my temper.
+You see how firm I have been--you see what battle I have made--you see
+how I have _stood out_.”
+
+“I never doubted,” said Russell, “your love of your own free will--I
+never doubted your fear of being governed, especially by your mother;
+but you do not expect that I should allow this to be a proof of strength
+of character.”
+
+“What! do you suppose I act from love of my own free will merely?--Do
+you call my love for Selina Sidney weakness?--Oh! take care, Russell;
+for if once I find you pleading my mother’s cause against your
+conscience----”
+
+“You will never find me pleading any cause against my conscience. I have
+told your mother, as I have told you, my opinion of Miss Sidney--my firm
+opinion--that she is peculiarly calculated to make the happiness of your
+life, provided you continue to love her.”
+
+“Provided!--Oh!” cried Vivian, laughing, “spare your musty provisoes, my
+dear philosopher! Would not any one think, now, you were an old man of
+ninety? If this is all you have to fear, I am happy indeed.”
+
+“At present,” said Russell, calmly, “I have no fear, as I have just
+told your mother, but that you should change your mind before you are of
+age.”
+
+Vivian grew quite indignant at this suggestion. “You are angry with me,”
+ said Russell, “and so was your mother: she was angry because I said, I
+_feared,_ instead of I _hoped,_ you would change your mind. Both parties
+are angry with me for my sincerity.”
+
+“Sincerity!--no; but I am angry with you for your absurd suspicions of
+my constancy.”
+
+“If they are absurd, you need not be angry,” said Russell; “I shall be
+well pleased to see their absurdity demonstrated.”
+
+“Then I can demonstrate it this moment.”
+
+“Pardon me; not this moment; you must take time into the account. I make
+no doubt but that, at this moment, you are heartily in love with Miss
+Sidney; but the thing to be proved is, that your passion will not
+decline in force, in proportion as it meets with less resistance. If it
+does, you will acknowledge that it was more a love of your own free will
+than a love of your mistress that has actuated you, which was the thing
+to be proved.”
+
+“Hateful Q.E.D.!” cried Vivian; “you shall see the contrary, and, at
+least, I will triumph over you.”
+
+If Russell had ever used art in his management of Vivian’s mind, he
+might have been suspected of using it in favour of Miss Sidney at this
+instant; for this prophecy of Vivian’s inconstancy was the most likely
+means to prevent its accomplishment. Frequently, in the course of their
+tour, when Vivian was in any situation where his constancy was tempted,
+he recollected Russell’s prediction, and was proud to remind him how
+much he had been mistaken. In short, the destined time for their return
+home arrived--Vivian presented himself before his mother, and claimed
+her promise. She was somewhat surprised, and a little disappointed, by
+our hero’s constancy; but she could not retract her word; and, since
+her compliance was now unavoidable, she was determined that it should be
+gracious. She wrote to Selina, therefore, with great kindness, saying,
+that whatever views of other connexions she might formerly have had for
+her son, she had now relinquished them, convinced, by the constancy
+of her son’s attachment, and by the merit of its object, that his own
+choice would most effectually ensure his happiness, and that of all his
+friends. Her ladyship added expressions of her regard and esteem, and of
+the pleasure she felt in the thoughts of finding in her daughter-in-law
+a friend and companion, whose society was peculiarly agreeable to her
+taste and suited to her character. This letter entirely dissipated
+Selina’s scruples of conscience; Vivian’s love and merit, all his good
+and all his agreeable qualities, had now full and unreproved power to
+work upon her tender heart. His generous, open temper, his candour,
+his warm attachment to his friends, his cultivated understanding,
+his brilliant talents, his easy, well-bred, agreeable manners, all
+heightened in their power to please by the charm of love, justified,
+even in the eyes of the aged and prudent, the passion he inspired.
+Selina became extremely attached to him; and she loved with the
+delightful belief that there was not, in the mind of her lover, the
+seed of a single vice which threatened danger to his virtues or to their
+mutual happiness. With his usual candour, he had laid open his whole
+character to her, as far as he knew it himself; and had warned her of
+that vacillation of temper, that easiness to be led, which Russell
+had pointed out as a dangerous fault in his disposition. But of this
+propensity Selina had seen no symptoms; on the contrary, the steadiness
+of her lover in his attachment to her--the only point on which she had
+yet seen him tried--decided her to trust to the persuasive voice of love
+and hope, and to believe that Russell’s friendship had in this instance,
+been too harsh or too timorous in its forebodings.
+
+Nothing now delayed the marriage of Vivian and Selina but certain legal
+rites, which were to be performed on his coming of age, and before
+marriage settlements could be drawn;--and the parties were doomed to
+wait for the arrival of some trustee who was with his regiment abroad.
+All these delays Vivian of course cursed: but, upon the whole, they
+were borne by him with heroic patience, and by Selina with all the
+tranquillity of confiding love, happy in the present, and not too
+anxious for the future.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+“My dear Russell,” said Vivian, “love shall not make me forget
+friendship; before I marry, I must see you provided for. Believe me,
+this was the first--one of the first pleasures I promised myself, in
+becoming master of a good fortune. Other thoughts, I confess, have
+put it out of my head; so now let me tell you at once. I hate paltry
+surprises with my friends: I have, you know--or rather, probably, you do
+not know, for you are the most disinterested fellow upon earth--I have
+an excellent living in my gift; it shall be yours; consider it as such
+from this moment. If I knew a more deserving man, I would give it to
+him, upon my honour; so you can’t refuse me. The incumbent can’t live
+long; he is an old, very old, infirm man; you’ll have the living in a
+year or two, and, in the mean time, stay with me. I ask it as a favour
+from a friend, and you see how much I want a friend of your firm
+character; and I hope you see, also, how much I can value, in others,
+the qualities in which I am myself deficient.”
+
+Russell was much pleased and touched by Vivian’s generous gratitude, and
+by the delicacy, as well as kindness of the manner in which he made
+this offer; but Russell could not consistently with his feelings or his
+principles live in a state of dependent idleness, waiting for a rich
+living and the death of an old incumbent. He told Vivian that he had too
+much affection for him, and too much respect for himself, ever to run
+the hazard of sinking from the rank of an independent friend. After
+rallying him, without effect, on his pride, Vivian acknowledged that he
+was forced to admire him the more for his spirit. Lady Mary, too, who
+was a great and sincere admirer of independence of character, warmly
+applauded Mr. Russell, and recommended him, in the highest terms, to a
+nobleman in the neighbourhood, who happened to be in want of a preceptor
+for his only son. This nobleman was Lord Glistonbury: his lordship was
+eager to engage a person of Russell’s reputation for talents; so the
+affair was quickly arranged, and Lady Mary Vivian and her son went
+to pay a morning visit at Glistonbury Castle, on purpose to accompany
+Russell on his first introduction to the family. As they approached the
+castle, Vivian was struck with its venerable Gothic appearance; he had
+not had a near view of it for some years, and he looked at it with new
+eyes. Formerly he had seen it only as a picturesque ornament to the
+country; but now that he was himself possessor of an estate in the
+vicinity, he considered Glistonbury Castle as a point of comparison
+which rendered him dissatisfied with his own mansion. As he drove up
+the avenue, and beheld the towers, turrets, battlements, and massive
+entrance, his mother, who was a woman of taste, strengthened, by her
+exclamations on the beauty of Gothic architecture, the wish that was
+rising in his mind to convert his modern house into an _ancient_ castle:
+she could not help sighing whilst she reflected that, if her son’s
+affections had not been engaged, he might perhaps have obtained the
+heart and hand of one of the fair daughters of this castle. Lady
+Mary went no farther, even in her inmost thoughts. Incapable of
+double-dealing, she resolved never even to let her son know what her
+wishes had been with respect to a connexion with the Glistonbury family.
+But the very reserve and _discretion_ with which her ladyship spoke--a
+reserve unusual with her, and unsuited to the natural warmth of
+her manner and temper--might have betrayed her to an acute and cool
+observer. Vivian, however, at this instant, was too much intent upon
+castle-building to admit any other ideas.
+
+When the carriage drove under the great gateway and stopped, Vivian
+exclaimed, “What a fine old castle! how surprised Selina Sidney would
+be, how delighted, to see my house metamorphosed into such a castle!”
+
+“It is a magnificent castle, indeed!” said Lady Mary, with a sigh: “I
+think there are the Lady Lidhursts on the terrace; and here comes my
+Lord Glistonbury with his son.”
+
+“My pupil?” said Russell; “I hope the youth is such as I can become
+attached to. Life would be wretched indeed without attachment--of some
+sort or other. But I must not expect,” added he, “to find a second time
+a friend in a pupil; and such a friend!”
+
+Sentiment, or the expression of the tenderness he felt for his friends,
+was so unusual from Russell, that it had double effect; and Vivian was
+so much struck by it, that he could scarcely collect his thoughts in
+time to speak to Lord Glistonbury, who came to receive his guests,
+attended by three _hangers on_ of the family--a chaplain, a captain,
+and a young lawyer. His lordship was scarcely past the meridian of life;
+yet, in spite of his gay and debonair manner, he looked old, as if he
+were paying for the libertinism of his youth by premature decrepitude.
+His countenance announced pretensions to ability; his easy and affable
+address, and the facility with which he expressed himself, gained him
+credit at first for much more understanding than he really possessed.
+There was a plausibility in all he said; but, if it were examined,
+there was nothing in it but nonsense. Some of his expressions appeared
+brilliant; some of his sentiments just; but there was a want of
+consistency, a want of a pervading mind in his conversation, which to
+good judges betrayed the truth, that all his opinions were adopted, not
+formed; all his maxims commonplace; his wit mere repetition; his sense
+merely _tact_. After proper thanks and compliments to Lady Mary and
+Mr. Vivian, for securing for him such a treasure as Mr. Russell, he
+introduced Lord Lidhurst, a sickly, bashful boy of fourteen, to his new
+governor, with polite expressions of unbounded confidence, and a rapid
+enunciation of undefined and contradictory expectations.
+
+“Mr. Russell will, I am perfectly persuaded, make Lidhurst every
+thing we can desire,” said his lordship; “an honour to his country,
+an ornament to his family. It is my decided opinion that man is but
+a bundle of habits; and it’s my maxim, that education is _second_
+nature--_first_, indeed, in many cases. For, except that I am staggered
+about original genius, I own I conceive with Hartley, that early
+impressions and associations are all in all: his vibrations and
+vibratiuncles are quite satisfactory. But what I particularly wish for
+Lidhurst, sir, is, that he should be trained as soon as possible into a
+statesman. Mr. Vivian, I presume you mean to follow up public business,
+and no doubt will make a figure. So I prophesy; and I am used to these
+things. And from Lidhurst, too, under similar tuition, I may with reason
+expect miracles--‘hope to hear him thundering in the house of commons in
+a few years--‘confess ‘am not quite so impatient to have the young dog
+in the house of incurables; for you know he could not be there without
+being in my shoes, which I have not done with yet--ha! ha! ha!----Each
+in his turn, my boy! In the mean time, Lady Mary, shall we join the
+ladies yonder, on the terrace? Lady Glistonbury walks so slow, that she
+will be seven hours in coming to us; so we had best go to her ladyship:
+if the mountain won’t go to Mahomet--you know, of course, what follows.”
+
+On their way to the terrace, Lord Glistonbury, who always heard
+himself speak with singular complacency, continued to give his ideas on
+education; sometimes appealing to Mr. Russell, sometimes happy to catch
+the eye of Lady Mary.
+
+“Now, my idea for Lidhurst is simply this:--that he should know every
+thing that is in all the best books in the library, but yet that he
+should be the farthest possible from a book-worm--that he should never,
+except in a set speech in the house, have the air of having opened a
+book in his life--mother-wit for me!--in most cases--and that easy style
+of originality, which shows the true gentleman. As to morals--Lidhurst,
+walk on, my boy--as to morals, I confess I couldn’t bear to see any
+thing of the Joseph Surface about him. A youth of spirit must, you know,
+Mr. Vivian--excuse me, Lady Mary, this is--_an aside_--be something of a
+latitudinarian to keep in the fashion: not that I mean to say so exactly
+to Lidhurst--no, no--on the contrary, Mr. Russell, it is our cue, as
+well as this reverend gentleman’s,” looking back at the chaplain, who
+bowed assent before he knew to what, “it is our cue, as well as this
+reverend gentleman’s, to preach prudence, and temperance, and all the
+cardinal virtues.”
+
+“_Cardinal_ virtues! very good, faith! my lord,” said the lawyer,
+looking at the clergyman.
+
+“_Temperance!_” repeated the chaplain, winking at the officer; “upon my
+soul, my lord, that’s too bad.”
+
+“_Prudence!_” repeated the captain; “that’s too clean a cut at poor
+Wicksted, my lord.”
+
+Before his lordship had time to preach any more prudence, they arrived
+within bowing distance of the ladies, who had, indeed, advanced at a
+very slow rate. Vivian was not acquainted with any of the ladies of the
+Glistonbury family; for they had, till this summer, resided at another
+of their country seats, in a distant county. His mother had often met
+them at parties in town.
+
+Lady Glistonbury was a thin, stiffened, flattened figure--she was
+accompanied by two other female forms, one old, the other young; not
+each a different grace, but alike all three in angularity, and in a cold
+haughtiness of mien. After reconnoitring with their glasses the party
+of gentlemen, these ladies quickened their step; and Lady Glistonbury,
+making her countenance as affable as it was in its nature to be,
+exclaimed, “My dear Lady Mary Vivian! have I the pleasure to see your
+ladyship?--They told me it was only visitors to my lord.”
+
+Mr. Vivian had then the honour of being introduced to her ladyship, to
+her eldest daughter, Lady Sarah Lidhurst, and to Miss Strictland, the
+governess. By all of these ladies he was most graciously received;
+but poor Russell was not so fortunate; nothing could be more cold and
+repulsive than their reception of him. This did not make Lady Sarah
+appear very agreeable to Vivian; he thought her, at this first view, one
+of the least attractive young women he had ever beheld.
+
+“Where is my Julia?” inquired Lord Glistonbury. “Ah! there she goes
+yonder, all life and spirits.”
+
+Vivian looked as his lordship directed his eye, and saw, at the farthest
+end of the terrace, a young girl of about fifteen, running very fast,
+with a hoop, which she was keeping up with great dexterity for the
+amusement of a little boy who was with her. The governess no sooner saw
+this than she went in pursuit of her young ladyship, calling after her,
+in various tones and phrases of reprehension, in French, Italian, and
+English; and asking whether this was a becoming employment for a young
+lady of her age and rank. Heedless of these reproaches, Lady Julia still
+ran on, away from her governess, “to chase the rolling circle’s speed,”
+ down the slope of the terrace; thither Miss Strictland dared not pursue,
+but contented herself with standing on the brink, reiterating her
+remonstrances. At length the hoop fell, and the young lady returned, not
+to her governess, but, running lightly up the slope of the terrace, to
+her surprise, she came full in view of the company before she was aware
+that any strangers were there. Her straw hat being at the back of her
+head, Lady Glistonbury, with an indignant look, pulled it forwards.
+
+“What a beautiful colour! what a sweet countenance Lady Julia has!”
+ whispered Lady Mary Vivian to Lord Glistonbury: at the same time she
+could not refrain from glancing her eyes towards her son, to see what
+effect was produced upon him. Vivian’s eyes met hers; and this single
+look of his mother’s revealed to him all that she had, in her great
+prudence, resolved to conceal. He smiled at her, and then at Russell, as
+much as to say, “Surely there can be no comparison between such a child
+as this and Selina Sidney!”
+
+A few minutes afterwards, in consequence of a sign from Lady
+Glistonbury, Julia disappeared with her governess; and the moment was
+unnoticed by Vivian, who was then, as his mother observed, looking up at
+one of the turrets of the old castle. All its inhabitants were at this
+time uninteresting to him, except so far as they regarded his friend
+Russell; but the castle itself absorbed his attention. Lord Glistonbury,
+charmed to see how he was struck by it, offered to show him over every
+part of the edifice; an offer which he and Lady Mary gladly accepted.
+Lady Glistonbury excused herself, professing to be unable to sustain
+the fatigue: she deputed her eldest daughter to attend Lady Mary in her
+stead; and this was the only circumstance which diminished the pleasure
+to Vivian, for he was obliged to show due courtesy to this stiff
+taciturn damsel at every turn, whilst he was intent upon seeing the
+architecture of the castle, and the views from the windows of the towers
+and loop-holes of the galleries; all which Lady Sarah pointed out with a
+cold, ceremonious civility, and a formal exactness of proceeding, which
+enraged Vivian’s enthusiastic temper. The visit ended: he railed half
+the time he was going home against their fair, or, as he called her,
+their petrified guide; then, full of the Gothic beauties of Glistonbury,
+he determined, as soon as possible, to turn his own modern house into
+a castle. The very next morning he had an architect to view it, and to
+examine its capabilities. It happened that, about this time, several of
+the noblemen and gentry, in the county in which Vivian resided, had been
+seized with this rage for turning comfortable houses into uninhabitable
+castles. And, however perverse or impracticable this retrograde movement
+in architecture might seem, there were always at hand professional
+projectors, to convince gentlemen that nothing was so feasible. Provided
+always that gentlemen approve their estimates as well as their plans,
+they undertake to carry buildings back, in a trice, two, or three,
+or half a dozen centuries, as may be required, to make them Gothic or
+Saracenic, and to “add every grace that time alone can give.” A few days
+after Vivian had been at Glistonbury Castle, when Lord Glistonbury came
+to return the visit, Russell, who accompanied his lordship, found his
+friend encompassed with plans and elevations.
+
+“Surely, my dear Vivian,” said he, seizing the first moment he could
+speak to him, “you are not going to spoil this excellent house? It
+is completely finished, in handsome modern architecture, perfectly
+comfortable and convenient, light, airy, large enough, warm rooms, well
+distributed, with ample means of getting at each apartment; and if you
+set about to new-model and transform it into a castle, you must, I see,
+by your plan, alter the proportions of almost every room, and spoil the
+comfort of the whole; turn square to round, and round again to square;
+and, worse than all, turn light to darkness--only for the sake of having
+what is called a castle, but what has not, in fact, any thing of the
+grandeur or solid magnificence of a real ancient edifice. These modern
+baby-house miniatures of castles, which gentlemen ruin themselves to
+build, are, after all, the most paltry, absurd things imaginable.”
+
+To this Vivian was, after some dispute, forced to agree; but he said,
+“that his should not be a baby-house; that he would go to any expense to
+make it really magnificent.”
+
+“As magnificent, I suppose, as Glistonbury Castle?”
+
+“If possible:--that is, I confess, the object of my emulation.”
+
+“Ah!” said Russell, shaking his head, “these are the objects of
+emulation, for which country gentlemen often ruin themselves; barter
+their independence and real respectability; reduce themselves to
+distress and disgrace: these are the objects for which they sell either
+their estates or their country; become placemen or beggars; and end
+either in the liberties of the King’s Bench, or the slaveries of St.
+James’s.”
+
+“Impossible for me! you know my public principles,” said Vivian: “and
+you know that I think the life of an independent country gentleman the
+most respectable of all others--you know my principles.”
+
+“I know your facility,” said Russell: “if you begin by sacrificing thus
+to your taste, do you think you will not end by sacrificing to your
+interest?”
+
+“Never! never!” cried Vivian.
+
+“Then you imagine that a strong temptation will not act where a weak one
+has been found irresistible.”
+
+“Of this I am certain,” said Vivian: “I could never be brought to sell
+my country, or to forfeit my honour.”
+
+“Perhaps not,” said Russell: “you might, in your utmost need, have
+another alternative; you might forfeit your love; you might give up
+Selina Sidney, and marry for money--all for the sake of a castle!”
+
+Struck by this speech, Vivian exclaimed, “I would give up a thousand
+castles rather than run such a hazard!”
+
+“Let us then coolly calculate,” said Russell. “What would the castle
+cost you?”
+
+The expense, even by the estimates of the architects, which, in
+the execution, are usually doubled, was enormous, such as Vivian
+acknowledged was unsuited even to his ample fortune. His fortune, though
+considerable, was so entailed, that he would, if he exceeded his income,
+be soon reduced to difficulties for ready money. But then his mother
+had several thousands in the stocks, which she was ready to lend him to
+forward this castle-building. It was a project which pleased her taste,
+and gratified her aristocratic notions.
+
+Vivian assured his friend at parting, that his reason was convinced:
+that he would not yield to the whims of taste, and that he would
+prudently give up his folly. So he determined; and he abided by his
+determination till he heard numbers speak on the other side of the
+question. With Vivian, those who spoke last frequently seemed to speak
+best; and, in general, the number of voices overpowered the weight
+of argument. By the persuasions of his mother, the example of his
+neighbours, and the urgency of architects and men of taste who got about
+him soon afterwards, he was convinced that there was no living without
+a castle, and that the expense would be _next to nothing at all.
+Convinced_, we should not say; for he yielded, against his conviction,
+from mere want of power to resist reiterated solicitations. He had
+no other motive; for the enthusiasm raised by the view of Glistonbury
+Castle had passed away: he plainly saw, what Russell had pointed out to
+him, that he should spoil the inside of his house for the sake of the
+outside; and, for his own part, he preferred comfort to show. It was
+not, therefore, to please his own taste that he ran into this imprudent
+expense, but merely to gratify the taste of others.
+
+Now the bustle of building began, and workmen swarmed round his house;
+the foundations sank, the scaffolds rose; and many times did Vivian sigh
+and repent, when he saw how much was to be undone before any thing could
+be done; when he found his house dismantled, saw the good ceilings
+and elegant cornices knocked to pieces, saw the light domes and modern
+sashes give way; all taken out to be replaced, at profuse expense, by a
+clumsy imitation of Gothic; how often did be sigh and calculate, when he
+saw the tribes of workmen file off as their dinner bell rang! how often
+did he bless himself, when he beheld the huge beams of timber dragged
+into his yards, and the solid masses of stone brought from a quarry at
+an enormous distance!--Vivian perceived that the expense would be treble
+the estimate; and said, that if the thing were to be done again, he
+would never consent to it; but now, as Lady Mary observed, it was too
+late to repent; and it was, at any rate, best to go on and finish it
+with spirit--since it was impossible (nobody knew why) to stop. He
+hurried on the workmen with impatience; for he was anxious to have the
+roof and some apartments in his castle finished before his marriage. The
+dilatoriness of the lawyers, and the want of the trustee, who had not
+yet arrived in England, were no longer complained of so grievously by
+the lover. Russell, one day, as he saw Vivian overlooking his workmen,
+and urging them to expedition, smiled, and asked whether the impatience
+of an architect or of a lover was now predominant in his mind. Vivian,
+rather offended by the question, replied, that his eagerness to finish
+this part of his castle arose from his desire to give an agreeable
+surprise to his bride; and he declared that his passion for Selina
+was as ardent, at this moment, as it had ever been; but that it was
+impossible to make lawyers move faster than their accustomed pace;
+and that Miss Sidney was too secure of his affection, and he too well
+convinced of hers, to feel that sort of anxiety, which persons who had
+less confidence in each other might experience in similar circumstances.
+This was all very true, and very reasonable; but Russell could not help
+perceiving that Vivian’s language and tone were somewhat altered since
+the time when he was ready to brave heaven and earth to marry his
+mistress, without license or consent of friends, without the possibility
+of waiting a few months till he was of age. In fact, though Vivian would
+not allow it, this consent of friends, this ceasing of opposition, this
+security and tranquillity of happiness, had considerably changed the
+appearance, at least, of his love. Lady Mary perceived it, with a
+resolution to say nothing, and see how it would end. Selina did not
+perceive it for some time; for she was of a most unsuspicious temper;
+and her confidence in Vivian was equal to the fondness of her love. She
+began to think, indeed, that the lawyers were provokingly slow; and when
+Vivian did not blame them as much as he used to do, she only thought
+that he understood business better than she did--besides, the necessary
+trustee was not come--and, in short, the last thing that occurred to her
+mind was to blame Vivian.
+
+The trustee at length arrived, and the castle was almost in the
+wished-for state of forwardness, when a new cause of delay arose--a
+county election: but how this election was brought on, and how it was
+conducted, it is necessary to record. It happened that a relation of
+Vivian’s was appointed to a new seventy-four gun ship, of which he came
+to take the command at Yarmouth, which was within a few miles of him.
+Vivian recollected that Russell had often expressed a desire to go on
+board a man-of-war. Vivian, therefore, after having appointed a day
+for their going, went to Glistonbury to invite Russell: his pupil, Lord
+Lidhurst, begged to be permitted to accompany them: and Lady Julia,
+the moment she heard of this new seventy-four gun ship, was, as her
+governess expressed it, wild to be of the party. Indeed, any thing
+that had the name of a party of pleasure, and that promised a transient
+relief from the tedious monotony in which her days passed; any thing
+that gave a chance of even a few hours’ release from the bondage
+in which she was held between the restraints of the most rigid of
+governesses and the proudest of mothers, appeared delightful to this
+lively and childish girl. She persecuted her governess with entreaties,
+till at last she made Miss Strictland go with her petition to Lady
+Glistonbury; whilst, in the mean time, Lady Julia overwhelmed her father
+with caresses, till he consented; and with much difficulty, prevailed
+upon Lady Glistonbury to give her permission for the young ladies to go
+with their governess, their brother, their father, and Lady Mary Vivian,
+on this excursion. The invitation was now extended to all the company
+then at the castle; including the representative of the county, who,
+being just threatened with a fit of the gout, brought on by hard
+drinking at the last election, expressed some reluctance to going with
+this party on the water. But this gentleman was now paying his humble
+devoirs to the Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and it was represented to him, by
+all who understood the ground, that he would give mortal offence if he
+did not go; so it was ruled, that, hot or cold, gout or no gout, he
+must appear in the Lady Sarah’s train: he submitted to this perilous
+necessity in the most gallant manner. The day proved tolerably
+fine--Vivian had an elegant entertainment provided for the
+company, under a marquee pitched on the shore--they _embarked_ in a
+pleasure-boat--Lady Sarah was very sick, and her admirer very cold; but
+Lady Julia was in extasies at every thing she saw and felt--she feared
+nothing, found nothing inconvenient--was charmed to be drawn so easily
+from the boat up the high side of the ship--charmed to find herself on
+deck--charmed to see the sails, the ropes, the rigging, the waves, the
+sea, the sun, the clouds, the sailors, the cook dressing dinner--all,
+all indiscriminately charmed her; and, like a school-girl broke loose,
+she ran about, wild with spirits, asking questions, some sensible, some
+silly; laughing at her own folly, flying from this side to that, from
+one end of the ship to the other, down the ladders and up again; whilst
+Mr. Russell, who was deputed to take care of her, could scarcely keep
+up with her: Lord Glistonbury stood by, holding his sides and laughing
+aloud: Miss Strictland, quite disabled by the smell of the ship, was
+lying on a bed in the state cabin; and Lady Sarah, all the time shaded
+by an umbrella held by her shivering admirer, sat, as if chained upright
+in her chair of state, upon deck, scorning her sister’s childish levity,
+and proving herself, with all due propriety, incapable of being moved to
+surprise or admiration by any object on land or sea.
+
+Lady Mary Vivian, while she observed with a quick eye all that passed,
+and read her son’s thoughts, was fully persuaded that neither of the
+Lady Lidhursts would be likely to suit his taste, even if his affections
+were disengaged: the one was too childish, the other too stiff. “Yet
+their birth and connexions, and their consequence in the county,”
+ thought Lady Mary, “would have made their alliance highly desirable.”
+ Every body seemed weary at the close of this day’s entertainment, except
+Lady Julia, who _kept it up_ with indefatigable gaiety, and could hardly
+believe that it was time to go home, when the boat was announced to row
+them to shore: heedless, and absolutely dizzy with talking and laughing,
+her ladyship, escaping from the assistance of sailors and gentlemen,
+made a false step in getting into the boat, and, falling over, would
+have sunk for ever, but for Mr. Russell’s presence of mind. He
+seized her with a strong grasp, and saved her. The fright sobered her
+completely; and she sat wrapped in great-coats, as silent, as tractable,
+and as wet as possible, during the remainder of the way to shore. The
+screams, the ejaculations, the reprimands from Miss Strictland; the
+questions, the reflections, to which this incident led, may possibly be
+conceived, but cannot be enumerated.
+
+This event, however alarming at the moment, had no serious consequence;
+for Lady Julia caught neither fever nor cold, though Miss Strictland
+was morally certain her ladyship would have one or the other; indeed she
+insinuated, that her ladyship deserved to have both. Lady Sarah’s poor
+shivering knight of the shire, however, did not escape so well. Obliged
+to row home, in a damp evening, without his great-coat, which he had
+been forced to offer to Lady Julia, in a pleasure-boat, when he should
+have been in flannels or in bed, he had “cause to rue the boating of
+that day.” His usual panacea of the gout did not come as expected, _to
+set him up again_. The cold he caught this day killed him. Lady Sarah
+Lidhurst was precisely as sorry as decorum required. But the bustle of a
+new election was soon to obliterate the memory of the old member, in
+the minds of his numerous friends. Lord Glistonbury, and several other
+voices in the county, called upon Vivian to stand on the independent
+interest. There was to be a contest: for a government candidate declared
+himself at the same moment that application was made to Vivian. The
+expense of a contested election alarmed both Vivian and his mother.
+Gratified as she was by the honour of this offer, yet she had
+the prudence to advise her son rather to go into parliament as
+representative for a borough than to hazard the expense of a contest
+for the county. Miss Sidney, also, whom he consulted upon this occasion,
+supported his mother’s prudent advice, in the most earnest manner; and
+Vivian was inclined to follow this counsel, till Lord Glistonbury came
+one morning to plead the contrary side of the question: he assured
+Vivian, that from his experience of the county, he was morally certain
+they should carry it without trouble, and with no expense _worth
+mentioning_. These were only general phrases, to be sure, not arguments;
+but these, joined to her ambition to see her son member for the county,
+at length overpowered Lady Mary’s better judgment: her urgent entreaties
+were now joined to those of Lord Glistonbury, and of many loud-tongued
+electioneerers, who proved to Vivian, by every thing but calculation,
+that he must be returned if he would but stand--if he would only declare
+himself. Russell and his own prudence strongly counselled him to resist
+these clamorous importunities; the two preceding candidates, whose
+fortunes had been nearly as good as his, had been ruined by the
+contests. Vivian was very young, but just of age; and Russell observed,
+“that it would be better for him to see something more of the world,
+before he should embark in politics, and plunge into public business.”
+ “True,” said Vivian; “but Mr. Pitt was only three-and-twenty when he was
+minister of England. I am not ambitious; but I should certainly like to
+distinguish myself, if I could; and whilst I feel in youth the glow of
+patriotism, why should I not serve my country?”
+
+“Serve it and welcome,” said Russell: “but don’t begin by ruining
+yourself by a contested election; or else, whatever glow of patriotism
+you may feel, it will be out of your power to be an honest member of
+parliament. If you must go into parliament immediately for the good
+of your country, go in as member for some borough, which will not ruin
+you.”
+
+“But the committee of our friends will be so disappointed if I decline;
+and my mother, who has now set her heart upon it, and Lord Glistonbury,
+and Mr. C----, and Mr. G----, and Mr. D----, who are such zealous
+friends, and who urge me so much----”
+
+“Judge for yourself,” said Russell, “and don’t let any persons who
+happen to be near you persuade you to see with their eyes, and decide
+with their wishes. Zealous friends, indeed!--because they love to
+make themselves of consequence, by bawling and scampering about at an
+election!--And you would let such people draw you on, to ruin yourself.”
+
+“I will show you that they shall not,” cried Vivian, seizing a sheet
+of paper, and sitting down immediately to write the copy of a circular
+letter to his friends, informing them, with many thanks, that he
+declined to stand for the county. Russell eagerly wrote copies of this
+letter, which Vivian declared should be sent early the next morning.
+But no sooner was Russell out of sight than Lady Mary Vivian resumed her
+arguments in favour of commencing his canvass immediately, and before
+his friends should cool. When she saw the letters that he had been
+writing, she was excessively indignant; and, by a torrent of female and
+maternal eloquence, he was absolutely overwhelmed. Auxiliaries poured
+in to her ladyship on all sides; horsemen after horsemen, freeholders
+of all degrees, now flocked to the house, hearing that Mr. Vivian had
+thoughts of standing for the county. They were unanimously loud in their
+assurances of success. Old and new copies of poll books were produced,
+and the different interests of the county counted and recounted,
+balanced and counterbalanced, again and again, by each person, after his
+own fashion: and it was proved to Mr. Vivian, _in black and white, and
+as plain as figures could make it_, that he had the game in his own
+hands; and that, if he would but declare himself, the other candidate
+would, the very next day, they would be bound for it, decline the
+contest. Vivian had a clear head, and a competent knowledge of
+arithmetic; he saw the fallacies and inaccuracies in their modes of
+computation; he saw, upon examining the books, that the state of
+the county interests was very different from what they pretended or
+believed; and he was convinced that the opposite candidate would not
+decline: but after Vivian had stated these reasons ten times, and his
+mother and his electioneering partisans had reiterated their assertions
+twenty times, he yielded, merely because they had said twice as much
+as he had, and because, poor easy man! he had not power to resist
+continuity of solicitation.
+
+He declared himself candidate for the county; and was soon immersed in
+all the toil, trouble, vexation, and expense, of a contested election.
+Of course, his marriage was now to be postponed till the election should
+be over. Love and county politics have little affinity. What the evils
+of a contested election are can be fully known only to those by whom
+they have been personally experienced. The contest was bitter. The
+Glistonbury interest was the strongest which supported Vivian: Lord
+Glistonbury and _his lordship’s friends_ were warm in his cause. Not
+that they had any particular regard for Vivian; but he was to be _their
+member_, opposed to the court candidate, whom his lordship was anxious
+to keep out of the county. Lord Glistonbury had once been a strong
+friend to government, and was thought a confirmed courtier, especially
+as he had been brought up in high aristocratic notions; but he had
+made it his great object to turn his earldom into a marquisate; and
+government having delayed or refused to gratify him in this point,
+he quitted them with disgust, and set up his standard amongst the
+opposition. He was now loud and zealous on every occasion that could,
+as he said, _annoy_ government; and merely because he could not be a
+marquis, he became a patriot. Mistaken, abused name! how glorious in
+its original, how despicable in its debased signification!--Lord
+Glistonbury’s exertions were indefatigable.
+
+Vivian felt much gratitude for this apparently disinterested friendship;
+and, during a few weeks, whilst this canvass was going on, he formed
+a degree of intimacy with the Glistonbury family, which, in any other
+circumstances, could scarcely have been brought about during months
+or years. An election, in England, seems, for the time, to level all
+distinctions, not only of rank, but even of pride: Lady Glistonbury
+herself, at this season, found it necessary to relax from her usual
+rigidity.--There was an extraordinary freedom of egress and regress; and
+the haughty code of Glistonbury lay dormant. Vivian, of course, was the
+centre of all interest; and, whenever he appeared, every individual of
+the family was eager to inquire, “What news?--What news?--How do things
+go on to-day?--How will the election turn out?--Have you written to Mr.
+Such-a-one?--Have you been to Mr. Such-a-one’s?--I’ll write a note for
+you--I’ll copy a letter.”--There was one common cause--Miss Strictland
+even deigned to assist Mr. Vivian, and to try her awkward hand to
+forward his canvass, for it was to support the Glistonbury interest; and
+“there was no impropriety could attach to the thing.” Russell’s extreme
+anxiety made Vivian call more frequently even than it was necessary at
+the castle, to quiet his apprehensions, and to assure him that things
+were going on well. Young Lord Lidhurst, who was really good-natured,
+and over whose mind Russell began to gain some ascendancy, used to stand
+upon the watch for Vivian’s appearance, and would run up the back stairs
+to Russell’s apartment, to give him notice of it, and to be the first
+to tell the news. Lady Sarah--the icy lady Sarah herself--began to
+thaw; and every day, in the same phrase, she condescended to say to
+Mr. Vivian, that she “hoped the poll was going on as well as could be
+expected.” It was, of course, reported, that Vivian was to succeed the
+late representative of the county in all its honours. In eight days he
+was confidently given to Lady Sarah by the generous public; and the day
+of their nuptials was positively fixed. As the lady was, even by the
+account of her friends, two or three years older than Mr. Vivian,
+and four or five years older by her looks, and as she was peculiarly
+unsuited to his taste, he heard the report without the slightest
+apprehension for his own constancy to Selina. He laughed at the idea, as
+an excellent joke, when it was first mentioned to him by Russell. Lord
+Glistonbury’s manners, however, and the cordial familiarity with which
+he treated Vivian, gave every day increasing credit to the report. “If
+he were his son, my lord could not be more anxious about Mr. Vivian,”
+ said one of the plain-spoken freeholders, in the presence of the Lady
+Lidhursts.--Lady Sarah pursed up her mouth, and threw back her head; but
+Lady Julia, archly looking at her sister, smiled. The vivacity of Lady
+Julia’s manner did not appear excessive during this election time, when
+all the world seemed mad; on the contrary, there was, in her utmost
+freedom and raillery, that air of good-breeding and politeness, in which
+vulgar mirth and liberty are always deficient. Vivian began to think
+that she was become less childish, and that there was something of
+a mixture of womanish timidity in her appearance, which rendered her
+infinitely more attractive. One evening, in particular, when her father
+having sent her for her morning’s work, she returned with a basket full
+of _the Vivian cockade_, which she had made with her own delicate hands,
+Vivian thought she looked “very pretty:” her father desired her to give
+them to the person for whom they were intended, and she presented them
+to Mr. Russell, saying, “They are for your friend, sir.”--Vivian thought
+she looked “very graceful.”--Lady Mary Vivian suppressed half a sigh,
+and thought she kept the whole of her mind to herself. These happy days
+of canvassing, and this _freedom of election_, could not last for ever.
+After polling the county to the last freeholder, the contest was at
+length decided, and Vivian was declared duly elected. He was chaired,
+and he scattered money with a lavish hand, as he passed over the heads
+of the huzzaing populace; and he had all the honours of an election: the
+horses were taken from his carriage, and he was drawn by men, who were
+soon afterwards so much intoxicated, that they retained no vestige of
+rationality. Not only the inferior, but the superior rank of electors,
+as usual upon such occasions, thought proper to do honour to their
+choice, and to their powers of judgment, by drinking their member’s
+health at the expense of their own, till they could neither see, hear,
+nor understand. Our hero was not by any means fond of drinking, but he
+could not refuse to do as others did; and Lord Glistonbury swore, that
+now he had found out that Vivian could be such a pleasant companion over
+a bottle, he should never listen to his excuses in future.
+
+A few days after this election, parliament met for the dispatch of
+business; and as some important question was to come on, all the members
+were summoned, by a peremptory call of the house. Vivian was obliged
+to go to town immediately, and compelled to defer his marriage. He
+regretted being thus hurried away from Selina; and with a thousand
+tender and passionate expressions, assured her, that the moment his
+attendance on public business could be spared, he should hasten to the
+country to claim his promised happiness. The castle would be finished
+by the time the session was over; the lawyers would also have completed
+their settlements; and Vivian said he should make every other necessary
+preparation whilst he was in town: therefore he urged Selina now to
+fix the time for their marriage, and to let it be the first week of the
+recess of parliament. But Miss Sidney, who had great delicacy of feeling
+and dignity of character, thought that Vivian had of late shown some
+symptoms of decreased affection, and that he had betrayed signs of
+unsteadiness of character. In the whole affair of the castle-building
+and of the election, he had evidently been led by others instead of
+following his own conviction:--she wisely dreaded that he might, in more
+important actions, yield his judgment to others; and then what security
+could she have for his principles? He might, perhaps, be led into all
+sorts of fashionable dissipation and vice. Besides these fears, she
+considered that Vivian was the possessor of a large fortune; that his
+mother had with difficulty consented to this match; that he was very
+young, had seen but little of the world, and might, perhaps, in future,
+repent of having made, thus early in life, a _love match_. She therefore
+absolutely refused to let him now bind himself to her by any fresh
+promises. She desired that he should consider himself as perfectly
+at liberty, and released from all engagement to her. It was evident,
+however, from the manner in which she spoke that she wished to restore
+her lover’s liberty for his sake only; and that her own feelings,
+however they might be suppressed, were unchanged. Vivian was touched and
+charmed by her delicacy and generosity: in the fervour of his feelings
+he swore that his affections could never change; and he believed what he
+swore. Lady Mary Vivian was struck, also, with Miss Sidney’s conduct
+at parting; and she acknowledged that it was impossible to show at once
+more tenderness and dignity. No one, however, not even Vivian, knew how
+much pain this separation gave Selina. Her good sense and prudence told
+her indeed, that it was best, both for her happiness and Vivian’s, that
+he should see something more of the world, and that she should have some
+farther proof of the steadiness of his attachment, before she should
+unite herself with him irrevocably: but whilst she endeavoured to
+fortify her mind with these reflections, love inspired many painful
+fears; and, though she never repented having set him free from his
+promises and engagements, she trembled for the consequences of his being
+thus at liberty, in such scenes of temptation as a London life would
+present.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+When our hero arrived in London, and when he was first introduced into
+fashionable society, his thoughts were so intent upon Selina Sidney,
+that he was in no danger of plunging into dissipation. He was surprised
+at the eagerness with which some young men pursued frivolous pleasures:
+he was still more astonished at seeing the apathy in which others of his
+own age were sunk, and the listless insignificance in which they lounged
+away their lives.
+
+The call of the house, which brought Vivian to town, brought Lord
+Glistonbury also to attend his duty in the house of peers: with his
+lordship’s family came Mr. Russell, whom Vivian went to see, as soon and
+as often as he could. Russell heard, with satisfaction, the indignant
+eloquence with which his friend spoke; and only wished that these
+sentiments might last, and that fashion might never lead him to imitate
+or to tolerate fools, whom he now despised.
+
+“In the mean time, tell me how you go on yourself,” said Vivian; “how
+do you like your situation here, and your pupil, and all the Glistonbury
+family? Let me behind the scenes at once; for, you know, I see them only
+on the stage.”
+
+Russell replied, in general terms, that he had hopes Lord Lidhurst would
+turn out well, and that therefore he was satisfied with his situation;
+but avoided entering into particulars, because he was a confidential
+person in the family. He thought that a preceptor and a physician
+were, in some respects, bound, by a similar species of honour, to speak
+cautiously of the maladies of their patients, or the faults of their
+pupils. Admitted into the secrets of families, they should never make
+use of the confidence reposed in them, to the disadvantage of any by
+whom they are trusted. Russell’s strictly honourable reserve upon this
+occasion was rather provoking to Vivian, who, to all his questions,
+could obtain only the dry answer of--“Judge for yourself.”--The nature
+of a town life, and the sort of intercourse which capital cities afford,
+put this very little in Vivian’s power. The obligations he was under to
+Lord Glistonbury for assistance at the election made him anxious to show
+his lordship respect and attention; and the sort of intimacy which that
+election had brought on was, to a certain degree, kept up in town. Lady
+Mary Vivian was constantly one at Lady Glistonbury’s card parties;
+and Vivian was frequently at his lordship’s dinners. Considering
+the coldness and formality of Lady Glistonbury’s manners, she was
+particularly attentive to Lady Mary Vivian; and our hero was continually
+an attendant upon the ladies of the Glistonbury family to all public
+places. This was by no means disagreeable to him, as they were persons
+of _high consideration_; and they were sure of drawing into their circle
+the very best company. Lady Mary Vivian observed that it was a great
+advantage to her son to have such a house as Lord Glistonbury’s open to
+him, to go to whenever he pleased. Besides the advantage to his morals,
+her ladyship was by no means insensible to the gratification her pride
+received from her son’s living in such high company. The report which
+had been raised in the country during the election, that Mr. Vivian was
+going to be married to Lady Sarah Lidhurst, now began to circulate
+in town. This was not surprising, since a young man in London, of any
+fortune or notoriety, can hardly dance three or four times successively
+with the same young lady, cannot even sit beside her, and converse with
+her in public half a dozen times, without its being reported that he
+is going to be married to her. Of this, Vivian, during his noviciate in
+town, was not perhaps sufficiently aware: he was soon surprised at being
+asked, by almost every one he met, when his marriage with Lady Sarah
+Lidhurst was to take place. At first he contented himself with laughing
+at these questions, and declaring that there was no truth in the report:
+but his asseverations were not to be believed; they were attributed to
+motives of discretion: he was told by his companions, that he kept his
+own counsel very well; but they all knew _the thing was to be_: he was
+congratulated upon his good fortune in making such an excellent match;
+for though, as they said, he would have but little money with Lady
+Sarah, yet the connexion was so great, that he was the luckiest fellow
+upon earth. The degree of importance which the report gave him among
+the young men of his acquaintance, and the envy he excited, amused
+and gratified his vanity. The sort of conversation he was now in the
+constant habit of hearing, both from young and old, in all companies,
+about the marriages of people in the fashionable world, where fortune,
+and rank, and _connexion_, were always the first things spoken of or
+considered, began insensibly to influence Vivian’s mode of speaking, if
+not of judging. Before he mixed in this society, he knew perfectly
+well that these were the principles by which _people of the world_ are
+guided; but whilst he had believed this only on hearsay, it had not
+appeared to him so entirely true and so important as when he saw and
+heard it himself. The effect of the opinions of a set of fine people,
+now he was actually in their society, and whilst all other society
+was excluded from his perception, was very different from what he had
+imagined it might be, when he was in the country or at college. To do
+our hero justice, however, he was sensible of this _aberration_ in his
+own mind, he had sense enough to perceive from what causes it arose, and
+steadiness sufficient to adhere to the judgements he had previously and
+deliberately formed. He did not in material points change his opinion of
+his mistress; he thought her far, far superior to all he saw and heard
+amongst the belles who were most admired in the fashionable world; but,
+at the same time, he began to agree with his mother’s former wish, that
+Selina, added to all other merits, had the advantage of high birth
+and connexions, or at least, of belonging to a certain class of high
+company. He determined that, as soon as she should be his wife, he would
+have her introduced to the very _first society_ in town: he pleased
+his imagination with anticipating the change that would be made in
+her appearance, by the addition of certain elegancies of the mode:
+he delighted in thinking of the sensation she would produce, and the
+respect that would be paid to her as Mrs. Vivian, surrounded as he would
+take care that she should be, with all those external signs of wealth
+and fashion, which command immediate and universal homage from the great
+and little world.
+
+One day, when Vivian was absorbed in these pleasing reveries, Russell
+startled him with this question: “When are you to be married to Lady
+Sarah Lidhurst?”
+
+“From you such a question!” said Vivian.
+
+“Why not from me? It is a question that every body asks of me, because
+I am your intimate friend; and I should really be obliged to you, if
+you would furnish me with an answer, that may give me an air of a little
+more consequence than that which I have at present, being forced to
+answer, ‘I don’t know.’”
+
+“You don’t know! but why do not you answer, ‘Never!’ as I do,” said
+Vivian, “to all the fools who ask me the same question?”
+
+“Because they say that is your answer, and only _a come off_.”
+
+“I can’t help it--Is it my fault if they won’t believe the truth?”
+
+“Why, people are apt to trust to appearances in these cases; and if
+appearances are contrary to your assertions, you should not wonder that
+you are not believed.”
+
+“Well, time will show them their mistake!” said Vivian.--“But I don’t
+know what appearances you mean.--What appearances are against me?--I
+never in my life saw a woman I was less disposed to like--whom it would
+be more impossible for me to love--than Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and I am
+sure I never gave her, or any of her family, the least reason to imagine
+I had a thought of her.”
+
+“Very likely; yet you are at Lord Glistonbury’s continually, and you
+attend her ladyship to all public places. Is this the way, do you think,
+to put a stop to the report that has been raised?”
+
+“I care not whether it stops or goes on,” said Vivian.--“How!--Don’t I
+know it is false?--That’s enough for me.”
+
+“It may embarrass you yet,” said Russell.
+
+“Good Heavens!--Can you, who know me so well, Russell, fancy me so weak
+as to be embarrassed by such a report? Look--I would rather put this
+hand into that fire and let it be burned off, than offer it to Lady
+Sarah Lidhurst.”
+
+“Very likely.--I don’t doubt you think so,” said Russell.
+
+“And I would do so,” said Vivian.
+
+“Possibly.--Yet you might be embarrassed nevertheless, if you found that
+you had raised expectations which you could not fulfil; and if you found
+yourself accused of having jilted this lady, if all her friends were to
+say you had used her very ill.--I know your nature, Vivian; these things
+would disquiet you very much: and is it not better to prevent them?”
+
+“But neither Lady Sarah nor her friends blame me: I see no signs in the
+family of any of the thoughts or feelings you suppose.”
+
+“Ladies--especially young and fashionable ladies--do not always show
+their thoughts or feelings,” said Russell.
+
+“Lady Sarah Lidhurst has no thoughts or feelings,” said Vivian, “any
+more than an automaton. I’ll answer for her--I am sure I can do her the
+justice to proclaim, that she has always, from the first moment I
+saw her till this instant, conducted herself towards me with the same
+petrified and petrifying propriety.”
+
+“I do not know what _petrified propriety_ exactly means,” said Russell:
+“but let it mean what it may, it is nothing to the present purpose;
+for the question is not about the propriety of Lady Sarah Lidhurst’s
+conduct, but of yours. Now, allowing you to call her ladyship a
+petrifaction, or an automaton, or by whatever other name you please,
+still, I apprehend, that she is in reality a human creature, and a
+woman; and I conceive it is the duty of a man of honour or honesty not
+to deceive her.”
+
+“I would not deceive her, or any woman living, upon any account,” said
+Vivian. “But how is it possible I can deceive her, when I tell you I
+never said a word about love or gallantry, or any thing like it, to her
+in my life?”
+
+“But you know language is conventional, especially in gallantry,” said
+Russell.
+
+“True; but I’ll swear the language of my looks has been unequivocal, if
+that is what you mean.”
+
+“Not exactly: there are certain signs by which the world JUDGES in these
+cases--if a gentleman is seen often with the same lady in public.”
+
+“Absurd, troublesome, ridiculous signs, which would put a stop to all
+society; which would prevent a man from conversing with a woman,
+either in public or private; and must absolutely preclude one sex from
+obtaining any real knowledge of the characters and dispositions of the
+other.”
+
+“I admit all you say--I feel the truth of it--I wish this were changed
+in society; it is a great inconvenience, a real evil,” said Russell:
+“but an individual cannot alter a custom; and, as you have not, by
+your own account, any particular interest in becoming more intimately
+acquainted with the character and disposition of Lady Sarah Lidhurst,
+you will do well not to expose yourself to any inconvenience on her
+account, by neglecting common received forms and opinions.”
+
+“Well! well!--say no more about it,” said Vivian, impatiently; “spare me
+all farther logic and morality upon this subject, and I’ll do what you
+please--only tell me what you would have me do.”
+
+“Gradually withdraw yourself for some time from this house, and the
+report will die away of itself.”
+
+“Withdraw myself!--that would be very hard upon me!” cried Vivian; “for
+this house is the most agreeable house in town to me;--because you live
+in it, in the first place; and then, though the women are as stiff as
+pokers, one is always sure of meeting all the pleasant and clever men
+at Glistonbury’s good dinner. Let me tell you, good dinners, and good
+company, and good conversation, and good music, make altogether a very
+pleasant house, which I should be confoundedly sorry to be forced to
+give up.”
+
+“I don’t doubt it,” said Russell; “but we must often give up more even
+than this for the sake of acting with consistency and honour; we must
+sacrifice the less to the greater good; and it is on these occasions
+that people show strength or weakness of mind.”
+
+Vivian felt the justice of his friend’s observations--resolved to follow
+his advice--and to withdraw himself gradually from the Glistonbury
+circle. He had not, however, steadiness enough to persist in this
+resolution; one engagement linked on another; and he would soon,
+probably, have relapsed into his habit of being continually of their
+parties, if accident had not for a time suspended this intimacy, by
+leading him into another, which seemed to him still more attractive.
+
+Among the men of talents and political consequence whom he met at Lord
+Glistonbury’s was Mr. Wharton, whose conversation particularly pleased
+Vivian, and who now courted his acquaintance with an eagerness which was
+peculiarly flattering. Vivian knew him only as a man of great abilities;
+with his real character he was not acquainted. Wharton had prepossessing
+manners, and wit sufficient whenever he pleased to make the worse appear
+the better reason. In private or in public debate he had at his command,
+and could condescend to employ, all sorts of arms, and every possible
+mode of annoyance, from the most powerful artillery of logic to the
+lowest squib of humour. He was as little nice in the company he kept as
+in the style of his conversation. Frequently associating with fools,
+and willing even to be thought one, he made alternately his sport
+and advantage of the weakness and follies of mankind. Wharton was
+philosophically, politically, and fashionably profligate. After
+having ruined his private fortune by unbounded extravagance, he lived
+on--nobody knew how--in careless profusion. In public life he made a
+distinguished figure; and seemed, therefore, to think himself raised
+above the necessity of practising any of the minor virtues of economy,
+prudence, or justice, which common people find essential to their
+well-being in society. Far from attempting to conceal, he gloried in
+his faults; for he knew full well, that as long as he had the voice of
+numbers with him, he could bully, or laugh, or shame plain reason and
+rigid principle out of countenance. It was his grand art to represent
+good sense as stupidity, and virtue as hypocrisy. Hypocrisy was, in his
+opinion, the only vice which merited the brand of infamy; and from this
+he took sufficient care to prove, or at least to proclaim, himself free.
+Even whilst he offended against the decencies of life, there seemed
+to be something frank and graceful in his manner of throwing aside all
+disguise. There appeared an air of superior liberality in his avowing
+himself to be governed by that absolute selfishness, which other men
+strive to conceal even from their own hearts. He dexterously led his
+acquaintance to infer that he would prove as much better than his
+professions, as other people are often found to be worse than theirs.
+Where he wished to please, it was scarcely possible to escape the
+fascination of his manner; nor did he neglect any mode of courting
+popularity. He knew that a good table is necessary to attract even men
+of wit; and he made it a point to have the very best cook, and the very
+best wines. He paid his cook, and his cook was the only person he did
+pay, in ready money. His wine-merchant he paid in words--an art in which
+he was a professed and yet a successful adept, as hundreds of living
+witnesses were ready to attest. But though Wharton could cajole, he
+could not attach his fellow-creatures--he had a party, but no friend.
+With this distribution of things he was perfectly satisfied; for he
+considered men only as beings who were to be worked to his purposes; and
+he declared that, provided he had power over their interests and their
+humours, he cared not what became of their hearts. It was his policy
+to enlist young men of talents or fortune under his banners; and
+consequently Vivian was an object worthy of his attention. Such was
+the disorder of Wharton’s affairs, that either ready money or political
+power was necessary to his existence. Our hero could, at the same time,
+supply his extravagance and increase his consequence. Wharton thought
+that he could borrow money from Vivian, and that he might command his
+vote in parliament; but, to the accomplishment of these schemes, there
+were two obstacles--Vivian was attached to an amiable woman, and was
+possessed of an estimable friend. Wharton had become acquainted with
+Russell at Lord Glistonbury’s; and, in many arguments which they had
+held on public affairs, had discovered that Russell was not a man who
+ever preferred the expedient to the right, nor one who could be bullied
+or laughed out of his principles. He saw also that Russell’s influence
+over Vivian was so great, that it supplied him with that strength of
+mind in which Vivian was naturally deficient; and, if our hero should
+marry such a woman as Miss Sidney, Wharton foresaw that he should have
+no chance of succeeding in his designs; therefore his first objects
+were, to detach Vivian from his friend Russell and from Selina. One
+morning he called upon Vivian with a party of his friends, and found him
+writing.
+
+“Poetry!” cried Wharton, carelessly looking at what he had, been
+writing, “poetry, I protest!--Ay, I know this poor fellow’s in love;
+and every man who is in love is a poet, ‘with a woeful ditty to his
+mistress’s eyebrow.’ Pray what colour may Miss Sidney’s eyebrows
+be?--she is really a pretty girl--I think I remember seeing her at some
+races.--Why does she never come to town?--But of course she is not to
+blame for that, but her fortune I suppose.--Marrying a girl without a
+fortune is a serious thing in these expensive days; but you have fortune
+enough for both yourself and your wife, so you may do as you please.
+Well, I thank God, I have no fortune! If I had been a young man of
+fortune I should have been the most unhappy rascal upon earth, for I
+should have always suspected that every woman liked me for my wealth--I
+should have had no pleasure in the smiles of an angel--angels, or their
+mothers, are so venal now-a-days, and so fond of the pomps and vanities
+of this wicked world!”
+
+“I hope,” said Vivian, laughing, “you don’t include the whole sex in
+your satire.”
+
+“No--there are exceptions--and every man has his angel of an exception,
+as every woman has her star:--it is well for weak women when these stars
+of theirs don’t lead them astray; and well for weak men when these
+angel exceptions before marriage don’t turn out very women or devils
+afterwards. But why do I say all this? because I am a suspicious
+scoundrel--I know and can’t help it. If other fellows of my standing in
+this wicked world would but speak the truth, however, they would show
+as much suspicion and more than I do. Bad as I am, and such as I am,
+you see, and have the whole of me--nobody can say Wharton’s a hypocrite;
+that’s some comfort. But, seriously, Vivian, I don’t mean to laugh at
+love and angels--I can just remember the time when I felt all your
+sort of romance--but that is in the preterpluperfect tense with
+me--completely past--ambition is no bad cure for love. My head is, at
+this present moment, so full of this new bill that we are bringing into
+parliament, that Cupid might empty his quiver upon me in vain.--Look!
+here is an impenetrable shield!” added he, wrapping round him a thick
+printed copy of an act of parliament. “Come, Vivian, you must come along
+with us to the house,
+
+     ‘And, mix’d with men, a man you must appear.’”
+
+Vivian felt much ashamed of having been detected in writing a sonnet,
+especially as it afforded Wharton such a fine subject for raillery.
+He accompanied the party to the House of Commons, where Wharton made a
+brilliant speech. It gained universal applause. Vivian sympathized in
+the general enthusiasm of admiration for Wharton’s talents, accepted
+an invitation to sup with him, and was charmed by his convivial powers.
+From this day, he grew every hour more intimate with Wharton.
+
+“I can enjoy,” thought Vivian, “the pleasure of his society without
+being influenced by his libertine example.”
+
+Lady Mary Vivian saw the rise and progress of this intimacy, and was
+not insensible to its danger; yet she was gratified by seeing her son
+distinguished by a man of Wharton’s political consequence; and she
+satisfied her conscience by saying, “He will bring my son forward in
+public life; and, as to the rest, Charles has too good principles ever
+to follow his example in private life.”
+
+Wharton had too much address to alarm Vivian’s moral prejudices on
+a first acquaintance. He contented himself with ridiculing only the
+exaggeration of any of the virtues, still affecting to believe in
+virtue, and to love it, wherever it could be found genuine. By the
+success of his first petty attacks, he learned the power that ridicule
+had over our hero’s mind; and he did not fail to make use of it
+continually. After having, as he perceived, succeeded in making Vivian
+ashamed of his sonnet to Selina, and of appearing as a romantic lover,
+he doubted not but in time he should make _true_ love itself ridiculous;
+and Wharton thought it was now the moment to hazard another stroke, and
+to commence his attack against friendship.
+
+“Vivian, my good fellow! why do you let yourself be ruled by that modern
+stoic in the form of Lord Lidhurst’s tutor? I never saw any of these
+cold moralists who were real, warm-hearted, good friends. I have a
+notion I see more of Russell’s play in the house where he has got than
+he thinks I do; and I can form a shrewd guess why he was so zealous in
+warning you of the report about Lady Sarah Lidhurst--he had his own
+snug reasons for wanting you away--Oh, trust me for scenting out
+self-interest, through all the doublings and windings of your cunning
+moralist!”
+
+Reddening with indignation at this attack upon his friend, Vivian warmly
+replied, that Mr. Wharton ought to restrain his wit where the feelings
+of friendship and the character of a man of honour were concerned; that
+he did not, in the least, comprehend his insinuations with regard to
+Russell; but that, for his own part, he had such firm reliance upon
+his friend’s attachment and integrity, that he was at any time ready to
+pledge his own honour for Russell’s, and to answer for it with his life.
+
+“Spare your heroics, my dear Vivian!” cried Wharton, laughing; “for we
+are not in the days of Pylades and Orestes;--yet, upon my soul, instead
+of being as angry with you as you are with me, at this instant I like
+you a thousand times the better for your enthusiastic credulity. For
+my part, I have, ever since I lived in the world and put away childish
+things, regretted that charming instinct of credulity, which experience
+so fatally counteracts. I envy you, my dear boy!--as to the rest, you
+know Russell’s merits better than I do: I’ll take him henceforward upon
+trust from you.”
+
+“Thus Wharton, finding that he was upon dangerous ground, made a timely
+retreat: the playful manner and open countenance with which he now
+spoke, and the quick transition that he made to other subjects of
+conversation, prevented Vivian from suspecting that any settled design
+had been formed to detach him from Russell. From this time forward,
+Wharton forbore raillery on love and friendship; and, far from seeming
+desirous of interfering in Vivian’s private concerns, appeared quite
+absorbed in politics. Avowing, as he did, that he was guided solely by
+his interest in public life, he laughed at Vivian for professing more
+generous principles.
+
+“I know,” cried Wharton, “how to make use of a fine word, and to round a
+fine sentence, as well as the best of you; but what a simpleton he must
+be who is cheated by his own sophistry!--An artist, an enthusiastic
+artist, who is generally half a madman, might fall in love with a statue
+of his own making; but you never heard of a coiner, did you, who was
+cheated by his own bad shilling? Patriotism and loyalty are counterfeit
+coin; I can’t be taken in by them at my time of day.”
+
+Vivian could not forbear to smile at the drollery and wit with which
+this profligate defended his want of integrity; yet he sometimes
+seriously and warmly asserted his own principles. Upon these occasions,
+Wharton either overpowered him by a fine flow of words, or else
+listened with the most flattering air of admiration, and silenced him by
+compliments to his eloquence. Vivian thought that he was quite secure of
+his own firmness; but the contagion of bad example sometimes affects
+the mind imperceptibly; as certain noxious atmospheres steal upon the
+senses, and excite the most agreeable sensations, while they secretly
+destroy the principles of health and life. A day was fixed when a
+question of importance was to come on in the House of Commons. Wharton
+was extremely anxious to have Vivian’s vote. Vivian, according to the
+parliamentary phrase, _had not made up his mind_ on the subject. A heap
+of pamphlets on the question lay uncut upon his table. Every morning
+he resolved to read them, that he might form his judgment, and vote
+according to his unbiassed opinion; but every morning he was interrupted
+by some of the fashionable idlers whom his facility of temper had
+indulged in the habit of haunting him daily. “Oh, Vivian! we are going
+to such and such a place, and you _must_ come with us!” was a mode of
+persuasion which he could not resist.
+
+“If I don’t do as they do,” thought he, “I shall be quite unfashionable.
+Russell may say what he pleases, but it is necessary to yield to one’s
+companions in trifles.
+
+     ‘Whoever would be pleased and please,
+     Must do what others do with ease.’”
+
+This couplet, which had been repeated to him by Wharton, recurred to him
+continually; and thus Wharton, by slight means, in which he seemed to
+have no interest or design, prepared Vivian for his purposes, by working
+gradually on the easiness of his disposition. He always argued, that it
+could not possibly signify what he did with an hour or two of his day,
+till at last Vivian found that he had no hours of his own, that his
+whole time was at the disposal of others; and now that he really wanted
+leisure to consider an important question,--when his credit, as a member
+of the senate, and as a man just entering political life, depended on
+this decision,--he literally could not command time to read over the
+necessary documents. So the appointed day arrived before Vivian’s
+opinion was formed; and, from mere want of time to decide for himself,
+he voted as Wharton desired. Another and another political question came
+on; the same causes operated, and the same consequences ensued. Wharton
+managed with great address, so as to prevent him from feeling that he
+gave up his freewill. Before Vivian was aware of it, whilst he thought
+that he was perfectly independent of all parties, public opinion had
+enrolled him amongst Wharton’s partisans. Of this Russell was the first
+to give him warning. Russell heard of it amongst the political leaders
+who met at Lord Glistonbury’s dinners; and, knowing the danger there is
+of a young man’s _committing_ himself on certain points, he, with the
+eagerness of a true friend, wrote immediately to put Vivian upon his
+guard:--
+
+“My Dear Vivian,
+
+“I am just going into the country with Lord Lidhurst, and perhaps may
+not return for some time. I cannot leave you without putting you on your
+guard, once more, against Mr. Wharton. I understand that you are thought
+to be one of his party, and that he countenances the report. Take care
+that you are not bound hand and foot, before you know where you are.
+
+“Your sincere friend,
+
+“H. Russell.”
+
+With the natural frankness of his disposition, Vivian immediately spoke
+to Wharton upon the subject.
+
+“What! people say that you are one of my party, do they?” said Wharton:
+“I never heard this before, but I am heartily glad to hear it. You are
+in for it now, Vivian: you are one of us; and with us you must stand or
+fall.”
+
+“Excuse me there!” cried Vivian; “I am not of any party; and am
+determined to keep myself independent.”
+
+“Do you remember the honest Quaker’s answer to the man of no party?”
+ said Wharton.
+
+“No.”
+
+“I think it was about the year ‘40, when party disputes about Whig
+and Tory ran high--but no matter what year, it will do for any time. A
+gentleman of undeviating integrity, an independent man, just such a man
+as Mr. Vivian, offered himself candidate for a town in the east, west,
+north, or south of England--no matter where, it will do for any place;
+and the first person whose vote he solicited was a Quaker, who asked him
+whether he was a Whig or Tory?--‘Neither. I am an independent, moderate
+man; and when the members of administration are right, I will vote with
+them--when wrong, against them.’ ‘And be these really thy principles?’
+quoth the Quaker; ‘then a vote of mine thou shalt never have. Thou seest
+my door, it leadeth into the street; the right hand side of which is for
+the Tory, the left for the Whigs; and for a cold-blooded moderate man,
+like thee, there is the kennel, and into it thou wilt be jostled, for
+thou beest not _decided_ enough for any other situation.’”
+
+“But why should the moderate man be condemned to the kennel?” said
+Vivian. “Was there no middle to your Quaker’s road? A stout man cannot
+be EASILY jostled into the kennel.”
+
+“Pshaw! pshaw!” said Wharton: “jesting out of the question, a man is
+nothing in public life, or worse than nothing, a _trimmer_, unless HE
+JOINS a party, and unless he abides by it, too.”
+
+“As long as the party is in the right, I presume, you mean,” said
+Vivian.
+
+“Right or wrong’” cried Wharton, “a man must abide by his party. No
+power, and no popularity, trust me, without it!--Better stride on the
+greasy heads of the mob than be trampled under their dirtier feet. An
+armed neutrality may be a good thing, but an unarmed neutrality is fit
+only for fools. Besides, in Russell’s grand style, I can bring down the
+ancients upon you, and tell you that when the commonwealth is in danger
+he cannot be a good man who sides with neither party.”
+
+“If it be so necessary to join a party, and if, after once joining it, I
+must abide by it, right or wrong, for life,” said Vivian, “it behoves
+me to consider well, before I commit myself; and, before I go into the
+ranks, I must see good reason to confide, not only in the abilities, but
+in the integrity and public virtue of my leader.”
+
+“Public virtue! sounds fresh from college,” said Wharton; “I would as
+soon, and sooner, hear a schoolboy read his theme as hear a man begin to
+prose about public virtue--especially a member of parliament. Keep that
+phrase, my dear Vivian, till some of the treasury bench come to court
+you; then look superb, like a French tragic actor, swelling out your
+chest, and throwing the head over the left shoulder--thus--exclaim,
+‘Public virtue forbid!’--practise! practise!--for if you do it well, it
+may be worth a loud huzza to you yet; or better still, a snug place or
+pension. But stay till you’re asked--stay till you’re asked--that’s the
+etiquette; never till then let me hear public virtue come out of your
+lips, else you’ll raise suspicion of your virtue, and lower your price.
+What would you think of a pretty actress who began to talk to you of
+her reputation before you put it in any danger? Oh, Vivian! my honest
+fellow! unless you would make me think you no better than thousands that
+have gone before you, never let me hear from your lips again, till the
+_proper_ time, the hypocritical state phrase--public virtue.”
+
+“I had always, till now, understood that it was possible to be a patriot
+without being a hypocrite,” replied Vivian; “I always understood that
+Mr. Wharton was a patriot.”
+
+“A very fair sarcasm on me,” said Wharton, laughing. “But you know, I’m
+a sad dog; never set myself up for a pattern man.--Come! let’s home to
+dinner, and a truce with politics and morality. I find, Vivian, you’re a
+sturdy fellow, and must have your own way; no bending, no leading you,
+I see. Well! it is a good thing to have so much strength of mind: I envy
+you.”
+
+It must be recorded to the credit of our hero, that in defiance of
+Wharton’s raillery, he talked, and--oh! still more wonderful!--thought
+of public virtue, during nearly half of his first session in parliament.
+But, alas! whilst his political principles thus withstood the force of
+ridicule, temptation soon presented itself to Vivian in a new shape,
+and in a form so seducing, as to draw his attention totally away from
+politics, and to put his private, if not his public, honour, in the most
+imminent peril.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+One morning, as Vivian was walking with Mr. Wharton up Bond-street, they
+were met by a party of fashionable loungers, one of whom asked whether
+Mrs. Wharton was not come to town yet.
+
+“Mrs. Wharton!” said Vivian, with an air of surprise.
+
+“Yes, she came to town this morning,” said Wharton, carelessly; then
+laughing, as he turned to look at Vivian, “Vivian, my good fellow! what
+smites you with such surprise? Did not you know I was married?”
+
+“I suppose I must have heard it; but I really forgot it,” said Vivian.
+
+“There you had the advantage of me,” said Wharton, still laughing. “But
+if you never heard of Mrs. Wharton before, keep your own secret; for
+I can tell you she would never forgive you, though I might. Put a good
+face on the matter, at any rate; and swear you’ve heard so much of
+her, that you were dying to see her. Some of these gentlemen, who have
+nothing else to do, will introduce you whenever you please.”
+
+“And cannot I,” said Vivian, “have the honour of your introduction?”
+
+“Mine! the worst you could possibly have. The honour, as you are pleased
+to call it, would be no favour, I assure you. The honour!--honour of a
+husband’s introduction! What a novice you are, or would make me believe
+you to be! But, seriously, I am engaged to-day at Glistonbury’s: so,
+good morning to you.”
+
+Accustomed to hear Wharton talk in the freest manner of women and
+marriage in general, and scarcely having heard him mention his own wife,
+Vivian had, as he said, absolutely forgotten that Wharton was a married
+man. When he was introduced to Mrs. Wharton, he was still more surprised
+at her husband’s indifference; for he beheld a lady in all the radiance
+of beauty, and all the elegance of fashion: he was so much dazzled by
+her charms, that he had not immediately power or inclination to examine
+what her understanding or disposition might be; and he could only repeat
+to himself, “How is it possible that Wharton can be indifferent to such
+a beautiful creature!”
+
+Incapable of feeling any of what he, called the romance of love, the
+passion, of course, had always been with Mr. Wharton of a very transient
+nature. Tired of his wife’s person, he showed his indifference without
+scruple or ceremony. Notorious and glorying in his gallantries, he
+was often heard to declare, that no price was too high to be paid for
+beauty, except a man’s liberty; but that was a sacrifice which he
+would never make to any woman, especially to a wife. Marriage vows
+and custom-house oaths he classed in the same order of technical
+forms,--nowise binding on the conscience of any but fools and dupes.
+Whilst the husband went on in this manner, the wife satisfied herself by
+indulgence in her strongest passions--the passion for dress and public
+admiration. Childishly eager to set the fashion in trifles, she spent
+unconscionable sums on her pretty person; and devoted all her days, or
+rather all her nights, to public amusements. So insatiable and restless
+is the passion for admiration, that she was never happy for half an hour
+together, at any place of public amusement, unless she fixed the gaze
+of numbers. The first winter after her marriage she enjoyed the
+prerogatives of a fashionable beauty; but the reign of fashion is more
+transient even than the bloom of beauty. Mrs. Wharton’s beauty soon grew
+familiar, and faded in the public eye; some newer face was this season
+the mode. Mrs. Wharton appeared twice at the opera in the most elegant
+and becoming dresses; but no one followed her lead. Mortified and
+utterly dejected, she felt, with the keenest anguish, the first symptoms
+of the decline of public admiration. It was just at this period, when
+she was miserably in want of the consolations of flattery, that Vivian’s
+acquaintance with her commenced. Gratified by the sort of delighted
+surprise which she saw in his countenance the first moment he beheld
+her, seeing that he was an agreeable man, and knowing that he was a man
+of fortune and family, she took pains to please him by all the common
+arts of coquetry. But his vanity was proof against these: the weakness
+of the lady’s understanding and the frivolity of her character were, for
+some weeks, sufficient antidotes against all the power of her personal
+charms; so much so, that at this period he often compared, or rather
+contrasted, Mrs. Wharton and Selina, and blessed his happy fate.
+He wrote to his friend Russell soon after he was introduced to this
+celebrated beauty, and drew a strong and just parallel between
+the characters of these two ladies: he concluded with saying,
+“Notwithstanding your well-founded dread of the volatility of my
+character, you will not, I hope, my dear Russell, do me the injustice to
+apprehend that I am in any danger from the charms of Mrs. Wharton.”
+
+Vivian wrote with perfect sincerity; he believed it to be impossible
+that he could ever become attached to such a woman as Mrs. Wharton, even
+if she had not been married, and the wife of his friend. So, in all the
+security of conscious contempt, he went every day to wait upon her, or
+rather to meet agreeable company at her house,--a house in which
+all that was fashionable and dissipated assembled; where beauty,
+and talents, and rank, met and mingled; and where political or other
+arrangements prevented the host and hostess from scrupulously excluding
+some whose characters were not free from suspicion. Lady Mary Vivian
+never went to Mrs. Wharton’s; but she acknowledged that she knew many
+ladies of unblemished reputation who thought it no impropriety to
+visit there; and Mrs. Wharton’s own character she knew was hitherto
+unimpeached. “She is, indeed, a woman of a cold, selfish temper,” said
+Lady Mary; “not likely to be led into danger by the tender passion, or
+by any of the delusions of the imagination.”
+
+Vivian agreed with his mother in this opinion, and went on paying
+his devoirs to her every day. It was the fashion of the times, and
+peculiarly the mode of this house, for the gentlemen to pay exclusive
+attention to matrons. Few of the young men seemed to think it worth
+while to speak to an unmarried woman in any company; and the few who
+might be inclined to it were, as they declared, deterred by the danger:
+for either the young ladies themselves, or their mothers, immediately
+formed expectations and schemes of drawing them into matrimony--the
+grand object of the ladies’ wishes and of the gentlemen’s fears. The men
+said they could not speak to an unmarried woman, or even dance with her
+more than twice, without its being reported that they were going to
+be married; and then the friends and relatives of the young ladies
+pretended to think them injured and ill-treated, if these reports were
+not realized. Our hero had some slight experience of the truth of these
+complaints in his own case with the Lady Sarah Lidhurst: he willingly
+took the rest upon trust--believed all the exaggerations of his
+companions--and began to think it prudent and necessary to follow
+their example, and to confine his attentions to married women. Many
+irresistible reasons concurred to make Mrs. Wharton the most convenient
+and proper person to whom he could pay this sort of homage: besides,
+she seemed to fall to his share by lot and necessity; for, at Wharton’s
+house, every other lady and every other gentleman being engaged in
+gallantry, play, or politics, Mrs. Wharton must have been utterly
+neglected if Vivian had not paid her some attention. Common politeness
+absolutely required it; the attention became a matter of course, and
+was habitually expected. Still he had not the slightest design of going
+beyond the line of modern politeness; but, in certain circumstances,
+people go wrong a great way before they are aware that they have gone
+a single step. It was presently repeated to Mr. Vivian, by some of Mrs.
+Wharton’s confidantes, in whispers, and under the solemn promise of
+secrecy, that he certainly was a prodigious favourite of hers. He
+laughed, and affected to disbelieve the insinuation: it made its
+impression, however; and he was secretly flattered by the idea of being
+a prodigious favourite with such a beautiful young creature. In some
+moments he saw her with eyes of compassion, pitying her for the neglect
+with which she was treated by her husband: he began to attribute much
+of her apparent frivolity, and many of her faults, more to the want of
+a guide and a friend than to a deficiency of understanding or to defects
+of character. Mrs. Wharton had just sufficient sense to be cunning--this
+implies but a very small portion: she perceived the advantage which she
+gained by thus working upon Vivian’s vanity and upon his compassion. She
+continued her operations, without being violently interested in their
+success; for she had at first only a general wish to attract his
+attention, because he was a fashionable young man.
+
+One morning when he called upon Wharton to accompany him to the House of
+Commons, he found Mrs. Wharton in tears, her husband walking up and down
+the room in evident ill-humour. He stopped speaking when Vivian entered;
+and Mrs. Wharton endeavoured, or seemed to endeavour, to conceal her
+emotion. She began to play on her harp; and Wharton, addressing himself
+to Vivian, talked of the politics of the day. There was some incoherence
+in the conversation; for Vivian’s attention was distracted by the air
+that Mrs. Wharton was playing, of which he was passionately fond.
+
+“There’s no possibility of doing any thing while there is such a cursed
+noise in the room!” cried Wharton. “Here I have the heads of this bill
+to draw up--I cannot endure to have music wherever I go--”
+
+He snatched up his papers and retired to an adjoining apartment, begging
+that Vivian would wait one quarter of an hour for him.--Mrs. Wharton’s
+tears flowed afresh, and she looked beautiful in tears.
+
+“You see--you see, Mr. Vivian--and I am ashamed you should see--how I am
+treated.--I am, indeed, the most unfortunate creature upon the face of
+the earth; and nobody in this world has the least compassion for me!”
+
+Vivian’s countenance contradicted this last assertion most
+positively.--Mrs. Wharton understood this; and her attitude of
+despondency was the most graceful imaginable.
+
+“My dear Mrs. Wharton”--(it was the first time our hero had ever called
+her “his dear Mrs. Wharton;” but it was only a platonic dear)--“you take
+trifles much too seriously--Wharton was hurried by business--a moment’s
+impatience must be forgiven.”
+
+“A moment!” replied Mrs. Wharton, casting up to heaven her beautiful
+eyes--“Oh! Mr. Vivian, how little do you know of him!--I am the most
+miserable creature that ever existed; but there is not a man upon earth
+to whom I would say so except yourself.”
+
+Vivian could not help feeling some gratitude for this distinction; and,
+as he leaned over her harp with an air of unusual interest, he said
+he hoped that he should ever prove himself worthy of her esteem and
+confidence.
+
+At this instant Wharton interrupted the conversation, by passing hastily
+through the room.--“Come, Vivian,” said he; “we shall be very late at
+the house.”
+
+“We shall see you again of course at dinner,” said Mrs. Wharton to
+Vivian in a low voice. Our hero replied by an assenting bow.
+
+Five minutes afterwards he repented that he had accepted the invitation,
+because he foresaw that he should resume a conversation which was at
+once interesting and embarrassing. He felt that it was not right to
+become the depository of this lady’s complaints against her husband; yet
+he had been moved by her tears, and the idea that he was _the only man
+in the world_ to whom she would open her heart upon such a delicate
+subject, interested him irresistibly in her favour. He returned in
+the evening, and was flattered by observing, that amongst the crowd of
+company by which she was surrounded he was instantly distinguished. He
+was perfectly persuaded of the innocence of her intentions; and, as
+he was attached to another woman, he fancied that he could become the
+friend of the beautiful Mrs. Wharton without danger. The first time he
+had an opportunity of speaking to her in private, he expressed this
+idea in the manner that he thought the most delicately flattering to
+her self-complacency. Mrs. Wharton seemed to be perfectly satisfied with
+this conduct; and declared, that unless she had been certain that he was
+not a man of gallantry, she should never have placed any confidence in
+his friendship.
+
+“I consider you,” said she, “quite as a married man:--by-the-bye, when
+are you to be married, and what sort of a person is Miss Sidney?--I am
+told she is excessively handsome, and amiable, and sensible.--What a
+happy creature she is!--just going to be united to the man she loves!”
+ Here the lady gave a profound sigh; and Vivian had an opportunity of
+observing that she had the longest dark eyelashes that he had ever seen.
+
+“I was married,” continued she, “before I knew what I was about. You
+know Mr. Wharton can be so charming when he pleases--and then he was so
+much in love with me, and swore he would shoot himself if I would not
+have him--and all that sort of thing.--I protest I was terrified; and I
+was quite a child, you know. I had been out but six weeks, and I thought
+I was in love with him. That was because I did not know what love
+was--_then_;--besides, he hurried and teased me to such a degree!--After
+all, I’m convinced I married him more out of compassion than any
+thing else; and now you see how he treats me!--most barbarously and
+tyrannically!--But I would not give the least hint of this to any
+man living but yourself. I conjure you to keep my secret--and--pity
+me!--that is all I ask--pity me sometimes, when your thoughts are not
+absorbed in a happier manner.”
+
+Vivian’s generosity was piqued: he could not be so selfish as to be
+engrossed exclusively by his own felicity. He thought that delicacy
+should induce him to forbear expatiating upon Selina’s virtues and
+accomplishments, or upon his passion. He carried this delicacy so far,
+that sometimes for a fortnight or three weeks he never mentioned her
+name. He could not but observe that Mrs. Wharton did not like him
+the less for this species of sacrifice. It may be observed, that Mrs.
+Wharton managed her attack upon Vivian with more art than could be
+expected from so silly a woman; but we must consider that all her
+faculties were concentrated on one object; so that she seemed to have an
+instinct for coquetry. The most silly animals in the creation, from the
+insect tribe upwards, show, on some occasions, where their interests
+are immediately concerned, a degree of sagacity and ingenuity, which,
+compared with their usual imbecility, appears absolutely wonderful. The
+opinion which Vivian had early formed of the weakness of this lady’s
+understanding prevented him from being on his guard against her
+artifices: he could not conceive it possible that he should be duped
+by a person so obviously his inferior. With a woman of talents and
+knowledge, he might have been suspicious; but there was nothing in Mrs.
+Wharton to alarm his pride or to awaken his fears: he fancied that he
+could extricate himself in a moment, and with the slightest effort,
+from any snares which she could contrive; and, under this persuasion, he
+neglected to make even that slight effort, and thus continued from hour
+to hour in voluntary captivity.
+
+Insensibly Vivian became more interested for Mrs. Wharton; and, at the
+same time, submitted with increased facility to the influence of her
+husband. It was necessary that he should have some excuse to the
+world, and yet more to his own conscience, for being so constantly at
+Wharton’s. The pleasure he took in Wharton’s conversation was still a
+sort of involuntary excuse to himself for his intimacy with the lady.
+“Wharton’s wit more than Mrs. Wharton’s beauty,” thought he, “is the
+attraction that draws me here--I am full as ready to be of his parties
+as of hers; and this is the best proof that all is as it should be.”
+
+Wharton’s parties were not always such as Vivian would have chosen; but
+he was pressed on, without power of resistance. For instance, one night
+Wharton was going with Lord Pontipool and a set of dissipated young
+men, to the house of a lady who made herself fashionable by keeping a
+faro-bank.
+
+“Vivian, you’ll come along with us?” said Wharton. “Come, we must have
+you--unless you are more happily engaged.”
+
+His eye glanced with a mixture of contempt and jealousy upon his wife.
+Mrs. Wharton’s alarmed and imploring countenance at the same moment
+seemed to say, “For Heaven’s sake, go with him, or I am undone.” In
+such circumstances it was impossible for Vivian to say no: he followed
+immediately; acting, as he thought, from a principle of honour and
+generosity. Wharton was not a man to give up the advantage which he had
+gained. Every day he showed more capricious jealousy of his wife, though
+he, at the same time, expressed the most entire confidence in the honour
+of his friend. Vivian still thought he could not do too much to convince
+him that his confidence was not misplaced; and thus, to protect Mrs.
+Wharton from suspicion, he yielded to all her husband’s wishes. Vivian
+now felt frequently ashamed of his conduct, but always proud of his
+motives; and, with ingenious sophistry, he justified to himself the
+worst actions, by pleading that he did them with the best intentions.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+By this time Lady Mary Vivian began to hear hints of her son’s
+attachment to Mrs. Wharton; and, much alarmed, she repented having
+encouraged him to form a political or fashionable intimacy with the
+Whartons. Suddenly awakened to the perception of the danger, Lady
+Mary was too vehement in her terror. She spoke with so much warmth and
+indignation, that there was little chance of her counsels being of use.
+
+“But, my dear madam, it is only a platonic attachment,” argued Vivian,
+when his mother represented to him that the world talked loudly of his
+intimacy with Mrs. Wharton.
+
+“A platonic attachment!--Fashionable, dangerous sophistry!” said Lady
+Mary.
+
+“Why so, ma’am?” said her son, warmly; “and why should we mind what the
+world says? The world is so fond of scandal, that a man and woman cannot
+have any degree of friendship for one another without a hue and cry
+being immediately raised--and all the prudes and coquettes join at once
+in believing, or pretending to believe, that there must be something
+wrong. No wonder such a pretty woman as Mrs. Wharton cannot escape envy,
+and, of course, censure; but her conduct can defy the utmost malice of
+her enemies.”
+
+“I hope so,” said Lady Mary; “and, at all events, I am not one of them.
+I know and care very little about Mrs. Wharton, whom I have always been
+accustomed to consider as a frivolous, silly woman; but what I wish to
+say, though I fear I have lost your confidence, and that my advice will
+not--”
+
+“Frivolous! silly!” interrupted Vivian; “believe me, my dear mother, you
+and half the world are, and have been, under a great mistake about her
+understanding and character.”
+
+“Her forming a platonic friendship with a young man is no great proof
+of her sense or of her virtue,” said Lady Mary. “The danger of platonic
+attachments, I thought, had been sufficiently understood. Pray, my
+dear Charles, never let me hear more from you of platonics with married
+women.”
+
+“I won’t use the expression, ma’am, if you have any objection to it,”
+ said Vivian; “but, mother, you wish me to live in the most fashionable
+company, and yet you desire me not to live as they live, and talk as
+they talk: now, that is next to impossible. Pardon me, but I should not
+have thought,” added he, laughing, “that you, who like most things that
+are fashionable, would object to _platonics_.”
+
+“Object to them!--I despise, detest, abhor them! _Platonics_ have been
+the ruin of more women, the destruction of the peace of more families,
+than open profligacy ever could have accomplished. Many a married woman,
+who would have started with horror at the idea of beginning an intrigue,
+has been drawn in to admit of a platonic attachment. And many a man,
+who would as soon have thought of committing murder as of seducing his
+friend’s wife, has allowed himself to commence a platonic attachment;
+and how these end, all the world knows.”
+
+Struck by these words, Vivian suddenly quitted his air of raillery, and
+became serious. Had his mother stopped there, and left the rest to his
+good sense and awakened perception of danger, all would have been well;
+but she was ever prone to say too much; and, in her ardour to prove
+herself to be in the right, forgot that people are apt to be shocked, by
+having it pointed out that they are utterly in the wrong.
+
+“Indeed, the very word platonics,” pursued she, “is considered, by those
+who have seen any thing of life, as the mere watchword of knaves or
+dupes; of those who deceive, or of those who wish to be deceived.”
+
+“Be assured, ma’am,” said Vivian, “that Mrs. Wharton is not one of those
+who wish either to deceive or to be deceived; and, as to myself, I hope
+I am as far from any danger of being a dupe as of being a knave. My
+connexion with Mrs. Wharton is perfectly innocent; it is justified
+by the example of hundreds and thousands every day in the fashionable
+world; and I should do her and myself great injustice, if I broke off
+our intimacy suddenly, as if I acknowledged that it was improper.”
+
+“And what can be more improper? since you force me to speak plainly,”
+ cried Lady Mary; “what can be more improper than such an intimacy,
+especially in your circumstances?”
+
+“My circumstances! What circumstances, ma’am?”
+
+“Have you forgotten Miss Sidney?”
+
+“By no means, ma’am,” said Vivian, colouring deeply; “Mrs. Wharton is
+well apprized, and was, from the first moment of our friendship, clearly
+informed of my----engagements with Miss Sidney.”
+
+“And how do they agree with your attachment to Mrs. Wharton?”
+
+“Perfectly well, ma’am--Mrs. Wharton understands all that perfectly
+well, ma’am.”
+
+“And Miss Sidney! do you think she will understand it?--and is it not
+extraordinary that I should think more of her feelings than you do?”
+
+At these questions Vivian became so angry, that he was incapable of
+listening farther to reason, or to the best advice, even from a mother,
+for whom he had the highest respect. The mother and son parted with
+feelings of mutual dissatisfaction.
+
+Vivian, from that spirit of opposition so often seen in weak characters,
+went immediately from his mother’s _lecture_ to a party at Mrs.
+Wharton’s. Lady Mary, in the mean time, sat down to write to Miss
+Sidney. Whatever reluctance she had originally felt to her son’s
+marriage with this young lady, it must be repeated, to her ladyship’s
+credit, that Selina’s honourable and disinterested conduct had won her
+entire approbation. She wrote, therefore, in the strongest terms to
+press the immediate conclusion of that match, which she now considered
+as the only chance of securing her son’s morals and happiness. Her
+letter concluded with these words:--“I shall expect you in town
+directly. Do not, my dear, let any idle scruples prevent you from coming
+to my house. Consider that my happiness, your own, and my son’s, depend
+upon your compliance. I am persuaded, that the moment he sees you, the
+moment you exert your power over him, he will be himself again. But,
+believe me, I know the young men of the present day better than you do:
+their constancy is not proof against absence. If he lose the habit of
+seeing and conversing with you, I cannot answer for the rest.--Adieu! I
+am so much harassed by my own thoughts, and by the reports I hear, that
+I scarcely know what I write. Pray come immediately, my dear Selina,
+that I may talk to you of many subjects on which I don’t like to trust
+myself to write. My feelings have been too long repressed.--I must
+unburden my heart to you. _You_ only can console and assist me; and,
+independently of all other considerations, you owe to my friendship
+for you, Selina, not to refuse this first request I ever made
+you.--Farewell! I shall expect to see you as soon as possible.
+
+“Yours, &c.
+
+“MARY VIVIAN.”
+
+“_St. James’s-street_.”
+
+In this letter, Lady Mary Vivian had not explained the nature of her
+son’s danger, or of her fears for him. Motives of delicacy had prevented
+her from explicitly telling Miss Sidney her suspicions that Vivian was
+attached to a married woman. “Selina,” said her ladyship to herself,
+“must, probably, have heard the report from Mr. G----, who is so often
+at her mother’s; therefore, there can be no necessity for my saying any
+more than I have done. She will understand my hints.”
+
+Unfortunately, however, Miss Sidney did not comprehend, or in the least
+suspect, the most material part of the truth; she understood simply,
+from Lady Mary’s letter, that Vivian’s affections wavered, and she
+imagined that he was, perhaps, on the point of making matrimonial
+proposals for some fashionable belle, probably for one of the Lady
+Lidhursts; but the idea of his becoming attached to a married woman
+never entered her thoughts. Many motives conspired to incline Selina to
+accept of the invitation. The certainty that Lady Mary would be highly
+offended by a refusal; the hint, that her influence over Vivian would
+operate immediately, and in all its force, if he were to see and
+converse with her; and that, on the contrary, absence might extinguish
+his passion for ever; curiosity to learn precisely the nature of the
+reports, which his mother had heard to his disadvantage; but, above
+all, a fond wish to be nearer to the man she loved, and to have daily
+opportunities of seeing him, prompted Selina to comply with Lady Mary’s
+request. On the contrary, good sense and delicacy represented, that
+she had released Vivian from all promises, all engagements; that, at
+parting, she had professed to leave him perfectly at liberty: that it
+would, therefore, be as indelicate as imprudent to make such an attempt
+to reclaim his inconstant heart. She had told him, that she desired
+to have proof of the steadiness, both of his character and of his
+attachment, before she could consent to marry him. From this decision
+she could not, she would not, recede. She had the fortitude to persist
+in this resolution. She wrote to Lady Mary Vivian in the kindest, but,
+at the same time, in the most decided terms, declining the tempting
+invitation.
+
+It happened that Vivian was with his mother at the moment when Selina’s
+answer arrived. In the firm belief that such a pressing invitation as
+she had sent, to a person in Selina’s circumstances and of Selina’s
+temper, could not be refused, her ladyship had made it a point with her
+son to dine _tête-à-tête_ with her this day; and she had been talking to
+him, in the most eloquent but imprudent manner, of the contrast between
+the characters of Mrs. Wharton and Miss Sidney. He protested that his
+esteem and love for Miss Sidney were unabated; yet, when his mother told
+him that he would, perhaps, in a few minutes see his Selina, he
+changed colour, grew embarrassed and melancholy, and thus by his looks
+effectually contradicted his words. He was roused from his reverie by
+the arrival of Selina’s letter. His mother’s disappointment and anger
+were expressed in the strongest terms, when she found that Selina
+declined her invitation; but such are the quick and seemingly perverse
+turns of the human heart, Vivian grew warm in Selina’s defence the
+moment that his mother became angry with her: he read her letter with
+tender emotion, for he saw through the whole of it, the strength, as
+well as the delicacy of her attachment. All that his mother’s praises
+had failed to effect, was immediately accomplished by this letter;
+and he, who but an instant before dreaded to meet Selina, now that
+she refused to come, was seized with a strong desire to see her; his
+impatience was so great, that he would willingly have set out that
+instant for the country. Men of such characters as Vivian’s are
+peculiarly jealous of their free will; and, precisely because they
+know that they are easily led, they resist, in affairs of the heart
+especially, the slightest appearance of control.
+
+Lady Mary was delighted to hear her son declare his resolution to leave
+town the next morning, and to see Miss Sidney as soon as possible; but
+she could not forbear reproaching him for not doing what she wanted
+precisely in the manner in which she had planned that it should be done.
+
+“I see, my dear Charles,” cried she, “that even when you do right, I
+must not flatter myself that it is owing to any influence of mine. Give
+my compliments to Miss Sidney, and assure her that I shall in future
+forbear to injure her in your opinion by my interference, or even by
+expressing my approbation of her character. My anger, it is obvious, has
+served her better than my kindness; and therefore she has no reason to
+regret that my affection has been lessened, as I confess it has been, by
+her late conduct.”
+
+The next morning, when Vivian was prepared to leave town, he called upon
+Wharton, to settle with him about some political, business which was to
+be transacted in his absence. Wharton was not at home--Vivian knew that
+it would be best to avoid seeing Mrs. Wharton; but he was afraid that
+she would be offended, and he could not help _sacrificing a few minutes
+to politeness_. The lady was alone; apparently very languid, and
+charmingly melancholy. Before Vivian could explain himself, she poured
+forth, in silly phrases, but in a voice that made even nonsense please,
+a rariety of reproaches for his having absented himself for such a
+length of time.--“Positively, she would keep him prisoner, now that
+she had him safe once more.” To be kept prisoner by a fair lady was
+so flattering, that it was full an hour before he could prevail
+upon himself to assert his liberty--the fear of giving pain, indeed,
+influenced him still more than vanity. At last, when Mrs. Wharton spoke
+of her engagements for the evening, and seemed to take it for granted
+that he would be of her party, he summoned resolution sufficient--Oh!
+wonderful effort of courage!--to tell her, that he was under a necessity
+of leaving town immediately.
+
+“Going, I presume, to--”
+
+“To the country,” said Vivian, firmly.
+
+“To the country!----No, no, no; say at once, to Selina!--Tell me the
+worst in one word!”
+
+Astonished beyond measure, Vivian had not power to move. The lady fell
+back on the sofa in violent hysterics. Our hero trembled lest any of her
+servants should come in, or lest her husband should at his return find
+her in this condition, and discover the cause. He endeavoured in vain to
+soothe and compose the weeping fair one; he could not have the
+barbarity to leave her in this state. By sweet degrees she recovered her
+recollection--was in the most lovely confusion--asked where she was, and
+what was going to happen. Vivian had not the rashness to run the risk
+of a second fit of hysterics; he gave up all thoughts of his journey
+for this day, and the lady recovered her spirits in the most flattering
+manner. Vivian intended to postpone his journey only for a single
+day; but, after he had yielded one point, he found that there was no
+receding. He was now persuaded that Mrs. Wharton was miserable; that she
+would never forgive herself for having betrayed the state of her heart.
+His self-love pleaded powerfully in her favour: he considered that her
+husband treated her with mortifying neglect, and provoked the spirit
+of retaliation by his gallantries. Vivian fancied that Mrs. Wharton’s
+attachment to him might render her wretched, but would never make her
+criminal. With sophistical delicacy he veiled his own motives; and,
+instead of following the plain dictates of reason, he involved his
+understanding in that species of sentimental casuistry which confounds
+all principles of right and wrong. But the dread that he felt lest
+Wharton should discover what was going on might have sufficiently
+convinced him that he was not acting honourably. The suspicions which
+Mr. Wharton formerly showed of his wife seemed now to be completely
+lulled asleep; and he gave Vivian continually such proofs of confidence
+as stung him to the soul. By an absurd, but not an uncommon error of
+self-love, Vivian was induced to believe, that a man who professed to
+cheat mankind in general behaved towards him in particular with strict
+honour, and even with unparalleled generosity. Honesty was too vulgar a
+virtue for Wharton; but honour, the aristocratic, exclusive virtue of a
+gentleman, he laid claim to in the highest tone. The very frankness with
+which Wharton avowed his libertine principles with respect to women,
+convinced Vivian that he had not the slightest suspicion that these
+could be immediately applied to the ruin of his own wife.
+
+“How can you, my dear Wharton, talk in this manner?” said Vivian once,
+when he had been speaking with great _freedom_.
+
+“But it is better,” added he, with a sigh, “to speak than to act like a
+villain.”
+
+“Villain!” repeated Wharton, with a sarcastic laugh; “you are grown
+quite ridiculous, Vivian: I protest, I don’t understand you. Women
+now-a-days are surely able, if not willing enough, to take care of
+themselves; and _villains_, though they were very common in the time
+of Miss Clarissa Harlowe, and of all the tragedy queens of the last
+century, are not to be heard of in these days. Any strange tales of
+those male monsters called seducers could gain credit during the ages
+of ignorance and credulity; but now, the enlightened world cannot
+be imposed upon by such miracles; and a gentleman may be a man of
+gallantry--nay, even a lady may be a woman of gallantry--without being
+hooted out of society as a _monster_; at all events, the blame is, as it
+should be, equally divided between the parties concerned; and if modern
+lovers quarrel, they do not die of grief, but settle their differences
+in a court of law, where a spinster may have her compensation for a
+breach of contract of marriage; a father or a husband their damages for
+the loss of the company, affection, solace, services, &c., as the case
+may be, of his wife or daughter. All this is perfectly well understood;
+and the terrors of law are quite sufficient, without the terrors of
+sentiment. If a man punish himself, or let himself be punished, twice
+for the same offence, once by his conscience, and once by his king and
+his country, he is a fool; and, moreover, acts contrary to the spirit
+of the British law, which sayeth--see Blackstone and others--that no
+man shall be punished twice for the same offence.--Suffer your
+risible muscles to relax, I beseech you, Vivian; and do not affect a
+presbyterian rigidity, which becomes your face as ill as your age.”
+
+“I affect nothing--certainly I do not affect presbyterian rigidity,”
+ cried Vivian, laughing. “But, after all, Wharton, if you had a daughter
+or a sister, what would you think of any man, your friend for instance,
+who should attempt--”
+
+“To cut your speech short at once,” interrupted Wharton, “I should not
+think at all about the matter; I should blow his brains out, of
+course; and afterwards, probably, blow out my own. But treachery from a
+friend--from a man of honour--is a thing of which I can hardly form an
+idea. Where I give my confidence, I give it without any paltry mental
+reservation--I could not suspect a friend.”
+
+Vivian suffered, at this instant, all the agony which a generous mind,
+conscious of guilt, could endure. He thought that the confusion of his
+mind must be visible in his countenance--his embarrassment was so great
+that he could not utter a word. Wharton did not seem to perceive his
+companion’s agitation, but passed on carelessly to other subjects of
+conversation; and at length completely relieved Vivian from fear of
+immediate detection, by asking a favour from him--a pecuniary favour.
+
+“All is safe--Mrs. Wharton, at least, is safe, thank Heaven!” thought
+Vivian. “Had her husband the slightest suspicion, he never would
+condescend to accept of any favour from me.”
+
+With eagerness, and almost with tears of gratitude, Vivian pressed
+upon Wharton the money which he _condescended_ to borrow--it was no
+inconsiderable sum.
+
+“Wharton!” cried he, “you sometimes talk freely--too freely; but you
+are, I am convinced, the most open-hearted, unsuspicious, generous
+fellow upon earth--you deserve a better friend than I am.”
+
+Unable any longer to suppress or conceal the emotions which struggled in
+his heart, he broke away abruptly, hurried home, shut himself up in his
+own apartment, and sat down immediately to write to Mrs. Wharton. The
+idea that Mrs. Wharton loved him in preference to all the fashionable
+coxcombs and wits by whom she was surrounded had insensibly raised our
+hero’s opinion of her understanding so much, that he now imagined that
+the world laboured under a prejudice against her abilities. He gave
+himself credit for having discovered that this beauty was not a fool;
+and he now spoke and wrote to her as if she had been a woman of sense.
+With eloquence which might have moved a woman of genius, with delicacy
+that might have touched a woman of feeling, he conjured her to fortify
+his honourable resolutions; and thus, whilst it was yet time, to secure
+her happiness and his own. “Instead of writing this letter,” added he
+in a postscript, “I ought, perhaps, to fly from you for ever; but that
+would show a want of confidence in you and in myself; and, besides, upon
+the most mature reflection, I think it best to stay, and wait upon you
+to-morrow as usual, lest, by my precipitation, I should excite suspicion
+in Wharton’s mind.”
+
+The weak apprehension that Mrs. Wharton should betray herself by another
+fit of hysterics, if he should leave town, and if his departure
+should be suddenly announced to her by her husband, or by some common
+acquaintance, induced him to delay a few days longer, that he might
+prepare her mind by degrees, and convince her of the necessity for their
+absolute separation. When he had finished his letter to Mrs. Wharton, he
+was sufficiently well pleased with himself to venture to write to Miss
+Sidney. His letters to her had of late been short and constrained; but
+this was written with the full flow of affection. He was now in hopes
+that he should extricate himself honourably from his difficulties, and
+that he might at last claim his reward from Selina.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+After he had despatched his two letters, he became excessively anxious
+to receive Mrs. Wharton’s answer. By trifling but unavoidable accidents,
+it was delayed a few hours. At last it arrived; Vivian tore it open, and
+read with surprise these words:
+
+“Your letter is just what I wished, and makes me the happiest of
+women--that is, if you are sincere--which, after all you’ve said, I
+can’t doubt. I am so hurried by visitors, and annoyed, that I cannot
+write more; but shall have time to talk to-night at the opera.”
+
+At the opera Mrs. Wharton appeared in high spirits, and was dressed with
+more than usual elegance. It was observed that she had never been seen
+to look so beautiful. There was something in her manner that puzzled
+Vivian extremely; this extraordinary gaiety was not what he had reason
+to expect. “Is it possible,” thought he, “that this woman is a mere
+coquette, who has been amusing herself at my expense all this time,
+and can now break off all connexion with me without a moment’s regret?”
+ Vivian’s pride was piqued: though he wished to part from the lady, he
+could not bear that this parting should evidently cost her nothing.
+He was mortified beyond expression by the idea that he had been duped.
+After the opera was over, whilst Mrs. Wharton was waiting for her
+carriage, he had an opportunity of speaking to her without being
+overheard.
+
+“I am happy,” said he, with a constrained voice, “I am extremely happy
+to see you, madam, in such charming spirits to-night.”
+
+“But are not you a strange man to look so grave?” cried Mrs. Wharton. “I
+vow, I don’t know what to make of you! But I believe you want to quarrel
+for the pleasure of making it up again. Now that won’t do. By-the-bye,
+I have a quarrel with you, sir.--How came you to sign your name to that
+foolish stuff you wrote me yesterday? Never do so any more, I charge
+you, for fear of accidents. But what’s the matter now?--You are a
+strange mortal!--Are you going to die upon the spot?--What is the
+matter?”
+
+“My letter to you was not signed, I believe,” said Vivian, in an altered
+voice.
+
+“Indeed it was,” said Mrs. Wharton. “It was signed Charles Vivian at
+full length. But why are you in such tremors about it? I only mentioned
+it to put you on your guard in future.--I’ve burnt the letter--people
+always get themselves into scrapes if they don’t burn love-letters--as
+I’ve often heard Mr. Wharton say,” added she, laughing.
+
+To his unspeakable consternation, Vivian now discovered that he had
+sent the letter intended for Selina to Mrs. Wharton; and that which was
+designed for Mrs. Wharton he had directed to Miss Sidney. Vivian was
+so lost in thought, that the cry of _“Mrs. Wharton’s carriage stops
+the way!”_ was vociferated many times before he recovered sufficient
+presence of mind to hand the lady out of the house. He went home
+immediately, that he might reflect upon what was best to be done. His
+servant presently gave him a letter which a messenger had just brought
+from the country. The packet was from Selina.
+
+“Enclosed, I return the letter which I received from you this morning. I
+read the first three lines of it before I perceived that it could not be
+intended for me--I went no farther.--I cannot help knowing for whom
+it was designed; but you may be assured that your secret shall be kept
+inviolably.--You have no reproaches to fear from me.--This is the last
+letter I shall ever write to you.--Leave it to me to explain my own
+conduct to my mother and to yours; if they think me capricious, I can
+bear it. I shall tell them that my sentiments are totally changed: I am
+sure I can say so with perfect truth.--Oh, Vivian, it is you who are to
+be pitied; every thing may be endured except remorse. Would to Heaven, I
+could save you from the reproaches of your own heart!--Adieu!
+
+“SELINA SIDNEY.”
+
+The feelings of Vivian’s mind, on reading this letter, cannot be
+described. Admiration, love, tenderness, remorse, successively seized
+upon his heart. Incapable of any distinct reflection, he threw himself
+upon his bed, and closed his eyes, endeavouring to compose himself to
+sleep, that he might forget his existence. But, motionless as he lay,
+the tumult of his mind continued unabated. His pulse beat high; and
+before morning he was in a fever. The dread that his mother should come
+to attend him, and to inquire into the cause of his illness, increased
+his agitation:--she came. Her kindness and anxiety were fresh torments
+to her unhappy son. Bitterly did he reproach himself as the cause of
+misery to those he loved and esteemed most in the world. He became
+delirious; and, whilst he was in this state, he repeated Mrs. Wharton’s
+name sometimes in terms of endearment, sometimes in accents of
+execration. His mother’s suspicions of his intrigue were confirmed by
+many expressions which burst from him, and which were thought by his
+attendants to be merely the ravings of fever. Lady Mary had, at this
+crisis, the prudence to conceal her doubts, and to keep every body, as
+much as possible, out of her son’s apartment. In a few days his fever
+subsided, and he recovered to the clear recollection of all that
+had passed previously to his illness. He almost wished to be again
+delirious. The first time he was left alone, he rose from his bed,
+unlocked his bureau, and seized Selina’s letter, which he read again and
+again, studying each line and word, as if he could draw from them every
+time a new meaning.
+
+“She read but three lines of my letter,” said he to himself; “then she
+only guesses that I have an intrigue with Mrs. Wharton, without knowing
+that in this very letter I used my utmost influence to recall Mrs.
+Wharton to--herself.”
+
+The belief that Selina thought worse of him than he deserved was
+some consolation to Vivian. He was resolved to recover her esteem: he
+determined to break off all connexion with Mrs. Wharton; and, full of
+this intention, he was impatient till the physicians permitted him to go
+abroad. When he was at last free from their dominion, had escaped from
+his chamber, and had just gained the staircase, he was stopped by his
+mother.
+
+“Charles,” said she, “before you quit me again, it is my duty to say a
+few words to you upon a subject of some importance.”
+
+Lady Mary led the way to her dressing-room with a dignified air; Vivian
+followed with a mixture of pride and alarm in his manner. From the bare
+idea of a maternal lecture his mind revolted: he imagined that she was
+going to repeat the remonstrance which she had formerly made against his
+intimacy with Mrs. Wharton, and against _platonics_ in general; but he
+had not the least apprehension that she had discovered the whole truth:
+he was, therefore, both surprised and shocked, when she spoke to him in
+the following manner:
+
+“The libertinism of the age in which we live has so far loosened all
+the bonds of society, and all the ties of nature, that I doubt not but
+a mother’s anxiety for the morals of her son--her only son--the son over
+whose education she has watched from his infancy, may appear, even in
+his eyes, a fit subject for ridicule. I am well aware that my solicitude
+and my counsels have long been irksome to him, I have lost his
+affections by a steady adherence to my duty; but I shall persevere with
+the less reluctance, since the dread of my displeasure, or the hope of
+my approbation, cannot now touch his sensibility. During your illness,
+you have betrayed a secret--you have reason to start with horror. Is
+it possible that a son of mine, with the principles which I have
+endeavoured to instil into his mind, should become so far depraved? Do
+I live to hear, from his own lips, that he is the seducer of a married
+woman--and that woman the wife of his friend?”
+
+Vivian walked up and down the room in great agony: his mother continued,
+with increased severity of manner, “I say nothing of your dissimulation
+with me, nor of all your _platonic_ subterfuges--I know that, with a
+man of intrigue, falsehood is deemed a virtue. I shall not condescend to
+inquire farther into your guilty secrets--I now think myself fortunate
+in having no place in your confidence. But I here declare to you, in the
+most solemn manner, that I never will see you again until all connexion
+between you and Mrs. Wharton is utterly dissolved. I do not advise--I
+COMMAND, and must be obeyed--or I cast you off for ever.”
+
+Lady Mary left the room as she uttered these words. Her son was deeply
+struck with his mother’s eloquence: he knew she was right, yet his pride
+was wounded by the peremptory severity of her manner:--his remorse and
+his good resolutions gave place to anger. The more he felt himself
+in the wrong, the less he could bear to be reproached by the voice
+of authority. Even because his mother _commanded_ him to give up all
+connexion with Mrs. Wharton, he was inclined to disobey--he could not
+bear to seem to do right merely in compliance to her will. He went to
+visit Mrs. Wharton in a very different temper from that in which, half
+an hour before this conference with his mother, he had resolved to see
+the lady. Mrs. Wharton knew how to take advantage both of the weakness
+of his character and of the generosity of his temper. She fell into
+transports of grief when she found that Lady Mary Vivian and Miss Sidney
+were in possession of her secret. It was in vain that Vivian assured her
+that it would be kept inviolably; she persisted in repeating, “that her
+reputation was lost; that she had sacrificed every thing for a man who
+would, at last, desert her in the most treacherous and barbarous
+manner, leaving her at the mercy of her husband, the most profligate,
+hard-hearted tyrant upon earth. As to her being reconciled to him,” she
+declared, “_that_ was totally out of the question; his behaviour to her
+was such, that she could not live with him, even if her heart were not
+fatally prepossessed in favour of another.” Her passions seemed wrought
+to the highest pitch. With all the eloquence of beauty in distress, she
+appealed to Vivian as her only friend; she threw herself entirely upon
+his protection; she vowed that she could not, would not, remain another
+day in the same house with Mr. Wharton; that her destiny, her existence,
+were at Vivian’s mercy. Vivian had not sufficient fortitude to support
+this scene. He stood irresolute. The present temptation prevailed over
+his better resolutions. He was actually persuaded by this woman, whom
+he did not love, whom he could not esteem, to carry her off to the
+continent--whilst, at the very time, he admired, esteemed, and loved
+another. The plan of the elopement was formed and settled in a few
+minutes;--on Mrs. Wharton’s part, apparently with all the hurry of
+passion; on Vivian’s with all the confusion of despair. The same
+carriage, the very same horses, that had been ordered to carry our hero
+to his beloved Selina, conveyed him and Mrs. Wharton the first stage
+of their flight towards the continent. The next morning the following
+paragraph appeared in the newspapers:--
+
+“Yesterday, the beautiful and fashionable Mrs. W----, whose marriage we
+announced last year to the celebrated Mr. W----, eloped from his
+house in St. James’s-street, in company with C---- V----, member for
+----shire. This catastrophe has caused the greatest _sensation_ and
+astonishment in the circles of fashion; for the lady in question had
+always, till this fatal step, preserved the most unblemished reputation;
+and Mr. and Mrs. W---- were considered as models of conjugal felicity.
+The injured husband was attending his public duty in the House of
+Commons; and, as we are credibly informed, was, with patriotic ardour,
+speaking in his country’s cause, when this unfortunate event, which for
+ever bereaves him of domestic happiness, took place. What must
+increase the poignancy of his feelings upon the occasion remains to be
+stated--that the seducer was his intimate friend, a young man, whom he
+had raised into notice in public life, and whom he had, with all that
+warmth and confidence of heart for which he is remarkable, introduced
+into his house, and trusted with his beloved wife. Mr. W---- is, we
+hear, in pursuit of the fugitives.”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+In the modern fashionable code of honour, when a man has seduced or
+carried off his friend’s wife, the next thing he has to do is to fight
+the man whom he has injured and betrayed. By thus appealing to the
+ordeal of the duel, he may not only clear himself from guilt; but, if
+it be done with proper spirit, he may acquire celebrity and glory in the
+annals of gallantry, and in the eyes of the fair and innocent. In our
+hero’s place, most men of fashion would have triumphed in the notoriety
+of his offence, and would have rejoiced in an opportunity of offering
+the husband the satisfaction of a gentleman. But, unfortunately for
+Vivian, he had not yet suited his principles to his practice: he had
+acted like a man of fashion; but, alas! he still thought and felt like a
+man of virtue--as the following letter will show.
+
+“TO THE REV. HENRY RUSSELL.
+
+“Indignant as you will be, Russell, at all you hear of me, you cannot
+be more shocked than I am myself. I do not write to palliate or
+apologize--my conduct admits of no defence--I shall attempt none,
+private or public--I have written to my lawyer to give directions that
+no sort of defence shall be set up on my part, when the affair comes
+into Doctors’ Commons--as it shortly will; for I understand that poor
+Wharton has commenced a prosecution. As to damages he has only to name
+them--any thing within the compass of my fortune he may command. Would
+to God that money could make him amends! But he is too generous, too
+noble a fellow--profligate as he is in some things, how incapable would
+he be of acting as basely as I have done! There is not, perhaps, at
+this moment, a human being who has so high an opinion of the man I have
+injured as I have myself:--he did not love his wife--but that is no
+excuse for me--his honour is as much wounded as if I had robbed him of
+her during the time he loved her most fondly:--he once doted upon her,
+and would have loved her again, when he was tired of his gallantries;
+and they might then have lived together as happily as ever, if I had
+not been--. What was I?--What am I?--Not a villain--or I should glory in
+what I have done--but the weakest of human beings--and how true it is,
+Russell, that ‘all wickedness is weakness!’
+
+“I understand that W----, wherever he goes, calls me a coward, as
+well as a scoundrel; and says that I have kept out of the way to avoid
+fighting him. He is mistaken. It is true, I had the utmost dread of
+having his life to answer for--and nothing should have provoked me to
+fire upon him;--but I had determined how to act--I would have met him,
+and have stood his fire. I should not be sorry, at present, to be put
+out of the world; and would rather fall by his hand than by any other.
+But since this is out of the question, and that things have taken
+another turn, I have only to live, as long as it shall please God, a
+life of remorse--and, at least, to try to make the unfortunate woman who
+has thrown herself upon my protection as happy as I can.
+
+“If you have any remaining regard for a pupil who has so disgraced you,
+do me one favour--Go to Miss Sidney, and give her what comfort you can.
+Say nothing _for me_, or _of me_, but that I wish her to forget me
+as soon as possible. She discarded me from her heart when she first
+discovered this intrigue--before this last fatal step. Still I had
+hopes of recovering her esteem and affection; for I had resolved--But no
+matter what I resolved--all my resolutions failed; and now I am utterly
+unworthy of her love. This, and all that is good and happy in life, all
+the fair hopes and virtuous promises of my youth, I must give up. Early
+as it is in my day, my sun has set. I truly desire that she should
+forget me; for you know I am bound in honour--Honour! How dare I use the
+word? I am bound, after the divorce, to marry the woman I have seduced.
+Oh, Russell! what a wife for your friend!--What a daughter-in-law for my
+poor mother, after all her care of my education--all her affection--all
+her pride in me!--It will break her heart! Mine will not break. I shall
+drag on, perhaps, to a miserable old age. I am of too feeble a nature to
+feel these things as strong minds would--as you will for me; but do not
+blame yourself for my faults. All that man could do for me, you did.
+This must be some consolation to you, my dear and excellent friend! May
+I still call you friend?--or have I no friend left upon earth?
+
+“C. VIVIAN.”
+
+From this letter some idea may be formed of what this unhappy man
+suffered at this period of his life, from “the reflections of a mind not
+used to its own reproaches.” The view of the future was as dreadful
+as the retrospect of the past. His thoughts continually dwelt upon the
+public trial which was preparing--before him he saw all its disgraceful
+circumstances. Then the horror of marrying, of passing his whole future
+existence with a woman whom he could not esteem or trust! These last
+were secret subjects of anxiety and anguish, the more intensely felt,
+because he could not speak of them to any human being. Such as Mrs.
+Wharton was, she was to be his wife; and he was called upon to defend
+her against reproach and insult,--if possible, from contempt. During
+the course of six weeks, which they spent together in exile at Brussels,
+Vivian became so altered in his appearance, that his most intimate
+friends could scarcely have known him; his worst enemies, if he had had
+any, could not have desired the prolongation of his sufferings.
+
+One evening, as he was sitting alone in his hotel, ruminating bitter
+thoughts, a letter was brought to him from Mr. Russell; the first he had
+received since he left England. Every one, who has been absent from his
+friends in a foreign country, must know the sort of emotion which
+the bare sight of a letter from _home_ excites; but, in Vivian’s
+circumstances, abandoned as he felt himself, and deserving to be
+abandoned by his best friends, the sight of a letter from Russell so
+struck him, that he gazed upon the direction for some minutes, almost
+without power or wish to open it. At last he opened, and read, “Return
+to your country, your friends, and yourself, Vivian! Your day is not
+yet over! Your sun is not yet set!--Resume your energy--recover your
+self-confidence--carry your good resolutions into effect--and you may
+yet be an honour to your family, a delight to your fond mother, and
+the pride of your friend Russell. Your remorse has been poignant and
+sincere; let it be salutary and permanent in its consequences: this is
+the repentance which religion requires. The part of a man of sense and
+virtue is to make his past errors of use to his future conduct. Whilst
+I had nothing to say that could give you pleasure, I forbore to answer
+your letter; I forbore to overwhelm a mind sinking under remorse. My
+sacred duty is to waken the sinner to repentance, not to shut the gates
+of mercy on the penitent. Now, I can relieve your mind from part of the
+load by which it has been justly oppressed. You know that nothing can
+palliate your conduct in an intrigue with a married woman--from this I
+had hoped your moral and religious education would have preserved you.
+But of the premeditated guilt of deceiving the husband, and laying a
+plan to seduce the wife, I never suspected you; and I may now tell you,
+that you have not betrayed Mr. Wharton; he has betrayed you. You have
+not seduced Mrs. Wharton; you have been seduced by her. You are not
+bound to marry her--Wharton cannot obtain a divorce--he dare not bring
+the affair to trial; if he does, he is undone. There has been collusion
+between the parties. The proof of this you will find in the enclosed
+paper, which will be sworn to, in due legal form, whenever it is
+necessary. Even when you see them, you will scarcely believe these
+‘damning proofs’ of Wharton’s baseness. But I always knew, I always told
+you, that this pretence to honour and candour, frankness and friendship,
+with this avowed contempt of all principle and all virtue, could not
+be safe, could not be sincere, would not _stand the test_.--No--nothing
+should make me trust to the private honour of a man so corrupt in public
+life as Mr. Wharton. A man who sells his conscience for his interest
+will sell it for his pleasure. A man who will betray his country will
+betray his friend. It is in vain to palter with our conscience: there
+are not two honours--two honesties. How I rejoice at this moment, in the
+reflection that your character, as a public man, is yet untarnished
+You have still this great advantage:--feel its value. Return, and
+distinguish yourself among your countrymen: distinguish yourself by
+integrity still more than by talents. A certain degree of talents is
+now cheap in England: integrity is what we want--true patriotism, true
+public spirit, noble ambition not that vile scramble for places and
+pensions, which some men call ambition; not that bawling, brawling,
+_Thersites_ character, which other men call public spirit; not that
+marketable commodity with which Wharton, and such as he, cheat popular
+opinion for a season;--but that fair virtue which will endure, and abide
+by its cause to the last; which, in place or out, shall be the same;
+which, successful or unsuccessful, shall sustain the possessor’s
+character through all changes of party; which, whilst he lives, shall
+command respect from even the most profligate of his contemporaries;
+upon which, when he is dying, he may reflect with satisfaction; which,
+after his death, shall be the consolation of his friends, and the glory
+of his country. All this is yet in your power, Vivian.--Come, then, and
+fulfil the promise of your early years! Come, and restore to your mother
+a son worthy of her!--Come, and surpass the hopes of your true friend,
+
+“H. RUSSELL.”
+
+The rapid succession of feelings with which Vivian read this letter
+can scarcely be imagined. The paper it enclosed was from a former
+waiting-maid of Mrs. Wharton’s; a woman who was expected to be the
+principal evidence on Mr. Wharton’s side. She had been his mistress; one
+of those innumerable mistresses, to whom he had, of course, addressed
+his transferable promises of eternal constancy. She too, of course, had
+believed the vow, in spite of all experience and probability; and while
+she pardoned his infidelities to her mistress, &c. all which she deemed
+_very natural for a gentleman like him_, yet she was astonished and
+outrageous when she found him faithless to her own charms. In a fit of
+jealousy she flew to Mr. Russell, whom she knew to be Vivian’s friend;
+and, to revenge herself on Wharton, revealed the secrets which she had
+in her power; put into Russell’s hands the proofs of collusion between
+Mr. Wharton and his wife; and took malicious pains to substantiate
+her evidence, to a lawyer’s full satisfaction; knowing that she might
+prevent the possibility of a divorce, and that she should thus punish
+her perjured inconstant in the most sensible manner, by at once
+depriving him of twenty thousand pounds damages, and by chaining him
+again to a wife whom he abhorred.
+
+The same post which brought Vivian this woman’s deposition and Russell’s
+letter brought Mrs. Wharton notice that the whole plan of collusion
+was discovered: she was therefore prepared for Vivian’s reproaches,
+and received the first burst of his astonishment and indignation with a
+studied Magdalen expression of countenance: then she attempted a silly
+apology, laying all the blame on her husband, and vowing that she had
+acted under terror, and that her life would not have been safe in his
+hands if she had not implicitly obeyed and executed his horrid plans.
+She wept and kneeled in vain. Finding Vivian immoveable in his purpose
+to return immediately to England, she suddenly rose from her knees, and,
+all beautiful as she was, looked in Vivian’s eyes like a fiend, whilst,
+with an unnatural smile, she said to him, “You see, fool as I am thought
+to be, I have been too clever for _some people_; and I can tell Mr.
+Wharton that I have been too clever for him too. His heart is set upon
+a divorce; but he can’t have it. He can’t marry Miss P----, nor yet
+her fortune, nor ever shall! I shall remain at Brussels--I have friends
+here--and friends who were my friends before I was forced to give my
+hand to Mr. Wharton, or my smiles to you, sir!--people who will not
+tease me with talking of remorse and repentance, and such ungallant,
+ungentlemanlike stuff; nor sit bewailing themselves, like a country
+parson, instead of dashing out with me here in a fashionable style, as
+a man of any spirit would have done. But you!--you’re neither good nor
+bad; and no woman will ever love you, nor ever did. Now you know my
+whole mind.”
+
+“Would to Heaven I had known it sooner!” said Vivian. “No--I rejoice
+that I did not sooner know, and that I never could have suspected, such
+depravity!--under such a form, too.”
+
+Mrs. Wharton’s eye glanced with satisfaction upon the large mirror
+opposite to her. Vivian left her in utter disgust and horror. “Drive
+on!” cried he, as he threw himself into the chaise that was to carry him
+away; “Faster! faster!”
+
+The words, “and no woman will ever love you, nor ever, did,” rung upon
+Vivian’s ear. “There she is mistaken, thank Heaven!” said he to himself:
+yet the words still dwelt upon his mind, and gave him exquisite pain.
+Upon looking again at Russell’s letter, he observed that Selina Sidney’s
+name was never mentioned; that she was neither directly nor indirectly
+alluded to in the whole letter. What omen to draw from this he could not
+divine. Again he read it; and all that Russell said of public life, and
+his exhortations to him to come and distinguish himself in public and in
+the political world, struck him in a new light. It seemed as if Russell
+was sensible that, there were no farther hopes of Selina, and that
+therefore he tried to turn Vivian’s mind from love to ambition. Fourteen
+times he read over this letter before he reached England; but he could
+not discover from it any thing as to the point on which his heart was
+most interested. He reached London in this, uncertainty.
+
+“Put me out of suspense, my best friend,” cried he, the moment he saw
+Russell: “tell me, is Selina living?”
+
+“Yes--she has been very ill, but is now recovered--quite recovered, and
+with your mother, who is grown fonder of her than ever she was.”
+
+“Selina alive! well! and with my mother!--and may I--I don’t mean may I
+_now_,--but may I _ever_ hope?--Believe me, I feel myself capable of any
+exertions, any forbearance, to obtain her forgiveness--to merit--May I
+ever hope for it?--Speak!”
+
+Russell assured him that he need not dread Miss Sidney’s resentment, for
+that she felt none; she had expressed pity more than anger--that she had
+taken pains to sooth his mother; and had expressed sincere satisfaction
+on hearing of his _release_ from his unworthy bondage, and at his return
+home to his friends.
+
+The tone in which Russell spoke, and the seriousness and embarrassment
+of his manner, alarmed Vivian inexpressibly. He stood silent, and
+dared not ask farther explanation for some minutes.--At length he broke
+silence, and conjured his friend to go immediately to Miss Sidney and
+his mother, and to request permission for him to see them both in each
+other’s presence. Russell said, that if Vivian insisted, he would comply
+with his request; but that he advised him not to attempt to see Miss
+Sidney at present; not till he had been some time in London--till he
+had given some earnest of the steadiness of his conduct--till he had
+appeared again, and distinguished himself in public life. “This might
+raise you again in her esteem; and,” continued Russell, “you must be
+aware that her love depends on her esteem--at least, that the one cannot
+exist without the other.”
+
+“Will you deliver a letter to her from me?” said Vivian. “If you think
+I had better not attempt to see her yet, you will deliver a letter for
+me?”
+
+After some hesitation, or rather some deliberation, Russell answered,
+in a constrained voice, “I will deliver your letter, if you insist upon
+it.”
+
+Vivian wrote:--Russell undertook to deliver the letter, though with
+evident reluctance. In the mean time Vivian went to see his mother,
+whom he longed, yet dreaded to meet. Her manner was not now severe and
+haughty, as when she last addressed him; but mild and benign: she held
+out her hand to him, and said, “Thank God! my son is restored to me, and
+to himself!”
+
+She could say no more; but embraced him tenderly. Russell had shown Lady
+Mary that her son had been the dupe of a preconcerted scheme to work
+upon his passions. She deplored his weakness, but she had been touched
+by his sufferings; and was persuaded that his remorse would guard him
+against future errors. Therefore not a word or look of reproach escaped
+from her. When he spoke of Selina, Lady Mary, with great animation of
+countenance and warmth of eulogium, declared, that it was the first wish
+of her heart to see her son married to a woman of such a noble character
+and angelic temper; “_but_,” added her ladyship, her manner changing
+suddenly, as she pronounced the word _but_--before she could explain
+the _but_, Russell came into the room, and told Vivian that Miss Sidney
+desired to see him. Vivian heard the words with joy; but his joy
+was checked by the great gravity and embarrassment of his friend’s
+countenance, and by a sigh of ill omen from his mother. Eager to relieve
+his suspense, he hastened to Selina, who, as Russell told him, was in
+Lady Mary’s dressing-room--the room in which he had first declared his
+passion for her. Hope and fear alternately seized him--fear prevailed
+the moment that he beheld Selina. Not that any strong displeasure
+appeared in her countenance--no, it was mild and placid; but it was
+changed towards him, and its very serenity was alarming. Whilst she
+welcomed him to his native country and to his friends, and while she
+expressed hopes for his future happiness, all hope forsook him, and,
+in broken sentences, he attempted to stammer out some answer; then,
+throwing himself into a chair, he exclaimed, “I see all future happiness
+is lost for me--and I deserve it!”
+
+“Do not reproach yourself,” said Selina in a sweet voice; but the voice,
+though sweet, was so altered to him, that it threw him into despair. “It
+is my wish, not to inflict, but to spare you pain. I have, therefore,
+desired to see you as soon as possible, that you might not form false
+expectations.”
+
+“Then you no longer love me, Selina? Now, after all I have suffered, you
+have the cruelty to tell me so? And you, who could form my character to
+every thing that is good and honourable; you, who alone could restore me
+to myself--you reject, you cast me from you for ever?”
+
+“I have suffered much,” said Selina, in a trembling voice, “since we
+parted.”
+
+Vivian’s eye quickly ran over her face and whole form as she spoke these
+words; and he saw, indeed, traces of sickness and suffering: with the
+idea of his power over her affections, his hopes revived; he seized the
+feeble hand, which lay motionless; but she withdrew it decidedly,
+and his hopes again forsook him, when she gently raised her head, and
+continued to speak, “I have suffered much since we parted, Mr. Vivian;
+and I hope you will spare me unnecessary and useless pain in this
+interview: painful to a certain degree it must be to both of us; for I
+cannot, even now that all feelings of passion have subsided, and that
+the possibility of my being united to you is past, tell you so, with all
+the composure which I had expected to do; nor with all the firmness of
+voice and manner which is necessary, perhaps, to convince you of the
+truth, and to restore your mind to itself.”
+
+“The possibility of my being united to you is past!--Why?” interrupted
+Vivian, incapable of understanding or listening to any thing else, till
+this question was answered.
+
+“Do not force me to what may seem like cruel reproach; but let it
+suffice for me to say, that my sentiments have been so much altered by
+a _year’s experience_, that it is impossible for me ever to become your
+wife. My love was founded on esteem. I had, indeed, always fears of the
+instability of your character; therefore, I put your resolution to the
+proof: the event has proved to me that my fears were but too just. I
+speak with difficulty; for I cannot easily give you so much pain as I
+know that I am inflicting at this moment. But,” resumed she, in a more
+resolute tone, “it is absolutely necessary for your future peace of
+mind, as well as for my own, that I should convince you I am sincere,
+perfectly sincere, at this moment; that I know my own heart; that my
+determination has not been hastily formed, and cannot be altered. The
+deliberate manner in which I now speak to you will, I hope, persuade you
+of this truth. And if I have hesitated, or showed any agitation in this
+interview, attribute it to its real cause--the weakness of my health;
+feebleness of body, not of mind.”
+
+She rose to leave the room; but Vivian detained her, beseeching her,
+with all the eloquence of passion in despair, to hear him but for
+one moment; whilst he urged that there was no probability of his ever
+relapsing into errors from which he had suffered so much; that now his
+character was formed by adversity; and that such was the power which
+Selina possessed over his heart, that a union with her would, at this
+crisis, decide his fate; that her steadiness would give stability to
+his resolutions; and that his gratitude would so increase his affection,
+that he should have the strongest possible motives to make her a good
+husband; that when he was happy in domestic life, he should feel every
+energy of his mind revive; that he should exert all his powers to
+distinguish himself, and to justify the choice of the woman he adored.
+
+In spite of the word _adored_, which has usually such power to confound
+female judgment, Selina perceived that all he said was merely a
+repetition of his former arguments, of which experience had proved the
+insufficiency. She was aware that, if before marriage his resolution and
+constancy had not been able to support the trial, it would be folly
+or madness to marry him with the vague hope that she might reform his
+character. She therefore continued steady to her resolution; and as she
+found that Vivian’s disappointment was greater than she had expected,
+she immediately withdrew from his mother’s house. The next morning, when
+Vivian came to breakfast, after having spent a sleepless night, planning
+new arguments or new intreaties in favour of his love, he found that
+Miss Sidney was gone. His mother and his friend Russell joined in
+representing to him that it would be useless to follow her, that it
+would only give himself and Selina unavailing pain. Vivian felt this
+stroke severely. His mind was, as it were, adrift again. After the first
+violence of his feelings had spent itself, and when he sunk into that
+kind of apathy which is the consequence of exhausted passion, his friend
+Russell endeavoured to excite him to honourable ambition. Vivian caught
+the idea, that if he distinguished himself in public life, and if he
+there displayed any steadiness of character, he might win back Selina’s
+esteem and affection. Fired with this hope, he immediately turned his
+whole mind to the object; applied with indefatigable ardour, day and
+night, to make himself master of the subjects likely to be discussed
+in the ensuing session of parliament. At length his application and
+his energy were crowned with success. On a question of considerable
+political importance, which he had carefully considered, he made an
+excellent speech; a speech which directly made him of consequence in
+the house; which, in the language of the newspapers, “was received with
+unbounded applause, was distinguished for strength of argument, lucid
+order, and a happy choice of expression.” But what encouraged our hero
+more than newspaper puffs or party panegyrics was the approbation of
+his friend Russell. Russell never praised violently; but a few words,
+or even a look of satisfaction from him, went farther than the most
+exaggerated eulogiums from others. Vivian pursued his course for some
+time with honour and increasing reputation. There was one man who never
+joined in any of the compliments paid to the rising orator; there was
+one man who always spoke of him with contempt, who pronounced that
+“Vivian would never go far in politics--that it was not in him--that
+he was too soft--_que c’étoit bâtir sur de la boue, que de compter sur
+lui_.” This depreciator and enemy of Vivian was the man who, but a
+few months before, had been his political _proneur_ and unblushing
+flatterer, Mr. Wharton. Exasperated by the consciousness of his own
+detected baseness, and provoked still more by his being frustrated in
+all his schemes, Wharton now practised every art that a malicious and
+unprincipled wit could devise to lower the opinion of Vivian’s talents,
+and to prevent his obtaining either power or celebrity. Our hero was
+stimulated by this conduct to fresh exertions. So far Wharton’s enmity
+was of service to him; but it was of disservice, by changing, in some
+measure, the purity of the motives from which he acted. With love and
+honourable ambition now mixed hatred, thoughts of vengeance, views
+of vulgar vanity and interest: he thought more of contradicting Mr.
+Wharton’s prophecies than of fulfilling his own ideas of what was fair
+and right. He was anxious to prove, that he could “_go far_ in politics,
+that it was _in him_, that he was not too soft, and that it was not
+building on mud to depend on him.” These indefinite expressions operated
+powerfully and perniciously on his imagination. To prove that Wharton
+was mistaken in his prognostics, it was necessary to our hero to obtain
+the price and stamp of talents--it was essential to gain political
+power; and this could not be attained without joining a party. Vivian
+joined the party then in opposition. Wharton and he, though both in
+opposition, of course, after what had passed, could never meet in any
+private company; nor had they any communication in public, though on the
+same side of the question: their enmity was so great, that not only
+the business of the nation, but even the interests of their party, were
+often impeded by their quarrels. In the midst of these disputes, Vivian
+insensibly adopted more and more of the language and principles of the
+public men with whom he daily associated. He began to hear and talk of
+compensations and jobs, as they did; and to consider all measures
+proved to be necessary for the support of his party as expedient, if
+not absolutely right. His country could not be saved, unless he and his
+friends could obtain the management of affairs; and no men, be found,
+could gain parliamentary influence, or raise themselves into political
+power, without _acting as a body_. Then, of course, all subordinate
+points of right were to be sacrificed to the great good of promoting the
+views of the party. Still, however, his patriotism was upon the whole
+pure; he had no personal views of interest, no desire even to be in
+place, independently of a wish to promote the good of his country.
+Secret overtures were, about this time, made to him by government; and
+inquiries were made if there was any thing which could gratify him, or
+by which he could be induced to lay aside his opposition, and to assist
+in supporting their measures. Many compliments to his talents and
+eloquence, and all the usual _commonplaces_, about the expediency and
+propriety of _strengthening the hands of government_, were, of course,
+added. Something _specific_ was at length mentioned: it was intimated,
+that as he was of an ancient family, it might gratify him that his
+mother should be made a baroness in her own right. The offer was
+declined, and the temptation was firmly withstood by our hero; his
+credit was now at its _acme_ with his own coadjutors. Lady Mary
+whispered the circumstance, as a state secret, to all her acquaintance;
+and Russell took care that Miss Sidney should hear of it.
+
+Vivian was now cited as an incorruptible patriot. Wharton’s malice, and
+even his wit, was almost silenced; yet he was heard to say, amidst the
+din of applause, “This is only the first offer; he is in the right
+to make a show of resistance: he will coquet for a time, and keep
+_philandering_ on till he suits himself, and then he’ll jilt us, you’ll
+see.”
+
+Such speeches, though they reached Vivian’s ear by the kind
+officiousness of friends, were never made by Mr. Wharton so directly
+that he could take hold of them; and Russell strenuously advised him
+not to seek occasion to quarrel with a man who evidently desired only
+to raise his own reputation by making Vivian angry, getting him in the
+wrong, and forcing him into an imprudent duel.
+
+“Let your actions continue to contradict his words, and they can never
+injure you,” said Russell.
+
+For some time Vivian adhered to his friend’s advice, and he proudly felt
+the superiority of principle and character. But, alas! there was one
+defence that his patriotism wanted--economy. Whilst he was thus active
+in the public cause, and exulting in his disinterestedness, his private
+affairs were getting into terrible disorder. The expense of building
+his castle had increased beyond all his calculations--the expense of
+his election--the money he had lost at play whilst he was in Wharton’s
+society--the sums he had lent to Wharton--the money he had spent
+abroad,--all these accumulated brought him to great difficulties: for
+though his estate was considerable, yet it was so settled and tied
+up that he could neither sell nor mortgage. His creditors became
+clamorous--he had no means of satisfying or quieting them: an execution
+was actually sent down to his castle, just as it was finished. Lady
+Mary Vivian was in the greatest alarm and distress: she had no means of
+extricating her son. As to his fashionable friends--no hopes from such
+extravagant and selfish beings. What was to be done? At this critical
+moment, the offers from _a certain quarter_ were renewed in another,
+and, as it seemed, a more acceptable form,--a pension was proffered
+instead of a title; and it was promised that the business should be so
+managed, and the pension so held in another name, that nothing of the
+transaction should transpire; and that his seceding from opposition
+should be made to appear a change of sentiments from conviction, not
+from interested motives. Vivian’s honourable feelings revolted from
+these offers, and abhorred these subterfuges; but distress--pecuniary
+distress! he had never before felt its pressure; he had never till
+now felt how powerful, how compulsatory it is over even generous and
+high-spirited souls. Whilst Vivian was thus oppressed with difficulties,
+which his imprudence had brought upon him; whilst his mind was
+struggling with opposing motives, he was, most fortunately for his
+political integrity, relieved, partly by accident, and partly by
+friendship. It happened that the incumbent of the rich living, of which
+Vivian had the presentation, was dying just at this time; and Russell,
+instead of claiming the living which Vivian had promised to him,
+relinquished all pretensions to it, and insisted upon his friend’s
+disposing of his right of presentation. The sum which this enabled
+Vivian to raise was fully sufficient to satisfy the execution which had
+been laid on his castle; and the less clamorous creditors were content
+to be paid by instalments, annually, from his income. Thus he was saved
+for the present; and he formed the most prudent resolves for the future.
+He was most sincerely grateful to his disinterested friend. The full
+extent of the sacrifice which Russell made him was not, however, known
+at this time, nor for some years afterwards.
+
+But, without anticipation, let us proceed with our story. Amongst those
+fashionable and political friends with whom our hero had, since his
+return to England, renewed his connexion, was my Lord Glistonbury. His
+lordship, far from thinking the worse of him for _his affair_ with Mrs.
+Wharton, spoke of it in modish _slang_, as “a new and fine feather in
+his cap;” and he congratulated Vivian upon his having “carried off the
+prize without paying the price.” Vivian’s success as a parliamentary
+orator had still further endeared him to his lordship, who failed not to
+repeat, that he had always prophesied Vivian would make a capital figure
+in public life; that Vivian was his member, &c. At the recess, Lord
+Glistonbury insisted upon carrying Vivian down to spend the holidays
+with him at Glistonbury Castle.
+
+“You must come, Vivian: so make your fellow put your worldly goods into
+my barouche, which is at the door; and we are to have a great party at
+Glistonbury, and private theatricals, and the devil knows what; and
+you must see my little Julia act, and I must introduce you to _the
+Rosamunda_. Come, come! you can’t refuse me!--Why, you have only a
+bachelor’s castle of your own to go to; and that’s a dismal sort of
+business, compared with what I have _in petto_ for you--‘the feast of
+reason, and the flow of soul,’ in the first style, I assure you.
+You must know, I always--even in the midst of the wildest of my wild
+oats--had a taste for the belles-lettres, and philosophy, and the muses,
+and the _literati,_ and so forth--always a touch of the Mecaenas about
+me.--And now my boy’s growing up, it’s more particularly proper to bring
+these sort of people about him; for, you know, clever men who have a
+reputation can sound a flourish of trumpets advantageously before ‘a
+Grecian youth of talents rare’ makes his appearance on the stage of
+the great world--Ha! hey!--Is not this what one may call
+prudence?--Ha!--Good to have a father who knows something of life, and
+of books too, hey? Then, for my daughters, too--daughter, I mean; for
+Lady Sarah’s Lady Glistonbury’s child: her ladyship and Miss Strictland
+have manufactured her after their own taste and fashion; and I’ve
+nothing to say to that--But my little Julia--Ah, I’ve got a different
+sort of governess about her these few months past--not without family
+battles, you may guess. But when Jupiter gives the nod, you know, even
+Juno, stately as she is, must bend. So I have my Rosamunda for my little
+Julia--who, by-the-bye, is no longer my _little_ Julia, but a prodigious
+fine woman, as you shall see. But, all this time, is your fellow putting
+your things up? No!--Hey? how? Oh, I understand your long face of
+hesitation--you have not seen the ladies since the Wharton affair, and
+you don’t know how they might look.--Never fear! Lady Glistonbury shall
+do as I please, and look as I please. Besides, _entre nous_, I know she
+hates the Whartons; so that her morality will have a loophole to creep
+out of; and you’ll be safe and snug, whilst all the blame will be thrown
+on them--Hey!--Oh, I understand things--pique myself on investigating
+the human heart. Come, we have not a moment to lose; and you’ll have
+your friend Russell, too--Come, come! to have and to hold, as the
+lawyers say--”
+
+Seizing Vivian’s arm, Lord Glistonbury carried him off before he had
+half understood all his lordship had poured forth so rapidly; and before
+he had decided whether he wished or not to accept of this invitation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+On his way to Glistonbury Castle, Vivian had full leisure to repent of
+having accepted of this invitation, recollecting, as he did, all the
+former reports about himself and Lady Sarah Lidhurst. He determined,
+therefore, that his visit should be as short as possible; and the chief
+pleasure he promised himself was the society of his friend Russell.
+
+On his arrival at the castle, he was told that Mr. Russell was out
+riding; and that every body else was in the theatre at a rehearsal,
+except Lady Glistonbury, the Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland. He found
+these three ladies sitting in form in the great deserted drawing-room,
+each looking like a copy of the other, and all as if they were deploring
+the degeneracy of the times. Vivian approached with due awe; but, to his
+great surprise and relief, at his approach their countenances exhibited
+some signs of life. Lord Glistonbury _presented_ him on his return
+from abroad: Lady Glistonbury’s features relaxed to a smile, though she
+seemed immediately to repent of it, and to feel it incumbent upon her to
+maintain her rigidity of mien. Whilst she, and of course Miss Strictland
+and the Lady Sarah, were thus embarrassed between the necessity of
+reprobating the sin, and the desire of pleasing the sinner, Lord
+Glistonbury ran on with one of his speeches, of borrowed sense and
+original nonsense, and then would have carried him off to the rehearsal,
+but Lady Glistonbury called Vivian back, begging, in her formal manner,
+“that her lord would do her the favour to leave Mr. Vivian with her for
+a few minutes, as it was so long since she had the pleasure of seeing
+him at Glistonbury.” Vivian returned with as good a grace as he could;
+and, to find means of breaking the embarrassing silence that ensued,
+took up a book which lay upon the table, “Toplady’s Sermons”--no hope
+of assistance from that: he had recourse to another--equally unlucky,
+“Wesley’s Diary:” another--“The Pilgrim’s Progress.” He went no farther;
+but, looking up, he perceived that the Lady Sarah was _motioned_ by her
+august mother to leave the room. Vivian had again recourse to “Toplady.”
+
+“Very unfashionable books, Mr. Vivian,” said Miss Strictland, bridling
+and smiling as in scorn.
+
+“Very unfashionable books!” repeated Lady Glistonbury, with the
+same inflection of voice, and the same bridling and smiling. “Very
+different,” continued her ladyship, “very different from what you have
+been accustomed to see on _some_ ladies’ tables, no doubt, Mr. Vivian!
+Without mentioning names, or alluding to transactions that ought to be
+buried in eternal oblivion, and that are so very distressing to your
+friends here to think of, sir, give me leave to ask, Mr. Vivian, whether
+it be true what I have heard, that the prosecution, and every thing
+relative to it, is entirely given up?”
+
+“Entirely, madam.”
+
+“Then,” said Lady Glistonbury, glancing her eye at Miss Strictland,
+“_we_ may welcome Mr. Vivian with safe consciences to Glistonbury; and
+since the affair will never become public, and since Lady Sarah knows
+none of the improper particulars; and since she may, and, from her
+education, naturally will, class all such things under the head of
+impossibilities and false reports, of which people, in our rank of life
+especially, are subject every hour to hear so many; there cannot, as I
+am persuaded you will agree with me in thinking, Miss Strictland, be any
+impropriety in our and Lady Sarah’s receiving Mr. Vivian again on the
+same footing as formerly.”
+
+Miss Strictland bowed her formal assent: Vivian bowed, because he saw
+that a bow was expected from him; and then he pondered on what might be
+meant by the words, _on the same footing as formerly_; and he had just
+framed a clause explanatory and restrictive of the same, when he was
+interrupted by the sound of laughter, and of numerous, loud, and mingled
+voices, coming along the gallery that led to the drawing-room. As
+if these were signals for her departure, and as if she dreaded the
+intrusion and contamination of the revel rout, Lady Glistonbury arose,
+looked at her watch, pronounced her belief that it was full time for her
+to go to dress, and retired through a Venetian door, followed by Miss
+Strictland, repeating the same belief, and bearing her ladyship’s
+tapestry work: her steps quickened as the door at the opposite end of
+the room opened; and, curtsying (an unnecessary apology to Mr. Vivian)
+as she passed, she left him _to himself_. And now,
+
+     “He sees a train profusely gay,
+     Come pranckling o’er the place.”
+
+Some were dressed for comic, some for tragic characters; but all seemed
+equally gay, and talked equally fast. There had been a dressed rehearsal
+of “The Fair Penitent,” and of “The Romp;” and all the spectators and
+all the actors were giving and receiving exuberant compliments. Vivian
+knew many of the party,--some of them bel-esprits, some fashionable
+amateurs; all pretenders to notoriety, either as judges or performers.
+In the midst of this motley group, there was one figure who stood
+receiving and expecting universal homage: she was dressed as “The Fair
+Penitent;” but her affected vivacity of gesture and countenance was in
+striking contrast to her tragic attire; and Vivian could hardly forbear
+smiling at the _minauderies_ with which she listened and talked to the
+gentlemen round her; now languishing, now coquetting; rolling her eyes,
+and throwing herself into a succession of studied attitudes, dealing
+repartees to this side and to that; and, in short, making the greatest
+possible exhibition both of her person and her mind.
+
+“Don’t you know her? Did you never see her before?--No!
+you’ve been out of England; but you’ve heard of her,
+certainly?--_Rosamunda_,”--whispered Lord Glistonbury to Vivian.
+
+“And who is Rosamunda?” said Vivian; “an actress.”
+
+“Actress!--Hush!--Bless you! no--but the famous poetess. Is it possible
+that you hav’n’t read the poems of Rosamunda?--They were in every body’s
+hands a few months ago; but you were abroad--better engaged, or as well,
+hey? But, as I was going to tell you, that’s the reason she’s called
+_The Rosamunda_--I gave her the name, for I patronized her from the
+first. Her real name is Bateman; and Lady Glistonbury and her set call
+her Miss Bateman still, but nobody else. She’s an amazing clever
+woman, I assure you--more genius than any of ‘em since the time of
+Rousseau!--Devil of a salary!--and devil of a battle I had to fight with
+some of my friends before I could fix her here; but I was determined I
+would follow my own ideas in Julia’s education. Lady Glistonbury had
+her way and her routine with Lady Sarah; and it’s all very well, vastly
+well--
+
+     ‘Virtue for her too painful an endeavour,
+     Content to dwell in decencies for ever.’
+
+You know the sort of thing! Yes, yes; but I was not content to have my
+Julia lost among the _mediocres_, as I call them: so I took her out of
+Miss Strictland’s hands; and the Rosamunda’s her governess.”
+
+“Her governess!” repeated Vivian, with uncontrollable astonishment;
+“Lady Julia Lidhurst’s governess!”
+
+“Yes, you may well be surprised,” pursued Lord Glistonbury, mistaking
+the cause of the surprise: “no one in England could have done it but
+myself; she refused innumerable applications,--immense offers; and,
+after all, you know, she does not appear as governess _titrée_--only
+as a friend of the family, who directs Lady Julia Lidhurst’s literary
+talents. Oh, you understand, a man of the world knows how to manage
+these things--sacrifices always to the vanity of the sex, or the
+pride, as the case may be, I never mind names, but things, as the
+metaphysicians say--distinguish betwixt essentials and accidents--sound
+philosophy that, hey? And, thank Heaven! a gentleman or a nobleman need
+not apologize in these days for talking of philosophy before ladies,
+even if any body overheard us, which, as it happens, I believe nobody
+does. So let me, now that _you know your Paris_, introduce you to ‘The
+Rosamunda.’--Mr. Vivian--the Rosamunda. Rosamunda--Mr. Vivian.”
+
+After Vivian had for a few minutes acted audience, very little to his
+own satisfaction, he was relieved by Lord Glistonbury’s exclaiming, “But
+Julia! where’s Julia all this time?”
+
+Rosamunda looked round, with the air of one interrupted by a frivolous
+question which requires no answer; but some one less exalted, and more
+attentive to the common forms of civility, told his lordship that Lady
+Julia was in the gallery with her brother. Lord Glistonbury hurried
+Vivian into the gallery. He was struck the moment he met Lady Julia
+with the great change and improvement in her appearance. Instead of the
+childish girl he had formerly seen flying about, full only of the frolic
+of the present moment, he now saw a fine graceful woman with a striking
+countenance that indicated both genius and sensibility. She was talking
+to her brother with so much eagerness, that she did not see Vivian come
+into the gallery; and, as he walked on towards the farther end, where
+she was standing, he had time to admire her.
+
+“A fine girl, faith! though she is my daughter,” whispered Lord
+Glistonbury; “and would you believe that she is only sixteen?”
+
+“Only sixteen!”
+
+“Ay: and stay till you talk to her--stay till you hear her--you will be
+more surprised. Such genius! such eloquence! She’s my own girl. Well,
+Julia, my darling!” cried he, raising his voice, “in the clouds, as
+usual?”
+
+Lady Julia started--but it was a natural, not a theatric
+start--colouring at the consciousness of her own absence of mind. She
+came forward with a manner that apologized better than words could do,
+and she received Mr. Vivian so courteously, and with such ingenuous
+pleasure in her countenance, that he began to rejoice in having accepted
+the invitation to Glistonbury; at the same instant, he recollected a
+look which his mother had given him when he first saw Lady Julia on the
+terrace of the castle.
+
+“Well, what was she saying to you, Lidhurst? hey! my boy?”
+
+“We were arguing, sir.”
+
+“Arguing! Ay, ay, she’s the devil for that!--words at will!--‘Persuasive
+words, and more persuasive sighs!’ Ah, woman! woman for ever! always
+talking us out of our senses! and which of the best of us would not
+wish it to be so? ‘Oh! let me, let me be deceived!’ is the cream of
+philosophy, epicurean and stoic--at least, that’s my creed. But to the
+point: what was it about that she was holding forth so charmingly--a
+book or a lover? A book, I’ll wager: she’s such a romantic little
+fool, and so unlike other women: leaves all her admirers there in the
+drawing-room, and stays out here, talking over musty books with her
+brother. But come, what was the point? I will have it argued again
+before me--Let’s see the book.”
+
+Lord Lidhurst pointed out a speech in “The Fair Penitent,” and said that
+they had been debating about the manner in which it should be recited.
+Lord Glistonbury called upon his daughter to repeat it: she showed
+a slight degree of unaffected timidity at first; but when her
+father stamped and bid her let him see no vulgar bashfulness, she
+obeyed--recited charmingly--and, when urged by a little opposition from
+her brother, grew warm in defence of her own opinion--displayed in its
+support such sensibility, with such a flow of eloquence, accompanied
+with such animated and graceful, yet natural gesture, that Vivian was
+transported with sudden admiration. He was astonished at this early
+development of feeling and intellect; and if, in the midst of his
+delight, he felt some latent disapprobation of this display of talent
+from so young a woman, yet he quickly justified her to himself, by
+saying that he was not a stranger; that he had formerly been received
+by her family on a footing of intimacy. Then he observed farther, in her
+vindication, that there was not the slightest affectation or coquetry in
+any of her words or motions; that she spoke with this eagerness not to
+gain admiration, but because she was carried away by her enthusiasm,
+and, thoughtless of herself, was eager only to persuade and to make
+her opinions prevail. Such was the enchantment of her eloquence and her
+beauty, that after a quarter of an hour spent in her company, our hero
+did not know whether to wish that she had more sedateness and reserve,
+or to rejoice that she was so animated and natural. Before he could
+decide this point, his friend Russell returned from riding. After the
+first greetings were over, Russell drew him aside, and asked, “Pray, my
+dear Vivian, what brings you here?”
+
+“Lord Glistonbury--to whom I had not time to say no, he talked so fast.
+But, after all, why should I say no? I am a free man--a discarded lover.
+I am absolutely convinced that Selina Sidney’s refusal will never be
+retracted; my mother, I know, is of that opinion. You suggested, that
+if I distinguished myself in public life, and showed steadiness, I might
+recover her esteem and affection; but I see no chance of it. My mother
+showed me her last letter--no hopes from that--so I think it would
+be madness, or folly, to waste my time, and wear out my feelings, in
+pursuit of a woman, who, however amiable, is lost to me.”
+
+“Of that you are the best judge,” said Russell, gravely. “I am far from
+wishing--from urging you to waste your time. Lady Mary Vivian must know
+more of Miss Sidney, and be better able to judge of the state of her
+heart than I can be. It would not be the part of a friend to excite you
+to persevere in a pursuit that would end in disappointment; but
+this much, before we quit the subject for ever, I feel it my duty to
+say--that I think Miss Sidney the woman of all others the best suited to
+your character, the most deserving of your love, the most calculated to
+make you exquisitely and permanently happy.”
+
+“All that’s very true,” said Vivian, impatiently; “but, since I can’t
+have her, why make me miserable about her?”
+
+“Am I to understand,” resumed Russell, after a long pause, “am I to
+understand that, now you have regained your freedom, you come here with
+the settled purpose of espousing the Lady Sarah Lidhurst?”
+
+“Heaven forfend!” cried Vivian, starting back.
+
+“Then I am to go over again, on this subject, with indefatigable
+patience and in due logical order, all the arguments, moral, prudential,
+and conventional, which I had the labour of laying before you about a
+twelvemonth ago.”
+
+“Save yourself the trouble, my dear friend!” said Vivian; “I shall set
+all that upon a right footing immediately, by speaking of the report
+at once to some of the family. I was going to _rise to explain_
+this morning, when I was with Lady Glastonbury; but I felt a sort of
+delicacy--it was an awkward time--and at that moment somebody came into
+the room.”
+
+“Ay,” said Russell, “you are just like the hero of a novel, stopped from
+saying what he ought to say by somebody’s coming into the room.--Awkward
+time! Take care you don’t sacrifice yourself at last to these
+_awkwardnesses_ and this sort of _delicacies_. I have still my fears
+that you will get into difficulties about Lady Sarah.”
+
+Vivian could not help laughing at what he called his friend’s absurd
+fears.
+
+“If you are determined, my dear Russell, at all events to fear for me,
+I’ll suggest to you a more reasonable cause of dread. Suppose I should
+fall desperately in love with Lady Julia!--I assure you there’s
+some danger of that. She is really very handsome and very graceful;
+uncommonly clever and eloquent--as to the rest, you know her--what is
+she?”
+
+“All that you have said, and more. She might be made any thing--every
+thing; an ornament to her sex--an honour to her country--were she
+under the guidance of persons fit to direct great powers and a noble
+character; but yet I cannot, Vivian, as your friend, recommend her to
+you as a wife.”
+
+“I am not thinking of her as a wife,” said Vivian: “I have not had time
+to think of her at all yet. But you said, just now, that in good hands
+she might be made every thing that is good and great. Why not by a
+husband, instead of a governess? and would not you call mine _good
+hands_?”
+
+“Good, but not steady--not at all the husband fit to guide such a woman.
+He must be a man not only of superior sense, but of superior strength of
+mind.”
+
+Vivian was piqued by this remark, and proceeded to compare the fitness
+of his character to _such_ a character as Lady Julia’s. Every moment he
+showed more curiosity to hear further particulars of her disposition; of
+the different characters of her governesses, and of all her relations;
+but Russell refused to say more. He had told him what he was called
+upon, as his friend, to reveal; he left the rest to Vivian’s own
+observation and judgment. Vivian set himself to work to observe and
+judge with all his might.
+
+He soon perceived that all Russell had told him of the mismanagement of
+Lady Julia’s education was true. In this house there were two parties,
+each in extremes, and each with their systems and practice carried to
+the utmost excess. The partisans of the old and the new school were here
+to be seen at daggers-drawing. Lady Glastonbury, abhorrent of what
+she termed modern philosophy, and classing under that name almost
+all science and literature, especially all attempts to cultivate the
+understanding of women, had, with the assistance of her _double_, Miss
+Strictland, brought up Lady Sarah in all the ignorance and all the
+rigidity of the most obsolete of the old school; she had made Lady Sarah
+precisely like herself; with virtue, stiff, dogmatical, and repulsive;
+with religion, gloomy and puritanical; with manners, cold and automatic.
+In the course of eighteen years, whilst Lady Glistonbury went on, like
+clock-work, the same round, punctual to the letter but unfeeling of the
+spirit of her duties, she contrived, even by the wearisome method of her
+_minuted_ diary of education, to make her house odious to her husband.
+Some task, or master, or hour of lesson, continually, and immitigably
+plagued him: he went abroad for amusement, and found dissipation.
+Thus, by her unaccommodating temper, and the obstinacy of her manifold
+virtues, she succeeded in alienating the affections of her husband. In
+despair he one day exclaimed,
+
+     “Ah que de vertus vous me faites haïr;”
+
+and, repelled by virtue in this ungracious form, he flew to more
+attractive vice. Finding that he could not have any comfort or solace
+in the society of his wife, he sought consolation in the company of a
+mistress. Lady Glistonbury had, in the mean time, her consolation
+in being a pattern-wife; and in hearing that at card-tables it was
+universally said, that Lord Glistonbury was the worst of husbands, and
+that her ladyship was extremely to be pitied. In process of time, Lord
+Glistonbury was driven to his home again by the united torments of a
+virago mistress and the gout. It was at this period that he formed the
+notion of being at once a political leader and a Mecaenas; and it was
+at this period that he became acquainted with both his daughters, and
+determined that his Julia should never resemble the Lady Sarah. He saw
+his own genius in Julia; and he resolved, as he said, to give her fair
+play, and to make her one of the wonders of the age. After some months’
+counteraction and altercation, Lord Glistonbury, with a high hand, took
+_his_ daughter from under the control of Miss Strictland; and, in spite
+of all the representations, prophecies, and denunciations of her mother,
+consigned Julia to the care of a governess after his own heart--a Miss
+Bateman; or, as he called her, _The Rosamunda_. From the moment this
+lady was introduced into the family there was an irreconcileable breach
+between the husband and wife. Lady Glistonbury was perfectly in the
+right in her dread of such a governess as Miss Bateman for her daughter.
+Her ladyship was only partially and accidentally right: right in point
+of fact, but wrong in the general principle; for she objected to Miss
+Bateman, as being of the class of literary women; to her real faults,
+her inordinate love of admiration, and romantic imprudence, Lady
+Glistonbury did not object, because she did not at first know them; and
+when she did, she considered them but as necessary consequences of
+the _cultivation and enlargement of Miss Bateman’s understanding_. “No
+wonder!” her ladyship would say; “I knew it must be so; I knew it could
+not be otherwise. All those clever women, as they are called, are the
+same. This _comes_ of literature and literary ladies.”
+
+Thus moralizing in private with Miss Strictland and her own small party,
+Lady Glistonbury appeared silent and passive before her husband and
+his adherents. After prophesying how it all must end in the ruin of her
+daughter Julia, she declared that she would never speak on this subject
+again: she showed herself ready, with maternal resignation, and in
+silent obduracy, to witness the completion of the sacrifice of her
+devoted child.
+
+Lord Glistonbury was quite satisfied with having silenced opposition.
+His new governess, established in her office, and with full and
+unlimited powers, went on triumphant and careless of her charge; she
+thought of little but displaying her own talents in company. The castle
+was consequently filled with crowds of amateurs; novels and plays were
+the order of the day; and a theatre was fitted up, all in open defiance
+of poor Lady Glistonbury. The daughter commenced her new course of
+education by being taught to laugh at her mother’s prejudices. Such was
+the state of affairs when Vivian commenced his observations; and all
+this secret history he learnt by scraps, and hints, and inuendoes, from
+very particular friends of both parties--friends who were not troubled
+with any of Mr. Russell’s scruples or discretion.
+
+Vivian’s attention was now fixed upon Lady Julia; he observed with
+satisfaction, that, notwithstanding her governess’s example and
+excitement, Lady Julia did not show any exorbitant desire for
+general admiration; and that her manners were free from coquetry and
+affectation: she seemed rather to disdain the flattery, and to avoid
+both the homage and the company of men who were her inferiors in mental
+qualifications; she addressed her conversation principally to Vivian and
+his friend Russell; with them, indeed, she conversed a great deal,
+with much eagerness and enthusiasm, expressing all her opinions without
+disguise, and showing on most occasions more imagination than reason,
+and more feeling than judgment. Vivian perceived that it was soon
+suspected by many of their observers, and especially by Lady Glistonbury
+and the Lady Sarah, that Julia had a design upon his heart; but he
+plainly discerned that she had no design whatever to captivate him; and
+that though she gave him so large a share of her company, it was without
+thinking of him as a lover: he saw that she conversed with him and Mr.
+Russell, preferably to others, because they spoke on subjects which
+interested her more; and because they drew out her brother, of whom
+she was very fond. Her being capable, at so early an age, to appreciate
+Russell’s character and talents; her preferring his solid sense and his
+plain sincerity to the brilliancy, the _fashion_, and even the gallantry
+of all the men whom her father had now collected round her, appeared
+to Vivian the most unequivocal proof of the superiority of her
+understanding and of the goodness of her disposition. On various
+occasions, he marked with delight the deference she paid to his friend’s
+opinion, and the readiness with which she listened to reason from
+him--albeit unused and averse from reason in general. Impatient as
+she was of control, and confident, both in her own powers and in her
+instinctive moral sense (about which, by-the-bye, she talked a great
+deal of eloquent nonsense), yet a word or a look from Mr. Russell would
+reclaim her in her highest flights. Soon after Vivian commenced his
+observations upon this interesting subject, he saw an instance of what
+Russell had told him of the ease with which Lady Julia might be guided
+by a man of sense and strength of mind.
+
+The tragedy of “The Fair Penitent,” Calista by Miss Bateman, was
+represented with vast applause to a brilliant audience at the
+Glistonbury theatre. The same play was to be reacted a week afterwards
+to a fresh audience--it was proposed that Vivian should play Lothario,
+and that Lady Julia should play Calista: Miss Bateman saw no objection
+to this proposal: Lord Glistonbury might, perhaps, have had the parental
+prudence to object to his daughter’s appearing in public at her age,
+in such a character, before a mixed audience: but, unfortunately, Lady
+Glistonbury bursting from her silence at this critical moment, said so
+much, and in such a prosing and puritanical manner, not only against her
+daughter’s acting in this play, and in these circumstances, but against
+all _stage plays_, playwrights, actors, and actresses whatsoever,
+denouncing and anathematizing them all indiscriminately; that
+immediately Lord Glistonbury laughed--Miss Bateman took fire--and it
+became a trial of power between the contending parties. Lady Julia, who
+had but lately escaped from the irksomeness of her mother’s injudicious
+and minute control, dreaded, above all things, to be again subjected
+to her and Miss Strictland; therefore, without considering the real
+propriety or impropriety of the point in question, without examining
+whether Miss Bateman was right or wrong in the licence she had granted,
+Lady Julia supported her opinion warmly; and, with all her eloquence, at
+once asserted her own liberty, and defended the cause of the theatre
+in general. She had heard Mr. Russell once speak of the utility of
+a well-regulated public stage; of the influence of good theatric
+representations in forming the taste and rousing the soul to virtue: he
+had shown her Marmontel’s celebrated letter to Rousseau on this subject;
+consequently, she thought she knew what his opinion must be on
+the present occasion: therefore she spoke with more than her usual
+confidence and enthusiasm. Her eloquence and her abilities transported
+her father and most of her auditors, Vivian among the rest, with
+astonishment and admiration: she enjoyed, at this moment, what the
+French call _un grand succès_; but, in the midst of the buzz of
+applause, Vivian observed that her eye turned anxiously upon Russell,
+who stood silent, and with a disapproving countenance.
+
+“I am sure your friend, Mr. Russell, is displeased at this instant--and
+with me.--I must know why.--Let us ask him.--Do bring him here.”
+
+Immediately she disengaged herself from all her admirers, and, making
+room for Mr. Russell beside her, waited, as she said, to hear from him
+_ses vérités_. Russell would have declined speaking, but her ladyship
+appealed earnestly and urgently for his opinion, saying, “Who will speak
+the truth to me if you will not? On whose judgment can I rely if not
+on yours?--You direct my brother’s mind to every thing that is wise and
+good; direct mine: I am as desirous to do right as he can be: and you
+will find me--self-willed and volatile, as I know you think me--you will
+find me a docile pupil. Then tell me frankly--did I, just now, speak too
+much or too warmly? I thought I was speaking your sentiments, and that I
+_must_ be right. But perhaps it was not right for a woman, or so young
+a woman as I am, to support even just opinions so resolutely. And yet
+is it a crime to be young?--And is the honour of maintaining truth to
+be monopolized by age?--No, surely; for Mr. Russell himself has not that
+claim to stand forth, as he so often does, in its defence. If you think
+that I ought not to act Calista; if you think that I had better not
+appear on the stage at all, only say so!--All I ask is your opinion; the
+advantage of your judgment. And you see, Mr. Vivian, how difficult it is
+to obtain it!--But his friend, probably, never felt this difficulty!”
+
+With a degree of sober composure, which almost provoked Vivian, Mr.
+Russell answered this animated lady. And with a sincerity which,
+though politely shown, Vivian thought severe and almost cruel, Russell
+acknowledged that her ladyship had anticipated some, but not all of his
+objections. He represented that she had failed in becoming respect to
+her mother, in thus publicly attacking and opposing her opinions, even
+supposing them to be ill-founded; and declared that, as to the case in
+discussion, he was entirely of Lady Glistonbury’s opinion, that it would
+be unfit and injurious to a young lady to exhibit herself, even on a
+private stage, in the character in which it had been proposed that Lady
+Julia should appear.
+
+Whilst Russell spoke, Vivian was charmed with the manner in which Lady
+Julia listened: he thought her countenance enchantingly beautiful,
+alternately softened as it was by the expression of genuine humility,
+and radiant with candour and gratitude. She made no reply, but
+immediately went to her mother; and, in the most engaging manner
+acknowledged that she had been wrong, and declared that she was
+convinced it would be improper for her to act the character she had
+proposed. With that cold haughtiness of mien, the most repulsive to
+a warm and generous mind, the mother turned to her daughter, and said
+that, for her part, she had no faith in sudden conversions, and starts
+of good conduct made little impression upon her; that, as far as she
+was herself concerned, she forgave, as in charity it became her, all
+the undutiful insolence with which she had been treated; that, as to
+the rest, she was glad to find, for Lady Julia’s own sake, that she had
+given up her strange, and, as she must say, _scandalous_ intentions.
+“However,” added Lady Glistonbury, “I am not so sanguine as to consider
+this as any thing but a respite from ruin; I am not so credulous as to
+believe in sudden reformations; nor, despicable as you and my lord do
+me the honour to think my understanding--am I to be made the dupe of a
+little deceitful fondling!”
+
+Julia withdrew her arms, which she had thrown round her mother; and Miss
+Strictland, after breaking her netting silk with a jerk of indignation,
+observed, that, for her part, she wondered young ladies should go to
+consult their brother’s tutor, instead of more suitable, and, perhaps,
+as competent advisers. Lady Julia, now indignant, turned away, and was
+withdrawing from before the triumvirate, when Lady Sarah, who had sat
+looking, even more stiff and constrained than usual, suddenly broke from
+her stony state, and, springing forward, exclaimed, “Stay, Julia!--Stay,
+my dear sister!--Oh, Miss Strictland! do my sister justice!--When Julia
+is so candid, so eager to do right, intercede for her with my mother!”
+
+“First, may I presume to ask,” said Miss Strictland, drawing herself up
+with starch malice; “first, may I presume to ask, whether Mr. Vivian,
+upon this occasion, declined to act Lothario?”
+
+“Miss Strictland, you do not do my sister justice!” cried Lady Sarah:
+“Miss Strictland, you are wrong--very wrong!”
+
+Miss Strictland, for a moment struck dumb with astonishment, opening
+her eyes as far as they could open, stared at Lady Sarah, and, after
+a pause, exclaimed, “Lady Sarah! I protest I never saw any thing that
+surprised me so much in my whole life!----Wrong!--very wrong!--I?----My
+Lady Glistonbury, I trust your ladyship----”
+
+Lady Glistonbury, at this instant, showed, by a little involuntary
+shake of her head, that she was inwardly perturbed: Lady Sarah,
+throwing herself upon her knees before her mother, exclaimed,
+“Oh, madam!--mother! forgive me if I failed in respect to Miss
+Strictland!----But, my sister! my sister----!”
+
+“Rise, Sarah, rise!” said Lady Glistonbury; “that is not a fit
+attitude!--And you are wrong, very wrong, to fail in respect to Miss
+Strictland, my second self, Sarah. Lady Julia Lidhurst, it is you who
+are the cause of this--the only failure of duty your sister ever was
+guilty of towards me in the whole course of her life--I beg of you to
+withdraw, and leave me my daughter Sarah.”
+
+“At least, I have found a sister, and when I most wanted it,” said Lady
+Julia. “I always suspected you loved me, but I never knew how much till
+this moment,” added she, turning to embrace her sister; but Lady Sarah
+had now resumed her stony appearance, and, standing motionless, received
+her sister’s embrace without sign of life or feeling.
+
+“Lady Julia Lidhurst,” said Miss Strictland, “you humble yourself in
+vain: I think your mother, my Lady Glistonbury, requested of you to
+leave your sister, Lady Sarah, to us, and to her duty.”
+
+“Duty!” repeated Lady Julia, her eyes flashing indignation: “Is this
+what you call _duty_?--Never will I humble myself before you again--I
+_will_ leave you--I do leave you--now and for ever--DUTY!”
+
+She withdrew:--and thus was lost one of the fairest occasions
+of confirming a young and candid mind in prudent and excellent
+dispositions. After humbling herself in vain before a mother, this poor
+young lady was now to withstand a father’s reproaches; and, after the
+inexorable Miss Strictland, she was to encounter the exasperated Miss
+Bateman. Whether the Gorgon terrors of one governess, or the fury
+passions of the other, were most formidable, it was difficult to decide.
+Miss Bateman had written an epilogue for Lady Julia to recite in the
+character of Calista; and, with the combined irritability of authoress
+and governess, she was enraged at the idea of her pupil’s declining to
+repeat these favourite lines. Lord Glistonbury cared not for the lines;
+but, considering his own authority to be impeached by his daughter’s
+resistance, he treated _his Julia_ as a traitor to his cause, and a
+rebel to his party.
+
+But Lady Julia was resolute in declining to play Calista; and Vivian
+admired the spirit and steadiness of her resistance to the solicitations
+and the flattery with which she was assailed by the numerous hangers-on
+of the family, and by the amateurs assembled at Glistonbury. Russell,
+who knew the warmth of her temper, however, dreaded that she should
+pass the bounds of propriety in the contest with her father and her
+governess; and he almost repented having given any advice upon the
+subject. The contest happily terminated in Lord Glistonbury’s having a
+violent fit of the gout, which, as the newspapers informed the public,
+“ended for the season the Christmas hospitalities and theatrical
+festivities at Glistonbury Castle!”
+
+Whilst his lordship suffered this fit of torture, his daughter Julia
+attended him with so much patience and affection, that he forgave
+her for not being willing to be Calista; and, upon his recovery, he
+announced to Miss Bateman that it was his will and pleasure that his
+daughter Julia should do as she liked on this point, but that he desired
+it to be understood that this was no concession to Lady Glistonbury’s
+prejudices, but an act of his own pure grace.
+
+To celebrate his recovery, his lordship determined to give a ball; and
+Miss Bateman persuaded him to make it a _fancy ball_. In this family,
+unfortunately, every occurrence, even every proposal of amusement,
+became a subject of dispute and a source of misery. Lady Glistonbury,
+as soon as her lord announced his intention of giving this fancy ball,
+declined taking the direction of an entertainment which approached,
+she said, too near to the nature of a masquerade to meet her ideas of
+propriety. Lord Glistonbury laughed, and tried the powers of ridicule
+and wit:
+
+“But on th’impassive ice the lightnings play’d.”
+
+The lady’s cool obstinacy was fully a match for her lord’s petulance: to
+all he could urge, she repeated, “that such entertainments did not meet
+her ideas of propriety.” Her ladyship, Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland,
+consequently declared it to be their resolution, “to appear in their own
+proper characters, and their own proper dresses, and no others.”
+
+These three rigid seceders excepted, all the world at Glistonbury
+Castle, and within its sphere of attraction, were occupied with
+preparations for this ball. Miss Bateman was quite in her element,
+flattered and flattering, consulting and consulted, in the midst
+of novels, plays, and poetry, prints, and pictures, searching for
+appropriate characters and dresses. This preceptress seemed to think
+and to expect that others should deem her office of governess merely a
+subordinate part of her business: she considered her having accepted
+of the superintendence of the education of Lady Julia Lidhurst as a
+prodigious condescension on her part, and a derogation from her rank
+and pretensions in the literary and fashionable world; a peculiar and
+sentimental favour to Lord Glistonbury, of which his lordship was bound
+in honour to show his sense, by treating her as a member of his family,
+not only with distinguished politeness, but by _deferring_ to her
+opinion in all things, so as to prove to her satisfaction that she was
+considered _only_ as a friend, and not at all as a governess. Thus she
+was raised as much above that station in the family in which she could
+be useful, as governesses in other houses have been sometimes depressed
+below their proper rank. Upon this, as upon all occasions, Miss Bateman
+was the first person to be thought of--her character and her dress were
+the primary points to be determined; and they were points of no
+easy decision, she having proposed for herself no less than five
+characters--the fair Rosamond, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Sigismunda, and
+Circe. After minute consideration of the dresses, which, at a fancy
+ball, were to constitute these characters, fair Rosamond was rejected,
+“because the old English dress muffled up the person too much; Joan of
+Arc would find her armour inconvenient for dancing; Cleopatra’s diadem
+and royal purple would certainly be truly becoming, but then her regal
+length of train was as inadmissible in a dancing-dress as Joan of
+Arc’s armour.” Between Sigismunda and Circe, Miss Bateman’s choice long
+vibrated. The Spanish and the Grecian costume had each its claims on her
+favour: for she was assured they both became her remarkably. Vivian was
+admitted to the consultation: he was informed that there must be both a
+Circe and a Sigismunda; and that Lady Julia was to take whichever of
+the two characters Miss Bateman declined. Pending the deliberation, Lady
+Julia whispered to Vivian, “For mercy’s sake! contrive that I may not be
+doomed to be Circe; for Circe is no better than Calista.”
+
+Vivian was charmed with her ladyship’s delicacy and discretion; he
+immediately decided her governess, by pointing out the beautiful
+head-dress of Flaxman’s Circe, and observing that Miss Bateman’s hair
+(which was a wig) might easily be arranged, so as to produce the
+same effect. Lady Julia rewarded Vivian for this able and successful
+manoeuvre by one of her sweetest smiles. Her smiles had now powerful
+influence over his heart. He rebelled against Russell’s advice, to take
+more time to consider how far his character was suited to hers: he was
+conscious, indeed, that it would be more prudent to wait a little longer
+before he should declare his passion, as Lady Julia was so very young
+and enthusiastic, and as her education had been so ill managed; but he
+argued that the worse her education, and the more imprudent the
+people about her, the greater was her merit in conducting herself with
+discretion, and in trying to restrain her natural enthusiasm. Russell
+acknowledged this, and gave all due praise to Lady Julia; yet still he
+represented that Vivian had been acquainted with her so short time that
+he could not be a competent judge of her temper and disposition, even
+if his judgment were cool; but it was evident that his passions were now
+engaged warmly in her favour. All that Russell urged for delay so far
+operated, however, upon Vivian, that he adopted a half measure, and
+determined to try what chance he might have of pleasing her before he
+should either declare his love to her ladyship, or make his proposal to
+her father. A favourable opportunity soon occurred. On the day appointed
+for the fancy ball, the young Lord Lidhurst, who was to be Tancred, was
+taken ill of a feverish complaint: he was of a very weakly constitution,
+and his friends were much alarmed by his frequent indispositions. His
+physicians ordered quiet; he was confined to his own apartment; and
+another Tancred was of course to be sought for: Vivian ventured to offer
+to assume the character; and his manner, when he made this proposal
+to his fair Sigismunda, though it was intended to be merely polite and
+gallant, was so much agitated, that she now, for the first time,
+seemed to perceive the state of his heart. Colouring high, her ladyship
+answered, with hesitation unusual to her, “that she believed--she
+fancied--that is, she understood from her brother--that he had deputed
+Mr. Russell to represent Tancred in his place.”
+
+Vivian was not displeased by this answer: the change of colour and
+evident embarrassment appeared to him favourable omens; and he thought
+that whether the embarrassment arose from unwillingness to let any man
+but her brother’s tutor, a man domesticated in the family, appear as her
+Tancred, or whether she was afraid of offending Mr. Russell, by changing
+the arrangement her brother had made; in either case Vivian felt ready,
+though a man in love, to approve of her motives. As to the rest, he was
+certain that Russell would decline the part assigned him; and, as Vivian
+expected, Russell came in a few minutes to resign his pretensions, or
+rather to state that though Lord Lidhurst had proposed it, he had never
+thought of accepting the honour; and that he should, in all probability,
+not appear at the ball, because he was anxious to stay as much as
+possible with Lord Lidhurst, whose indisposition increased instead of
+abating. Lord Glistonbury, after this explanation, came in high spirits,
+and with much satisfaction in his countenance and manner, said he
+was happy to hear that his Sigismunda was to have Mr. Vivian for her
+Tancred. So far all was prosperous to our hero’s hopes.
+
+But when he saw Lady Julia again, which was not till dinner time, he
+perceived an unfavourable alteration in her manner; not the timidity
+or embarrassment of a girl who is uncertain whether she is or is not
+pleased, or whether she should or should not appear to be pleased by the
+first approaches of a new lover; but there was in her manner a decided
+haughtiness, and an unusual air of displeasure and reserve. Though he
+sat beside her, and though in general her delightful conversation had
+been addressed either to him or Mr. Russell, they were now both deprived
+of this honour; whatever she said, and all she said, was unlike herself,
+was directed to persons opposite to her, even to the captain, the
+lawyer, and the family parasites, whose existence she commonly seemed
+to forget. She ate as well as spoke in a hurried manner, and as if in
+defiance of her feelings. Whilst the courses were changing, she
+turned towards Mr. Vivian, and after a rapid examining glance at his
+countenance, she said, in a low voice--“You must think me, Mr. Vivian,
+very unreasonable and whimsical, but I have given up all thoughts of
+being Sigismunda. Will you oblige me so far as not to appear in
+the dress of Tancred to-night? You will thus spare me all farther
+difficulty. You know my mother and sister have declared their
+determination not to wear any fancy dress; and though my father is
+anxious that I should, I believe it may be best that, in this instance,
+I follow my own judgment.--May I expect that you will oblige me?”
+
+Vivian declared his entire submission to her ladyship’s judgment: and
+he now was delighted to be able to forgive her for all seeming caprice;
+because he thought he saw an amiable motive for her conduct--the wish
+not to displease her mother, and not to excite the jealousy of her
+sister.
+
+The hour when the ball was to commence arrived; the room filled with
+company; and Vivian, who flattered himself with the pleasure of dancing
+all night with Lady Julia, as the price of his prompt obedience, looked
+round the room in search of his expected partner, but he searched
+in vain. He looked to the door at every new entrance--no Lady Julia
+appeared. Circe, indeed, was every where to be seen and heard, and an
+uglier Circe never touched this earth; but she looked happily confident
+in the power of her charms. Whilst she was intent upon fascinating
+Vivian, he was impatiently waiting for a moment’s intermission of her
+volubility, that he might ask what had become of Lady Julia.
+
+“Lady Julia?--She’s somewhere in the room, I suppose.--Oh! no: I
+remember, she told me she would go and sit a quarter of an hour with her
+brother. She will soon make her appearance, I suppose; but I am so angry
+with her for disappointing us all, and you in particular, by changing
+her mind about Sigismunda!--Such a capital Tancred as you would have
+made! and now you are no character at all! But then, you are only on a
+par with certain ladies. Comfort yourself with the great Pope’s (I fear
+too true) reflection, that
+
+     ‘Most women have no characters at all.’”
+
+Miss Bateman’s eye glanced insolently, as she spoke, upon Lady
+Glistonbury’s trio, who passed by at this instant, all without fancy
+dresses. Vivian shocked by this ill-breeding towards the mistress of the
+house, offered his arm immediately to Lady Glistonbury, and conducted
+her with Lady Sarah and Miss Strictland to their proper places, where,
+having seated themselves, each in the same attitude precisely, they
+looked more like martyrs prepared for endurance, than like persons in a
+ball-room. Vivian stayed to speak a few words to Lady Glistonbury, and
+was just going away, when her ladyship, addressing him with more than
+her usual formality, said, “Mr. Vivian, I see, has not adopted the
+fashion of the day; and as he is the only gentleman present, whose fancy
+dress does not proclaim him engaged to some partner equally _fanciful_,
+I cannot but wish that my daughter, Lady Sarah, should, if she dance at
+all to-night, dance with a gentleman in his own proper character.”
+
+Vivian, thus called upon, felt compelled to ask the honour of Lady
+Sarah’s hand; but he flattered himself, that after the first dance he
+should have done his duty, and that he should be at liberty by the time
+Julia should make her appearance. But, to his great disappointment,
+Mr. Russell, who came in just as he had finished the first two dances,
+informed him that Lady Julia was determined not to appear at the ball,
+but to stay with her brother, who wished for her company. So poor Vivian
+found himself doomed to be Lady Sarah’s partner for the remainder of the
+night. It happened that, as he was handing her ladyship to supper, in
+passing through an antechamber where some of the neighbours of inferior
+rank had been permitted to assemble to see _the show_, he heard one
+farmer’s wife say to another, “Who _beas_ that there, that’s handing of
+Lady Sarah?”--They were detained a little by the crowd, so that he had
+time to hear the whole answer.--“Don’t you know?” was the answer. “That
+there gentleman is Mr. Vivian of the new castle, that is to be married
+to her directly, and that’s what he’s come here for; for they’ve been
+engaged to one another ever since the time o’ the election.”
+
+This speech disturbed our hero’s mind considerably; for it awakened a
+train of reflections which he had wilfully left dormant. Will it, can it
+be believed, that after all his friend Russell’s exhortations, after
+his own wise resolutions, he had never yet made any of those explanatory
+speeches he had intended?
+
+“Positively,” said he to himself, “this report shall not prevail
+four-and-twenty hours longer. I will propose for Lady Julia
+Lidhurst before I sleep. Russell, to be sure, advises me not to be
+precipitate--to take more time to study her disposition; but I am
+acquainted with her sufficiently;” (he should have said, I am in
+love with her sufficiently;) “and really now, I am bound in honour
+immediately to declare myself--it is the best possible way of putting a
+stop to a report which will be ultimately injurious to Lady Sarah.”
+
+Thus Vivian made his past irresolution an excuse for his present
+precipitation, flattering himself, as men often do when they are
+yielding to the impulse of their passions, that they are submitting
+to the dictates of reason. At six o’clock in the morning the company
+dispersed. Lord Glistonbury and Vivian were the last in the ball-room.
+His lordship began some raillery upon our hero’s having declined
+appearing as Tancred, and upon his having devoted himself all night to
+Lady Sarah. Vivian seized the moment to explain his real feelings,
+and he made his proposal for Lady Julia. It was received with warm
+approbation by the father, who seemed to rejoice the more in this
+proposal, because he knew that it would disappoint and mortify Lady
+Glistonbury. The interests of his hatred seemed, indeed, to occupy his
+lordship more than the interests of Vivian’s love; but politeness threw
+a decent veil over these feelings; and, after saying all that could be
+expected of the satisfaction it must be to a father to see his daughter
+united to a man of Mr. Vivian’s family, fortune, talents, and
+great respectability; and after having given, incidentally and
+parenthetically, his opinions, not only concerning matrimony, but
+concerning all other affairs of human life, he wished his future
+son-in-law a very good night, and left him to repose. But no rest could
+Vivian take--he waited with impatience, that made every hour appear at
+least two, for the time when he was again to meet Lady Julia. He saw her
+at breakfast; but he perceived by her countenance that she as yet knew
+nothing of his proposal. After breakfast Lord Glistonbury said, “Come
+with me, my little Julia! it is a long time since I’ve had a walk and a
+talk with you.” His lordship paced up and down the terrace, conversing
+earnestly with her for some time: he then went on to some labourers,
+who were cutting down a tree at the farther end of the avenue. Vivian
+hastened out to meet Lady Julia, who, after standing deep in thought for
+some moments, seemed returning towards the castle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+“Mr. Vivian, I trust that I am not deficient in maidenly modesty,”
+ said Lady Julia, “when it is not incompatible with what I deem a higher
+virtue--sincerity. Now and ever, frankness is, and shall be, my
+only policy. The confidence I am about to repose in you, sir, is the
+strongest proof of my esteem, and of the gratitude I feel for your
+attachment.--My heart is no longer in my power to bestow. It is--young
+as I am, I dare to pronounce the words--irrevocably fixed upon one who
+will do honour to my choice. Your proposal was made to my father--Why
+was it not made to me?--Men--all men but one--treat women as puppets,
+and then wonder that they are not rational creatures!--Forgive me this
+too just reproach. But, as I was going to say, your proposal has
+thrown me into great difficulties--the greater because my father warmly
+approves of it. I have a strong affection for him; and, perhaps, a
+year or two ago, I should, in the ignorance in which I was dogmatically
+brought up, have thought it my duty to submit implicitly to parental
+authority, and to receive a husband from the hands of a father, without
+consulting either my own heart or my own judgment. But, since my mind
+has been more enlightened, and has opened to higher views of the dignity
+of my sex, and higher hopes of happiness, my ideas of duty have altered;
+and, I trust, I have sufficient courage to support my own idea of the
+rights of my sex, and my firm conviction of what is just and becoming.”
+
+Vivian was again going to say something; but, whether against or in
+favour of the rights of the sex, he had not clearly decided; when her
+ladyship saved him the trouble, by proceeding with the train of her
+ideas.
+
+“My sincerity towards my father will, perhaps, cost me dear; but I
+cannot repent of it. As soon as I knew the state of my own heart--which
+was not till very lately--which was not, indeed, till you gave me reason
+to think you seriously liked me--I openly told my father all I knew of
+my own heart. Would you believe it?--I am sure I should not, unless
+I had seen and felt it--my father, who, you know, professes the most
+liberal opinions possible; my father, who, in conversation is ‘All for
+love, and the world well lost;’ my father, who let Miss Bateman put the
+Heloise into my hands, was astonished, shocked, indignant, at his own
+daughter’s confession, I should say, assertion of her preference of a
+man of high merit, who wants only the advantages, if they be advantages,
+of rank and fortune.
+
+“Mr. Vivian,” continued she, “may I hope that now, when you must be
+convinced of the inefficacy of any attempt either to win or to control
+my affections, you will have the generosity to spare me all unnecessary
+contest with my father? It must render him more averse from the only
+union that can make his daughter happy; and it may ruin the fortunes
+of--the first, in my opinion, of human beings. I will request another
+favour from you--and let my willingness to be obliged by you convince
+you that I appreciate your character--I request that you will not only
+keep secret all that I have said to you; but that, if accident, or
+your own penetration, should hereafter discover to you the object of my
+affection, you will refrain from making any use of that discovery to my
+disadvantage. You see how entirely I have thrown myself on your honour
+and generosity.”
+
+Vivian assured her that the appeal was powerful with him; and that, by
+mastering his own passions, and sacrificing his feelings to hers, he
+would endeavour to show his strong desire to secure, at all events, her
+happiness.
+
+“You are truly generous, Mr. Vivian, to listen to me with indulgence, to
+wish for my happiness, whilst I have been wounding your feelings. But,
+without any impeachment of your sincerity, or yet of your sensibility,
+let me say, that yours will be only a transient disappointment. Your
+acquaintance with me is but of yesterday, and the slight impression made
+on your mind will soon be effaced; but upon my mind there has been time
+to grave a deep, a first charactery of love, that never, whilst memory
+holds her seat, can be erased.--I believe,” said Julia, checking
+herself, whilst a sudden blush overspread her countenance--“I am
+afraid that I have said too much, too much for a woman. The fault of
+my character, I know, I have been told, is the want of what is called
+RESERVE.”
+
+Blushing still more deeply as she pronounced these last words, the
+colour darting up to her temples, spreading over her neck, and making
+its way to the very tips of her fingers, “Now I have done worse,” cried
+she, covering her face with her hands. But the next moment, resuming,
+or trying to resume her self-possession, she said, “It is time that I
+should retire, now that I have revealed my whole heart to you. It has,
+perhaps, been imprudently opened; but for that, your generosity, sir,
+is to blame. Had you shown more selfishness, I should assuredly have
+exerted more prudence, and have treated you with less confidence.”
+
+Lady Julia quitted him, and Vivian remained in a species of amaze, from
+which he could not immediately recover. Her frankness, her magnanimity,
+her enthusiastic sensibility, her eloquent beauty, had altogether
+exalted, to the highest ecstasy, his love and admiration. Then he walked
+about, beating his breast in despair at the thought of her affections
+being irrecoverably engaged,--next quarrelled with the boldness of the
+confession, the _assertion_ of her love--then decided, that, with all
+her shining qualities and noble dispositions, she was not exactly the
+woman a man should desire for a wife: there was something too rash, too
+romantic about her; there was in her character, as she herself had
+said, and as Russell had remarked, too little _reserve_. Something like
+jealousy and distrust of his friend arose in Vivian’s mind: “What!” said
+he to himself, “and is Russell my rival? and has he been all this time
+in secret my rival? Is it possible that Russell has been practising upon
+the affections of this innocent young creature--confided to him too?
+All this time, whilst he has been cautioning me against her charms,
+beseeching me not to propose for her precipitately, is it possible that
+he wanted only to get, to keep the start of me?--No--impossible! utterly
+impossible! If all the circumstances, all the evidence upon earth
+conspired, I would not believe it.”
+
+Resolved not to do injustice, even in his inmost soul, to his friend,
+our hero repelled all suspicion of Russell, by reflecting on his long
+and tried integrity, and on the warmth and fidelity of his friendship.
+In this temper he was crossing the castle-yard to go to Russell’s
+apartment, when he was met and stopped by one of the domesticated
+friends of the family, Mr. Mainwaring, the young lawyer: he was in the
+confidence of Lord Glistonbury, and, proud to show it, he let Mr.
+Vivian know that he was apprised of the proposal that had been made,
+and congratulated him, and all the parties concerned, on the prospect of
+such an agreeable connexion. Vivian was quite unprepared to speak to any
+one, much less to a lawyer, upon this subject; he had not even thought
+of the means of obeying Lady Julia, by withdrawing his suit; therefore,
+with a mixture of vexation and embarrassment in his manner, he answered
+in commonplace phrases, meant to convey no precise meaning, and
+endeavoured to disengage himself from his companion; but the lawyer, who
+had fastened upon him, linking his arm in Vivian’s, continued to walk
+him up and down under the great gateway, saying that he had a word or
+two of importance for his private ear. This man had taken much pains
+to insinuate himself into Vivian’s favour, by the most obsequious and
+officious attentions: though his flattery had at first been disgusting,
+yet, by persevering in his show of civility, he had at length inclined
+Vivian to think that he was too harsh in his first judgment, and to
+believe that, “after all, Mainwaring was a good friendly fellow, though
+his manner was against him.”
+
+Mr. Mainwaring, with many professions of regard for Vivian, and with
+sundry premisings that he hazarded himself by the communication, took
+the liberty of hinting, that he guessed, from Mr. Vivian’s manner this
+morning, that obstacles had arisen on the part of a young lady who
+should be nameless; and he should make bold to add that, in his private
+opinion, the said obstacles would never be removed whilst _a certain
+person_ remained in the castle, and whilst the young lady alluded to
+was allowed to spend so much of her time studying with her brother when
+well, or nursing him when sick. Mr. Mainwaring declared that he was
+perfectly astonished at Lord Glistonbury’s blindness or imprudence
+in keeping this person in the house, after the hints his lordship had
+received, and after all the proofs that must or may have fallen within
+his cognizance, of the arts of seduction that had been employed. Here
+Vivian interrupted Mr. Mainwaring, to beg that he would not keep him
+longer in suspense by _inuendoes_, but that he would name distinctly
+the object of his suspicions. This, however, Mr. Mainwaring begged to
+be excused from doing: he would only shake his head and smile, and leave
+people to their own sagacity and penetration. Vivian warmly answered,
+that, if Mr. Mainwaring meant Mr. Russell, he was well assured that Mr.
+Mainwaring was utterly mistaken in attributing to him any but the most
+honourable conduct.
+
+Mr. Mainwaring smiled, and shook his head--smiled again, and sighed, and
+hoped Mr. Vivian was right, and observed that time would show; and that,
+at all events, he trusted Mr. Vivian would keep profoundly secret the
+hint which his friendship had, indiscreetly perhaps, hazarded.
+
+Scarcely had Mr. Mainwaring retired, when Captain Pickering met and
+seized upon Vivian, led to the same subject, and gave similar hints,
+that Russell was the happy rival who had secretly made himself master of
+Lady Julia’s heart. Vivian, though much astonished, finding that
+these gentlemen agreed in their discoveries or their suspicions, still
+defended his friend Russell, and strongly protested that he would be
+responsible for his honour with his life, if it were necessary. The
+captain shrugged his shoulders, said it was none of his business, that,
+as Mr. Vivian _took it up so warmly,_ he should let it drop; for it was
+by no means his intention to get into a quarrel with Mr. Vivian, for
+whom he had a particular regard. This said, with all the frankness of a
+soldier, Captain Pickering withdrew, adding, as the clergyman passed at
+this instant, “There’s a man who could tell you more than any of us, if
+he would, but _snug’s_ the word with Wicksted.”
+
+Vivian, in great anxiety and much curiosity, appealed to Mr. Wicksted:
+he protested that he knew nothing, suspected nothing, at least could
+venture to say nothing; for these were very delicate family matters, and
+every gentleman should, on these occasions, make it a principle to see
+with his own eyes. Gradually, however, Mr. Wicksted let out his opinion,
+and implied infinitely more than Captain Pickering or Mr. Mainwaring
+had asserted. Vivian still maintained, in the warmest terms, that it was
+impossible his friend Russell should be to blame. Mr. Wicksted simply
+pronounced the word _friend_ with a peculiar emphasis, and, with an
+incredulous smile, left him to his reflections. Those reflections were
+painful; for, though he defended Russell from the attacks of others,
+yet he had not sufficient firmness of mind completely to resist the
+suggestions of suspicion and jealousy, particularly when they had been
+corroborated by so many concurring testimonies. He had no longer the
+courage to go immediately to Russell, to tell him of his proposal for
+Lady Julia, or to speak to him of any of his secret feelings; but,
+turning away from the staircase that led to his friend’s apartment, he
+determined to observe Russell with his own eyes, before he should decide
+upon the truth or falsehood of the accusations which had been brought
+against him. Alas! Vivian was no longer in a condition to observe with
+his own eyes; his imagination was so perturbed, that he could neither
+see nor hear any thing as it really was. When he next saw Russell and
+Lady Julia together, he wondered at his blindness in not having sooner
+perceived their mutual attachment: notwithstanding that Lady Julia had
+now the strongest motives to suppress every indication of her passion,
+symptoms of it broke out continually, the more violent, perhaps, from
+her endeavours to conceal them. He knew that she was passionately in
+love with Russell; and that Russell should not have perceived what every
+other man, even every indifferent spectator, had discovered, appeared
+incredible. Russell’s calm manner and entire self-possession sometimes
+provoked Vivian, and sometimes quelled his suspicions; sometimes he
+looked upon this calmness as the extreme of art, sometimes as a proof of
+innocence, which could not be counterfeit. At one moment he was so much
+struck with Russell’s friendly countenance, that, quite ashamed of
+his suspicions, he was upon the point of speaking openly to him; but,
+unfortunately, these intentions were frustrated by some slight obstacle.
+At length Miss Strictland, who had lately been very courteous to Mr.
+Vivian, took an opportunity of drawing him into one of the recessed
+windows; where, with infinite difficulty in bringing herself to speak
+on such a subject, after inconceivable bridlings of the head, and
+contortions of every muscle of her neck, she insinuated to him her
+fears, that my Lord Glistonbury’s confidence had been very ill placed in
+Lord Lidhurst’s tutor: she was aware that Mr. Russell had the honour of
+Mr. Vivian’s friendship, but nothing could prevent her from speaking,
+where she felt it to be so much her duty; and that, as from the
+unfortunate circumstances in the family she had no longer any influence
+over Lady Julia Lidhurst, nor any chance of being listened to on such a
+subject with patience by Lord Glistonbury, she thought the best course
+she could take was to apply to Mr. Russell’s friend, who might possibly,
+by his interference, prevent the utter disgrace and ruin of one branch
+of a noble family.
+
+Miss Strictland, in all she said, hinted not at Vivian’s attachment to
+Lady Julia, and gave him no reason to believe that she was apprised of
+his having proposed for her ladyship: she spoke with much moderation and
+candour; attributed all Lady Julia’s errors to the imprudence of her
+new governess, Miss Bateman. Miss Strictland now showed a desire not to
+make, but to prevent mischief; even the circumlocutions and stiffness
+of her habitual prudery did not, on this occasion, seem unseasonable;
+therefore what she suggested made a great impression on Vivian. He
+still, however, defended Russell, and assured Miss Strictland that, from
+the long experience he had himself had of his friend’s honour, he was
+convinced that no temptation could shake his integrity. Miss Strictland
+had formed her opinion on this point, she said, and it would be in vain
+to argue against it. Every new assertion; the belief of each new person
+who spoke to him on the subject; the combination, the coincidence of all
+their opinions, wrought his mind to such a height of jealousy, that he
+was now absolutely incapable of using his reason. He went in search of
+Russell, but in no fit mood to speak to him as he ought. He looked for
+him in his own, in Lord Lidhurst’s apartment, in every sitting-room in
+the castle; but Mr. Russell was not to be found: at last Lady Sarah’s
+maid, who heard him inquiring for Mr. Russell from the servants, told
+him, “she fancied that if he took the trouble to go to the west walk,
+he might find Mr. Russell, as that was a favourite walk of his.” Vivian
+hurried thither, with a secret expectation of finding Lady Julia with
+him--there they both were in earnest conversation: as he approached, the
+trees concealed him from view; and Vivian heard his own name repeated.
+“Stop!” cried he, advancing: “let me not overhear your secrets--I am not
+a traitor to my friends!”
+
+As he spoke, his eyes fixed with an expression of concentrated rage upon
+Russell. Terrified by Vivian’s sudden appearance and strange address,
+and still more by the fierce look he cast on Russell, Lady Julia started
+and uttered a faint scream. With astonishment, but without losing his
+self-command, Russell advanced towards Vivian, saying, “You are out of
+your senses, my dear friend!--I will not listen to you in your present
+humour. Take a turn or two with me to cool yourself. The anger of a
+friend should always be allowed three minutes’ grace, at least,” added
+Russell, smiling, and endeavouring to draw Vivian away: but Vivian stood
+immoveable; Russell’s calmness, instead of bringing him to his senses,
+only increased his anger; to his distempered imagination this coolness
+seemed perfidious dissimulation.
+
+“You cannot deceive me longer, Mr. Russell, by all your art!” cried he.
+“Though I am the last to open my eyes, I have opened them. Why did you
+pretend to be my counsellor and friend, when you were my rival?--when
+you knew that you were my successful rival?----Yes, start and affect
+astonishment! Yes--look, if you can, with _innocent_ surprise upon that
+lady!--Say that you have not betrayed her father’s confidence!--say,
+that you have not practised upon her unguarded heart!--say, that you do
+not know that she loves you to distraction!”
+
+“Oh! Mr. Vivian, what have you done?” cried Lady Julia: she could say
+no more, but fell senseless on the ground. Vivian’s anger was at once
+sobered by this sight.
+
+“What have I done!” repeated he, as they raised her from the ground.
+“Wretch! dishonourable villain that I am! I have betrayed her
+secret--But I thought every body knew it!----Is it possible that _you_
+did not know it, Russell?”
+
+Russell made no reply, but ran to the river which was near them for
+some water--Vivian was incapable of affording any assistance, or even of
+forming a distinct idea. As soon as Lady Julia returned to her senses,
+Russell withdrew; Vivian threw himself on his knees before her, and
+said something about the violence of his passion--his sorrow--and
+her forgiveness. “Mr. Vivian,” said Lady Julia, turning to him with a
+mixture of despair and dignity in her manner, “do not kneel to me;
+do not make use of any commonplace phrases--I cannot, at this moment,
+forgive you--you have done me an irreparable injury. I confided a secret
+to you--a secret known to no human being but my father and yourself--you
+have revealed it, and to whom?--Sooner would I have had it proclaimed to
+the whole world than to ----; for what is the opinion of the whole world
+to me, compared to his?--Sir, you have done me, indeed, an irremediable
+injury!--I trusted to your honour--your discretion--and you have
+betrayed, sacrificed me.”
+
+“Vile suspicions!” cried Vivian, striking his forehead: “how could I
+listen to them for a moment!”
+
+“Suspicions of Mr. Russell!” cried Julia, with a look of high
+indignation--“Suspicions of your noble-minded friend!--What wickedness,
+or what weakness!”
+
+“Weakness!--miserable weakness!--the sudden effect of jealousy; and
+could you know, Lady Julia, by what means, by what arts, my mind was
+worked up to this insanity!”
+
+“I cannot listen to this now, Mr. Vivian,” interrupted Lady Julia: “my
+thoughts cannot fix upon such things--I cannot go back to the past--what
+is done cannot be undone--what has been said cannot be unsaid.--You
+cannot recall your words--they were heard--they were understood. I beg
+you to leave me, sir, that I may have leisure to _think_--if possible,
+to consider what yet remains for me to do. I have no friend--none, none
+willing or capable of advising me! I begged of you to leave me, sir.”
+
+Vivian could not, at this moment, decide whether he ought or ought not
+to tell Lady Julia that her secret was known, or at least suspected, by
+many individuals of the family.
+
+“There’s a servant on the terrace who seems to be looking for us,” said
+Vivian; “I had something of consequence to say--but this man--”
+
+“My lady, Miss Bateman desired me to let you know, my lady, that
+there is the Lady Playdels, and the colonel, and Sir James, in the
+drawing-room, just come;--and she begs, my lady, you will be pleased to
+come to them; for Miss Bateman’s waiting for you, my lady, to repeat the
+verses, she bid me say, my lady.”
+
+“Go to them, Mr. Vivian; I cannot go.”
+
+“My lady,” persisted the footman, “my lord himself begged you to come;
+and he and all the gentlemen have been looking for you every where.”
+
+“Return to my father, then, and say that I am coming immediately.”
+
+“Forced into company!” thought Lady Julia, as she walked slowly towards
+the house; “compelled to appear calm and gay, when my heart is--what
+a life of dissimulation! How unworthy of me, formed, as I was once
+pronounced to be, for every thing that is good and great!--But I am no
+longer mistress of myself--no soul left but for one object. Why did
+I not better guard my heart?--No!--rather, why can I not follow its
+dictates, and at once avow and justify its choice?”
+
+Vivian interrupted Lady Julia’s reverie by pointing out to her, as they
+passed along the terrace, a group of heads, in one of the back windows
+of the castle, that seemed to be watching them very earnestly. Miss
+Strictland’s face was foremost; half her body was out of the window; and
+as she drew back, they heard her say--“It is not he!--It is not he!”--As
+they passed another front of the castle, another party seemed to be
+upon the watch at a staircase window;--the lawyer, the captain, the
+clergyman’s heads appeared for a moment, and vanished.
+
+“They seem all to be upon the watch for us,” said Vivian.
+
+“Meanness!” cried Lady Julia. “To watch or to be watched, I know not
+which is most degrading; but I cannot think they are watching us.”
+
+“My dear Lady Julia!--yet let me call you dear this once--my hopes are
+gone!--even for your forgiveness I have no right to hope--but let me do
+you one piece of service--let me put your open temper on its guard. You
+flatter yourself that the secret you confided to me is not known to
+any body living but to your father--I have reason to believe that it
+is suspected, if not positively known, by several other persons in this
+castle.”
+
+“Impossible!”
+
+“I am certain, too certain, of what I say.”
+
+Lady Julia made a sudden stop; and, after a pause, exclaimed--
+
+“Then farewell hope! and, with hope, farewell fear!”
+
+“My lady, my lord sent me again, for my lord’s very impatient for you,
+my lady,” said the same footman, returning. Lord Glistonbury met them in
+the hall.--“Why, Julia! where have you been all this time?” he began, in
+an imperious tone; but seeing Mr. Vivian, his brow grew smooth and his
+voice good-humoured instantly.--“Ha!--So! so!--Hey! well!--All right!
+all right!--Good girl! good girl!--Time for every thing--Hey! Mr.
+Vivian?--‘Que la solitude est charmante!’ as Voltaire says--Beg
+pardon for sending for you; but interruption, you know, prevents
+_têtes-à-têtes_ on the stage from growing tiresome; and the stage, they
+say, holds the mirror up to nature. But there’s no nature now left to
+hold the mirror up to, except in a few odd instances, as in my Julia
+here!--Where so fast, my blushing darling?”
+
+“I thought you wished, sir, that I should go to Lady Playdel and Sir
+James.”
+
+“Ay, ay, I sent for you to repeat those charming verses for them that I
+could not clearly remember.--Go up! go up!--We’ll follow you!--We have a
+word or two to say about something--that’s nothing to you.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury kept Vivian for a full hour in a state of considerable
+embarrassment, talking to him of Lady Julia, implying that she was
+favourably disposed towards him, but that she had a little pride, that
+might make her affect the contrary at first. Then came a disquisition
+on pride, with quotations and commonplaces;--then an eulogium, by his
+lordship, on his lordship’s own knowledge of the human heart, and more
+especially of that “moving toyshop,” the female heart; then anecdotes
+illustrative, comprising the gallantries of thirty years in various
+ranks of life, with suitable bon-mots and embellishments;--then a little
+French sentiment, by way of moral, with some philosophical axioms,
+to show that, though he had led such a gay life, he had been a deep
+thinker, and that, though nobody could have thought that he had had time
+for reading, his genius had supplied him, he could not himself really
+tell how, with what other people with the study of years could not
+master:--all which Vivian was compelled to hear, whilst he was the whole
+time impatient to get away, that he might search for Mr. Russell, with
+whom he was anxious to have an explanation. But, at last, when Lord
+Glistonbury set him free, he was not nearer to his object. Mr. Russell,
+he found upon inquiry, had not returned to the castle, nor did he return
+to dinner; he sent word that he was engaged to dine with a party of
+gentlemen at a literary club, in a country town nine miles distant.
+Vivian spent the greatest part of the evening in Lord Lidhurst’s
+apartment, expecting Russell’s return; but it grew so late, that Lord
+Lidhurst, who was still indisposed, went to bed; and when Vivian quitted
+his lordship, he met Russell’s servant in the gallery, who said his
+master had been come in an hour ago: “but, sir,” added the man, “my
+master won’t let you see him, I am sure; for he would not let me in, and
+he said, that, if you asked for him, I was to answer, that he could not
+see you to-night.”--Vivian knocked in vain at Russell’s door; he could
+not gain admission; so he went reluctantly to bed, determined to rise
+very early, that he might see his friend as soon as possible, obtain his
+forgiveness for the past, and ask his advice for the future.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+Suspense, curiosity, love, jealousy, remorse, any one of which is enough
+to keep a person awake all night, by turns agitated poor Vivian so
+violently, that for several hours he could not close his eyes; but at
+last, when quite exhausted, he fell into a profound sleep. The first
+image that came before his mind, when he awoke in the morning, was that
+of Lady Julia; his next recollection was of Russell.
+
+“Is Mr. Russell up yet?” said Vivian to his servant, who was bringing in
+his boots.
+
+“Up, sir! Oh, yes, hours ago!--He was _off_ at daybreak!”
+
+“Off!” cried Vivian, starting up in his bed; “off!--Where is he gone?”
+
+“I can’t say, sir. Yes, indeed, sir, I heard Mr. Russell’s man say, that
+his master was going post to the north, to some old uncle that was taken
+ill, which he heard about at dinner from some of those gentlemen where
+he dined yesterday; but I can’t say positively. But here’s a letter he
+left for you with me.”
+
+“A letter!--Give it me!--Why didn’t you give it me sooner?”
+
+“Why really, sir, you lay so sound, I didn’t care to waken you; and I
+was up so late myself, too, last night.”
+
+“Leave me now; I’ll ring when I want you.”
+
+
+“TO C. VIVIAN, ESQ.
+
+“I would not see you, after what passed yesterday, because I feared that
+I should not speak to you with temper. Lest you should misinterpret any
+thing I have formerly said, I must now solemnly assure you, that I never
+had the slightest suspicion of the secret you revealed to me till the
+moment when it was betrayed by your indiscretion. Still I can
+scarcely credit what appears to me so improbable; but, even under this
+uncertainty, I think it my duty to leave this family. Had the slightest
+idea of what you suggested ever crossed my imagination, I should then
+have acted as I do now. I say this, not to justify myself, but to
+convince you, that what I formerly hinted about reserve of manners and
+prudence was merely a _general reflection_.
+
+“For my own part, I seem to act HEROICALLY; but I must disclaim that
+applause to which I am not entitled. All powerful as the temptation must
+appear to you, dangerous as it must have been, in other circumstances,
+to me, I cannot claim any merit for resisting its influence. My safety I
+owe neither to my own prudence or fortitude. I must now, Vivian, impart
+to you a secret which you are at liberty to confide where and when you
+think necessary--my heart is, and has long been, engaged. Whilst you
+were attached to Miss Sidney, I endeavoured to subdue my love for
+her; and every symptom of it was, I hope and believe, suppressed. This
+declaration cannot now give you any pain; except so far as it may,
+perhaps, excite in your mind some remorse for having unwarrantably,
+unworthily, and weakly, suffered yourself to feel suspicions of a true
+friend. Well as I know the infirmity of your character, and willing as I
+have always been to make allowance for a fault which I thought time and
+experience would correct, I was not prepared for this last stroke; I
+never thought your weakness of mind would have shown itself in suspicion
+of your best, your long-tried friend.--But I am at last convinced that
+your mind is not strong enough for confidence and friendship. I pity,
+but I see that I can no longer serve; and I feel that I can no longer
+esteem you. Farewell! Vivian. May you find a friend, who will supply to
+you the place of H. RUSSELL.”
+
+Vivian knew Russell’s character too well to flatter himself that the
+latter part of this letter was written in anger that would quickly
+subside; from the tone of the letter he felt that Russell was deeply
+offended. In the whole course of his life he had depended on Russell’s
+friendship as a solid blessing, of which he could never be deprived by
+any change of circumstances--by any possible chance in human affairs;
+and now to have lost such a friend by his own folly, by his own
+weakness, was a misfortune of which he could hardly believe the reality.
+At the same moment, too, he learned how nobly Russell had behaved
+towards him, in the most trying situation in which the human heart can
+be placed. Russell’s love for Selina Sidney, Vivian had never till
+this instant suspected. “What force, what command of mind!--What
+magnanimity!--What a generous friend he has ever been to me!--and I--”
+
+Poor Vivian, always sinning and always penitent, was so much absorbed by
+sorrow for the loss of Russell’s friendship, that he could not for some
+time think even of the interests of his love, or consider the advantage
+which he might derive from the absence of his rival, and from that
+rival’s explicit declaration, that his affections were irrevocably
+engaged. By degrees these ideas rose clearly to Vivian’s view; his hopes
+revived. Lady Julia would see the absolute impossibility of Russell’s
+returning, or of his accepting her affection; her good sense, her pride,
+would in time subdue this hopeless passion; and Vivian was generous
+enough, or sufficiently in love, to feel that the value of her heart
+would not be diminished, but rather increased in his opinion, by the
+sensibility she had shown to the talents and virtues of his friend. _His
+friend_, Vivian ventured now to call him; for with the hopes of love,
+the hopes of friendship rose.
+
+“All may yet be well!” said he to himself. “Russell will forgive me
+when he hears how I was worked upon by those parasites and prudish
+busybodies, who infused their vile suspicions into my mind. Weak as
+it is, I never will allow that it is incapable of confidence or of
+friendship!--No! Russell will retract that harsh sentence. When he is
+happy, as I am sure I ardently hope he will be, in Selina’s love, he
+will restore me to his favour. Without his friendship, I could not be
+satisfied with myself, or happy in the full accomplishment of all my
+other fondest hopes.”
+
+By the time that hope had thus revived and renovated our hero’s soul;
+by the time that his views of things had totally changed, and that the
+colour of his future destiny had turned from black to white--from all
+gloom to all sunshine; the minute-hand of the clock had moved with
+unfeeling regularity, or, in plain unmeasured prose, it was now eleven
+o’clock, and three times Vivian had been warned that breakfast was
+ready. When he entered the room, the first thing he heard, as usual, was
+Miss Bateman’s voice, who was declaiming upon some sentimental point, in
+all “the high sublime of deep absurd.” Vivian, little interested in
+this display, and joining neither in the open flattery nor in the secret
+ridicule with which the gentlemen wits and amateurs listened to the
+Rosamunda, looked round for Lady Julia. “She breakfasts in her own
+room this morning,” whispered Lord Glistonbury, before Vivian had even
+pronounced her ladyship’s name.
+
+“So!” said Mr. Pickering, “we have lost Mr. Russell this morning!”
+
+“Yes,” said Lord Glistonbury, “he was forced to hurry away to the north,
+I find, to an old sick uncle.”
+
+“Lord Lidhurst, I’m afraid, will break his heart for want of him,”
+ cried the lawyer, in a tone that might either pass for earnest or irony,
+according to the fancy of the interpreter.
+
+“Lord Lidhurst, did you say?”--cried the captain: “are you sure you
+meant Lord Lidhurst? I don’t apprehend that a young nobleman ever broke
+his heart after his tutor. But I was going to remark----”
+
+What farther the captain was going to remark can never be known to the
+world; for Lord Glistonbury so startled him by the loud and rather angry
+tone in which he called for the cream, which _stood_ with the captain,
+that all his few ideas were put to flight. Mr. Pickering, who noticed
+Lord Glistonbury’s displeasure, now resumed the conversation about Mr.
+Russell in a new tone; and the lawyer and he joined in a eulogy
+upon that gentleman. Lord Glistonbury said not a word, but looked
+embarrassed. Miss Strictland cleared her throat several times, and
+looked infinitely more rigid and mysterious than usual. Lady Glistonbury
+and Lady Sarah, ditto--ditto. Almost every body, except such visitors
+as were strangers at the castle, perceived that there was something
+extraordinary going on in the family; and the gloom and constraint
+spread so, that, towards the close of breakfast, nothing was uttered, by
+prudent people, but awkward sentences about the weather--the wind--and
+the likelihood of there being a mail from the continent. Still through
+all this, regardless and unknowing of it all, the Rosamunda talked on,
+happily abstracted, egotistically secured from the pains of sympathy
+or of curiosity by the all-sufficient power of vanity. Even her patron,
+Lord Glistonbury, was at last provoked and disgusted. He was heard,
+under his breath, to pronounce a contemptuous _Pshaw!_ and, as he rose
+from the breakfast table he whispered to Vivian, “There’s a woman, now,
+who thinks of nothing living but herself!--All talkèe talkèe!--I begin
+to be weary of her.----Gentlemen,” continued his lordship, “I’ve letters
+to write this morning.----You’ll ride--you’ll walk--you’re for the
+billiard-room, I suppose.----Mr. Vivian, I shall find you in my study, I
+hope, an hour hence; but first I have a little business to settle.” With
+evident embarrassment Lord Glistonbury retired. Lady Glistonbury,
+Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland, each sighed; then, with looks of
+intelligence, rose and retired. The company separated soon afterwards;
+and went to ride, to walk, or to the billiard-room, and Vivian to the
+study, to wait there for Lord Glistonbury, and to meditate upon what
+might be the nature of his lordship’s business. As Vivian crossed the
+gallery, the door of Lady Glistonbury’s dressing-room opened, and was
+shut again instantaneously by Miss Strictland; but not before he saw
+Lady Julia kneeling at her father’s feet, whilst Lady Glistonbury and
+Lady Sarah were standing like statues, on each side of his lordship.
+Vivian waited a full hour afterwards in tedious suspense in the study.
+At last he heard doors open and footsteps, and he judged that the family
+council had broken up; he laid down a book, of which he had read the
+same page over six times, without any one of the words it contained
+having conveyed a single idea to his mind. Lord Glistonbury came in,
+with papers and parchments in his hands.
+
+“Mr. Vivian, I am afraid you have been waiting for me--have a thousand
+pardons to ask--I really could not come any sooner--I wished to speak
+to you--Won’t you sit down?--We had better sit down quietly--there’s no
+sort of hurry.”
+
+His lordship, however, seemed to be in great agitation-of spirits;
+and Vivian was convinced that his mind must be interested in an
+extraordinary manner, because he did not, as was his usual practice,
+digress to fifty impertinent episodes before he came to the point. He
+only blew his nose sundry times; and then at once said, “I wish to speak
+to you, Mr. Vivian, about the proposal you did me the honour to make
+for my daughter Julia. Difficulties have occurred on our side--very
+extraordinary difficulties--Julia, I understand, has hinted to you,
+sir, the nature of those difficulties.--Oh, Mr. Vivian,” said Lord
+Glistonbury, suddenly quitting the constrained voice in which he spoke,
+and giving way to his natural feelings, “you are a man of honour and
+feeling, and a father may trust you!----Here’s my girl--a charming
+girl she is; but knowing nothing of the world--self-willed, romantic,
+open-hearted, imprudent beyond conception; do not listen to any of the
+foolish things she says to you. You are a man of sense, you love her,
+and you are every way suited to her; it is the first wish of my heart--I
+tell you frankly--to see her your wife: then do not let her childish
+folly persuade you that her affections are engaged--don’t listen to any
+such stuff. We all know what the first loves of a girl of sixteen must
+be--But it’s our fault--my fault, my fault, since they will have it so.
+I care not whose fault it is; but we have had very improper people about
+her--very!--very!--But all may be well yet, if you, sir, will be steady,
+and save her--save her from herself. I would farther suggest----”
+
+Lord Glistonbury was going on, probably, to have weakened by
+amplification the effect of what he had said, when Lady Julia entered
+the room; and, advancing with dignified determination of manner, said,
+“I have your commands, father, that I should see Mr. Vivian again:--I
+obey.”
+
+“That is right--that is my darling Julia; I always knew she would
+justify my high opinion of her.” Lord Glistonbury attempted to draw her
+towards him fondly; but, with an unaltered manner, that seemed as if
+she suppressed strong emotion, she answered, “I do not deserve your
+caresses, father; do not oppress me with praise that I cannot merit: I
+wish to speak to Mr. Vivian without control and without witness.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury rose; and growing red and almost inarticulate with
+anger, exclaimed, “Remember, Julia! remember, Lady Julia Lidhurst! that
+if you say what you said you would say, and what I said you should not
+say--I--Lord Glistonbury, your father--I, as well as all the rest of
+your family, utterly disclaim and cast you off for ever!--You’ll be a
+thing without fortune--without friends--without a name--without a being
+in the world--Lady Julia Lidhurst!”
+
+“I am well aware of that,” replied Lady Julia, growing quite pale, yet
+without changing the determination of her countenance, or abating any
+thing from the dignity of her manner: “I am well aware, that on what
+I am about to do depends my having, or my ceasing from this moment to
+have, fortune, friends, and a father.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury stood still for a moment--fixed his eyes upon her as if
+he would have read her soul; but, without seeking to elude his inquiry,
+her countenance seemed to offer itself to his penetration.
+
+“By Heaven, there is no understanding this girl!” cried his lordship.
+“Mr. Vivian, I trust her to your honour--to your knowledge of the
+world--to your good sense;--in short, sir, to your love and constancy.”
+
+“And I, sir,” said Lady Julia, turning to Vivian, after her father
+had left the room, and looking at Vivian so as to stop him short as he
+approached, and to disconcert him in the commencement of a passionate
+speech; “and I, too, sir, trust to your honour, whilst I deprecate your
+love. Imprudent as I was in the first confidence I reposed in you, and
+much as I have suffered by your rashness, I now stand determined
+to reveal to you another yet more important, yet more humiliating
+secret--You owe me no gratitude, sir!--I am compelled, by the
+circumstances in which I am placed, either to deceive or to trust you.
+I must either become your wife, and deceive you most treacherously; or
+I must trust you entirely, and tell you why it would be shameful that I
+should become your wife--shameful to me and to you.”
+
+“To me!--Impossible!” cried Vivian, bursting into some passionate
+expressions of love and admiration.
+
+“Listen to me, sir; and do not make any of those rash professions, of
+which you will soon repent. You think you are speaking to the same
+Lady Julia you saw yesterday--No!--you are speaking to a very different
+person--a few hours have made a terrible change. You see before you,
+sir, one who has been, till this day, the darling and pride of her
+father; who has lived in the lap of luxury; who has been flattered,
+admired, by almost all who approached her; who had fortune, and rank,
+and fair prospects in life, and youth, and spirits, and all the pride of
+prosperity; who had, I believe, good dispositions, perhaps some talents,
+and, I may say, a generous heart; who might have been,--but that is all
+over--no matter what she might have been--she is
+
+     ‘A tale for ev’ry prating she.’
+
+Fallen!--fallen! fallen under the feet of those who worshipped
+her!--fallen below the contempt of the contemptible!--Worse! worse!
+fallen in her own opinion--never to rise again.”
+
+Lady Julia’s voice failed, and she was forced to pause. She sunk upon a
+seat, and hid her face--for some moments she neither saw nor heard; but
+at last, raising her head, she perceived Vivian.
+
+“You are in amazement, sir! and I see you pity me; but let me beg of you
+to restrain your feelings--my own are as much as I can bear. O that I
+could recall a few hours of my existence! But I have not yet been able
+to tell you what has passed. My father, my friends, wish to conceal it
+from you: but, whatever I have done, however low I have sunk, I will not
+deceive, nor be an accomplice in deceit. From my own lips you shall hear
+all. This morning at daybreak, not being able to sleep, and having some
+suspicion that Mr. Russell would leave the castle, I rose, and whilst I
+was dressing, I heard the trampling of horses in the court. I looked out
+of my window, and saw Mr. Russell’s man saddling his master’s horse. I
+heard Mr. Russell, a moment afterwards, order the servant to take the
+horses to the great gate on the north road, and wait for him there,
+as he intended to walk through the park. I thought these were the last
+words I should ever hear him speak.--Love took possession of me--I stole
+softly down the little staircase that leads from my turret to one of
+the back doors, and got out of the castle, as I thought, unobserved: I
+hurried on, and waited in the great oak wood, through which I knew Mr.
+Russell would pass. When I saw him coming nearer and nearer to me, I
+would have given the world to have been in my own room again--I hid
+myself among the trees--yet, when he walked on in reverie without
+noticing me, taking me probably for one of the servants, I could not
+bear to think that this was the last moment I should ever see him, and I
+exclaimed--I know not what; but I know that at the sound of my voice
+Mr. Russell started, and never can I forget the look--Spare me the
+rest!--No!--I will not spare myself--I offered my heart, my hand,--and
+they were rejected!--In my madness I told him I regarded neither
+wealth, nor rank, nor friends, nor--That I would rather live with him
+in obscurity than be the greatest princess upon earth--I said this
+and more--and I was rejected--And even at this moment, instead of the
+vindictive passions which are said to fill the soul of a woman scorned,
+I feel admiration for your noble friend: I have not done him justice;
+I cannot repeat his words, or describe his manner. He persuaded, by his
+eloquence compelled, me to return to this castle. He took from me all
+hope; he destroyed by one word all my illusions--he told me that he
+loves another. He has left me to despair, to disgrace; and yet I love,
+esteem, and admire him, above all human beings! Admire one who despises
+me!--Is it possible? I know not, but it is so--I have more to tell you,
+sir!--As I returned to the castle, I was watched by Miss Strictland. How
+she knew all that had passed, I cannot divine; perhaps it was by means
+of some spy who followed me, and whom I did not perceive: for I neither
+saw nor heard any thing but my passion. Miss Strictland communicated
+her discovery immediately to my father. I have been these last two hours
+before a family tribunal. My mother, with a coldness a thousand times
+worse than my poor father’s rage, says, that I have only accomplished
+her prophecies; that she always knew and told my father that I should be
+a disgrace to my family. But no reproaches are equal to my own; I stand
+self-condemned. I feel like one awakened from a dream. A few words!--a
+single look from Mr. Russell!--how they have altered all my views,
+all my thoughts! Two hours’ reflection--Two hours, did I say?--whole
+years--a whole existence--have passed to me in the last two hours: I
+am a different creature. But it is too late--too late!--Self-esteem is
+gone!--happiness is over for me in this world.”
+
+“Happiness over for you!” exclaimed Vivian in a tone expressive of the
+deep interest he felt for her; “Self-esteem gone!--No! Lady Julia;
+do not blame yourself so severely for what has passed! Blame the
+circumstances in which you have been placed; above all, blame me--blame
+my folly--my madness; your secret never would have been known, if I had
+not--”
+
+“I thank you,” interrupted Lady Julia, rising from her seat; “but no
+consolation can be of any avail. It neither consoles nor justifies me
+that others have been to blame.”
+
+“Permit me, at least,” pursued Vivian, “to speak of my own sentiments
+for one moment. Permit me to say, Lady Julia, that the confidence with
+which you have just honoured me, instead of diminishing my attachment,
+has so raised my admiration for your candour and magnanimity, that no
+obstacles shall vanquish my constancy. I will wait respectfully, and,
+if I can, patiently, till time shall have effaced from your mind these
+painful impressions; I shall neither ask nor accept of the interference
+or influence of your father, nor of any of your friends; I shall rely
+solely on the operation of your own excellent understanding, and shall
+hope for my reward from your noble heart.”
+
+“You do not think it possible,” said Lady Julia, looking at Vivian with
+dignified determination, “you do not think it possible, after all that
+has passed, after all that I have told you, that I could so far degrade
+myself or you, as to entertain any thoughts of becoming your wife?
+Farewell! Mr. Vivian.----You will not see me again. I shall obtain
+permission to retire, and live with a relation in a distant part of the
+country; where I shall no more be seen or heard of. My fortune will, I
+hope, be of use to my sister.----My poor father!--I pity him; he loves
+me: he loses his daughter for ever; worse than loses her! My mother,
+too--I pity her! for, though she does not love me, she will suffer for
+me; she will suffer more than my father, by the disgrace that would be
+brought upon my family, if ever the secret should be publicly known. My
+brother!--Oh, my beloved brother! he knows nothing yet of all this!--But
+why do I grieve you with my agony of mind? Forget that Lady Julia
+Lidhurst ever existed!--I wish you that happiness which I can never
+enjoy--I wish you may deserve and win a heart capable of feeling real
+love!--Adieu!”
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+Convinced that all farther pursuit of Lady Julia Lidhurst would be
+vain, that it could tend only to increase her difficulties and his
+mortification, Vivian saw that the best thing he could possibly do was
+to leave Glistonbury. Thus he should relieve the whole family from the
+embarrassment of his presence; and, by immediate change of scene and
+of occupation, he had the best chance of recovering from his own
+disappointment. If Lady Julia was to quit the castle, he could have
+no inducement to stay; if her ladyship remained, his continuing in her
+society would be still more dangerous to his happiness. Besides, he felt
+offended with Lord Glistonbury, who evidently had wished to conceal from
+him the truth; and, without considering what was just or honourable, had
+endeavoured to secure, at all events, an establishment for his daughter,
+and a connexion for his family. To the weight of these reasons must be
+added a desire to see Mr. Russell, and to effect a reconciliation with
+him. The accumulated force of all these motives had power to overcome
+Vivian’s habitual indecision: his servant was surprised by an order to
+have every thing ready for his journey to town immediately. Whilst his
+man prepared to obey, or at least to meditate upon the cause of this
+unusually decided order, our hero went in quest of Lord Glistonbury,
+to pay his compliments to his lordship previous to his departure. His
+lordship was in his daughter Julia’s dressing-room, and could not be
+seen; but presently he came to Vivian in great hurry and distress of
+mind.
+
+“A sad stroke upon us, Mr. Vivian!--a sad stroke upon us all--but most
+upon me; for she was the child of my expectations--I hear she has
+told you every thing--you, also, have been very ill-used--Never was
+astonishment equal to mine when I heard Miss Strictland’s story. I need
+not caution you, Mr. Vivian, as to secrecy; you are a man of honour, and
+you see the peace of our whole family is at stake. The girl is going
+to a relation of ours in Devonshire.--Sha’n’t stay here--sha’n’t stay
+here--Disgrace to my family--She who was my pride--and, after all, says
+she will never marry.--Very well!--very well!--I shall never see her
+again, that I am determined upon.--I told her, that if she did not
+behave with common sense and propriety, in her last interview with you,
+I would give her up--and so I will, and so I do.--The whole is Lady
+Glistonbury’s fault--she never managed her rightly when she was a child.
+Oh! I should put you on your guard in one particular--Miss Bateman knows
+nothing of what has happened--I wish Miss Strictland knew as little--I
+hate her. What business had she to play the spy upon my daughter? She
+does well to be a prude, for she is as ugly as sin. But we are in her
+power. She is to go to-morrow with Julia to Devonshire. It will make a
+quarrel between me and Miss Bateman--no matter for that; for now, the
+sooner we get rid of that Rosamunda, too, the better--she talks me dead,
+and will let no one talk but herself. And, between you and me, all
+this could not have happened, if she had looked after her charge
+properly.--Not but what I think Miss Strictland was still less fit to
+guide a girl of Julia’s genius and disposition. All was done wrong at
+first, and I always said so to Lady Glistonbury. But, if the secret can
+be kept--and _that_ depends on you, my dear friend--after six months’ or
+a twelve-month’s _rustication_ with our poor parson in the country, you
+will see how tamed and docile the girl will come back to us. This is my
+scheme; but nobody shall know my whole mind but you--I shall tell her
+I will never see her again; and that will pacify Lady Glistonbury, and
+frighten Julia into submission. She says she’ll never marry.--Stuff!
+Stuff!--You don’t believe her!--What man who has seen any thing of the
+world ever believes such stuff?”
+
+Vivian’s servant came into the room to ask his master some question
+about horses.
+
+“Going!--where? Going!--when? Going!--how?” cried Lord Glistonbury, as
+soon as the servant withdrew. “Surely, you are not going to leave us,
+Mr. Vivian?”
+
+Vivian explained his reasons--Lord Glistonbury would not allow them any
+weight, entreated and insisted that he should stay at least a few days
+longer; for his going “just at this moment would seem quite like a
+break up in the family, and would be the most unfriendly and cruel thing
+imaginable.” Why Lord Glistonbury so earnestly pressed his stay, perhaps
+even his lordship himself did not exactly know; for, with all the air of
+being a person of infinite address and depth of design, his lordship was
+in reality childishly inconsistent; what the French call _inconséquent_.
+On any subject, great or small, where he once took it into his head, or,
+as he called it, _made it a point_, that a thing should be so or so, he
+was as peremptory, or, where he could not be peremptory, as anxious,
+as if it were a matter of life and death. In his views there was no
+perspective, no keeping--all objects appeared of equal magnitude; and
+even now, when it might be conceived that his whole mind was intent upon
+a great family misfortune, he, in the course of a few minutes, became
+as eager about a mere trifle as if he had nothing else in the world to
+think of. From the earnestness with which Lord Glistonbury urged him to
+stay a few days, at least one day longer, Vivian was induced to believe
+that it must be a matter of real consequence to his lordship--“And, in
+his present state of distress, I cannot refuse such a request,” thought
+Vivian. He yielded, therefore, to these solicitations, and consented to
+stay a few days longer; though he knew the prolonging his visit would
+be, in every respect, disagreeable.
+
+At dinner Lord Glistonbury announced to the company that the physician
+had advised change of air immediately for Lord Lidhurst; and that,
+in consequence, his son would set out early the next morning for
+Devonshire--that his daughter Julia wished to go with her brother, and
+that Miss Strictland would accompany them. Lord Glistonbury apologized
+for his daughter’s absence, “preparations for her journey so suddenly
+decided upon,” &c. Lady Glistonbury and Lady Sarah looked terribly
+grim whilst all this was saying; but the gravity and stiffness of their
+demeanour did not appear any thing extraordinary to the greater part of
+the company, who had no idea of what was going forward. The lawyer, the
+captain, and the chaplain, however, interchanged significant looks; and
+many times, during the course of the evening, they made attempts to draw
+out Vivian’s thoughts, but they found him impenetrable. There was an
+underplot of a quarrel between Miss Strictland and Miss Bateman,
+to which Vivian paid little attention; nor was he affected, in the
+slightest degree, by the Rosamunda’s declaration to Lord Glistonbury,
+that she must leave his family, since she found that Miss Strictland had
+a larger share than herself of his lordship’s confidence, and was, for
+what reason she could not divine, to have the honour of accompanying
+Lady Julia into Devonshire. Vivian perceived these quarrels, and heard
+the frivolous conversation of the company at Glistonbury Castle without
+interest, and with a sort of astonishment at the small motives by which
+others were agitated, whilst his whole soul was engrossed by love and
+pity for Lady Julia. In vain he hoped for another opportunity of seeing
+and speaking to her. She never appeared. The next morning he rose at
+daybreak that he might have the chance of seeing her: he begged Miss
+Strictland to entreat her ladyship would allow him to say a few words
+before she set out; but Miss Strictland replied, that she was assured
+the request would be vain; and he thought he perceived that Miss
+Strictland, though she affected to lament Lady Julia’s blindness to her
+own interests and contumacy, in opposing her father’s wishes, was,
+in reality, glad that she persisted in her own determination. Lord
+Lidhurst, on account of the weak state of his health, was kept in
+ignorance of every thing that could agitate him; and, when Vivian took
+leave of him, the poor young man left many messages of kindness and
+gratitude for Mr. Russell.
+
+“I am sorry that he was obliged to leave me; for, ill or well, there is
+no human being, I will not except any one but my sister Julia, whom I
+should so much wish to have with me. Tell him so; and tell him--be
+sure you remember my very words, for perhaps I shall never see him
+again--tell him, that, living or dying, I shall feel grateful to him. He
+has given me tastes and principles very different from those I had when
+he came into this house. Even in sickness, I feel almost every hour
+the advantage of my present love for literature. If I should live and
+recover, I hope I shall do him some credit; and I trust my family
+will join in my gratitude. Julia, my dear sister! why do you weep so
+bitterly?--If I had seen you come into the room, I would not have spoken
+of my health.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury came up to tell them that Miss Strictland was ready.
+“Mr. Vivian,” cried his lordship, “will you hand Julia into the
+carriage?--Julia, Mr. Vivian is offering you his services.”
+
+Vivian, as he attended Lady Julia, had so much respect for her feelings,
+that, though he had been waiting with extreme impatience for an
+opportunity _to say a few words_, yet now he would not speak, but handed
+her along the gallery, down the staircase, and across the great hall, in
+profound silence. She seemed sensible of this forbearance; and, turning
+to him at a moment when they could not be overheard, said, “It was not
+from unkindness, Mr. Vivian, I refused to see you again, but to convince
+you that my mind is determined--if you have any thing to say, I am ready
+to hear it.”
+
+“Is there nothing to be hoped from time?” said Vivian. “Your father, I
+know, has hopes that----All I ask is, that you will not make any rash
+resolutions.”
+
+“I make none; but I tell _you_, for your own sake, not to cherish any
+vain hope. My father does not know my mind sufficiently, therefore he
+may deceive you; but I will not.----I thought, after the manner in which
+I spoke to you yesterday, you would have had too much strength of mind
+to have rendered this repetition of my sentiments necessary.----Attach
+yourself elsewhere as soon as you can.--I sincerely wish your happiness.
+Miss Strictland is waiting.--Farewell!”
+
+She hurried forward to the carriage; and, when she was gone, Vivian
+repented that he had seen her again, as it had only given them both
+additional and fruitless pain.
+
+What passed during some succeeding days at Glistonbury Castle he
+scarcely knew; no trace remained in his mind of anything but the
+confused noise of people, who had been talking, laughing, and diverting
+themselves in a manner that seemed to him incomprehensible. He exerted
+himself, however, so far as to write to Russell, to implore his
+forgiveness, and to solicit a return of his friendship, which, in his
+present state of unhappiness, was more necessary to him than ever. When
+he had finished and despatched this letter, he sunk again into a sort of
+reckless state, without hope or determination, as to his future life.
+He could not decide whether he should go to his mother immediately on
+leaving Glistonbury, or to Mr. Russell, or (which he knew was the best
+course he could pursue) attend his duty in parliament, and, by plunging
+at once into public business, change the course of his thoughts, and
+force his mind to resume its energy. After altering his determination
+twenty times, after giving at least a dozen contradictory orders about
+his journey, his servant at last had his ultimatum, _for London_--the
+carriage to be at the door at ten o’clock the next morning. Every thing
+was ready at the appointed hour. Breakfast over, Vivian waited only to
+pay his compliments to Lady Glistonbury, who had breakfasted in her own
+apartment. Lady Sarah, with a manner as formal as usual, rose from the
+breakfast-table, and said she would let her mother know that Mr.
+Vivian was going. Vivian waited half an hour--an hour--two hours. Lady
+Glistonbury did not appear, nor did Lady Sarah return. The company had
+dispersed after the first half-hour. Lord Glistonbury began to believe
+that the ladies did not mean to make their appearance. At length a
+message came from Lady Glistonbury.--“Lady Glistonbury’s compliments to
+Mr. Vivian--her ladyship was concerned that it was out of her power to
+have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Vivian, as she was too much indisposed
+to leave her room.--She and Lady Sarah wished him a very good journey.”
+
+Vivian went up to his room for his gloves, which he missed at the moment
+when he was going. Whilst he was opening the empty drawers one after
+another, in search of his gloves, and, at the same time, calling
+his servant to find them, he heard a loud scream from an adjoining
+apartment. He listened again--all was silent; and he supposed that what
+he had heard was not a scream: but, at that moment, Lady Sarah’s maid
+flung open his door, and, running in with out-stretched arms, threw
+herself at Vivian’s feet. Her sobs and tears prevented his understanding
+one syllable she said. At last she articulated intelligibly, “Oh,
+sir!--don’t be so cruel to go--my lady!--my poor lady! If you go, it
+will kill Lady Sarah!”
+
+“Kill Lady Sarah?--Why I saw her in perfect health this morning at
+breakfast!”
+
+“Dear, dear sir! you know nothing of the matter!” said the maid, rising,
+and shutting the door: “you don’t know what a way she has been in ever
+since the talk of your going--fits upon fits every night, and my lady,
+her mother, and I up holding her--and none in the house knowing it but
+ourselves. Very well at breakfast! Lord help us! sir. How little you
+know of what she has suffered! Lord have mercy upon me! I would not be
+a lady to be so much in love, and left so, for any thing in the whole
+world. And my Lady Sarah keeps every thing so to herself;--if it was not
+for these fits they would never have knowed she cared no more for you
+than a stone.”
+
+“And, probably you are quite mistaken,” said Vivian; “and that I have
+nothing to do with the young lady’s illness. If she has fits, I am
+very sorry for it; but I can’t possibly----Certainly, you are quite
+mistaken!”
+
+“Lord, sir!--mistaken! As if I could be mistaken, when I know my lady as
+well as I know myself! Why, sir, I know from the time of the election,
+when you was given to her by all the country--and to be sure when we
+all thought it would be a match directly--and the Lord knows what put
+it off!--I say, from that time, her heart was set upon you. Though she
+never said a word to me, or any one, I knew how it was, through all her
+coldness--And to be sure, when you was in Lon’on so much with us, all
+the town said, as all the country did afore, that to be sure it was to
+be a match--But then that sad affair, with that artfullest of women,
+that took you off from all that was good, and away, the Lord knows
+where, to foreign parts!--Well! to be sure, I never shall forget the day
+you come back again to us!--and the night of the ball!--and you dancing
+with my lady, and all so happy; then, to be sure, all were sarten it was
+to be immediately----And now to go and break my poor lady’s heart at the
+last--Oh, sir, sir! if you could but see her, it would touch a heart of
+marble!”
+
+Vivian’s astonishment and dismay were so great, that he suffered
+the girl, who was an unpractised creature, to go on speaking without
+interruption: the warmth of affection with which she spoke of her lady,
+also, surprised him: for, till this instant, he had no idea that any one
+could love Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and the accounts she gave of the lady’s
+sufferings not only touched his compassion, but worked upon his vanity.
+“This cold, proud young lady that never loved none before, to think,”
+ as her maid said, “that she should come to such a pass, as to be in fits
+about him. And it was her belief that Lady Sarah never would recover it,
+if he went away out of the castle this day.”
+
+The ringing of a bell had repeatedly been heard, whilst Lady Sarah’s
+maid was speaking; it now rang violently, and her name was called
+vehemently from the adjoining apartment. “I must go, I _must_ go!--Oh,
+sir! one day, for mercy’s sake! stay one day longer!”
+
+Vivian, though he had been moved by this girl’s representations,
+was determined to effect his retreat whilst it was yet in his power;
+therefore he ran down stairs, and had gained the hall, where he was
+shaking hands with Lord Glistonbury, when my Lady Glistonbury’s own
+woman came in a great hurry to say, that her lady, finding herself a
+little better now, and able to see Mr. Vivian, begged he would be so
+good as to walk up to her dressing-room.
+
+Vivian, with a heavy heart and slow steps, obeyed; there was no
+refusing, no evading such a request. He summoned all his resolution, at
+the same time saying to himself, as he followed his conductor along the
+gallery, “It is impossible that I can ever be drawn in to marry Lady
+Sarah.--This is a concerted plan, and I shall not be so weak as to be
+the dupe of so gross an artifice.”
+
+Lady Glistonbury’s maid showed him into her lady’s dressing-room and
+retired. Lady Glistonbury was seated, and, without speaking, pointed to
+a chair which was set opposite to her. “So! a preparation for a scene,”
+ thought Vivian. He bowed, but, still keeping his hat in his hand, did
+not sit down:--he was extremely happy to hear, that her ladyship found
+herself something better--much honoured by her permitting him to pay
+his respects, and to offer his grateful acknowledgments to her ladyship
+before his departure from Glistonbury.
+
+Her ladyship, still without speaking, pointed to the chair. Vivian
+sat down, and looked as if he had “screwed his courage to the sticking
+place.” Lady Glistonbury had sometimes a little nervous trembling of
+her head, which was the only symptom of internal agitation that was ever
+observable in her; it was now increased to a degree which Vivian had
+never before seen.
+
+“Are you in haste, sir, to be gone?” said Lady Glistonbury.
+
+“Not if her ladyship had any commands for him; but otherwise, he had
+intended, if possible, to reach town that night.”
+
+“I shall not delay you many minutes, Mr. Vivian,” said her ladyship.
+“You need not be under apprehension that Lady Glistonbury should seek to
+detain you longer than your own inclinations induce you to stay; it is,
+therefore, unnecessary to insult her with any appearance of haste or
+impatience.”
+
+Vivian instantly laid down his hat, and protested that he was not in
+the slightest degree impatient: he should be very ungrateful, as well as
+very ill-bred, if, after the most hospitable manner in which he had been
+received and entertained at Glistonbury Castle, he could be in haste to
+quit it. He was entirely at her ladyship’s orders.
+
+Lady Glistonbury bowed formally--was again silent--the trembling of her
+head very great--the rest of her form motionless.
+
+“I have sent for you, Mr. Vivian,” said she, “that I might, before you
+leave this castle, set you right on a subject which much concerns me.
+From the representations of a foolish country girl, a maid-servant of my
+daughter, Lady Sarah Lidhurst, which I have just discovered she has made
+to you, I had reason to fear that you might leave Glistonbury with very
+false notions----”
+
+A cry was heard at this moment from the inner apartment, which made
+Vivian start; but Lady Glistonbury, without noticing it, went on
+speaking.
+
+“With notions very injurious to my daughter Sarah; who, if I know any
+thing of her, would rather, if it were so ordained, go out of this
+world, than condescend to any thing unbecoming her sex, her education,
+and her family.”
+
+Vivian, struck with respect and compassion for the mother, who spoke to
+him in this manner, was now convinced that there had been no concerted
+plan to work upon his mind, that the maid had spoken without the
+knowledge of her lady; and the more proudly solicitous Lady Glistonbury
+showed herself to remove what she called the false impression from his
+mind, the more he was persuaded that the girl had spoken the truth. He
+was much embarrassed between his good-nature and his dread of becoming a
+sacrifice to his humanity.
+
+He replied in general terms to Lady Glistonbury, that he had the highest
+respect for Lady Sarah Lidhurst, and that no opinion injurious to her
+could be entertained by him.
+
+“Respect she must command from all,” said Lady Glistonbury; “_that_ it
+is out of any man’s power to refuse her: as to the rest, she leaves you,
+and I leave you, sir, to your own conscience.”
+
+Lady Glistonbury rose, and so did Vivian. He hoped that neither her
+ladyship nor Lady Sarah had any cause----He hesitated; the words, _to
+reproach, to complain, to be displeased_, all came to his lips; but each
+seemed improper; and, none other being at hand to convey his meaning,
+he could not finish his sentence: so he began another upon a new
+construction, with “I should be much concerned if, in addition to all my
+other causes of regret in leaving Glistonbury Castle, I felt that I had
+incurred Lady Glistonbury’s or Lady Sarah’s displea--disapprobation.”
+
+“As to that, sir,” said Lady Glistonbury, “I cannot but have my own
+opinion of your conduct; and you can scarcely expect, I apprehend, that
+a mother, such as I am, should not feel some disapprobation of conduct,
+which has----Sir, I beg I may not detain you--I have the honour to wish
+you a good journey and much happiness.”
+
+An attendant came from an inner apartment with a message! from Lady
+Sarah, who was worse, and wished to see her mother--“Immediately!--tell
+her, immediately!”
+
+The servant returned with the answer. Vivian was retiring, but he
+came back, for he saw at that moment a convulsive motion contract Lady
+Glistonbury’s face: she made an effort to walk; but if Vivian had
+not supported her instantly, she must have fallen. She endeavoured to
+disengage herself from his assistance, and again attempted to walk.
+
+“For God’s sake, lean upon me, madam!” said Vivian, much alarmed. With
+his assistance, she reached the door of the inner room: summoning all
+the returning powers of life, she then withdrew her arm from his, and
+pointing back to the door at which Vivian entered, she said, “That is
+your way, sir.”
+
+“Pardon me--I cannot go--I cannot leave you at this moment,” said
+Vivian.
+
+“This is my daughter’s apartment, sir,” said Lady Glistonbury, stopping,
+and standing still and fixed. Some of the attendants within, hearing her
+ladyship’s voice, opened the door; Lady Glistonbury made an effort
+to prevent it, but in vain: the chamber was darkened, but as the door
+opened, the wind from an open window blew back the curtain, and some
+light fell upon a canopy bed, where Lady Sarah lay motionless, her eyes
+closed, and pale as death; one attendant chafing her temples, another
+rubbing her feet: she looked up just after the door opened, and, raising
+her head, she saw Vivian--a gleam of joy illumined her countenance, and
+coloured her cheek.
+
+“Sir,” repeated Lady Glistonbury, “this is my daughter’s----”
+
+She could articulate no more. She fell across the threshold, struck with
+palsy. Her daughter sprang from the bed, and, with Vivian’s assistance,
+raised and carried Lady Glistonbury to an arm-chair near the open
+window, drew back the curtain, begged Vivian to go to her father, and
+instantly to despatch a messenger for medical assistance. Vivian sent
+his own servant, who had his horse ready at the door, and he bid the man
+go as fast as he could.
+
+“Then you don’t leave Glistonbury to-day, sir?” said the servant.
+
+“Do as I order you--Where’s Lord Glistonbury?”
+
+His lordship, with the newspapers and letters open in his hand,
+came up--but they dropped on hearing the intelligence that Vivian
+communicated. His lordship was naturally humane and good-natured; and
+the shock was greater, perhaps, to him, from the sort of enmity in which
+he lived with Lady Glistonbury.
+
+“I dread to go up stairs,” said he. “For God’s sake, Vivian, don’t
+leave me in this distress!--do order your carriage away!----Put up Mr.
+Vivian’s carriage.”
+
+Lady Sarah’s maid came to tell them that Lady Glistonbury had recovered
+her speech, and that she had asked, “if Mr. Vivian was gone?”
+
+“Do come up with me,” cried Lord Glistonbury, “and she will see you are
+not gone.”
+
+“Here’s my lord and Mr. Vivian, my lady,” said the girl.
+
+Then, turning to Lady Glistonbury’s woman, she added, in a loud whisper,
+“Mr. Vivian won’t go to-day.”
+
+Lady Sarah gave her maid some commission, which took her out of the
+room. Lady Sarah, no longer the formal, cold, slow personage whom
+Vivian detested, now seemed to him, and not only seemed but was, quite
+a different being, inspired with energy, and quickness, and presence
+of mind: she forgot herself, and her illness, and her prudery, and
+her love, and every other consideration, in the sense of her mother’s
+danger. Lady Glistonbury had but imperfectly recovered her recollection.
+At one moment she smiled on Vivian, and tried to stretch out her hand to
+him, as she saw him standing beside Lady Sarah. But when he approached
+Lady Glistonbury, and spoke to her, she seemed to have some painful
+recollection, and, looking round the room, expressed surprise and
+uneasiness at his being there. Vivian retired; and Lord Glistonbury, who
+was crying like a child, followed, saying, “Take me out with
+you--Dr. G---- ought to be here before now--I’ll send for another
+physician!--Very shocking--very shocking--at Lady Glistonbury’s time of
+life, too--for she is not an old woman by any means. Lady Glistonbury
+is eighteen months younger than I am!--Nobody knows how soon it may be
+their turn!--It’s very shocking!--If I had known she was ill, I would
+have had advice for her sooner. She is very patient--too patient--a
+great deal too patient. She never will complain--never tells what she
+feels, body or mind--at least never tells _me_; but that may be my fault
+in some measure. Should be very sorry Lady Glistonbury went out of the
+world with things as they are now between us. Hope to God she will get
+over this attack!--Hey! Mr. Vivian?”
+
+Vivian said whatever he could to fortify this hope, and was glad to see
+Lord Glistonbury show feelings of this sort. The physician arrived, and
+confirmed these hopes by his favourable prognostics. In the course
+of the day and night her face, which had been contracted, resumed
+its natural appearance; she recovered the use of her arm: a certain
+difficulty of articulation, and thickness of speech, with what the
+physician called hallucination of mind, and a general feebleness of
+body, were all the apparent consequences of this stroke. She was not
+herself sensible of the nature of the attack, or clear in her ideas of
+any thing that had passed immediately previous to it. She had only an
+imperfect recollection of her daughter’s illness, and of some hurry
+about Mr. Vivian’s going away. She was, however, well enough to go into
+her dressing-room, where Vivian went to pay his respects to her, with
+Lord Glistonbury. By unremitting exertions, and unusual cheerfulness,
+Lady Sarah succeeded in quieting her mother’s confused apprehensions on
+her account. When out of Lady Glistonbury’s hearing, all the attendants
+and the physicians repeatedly expressed fear that Lady Sarah would
+over-fatigue and injure herself by this extraordinary energy; but her
+powers of body and mind seemed to rise with the necessity for exertion;
+and, on this great occasion, she suddenly discovered a warmth and
+strength of character, of which few had ever before discerned even the
+slightest symptoms.
+
+“Who would have expected this from Sarah?” whispered Lord Glistonbury to
+Vivian. “Why, her sister did not do more for me when I was ill! I always
+knew she loved her mother, but I thought it was in a quiet, commonplace
+way--Who knows but she loves me too?--or might--” She came into the
+room at this moment--“Sarah, my dear,” said his lordship, “where are my
+letters and yesterday’s papers, which I never read?--I’ll see if there
+be any thing in them that can interest your mother.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury opened the papers, and the first article of public news
+was, “a dissolution of parliament confidently expected to take place
+immediately.” This must put an end to Vivian’s scheme of going to town
+to attend his duty in parliament. “But, may be, it is only newspaper
+information.” It was confirmed by all Lord Glistonbury and Vivian’s
+private letters. A letter from his mother, which Vivian now for the
+first moment had time to peruse, mentioned the dissolution of parliament
+as certain; she named her authority, which could not be doubted; and, in
+consequence, she had sent down supplies of wine for an election; and she
+said that she would “be immediately at Castle Vivian, to keep open house
+and open heart for her son. Though not furnished,” she observed, “the
+castle would suit the better all the purposes of an election; and
+she should not feel any inconvenience, for her own part, let the
+accommodations be what they might.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury directly proposed and insisted upon Lady Mary
+Vivian’s making Glistonbury her head-quarters. Vivian objected: Lady
+Glistonbury’s illness was an ostensible and, he hoped, would be a
+sufficient excuse for declining the invitation. But Lord Glistonbury
+persisted: “Lady Glistonbury, he was sure, would wish it--nothing would
+be more agreeable to her.” His lordship’s looks appealed to Lady Sarah,
+but Lady Sarah was silent; and, when her father positively required her
+opinion, by adding, “Hey! Sarah?” she rather discouraged than pressed
+the invitation. She said, that though she was persuaded her mother
+would, if she were well, be happy to have the pleasure of seeing Lady
+Mary Vivian; yet she could not, in her mother’s present situation,
+venture to decide how far her health might be able to stand any election
+bustle.
+
+Lady Sarah said this with a very calm voice, but blushed extremely as
+she spoke; and, for the first time, Vivian thought her not absolutely
+plain; and, for the first time, he thought even the formality and
+deliberate coolness of her manner were not disagreeable. He liked her
+more, at this moment, than he had ever imagined it possible he could
+like Lady Sarah Lidhurst; but he liked her chiefly because she did not
+press him into her service, but rather forwarded his earnest wish to get
+away from Glistonbury.
+
+Lord Glistonbury appealed to the physician, and asked whether company
+and amusement were not “the best things possible for his patient?
+Lady Glistonbury should not be left alone, surely! Her mind should be
+interested and amused; and an election would be a fortunate circumstance
+just at present!”
+
+The physician qualified the assent which his lordship’s peremptory tone
+seemed to demand, by saying, “that certainly moderate amusement, and
+whatever interested without agitating her ladyship, would be salutary.”
+ His lordship then declared that he would leave it to Lady Glistonbury
+herself to decide: quitting the end of the room where they were holding
+their consultation, he approached her ladyship to explain the matter.
+But Lady Sarah stopped him, beseeching so earnestly that no appeal might
+be made to her mother, that Vivian was quite moved; and he settled the
+business at once to general satisfaction, by declaring that, though
+neither he nor Lady Mary Vivian could think of intruding as inmates
+at present, yet that they should, as soon as Lady Glistonbury’s health
+would permit, be as much at Glistonbury Castle as possible; and that the
+short distance from his house would make it, he hoped, not inconvenient
+to his lordship for all election business. Lord Glistonbury acceded, and
+Lady Sarah appeared gratefully satisfied. His lordship, who always took
+the task of explanation upon himself, now read the paragraph about the
+dissolution aloud to Lady Glistonbury; informed her, that Lady Mary
+Vivian was coming immediately to the country; and that they should hope
+to see Lady Mary and Mr. Vivian almost every day, though he could
+not prevail upon them to take up their abode during the election
+at Glistonbury. Lady Glistonbury listened, and tried, and seemed to
+understand--bowed to Mr. Vivian and smiled, and said she remembered he
+was often at Glistonbury during the last election--that she was happy
+to hear she should have the pleasure to see Lady Mary Vivian--that some
+people disliked _election times_, but for her part she did not, when she
+was strong. Indeed, the last election she recollected with particular
+pleasure--she was happy that Lord Glistonbury’s interest was of
+service to Mr. Vivian. Then “she hoped his canvass _to-day_ had been
+successful?”--and asked some questions that showed her mind had become
+confused, and that she was confounding the past with the present. Lady
+Sarah and Mr. Vivian said a few words to set her right--she looked
+first at one, and then at the other, listening, and then said--“I
+understand--God bless you both.” Vivian took up his hat, and looked out
+of the window, to see if his carriage was at the door.
+
+“Mr. Vivian wishes you a good morning, madam,” said Lady Sarah: “he is
+going to Castle Vivian, to get things ready for Lady Mary’s arrival.”
+
+“I wish you health and happiness, sir,” said Lady Glistonbury,
+attempting to rise, whilst some painful reminiscence altered her
+countenance.
+
+“Pray do not stir, don’t disturb yourself, Lady Glistonbury. I shall pay
+my respects to your ladyship again as soon as possible.”
+
+“And pray bring me good news of the election, and how the poll stands
+to-morrow, Mr. Vivian,” added her ladyship, as he left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Vivian, who had felt oppressed and almost enslaved by his compassion,
+breathed more freely when he at last found himself in his carriage,
+driving away from Glistonbury. His own castle, and the preparations for
+his mother’s arrival, and for the expected canvass, occupied him so much
+for the ensuing days, that he had scarcely time to think of Lady Julia
+or of Lady Sarah, of Russell or Selina: he could neither reflect on the
+past, nor anticipate the future; the present, the vulgar present,
+full of upholsterers, and paper-hangers, and butlers, and grooms, and
+tenants, and freeholders, and parasites, pressed upon his attention with
+importunate claims. The dissolution of parliament took place. Lady
+Mary Vivian arrived almost as soon as the newspaper that brought this
+intelligence: with her came a new set of thoughts, all centering in
+the notion of her son’s consequence in the world, and of his
+happiness--ideas which were too firmly associated in her mind ever to be
+separated. She said that she had regretted his having made such a long
+stay in the country during the last session, because he had missed
+opportunities of distinguishing himself farther in parliament. The
+preceding session her ladyship had received gratifying compliments on
+her son’s talents, and on the figure he had _already_ made in public
+life; she felt her self-love as well as her affection interested in
+his continuing his political career with spirit and success. “As to the
+present election,” she observed, “there could be little doubt that he
+would be re-elected with the assistance of the Glistonbury interest;
+and,” added her ladyship, smiling significantly, “I fancy your interest
+is pretty strong in that quarter. The world has given you by turns to
+Lady Julia and Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and I am asked continually which of
+the Lady Lidhursts you are in love with. One of these ladies certainly
+must be my daughter-in-law; pray, if you know, empower me to say which.”
+ Lady Mary Vivian spoke but half in earnest, till the extraordinary
+commotion her words created in her son, convinced her that the report
+had not, now at least, been mistaken.
+
+“Next to Miss Selina Sidney,” continued Lady Mary, “who, after her
+positive and long persisted-in refusal, is quite out of the question, I
+have, my dear son, always wished to see you married to one of the
+Lady Lidhursts; and, of course, Lady Julia’s talents, and beauty, and
+youth----”
+
+Vivian interrupted and hastily told his mother that Lady Julia Lidhurst
+was as much out of the question as Miss Sidney could be; for that he had
+offered himself, and had been refused; and that he had every reason to
+believe that the determination of his second mistress against him would
+be at least as absolute and unconquerable as that of his first. His
+mother was in amazement. That her son could be refused by Lady Julia
+Lidhurst appeared a moral and political impossibility, especially when
+the desire for a connexion between the families had been so obvious on
+the side of the Glistonburys. What could be the meaning of this? Lady
+Julia was perhaps under an error, and fancied he was some way engaged to
+Miss Sidney; “or, perhaps,” said Lady Mary, who had a ready wit for
+the invention of delicate distresses, “perhaps there is some difficulty
+about the eldest sister, Lady Sarah; for you know the first winter you
+were given to her.--Ay, that must be the case. I will go to Glistonbury
+to-morrow, and I will have Lady Julia to myself for five minutes: I
+think I have some penetration, and I will know the truth.”
+
+Lady Mary was again surprised, by hearing from her son that Lady
+Julia was not at Glistonbury--that she was gone with her brother into
+Devonshire. So there was a dead silence for some minutes, succeeded by
+an exclamation from Lady Mary, “There is some grand secret here--I
+must know it!” Her ladyship forthwith commenced a close and able
+cross-examination, which Vivian stopped at last by declaring that he
+was not at liberty to speak upon the subject: he knew, he said, that his
+mother was of too honourable and generous a temper to press him farther.
+His mother was perfectly honourable, but at the same time extremely
+curious; and though she continually repeated, “I will not ask you
+another question--I would not upon any account lead you to say a
+syllable that could betray any confidence reposed in you, my dear son;”
+ yet she indulged herself in a variety of ingenious conjectures: “I know
+it is so;” or, “I am sure that I have guessed now, but I don’t ask
+you to tell me.--You do right to deny it.”--Amongst the variety of her
+conjectures, Lady Mary did not find out the truth; she was prepossessed
+by the idea that Russell was attached to Selina Sidney--a secret which
+her own penetration had discovered whilst her son was abroad with
+Mrs. Wharton, and which she thought no mortal living knew but herself.
+Pre-occupied with this notion, Russell was now omitted in all her
+combinations. His having quitted Glistonbury did not create any
+suspicion of the real cause of his sudden departure, because there was
+a sufficient reason for his going to the north to see his sick relation;
+and Lady Mary was too good a philosopher to assign two causes for the
+same event, when she had found one that was adequate to the production
+of the effect. She therefore quietly settled it in her imagination, that
+Lady Julia Lidhurst was going to be married immediately to a certain
+young nobleman, who had been lately at Glistonbury whilst they were
+acting plays. The next day she went with Vivian to Glistonbury Castle;
+for, waiving all the ceremonials of visiting, she was anxious to see
+poor Lady Glistonbury, of whose illness she had been apprised, in
+general terms, by her son. An impulse of curiosity, mixed perhaps with
+motives of regard for her good friend Lady Glistonbury, hastened this
+visit. They found Lady Glistonbury much better; she looked nearly as
+well as she had done before this stroke; and she had now recovered her
+memory, and the full use of her understanding. Vivian observed, that
+she and Lady Sarah were both convinced, by Lady Mary Vivian’s curiosity,
+that he had given no hint of any thing which they did not wish to be
+known: and the pleasurable consciousness of his integrity disposed him
+to be pleased with them. Lord Glistonbury, on his side, was convinced
+that Vivian had behaved honourably with respect to his daughter Julia;
+so all parties were well satisfied with each other. His lordship
+answered Lady Mary Vivian’s inquiries after his son and his daughter
+Julia by saying, that Miss Strictland had just returned to Glistonbury
+with rather more favourable accounts of Lord Lidhurst’s health, and that
+Julia and he were now at his brother the Bishop of ----‘s. Between this
+brother and my Lord Glistonbury there had never been any great intimacy,
+their characters and their politics being very different. The moment
+Lady Mary Vivian heard Lord Glistonbury pronounce, with such unusual
+cordiality, the words, “my brother the bishop,” she recollected that the
+bishop had a very amiable, accomplished, and remarkably handsome son;
+so she arranged directly in her imagination that this was the person to
+whom Lady Julia was engaged. Being now thoroughly convinced that
+this last conjecture was just, she thought no more about Lady Julia’s
+affairs; but turned her attention to Lady Sarah, whose cold and guarded
+manners, however, resisted her utmost penetration. Disappointed in all
+her attempts to lead to sentiment or love, the conversation at last ran
+wholly upon the approaching election, upon the canvass, and the strength
+of the various interests of the county; on all which subjects Lady Sarah
+showed surprisingly exact information. Presently Lord Glistonbury took
+Vivian with him to his study to examine some poll-book, and then
+put into his hands a letter from Lady Julia Lidhurst, which had been
+enclosed in one to himself.
+
+“I told you that I intended to _rusticate_ Julia,” said his lordship,
+“with a poor parson and his wife--relations, distant relations of
+ours in Devonshire; but this plan has been defeated by my foolish good
+brother the bishop. On their journey they passed close by his palace;
+I charged Miss Strictland to be incog.; but they stayed to rest in the
+town, for Lidhurst was fatigued; and some of the bishop’s people found
+them out, and the bishop sent for them, and at last came himself. He was
+so sorry for Lidhurst’s illness, and, as Miss Strictland says, so much
+charmed with Julia, whom he had not seen since she was a child, that he
+absolutely took possession of them; and Julia has made her party good
+with him, for he writes me word he cannot part with her; that I must
+allow her to remain with him; and that they will take all possible care
+of Lyndhurst’s health. I believe I must yield this point to the bishop;
+for altogether it looks better that Julia should be at the palace than
+at the parsonage; and, though my poor brother has not the knowledge of
+the world one could wish, or that is necessary to bring this romantic
+girl back to reason, yet--But I keep you from reading your letter, and
+I see you are impatient--Hey?--very natural!--but, I am afraid, all in
+vain--I’ll leave you in peace. At any rate,” added Lord Glistonbury,
+“you know I have always stood your firm friend in this business; and you
+know I’m discreet.”
+
+Vivian never felt so grateful for any instance of his lordship’s
+friendship and discretion as for that which he gave at this moment, by
+quitting the room, and leaving him in peace to read his letter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+“Before you open this letter, you will have heard, probably, that my
+uncle, the Bishop of ----, has taken me under his protection. I cannot
+sufficiently regret that I was not a few years, a few months, sooner,
+blessed with such a Mentor. I never, till now, knew how much power
+kindness has to touch the mind in the moment of distress; nor did I
+ever, till now, feel how deeply the eloquence of true piety sinks into
+the heart. This excellent friend will, I hope, in time restore me to my
+better self. From the abstraction, the selfishness of passion, I think
+I am already somewhat recovered. After being wholly absorbed by one
+sentiment, I begin to feel again the influence of other motives, and to
+waken to the returning sense of social duty. Among the first objects to
+which, in recovering from this trance, or this fever of the soul, I have
+power to turn my attention, your happiness, sir, next to that of my
+own nearest relations, I find interests me most. After giving you this
+assurance, I trust you will believe that, to insure the felicity, or
+even to restore the health and preserve the life of any relation
+or friend I have upon earth, I should not think myself justified in
+attempting to influence your mind to any thing which I did not sincerely
+and firmly believe would be for your permanent advantage as well as for
+theirs. Under the solemn faith of this declaration, I hope that you will
+listen to me with patience and confidence. From all that I have myself
+seen, and from all that I have heard of your character, I am convinced
+that your wife should be a woman of a disposition precisely opposite, in
+many respects, to mine. Your character is liable to vary, according to
+the situations in which you are placed; and is subject to sudden but
+transient impressions from external circumstances. You have hitherto had
+a friend who has regulated the fluctuations of your passions; now that
+he is separated from you, how much will you feel the loss of his cool
+and steady judgment! Should you not, therefore, in that bosom friend, a
+wife, look for a certain firmness and stability of character, capable
+of resisting, rather than disposed to yield, to sudden impulse; a
+character, not of enthusiasm, but of duty; a mind, which, instead of
+increasing, by example and sympathy, any defects of your own--pardon the
+expression--should correct or compensate these by opposite qualities?
+And supposing that, with such sobriety and strength of character as I
+have described, there should be connected a certain slowness, formality,
+and coldness of manner, which might not at first be attractive to a man
+of your vivacity, let not this repel you: when once you have learned
+to consider this manner as the concomitant and indication of qualities
+essential to your happiness, it would, I am persuaded, become agreeable
+to you; especially as, on nearer observation, you would soon discover
+that, beneath that external coldness, under all that snow and ice, there
+is an accumulated and concentrated warmth of affection.
+
+“Of this, sir, you must lately have seen an example in my own family.
+At the moment when my poor mother was struck with palsy, you saw my
+sister’s energy; and her character, probably, then appeared to you in a
+new point of view. From this burst of latent affection for a parent, you
+may form some idea what the power of the passion of love would be in her
+soul; some idea, I say; for I am persuaded that none but those who
+know her as well as I do can form an adequate notion of the strength of
+attachment of which she is capable.
+
+“You will be surprised, perhaps, sir, to hear me reason so coolly for
+others on a subject where I have acted so rashly for myself; and you
+may feel no inclination to listen to the advice of one who has shown so
+little prudence in her own affairs: therefore, having stated my reasons,
+and suggested my conclusions, I leave you to apply them as you think
+proper; and I shall only add, that the accomplishment of my wishes, on
+this subject, would give me peculiar satisfaction. It would relieve my
+mind from part of a weight of self-reproach. I have made both my parents
+unhappy. I have reason to fear that the shock my mother received, by my
+means, contributed much to her late illness. An event that would
+restore my whole family to happiness must, therefore, be to me the most
+desirable upon earth. I should feel immediate relief and delight, even
+in the hope of contributing to it by any influence I can have over your
+mind. And, independently of the pleasure and pride I should feel
+in securing my sister’s happiness and yours, I should enjoy true
+satisfaction, sir, in that intimate friendship with you, which only the
+ties of such near relationship could permit or justify. You will accept
+of this assurance, instead of the trite and insulting, because unmeaning
+or unsafe, offer of friendship, which ladies sometimes make to those who
+have been their lovers.
+
+“JULIA LIDHURST.
+
+“---- Palace:”
+
+
+At the first reading of this letter, Vivian felt nothing but a renewal
+of regret for having lost all chance of obtaining the affections of the
+person by whom it was written: on a second perusal, he was moved by the
+earnest expression of her wishes for his happiness; and the desire to
+gratify her, on a point on which she was so anxious, influenced him much
+more than any of her arguments. Whatever good sense the letter contained
+was lost upon him; but all the sentiment operated with full force, yet
+not with sufficient power to conquer the repugnance he still felt to
+Lady Sarah’s person and manners. Lord Glistonbury made no inquiries
+concerning the contents of his daughter Julia’s letter; but, as far
+as politeness would permit, he examined Vivian’s countenance when he
+returned to the drawing-room. Lady Glistonbury’s manner was as calm as
+usual; but the slight shake of her head was a sufficient indication
+of her internal feelings. Lady Sarah looked pale, but so perfectly
+composed, that Vivian was convinced she, at least, knew nothing of
+her sister’s letter. So great indeed was the outward composure, and so
+immoveable was Lady Sarah, that it provoked Lady Mary past endurance;
+and as they drove home in the evening, she exclaimed, “I never saw
+such a young woman as Lady Sarah Lidhurst! She is a stick, a stone, a
+statue--she has completely satisfied my mind on one point. I own that
+when I found Lady Julia was out of the question, I did begin to think
+and wish that Lady Sarah might be my daughter-in-law, because she
+has really been so carefully brought up, and the connexion with the
+Glistonbury family is so desirable: then I had a notion, before I saw
+her this morning, that the girl liked you, and might be really capable
+of attachment; but now, indeed, I am convinced of the folly of that
+notion. She has no feeling--none upon earth--scarcely common sense!
+She thinks of nothing but how she holds her elbows. The formality and
+importance with which she went on cutting off ends of worsted from that
+frightful tapestry work, whilst I talked of you, quite put me out of all
+manner of patience. She has no feeling--none upon earth!”
+
+“Oh, ma’am,” said Vivian, “you do her injustice: she certainly has
+feeling--for her mother.”
+
+“Ay, for her mother, may be! a kind of mechanical affection!”
+
+“But, ma’am, if you had seen her at the time that her mother was struck
+with palsy!”
+
+Much to his own surprise, Vivian found himself engaged in a defence, and
+almost in an eulogium upon Lady Sarah; but the injustice of his mother’s
+attack, on this point, was, he knew, so great, that he could not join in
+Lady Mary’s invective.
+
+“Why, my dear Charles!” said she, “do you recollect, on this very road,
+as we were returning from Glistonbury Castle, this time two years, you
+called Lady Sarah a petrifaction?”
+
+“Yes, ma’am; because I did not know her then.”
+
+“Well, my dear, I must have time to analyze her more carefully, and
+I suppose I shall discover, as you have done, that she is not a
+petrifaction. So, then, Lady Sarah really is to be the woman after all.
+I am content, but I absolutely cannot pretend to like her--I like the
+connexion, however; and the rest is your affair.--You haven’t proposed
+yet?”
+
+“Bless me! no, ma’am! God forbid! How fast your imagination goes, my
+dear mother!--Is there no difference between saying, that a woman is not
+a petrifaction, and being in love with her?”
+
+“In love! I never said a word about being in love--I know that’s
+impossible--I asked only if you had proposed for her?”
+
+“Dear ma’am, no!”
+
+Lady Mary expressed her satisfaction; and, perhaps, the injustice with
+which she continued, for some days, to asperse Lady Sarah Lidhurst, as
+being unfeeling, served her more, in Vivian’s opinion, than any other
+mode in which she could have spoken of her ladyship. Still he felt glad
+that he had not _yet proposed_. He had not courage either to recede or
+advance; circumstances went on, and carried him along with them, without
+bringing him to any decision. The business of the election proceeded;
+every day Lord Glistonbury was with him, or he was at Glistonbury
+Castle; every hour he saw more plainly the expectations that were
+formed: sometimes he felt that he was inevitably doomed to fulfil these,
+and at other times he cherished the hope that Lady Julia would soon
+return home, and that, by some fortunate revolution, she might yet be
+his. He had not now the advantage of Russell’s firmness to support
+him in this emergency. Russell’s answer to his letter was so coolly
+determined, and he so absolutely declined interfering farther in his
+affairs, that Vivian saw no hopes of regaining his friendship, or of
+benefiting by his counsels. Thus was Vivian in all the helplessness
+and all the horrors of indecision, when an event took place, which
+materially changed the face of affairs in the Glistonbury family. Just
+at the time when the accounts of his health were the most favourable,
+and when his friends were deceived by the most sanguine hopes of his
+recovery, Lord Lidhurst died. His mother was the only person in
+the family who was prepared for this catastrophe: they dreaded to
+communicate the intelligence to her, lest it should bring on another
+attack of her dreadful malady; but to their astonishment, she heard it
+with calm resignation,--said she had long foreseen this calamity, and
+that she submitted to the will of Heaven. After pity for the parents who
+lost this amiable and promising young man, heir to this large fortune
+and to this splendid title, people began to consider what change would
+be made in the condition of the rest of the family. The Lady Lidhursts,
+from _being very small fortunes_, became heiresses to a large
+estate. The earldom of Glistonbury was to devolve to a nephew of Lord
+Glistonbury, in case the Lady Lidhursts should not marry, or should not
+have heirs male; but, in case they should marry, the title was to go
+to the first son. All these circumstances were of course soon known and
+talked of in the neighbourhood; and many congratulated Vivian upon the
+great accession of fortune, and upon the high expectations of the lady
+to whom they supposed him engaged.
+
+On the first visit which Vivian and his mother paid after the death of
+Lord Lidhurst at Glistonbury Castle, they found there a young man very
+handsome, but of a dark, reserved countenance, whose physiognomy and
+manner immediately prepossessed them against him; on his part, he seemed
+to eye them with suspicion, and to be particularly uneasy whenever
+Vivian either mentioned the election or approached Lady Sarah. This
+young man was Mr. Lidhurst, Lord Glistonbury’s nephew and heir-at-law.
+It was obvious, almost at first sight, that the uncle disliked the
+nephew; but it was not so easy to perceive that the nephew despised the
+uncle. Mr. Lidhurst, though young, was an excellent politician; and his
+feelings were always regulated by his interests. He had more abilities
+than Lord Glistonbury, less vanity, but infinitely more ambition. In
+Lord Glistonbury, ambition was rather affected, as an air suited to
+his rank, and proper to increase his consequence: Mr. Lidhurst’s was an
+earnest, inordinate ambition, yet it was cold, silent, and calculating;
+his pride preyed upon him inwardly, but it never hurried him into saying
+or doing an extravagant thing. Those who were not actuated solely
+by ambition, he always looked upon as fools, and those who were, he
+considered, in general, as knaves: the one he marked as dupes, the other
+as rivals. He had been at the Bishop of ----‘s, during Lord Lidhurst’s
+illness, and at the time of his death. Ever since Lady Julia’s arrival
+at the bishop’s, he had foreseen the probability of this event, and had,
+in consequence of the long-sightedness of his views, endeavoured to make
+himself agreeable to her. He found this impossible; but was, however,
+easily consoled by hearing that she had resolved never to marry; he only
+hoped that she would keep her resolution; and he was now at Glistonbury
+Castle, in the determination to propose for his other cousin, Lady
+Sarah, who would, perhaps, equally well secure to him his objects.
+
+“Well! my dear Vivian,” said Lord Glistonbury, drawing him aside, “how
+d’ye relish my nephew, Marmaduke Lidhurst? Need not be afraid to speak
+the truth, for I tell you at once that he is no particular favourite
+here; not _en bonne odeur_; but that’s only between you and me. He
+thinks that I don’t know that he considers me as a shallow fellow,
+because I haven’t my head crammed with a parcel of statistical tables,
+all the fiscal and financiering stuff which he has at his calculating
+fingers’ ends; but I trust that I am almost as good a politician as he
+is, and I’m free to believe, have rather more knowledge of the world--
+
+     ‘In men, not books, experienced was my lord’--
+
+Hey? Hey, Vivian? and can see through him with half an eye, I can tell
+him.--Wants to get Lady Sarah--Yes, yes; but never came near us till we
+lost my poor boy--he won’t win Lady Sarah either, or I’m much mistaken.
+Did you observe how jealous he was of you?--Right!--right!--he has
+penetration!--Stay, stay! you don’t know Marmaduke yet--don’t know half
+his schemes. How his brow clouded when we were talking of the election!
+I must hint to you, he has been sounding me upon that matter; he has a
+great mind to stand for this county--talks of starting at the first day
+of the poll. I told him it could not do, as I was engaged to you. He
+answered, that of course was only a conditional promise, in case none of
+my own relations stood. I fought shy, and he pressed confoundedly.--Gad!
+he would put me in a very awkward predicament, if he was really to
+stand! for you know what the world would say, if they saw me opposing
+my own nephew, a rising young man, and not for a relation either; and
+Marmaduke Lidhurst is just your deep fellow to plan such a thing
+and execute it, not caring at what or whose expense. I can tell him,
+however, I am not a man to be bullied out of my interest, or to be
+outwitted either.--Stand firm, Vivian, my good friend, and I’ll stand
+by you; depend on me!--I only wish----” Here his lordship paused. “But
+I cannot say more to you now; for here is my precious heir-at-law coming
+to break up the confederacy. I’ll ride over and see you to-morrow;--now,
+let us all be mute before Marmaduke, our master politician, as becomes
+us--Hey! Vivian? Hey?”
+
+Notwithstanding this sort of jealousy of Marmaduke, and the bravadoing
+style in which Lord Glistonbury spoke of him, he spoke to him in a very
+different manner: it was apparent to Vivian that his lordship was
+under some awe of his nephew, and that, whilst he cherished this secret
+dislike, he dreaded coming to any open rupture with a man who was, as
+his lordship apprehended, so well able to make his own party good in the
+world. When Marmaduke did emerge from that depth of thought in which he
+generally seemed to be sunk, and when he did condescend to converse,
+or rather to speak, his theme was always of persons in power, or his
+sarcasms against those who never would obtain it; from any one thing he
+asserted, it could never be proved, but, from all he said, it might
+be inferred, that he valued human qualities and talents merely as they
+could, or could not, obtain a price in the political market. The power
+of speaking in public, as it is a means in England of acquiring all
+other species of power, he deemed the first of Heaven’s gifts; and
+successful parliamentary speakers were the only persons of whom he
+expressed admiration. As Vivian had spoken, and had been listened to
+in the House of Commons, he was in this respect an object of Marmaduke
+Lidhurst’s envy; but this envy was mitigated by contempt for our hero’s
+want of perseverance in ambition.
+
+“There is that Mr. Vivian of yours,” said he to his uncle, whilst Vivian
+was gone to talk to the ladies--“you’ll find he will be but a woman’s
+man, after all!--Heavens! with his fluency in public, what I would
+have done by this time of day! This poor fellow has no consistency of
+ambition--no great views--no reach of mind. Put him in for a borough,
+and he would be just as well content as if he carried the county. You’ll
+see he will, after another session or two, cut out, and retire without a
+pension, and settle down into a mere honest country gentleman. He would
+be no connexion to increase the consequence of your family. Lady Sarah
+Lidhurst would be quite lost with such a nobody! Her ladyship, I am
+convinced, has too much discrimination, and values herself too highly,
+to make such a _missy_ match.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury coughed, and cleared his throat, and blew his nose,
+and seemed to suffer extremely, but chiefly under the repression of his
+usual loquacity. Nothing could be at once a greater proof of his respect
+for his nephew’s abilities, and of his lordship’s dislike to him, than
+this unnatural silence. Mr. Lidhurst’s compliments on Lady Sarah’s
+discrimination seemed, however, to be premature, and unmerited; for,
+during the course of this day, she treated all the vast efforts of her
+cousin Marmaduke’s gallantry with haughty neglect, and showed, what
+she had never before suffered to be visible in her manner, a marked
+preference for Mr. Vivian’s conversation. The sort of emulation which
+Mr. Lidhurst’s rivalship produced increased the value of the object;
+she, for whom there was a contention, immediately became a prize. Vivian
+was both provoked and amused by the alternate contempt and jealousy
+which Mr. Lidhurst betrayed; this gentleman’s desire to keep him out
+of the Glistonbury family, and to supplant him in Lady Sarah’s favour,
+piqued him to prove his influence, and determined him to maintain
+his ground. Insensibly, Vivian’s attentions to the lady became more
+vivacious; and he was vain of showing the ease, taste, and elegance of
+his gallantry; and he was flattered by the idea, that all the spectators
+perceived both its superiority and its success. Lady Sarah, whose
+manners had much improved since the departure of Miss Strictland, was
+so much embellished by our hero’s attentions, that he thought her quite
+charming. He had been prepared to expect fire under the ice, but he was
+agreeably surprised by this sudden spring of flowers from beneath the
+snow. The carriage was at the door in the evening, and had waited half
+an hour, before he was aware that it was time to depart.
+
+“You are right, my dear son!” Lady Mary began, the r moment they were
+seated in the carriage; “you are quite right, and I was quite wrong,
+about Lady Sarah Lidhurst: she has feeling, indeed--strong, generous
+feeling--and she shows it at the proper time: a fine, decided character!
+Her manners, to-day, so easy, and her countenance so animated, really
+she looked quite handsome, and I think her a charming woman.--What
+changes love can make!--Well, now I am satisfied: this is what I always
+wished--connexion, family, fortune, every thing; and the very sort of
+character you require in a wife,--the very person, of all others, that
+is suited to you!”
+
+“If she were but a little more like her sister--or Selina Sidney
+_even!_” said Vivian, with a sigh.
+
+“That very word _even_--your saying like Selina Sidney _even_--shows
+that you have not much cause for sighing: for you see how quickly
+the mere fancy in these matters changes--and you may love Lady Sarah
+presently, as much as you loved _even_ Lady Julia.”
+
+“Impossible! ma’am.”
+
+“Impossible! Why, my dear Charles, you astonish me! for you cannot but
+see the views and expectations of all the family, and of the young lady
+herself; and your attentions to-day were such as could bear but one
+construction.”
+
+“Were they, ma’am? I was not aware of that at the time--that is, I did
+not mean to engage myself--Good Heavens! surely I am not engaged?--You
+know a man is not bound, like a woman, by a few foolish words;
+compliments and gallantry are not such serious things with us men. Men
+never consider themselves engaged to a woman till they make an absolute
+proposal.”
+
+“I know that is a common maxim with young men of the present day, but I
+consider it as dishonourable and base; and very sorry should I be to see
+it adopted by my son!” cried Lady Mary indignantly. “Ask your friend
+Mr. Russell’s opinion on this point: he long ago told you--I know he
+did--that if you had not serious thoughts of Lady Sarah Lidhurst, you
+would do very wrong, after all the reports that have gone abroad, to
+continue your intimacy with the Glistonburys, and thus to deceive her
+and her whole family--I only appeal to Mr. Russell;--will you ask your
+friend Russell’s opinion?”
+
+Vivian sighed again deeply for the loss of his friend Russell; but as he
+could not, without touching upon Lady Julia’s affairs, explain the cause
+of the coolness between him and his friend, he answered only, “that an
+appeal to Mr. Russell was unnecessary when he had his mother’s opinion.”
+ Lady Mary’s wish for the Glistonbury _connexion_ fortified her morality
+at this moment, and she replied, “Then my decided opinion is, that
+it would be an immoral and dishonourable action to break such a tacit
+engagement as this, which you have voluntarily contracted, and which you
+absolutely could not break without destroying the peace and happiness of
+a whole family. Even that cold Lady Glistonbury grew quite warm to-day;
+and you must see the cause.--And in Lady Glistonbury’s state of health,
+who could answer for the consequences of any disappointment about her
+favourite daughter, just after the loss of her son, too?”
+
+“No more, mother, for Heaven’s sake! I see it all--I feel it all--I must
+marry Lady Sarah, then.--By what fatality am I doomed, am I forced
+to marry a woman whom I cannot love, whose person and manners are
+peculiarly disagreeable to me, and when I’m half in love with another
+woman!”
+
+“That would be a shocking thing, indeed,” said Lady Mary, retracting,
+and alarmed; for now another train of associations was wakened, and she
+judged not by her worldly, but by her romantic system.--“I am sure I
+would not, upon any account, urge you to act against your feelings. I
+would not be responsible for such a marriage, if you are really in love
+with her sister, and if Lady Sarah’s person and manners are peculiarly
+and absolutely disagreeable to you. I should do a very wicked
+action--should destroy my son’s happiness and morals, perhaps, by
+insisting on such a marriage--Heaven forbid!” (A silence of a mile and
+a half long ensued.) “But, Charles, after all I saw to-day, how can I
+believe that Lady Sarah is so disagreeable to you?”
+
+“Ma’am, she happened not to be absolutely disagreeable to me to-day.”
+
+“Oh! well! then she may not happen to be disagreeable to you to-morrow,
+or the next day, or ever again!--And, as to the fancy for her sister,
+when all hope is over, you know love soon dies of itself.”
+
+So ended the conversation.--The next morning, at an unusual hour, Lord
+Glistonbury made his appearance at Castle Vivian, with an air of great
+vexation and embarrassment: he endeavoured to speak of trivial topics;
+but, one after another, these subjects dropped. Then Lady Mary, who saw
+that he was anxious to speak to her son, soon took occasion to withdraw,
+not without feeling some curiosity, and forming many conjectures, as to
+the object his lordship might have in view in this conference.
+
+Lord Glistonbury’s countenance exhibited, in quick alternation, a look
+of absolute determination and of utter indecision. At length, with
+abrupt effort, he said, “Vivian, have you seen the papers to-day?”
+
+“The newspapers?--yes!--no!--They are on the table--I did not look at
+them--Is there any thing extraordinary?”
+
+“Yes, faith!--extraordinary, very extraordinary!--But it is not here--it
+is not there--this is not the right paper--it is not in your paper.
+That’s extraordinary, too”--(then feeling in both pockets)--“I was a
+fool not to bring it with me--May be I have it--Yes, here it is!--Not
+public news, but private.”
+
+Vivian was all expectation, for he imagined that something about Lady
+Julia was coming. Lord Glistonbury, who, in his commerce with public
+men, had learned the art of paying in words, to gain time when in danger
+of a bankruptcy of ideas, went on, stringing sentences together, without
+much meaning, whilst he was collecting his thoughts and studying the
+countenance of his auditor.
+
+“You recollect my suggestions the last time I had the honour of speaking
+to you on a particular subject. I confess, Mr. Lidhurst’s conduct does
+not meet my ideas of propriety; but other persons are free to form what
+judgment they think fit upon the occasion. I shall submit the matter to
+you, Mr. Vivian, feeling myself called upon to come forward immediately
+to explain it to your satisfaction; and I do not fear to commit myself,
+by stating at once my sentiments, and the light in which it strikes me;
+for there must be some decision shown, somehow or other, and on some
+side or other.----Decision is all in all in public business, as
+the great Bacon or somebody says--and nobody knows that better than
+Marmaduke.”
+
+Here his lordship grew warm, and quitting his parliamentary cant,
+assumed his familiar style.
+
+“Gad! he has stolen a march upon us--out-generalled us--but, in
+my private opinion, not in the handsomest style possible--Hey,
+Vivian?--Hey?”
+
+“My dear lord, I have not heard the fact yet,” said Vivian.
+
+“Oh! the fact is simply--Look here, he has without my encouragement
+or concurrence--and, indeed, as he very well knew, contrary to my
+approbation and wishes--gone, and declared himself candidate for this
+county; and here’s his fine flourishing, patriotic, damned advertisement
+in the paper--‘To the gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of the
+county.’----Gad! how it startled me this morning! When I first saw it
+I rubbed my eyes, and could hardly believe it was Marmaduke. Though I
+pique myself on knowing a man’s style at the first line, yet I could not
+have believed it was his, unless I had seen his name at full
+length in these great abominable characters--‘John Marmaduke
+Lidhurst.’--‘Glastonbury Castle!’ too--as if I had countenanced the
+thing, or had promised my support; when he knew, that but yesterday I
+was arguing the point with him in my study, and told him I was engaged
+to you. Such an ungentlemanlike trick!--for you know it reduces me
+to the dilemma of supporting a man who is only my friend, against my
+nearest relation by blood, which, of course, would have an odd and
+awkward appearance in the eyes of the world!”
+
+Vivian expressed much concern for his lordship’s difficulties; but
+observed that the world would be very unjust if it blamed him, and he
+was sure his lordship had too much decision of character.
+
+“But, independently of the world,” interrupted his lordship, “even in
+our own family, amongst all the Lidhursts and their remotest connexions,
+there would be quite a league formed against me; and these family
+quarrels are ugly affairs; for though our feudal times are done away,
+party clanships have succeeded to feudal clanships; and we chiefs of
+parties must keep our followers in good humour, or we are nothing in
+the _field_--I should say _in the house_--Ha! ha! ha!----I laugh, but it
+is a very serious business; for Marmaduke Lidhurst would be, in private
+or public, an impracticable enemy. Marmaduke’s a fellow capable of
+inextinguishable hatred; and he is everywhere, and knows every body,
+of all the clubs, a rising young man, who is listened to, and who would
+make his story credited. And then, with one’s nephew, one can’t settle
+these things in _an honourable way_--these family quarrels must be
+arranged amicably, not honourably; and that’s the difficulty: the laws
+of honour are dead letters in these cases, and the laws of the land do
+not reach these niceties of feeling.----But of the most important fact
+you are still to be apprised.”
+
+“Indeed!” cried Vivian.
+
+“Yes, you have not yet heard Marmaduke’s master-stroke of policy!”
+
+“No!--What is it, my lord?--I am all attention--pray explain it to me.”
+
+“But there’s the delicacy--there’s the difficulty!--No, no, no.--Upon
+my soul, I cannot name it!” cried Lord Glistonbury. “It revolts my
+feelings--all my feelings--as a man, as a gentleman, as a father. Upon
+my honour, as a peer, I would speak if I could; but, for the soul of me,
+I cannot.”
+
+“You know, my dear lord,” said Vivian, “there can be no delicacies
+or difficulties with me; your lordship has done me the honour to live
+always on such a footing of intimacy with me, that surely there is not
+any thing you cannot say to me!”
+
+“Why, that’s true,” said Lord Glistonbury, quitting his affected air
+of distress, and endeavouring to throw off his real feeling of
+embarrassment: “you are right, my dear Vivian! we are certainly upon
+terms of such intimacy, that I ought not to be so scrupulous. But there
+are certain things, a well-born, well-bred man--in short, it would look
+so like--But, in fact, I am driven to the wall, and I must defend myself
+as well as I can against this nephew of mine--I know it will look
+like the most horrible thing upon earth, like what I would rather be
+decapitated than do--I know it will look, absolutely, as if I came
+here to ask you to marry my daughter,--which, you know, is a thing no
+gentleman could have the most remotely in his contemplation; but, since
+I am so pressed, I must tell you the exact truth, and explain to you,
+however difficult, Marmaduke’s master-stroke----he has proposed for Lady
+Sarah; and has had the assurance to ask me whether there is or is not
+any truth in certain reports which he is pleased to affirm have gone
+abroad--Heaven knows how or why!----And he urges me--the deep dog! for
+his cousin’s sake, to contradict those reports, in the only effectual
+manner, by a temporary cessation of the intimate intercourse between
+Castle Vivian and Glistonbury Castle, whilst Lady Sarah remains
+unmarried; or, if our master politician would speak plainly, till he has
+married her himself.----At any rate, I have spoken frankly, Vivian, hey?
+you’ll allow; and I am entitled both to a candid interpretation of my
+motives, and to equal frankness of reply.”
+
+Whilst his lordship had been speaking, compassion, gratitude, vanity,
+rivalship, honour, Lady Mary Vivian’s conversation, Lady Julia’s letter,
+then again the _connexion_, the earldom in future, the present triumph
+or disappointment about the election, the insolent intrusion of Mr.
+Lidhurst, the cruelty of abandoning a lady who was in love with him, the
+dishonour, the impossibility of receding after _certain reports_; all
+these ideas, in rapid succession, pressed on Vivian’s mind: and his
+decision was in consequence of the feelings and of the embarrassment of
+the moment. His reply to Lord Glistonbury was a proposal for Lady Sarah,
+followed by as many gallant protestations as his presence of mind
+could furnish. He did not very well know what he said, nor did Lord
+Glistonbury scrupulously examine whether he had the air and accent of
+a true lover, nor did his lordship inquire what had become of Vivian’s
+late love for Lady Julia; but, quite content that the object should be
+altered, the desire the same, he relieved Vivian by exclaiming, “Come,
+come, all this sort of thing Lady Sarah herself must hear; and I’ve
+a notion--but I can keep a secret. You’ll return with me directly to
+Glistonbury. Lady Glistonbury will be delighted to see you; and I shall
+be delighted to see Marmaduke’s face, when I tell him you have actually
+proposed for Sarah--for now I must tell you all. Our politician
+calculated upon the probability that you would not decide, you see,
+to make a proposal at once, that would justify me to the world in
+supporting my son-in-law against my nephew. As to the choice of the
+son-in-law, Sarah settles that part of the business herself, you know;
+for, when two proposals are made, both almost equally advantageous, in
+the common acceptation of the word, I am too good a father not to
+leave the decision to my daughter. So you see we understand one another
+perfectly, and will make Marmaduke, too, understand us perfectly,
+contrary to his calculations, hey, hey?----Mr. Politician, your
+advertisement must be withdrawn, I opine, in the next paper--hey,
+Vivian? my dear Vivian!”
+
+With similar loquacity, Lord Glistonbury continued, in the fulness of
+his heart, all the way they went together to Glistonbury Castle; which
+was agreeable to Vivian, at least by saving him from all necessity of
+speaking.
+
+“So!” said Vivian to himself, “the die is cast, and I have actually
+proposed for Lady Sarah Lidhurst!--Who would have expected this two
+years ago?--I would not have believed it, if it had been foretold to
+me even two months ago. But it is a very--a very suitable match, and
+it will please the friends of both parties; and Lady Sarah is certainly
+very estimable, and capable of very strong attachment; and I like her,
+that is, I liked her yesterday very much--I really like her.”
+
+Upon those mixed motives, between convenience and affection, from which,
+Dr. Johnson says, most people marry, our hero commenced his courtship of
+the Lady Sarah Lidhurst. As the minds of both parties on the subject are
+pretty well known to our readers, it would be cruel to fatigue them
+with a protracted description of the formalities of courtship. It is
+sufficient to say, that my Lord Glistonbury had the satisfaction of
+seeing his nephew disappointed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+“And the marriage was solemnized with much pomp and magnificence, and
+every demonstration of joy.”
+
+Novelists and novel readers are usually satisfied when they arrive
+at this happy catastrophe; their interest and curiosity seldom go any
+farther: but, in real life, marriage is but the beginning of domestic
+happiness or misery.
+
+Soon after the celebration of Vivian’s nuptials, an event happened which
+interrupted all the festivities at Glistonbury, and which changed the
+bridal pomp to mourning. Lady Glistonbury, who had been much fatigued by
+the multitude of wedding-visits she was obliged to receive and return,
+had another stroke of the palsy, which, in a few hours, terminated
+fatally. Thus, the very event which Vivian had dreaded, as the probable
+consequence of his refusal to marry her daughter, was, in fact,
+accelerated by the full accomplishment of her wishes. After the loss
+of her mother, Lady Sarah Vivian’s whole soul seemed to be engrossed by
+fondness for her husband. In public, and to all eyes but Vivian’s, her
+ladyship seemed much the same person as formerly: but, in private, the
+affection she expressed for him was so great, that he frequently asked
+himself whether this could be the same woman, who, to the rest of
+the world, and in every other part of her life, appeared so cold and
+inanimate. On a very few occasions her character, before her marriage,
+had, “when much enforced, given out a hasty spark, and straight was
+cold again;” but now she permitted the steady flame to burn without
+restraint. Duty and passion had now the same object. Before marriage,
+her attachment had been suppressed, even at the hazard of her life; she
+had no idea that the private demonstrations of unbounded love from a
+married woman to her husband could be either blameable or dangerous: she
+believed it to be her duty to love her husband as much as she possibly
+could.--Was not he her husband? She had been taught that she should
+neither read, speak, nor think of love; and she had been so far too much
+restricted on this subject, that, absolutely ignorant and unconscious
+even of her danger, she now pursued her own course without chart or
+compass. Her injudicious tenderness soon imposed such restraint upon
+her husband, as scarcely any lover, much less any husband, could have
+patiently endured. She would hardly ever suffer him to leave her.
+Whenever he went out of the house, she exacted from him a promise that
+he would _be back again_ at a certain hour; and if he were even a
+few minutes later than his appointment, he had to sustain her fond
+reproaches. Even though he stayed at home all day, she was uneasy if
+he quitted the room where she sat; and he, who by this time understood,
+through all her exterior calmness, the symptoms of her internal
+agitation, saw by her countenance that she was wretched if he seemed
+interested in the conversation of any other person, especially of any
+other woman.
+
+One day when Vivian, after spending the morning _tête-à-tête_ with Lady
+Sarah, signified to her his intention of dining abroad, she repeated her
+fond request that he would be sure to come home early, and that he would
+tell her at what o’clock exactly she might expect to see him again. He
+named an hour at hazard, to free himself from her importunate anxiety;
+but he could not help saying, “Pshaw!” as he ran down stairs; an
+exclamation which fortunately reached only the ears of a groom, who was
+thinking of nothing but the tops of his own boots. Vivian happened to
+meet some agreeable people where he dined: he was much pressed to stay
+to supper; he yielded to entreaty, but he had the good-natured attention
+to send home his servant, to beg that Lady Sarah and his mother would
+not sit up for him. When he returned, he found all the family in bed
+except Lady Sarah, who was sitting up waiting for him, with her watch
+in her hand. The moment he appeared, she assailed him with tender
+reproaches, to which he answered, “But why would you sit up when I
+begged you would not, my dear Lady Sarah?”
+
+She replied by a continuity of fond reproach; and among other things she
+said, but without believing it to be true, “Ah! I am sure you would have
+been happier if you had married my sister Julia, or _that_ Miss Sidney!”
+
+Vivian sighed deeply; but the next instant, conscious that he had
+sighed, and afraid of giving his wife pain, he endeavoured to turn the
+course of her thoughts to some other subject. In vain. Poor Lady Sarah
+said no more, but felt this exquisitely, and with permanent anguish.
+Thus her imprudence reverted upon herself, and she suffered
+in proportion to her pride and to her fondness. By such slight
+circumstances is the human heart alienated from love! Struggling to
+be free, the restive little deity ruffles and impairs his plumage, and
+seldom recovers a disposition to tranquillity. Vivian’s good-nature had
+induced him for some time to submit to restraint; but if, instead of
+weakly yielding to the fond importunity of his wife--if, instead of
+tolerating the insipidity of her conversation and the narrowness of
+her views, he had with real energy employed her capacity upon suitable
+objects, he might have made her attachment the solace of his life.
+Whoever possesses the heart of a woman, who has common powers of
+intellect, may improve her understanding in twelve months more than
+could all the masters, and lectures, and courses of philosophy, and
+abridgments, and _documenting_ in the universe. But Vivian had not
+sufficient resolution for such an undertaking: he thought only of
+avoiding to give or to feel present pain; and the consequences were,
+that the evils he dreaded every day increased.
+
+Vivian’s mother saw the progress of conjugal discontent with anguish and
+remorse.
+
+“Alas!” said she to herself, “I was much to blame for pressing this
+match. My son told me he could never love Lady Sarah Lidhurst. It would
+have been better far to have broken off a marriage at the church-door
+than to have forced the completion of such an ill-assorted union.
+My poor son married chiefly from a principle of honour; his duty and
+respect for my opinion had also great weight in his decision; and I have
+sacrificed his happiness to my desire that he should make what the world
+calls a splendid alliance. I am the cause of all his misery; and Heaven
+only knows where all this will end!”
+
+In her paroxysm of self-reproach, and her eagerness to _set things to
+rights_ between her daughter-in-law and her son, she only made matters
+worse. She spoke with all the warmth and frankness of her own character
+to Lady Sarah, beseeching her to speak with equal openness, and to
+explain the cause of the _alteration_ in Vivian.
+
+“I do not know what you mean, madam, by alteration in Mr. Vivian!”
+
+“Is not there some disagreement between you, my dear?”
+
+“There is no disagreement whatever, madam, as far as I know, between Mr.
+Vivian and me--we agree perfectly,” said Lady Sarah.
+
+“Well, the _misunderstanding_!”
+
+“I do not know of any _misunderstanding_, madam. Mr. Vivian and I
+understand one another perfectly.”
+
+“The _coolness_, then--Oh! what word shall I use!--Surely, my dear Lady
+Sarah, there is some _coolness_--something wrong?”
+
+“I am sure, madam, I do not complain of any coolness on Mr. Vivian’s
+part. Am I to understand that he complains to your ladyship of any thing
+wrong on mine? If he does, I shall think it my duty, when he points out
+the particulars, to make any alteration he may desire in my conduct and
+manners.”
+
+“Complain!--My son!--He makes no _complaints_, my dear. You
+misunderstand me. My son does not complain that any thing is wrong on
+your part.”
+
+“Then, madam, if no complaints are made on either side, all is as it
+should be, I presume, at present; and if in future I should fail in any
+point of duty, I shall hold myself obliged to your ladyship if you will
+then act as my monitor.”
+
+Hopeless of penetrating Lady Sarah’s sevenfold fence of pride, the
+mother flew to her son, to try what could be done with his open and
+generous mind. He expressed a most earnest and sincere wish to make
+his wife happy. Conscious that he had given her exquisite pain, he
+endeavoured to make atonement by the sacrifices which he thought
+would be most grateful to her. He refrained often from company and
+conversation that was agreeable to him, and would resign himself for
+hours to her society. It was fortunate for Lady Julia Lidhurst that,
+by continuing with her good uncle the bishop, she did not see the
+consequences of the union which she had so strenuously advised. The
+advice of friends is often highly useful to prevent an imprudent match;
+but it seldom happens that marriages turn out happily which have been
+made from the opinion of others rather than from the judgment and
+inclinations of the parties concerned; for, let the general reasons
+on which the advice is grounded be ever so sensible, it is scarcely
+possible that the adviser can take in all the little circumstances
+of taste and temper, upon which so much of the happiness or misery of
+domestic life depends. Besides, people are much more apt to repent of
+having been guided by the judgment of another than of having followed
+their own; and this is most likely to be the case with the weakest
+minds. Strong minds can decide for themselves, not by the opinions but
+by the reasons that are laid before them: weak minds are influenced
+merely by opinions; and never, either before or after their decision,
+are firm in abiding by the preponderating reasons.
+
+No letters, no intelligence from home, except a malicious hint now
+and then from her cousin Marmaduke, which she did not credit, gave her
+reason to suspect that the pair whom she had contributed to unite were
+not perfectly happy. So Lady Julia exulted in the success of her past
+counsels, and indulged her generous romantic disposition in schemes for
+forwarding a union between Russell and Selina, determining to divide her
+fortune amongst the children of her friends. She concluded one of her
+letters to Lady Sarah Vivian about this time with these words:--
+
+
+“Could I but see _one other person_,--whom I must not name, rewarded for
+his virtues, as you are, by happy love, I should die content, and would
+write on my tomb:--
+
+     ‘Je ne fus point heureux, mais j’ai fait leur bonheur.” [10]
+
+Far removed from all romance and all generosity of sentiment, Lord
+Glistonbury, in the mean time, went on very comfortably, without
+observing any thing that passed in his family. Whatever uneasiness
+obtruded upon his attention he attributed to one cause, anxiety relative
+to the question on which his present thoughts were exclusively fixed,
+viz. whether Lady Sarah’s first child would be a boy or a girl. “Heaven
+grant a boy!” said his lordship; “for then, you know, there’s an end
+of Marmaduke as heir-at-law!” Whenever his lordship saw a cloud on the
+brows of Lady Mary, of Lady Sarah, or of Vivian, he had one infallible
+charm for dispelling melancholy;--he stepped up close to the patient,
+and whispered, “It will be a boy!--My life upon it, it will be a boy!”
+ Sometimes it happened that this universal remedy, applied at random,
+made the patient start or smile; and then his lordship never failed to
+add, with a nod of great sagacity, “Ah! you didn’t know I knew what you
+were thinking of!--Well! well! you’ll see we shall cut out Marmaduke
+yet.”
+
+With this hope of cutting out Marmaduke, Lord Glistonbury went on very
+happily, and every day grew fonder of the son-in-law, who was the enemy
+of his heir-at-law, or whom he considered as such. The easiness of
+Vivian’s temper was peculiarly agreeable to his lordship, who enjoyed
+the daily pleasure of governing a man of talents which were far superior
+to his own. This easiness of temper in our hero was much increased by
+the want of motive and stimulus. He thought that he had now lost his
+chance of happiness; he cared little for the more or less pain of
+each succeeding day; and so passive was his listlessness, that to
+a superficial observer, like Lord Glistonbury, it looked like the
+good-nature of perfect content.--Poor Vivian!--In this wreck of his
+happiness, one saving chance, however, yet remained. He had still a
+public character; he was conscious of, having preserved unblemished
+integrity as a member of the senate; and this integrity, still more than
+his oratorical talents, raised him far above most of his competitors,
+and preserved him not only in the opinion of others, but in his own.
+When parliament met, he went to town, took a very handsome house for
+Lady Sarah, determining to do all he could to oblige and please the
+wife whom he could not love. Lady Sarah had complete power, at home
+and abroad, of her time and her expenses: her dress, her equipages,
+her servants, her whole establishment, were above Vivian’s fortune, and
+equal to her ladyship’s birth and rank. She was mistress of every thing
+but of his heart. The less he liked her, the more he endeavoured to
+compensate for this involuntary fault, by allowing her that absolute
+dominion, and that external splendour, which he thought would gratify,
+and perhaps fill her mind. As for himself, he took refuge in the House
+of Commons. There he forgot for a time domestic uneasiness, and was
+truly animated by what so many affect--zeal for the good of his country.
+He was proud to recollect, that the profligate Wharton had failed in
+the attempt to laugh him out of his public virtue; he was proud that
+Wharton’s prophecies of his apostasy had never been accomplished; that,
+as a public! character at least, he had fulfilled the promise of his
+early youth, and was still worthy of himself, and of that friend whom he
+had lost. He clung to this idea, as to the only hope left him in life.
+
+One night, in a debate on some question of importance, he made an
+excellent speech, which was particularly well received by the house,
+because it came from one who had an unblemished character. When
+Vivian went into the coffee-room to refresh himself, after he had done
+speaking, several of his acquaintance crowded round him, complimenting
+him upon his success--he broke from them all! for he saw, advancing
+towards him with a smile of approbation, the friend on whose approbation
+he set a higher value than he did even on the applauses of the
+house--the friend whose lost affection he had so long and so bitterly
+regretted. Russell stretched out his hand--Vivian eagerly seized
+it; and, before they had either of them spoken one word, they both
+understood each other perfectly, and their reconciliation was completely
+effected.
+
+“Yes,” said Russell, as they walked out arm in arm together, “yes, it
+is fit that I should forget all private resentment, in the pride and
+pleasure I feel, not merely in your public success, but in your public
+virtue. Talents, even the rare talent of oratory, you know, I hold
+cheap in comparison with that which is so far more rare, as well as more
+valuable--political integrity. The abhorrence and contempt of political
+profligacy, which you have just expressed, as a member of the senate,
+and the consistent conduct by which you have supported your principles,
+are worthy of you; and, allow me to say, of your education.”
+
+Vivian felt exalted in his own opinion by such praise, and by these the
+warmest expressions he had ever received of Russell’s regard. He forgot
+even his domestic uneasiness; and this day, the first for many months he
+had spent happily, he passed with his friend. They supped together, and
+related mutually all that happened since their parting. Russell told
+Vivian that he had lately been agreeably surprised by the gift of a
+valuable living from the Bishop of ----, Lady Julia Lidhurst’s uncle;
+that the bishop, whom he had till then never seen, had written to him
+in the handsomest manner, saying that he knew the obligations his family
+owed to Mr. Russell; that it had been the dying request of his nephew,
+Lord Lidhurst, that some token of the family esteem and gratitude should
+be offered to him, to whom they owed so much; but the bishop added, that
+neither family gratitude nor private friendship could have induced him
+to bestow church preferments upon any but the person whose character
+best entitled him to such a distinction and such a trust.
+
+This letter, as Vivian observed, was well calculated to satisfy
+Russell’s conscience and his delicacy. The conversation next turned upon
+Lady Julia Lidhurst. Russell was not aware that Vivian knew more of her
+attachment to him than what had been discovered the day before he left
+Glistonbury; and Vivian could not help admiring the honourable and
+delicate manner in which his friend spoke of her, without any air of
+mystery, and with the greatest respect. He told Vivian he had heard that
+proposals had been lately made to her ladyship by a gentleman of great
+talents and of high character; but that she had positively declined his
+addresses, and had repeated her declaration that she would never marry.
+Her good uncle left her, on this point, entirely at liberty, and did not
+mention the proposal to Lord Glistonbury, lest she should be exposed to
+any fresh difficulties. Russell expressed much satisfaction at this part
+of the bishop’s conduct, as being not only the most kind, but the
+most judicious, and the most likely to dispose his niece to change her
+determination. He repeated his opinion that, united to a man of sense
+and strength of mind, she would make a charming and excellent wife.
+Vivian agreed with him; yet observed, that he was convinced she would
+never marry--There he paused.--Could Lady Julia herself have overheard
+the conversation which afterwards passed between these two gentlemen,
+one of whom she had loved and the other of whom she had refused, not a
+word would have hurt her feelings: on the contrary, she would have been
+raised in her own opinion, and gratified by the strong interest they
+both showed for her happiness. They regretted only that a young woman
+of such talents, and of such a fine, generous disposition, had been so
+injudiciously educated.
+
+“And now, my dear Russell,” cried Vivian, “that we have finished the
+chapter of Lady Julia, let us talk of Miss Sidney.”--Russell’s change
+of countenance showed that it was not quite so easy for him to talk upon
+this subject.--To spare him the effort, Vivian resumed, “As you are a
+rich man now, my dear Russell, you will certainly marry; and I know,”
+ added he, smiling, “that Miss Sidney will be your wife. If ever man
+deserved such a prize, you do; and I shall be the first to wish you
+joy.”
+
+“Stay, my good friend,” interrupted Russell; “your kindness for me,
+and your imagination, are too quick in this anticipation of my
+happiness.”--Russell then told him, that he never had declared his
+attachment to Selina till Vivian’s marriage had put an end to all
+probability of rivalship with his friend. She had expressed high esteem
+for Russell, but had told him, that she had suffered so much from
+a first unfortunate attachment, that she felt averse from any new
+engagements.
+
+“Shall I assure you, as you assured me just now with regard to Lady
+Julia,” said Vivian, “that Miss Sidney will he prevailed upon to alter
+her determination; and shall I add, that, though I should like Lady
+Julia the less, I should like Selina the better, for changing her
+mind?”--He went on, generously expressing sincere hopes, that his friend
+might obtain Selina Sidney’s affections, and might enjoy that domestic
+happiness, which--Vivian was going to say, which he had himself
+forfeited; but checking this regret, he only said--“that domestic
+happiness, which I consider as the summit of human felicity, and which
+no man can deserve better than you do, my dear Russell.”
+
+Russell easily guessed that poor Vivian had not attained this summit
+of human felicity by his own marriage, but never adverted to any of the
+conversations they had held about Lady Sarah Lidhurst; never recalled
+any of Vivian’s vehement declarations concerning the absolute
+impossibility of his making such a match; never evinced the least
+surprise at his marriage; nor inquired how he had conquered his passion
+for Lady Julia. With friendly forgetfulness, he seemed to have totally
+obliterated from his mind all that it could do no good to remember.
+Vivian was sensible of this delicacy, and grateful for it; but to
+imitate Russell’s reserve and silence upon certain subjects required
+a force, a forbearance of which he was not capable. At first he had
+determined not to say one word to Russell of domestic uneasiness; but
+they had not been many hours together before Vivian poured forth all
+his complaints, and confessed how bitterly he repented his marriage: be
+declared that he had been persuaded, by the united efforts of her family
+and of his mother, against his own judgment, or, at least, against his
+taste and inclinations, to marry Lady Sarah.
+
+“By whatever persuasions, or by whatever motives, your choice was
+decided,” interrupted Russell, “reflect that it is decided for life;
+therefore abide by it, and justify it. Above all, make yourself happy
+with the means which are yet in your power, instead of wasting your mind
+in unavailing regret. You are united to a woman who has every estimable
+quality, as you candidly acknowledge: there are some particulars in
+which she does not please your taste; but withdraw your attention from
+these, and you will be happy with a wife who is so firmly attached to
+you. Consider, besides, that--romance apart--love, though a delightful
+passion, is not the only resource which a man of sense, virtue, and
+activity may find for happiness. Your public duties, your success, and
+your reputation as a public character, will--”
+
+Russell was interrupted in this consolatory and invigorating speech, by
+the entrance of a servant of Lord Glistonbury’s, who brought a note from
+his lordship to Mr. Vivian, requesting to see him as soon as he could
+make it convenient to come to Glistonbury House, as his lordship wanted
+to speak to him on particular business of the greatest importance.
+Vivian was provoked by being thus summoned away from his friend, to
+attend to one of what he called Lord Glistonbury’s _important mysteries
+about nothing_. Russell was engaged to go into the country the ensuing
+day, to take possession of his new living; but he promised that he would
+see him again soon; and, with this hope, the two friends parted.
+
+Vivian went to Lord Glistonbury’s: he found his lordship in his study.
+“Where have you been, Vivian?” exclaimed he: “I have sent messenger
+after messenger to look for you, half over the town: I thought you were
+to have dined with us, but you ran away, and nobody could tell where, or
+with whom; and we have been waiting for you at our cabinet council here
+with the utmost impatience.”--Vivian answered, that he had unexpectedly
+met with his friend Russell; and was proceeding to tell his lordship
+how handsomely the Bishop of----had provided for his friend; but Lord
+Glistonbury, like many other great men, having the habit of forgetting
+all the services of those from whom they have nothing more to expect,
+cut short Vivian’s narration, by exclaiming, “True, true! well, well!
+that’s all over now--Certainly, _that_ Russell did his duty by my poor
+son; and acted as he ought to do--in all things; and I’m glad to hear
+my brother has given him a good living; and I hope, as you say, he will
+soon be married--so best--so best, you know, Vivian, for reasons of our
+own--Well! well! I’m glad he is provided for--not but what that living
+would have been of essential service, if it had been reserved for a
+friend of mine--but my brother the bishop never can enter into any
+political views--might as well not have a brother a bishop--But,
+however, Mr. Russell’s a friend of yours--I am not regretting--not so
+rude to you to regret----on the contrary, rejoice, particularly as Mr.
+Russell is a man of so much merit--But all that’s over now; and I want
+to talk to you upon quite another matter. You know I have always said I
+should, sooner or later, succeed in my grand object, hey, Vivian?”
+
+“Your lordship’s grand object?--I am not sure that I know it.”
+
+“Oh, surely, you know my grand object. You my son-in-law, and forget my
+grand object?--The marquisate, you know; the marquisate, the marquisate!
+Did not I always tell you that I would make government, sooner or later,
+change my earldom into a marquisate? Well! the thing is done--that is,
+as good as done; they have sent to treat with me upon my own terms.”
+
+“I give you joy, my dear lord!” said Vivian.
+
+“Joy!--to be sure you do, my sober sir:--one would think you had no
+concern or interest in the business. Joy! to be sure you give me joy;
+but, I can tell you, you must give me something more than joy--you must
+give me support.”
+
+“How he looks!” continued Lord Glistonbury, “as if he did not know
+what is meant by support. Vivian, did you never hear of parliamentary
+support?”
+
+“I hope, my dear lord,” replied Vivian, gravely, “that you have not
+entered into any engagements, or made any promises for me, which I
+cannot have it in my power to perform.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury hesitated in some confusion; and then, forcing a look
+of effrontery, in an assured tone, replied, “No. I have not made any
+engagements or promises for you which you cannot perform, Vivian, I am
+clear; nor any which I have not a right to expect my son-in-law will
+confirm with alacrity.”
+
+“What have you engaged?--what have you promised for me, my lord?” said
+Vivian, earnestly.
+
+“Only, my dear boy,” said Lord Glistonbury, assuming a facetious tone,
+“only that you will be always one of us--And are not you one of us?--my
+son-in-law?--the deuce is in it if he is not one of us!--In short, you
+know, to be serious, a party must go together, that is, a family party
+must go together; and, if a ministry do my business, of course I do
+theirs. If I have my marquisate, they have my votes.”
+
+“But not my vote--pardon me, my lord--my vote cannot be bartered in this
+manner.”
+
+“But, you know, Mr. Vivian, you know it is for your interest as much as
+for mine; for, you know, the marquisate will probably descend, in due
+course of time, to your son. So your interest is full as much concerned
+as mine; and besides, let me tell you, I have not forgotten your
+immediate interest: I have stipulated that you should have the valuable
+place which Mr. C---- was to have had.”
+
+All that Russell had said of public virtue was fresh in our hero’s mind.
+“I thank you, my dear lord,” said he; “for I am sure this was kindly
+intended; but I am not one of those persons, who in public affairs think
+only of their private interest--I am not thinking of my interest. But
+if a man maintains certain public measures one day, and the next, for
+_valuable consideration_, supports diametrically opposite opinions
+and measures, he will lose, and deserve to lose, all reputation for
+integrity.”
+
+“Integrity! political integrity!” said Lord Glistonbury; “fine words,
+which mean nothing. Behind the scenes, as we are now, Vivian, what use
+can there be in talking in that strain?--Between you and me, you know
+this is all nonsense. For who, of any party, now thinks, really and
+truly, of any thing but getting power or keeping it? Power, you know,
+stands for the measure of talent; and every thing else worth having is
+included in that word power. I speak plainly. And as honour is merely
+an affair of opinion, and opinion, again, an affair of numbers, and as
+there are numbers enough to keep one in countenance in these things;
+really, my dear Vivian, it is quite childish, quite boyish, smells of
+the lamp. To declaim about political integrity, and all that, is not
+the language of a man who knows any thing of business--any thing of the
+world.--But why do I say all this?” cried Lord Glistonbury, checking
+himself and assuming an air of more reserved displeasure.--“Mr.
+Vivian certainly knows all this as well as I do; I know how my nephew
+Marmaduke, who, with all his faults, is no fool, would interpret your
+present language: he would say, as I have often heard him say, that
+political integrity is only a civil _put off_.”
+
+“Political integrity only a civil put off!” repeated Vivian, with
+unfeigned astonishment. When he formerly heard similar sentiments from
+the avowed profligate and hackneyed politician Mr. Wharton, he was
+shocked; but to hear them repeated, as being coolly laid down by so
+young a man as Mr. Lidhurst, excited so much disgust and contempt in
+Vivian’s mind, that he could hardly refrain from saying more than either
+prudence or politeness could justify.
+
+“Now I am free to confess,” pursued Lord Glistonbury, “that I should
+think it more candid and manly, and, I will add, more friendly, and more
+the natural, open conduct of a son-in-law to a father-in-law, instead of
+talking of political integrity, to have said, at once, I cannot oblige
+you in this instance.”
+
+“Surely, my lord, you cannot be in earnest?” said Vivian.
+
+“I tell you, sir, I am in earnest,” cried his lordship, turning suddenly
+in a rage, as he walked up and down the room; “I say, it would have
+been more candid, more manly, more every thing,--and much more like a
+son-in-law--much!--much!----I am sure, if I had known as much as I do
+now, sir, you never should have been my son-in-law--never! never!--seen
+Lady Sarah in her grave first!--I would!--I would!--yes, sir--I
+would!----And you are the last person upon earth I should have expected
+it from. But I have a nephew--I have a nephew, and now I know the
+difference. No man can distinguish his friends till he tries them.”
+
+Vivian in vain endeavoured to appease Lord Glistonbury by assurances
+that he would do any thing in his power to oblige him, except what
+he himself considered as dishonourable: his lordship reiterated, with
+divers passionate ejaculations, that if Vivian would not oblige him in
+this point, on which he had set his heart--where the great object of his
+life was at stake--he could never believe he had any regard for him; and
+that in short, it must come to an open rupture between them, for that
+he should never consider him more as his son. Having uttered this
+denunciation as distinctly as passion would permit, Lord Glistonbury
+retired to rest.
+
+Vivian went immediately to his mother, to tell her what had passed, and
+he felt almost secure of her approbation; but though she praised him for
+his generous spirit of independence, yet it was evident the hopes that
+the title of marquis might descend to a grandson of her own weighed more
+with her than any patriotic considerations. She declared, that indeed
+she would not, for any title, or any thing upon earth, have her son
+act dishonourably; but what was asked of him, as far as she could
+understand, was only such a change of party, such compliances, as every
+public man in his place would make: and though she would not have him,
+like some she could name, a corrupt tool of government, yet, on the
+other hand, it was folly to expect that he alone could do any thing
+against the general tide of corruption--that it would be madness in
+him to sacrifice himself entirely, without the slightest possibility of
+doing any good to his country.
+
+Vivian interrupted her, to represent that, if each public man argued
+in this manner, nothing could ever be accomplished for the public good:
+that, on the contrary, if every man hoped that something might be done,
+even by his individual exertion, and if he determined to sacrifice a
+portion of his private interest in the attempt, perhaps much might be
+effected.
+
+“Very likely!” Lady Mary said. She confessed she knew little of
+politics: so from argument she went to persuasion and entreaties. She
+conjured him not to quarrel with the Glistonburys, and not to provoke
+Lord Glistonbury’s displeasure. “I see all that artful Marmaduke’s
+schemes,” said she: “he knows his uncle’s pertinacious temper; and he
+hopes that your notions of patriotism will prevent you from yielding on
+a point, on which his uncle has set his heart. Marmaduke will know how
+to take advantage of all this, believe me!”
+
+Vivian was shaken in his resolution by his mother’s entreaties--by
+the idea of all the family quarrels that would ensue, and of all the
+difficulties in which he might be involved, if he persisted in his
+generous determination.
+
+“My dear son,” resumed she, “it would be absolute madness to refuse
+the place that is now offered you: only consider the situation of your
+affairs--consider, I beseech you, the distress you will be in by and
+by, if you reject this offer--recollect the immense demands upon you;
+recollect that heap of bills for the election, and for the buildings,
+and all the poor workmen about the castle! and that coachmaker too! and
+remember, the purchase money of the house in town must be paid in three
+months. And the only possible means by which you can get out of debt, is
+by accepting this place, which would put you at ease at once, and enable
+you to continue in the style of life to which you have of late been
+accustomed.”
+
+“As to that, I could alter my style of life--I would do any thing,”
+ cried Vivian, “to pay my debts and preserve my independence. I will
+alter my mode of living, and retrench decidedly and vigorously.”
+
+“Well, my dear son, I admire your spirit, and, if you can do this, it
+will certainly be best; but I fear that when it comes to the trial, you
+will not be able to persevere.”
+
+“I shall--I shall! Believe me, mother, I have resolution enough for
+this--you do me injustice,” said Vivian.
+
+“No, my dear Charles, I do you justice; for I do not doubt your
+resolution, as far as your own privations are concerned; but, consider
+your wife--consider Lady Sarah--consider the luxury in which she
+has always been accustomed to live, and the high sphere in which her
+relations move! How her pride would be hurt by their looking down
+upon her! I have no doubt Lady Sarah would do her duty, and make
+any sacrifices for her husband; and if you were--I must now speak
+plainly--if you were passionately fond of her--an all-for-love
+husband--you could, with honour and propriety, accept of such
+sacrifices; but what would retirement be _to_ poor Lady Sarah, and
+_with_ Lady Sarah?”
+
+Vivian told his mother that he would take a night to reconsider the
+matter coolly; and, satisfied with having gained so much, she suffered
+him to go home. As he was quitting his own dressing-room, he paused,
+to consider whether he should consult his wife, who was, as yet, in
+ignorance of the whole transaction, and who knew nothing of the deranged
+state of his affairs. He did her the justice to believe that she
+would be willing to live with him in retirement, and to forego all the
+luxuries and pride of her rank, for the sake of her duty and of her
+love. He was convinced that, in any opposition between her father’s
+interests and her husband’s honour, she would strongly abide by her
+husband. He recollected all Lady Julia had said of the advantage that
+her sister’s firmness of mind might be in steadying his vacillating
+temper in any moment of trial. Here was the first _great occasion_,
+since his marriage, where his wife’s strength of mind could be of
+essential service to him: yet he hesitated whether he should avail
+himself of this advantage; and every moment, as he approached nearer
+to her apartment, he hesitated more and more; He did not, in the first
+place, like to humble himself so far as to ask her counsel; then he
+had not courage to confess those debts and embarrassments which he
+had hitherto concealed. All that his mother had suggested about the
+indelicacy of requiring or accepting great sacrifices from a woman whom,
+though he esteemed, he could not love--the horror of retirement
+with such a companion--the long years _tête-à-tête_--all these ideas
+combined, but chiefly the apprehension of the immediate present pain of
+speaking to her on a disagreeable subject, and of being obliged to hear
+her speak with that formal deliberation which he detested; added to
+this, the dread of her surprise, if not of her reproaches, when all his
+affairs should be revealed, operated so irresistibly upon his weakness,
+that he decided on the common resource--concealment. His hand was upon
+the lock of his chamber-door, and he turned it cautiously and softly,
+lest, in entering his apartment, he should waken Lady Sarah: but she was
+not asleep.
+
+“What can have kept you so late, Mr. Vivian?” said she.
+
+“Business, my dear,” answered he, with some embarrassment.
+
+“May I ask what sort of business?”
+
+“Oh!--only--political business.”
+
+“Political business!” She looked earnestly at her husband; but, as if
+repressing her curiosity, she afterwards added, “our sex have nothing
+to do with politics,” and, turning away from the light, she composed
+herself to sleep.
+
+“Very true, my dear,” replied Vivian--not a word more did he say:
+content with this evasion of the difficulty, he thus, by his weakness,
+deprived himself of the real advantage of his wife’s strength of mind.
+Whilst Lady Sarah, in total ignorance of the distress of her husband,
+slept in peace, he lay awake, revolving painful thoughts in the
+silence of the night. All that his mother had said about the pecuniary
+difficulties to which they must soon be reduced recurred with fresh
+force; the ideas of the unpaid election bills, all the masons’,
+carpenters’, painters’, glaziers’, and upholsterers’ bills, with
+“thousands yet unnamed behind,” rose, in dreadful array, before him,
+and the enthusiasm of his patriotism was appalled. With feverish
+reiteration, he ran over and over, in his mind, the same circle of
+difficulties, continually returning to the question, “_Then what can
+be done?_” Bitterly did he this night regret the foolish expenses into
+which he had early in life been led. If it were to do over again, he
+certainly would not turn his house into a castle; if he had foreseen how
+much the expense would surpass the estimates, assuredly nothing could
+have tempted him to such extravagance. The architect, the masons, the
+workmen, one and all, were knaves; but, one and all, they must be
+paid. Then what could he do?--And the debts incurred by the contested
+elections!--contested elections are cursed things, when the bills come
+to be paid; but, cursed or not, they must be paid. Then what could he
+do?--The distress in which he should involve his generous mother--the
+sacrifices he should require from his wife--the family quarrels--all
+that Lady Sarah would suffer from them--the _situation_ of his wife.
+Then what could he do?--He MUST submit to Lord Glistonbury, and take the
+place that was offered to him.
+
+Vivian sighed--and turned in his bed--and sighed--and thought--and
+turned--and sighed again--and the last sigh of expiring patriotism
+escaped him!----To this end, to this miserable end, must all patriotism
+come, which is not supported by the seemingly inferior virtues of
+prudence and economy.
+
+Poor Vivian endeavoured to comfort himself by the reflection that he
+should not act from merely mercenary considerations, but that he
+was compelled to yield to the solicitations of his mother and of his
+father-in-law; that he was forced to sacrifice his own public opinions
+to secure domestic peace, and to prevent the distress of his mother,
+the misery, and perhaps danger, of his wife and child. Dereliction of
+principle, in these circumstances, was something like an amiable, a
+pardonable weakness. And then, see it in what light you will, as Lord
+Glistonbury observed, “there are so many who will keep a patriot in
+countenance now-a-days, for merely changing sides in politics. A man is
+not even thought to be a man of talents till he gets something by his
+talents. The bargain he makes--the price he gains--is, in most people’s
+estimation, the value of the public man.”
+
+All this Vivian said to himself to quiet his conscience; and all this,
+he knew, would be _abundantly satisfactory_ to the generality of people
+with whom he associated; therefore, from them he could fear neither
+reproach nor contempt: but he could not bear even to think of
+Russell--he felt all the pangs of remorse, and agony of shame, as the
+idea of such a friend came into his mind. Again he turned in his bed,
+and groaned aloud--so loud, that Lady Sarah wakened, and, starting up,
+asked what was the matter; but receiving no answer, she imagined that
+she had been in a dream, or that her husband had spoken in his sleep.
+He groaned no more, nor did he even sigh: but fatigued with thinking and
+with feeling, he at last fell into a sort of slumber, which lasted till
+it was time to rise. Before Vivian was dressed, Lord Glistonbury called
+upon him--he went into his dressing-room. His lordship came with his
+best address, and most courteous face of persuasion; he held out his
+hand, in a frank and cordial manner, as he entered, begging his dear
+son’s pardon for the warmth and want of temper, he was free to confess,
+he had shown last night; but he was persuaded, he said, that Vivian knew
+his sincere regard for him, and convinced that, in short, they should
+never _essentially_ differ: so that he was determined to come to talk
+the matter over with him when they were both cool; and that he felt
+assured that Vivian, after a night’s reflection, would always act so
+as to justify his preference of his son-in-law to his nephew, hey,
+Vivian?--Lord Glistonbury paused for an answer--Vivian cut himself as he
+was shaving, and was glad of a moment’s reprieve; instead of answering,
+he only exclaimed, “Cursed razor! cut myself!--My lord, won’t you sit
+down? will you do me the honour to--”
+
+Lord Glistonbury seated himself; and, in regular order, with his
+tiresome parade of expletives, went through all the arguments that could
+be adduced to prove the expediency of Vivian’s taking this place, and
+assisting him, as he had taken it for granted his son-in-law would,
+on such an occasion. The letters of the great and little men who had
+negotiated the business of the marquisate were then produced, and
+an account given of all that had passed _in confidence_; and Lord
+Glistonbury finished by saying that the affair was absolutely concluded,
+he having passed his word and pledged his honour for Vivian; that he
+would not have spoken or acted for him if he had not felt that he was,
+when acting for his son-in-law, in fact acting for himself--his second
+self; that there had been no time to wait, no possibility of consulting
+Vivian; that the whole plan was suggested yesterday, in two hours after
+the house broke up, and was arranged in the evening; that search and
+inquiries had been made every where for Vivian; but, as he could not be
+found, Lord Glistonbury said he had ventured to decide for him, and, as
+he hoped, for his interest and for that of the family; and the thing,
+now done, could not be undone: his lordship’s word was sacred, and could
+not be retracted.
+
+Vivian, in a feeble, irresolute tone, asked if there was no possibility
+of his being allowed to decline the place that was offered him, and
+suggested that he could take a middle course; to avoid voting against
+his lordship’s wishes, he could, and he believed that he would, accept
+of the Chiltern Hundreds, and go out of parliament for the session.
+
+Lord Glistonbury remonstrated against what he termed the madness of the
+scheme.
+
+“A man like you, my dear Vivian, who have distinguished yourself so
+much already in opposition, who will distinguish yourself so much more
+hereafter in place and in power----”
+
+“No,” said Vivian, rising as he finished shaving himself; “no, my lord,
+I shall never more distinguish myself, if I abandon the principles I
+believe to be just and true. What eloquence I have--if I have any--has
+arisen from my being in earnest: I shall speak ill--I shall not be able
+to speak at all--when I get up against my conscience.”
+
+“Oh!” said Lord Glistonbury, laughing, “your romantic patriotism may be
+very nice in its feelings; but, believe me, it will not deprive you of
+the use of your speech. Look at every one of the fine orators of our
+times, and name me one, if you can, who has not spoken, and spoken
+equally well, on both sides of the house; ay, and on both sides of most
+political questions. Come, come, you’ll find you will get on quite as
+well as they got on before you, hey?”
+
+“You will find that I shall be of no use to you--that I shall be a dead
+weight on your hands.”
+
+“You a dead weight! you, who are formed to be--now, really, without
+flattery--you know there’s no occasion for flattery between you and
+me--to be the soul, and, in time, the head of a party----Stay!--I know
+all you are going to say, but give me leave to judge--You know there’s
+my own nephew, a very clever young man, no doubt, he is allowed to be;
+and yet, you see, I make no comparison between you. I assure you I am a
+judge in these matters, and you see the house has confirmed my judgment;
+and, what is more--for I can keep nothing from you--if it won’t make you
+too vain, and make you set too high a price upon yourself, which will be
+very troublesome in the present case; but, I say, be that as it may,
+I will frankly own to you, that I believe you have been of essential
+service in procuring me this great favourite object of my life, the
+marquisate.”
+
+“I, my lord! impossible!--for I never took the slightest step toward
+procuring it.”
+
+“Pardon me, you took the most effectual step, without knowing it,
+perhaps. You spoke so well in opposition, that you made it the interest
+of ministry to _muzzle you_; and there was no way so effectual of
+getting at you as through me, I being your father-in-law and you my
+heir. You don’t see the secret concatenation of these things with a
+glance as I do, who have been used to them so long. And there was no way
+of coming to the point with me without the marquisate--that was my _sine
+qua non_; and you see I gained my point--by your means, chiefly, I am
+free to allow--though Marmaduke would gladly persuade me it was by his
+negotiating. But I do you justice; I did you justice, too, in more than
+words, when I stipulated for that place for you, which, in fact, I knew
+you could not go on much longer without. So, my dear Vivian, all this
+explained to our mutual satisfaction, we have nothing more to do but to
+shake hands upon it and go down stairs; for I have engaged myself and
+Secretary----to breakfast with you, and he has _full powers_, and is to
+carry back our _capitulation_--and,” continued Lord Glistonbury, looking
+out of the window, “here’s our friend’s carriage.”
+
+“Oh, my lord, it is not yet too late!” cried Vivian; “it may yet be
+arranged otherwise. Is there no way--no possibility----”
+
+A loud knock at the house door.
+
+“I wish to Heaven, my lord!----”
+
+“So do I wish to Heaven, with all my soul, that you would finish this
+nonsense, my dear Vivian, and come down to breakfast. Come, come,
+come!--Hey, hey, hey!--This is absolutely too ridiculous, and I must go,
+if you don’t. Only consider a political breakfast of this nature!”
+
+Lord Glistonbury hurried down stairs:--reluctantly, and with a heavy
+heart and repugnant conscience, Vivian followed. At this instant, he
+wished for Russell, to prevent what he knew would be the consequence of
+this interview. But Russell was absent--the keeper of his conscience,
+the supporter of his resolution, was not at hand. Woe to him who is not
+the keeper of his own conscience--the supporter of his own resolution!
+The result of this political breakfast was just what every reader,
+who knows the world but half as well as Lord Glistonbury knew it, has
+probably long since anticipated. The capitulation of the patriots of
+the Glistonbury band, with Vivian at their head, was settled. Lord
+Glistonbury lost no character by this transaction, for he had none to
+lose--he was quite at his ease, or quite callous. But Vivian bartered,
+for a paltry _accommodation_ of his pecuniary difficulties, a reputation
+which stood high in the public opinion--which was invaluable in his
+own--which was his last stake of happiness. He knew this--he felt it
+with all the anguish of exquisite but USELESS sensibility.
+
+Lord Glistonbury and his new friend, Secretary ----, who was a man of
+wit as well as a politician, rallied Vivian upon his gravity and upon
+his evident depression of spirits.
+
+“Really, my dear Vivian,” cried Lord Glistonbury, “my patience is now
+exhausted, and I must not let you expose yourself here, before our
+friend, as a novice--Hey! hey!--Why, will you never open your eyes, and
+see the world as it is! Why! what!--Did you never read the fable of the
+dog and his master’s meat?--Well! it is come to that now in England;
+and he is a foolish dog, indeed, who, when he can’t save the meat, won’t
+secure his share--hey?”
+
+His lordship and the secretary laughed in concert.
+
+“Look, how Vivian preserves his solemnity!” continued Lord Glistonbury;
+“and he really looks as if he was surprised at us. My dear Vivian, it
+requires all my knowledge of your _bonne foi_ to believe that you are in
+earnest, and not acting the part of a patriot of _older_ times.”
+
+“Oh!” cried the secretary, with a facetious air, “Mr. Vivian assuredly
+knows, as well as we do, that--
+
+‘A patriot is a fool in ev’ry age, Whom all lord chamberlains allow the
+stage.’
+
+But off the stage we lay aside heroics, or how should we ever get
+on?--Did you hear, my lord,” continued the secretary, turning to Lord
+Glistonbury, “that there is another blue riband fallen in to us by the
+death of Lord G----?”
+
+“I had a great regard for poor Lord G----. Many applications, I suppose,
+for the vacant riband?”
+
+From the vacant riband they went on to talk over this man’s pension and
+the other man’s job; and considered who was to get such and such a
+place when such and such a person should resign or succeed to something
+better. Then all the miserable mysteries of ministerial craft were
+unveiled to Vivian’s eyes. He had read, he had heard, he had believed,
+that public affairs were conducted in this manner; but he had never,
+till now, actually seen it: he was really novice enough still to feel
+surprise at finding that, after all the fine professions made on all
+sides, the main, the only object of these politicians, was to keep their
+own, or to get into the places of others. Vivian felt every moment his
+disgust and his melancholy increase. “And it is with these people I
+have consented to act! And am I to be hurried along by this stream of
+corruption to infamy and oblivion! Then Russell--”
+
+Vivian resolved to retract the engagement he had just made with Lord
+Glistonbury and the secretary, and he waited only for a pause in their
+conversation to explain himself. But, before any pause occurred, more
+company came in,--the secretary hurried away, saying to Vivian, who
+would have stopped him at the door, “Oh, my dear sir, every thing is
+settled now, and you must be with us in the house to-night--and you will
+find the whole business will go on as smoothly as possible, if gentlemen
+will but act together, and strengthen the hands of government. I beg
+pardon for breaking away--but so many people are waiting for me--and any
+thing further we can settle when we meet in the house.”
+
+Lord Glistonbury also refused to listen to farther explanations--said
+that all was settled, and that it was impossible to make any
+recantations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+The hour of going to the House of Commons at length arrived; Lord
+Glistonbury saw that Vivian was so much out of spirits, and in such
+confusion of mind, that he began to fear that our hero’s own account
+of himself was just, and that he would not be able to command ideas,
+or even words, when he was to speak in opposition to what he called his
+principles and his conscience. “This son of mine, instead of being our
+great Apollo, will be a dead weight on our hands, unless we can contrive
+to raise his spirits.”
+
+So, to raise his spirits, Lord Glistonbury accompanied him to the
+coffee-room of the house, and insisted upon his taking some refreshment
+before he should attempt to speak. His lordship _fortified_ him with
+bumper after bumper, till at last Vivian came up to the speaking point.
+He took his seat in his new place in the house, and, endeavouring
+to brave away the sense of shame, rose to speak. Notwithstanding the
+assistance of the wine, and the example of Mr. Marmaduke Lidhurst, who
+spoke before him with undaunted assurance, Vivian could scarcely get on
+with a hesitating, confused, inconsistent speech, uttered in so low and
+indistinct a voice, that the reporters in the gallery complained that
+they could not catch this honourable member’s meaning, or that his words
+did not reach them. Conscious of his failure, and still more conscious
+of its cause, he retired again to the coffee-room as soon as he had
+finished speaking, and again Lord Glistonbury plied him with wine,
+saying that he would find he would _do very well in reply_ presently.
+It happened that Lord Glistonbury was called away--Vivian remained. Mr.
+Wharton, with a party of his friends, entered the coffee-room. Wharton
+seemed much heated both with wine and anger--he was talking eagerly
+to the gentlemen with him, and he pronounced the words, “Infamous
+conduct!--Shabby!--Paltry fellow!” so loud, that all the coffee-room
+turned to listen. Colonel S----, a gentleman who was one of Wharton’s
+party, but who had a good opinion of Vivian, at this moment took him by
+the arm, and, drawing him aside, whispered, in confidence, that he was
+persuaded there had been some _mistake_ in the arrangements, which, as
+it was reported, Lord Glistonbury had just made with the ministry, for
+that Mr. Wharton and many of his lordship’s former party, complained of
+having been shamefully deserted. “And to break our word and honour
+to our party, is a thing no gentleman _can_ do. Wharton had a direct
+promise from his lordship, that he never would _come in_ till he should
+_come in_ along with him. And now it is confidently said, that Lord
+Glistonbury has made his bargain for his own marquisate, and provided
+only for himself, his nephew, and his son-in-law.”
+
+Thrown into the utmost consternation by the idea of this double
+forfeiture of honour, this breach both of public and private faith,
+Vivian, after thanking Colonel S---- for his friendly manner of
+communicating this information, and declaring that the transaction was
+totally unknown to him, begged that the colonel would do him the favour
+and the justice to be present when he should require an explanation from
+Lord Glistonbury. To this Colonel S---- consented, and they hastened
+in search of his lordship: his lordship was not to be found; but Mr.
+Marmaduke Lidhurst was, however, in the coffee-room, and upon Vivian’s
+referring to him, he could not deny the truth of the charge, though he
+used all his powers of circumlocution to evade giving a direct answer.
+The shame, the indignation, that rapidly succeeded to each other in
+Vivian’s countenance, sufficiently convinced Colonel S---- that he had
+no share in the _private_ part of this disgraceful transaction; and he
+very handsomely assured Vivian, that he would set the matter in its
+true point of view with his friends. Marmaduke soon found a pretence to
+withdraw--some member was speaking in the house, whom he must hear, he
+said, and away he went.
+
+At this moment Mr. Wharton, who was walking down the room with his
+friends, passed by Vivian, and, as he passed, said,
+
+“That _private vices are public benefits_, we all know; but that public
+vices are private benefits, some of us, alas! have yet to learn. But I’d
+have that little, whiffling, _most noble and puissant prince_ expectant,
+his majesty’s _right trusty and entirely beloved cousin_ elect, know,
+that plain Bob Wharton is not a man to be duped and deserted with
+impunity.”
+
+“Whom does he mean?--What does he mean?” whispered some of the
+bystanders. “What prince is he talking of?--Which of the princes?”
+
+“Oh! none of the princes,” replied another. “You know _most noble and
+puissant prince_ is the title of a marquis, and _our right trusty and
+entirely beloved cousin_, the style in which the king writes to him.”
+
+“But who is this marquis expectant?”
+
+“Don’t you know?--Lord Glistonbury.”
+
+“But some of his lordship’s friends ought to take it up, surely.”
+
+“Hush!--his son-in-law will hear you.”
+
+“Where?”
+
+“There--don’t look!”
+
+Vivian was, with reason, so much exasperated by the treacherous
+duplicity of Lord Glistonbury’s conduct, that he was ill inclined to
+undertake his lordship’s defence, and determined to leave it to himself,
+or to his nephew; yet the whispers operated not a little upon his
+weakness. Wharton, who was walking with his set up and down the room,
+again came within Vivian’s hearing, and, as he passed, exclaimed,
+“_Public vice!_ and _public virtue!_ precious, well-matched pair!”
+
+“Who is _public vice_, and who is _public virtue_?” said one of
+Wharton’s companions.
+
+“Don’t you know?” replied Wharton: “the heir-at-law and the son-in-law.”
+
+On hearing this speech, Vivian, who knew that he was one of the persons
+to whom it alluded, started forward to demand an explanation from
+Wharton: but Colonel S---- held him back. “You are not called upon, by
+any means, to take notice of this,” said the colonel: “Wharton did not
+address himself to you, and though he might mean what he said for you,
+yet he speaks under a false impression; and besides, he is not quite
+sober. Leave it to me, and I will settle it all to your satisfaction
+before to-morrow.” Vivian listened unwillingly and uneasily to the
+friendly counsel: he was more hurt than he had ever before felt himself
+by any of Wharton’s sarcasms, because there was now in them a mixture of
+truth; and a man seldom feels more irritable than when he is conscious
+that he is partly to blame, and apprehensive that others will think him
+more blameable than he really is. His irritability was increased by
+the whispers he had heard, and the looks he now perceived among the
+bystanders: the voice, the opinion of numbers, the fear of what others
+would think or say, operated against his better judgment.
+
+“Come,” said Colonel S----, “let us go and see what they are doing in
+the house.”
+
+Vivian refused to stir, saying that it would be leaving the field
+to Wharton. Wharton at this instant repassed; and still running the
+changes, with half-intoxicated wit, upon the same ideas, reiterated,
+“_Public vice!_--We all knew where _that_ would end in these days--in
+public honours; but none of you would believe me, when I told you where
+_public virtue_ would end--in private treachery!”
+
+“That’s neat!--that’s strong!--faith, that’s home!” whispered some one.
+
+“Mr. Wharton!” cried Vivian, going up to him, “I could not help hearing
+what you said just now--did you intend it for me?”
+
+“You heard it, it seems, sir, and that is sufficient,” replied Wharton,
+in an insolent tone: “as to what I meant, I presume it is pretty
+evident; but, if you think it requires any explanation, I am as ready to
+give as you can be to ask it.”
+
+“The sooner the better, then, sir,” said Vivian. The two gentlemen
+walked away together, whilst the spectators exclaimed, “Very spirited
+indeed!--very right!--very proper!--Vivian could do no less than call
+him out. But, after all, what was the quarrel about? Which of them was
+to blame?”
+
+Long before these points were settled, the challenge was given and
+accepted. Colonel S----, who followed Vivian and Wharton, endeavoured
+to set things to rights, by explaining that Vivian had been deceived
+by Lord Glistonbury, and kept totally in the dark respecting the
+negotiation for the marquisate. But Wharton, aware that by _taking up
+the matter immediately in such a spirited way_ he should do himself
+infinite honour with his party, and with that majority of the world who
+think that the greatest merit of a man is to stand to be shot at,
+was not at all willing to listen to these representations. Colonel
+S----declared that, were he in Mr. Wharton’s place, he should, without
+hesitation, make an apology to Mr. Vivian, and publicly acknowledge that
+what he said in the coffee-room was spoken under a false impression,
+which a plain statement of facts had totally removed: but Wharton
+disdained all terms of accommodation; his policy, pride, and desire of
+revenge, all conspired to produce that air of insolent determination
+to fight, which, with some people, would obtain the glorious name of
+COURAGE. By this sort of courage can men of the most base and profligate
+characters often put themselves in a moment upon an equal footing with
+men of principle and virtue!
+
+It was settled that Mr. Wharton and Vivian should meet, at eight o’clock
+the next morning, in a field near town. Colonel S---- consented to be
+Vivian’s second. Russell was not yet returned--not expected till ten the
+next day.
+
+Left to his cool reflection, Vivian thought with horror of the misery
+into which the event of this duel might involve all with whom he was
+connected, and all who were attached to him. The affair was of course to
+be kept a secret from all at Glistonbury House, where Vivian was engaged
+to dine with a large ministerial party. He went home to dress, hoping
+to have a quarter of an hour to himself; but, on entering his own
+dressing-room, he, to his surprise and mortification, found his wife
+seated there, waiting for him with a face of anxious expectation; a case
+of newly-set diamonds on a table beside her. “I thought you were at your
+father’s, my dear: are you not to be at Glistonbury House to-day?” said
+Vivian.
+
+“No,” replied Lady Sarah. “Surely, Mr. Vivian, you know that my father
+gives a political dinner, and I suppose you are to be there?”
+
+“Oh, yes!” cried Vivian; “I did not know what I was saying--I am to
+be there, and must dress (looking at his watch), for I have no time to
+spare.”
+
+“Be that as it may, I must intrude upon your time for a few minutes,”
+ said Lady Sarah.
+
+Vivian stood impatiently attentive, whilst Lady Sarah seemed to find it
+difficult to begin some speech which she had prepared.
+
+“Women, I know, have nothing to do with politics,” she began in
+a constrained voice; but, suddenly quitting her air and tone of
+constraint, she started up and exclaimed, “Oh, my dear, _dear_ husband!
+what have you done?--No, no, I cannot, will not believe it, till I hear
+it from your OWN lips!”
+
+“What is the matter, my dear Lady Sarah?--You astonish and almost alarm
+me!” said Vivian, endeavouring to preserve composure of countenance.
+
+“I will not--Heaven forbid that I should alarm you as I have been
+alarmed!” said Lady Sarah, commanding her voice again to a tone of
+tranquillity. “I ought, and, if I were not weak, should be convinced
+that there is no reason for alarm. There has been some mistake, no
+doubt; and I have been to blame for listening to idle reports. Let
+me, however, state the facts. Half an hour ago, I was at Gray’s the
+jeweller’s, to call for my poor mother’s diamonds, which, you know, he
+has reset----”
+
+“Yes--Well!”
+
+“And whilst I was in the shop, a party of gentlemen came in, all of them
+unknown to me, and, of course, I was equally unknown to them; for they
+began to speak of you in a manner in which none knowing me could venture
+in my presence. They said--I cannot bear to repeat or to think of
+what they said--you cannot have bartered your public reputation for
+a marquisate for my father!--You cannot have done that which is
+dishonourable--you cannot have deserted your party for a paltry place
+for yourself!--You turn pale.--I wish, if it pleased God, that I was
+this moment in my grave!”
+
+“Heaven forbid, my dear Lady Sarah!” cried Vivian, forcing a smile, and
+endeavouring to speak in a tone of raillery. “Why should you wish to
+be in your grave, because your husband has just got a good warm place?
+Live! live!” said he, raising her powerless hand; “for consider--as I
+did--and this consideration was of no small weight with me--consider, my
+dear Sarah, how much better you will live for it!”
+
+“And you did consider me? And that _did_ weigh with you?”
+
+“--Oh, this is what I dreaded most!” cried Lady Sarah.--“When will you
+know my real character? When will you have confidence in your wife, sir?
+When will you know the power, the unconquered, unconquerable power of
+her affection for you?”
+
+Vivian, much struck by the strength of her expression as she uttered
+these words, was a moment silent in astonishment; and then could only,
+in an incoherent manner, protest, that he did know--that he had always
+done justice to her character--that he believed in her affection--and
+had the greatest confidence in its power.
+
+“No, sir, no!--Do not say that which I cannot credit!--You have not
+confidence in the power of my affection, or you would never have done
+this thing to save me pain. What pain can be so great to me as the
+thought of my husband’s reputation suffering abasement?--Do you think
+that, in comparison with this, I, your wife, could put the loss of a
+service of plate, or house in town, or equipage, or servants, or such
+baubles as these?” added she, her eyes glancing upon the diamonds; then,
+snatching them up, “Take them, take them!” cried she; “they were my
+mother’s; and if her spirit could look down from heaven upon us she
+would approve my offer--she would command your acceptance. Then here on
+my knees I conjure you, my beloved husband, take them--sell them--sell
+plate, furniture, house, equipage, sell every thing rather than your
+honour!”
+
+“It is sold,” said Vivian, in a voice of despair.
+
+“Redeem it, redeem it at any price!” cried Lady Sarah. “No! I will kneel
+here at your feet--you shall not raise me--till I have obtained this
+promise, this justice to me, to yourself!”
+
+“It is too late,” said Vivian, writhing in agony.
+
+“Never too late,” cried Lady Sarah. “Give up the place.--Never too
+late!--Give up the place--write this moment, and all will be well; for
+your honour will be saved, and the rest is as nothing in my eyes!”
+
+“High-minded woman!” cried Vivian: “why did not I hear you sooner? Why
+did not I avail myself of your strength of soul?”
+
+“Use it now--hear me now--let us waste no time in words--here is a pen
+and ink--write, my dearest husband! and be yourself again.”
+
+“You waste the energy of your mind on me,” cried Vivian, breaking from
+Lady Sarah, and striking his forehead violently; “I am not worthy of
+such attachment! It is done--it cannot be undone: I am a weak, ruined,
+dishonoured wretch!--I tell you, it CANNOT be undone!”
+
+Lady Sarah rose, and stood in despair. Then, looking up to heaven, she
+was silent for some moments. After which, approaching her husband, she
+said, in an altered, calm voice, “Since it cannot be undone, I will urge
+you no more. But, whether in glory or in shame, you are secure that your
+wife will abide by you.”
+
+Vivian embraced her with a tenderness which he had never before felt.
+“Excellent woman! in justice to myself, I must tell you,” cried he,
+“that I was deceived into this situation. I CAN say no more!”
+
+At this moment a servant knocked at the door, bringing a message from
+Lord Glistonbury, to say that all the company were assembled, and that
+dinner waited for Mr. Vivian.
+
+“You are not in a fit state to go. Shall I send an apology to my
+father?”
+
+“Oh, no! I must go,” cried Vivian, starting up, “I must go, or it will
+be thought--or it will be suspected--I can’t explain it to you, my dear;
+but I must go--I must _appear_ to-day, and in spirits too, if possible.”
+
+He hurried away. A servant delivered to Lady Sarah a number of notes
+and cards. The notes were notes of congratulation, from many of her
+acquaintance, upon the report in circulation, that her father was
+immediately to be a marquis. The cards were from people who were to be
+at her assembly that night. This was one of _her nights_, which were
+usually crowded. Lady Sarah’s first wish was to write apologies, and to
+say that she was not well enough to see company; but, recollecting
+that her husband had said, “he must _appear_, and in spirits, too, if
+possible,” she thought that it might be more for their interest, and
+according to his wishes, that she should see company, and that no
+appearance of dejection should be discerned in his wife. She prepared
+herself accordingly, and, with a heavy heart, walked through her
+splendid apartments, to see whether the decorations had been properly
+executed.
+
+In the mean time Vivian dined at Lord Glistonbury’s, with a large
+ministerial party. As soon as he could, after dinner, Vivian got away;
+and Lord Glistonbury attributed his retiring early to the awkwardness
+he might feel in the company of men whom he had, till now, so violently
+opposed. This his lordship thought a foolish _young man’s feeling,_
+which would soon wear away. Vivian returned home, anxious to escape from
+crowds, and to have some hours of leisure to pass alone; but, the moment
+he entered his own house, he saw the great staircase lined with roses
+and orange-trees; he found the rooms lighted up and prepared for
+company; and Lady Sarah dressed, for the first time, in all her mother’s
+diamonds.
+
+“Good Heavens!--Do you see company to-night?” cried he.
+
+“Yes; for I thought, my dear, that you would wish it.”
+
+“I wish it!--Oh! if you knew how I wish to be alone!”
+
+“Then, as no one is yet come, I can still shut my doors, and order them
+to say that I am not well enough to see company--I am sure it is true.
+Shall I?”
+
+“No, my dear, it is too late,” said Vivian: “I am afraid it is
+impossible for you to do that.”
+
+“Not impossible, if you wish it.”
+
+“Well, do as you please.”
+
+“Which is most for your interest? I have no other pleasure.”
+
+“You are too good to me, and I fear I shall never have it in my power to
+show you any gratitude----”
+
+“But decide which is best to be done, my dear,” said Lady Sarah.
+
+“Why, my dear, I believe you judged rightly--see your friends, and make
+the best of it: but I can appear only for a moment; I have business of
+consequence--letters--papers--that must be finished to-night; and I must
+go now to my study.”
+
+“You shall not be interrupted,” said Lady Sarah: “I will exert myself as
+much as possible.”
+
+A tremendous knock at the door.--Vivian passed through the saloon,
+and gained his study, where, after remaining for some time in painful
+reflection, he was roused by hearing the clock strike twelve. He
+recollected that he had several arrangements to make in his affairs
+this night; and that it was incumbent on him to sign and execute a will,
+which had been for some time in his possession, with certain blanks not
+yet filled up. His wife was, by his marriage settlements, amply provided
+for; but he inserted in his will some clauses which he thought would add
+to her peculiar comfort, and took care to word them so that his respect
+and esteem should be known hereafter to all the world; and that, if
+he died, he should leave her the consolation of knowing that his last
+feelings for her were those of gratitude and affection. To his mother
+he left all that was in his power to contribute to the ease of her
+declining years--often obliged to pause whilst he wrote, overcome by
+the thoughts of what her grief would be if he died. He left his friend
+Russell _in remainder_, to a considerable part of his estate; and he was
+just adding the bequest of certain books, which they had read together
+in his better days, when the door of the study suddenly opened, and his
+mother entered.
+
+“What is all this?” cried she: “immersed in papers at such a time as
+this!”
+
+“I so hate crowded assemblies,” said Vivian, huddling his papers
+together, and advancing to meet his mother.
+
+“So do I,” said Lady Mary; “but I have been waiting with exemplary
+patience where I was stationed by Lady Sarah, at the card-table,
+every instant expecting your arrival, that I might have a few minutes’
+conversation with you, and inquire how matters went on at the house, and
+congratulate----”
+
+Before she had finished the word _congratulate_, she stopped short; for
+she had, by this time, a full view of her son’s countenance: and she
+knew that countenance so well, that it was impossible to disguise it so
+as to deceive her maternal penetration.
+
+“My dear son!” said she, “something is going wrong: I conjure you, tell
+me what is the matter!”--Her eye glanced upon the parchments, and she
+saw that it was a will. Vivian forced a laugh; and asked her if she
+had the weakness some people felt, of disliking to see a will, or of
+fancying that a man was going to die if he made his will. Then, to quiet
+her apprehensions, and to put a stop to her farther inquiries, he threw
+aside his papers, and returned with her to the company, where he exerted
+himself to appear as gay as the occasion required. Lord Glistonbury, who
+had called in for a few moments, was now playing the great man, as well
+as his total want of dignity of mind and manners would permit; he was
+answering, in whispers, questions about his marquisate, and sustaining
+with all his might his new part of the friend of government. Every thing
+conspired to strike Vivian with melancholy--yet he constrained himself
+so far, that his _charming spirits_ delighted all who were uninterested
+in observing any but the external signs of gaiety; but his mother saw
+that his vivacity was forced. She made inquiries from all the gentlemen
+of her acquaintance about what had passed the preceding day both at the
+House of Commons, and to-day at the dinner at Lord Glistonbury’s: but
+those who had been at Lord Glistonbury’s dinner assured her that every
+thing had been as amicable as could be; and his ministerial friends said
+that every thing had gone on as smoothly as possible at the house:
+of what had passed between Mr. Wharton and Vivian in the coffee-room
+_nobody could_ give her an account. Baffled, but not satisfied, the
+anxious mother sent to the hotel where Mr. Russell lodged, to inquire
+whether he was returned to town, and to beg to see him immediately. From
+him, she thought, she should learn the truth; or, by his influence over
+her son, she hoped that, if there was any danger of a quarrel, it
+might be in time prevented. Her servant, however, brought word that
+Mr. Russell was not expected from the country till ten o’clock the
+next morning; but that her note would be given to him directly on
+his arrival. She applied herself next to the study of her daughter’s
+countenance, whilst she asked two or three questions, calculated to
+discover whether Lady Sarah was under any anxiety about Vivian. But
+though Lady Sarah’s countenance exhibited not the slightest variation
+under this trial, yet this tranquillity was by no means decisively
+satisfactory; because, whatever might be her internal agitation, she
+knew that Lady Sarah _could_ maintain the same countenance. Lady Sarah,
+who plainly discerned her mother’s anxious curiosity, thought it her
+duty to keep her husband’s secrets; and, imagining that she knew the
+whole truth, was not farther alarmed by these hints, nor did they lead
+her to suspect the real state of the case.
+
+Lady Mary was at length tolerably well satisfied, by a conversation with
+her son; during the course of which she settled in her imagination that
+he had only been inserting in his will a bequest to his friend Russell;
+and that the depression of his spirits arose from the struggle he had
+had in determining to vote against his patriotic ideas. She rose to
+depart; and Vivian, as he conducted her down stairs, and put her into
+her carriage, could scarcely repress his feelings; and he took so tender
+a leave of her, that all her apprehensions revived; but there was a
+cry of “_Lady--somebody’s_ carriage!” and Lady Mary’s coachman drove
+on immediately, without giving her time for one word more. After his
+mother’s departure, Vivian, instead of returning to the company, went to
+his study, and took this opportunity of finishing his will; but as the
+servants were all in attendance at supper he could not get any body to
+witness it; and for this he was obliged to wait till a very late hour,
+when all the company at last departed. The rattle of carriages at length
+died away; and when all was silence, just as he was about to ring for
+his witnesses, he heard Lady Sarah’s step coming along the corridor
+towards the study: he went out immediately to meet her, drew her arm
+within his affectionately, and took two or three turns with her, up and
+down the empty saloon, whilst a servant was extinguishing the lights.
+Vivian’s mind was so full that he could not speak; and he was scarcely
+conscious that he had not spoken, till Lady Sarah broke the silence by
+asking if he had finished his business.
+
+“No, my dear, I have more to do yet; but you will oblige me if you will
+go to rest--you must be fatigued--mind and body.”
+
+“_You_ seem fatigued almost to death,” said Lady Sarah: “and cannot you
+finish the remainder of your business as well to-morrow?”
+
+“No,” replied Vivian; “it must be finished before to-morrow. I am bound
+in duty to finish it before to-morrow.”
+
+“If it is a point of duty, I have no more to say,” replied Lady Sarah;
+“but,” continued she, in a tone of proud humility, “but if I might so
+far intrude upon your confidence, as to inquire----”
+
+“Make no inquiries, my dear; for I cannot answer any, even of yours,”
+ said Vivian. “And let me beg of you to go to rest; my mind will then
+be more at ease. I cannot command my thoughts whilst I am anxious about
+you; and I am anxious--more anxious than ever I was in my life--about
+you at this moment. You will oblige me if you will go to rest.”
+
+“I CANNOT rest, but I will leave you, since you desire it--I have no
+idle curiosity--Good night!”
+
+“Good night! and thank you once more, my excellent wife, for all your
+kindness.”
+
+“There cannot be a better woman!” said Vivian to himself as she retired.
+“Why have I not loved her as she deserved to be loved? If I live, I will
+do my utmost to make her happy--if I live, I will yet repair all. And,
+if I die, she will have but little reason to deplore the loss of such a
+husband.”
+
+Vivian now executed his will--wrote several letters of business--burnt
+letters and arranged papers--regretted that Russell, who was to be his
+executor, was not near him--made many bitter reflections on the past,
+many good resolutions for the future, in case he should survive; then,
+overpowered with fatigue of mind, slept for some time, and was awakened
+by the clock striking seven. By eight o’clock he was at the place
+appointed--Mr. Wharton appeared a few minutes afterwards. Their seconds
+having measured out the distance, they took their ground. As Vivian
+had given the challenge, Wharton had the first fire. He fired--Vivian
+staggered some paces back, fired his pistol into the air, and fell.
+The seconds ran to his assistance, and raised him from the ground. The
+bullet had entered his chest. He stretched out his hand to Mr. Wharton
+in token of forgiveness, and, as soon as he could speak, desired the
+seconds to remember that it was he who gave the challenge, and that he
+thought he deserved to bear the blame of the quarrel. Wharton, callous
+as he was, seemed struck with pity and remorse: he asked what friends
+Vivian would wish to have apprised of his situation. A surgeon was in
+attendance. Vivian, faint from loss of blood, just pronounced Russell’s
+name, and the name of the hotel where he was to be found, adding
+“_nobody else_.” Wharton rode off, undertaking to find Mr. Russell;
+and Vivian was carried into a little public-house, by the orders of the
+surgeon, who thought that he could not bear the motion of a carriage.
+Wharton met Mr. Russell, who was coming from town. He had come to London
+earlier than he had intended, and, in consequence of Lady Mary Vivian’s
+note, which he had received immediately on his arrival, had made such
+inquiries as convinced him that her apprehensions were just; and having
+discovered the place where the parties were to meet, he had hastened
+thither, in hopes of preventing the fatal event. The moment he saw Mr.
+Wharton he knew that he was too late. Without asking any other question
+than, “Is Vivian alive?” he pressed forwards. The surgeon, who was the
+next person he saw, gave him no hopes of his friend’s recovery, but said
+he might last till night, or linger perhaps for a day or two. Vivian
+had by this time recovered his senses and his speech; but when Russell
+entered the room where he lay, he was so much struck by the grief in his
+countenance that he could not recollect any one of the many things he
+had to say. Russell, the firm Russell, was now quite overcome.
+
+“Yes, my dear friend,” said Vivian; “this is the end of all your
+care--of all your hopes of me!--Oh, my poor, poor mother! What will
+become of her! Where can we find consolation for her!--You and Selina
+Sidney! You know how fond my mother was of her--how fond she was of my
+mother--till I, the cause of evil to all my friends, separated them.
+You must reunite them. You must repair all. This hope--this hope of your
+happiness, my beloved friend, will soothe my last moments!----How much
+happier Selina will be with you than----”
+
+Russell sobbed aloud.--“Yes, yield to your feelings, for I know how
+strong they are,” said Vivian: “you, that have always felt more for me
+than I have ever felt for myself! But it is well for you that my life
+ends; for I have never been any thing but a torment and a disgrace to
+you!--And yet I had good dispositions!--but there is no time for regret
+about myself; I have others to think of, better worth thinking of.”
+
+Vivian called for pen, ink, and paper, had himself raised in his bed,
+and supported, whilst he wrote to Selina, and to his mother.
+
+“Do not stop me,” cried he to Russell; “it is the only act of
+friendship--the only thing I can do in this world now with pleasure, and
+let me do it.”
+
+His notes contained nearly what he had just said to Russell--he put them
+open into his friend’s hand; then, good-natured to the last, Vivian took
+up his pen again, with no small difficulty, and wrote a few affectionate
+words to his wife. “She _well_ deserves this from me,” said he. “Be
+a friend to her, Russell--when I am gone, she will, I know, want
+consolation,” After Russell had assured him that he would do all he
+desired, Vivian said, “I believe there is no one else in the world who
+will regret my death, except, perhaps, Lady Julia Lidhurst. How
+generous she was to forgive me!--Tell her, I remembered it when I was
+dying!--Weakness, weakness of mind!--the cause of all my errors!----Oh,
+Russell! how well you knew me from the first!--But all is over
+now!--My experience can be of no use to me--Every thing swims before my
+eyes.----One comfort is, I have not the blood of a fellow-creature
+to answer for. My greatest error was making that profligate man my
+friend--he was my ruin. I little thought, a few years ago, that I should
+die by his hand--but I forgive him, as I hope to be forgiven myself! Is
+the clergyman who was sent for come?--My dear Russell, this would be too
+severe a task for you.--He is come? Then let me see him.”
+
+Vivian was left for some time to his private devotions. The clergyman
+afterwards summoned Russell to return:--he found his friend calmed and
+resigned. Vivian stretched out his hand--thanked him once more--and
+expired!
+
+“Oh! worthy of a better fate!” thought Russell.--“With such a
+heart!--With such talents!--And so young!--With only one fault of
+character!--Oh, my friend! is it all over?--and all in vain?”
+
+Vivian’s mother and widow arrived just at this moment; and Russell and
+Lord Glistonbury, who followed breathless, could not stop them from
+entering the apartment. The mother’s grief bordered on distraction; but
+it found relief in tears and cries. Lady Sarah shed no tear, and uttered
+no exclamation; but advancing, insensible of all opposition, to the bed
+on which her dead husband lay, tried whether there was any pulse,
+any breath left; then knelt down beside him in silent devotion. Lord
+Glistonbury, striking his forehead continually, and striding up and down
+the room, repeated, “I killed him!--I killed him!--I was the cause
+of his death!--My victim!--My victim!--But take her away!--Take _her_
+away--I cannot.--For mercy’s sake, force her away, Mr. Russell!”
+
+“There is no need of force,” said Lady Sarah, rising, as her father
+approached; “I am going to leave my husband for ever.”----Then, turning
+to Mr. Russell, she inquired if his friend had left any message or
+letter for her--desired to see the letter--retired with it--still
+without shedding a tear--a few hours afterwards was taken ill, and,
+before night, was delivered of a dead son.
+
+Lady Sarah survived, but has never since appeared in what is called the
+WORLD.
+
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+
+[1] It is to be regretted that a word, used in the days of Charles II.
+and still intelligible in our times, should have become obsolete; _viz_.
+the feminine for intriguer--an _intriguess_. See the Life of Lord Keeper
+North, whose biographer, in speaking of Lord Keeper Bridgeman, says,
+“And what was worst of all, his family was no way fit for that place (of
+Chancellor), his lady being a most violent INTRIGUESS in business.”
+
+Had Mr. Walsingham lived in Ireland, even there he might have found
+in the dialect of the lower Irish both a substantive and a verb, which
+would have expressed his idea. The editor once described an individual
+of the Beaumont species to an Irish labourer, and asked what he would
+call such a person--“I’d call her a policizer--I would say she was fond
+of policizing.”
+
+[2] Life of Admiral Roddam, Monthly Magazine.
+
+[3] This reminds us of an expression of Charles the Second--“It is very
+strange, that every one of my friends keeps a _tame knave_”--_Note by
+the Editor_.
+
+[4] Young wild ducks.
+
+[5] _Note by the Editor_.--It is much to be regretted that the original
+papers belonging to this correspondence, including all the notes and
+letters, which Mrs. Beaumont either wrote herself, or those, still
+more important, which she caused to be written by her confidential
+amanuensis, which would doubtless form all together a body _of domestic
+diplomacy equally curious and useful_, are irrecoverably lost to the
+world. After the most diligent search, the Editor is compelled to
+rest under the persuasion that they must all have been collected and
+committed to the flames by the too great prudence of the principal party
+concerned. Had they been trusted to the discretion of a _friend_, the
+public would, doubtless, long since have been favoured with the whole.
+
+[6] See Bacon on Cunning.
+
+[7] See Annual Register, 1761, for an entertaining account of the trial
+of Mr. M’Naughton.
+
+[8] Supposed to be from the pen of Mr. Twigg, who was presented with a
+living in the gift of Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+[9] Literally copied from a family receipt-book in the author’s
+possession.
+
+[10] From some lines of Delille’s, on Rousseau, concluding with the
+following:--
+
+“Malheureux! le trépas est donc ton seule asile! Ah! dans la tombe, au
+moins, repose enfin tranquille! Ce beau lac, ces flots purs, ces fleurs,
+ces gazons frais, Ces pâles peupliers, tout t’invite à la paix. Respire,
+donc, enfin, de tes tristes chimères. Vois accourir vers toi les époux,
+et les mères. Contemple les amans, qui viennent chaque jour, Verser sur
+ton tombeau les larmes de l’amour! Vois ce groupe d’enfans, se jouant
+sous l’ombrage, Qui de leur liberté viennent te rendre hommage; Et dis,
+en contemplant ce spectacle enchanteur, _Je ne fus point heureux, mais
+j’ai fait leur bonheur_.”
+
+Ill-fated mortal! doom’d, alas! to find The grave sole refuge from thy
+restless mind. This turf, these flow’rs, this lake, this silent wave,
+These poplars pale, that murmur o’er your grave, Invite repose.--Enjoy
+the tranquil shore, Where vain chimeras shall torment no more. See to
+thy tomb the wife and mother fly, And pour their sorrows where thy ashes
+lie! Here the fond youth, and here the blushing maid, Whisper their
+loves to thy congenial shade; And grateful children smiling through
+their tears, Bless the loved champion of their youthful years: Then
+cry, triumphant, from thy honour’d grave-- _Joyless I lived, but joy to
+others gave_. C.S.E.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
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+"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
+<head>
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
+<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tales and Novels, Vol. V, by Maria Edgeworth</title>
+
+<style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve">
+
+    body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify}
+    P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; }
+    H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; }
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+    .mynote    {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;}
+    .toc       { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;}
+    .toc2      { margin-left: 20%;}
+    div.fig    { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; }
+    div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; }
+    .figleft   {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;}
+    .figright  {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;}
+    .pagenum   {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal;
+               margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%;
+               text-align: right;}
+    .side      { float: right; font-size: 75%; width: 25%; padding-left: 0.8em;
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+               text-indent: 0; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;
+               font-weight: bold; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: solid 1px;}
+    pre        { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;}
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+
+<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold;'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10), by Maria Edgeworth</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
+most other parts of the world 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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you
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+country where you are located before using this eBook.
+</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)<br />
+Tales of a Fashionable Life: Manoeuvring; Almeria; and Vivian.</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Maria Edgeworth</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 30, 2003 [eBook #9414]<br />
+[Most recently updated: March 5, 2021]</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div>
+<div style='display:block;margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div>
+<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Tapio Riikonen and PG Distributed Proofreaders and David Widger</div>
+<div style='margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES AND NOVELS, VOLUME 5 (OF 10) ***</div>
+
+    <h1>
+      TALES AND NOVELS
+    </h1>
+    <h4>
+      VOLUME V (of X)
+    </h4>
+
+      <h3>MANOEUVRING; ALMERIA; AND VIVIAN.</h3>
+
+			<h4>
+ (TALES OF FASHIONABLE LIFE.)</h4>
+
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      By Maria Edgeworth
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <h4>
+      In Ten Volumes. With Engravings On Steel.<br /> (Engravings not available
+      in this edition)
+    </h4>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <h3>
+      1857.
+    </h3>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <b>CONTENTS</b>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <b>MANOEUVRING.</b> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> <b>ALMERIA.</b> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> <i><b>VIVIAN</b></i>. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2H_PREF"> PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER I. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER II. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER III. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER IV. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER V. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER VI. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER VII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER VIII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER IX. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER X. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XI. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XIII. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XIV. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XV. </a>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br />
+    </p>
+    <p class="toc">
+      <a href="#link2H_FOOT"> <b>FOOTNOTES</b> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      MANOEUVRING.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER I.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And gave her words, where oily Flatt&rsquo;ry lays The pleasing colours of the
+      art of praise.&rdquo;&mdash;PARNELL.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      NOTE FROM MRS. BEAUMONT TO MISS WALSINGHAM.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am more grieved than I can express, my dearest Miss Walsingham, by a
+      cruel <i>contre-temps</i>, which must prevent my indulging myself in the
+      long-promised and long-expected pleasure of being at your <i>fête de
+      famille</i> on Tuesday, to celebrate your dear father&rsquo;s birthday. I trust,
+      however, to your conciliating goodness, my kind young friend, to represent
+      my distress properly to Mr. Walsingham. Make him sensible, I conjure you,
+      that my <i>heart</i> is with you all, and assure him that this is no
+      common apology. Indeed, I never employ such artifices with my friends: to
+      them, and to you in particular, my dear, I always speak with perfect
+      frankness and candour. Amelia, with whom, <i>entre nous</i>, you are more
+      a favourite than ever, is so much vexed and mortified by this
+      disappointment, that I see I shall not be restored to favour till I can
+      fix a day for going to you: yet when that may be, circumstances, which I
+      should not feel myself quite justified in mentioning, will not permit me
+      to decide.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Kindest regards and affectionate remembrances to all your dear circle.&mdash;Any
+      news of the young captain? Any hopes of his return from sea?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ever with perfect truth, my dearest Miss Walsingham&rsquo;s sincere friend,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;EUGENIA BEAUMONT.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;P.S.&mdash;Private&mdash;read to yourself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To be candid with you, my dear young friend, my secret reason for denying
+      myself the pleasure of Tuesday&rsquo;s fête is, that I have just heard that
+      there is a shocking chicken-pox in the village near you; and I confess it
+      is one of my weaknesses to dread even the bare rumour of such a thing, on
+      account of my Amelia: but I should not wish to have this mentioned in your
+      house, because you must be sensible your father would think it an idle
+      womanish fear; and you know how anxious I am for his esteem.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Burn this, I beseech you&mdash;&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Upon second thoughts, I believe it will be best to tell the truth, and
+      the whole truth, to your father, if you should see that nothing else will
+      do&mdash;&mdash;In short, I write in haste, and must trust now, as ever,
+      entirely to your discretion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, my dear,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham to his daughter, as the young lady
+      sat at the breakfast table looking over this note, &ldquo;how long do you mean
+      to sit the picture of The Delicate Embarrassment? To relieve you as far as
+      in me lies, let me assure you that I shall not ask to see this note of
+      Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s, which as usual seems to contain some mighty mystery.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No great mystery; only&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Only&mdash;some minikin mystery?&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;Yes, &lsquo;<i>Elle est
+      politique pour des choux et des raves</i>.&rsquo;&mdash;This charming widow
+      Beaumont is <i>manoeuvrer</i>.<a href="#linknote-1" name="linknoteref-1"
+       id="linknoteref-1"><small>1</small></a> We can&rsquo;t well make an English word
+      of it. The species, thank Heaven! is not so numerous yet in England as to
+      require a generic name. The description, however, has been touched by one
+      of our poets:
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Julia&rsquo;s a manager: she&rsquo;s born for rule,
+     And knows her wiser husband is a fool.
+     For her own breakfast she&rsquo;ll project a scheme,
+     Nor take her tea without a stratagem.&rsquo; 
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Even from the time when Mrs. Beaumont was a girl of sixteen I remember her
+      manoeuvring to gain a husband, and then manoeuvring to manage him, which
+      she did with triumphant address.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What sort of a man was Colonel Beaumont?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;An excellent man; an open-hearted soldier, of the strictest honour and
+      integrity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then is it not much in Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s favour, that she enjoyed the
+      confidence of such a man, and that he left her guardian to his son and
+      daughter?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If he had lived with her long enough to become acquainted with her real
+      character, what you say, my dear, would be unanswerable. But Colonel
+      Beaumont died a few years after his marriage, and during those few years
+      he was chiefly with his regiment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will, however, allow,&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;that since his death
+      Mrs. Beaumont has justified his confidence.&mdash;Has she not been a good
+      guardian, and an affectionate mother?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why&mdash;as a guardian, I think she has allowed her son too much
+      liberty, and too much money. I have heard that young Beaumont has lost a
+      considerable sum at Newmarket. I grant you that Mrs. Beaumont is an
+      affectionate mother, and I am convinced that she is extremely anxious to
+      advance the worldly interests of her children; still I cannot, my dear,
+      agree with you, that she is a good mother. In the whole course of the
+      education of her son and daughter, she has pursued a system of artifice.
+      Whatever she wanted them to learn, or to do, or to leave undone, some
+      stratagem, sentimental or scenic, was employed; somebody was to hint to
+      some other body to act upon Amelia to make her do so and so. Nothing&mdash;that
+      is, nothing like truth, ever came directly from the mother: there were
+      always whisperings and mysteries, and &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t say that before Amelia!&rsquo; and
+      &lsquo;I would not have this told to Edward,&rsquo; because it might make him like
+      something that she did not wish that he should like, and that she had <i>her
+      reasons</i> for not letting him know that she did not wish him to like.
+      There was always some truth to be concealed for some mighty good purpose;
+      and things and persons were to be represented in false lights, to produce
+      on some particular occasion some partial effect. All this succeeded
+      admirably in detail, and for the management of helpless, ignorant,
+      credulous childhood. But mark the consequences of this system: children
+      grow up, and cannot always see, hear, and understand, just as their
+      mothers please. They will go into the world; they will mix with others;
+      their eyes will be opened; they will see through the whole system of
+      artifice by which their childhood was so cleverly managed; and then,
+      confidence in the parent must be destroyed for ever.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Walsingham acknowledged the truth of what her father said; but she
+      observed that this was a common error in education, which had the sanction
+      of high authority in its favour; even the eloquent Rousseau, and the
+      elegant and ingenious Madame de Genlis. &ldquo;And it is certain,&rdquo; continued
+      Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;that Mrs. Beaumont has not made her children artful;
+      both Amelia and Mr. Beaumont are remarkably open, sincere, honourable
+      characters. Mr. Beaumont, indeed, carries his sincerity almost to a fault:
+      he is too blunt, perhaps, in his manner;&mdash;and Amelia, though she is
+      of such a timid, gentle temper, and so much afraid of giving pain, has
+      always courage enough to speak the truth, even in circumstances where it
+      is most difficult. So at least you must allow, my dear father, that Mrs.
+      Beaumont has made her children sincere.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sorry, my dear, to seem uncharitable; but I must observe, that
+      sometimes the very faults of parents produce a tendency to opposite
+      virtues in their children: for the children suffer by the consequences of
+      these faults, and detecting, despise, and resolve to avoid them. As to
+      Amelia and Mr. Beaumont, their acquaintance with our family has been no
+      unfavourable circumstance in their education. They saw amongst us the
+      advantages of sincerity: they became attached to you, and to my excellent
+      ward Captain Walsingham; he obtained strong power over young Beaumont&rsquo;s
+      mind, and used it to the best purposes. Your friendship for Amelia was, I
+      think, equally advantageous to her: as you are nearly of the same age, you
+      had opportunities of winning her confidence; and your stronger mind
+      fortified hers, and inspired her timid character with the courage
+      necessary to be sincere.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; persisted Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;though Mrs. Beaumont may have used a
+      little <i>finesse</i> towards her children in trifles, yet in matters of
+      consequence, I do think that she has no interest but theirs; and her
+      affection for them will make her lay aside all art, when their happiness
+      is at stake.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Walsingham shook his head.&mdash;&ldquo;And do you then really believe, my
+      dear Marianne, that Mrs. Beaumont would consider any thing, for instance,
+      in the marriage of her son and daughter, but fortune, and what the world
+      calls <i>connexion and establishments</i>?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Certainly I cannot think that these are Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s first objects;
+      because we are people but of small fortune, and yet she prefers us to many
+      of large estates and higher station.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You should say, she professes to prefer us,&rdquo; replied Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;And
+      do you really believe her to be sincere? Now, there is my ward, Captain
+      Walsingham, for whom she pretends to have such a regard, do you think that
+      Mrs. Beaumont wishes her daughter should marry him?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do, indeed; but Mrs. Beaumont must speak cautiously on that subject;
+      this is prudence, not dissimulation: for you know that my cousin
+      Walsingham never declared his attachment to Miss Beaumont; on the
+      contrary, he always took the most scrupulous pains to conceal it from her,
+      because he had not fortune enough to marry, and he was too honourable to
+      attempt, or even to wish, to engage the affections of one to whom he had
+      no prospect of being united.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He is a noble fellow!&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;There is no sacrifice
+      of pleasure or interest he would hesitate to make to his duty. For his
+      friends there is no exertion, no endurance, no forbearance, of which he
+      has not shown himself capable. For his country&mdash;&mdash;All I ask from
+      Heaven for him is, opportunity to serve his country. Whether
+      circumstances, whether success, will ever prove his merits to the world, I
+      cannot foretell; but I shall always glory in him as my ward, my relation,
+      my friend.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Beaumont speaks of him just as you do,&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Speaks, but not thinks,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;No, no! Captain Walsingham
+      is not the man she desires for a son-in-law. She wants to marry Amelia to
+      Sir John Hunter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To Sir John Hunter!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, to Sir John Hunter, a being without literature, without morals,
+      without even youth, to plead in his favour. He is nearly forty years old,
+      old enough to be Amelia&rsquo;s father; yet this is the man whom Mrs. Beaumont
+      prefers for the husband of her beloved daughter, because he is heir
+      presumptive to a great estate, and has the chance of a reversionary
+      earldom.&mdash;And this is your modern good mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, no, no!&rdquo; cried Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;you do Mrs. Beaumont injustice; I
+      assure you she despises Sir John Hunter as much as we do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yet observe the court she has paid to the whole family of the Hunters.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, but that has been merely from regard to the late Lady Hunter, who
+      was her particular friend.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Particular friend!</i> a vamped-up, sentimental conversation reason.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I assure you,&rdquo; persisted Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;that I know Mrs.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s mind better than you do, father, at least on this subject.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You! a girl of eighteen, pretend to know a manoeuvrer of her age!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Only let me tell you my reasons.&mdash;It was but last week that Mrs.
+      Beaumont told me that she did not wish to encourage Sir John Hunter, and
+      that she should be perfectly happy if she could see Amelia united to such
+      a man as Captain Walsingham.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such a man as Captain Walsingham! nicely guarded expression!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you have not heard all yet.&mdash;Mrs. Beaumont anxiously inquired
+      from me whether he had made any prize-money, whether there was any chance
+      of his returning soon; and she added, with particular emphasis, &lsquo;You don&rsquo;t
+      know how much I wish it! You don&rsquo;t know what a favourite he is of mine!&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That last, I will lay any wager,&rdquo; cried Mr. Walsingham, &ldquo;she said in a
+      whisper, and in a corner.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, but she could not do otherwise, for Amelia was present. Mrs.
+      Beaumont took me aside.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Aside; ay, ay, but take care, I advise you, of her <i>asides</i>, and her
+      whisperings, and her cornerings, and her inuendoes, and semiconfidences,
+      lest your own happiness, my dear, unsuspecting, enthusiastic daughter,
+      should be the sacrifice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Walsingham now stood perfectly silent, in embarrassed and breathless
+      anxiety.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I see,&rdquo; continued her father, &ldquo;that Mrs. Beaumont, for whose mighty
+      genius one intrigue at a time is not sufficient, wants also to persuade
+      you, my dear, that she wishes to have you for a daughter-in-law: and yet
+      all the time she is doing every thing she can to make her son marry that
+      fool, Miss Hunter, merely because she has two hundred thousand pounds
+      fortune.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There I can assure you that you are mistaken,&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham;
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Beaumont dreads that her son should marry Miss Hunter. Mrs. Beaumont
+      thinks her as silly as you do, and complained to me of her having no taste
+      for literature, or for any thing, but dress, and trifling conversation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wonder, then, that Mrs. Beaumont selects her continually for her
+      companion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She thinks Miss Hunter the most insipid companion in the world; but I
+      dare not tell you, lest you should laugh at me again, that it was for the
+      sake of the late Lady Hunter that Mrs. Beaumont was so kind to the
+      daughter; and now Miss Hunter is so fond of her, and so grateful, that, as
+      Mrs. Beaumont says, it would be cruelty to shake her off.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mighty plausible! But the truth of all this, begging Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s
+      pardon, I doubt; I will not call it a falsehood, but I may be permitted to
+      call it a <i>Beaumont</i>. Time will show: and in the mean time, my dear
+      daughter, be on your guard against Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s art, and against your
+      own credulity. The momentary pain I give my friends by speaking the plain
+      truth, I have always found overbalanced by the pleasure and advantage of
+      mutual confidence. Our domestic happiness has arisen chiefly from our
+      habits of openness and sincerity. Our whole souls are laid open; there is
+      no management, no &lsquo;<i>intrigue de cabinet</i>, no &lsquo;<i>esprit de la ligue</i>.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Walsingham now left the room; and Miss Walsingham, absorbed in
+      reflections more interesting to her than even the defence of Mrs.
+      Beaumont, went out to walk. Her father&rsquo;s house was situated in a beautiful
+      part of Devonshire, near the sea-shore, in the neighbourhood of Plymouth;
+      and as Miss Walsingham was walking on the beach, she saw an old fisherman
+      mooring his boat to the projecting stump of a tree. His figure was so
+      picturesque, that she stopped to sketch it; and as she was drawing, a
+      woman came from the cottage near the shore to ask the fisherman what luck
+      he had had. &ldquo;A fine turbot,&rdquo; says he, &ldquo;and a john-doree.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then away with them this minute to Beaumont Park,&rdquo; said the woman; &ldquo;for
+      here&rsquo;s Madam Beaumont&rsquo;s man, Martin, called <i>in a flustrum</i> while you
+      was away, to say madam must have the nicest of our fish, whatsomever it
+      might be, and a john-doree, if it could be had for love or money, for
+      Tuesday.&rdquo;&mdash;Here the woman, perceiving Miss Walsingham, dropped a
+      curtsy. &ldquo;Your humble servant, Miss Walsingham,&rdquo; said the woman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;On Tuesday?&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham: &ldquo;are you sure that Mrs. Beaumont
+      bespoke the fish for Tuesday?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, <i>sartin</i> sure, miss; for Martin mentioned, moreover, what he had
+      heard talk in the servants&rsquo; hall, that there is to be a very <i>pettiklar</i>
+      old gentleman, as rich! as rich! as rich can be! from foreign parts, and a
+      great friend of the colonel that&rsquo;s dead; and he&mdash;that is, the old <i>pettiklar</i>
+      gentleman&mdash;is to be down all the way from Lon&rsquo;on to dine at the park
+      on Tuesday for <i>sartin</i>: so, husband, away with the john-doree and
+      the turbot, while they be fresh.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But why,&rdquo; thought Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;did not Mrs. Beaumont tell us the
+      plain truth, if this is the truth?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER II.
+    </h2>
+    <pre>
+      <i>&ldquo;Young Hermes next, a close contriving god,
+          Her brows encircled with his serpent rod;
+          Then plots and fair excuses fill her brain,
+          And views of breaking am&rsquo;rous vows for gain.&rdquo;</i>
+    </pre>
+    <p>
+      The information which Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s man, Martin, had learned from the
+      servants&rsquo; hall, and had communicated to the fisherman&rsquo;s wife, was more
+      correct, and had been less amplified, embellished, misunderstood, or
+      misrepresented, than is usually found to be the case with pieces of news
+      which are so heard and so repeated. It was true that Mrs. Beaumont
+      expected to see on Tuesday an old gentleman, a Mr. Palmer, who had been a
+      friend of her husband&rsquo;s; he had lately returned from Jamaica, where he had
+      made a large fortune. It is true, also, that this old gentleman was <i>a
+      little particular</i>, but not precisely in the sense in which the
+      fisherman&rsquo;s wife understood the phrase; he was not particularly fond of
+      john-dorees and turbots, but he was particularly fond of making his
+      fellow-creatures happy; particularly generous, particularly open and
+      honest in his nature, abhorring all artifice himself, and unsuspicious of
+      it in others. He was unacquainted with Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s character, as he
+      had been for many years in the West Indies, and he knew her only from her
+      letters, in which she appeared every thing that was candid and amiable.
+      His great friendship for her deceased husband also inclined him to like
+      her. Colonel Beaumont had appointed him one of the guardians of his
+      children, but Mr. Palmer, being absent from England, had declined to act:
+      he was also trustee to Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s marriage-settlement, and she had
+      represented that it was necessary he should be present at the settlement
+      of her family affairs upon her son&rsquo;s coming of age; an event which was to
+      take place in a few days. The urgent representations of Mrs. Beaumont, and
+      the anxious desire she expressed to see Mr. Palmer, had at last prevailed
+      with the good old gentleman to journey down to Beaumont Park, though he
+      was a valetudinarian, and though he was obliged, he said, to return to
+      Jamaica with the West India fleet, which was expected to sail in ten days;
+      so that he announced positively that he could stay but a week at Beaumont
+      Park with his good friends and relations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He was related but distantly to the Beaumonts, and he stood in precisely
+      the same degree of relationship to the Walsinghams. He had no other
+      relations, and his fortune was completely at his own disposal. On this
+      fortune our cunning widow had speculated long and deeply, though in fact
+      there was no occasion for art: it was Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s intention to leave his
+      large fortune to the Beaumonts; or to divide it between the Beaumont and
+      Walsingham families; and had she been sincere in her professed desire of a
+      complete union by a double marriage between the representatives of the
+      families, her favourite object would have been, in either case, equally
+      secure. Here was a plain, easy road to her object; but it was too direct
+      for Mrs. Beaumont. With all her abilities, she could never comprehend the
+      axiom that a right line is the shortest possible line between any two
+      points:&mdash;an axiom equally true in morals and in mathematics. No, the
+      serpentine line was, in her opinion, not only the most beautiful, but the
+      most expeditious, safe, and convenient.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She had formed a triple scheme of such intricacy, that it is necessary
+      distinctly to state the argument of her plot, lest the action should be
+      too complicated to be easily developed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She had, in the first place, a design of engrossing the whole of Mr.
+      Palmer&rsquo;s fortune for her own family; and for this purpose she determined
+      to prevent Mr. Palmer from becoming acquainted with his other relations,
+      the Walsinghams, to whom she had always had a secret dislike, because they
+      were of remarkably open, sincere characters. As Mr. Palmer proposed to
+      stay but a week in the country, this scheme of preventing their meeting
+      seemed feasible.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the second place, Mrs. Beaumont wished to marry her daughter to Sir
+      John Hunter, because Sir John was heir expectant to a large estate, called
+      the Wigram estate, and because there was in his family a certain
+      reversionary title, the earldom of Puckeridge, which would devolve to Sir
+      John after the death of a near relation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the third place, Mrs. Beaumont wished to marry her own son to Miss
+      Hunter, who was Sir John&rsquo;s sister by a second marriage, and above twenty
+      years younger than he was: this lady was preferred to Miss Walsingham for
+      a daughter-in-law, for the reasons which Mr. Walsingham had given; because
+      she possessed an independent fortune of two hundred thousand pounds, and
+      because she was so childish and silly that Mrs. Beaumont thought she could
+      always manage her easily, and by this means retain power over her son.
+      Miss Hunter was very pretty, and Mrs. Beaumont had observed that her son
+      had sometimes been struck with her beauty sufficiently to give hopes that,
+      by proper management, he might be diverted from his serious, sober
+      preference of Miss Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont foresaw many difficulties in the execution of these plans.
+      She knew that Amelia liked Captain Walsingham, and that Captain Walsingham
+      was attached to her, though he had never declared his love: and she
+      dreaded that Captain Walsingham, who was at this time at sea, should
+      return, just whilst Mr. Palmer was with her; because she was well aware
+      that the captain was a kind of man Mr. Palmer would infinitely prefer to
+      Sir John Hunter. Indeed, she had been secretly informed that Mr. Palmer
+      hated every one who had a title; therefore she could not, whilst he was
+      with her, openly encourage Sir John Hunter in his addresses to Amelia. To
+      conciliate these seemingly incompatible schemes, she determined&mdash;&mdash;But
+      let our heroine speak for herself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dearest Miss Hunter,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;now we are by ourselves, let me open
+      my mind to you; I have been watching for an opportunity these two days,
+      but so hurried as I have been!&mdash;Where&rsquo;s Amelia?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Out walking, ma&rsquo;am. She told me you begged her to walk to get rid of her
+      head-ache; and that she might look well to-day, as Mr. Palmer is to come.
+      I would not go with her, because you whispered to me at breakfast that you
+      had something very particular to say to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you did not give <i>that</i> as a reason, I hope! Surely you didn&rsquo;t
+      tell Amelia that I had something particular to say to you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, no, ma&rsquo;am; I told her that I had something to do about my dress&mdash;and
+      so I had&mdash;my new hat to try on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True, my love; quite right; for you know I wouldn&rsquo;t have her suspect that
+      we had any thing to say to each other that we didn&rsquo;t wish her to hear,
+      especially as it is about herself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Herself!&mdash;Oh, is it?&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, in a tone of disappointment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And about you, too, my darling. Be assured I have no daughter I love
+      better, or ever shall. With such a son as I have, and such a
+      daughter-in-law as I hope and trust I shall have ere long, I shall think
+      myself the most fortunate of mothers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Silly Miss Hunter&rsquo;s face brightened up again. &ldquo;But now, my love,&rdquo;
+       continued Mrs. Beaumont, taking her hand, leading her to a window, and
+      speaking very low, though no one else was in the room, &ldquo;before we talk any
+      more of what is nearest my heart, I must get you to write a note for me to
+      your brother, directly, for there is a circumstance I forgot&mdash;thoughtless
+      creature that I am! but indeed, I never can <i>think</i> when I <i>feel</i>
+      much. Some people are always so collected and prudent. But I have none of
+      that!&mdash;Heigho! Well, my dear, you must supply my deficiencies. You
+      will write and tell Sir John, that in my agitation when he made his
+      proposal for my Amelia, of which I so frankly approved, I omitted to warn
+      him, that no hint must be given that I do any thing more than permit him
+      to address my daughter upon an equal footing with any other gentleman who
+      might address her. Stay, my dear; you don&rsquo;t understand me, I see. In
+      short, to be candid with you&mdash;old Mr. Palmer is coming to-day, you
+      know. Now, my dear, you must be aware that it is of the greatest
+      consequence to the interests of my family, of which I hope you always
+      consider yourself (for I have always considered you) as forming a part,
+      and a very distinguished part&mdash;I say, my darling, that we must
+      consider that it is our interest in all things to please and humour this
+      good old gentleman. He will be with us but for a week, you know. Well, the
+      point is this. I have been informed from undoubted authority, people who
+      were about him at the time, and knew, that the reason he quarrelled with
+      that nephew of his, who died two years ago, was the young man&rsquo;s having
+      accepted a baronetage: and at that time old Palmer swore, that <i>no sprig
+      of quality</i>&mdash;those were the very words&mdash;should ever inherit a
+      shilling of his money. Such a ridiculous whim! But these London merchants,
+      who make great fortunes from nothing, are apt to have their little
+      eccentricities; and then, they have so much pride in their own way, and so
+      much self-will and mercantile downrightness in their manners, that there&rsquo;s
+      no managing them but by humouring their fancies. I&rsquo;m convinced, if Mr.
+      Palmer suspected that I even wished Amelia to marry Sir John, he would
+      never leave any of us a farthing, and it would all go to the Walsinghams.
+      So, my dear, do you explain to your brother, that though I have not the
+      least objection to his coming here whilst Mr. Palmer is with us, he must
+      not take umbrage at any seeming coldness in my manner. He knows my heart,
+      I trust; at least, you do, my Albina. And even if I should be obliged to
+      receive or to go to see the Walsinghams, which, by-the-bye, I have taken
+      means to prevent; but if it should happen that they were to hear of
+      Palmer&rsquo;s being with us, and come, and Sir John should meet them, he must
+      not be surprised or jealous at my speaking in the highest terms of Captain
+      Walsingham. This I shall be obliged to do as a blind before Mr. Palmer. I
+      must make him believe that I prefer a commoner for my son-in-law, or we
+      are all undone with him. You know it is my son&rsquo;s interest, and yours, as
+      well as your brother&rsquo;s and Amelia&rsquo;s, that I consider. So explain all this
+      to him, my dear; you will explain it so much better, and make it so much
+      more palpable to your brother than I could.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear Mrs. Beaumont, how can you think so? You who write so well, and such
+      long letters about every thing, and so quick! But goodness! I shall never
+      get it all into a letter I&rsquo;m afraid, and before Mr. Palmer comes, and then
+      it will soon be dressing-time! La! I could say it all to John in five
+      minutes: what a pity he is not here to-day!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, my love, then suppose you were to go to him; as you so prudently
+      remark, things of this sort are always so much easier and better said than
+      written. And now I look at my watch, I see you cannot have time to write a
+      long letter, and to dress. So I believe, though I shall grieve to lose
+      you, I must consent to your going for this one day to your brother&rsquo;s. My
+      carriage and Williamson shall attend you,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, ringing the
+      bell to order the carriage; &ldquo;but remember you promise me now to come back,
+      positively, to-morrow, or next day at farthest, if I should not be able to
+      send the carriage again to-morrow. I would not, upon any account, have you
+      away, if it can possibly be helped, whilst Mr. Palmer is here, considering
+      you as I do [The carriage to the door directly, and Williamson to attend
+      Miss Hunter]&mdash;considering you as I do, my dearest Albina, quite as my
+      own daughter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont, you are so kind!&rdquo; said the poor girl, whom
+      Mrs. Beaumont could always thus easily <i>pay with words</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The carriage came to the door with such prompt obedience to Mrs.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s summons, that one of a more reflecting or calculating nature
+      than Miss Hunter might have suspected that it had been ordered to be in
+      readiness to carry her away this morning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Fare ye well, my own Albina! be sure you don&rsquo;t stay long from us,&rdquo; said
+      Mrs. Beaumont, accompanying her to the hall-door. &ldquo;A thousand kind things
+      to everybody, and your brother in particular. But, my dear Miss Hunter,
+      one word more,&rdquo; said she, following to the carriage door, and whispering:
+      &ldquo;there&rsquo;s another thing that I must trust to your management and
+      cleverness;&mdash;I mentioned that Mr. Palmer was to know nothing of <i>the
+      approbation</i> of Sir John&rsquo;s suit.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, yes, yes, ma&rsquo;am, I understand perfectly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But stay, my love; you must understand, too, that it is to be quite a
+      secret between ourselves, not to be mentioned to my son even; for you know
+      he is sudden in his temper, and warm and quite in the Walsingham interest,
+      and there&rsquo;s no knowing what might be the consequence if it were to be let
+      out imprudently, and Sir John and Edward both so high-spirited. One can&rsquo;t
+      be too cautious, my dear, to prevent mischief between gentlemen. So
+      caution your brother to leave it to me to break it, and bring things about
+      with Edward and Amelia,&rdquo;&mdash;[stopping Miss Hunter again as she made a
+      second effort to get into the carriage,]&mdash;&ldquo;You comprehend, my dear,
+      that Amelia is not in the secret yet&mdash;so not a word from your brother
+      to her about <i>my approbation!</i>&mdash;that would ruin all. I trust to
+      his honour; and besides&mdash;&rdquo; drawing the young lady back for the third
+      whisper.&mdash;Miss Hunter stood suspended with one foot in air, and the
+      other on the step; the coachman, impatient to be off, manoeuvred to make
+      his horses restless, whilst at the same time he cried aloud&mdash;&ldquo;So! so!
+      Prancer&mdash;stand still, Peacock; stand still, sir!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Hunter jumped down on terra firma. &ldquo;Those horses frighten me so for
+      you, my dear!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;Martin, stand at their heads. My dear
+      child, I won&rsquo;t detain you, for you&rsquo;ll be late. I had only to say, that&mdash;oh!
+      that I trust implicitly to your brother&rsquo;s honour; but, besides this, it
+      will not be amiss for you to hint, as you know you can delicately&mdash;<i>delicately</i>,
+      you understand&mdash;that it is for his interest to leave me to manage
+      every thing. Yet none of this is to be said <i>as if from me</i>&mdash;pray
+      don&rsquo;t let it come from me. Say it all from yourself. Don&rsquo;t let my name be
+      mentioned at all. Don&rsquo;t commit me, you understand?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perfectly, perfectly, ma&rsquo;am: one kiss, dear Mrs. Beaumont, and adieu. Is
+      my dressing-box in? Tell him to drive fast, for I hate going slow. Dearest
+      Mrs. Beaumont, good bye. I feel as if I were going for an age, though it
+      is only for one day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear, affectionate girl! I love <i>heart</i>&mdash;Good bye&mdash;Drive
+      fast, as Miss Hunter desires you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Our fair politician, well satisfied with the understanding of her
+      confidante, which never comprehended more than met the ear, and secure in
+      a chargé d&rsquo;affaires, whose powers it was never necessary to limit, stood
+      on the steps before the house-door, deep in reverie, for some minutes
+      after the carriage had driven away, till she was roused by seeing her son
+      returning from his morning&rsquo;s ride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER III.
+    </h2>
+    <pre>
+      <i>&ldquo;Will you hear a Spanish lady,
+            How she woo&rsquo;d an English man?
+            Garments gay as rich as may be,
+            Deck&rsquo;d with jewels, she had on.&rdquo;</i>
+
+     THE SPANISH LADY&rsquo;S LOVE. <i>Percy&rsquo;s Reliques of Ancient Poetry</i>
+    </pre>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont had just been at a neighbouring farm-house, where there lived
+      one of Mr. Walsingham&rsquo;s tenants; a man of the name of Birch, a respectable
+      farmer, who was originally from Ireland, and whose son was at sea with
+      Captain Walsingham. The captain had taken young Birch under his particular
+      care, at Mr. Walsingham&rsquo;s request.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Birch&rsquo;s parents had this day received a letter from their son, which in
+      the joy and pride of their hearts they showed to Mr. Beaumont, who was in
+      the habit of calling at their house to inquire if they had heard any news
+      of their son, or of Captain Walsingham. Mr. Beaumont liked to read Birch&rsquo;s
+      letters, because they were written with characteristic simplicity and
+      affection, and somewhat in the Irish idiom, which this young sailor&rsquo;s
+      English education had not made him entirely forget.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      LETTER FROM BIRCH TO HIS PARENTS.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;H.M.S. l&rsquo;Ambuscade.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;HONOURED PARENTS,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I write this from sea, lat. N. 44.15&mdash;long. W. 9.45&mdash;wind
+      N.N.E.&mdash;to let you know you will not see me so soon as I said in my
+      last, of the 16th. Yesterday, P.M. two o&rsquo;clock, some despatches were
+      brought to my good captain, by the Pickle sloop, which will to-morrow,
+      wind and weather permitting, alter our destination. What the nature of
+      them is I cannot impart to you, for it has not transpired beyond the
+      lieutenants; but whatever I do under the orders of my good captain, I am
+      satisfied and confident all is for the best. For my own share, I long for
+      an opportunity of fighting the French, and of showing the captain <i>what
+      is in me</i>, and that the pains he has took to make a gentleman, and an
+      honour to his majesty&rsquo;s service, of me, is not thrown away. Had he been my
+      own father, or brother, he could not be better, or <i>done more</i>. God
+      willing, I will never disgrace his principles, for it would be my ambition
+      to be like him in every respect; and he says, if I behave myself as I
+      ought, I shall soon be a lieutenant; and a lieutenant in his majesty&rsquo;s
+      navy is as good a gentleman as any in England, and has a right (tell my
+      sister Kitty) to hand the first woman in Lon&rsquo;on out of her carriage, if he
+      pleases, and if she pleases.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now we talk of ladies, and as please God we shall soon be in action, and
+      may not have another opportunity of writing to you this great while, for
+      there is talk of our sailing southward with the fleet to bring the French
+      and Spaniards to action, I think it best to send you all the news I have
+      in this letter. But pray bid Kate, with my love, mind this, that not a
+      word of the following is to take wind for her life, on account of my not
+      knowing if it might be agreeable, or how it might affect my good captain,
+      and others that shall be nameless. You must know then that when we were at
+      &mdash;&mdash;, where we were stationed six weeks and two days, waiting
+      for the winds, and one cause or other, we used to employ ourselves, I and
+      my captain, taking soundings (which I can&rsquo;t more particularly explain the
+      nature of to you, especially in a letter); for he always took me out to
+      attend him in preference to any other; and after he had completed his
+      soundings, and had no farther use for me in that job, I asked him leave to
+      go near the same place in the evening to fish, which my good captain
+      consented to (as he always does to what (duty done) can gratify me),
+      provided I was in my ship by ten. Now you must know that there are
+      convents in this country (which you have often heard of, Kitty, no doubt),
+      being damnable places, where young <i>Catholic</i> women are shut up
+      unmarried, often, it is to be reasonably supposed, against their wills.
+      And there is a convent in one of the suburbs which has a high back wall to
+      the garden of it that comes down near the strand; and it was under this
+      wall we two used to sound, and that afterwards I used to be fishing. And
+      one evening, when I was not thinking of any such thing, there comes over
+      the wall a huge nosegay of flowers, with a stone in it, that made me jump.
+      And this for three evenings running the same way, about the same hour;
+      till at last one evening as I was looking up at the wall, as I had now
+      learned to do about the time the nosegays were thrown over, I saw coming
+      down a stone tied to a string, and to the stone a letter, the words of
+      which I can&rsquo;t particularly take upon me to recollect, because I gave up
+      the paper to my captain, who desired it of me, and took no copy; but the
+      sense was, that in that convent there was shut up a lady, the daughter of
+      an English gentleman by a Spanish wife, both her parents being dead, and
+      her Spanish relations and father-confessor (or catholic priest of a man),
+      not wishing she should get to England, where she might be what she had a
+      right to be by birth, at least by her father&rsquo;s side (a <i>protestant</i>),
+      shut her up since she was a child. And that there was a relative of hers
+      in England, who with a wicked lawyer or attorney had got possession of her
+      estate, and made every body believe she was dead. And so, it being seven
+      years and more since she was heard of, she is what is called dead in law,
+      which sort of death however won&rsquo;t signify, if she appears again. Wherefore
+      the letter goes on to say, she would be particularly glad to make her
+      escape, and get over to old England. But she confesses that she is neither
+      young nor handsome, and may-be never may be rich; therefore, that whoever
+      helps her must do it for the sake of doing good and nothing else; for
+      though she would pay all expenses handsomely, she could not promise more.
+      And that she knew the danger of the undertaking to be great; greater for
+      them that would carry her off even than for herself. That she knows,
+      however, that British sailors are brave as they are generous (this part of
+      the letter was very well indited, and went straight to my heart the minute
+      ever I read it); and she wished it could be in the power of Captain
+      Walsingham to take her under his immediate protection, and that she had
+      taken measures so as she could escape over the wall of the garden if he
+      would have a boat in readiness to carry her to his ship; and at the same
+      hour next evening the stone should be let down as usual, and he might
+      fasten his answer to it, which would be drawn up in due course. Concluding
+      all this with, &lsquo;That she would not go at all unless Captain Walsingham
+      came for her himself (certifying himself to be himself, I suppose), for
+      she knew him to be a gentleman by reputation, and she should be safe under
+      his protection, and so would her secret, she was confident, at all
+      events.&rsquo; This was the entire and sum total of the letter. So when I had
+      read to the end, and looked for the postscript and all, I found for my
+      pains that the lady mistook me for my captain, or would not have written
+      or thrown the nosegays. So I took the letter to my captain; and what he
+      answered, and how it was settled (by signals, I suppose) between them
+      after, it was not for me to inquire. Not a word more was said by him to me
+      or I to him on the topic, till the very night we were to sail for England.
+      It was then that our captain took me aside, and he says, &lsquo;Birch, will you
+      assist me? I ask this not as your captain, so you are at liberty to do as
+      you please. Will you help me to rescue this lady, who seems to be unjustly
+      detained, and to carry her back safe to her country and her friends?&rsquo; I
+      told him I would do that or any thing else he bid me, confident he would
+      never ask me to do a wrong thing; and as to the lady, I should be proud to
+      help to carry her off to old England and her lawful friends, only I
+      thought (if I might be so bold) it was a pity she was not young and
+      handsome, for his sake. At that he smiled, and only said, &lsquo;Perhaps it was
+      best for him as it was.&rsquo; Then he settled about the boat, and who were to
+      go, and when. It was twelve o&rsquo;clock striking by the great town clock when
+      we were under the walls of the convent, as appointed. And all was hush and
+      silent as the grave for our very lives. For it was a matter of life or
+      death, I promise you, and we all knew as much, and the sailors had a dread
+      of the Inquisition upon them that was beyond all terrible! So we watched
+      and waited, and waited and watched so long, that we thought something must
+      have gone wrong, or that all was found out, and the captain could not
+      delay the ship&rsquo;s sailing; and he struck his repeater, and it was within a
+      quarter of one, and he said, &lsquo;It is too late; we must put back.&rsquo; Just
+      then, I, that was watching with the lantern in my hand, gave notice, and
+      first there comes down a white bundle, fastened to the stone and cord.
+      Then the captain and I fixed the ladder of ropes, and down came the lady,
+      as well as ever she went up, and not a word but away with her: the captain
+      had her in a trice in our boat, safe and snug, and off we put, rowing for
+      the bare life, all silent as ever. I think I hear the striking of our oars
+      and the plashing of the water this minute, which we would have gladly
+      silenced, but could not any way in nature. But none heard it, or at least
+      took any notice against us. I can give you no idea of the terror which the
+      lady manifested when the boat stood out to sea, at the slightest squall of
+      wind, or the least agitation of the waves; for besides being naturally
+      cowardly, as all or most women are for the first time at sea, here was a
+      poor soul who had been watching, and may be fasting, and worn out mind and
+      body with the terror of perfecting her escape from the convent, where she
+      had been immured all her life, and as helpless as a child. So it was
+      wonderful she went through it as well as she did and without screaming,
+      which should be an example to Kate and others. Glad enough even we men
+      were when we reached the ship. There was, at that time, a silence on board
+      you could have heard a pin drop, all being in perfect readiness for
+      getting under way, the sails ready for dropping, and officers and sailors
+      waiting in the greatest expectation of our boat&rsquo;s return. Our boat passed
+      swiftly alongside, and great beyond belief was the astonishment of all at
+      seeing a woman veiled, hoisted out, and in, and ushered below, half
+      fainting. I never felt more comfortable in my life than when we found her
+      and ourselves safe aboard l&rsquo;Ambuscade. The anchor was instantly weighed,
+      all sail made, and the ship stood out to sea. To the lady the captain gave
+      up his cabin: double sentries were placed, and as the captain ordered,
+      every precaution that could shield her character in such suspicious
+      circumstances were enforced with the utmost punctilio. I cannot describe,
+      nor can you even conceive, Kate, the degree of curiosity shown about her;
+      all striving to get a sight of her when she first went down, and most
+      zealous they were to bring lights; but that would not do, for they could
+      not see her for her veil. Yet through all we could make out that she was a
+      fine figure of a woman at any rate, and something more than ordinary, from
+      the air she had with her. The next day when she was sitting on deck the
+      wind by times would blow aside her veil so as to give us glimpses of her
+      face; when, to our surprise, and I am sure to the captain&rsquo;s satisfaction,
+      we found she was beyond all contradiction young and handsome. And moreover
+      I have reason to believe she has fine jewels with her, besides a ring from
+      her own finger, which with a very pretty action she put on his, that next
+      day on deck, as I noticed, when nobody was minding. So that no doubt she
+      is as much richer as she is handsomer than she made believe, contrary to
+      the ways of other women, which is in her favour and my good captain&rsquo;s; for
+      from what I can judge, after all he has done for her, she has no dislike
+      nor objection to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have not time to add any thing more, but my love to Kitty, and Nancy,
+      and Tom, and Mary, and little Bess; and, honoured parents, wishing you
+      good health as I am in, thank God, at this present,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am your dutiful and loving son,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;JOHN BIRCH.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;P.S. I open my letter to tell you we are going southward immediately, all
+      in high spirits, as there is hopes of meeting the French and Spaniards. We
+      have just hoisted the nun-lady on board an English packet. God send her
+      and this letter safe to England.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont might perhaps have been amused by this romantic story, and by
+      the style in which it was told, if he had not been alarmed by the hint at
+      the conclusion of the letter, that the lady was not indifferent to her
+      deliverer. Now Mr. Beaumont earnestly wished that his friend Captain
+      Walsingham might become his brother-in-law; and he began to have fears
+      about this Spanish lady, with her gratitude, her rings, and the advantages
+      of the great interest her misfortunes and helpless condition would excite,
+      together with the vast temptations to fall in love that might occur during
+      the course of a voyage. Had he taken notice of the postscript, his mind
+      would have been somewhat relieved. On this subject Mr. Beaumont pondered
+      all the way that he rode home, and on this subject he was still meditating
+      when he saw his mother standing on the steps, where we left her when Miss
+      Hunter&rsquo;s carriage drove away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IV.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall in all my best obey you, madam.&rdquo; HAMLET.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Did you meet Miss Hunter, my dear son?&rdquo; said she.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, ma&rsquo;am, I just passed the carriage in the avenue: she is going home,
+      is not she?&rdquo; said he, rather in a tone of satisfaction.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, poor thing! yes,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, in a most pathetic tone: &ldquo;ah,
+      poor thing!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, ma&rsquo;am, what has happened to her? What&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Matter? Oh, nothing!&mdash;Did I say that any thing was the matter? Don&rsquo;t
+      speak so loud,&rdquo; whispered she: &ldquo;your groom heard every word we said; stay
+      till he is out of hearing, and then we can talk.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care if all the world hears what I say,&rdquo; cried Mr. Beaumont
+      hastily: but, as if suppressing his rising indignation, he, with a milder
+      look and tone, added, &ldquo;I cannot conceive, my dear mother, why you are
+      always so afraid of being overheard.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Servants, my dear, make such mischief, you know, by misunderstanding and
+      misrepresenting every thing they hear; and they repeat things so oddly,
+      and raise such strange reports!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True&mdash;very true indeed, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont. &ldquo;You are quite
+      right, and I beg pardon for being so hasty&mdash;I wish you could teach me
+      a little of your patience and prudence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Prudence! ah! my dear Edward, &lsquo;tis only time and sad experience of the
+      world can teach that to people of <i>our</i> open tempers. I was at your
+      age ten times more imprudent and unsuspicious than you are.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Were you, ma&rsquo;am?&mdash;But I don&rsquo;t think I am unsuspicious. I was when I
+      was a boy&mdash;I wish we could continue children always in some things. I
+      hate suspicion in any body&mdash;but more than in any one else, I hate it
+      in myself. And yet&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont hesitated, and his mother instantly went on with a fluent
+      panegyric upon the hereditary unsuspiciousness of his temper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, madam, were you not saying something to me about Miss Hunter?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Was I?&mdash;Oh, I was merely going to say, that I was sorry you did not
+      know she was going this morning, that you might have taken leave of her,
+      poor thing!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take leave of her! ma&rsquo;am: I bowed to her, and wished her a good morning,
+      when I met her just now, and she told me she was only going to the hall
+      for a day. Surely no greater leave-taking was requisite, when I am to see
+      the lady again to-morrow, I presume.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is not quite so certain as she thinks, poor soul! I told her I would
+      send for her again to-morrow, just to keep up her spirits at leaving me.
+      Walk this way, Edward, under the shade of the trees, for I am dead with
+      the heat; and you, too, look so hot! I say I am not so sure that it would
+      be prudent to have her here so much, especially whilst Mr. Palmer is with
+      us, you know&mdash;&rdquo; Mrs. Beaumont paused, as if waiting for an assent, or
+      a dissent, or a leading hint how to proceed: but her son persisting in
+      perverse silence, she was forced to repeat, &ldquo;You know, Edward, my dear,
+      you know?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know, indeed, ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Faith, not I, ma&rsquo;am. I don&rsquo;t know, for the soul of me, what Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s
+      coming has to do with Miss Hunter&rsquo;s going. There&rsquo;s room enough in the
+      house, I suppose, for each of them, and all of us to play our parts. As to
+      the rest, the young lady&rsquo;s coming or going is quite a matter of
+      indifference to me, except, of course, as far as politeness and
+      hospitality go. But all that I leave to you, who do the honours for me so
+      well.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s ideas were utterly thrown out of their order by this
+      speech, no part of which was exactly what she wished or expected: not that
+      any of the sentiments it contained or suggested were new to her; but she
+      was not prepared to meet them thus clothed in distinct words, and in such
+      a compact form. She had drawn up her forces for battle in an order which
+      this unexpectedly decisive movement of the enemy discomfited; and a less
+      able tactician might have been, in these circumstances, not only
+      embarrassed, but utterly defeated: yet, however unprepared for this sudden
+      shock, with admirable generalship our female Hannibal, falling back in the
+      centre, admitted him to advance impetuous and triumphant, till she had him
+      completely surrounded.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My being of age in a few days,&rdquo; continued Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;will not make
+      any difference, surely; I depend upon it, that you will always invite
+      whomever you like to this house, of which I hope, my dear mother, you will
+      always do me the favour to be the mistress&mdash;till I marry, at least.
+      For my wife&rsquo;s feelings,&rdquo; added he, smiling, &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t engage, before I have
+      her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And before we know who she is to be,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, carelessly.
+      &ldquo;Time enough, as you say, to think of that. Besides, there are few women
+      in the world, I know scarcely one, with whom, in the relation of mother
+      and daughter-in-law, I should wish to live. But wherever I live, my dear
+      son, as long as I have a house, I hope you will always do me the justice
+      and the pleasure to consider yourself as its master. Heaven knows I shall
+      never give any other man a right to dispute with you the sovereignty of my
+      castle, or my cottage, whichever it may be. As to the rest,&rdquo; pursued Mrs.
+      Beaumont, &ldquo;you cannot marry against my wishes, my dear Edward; for your
+      wishes on this, as on all other subjects, will ever govern mine.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Her son kissed her hand with warm gratitude.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will not, I hope, think that I seek to prolong my regency, or to
+      assume undue power or influence in affairs,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;if
+      I hint to you in general terms what I think may contribute to your
+      happiness. You must afterwards decide for yourself; and are now, as you
+      have ever been, master, to do as you please.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Too much&mdash;too much. I have had too much liberty, and have too little
+      acquired the habit of commanding my will and my passions by my reason. Of
+      this I am sensible. My excellent friend, Captain Walsingham, told me, some
+      years ago, that this was the fault of my character, and he charged me to
+      watch over myself; and so I have; but not so strictly, I fear, as if he
+      had watched along with me.&mdash;&mdash;Well, ma&rsquo;am, you were going to
+      give me some advice; I am all attention.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear son, Captain Walsingham showed his judgment more, perhaps, in
+      pointing out causes than effects. The weakness of a fond mother, I am
+      sensible, did indulge you in childhood, and, perhaps, more imprudently in
+      youth, with an unlimited liberty to judge and act for yourself. Your
+      mother&rsquo;s system of education came, alas! more from her heart than her
+      head. Captain Walsingham himself cannot be more sensible of my errors than
+      I am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Walsingham, believe me, mother, never mentioned this in reproach
+      to you. He is not a man to teach a son to see his mother&rsquo;s errors&mdash;if
+      she had any. He always spoke of you with the greatest respect. And since I
+      must, at my own expense, do him justice, it was, I well remember, upon
+      some occasion where I spoke too hastily, and insisted upon my will in
+      opposition to yours, madam, that Captain Walsingham took me aside, and
+      represented to me the fault into which my want of command over myself had
+      betrayed me. This he did so forcibly, that I have never from that hour to
+      this (I flatter myself) on any material occasion, forgotten the impression
+      he made on my mind. But, madam, I interrupt you: you were going to give me
+      your advice about&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, no&mdash;no advice&mdash;no advice; you are, in my opinion, fully
+      adequate to the direction of your own conduct. I was merely going to
+      suggest, that, since you have not been accustomed to control from a
+      mother, and since you have, thank Heaven! a high spirit, that would sooner
+      break than bend, it must be essential to your happiness to have a wife of
+      a compliant, gentle temper; not fond of disputing the right, or attached
+      to her own opinions; not one who would be tenacious of rule, and
+      unseasonably inflexible.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Unseasonably inflexible! Undoubtedly, ma&rsquo;am. Yet I should despise a
+      mean-spirited wife.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure you would. But compliance that proceeds from affection, you
+      know, can never deserve to be called mean-spirited&mdash;nor would it so
+      appear to you. I am persuaded that there is a degree of fondness, of
+      affection, enthusiastic affection, which disposes the temper always to a
+      certain softness and yieldingness, which, I conceive, would be peculiarly
+      attractive to you, and essential to your happiness: in short, I know your
+      temper could not bear contradiction.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, indeed, ma&rsquo;am, you are quite mistaken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Quite mistaken! and at the very moment he reddens with anger, because I
+      contradict, even in the softest, gentlest manner in my power, his opinion
+      of himself!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t understand me, indeed, you don&rsquo;t understand me,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Beaumont, beating with his whip the leaves of a bush which was near him.
+      &ldquo;Either you don&rsquo;t understand me, or I don&rsquo;t understand you. I am much more
+      able to bear contradiction than you think I am, provided it be direct. But
+      I do not love&mdash;what I am doing at this instant,&rdquo; added he, smiling&mdash;&ldquo;I
+      don&rsquo;t love beating about the bush.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look there now!&mdash;Strange creatures you men are! So like he looks to
+      his poor father, who used to tell me that he loved to be contradicted, and
+      yet who would not, I am sure, have lived three days with any woman who had
+      ventured to contradict him directly. Whatever influence I obtained in his
+      heart, and whatever happiness we enjoyed in our union, I attribute to my
+      trusting to my observations on his character rather than to his own
+      account of himself. Therefore I may be permitted to claim some judgment of
+      what would suit your hereditary temper.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Certainly, ma&rsquo;am, certainly. But to come to the point at once, may I ask
+      this plain question&mdash;Do you, by these reflections, mean to allude to
+      any particular persons? Is there any woman in the world you at this
+      instant would wish me to marry?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes&mdash;Miss Walsingham.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont started with joyful surprise, when his mother thus
+      immediately pronounced the very name he wished to hear.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You surprise and delight me, my dear mother!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Surprise!&mdash;How can that be?&mdash;Surely you must know my high
+      opinion of Miss Walsingham. But&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But&mdash;you added <i>but</i>&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is no woman who may not be taxed with a <i>but</i>&mdash;yet it is
+      not for her friend to lower her merit. My only objection to her is&mdash;I
+      shall infallibly affront you, if I name it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Name it! name it! You will not affront me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My only objection to her then is, her superiority. She is so superior,
+      that, forgive me, I don&rsquo;t know any man, yourself not excepted, who is at
+      all her equal.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think precisely as you do, and rejoice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Rejoice? why there I cannot sympathize with you. I own, as a mother, I
+      should feel a little&mdash;a little mortified to see my son not the
+      superior; and when the comparison is to be daily and hourly made, and to
+      last for life, and all the world to see it as well as myself. I own I have
+      a mother&rsquo;s vanity. I should wish to see my son always what he has hitherto
+      been&mdash;the superior, and master in his own house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont made no reply to these insinuations, but walked on in
+      silence; and his mother, unable to determine precisely whether the
+      vexation apparent in his countenance proceeded from disapprobation of her
+      observations, or from their working the effect she desired upon his pride,
+      warily waited till he should betray some decisive symptom of his feelings.
+      But she waited in vain&mdash;he was resolved not to speak.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is not a woman upon earth I should wish so much to have as a
+      daughter-in-law, a companion, and a friend, as Miss Walsingham. You must
+      be convinced,&rdquo; resumed Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;so far as I am concerned, it is the
+      most desirable thing in the world. But I should think it my duty to put my
+      own feelings and wishes out of the question, and to make myself prefer
+      whomsoever, all things considered, my judgment tells me would make you the
+      happiest.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And whom would your judgment prefer, madam?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why&mdash;I am not at liberty to tell&mdash;unless I could explain all my
+      reasons. Indeed, I know not what to say.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear madam, explain all your reasons, or we shall never understand one
+      another, and never come to an end of these half explanations.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here they were interrupted by seeing Mr. Twigg, a courtly clergyman,
+      coming towards them. Beaumont was obliged to endure his tiresome flattery
+      upon the beauties of Beaumont Park, and upon the judicious improvements
+      that were making, had been made, and would, no doubt, be very soon made.
+      Mrs. Beaumont, at last, relieved his or her own impatience by
+      commissioning Mr. Twigg to walk round the improvements by himself. By
+      himself she insisted it should be, that she might have his unbiassed
+      judgment upon the two lines which had been marked for the new belt or
+      screen; and he was also to decide whether they should call it a belt or a
+      screen.&mdash;Honoured with this commission, he struck off into the walk
+      to which Mrs. Beaumont pointed, and began his solitary progress.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont then urged his mother to go on with her explanation. Mrs.
+      Beaumont thought that she could not hazard much by flattering the vanity
+      of a man on that subject on which perhaps it is most easily flattered;
+      therefore, after sufficient delicacy of circumlocution, she informed her
+      son that there was a young lady who was actually dying for love of him;
+      whose extreme fondness would make her live but in him; and who, besides
+      having a natural ductility of character, and softness of temper, was
+      perfectly free from any formidable superiority of intellect, and had the
+      most exalted opinion of his capacity, as well as of his character and
+      accomplishments; in short, such an enthusiastic adoration, as would induce
+      that belief in the infallibility of a husband, which must secure to him
+      the fullest enjoyment of domestic peace, power, and pre-eminence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont seemed less moved than his mother had calculated that the
+      vanity of man must be, by such a declaration&mdash;discovery it could not
+      be called. &ldquo;If I am to take all this seriously, madam,&rdquo; replied he,
+      laughing, &ldquo;and if, <i>au pied de la lettre</i> my vanity is to believe
+      that this damsel is dying for love; yet, still I have so little chivalry
+      in my nature, that I cannot understand how it would add to my happiness to
+      sacrifice myself to save her life. That I am well suited to her, I am as
+      willing as vanity can make me to believe; but how is it to be proved that
+      the lady is suited to me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear, these things do not admit of logical proof.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well&mdash;moral, sentimental, or any kind of proof you please.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Have you no pity? and is not pity akin to love?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Akin! Oh, yes, ma&rsquo;am, it is akin; but for that very reason it may not be
+      a friend&mdash;relations, you know, in these days, are as often enemies as
+      friends.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vile pun! far-fetched quibble!&mdash;provoking boy!&mdash;But I see you
+      are not in a humour to be serious, so I will take another time to talk to
+      you of this affair.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now or never, ma&rsquo;am, for mercy&rsquo;s sake!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mercy&rsquo;s sake! you who show none&mdash;Ah! this is the way with you men;
+      all this is play to you, but death to us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Death! dear ma&rsquo;am; ladies, you know as well as I do, don&rsquo;t die of love in
+      these days&mdash;you would not make a fool of your son.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I could not; nor could any other woman&mdash;that is clear: but amongst
+      us, I am afraid we have, undesignedly indeed, but irremediably, made a
+      fool of this poor confiding girl.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, ma&rsquo;am, in whom did she confide? not in me, I&rsquo;ll swear. I have
+      nothing to reproach myself with, thank God!&mdash;My conscience is clear;
+      I have been as ungallant as possible. I have been as cruel as my nature
+      would permit. I am sure no one can charge me with giving false promises&mdash;I
+      scarcely speak&mdash;nor false hopes, for I scarcely look at the young
+      lady.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So, then, you know who the young lady in question is?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps I ought not to pretend to know.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That would be useless affectation, alas! for I fear many know, and have
+      seen, and heard, much more than you have&mdash;or I either.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here Mrs. Beaumont observed that her son&rsquo;s colour changed, and that he
+      suddenly grew serious: aware that she had now touched upon the right
+      chord, she struck it again &ldquo;with a master&rsquo;s hand and prophet&rsquo;s fire.&rdquo; She
+      declared that all the world took it for granted that Miss Hunter was to be
+      married to Mr. Beaumont; that it was talked of every where; that she was
+      asked continually by her correspondents, when the marriage was to take
+      place?&mdash;in confirmation of which assertion, she produced bundles of
+      letters from her pockets, from Mrs. and Miss, and from Lady This, and Lady
+      That.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; continued she, &ldquo;if it were confined even to the circle of one&rsquo;s
+      private friends and acquaintance, I should not so much mind it, for one
+      might contradict, and have it contradicted, and one might send the poor
+      thing away to some watering-place, and the report might die away, as
+      reports do&mdash;sometimes. But all that sort of thing it is too late to
+      think of now&mdash;for the thing is public! quite public! got into the
+      newspapers! Here&rsquo;s a paragraph I cut out this very morning from my paper,
+      lest the poor girl should see it. The other day, I believe you saw it
+      yourself, there was something of the same sort. &lsquo;We hear that, as soon as
+      he comes of age, Mr. Beaumont, of Beaumont Park, is to lead to the altar
+      of Hymen, Miss Hunter, sister to Sir John Hunter, of Devonshire.&rsquo; Well,&mdash;after
+      you left the room, Albina took up the paper you had been reading; and when
+      she saw this paragraph, I thought she would have dropped. I did not know
+      what to do. Whatever I could say, you know, would only make it worse. I
+      tried to turn it off, and talked of twenty things; but it would not do&mdash;no,
+      no, it is too serious for that: well, though I believe she would rather
+      have put her hand in the fire, she had the courage to speak to me about it
+      herself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what did she say, ma&rsquo;am?&rdquo; inquired Mr. Beaumont, eagerly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Poor simple creature! she had but one idea&mdash;that you had seen it!
+      that she would not for the world you had read it. What would you think of
+      her&mdash;she should never be able to meet you again&mdash;What could she
+      do? It must be contradicted&mdash;somebody must contradict it. Then she
+      worried me to have it contradicted in the papers. I told her I did not
+      well know how that could be done, and urged that it would be much more
+      prudent not to fix attention upon the parties by more paragraphs. But she
+      was <i>not</i> in a state to think of prudence;&mdash;<i>no</i>. What
+      would you think was the only idea in her mind?&mdash;If I would not write,
+      she would write that minute herself, and sign her name. This, and a
+      thousand wild things, she said, till I was forced to be quite angry, and
+      to tell her she must be governed by those who had more discretion than
+      herself. Then she was so subdued, so ashamed&mdash;really my heart bled
+      for her, even whilst I scolded her. But it is quite necessary to be harsh
+      with her; for she has no more foresight, nor art, nor command of herself
+      sometimes, than a child of five years old. I assure you, I was rejoiced to
+      get her away before Mr. Palmer came, for a new eye coming into a family
+      sees so much one wouldn&rsquo;t wish to be seen. You know it would be terrible
+      to have the poor young creature <i>commit</i> and expose herself to a
+      stranger so early in life. Indeed, as it is, I am persuaded no one will
+      ever think of marrying her, if you do not.&mdash;&mdash;In worldly
+      prudence&mdash;but of that she has not an atom&mdash;in worldly prudence
+      she might do better, or as well, certainly; for her fortune will be very
+      considerable. Sir John means to add to it, when he gets the Wigram estate;
+      and the old uncle, Wigram, can&rsquo;t live for ever. But poor Albina, I dare
+      swear, does not know what fortune she is to have, nor what you have. Love!
+      love! all for love!&mdash;and all in vain. She is certainly very much to
+      be pitied.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Longer might Mrs. Beaumont have continued in monologue, without danger of
+      interruption from her son, who stood resolved to hear the utmost sum of
+      all that she should say on the subject. Never interrupting her, he only
+      filled certain pauses, that seemed expectant of reply, with the phrases&mdash;&ldquo;I
+      am very sorry, indeed, ma&rsquo;am&rdquo;&mdash;and, &ldquo;Really, ma&rsquo;am, it is out of my
+      power to help it.&rdquo; But Mrs. Beaumont observed that the latter phrase had
+      been omitted as she proceeded&mdash;and &ldquo;<i>I am very sorry indeed, ma&rsquo;am,</i>&rdquo;
+       he repeated less as words of course, and more and more as if they came
+      from the heart. Having so far, successfully, as she thought, worked upon
+      her son&rsquo;s good-nature, and seeing her daughter through the trees coming
+      towards them, she abruptly exclaimed, &ldquo;Promise me, at all events, dearest
+      Edward, I conjure you; promise me that you will not make proposals <i>any
+      where else</i>, without letting me know of it beforehand,&mdash;and give
+      me time,&rdquo; joining her hands in a supplicating attitude, &ldquo;give me but a few
+      weeks, to prepare my poor little Albina for this sad, sad stroke!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I promise you, madam, that I will not, directly or indirectly, make an
+      offer of my hand or heart to any woman, without previously letting you
+      know my determination. And as for a few weeks, more or less&mdash;my
+      mother, surely, need not supplicate, but simply let me know her wishes&mdash;even
+      without her reasons, they would have been sufficient with me. Do I satisfy
+      you now, madam?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;More than satisfy&mdash;as you ever do, ever will, my dear son.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you will require no more on this subject&mdash;I must be left master
+      of myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indubitably&mdash;certainly&mdash;master of yourself&mdash;most certainly&mdash;of
+      course.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont was going to add something beginning with, &ldquo;It is better, at
+      once, to tell you, that I can never&mdash;&rdquo; But Mrs. Beaumont stopped him
+      with, &ldquo;Hush! my dear, hush! not a word more, for here is Amelia, and I
+      cannot talk on this subject before her, you know.&mdash;&mdash;My beloved
+      Amelia, how languid you look! I fear that, to please me, you have taken
+      too long a walk; and Mr. Palmer won&rsquo;t see you in your best looks, after
+      all.&mdash;What note is that you have in your hand?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A note from Miss Walsingham, mamma.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! the chickenpox! take care! letters, notes, every thing may convey the
+      infection,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Beaumont, snatching the paper. &ldquo;How could dearest
+      Miss Walsingham be so giddy as to answer my note, after what I said in my
+      postscript!&mdash;How did this note come?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By the little postboy, mamma; I met him at the porter&rsquo;s lodge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But what is all this strange thing?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, after having
+      read the note twice over.&mdash;It contained a certificate from the parish
+      minister and churchwardens, apothecary, and surgeon, bearing witness, one
+      and all, that there was no individual, man, woman, or child, in the
+      parish, or within three miles of Walsingham House, who was even under any
+      suspicion of having the chickenpox.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My father desires me to send Mrs. Beaumont the enclosed <i>clean bill of
+      health</i>&mdash;by which she will find that we need be no longer subject
+      to quarantine; and, unless some other reasons prevent our having the
+      pleasure of seeing her, we may hope soon that she will favour us with her
+      long promised visit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yours, sincerely,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;MARIANNE WALSINGHAM.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am delighted,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;to find it was a false report, and
+      that we shall not be kept, the Lord knows how long, away from the dear
+      Walsinghams.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then we can go to them to-morrow, can&rsquo;t we, mamma? And I will write, and
+      say so, shall I?&rdquo; said Amelia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No need to write, my dear; if we promise for any particular day, and are
+      not able to go, that seems unkind, and is taken ill, you see. And as Mr.
+      Palmer is coming, we can&rsquo;t leave him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But he will go with us surely,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont. &ldquo;The Walsinghams are
+      as much his relations as we are; and if he comes two hundred miles to see
+      us, he will, surely, go seven to see them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;but it is civil and kind to leave him to fix
+      his own day, poor old gentleman. After so long a journey, we must allow
+      him some rest. Consider, he can&rsquo;t go galloping about as you do, dear
+      Edward.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But,&rdquo; said Amelia, &ldquo;as the Walsinghams know he is to be in the country,
+      they will of course come to see him immediately.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How do they know he is to be in the country?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thought&mdash;I took it for granted, you told them so, mamma, when you
+      wrote about not going to Walsingham House, on Mr. Walsingham&rsquo;s birthday.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, my dear; I was so full of the chickenpox, and terror about you, I
+      could think of nothing else.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thank you, dear mother&mdash;but now that is out of the question, I had
+      best write a line by the return of the postboy, to say, that Mr. Palmer is
+      to be here to-day, and that he stays only one week.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Certainly! love&mdash;but let me write about it, for I have particular
+      reasons. And, my dear, now we are by ourselves, let me caution you not to
+      mention that Mr. Palmer can stay but one week: in the first place it is
+      uncivil to him, for we are not sure of it, and it is like driving him
+      away; and in the next place, there are reasons I can&rsquo;t explain to you,
+      that know so little of the world, my dear Amelia&mdash;but, in general, it
+      is always foolish to mention things.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Always foolish to mention things!&rdquo; cried Mr. Beaumont, smiling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of this sort, I mean,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, a little disconcerted.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of what sort?&rdquo; persisted her son.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hush! my dear; here&rsquo;s the postboy and the ass.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Any letters, my good little boy? Any letters for me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I has, madam, a many for the house. I does not know for who&mdash;the bag
+      will tell,&rdquo; said the boy, unstrapping the bag from his shoulders.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Give it to me, then,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont: &ldquo;I am anxious for letters
+      always.&rdquo; She was peculiarly anxious now to open the post-bag, to put a
+      stop to a conversation which did not please her. Whilst seated on a rustic
+      seat, under a spreading beech, our heroine, with her accustomed looks of
+      mystery, examined the seals of her numerous and important letters, to
+      ascertain whether they had been opened at the post-office, or whether
+      their folds might have been pervious to any prying eye. Her son tore the
+      covers off the newspapers; and, as he unfolded one, Amelia leaned upon his
+      shoulder, and whispered softly, &ldquo;Any news of the fleet, brother?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, than whom Fine-ear himself had not quicker auditory nerves,
+      especially for indiscreet whispers, looked up from her letters, and
+      examined, unperceived, the countenance of Amelia, who was searching with
+      eagerness the columns of the paper. As Mr. Beaumont turned over the leaf,
+      Amelia looked up, and, seeing her mother&rsquo;s eyes fixed upon her, coloured;
+      and from want of presence of mind to invent any thing better to say, asked
+      if her mother wished to have the papers?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, coldly, &ldquo;not I, Amelia; I am not such a
+      politician as you are grown.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia withdrew her attention, or at least her eyes, from the paper, and
+      had recourse to the beech-tree, the beautiful foliage of which she studied
+      with profound attention.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;God bless me! here&rsquo;s news! news of the fleet!&rdquo; cried Beaumont, turning
+      suddenly to his sister; and then recollecting himself, to his mother.
+      &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;am, they say there has been a great engagement between the French and
+      Spaniards, and the English&mdash;particulars not known yet: but, they say,
+      ten sail of the French line are taken, and four Spaniards blown up, and
+      six Spanish men-of-war disabled, and a treasure-ship taken. Walsingham
+      must have been in the engagement&mdash;My horse!&mdash;I&rsquo;ll gallop over
+      this minute, and know from the Walsinghams if they have seen the papers,
+      and if there&rsquo;s any thing more about it in their papers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Gallop! my dearest Edward,&rdquo; said his mother, standing in his path; &ldquo;but
+      you don&rsquo;t consider Mr. Palmer&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Damn Mr. Palmer! I beg your pardon, mother&mdash;I mean no harm to the
+      old gentleman&mdash;friend of my father&rsquo;s&mdash;great respect for him&mdash;I&rsquo;ll
+      be back by dinner-time, back ready to receive him&mdash;he can&rsquo;t be here
+      till six&mdash;only five by me, now! Ma&rsquo;am, I shall have more than time to
+      dress, too, cool as a cucumber, ready to receive the good old fellow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In one short hour, my dear!&mdash;seven miles to Walsingham House, and
+      seven back again, and all the time you will waste there, and to dress too&mdash;only
+      consider!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do consider, ma&rsquo;am; and have considered every thing in the world. My
+      horse will carry me there and back in fifty minutes, easily, and five to
+      spare, I&rsquo;ll be bound. I sha&rsquo;n&rsquo;t light&mdash;so where&rsquo;s the paper? I&rsquo;m
+      off.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well&mdash;order your horse, and leave me the paper, at least, while he
+      is getting ready. Ride by this way, and you will find us here&mdash;where
+      is this famous paragraph?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Beaumont drew the paper crumpled from the pocket into which he had thrust
+      it&mdash;ran off for his horse, and quickly returned mounted. &ldquo;Give me the
+      paper, good friends!&mdash;I&rsquo;m off.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Away, then, my dear; since you will heat yourself for nothing. But only
+      let me point out to you,&rdquo; said she, holding the paper fast whilst she held
+      it up to him, &ldquo;that this whole report rests on no authority whatever; not
+      a word of it in the gazette; not a line from the admiralty; no official
+      account; no bulletin; no credit given to the rumour at Lloyd&rsquo;s; stocks the
+      same.&mdash;And how did the news come? Not even the news-writer pretends
+      it came through any the least respectable channel. A frigate in latitude
+      the Lord knows what! saw a fleet in a fog&mdash;might be Spanish&mdash;might
+      be French&mdash;might be English&mdash;spoke another frigate some days
+      afterwards, who heard firing: well&mdash;firing says nothing. But the
+      frigate turns this firing into an engagement, and a victory; and presently
+      communicates the news to a collier, and the collier tells another collier,
+      and so it goes up the Thames, to some wonder-maker, standing agape for a
+      paragraph, to secure a dinner. To the press the news goes, just as our
+      paper is coming out; and to be sure we shall have a contradiction and an
+      apology in our next.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, ma&rsquo;am; but I will ask Mr. Walsingham what he thinks, and show him
+      the paper.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do, if you like it, my dear; I never control you; but don&rsquo;t overheat
+      yourself for nothing. What can Mr. Walsingham, or all the Walsinghams in
+      the world, tell more than we can? and as to showing him the paper, you
+      know he takes the same paper. But don&rsquo;t let me detain you.&mdash;Amelia,
+      who is that coming through the gate? Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s servant, I protest!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well; it can&rsquo;t be, I see!&rdquo; said Beaumont, dismounting.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Take away your master&rsquo;s horse&mdash;quick&mdash;quick!&mdash;Amelia, my
+      love, to dress! I must have you ready to receive your godfather&rsquo;s
+      blessing. Consider, Mr. Palmer was your father&rsquo;s earliest friend; and
+      besides, he is a relation, though distant; and it is always a good and
+      prudent thing to keep up relationships. Many a fine estate has come from
+      very distant relations most unexpectedly. And even independently of all
+      relationships, when friendships are properly cultivated, there&rsquo;s no
+      knowing to what they may lead;&mdash;not that I look to any thing of that
+      sort here. But before you see Mr. Palmer, just as we are walking home, and
+      quite to ourselves, let me give you some leading hints about this old
+      gentleman&rsquo;s character, which I have gathered, no matter how, for your
+      advantage, my dear children. He is a humourist, and must not be opposed in
+      any of his oddities: he is used to be waited upon, and attended to, as all
+      these men are who have lived in the West Indies. A <i>bon vivant</i>, of
+      course. Edward, produce your best wines&mdash;the pilau and currie, and
+      all that, leave to me. I had special notice of his love for a john-doree,
+      and a john-doree I have for him. But now I am going to give you the
+      master-key to his heart. Like all men who have made great fortunes, he
+      loves to feel continually the importance his wealth confers; he loves to
+      feel that wealth does every thing; is superior to every thing&mdash;to
+      birth and titles especially: it is his pride to think himself, though a
+      commoner, far above any man who condescends to take a title. He hates
+      persons of quality; therefore, whilst he is here, not a word in favour of
+      any titled person. Forget the whole house of peers&mdash;send them all to
+      Coventry&mdash;all to Coventry, remember.&mdash;And, now you have the key
+      to his heart, go and dress, to be ready for him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Having thus given her private instructions, and advanced her secret plans,
+      Mrs. Beaumont repaired to her toilet, well satisfied with her morning&rsquo;s
+      work.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER V.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Chi mi fa piu carezze che non sole; O m&rsquo;ha ingannato, o ingannar me
+      vuole.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By St. George, there&rsquo;s nothing like Old England for comfort!&rdquo; cried Mr.
+      Palmer, settling himself in his arm-chair in the evening; &ldquo;nothing after
+      all in any part of the known world, like Old England for comfort. Why,
+      madam, there&rsquo;s not another people in the universe that have in any of
+      their languages a name even for comfort. The French have been forced to
+      borrow it; but now they have got it, they don&rsquo;t know how to use it, nor
+      even how to pronounce it, poor devils! Well, there&rsquo;s nothing like Old
+      England for comfort.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! nothing like Old England for comfort!&rdquo; echoed Mrs. Beaumont, in a
+      sentimental tone, though at that instant her thoughts were far distant
+      from her words; for this declaration of his love for Old England alarmed
+      her with the notion that he might change his mind about returning
+      immediately to Jamaica, and that he might take root again and flourish for
+      years to come in his native soil&mdash;perhaps in her neighbourhood, to
+      the bane of all her favourite projects. What would become of her scheme of
+      marrying Amelia to the baronet, and her son to the docile Albina? What
+      would become of the scheme of preventing him from being acquainted with
+      the Walsinghams? For a week it might be practicable to keep them asunder
+      by <i>policising</i>, but this could never be effected if he were to
+      settle, or even to make any long stay, in the country. The Walsinghams
+      would be affronted, and then what would become of their interest in the
+      county? Her son could not be returned without that. And, worse than all
+      the rest, Mr. Palmer might take a fancy to see these Walsinghams, who were
+      as nearly related to him as the Beaumonts; and seeing, he might prefer,
+      and preferring, he might possibly leave half, nay, perhaps the whole, of
+      his large fortune to them,&mdash;and thus all her hopes and projects might
+      at once be frustrated. Little aware of the long and perplexing trains of
+      ideas, which his honest ejaculation in favour of his native country had
+      raised, Mr. Palmer went on with his own comfortable thoughts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And of all the comforts our native land affords, I know of none so
+      grateful to the heart,&rdquo; continued he, &ldquo;as good friends, which are to be
+      found nowhere else in such perfection. A man at my time of life misses
+      many an old friend on his return to his native country; but then he sees
+      them still in their representatives, and loves them again in their
+      children. Mr. Beaumont looked at me at that instant, so like his father&mdash;he
+      is the image of what my friend was, when I first knew him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am rejoiced you see the likeness,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;Amelia, my
+      dear, pour out the coffee.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And Miss Beaumont, too, has just his expression of countenance, which
+      surprises me more, in her delicate features. Upon my word, I have reason
+      to be proud of my god-daughter, as far as appearances go; and with English
+      women, appearances, fair as they may be, seldom are even so good as the
+      truth. There&rsquo;s her father&rsquo;s smile again for me&mdash;young lady, if that
+      smile deceives, there&rsquo;s no truth in woman.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not you find our coffee here very bad, compared with what you have
+      been used to abroad?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do rejoice to find myself here quiet in the country,&rdquo; continued Mr.
+      Palmer, without hearing the lady&rsquo;s question; &ldquo;nothing after all like a
+      good old English family, where every thing speaks plenty and hospitality,
+      without waste or ostentation; and where you are received with a hearty
+      welcome, without compliments; and let do just as you please, without form,
+      and without being persecuted by politeness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This was the image of an English country family impressed early upon the
+      good old gentleman&rsquo;s imagination, which had remained there fresh and
+      unchanged since the days of his youth; and he now took it for granted that
+      he should see it realized in the family of his late friend.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I was afraid,&rdquo; resumed Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;that after being so long
+      accustomed to a West-Indian life, you would find many things unpleasant to
+      your feelings here. But you are so kind, so accommodating. Is it really
+      possible that you have not, since your return to England, experienced any
+      uncomfortable sensations, suffered any serious injury to your health, my
+      dear sir, from the damps and chills of our climate?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, now I think of it, I have&mdash;I have a cough,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer,
+      coughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont officiously shut the window.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do acknowledge that England is not quite so superior to all other
+      countries in her climate as in every thing else: yet I don&rsquo;t &lsquo;damn the
+      climate like a lord.&rsquo; At my time of life, a man must expect to be a
+      valetudinarian, and it would be unjust to blame one&rsquo;s native climate for
+      that. But a man of seventy-five must live where he can, not where he will;
+      and Dr. Y&mdash;&mdash; tells me that I can live nowhere but in the West
+      Indies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, sir, never mind Dr. Y&mdash;&mdash;,&rdquo; exclaimed young Beaumont: &ldquo;live
+      with us in England. Many Englishmen live to a great age surely, let people
+      say what they will of the climate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, perhaps, brother,&rdquo; interposed Amelia, &ldquo;those who, like Mr. Palmer,
+      have lived much in a warm climate, might find a return to a cold country
+      dangerous; and we should consider what is best for him, not merely what is
+      most agreeable to ourselves.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True, my dearest Amelia,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;and to be sure, Dr. Y&mdash;&mdash;
+      is one of our most skilful physicians. I could not be so rash or so
+      selfish as to set my private wishes, or my private opinion, in opposition
+      to Dr. Y&mdash;&mdash;&lsquo;s advice; but surely, my dear sir, you won&rsquo;t let
+      one physician, however eminent, send you away from us all, and banish you
+      again from England? We have a very clever physician here, Dr. Wheeler, in
+      whom I have the greatest confidence. In my own case, I confess, I should
+      prefer his judgment to any of the London fashionable physicians, who are
+      so fine and so hurried, that they can&rsquo;t take time to study one&rsquo;s
+      particular constitution, and hear all one has to say to them. Now that is
+      Wheeler&rsquo;s great excellence&mdash;and I should so like to hear his opinion.
+      I am sure, if he gives it against me, I will not say a word more: if he
+      decide for Jamaica, I may be vexed, but I should make it a point of
+      conscience to submit, and not to urge my good friend to stay in England at
+      his own peril. Happy they who can live where they please, and whose
+      fortune puts it in their power to purchase any climate, and to combine the
+      comforts and luxuries of all countries!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Nothing more was said upon the subject: Mrs. Beaumont turned the
+      conversation to the different luxuries of the West and East Indies. Mr.
+      Palmer, fatigued by his journey, retired early to rest, little dreaming
+      that his kind hostess waked, whilst he slept, for the purpose of preparing
+      a physician to give a proper opinion upon his case. Mrs. Beaumont left a
+      note to her favourite Dr. Wheeler, to be sent very early in the morning.
+      As if by accident, the doctor dropped in at breakfast time, and Mrs.
+      Beaumont declared that it was the luckiest chance imaginable, that he
+      should happen to call just when she was wishing to see him. When the
+      question in debate was stated to him, he, with becoming gravity of
+      countenance and suavity of manner, entered into a discussion upon the
+      effect of hot and cold climates upon the solids and fluids, and nervous
+      system in general; then upon English constitutions in particular; and,
+      lastly, upon <i>idiosyncrasies</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This last word cost Mr. Palmer half his breakfast: on hearing it he turned
+      down his cup with a profound sigh, and pushed his plate from him;
+      indications which did not escape the physician&rsquo;s demure eye. Gaining
+      confidence from the weakness of the patient, Dr. Wheeler now boldly
+      pronounced, that, in his opinion, any gentleman who, after having
+      habituated himself long to a hot climate, as Jamaica, for instance, should
+      come late in life to reside in a colder climate, as England, for example,
+      must run very great hazard indeed&mdash;nay, he could almost venture to
+      predict, would fall a victim to the sudden tension of the lax fibres.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Though a man of sound good sense in most things, Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s weakness
+      was, on medical subjects, as great as his ignorance; his superstitious
+      faith in physicians was as implicit as either Dr. Wheeler or Mrs. Beaumont
+      could desire.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, with a sigh still deeper than the first&mdash;for
+      the first was for himself, and the second for his country&mdash;&ldquo;then
+      England, Old England! farewell for ever! All my judges pronounce sentence
+      of transportation upon me!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont and Amelia, in eager and persuasive tones of remonstrance and
+      expostulation, at once addressed the doctor, to obtain a mitigation or
+      suspension of his sentence. Dr. Wheeler, albeit unused to the imperative
+      mood, reiterated his <i>dictum</i>. Though little accustomed to hold his
+      opinion against the arguments or the wishes of the rich and fair, he, upon
+      this occasion, stood his ground against Miss and Mr. Beaumont wonderfully
+      well for nearly five minutes; till, to his utter perplexity and dismay, he
+      saw Mrs. Beaumont appear amongst his assailants.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, I said I would submit, and not say a word, if Dr. Wheeler was
+      against me,&rdquo; she began; &ldquo;but I cannot sit by silent: I must protest
+      against this cruel, cruel decree, so contrary too to what I hoped and
+      expected would be Dr. Wheeler&rsquo;s opinion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Poor Dr. Wheeler twinkled and seemed as if he would have rubbed his eyes,
+      not sure whether he was awake or in a dream. In his perplexity, he
+      apprehended that he had misunderstood Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s note, and he now
+      prepared to make his way round again through the solids and the fluids,
+      and the whole nervous system, till, by favour of <i>idiosyncrasy</i>, he
+      hoped to get out of his difficulty, and to allow Mr. Palmer to remain on
+      British ground. Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s face, in spite of her powers of
+      simulation, lengthened and lengthened, and darkened and darkened, as he
+      proceeded in his recantation; but, when the exception to the general axiom
+      was fairly made out, and a clear permit to remain in England granted, by
+      such high medical authority, she forced a smile, and joined loudly in the
+      general congratulations. Whilst her son was triumphing and shaking hands
+      with Mr. Palmer, she slipped down stairs after Dr. Wheeler.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, doctor! What have you done! Ruined me! ruined me! Didn&rsquo;t you read my
+      note? Didn&rsquo;t you <i>understand</i> it?&mdash;I thought a word to the wise
+      was enough.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why!&mdash;then it was as I understood it at first? So I thought; but
+      then I fancied I must be mistaken afterwards; for when I expected support,
+      my dear madam, you opposed my opinion in favour of Jamaica more warmly
+      than any one, and what was I to think?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To think! Oh, my dear doctor, you might have guessed that was only a sham
+      opposition.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, my dear ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; cried Dr. Wheeler, who, though the mildest of men,
+      was now worked up to something like indignation, &ldquo;my dear ma&rsquo;am&mdash;sham
+      upon sham is too much for any man!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The doctor went down stairs murmuring. Thus, by excess of hypocrisy, our
+      heroine disgusted even her own adherents, in which she has the honour to
+      resemble some of the most wily politicians famous in English history. But
+      she was too wise ever to let any one who could serve or injure her go
+      discontented out of her presence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear, good Dr. Wheeler, I never saw you angry before. Come, come,&rdquo;
+       cried Mrs. Beaumont, sliding a <i>douceur</i> into his hand, &ldquo;friends must
+      not be vexed for trifles; it was only a mistake <i>de part et d&rsquo;autre</i>,
+      and you&rsquo;ll return here to-morrow, in your way home, and breakfast with us;
+      and now we understand one another. And,&rdquo; added she, in a whisper, &ldquo;we can
+      talk over things, and have your cool judgment best, when only you, and I,
+      and Mr. Palmer, are present. You comprehend.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Those who practise many manoeuvres, and carry on many intrigues at the
+      same time, have this advantage, that if one fails, the success of another
+      compensates for the disappointment. However she might have been vexed by
+      this slight <i>contre-temps</i> with Dr. Wheeler, Mrs. Beaumont had ample
+      compensation of different sorts this day; some due to her own exertions,
+      some owing to accident. Her own exertions prevented her dear Albina Hunter
+      from returning; for Mrs. Beaumont never sent the promised carriage&mdash;only
+      a note of apology&mdash;a nail had run into one of the coach-horse&rsquo;s feet.
+      To accident she owed that the Walsinghams were not at home when her son
+      galloped over to see them the next morning, and to inquire what news from
+      Captain Walsingham. That day&rsquo;s paper also brought a contradiction of the
+      report of the engagement and victory; so that Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s
+      apprehensions on this subject were allayed; and she had no doubt that, by
+      proper management, with a sufficient number of notes and messages,
+      misunderstandings, lame horses, and crossings upon the road, she might
+      actually get through the week without letting the Walsinghams see Mr.
+      Palmer; or at least without more than a <i>vis</i>, or a morning visit,
+      from which no great danger could be apprehended. &ldquo;Few, indeed, have so
+      much character,&rdquo; thought she, &ldquo;or so much dexterity in showing it, as to
+      make a dangerous impression in the course of a formal morning visit.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VI.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! c&rsquo;est mentir tant soit peu; j&rsquo;en conviens; C&rsquo;est un grand mal&mdash;mais
+      il produit un bien.&rdquo; VOLTAIRE.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The third day went off still more successfully. Dr. Wheeler called at
+      breakfast, frightened Mr. Palmer out of his senses about his health, and
+      convinced him that his life depended upon his immediate return to the
+      climate of Jamaica:&mdash;so this point was decided.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, calculating justly that the Walsinghams would return Mr.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s visit, and come to pay their respects to Mr. Palmer this
+      morning, settled, as soon as breakfast was over, a plan of operations
+      which should keep Mr. Palmer out till dinner-time. He must see the
+      charming drive which her son had made round his improvements; and she must
+      have the pleasure of showing it to him herself; and she assured him that
+      he might trust to her driving.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So into Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s garden-chair he got; and when she had him fairly
+      prisoner, she carried him far away from all danger of intruding visitors.
+      It may readily be supposed that our heroine made good use of the five or
+      six hours&rsquo; leisure for manoeuvring which she thus secured.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So frank and cordial was this simple-hearted old man, any one but Mrs.
+      Beaumont would have thought that with him no manoeuvring was necessary;
+      that she need only to have trusted to his friendship and generosity, and
+      have directly told him her wishes. He was so prepossessed in her favour,
+      as being the widow of his friend, that he was almost incapable of
+      suspecting her of any unhandsome conduct; besides, having had little
+      converse with modern ladies, his imagination was so prepossessed with the
+      old-fashioned picture of a respectable widow lady and guardian mother,
+      that he took it for granted Mrs. Beaumont was just like one of the good
+      matrons of former times, like Lady Bountiful, or Lady Lizard; and, as
+      such, he spoke to her of her family concerns, in all the openness of a
+      heart which knew no guile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, my good Mistress Beaumont, you must look upon me just as my friend
+      the colonel would have done; as a man, who has your family interests at
+      heart just as much as if I were one of yourselves. And let me in to all
+      your little affairs, and trust me with all your little plans, and let us
+      talk over things together, and settle how every thing can be done for the
+      best for the young people. You know, I have no relations in the world but
+      your family and the Walsinghams, of whom, by-the-bye, I know nothing. No
+      one living has any claim upon me: I can leave or give my own just as I
+      please; and you and yours are, of course, my first objects&mdash;and for
+      the how, and the what, and the when, I must consult you; and only beg you
+      to keep it in mind, that I would as soon <i>give</i> as <i>bequeath</i>,
+      and rather; for as to what a man leaves to his friends, he can only have
+      the satisfaction of thinking that they will be the better for him after he
+      is dead and gone, which is but cold comfort; but what he gives he has the
+      warm comfort of seeing them enjoy whilst he is alive with them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such a generous sentiment!&rdquo; exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;and so unlike
+      persons in general who have large fortunes at their disposal! I feel so
+      much obliged, so excessively&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not at all, not at all, not at all&mdash;no more of that, no more of
+      that, my good lady. The colonel and I were friends; so there can be no
+      obligation between us, nor thanks, nor speeches. But, just as if you were
+      talking to yourself, tell me your mind. And if there are any little
+      embarrassments that the son may want to clear off on coming of age; or if
+      there&rsquo;s any thing wanting to your jointure, my dear madam; or if there
+      should be any marriages in the wind, where a few thousands, more or less,
+      might be the making or the breaking of a heart;&mdash;let me hear about it
+      all: and do me the justice to let me have the pleasure of making the young
+      folks, and the old folks too, happy their own way; for I have no notion of
+      insisting on all people being happy my way&mdash;no, no! I&rsquo;ve too much
+      English liberty in me for that; and I&rsquo;m sure, you, my good lady, are as
+      great a foe as I am to all family managements and mysteries, where the old
+      don&rsquo;t know what the young do, nor the young what the old think. No, no&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+      all nonsense and French convent work&mdash;nothing like a good old English
+      family. So, my dear Mistress Beaumont, out with it all, and make me one of
+      yourselves, free of the family from this minute. Here&rsquo;s my hand and heart
+      upon it&mdash;an old friend may presume so far.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This frankness would have opened any heart except Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s; but it
+      is the misfortune of artful people that they cannot believe others to be
+      artless: either they think simplicity of character folly; or else they
+      suspect that openness is only affected, as a bait to draw them into
+      snares. Our heroine balanced for a moment between these two notions. She
+      could not believe Mr. Palmer to be an absolute fool&mdash;no; his having
+      made such a large fortune forbad that thought. Then he must have thrown
+      himself thus open merely to <i>try her</i>, and to come at the knowledge
+      of debts and embarrassments, which, if brought to light, would lower his
+      opinion of the prudence of the family.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My excellent friend, to be candid with you,&rdquo; she began, &ldquo;there is no need
+      of your generosity at present, to relieve my son from any embarrassments;
+      for I know that he has no debts whatever. And I am confident he will make
+      my jointure every thing, and more than every thing, I could desire. And,
+      as to marriages, my Amelia is so young, there&rsquo;s time enough to consider.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True, true; and she does well to take time to consider. But though I
+      don&rsquo;t understand these matters much, she looks mightily like the notion I
+      have of a girl that&rsquo;s a little bit in love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In love! Oh, my dear sir! you don&rsquo;t say so&mdash;in love?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, I suppose I should not say <i>in love</i>; there&rsquo;s some other way of
+      expressing it come into fashion since my time, no doubt. And even then, I
+      know that was not to be said of a young lady, till signing and sealing
+      day; but it popped out, and I can&rsquo;t get it back again, so you must even
+      let it pass. And what harm? for you know, madam, without love, what would
+      become of the world?&mdash;though I was jilted once and away, I
+      acknowledge&mdash;but forgive and forget. I don&rsquo;t like the girl a whit the
+      worse for being a little bit tender-hearted. For I&rsquo;m morally certain, even
+      from the little I have heard her say, and from the way she has been
+      brought up, and from her being her father&rsquo;s daughter, and her mother&rsquo;s,
+      madam, she could not fix her affections on any one that would not do
+      honour to her choice, or&mdash;which is only saying the same thing in
+      other words&mdash;that you and I should not approve.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! there&rsquo;s the thing!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, sighing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why now I took it into my head from a blush I saw this morning, though
+      how I came to notice it, I don&rsquo;t know; for to my recollection I have not
+      noticed a girl&rsquo;s blushing before these twenty years&mdash;but, to be sure,
+      here I have as near an interest, almost, as if she were my own daughter&mdash;I
+      say, from the blush I saw this morning, when young Beaumont was talking of
+      the gallop he had taken to inquire about Captain Walsingham, I took it
+      into my head that he was the happy man.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! my dear sir, he never made any proposals for Amelia.&rdquo; That was
+      strictly true. &ldquo;Nor, I am sure, ever thought of it, as far as ever I
+      heard.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The saving clause of &ldquo;<i>as far as ever I heard</i>,&rdquo; prevented this last
+      assertion from coming under that description of falsehoods denominated
+      downright lies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed, how could he?&rdquo; pursued Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;for you know he is no
+      match for Amelia; he has nothing in the world but his commission. No;
+      there never was any proposal from that quarter; and, of course, it is
+      impossible my daughter could think of a man who has no thoughts of her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You know best, my good madam; I merely spoke at random. I&rsquo;m the worst
+      guesser in the world, especially on these matters: what people tell me, I
+      know; and neither more not less.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont rejoiced in the simplicity of her companion. &ldquo;Then, my good
+      friend, it is but fair to tell you,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;that Amelia has an
+      admirer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A lover, hey! Who?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, there&rsquo;s the misfortune; it is a thing I never can consent to.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ha! then now it is out! There&rsquo;s the reason the girl blushes, and is so
+      absent at times.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A plan now occurred to Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s scheming imagination which she
+      thought the master-piece of policy. She determined to account for whatever
+      symptoms of embarrassment Mr. Palmer might observe in her daughter, by
+      attributing them to a thwarted attachment for Sir John Hunter; and Mrs.
+      Beaumont resolved to make a merit to Mr. Palmer of opposing this match
+      because the lover was a baronet, and she thought that Mr. Palmer would be
+      pleased by her showing an aversion to the thoughts of her daughter&rsquo;s
+      marrying <i>a sprig of quality</i>. This ingenious method of paying her
+      court to her open-hearted friend, at the expense equally of truth and of
+      her daughter, she executed with her usual address.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, I&rsquo;m heartily glad, my dear good madam, to find that you have the
+      same prejudices against sprigs of quality that I have. One good commoner
+      is worth a million of them to my mind. So I told a puppy of a nephew of
+      mine, who would go and buy a baronetage, forsooth&mdash;disinherited him!
+      but he is dead, poor puppy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Poor young man! But this is all new to me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, with
+      well-feigned surprise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But did not you know, my dear madam, that I had a nephew, and that he is
+      dead?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, yes; but not the particulars.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No; the particulars I never talk of&mdash;not to the poor dog&rsquo;s credit.
+      It&rsquo;s well he&rsquo;s dead, for if he had lived, I am afraid I should have
+      forgiven him. No, no, I never would. But there is no use in thinking any
+      more of that. What were we saying? Oh, about your Amelia&mdash;our Amelia,
+      let me call her. If she is so much attached, poor thing, to this man,
+      though he is a baronet, which I own is against him to my fancy, yet it is
+      to be presumed he has good qualities to balance that, since she values
+      him; and young people must be young, and have their little foolish
+      prepossessions for title, and so forth. To be sure, I should have thought
+      my friend&rsquo;s daughter above that, of such a good family as she is, and with
+      such good sense as she inherits too. But we have all our foibles, I
+      suppose. And since it is so with Amelia, why do let me see this
+      baronet-swain of hers, and let me try what good I can find out in him, and
+      let me bring myself, if I can, over my prejudices. And then you, my dear
+      madam, so good and kind a mother as you are, will make an effort too on
+      your part; for we must see the girl happy, if it is not out of all sense
+      and reason. And if the man be worthy of her, it is not his fault that he
+      is a sprig of quality; and we must forgive and forget, and give our
+      consent, my dear Mrs. Beaumont.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And would you ever give your consent to her marrying Sir John Hunter?&rdquo;
+       cried Mrs. Beaumont, breathless with amazement, and for a moment thrown
+      off her guard so as to speak quite naturally. The sudden difference in her
+      tone and manner struck even her unsuspicious companion, and he attributed
+      it to displeasure at this last hint.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, my very dear good friend&rsquo;s wife, forgive me,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for this
+      interference, and for, as it seems, opposing your opinion about your
+      daughter&rsquo;s marriage, which no man has a right to do&mdash;but if you ask
+      me plump whether I could forgive her for marrying Sir John Hunter, I
+      answer, for I can speak nothing but the truth, I would, if he is a worthy
+      man.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thought,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, astonished, &ldquo;you disinherited your own
+      nephew, because he took a baronet&rsquo;s title against your will.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Bless you! no, my dear madam&mdash;that did displease me, to be sure&mdash;but
+      that was the least cause of displeasure I had. I let the world fancy and
+      say what they would, rather than bring faults to light.&mdash;But no more
+      about that.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But did not you take an oath that you would never leave a shilling of
+      your fortune to any <i>sprig of quality?</i>&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Never! my dearest madam! never,&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer, laughing. &ldquo;Never was
+      such a gander. See what oaths people put into one&rsquo;s mouth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what lies the world tells,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And believes,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, with a sly smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The surprise that Mrs. Beaumont felt was mixed with a strange and rapid
+      confusion of other sentiments, regret for having wasted such a quantity of
+      contrivance and manoeuvring against an imaginary difficulty. All this
+      arose from her too easy belief of <i>secret underhand information</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Through the maze of artifice in which she had involved affairs, she now,
+      with some difficulty, perceived that plain truth would have served her
+      purpose better. But regret for the past was not in the least mixed with
+      any thing like remorse or penitence; on the contrary, she instantly began
+      to consider how she could best profit by her own wrong. She thought she
+      saw two of her favourite objects almost within her reach, Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s
+      fortune, and the future title for her daughter: no obstacle seemed likely
+      to oppose the accomplishment of her wishes, except Amelia&rsquo;s own
+      inclinations: these she thought she could readily prevail upon her to give
+      up; for she knew that her daughter was both of a timid and of an
+      affectionate temper; that she had never in any instance withstood, or even
+      disputed, her maternal authority; and that dread of her displeasure had
+      often proved sufficient to make Amelia suppress or sacrifice her own
+      feelings. Combining all these reflections with her wonted rapidity, Mrs.
+      Beaumont determined what her play should now be. She saw, or thought she
+      saw, that she ought, either by gentle or strong means, to lure or
+      intimidate Amelia to her purpose; and that, while she carried on this part
+      of the plot with her daughter in private, she should appear to Mr. Palmer
+      to yield to his persuasions by degrees, to make the young people happy
+      their own way, and to be persuaded reluctantly out of her aversion to <i>sprigs
+      of quality</i>. To be sure, it would be necessary to give fresh
+      explanations and instructions to Sir John Hunter, through his sister, with
+      the new parts that he and she were to act in this domestic drama. As soon
+      as Mrs. Beaumont returned from her airing, therefore, she retired to her
+      own apartment, and wrote a note of explanation, with a proper proportion
+      of sentiment and <i>verbiage,</i> to her dear Albina, begging to see her
+      and Sir John Hunter the very next day. The horse, which had been lamed by
+      the nail, now, of course, had recovered; and it was found by Mrs. Beaumont
+      that she had been misinformed, and that he had been lamed only by sudden
+      cramp. Any excuse she knew would be sufficient, in the present state of
+      affairs, to the young lady, who was more ready to be deceived than even
+      our heroine was disposed to deceive. Indeed, as Machiavel says, &ldquo;as there
+      are people willing to cheat, there will always be those who are ready to
+      be cheated.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vous m&rsquo;enchantez, mais vous m&rsquo;épouvantez; Ces pieges-là sont-ils bien
+      ajustés? Craignez vous point de vous laisser surprendre Dans les filets
+      que vos mains savent tendre?&rdquo; VOLTAIRE.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To prepare Amelia to receive Sir John Hunter <i>properly</i> was Mrs.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s next attempt; for as she had represented to Mr. Palmer that her
+      daughter was attached to Sir John, it was necessary that her manner should
+      in some degree accord with this representation, that at least it should
+      not exhibit any symptoms of disapprobation or dislike: whatever coldness
+      or reserve might appear, it would be easy to attribute to bashfulness and
+      dread of Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s observation. When Amelia was undressing at night,
+      her mother went into her room; and, having dismissed the maid, threw
+      herself into an arm-chair, and exclaimed, half-yawning, &ldquo;How tired I am!&mdash;No
+      wonder, such a long airing as we took to-day. But, my dear Amelia, I could
+      not sleep to-night without telling you how glad I am to find that you are
+      such a favourite with Mr. Palmer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am glad he likes me,&rdquo; said Amelia; &ldquo;I am sure I like him. What a
+      benevolent, excellent man he seems to be!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Excellent, excellent&mdash;the best creature in the world!&mdash;And so
+      interested about you! and so anxious that you should be well and soon
+      established; almost as anxious about it as I am myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He is very good&mdash;and you are very good, mamma; but there is no
+      occasion that I should be <i>soon established</i>, as it is called&mdash;is
+      there?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is the regular answer, you know, in these cases, from every young
+      lady that ever was born, in or out of a book within the memory of man. But
+      we will suppose all that to be said prettily on your part, and answered
+      properly on mine: so give me leave to go on to something more to the
+      purpose; and don&rsquo;t look so alarmed, my love. You know, I am not a hurrying
+      person; you shall take your own time, and every thing shall be done as you
+      like, and the whole shall be kept amongst ourselves entirely; for nothing
+      is so disadvantageous and distressing to a young woman as to have these
+      things talked of in the world long before they take place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, ma&rsquo;am!&mdash;Surely there is no marriage determined upon for me,
+      without my even knowing it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Determined upon!&mdash;Oh dear, no, my darling. You shall decide every
+      thing for yourself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thank you, mother; now you are kind indeed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indubitably, my dearest Amelia, I would not decide on any thing without
+      consulting you: for I have the greatest dependence on your prudence and
+      judgment. With a silly romantic girl, who had no discretion, I should
+      certainly think it my duty to do otherwise; and if I saw my daughter
+      following headlong some idle fancy of fifteen, I should interpose my
+      authority at once, and say, It must not be. But I know my Amelia so well,
+      that I am confident she will judge as prudently for herself as I could for
+      her; and indeed, I am persuaded that our opinions will be now, as they
+      almost always are, my sweet girl, the same.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hope so mamma&mdash;but&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, well, I&rsquo;ll allow a maidenly <i>but</i>&mdash;and you will allow
+      that Sir John Hunter shall be the man at last.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, mamma, that can never be,&rdquo; said Amelia, with much earnestness.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Never</i>&mdash;A young lady&rsquo;s <i>never</i>, Amelia, I will allow too.
+      Don&rsquo;t interrupt me, my dear&mdash;but give me leave to tell you again,
+      that you shall have your own time&mdash;Mr. Palmer has given his consent
+      and approbation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Consent and approbation!&rdquo; cried Amelia. &ldquo;And is it come to this? without
+      even consulting me! And is this the way I am left to judge for myself?&mdash;Oh,
+      mother! mother! what will become of me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia, who had long had experience that it was vain for her to attempt to
+      counteract or oppose any scheme that her mother had planned, sat down at
+      this instant in despair: but even from despair she took courage; and,
+      rising suddenly, exclaimed, &ldquo;I never can or will marry Sir John Hunter&mdash;for
+      I love another person&mdash;mother, you know I do&mdash;and I will speak
+      truth, and abide by it, let the consequences be what they may.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, my dear, don&rsquo;t speak so loud, at all events; for though it may be
+      very proper to speak the truth, it is not necessary that the whole
+      universe should hear it. You speak of another attachment&mdash;is it
+      possible that you allude to Captain Walsingham? But Captain Walsingham has
+      never proposed for you, nor even given you any reason to think he would;
+      or if he has, he must have deceived me in the grossest manner.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He is incapable of deceiving any body,&rdquo; said Amelia. &ldquo;He never gave me
+      any reason to think he would propose for me; nor ever made the slightest
+      attempt to engage my affections. You saw his conduct: it was always
+      uniform. He is incapable of any double or underhand practices.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the warmth of your eulogium on Captain Walsingham, you seem, Amelia,
+      to forget that you reflect, in the most severe manner, upon yourself: for
+      what woman, what young woman especially, who has either delicacy, pride,
+      or prudence, can avow that she loves a man, who has never given, even by
+      her own statement of the matter, the slightest reason to believe that he
+      thinks of her?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia stood abashed, and for some instants incapable of reply: but at
+      last, approaching her mother, and hiding her face, as she hung over her
+      shoulder, she said, in a low and timid voice, &ldquo;It was only to my mother&mdash;I
+      thought that could not be wrong&mdash;and when it was to prevent a greater
+      wrong, the engaging myself to another person.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Engaging yourself, my foolish child! but did I not tell you that you
+      should have your own time?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But no time, mother, will do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Try, my dear love; that is all I ask of you; and this you cannot, in
+      duty, in kindness, in prudence, or with decency, refuse me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Cannot I?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed you cannot. So say not a word more that can lessen the high
+      opinion I have of you; but show me that you have a becoming sense of your
+      own and of female dignity, and that you are not the poor, mean-spirited
+      creature, to pine for a man who disdains you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Disdain! I never saw any disdain. On the contrary, though he never gave
+      me reason to think so, I cannot help fancying&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That he likes you&mdash;and yet he never proposed for you! Do not believe
+      it&mdash;a man may coquet as well as a woman, and often more; but till he
+      makes his proposal, never, if you have any value for your own happiness or
+      dignity, fancy for a moment that he loves you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But he cannot marry, because he is so poor.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True&mdash;and if so, what stronger argument can be brought against your
+      thinking of him?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not think of him&mdash;I endeavour not to think of him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is my own girl! Depend upon it, he thinks not of you. He is all in
+      his profession&mdash;prefers it to every woman upon earth. I have heard
+      him say he would not give it up for any consideration. All for glory, you
+      see; nothing for love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia sighed. Her mother rose, and kissing her, said, as if she took
+      every thing she wished for granted, &ldquo;So, my Amelia, I am glad to see you
+      reasonable, and ready to show a spirit that becomes you&mdash;Sir John
+      Hunter breakfasts here to-morrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But,&rdquo; said Amelia, detaining her mother, who would have left the room, &ldquo;I
+      cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, for I do not esteem him; therefore I am
+      sure I can never love him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, Amelia?&rdquo; replied Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;It
+      is extraordinary that this should appear to you an impossibility the very
+      moment the gentleman proposes for you. It was not always so. Allow me to
+      remind you of a ball last year, where you and I met both Sir John Hunter
+      and Captain Walsingham; as I remember, you gave all your attention that
+      evening to Sir John.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, mother, I am ashamed of that evening&mdash;I regret it more than any
+      evening of my life. I did wrong, very wrong; and bitterly have I suffered
+      for it, as people always do, sooner or later, by deceit. I was afraid that
+      you should see my real feelings; and, to conceal them, I, for the first
+      and last time of my life, acted like a coquette. But if you recollect,
+      dear mother, the very next day I confessed the truth to you. My friend,
+      Miss Walsingham, urged me to have the courage to be sincere.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Walsingham! On every occasion I find the secret influence of these
+      Walsinghams operating in my family,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Beaumont, from a sudden
+      impulse of anger, which threw her off her guard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Surely their influence has always been beneficial to us all. To me, Miss
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s friendship has been of the greatest service.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; by secretly encouraging you, against your mother&rsquo;s approbation, in a
+      ridiculous passion for a man who neither can nor will marry you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Far from encouraging me, madam, in any thing contrary to your wishes&mdash;and
+      far from wishing to do any thing secretly, Miss Walsingham never spoke to
+      me on this subject but once; and that was to advise me strongly not to
+      conceal the truth from you, and not to make use of any artifices or
+      manoeuvres.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Possibly, very possibly; but I presume you could conduct yourself
+      properly without Miss Walsingham&rsquo;s interference or advice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thought, mamma, you liked Miss Walsingham particularly, and that you
+      wished I should cultivate her friendship.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Certainly; I admire Miss Walsingham extremely, and wish to be on the best
+      terms with the family; but I will never permit any one to interfere
+      between me and my children. We should have gone on better without
+      advisers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure her advice and friendship have preserved me from many faults,
+      but never led me into any. I might, from timidity, and from fear of your
+      superior address and abilities, have become insincere and artful; but she
+      has given me strength of mind enough to bear the present evil, and to dare
+      at all hazards to speak the truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, my dearest Amelia,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, softening her tone, &ldquo;why so
+      warm? What object can your mother have but your good? Can any Miss
+      Walsingham, or any other friend upon earth, have your interest so much at
+      heart as I have? Why am I so anxious, if it is not from love to you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia was touched by her mother&rsquo;s looks and words of affection, and
+      acknowledged that she had spoken with too much warmth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont thought she could make advantage of this moment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, my beloved child, if you are convinced of my affection for you,
+      show at least some confidence in me in return: show some disposition to
+      oblige me. Here is a match I approve; here is an establishment every way
+      suitable.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But why, mamma, must I be married?&rdquo; interrupted Amelia. &ldquo;I will not
+      think, at least I will try not to think, of any one of whom you do not
+      approve; but I cannot marry any other man while I feel such a partiality
+      for&mdash;. So, dear mother, pray do not let Sir John Hunter come here any
+      more on my account. It is not necessary that I should marry.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is necessary, however,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, withdrawing her hand
+      haughtily, and darting a look of contempt and anger upon her daughter, &ldquo;it
+      is necessary, however, that I should be mistress in my own house, and that
+      I should invite here whomever I please. And it is necessary that you
+      should receive them without airs, and with politeness. On this, observe, I
+      insist, and will be obeyed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont would receive no reply, but left the room seemingly in great
+      displeasure: but even half her anger was affected, to intimidate this
+      gentle girl.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Sir John Hunter and his sister arrived to breakfast. Mrs. Beaumont played
+      her part admirably; so that she seemed to Mr. Palmer only to be enduring
+      Sir John from consideration for her daughter, and from compliance with Mr.
+      Palmer&rsquo;s own request that she would try what could be done to make the
+      young people happy; yet she, with infinite address, <i>drew Sir John out</i>,
+      and dexterously turned every thing he said into what she thought would
+      please Mr. Palmer, though all the time she seemed to be misunderstanding
+      or confuting him. Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s attention, which was generally fixed
+      exclusively on one object at a time, had ample occupation in studying Sir
+      John, whom he examined, for Amelia&rsquo;s sake, with all the honest penetration
+      which he possessed. Towards Amelia herself he scarcely ever looked; for,
+      without any refinement of delicacy, he had sufficient feeling and sense to
+      avoid what he thought would embarrass a young lady. Amelia&rsquo;s silence and
+      reserve appeared to him, therefore, as her politic mother had foreseen,
+      just what was natural and proper. He had been told that she was attached
+      to Sir John Hunter; and the idea of doubting the truth of what Mrs.
+      Beaumont had asserted could not enter his confiding mind.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the mean time, our heroine, to whom the conduct of a double intrigue
+      was by no means embarrassing, did not neglect the affairs of her dear
+      Albina: she had found time before breakfast, as she met Miss Hunter
+      getting out of her carriage, to make herself sure that her notes of
+      explanation had been understood; and she now, by a multitude of scarcely
+      perceptible inuendoes, and seemingly suppressed looks of pity, contrived
+      to carry on the representation she had made to her son of this damsel&rsquo;s
+      helpless and lovelorn state. Indeed, the young lady appeared as much in
+      love as could have been desired for stage effect, and rather more than was
+      necessary for propriety. All Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s art, therefore, was exerted
+      to throw a veil of becoming delicacy over what might have been too
+      glaring, by hiding half to improve the whole. Where there was any want of
+      management on the part of her young coadjutrix, she, with exquisite skill,
+      made advantage even of these errors by look? and sighs, that implied
+      almost as emphatically as words could have said to her son&mdash;&ldquo;You see
+      what I told you is too true. The simple creature has not art enough to
+      conceal her passion. She is undone in the eyes of the world, if you do not
+      confirm what report has said.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This she left to work its natural effect upon the vanity of man. And in
+      the midst of these multiplied manoeuvres, Mrs. Beaumont sat with ease and
+      unconcern, sometimes talking to one, sometimes to another; so that a
+      stranger would have thought her a party uninterested in all that was going
+      forward, and might have wondered at her blindness or indifference.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But, alas! notwithstanding her utmost art, she failed this day in turning
+      and twisting Sir John Hunter&rsquo;s conversation and character so as to make
+      them agreeable to Mr. Palmer. This she knew by his retiring at an early
+      hour at night, as he sometimes did when company was not agreeable to him.
+      His age gave him this privilege. Mrs. Beaumont followed, to inquire if he
+      would not wish to <i>take something</i> before he went to rest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By St. George, Madam Beaumont, you are right,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;you are
+      right, in not liking this baronet. I&rsquo;m tired of him&mdash;sick of him&mdash;can&rsquo;t
+      like him!&mdash;sorry for it, since Amelia likes him. But what can a
+      daughter of Colonel Beaumont find in this man to be pleased with? He is a
+      baronet, to be sure, but that is all. Tell me, my good madam, what it is
+      the girl likes in him?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont could only answer by an equivocal smile, and a shrug, that
+      seemed to say&mdash;there&rsquo;s no accounting for these things.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, my dear madam,&rdquo; pursued Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;the man is neither handsome nor
+      young: he is old enough for her father, though he gives himself the airs
+      of a youngster; and his manners are&mdash;I can allow for fashionable
+      manners. But, madam, it is his character I don&rsquo;t like&mdash;selfish&mdash;cold&mdash;designing&mdash;not
+      a generous thought, not a good feeling about him. You are right, madam,
+      quite right. In all his conversation such meanness, and even in what he
+      means for wit, such a contempt of what is fair and honourable! Now that
+      fellow does not believe that such a thing as virtue or patriotism, honour
+      or friendship, exists. The jackanapes!&mdash;and as for love! why, madam,
+      I&rsquo;m convinced he is no more in love with the girl than I am, nor so much,
+      ma&rsquo;am, nor half so much!&mdash;does not feel her merit, does not value her
+      accomplishments, does not Madam! madam! he is thinking of nothing but
+      himself, and her fortune&mdash;fortune! fortune! fortune! that&rsquo;s all. The
+      man&rsquo;s a miser. Madam, they that know no better fancy that there are none
+      but old misers; but I can tell them there are young misers, and
+      middle-aged misers, and misers of all ages. They say such a man can&rsquo;t be a
+      miser, because he is a spendthrift; but, madam, you know a man can be both&mdash;yes,
+      and that&rsquo;s what many of your young men of fashion are, and what, I&rsquo;ll
+      engage, this fellow is. And can Amelia like him? my poor child! and does
+      she think he loves her? my poor, poor child! how can she be so blind? but
+      love is always blind, they say. I&rsquo;ve a great mind to take her to task, and
+      ask her, between ourselves, what it is she likes in her baronet.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, my dear sir! she would sink to the centre of the earth if you were to
+      speak. For Heaven&rsquo;s sake, don&rsquo;t take her to task, foolish as she is;
+      besides, she would be so angry with me for telling you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Angry? the gipsy! Am not I her godfather and her guardian? though I could
+      not act, because I was abroad, yet her guardian I was left by her father,
+      and love her too as well as I should a daughter of her father&rsquo;s&mdash;and
+      she to have secrets, and mysteries! that would be worse than all the rest,
+      for mysteries are what I abhor. Madam, wherever there are secrets and
+      mysteries in a family, take my word for it, there is somethings wrong.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True, my dear sir; but Amelia has no idea of mysteries or art. I only
+      meant that young girls, you know, will be ashamed on these occasions, and
+      we must make allowances. So do not speak to her, I conjure you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, madam, you are her mother, and must know best. I have only her
+      interest at heart: but I won&rsquo;t speak to her, since it will so distress
+      her. But what shall be done about this lover? You are quite right about
+      him, and I have not a word more to say.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I declare I think you judge him too harshly. Though I am not inclined
+      to be his friend, yet I must do him the justice to say, he has more good
+      qualities than you allow, or rather than you have seen yet. He is
+      passionately fond of Amelia. Oh, there you&rsquo;re wrong, quite wrong; he is
+      passionately in love, whatever he may pretend to the contrary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pretend! and why should the puppy pretend not to be in love?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pride, pride and fashion. Young men are so governed by fashion, and so
+      afraid of ridicule. There&rsquo;s a set of <i>fashionables</i> now, with whom
+      love is a <i>bore, </i>you know.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know! no, indeed, I know no such thing,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;But this I
+      know, that I hate pretences of all sorts; and if the man is in love, I
+      should, for my part, like him the better for showing it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So he will, when you know him a little better. You are quite a stranger,
+      and he is bashful.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Bashful! Never saw so confident a man in any country.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But he is shy under all that.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Under! But I don&rsquo;t like characters where every thing is under something
+      different from what appears at top.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, take a day or two more to study him. Though I am his enemy, I must
+      deal fairly by him, for poor Amelia&rsquo;s sake.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are a good mother, madam, an indulgent mother, and I honour and love
+      you for it. I&rsquo;ll follow your example, and bear with this
+      spendthrift-miser-coxcomb sprig of quality for a day or two more, and try
+      to like him, for Amelia&rsquo;s sake. But, if he&rsquo;s not worthy of her, he sha&rsquo;n&rsquo;t
+      have her, by St. George, he shall not&mdash;shall he, madam?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, no, no; good night, my good sir.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      What the manoeuvres of the next day might have effected, and how far Sir
+      John Hunter profited by the new instructions which were given to him in
+      consequence of this conversation, can never be accurately ascertained,
+      because the whole united plan of operations was disturbed by a new and
+      unforeseen event.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VIII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Un volto senza senno, Un petto senza core, un cor senz&rsquo; alma, Un&rsquo; alma
+      senza fede.&rdquo; GUARINI.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s glorious news of Captain Walsingham!&rdquo; cried young Beaumont; &ldquo;I
+      always knew he would distinguish himself if he had an opportunity; and,
+      thank God! he has had as fine an opportunity as heart could wish. Here,
+      mother! here, Mr. Palmer, is an account of it in this day&rsquo;s paper! and
+      here is a letter from himself, which Mr. Walsingham has just sent me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, give <i>me</i> the letter,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Beaumont, with affected
+      eagerness.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let me have the paper, then,&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Where are my
+      spectacles?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Are there any letters for <i>me?</i>&rdquo; said Sir John Hunter. &ldquo;Did my
+      newspapers come? Albina, I desired that they should be forwarded here.
+      Mrs. Beaumont, can you tell me any thing of <i>my</i> papers?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear Amelia, how interesting your brother looks when he is pleased!&rdquo;
+       Albina whispered, quite loud enough to be heard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A most gallant action, by St. George!&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;These are
+      the things that keep up the honour of the British navy, and the glory of
+      Britain.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This Spanish ship that Captain Walsingham captured the day after the
+      engagement is likely to turn out a valuable prize, too,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+      Beaumont. &ldquo;I am vastly glad to find this by his letter, for the money will
+      be useful to him, he wanted it so much. He does not say how much his share
+      will come to, does he, Edward?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, ma&rsquo;am: you see he writes in a great hurry, and he has only time, as
+      he says, to mention <i>the needful</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And is not the money <i>the needful?</i>&rdquo; said Sir John Hunter, with a
+      splenetic smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With Walsingham it is only a secondary consideration,&rdquo; replied Beaumont;
+      &ldquo;honour is Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s first object. I dare say he has never yet
+      calculated what his prize-money will be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Right, right!&rdquo; reiterated Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;then he is the right sort. Long
+      may it be before our naval officers think more of prize-money than of
+      glory! Long may it be before our honest tars turn into calculating
+      pirates!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They never will or can whilst they have such officers as Captain
+      Walsingham,&rdquo; said Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By St. George, he seems to be a fine fellow, and you a warm friend,&rdquo; said
+      Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Ay, ay, the colonel&rsquo;s own son. But why have I never seen any
+      of these Walsinghams since I came to the country? Are they ashamed of
+      being related to me, because I am a merchant?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;More likely they are too proud to pay court to you because you are so
+      rich,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont. &ldquo;But they did come to see you, sir,&mdash;the
+      morning you were out so late, mother, you know.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, ay, true&mdash;how unfortunate!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But have not we horses? have not we carriages? have not we legs?&rdquo; said
+      Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll go and see these Walsinghams to-morrow, please God I
+      live so long: for I am proud of my relationship to this young hero; and I
+      won&rsquo;t be cast off by good people, let them be as proud as they will&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+      their fault&mdash;but I will not stand on idle ceremony: so, my good
+      Mistress Beaumont, we will all go in a body, and storm their castle
+      to-morrow morning.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;An admirable plan! I like it of all things!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;How
+      few, even in youth, are so active and enthusiastic as our good friend!
+      But, my dear Mr. Palmer&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I wish I could see the captain himself. Is there any chance of his
+      coming home?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Home! yes,&rdquo; said Beaumont: &ldquo;did you not read his letter, sir? here it is;
+      he will be at home directly. He says, &lsquo;perhaps a few hours after this
+      letter reaches you, you&rsquo;ll see me.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;See him! Odds my life, I&rsquo;m glad of it. And you, my little Amelia,&rdquo; said
+      Mr. Palmer, tapping her shoulders as she stood with her back to him
+      reading the newspaper; &ldquo;and you, my little silent one, not one word have I
+      heard from you all this time. Does not some spark of your father&rsquo;s spirit
+      kindle within you on hearing of this heroic relation of ours?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Luckily for the ladies, sir,&rdquo; said Sir John Hunter, coming up, as he
+      thought, to the lady&rsquo;s assistance&mdash;&ldquo;luckily for young ladies, sir,
+      they are not called upon to be heroes; and it would be luckier still for
+      us men, if they never set themselves up for heroines&mdash;Ha! ha! ha!
+      Miss Beaumont,&rdquo; continued he, &ldquo;the shower is over; I&rsquo;ll order the horses
+      out, that we may have our ride.&rdquo; Sir John left the room, evidently pleased
+      with his own wit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Amelia, my love,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, who drew up also to give assistance
+      at this critical juncture, &ldquo;go, this moment, and write a note to your
+      friend Miss Walsingham, to say that we shall all be with them early
+      to-morrow: I will send a servant directly, that we may be sure to meet
+      with them at home this time; you&rsquo;ll find pen, ink, and paper in my
+      dressing-room, love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont drew Amelia&rsquo;s arm within hers, and, dictating kindest
+      messages for the Walsinghams, led her out of the room. Having thus
+      successfully covered her daughter&rsquo;s retreat, our skilful manoeuvrer
+      returned, all self-complacent, to the company. And next, to please the
+      warm-hearted Mr. Palmer, she seemed to sympathize in his patriotic
+      enthusiasm for the British navy: she pronounced a panegyric on the <i>young
+      hero,</i> Captain Walsingham, which made the good old man rub his hands
+      with exultation, and which irradiated with joy the countenance of her son.
+      But, alas! Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s endeavours to please, or rather to dupe all
+      parties, could not, even with her consummate address, always succeed:
+      though she had an excellent memory, and great presence of mind, with
+      peculiar quickness both of eye and ear, yet she could not always register,
+      arrange, and recollect all that was necessary for the various parts she
+      undertook to act. Scarcely had she finished her eulogium on Captain
+      Walsingham, when, to her dismay, she saw close behind her Sir John Hunter,
+      who had entered the room without her perceiving it. He said not one word;
+      but his clouded brow showed his suspicions, and his extreme displeasure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Beaumont,&rdquo; said he, after some minutes&rsquo; silence, &ldquo;I find I must have
+      the honour of wishing you a good morning, for I have an indispensable
+      engagement at home to dinner to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thought, Sir John, you and Amelia were going to ride?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;am, Miss Beaumont does not choose to ride&mdash;she told me, so this
+      instant as I passed her on the stairs. Oh! don&rsquo;t disturb her, I beg&mdash;she
+      is writing to Miss Walsingham&mdash;I have the honour to wish you a good
+      morning, ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, if you are determined to go, let me say three words to you in the
+      music-room, Sir John: though,&rdquo; added she, in a whisper intended to be
+      heard by Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;I know you do not look upon me as your friend, yet
+      depend upon it I shall treat you and all the world with perfect candour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Sir John, though sulky, could not avoid following the lady; and as soon as
+      she had shut all the doors and double-doors of the music-room, she
+      exclaimed, &ldquo;It is always best to speak openly to one&rsquo;s friends. Now, my
+      dear Sir John Hunter, how can you be so childish as to take ill of me what
+      I really was forced to say, for <i>your</i> interest, about Captain
+      Walsingham, to Mr. Palmer? You know old Palmer is the oddest, most
+      self-willed man imaginable! humour and please him I must, the few days he
+      is with me. You know he goes on Tuesday&mdash;that&rsquo;s decided&mdash;Dr.
+      Wheeler has seen him, has talked to him about his health, and it is
+      absolutely necessary that he should return to the West Indies. Then he is
+      perfectly determined to leave all he has to Amelia.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, ma&rsquo;am; but how am I sure of being the better for that?&rdquo; interrupted
+      Sir John, whose decided selfishness was a match for Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s
+      address, because it went without scruple or ceremony straight to his
+      object; &ldquo;for, ma&rsquo;am, you can&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;m such a fool as not to see that
+      Mr. Palmer wishes me at the devil. Miss Beaumont gives me no
+      encouragement; and you, ma&rsquo;am, I know, are too good a politician to offend
+      Mr. Palmer: so, if he declares in favour of this young <i>hero,</i>
+      Captain Walsingham, I may quit the field.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you don&rsquo;t consider that Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s young hero has never made any
+      proposal for Amelia.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pshaw! ma&rsquo;am&mdash;but I know, as well as you do, that he likes her, and
+      propose he will for her now that he has money.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Granting that; you forget that all this takes time, and that Palmer will
+      be gone to the West Indies before they can bring out their proposal; and
+      as soon as he is gone, and has left his will, as he means to do, with me,
+      you and I have the game in our own hands. It is very extraordinary to me
+      that you do not seem to understand my play, though I explained the whole
+      to Albina; and I thought she had made you comprehend the necessity for my
+      <i>seeming,</i> for this one week, to be less your friend than I could
+      wish, because of your title, and that odd whim of Palmer, you know: but I
+      am sure we understand one another now.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Excuse me,&rdquo; said the invincible Sir John: &ldquo;I confess, Mrs. Beaumont, you
+      have so much more abilities, and <i>finesse</i>, and all that sort of
+      thing, than I have, that I cannot help being afraid of&mdash;of not
+      understanding the business rightly. In business there is nothing like
+      understanding one another, and going on sure grounds. There has been so
+      much going backwards and forwards, and explanations and manoeuvres, that I
+      am not clear how it is; nor do I feel secure even that I have the honour
+      of your approbation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What! not when I have assured you of it, Sir John, in the most
+      unequivocal manner?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was singular that the only person to whom in this affair Mrs. Beaumont
+      spoke the real truth should not believe her. Sir John Hunter continued
+      obstinately suspicious and incredulous. He had just heard that his uncle
+      Wigram, his rich uncle Wigram, was taken ill, and not likely to recover.
+      This intelligence had also reached Mrs. Beaumont, and she was anxious to
+      secure the baronet and the Wigram fortune for her daughter; but nothing
+      she could say seemed to satisfy him that she was not double-dealing. At
+      last, to prove to him her sincerity, she gave him what he required, and
+      what alone, he said, could make his mind easy, could bring him to make up
+      his mind&mdash;<i>a written assurance</i> of her approbation of his
+      addresses to Amelia. With this he was content; &ldquo;for,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;what is
+      written remains, and there can be no misunderstandings in future, or
+      changing of minds.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was agreed between these confidential friends, that Sir John should
+      depart, <i>as it were</i>, displeased; and she begged that he would not
+      return till Mr. Palmer should have left the country.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now there was a numerous tribe of <i>hangers-on</i>, who were in the habit
+      of frequenting Beaumont Park, whom Mrs. Beaumont loved to see at her
+      house; because, besides making her feel her own importance, they were
+      frequently useful to carry on the subordinate parts of her perpetual
+      manoeuvres. Among these secondary personages who attended Mrs. Beaumont
+      abroad to increase her consequence in the eyes of common spectators, and
+      who at home filled the stage, and added to the bustle and effect, her
+      chief favourites were Mr. Twigg (the same gentleman who was deputed to
+      decide upon the belt or the screen) and Captain Lightbody. Mr. Twigg was
+      the most, elegant flatterer of the two, but Captain Lightbody was the most
+      assured, and upon the whole made his way the best. He was a handsome man,
+      had a good address, could tell a good story, sing a good song, and <i>make
+      things go off</i> well, when there was company; so that he was a
+      prodigious assistance to the mistress of the house. Then he danced with
+      the young ladies when they had no other partners; he mounted guard
+      regularly beside the piano-forte, or the harp, when the ladies were
+      playing; and at dinner it was always the etiquette for him to sit beside
+      Miss Beaumont, or Miss Hunter, when the gentlemen guests were not such as
+      Mrs. Beaumont thought entitled to that honour, or such as she deemed <i>safe</i>
+      companions. These arrangements imply that Captain Lightbody thought
+      himself in Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s confidence: and so he was to a certain degree,
+      just enough to flatter him into doing her high or low behests. Whenever
+      she had a report to circulate, or to contradict, Captain Lightbody was put
+      in play; and no man could be better calculated for this purpose, both from
+      his love of talking, and of locomotion. He galloped about from place to
+      place, and from one great house to another; knew all the lords and ladies,
+      and generals and colonels, and brigade-majors and aides-de-camp, in the
+      land. Could any mortal be better qualified to fetch and carry news for
+      Mrs. Beaumont? Besides news, it was his office to carry compliments, and
+      to speed the intercourse, not perhaps from soul to soul, but from house to
+      house, which is necessary in a visiting country to keep up the character
+      of an agreeable neighbour. Did Mrs. Beaumont forget to send a card of
+      invitation, or neglect to return a visit, Lightbody was to set it to
+      rights for her, Lightbody, the ready bearer of pretty notes, the maker
+      always, the fabricator sometimes, of the civilest speeches imaginable.
+      This expert speechifier, this ever idle, ever busy scamperer, our heroine
+      dispatched to engage a neighbouring family to pay her a morning visit the
+      next day, just about the time which was fixed for her going to see the
+      Walsinghams. The usual caution was given. &ldquo;Pray, Lightbody, do not let my
+      name be used; do not let me be mentioned; but take it upon yourself, and
+      say, as if from yourself, that you have reason to believe I take it ill
+      that they have not been here lately. And then you can mention the hour
+      that would be most convenient. But let me have nothing to do with it. I
+      must not appear in it on any account.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In consequence of Captain Lightbody&rsquo;s faithful execution of his secret
+      instructions, a barouche full of morning visitors drove to the door, just
+      at the time when Mrs. Beaumont had proposed to set out for Walsingham
+      House. Mrs. Beaumont, with a well-dissembled look of vexation, exclaimed,
+      as she looked out of the window at the carriage, &ldquo;How provoking! Who can
+      these people be? I hope Martin will say I am not at home. Ring&mdash;ring,
+      Amelia. Oh, it&rsquo;s too late, they have seen me! and Martin, stupid creature!
+      has let them in.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer was much discomfited, and grew more and more impatient when
+      these troublesome visitors protracted their stay, and proposed a walk to
+      see some improvements in the grounds.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, my good Mistress Beaumont,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;you know we are engaged to our
+      cousin Walsingham this morning; and if you will give me leave, I will go
+      on before you with Mr. Beaumont, and we can say what detains you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Disconcerted by this simple determination of this straight-forward,
+      plain-spoken old gentleman, Mrs. Beaumont saw that farther delay on her
+      part would be not only inefficacious, but dangerous. She now was eager to
+      be relieved from the difficulties which she had herself contrived. She
+      would not, for any consideration, have trusted Mr. Palmer to pay this
+      visit without her: therefore, by an able counter-movement, she extricated
+      herself not only without loss, but with advantage, from this perilous
+      situation. She made a handsome apology to her visitors for being obliged
+      to run away from them. &ldquo;She would leave Amelia to have the pleasure of
+      showing them the grounds.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont was irresistible in her arrangements. Amelia, disappointed
+      and afraid to show how deeply she felt the disappointment, was obliged to
+      stay to do the honours of Beaumont Park, whilst her mother drove off
+      rejoicing in half the success, at least, of her stratagem; but even as a
+      politician she used upon every occasion too much artifice. It was said of
+      Cardinal Mazarin, he is a great politician, but in all his politics there
+      is one capital defect&mdash;&ldquo;<i>C&rsquo;est qu&rsquo;il veut toujours tromper</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How tiresome those people were! I thought we never should have got away
+      from them,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;What possessed them to come this morning,
+      and to pay such a horrid long visit? Besides, those Duttons, at all times,
+      are the most stupid creatures upon the face of the earth; I cannot endure
+      them; so awkward and ill-bred too! and yet of a good family&mdash;who
+      could think it? They are people one must see, but they are absolutely
+      insufferable.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Insufferable!&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;why, my good madam, then you have the
+      patience of a martyr; for you suffered them so patiently, that I never
+      should have guessed you suffered at all. I protest I thought they were
+      friends and favourites of yours, and that you were very glad to see them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, well, &lsquo;tis the way of the world,&rdquo; continued Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;this sort
+      of&mdash;what do you call it? double-dealing about visitors, goes on every
+      where, Madam Beaumont. But how do I know, that when I go away, you may not
+      be as glad to get rid of me as you were to get away from these Duttons?&rdquo;
+       added he, in a tone of forced jocularity. &ldquo;How do I know, but that the
+      minute my back is turned, you may not begin to take me to pieces in my
+      turn, and say, &lsquo;That old Palmer! he was the most tiresome, humoursome,
+      strange, old-fashioned fellow; I thought we should never have got rid of
+      him?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear, dear sir, how can you speak in such a manner?&rdquo; cried Mrs.
+      Beaumont, who had made several vain attempts to interrupt this speech.
+      &ldquo;You, who are our best friend! is it possible you could suspect? Is there
+      no difference to be made between friends and common acquaintance?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure I hope there is,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, smiling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      There was something so near the truth in Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s raillery, that Mrs.
+      Beaumont could not take it with as much easy unconcern as the occasion
+      required, especially in the presence of her son, who maintained a
+      provoking silence. Unhappy indeed are those, who cannot, in such moments
+      of distress, in their own families, and in their nearest connexions, find
+      any relief from their embarrassments, and who look round in vain for one
+      to be <i>responsible</i> for their sincerity. Mrs. Beaumont sat uneasy and
+      almost disconcerted. Mr. Palmer felt for his snuff-box, his usual
+      consolation; but it was not in his pocket: he had left it on his table.
+      Now Mrs. Beaumont was relieved, for she had something to do, and something
+      to say with her wonted politeness: in spite of all remonstrance from Mr.
+      Palmer, her man Martin was sent back for the snuff-box; and conjectures
+      about his finding it, and his being able to overtake them before they
+      arrived at Walsingham house, supplied conversation for a mile or two.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s Martin coming back full gallop, I vow,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, who
+      could also talk on this topic.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come, come, my good lady,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, (taking the moment when the
+      young lady had turned her back as she stretched out of the carriage for
+      the pleasure of seeing Martin gallop)&mdash;&ldquo;Come, come, my good Mrs.
+      Beaumont, shake hands and be friends, and hang the Duttons! I did not mean
+      to vex you by what I said. I am not so polite as I should be, I know, and
+      you perhaps are a little too polite. But that is no great harm, especially
+      in a woman.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Martin and the snuff-box came up at this instant; and all was apparently
+      as well as ever. Yet Mrs. Beaumont, who valued a reputation for sincerity
+      as much as Chartres valued a reputation for honesty, and nearly upon the
+      same principle, was seriously vexed that even this transient light had
+      been let in upon her real character. To such <i>accidents</i> duplicity is
+      continually subject.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IX.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Led by Simplicity divine, She pleased, and never tried to shine; She gave
+      to chance each unschool&rsquo;d feature, And left her cause to sense and
+      nature.&rdquo;&mdash;MORE.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Arrived at Walsingham Park, they met Miss Walsingham walking at some
+      distance from the house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is Captain Walsingham come?&rdquo; was the first question asked. &ldquo;No, but
+      expected every hour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      That he had not actually arrived was a comfortable reprieve to Mrs.
+      Beaumont. Breathing more freely, and in refreshed spirits, she prepared to
+      alight from her carriage, to walk to the house with Miss Walsingham, as
+      Mr. Palmer proposed. Miss Hunter, who was dressed with uncommon elegance,
+      remonstrated in favour of her delicate slippers: not that she named the
+      real object of her solicitude&mdash;no; she had not spent so much time
+      with Mrs. Beaumont, that great mistress of the art of apologizing, without
+      learning at least the inferior practices of the trade. Of course she had
+      all the little common arts of excuse ever ready: and instead of saying
+      that she did not like to walk because she was afraid to spoil her shoes,
+      she protested she was afraid of the heat, and could not walk so far. But
+      Mr. Beaumont had jumped out of the carriage, and Mrs. Beaumont did not
+      wish that he should walk home <i>tête-à-tête</i> with Miss Walsingham;
+      therefore Miss Hunter&rsquo;s remonstrances were of no avail.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My love, you, will not be heated, for our walk is through this charming
+      shady grove; and if you are tired, here&rsquo;s my son will give you his arm.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Satisfied with this arrangement, the young lady, thus supported, found it
+      possible to walk. Mr. Palmer walked his own pace, looking round at the
+      beauties of the place, and desiring that nobody might mind him. This was
+      his way, and Mrs. Beaumont never teased him with talking to him, when he
+      did not seem to be in the humour for it. She, who made something of every
+      thing, began to manage the conversation with her other companions during
+      the walk, so as to favour her views upon the several parties. Pursuing her
+      principle, that love is in men&rsquo;s minds generally independent of esteem,
+      and believing that her son might be rendered afraid of the superiority of
+      Miss Walsingham&rsquo;s understanding, Mrs. Beaumont took treacherous pains to
+      <i>draw her out</i>. Starting from chance seemingly, as she well knew how,
+      a subject of debate, she went from talking of the late marriage of some
+      neighbouring couple, to discuss a question on which she believed that Miss
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s opinion would differ from that of her son. The point was,
+      whether a wife should or should not have pin-money. Miss Walsingham
+      thought that a wife&rsquo;s accepting it would tend to establish a separate
+      interest between married people. Mr. Beaumont, on the contrary, was of
+      opinion, that a wife&rsquo;s having a separate allowance would prevent disputes.
+      So Miss Hunter thought, of course, for she had been prepared to be
+      precisely of Mr. Beaumont&rsquo;s opinion; but reasons she had none in its
+      support. Indeed, she said with a pretty simper, she thought that women had
+      nothing to do with reason or reasoning; that she thought a woman who
+      really loved <i>any body</i> was always of that person&rsquo;s opinion; and
+      especially in a wife she did not see of what use reasoning and <i>all that</i>
+      could be, except to make a woman contradict, and be odd, and fond of
+      ruling: that for her part she had no pretensions to any understanding, and
+      if she had ever so much, she should be glad, she declared upon her honour,
+      to get rid of it if she could; for what use could it possibly be of to
+      her, when it must be the husband&rsquo;s understanding that must always judge
+      and rule, and a wife ought only to obey, and be always of the opinion of
+      the man of her choice?&mdash;Having thus made her profession of folly in
+      broken sentences, with pretty confusion and all-becoming graces, she
+      leaned upon Mr. Beaumont&rsquo;s arm with a bewitching air of languid delicacy,
+      that solicited support. Mrs. Beaumont, suppressing a sigh, which, however,
+      she took care that her son should hear, turned to Miss Walsingham, and, in
+      a whisper, owned that she could not help loving abilities, and spirit too,
+      even in her own sex. Then she observed aloud, that much might be urged on
+      her side of the question with regard to pin-money; for not only, as Miss
+      Walsingham justly said, it might tend to make a separate interest between
+      husband and wife, but the wife would probably be kept in total ignorance
+      of her husband&rsquo;s affairs; and <i>that</i> in some cases might be very
+      disadvantageous, as some women are more capable, from their superior
+      understanding, of managing every thing than most men, indeed, than any man
+      she could name.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Even under favour of this pretty compliment, which was plainly directed by
+      a glance of Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s eye, Miss Walsingham would not accept of this
+      painful pre-eminence. She explained and made it clear, that she had not
+      any ambition to rule or manage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That I can readily believe,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont; &ldquo;for I have observed,
+      that it is not always the women who are the most able to decide who are
+      the most ambitious to govern.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This observation either was not heard or was not understood by Miss
+      Hunter, whose whole soul was occupied in settling some fold of her
+      drapery: but Mr. Beaumont&rsquo;s speech had its full effect on Mrs. Beaumont,
+      who bit her lip, and looked reproachfully at her son, as if she thought
+      this an infringement of his promised truce. A moment afterwards she felt
+      the imprudence of her own reproachful look, and was sensible that she
+      would have done better not to have fixed the opinion or feeling in her
+      son&rsquo;s mind by noticing it thus with displeasure. Recovering, herself, for
+      she never was disconcerted for more than half a minute, she passed on with
+      easy grace to discuss the merits of the heroine of some new novel&mdash;an
+      historic novel, which gave her opportunity of appealing to Miss Walsingham
+      on some disputed points of history. She dexterously attempted to draw her
+      <i>well-informed</i> young friend into a display of literature which might
+      alarm Mr. Beaumont. His education had in some respects been shamefully
+      neglected; for his mother had calculated that ignorance would ensure
+      dependence. He had endeavoured to supply, at a late period of his
+      education, the defects of its commencement; but he was sensible that he
+      had not supplied all his deficiencies, and he was apt to feel, with
+      painful impatient sensibility, his inferiority, whenever literary subjects
+      were introduced. Miss Walsingham, however, was so perfectly free from all
+      the affectation and vanity of a bel-esprit, that she did not alarm even
+      those who were inferior to her in knowledge; their self-complacency,
+      instead of being depressed by the comparison of their attainments with
+      hers, was insensibly raised, by the perception that notwithstanding these,
+      she could take pleasure in their conversation, could appreciate their good
+      sense or originality of thought, without recurring to the authority of
+      books, or of great names. In fact, her mind had never been overwhelmed by
+      a wasteful torrent of learning. That the stream of literature had passed
+      over, it was apparent only from its fertility. Mrs. Beaumont repented of
+      having drawn her into conversation. Indeed, our heroine had trusted too
+      much to some expressions, which had at times dropped from her son, about
+      <i>learned ladies</i>, and certain <i>conversaziones</i>. She had
+      concluded that he would never endure literature in a wife; but she now
+      perceived her mistake. She discerned it too late; and at this moment she
+      was doubly vexed, for she saw Miss Hunter <i>produce</i> herself in most
+      disadvantageous contrast to her rival. In conformity to instructions,
+      which Mrs. Beaumont had secretly given her, not to show too much sense or
+      learning, because gentlemen in general, and in particular Mr. Beaumont,
+      disliked it; this young lady now professed absolute ignorance and
+      incapacity upon all subjects; and meaning to have an air of pretty
+      childish innocence or timidity, really made herself appear quite like a
+      simpleton. At the same time a tinge of ineffectual malice and envy
+      appeared through her ill-feigned humility. She could give no opinion of
+      any book&mdash;oh, she would not give any judgment for the whole world!
+      She did not think herself qualified to speak, even if she had read the
+      book, which indeed she had not, for, really, she never read&mdash;she was
+      not a <i>reading lady</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As Miss Hunter had no portion of Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s quick penetration, she
+      did not see the unfavourable impression these words made: certain that she
+      was following exactly her secret instructions, she was confident of being
+      in the right line; so on she went, whilst Mrs. Beaumont sighed in vain;
+      and Miss Walsingham, who now saw and understood her whole play, almost
+      smiled at the comic of the scene.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;O dear, Mrs. Beaumont,&rdquo; continued Miss Hunter, &ldquo;how can you ever appeal
+      to me about books and those sorts of things, when you know I know nothing
+      about the matter? For mercy&rsquo;s sake, never do so any more, for you know
+      I&rsquo;ve no taste for those sorts of things. And besides, I own, even if I
+      could, I should so hate to be thought a blue-stocking&mdash;I would not
+      have the least bit of blue in my stockings for the whole world&mdash;I&rsquo;d
+      rather have any other colour, black, white, red, green, yellow, any other
+      colour. So I own I&rsquo;m not sorry I&rsquo;m not what they call a genius; for though
+      genius to be sure&rsquo;s a very fascinating sort of thing in gentlemen, yet in
+      women it is not so becoming, I think, especially in ladies: it does very
+      well on the stage, and for artists, and so on; but really now, in company,
+      I think it&rsquo;s an awkward thing, and would make one look so odd! Now, Mr.
+      Beaumont, I must tell you an anecdote&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stop, my dear Miss Hunter, your ear-ring is coming out. Stay! let me
+      clasp it, love!&rdquo; exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, determined to stop her in the
+      career of nonsense, by giving her sensations, since she could not give her
+      ideas, a new turn.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, ma&rsquo;am! ma&rsquo;am! Oh! my ear! you are killing me, dearest Mrs. Beaumont!
+      pinching me to death, ma&rsquo;am!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Did I pinch, my dear? It was the hinge of the ear-ring, I suppose.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what it was; but here&rsquo;s blood, I declare!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My love, I beg you a thousand pardons. How could I be so awkward! But why
+      could not you for one moment hold your little head still?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Walsingham applied a patch to the wound.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Such a pretty ear as it is,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;I am sure it was a
+      pity to hurt it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You really did hurt it,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont, in a tone of compassion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, horridly!&rdquo; cried Miss Hunter&mdash;&ldquo;and I, that always faint at the
+      sight of blood!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Afraid that the young lady would again spoil her part in the acting, and
+      lose all the advantages which might result from the combined effect of the
+      pretty ear and of compassion, Mrs. Beaumont endeavoured to take off her
+      attention from the wound, by attacking her ear-rings.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My love,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t wear these ear-rings any more, for I assure
+      you there is no possibility of shutting or opening them, without hurting
+      you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This expedient, however, nearly proved fatal in its consequences. Miss
+      Hunter entered most warmly into the defence of her ear-rings; and appealed
+      to Mr. Beaumont to confirm her decision, that they were the prettiest and
+      best ear-rings in the world. Unluckily, they did not particularly suit his
+      fancy, and the young lady, who had, but half an hour before, professed
+      that she could never be of a different opinion in any thing from that of
+      the man she loved, now pettishly declared that she could not and would not
+      give up her taste. Incensed still more by a bow of submission, but not of
+      conviction, from Mr. Beaumont, she went on regardless of her dearest Mrs.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s frowns, and vehemently maintained her judgment, quoting, with
+      triumphant volubility, innumerable precedents of ladies, &ldquo;who had just
+      bought <i>the very same</i> ear-rings, and whose taste she believed nobody
+      would dispute.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont had seen enough, now and upon many other occasions, to be
+      convinced that it is not on matters of consequence that ladies are apt to
+      grow most angry; and he stood confirmed in his belief that those who in
+      theory professed to have such a humble opinion of their own abilities that
+      they cannot do or understand any thing useful, are often, in practice, the
+      most prone to insist upon the infallibility of their taste and judgment.
+      Mrs. Beaumont, who saw with one glance of her quick eye what passed at
+      this moment in her son&rsquo;s mind, sighed, and said to herself&mdash;&ldquo;How
+      impossible to manage a fool, who ravels, as fast as one weaves, the web of
+      her fortune!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Yet though Mrs. Beaumont perceived and acknowledged the impracticability
+      of managing a fool for a single hour, it was one of the favourite objects
+      of her manoeuvres to obtain this very fool for a daughter-in-law, with the
+      hope of governing her for life. So inconsistent are cunning people, even
+      of the best abilities; so ill do they calculate the value of their
+      ultimate objects, however ingeniously they devise their means, or adapt
+      them to their ends.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      During this walk Mr. Palmer had taken no part in the conversation; he had
+      seemed engrossed with his own thoughts, or occupied with observing the
+      beauties of the place. Tired with her walk&mdash;for Mrs. Beaumont always
+      complained of being fatigued when she was vexed, thus at once concealing
+      her vexation, and throwing the faults of her mind upon her body&mdash;she
+      stretched herself upon a sofa as soon as she reached the house, nor did
+      she recover from her exhausted state till she cast her eyes upon a
+      tamborine, which she knew would afford means of showing Miss Hunter&rsquo;s
+      figure and graces to advantage. Slight as this resource may seem, Mrs.
+      Beaumont well knew that slighter still have often produced great effects.
+      Soon afterward she observed her son smile repeatedly as he read a passage
+      in some book that lay upon the table, and she had the curiosity to take up
+      the book when he turned away. She found that it was Cumberland&rsquo;s Memoirs,
+      and saw the following little poem marked with reiterated lines of
+      approbation:
+    </p>
+    <pre>
+      &ldquo;Why, Affectation, why this mock grimace?
+      Go, silly thing, and hide that simp&rsquo;ring face.
+      Thy lisping prattle, and thy mincing gait,
+      All thy false mimic fooleries I hate;
+      For thou art Folly&rsquo;s counterfeit, and she
+      Who is right foolish hath the better plea;
+      Nature&rsquo;s true idiot I prefer to thee.
+    </pre>
+    <pre>
+      Why that soft languish?
+      Why that drawling tone?
+      Art sick, art sleepy?
+      Get thee hence: begone.
+      I laugh at all thy pretty baby tears,
+      Those flutt&rsquo;rings, faintings, and unreal fears.
+    </pre>
+    <pre>
+      Can they deceive us?
+      Can such mumm&rsquo;ries move,
+      Touch us with pity, or inspire with love?
+      No, Affectation, vain is all thy art!
+      Those eyes may wander over ev&rsquo;ry part;
+      They&rsquo;ll never find their passage to the heart.&rdquo;
+     </pre>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, the moment she had read these lines, perceived why her son
+      had smiled. The portrait seemed really to have been drawn from Miss
+      Hunter, and the lines were so <i>à propos</i> to the scene which had just
+      passed during the walk, that it was impossible to avoid the application.
+      Mrs. Beaumont shut the book hastily as her dear Albina approached, for she
+      was afraid that the young lady would have known her own picture. So few
+      people, however, even of those much wiser than Miss Hunter, know
+      themselves, that she need not have been alarmed. But she had no longer
+      leisure to devote her thoughts to this subject, for Mr. Walsingham, who
+      had been out riding, had by this time returned; and the moment he entered
+      the room, Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s attention was directed to him and to Mr. Palmer.
+      She introduced them to each other, with many expressions of regret that
+      they should not sooner have met.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Characters that are free from artifice immediately coalesce, as metals
+      that are perfectly pure can be readily cemented together. Mr. Palmer and
+      Mr. Walsingham were intimate in half an hour. There was an air of openness
+      and sincerity about Mr. Walsingham; a freedom and directness in his
+      conversation, which delighted Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am heartily glad we have met at last, my good cousin Walsingham,&rdquo; said
+      he: &ldquo;very sorry should I have been to have left the country without
+      becoming acquainted with you: and now I wish your gallant captain was
+      arrived. I am to set off the day after to-morrow, and I am sadly afraid I
+      shall miss seeing him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Walsingham said, that as they expected him every hour, he hoped Mr.
+      Palmer would persuade Mrs. Beaumont to spend the day at Walsingham House.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont dared not object. On the contrary, it was now her policy to
+      pretend the fondest friendship for all the Walsingham family: yet, all the
+      time, pursuing her plan of preventing Mr. Palmer from discerning their
+      real characters and superior merit, she managed with great dexterity to
+      keep the conversation as much as possible upon general topics, and tried
+      to prevent Mr. Palmer from being much alone with Mr. Walsingham, for she
+      dreaded their growing intimacy. After dinner, however, when the ladies
+      retired, the gentlemen drew their chairs close together, and had a great
+      deal of conversation on interesting subjects. The most interesting was
+      Captain Walsingham: Mr. Palmer earnestly desired to hear the particulars
+      of his history.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And from whom,&rdquo; said young Beaumont, turning to Mr. Walsingham, &ldquo;can he
+      hear them better than from Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s guardian and friend?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER X.
+    </h2>
+    <pre>
+      <i>&ldquo;Yet never seaman more serenely brave
+          Led Britain&rsquo;s conquering squadrons o&rsquo;er the wave.&rdquo;</i>
+    </pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Friends are not always the best biographers,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham; &ldquo;but I
+      will try to be impartial. My ward&rsquo;s first desire to be a sailor was
+      excited, as he has often since told me, by reading Robinson Crusoe. When
+      he was scarcely thirteen he went out in the Resolute, a frigate, under the
+      command of Captain Campbell. Campbell was an excellent officer, and very
+      strict in all that related to order and discipline. It was his principle
+      and his practice never to forgive <i>a first offence</i>; by which the
+      number of second faults was considerably diminished. My ward was not much
+      pleased at first with his captain; but he was afterwards convinced that
+      this strictness was what made a man of him. He was buffeted about, and
+      shown the rough of life; made to work hard, and submit to authority. To
+      reason he was always ready to yield; and by degrees he learned that his
+      first duty as a sailor was implicit obedience. In due time he was made
+      lieutenant: in this situation, his mixed duties of command and obedience
+      were difficult, because his first-lieutenant, the captain&rsquo;s son, was
+      jealous of him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Walsingham found it a more difficult task to win the confidence of the
+      son than it had been to earn the friendship of the father. His punctuality
+      in obeying orders, and his respectful manner to the lieutenant, availed
+      but little; for young Campbell still viewed him with scornful yet with
+      jealous eyes, imagining that he only wanted to show himself the better
+      officer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of the falsehood of these suspicions Walsingham had at last an
+      opportunity of giving unquestionable proof. It happened one day that
+      Lieutenant Campbell, impatient at seeing a sailor doing some work
+      awkwardly on the outside of the vessel, snatched the rope from his hand,
+      and swore he would do it himself. In his hurry, Campbell missed his
+      footing, and fell overboard:&mdash;he could not swim. Walsingham had the
+      presence of mind to order the ship to be put about, and plunged instantly
+      into the water to save his rival. With much exertion he reached Campbell,
+      supported him till the boat was lowered down, and got him safe aboard
+      again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Just like himself!&rdquo; cried young Beaumont; &ldquo;all he ever wanted was
+      opportunity to show his soul.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The first-lieutenant&rsquo;s jealousy was now changed into gratitude,&rdquo;
+       continued Mr. Walsingham; &ldquo;and from this time forward, instead of
+      suffering from that petty rivalship by which he used to be obstructed,
+      Walsingham enjoyed the entire confidence of young Campbell. This good
+      understanding between him and his brother officer not only made their
+      every day lives pleasant, but in times of difficulty secured success. For
+      three years that they lived together after this period, and during which
+      time they were ordered to every quarter of the globe, they never had the
+      slightest dispute, either in the busiest or the idlest times. At length,
+      in some engagement with a Dutch ship, the particulars of which I forget,
+      Lieutenant Campbell was mortally wounded: his last words were&mdash;&lsquo;Walsingham,
+      comfort my father.&rsquo; That was no easy task. Stern as Captain Campbell
+      seemed, the loss of his son was irreparable. He never shed a tear when he
+      was told it was all over, but said, &lsquo;God&rsquo;s will be done;&rsquo; and turning into
+      his cabin, desired to be left alone. Half an hour afterwards he sent for
+      Walsingham, who found him quite calm. &lsquo;We must see and do our duty
+      together to the last,&rsquo; said he.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He exerted himself strenuously, and to all outward appearance was, as the
+      sailors said, the same man as ever; but Walsingham, who knew him better,
+      saw that his heart was broken, and that he wished for nothing but an
+      honourable death. One morning as he was on deck looking through his glass,
+      he called to Walsingham; &lsquo;Your eyes are better than mine,&rsquo; said he; &lsquo;look
+      here, and tell me, do you see yonder sail&mdash;she&rsquo;s French? Le Magnanime
+      frigate, if I&rsquo;m not mistaken. &lsquo;Yes,&rsquo; said Walsingham, &lsquo;I know her by the
+      patch in her main sail.&rsquo;&mdash;&lsquo;We&rsquo;ll give her something to do,&rsquo; said
+      Campbell, &lsquo;though she&rsquo;s so much our superior. Please God, before the sun&rsquo;s
+      over our heads, you shall have her in tow, Walsingham.&rsquo; &lsquo;<i>We</i> shall,
+      I trust,&rsquo; said Walsingham.&mdash;&lsquo;Perhaps not <i>we</i>; for I own I wish
+      to fall,&rsquo; said Campbell. &lsquo;You are first-lieutenant now; I can&rsquo;t leave my
+      men under better command, and I hope the Admiralty will give you the ship,
+      if you give it to his Majesty.&rsquo;&mdash;Then turning to the sailors, Captain
+      Campbell addressed them with a countenance unusually cheerful; and, after
+      a few words of encouragement, gave orders to clear decks for action.
+      &lsquo;Walsingham, you&rsquo;ll see to every thing whilst I step down to write.&rsquo; He
+      wrote, as it was afterwards found, two letters, both concerning
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s interests. The frigate with which they had to engage was
+      indeed far superior to them in force; but Campbell trusted to the good
+      order and steadiness as well as to the courage of his men. The action was
+      long and obstinate. Twice the English attempted to board the enemy, and
+      twice were repulsed. The third time, just as Captain Campbell had seized
+      hold of the French colours, which hung in rags over the side of the
+      enemy&rsquo;s ship, he received a wound in his breast, fell back into
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s arms, and almost instantly expired. The event of this day was
+      different from what Campbell had expected, for <i>Le Succès</i> of fifty
+      guns appeared in sight; and, after a desperate engagement with her, in
+      which Walsingham was severely wounded, and every other officer on board
+      killed or wounded, Walsingham saw that nothing was left but to make a
+      wanton sacrifice of the remainder of his crew, or to strike.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;After a contest of six hours, he struck to <i>Le Succès</i>. Perfect
+      silence on his deck; a loud and insulting shout from the enemy!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No sooner had Walsingham struck, than La Force, the captain of <i>Le
+      Succès</i> hailed him, and ordered him to come in his own boat, and to
+      deliver his sword. Walsingham replied, that &lsquo;his sword, so demanded,
+      should never be delivered but with his life.&lsquo;<a href="#linknote-2"
+       name="linknoteref-2" id="linknoteref-2"><small>2</small></a> The Frenchman
+      did not think proper to persist; but soon after sent his lieutenant on
+      board the Resolute, where the men were found at their quarters with
+      lighted matches in their hands, ready to be as good as their word. La
+      Force, the captain of <i>Le Succès</i>, was a sailor of fortune, who had
+      risen by chance, not merit.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay, ay,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;so I thought; and there was no great
+      merit, or glory either, in a French fifty gun taking an English frigate,
+      after standing a six hours&rsquo; contest with another ship. Well, my dear sir,
+      what became of poor Walsingham? How did this rascally Frenchman treat his
+      prisoners?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Scandalously!&rdquo; cried Beaumont; &ldquo;and yet Walsingham is so generous that he
+      will never let me damn the nation, for what he says was only the fault of
+      an individual, who disgraced it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, let me hear and judge for myself,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;La Force carried the Resolute in triumph into a French port,&rdquo; continued
+      Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;Vain of displaying his prisoners, he marched them up the
+      country, under pretence that they would not be safe in a sea-port. Cambray
+      was the town in which they were confined. Walsingham found the officers of
+      the garrison very civil to him at first; but when they saw that he was not
+      fond of high play, and that he declined being of their parties at
+      billiards and <i>vingt-un</i>, they grew tired of him; for without these
+      resources they declared they should perish with <i>ennui</i> in a country
+      town. Even under the penalty of losing all society, Walsingham resisted
+      every temptation to game, and submitted to live with the strictest economy
+      rather than to run in debt.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But did you never send him any money? Or did not he get your
+      remittances?&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear sir, by some delays of letters, we did not hear for two months
+      where he was imprisoned.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And he was reduced to the greatest distress,&rdquo; pursued Beaumont; &ldquo;for he
+      had shared all he had, to the utmost farthing, with his poor
+      fellow-prisoners.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Like a true British sailor!&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Well, sir, I hope he
+      contrived to make his escape?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, for he would not break his parole,&rdquo; said Beaumont,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;His parole! I did not know he was on his parole,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Then
+      certainly he could not break it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He had two tempting opportunities, I can assure you,&rdquo; said Beaumont; &ldquo;one
+      offered by the commandant&rsquo;s lady, who was not insensible to his merit; the
+      other, by the gratitude of some poor servant, whom he had obliged&mdash;Mr.
+      Walsingham can tell you all the particulars.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, I need not detail the circumstances; it is enough to tell you, sir,
+      that he withstood the temptations, would not break his parole, and
+      remained four months a prisoner in Cambray. Like the officers of the
+      garrison, he should have drunk or gamed, or else he must have died of
+      vexation, he says, if he had not fortunately had a taste for reading, and
+      luckily procured books from a good old priest&rsquo;s library. At the end of
+      four months the garrison of Cambray was changed; and instead of a set of
+      dissipated officers, there came a well-conducted regiment, under the
+      command of M. de Villars, an elderly officer of sense and discretion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;An excellent man!&rdquo; cried Beaumont: &ldquo;I love him with all my soul, though I
+      never saw him. But I beg your pardon for interrupting you, Mr.
+      Walsingham.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A prattling hairdresser at Cambray first prepossessed M. de Villars in
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s favour, by relating a number of anecdotes intended to throw
+      abuse and ridicule upon the English captain, to convict him of misanthropy
+      and economy; of having had his hair dressed but twice since he came to
+      Cambray; of never having frequented the society of Madame la Marquise de
+      Marsillac, the late commandant&rsquo;s lady, for more than a fortnight after his
+      arrival, and of having actually been detected in working with his own hand
+      with smiths&rsquo; and carpenters&rsquo; tools. Upon the strength of the hairdresser&rsquo;s
+      information, M. de Villars paid the English captain a visit; was pleased
+      by his conversation, and by all that he observed of his conduct and
+      character.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As M. de Villars was going down stairs, after having spent an evening
+      with Walsingham, a boy of twelve years old, the son of the master of the
+      lodging-house, equipped in a military uniform, stood across the
+      landing-place, as if determined to, stop him. &lsquo;Mon petit militaire,&rsquo; said
+      the commandant, &lsquo;do you mean to dispute my passage?&rsquo; &lsquo;Non, mon général,&rsquo; 
+      said the boy; &lsquo;I know my duty too well. But I post myself here to demand
+      an audience, for I have a secret of importance to communicate.&rsquo; M. de
+      Villars, smiling at the boy&rsquo;s air of consequence, yet pleased with the
+      steady earnestness of his manner, took him by the hand into an
+      antechamber, and said that he was ready to listen to whatever he had to
+      impart. The boy then told him that he had accidentally overheard a
+      proposal which had been made to facilitate the English captain&rsquo;s escape,
+      and that the captain refused to comply with it, because it was not
+      honourable to break his parole. The boy, who had been struck by the
+      circumstance, and who, besides, was grateful to Walsingham for some little
+      instances of kindness, spoke with much enthusiasm in his favour; and, as
+      M. de Villars afterwards repeated, finished his speech by exclaiming, &lsquo;I
+      would give every thing I have in the world, except my sword and my honour,
+      to procure this English captain his liberty.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;M. de Villars was pleased with the boy&rsquo;s manner, and with the fact which
+      he related; so much so, that he promised, that if Walsingham&rsquo;s liberty
+      could be obtained he would procure it. &lsquo;And you, my good little friend,
+      shall, if I succeed,&rsquo; added he, &lsquo;have the pleasure of being the first to
+      tell him the good news.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Some days afterwards, the boy burst into Walsingham&rsquo;s room, exclaiming,
+      &lsquo;Liberty! liberty! you are at liberty!&rsquo;&mdash;He danced and capered with
+      such wild joy, that it was some time before Walsingham could obtain any
+      explanation, or could prevail on him to let him look at a letter which he
+      held in his hand, flourishing it about in triumph. At last he showed that
+      it was an order from M. de Villars, for the release of Captain Walsingham,
+      and of all the English prisoners, belonging to the Resolute, for whom
+      exchanges had been effected. No favour could be granted in a manner more
+      honourable to all the parties concerned. Walsingham arrived in England
+      without any farther difficulties.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thank God!&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Well, now he has touched English ground
+      again, I have some hopes for him. What next?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The first thing he did, of course, was to announce his return to the
+      Admiralty. A court-martial was held at Portsmouth; and, fortunately for
+      him, was composed of officers of the highest distinction, so that the
+      first men in his profession became thoroughly acquainted with the
+      circumstances of his conduct. The enthusiasm with which his men bore
+      testimony in his favour was gratifying to his feelings, and the minutes of
+      the evidence were most honourable to him. The court pronounced, that
+      Lieutenant Walsingham had done all that could be effected by the most
+      gallant and judicious officer in the defence of His Majesty&rsquo;s ship
+      Resolute. The ministry who had employed Captain Campbell were no longer in
+      place, and one of the Lords of the Admiralty at this time happened to have
+      had some personal quarrel with him. A few days after the trial, Walsingham
+      was at a public dinner, at which Campbell&rsquo;s character became the subject
+      of conversation. Walsingham was warned, in a whisper, that the first Lord
+      of the Admiralty&rsquo;s private secretary was present, and was advised to be <i>prudent</i>;
+      but Walsingham&rsquo;s prudence was not of that sort which can coolly hear a
+      worthy man&rsquo;s memory damned with faint praise; his prudence was not of that
+      sort which can tamely sit by and see a friend&rsquo;s reputation in danger. With
+      all the warmth and eloquence of friendship, he spoke in Captain Campbell&rsquo;s
+      defence, and paid a just and energetic tribute of praise to his memory. He
+      spoke, and not a word more was said against Campbell. The politicians
+      looked down upon their plates; and there was a pause of that sort, which
+      sometimes in a company of interested men of the world results from
+      surprise at the imprudent honesty of a good-natured novice. Walsingham, as
+      the company soon afterwards broke up, heard one gentleman say of him to
+      another, as they went away, &lsquo;There&rsquo;s a fellow now, who has ruined himself
+      without knowing it, and all for a dead man.&rsquo; It was not without knowing
+      it: Walsingham was well aware what he hazarded, but he was then, and ever,
+      ready to sacrifice his own interests in the defence of truth and of a
+      friend. For two long years afterwards, Walsingham was, in the technical
+      and elegant phrase, <i>left on the shelf, and the door of promotion was
+      shut against him.&rdquo;</i>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, and there he might have remained till now,&rdquo; said Beaumont, &ldquo;if it
+      had not been for that good Mr. Gaspar, a clerk in one of their offices; a
+      man who, though used to live among courtiers and people hackneyed in the
+      political ways of the world, was a plain, warm-hearted friend, a man of an
+      upright character, who prized integrity and generosity the more because he
+      met with them so seldom. But I beg your pardon, Mr. Walsingham; will you
+      go on and tell Mr. Palmer how and why Gaspar served our friend?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;One day Walsingham had occasion to go to Mr. Gaspar&rsquo;s office to search
+      for some papers relative to certain charts which he had drawn, and
+      intended to present to the Admiralty. In talking of the soundings of some
+      bay he had taken whilst out with Captain Campbell, he mentioned him, as he
+      always did, with terms of affection and respect. Mr. Gaspar immediately
+      asked, &lsquo;Are you, sir, that Lieutenant Walsingham, of the Resolute, who at
+      a public dinner about two years ago made such a disinterested defence of
+      your captain? If it is in my power to serve you, depend upon it I will.
+      Leave your charts with me; I think I may have an opportunity of turning
+      them to your advantage, and that of the service.&rsquo; Gaspar, who was
+      thoroughly in earnest, took a happy moment to present Walsingham&rsquo;s charts
+      before the Admiralty, just at a time when they were wanted. The Admiralty
+      were glad to employ an officer who had some local information, and they
+      sent him out in the Dreadnought, a thirty-six gun frigate, with Captain
+      Jemmison, to the West Indies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what sort of a man was his new captain?&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As unlike his old one as possible,&rdquo; said Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; continued Mr. Walsingham; &ldquo;in every point, except courage, Captain
+      Jemmison was as complete a contrast as could be imagined to Captain
+      Campbell. Whatever else he might be, Jemmison was certainly a man of
+      undaunted courage.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s of course, if he was a captain in the British navy,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;From his appearance, however, you would never have taken him for a
+      gallant sailor,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham: &ldquo;abhorring the rough, brutal,
+      swearing, grog-drinking, tobacco-chewing, race of sea-officers, the Bens
+      and the Mirvans of former times, Captain Jemmison, resolving, I suppose,
+      to avoid their faults, went into the contrary extreme of refinement and
+      effeminacy. A superlative coxcomb, and an epicure more from fashion than
+      taste, he gloried in descanting, with technical precision, on the merits
+      of dishes and of cooks. His table, even on shipboard, was to be equalled
+      in elegance only by his toilet.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The puppy!&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;And how could Captain Walsingham go on
+      with such a coxcomb?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very ill, you may be sure,&rdquo; said Beaumont; &ldquo;for Walsingham, I&rsquo;ll answer
+      for it, never could conceal or control his feelings of contempt or
+      indignation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yet, as Captain Jemmison&rsquo;s lieutenant, he always behaved with perfect
+      propriety,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham, &ldquo;and bore with his foppery and
+      impertinence with the patience becoming a subordinate officer to his
+      superior. Jemmison could not endure a lieutenant whose character and
+      manners were a continual contrast and reproach to his own, and he disliked
+      him the more because he could never provoke him to any disrespect.
+      Jemmison often replied even to Walsingham&rsquo;s silent contempt; as a French
+      pamphleteer once published a book entitled, <i>Réponse au Silence de M. de
+      la Motte</i>. On some points, where duty and principle were concerned,
+      Walsingham, however, could not be silent. There was a lad of the name of
+      Birch on board the Dreadnought, whom Walsingham had taken under his
+      immediate care, and whom he was endeavouring to train up in every good
+      habit. Jemmison, to torment Walsingham, made it his pleasure to counteract
+      him in these endeavours, and continually did all he could to spoil Birch
+      by foolish indulgence. Walsingham&rsquo;s indignation was upon these occasions
+      vehement, and his captain and he came to frequent quarrels. Young Birch,
+      who had sense enough to know which was his true friend, one day threw
+      himself on his knees to beseech his lieutenant not to hazard so much on
+      his account, and solemnly swore that he would never be guilty of the
+      slightest excess or negligence during the remainder of the voyage. The
+      young man was steady to his promise, and by his resolution and temper
+      prevented Walsingham and his captain from coming to a serious rupture.
+      When they arrived at their place of destination, Jamaica, Captain Jemmison
+      went on shore to divert himself, and spent his time in great dissipation
+      at Spanish Town, eating, dressing, dancing, gallanting, and glorying in
+      its being observed by all the ladies that he had nothing of a sea-captain
+      about him. The other officers, encouraged by his precept and example, left
+      the ship; but Walsingham stayed on board, and had severe duty to perform,
+      for he could not allow the crew to go on shore, because they got into
+      riots with the townspeople. Soon after their arrival, and even during the
+      course of their voyage, he had observed among the sailors something like a
+      disposition to mutiny, encouraged probably by the negligence and apparent
+      effeminacy of their captain. Though they knew him to be a man of
+      intrepidity, yet they ridiculed and despised his coxcombry, and his
+      relaxation of discipline gave them hopes of succeeding in their mutinous
+      schemes. Walsingham strongly and repeatedly represented to Captain
+      Jemmison the danger, and remonstrated with him and the other officers upon
+      the imprudence of leaving the ship at this juncture; but Jemmison, in a
+      prettily rounded period, protested he saw no penumbra of danger, and that
+      till he was called upon by Mars, he owned he preferred the charms of
+      Venus.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This was vastly elegant; but, nevertheless, it happened one night, when
+      the captain, after having eaten an admirable supper, was paying his court
+      to a Creole lady of Spanish Town, news was brought him, that the crew of
+      the Dreadnought had mutinied, and that Lieutenant Walsingham was killed.
+      One half of the report was true, and the other nearly so. At midnight,
+      after having been exhausted during the preceding week by his vigilance,
+      Walsingham had just thrown himself into his cot, when he was roused by
+      Birch at his cabin-door, crying, &lsquo;A mutiny! a mutiny on deck!&rsquo;&mdash;Walsingham
+      seized his drawn cutlass, and ran up the ladder, determined to cut down
+      the ringleader; but just as he reached the top, the sailors shut down the
+      hatchway, which struck his head with such violence, that he fell, stunned,
+      and, to all appearance, dead. Birch contrived, in the midst of the bustle,
+      before he was himself seized by the mutineers, to convey, by signals to
+      shore, news of what had happened. But Captain Jemmison could now be of no
+      use. Before he could take any measures to prevent them, the mutineers
+      weighed anchor, and the Dreadnought, under a brisk breeze, was out of the
+      bay; all the other vessels in the harbour taking it for granted that her
+      captain was on board, and that she was sailing under orders. In the mean
+      time, whilst Walsingham was senseless, the sailors stowed him into his
+      cabin, and set a guard over him. The ringleader, Jefferies, a revengeful
+      villain, who bore malice against him for some just punishment, wanted to
+      murder him, but the rest would not consent. Some would not dip their hands
+      in blood; others pleaded for him, and said that he was never cruel. One
+      man urged, that the lieutenant had been kind to him when he was sick.
+      Another suggested, that it would be well to keep him alive to manage the
+      ship for them, in case of difficulties. Conscious of their ignorance, they
+      acceded to this advice; Jefferies&rsquo; proposal to murder him was overruled:
+      and it was agreed to keep Walsingham close prisoner till they should need
+      his assistance. He had his timekeeper and log-book locked up with him,
+      which were totally forgotten by these miscreants. Never seaman prayed more
+      fervently for fair weather than Walsingham now did for a storm. At last,
+      one night he heard (and he says it was one of the pleasantest sounds he
+      ever heard in his life) the wind rising. Soon it blew a storm. He heard
+      one of the sailors say&mdash;&lsquo;A stiff gale, Jack!&rsquo; and another&mdash;&lsquo;An
+      ugly night!&rsquo; Presently, great noise on deck, and the pumps at work. Every
+      moment he now expected a deputation from the mutineers. The first person
+      he saw was the carpenter, who came in to knock in the dead lights in the
+      cabin windows. The man was surly, and would give no answer to any
+      questions; but Walsingham knew, by the hurry of his work, that the fellow
+      thought there was no time to be lost. Twice, before he could finish what
+      he was about, messages came from <i>Captain Jefferies,</i> to order him to
+      something else. Then a violent crash above from the fall of a mast; and
+      then he heard one cry&mdash;&lsquo;I&rsquo;ll be cursed if I should care, if we did
+      but know where-abouts we are.&rsquo; Then all was in such uproar, that no voices
+      could be distinguished. At last his cabin-door unlocked, and many voices
+      called upon him at once to come upon deck that instant and save the ship.
+      Walsingham absolutely refused to do any thing for them till they returned
+      to their duty, delivered up to him their arms, and their ringleader,
+      Jefferies. At this answer they stood aghast. Some tried entreaties, some
+      threats: all in vain. Walsingham coolly said, he would go to the bottom
+      along with the ship rather than say a word to save them, till they
+      submitted. The storm blew stronger&mdash;the danger every moment
+      increasing. One of the mutineers came with a drawn cutlass, another
+      levelled a blunderbuss at Walsingham, swearing to despatch him that
+      instant, if he would not tell them where they were. &lsquo;Murder me, and you
+      will be hanged; persist in your mutiny, you&rsquo;ll be drowned,&rsquo; said
+      Walsingham. &lsquo;You&rsquo;ll never make me swerve from my duty&mdash;and you know
+      it&mdash;you have my answer.&rsquo; The enraged sailors seized him in their
+      arms, and carried him by force upon deck, where the sight of the danger,
+      and the cries of &lsquo;Throw him overboard!&mdash;over with him!&rsquo; only seemed
+      to fortify his resolution. Not a word, not a sign could they get from him.
+      The rudder was now unshipped! At this the sailors&rsquo; fury turned suddenly
+      upon Jefferies, who between terror and ignorance was utterly
+      incapacitated. They seized, bound, gave him up to Walsingham, returned to
+      their duty; and then, and not till then, Walsingham resumed his command.
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s voice, once more heard, inspired confidence, and with the
+      hopes revived the exertions of the sailors. I am not seaman enough to tell
+      you how the ship was saved; but that it was saved, and saved by
+      Walsingham, is certain. I remember only, that he made the ship manageable
+      by some contrivance, which he substituted in the place of the rudder that
+      had been unshipped. The storm abating, he made for the first port, to
+      repair the ship&rsquo;s damages, intending to return to Jamaica, to deliver her
+      up to her captain; but, from a vessel they spoke at sea, he learned that
+      Jemmison was gone to England in a merchantman. To England then Walsingham
+      prepared to follow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And with this rebel crew!&rdquo; cried Beaumont; &ldquo;think, Mr. Palmer, what a
+      situation he was in, knowing, as he did, that every rascal of them would
+      sooner go to the devil than go home, where they knew they must be tried
+      for their mutiny.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, sir, well!&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Did they run away with the ship a
+      second time? or how did he manage?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He called them all one morning together on deck; and pointing to the place
+      where the gunpowder was kept, he said&mdash;&lsquo;I have means of blowing up
+      the ship. If ever you attempt to mutiny again, the first finger you lay
+      upon me, I blow her up instantly.&rsquo; They had found him to be a man of
+      resolution. They kept to their duty. Not a symptom of disobedience during
+      the rest of the voyage. In their passage they fell in with an enemy&rsquo;s
+      ship, far superior to them in force. &lsquo;There, my lads!&rsquo; said Walsingham,
+      &lsquo;if you have a mind to earn your pardons, there&rsquo;s your best chance. Take
+      her home with you to your captain and your king.&rsquo; A loud cheer was their
+      answer. They fought like devils to redeem themselves. Walsingham&mdash;but
+      without stopping to make his panegyric, I need only tell you, that
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s conduct and intrepidity were this time crowned with success.
+      He took the enemy&rsquo;s ship, and carried it in triumph into Portsmouth.
+      Jemmison was on the platform when they came in; and what a mortifying
+      sight it was to him, and what a proud hour to Walsingham, you may imagine!
+      Having delivered the Dreadnought and her prize over to his captain, the
+      next thing to be thought of was the trial of the mutineers. All except
+      Jefferies obtained a pardon, in consideration of their return to duty, and
+      their subsequent services. Jefferies was hanged at the yard-arm. The trial
+      of the mutineers brought on, as Jemmison foresaw it must, many
+      animadversions on his own conduct. Powerful connexions, and his friends in
+      place, silenced, as much as possible, the public voice. Jemmison gave
+      excellent dinners, and endeavoured to drown the whole affair in his choice
+      Champagne and <i>London particular Madeira</i>; so his health, and success
+      to the British navy, was drunk in bumper toasts.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay, ay, they think to do every thing now in England by dinners, and
+      bumper toasts, and three times three,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But it did not do in this instance,&rdquo; said Beaumont, in a tone of
+      exultation: &ldquo;it did not do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; continued Mr. Walsingham; &ldquo;though Jemmison&rsquo;s dinners went down
+      vastly well with a party, they did not satisfy the public. The opposition
+      papers grew clamorous, and the business was taken up so strongly, and it
+      raised such a cry against the ministry, that they were obliged to bring
+      Jemmison to a court-martial.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The puppy! I&rsquo;m glad of it, with all my soul. And how did he look then?&rdquo;
+       said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vastly like a gentleman; that was all that even his friends could say for
+      him. The person he was most afraid of on the trial was Walsingham. In this
+      apprehension he was confirmed by certain of his friends, who had attempted
+      to sound Walsingham as to the nature of the evidence he intended to give.
+      They all reported, that they could draw nothing out of him, and that he
+      was an impracticable fellow; for his constant answer was, that his
+      evidence should be given in court, and nowhere else.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Even to his most intimate friends,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;even to
+      me, who was in the house with him all the time the trial was going on, he
+      did not tell what his evidence would be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When the day of trial came,&rdquo; pursued Mr. Walsingham&mdash;&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t forget Admiral Dashleigh,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No; who can forget him that knows him?&rdquo; said Walsingham: &ldquo;a warm,
+      generous friend, open-hearted as he is brave&mdash;he came to Captain
+      Walsingham the day before the court-martial was to sit. &lsquo;I know,
+      Walsingham, you don&rsquo;t like my cousin Jemmison (said he), nor do I much,
+      for he is a puppy, and I never could like a puppy, related to me or not;
+      be that as it may, you&rsquo;ll do him justice, I&rsquo;m sure; for though he is a
+      puppy he is a brave fellow&mdash;and here, for party purposes, they have
+      raised a cry of his being a coward, and want to shoot him <i>pour
+      encourager les autres</i>. What you say will damn or save him; and I have
+      too good an opinion of you to think that any old grudge, though you might
+      have cause for it, would stand in his way.&rsquo; Walsingham answered as usual,
+      that his opinion and his evidence would be known on the day of trial.
+      Dashleigh went away very ill-satisfied, and persuaded that Walsingham
+      harboured revenge against his relation. At last, when he was called upon
+      in court, Walsingham&rsquo;s conduct was both just and generous; for though his
+      answers spoke the exact truth, yet he brought forward nothing to the
+      disadvantage of Jemmison, but what truth compelled him to state, and in
+      his captain&rsquo;s favour; on the contrary, he spoke so strongly of his
+      intrepidity, and of the gallant actions which in former instances he had
+      performed in the service, as quite to efface the recollection of his
+      foppery and epicurism, and, as much as possible, to excuse his negligence.
+      Walsingham&rsquo;s evidence absolutely confuted the unjust charge or suspicion
+      of cowardice that had been raised against Jemmison; and made such an
+      impression in his favour, that, instead of being dismissed the service, or
+      even having his ship taken from him, as was expected, Jemmison got off
+      with a reprimand.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Which I am sure he well deserved,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But certainly Walsingham was right not to let him be run down by a
+      popular cry, especially as he had used him ill,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, well!&mdash;I don&rsquo;t care about the puppy,&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;only
+      go on.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No sooner was the trial over, and the sentence of the court made known,
+      than Admiral Dashleigh, full of joy, admiration, and gratitude, pushed his
+      way towards Walsingham, and stretching out his hand, exclaimed&mdash;&lsquo;Shake
+      hands, Walsingham, and forgive me, or I can&rsquo;t forgive myself. I suspected
+      you yesterday morning of bearing malice against that coxcomb, who deserved
+      to be laughed at, but not to be shot. By Jove, Walsingham, you&rsquo;re an
+      honest fellow, I find.&rsquo; &lsquo;And have you but just found that out, admiral?&rsquo; 
+      said Walsingham, with a proud smile. &lsquo;Harkee, my lad,&rsquo; said Dashleigh,
+      calling after him, &lsquo;remember, I&rsquo;m <i>your</i> friend, at all events.&mdash;Take
+      it as you will, I&rsquo;ll make you mine yet, before I&rsquo;ve done with you.&rsquo; 
+      Walsingham knew that at this time Admiral Dashleigh&rsquo;s friends were in
+      power, and that Dashleigh himself had great influence with the Admiralty;
+      and he probably treated the admiral thus haughtily, to show that he had no
+      interested views or hopes. Dashleigh understood this, for he now
+      comprehended Walsingham&rsquo;s character perfectly. Immediately after the
+      trial, Walsingham was made commander, in consequence of his having saved
+      the Dreadnought, and his having taken l&rsquo;Ambuscade. With this appointment
+      Dashleigh had nothing to do. But he never ceased exerting himself,
+      employing all the interest of his high connexions, and all the personal
+      influence of his great abilities, to have Walsingham made post, and to get
+      him a ship. He succeeded at last; but he never gave the least hint that it
+      was done by his interest; for, he said, he knew that Walsingham had such
+      nice notions, and was such a proud principled fellow, that he would not
+      enjoy his promotion, if he thought he owed it to any thing upon earth but
+      his own merit. So a handsome letter was written by the secretary of the
+      Admiralty to Captain Walsingham, by their lordships&rsquo; desire, informing
+      him, &lsquo;that in consideration of his services and merit, his majesty had
+      been pleased to make him post-captain, and to appoint him to the command
+      of l&rsquo;Ambuscade (the prize he took), which would be sent out on the first
+      occasion.&rsquo; The secretary &lsquo;begged leave to add expressions of his private
+      satisfaction on an appointment so likely to be advantageous to the
+      public,&rsquo; &amp;c. In short, it was all done so properly and so plausibly,
+      that even Walsingham never suspected any secret influence, nor did he find
+      out the part Dashleigh had taken in the business till several months
+      afterwards, when a <i>discreet</i> friend mentioned it by accident.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I was that discreet friend,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, all this is very good, but there&rsquo;s no love in this Story,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Palmer. &ldquo;I hope your hero is not too proud to fall in love?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Too proud!&mdash;We are told, you know, that the greatest hero, in the
+      intervals of war, resigned
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;To tender passions all his mighty mind.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tender passions!&mdash;Captain Walsingham is in love, then, hey?&rdquo; said
+      Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;And may I ask&mdash;Bless me! I shall be very sorry if it is
+      with any body but&mdash;may I ask to whom he is attached?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is a question that I am not quite at liberty perhaps to answer,&rdquo;
+       said Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;During the interval between his return in the
+      Dreadnought and his being appointed to l&rsquo;Ambuscade, an interval of about
+      eighteen months, which he spent in the country here with me, he had time
+      to become thoroughly acquainted with a very amiable young lady&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A very amiable young lady! and in this neighbourhood?&rdquo; interrupted Mr.
+      Palmer; &ldquo;it must be the very person I mean, the very person I wish.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not ask me any more,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham; &ldquo;for my friend never
+      declared his attachment, and I have no right to declare it for him. He was
+      not, at the time I speak of, in circumstances to marry; therefore he
+      honourably concealed, or rather suppressed, his passion, resolving not to
+      attempt to engage the young lady&rsquo;s affections till he should have made a
+      fortune sufficient to support her in her own rank in life.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, now, that&rsquo;s all done, thank Heaven!&rdquo; cried Palmer: &ldquo;he has fortune
+      enough now, or we can help him out, you know. This is excellent,
+      excellent!&mdash;Come, is it not time for us to go to the ladies? I&rsquo;m
+      impatient to tell this to Mrs. Beaumont.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stay, my good Mr. Palmer,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;What are you going to
+      do?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let me alone, let me alone&mdash;I&rsquo;ll only tell what I guess&mdash;depend
+      upon it, I guess right&mdash;and it may do a great deal of good to tell it
+      to Mrs. Beaumont, and it will give her a great deal of pleasure&mdash;trust
+      me&mdash;trust me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do trust <i>you</i>&mdash;but perhaps you may be mistaken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not at all, not at all, depend upon it; so let me go to her this minute.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But stop, my dear sir,&rdquo; cried Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;stop for another reason; let
+      me beg you to sit down again&mdash;I am not clear that Captain Walsingham
+      is not at this instant in love with&mdash;perhaps, as it is reported,
+      married to a Spanish lady, whom he has carried off out of a convent at
+      &mdash;&mdash;, and whom I understand he is bringing home with him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Heyday! a Spanish lady!&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, returning slowly to his seat
+      with a fallen countenance. &ldquo;How&rsquo;s this?&mdash;By St. George, this is
+      unlucky! But how&rsquo;s this, I say?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You did not let us finish our story,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;or we should
+      have told you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let me hear the end of it now,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, sitting down again, and
+      preparing himself with several pinches of snuff. But just at this instant
+      a servant came to say that coffee was ready.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will never stir from this spot for coffee or any thing else,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Palmer, &ldquo;till I know the history of the Spanish lady.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then the shortest and best way I have of telling it to you is, to beg you
+      to read this letter, which contains all I know of the matter,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Beaumont. &ldquo;This letter is from young Birch to his parents; we have never
+      heard a syllable directly from Walsingham himself on this subject. Since
+      he reached Lisbon, we have had no letters from him, except that short
+      epistle which brought us an account of his taking the treasure-ship. But
+      we shall see him soon, and know the truth of this story; and hear whether
+      he prefers his Spanish or his English mistress.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Fore George! I wish this Spanish woman had stayed in her convent,&rdquo; said
+      Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t like runaway ladies. But let us see what this letter
+      says for her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The letter is the same that Mr. Beaumont read some time ago, therefore it
+      need not here be inserted. Before Mr. Palmer had finished perusing it, a
+      second message came to say that the ladies waited tea, and that Mrs.
+      Beaumont wished not to be late going home, as there was no moon. Mr.
+      Palmer, nevertheless, finished the letter before he stirred: and then,
+      with a heavy sigh, he rose and said, &ldquo;I now wish, more than ever, that our
+      captain would come home this night, before I go, and clear up this
+      business. I don&rsquo;t like this Spanish plot, this double intrigue. Ah, dear
+      me!&mdash;I shall be obliged to sail&mdash;I shall be in Jamaica before
+      the fifth act.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How expectation loads the wings of time!&rdquo; exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, as the
+      gentlemen entered the drawing-room. &ldquo;Here we have been all day expecting
+      our dear Captain Walsingham, and the time has seemed so long!&mdash;The
+      only time I ever found long in this house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I should like to know,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham, after a bow of due
+      acknowledgment to Mrs. Beaumont for her compliment, &ldquo;I should like to know
+      whether time appears to pass more slowly to those that hope, or those that
+      fear?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont handed coffee to Mr. Palmer, without attempting to answer
+      this question.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To those that hope, I should think,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;for hope long
+      deferred maketh the heart sick; and time, I can answer for it, passes most
+      slowly to those who are sick.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;&lsquo;Slow as the year&rsquo;s dull circle seems to run,
+     When the brisk minor pants for twenty-one,&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      said Mr. Walsingham, smiling, as he looked at young Beaumont. &ldquo;But I think
+      it is the mixture of fear with hope that makes time appear to pass
+      slowly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And is hope ever free from that mixture?&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham. &ldquo;Does not
+      hope without fear become certainty, and fear without hope despair? Can
+      hope ever be perfectly free from some mixture of fear?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, dear me! yes, to be sure,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter; &ldquo;for hope&rsquo;s the most
+      opposite thing that ever was to fear; as different as black and white; <i>for</i>,
+      surely, every body knows that hope is just the contrary to fear; and when
+      one says, <i>I hope</i>, one does not ever mean <i>I fear</i>&mdash;surely,
+      you know, Mrs. Beaumont?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am the worst metaphysician in the world,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;I have
+      not head enough to analyze my heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nor I neither,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter: &ldquo;Heigho!&rdquo; (very audibly.)
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hark!&rdquo; cried Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;I think I hear a horse galloping. It is he!
+      it is Walsingham!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Out ran Beaumont, full speed, to meet his friend; whilst, with, more sober
+      joy, Mr. Walsingham waited on the steps, where all the company assembled,
+      Mr. Palmer foremost, with a face full of benevolent pleasure; Mrs.
+      Beaumont congratulating every body, but nobody listening to her; luckily
+      for her, all were too heartily occupied with their own feelings to see how
+      ill her countenance suited her words. The sound of the galloping of the
+      horse ceased for a minute&mdash;then recommenced; but before it could be
+      settled whether it was coming nearer or going farther away, Mr. Beaumont
+      returned with a note in his hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not Walsingham&mdash;only Birch&mdash;confound him!&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont,
+      out of breath. &ldquo;Confound him, what a race I took, and how disappointed I
+      was when I saw Birch&rsquo;s face; and yet it is no fault of his, poor lad!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But why did not he come up to the house? Why did not you let us see him?&rdquo;
+       said Mr. Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I could not keep him, he was in such a hurry to go home to his father and
+      mother, he would only stop to give this note.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;From Walsingham? Read, quick.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Plymouth, 5 o&rsquo;clock, A.M. just landed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear friends, I cannot have the pleasure of seeing you, as I had hoped to
+      do, this day&mdash;I am obliged to go to London instantly on business that
+      must not be delayed&mdash;Cannot tell when I can be with you&mdash;hope in
+      a few days&mdash;Well and happy, and ever yours, H. WALSINGHAM.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      All stood silent with looks of disappointment, except Mrs. Beaumont, who
+      reiterated, &ldquo;What a pity! What a sad pity! What a disappointment! What a
+      terrible disappointment!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Business!&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont: &ldquo;curse his business! he should think of his
+      friends first.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Most likely his business is for his friends,&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s right, my dear little defender of the absent,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Business!&rdquo; repeated Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;Hum! I like business better than
+      pleasure&mdash;I will be patient, if it is really business that keeps him
+      away from us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Depend upon it,&rdquo; said Miss Walsingham, &ldquo;nothing but business can keep him
+      away from us; his pleasure is always at home.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am thinking,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, drawing Mr. Walsingham aside, &ldquo;I am
+      thinking whether he has really brought this Spanish lady home with him,
+      and what will become of her&mdash;of&mdash;him, I mean. I wish I was not
+      going to Jamaica!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, my dear sir, where is the necessity of your going?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My health&mdash;my health&mdash;the physicians say I cannot live in
+      England.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Walsingham, who had but little faith in physicians, laughed, and
+      exclaimed, &ldquo;But, my dear sir, when you see so many men alive in England at
+      this instant, why should you believe in the impossibility of your living
+      even in this pestiferous country?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer half smiled, felt for his snuff-box, and then replied, &ldquo;I am
+      sure I should like to live in England, if my health would let me; but,&rdquo;
+       continued he, his face growing longer, and taking the hypochondriac cast
+      as he pronounced the word, &ldquo;<i>but, </i>Mr. Walsingham, you don&rsquo;t consider
+      that my health is really&mdash;really&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Really very good, I see,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Walsingham, &ldquo;and I am heartily
+      glad to see it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sir! sir! you do not see it, I assure you. I have a great opinion of your
+      judgment, but as you are not a physician&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And because I have not taken out my diploma, you think I can neither see
+      nor understand,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;But, nevertheless, give me
+      leave to feel your pulse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you really understand a pulse?&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, baring his wrist, and
+      sighing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As good a pulse as ever man had,&rdquo; pronounced Mr. Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t say so? why the physicians tell me&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Never mind what they tell you&mdash;if they told you the <i>truth</i>,
+      they&rsquo;d tell you they want fees.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, quite startled by the tremendously loud voice in which Mr.
+      Walsingham pronounced the word <i>truth</i>, rose, and rang the bell for
+      her carriage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Palmer,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I am afraid we must run away, for I dread the
+      night air for invalids.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My good madam, I am at your orders,&rdquo; answered Mr. Palmer, buttoning
+      himself up to the chin.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Beaumont, surely you don&rsquo;t think this gentleman an invalid?&rdquo; said
+      Mr. Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I only wish he would not think himself such,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! my dear friends,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;I really am, I certainly am a sad&mdash;sad&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hypochondriac,&rdquo; said Mr. Walsingham. &ldquo;Pardon me&mdash;you are indeed, and
+      every body is afraid to tell you so but myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont anxiously looked out of the window to see if her carriage
+      was come to the door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hypochondriac! not in the least, my dear sir,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer. &ldquo;If you
+      were to hear what Dr. &mdash;&mdash; and Dr. &mdash;&mdash; say of my
+      case, and your own Dr. Wheeler here, who has a great reputation too&mdash;shall
+      I tell you what he says?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In a low voice, Mr. Palmer, holding Mr. Walsingham by the button,
+      proceeded to recapitulate some of Dr. Wheeler&rsquo;s prognostics; and at every
+      pause, Mr. Walsingham turned impatiently, so as almost to twist off the
+      detaining button, repeating, in the words of the king of Prussia to his
+      physician, &ldquo;<i>C&rsquo;est un âne! C&rsquo;est un âne! C&rsquo;est un âne!</i>&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;Pshaw!
+      I don&rsquo;t understand French,&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer, angrily. His warmth obliged
+      him to think of unbuttoning his coat, which operation (after stretching
+      his neckcloth to remove an uneasy feeling in his throat) he was
+      commencing, when Mrs. Beaumont graciously stopped his hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The carriage is at the door, my dear sir:&mdash;instead of unbuttoning
+      your coat, had not you better put this cambric handkerchief round your
+      throat before we go into the cold air?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer put it on, as if in defiance of Mr. Walsingham, and followed
+      Mrs. Beaumont, who led him off in triumph. Before he reached the
+      carriage-door, however, his anger had spent its harmless force; and
+      stopping to shake hands with him, Mr. Palmer said, &ldquo;My good Mr.
+      Walsingham, I am obliged to you. I am sure you wish me well, and I thank
+      you for speaking so freely; I love honest friends&mdash;but as to my being
+      a hypochondriac, believe me, you are mistaken!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And as to Dr. Wheeler,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, as she drew up the glass of
+      the carriage, and as they drove from the door, &ldquo;Dr. Wheeler certainly does
+      not deserve to be called <i>un âne,</i> for he is a man of whose medical
+      judgment I have the highest opinion. Though I am sure I am very candid to
+      acknowledge it in the present case, when his opinion is so much against my
+      wishes, and all our wishes, and must, I fear, deprive us so soon of the
+      company of our dear Mr. Palmer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, yes, I must go, I must go to Jamaica,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer in a more
+      determined tone than he had yet spoken on the subject.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont silently rejoiced; and as her son imprudently went on
+      arguing in favour of his own wishes, she leaned back in the carriage, and
+      gave herself up to a pleasing reverie, in which she anticipated the
+      successful completion of all her schemes. Relieved from the apprehension
+      that Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s arrival might disconcert her projects, she was
+      now still further re-assured by Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s resolution to sail
+      immediately. One day more, and she was safe. Let Mr. Palmer but sail
+      without seeing Captain Walsingham, and this was all Mrs. Beaumont asked of
+      fortune; the rest her own genius would obtain. She was so absorbed in
+      thought, that she did not know she was come home, till the carriage
+      stopped at her door. Sometimes, indeed, her reverie had been interrupted
+      by Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s praises of the Walsinghams, and by a conversation which
+      she heard going on about Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s life and adventures: but
+      Captain Walsingham was safe in London; and whilst he was at that distance,
+      she could bear to hear his eulogium. Having lamented that she had been
+      deprived of her dear Amelia all this day, and having arranged her plan of
+      operations for the morrow, Mrs. Beaumont retired to rest. And even in
+      dreams her genius invented fresh expedients, wrote notes of apology, or
+      made speeches of circumvention.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XI.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And now, as oft in some distempered state, On one nice trick depends the
+      general fate.&rdquo;&mdash;POPE.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      That old politician, the cardinal of Lorraine, used to say, that &ldquo;a lie
+      believed but for one hour doth many times in a nation produce effects of
+      seven years&rsquo; continuance.&rdquo; At this rate what wonderful effects might our
+      heroine have produced, had she practised in public life, instead of
+      confining her genius to family politics! The game seemed now in her own
+      hands. The day, the important day, on which all her accounts with her son
+      were to be settled; the day when Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s will was to be signed, the
+      last day he was to stay in England, arrived. Mr. Beaumont&rsquo;s birthday, his
+      coming of age, was of course hailed with every possible demonstration of
+      joy. The village bells rang, the tenants were invited to a dinner and a
+      dance, and an ox was to be roasted whole; and the preparations for
+      rejoicing were heard all over the house. Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s benevolent heart was
+      ever ready to take a share in the pleasures of his fellow-creatures,
+      especially in the festivities of the lower classes. He appeared this
+      morning in high good humour. Mrs. Beaumont, with a smile on her lips, yet
+      with a brow of care, was considering how she could make pleasure
+      subservient to interest, and how she could get <i>business</i> done in the
+      midst of the amusements of the day. Most auspiciously did her day of
+      business begin by Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s declaring to her that his will was actually
+      made; that with the exception of certain legacies, he had left his whole
+      fortune to her during her life, with remainder to her son and daughter.
+      &ldquo;By this arrangement,&rdquo; continued he, &ldquo;I trust I shall ultimately serve my
+      good friends the Walsinghams, as I wish: for though I have not seen as
+      much of that family as I should have been glad to have done, yet the
+      little I have seen convinces me that they are worthy people.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The most worthy people upon earth. You know I have the greatest regard
+      for them,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am really sorry,&rdquo; pursued Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;that I have not been able to
+      make acquaintance with Captain Walsingham. Mr. Walsingham told me his
+      whole history yesterday, and it has prepossessed me much in his favour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He is, indeed, a charming, noble-hearted young hero,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont;
+      &ldquo;and I regret, as much as you do, that you cannot see him before you leave
+      England.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;However,&rdquo; continued Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;as I was saying, the Walsinghams will, I
+      trust, be the better sooner or later by me; for I think I foresee that
+      Captain Walsingham, if a certain Spanish lady were out of the question,
+      would propose for Amelia, and would persuade her to give up this foolish
+      fancy of hers for that baronet.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont shook her head, as if she believed this could not possibly
+      be done.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, well, if it can&rsquo;t be, it can&rsquo;t. The girl&rsquo;s inclination must not be
+      controlled. I don&rsquo;t wonder, however, that you are vexed at missing such a
+      husband for her as young Walsingham. But, my good madam, we must make the
+      best of it&mdash;let the girl marry her baronet. I have left a legacy of
+      some thousands to Captain Walsingham, as a token of my esteem for his
+      character; and I am sure, my dear Mrs. Beaumont, his interests are in good
+      hands when I leave them in yours. In the mean time, I wish you, as the
+      representative of my late good friend, Colonel Beaumont, to enjoy all I
+      have during your life.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont poured forth such a profusion of kind and grateful
+      expressions, that Mr. Palmer was quite disconcerted. &ldquo;No more of this, my
+      dear madam, no more of this. But there was something I was going to say,
+      that has gone out of my head. Oh, it was, that the Walsinghams will, I
+      think, stand a good chance of being the better for me in another way.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why you have seen so much more of them than I have&mdash;don&rsquo;t you, my
+      dear madam, see that Miss Walsingham has made a conquest of your son? I
+      thought I was remarkably slow at seeing these things, and yet I saw it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Walsingham is a prodigious favourite of mine. But you know Edward is
+      so young, and men don&rsquo;t like, now-a-days, to marry young,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+      Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, let them manage their affairs their own way,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;all
+      I wish upon earth is to see them happy, or rather to hear of their
+      happiness, for I shall not see it you know in Jamaica.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, in a most affectionate tone, and with a sigh
+      that seemed to come from her heart; &ldquo;alas! that is such a melancholy
+      thought.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer ended the conversation by inquiring whom he had best ask to
+      witness his will. Mrs. Beaumont proposed Captain Lightbody and Dr.
+      Wheeler. The doctor was luckily in the house, for he had been sent for
+      this morning, to see her poor Amelia, who had caught cold yesterday, and
+      had a slight feverish complaint.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was perfectly true. The anxiety that Amelia had suffered of late&mdash;the
+      fear of being forced or ensnared to marry a man she disliked&mdash;apprehensions
+      about the Spanish incognita, and at last the certainty that Captain
+      Walsingham would not arrive before Mr. Palmer should have left England,
+      and that consequently the hopes she had formed from this benevolent
+      friend&rsquo;s interference were vain&mdash;all these things had overpowered
+      Amelia; she had passed a feverish night, and was really ill. Mrs. Beaumont
+      at any other time would have been much alarmed; for, duplicity out of the
+      question, she was a fond mother: but she now was well contented that her
+      daughter should have a day&rsquo;s confinement to her room, for the sake of
+      keeping her safe out of the way. So leaving poor Amelia to her feverish
+      thoughts, we proceed with the business of the day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Dr. Wheeler, Captain Lightbody, and Mr. Twigg witnessed the will; it was
+      executed, and a copy of it deposited with Mrs. Beaumont. This was one
+      great point gained. The next object was her jointure. She had employed her
+      convenient tame man<a href="#linknote-3" name="linknoteref-3"
+       id="linknoteref-3"><small>3</small></a>, Captain Lightbody, humbly to
+      suggest to her son, that some increase of jointure would be proper; and
+      she was now in anxiety to know how these hints, and others which had been
+      made by more remote means, would operate. As she was waiting to see Mr.
+      Lightbody in her dressing-room, to hear the result of his <i>suggestions</i>,
+      the door opened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, Lightbody! come in&mdash;what success?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She stopped short, for it was not Captain Lightbody, it was her son.
+      Without taking any notice of what she said, he advanced towards her, and
+      presented a deed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will do me the favour, mother, to accept of this addition to your
+      jointure,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;It was always my intention to do this, the moment it
+      should be in my power; and I had flattered myself that you would not have
+      thought it necessary to suggest to me what I knew I ought to do, or to
+      hint to me your wishes by any intermediate person.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Colouring deeply, for it hurt her conscience to be found out, Mrs.
+      Beaumont was upon the point of disavowing her emissary, but she
+      recollected that the words which she had used when her son was coming into
+      the room might have betrayed her. On the other hand, it was not certain
+      that he had heard them. She hesitated. From the shame of a disavowal,
+      which would have answered no purpose, but to sink her lower in her son&rsquo;s
+      opinion, she was, however, saved by his abrupt sincerity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t say any thing more about it, dear mother,&rdquo; cried he, &ldquo;but pardon me
+      the pain I have given you at a time when indeed I wished only to give
+      pleasure. Promise me, that in future you will let me know your wishes
+      directly, and from your own lips.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Undoubtedly&mdash;depend upon it, my dearest son. I am quite overpowered.
+      The fact was, that I could not, however really and urgently necessary it
+      was to me, bring myself to mention with my own lips what, as a direct
+      request from me, I knew you could not and would not refuse, however
+      inconvenient it might be to you to comply. On this account, and on this
+      account only, I wished you not to know my wants from myself, but from an
+      intermediate friend.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Friend!&rdquo;&mdash;Mr. Beaumont could not help repeating with an emphasis of
+      disdain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Friend</i>, I only said by courtesy; but I wished you to know my wants
+      from an intermediate person, that you might not feel yourself in any way
+      bound, or called upon, and that the refusal might be implied and tacit, as
+      it were, so that it could lead to no unpleasant feelings between us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! my dear mother,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;I have not your knowledge of the
+      world, or of human nature; but from all I have heard, seen, and felt, I am
+      convinced that more unpleasant feelings are created in families, by these
+      false delicacies, and managements, and hints, and go-between friends by
+      courtesy, than ever would have been caused by the parties speaking
+      directly to one another, and telling the plain truth about their thoughts
+      and wishes. Forgive me if I speak too plainly at this moment; as we are to
+      live together, I hope, many years, it may spare us many an unhappy hour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont wiped her eyes. Her son found it difficult to go on, and
+      yet, upon his own principles, it was right to proceed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Amelia, ma&rsquo;am! I find she is ill this morning.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes&mdash;poor child!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hope, mother&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Since,&rdquo; interrupted Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;my dear son wishes always to hear
+      from me the plain and direct truth, I must tell him, that, as the guardian
+      of his sister, I think myself accountable to no one for my conduct with
+      respect to her; and that I should look upon any interference as an unkind
+      and unjustifiable doubt of my affection for my daughter. Rest satisfied
+      with this assurance, that her happiness is, in all I do, my first object;
+      and as I have told her a thousand times, no force shall be put on her
+      inclinations.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have no more to say, no more to ask,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont. &ldquo;This is a
+      distinct, positive declaration, in which I will confide, and, in future,
+      not suffer appearances to alarm me. A mother would not keep the word of
+      promise to the ear, and break it to the hope.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, feeling herself change countenance, made an attempt to blow
+      her nose, and succeeded in hiding her face with her handkerchief.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With respect to myself,&rdquo; continued Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;I should also say, lest
+      you should be in any doubt concerning my sentiments, that though I have
+      complied with your request to delay for a few weeks&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>That</i> you need not repeat, my dear,&rdquo; interrupted Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;I
+      understand all that perfectly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then at the end of this month I shall&mdash;and, I hope, with your entire
+      approbation, propose for Miss Walsingham.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Time enough,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, smiling, and tapping her son playfully
+      on the shoulder, &ldquo;time enough to talk of that when the end of the month
+      comes. How often have I seen young men like you change their minds, and
+      fall in and out of love in the course of one short month! At any rate,&rdquo;
+       continued Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;let us pass to the order of the day; for we have
+      time enough to settle other matters; but the order of the day&mdash;a
+      tiresome one, I confess&mdash;is to settle accounts.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am ready&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So am I.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then let us go with the accounts to Mr. Palmer, who is also ready, I am
+      sure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, before we go,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, whispering, &ldquo;let us settle what
+      is to be said about the debts&mdash;<i>your</i> debts you know. I fancy
+      you&rsquo;ll agree with me, that the less is said about this the better; and
+      that, in short, the best will be to say nothing.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why so, madam? Surely you don&rsquo;t think I mean to conceal my debts from our
+      friend Mr. Palmer, at the very moment when I profess to tell him all my
+      affairs, and to settle accounts with him and you, as my guardians!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With him? But he has never acted, you know, as one of the guardians;
+      therefore you are not called upon to settle accounts with him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then why, ma&rsquo;am, did you urge him to come down from London, to be present
+      at the settlement of these accounts?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As a compliment, and because I wish him to be present, as your father&rsquo;s
+      friend; but it is by no means essential that he should know every detail.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will do whichever you please, ma&rsquo;am; I will either settle accounts with
+      or without him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! <i>with</i> him, that is, in his presence, to be sure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then he must know the whole.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why so? Your having contracted such debts will alter his opinion of your
+      prudence and of mine, and may, perhaps, essentially alter&mdash;alter&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;His will? Be it so; that is the worst that can happen. As far as I am
+      concerned, I would rather a thousand times it were so, than deceive him
+      into a better opinion of me than I deserve.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nobly said! so like yourself, and like every thing I could wish: but,
+      forgive me, if I did for you, what indeed I would not wish you to do for
+      yourself. I have already told Mr. Palmer that you had no embarrassments;
+      therefore, you cannot, and I am sure would not, unsay what I have said.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont stood fixed in astonishment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But why, mother, did not you tell him the whole?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear love, delicacy prevented me. He offered to relieve you from any
+      embarrassments, if you had any; but I, having too much delicacy and pride
+      to let my son put himself under pecuniary obligations, hastily answered,
+      that you had no debts; for there was no other reply to be made, without
+      offending poor Palmer, and hurting his generous feelings, which I would
+      not do for the universe: and I considered too, that as all Palmer&rsquo;s
+      fortune will come to us in the end&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; interrupted Mr. Beaumont, impatient of all these glosses
+      and excuses, &ldquo;the plain state of the case is, that I cannot contradict
+      what my mother has said; therefore I will not settle accounts at all with
+      Mr. Palmer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what excuse <i>can</i> I make to him, after sending for him express
+      from London?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That I must leave to you, mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what reason <i>can</i> I give for thus withdrawing our
+      family-confidence from such an old friend, and at the very moment when he
+      is doing so much for us all?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That I must leave to you, mother. I withdraw no confidence. I have
+      pretended none&mdash;I will break none.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good Heavens! was not all I did and said for <i>your</i> interest?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nothing can be for my interest that is not for my honour, and for yours,
+      mother. But let us never go over the business again. Now to the order of
+      the day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear, dear son,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t speak so roughly, so
+      cruelly to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Suddenly softened, by seeing the tears standing in his mother&rsquo;s eyes, he
+      besought her pardon for the bluntness of his manner, and expressed his
+      entire belief in her affection and zeal for his interests; but, on the
+      main point, that he would not deceive Mr. Palmer, or directly or
+      indirectly assert a falsehood, Mr. Beaumont was immoveable. In the midst
+      of her entreaties a message came from Mr. Palmer, to say that he was
+      waiting for the accounts, which Mrs. Beaumont wished to settle. &ldquo;Well,&rdquo;
+       said she, much perplexed, &ldquo;well, come down to him&mdash;come, for it is
+      impossible for me to find any excuse after sending for him from London; he
+      would think there was something worse than there really is. Stay&mdash;I&rsquo;ll
+      go down first, and sound him; and if it won&rsquo;t do without the accounts, do
+      you come when I ring the bell; then all I have for it is to run my chance.
+      Perhaps he may never recollect what passed about your debts, for the dear
+      good old soul has not the best memory in the world; and if he should
+      obstinately remember, why, after all, it&rsquo;s only a bit of false delicacy,
+      and a white lie for a friend and a son, and we can colour it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Down went Mrs. Beaumont to sound Mr. Palmer; but though much might be
+      expected from her address, yet she found it unequal to the task of
+      convincing this gentleman&rsquo;s plain good sense that it would fatigue him to
+      see those accounts, which he came so many miles on purpose to settle.
+      Perceiving him begin to waken to the suspicion that she had some interest
+      in suppressing the accounts, and hearing him, in an altered tone, ask,
+      &ldquo;Madam, is there any mystery in these accounts, that I must not see them?&rdquo;
+       she instantly rang the bell, and answered, &ldquo;Oh, none; none in the world;
+      only we thought&mdash;that is, I feared it might fatigue you too much, my
+      dear friend, just the day before your journey, and I was unwilling to lose
+      so many hours of your good company; but since you are so very kind&mdash;here&rsquo;s
+      my son and the papers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XII.
+    </h2>
+    <pre>
+     &ldquo;A face untaught to feign; a judging eye,
+      That darts severe upon a rising lie,
+      And strikes a blush through frontless flattery.&rdquo;
+     </pre>
+    <p>
+      To the settlement of accounts they sat down in due form; and it so
+      happened, that though this dear good old soul had not the best memory in
+      the world, yet he had an obstinate recollection of every word Mrs.
+      Beaumont had said about her son&rsquo;s having no debts or embarrassments. And
+      great and unmanageable was his astonishment, when the truth came to light.
+      &ldquo;It is not,&rdquo; said he, turning to Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;that I am astonished at
+      your having debts; I am sorry for that, to be sure; but young men are
+      often a little extravagant or so, and I dare say&mdash;particularly as you
+      are so candid and make no excuses about it&mdash;I dare say you will be
+      more prudent in future, and give up the race-horses as you promise. But&mdash;why
+      did not Madam Beaumont tell me the truth? Why make a mystery, when I
+      wanted nothing but to serve my friends? It was not using me well&mdash;it
+      was not using yourself well. Madam, madam, I am vexed to the heart, and
+      would not for a thousand pounds&mdash;ay, fool as I am, not for ten
+      thousand pounds, this had happened to me from my good friend the colonel&rsquo;s
+      widow&mdash;a man that would as soon have cut his hand off. Oh, madam!
+      Madam Beaumont! you have struck me a hard blow at my time of life. Any
+      thing but this I could have borne; but to have one&rsquo;s confidence and old
+      friendships shaken at my time of life!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont was, in her turn, in unfeigned astonishment; for Mr. Palmer
+      took the matter more seriously, and seemed more hurt by this discovery of
+      a trifling deviation from truth, than she had foreseen, or than she could
+      have conceived to be possible, in a case where neither his interest nor
+      any one of his passions was concerned. It was in vain that she palliated
+      and explained, and talked of delicacy, and generosity, and pride, and
+      maternal feelings, and the feelings of a friend, and all manner of fine
+      and double-refined sentiments; still Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s sturdy plain sense could
+      not be made to comprehend that a falsehood is not a falsehood, or that
+      deceiving a friend is using him well. Her son suffered for her, as his
+      countenance and his painful and abashed silence plainly showed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And does not even my son say any thing for me? Is this friendly?&rdquo; said
+      she, unable to enter into his feelings, and thinking that the part of a
+      friend was to make apologies, right or wrong.&mdash;Mr. Palmer shook hands
+      with Mr. Beaumont, and, without uttering a syllable, they understood one
+      another perfectly. Mr. Beaumont left the room; and Mrs. Beaumont burst
+      into tears. Mr. Palmer, with great good-nature, tried to assuage that
+      shame and compunction which he imagined that she felt. He observed, that,
+      to be sure, she must feel mortified and vexed with herself, but that he
+      was persuaded nothing but some mistaken notion of delicacy could have led
+      her to do what her principles must condemn. Immediately she said all that
+      she saw would please Mr. Palmer; and following the lead of his mind, she
+      at last confirmed him in the opinion, that this was an accidental not an
+      habitual deviation from truth. His confidence in her was broken, but not
+      utterly destroyed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As to the debt,&rdquo; resumed Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;do not let that give you a moment&rsquo;s
+      concern; I will put that out of the question in a few minutes. My share in
+      the cargo of the Anne, which I see is just safely arrived in the Downs,
+      will more than pay this debt. Your son shall enter upon his estate
+      unencumbered. No, no&mdash;don&rsquo;t thank me; I won&rsquo;t cheat you of your
+      thanks; it is your son must thank me for this. I do it on his account. I
+      like the young man. There is an ingenuousness, an honourable frankness
+      about him, that I love. Instead of his bond for the money, I shall ask his
+      promise never to have any thing more to do with race-horses or Newmarket;
+      and his promise I shall think as good as if it were his bond. Now I am not
+      throwing money away; I&rsquo;m not doing an idle ostentatious thing, but one
+      that may, and I hope will, be essentially useful. For, look you here, my
+      good&mdash;look here, Mrs. Beaumont: a youth who finds himself encumbered
+      with debt on coming to his estate is apt to think of freeing himself by
+      marrying a fortune instead of a woman; now instead of freeing a man, this
+      fetters him for life: and what sort of a friend must that be, who, if he
+      could prevent it, would let this be done for a few thousand pounds? So
+      I&rsquo;ll go before I take another pinch of snuff, and draw him an order upon
+      the cargo of the Anne, lest I should forget it in the hurry of packing and
+      taking leave, and all those uncomfortable things.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He left <i>Madam</i> Beaumont to her feelings, or her reflections; and, in
+      a few minutes, with an order for the money in his hand, went over the
+      house in search of his young friend. Mr. Beaumont came out of his sister&rsquo;s
+      room on hearing himself called.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;is a little business for you to do. Read this
+      order over; see that it is right, and endorse it&mdash;mind&mdash;and
+      never let me hear one word more about it&mdash;only by way of
+      acknowledgment&mdash;ask your mother what you are to give me. But don&rsquo;t
+      read it till you are out of my sight&mdash;Is Amelia up? Can I see her?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; up and in her dressing-room. Do, dear sir, go in and see her, for my
+      mother says she is too feverish to leave her room to-day; but I am sure
+      that it will make her ten times worse to be prevented from seeing you the
+      last day you are with us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Does the little gipsy then care so much for me?&mdash;that&rsquo;s fair; for I
+      am her friend, and will prove it to her, by giving up my own fancies to
+      hers: so trust me with her, <i>tête-à-tête</i>,&mdash;young gentleman; go
+      off, if you please, and do your own business.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer knocked at Amelia&rsquo;s door, and fancying he heard an answer of
+      admittance, went in.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, Mr. Palmer, my good Mr. Palmer, is it you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; but you seem not above half to know whether you are glad or sorry to
+      see your good Mr. Palmer; for while you hold out your hand, you turn away
+      your face from me.&mdash;Dear, dear! what a burning hand, and how the
+      pulse goes and flutters! What does Dr. Wheeler say to this? I am a bit of
+      a physician myself&mdash;let me look at you. What&rsquo;s this? eyes as red as
+      ferret&rsquo;s&mdash;begging your eyes&rsquo; pardon, young lady&mdash;What&rsquo;s this
+      about? Come,&rdquo; said he, drawing a chair and sitting down close beside her,
+      &ldquo;no mysteries&mdash;no mysteries&mdash;I hate mysteries&mdash;besides, we
+      have not time for them. Consider, I go to-morrow, and have all my shirts
+      to pack up: ay, smile, lady, as your father used to do; and open your
+      whole heart to me, as he always did. Consider me as an old friend.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do consider you as a sincere, excellent friend,&rdquo; said Amelia; &ldquo;but&mdash;&rdquo;
+       Amelia knew that she could not explain herself without disobeying, and
+      perhaps betraying, her mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No <i>buts</i>,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, taking hold of her hand. &ldquo;Come, my
+      little Amelia, before you have put that ring on and off your pretty finger
+      fifty times more, tell me whom you would wish to put a ring on this finger
+      for life?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! that is the thing <i>I cannot</i> tell you!&rdquo; said Amelia. &ldquo;Were I
+      alone concerned, I would tell you every thing; but&mdash;ask me no more, I
+      cannot tell you the whole truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then there&rsquo;s something wrong somewhere or other. Whenever people tell me
+      they cannot speak the truth, I always say, then there&rsquo;s something wrong.
+      Give me leave, Amelia, to ask&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t question me,&rdquo; said Amelia: &ldquo;talk to my mother. I don&rsquo;t know how I
+      ought to answer you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Not know how!</i> &lsquo;Fore George! this is strange! A strange house,
+      where one can&rsquo;t get at the simplest truth without a world of difficulty&mdash;mother
+      and daughter all alike; not one of &lsquo;em but the son can, for the soul of
+      &lsquo;em, give a plain answer to a plain question. <i>Not know how!</i> as if
+      it was a science to tell the truth. Not know how! as if a person could not
+      talk to me, honest old Richard Palmer, without <i>knowing how!</i> as if
+      it was how to baffle a lawyer on a cross-examination&mdash;<i>Not know how</i>
+      to answer one&rsquo;s own friend! Ah! this is not the way your father and I used
+      to go on, Miss Beaumont. Nay, nay, don&rsquo;t cry now, or that will finish
+      oversetting the little temper I have left, for I can&rsquo;t bear to see a woman
+      cry, especially a young woman like you; it breaks my heart, old as it is,
+      and fool that I am, that ought to know your sex better by this time than
+      to let a few tears drown my common sense. Well, young lady, be that as it
+      may, since you won&rsquo;t tell me your mind, I must tell you your mind, for I
+      happen to know it&mdash;Yes, I do&mdash;your mother bid me spare your
+      delicacy, and I would, but that I have not time; besides, I don&rsquo;t
+      understand, nor see what good is got, but a great deal of mischief, by
+      these cursed new-fashioned delicacies: wherefore, in plain English, I tell
+      you, I don&rsquo;t like Sir John Hunter, and I do like Captain Walsingham; and I
+      did wish you married to Captain Walsingham&mdash;you need not start so,
+      for I say <i>did</i>&mdash;I don&rsquo;t wish it now; for since your heart is
+      set upon Sir John Hunter, God forbid I should want to give Captain
+      Walsingham a wife without a heart. So I have only to add, that
+      notwithstanding my own fancy or judgment, I have done my best to persuade
+      your mother to let you have the man, or the baronet, of your choice. I
+      will go farther: I&rsquo;ll make it a point with her, and bring you both
+      together; for there&rsquo;s no other way, I see, of understanding you; and get a
+      promise of her consent; and then I hope I shall leave you all satisfied,
+      and without any mysteries. And, in the mean time,&rdquo; added Mr. Palmer,
+      taking out of his coat pocket a morocco leather case, and throwing it down
+      on the table before Amelia, &ldquo;every body should be made happy their own
+      way: there are some diamonds for Lady Hunter, and God bless you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, sir, stay!&rdquo; cried Amelia, rising eagerly; &ldquo;dear, good Mr. Palmer,
+      keep your diamonds, and leave me your esteem and love.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That I can&rsquo;t, unless you speak openly to me. It is out of nature. Don&rsquo;t
+      kneel&mdash;don&rsquo;t. God bless you! young lady, you have my pity; for
+      indeed,&rdquo; turning and looking at her, &ldquo;you seem very miserable, and look
+      very sincere.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If my mother was here!&mdash;I <i>must</i> see my mother,&rdquo; exclaimed
+      Amelia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Where&rsquo;s the difficulty? I&rsquo;ll go for her this instant,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer,
+      who was not a man to let a romance trail on to six volumes for want of
+      going six yards; or for want of somebody&rsquo;s coming into a room at the right
+      minute for explanation; or from some of those trivial causes by which
+      adepts contrive to delude us at the very moment of expectation. Whilst Mr.
+      Palmer was going for Mrs. Beaumont, Amelia waited in terrible anxiety. The
+      door was open; and as she looked into the gallery which led to her room,
+      she saw Mr. Palmer and her mother as they came along, talking together.
+      Knowing every symptom of suppressed passion in her mother&rsquo;s countenance,
+      she was quite terrified, by indications which passed unnoticed by Mr.
+      Palmer. As her mother approached, Amelia hid her face in her hands for a
+      moment, but gaining courage from the consciousness of integrity, and from
+      a determination to act openly, she looked up; and, rising with dignity,
+      said, in a gentle but firm voice&mdash;&ldquo;Mother, I hope you will not think
+      that there is any impropriety in my speaking to our friend, Mr. Palmer,
+      with the same openness with which I have always spoken to you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear child,&rdquo; interrupted Mrs. Beaumont, embracing Amelia with a sudden
+      change of manner and countenance, &ldquo;my sweet child, I have tried you to the
+      utmost; forgive me; all your trials now are over, and you must allow me
+      the pleasure of telling our excellent friend, Mr. Palmer, what I know will
+      delight him almost as much as it delights me&mdash;that the choice of
+      Amelia&rsquo;s heart, Mr. Palmer, is worthy of her, just what we all wished.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Walsingham?&rdquo; exclaimed Mr. Palmer, with joyful astonishment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sit down, my love,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, seating Amelia, who, from the
+      surprise at this sudden change in her mother, and from the confusion of
+      feelings which overwhelmed her at this moment, was near fainting: &ldquo;we are
+      too much for her, I have been too abrupt,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Beaumont: &ldquo;Open
+      the window, will you, my good sir? and,&rdquo; whispering, &ldquo;let us not say any
+      more to her at present; you see it won&rsquo;t do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well, quite well again, now,&rdquo; said Amelia, exerting herself. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t
+      leave, don&rsquo;t forsake me, Mr. Palmer; pray don&rsquo;t go,&rdquo; holding out her hand
+      to Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear Amelia,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t talk, don&rsquo;t exert yourself;
+      pray lie still on the sofa.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Her colour is come back; she looks like herself again,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer,
+      seating himself beside her, regardless of Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s prohibitory
+      looks. &ldquo;Since my little Amelia wished me to stay, I&rsquo;ll not go. So, my
+      child&mdash;but I won&rsquo;t hurry you&mdash;only want one sign of the head to
+      confirm the truth of what your mother has just told me, for nobody can
+      tell what passes in a young lady&rsquo;s heart but herself. So then, it is not
+      that sprig of quality, that selfish spendthrift, that Sir John Hunter, who
+      has your heart&mdash;hey?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, no, no,&rdquo; answered Amelia; &ldquo;I never did, I never could like such a
+      man!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, I thought not&mdash;I thought it was impossible; but&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, alarmed beyond conception, suddenly put her hand before Mr.
+      Palmer&rsquo;s mouth, to prevent him from finishing his sentence, and exposing
+      the whole of her shameful duplicity to her daughter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Absolutely I must, and do hereby interpose my maternal authority, and
+      forbid all agitating explanations whilst Amelia is in her present state.
+      Dr. Wheeler says she is terribly feverish. Come, Mr. Palmer, I must carry
+      you off by force, and from me you shall have all the explanations and all
+      the satisfaction you can require.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;good bye for the present, my little Amelia, my
+      darling little Amelia! I am so delighted to find that Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s
+      the man, and so glad you have no mysteries: be well, be well soon. I am so
+      pleased, so happy, that I am as unruly as a child, and as easily managed.
+      You see, how I let myself be turned out of the room.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not turned out, only carried out,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, who never, even in
+      the most imminent perils, lost her polite presence of mind. Having thus
+      carried off Mr. Palmer, she was in hopes that, in the joyful confusion of
+      his mind, he would he easily satisfied with any plausible explanation.
+      Therefore she dexterously fixed his attention on the future, and adverted
+      as slightly as possible to the past.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, my good sir, congratulate me,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;on the prospect I have of
+      happiness in such a son-in-law as Captain Walsingham, if it be indeed true
+      that Captain Walsingham is really attached to Amelia. But, on the other
+      hand, what shall we do if there is any truth in the story of the Spanish
+      lady? Oh, there&rsquo;s the difficulty! Between hope and fear, I am in such a
+      distracted state at this moment, I hardly know what I say. What shall we
+      do about the Spanish lady?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do, my dear madam! we can do nothing at all in that case: but I will hope
+      the best, and you&rsquo;ll see that he will prove a constant man at last. In the
+      mean time, how was all that about Sir John Hunter, and what are you to do
+      with him?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Leave that to me; I will settle all that,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I hope the poor man, though I don&rsquo;t like him, has not been jilted?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, by no means; Amelia&rsquo;s incapable of that. You know she told you just
+      now that she never liked him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay; but I think, madam, you told me, that she <i>did</i>,&rdquo; said Mr.
+      Palmer, sticking to his point with a decided plainness, which quite
+      disconcerted Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It was all a mistake,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;quite a mistake; and I am sure you
+      rejoice with me that it was so: and, as to the rest&mdash;past blunders,
+      like past misfortunes, are good for nothing but to be forgotten.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Observing that Mr. Palmer looked dissatisfied, Mrs. Beaumont continued
+      apologizing. &ldquo;I confess you have to all appearance some cause to be angry
+      with me,&rdquo; said she: &ldquo;but now only hear me. Taking the blame upon myself,
+      let me candidly tell you the whole truth, and all my reasons, foolish
+      perhaps as they were. Captain Walsingham behaved so honourably, and had
+      such command over his feelings, that I, who am really the most credulous
+      creature in the world, was so completely deceived, that I fancied he never
+      had a thought of Amelia, and that he never would think of her; and I own
+      this roused both my pride and my prudence for my daughter; and I certainly
+      thought it my duty, as her mother, to do every thing in my power to
+      discourage in her young and innocent heart a hopeless passion. It was but
+      within these few hours that I have been undeceived by you as to his
+      sentiments. That, of course, made an immediate change, as you have seen,
+      in my measures; for such is my high opinion of the young man, and indeed
+      my desire to be connected with the Walsinghams is so great, that even
+      whilst I am in total ignorance of what the amount or value may be of this
+      prize that he has taken, and even whilst I am in doubt concerning this
+      Spanish incognita, I have not hesitated to declare, perhaps imprudently,
+      to Amelia, as you have just heard, my full approbation of the choice of
+      her heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hum!&mdash;well&mdash;hey!&mdash;How&rsquo;s this?&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer to himself,
+      as he tried to believe and to be satisfied with this apology. &ldquo;Madam,&rdquo;
+       said he aloud to Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;I comprehend that it might not be prudent
+      to encourage Amelia&rsquo;s partiality for Captain Walsingham till you were sure
+      of the young man&rsquo;s sentiments; but, excuse me, I am a very slow,
+      unpractised man in these matters; I don&rsquo;t yet understand why you told <i>me</i>
+      that she was in love with Sir John Hunter?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, being <i>somewhat in the habit of self-contradiction</i>,
+      was seldom unprovided with a concordance of excuses; but at this unlucky
+      moment she was found unprepared. Hesitating she stood, all subtle as she
+      was, deprived of ready wit, and actually abashed in the presence of a
+      plain good man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I candidly confess, my dear sir,&rdquo; said she, apologizing to Mr. Palmer as
+      he walked up and down, &ldquo;that my delicacy or pride,&mdash;call it what you
+      will,&mdash;my false pride for my daughter, led me into an error. I could
+      not bring myself to acknowledge to any man, even to you&mdash;for you know
+      that it&rsquo;s contrary quite to the principles and pride of our sex&mdash;that
+      she felt any partiality for a man who had shown none for her. You must be
+      sensible it was, to say no more, an awkward, mortifying thing; and I was
+      so afraid even of your finding it out, that&mdash;forgive me&mdash;I did,
+      I candidly acknowledge, fabricate the foolish story of Sir John Hunter.
+      But, believe me, I never seriously thought of her marrying him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;Fore George! I don&rsquo;t understand one word of it from beginning to end,&rdquo;
+       said Mr. Palmer, speaking aloud to himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Regardless of the profusion of words which Mrs. Beaumont continued pouring
+      forth, he seated himself in an arm-chair, and, deep in reverie for some
+      minutes, went on slowly striking his hands together, as he leaned with his
+      arms on his knees. At length he rose, rang the bell, and said to the
+      servant, &ldquo;Sir, be so obliging as to let my man Crichton know that he need
+      not hurry himself to pack up my clothes, for I shall not go to-morrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Struck with consternation at these words, Mrs. Beaumont, nevertheless,
+      commanded the proper expression of joy on the occasion. &ldquo;Delightful! I
+      must go this instant,&rdquo; cried she, &ldquo;and be the first to tell this charming
+      news to Amelia and Edward.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Tell them, then, madam, if you please, that I have gained such a conquest
+      over what Mr. Walsingham calls my hypochondriacism, that I am determined,
+      at whatever risk, to stay another year in Old England, and that I hope to
+      be present at both their weddings.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s quick exit was at this moment necessary to conceal her
+      dismay. Instead of going to Amelia, she hurried to her own room, locked
+      the door, and sat down to compose her feelings and to collect her
+      thoughts; but scarcely had she been two minutes in her apartment, when a
+      messenger came to summon her to the festive scene in the park. The tenants
+      and villagers were all at dinner, and Mr. Beaumont sent to let her know
+      that they were waiting to drink her health. She was obliged to go, and to
+      appear all radiant with pleasure. The contrast between their honest mirth
+      and her secret sufferings was great. She escaped as soon as she could from
+      their <i>senseless</i> joy, and again shut herself up in her own room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This sudden and totally unexpected resolution of Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s so
+      astonished her, that she could scarcely believe she had heard or
+      understood his words rightly. Artful persons may, perhaps, calculate with
+      expertness and accuracy what will, in any given case, be the
+      determinations of the selfish and the interested; but they are liable to
+      frequent mistakes in judging of the open-hearted and the generous: there
+      is no sympathy to guide them, and all their habits tend to mislead them in
+      forming opinions of the direct and sincere. It had never entered into Mrs.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s imagination that Mr. Palmer would, notwithstanding his belief
+      that he hazarded his life by so doing, defer a whole year returning to
+      Jamaica, merely to secure the happiness of her son and daughter. She
+      plainly saw that he now suspected her dislike to the Walsinghams, and her
+      aversion to the double union with that family: she saw that the slightest
+      circumstance in her conduct, which confirmed his suspicions, would not
+      only utterly ruin her in his opinion, but might induce him to alter that
+      part of his will which left her sole possessor of his fortune during her
+      life. Bad as her affairs were at this moment, she knew that they might
+      still be worse. She recollected the letter of <i>perfect approbation</i>
+      which Sir John Hunter had in his power. She foresaw that he would produce
+      this letter on the first rumour of her favouring another lover for Amelia.
+      She had just declared to Mr. Palmer, that she never seriously thought of
+      Sir John Hunter for her daughter; and, should this letter be brought to
+      light, she must be irremediably convicted of the basest duplicity, and
+      there would be no escape from the shame of falsehood, or rather the
+      disgrace of detection. In this grand difficulty, Mrs. Beaumont was too
+      good a politician to waste time upon any inferior considerations. Instead
+      of allowing herself leisure to reflect that all her present difficulties
+      arose from her habits of insincerity, she, with the true spirit of
+      intrigue, attributed her disappointments to some deficiency of artifice.
+      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said she to herself, &ldquo;why did I <i>write?</i> I should only have <i>spoken</i>
+      to Sir John. How could I be so imprudent as to <i>commit</i> myself by
+      writing? But what can be done to repair this error?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      One web destroyed, she, with indefatigable subtlety, began to weave
+      another. With that promptitude of invention which practice alone can give,
+      she devised a scheme, by which she hoped not only to prevent Sir John
+      Hunter from producing the written proof of her duplicity, but by which she
+      could also secure the reversionary title, and the great Wigram estate. The
+      nature of the scheme shall be unfolded in the next chapter; and it will
+      doubtless procure for Mrs. Beaumont, from all proper judges, a just
+      tribute of admiration. They will allow our heroine to be possessed not
+      only of that address, which is the peculiar glory of female politicians,
+      but also of that masculine quality, which the greatest, wisest, of mankind
+      has pronounced to be the first, second, and third requisite for business&mdash;&ldquo;Boldness&mdash;boldness&mdash;boldness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The creature&rsquo;s at her dirty work again.&rdquo;&mdash;POPE.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Amongst the infinite petty points of cunning of which that great practical
+      philosopher Bacon has in vain essayed to make out a list, he notes that,
+      &ldquo;Because it worketh better when any thing seemeth to be gotten from you by
+      question than if you offer it of yourself: you may lay a bait for a
+      question, by showing another visage and countenance than you are wont, to
+      the end to give occasion to the party to ask what the matter is of the
+      change.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is the matter, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont? I never saw you look so sad
+      before in all my life,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, meeting Mrs. Beaumont, who had
+      walked out into the park on purpose to be so met, and in hopes of having
+      the melancholy of her countenance thus observed. It was the more striking,
+      and the more unseasonable, from its contrast with the gay scene in the
+      park. The sound of music was heard, and the dancing had begun, and all was
+      rural festivity: &ldquo;What is the matter, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont?&rdquo; repeated
+      Miss Hunter; &ldquo;at such a time as this to see you look so melancholy!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! my love! such a sad change in affairs! But,&rdquo; whispered Mrs. Beaumont,
+      &ldquo;I cannot explain myself before your companion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Lightbody was walking with Miss Hunter: but he was so complaisant,
+      that he was easily despatched on some convenient errand; and then Mrs.
+      Beaumont, with all her wonted delicacy of circumlocution, began to
+      communicate her distress to her young friend.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You know, my beloved Albina,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;it has been my most ardent wish
+      that your brother should be connected with my family by the nearest and
+      dearest ties.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; that is, married to Amelia,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter. &ldquo;And has any thing
+      happened to prevent it?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, my dear! it is all over! It cannot be&mdash;must not be thought of&mdash;must
+      not be spoken of any more; Mr. Palmer has been outrageous about it. Such a
+      scene as I have had! and all to no purpose. Amelia has won him over to her
+      party. Only conceive what I felt&mdash;she declared, beyond redemption,
+      her preference of Captain Walsingham.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Before the captain proposed for her! How odd! dear! Suppose he should
+      never propose for her, what a way she will be in after affronting my
+      brother and all! And only think! she gives up the title, and the great
+      Wigram estate, and every thing. Why, my brother says, uncle Wigram can&rsquo;t
+      live three months; and Lord Puckeridge&rsquo;s title, too, will come to my
+      brother, you know; and Amelia might have been Lady Puckeridge. Only think!
+      did you ever know any thing so foolish?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Never!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;but you know, my dear, so few girls have the
+      sense you show in taking advice: they all will judge for themselves. But
+      I&rsquo;m most hurt by Amelia&rsquo;s want of gratitude and delicacy towards <i>me</i>,&rdquo;
+       continued Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;only conceive the difficulty and distress in
+      which she has left me about your poor brother. Such a shock as the
+      disappointment will be to him! And he may&mdash;though Heaven knows how
+      little I deserve it&mdash;he may suspect&mdash;for men, when they are
+      vexed and angry, will, you know, suspect even their best friends; he
+      might, I say, suspect me of not being warm in his cause.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear, no! I have always told him how kind you were, and how much you
+      wished the thing; and of all people in the world he can&rsquo;t blame you,
+      dearest Mrs. Beaumont.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this instant Mrs. Beaumont saw a glimpse of somebody in a bye-path of
+      the shrubbery near them. &ldquo;Hush! Take care! Who is that lurking there? Some
+      listener! Who can it be?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Hunter applied her glass to her eye, but could not make out who it
+      was.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is Lightbody, I declare,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont. &ldquo;Softly,&mdash;let us
+      not pretend to see him, and watch what he will do. It is of the greatest
+      consequence to me to know whether he is a listener or not; so much as he
+      is about the house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      An irresistible fit of giggling, which seized Miss Hunter at the odd way
+      in which Lightbody walked, prevented Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s trial of his
+      curiosity. At the noise which the young lady made, Mr. Lightbody turned
+      his head, and immediately advancing, with his accustomed mixture of
+      effrontery and servility, said, that &ldquo;he had executed Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s
+      commands, and that he had returned in hopes of getting a moment to say a
+      word to her when she was at leisure, about something he had just learned
+      from Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s man Crichton, which it was of consequence she should
+      know without delay.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, thank you, you best of creatures; but I know all that already.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You know that Mr. Palmer does not go to-morrow?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; and am so rejoiced at it! Do, my dear Lightbody, go to Amelia and my
+      son from me, and tell them that charming news. And after that, pray have
+      the compassion to inquire if the post is not come in yet, and run over the
+      papers, to see if you can find any thing about Walsingham&rsquo;s prize.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Lightbody obeyed, but not with his usual alacrity. Mrs. Beaumont mused
+      for a moment, and then said, &ldquo;I do believe he was listening. What could he
+      be doing there?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Doing!&mdash;Oh, nothing,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter: &ldquo;he&rsquo;s never doing any thing,
+      you know; and as to listening, he was so far off he could not hear a word
+      we said: besides, he is such a simple creature, and loves you so!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;he either did not play me fair, or
+      else he did a job I employed him in this morning so awkwardly, that I
+      never wish to employ him again. He is but a <i>low</i> kind of person,
+      after all; I&rsquo;ll get rid of him: that sort of people always grow tiresome
+      and troublesome after a time, and one must shake them off. But I have not
+      leisure to think of him now&mdash;Well, my dear, to go on with what I was
+      saying to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont went on talking of her friendship for Sir John Hunter, and
+      of the difficulty of appeasing him; but observing that Miss Hunter
+      listened only with forced attention, she paused to consider what this
+      could mean. Habitually suspicious, like all insincere people, Mrs.
+      Beaumont now began to imagine that there was some plot carrying on against
+      her by Sir John Hunter and Lightbody, and that Miss Hunter was made use of
+      against her. Having a most contemptible opinion of her Albina&rsquo;s
+      understanding, and knowing that her young friend had too little capacity
+      to be able to deceive her, or to invent a plausible excuse impromptu, Mrs.
+      Beaumont turned quick, and exclaimed, &ldquo;My dear, what could Lightbody be
+      saying to you when I came up?&mdash;for I remember he stopped short, and
+      you both looked so guilty.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Guilty! did I?&mdash;Did he?&mdash;Dearest Mrs. Beaumont, don&rsquo;t look at
+      me so with your piercing eyes!&mdash;Oh! I vow and protest I can&rsquo;t tell
+      you; I won&rsquo;t tell you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The young lady tittered, and twisted herself into various affected
+      attitudes; then kissing Mrs. Beaumont, and then turning her back with
+      childish playfulness, she cried, &ldquo;No, I won&rsquo;t tell you; never, never,
+      never!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come, come, my dear, don&rsquo;t trifle; I have really business to do, and am
+      in a hurry.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, don&rsquo;t look at me&mdash;never look at me again&mdash;promise me
+      that, and I&rsquo;ll tell you. Poor Lightbody&mdash;Oh, you&rsquo;re looking at me!&mdash;Poor
+      Lightbody was talking to me of <i>somebody</i>, and he laid me a wager&mdash;but
+      I can&rsquo;t tell you that&mdash;Ah, don&rsquo;t be angry with me, and I will tell,
+      if you&rsquo;ll turn your head quite away!&mdash;that I should be married to <i>somebody</i>
+      before the end of this year. Oh, now, don&rsquo;t look at me, dearest, dearest
+      Mrs. Beaumont.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You dear little simpleton, and was that all?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, vexed
+      to have wasted her time upon such folly: &ldquo;come, be serious now, my dear;
+      if you knew the anxiety I am in at this moment&mdash;&rdquo; But wisely judging
+      that it would be in vain to hope for any portion of the love-sick damsel&rsquo;s
+      attention, until she had confirmed her hopes of being married to <i>somebody</i>
+      before the end of the year, Mrs. Beaumont scrupled not to throw out
+      assurances, in which she had herself no further faith. After what she had
+      heard from her son this morning, she must have been convinced that there
+      was no chance of marrying him to Miss Hunter; she knew indeed positively,
+      that he would soon declare his real attachment, but she could, she
+      thought, during the interval retain her power over Miss Hunter, and secure
+      her services, by concealing the truth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Before I say one word more of my own affairs, let me, my dearest child,
+      assure you, that in the midst of all these disappointments and
+      mortifications about Amelia, I am supported by the hope&mdash;by something
+      more than the hope&mdash;that I shall see the daughter of my heart happily
+      settled soon: Lightbody does not want penetration, I see. But I am not at
+      liberty to say more. So now, my dear, help me with all your cleverness to
+      consider what I shall do in the difficulties I am in at this moment. Your
+      brother has a letter of mine, approving, and so forth, his addresses to my
+      daughter; now, if he, in the first rashness of his anger, should produce
+      this to Palmer, I&rsquo;m undone&mdash;or to my son, worse and worse! there
+      would be a duel between them infallibly, for Beaumont is so warm on any
+      point of honour&mdash;Oh, I dread to think of it, my dear!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So do I, I&rsquo;m sure; but, Lord, I&rsquo;m the worst person to think in a hurry&mdash;But
+      can&rsquo;t you write a letter? for you always know what to say so well&mdash;And
+      after all, do you know, I don&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;ll be half so angry or <i>so
+      disappointed</i> as you fancy, for I never thought he was so much in love
+      with Amelia.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know, if it was not a secret, I could tell you&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What? No secrets between us, my darling child.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then I can tell you, that just before he proposed for Amelia, he was
+      consulting with me about proposing for Mrs. Dutton.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Dutton, the widow! Mrs. Dutton! How you astonish me!&rdquo; said Mrs.
+      Beaumont (though she knew this before). &ldquo;Why she is older than I am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Older! yes, a great deal; but then you know my brother is no chicken
+      himself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To be sure, compared with you, my dear, he is not young. There&rsquo;s a
+      prodigious difference between you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Above twenty years; <i>for,</i> you know, he&rsquo;s by another marriage.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True; but I can&rsquo;t believe he proposed for Mrs. Dutton.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not actually proposed, because I would not let him; for I should have
+      hated to have had such an unfashionable-looking woman for my
+      sister-in-law. I never could have borne to go into public with her, you
+      know: so I plagued my brother out of it; and luckily he found out that her
+      jointure is not half so great as it was said to be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I could have told him that. Mrs. Dutton&rsquo;s jointure is nothing nearly so
+      large as mine was, even before the addition to it which my son so
+      handsomely, and indeed unexpectedly, made to it this morning. And did I
+      tell you, my dear? Mr. Palmer, this day, has been so kind as to leave me
+      all his immense fortune for my own life. But don&rsquo;t mention it, lest it
+      should get round, and make ill-will: the Walsinghams know nothing of it.
+      But to return to your poor brother&mdash;if I could any way serve him with
+      Mrs. Dutton?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;La! he&rsquo;d never think of her more&mdash;and I&rsquo;m sure I would not have
+      him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You dear little saucy creature! indeed I cannot wonder that you don&rsquo;t
+      like the thoughts of Mrs. Dutton for a <i>chaperon</i> in town.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, horrid! horrid!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And yet, would you condemn your poor brother to be an old bachelor, after
+      this disappointment with Amelia?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;La, ma&rsquo;am, can&rsquo;t he marry any body but Mrs. Dutton?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish I could think of any person would suit him. Can you?&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, I know very well who I think would suit him, and one I like to go
+      into public with of all things.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And one who has promised to present me at court next winter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dearest child! is it possible that you mean me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do;&mdash;and why not?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why not! My sweet love, do you consider my age?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you look so young.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To be sure Mrs. Dutton looks older, and is older; but I could not bring
+      myself, especially after being a widow so long, to think of marrying a
+      young man&mdash;to be sure, your brother is not what one should call a
+      very young man.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear, no; you don&rsquo;t look above three, or four, or five years older than
+      he does; and in public, and with dress, and rouge, and fashion, and all
+      that, I think it would do vastly well, and nobody would think it odd at
+      all. There&rsquo;s Lady &mdash;&mdash;, is not she ten years older than Lord
+      &mdash;&mdash;? and every body says that&rsquo;s nothing, and that she gives the
+      most delightful parties. Oh, I declare, dearest Mrs. Beaumont, you must
+      and shall marry my brother, and that&rsquo;s the only way to make him amends,
+      and prevent mischief between the gentlemen; the only way to settle every
+      thing charmingly&mdash;and I shall so like it&mdash;and I&rsquo;m so proud of
+      its being my plan! I vow, I&rsquo;ll go and write to my brother this minute, and&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stay, you dear mad creature; only consider what you are about.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Consider! I have considered, and I must and will have my own way,&rdquo; said
+      the dear mad creature, struggling with Mrs. Beaumont, who detained her
+      with an earnest hand. &ldquo;My love,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;I positively cannot let you
+      use my name in such a strange way. If your brother or the world should
+      think I had any share in the transaction, it would be so indelicate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indelicate! Dear me, ma&rsquo;am, but when nobody will know it, how can it be
+      indelicate? and I will not mention your name, and nobody will ever imagine
+      that you knew any thing of my writing; and I shall manage it all my own
+      way; and the plan is all my own: so let me go and write this minute.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mercy upon me! what shall I do with this dear headstrong creature!&rdquo; said
+      Mrs. Beaumont, letting Miss Hunter go, as if exhausted by the struggle she
+      had made to detain her impetuous young friend. Away ran Miss Hunter,
+      sometimes looking back in defiance and laughing, whilst Mrs. Beaumont
+      shook her head at her whenever she looked back, but found it impossible to
+      overtake her, and vain to make further opposition. As Mrs. Beaumont walked
+      slowly homewards, she meditated her own epistle to Sir John Hunter, and
+      arranged her future plan of operations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      If, thought she, Miss Hunter&rsquo;s letter should not succeed, it is only a
+      suggestion of hers, of which I am not supposed to know any thing, and I am
+      only just where I was before. If it does succeed, and if Sir John
+      transfers his addresses to me, I avoid all danger of his anger on account
+      of his disappointment with Amelia; for it must then be his play, to
+      convince me that he is not at all disappointed, and then I shall have
+      leisure to consider whether I shall marry Sir John or not. At all events,
+      I can draw on his courtship as long as I please, till I have by degrees
+      brought Mr. Palmer round to approve of the match.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      With these views Mrs. Beaumont wrote an incomparable letter to Sir John
+      Hunter, in which she enveloped her meaning in so many words, and so much
+      sentiment, that it was scarcely possible to comprehend any thing, except,
+      &ldquo;that she should be glad to see Sir John Hunter the next day, to explain
+      to him a circumstance that had given her, on his account, heartfelt
+      uneasiness.&rdquo; Miss Hunter&rsquo;s letter was carefully revised by Mrs. Beaumont,
+      though she was to know nothing of it; and such was the art with which it
+      was retouched, that, after all proper corrections, nothing appeared but
+      the most childish and imprudent simplicity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After having despatched these letters, Mrs. Beaumont felt much anxiety
+      about the effect which they might produce; but she was doomed by her own
+      habits of insincerity to have perpetually the irksome task of assuming an
+      appearance contrary to her real feelings. Amelia was better, and Mr.
+      Palmer&rsquo;s determination to stay in England had spread a degree of
+      cheerfulness over the whole family, which had not been felt for some time
+      at Beaumont Park. In this general delight Mrs. Beaumont was compelled
+      seemingly to sympathize: she performed her part so well, that even Dr.
+      Wheeler and Captain Lightbody, who had been behind the scenes, began to
+      believe that the actress was in earnest. Amelia, alas! knew her mother too
+      well to be the dupe even of her most consummate powers of acting. All that
+      Mrs. Beaumont said about her joy, and her hopes that Captain Walsingham
+      would soon appear and confirm her happy <i>pre-sentiments</i>, Amelia
+      heard without daring to believe. She had such an opinion of her mother&rsquo;s
+      address, such a sublime superstitious dread that her mother would, by some
+      inscrutable means, work out her own purposes, that she felt as if she
+      could not escape from these secret machinations. Amelia still apprehended
+      that Sir John Hunter would not be irrevocably dismissed, and that by some
+      turn of artifice she should find herself bound to him. The next morning
+      Sir John Hunter, however, finally relieved her from these apprehensions.
+      After having been closeted for upwards of two hours with Mrs. Beaumont, he
+      begged to speak to Miss Beaumont; and he resigned all pretensions to the
+      honour which he had so long and so ardently aspired to. It was his pride
+      to show that his spirits were not affected by this disappointment: he
+      scarcely indeed exhibited that decent appearance of mortification which is
+      usually expected on such an occasion; but with provoking haughtiness
+      professed himself sincerely obliged to Miss Beaumont for having, <i>however
+      late in the business</i>, prevented him, by her candour, from the danger
+      of crossing her inclinations. For this he could scarcely be sufficiently
+      thankful, when he considered how every day showed the consequences of
+      marrying young ladies whose affections were previously engaged. He had
+      only to add, that he hoped the world would see <i>the thing</i> in the
+      same light in which he took it, and that Miss Beaumont might not find
+      herself blamed for breaking off <i>the matter</i>, after it had been so
+      publicly reported: that, for his part, he assured her, he would, as far as
+      he was concerned, do his utmost to silence unpleasant observations; and
+      that, as the most effectual means to do this, he conceived, would be to
+      show that he continued on an amicable footing with the family, he should
+      do himself the honour to avail himself of the permission&mdash;invitation,
+      indeed&mdash;he had just received from Mrs. Beaumont, to continue his
+      visits as usual at Beaumont Park.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To this Amelia could make no objection after the express declaration which
+      he had just made, that he renounced all pretensions to her favour. However
+      keenly she felt the implied reproach of having encouraged Sir John as her
+      admirer, while her affections were previously engaged, and of having shown
+      candour <i>late</i> in this affair, she could not vindicate herself
+      without accusing her mother; therefore she attempted neither excuse nor
+      apology, submitted to let the unfeeling baronet enjoy her confusion,
+      whilst she said, in general terms, she felt obliged by his assurance that
+      she should not be the cause of any quarrel between two families who had
+      hitherto lived in friendship.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIV.
+    </h2>
+    <pre>
+      &ldquo;Him no soft thoughts, no gratitude could move;
+      To gold he fled, from beauty and from love!&rdquo;
+ 
+                                         DRYDEN.
+    </pre>
+    <p>
+      All that passed in the two hours&rsquo; conversation between the discarded
+      baronet and the mother of his late mistress did not transpire; but Mrs.
+      Beaumont said that she had taken infinite pains to reconcile Sir John to
+      his fate, and his subsequent behaviour showed that she had succeeded. His
+      attention towards her also plainly proved that he was not dissatisfied by
+      the part she had acted, or rather by the part that he thought she had
+      acted. Thus all things went on smoothly. Mrs. Beaumont, in confidence,
+      told her friend, Miss Hunter, that Sir John had behaved with the greatest
+      propriety and candour (candour! that hackneyed word); that he had
+      acknowledged that his principal inducement to propose for her daughter had
+      been a desire to be connected with a family for which he had such peculiar
+      regard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This, my love,&rdquo; continued Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;was all, you know, that your
+      brother could, with propriety, say on such an occasion; all indeed that I
+      would permit him to say. As to the rest, on Amelia&rsquo;s account, you know, I
+      could not refuse his request to continue his visits in this family on the
+      same footing of friendship as usual.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Whether this was the truth and the whole truth, the mystery that involves
+      all cabinet-councils, and more especially those of female politicians,
+      prevents the cautious historian from presuming to decide. But arguing from
+      general causes, and from the established characters and ruling passions of
+      the parties concerned, we may safely conjecture that the baronet did not
+      at this time make any decisive proposal to the lady, but that he kept
+      himself at liberty to advance or recede, as circumstances should render it
+      expedient. His ruling passion was avarice; and though he had been allured
+      by the hints which his sister had thrown out concerning Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s
+      increased jointure, and vast expectancies from Mr. Palmer, yet he was not
+      so rash as to act decisively upon such vague information: he had wisely
+      determined to obtain accurate and positive evidence from Captain
+      Lightbody, who seemed, in this case, to be the common vouchee; but
+      Lightbody happened to be gone out to shoot <i>flappers</i>.<a
+      href="#linknote-4" name="linknoteref-4" id="linknoteref-4"><small>4</small></a>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Consequently Sir John wisely entrenched himself in general professions of
+      regard to Mrs. Beaumont, and reflections on the happiness of being
+      connected with such a respectable family. Mrs. Beaumont, who understood
+      the whole of the game, now saw that her play must be to take Captain
+      Lightbody again into her confidence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ever careful not to commit herself, she employed Miss Hunter to
+      communicate <i>her own scheme</i> to the captain, and to prepare him on
+      the requisite points with proper answers to those inquiries which she
+      foresaw the baronet would make.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You know, my love,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;you can find a proper moment to
+      say all you wish to Lightbody.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, yes,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, &ldquo;I will if I possibly can this day; but it is
+      so difficult to find a good time&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At dinner, suppose?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At dinner! surely, ma&rsquo;am, that&rsquo;s an awkward time, is not it, for talking
+      of secrets?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The best time in the world, my dear; you know we are to have the Duttons,
+      and the Lord knows whom besides, to-day. And when there&rsquo;s a large company,
+      and every body talking at once, and eating, and drinking, and carving, it
+      is the best time in the world! You may say what you please; your
+      neighbours are all happily engaged, too busy to mind you. Get near fat Mr.
+      Dutton, and behind the screen of his prodigious elbow you will be
+      comfortably recessed from curious impertinents. My dear, the most perfect
+      solitude is not so convenient as one of these great dinners.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Whilst Mrs. Beaumont was demonstrating to Miss Hunter that the most
+      convenient and secure time for a <i>tête-à-tête</i> is at a large dinner,
+      she happened to look out of the window, near which they were standing, and
+      she saw her son and daughter with Mr. Palmer walking in the park; they sat
+      down under a tree within view of the house.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come away from the window, my dear,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;they will
+      observe us, and perhaps think we are plotting something. I wonder what
+      they are talking of! Look how earnestly Amelia is stretching out her neck,
+      and Mr. Palmer striking his cane upon the ground. Come back a little, my
+      dear, come back; you can see as well here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I see a gentleman on horseback, galloping. Oh, ma&rsquo;am, look! he has
+      stopped! he has jumped off his horse! Captain Walsingham it must be!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Walsingham it really is!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, pressing forward to
+      look out of the window, yet standing so, that she could not be seen from
+      without.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, &ldquo;but how delighted Mr. Beaumont seems; and how
+      Mr. Palmer shakes Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s hand, as if he had known him these
+      hundred years! What can make them so glad to see him? Do look at them,
+      ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I see it all!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, with an involuntary sigh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, dear Mrs. Beaumont,&rdquo; pursued Miss Hunter, &ldquo;if he has actually come
+      at last to propose for Amelia, don&rsquo;t you think he is doing it in a shabby
+      sort of way? When he has been in London too&mdash;and if he has taken such
+      a treasure too, could not he have come down here a little more in style,
+      with some sort of an equipage of his own at least? But now only look at
+      him; would you, if you met him on the road, know him from any common man?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Another sigh, deep and sincere, was all the answer Mrs. Beaumont made.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure,&rdquo; continued Miss Hunter, as Mrs. Beaumont drew her away from
+      the window, &ldquo;I am sure, I think Amelia has not gained much by the change
+      of admirers; for what&rsquo;s a captain of a ship?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He ranks with a colonel in the army, to be sure,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont;
+      &ldquo;but Amelia might have looked much higher. If she does not know her own
+      interest and dignity, that is not my fault.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If she had such a fortune as I shall have,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, &ldquo;she might
+      afford to marry for love, because you know she could make her husband
+      afterwards keep her proper equipages, and take her to town, and go into
+      parliament, and get a title for her too!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very true, my darling,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, who was at this instant so
+      absent, that she assented without having heard one syllable that her
+      darling said.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But for Amelia, who has no such great fortune of her own, it is quite
+      another thing, you know, dearest Mrs. Beaumont. Oh, you&rsquo;ll see how she&rsquo;ll
+      repent when she sees you Lady Puckeridge, and herself plain Mrs.
+      Walsingham. And when she sees the figure you&rsquo;ll make in town next winter,
+      and the style my brother will live in&mdash;Oh, then she&rsquo;ll see what a
+      difference there is between Sir John Hunter and Captain Walsingham!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very true, indeed, my dear,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; and this time she did
+      not answer without having heard the assertion. The door opened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Walsingham! dare I believe my eyes? And do I see our friend,
+      Captain Walsingham, again at last?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At last! Oh, Mrs. Beaumont, you don&rsquo;t know how hard I have worked to get
+      here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How kind! But won&rsquo;t you sit down and tell me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No; I can neither sit, nor rest, nor speak, nor think upon any subject
+      but one,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s right,&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Beaumont&mdash;pardon my abruptness,&rdquo; continued Captain Walsingham,
+      &ldquo;but you see before you a man whose whole happiness is at stake. May I beg
+      a few minutes&rsquo; conversation with you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This instant,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, hesitating; but she saw that Mr.
+      Palmer&rsquo;s eye was upon her, so with a smile she complied immediately; and
+      giving her hand graciously to Captain Walsingham, she accompanied him into
+      a little reading-room within the drawing-room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;May I hope that we are friends?&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham; &ldquo;may I hope so,
+      Mrs. Beaumont&mdash;may I?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good Heavens! Friends! assuredly; I hope so. I have always had and
+      expressed the highest opinion of you, Captain Walsingham.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have had one, and, hitherto, but one opportunity of showing myself, in
+      any degree, deserving of your esteem, madam,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham.
+      &ldquo;When I was in this country some years ago, you must have seen how
+      passionately I was in love with your daughter; but I knew that my
+      circumstances were then such that I could not hope to obtain Miss
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s hand; and you will do me the justice to allow that I behaved
+      with prudence. Of the difficulty of the task I alone can judge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont declared, that she admired Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s conduct
+      inexpressibly, now that she understood what his feelings and motives had
+      been; but really he had kept his own secret so honourably, that she had
+      not, till within these few days, when it was <i>let out</i> by Mr.
+      Walsingham to Mr. Palmer, had the most distant idea of his being attached
+      to her daughter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Captain Walsingham was too polite even to <i>look</i> a doubt of the truth
+      of a lady&rsquo;s assertion: he therefore believed, because it was impossible.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, determining to make her story consistent, repeated nearly
+      what she had said to Mr. Palmer, and went on to confess that she had
+      often, with a mother&rsquo;s pride, perhaps, in her own secret thoughts wondered
+      at the indifference Captain Walsingham showed towards Amelia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Captain Walsingham was surprised that Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s penetration should
+      have been so strangely mistaken; especially as the symptoms of admiration
+      and love must be so well known to a lady who had so many and such
+      passionate admirers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont smiled, and observed, that Captain Walsingham, though a
+      seaman, had all the address of a courtier, and she acknowledged that she
+      loved address.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If by address Mrs. Beaumont means politeness, I admire it as much as she
+      does; but I disclaim and despise all that paltry system of artifice, which
+      is sometimes called address. No person of a great mind ever condescends to
+      use <i>address</i> in that sense of the word; not because they cannot, but
+      because they will not.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Certainly&mdash;certainly,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;there is nothing I love
+      so much as frankness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, frankly, Mrs. Beaumont, may I hope for your approbation in
+      addressing Miss Beaumont?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Frankly, then, you have my full approbation. This is the very thing I
+      have long secretly wished, as Mr. Palmer can tell you. You have ever been
+      the son-in-law of my choice, though not of my hopes.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Delighted with this frank answer, this full approbation, this assurance
+      that he had always been the son-in-law of her choice, Captain Walsingham
+      poured out his warm heart in joy and gratitude. All suspicions of Mrs.
+      Beaumont were forgotten; for suspicion was unnatural to his mind: though
+      he knew, though he had experience almost from childhood, of her character,
+      yet, at this instant, he thought he had, till now, been always prejudiced,
+      always mistaken. Happy those who can be thus duped by the warmth of their
+      own hearts! It is a happiness which they who smile in scorn at their
+      credulity can never enjoy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Wakening a little to the use of his understanding, Captain Walsingham
+      disconcerted Mrs. Beaumont, by suddenly saying, &ldquo;Then there was not any
+      truth in the report, which I have heard with horror, that you were going
+      to marry Miss Beaumont to Sir John Hunter?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then there was not any truth in the report I heard with horror, that you
+      were going to marry yourself to a Spanish nun?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, who
+      had learned from a veteran in public warfare, that the best way to parry
+      an attack is not to defend, but to make an assault.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear Captain Walsingham,&rdquo; added she, with an arch smile, &ldquo;I really
+      thought you were a man of too much sense, and above all, too much courage,
+      to be terror-struck by every idle report. You should leave such <i>horrors</i>
+      to us weak women&mdash;to the visionary mind. Now, I could not blame poor
+      Amelia, if she were to ask, &lsquo;Then was there no truth in the report of the
+      Spanish incognita?&rsquo;&mdash;No, no,&rdquo; pursued Mrs. Beaumont, playfully, refusing
+      to hear Captain Walsingham; &ldquo;not to me, not to <i>me</i>, must your
+      defence be made. Appear before your judge, appear before Amelia; I can
+      only recommend you to mercy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      What a charming woman this Mrs. Beaumont would be, if one could feel quite
+      sure of her sincerity, thought Captain Walsingham, as he followed the
+      lady, who, with apparently playful, but really polite grace, thus eluded
+      all further inquiry into her secret manoeuvres.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here, my dearest Amelia,&rdquo; cried she, &ldquo;is a culprit, whom I am bringing to
+      your august tribunal for mercy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For justice,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Justice! Oh, the pride of the man&rsquo;s heart, and the folly! Who ever talks
+      of justice to a woman? My dear captain, talk of mercy, or cruelty, if you
+      will; we ladies delight in being called cruel, you know, and sometimes are
+      even pleased to be merciful&mdash;but to be just, is the last thing we
+      think of: so now for your trial; public or private, Captain Walsingham?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Public! as I am innocent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oyes, oyes! all manner of men,&rdquo; cried Mr. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The Spanish cause coming on!&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer: &ldquo;let me hear it; and let
+      me have a good seat that I may hear&mdash;a seat near the judge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, you shall be judge, Mr. Palmer,&rdquo; said Amelia; &ldquo;and here is the best
+      seat for our good judge.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And you will remember,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont, &ldquo;that it is the duty of a good
+      judge to lean towards the prisoner.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To lean! No, to sit bolt upright, as I will if I can,&rdquo; said old Mr.
+      Palmer, entering into the pleasantry of the young people as readily as if
+      he had been the youngest man in the company. As he looked round, his good
+      countenance beamed with benevolent pleasure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, sir captain, be pleased to inform the court what you have done, or
+      mean to do, with a certain Spanish nun, whom, as it is confidently
+      asserted in a letter from one of your own men, you carried off from her
+      nunnery, and did bring, or cause to be brought, with you to England.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lord judge, will you do me the favour, or the justice, to order that
+      the letter alluded to may be read in court?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This was ordered, and done accordingly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lord judge,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham, &ldquo;I have nothing to object to the
+      truth of the main points of this story; and considering that it was told
+      by a very young man, and a traveller, it contains but a reasonable share
+      of <i>&lsquo;travellers&rsquo; wonders.&lsquo;</i> Considering the opportunity and
+      temptation for embellishments afforded by such a romantic tale, less has
+      been added to it by the narrator than the usual progress of strange
+      reports might have prepared me to expect. It is most true, as it has been
+      stated, that I did, by her own desire, carry away from a nunnery, at
+      &mdash;&mdash;, this lady, who was neither a nun nor a Spanish lady, nor,
+      as I am compelled by my regard to truth to add, young, nor yet handsome.
+      My lord judge, far be it from me to impeach the veracity of the
+      letter-writer. It is admitted by the highest and the lowest authorities,
+      that beauty is a matter of taste, and that for taste there is no standard;
+      it is also notorious, that to a sailor every woman is fair and young, who
+      is not as old as Hecuba, or as ugly as Caifacaratadaddera. I can therefore
+      speak only to my own opinion and judgment. And really, my lord, it grieves
+      me much to spoil the romance, to destroy the effect of a tale, which might
+      in future serve for the foundation of some novel, over which belles and
+      beaux, yet unborn, might weep and wonder: it grieves me much, I say, to be
+      compelled by the severity of this cross-examination to declare the simple
+      truth, that there was no love in the case; that, to the very best of my
+      belief and judgment, the lady was not in love with any body, much less
+      with me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As you have admitted, sir,&rdquo; said the judge, &ldquo;as you have voluntarily
+      stated, that to a sailor every woman is fair and young, who is not as old
+      as Hecuba, or as ugly as that other woman with the unspeakable name, you
+      will be pleased to inform the court how it happened, or how it was
+      possible, that in the course of a long voyage, you could avoid falling in
+      love with the damsel whom you had thus rescued and carried off. Experience
+      shows us, sir, that at land, and, I presume, at sea, proximity is one of
+      the most common causes of love. Now, I understand, she was the only woman
+      you saw for some months; and she had, I think you allow, possession of
+      your cabin, to and from which you had of course constant egress and
+      regress. Sir, human nature is human nature; here is temptation, and
+      opportunity, and circumstantial evidence enough, in our days, to hang a
+      man. What have you to offer in your defence, young man?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The plain fact, my lord, is, that instead of three months, I was but
+      three days in the dangerous state of proximity with the Spanish lady. But
+      had it been three months, or three years, there is my defence, my lord,&rdquo;
+       said Captain Walsingham, bowing to Amelia. &ldquo;At the first <i>blush</i>, you
+      allow it, I see, to be powerful; but how powerful, you cannot feel as I
+      do, without having looked, as I have done, into the mind.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have looked into the mind as well as you, sir. You have a great deal of
+      assurance, to tell me I cannot feel and judge as well as you can. But,
+      nevertheless, I shall do you justice. I think your defence is sufficient.
+      I believe we must acquit him. But, pray&mdash;the plain matter of fact,
+      which I wanted to hear, I have not yet got at. What have you done with
+      this lady? and where is she?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She was carried safely to her friends&mdash;to her friend, for she has
+      but one friend, that I could find out, an old aunt, who lives in an
+      obscure lodging, in a narrow street, in London.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And, upon honour, this is all you know about her?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All&mdash;except that she is in hopes of recovering some property, of
+      which she says she has been unjustly defrauded by some of her relations.
+      After I had paid my respects at the Admiralty, I made it my business to
+      see the lady, and to offer my services; but into her lawsuits, I thank
+      God, it was not my business to inquire, I recommended to her a good honest
+      lawyer, and came here as fast as horses could carry me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But was not there some giving of diamonds, and exchanging of rings, one
+      day, upon deck?&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;None,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham; &ldquo;that was a mere fable of poor Birch&rsquo;s
+      imagination. I recollect the lady showed me a Spanish motto upon her ring;
+      that is all I can remember about rings.&mdash;She had no diamonds, and
+      very few clothes. Now,&rdquo; cried Captain Walsingham, growing a little
+      impatient of the length of his trial, for he had not yet been able to
+      speak for more than an instant to Amelia, &ldquo;now, I hope, my trial is ended;
+      else its length will be, as in some other cases, the worst of
+      punishments.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Acquitted! acquitted! honourably acquitted!&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Acquitted, acquitted, honourably acquitted by general acclamation,&rdquo; cried
+      Mr. Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Acquitted by a smile from Amelia, worth all our acclamations,&rdquo; said Mrs.
+      Beaumont.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Walsingham,&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, &ldquo;did the lady come to England and
+      go to London in a Spanish dress and long waist?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She spoke, but Captain Walsingham did not hear her important question. She
+      turned to repeat it, but the captain was gone, and Amelia with him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Bless me! how quick! how odd!&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, with a pouting look,
+      which seemed to add&mdash;nobody carries me off!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Beaumont looked duller than was becoming.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont applied herself to adjust the pretty curls of Miss Hunter&rsquo;s
+      hair; and Mr. Palmer, in one of his absent fits, hummed aloud, as he
+      walked up and down the room,
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;&lsquo;And it&rsquo;s, Oh! what will become of me?
+     Oh! what shall I do?
+     Nobody coming to marry me,
+     Nobody coming to woo.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XV.
+    </h2>
+    <pre>
+      &ldquo;True love&rsquo;s the gift which God has giv&rsquo;n
+      To man alone, beneath the heav&rsquo;n;
+      It is the secret sympathy,
+      The silver link, the silken tie,
+      Which heart to heart, and mind to mind,
+      In body and in soul can bind.&rdquo;
+     </pre>
+    <p>
+      Happy love, though the most delightful in reality, is the most
+      uninteresting in description; and lovers are proverbially bad company,
+      except for one another: therefore we shall not intrude on Captain
+      Walsingham and Amelia, nor shall we give a journal of the days of
+      courtship; those days which, by Rousseau, and many people, have been
+      pronounced to be the happiest; by others, the only happy days of
+      existence; and which, by some privileged or prudent few, have been found
+      to be but the prelude to the increasing pleasures of domestic union.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now that Mr. Beaumont saw his sister and his friend thus gratified in
+      their mutual esteem and affection,&mdash;now that he saw all obstacles to
+      their union removed, he became uncontroulably impatient to declare his own
+      attachment to Miss Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear mother, I can bear it no longer. Believe me, you are mistaken in
+      the whole romance you have imagined to yourself about Miss Hunter. She is
+      no more in love with me than I am with her. Since you fixed my attention
+      upon her, I have studied the young lady. She is not capable of love: I
+      don&rsquo;t mean that she is not capable of wishing to be married, but that is
+      quite a different affair, which need not give me any peculiar disturbance.
+      My dear mother, find another husband for her, and my life for it, her
+      heart will not break; especially if you give her bales of wedding finery
+      enough to think and talk about for a calendar year.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You abominably malicious monster of cruelty, I will not smile, nor will I
+      allow you to indulge your humour in this manner at the expense of your
+      poor victim.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Victim! never saw a girl look less like a victim, except, indeed, as to
+      her ornaments. I believe it is the etiquette for victims to appear dressed
+      out with garlands, and ribands, and flowers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Positively, Edward, I won&rsquo;t allow you to go on in this style;&mdash;do
+      you know you seriously hurt and offend me? do you consider that Miss
+      Hunter&rsquo;s mother was my most intimate friend, and this match I have
+      anxiously wished, in consequence of an agreement made between us at your
+      birth and Albina&rsquo;s?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, ma&rsquo;am, those agreements never turned out well, from the time of the
+      Arabian tales to the present moment. And you must pardon me if, after
+      having tried all that reason and patience would do, in vain, I now come to
+      impatience, and a little innocent ridicule. Except by laughing, I have no
+      other way left of convincing you that I never can or will marry this young
+      lady.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But so pretty a creature! Surely you <i>have thought</i> her pretty.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Extremely pretty. And I acknowledge that there have been moments when the
+      influence of her&mdash;beauty, I can&rsquo;t call it&mdash;prettiness, joined to
+      the power of my mother&rsquo;s irresistible address, have almost lapped me in
+      elysium&mdash;a fool&rsquo;s paradise. But, thank Heaven and Miss Walsingham! I
+      unlapped myself; and though the sweet airs took my fancy, they never
+      imprisoned my soul.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vastly poetical! quite in the blue-stocking style.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Blue-stocking! Dear mother, that expression is not elegant enough for
+      you. That commonplace taunt is unworthy of my mother,&rdquo; said Mr. Beaumont,
+      warmly, for he was thrown off his guard by the reflection implied on Miss
+      Walsingham. &ldquo;Ignorant silly women may be allowed to sneer at information
+      and talents in their own sex, and, if they have read them, may talk of <i>&lsquo;Les
+      Précieuses Ridicules</i>,&rsquo; and <i>&lsquo;Les Femmes Savantes</i>,&rsquo; and may
+      borrow from Molière all the wit they want, to support the cause of folly.
+      But from women who are themselves distinguished for talents, such apostasy&mdash;but
+      I am speaking to my mother&mdash;I forbear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Great forbearance to your mother you have shown, in truth,&rdquo; cried Mrs.
+      Beaumont, reddening with genuine anger: &ldquo;Marry as you please! I have done.
+      Fool that I have been, to devote my life to plans for the happiness and
+      aggrandizement of my children! It is now time I should think of myself.
+      You shall not see me the defeated, deserted, duped, despised mother&mdash;the
+      old dowager <i>permitted</i> in the house of which she was once the
+      mistress! No, no, Mr. Beaumont,&rdquo; cried she, rising indignantly, &ldquo;this
+      shall never, never be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Touched and astonished by a burst of passion, such as he scarcely had ever
+      before seen from his mother, Mr. Beaumont stopped her as she rose; and
+      taking her hand in the most affectionate manner, &ldquo;Forgive me, my dear
+      mother, the hasty words I said just now. I was very much in the wrong. I
+      beg your pardon. Forgive your son.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont struggled to withdraw the hand which her son forcibly
+      detained.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Be always,&rdquo; continued he, &ldquo;be always mistress of this house, of me, and
+      mine. The chosen wife of my heart will never torment you, or degrade
+      herself, with paltry struggles for power. Your days shall be happy and
+      honoured: believe me, I speak from my heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont looked as if her anger had subsided; yet, as if struggling
+      with unusual feelings, she sat silent. Mr. Beaumont continued, &ldquo;Your son&mdash;who
+      is no sentimentalist, no speech-maker&mdash;your son, who has hitherto
+      perhaps been too rough, too harsh&mdash;now implores you, by these sincere
+      caresses, by all that is tender and true in nature, to believe in the
+      filial affection of your children. Give us, simply give us your
+      confidence; and our confidence, free and unconstrained, shall be given in
+      return. Then we shall be happy indeed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Touched, vanquished, Mrs. Beaumont leaned her head on her son, and said,
+      &ldquo;Then we shall be happy indeed!&rdquo; The exclamation was sincere: at this
+      moment she thought as she spoke. All her schemes were forgotten: the
+      reversionary title, the Wigram estate&mdash;all, all forgotten: miraculous
+      eloquence and power of truth!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What happiness!&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont: &ldquo;I ask no other. You are right, my
+      dear son; marry Miss Walsingham, and we have enough, and more than enough,
+      for happiness. You are right; and henceforward we shall have but one mind
+      amongst us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With true gratitude and joy her son embraced her; and this was the most
+      delightful, perhaps the only really delightful, moment she had felt for
+      years. She was sincere, and at ease. But this touch of nature, strong as
+      it was, operated only for a moment: habit resumed her influence; art
+      regained her pupil and her slave! Captain Lightbody and Miss Hunter came
+      into the room; and with them came low thoughts of plots, and notes, and
+      baronets, and equipages, and a reversionary title, and the Wigram estate.
+      What different ideas of happiness! Her son, in the mean time, had started
+      up, mounted his horse, and had galloped off to realize some of his ideas
+      of felicity, by the immediate offer of his hand to the lady who possessed
+      his whole heart. Cool as policy, just recovered from the danger of
+      imprudent sensibility, could make her, Mrs. Beaumont was now all herself
+      again.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Have you found much amusement shooting this morning, Lightbody?&rdquo; said
+      she, carelessly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, ma&rsquo;am; done nothing&mdash;just nothing at all&mdash;for I met Sir
+      John in the grounds, and could not leave him. Poor Sir John, ma&rsquo;am; I tell
+      him we must get him a crook; he is quite turned despairing shepherd. Never
+      saw a man so changed. Upon my soul, he is&mdash;seriously now, Mrs.
+      Beaumont, you need not laugh&mdash;I always told Sir John that his time of
+      falling in love would come; and come it has, at last, with a vengeance.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, nonsense! nonsense, Lightbody! This to me! and of Sir John Hunter!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Though Mrs. Beaumont called it, and thought it nonsense, yet it flattered
+      her; and though she appeared half offended by flattery so gross, as to
+      seem almost an insult upon her understanding, yet her vanity was secretly
+      gratified, even by feeling that she had dependents who were thus obliged
+      to flatter; and though she despised Captain Lightbody for the meanness,
+      yet he made his court to her successfully, by persisting in all the
+      audacity of adulation. She knew Sir John Hunter too well to believe that
+      he was liable to fall in love with any thing but a fair estate or a fine
+      fortune; yet she was gratified by feeling that she possessed so great a
+      share of those charms which age cannot wither; of that substantial power,
+      to which men do not merely feign in poetical sport to submit, or to which
+      they are slaves only for a honey-moon, but to which they do homage to the
+      latest hour of life, with unabating, with increasing devotion. Besides
+      this sense of pleasure arising from calculation, it may be presumed that,
+      like all other female politicians, our heroine had something of the woman
+      lurking at her heart; something of that feminine vanity, which inclines to
+      believe in the potency of personal charms, even when they are in the wane.
+      Captain Lightbody&rsquo;s asseverations, and the notes Sir John Hunter wrote to
+      his sister, were at last listened to by Mrs. Beaumont with patience, and
+      even with smiles; and, after it had been sufficiently reiterated, that
+      really it was using Sir John Hunter ill not to give him some more decisive
+      answer, when he was so unhappy, so impatient, she at length exclaimed,
+      &ldquo;Well, Lightbody, tell your friend Sir John, then, since it must be so, I
+      will consult my friends, and see what can be done for him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;When may I say? for I dare not see Sir John again&mdash;positively I dare
+      not meet him&mdash;without having some hope to give, something decisive.
+      He says the next time he comes here he must be allowed to make it known to
+      the family that he is Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s admirer. So, when may I say?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, dearest Mrs. Beaumont,&rdquo; cried Miss Hunter, &ldquo;say to-morrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To-morrow! impossible!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But when?&rdquo; said Miss Hunter: &ldquo;only look at my brother&rsquo;s note to me again;
+      you see he is afraid of being cast off at last as he was before about
+      Amelia, if Mr. Palmer should object; and he says this disappointment would
+      be such a very different affair.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed,&rdquo; said Captain Lightbody, &ldquo;I, who am in Sir John&rsquo;s confidence, can
+      vouch for that; for I have reason to believe, that&mdash;that <i>the
+      connexion</i> was the charm, and that the daughter would not have been
+      thought of. Stop, I was charged not to say this. But <i>when</i> Mrs.
+      Beaumont, to return to my point&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! name an early day,&rdquo; cried Miss Hunter, in a fondling tone; &ldquo;name an
+      early day for my brother&rsquo;s coming; and then, you know, it will be so <i>nice</i>
+      to have the wedding days fixed for both marriages. And, dearest Mrs.
+      Beaumont, remember I am to be your bride&rsquo;s-maid; and we&rsquo;ll have a
+      magnificent wedding, and I shall be bride&rsquo;s-maid!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The dear innocent little creature, how mad she is with spirits! Well, you
+      shall be my bride&rsquo;s-maid, if the thing takes place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>If.&mdash;If</i> to the winds!&mdash;Captain Lightbody, tell my
+      brother&mdash;No, I&rsquo;ll write myself, and tell him he may come.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How she distresses me! But she is so affectionate, one does not know how
+      to be angry with her. But, my dear, as to naming the day when he may
+      publicly declare himself, I cannot; for, you know, I have to break the
+      affair to Mr. Palmer, and to my son and daughter, and I must take my own
+      time, and find a happy moment for this; so name a day I cannot; but in
+      general&mdash;and it&rsquo;s always safest to use general terms&mdash;you may
+      say, <i>soon</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This was Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s ultimatum. The note was written accordingly, and
+      committed to the care of the confidential captain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This business of mysterious note-writing, and secret negotiations<a
+      href="#linknote-5" name="linknoteref-5" id="linknoteref-5"><small>5</small></a>,
+      was peculiarly suited to our heroine&rsquo;s genius and taste. Considering the
+      negotiation to be now in effect brought within view of a happy
+      termination, her ambassador, furnished with her ultimatum, having now
+      actually set out on his ostensible mission of duck-shooting, our fair
+      negotiatrix prepared to show the usual degree of gratitude towards those
+      who had been the principal instruments of her success. The proper time,
+      she thought, was now arrived, when, having no further occasion for Miss
+      Hunter&rsquo;s services, she might finally undeceive her young friend as to any
+      hopes she might retain of a union with Mr. Beaumont; and she felt that it
+      was now indispensably necessary to disclose the truth, that her son had
+      declared his attachment to Miss Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont opened the delicate case with a sigh, which claimed the
+      notice of her young confidante.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What a deep sigh!&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, who was perfect, to use a musical
+      term, in her lessons, <i>pour observer les soupirs</i>: &ldquo;What a sigh! I
+      hope it was for my poor brother?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah, no, my love! for one nearer my heart&mdash;for you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For me!&mdash;dear me!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You see before you a mother, all of whose fondest wishes and plans are
+      doomed to be frustrated by her children. Amelia would have her way: I was
+      forced to yield. My son follows her example, insists upon marrying without
+      fortune, or extraordinary beauty, or any of the advantages which I had
+      fondly pointed out in the daughter-in-law of my heart. You turn away from
+      me, my darling! How shall I go on? how shall I tell you all the terrible
+      truth?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, ma&rsquo;am, pray go on; pray tell me all.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Walsingham; that&rsquo;s all, in one word. These Walsinghams have forced
+      themselves into my family,&mdash;fairly outwitted me. I cannot tell you
+      how much, how deeply I am mortified!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thank Heaven! I am not mortified,&rdquo; cried Miss Hunter, throwing back her
+      head with pettish disdain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, who had prepared herself for a fainting fit, or at least
+      for a flood of tears, rejoiced to see this turn in the young lady&rsquo;s
+      temper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s right, my own love. Hew I admire your spirit! This pride becomes
+      you, and is what I expected from your understanding. Set a just value upon
+      yourself, and show it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I should set but little value on myself, indeed, if I did not think
+      myself equal to Miss Walsingham; but Mr. Beaumont knows best.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not best, I fear,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont; &ldquo;but, from a child he was ever the
+      most self-willed, uncontrollable being; there was no moving, no persuading
+      him. There was no power, no appeal, my love, I did not try.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear ma&rsquo;am, I am excessively sorry you did.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, my dear, I could not refrain from doing all I could, not only for my
+      son&rsquo;s sake, but for yours, when I saw your affections, as I feared, so
+      deeply engaged. But your present magnanimity gives me hopes that the shock
+      will not be irrecoverable.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Irrecoverable! No, really, ma&rsquo;am. If Mr. Beaumont expects to see me wear
+      the willow for him all my life, his vanity will be mistaken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Certainly, my dear,&rdquo; replied Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;you would not be so weak as
+      to wear the willow for any man. A young lady of your fortune should never
+      wear the weeping but the golden willow. Turn your pretty little face again
+      towards me, and smile once more upon me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Hunter had sat with her face turned from Mrs. Beaumont during the
+      whole of this dialogue&mdash;&ldquo;as if by hiding her face, she could conceal
+      the emotions of her mind from me,&rdquo; thought her penetrating observer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Spare me, spare me, dearest Mrs. Beaumont,&rdquo; cried Miss Hunter, hiding her
+      face on the arm of the sofa, and seeming now disposed to pass from the
+      heights of anger to the depths of despair.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, less hard-hearted than some politicians, who care not who
+      dies or lives, provided they attain their own objects, now listened at
+      least with seeming commiseration to her young friend, who, with
+      intermitting sighs, and in a voice which her position or her sobs rendered
+      scarcely audible, talked of dying, and of never marrying any other man
+      upon the earth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Not much alarmed, however, by the dying words of young ladies, Mrs.
+      Beaumont confined her attention to the absurdity of the resolution against
+      marriage in general, and at this instant formed a plan of marrying Miss
+      Hunter to one of her nephews instead of her son. She had one unmarried
+      nephew, a young man of good figure and agreeable manners, but with only a
+      younger brother&rsquo;s portion. To him she thought Miss Hunter&rsquo;s large fortune
+      would be highly convenient; and she had reason to believe that his taste
+      in the choice of a wife would be easily governed by her advice, or by his
+      interest. Thus she could, at least, prevent her young friend&rsquo;s affections
+      and fortune from going out of the family. In consequence of this glimpse
+      of a new scheme, our indefatigable politician applied herself to prepare
+      the way for it with her wonted skill. She soothed the lovelorn and pettish
+      damsel with every expression that could gratify pride and rouse high
+      thoughts of revenge. She suggested that instead of making rash vows of
+      celibacy, which would only show forlorn constancy, Miss Hunter should
+      abide by her first spirited declaration, never to wear the willow for any
+      man; and that the best way to assert her own dignity would be to marry as
+      soon as possible. After having given this consolatory advice, Mrs.
+      Beaumont left the young lady&rsquo;s grief to wear itself out. &ldquo;I know, my
+      love,&rdquo; added she, &ldquo;a friend of mine who would die for the happiness which
+      my obstinate son does not, it seems, know how to value.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who, ma&rsquo;am?&rdquo; said Miss Hunter, raising her head: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure I can&rsquo;t guess
+      whom you can possibly mean&mdash;who, ma&rsquo;am?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah! my dear, excuse me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont, &ldquo;that is a secret I cannot
+      tell you yet. When you are &lsquo;fit to hear yourself convinced,&rsquo; may be, I may
+      obtain leave to tell you your admirer&rsquo;s name. I can assure you, he&rsquo;s a
+      very fashionable and a very agreeable man; a great favourite with our sex,
+      a particular friend of mine, and an officer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord bless me!&rdquo; exclaimed Miss Hunter, starting quite up, &ldquo;an officer! I
+      can&rsquo;t imagine whom you mean! Dear Mrs. Beaumont, whom can you mean?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont walked towards the door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Only tell me one thing, dearest Mrs. Beaumont&mdash;did I ever see him?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, wisely declining to answer any more questions at present,
+      quitted the room, and left Miss Hunter dying&mdash;with curiosity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The new delight of this fresh project, with the prospect of bringing to a
+      happy termination her negotiation with Sir John Hunter, sustained Mrs.
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s spirits in the midst of the disappointments she experienced
+      respecting the marriages of her son and daughter; and enabled her, with
+      less effort of dissimulation, to take apparently a share in the general
+      joy which now pervaded her family. Her son expressed his felicity with
+      unbounded rapture, when he found his proposal to Miss Walsingham
+      graciously received by the object of his affections, and by all her
+      family: his gratitude to his mother for no longer opposing his wishes gave
+      a tenderness to his manner which would have touched any heart but that of
+      a politician. Amelia, also, even in the midst of her love for Captain
+      Walsingham, was anxiously intent upon showing dutiful attention to her
+      mother, and upon making her some amends for the pain she had caused her of
+      late. Whenever the brother and sister were together, in all their views of
+      future happiness their mother was one of their principal objects; and
+      these dispositions both Miss Walsingham and Captain Walsingham were
+      earnest to confirm. No young people could have higher ideas than they had
+      of the duty of children towards parents, and of the delight of family
+      confidence and union. In former times, when Mr. Beaumont had been somewhat
+      to blame in the roughness of his sincerity towards his mother, and when he
+      had been disposed to break from her artful restraints, Captain Walsingham,
+      by his conversation, and by his letters, had always used his power and
+      influence to keep him within bounds; and whenever he could do so with
+      truth, to raise Mrs. Beaumont in his opinion. She now appeared in a more
+      advantageous light to her family, and they were more disposed to believe
+      in her sincerity than they had ever been since the credulous days of
+      childhood. The days of love and childhood are perhaps, in good minds,
+      almost equally credulous, or, at least, confiding. Even Mr. Walsingham was
+      won over by the pleasure he felt in the prospect of his daughter&rsquo;s
+      happiness; and good Mr. Palmer was ten times more attentive than ever to
+      Madam Beaumont. In his attention, however, there was something more
+      ceremonious than formerly; it was evident, for he was too honest to
+      conceal his feelings, that his opinion of her was changed, and that his
+      attention was paid to her rather as the widow of his old friend than on
+      her own account. Amelia, who particularly remarked this change, and who
+      feared that it must be severely painful to her mother, tried by every
+      honest art of kindness to reinstate her in his regard. Amelia, however,
+      succeeded only in raising herself in his esteem.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not disturb yourself, my dear young lady,&rdquo; said he to her, one day,
+      &ldquo;about your mother and me. Things are on their right footing between us,
+      and can never be on any other. She, you see, is quite satisfied.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont, indeed, had not Amelia&rsquo;s quick sensibility with regard to
+      the real affections of her friends, though she was awake to every external
+      mark of attention. She was content, as Mr. Palmer before others always
+      treated her with marked deference, and gave her no reason to apprehend any
+      alteration in his testamentary dispositions. When settlements were talked
+      of for the intended marriages, Mr. Palmer seemed to consider Mrs. Beaumont
+      first in all their consultations, appealed for her opinion, and had ever a
+      most cautious eye upon her interests. This she observed with satisfaction,
+      and she was gratified by the demonstrations of increased regard from her
+      son and daughter, because she thought it would facilitate her projects.
+      She wished that her marriage with Sir John Hunter should appear well to
+      the world; and for this reason she desired that it should <i>seem</i> to
+      be liked by all her family&mdash;seem, for as to their real opinions she
+      was indifferent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Things were in this situation, when Mrs. Beaumont <i>caused herself to be
+      surprised</i><a href="#linknote-6" name="linknoteref-6" id="linknoteref-6"><small>6</small></a>
+      one morning by Mr. Palmer, with a letter in her hand, deep in reverie.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! my dear Mr. Palmer, is it you?&rdquo; cried she, starting very naturally;
+      &ldquo;I was really so lost in thought&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer hoped that he did not disturb her.&mdash;&ldquo;Disturb me! no, my
+      good friend, you are the very person I wished to consult.&rdquo; Her eye glanced
+      again and again upon the letter she held in her hand, but Mr. Palmer
+      seemed provokingly destitute of curiosity; he however took a chair, and
+      his snuff-box, and with a polite but cold manner said he was much honoured
+      by her consulting him, but that of course his judgment could be of little
+      service to a lady of Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s understanding.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Understanding! Ah!&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;there are cases where understanding is of
+      no use to women, but quite the contrary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer did not contradict the assertion, nor did he assent to it, but
+      waited, with a pinch of snuff arrested in its way, to have the cases
+      specified.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In love affairs, for instance, we poor women,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont,
+      looking down prettily; but Mr. Palmer afforded no assistance to her
+      bashful hesitation; she was under the necessity of finishing her sentence,
+      or of beginning another, upon a different construction. The latter was
+      most convenient, and she took a new and franker tone:&mdash;&ldquo;Here&rsquo;s a
+      letter from poor Sir John Hunter.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer still sat bending forward to listen with the most composed
+      deference, but pressed not in the slightest degree upon her confidence by
+      any question or look down towards the letter, or up towards the lady&rsquo;s
+      face, but straightforward looked he, till, quite provoked by his dulness,
+      Mrs. Beaumont took the matter up again, and, in a new tone, said, &ldquo;To be
+      candid with you, my dear friend, this is a subject on which I feel some
+      awkwardness and reluctance in speaking to you&mdash;for of all men
+      breathing, I should in any important action of my life wish for your
+      approbation; and yet, on the present occasion, I fear, and so does Sir
+      John, that you will utterly disapprove of the match.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She paused again, to be asked&mdash;What match? But compelled by her
+      auditor&rsquo;s invincible silence to make out her own case, she proceeded: &ldquo;You
+      must know, my good sir, that Sir John Hunter is, it seems, unconquerably
+      bent upon a connexion with this family; for being refused by the daughter,
+      he has proposed for the mother!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, bowing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thought you would have been more surprised,&rdquo; said Mrs. Beaumont: &ldquo;I am
+      glad the first sound of the thing does not, as I was afraid it would,
+      startle or revolt you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Startle me, it could not, madam,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;for I have been
+      prepared for it some time past.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is it possible? And who could have mentioned it to you&mdash;Captain
+      Lightbody?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Lightbody!&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer, with a sudden flash of indignation:
+      &ldquo;believe me, madam, I never thought of speaking to Captain Lightbody of
+      your affairs, I am not in the habit of listening to such people.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But still, he might have spoken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, madam, no; he would not have dared to bring me secret information.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Honourable! quite honourable! But then, my dear sir, how came you to know
+      the thing?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I saw it. You know, madam, those who stand by always see more than the
+      players.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And do you think my son and daughter, and Captain Walsingham, know it
+      too?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I fancy not; for they have not been standers by: they have been deeply
+      engaged themselves.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s well&mdash;for I wished to have your opinion and advice in the
+      first place, before I hinted it even to them, or any one else living. As I
+      feared the match would not meet your approbation, I told Sir John so, and
+      I gave him only a provisional consent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Like the provisional consent of that young Irish lady,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer,
+      laughing, &ldquo;who went through the marriage service with her lover, adding at
+      the end of each response, &lsquo;provided my father gives his consent.&lsquo;<a
+      href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7" id="linknoteref-7"><small>7</small></a>
+      But, madam, though I am old enough certainly to be your father, yet even
+      if I had the honour to be so in reality, as you are arrived at years of
+      discretion, you know you cannot need my consent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But seriously, my excellent friend,&rdquo; cried she, &ldquo;I never could be happy
+      in marrying against your approbation. And let me, in my own vindication,
+      explain to you the whole of the affair.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here Mr. Palmer, dreading one of her long explanations, which he knew he
+      should never comprehend, besought her not to invest him with the
+      unbecoming character of her judge. He represented that no vindication was
+      necessary, and that none could be of any use. She however persisted in
+      going through a sentimental defence of her conduct. She assured Mr.
+      Palmer, that she had determined never to marry again; that her inviolable
+      respect for her dear Colonel Beaumont&rsquo;s memory had induced her to persist
+      in this resolution for many years. That motives of delicacy and generosity
+      were what first prevailed with her to listen to Sir John&rsquo;s suit; and that
+      now she consoled and supported herself by the proud reflection, that she
+      was acting as her dear Colonel Beaumont himself, could he know the
+      circumstances and read her heart, would wish and enjoin her to act.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Here a smile seemed to play upon Mr. Palmer&rsquo;s countenance; but the smile
+      had vanished in an instant, and was followed by a sudden gush of tears,
+      which were as suddenly wiped away; not, however, before they reminded Mrs.
+      Beaumont to spread her handkerchief before her face.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; resumed she, after a decent pause, &ldquo;perhaps I am doing wrong
+      with the best intentions. Some people think that widows should never, on
+      any account, marry again, and perhaps Mr. Palmer is of this opinion?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, by no means,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;nor was Colonel Beaumont. Often and
+      often he said in his letters to me, that he wished his wife to marry again
+      after he was gone, and to be as happy after his death as she had been
+      during his life. I only hope that your choice may fulfil&mdash;may justify&mdash;&rdquo;
+       Mr. Palmer stopped again, something in Shakspeare, about preying on
+      garbage, ran in his head; and, when Mrs. Beaumont went on to some fresh
+      topics of vindication, and earnestly pressed for his <i>advice</i>, he
+      broke up the conference by exclaiming, &ldquo;&lsquo;Fore Jupiter, madam, we had
+      better say nothing more about the matter; for, after all, what can the wit
+      of man or woman make of it, but that you choose to marry Sir John Hunter,
+      and that nobody in the world has a right to object to it? There is
+      certainly no occasion to use any management with me; and your eloquence is
+      only wasting itself, for I am not so presumptuous, or so unreasonable, as
+      to set myself up for the judge of your actions. You do me honour by
+      consulting me; but as you already know my opinion of the gentleman, I must
+      decline saying any thing further on the subject.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont was left in a painful state of doubt as to the main point,
+      whether Mr. Palmer would or would not alter his will. However, as she was
+      determined that the match should be accomplished, she took advantage of
+      the declaration Mr. Palmer made, that he had no right to object to her
+      following her own inclinations; and she told Sir John Hunter that Mr.
+      Palmer was perfectly satisfied; and that he had indeed relieved her mind
+      from some foolish scruples, by having assured her that it was Colonel
+      Beaumont&rsquo;s particular wish, often expressed in his confidential letters,
+      that his widow should marry again. So far, so good. Then the affair was to
+      be broken to her son and daughter. She begged Mr. Palmer would undertake,
+      for her sake, this delicate task; but he declined it with a frank
+      simplicity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Surely, madam,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;you can speak without difficulty to your own
+      son and daughter; and I have through life observed, that employing one
+      person to speak to another is almost always hurtful. I should not presume,
+      however, to regulate your conduct, madam, by my observations; I should
+      only give this as a reason for declining the office with which you
+      proposed to honour me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady, compelled to speak for herself to her son and daughter, opened
+      the affair to them with as much delicacy and address as she had used with
+      Mr. Palmer. Their surprise was great; for they had not the most remote
+      idea of her intentions. The result of a tedious conversation of three
+      hours&rsquo; length was perfectly satisfactory to her, though it would have been
+      to the highest degree painful and mortifying to a woman of more feeling,
+      or one less intent upon <i>an establishment</i>, a reversionary title, and
+      the Wigram estate. How low she sunk in the opinion of her children and her
+      friends was comparatively matter of small consequence to Mrs. Beaumont,
+      provided she could keep fair appearances with the world. Whilst her son
+      and daughter were so much ashamed of her intended marriage, that they
+      would not communicate their sentiments even to each other,&mdash;they,
+      with becoming duty, agreed that Mrs. Beaumont was very good in speaking to
+      them on the subject; as she had an uncontroulable right to marry as she
+      thought proper.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Beaumont now wrote letters innumerable to her extensive circle of
+      connexions and acquaintance, announcing her approaching nuptials, and
+      inviting them to her wedding. It was settled by Mrs. Beaumont, that the
+      three marriages should <i>take place</i> on the same day. This point she
+      laboured with her usual address, and at last brought the parties concerned
+      to give up their wishes for a private wedding, to gratify her love for
+      show and parade. Nothing now remained but to draw the settlements. Mrs.
+      Beaumont, who piqued herself upon her skill in business, and who thought
+      the sum of wisdom was to excel in cunning, looked over her lawyer&rsquo;s
+      drafts, and suggested many nice emendations, which obtained for her from
+      an attorney the praise of being a vastly clever woman. Sir John was not,
+      on his side, deficient in attention to his own interests. Never was there
+      a pair better matched in this respect; never were two people going to be
+      married more afraid that each should <i>take the other in</i>. Sir John,
+      however, pressed forward the business with an eagerness that surprised
+      every body. Mrs. Beaumont again and again examined the settlements, to try
+      to account prudentially for her lover&rsquo;s impatience; but she <i>saw</i>
+      that <i>all</i> was right there on her part, and her self-love at last
+      acquiesced in the belief that Sir John&rsquo;s was now the ardour of a real
+      lover. To the lady&rsquo;s entire satisfaction, the liveries, the equipages, the
+      diamonds, the wedding-clothes were all bought, and the wedding-day
+      approached. Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s rich and fashionable connexions and
+      acquaintance all promised to grace her nuptials. Nothing was talked of but
+      the preparations for Mrs. Beaumont and Sir John Hunter&rsquo;s marriage; and so
+      full of business and bustle, and mysteries, and <i>sentimentalities</i>,
+      and vanities was she, that she almost forgot that any body was to be
+      married but herself. The marriages of her son and daughter seemed so
+      completely to merge in the importance and splendour of her own, that she
+      merely recollected them as things that were to be done on the same day, as
+      subordinate parts that were to be acted by inferior performers, whilst she
+      should engross the public interest and applause. In the mean time Miss
+      Hunter was engaged, to Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s satisfaction and her own, in
+      superintending the wedding-dresses, and in preparing the most elegant
+      dress imaginable for herself, as bride&rsquo;s-maid. Now and then she
+      interrupted these occupations with sighs and fits of pretty sentimental
+      dejection; but Mrs. Beaumont was well convinced that a new lover would
+      soon make her forget her disappointment. The nephew was written to, and
+      invited to spend some time with his aunt, immediately after her marriage;
+      for she determined that Miss Hunter should be her niece, since she could
+      not be her daughter. This secondary intrigue went on delightfully in our
+      heroine&rsquo;s imagination, without interfering with the main business of her
+      own marriage. The day, the long-expected day, that was to crown all her
+      hopes, at length arrived.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XVI.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;On peut étre plus fin qu&rsquo;un autre, mais pas plus fin que tous les
+      autres.&rdquo;&mdash;ROCHEFOUCAULT.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The following paragraph<a href="#linknote-8" name="linknoteref-8"
+       id="linknoteref-8"><small>8</small></a> extracted from the newspapers of
+      the day, will, doubtless, be acceptable to a large class of readers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;FASHIONABLE HYMENEALS.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yesterday, Sir John Hunter, of Hunter Hall, Devonshire, Bart., led to the
+      hymeneal altar the accomplished Mrs. Beaumont, relict of the late Colonel
+      Beaumont, of Beaumont Park. On the same day her son and daughter were also
+      married&mdash;Mr. Beaumont to Miss Walsingham, daughter of E. Walsingham,
+      Esq., of Walsingham House;&mdash;and Miss Beaumont to Captain Walsingham
+      of the navy, a near relation of Edward Walsingham, Esq., of Walsingham
+      House.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;These nuptials in the Beaumont family were graced by an overflowing
+      concourse of beauty, nobility, and fashion, comprehending all the
+      relations, connexions, intimate friends, and particular acquaintances of
+      the interesting and popular Mrs. Beaumont. The cavalcade reached from the
+      principal front of the house to the south gate of the park, a distance of
+      three-quarters of a mile. Mrs. Beaumont and her daughter, two lovely
+      brides, in a superb landau, were attired in the most elegant, becoming,
+      fashionable, and costly manner, their dress consisting of the finest lace,
+      over white satin. Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s was point lace, and she was also
+      distinguished by a long veil of the most exquisite texture, which added a
+      tempered grace to beauty in its meridian. In the same landau appeared the
+      charming brides&rsquo;-maids, all in white, of course. Among these, Miss Hunter
+      attracted particular attention, by the felicity of her costume. Her
+      drapery, which was of delicate lace, being happily adapted to show to the
+      greatest advantage the captivating contour of her elegant figure, and
+      ornamented with white silk fringe and tassels, marked every airy motion of
+      her sylph-like form.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The third bride on this auspicious day was Miss Walsingham, who, with her
+      father and bride&rsquo;s-maids, followed in Mr. Walsingham&rsquo;s carriage. Miss
+      Walsingham, we are informed, was dressed with simple elegance, in the
+      finest produce of the Indian loom; but, as she was in a covered carriage,
+      we could not obtain a full view of her attire. Next to the brides&rsquo; 
+      equipages, followed the bridegrooms&rsquo;. And chief of these Sir John Hunter
+      sported a splendid barouche. He was dressed in the height of the ton, and
+      his horses deserved particular admiration. After Sir John&rsquo;s barouche came
+      the equipage belonging to Mr. Beaumont, highly finished but plain: in this
+      were the two bridegrooms, Mr. Beaumont and Captain Walsingham, accompanied
+      by Mr. Palmer (the great West-Indian Palmer), who, we understand, is the
+      intimate friend and relative of the Beaumont family. Then followed, as our
+      correspondent counted, above a hundred carriages of distinction, with a
+      prodigious cavalcade of gentry. The whole was closed by a long line of
+      attendants and domestics. The moment the park gates were opened, groups of
+      young girls of the Beaumont tenantry, habited in white, with knots of
+      ribands, and emblematical devices suited to the occasion, and with baskets
+      of flowers in their hands, began to strew vegetable incense before the
+      brides, especially before Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s landau.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;And whilst the priests accuse the bride&rsquo;s delay,
+     Roses and myrtles still obstruct her way.&rsquo; 
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The crowd, which assembled as they proceeded along the road to the
+      church, and in the churchyard, was such that, however gratefully it
+      evinced the popularity of the amiable parties, it became at last evidently
+      distressing to the principal object of their homage&mdash;Mrs. Beaumont,
+      who could not have stood the gaze of public admiration but for the
+      friendly and becoming, yet tantalizing refuge of her veil. Constables were
+      obliged to interfere to clear the path to the church door, and the amiable
+      almost fainting lady was from the arms of her anxious and alarmed
+      bride&rsquo;s-maids lifted out of her landau, and supported into the church and
+      up the aisle with all the marked gallantry of true tenderness, by her
+      happy bridegroom, Sir John Hunter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;After the ceremony was over, Sir John and Lady Hunter, and the two other
+      new-married couples, returned to Beaumont Park with the <i>cortège</i> of
+      their friends, where the company partook of an elegant collation. The
+      artless graces and fascinating affability of Lady Hunter won all hearts;
+      and the wit, festive spirits, and politeness of Sir John, attracted
+      universal admiration&mdash;not to say envy, of all present. Immediately
+      after the collation, the happy couple set off for their seat at Hunter
+      Hall.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Beaumont, and the new Mrs. Beaumont, remained at Beaumont Park.
+      Captain and Mrs. Walsingham repaired to Mr. Walsingham&rsquo;s.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is a singular circumstance, communicated to us by the indisputable
+      authority of one of the bride&rsquo;s-maids, that Miss Walsingham, as it was
+      discovered after the ceremony, was actually married with her gown the
+      wrong side outwards. Whether this be an omen announcing good fortune to <i>all</i>
+      the parties concerned, we cannot take upon us to determine; but this much
+      we may safely assert, that never distinguished female in the annals of
+      fashion was married under more favourable auspices than the amiable Lady
+      Hunter. And it is universally acknowledged, that no lady is better suited
+      to be, as in the natural course of things she will soon be, Countess of
+      Puckeridge, and at the head of the great Wigram estate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      So ends our newspaper writer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Probably this paragraph was sent to the press before the <i>fashionable
+      hymeneals</i> had actually taken place. This may in some measure account
+      for the extraordinary omissions in the narrative. After the three
+      marriages had been solemnized, just when the ceremony was over, and Lady
+      Hunter was preparing to receive the congratulations of the brilliant
+      congregation, she observed that the clergyman, instead of shutting his
+      book, kept it open before him, and looked round as if expecting another
+      bride. Mrs. Beaumont, we should say Lady Hunter, curtsied to him, smiled,
+      and made a sign that the ceremony was finished; but at this instant, to
+      her astonishment, she saw her bride&rsquo;s-maid, Miss Hunter, quit her place,
+      and beheld Captain Lightbody seize her hand, and lead her up towards the
+      altar. Lady Hunter broke through the crowd that was congratulating her,
+      and reaching Miss Hunter, drew her hack forcibly, and whispered, &ldquo;Are you
+      mad, Miss Hunter? Is this a place, a time for frolic? What are you about?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Going to be married, ma&rsquo;am! following your ladyship&rsquo;s good example,&rdquo;
+       answered her bride&rsquo;s-maid, flippantly,&mdash;at the same time springing
+      forward from the detaining grasp, regardless even of the rent she made in
+      her lace dress, she hurried, or was hurried on by Captain Lightbody.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Captain Lightbody!&rdquo; cried Lady Hunter; but, answering only with a
+      triumphant bow, he passed on with his bride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Heavens! will nobody stop him?&rdquo; cried Lady Hunter, over-taking them again
+      as they reached the steps. She addressed herself to the clergyman. &ldquo;Sir,
+      she is a ward in chancery, and under my protection: they have no licence;
+      their banns have not been published: you cannot, dare not, surely, marry
+      them?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pardon me, Lady Hunter,&rdquo; said Captain Lightbody; &ldquo;I have shown Mr. Twigg
+      my licence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have seen it&mdash;I thought it was with your ladyship&rsquo;s knowledge,&rdquo;
+       replied Mr. Twigg. &ldquo;I&mdash;I cannot object&mdash;it would be at my own
+      peril. If there is any lawful impediment, your ladyship will make it at
+      the proper response.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A friend of Captain Lightbody&rsquo;s appeared in readiness to give the young
+      lady away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The ceremony must go on, madam,&rdquo; said the clergyman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At your peril, sir!&rdquo; said Lady Hunter. &ldquo;This young lady, is a ward of
+      chancery, and not of age!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am of age&mdash;of age last month,&rdquo; cried the bride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not till next year.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of age last month. I have the parish register,&rdquo; said Captain Lightbody.
+      &ldquo;Go on, sir, if you please.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good Heavens! Miss Hunter, can you bear,&rdquo; said Lady Hunter, &ldquo;to be the
+      object of this indecent altercation? Retire with me, and only let me speak
+      to you, I conjure you!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      No&mdash;the young lady stood her ground, resolute to be a bride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If there is any lawful impediment, your ladyship will please to make it
+      at the proper response,&rdquo; said the chaplain. &ldquo;I am under a necessity of
+      proceeding.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The ceremony went on.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Hunter, in high indignation, retired immediately to the vestry-room
+      with her bridegroom. &ldquo;At least,&rdquo; cried she, throwing herself upon a seat,
+      &ldquo;it shall never be said that I countenanced, by my presence, such a
+      scandalous marriage! Oh! Sir John Hunter, why did you not interfere to
+      save your own sister?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Save her! Egad, she did not choose to be saved. Who can save a woman that
+      does not choose it? What could I do? Is not she your ladyship&rsquo;s pupil?&mdash;he!
+      he! he! But I&rsquo;ll fight the rascal directly, if that will give you any
+      satisfaction.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And he shall have a lawsuit too for her fortune!&rdquo; said Lady Hunter; &ldquo;for
+      she is not of age. I have a memorandum in an old pocket book. Oh! who
+      would have thought such a girl could have duped me so!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Hunter&rsquo;s exclamations were interrupted by the entrance of her son and
+      daughter, who came to offer what consolation they could. The brilliant
+      congregation poured in a few minutes afterwards, with their mingled
+      congratulations and condolence, eager, above all things, to satisfy their
+      curiosity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Captain Lightbody, with invincible assurance, came up just as Lady Hunter
+      was getting into her carriage, and besought permission to present his
+      bride to her. But Lady Hunter, turning her back upon him without reply,
+      said to her son, &ldquo;If Captain Lightbody is going to Beaumont Park, I am not
+      going there.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Lightbody, who was now emancipated from all control, and from all
+      sense of propriety, called out from her <i>own</i> carriage, in which she
+      was seated, &ldquo;That, thank Heaven! she had a house of her own to go to, and
+      that nothing was farther from her thoughts than to interrupt the
+      festivities of Lady Hunter&rsquo;s more mature nuptials.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Delighted with having made this tart answer, Mrs. Lightbody ordered her
+      husband to order her coachman to drive off as fast as possible. The
+      captain, by her particular desire, had taken a house for her at Brighton,
+      the gayest place she could think of. We leave this amiable bride rejoicing
+      in the glory of having duped a lady of Mrs. Beaumont&rsquo;s penetration; and
+      her bridegroom rejoicing still more in the parish register, by the help of
+      which he hoped to obtain full enjoyment of what he knew to be his bride&rsquo;s
+      most valuable possession&mdash;her portion, and to defy Lady Hunter&rsquo;s
+      threatened lawsuit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the mean time, Lady Hunter, in her point lace and beautiful veil,
+      seated beside her baronet, in his new barouche, endeavoured to forget this
+      interruption of her triumph. She considered, that though Miss Hunter&rsquo;s
+      fortune was lost to her family, yet the title of countess, and the Wigram
+      estate, were <i>secure</i>: this was solid consolation; and recovering her
+      features from their unprecedented discomposure, she forced smiles and
+      looks suitable to the occasion, as she bowed to congratulating passengers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Arrived at Beaumont Park, she prepared, without appetite, to partake of
+      the elegant collation, and to do the honours with her accustomed grace:
+      she took care to seat Mr. Palmer beside her, that she might show the world
+      on what good terms they were together. She was pleased to see, that though
+      two younger brides sat near her, she engaged by far the largest share of
+      public admiration. They were so fully content and engrossed by their own
+      feelings, that they did not perceive that they were what is called <i>thrown
+      into the shade</i>. All the pride, pomp, and circumstance of these
+      glorious hymeneals appeared to them but as a dream, or as a scene that was
+      acting before them, in which they were not called to take a part. Towards
+      the end of the collation, one of the guests, my Lord Rider, a nobleman who
+      always gave himself the air of being in a prodigious hurry, declared that
+      he was under the necessity of going off, for he expected a person to meet
+      him at his house in town, on some particular business, at an appointed
+      day. His lordship&rsquo;s travelling companion, who was unwilling to quit so
+      prematurely the present scene of festivity, observed that the man of
+      business had engaged to write to his lordship, and that he should at least
+      wait till the post should come in. Lady Hunter politely sent to inquire if
+      any letters had arrived for his lordship; and, in consequence of his
+      impatience, all the letters for the family were brought: Lady Hunter
+      distributed them. There was one for Captain Walsingham, with a Spanish
+      motto on the seal: Lady Hunter, as she gave it to him, whispered to
+      Amelia, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t be jealous, my dear, but that, I can tell you, is a letter
+      from his Spanish incognita.&rdquo; Amelia smiled with a look of the most perfect
+      confidence and love. Captain Walsingham immediately opened the letter,
+      and, looking at the signature, said, &ldquo;It is not from my Spanish incognita,&mdash;it
+      is from her aunt; I will read it by and by.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A fine evasion, indeed!&rdquo; exclaimed Lady Hunter: &ldquo;look how coolly he puts
+      it into his pocket! Ah! my credulous Amelia, do you allow him to begin in
+      this manner?&rdquo; pursued she, in a tone of raillery, yet as if she really
+      suspected something wrong in the letter; &ldquo;and have you no <i>curiosity</i>,
+      Mrs. Walsingham?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia declared that she had none; that she was not one of those who think
+      that jealousy is the best proof of love.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Right, right,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;confidence is the best proof of love;
+      and yours, I&rsquo;ll venture to say, is, and ever will be, well placed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Captain Walsingham, with a grateful smile, took his letter again out of
+      his pocket, and immediately began to read it in a low voice to Amelia,
+      Lady Hunter, and Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;DEAR SIR,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Though almost a stranger to you, I should think myself wanting in
+      gratitude if I did not, after all the services you have done my family,
+      write to thank you in my niece&rsquo;s name and in my own: and much I regret
+      that my words will so ill convey to you the sentiments of our hearts. I am
+      an old woman, not well accustomed to use my pen in the way of
+      letter-writing; but can say truly, that whilst I have life I shall be
+      grateful to you. You have restored me to happiness by restoring to me my
+      long-lost niece. It will, I am sure, give you satisfaction to hear, that
+      my niece&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Captain Walsingham stopped short, with a look which confirmed Lady Hunter
+      in all her suspicions,&mdash;which made Mr. Palmer take out his snuff-box,&mdash;which
+      startled even Mr. Beaumont; but which did not raise in the mind of Amelia
+      the slightest feeling of doubt or suspicion. She smiled, and looked round
+      at her alarmed friends with a manner which seemed to say, &ldquo;Can you suppose
+      it possible that there can be any thing wrong?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pray go on, Captain Walsingham,&rdquo; said Lady Hunter, &ldquo;unless&mdash;unless
+      you have particular, very particular reasons.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have particular, very particular reasons,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham;
+      &ldquo;and since,&rdquo; turning to Amelia, &ldquo;this confiding lady does not insist upon
+      my going on&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Lady Hunter, gaily, snatching the letter, &ldquo;I am not such a
+      credulous, or, as you call it, confiding lady.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I beg of your ladyship not to read it,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham, in an
+      earnest tone.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You beg of me not to read it, and with that alarmed look&mdash;Oh!
+      positively, I must, and will read it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not at present, then, I entreat you!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This very instant,&rdquo; cried Lady Hunter, affecting all the imperious
+      vivacity of a young bride, under favour of which she determined to satisfy
+      her malicious curiosity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pray, Lady Hunter, do not read it,&rdquo; repeated Captain Walsingham, laying
+      his hand over the letter. &ldquo;It is for your own sake,&rdquo; added he, in a low
+      and earnest voice, &ldquo;it is for your own sake, not mine, that I beg of you
+      to forbear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Hunter, imagining this to be only a subterfuge, drew the letter from
+      beneath Captain Walsingham&rsquo;s hand, exclaiming, &ldquo;For <i>my sake!</i> Oh,
+      Captain, that is a charming <i>ruse de guerre</i>, but do not hope that it
+      shall succeed!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! mother, believe him, believe him,&rdquo; cried Amelia: &ldquo;I am sure he tells
+      you the truth, and he speaks for your sake, not for his own.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Amelia interceded in vain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer patted Amelia&rsquo;s shoulder fondly, saying, &ldquo;You are a dear good
+      creature.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A dear credulous creature!&rdquo; exclaimed Lady Hunter. She had now
+      undisturbed possession of the letter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Captain Walsingham stood by with a face of great concern; in which Amelia
+      and Mr. Beaumont, without knowing the cause, seemed to sympathize.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The contest had early attracted the attention of all within hearing or
+      view of her ladyship, and by this time had been pointed out and accounted
+      for in whispers, even to the most remote parts of the room; so that the
+      eyes of almost every individual in the assembly were now fixed upon Lady
+      Hunter. She had scarcely glanced her eye upon the letter, when she turned
+      pale as death, and exclaimed, &ldquo;He knew it! he knew it!&rdquo; Then, recollecting
+      herself, she made a struggle to conceal her dismay&mdash;the forced smile
+      quivered on her lip,&mdash;she fell back in a swoon, and was carried out
+      of the room by her son and daughter. Sir John Hunter was at another table,
+      eating eel-pie, and was the last person present who was made to understand
+      what had happened.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is the damned heat of the room, I suppose,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;that made her
+      faint;&rdquo; and swallowing the last morsel on his plate, and settling his
+      collar, he came up to Captain Walsingham. &ldquo;What&rsquo;s this I hear?&mdash;that
+      Lady Hunter has fainted? I hope they have carried her into the air. But
+      where&rsquo;s the letter they say affected her so?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In my pocket,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham, coolly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Any thing new in it?&rdquo; said Sir John, with a sulky, fashionable
+      indifference.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nothing new to you, probably, Sir John,&rdquo; said Captain Walsingham, walking
+      away from him in disgust.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I suppose it was the heat overcame Lady Hunter,&rdquo; continued Sir John,
+      speaking to those who stood near him. &ldquo;Is any body gone to see how she is
+      now? I wonder if they&rsquo;ll let me in to see her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With assumed carelessness, but with real embarrassment, the bridegroom
+      went to inquire for his bride.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Good Mr. Palmer went soon afterwards, and knocked softly at the lady&rsquo;s
+      door. &ldquo;Is poor Lady Hunter any better?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! yes; quite well again now,&rdquo; cried Lady Hunter, raising herself from
+      the bed, on which she had been laid; but Mr. Palmer thought, as he saw her
+      through the half-opened door, she still looked a deplorable spectacle, in
+      all her wedding finery. &ldquo;Quite well again, now: it was nothing in the
+      world but the heat. Amelia, my love, go back to the company, and say so,
+      lest my friends should be uneasy. Thank you, kind Mr. Palmer, for coming
+      to see me: excuse my not being able to let you in now, for I must change
+      my dress. Sir John sends me word his barouche will be at the door in ten
+      minutes, and I have to hurry on my travelling dress. Excuse me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Palmer retired, seeing clearly that she wished to avoid any
+      explanation of the real cause of her fainting. In the gallery, leading
+      from her room, he met Captain Walsingham, who was coming to inquire for
+      Lady Hunter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Poor woman! do you know the cause of her fainting?&rdquo; said Captain
+      Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No; and I believe she does not wish me to know it: therefore don&rsquo;t tell
+      it me,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is a secret that must be in the public papers in a few days,&rdquo; said
+      Captain Walsingham. &ldquo;This lady that I brought over from Lisbon&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, what can she have to say to Mrs. Beaumont?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nothing to Mrs. Beaumont, but a great deal to Lady Hunter. You may
+      remember that I mentioned to you that some of her relations had contrived
+      to have her kept in that convent abroad, and had spread a report of her
+      death, that the heir-at-law might defraud her of her property, and get and
+      keep possession of a large estate, which fell to him in case of her death.
+      Of further particulars, or even of the name of this estate, I knew nothing
+      till this morning, when that letter from the aunt&mdash;here it is&mdash;tells
+      me, that the estate to which her niece was entitled is the great Wigram
+      estate, and that old Wigram was the rascally heir-at-law. The lawyer I
+      recommended to the lady was both an honest and a clever fellow; and he
+      represented so forcibly to old Wigram the consequences of his having his
+      fraud brought to light in a court of equity, that he made him soon agree
+      to a private reference. The affair has been compromised, and settled thus:&mdash;The
+      possession of the estate is given up, just as it stands, to the rightful
+      owner; and she forbears to call the old sinner to an account for past
+      arrears. She will let him make it out to the world and to his own
+      conscience, if he can, that he bona-fide believed her to be dead.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;so end Madam Beaumont&rsquo;s hopes of being at the head
+      of the Wigram estate, and so end her hopes of being a countess!&mdash;And
+      actually married to this ruined spendthrift!&mdash;Now we see the reason
+      he pressed on the match so, and urged her to marry him before the affair
+      should become public. She is duped, and for life!&mdash;poor Madam
+      Beaumont!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this moment Lady Hunter came out of her room, after having changed her
+      dress, and repaired her smiles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ready for my journey now,&rdquo; said she, passing by Mr. Palmer quickly. &ldquo;I
+      must show myself to the world of friends below, and bid them adieu. One
+      word, Captain Walsingham: there&rsquo;s no occasion, you know,&rdquo; whispered she,
+      &ldquo;to say any thing <i>below</i> of that letter; I really don&rsquo;t believe it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Too proud to let her mortification be known, Lady Hunter constrained her
+      feelings with all her might. She appeared once more with a pleased
+      countenance in the festive assembly. She received their compliments and
+      congratulations, and invited them, with all the earnestness of friendship,
+      to favour Sir John and her, as soon as possible, with their company at
+      Hunter Hall. The company were now fast departing; carriages came to the
+      door in rapid succession. Lady Hunter went through with admirable grace
+      and variety the sentimental ceremony of taking leave; and when her
+      splendid barouche was at the door, and when she was to bid adieu to her
+      own family, still she acted her part inimitably. In all the becoming mixed
+      smiles and tears of a bride, she was seen embracing by turns her beloved
+      daughter and son, and daughter-in-law and son-in-law, over and over again,
+      in the hall, on the steps; to the last moment contriving to be torn
+      delightfully from the bosom of her family by her impatient bridegroom.
+      Seated beside him in his barouche, she kissed her hand to Mr. Palmer,&mdash;smiled:
+      all her family, who stood on the steps, bowed; and Sir John drove away
+      with his prize.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a swindler!&rdquo; cried Mr. Palmer, &ldquo;and she is&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Amelia&rsquo;s mother,&rdquo; interrupted Captain Walsingham.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Right,&rdquo; said Mr. Palmer; &ldquo;but Amelia had a father too,&mdash;my excellent
+      friend, Colonel Beaumont,&mdash;whom she and her brother resemble in all
+      that is open-hearted and honourable. Well, well! I make no reflections; I
+      hate moral reflections. Every body can think and feel for themselves, I
+      presume. I only say,&mdash;Thank Heaven, we&rsquo;ve done with <i>manoeuvring!</i>&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      ALMERIA.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      John Hodgkinson was an eminent and wealthy Yorkshire grazier, who had no
+      children of his own, but who had brought up in his family Almeria
+      Turnbull, the daughter of his wife by a former husband, a Mr. Turnbull.
+      Mr. Turnbull had also been a grazier, but had not been successful in the
+      management of his affairs, therefore he could not leave his daughter any
+      fortune; and at the death of her mother, she became entirely dependent on
+      her father-in-law. Old Hodgkinson was a whimsical man, who, except in
+      eating and drinking, had no inclination to spend any part of the fortune
+      he had made; but, enjoying the consequence which money confers,
+      endeavoured to increase this importance by keeping all his acquaintance in
+      uncertainty, as to what he called his &ldquo;<i>testamentary dispositions</i>.&rdquo;
+       Sometimes he hinted that his step-daughter should be a match for the
+      proudest riband in England; sometimes he declared, that he did not know of
+      what use money could be to a woman, except to make her a prey to a
+      fortune-hunter, and that his girl should not be left in a way to be duped.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As to his daughter&rsquo;s education, that was an affair in which he did not
+      interfere: all that he wished was, that the girl should be kept humble,
+      and have no fine notions put into her head, nor any communication with
+      fine people. He kept company only with men of his own sort; and as he had
+      no taste for any kind of literature, Almeria&rsquo;s time would have hung rather
+      heavy upon her hands, had she been totally confined to his society: but,
+      fortunately for her, there lived in the neighbourhood an elderly gentleman
+      and his daughter, whom her father allowed her to visit. Mr. Elmour was a
+      country gentleman of a moderate fortune, a respectable family, and of a
+      most amiable character: between his daughter Ellen and Miss Turnbull there
+      had subsisted an intimacy from their earliest childhood. The professions
+      of this friendship had hitherto been much the warmest on the part of
+      Almeria; the proofs were, perhaps, the strongest on the side of Ellen.
+      Miss Elmour, as the daughter of a gentleman, whose family had been long
+      settled in the country, was rather <i>more considered</i> than Miss
+      Turnbull, who was the daughter of a grazier, whose money had but lately
+      raised him to the level of gentility. At Mr. Elmour&rsquo;s house Almeria had an
+      opportunity of being in much better company than she could ever have seen
+      at her father&rsquo;s; better company in every respect, but chiefly in the
+      popular, or more properly in the aristocratic sense of the term: her
+      visits had consequently been long and frequent; she appeared to have a
+      peculiar taste for refinement in manners and conversation, and often
+      deplored the want she felt of these at home. She expressed a strong desire
+      to acquire information, and to improve herself in every elegant
+      accomplishment; and Ellen, who was of a character far superior to the
+      little meanness of female competition and jealousy, shared with her friend
+      all the advantages of her situation. Old Hodgkinson never had any books in
+      his house, but such as Almeria borrowed from Mr. Elmour&rsquo;s library. Ellen
+      constantly sent Miss Turnbull all the new publications which her father
+      got from town&mdash;she copied for her friend the new music with which she
+      was supplied, showed her every new drawing or print, gave her the
+      advantage of the lessons she received from an excellent drawing master,
+      and let her into those little mysteries of art which masters sometimes
+      sell so dear.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This was done with perfect readiness and simplicity: Ellen never seemed
+      conscious that she was bestowing a favour; but appeared to consider what
+      she did as matters of course, or as the necessary consequences of
+      friendship. She treated her friend at all times, and in all companies,
+      with that uniform attention and equality of manner, which most people
+      profess, and which so few have strength of mind to practise. Almeria
+      expressed, and probably at this time felt, unbounded gratitude and
+      affection for Ellen; indeed her expressions were sometimes so vehement,
+      that Miss Elmour rallied her for being romantic. Almeria one day declared,
+      that she should wish to pass all the days of her life at Elmour Grove,
+      without seeing any other human creatures but her friend and her friend&rsquo;s
+      father.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your imagination deceives you, my dear Almeria,&rdquo; said Ellen, smiling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is my heart, not my imagination, that speaks,&rdquo; said Almeria, laying
+      her hand upon her heart, or upon the place where she fancied her heart
+      ought to be.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your understanding will, perhaps, speak a different language by and by,
+      and your heart will not be the worse for it, my good young lady,&rdquo; said old
+      Mr. Elmour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria persisted even to tears; and it was not till young Mr. Elmour came
+      home, and till she had spent a few weeks in his company, that she began to
+      admit that three was the number sacred to friendship. Frederick Elmour was
+      a man of honour, talents, spirit, and of a decided character: he was
+      extremely fond of his sister, and was prepossessed in favour of every
+      thing and person that she loved. Her intimate friend was consequently
+      interesting to him; and it must be supposed, that Miss Elmour&rsquo;s praises of
+      Almeria were managed more judiciously than eulogiums usually are, by the
+      effect which they produced. Frederick became attached to Miss Turnbull,
+      though he perceived that, in firmness and dignity of character, she was
+      not equal to his sister. This inferiority did not injure her in his
+      opinion, because it was always acknowledged with so much candour and
+      humility by Almeria, who seemed to look up to her friend as to a being of
+      a superior order. This freedom from envy, and this generous enthusiasm,
+      first touched young Mr. Elmour&rsquo;s heart. Next to possessing his sister&rsquo;s
+      virtues and talents, loving them was, in his opinion, the greatest merit.
+      He thought that a person capable of appreciating and admiring Ellen&rsquo;s
+      character, must be desirous of imitating her; and the similarity of their
+      tastes, opinions, and principles, seemed to him the most secure pledge for
+      his future happiness. Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s fortune, whatever it might be, was
+      an object of no great importance to him: his father, though not opulent,
+      was in easy circumstances, and was &ldquo;willing,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;to deprive himself
+      of some luxuries for the sake of his son, whom he would not controul in
+      the choice of a wife&mdash;a choice on which he knew, from his own
+      experience, that the happiness of life so much depends.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The benevolent old gentleman had peculiar merit in this conduct; because
+      if he had a weakness in the world, it was a prejudice in favour of what is
+      called <i>good family and birth</i>: it had long been the secret wish of
+      his heart that his only son might marry into a family as ancient as his
+      own. Frederick was fully sensible of the sacrifice that his father made of
+      his pride: but that which he was willing to make of what he called his
+      luxuries, his son&rsquo;s affection and sense of justice forbade him to accept.
+      He could not rob his father of any of the comforts of his declining years,
+      whilst in the full vigour of youth it was in his power, by his own
+      exertions, to obtain an independent maintenance. He had been bred to the
+      bar; no expense had been spared by his father in his education, no efforts
+      had been omitted by himself. He was now ready to enter on the duties of
+      his profession with ardour, but without presumption.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine must be pardoned by the most prudent, and admired by the most
+      romantic, for being desperately in love with a youth of such a character
+      and such expectations. Whilst the young lady&rsquo;s passion was growing every
+      hour more lively, her old father was growing every hour more lethargic. He
+      had a superstitious dread of making a will, as if it were a preparation
+      for death, which would hasten the fatal moment. Hodgkinson&rsquo;s friends tried
+      to conquer this prejudice: but it was in vain to reason with a man who had
+      never reasoned during the whole of his life about any thing except
+      bullocks. Old Hodgkinson died&mdash;that was a matter of no great
+      consequence to any body&mdash;but he died without a will, and that was a
+      matter of some importance to his daughter. After searching in every
+      probable and improbable place, there was, at length, found in his own
+      handwriting a memorandum, the beginning of which was in the first leaf of
+      his cookery-book, and the end in the last leaf of his prayer-book. There
+      was some difficulty in deciphering the memorandum, for it was cross-barred
+      with miscellaneous observations in inks of various colours&mdash;red,
+      blue, and green. As it is dangerous to garble law papers, we shall lay the
+      document before the public just as it appeared.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <i>Copy from first leaf of the Cookery-look</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      I John Hodgkinson of Vetch-field, East Riding of Yorkshire, Grazier and so
+      forth, not choosing to style myself Gentleman, though entitled so to do,
+      do hereby certify, that when I can find an honest attorney, <i>it is my</i>
+      intention to make my will and to leave&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Here the testator&rsquo;s memorandum was interrupted by a receipt in a
+      diminutive female hand, seemingly written some years before</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Turnbull&rsquo;s recipe, infallible for all aches, bruises, and strains.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Take a handful of these herbs following&mdash;Wormwood, Sage,
+      Broom-flowers, Clown&rsquo;s-All-heal, Chickweed, Cumphry, Birch, Groundsell,
+      Agremony, Southernwood, Ribwort, Mary Gould leaves, Bramble, Rosemary,
+      Rue, Eldertops, Camomile, Aly Campaigne-root, half a handful of Red
+      Earthworms, two ounces of Cummins-seeds, Deasy-roots, Columbine, Sweet
+      Marjoram, Dandylion, Devil&rsquo;s bit, six pound of May butter, two pound of
+      Sheep suet, half a pound of Deer suet, a quart of salet oil beat well in
+      y&rsquo; boiling till the oil be green&mdash;Then strain&mdash;It will be better
+      if you add a dozen of Swallows, and pound all their Feathers, Gizzards,
+      and Heads before boiling&mdash;It will cure all aches&mdash;<a
+      href="#linknote-9" name="linknoteref-9" id="linknoteref-9"><small>9</small></a>
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Beneath this valuable recipe, Mr. Hodgkinson&rsquo;s testamentary
+      dispositions continued as follows</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All I am worth in the world real or personal&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To Collar a Pig.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Take a young fat pig, and when he is well scalded, cut off his head, then
+      slit him down the back, take out his bones, lay him in a dish of milk and
+      water, and shift him twice a day&mdash;for the rest, turn to page 103.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To my step-daughter Almeria, who is now at Elmour Grove in her eighteenth
+      year&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Written across the above in red ink</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mem&rsquo;m&mdash;I prophecy this third day of August, that the man from Hull
+      will be here to-morrow with <i>fresh</i> mullets.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And as girls go, I believe a good girl, considering the times&mdash;but if
+      she disoblige me by marriage, or otherwise, I hereby revoke the same.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Written diagonally in red ink</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mem&rsquo;m&mdash;Weight of the Big Bullock, 90 score, besides offal.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>The value was so pale it could not be deciphered</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And I further intend to except out of my above bequest to my daughter
+      Almeria, the sum of ...
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A fine method to make Punch of Valentia dram. v. page 7.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ten thousand pounds, now in Sir Thomas Stock&rsquo;s my banker&rsquo;s hands as a
+      token of remembrance to John Hodgkinson of Hull, on account of his being
+      my namesake, and, I believe, relation&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Continuation in the last leaf of the prayer-book</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It is my further intention (whenever I find said honest attorney fit for
+      my will) to leave sundry mourning rings with my hair value (<i>blank</i>)&mdash;one
+      in particular to Charles Elmour, sen. esquire, and also&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Upside down, in red ink</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mem&rsquo;m&mdash;Yorkshire Puddings&mdash;Knox says good in my case.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Hodgkinson late Hannah A Turnbull (my wife) her prayer book, born Dec&rsquo;r
+      5th, 1700, died Jan&rsquo;y 4th, 1760; leaving only behind her, in this world,
+      Almeria Turnbull (my step daughter).
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Also another mourning ring to Frederick, the son of Charles Elmour, Esq.
+      and ditto to Ellen his daughter, if I have hair enough under my wig.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      [<i>Diagonal in red ink</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mem&rsquo;m&mdash;To know from Dr. Knox by return of post what is good against
+      sleep&mdash;in my case&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This is the short of my will&mdash;the attorney (when found) will make it
+      long enough.&mdash;And I hereby declare, that I will write no other will
+      with my own hand, for man, woman, or child&mdash;And that I will and do
+      hereby disinherit any person or persons&mdash;male or female&mdash;good&mdash;bad&mdash;or
+      indifferent&mdash;who shall take upon them to advise or speak to me about
+      making or writing my will&mdash;which is no business of theirs&mdash;This
+      my last resolution and memorandum, dated, this 5th of August&mdash;reap
+      to-morrow, (glass rising)&mdash;1766, and signed with my own hand, same
+      time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      John Hodgkinson, grazier &amp; so forth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now it happened, that Mr. Hodgkinson&rsquo;s namesake and relation disdained the
+      ten thousand pounds legacy, and claimed the whole property as heir-at-law.
+      Almeria, who was utterly unacquainted with business, applied to Mr. Elmour
+      in this difficulty, and he had the goodness to undertake the management of
+      her affairs. Frederick engaged to carry on her law-suit, and to plead her
+      cause against this rapacious Mr. Hodgkinson of Hull.&mdash;Whilst the suit
+      was pending, Miss Turnbull had an opportunity of seeing something of the
+      ways of the world; for the manners of her Yorkshire acquaintance, of all
+      but Ellen and the Elmours, varied towards her, according to the opinion
+      formed of the probable event of the trial on which her fortune depended.
+      She felt these variations most keenly. In particular, she was provoked by
+      the conduct of Lady Stock, who was at this time <i>the</i> fashionable
+      lady of York: Sir Thomas, her husband, was a great banker; and whenever
+      she condescended to visit her friends in the country, she shone upon them
+      in all the splendour and pride of wealth. Miss Turnbull, immediately after
+      her father&rsquo;s death, went, accompanied by old Mr. Elmour, to Sir Thomas
+      Stock, to settle accounts with him: she was received by his lady as a
+      great heiress, with infinite civility; her visit punctually returned, and
+      an invitation to dinner sent to her and the Elmours with all due
+      expedition. As she seemed to wish to accept of it, her friends agreed to
+      accompany her, though in general they disliked fine dinners; and though
+      they seldom left their retirement to mix in the gaieties of York. Miss
+      Turnbull was received in rather a different manner from what she expected
+      upon this occasion; for between the sending and the accepting of the
+      invitation, Lady Stock had heard that her title to the fortune was
+      disputed, and that many were of an opinion that, instead of having two
+      hundred thousand pounds, she would not have a shilling. Almeria was
+      scarcely noticed, on her entrance, by the lady of the house; she found
+      herself in a formidable circle, where every body seemed to consider her as
+      being out of her place. At dinner she was suffered to go to a side-table.
+      From the moment she entered the house till she left it, Lady Stock never
+      deigned to speak to her, nor for one instant to recollect that such a
+      person existed. Not even Madame Roland, when she was sent to the second
+      table at the fermier general&rsquo;s, expressed more indignation than Almeria
+      did, at the insolence of this banker&rsquo;s lady. She could think and speak of
+      nothing else, all the time she was going home in the evening to Elmour
+      Grove. Ellen, who had more philosophy than our heroine, did not sympathize
+      in the violence of her indignation: on the contrary, she was surprised
+      that Almeria could feel so much hurt by the slights of a woman, for whom
+      she had neither esteem nor affection, and with whom she was indeed
+      scarcely acquainted.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But does not her conduct excite your indignation?&rdquo; said Miss Turnbull.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No: it rather deserves my contempt. If a friend&mdash;if you, for
+      instance, had treated me in such a manner, it would have provoked my
+      anger, I dare say.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I! Oh, how impossible!&rdquo; cried Almeria. &ldquo;Such insufferable pride! Such
+      downright rudeness!&mdash;She was tolerably civil to you, but me she never
+      noticed: and this sudden change, it seems, Frederick, arises from her
+      doubts of my fortune.&mdash;Is not such meanness really astonishing?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It would be astonishing, perhaps,&rdquo; replied Frederick, &ldquo;if we did not see
+      similar instances every day.&mdash;Lady Stock, you know, is nothing but a
+      mere woman of the world.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hate mere women of the world,&rdquo; cried Almeria.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellen observed, that it was not worth while to hate, it was sufficient to
+      avoid them.&mdash;Almeria grew warmer in her abhorrence; and Ellen at last
+      expressed, half in jest, half in earnest, some fear, that if Miss Turnbull
+      felt with such exquisite sensibility the neglect of persons of fashion,
+      she might in a different situation be ambitious, or vain of their favour.
+      Almeria was offended, and was very near quarrelling with her friend for
+      harbouring such a mean opinion of her character.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you imagine that <i>I could</i> ever make a friend of such a person as
+      Lady Stock?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A friend! far from it. I am very sure that you could not.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then how could I be ambitious of her favour? I am desirous only of the
+      favour, esteem, and affection of my friends.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But people who live in what is called the world, you know, my dear
+      Almeria, desire to have acquaintance as well as friends,&rdquo; said Ellen; &ldquo;and
+      they value those by their fashion or rank, and by the honour which may be
+      received from their notice in public places.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, my dear,&rdquo; interrupted Almeria; &ldquo;though I have never been in London,
+      as you have, I understand all that perfectly well, I assure you; but I
+      only say, that I am certain I should never judge, and that I should never
+      act, in such a manner.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellen smiled, and said, &ldquo;It is difficult to be certain of what we should
+      do in situations in which we have never been placed.&rdquo;&mdash;Almeria burst
+      into tears, and her friend could scarcely pacify her by the kindest
+      expressions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Observe, my dear Almeria, that I said <i>we,</i> not <i>you</i>: I do not
+      pretend that, till I have been tried, I could be certain of my own
+      strength of mind in new situations: I believe it is from weakness, that
+      people are often so desirous of the notice of persons for whom they have
+      no esteem. If I were forced to live among a certain set of company, I
+      suppose I should, in time, do just as they do; for I confess, that I do
+      not think I could bear every day to be utterly neglected in society, even
+      such as we have been in to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria wondered to hear her friend speak with so little confidence of her
+      own spirit and independence; and vehemently declared that she was certain
+      no change of external circumstances could make any alteration in her
+      sentiments and feelings. Ellen forbore to press the subject farther,
+      although the proofs which Almeria had this day given of her stoicism were
+      not absolutely conclusive.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      About a month after this conversation had passed, the suit against Miss
+      Turnbull, to set aside Mr. Hodgkinson&rsquo;s will, was tried at York. The court
+      was crowded at an early hour; for much entertainment was expected, from
+      the oddity of old Hodgkinson&rsquo;s <i>testamentary dispositions</i>: besides,
+      the large amount of the property at stake could not fail to make the cause
+      interesting. Several ladies appeared in the galleries; among the rest,
+      Lady Stock&mdash;Miss Elmour was there also, to accompany Almeria&mdash;Frederick
+      was one of her counsel; and when it came to his turn to speak, he pleaded
+      her cause with so much eloquence and ability, as to obtain universal
+      approbation. After a trial, which lasted many hours, a verdict was given
+      in Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s favour. An immediate change appeared in the manners of
+      all her acquaintance&mdash;they crowded round her with smiles and
+      congratulations; and persons with whom she was scarcely acquainted, or who
+      had, till now, hardly deigned to acknowledge her acquaintance, accosted
+      her with an air of intimacy. Lady Stock, in particular, recovered, upon
+      this occasion, both her sight and speech: she took Almeria&rsquo;s hand most
+      graciously, and went on chattering with the greatest volubility, as they
+      stood at the door of the court-house. Her ladyship&rsquo;s handsome equipage had
+      drawn up, and she offered to carry Miss Turnbull home: Almeria excused
+      herself, but felt ashamed, when she saw the look of contempt which her
+      ladyship bestowed on Mr. Elmour&rsquo;s old coach, which was far behind a number
+      of others, and which could but ill bear a comparison with a new London
+      carriage. Angry with herself for this weakness, our heroine endeavoured to
+      conceal it even from her own mind; and feelings of gratitude to her
+      friends revived in her heart the moment she was out of the sight of her
+      fine acquaintance. She treated Ellen with even more than usual fondness;
+      and her acknowledgments of obligation to her counsel and his father were
+      expressed in the strongest terms. In a few days, there came a pressing
+      invitation from Lady Stock; Mr. Elmour had accounts of Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s to
+      settle with Sir Thomas, and, notwithstanding the air of indifference with
+      which she read the cards, Almeria was not sorry to accept of the
+      invitation, as she knew that she should be received in a very different
+      manner from that in which she had been treated on her former visit. She
+      laughed, and said, &ldquo;that she should be entertained by observing the change
+      which a few thousand pounds more or less could produce in Lady Stock&rsquo;s
+      behaviour.&rdquo; Yet, such is the inconsistency or the weakness of human
+      wishes, that the very attentions which our heroine knew were paid merely
+      to her fortune, and not to her merit, flattered her vanity; and she
+      observed, with a strange mixture of pain and pleasure, that there was a
+      marked difference in Lady Stock&rsquo;s manner towards her and <i>the Elmours</i>.
+      When the evening was over, and when she &ldquo;had leisure to be good,&rdquo; Almeria
+      called herself severely to account for this secret satisfaction, of which
+      she had been conscious from the preference given her over her friends&mdash;she
+      accused herself of ingratitude, and endeavoured to recover her own
+      self-complacency by redoubled professions of esteem and affection for
+      those to whom she had so much reason to be attached. But fresh invitations
+      came from Lady Stock, and the course of her thoughts again changed. Ellen
+      declined accompanying her; and Miss Turnbull regretted this exceedingly,
+      because it would be so distressing and awkward for her to go <i>alone</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then why do you go at all, my dear?&rdquo; said Ellen; &ldquo;you speak as if there
+      were some moral necessity for your visit.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Moral necessity! oh, no,&rdquo; said Almeria, laughing; &ldquo;but I really think
+      there is a <i>polite</i> necessity, if you will allow me the expression.
+      Would it not be rude for all of us to refuse, when Lady Stock has made
+      this music party, as she says, entirely on my account&mdash;on our
+      account, I mean? for you see she mentions your fondness for music; and if
+      she had not written so remarkably civilly to you, I assure you I would
+      neither go myself, nor think of pressing you to go.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This oratory had no effect upon Ellen: our heroine went alone to the music
+      meeting. The old coach returned to Elmour Grove at night, empty&mdash;the
+      servant brought &ldquo;Lady Stock&rsquo;s compliments, and she would send her carriage
+      home with Miss Turnbull early the next morning.&rdquo; After waiting above an
+      hour and a half beyond their usual time, the family were sitting down to
+      dinner the next day, when Miss Turnbull, in Lady Stock&rsquo;s fine carriage,
+      drove up the avenue&mdash;Frederick handed her out of the carriage with
+      more ceremony and less affection than he had ever shown before. Old Mr.
+      Elmour&rsquo;s manner was also more distant, and Ellen&rsquo;s colder. Almeria
+      attempted to apologize, but could not get through her speech:&mdash;she
+      then tried to laugh at her own awkwardness; but her laugh not being
+      seconded, she sat down to dinner in silence, colouring prodigiously, and
+      totally abashed. Good old Mr. Elmour was the first to relent, and to
+      endeavour, by resuming his usual kind familiarity, to relieve her painful
+      confusion. Ellen&rsquo;s coolness was also dissipated when Miss Turnbull took
+      her aside after dinner, and with tears in her eyes declared, &ldquo;she was
+      sorry she had not had sufficient strength of mind to resist Lady Stock&rsquo;s
+      importunities to stay all night;&mdash;that as to the carriage, it was
+      sent back without her knowledge; and that this morning, though she had
+      three or four times expressed her fears that she should keep her friends
+      at Elmour Grove waiting for dinner, yet Lady Stock would not understand
+      her hints;&rdquo; and she declared, &ldquo;she got away the very instant her
+      ladyship&rsquo;s carriage came to the door.&rdquo; By Ellen&rsquo;s kind interposition,
+      Frederick, whose pride had been most ready to take the alarm at the least
+      appearance of slight to his father and sister, was pacified&mdash;he laid
+      aside his ceremony to <i>Miss Turnbull</i>; called her &ldquo;Almeria,&rdquo; as he
+      used to do&mdash;and all was well again. With difficulty and blushes,
+      Almeria came out with an after-confession, that she had been so silly as
+      to make half a promise to Lady Stock, of going to her ball, and of
+      spending a few days with her at York, before she left the country.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But this promise was only conditional,&rdquo; said she: &ldquo;if you or your father
+      would take it the least ill or unkindly of me, I assure you I will not go&mdash;I
+      would rather offend all the Lady Stocks in the world than you, my dearest
+      Ellen, or your father, to whom I am so much obliged.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not talk of obligations,&rdquo; interrupted Ellen; &ldquo;amongst friends there
+      can be no obligations. I will answer for it that my father will not be
+      offended at your going to this ball; and I assure you I shall not take it
+      unkindly. If you would not think me very proud, I should tell you that I
+      wish for our sakes, as well as your own, that you should see as much of
+      this Lady Stock, and as many <i>Lady Stocks</i>, as possible; for I am
+      convinced that, upon <i>intimate</i> acquaintance, we must rise in your
+      opinion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria protested that she had never for an instant thought of comparing
+      Ellen with Lady Stock. &ldquo;A friend, a bosom friend, with an acquaintance&mdash;an
+      acquaintance of yesterday!&mdash;I never thought of making such a
+      comparison.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is the very thing of which I complain,&rdquo; said Ellen, smiling: &ldquo;I beg
+      you will make the comparison, my dear Almeria; and the more opportunities
+      you have of forming your judgment, the better.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Notwithstanding that there was something rather humiliating to Miss
+      Turnbull in the dignified composure with which Ellen now, for the first
+      time in her life, implied her own superiority, Almeria secretly rejoiced
+      that it was at her friend&rsquo;s own request that the visits to her fine
+      acquaintance were repeated. At Lady Stock&rsquo;s ball Miss Turnbull was much <i>distinguished,</i>
+      as it is called&mdash;Sir Thomas&rsquo;s eldest son was her partner; and though
+      he was not remarkably agreeable, yet his attentions were flattering to her
+      vanity, because the rival belles of York vied for his homage. The delight
+      of being taken notice of in public was new to Almeria, and it quite
+      intoxicated her brain. Six hours&rsquo; sleep afterwards were not sufficient to
+      sober her completely; as her friends at Elmour Grove perceived the next
+      morning&mdash;she neither talked, looked, nor moved like herself, though
+      she was perfectly unconscious that in this delirium of vanity and
+      affectation she was an object of pity and disgust to the man she loved.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellen had sufficient good-nature and candour to make allowance for foibles
+      in others from which her own character was totally free; she was
+      clear-sighted to the merits, but not blind to the faults, of her friends;
+      and she resolved to wait patiently till Almeria should return to herself.
+      Miss Turnbull, in compliance with her friend&rsquo;s advice, took as many
+      opportunities as possible of being with Lady Stock. Her ladyship&rsquo;s company
+      was by no means agreeable to Almeria&rsquo;s natural taste; for her ladyship had
+      neither sense nor knowledge, and her conversation consisted merely of
+      common-place phrases, or the second-hand affectation of fashionable
+      nonsense: yet, though Miss Turnbull felt no actual pleasure in her
+      company, she was vain of being of her parties, and even condescended to
+      repeat some of her sayings, in which there was neither sense nor wit. From
+      having lived much in the London world, her ladyship was acquainted with a
+      prodigious number of names of persons of consequence and quality; and by
+      these our heroine&rsquo;s ears were charmed. Her ladyship&rsquo;s dress was also an
+      object of admiration and imitation, and the York ladies begged patterns of
+      every thing she wore. Almeria consequently thought that no other clothes
+      could be worn with propriety; and she was utterly ashamed of her past self
+      for having lived so long in ignorance, and for having had so bad a taste,
+      as ever to have thought Ellen Elmour a model for imitation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Elmour,&rdquo; her ladyship said, &ldquo;was a very sensible young woman, no
+      doubt; but she could hardly be considered as a model of fashion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A new standard for estimating merit was raised in Almeria&rsquo;s mind; and her
+      friend, for an instant, sunk before the vast advantage of having the most
+      fashionable mantua-maker and milliner in town. Ashamed of this dereliction
+      of principle, she a few minutes afterwards warmly pronounced a panegyric
+      on Ellen, to which Lady Stock only replied with a vacant, supercilious
+      countenance, &ldquo;May be so&mdash;no doubt&mdash;of course&mdash;the Elmours
+      are a very respectable family, I&rsquo;m told&mdash;and really more genteel than
+      the country families one sees: but is not it odd, they don&rsquo;t <i>mix more?</i>
+      One seldom meets them in town any where, or at any of the watering-places
+      in summer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      To this charge, Almeria, with blushes, was forced to plead guilty for her
+      friends: she, however, observed, in mitigation, &ldquo;that when they were in
+      town, what company they did see was always the best, she believed&mdash;that
+      she knew, for one person, the Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash; was a friend of
+      the Elmours, and corresponded with Ellen.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This judicious defence produced an immediate effect upon Lady Stock&rsquo;s
+      countenance; her eyebrows descended from the high arch of contempt: and
+      after a pause, she remarked, &ldquo;it was strange that they had not accepted of
+      any of the invitations she had lately sent them&mdash;she fancied they
+      were, as indeed they had the character of being, very proud people&mdash;and
+      very odd.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria denied the pride and the oddity; but observed, &ldquo;that they were all
+      remarkably fond of <i>home</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, my dear Miss Turnbull, that&rsquo;s what I call odd; but I am sure I have
+      nothing to say against all that&mdash;it is the fashion now to let every
+      body do as they please: if the Elmours like to bury themselves alive, I&rsquo;m
+      sure I can&rsquo;t have the smallest objection; I only hope they don&rsquo;t insist
+      upon burying you along with them&mdash;I&rsquo;m going to Harrowgate for a few
+      days, and I must have you with me, my dear.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine hesitated. Lady Stock smiled, and said, she saw Miss Turnbull
+      was terribly afraid of these Elmours; that for her part, she was the last
+      person in the world to break through old connexions; but that really some
+      people ought to consider that other people cannot always live as they do;
+      that one style of life was fit for one style of fortune, and one for
+      another; and that it would look very strange to the world, if an heiress
+      with two hundred thousand pounds fortune, who if she produced herself
+      might be in the first circles in town, were to be boxed up at Elmour
+      Grove, and precluded from all advantages and offers that she might of
+      course expect.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To do our heroine justice, she here interrupted Lady Stock with more
+      eagerness than strict politeness admitted, and positively declared that
+      her friends never for one moment wished to confine her at Elmour Grove.
+      &ldquo;On the contrary,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;they urged me to go into company, and to see
+      something of the world, before I&mdash;&rdquo; marry, she was going to say&mdash;but
+      paused.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Stock waited for the finishing word; but when it did not come, she
+      went on just as if it had been pronounced. &ldquo;The Elmours do vastly right
+      and proper to talk to you in this style, for they would be very much
+      blamed in the world if they acted otherwise. You know, young Elmour has
+      his fortune to make&mdash;very clever certainly he is, and will rise&mdash;no
+      doubt&mdash;I&rsquo;m told&mdash;in his profession&mdash;but all that is not the
+      same as a ready-made fortune, which an heiress like you has a right to
+      expect. But do not let me annoy you with my reflections. Perhaps there is
+      nothing in the report&mdash;I really only repeat what I hear every body
+      say. In what every body says, you know there must be something. I
+      positively think you ought to show, in justice to the Elmours themselves,
+      that you are at liberty, and that they do not want to monopolize you&mdash;in
+      this unaccountable sort of way.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      To this last argument our heroine yielded, or to this she chose to
+      attribute her yielding. She went to Harrowgate with Lady Stock; and every
+      day and every hour she became more desirous of appearing fashionable. To
+      this one object all her thoughts were directed. Living in public was to
+      her a new life, and she was continually sensible of her dependence upon
+      the opinion of her more experienced companion. She felt the <i>awkwardness</i>
+      of being surrounded by people with whom she was unacquainted. At first,
+      whenever she appeared she imagined that every body was looking at her, or
+      talking about her, and she was in perpetual apprehension that something in
+      her dress or manners should become the subject of criticism or ridicule:
+      but from this fear she was soon relieved, by the conviction that most
+      people were so occupied with themselves as totally to overlook her.
+      Sometimes indeed she heard the whispered question of &ldquo;Who is that with
+      Lady Stock?&rdquo; and the mortifying answer, &ldquo;I do not know.&rdquo; However, when
+      Lady Stock had introduced her to some of her acquaintance as a great
+      heiress, the scene changed, and she found herself treated with much <i>consideration</i>;
+      though still the fashionable belles took sufficient care to make her
+      sensible of her inferiority. She longed to be upon an equal footing with
+      them. Whilst her mind was in this state, Sir Thomas Stock, one morning,
+      when he was settling some money business with her, observed that she would
+      in another year be of age, and of course would take her affairs into her
+      own hands; but in the mean time it would be necessary to appoint a
+      guardian; and that the choice depended upon herself. She instantly named
+      her friend Mr. Elmour. Sir Thomas insinuated that old Mr. Elmour, though
+      undoubtedly a most unexceptionable character, was not exactly the most
+      eligible person for a guardian to a young lady, whose large fortune
+      entitled her to live in a fashionable style. That if it was Miss
+      Turnbull&rsquo;s intention to fix in the country, Mr. Elmour certainly was upon
+      the spot, and a very fit guardian; but that if she meant to appear, as
+      doubtless she would, in town, she would of course want another conductor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To cut the matter short at once, my dear,&rdquo; said Lady Stock, &ldquo;you must
+      come to town with me next winter, and choose Sir Thomas for your guardian.
+      I&rsquo;m sure it will give him the greatest pleasure in the world to do any
+      thing in his power&mdash;and you will have no difficulties with him; for
+      you see he is not a man to bore you with all manner of advice; in short,
+      he would only be your guardian for form&rsquo;s sake; and that, you know, would
+      be the pleasantest footing imaginable. Come, here is a pen and ink and
+      gilt paper; write to old Elmour this minute, and let me have you all to
+      myself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria was taken by surprise: she hesitated&mdash;all her former
+      professions, all her obligations to the Elmour family, recurred to her
+      mind&mdash;her friendship for Ellen&mdash;her love, or what she had
+      thought love, for Frederick:&mdash;she could not decide upon a measure
+      that might offend them, or appear ungrateful; yet her desire of going to
+      town with Lady Stock was ardent, and she knew not how to refuse Sir
+      Thomas&rsquo;s offer without displeasing him. She saw that all future connexion
+      with <i>the Stocks</i> depended on her present determination&mdash;she
+      took a middle course, and suggested that she might have two guardians, and
+      then she should be able to avail herself of Sir Thomas&rsquo;s obliging offer
+      without offending her old friends. In consequence of this convenient
+      arrangement, she wrote to Mr. Elmour, enclosing her letter in one to
+      Ellen, in which the embarrassment and weakness of her mind were evident,
+      notwithstanding all her endeavours to conceal them. After a whole page of
+      incomprehensible apologies, for having so long delayed to write to her
+      dearest Ellen; and after professions of the warmest affection, esteem, and
+      gratitude, for her friends at Elmour Grove; she in the fourth page of her
+      epistle opened her real business, by declaring that she should ever, from
+      the conviction she felt of the superiority of Ellen&rsquo;s understanding,
+      follow her judgment, however repugnant it might sometimes be to her
+      inclinations; that she therefore had resolved, in pursuance of Ellen&rsquo;s
+      advice, to take an opportunity of seeing the gay world, and had accepted
+      of an invitation from Lady Stock to spend the winter with her in town&mdash;that
+      she had also accepted of Sir Thomas Stock&rsquo;s offer to become one of her
+      guardians, as she thought it best to trouble her good friend Mr. Elmour as
+      little as possible at his advanced age.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In answer to this letter, she received a few lines from Mr. Elmour,
+      requesting to see her before she should go to town: accordingly upon her
+      return to York, she went to Elmour Grove to take leave of her friends. She
+      was under some anxiety, but resolved to carry it off with that ease, or
+      affectation of ease, which she had learnt during her six weeks&rsquo; 
+      apprenticeship to a fine lady at Harrowgate. She was surprised that no
+      Frederick appeared to greet her arrival; the servant showed her into Mr.
+      Elmour&rsquo;s study. The good old gentleman received her with that proud sort
+      of politeness, which was always the sign, and the only sign, of his being
+      displeased.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will excuse me, Miss Turnbull,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;for giving you the trouble
+      of coming here; it was my business to have waited on you, but I have been
+      so far unwell lately, that it was not in my power to leave home; and these
+      are papers,&rdquo; continued he, &ldquo;which I thought it my duty to deliver into
+      your own hands.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Whilst Mr. Elmour was tying up these papers, and writing upon them,
+      Almeria began two sentences with &ldquo;I hope,&rdquo; and &ldquo;I am afraid,&rdquo; without in
+      the least knowing what she hoped or feared. She was not yet sufficiently
+      perfect in the part of a fine lady to play it well. Mr. Elmour looked up
+      from his writing with an air of grave attention when she began to speak,
+      but after waiting in vain for an intelligible sentence, he proceeded.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You have judged very wisely for me, Miss Turnbull, in relieving my
+      declining years from the fatigue of business: no man understands the
+      management or the value of money better than Sir Thomas Stock, and you
+      could not, madam, in this point of view, have chosen a more proper
+      guardian.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria said, &ldquo;that she hoped Mr. Elmour would always permit her to
+      consider him as her best friend, to whose advice she should have recourse
+      in preference to that of any person upon earth;&rdquo; recovering her assurance
+      as she went on speaking, and recollecting some of the hints Lady Stock had
+      given her, about the envy and jealousy of the Elmours, and of their scheme
+      of monopolizing her fortune; she added a few commonplace phrases about
+      respectability&mdash;gratitude&mdash;and great obligations&mdash;then gave
+      a glance at Lady Stock&rsquo;s handsome carriage, which was waiting at the door&mdash;then
+      asked for Miss Elmour&mdash;and hoped she should not be so unfortunate as
+      to miss seeing her before she left the country, as she came on purpose to
+      take leave of her&mdash;then looked at her watch:&mdash;but all this was
+      said and done with the awkwardness of a novice in the art of giving
+      herself airs. Mr. Elmour, without being in the least irritated by her
+      manner, was all the time considering how he could communicate, with the
+      least possible pain, what he had further to say&mdash;&ldquo;You speak of me,
+      Miss Turnbull, as of one of your guardians, in the letter I had the favour
+      of receiving from you a few days ago,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;but you must excuse me
+      for declining that honour. Circumstances have altered materially since I
+      first undertook the management of your affairs, and my future
+      interference, or perhaps even my advice, might not appear as disinterested
+      as formerly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull here interrupted him with an exclamation of astonishment,
+      and made many protestations of entire dependence upon his disinterested
+      friendship. He waited with proud patience till she had finished her
+      eulogium.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How far the generous extent of your confidence, madam, reaches, or may
+      hereafter reach,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;must be tried by others, not by me&mdash;nor
+      yet by my son.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria changed colour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;He has left it to me, madam, to do that for him, which perhaps he feared
+      he might not have sufficient resolution to do for himself&mdash;to return
+      to you these letters and this picture; and to assure you that he considers
+      you as entirely at liberty to form any connexion that may be suited to
+      your present views and circumstances.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Elmour put into her hand a packet of her own letters to Frederick, and
+      a miniature picture of herself, which she had formerly given to her lover.
+      This was an unexpected stroke. His generosity&mdash;his firmness of
+      character&mdash;the idea of losing him for ever&mdash;all rushed upon her
+      mind at once.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Artificial manners vanish the moment the natural passions are touched.
+      Almeria clasped her hands in an agony of grief, and exclaimed, &ldquo;Is he
+      gone? gone for ever?&mdash;I have deserved it!&rdquo;&mdash;The letters and
+      picture fell from her hand, and she sunk back quite overpowered. When she
+      recovered, she found herself in the open air on a seat under Mr. Elmour&rsquo;s
+      study windows, and Ellen beside her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pity, forgive, and advise me, my dear, my best, my only real friend,&rdquo;
+       said Almeria: &ldquo;never did I want your advice so much as at this moment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You shall have it, then, without reserve,&rdquo; said Ellen, &ldquo;and without fear
+      that it should be attributed to any unworthy motive. I could almost as
+      soon wish for my brother&rsquo;s death as desire to see him united to any woman,
+      let her beauty and accomplishments be what they might, who had a mean or
+      frivolous character, such as could consider money as the greatest good, or
+      dissipation as the prime object of life. I am firmly persuaded, my dear
+      Almeria, that however you may be dazzled by the first view of what is
+      called fashionable life, you will soon see things as they really are, and
+      that you will return to your former tastes and feelings.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! I am, I am returned to them!&rdquo; cried Almeria; &ldquo;I will write directly
+      to Lady Stock and to Sir Thomas, to tell them that I have changed my mind&mdash;only
+      prevail upon your father to be my guardian.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is out of my power,&rdquo; said Ellen; &ldquo;and I think that it is much better
+      you should be as you are, left completely at liberty, and entirely
+      independent of us. I advise you, Almeria, to persist in your scheme of
+      spending the ensuing winter in town with Lady Stock&mdash;then you will
+      have an opportunity of comparing your own different feelings, and of
+      determining what things are essential to your happiness. If you should
+      find that the triumphs of fashion delight you more than the pleasures of
+      domestic life; pursue them&mdash;your fortune will put it in your power;
+      you will break no engagements; and you will have no reproaches to fear
+      from us. On the contrary, if you find that your happiness depends upon
+      friendship and love, and that the life we formerly led together is that
+      which you prefer, you will return to Elmour Grove, to your friend and your
+      lover, and your choice will not be that of romance, but of reason.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was with difficulty that Almeria, in her present fit of enthusiasm,
+      could be brought to listen to sober sense and true friendship. Her parting
+      from Ellen and Mr. Elmour cost her many tears, and she returned to her
+      fashionable friend with swollen eyes and a heavy heart. Her sorrow,
+      however, was soon forgotten in the bustle and novelty of a new situation.
+      Upon her arrival in London, fresh trains of ideas were quickly forced upon
+      her mind, which were as dissimilar as possible from those associated with
+      love, friendship, and Elmour Grove. At Sir Thomas Stock&rsquo;s, every thing she
+      saw and heard served to remind, or rather to convince her, of the opulence
+      of the owner of the house. Here every object was estimated, not for its
+      beauty or elegance, but by its costliness. Money was the grand criterion,
+      by which the worth of animate and inanimate objects was alike decided. In
+      this society, the worship of the golden idol was avowed without shame or
+      mystery; and all who did not bow the knee to it were considered as
+      hypocrites or fools. Our heroine, possessed of two hundred thousand
+      pounds, could not fail to have a large share of incense&mdash;every thing
+      she said, or looked, was applauded in Sir Thomas Stock&rsquo;s family; and she
+      would have found admiration delightful, if she had not suspected that her
+      fortune alone entitled her to all this applause. This was rather a
+      mortifying reflection. By degrees, however, her delicacy on this subject
+      abated; she learned philosophically to consider her fortune a thing so
+      immediately associated with herself as to form a part of her personal
+      merit. Upon this principle, she soon became vain of her wealth, and she
+      was led to overrate the consequence that riches bestow on their possessor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a capital city, such numerous claimants for distinction appear, with
+      beauty, birth, wit, fashion, or wealth to support their pretensions, that
+      the vanity of an individual, however clamorous, is immediately silenced,
+      if not humbled. When Miss Turnbull went into public, she was surprised by
+      the discovery of her own, nay even of Lady Stock&rsquo;s insignificance. At York
+      her ladyship was considered as a personage high as human veneration could
+      look; but in London she was lost in a crowd of fellow-mortals.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It is, perhaps, from this sense of humiliation, that individuals combine
+      together, to obtain by their union that importance and self-complacency,
+      which separately they could never enjoy. Miss Turnbull observed, that a
+      numerous acquaintance was essential to those who lived much in public&mdash;that
+      the number of bows and curtsies, and the consequence of the persons by
+      whom they are given or received, is the measure of merit and happiness.
+      Nothing can be more melancholy than most places of public amusement, to
+      those who are strangers to the crowds which fill them.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Few people have such strength of mind as to be indifferent to the opinions
+      of numbers, even considered merely as numbers; hence those who live in
+      crowds, in fact surrender the power of thinking for themselves, either in
+      trifles or matters of consequence. Our heroine had imagined before she
+      came to town, that Lady Stock moved in the highest circle of fashion; but
+      she soon perceived that many of the people of rank who visited her
+      ladyship, and who partook of her sumptuous entertainments, thought they
+      condescended extremely whilst they paid this homage to wealth.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One night at the Opera, Almeria happened to be seated in the next box to
+      Lady Bradstone, a proud woman of high family, who considered all whose
+      genealogy could not vie in antiquity with her own as upstarts that ought
+      to be kept down. Her ladyship, either not knowing or not caring who was in
+      the next box to her, began to ridicule an entertainment which had been
+      given a few days before by Lady Stock. From her entertainment, the
+      transition was easy to her character, and to that of her whole family.
+      Young Stock was pronounced to have all the purse-proud self-sufficiency of
+      a banker, and all the pertness of a clerk; even his bow seemed as if it
+      came from behind the counter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Till this moment Almeria had at least permitted, if not encouraged, this
+      gentleman&rsquo;s assiduities; for she had hitherto seen him only in company
+      where he had been admired: his attentions, therefore, had been flattering
+      to her vanity. But things now began to appear in quite a different light:
+      she saw Mr. Stock in the point of view in which Lady Bradstone placed him;
+      and felt that she might be degraded, but could not be elevated, in the
+      ranks of fashion by such an admirer. She began to wish that she was not so
+      intimately connected with a family which was ridiculed for want of taste,
+      and whose wealth, as she now suspected, was their only ticket of
+      admittance into the society of the truly elegant. In the land of fashion,
+      &ldquo;Alps on Alps arise;&rdquo; and no sooner has the votary reached the summit of
+      one weary ascent than another appears higher still and more difficult of
+      attainment. Our heroine now became discontented in that situation, which
+      but a few months before had been the grand object of her ambition.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the mean time, as Mr. Stock had not overheard Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s
+      conversation at the Opera, and as he had a comfortably good opinion of
+      himself, he was sure that he was making a rapid progress in the lady&rsquo;s
+      favour. He had of late seldom heard her mention any of her friends at
+      Elmour Grove; and he was convinced that her romantic attachment to
+      Frederick must have been conquered by his own superior address. Her
+      fortune was fully as agreeable to him as to his money-making father: the
+      only difference between them was, that he loved to squander, and his
+      father to hoard gold. Extravagance frequently produces premature avarice&mdash;young
+      Mr. Stock calculated Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s fortune, weighed it against that of
+      every other young lady within the sphere of his attractions, found the
+      balance in her favour by some thousands, made his proposal in form, and
+      could not recover his astonishment, when he found himself in form
+      rejected. Sir Thomas and Lady Stock used all their influence in his
+      favour, but in vain: they concluded that Almeria&rsquo;s passion for Frederick
+      Elmour was the cause of this refusal; and they directed their arguments
+      against the folly of marrying for love. Our heroine was at this time more
+      in danger of the folly of marrying for fashion: not that she had fixed her
+      fancy upon any man of fashion in particular, but she had formed an exalted
+      idea of the whole species&mdash;and she regretted that Frederick was not
+      in that magic circle in which all her hopes of happiness now centred. She
+      wrote kind letters to Miss Elmour, but each letter was written with
+      greater difficulty than the preceding; for she had lost all interest in
+      the occupations which formerly were so delightful. She and Ellen had now
+      few ideas in common; and her epistles dwindled into apologies for long
+      silence&mdash;promises of being a better correspondent in future&mdash;reasons
+      for breaking these promises&mdash;hopes of pardon, &amp;c. Ellen, however,
+      continued steady in her belief that her friend would at last prove worthy
+      of her esteem, and of her brother&rsquo;s love. The rejection of Mr. Stock,
+      which Almeria did not fail to mention, confirmed this favourable opinion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When that gentleman was at length with some difficulty convinced that our
+      heiress had decided against him, his manners and those of his family
+      changed towards her from the extreme of civility to that of rudeness&mdash;they
+      spoke of her as a coquette and a jilt, and a person who gave herself very
+      extraordinary airs. She was vexed, and alarmed&mdash;and in her first
+      confusion and distress thought of retreating to her friends at Elmour
+      Grove. She wrote a folio sheet to Ellen, unlike her late apologetic
+      epistles, full of the feelings of her heart, and of a warm invective
+      against fashionable and interested <i>friends</i>. After a narrative of
+      her quarrel with the Stocks, she declared that she would immediately quit
+      her London acquaintance and return to her best friend. But the very day
+      after she had despatched this letter she changed her mind, and formed a
+      new idea of a <i>best friend</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One morning she went with Lady Stock to a bookseller&rsquo;s, whose shop served
+      as a fashionable <i>lounge</i>. Her ladyship valued books, like all other
+      things, in proportion to the money which they cost: she had no taste for
+      literature, but a great fancy for accumulating the most expensive
+      publications, which she displayed ostentatiously as part of the costly
+      furniture of her house. Whilst she was looking over some literary
+      luxuries, rich in all the elegance of hot-press and vellum binding, Lady
+      Bradstone and a party of her friends came into the room. She immediately
+      attracted and engrossed the attention of all present. Lady Stock turned
+      over the leaves of the fine books, and asked their prices; but she had the
+      mortification to perceive that she was an object rather of derision than
+      of admiration to the new comers. None are so easily put out of countenance
+      by airs, as those who are most apt to play them off on their inferiors.
+      Lady Stock bit her lips in evident embarrassment, and the awkwardness of
+      her distress increased the confidence and triumph of her adversary. She
+      had some time before provoked Lady Bradstone by giving a concert in
+      opposition to one of hers, and by engaging, at an enormous expense, a
+      celebrated performer for <i>her night</i>: hostilities had thenceforward
+      been renewed at every convenient opportunity, by the contending fair ones.
+      Lady Bradstone now took occasion loudly to lament her extreme poverty; and
+      she put this question to all her party, whether if they had it in their
+      power they should prefer having more money than taste, or more taste than
+      money? They were going to decide <i>par acclamation</i>, but her ladyship
+      insisted upon taking each vote separately, because this prolonged the
+      torments of her rival, who heard the preference of taste to money
+      reiterated half a dozen times over, with the most provoking variety of
+      insulting emphasis. Almeria&rsquo;s sufferings during this scene were far more
+      poignant than those of the person against whom the ridicule was aimed: not
+      that she pitied Lady Stock&mdash;no; she would have rejoiced to have seen
+      her humbled to the dust, if she could have escaped all share in her
+      mortification: but as she appeared as her ladyship&rsquo;s acquaintance, she
+      apprehended that she might be mistaken for her friend. An opportunity
+      offered of marking the difference. The bookseller asked Lady Stock if she
+      chose to put her name down in a list of subscribers to a new work. The
+      book, she saw, was to be dedicated to Lady Bradstone&mdash;and that was
+      sufficient to decide her against it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She declared that she never supported such things either by her name or
+      her money; that for her part she was no politician; that she thought
+      female patriots were absurd and odious; and that she was glad none of that
+      description were of her acquaintance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      All this was plainly directed against Lady Bradstone, who was a zealous
+      patriot: her ladyship retorted, by some reflections equally keen, but
+      rather more politely expressed, each party addressing their inuendoes to
+      the bookseller, who afraid to disoblige either the rich or the
+      fashionable, preserved, as much as it was in the power of his muscles, a
+      perfectly neutral countenance. At last, in order to relieve himself from
+      his constraint, he betook himself to count the subscribers, and Miss
+      Turnbull seized this moment to desire that her name might be added to the
+      list. Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s eyes were immediately fixed upon her with
+      complacency&mdash;Lady Stock&rsquo;s flashed fire. Regardless of their fire,
+      Almeria coolly added, &ldquo;Twelve copies, sir, if you please.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Twelve copies, Miss Turnbull, at a guinea a-piece! Lord bless me, do you
+      know what you are about, my dear?&rdquo; said Lady Stock.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perfectly well,&rdquo; replied our heroine; &ldquo;I think twelve guineas, or twenty
+      times that sum, would be well bestowed in asserting independence of
+      sentiment, which I understand is the object of this work.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A whisper from Lady Bradstone to one of the shopmen, of &ldquo;Who is that
+      charming woman?&rdquo; gave our heroine courage to pronounce these words. Lady
+      Stock in great displeasure walked to her carriage, saying, &ldquo;You are to
+      consider what you will do with your twelve copies, Miss Turnbull; for I am
+      convinced your guardian will never let such a parcel of inflammatory trash
+      into his house: he admires female patriotism, and <i>all that sort of
+      thing</i>, as little as I do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The rudeness of this speech did not disconcert Almeria; for she was
+      fortified by the consciousness that she had gained her point with Lady
+      Bradstone. This lady piqued herself upon showing her preferences and
+      aversions with equal enthusiasm and <i>éclat</i>. She declared before a
+      large company at dinner, that notwithstanding Miss Turnbull was <i>nobody</i>
+      by birth, she had made herself <i>somebody</i> by spirit; and that for her
+      part, she should, contrary to her general principle, which she confessed
+      was to keep a strong line of demarcation between nobility and mobility,
+      take a pride in bringing forward merit even in the shape of a Yorkshire
+      grazier&rsquo;s daughter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Pursuant to this gracious declaration, she empowered a common friend to
+      introduce Miss Turnbull to her, on the first opportunity. When people
+      really wish to become acquainted with each other, opportunities are easily
+      and quickly found. The parties met, to their mutual satisfaction, that
+      very night in the waiting-room of the Opera-house, and conversed more in
+      five minutes than people in town usually converse in five months or years,
+      when it is their wish to keep on a merely civil footing. But this was not
+      the footing on which Miss Turnbull desired to be with Lady Bradstone; she
+      took the utmost pains to please, and succeeded. She owed her success
+      chiefly to the dexterous manner in which she manifested her contempt for
+      her late dear friend Lady Stock. Her having refused an alliance with the
+      family was much in her favour; her ladyship admired her spirit, but little
+      suspected that the contemptuous manner in which she had once been
+      overheard to speak of this <i>banker&rsquo;s son</i> was the real and immediate
+      cause of his rejection. The phrase&mdash;&ldquo;<i>only</i> Stock the banker&rsquo;s
+      son&rdquo;&mdash;decided his fate: so much may be done by the mere emphasis on a
+      single word from fashionable lips! Our heroine managed with considerable
+      address in bringing her quarrel with one friend to a crisis at the moment
+      when another was ready to receive her. An ostensible pretext is never
+      wanting to those who are resolved on war. The book to which Miss Turnbull
+      had subscribed was the pretext upon this occasion: nothing could be more
+      indifferent to her than politics; but Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s party and
+      principles were to be defended at all events. Sir Thomas Stock protested
+      that he might be hurt essentially in the opinion of those for whom he had
+      the highest consideration if a young lady living under his roof, known to
+      be his ward, and probably presumed to be guided by him, should put her
+      name as subscriber to twelve copies of a work patronized by Lady
+      Bradstone. &ldquo;The mere circumstance of its being dedicated to her ladyship
+      showed what it <i>must</i> be,&rdquo; Sir Thomas observed; and he made it a
+      point with Miss Turnbull that she should withdraw her name from the
+      subscription. This Miss Turnbull absolutely refused. Lady Bradstone was
+      her confidante upon the occasion, and half-a-dozen notes a day passed
+      between them: at length the affair was brought to the long wished-for
+      crisis. Lady Bradstone invited Miss Turnbull to her house, feeling
+      herself, as she said, bound in honour to <i>bear her out</i> in a dispute
+      of which she had been the original occasion. In this lady&rsquo;s society
+      Almeria found the style of dress, manners, and conversation, different
+      from what she had seen at Lady Stock&rsquo;s: she had without difficulty
+      imitated the affectation of Lady Stock, but there was an ease in the
+      decided tone of Lady Bradstone which could not be so easily acquired.
+      Having lived from her infancy in the best company, there was no
+      heterogeneous mixture in her manners; and the consciousness of this gave
+      an habitual air of security to her words, looks, and motions. Lady Stock
+      seemed forced to beg or buy&mdash;Lady Bradstone accustomed to command or
+      levy admiration as her rightful tribute. The pride of Lady Bradstone was
+      uniformly resolute, and successful; the insolence of Lady Stock, if it
+      were opposed, became cowardly and ridiculous. Lady Bradstone seemed to
+      have, on all occasions, an instinctive sense of what a person of fashion
+      ought to do; Lady Stock, notwithstanding her bravadoing air, was
+      frequently perplexed, and anxious, and therefore awkward: she had always
+      recourse to precedents. &ldquo;Lady P&mdash;&mdash; said so, or Lady Q&mdash;&mdash;
+      did so; Lady G&mdash;&mdash; wore this, or Lady H&mdash;&mdash; was there,
+      and therefore I am sure it is proper.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On the contrary, Lady Bradstone never quoted authorities, but presumed
+      that she was a precedent for others. The one was eager to follow, the
+      other determined to lead, the fashion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine, who was by no means deficient in penetration, and whose whole
+      attention was now given to the study of externals, quickly perceived these
+      shades of difference between her late and her present friend. She
+      remarked, in particular, that she found herself much more at ease in Lady
+      Bradstone&rsquo;s society. Her ladyship&rsquo;s pride was not so offensive as Lady
+      Stock&rsquo;s vanity: secure of her own superiority, Lady Bradstone did not want
+      to measure herself every instant with inferiors. She treated Almeria as
+      her equal in every respect; and in setting her right in points of fashion
+      never seemed to triumph, but to consider her own knowledge as a necessary
+      consequence of the life she had led from her infancy. With a sort of proud
+      generosity, she always considered those whom she honoured with her
+      friendship as thenceforward entitled to all the advantages of her own
+      situation, and to all the respect due to a part of herself. She now always
+      used the word <i>we</i>, with peculiar emphasis, in speaking of Miss
+      Turnbull and herself. This was a signal perfectly well understood by her
+      acquaintance. Almeria was received every where with the most distinguished
+      attention; and she was delighted, and absolutely intoxicated, with her
+      sudden rise in the world of fashion. She found that her former
+      acquaintance at Lady Stock&rsquo;s were extremely ambitious of claiming an
+      intimacy; but this could not be done. Miss Turnbull had now acquired, by
+      practice, the power of looking at people without seeming to see them, and
+      of forgetting those with whom she was perfectly well acquainted. Her
+      opinion of her own consequence was much raised by the court that was paid
+      to her by several young men of fashion, who thought it expedient to marry
+      two hundred thousand pounds.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      How quickly ambition extends her views! Our heroine&rsquo;s highest object had
+      lately been to form an alliance with a man of fashion; she had now three
+      fashionable admirers in her train, but though she was flattered by their
+      attention, she had not the least inclination to decide in favour of any of
+      these candidates. The only young man of her present acquaintance who
+      seemed to be out of the reach of her power was Lord Bradstone; and upon
+      the conquest of his heart, or rather his pride, her fancy was fixed. He
+      had all his mother&rsquo;s family pride, and he had been taught by her to expect
+      an alliance with a daughter of one of the first noble families in England.
+      The possibility of his marrying a grazier&rsquo;s daughter had never entered
+      into his or Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s thoughts: they saw, indeed, every day,
+      examples, among the first nobility, of such matches; but they saw them
+      with contempt. Almeria knew this, and yet she did not despair of success:
+      nor was she wrong in her calculations. Lord Bradstone was fond of high
+      play&mdash;his taste for gaming soon reduced him to distress&mdash;his
+      guardian was enraged, and absolutely refused to pay his lordship&rsquo;s debts.
+      What was to be done?&mdash;He must extricate himself from his difficulties
+      by marrying some rich heiress. Miss Turnbull was the heiress nearest at
+      hand. Lord Bradstone&rsquo;s pride was compelled to yield to his interest, and
+      he resolved to pay his addresses to the Yorkshire grazier&rsquo;s daughter: but
+      he knew that his mother would be indignant at this idea; and he therefore
+      determined to proceed cautiously, and to assure himself of the young
+      lady&rsquo;s approbation before he should brave his mother&rsquo;s anger.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The winter was now passed, and her ladyship invited Miss Turnbull to
+      accompany her to Cheltenham;&mdash;her son was of the party. Our heroine
+      plainly understood his intentions, and her friendship for Lady Bradstone
+      did not prevent her from favouring his views: neither was she deterred by
+      her knowledge of his lordship&rsquo;s taste for play, so ardent was her desire
+      for a coronet. The recollection of Frederick Elmour sometimes crossed her
+      imagination, and struck her heart; but the pang was soon over, and she
+      settled her conscience by the reflection, that she was not, in the least
+      degree, bound in honour to him&mdash;he had set her entirely at liberty,
+      and could not complain of her conduct. As to Ellen&mdash;every day she
+      determined to write to her, and every day she put it off till to-morrow.
+      At last she was saved the trouble of making and breaking any more
+      resolutions: for one evening, as she was walking with Lady Bradstone and
+      her noble admirer, in the public walk, she met Miss Elmour and her
+      brother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She accosted Ellen with great eagerness; but it was plain to her friend&rsquo;s
+      discerning eyes that her joy was affected. After repeating several times
+      that she was quite delighted at this unexpected meeting, she ran on with a
+      number of commonplace questions, commencing and concluding with, &ldquo;When did
+      you come?&mdash;How long do you stay?&mdash;Where do you lodge?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We have been here about a fortnight, and I believe we shall stay about a
+      month longer.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed!&mdash;A month!&mdash;So long!&mdash;How fortunate!&mdash;But
+      where are you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We lodge a little out of the town, on the road to Cirencester.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How unfortunate!&mdash;We are at such a shocking distance!&mdash;I&rsquo;m with
+      Lady Bradstone&mdash;a most charming woman!&mdash;Whom are you with?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With my poor father,&rdquo; said Ellen; &ldquo;he has been very ill lately, and we
+      came here on his account.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ill!&mdash;Old Mr. Elmour!&mdash;I&rsquo;m extremely concerned&mdash;but whom
+      have you to attend him?&mdash;you should send to town for Dr. Grant&mdash;do
+      you know he is the only man now?&mdash;the only man Lady Bradstone and I
+      have any dependence on&mdash;if I were dying, he is the man I should send
+      for. Do have him for Mr. Elmour, my dear&mdash;and don&rsquo;t be alarmed, above
+      all things&mdash;you know it&rsquo;s so natural, at your father&rsquo;s age, that he
+      should not be as well as he has been&mdash;but I distress you&mdash;and
+      detain you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine, after running off these unmeaning sentences, passed on, being
+      ashamed to walk with Ellen in public, because Lady Bradstone had
+      whispered, &ldquo;<i>Who is she?</i>&rdquo;&mdash;Not to be known in the world of
+      fashion is an unpardonable crime, for which no merit can atone. Three days
+      elapsed before Miss Turnbull went to see her friends, notwithstanding her
+      extreme concern for poor Mr. Elmour. Her excuse to her conscience was,
+      that Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s carriage could not sooner be spared. People in a
+      certain rank of life are, or make themselves, slaves to horses and
+      carriages; with every apparent convenience and luxury, they are frequently
+      more dependent than their tradesmen or their servants. There was a time
+      when Almeria would not have been restrained by these imaginary <i>impossibilities</i>
+      from showing kindness to her friends; but that time was now completely
+      past. She was, at present, anxious to avoid having any private
+      conversation with Ellen, because she was ashamed to avow her change of
+      views and sentiments. In the short morning visit which she paid her,
+      Almeria talked of public places, of public characters, of dress and
+      equipages, &amp;c. She inquired, indeed, with a modish air of infinite
+      sensibility, for poor Mr. Elmour; and when she heard that he was confined
+      to his bed, she regretted most excessively that she could not see him; but
+      a few seconds afterwards, with a suitable change of voice and countenance,
+      she made an easy transition to the praise of a new dress of Lady
+      Bradstone&rsquo;s invention. Frederick Elmour came into the room in the midst of
+      the eulogium on her ladyship&rsquo;s taste&mdash;she was embarrassed for a
+      moment; but quickly recovering the tone of a fine lady, she spoke to him
+      as if he had never been any thing to her but a common acquaintance. The
+      dignity and firmness of his manner provoked her pride; she wished to
+      coquet with him&mdash;she tried to excite his jealousy by talking of Lord
+      Bradstone: but vain were all her airs and inuendoes; they could not extort
+      from him even a sigh. She was somewhat consoled, however, by observing in
+      his sister&rsquo;s countenance the expression, as she thought, of extreme
+      mortification.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A few days after this visit, Miss Turnbull received the following note
+      from Miss Elmour:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;MY DEAR ALMERIA,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you still wish that I should treat you as a friend, show me that you
+      do, and you will find my affection unaltered. If, on the contrary, you
+      have decided to pursue a mode of life, or to form connexions which make
+      you ashamed to own any one for a friend who is not a fine lady, let our
+      intimacy be dissolved for ever&mdash;it could only be a source of mutual
+      pain. My father is better to-day, and wishes to see you. Will you spend
+      this evening with him and with Your affectionate ELLEN ELMOUR?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It happened that the very day Miss Turnbull received this note, Lady
+      Bradstone was to have a concert, and Almeria knew that her ladyship would
+      be offended if she were to spend the evening with the Elmours: it was, as
+      she said to herself, <i>impossible</i>, therefore, to accept of Ellen&rsquo;s
+      invitation. She called upon her in the course of the morning, to make an
+      apology. She found Ellen beside her father, who was seated in his
+      arm-chair: he looked extremely pale and weak: she was at first shocked at
+      the change she saw in her old friend, and she could not utter the
+      premeditated apology. Ellen took it for granted that she was come, in
+      consequence of her note, to spend the day with her, and she embraced her
+      with affectionate joy. Her whole countenance changed when our heroine
+      began at last to talk of Lady Bradstone and the concert&mdash;Ellen burst
+      into tears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear child,&rdquo; said Mr. Elmour, putting his hand upon his daughter&rsquo;s,
+      which rested upon the arm of his chair, &ldquo;I did not expect this weakness
+      from you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull, impatient to shorten a scene which she had neither strength
+      of mind to endure nor to prevent, rose to take leave.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear Ellen,&rdquo; said she, in an irresolute tone, &ldquo;my dearest creature,
+      you must not distress yourself in this way&mdash;I must have you keep up
+      your spirits. You confine yourself too much, indeed you do; and you see
+      you are not equal to it. Your father will be better, and he will persuade
+      you to leave him for an hour or two, I am sure, and we must have you
+      amongst us; and I must introduce you to Lady Bradstone&mdash;she&rsquo;s a
+      charming woman, I assure you&mdash;you would like her of all things, if
+      you knew her. Come&mdash;don&rsquo;t let me see you in this way. Really, my dear
+      Ellen, this is so unlike you&mdash;I can assure you that, whatever you may
+      think, I love you as well as ever I did, and never shall forget my
+      obligations to <i>all</i> your family; but, you know, a person who lives
+      in the world, as I do, must make such terrible sacrifices of their time&mdash;one
+      can&rsquo;t do as one pleases&mdash;one&rsquo;s an absolute slave. So you must forgive
+      me, dear Ellen, for bidding you farewell for the present.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellen hastily wiped away her tears, and turning to Almeria with an air of
+      dignity, held out her hand to her, and said, &ldquo;Farewell for ever, Almeria!&mdash;May
+      you never feel the want of a sincere and affectionate friend!&mdash;May
+      the triumphs of fashion make you amends for all you sacrifice to obtain
+      them!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull was abashed and agitated&mdash;she hurried out of the room
+      to conceal her confusion, stepped into a carriage with a coronet, drove
+      away, and endeavoured to forget all that had passed. The concert in the
+      evening recalled her usual train of ideas, and she persuaded herself that
+      she had done all, and more than was necessary, in offering to introduce
+      Ellen to Lady Bradstone. &ldquo;How could she neglect such an offer?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A few days after the concert, Almeria had the pleasure of being introduced
+      to Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s four daughters&mdash;Lady Gabriella, Lady Agnes, Lady
+      Bab, and Lady Kitty. Of the existence of these young ladies Almeria had
+      scarcely heard&mdash;they had been educated at a fashionable
+      boarding-school; and their mother was now under the disagreeable necessity
+      of bringing them home to live with her, because the eldest was past
+      seventeen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Gabriella was a beauty, and determined to be a Grace&mdash;but which
+      of the three Graces, she had not yet decided.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Agnes was plain, and resolved to be a wit.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Bab and Lady Kitty were charming hoydens, with all the <i>modern</i>
+      simplicity of fourteen or fifteen in their manners. Lady Bab had a fine
+      long neck, which was always in motion&mdash;Lady Kitty had white teeth,
+      and was always laughing;&mdash;but it is impossible to characterize them,
+      for they differed in nothing from a thousand other young ladies.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      These four sisters agreed in but one point&mdash;in considering their
+      mother as their common enemy. Taking it for granted that Miss Turnbull was
+      her friend, she was looked upon by them as being naturally entitled to a
+      share of their distrust and enmity. They found a variety of causes of
+      complaint against our heroine; and if they had been at any loss, their
+      respective waiting-maids would have furnished them with inexhaustible
+      causes of quarrel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Bradstone could not bear to go with more than four in a coach.&mdash;&ldquo;Why
+      was Miss Turnbull always to have a front seat in the coach, and two of the
+      young ladies to be always left at home on her account?&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;How could
+      Lady Bradstone make such a favourite of a grazier&rsquo;s daughter, and prefer
+      her to her own children as a companion?&rdquo; &amp;c.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The young ladies never discouraged their attendants from saying all the
+      ill-natured things that they could devise of Miss Turnbull, and they
+      invented a variety of methods of tormenting her. Lady Gabriella found out
+      that Almeria was horridly ugly and awkward; Lady Agnes <i>quizzed</i> her
+      perpetually; and the Ladies Bab and Kitty played upon her innumerable
+      practical jokes. She was astonished to find in high life a degree of
+      vulgarity of which her country companions would have been ashamed: but all
+      such things in high life go under the general term <i>dashing</i>. These
+      young ladies were <i>dashers</i>. Alas! perhaps foreigners and future
+      generations may not know the meaning of the term!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine&rsquo;s temper was not proof against the trials to which it was
+      hourly exposed: perhaps the consciousness that she was not born to the
+      situation in which she now moved, joined to her extreme anxiety to be
+      thought genteel and fashionable, rendered her peculiarly irritable when
+      her person and manners were attacked by ladies of quality. She endeavoured
+      to conciliate her young enemies by every means in her power, and at length
+      she found a method of pleasing them. They were immoderately fond of
+      baubles, and they had not money enough to gratify this taste. Miss
+      Turnbull at first, with great timidity, begged Lady Gabriella&rsquo;s acceptance
+      of a ring, which seemed particularly to catch her fancy: the facility with
+      which the ring was accepted, and the favourable change it produced, as if
+      by magic, in her ladyship&rsquo;s manners towards our heroine, encouraged her to
+      try similar experiments upon the other sisters. She spared not ear-rings,
+      crosses, brooches, pins, and necklaces; and the young ladies in return
+      began to show her all the friendship which can be purchased by such
+      presents&mdash;or by any presents. Even whilst she rejoiced at the change
+      in their behaviour, she could not avoid despising them for the cause to
+      which she knew it must be attributed; nor did she long enjoy even the
+      temporary calm procured by these peace-offerings; for the very same things
+      which propitiated the daughters offended the mother. Lady Bradstone one
+      morning insisted upon Lady Gabriella&rsquo;s returning a necklace, which she had
+      received from Almeria; and her ladyship informed Miss Turnbull, at the
+      same time, with an air of supreme haughtiness, that &ldquo;she could not
+      possibly permit <i>her</i> daughters to accept such valuable presents from
+      any but their own relations; that if the Lady Bradstones did not know what
+      became them, it was her duty to teach them propriety.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was rather late in life to begin to teach, even if they had been
+      inclined to learn. They resented her last lesson, or rather her last act
+      of authority, with acrimony proportioned to the value of the object; and
+      Miss Turnbull was compelled to hear their complaints. Lady Gabriella said,
+      she was convinced that her mother&rsquo;s only reason for making her return the
+      necklace was because she had not one quite so handsome. Lady Agnes,
+      between whom and her mamma there was pending a dispute about a pair of
+      diamond ear-rings, left by her grandmother, observed, that her mother
+      might, if she pleased, call <i>jealousy, propriety</i>; but that she must
+      not be surprised if other people used the old vocabulary; that her mamma&rsquo;s
+      pride and vanity were always at war; for that though she was proud enough
+      to see her daughters <i>show well</i> in public, yet she required to have
+      it said that she looked younger than any of them, and that she was
+      infinitely better dressed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Bab and Lady Kitty did not fail in this favourable moment of general
+      discontent to bring forward their list of grievances; and in the
+      discussion of their rights and wrongs they continually appealed to our
+      heroine, crowding round her whilst she stood silent and embarrassed.
+      Ashamed of them and of herself, she compared the Lady Bradstones with
+      Ellen&mdash;she compared the sisters-in-law she was soon to have with the
+      friend she had forsaken. The young ladies mistook the expression of
+      melancholy in Almeria&rsquo;s countenance at this instant, for sympathy in their
+      sorrows; and her silence, for acquiescence in the justice of their
+      complaints. They were reiterating their opinions with something like
+      plebeian loudness of voice, when their mother entered the room. The ease
+      with which her daughters changed their countenances and the subject of
+      conversation, when she entered, might have prevented all suspicion but for
+      the blushes of Almeria, who, though of all the party she was the least
+      guilty, looked by far the most abashed. The necklace which hung from her
+      hand, and on which in the midst of her embarrassment her eyes
+      involuntarily fell, seemed to Lady Bradstone proof positive against her.
+      Her ladyship recollected certain words she had heard as she opened the
+      door, and now applied them without hesitation to herself. Politeness
+      restrained the expression of her anger towards Miss Turnbull, but it burst
+      furiously forth upon her daughters; and our heroine was now as much
+      alarmed by the violence of her future mother-in-law as she had been
+      disgusted by the meanness of her <i>intended</i> sisters. From this day
+      forward, Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s manner changed towards Almeria, who could
+      plainly perceive, by her altered eye, that she had lost her confidence,
+      and that her ladyship considered her as one who was playing a double part,
+      and fomenting dissensions in her family. She thought herself bound, in
+      honour to the daughters, not to make any explanation that could throw the
+      blame upon them; and she bore in painful silence the many oblique
+      reproaches, reflections upon ingratitude, dissimulation, and treachery,
+      which she knew were aimed at her. The consciousness that she was treating
+      Lady Bradstone with insincerity, in encouraging the addresses of her son,
+      increased Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s embarrassment; she repented having for a moment
+      encouraged his clandestine attachment; and she now urged him in the
+      strongest manner to impart his intentions to his mother. He assured her
+      that she should be obeyed; but his obedience was put off from day to day;
+      and, in the mean time, the more Almeria saw of his family, the more her
+      desire to be connected with them diminished. The affair of the necklace
+      was continually renewed, in some shape or other, and a perpetual
+      succession of petty disputes occurred, in which both parties were in the
+      wrong, and each openly or secretly blamed her for not taking their part.
+      Her mind was so much harassed, that all her natural cheerfulness forsook
+      her; and the being obliged to assume spirits in company, and among people
+      who were not worth the toil of pleasing, became every hour more irksome.
+      The transition from these domestic miseries to public dissipation and
+      gaieties made her still more melancholy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When she calmly examined her own heart, she perceived that she felt little
+      or no affection for Lord Bradstone, though she had been flattered by his
+      attentions, when the assiduity of a man of rank and fashion was new to
+      her; but now the joys of being a countess began to fade in her
+      imagination. She hesitated&mdash;she had not strength of mind sufficient
+      to decide&mdash;she was afraid to proceed; yet she had not courage to
+      retract.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellen&rsquo;s parting words recurred to her mind&mdash;&ldquo;May you never feel the
+      want of a sincere and affectionate friend! May the triumphs of fashion
+      make you amends for all you sacrifice to obtain them!&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;Alas!&rdquo;
+       thought she, &ldquo;Ellen foresaw that I should soon be disgusted with this
+      joyless, heartless intercourse; but how can I recede? how can I disengage
+      myself from this Lord Bradstone, now that I have encouraged his addresses?&mdash;Fool
+      that I have been!&mdash;Oh! if I could now be advised by that best of
+      friends, who used to assist me in all my difficulties!&mdash;But she
+      despises, she has renounced me&mdash;she has bid me farewell for ever!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Notwithstanding this &ldquo;farewell for ever,&rdquo; there was still at the bottom of
+      Almeria&rsquo;s heart, even whilst she bewailed herself in this manner, a secret
+      hope that Ellen&rsquo;s esteem and friendship might be recovered, and she
+      resolved to make the trial. She was eager to put this idea into execution
+      the moment it occurred to her; and after apologizing to the Lady
+      Bradstones for not, as usual, accompanying them in their morning ride, she
+      set out to walk to Miss Elmour&rsquo;s lodgings. It was a hot day&mdash;she
+      walked fast from the hurry and impatience of her mind. The servant who
+      attended her knocked twice at Mr. Elmour&rsquo;s door before any one answered;
+      at last the door was opened by a maid-servant, with a broom in her hand.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is Miss Elmour at home?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, sir, she left Cheltenham this morning betimes, and we be getting the
+      house ready for other lodgers.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria was very much disappointed&mdash;she looked flushed and fatigued;
+      and the maid said, &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;am, if you&rsquo;ll be pleased to rest a while, you&rsquo;re
+      welcome, I&rsquo;m sure&mdash;and the parlour&rsquo;s cleaned out&mdash;be pleased to
+      sit down, ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;&mdash;Almeria followed, for she was really tired, and
+      glad to accept the good-natured offer. She was shown into the same parlour
+      where she had but a few weeks before taken leave of Ellen. The maid rolled
+      forward the great arm-chair, in which old Mr. Elmour had been seated; and
+      as she moved it, a gold-headed cane fell to the ground.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria&rsquo;s eyes turned upon it directly as it fell; for it was an old
+      friend of hers: many a time she had played with it when she was a child,
+      and for many years she had been accustomed to see it in the hand of a man
+      whom she loved and respected. It brought many pleasing and some painful
+      associations to her mind&mdash;for she reflected how ill she had behaved
+      to the owner of it the last time she saw him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said the maid, &ldquo;it is the poor old gentleman&rsquo;s cane, sure
+      enough&mdash;it has never been stirred from here, nor his hat and gloves,
+      see, since the day he died.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Died!&mdash;Good Heavens!&mdash;Is Mr. Elmour dead?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, sure&mdash;he died last Tuesday, and was buried yesterday. You&rsquo;d
+      better drink some of this water, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said the girl, filling a glass
+      that stood on the table. &ldquo;Why! dear heart! I would not have mentioned it
+      so sudden in this way, but I thought it could no way hurt you. Why, it
+      never came into my head you could be a friend of the family&rsquo;s, nor more,
+      may be, at the utmost, than an acquaintance, as you never used to call
+      much during his illness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This was the most cutting reproach, and the innocence with which it was
+      uttered made it still more severe. Almeria burst into tears; and the poor
+      girl, not knowing what to say next, and sorry for all she had said, took
+      up the cane, which had fallen from Almeria&rsquo;s hands, and applied herself to
+      brightening the gold head with great diligence. At this instant there was
+      a double knock at the house-door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It&rsquo;s only the young gentleman, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said the maid, as she went towards
+      the door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What young gentleman?&rdquo; said Almeria, rising from her seat.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Young Mr. Elmour, ma&rsquo;am: he did not go away with his sister, but stayed
+      to settle some matters. Oh, they have let him in!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The maid stood with the parlour-door half open in her hand, not being able
+      to decide in her own fancy whether the lady wished that he should come
+      into the room or stay out; and before either she, or perhaps Almeria, had
+      decided this point, it was settled for them by his walking in. Almeria was
+      standing so as to be hid by the door; and he was so intent upon his own
+      thoughts, that, without perceiving there was any body in the room, he
+      walked straight forward to the table, took up his father&rsquo;s hat and gloves,
+      and gave a deep sigh. He heard his sigh echoed&mdash;looked up, and
+      started at the sight of Almeria, but immediately assumed an air of distant
+      and cold respect. He was in deep mourning, and looked pale, as if he had
+      suffered much. Almeria endeavoured to speak; but could get out only a few
+      words, expressive of <i>the shock and astonishment</i> she had just felt.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Undoubtedly, madam, you must have been shocked,&rdquo; replied Frederick, in a
+      calm voice; &ldquo;but you could not have reason to be much astonished. My
+      father&rsquo;s life had been despaired of some time&mdash;you must have seen how
+      much he was changed when you were here a few weeks ago.&rdquo; Almeria could
+      make no reply; the tears, in spite of all her efforts to restrain them,
+      rolled down her cheeks: the cold, and almost severe, manner, in which
+      Frederick spoke, and the consciousness that she deserved it, struck her to
+      the heart. He followed her, as she abruptly quitted the room, and in a
+      tone of more kindness, but with the same distant manner, begged to have
+      the honour of attending her home. She bowed her head, to give that assent
+      which her voice could not at this instant utter; and she was involuntarily
+      going to put her arm within his; but, as he did not seem to perceive this
+      motion, she desisted, coloured violently, adjusted the drapery of her gown
+      to give employment to the neglected hand, then walked on with
+      precipitation. Her foot slipped as she was crossing the street; Frederick
+      offered his arm&mdash;she could not guess, from the way in which it was
+      presented, whether her former attempt had been perceived or not. This
+      trifle appeared to her a point of the utmost importance; for by this she
+      thought she could decide whether his feelings were really as cold towards
+      her as they appeared, whether he felt love and anger, or contempt and
+      indifference. Whilst she was endeavouring in vain to form her opinion, all
+      the time she leant upon his arm, and walked on in silence, a carriage
+      passed them; Frederick bowed, and his countenance was suddenly
+      illuminated. Almeria turned eagerly to see the cause of the change, and as
+      the carriage drove on she caught a glimpse of a beautiful young lady. A
+      spasm of jealousy seized her heart&mdash;she withdrew her arm from
+      Frederick&rsquo;s. The abruptness of the action did not create any emotion in
+      him&mdash;his thoughts were absent. In a few minutes he slackened his
+      pace, and turned from the road towards a path across the fields, asking if
+      Miss Turnbull had any objection to going that way to Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s
+      instead of along the dusty road. She made no objection&mdash;she thought
+      she perceived that Frederick was preparing to say something of importance
+      to her, and her heart beat violently.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Turnbull will not, I hope, think what I am going to say impertinent;
+      she may be assured that it proceeds from no motive but the desire to
+      prevent the future unhappiness of one who once honoured my family with her
+      friendship.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are too good&mdash;I do not deserve that you should be interested in
+      my happiness or unhappiness&mdash;I cannot think you impertinent&mdash;pray
+      speak freely.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And quickly,&rdquo; she would have added, if she dared. Without abating any of
+      his reserve from this encouragement, he proceeded precisely in the same
+      tone as before, and with the same steady composure.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;An accidental acquaintance with a friend of my Lord Bradstone&rsquo;s, has put
+      me in possession of what, perhaps, you wish to be a secret, madam, and
+      what I shall inviolably keep as such.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I cannot pretend to be ignorant of what you allude to,&rdquo; said Almeria;
+      &ldquo;but it is more than probable that you may not have heard the exact state
+      of the business; indeed it is impossible that you should, because no one
+      but myself could fully explain my sentiments. In fact they were undecided;
+      I was this very morning going to consult your sister upon that subject.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will not suppose that I am going to intrude my counsels upon you,
+      Miss Turnbull; nothing can be farther from my intention: I am merely going
+      to mention a fact to you, of which I apprehend you are ignorant, and of
+      which, as you are circumstanced, no one in your present society, perhaps
+      no one in the world but myself, would choose to apprize you. Forgive me,
+      madam, if I try your patience by this preface: I am very desirous not to
+      wound your feelings more than is necessary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps,&rdquo; said Almeria, with a doubtful smile, &ldquo;perhaps you are under a
+      mistake, and imagine my feelings to be much more interested than they
+      really are. If you have any thing to communicate to Lord Bradstone&rsquo;s
+      disadvantage, you may mention it to me without hesitation, and without
+      fear of injuring my happiness or his; for, to put you at ease at once, I
+      am come to a determination positively to decline his lordship&rsquo;s
+      addresses.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This assurance certainly puts me at ease at once,&rdquo; said Frederick. But
+      Almeria observed that he neither expressed by his voice nor countenance
+      any of that joy which she had hoped to inspire by the assurance: on the
+      contrary, he heard it as a determination in which he was personally
+      unconcerned, and in which pure benevolence alone could give him an
+      interest. &ldquo;This relieves me,&rdquo; continued he, &ldquo;from all necessity of
+      explaining myself further.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Nay,&rdquo; said Almeria, &ldquo;but I must beg you will explain yourself. You do not
+      know but it may be necessary for me to have your antidote ready in case of
+      a relapse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      No change, at least none that betrayed the anxiety of a lover, was visible
+      in Frederick&rsquo;s countenance at this hint of a relapse; but he gravely
+      answered, that, when so urged, he could not forbear to tell her the exact
+      truth, that Lord Bradstone was a ruined man&mdash;ruined by gaming&mdash;and
+      that he had been so indelicate as to declare to his <i>friend</i>, that
+      his sole object in marrying was money. Our heroine&rsquo;s pride was severely
+      hurt by the last part of this information; but even that did not wound her
+      so keenly as the manner in which Frederick behaved. She saw that he had no
+      remains of affection for her lurking in his heart&mdash;she saw that he
+      now acted merely as he declared, from a desire to save from misery one who
+      had formerly honoured his family with her friendship. Stiff, cold words&mdash;she
+      endeavoured to talk upon indifferent subjects, but could not&mdash;she was
+      somewhat relieved when they reached Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s door, and when
+      Frederick left her. The moment he was gone, however, she ran up stairs to
+      her own apartment, and looked eagerly out of her window to catch the last
+      glimpse of him. Such is the strange caprice of the human heart, that a
+      lover appears the most valuable at the moment he is lost. Our heroine had
+      felt all her affection for Frederick revive with more than its former
+      force within this last hour; and she thought she now loved with a degree
+      of passion of which she had never before found herself capable. Hope is
+      perhaps inseparable from the existence of the passion of love. She passed
+      alternately from despair to the most flattering delusions: she fancied
+      that Frederick&rsquo;s coldness was affected&mdash;that he was acting only from
+      honour&mdash;that he wished to leave her at liberty&mdash;and that as soon
+      as he knew she was actually disengaged from Lord Bradstone, he would fly
+      to her with all his former eagerness. This notion having once taken
+      possession of her mind, she was impatient in the extreme to settle her
+      affairs with Lord Bradstone. He was not at home&mdash;he did not come in
+      till late in the evening. It happened, that the next day Almeria was to be
+      of age; and Lord Bradstone, when he met her in the evening, reminded her
+      of her promise not &ldquo;to prolong the torments of suspense beyond that
+      period.&rdquo; She asked whether he had, in compliance with her request,
+      communicated the affair to Lady Bradstone? No; but he would as soon as he
+      had reasonable grounds of hope. Miss Turnbull rejoiced that he had
+      disobeyed her injunctions&mdash;she said that Lady Bradstone might now be
+      for ever spared hearing what would have inevitably excited her
+      indignation. His lordship stared, and could not comprehend our heroine&rsquo;s
+      present meaning. She soon made it intelligible. We forbear to relate all
+      that was said upon the occasion: as it was a disappointment of the purse
+      and not of the heart, his lordship was of course obliged to make a
+      proportional quantity of professions of eternal sorrow and
+      disinterestedness. Almeria, partly to save her own pride the mortification
+      of the repetition, forbore to allude to the confidential speech in which
+      he had explained to <i>a friend</i> his motives for marrying; she hoped
+      that he would soon console himself with some richer heiress, and she
+      rejoiced to be disencumbered of him, and even of his coronet; for in this
+      moment coronets seemed to her but paltry things&mdash;so much does the
+      appearance of objects vary according to the medium through which they are
+      viewed!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Better satisfied with herself after this refusal of the earl, and in
+      better spirits than she had been for some months, she flattered herself
+      with the hopes that Frederick would call upon her again before he left
+      Cheltenham; he would then know that Lord Bradstone was no longer her
+      lover.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She fell asleep full of these imaginations&mdash;dreamed of Frederick and
+      Elmour Grove&mdash;but this was only a dream. The next day&mdash;and the
+      next&mdash;and the next&mdash;passed without her seeing or hearing any
+      thing of Frederick; and the fourth day, as she rode by the house where the
+      Elmours had lodged, she saw put up in the parlour window an advertisement
+      of &ldquo;<i>Lodgings to be let</i>.&rdquo; She was now convinced that Frederick had
+      left Cheltenham&mdash;left it without thinking of her or of Lord
+      Bradstone. The young Lady Bradstones observed that she scarcely spoke a
+      word during the remainder of her morning&rsquo;s ride. At night she was attacked
+      with a feverish complaint: the image of the beautiful person whom she had
+      seen in the coach that passed while she was walking with Frederick, was
+      now continually before her eyes. She had made all the inquiries she could,
+      to find out who that young lady might be; but this point could not be
+      ascertained, because, though she described the lady accurately, she was
+      not equally exact about the description of the carriage. The arms and
+      livery had totally escaped her observation. The different conjectures that
+      had been made by the various people to whom she had applied, and the
+      voices in which their answers were given, ran in her head all this
+      feverish night.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps it was Lady Susanna Quin&mdash;very likely it was Lady Mary
+      Lowther&mdash;very possibly Miss Grant; you know she goes about with old
+      Mrs. Grant in a yellow coach&mdash;but there are so many yellow coaches&mdash;the
+      arms or the livery would settle the point at once.&rdquo; These words, <i>the
+      arms and the livery would settle the point at once,</i> she repeated to
+      herself perpetually, though without annexing any ideas to the words. In
+      short, she was very feverish all night; and in the morning, though she
+      endeavoured to rise, she was obliged to lie down again. She was confined
+      to her bed for about a week: Lady Bradstone sent for the best physicians;
+      and the young ladies, in the intervals of dressing and going out, whenever
+      they could remember it, came into Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s room to &ldquo;hope she found
+      herself better.&rdquo; It was obvious to her that no one person in the house
+      cared a straw about her, and she was oppressed with the sense of being an
+      encumbrance to the whole family. Whilst she was alone she formed many
+      projects for her future life, which she resolved to execute as soon as she
+      should recover. She determined immediately to go down to her own house in
+      the country, and to write to Ellen a recantation of all her fine lady
+      errors. She composed, whilst she lay on her feverish pillow, twenty
+      letters to her former friend, each of them more eloquent and magnanimous
+      than the other: but in proportion as her fever left her, the activity of
+      her imagination abated, and with it her eloquence and magnanimity. Her
+      mind, naturally weak, and now enfeebled by disease, became quite passive,
+      and received and yielded to the impressions made by external
+      circumstances. New trains of ideas, perfectly different from those which
+      had occupied her mind during her fever, and in the days preceding her
+      illness, were excited during her convalescence. She lay listening to, or
+      rather hearing, the conversation of the young Lady Bradstones. They used
+      to come into her room at night, and stay for some time whilst they had
+      their hair curled, and talked over the events of the day&mdash;whom they
+      had met&mdash;what dresses they had worn&mdash;what matches were on the
+      tapis, &amp;c. They happened one night to amuse themselves with reading an
+      old newspaper, in which they came to an account of a splendid masquerade,
+      which had been given the preceding winter in London by a rich heiress.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord! what charming entertainments Miss Turnbull might give if she
+      pleased. Why, do you know, she is richer than this woman,&rdquo; whispered Lady
+      Bab; &ldquo;and she is of age now, you know. If I were she, I&rsquo;m sure I&rsquo;d have a
+      house of my own, and the finest I could get in London. Now such a house as
+      my aunt Pierrepoint&rsquo;s&mdash;and servants&mdash;and carriages&mdash;and I
+      would make myself of some consequence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This speech was not lost upon our heroine; and the whisper in which it was
+      spoken increased its effect. The next day, as Lady Bab was sitting at the
+      foot of Almeria&rsquo;s bed, she asked for a description of &ldquo;my aunt
+      Pierrepoint&rsquo;s house.&rdquo; It was given to her <i>con amore</i>, and a
+      character of &ldquo;my aunt Pierrepoint&rdquo; was added gratis. &ldquo;She is the most
+      charming amiable woman in the world&mdash;quite a different sort of person
+      from mamma. She has lived all her life about court, and she is connected
+      with all the great people, and a prodigious favourite at court&mdash;and
+      she is of such consequence!&mdash;You cannot imagine of what consequence
+      she is!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Gabriella then continued the conversation, by telling Miss Turnbull a
+      great secret, that her aunt Pierrepoint and her mother were not on the
+      best terms in the world: &ldquo;for mamma&rsquo;s so violent, you know, about
+      politics, and quite on a contrary side to my aunt. Mamma never goes to
+      court; and, between you and me, they say she would not be received. Now
+      that is a shocking thing for us; but the most provoking part of the
+      business is, that mamma won&rsquo;t let my aunt Pierrepoint present us. Why,
+      when she cannot or will not go to the drawing-room herself, what could be
+      more proper, you know, than to let us be presented by Lady Pierrepoint?&mdash;Lady
+      Pierrepoint, you know, who is such a prodigious favourite, and knows every
+      thing in the world that&rsquo;s proper at court, and every where: it really is
+      monstrous of mamma! Now if you were in our places, should not you be quite
+      provoked? By-the-bye, you never were presented at court yourself, were
+      you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Never,&rdquo; said Almeria, with a sudden feeling of mortification.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, you could not&mdash;of course you could not, living with mamma as you
+      do; for I am sure she would quarrel with an angel for just only talking of
+      going to court. Lord! if I was as rich as you, what beautiful birthday
+      dresses I would have!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      These and similar conversations wrought powerfully upon the weak mind of
+      our poor heroine. She rose from her bed after her illness wondering what
+      had become of her passion for Frederick Elmour: certainly she was now able
+      to console herself for his loss, by the hopes of being presented at court,
+      and of being dressed with uncommon splendour. She was surprised at this
+      change in her own mind; but she justified it to herself by the reflection,
+      that it would show an unbecoming want of spirit to retain any remains of
+      regard for one who had treated her with so much coldness and indifference,
+      and who in all probability was attached to another woman. Pride and
+      resentment succeeded to tenderness; and she resolved to show Frederick and
+      Ellen that she could be happy her own way. It is remarkable that her
+      friendship for the sister always increased or decreased with her love for
+      her brother. Ambition, as it has often been observed, is a passion that
+      frequently succeeds to love, though love seldom follows ambition. Almeria,
+      who had now recovered her strength, was one morning sitting in her own
+      room, meditating arrangements for the next winter&rsquo;s campaign, when she was
+      roused by the voices of Lady Bab and Lady Kitty at her room door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Turnbull! Miss Turnbull! come! come!&mdash;Here&rsquo;s the king and queen
+      and all the royal family, and my aunt Pierrepoint&mdash;come quick to our
+      dressing-room windows, or they will be out of sight.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The fair hoydens seized her between them, and dragged her away.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mamma says it&rsquo;s horribly vulgar to run to the windows, but never mind
+      that. There&rsquo;s my aunt Pierrepoint&rsquo;s coach&mdash;is not it handsome?&mdash;Oh!
+      everything about her is so handsome!&mdash;you know she has lived all her
+      life at court.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The eulogiums of these young ladies, and the sight of Lady Pierrepoint&rsquo;s
+      entry in to Cheltenham in the wake of royalty, and the huzzas of the mob,
+      and the curiosity of all ranks who crowded the public walks in the
+      evening, to see the illustrious guest, contributed to raise our heroine&rsquo;s
+      enthusiasm. She was rather surprised afterwards to observe that Lady
+      Pierrepoint passed her sister and nieces, on the public walk, without
+      taking the slightest notice of them; her head was turned indeed quite
+      another way when she passed, and she was in smiling conversation with one
+      of her own party.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Gabriella whispered, &ldquo;My aunt Pierrepoint cannot <i>know</i> us now,
+      because we are with mamma.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull now, for the first time, saw Lady Bradstone in a situation
+      in which she was neglected; this served to accelerate the decline and fall
+      of her ladyship&rsquo;s power over her mind. She began to consider her not as a
+      person by whom she had been brought into notice in the circles of fashion,
+      but as one by whom she was prevented from rising to a higher orbit. Lady
+      Bradstone went to see her sister the day after her arrival, but she was <i>not
+      at home</i>. Some days afterwards Lady Pierrepoint returned her visit: she
+      came in a sedan chair, because she did not wish that her carriage should
+      be seen standing at Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s door. It was incumbent upon her to
+      take every possible precaution to prevent the suspicion of her being
+      biassed by sisterly affection; her sister and she were unfortunately of
+      such different opinions in politics, and her sister&rsquo;s politics were so
+      much disapproved of, where Lady Pierrepoint most wished for approbation,
+      that she could not, consistently with her principles or interest,
+      countenance them, by appearing in public with one so obnoxious.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull observed, with the most minute attention, every word and
+      gesture of Lady Pierrepoint. At first view, her ladyship appeared all
+      smiling ease and affability; but in all her motions, even in those of her
+      face, there was something that resembled a puppet&mdash;her very smiles,
+      and the turns of her eyes, seemed to be governed by unseen wires. Upon
+      still closer observation, however, there was reason to suspect that this
+      puppet might be regulated by a mind within, of some sort or other; for it
+      could not only answer questions by a voice of its own, and apparently
+      without being prompted, but moreover it seemed to hesitate, and to take
+      time for thought, before it hazarded any reply. Lady Pierrepoint spoke
+      always as if she thought her words would be repeated, and must <i>lead to
+      consequences</i>; and there was an air of vast circumspection and mystery
+      about her, which appeared sublime or ridiculous according to the light in
+      which it was considered. To our heroine it appeared sublime. Her
+      ladyship&rsquo;s conversation, if a set of unmeaning phrases be deserving of
+      that name, at length turned upon the concern she felt that it had not been
+      in her power to procure an increase of pension for a certain Mrs. Vickars.
+      &ldquo;Such a respectable character!&mdash;the widow of a distant relation of
+      the Pierrepoints.&rdquo; There was no probability, after all the interest and
+      influence she had used, she said, that Mrs. Vickars could ever be
+      gratified in the line she had attempted; that therefore it was her
+      ladyship&rsquo;s advice to her to look out for some situation of an eligible
+      description, which might relieve her from the distressing apprehension of
+      appearing burdensome or importunate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      As well as her ladyship&rsquo;s meaning could be made out, cleared from the
+      superfluity of words with which it was covered, she wished to get rid of
+      this poor widow, and to fasten her as an humble companion upon any body
+      who would be troubled with <i>such a respectable character!</i> Miss
+      Turnbull foresaw the possibility of obliging her ladyship by means of Mrs.
+      Vickars: for as she proposed to purchase a house in town, it would be
+      convenient to her to have some companion; and this lady, who was of a
+      certain age, and who had always lived in the best company, would be well
+      suited to serve as her chaperon. To do our heroine justice, considering
+      that she was unpractised in manoeuvring with court ladies, she conducted
+      her scheme with a degree of address worthy of her object. Through the
+      medium of Lady Bab and Lady Gabriella, she opened a correspondence with
+      Lady Pierrepoint. Mrs. Vickars was introduced to Miss Turnbull&mdash;liked
+      her prodigiously; and Lady Pierrepoint was most happy in the prospect of
+      her relation&rsquo;s being so eligibly situated. In proportion as Miss Turnbull
+      advanced in the good graces of Lady Pierrepoint, she receded from Lady
+      Bradstone. This lady&rsquo;s indignation, which had been excited against Almeria
+      by her not siding with her against her daughters, now rose to the highest
+      pitch, when she perceived what was going on. No crime could in her eyes be
+      greater than that of seceding from her party. Her violence in party
+      matters was heightened by the desire to contrast herself with her sister
+      Pierrepoint&rsquo;s courtly policy. Lady Bradstone, all the time, knew and cared
+      very little about politics, except so far as they afforded her
+      opportunities for the display of spirit and eloquence. She had a fine flow
+      of words, and loved to engage in argument, especially as she had often
+      been told by gentlemen that her enthusiasm became her extremely, and that,
+      even if a man could resist the force of her arguments, he must yield to
+      the fire of her eyes. It happened that Miss Turnbull was present one day
+      when Lady Bradstone had been unusually warm in a political argument, and
+      Lady Pierrepoint as cool and guarded as her sister was eager. Almeria was
+      appealed to, and gave judgment in favour of Lady Pierrepoint, who happened
+      to be in the right. Regardless of right or wrong, Lady Bradstone became
+      more and more vehement, whilst Lady Pierrepoint sat in all the composed
+      superiority of silence, maintaining the most edifying meekness of
+      countenance imaginable, as if it were incumbent on her to be, or at least
+      to seem, penitent for a sister&rsquo;s perversity. She sighed deeply when the <i>tirade</i>
+      was finished, and fixed her eyes upon her beautiful niece Gabriella. Lady
+      Gabriella immediately filled up the pause by declaring that she knew
+      nothing of politics and hoped she never should, for that she did not know
+      of what use they were to women, except to prevent them from going to
+      court.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Bradstone expressed high indignation at perceiving that her daughters
+      thought more of dancing at a birthnight ball than of the good of the
+      nation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Vickars, who was present, now interposed a word as mediatrix,
+      observing, that it was natural for the young ladies at their age: and Miss
+      Turnbull, catching or imitating something of the tone of Lady Pierrepoint,
+      ventured to add, that &ldquo;it was a pity that Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s daughters did
+      not enjoy all the advantages of their high rank, and that she really
+      wished Lady Bradstone could be prevailed upon to enter into conciliatory
+      measures.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On hearing this speech, Lady Bradstone, no longer able to restrain her
+      anger within the bounds of politeness, exclaimed, &ldquo;I am not surprised at
+      receiving such advice from you, Miss Turnbull; but I own I am astonished
+      at hearing such sentiments from my daughters. High sentiments are to be
+      expected from high birth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      How Lady Bradstone contrived to make her aristocratic pride of birth agree
+      with her democratic principles, it may be difficult to explain; but
+      fortunately the idea of preserving consistency never disturbed her
+      self-complacency. Besides, to keep her ladyship in countenance, there are
+      so many examples of persons who live as royalists and talk as republicans.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria could not brook the affront implied by Lady Bradstone&rsquo;s last
+      speech; and matters were now brought to a crisis: she resolved not to
+      remain longer in a house where she was exposed to such insults. She was of
+      &ldquo;age, and, thank Heaven! independent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Bradstone made no opposition to her determination; but congratulated
+      her upon the prospect of becoming independent.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I agree with you, Miss Turnbull, in thanking Heaven for making me
+      independent. Independence of mind, of course,&rdquo; added she, &ldquo;I value above
+      independence of purse.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Whatever vexation our heroine might feel from this speech, and from the
+      perfect indifference with which Lady Bradstone parted from her, was
+      compensated by the belief that she had by her conduct this evening
+      ingratiated herself with Lady Pierrepoint. She was confirmed in this
+      opinion by Mrs. Vickars, who said that her ladyship afterwards spoke of
+      Miss Turnbull as a very judicious and safe young person, whom she should
+      not scruple to protect. She was even so condescending as to interest
+      herself about the house in town, which Miss Turnbull talked of purchasing:
+      she knew that a noble friend of hers, who was going on a foreign embassy,
+      had thoughts of parting with his house; and it would certainly suit Miss
+      Turnbull, if she could compass the purchase. Almeria felt herself highly
+      honoured by her ladyship&rsquo;s taking a concern in any of her affairs; and she
+      begged of Mrs. Vickars to say, that &ldquo;expense was no object to her.&rdquo; She
+      consequently paid a few hundred guineas more than the value of the house,
+      for the honour of Lady Pierrepoint&rsquo;s interference. Her ladyship saw into
+      the weakness of our heroine&rsquo;s character, and determined to make advantage
+      of it. It was a maxim of hers, that there is no person so insignificant,
+      but some advantage may be made of them; and she had acted upon this
+      principle through life, sometimes so as to excite in the minds of the
+      ignorant a high admiration of her affability. It is said, that when Lady
+      Pierrepoint was asked why she married, she replied, &ldquo;To increase my
+      consequence, and strengthen my connexions.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Perhaps this speech was made for her by some malicious wit; but it is
+      certain that she never upon any occasion of her life neglected an
+      opportunity of acting upon this principle. She was anxious with this view
+      to have as many dependents as possible: and she well knew that those who
+      were ambitious of a curtsy from her at the playhouse, or a whisper at the
+      opera, were as effectually her dependents as the mendicants at her door,
+      who are in want of a shilling. The poor may be held in the iron fetters of
+      necessity, but the rich are dragged behind the car of fashion by the
+      golden chains of vanity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The summer in the life of a fine lady is a season comparatively of so
+      little consequence, that the judicious historian may pass over some months
+      of it without their being missed in the records of time. He hastens to the
+      busy and important season of winter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine took possession of her magnificent house in town: and Mrs.
+      Vickars was established as <i>arbitratrix elegantiarum</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This lady deemed herself a judge in the last appeal of every thing that
+      became a person of fashion; and her claim to infallibility upon those
+      points was established by her being fourth cousin to Lady Pierrepoint.
+      Almeria soon discovered in her companion an inordinate love of power, and
+      an irritability of temper, which misfortunes and ill health had increased
+      to such a degree that it required more than the patience of a female Job
+      to live with her upon good terms. Martyrs in the cause of vanity certainly
+      exhibit wonderful, if not admirable, fortitude, in the midst of the absurd
+      and extravagant torments which they inflict upon themselves. Our heroine
+      endured for a whole season, without any outward complaint, but with many
+      an inward groan, the penance which she had imposed upon herself: the
+      extent of it can be comprehended only by those who have been doomed to
+      live with a thoroughly ill-tempered woman. The reward was surely
+      proportioned to the sufferings. Miss Turnbull received a smile, or a nod,
+      or something like a curtsy from Lady Pierrepoint, whenever she met her in
+      public; her ladyship&rsquo;s cards were occasionally left at the Yorkshire
+      heiress&rsquo;s door; and she sometimes honoured Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s crowded rooms,
+      by crowding them still more with her august presence. There was further
+      reason to hope, that her ladyship might be induced to present Almeria at
+      court before the next birthday. All these advantages were to be attributed
+      to Mrs. Vickars, for she was the connecting link between two beings of
+      inferior and superior order. We forbear to describe, or even to enumerate,
+      the variety of balls, suppers, dinners, déjeunés, galas, and masquerades,
+      which Miss Turnbull gave to the fashionable world during this winter. The
+      generous public forget these things the week after they are over; and the
+      consequence they bestow endures no longer than the track of a triumphal
+      chariot.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Our heroine was never fully convinced of this truth till it was confirmed
+      by her own experience. She found it necessary continually to renew her
+      expensive efforts, to keep herself alive in the memory of her great
+      acquaintance. Towards the time when she expected to be presented at court
+      by Lady Pierrepoint, a sudden coolness was apparent in her ladyship&rsquo;s
+      manner; and one morning Almeria was surprised by a note from her,
+      regretting, in the most polite but positive terms, that it would be
+      absolutely out of her power to have the honour of presenting Miss Turnbull
+      at St. James&rsquo;s. In the utmost consternation, Almeria flew for an
+      explanation to Mrs. Vickars. Mrs. Vickars was in a desperate fit of <i>the
+      sullens</i>, which had lasted now upwards of eight-and-forty hours, ever
+      since her advice had not been taken about the placing of certain bronze
+      figures, with antique lamps in their hands, upon the great staircase. It
+      was necessary to bring the lady into a good humour in the first place, by
+      yielding to her uncontrolled dominion over the <i>candelabras</i>. This
+      point being settled, and an unqualified submission in all matters of
+      taste, past, present, or to come, declared or implied on the part of our
+      heroine, Mrs. Vickars on her part promised to set out immediately on an
+      embassy to Lady Pierrepoint, to discover the cause of the present
+      discontent. After making sundry ineffectual attempts to see her noble
+      relation, she was at last admitted; and after one hour&rsquo;s private audience,
+      she returned to the anxious Almeria with a countenance lengthened to the
+      utmost stretch of melancholy significance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What <i>is</i> the matter, Mrs. Vickars?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It was long before this question was answered; but after many friendly
+      lamentations, Mrs. Vickars could not help observing, that Miss Turnbull
+      had nobody to blame in this business but herself. This, or any thing else,
+      she was willing to admit, to get at the point, &ldquo;But what have I done? I
+      dare say it is, as you say, all my own fault&mdash;but tell me how?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How!&mdash;Can you, my dearest Miss Turnbull, forget that you did the
+      most imprudent and really unaccountable thing, that ever woman did?&mdash;Lady
+      Pierrepoint <i>had it</i> from Stock the banker. Now you must be certainly
+      conscious to what I allude.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria still looked innocent till Mrs. Vickars produced the book
+      dedicated to Lady Bradstone, for twelve copies of which Miss Turnbull had
+      subscribed. Her name was printed among the list of subscribers, and there
+      was no palliating the fact. When her companion saw that she was quite
+      overwhelmed with the sense of this misfortune, she began to hint, that
+      though the evil was great, it was not without remedy; that in her own
+      private opinion, Lady Pierrepoint might have passed over the thing, if she
+      had not heard it at a most unlucky moment. The provoking banker mentioned
+      it to her ladyship just after he had disappointed her of certain moneys,
+      for which she was negotiating. From her situation and means of obtaining
+      secret and early intelligence, she had it frequently in her power to make
+      money by selling in or out of the stocks. Such an opportunity at present
+      occurred; and &ldquo;it was a great pity,&rdquo; Mrs. Vickars observed, &ldquo;that the want
+      of a little ready money should preclude her from the possibility of
+      profiting by her situation.&rdquo; Miss Turnbull, who was not deficient in
+      quickness of comprehension, upon this hint immediately said, &ldquo;that her
+      ladyship might command some thousands which she had in Sir Thomas Stock&rsquo;s
+      bank.&rdquo; Lady Pierrepoint the next day found that it would be best to hush
+      up the affair of the subscription to the fatal pamphlet. She said, &ldquo;that
+      she had with infinite satisfaction ascertained, that the thing had not
+      been noticed in the quarter where she feared it would have created an
+      insuperable prejudice&mdash;that there were other Turnbulls, as she was
+      happy to understand, in the world, besides Mrs. Vickars&rsquo;s friend; and that
+      as, in the list of subscribers, she was mentioned only as <i>Miss</i>
+      Turnbull, not as Almeria Turnbull, all was safe, and nobody would suspect
+      that a lady presented at court by my Lady Pierrepoint could be the same
+      person that subscribed to a book of such a description.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This affair being adjusted, the league was tacitly formed between interest
+      and vanity. Miss Turnbull was presented at court by Lady Pierrepoint, and
+      her ladyship bought into the stocks with the Yorkshire heiress&rsquo;s money.
+      The gratification of Almeria&rsquo;s ambition, however, did not complete her
+      happiness. When she was at the summit of the Alps of fashion, she saw how
+      little was to be seen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Though she liked to have it to say that she was a great deal with Lady
+      Pierrepoint, yet the time always passed most heavily in her company; nor
+      was the inferiority of this lady&rsquo;s understanding compensated by an
+      affectionate heart. Her smoothly polished exterior prevented all
+      possibility of obtaining any hold over her. She had the art at once to
+      seem to be intimate with people, and to keep them at the greatest
+      distance; as, in certain optical deceptions, an object which appears close
+      to us, eludes our hand if we attempt to grasp it. Almeria felt the want of
+      that species of unreserved confidence and friendship which she had
+      formerly enjoyed with Ellen. In judging of what will make us happy, we are
+      apt to leave time out of the account; and this leads to most important
+      errors. For a short period we may be amused or gratified by what will
+      fatigue and disgust us if long continued. The first winter that she spent
+      in dissipation she was amused; but winter after winter passed; and the
+      recurrence of the same public diversions, and the same faces, and the same
+      common-place conversation, wearied instead of interesting her. But as the
+      pleasure of novelty declined, the power of habit increased; and she
+      continued the same course of life for six years&mdash;six long years!
+      against both her judgment and her feelings, the absolute slave of an
+      imaginary necessity. Thus the silly chicken remains prisoner in a circle
+      of chalk: even when the hand by which it was held down is removed, it
+      feels an imaginary pressure, from which it dares not even attempt to
+      escape.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria, however, was now arrived at an age when she could no longer, with
+      any propriety, be called a chicken: she was seven-and-twenty; and the
+      effect of keeping late hours, and the continual petty irritations to which
+      she had been subject, were sufficiently visible in her countenance. She
+      looked in a morning so faded and haggard, that any one not used to the <i>wear
+      and tear</i> of fashionable faces would have guessed Almeria&rsquo;s age to be
+      seven-and-thirty instead of seven-and-twenty. During her six campaigns in
+      London, she or her fortune had made many conquests; but none of her London
+      captives had ever obtained any power over her affections, and her ambition
+      could not decide upon the pretensions of her several suitors. Lady
+      Pierrepoint, who was her prime adviser, had an interest in keeping her
+      unmarried; because during this time her ladyship employed most
+      advantageously certain moneys, which she had borrowed from our heiress.
+      This female politician made some objection to every proposal; continually
+      repeating, that Miss Turnbull might do better&mdash;that she might look
+      higher&mdash;that with her pretensions, there could be no doubt that she
+      would have a variety of advantageous offers&mdash;and that her <i>play</i>
+      should be to raise her value by rejecting, without hesitation, all
+      pretenders but those of the first distinction. Lady Pierrepoint, who
+      usually spoke with all the ambiguity of an oracle, seemed on this subject
+      more than usually mysterious. She dropped half sentences, then checked
+      herself, hinted that she was not at liberty to speak out; but that she had
+      her own private reasons for advising her friend Miss Turnbull not to be
+      precipitate in her choice. Her ladyship&rsquo;s looks said more than her words,
+      and Almeria interpreted them precisely as she wished. There was a certain
+      marquis, whom she sometimes met at Lady Pierrepoint&rsquo;s, and whom she would
+      have been pleased to meet more frequently. He was neither young, nor
+      handsome, nor witty, nor wise. What was he then?&mdash;He was a marquis&mdash;and
+      is not that enough?&mdash;Almeria saw that he was looked up to as a person
+      of great influence and importance, and she now had the habit of trusting
+      to the eyes and ears of others. She now considered what people were <i>thought
+      of</i>, not what they really were; and according to this mode of
+      estimation she could not fail to form a high opinion of this exalted
+      personage. He paid her distinguished, but not decisive attention; and
+      perhaps the uncertainty in which she was kept as to his views increased
+      her interest upon the subject. There was always some obstacle, which
+      seemed to prevent him from declaring himself:&mdash;at one time he was
+      suddenly obliged to go ambassador to some foreign court; he went, and
+      stayed a year; at his return he was immersed in politics, and deplored his
+      hard fate in terms which Almeria thought it was impossible not to construe
+      favourably to her wishes. She thought she was upon the point of becoming a
+      marchioness, when his lordship was again sent into what he called
+      banishment. Lady Pierrepoint had constantly letters from him, however;
+      passages from which she from time to time read to Almeria, in whose weak
+      mind this kept alive an indistinct hope, for which she had no rational
+      foundation. She was confirmed in her belief that the marquis had serious
+      thoughts of her, by the opinion of Mrs. Vickars, who she thought was in
+      the secret, and who certainly would not speak decidedly without sufficient
+      reason. Indeed, nothing but the pleasure she received from Mrs. Vickars&rsquo;s
+      favourable prognostics upon this subject could have in any degree balanced
+      the pain she daily endured from this lady&rsquo;s fretful temper. Almeria
+      submitted to her domineering humour, and continued to propitiate her with
+      petty sacrifices, more from fear than love&mdash;from fear that her
+      adverse influence might be fatal to her present scheme of aggrandizement.
+      Weak minds are subject to this apprehension of control from secret causes
+      utterly inadequate to their supposed effects; and thus they put their
+      destiny into the hands of persons who could not otherwise obtain influence
+      over their fate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The time at length arrived when our heroine was to be confirmed in her
+      expectations, or wakened from her state of self-delusion. The marquis
+      returned from abroad, and Lady Pierrepoint wrote a note more mysteriously
+      worded than usual, signifying that she &ldquo;wished to have a conference with
+      Miss Turnbull on a subject of some importance; and begged to know at what
+      hour in the morning she might be secure of the pleasure of finding her at
+      home.&rdquo; Almeria named her hour, and waited for its arrival with no small
+      impatience. Lady Pierrepoint&rsquo;s thundering knock at the door was heard; her
+      ladyship was shown up stairs; and she entered the room with a countenance
+      that seemed to promise well. She preluded with many flattering phrases&mdash;declared
+      that ever since she had been first acquainted with Miss Turnbull at
+      Cheltenham, she had always considered her with sentiments of esteem, of
+      which she had since given indeed the most convincing proofs, by accepting
+      of obligations from her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Obligations!&rdquo; exclaimed Almeria, with an air of polite astonishment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, my dear Miss Turnbull,&rdquo; continued her ladyship, with still more
+      polite humility, &ldquo;I am under obligations to you assuredly. Things of a
+      pecuniary nature ought not to be named, I confess, in the same sentence
+      with friendship; yet for the sake of one&rsquo;s family it is, whilst we remain
+      in this world, the duty of every one to pay a certain degree of attention
+      to such points; and a person who has, like me, advantages of situation and
+      connexions, would not be justifiable in neglecting, under due limitations,
+      to make use of them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull readily assented to these guarded truisms, but wondered to
+      what all this was to lead.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The money which you have had the goodness to trust in my hands,&rdquo;
+       continued her ladyship, &ldquo;has, without in the least impoverishing, or, I
+      hope, <i>inconveniencing</i> you, been of the most material advantage to
+      me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria comprehended that her ladyship referred to her speculations in the
+      stocks, and she congratulated her upon her success; and added assurances,
+      that for her own part she had not been in the slightest degree <i>inconvenienced</i>.
+      Whilst Miss Turnbull uttered these assurances, however, she was not sorry
+      to see Lady Pierrepoint take out of her pocket-book bank notes to the
+      amount of her debt; for in plain truth, the interest of this loan had
+      never been punctually paid; and Almeria had often regretted that she had
+      placed so much of her fortune out of her own power. &ldquo;Let me now return
+      these to you with a thousand thanks,&rdquo; said her ladyship. &ldquo;Indeed, my niece
+      Gabriella has more reason even than I have to thank you; for you must
+      know, my dear Miss Turnbull, that all my speculations have been for her.
+      From the time that she came to live with me, I was determined that she
+      should be properly established; and you must be sensible that, for a young
+      lady&rsquo;s establishment in our days, money is as essential as beauty. La
+      belle Gabrielle is now provided for as she ought to be, and of course the
+      consequence will be a suitable alliance.&rdquo; Miss Turnbull expressed her
+      satisfaction at finding that her money had been instrumental in attaining
+      so happy a purpose, and presumed to ask if her ladyship had any immediate
+      alliance in view.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is a secret as yet; but I have no secrets for you, my dear Miss
+      Turnbull: indeed, I came here this morning by our dear Gabriella&rsquo;s
+      particular desire to communicate it to you. I flatter myself you will
+      approve of her choice&mdash;our favourite marquis.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Almeria was so much astonished and shocked by these words, that she turned
+      as pale as if she were going to faint. &ldquo;Our favourite marquis!&rdquo; she
+      repeated in a faltering voice; &ldquo;I thought&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The fear of becoming ridiculous restrained her anger, and she paused.&mdash;&ldquo;You
+      thought, perhaps,&rdquo; resumed the perfectly-composed Lady Pierrepoint, &ldquo;you
+      thought, perhaps, my dear, that there was too great a disparity of age
+      between Gabriella and the marquis.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! no.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, that is an objection, I confess; at least it would be to some young
+      ladies: but as Gabriella is satisfied, we may waive that.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! yes, certainly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;One cannot help being interested for him; he is such a respectable
+      character&mdash;and so much in love! It would really surprise you, my
+      dear; for you know he was a man, one would have imagined, so much immersed
+      in politics&mdash;I protest I never had a suspicion of his having a
+      thought of Gabriella, till the proposal was absolutely made.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure <i>I</i> never suspected the marquis&rsquo;s attachment to Lady
+      Gabriella,&rdquo; said Miss Turnbull: &ldquo;on the contrary&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;On the contrary,&rdquo; pursued Lady Pierrepoint, &ldquo;he paid her always, as I
+      remember, less attention than to twenty others, who were indifferent to
+      him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The struggle was still violent in our heroine&rsquo;s mind between rage and the
+      dread of exposing herself to ridicule. Lady Pierrepoint saw this, and
+      coolly held her in this dilemma.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now,&rdquo; continued her ladyship, &ldquo;men are such unaccountable creatures, one
+      never can understand them. Do you know, my dear Miss Turnbull, I had, till
+      his lordship explained himself unequivocally to me, a notion that he was
+      in love with you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Really!&rdquo; said our heroine, forcing a laugh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Did your friend Mrs. Vickars never tell you so?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, she did&mdash;frequently.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Both of us mistaken, you see, my dear. Mortifying! to find one&rsquo;s judgment
+      so fallible. I tell the marquis, he might absolutely have been privately
+      married to Gabriella without my finding him out&mdash;it is so easy now,
+      the easiest thing in the world, to impose upon me. Well, I must bid you
+      adieu for the present, my dear Miss Turnbull&mdash;you may imagine I have
+      a world of business on my hands.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With the utmost appearance of cordiality Lady Pierrepoint shook our
+      heroine&rsquo;s receding hand; and, without seeming to notice the painful
+      emotions visible in Almeria&rsquo;s countenance, departed smiling, and perfectly
+      composed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The moment that her ladyship had left the room, our heroine retired to her
+      own apartment, and hastily bolted the door to prevent the intrusion of
+      Mrs. Vickars, whose curiosity and condolence, whether real or affected,
+      she was not in a humour to endure. She walked up and down the room in
+      great agitation, by turns angry with Lady Pierrepoint, with the marquis,
+      with Lady Gabriella, with Mrs. Vickars, and with herself. After her anger
+      had spent itself, the sorrowful certainty that it was unavailing remained;
+      the disappointment was irremediable, and her mortification was the more
+      poignant, because she had no human being to sympathize in her feelings, no
+      one to whom she could complain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So this is fashionable friendship!&rdquo; said she to herself. &ldquo;This is the end
+      of all Lady Pierrepoint&rsquo;s and Lady Gabriella&rsquo;s professions of regard for
+      me!&mdash;Fool that I have been, to become their dupe!&mdash;With my eyes
+      open I saw nothing that was going forward, though now I can recollect a
+      thousand and a thousand circumstances, by which I might have been
+      undeceived. But I trusted implicitly&mdash;idiot that I was!&mdash;to the
+      friendship of this treacherous, unfeeling courtier. Once I had a friend,
+      to whom I might trust implicitly&mdash;I never, never, shall find her
+      equal.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A transient recollection of former times crossed her mind&mdash;but those
+      times could not be recalled; and the present pressed upon her most
+      forcibly. Frustrated in all her ambitious schemes, she was sensible that
+      all that now remained for her was to conceal her disappointment, and to
+      avoid the contempt to which she would be exposed in the world, if it were
+      whispered that Miss Turnbull had fancied that the Marquis of &mdash;&mdash;
+      was in love with her, whilst he was all the while paying his addresses to
+      Lady Gabriella Bradstone. This powerful fear of ridicule conquered, or
+      suppressed, all other feelings. With all the resolution she could assume,
+      Almeria went to Mrs. Vickars, and congratulated her upon the happy event
+      which was soon likely to take place in her family: she even constrained
+      herself so far, as, without expressing either suspicion or resentment, to
+      hear her companion disclaim all knowledge of the affair, and declare that
+      she had, that morning, for the first time, heard of it from Lady
+      Pierrepoint, with a degree of astonishment from which she had not yet
+      recovered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In a few weeks afterwards Lady Gabriella&rsquo;s marriage took place. Our
+      heroine&rsquo;s mortification was much increased by the splendour in which the
+      bride appeared, and by the great share of the public attention which the
+      fair marchioness seemed for some days to engross. Miss Turnbull was weary
+      of hearing the praises of her equipages and dress; and the dissimulation
+      she was continually obliged to practise towards Mrs. Vickars became
+      intolerable. Nothing but a pretext for quarrelling with this lady was
+      wanting to Almeria, and nothing but an excuse for leaving Almeria was now
+      desired by Mrs. Vickars, who had received an invitation from the
+      marchioness, which she was impatient to accept. The ladies one morning
+      after breakfast fell into a dispute upon the comparative merits of blue
+      and green. It was not to all appearance a very dangerous subject, but in
+      certain situations every subject becomes dangerous.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This riband is a beautiful blue,&rdquo; said Miss Turnbull.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I confess I do not think so,&rdquo; said Mrs. Vickars; &ldquo;it is a very unbecoming
+      shade of blue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Unbecoming!&mdash;I have been told by twenty people, that it is
+      remarkably becoming to me. Mrs. Ingoldsby told me yesterday, that she
+      never saw so beautiful a blue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Ingoldsby&rsquo;s taste is not infallible, I imagine,&rdquo; said Mrs. Vickars,
+      with a contemptuous smile.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It may not be infallible,&rdquo; replied our heroine, &ldquo;but it is at least as
+      much to be relied upon as other people&rsquo;s.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure I do not pretend to compare my taste to Mrs. Ingoldsby&rsquo;s; but I
+      may be permitted to have an opinion of my own, I hope: and in my opinion
+      it is a frightful blue, and shockingly unbecoming. And at all events I
+      like green infinitely better than blue; and I beseech you, Miss Turnbull,
+      not to wear this hideous riband.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure I don&rsquo;t pretend to set my taste in competition with Mrs.
+      Vickars&rsquo;s, but I must confess I cannot think this a frightful blue, or
+      shockingly unbecoming; nor can I agree with any body in preferring green
+      to blue; and for once I shall take the liberty of following my own fancy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For once!&mdash;I am sorry I ever presumed to offer an opinion upon this
+      or any other subject to Miss Turnbull&mdash;I shall be more cautious in
+      future; but I candidly own I did think I might prefer green to blue
+      without giving offence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It gives me no offence, I assure you, Mrs. Vickars, that you should
+      prefer green to blue; I am not so ridiculous. But people who cannot bear
+      to be contradicted themselves are always apt to fancy that others have the
+      same strange sort of domineering temper.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;People who can bear nothing but flattery, Miss Turnbull, should have such
+      a friend as Mrs. Ingoldsby, who would swear that blue is green, and black
+      white, I make no doubt,&rdquo; said Mrs. Vickars; &ldquo;for my part, I am sorry I
+      cannot get rid of my troublesome sincerity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sincerity! Sincerity!&mdash;To do you justice, Mrs. Vickars, whatever I
+      may have felt about trifles, in affairs of importance I have never found
+      your <i>sincerity</i> troublesome.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The ironical accent upon the word <i>sincerity</i> sufficiently marked
+      Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s meaning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The irritable temper of Mrs. Vickars put it out of her power to act a part
+      with that &ldquo;exquisite dissimulation,&rdquo; for which some of her sex have been
+      celebrated by the judicious Davila. Thrown off her guard by the last
+      sarcastic insinuation, Mrs. Vickars burst into an angry defence of her own
+      sincerity with respect to the affair of the marquis and Lady Gabriella.
+      Almeria observed, that this &ldquo;defence was quite unnecessary, as she had not
+      made any accusation; and these apologies could be prompted only by Mrs.
+      Vickars&rsquo;s own <i>tenderness</i> of conscience.&rdquo; Mrs. Vickars replied with
+      increasing acrimony. She said, that her &ldquo;conduct needed no apologies, and
+      that she should not stoop to make any, to soothe the disappointed ambition
+      of any person whatever.&rdquo; Reproach succeeded reproach&mdash;sarcasm
+      produced sarcasm&mdash;till at last Mrs. Vickars declared, that after what
+      had passed it was impossible she should remain another day in Miss
+      Turnbull&rsquo;s house. This declaration was heard by Almeria with undisguised
+      satisfaction. The next day Mrs. Vickars accepted of an invitation from the
+      marchioness; and our heroine afterwards protested that she was as much
+      rejoiced to be freed from the encumbrance of such a companion as Sinbad
+      the sailor was to get rid of the old man of the sea, who fastened himself
+      upon his shoulders with such remorseless tenacity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She resolved to be more cautious in choice of her next companion. There
+      were many candidates for the honour of supplying the place of Mrs.
+      Vickars; amongst these was Mrs. Ingoldsby, a lady who was perfect mistress
+      of the whole art of flattery, by means of which she had so far ingratiated
+      herself with Miss Turnbull, that she felt secure of a preference over all
+      competitors. Almeria had indeed almost decided in her favour, when she
+      received a note from a Mrs. Wynne, an old lady with whom she had formerly
+      been acquainted in Yorkshire, and who, being just come to town, was eager
+      to renew her intimacy with Miss Turnbull. She was a woman of an excellent
+      heart, and absolutely incapable of suspecting that others could be less
+      frank or friendly than herself. She was sometimes led into mistakes by
+      this undistinguishing benevolence; for she imagined that all which
+      appeared wrong would prove right, if properly understood; that there must
+      be some good reason for every thing that seemed to be bad; that every
+      instance of unkindness or insolence was undesigned; and that every quarrel
+      was only a misunderstanding. Possessed by this good-natured kind of
+      wrong-headedness, she frequently did the most provoking, by way of doing
+      the most obliging things imaginable.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Upon this principle she would place contending parties by surprise in the
+      very situation which of all others they most wished to avoid, and then
+      give the signal for a pitched battle, by begging the enemies would shake
+      hands with one another. Now she had heard it reported in Yorkshire that
+      there was some coolness between the Elmours and Miss Turnbull; but she was
+      morally certain there could be no truth in this report, for a variety of
+      the very best reasons in the world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the first place,&rdquo; argued Mrs. Wynne, &ldquo;to my certain knowledge, Miss
+      Turnbull was, from her infancy, always the greatest favourite at Elmour
+      Grove, the pupil of the good old gentleman, and the intimate friend of the
+      daughter. During that odd Hodgkinson&rsquo;s lifetime, Almeria was always with
+      Miss Ellen Elmour, who treated her quite like a sister. I am sure I
+      remember, as if it was yesterday, her introducing Miss Turnbull to me, and
+      the affectionate way in which she spoke of her&mdash;and I particularly
+      recollect hearing Almeria Turnbull, amongst other grateful things, say,
+      that she should wish to live and die with her friends at Elmour Grove.
+      Then she had stronger reasons afterwards for being attached to them&mdash;you
+      know it was Mr. Frederick Elmour who gained her large fortune for her. I
+      was in the court-house in York the very day the cause was decided, and I
+      never heard a man speak with more energy and eloquence than Frederick
+      Elmour did in her defence. It was plain, indeed, that the eloquence came
+      from his heart&mdash;as to the law part of the business, I know my nephew,
+      who understands those things, said it was a very nice question, and that
+      if her cause had not been managed as ably as it was, she would not have
+      gained her fortune. Now of course this was a thing that never could be
+      forgotten. I own, I expected that there would have been a match between
+      Miss Turnbull and Mr. Elmour; but Sir Thomas Stock, her guardian, took her
+      away from us, and Mr. Elmour fell in love with another lady. But all this
+      time Miss Turnbull has never married, though she has been so much in the
+      great world, and from her large fortune must have had so many offers. I
+      heard it said yesterday, that she had refused Sir Thomas Stock&rsquo;s eldest
+      son, and my Lord Bradstone, and some others; now it is plain she would not
+      marry merely for money or title. My nephew, who is so amiable and
+      sensible, is just the man for her, and he had used to admire her very much
+      in former times, when he met her at Elmour Grove.&rdquo; Mrs. Wynne hinted her
+      wishes to her nephew, but he seemed not much inclined towards Miss
+      Turnbull, &ldquo;because,&rdquo; said he, &ldquo;though Frederick and his sister never
+      uttered a syllable to her disadvantage, I cannot, from circumstances, help
+      imagining, that she has not behaved well to them; and besides, after five
+      or six years spent in the great world, and in all the dissipation in which
+      she has lived, her disposition cannot probably be the same as it was when
+      I knew her in the country.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Wynne could not, with her good-natured eyes, see the force of any of
+      these objections, and she was determined to convince her nephew of their
+      futility. With this view she formed a scheme which was to be kept a
+      profound secret from the parties concerned, till the moment when it should
+      be ripe for execution. She heard that Miss Turnbull was in want of a
+      companion; and she knew that Mrs. Henry Elmour, a very amiable young
+      widow, distantly related to the Elmour family, and who had formerly been a
+      friend of Almeria&rsquo;s, was at this moment in great distress. She had no
+      doubt that Miss Turnbull would be delighted with an opportunity of serving
+      any one connected with a family to whom she owed such obligations. Mrs.
+      Wynne fancied that this would be the finest occasion imaginable to prove
+      to her nephew, that, notwithstanding Almeria had lately lived so much in
+      the fashionable world, she had the same grateful heart as formerly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Eager to come to this demonstration, Mrs. Wynne wrote immediately to the
+      distressed widow, begging her to come to town with all possible
+      expedition; &ldquo;for I have found, or at least I am morally sure of finding,
+      the most charming situation your heart can desire. I say no more, that I
+      may not deprive you of the pleasure of the surprise.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The same day that she sent this letter to the post, she despatched the
+      following note to Almeria:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &lsquo;MY DEAR MISS TURNBULL,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am too well persuaded of the goodness of your heart to fear that you
+      should think my present interference impertinent. We used to be very good
+      friends in Yorkshire, and I am sure shall be just the same in London;
+      therefore I write without ceremony, as friends should. I called upon you
+      twice, but found you were, unluckily, not at home. Now I have a matter
+      very near my heart to speak to you about, that perhaps will turn out as
+      much to your satisfaction as to mine. I cannot express myself so well as I
+      could wish in writing, but am sure you will not repent your kindness, if
+      you will do us the honour of dining with us in a family way on Friday
+      next; and in the mean time, let me beg you will not decide your choice of
+      a companion. I cannot be more explicit, lest (as I have said once before
+      to-day) I should deprive you of the pleasure of the surprise. Dear madam,
+      forgive this freedom in one who most sincerely wishes you well (as Friday
+      will prove). My nephew, Henry Wynne (whom you may remember a great admirer
+      of yours), desires his best respects; and with every good wish I remain,
+      Dear Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Affectionate humble servant,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;M. WYNNE.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This letter at first surprised our heroine, and afterwards afforded
+      subject for much ridicule to Mrs. Ingoldsby, to whom Almeria showed it.
+      She laughed at the odd freedom of the Yorkshire dame, at the old-fashioned
+      plainness of the style&mdash;parenthesis within parenthesis&mdash;at last
+      concluding with respects and best wishes, and <i>remaining</i> dear Miss
+      Turnbull&rsquo;s humble servant. She opined, however, upon the third perusal of
+      the letter, that Mrs. Wynne was anxious to present her nephew to Miss
+      Turnbull, and that this was the real meaning of her curious note&mdash;that
+      probably she wished to surprise her with the sight of some Yorkshire
+      damsel, who had formed the reasonable expectation, that because Miss
+      Turnbull had done her the honour to notice her ages ago in the country,
+      she was to be her companion in town. Mrs. Ingoldsby further observed, that
+      Mrs. Wynne, though she had not practised at court, was no bad politician
+      in thus attempting to recommend a companion to Miss Turnbull, who would,
+      of course, be entirely in her nephew&rsquo;s interests. Almeria&rsquo;s vanity was
+      indirectly flattered by these insinuations, which tended to prove her vast
+      consequence, in being thus the object of plots and counterplots; and she
+      the more readily believed this, from the experience she had had of Lady
+      Pierrepoint&rsquo;s manoeuvres. &ldquo;It is really a dreadful thing,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;to
+      be a great heiress. One must be so circumspect&mdash;so much upon one&rsquo;s
+      guard with all the world. But poor Mrs. Wynne shows her cards so plainly,
+      one must be an idiot not to guess her whole play.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      To &ldquo;mistake reverse of wrong for right&rdquo; is one of the most common errors
+      in the conduct of life. Our heroine being sensible that she had been
+      ridiculously credulous in her dealings with Lady Pierrepoint, was now
+      inclined to be preposterously suspicious. She determined with her next
+      admirer to pursue a system diametrically opposite to that which she had
+      followed with the marquis; she had shown him attractive complaisance; she
+      was now prepared to display the repulsive haughtiness becoming the
+      representative of two hundred thousand pounds: she had completely adopted
+      Lady Pierrepoint&rsquo;s maxim. <i>That a lady should marry to increase her
+      consequence and strengthen her connexions</i>. Her former ideas, that love
+      and esteem were necessary to happiness in a union for life, seemed
+      obsolete and romantic; and the good qualities of her admirers, though they
+      were always to be mentioned as the ostensible reasons for her choice, were
+      never in reality to influence her decision.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To stoop at once from a marquis to a private gentleman would be terrible;
+      yet that private gentleman was worthy of some little consideration, not
+      because he was, as Almeria remembered, a man of excellent sense, temper,
+      and character, but because he had a clear estate of eight thousand pounds
+      a-year, and was next heir to an earldom.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull cannot properly be called a female fortune-hunter; but, to
+      coin a new name for our heroine, which may be useful to designate a
+      numerous class of her contemporaries, she was decidedly a female <i>title-hunter</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She accepted of the invitation to dinner, and, accompanied by a proper
+      supporter in Mrs. Ingoldsby, went to Mrs. Wynne&rsquo;s, dressed in the utmost
+      extravagance of the mode, blazing in all the glory of diamonds, in hopes
+      of striking admiration even unto awe upon the hearts of all beholders.
+      Though she had been expressly invited to a <i>family party</i>, she
+      considered that only as an humble country phrase to excuse, beforehand,
+      any deficiency of magnificence. She had no doubt that the finest
+      entertainment, and the finest company, Mrs. Wynne could procure or
+      collect, would be prepared for her reception. She was somewhat surprised,
+      especially as she came fashionably late, to find in the drawing-room only
+      old Mrs. Wynne, her nephew, and a lady, who, from her dress and modest
+      appearance, was evidently <i>nobody</i>. Miss Turnbull swept by her,
+      though she had a disagreeable recollection of having somewhere seen this
+      figure in a former state of existence. Mrs. Wynne, good soul! did not
+      believe in wilful blindness, and she therefore said, with provoking
+      simplicity, &ldquo;Miss Turnbull, this is your good friend, Mrs. Henry Elmour&mdash;poor
+      thing! she is sadly altered in her looks since you saw her, a gay rosy
+      lass at Elmour Grove! But though her looks are changed, her heart, I can
+      answer for it, is just the same as ever; and she remembers you with all
+      the affection you could desire. She would not be like any other of her
+      name, indeed, if she did otherwise. The Elmours were all so fond of you!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The name of Elmour, instead of having that irresistible charm, which Mrs.
+      Wynne expected, over Almeria&rsquo;s heart, produced a directly contrary effect.
+      It recalled many associations that were painful to her pride; she was
+      vexed to perceive that obligations and intimacies which she had forgotten,
+      or which she wished to forget, were remembered so obstinately by others.
+      All this passed in her mind whilst Mrs. Wynne was speaking. With a look of
+      ill-humoured surprise, Almeria half rose from her seat, and, as Mrs. Henry
+      Elmour was presented to her, uttered some phrases in an unintelligible
+      voice, and then sunk back again on the sofa. Mrs. Wynne made room for the
+      widow between her and Miss Turnbull&mdash;Mr. Wynne kept aloof&mdash;a
+      dead silence ensued&mdash;and Miss Turnbull, seeing that in her present
+      position there was nothing else to be done, condescended to hope that all
+      Mrs. Henry Elmour&rsquo;s friends in Yorkshire were well when she left them.
+      Mrs. Wynne&rsquo;s countenance brightened up, and she now addressed her
+      conversation to Mrs. Ingoldsby, in order to leave the pair, whom she had
+      destined to be friends, at perfect liberty to talk over &ldquo;old times.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Henry Elmour naturally spoke of the happy days which they had spent
+      together at Elmour Grove; but Miss Turnbull was so much occupied in
+      clasping one of her diamond bracelets, that half of what was said to her
+      seemed not to be heard, and the other half to create no interest. She
+      looked up, when she had at length adjusted her bracelet, and with an
+      insipid smile (learnt from Lady Pierrepoint) seemed to beg pardon for her
+      fit of absence. The unfortunate Mrs. Elmour recommenced all she had said;
+      but though Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s eyes were at this time directed towards the
+      widow&rsquo;s face, they wandered over her features with such insolent
+      examination, that she was totally abashed. Having gained her point, our
+      heroine now looked round as the door opened, in expectation of the
+      entrance of some persons who might be worthy of her attention; but, lo! it
+      was only a servant, who announced that dinner was served. Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s
+      surprise could be equalled only by her indignation, when she found that it
+      was literally to a <i>family party</i> she was invited. &ldquo;Miss Turnbull,&rdquo;
+       said Mrs. Wynne, as they were sitting down to dinner, &ldquo;I have been much
+      disappointed in not having the company of some friends of yours, who I
+      expected would dine with us to-day; but they will be with us, I hope,
+      to-night&mdash;they were unluckily engaged to dine with the Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull vouchsafed to appear interested, when the name of a duchess
+      was mentioned; but her countenance again changed to an expression of
+      almost angry vexation, when Mrs. Wynne explained, that these friends were
+      Mr. and Mrs. Elmour, and Mr. Charles Wynne and his lady. &ldquo;Miss Ellen
+      Elmour, you know: she was&mdash;&mdash;&ldquo;&mdash;&ldquo;Very true, I saw her
+      marriage in the papers, I remember, some time ago,&rdquo; replied Miss Turnbull;
+      &ldquo;a year, if I&rsquo;m not mistaken.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Two years ago, madam,&rdquo; said Mrs. Wynne.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Was it two?&mdash;I dare say it might&mdash;you know it is so impossible
+      to keep a register of deaths and marriages in one&rsquo;s head. Pray, are you at
+      all acquainted, Mrs. Wynne, with the Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;? She was
+      always a prodigious friend of the Elmours, as I remember. How is that?&mdash;Are
+      they any way related, I wonder?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; they are now related by marriage,&rdquo; said Mr. Wynne; &ldquo;Mrs. Elmour is a
+      niece of the duchess.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She is a charming woman,&rdquo; said Mr. Wynne; &ldquo;so beautiful and yet so
+      unaffected&mdash;so sensible, yet so unassuming.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pray,&rdquo; interrupted Mrs. Ingoldsby, &ldquo;has not her grace conversaziones, or
+      reading parties, or something in that style every week?&mdash;She is quite
+      a learned lady, I understand. There was always something odd about her,
+      and I cannot help being afraid of her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I assure you,&rdquo; said Mrs. Wynne, &ldquo;that there is nothing odd or strange
+      about the Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;. She has always the most agreeable
+      society that London can afford.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull and Mrs. Ingoldsby interchanged looks of affected contempt:
+      but Mr. Wynne added, &ldquo;Her grace has, you know, a taste for literature and
+      for the arts; and the most celebrated literary characters, as well as
+      those who have distinguished themselves in active life, assemble at her
+      house, where they can enjoy the most agreeable conversation&mdash;that in
+      which a knowledge of books and of the world is happily blended.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And as to being afraid of her grace,&rdquo; resumed Mrs. Wynne, &ldquo;that is quite
+      impossible; she has such affable, engaging manners. I am sure, even I am
+      not in the least afraid of her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you know,&rdquo; said Miss Turnbull, with a malicious look of mock
+      humility, &ldquo;there is a difference between you and me.&mdash;I would not
+      meet her grace for the world, for I am persuaded I should not be able to
+      articulate a syllable in her classical presence&mdash;I have not been used
+      to that style of company, by any means. I assure you I should be, as Mrs.
+      Ingoldsby says, horribly afraid of your witty duchess.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She has none of the airs of a wit, believe me,&rdquo; said Mrs. Wynne, growing
+      more and more earnest; &ldquo;and if you will not believe me, ask your friend
+      Ellen.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, excuse me, I beseech; I shall ask no questions&mdash;I only beg leave
+      to keep myself well when I am well. The Elmours who are so clever, and
+      have such merit and so on, are all vastly better suited to her grace than
+      I am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      No contradiction ensued&mdash;our heroine was mortified beyond the power
+      of concealment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After dinner, when the ladies retired, Mrs. Wynne, though somewhat alarmed
+      and puzzled by Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s behaviour, summoned all the resolution
+      which benevolence could inspire, and resolved at once to come to the point
+      with our heroine. She flattered herself that all in Miss Turnbull that
+      appeared inauspicious to her hopes was only <i>her manner,</i> that sort
+      of manner which people, who live much in high life, catch and practise,
+      without meaning to give themselves airs, or to humble their neighbours.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Many persons will perhaps think good Mrs. Wynne almost an idiot: but she
+      was a woman of abilities; and if she did not exert them in discovering
+      with promptitude the follies of others, she enjoyed much happiness in her
+      benevolent scepticism. This evening, however, she was doomed to be
+      absolutely convinced, against her will, that she had formed too favourable
+      an opinion of one of her fellow-creatures.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      She was eager to explain herself to Almeria before Ellen and Mr. Frederick
+      Elmour should arrive; she therefore took her aside, and began without any
+      preface:&mdash;&ldquo;My dear Miss Turnbull, here is a charming opportunity for
+      you to do a kind, and generous, and grateful action. This poor Mrs. Henry
+      Elmour!&mdash;She has told you how she has been reduced to distress
+      without any imprudence of hers. Now you could not, I am sure, prove the
+      goodness of your own heart better to your friends (who will be here in
+      half an hour) than by showing kindness to this unfortunate widow. I cannot
+      presume to say more than that I think she would make a most agreeable
+      companion to an amiable, sensible young lady&mdash;and you have not
+      decided your choice, have you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pardon me, I have decided, beyond a possibility of retracting,&rdquo; replied
+      Miss Turnbull, haughtily.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am very sorry,&rdquo; said Mrs. Wynne, with an expression of real concern in
+      her countenance. &ldquo;I have been very imprudent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Really I am infinitely distressed that it is out of my power to oblige
+      her; but the lady who is with me now, Mrs. Ingoldsby, has a prior claim.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Prior claim!&mdash;prior to that of the Elmour family! thought Mrs. Wynne.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The decisive manner in which Miss Turnbull spoke precluded all further
+      hope.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, I did think it would have been such a pleasure to Miss Turnbull to
+      meet Mrs. Henry Elmour, and all her old friends the Elmours here to-day;
+      and I fancied, that if there had been any little coolness or
+      misunderstanding, it would quite have passed off, and that I should have
+      had the joy of seeing you all shake hands&mdash;I thought it would have
+      been such an agreeable surprise to you to see all the Elmour family, and
+      Ellen&rsquo;s charming little girl, and Mr. Frederick Elmour&rsquo;s boy!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A more disagreeable surprise could scarcely have been imagined for our
+      heroine. She informed Mrs. Wynne, coldly, that there was not the slightest
+      quarrel between her and any of the Elmours; and that therefore there was
+      no necessity, or possible occasion, for any shaking of hands or
+      reconciliation scenes: that undoubtedly the style of life she had been
+      thrown into had entirely separated her from her Yorkshire acquaintance;
+      and time had dissolved the sort of intimacy that neighbourhood had
+      created: that she should always, notwithstanding, be most particularly
+      happy to meet any of the Elmour family; though, from her situation, it was
+      a good fortune she had not often enjoyed, nor indeed could in future
+      expect: but that she wished it to be understood, and repeated, that she
+      always in all companies properly acknowledged the obligations she had to
+      Mr. Frederick Elmour as a lawyer. Her cause, she believed, was the first
+      in which he had distinguished himself; and she was rejoiced to find that
+      he had since risen so rapidly in his profession.&mdash;As to Miss Ellen
+      Elmour, she was a very charming, sensible young woman, no doubt; and Miss
+      Turnbull assured Mrs. Wynne she was delighted to hear she was so suitably
+      married in point of understanding and temper, and all that sort of thing&mdash;and
+      besides, to a gentleman of a reasonable fortune, which she was happy to
+      hear Mr. Charles Wynne possessed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Here she was interrupted in her speech&mdash;the door opened, and the
+      Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;, Mr. and Mrs. Elmour, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles
+      Wynne, were announced. Our heroine was not prepared for the sight of the
+      duchess; and her grace&rsquo;s appearance made her receive her old friends in a
+      manner very different from that in which she had determined to meet them.
+      Practised as she was, she stood irresolute and awkward, whilst Ellen, with
+      easy, graceful kindness, accosted her, and immediately introduced her to
+      the Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;. As Mr. Frederick Elmour approached, and as
+      his beautiful wife was presented to Miss Turnbull, not all her efforts
+      could conceal the mortification she endured, whilst she pronounced that
+      she was vastly happy&mdash;quite delighted&mdash;that all this was really
+      such an agreeable and <i>unexpected surprise</i> to her&mdash;for she did
+      not even know any of her Yorkshire friends were in town.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Ingoldsby came up to her assistance. Miss Turnbull rallied her
+      spirits, and determined to make her stand upon the exclusive ground of
+      fashion. Those who comprehend the rights of the privileged orders of
+      fashion are aware that even a commoner, who is in a certain <i>set</i>, is
+      far superior to a duchess who is not supposed to move in that magic
+      circle, Almeria, upon this principle, began to talk to the duchess of some
+      of her acquaintance, who were of the highest <i>ton</i>; and then
+      affectedly checked herself, and begged pardon, and looked surprised at
+      Mrs. Ingoldsby, when she found that her grace was not acquainted with
+      them. Much as Miss Turnbull had reason to complain of Lady Pierrepoint and
+      the young bride the marchioness, she now thought that their names would do
+      her honour; and she scrupled not to speak of them as her best friends, and
+      as the most amiable creatures existing.&mdash;Such is the meanness and
+      insufficiency of vanity!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Poor Lady Pierrepoint,&rdquo; said the Duchess of A&mdash;&mdash;: &ldquo;with her
+      independent fortune, what could tempt her to enslave herself, as she has
+      done, to a court life?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Her ladyship finds herself suited to her situation, I believe,&rdquo; said Miss
+      Turnbull. &ldquo;Lady Pierrepoint is certainly formed, more than most people I
+      know, to succeed and shine in a court; and she is in favour, and in power,
+      and in fashion.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Does it follow of course that she is happy?&rdquo; said Ellen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! happy&mdash;of course; I suppose so.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No doubt,&rdquo; said Mrs. Ingoldsby; &ldquo;she has every reason to be happy: has
+      not she just made her niece marchioness?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull repeated &ldquo;<i>Happy!</i> to be sure Lady Pierrepoint is
+      happy, if any body in the world is happy.&rdquo;&mdash;A short sigh escaped from
+      our heroine.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Ellen heard the sigh, and attended to it more than to her words; she
+      looked upon her with compassion, and endeavoured to change the
+      conversation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We spend this winter in town; and as I think I know your <i>real</i>
+      tastes, Almeria,&rdquo; said she, taking Almeria&rsquo;s hand, &ldquo;we must have the
+      pleasure of introducing you to some of her grace&rsquo;s literary friends, who
+      will, I am sure, please and suit you particularly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Frederick Elmour, who now really pitied Almeria, though in his pity
+      there was a strong mixture of contempt, joined his sister in her kindness,
+      and named and described some of the people whom he thought she would be
+      most desirous of knowing. The names struck Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s ears, for they
+      were the names of persons distinguished in the fashionable as well as in
+      the literary world; and she was dismayed and mortified by the discovery
+      that her <i>country friends</i> had by some means, incomprehensible to
+      her, gained distinction and intimacy in society where she had merely
+      admission; she was vexed beyond expression when she found that <i>the
+      Elmours</i> were superior to her even on her own ground. At this instant
+      Mrs. Wynne, with her usual simplicity, asked Mrs. Elmour and Ellen why
+      they had not brought their charming children with them; adding, &ldquo;You are,
+      my dears, without exception, the two happiest mothers and wives I am
+      acquainted with. And after all, what happiness is there equal to domestic
+      happiness?&mdash;Oh! my dear Miss Turnbull, trust me, though I am a silly
+      old woman, there&rsquo;s nothing like it&mdash;and friends at court are not like
+      friends at home&mdash;and all the Lady Pierrepoints that ever were or ever
+      will be born, are not, as you&rsquo;ll find when you come to try them, like one
+      of these plain good Ellens and Elmours.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The address, simple as it was, came so home to Almeria&rsquo;s experience, and
+      so many recollections rushed at once upon her memory, that all her
+      factitious character of a fine lady gave way to natural feeling, and
+      suddenly she burst into tears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good heavens! my dear Miss Turnbull,&rdquo; cried Mrs. Ingoldsby, &ldquo;what is the
+      matter?&mdash;Are not you well?&mdash;Salts! salts!&mdash;the heat of the
+      room!&mdash;Poor thing!&mdash;she has such weak nerves.&mdash;Mr. Elmour,
+      may I trouble you to ring the bell for our carriage? Miss Turnbull has
+      such sensibility! This meeting, so unexpected, with so many old friends,
+      has quite overcome her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Turnbull, recalled to herself by Mrs. Ingoldsby&rsquo;s voice, repeated the
+      request to have her carriage immediately, and departed with Mrs. Ingoldsby
+      as soon as she possibly could, utterly abashed and mortified; mortified
+      most at not having been able to conceal her mortification. Incapable
+      absolutely of articulating, she left Mrs. Ingoldsby to cover her retreat,
+      as well as she could, with weak nerves and sensibility.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Even the charitable Mrs. Wynne was now heard to acknowledge that she could
+      neither approve of Miss Turnbull&rsquo;s conduct, nor frame any apology for it.
+      She confessed that it looked very like what she of all things detested
+      most&mdash;<i>ingratitude</i>. Her nephew, who had been a cool observant
+      spectator of this evening&rsquo;s performance, was glad that his aunt&rsquo;s mind was
+      now decided by Almeria&rsquo;s conduct. He exclaimed that he would not marry
+      such a woman, if her portion were to be the mines of Peru.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus Miss Turnbull lost all chance of the esteem and affection of another
+      man of sense and temper, who might even at this late period of her life
+      have recalled her from the follies of dissipation, and rendered her
+      permanently happy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      And now that our heroine must have lost all power of interesting the
+      reader, now that the pity even of the most indulgent must be utterly sunk
+      in contempt, we shall take our leave of her, resigning her to that misery
+      which she had been long preparing for herself. It is sufficient to say,
+      that after this period she had some offers from men of fashion of ruined
+      fortunes; but these she rejected, still fancying that with her wealth she
+      could not fail to make a splendid match. So she went on coquetting; and
+      coquetting, rejecting and rejecting, till at length she arrived at an age
+      when she could reject no longer. She ceased to be an object to matrimonial
+      adventurers, but to these succeeded a swarm of female legacy-hunters.
+      Among the most distinguished was her companion, Mrs. Ingoldsby, whose
+      character she soon discovered to be artful and selfish in the extreme.
+      This lady&rsquo;s flattery, therefore, lost all its power to charm, but yet it
+      became necessary to Almeria; and even when she knew that she was duped,
+      she could not part with Mrs. Ingoldsby, because it was not in her power to
+      supply the place of a flatterer with a <i>friend</i>.&mdash;A friend! that
+      first blessing of life, cannot be bought&mdash;it must be deserved.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss, or as she must now be called, <i>Mrs</i>. Almeria Turnbull, is still
+      alive&mdash;probably at this moment haunting some place of public
+      amusement, or stationary at the card-table. Wherever she may be, she is
+      despised and discontented; one example more amongst thousands, that wealth
+      cannot purchase, or fashion bestow, real happiness.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;See how the world its veterans rewards&mdash;youth of folly, an old age
+      of cards!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <i>Edgeworth&rsquo;s-Town</i>, 1802.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      <i>VIVIAN</i>.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_PREF" id="link2H_PREF"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Miss Edgeworth&rsquo;s general views, in these stories, are explained in the
+      preface to the first volume. I cannot, however, omit repeating, that
+      public favour has not yet rendered her so presumptuous as to offer hasty
+      effusions to her readers, but that she takes a longer time to revise what
+      she writes than the severe ancients required for the highest species of
+      moral fiction.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian exposes one of the most common defects of mankind. To be &ldquo;infirm of
+      purpose&rdquo; is to be at the mercy of the artful or at the disposal of
+      accident. Look round, and count the numbers who have, within your own
+      knowledge, failed from want of firmness.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      An excellent and wise mother gave the following advice with her dying
+      breath: &ldquo;My son, learn early how to say, No!&rdquo;&mdash;This precept gave the
+      first idea of the story of Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      THE ABSENTEE is not intended as a censure upon those whose duties, and
+      employments, and superior talents, lead them to the capital; but to warn
+      the thoughtless and the unoccupied from seeking distinction by frivolous
+      imitation of fashion and ruinous waste of fortune.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A country gentleman, or even a nobleman, who does not sit in parliament,
+      may be as usefully and as honourably employed in Yorkshire, Mid Lothian,
+      or Ireland, as at a club-house or an assembly in London.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Irish agents are here described as of two different species. That there
+      have been bad and oppressive Irish agents, many great landed English
+      proprietors have felt; that there are well-informed, just, and honourable
+      Irish agents, every-day experience can testify.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      MADAME DE FLEURY points out some of the means which may be employed by the
+      rich for the real advantage of the poor. This story shows that sowing gold
+      does not always produce a golden harvest; but that knowledge and virtue,
+      when early implanted in the human breast, seldom fail to make ample
+      returns of prudence and felicity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      EMILIE DE COULANGES exposes a fault into which the good and generous are
+      liable to fall.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Great sacrifices and great benefits cannot frequently be made or conferred
+      by private individuals; but, every day, kindness and attention to the
+      common feelings of others is within the power, and may be the practice, of
+      every age, and sex, and station. Common faults are reproved by all writers
+      on morality; but there are errors and defects that require to be treated
+      in a lighter manner, and that come, with propriety, within the province of
+      essayists and of writers for the stage.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      R. L. EDGEWORTH. <i>May</i>, 1812.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER I.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To see the best, and yet the worse pursue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is it possible,&rdquo; exclaimed Vivian, &ldquo;that you, Russell, my friend, my best
+      friend, can tell me that this line is the motto of my character!&mdash;&rsquo; 
+      To see the best, and yet the worse pursue.&mdash;Then you must think me
+      either a villain or a madman.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied Russell, calmly; &ldquo;I think you only weak.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Weak&mdash;but you must think me an absolute fool.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, not a fool; the weakness of which I accuse you is not a weakness of
+      the understanding. I find no fault either with the logical or the
+      mathematical part of your understanding. It is not erroneous in either of
+      the two great points in which Bacon says that most men&rsquo;s minds be
+      deficient in&mdash;the power of judging of consequences, or in the power
+      of estimating the comparative value of objects.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well,&rdquo; cried Vivian, impatiently, &ldquo;but I don&rsquo;t want to hear just now what
+      Bacon says&mdash;but what <i>you</i> think. Tell me all the faults of my
+      character.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All!&mdash;unconscionable!&mdash;after the fatigue of this long day&rsquo;s
+      journey,&rdquo; said Russell, laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      These two friends were, at this time, travelling from Oxford to Vivian
+      Hall (in &mdash;&mdash;shire), the superb seat of the Vivian family, to
+      which Vivian was heir. Mr. Russell, though he was but a few years older
+      than Vivian, had been his tutor at college; and by an uncommon transition,
+      had, from his tutor, become his intimate friend.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      After a pause, Vivian resumed, &ldquo;Now I think of it, Russell, you are to
+      blame, if I have any faults. Don&rsquo;t you say, that every thing is to be done
+      by education? And are not you&mdash;though by much too young, and
+      infinitely too handsome, for a philosopher&mdash;are not you my guide,
+      philosopher, and friend?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But I have had the honour to be your guide, philosopher, and friend, only
+      for these three years,&rdquo; said Russell. &ldquo;I believe in the rational, but not
+      in the magical, power of education. How could I do, or undo, in three
+      years, the work of the preceding seventeen?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, if you won&rsquo;t let me blame you, I must blame my mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your mother!&mdash;I had always understood that she had paid particular
+      attention to your early education, and all the world says that Lady Mary
+      Vivian, though a woman of fashion, is remarkably well-informed and
+      domestic; and, judging from those of her letters which you have shown me,
+      I should think that, for once, what all the world says is right.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What all the world says is right, and yet I am not wrong:&mdash;my mother
+      is a very clever woman, and most affectionate, and she certainly paid
+      particular attention to my early education; but her attention was too
+      particular, her care was too great. You know I was an only son&mdash;then
+      I lost my father when I was an infant; and a woman, let her be ever so
+      sensible, cannot well educate an <i>only</i> son, without some manly
+      assistance; the fonder she is of the son the worse, even if her fondness
+      is not foolish fondness&mdash;it makes her over-anxious&mdash;it makes her
+      do too much. My mother took too much, a great deal too much, care of me;
+      she over-educated, over-instructed, over-dosed me with premature lessons
+      of prudence: she was so afraid that I should ever do a foolish thing, or
+      not say a wise one, that she prompted my every word, and guided my every
+      action. So I grew up, seeing with her eyes, hearing with her ears, and
+      judging with her understanding, till, at length, it was found out that I
+      had not eyes, ears, or understanding of my own. When I was between twelve
+      and thirteen, my mother began to think that I was not sufficiently manly
+      for my age, and that there was something too yielding and undecided in my
+      character. Seized with a panic, my mother, to make a man of me at once,
+      sent me to &mdash;&mdash; school. There I was, with all convenient
+      expedition, made ashamed of every thing good I had learned at home; and
+      there I learned every thing bad, and nothing good, that could be learned
+      at school. I was inferior in Latin and Greek; and this was a deficiency I
+      could not make up without more labour than I had courage to undertake. I
+      was superior in general literature, but this was of little value amongst
+      my competitors, and therefore I despised it; and, overpowered by numbers
+      and by ridicule, I was, of course, led into all sorts of folly, by mere <i>mauvaise
+      honte</i>. Had I been in the habit of exercising my own judgment, or had
+      my resolution been strengthened by degrees; had I, in short, been prepared
+      for a school, I might, perhaps, have acquired, by a public education, a
+      manly, independent spirit. If I had even been wholly bred up in a public
+      school, I might have been forced, as others were, by early and fair
+      competition, to exercise my own powers, and by my own experience in that
+      microcosm, as it has been called, I might have formed some rules of
+      conduct, some manliness of character, and might have made, at least, a
+      good schoolboy. Half home-bred, and half school-bred, from want of proper
+      preparation, one half of my education totally destroyed the other. From
+      school, of course, I went to college, and at college, of course, I should
+      have become one of the worst species of college lads, and should have had
+      no chance, in my whole future life, of being any thing but a dissipated
+      fool of fashion, one of the <i>Four-in-Hand Club</i>, or the <i>Barouche
+      Club</i>, or the <i>Tandem Club</i>, or the <i>Defiance Club</i>, had not
+      I, by the greatest good fortune, met with such a friend as you, and, by
+      still greater good fortune, found you out for myself; for if my mother had
+      recommended you to me, I should have considered you only as a college
+      tutor; I should never have discovered half your real merit; I doubt
+      whether I should have even seen that you are young and handsome: so
+      prejudiced should I have been with the preconceived notion of a college
+      tutor, that I am not certain whether I should have found out that you are
+      a gentleman as well born and well bred as myself; but, be that as it may,
+      I am positive that I never should have made you my companion and friend; I
+      should never have thrown open my whole soul to you, as I have done; nor
+      could you ever have obtained such wondrous power as you possess over my
+      mind, if you had been recommended to me by my mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sorry,&rdquo; said Russell, smiling, &ldquo;that, after so many wise
+      reflections, and so many fine compliments, you end by proving to me that
+      my wondrous power is founded on your wondrous weakness. I am mortified to
+      find that your esteem and friendship for me depended so much upon my not
+      having had the honour of your mother&rsquo;s recommendation; and have not I
+      reason to fear, that now, when I have a chance of becoming acquainted with
+      Lady Mary Vivian, and, perhaps, a chance of her thinking me a fit
+      companion and friend for her son, I must lose his regard and confidence,
+      because I shall labour under the insuperable objection of an affectionate
+      mother&rsquo;s approbation?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, no,&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;my wilful folly does not go quite so far as that.
+      So that I maintain the privilege of choosing my friends for myself, I
+      shall always be pleased and proud to find my mother approve my choice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After a few moments&rsquo; pause, Vivian added, &ldquo;You misunderstand, quite
+      misunderstand me, if you think that I am not fond of my mother. I respect
+      and love her with all my soul:&mdash;I should be a most ungrateful wretch
+      if I did not. I did very wrong to speak as I did just now, of any little
+      errors she may have made in my education; but, believe me, I would not
+      have said so much to any one living but yourself, nor to you, but in
+      strict confidence; and, after all, I don&rsquo;t know whether I ought not to lay
+      the blame of my faults on my masters more than on my poor mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lay the blame where we will,&rdquo; said Russell, &ldquo;remember, that the
+      punishment will rest on ourselves. We may, with as much philosophic
+      justice as possible, throw the blame of our faults on our parents and
+      preceptors, and on the early mismanagement of our minds; yet, after we
+      have made out our case in the abstract, to the perfect satisfaction of a
+      jury of metaphysicians, when we come to <i>overt</i> actions, all our
+      judges, learned and unlearned, are so awed, by the ancient precedents and
+      practice of society, and by the obsolete law of common sense, that they
+      finish by pronouncing against us the barbarous sentence, that every man
+      must suffer for his own faults.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&lsquo;I hope I shall be able to bear it, my lord,&rsquo; as the English sailor said
+      when the judge&mdash;&mdash;But look out there! Let down that glass on
+      your side of the carriage!&rdquo; cried Vivian, starting forward. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s
+      Vivian Hall!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That fine old castle?&rdquo; said Russell, looking out of the window.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No; but farther off to the left, don&rsquo;t you see amongst the trees that
+      house with wings?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ha! quite a new, modern house: I had always fancied that Vivian Hall was
+      an old pile of building.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So it was, till my father threw down the old hall, and built this new
+      house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And a very handsome one it is.&mdash;Is it as good within as without?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Quite, I think; but I&rsquo;ll leave you to judge for yourself.&mdash;Are not
+      those fine old trees in the park?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      From this time till the travellers arrived at Vivian Hall, their
+      conversation turned upon trees, and avenues, and serpentine <i>approaches</i>,
+      and alterations that Vivian intended to make, when he should be of age,
+      and master of this fine place; and he now wanted but a twelvemonth of
+      being at legal years of discretion. When they arrived at the hall, Lady
+      Mary Vivian showed much affectionate joy at the sight of her son, and
+      received Mr. Russell with such easy politeness that he was prepossessed at
+      first in her favour. To this charm of well-bred manners was united the
+      appearance of sincerity and warmth of feeling. In her conversation there
+      was a mixture of excellent sense and general literature with the
+      frivolities of the fashionable world, and the anecdotes of the day in
+      certain high circles, of which she seemed to talk more from habit than
+      taste, and to annex importance more from the compulsion of external
+      circumstances than from choice. But her son,&mdash;her son was the great
+      object of all her thoughts, serious or frivolous. She was delighted by the
+      improvements she saw in his understanding and character; by the taste and
+      talents he displayed, both for fine literature and for solid information:
+      this flattered her hope that he would both shine as a polished gentleman
+      and make a figure in public life. To his friend Russell she attributed
+      these happy improvements; and, though he was not a tutor of her own
+      original selection, yet her pride, on this occasion, yielded to gratitude,
+      and she graciously declared, that she could not feel jealous of the
+      pre-eminent power he had obtained over her son, when she saw the admirable
+      use he made of this influence. Vivian, like all candid and generous
+      persons, being peculiarly touched by candour and generosity in others,
+      felt his affection for his mother rapidly increased by this conduct; nor
+      did his enthusiasm for his friend in the least abate, in consequence of
+      the high approbation with which she honoured him, nor even in consequence
+      of her ladyship&rsquo;s frequent and rather injudicious expressions of her
+      hopes, that her son would always preserve and show himself worthy of such
+      a friend.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He joined in his mother&rsquo;s entreaties to Russell to prolong his visit; and
+      as her ladyship declared she thought it of essential consequence to her
+      son&rsquo;s interest and future happiness, that he should, at this <i>turn of
+      his life</i>, have such a companion, Russell consented to remain with him
+      some time longer. All parties were thus pleased with each other, and
+      remained united by one common interest about the same objects, during
+      several weeks of a delightful summer. But, alas! this family harmony, and
+      this accord of reason and <i>will</i>, between the mother and son, were
+      not of longer duration. As usual, there were faults on both sides.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary Vivian, whose hopes of her son&rsquo;s distinguishing himself by his
+      abilities had been much exalted since his last return from Oxford, had
+      indulged herself in pleasing anticipations of the time when he should make
+      his appearance in the fashionable and in the political world. She foresaw
+      the respect that would be paid to her, on his account, both by senators
+      and by matrons; by ministers, who might want to gain a rising orator&rsquo;s
+      vote, and by mothers, who might wish to make an excellent match for their
+      daughters: not only by all mothers who had daughters to marry, but by all
+      daughters who had hearts or hands to dispose of, Lady Mary felt secure of
+      having her society courted. Now, she had rather extravagant expectations
+      for her son: she expected him to marry, so as to secure domestic
+      happiness, and, at the same time, to have fashion, and beauty, and rank,
+      and high connexions, and every amiable quality in a wife. This vision of a
+      future daughter-in-law continually occupied her ladyship&rsquo;s imagination.
+      Already, with maternal <i>Alnascharism</i>, she had, in her reveries,
+      thrown back her head with disdain, as she repulsed the family advances of
+      some wealthy but low-born heiress, or as she rejected the alliance of some
+      of the new nobility. Already she had arranged the very words of her
+      answers to these, and determined the degrees and shades of her intimacies
+      with those; already had she settled
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To whom to nod, whom take into her coach, Whom honour with her hand;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      when one morning, as she sat at work, absorbed in one of these reveries,
+      she was so far &ldquo;rapt into future times,&rdquo; that, without perceiving that any
+      body was present, she began to speak her thoughts, and said aloud to
+      herself, &ldquo;As if my son could possibly think of her!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Her son, who was opposite to her, lying on a sofa, reading, or seeming to
+      read, started up, and putting down his book, exclaimed, in a voice which
+      showed at once that he was conscious of thinking of some particular
+      person, and determined to persist in the thought, &ldquo;As if your son could
+      possibly think of her!&mdash;&mdash;Of whom, ma&rsquo;am?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What&rsquo;s the matter, child? Are you mad?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not in the least, ma&rsquo;am; but you said&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What!&rdquo; cried Lady Mary, looking round; &ldquo;What did I say, that has
+      occasioned so much disturbance?&mdash;I was not conscious of saying any
+      thing. My dear Selina,&rdquo; continued her ladyship, appealing to a young lady,
+      who sat very intent upon some drawing beside her, &ldquo;my dear Selina, you
+      must have heard; what did I say?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The young lady looked embarrassed; and the colour which spread over her
+      face, brought a sudden suspicion into Lady Mary&rsquo;s mind: her eye darted
+      back upon her son&mdash;the suspicion, the fear was confirmed; and she
+      grew instantly pale, silent, and breathless, in the attitude in which she
+      was struck with this panic. The young lady&rsquo;s blush and embarrassment had a
+      very different effect on Vivian; joy suddenly sparkled in his eyes, and
+      illumined his whole countenance, for this was the first instant he had
+      ever felt any hope of having obtained an interest in her heart. He was too
+      much transported at this moment to think either of prudence or of his
+      mother; and, when he recollected himself, he was too little practised in
+      dissimulation to repair his indiscretion. Something he did attempt to say,
+      and blundered, and laughed at his blunder; and when his mother looked up
+      at him, in serious silence, he only begged pardon for his folly, confessed
+      he believed he was mad, and, turning away abruptly, left the room,
+      exclaiming that he wondered where Russell had been all the morning, and
+      that he must go and look for him. A long silence ensued between Vivian&rsquo;s
+      mother and the young lady, who were left alone together. Lady Mary first
+      broke the silence, and, in a constrained tone, asked, as she took up the
+      newspaper, &ldquo;Whether Miss Sidney had found any news?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; answered Miss Sidney, in a voice scarcely
+      articulate.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I should have imagined there must be some news from the continent: but
+      you did not find any, I think you say, Miss Sidney;&rdquo; continued Lady Mary,
+      with haughty, averted eyes. After turning over the pages of the paper,
+      without knowing one word it contained, she laid it down, and rose to leave
+      the room. Miss Sidney rose at the same time.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lady Mary, one instant; my dear Lady Mary.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary turned, and saw Selina&rsquo;s supplicating eyes full of tears; but
+      her ladyship, still retaining her severity of manner, coldly said, &ldquo;Does
+      Miss Sidney desire that I should stay?&mdash;Does Miss Sidney wish to
+      speak to me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do&mdash;as soon as I can,&rdquo; said Selina in a faltering voice; but,
+      raising her eyes, and perceiving the contemptuous expression of Lady
+      Mary&rsquo;s countenance, her own instantly changed. With the firm tone of
+      conscious innocence, she repeated, &ldquo;I do wish to speak to your ladyship,
+      if you will hear me with your usual candour; I do not expect or solicit
+      your usual indulgence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Sidney,&rdquo; replied Lady Mary, &ldquo;before you say more, it becomes me to
+      point out to you, that the moment is past for confidence between us two;
+      and that in no moment could I wish to hear from any person, much less from
+      one whom I had considered as my friend, confessions, extorted by
+      circumstances, degrading and unavailing.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your ladyship need not be apprehensive of hearing from me any degrading
+      confessions,&rdquo; said Miss Sidney; &ldquo;I have none to make: and since, without
+      any just cause, without any cause for suspicion, but what a blush,
+      perhaps, or a moment&rsquo;s embarrassment of manner may have created, you think
+      it becomes you to point out to me that the moment for confidence between
+      us is past, I can only lament my mistake in having believed that it ever
+      existed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary&rsquo;s countenance and manner totally changed. The pride of rank
+      yielded before the pride of virtue; and perhaps the hope that she had
+      really no cause for suspicion at once restored her affection for her young
+      friend. &ldquo;Let us understand one another, my dear Selina,&rdquo; said she; &ldquo;if I
+      said a hasty or a harsh word, forgive it. You know my affection for you,
+      and my real confidence; in actions, not in words, I have shown it.&mdash;In
+      thought, as well as in actions, my confidence in you has been entire; for,
+      <i>upon my word,</i> and you know this is not an asseveration I lightly
+      use, <i>upon my word,</i> till that unfortunate moment, a suspicion of you
+      never crossed my imagination. The proof&mdash;if there could need any
+      proof to you of what I assert&mdash;the proof is, the delight I take in
+      your society, the urgent manner in which I have so frequently, this
+      summer, begged your company from your mother. You know this would have not
+      only been the height of insincerity, but of folly and madness, if I had
+      not felt a reliance upon you that made me consider it as an absolute
+      impossibility that you could ever disappoint my friendship.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thank your ladyship,&rdquo; said Selina, softened by the kind tone in which
+      Lady Mary now spoke, yet still retaining some reserve of manner; &ldquo;I thank
+      your ladyship for all your kindness&mdash;it has flattered me much&mdash;touched
+      me deeply&mdash;commanded my gratitude, and influenced my conduct
+      uniformly&mdash;I can and do entirely forgive the injustice of a moment;
+      and I now bid you adieu, my dear Lady Mary, with the conviction that, if
+      we were never to meet again, I should always hold that place in your
+      esteem and affection with which you have honoured me, and which, if it be
+      not too proud an expression, I hope I have deserved&mdash;&mdash;Won&rsquo;t you
+      bid me farewell?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The tears gushed from Lady Mary&rsquo;s eyes. &ldquo;My dear, charming, and prudent
+      Selina, I understand you perfectly&mdash;and I thank you: it grieves me to
+      part with you&mdash;but I believe you are right&mdash;I believe there is
+      no other safety&mdash;no other remedy. How, indeed, could I expect that my
+      son could see and hear you&mdash;live in the house with you, and become
+      intimately acquainted with such a character as yours, without danger! I
+      have been very imprudent, unaccountably imprudent, to expose him to such a
+      temptation; but I hope, I trust, that your prudence will repair, in time,
+      the effects of my rashness&mdash;and again and again I thank you, my dear
+      young friend&mdash;but, perhaps it might be still better that you should
+      not leave us abruptly. Still better than your absence, I think, would be
+      the conviction you might impress on his mind of the impossibility of his
+      hopes: if you were to stay a day or two, and convince him by your
+      indifference that&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; &ldquo;Excuse me, that is what I cannot
+      undertake,&rdquo; said Selina, blushing, and conscious of blushing. Lady Mary
+      was too polite and too delicate to seem to observe her confusion, but,
+      embracing her, said&mdash;&ldquo;If we must part, then take with you my highest
+      esteem, affection, and gratitude; and this much let me add, that my most
+      sanguine expectations for my son&rsquo;s happiness would be realized, if amongst
+      the women to whom family interests must restrict his choice, he could meet
+      with one of half your merit, and half your attractions.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Amongst the women to whom family interests must restrict his choice</i>,&rdquo;
+       repeated Selina to herself many times, as she journeyed homewards; and she
+      pondered much upon the meaning of this phrase. Vivian was sole heir to a
+      very large property, without encumbrances of any kind; what, therefore,
+      was the necessity that restricted his choice? The imaginary necessity of
+      ambition, which confined him to a certain circle of fashionable, or <i>highly
+      connected</i> people. Selina Sidney, though she was not rich, was of a
+      very good gentleman&rsquo;s family; her father had been a colonel in the British
+      army: during his life, Mrs. Sidney had been in the habit of living a great
+      deal in what is called <i>the world,</i> and in the best company; and
+      though, since his death, she had lived in retirement, Miss Sidney had
+      received an education which put her upon a footing with young ladies of
+      the highest accomplishments and refinement in the kingdom. With every
+      solid and amiable quality, she had all those external advantages of
+      appearance and manner which Lady Mary Vivian valued most highly. Selina,
+      who was convinced that Lady Mary appreciated her character, and was
+      peculiarly fond of her company and conversation, could not but feel
+      surprise, mixed with some indignation, perhaps with a little resentment,
+      when she perceived that her ladyship&rsquo;s prejudices and ambition made her
+      act so completely in contradiction to her better judgment, to her
+      professions, and to her feelings of affection. Whatever Miss Sidney
+      thought upon this subject, however, she determined to continue to avoid
+      seeing Vivian any more&mdash;an excellent resolution, in which we leave
+      her, and return to her lover.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A walk with Russell had brought him back in the full determination of
+      avowing his attachment sincerely to his mother, and of speaking to her
+      ladyship in the most respectful manner; but, when he found that Miss
+      Sidney was gone, anger and disappointment made him at once forget his
+      prudence, and his intended respect; he declared, in the most passionate
+      terms, his love for Selina Sidney, and his irrevocable determination to
+      pursue her, to the end of time and space, in spite of all opposition
+      whatsoever from any person whatever. His mother, who was prepared for a
+      scene of this sort, though not for one of this violence, had sufficient
+      command of temper to sustain it properly; her command of temper was,
+      indeed, a little assisted by the hope that this passion would be
+      transitory in proportion to its vehemence, much by the confidence she had
+      in Miss Sidney&rsquo;s <i>honour</i>, and in her absence: Lady Mary, therefore,
+      calmly disclaimed having had any part in persuading Miss Sidney to that
+      measure which had so much enraged her lover; but her ladyship avowed, that
+      though it had not been necessary for her to suggest the measure, she
+      highly approved of it, and admired now, as she had ever admired, that
+      young lady&rsquo;s prudent and noble conduct.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Softened by the only thing that could, at this moment, soften him&mdash;praise
+      of his mistress&mdash;Vivian, in a most affectionate manner, assured his
+      mother that it was her warm eulogiums of Miss Sidney which had first
+      turned his attention to the perfections of her character; and he now
+      inquired what possible objections she could make to his choice. With the
+      generous enthusiasm of his disposition, heightened by all the eloquence of
+      love, he pleaded, that his fortune was surely sufficient to put him above
+      mercenary considerations in the choice of a wife; that in every point,
+      except this one of <i>money</i>, Selina Sidney was, in his own mother&rsquo;s
+      opinion, superior to every other woman she could name, or wish for, as a
+      daughter-in-law.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But my tastes are not to blind me to your interests,&rdquo; said Lady Mary;
+      &ldquo;you are entitled to look for rank and high connexion. You are the
+      representative of an ancient family, have talents to make a figure in
+      public; and, in short, prejudice or not, I confess it is one of the first
+      wishes of my heart that you should marry into a noble family, or at least
+      into one that shall strengthen your political interest, as well as secure
+      your domestic happiness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, of course, cursed ambition, as all men do whilst they are in love.
+      His arguments and his eloquence in favour of a <i>private station</i>, and
+      of the joys of <i>learned leisure, a competence, and domestic bliss</i>,
+      were worthy of the most renowned of ancient or modern philosophers.
+      Russell was appealed to with much eagerness, both by mother and son,
+      during their debates. He frankly declared to Lady Mary, that he thought
+      her son perfectly right in all he now urged, and especially in his opinion
+      of Miss Sidney; &ldquo;but at the same time,&rdquo; added Russell, &ldquo;I apprehend that
+      he speaks, at this moment, more from passion than from reason; and I fear
+      that, in the course of a few months, he might, perhaps, entirely change
+      his mind: therefore, I think your ladyship is prudent in refusing, during
+      the minority of your son, your consent to a hasty union, of which he might
+      afterwards repent, and thus render both himself and a most amiable woman
+      miserable.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell, after having given his opinion with the utmost freedom, when it
+      was required by Lady Mary, assured her that he should no farther
+      interfere; and he trusted his present sincerity would be the best pledge
+      to her of his future discretion and honour. This equitable judgment and
+      sincerity of Russell&rsquo;s at first displeased both parties, but in time
+      operated upon the reason of both; not, however, before contests had gone
+      on long and loud between the mother and son&mdash;not before a great deal
+      of nonsense had been talked on both sides. People of the best abilities
+      often talk the most nonsense where their passions are concerned, because
+      then the whole of their ingenuity is exercised to find arguments in favour
+      of their folly. They are not, like fools, content to say, <i>This is my
+      will</i>; but they pique themselves on giving reasons for their will; and
+      their reasons are the reasons of madmen, excellent upon false premises. It
+      happened here, as in most family quarrels, that the disputants did not
+      allow sufficiently for the prejudices and errors incident to their
+      different ages. The mother would not allow for the romantic notions of the
+      son, nor could the son endure the worldly views of the mother. The son,
+      who had as yet no experience of the transitory nature of the passion of
+      love, thought his mother unfeeling and barbarous, for opposing him on the
+      point where the whole happiness of his life was concerned; the mother, who
+      had seen the decline and fall of so many <i>everlasting loves</i>,
+      considered him only as a person in a fever; and thought she prevented him,
+      by her calmness, from doing that which he would repent when he should
+      regain his sober senses. Without detailing the daily disputes which now
+      arose, it will be sufficient to mark the result.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s love had been silent, tranquil, and not seemingly of any great
+      consequence, till it was opposed; but, from the instant that an obstacle
+      intervened, it gathered strength and force, and it presently rose rapidly,
+      with prodigious uproar, threatening to burst all bounds, and to destroy
+      every thing that stopped its course. Lady Mary was now inclined to try
+      what effect lessening the opposition might produce. To do her justice, she
+      was also moved to this by some nobler motives than fear; or, at least, her
+      fears were not of a selfish kind: she dreaded that her son&rsquo;s health and
+      permanent happiness might be injured by this violent passion; she was
+      apprehensive of becoming an object of his aversion; of utterly losing his
+      confidence, and all power over his mind; but, chiefly, her generous temper
+      was moved and won by Selina Sidney&rsquo;s admirable conduct. During the whole
+      time that Vivian used every means to see her, to write to her, and to
+      convince her of the fervour of his love, though he won all her friends
+      over to his interests, though she heard his praises from morning till
+      night from all who surrounded her, and though her own heart, perhaps,
+      pleaded more powerfully than all the rest in his favour; yet she never,
+      for one instant, gave him the slightest encouragement. Lady Mary&rsquo;s esteem
+      and affection were so much increased by these strong proofs of friendship
+      and honour, that her prejudices yielded; and she at length declared, that
+      if her son continued, till he was of age, to feel the same attachment for
+      this amiable girl, she would give her consent to their union. But this,
+      she added, she promised only on one condition&mdash;that her son should
+      abstain from all attempts, in the interval, to see or correspond with Miss
+      Sidney, and that he should set out immediately to travel with Mr. Russell.
+      Transported with love, and joy, and victory, Vivian promised every thing
+      that was required of him, embraced his mother, and set out upon his
+      travels.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Allow,&rdquo; said he triumphantly to Russell, as the chaise drove from the
+      door, &ldquo;allow, my good friend, that you were mistaken, in your fears of the
+      weakness of my character, and of the yielding facility of my temper. You
+      see how firm I have been&mdash;you see what battle I have made&mdash;you
+      see how I have <i>stood out</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I never doubted,&rdquo; said Russell, &ldquo;your love of your own free will&mdash;I
+      never doubted your fear of being governed, especially by your mother; but
+      you do not expect that I should allow this to be a proof of strength of
+      character.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What! do you suppose I act from love of my own free will merely?&mdash;Do
+      you call my love for Selina Sidney weakness?&mdash;Oh! take care, Russell;
+      for if once I find you pleading my mother&rsquo;s cause against your conscience&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will never find me pleading any cause against my conscience. I have
+      told your mother, as I have told you, my opinion of Miss Sidney&mdash;my
+      firm opinion&mdash;that she is peculiarly calculated to make the happiness
+      of your life, provided you continue to love her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Provided!&mdash;Oh!&rdquo; cried Vivian, laughing, &ldquo;spare your musty provisoes,
+      my dear philosopher! Would not any one think, now, you were an old man of
+      ninety? If this is all you have to fear, I am happy indeed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At present,&rdquo; said Russell, calmly, &ldquo;I have no fear, as I have just told
+      your mother, but that you should change your mind before you are of age.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian grew quite indignant at this suggestion. &ldquo;You are angry with me,&rdquo;
+       said Russell, &ldquo;and so was your mother: she was angry because I said, I <i>feared,</i>
+      instead of I <i>hoped,</i> you would change your mind. Both parties are
+      angry with me for my sincerity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sincerity!&mdash;no; but I am angry with you for your absurd suspicions
+      of my constancy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If they are absurd, you need not be angry,&rdquo; said Russell; &ldquo;I shall be
+      well pleased to see their absurdity demonstrated.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then I can demonstrate it this moment.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pardon me; not this moment; you must take time into the account. I make
+      no doubt but that, at this moment, you are heartily in love with Miss
+      Sidney; but the thing to be proved is, that your passion will not decline
+      in force, in proportion as it meets with less resistance. If it does, you
+      will acknowledge that it was more a love of your own free will than a love
+      of your mistress that has actuated you, which was the thing to be proved.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hateful Q.E.D.!&rdquo; cried Vivian; &ldquo;you shall see the contrary, and, at
+      least, I will triumph over you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      If Russell had ever used art in his management of Vivian&rsquo;s mind, he might
+      have been suspected of using it in favour of Miss Sidney at this instant;
+      for this prophecy of Vivian&rsquo;s inconstancy was the most likely means to
+      prevent its accomplishment. Frequently, in the course of their tour, when
+      Vivian was in any situation where his constancy was tempted, he
+      recollected Russell&rsquo;s prediction, and was proud to remind him how much he
+      had been mistaken. In short, the destined time for their return home
+      arrived&mdash;Vivian presented himself before his mother, and claimed her
+      promise. She was somewhat surprised, and a little disappointed, by our
+      hero&rsquo;s constancy; but she could not retract her word; and, since her
+      compliance was now unavoidable, she was determined that it should be
+      gracious. She wrote to Selina, therefore, with great kindness, saying,
+      that whatever views of other connexions she might formerly have had for
+      her son, she had now relinquished them, convinced, by the constancy of her
+      son&rsquo;s attachment, and by the merit of its object, that his own choice
+      would most effectually ensure his happiness, and that of all his friends.
+      Her ladyship added expressions of her regard and esteem, and of the
+      pleasure she felt in the thoughts of finding in her daughter-in-law a
+      friend and companion, whose society was peculiarly agreeable to her taste
+      and suited to her character. This letter entirely dissipated Selina&rsquo;s
+      scruples of conscience; Vivian&rsquo;s love and merit, all his good and all his
+      agreeable qualities, had now full and unreproved power to work upon her
+      tender heart. His generous, open temper, his candour, his warm attachment
+      to his friends, his cultivated understanding, his brilliant talents, his
+      easy, well-bred, agreeable manners, all heightened in their power to
+      please by the charm of love, justified, even in the eyes of the aged and
+      prudent, the passion he inspired. Selina became extremely attached to him;
+      and she loved with the delightful belief that there was not, in the mind
+      of her lover, the seed of a single vice which threatened danger to his
+      virtues or to their mutual happiness. With his usual candour, he had laid
+      open his whole character to her, as far as he knew it himself; and had
+      warned her of that vacillation of temper, that easiness to be led, which
+      Russell had pointed out as a dangerous fault in his disposition. But of
+      this propensity Selina had seen no symptoms; on the contrary, the
+      steadiness of her lover in his attachment to her&mdash;the only point on
+      which she had yet seen him tried&mdash;decided her to trust to the
+      persuasive voice of love and hope, and to believe that Russell&rsquo;s
+      friendship had in this instance, been too harsh or too timorous in its
+      forebodings.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Nothing now delayed the marriage of Vivian and Selina but certain legal
+      rites, which were to be performed on his coming of age, and before
+      marriage settlements could be drawn;&mdash;and the parties were doomed to
+      wait for the arrival of some trustee who was with his regiment abroad. All
+      these delays Vivian of course cursed: but, upon the whole, they were borne
+      by him with heroic patience, and by Selina with all the tranquillity of
+      confiding love, happy in the present, and not too anxious for the future.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER II.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear Russell,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;love shall not make me forget friendship;
+      before I marry, I must see you provided for. Believe me, this was the
+      first&mdash;one of the first pleasures I promised myself, in becoming
+      master of a good fortune. Other thoughts, I confess, have put it out of my
+      head; so now let me tell you at once. I hate paltry surprises with my
+      friends: I have, you know&mdash;or rather, probably, you do not know, for
+      you are the most disinterested fellow upon earth&mdash;I have an excellent
+      living in my gift; it shall be yours; consider it as such from this
+      moment. If I knew a more deserving man, I would give it to him, upon my
+      honour; so you can&rsquo;t refuse me. The incumbent can&rsquo;t live long; he is an
+      old, very old, infirm man; you&rsquo;ll have the living in a year or two, and,
+      in the mean time, stay with me. I ask it as a favour from a friend, and
+      you see how much I want a friend of your firm character; and I hope you
+      see, also, how much I can value, in others, the qualities in which I am
+      myself deficient.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell was much pleased and touched by Vivian&rsquo;s generous gratitude, and
+      by the delicacy, as well as kindness of the manner in which he made this
+      offer; but Russell could not consistently with his feelings or his
+      principles live in a state of dependent idleness, waiting for a rich
+      living and the death of an old incumbent. He told Vivian that he had too
+      much affection for him, and too much respect for himself, ever to run the
+      hazard of sinking from the rank of an independent friend. After rallying
+      him, without effect, on his pride, Vivian acknowledged that he was forced
+      to admire him the more for his spirit. Lady Mary, too, who was a great and
+      sincere admirer of independence of character, warmly applauded Mr.
+      Russell, and recommended him, in the highest terms, to a nobleman in the
+      neighbourhood, who happened to be in want of a preceptor for his only son.
+      This nobleman was Lord Glistonbury: his lordship was eager to engage a
+      person of Russell&rsquo;s reputation for talents; so the affair was quickly
+      arranged, and Lady Mary Vivian and her son went to pay a morning visit at
+      Glistonbury Castle, on purpose to accompany Russell on his first
+      introduction to the family. As they approached the castle, Vivian was
+      struck with its venerable Gothic appearance; he had not had a near view of
+      it for some years, and he looked at it with new eyes. Formerly he had seen
+      it only as a picturesque ornament to the country; but now that he was
+      himself possessor of an estate in the vicinity, he considered Glistonbury
+      Castle as a point of comparison which rendered him dissatisfied with his
+      own mansion. As he drove up the avenue, and beheld the towers, turrets,
+      battlements, and massive entrance, his mother, who was a woman of taste,
+      strengthened, by her exclamations on the beauty of Gothic architecture,
+      the wish that was rising in his mind to convert his modern house into an
+      <i>ancient</i> castle: she could not help sighing whilst she reflected
+      that, if her son&rsquo;s affections had not been engaged, he might perhaps have
+      obtained the heart and hand of one of the fair daughters of this castle.
+      Lady Mary went no farther, even in her inmost thoughts. Incapable of
+      double-dealing, she resolved never even to let her son know what her
+      wishes had been with respect to a connexion with the Glistonbury family.
+      But the very reserve and <i>discretion</i> with which her ladyship spoke&mdash;a
+      reserve unusual with her, and unsuited to the natural warmth of her manner
+      and temper&mdash;might have betrayed her to an acute and cool observer.
+      Vivian, however, at this instant, was too much intent upon castle-building
+      to admit any other ideas.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      When the carriage drove under the great gateway and stopped, Vivian
+      exclaimed, &ldquo;What a fine old castle! how surprised Selina Sidney would be,
+      how delighted, to see my house metamorphosed into such a castle!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is a magnificent castle, indeed!&rdquo; said Lady Mary, with a sigh: &ldquo;I
+      think there are the Lady Lidhursts on the terrace; and here comes my Lord
+      Glistonbury with his son.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My pupil?&rdquo; said Russell; &ldquo;I hope the youth is such as I can become
+      attached to. Life would be wretched indeed without attachment&mdash;of
+      some sort or other. But I must not expect,&rdquo; added he, &ldquo;to find a second
+      time a friend in a pupil; and such a friend!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Sentiment, or the expression of the tenderness he felt for his friends,
+      was so unusual from Russell, that it had double effect; and Vivian was so
+      much struck by it, that he could scarcely collect his thoughts in time to
+      speak to Lord Glistonbury, who came to receive his guests, attended by
+      three <i>hangers on</i> of the family&mdash;a chaplain, a captain, and a
+      young lawyer. His lordship was scarcely past the meridian of life; yet, in
+      spite of his gay and debonair manner, he looked old, as if he were paying
+      for the libertinism of his youth by premature decrepitude. His countenance
+      announced pretensions to ability; his easy and affable address, and the
+      facility with which he expressed himself, gained him credit at first for
+      much more understanding than he really possessed. There was a plausibility
+      in all he said; but, if it were examined, there was nothing in it but
+      nonsense. Some of his expressions appeared brilliant; some of his
+      sentiments just; but there was a want of consistency, a want of a
+      pervading mind in his conversation, which to good judges betrayed the
+      truth, that all his opinions were adopted, not formed; all his maxims
+      commonplace; his wit mere repetition; his sense merely <i>tact</i>. After
+      proper thanks and compliments to Lady Mary and Mr. Vivian, for securing
+      for him such a treasure as Mr. Russell, he introduced Lord Lidhurst, a
+      sickly, bashful boy of fourteen, to his new governor, with polite
+      expressions of unbounded confidence, and a rapid enunciation of undefined
+      and contradictory expectations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Russell will, I am perfectly persuaded, make Lidhurst every thing we
+      can desire,&rdquo; said his lordship; &ldquo;an honour to his country, an ornament to
+      his family. It is my decided opinion that man is but a bundle of habits;
+      and it&rsquo;s my maxim, that education is <i>second</i> nature&mdash;<i>first</i>,
+      indeed, in many cases. For, except that I am staggered about original
+      genius, I own I conceive with Hartley, that early impressions and
+      associations are all in all: his vibrations and vibratiuncles are quite
+      satisfactory. But what I particularly wish for Lidhurst, sir, is, that he
+      should be trained as soon as possible into a statesman. Mr. Vivian, I
+      presume you mean to follow up public business, and no doubt will make a
+      figure. So I prophesy; and I am used to these things. And from Lidhurst,
+      too, under similar tuition, I may with reason expect miracles&mdash;&lsquo;hope
+      to hear him thundering in the house of commons in a few years&mdash;&lsquo;confess
+      &lsquo;am not quite so impatient to have the young dog in the house of
+      incurables; for you know he could not be there without being in my shoes,
+      which I have not done with yet&mdash;ha! ha! ha!&mdash;&mdash;Each in his
+      turn, my boy! In the mean time, Lady Mary, shall we join the ladies
+      yonder, on the terrace? Lady Glistonbury walks so slow, that she will be
+      seven hours in coming to us; so we had best go to her ladyship: if the
+      mountain won&rsquo;t go to Mahomet&mdash;you know, of course, what follows.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On their way to the terrace, Lord Glistonbury, who always heard himself
+      speak with singular complacency, continued to give his ideas on education;
+      sometimes appealing to Mr. Russell, sometimes happy to catch the eye of
+      Lady Mary.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now, my idea for Lidhurst is simply this:&mdash;that he should know every
+      thing that is in all the best books in the library, but yet that he should
+      be the farthest possible from a book-worm&mdash;that he should never,
+      except in a set speech in the house, have the air of having opened a book
+      in his life&mdash;mother-wit for me!&mdash;in most cases&mdash;and that
+      easy style of originality, which shows the true gentleman. As to morals&mdash;Lidhurst,
+      walk on, my boy&mdash;as to morals, I confess I couldn&rsquo;t bear to see any
+      thing of the Joseph Surface about him. A youth of spirit must, you know,
+      Mr. Vivian&mdash;excuse me, Lady Mary, this is&mdash;<i>an aside</i>&mdash;be
+      something of a latitudinarian to keep in the fashion: not that I mean to
+      say so exactly to Lidhurst&mdash;no, no&mdash;on the contrary, Mr.
+      Russell, it is our cue, as well as this reverend gentleman&rsquo;s,&rdquo; looking
+      back at the chaplain, who bowed assent before he knew to what, &ldquo;it is our
+      cue, as well as this reverend gentleman&rsquo;s, to preach prudence, and
+      temperance, and all the cardinal virtues.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Cardinal</i> virtues! very good, faith! my lord,&rdquo; said the lawyer,
+      looking at the clergyman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Temperance!</i>&rdquo; repeated the chaplain, winking at the officer; &ldquo;upon
+      my soul, my lord, that&rsquo;s too bad.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>Prudence!</i>&rdquo; repeated the captain; &ldquo;that&rsquo;s too clean a cut at poor
+      Wicksted, my lord.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Before his lordship had time to preach any more prudence, they arrived
+      within bowing distance of the ladies, who had, indeed, advanced at a very
+      slow rate. Vivian was not acquainted with any of the ladies of the
+      Glistonbury family; for they had, till this summer, resided at another of
+      their country seats, in a distant county. His mother had often met them at
+      parties in town.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Glistonbury was a thin, stiffened, flattened figure&mdash;she was
+      accompanied by two other female forms, one old, the other young; not each
+      a different grace, but alike all three in angularity, and in a cold
+      haughtiness of mien. After reconnoitring with their glasses the party of
+      gentlemen, these ladies quickened their step; and Lady Glistonbury, making
+      her countenance as affable as it was in its nature to be, exclaimed, &ldquo;My
+      dear Lady Mary Vivian! have I the pleasure to see your ladyship?&mdash;They
+      told me it was only visitors to my lord.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Vivian had then the honour of being introduced to her ladyship, to her
+      eldest daughter, Lady Sarah Lidhurst, and to Miss Strictland, the
+      governess. By all of these ladies he was most graciously received; but
+      poor Russell was not so fortunate; nothing could be more cold and
+      repulsive than their reception of him. This did not make Lady Sarah appear
+      very agreeable to Vivian; he thought her, at this first view, one of the
+      least attractive young women he had ever beheld.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Where is my Julia?&rdquo; inquired Lord Glistonbury. &ldquo;Ah! there she goes
+      yonder, all life and spirits.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian looked as his lordship directed his eye, and saw, at the farthest
+      end of the terrace, a young girl of about fifteen, running very fast, with
+      a hoop, which she was keeping up with great dexterity for the amusement of
+      a little boy who was with her. The governess no sooner saw this than she
+      went in pursuit of her young ladyship, calling after her, in various tones
+      and phrases of reprehension, in French, Italian, and English; and asking
+      whether this was a becoming employment for a young lady of her age and
+      rank. Heedless of these reproaches, Lady Julia still ran on, away from her
+      governess, &ldquo;to chase the rolling circle&rsquo;s speed,&rdquo; down the slope of the
+      terrace; thither Miss Strictland dared not pursue, but contented herself
+      with standing on the brink, reiterating her remonstrances. At length the
+      hoop fell, and the young lady returned, not to her governess, but, running
+      lightly up the slope of the terrace, to her surprise, she came full in
+      view of the company before she was aware that any strangers were there.
+      Her straw hat being at the back of her head, Lady Glistonbury, with an
+      indignant look, pulled it forwards.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What a beautiful colour! what a sweet countenance Lady Julia has!&rdquo;
+       whispered Lady Mary Vivian to Lord Glistonbury: at the same time she could
+      not refrain from glancing her eyes towards her son, to see what effect was
+      produced upon him. Vivian&rsquo;s eyes met hers; and this single look of his
+      mother&rsquo;s revealed to him all that she had, in her great prudence, resolved
+      to conceal. He smiled at her, and then at Russell, as much as to say,
+      &ldquo;Surely there can be no comparison between such a child as this and Selina
+      Sidney!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A few minutes afterwards, in consequence of a sign from Lady Glistonbury,
+      Julia disappeared with her governess; and the moment was unnoticed by
+      Vivian, who was then, as his mother observed, looking up at one of the
+      turrets of the old castle. All its inhabitants were at this time
+      uninteresting to him, except so far as they regarded his friend Russell;
+      but the castle itself absorbed his attention. Lord Glistonbury, charmed to
+      see how he was struck by it, offered to show him over every part of the
+      edifice; an offer which he and Lady Mary gladly accepted. Lady Glistonbury
+      excused herself, professing to be unable to sustain the fatigue: she
+      deputed her eldest daughter to attend Lady Mary in her stead; and this was
+      the only circumstance which diminished the pleasure to Vivian, for he was
+      obliged to show due courtesy to this stiff taciturn damsel at every turn,
+      whilst he was intent upon seeing the architecture of the castle, and the
+      views from the windows of the towers and loop-holes of the galleries; all
+      which Lady Sarah pointed out with a cold, ceremonious civility, and a
+      formal exactness of proceeding, which enraged Vivian&rsquo;s enthusiastic
+      temper. The visit ended: he railed half the time he was going home against
+      their fair, or, as he called her, their petrified guide; then, full of the
+      Gothic beauties of Glistonbury, he determined, as soon as possible, to
+      turn his own modern house into a castle. The very next morning he had an
+      architect to view it, and to examine its capabilities. It happened that,
+      about this time, several of the noblemen and gentry, in the county in
+      which Vivian resided, had been seized with this rage for turning
+      comfortable houses into uninhabitable castles. And, however perverse or
+      impracticable this retrograde movement in architecture might seem, there
+      were always at hand professional projectors, to convince gentlemen that
+      nothing was so feasible. Provided always that gentlemen approve their
+      estimates as well as their plans, they undertake to carry buildings back,
+      in a trice, two, or three, or half a dozen centuries, as may be required,
+      to make them Gothic or Saracenic, and to &ldquo;add every grace that time alone
+      can give.&rdquo; A few days after Vivian had been at Glistonbury Castle, when
+      Lord Glistonbury came to return the visit, Russell, who accompanied his
+      lordship, found his friend encompassed with plans and elevations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Surely, my dear Vivian,&rdquo; said he, seizing the first moment he could speak
+      to him, &ldquo;you are not going to spoil this excellent house? It is completely
+      finished, in handsome modern architecture, perfectly comfortable and
+      convenient, light, airy, large enough, warm rooms, well distributed, with
+      ample means of getting at each apartment; and if you set about to
+      new-model and transform it into a castle, you must, I see, by your plan,
+      alter the proportions of almost every room, and spoil the comfort of the
+      whole; turn square to round, and round again to square; and, worse than
+      all, turn light to darkness&mdash;only for the sake of having what is
+      called a castle, but what has not, in fact, any thing of the grandeur or
+      solid magnificence of a real ancient edifice. These modern baby-house
+      miniatures of castles, which gentlemen ruin themselves to build, are,
+      after all, the most paltry, absurd things imaginable.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      To this Vivian was, after some dispute, forced to agree; but he said,
+      &ldquo;that his should not be a baby-house; that he would go to any expense to
+      make it really magnificent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As magnificent, I suppose, as Glistonbury Castle?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If possible:&mdash;that is, I confess, the object of my emulation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ah!&rdquo; said Russell, shaking his head, &ldquo;these are the objects of emulation,
+      for which country gentlemen often ruin themselves; barter their
+      independence and real respectability; reduce themselves to distress and
+      disgrace: these are the objects for which they sell either their estates
+      or their country; become placemen or beggars; and end either in the
+      liberties of the King&rsquo;s Bench, or the slaveries of St. James&rsquo;s.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Impossible for me! you know my public principles,&rdquo; said Vivian: &ldquo;and you
+      know that I think the life of an independent country gentleman the most
+      respectable of all others&mdash;you know my principles.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know your facility,&rdquo; said Russell: &ldquo;if you begin by sacrificing thus to
+      your taste, do you think you will not end by sacrificing to your
+      interest?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Never! never!&rdquo; cried Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then you imagine that a strong temptation will not act where a weak one
+      has been found irresistible.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of this I am certain,&rdquo; said Vivian: &ldquo;I could never be brought to sell my
+      country, or to forfeit my honour.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perhaps not,&rdquo; said Russell: &ldquo;you might, in your utmost need, have another
+      alternative; you might forfeit your love; you might give up Selina Sidney,
+      and marry for money&mdash;all for the sake of a castle!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Struck by this speech, Vivian exclaimed, &ldquo;I would give up a thousand
+      castles rather than run such a hazard!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let us then coolly calculate,&rdquo; said Russell. &ldquo;What would the castle cost
+      you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The expense, even by the estimates of the architects, which, in the
+      execution, are usually doubled, was enormous, such as Vivian acknowledged
+      was unsuited even to his ample fortune. His fortune, though considerable,
+      was so entailed, that he would, if he exceeded his income, be soon reduced
+      to difficulties for ready money. But then his mother had several thousands
+      in the stocks, which she was ready to lend him to forward this
+      castle-building. It was a project which pleased her taste, and gratified
+      her aristocratic notions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian assured his friend at parting, that his reason was convinced: that
+      he would not yield to the whims of taste, and that he would prudently give
+      up his folly. So he determined; and he abided by his determination till he
+      heard numbers speak on the other side of the question. With Vivian, those
+      who spoke last frequently seemed to speak best; and, in general, the
+      number of voices overpowered the weight of argument. By the persuasions of
+      his mother, the example of his neighbours, and the urgency of architects
+      and men of taste who got about him soon afterwards, he was convinced that
+      there was no living without a castle, and that the expense would be <i>next
+      to nothing at all. Convinced</i>, we should not say; for he yielded,
+      against his conviction, from mere want of power to resist reiterated
+      solicitations. He had no other motive; for the enthusiasm raised by the
+      view of Glistonbury Castle had passed away: he plainly saw, what Russell
+      had pointed out to him, that he should spoil the inside of his house for
+      the sake of the outside; and, for his own part, he preferred comfort to
+      show. It was not, therefore, to please his own taste that he ran into this
+      imprudent expense, but merely to gratify the taste of others.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Now the bustle of building began, and workmen swarmed round his house; the
+      foundations sank, the scaffolds rose; and many times did Vivian sigh and
+      repent, when he saw how much was to be undone before any thing could be
+      done; when he found his house dismantled, saw the good ceilings and
+      elegant cornices knocked to pieces, saw the light domes and modern sashes
+      give way; all taken out to be replaced, at profuse expense, by a clumsy
+      imitation of Gothic; how often did be sigh and calculate, when he saw the
+      tribes of workmen file off as their dinner bell rang! how often did he
+      bless himself, when he beheld the huge beams of timber dragged into his
+      yards, and the solid masses of stone brought from a quarry at an enormous
+      distance!&mdash;Vivian perceived that the expense would be treble the
+      estimate; and said, that if the thing were to be done again, he would
+      never consent to it; but now, as Lady Mary observed, it was too late to
+      repent; and it was, at any rate, best to go on and finish it with spirit&mdash;since
+      it was impossible (nobody knew why) to stop. He hurried on the workmen
+      with impatience; for he was anxious to have the roof and some apartments
+      in his castle finished before his marriage. The dilatoriness of the
+      lawyers, and the want of the trustee, who had not yet arrived in England,
+      were no longer complained of so grievously by the lover. Russell, one day,
+      as he saw Vivian overlooking his workmen, and urging them to expedition,
+      smiled, and asked whether the impatience of an architect or of a lover was
+      now predominant in his mind. Vivian, rather offended by the question,
+      replied, that his eagerness to finish this part of his castle arose from
+      his desire to give an agreeable surprise to his bride; and he declared
+      that his passion for Selina was as ardent, at this moment, as it had ever
+      been; but that it was impossible to make lawyers move faster than their
+      accustomed pace; and that Miss Sidney was too secure of his affection, and
+      he too well convinced of hers, to feel that sort of anxiety, which persons
+      who had less confidence in each other might experience in similar
+      circumstances. This was all very true, and very reasonable; but Russell
+      could not help perceiving that Vivian&rsquo;s language and tone were somewhat
+      altered since the time when he was ready to brave heaven and earth to
+      marry his mistress, without license or consent of friends, without the
+      possibility of waiting a few months till he was of age. In fact, though
+      Vivian would not allow it, this consent of friends, this ceasing of
+      opposition, this security and tranquillity of happiness, had considerably
+      changed the appearance, at least, of his love. Lady Mary perceived it,
+      with a resolution to say nothing, and see how it would end. Selina did not
+      perceive it for some time; for she was of a most unsuspicious temper; and
+      her confidence in Vivian was equal to the fondness of her love. She began
+      to think, indeed, that the lawyers were provokingly slow; and when Vivian
+      did not blame them as much as he used to do, she only thought that he
+      understood business better than she did&mdash;besides, the necessary
+      trustee was not come&mdash;and, in short, the last thing that occurred to
+      her mind was to blame Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The trustee at length arrived, and the castle was almost in the wished-for
+      state of forwardness, when a new cause of delay arose&mdash;a county
+      election: but how this election was brought on, and how it was conducted,
+      it is necessary to record. It happened that a relation of Vivian&rsquo;s was
+      appointed to a new seventy-four gun ship, of which he came to take the
+      command at Yarmouth, which was within a few miles of him. Vivian
+      recollected that Russell had often expressed a desire to go on board a
+      man-of-war. Vivian, therefore, after having appointed a day for their
+      going, went to Glistonbury to invite Russell: his pupil, Lord Lidhurst,
+      begged to be permitted to accompany them: and Lady Julia, the moment she
+      heard of this new seventy-four gun ship, was, as her governess expressed
+      it, wild to be of the party. Indeed, any thing that had the name of a
+      party of pleasure, and that promised a transient relief from the tedious
+      monotony in which her days passed; any thing that gave a chance of even a
+      few hours&rsquo; release from the bondage in which she was held between the
+      restraints of the most rigid of governesses and the proudest of mothers,
+      appeared delightful to this lively and childish girl. She persecuted her
+      governess with entreaties, till at last she made Miss Strictland go with
+      her petition to Lady Glistonbury; whilst, in the mean time, Lady Julia
+      overwhelmed her father with caresses, till he consented; and with much
+      difficulty, prevailed upon Lady Glistonbury to give her permission for the
+      young ladies to go with their governess, their brother, their father, and
+      Lady Mary Vivian, on this excursion. The invitation was now extended to
+      all the company then at the castle; including the representative of the
+      county, who, being just threatened with a fit of the gout, brought on by
+      hard drinking at the last election, expressed some reluctance to going
+      with this party on the water. But this gentleman was now paying his humble
+      devoirs to the Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and it was represented to him, by all
+      who understood the ground, that he would give mortal offence if he did not
+      go; so it was ruled, that, hot or cold, gout or no gout, he must appear in
+      the Lady Sarah&rsquo;s train: he submitted to this perilous necessity in the
+      most gallant manner. The day proved tolerably fine&mdash;Vivian had an
+      elegant entertainment provided for the company, under a marquee pitched on
+      the shore&mdash;they <i>embarked</i> in a pleasure-boat&mdash;Lady Sarah
+      was very sick, and her admirer very cold; but Lady Julia was in extasies
+      at every thing she saw and felt&mdash;she feared nothing, found nothing
+      inconvenient&mdash;was charmed to be drawn so easily from the boat up the
+      high side of the ship&mdash;charmed to find herself on deck&mdash;charmed
+      to see the sails, the ropes, the rigging, the waves, the sea, the sun, the
+      clouds, the sailors, the cook dressing dinner&mdash;all, all
+      indiscriminately charmed her; and, like a school-girl broke loose, she ran
+      about, wild with spirits, asking questions, some sensible, some silly;
+      laughing at her own folly, flying from this side to that, from one end of
+      the ship to the other, down the ladders and up again; whilst Mr. Russell,
+      who was deputed to take care of her, could scarcely keep up with her: Lord
+      Glistonbury stood by, holding his sides and laughing aloud: Miss
+      Strictland, quite disabled by the smell of the ship, was lying on a bed in
+      the state cabin; and Lady Sarah, all the time shaded by an umbrella held
+      by her shivering admirer, sat, as if chained upright in her chair of
+      state, upon deck, scorning her sister&rsquo;s childish levity, and proving
+      herself, with all due propriety, incapable of being moved to surprise or
+      admiration by any object on land or sea.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary Vivian, while she observed with a quick eye all that passed, and
+      read her son&rsquo;s thoughts, was fully persuaded that neither of the Lady
+      Lidhursts would be likely to suit his taste, even if his affections were
+      disengaged: the one was too childish, the other too stiff. &ldquo;Yet their
+      birth and connexions, and their consequence in the county,&rdquo; thought Lady
+      Mary, &ldquo;would have made their alliance highly desirable.&rdquo; Every body seemed
+      weary at the close of this day&rsquo;s entertainment, except Lady Julia, who <i>kept
+      it up</i> with indefatigable gaiety, and could hardly believe that it was
+      time to go home, when the boat was announced to row them to shore:
+      heedless, and absolutely dizzy with talking and laughing, her ladyship,
+      escaping from the assistance of sailors and gentlemen, made a false step
+      in getting into the boat, and, falling over, would have sunk for ever, but
+      for Mr. Russell&rsquo;s presence of mind. He seized her with a strong grasp, and
+      saved her. The fright sobered her completely; and she sat wrapped in
+      great-coats, as silent, as tractable, and as wet as possible, during the
+      remainder of the way to shore. The screams, the ejaculations, the
+      reprimands from Miss Strictland; the questions, the reflections, to which
+      this incident led, may possibly be conceived, but cannot be enumerated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This event, however alarming at the moment, had no serious consequence;
+      for Lady Julia caught neither fever nor cold, though Miss Strictland was
+      morally certain her ladyship would have one or the other; indeed she
+      insinuated, that her ladyship deserved to have both. Lady Sarah&rsquo;s poor
+      shivering knight of the shire, however, did not escape so well. Obliged to
+      row home, in a damp evening, without his great-coat, which he had been
+      forced to offer to Lady Julia, in a pleasure-boat, when he should have
+      been in flannels or in bed, he had &ldquo;cause to rue the boating of that day.&rdquo;
+       His usual panacea of the gout did not come as expected, <i>to set him up
+      again</i>. The cold he caught this day killed him. Lady Sarah Lidhurst was
+      precisely as sorry as decorum required. But the bustle of a new election
+      was soon to obliterate the memory of the old member, in the minds of his
+      numerous friends. Lord Glistonbury, and several other voices in the
+      county, called upon Vivian to stand on the independent interest. There was
+      to be a contest: for a government candidate declared himself at the same
+      moment that application was made to Vivian. The expense of a contested
+      election alarmed both Vivian and his mother. Gratified as she was by the
+      honour of this offer, yet she had the prudence to advise her son rather to
+      go into parliament as representative for a borough than to hazard the
+      expense of a contest for the county. Miss Sidney, also, whom he consulted
+      upon this occasion, supported his mother&rsquo;s prudent advice, in the most
+      earnest manner; and Vivian was inclined to follow this counsel, till Lord
+      Glistonbury came one morning to plead the contrary side of the question:
+      he assured Vivian, that from his experience of the county, he was morally
+      certain they should carry it without trouble, and with no expense <i>worth
+      mentioning</i>. These were only general phrases, to be sure, not
+      arguments; but these, joined to her ambition to see her son member for the
+      county, at length overpowered Lady Mary&rsquo;s better judgment: her urgent
+      entreaties were now joined to those of Lord Glistonbury, and of many
+      loud-tongued electioneerers, who proved to Vivian, by every thing but
+      calculation, that he must be returned if he would but stand&mdash;if he
+      would only declare himself. Russell and his own prudence strongly
+      counselled him to resist these clamorous importunities; the two preceding
+      candidates, whose fortunes had been nearly as good as his, had been ruined
+      by the contests. Vivian was very young, but just of age; and Russell
+      observed, &ldquo;that it would be better for him to see something more of the
+      world, before he should embark in politics, and plunge into public
+      business.&rdquo; &ldquo;True,&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;but Mr. Pitt was only three-and-twenty
+      when he was minister of England. I am not ambitious; but I should
+      certainly like to distinguish myself, if I could; and whilst I feel in
+      youth the glow of patriotism, why should I not serve my country?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Serve it and welcome,&rdquo; said Russell: &ldquo;but don&rsquo;t begin by ruining yourself
+      by a contested election; or else, whatever glow of patriotism you may
+      feel, it will be out of your power to be an honest member of parliament.
+      If you must go into parliament immediately for the good of your country,
+      go in as member for some borough, which will not ruin you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But the committee of our friends will be so disappointed if I decline;
+      and my mother, who has now set her heart upon it, and Lord Glistonbury,
+      and Mr. C&mdash;&mdash;, and Mr. G&mdash;&mdash;, and Mr. D&mdash;&mdash;,
+      who are such zealous friends, and who urge me so much&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Judge for yourself,&rdquo; said Russell, &ldquo;and don&rsquo;t let any persons who happen
+      to be near you persuade you to see with their eyes, and decide with their
+      wishes. Zealous friends, indeed!&mdash;because they love to make
+      themselves of consequence, by bawling and scampering about at an election!&mdash;And
+      you would let such people draw you on, to ruin yourself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will show you that they shall not,&rdquo; cried Vivian, seizing a sheet of
+      paper, and sitting down immediately to write the copy of a circular letter
+      to his friends, informing them, with many thanks, that he declined to
+      stand for the county. Russell eagerly wrote copies of this letter, which
+      Vivian declared should be sent early the next morning. But no sooner was
+      Russell out of sight than Lady Mary Vivian resumed her arguments in favour
+      of commencing his canvass immediately, and before his friends should cool.
+      When she saw the letters that he had been writing, she was excessively
+      indignant; and, by a torrent of female and maternal eloquence, he was
+      absolutely overwhelmed. Auxiliaries poured in to her ladyship on all
+      sides; horsemen after horsemen, freeholders of all degrees, now flocked to
+      the house, hearing that Mr. Vivian had thoughts of standing for the
+      county. They were unanimously loud in their assurances of success. Old and
+      new copies of poll books were produced, and the different interests of the
+      county counted and recounted, balanced and counterbalanced, again and
+      again, by each person, after his own fashion: and it was proved to Mr.
+      Vivian, <i>in black and white, and as plain as figures could make it</i>,
+      that he had the game in his own hands; and that, if he would but declare
+      himself, the other candidate would, the very next day, they would be bound
+      for it, decline the contest. Vivian had a clear head, and a competent
+      knowledge of arithmetic; he saw the fallacies and inaccuracies in their
+      modes of computation; he saw, upon examining the books, that the state of
+      the county interests was very different from what they pretended or
+      believed; and he was convinced that the opposite candidate would not
+      decline: but after Vivian had stated these reasons ten times, and his
+      mother and his electioneering partisans had reiterated their assertions
+      twenty times, he yielded, merely because they had said twice as much as he
+      had, and because, poor easy man! he had not power to resist continuity of
+      solicitation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He declared himself candidate for the county; and was soon immersed in all
+      the toil, trouble, vexation, and expense, of a contested election. Of
+      course, his marriage was now to be postponed till the election should be
+      over. Love and county politics have little affinity. What the evils of a
+      contested election are can be fully known only to those by whom they have
+      been personally experienced. The contest was bitter. The Glistonbury
+      interest was the strongest which supported Vivian: Lord Glistonbury and <i>his
+      lordship&rsquo;s friends</i> were warm in his cause. Not that they had any
+      particular regard for Vivian; but he was to be <i>their member</i>,
+      opposed to the court candidate, whom his lordship was anxious to keep out
+      of the county. Lord Glistonbury had once been a strong friend to
+      government, and was thought a confirmed courtier, especially as he had
+      been brought up in high aristocratic notions; but he had made it his great
+      object to turn his earldom into a marquisate; and government having
+      delayed or refused to gratify him in this point, he quitted them with
+      disgust, and set up his standard amongst the opposition. He was now loud
+      and zealous on every occasion that could, as he said, <i>annoy</i>
+      government; and merely because he could not be a marquis, he became a
+      patriot. Mistaken, abused name! how glorious in its original, how
+      despicable in its debased signification!&mdash;Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s
+      exertions were indefatigable.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian felt much gratitude for this apparently disinterested friendship;
+      and, during a few weeks, whilst this canvass was going on, he formed a
+      degree of intimacy with the Glistonbury family, which, in any other
+      circumstances, could scarcely have been brought about during months or
+      years. An election, in England, seems, for the time, to level all
+      distinctions, not only of rank, but even of pride: Lady Glistonbury
+      herself, at this season, found it necessary to relax from her usual
+      rigidity.&mdash;There was an extraordinary freedom of egress and regress;
+      and the haughty code of Glistonbury lay dormant. Vivian, of course, was
+      the centre of all interest; and, whenever he appeared, every individual of
+      the family was eager to inquire, &ldquo;What news?&mdash;What news?&mdash;How do
+      things go on to-day?&mdash;How will the election turn out?&mdash;Have you
+      written to Mr. Such-a-one?&mdash;Have you been to Mr. Such-a-one&rsquo;s?&mdash;I&rsquo;ll
+      write a note for you&mdash;I&rsquo;ll copy a letter.&rdquo;&mdash;There was one common
+      cause&mdash;Miss Strictland even deigned to assist Mr. Vivian, and to try
+      her awkward hand to forward his canvass, for it was to support the
+      Glistonbury interest; and &ldquo;there was no impropriety could attach to the
+      thing.&rdquo; Russell&rsquo;s extreme anxiety made Vivian call more frequently even
+      than it was necessary at the castle, to quiet his apprehensions, and to
+      assure him that things were going on well. Young Lord Lidhurst, who was
+      really good-natured, and over whose mind Russell began to gain some
+      ascendancy, used to stand upon the watch for Vivian&rsquo;s appearance, and
+      would run up the back stairs to Russell&rsquo;s apartment, to give him notice of
+      it, and to be the first to tell the news. Lady Sarah&mdash;the icy lady
+      Sarah herself&mdash;began to thaw; and every day, in the same phrase, she
+      condescended to say to Mr. Vivian, that she &ldquo;hoped the poll was going on
+      as well as could be expected.&rdquo; It was, of course, reported, that Vivian
+      was to succeed the late representative of the county in all its honours.
+      In eight days he was confidently given to Lady Sarah by the generous
+      public; and the day of their nuptials was positively fixed. As the lady
+      was, even by the account of her friends, two or three years older than Mr.
+      Vivian, and four or five years older by her looks, and as she was
+      peculiarly unsuited to his taste, he heard the report without the
+      slightest apprehension for his own constancy to Selina. He laughed at the
+      idea, as an excellent joke, when it was first mentioned to him by Russell.
+      Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s manners, however, and the cordial familiarity with
+      which he treated Vivian, gave every day increasing credit to the report.
+      &ldquo;If he were his son, my lord could not be more anxious about Mr. Vivian,&rdquo;
+       said one of the plain-spoken freeholders, in the presence of the Lady
+      Lidhursts.&mdash;Lady Sarah pursed up her mouth, and threw back her head;
+      but Lady Julia, archly looking at her sister, smiled. The vivacity of Lady
+      Julia&rsquo;s manner did not appear excessive during this election time, when
+      all the world seemed mad; on the contrary, there was, in her utmost
+      freedom and raillery, that air of good-breeding and politeness, in which
+      vulgar mirth and liberty are always deficient. Vivian began to think that
+      she was become less childish, and that there was something of a mixture of
+      womanish timidity in her appearance, which rendered her infinitely more
+      attractive. One evening, in particular, when her father having sent her
+      for her morning&rsquo;s work, she returned with a basket full of <i>the Vivian
+      cockade</i>, which she had made with her own delicate hands, Vivian
+      thought she looked &ldquo;very pretty:&rdquo; her father desired her to give them to
+      the person for whom they were intended, and she presented them to Mr.
+      Russell, saying, &ldquo;They are for your friend, sir.&rdquo;&mdash;Vivian thought she
+      looked &ldquo;very graceful.&rdquo;&mdash;Lady Mary Vivian suppressed half a sigh, and
+      thought she kept the whole of her mind to herself. These happy days of
+      canvassing, and this <i>freedom of election</i>, could not last for ever.
+      After polling the county to the last freeholder, the contest was at length
+      decided, and Vivian was declared duly elected. He was chaired, and he
+      scattered money with a lavish hand, as he passed over the heads of the
+      huzzaing populace; and he had all the honours of an election: the horses
+      were taken from his carriage, and he was drawn by men, who were soon
+      afterwards so much intoxicated, that they retained no vestige of
+      rationality. Not only the inferior, but the superior rank of electors, as
+      usual upon such occasions, thought proper to do honour to their choice,
+      and to their powers of judgment, by drinking their member&rsquo;s health at the
+      expense of their own, till they could neither see, hear, nor understand.
+      Our hero was not by any means fond of drinking, but he could not refuse to
+      do as others did; and Lord Glistonbury swore, that now he had found out
+      that Vivian could be such a pleasant companion over a bottle, he should
+      never listen to his excuses in future.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      A few days after this election, parliament met for the dispatch of
+      business; and as some important question was to come on, all the members
+      were summoned, by a peremptory call of the house. Vivian was obliged to go
+      to town immediately, and compelled to defer his marriage. He regretted
+      being thus hurried away from Selina; and with a thousand tender and
+      passionate expressions, assured her, that the moment his attendance on
+      public business could be spared, he should hasten to the country to claim
+      his promised happiness. The castle would be finished by the time the
+      session was over; the lawyers would also have completed their settlements;
+      and Vivian said he should make every other necessary preparation whilst he
+      was in town: therefore he urged Selina now to fix the time for their
+      marriage, and to let it be the first week of the recess of parliament. But
+      Miss Sidney, who had great delicacy of feeling and dignity of character,
+      thought that Vivian had of late shown some symptoms of decreased
+      affection, and that he had betrayed signs of unsteadiness of character. In
+      the whole affair of the castle-building and of the election, he had
+      evidently been led by others instead of following his own conviction:&mdash;she
+      wisely dreaded that he might, in more important actions, yield his
+      judgment to others; and then what security could she have for his
+      principles? He might, perhaps, be led into all sorts of fashionable
+      dissipation and vice. Besides these fears, she considered that Vivian was
+      the possessor of a large fortune; that his mother had with difficulty
+      consented to this match; that he was very young, had seen but little of
+      the world, and might, perhaps, in future, repent of having made, thus
+      early in life, a <i>love match</i>. She therefore absolutely refused to
+      let him now bind himself to her by any fresh promises. She desired that he
+      should consider himself as perfectly at liberty, and released from all
+      engagement to her. It was evident, however, from the manner in which she
+      spoke that she wished to restore her lover&rsquo;s liberty for his sake only;
+      and that her own feelings, however they might be suppressed, were
+      unchanged. Vivian was touched and charmed by her delicacy and generosity:
+      in the fervour of his feelings he swore that his affections could never
+      change; and he believed what he swore. Lady Mary Vivian was struck, also,
+      with Miss Sidney&rsquo;s conduct at parting; and she acknowledged that it was
+      impossible to show at once more tenderness and dignity. No one, however,
+      not even Vivian, knew how much pain this separation gave Selina. Her good
+      sense and prudence told her indeed, that it was best, both for her
+      happiness and Vivian&rsquo;s, that he should see something more of the world,
+      and that she should have some farther proof of the steadiness of his
+      attachment, before she should unite herself with him irrevocably: but
+      whilst she endeavoured to fortify her mind with these reflections, love
+      inspired many painful fears; and, though she never repented having set him
+      free from his promises and engagements, she trembled for the consequences
+      of his being thus at liberty, in such scenes of temptation as a London
+      life would present.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER III.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      When our hero arrived in London, and when he was first introduced into
+      fashionable society, his thoughts were so intent upon Selina Sidney, that
+      he was in no danger of plunging into dissipation. He was surprised at the
+      eagerness with which some young men pursued frivolous pleasures: he was
+      still more astonished at seeing the apathy in which others of his own age
+      were sunk, and the listless insignificance in which they lounged away
+      their lives.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The call of the house, which brought Vivian to town, brought Lord
+      Glistonbury also to attend his duty in the house of peers: with his
+      lordship&rsquo;s family came Mr. Russell, whom Vivian went to see, as soon and
+      as often as he could. Russell heard, with satisfaction, the indignant
+      eloquence with which his friend spoke; and only wished that these
+      sentiments might last, and that fashion might never lead him to imitate or
+      to tolerate fools, whom he now despised.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In the mean time, tell me how you go on yourself,&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;how do
+      you like your situation here, and your pupil, and all the Glistonbury
+      family? Let me behind the scenes at once; for, you know, I see them only
+      on the stage.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell replied, in general terms, that he had hopes Lord Lidhurst would
+      turn out well, and that therefore he was satisfied with his situation; but
+      avoided entering into particulars, because he was a confidential person in
+      the family. He thought that a preceptor and a physician were, in some
+      respects, bound, by a similar species of honour, to speak cautiously of
+      the maladies of their patients, or the faults of their pupils. Admitted
+      into the secrets of families, they should never make use of the confidence
+      reposed in them, to the disadvantage of any by whom they are trusted.
+      Russell&rsquo;s strictly honourable reserve upon this occasion was rather
+      provoking to Vivian, who, to all his questions, could obtain only the dry
+      answer of&mdash;&ldquo;Judge for yourself.&rdquo;&mdash;The nature of a town life, and
+      the sort of intercourse which capital cities afford, put this very little
+      in Vivian&rsquo;s power. The obligations he was under to Lord Glistonbury for
+      assistance at the election made him anxious to show his lordship respect
+      and attention; and the sort of intimacy which that election had brought on
+      was, to a certain degree, kept up in town. Lady Mary Vivian was constantly
+      one at Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s card parties; and Vivian was frequently at his
+      lordship&rsquo;s dinners. Considering the coldness and formality of Lady
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s manners, she was particularly attentive to Lady Mary Vivian;
+      and our hero was continually an attendant upon the ladies of the
+      Glistonbury family to all public places. This was by no means disagreeable
+      to him, as they were persons of <i>high consideration</i>; and they were
+      sure of drawing into their circle the very best company. Lady Mary Vivian
+      observed that it was a great advantage to her son to have such a house as
+      Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s open to him, to go to whenever he pleased. Besides the
+      advantage to his morals, her ladyship was by no means insensible to the
+      gratification her pride received from her son&rsquo;s living in such high
+      company. The report which had been raised in the country during the
+      election, that Mr. Vivian was going to be married to Lady Sarah Lidhurst,
+      now began to circulate in town. This was not surprising, since a young man
+      in London, of any fortune or notoriety, can hardly dance three or four
+      times successively with the same young lady, cannot even sit beside her,
+      and converse with her in public half a dozen times, without its being
+      reported that he is going to be married to her. Of this, Vivian, during
+      his noviciate in town, was not perhaps sufficiently aware: he was soon
+      surprised at being asked, by almost every one he met, when his marriage
+      with Lady Sarah Lidhurst was to take place. At first he contented himself
+      with laughing at these questions, and declaring that there was no truth in
+      the report: but his asseverations were not to be believed; they were
+      attributed to motives of discretion: he was told by his companions, that
+      he kept his own counsel very well; but they all knew <i>the thing was to
+      be</i>: he was congratulated upon his good fortune in making such an
+      excellent match; for though, as they said, he would have but little money
+      with Lady Sarah, yet the connexion was so great, that he was the luckiest
+      fellow upon earth. The degree of importance which the report gave him
+      among the young men of his acquaintance, and the envy he excited, amused
+      and gratified his vanity. The sort of conversation he was now in the
+      constant habit of hearing, both from young and old, in all companies,
+      about the marriages of people in the fashionable world, where fortune, and
+      rank, and <i>connexion</i>, were always the first things spoken of or
+      considered, began insensibly to influence Vivian&rsquo;s mode of speaking, if
+      not of judging. Before he mixed in this society, he knew perfectly well
+      that these were the principles by which <i>people of the world</i> are
+      guided; but whilst he had believed this only on hearsay, it had not
+      appeared to him so entirely true and so important as when he saw and heard
+      it himself. The effect of the opinions of a set of fine people, now he was
+      actually in their society, and whilst all other society was excluded from
+      his perception, was very different from what he had imagined it might be,
+      when he was in the country or at college. To do our hero justice, however,
+      he was sensible of this <i>aberration</i> in his own mind, he had sense
+      enough to perceive from what causes it arose, and steadiness sufficient to
+      adhere to the judgements he had previously and deliberately formed. He did
+      not in material points change his opinion of his mistress; he thought her
+      far, far superior to all he saw and heard amongst the belles who were most
+      admired in the fashionable world; but, at the same time, he began to agree
+      with his mother&rsquo;s former wish, that Selina, added to all other merits, had
+      the advantage of high birth and connexions, or at least, of belonging to a
+      certain class of high company. He determined that, as soon as she should
+      be his wife, he would have her introduced to the very <i>first society</i>
+      in town: he pleased his imagination with anticipating the change that
+      would be made in her appearance, by the addition of certain elegancies of
+      the mode: he delighted in thinking of the sensation she would produce, and
+      the respect that would be paid to her as Mrs. Vivian, surrounded as he
+      would take care that she should be, with all those external signs of
+      wealth and fashion, which command immediate and universal homage from the
+      great and little world.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day, when Vivian was absorbed in these pleasing reveries, Russell
+      startled him with this question: &ldquo;When are you to be married to Lady Sarah
+      Lidhurst?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;From you such a question!&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why not from me? It is a question that every body asks of me, because I
+      am your intimate friend; and I should really be obliged to you, if you
+      would furnish me with an answer, that may give me an air of a little more
+      consequence than that which I have at present, being forced to answer, &lsquo;I
+      don&rsquo;t know.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You don&rsquo;t know! but why do not you answer, &lsquo;Never!&rsquo; as I do,&rdquo; said
+      Vivian, &ldquo;to all the fools who ask me the same question?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Because they say that is your answer, and only <i>a come off</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t help it&mdash;Is it my fault if they won&rsquo;t believe the truth?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, people are apt to trust to appearances in these cases; and if
+      appearances are contrary to your assertions, you should not wonder that
+      you are not believed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, time will show them their mistake!&rdquo; said Vivian.&mdash;&ldquo;But I don&rsquo;t
+      know what appearances you mean.&mdash;What appearances are against me?&mdash;I
+      never in my life saw a woman I was less disposed to like&mdash;whom it
+      would be more impossible for me to love&mdash;than Lady Sarah Lidhurst;
+      and I am sure I never gave her, or any of her family, the least reason to
+      imagine I had a thought of her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very likely; yet you are at Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s continually, and you
+      attend her ladyship to all public places. Is this the way, do you think,
+      to put a stop to the report that has been raised?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I care not whether it stops or goes on,&rdquo; said Vivian.&mdash;&ldquo;How!&mdash;Don&rsquo;t
+      I know it is false?&mdash;That&rsquo;s enough for me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It may embarrass you yet,&rdquo; said Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good Heavens!&mdash;Can you, who know me so well, Russell, fancy me so
+      weak as to be embarrassed by such a report? Look&mdash;I would rather put
+      this hand into that fire and let it be burned off, than offer it to Lady
+      Sarah Lidhurst.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very likely.&mdash;I don&rsquo;t doubt you think so,&rdquo; said Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And I would do so,&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Possibly.&mdash;Yet you might be embarrassed nevertheless, if you found
+      that you had raised expectations which you could not fulfil; and if you
+      found yourself accused of having jilted this lady, if all her friends were
+      to say you had used her very ill.&mdash;I know your nature, Vivian; these
+      things would disquiet you very much: and is it not better to prevent
+      them?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But neither Lady Sarah nor her friends blame me: I see no signs in the
+      family of any of the thoughts or feelings you suppose.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ladies&mdash;especially young and fashionable ladies&mdash;do not always
+      show their thoughts or feelings,&rdquo; said Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lady Sarah Lidhurst has no thoughts or feelings,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;any more
+      than an automaton. I&rsquo;ll answer for her&mdash;I am sure I can do her the
+      justice to proclaim, that she has always, from the first moment I saw her
+      till this instant, conducted herself towards me with the same petrified
+      and petrifying propriety.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not know what <i>petrified propriety</i> exactly means,&rdquo; said
+      Russell: &ldquo;but let it mean what it may, it is nothing to the present
+      purpose; for the question is not about the propriety of Lady Sarah
+      Lidhurst&rsquo;s conduct, but of yours. Now, allowing you to call her ladyship a
+      petrifaction, or an automaton, or by whatever other name you please,
+      still, I apprehend, that she is in reality a human creature, and a woman;
+      and I conceive it is the duty of a man of honour or honesty not to deceive
+      her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I would not deceive her, or any woman living, upon any account,&rdquo; said
+      Vivian. &ldquo;But how is it possible I can deceive her, when I tell you I never
+      said a word about love or gallantry, or any thing like it, to her in my
+      life?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But you know language is conventional, especially in gallantry,&rdquo; said
+      Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;True; but I&rsquo;ll swear the language of my looks has been unequivocal, if
+      that is what you mean.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not exactly: there are certain signs by which the world JUDGES in these
+      cases&mdash;if a gentleman is seen often with the same lady in public.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Absurd, troublesome, ridiculous signs, which would put a stop to all
+      society; which would prevent a man from conversing with a woman, either in
+      public or private; and must absolutely preclude one sex from obtaining any
+      real knowledge of the characters and dispositions of the other.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I admit all you say&mdash;I feel the truth of it&mdash;I wish this were
+      changed in society; it is a great inconvenience, a real evil,&rdquo; said
+      Russell: &ldquo;but an individual cannot alter a custom; and, as you have not,
+      by your own account, any particular interest in becoming more intimately
+      acquainted with the character and disposition of Lady Sarah Lidhurst, you
+      will do well not to expose yourself to any inconvenience on her account,
+      by neglecting common received forms and opinions.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well! well!&mdash;say no more about it,&rdquo; said Vivian, impatiently; &ldquo;spare
+      me all farther logic and morality upon this subject, and I&rsquo;ll do what you
+      please&mdash;only tell me what you would have me do.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Gradually withdraw yourself for some time from this house, and the report
+      will die away of itself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Withdraw myself!&mdash;that would be very hard upon me!&rdquo; cried Vivian;
+      &ldquo;for this house is the most agreeable house in town to me;&mdash;because
+      you live in it, in the first place; and then, though the women are as
+      stiff as pokers, one is always sure of meeting all the pleasant and clever
+      men at Glistonbury&rsquo;s good dinner. Let me tell you, good dinners, and good
+      company, and good conversation, and good music, make altogether a very
+      pleasant house, which I should be confoundedly sorry to be forced to give
+      up.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t doubt it,&rdquo; said Russell; &ldquo;but we must often give up more even
+      than this for the sake of acting with consistency and honour; we must
+      sacrifice the less to the greater good; and it is on these occasions that
+      people show strength or weakness of mind.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian felt the justice of his friend&rsquo;s observations&mdash;resolved to
+      follow his advice&mdash;and to withdraw himself gradually from the
+      Glistonbury circle. He had not, however, steadiness enough to persist in
+      this resolution; one engagement linked on another; and he would soon,
+      probably, have relapsed into his habit of being continually of their
+      parties, if accident had not for a time suspended this intimacy, by
+      leading him into another, which seemed to him still more attractive.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Among the men of talents and political consequence whom he met at Lord
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s was Mr. Wharton, whose conversation particularly pleased
+      Vivian, and who now courted his acquaintance with an eagerness which was
+      peculiarly flattering. Vivian knew him only as a man of great abilities;
+      with his real character he was not acquainted. Wharton had prepossessing
+      manners, and wit sufficient whenever he pleased to make the worse appear
+      the better reason. In private or in public debate he had at his command,
+      and could condescend to employ, all sorts of arms, and every possible mode
+      of annoyance, from the most powerful artillery of logic to the lowest
+      squib of humour. He was as little nice in the company he kept as in the
+      style of his conversation. Frequently associating with fools, and willing
+      even to be thought one, he made alternately his sport and advantage of the
+      weakness and follies of mankind. Wharton was philosophically, politically,
+      and fashionably profligate. After having ruined his private fortune by
+      unbounded extravagance, he lived on&mdash;nobody knew how&mdash;in
+      careless profusion. In public life he made a distinguished figure; and
+      seemed, therefore, to think himself raised above the necessity of
+      practising any of the minor virtues of economy, prudence, or justice,
+      which common people find essential to their well-being in society. Far
+      from attempting to conceal, he gloried in his faults; for he knew full
+      well, that as long as he had the voice of numbers with him, he could
+      bully, or laugh, or shame plain reason and rigid principle out of
+      countenance. It was his grand art to represent good sense as stupidity,
+      and virtue as hypocrisy. Hypocrisy was, in his opinion, the only vice
+      which merited the brand of infamy; and from this he took sufficient care
+      to prove, or at least to proclaim, himself free. Even whilst he offended
+      against the decencies of life, there seemed to be something frank and
+      graceful in his manner of throwing aside all disguise. There appeared an
+      air of superior liberality in his avowing himself to be governed by that
+      absolute selfishness, which other men strive to conceal even from their
+      own hearts. He dexterously led his acquaintance to infer that he would
+      prove as much better than his professions, as other people are often found
+      to be worse than theirs. Where he wished to please, it was scarcely
+      possible to escape the fascination of his manner; nor did he neglect any
+      mode of courting popularity. He knew that a good table is necessary to
+      attract even men of wit; and he made it a point to have the very best
+      cook, and the very best wines. He paid his cook, and his cook was the only
+      person he did pay, in ready money. His wine-merchant he paid in words&mdash;an
+      art in which he was a professed and yet a successful adept, as hundreds of
+      living witnesses were ready to attest. But though Wharton could cajole, he
+      could not attach his fellow-creatures&mdash;he had a party, but no friend.
+      With this distribution of things he was perfectly satisfied; for he
+      considered men only as beings who were to be worked to his purposes; and
+      he declared that, provided he had power over their interests and their
+      humours, he cared not what became of their hearts. It was his policy to
+      enlist young men of talents or fortune under his banners; and consequently
+      Vivian was an object worthy of his attention. Such was the disorder of
+      Wharton&rsquo;s affairs, that either ready money or political power was
+      necessary to his existence. Our hero could, at the same time, supply his
+      extravagance and increase his consequence. Wharton thought that he could
+      borrow money from Vivian, and that he might command his vote in
+      parliament; but, to the accomplishment of these schemes, there were two
+      obstacles&mdash;Vivian was attached to an amiable woman, and was possessed
+      of an estimable friend. Wharton had become acquainted with Russell at Lord
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s; and, in many arguments which they had held on public
+      affairs, had discovered that Russell was not a man who ever preferred the
+      expedient to the right, nor one who could be bullied or laughed out of his
+      principles. He saw also that Russell&rsquo;s influence over Vivian was so great,
+      that it supplied him with that strength of mind in which Vivian was
+      naturally deficient; and, if our hero should marry such a woman as Miss
+      Sidney, Wharton foresaw that he should have no chance of succeeding in his
+      designs; therefore his first objects were, to detach Vivian from his
+      friend Russell and from Selina. One morning he called upon Vivian with a
+      party of his friends, and found him writing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Poetry!&rdquo; cried Wharton, carelessly looking at what he had, been writing,
+      &ldquo;poetry, I protest!&mdash;Ay, I know this poor fellow&rsquo;s in love; and every
+      man who is in love is a poet, &lsquo;with a woeful ditty to his mistress&rsquo;s
+      eyebrow.&rsquo; Pray what colour may Miss Sidney&rsquo;s eyebrows be?&mdash;she is
+      really a pretty girl&mdash;I think I remember seeing her at some races.&mdash;Why
+      does she never come to town?&mdash;But of course she is not to blame for
+      that, but her fortune I suppose.&mdash;Marrying a girl without a fortune
+      is a serious thing in these expensive days; but you have fortune enough
+      for both yourself and your wife, so you may do as you please. Well, I
+      thank God, I have no fortune! If I had been a young man of fortune I
+      should have been the most unhappy rascal upon earth, for I should have
+      always suspected that every woman liked me for my wealth&mdash;I should
+      have had no pleasure in the smiles of an angel&mdash;angels, or their
+      mothers, are so venal now-a-days, and so fond of the pomps and vanities of
+      this wicked world!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hope,&rdquo; said Vivian, laughing, &ldquo;you don&rsquo;t include the whole sex in your
+      satire.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No&mdash;there are exceptions&mdash;and every man has his angel of an
+      exception, as every woman has her star:&mdash;it is well for weak women
+      when these stars of theirs don&rsquo;t lead them astray; and well for weak men
+      when these angel exceptions before marriage don&rsquo;t turn out very women or
+      devils afterwards. But why do I say all this? because I am a suspicious
+      scoundrel&mdash;I know and can&rsquo;t help it. If other fellows of my standing
+      in this wicked world would but speak the truth, however, they would show
+      as much suspicion and more than I do. Bad as I am, and such as I am, you
+      see, and have the whole of me&mdash;nobody can say Wharton&rsquo;s a hypocrite;
+      that&rsquo;s some comfort. But, seriously, Vivian, I don&rsquo;t mean to laugh at love
+      and angels&mdash;I can just remember the time when I felt all your sort of
+      romance&mdash;but that is in the preterpluperfect tense with me&mdash;completely
+      past&mdash;ambition is no bad cure for love. My head is, at this present
+      moment, so full of this new bill that we are bringing into parliament,
+      that Cupid might empty his quiver upon me in vain.&mdash;Look! here is an
+      impenetrable shield!&rdquo; added he, wrapping round him a thick printed copy of
+      an act of parliament. &ldquo;Come, Vivian, you must come along with us to the
+      house,
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;And, mix&rsquo;d with men, a man you must appear.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      Vivian felt much ashamed of having been detected in writing a sonnet,
+      especially as it afforded Wharton such a fine subject for raillery. He
+      accompanied the party to the House of Commons, where Wharton made a
+      brilliant speech. It gained universal applause. Vivian sympathized in the
+      general enthusiasm of admiration for Wharton&rsquo;s talents, accepted an
+      invitation to sup with him, and was charmed by his convivial powers. From
+      this day, he grew every hour more intimate with Wharton.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I can enjoy,&rdquo; thought Vivian, &ldquo;the pleasure of his society without being
+      influenced by his libertine example.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary Vivian saw the rise and progress of this intimacy, and was not
+      insensible to its danger; yet she was gratified by seeing her son
+      distinguished by a man of Wharton&rsquo;s political consequence; and she
+      satisfied her conscience by saying, &ldquo;He will bring my son forward in
+      public life; and, as to the rest, Charles has too good principles ever to
+      follow his example in private life.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Wharton had too much address to alarm Vivian&rsquo;s moral prejudices on a first
+      acquaintance. He contented himself with ridiculing only the exaggeration
+      of any of the virtues, still affecting to believe in virtue, and to love
+      it, wherever it could be found genuine. By the success of his first petty
+      attacks, he learned the power that ridicule had over our hero&rsquo;s mind; and
+      he did not fail to make use of it continually. After having, as he
+      perceived, succeeded in making Vivian ashamed of his sonnet to Selina, and
+      of appearing as a romantic lover, he doubted not but in time he should
+      make <i>true</i> love itself ridiculous; and Wharton thought it was now
+      the moment to hazard another stroke, and to commence his attack against
+      friendship.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vivian, my good fellow! why do you let yourself be ruled by that modern
+      stoic in the form of Lord Lidhurst&rsquo;s tutor? I never saw any of these cold
+      moralists who were real, warm-hearted, good friends. I have a notion I see
+      more of Russell&rsquo;s play in the house where he has got than he thinks I do;
+      and I can form a shrewd guess why he was so zealous in warning you of the
+      report about Lady Sarah Lidhurst&mdash;he had his own snug reasons for
+      wanting you away&mdash;Oh, trust me for scenting out self-interest,
+      through all the doublings and windings of your cunning moralist!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Reddening with indignation at this attack upon his friend, Vivian warmly
+      replied, that Mr. Wharton ought to restrain his wit where the feelings of
+      friendship and the character of a man of honour were concerned; that he
+      did not, in the least, comprehend his insinuations with regard to Russell;
+      but that, for his own part, he had such firm reliance upon his friend&rsquo;s
+      attachment and integrity, that he was at any time ready to pledge his own
+      honour for Russell&rsquo;s, and to answer for it with his life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Spare your heroics, my dear Vivian!&rdquo; cried Wharton, laughing; &ldquo;for we are
+      not in the days of Pylades and Orestes;&mdash;yet, upon my soul, instead
+      of being as angry with you as you are with me, at this instant I like you
+      a thousand times the better for your enthusiastic credulity. For my part,
+      I have, ever since I lived in the world and put away childish things,
+      regretted that charming instinct of credulity, which experience so fatally
+      counteracts. I envy you, my dear boy!&mdash;as to the rest, you know
+      Russell&rsquo;s merits better than I do: I&rsquo;ll take him henceforward upon trust
+      from you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Thus Wharton, finding that he was upon dangerous ground, made a timely
+      retreat: the playful manner and open countenance with which he now spoke,
+      and the quick transition that he made to other subjects of conversation,
+      prevented Vivian from suspecting that any settled design had been formed
+      to detach him from Russell. From this time forward, Wharton forbore
+      raillery on love and friendship; and, far from seeming desirous of
+      interfering in Vivian&rsquo;s private concerns, appeared quite absorbed in
+      politics. Avowing, as he did, that he was guided solely by his interest in
+      public life, he laughed at Vivian for professing more generous principles.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know,&rdquo; cried Wharton, &ldquo;how to make use of a fine word, and to round a
+      fine sentence, as well as the best of you; but what a simpleton he must be
+      who is cheated by his own sophistry!&mdash;An artist, an enthusiastic
+      artist, who is generally half a madman, might fall in love with a statue
+      of his own making; but you never heard of a coiner, did you, who was
+      cheated by his own bad shilling? Patriotism and loyalty are counterfeit
+      coin; I can&rsquo;t be taken in by them at my time of day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian could not forbear to smile at the drollery and wit with which this
+      profligate defended his want of integrity; yet he sometimes seriously and
+      warmly asserted his own principles. Upon these occasions, Wharton either
+      overpowered him by a fine flow of words, or else listened with the most
+      flattering air of admiration, and silenced him by compliments to his
+      eloquence. Vivian thought that he was quite secure of his own firmness;
+      but the contagion of bad example sometimes affects the mind imperceptibly;
+      as certain noxious atmospheres steal upon the senses, and excite the most
+      agreeable sensations, while they secretly destroy the principles of health
+      and life. A day was fixed when a question of importance was to come on in
+      the House of Commons. Wharton was extremely anxious to have Vivian&rsquo;s vote.
+      Vivian, according to the parliamentary phrase, <i>had not made up his mind</i>
+      on the subject. A heap of pamphlets on the question lay uncut upon his
+      table. Every morning he resolved to read them, that he might form his
+      judgment, and vote according to his unbiassed opinion; but every morning
+      he was interrupted by some of the fashionable idlers whom his facility of
+      temper had indulged in the habit of haunting him daily. &ldquo;Oh, Vivian! we
+      are going to such and such a place, and you <i>must</i> come with us!&rdquo; was
+      a mode of persuasion which he could not resist.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If I don&rsquo;t do as they do,&rdquo; thought he, &ldquo;I shall be quite unfashionable.
+      Russell may say what he pleases, but it is necessary to yield to one&rsquo;s
+      companions in trifles.
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Whoever would be pleased and please,
+     Must do what others do with ease.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      This couplet, which had been repeated to him by Wharton, recurred to him
+      continually; and thus Wharton, by slight means, in which he seemed to have
+      no interest or design, prepared Vivian for his purposes, by working
+      gradually on the easiness of his disposition. He always argued, that it
+      could not possibly signify what he did with an hour or two of his day,
+      till at last Vivian found that he had no hours of his own, that his whole
+      time was at the disposal of others; and now that he really wanted leisure
+      to consider an important question,&mdash;when his credit, as a member of
+      the senate, and as a man just entering political life, depended on this
+      decision,&mdash;he literally could not command time to read over the
+      necessary documents. So the appointed day arrived before Vivian&rsquo;s opinion
+      was formed; and, from mere want of time to decide for himself, he voted as
+      Wharton desired. Another and another political question came on; the same
+      causes operated, and the same consequences ensued. Wharton managed with
+      great address, so as to prevent him from feeling that he gave up his
+      freewill. Before Vivian was aware of it, whilst he thought that he was
+      perfectly independent of all parties, public opinion had enrolled him
+      amongst Wharton&rsquo;s partisans. Of this Russell was the first to give him
+      warning. Russell heard of it amongst the political leaders who met at Lord
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s dinners; and, knowing the danger there is of a young man&rsquo;s
+      <i>committing</i> himself on certain points, he, with the eagerness of a
+      true friend, wrote immediately to put Vivian upon his guard:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My Dear Vivian,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am just going into the country with Lord Lidhurst, and perhaps may not
+      return for some time. I cannot leave you without putting you on your
+      guard, once more, against Mr. Wharton. I understand that you are thought
+      to be one of his party, and that he countenances the report. Take care
+      that you are not bound hand and foot, before you know where you are.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your sincere friend,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;H. Russell.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With the natural frankness of his disposition, Vivian immediately spoke to
+      Wharton upon the subject.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What! people say that you are one of my party, do they?&rdquo; said Wharton: &ldquo;I
+      never heard this before, but I am heartily glad to hear it. You are in for
+      it now, Vivian: you are one of us; and with us you must stand or fall.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Excuse me there!&rdquo; cried Vivian; &ldquo;I am not of any party; and am determined
+      to keep myself independent.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do you remember the honest Quaker&rsquo;s answer to the man of no party?&rdquo; said
+      Wharton.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I think it was about the year &lsquo;40, when party disputes about Whig and
+      Tory ran high&mdash;but no matter what year, it will do for any time. A
+      gentleman of undeviating integrity, an independent man, just such a man as
+      Mr. Vivian, offered himself candidate for a town in the east, west, north,
+      or south of England&mdash;no matter where, it will do for any place; and
+      the first person whose vote he solicited was a Quaker, who asked him
+      whether he was a Whig or Tory?&mdash;&lsquo;Neither. I am an independent,
+      moderate man; and when the members of administration are right, I will
+      vote with them&mdash;when wrong, against them.&rsquo; &lsquo;And be these really thy
+      principles?&rsquo; quoth the Quaker; &lsquo;then a vote of mine thou shalt never have.
+      Thou seest my door, it leadeth into the street; the right hand side of
+      which is for the Tory, the left for the Whigs; and for a cold-blooded
+      moderate man, like thee, there is the kennel, and into it thou wilt be
+      jostled, for thou beest not <i>decided</i> enough for any other
+      situation.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But why should the moderate man be condemned to the kennel?&rdquo; said Vivian.
+      &ldquo;Was there no middle to your Quaker&rsquo;s road? A stout man cannot be EASILY
+      jostled into the kennel.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pshaw! pshaw!&rdquo; said Wharton: &ldquo;jesting out of the question, a man is
+      nothing in public life, or worse than nothing, a <i>trimmer</i>, unless HE
+      JOINS a party, and unless he abides by it, too.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As long as the party is in the right, I presume, you mean,&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Right or wrong&rsquo;&rdquo; cried Wharton, &ldquo;a man must abide by his party. No power,
+      and no popularity, trust me, without it!&mdash;Better stride on the greasy
+      heads of the mob than be trampled under their dirtier feet. An armed
+      neutrality may be a good thing, but an unarmed neutrality is fit only for
+      fools. Besides, in Russell&rsquo;s grand style, I can bring down the ancients
+      upon you, and tell you that when the commonwealth is in danger he cannot
+      be a good man who sides with neither party.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If it be so necessary to join a party, and if, after once joining it, I
+      must abide by it, right or wrong, for life,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;it behoves me
+      to consider well, before I commit myself; and, before I go into the ranks,
+      I must see good reason to confide, not only in the abilities, but in the
+      integrity and public virtue of my leader.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Public virtue! sounds fresh from college,&rdquo; said Wharton; &ldquo;I would as
+      soon, and sooner, hear a schoolboy read his theme as hear a man begin to
+      prose about public virtue&mdash;especially a member of parliament. Keep
+      that phrase, my dear Vivian, till some of the treasury bench come to court
+      you; then look superb, like a French tragic actor, swelling out your
+      chest, and throwing the head over the left shoulder&mdash;thus&mdash;exclaim,
+      &lsquo;Public virtue forbid!&rsquo;&mdash;practise! practise!&mdash;for if you do it
+      well, it may be worth a loud huzza to you yet; or better still, a snug
+      place or pension. But stay till you&rsquo;re asked&mdash;stay till you&rsquo;re asked&mdash;that&rsquo;s
+      the etiquette; never till then let me hear public virtue come out of your
+      lips, else you&rsquo;ll raise suspicion of your virtue, and lower your price.
+      What would you think of a pretty actress who began to talk to you of her
+      reputation before you put it in any danger? Oh, Vivian! my honest fellow!
+      unless you would make me think you no better than thousands that have gone
+      before you, never let me hear from your lips again, till the <i>proper</i>
+      time, the hypocritical state phrase&mdash;public virtue.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I had always, till now, understood that it was possible to be a patriot
+      without being a hypocrite,&rdquo; replied Vivian; &ldquo;I always understood that Mr.
+      Wharton was a patriot.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A very fair sarcasm on me,&rdquo; said Wharton, laughing. &ldquo;But you know, I&rsquo;m a
+      sad dog; never set myself up for a pattern man.&mdash;Come! let&rsquo;s home to
+      dinner, and a truce with politics and morality. I find, Vivian, you&rsquo;re a
+      sturdy fellow, and must have your own way; no bending, no leading you, I
+      see. Well! it is a good thing to have so much strength of mind: I envy
+      you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      It must be recorded to the credit of our hero, that in defiance of
+      Wharton&rsquo;s raillery, he talked, and&mdash;oh! still more wonderful!&mdash;thought
+      of public virtue, during nearly half of his first session in parliament.
+      But, alas! whilst his political principles thus withstood the force of
+      ridicule, temptation soon presented itself to Vivian in a new shape, and
+      in a form so seducing, as to draw his attention totally away from
+      politics, and to put his private, if not his public, honour, in the most
+      imminent peril.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IV.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      One morning, as Vivian was walking with Mr. Wharton up Bond-street, they
+      were met by a party of fashionable loungers, one of whom asked whether
+      Mrs. Wharton was not come to town yet.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mrs. Wharton!&rdquo; said Vivian, with an air of surprise.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, she came to town this morning,&rdquo; said Wharton, carelessly; then
+      laughing, as he turned to look at Vivian, &ldquo;Vivian, my good fellow! what
+      smites you with such surprise? Did not you know I was married?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I suppose I must have heard it; but I really forgot it,&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There you had the advantage of me,&rdquo; said Wharton, still laughing. &ldquo;But if
+      you never heard of Mrs. Wharton before, keep your own secret; for I can
+      tell you she would never forgive you, though I might. Put a good face on
+      the matter, at any rate; and swear you&rsquo;ve heard so much of her, that you
+      were dying to see her. Some of these gentlemen, who have nothing else to
+      do, will introduce you whenever you please.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And cannot I,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;have the honour of your introduction?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mine! the worst you could possibly have. The honour, as you are pleased
+      to call it, would be no favour, I assure you. The honour!&mdash;honour of
+      a husband&rsquo;s introduction! What a novice you are, or would make me believe
+      you to be! But, seriously, I am engaged to-day at Glistonbury&rsquo;s: so, good
+      morning to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Accustomed to hear Wharton talk in the freest manner of women and marriage
+      in general, and scarcely having heard him mention his own wife, Vivian
+      had, as he said, absolutely forgotten that Wharton was a married man. When
+      he was introduced to Mrs. Wharton, he was still more surprised at her
+      husband&rsquo;s indifference; for he beheld a lady in all the radiance of
+      beauty, and all the elegance of fashion: he was so much dazzled by her
+      charms, that he had not immediately power or inclination to examine what
+      her understanding or disposition might be; and he could only repeat to
+      himself, &ldquo;How is it possible that Wharton can be indifferent to such a
+      beautiful creature!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Incapable of feeling any of what he, called the romance of love, the
+      passion, of course, had always been with Mr. Wharton of a very transient
+      nature. Tired of his wife&rsquo;s person, he showed his indifference without
+      scruple or ceremony. Notorious and glorying in his gallantries, he was
+      often heard to declare, that no price was too high to be paid for beauty,
+      except a man&rsquo;s liberty; but that was a sacrifice which he would never make
+      to any woman, especially to a wife. Marriage vows and custom-house oaths
+      he classed in the same order of technical forms,&mdash;nowise binding on
+      the conscience of any but fools and dupes. Whilst the husband went on in
+      this manner, the wife satisfied herself by indulgence in her strongest
+      passions&mdash;the passion for dress and public admiration. Childishly
+      eager to set the fashion in trifles, she spent unconscionable sums on her
+      pretty person; and devoted all her days, or rather all her nights, to
+      public amusements. So insatiable and restless is the passion for
+      admiration, that she was never happy for half an hour together, at any
+      place of public amusement, unless she fixed the gaze of numbers. The first
+      winter after her marriage she enjoyed the prerogatives of a fashionable
+      beauty; but the reign of fashion is more transient even than the bloom of
+      beauty. Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s beauty soon grew familiar, and faded in the public
+      eye; some newer face was this season the mode. Mrs. Wharton appeared twice
+      at the opera in the most elegant and becoming dresses; but no one followed
+      her lead. Mortified and utterly dejected, she felt, with the keenest
+      anguish, the first symptoms of the decline of public admiration. It was
+      just at this period, when she was miserably in want of the consolations of
+      flattery, that Vivian&rsquo;s acquaintance with her commenced. Gratified by the
+      sort of delighted surprise which she saw in his countenance the first
+      moment he beheld her, seeing that he was an agreeable man, and knowing
+      that he was a man of fortune and family, she took pains to please him by
+      all the common arts of coquetry. But his vanity was proof against these:
+      the weakness of the lady&rsquo;s understanding and the frivolity of her
+      character were, for some weeks, sufficient antidotes against all the power
+      of her personal charms; so much so, that at this period he often compared,
+      or rather contrasted, Mrs. Wharton and Selina, and blessed his happy fate.
+      He wrote to his friend Russell soon after he was introduced to this
+      celebrated beauty, and drew a strong and just parallel between the
+      characters of these two ladies: he concluded with saying, &ldquo;Notwithstanding
+      your well-founded dread of the volatility of my character, you will not, I
+      hope, my dear Russell, do me the injustice to apprehend that I am in any
+      danger from the charms of Mrs. Wharton.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian wrote with perfect sincerity; he believed it to be impossible that
+      he could ever become attached to such a woman as Mrs. Wharton, even if she
+      had not been married, and the wife of his friend. So, in all the security
+      of conscious contempt, he went every day to wait upon her, or rather to
+      meet agreeable company at her house,&mdash;a house in which all that was
+      fashionable and dissipated assembled; where beauty, and talents, and rank,
+      met and mingled; and where political or other arrangements prevented the
+      host and hostess from scrupulously excluding some whose characters were
+      not free from suspicion. Lady Mary Vivian never went to Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s;
+      but she acknowledged that she knew many ladies of unblemished reputation
+      who thought it no impropriety to visit there; and Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s own
+      character she knew was hitherto unimpeached. &ldquo;She is, indeed, a woman of a
+      cold, selfish temper,&rdquo; said Lady Mary; &ldquo;not likely to be led into danger
+      by the tender passion, or by any of the delusions of the imagination.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian agreed with his mother in this opinion, and went on paying his
+      devoirs to her every day. It was the fashion of the times, and peculiarly
+      the mode of this house, for the gentlemen to pay exclusive attention to
+      matrons. Few of the young men seemed to think it worth while to speak to
+      an unmarried woman in any company; and the few who might be inclined to it
+      were, as they declared, deterred by the danger: for either the young
+      ladies themselves, or their mothers, immediately formed expectations and
+      schemes of drawing them into matrimony&mdash;the grand object of the
+      ladies&rsquo; wishes and of the gentlemen&rsquo;s fears. The men said they could not
+      speak to an unmarried woman, or even dance with her more than twice,
+      without its being reported that they were going to be married; and then
+      the friends and relatives of the young ladies pretended to think them
+      injured and ill-treated, if these reports were not realized. Our hero had
+      some slight experience of the truth of these complaints in his own case
+      with the Lady Sarah Lidhurst: he willingly took the rest upon trust&mdash;believed
+      all the exaggerations of his companions&mdash;and began to think it
+      prudent and necessary to follow their example, and to confine his
+      attentions to married women. Many irresistible reasons concurred to make
+      Mrs. Wharton the most convenient and proper person to whom he could pay
+      this sort of homage: besides, she seemed to fall to his share by lot and
+      necessity; for, at Wharton&rsquo;s house, every other lady and every other
+      gentleman being engaged in gallantry, play, or politics, Mrs. Wharton must
+      have been utterly neglected if Vivian had not paid her some attention.
+      Common politeness absolutely required it; the attention became a matter of
+      course, and was habitually expected. Still he had not the slightest design
+      of going beyond the line of modern politeness; but, in certain
+      circumstances, people go wrong a great way before they are aware that they
+      have gone a single step. It was presently repeated to Mr. Vivian, by some
+      of Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s confidantes, in whispers, and under the solemn promise
+      of secrecy, that he certainly was a prodigious favourite of hers. He
+      laughed, and affected to disbelieve the insinuation: it made its
+      impression, however; and he was secretly flattered by the idea of being a
+      prodigious favourite with such a beautiful young creature. In some moments
+      he saw her with eyes of compassion, pitying her for the neglect with which
+      she was treated by her husband: he began to attribute much of her apparent
+      frivolity, and many of her faults, more to the want of a guide and a
+      friend than to a deficiency of understanding or to defects of character.
+      Mrs. Wharton had just sufficient sense to be cunning&mdash;this implies
+      but a very small portion: she perceived the advantage which she gained by
+      thus working upon Vivian&rsquo;s vanity and upon his compassion. She continued
+      her operations, without being violently interested in their success; for
+      she had at first only a general wish to attract his attention, because he
+      was a fashionable young man.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One morning when he called upon Wharton to accompany him to the House of
+      Commons, he found Mrs. Wharton in tears, her husband walking up and down
+      the room in evident ill-humour. He stopped speaking when Vivian entered;
+      and Mrs. Wharton endeavoured, or seemed to endeavour, to conceal her
+      emotion. She began to play on her harp; and Wharton, addressing himself to
+      Vivian, talked of the politics of the day. There was some incoherence in
+      the conversation; for Vivian&rsquo;s attention was distracted by the air that
+      Mrs. Wharton was playing, of which he was passionately fond.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no possibility of doing any thing while there is such a cursed
+      noise in the room!&rdquo; cried Wharton. &ldquo;Here I have the heads of this bill to
+      draw up&mdash;I cannot endure to have music wherever I go&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He snatched up his papers and retired to an adjoining apartment, begging
+      that Vivian would wait one quarter of an hour for him.&mdash;Mrs.
+      Wharton&rsquo;s tears flowed afresh, and she looked beautiful in tears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You see&mdash;you see, Mr. Vivian&mdash;and I am ashamed you should see&mdash;how
+      I am treated.&mdash;I am, indeed, the most unfortunate creature upon the
+      face of the earth; and nobody in this world has the least compassion for
+      me!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s countenance contradicted this last assertion most positively.&mdash;Mrs.
+      Wharton understood this; and her attitude of despondency was the most
+      graceful imaginable.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear Mrs. Wharton&rdquo;&mdash;(it was the first time our hero had ever
+      called her &ldquo;his dear Mrs. Wharton;&rdquo; but it was only a platonic dear)&mdash;&ldquo;you
+      take trifles much too seriously&mdash;Wharton was hurried by business&mdash;a
+      moment&rsquo;s impatience must be forgiven.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A moment!&rdquo; replied Mrs. Wharton, casting up to heaven her beautiful eyes&mdash;&ldquo;Oh!
+      Mr. Vivian, how little do you know of him!&mdash;I am the most miserable
+      creature that ever existed; but there is not a man upon earth to whom I
+      would say so except yourself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian could not help feeling some gratitude for this distinction; and, as
+      he leaned over her harp with an air of unusual interest, he said he hoped
+      that he should ever prove himself worthy of her esteem and confidence.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At this instant Wharton interrupted the conversation, by passing hastily
+      through the room.&mdash;&ldquo;Come, Vivian,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;we shall be very late at
+      the house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We shall see you again of course at dinner,&rdquo; said Mrs. Wharton to Vivian
+      in a low voice. Our hero replied by an assenting bow.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Five minutes afterwards he repented that he had accepted the invitation,
+      because he foresaw that he should resume a conversation which was at once
+      interesting and embarrassing. He felt that it was not right to become the
+      depository of this lady&rsquo;s complaints against her husband; yet he had been
+      moved by her tears, and the idea that he was <i>the only man in the world</i>
+      to whom she would open her heart upon such a delicate subject, interested
+      him irresistibly in her favour. He returned in the evening, and was
+      flattered by observing, that amongst the crowd of company by which she was
+      surrounded he was instantly distinguished. He was perfectly persuaded of
+      the innocence of her intentions; and, as he was attached to another woman,
+      he fancied that he could become the friend of the beautiful Mrs. Wharton
+      without danger. The first time he had an opportunity of speaking to her in
+      private, he expressed this idea in the manner that he thought the most
+      delicately flattering to her self-complacency. Mrs. Wharton seemed to be
+      perfectly satisfied with this conduct; and declared, that unless she had
+      been certain that he was not a man of gallantry, she should never have
+      placed any confidence in his friendship.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I consider you,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;quite as a married man:&mdash;by-the-bye,
+      when are you to be married, and what sort of a person is Miss Sidney?&mdash;I
+      am told she is excessively handsome, and amiable, and sensible.&mdash;What
+      a happy creature she is!&mdash;just going to be united to the man she
+      loves!&rdquo; Here the lady gave a profound sigh; and Vivian had an opportunity
+      of observing that she had the longest dark eyelashes that he had ever
+      seen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I was married,&rdquo; continued she, &ldquo;before I knew what I was about. You know
+      Mr. Wharton can be so charming when he pleases&mdash;and then he was so
+      much in love with me, and swore he would shoot himself if I would not have
+      him&mdash;and all that sort of thing.&mdash;I protest I was terrified; and
+      I was quite a child, you know. I had been out but six weeks, and I thought
+      I was in love with him. That was because I did not know what love was&mdash;<i>then</i>;&mdash;besides,
+      he hurried and teased me to such a degree!&mdash;After all, I&rsquo;m convinced
+      I married him more out of compassion than any thing else; and now you see
+      how he treats me!&mdash;most barbarously and tyrannically!&mdash;But I
+      would not give the least hint of this to any man living but yourself. I
+      conjure you to keep my secret&mdash;and&mdash;pity me!&mdash;that is all I
+      ask&mdash;pity me sometimes, when your thoughts are not absorbed in a
+      happier manner.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s generosity was piqued: he could not be so selfish as to be
+      engrossed exclusively by his own felicity. He thought that delicacy should
+      induce him to forbear expatiating upon Selina&rsquo;s virtues and
+      accomplishments, or upon his passion. He carried this delicacy so far,
+      that sometimes for a fortnight or three weeks he never mentioned her name.
+      He could not but observe that Mrs. Wharton did not like him the less for
+      this species of sacrifice. It may be observed, that Mrs. Wharton managed
+      her attack upon Vivian with more art than could be expected from so silly
+      a woman; but we must consider that all her faculties were concentrated on
+      one object; so that she seemed to have an instinct for coquetry. The most
+      silly animals in the creation, from the insect tribe upwards, show, on
+      some occasions, where their interests are immediately concerned, a degree
+      of sagacity and ingenuity, which, compared with their usual imbecility,
+      appears absolutely wonderful. The opinion which Vivian had early formed of
+      the weakness of this lady&rsquo;s understanding prevented him from being on his
+      guard against her artifices: he could not conceive it possible that he
+      should be duped by a person so obviously his inferior. With a woman of
+      talents and knowledge, he might have been suspicious; but there was
+      nothing in Mrs. Wharton to alarm his pride or to awaken his fears: he
+      fancied that he could extricate himself in a moment, and with the
+      slightest effort, from any snares which she could contrive; and, under
+      this persuasion, he neglected to make even that slight effort, and thus
+      continued from hour to hour in voluntary captivity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Insensibly Vivian became more interested for Mrs. Wharton; and, at the
+      same time, submitted with increased facility to the influence of her
+      husband. It was necessary that he should have some excuse to the world,
+      and yet more to his own conscience, for being so constantly at Wharton&rsquo;s.
+      The pleasure he took in Wharton&rsquo;s conversation was still a sort of
+      involuntary excuse to himself for his intimacy with the lady. &ldquo;Wharton&rsquo;s
+      wit more than Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s beauty,&rdquo; thought he, &ldquo;is the attraction that
+      draws me here&mdash;I am full as ready to be of his parties as of hers;
+      and this is the best proof that all is as it should be.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Wharton&rsquo;s parties were not always such as Vivian would have chosen; but he
+      was pressed on, without power of resistance. For instance, one night
+      Wharton was going with Lord Pontipool and a set of dissipated young men,
+      to the house of a lady who made herself fashionable by keeping a
+      faro-bank.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vivian, you&rsquo;ll come along with us?&rdquo; said Wharton. &ldquo;Come, we must have you&mdash;unless
+      you are more happily engaged.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His eye glanced with a mixture of contempt and jealousy upon his wife.
+      Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s alarmed and imploring countenance at the same moment seemed
+      to say, &ldquo;For Heaven&rsquo;s sake, go with him, or I am undone.&rdquo; In such
+      circumstances it was impossible for Vivian to say no: he followed
+      immediately; acting, as he thought, from a principle of honour and
+      generosity. Wharton was not a man to give up the advantage which he had
+      gained. Every day he showed more capricious jealousy of his wife, though
+      he, at the same time, expressed the most entire confidence in the honour
+      of his friend. Vivian still thought he could not do too much to convince
+      him that his confidence was not misplaced; and thus, to protect Mrs.
+      Wharton from suspicion, he yielded to all her husband&rsquo;s wishes. Vivian now
+      felt frequently ashamed of his conduct, but always proud of his motives;
+      and, with ingenious sophistry, he justified to himself the worst actions,
+      by pleading that he did them with the best intentions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER V.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      By this time Lady Mary Vivian began to hear hints of her son&rsquo;s attachment
+      to Mrs. Wharton; and, much alarmed, she repented having encouraged him to
+      form a political or fashionable intimacy with the Whartons. Suddenly
+      awakened to the perception of the danger, Lady Mary was too vehement in
+      her terror. She spoke with so much warmth and indignation, that there was
+      little chance of her counsels being of use.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, my dear madam, it is only a platonic attachment,&rdquo; argued Vivian,
+      when his mother represented to him that the world talked loudly of his
+      intimacy with Mrs. Wharton.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A platonic attachment!&mdash;Fashionable, dangerous sophistry!&rdquo; said Lady
+      Mary.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why so, ma&rsquo;am?&rdquo; said her son, warmly; &ldquo;and why should we mind what the
+      world says? The world is so fond of scandal, that a man and woman cannot
+      have any degree of friendship for one another without a hue and cry being
+      immediately raised&mdash;and all the prudes and coquettes join at once in
+      believing, or pretending to believe, that there must be something wrong.
+      No wonder such a pretty woman as Mrs. Wharton cannot escape envy, and, of
+      course, censure; but her conduct can defy the utmost malice of her
+      enemies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hope so,&rdquo; said Lady Mary; &ldquo;and, at all events, I am not one of them. I
+      know and care very little about Mrs. Wharton, whom I have always been
+      accustomed to consider as a frivolous, silly woman; but what I wish to
+      say, though I fear I have lost your confidence, and that my advice will
+      not&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Frivolous! silly!&rdquo; interrupted Vivian; &ldquo;believe me, my dear mother, you
+      and half the world are, and have been, under a great mistake about her
+      understanding and character.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Her forming a platonic friendship with a young man is no great proof of
+      her sense or of her virtue,&rdquo; said Lady Mary. &ldquo;The danger of platonic
+      attachments, I thought, had been sufficiently understood. Pray, my dear
+      Charles, never let me hear more from you of platonics with married women.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t use the expression, ma&rsquo;am, if you have any objection to it,&rdquo; said
+      Vivian; &ldquo;but, mother, you wish me to live in the most fashionable company,
+      and yet you desire me not to live as they live, and talk as they talk:
+      now, that is next to impossible. Pardon me, but I should not have
+      thought,&rdquo; added he, laughing, &ldquo;that you, who like most things that are
+      fashionable, would object to <i>platonics</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Object to them!&mdash;I despise, detest, abhor them! <i>Platonics</i>
+      have been the ruin of more women, the destruction of the peace of more
+      families, than open profligacy ever could have accomplished. Many a
+      married woman, who would have started with horror at the idea of beginning
+      an intrigue, has been drawn in to admit of a platonic attachment. And many
+      a man, who would as soon have thought of committing murder as of seducing
+      his friend&rsquo;s wife, has allowed himself to commence a platonic attachment;
+      and how these end, all the world knows.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Struck by these words, Vivian suddenly quitted his air of raillery, and
+      became serious. Had his mother stopped there, and left the rest to his
+      good sense and awakened perception of danger, all would have been well;
+      but she was ever prone to say too much; and, in her ardour to prove
+      herself to be in the right, forgot that people are apt to be shocked, by
+      having it pointed out that they are utterly in the wrong.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed, the very word platonics,&rdquo; pursued she, &ldquo;is considered, by those
+      who have seen any thing of life, as the mere watchword of knaves or dupes;
+      of those who deceive, or of those who wish to be deceived.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Be assured, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;that Mrs. Wharton is not one of those
+      who wish either to deceive or to be deceived; and, as to myself, I hope I
+      am as far from any danger of being a dupe as of being a knave. My
+      connexion with Mrs. Wharton is perfectly innocent; it is justified by the
+      example of hundreds and thousands every day in the fashionable world; and
+      I should do her and myself great injustice, if I broke off our intimacy
+      suddenly, as if I acknowledged that it was improper.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And what can be more improper? since you force me to speak plainly,&rdquo;
+       cried Lady Mary; &ldquo;what can be more improper than such an intimacy,
+      especially in your circumstances?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My circumstances! What circumstances, ma&rsquo;am?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Have you forgotten Miss Sidney?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By no means, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said Vivian, colouring deeply; &ldquo;Mrs. Wharton is well
+      apprized, and was, from the first moment of our friendship, clearly
+      informed of my&mdash;&mdash;engagements with Miss Sidney.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And how do they agree with your attachment to Mrs. Wharton?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Perfectly well, ma&rsquo;am&mdash;Mrs. Wharton understands all that perfectly
+      well, ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And Miss Sidney! do you think she will understand it?&mdash;and is it not
+      extraordinary that I should think more of her feelings than you do?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At these questions Vivian became so angry, that he was incapable of
+      listening farther to reason, or to the best advice, even from a mother,
+      for whom he had the highest respect. The mother and son parted with
+      feelings of mutual dissatisfaction.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, from that spirit of opposition so often seen in weak characters,
+      went immediately from his mother&rsquo;s <i>lecture</i> to a party at Mrs.
+      Wharton&rsquo;s. Lady Mary, in the mean time, sat down to write to Miss Sidney.
+      Whatever reluctance she had originally felt to her son&rsquo;s marriage with
+      this young lady, it must be repeated, to her ladyship&rsquo;s credit, that
+      Selina&rsquo;s honourable and disinterested conduct had won her entire
+      approbation. She wrote, therefore, in the strongest terms to press the
+      immediate conclusion of that match, which she now considered as the only
+      chance of securing her son&rsquo;s morals and happiness. Her letter concluded
+      with these words:&mdash;&ldquo;I shall expect you in town directly. Do not, my
+      dear, let any idle scruples prevent you from coming to my house. Consider
+      that my happiness, your own, and my son&rsquo;s, depend upon your compliance. I
+      am persuaded, that the moment he sees you, the moment you exert your power
+      over him, he will be himself again. But, believe me, I know the young men
+      of the present day better than you do: their constancy is not proof
+      against absence. If he lose the habit of seeing and conversing with you, I
+      cannot answer for the rest.&mdash;Adieu! I am so much harassed by my own
+      thoughts, and by the reports I hear, that I scarcely know what I write.
+      Pray come immediately, my dear Selina, that I may talk to you of many
+      subjects on which I don&rsquo;t like to trust myself to write. My feelings have
+      been too long repressed.&mdash;I must unburden my heart to you. <i>You</i>
+      only can console and assist me; and, independently of all other
+      considerations, you owe to my friendship for you, Selina, not to refuse
+      this first request I ever made you.&mdash;Farewell! I shall expect to see
+      you as soon as possible.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yours, &amp;c.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;MARY VIVIAN.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>St. James&rsquo;s-street</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In this letter, Lady Mary Vivian had not explained the nature of her son&rsquo;s
+      danger, or of her fears for him. Motives of delicacy had prevented her
+      from explicitly telling Miss Sidney her suspicions that Vivian was
+      attached to a married woman. &ldquo;Selina,&rdquo; said her ladyship to herself,
+      &ldquo;must, probably, have heard the report from Mr. G&mdash;&mdash;, who is so
+      often at her mother&rsquo;s; therefore, there can be no necessity for my saying
+      any more than I have done. She will understand my hints.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Unfortunately, however, Miss Sidney did not comprehend, or in the least
+      suspect, the most material part of the truth; she understood simply, from
+      Lady Mary&rsquo;s letter, that Vivian&rsquo;s affections wavered, and she imagined
+      that he was, perhaps, on the point of making matrimonial proposals for
+      some fashionable belle, probably for one of the Lady Lidhursts; but the
+      idea of his becoming attached to a married woman never entered her
+      thoughts. Many motives conspired to incline Selina to accept of the
+      invitation. The certainty that Lady Mary would be highly offended by a
+      refusal; the hint, that her influence over Vivian would operate
+      immediately, and in all its force, if he were to see and converse with
+      her; and that, on the contrary, absence might extinguish his passion for
+      ever; curiosity to learn precisely the nature of the reports, which his
+      mother had heard to his disadvantage; but, above all, a fond wish to be
+      nearer to the man she loved, and to have daily opportunities of seeing
+      him, prompted Selina to comply with Lady Mary&rsquo;s request. On the contrary,
+      good sense and delicacy represented, that she had released Vivian from all
+      promises, all engagements; that, at parting, she had professed to leave
+      him perfectly at liberty: that it would, therefore, be as indelicate as
+      imprudent to make such an attempt to reclaim his inconstant heart. She had
+      told him, that she desired to have proof of the steadiness, both of his
+      character and of his attachment, before she could consent to marry him.
+      From this decision she could not, she would not, recede. She had the
+      fortitude to persist in this resolution. She wrote to Lady Mary Vivian in
+      the kindest, but, at the same time, in the most decided terms, declining
+      the tempting invitation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It happened that Vivian was with his mother at the moment when Selina&rsquo;s
+      answer arrived. In the firm belief that such a pressing invitation as she
+      had sent, to a person in Selina&rsquo;s circumstances and of Selina&rsquo;s temper,
+      could not be refused, her ladyship had made it a point with her son to
+      dine <i>tête-à-tête</i> with her this day; and she had been talking to
+      him, in the most eloquent but imprudent manner, of the contrast between
+      the characters of Mrs. Wharton and Miss Sidney. He protested that his
+      esteem and love for Miss Sidney were unabated; yet, when his mother told
+      him that he would, perhaps, in a few minutes see his Selina, he changed
+      colour, grew embarrassed and melancholy, and thus by his looks effectually
+      contradicted his words. He was roused from his reverie by the arrival of
+      Selina&rsquo;s letter. His mother&rsquo;s disappointment and anger were expressed in
+      the strongest terms, when she found that Selina declined her invitation;
+      but such are the quick and seemingly perverse turns of the human heart,
+      Vivian grew warm in Selina&rsquo;s defence the moment that his mother became
+      angry with her: he read her letter with tender emotion, for he saw through
+      the whole of it, the strength, as well as the delicacy of her attachment.
+      All that his mother&rsquo;s praises had failed to effect, was immediately
+      accomplished by this letter; and he, who but an instant before dreaded to
+      meet Selina, now that she refused to come, was seized with a strong desire
+      to see her; his impatience was so great, that he would willingly have set
+      out that instant for the country. Men of such characters as Vivian&rsquo;s are
+      peculiarly jealous of their free will; and, precisely because they know
+      that they are easily led, they resist, in affairs of the heart especially,
+      the slightest appearance of control.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary was delighted to hear her son declare his resolution to leave
+      town the next morning, and to see Miss Sidney as soon as possible; but she
+      could not forbear reproaching him for not doing what she wanted precisely
+      in the manner in which she had planned that it should be done.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I see, my dear Charles,&rdquo; cried she, &ldquo;that even when you do right, I must
+      not flatter myself that it is owing to any influence of mine. Give my
+      compliments to Miss Sidney, and assure her that I shall in future forbear
+      to injure her in your opinion by my interference, or even by expressing my
+      approbation of her character. My anger, it is obvious, has served her
+      better than my kindness; and therefore she has no reason to regret that my
+      affection has been lessened, as I confess it has been, by her late
+      conduct.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The next morning, when Vivian was prepared to leave town, he called upon
+      Wharton, to settle with him about some political, business which was to be
+      transacted in his absence. Wharton was not at home&mdash;Vivian knew that
+      it would be best to avoid seeing Mrs. Wharton; but he was afraid that she
+      would be offended, and he could not help <i>sacrificing a few minutes to
+      politeness</i>. The lady was alone; apparently very languid, and
+      charmingly melancholy. Before Vivian could explain himself, she poured
+      forth, in silly phrases, but in a voice that made even nonsense please, a
+      rariety of reproaches for his having absented himself for such a length of
+      time.&mdash;&ldquo;Positively, she would keep him prisoner, now that she had him
+      safe once more.&rdquo; To be kept prisoner by a fair lady was so flattering,
+      that it was full an hour before he could prevail upon himself to assert
+      his liberty&mdash;the fear of giving pain, indeed, influenced him still
+      more than vanity. At last, when Mrs. Wharton spoke of her engagements for
+      the evening, and seemed to take it for granted that he would be of her
+      party, he summoned resolution sufficient&mdash;Oh! wonderful effort of
+      courage!&mdash;to tell her, that he was under a necessity of leaving town
+      immediately.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Going, I presume, to&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To the country,&rdquo; said Vivian, firmly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To the country!&mdash;&mdash;No, no, no; say at once, to Selina!&mdash;Tell
+      me the worst in one word!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Astonished beyond measure, Vivian had not power to move. The lady fell
+      back on the sofa in violent hysterics. Our hero trembled lest any of her
+      servants should come in, or lest her husband should at his return find her
+      in this condition, and discover the cause. He endeavoured in vain to
+      soothe and compose the weeping fair one; he could not have the barbarity
+      to leave her in this state. By sweet degrees she recovered her
+      recollection&mdash;was in the most lovely confusion&mdash;asked where she
+      was, and what was going to happen. Vivian had not the rashness to run the
+      risk of a second fit of hysterics; he gave up all thoughts of his journey
+      for this day, and the lady recovered her spirits in the most flattering
+      manner. Vivian intended to postpone his journey only for a single day;
+      but, after he had yielded one point, he found that there was no receding.
+      He was now persuaded that Mrs. Wharton was miserable; that she would never
+      forgive herself for having betrayed the state of her heart. His self-love
+      pleaded powerfully in her favour: he considered that her husband treated
+      her with mortifying neglect, and provoked the spirit of retaliation by his
+      gallantries. Vivian fancied that Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s attachment to him might
+      render her wretched, but would never make her criminal. With sophistical
+      delicacy he veiled his own motives; and, instead of following the plain
+      dictates of reason, he involved his understanding in that species of
+      sentimental casuistry which confounds all principles of right and wrong.
+      But the dread that he felt lest Wharton should discover what was going on
+      might have sufficiently convinced him that he was not acting honourably.
+      The suspicions which Mr. Wharton formerly showed of his wife seemed now to
+      be completely lulled asleep; and he gave Vivian continually such proofs of
+      confidence as stung him to the soul. By an absurd, but not an uncommon
+      error of self-love, Vivian was induced to believe, that a man who
+      professed to cheat mankind in general behaved towards him in particular
+      with strict honour, and even with unparalleled generosity. Honesty was too
+      vulgar a virtue for Wharton; but honour, the aristocratic, exclusive
+      virtue of a gentleman, he laid claim to in the highest tone. The very
+      frankness with which Wharton avowed his libertine principles with respect
+      to women, convinced Vivian that he had not the slightest suspicion that
+      these could be immediately applied to the ruin of his own wife.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How can you, my dear Wharton, talk in this manner?&rdquo; said Vivian once,
+      when he had been speaking with great <i>freedom</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But it is better,&rdquo; added he, with a sigh, &ldquo;to speak than to act like a
+      villain.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Villain!&rdquo; repeated Wharton, with a sarcastic laugh; &ldquo;you are grown quite
+      ridiculous, Vivian: I protest, I don&rsquo;t understand you. Women now-a-days
+      are surely able, if not willing enough, to take care of themselves; and <i>villains</i>,
+      though they were very common in the time of Miss Clarissa Harlowe, and of
+      all the tragedy queens of the last century, are not to be heard of in
+      these days. Any strange tales of those male monsters called seducers could
+      gain credit during the ages of ignorance and credulity; but now, the
+      enlightened world cannot be imposed upon by such miracles; and a gentleman
+      may be a man of gallantry&mdash;nay, even a lady may be a woman of
+      gallantry&mdash;without being hooted out of society as a <i>monster</i>;
+      at all events, the blame is, as it should be, equally divided between the
+      parties concerned; and if modern lovers quarrel, they do not die of grief,
+      but settle their differences in a court of law, where a spinster may have
+      her compensation for a breach of contract of marriage; a father or a
+      husband their damages for the loss of the company, affection, solace,
+      services, &amp;c., as the case may be, of his wife or daughter. All this
+      is perfectly well understood; and the terrors of law are quite sufficient,
+      without the terrors of sentiment. If a man punish himself, or let himself
+      be punished, twice for the same offence, once by his conscience, and once
+      by his king and his country, he is a fool; and, moreover, acts contrary to
+      the spirit of the British law, which sayeth&mdash;see Blackstone and
+      others&mdash;that no man shall be punished twice for the same offence.&mdash;Suffer
+      your risible muscles to relax, I beseech you, Vivian; and do not affect a
+      presbyterian rigidity, which becomes your face as ill as your age.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I affect nothing&mdash;certainly I do not affect presbyterian rigidity,&rdquo;
+       cried Vivian, laughing. &ldquo;But, after all, Wharton, if you had a daughter or
+      a sister, what would you think of any man, your friend for instance, who
+      should attempt&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To cut your speech short at once,&rdquo; interrupted Wharton, &ldquo;I should not
+      think at all about the matter; I should blow his brains out, of course;
+      and afterwards, probably, blow out my own. But treachery from a friend&mdash;from
+      a man of honour&mdash;is a thing of which I can hardly form an idea. Where
+      I give my confidence, I give it without any paltry mental reservation&mdash;I
+      could not suspect a friend.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian suffered, at this instant, all the agony which a generous mind,
+      conscious of guilt, could endure. He thought that the confusion of his
+      mind must be visible in his countenance&mdash;his embarrassment was so
+      great that he could not utter a word. Wharton did not seem to perceive his
+      companion&rsquo;s agitation, but passed on carelessly to other subjects of
+      conversation; and at length completely relieved Vivian from fear of
+      immediate detection, by asking a favour from him&mdash;a pecuniary favour.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All is safe&mdash;Mrs. Wharton, at least, is safe, thank Heaven!&rdquo; thought
+      Vivian. &ldquo;Had her husband the slightest suspicion, he never would
+      condescend to accept of any favour from me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With eagerness, and almost with tears of gratitude, Vivian pressed upon
+      Wharton the money which he <i>condescended</i> to borrow&mdash;it was no
+      inconsiderable sum.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Wharton!&rdquo; cried he, &ldquo;you sometimes talk freely&mdash;too freely; but you
+      are, I am convinced, the most open-hearted, unsuspicious, generous fellow
+      upon earth&mdash;you deserve a better friend than I am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Unable any longer to suppress or conceal the emotions which struggled in
+      his heart, he broke away abruptly, hurried home, shut himself up in his
+      own apartment, and sat down immediately to write to Mrs. Wharton. The idea
+      that Mrs. Wharton loved him in preference to all the fashionable coxcombs
+      and wits by whom she was surrounded had insensibly raised our hero&rsquo;s
+      opinion of her understanding so much, that he now imagined that the world
+      laboured under a prejudice against her abilities. He gave himself credit
+      for having discovered that this beauty was not a fool; and he now spoke
+      and wrote to her as if she had been a woman of sense. With eloquence which
+      might have moved a woman of genius, with delicacy that might have touched
+      a woman of feeling, he conjured her to fortify his honourable resolutions;
+      and thus, whilst it was yet time, to secure her happiness and his own.
+      &ldquo;Instead of writing this letter,&rdquo; added he in a postscript, &ldquo;I ought,
+      perhaps, to fly from you for ever; but that would show a want of
+      confidence in you and in myself; and, besides, upon the most mature
+      reflection, I think it best to stay, and wait upon you to-morrow as usual,
+      lest, by my precipitation, I should excite suspicion in Wharton&rsquo;s mind.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The weak apprehension that Mrs. Wharton should betray herself by another
+      fit of hysterics, if he should leave town, and if his departure should be
+      suddenly announced to her by her husband, or by some common acquaintance,
+      induced him to delay a few days longer, that he might prepare her mind by
+      degrees, and convince her of the necessity for their absolute separation.
+      When he had finished his letter to Mrs. Wharton, he was sufficiently well
+      pleased with himself to venture to write to Miss Sidney. His letters to
+      her had of late been short and constrained; but this was written with the
+      full flow of affection. He was now in hopes that he should extricate
+      himself honourably from his difficulties, and that he might at last claim
+      his reward from Selina.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VI.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      After he had despatched his two letters, he became excessively anxious to
+      receive Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s answer. By trifling but unavoidable accidents, it
+      was delayed a few hours. At last it arrived; Vivian tore it open, and read
+      with surprise these words:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your letter is just what I wished, and makes me the happiest of women&mdash;that
+      is, if you are sincere&mdash;which, after all you&rsquo;ve said, I can&rsquo;t doubt.
+      I am so hurried by visitors, and annoyed, that I cannot write more; but
+      shall have time to talk to-night at the opera.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At the opera Mrs. Wharton appeared in high spirits, and was dressed with
+      more than usual elegance. It was observed that she had never been seen to
+      look so beautiful. There was something in her manner that puzzled Vivian
+      extremely; this extraordinary gaiety was not what he had reason to expect.
+      &ldquo;Is it possible,&rdquo; thought he, &ldquo;that this woman is a mere coquette, who has
+      been amusing herself at my expense all this time, and can now break off
+      all connexion with me without a moment&rsquo;s regret?&rdquo; Vivian&rsquo;s pride was
+      piqued: though he wished to part from the lady, he could not bear that
+      this parting should evidently cost her nothing. He was mortified beyond
+      expression by the idea that he had been duped. After the opera was over,
+      whilst Mrs. Wharton was waiting for her carriage, he had an opportunity of
+      speaking to her without being overheard.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am happy,&rdquo; said he, with a constrained voice, &ldquo;I am extremely happy to
+      see you, madam, in such charming spirits to-night.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But are not you a strange man to look so grave?&rdquo; cried Mrs. Wharton. &ldquo;I
+      vow, I don&rsquo;t know what to make of you! But I believe you want to quarrel
+      for the pleasure of making it up again. Now that won&rsquo;t do. By-the-bye, I
+      have a quarrel with you, sir.&mdash;How came you to sign your name to that
+      foolish stuff you wrote me yesterday? Never do so any more, I charge you,
+      for fear of accidents. But what&rsquo;s the matter now?&mdash;You are a strange
+      mortal!&mdash;Are you going to die upon the spot?&mdash;What is the
+      matter?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My letter to you was not signed, I believe,&rdquo; said Vivian, in an altered
+      voice.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed it was,&rdquo; said Mrs. Wharton. &ldquo;It was signed Charles Vivian at full
+      length. But why are you in such tremors about it? I only mentioned it to
+      put you on your guard in future.&mdash;I&rsquo;ve burnt the letter&mdash;people
+      always get themselves into scrapes if they don&rsquo;t burn love-letters&mdash;as
+      I&rsquo;ve often heard Mr. Wharton say,&rdquo; added she, laughing.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To his unspeakable consternation, Vivian now discovered that he had sent
+      the letter intended for Selina to Mrs. Wharton; and that which was
+      designed for Mrs. Wharton he had directed to Miss Sidney. Vivian was so
+      lost in thought, that the cry of <i>&ldquo;Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s carriage stops the
+      way!&rdquo;</i> was vociferated many times before he recovered sufficient
+      presence of mind to hand the lady out of the house. He went home
+      immediately, that he might reflect upon what was best to be done. His
+      servant presently gave him a letter which a messenger had just brought
+      from the country. The packet was from Selina.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Enclosed, I return the letter which I received from you this morning. I
+      read the first three lines of it before I perceived that it could not be
+      intended for me&mdash;I went no farther.&mdash;I cannot help knowing for
+      whom it was designed; but you may be assured that your secret shall be
+      kept inviolably.&mdash;You have no reproaches to fear from me.&mdash;This
+      is the last letter I shall ever write to you.&mdash;Leave it to me to
+      explain my own conduct to my mother and to yours; if they think me
+      capricious, I can bear it. I shall tell them that my sentiments are
+      totally changed: I am sure I can say so with perfect truth.&mdash;Oh,
+      Vivian, it is you who are to be pitied; every thing may be endured except
+      remorse. Would to Heaven, I could save you from the reproaches of your own
+      heart!&mdash;Adieu!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;SELINA SIDNEY.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The feelings of Vivian&rsquo;s mind, on reading this letter, cannot be
+      described. Admiration, love, tenderness, remorse, successively seized upon
+      his heart. Incapable of any distinct reflection, he threw himself upon his
+      bed, and closed his eyes, endeavouring to compose himself to sleep, that
+      he might forget his existence. But, motionless as he lay, the tumult of
+      his mind continued unabated. His pulse beat high; and before morning he
+      was in a fever. The dread that his mother should come to attend him, and
+      to inquire into the cause of his illness, increased his agitation:&mdash;she
+      came. Her kindness and anxiety were fresh torments to her unhappy son.
+      Bitterly did he reproach himself as the cause of misery to those he loved
+      and esteemed most in the world. He became delirious; and, whilst he was in
+      this state, he repeated Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s name sometimes in terms of
+      endearment, sometimes in accents of execration. His mother&rsquo;s suspicions of
+      his intrigue were confirmed by many expressions which burst from him, and
+      which were thought by his attendants to be merely the ravings of fever.
+      Lady Mary had, at this crisis, the prudence to conceal her doubts, and to
+      keep every body, as much as possible, out of her son&rsquo;s apartment. In a few
+      days his fever subsided, and he recovered to the clear recollection of all
+      that had passed previously to his illness. He almost wished to be again
+      delirious. The first time he was left alone, he rose from his bed,
+      unlocked his bureau, and seized Selina&rsquo;s letter, which he read again and
+      again, studying each line and word, as if he could draw from them every
+      time a new meaning.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;She read but three lines of my letter,&rdquo; said he to himself; &ldquo;then she
+      only guesses that I have an intrigue with Mrs. Wharton, without knowing
+      that in this very letter I used my utmost influence to recall Mrs. Wharton
+      to&mdash;herself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The belief that Selina thought worse of him than he deserved was some
+      consolation to Vivian. He was resolved to recover her esteem: he
+      determined to break off all connexion with Mrs. Wharton; and, full of this
+      intention, he was impatient till the physicians permitted him to go
+      abroad. When he was at last free from their dominion, had escaped from his
+      chamber, and had just gained the staircase, he was stopped by his mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Charles,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;before you quit me again, it is my duty to say a few
+      words to you upon a subject of some importance.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary led the way to her dressing-room with a dignified air; Vivian
+      followed with a mixture of pride and alarm in his manner. From the bare
+      idea of a maternal lecture his mind revolted: he imagined that she was
+      going to repeat the remonstrance which she had formerly made against his
+      intimacy with Mrs. Wharton, and against <i>platonics</i> in general; but
+      he had not the least apprehension that she had discovered the whole truth:
+      he was, therefore, both surprised and shocked, when she spoke to him in
+      the following manner:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The libertinism of the age in which we live has so far loosened all the
+      bonds of society, and all the ties of nature, that I doubt not but a
+      mother&rsquo;s anxiety for the morals of her son&mdash;her only son&mdash;the
+      son over whose education she has watched from his infancy, may appear,
+      even in his eyes, a fit subject for ridicule. I am well aware that my
+      solicitude and my counsels have long been irksome to him, I have lost his
+      affections by a steady adherence to my duty; but I shall persevere with
+      the less reluctance, since the dread of my displeasure, or the hope of my
+      approbation, cannot now touch his sensibility. During your illness, you
+      have betrayed a secret&mdash;you have reason to start with horror. Is it
+      possible that a son of mine, with the principles which I have endeavoured
+      to instil into his mind, should become so far depraved? Do I live to hear,
+      from his own lips, that he is the seducer of a married woman&mdash;and
+      that woman the wife of his friend?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian walked up and down the room in great agony: his mother continued,
+      with increased severity of manner, &ldquo;I say nothing of your dissimulation
+      with me, nor of all your <i>platonic</i> subterfuges&mdash;I know that,
+      with a man of intrigue, falsehood is deemed a virtue. I shall not
+      condescend to inquire farther into your guilty secrets&mdash;I now think
+      myself fortunate in having no place in your confidence. But I here declare
+      to you, in the most solemn manner, that I never will see you again until
+      all connexion between you and Mrs. Wharton is utterly dissolved. I do not
+      advise&mdash;I COMMAND, and must be obeyed&mdash;or I cast you off for
+      ever.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary left the room as she uttered these words. Her son was deeply
+      struck with his mother&rsquo;s eloquence: he knew she was right, yet his pride
+      was wounded by the peremptory severity of her manner:&mdash;his remorse
+      and his good resolutions gave place to anger. The more he felt himself in
+      the wrong, the less he could bear to be reproached by the voice of
+      authority. Even because his mother <i>commanded</i> him to give up all
+      connexion with Mrs. Wharton, he was inclined to disobey&mdash;he could not
+      bear to seem to do right merely in compliance to her will. He went to
+      visit Mrs. Wharton in a very different temper from that in which, half an
+      hour before this conference with his mother, he had resolved to see the
+      lady. Mrs. Wharton knew how to take advantage both of the weakness of his
+      character and of the generosity of his temper. She fell into transports of
+      grief when she found that Lady Mary Vivian and Miss Sidney were in
+      possession of her secret. It was in vain that Vivian assured her that it
+      would be kept inviolably; she persisted in repeating, &ldquo;that her reputation
+      was lost; that she had sacrificed every thing for a man who would, at
+      last, desert her in the most treacherous and barbarous manner, leaving her
+      at the mercy of her husband, the most profligate, hard-hearted tyrant upon
+      earth. As to her being reconciled to him,&rdquo; she declared, &ldquo;<i>that</i> was
+      totally out of the question; his behaviour to her was such, that she could
+      not live with him, even if her heart were not fatally prepossessed in
+      favour of another.&rdquo; Her passions seemed wrought to the highest pitch. With
+      all the eloquence of beauty in distress, she appealed to Vivian as her
+      only friend; she threw herself entirely upon his protection; she vowed
+      that she could not, would not, remain another day in the same house with
+      Mr. Wharton; that her destiny, her existence, were at Vivian&rsquo;s mercy.
+      Vivian had not sufficient fortitude to support this scene. He stood
+      irresolute. The present temptation prevailed over his better resolutions.
+      He was actually persuaded by this woman, whom he did not love, whom he
+      could not esteem, to carry her off to the continent&mdash;whilst, at the
+      very time, he admired, esteemed, and loved another. The plan of the
+      elopement was formed and settled in a few minutes;&mdash;on Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s
+      part, apparently with all the hurry of passion; on Vivian&rsquo;s with all the
+      confusion of despair. The same carriage, the very same horses, that had
+      been ordered to carry our hero to his beloved Selina, conveyed him and
+      Mrs. Wharton the first stage of their flight towards the continent. The
+      next morning the following paragraph appeared in the newspapers:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yesterday, the beautiful and fashionable Mrs. W&mdash;&mdash;, whose
+      marriage we announced last year to the celebrated Mr. W&mdash;&mdash;,
+      eloped from his house in St. James&rsquo;s-street, in company with C&mdash;&mdash;
+      V&mdash;&mdash;, member for &mdash;&mdash;shire. This catastrophe has
+      caused the greatest <i>sensation</i> and astonishment in the circles of
+      fashion; for the lady in question had always, till this fatal step,
+      preserved the most unblemished reputation; and Mr. and Mrs. W&mdash;&mdash;
+      were considered as models of conjugal felicity. The injured husband was
+      attending his public duty in the House of Commons; and, as we are credibly
+      informed, was, with patriotic ardour, speaking in his country&rsquo;s cause,
+      when this unfortunate event, which for ever bereaves him of domestic
+      happiness, took place. What must increase the poignancy of his feelings
+      upon the occasion remains to be stated&mdash;that the seducer was his
+      intimate friend, a young man, whom he had raised into notice in public
+      life, and whom he had, with all that warmth and confidence of heart for
+      which he is remarkable, introduced into his house, and trusted with his
+      beloved wife. Mr. W&mdash;&mdash; is, we hear, in pursuit of the
+      fugitives.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      In the modern fashionable code of honour, when a man has seduced or
+      carried off his friend&rsquo;s wife, the next thing he has to do is to fight the
+      man whom he has injured and betrayed. By thus appealing to the ordeal of
+      the duel, he may not only clear himself from guilt; but, if it be done
+      with proper spirit, he may acquire celebrity and glory in the annals of
+      gallantry, and in the eyes of the fair and innocent. In our hero&rsquo;s place,
+      most men of fashion would have triumphed in the notoriety of his offence,
+      and would have rejoiced in an opportunity of offering the husband the
+      satisfaction of a gentleman. But, unfortunately for Vivian, he had not yet
+      suited his principles to his practice: he had acted like a man of fashion;
+      but, alas! he still thought and felt like a man of virtue&mdash;as the
+      following letter will show.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;TO THE REV. HENRY RUSSELL.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indignant as you will be, Russell, at all you hear of me, you cannot be
+      more shocked than I am myself. I do not write to palliate or apologize&mdash;my
+      conduct admits of no defence&mdash;I shall attempt none, private or public&mdash;I
+      have written to my lawyer to give directions that no sort of defence shall
+      be set up on my part, when the affair comes into Doctors&rsquo; Commons&mdash;as
+      it shortly will; for I understand that poor Wharton has commenced a
+      prosecution. As to damages he has only to name them&mdash;any thing within
+      the compass of my fortune he may command. Would to God that money could
+      make him amends! But he is too generous, too noble a fellow&mdash;profligate
+      as he is in some things, how incapable would he be of acting as basely as
+      I have done! There is not, perhaps, at this moment, a human being who has
+      so high an opinion of the man I have injured as I have myself:&mdash;he
+      did not love his wife&mdash;but that is no excuse for me&mdash;his honour
+      is as much wounded as if I had robbed him of her during the time he loved
+      her most fondly:&mdash;he once doted upon her, and would have loved her
+      again, when he was tired of his gallantries; and they might then have
+      lived together as happily as ever, if I had not been&mdash;. What was I?&mdash;What
+      am I?&mdash;Not a villain&mdash;or I should glory in what I have done&mdash;but
+      the weakest of human beings&mdash;and how true it is, Russell, that &lsquo;all
+      wickedness is weakness!&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I understand that W&mdash;&mdash;, wherever he goes, calls me a coward,
+      as well as a scoundrel; and says that I have kept out of the way to avoid
+      fighting him. He is mistaken. It is true, I had the utmost dread of having
+      his life to answer for&mdash;and nothing should have provoked me to fire
+      upon him;&mdash;but I had determined how to act&mdash;I would have met
+      him, and have stood his fire. I should not be sorry, at present, to be put
+      out of the world; and would rather fall by his hand than by any other. But
+      since this is out of the question, and that things have taken another
+      turn, I have only to live, as long as it shall please God, a life of
+      remorse&mdash;and, at least, to try to make the unfortunate woman who has
+      thrown herself upon my protection as happy as I can.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you have any remaining regard for a pupil who has so disgraced you, do
+      me one favour&mdash;Go to Miss Sidney, and give her what comfort you can.
+      Say nothing <i>for me</i>, or <i>of me</i>, but that I wish her to forget
+      me as soon as possible. She discarded me from her heart when she first
+      discovered this intrigue&mdash;before this last fatal step. Still I had
+      hopes of recovering her esteem and affection; for I had resolved&mdash;But
+      no matter what I resolved&mdash;all my resolutions failed; and now I am
+      utterly unworthy of her love. This, and all that is good and happy in
+      life, all the fair hopes and virtuous promises of my youth, I must give
+      up. Early as it is in my day, my sun has set. I truly desire that she
+      should forget me; for you know I am bound in honour&mdash;Honour! How dare
+      I use the word? I am bound, after the divorce, to marry the woman I have
+      seduced. Oh, Russell! what a wife for your friend!&mdash;What a
+      daughter-in-law for my poor mother, after all her care of my education&mdash;all
+      her affection&mdash;all her pride in me!&mdash;It will break her heart!
+      Mine will not break. I shall drag on, perhaps, to a miserable old age. I
+      am of too feeble a nature to feel these things as strong minds would&mdash;as
+      you will for me; but do not blame yourself for my faults. All that man
+      could do for me, you did. This must be some consolation to you, my dear
+      and excellent friend! May I still call you friend?&mdash;or have I no
+      friend left upon earth?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;C. VIVIAN.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      From this letter some idea may be formed of what this unhappy man suffered
+      at this period of his life, from &ldquo;the reflections of a mind not used to
+      its own reproaches.&rdquo; The view of the future was as dreadful as the
+      retrospect of the past. His thoughts continually dwelt upon the public
+      trial which was preparing&mdash;before him he saw all its disgraceful
+      circumstances. Then the horror of marrying, of passing his whole future
+      existence with a woman whom he could not esteem or trust! These last were
+      secret subjects of anxiety and anguish, the more intensely felt, because
+      he could not speak of them to any human being. Such as Mrs. Wharton was,
+      she was to be his wife; and he was called upon to defend her against
+      reproach and insult,&mdash;if possible, from contempt. During the course
+      of six weeks, which they spent together in exile at Brussels, Vivian
+      became so altered in his appearance, that his most intimate friends could
+      scarcely have known him; his worst enemies, if he had had any, could not
+      have desired the prolongation of his sufferings.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One evening, as he was sitting alone in his hotel, ruminating bitter
+      thoughts, a letter was brought to him from Mr. Russell; the first he had
+      received since he left England. Every one, who has been absent from his
+      friends in a foreign country, must know the sort of emotion which the bare
+      sight of a letter from <i>home</i> excites; but, in Vivian&rsquo;s
+      circumstances, abandoned as he felt himself, and deserving to be abandoned
+      by his best friends, the sight of a letter from Russell so struck him,
+      that he gazed upon the direction for some minutes, almost without power or
+      wish to open it. At last he opened, and read, &ldquo;Return to your country,
+      your friends, and yourself, Vivian! Your day is not yet over! Your sun is
+      not yet set!&mdash;Resume your energy&mdash;recover your self-confidence&mdash;carry
+      your good resolutions into effect&mdash;and you may yet be an honour to
+      your family, a delight to your fond mother, and the pride of your friend
+      Russell. Your remorse has been poignant and sincere; let it be salutary
+      and permanent in its consequences: this is the repentance which religion
+      requires. The part of a man of sense and virtue is to make his past errors
+      of use to his future conduct. Whilst I had nothing to say that could give
+      you pleasure, I forbore to answer your letter; I forbore to overwhelm a
+      mind sinking under remorse. My sacred duty is to waken the sinner to
+      repentance, not to shut the gates of mercy on the penitent. Now, I can
+      relieve your mind from part of the load by which it has been justly
+      oppressed. You know that nothing can palliate your conduct in an intrigue
+      with a married woman&mdash;from this I had hoped your moral and religious
+      education would have preserved you. But of the premeditated guilt of
+      deceiving the husband, and laying a plan to seduce the wife, I never
+      suspected you; and I may now tell you, that you have not betrayed Mr.
+      Wharton; he has betrayed you. You have not seduced Mrs. Wharton; you have
+      been seduced by her. You are not bound to marry her&mdash;Wharton cannot
+      obtain a divorce&mdash;he dare not bring the affair to trial; if he does,
+      he is undone. There has been collusion between the parties. The proof of
+      this you will find in the enclosed paper, which will be sworn to, in due
+      legal form, whenever it is necessary. Even when you see them, you will
+      scarcely believe these &lsquo;damning proofs&rsquo; of Wharton&rsquo;s baseness. But I
+      always knew, I always told you, that this pretence to honour and candour,
+      frankness and friendship, with this avowed contempt of all principle and
+      all virtue, could not be safe, could not be sincere, would not <i>stand
+      the test</i>.&mdash;No&mdash;nothing should make me trust to the private
+      honour of a man so corrupt in public life as Mr. Wharton. A man who sells
+      his conscience for his interest will sell it for his pleasure. A man who
+      will betray his country will betray his friend. It is in vain to palter
+      with our conscience: there are not two honours&mdash;two honesties. How I
+      rejoice at this moment, in the reflection that your character, as a public
+      man, is yet untarnished You have still this great advantage:&mdash;feel
+      its value. Return, and distinguish yourself among your countrymen:
+      distinguish yourself by integrity still more than by talents. A certain
+      degree of talents is now cheap in England: integrity is what we want&mdash;true
+      patriotism, true public spirit, noble ambition not that vile scramble for
+      places and pensions, which some men call ambition; not that bawling,
+      brawling, <i>Thersites</i> character, which other men call public spirit;
+      not that marketable commodity with which Wharton, and such as he, cheat
+      popular opinion for a season;&mdash;but that fair virtue which will
+      endure, and abide by its cause to the last; which, in place or out, shall
+      be the same; which, successful or unsuccessful, shall sustain the
+      possessor&rsquo;s character through all changes of party; which, whilst he
+      lives, shall command respect from even the most profligate of his
+      contemporaries; upon which, when he is dying, he may reflect with
+      satisfaction; which, after his death, shall be the consolation of his
+      friends, and the glory of his country. All this is yet in your power,
+      Vivian.&mdash;Come, then, and fulfil the promise of your early years!
+      Come, and restore to your mother a son worthy of her!&mdash;Come, and
+      surpass the hopes of your true friend,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;H. RUSSELL.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The rapid succession of feelings with which Vivian read this letter can
+      scarcely be imagined. The paper it enclosed was from a former waiting-maid
+      of Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s; a woman who was expected to be the principal evidence
+      on Mr. Wharton&rsquo;s side. She had been his mistress; one of those innumerable
+      mistresses, to whom he had, of course, addressed his transferable promises
+      of eternal constancy. She too, of course, had believed the vow, in spite
+      of all experience and probability; and while she pardoned his infidelities
+      to her mistress, &amp;c. all which she deemed <i>very natural for a
+      gentleman like him</i>, yet she was astonished and outrageous when she
+      found him faithless to her own charms. In a fit of jealousy she flew to
+      Mr. Russell, whom she knew to be Vivian&rsquo;s friend; and, to revenge herself
+      on Wharton, revealed the secrets which she had in her power; put into
+      Russell&rsquo;s hands the proofs of collusion between Mr. Wharton and his wife;
+      and took malicious pains to substantiate her evidence, to a lawyer&rsquo;s full
+      satisfaction; knowing that she might prevent the possibility of a divorce,
+      and that she should thus punish her perjured inconstant in the most
+      sensible manner, by at once depriving him of twenty thousand pounds
+      damages, and by chaining him again to a wife whom he abhorred.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The same post which brought Vivian this woman&rsquo;s deposition and Russell&rsquo;s
+      letter brought Mrs. Wharton notice that the whole plan of collusion was
+      discovered: she was therefore prepared for Vivian&rsquo;s reproaches, and
+      received the first burst of his astonishment and indignation with a
+      studied Magdalen expression of countenance: then she attempted a silly
+      apology, laying all the blame on her husband, and vowing that she had
+      acted under terror, and that her life would not have been safe in his
+      hands if she had not implicitly obeyed and executed his horrid plans. She
+      wept and kneeled in vain. Finding Vivian immoveable in his purpose to
+      return immediately to England, she suddenly rose from her knees, and, all
+      beautiful as she was, looked in Vivian&rsquo;s eyes like a fiend, whilst, with
+      an unnatural smile, she said to him, &ldquo;You see, fool as I am thought to be,
+      I have been too clever for <i>some people</i>; and I can tell Mr. Wharton
+      that I have been too clever for him too. His heart is set upon a divorce;
+      but he can&rsquo;t have it. He can&rsquo;t marry Miss P&mdash;&mdash;, nor yet her
+      fortune, nor ever shall! I shall remain at Brussels&mdash;I have friends
+      here&mdash;and friends who were my friends before I was forced to give my
+      hand to Mr. Wharton, or my smiles to you, sir!&mdash;people who will not
+      tease me with talking of remorse and repentance, and such ungallant,
+      ungentlemanlike stuff; nor sit bewailing themselves, like a country
+      parson, instead of dashing out with me here in a fashionable style, as a
+      man of any spirit would have done. But you!&mdash;you&rsquo;re neither good nor
+      bad; and no woman will ever love you, nor ever did. Now you know my whole
+      mind.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Would to Heaven I had known it sooner!&rdquo; said Vivian. &ldquo;No&mdash;I rejoice
+      that I did not sooner know, and that I never could have suspected, such
+      depravity!&mdash;under such a form, too.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mrs. Wharton&rsquo;s eye glanced with satisfaction upon the large mirror
+      opposite to her. Vivian left her in utter disgust and horror. &ldquo;Drive on!&rdquo;
+       cried he, as he threw himself into the chaise that was to carry him away;
+      &ldquo;Faster! faster!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The words, &ldquo;and no woman will ever love you, nor ever, did,&rdquo; rung upon
+      Vivian&rsquo;s ear. &ldquo;There she is mistaken, thank Heaven!&rdquo; said he to himself:
+      yet the words still dwelt upon his mind, and gave him exquisite pain. Upon
+      looking again at Russell&rsquo;s letter, he observed that Selina Sidney&rsquo;s name
+      was never mentioned; that she was neither directly nor indirectly alluded
+      to in the whole letter. What omen to draw from this he could not divine.
+      Again he read it; and all that Russell said of public life, and his
+      exhortations to him to come and distinguish himself in public and in the
+      political world, struck him in a new light. It seemed as if Russell was
+      sensible that, there were no farther hopes of Selina, and that therefore
+      he tried to turn Vivian&rsquo;s mind from love to ambition. Fourteen times he
+      read over this letter before he reached England; but he could not discover
+      from it any thing as to the point on which his heart was most interested.
+      He reached London in this, uncertainty.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Put me out of suspense, my best friend,&rdquo; cried he, the moment he saw
+      Russell: &ldquo;tell me, is Selina living?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes&mdash;she has been very ill, but is now recovered&mdash;quite
+      recovered, and with your mother, who is grown fonder of her than ever she
+      was.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Selina alive! well! and with my mother!&mdash;and may I&mdash;I don&rsquo;t
+      mean may I <i>now</i>,&mdash;but may I <i>ever</i> hope?&mdash;Believe me,
+      I feel myself capable of any exertions, any forbearance, to obtain her
+      forgiveness&mdash;to merit&mdash;May I ever hope for it?&mdash;Speak!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell assured him that he need not dread Miss Sidney&rsquo;s resentment, for
+      that she felt none; she had expressed pity more than anger&mdash;that she
+      had taken pains to sooth his mother; and had expressed sincere
+      satisfaction on hearing of his <i>release</i> from his unworthy bondage,
+      and at his return home to his friends.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The tone in which Russell spoke, and the seriousness and embarrassment of
+      his manner, alarmed Vivian inexpressibly. He stood silent, and dared not
+      ask farther explanation for some minutes.&mdash;At length he broke
+      silence, and conjured his friend to go immediately to Miss Sidney and his
+      mother, and to request permission for him to see them both in each other&rsquo;s
+      presence. Russell said, that if Vivian insisted, he would comply with his
+      request; but that he advised him not to attempt to see Miss Sidney at
+      present; not till he had been some time in London&mdash;till he had given
+      some earnest of the steadiness of his conduct&mdash;till he had appeared
+      again, and distinguished himself in public life. &ldquo;This might raise you
+      again in her esteem; and,&rdquo; continued Russell, &ldquo;you must be aware that her
+      love depends on her esteem&mdash;at least, that the one cannot exist
+      without the other.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Will you deliver a letter to her from me?&rdquo; said Vivian. &ldquo;If you think I
+      had better not attempt to see her yet, you will deliver a letter for me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After some hesitation, or rather some deliberation, Russell answered, in a
+      constrained voice, &ldquo;I will deliver your letter, if you insist upon it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian wrote:&mdash;Russell undertook to deliver the letter, though with
+      evident reluctance. In the mean time Vivian went to see his mother, whom
+      he longed, yet dreaded to meet. Her manner was not now severe and haughty,
+      as when she last addressed him; but mild and benign: she held out her hand
+      to him, and said, &ldquo;Thank God! my son is restored to me, and to himself!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She could say no more; but embraced him tenderly. Russell had shown Lady
+      Mary that her son had been the dupe of a preconcerted scheme to work upon
+      his passions. She deplored his weakness, but she had been touched by his
+      sufferings; and was persuaded that his remorse would guard him against
+      future errors. Therefore not a word or look of reproach escaped from her.
+      When he spoke of Selina, Lady Mary, with great animation of countenance
+      and warmth of eulogium, declared, that it was the first wish of her heart
+      to see her son married to a woman of such a noble character and angelic
+      temper; &ldquo;<i>but</i>,&rdquo; added her ladyship, her manner changing suddenly, as
+      she pronounced the word <i>but</i>&mdash;before she could explain the <i>but</i>,
+      Russell came into the room, and told Vivian that Miss Sidney desired to
+      see him. Vivian heard the words with joy; but his joy was checked by the
+      great gravity and embarrassment of his friend&rsquo;s countenance, and by a sigh
+      of ill omen from his mother. Eager to relieve his suspense, he hastened to
+      Selina, who, as Russell told him, was in Lady Mary&rsquo;s dressing-room&mdash;the
+      room in which he had first declared his passion for her. Hope and fear
+      alternately seized him&mdash;fear prevailed the moment that he beheld
+      Selina. Not that any strong displeasure appeared in her countenance&mdash;no,
+      it was mild and placid; but it was changed towards him, and its very
+      serenity was alarming. Whilst she welcomed him to his native country and
+      to his friends, and while she expressed hopes for his future happiness,
+      all hope forsook him, and, in broken sentences, he attempted to stammer
+      out some answer; then, throwing himself into a chair, he exclaimed, &ldquo;I see
+      all future happiness is lost for me&mdash;and I deserve it!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not reproach yourself,&rdquo; said Selina in a sweet voice; but the voice,
+      though sweet, was so altered to him, that it threw him into despair. &ldquo;It
+      is my wish, not to inflict, but to spare you pain. I have, therefore,
+      desired to see you as soon as possible, that you might not form false
+      expectations.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then you no longer love me, Selina? Now, after all I have suffered, you
+      have the cruelty to tell me so? And you, who could form my character to
+      every thing that is good and honourable; you, who alone could restore me
+      to myself&mdash;you reject, you cast me from you for ever?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have suffered much,&rdquo; said Selina, in a trembling voice, &ldquo;since we
+      parted.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s eye quickly ran over her face and whole form as she spoke these
+      words; and he saw, indeed, traces of sickness and suffering: with the idea
+      of his power over her affections, his hopes revived; he seized the feeble
+      hand, which lay motionless; but she withdrew it decidedly, and his hopes
+      again forsook him, when she gently raised her head, and continued to
+      speak, &ldquo;I have suffered much since we parted, Mr. Vivian; and I hope you
+      will spare me unnecessary and useless pain in this interview: painful to a
+      certain degree it must be to both of us; for I cannot, even now that all
+      feelings of passion have subsided, and that the possibility of my being
+      united to you is past, tell you so, with all the composure which I had
+      expected to do; nor with all the firmness of voice and manner which is
+      necessary, perhaps, to convince you of the truth, and to restore your mind
+      to itself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The possibility of my being united to you is past!&mdash;Why?&rdquo;
+       interrupted Vivian, incapable of understanding or listening to any thing
+      else, till this question was answered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not force me to what may seem like cruel reproach; but let it suffice
+      for me to say, that my sentiments have been so much altered by a <i>year&rsquo;s
+      experience</i>, that it is impossible for me ever to become your wife. My
+      love was founded on esteem. I had, indeed, always fears of the instability
+      of your character; therefore, I put your resolution to the proof: the
+      event has proved to me that my fears were but too just. I speak with
+      difficulty; for I cannot easily give you so much pain as I know that I am
+      inflicting at this moment. But,&rdquo; resumed she, in a more resolute tone, &ldquo;it
+      is absolutely necessary for your future peace of mind, as well as for my
+      own, that I should convince you I am sincere, perfectly sincere, at this
+      moment; that I know my own heart; that my determination has not been
+      hastily formed, and cannot be altered. The deliberate manner in which I
+      now speak to you will, I hope, persuade you of this truth. And if I have
+      hesitated, or showed any agitation in this interview, attribute it to its
+      real cause&mdash;the weakness of my health; feebleness of body, not of
+      mind.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She rose to leave the room; but Vivian detained her, beseeching her, with
+      all the eloquence of passion in despair, to hear him but for one moment;
+      whilst he urged that there was no probability of his ever relapsing into
+      errors from which he had suffered so much; that now his character was
+      formed by adversity; and that such was the power which Selina possessed
+      over his heart, that a union with her would, at this crisis, decide his
+      fate; that her steadiness would give stability to his resolutions; and
+      that his gratitude would so increase his affection, that he should have
+      the strongest possible motives to make her a good husband; that when he
+      was happy in domestic life, he should feel every energy of his mind
+      revive; that he should exert all his powers to distinguish himself, and to
+      justify the choice of the woman he adored.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In spite of the word <i>adored</i>, which has usually such power to
+      confound female judgment, Selina perceived that all he said was merely a
+      repetition of his former arguments, of which experience had proved the
+      insufficiency. She was aware that, if before marriage his resolution and
+      constancy had not been able to support the trial, it would be folly or
+      madness to marry him with the vague hope that she might reform his
+      character. She therefore continued steady to her resolution; and as she
+      found that Vivian&rsquo;s disappointment was greater than she had expected, she
+      immediately withdrew from his mother&rsquo;s house. The next morning, when
+      Vivian came to breakfast, after having spent a sleepless night, planning
+      new arguments or new intreaties in favour of his love, he found that Miss
+      Sidney was gone. His mother and his friend Russell joined in representing
+      to him that it would be useless to follow her, that it would only give
+      himself and Selina unavailing pain. Vivian felt this stroke severely. His
+      mind was, as it were, adrift again. After the first violence of his
+      feelings had spent itself, and when he sunk into that kind of apathy which
+      is the consequence of exhausted passion, his friend Russell endeavoured to
+      excite him to honourable ambition. Vivian caught the idea, that if he
+      distinguished himself in public life, and if he there displayed any
+      steadiness of character, he might win back Selina&rsquo;s esteem and affection.
+      Fired with this hope, he immediately turned his whole mind to the object;
+      applied with indefatigable ardour, day and night, to make himself master
+      of the subjects likely to be discussed in the ensuing session of
+      parliament. At length his application and his energy were crowned with
+      success. On a question of considerable political importance, which he had
+      carefully considered, he made an excellent speech; a speech which directly
+      made him of consequence in the house; which, in the language of the
+      newspapers, &ldquo;was received with unbounded applause, was distinguished for
+      strength of argument, lucid order, and a happy choice of expression.&rdquo; But
+      what encouraged our hero more than newspaper puffs or party panegyrics was
+      the approbation of his friend Russell. Russell never praised violently;
+      but a few words, or even a look of satisfaction from him, went farther
+      than the most exaggerated eulogiums from others. Vivian pursued his course
+      for some time with honour and increasing reputation. There was one man who
+      never joined in any of the compliments paid to the rising orator; there
+      was one man who always spoke of him with contempt, who pronounced that
+      &ldquo;Vivian would never go far in politics&mdash;that it was not in him&mdash;that
+      he was too soft&mdash;<i>que c&rsquo;étoit bâtir sur de la boue, que de compter
+      sur lui</i>.&rdquo; This depreciator and enemy of Vivian was the man who, but a
+      few months before, had been his political <i>proneur</i> and unblushing
+      flatterer, Mr. Wharton. Exasperated by the consciousness of his own
+      detected baseness, and provoked still more by his being frustrated in all
+      his schemes, Wharton now practised every art that a malicious and
+      unprincipled wit could devise to lower the opinion of Vivian&rsquo;s talents,
+      and to prevent his obtaining either power or celebrity. Our hero was
+      stimulated by this conduct to fresh exertions. So far Wharton&rsquo;s enmity was
+      of service to him; but it was of disservice, by changing, in some measure,
+      the purity of the motives from which he acted. With love and honourable
+      ambition now mixed hatred, thoughts of vengeance, views of vulgar vanity
+      and interest: he thought more of contradicting Mr. Wharton&rsquo;s prophecies
+      than of fulfilling his own ideas of what was fair and right. He was
+      anxious to prove, that he could &ldquo;<i>go far</i> in politics, that it was <i>in
+      him</i>, that he was not too soft, and that it was not building on mud to
+      depend on him.&rdquo; These indefinite expressions operated powerfully and
+      perniciously on his imagination. To prove that Wharton was mistaken in his
+      prognostics, it was necessary to our hero to obtain the price and stamp of
+      talents&mdash;it was essential to gain political power; and this could not
+      be attained without joining a party. Vivian joined the party then in
+      opposition. Wharton and he, though both in opposition, of course, after
+      what had passed, could never meet in any private company; nor had they any
+      communication in public, though on the same side of the question: their
+      enmity was so great, that not only the business of the nation, but even
+      the interests of their party, were often impeded by their quarrels. In the
+      midst of these disputes, Vivian insensibly adopted more and more of the
+      language and principles of the public men with whom he daily associated.
+      He began to hear and talk of compensations and jobs, as they did; and to
+      consider all measures proved to be necessary for the support of his party
+      as expedient, if not absolutely right. His country could not be saved,
+      unless he and his friends could obtain the management of affairs; and no
+      men, be found, could gain parliamentary influence, or raise themselves
+      into political power, without <i>acting as a body</i>. Then, of course,
+      all subordinate points of right were to be sacrificed to the great good of
+      promoting the views of the party. Still, however, his patriotism was upon
+      the whole pure; he had no personal views of interest, no desire even to be
+      in place, independently of a wish to promote the good of his country.
+      Secret overtures were, about this time, made to him by government; and
+      inquiries were made if there was any thing which could gratify him, or by
+      which he could be induced to lay aside his opposition, and to assist in
+      supporting their measures. Many compliments to his talents and eloquence,
+      and all the usual <i>commonplaces</i>, about the expediency and propriety
+      of <i>strengthening the hands of government</i>, were, of course, added.
+      Something <i>specific</i> was at length mentioned: it was intimated, that
+      as he was of an ancient family, it might gratify him that his mother
+      should be made a baroness in her own right. The offer was declined, and
+      the temptation was firmly withstood by our hero; his credit was now at its
+      <i>acme</i> with his own coadjutors. Lady Mary whispered the circumstance,
+      as a state secret, to all her acquaintance; and Russell took care that
+      Miss Sidney should hear of it.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was now cited as an incorruptible patriot. Wharton&rsquo;s malice, and
+      even his wit, was almost silenced; yet he was heard to say, amidst the din
+      of applause, &ldquo;This is only the first offer; he is in the right to make a
+      show of resistance: he will coquet for a time, and keep <i>philandering</i>
+      on till he suits himself, and then he&rsquo;ll jilt us, you&rsquo;ll see.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Such speeches, though they reached Vivian&rsquo;s ear by the kind officiousness
+      of friends, were never made by Mr. Wharton so directly that he could take
+      hold of them; and Russell strenuously advised him not to seek occasion to
+      quarrel with a man who evidently desired only to raise his own reputation
+      by making Vivian angry, getting him in the wrong, and forcing him into an
+      imprudent duel.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Let your actions continue to contradict his words, and they can never
+      injure you,&rdquo; said Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      For some time Vivian adhered to his friend&rsquo;s advice, and he proudly felt
+      the superiority of principle and character. But, alas! there was one
+      defence that his patriotism wanted&mdash;economy. Whilst he was thus
+      active in the public cause, and exulting in his disinterestedness, his
+      private affairs were getting into terrible disorder. The expense of
+      building his castle had increased beyond all his calculations&mdash;the
+      expense of his election&mdash;the money he had lost at play whilst he was
+      in Wharton&rsquo;s society&mdash;the sums he had lent to Wharton&mdash;the money
+      he had spent abroad,&mdash;all these accumulated brought him to great
+      difficulties: for though his estate was considerable, yet it was so
+      settled and tied up that he could neither sell nor mortgage. His creditors
+      became clamorous&mdash;he had no means of satisfying or quieting them: an
+      execution was actually sent down to his castle, just as it was finished.
+      Lady Mary Vivian was in the greatest alarm and distress: she had no means
+      of extricating her son. As to his fashionable friends&mdash;no hopes from
+      such extravagant and selfish beings. What was to be done? At this critical
+      moment, the offers from <i>a certain quarter</i> were renewed in another,
+      and, as it seemed, a more acceptable form,&mdash;a pension was proffered
+      instead of a title; and it was promised that the business should be so
+      managed, and the pension so held in another name, that nothing of the
+      transaction should transpire; and that his seceding from opposition should
+      be made to appear a change of sentiments from conviction, not from
+      interested motives. Vivian&rsquo;s honourable feelings revolted from these
+      offers, and abhorred these subterfuges; but distress&mdash;pecuniary
+      distress! he had never before felt its pressure; he had never till now
+      felt how powerful, how compulsatory it is over even generous and
+      high-spirited souls. Whilst Vivian was thus oppressed with difficulties,
+      which his imprudence had brought upon him; whilst his mind was struggling
+      with opposing motives, he was, most fortunately for his political
+      integrity, relieved, partly by accident, and partly by friendship. It
+      happened that the incumbent of the rich living, of which Vivian had the
+      presentation, was dying just at this time; and Russell, instead of
+      claiming the living which Vivian had promised to him, relinquished all
+      pretensions to it, and insisted upon his friend&rsquo;s disposing of his right
+      of presentation. The sum which this enabled Vivian to raise was fully
+      sufficient to satisfy the execution which had been laid on his castle; and
+      the less clamorous creditors were content to be paid by instalments,
+      annually, from his income. Thus he was saved for the present; and he
+      formed the most prudent resolves for the future. He was most sincerely
+      grateful to his disinterested friend. The full extent of the sacrifice
+      which Russell made him was not, however, known at this time, nor for some
+      years afterwards.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But, without anticipation, let us proceed with our story. Amongst those
+      fashionable and political friends with whom our hero had, since his return
+      to England, renewed his connexion, was my Lord Glistonbury. His lordship,
+      far from thinking the worse of him for <i>his affair</i> with Mrs.
+      Wharton, spoke of it in modish <i>slang</i>, as &ldquo;a new and fine feather in
+      his cap;&rdquo; and he congratulated Vivian upon his having &ldquo;carried off the
+      prize without paying the price.&rdquo; Vivian&rsquo;s success as a parliamentary
+      orator had still further endeared him to his lordship, who failed not to
+      repeat, that he had always prophesied Vivian would make a capital figure
+      in public life; that Vivian was his member, &amp;c. At the recess, Lord
+      Glistonbury insisted upon carrying Vivian down to spend the holidays with
+      him at Glistonbury Castle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You must come, Vivian: so make your fellow put your worldly goods into my
+      barouche, which is at the door; and we are to have a great party at
+      Glistonbury, and private theatricals, and the devil knows what; and you
+      must see my little Julia act, and I must introduce you to <i>the Rosamunda</i>.
+      Come, come! you can&rsquo;t refuse me!&mdash;Why, you have only a bachelor&rsquo;s
+      castle of your own to go to; and that&rsquo;s a dismal sort of business,
+      compared with what I have <i>in petto</i> for you&mdash;&lsquo;the feast of
+      reason, and the flow of soul,&rsquo; in the first style, I assure you. You must
+      know, I always&mdash;even in the midst of the wildest of my wild oats&mdash;had
+      a taste for the belles-lettres, and philosophy, and the muses, and the <i>literati,</i>
+      and so forth&mdash;always a touch of the Mecaenas about me.&mdash;And now
+      my boy&rsquo;s growing up, it&rsquo;s more particularly proper to bring these sort of
+      people about him; for, you know, clever men who have a reputation can
+      sound a flourish of trumpets advantageously before &lsquo;a Grecian youth of
+      talents rare&rsquo; makes his appearance on the stage of the great world&mdash;Ha!
+      hey!&mdash;Is not this what one may call prudence?&mdash;Ha!&mdash;Good to
+      have a father who knows something of life, and of books too, hey? Then,
+      for my daughters, too&mdash;daughter, I mean; for Lady Sarah&rsquo;s Lady
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s child: her ladyship and Miss Strictland have manufactured
+      her after their own taste and fashion; and I&rsquo;ve nothing to say to that&mdash;But
+      my little Julia&mdash;Ah, I&rsquo;ve got a different sort of governess about her
+      these few months past&mdash;not without family battles, you may guess. But
+      when Jupiter gives the nod, you know, even Juno, stately as she is, must
+      bend. So I have my Rosamunda for my little Julia&mdash;who, by-the-bye, is
+      no longer my <i>little</i> Julia, but a prodigious fine woman, as you
+      shall see. But, all this time, is your fellow putting your things up? No!&mdash;Hey?
+      how? Oh, I understand your long face of hesitation&mdash;you have not seen
+      the ladies since the Wharton affair, and you don&rsquo;t know how they might
+      look.&mdash;Never fear! Lady Glistonbury shall do as I please, and look as
+      I please. Besides, <i>entre nous</i>, I know she hates the Whartons; so
+      that her morality will have a loophole to creep out of; and you&rsquo;ll be safe
+      and snug, whilst all the blame will be thrown on them&mdash;Hey!&mdash;Oh,
+      I understand things&mdash;pique myself on investigating the human heart.
+      Come, we have not a moment to lose; and you&rsquo;ll have your friend Russell,
+      too&mdash;Come, come! to have and to hold, as the lawyers say&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Seizing Vivian&rsquo;s arm, Lord Glistonbury carried him off before he had half
+      understood all his lordship had poured forth so rapidly; and before he had
+      decided whether he wished or not to accept of this invitation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER VIII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      On his way to Glistonbury Castle, Vivian had full leisure to repent of
+      having accepted of this invitation, recollecting, as he did, all the
+      former reports about himself and Lady Sarah Lidhurst. He determined,
+      therefore, that his visit should be as short as possible; and the chief
+      pleasure he promised himself was the society of his friend Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On his arrival at the castle, he was told that Mr. Russell was out riding;
+      and that every body else was in the theatre at a rehearsal, except Lady
+      Glistonbury, the Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland. He found these three
+      ladies sitting in form in the great deserted drawing-room, each looking
+      like a copy of the other, and all as if they were deploring the degeneracy
+      of the times. Vivian approached with due awe; but, to his great surprise
+      and relief, at his approach their countenances exhibited some signs of
+      life. Lord Glistonbury <i>presented</i> him on his return from abroad:
+      Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s features relaxed to a smile, though she seemed
+      immediately to repent of it, and to feel it incumbent upon her to maintain
+      her rigidity of mien. Whilst she, and of course Miss Strictland and the
+      Lady Sarah, were thus embarrassed between the necessity of reprobating the
+      sin, and the desire of pleasing the sinner, Lord Glistonbury ran on with
+      one of his speeches, of borrowed sense and original nonsense, and then
+      would have carried him off to the rehearsal, but Lady Glistonbury called
+      Vivian back, begging, in her formal manner, &ldquo;that her lord would do her
+      the favour to leave Mr. Vivian with her for a few minutes, as it was so
+      long since she had the pleasure of seeing him at Glistonbury.&rdquo; Vivian
+      returned with as good a grace as he could; and, to find means of breaking
+      the embarrassing silence that ensued, took up a book which lay upon the
+      table, &ldquo;Toplady&rsquo;s Sermons&rdquo;&mdash;no hope of assistance from that: he had
+      recourse to another&mdash;equally unlucky, &ldquo;Wesley&rsquo;s Diary:&rdquo; another&mdash;&ldquo;The
+      Pilgrim&rsquo;s Progress.&rdquo; He went no farther; but, looking up, he perceived
+      that the Lady Sarah was <i>motioned</i> by her august mother to leave the
+      room. Vivian had again recourse to &ldquo;Toplady.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very unfashionable books, Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; said Miss Strictland, bridling and
+      smiling as in scorn.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very unfashionable books!&rdquo; repeated Lady Glistonbury, with the same
+      inflection of voice, and the same bridling and smiling. &ldquo;Very different,&rdquo;
+       continued her ladyship, &ldquo;very different from what you have been accustomed
+      to see on <i>some</i> ladies&rsquo; tables, no doubt, Mr. Vivian! Without
+      mentioning names, or alluding to transactions that ought to be buried in
+      eternal oblivion, and that are so very distressing to your friends here to
+      think of, sir, give me leave to ask, Mr. Vivian, whether it be true what I
+      have heard, that the prosecution, and every thing relative to it, is
+      entirely given up?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Entirely, madam.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury, glancing her eye at Miss Strictland, &ldquo;<i>we</i>
+      may welcome Mr. Vivian with safe consciences to Glistonbury; and since the
+      affair will never become public, and since Lady Sarah knows none of the
+      improper particulars; and since she may, and, from her education,
+      naturally will, class all such things under the head of impossibilities
+      and false reports, of which people, in our rank of life especially, are
+      subject every hour to hear so many; there cannot, as I am persuaded you
+      will agree with me in thinking, Miss Strictland, be any impropriety in our
+      and Lady Sarah&rsquo;s receiving Mr. Vivian again on the same footing as
+      formerly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Strictland bowed her formal assent: Vivian bowed, because he saw that
+      a bow was expected from him; and then he pondered on what might be meant
+      by the words, <i>on the same footing as formerly</i>; and he had just
+      framed a clause explanatory and restrictive of the same, when he was
+      interrupted by the sound of laughter, and of numerous, loud, and mingled
+      voices, coming along the gallery that led to the drawing-room. As if these
+      were signals for her departure, and as if she dreaded the intrusion and
+      contamination of the revel rout, Lady Glistonbury arose, looked at her
+      watch, pronounced her belief that it was full time for her to go to dress,
+      and retired through a Venetian door, followed by Miss Strictland,
+      repeating the same belief, and bearing her ladyship&rsquo;s tapestry work: her
+      steps quickened as the door at the opposite end of the room opened; and,
+      curtsying (an unnecessary apology to Mr. Vivian) as she passed, she left
+      him <i>to himself</i>. And now,
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;He sees a train profusely gay,
+     Come pranckling o&rsquo;er the place.&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      Some were dressed for comic, some for tragic characters; but all seemed
+      equally gay, and talked equally fast. There had been a dressed rehearsal
+      of &ldquo;The Fair Penitent,&rdquo; and of &ldquo;The Romp;&rdquo; and all the spectators and all
+      the actors were giving and receiving exuberant compliments. Vivian knew
+      many of the party,&mdash;some of them bel-esprits, some fashionable
+      amateurs; all pretenders to notoriety, either as judges or performers. In
+      the midst of this motley group, there was one figure who stood receiving
+      and expecting universal homage: she was dressed as &ldquo;The Fair Penitent;&rdquo;
+       but her affected vivacity of gesture and countenance was in striking
+      contrast to her tragic attire; and Vivian could hardly forbear smiling at
+      the <i>minauderies</i> with which she listened and talked to the gentlemen
+      round her; now languishing, now coquetting; rolling her eyes, and throwing
+      herself into a succession of studied attitudes, dealing repartees to this
+      side and to that; and, in short, making the greatest possible exhibition
+      both of her person and her mind.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know her? Did you never see her before?&mdash;No! you&rsquo;ve been
+      out of England; but you&rsquo;ve heard of her, certainly?&mdash;<i>Rosamunda</i>,&rdquo;&mdash;whispered
+      Lord Glistonbury to Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And who is Rosamunda?&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;an actress.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Actress!&mdash;Hush!&mdash;Bless you! no&mdash;but the famous poetess. Is
+      it possible that you hav&rsquo;n&rsquo;t read the poems of Rosamunda?&mdash;They were
+      in every body&rsquo;s hands a few months ago; but you were abroad&mdash;better
+      engaged, or as well, hey? But, as I was going to tell you, that&rsquo;s the
+      reason she&rsquo;s called <i>The Rosamunda</i>&mdash;I gave her the name, for I
+      patronized her from the first. Her real name is Bateman; and Lady
+      Glistonbury and her set call her Miss Bateman still, but nobody else.
+      She&rsquo;s an amazing clever woman, I assure you&mdash;more genius than any of
+      &lsquo;em since the time of Rousseau!&mdash;Devil of a salary!&mdash;and devil
+      of a battle I had to fight with some of my friends before I could fix her
+      here; but I was determined I would follow my own ideas in Julia&rsquo;s
+      education. Lady Glistonbury had her way and her routine with Lady Sarah;
+      and it&rsquo;s all very well, vastly well&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Virtue for her too painful an endeavour,
+     Content to dwell in decencies for ever.&rsquo; 
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      You know the sort of thing! Yes, yes; but I was not content to have my
+      Julia lost among the <i>mediocres</i>, as I call them: so I took her out
+      of Miss Strictland&rsquo;s hands; and the Rosamunda&rsquo;s her governess.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Her governess!&rdquo; repeated Vivian, with uncontrollable astonishment; &ldquo;Lady
+      Julia Lidhurst&rsquo;s governess!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, you may well be surprised,&rdquo; pursued Lord Glistonbury, mistaking the
+      cause of the surprise: &ldquo;no one in England could have done it but myself;
+      she refused innumerable applications,&mdash;immense offers; and, after
+      all, you know, she does not appear as governess <i>titrée</i>&mdash;only
+      as a friend of the family, who directs Lady Julia Lidhurst&rsquo;s literary
+      talents. Oh, you understand, a man of the world knows how to manage these
+      things&mdash;sacrifices always to the vanity of the sex, or the pride, as
+      the case may be, I never mind names, but things, as the metaphysicians say&mdash;distinguish
+      betwixt essentials and accidents&mdash;sound philosophy that, hey? And,
+      thank Heaven! a gentleman or a nobleman need not apologize in these days
+      for talking of philosophy before ladies, even if any body overheard us,
+      which, as it happens, I believe nobody does. So let me, now that <i>you
+      know your Paris</i>, introduce you to &lsquo;The Rosamunda.&rsquo;&mdash;Mr. Vivian&mdash;the
+      Rosamunda. Rosamunda&mdash;Mr. Vivian.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      After Vivian had for a few minutes acted audience, very little to his own
+      satisfaction, he was relieved by Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s exclaiming, &ldquo;But
+      Julia! where&rsquo;s Julia all this time?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Rosamunda looked round, with the air of one interrupted by a frivolous
+      question which requires no answer; but some one less exalted, and more
+      attentive to the common forms of civility, told his lordship that Lady
+      Julia was in the gallery with her brother. Lord Glistonbury hurried Vivian
+      into the gallery. He was struck the moment he met Lady Julia with the
+      great change and improvement in her appearance. Instead of the childish
+      girl he had formerly seen flying about, full only of the frolic of the
+      present moment, he now saw a fine graceful woman with a striking
+      countenance that indicated both genius and sensibility. She was talking to
+      her brother with so much eagerness, that she did not see Vivian come into
+      the gallery; and, as he walked on towards the farther end, where she was
+      standing, he had time to admire her.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A fine girl, faith! though she is my daughter,&rdquo; whispered Lord
+      Glistonbury; &ldquo;and would you believe that she is only sixteen?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Only sixteen!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay: and stay till you talk to her&mdash;stay till you hear her&mdash;you
+      will be more surprised. Such genius! such eloquence! She&rsquo;s my own girl.
+      Well, Julia, my darling!&rdquo; cried he, raising his voice, &ldquo;in the clouds, as
+      usual?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Julia started&mdash;but it was a natural, not a theatric start&mdash;colouring
+      at the consciousness of her own absence of mind. She came forward with a
+      manner that apologized better than words could do, and she received Mr.
+      Vivian so courteously, and with such ingenuous pleasure in her
+      countenance, that he began to rejoice in having accepted the invitation to
+      Glistonbury; at the same instant, he recollected a look which his mother
+      had given him when he first saw Lady Julia on the terrace of the castle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, what was she saying to you, Lidhurst? hey! my boy?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;We were arguing, sir.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Arguing! Ay, ay, she&rsquo;s the devil for that!&mdash;words at will!&mdash;&lsquo;Persuasive
+      words, and more persuasive sighs!&rsquo; Ah, woman! woman for ever! always
+      talking us out of our senses! and which of the best of us would not wish
+      it to be so? &lsquo;Oh! let me, let me be deceived!&rsquo; is the cream of philosophy,
+      epicurean and stoic&mdash;at least, that&rsquo;s my creed. But to the point:
+      what was it about that she was holding forth so charmingly&mdash;a book or
+      a lover? A book, I&rsquo;ll wager: she&rsquo;s such a romantic little fool, and so
+      unlike other women: leaves all her admirers there in the drawing-room, and
+      stays out here, talking over musty books with her brother. But come, what
+      was the point? I will have it argued again before me&mdash;Let&rsquo;s see the
+      book.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Lidhurst pointed out a speech in &ldquo;The Fair Penitent,&rdquo; and said that
+      they had been debating about the manner in which it should be recited.
+      Lord Glistonbury called upon his daughter to repeat it: she showed a
+      slight degree of unaffected timidity at first; but when her father stamped
+      and bid her let him see no vulgar bashfulness, she obeyed&mdash;recited
+      charmingly&mdash;and, when urged by a little opposition from her brother,
+      grew warm in defence of her own opinion&mdash;displayed in its support
+      such sensibility, with such a flow of eloquence, accompanied with such
+      animated and graceful, yet natural gesture, that Vivian was transported
+      with sudden admiration. He was astonished at this early development of
+      feeling and intellect; and if, in the midst of his delight, he felt some
+      latent disapprobation of this display of talent from so young a woman, yet
+      he quickly justified her to himself, by saying that he was not a stranger;
+      that he had formerly been received by her family on a footing of intimacy.
+      Then he observed farther, in her vindication, that there was not the
+      slightest affectation or coquetry in any of her words or motions; that she
+      spoke with this eagerness not to gain admiration, but because she was
+      carried away by her enthusiasm, and, thoughtless of herself, was eager
+      only to persuade and to make her opinions prevail. Such was the
+      enchantment of her eloquence and her beauty, that after a quarter of an
+      hour spent in her company, our hero did not know whether to wish that she
+      had more sedateness and reserve, or to rejoice that she was so animated
+      and natural. Before he could decide this point, his friend Russell
+      returned from riding. After the first greetings were over, Russell drew
+      him aside, and asked, &ldquo;Pray, my dear Vivian, what brings you here?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord Glistonbury&mdash;to whom I had not time to say no, he talked so
+      fast. But, after all, why should I say no? I am a free man&mdash;a
+      discarded lover. I am absolutely convinced that Selina Sidney&rsquo;s refusal
+      will never be retracted; my mother, I know, is of that opinion. You
+      suggested, that if I distinguished myself in public life, and showed
+      steadiness, I might recover her esteem and affection; but I see no chance
+      of it. My mother showed me her last letter&mdash;no hopes from that&mdash;so
+      I think it would be madness, or folly, to waste my time, and wear out my
+      feelings, in pursuit of a woman, who, however amiable, is lost to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of that you are the best judge,&rdquo; said Russell, gravely. &ldquo;I am far from
+      wishing&mdash;from urging you to waste your time. Lady Mary Vivian must
+      know more of Miss Sidney, and be better able to judge of the state of her
+      heart than I can be. It would not be the part of a friend to excite you to
+      persevere in a pursuit that would end in disappointment; but this much,
+      before we quit the subject for ever, I feel it my duty to say&mdash;that I
+      think Miss Sidney the woman of all others the best suited to your
+      character, the most deserving of your love, the most calculated to make
+      you exquisitely and permanently happy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All that&rsquo;s very true,&rdquo; said Vivian, impatiently; &ldquo;but, since I can&rsquo;t have
+      her, why make me miserable about her?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Am I to understand,&rdquo; resumed Russell, after a long pause, &ldquo;am I to
+      understand that, now you have regained your freedom, you come here with
+      the settled purpose of espousing the Lady Sarah Lidhurst?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Heaven forfend!&rdquo; cried Vivian, starting back.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then I am to go over again, on this subject, with indefatigable patience
+      and in due logical order, all the arguments, moral, prudential, and
+      conventional, which I had the labour of laying before you about a
+      twelvemonth ago.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Save yourself the trouble, my dear friend!&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;I shall set all
+      that upon a right footing immediately, by speaking of the report at once
+      to some of the family. I was going to <i>rise to explain</i> this morning,
+      when I was with Lady Glastonbury; but I felt a sort of delicacy&mdash;it
+      was an awkward time&mdash;and at that moment somebody came into the room.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay,&rdquo; said Russell, &ldquo;you are just like the hero of a novel, stopped from
+      saying what he ought to say by somebody&rsquo;s coming into the room.&mdash;Awkward
+      time! Take care you don&rsquo;t sacrifice yourself at last to these <i>awkwardnesses</i>
+      and this sort of <i>delicacies</i>. I have still my fears that you will
+      get into difficulties about Lady Sarah.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian could not help laughing at what he called his friend&rsquo;s absurd
+      fears.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If you are determined, my dear Russell, at all events to fear for me,
+      I&rsquo;ll suggest to you a more reasonable cause of dread. Suppose I should
+      fall desperately in love with Lady Julia!&mdash;I assure you there&rsquo;s some
+      danger of that. She is really very handsome and very graceful; uncommonly
+      clever and eloquent&mdash;as to the rest, you know her&mdash;what is she?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All that you have said, and more. She might be made any thing&mdash;every
+      thing; an ornament to her sex&mdash;an honour to her country&mdash;were
+      she under the guidance of persons fit to direct great powers and a noble
+      character; but yet I cannot, Vivian, as your friend, recommend her to you
+      as a wife.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am not thinking of her as a wife,&rdquo; said Vivian: &ldquo;I have not had time to
+      think of her at all yet. But you said, just now, that in good hands she
+      might be made every thing that is good and great. Why not by a husband,
+      instead of a governess? and would not you call mine <i>good hands</i>?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good, but not steady&mdash;not at all the husband fit to guide such a
+      woman. He must be a man not only of superior sense, but of superior
+      strength of mind.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was piqued by this remark, and proceeded to compare the fitness of
+      his character to <i>such</i> a character as Lady Julia&rsquo;s. Every moment he
+      showed more curiosity to hear further particulars of her disposition; of
+      the different characters of her governesses, and of all her relations; but
+      Russell refused to say more. He had told him what he was called upon, as
+      his friend, to reveal; he left the rest to Vivian&rsquo;s own observation and
+      judgment. Vivian set himself to work to observe and judge with all his
+      might.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He soon perceived that all Russell had told him of the mismanagement of
+      Lady Julia&rsquo;s education was true. In this house there were two parties,
+      each in extremes, and each with their systems and practice carried to the
+      utmost excess. The partisans of the old and the new school were here to be
+      seen at daggers-drawing. Lady Glastonbury, abhorrent of what she termed
+      modern philosophy, and classing under that name almost all science and
+      literature, especially all attempts to cultivate the understanding of
+      women, had, with the assistance of her <i>double</i>, Miss Strictland,
+      brought up Lady Sarah in all the ignorance and all the rigidity of the
+      most obsolete of the old school; she had made Lady Sarah precisely like
+      herself; with virtue, stiff, dogmatical, and repulsive; with religion,
+      gloomy and puritanical; with manners, cold and automatic. In the course of
+      eighteen years, whilst Lady Glistonbury went on, like clock-work, the same
+      round, punctual to the letter but unfeeling of the spirit of her duties,
+      she contrived, even by the wearisome method of her <i>minuted</i> diary of
+      education, to make her house odious to her husband. Some task, or master,
+      or hour of lesson, continually, and immitigably plagued him: he went
+      abroad for amusement, and found dissipation. Thus, by her unaccommodating
+      temper, and the obstinacy of her manifold virtues, she succeeded in
+      alienating the affections of her husband. In despair he one day exclaimed,
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &ldquo;Ah que de vertus vous me faites haïr;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      and, repelled by virtue in this ungracious form, he flew to more
+      attractive vice. Finding that he could not have any comfort or solace in
+      the society of his wife, he sought consolation in the company of a
+      mistress. Lady Glistonbury had, in the mean time, her consolation in being
+      a pattern-wife; and in hearing that at card-tables it was universally
+      said, that Lord Glistonbury was the worst of husbands, and that her
+      ladyship was extremely to be pitied. In process of time, Lord Glistonbury
+      was driven to his home again by the united torments of a virago mistress
+      and the gout. It was at this period that he formed the notion of being at
+      once a political leader and a Mecaenas; and it was at this period that he
+      became acquainted with both his daughters, and determined that his Julia
+      should never resemble the Lady Sarah. He saw his own genius in Julia; and
+      he resolved, as he said, to give her fair play, and to make her one of the
+      wonders of the age. After some months&rsquo; counteraction and altercation, Lord
+      Glistonbury, with a high hand, took <i>his</i> daughter from under the
+      control of Miss Strictland; and, in spite of all the representations,
+      prophecies, and denunciations of her mother, consigned Julia to the care
+      of a governess after his own heart&mdash;a Miss Bateman; or, as he called
+      her, <i>The Rosamunda</i>. From the moment this lady was introduced into
+      the family there was an irreconcileable breach between the husband and
+      wife. Lady Glistonbury was perfectly in the right in her dread of such a
+      governess as Miss Bateman for her daughter. Her ladyship was only
+      partially and accidentally right: right in point of fact, but wrong in the
+      general principle; for she objected to Miss Bateman, as being of the class
+      of literary women; to her real faults, her inordinate love of admiration,
+      and romantic imprudence, Lady Glistonbury did not object, because she did
+      not at first know them; and when she did, she considered them but as
+      necessary consequences of the <i>cultivation and enlargement of Miss
+      Bateman&rsquo;s understanding</i>. &ldquo;No wonder!&rdquo; her ladyship would say; &ldquo;I knew
+      it must be so; I knew it could not be otherwise. All those clever women,
+      as they are called, are the same. This <i>comes</i> of literature and
+      literary ladies.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus moralizing in private with Miss Strictland and her own small party,
+      Lady Glistonbury appeared silent and passive before her husband and his
+      adherents. After prophesying how it all must end in the ruin of her
+      daughter Julia, she declared that she would never speak on this subject
+      again: she showed herself ready, with maternal resignation, and in silent
+      obduracy, to witness the completion of the sacrifice of her devoted child.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury was quite satisfied with having silenced opposition. His
+      new governess, established in her office, and with full and unlimited
+      powers, went on triumphant and careless of her charge; she thought of
+      little but displaying her own talents in company. The castle was
+      consequently filled with crowds of amateurs; novels and plays were the
+      order of the day; and a theatre was fitted up, all in open defiance of
+      poor Lady Glistonbury. The daughter commenced her new course of education
+      by being taught to laugh at her mother&rsquo;s prejudices. Such was the state of
+      affairs when Vivian commenced his observations; and all this secret
+      history he learnt by scraps, and hints, and inuendoes, from very
+      particular friends of both parties&mdash;friends who were not troubled
+      with any of Mr. Russell&rsquo;s scruples or discretion.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s attention was now fixed upon Lady Julia; he observed with
+      satisfaction, that, notwithstanding her governess&rsquo;s example and
+      excitement, Lady Julia did not show any exorbitant desire for general
+      admiration; and that her manners were free from coquetry and affectation:
+      she seemed rather to disdain the flattery, and to avoid both the homage
+      and the company of men who were her inferiors in mental qualifications;
+      she addressed her conversation principally to Vivian and his friend
+      Russell; with them, indeed, she conversed a great deal, with much
+      eagerness and enthusiasm, expressing all her opinions without disguise,
+      and showing on most occasions more imagination than reason, and more
+      feeling than judgment. Vivian perceived that it was soon suspected by many
+      of their observers, and especially by Lady Glistonbury and the Lady Sarah,
+      that Julia had a design upon his heart; but he plainly discerned that she
+      had no design whatever to captivate him; and that though she gave him so
+      large a share of her company, it was without thinking of him as a lover:
+      he saw that she conversed with him and Mr. Russell, preferably to others,
+      because they spoke on subjects which interested her more; and because they
+      drew out her brother, of whom she was very fond. Her being capable, at so
+      early an age, to appreciate Russell&rsquo;s character and talents; her
+      preferring his solid sense and his plain sincerity to the brilliancy, the
+      <i>fashion</i>, and even the gallantry of all the men whom her father had
+      now collected round her, appeared to Vivian the most unequivocal proof of
+      the superiority of her understanding and of the goodness of her
+      disposition. On various occasions, he marked with delight the deference
+      she paid to his friend&rsquo;s opinion, and the readiness with which she
+      listened to reason from him&mdash;albeit unused and averse from reason in
+      general. Impatient as she was of control, and confident, both in her own
+      powers and in her instinctive moral sense (about which, by-the-bye, she
+      talked a great deal of eloquent nonsense), yet a word or a look from Mr.
+      Russell would reclaim her in her highest flights. Soon after Vivian
+      commenced his observations upon this interesting subject, he saw an
+      instance of what Russell had told him of the ease with which Lady Julia
+      might be guided by a man of sense and strength of mind.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The tragedy of &ldquo;The Fair Penitent,&rdquo; Calista by Miss Bateman, was
+      represented with vast applause to a brilliant audience at the Glistonbury
+      theatre. The same play was to be reacted a week afterwards to a fresh
+      audience&mdash;it was proposed that Vivian should play Lothario, and that
+      Lady Julia should play Calista: Miss Bateman saw no objection to this
+      proposal: Lord Glistonbury might, perhaps, have had the parental prudence
+      to object to his daughter&rsquo;s appearing in public at her age, in such a
+      character, before a mixed audience: but, unfortunately, Lady Glistonbury
+      bursting from her silence at this critical moment, said so much, and in
+      such a prosing and puritanical manner, not only against her daughter&rsquo;s
+      acting in this play, and in these circumstances, but against all <i>stage
+      plays</i>, playwrights, actors, and actresses whatsoever, denouncing and
+      anathematizing them all indiscriminately; that immediately Lord
+      Glistonbury laughed&mdash;Miss Bateman took fire&mdash;and it became a
+      trial of power between the contending parties. Lady Julia, who had but
+      lately escaped from the irksomeness of her mother&rsquo;s injudicious and minute
+      control, dreaded, above all things, to be again subjected to her and Miss
+      Strictland; therefore, without considering the real propriety or
+      impropriety of the point in question, without examining whether Miss
+      Bateman was right or wrong in the licence she had granted, Lady Julia
+      supported her opinion warmly; and, with all her eloquence, at once
+      asserted her own liberty, and defended the cause of the theatre in
+      general. She had heard Mr. Russell once speak of the utility of a
+      well-regulated public stage; of the influence of good theatric
+      representations in forming the taste and rousing the soul to virtue: he
+      had shown her Marmontel&rsquo;s celebrated letter to Rousseau on this subject;
+      consequently, she thought she knew what his opinion must be on the present
+      occasion: therefore she spoke with more than her usual confidence and
+      enthusiasm. Her eloquence and her abilities transported her father and
+      most of her auditors, Vivian among the rest, with astonishment and
+      admiration: she enjoyed, at this moment, what the French call <i>un grand
+      succès</i>; but, in the midst of the buzz of applause, Vivian observed
+      that her eye turned anxiously upon Russell, who stood silent, and with a
+      disapproving countenance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure your friend, Mr. Russell, is displeased at this instant&mdash;and
+      with me.&mdash;I must know why.&mdash;Let us ask him.&mdash;Do bring him
+      here.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Immediately she disengaged herself from all her admirers, and, making room
+      for Mr. Russell beside her, waited, as she said, to hear from him <i>ses
+      vérités</i>. Russell would have declined speaking, but her ladyship
+      appealed earnestly and urgently for his opinion, saying, &ldquo;Who will speak
+      the truth to me if you will not? On whose judgment can I rely if not on
+      yours?&mdash;You direct my brother&rsquo;s mind to every thing that is wise and
+      good; direct mine: I am as desirous to do right as he can be: and you will
+      find me&mdash;self-willed and volatile, as I know you think me&mdash;you
+      will find me a docile pupil. Then tell me frankly&mdash;did I, just now,
+      speak too much or too warmly? I thought I was speaking your sentiments,
+      and that I <i>must</i> be right. But perhaps it was not right for a woman,
+      or so young a woman as I am, to support even just opinions so resolutely.
+      And yet is it a crime to be young?&mdash;And is the honour of maintaining
+      truth to be monopolized by age?&mdash;No, surely; for Mr. Russell himself
+      has not that claim to stand forth, as he so often does, in its defence. If
+      you think that I ought not to act Calista; if you think that I had better
+      not appear on the stage at all, only say so!&mdash;All I ask is your
+      opinion; the advantage of your judgment. And you see, Mr. Vivian, how
+      difficult it is to obtain it!&mdash;But his friend, probably, never felt
+      this difficulty!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With a degree of sober composure, which almost provoked Vivian, Mr.
+      Russell answered this animated lady. And with a sincerity which, though
+      politely shown, Vivian thought severe and almost cruel, Russell
+      acknowledged that her ladyship had anticipated some, but not all of his
+      objections. He represented that she had failed in becoming respect to her
+      mother, in thus publicly attacking and opposing her opinions, even
+      supposing them to be ill-founded; and declared that, as to the case in
+      discussion, he was entirely of Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s opinion, that it would
+      be unfit and injurious to a young lady to exhibit herself, even on a
+      private stage, in the character in which it had been proposed that Lady
+      Julia should appear.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Whilst Russell spoke, Vivian was charmed with the manner in which Lady
+      Julia listened: he thought her countenance enchantingly beautiful,
+      alternately softened as it was by the expression of genuine humility, and
+      radiant with candour and gratitude. She made no reply, but immediately
+      went to her mother; and, in the most engaging manner acknowledged that she
+      had been wrong, and declared that she was convinced it would be improper
+      for her to act the character she had proposed. With that cold haughtiness
+      of mien, the most repulsive to a warm and generous mind, the mother turned
+      to her daughter, and said that, for her part, she had no faith in sudden
+      conversions, and starts of good conduct made little impression upon her;
+      that, as far as she was herself concerned, she forgave, as in charity it
+      became her, all the undutiful insolence with which she had been treated;
+      that, as to the rest, she was glad to find, for Lady Julia&rsquo;s own sake,
+      that she had given up her strange, and, as she must say, <i>scandalous</i>
+      intentions. &ldquo;However,&rdquo; added Lady Glistonbury, &ldquo;I am not so sanguine as to
+      consider this as any thing but a respite from ruin; I am not so credulous
+      as to believe in sudden reformations; nor, despicable as you and my lord
+      do me the honour to think my understanding&mdash;am I to be made the dupe
+      of a little deceitful fondling!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Julia withdrew her arms, which she had thrown round her mother; and Miss
+      Strictland, after breaking her netting silk with a jerk of indignation,
+      observed, that, for her part, she wondered young ladies should go to
+      consult their brother&rsquo;s tutor, instead of more suitable, and, perhaps, as
+      competent advisers. Lady Julia, now indignant, turned away, and was
+      withdrawing from before the triumvirate, when Lady Sarah, who had sat
+      looking, even more stiff and constrained than usual, suddenly broke from
+      her stony state, and, springing forward, exclaimed, &ldquo;Stay, Julia!&mdash;Stay,
+      my dear sister!&mdash;Oh, Miss Strictland! do my sister justice!&mdash;When
+      Julia is so candid, so eager to do right, intercede for her with my
+      mother!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;First, may I presume to ask,&rdquo; said Miss Strictland, drawing herself up
+      with starch malice; &ldquo;first, may I presume to ask, whether Mr. Vivian, upon
+      this occasion, declined to act Lothario?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Miss Strictland, you do not do my sister justice!&rdquo; cried Lady Sarah:
+      &ldquo;Miss Strictland, you are wrong&mdash;very wrong!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Strictland, for a moment struck dumb with astonishment, opening her
+      eyes as far as they could open, stared at Lady Sarah, and, after a pause,
+      exclaimed, &ldquo;Lady Sarah! I protest I never saw any thing that surprised me
+      so much in my whole life!&mdash;&mdash;Wrong!&mdash;very wrong!&mdash;I?&mdash;&mdash;My
+      Lady Glistonbury, I trust your ladyship&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Glistonbury, at this instant, showed, by a little involuntary shake
+      of her head, that she was inwardly perturbed: Lady Sarah, throwing herself
+      upon her knees before her mother, exclaimed, &ldquo;Oh, madam!&mdash;mother!
+      forgive me if I failed in respect to Miss Strictland!&mdash;&mdash;But, my
+      sister! my sister&mdash;&mdash;!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Rise, Sarah, rise!&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury; &ldquo;that is not a fit attitude!&mdash;And
+      you are wrong, very wrong, to fail in respect to Miss Strictland, my
+      second self, Sarah. Lady Julia Lidhurst, it is you who are the cause of
+      this&mdash;the only failure of duty your sister ever was guilty of towards
+      me in the whole course of her life&mdash;I beg of you to withdraw, and
+      leave me my daughter Sarah.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;At least, I have found a sister, and when I most wanted it,&rdquo; said Lady
+      Julia. &ldquo;I always suspected you loved me, but I never knew how much till
+      this moment,&rdquo; added she, turning to embrace her sister; but Lady Sarah had
+      now resumed her stony appearance, and, standing motionless, received her
+      sister&rsquo;s embrace without sign of life or feeling.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lady Julia Lidhurst,&rdquo; said Miss Strictland, &ldquo;you humble yourself in vain:
+      I think your mother, my Lady Glistonbury, requested of you to leave your
+      sister, Lady Sarah, to us, and to her duty.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Duty!&rdquo; repeated Lady Julia, her eyes flashing indignation: &ldquo;Is this what
+      you call <i>duty</i>?&mdash;Never will I humble myself before you again&mdash;I
+      <i>will</i> leave you&mdash;I do leave you&mdash;now and for ever&mdash;DUTY!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She withdrew:&mdash;and thus was lost one of the fairest occasions of
+      confirming a young and candid mind in prudent and excellent dispositions.
+      After humbling herself in vain before a mother, this poor young lady was
+      now to withstand a father&rsquo;s reproaches; and, after the inexorable Miss
+      Strictland, she was to encounter the exasperated Miss Bateman. Whether the
+      Gorgon terrors of one governess, or the fury passions of the other, were
+      most formidable, it was difficult to decide. Miss Bateman had written an
+      epilogue for Lady Julia to recite in the character of Calista; and, with
+      the combined irritability of authoress and governess, she was enraged at
+      the idea of her pupil&rsquo;s declining to repeat these favourite lines. Lord
+      Glistonbury cared not for the lines; but, considering his own authority to
+      be impeached by his daughter&rsquo;s resistance, he treated <i>his Julia</i> as
+      a traitor to his cause, and a rebel to his party.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But Lady Julia was resolute in declining to play Calista; and Vivian
+      admired the spirit and steadiness of her resistance to the solicitations
+      and the flattery with which she was assailed by the numerous hangers-on of
+      the family, and by the amateurs assembled at Glistonbury. Russell, who
+      knew the warmth of her temper, however, dreaded that she should pass the
+      bounds of propriety in the contest with her father and her governess; and
+      he almost repented having given any advice upon the subject. The contest
+      happily terminated in Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s having a violent fit of the gout,
+      which, as the newspapers informed the public, &ldquo;ended for the season the
+      Christmas hospitalities and theatrical festivities at Glistonbury Castle!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Whilst his lordship suffered this fit of torture, his daughter Julia
+      attended him with so much patience and affection, that he forgave her for
+      not being willing to be Calista; and, upon his recovery, he announced to
+      Miss Bateman that it was his will and pleasure that his daughter Julia
+      should do as she liked on this point, but that he desired it to be
+      understood that this was no concession to Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s prejudices,
+      but an act of his own pure grace.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      To celebrate his recovery, his lordship determined to give a ball; and
+      Miss Bateman persuaded him to make it a <i>fancy ball</i>. In this family,
+      unfortunately, every occurrence, even every proposal of amusement, became
+      a subject of dispute and a source of misery. Lady Glistonbury, as soon as
+      her lord announced his intention of giving this fancy ball, declined
+      taking the direction of an entertainment which approached, she said, too
+      near to the nature of a masquerade to meet her ideas of propriety. Lord
+      Glistonbury laughed, and tried the powers of ridicule and wit:
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But on th&rsquo;impassive ice the lightnings play&rsquo;d.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The lady&rsquo;s cool obstinacy was fully a match for her lord&rsquo;s petulance: to
+      all he could urge, she repeated, &ldquo;that such entertainments did not meet
+      her ideas of propriety.&rdquo; Her ladyship, Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland,
+      consequently declared it to be their resolution, &ldquo;to appear in their own
+      proper characters, and their own proper dresses, and no others.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      These three rigid seceders excepted, all the world at Glistonbury Castle,
+      and within its sphere of attraction, were occupied with preparations for
+      this ball. Miss Bateman was quite in her element, flattered and
+      flattering, consulting and consulted, in the midst of novels, plays, and
+      poetry, prints, and pictures, searching for appropriate characters and
+      dresses. This preceptress seemed to think and to expect that others should
+      deem her office of governess merely a subordinate part of her business:
+      she considered her having accepted of the superintendence of the education
+      of Lady Julia Lidhurst as a prodigious condescension on her part, and a
+      derogation from her rank and pretensions in the literary and fashionable
+      world; a peculiar and sentimental favour to Lord Glistonbury, of which his
+      lordship was bound in honour to show his sense, by treating her as a
+      member of his family, not only with distinguished politeness, but by <i>deferring</i>
+      to her opinion in all things, so as to prove to her satisfaction that she
+      was considered <i>only</i> as a friend, and not at all as a governess.
+      Thus she was raised as much above that station in the family in which she
+      could be useful, as governesses in other houses have been sometimes
+      depressed below their proper rank. Upon this, as upon all occasions, Miss
+      Bateman was the first person to be thought of&mdash;her character and her
+      dress were the primary points to be determined; and they were points of no
+      easy decision, she having proposed for herself no less than five
+      characters&mdash;the fair Rosamond, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Sigismunda,
+      and Circe. After minute consideration of the dresses, which, at a fancy
+      ball, were to constitute these characters, fair Rosamond was rejected,
+      &ldquo;because the old English dress muffled up the person too much; Joan of Arc
+      would find her armour inconvenient for dancing; Cleopatra&rsquo;s diadem and
+      royal purple would certainly be truly becoming, but then her regal length
+      of train was as inadmissible in a dancing-dress as Joan of Arc&rsquo;s armour.&rdquo;
+       Between Sigismunda and Circe, Miss Bateman&rsquo;s choice long vibrated. The
+      Spanish and the Grecian costume had each its claims on her favour: for she
+      was assured they both became her remarkably. Vivian was admitted to the
+      consultation: he was informed that there must be both a Circe and a
+      Sigismunda; and that Lady Julia was to take whichever of the two
+      characters Miss Bateman declined. Pending the deliberation, Lady Julia
+      whispered to Vivian, &ldquo;For mercy&rsquo;s sake! contrive that I may not be doomed
+      to be Circe; for Circe is no better than Calista.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was charmed with her ladyship&rsquo;s delicacy and discretion; he
+      immediately decided her governess, by pointing out the beautiful
+      head-dress of Flaxman&rsquo;s Circe, and observing that Miss Bateman&rsquo;s hair
+      (which was a wig) might easily be arranged, so as to produce the same
+      effect. Lady Julia rewarded Vivian for this able and successful manoeuvre
+      by one of her sweetest smiles. Her smiles had now powerful influence over
+      his heart. He rebelled against Russell&rsquo;s advice, to take more time to
+      consider how far his character was suited to hers: he was conscious,
+      indeed, that it would be more prudent to wait a little longer before he
+      should declare his passion, as Lady Julia was so very young and
+      enthusiastic, and as her education had been so ill managed; but he argued
+      that the worse her education, and the more imprudent the people about her,
+      the greater was her merit in conducting herself with discretion, and in
+      trying to restrain her natural enthusiasm. Russell acknowledged this, and
+      gave all due praise to Lady Julia; yet still he represented that Vivian
+      had been acquainted with her so short time that he could not be a
+      competent judge of her temper and disposition, even if his judgment were
+      cool; but it was evident that his passions were now engaged warmly in her
+      favour. All that Russell urged for delay so far operated, however, upon
+      Vivian, that he adopted a half measure, and determined to try what chance
+      he might have of pleasing her before he should either declare his love to
+      her ladyship, or make his proposal to her father. A favourable opportunity
+      soon occurred. On the day appointed for the fancy ball, the young Lord
+      Lidhurst, who was to be Tancred, was taken ill of a feverish complaint: he
+      was of a very weakly constitution, and his friends were much alarmed by
+      his frequent indispositions. His physicians ordered quiet; he was confined
+      to his own apartment; and another Tancred was of course to be sought for:
+      Vivian ventured to offer to assume the character; and his manner, when he
+      made this proposal to his fair Sigismunda, though it was intended to be
+      merely polite and gallant, was so much agitated, that she now, for the
+      first time, seemed to perceive the state of his heart. Colouring high, her
+      ladyship answered, with hesitation unusual to her, &ldquo;that she believed&mdash;she
+      fancied&mdash;that is, she understood from her brother&mdash;that he had
+      deputed Mr. Russell to represent Tancred in his place.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was not displeased by this answer: the change of colour and evident
+      embarrassment appeared to him favourable omens; and he thought that
+      whether the embarrassment arose from unwillingness to let any man but her
+      brother&rsquo;s tutor, a man domesticated in the family, appear as her Tancred,
+      or whether she was afraid of offending Mr. Russell, by changing the
+      arrangement her brother had made; in either case Vivian felt ready, though
+      a man in love, to approve of her motives. As to the rest, he was certain
+      that Russell would decline the part assigned him; and, as Vivian expected,
+      Russell came in a few minutes to resign his pretensions, or rather to
+      state that though Lord Lidhurst had proposed it, he had never thought of
+      accepting the honour; and that he should, in all probability, not appear
+      at the ball, because he was anxious to stay as much as possible with Lord
+      Lidhurst, whose indisposition increased instead of abating. Lord
+      Glistonbury, after this explanation, came in high spirits, and with much
+      satisfaction in his countenance and manner, said he was happy to hear that
+      his Sigismunda was to have Mr. Vivian for her Tancred. So far all was
+      prosperous to our hero&rsquo;s hopes.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But when he saw Lady Julia again, which was not till dinner time, he
+      perceived an unfavourable alteration in her manner; not the timidity or
+      embarrassment of a girl who is uncertain whether she is or is not pleased,
+      or whether she should or should not appear to be pleased by the first
+      approaches of a new lover; but there was in her manner a decided
+      haughtiness, and an unusual air of displeasure and reserve. Though he sat
+      beside her, and though in general her delightful conversation had been
+      addressed either to him or Mr. Russell, they were now both deprived of
+      this honour; whatever she said, and all she said, was unlike herself, was
+      directed to persons opposite to her, even to the captain, the lawyer, and
+      the family parasites, whose existence she commonly seemed to forget. She
+      ate as well as spoke in a hurried manner, and as if in defiance of her
+      feelings. Whilst the courses were changing, she turned towards Mr. Vivian,
+      and after a rapid examining glance at his countenance, she said, in a low
+      voice&mdash;&ldquo;You must think me, Mr. Vivian, very unreasonable and
+      whimsical, but I have given up all thoughts of being Sigismunda. Will you
+      oblige me so far as not to appear in the dress of Tancred to-night? You
+      will thus spare me all farther difficulty. You know my mother and sister
+      have declared their determination not to wear any fancy dress; and though
+      my father is anxious that I should, I believe it may be best that, in this
+      instance, I follow my own judgment.&mdash;May I expect that you will
+      oblige me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian declared his entire submission to her ladyship&rsquo;s judgment: and he
+      now was delighted to be able to forgive her for all seeming caprice;
+      because he thought he saw an amiable motive for her conduct&mdash;the wish
+      not to displease her mother, and not to excite the jealousy of her sister.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      The hour when the ball was to commence arrived; the room filled with
+      company; and Vivian, who flattered himself with the pleasure of dancing
+      all night with Lady Julia, as the price of his prompt obedience, looked
+      round the room in search of his expected partner, but he searched in vain.
+      He looked to the door at every new entrance&mdash;no Lady Julia appeared.
+      Circe, indeed, was every where to be seen and heard, and an uglier Circe
+      never touched this earth; but she looked happily confident in the power of
+      her charms. Whilst she was intent upon fascinating Vivian, he was
+      impatiently waiting for a moment&rsquo;s intermission of her volubility, that he
+      might ask what had become of Lady Julia.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lady Julia?&mdash;She&rsquo;s somewhere in the room, I suppose.&mdash;Oh! no: I
+      remember, she told me she would go and sit a quarter of an hour with her
+      brother. She will soon make her appearance, I suppose; but I am so angry
+      with her for disappointing us all, and you in particular, by changing her
+      mind about Sigismunda!&mdash;Such a capital Tancred as you would have
+      made! and now you are no character at all! But then, you are only on a par
+      with certain ladies. Comfort yourself with the great Pope&rsquo;s (I fear too
+      true) reflection, that
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Most women have no characters at all.&rsquo;&rdquo;
+ </pre>
+    <p>
+      Miss Bateman&rsquo;s eye glanced insolently, as she spoke, upon Lady
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s trio, who passed by at this instant, all without fancy
+      dresses. Vivian shocked by this ill-breeding towards the mistress of the
+      house, offered his arm immediately to Lady Glistonbury, and conducted her
+      with Lady Sarah and Miss Strictland to their proper places, where, having
+      seated themselves, each in the same attitude precisely, they looked more
+      like martyrs prepared for endurance, than like persons in a ball-room.
+      Vivian stayed to speak a few words to Lady Glistonbury, and was just going
+      away, when her ladyship, addressing him with more than her usual
+      formality, said, &ldquo;Mr. Vivian, I see, has not adopted the fashion of the
+      day; and as he is the only gentleman present, whose fancy dress does not
+      proclaim him engaged to some partner equally <i>fanciful</i>, I cannot but
+      wish that my daughter, Lady Sarah, should, if she dance at all to-night,
+      dance with a gentleman in his own proper character.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, thus called upon, felt compelled to ask the honour of Lady Sarah&rsquo;s
+      hand; but he flattered himself, that after the first dance he should have
+      done his duty, and that he should be at liberty by the time Julia should
+      make her appearance. But, to his great disappointment, Mr. Russell, who
+      came in just as he had finished the first two dances, informed him that
+      Lady Julia was determined not to appear at the ball, but to stay with her
+      brother, who wished for her company. So poor Vivian found himself doomed
+      to be Lady Sarah&rsquo;s partner for the remainder of the night. It happened
+      that, as he was handing her ladyship to supper, in passing through an
+      antechamber where some of the neighbours of inferior rank had been
+      permitted to assemble to see <i>the show</i>, he heard one farmer&rsquo;s wife
+      say to another, &ldquo;Who <i>beas</i> that there, that&rsquo;s handing of Lady
+      Sarah?&rdquo;&mdash;They were detained a little by the crowd, so that he had
+      time to hear the whole answer.&mdash;&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know?&rdquo; was the answer.
+      &ldquo;That there gentleman is Mr. Vivian of the new castle, that is to be
+      married to her directly, and that&rsquo;s what he&rsquo;s come here for; for they&rsquo;ve
+      been engaged to one another ever since the time o&rsquo; the election.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      This speech disturbed our hero&rsquo;s mind considerably; for it awakened a
+      train of reflections which he had wilfully left dormant. Will it, can it
+      be believed, that after all his friend Russell&rsquo;s exhortations, after his
+      own wise resolutions, he had never yet made any of those explanatory
+      speeches he had intended?
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Positively,&rdquo; said he to himself, &ldquo;this report shall not prevail
+      four-and-twenty hours longer. I will propose for Lady Julia Lidhurst
+      before I sleep. Russell, to be sure, advises me not to be precipitate&mdash;to
+      take more time to study her disposition; but I am acquainted with her
+      sufficiently;&rdquo; (he should have said, I am in love with her sufficiently;)
+      &ldquo;and really now, I am bound in honour immediately to declare myself&mdash;it
+      is the best possible way of putting a stop to a report which will be
+      ultimately injurious to Lady Sarah.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thus Vivian made his past irresolution an excuse for his present
+      precipitation, flattering himself, as men often do when they are yielding
+      to the impulse of their passions, that they are submitting to the dictates
+      of reason. At six o&rsquo;clock in the morning the company dispersed. Lord
+      Glistonbury and Vivian were the last in the ball-room. His lordship began
+      some raillery upon our hero&rsquo;s having declined appearing as Tancred, and
+      upon his having devoted himself all night to Lady Sarah. Vivian seized the
+      moment to explain his real feelings, and he made his proposal for Lady
+      Julia. It was received with warm approbation by the father, who seemed to
+      rejoice the more in this proposal, because he knew that it would
+      disappoint and mortify Lady Glistonbury. The interests of his hatred
+      seemed, indeed, to occupy his lordship more than the interests of Vivian&rsquo;s
+      love; but politeness threw a decent veil over these feelings; and, after
+      saying all that could be expected of the satisfaction it must be to a
+      father to see his daughter united to a man of Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s family,
+      fortune, talents, and great respectability; and after having given,
+      incidentally and parenthetically, his opinions, not only concerning
+      matrimony, but concerning all other affairs of human life, he wished his
+      future son-in-law a very good night, and left him to repose. But no rest
+      could Vivian take&mdash;he waited with impatience, that made every hour
+      appear at least two, for the time when he was again to meet Lady Julia. He
+      saw her at breakfast; but he perceived by her countenance that she as yet
+      knew nothing of his proposal. After breakfast Lord Glistonbury said, &ldquo;Come
+      with me, my little Julia! it is a long time since I&rsquo;ve had a walk and a
+      talk with you.&rdquo; His lordship paced up and down the terrace, conversing
+      earnestly with her for some time: he then went on to some labourers, who
+      were cutting down a tree at the farther end of the avenue. Vivian hastened
+      out to meet Lady Julia, who, after standing deep in thought for some
+      moments, seemed returning towards the castle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER IX.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Vivian, I trust that I am not deficient in maidenly modesty,&rdquo; said
+      Lady Julia, &ldquo;when it is not incompatible with what I deem a higher virtue&mdash;sincerity.
+      Now and ever, frankness is, and shall be, my only policy. The confidence I
+      am about to repose in you, sir, is the strongest proof of my esteem, and
+      of the gratitude I feel for your attachment.&mdash;My heart is no longer
+      in my power to bestow. It is&mdash;young as I am, I dare to pronounce the
+      words&mdash;irrevocably fixed upon one who will do honour to my choice.
+      Your proposal was made to my father&mdash;Why was it not made to me?&mdash;Men&mdash;all
+      men but one&mdash;treat women as puppets, and then wonder that they are
+      not rational creatures!&mdash;Forgive me this too just reproach. But, as I
+      was going to say, your proposal has thrown me into great difficulties&mdash;the
+      greater because my father warmly approves of it. I have a strong affection
+      for him; and, perhaps, a year or two ago, I should, in the ignorance in
+      which I was dogmatically brought up, have thought it my duty to submit
+      implicitly to parental authority, and to receive a husband from the hands
+      of a father, without consulting either my own heart or my own judgment.
+      But, since my mind has been more enlightened, and has opened to higher
+      views of the dignity of my sex, and higher hopes of happiness, my ideas of
+      duty have altered; and, I trust, I have sufficient courage to support my
+      own idea of the rights of my sex, and my firm conviction of what is just
+      and becoming.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was again going to say something; but, whether against or in favour
+      of the rights of the sex, he had not clearly decided; when her ladyship
+      saved him the trouble, by proceeding with the train of her ideas.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My sincerity towards my father will, perhaps, cost me dear; but I cannot
+      repent of it. As soon as I knew the state of my own heart&mdash;which was
+      not till very lately&mdash;which was not, indeed, till you gave me reason
+      to think you seriously liked me&mdash;I openly told my father all I knew
+      of my own heart. Would you believe it?&mdash;I am sure I should not,
+      unless I had seen and felt it&mdash;my father, who, you know, professes
+      the most liberal opinions possible; my father, who, in conversation is
+      &lsquo;All for love, and the world well lost;&rsquo; my father, who let Miss Bateman
+      put the Heloise into my hands, was astonished, shocked, indignant, at his
+      own daughter&rsquo;s confession, I should say, assertion of her preference of a
+      man of high merit, who wants only the advantages, if they be advantages,
+      of rank and fortune.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; continued she, &ldquo;may I hope that now, when you must be
+      convinced of the inefficacy of any attempt either to win or to control my
+      affections, you will have the generosity to spare me all unnecessary
+      contest with my father? It must render him more averse from the only union
+      that can make his daughter happy; and it may ruin the fortunes of&mdash;the
+      first, in my opinion, of human beings. I will request another favour from
+      you&mdash;and let my willingness to be obliged by you convince you that I
+      appreciate your character&mdash;I request that you will not only keep
+      secret all that I have said to you; but that, if accident, or your own
+      penetration, should hereafter discover to you the object of my affection,
+      you will refrain from making any use of that discovery to my disadvantage.
+      You see how entirely I have thrown myself on your honour and generosity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian assured her that the appeal was powerful with him; and that, by
+      mastering his own passions, and sacrificing his feelings to hers, he would
+      endeavour to show his strong desire to secure, at all events, her
+      happiness.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are truly generous, Mr. Vivian, to listen to me with indulgence, to
+      wish for my happiness, whilst I have been wounding your feelings. But,
+      without any impeachment of your sincerity, or yet of your sensibility, let
+      me say, that yours will be only a transient disappointment. Your
+      acquaintance with me is but of yesterday, and the slight impression made
+      on your mind will soon be effaced; but upon my mind there has been time to
+      grave a deep, a first charactery of love, that never, whilst memory holds
+      her seat, can be erased.&mdash;I believe,&rdquo; said Julia, checking herself,
+      whilst a sudden blush overspread her countenance&mdash;&ldquo;I am afraid that I
+      have said too much, too much for a woman. The fault of my character, I
+      know, I have been told, is the want of what is called RESERVE.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Blushing still more deeply as she pronounced these last words, the colour
+      darting up to her temples, spreading over her neck, and making its way to
+      the very tips of her fingers, &ldquo;Now I have done worse,&rdquo; cried she, covering
+      her face with her hands. But the next moment, resuming, or trying to
+      resume her self-possession, she said, &ldquo;It is time that I should retire,
+      now that I have revealed my whole heart to you. It has, perhaps, been
+      imprudently opened; but for that, your generosity, sir, is to blame. Had
+      you shown more selfishness, I should assuredly have exerted more prudence,
+      and have treated you with less confidence.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Julia quitted him, and Vivian remained in a species of amaze, from
+      which he could not immediately recover. Her frankness, her magnanimity,
+      her enthusiastic sensibility, her eloquent beauty, had altogether exalted,
+      to the highest ecstasy, his love and admiration. Then he walked about,
+      beating his breast in despair at the thought of her affections being
+      irrecoverably engaged,&mdash;next quarrelled with the boldness of the
+      confession, the <i>assertion</i> of her love&mdash;then decided, that,
+      with all her shining qualities and noble dispositions, she was not exactly
+      the woman a man should desire for a wife: there was something too rash,
+      too romantic about her; there was in her character, as she herself had
+      said, and as Russell had remarked, too little <i>reserve</i>. Something
+      like jealousy and distrust of his friend arose in Vivian&rsquo;s mind: &ldquo;What!&rdquo;
+       said he to himself, &ldquo;and is Russell my rival? and has he been all this
+      time in secret my rival? Is it possible that Russell has been practising
+      upon the affections of this innocent young creature&mdash;confided to him
+      too? All this time, whilst he has been cautioning me against her charms,
+      beseeching me not to propose for her precipitately, is it possible that he
+      wanted only to get, to keep the start of me?&mdash;No&mdash;impossible!
+      utterly impossible! If all the circumstances, all the evidence upon earth
+      conspired, I would not believe it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Resolved not to do injustice, even in his inmost soul, to his friend, our
+      hero repelled all suspicion of Russell, by reflecting on his long and
+      tried integrity, and on the warmth and fidelity of his friendship. In this
+      temper he was crossing the castle-yard to go to Russell&rsquo;s apartment, when
+      he was met and stopped by one of the domesticated friends of the family,
+      Mr. Mainwaring, the young lawyer: he was in the confidence of Lord
+      Glistonbury, and, proud to show it, he let Mr. Vivian know that he was
+      apprised of the proposal that had been made, and congratulated him, and
+      all the parties concerned, on the prospect of such an agreeable connexion.
+      Vivian was quite unprepared to speak to any one, much less to a lawyer,
+      upon this subject; he had not even thought of the means of obeying Lady
+      Julia, by withdrawing his suit; therefore, with a mixture of vexation and
+      embarrassment in his manner, he answered in commonplace phrases, meant to
+      convey no precise meaning, and endeavoured to disengage himself from his
+      companion; but the lawyer, who had fastened upon him, linking his arm in
+      Vivian&rsquo;s, continued to walk him up and down under the great gateway,
+      saying that he had a word or two of importance for his private ear. This
+      man had taken much pains to insinuate himself into Vivian&rsquo;s favour, by the
+      most obsequious and officious attentions: though his flattery had at first
+      been disgusting, yet, by persevering in his show of civility, he had at
+      length inclined Vivian to think that he was too harsh in his first
+      judgment, and to believe that, &ldquo;after all, Mainwaring was a good friendly
+      fellow, though his manner was against him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Mainwaring, with many professions of regard for Vivian, and with
+      sundry premisings that he hazarded himself by the communication, took the
+      liberty of hinting, that he guessed, from Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s manner this
+      morning, that obstacles had arisen on the part of a young lady who should
+      be nameless; and he should make bold to add that, in his private opinion,
+      the said obstacles would never be removed whilst <i>a certain person</i>
+      remained in the castle, and whilst the young lady alluded to was allowed
+      to spend so much of her time studying with her brother when well, or
+      nursing him when sick. Mr. Mainwaring declared that he was perfectly
+      astonished at Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s blindness or imprudence in keeping this
+      person in the house, after the hints his lordship had received, and after
+      all the proofs that must or may have fallen within his cognizance, of the
+      arts of seduction that had been employed. Here Vivian interrupted Mr.
+      Mainwaring, to beg that he would not keep him longer in suspense by <i>inuendoes</i>,
+      but that he would name distinctly the object of his suspicions. This,
+      however, Mr. Mainwaring begged to be excused from doing: he would only
+      shake his head and smile, and leave people to their own sagacity and
+      penetration. Vivian warmly answered, that, if Mr. Mainwaring meant Mr.
+      Russell, he was well assured that Mr. Mainwaring was utterly mistaken in
+      attributing to him any but the most honourable conduct.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Mr. Mainwaring smiled, and shook his head&mdash;smiled again, and sighed,
+      and hoped Mr. Vivian was right, and observed that time would show; and
+      that, at all events, he trusted Mr. Vivian would keep profoundly secret
+      the hint which his friendship had, indiscreetly perhaps, hazarded.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Scarcely had Mr. Mainwaring retired, when Captain Pickering met and seized
+      upon Vivian, led to the same subject, and gave similar hints, that Russell
+      was the happy rival who had secretly made himself master of Lady Julia&rsquo;s
+      heart. Vivian, though much astonished, finding that these gentlemen agreed
+      in their discoveries or their suspicions, still defended his friend
+      Russell, and strongly protested that he would be responsible for his
+      honour with his life, if it were necessary. The captain shrugged his
+      shoulders, said it was none of his business, that, as Mr. Vivian <i>took
+      it up so warmly,</i> he should let it drop; for it was by no means his
+      intention to get into a quarrel with Mr. Vivian, for whom he had a
+      particular regard. This said, with all the frankness of a soldier, Captain
+      Pickering withdrew, adding, as the clergyman passed at this instant,
+      &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a man who could tell you more than any of us, if he would, but <i>snug&rsquo;s</i>
+      the word with Wicksted.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, in great anxiety and much curiosity, appealed to Mr. Wicksted: he
+      protested that he knew nothing, suspected nothing, at least could venture
+      to say nothing; for these were very delicate family matters, and every
+      gentleman should, on these occasions, make it a principle to see with his
+      own eyes. Gradually, however, Mr. Wicksted let out his opinion, and
+      implied infinitely more than Captain Pickering or Mr. Mainwaring had
+      asserted. Vivian still maintained, in the warmest terms, that it was
+      impossible his friend Russell should be to blame. Mr. Wicksted simply
+      pronounced the word <i>friend</i> with a peculiar emphasis, and, with an
+      incredulous smile, left him to his reflections. Those reflections were
+      painful; for, though he defended Russell from the attacks of others, yet
+      he had not sufficient firmness of mind completely to resist the
+      suggestions of suspicion and jealousy, particularly when they had been
+      corroborated by so many concurring testimonies. He had no longer the
+      courage to go immediately to Russell, to tell him of his proposal for Lady
+      Julia, or to speak to him of any of his secret feelings; but, turning away
+      from the staircase that led to his friend&rsquo;s apartment, he determined to
+      observe Russell with his own eyes, before he should decide upon the truth
+      or falsehood of the accusations which had been brought against him. Alas!
+      Vivian was no longer in a condition to observe with his own eyes; his
+      imagination was so perturbed, that he could neither see nor hear any thing
+      as it really was. When he next saw Russell and Lady Julia together, he
+      wondered at his blindness in not having sooner perceived their mutual
+      attachment: notwithstanding that Lady Julia had now the strongest motives
+      to suppress every indication of her passion, symptoms of it broke out
+      continually, the more violent, perhaps, from her endeavours to conceal
+      them. He knew that she was passionately in love with Russell; and that
+      Russell should not have perceived what every other man, even every
+      indifferent spectator, had discovered, appeared incredible. Russell&rsquo;s calm
+      manner and entire self-possession sometimes provoked Vivian, and sometimes
+      quelled his suspicions; sometimes he looked upon this calmness as the
+      extreme of art, sometimes as a proof of innocence, which could not be
+      counterfeit. At one moment he was so much struck with Russell&rsquo;s friendly
+      countenance, that, quite ashamed of his suspicions, he was upon the point
+      of speaking openly to him; but, unfortunately, these intentions were
+      frustrated by some slight obstacle. At length Miss Strictland, who had
+      lately been very courteous to Mr. Vivian, took an opportunity of drawing
+      him into one of the recessed windows; where, with infinite difficulty in
+      bringing herself to speak on such a subject, after inconceivable bridlings
+      of the head, and contortions of every muscle of her neck, she insinuated
+      to him her fears, that my Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s confidence had been very ill
+      placed in Lord Lidhurst&rsquo;s tutor: she was aware that Mr. Russell had the
+      honour of Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s friendship, but nothing could prevent her from
+      speaking, where she felt it to be so much her duty; and that, as from the
+      unfortunate circumstances in the family she had no longer any influence
+      over Lady Julia Lidhurst, nor any chance of being listened to on such a
+      subject with patience by Lord Glistonbury, she thought the best course she
+      could take was to apply to Mr. Russell&rsquo;s friend, who might possibly, by
+      his interference, prevent the utter disgrace and ruin of one branch of a
+      noble family.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Miss Strictland, in all she said, hinted not at Vivian&rsquo;s attachment to
+      Lady Julia, and gave him no reason to believe that she was apprised of his
+      having proposed for her ladyship: she spoke with much moderation and
+      candour; attributed all Lady Julia&rsquo;s errors to the imprudence of her new
+      governess, Miss Bateman. Miss Strictland now showed a desire not to make,
+      but to prevent mischief; even the circumlocutions and stiffness of her
+      habitual prudery did not, on this occasion, seem unseasonable; therefore
+      what she suggested made a great impression on Vivian. He still, however,
+      defended Russell, and assured Miss Strictland that, from the long
+      experience he had himself had of his friend&rsquo;s honour, he was convinced
+      that no temptation could shake his integrity. Miss Strictland had formed
+      her opinion on this point, she said, and it would be in vain to argue
+      against it. Every new assertion; the belief of each new person who spoke
+      to him on the subject; the combination, the coincidence of all their
+      opinions, wrought his mind to such a height of jealousy, that he was now
+      absolutely incapable of using his reason. He went in search of Russell,
+      but in no fit mood to speak to him as he ought. He looked for him in his
+      own, in Lord Lidhurst&rsquo;s apartment, in every sitting-room in the castle;
+      but Mr. Russell was not to be found: at last Lady Sarah&rsquo;s maid, who heard
+      him inquiring for Mr. Russell from the servants, told him, &ldquo;she fancied
+      that if he took the trouble to go to the west walk, he might find Mr.
+      Russell, as that was a favourite walk of his.&rdquo; Vivian hurried thither,
+      with a secret expectation of finding Lady Julia with him&mdash;there they
+      both were in earnest conversation: as he approached, the trees concealed
+      him from view; and Vivian heard his own name repeated. &ldquo;Stop!&rdquo; cried he,
+      advancing: &ldquo;let me not overhear your secrets&mdash;I am not a traitor to
+      my friends!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      As he spoke, his eyes fixed with an expression of concentrated rage upon
+      Russell. Terrified by Vivian&rsquo;s sudden appearance and strange address, and
+      still more by the fierce look he cast on Russell, Lady Julia started and
+      uttered a faint scream. With astonishment, but without losing his
+      self-command, Russell advanced towards Vivian, saying, &ldquo;You are out of
+      your senses, my dear friend!&mdash;I will not listen to you in your
+      present humour. Take a turn or two with me to cool yourself. The anger of
+      a friend should always be allowed three minutes&rsquo; grace, at least,&rdquo; added
+      Russell, smiling, and endeavouring to draw Vivian away: but Vivian stood
+      immoveable; Russell&rsquo;s calmness, instead of bringing him to his senses,
+      only increased his anger; to his distempered imagination this coolness
+      seemed perfidious dissimulation.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You cannot deceive me longer, Mr. Russell, by all your art!&rdquo; cried he.
+      &ldquo;Though I am the last to open my eyes, I have opened them. Why did you
+      pretend to be my counsellor and friend, when you were my rival?&mdash;when
+      you knew that you were my successful rival?&mdash;&mdash;Yes, start and
+      affect astonishment! Yes&mdash;look, if you can, with <i>innocent</i>
+      surprise upon that lady!&mdash;Say that you have not betrayed her father&rsquo;s
+      confidence!&mdash;say, that you have not practised upon her unguarded
+      heart!&mdash;say, that you do not know that she loves you to distraction!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! Mr. Vivian, what have you done?&rdquo; cried Lady Julia: she could say no
+      more, but fell senseless on the ground. Vivian&rsquo;s anger was at once sobered
+      by this sight.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What have I done!&rdquo; repeated he, as they raised her from the ground.
+      &ldquo;Wretch! dishonourable villain that I am! I have betrayed her secret&mdash;But
+      I thought every body knew it!&mdash;&mdash;Is it possible that <i>you</i>
+      did not know it, Russell?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell made no reply, but ran to the river which was near them for some
+      water&mdash;Vivian was incapable of affording any assistance, or even of
+      forming a distinct idea. As soon as Lady Julia returned to her senses,
+      Russell withdrew; Vivian threw himself on his knees before her, and said
+      something about the violence of his passion&mdash;his sorrow&mdash;and her
+      forgiveness. &ldquo;Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; said Lady Julia, turning to him with a mixture
+      of despair and dignity in her manner, &ldquo;do not kneel to me; do not make use
+      of any commonplace phrases&mdash;I cannot, at this moment, forgive you&mdash;you
+      have done me an irreparable injury. I confided a secret to you&mdash;a
+      secret known to no human being but my father and yourself&mdash;you have
+      revealed it, and to whom?&mdash;Sooner would I have had it proclaimed to
+      the whole world than to &mdash;&mdash;; for what is the opinion of the
+      whole world to me, compared to his?&mdash;Sir, you have done me, indeed,
+      an irremediable injury!&mdash;I trusted to your honour&mdash;your
+      discretion&mdash;and you have betrayed, sacrificed me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Vile suspicions!&rdquo; cried Vivian, striking his forehead: &ldquo;how could I
+      listen to them for a moment!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Suspicions of Mr. Russell!&rdquo; cried Julia, with a look of high indignation&mdash;&ldquo;Suspicions
+      of your noble-minded friend!&mdash;What wickedness, or what weakness!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Weakness!&mdash;miserable weakness!&mdash;the sudden effect of jealousy;
+      and could you know, Lady Julia, by what means, by what arts, my mind was
+      worked up to this insanity!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I cannot listen to this now, Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; interrupted Lady Julia: &ldquo;my
+      thoughts cannot fix upon such things&mdash;I cannot go back to the past&mdash;what
+      is done cannot be undone&mdash;what has been said cannot be unsaid.&mdash;You
+      cannot recall your words&mdash;they were heard&mdash;they were understood.
+      I beg you to leave me, sir, that I may have leisure to <i>think</i>&mdash;if
+      possible, to consider what yet remains for me to do. I have no friend&mdash;none,
+      none willing or capable of advising me! I begged of you to leave me, sir.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian could not, at this moment, decide whether he ought or ought not to
+      tell Lady Julia that her secret was known, or at least suspected, by many
+      individuals of the family.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a servant on the terrace who seems to be looking for us,&rdquo; said
+      Vivian; &ldquo;I had something of consequence to say&mdash;but this man&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lady, Miss Bateman desired me to let you know, my lady, that there is
+      the Lady Playdels, and the colonel, and Sir James, in the drawing-room,
+      just come;&mdash;and she begs, my lady, you will be pleased to come to
+      them; for Miss Bateman&rsquo;s waiting for you, my lady, to repeat the verses,
+      she bid me say, my lady.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Go to them, Mr. Vivian; I cannot go.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lady,&rdquo; persisted the footman, &ldquo;my lord himself begged you to come; and
+      he and all the gentlemen have been looking for you every where.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Return to my father, then, and say that I am coming immediately.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Forced into company!&rdquo; thought Lady Julia, as she walked slowly towards
+      the house; &ldquo;compelled to appear calm and gay, when my heart is&mdash;what
+      a life of dissimulation! How unworthy of me, formed, as I was once
+      pronounced to be, for every thing that is good and great!&mdash;But I am
+      no longer mistress of myself&mdash;no soul left but for one object. Why
+      did I not better guard my heart?&mdash;No!&mdash;rather, why can I not
+      follow its dictates, and at once avow and justify its choice?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian interrupted Lady Julia&rsquo;s reverie by pointing out to her, as they
+      passed along the terrace, a group of heads, in one of the back windows of
+      the castle, that seemed to be watching them very earnestly. Miss
+      Strictland&rsquo;s face was foremost; half her body was out of the window; and
+      as she drew back, they heard her say&mdash;&ldquo;It is not he!&mdash;It is not
+      he!&rdquo;&mdash;As they passed another front of the castle, another party
+      seemed to be upon the watch at a staircase window;&mdash;the lawyer, the
+      captain, the clergyman&rsquo;s heads appeared for a moment, and vanished.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;They seem all to be upon the watch for us,&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Meanness!&rdquo; cried Lady Julia. &ldquo;To watch or to be watched, I know not which
+      is most degrading; but I cannot think they are watching us.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear Lady Julia!&mdash;yet let me call you dear this once&mdash;my
+      hopes are gone!&mdash;even for your forgiveness I have no right to hope&mdash;but
+      let me do you one piece of service&mdash;let me put your open temper on
+      its guard. You flatter yourself that the secret you confided to me is not
+      known to any body living but to your father&mdash;I have reason to believe
+      that it is suspected, if not positively known, by several other persons in
+      this castle.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Impossible!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am certain, too certain, of what I say.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Julia made a sudden stop; and, after a pause, exclaimed&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then farewell hope! and, with hope, farewell fear!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My lady, my lord sent me again, for my lord&rsquo;s very impatient for you, my
+      lady,&rdquo; said the same footman, returning. Lord Glistonbury met them in the
+      hall.&mdash;&ldquo;Why, Julia! where have you been all this time?&rdquo; he began, in
+      an imperious tone; but seeing Mr. Vivian, his brow grew smooth and his
+      voice good-humoured instantly.&mdash;&ldquo;Ha!&mdash;So! so!&mdash;Hey! well!&mdash;All
+      right! all right!&mdash;Good girl! good girl!&mdash;Time for every thing&mdash;Hey!
+      Mr. Vivian?&mdash;&lsquo;Que la solitude est charmante!&rsquo; as Voltaire says&mdash;Beg
+      pardon for sending for you; but interruption, you know, prevents <i>têtes-à-têtes</i>
+      on the stage from growing tiresome; and the stage, they say, holds the
+      mirror up to nature. But there&rsquo;s no nature now left to hold the mirror up
+      to, except in a few odd instances, as in my Julia here!&mdash;Where so
+      fast, my blushing darling?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thought you wished, sir, that I should go to Lady Playdel and Sir
+      James.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay, ay, I sent for you to repeat those charming verses for them that I
+      could not clearly remember.&mdash;Go up! go up!&mdash;We&rsquo;ll follow you!&mdash;We
+      have a word or two to say about something&mdash;that&rsquo;s nothing to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury kept Vivian for a full hour in a state of considerable
+      embarrassment, talking to him of Lady Julia, implying that she was
+      favourably disposed towards him, but that she had a little pride, that
+      might make her affect the contrary at first. Then came a disquisition on
+      pride, with quotations and commonplaces;&mdash;then an eulogium, by his
+      lordship, on his lordship&rsquo;s own knowledge of the human heart, and more
+      especially of that &ldquo;moving toyshop,&rdquo; the female heart; then anecdotes
+      illustrative, comprising the gallantries of thirty years in various ranks
+      of life, with suitable bon-mots and embellishments;&mdash;then a little
+      French sentiment, by way of moral, with some philosophical axioms, to show
+      that, though he had led such a gay life, he had been a deep thinker, and
+      that, though nobody could have thought that he had had time for reading,
+      his genius had supplied him, he could not himself really tell how, with
+      what other people with the study of years could not master:&mdash;all
+      which Vivian was compelled to hear, whilst he was the whole time impatient
+      to get away, that he might search for Mr. Russell, with whom he was
+      anxious to have an explanation. But, at last, when Lord Glistonbury set
+      him free, he was not nearer to his object. Mr. Russell, he found upon
+      inquiry, had not returned to the castle, nor did he return to dinner; he
+      sent word that he was engaged to dine with a party of gentlemen at a
+      literary club, in a country town nine miles distant. Vivian spent the
+      greatest part of the evening in Lord Lidhurst&rsquo;s apartment, expecting
+      Russell&rsquo;s return; but it grew so late, that Lord Lidhurst, who was still
+      indisposed, went to bed; and when Vivian quitted his lordship, he met
+      Russell&rsquo;s servant in the gallery, who said his master had been come in an
+      hour ago: &ldquo;but, sir,&rdquo; added the man, &ldquo;my master won&rsquo;t let you see him, I
+      am sure; for he would not let me in, and he said, that, if you asked for
+      him, I was to answer, that he could not see you to-night.&rdquo;&mdash;Vivian
+      knocked in vain at Russell&rsquo;s door; he could not gain admission; so he went
+      reluctantly to bed, determined to rise very early, that he might see his
+      friend as soon as possible, obtain his forgiveness for the past, and ask
+      his advice for the future.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER X.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Suspense, curiosity, love, jealousy, remorse, any one of which is enough
+      to keep a person awake all night, by turns agitated poor Vivian so
+      violently, that for several hours he could not close his eyes; but at
+      last, when quite exhausted, he fell into a profound sleep. The first image
+      that came before his mind, when he awoke in the morning, was that of Lady
+      Julia; his next recollection was of Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is Mr. Russell up yet?&rdquo; said Vivian to his servant, who was bringing in
+      his boots.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Up, sir! Oh, yes, hours ago!&mdash;He was <i>off</i> at daybreak!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Off!&rdquo; cried Vivian, starting up in his bed; &ldquo;off!&mdash;Where is he
+      gone?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t say, sir. Yes, indeed, sir, I heard Mr. Russell&rsquo;s man say, that
+      his master was going post to the north, to some old uncle that was taken
+      ill, which he heard about at dinner from some of those gentlemen where he
+      dined yesterday; but I can&rsquo;t say positively. But here&rsquo;s a letter he left
+      for you with me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A letter!&mdash;Give it me!&mdash;Why didn&rsquo;t you give it me sooner?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why really, sir, you lay so sound, I didn&rsquo;t care to waken you; and I was
+      up so late myself, too, last night.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Leave me now; I&rsquo;ll ring when I want you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;TO C. VIVIAN, ESQ.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I would not see you, after what passed yesterday, because I feared that I
+      should not speak to you with temper. Lest you should misinterpret any
+      thing I have formerly said, I must now solemnly assure you, that I never
+      had the slightest suspicion of the secret you revealed to me till the
+      moment when it was betrayed by your indiscretion. Still I can scarcely
+      credit what appears to me so improbable; but, even under this uncertainty,
+      I think it my duty to leave this family. Had the slightest idea of what
+      you suggested ever crossed my imagination, I should then have acted as I
+      do now. I say this, not to justify myself, but to convince you, that what
+      I formerly hinted about reserve of manners and prudence was merely a <i>general
+      reflection</i>.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For my own part, I seem to act HEROICALLY; but I must disclaim that
+      applause to which I am not entitled. All powerful as the temptation must
+      appear to you, dangerous as it must have been, in other circumstances, to
+      me, I cannot claim any merit for resisting its influence. My safety I owe
+      neither to my own prudence or fortitude. I must now, Vivian, impart to you
+      a secret which you are at liberty to confide where and when you think
+      necessary&mdash;my heart is, and has long been, engaged. Whilst you were
+      attached to Miss Sidney, I endeavoured to subdue my love for her; and
+      every symptom of it was, I hope and believe, suppressed. This declaration
+      cannot now give you any pain; except so far as it may, perhaps, excite in
+      your mind some remorse for having unwarrantably, unworthily, and weakly,
+      suffered yourself to feel suspicions of a true friend. Well as I know the
+      infirmity of your character, and willing as I have always been to make
+      allowance for a fault which I thought time and experience would correct, I
+      was not prepared for this last stroke; I never thought your weakness of
+      mind would have shown itself in suspicion of your best, your long-tried
+      friend.&mdash;But I am at last convinced that your mind is not strong
+      enough for confidence and friendship. I pity, but I see that I can no
+      longer serve; and I feel that I can no longer esteem you. Farewell!
+      Vivian. May you find a friend, who will supply to you the place of H.
+      RUSSELL.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian knew Russell&rsquo;s character too well to flatter himself that the
+      latter part of this letter was written in anger that would quickly
+      subside; from the tone of the letter he felt that Russell was deeply
+      offended. In the whole course of his life he had depended on Russell&rsquo;s
+      friendship as a solid blessing, of which he could never be deprived by any
+      change of circumstances&mdash;by any possible chance in human affairs; and
+      now to have lost such a friend by his own folly, by his own weakness, was
+      a misfortune of which he could hardly believe the reality. At the same
+      moment, too, he learned how nobly Russell had behaved towards him, in the
+      most trying situation in which the human heart can be placed. Russell&rsquo;s
+      love for Selina Sidney, Vivian had never till this instant suspected.
+      &ldquo;What force, what command of mind!&mdash;What magnanimity!&mdash;What a
+      generous friend he has ever been to me!&mdash;and I&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Poor Vivian, always sinning and always penitent, was so much absorbed by
+      sorrow for the loss of Russell&rsquo;s friendship, that he could not for some
+      time think even of the interests of his love, or consider the advantage
+      which he might derive from the absence of his rival, and from that rival&rsquo;s
+      explicit declaration, that his affections were irrevocably engaged. By
+      degrees these ideas rose clearly to Vivian&rsquo;s view; his hopes revived. Lady
+      Julia would see the absolute impossibility of Russell&rsquo;s returning, or of
+      his accepting her affection; her good sense, her pride, would in time
+      subdue this hopeless passion; and Vivian was generous enough, or
+      sufficiently in love, to feel that the value of her heart would not be
+      diminished, but rather increased in his opinion, by the sensibility she
+      had shown to the talents and virtues of his friend. <i>His friend</i>,
+      Vivian ventured now to call him; for with the hopes of love, the hopes of
+      friendship rose.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;All may yet be well!&rdquo; said he to himself. &ldquo;Russell will forgive me when
+      he hears how I was worked upon by those parasites and prudish busybodies,
+      who infused their vile suspicions into my mind. Weak as it is, I never
+      will allow that it is incapable of confidence or of friendship!&mdash;No!
+      Russell will retract that harsh sentence. When he is happy, as I am sure I
+      ardently hope he will be, in Selina&rsquo;s love, he will restore me to his
+      favour. Without his friendship, I could not be satisfied with myself, or
+      happy in the full accomplishment of all my other fondest hopes.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      By the time that hope had thus revived and renovated our hero&rsquo;s soul; by
+      the time that his views of things had totally changed, and that the colour
+      of his future destiny had turned from black to white&mdash;from all gloom
+      to all sunshine; the minute-hand of the clock had moved with unfeeling
+      regularity, or, in plain unmeasured prose, it was now eleven o&rsquo;clock, and
+      three times Vivian had been warned that breakfast was ready. When he
+      entered the room, the first thing he heard, as usual, was Miss Bateman&rsquo;s
+      voice, who was declaiming upon some sentimental point, in all &ldquo;the high
+      sublime of deep absurd.&rdquo; Vivian, little interested in this display, and
+      joining neither in the open flattery nor in the secret ridicule with which
+      the gentlemen wits and amateurs listened to the Rosamunda, looked round
+      for Lady Julia. &ldquo;She breakfasts in her own room this morning,&rdquo; whispered
+      Lord Glistonbury, before Vivian had even pronounced her ladyship&rsquo;s name.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So!&rdquo; said Mr. Pickering, &ldquo;we have lost Mr. Russell this morning!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury, &ldquo;he was forced to hurry away to the north, I
+      find, to an old sick uncle.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord Lidhurst, I&rsquo;m afraid, will break his heart for want of him,&rdquo; cried
+      the lawyer, in a tone that might either pass for earnest or irony,
+      according to the fancy of the interpreter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord Lidhurst, did you say?&rdquo;&mdash;cried the captain: &ldquo;are you sure you
+      meant Lord Lidhurst? I don&rsquo;t apprehend that a young nobleman ever broke
+      his heart after his tutor. But I was going to remark&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      What farther the captain was going to remark can never be known to the
+      world; for Lord Glistonbury so startled him by the loud and rather angry
+      tone in which he called for the cream, which <i>stood</i> with the
+      captain, that all his few ideas were put to flight. Mr. Pickering, who
+      noticed Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s displeasure, now resumed the conversation about
+      Mr. Russell in a new tone; and the lawyer and he joined in a eulogy upon
+      that gentleman. Lord Glistonbury said not a word, but looked embarrassed.
+      Miss Strictland cleared her throat several times, and looked infinitely
+      more rigid and mysterious than usual. Lady Glistonbury and Lady Sarah,
+      ditto&mdash;ditto. Almost every body, except such visitors as were
+      strangers at the castle, perceived that there was something extraordinary
+      going on in the family; and the gloom and constraint spread so, that,
+      towards the close of breakfast, nothing was uttered, by prudent people,
+      but awkward sentences about the weather&mdash;the wind&mdash;and the
+      likelihood of there being a mail from the continent. Still through all
+      this, regardless and unknowing of it all, the Rosamunda talked on, happily
+      abstracted, egotistically secured from the pains of sympathy or of
+      curiosity by the all-sufficient power of vanity. Even her patron, Lord
+      Glistonbury, was at last provoked and disgusted. He was heard, under his
+      breath, to pronounce a contemptuous <i>Pshaw!</i> and, as he rose from the
+      breakfast table he whispered to Vivian, &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a woman, now, who thinks
+      of nothing living but herself!&mdash;All talkèe talkèe!&mdash;I begin to
+      be weary of her.&mdash;&mdash;Gentlemen,&rdquo; continued his lordship, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve
+      letters to write this morning.&mdash;&mdash;You&rsquo;ll ride&mdash;you&rsquo;ll walk&mdash;you&rsquo;re
+      for the billiard-room, I suppose.&mdash;&mdash;Mr. Vivian, I shall find
+      you in my study, I hope, an hour hence; but first I have a little business
+      to settle.&rdquo; With evident embarrassment Lord Glistonbury retired. Lady
+      Glistonbury, Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland, each sighed; then, with
+      looks of intelligence, rose and retired. The company separated soon
+      afterwards; and went to ride, to walk, or to the billiard-room, and Vivian
+      to the study, to wait there for Lord Glistonbury, and to meditate upon
+      what might be the nature of his lordship&rsquo;s business. As Vivian crossed the
+      gallery, the door of Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s dressing-room opened, and was shut
+      again instantaneously by Miss Strictland; but not before he saw Lady Julia
+      kneeling at her father&rsquo;s feet, whilst Lady Glistonbury and Lady Sarah were
+      standing like statues, on each side of his lordship. Vivian waited a full
+      hour afterwards in tedious suspense in the study. At last he heard doors
+      open and footsteps, and he judged that the family council had broken up;
+      he laid down a book, of which he had read the same page over six times,
+      without any one of the words it contained having conveyed a single idea to
+      his mind. Lord Glistonbury came in, with papers and parchments in his
+      hands.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Vivian, I am afraid you have been waiting for me&mdash;have a
+      thousand pardons to ask&mdash;I really could not come any sooner&mdash;I
+      wished to speak to you&mdash;Won&rsquo;t you sit down?&mdash;We had better sit
+      down quietly&mdash;there&rsquo;s no sort of hurry.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His lordship, however, seemed to be in great agitation-of spirits; and
+      Vivian was convinced that his mind must be interested in an extraordinary
+      manner, because he did not, as was his usual practice, digress to fifty
+      impertinent episodes before he came to the point. He only blew his nose
+      sundry times; and then at once said, &ldquo;I wish to speak to you, Mr. Vivian,
+      about the proposal you did me the honour to make for my daughter Julia.
+      Difficulties have occurred on our side&mdash;very extraordinary
+      difficulties&mdash;Julia, I understand, has hinted to you, sir, the nature
+      of those difficulties.&mdash;Oh, Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury,
+      suddenly quitting the constrained voice in which he spoke, and giving way
+      to his natural feelings, &ldquo;you are a man of honour and feeling, and a
+      father may trust you!&mdash;&mdash;Here&rsquo;s my girl&mdash;a charming girl
+      she is; but knowing nothing of the world&mdash;self-willed, romantic,
+      open-hearted, imprudent beyond conception; do not listen to any of the
+      foolish things she says to you. You are a man of sense, you love her, and
+      you are every way suited to her; it is the first wish of my heart&mdash;I
+      tell you frankly&mdash;to see her your wife: then do not let her childish
+      folly persuade you that her affections are engaged&mdash;don&rsquo;t listen to
+      any such stuff. We all know what the first loves of a girl of sixteen must
+      be&mdash;But it&rsquo;s our fault&mdash;my fault, my fault, since they will have
+      it so. I care not whose fault it is; but we have had very improper people
+      about her&mdash;very!&mdash;very!&mdash;But all may be well yet, if you,
+      sir, will be steady, and save her&mdash;save her from herself. I would
+      farther suggest&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury was going on, probably, to have weakened by amplification
+      the effect of what he had said, when Lady Julia entered the room; and,
+      advancing with dignified determination of manner, said, &ldquo;I have your
+      commands, father, that I should see Mr. Vivian again:&mdash;I obey.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That is right&mdash;that is my darling Julia; I always knew she would
+      justify my high opinion of her.&rdquo; Lord Glistonbury attempted to draw her
+      towards him fondly; but, with an unaltered manner, that seemed as if she
+      suppressed strong emotion, she answered, &ldquo;I do not deserve your caresses,
+      father; do not oppress me with praise that I cannot merit: I wish to speak
+      to Mr. Vivian without control and without witness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury rose; and growing red and almost inarticulate with anger,
+      exclaimed, &ldquo;Remember, Julia! remember, Lady Julia Lidhurst! that if you
+      say what you said you would say, and what I said you should not say&mdash;I&mdash;Lord
+      Glistonbury, your father&mdash;I, as well as all the rest of your family,
+      utterly disclaim and cast you off for ever!&mdash;You&rsquo;ll be a thing
+      without fortune&mdash;without friends&mdash;without a name&mdash;without a
+      being in the world&mdash;Lady Julia Lidhurst!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am well aware of that,&rdquo; replied Lady Julia, growing quite pale, yet
+      without changing the determination of her countenance, or abating any
+      thing from the dignity of her manner: &ldquo;I am well aware, that on what I am
+      about to do depends my having, or my ceasing from this moment to have,
+      fortune, friends, and a father.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury stood still for a moment&mdash;fixed his eyes upon her as
+      if he would have read her soul; but, without seeking to elude his inquiry,
+      her countenance seemed to offer itself to his penetration.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By Heaven, there is no understanding this girl!&rdquo; cried his lordship. &ldquo;Mr.
+      Vivian, I trust her to your honour&mdash;to your knowledge of the world&mdash;to
+      your good sense;&mdash;in short, sir, to your love and constancy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And I, sir,&rdquo; said Lady Julia, turning to Vivian, after her father had
+      left the room, and looking at Vivian so as to stop him short as he
+      approached, and to disconcert him in the commencement of a passionate
+      speech; &ldquo;and I, too, sir, trust to your honour, whilst I deprecate your
+      love. Imprudent as I was in the first confidence I reposed in you, and
+      much as I have suffered by your rashness, I now stand determined to reveal
+      to you another yet more important, yet more humiliating secret&mdash;You
+      owe me no gratitude, sir!&mdash;I am compelled, by the circumstances in
+      which I am placed, either to deceive or to trust you. I must either become
+      your wife, and deceive you most treacherously; or I must trust you
+      entirely, and tell you why it would be shameful that I should become your
+      wife&mdash;shameful to me and to you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;To me!&mdash;Impossible!&rdquo; cried Vivian, bursting into some passionate
+      expressions of love and admiration.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Listen to me, sir; and do not make any of those rash professions, of
+      which you will soon repent. You think you are speaking to the same Lady
+      Julia you saw yesterday&mdash;No!&mdash;you are speaking to a very
+      different person&mdash;a few hours have made a terrible change. You see
+      before you, sir, one who has been, till this day, the darling and pride of
+      her father; who has lived in the lap of luxury; who has been flattered,
+      admired, by almost all who approached her; who had fortune, and rank, and
+      fair prospects in life, and youth, and spirits, and all the pride of
+      prosperity; who had, I believe, good dispositions, perhaps some talents,
+      and, I may say, a generous heart; who might have been,&mdash;but that is
+      all over&mdash;no matter what she might have been&mdash;she is
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;A tale for ev&rsquo;ry prating she.&rsquo; 
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Fallen!&mdash;fallen! fallen under the feet of those who worshipped her!&mdash;fallen
+      below the contempt of the contemptible!&mdash;Worse! worse! fallen in her
+      own opinion&mdash;never to rise again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Julia&rsquo;s voice failed, and she was forced to pause. She sunk upon a
+      seat, and hid her face&mdash;for some moments she neither saw nor heard;
+      but at last, raising her head, she perceived Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are in amazement, sir! and I see you pity me; but let me beg of you
+      to restrain your feelings&mdash;my own are as much as I can bear. O that I
+      could recall a few hours of my existence! But I have not yet been able to
+      tell you what has passed. My father, my friends, wish to conceal it from
+      you: but, whatever I have done, however low I have sunk, I will not
+      deceive, nor be an accomplice in deceit. From my own lips you shall hear
+      all. This morning at daybreak, not being able to sleep, and having some
+      suspicion that Mr. Russell would leave the castle, I rose, and whilst I
+      was dressing, I heard the trampling of horses in the court. I looked out
+      of my window, and saw Mr. Russell&rsquo;s man saddling his master&rsquo;s horse. I
+      heard Mr. Russell, a moment afterwards, order the servant to take the
+      horses to the great gate on the north road, and wait for him there, as he
+      intended to walk through the park. I thought these were the last words I
+      should ever hear him speak.&mdash;Love took possession of me&mdash;I stole
+      softly down the little staircase that leads from my turret to one of the
+      back doors, and got out of the castle, as I thought, unobserved: I hurried
+      on, and waited in the great oak wood, through which I knew Mr. Russell
+      would pass. When I saw him coming nearer and nearer to me, I would have
+      given the world to have been in my own room again&mdash;I hid myself among
+      the trees&mdash;yet, when he walked on in reverie without noticing me,
+      taking me probably for one of the servants, I could not bear to think that
+      this was the last moment I should ever see him, and I exclaimed&mdash;I
+      know not what; but I know that at the sound of my voice Mr. Russell
+      started, and never can I forget the look&mdash;Spare me the rest!&mdash;No!&mdash;I
+      will not spare myself&mdash;I offered my heart, my hand,&mdash;and they
+      were rejected!&mdash;In my madness I told him I regarded neither wealth,
+      nor rank, nor friends, nor&mdash;That I would rather live with him in
+      obscurity than be the greatest princess upon earth&mdash;I said this and
+      more&mdash;and I was rejected&mdash;And even at this moment, instead of
+      the vindictive passions which are said to fill the soul of a woman
+      scorned, I feel admiration for your noble friend: I have not done him
+      justice; I cannot repeat his words, or describe his manner. He persuaded,
+      by his eloquence compelled, me to return to this castle. He took from me
+      all hope; he destroyed by one word all my illusions&mdash;he told me that
+      he loves another. He has left me to despair, to disgrace; and yet I love,
+      esteem, and admire him, above all human beings! Admire one who despises
+      me!&mdash;Is it possible? I know not, but it is so&mdash;I have more to
+      tell you, sir!&mdash;As I returned to the castle, I was watched by Miss
+      Strictland. How she knew all that had passed, I cannot divine; perhaps it
+      was by means of some spy who followed me, and whom I did not perceive: for
+      I neither saw nor heard any thing but my passion. Miss Strictland
+      communicated her discovery immediately to my father. I have been these
+      last two hours before a family tribunal. My mother, with a coldness a
+      thousand times worse than my poor father&rsquo;s rage, says, that I have only
+      accomplished her prophecies; that she always knew and told my father that
+      I should be a disgrace to my family. But no reproaches are equal to my
+      own; I stand self-condemned. I feel like one awakened from a dream. A few
+      words!&mdash;a single look from Mr. Russell!&mdash;how they have altered
+      all my views, all my thoughts! Two hours&rsquo; reflection&mdash;Two hours, did
+      I say?&mdash;whole years&mdash;a whole existence&mdash;have passed to me
+      in the last two hours: I am a different creature. But it is too late&mdash;too
+      late!&mdash;Self-esteem is gone!&mdash;happiness is over for me in this
+      world.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Happiness over for you!&rdquo; exclaimed Vivian in a tone expressive of the
+      deep interest he felt for her; &ldquo;Self-esteem gone!&mdash;No! Lady Julia; do
+      not blame yourself so severely for what has passed! Blame the
+      circumstances in which you have been placed; above all, blame me&mdash;blame
+      my folly&mdash;my madness; your secret never would have been known, if I
+      had not&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I thank you,&rdquo; interrupted Lady Julia, rising from her seat; &ldquo;but no
+      consolation can be of any avail. It neither consoles nor justifies me that
+      others have been to blame.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Permit me, at least,&rdquo; pursued Vivian, &ldquo;to speak of my own sentiments for
+      one moment. Permit me to say, Lady Julia, that the confidence with which
+      you have just honoured me, instead of diminishing my attachment, has so
+      raised my admiration for your candour and magnanimity, that no obstacles
+      shall vanquish my constancy. I will wait respectfully, and, if I can,
+      patiently, till time shall have effaced from your mind these painful
+      impressions; I shall neither ask nor accept of the interference or
+      influence of your father, nor of any of your friends; I shall rely solely
+      on the operation of your own excellent understanding, and shall hope for
+      my reward from your noble heart.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You do not think it possible,&rdquo; said Lady Julia, looking at Vivian with
+      dignified determination, &ldquo;you do not think it possible, after all that has
+      passed, after all that I have told you, that I could so far degrade myself
+      or you, as to entertain any thoughts of becoming your wife? Farewell! Mr.
+      Vivian.&mdash;&mdash;You will not see me again. I shall obtain permission
+      to retire, and live with a relation in a distant part of the country;
+      where I shall no more be seen or heard of. My fortune will, I hope, be of
+      use to my sister.&mdash;&mdash;My poor father!&mdash;I pity him; he loves
+      me: he loses his daughter for ever; worse than loses her! My mother, too&mdash;I
+      pity her! for, though she does not love me, she will suffer for me; she
+      will suffer more than my father, by the disgrace that would be brought
+      upon my family, if ever the secret should be publicly known. My brother!&mdash;Oh,
+      my beloved brother! he knows nothing yet of all this!&mdash;But why do I
+      grieve you with my agony of mind? Forget that Lady Julia Lidhurst ever
+      existed!&mdash;I wish you that happiness which I can never enjoy&mdash;I
+      wish you may deserve and win a heart capable of feeling real love!&mdash;Adieu!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XI.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Convinced that all farther pursuit of Lady Julia Lidhurst would be vain,
+      that it could tend only to increase her difficulties and his
+      mortification, Vivian saw that the best thing he could possibly do was to
+      leave Glistonbury. Thus he should relieve the whole family from the
+      embarrassment of his presence; and, by immediate change of scene and of
+      occupation, he had the best chance of recovering from his own
+      disappointment. If Lady Julia was to quit the castle, he could have no
+      inducement to stay; if her ladyship remained, his continuing in her
+      society would be still more dangerous to his happiness. Besides, he felt
+      offended with Lord Glistonbury, who evidently had wished to conceal from
+      him the truth; and, without considering what was just or honourable, had
+      endeavoured to secure, at all events, an establishment for his daughter,
+      and a connexion for his family. To the weight of these reasons must be
+      added a desire to see Mr. Russell, and to effect a reconciliation with
+      him. The accumulated force of all these motives had power to overcome
+      Vivian&rsquo;s habitual indecision: his servant was surprised by an order to
+      have every thing ready for his journey to town immediately. Whilst his man
+      prepared to obey, or at least to meditate upon the cause of this unusually
+      decided order, our hero went in quest of Lord Glistonbury, to pay his
+      compliments to his lordship previous to his departure. His lordship was in
+      his daughter Julia&rsquo;s dressing-room, and could not be seen; but presently
+      he came to Vivian in great hurry and distress of mind.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A sad stroke upon us, Mr. Vivian!&mdash;a sad stroke upon us all&mdash;but
+      most upon me; for she was the child of my expectations&mdash;I hear she
+      has told you every thing&mdash;you, also, have been very ill-used&mdash;Never
+      was astonishment equal to mine when I heard Miss Strictland&rsquo;s story. I
+      need not caution you, Mr. Vivian, as to secrecy; you are a man of honour,
+      and you see the peace of our whole family is at stake. The girl is going
+      to a relation of ours in Devonshire.&mdash;Sha&rsquo;n&rsquo;t stay here&mdash;sha&rsquo;n&rsquo;t
+      stay here&mdash;Disgrace to my family&mdash;She who was my pride&mdash;and,
+      after all, says she will never marry.&mdash;Very well!&mdash;very well!&mdash;I
+      shall never see her again, that I am determined upon.&mdash;I told her,
+      that if she did not behave with common sense and propriety, in her last
+      interview with you, I would give her up&mdash;and so I will, and so I do.&mdash;The
+      whole is Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s fault&mdash;she never managed her rightly when
+      she was a child. Oh! I should put you on your guard in one particular&mdash;Miss
+      Bateman knows nothing of what has happened&mdash;I wish Miss Strictland
+      knew as little&mdash;I hate her. What business had she to play the spy
+      upon my daughter? She does well to be a prude, for she is as ugly as sin.
+      But we are in her power. She is to go to-morrow with Julia to Devonshire.
+      It will make a quarrel between me and Miss Bateman&mdash;no matter for
+      that; for now, the sooner we get rid of that Rosamunda, too, the better&mdash;she
+      talks me dead, and will let no one talk but herself. And, between you and
+      me, all this could not have happened, if she had looked after her charge
+      properly.&mdash;Not but what I think Miss Strictland was still less fit to
+      guide a girl of Julia&rsquo;s genius and disposition. All was done wrong at
+      first, and I always said so to Lady Glistonbury. But, if the secret can be
+      kept&mdash;and <i>that</i> depends on you, my dear friend&mdash;after six
+      months&rsquo; or a twelve-month&rsquo;s <i>rustication</i> with our poor parson in the
+      country, you will see how tamed and docile the girl will come back to us.
+      This is my scheme; but nobody shall know my whole mind but you&mdash;I
+      shall tell her I will never see her again; and that will pacify Lady
+      Glistonbury, and frighten Julia into submission. She says she&rsquo;ll never
+      marry.&mdash;Stuff! Stuff!&mdash;You don&rsquo;t believe her!&mdash;What man who
+      has seen any thing of the world ever believes such stuff?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s servant came into the room to ask his master some question about
+      horses.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Going!&mdash;where? Going!&mdash;when? Going!&mdash;how?&rdquo; cried Lord
+      Glistonbury, as soon as the servant withdrew. &ldquo;Surely, you are not going
+      to leave us, Mr. Vivian?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian explained his reasons&mdash;Lord Glistonbury would not allow them
+      any weight, entreated and insisted that he should stay at least a few days
+      longer; for his going &ldquo;just at this moment would seem quite like a break
+      up in the family, and would be the most unfriendly and cruel thing
+      imaginable.&rdquo; Why Lord Glistonbury so earnestly pressed his stay, perhaps
+      even his lordship himself did not exactly know; for, with all the air of
+      being a person of infinite address and depth of design, his lordship was
+      in reality childishly inconsistent; what the French call <i>inconséquent</i>.
+      On any subject, great or small, where he once took it into his head, or,
+      as he called it, <i>made it a point</i>, that a thing should be so or so,
+      he was as peremptory, or, where he could not be peremptory, as anxious, as
+      if it were a matter of life and death. In his views there was no
+      perspective, no keeping&mdash;all objects appeared of equal magnitude; and
+      even now, when it might be conceived that his whole mind was intent upon a
+      great family misfortune, he, in the course of a few minutes, became as
+      eager about a mere trifle as if he had nothing else in the world to think
+      of. From the earnestness with which Lord Glistonbury urged him to stay a
+      few days, at least one day longer, Vivian was induced to believe that it
+      must be a matter of real consequence to his lordship&mdash;&ldquo;And, in his
+      present state of distress, I cannot refuse such a request,&rdquo; thought
+      Vivian. He yielded, therefore, to these solicitations, and consented to
+      stay a few days longer; though he knew the prolonging his visit would be,
+      in every respect, disagreeable.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At dinner Lord Glistonbury announced to the company that the physician had
+      advised change of air immediately for Lord Lidhurst; and that, in
+      consequence, his son would set out early the next morning for Devonshire&mdash;that
+      his daughter Julia wished to go with her brother, and that Miss Strictland
+      would accompany them. Lord Glistonbury apologized for his daughter&rsquo;s
+      absence, &ldquo;preparations for her journey so suddenly decided upon,&rdquo; &amp;c.
+      Lady Glistonbury and Lady Sarah looked terribly grim whilst all this was
+      saying; but the gravity and stiffness of their demeanour did not appear
+      any thing extraordinary to the greater part of the company, who had no
+      idea of what was going forward. The lawyer, the captain, and the chaplain,
+      however, interchanged significant looks; and many times, during the course
+      of the evening, they made attempts to draw out Vivian&rsquo;s thoughts, but they
+      found him impenetrable. There was an underplot of a quarrel between Miss
+      Strictland and Miss Bateman, to which Vivian paid little attention; nor
+      was he affected, in the slightest degree, by the Rosamunda&rsquo;s declaration
+      to Lord Glistonbury, that she must leave his family, since she found that
+      Miss Strictland had a larger share than herself of his lordship&rsquo;s
+      confidence, and was, for what reason she could not divine, to have the
+      honour of accompanying Lady Julia into Devonshire. Vivian perceived these
+      quarrels, and heard the frivolous conversation of the company at
+      Glistonbury Castle without interest, and with a sort of astonishment at
+      the small motives by which others were agitated, whilst his whole soul was
+      engrossed by love and pity for Lady Julia. In vain he hoped for another
+      opportunity of seeing and speaking to her. She never appeared. The next
+      morning he rose at daybreak that he might have the chance of seeing her:
+      he begged Miss Strictland to entreat her ladyship would allow him to say a
+      few words before she set out; but Miss Strictland replied, that she was
+      assured the request would be vain; and he thought he perceived that Miss
+      Strictland, though she affected to lament Lady Julia&rsquo;s blindness to her
+      own interests and contumacy, in opposing her father&rsquo;s wishes, was, in
+      reality, glad that she persisted in her own determination. Lord Lidhurst,
+      on account of the weak state of his health, was kept in ignorance of every
+      thing that could agitate him; and, when Vivian took leave of him, the poor
+      young man left many messages of kindness and gratitude for Mr. Russell.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sorry that he was obliged to leave me; for, ill or well, there is no
+      human being, I will not except any one but my sister Julia, whom I should
+      so much wish to have with me. Tell him so; and tell him&mdash;be sure you
+      remember my very words, for perhaps I shall never see him again&mdash;tell
+      him, that, living or dying, I shall feel grateful to him. He has given me
+      tastes and principles very different from those I had when he came into
+      this house. Even in sickness, I feel almost every hour the advantage of my
+      present love for literature. If I should live and recover, I hope I shall
+      do him some credit; and I trust my family will join in my gratitude.
+      Julia, my dear sister! why do you weep so bitterly?&mdash;If I had seen
+      you come into the room, I would not have spoken of my health.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury came up to tell them that Miss Strictland was ready. &ldquo;Mr.
+      Vivian,&rdquo; cried his lordship, &ldquo;will you hand Julia into the carriage?&mdash;Julia,
+      Mr. Vivian is offering you his services.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, as he attended Lady Julia, had so much respect for her feelings,
+      that, though he had been waiting with extreme impatience for an
+      opportunity <i>to say a few words</i>, yet now he would not speak, but
+      handed her along the gallery, down the staircase, and across the great
+      hall, in profound silence. She seemed sensible of this forbearance; and,
+      turning to him at a moment when they could not be overheard, said, &ldquo;It was
+      not from unkindness, Mr. Vivian, I refused to see you again, but to
+      convince you that my mind is determined&mdash;if you have any thing to
+      say, I am ready to hear it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is there nothing to be hoped from time?&rdquo; said Vivian. &ldquo;Your father, I
+      know, has hopes that&mdash;&mdash;All I ask is, that you will not make any
+      rash resolutions.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I make none; but I tell <i>you</i>, for your own sake, not to cherish any
+      vain hope. My father does not know my mind sufficiently, therefore he may
+      deceive you; but I will not.&mdash;&mdash;I thought, after the manner in
+      which I spoke to you yesterday, you would have had too much strength of
+      mind to have rendered this repetition of my sentiments necessary.&mdash;&mdash;Attach
+      yourself elsewhere as soon as you can.&mdash;I sincerely wish your
+      happiness. Miss Strictland is waiting.&mdash;Farewell!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She hurried forward to the carriage; and, when she was gone, Vivian
+      repented that he had seen her again, as it had only given them both
+      additional and fruitless pain.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      What passed during some succeeding days at Glistonbury Castle he scarcely
+      knew; no trace remained in his mind of anything but the confused noise of
+      people, who had been talking, laughing, and diverting themselves in a
+      manner that seemed to him incomprehensible. He exerted himself, however,
+      so far as to write to Russell, to implore his forgiveness, and to solicit
+      a return of his friendship, which, in his present state of unhappiness,
+      was more necessary to him than ever. When he had finished and despatched
+      this letter, he sunk again into a sort of reckless state, without hope or
+      determination, as to his future life. He could not decide whether he
+      should go to his mother immediately on leaving Glistonbury, or to Mr.
+      Russell, or (which he knew was the best course he could pursue) attend his
+      duty in parliament, and, by plunging at once into public business, change
+      the course of his thoughts, and force his mind to resume its energy. After
+      altering his determination twenty times, after giving at least a dozen
+      contradictory orders about his journey, his servant at last had his
+      ultimatum, <i>for London</i>&mdash;the carriage to be at the door at ten
+      o&rsquo;clock the next morning. Every thing was ready at the appointed hour.
+      Breakfast over, Vivian waited only to pay his compliments to Lady
+      Glistonbury, who had breakfasted in her own apartment. Lady Sarah, with a
+      manner as formal as usual, rose from the breakfast-table, and said she
+      would let her mother know that Mr. Vivian was going. Vivian waited half an
+      hour&mdash;an hour&mdash;two hours. Lady Glistonbury did not appear, nor
+      did Lady Sarah return. The company had dispersed after the first
+      half-hour. Lord Glistonbury began to believe that the ladies did not mean
+      to make their appearance. At length a message came from Lady Glistonbury.&mdash;&ldquo;Lady
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s compliments to Mr. Vivian&mdash;her ladyship was concerned
+      that it was out of her power to have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Vivian, as
+      she was too much indisposed to leave her room.&mdash;She and Lady Sarah
+      wished him a very good journey.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian went up to his room for his gloves, which he missed at the moment
+      when he was going. Whilst he was opening the empty drawers one after
+      another, in search of his gloves, and, at the same time, calling his
+      servant to find them, he heard a loud scream from an adjoining apartment.
+      He listened again&mdash;all was silent; and he supposed that what he had
+      heard was not a scream: but, at that moment, Lady Sarah&rsquo;s maid flung open
+      his door, and, running in with out-stretched arms, threw herself at
+      Vivian&rsquo;s feet. Her sobs and tears prevented his understanding one syllable
+      she said. At last she articulated intelligibly, &ldquo;Oh, sir!&mdash;don&rsquo;t be
+      so cruel to go&mdash;my lady!&mdash;my poor lady! If you go, it will kill
+      Lady Sarah!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Kill Lady Sarah?&mdash;Why I saw her in perfect health this morning at
+      breakfast!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear, dear sir! you know nothing of the matter!&rdquo; said the maid, rising,
+      and shutting the door: &ldquo;you don&rsquo;t know what a way she has been in ever
+      since the talk of your going&mdash;fits upon fits every night, and my
+      lady, her mother, and I up holding her&mdash;and none in the house knowing
+      it but ourselves. Very well at breakfast! Lord help us! sir. How little
+      you know of what she has suffered! Lord have mercy upon me! I would not be
+      a lady to be so much in love, and left so, for any thing in the whole
+      world. And my Lady Sarah keeps every thing so to herself;&mdash;if it was
+      not for these fits they would never have knowed she cared no more for you
+      than a stone.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And, probably you are quite mistaken,&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;and that I have
+      nothing to do with the young lady&rsquo;s illness. If she has fits, I am very
+      sorry for it; but I can&rsquo;t possibly&mdash;&mdash;Certainly, you are quite
+      mistaken!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Lord, sir!&mdash;mistaken! As if I could be mistaken, when I know my lady
+      as well as I know myself! Why, sir, I know from the time of the election,
+      when you was given to her by all the country&mdash;and to be sure when we
+      all thought it would be a match directly&mdash;and the Lord knows what put
+      it off!&mdash;I say, from that time, her heart was set upon you. Though
+      she never said a word to me, or any one, I knew how it was, through all
+      her coldness&mdash;And to be sure, when you was in Lon&rsquo;on so much with us,
+      all the town said, as all the country did afore, that to be sure it was to
+      be a match&mdash;But then that sad affair, with that artfullest of women,
+      that took you off from all that was good, and away, the Lord knows where,
+      to foreign parts!&mdash;Well! to be sure, I never shall forget the day you
+      come back again to us!&mdash;and the night of the ball!&mdash;and you
+      dancing with my lady, and all so happy; then, to be sure, all were sarten
+      it was to be immediately&mdash;&mdash;And now to go and break my poor
+      lady&rsquo;s heart at the last&mdash;Oh, sir, sir! if you could but see her, it
+      would touch a heart of marble!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s astonishment and dismay were so great, that he suffered the girl,
+      who was an unpractised creature, to go on speaking without interruption:
+      the warmth of affection with which she spoke of her lady, also, surprised
+      him: for, till this instant, he had no idea that any one could love Lady
+      Sarah Lidhurst; and the accounts she gave of the lady&rsquo;s sufferings not
+      only touched his compassion, but worked upon his vanity. &ldquo;This cold, proud
+      young lady that never loved none before, to think,&rdquo; as her maid said,
+      &ldquo;that she should come to such a pass, as to be in fits about him. And it
+      was her belief that Lady Sarah never would recover it, if he went away out
+      of the castle this day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The ringing of a bell had repeatedly been heard, whilst Lady Sarah&rsquo;s maid
+      was speaking; it now rang violently, and her name was called vehemently
+      from the adjoining apartment. &ldquo;I must go, I <i>must</i> go!&mdash;Oh, sir!
+      one day, for mercy&rsquo;s sake! stay one day longer!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, though he had been moved by this girl&rsquo;s representations, was
+      determined to effect his retreat whilst it was yet in his power; therefore
+      he ran down stairs, and had gained the hall, where he was shaking hands
+      with Lord Glistonbury, when my Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s own woman came in a
+      great hurry to say, that her lady, finding herself a little better now,
+      and able to see Mr. Vivian, begged he would be so good as to walk up to
+      her dressing-room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, with a heavy heart and slow steps, obeyed; there was no refusing,
+      no evading such a request. He summoned all his resolution, at the same
+      time saying to himself, as he followed his conductor along the gallery,
+      &ldquo;It is impossible that I can ever be drawn in to marry Lady Sarah.&mdash;This
+      is a concerted plan, and I shall not be so weak as to be the dupe of so
+      gross an artifice.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s maid showed him into her lady&rsquo;s dressing-room and
+      retired. Lady Glistonbury was seated, and, without speaking, pointed to a
+      chair which was set opposite to her. &ldquo;So! a preparation for a scene,&rdquo;
+       thought Vivian. He bowed, but, still keeping his hat in his hand, did not
+      sit down:&mdash;he was extremely happy to hear, that her ladyship found
+      herself something better&mdash;much honoured by her permitting him to pay
+      his respects, and to offer his grateful acknowledgments to her ladyship
+      before his departure from Glistonbury.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Her ladyship, still without speaking, pointed to the chair. Vivian sat
+      down, and looked as if he had &ldquo;screwed his courage to the sticking place.&rdquo;
+       Lady Glistonbury had sometimes a little nervous trembling of her head,
+      which was the only symptom of internal agitation that was ever observable
+      in her; it was now increased to a degree which Vivian had never before
+      seen.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Are you in haste, sir, to be gone?&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not if her ladyship had any commands for him; but otherwise, he had
+      intended, if possible, to reach town that night.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall not delay you many minutes, Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; said her ladyship. &ldquo;You
+      need not be under apprehension that Lady Glistonbury should seek to detain
+      you longer than your own inclinations induce you to stay; it is,
+      therefore, unnecessary to insult her with any appearance of haste or
+      impatience.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian instantly laid down his hat, and protested that he was not in the
+      slightest degree impatient: he should be very ungrateful, as well as very
+      ill-bred, if, after the most hospitable manner in which he had been
+      received and entertained at Glistonbury Castle, he could be in haste to
+      quit it. He was entirely at her ladyship&rsquo;s orders.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Glistonbury bowed formally&mdash;was again silent&mdash;the trembling
+      of her head very great&mdash;the rest of her form motionless.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I have sent for you, Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;that I might, before you
+      leave this castle, set you right on a subject which much concerns me. From
+      the representations of a foolish country girl, a maid-servant of my
+      daughter, Lady Sarah Lidhurst, which I have just discovered she has made
+      to you, I had reason to fear that you might leave Glistonbury with very
+      false notions&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A cry was heard at this moment from the inner apartment, which made Vivian
+      start; but Lady Glistonbury, without noticing it, went on speaking.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;With notions very injurious to my daughter Sarah; who, if I know any
+      thing of her, would rather, if it were so ordained, go out of this world,
+      than condescend to any thing unbecoming her sex, her education, and her
+      family.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, struck with respect and compassion for the mother, who spoke to
+      him in this manner, was now convinced that there had been no concerted
+      plan to work upon his mind, that the maid had spoken without the knowledge
+      of her lady; and the more proudly solicitous Lady Glistonbury showed
+      herself to remove what she called the false impression from his mind, the
+      more he was persuaded that the girl had spoken the truth. He was much
+      embarrassed between his good-nature and his dread of becoming a sacrifice
+      to his humanity.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      He replied in general terms to Lady Glistonbury, that he had the highest
+      respect for Lady Sarah Lidhurst, and that no opinion injurious to her
+      could be entertained by him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Respect she must command from all,&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury; &ldquo;<i>that</i>
+      it is out of any man&rsquo;s power to refuse her: as to the rest, she leaves
+      you, and I leave you, sir, to your own conscience.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Glistonbury rose, and so did Vivian. He hoped that neither her
+      ladyship nor Lady Sarah had any cause&mdash;&mdash;He hesitated; the
+      words, <i>to reproach, to complain, to be displeased</i>, all came to his
+      lips; but each seemed improper; and, none other being at hand to convey
+      his meaning, he could not finish his sentence: so he began another upon a
+      new construction, with &ldquo;I should be much concerned if, in addition to all
+      my other causes of regret in leaving Glistonbury Castle, I felt that I had
+      incurred Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s or Lady Sarah&rsquo;s displea&mdash;disapprobation.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As to that, sir,&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury, &ldquo;I cannot but have my own
+      opinion of your conduct; and you can scarcely expect, I apprehend, that a
+      mother, such as I am, should not feel some disapprobation of conduct,
+      which has&mdash;&mdash;Sir, I beg I may not detain you&mdash;I have the
+      honour to wish you a good journey and much happiness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      An attendant came from an inner apartment with a message! from Lady Sarah,
+      who was worse, and wished to see her mother&mdash;&ldquo;Immediately!&mdash;tell
+      her, immediately!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The servant returned with the answer. Vivian was retiring, but he came
+      back, for he saw at that moment a convulsive motion contract Lady
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s face: she made an effort to walk; but if Vivian had not
+      supported her instantly, she must have fallen. She endeavoured to
+      disengage herself from his assistance, and again attempted to walk.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;For God&rsquo;s sake, lean upon me, madam!&rdquo; said Vivian, much alarmed. With his
+      assistance, she reached the door of the inner room: summoning all the
+      returning powers of life, she then withdrew her arm from his, and pointing
+      back to the door at which Vivian entered, she said, &ldquo;That is your way,
+      sir.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pardon me&mdash;I cannot go&mdash;I cannot leave you at this moment,&rdquo;
+       said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;This is my daughter&rsquo;s apartment, sir,&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury, stopping,
+      and standing still and fixed. Some of the attendants within, hearing her
+      ladyship&rsquo;s voice, opened the door; Lady Glistonbury made an effort to
+      prevent it, but in vain: the chamber was darkened, but as the door opened,
+      the wind from an open window blew back the curtain, and some light fell
+      upon a canopy bed, where Lady Sarah lay motionless, her eyes closed, and
+      pale as death; one attendant chafing her temples, another rubbing her
+      feet: she looked up just after the door opened, and, raising her head, she
+      saw Vivian&mdash;a gleam of joy illumined her countenance, and coloured
+      her cheek.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; repeated Lady Glistonbury, &ldquo;this is my daughter&rsquo;s&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She could articulate no more. She fell across the threshold, struck with
+      palsy. Her daughter sprang from the bed, and, with Vivian&rsquo;s assistance,
+      raised and carried Lady Glistonbury to an arm-chair near the open window,
+      drew back the curtain, begged Vivian to go to her father, and instantly to
+      despatch a messenger for medical assistance. Vivian sent his own servant,
+      who had his horse ready at the door, and he bid the man go as fast as he
+      could.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then you don&rsquo;t leave Glistonbury to-day, sir?&rdquo; said the servant.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do as I order you&mdash;Where&rsquo;s Lord Glistonbury?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His lordship, with the newspapers and letters open in his hand, came up&mdash;but
+      they dropped on hearing the intelligence that Vivian communicated. His
+      lordship was naturally humane and good-natured; and the shock was greater,
+      perhaps, to him, from the sort of enmity in which he lived with Lady
+      Glistonbury.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I dread to go up stairs,&rdquo; said he. &ldquo;For God&rsquo;s sake, Vivian, don&rsquo;t leave
+      me in this distress!&mdash;do order your carriage away!&mdash;&mdash;Put
+      up Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s carriage.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Sarah&rsquo;s maid came to tell them that Lady Glistonbury had recovered
+      her speech, and that she had asked, &ldquo;if Mr. Vivian was gone?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do come up with me,&rdquo; cried Lord Glistonbury, &ldquo;and she will see you are
+      not gone.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Here&rsquo;s my lord and Mr. Vivian, my lady,&rdquo; said the girl.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Then, turning to Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s woman, she added, in a loud whisper,
+      &ldquo;Mr. Vivian won&rsquo;t go to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Sarah gave her maid some commission, which took her out of the room.
+      Lady Sarah, no longer the formal, cold, slow personage whom Vivian
+      detested, now seemed to him, and not only seemed but was, quite a
+      different being, inspired with energy, and quickness, and presence of
+      mind: she forgot herself, and her illness, and her prudery, and her love,
+      and every other consideration, in the sense of her mother&rsquo;s danger. Lady
+      Glistonbury had but imperfectly recovered her recollection. At one moment
+      she smiled on Vivian, and tried to stretch out her hand to him, as she saw
+      him standing beside Lady Sarah. But when he approached Lady Glistonbury,
+      and spoke to her, she seemed to have some painful recollection, and,
+      looking round the room, expressed surprise and uneasiness at his being
+      there. Vivian retired; and Lord Glistonbury, who was crying like a child,
+      followed, saying, &ldquo;Take me out with you&mdash;Dr. G&mdash;&mdash; ought to
+      be here before now&mdash;I&rsquo;ll send for another physician!&mdash;Very
+      shocking&mdash;very shocking&mdash;at Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s time of life, too&mdash;for
+      she is not an old woman by any means. Lady Glistonbury is eighteen months
+      younger than I am!&mdash;Nobody knows how soon it may be their turn!&mdash;It&rsquo;s
+      very shocking!&mdash;If I had known she was ill, I would have had advice
+      for her sooner. She is very patient&mdash;too patient&mdash;a great deal
+      too patient. She never will complain&mdash;never tells what she feels,
+      body or mind&mdash;at least never tells <i>me</i>; but that may be my
+      fault in some measure. Should be very sorry Lady Glistonbury went out of
+      the world with things as they are now between us. Hope to God she will get
+      over this attack!&mdash;Hey! Mr. Vivian?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian said whatever he could to fortify this hope, and was glad to see
+      Lord Glistonbury show feelings of this sort. The physician arrived, and
+      confirmed these hopes by his favourable prognostics. In the course of the
+      day and night her face, which had been contracted, resumed its natural
+      appearance; she recovered the use of her arm: a certain difficulty of
+      articulation, and thickness of speech, with what the physician called
+      hallucination of mind, and a general feebleness of body, were all the
+      apparent consequences of this stroke. She was not herself sensible of the
+      nature of the attack, or clear in her ideas of any thing that had passed
+      immediately previous to it. She had only an imperfect recollection of her
+      daughter&rsquo;s illness, and of some hurry about Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s going away. She
+      was, however, well enough to go into her dressing-room, where Vivian went
+      to pay his respects to her, with Lord Glistonbury. By unremitting
+      exertions, and unusual cheerfulness, Lady Sarah succeeded in quieting her
+      mother&rsquo;s confused apprehensions on her account. When out of Lady
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s hearing, all the attendants and the physicians repeatedly
+      expressed fear that Lady Sarah would over-fatigue and injure herself by
+      this extraordinary energy; but her powers of body and mind seemed to rise
+      with the necessity for exertion; and, on this great occasion, she suddenly
+      discovered a warmth and strength of character, of which few had ever
+      before discerned even the slightest symptoms.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who would have expected this from Sarah?&rdquo; whispered Lord Glistonbury to
+      Vivian. &ldquo;Why, her sister did not do more for me when I was ill! I always
+      knew she loved her mother, but I thought it was in a quiet, commonplace
+      way&mdash;Who knows but she loves me too?&mdash;or might&mdash;&rdquo; She came
+      into the room at this moment&mdash;&ldquo;Sarah, my dear,&rdquo; said his lordship,
+      &ldquo;where are my letters and yesterday&rsquo;s papers, which I never read?&mdash;I&rsquo;ll
+      see if there be any thing in them that can interest your mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury opened the papers, and the first article of public news
+      was, &ldquo;a dissolution of parliament confidently expected to take place
+      immediately.&rdquo; This must put an end to Vivian&rsquo;s scheme of going to town to
+      attend his duty in parliament. &ldquo;But, may be, it is only newspaper
+      information.&rdquo; It was confirmed by all Lord Glistonbury and Vivian&rsquo;s
+      private letters. A letter from his mother, which Vivian now for the first
+      moment had time to peruse, mentioned the dissolution of parliament as
+      certain; she named her authority, which could not be doubted; and, in
+      consequence, she had sent down supplies of wine for an election; and she
+      said that she would &ldquo;be immediately at Castle Vivian, to keep open house
+      and open heart for her son. Though not furnished,&rdquo; she observed, &ldquo;the
+      castle would suit the better all the purposes of an election; and she
+      should not feel any inconvenience, for her own part, let the
+      accommodations be what they might.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury directly proposed and insisted upon Lady Mary Vivian&rsquo;s
+      making Glistonbury her head-quarters. Vivian objected: Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s
+      illness was an ostensible and, he hoped, would be a sufficient excuse for
+      declining the invitation. But Lord Glistonbury persisted: &ldquo;Lady
+      Glistonbury, he was sure, would wish it&mdash;nothing would be more
+      agreeable to her.&rdquo; His lordship&rsquo;s looks appealed to Lady Sarah, but Lady
+      Sarah was silent; and, when her father positively required her opinion, by
+      adding, &ldquo;Hey! Sarah?&rdquo; she rather discouraged than pressed the invitation.
+      She said, that though she was persuaded her mother would, if she were
+      well, be happy to have the pleasure of seeing Lady Mary Vivian; yet she
+      could not, in her mother&rsquo;s present situation, venture to decide how far
+      her health might be able to stand any election bustle.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Sarah said this with a very calm voice, but blushed extremely as she
+      spoke; and, for the first time, Vivian thought her not absolutely plain;
+      and, for the first time, he thought even the formality and deliberate
+      coolness of her manner were not disagreeable. He liked her more, at this
+      moment, than he had ever imagined it possible he could like Lady Sarah
+      Lidhurst; but he liked her chiefly because she did not press him into her
+      service, but rather forwarded his earnest wish to get away from
+      Glistonbury.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury appealed to the physician, and asked whether company and
+      amusement were not &ldquo;the best things possible for his patient? Lady
+      Glistonbury should not be left alone, surely! Her mind should be
+      interested and amused; and an election would be a fortunate circumstance
+      just at present!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      The physician qualified the assent which his lordship&rsquo;s peremptory tone
+      seemed to demand, by saying, &ldquo;that certainly moderate amusement, and
+      whatever interested without agitating her ladyship, would be salutary.&rdquo;
+       His lordship then declared that he would leave it to Lady Glistonbury
+      herself to decide: quitting the end of the room where they were holding
+      their consultation, he approached her ladyship to explain the matter. But
+      Lady Sarah stopped him, beseeching so earnestly that no appeal might be
+      made to her mother, that Vivian was quite moved; and he settled the
+      business at once to general satisfaction, by declaring that, though
+      neither he nor Lady Mary Vivian could think of intruding as inmates at
+      present, yet that they should, as soon as Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s health would
+      permit, be as much at Glistonbury Castle as possible; and that the short
+      distance from his house would make it, he hoped, not inconvenient to his
+      lordship for all election business. Lord Glistonbury acceded, and Lady
+      Sarah appeared gratefully satisfied. His lordship, who always took the
+      task of explanation upon himself, now read the paragraph about the
+      dissolution aloud to Lady Glistonbury; informed her, that Lady Mary Vivian
+      was coming immediately to the country; and that they should hope to see
+      Lady Mary and Mr. Vivian almost every day, though he could not prevail
+      upon them to take up their abode during the election at Glistonbury. Lady
+      Glistonbury listened, and tried, and seemed to understand&mdash;bowed to
+      Mr. Vivian and smiled, and said she remembered he was often at Glistonbury
+      during the last election&mdash;that she was happy to hear she should have
+      the pleasure to see Lady Mary Vivian&mdash;that some people disliked <i>election
+      times</i>, but for her part she did not, when she was strong. Indeed, the
+      last election she recollected with particular pleasure&mdash;she was happy
+      that Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s interest was of service to Mr. Vivian. Then &ldquo;she
+      hoped his canvass <i>to-day</i> had been successful?&rdquo;&mdash;and asked some
+      questions that showed her mind had become confused, and that she was
+      confounding the past with the present. Lady Sarah and Mr. Vivian said a
+      few words to set her right&mdash;she looked first at one, and then at the
+      other, listening, and then said&mdash;&ldquo;I understand&mdash;God bless you
+      both.&rdquo; Vivian took up his hat, and looked out of the window, to see if his
+      carriage was at the door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Vivian wishes you a good morning, madam,&rdquo; said Lady Sarah: &ldquo;he is
+      going to Castle Vivian, to get things ready for Lady Mary&rsquo;s arrival.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish you health and happiness, sir,&rdquo; said Lady Glistonbury, attempting
+      to rise, whilst some painful reminiscence altered her countenance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pray do not stir, don&rsquo;t disturb yourself, Lady Glistonbury. I shall pay
+      my respects to your ladyship again as soon as possible.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And pray bring me good news of the election, and how the poll stands
+      to-morrow, Mr. Vivian,&rdquo; added her ladyship, as he left the room.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, who had felt oppressed and almost enslaved by his compassion,
+      breathed more freely when he at last found himself in his carriage,
+      driving away from Glistonbury. His own castle, and the preparations for
+      his mother&rsquo;s arrival, and for the expected canvass, occupied him so much
+      for the ensuing days, that he had scarcely time to think of Lady Julia or
+      of Lady Sarah, of Russell or Selina: he could neither reflect on the past,
+      nor anticipate the future; the present, the vulgar present, full of
+      upholsterers, and paper-hangers, and butlers, and grooms, and tenants, and
+      freeholders, and parasites, pressed upon his attention with importunate
+      claims. The dissolution of parliament took place. Lady Mary Vivian arrived
+      almost as soon as the newspaper that brought this intelligence: with her
+      came a new set of thoughts, all centering in the notion of her son&rsquo;s
+      consequence in the world, and of his happiness&mdash;ideas which were too
+      firmly associated in her mind ever to be separated. She said that she had
+      regretted his having made such a long stay in the country during the last
+      session, because he had missed opportunities of distinguishing himself
+      farther in parliament. The preceding session her ladyship had received
+      gratifying compliments on her son&rsquo;s talents, and on the figure he had <i>already</i>
+      made in public life; she felt her self-love as well as her affection
+      interested in his continuing his political career with spirit and success.
+      &ldquo;As to the present election,&rdquo; she observed, &ldquo;there could be little doubt
+      that he would be re-elected with the assistance of the Glistonbury
+      interest; and,&rdquo; added her ladyship, smiling significantly, &ldquo;I fancy your
+      interest is pretty strong in that quarter. The world has given you by
+      turns to Lady Julia and Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and I am asked continually
+      which of the Lady Lidhursts you are in love with. One of these ladies
+      certainly must be my daughter-in-law; pray, if you know, empower me to say
+      which.&rdquo; Lady Mary Vivian spoke but half in earnest, till the extraordinary
+      commotion her words created in her son, convinced her that the report had
+      not, now at least, been mistaken.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Next to Miss Selina Sidney,&rdquo; continued Lady Mary, &ldquo;who, after her
+      positive and long persisted-in refusal, is quite out of the question, I
+      have, my dear son, always wished to see you married to one of the Lady
+      Lidhursts; and, of course, Lady Julia&rsquo;s talents, and beauty, and youth&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian interrupted and hastily told his mother that Lady Julia Lidhurst
+      was as much out of the question as Miss Sidney could be; for that he had
+      offered himself, and had been refused; and that he had every reason to
+      believe that the determination of his second mistress against him would be
+      at least as absolute and unconquerable as that of his first. His mother
+      was in amazement. That her son could be refused by Lady Julia Lidhurst
+      appeared a moral and political impossibility, especially when the desire
+      for a connexion between the families had been so obvious on the side of
+      the Glistonburys. What could be the meaning of this? Lady Julia was
+      perhaps under an error, and fancied he was some way engaged to Miss
+      Sidney; &ldquo;or, perhaps,&rdquo; said Lady Mary, who had a ready wit for the
+      invention of delicate distresses, &ldquo;perhaps there is some difficulty about
+      the eldest sister, Lady Sarah; for you know the first winter you were
+      given to her.&mdash;Ay, that must be the case. I will go to Glistonbury
+      to-morrow, and I will have Lady Julia to myself for five minutes: I think
+      I have some penetration, and I will know the truth.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary was again surprised, by hearing from her son that Lady Julia was
+      not at Glistonbury&mdash;that she was gone with her brother into
+      Devonshire. So there was a dead silence for some minutes, succeeded by an
+      exclamation from Lady Mary, &ldquo;There is some grand secret here&mdash;I must
+      know it!&rdquo; Her ladyship forthwith commenced a close and able
+      cross-examination, which Vivian stopped at last by declaring that he was
+      not at liberty to speak upon the subject: he knew, he said, that his
+      mother was of too honourable and generous a temper to press him farther.
+      His mother was perfectly honourable, but at the same time extremely
+      curious; and though she continually repeated, &ldquo;I will not ask you another
+      question&mdash;I would not upon any account lead you to say a syllable
+      that could betray any confidence reposed in you, my dear son;&rdquo; yet she
+      indulged herself in a variety of ingenious conjectures: &ldquo;I know it is so;&rdquo;
+       or, &ldquo;I am sure that I have guessed now, but I don&rsquo;t ask you to tell me.&mdash;You
+      do right to deny it.&rdquo;&mdash;Amongst the variety of her conjectures, Lady
+      Mary did not find out the truth; she was prepossessed by the idea that
+      Russell was attached to Selina Sidney&mdash;a secret which her own
+      penetration had discovered whilst her son was abroad with Mrs. Wharton,
+      and which she thought no mortal living knew but herself. Pre-occupied with
+      this notion, Russell was now omitted in all her combinations. His having
+      quitted Glistonbury did not create any suspicion of the real cause of his
+      sudden departure, because there was a sufficient reason for his going to
+      the north to see his sick relation; and Lady Mary was too good a
+      philosopher to assign two causes for the same event, when she had found
+      one that was adequate to the production of the effect. She therefore
+      quietly settled it in her imagination, that Lady Julia Lidhurst was going
+      to be married immediately to a certain young nobleman, who had been lately
+      at Glistonbury whilst they were acting plays. The next day she went with
+      Vivian to Glistonbury Castle; for, waiving all the ceremonials of
+      visiting, she was anxious to see poor Lady Glistonbury, of whose illness
+      she had been apprised, in general terms, by her son. An impulse of
+      curiosity, mixed perhaps with motives of regard for her good friend Lady
+      Glistonbury, hastened this visit. They found Lady Glistonbury much better;
+      she looked nearly as well as she had done before this stroke; and she had
+      now recovered her memory, and the full use of her understanding. Vivian
+      observed, that she and Lady Sarah were both convinced, by Lady Mary
+      Vivian&rsquo;s curiosity, that he had given no hint of any thing which they did
+      not wish to be known: and the pleasurable consciousness of his integrity
+      disposed him to be pleased with them. Lord Glistonbury, on his side, was
+      convinced that Vivian had behaved honourably with respect to his daughter
+      Julia; so all parties were well satisfied with each other. His lordship
+      answered Lady Mary Vivian&rsquo;s inquiries after his son and his daughter Julia
+      by saying, that Miss Strictland had just returned to Glistonbury with
+      rather more favourable accounts of Lord Lidhurst&rsquo;s health, and that Julia
+      and he were now at his brother the Bishop of &mdash;&mdash;&lsquo;s. Between
+      this brother and my Lord Glistonbury there had never been any great
+      intimacy, their characters and their politics being very different. The
+      moment Lady Mary Vivian heard Lord Glistonbury pronounce, with such
+      unusual cordiality, the words, &ldquo;my brother the bishop,&rdquo; she recollected
+      that the bishop had a very amiable, accomplished, and remarkably handsome
+      son; so she arranged directly in her imagination that this was the person
+      to whom Lady Julia was engaged. Being now thoroughly convinced that this
+      last conjecture was just, she thought no more about Lady Julia&rsquo;s affairs;
+      but turned her attention to Lady Sarah, whose cold and guarded manners,
+      however, resisted her utmost penetration. Disappointed in all her attempts
+      to lead to sentiment or love, the conversation at last ran wholly upon the
+      approaching election, upon the canvass, and the strength of the various
+      interests of the county; on all which subjects Lady Sarah showed
+      surprisingly exact information. Presently Lord Glistonbury took Vivian
+      with him to his study to examine some poll-book, and then put into his
+      hands a letter from Lady Julia Lidhurst, which had been enclosed in one to
+      himself.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I told you that I intended to <i>rusticate</i> Julia,&rdquo; said his lordship,
+      &ldquo;with a poor parson and his wife&mdash;relations, distant relations of
+      ours in Devonshire; but this plan has been defeated by my foolish good
+      brother the bishop. On their journey they passed close by his palace; I
+      charged Miss Strictland to be incog.; but they stayed to rest in the town,
+      for Lidhurst was fatigued; and some of the bishop&rsquo;s people found them out,
+      and the bishop sent for them, and at last came himself. He was so sorry
+      for Lidhurst&rsquo;s illness, and, as Miss Strictland says, so much charmed with
+      Julia, whom he had not seen since she was a child, that he absolutely took
+      possession of them; and Julia has made her party good with him, for he
+      writes me word he cannot part with her; that I must allow her to remain
+      with him; and that they will take all possible care of Lyndhurst&rsquo;s health.
+      I believe I must yield this point to the bishop; for altogether it looks
+      better that Julia should be at the palace than at the parsonage; and,
+      though my poor brother has not the knowledge of the world one could wish,
+      or that is necessary to bring this romantic girl back to reason, yet&mdash;But
+      I keep you from reading your letter, and I see you are impatient&mdash;Hey?&mdash;very
+      natural!&mdash;but, I am afraid, all in vain&mdash;I&rsquo;ll leave you in
+      peace. At any rate,&rdquo; added Lord Glistonbury, &ldquo;you know I have always stood
+      your firm friend in this business; and you know I&rsquo;m discreet.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian never felt so grateful for any instance of his lordship&rsquo;s
+      friendship and discretion as for that which he gave at this moment, by
+      quitting the room, and leaving him in peace to read his letter.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIII.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Before you open this letter, you will have heard, probably, that my
+      uncle, the Bishop of &mdash;&mdash;, has taken me under his protection. I
+      cannot sufficiently regret that I was not a few years, a few months,
+      sooner, blessed with such a Mentor. I never, till now, knew how much power
+      kindness has to touch the mind in the moment of distress; nor did I ever,
+      till now, feel how deeply the eloquence of true piety sinks into the
+      heart. This excellent friend will, I hope, in time restore me to my better
+      self. From the abstraction, the selfishness of passion, I think I am
+      already somewhat recovered. After being wholly absorbed by one sentiment,
+      I begin to feel again the influence of other motives, and to waken to the
+      returning sense of social duty. Among the first objects to which, in
+      recovering from this trance, or this fever of the soul, I have power to
+      turn my attention, your happiness, sir, next to that of my own nearest
+      relations, I find interests me most. After giving you this assurance, I
+      trust you will believe that, to insure the felicity, or even to restore
+      the health and preserve the life of any relation or friend I have upon
+      earth, I should not think myself justified in attempting to influence your
+      mind to any thing which I did not sincerely and firmly believe would be
+      for your permanent advantage as well as for theirs. Under the solemn faith
+      of this declaration, I hope that you will listen to me with patience and
+      confidence. From all that I have myself seen, and from all that I have
+      heard of your character, I am convinced that your wife should be a woman
+      of a disposition precisely opposite, in many respects, to mine. Your
+      character is liable to vary, according to the situations in which you are
+      placed; and is subject to sudden but transient impressions from external
+      circumstances. You have hitherto had a friend who has regulated the
+      fluctuations of your passions; now that he is separated from you, how much
+      will you feel the loss of his cool and steady judgment! Should you not,
+      therefore, in that bosom friend, a wife, look for a certain firmness and
+      stability of character, capable of resisting, rather than disposed to
+      yield, to sudden impulse; a character, not of enthusiasm, but of duty; a
+      mind, which, instead of increasing, by example and sympathy, any defects
+      of your own&mdash;pardon the expression&mdash;should correct or compensate
+      these by opposite qualities? And supposing that, with such sobriety and
+      strength of character as I have described, there should be connected a
+      certain slowness, formality, and coldness of manner, which might not at
+      first be attractive to a man of your vivacity, let not this repel you:
+      when once you have learned to consider this manner as the concomitant and
+      indication of qualities essential to your happiness, it would, I am
+      persuaded, become agreeable to you; especially as, on nearer observation,
+      you would soon discover that, beneath that external coldness, under all
+      that snow and ice, there is an accumulated and concentrated warmth of
+      affection.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Of this, sir, you must lately have seen an example in my own family. At
+      the moment when my poor mother was struck with palsy, you saw my sister&rsquo;s
+      energy; and her character, probably, then appeared to you in a new point
+      of view. From this burst of latent affection for a parent, you may form
+      some idea what the power of the passion of love would be in her soul; some
+      idea, I say; for I am persuaded that none but those who know her as well
+      as I do can form an adequate notion of the strength of attachment of which
+      she is capable.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will be surprised, perhaps, sir, to hear me reason so coolly for
+      others on a subject where I have acted so rashly for myself; and you may
+      feel no inclination to listen to the advice of one who has shown so little
+      prudence in her own affairs: therefore, having stated my reasons, and
+      suggested my conclusions, I leave you to apply them as you think proper;
+      and I shall only add, that the accomplishment of my wishes, on this
+      subject, would give me peculiar satisfaction. It would relieve my mind
+      from part of a weight of self-reproach. I have made both my parents
+      unhappy. I have reason to fear that the shock my mother received, by my
+      means, contributed much to her late illness. An event that would restore
+      my whole family to happiness must, therefore, be to me the most desirable
+      upon earth. I should feel immediate relief and delight, even in the hope
+      of contributing to it by any influence I can have over your mind. And,
+      independently of the pleasure and pride I should feel in securing my
+      sister&rsquo;s happiness and yours, I should enjoy true satisfaction, sir, in
+      that intimate friendship with you, which only the ties of such near
+      relationship could permit or justify. You will accept of this assurance,
+      instead of the trite and insulting, because unmeaning or unsafe, offer of
+      friendship, which ladies sometimes make to those who have been their
+      lovers.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;JULIA LIDHURST.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&mdash;&mdash; Palace:&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At the first reading of this letter, Vivian felt nothing but a renewal of
+      regret for having lost all chance of obtaining the affections of the
+      person by whom it was written: on a second perusal, he was moved by the
+      earnest expression of her wishes for his happiness; and the desire to
+      gratify her, on a point on which she was so anxious, influenced him much
+      more than any of her arguments. Whatever good sense the letter contained
+      was lost upon him; but all the sentiment operated with full force, yet not
+      with sufficient power to conquer the repugnance he still felt to Lady
+      Sarah&rsquo;s person and manners. Lord Glistonbury made no inquiries concerning
+      the contents of his daughter Julia&rsquo;s letter; but, as far as politeness
+      would permit, he examined Vivian&rsquo;s countenance when he returned to the
+      drawing-room. Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s manner was as calm as usual; but the
+      slight shake of her head was a sufficient indication of her internal
+      feelings. Lady Sarah looked pale, but so perfectly composed, that Vivian
+      was convinced she, at least, knew nothing of her sister&rsquo;s letter. So great
+      indeed was the outward composure, and so immoveable was Lady Sarah, that
+      it provoked Lady Mary past endurance; and as they drove home in the
+      evening, she exclaimed, &ldquo;I never saw such a young woman as Lady Sarah
+      Lidhurst! She is a stick, a stone, a statue&mdash;she has completely
+      satisfied my mind on one point. I own that when I found Lady Julia was out
+      of the question, I did begin to think and wish that Lady Sarah might be my
+      daughter-in-law, because she has really been so carefully brought up, and
+      the connexion with the Glistonbury family is so desirable: then I had a
+      notion, before I saw her this morning, that the girl liked you, and might
+      be really capable of attachment; but now, indeed, I am convinced of the
+      folly of that notion. She has no feeling&mdash;none upon earth&mdash;scarcely
+      common sense! She thinks of nothing but how she holds her elbows. The
+      formality and importance with which she went on cutting off ends of
+      worsted from that frightful tapestry work, whilst I talked of you, quite
+      put me out of all manner of patience. She has no feeling&mdash;none upon
+      earth!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, ma&rsquo;am,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;you do her injustice: she certainly has feeling&mdash;for
+      her mother.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ay, for her mother, may be! a kind of mechanical affection!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, ma&rsquo;am, if you had seen her at the time that her mother was struck
+      with palsy!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Much to his own surprise, Vivian found himself engaged in a defence, and
+      almost in an eulogium upon Lady Sarah; but the injustice of his mother&rsquo;s
+      attack, on this point, was, he knew, so great, that he could not join in
+      Lady Mary&rsquo;s invective.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, my dear Charles!&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;do you recollect, on this very road, as
+      we were returning from Glistonbury Castle, this time two years, you called
+      Lady Sarah a petrifaction?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, ma&rsquo;am; because I did not know her then.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, my dear, I must have time to analyze her more carefully, and I
+      suppose I shall discover, as you have done, that she is not a
+      petrifaction. So, then, Lady Sarah really is to be the woman after all. I
+      am content, but I absolutely cannot pretend to like her&mdash;I like the
+      connexion, however; and the rest is your affair.&mdash;You haven&rsquo;t
+      proposed yet?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Bless me! no, ma&rsquo;am! God forbid! How fast your imagination goes, my dear
+      mother!&mdash;Is there no difference between saying, that a woman is not a
+      petrifaction, and being in love with her?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;In love! I never said a word about being in love&mdash;I know that&rsquo;s
+      impossible&mdash;I asked only if you had proposed for her?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Dear ma&rsquo;am, no!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary expressed her satisfaction; and, perhaps, the injustice with
+      which she continued, for some days, to asperse Lady Sarah Lidhurst, as
+      being unfeeling, served her more, in Vivian&rsquo;s opinion, than any other mode
+      in which she could have spoken of her ladyship. Still he felt glad that he
+      had not <i>yet proposed</i>. He had not courage either to recede or
+      advance; circumstances went on, and carried him along with them, without
+      bringing him to any decision. The business of the election proceeded;
+      every day Lord Glistonbury was with him, or he was at Glistonbury Castle;
+      every hour he saw more plainly the expectations that were formed:
+      sometimes he felt that he was inevitably doomed to fulfil these, and at
+      other times he cherished the hope that Lady Julia would soon return home,
+      and that, by some fortunate revolution, she might yet be his. He had not
+      now the advantage of Russell&rsquo;s firmness to support him in this emergency.
+      Russell&rsquo;s answer to his letter was so coolly determined, and he so
+      absolutely declined interfering farther in his affairs, that Vivian saw no
+      hopes of regaining his friendship, or of benefiting by his counsels. Thus
+      was Vivian in all the helplessness and all the horrors of indecision, when
+      an event took place, which materially changed the face of affairs in the
+      Glistonbury family. Just at the time when the accounts of his health were
+      the most favourable, and when his friends were deceived by the most
+      sanguine hopes of his recovery, Lord Lidhurst died. His mother was the
+      only person in the family who was prepared for this catastrophe: they
+      dreaded to communicate the intelligence to her, lest it should bring on
+      another attack of her dreadful malady; but to their astonishment, she
+      heard it with calm resignation,&mdash;said she had long foreseen this
+      calamity, and that she submitted to the will of Heaven. After pity for the
+      parents who lost this amiable and promising young man, heir to this large
+      fortune and to this splendid title, people began to consider what change
+      would be made in the condition of the rest of the family. The Lady
+      Lidhursts, from <i>being very small fortunes</i>, became heiresses to a
+      large estate. The earldom of Glistonbury was to devolve to a nephew of
+      Lord Glistonbury, in case the Lady Lidhursts should not marry, or should
+      not have heirs male; but, in case they should marry, the title was to go
+      to the first son. All these circumstances were of course soon known and
+      talked of in the neighbourhood; and many congratulated Vivian upon the
+      great accession of fortune, and upon the high expectations of the lady to
+      whom they supposed him engaged.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      On the first visit which Vivian and his mother paid after the death of
+      Lord Lidhurst at Glistonbury Castle, they found there a young man very
+      handsome, but of a dark, reserved countenance, whose physiognomy and
+      manner immediately prepossessed them against him; on his part, he seemed
+      to eye them with suspicion, and to be particularly uneasy whenever Vivian
+      either mentioned the election or approached Lady Sarah. This young man was
+      Mr. Lidhurst, Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s nephew and heir-at-law. It was obvious,
+      almost at first sight, that the uncle disliked the nephew; but it was not
+      so easy to perceive that the nephew despised the uncle. Mr. Lidhurst,
+      though young, was an excellent politician; and his feelings were always
+      regulated by his interests. He had more abilities than Lord Glistonbury,
+      less vanity, but infinitely more ambition. In Lord Glistonbury, ambition
+      was rather affected, as an air suited to his rank, and proper to increase
+      his consequence: Mr. Lidhurst&rsquo;s was an earnest, inordinate ambition, yet
+      it was cold, silent, and calculating; his pride preyed upon him inwardly,
+      but it never hurried him into saying or doing an extravagant thing. Those
+      who were not actuated solely by ambition, he always looked upon as fools,
+      and those who were, he considered, in general, as knaves: the one he
+      marked as dupes, the other as rivals. He had been at the Bishop of &mdash;&mdash;&lsquo;s,
+      during Lord Lidhurst&rsquo;s illness, and at the time of his death. Ever since
+      Lady Julia&rsquo;s arrival at the bishop&rsquo;s, he had foreseen the probability of
+      this event, and had, in consequence of the long-sightedness of his views,
+      endeavoured to make himself agreeable to her. He found this impossible;
+      but was, however, easily consoled by hearing that she had resolved never
+      to marry; he only hoped that she would keep her resolution; and he was now
+      at Glistonbury Castle, in the determination to propose for his other
+      cousin, Lady Sarah, who would, perhaps, equally well secure to him his
+      objects.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well! my dear Vivian,&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury, drawing him aside, &ldquo;how
+      d&rsquo;ye relish my nephew, Marmaduke Lidhurst? Need not be afraid to speak the
+      truth, for I tell you at once that he is no particular favourite here; not
+      <i>en bonne odeur</i>; but that&rsquo;s only between you and me. He thinks that
+      I don&rsquo;t know that he considers me as a shallow fellow, because I haven&rsquo;t
+      my head crammed with a parcel of statistical tables, all the fiscal and
+      financiering stuff which he has at his calculating fingers&rsquo; ends; but I
+      trust that I am almost as good a politician as he is, and I&rsquo;m free to
+      believe, have rather more knowledge of the world&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;In men, not books, experienced was my lord&rsquo;&mdash;
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Hey? Hey, Vivian? and can see through him with half an eye, I can tell
+      him.&mdash;Wants to get Lady Sarah&mdash;Yes, yes; but never came near us
+      till we lost my poor boy&mdash;he won&rsquo;t win Lady Sarah either, or I&rsquo;m much
+      mistaken. Did you observe how jealous he was of you?&mdash;Right!&mdash;right!&mdash;he
+      has penetration!&mdash;Stay, stay! you don&rsquo;t know Marmaduke yet&mdash;don&rsquo;t
+      know half his schemes. How his brow clouded when we were talking of the
+      election! I must hint to you, he has been sounding me upon that matter; he
+      has a great mind to stand for this county&mdash;talks of starting at the
+      first day of the poll. I told him it could not do, as I was engaged to
+      you. He answered, that of course was only a conditional promise, in case
+      none of my own relations stood. I fought shy, and he pressed confoundedly.&mdash;Gad!
+      he would put me in a very awkward predicament, if he was really to stand!
+      for you know what the world would say, if they saw me opposing my own
+      nephew, a rising young man, and not for a relation either; and Marmaduke
+      Lidhurst is just your deep fellow to plan such a thing and execute it, not
+      caring at what or whose expense. I can tell him, however, I am not a man
+      to be bullied out of my interest, or to be outwitted either.&mdash;Stand
+      firm, Vivian, my good friend, and I&rsquo;ll stand by you; depend on me!&mdash;I
+      only wish&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo; Here his lordship paused. &ldquo;But I cannot say more
+      to you now; for here is my precious heir-at-law coming to break up the
+      confederacy. I&rsquo;ll ride over and see you to-morrow;&mdash;now, let us all
+      be mute before Marmaduke, our master politician, as becomes us&mdash;Hey!
+      Vivian? Hey?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Notwithstanding this sort of jealousy of Marmaduke, and the bravadoing
+      style in which Lord Glistonbury spoke of him, he spoke to him in a very
+      different manner: it was apparent to Vivian that his lordship was under
+      some awe of his nephew, and that, whilst he cherished this secret dislike,
+      he dreaded coming to any open rupture with a man who was, as his lordship
+      apprehended, so well able to make his own party good in the world. When
+      Marmaduke did emerge from that depth of thought in which he generally
+      seemed to be sunk, and when he did condescend to converse, or rather to
+      speak, his theme was always of persons in power, or his sarcasms against
+      those who never would obtain it; from any one thing he asserted, it could
+      never be proved, but, from all he said, it might be inferred, that he
+      valued human qualities and talents merely as they could, or could not,
+      obtain a price in the political market. The power of speaking in public,
+      as it is a means in England of acquiring all other species of power, he
+      deemed the first of Heaven&rsquo;s gifts; and successful parliamentary speakers
+      were the only persons of whom he expressed admiration. As Vivian had
+      spoken, and had been listened to in the House of Commons, he was in this
+      respect an object of Marmaduke Lidhurst&rsquo;s envy; but this envy was
+      mitigated by contempt for our hero&rsquo;s want of perseverance in ambition.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is that Mr. Vivian of yours,&rdquo; said he to his uncle, whilst Vivian
+      was gone to talk to the ladies&mdash;&ldquo;you&rsquo;ll find he will be but a woman&rsquo;s
+      man, after all!&mdash;Heavens! with his fluency in public, what I would
+      have done by this time of day! This poor fellow has no consistency of
+      ambition&mdash;no great views&mdash;no reach of mind. Put him in for a
+      borough, and he would be just as well content as if he carried the county.
+      You&rsquo;ll see he will, after another session or two, cut out, and retire
+      without a pension, and settle down into a mere honest country gentleman.
+      He would be no connexion to increase the consequence of your family. Lady
+      Sarah Lidhurst would be quite lost with such a nobody! Her ladyship, I am
+      convinced, has too much discrimination, and values herself too highly, to
+      make such a <i>missy</i> match.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury coughed, and cleared his throat, and blew his nose, and
+      seemed to suffer extremely, but chiefly under the repression of his usual
+      loquacity. Nothing could be at once a greater proof of his respect for his
+      nephew&rsquo;s abilities, and of his lordship&rsquo;s dislike to him, than this
+      unnatural silence. Mr. Lidhurst&rsquo;s compliments on Lady Sarah&rsquo;s
+      discrimination seemed, however, to be premature, and unmerited; for,
+      during the course of this day, she treated all the vast efforts of her
+      cousin Marmaduke&rsquo;s gallantry with haughty neglect, and showed, what she
+      had never before suffered to be visible in her manner, a marked preference
+      for Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s conversation. The sort of emulation which Mr. Lidhurst&rsquo;s
+      rivalship produced increased the value of the object; she, for whom there
+      was a contention, immediately became a prize. Vivian was both provoked and
+      amused by the alternate contempt and jealousy which Mr. Lidhurst betrayed;
+      this gentleman&rsquo;s desire to keep him out of the Glistonbury family, and to
+      supplant him in Lady Sarah&rsquo;s favour, piqued him to prove his influence,
+      and determined him to maintain his ground. Insensibly, Vivian&rsquo;s attentions
+      to the lady became more vivacious; and he was vain of showing the ease,
+      taste, and elegance of his gallantry; and he was flattered by the idea,
+      that all the spectators perceived both its superiority and its success.
+      Lady Sarah, whose manners had much improved since the departure of Miss
+      Strictland, was so much embellished by our hero&rsquo;s attentions, that he
+      thought her quite charming. He had been prepared to expect fire under the
+      ice, but he was agreeably surprised by this sudden spring of flowers from
+      beneath the snow. The carriage was at the door in the evening, and had
+      waited half an hour, before he was aware that it was time to depart.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are right, my dear son!&rdquo; Lady Mary began, the r moment they were
+      seated in the carriage; &ldquo;you are quite right, and I was quite wrong, about
+      Lady Sarah Lidhurst: she has feeling, indeed&mdash;strong, generous
+      feeling&mdash;and she shows it at the proper time: a fine, decided
+      character! Her manners, to-day, so easy, and her countenance so animated,
+      really she looked quite handsome, and I think her a charming woman.&mdash;What
+      changes love can make!&mdash;Well, now I am satisfied: this is what I
+      always wished&mdash;connexion, family, fortune, every thing; and the very
+      sort of character you require in a wife,&mdash;the very person, of all
+      others, that is suited to you!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If she were but a little more like her sister&mdash;or Selina Sidney <i>even!</i>&rdquo;
+       said Vivian, with a sigh.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That very word <i>even</i>&mdash;your saying like Selina Sidney <i>even</i>&mdash;shows
+      that you have not much cause for sighing: for you see how quickly the mere
+      fancy in these matters changes&mdash;and you may love Lady Sarah
+      presently, as much as you loved <i>even</i> Lady Julia.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Impossible! ma&rsquo;am.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Impossible! Why, my dear Charles, you astonish me! for you cannot but see
+      the views and expectations of all the family, and of the young lady
+      herself; and your attentions to-day were such as could bear but one
+      construction.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Were they, ma&rsquo;am? I was not aware of that at the time&mdash;that is, I
+      did not mean to engage myself&mdash;Good Heavens! surely I am not engaged?&mdash;You
+      know a man is not bound, like a woman, by a few foolish words; compliments
+      and gallantry are not such serious things with us men. Men never consider
+      themselves engaged to a woman till they make an absolute proposal.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I know that is a common maxim with young men of the present day, but I
+      consider it as dishonourable and base; and very sorry should I be to see
+      it adopted by my son!&rdquo; cried Lady Mary indignantly. &ldquo;Ask your friend Mr.
+      Russell&rsquo;s opinion on this point: he long ago told you&mdash;I know he did&mdash;that
+      if you had not serious thoughts of Lady Sarah Lidhurst, you would do very
+      wrong, after all the reports that have gone abroad, to continue your
+      intimacy with the Glistonburys, and thus to deceive her and her whole
+      family&mdash;I only appeal to Mr. Russell;&mdash;will you ask your friend
+      Russell&rsquo;s opinion?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian sighed again deeply for the loss of his friend Russell; but as he
+      could not, without touching upon Lady Julia&rsquo;s affairs, explain the cause
+      of the coolness between him and his friend, he answered only, &ldquo;that an
+      appeal to Mr. Russell was unnecessary when he had his mother&rsquo;s opinion.&rdquo;
+       Lady Mary&rsquo;s wish for the Glistonbury <i>connexion</i> fortified her
+      morality at this moment, and she replied, &ldquo;Then my decided opinion is,
+      that it would be an immoral and dishonourable action to break such a tacit
+      engagement as this, which you have voluntarily contracted, and which you
+      absolutely could not break without destroying the peace and happiness of a
+      whole family. Even that cold Lady Glistonbury grew quite warm to-day; and
+      you must see the cause.&mdash;And in Lady Glistonbury&rsquo;s state of health,
+      who could answer for the consequences of any disappointment about her
+      favourite daughter, just after the loss of her son, too?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No more, mother, for Heaven&rsquo;s sake! I see it all&mdash;I feel it all&mdash;I
+      must marry Lady Sarah, then.&mdash;By what fatality am I doomed, am I
+      forced to marry a woman whom I cannot love, whose person and manners are
+      peculiarly disagreeable to me, and when I&rsquo;m half in love with another
+      woman!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That would be a shocking thing, indeed,&rdquo; said Lady Mary, retracting, and
+      alarmed; for now another train of associations was wakened, and she judged
+      not by her worldly, but by her romantic system.&mdash;&ldquo;I am sure I would
+      not, upon any account, urge you to act against your feelings. I would not
+      be responsible for such a marriage, if you are really in love with her
+      sister, and if Lady Sarah&rsquo;s person and manners are peculiarly and
+      absolutely disagreeable to you. I should do a very wicked action&mdash;should
+      destroy my son&rsquo;s happiness and morals, perhaps, by insisting on such a
+      marriage&mdash;Heaven forbid!&rdquo; (A silence of a mile and a half long
+      ensued.) &ldquo;But, Charles, after all I saw to-day, how can I believe that
+      Lady Sarah is so disagreeable to you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Ma&rsquo;am, she happened not to be absolutely disagreeable to me to-day.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! well! then she may not happen to be disagreeable to you to-morrow, or
+      the next day, or ever again!&mdash;And, as to the fancy for her sister,
+      when all hope is over, you know love soon dies of itself.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So ended the conversation.&mdash;The next morning, at an unusual hour,
+      Lord Glistonbury made his appearance at Castle Vivian, with an air of
+      great vexation and embarrassment: he endeavoured to speak of trivial
+      topics; but, one after another, these subjects dropped. Then Lady Mary,
+      who saw that he was anxious to speak to her son, soon took occasion to
+      withdraw, not without feeling some curiosity, and forming many
+      conjectures, as to the object his lordship might have in view in this
+      conference.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s countenance exhibited, in quick alternation, a look of
+      absolute determination and of utter indecision. At length, with abrupt
+      effort, he said, &ldquo;Vivian, have you seen the papers to-day?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The newspapers?&mdash;yes!&mdash;no!&mdash;They are on the table&mdash;I
+      did not look at them&mdash;Is there any thing extraordinary?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, faith!&mdash;extraordinary, very extraordinary!&mdash;But it is not
+      here&mdash;it is not there&mdash;this is not the right paper&mdash;it is
+      not in your paper. That&rsquo;s extraordinary, too&rdquo;&mdash;(then feeling in both
+      pockets)&mdash;&ldquo;I was a fool not to bring it with me&mdash;May be I have
+      it&mdash;Yes, here it is!&mdash;Not public news, but private.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was all expectation, for he imagined that something about Lady
+      Julia was coming. Lord Glistonbury, who, in his commerce with public men,
+      had learned the art of paying in words, to gain time when in danger of a
+      bankruptcy of ideas, went on, stringing sentences together, without much
+      meaning, whilst he was collecting his thoughts and studying the
+      countenance of his auditor.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You recollect my suggestions the last time I had the honour of speaking
+      to you on a particular subject. I confess, Mr. Lidhurst&rsquo;s conduct does not
+      meet my ideas of propriety; but other persons are free to form what
+      judgment they think fit upon the occasion. I shall submit the matter to
+      you, Mr. Vivian, feeling myself called upon to come forward immediately to
+      explain it to your satisfaction; and I do not fear to commit myself, by
+      stating at once my sentiments, and the light in which it strikes me; for
+      there must be some decision shown, somehow or other, and on some side or
+      other.&mdash;&mdash;Decision is all in all in public business, as the
+      great Bacon or somebody says&mdash;and nobody knows that better than
+      Marmaduke.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Here his lordship grew warm, and quitting his parliamentary cant, assumed
+      his familiar style.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Gad! he has stolen a march upon us&mdash;out-generalled us&mdash;but, in
+      my private opinion, not in the handsomest style possible&mdash;Hey,
+      Vivian?&mdash;Hey?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear lord, I have not heard the fact yet,&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! the fact is simply&mdash;Look here, he has without my encouragement
+      or concurrence&mdash;and, indeed, as he very well knew, contrary to my
+      approbation and wishes&mdash;gone, and declared himself candidate for this
+      county; and here&rsquo;s his fine flourishing, patriotic, damned advertisement
+      in the paper&mdash;&lsquo;To the gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of the
+      county.&rsquo;&mdash;&mdash;Gad! how it startled me this morning! When I first
+      saw it I rubbed my eyes, and could hardly believe it was Marmaduke. Though
+      I pique myself on knowing a man&rsquo;s style at the first line, yet I could not
+      have believed it was his, unless I had seen his name at full length in
+      these great abominable characters&mdash;&lsquo;John Marmaduke Lidhurst.&rsquo;&mdash;&lsquo;Glastonbury
+      Castle!&rsquo; too&mdash;as if I had countenanced the thing, or had promised my
+      support; when he knew, that but yesterday I was arguing the point with him
+      in my study, and told him I was engaged to you. Such an ungentlemanlike
+      trick!&mdash;for you know it reduces me to the dilemma of supporting a man
+      who is only my friend, against my nearest relation by blood, which, of
+      course, would have an odd and awkward appearance in the eyes of the
+      world!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian expressed much concern for his lordship&rsquo;s difficulties; but
+      observed that the world would be very unjust if it blamed him, and he was
+      sure his lordship had too much decision of character.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, independently of the world,&rdquo; interrupted his lordship, &ldquo;even in our
+      own family, amongst all the Lidhursts and their remotest connexions, there
+      would be quite a league formed against me; and these family quarrels are
+      ugly affairs; for though our feudal times are done away, party clanships
+      have succeeded to feudal clanships; and we chiefs of parties must keep our
+      followers in good humour, or we are nothing in the <i>field</i>&mdash;I
+      should say <i>in the house</i>&mdash;Ha! ha! ha!&mdash;&mdash;I laugh, but
+      it is a very serious business; for Marmaduke Lidhurst would be, in private
+      or public, an impracticable enemy. Marmaduke&rsquo;s a fellow capable of
+      inextinguishable hatred; and he is everywhere, and knows every body, of
+      all the clubs, a rising young man, who is listened to, and who would make
+      his story credited. And then, with one&rsquo;s nephew, one can&rsquo;t settle these
+      things in <i>an honourable way</i>&mdash;these family quarrels must be
+      arranged amicably, not honourably; and that&rsquo;s the difficulty: the laws of
+      honour are dead letters in these cases, and the laws of the land do not
+      reach these niceties of feeling.&mdash;&mdash;But of the most important
+      fact you are still to be apprised.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Indeed!&rdquo; cried Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, you have not yet heard Marmaduke&rsquo;s master-stroke of policy!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No!&mdash;What is it, my lord?&mdash;I am all attention&mdash;pray
+      explain it to me.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But there&rsquo;s the delicacy&mdash;there&rsquo;s the difficulty!&mdash;No, no, no.&mdash;Upon
+      my soul, I cannot name it!&rdquo; cried Lord Glistonbury. &ldquo;It revolts my
+      feelings&mdash;all my feelings&mdash;as a man, as a gentleman, as a
+      father. Upon my honour, as a peer, I would speak if I could; but, for the
+      soul of me, I cannot.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You know, my dear lord,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;there can be no delicacies or
+      difficulties with me; your lordship has done me the honour to live always
+      on such a footing of intimacy with me, that surely there is not any thing
+      you cannot say to me!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, that&rsquo;s true,&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury, quitting his affected air of
+      distress, and endeavouring to throw off his real feeling of embarrassment:
+      &ldquo;you are right, my dear Vivian! we are certainly upon terms of such
+      intimacy, that I ought not to be so scrupulous. But there are certain
+      things, a well-born, well-bred man&mdash;in short, it would look so like&mdash;But,
+      in fact, I am driven to the wall, and I must defend myself as well as I
+      can against this nephew of mine&mdash;I know it will look like the most
+      horrible thing upon earth, like what I would rather be decapitated than do&mdash;I
+      know it will look, absolutely, as if I came here to ask you to marry my
+      daughter,&mdash;which, you know, is a thing no gentleman could have the
+      most remotely in his contemplation; but, since I am so pressed, I must
+      tell you the exact truth, and explain to you, however difficult,
+      Marmaduke&rsquo;s master-stroke&mdash;&mdash;he has proposed for Lady Sarah; and
+      has had the assurance to ask me whether there is or is not any truth in
+      certain reports which he is pleased to affirm have gone abroad&mdash;Heaven
+      knows how or why!&mdash;&mdash;And he urges me&mdash;the deep dog! for his
+      cousin&rsquo;s sake, to contradict those reports, in the only effectual manner,
+      by a temporary cessation of the intimate intercourse between Castle Vivian
+      and Glistonbury Castle, whilst Lady Sarah remains unmarried; or, if our
+      master politician would speak plainly, till he has married her himself.&mdash;&mdash;At
+      any rate, I have spoken frankly, Vivian, hey? you&rsquo;ll allow; and I am
+      entitled both to a candid interpretation of my motives, and to equal
+      frankness of reply.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Whilst his lordship had been speaking, compassion, gratitude, vanity,
+      rivalship, honour, Lady Mary Vivian&rsquo;s conversation, Lady Julia&rsquo;s letter,
+      then again the <i>connexion</i>, the earldom in future, the present
+      triumph or disappointment about the election, the insolent intrusion of
+      Mr. Lidhurst, the cruelty of abandoning a lady who was in love with him,
+      the dishonour, the impossibility of receding after <i>certain reports</i>;
+      all these ideas, in rapid succession, pressed on Vivian&rsquo;s mind: and his
+      decision was in consequence of the feelings and of the embarrassment of
+      the moment. His reply to Lord Glistonbury was a proposal for Lady Sarah,
+      followed by as many gallant protestations as his presence of mind could
+      furnish. He did not very well know what he said, nor did Lord Glistonbury
+      scrupulously examine whether he had the air and accent of a true lover,
+      nor did his lordship inquire what had become of Vivian&rsquo;s late love for
+      Lady Julia; but, quite content that the object should be altered, the
+      desire the same, he relieved Vivian by exclaiming, &ldquo;Come, come, all this
+      sort of thing Lady Sarah herself must hear; and I&rsquo;ve a notion&mdash;but I
+      can keep a secret. You&rsquo;ll return with me directly to Glistonbury. Lady
+      Glistonbury will be delighted to see you; and I shall be delighted to see
+      Marmaduke&rsquo;s face, when I tell him you have actually proposed for Sarah&mdash;for
+      now I must tell you all. Our politician calculated upon the probability
+      that you would not decide, you see, to make a proposal at once, that would
+      justify me to the world in supporting my son-in-law against my nephew. As
+      to the choice of the son-in-law, Sarah settles that part of the business
+      herself, you know; for, when two proposals are made, both almost equally
+      advantageous, in the common acceptation of the word, I am too good a
+      father not to leave the decision to my daughter. So you see we understand
+      one another perfectly, and will make Marmaduke, too, understand us
+      perfectly, contrary to his calculations, hey, hey?&mdash;&mdash;Mr.
+      Politician, your advertisement must be withdrawn, I opine, in the next
+      paper&mdash;hey, Vivian? my dear Vivian!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With similar loquacity, Lord Glistonbury continued, in the fulness of his
+      heart, all the way they went together to Glistonbury Castle; which was
+      agreeable to Vivian, at least by saving him from all necessity of
+      speaking.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So!&rdquo; said Vivian to himself, &ldquo;the die is cast, and I have actually
+      proposed for Lady Sarah Lidhurst!&mdash;Who would have expected this two
+      years ago?&mdash;I would not have believed it, if it had been foretold to
+      me even two months ago. But it is a very&mdash;a very suitable match, and
+      it will please the friends of both parties; and Lady Sarah is certainly
+      very estimable, and capable of very strong attachment; and I like her,
+      that is, I liked her yesterday very much&mdash;I really like her.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Upon those mixed motives, between convenience and affection, from which,
+      Dr. Johnson says, most people marry, our hero commenced his courtship of
+      the Lady Sarah Lidhurst. As the minds of both parties on the subject are
+      pretty well known to our readers, it would be cruel to fatigue them with a
+      protracted description of the formalities of courtship. It is sufficient
+      to say, that my Lord Glistonbury had the satisfaction of seeing his nephew
+      disappointed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XIV.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And the marriage was solemnized with much pomp and magnificence, and
+      every demonstration of joy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Novelists and novel readers are usually satisfied when they arrive at this
+      happy catastrophe; their interest and curiosity seldom go any farther:
+      but, in real life, marriage is but the beginning of domestic happiness or
+      misery.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Soon after the celebration of Vivian&rsquo;s nuptials, an event happened which
+      interrupted all the festivities at Glistonbury, and which changed the
+      bridal pomp to mourning. Lady Glistonbury, who had been much fatigued by
+      the multitude of wedding-visits she was obliged to receive and return, had
+      another stroke of the palsy, which, in a few hours, terminated fatally.
+      Thus, the very event which Vivian had dreaded, as the probable consequence
+      of his refusal to marry her daughter, was, in fact, accelerated by the
+      full accomplishment of her wishes. After the loss of her mother, Lady
+      Sarah Vivian&rsquo;s whole soul seemed to be engrossed by fondness for her
+      husband. In public, and to all eyes but Vivian&rsquo;s, her ladyship seemed much
+      the same person as formerly: but, in private, the affection she expressed
+      for him was so great, that he frequently asked himself whether this could
+      be the same woman, who, to the rest of the world, and in every other part
+      of her life, appeared so cold and inanimate. On a very few occasions her
+      character, before her marriage, had, &ldquo;when much enforced, given out a
+      hasty spark, and straight was cold again;&rdquo; but now she permitted the
+      steady flame to burn without restraint. Duty and passion had now the same
+      object. Before marriage, her attachment had been suppressed, even at the
+      hazard of her life; she had no idea that the private demonstrations of
+      unbounded love from a married woman to her husband could be either
+      blameable or dangerous: she believed it to be her duty to love her husband
+      as much as she possibly could.&mdash;Was not he her husband? She had been
+      taught that she should neither read, speak, nor think of love; and she had
+      been so far too much restricted on this subject, that, absolutely ignorant
+      and unconscious even of her danger, she now pursued her own course without
+      chart or compass. Her injudicious tenderness soon imposed such restraint
+      upon her husband, as scarcely any lover, much less any husband, could have
+      patiently endured. She would hardly ever suffer him to leave her. Whenever
+      he went out of the house, she exacted from him a promise that he would <i>be
+      back again</i> at a certain hour; and if he were even a few minutes later
+      than his appointment, he had to sustain her fond reproaches. Even though
+      he stayed at home all day, she was uneasy if he quitted the room where she
+      sat; and he, who by this time understood, through all her exterior
+      calmness, the symptoms of her internal agitation, saw by her countenance
+      that she was wretched if he seemed interested in the conversation of any
+      other person, especially of any other woman.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One day when Vivian, after spending the morning <i>tête-à-tête</i> with
+      Lady Sarah, signified to her his intention of dining abroad, she repeated
+      her fond request that he would be sure to come home early, and that he
+      would tell her at what o&rsquo;clock exactly she might expect to see him again.
+      He named an hour at hazard, to free himself from her importunate anxiety;
+      but he could not help saying, &ldquo;Pshaw!&rdquo; as he ran down stairs; an
+      exclamation which fortunately reached only the ears of a groom, who was
+      thinking of nothing but the tops of his own boots. Vivian happened to meet
+      some agreeable people where he dined: he was much pressed to stay to
+      supper; he yielded to entreaty, but he had the good-natured attention to
+      send home his servant, to beg that Lady Sarah and his mother would not sit
+      up for him. When he returned, he found all the family in bed except Lady
+      Sarah, who was sitting up waiting for him, with her watch in her hand. The
+      moment he appeared, she assailed him with tender reproaches, to which he
+      answered, &ldquo;But why would you sit up when I begged you would not, my dear
+      Lady Sarah?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      She replied by a continuity of fond reproach; and among other things she
+      said, but without believing it to be true, &ldquo;Ah! I am sure you would have
+      been happier if you had married my sister Julia, or <i>that</i> Miss
+      Sidney!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian sighed deeply; but the next instant, conscious that he had sighed,
+      and afraid of giving his wife pain, he endeavoured to turn the course of
+      her thoughts to some other subject. In vain. Poor Lady Sarah said no more,
+      but felt this exquisitely, and with permanent anguish. Thus her imprudence
+      reverted upon herself, and she suffered in proportion to her pride and to
+      her fondness. By such slight circumstances is the human heart alienated
+      from love! Struggling to be free, the restive little deity ruffles and
+      impairs his plumage, and seldom recovers a disposition to tranquillity.
+      Vivian&rsquo;s good-nature had induced him for some time to submit to restraint;
+      but if, instead of weakly yielding to the fond importunity of his wife&mdash;if,
+      instead of tolerating the insipidity of her conversation and the
+      narrowness of her views, he had with real energy employed her capacity
+      upon suitable objects, he might have made her attachment the solace of his
+      life. Whoever possesses the heart of a woman, who has common powers of
+      intellect, may improve her understanding in twelve months more than could
+      all the masters, and lectures, and courses of philosophy, and abridgments,
+      and <i>documenting</i> in the universe. But Vivian had not sufficient
+      resolution for such an undertaking: he thought only of avoiding to give or
+      to feel present pain; and the consequences were, that the evils he dreaded
+      every day increased.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s mother saw the progress of conjugal discontent with anguish and
+      remorse.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Alas!&rdquo; said she to herself, &ldquo;I was much to blame for pressing this match.
+      My son told me he could never love Lady Sarah Lidhurst. It would have been
+      better far to have broken off a marriage at the church-door than to have
+      forced the completion of such an ill-assorted union. My poor son married
+      chiefly from a principle of honour; his duty and respect for my opinion
+      had also great weight in his decision; and I have sacrificed his happiness
+      to my desire that he should make what the world calls a splendid alliance.
+      I am the cause of all his misery; and Heaven only knows where all this
+      will end!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      In her paroxysm of self-reproach, and her eagerness to <i>set things to
+      rights</i> between her daughter-in-law and her son, she only made matters
+      worse. She spoke with all the warmth and frankness of her own character to
+      Lady Sarah, beseeching her to speak with equal openness, and to explain
+      the cause of the <i>alteration</i> in Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not know what you mean, madam, by alteration in Mr. Vivian!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Is not there some disagreement between you, my dear?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is no disagreement whatever, madam, as far as I know, between Mr.
+      Vivian and me&mdash;we agree perfectly,&rdquo; said Lady Sarah.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, the <i>misunderstanding</i>!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I do not know of any <i>misunderstanding</i>, madam. Mr. Vivian and I
+      understand one another perfectly.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The <i>coolness</i>, then&mdash;Oh! what word shall I use!&mdash;Surely,
+      my dear Lady Sarah, there is some <i>coolness</i>&mdash;something wrong?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I am sure, madam, I do not complain of any coolness on Mr. Vivian&rsquo;s part.
+      Am I to understand that he complains to your ladyship of any thing wrong
+      on mine? If he does, I shall think it my duty, when he points out the
+      particulars, to make any alteration he may desire in my conduct and
+      manners.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Complain!&mdash;My son!&mdash;He makes no <i>complaints</i>, my dear. You
+      misunderstand me. My son does not complain that any thing is wrong on your
+      part.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, madam, if no complaints are made on either side, all is as it
+      should be, I presume, at present; and if in future I should fail in any
+      point of duty, I shall hold myself obliged to your ladyship if you will
+      then act as my monitor.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Hopeless of penetrating Lady Sarah&rsquo;s sevenfold fence of pride, the mother
+      flew to her son, to try what could be done with his open and generous
+      mind. He expressed a most earnest and sincere wish to make his wife happy.
+      Conscious that he had given her exquisite pain, he endeavoured to make
+      atonement by the sacrifices which he thought would be most grateful to
+      her. He refrained often from company and conversation that was agreeable
+      to him, and would resign himself for hours to her society. It was
+      fortunate for Lady Julia Lidhurst that, by continuing with her good uncle
+      the bishop, she did not see the consequences of the union which she had so
+      strenuously advised. The advice of friends is often highly useful to
+      prevent an imprudent match; but it seldom happens that marriages turn out
+      happily which have been made from the opinion of others rather than from
+      the judgment and inclinations of the parties concerned; for, let the
+      general reasons on which the advice is grounded be ever so sensible, it is
+      scarcely possible that the adviser can take in all the little
+      circumstances of taste and temper, upon which so much of the happiness or
+      misery of domestic life depends. Besides, people are much more apt to
+      repent of having been guided by the judgment of another than of having
+      followed their own; and this is most likely to be the case with the
+      weakest minds. Strong minds can decide for themselves, not by the opinions
+      but by the reasons that are laid before them: weak minds are influenced
+      merely by opinions; and never, either before or after their decision, are
+      firm in abiding by the preponderating reasons.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      No letters, no intelligence from home, except a malicious hint now and
+      then from her cousin Marmaduke, which she did not credit, gave her reason
+      to suspect that the pair whom she had contributed to unite were not
+      perfectly happy. So Lady Julia exulted in the success of her past
+      counsels, and indulged her generous romantic disposition in schemes for
+      forwarding a union between Russell and Selina, determining to divide her
+      fortune amongst the children of her friends. She concluded one of her
+      letters to Lady Sarah Vivian about this time with these words:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Could I but see <i>one other person</i>,&mdash;whom I must not name,
+      rewarded for his virtues, as you are, by happy love, I should die content,
+      and would write on my tomb:&mdash;
+    </p>
+<pre xml:space="preserve">
+     &lsquo;Je ne fus point heureux, mais j&rsquo;ai fait leur bonheur.&rdquo; <a
+      href="#linknote-10" name="linknoteref-10" id="linknoteref-10">10</a>
+</pre>
+    <p>
+      Far removed from all romance and all generosity of sentiment, Lord
+      Glistonbury, in the mean time, went on very comfortably, without observing
+      any thing that passed in his family. Whatever uneasiness obtruded upon his
+      attention he attributed to one cause, anxiety relative to the question on
+      which his present thoughts were exclusively fixed, viz. whether Lady
+      Sarah&rsquo;s first child would be a boy or a girl. &ldquo;Heaven grant a boy!&rdquo; said
+      his lordship; &ldquo;for then, you know, there&rsquo;s an end of Marmaduke as
+      heir-at-law!&rdquo; Whenever his lordship saw a cloud on the brows of Lady Mary,
+      of Lady Sarah, or of Vivian, he had one infallible charm for dispelling
+      melancholy;&mdash;he stepped up close to the patient, and whispered, &ldquo;It
+      will be a boy!&mdash;My life upon it, it will be a boy!&rdquo; Sometimes it
+      happened that this universal remedy, applied at random, made the patient
+      start or smile; and then his lordship never failed to add, with a nod of
+      great sagacity, &ldquo;Ah! you didn&rsquo;t know I knew what you were thinking of!&mdash;Well!
+      well! you&rsquo;ll see we shall cut out Marmaduke yet.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      With this hope of cutting out Marmaduke, Lord Glistonbury went on very
+      happily, and every day grew fonder of the son-in-law, who was the enemy of
+      his heir-at-law, or whom he considered as such. The easiness of Vivian&rsquo;s
+      temper was peculiarly agreeable to his lordship, who enjoyed the daily
+      pleasure of governing a man of talents which were far superior to his own.
+      This easiness of temper in our hero was much increased by the want of
+      motive and stimulus. He thought that he had now lost his chance of
+      happiness; he cared little for the more or less pain of each succeeding
+      day; and so passive was his listlessness, that to a superficial observer,
+      like Lord Glistonbury, it looked like the good-nature of perfect content.&mdash;Poor
+      Vivian!&mdash;In this wreck of his happiness, one saving chance, however,
+      yet remained. He had still a public character; he was conscious of, having
+      preserved unblemished integrity as a member of the senate; and this
+      integrity, still more than his oratorical talents, raised him far above
+      most of his competitors, and preserved him not only in the opinion of
+      others, but in his own. When parliament met, he went to town, took a very
+      handsome house for Lady Sarah, determining to do all he could to oblige
+      and please the wife whom he could not love. Lady Sarah had complete power,
+      at home and abroad, of her time and her expenses: her dress, her
+      equipages, her servants, her whole establishment, were above Vivian&rsquo;s
+      fortune, and equal to her ladyship&rsquo;s birth and rank. She was mistress of
+      every thing but of his heart. The less he liked her, the more he
+      endeavoured to compensate for this involuntary fault, by allowing her that
+      absolute dominion, and that external splendour, which he thought would
+      gratify, and perhaps fill her mind. As for himself, he took refuge in the
+      House of Commons. There he forgot for a time domestic uneasiness, and was
+      truly animated by what so many affect&mdash;zeal for the good of his
+      country. He was proud to recollect, that the profligate Wharton had failed
+      in the attempt to laugh him out of his public virtue; he was proud that
+      Wharton&rsquo;s prophecies of his apostasy had never been accomplished; that, as
+      a public! character at least, he had fulfilled the promise of his early
+      youth, and was still worthy of himself, and of that friend whom he had
+      lost. He clung to this idea, as to the only hope left him in life.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      One night, in a debate on some question of importance, he made an
+      excellent speech, which was particularly well received by the house,
+      because it came from one who had an unblemished character. When Vivian
+      went into the coffee-room to refresh himself, after he had done speaking,
+      several of his acquaintance crowded round him, complimenting him upon his
+      success&mdash;he broke from them all! for he saw, advancing towards him
+      with a smile of approbation, the friend on whose approbation he set a
+      higher value than he did even on the applauses of the house&mdash;the
+      friend whose lost affection he had so long and so bitterly regretted.
+      Russell stretched out his hand&mdash;Vivian eagerly seized it; and, before
+      they had either of them spoken one word, they both understood each other
+      perfectly, and their reconciliation was completely effected.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes,&rdquo; said Russell, as they walked out arm in arm together, &ldquo;yes, it is
+      fit that I should forget all private resentment, in the pride and pleasure
+      I feel, not merely in your public success, but in your public virtue.
+      Talents, even the rare talent of oratory, you know, I hold cheap in
+      comparison with that which is so far more rare, as well as more valuable&mdash;political
+      integrity. The abhorrence and contempt of political profligacy, which you
+      have just expressed, as a member of the senate, and the consistent conduct
+      by which you have supported your principles, are worthy of you; and, allow
+      me to say, of your education.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian felt exalted in his own opinion by such praise, and by these the
+      warmest expressions he had ever received of Russell&rsquo;s regard. He forgot
+      even his domestic uneasiness; and this day, the first for many months he
+      had spent happily, he passed with his friend. They supped together, and
+      related mutually all that happened since their parting. Russell told
+      Vivian that he had lately been agreeably surprised by the gift of a
+      valuable living from the Bishop of &mdash;&mdash;, Lady Julia Lidhurst&rsquo;s
+      uncle; that the bishop, whom he had till then never seen, had written to
+      him in the handsomest manner, saying that he knew the obligations his
+      family owed to Mr. Russell; that it had been the dying request of his
+      nephew, Lord Lidhurst, that some token of the family esteem and gratitude
+      should be offered to him, to whom they owed so much; but the bishop added,
+      that neither family gratitude nor private friendship could have induced
+      him to bestow church preferments upon any but the person whose character
+      best entitled him to such a distinction and such a trust.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      This letter, as Vivian observed, was well calculated to satisfy Russell&rsquo;s
+      conscience and his delicacy. The conversation next turned upon Lady Julia
+      Lidhurst. Russell was not aware that Vivian knew more of her attachment to
+      him than what had been discovered the day before he left Glistonbury; and
+      Vivian could not help admiring the honourable and delicate manner in which
+      his friend spoke of her, without any air of mystery, and with the greatest
+      respect. He told Vivian he had heard that proposals had been lately made
+      to her ladyship by a gentleman of great talents and of high character; but
+      that she had positively declined his addresses, and had repeated her
+      declaration that she would never marry. Her good uncle left her, on this
+      point, entirely at liberty, and did not mention the proposal to Lord
+      Glistonbury, lest she should be exposed to any fresh difficulties. Russell
+      expressed much satisfaction at this part of the bishop&rsquo;s conduct, as being
+      not only the most kind, but the most judicious, and the most likely to
+      dispose his niece to change her determination. He repeated his opinion
+      that, united to a man of sense and strength of mind, she would make a
+      charming and excellent wife. Vivian agreed with him; yet observed, that he
+      was convinced she would never marry&mdash;There he paused.&mdash;Could
+      Lady Julia herself have overheard the conversation which afterwards passed
+      between these two gentlemen, one of whom she had loved and the other of
+      whom she had refused, not a word would have hurt her feelings: on the
+      contrary, she would have been raised in her own opinion, and gratified by
+      the strong interest they both showed for her happiness. They regretted
+      only that a young woman of such talents, and of such a fine, generous
+      disposition, had been so injudiciously educated.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And now, my dear Russell,&rdquo; cried Vivian, &ldquo;that we have finished the
+      chapter of Lady Julia, let us talk of Miss Sidney.&rdquo;&mdash;Russell&rsquo;s change
+      of countenance showed that it was not quite so easy for him to talk upon
+      this subject.&mdash;To spare him the effort, Vivian resumed, &ldquo;As you are a
+      rich man now, my dear Russell, you will certainly marry; and I know,&rdquo;
+       added he, smiling, &ldquo;that Miss Sidney will be your wife. If ever man
+      deserved such a prize, you do; and I shall be the first to wish you joy.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Stay, my good friend,&rdquo; interrupted Russell; &ldquo;your kindness for me, and
+      your imagination, are too quick in this anticipation of my happiness.&rdquo;&mdash;Russell
+      then told him, that he never had declared his attachment to Selina till
+      Vivian&rsquo;s marriage had put an end to all probability of rivalship with his
+      friend. She had expressed high esteem for Russell, but had told him, that
+      she had suffered so much from a first unfortunate attachment, that she
+      felt averse from any new engagements.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Shall I assure you, as you assured me just now with regard to Lady
+      Julia,&rdquo; said Vivian, &ldquo;that Miss Sidney will he prevailed upon to alter her
+      determination; and shall I add, that, though I should like Lady Julia the
+      less, I should like Selina the better, for changing her mind?&rdquo;&mdash;He
+      went on, generously expressing sincere hopes, that his friend might obtain
+      Selina Sidney&rsquo;s affections, and might enjoy that domestic happiness, which&mdash;Vivian
+      was going to say, which he had himself forfeited; but checking this
+      regret, he only said&mdash;&ldquo;that domestic happiness, which I consider as
+      the summit of human felicity, and which no man can deserve better than you
+      do, my dear Russell.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell easily guessed that poor Vivian had not attained this summit of
+      human felicity by his own marriage, but never adverted to any of the
+      conversations they had held about Lady Sarah Lidhurst; never recalled any
+      of Vivian&rsquo;s vehement declarations concerning the absolute impossibility of
+      his making such a match; never evinced the least surprise at his marriage;
+      nor inquired how he had conquered his passion for Lady Julia. With
+      friendly forgetfulness, he seemed to have totally obliterated from his
+      mind all that it could do no good to remember. Vivian was sensible of this
+      delicacy, and grateful for it; but to imitate Russell&rsquo;s reserve and
+      silence upon certain subjects required a force, a forbearance of which he
+      was not capable. At first he had determined not to say one word to Russell
+      of domestic uneasiness; but they had not been many hours together before
+      Vivian poured forth all his complaints, and confessed how bitterly he
+      repented his marriage: be declared that he had been persuaded, by the
+      united efforts of her family and of his mother, against his own judgment,
+      or, at least, against his taste and inclinations, to marry Lady Sarah.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;By whatever persuasions, or by whatever motives, your choice was
+      decided,&rdquo; interrupted Russell, &ldquo;reflect that it is decided for life;
+      therefore abide by it, and justify it. Above all, make yourself happy with
+      the means which are yet in your power, instead of wasting your mind in
+      unavailing regret. You are united to a woman who has every estimable
+      quality, as you candidly acknowledge: there are some particulars in which
+      she does not please your taste; but withdraw your attention from these,
+      and you will be happy with a wife who is so firmly attached to you.
+      Consider, besides, that&mdash;romance apart&mdash;love, though a
+      delightful passion, is not the only resource which a man of sense, virtue,
+      and activity may find for happiness. Your public duties, your success, and
+      your reputation as a public character, will&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell was interrupted in this consolatory and invigorating speech, by
+      the entrance of a servant of Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s, who brought a note from
+      his lordship to Mr. Vivian, requesting to see him as soon as he could make
+      it convenient to come to Glistonbury House, as his lordship wanted to
+      speak to him on particular business of the greatest importance. Vivian was
+      provoked by being thus summoned away from his friend, to attend to one of
+      what he called Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s <i>important mysteries about nothing</i>.
+      Russell was engaged to go into the country the ensuing day, to take
+      possession of his new living; but he promised that he would see him again
+      soon; and, with this hope, the two friends parted.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian went to Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s: he found his lordship in his study.
+      &ldquo;Where have you been, Vivian?&rdquo; exclaimed he: &ldquo;I have sent messenger after
+      messenger to look for you, half over the town: I thought you were to have
+      dined with us, but you ran away, and nobody could tell where, or with
+      whom; and we have been waiting for you at our cabinet council here with
+      the utmost impatience.&rdquo;&mdash;Vivian answered, that he had unexpectedly
+      met with his friend Russell; and was proceeding to tell his lordship how
+      handsomely the Bishop of&mdash;&mdash;had provided for his friend; but
+      Lord Glistonbury, like many other great men, having the habit of
+      forgetting all the services of those from whom they have nothing more to
+      expect, cut short Vivian&rsquo;s narration, by exclaiming, &ldquo;True, true! well,
+      well! that&rsquo;s all over now&mdash;Certainly, <i>that</i> Russell did his
+      duty by my poor son; and acted as he ought to do&mdash;in all things; and
+      I&rsquo;m glad to hear my brother has given him a good living; and I hope, as
+      you say, he will soon be married&mdash;so best&mdash;so best, you know,
+      Vivian, for reasons of our own&mdash;Well! well! I&rsquo;m glad he is provided
+      for&mdash;not but what that living would have been of essential service,
+      if it had been reserved for a friend of mine&mdash;but my brother the
+      bishop never can enter into any political views&mdash;might as well not
+      have a brother a bishop&mdash;But, however, Mr. Russell&rsquo;s a friend of
+      yours&mdash;I am not regretting&mdash;not so rude to you to regret&mdash;&mdash;on
+      the contrary, rejoice, particularly as Mr. Russell is a man of so much
+      merit&mdash;But all that&rsquo;s over now; and I want to talk to you upon quite
+      another matter. You know I have always said I should, sooner or later,
+      succeed in my grand object, hey, Vivian?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Your lordship&rsquo;s grand object?&mdash;I am not sure that I know it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, surely, you know my grand object. You my son-in-law, and forget my
+      grand object?&mdash;The marquisate, you know; the marquisate, the
+      marquisate! Did not I always tell you that I would make government, sooner
+      or later, change my earldom into a marquisate? Well! the thing is done&mdash;that
+      is, as good as done; they have sent to treat with me upon my own terms.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I give you joy, my dear lord!&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Joy!&mdash;to be sure you do, my sober sir:&mdash;one would think you had
+      no concern or interest in the business. Joy! to be sure you give me joy;
+      but, I can tell you, you must give me something more than joy&mdash;you
+      must give me support.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;How he looks!&rdquo; continued Lord Glistonbury, &ldquo;as if he did not know what is
+      meant by support. Vivian, did you never hear of parliamentary support?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I hope, my dear lord,&rdquo; replied Vivian, gravely, &ldquo;that you have not
+      entered into any engagements, or made any promises for me, which I cannot
+      have it in my power to perform.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury hesitated in some confusion; and then, forcing a look of
+      effrontery, in an assured tone, replied, &ldquo;No. I have not made any
+      engagements or promises for you which you cannot perform, Vivian, I am
+      clear; nor any which I have not a right to expect my son-in-law will
+      confirm with alacrity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What have you engaged?&mdash;what have you promised for me, my lord?&rdquo;
+       said Vivian, earnestly.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Only, my dear boy,&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury, assuming a facetious tone,
+      &ldquo;only that you will be always one of us&mdash;And are not you one of us?&mdash;my
+      son-in-law?&mdash;the deuce is in it if he is not one of us!&mdash;In
+      short, you know, to be serious, a party must go together, that is, a
+      family party must go together; and, if a ministry do my business, of
+      course I do theirs. If I have my marquisate, they have my votes.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But not my vote&mdash;pardon me, my lord&mdash;my vote cannot be bartered
+      in this manner.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But, you know, Mr. Vivian, you know it is for your interest as much as
+      for mine; for, you know, the marquisate will probably descend, in due
+      course of time, to your son. So your interest is full as much concerned as
+      mine; and besides, let me tell you, I have not forgotten your immediate
+      interest: I have stipulated that you should have the valuable place which
+      Mr. C&mdash;&mdash; was to have had.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      All that Russell had said of public virtue was fresh in our hero&rsquo;s mind.
+      &ldquo;I thank you, my dear lord,&rdquo; said he; &ldquo;for I am sure this was kindly
+      intended; but I am not one of those persons, who in public affairs think
+      only of their private interest&mdash;I am not thinking of my interest. But
+      if a man maintains certain public measures one day, and the next, for <i>valuable
+      consideration</i>, supports diametrically opposite opinions and measures,
+      he will lose, and deserve to lose, all reputation for integrity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Integrity! political integrity!&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury; &ldquo;fine words,
+      which mean nothing. Behind the scenes, as we are now, Vivian, what use can
+      there be in talking in that strain?&mdash;Between you and me, you know
+      this is all nonsense. For who, of any party, now thinks, really and truly,
+      of any thing but getting power or keeping it? Power, you know, stands for
+      the measure of talent; and every thing else worth having is included in
+      that word power. I speak plainly. And as honour is merely an affair of
+      opinion, and opinion, again, an affair of numbers, and as there are
+      numbers enough to keep one in countenance in these things; really, my dear
+      Vivian, it is quite childish, quite boyish, smells of the lamp. To declaim
+      about political integrity, and all that, is not the language of a man who
+      knows any thing of business&mdash;any thing of the world.&mdash;But why do
+      I say all this?&rdquo; cried Lord Glistonbury, checking himself and assuming an
+      air of more reserved displeasure.&mdash;&ldquo;Mr. Vivian certainly knows all
+      this as well as I do; I know how my nephew Marmaduke, who, with all his
+      faults, is no fool, would interpret your present language: he would say,
+      as I have often heard him say, that political integrity is only a civil <i>put
+      off</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Political integrity only a civil put off!&rdquo; repeated Vivian, with
+      unfeigned astonishment. When he formerly heard similar sentiments from the
+      avowed profligate and hackneyed politician Mr. Wharton, he was shocked;
+      but to hear them repeated, as being coolly laid down by so young a man as
+      Mr. Lidhurst, excited so much disgust and contempt in Vivian&rsquo;s mind, that
+      he could hardly refrain from saying more than either prudence or
+      politeness could justify.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Now I am free to confess,&rdquo; pursued Lord Glistonbury, &ldquo;that I should think
+      it more candid and manly, and, I will add, more friendly, and more the
+      natural, open conduct of a son-in-law to a father-in-law, instead of
+      talking of political integrity, to have said, at once, I cannot oblige you
+      in this instance.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Surely, my lord, you cannot be in earnest?&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I tell you, sir, I am in earnest,&rdquo; cried his lordship, turning suddenly
+      in a rage, as he walked up and down the room; &ldquo;I say, it would have been
+      more candid, more manly, more every thing,&mdash;and much more like a
+      son-in-law&mdash;much!&mdash;much!&mdash;&mdash;I am sure, if I had known
+      as much as I do now, sir, you never should have been my son-in-law&mdash;never!
+      never!&mdash;seen Lady Sarah in her grave first!&mdash;I would!&mdash;I
+      would!&mdash;yes, sir&mdash;I would!&mdash;&mdash;And you are the last
+      person upon earth I should have expected it from. But I have a nephew&mdash;I
+      have a nephew, and now I know the difference. No man can distinguish his
+      friends till he tries them.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian in vain endeavoured to appease Lord Glistonbury by assurances that
+      he would do any thing in his power to oblige him, except what he himself
+      considered as dishonourable: his lordship reiterated, with divers
+      passionate ejaculations, that if Vivian would not oblige him in this
+      point, on which he had set his heart&mdash;where the great object of his
+      life was at stake&mdash;he could never believe he had any regard for him;
+      and that in short, it must come to an open rupture between them, for that
+      he should never consider him more as his son. Having uttered this
+      denunciation as distinctly as passion would permit, Lord Glistonbury
+      retired to rest.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian went immediately to his mother, to tell her what had passed, and he
+      felt almost secure of her approbation; but though she praised him for his
+      generous spirit of independence, yet it was evident the hopes that the
+      title of marquis might descend to a grandson of her own weighed more with
+      her than any patriotic considerations. She declared, that indeed she would
+      not, for any title, or any thing upon earth, have her son act
+      dishonourably; but what was asked of him, as far as she could understand,
+      was only such a change of party, such compliances, as every public man in
+      his place would make: and though she would not have him, like some she
+      could name, a corrupt tool of government, yet, on the other hand, it was
+      folly to expect that he alone could do any thing against the general tide
+      of corruption&mdash;that it would be madness in him to sacrifice himself
+      entirely, without the slightest possibility of doing any good to his
+      country.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian interrupted her, to represent that, if each public man argued in
+      this manner, nothing could ever be accomplished for the public good: that,
+      on the contrary, if every man hoped that something might be done, even by
+      his individual exertion, and if he determined to sacrifice a portion of
+      his private interest in the attempt, perhaps much might be effected.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very likely!&rdquo; Lady Mary said. She confessed she knew little of politics:
+      so from argument she went to persuasion and entreaties. She conjured him
+      not to quarrel with the Glistonburys, and not to provoke Lord
+      Glistonbury&rsquo;s displeasure. &ldquo;I see all that artful Marmaduke&rsquo;s schemes,&rdquo;
+       said she: &ldquo;he knows his uncle&rsquo;s pertinacious temper; and he hopes that
+      your notions of patriotism will prevent you from yielding on a point, on
+      which his uncle has set his heart. Marmaduke will know how to take
+      advantage of all this, believe me!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was shaken in his resolution by his mother&rsquo;s entreaties&mdash;by
+      the idea of all the family quarrels that would ensue, and of all the
+      difficulties in which he might be involved, if he persisted in his
+      generous determination.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear son,&rdquo; resumed she, &ldquo;it would be absolute madness to refuse the
+      place that is now offered you: only consider the situation of your affairs&mdash;consider,
+      I beseech you, the distress you will be in by and by, if you reject this
+      offer&mdash;recollect the immense demands upon you; recollect that heap of
+      bills for the election, and for the buildings, and all the poor workmen
+      about the castle! and that coachmaker too! and remember, the purchase
+      money of the house in town must be paid in three months. And the only
+      possible means by which you can get out of debt, is by accepting this
+      place, which would put you at ease at once, and enable you to continue in
+      the style of life to which you have of late been accustomed.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;As to that, I could alter my style of life&mdash;I would do any thing,&rdquo;
+       cried Vivian, &ldquo;to pay my debts and preserve my independence. I will alter
+      my mode of living, and retrench decidedly and vigorously.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, my dear son, I admire your spirit, and, if you can do this, it will
+      certainly be best; but I fear that when it comes to the trial, you will
+      not be able to persevere.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I shall&mdash;I shall! Believe me, mother, I have resolution enough for
+      this&mdash;you do me injustice,&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, my dear Charles, I do you justice; for I do not doubt your
+      resolution, as far as your own privations are concerned; but, consider
+      your wife&mdash;consider Lady Sarah&mdash;consider the luxury in which she
+      has always been accustomed to live, and the high sphere in which her
+      relations move! How her pride would be hurt by their looking down upon
+      her! I have no doubt Lady Sarah would do her duty, and make any sacrifices
+      for her husband; and if you were&mdash;I must now speak plainly&mdash;if
+      you were passionately fond of her&mdash;an all-for-love husband&mdash;you
+      could, with honour and propriety, accept of such sacrifices; but what
+      would retirement be <i>to</i> poor Lady Sarah, and <i>with</i> Lady
+      Sarah?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian told his mother that he would take a night to reconsider the matter
+      coolly; and, satisfied with having gained so much, she suffered him to go
+      home. As he was quitting his own dressing-room, he paused, to consider
+      whether he should consult his wife, who was, as yet, in ignorance of the
+      whole transaction, and who knew nothing of the deranged state of his
+      affairs. He did her the justice to believe that she would be willing to
+      live with him in retirement, and to forego all the luxuries and pride of
+      her rank, for the sake of her duty and of her love. He was convinced that,
+      in any opposition between her father&rsquo;s interests and her husband&rsquo;s honour,
+      she would strongly abide by her husband. He recollected all Lady Julia had
+      said of the advantage that her sister&rsquo;s firmness of mind might be in
+      steadying his vacillating temper in any moment of trial. Here was the
+      first <i>great occasion</i>, since his marriage, where his wife&rsquo;s strength
+      of mind could be of essential service to him: yet he hesitated whether he
+      should avail himself of this advantage; and every moment, as he approached
+      nearer to her apartment, he hesitated more and more; He did not, in the
+      first place, like to humble himself so far as to ask her counsel; then he
+      had not courage to confess those debts and embarrassments which he had
+      hitherto concealed. All that his mother had suggested about the indelicacy
+      of requiring or accepting great sacrifices from a woman whom, though he
+      esteemed, he could not love&mdash;the horror of retirement with such a
+      companion&mdash;the long years <i>tête-à-tête</i>&mdash;all these ideas
+      combined, but chiefly the apprehension of the immediate present pain of
+      speaking to her on a disagreeable subject, and of being obliged to hear
+      her speak with that formal deliberation which he detested; added to this,
+      the dread of her surprise, if not of her reproaches, when all his affairs
+      should be revealed, operated so irresistibly upon his weakness, that he
+      decided on the common resource&mdash;concealment. His hand was upon the
+      lock of his chamber-door, and he turned it cautiously and softly, lest, in
+      entering his apartment, he should waken Lady Sarah: but she was not
+      asleep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What can have kept you so late, Mr. Vivian?&rdquo; said she.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Business, my dear,&rdquo; answered he, with some embarrassment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;May I ask what sort of business?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh!&mdash;only&mdash;political business.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Political business!&rdquo; She looked earnestly at her husband; but, as if
+      repressing her curiosity, she afterwards added, &ldquo;our sex have nothing to
+      do with politics,&rdquo; and, turning away from the light, she composed herself
+      to sleep.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Very true, my dear,&rdquo; replied Vivian&mdash;not a word more did he say:
+      content with this evasion of the difficulty, he thus, by his weakness,
+      deprived himself of the real advantage of his wife&rsquo;s strength of mind.
+      Whilst Lady Sarah, in total ignorance of the distress of her husband,
+      slept in peace, he lay awake, revolving painful thoughts in the silence of
+      the night. All that his mother had said about the pecuniary difficulties
+      to which they must soon be reduced recurred with fresh force; the ideas of
+      the unpaid election bills, all the masons&rsquo;, carpenters&rsquo;, painters&rsquo;,
+      glaziers&rsquo;, and upholsterers&rsquo; bills, with &ldquo;thousands yet unnamed behind,&rdquo;
+       rose, in dreadful array, before him, and the enthusiasm of his patriotism
+      was appalled. With feverish reiteration, he ran over and over, in his
+      mind, the same circle of difficulties, continually returning to the
+      question, &ldquo;<i>Then what can be done?</i>&rdquo; Bitterly did he this night
+      regret the foolish expenses into which he had early in life been led. If
+      it were to do over again, he certainly would not turn his house into a
+      castle; if he had foreseen how much the expense would surpass the
+      estimates, assuredly nothing could have tempted him to such extravagance.
+      The architect, the masons, the workmen, one and all, were knaves; but, one
+      and all, they must be paid. Then what could he do?&mdash;And the debts
+      incurred by the contested elections!&mdash;contested elections are cursed
+      things, when the bills come to be paid; but, cursed or not, they must be
+      paid. Then what could he do?&mdash;The distress in which he should involve
+      his generous mother&mdash;the sacrifices he should require from his wife&mdash;the
+      family quarrels&mdash;all that Lady Sarah would suffer from them&mdash;the
+      <i>situation</i> of his wife. Then what could he do?&mdash;He MUST submit
+      to Lord Glistonbury, and take the place that was offered to him.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian sighed&mdash;and turned in his bed&mdash;and sighed&mdash;and
+      thought&mdash;and turned&mdash;and sighed again&mdash;and the last sigh of
+      expiring patriotism escaped him!&mdash;&mdash;To this end, to this
+      miserable end, must all patriotism come, which is not supported by the
+      seemingly inferior virtues of prudence and economy.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Poor Vivian endeavoured to comfort himself by the reflection that he
+      should not act from merely mercenary considerations, but that he was
+      compelled to yield to the solicitations of his mother and of his
+      father-in-law; that he was forced to sacrifice his own public opinions to
+      secure domestic peace, and to prevent the distress of his mother, the
+      misery, and perhaps danger, of his wife and child. Dereliction of
+      principle, in these circumstances, was something like an amiable, a
+      pardonable weakness. And then, see it in what light you will, as Lord
+      Glistonbury observed, &ldquo;there are so many who will keep a patriot in
+      countenance now-a-days, for merely changing sides in politics. A man is
+      not even thought to be a man of talents till he gets something by his
+      talents. The bargain he makes&mdash;the price he gains&mdash;is, in most
+      people&rsquo;s estimation, the value of the public man.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      All this Vivian said to himself to quiet his conscience; and all this, he
+      knew, would be <i>abundantly satisfactory</i> to the generality of people
+      with whom he associated; therefore, from them he could fear neither
+      reproach nor contempt: but he could not bear even to think of Russell&mdash;he
+      felt all the pangs of remorse, and agony of shame, as the idea of such a
+      friend came into his mind. Again he turned in his bed, and groaned aloud&mdash;so
+      loud, that Lady Sarah wakened, and, starting up, asked what was the
+      matter; but receiving no answer, she imagined that she had been in a
+      dream, or that her husband had spoken in his sleep. He groaned no more,
+      nor did he even sigh: but fatigued with thinking and with feeling, he at
+      last fell into a sort of slumber, which lasted till it was time to rise.
+      Before Vivian was dressed, Lord Glistonbury called upon him&mdash;he went
+      into his dressing-room. His lordship came with his best address, and most
+      courteous face of persuasion; he held out his hand, in a frank and cordial
+      manner, as he entered, begging his dear son&rsquo;s pardon for the warmth and
+      want of temper, he was free to confess, he had shown last night; but he
+      was persuaded, he said, that Vivian knew his sincere regard for him, and
+      convinced that, in short, they should never <i>essentially</i> differ: so
+      that he was determined to come to talk the matter over with him when they
+      were both cool; and that he felt assured that Vivian, after a night&rsquo;s
+      reflection, would always act so as to justify his preference of his
+      son-in-law to his nephew, hey, Vivian?&mdash;Lord Glistonbury paused for
+      an answer&mdash;Vivian cut himself as he was shaving, and was glad of a
+      moment&rsquo;s reprieve; instead of answering, he only exclaimed, &ldquo;Cursed razor!
+      cut myself!&mdash;My lord, won&rsquo;t you sit down? will you do me the honour
+      to&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury seated himself; and, in regular order, with his tiresome
+      parade of expletives, went through all the arguments that could be adduced
+      to prove the expediency of Vivian&rsquo;s taking this place, and assisting him,
+      as he had taken it for granted his son-in-law would, on such an occasion.
+      The letters of the great and little men who had negotiated the business of
+      the marquisate were then produced, and an account given of all that had
+      passed <i>in confidence</i>; and Lord Glistonbury finished by saying that
+      the affair was absolutely concluded, he having passed his word and pledged
+      his honour for Vivian; that he would not have spoken or acted for him if
+      he had not felt that he was, when acting for his son-in-law, in fact
+      acting for himself&mdash;his second self; that there had been no time to
+      wait, no possibility of consulting Vivian; that the whole plan was
+      suggested yesterday, in two hours after the house broke up, and was
+      arranged in the evening; that search and inquiries had been made every
+      where for Vivian; but, as he could not be found, Lord Glistonbury said he
+      had ventured to decide for him, and, as he hoped, for his interest and for
+      that of the family; and the thing, now done, could not be undone: his
+      lordship&rsquo;s word was sacred, and could not be retracted.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, in a feeble, irresolute tone, asked if there was no possibility of
+      his being allowed to decline the place that was offered him, and suggested
+      that he could take a middle course; to avoid voting against his lordship&rsquo;s
+      wishes, he could, and he believed that he would, accept of the Chiltern
+      Hundreds, and go out of parliament for the session.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury remonstrated against what he termed the madness of the
+      scheme.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;A man like you, my dear Vivian, who have distinguished yourself so much
+      already in opposition, who will distinguish yourself so much more
+      hereafter in place and in power&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; said Vivian, rising as he finished shaving himself; &ldquo;no, my lord, I
+      shall never more distinguish myself, if I abandon the principles I believe
+      to be just and true. What eloquence I have&mdash;if I have any&mdash;has
+      arisen from my being in earnest: I shall speak ill&mdash;I shall not be
+      able to speak at all&mdash;when I get up against my conscience.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; said Lord Glistonbury, laughing, &ldquo;your romantic patriotism may be
+      very nice in its feelings; but, believe me, it will not deprive you of the
+      use of your speech. Look at every one of the fine orators of our times,
+      and name me one, if you can, who has not spoken, and spoken equally well,
+      on both sides of the house; ay, and on both sides of most political
+      questions. Come, come, you&rsquo;ll find you will get on quite as well as they
+      got on before you, hey?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You will find that I shall be of no use to you&mdash;that I shall be a
+      dead weight on your hands.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You a dead weight! you, who are formed to be&mdash;now, really, without
+      flattery&mdash;you know there&rsquo;s no occasion for flattery between you and
+      me&mdash;to be the soul, and, in time, the head of a party&mdash;&mdash;Stay!&mdash;I
+      know all you are going to say, but give me leave to judge&mdash;You know
+      there&rsquo;s my own nephew, a very clever young man, no doubt, he is allowed to
+      be; and yet, you see, I make no comparison between you. I assure you I am
+      a judge in these matters, and you see the house has confirmed my judgment;
+      and, what is more&mdash;for I can keep nothing from you&mdash;if it won&rsquo;t
+      make you too vain, and make you set too high a price upon yourself, which
+      will be very troublesome in the present case; but, I say, be that as it
+      may, I will frankly own to you, that I believe you have been of essential
+      service in procuring me this great favourite object of my life, the
+      marquisate.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I, my lord! impossible!&mdash;for I never took the slightest step toward
+      procuring it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Pardon me, you took the most effectual step, without knowing it, perhaps.
+      You spoke so well in opposition, that you made it the interest of ministry
+      to <i>muzzle you</i>; and there was no way so effectual of getting at you
+      as through me, I being your father-in-law and you my heir. You don&rsquo;t see
+      the secret concatenation of these things with a glance as I do, who have
+      been used to them so long. And there was no way of coming to the point
+      with me without the marquisate&mdash;that was my <i>sine qua non</i>; and
+      you see I gained my point&mdash;by your means, chiefly, I am free to allow&mdash;though
+      Marmaduke would gladly persuade me it was by his negotiating. But I do you
+      justice; I did you justice, too, in more than words, when I stipulated for
+      that place for you, which, in fact, I knew you could not go on much longer
+      without. So, my dear Vivian, all this explained to our mutual
+      satisfaction, we have nothing more to do but to shake hands upon it and go
+      down stairs; for I have engaged myself and Secretary&mdash;&mdash;to
+      breakfast with you, and he has <i>full powers</i>, and is to carry back
+      our <i>capitulation</i>&mdash;and,&rdquo; continued Lord Glistonbury, looking
+      out of the window, &ldquo;here&rsquo;s our friend&rsquo;s carriage.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, my lord, it is not yet too late!&rdquo; cried Vivian; &ldquo;it may yet be
+      arranged otherwise. Is there no way&mdash;no possibility&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A loud knock at the house door.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish to Heaven, my lord!&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So do I wish to Heaven, with all my soul, that you would finish this
+      nonsense, my dear Vivian, and come down to breakfast. Come, come, come!&mdash;Hey,
+      hey, hey!&mdash;This is absolutely too ridiculous, and I must go, if you
+      don&rsquo;t. Only consider a political breakfast of this nature!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury hurried down stairs:&mdash;reluctantly, and with a heavy
+      heart and repugnant conscience, Vivian followed. At this instant, he
+      wished for Russell, to prevent what he knew would be the consequence of
+      this interview. But Russell was absent&mdash;the keeper of his conscience,
+      the supporter of his resolution, was not at hand. Woe to him who is not
+      the keeper of his own conscience&mdash;the supporter of his own
+      resolution! The result of this political breakfast was just what every
+      reader, who knows the world but half as well as Lord Glistonbury knew it,
+      has probably long since anticipated. The capitulation of the patriots of
+      the Glistonbury band, with Vivian at their head, was settled. Lord
+      Glistonbury lost no character by this transaction, for he had none to lose&mdash;he
+      was quite at his ease, or quite callous. But Vivian bartered, for a paltry
+      <i>accommodation</i> of his pecuniary difficulties, a reputation which
+      stood high in the public opinion&mdash;which was invaluable in his own&mdash;which
+      was his last stake of happiness. He knew this&mdash;he felt it with all
+      the anguish of exquisite but USELESS sensibility.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury and his new friend, Secretary &mdash;&mdash;, who was a
+      man of wit as well as a politician, rallied Vivian upon his gravity and
+      upon his evident depression of spirits.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Really, my dear Vivian,&rdquo; cried Lord Glistonbury, &ldquo;my patience is now
+      exhausted, and I must not let you expose yourself here, before our friend,
+      as a novice&mdash;Hey! hey!&mdash;Why, will you never open your eyes, and
+      see the world as it is! Why! what!&mdash;Did you never read the fable of
+      the dog and his master&rsquo;s meat?&mdash;Well! it is come to that now in
+      England; and he is a foolish dog, indeed, who, when he can&rsquo;t save the
+      meat, won&rsquo;t secure his share&mdash;hey?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His lordship and the secretary laughed in concert.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Look, how Vivian preserves his solemnity!&rdquo; continued Lord Glistonbury;
+      &ldquo;and he really looks as if he was surprised at us. My dear Vivian, it
+      requires all my knowledge of your <i>bonne foi</i> to believe that you are
+      in earnest, and not acting the part of a patriot of <i>older</i> times.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh!&rdquo; cried the secretary, with a facetious air, &ldquo;Mr. Vivian assuredly
+      knows, as well as we do, that&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &lsquo;A patriot is a fool in ev&rsquo;ry age, Whom all lord chamberlains allow the
+      stage.&rsquo; 
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      But off the stage we lay aside heroics, or how should we ever get on?&mdash;Did
+      you hear, my lord,&rdquo; continued the secretary, turning to Lord Glistonbury,
+      &ldquo;that there is another blue riband fallen in to us by the death of Lord G&mdash;&mdash;?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I had a great regard for poor Lord G&mdash;&mdash;. Many applications, I
+      suppose, for the vacant riband?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      From the vacant riband they went on to talk over this man&rsquo;s pension and
+      the other man&rsquo;s job; and considered who was to get such and such a place
+      when such and such a person should resign or succeed to something better.
+      Then all the miserable mysteries of ministerial craft were unveiled to
+      Vivian&rsquo;s eyes. He had read, he had heard, he had believed, that public
+      affairs were conducted in this manner; but he had never, till now,
+      actually seen it: he was really novice enough still to feel surprise at
+      finding that, after all the fine professions made on all sides, the main,
+      the only object of these politicians, was to keep their own, or to get
+      into the places of others. Vivian felt every moment his disgust and his
+      melancholy increase. &ldquo;And it is with these people I have consented to act!
+      And am I to be hurried along by this stream of corruption to infamy and
+      oblivion! Then Russell&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian resolved to retract the engagement he had just made with Lord
+      Glistonbury and the secretary, and he waited only for a pause in their
+      conversation to explain himself. But, before any pause occurred, more
+      company came in,&mdash;the secretary hurried away, saying to Vivian, who
+      would have stopped him at the door, &ldquo;Oh, my dear sir, every thing is
+      settled now, and you must be with us in the house to-night&mdash;and you
+      will find the whole business will go on as smoothly as possible, if
+      gentlemen will but act together, and strengthen the hands of government. I
+      beg pardon for breaking away&mdash;but so many people are waiting for me&mdash;and
+      any thing further we can settle when we meet in the house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lord Glistonbury also refused to listen to farther explanations&mdash;said
+      that all was settled, and that it was impossible to make any recantations.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      CHAPTER XV.
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      The hour of going to the House of Commons at length arrived; Lord
+      Glistonbury saw that Vivian was so much out of spirits, and in such
+      confusion of mind, that he began to fear that our hero&rsquo;s own account of
+      himself was just, and that he would not be able to command ideas, or even
+      words, when he was to speak in opposition to what he called his principles
+      and his conscience. &ldquo;This son of mine, instead of being our great Apollo,
+      will be a dead weight on our hands, unless we can contrive to raise his
+      spirits.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      So, to raise his spirits, Lord Glistonbury accompanied him to the
+      coffee-room of the house, and insisted upon his taking some refreshment
+      before he should attempt to speak. His lordship <i>fortified</i> him with
+      bumper after bumper, till at last Vivian came up to the speaking point. He
+      took his seat in his new place in the house, and, endeavouring to brave
+      away the sense of shame, rose to speak. Notwithstanding the assistance of
+      the wine, and the example of Mr. Marmaduke Lidhurst, who spoke before him
+      with undaunted assurance, Vivian could scarcely get on with a hesitating,
+      confused, inconsistent speech, uttered in so low and indistinct a voice,
+      that the reporters in the gallery complained that they could not catch
+      this honourable member&rsquo;s meaning, or that his words did not reach them.
+      Conscious of his failure, and still more conscious of its cause, he
+      retired again to the coffee-room as soon as he had finished speaking, and
+      again Lord Glistonbury plied him with wine, saying that he would find he
+      would <i>do very well in reply</i> presently. It happened that Lord
+      Glistonbury was called away&mdash;Vivian remained. Mr. Wharton, with a
+      party of his friends, entered the coffee-room. Wharton seemed much heated
+      both with wine and anger&mdash;he was talking eagerly to the gentlemen
+      with him, and he pronounced the words, &ldquo;Infamous conduct!&mdash;Shabby!&mdash;Paltry
+      fellow!&rdquo; so loud, that all the coffee-room turned to listen. Colonel S&mdash;&mdash;,
+      a gentleman who was one of Wharton&rsquo;s party, but who had a good opinion of
+      Vivian, at this moment took him by the arm, and, drawing him aside,
+      whispered, in confidence, that he was persuaded there had been some <i>mistake</i>
+      in the arrangements, which, as it was reported, Lord Glistonbury had just
+      made with the ministry, for that Mr. Wharton and many of his lordship&rsquo;s
+      former party, complained of having been shamefully deserted. &ldquo;And to break
+      our word and honour to our party, is a thing no gentleman <i>can</i> do.
+      Wharton had a direct promise from his lordship, that he never would <i>come
+      in</i> till he should <i>come in</i> along with him. And now it is
+      confidently said, that Lord Glistonbury has made his bargain for his own
+      marquisate, and provided only for himself, his nephew, and his
+      son-in-law.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Thrown into the utmost consternation by the idea of this double forfeiture
+      of honour, this breach both of public and private faith, Vivian, after
+      thanking Colonel S&mdash;&mdash; for his friendly manner of communicating
+      this information, and declaring that the transaction was totally unknown
+      to him, begged that the colonel would do him the favour and the justice to
+      be present when he should require an explanation from Lord Glistonbury. To
+      this Colonel S&mdash;&mdash; consented, and they hastened in search of his
+      lordship: his lordship was not to be found; but Mr. Marmaduke Lidhurst
+      was, however, in the coffee-room, and upon Vivian&rsquo;s referring to him, he
+      could not deny the truth of the charge, though he used all his powers of
+      circumlocution to evade giving a direct answer. The shame, the
+      indignation, that rapidly succeeded to each other in Vivian&rsquo;s countenance,
+      sufficiently convinced Colonel S&mdash;&mdash; that he had no share in the
+      <i>private</i> part of this disgraceful transaction; and he very
+      handsomely assured Vivian, that he would set the matter in its true point
+      of view with his friends. Marmaduke soon found a pretence to withdraw&mdash;some
+      member was speaking in the house, whom he must hear, he said, and away he
+      went.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      At this moment Mr. Wharton, who was walking down the room with his
+      friends, passed by Vivian, and, as he passed, said,
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That <i>private vices are public benefits</i>, we all know; but that
+      public vices are private benefits, some of us, alas! have yet to learn.
+      But I&rsquo;d have that little, whiffling, <i>most noble and puissant prince</i>
+      expectant, his majesty&rsquo;s <i>right trusty and entirely beloved cousin</i>
+      elect, know, that plain Bob Wharton is not a man to be duped and deserted
+      with impunity.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Whom does he mean?&mdash;What does he mean?&rdquo; whispered some of the
+      bystanders. &ldquo;What prince is he talking of?&mdash;Which of the princes?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! none of the princes,&rdquo; replied another. &ldquo;You know <i>most noble and
+      puissant prince</i> is the title of a marquis, and <i>our right trusty and
+      entirely beloved cousin</i>, the style in which the king writes to him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But who is this marquis expectant?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know?&mdash;Lord Glistonbury.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But some of his lordship&rsquo;s friends ought to take it up, surely.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Hush!&mdash;his son-in-law will hear you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Where?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There&mdash;don&rsquo;t look!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was, with reason, so much exasperated by the treacherous duplicity
+      of Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s conduct, that he was ill inclined to undertake his
+      lordship&rsquo;s defence, and determined to leave it to himself, or to his
+      nephew; yet the whispers operated not a little upon his weakness. Wharton,
+      who was walking with his set up and down the room, again came within
+      Vivian&rsquo;s hearing, and, as he passed, exclaimed, &ldquo;<i>Public vice!</i> and
+      <i>public virtue!</i> precious, well-matched pair!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Who is <i>public vice</i>, and who is <i>public virtue</i>?&rdquo; said one of
+      Wharton&rsquo;s companions.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t you know?&rdquo; replied Wharton: &ldquo;the heir-at-law and the son-in-law.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      On hearing this speech, Vivian, who knew that he was one of the persons to
+      whom it alluded, started forward to demand an explanation from Wharton:
+      but Colonel S&mdash;&mdash; held him back. &ldquo;You are not called upon, by
+      any means, to take notice of this,&rdquo; said the colonel: &ldquo;Wharton did not
+      address himself to you, and though he might mean what he said for you, yet
+      he speaks under a false impression; and besides, he is not quite sober.
+      Leave it to me, and I will settle it all to your satisfaction before
+      to-morrow.&rdquo; Vivian listened unwillingly and uneasily to the friendly
+      counsel: he was more hurt than he had ever before felt himself by any of
+      Wharton&rsquo;s sarcasms, because there was now in them a mixture of truth; and
+      a man seldom feels more irritable than when he is conscious that he is
+      partly to blame, and apprehensive that others will think him more
+      blameable than he really is. His irritability was increased by the
+      whispers he had heard, and the looks he now perceived among the
+      bystanders: the voice, the opinion of numbers, the fear of what others
+      would think or say, operated against his better judgment.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Come,&rdquo; said Colonel S&mdash;&mdash;, &ldquo;let us go and see what they are
+      doing in the house.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian refused to stir, saying that it would be leaving the field to
+      Wharton. Wharton at this instant repassed; and still running the changes,
+      with half-intoxicated wit, upon the same ideas, reiterated, &ldquo;<i>Public
+      vice!</i>&mdash;We all knew where <i>that</i> would end in these days&mdash;in
+      public honours; but none of you would believe me, when I told you where <i>public
+      virtue</i> would end&mdash;in private treachery!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;That&rsquo;s neat!&mdash;that&rsquo;s strong!&mdash;faith, that&rsquo;s home!&rdquo; whispered
+      some one.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Mr. Wharton!&rdquo; cried Vivian, going up to him, &ldquo;I could not help hearing
+      what you said just now&mdash;did you intend it for me?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You heard it, it seems, sir, and that is sufficient,&rdquo; replied Wharton, in
+      an insolent tone: &ldquo;as to what I meant, I presume it is pretty evident;
+      but, if you think it requires any explanation, I am as ready to give as
+      you can be to ask it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;The sooner the better, then, sir,&rdquo; said Vivian. The two gentlemen walked
+      away together, whilst the spectators exclaimed, &ldquo;Very spirited indeed!&mdash;very
+      right!&mdash;very proper!&mdash;Vivian could do no less than call him out.
+      But, after all, what was the quarrel about? Which of them was to blame?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Long before these points were settled, the challenge was given and
+      accepted. Colonel S&mdash;&mdash;, who followed Vivian and Wharton,
+      endeavoured to set things to rights, by explaining that Vivian had been
+      deceived by Lord Glistonbury, and kept totally in the dark respecting the
+      negotiation for the marquisate. But Wharton, aware that by <i>taking up
+      the matter immediately in such a spirited way</i> he should do himself
+      infinite honour with his party, and with that majority of the world who
+      think that the greatest merit of a man is to stand to be shot at, was not
+      at all willing to listen to these representations. Colonel S&mdash;&mdash;declared
+      that, were he in Mr. Wharton&rsquo;s place, he should, without hesitation, make
+      an apology to Mr. Vivian, and publicly acknowledge that what he said in
+      the coffee-room was spoken under a false impression, which a plain
+      statement of facts had totally removed: but Wharton disdained all terms of
+      accommodation; his policy, pride, and desire of revenge, all conspired to
+      produce that air of insolent determination to fight, which, with some
+      people, would obtain the glorious name of COURAGE. By this sort of courage
+      can men of the most base and profligate characters often put themselves in
+      a moment upon an equal footing with men of principle and virtue!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      It was settled that Mr. Wharton and Vivian should meet, at eight o&rsquo;clock
+      the next morning, in a field near town. Colonel S&mdash;&mdash; consented
+      to be Vivian&rsquo;s second. Russell was not yet returned&mdash;not expected
+      till ten the next day.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Left to his cool reflection, Vivian thought with horror of the misery into
+      which the event of this duel might involve all with whom he was connected,
+      and all who were attached to him. The affair was of course to be kept a
+      secret from all at Glistonbury House, where Vivian was engaged to dine
+      with a large ministerial party. He went home to dress, hoping to have a
+      quarter of an hour to himself; but, on entering his own dressing-room, he,
+      to his surprise and mortification, found his wife seated there, waiting
+      for him with a face of anxious expectation; a case of newly-set diamonds
+      on a table beside her. &ldquo;I thought you were at your father&rsquo;s, my dear: are
+      you not to be at Glistonbury House to-day?&rdquo; said Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied Lady Sarah. &ldquo;Surely, Mr. Vivian, you know that my father
+      gives a political dinner, and I suppose you are to be there?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, yes!&rdquo; cried Vivian; &ldquo;I did not know what I was saying&mdash;I am to
+      be there, and must dress (looking at his watch), for I have no time to
+      spare.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Be that as it may, I must intrude upon your time for a few minutes,&rdquo; said
+      Lady Sarah.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian stood impatiently attentive, whilst Lady Sarah seemed to find it
+      difficult to begin some speech which she had prepared.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Women, I know, have nothing to do with politics,&rdquo; she began in a
+      constrained voice; but, suddenly quitting her air and tone of constraint,
+      she started up and exclaimed, &ldquo;Oh, my dear, <i>dear</i> husband! what have
+      you done?&mdash;No, no, I cannot, will not believe it, till I hear it from
+      your OWN lips!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is the matter, my dear Lady Sarah?&mdash;You astonish and almost
+      alarm me!&rdquo; said Vivian, endeavouring to preserve composure of countenance.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I will not&mdash;Heaven forbid that I should alarm you as I have been
+      alarmed!&rdquo; said Lady Sarah, commanding her voice again to a tone of
+      tranquillity. &ldquo;I ought, and, if I were not weak, should be convinced that
+      there is no reason for alarm. There has been some mistake, no doubt; and I
+      have been to blame for listening to idle reports. Let me, however, state
+      the facts. Half an hour ago, I was at Gray&rsquo;s the jeweller&rsquo;s, to call for
+      my poor mother&rsquo;s diamonds, which, you know, he has reset&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes&mdash;Well!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And whilst I was in the shop, a party of gentlemen came in, all of them
+      unknown to me, and, of course, I was equally unknown to them; for they
+      began to speak of you in a manner in which none knowing me could venture
+      in my presence. They said&mdash;I cannot bear to repeat or to think of
+      what they said&mdash;you cannot have bartered your public reputation for a
+      marquisate for my father!&mdash;You cannot have done that which is
+      dishonourable&mdash;you cannot have deserted your party for a paltry place
+      for yourself!&mdash;You turn pale.&mdash;I wish, if it pleased God, that I
+      was this moment in my grave!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Heaven forbid, my dear Lady Sarah!&rdquo; cried Vivian, forcing a smile, and
+      endeavouring to speak in a tone of raillery. &ldquo;Why should you wish to be in
+      your grave, because your husband has just got a good warm place? Live!
+      live!&rdquo; said he, raising her powerless hand; &ldquo;for consider&mdash;as I did&mdash;and
+      this consideration was of no small weight with me&mdash;consider, my dear
+      Sarah, how much better you will live for it!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;And you did consider me? And that <i>did</i> weigh with you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;&mdash;Oh, this is what I dreaded most!&rdquo; cried Lady Sarah.&mdash;&ldquo;When
+      will you know my real character? When will you have confidence in your
+      wife, sir? When will you know the power, the unconquered, unconquerable
+      power of her affection for you?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian, much struck by the strength of her expression as she uttered these
+      words, was a moment silent in astonishment; and then could only, in an
+      incoherent manner, protest, that he did know&mdash;that he had always done
+      justice to her character&mdash;that he believed in her affection&mdash;and
+      had the greatest confidence in its power.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, sir, no!&mdash;Do not say that which I cannot credit!&mdash;You have
+      not confidence in the power of my affection, or you would never have done
+      this thing to save me pain. What pain can be so great to me as the thought
+      of my husband&rsquo;s reputation suffering abasement?&mdash;Do you think that,
+      in comparison with this, I, your wife, could put the loss of a service of
+      plate, or house in town, or equipage, or servants, or such baubles as
+      these?&rdquo; added she, her eyes glancing upon the diamonds; then, snatching
+      them up, &ldquo;Take them, take them!&rdquo; cried she; &ldquo;they were my mother&rsquo;s; and if
+      her spirit could look down from heaven upon us she would approve my offer&mdash;she
+      would command your acceptance. Then here on my knees I conjure you, my
+      beloved husband, take them&mdash;sell them&mdash;sell plate, furniture,
+      house, equipage, sell every thing rather than your honour!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is sold,&rdquo; said Vivian, in a voice of despair.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Redeem it, redeem it at any price!&rdquo; cried Lady Sarah. &ldquo;No! I will kneel
+      here at your feet&mdash;you shall not raise me&mdash;till I have obtained
+      this promise, this justice to me, to yourself!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;It is too late,&rdquo; said Vivian, writhing in agony.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Never too late,&rdquo; cried Lady Sarah. &ldquo;Give up the place.&mdash;Never too
+      late!&mdash;Give up the place&mdash;write this moment, and all will be
+      well; for your honour will be saved, and the rest is as nothing in my
+      eyes!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;High-minded woman!&rdquo; cried Vivian: &ldquo;why did not I hear you sooner? Why did
+      not I avail myself of your strength of soul?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Use it now&mdash;hear me now&mdash;let us waste no time in words&mdash;here
+      is a pen and ink&mdash;write, my dearest husband! and be yourself again.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You waste the energy of your mind on me,&rdquo; cried Vivian, breaking from
+      Lady Sarah, and striking his forehead violently; &ldquo;I am not worthy of such
+      attachment! It is done&mdash;it cannot be undone: I am a weak, ruined,
+      dishonoured wretch!&mdash;I tell you, it CANNOT be undone!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Sarah rose, and stood in despair. Then, looking up to heaven, she was
+      silent for some moments. After which, approaching her husband, she said,
+      in an altered, calm voice, &ldquo;Since it cannot be undone, I will urge you no
+      more. But, whether in glory or in shame, you are secure that your wife
+      will abide by you.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian embraced her with a tenderness which he had never before felt.
+      &ldquo;Excellent woman! in justice to myself, I must tell you,&rdquo; cried he, &ldquo;that
+      I was deceived into this situation. I CAN say no more!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      At this moment a servant knocked at the door, bringing a message from Lord
+      Glistonbury, to say that all the company were assembled, and that dinner
+      waited for Mr. Vivian.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are not in a fit state to go. Shall I send an apology to my father?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh, no! I must go,&rdquo; cried Vivian, starting up, &ldquo;I must go, or it will be
+      thought&mdash;or it will be suspected&mdash;I can&rsquo;t explain it to you, my
+      dear; but I must go&mdash;I must <i>appear</i> to-day, and in spirits too,
+      if possible.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      He hurried away. A servant delivered to Lady Sarah a number of notes and
+      cards. The notes were notes of congratulation, from many of her
+      acquaintance, upon the report in circulation, that her father was
+      immediately to be a marquis. The cards were from people who were to be at
+      her assembly that night. This was one of <i>her nights</i>, which were
+      usually crowded. Lady Sarah&rsquo;s first wish was to write apologies, and to
+      say that she was not well enough to see company; but, recollecting that
+      her husband had said, &ldquo;he must <i>appear</i>, and in spirits, too, if
+      possible,&rdquo; she thought that it might be more for their interest, and
+      according to his wishes, that she should see company, and that no
+      appearance of dejection should be discerned in his wife. She prepared
+      herself accordingly, and, with a heavy heart, walked through her splendid
+      apartments, to see whether the decorations had been properly executed.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      In the mean time Vivian dined at Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s, with a large
+      ministerial party. As soon as he could, after dinner, Vivian got away; and
+      Lord Glistonbury attributed his retiring early to the awkwardness he might
+      feel in the company of men whom he had, till now, so violently opposed.
+      This his lordship thought a foolish <i>young man&rsquo;s feeling,</i> which
+      would soon wear away. Vivian returned home, anxious to escape from crowds,
+      and to have some hours of leisure to pass alone; but, the moment he
+      entered his own house, he saw the great staircase lined with roses and
+      orange-trees; he found the rooms lighted up and prepared for company; and
+      Lady Sarah dressed, for the first time, in all her mother&rsquo;s diamonds.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good Heavens!&mdash;Do you see company to-night?&rdquo; cried he.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes; for I thought, my dear, that you would wish it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I wish it!&mdash;Oh! if you knew how I wish to be alone!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Then, as no one is yet come, I can still shut my doors, and order them to
+      say that I am not well enough to see company&mdash;I am sure it is true.
+      Shall I?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, my dear, it is too late,&rdquo; said Vivian: &ldquo;I am afraid it is impossible
+      for you to do that.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Not impossible, if you wish it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Well, do as you please.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Which is most for your interest? I have no other pleasure.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You are too good to me, and I fear I shall never have it in my power to
+      show you any gratitude&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;But decide which is best to be done, my dear,&rdquo; said Lady Sarah.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Why, my dear, I believe you judged rightly&mdash;see your friends, and
+      make the best of it: but I can appear only for a moment; I have business
+      of consequence&mdash;letters&mdash;papers&mdash;that must be finished
+      to-night; and I must go now to my study.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;You shall not be interrupted,&rdquo; said Lady Sarah: &ldquo;I will exert myself as
+      much as possible.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      A tremendous knock at the door.&mdash;Vivian passed through the saloon,
+      and gained his study, where, after remaining for some time in painful
+      reflection, he was roused by hearing the clock strike twelve. He
+      recollected that he had several arrangements to make in his affairs this
+      night; and that it was incumbent on him to sign and execute a will, which
+      had been for some time in his possession, with certain blanks not yet
+      filled up. His wife was, by his marriage settlements, amply provided for;
+      but he inserted in his will some clauses which he thought would add to her
+      peculiar comfort, and took care to word them so that his respect and
+      esteem should be known hereafter to all the world; and that, if he died,
+      he should leave her the consolation of knowing that his last feelings for
+      her were those of gratitude and affection. To his mother he left all that
+      was in his power to contribute to the ease of her declining years&mdash;often
+      obliged to pause whilst he wrote, overcome by the thoughts of what her
+      grief would be if he died. He left his friend Russell <i>in remainder</i>,
+      to a considerable part of his estate; and he was just adding the bequest
+      of certain books, which they had read together in his better days, when
+      the door of the study suddenly opened, and his mother entered.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;What is all this?&rdquo; cried she: &ldquo;immersed in papers at such a time as
+      this!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I so hate crowded assemblies,&rdquo; said Vivian, huddling his papers together,
+      and advancing to meet his mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;So do I,&rdquo; said Lady Mary; &ldquo;but I have been waiting with exemplary
+      patience where I was stationed by Lady Sarah, at the card-table, every
+      instant expecting your arrival, that I might have a few minutes&rsquo; 
+      conversation with you, and inquire how matters went on at the house, and
+      congratulate&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Before she had finished the word <i>congratulate</i>, she stopped short;
+      for she had, by this time, a full view of her son&rsquo;s countenance: and she
+      knew that countenance so well, that it was impossible to disguise it so as
+      to deceive her maternal penetration.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;My dear son!&rdquo; said she, &ldquo;something is going wrong: I conjure you, tell me
+      what is the matter!&rdquo;&mdash;Her eye glanced upon the parchments, and she
+      saw that it was a will. Vivian forced a laugh; and asked her if she had
+      the weakness some people felt, of disliking to see a will, or of fancying
+      that a man was going to die if he made his will. Then, to quiet her
+      apprehensions, and to put a stop to her farther inquiries, he threw aside
+      his papers, and returned with her to the company, where he exerted himself
+      to appear as gay as the occasion required. Lord Glistonbury, who had
+      called in for a few moments, was now playing the great man, as well as his
+      total want of dignity of mind and manners would permit; he was answering,
+      in whispers, questions about his marquisate, and sustaining with all his
+      might his new part of the friend of government. Every thing conspired to
+      strike Vivian with melancholy&mdash;yet he constrained himself so far,
+      that his <i>charming spirits</i> delighted all who were uninterested in
+      observing any but the external signs of gaiety; but his mother saw that
+      his vivacity was forced. She made inquiries from all the gentlemen of her
+      acquaintance about what had passed the preceding day both at the House of
+      Commons, and to-day at the dinner at Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s: but those who had
+      been at Lord Glistonbury&rsquo;s dinner assured her that every thing had been as
+      amicable as could be; and his ministerial friends said that every thing
+      had gone on as smoothly as possible at the house: of what had passed
+      between Mr. Wharton and Vivian in the coffee-room <i>nobody could</i> give
+      her an account. Baffled, but not satisfied, the anxious mother sent to the
+      hotel where Mr. Russell lodged, to inquire whether he was returned to
+      town, and to beg to see him immediately. From him, she thought, she should
+      learn the truth; or, by his influence over her son, she hoped that, if
+      there was any danger of a quarrel, it might be in time prevented. Her
+      servant, however, brought word that Mr. Russell was not expected from the
+      country till ten o&rsquo;clock the next morning; but that her note would be
+      given to him directly on his arrival. She applied herself next to the
+      study of her daughter&rsquo;s countenance, whilst she asked two or three
+      questions, calculated to discover whether Lady Sarah was under any anxiety
+      about Vivian. But though Lady Sarah&rsquo;s countenance exhibited not the
+      slightest variation under this trial, yet this tranquillity was by no
+      means decisively satisfactory; because, whatever might be her internal
+      agitation, she knew that Lady Sarah <i>could</i> maintain the same
+      countenance. Lady Sarah, who plainly discerned her mother&rsquo;s anxious
+      curiosity, thought it her duty to keep her husband&rsquo;s secrets; and,
+      imagining that she knew the whole truth, was not farther alarmed by these
+      hints, nor did they lead her to suspect the real state of the case.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Mary was at length tolerably well satisfied, by a conversation with
+      her son; during the course of which she settled in her imagination that he
+      had only been inserting in his will a bequest to his friend Russell; and
+      that the depression of his spirits arose from the struggle he had had in
+      determining to vote against his patriotic ideas. She rose to depart; and
+      Vivian, as he conducted her down stairs, and put her into her carriage,
+      could scarcely repress his feelings; and he took so tender a leave of her,
+      that all her apprehensions revived; but there was a cry of &ldquo;<i>Lady&mdash;somebody&rsquo;s</i>
+      carriage!&rdquo; and Lady Mary&rsquo;s coachman drove on immediately, without giving
+      her time for one word more. After his mother&rsquo;s departure, Vivian, instead
+      of returning to the company, went to his study, and took this opportunity
+      of finishing his will; but as the servants were all in attendance at
+      supper he could not get any body to witness it; and for this he was
+      obliged to wait till a very late hour, when all the company at last
+      departed. The rattle of carriages at length died away; and when all was
+      silence, just as he was about to ring for his witnesses, he heard Lady
+      Sarah&rsquo;s step coming along the corridor towards the study: he went out
+      immediately to meet her, drew her arm within his affectionately, and took
+      two or three turns with her, up and down the empty saloon, whilst a
+      servant was extinguishing the lights. Vivian&rsquo;s mind was so full that he
+      could not speak; and he was scarcely conscious that he had not spoken,
+      till Lady Sarah broke the silence by asking if he had finished his
+      business.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No, my dear, I have more to do yet; but you will oblige me if you will go
+      to rest&mdash;you must be fatigued&mdash;mind and body.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;<i>You</i> seem fatigued almost to death,&rdquo; said Lady Sarah: &ldquo;and cannot
+      you finish the remainder of your business as well to-morrow?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;No,&rdquo; replied Vivian; &ldquo;it must be finished before to-morrow. I am bound in
+      duty to finish it before to-morrow.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;If it is a point of duty, I have no more to say,&rdquo; replied Lady Sarah;
+      &ldquo;but,&rdquo; continued she, in a tone of proud humility, &ldquo;but if I might so far
+      intrude upon your confidence, as to inquire&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Make no inquiries, my dear; for I cannot answer any, even of yours,&rdquo; said
+      Vivian. &ldquo;And let me beg of you to go to rest; my mind will then be more at
+      ease. I cannot command my thoughts whilst I am anxious about you; and I am
+      anxious&mdash;more anxious than ever I was in my life&mdash;about you at
+      this moment. You will oblige me if you will go to rest.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;I CANNOT rest, but I will leave you, since you desire it&mdash;I have no
+      idle curiosity&mdash;Good night!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Good night! and thank you once more, my excellent wife, for all your
+      kindness.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There cannot be a better woman!&rdquo; said Vivian to himself as she retired.
+      &ldquo;Why have I not loved her as she deserved to be loved? If I live, I will
+      do my utmost to make her happy&mdash;if I live, I will yet repair all.
+      And, if I die, she will have but little reason to deplore the loss of such
+      a husband.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian now executed his will&mdash;wrote several letters of business&mdash;burnt
+      letters and arranged papers&mdash;regretted that Russell, who was to be
+      his executor, was not near him&mdash;made many bitter reflections on the
+      past, many good resolutions for the future, in case he should survive;
+      then, overpowered with fatigue of mind, slept for some time, and was
+      awakened by the clock striking seven. By eight o&rsquo;clock he was at the place
+      appointed&mdash;Mr. Wharton appeared a few minutes afterwards. Their
+      seconds having measured out the distance, they took their ground. As
+      Vivian had given the challenge, Wharton had the first fire. He fired&mdash;Vivian
+      staggered some paces back, fired his pistol into the air, and fell. The
+      seconds ran to his assistance, and raised him from the ground. The bullet
+      had entered his chest. He stretched out his hand to Mr. Wharton in token
+      of forgiveness, and, as soon as he could speak, desired the seconds to
+      remember that it was he who gave the challenge, and that he thought he
+      deserved to bear the blame of the quarrel. Wharton, callous as he was,
+      seemed struck with pity and remorse: he asked what friends Vivian would
+      wish to have apprised of his situation. A surgeon was in attendance.
+      Vivian, faint from loss of blood, just pronounced Russell&rsquo;s name, and the
+      name of the hotel where he was to be found, adding &ldquo;<i>nobody else</i>.&rdquo;
+       Wharton rode off, undertaking to find Mr. Russell; and Vivian was carried
+      into a little public-house, by the orders of the surgeon, who thought that
+      he could not bear the motion of a carriage. Wharton met Mr. Russell, who
+      was coming from town. He had come to London earlier than he had intended,
+      and, in consequence of Lady Mary Vivian&rsquo;s note, which he had received
+      immediately on his arrival, had made such inquiries as convinced him that
+      her apprehensions were just; and having discovered the place where the
+      parties were to meet, he had hastened thither, in hopes of preventing the
+      fatal event. The moment he saw Mr. Wharton he knew that he was too late.
+      Without asking any other question than, &ldquo;Is Vivian alive?&rdquo; he pressed
+      forwards. The surgeon, who was the next person he saw, gave him no hopes
+      of his friend&rsquo;s recovery, but said he might last till night, or linger
+      perhaps for a day or two. Vivian had by this time recovered his senses and
+      his speech; but when Russell entered the room where he lay, he was so much
+      struck by the grief in his countenance that he could not recollect any one
+      of the many things he had to say. Russell, the firm Russell, was now quite
+      overcome.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Yes, my dear friend,&rdquo; said Vivian; &ldquo;this is the end of all your care&mdash;of
+      all your hopes of me!&mdash;Oh, my poor, poor mother! What will become of
+      her! Where can we find consolation for her!&mdash;You and Selina Sidney!
+      You know how fond my mother was of her&mdash;how fond she was of my mother&mdash;till
+      I, the cause of evil to all my friends, separated them. You must reunite
+      them. You must repair all. This hope&mdash;this hope of your happiness, my
+      beloved friend, will soothe my last moments!&mdash;&mdash;How much happier
+      Selina will be with you than&mdash;&mdash;&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Russell sobbed aloud.&mdash;&ldquo;Yes, yield to your feelings, for I know how
+      strong they are,&rdquo; said Vivian: &ldquo;you, that have always felt more for me
+      than I have ever felt for myself! But it is well for you that my life
+      ends; for I have never been any thing but a torment and a disgrace to you!&mdash;And
+      yet I had good dispositions!&mdash;but there is no time for regret about
+      myself; I have others to think of, better worth thinking of.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian called for pen, ink, and paper, had himself raised in his bed, and
+      supported, whilst he wrote to Selina, and to his mother.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Do not stop me,&rdquo; cried he to Russell; &ldquo;it is the only act of friendship&mdash;the
+      only thing I can do in this world now with pleasure, and let me do it.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      His notes contained nearly what he had just said to Russell&mdash;he put
+      them open into his friend&rsquo;s hand; then, good-natured to the last, Vivian
+      took up his pen again, with no small difficulty, and wrote a few
+      affectionate words to his wife. &ldquo;She <i>well</i> deserves this from me,&rdquo;
+       said he. &ldquo;Be a friend to her, Russell&mdash;when I am gone, she will, I
+      know, want consolation,&rdquo; After Russell had assured him that he would do
+      all he desired, Vivian said, &ldquo;I believe there is no one else in the world
+      who will regret my death, except, perhaps, Lady Julia Lidhurst. How
+      generous she was to forgive me!&mdash;Tell her, I remembered it when I was
+      dying!&mdash;Weakness, weakness of mind!&mdash;the cause of all my errors!&mdash;&mdash;Oh,
+      Russell! how well you knew me from the first!&mdash;But all is over now!&mdash;My
+      experience can be of no use to me&mdash;Every thing swims before my eyes.&mdash;&mdash;One
+      comfort is, I have not the blood of a fellow-creature to answer for. My
+      greatest error was making that profligate man my friend&mdash;he was my
+      ruin. I little thought, a few years ago, that I should die by his hand&mdash;but
+      I forgive him, as I hope to be forgiven myself! Is the clergyman who was
+      sent for come?&mdash;My dear Russell, this would be too severe a task for
+      you.&mdash;He is come? Then let me see him.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian was left for some time to his private devotions. The clergyman
+      afterwards summoned Russell to return:&mdash;he found his friend calmed
+      and resigned. Vivian stretched out his hand&mdash;thanked him once more&mdash;and
+      expired!
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;Oh! worthy of a better fate!&rdquo; thought Russell.&mdash;&ldquo;With such a heart!&mdash;With
+      such talents!&mdash;And so young!&mdash;With only one fault of character!&mdash;Oh,
+      my friend! is it all over?&mdash;and all in vain?&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      Vivian&rsquo;s mother and widow arrived just at this moment; and Russell and
+      Lord Glistonbury, who followed breathless, could not stop them from
+      entering the apartment. The mother&rsquo;s grief bordered on distraction; but it
+      found relief in tears and cries. Lady Sarah shed no tear, and uttered no
+      exclamation; but advancing, insensible of all opposition, to the bed on
+      which her dead husband lay, tried whether there was any pulse, any breath
+      left; then knelt down beside him in silent devotion. Lord Glistonbury,
+      striking his forehead continually, and striding up and down the room,
+      repeated, &ldquo;I killed him!&mdash;I killed him!&mdash;I was the cause of his
+      death!&mdash;My victim!&mdash;My victim!&mdash;But take her away!&mdash;Take
+      <i>her</i> away&mdash;I cannot.&mdash;For mercy&rsquo;s sake, force her away,
+      Mr. Russell!&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p>
+      &ldquo;There is no need of force,&rdquo; said Lady Sarah, rising, as her father
+      approached; &ldquo;I am going to leave my husband for ever.&rdquo;&mdash;&mdash;Then,
+      turning to Mr. Russell, she inquired if his friend had left any message or
+      letter for her&mdash;desired to see the letter&mdash;retired with it&mdash;still
+      without shedding a tear&mdash;a few hours afterwards was taken ill, and,
+      before night, was delivered of a dead son.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      Lady Sarah survived, but has never since appeared in what is called the
+      WORLD.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+    <hr />
+    <p>
+      <a name="link2H_FOOT" id="link2H_FOOT"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <div style="height: 4em;">
+      <br /><br /><br /><br />
+    </div>
+    <h2>
+      FOOTNOTES:
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p>
+      <a name="linknote-1" id="linknote-1"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ It is to be regretted that
+      a word, used in the days of Charles II. and still intelligible in our
+      times, should have become obsolete; <i>viz</i>. the feminine for intriguer&mdash;an
+      <i>intriguess</i>. See the Life of Lord Keeper North, whose biographer, in
+      speaking of Lord Keeper Bridgeman, says, &ldquo;And what was worst of all, his
+      family was no way fit for that place (of Chancellor), his lady being a
+      most violent INTRIGUESS in business.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      Had Mr. Walsingham lived in Ireland, even there he might have found in the
+      dialect of the lower Irish both a substantive and a verb, which would have
+      expressed his idea. The editor once described an individual of the
+      Beaumont species to an Irish labourer, and asked what he would call such a
+      person&mdash;&ldquo;I&rsquo;d call her a policizer&mdash;I would say she was fond of
+      policizing.&rdquo;]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-2" id="linknote-2"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ Life of Admiral Roddam,
+      Monthly Magazine.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-3" id="linknote-3"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ This reminds us of an
+      expression of Charles the Second&mdash;&ldquo;It is very strange, that every one
+      of my friends keeps a <i>tame knave</i>&rdquo;&mdash;<i>Note by the Editor</i>.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-4" id="linknote-4"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ Young wild ducks.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-5" id="linknote-5"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ <i>Note by the Editor</i>.&mdash;It
+      is much to be regretted that the original papers belonging to this
+      correspondence, including all the notes and letters, which Mrs. Beaumont
+      either wrote herself, or those, still more important, which she caused to
+      be written by her confidential amanuensis, which would doubtless form all
+      together a body <i>of domestic diplomacy equally curious and useful</i>,
+      are irrecoverably lost to the world. After the most diligent search, the
+      Editor is compelled to rest under the persuasion that they must all have
+      been collected and committed to the flames by the too great prudence of
+      the principal party concerned. Had they been trusted to the discretion of
+      a <i>friend</i>, the public would, doubtless, long since have been
+      favoured with the whole.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-6" id="linknote-6"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ See Bacon on Cunning.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-7" id="linknote-7"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ See Annual Register, 1761,
+      for an entertaining account of the trial of Mr. M&rsquo;Naughton.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-8" id="linknote-8"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      8 (<a href="#linknoteref-8">return</a>)<br /> [ Supposed to be from the pen
+      of Mr. Twigg, who was presented with a living in the gift of Mrs.
+      Beaumont.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-9" id="linknote-9"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      9 (<a href="#linknoteref-9">return</a>)<br /> [ Literally copied from a
+      family receipt-book in the author&rsquo;s possession.]
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      <br /><br />
+    </p>
+
+    <p class="foot">
+      <a name="linknote-10" id="linknote-10"> </a>
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      10 (<a href="#linknoteref-10">return</a>)<br /> [ From some lines of
+      Delille&rsquo;s, on Rousseau, concluding with the following:&mdash;
+    </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      &ldquo;Malheureux! le trépas est donc ton seule asile! Ah! dans la tombe, au
+      moins, repose enfin tranquille! Ce beau lac, ces flots purs, ces fleurs,
+      ces gazons frais, Ces pâles peupliers, tout t&rsquo;invite à la paix. Respire,
+      donc, enfin, de tes tristes chimères. Vois accourir vers toi les époux, et
+      les mères. Contemple les amans, qui viennent chaque jour, Verser sur ton
+      tombeau les larmes de l&rsquo;amour! Vois ce groupe d&rsquo;enfans, se jouant sous
+      l&rsquo;ombrage, Qui de leur liberté viennent te rendre hommage; Et dis, en
+      contemplant ce spectacle enchanteur, <i>Je ne fus point heureux, mais j&rsquo;ai
+      fait leur bonheur</i>.&rdquo;
+     </p>
+    <p class="foot">
+      Ill-fated mortal! doom&rsquo;d, alas! to find The grave sole refuge from thy
+      restless mind. This turf, these flow&rsquo;rs, this lake, this silent wave,
+      These poplars pale, that murmur o&rsquo;er your grave, Invite repose.&mdash;Enjoy
+      the tranquil shore, Where vain chimeras shall torment no more. See to thy
+      tomb the wife and mother fly, And pour their sorrows where thy ashes lie!
+      Here the fond youth, and here the blushing maid, Whisper their loves to
+      thy congenial shade; And grateful children smiling through their tears,
+      Bless the loved champion of their youthful years: Then cry, triumphant,
+      from thy honour&rsquo;d grave&mdash; <i>Joyless I lived, but joy to others gave</i>.
+      C.S.E.]
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      THE END.
+    </p>
+
+<div style='display:block;margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES AND NOVELS, VOLUME 5 (OF 10) ***</div>
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #9414 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9414)
diff --git a/old/8tal510.zip b/old/8tal510.zip
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+Project Gutenberg's Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10), by Maria Edgeworth
+
+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: Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
+       Tales of a Fashionable Life: Manoeuvring; Almeria; and Vivian.
+
+Author: Maria Edgeworth
+
+
+Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9414]
+This file was first posted on September 30, 2003
+Last Updated: December 28, 2015
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES AND NOVELS, VOLUME 5 (OF 10) ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Tapio Riikonen and PG
+Distributed Proofreaders
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+TALES AND NOVELS, VOL. V
+
+MANOEUVRING; ALMERIA; AND VIVIAN. (TALES OF FASHIONABLE LIFE.)
+
+By Maria Edgeworth
+
+
+In Ten Volumes. With Engravings On Steel.
+
+
+1857.
+
+
+
+
+MANOEUVRING.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+"And gave her words, where oily Flatt'ry lays The pleasing colours of
+the art of praise."--PARNELL.
+
+
+NOTE FROM MRS. BEAUMONT TO MISS WALSINGHAM.
+
+"I am more grieved than I can express, my dearest Miss Walsingham, by
+a cruel _contre-temps_, which must prevent my indulging myself in the
+long-promised and long-expected pleasure of being at your _f�te de
+famille_ on Tuesday, to celebrate your dear father's birthday. I
+trust, however, to your conciliating goodness, my kind young friend, to
+represent my distress properly to Mr. Walsingham. Make him sensible, I
+conjure you, that my _heart_ is with you all, and assure him that this
+is no common apology. Indeed, I never employ such artifices with my
+friends: to them, and to you in particular, my dear, I always speak with
+perfect frankness and candour. Amelia, with whom, _entre nous_, you
+are more a favourite than ever, is so much vexed and mortified by this
+disappointment, that I see I shall not be restored to favour till I can
+fix a day for going to you: yet when that may be, circumstances, which I
+should not feel myself quite justified in mentioning, will not permit me
+to decide.
+
+"Kindest regards and affectionate remembrances to all your dear
+circle.--Any news of the young captain? Any hopes of his return from
+sea?
+
+"Ever with perfect truth, my dearest Miss Walsingham's sincere friend,
+
+"EUGENIA BEAUMONT.
+
+"P.S.--Private--read to yourself.
+
+"To be candid with you, my dear young friend, my secret reason for
+denying myself the pleasure of Tuesday's f�te is, that I have just heard
+that there is a shocking chicken-pox in the village near you; and I
+confess it is one of my weaknesses to dread even the bare rumour of such
+a thing, on account of my Amelia: but I should not wish to have this
+mentioned in your house, because you must be sensible your father would
+think it an idle womanish fear; and you know how anxious I am for his
+esteem.
+
+"Burn this, I beseech you----
+
+"Upon second thoughts, I believe it will be best to tell the truth, and
+the whole truth, to your father, if you should see that nothing else
+will do----In short, I write in haste, and must trust now, as ever,
+entirely to your discretion."
+
+
+"Well, my dear," said Mr. Walsingham to his daughter, as the young lady
+sat at the breakfast table looking over this note, "how long do you mean
+to sit the picture of The Delicate Embarrassment? To relieve you as far
+as in me lies, let me assure you that I shall not ask to see this
+note of Mrs. Beaumont's, which as usual seems to contain some mighty
+mystery."
+
+"No great mystery; only----"
+
+"Only--some minikin mystery?" said Mr. Walsingham. "Yes, '_Elle est
+politique pour des choux et des raves_.'--This charming widow Beaumont
+is _manoeuvrer_.[1] We can't well make an English word of it. The
+species, thank Heaven! is not so numerous yet in England as to require
+a generic name. The description, however, has been touched by one of our
+poets:
+
+     'Julia's a manager: she's born for rule,
+     And knows her wiser husband is a fool.
+     For her own breakfast she'll project a scheme,
+     Nor take her tea without a stratagem.'
+
+Even from the time when Mrs. Beaumont was a girl of sixteen I remember
+her manoeuvring to gain a husband, and then manoeuvring to manage him,
+which she did with triumphant address."
+
+"What sort of a man was Colonel Beaumont?"
+
+"An excellent man; an open-hearted soldier, of the strictest honour and
+integrity."
+
+"Then is it not much in Mrs. Beaumont's favour, that she enjoyed the
+confidence of such a man, and that he left her guardian to his son and
+daughter?"
+
+"If he had lived with her long enough to become acquainted with her real
+character, what you say, my dear, would be unanswerable. But Colonel
+Beaumont died a few years after his marriage, and during those few years
+he was chiefly with his regiment."
+
+"You will, however, allow," said Miss Walsingham, "that since his death
+Mrs. Beaumont has justified his confidence.--Has she not been a good
+guardian, and an affectionate mother?"
+
+"Why--as a guardian, I think she has allowed her son too much liberty,
+and too much money. I have heard that young Beaumont has lost a
+considerable sum at Newmarket. I grant you that Mrs. Beaumont is an
+affectionate mother, and I am convinced that she is extremely anxious to
+advance the worldly interests of her children; still I cannot, my dear,
+agree with you, that she is a good mother. In the whole course of the
+education of her son and daughter, she has pursued a system of artifice.
+Whatever she wanted them to learn, or to do, or to leave undone, some
+stratagem, sentimental or scenic, was employed; somebody was to hint
+to some other body to act upon Amelia to make her do so and so.
+Nothing--that is, nothing like truth, ever came directly from the
+mother: there were always whisperings and mysteries, and 'Don't say that
+before Amelia!' and 'I would not have this told to Edward,' because it
+might make him like something that she did not wish that he should like,
+and that she had _her reasons_ for not letting him know that she did not
+wish him to like. There was always some truth to be concealed for some
+mighty good purpose; and things and persons were to be represented
+in false lights, to produce on some particular occasion some partial
+effect. All this succeeded admirably in detail, and for the management
+of helpless, ignorant, credulous childhood. But mark the consequences
+of this system: children grow up, and cannot always see, hear, and
+understand, just as their mothers please. They will go into the world;
+they will mix with others; their eyes will be opened; they will see
+through the whole system of artifice by which their childhood was so
+cleverly managed; and then, confidence in the parent must be destroyed
+for ever."
+
+Miss Walsingham acknowledged the truth of what her father said; but
+she observed that this was a common error in education, which had the
+sanction of high authority in its favour; even the eloquent Rousseau,
+and the elegant and ingenious Madame de Genlis. "And it is certain,"
+continued Miss Walsingham, "that Mrs. Beaumont has not made her children
+artful; both Amelia and Mr. Beaumont are remarkably open, sincere,
+honourable characters. Mr. Beaumont, indeed, carries his sincerity
+almost to a fault: he is too blunt, perhaps, in his manner;--and Amelia,
+though she is of such a timid, gentle temper, and so much afraid of
+giving pain, has always courage enough to speak the truth, even in
+circumstances where it is most difficult. So at least you must allow, my
+dear father, that Mrs. Beaumont has made her children sincere."
+
+"I am sorry, my dear, to seem uncharitable; but I must observe, that
+sometimes the very faults of parents produce a tendency to opposite
+virtues in their children: for the children suffer by the consequences
+of these faults, and detecting, despise, and resolve to avoid them. As
+to Amelia and Mr. Beaumont, their acquaintance with our family has been
+no unfavourable circumstance in their education. They saw amongst us
+the advantages of sincerity: they became attached to you, and to my
+excellent ward Captain Walsingham; he obtained strong power over young
+Beaumont's mind, and used it to the best purposes. Your friendship for
+Amelia was, I think, equally advantageous to her: as you are nearly of
+the same age, you had opportunities of winning her confidence; and your
+stronger mind fortified hers, and inspired her timid character with the
+courage necessary to be sincere."
+
+"Well," persisted Miss Walsingham, "though Mrs. Beaumont may have used
+a little _finesse_ towards her children in trifles, yet in matters of
+consequence, I do think that she has no interest but theirs; and her
+affection for them will make her lay aside all art, when their happiness
+is at stake."
+
+Mr. Walsingham shook his head.--"And do you then really believe, my dear
+Marianne, that Mrs. Beaumont would consider any thing, for instance, in
+the marriage of her son and daughter, but fortune, and what the world
+calls _connexion and establishments_?"
+
+"Certainly I cannot think that these are Mrs. Beaumont's first objects;
+because we are people but of small fortune, and yet she prefers us to
+many of large estates and higher station."
+
+"You should say, she professes to prefer us," replied Mr. Walsingham.
+"And do you really believe her to be sincere? Now, there is my ward,
+Captain Walsingham, for whom she pretends to have such a regard, do you
+think that Mrs. Beaumont wishes her daughter should marry him?"
+
+"I do, indeed; but Mrs. Beaumont must speak cautiously on that subject;
+this is prudence, not dissimulation: for you know that my cousin
+Walsingham never declared his attachment to Miss Beaumont; on the
+contrary, he always took the most scrupulous pains to conceal it
+from her, because he had not fortune enough to marry, and he was too
+honourable to attempt, or even to wish, to engage the affections of one
+to whom he had no prospect of being united."
+
+"He is a noble fellow!" exclaimed Mr. Walsingham. "There is no sacrifice
+of pleasure or interest he would hesitate to make to his duty. For his
+friends there is no exertion, no endurance, no forbearance, of which he
+has not shown himself capable. For his country----All I ask from Heaven
+for him is, opportunity to serve his country. Whether circumstances,
+whether success, will ever prove his merits to the world, I cannot
+foretell; but I shall always glory in him as my ward, my relation, my
+friend."
+
+"Mrs. Beaumont speaks of him just as you do," said Miss Walsingham.
+
+"Speaks, but not thinks," said Mr. Walsingham. "No, no! Captain
+Walsingham is not the man she desires for a son-in-law. She wants to
+marry Amelia to Sir John Hunter."
+
+"To Sir John Hunter!"
+
+"Yes, to Sir John Hunter, a being without literature, without morals,
+without even youth, to plead in his favour. He is nearly forty years
+old, old enough to be Amelia's father; yet this is the man whom Mrs.
+Beaumont prefers for the husband of her beloved daughter, because he is
+heir presumptive to a great estate, and has the chance of a reversionary
+earldom.--And this is your modern good mother."
+
+"Oh, no, no!" cried Miss Walsingham, "you do Mrs. Beaumont injustice; I
+assure you she despises Sir John Hunter as much as we do."
+
+"Yet observe the court she has paid to the whole family of the Hunters."
+
+"Yes, but that has been merely from regard to the late Lady Hunter, who
+was her particular friend."
+
+"_Particular friend!_ a vamped-up, sentimental conversation reason."
+
+"But I assure you," persisted Miss Walsingham, "that I know Mrs.
+Beaumont's mind better than you do, father, at least on this subject."
+
+"You! a girl of eighteen, pretend to know a manoeuvrer of her age!"
+
+"Only let me tell you my reasons.--It was but last week that Mrs.
+Beaumont told me that she did not wish to encourage Sir John Hunter,
+and that she should be perfectly happy if she could see Amelia united to
+such a man as Captain Walsingham."
+
+"Such a man as Captain Walsingham! nicely guarded expression!"
+
+"But you have not heard all yet.--Mrs. Beaumont anxiously inquired from
+me whether he had made any prize-money, whether there was any chance of
+his returning soon; and she added, with particular emphasis, 'You
+don't know how much I wish it! You don't know what a favourite he is of
+mine!'"
+
+"That last, I will lay any wager," cried Mr. Walsingham, "she said in a
+whisper, and in a corner."
+
+"Yes, but she could not do otherwise, for Amelia was present. Mrs.
+Beaumont took me aside."
+
+"Aside; ay, ay, but take care, I advise you, of her _asides_, and her
+whisperings, and her cornerings, and her inuendoes, and semiconfidences,
+lest your own happiness, my dear, unsuspecting, enthusiastic daughter,
+should be the sacrifice."
+
+Miss Walsingham now stood perfectly silent, in embarrassed and
+breathless anxiety.
+
+"I see," continued her father, "that Mrs. Beaumont, for whose mighty
+genius one intrigue at a time is not sufficient, wants also to persuade
+you, my dear, that she wishes to have you for a daughter-in-law: and yet
+all the time she is doing every thing she can to make her son marry that
+fool, Miss Hunter, merely because she has two hundred thousand pounds
+fortune."
+
+"There I can assure you that you are mistaken," said Miss Walsingham;
+"Mrs. Beaumont dreads that her son should marry Miss Hunter. Mrs.
+Beaumont thinks her as silly as you do, and complained to me of her
+having no taste for literature, or for any thing, but dress, and
+trifling conversation."
+
+"I wonder, then, that Mrs. Beaumont selects her continually for her
+companion."
+
+"She thinks Miss Hunter the most insipid companion in the world; but I
+dare not tell you, lest you should laugh at me again, that it was for
+the sake of the late Lady Hunter that Mrs. Beaumont was so kind to the
+daughter; and now Miss Hunter is so fond of her, and so grateful, that,
+as Mrs. Beaumont says, it would be cruelty to shake her off."
+
+"Mighty plausible! But the truth of all this, begging Mrs. Beaumont's
+pardon, I doubt; I will not call it a falsehood, but I may be permitted
+to call it a _Beaumont_. Time will show: and in the mean time, my dear
+daughter, be on your guard against Mrs. Beaumont's art, and against
+your own credulity. The momentary pain I give my friends by speaking
+the plain truth, I have always found overbalanced by the pleasure
+and advantage of mutual confidence. Our domestic happiness has arisen
+chiefly from our habits of openness and sincerity. Our whole souls
+are laid open; there is no management, no '_intrigue de cabinet_, no
+'_esprit de la ligue_.'"
+
+Mr. Walsingham now left the room; and Miss Walsingham, absorbed in
+reflections more interesting to her than even the defence of Mrs.
+Beaumont, went out to walk. Her father's house was situated in a
+beautiful part of Devonshire, near the sea-shore, in the neighbourhood
+of Plymouth; and as Miss Walsingham was walking on the beach, she saw
+an old fisherman mooring his boat to the projecting stump of a tree. His
+figure was so picturesque, that she stopped to sketch it; and as she
+was drawing, a woman came from the cottage near the shore to ask
+the fisherman what luck he had had. "A fine turbot," says he, "and a
+john-doree."
+
+"Then away with them this minute to Beaumont Park," said the woman; "for
+here's Madam Beaumont's man, Martin, called _in a flustrum_ while you
+was away, to say madam must have the nicest of our fish, whatsomever it
+might be, and a john-doree, if it could be had for love or money, for
+Tuesday."--Here the woman, perceiving Miss Walsingham, dropped a curtsy.
+"Your humble servant, Miss Walsingham," said the woman.
+
+"On Tuesday?" said Miss Walsingham: "are you sure that Mrs. Beaumont
+bespoke the fish for Tuesday?"
+
+"Oh, _sartin_ sure, miss; for Martin mentioned, moreover, what he had
+heard talk in the servants' hall, that there is to be a very _pettiklar_
+old gentleman, as rich! as rich! as rich can be! from foreign parts,
+and a great friend of the colonel that's dead; and he--that is, the old
+_pettiklar_ gentleman--is to be down all the way from Lon'on to dine at
+the park on Tuesday for _sartin_: so, husband, away with the john-doree
+and the turbot, while they be fresh."
+
+"But why," thought Miss Walsingham, "did not Mrs. Beaumont tell us the
+plain truth, if this is the truth?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+     "_Young Hermes next, a close contriving god,
+     Her brows encircled with his serpent rod;
+     Then plots and fair excuses fill her brain,
+     And views of breaking am'rous vows for gain_."
+
+
+The information which Mrs. Beaumont's man, Martin, had learned from the
+servants' hall, and had communicated to the fisherman's wife, was more
+correct, and had been less amplified, embellished, misunderstood, or
+misrepresented, than is usually found to be the case with pieces of
+news which are so heard and so repeated. It was true that Mrs. Beaumont
+expected to see on Tuesday an old gentleman, a Mr. Palmer, who had been
+a friend of her husband's; he had lately returned from Jamaica, where he
+had made a large fortune. It is true, also, that this old gentleman
+was _a little particular_, but not precisely in the sense in which the
+fisherman's wife understood the phrase; he was not particularly fond
+of john-dorees and turbots, but he was particularly fond of making his
+fellow-creatures happy; particularly generous, particularly open and
+honest in his nature, abhorring all artifice himself, and unsuspicious
+of it in others. He was unacquainted with Mrs. Beaumont's character, as
+he had been for many years in the West Indies, and he knew her only
+from her letters, in which she appeared every thing that was candid and
+amiable. His great friendship for her deceased husband also inclined him
+to like her. Colonel Beaumont had appointed him one of the guardians of
+his children, but Mr. Palmer, being absent from England, had declined to
+act: he was also trustee to Mrs. Beaumont's marriage-settlement, and
+she had represented that it was necessary he should be present at the
+settlement of her family affairs upon her son's coming of age; an event
+which was to take place in a few days. The urgent representations of
+Mrs. Beaumont, and the anxious desire she expressed to see Mr. Palmer,
+had at last prevailed with the good old gentleman to journey down
+to Beaumont Park, though he was a valetudinarian, and though he was
+obliged, he said, to return to Jamaica with the West India fleet, which
+was expected to sail in ten days; so that he announced positively that
+he could stay but a week at Beaumont Park with his good friends and
+relations.
+
+He was related but distantly to the Beaumonts, and he stood in precisely
+the same degree of relationship to the Walsinghams. He had no other
+relations, and his fortune was completely at his own disposal. On this
+fortune our cunning widow had speculated long and deeply, though in fact
+there was no occasion for art: it was Mr. Palmer's intention to leave
+his large fortune to the Beaumonts; or to divide it between the Beaumont
+and Walsingham families; and had she been sincere in her professed
+desire of a complete union by a double marriage between the
+representatives of the families, her favourite object would have been,
+in either case, equally secure. Here was a plain, easy road to her
+object; but it was too direct for Mrs. Beaumont. With all her abilities,
+she could never comprehend the axiom that a right line is the shortest
+possible line between any two points:--an axiom equally true in morals
+and in mathematics. No, the serpentine line was, in her opinion, not
+only the most beautiful, but the most expeditious, safe, and convenient.
+
+She had formed a triple scheme of such intricacy, that it is necessary
+distinctly to state the argument of her plot, lest the action should be
+too complicated to be easily developed.
+
+She had, in the first place, a design of engrossing the whole of Mr.
+Palmer's fortune for her own family; and for this purpose she determined
+to prevent Mr. Palmer from becoming acquainted with his other relations,
+the Walsinghams, to whom she had always had a secret dislike, because
+they were of remarkably open, sincere characters. As Mr. Palmer proposed
+to stay but a week in the country, this scheme of preventing their
+meeting seemed feasible.
+
+In the second place, Mrs. Beaumont wished to marry her daughter to Sir
+John Hunter, because Sir John was heir expectant to a large estate,
+called the Wigram estate, and because there was in his family a certain
+reversionary title, the earldom of Puckeridge, which would devolve to
+Sir John after the death of a near relation.
+
+In the third place, Mrs. Beaumont wished to marry her own son to Miss
+Hunter, who was Sir John's sister by a second marriage, and above twenty
+years younger than he was: this lady was preferred to Miss Walsingham
+for a daughter-in-law, for the reasons which Mr. Walsingham had given;
+because she possessed an independent fortune of two hundred thousand
+pounds, and because she was so childish and silly that Mrs. Beaumont
+thought she could always manage her easily, and by this means retain
+power over her son. Miss Hunter was very pretty, and Mrs. Beaumont
+had observed that her son had sometimes been struck with her beauty
+sufficiently to give hopes that, by proper management, he might be
+diverted from his serious, sober preference of Miss Walsingham.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont foresaw many difficulties in the execution of these
+plans. She knew that Amelia liked Captain Walsingham, and that Captain
+Walsingham was attached to her, though he had never declared his love:
+and she dreaded that Captain Walsingham, who was at this time at sea,
+should return, just whilst Mr. Palmer was with her; because she was well
+aware that the captain was a kind of man Mr. Palmer would infinitely
+prefer to Sir John Hunter. Indeed, she had been secretly informed that
+Mr. Palmer hated every one who had a title; therefore she could
+not, whilst he was with her, openly encourage Sir John Hunter in his
+addresses to Amelia. To conciliate these seemingly incompatible schemes,
+she determined----But let our heroine speak for herself.
+
+"My dearest Miss Hunter," said she, "now we are by ourselves, let me
+open my mind to you; I have been watching for an opportunity these two
+days, but so hurried as I have been!--Where's Amelia?"
+
+"Out walking, ma'am. She told me you begged her to walk to get rid of
+her head-ache; and that she might look well to-day, as Mr. Palmer is to
+come. I would not go with her, because you whispered to me at breakfast
+that you had something very particular to say to me."
+
+"But you did not give _that_ as a reason, I hope! Surely you didn't tell
+Amelia that I had something particular to say to you?"
+
+"Oh, no, ma'am; I told her that I had something to do about my
+dress--and so I had--my new hat to try on."
+
+"True, my love; quite right; for you know I wouldn't have her suspect
+that we had any thing to say to each other that we didn't wish her to
+hear, especially as it is about herself."
+
+"Herself!--Oh, is it?" said Miss Hunter, in a tone of disappointment.
+
+"And about you, too, my darling. Be assured I have no daughter I
+love better, or ever shall. With such a son as I have, and such a
+daughter-in-law as I hope and trust I shall have ere long, I shall think
+myself the most fortunate of mothers."
+
+Silly Miss Hunter's face brightened up again. "But now, my love,"
+continued Mrs. Beaumont, taking her hand, leading her to a window, and
+speaking very low, though no one else was in the room, "before we talk
+any more of what is nearest my heart, I must get you to write a note
+for me to your brother, directly, for there is a circumstance I
+forgot--thoughtless creature that I am! but indeed, I never can _think_
+when I _feel_ much. Some people are always so collected and prudent.
+But I have none of that!--Heigho! Well, my dear, you must supply my
+deficiencies. You will write and tell Sir John, that in my agitation
+when he made his proposal for my Amelia, of which I so frankly approved,
+I omitted to warn him, that no hint must be given that I do any thing
+more than permit him to address my daughter upon an equal footing with
+any other gentleman who might address her. Stay, my dear; you don't
+understand me, I see. In short, to be candid with you--old Mr. Palmer is
+coming to-day, you know. Now, my dear, you must be aware that it is of
+the greatest consequence to the interests of my family, of which I
+hope you always consider yourself (for I have always considered you) as
+forming a part, and a very distinguished part--I say, my darling, that
+we must consider that it is our interest in all things to please and
+humour this good old gentleman. He will be with us but for a week,
+you know. Well, the point is this. I have been informed from undoubted
+authority, people who were about him at the time, and knew, that the
+reason he quarrelled with that nephew of his, who died two years ago,
+was the young man's having accepted a baronetage: and at that time
+old Palmer swore, that _no sprig of quality_--those were the very
+words--should ever inherit a shilling of his money. Such a ridiculous
+whim! But these London merchants, who make great fortunes from nothing,
+are apt to have their little eccentricities; and then, they have so
+much pride in their own way, and so much self-will and mercantile
+downrightness in their manners, that there's no managing them but by
+humouring their fancies. I'm convinced, if Mr. Palmer suspected that I
+even wished Amelia to marry Sir John, he would never leave any of us a
+farthing, and it would all go to the Walsinghams. So, my dear, do you
+explain to your brother, that though I have not the least objection to
+his coming here whilst Mr. Palmer is with us, he must not take umbrage
+at any seeming coldness in my manner. He knows my heart, I trust; at
+least, you do, my Albina. And even if I should be obliged to receive or
+to go to see the Walsinghams, which, by-the-bye, I have taken means
+to prevent; but if it should happen that they were to hear of Palmer's
+being with us, and come, and Sir John should meet them, he must not
+be surprised or jealous at my speaking in the highest terms of Captain
+Walsingham. This I shall be obliged to do as a blind before Mr. Palmer.
+I must make him believe that I prefer a commoner for my son-in-law, or
+we are all undone with him. You know it is my son's interest, and yours,
+as well as your brother's and Amelia's, that I consider. So explain all
+this to him, my dear; you will explain it so much better, and make it so
+much more palpable to your brother than I could."
+
+"Dear Mrs. Beaumont, how can you think so? You who write so well, and
+such long letters about every thing, and so quick! But goodness! I shall
+never get it all into a letter I'm afraid, and before Mr. Palmer comes,
+and then it will soon be dressing-time! La! I could say it all to John
+in five minutes: what a pity he is not here to-day!"
+
+"Well, my love, then suppose you were to go to him; as you so prudently
+remark, things of this sort are always so much easier and better said
+than written. And now I look at my watch, I see you cannot have time to
+write a long letter, and to dress. So I believe, though I shall grieve
+to lose you, I must consent to your going for this one day to your
+brother's. My carriage and Williamson shall attend you," said Mrs.
+Beaumont, ringing the bell to order the carriage; "but remember you
+promise me now to come back, positively, to-morrow, or next day at
+farthest, if I should not be able to send the carriage again to-morrow.
+I would not, upon any account, have you away, if it can possibly be
+helped, whilst Mr. Palmer is here, considering you as I do [The carriage
+to the door directly, and Williamson to attend Miss Hunter]--considering
+you as I do, my dearest Albina, quite as my own daughter."
+
+"Oh, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont, you are so kind!" said the poor girl,
+whom Mrs. Beaumont could always thus easily _pay with words_.
+
+The carriage came to the door with such prompt obedience to Mrs.
+Beaumont's summons, that one of a more reflecting or calculating nature
+than Miss Hunter might have suspected that it had been ordered to be in
+readiness to carry her away this morning.
+
+"Fare ye well, my own Albina! be sure you don't stay long from us,"
+said Mrs. Beaumont, accompanying her to the hall-door. "A thousand kind
+things to everybody, and your brother in particular. But, my dear Miss
+Hunter, one word more," said she, following to the carriage door, and
+whispering: "there's another thing that I must trust to your management
+and cleverness;--I mentioned that Mr. Palmer was to know nothing of _the
+approbation_ of Sir John's suit."
+
+"Oh, yes, yes, ma'am, I understand perfectly."
+
+"But stay, my love; you must understand, too, that it is to be quite a
+secret between ourselves, not to be mentioned to my son even; for you
+know he is sudden in his temper, and warm and quite in the Walsingham
+interest, and there's no knowing what might be the consequence if
+it were to be let out imprudently, and Sir John and Edward both so
+high-spirited. One can't be too cautious, my dear, to prevent mischief
+between gentlemen. So caution your brother to leave it to me to break
+it, and bring things about with Edward and Amelia,"--[stopping
+Miss Hunter again as she made a second effort to get into the
+carriage,]--"You comprehend, my dear, that Amelia is not in the
+secret yet--so not a word from your brother to her about _my
+approbation!_--that would ruin all. I trust to his honour; and
+besides--" drawing the young lady back for the third whisper.--Miss
+Hunter stood suspended with one foot in air, and the other on the
+step; the coachman, impatient to be off, manoeuvred to make his
+horses restless, whilst at the same time he cried aloud--"So! so!
+Prancer--stand still, Peacock; stand still, sir!"
+
+Miss Hunter jumped down on terra firma. "Those horses frighten me so
+for you, my dear!" said Mrs. Beaumont. "Martin, stand at their heads. My
+dear child, I won't detain you, for you'll be late. I had only to say,
+that--oh! that I trust implicitly to your brother's honour; but,
+besides this, it will not be amiss for you to hint, as you know you can
+delicately--_delicately_, you understand--that it is for his interest
+to leave me to manage every thing. Yet none of this is to be said _as
+if from me_--pray don't let it come from me. Say it all from yourself.
+Don't let my name be mentioned at all. Don't commit me, you understand?"
+
+"Perfectly, perfectly, ma'am: one kiss, dear Mrs. Beaumont, and adieu.
+Is my dressing-box in? Tell him to drive fast, for I hate going slow.
+Dearest Mrs. Beaumont, good bye. I feel as if I were going for an age,
+though it is only for one day."
+
+"Dear, affectionate girl! I love _heart_--Good bye--Drive fast, as Miss
+Hunter desires you."
+
+Our fair politician, well satisfied with the understanding of her
+confidante, which never comprehended more than met the ear, and secure
+in a charg� d'affaires, whose powers it was never necessary to limit,
+stood on the steps before the house-door, deep in reverie, for some
+minutes after the carriage had driven away, till she was roused by
+seeing her son returning from his morning's ride.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+     _"Will you hear a Spanish lady,
+     How she woo'd an English man?
+     Garments gay as rich as may be,
+     Deck'd with jewels, she had on."_
+
+     THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE. _Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry_
+
+
+Mr. Beaumont had just been at a neighbouring farm-house, where there
+lived one of Mr. Walsingham's tenants; a man of the name of Birch, a
+respectable farmer, who was originally from Ireland, and whose son was
+at sea with Captain Walsingham. The captain had taken young Birch under
+his particular care, at Mr. Walsingham's request.
+
+Birch's parents had this day received a letter from their son, which in
+the joy and pride of their hearts they showed to Mr. Beaumont, who was
+in the habit of calling at their house to inquire if they had heard any
+news of their son, or of Captain Walsingham. Mr. Beaumont liked to
+read Birch's letters, because they were written with characteristic
+simplicity and affection, and somewhat in the Irish idiom, which this
+young sailor's English education had not made him entirely forget.
+
+
+LETTER FROM BIRCH TO HIS PARENTS.
+
+"H.M.S. l'Ambuscade.
+
+"HONOURED PARENTS,
+
+"I write this from sea, lat. N. 44.15--long. W. 9.45--wind N.N.E.--to
+let you know you will not see me so soon as I said in my last, of the
+16th. Yesterday, P.M. two o'clock, some despatches were brought to
+my good captain, by the Pickle sloop, which will to-morrow, wind and
+weather permitting, alter our destination. What the nature of them is I
+cannot impart to you, for it has not transpired beyond the lieutenants;
+but whatever I do under the orders of my good captain, I am satisfied
+and confident all is for the best. For my own share, I long for an
+opportunity of fighting the French, and of showing the captain _what
+is in me_, and that the pains he has took to make a gentleman, and an
+honour to his majesty's service, of me, is not thrown away. Had he been
+my own father, or brother, he could not be better, or _done more_.
+God willing, I will never disgrace his principles, for it would be
+my ambition to be like him in every respect; and he says, if I behave
+myself as I ought, I shall soon be a lieutenant; and a lieutenant in his
+majesty's navy is as good a gentleman as any in England, and has a right
+(tell my sister Kitty) to hand the first woman in Lon'on out of her
+carriage, if he pleases, and if she pleases.
+
+"Now we talk of ladies, and as please God we shall soon be in action,
+and may not have another opportunity of writing to you this great while,
+for there is talk of our sailing southward with the fleet to bring the
+French and Spaniards to action, I think it best to send you all the news
+I have in this letter. But pray bid Kate, with my love, mind this, that
+not a word of the following is to take wind for her life, on account of
+my not knowing if it might be agreeable, or how it might affect my good
+captain, and others that shall be nameless. You must know then that when
+we were at ----, where we were stationed six weeks and two days, waiting
+for the winds, and one cause or other, we used to employ ourselves,
+I and my captain, taking soundings (which I can't more particularly
+explain the nature of to you, especially in a letter); for he always
+took me out to attend him in preference to any other; and after he had
+completed his soundings, and had no farther use for me in that job, I
+asked him leave to go near the same place in the evening to fish, which
+my good captain consented to (as he always does to what (duty done) can
+gratify me), provided I was in my ship by ten. Now you must know that
+there are convents in this country (which you have often heard of,
+Kitty, no doubt), being damnable places, where young _Catholic_ women
+are shut up unmarried, often, it is to be reasonably supposed, against
+their wills. And there is a convent in one of the suburbs which has a
+high back wall to the garden of it that comes down near the strand; and
+it was under this wall we two used to sound, and that afterwards I used
+to be fishing. And one evening, when I was not thinking of any such
+thing, there comes over the wall a huge nosegay of flowers, with a stone
+in it, that made me jump. And this for three evenings running the same
+way, about the same hour; till at last one evening as I was looking up
+at the wall, as I had now learned to do about the time the nosegays
+were thrown over, I saw coming down a stone tied to a string, and to the
+stone a letter, the words of which I can't particularly take upon me to
+recollect, because I gave up the paper to my captain, who desired it of
+me, and took no copy; but the sense was, that in that convent there was
+shut up a lady, the daughter of an English gentleman by a Spanish
+wife, both her parents being dead, and her Spanish relations and
+father-confessor (or catholic priest of a man), not wishing she should
+get to England, where she might be what she had a right to be by birth,
+at least by her father's side (a _protestant_), shut her up since she
+was a child. And that there was a relative of hers in England, who with
+a wicked lawyer or attorney had got possession of her estate, and made
+every body believe she was dead. And so, it being seven years and more
+since she was heard of, she is what is called dead in law, which sort of
+death however won't signify, if she appears again. Wherefore the letter
+goes on to say, she would be particularly glad to make her escape, and
+get over to old England. But she confesses that she is neither young nor
+handsome, and may-be never may be rich; therefore, that whoever helps
+her must do it for the sake of doing good and nothing else; for though
+she would pay all expenses handsomely, she could not promise more. And
+that she knew the danger of the undertaking to be great; greater for
+them that would carry her off even than for herself. That she knows,
+however, that British sailors are brave as they are generous (this part
+of the letter was very well indited, and went straight to my heart
+the minute ever I read it); and she wished it could be in the power of
+Captain Walsingham to take her under his immediate protection, and
+that she had taken measures so as she could escape over the wall of the
+garden if he would have a boat in readiness to carry her to his ship;
+and at the same hour next evening the stone should be let down as usual,
+and he might fasten his answer to it, which would be drawn up in due
+course. Concluding all this with, 'That she would not go at all unless
+Captain Walsingham came for her himself (certifying himself to be
+himself, I suppose), for she knew him to be a gentleman by reputation,
+and she should be safe under his protection, and so would her secret,
+she was confident, at all events.' This was the entire and sum total of
+the letter. So when I had read to the end, and looked for the postscript
+and all, I found for my pains that the lady mistook me for my captain,
+or would not have written or thrown the nosegays. So I took the letter
+to my captain; and what he answered, and how it was settled (by signals,
+I suppose) between them after, it was not for me to inquire. Not a word
+more was said by him to me or I to him on the topic, till the very night
+we were to sail for England. It was then that our captain took me aside,
+and he says, 'Birch, will you assist me? I ask this not as your captain,
+so you are at liberty to do as you please. Will you help me to rescue
+this lady, who seems to be unjustly detained, and to carry her back safe
+to her country and her friends?' I told him I would do that or any thing
+else he bid me, confident he would never ask me to do a wrong thing;
+and as to the lady, I should be proud to help to carry her off to old
+England and her lawful friends, only I thought (if I might be so bold)
+it was a pity she was not young and handsome, for his sake. At that he
+smiled, and only said, 'Perhaps it was best for him as it was.' Then
+he settled about the boat, and who were to go, and when. It was twelve
+o'clock striking by the great town clock when we were under the walls of
+the convent, as appointed. And all was hush and silent as the grave for
+our very lives. For it was a matter of life or death, I promise you, and
+we all knew as much, and the sailors had a dread of the Inquisition upon
+them that was beyond all terrible! So we watched and waited, and waited
+and watched so long, that we thought something must have gone wrong,
+or that all was found out, and the captain could not delay the ship's
+sailing; and he struck his repeater, and it was within a quarter of one,
+and he said, 'It is too late; we must put back.' Just then, I, that was
+watching with the lantern in my hand, gave notice, and first there comes
+down a white bundle, fastened to the stone and cord. Then the captain
+and I fixed the ladder of ropes, and down came the lady, as well as ever
+she went up, and not a word but away with her: the captain had her in
+a trice in our boat, safe and snug, and off we put, rowing for the bare
+life, all silent as ever. I think I hear the striking of our oars
+and the plashing of the water this minute, which we would have gladly
+silenced, but could not any way in nature. But none heard it, or at
+least took any notice against us. I can give you no idea of the terror
+which the lady manifested when the boat stood out to sea, at the
+slightest squall of wind, or the least agitation of the waves; for
+besides being naturally cowardly, as all or most women are for the first
+time at sea, here was a poor soul who had been watching, and may be
+fasting, and worn out mind and body with the terror of perfecting her
+escape from the convent, where she had been immured all her life, and as
+helpless as a child. So it was wonderful she went through it as well as
+she did and without screaming, which should be an example to Kate and
+others. Glad enough even we men were when we reached the ship. There
+was, at that time, a silence on board you could have heard a pin drop,
+all being in perfect readiness for getting under way, the sails
+ready for dropping, and officers and sailors waiting in the greatest
+expectation of our boat's return. Our boat passed swiftly alongside,
+and great beyond belief was the astonishment of all at seeing a woman
+veiled, hoisted out, and in, and ushered below, half fainting. I never
+felt more comfortable in my life than when we found her and ourselves
+safe aboard l'Ambuscade. The anchor was instantly weighed, all sail
+made, and the ship stood out to sea. To the lady the captain gave up his
+cabin: double sentries were placed, and as the captain ordered,
+every precaution that could shield her character in such suspicious
+circumstances were enforced with the utmost punctilio. I cannot
+describe, nor can you even conceive, Kate, the degree of curiosity shown
+about her; all striving to get a sight of her when she first went down,
+and most zealous they were to bring lights; but that would not do, for
+they could not see her for her veil. Yet through all we could make out
+that she was a fine figure of a woman at any rate, and something more
+than ordinary, from the air she had with her. The next day when she was
+sitting on deck the wind by times would blow aside her veil so as to
+give us glimpses of her face; when, to our surprise, and I am sure to
+the captain's satisfaction, we found she was beyond all contradiction
+young and handsome. And moreover I have reason to believe she has fine
+jewels with her, besides a ring from her own finger, which with a very
+pretty action she put on his, that next day on deck, as I noticed, when
+nobody was minding. So that no doubt she is as much richer as she is
+handsomer than she made believe, contrary to the ways of other women,
+which is in her favour and my good captain's; for from what I can judge,
+after all he has done for her, she has no dislike nor objection to him.
+
+"I have not time to add any thing more, but my love to Kitty, and Nancy,
+and Tom, and Mary, and little Bess; and, honoured parents, wishing you
+good health as I am in, thank God, at this present,
+
+"I am your dutiful and loving son,
+
+"JOHN BIRCH.
+
+"P.S. I open my letter to tell you we are going southward immediately,
+all in high spirits, as there is hopes of meeting the French and
+Spaniards. We have just hoisted the nun-lady on board an English packet.
+God send her and this letter safe to England."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. Beaumont might perhaps have been amused by this romantic story, and
+by the style in which it was told, if he had not been alarmed by the
+hint at the conclusion of the letter, that the lady was not indifferent
+to her deliverer. Now Mr. Beaumont earnestly wished that his friend
+Captain Walsingham might become his brother-in-law; and he began to have
+fears about this Spanish lady, with her gratitude, her rings, and the
+advantages of the great interest her misfortunes and helpless condition
+would excite, together with the vast temptations to fall in love that
+might occur during the course of a voyage. Had he taken notice of the
+postscript, his mind would have been somewhat relieved. On this subject
+Mr. Beaumont pondered all the way that he rode home, and on this subject
+he was still meditating when he saw his mother standing on the steps,
+where we left her when Miss Hunter's carriage drove away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+"I shall in all my best obey you, madam." HAMLET.
+
+
+"Did you meet Miss Hunter, my dear son?" said she.
+
+"Yes, ma'am, I just passed the carriage in the avenue: she is going
+home, is not she?" said he, rather in a tone of satisfaction.
+
+"Ah, poor thing! yes," said Mrs. Beaumont, in a most pathetic tone: "ah,
+poor thing!"
+
+"Why, ma'am, what has happened to her? What's the matter?"
+
+"Matter? Oh, nothing!--Did I say that any thing was the matter? Don't
+speak so loud," whispered she: "your groom heard every word we said;
+stay till he is out of hearing, and then we can talk."
+
+"I don't care if all the world hears what I say," cried Mr. Beaumont
+hastily: but, as if suppressing his rising indignation, he, with a
+milder look and tone, added, "I cannot conceive, my dear mother, why you
+are always so afraid of being overheard."
+
+"Servants, my dear, make such mischief, you know, by misunderstanding
+and misrepresenting every thing they hear; and they repeat things so
+oddly, and raise such strange reports!"
+
+"True--very true indeed, ma'am," said Mr. Beaumont. "You are quite
+right, and I beg pardon for being so hasty--I wish you could teach me a
+little of your patience and prudence."
+
+"Prudence! ah! my dear Edward, 'tis only time and sad experience of the
+world can teach that to people of _our_ open tempers. I was at your age
+ten times more imprudent and unsuspicious than you are."
+
+"Were you, ma'am?--But I don't think I am unsuspicious. I was when I was
+a boy--I wish we could continue children always in some things. I hate
+suspicion in any body--but more than in any one else, I hate it in
+myself. And yet--"
+
+Mr. Beaumont hesitated, and his mother instantly went on with a fluent
+panegyric upon the hereditary unsuspiciousness of his temper.
+
+"But, madam, were you not saying something to me about Miss Hunter?"
+
+"Was I?--Oh, I was merely going to say, that I was sorry you did not
+know she was going this morning, that you might have taken leave of her,
+poor thing!"
+
+"Take leave of her! ma'am: I bowed to her, and wished her a good
+morning, when I met her just now, and she told me she was only going to
+the hall for a day. Surely no greater leave-taking was requisite, when I
+am to see the lady again to-morrow, I presume."
+
+"That is not quite so certain as she thinks, poor soul! I told her
+I would send for her again to-morrow, just to keep up her spirits at
+leaving me. Walk this way, Edward, under the shade of the trees, for I
+am dead with the heat; and you, too, look so hot! I say I am not so sure
+that it would be prudent to have her here so much, especially whilst Mr.
+Palmer is with us, you know--" Mrs. Beaumont paused, as if waiting for
+an assent, or a dissent, or a leading hint how to proceed: but her son
+persisting in perverse silence, she was forced to repeat, "You know,
+Edward, my dear, you know?"
+
+"I don't know, indeed, ma'am."
+
+"You don't know!"
+
+"Faith, not I, ma'am. I don't know, for the soul of me, what Mr.
+Palmer's coming has to do with Miss Hunter's going. There's room enough
+in the house, I suppose, for each of them, and all of us to play our
+parts. As to the rest, the young lady's coming or going is quite a
+matter of indifference to me, except, of course, as far as politeness
+and hospitality go. But all that I leave to you, who do the honours for
+me so well."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont's ideas were utterly thrown out of their order by this
+speech, no part of which was exactly what she wished or expected: not
+that any of the sentiments it contained or suggested were new to her;
+but she was not prepared to meet them thus clothed in distinct words,
+and in such a compact form. She had drawn up her forces for battle in
+an order which this unexpectedly decisive movement of the enemy
+discomfited; and a less able tactician might have been, in these
+circumstances, not only embarrassed, but utterly defeated: yet, however
+unprepared for this sudden shock, with admirable generalship our female
+Hannibal, falling back in the centre, admitted him to advance impetuous
+and triumphant, till she had him completely surrounded.
+
+"My being of age in a few days," continued Mr. Beaumont, "will not make
+any difference, surely; I depend upon it, that you will always invite
+whomever you like to this house, of which I hope, my dear mother, you
+will always do me the favour to be the mistress--till I marry, at least.
+For my wife's feelings," added he, smiling, "I can't engage, before I
+have her."
+
+"And before we know who she is to be," said Mrs. Beaumont, carelessly.
+"Time enough, as you say, to think of that. Besides, there are few women
+in the world, I know scarcely one, with whom, in the relation of mother
+and daughter-in-law, I should wish to live. But wherever I live, my dear
+son, as long as I have a house, I hope you will always do me the justice
+and the pleasure to consider yourself as its master. Heaven knows
+I shall never give any other man a right to dispute with you the
+sovereignty of my castle, or my cottage, whichever it may be. As to the
+rest," pursued Mrs. Beaumont, "you cannot marry against my wishes, my
+dear Edward; for your wishes on this, as on all other subjects, will
+ever govern mine."
+
+Her son kissed her hand with warm gratitude.
+
+"You will not, I hope, think that I seek to prolong my regency, or to
+assume undue power or influence in affairs," continued Mrs. Beaumont,
+"if I hint to you in general terms what I think may contribute to your
+happiness. You must afterwards decide for yourself; and are now, as you
+have ever been, master, to do as you please."
+
+"Too much--too much. I have had too much liberty, and have too little
+acquired the habit of commanding my will and my passions by my reason.
+Of this I am sensible. My excellent friend, Captain Walsingham, told me,
+some years ago, that this was the fault of my character, and he charged
+me to watch over myself; and so I have; but not so strictly, I fear, as
+if he had watched along with me.----Well, ma'am, you were going to give
+me some advice; I am all attention."
+
+"My dear son, Captain Walsingham showed his judgment more, perhaps, in
+pointing out causes than effects. The weakness of a fond mother, I am
+sensible, did indulge you in childhood, and, perhaps, more imprudently
+in youth, with an unlimited liberty to judge and act for yourself. Your
+mother's system of education came, alas! more from her heart than her
+head. Captain Walsingham himself cannot be more sensible of my errors
+than I am."
+
+"Captain Walsingham, believe me, mother, never mentioned this in
+reproach to you. He is not a man to teach a son to see his mother's
+errors--if she had any. He always spoke of you with the greatest
+respect. And since I must, at my own expense, do him justice, it was,
+I well remember, upon some occasion where I spoke too hastily, and
+insisted upon my will in opposition to yours, madam, that Captain
+Walsingham took me aside, and represented to me the fault into which my
+want of command over myself had betrayed me. This he did so forcibly,
+that I have never from that hour to this (I flatter myself) on any
+material occasion, forgotten the impression he made on my mind. But,
+madam, I interrupt you: you were going to give me your advice about--"
+
+"No, no--no advice--no advice; you are, in my opinion, fully adequate to
+the direction of your own conduct. I was merely going to suggest, that,
+since you have not been accustomed to control from a mother, and since
+you have, thank Heaven! a high spirit, that would sooner break than
+bend, it must be essential to your happiness to have a wife of a
+compliant, gentle temper; not fond of disputing the right, or attached
+to her own opinions; not one who would be tenacious of rule, and
+unseasonably inflexible."
+
+"Unseasonably inflexible! Undoubtedly, ma'am. Yet I should despise a
+mean-spirited wife."
+
+"I am sure you would. But compliance that proceeds from affection, you
+know, can never deserve to be called mean-spirited--nor would it so
+appear to you. I am persuaded that there is a degree of fondness, of
+affection, enthusiastic affection, which disposes the temper always to
+a certain softness and yieldingness, which, I conceive, would be
+peculiarly attractive to you, and essential to your happiness: in short,
+I know your temper could not bear contradiction."
+
+"Oh, indeed, ma'am, you are quite mistaken."
+
+"Quite mistaken! and at the very moment he reddens with anger, because
+I contradict, even in the softest, gentlest manner in my power, his
+opinion of himself!"
+
+"You don't understand me, indeed, you don't understand me," said Mr.
+Beaumont, beating with his whip the leaves of a bush which was near him.
+"Either you don't understand me, or I don't understand you. I am much
+more able to bear contradiction than you think I am, provided it be
+direct. But I do not love--what I am doing at this instant," added he,
+smiling--"I don't love beating about the bush."
+
+"Look there now!--Strange creatures you men are! So like he looks to his
+poor father, who used to tell me that he loved to be contradicted, and
+yet who would not, I am sure, have lived three days with any woman who
+had ventured to contradict him directly. Whatever influence I obtained
+in his heart, and whatever happiness we enjoyed in our union, I
+attribute to my trusting to my observations on his character rather than
+to his own account of himself. Therefore I may be permitted to claim
+some judgment of what would suit your hereditary temper."
+
+"Certainly, ma'am, certainly. But to come to the point at once, may I
+ask this plain question--Do you, by these reflections, mean to allude
+to any particular persons? Is there any woman in the world you at this
+instant would wish me to marry?"
+
+"Yes--Miss Walsingham."
+
+Mr. Beaumont started with joyful surprise, when his mother thus
+immediately pronounced the very name he wished to hear.
+
+"You surprise and delight me, my dear mother!"
+
+"Surprise!--How can that be?--Surely you must know my high opinion of
+Miss Walsingham. But----"
+
+"But--you added _but_----"
+
+"There is no woman who may not be taxed with a _but_--yet it is not
+for her friend to lower her merit. My only objection to her is--I shall
+infallibly affront you, if I name it."
+
+"Name it! name it! You will not affront me."
+
+"My only objection to her then is, her superiority. She is so superior,
+that, forgive me, I don't know any man, yourself not excepted, who is at
+all her equal."
+
+"I think precisely as you do, and rejoice."
+
+"Rejoice? why there I cannot sympathize with you. I own, as a mother, I
+should feel a little--a little mortified to see my son not the superior;
+and when the comparison is to be daily and hourly made, and to last
+for life, and all the world to see it as well as myself. I own I have a
+mother's vanity. I should wish to see my son always what he has hitherto
+been--the superior, and master in his own house."
+
+Mr. Beaumont made no reply to these insinuations, but walked on in
+silence; and his mother, unable to determine precisely whether the
+vexation apparent in his countenance proceeded from disapprobation of
+her observations, or from their working the effect she desired upon his
+pride, warily waited till he should betray some decisive symptom of his
+feelings. But she waited in vain--he was resolved not to speak.
+
+"There is not a woman upon earth I should wish so much to have as a
+daughter-in-law, a companion, and a friend, as Miss Walsingham. You must
+be convinced," resumed Mrs. Beaumont, "so far as I am concerned, it is
+the most desirable thing in the world. But I should think it my duty to
+put my own feelings and wishes out of the question, and to make myself
+prefer whomsoever, all things considered, my judgment tells me would
+make you the happiest."
+
+"And whom would your judgment prefer, madam?"
+
+"Why--I am not at liberty to tell--unless I could explain all my
+reasons. Indeed, I know not what to say."
+
+"Dear madam, explain all your reasons, or we shall never understand one
+another, and never come to an end of these half explanations."
+
+Here they were interrupted by seeing Mr. Twigg, a courtly clergyman,
+coming towards them. Beaumont was obliged to endure his tiresome
+flattery upon the beauties of Beaumont Park, and upon the judicious
+improvements that were making, had been made, and would, no doubt,
+be very soon made. Mrs. Beaumont, at last, relieved his or her own
+impatience by commissioning Mr. Twigg to walk round the improvements by
+himself. By himself she insisted it should be, that she might have his
+unbiassed judgment upon the two lines which had been marked for the new
+belt or screen; and he was also to decide whether they should call it a
+belt or a screen.--Honoured with this commission, he struck off into the
+walk to which Mrs. Beaumont pointed, and began his solitary progress.
+
+Mr. Beaumont then urged his mother to go on with her explanation. Mrs.
+Beaumont thought that she could not hazard much by flattering the vanity
+of a man on that subject on which perhaps it is most easily flattered;
+therefore, after sufficient delicacy of circumlocution, she informed her
+son that there was a young lady who was actually dying for love of him;
+whose extreme fondness would make her live but in him; and who, besides
+having a natural ductility of character, and softness of temper, was
+perfectly free from any formidable superiority of intellect, and had the
+most exalted opinion of his capacity, as well as of his character and
+accomplishments; in short, such an enthusiastic adoration, as would
+induce that belief in the infallibility of a husband, which must secure
+to him the fullest enjoyment of domestic peace, power, and pre-eminence.
+
+Mr. Beaumont seemed less moved than his mother had calculated that the
+vanity of man must be, by such a declaration--discovery it could not
+be called. "If I am to take all this seriously, madam," replied he,
+laughing, "and if, _au pied de la lettre_ my vanity is to believe that
+this damsel is dying for love; yet, still I have so little chivalry in
+my nature, that I cannot understand how it would add to my happiness to
+sacrifice myself to save her life. That I am well suited to her, I am
+as willing as vanity can make me to believe; but how is it to be proved
+that the lady is suited to me?"
+
+"My dear, these things do not admit of logical proof."
+
+"Well--moral, sentimental, or any kind of proof you please."
+
+"Have you no pity? and is not pity akin to love?"
+
+"Akin! Oh, yes, ma'am, it is akin; but for that very reason it may not
+be a friend--relations, you know, in these days, are as often enemies as
+friends."
+
+"Vile pun! far-fetched quibble!--provoking boy!--But I see you are not
+in a humour to be serious, so I will take another time to talk to you of
+this affair."
+
+"Now or never, ma'am, for mercy's sake!"
+
+"Mercy's sake! you who show none--Ah! this is the way with you men; all
+this is play to you, but death to us."
+
+"Death! dear ma'am; ladies, you know as well as I do, don't die of love
+in these days--you would not make a fool of your son."
+
+"I could not; nor could any other woman--that is clear: but amongst us,
+I am afraid we have, undesignedly indeed, but irremediably, made a fool
+of this poor confiding girl."
+
+"But, ma'am, in whom did she confide? not in me, I'll swear. I have
+nothing to reproach myself with, thank God!--My conscience is clear; I
+have been as ungallant as possible. I have been as cruel as my
+nature would permit. I am sure no one can charge me with giving false
+promises--I scarcely speak--nor false hopes, for I scarcely look at the
+young lady."
+
+"So, then, you know who the young lady in question is?"
+
+"Perhaps I ought not to pretend to know."
+
+"That would be useless affectation, alas! for I fear many know, and have
+seen, and heard, much more than you have--or I either."
+
+Here Mrs. Beaumont observed that her son's colour changed, and that he
+suddenly grew serious: aware that she had now touched upon the right
+chord, she struck it again "with a master's hand and prophet's fire."
+She declared that all the world took it for granted that Miss Hunter was
+to be married to Mr. Beaumont; that it was talked of every where; that
+she was asked continually by her correspondents, when the marriage was
+to take place?--in confirmation of which assertion, she produced bundles
+of letters from her pockets, from Mrs. and Miss, and from Lady This, and
+Lady That.
+
+"Nay," continued she, "if it were confined even to the circle of one's
+private friends and acquaintance, I should not so much mind it, for one
+might contradict, and have it contradicted, and one might send the poor
+thing away to some watering-place, and the report might die away, as
+reports do--sometimes. But all that sort of thing it is too late to
+think of now--for the thing is public! quite public! got into the
+newspapers! Here's a paragraph I cut out this very morning from my
+paper, lest the poor girl should see it. The other day, I believe you
+saw it yourself, there was something of the same sort. 'We hear that, as
+soon as he comes of age, Mr. Beaumont, of Beaumont Park, is to lead
+to the altar of Hymen, Miss Hunter, sister to Sir John Hunter, of
+Devonshire.' Well,--after you left the room, Albina took up the paper
+you had been reading; and when she saw this paragraph, I thought she
+would have dropped. I did not know what to do. Whatever I could say, you
+know, would only make it worse. I tried to turn it off, and talked of
+twenty things; but it would not do--no, no, it is too serious for that:
+well, though I believe she would rather have put her hand in the fire,
+she had the courage to speak to me about it herself."
+
+"And what did she say, ma'am?" inquired Mr. Beaumont, eagerly.
+
+"Poor simple creature! she had but one idea--that you had seen it! that
+she would not for the world you had read it. What would you think of
+her--she should never be able to meet you again--What could she do? It
+must be contradicted--somebody must contradict it. Then she worried me
+to have it contradicted in the papers. I told her I did not well know
+how that could be done, and urged that it would be much more prudent not
+to fix attention upon the parties by more paragraphs. But she was _not_
+in a state to think of prudence;--_no_. What would you think was the
+only idea in her mind?--If I would not write, she would write that
+minute herself, and sign her name. This, and a thousand wild things, she
+said, till I was forced to be quite angry, and to tell her she must be
+governed by those who had more discretion than herself. Then she was so
+subdued, so ashamed--really my heart bled for her, even whilst I scolded
+her. But it is quite necessary to be harsh with her; for she has no more
+foresight, nor art, nor command of herself sometimes, than a child of
+five years old. I assure you, I was rejoiced to get her away before
+Mr. Palmer came, for a new eye coming into a family sees so much one
+wouldn't wish to be seen. You know it would be terrible to have the poor
+young creature _commit_ and expose herself to a stranger so early
+in life. Indeed, as it is, I am persuaded no one will ever think of
+marrying her, if you do not.----In worldly prudence--but of that she
+has not an atom--in worldly prudence she might do better, or as well,
+certainly; for her fortune will be very considerable. Sir John means to
+add to it, when he gets the Wigram estate; and the old uncle, Wigram,
+can't live for ever. But poor Albina, I dare swear, does not know
+what fortune she is to have, nor what you have. Love! love! all for
+love!--and all in vain. She is certainly very much to be pitied."
+
+Longer might Mrs. Beaumont have continued in monologue, without danger
+of interruption from her son, who stood resolved to hear the utmost sum
+of all that she should say on the subject. Never interrupting her, he
+only filled certain pauses, that seemed expectant of reply, with the
+phrases--"I am very sorry, indeed, ma'am"--and, "Really, ma'am, it is
+out of my power to help it." But Mrs. Beaumont observed that the latter
+phrase had been omitted as she proceeded--and "_I am very sorry indeed,
+ma'am,_" he repeated less as words of course, and more and more as if
+they came from the heart. Having so far, successfully, as she thought,
+worked upon her son's good-nature, and seeing her daughter through the
+trees coming towards them, she abruptly exclaimed, "Promise me, at all
+events, dearest Edward, I conjure you; promise me that you will not
+make proposals _any where else_, without letting me know of it
+beforehand,--and give me time," joining her hands in a supplicating
+attitude, "give me but a few weeks, to prepare my poor little Albina for
+this sad, sad stroke!"
+
+"I promise you, madam, that I will not, directly or indirectly, make an
+offer of my hand or heart to any woman, without previously letting you
+know my determination. And as for a few weeks, more or less--my mother,
+surely, need not supplicate, but simply let me know her wishes--even
+without her reasons, they would have been sufficient with me. Do I
+satisfy you now, madam?"
+
+"More than satisfy--as you ever do, ever will, my dear son."
+
+"But you will require no more on this subject--I must be left master of
+myself."
+
+"Indubitably--certainly--master of yourself--most certainly--of course."
+
+Mr. Beaumont was going to add something beginning with, "It is better,
+at once, to tell you, that I can never--" But Mrs. Beaumont stopped him
+with, "Hush! my dear, hush! not a word more, for here is Amelia, and I
+cannot talk on this subject before her, you know.----My beloved Amelia,
+how languid you look! I fear that, to please me, you have taken too
+long a walk; and Mr. Palmer won't see you in your best looks, after
+all.--What note is that you have in your hand?"
+
+"A note from Miss Walsingham, mamma."
+
+"Oh! the chickenpox! take care! letters, notes, every thing may convey
+the infection," cried Mrs. Beaumont, snatching the paper. "How could
+dearest Miss Walsingham be so giddy as to answer my note, after what I
+said in my postscript!--How did this note come?"
+
+"By the little postboy, mamma; I met him at the porter's lodge."
+
+"But what is all this strange thing?" said Mrs. Beaumont, after having
+read the note twice over.--It contained a certificate from the parish
+minister and churchwardens, apothecary, and surgeon, bearing witness,
+one and all, that there was no individual, man, woman, or child, in the
+parish, or within three miles of Walsingham House, who was even under
+any suspicion of having the chickenpox.
+
+"My father desires me to send Mrs. Beaumont the enclosed _clean bill
+of health_--by which she will find that we need be no longer subject
+to quarantine; and, unless some other reasons prevent our having the
+pleasure of seeing her, we may hope soon that she will favour us with
+her long promised visit.
+
+"Yours, sincerely,
+
+"MARIANNE WALSINGHAM."
+
+"I am delighted," said Mrs. Beaumont, "to find it was a false report,
+and that we shall not be kept, the Lord knows how long, away from the
+dear Walsinghams."
+
+"Then we can go to them to-morrow, can't we, mamma? And I will write,
+and say so, shall I?" said Amelia.
+
+"No need to write, my dear; if we promise for any particular day, and
+are not able to go, that seems unkind, and is taken ill, you see. And as
+Mr. Palmer is coming, we can't leave him."
+
+"But he will go with us surely," said Mr. Beaumont. "The Walsinghams are
+as much his relations as we are; and if he comes two hundred miles to
+see us, he will, surely, go seven to see them."
+
+"True," said Mrs. Beaumont; "but it is civil and kind to leave him to
+fix his own day, poor old gentleman. After so long a journey, we must
+allow him some rest. Consider, he can't go galloping about as you do,
+dear Edward."
+
+"But," said Amelia, "as the Walsinghams know he is to be in the country,
+they will of course come to see him immediately."
+
+"How do they know he is to be in the country?"
+
+"I thought--I took it for granted, you told them so, mamma, when
+you wrote about not going to Walsingham House, on Mr. Walsingham's
+birthday."
+
+"No, my dear; I was so full of the chickenpox, and terror about you, I
+could think of nothing else."
+
+"Thank you, dear mother--but now that is out of the question, I had best
+write a line by the return of the postboy, to say, that Mr. Palmer is to
+be here to-day, and that he stays only one week."
+
+"Certainly! love--but let me write about it, for I have particular
+reasons. And, my dear, now we are by ourselves, let me caution you not
+to mention that Mr. Palmer can stay but one week: in the first place it
+is uncivil to him, for we are not sure of it, and it is like driving him
+away; and in the next place, there are reasons I can't explain to you,
+that know so little of the world, my dear Amelia--but, in general, it is
+always foolish to mention things."
+
+"Always foolish to mention things!" cried Mr. Beaumont, smiling.
+
+"Of this sort, I mean," said Mrs. Beaumont, a little disconcerted.
+
+"Of what sort?" persisted her son.
+
+"Hush! my dear; here's the postboy and the ass."
+
+"Any letters, my good little boy? Any letters for me?"
+
+"I has, madam, a many for the house. I does not know for who--the bag
+will tell," said the boy, unstrapping the bag from his shoulders.
+
+"Give it to me, then," said Mrs. Beaumont: "I am anxious for letters
+always." She was peculiarly anxious now to open the post-bag, to put
+a stop to a conversation which did not please her. Whilst seated on a
+rustic seat, under a spreading beech, our heroine, with her accustomed
+looks of mystery, examined the seals of her numerous and important
+letters, to ascertain whether they had been opened at the post-office,
+or whether their folds might have been pervious to any prying eye. Her
+son tore the covers off the newspapers; and, as he unfolded one, Amelia
+leaned upon his shoulder, and whispered softly, "Any news of the fleet,
+brother?"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, than whom Fine-ear himself had not quicker auditory
+nerves, especially for indiscreet whispers, looked up from her letters,
+and examined, unperceived, the countenance of Amelia, who was searching
+with eagerness the columns of the paper. As Mr. Beaumont turned over the
+leaf, Amelia looked up, and, seeing her mother's eyes fixed upon her,
+coloured; and from want of presence of mind to invent any thing better
+to say, asked if her mother wished to have the papers?
+
+"No," said Mrs. Beaumont, coldly, "not I, Amelia; I am not such a
+politician as you are grown."
+
+Amelia withdrew her attention, or at least her eyes, from the paper,
+and had recourse to the beech-tree, the beautiful foliage of which she
+studied with profound attention.
+
+"God bless me! here's news! news of the fleet!" cried Beaumont, turning
+suddenly to his sister; and then recollecting himself, to his mother.
+"Ma'am, they say there has been a great engagement between the French
+and Spaniards, and the English--particulars not known yet: but, they
+say, ten sail of the French line are taken, and four Spaniards blown
+up, and six Spanish men-of-war disabled, and a treasure-ship taken.
+Walsingham must have been in the engagement--My horse!--I'll gallop over
+this minute, and know from the Walsinghams if they have seen the papers,
+and if there's any thing more about it in their papers."
+
+"Gallop! my dearest Edward," said his mother, standing in his path; "but
+you don't consider Mr. Palmer--"
+
+"Damn Mr. Palmer! I beg your pardon, mother--I mean no harm to the old
+gentleman--friend of my father's--great respect for him--I'll be back by
+dinner-time, back ready to receive him--he can't be here till six--only
+five by me, now! Ma'am, I shall have more than time to dress, too, cool
+as a cucumber, ready to receive the good old fellow."
+
+"In one short hour, my dear!--seven miles to Walsingham House, and
+seven back again, and all the time you will waste there, and to dress
+too--only consider!"
+
+"I do consider, ma'am; and have considered every thing in the world. My
+horse will carry me there and back in fifty minutes, easily, and five to
+spare, I'll be bound. I sha'n't light--so where's the paper? I'm off."
+
+"Well--order your horse, and leave me the paper, at least, while he is
+getting ready. Ride by this way, and you will find us here--where is
+this famous paragraph?"
+
+Beaumont drew the paper crumpled from the pocket into which he had
+thrust it--ran off for his horse, and quickly returned mounted. "Give me
+the paper, good friends!--I'm off."
+
+"Away, then, my dear; since you will heat yourself for nothing. But only
+let me point out to you," said she, holding the paper fast whilst
+she held it up to him, "that this whole report rests on no authority
+whatever; not a word of it in the gazette; not a line from the
+admiralty; no official account; no bulletin; no credit given to the
+rumour at Lloyd's; stocks the same.--And how did the news come? Not
+even the news-writer pretends it came through any the least respectable
+channel. A frigate in latitude the Lord knows what! saw a fleet in a
+fog--might be Spanish--might be French--might be English--spoke another
+frigate some days afterwards, who heard firing: well--firing says
+nothing. But the frigate turns this firing into an engagement, and
+a victory; and presently communicates the news to a collier, and the
+collier tells another collier, and so it goes up the Thames, to some
+wonder-maker, standing agape for a paragraph, to secure a dinner. To the
+press the news goes, just as our paper is coming out; and to be sure we
+shall have a contradiction and an apology in our next."
+
+"Well, ma'am; but I will ask Mr. Walsingham what he thinks, and show him
+the paper."
+
+"Do, if you like it, my dear; I never control you; but don't overheat
+yourself for nothing. What can Mr. Walsingham, or all the Walsinghams in
+the world, tell more than we can? and as to showing him the paper, you
+know he takes the same paper. But don't let me detain you.--Amelia, who
+is that coming through the gate? Mr. Palmer's servant, I protest!"
+
+"Well; it can't be, I see!" said Beaumont, dismounting.
+
+"Take away your master's horse--quick--quick!--Amelia, my love, to
+dress! I must have you ready to receive your godfather's blessing.
+Consider, Mr. Palmer was your father's earliest friend; and besides, he
+is a relation, though distant; and it is always a good and prudent thing
+to keep up relationships. Many a fine estate has come from very
+distant relations most unexpectedly. And even independently of all
+relationships, when friendships are properly cultivated, there's no
+knowing to what they may lead;--not that I look to any thing of that
+sort here. But before you see Mr. Palmer, just as we are walking home,
+and quite to ourselves, let me give you some leading hints about this
+old gentleman's character, which I have gathered, no matter how, for
+your advantage, my dear children. He is a humourist, and must not
+be opposed in any of his oddities: he is used to be waited upon, and
+attended to, as all these men are who have lived in the West Indies. A
+_bon vivant_, of course. Edward, produce your best wines--the pilau and
+currie, and all that, leave to me. I had special notice of his love for
+a john-doree, and a john-doree I have for him. But now I am going to
+give you the master-key to his heart. Like all men who have made
+great fortunes, he loves to feel continually the importance his wealth
+confers; he loves to feel that wealth does every thing; is superior to
+every thing--to birth and titles especially: it is his pride to think
+himself, though a commoner, far above any man who condescends to take a
+title. He hates persons of quality; therefore, whilst he is here, not
+a word in favour of any titled person. Forget the whole house of
+peers--send them all to Coventry--all to Coventry, remember.--And, now
+you have the key to his heart, go and dress, to be ready for him."
+
+Having thus given her private instructions, and advanced her secret
+plans, Mrs. Beaumont repaired to her toilet, well satisfied with her
+morning's work.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+"Chi mi fa piu carezze che non sole; O m'ha ingannato, o ingannar me
+vuole."
+
+
+"By St. George, there's nothing like Old England for comfort!" cried Mr.
+Palmer, settling himself in his arm-chair in the evening; "nothing after
+all in any part of the known world, like Old England for comfort. Why,
+madam, there's not another people in the universe that have in any of
+their languages a name even for comfort. The French have been forced to
+borrow it; but now they have got it, they don't know how to use it, nor
+even how to pronounce it, poor devils! Well, there's nothing like Old
+England for comfort."
+
+"Ah! nothing like Old England for comfort!" echoed Mrs. Beaumont, in a
+sentimental tone, though at that instant her thoughts were far distant
+from her words; for this declaration of his love for Old England alarmed
+her with the notion that he might change his mind about returning
+immediately to Jamaica, and that he might take root again and flourish
+for years to come in his native soil--perhaps in her neighbourhood, to
+the bane of all her favourite projects. What would become of her scheme
+of marrying Amelia to the baronet, and her son to the docile Albina?
+What would become of the scheme of preventing him from being acquainted
+with the Walsinghams? For a week it might be practicable to keep them
+asunder by _policising_, but this could never be effected if he were to
+settle, or even to make any long stay, in the country. The Walsinghams
+would be affronted, and then what would become of their interest in the
+county? Her son could not be returned without that. And, worse than all
+the rest, Mr. Palmer might take a fancy to see these Walsinghams, who
+were as nearly related to him as the Beaumonts; and seeing, he might
+prefer, and preferring, he might possibly leave half, nay, perhaps
+the whole, of his large fortune to them,--and thus all her hopes and
+projects might at once be frustrated. Little aware of the long and
+perplexing trains of ideas, which his honest ejaculation in favour
+of his native country had raised, Mr. Palmer went on with his own
+comfortable thoughts.
+
+"And of all the comforts our native land affords, I know of none so
+grateful to the heart," continued he, "as good friends, which are to be
+found nowhere else in such perfection. A man at my time of life misses
+many an old friend on his return to his native country; but then he
+sees them still in their representatives, and loves them again in
+their children. Mr. Beaumont looked at me at that instant, so like his
+father--he is the image of what my friend was, when I first knew him."
+
+"I am rejoiced you see the likeness," said Mrs. Beaumont. "Amelia, my
+dear, pour out the coffee."
+
+"And Miss Beaumont, too, has just his expression of countenance, which
+surprises me more, in her delicate features. Upon my word, I have reason
+to be proud of my god-daughter, as far as appearances go; and with
+English women, appearances, fair as they may be, seldom are even so good
+as the truth. There's her father's smile again for me--young lady, if
+that smile deceives, there's no truth in woman."
+
+"Do not you find our coffee here very bad, compared with what you have
+been used to abroad?" said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"I do rejoice to find myself here quiet in the country," continued Mr.
+Palmer, without hearing the lady's question; "nothing after all like
+a good old English family, where every thing speaks plenty and
+hospitality, without waste or ostentation; and where you are received
+with a hearty welcome, without compliments; and let do just as you
+please, without form, and without being persecuted by politeness."
+
+This was the image of an English country family impressed early upon
+the good old gentleman's imagination, which had remained there fresh and
+unchanged since the days of his youth; and he now took it for granted
+that he should see it realized in the family of his late friend.
+
+"I was afraid," resumed Mrs. Beaumont, "that after being so long
+accustomed to a West-Indian life, you would find many things unpleasant
+to your feelings here. But you are so kind, so accommodating. Is
+it really possible that you have not, since your return to England,
+experienced any uncomfortable sensations, suffered any serious injury to
+your health, my dear sir, from the damps and chills of our climate?"
+
+"Why, now I think of it, I have--I have a cough," said Mr. Palmer,
+coughing.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont officiously shut the window.
+
+"I do acknowledge that England is not quite so superior to all other
+countries in her climate as in every thing else: yet I don't 'damn the
+climate like a lord.' At my time of life, a man must expect to be a
+valetudinarian, and it would be unjust to blame one's native climate
+for that. But a man of seventy-five must live where he can, not where
+he will; and Dr. Y---- tells me that I can live nowhere but in the West
+Indies."
+
+"Oh, sir, never mind Dr. Y----," exclaimed young Beaumont: "live with us
+in England. Many Englishmen live to a great age surely, let people say
+what they will of the climate."
+
+"But, perhaps, brother," interposed Amelia, "those who, like Mr. Palmer,
+have lived much in a warm climate, might find a return to a cold country
+dangerous; and we should consider what is best for him, not merely what
+is most agreeable to ourselves."
+
+"True, my dearest Amelia," said Mrs. Beaumont; "and to be sure, Dr.
+Y---- is one of our most skilful physicians. I could not be so rash
+or so selfish as to set my private wishes, or my private opinion, in
+opposition to Dr. Y----'s advice; but surely, my dear sir, you won't let
+one physician, however eminent, send you away from us all, and banish
+you again from England? We have a very clever physician here, Dr.
+Wheeler, in whom I have the greatest confidence. In my own case, I
+confess, I should prefer his judgment to any of the London fashionable
+physicians, who are so fine and so hurried, that they can't take time
+to study one's particular constitution, and hear all one has to say to
+them. Now that is Wheeler's great excellence--and I should so like to
+hear his opinion. I am sure, if he gives it against me, I will not say
+a word more: if he decide for Jamaica, I may be vexed, but I should make
+it a point of conscience to submit, and not to urge my good friend to
+stay in England at his own peril. Happy they who can live where they
+please, and whose fortune puts it in their power to purchase any
+climate, and to combine the comforts and luxuries of all countries!"
+
+Nothing more was said upon the subject: Mrs. Beaumont turned the
+conversation to the different luxuries of the West and East Indies. Mr.
+Palmer, fatigued by his journey, retired early to rest, little dreaming
+that his kind hostess waked, whilst he slept, for the purpose of
+preparing a physician to give a proper opinion upon his case. Mrs.
+Beaumont left a note to her favourite Dr. Wheeler, to be sent very early
+in the morning. As if by accident, the doctor dropped in at breakfast
+time, and Mrs. Beaumont declared that it was the luckiest chance
+imaginable, that he should happen to call just when she was wishing
+to see him. When the question in debate was stated to him, he, with
+becoming gravity of countenance and suavity of manner, entered into a
+discussion upon the effect of hot and cold climates upon the solids and
+fluids, and nervous system in general; then upon English constitutions
+in particular; and, lastly, upon _idiosyncrasies_.
+
+This last word cost Mr. Palmer half his breakfast: on hearing it he
+turned down his cup with a profound sigh, and pushed his plate from him;
+indications which did not escape the physician's demure eye. Gaining
+confidence from the weakness of the patient, Dr. Wheeler now boldly
+pronounced, that, in his opinion, any gentleman who, after having
+habituated himself long to a hot climate, as Jamaica, for instance,
+should come late in life to reside in a colder climate, as England, for
+example, must run very great hazard indeed--nay, he could almost venture
+to predict, would fall a victim to the sudden tension of the lax fibres.
+
+Though a man of sound good sense in most things, Mr. Palmer's weakness
+was, on medical subjects, as great as his ignorance; his superstitious
+faith in physicians was as implicit as either Dr. Wheeler or Mrs.
+Beaumont could desire.
+
+"Then," said Mr. Palmer, with a sigh still deeper than the first--for
+the first was for himself, and the second for his country--"then
+England, Old England! farewell for ever! All my judges pronounce
+sentence of transportation upon me!"
+
+Mr. Beaumont and Amelia, in eager and persuasive tones of remonstrance
+and expostulation, at once addressed the doctor, to obtain a mitigation
+or suspension of his sentence. Dr. Wheeler, albeit unused to the
+imperative mood, reiterated his _dictum_. Though little accustomed to
+hold his opinion against the arguments or the wishes of the rich and
+fair, he, upon this occasion, stood his ground against Miss and Mr.
+Beaumont wonderfully well for nearly five minutes; till, to his
+utter perplexity and dismay, he saw Mrs. Beaumont appear amongst his
+assailants.
+
+"Well, I said I would submit, and not say a word, if Dr. Wheeler was
+against me," she began; "but I cannot sit by silent: I must protest
+against this cruel, cruel decree, so contrary too to what I hoped and
+expected would be Dr. Wheeler's opinion."
+
+Poor Dr. Wheeler twinkled and seemed as if he would have rubbed his
+eyes, not sure whether he was awake or in a dream. In his perplexity, he
+apprehended that he had misunderstood Mrs. Beaumont's note, and he now
+prepared to make his way round again through the solids and the fluids,
+and the whole nervous system, till, by favour of _idiosyncrasy_, he
+hoped to get out of his difficulty, and to allow Mr. Palmer to remain
+on British ground. Mrs. Beaumont's face, in spite of her powers of
+simulation, lengthened and lengthened, and darkened and darkened, as
+he proceeded in his recantation; but, when the exception to the general
+axiom was fairly made out, and a clear permit to remain in England
+granted, by such high medical authority, she forced a smile, and joined
+loudly in the general congratulations. Whilst her son was triumphing
+and shaking hands with Mr. Palmer, she slipped down stairs after Dr.
+Wheeler.
+
+"Ah, doctor! What have you done! Ruined me! ruined me! Didn't you read
+my note? Didn't you _understand_ it?--I thought a word to the wise was
+enough."
+
+"Why!--then it was as I understood it at first? So I thought; but then
+I fancied I must be mistaken afterwards; for when I expected support, my
+dear madam, you opposed my opinion in favour of Jamaica more warmly than
+any one, and what was I to think?"
+
+"To think! Oh, my dear doctor, you might have guessed that was only a
+sham opposition."
+
+"But, my dear ma'am," cried Dr. Wheeler, who, though the mildest of men,
+was now worked up to something like indignation, "my dear ma'am--sham
+upon sham is too much for any man!"
+
+The doctor went down stairs murmuring. Thus, by excess of hypocrisy, our
+heroine disgusted even her own adherents, in which she has the honour
+to resemble some of the most wily politicians famous in English history.
+But she was too wise ever to let any one who could serve or injure her
+go discontented out of her presence.
+
+"My dear, good Dr. Wheeler, I never saw you angry before. Come, come,"
+cried Mrs. Beaumont, sliding a _douceur_ into his hand, "friends must
+not be vexed for trifles; it was only a mistake _de part et d'autre_,
+and you'll return here to-morrow, in your way home, and breakfast with
+us; and now we understand one another. And," added she, in a whisper,
+"we can talk over things, and have your cool judgment best, when only
+you, and I, and Mr. Palmer, are present. You comprehend."
+
+Those who practise many manoeuvres, and carry on many intrigues at
+the same time, have this advantage, that if one fails, the success of
+another compensates for the disappointment. However she might have been
+vexed by this slight _contre-temps_ with Dr. Wheeler, Mrs. Beaumont
+had ample compensation of different sorts this day; some due to her own
+exertions, some owing to accident. Her own exertions prevented her dear
+Albina Hunter from returning; for Mrs. Beaumont never sent the promised
+carriage--only a note of apology--a nail had run into one of the
+coach-horse's feet. To accident she owed that the Walsinghams were not
+at home when her son galloped over to see them the next morning, and to
+inquire what news from Captain Walsingham. That day's paper also brought
+a contradiction of the report of the engagement and victory; so that
+Mrs. Beaumont's apprehensions on this subject were allayed; and she had
+no doubt that, by proper management, with a sufficient number of notes
+and messages, misunderstandings, lame horses, and crossings upon the
+road, she might actually get through the week without letting the
+Walsinghams see Mr. Palmer; or at least without more than a _vis_, or
+a morning visit, from which no great danger could be apprehended. "Few,
+indeed, have so much character," thought she, "or so much dexterity in
+showing it, as to make a dangerous impression in the course of a formal
+morning visit."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+"Ah! c'est mentir tant soit peu; j'en conviens; C'est un grand mal--mais
+il produit un bien." VOLTAIRE.
+
+
+The third day went off still more successfully. Dr. Wheeler called at
+breakfast, frightened Mr. Palmer out of his senses about his health, and
+convinced him that his life depended upon his immediate return to the
+climate of Jamaica:--so this point was decided.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, calculating justly that the Walsinghams would return
+Mr. Beaumont's visit, and come to pay their respects to Mr. Palmer this
+morning, settled, as soon as breakfast was over, a plan of operations
+which should keep Mr. Palmer out till dinner-time. He must see the
+charming drive which her son had made round his improvements; and she
+must have the pleasure of showing it to him herself; and she assured him
+that he might trust to her driving.
+
+So into Mrs. Beaumont's garden-chair he got; and when she had him
+fairly prisoner, she carried him far away from all danger of intruding
+visitors. It may readily be supposed that our heroine made good use of
+the five or six hours' leisure for manoeuvring which she thus secured.
+
+So frank and cordial was this simple-hearted old man, any one but Mrs.
+Beaumont would have thought that with him no manoeuvring was necessary;
+that she need only to have trusted to his friendship and generosity, and
+have directly told him her wishes. He was so prepossessed in her favour,
+as being the widow of his friend, that he was almost incapable of
+suspecting her of any unhandsome conduct; besides, having had little
+converse with modern ladies, his imagination was so prepossessed with
+the old-fashioned picture of a respectable widow lady and guardian
+mother, that he took it for granted Mrs. Beaumont was just like one of
+the good matrons of former times, like Lady Bountiful, or Lady Lizard;
+and, as such, he spoke to her of her family concerns, in all the
+openness of a heart which knew no guile.
+
+"Now, my good Mistress Beaumont, you must look upon me just as my friend
+the colonel would have done; as a man, who has your family interests at
+heart just as much as if I were one of yourselves. And let me in to all
+your little affairs, and trust me with all your little plans, and let
+us talk over things together, and settle how every thing can be done
+for the best for the young people. You know, I have no relations in the
+world but your family and the Walsinghams, of whom, by-the-bye, I know
+nothing. No one living has any claim upon me: I can leave or give my
+own just as I please; and you and yours are, of course, my first
+objects--and for the how, and the what, and the when, I must consult
+you; and only beg you to keep it in mind, that I would as soon _give_ as
+_bequeath_, and rather; for as to what a man leaves to his friends, he
+can only have the satisfaction of thinking that they will be the better
+for him after he is dead and gone, which is but cold comfort; but what
+he gives he has the warm comfort of seeing them enjoy whilst he is alive
+with them."
+
+"Such a generous sentiment!" exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, "and so unlike
+persons in general who have large fortunes at their disposal! I feel so
+much obliged, so excessively--"
+
+"Not at all, not at all, not at all--no more of that, no more of
+that, my good lady. The colonel and I were friends; so there can be no
+obligation between us, nor thanks, nor speeches. But, just as if you
+were talking to yourself, tell me your mind. And if there are any little
+embarrassments that the son may want to clear off on coming of age;
+or if there's any thing wanting to your jointure, my dear madam; or if
+there should be any marriages in the wind, where a few thousands, more
+or less, might be the making or the breaking of a heart;--let me hear
+about it all: and do me the justice to let me have the pleasure of
+making the young folks, and the old folks too, happy their own way; for
+I have no notion of insisting on all people being happy my way--no, no!
+I've too much English liberty in me for that; and I'm sure, you, my
+good lady, are as great a foe as I am to all family managements and
+mysteries, where the old don't know what the young do, nor the young
+what the old think. No, no--that's all nonsense and French convent
+work--nothing like a good old English family. So, my dear Mistress
+Beaumont, out with it all, and make me one of yourselves, free of the
+family from this minute. Here's my hand and heart upon it--an old friend
+may presume so far."
+
+This frankness would have opened any heart except Mrs. Beaumont's; but
+it is the misfortune of artful people that they cannot believe others
+to be artless: either they think simplicity of character folly; or else
+they suspect that openness is only affected, as a bait to draw them into
+snares. Our heroine balanced for a moment between these two notions. She
+could not believe Mr. Palmer to be an absolute fool--no; his having
+made such a large fortune forbad that thought. Then he must have thrown
+himself thus open merely to _try her_, and to come at the knowledge of
+debts and embarrassments, which, if brought to light, would lower his
+opinion of the prudence of the family.
+
+"My excellent friend, to be candid with you," she began, "there is
+no need of your generosity at present, to relieve my son from any
+embarrassments; for I know that he has no debts whatever. And I am
+confident he will make my jointure every thing, and more than every
+thing, I could desire. And, as to marriages, my Amelia is so young,
+there's time enough to consider."
+
+"True, true; and she does well to take time to consider. But though I
+don't understand these matters much, she looks mightily like the notion
+I have of a girl that's a little bit in love."
+
+"In love! Oh, my dear sir! you don't say so--in love?"
+
+"Why, I suppose I should not say _in love_; there's some other way of
+expressing it come into fashion since my time, no doubt. And even then,
+I know that was not to be said of a young lady, till signing and sealing
+day; but it popped out, and I can't get it back again, so you must even
+let it pass. And what harm? for you know, madam, without love, what
+would become of the world?--though I was jilted once and away, I
+acknowledge--but forgive and forget. I don't like the girl a whit the
+worse for being a little bit tender-hearted. For I'm morally certain,
+even from the little I have heard her say, and from the way she has been
+brought up, and from her being her father's daughter, and her mother's,
+madam, she could not fix her affections on any one that would not do
+honour to her choice, or--which is only saying the same thing in other
+words--that you and I should not approve."
+
+"Ah! there's the thing!" said Mrs. Beaumont, sighing.
+
+"Why now I took it into my head from a blush I saw this morning, though
+how I came to notice it, I don't know; for to my recollection I have not
+noticed a girl's blushing before these twenty years--but, to be
+sure, here I have as near an interest, almost, as if she were my own
+daughter--I say, from the blush I saw this morning, when young Beaumont
+was talking of the gallop he had taken to inquire about Captain
+Walsingham, I took it into my head that he was the happy man."
+
+"Oh! my dear sir, he never made any proposals for Amelia." That was
+strictly true. "Nor, I am sure, ever thought of it, as far as ever I
+heard."
+
+The saving clause of "_as far as ever I heard_," prevented this last
+assertion from coming under that description of falsehoods denominated
+downright lies.
+
+"Indeed, how could he?" pursued Mrs. Beaumont, "for you know he is no
+match for Amelia; he has nothing in the world but his commission. No;
+there never was any proposal from that quarter; and, of course, it is
+impossible my daughter could think of a man who has no thoughts of her."
+
+"You know best, my good madam; I merely spoke at random. I'm the worst
+guesser in the world, especially on these matters: what people tell me,
+I know; and neither more not less."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont rejoiced in the simplicity of her companion. "Then, my
+good friend, it is but fair to tell you," said she, "that Amelia has an
+admirer."
+
+"A lover, hey! Who?"
+
+"Ah, there's the misfortune; it is a thing I never can consent to."
+
+"Ha! then now it is out! There's the reason the girl blushes, and is so
+absent at times."
+
+A plan now occurred to Mrs. Beaumont's scheming imagination which
+she thought the master-piece of policy. She determined to account for
+whatever symptoms of embarrassment Mr. Palmer might observe in her
+daughter, by attributing them to a thwarted attachment for Sir John
+Hunter; and Mrs. Beaumont resolved to make a merit to Mr. Palmer of
+opposing this match because the lover was a baronet, and she thought
+that Mr. Palmer would be pleased by her showing an aversion to the
+thoughts of her daughter's marrying _a sprig of quality_. This ingenious
+method of paying her court to her open-hearted friend, at the expense
+equally of truth and of her daughter, she executed with her usual
+address.
+
+"Well, I'm heartily glad, my dear good madam, to find that you have the
+same prejudices against sprigs of quality that I have. One good commoner
+is worth a million of them to my mind. So I told a puppy of a nephew of
+mine, who would go and buy a baronetage, forsooth--disinherited him! but
+he is dead, poor puppy."
+
+"Poor young man! But this is all new to me," said Mrs. Beaumont, with
+well-feigned surprise.
+
+"But did not you know, my dear madam, that I had a nephew, and that he
+is dead?"
+
+"Oh, yes; but not the particulars."
+
+"No; the particulars I never talk of--not to the poor dog's credit. It's
+well he's dead, for if he had lived, I am afraid I should have forgiven
+him. No, no, I never would. But there is no use in thinking any more
+of that. What were we saying? Oh, about your Amelia--our Amelia, let me
+call her. If she is so much attached, poor thing, to this man, though
+he is a baronet, which I own is against him to my fancy, yet it is to
+be presumed he has good qualities to balance that, since she values
+him; and young people must be young, and have their little foolish
+prepossessions for title, and so forth. To be sure, I should have
+thought my friend's daughter above that, of such a good family as she
+is, and with such good sense as she inherits too. But we have all our
+foibles, I suppose. And since it is so with Amelia, why do let me see
+this baronet-swain of hers, and let me try what good I can find out in
+him, and let me bring myself, if I can, over my prejudices. And then
+you, my dear madam, so good and kind a mother as you are, will make an
+effort too on your part; for we must see the girl happy, if it is not
+out of all sense and reason. And if the man be worthy of her, it is not
+his fault that he is a sprig of quality; and we must forgive and forget,
+and give our consent, my dear Mrs. Beaumont."
+
+"And would you ever give your consent to her marrying Sir John Hunter?"
+cried Mrs. Beaumont, breathless with amazement, and for a moment thrown
+off her guard so as to speak quite naturally. The sudden difference
+in her tone and manner struck even her unsuspicious companion, and he
+attributed it to displeasure at this last hint.
+
+"Why, my very dear good friend's wife, forgive me," said he, "for this
+interference, and for, as it seems, opposing your opinion about your
+daughter's marriage, which no man has a right to do--but if you ask
+me plump whether I could forgive her for marrying Sir John Hunter,
+I answer, for I can speak nothing but the truth, I would, if he is a
+worthy man."
+
+"I thought," said Mrs. Beaumont, astonished, "you disinherited your own
+nephew, because he took a baronet's title against your will."
+
+"Bless you! no, my dear madam--that did displease me, to be sure--but
+that was the least cause of displeasure I had. I let the world fancy
+and say what they would, rather than bring faults to light.--But no more
+about that."
+
+"But did not you take an oath that you would never leave a shilling of
+your fortune to any _sprig of quality?_"
+
+"Never! my dearest madam! never," cried Mr. Palmer, laughing. "Never was
+such a gander. See what oaths people put into one's mouth."
+
+"And what lies the world tells," said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"And believes," said Mr. Palmer, with a sly smile.
+
+The surprise that Mrs. Beaumont felt was mixed with a strange and rapid
+confusion of other sentiments, regret for having wasted such a quantity
+of contrivance and manoeuvring against an imaginary difficulty. All this
+arose from her too easy belief of _secret underhand information_.
+
+Through the maze of artifice in which she had involved affairs, she now,
+with some difficulty, perceived that plain truth would have served her
+purpose better. But regret for the past was not in the least mixed with
+any thing like remorse or penitence; on the contrary, she instantly
+began to consider how she could best profit by her own wrong. She
+thought she saw two of her favourite objects almost within her reach,
+Mr. Palmer's fortune, and the future title for her daughter: no obstacle
+seemed likely to oppose the accomplishment of her wishes, except
+Amelia's own inclinations: these she thought she could readily prevail
+upon her to give up; for she knew that her daughter was both of a
+timid and of an affectionate temper; that she had never in any instance
+withstood, or even disputed, her maternal authority; and that dread of
+her displeasure had often proved sufficient to make Amelia suppress or
+sacrifice her own feelings. Combining all these reflections with her
+wonted rapidity, Mrs. Beaumont determined what her play should now be.
+She saw, or thought she saw, that she ought, either by gentle or strong
+means, to lure or intimidate Amelia to her purpose; and that, while
+she carried on this part of the plot with her daughter in private, she
+should appear to Mr. Palmer to yield to his persuasions by degrees,
+to make the young people happy their own way, and to be persuaded
+reluctantly out of her aversion to _sprigs of quality_. To be sure, it
+would be necessary to give fresh explanations and instructions to Sir
+John Hunter, through his sister, with the new parts that he and she were
+to act in this domestic drama. As soon as Mrs. Beaumont returned from
+her airing, therefore, she retired to her own apartment, and wrote
+a note of explanation, with a proper proportion of sentiment and
+_verbiage,_ to her dear Albina, begging to see her and Sir John Hunter
+the very next day. The horse, which had been lamed by the nail, now, of
+course, had recovered; and it was found by Mrs. Beaumont that she had
+been misinformed, and that he had been lamed only by sudden cramp. Any
+excuse she knew would be sufficient, in the present state of affairs, to
+the young lady, who was more ready to be deceived than even our heroine
+was disposed to deceive. Indeed, as Machiavel says, "as there are
+people willing to cheat, there will always be those who are ready to be
+cheated."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+"Vous m'enchantez, mais vous m'�pouvantez; Ces pieges-l� sont-ils bien
+ajust�s? Craignez vous point de vous laisser surprendre Dans les filets
+que vos mains savent tendre?" VOLTAIRE.
+
+
+To prepare Amelia to receive Sir John Hunter _properly_ was Mrs.
+Beaumont's next attempt; for as she had represented to Mr. Palmer that
+her daughter was attached to Sir John, it was necessary that her manner
+should in some degree accord with this representation, that at least it
+should not exhibit any symptoms of disapprobation or dislike: whatever
+coldness or reserve might appear, it would be easy to attribute to
+bashfulness and dread of Mr. Palmer's observation. When Amelia was
+undressing at night, her mother went into her room; and, having
+dismissed the maid, threw herself into an arm-chair, and exclaimed,
+half-yawning, "How tired I am!--No wonder, such a long airing as we took
+to-day. But, my dear Amelia, I could not sleep to-night without telling
+you how glad I am to find that you are such a favourite with Mr.
+Palmer."
+
+"I am glad he likes me," said Amelia; "I am sure I like him. What a
+benevolent, excellent man he seems to be!"
+
+"Excellent, excellent--the best creature in the world!--And so
+interested about you! and so anxious that you should be well and soon
+established; almost as anxious about it as I am myself."
+
+"He is very good--and you are very good, mamma; but there is no occasion
+that I should be _soon established_, as it is called--is there?"
+
+"That is the regular answer, you know, in these cases, from every young
+lady that ever was born, in or out of a book within the memory of man.
+But we will suppose all that to be said prettily on your part, and
+answered properly on mine: so give me leave to go on to something more
+to the purpose; and don't look so alarmed, my love. You know, I am not a
+hurrying person; you shall take your own time, and every thing shall
+be done as you like, and the whole shall be kept amongst ourselves
+entirely; for nothing is so disadvantageous and distressing to a young
+woman as to have these things talked of in the world long before they
+take place."
+
+"But, ma'am!--Surely there is no marriage determined upon for me,
+without my even knowing it."
+
+"Determined upon!--Oh dear, no, my darling. You shall decide every thing
+for yourself."
+
+"Thank you, mother; now you are kind indeed."
+
+"Indubitably, my dearest Amelia, I would not decide on any thing without
+consulting you: for I have the greatest dependence on your prudence and
+judgment. With a silly romantic girl, who had no discretion, I should
+certainly think it my duty to do otherwise; and if I saw my daughter
+following headlong some idle fancy of fifteen, I should interpose my
+authority at once, and say, It must not be. But I know my Amelia so
+well, that I am confident she will judge as prudently for herself as I
+could for her; and indeed, I am persuaded that our opinions will be now,
+as they almost always are, my sweet girl, the same."
+
+"I hope so mamma--but----"
+
+"Well, well, I'll allow a maidenly _but_--and you will allow that Sir
+John Hunter shall be the man at last."
+
+"Oh, mamma, that can never be," said Amelia, with much earnestness.
+
+"_Never_--A young lady's _never_, Amelia, I will allow too. Don't
+interrupt me, my dear--but give me leave to tell you again, that
+you shall have your own time--Mr. Palmer has given his consent and
+approbation."
+
+"Consent and approbation!" cried Amelia. "And is it come to this?
+without even consulting me! And is this the way I am left to judge for
+myself?--Oh, mother! mother! what will become of me?"
+
+Amelia, who had long had experience that it was vain for her to attempt
+to counteract or oppose any scheme that her mother had planned, sat down
+at this instant in despair: but even from despair she took courage;
+and, rising suddenly, exclaimed, "I never can or will marry Sir John
+Hunter--for I love another person--mother, you know I do--and I will
+speak truth, and abide by it, let the consequences be what they may."
+
+"Well, my dear, don't speak so loud, at all events; for though it may
+be very proper to speak the truth, it is not necessary that the whole
+universe should hear it. You speak of another attachment--is it possible
+that you allude to Captain Walsingham? But Captain Walsingham has never
+proposed for you, nor even given you any reason to think he would; or if
+he has, he must have deceived me in the grossest manner."
+
+"He is incapable of deceiving any body," said Amelia. "He never gave me
+any reason to think he would propose for me; nor ever made the slightest
+attempt to engage my affections. You saw his conduct: it was always
+uniform. He is incapable of any double or underhand practices."
+
+"In the warmth of your eulogium on Captain Walsingham, you seem, Amelia,
+to forget that you reflect, in the most severe manner, upon yourself:
+for what woman, what young woman especially, who has either delicacy,
+pride, or prudence, can avow that she loves a man, who has never given,
+even by her own statement of the matter, the slightest reason to believe
+that he thinks of her?"
+
+Amelia stood abashed, and for some instants incapable of reply: but at
+last, approaching her mother, and hiding her face, as she hung over
+her shoulder, she said, in a low and timid voice, "It was only to my
+mother--I thought that could not be wrong--and when it was to prevent a
+greater wrong, the engaging myself to another person."
+
+"Engaging yourself, my foolish child! but did I not tell you that you
+should have your own time?"
+
+"But no time, mother, will do."
+
+"Try, my dear love; that is all I ask of you; and this you cannot, in
+duty, in kindness, in prudence, or with decency, refuse me."
+
+"Cannot I?"
+
+"Indeed you cannot. So say not a word more that can lessen the high
+opinion I have of you; but show me that you have a becoming sense
+of your own and of female dignity, and that you are not the poor,
+mean-spirited creature, to pine for a man who disdains you."
+
+"Disdain! I never saw any disdain. On the contrary, though he never gave
+me reason to think so, I cannot help fancying----"
+
+"That he likes you--and yet he never proposed for you! Do not believe
+it--a man may coquet as well as a woman, and often more; but till he
+makes his proposal, never, if you have any value for your own happiness
+or dignity, fancy for a moment that he loves you."
+
+"But he cannot marry, because he is so poor."
+
+"True--and if so, what stronger argument can be brought against your
+thinking of him?"
+
+"I do not think of him--I endeavour not to think of him."
+
+"That is my own girl! Depend upon it, he thinks not of you. He is all in
+his profession--prefers it to every woman upon earth. I have heard him
+say he would not give it up for any consideration. All for glory, you
+see; nothing for love."
+
+Amelia sighed. Her mother rose, and kissing her, said, as if she took
+every thing she wished for granted, "So, my Amelia, I am glad to see you
+reasonable, and ready to show a spirit that becomes you--Sir John Hunter
+breakfasts here to-morrow."
+
+"But," said Amelia, detaining her mother, who would have left the room,
+"I cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, for I do not esteem him; therefore
+I am sure I can never love him."
+
+"You cannot encourage Sir John Hunter, Amelia?" replied Mrs. Beaumont.
+"It is extraordinary that this should appear to you an impossibility the
+very moment the gentleman proposes for you. It was not always so. Allow
+me to remind you of a ball last year, where you and I met both Sir
+John Hunter and Captain Walsingham; as I remember, you gave all your
+attention that evening to Sir John."
+
+"Oh, mother, I am ashamed of that evening--I regret it more than
+any evening of my life. I did wrong, very wrong; and bitterly have I
+suffered for it, as people always do, sooner or later, by deceit. I was
+afraid that you should see my real feelings; and, to conceal them, I,
+for the first and last time of my life, acted like a coquette. But if
+you recollect, dear mother, the very next day I confessed the truth
+to you. My friend, Miss Walsingham, urged me to have the courage to be
+sincere."
+
+"Miss Walsingham! On every occasion I find the secret influence of these
+Walsinghams operating in my family," cried Mrs. Beaumont, from a sudden
+impulse of anger, which threw her off her guard.
+
+"Surely their influence has always been beneficial to us all. To me,
+Miss Walsingham's friendship has been of the greatest service."
+
+"Yes; by secretly encouraging you, against your mother's approbation, in
+a ridiculous passion for a man who neither can nor will marry you."
+
+"Far from encouraging me, madam, in any thing contrary to your
+wishes--and far from wishing to do any thing secretly, Miss Walsingham
+never spoke to me on this subject but once; and that was to advise me
+strongly not to conceal the truth from you, and not to make use of any
+artifices or manoeuvres."
+
+"Possibly, very possibly; but I presume you could conduct yourself
+properly without Miss Walsingham's interference or advice."
+
+"I thought, mamma, you liked Miss Walsingham particularly, and that you
+wished I should cultivate her friendship."
+
+"Certainly; I admire Miss Walsingham extremely, and wish to be on the
+best terms with the family; but I will never permit any one to interfere
+between me and my children. We should have gone on better without
+advisers."
+
+"I am sure her advice and friendship have preserved me from many faults,
+but never led me into any. I might, from timidity, and from fear of your
+superior address and abilities, have become insincere and artful; but
+she has given me strength of mind enough to bear the present evil, and
+to dare at all hazards to speak the truth."
+
+"But, my dearest Amelia," said Mrs. Beaumont, softening her tone, "why
+so warm? What object can your mother have but your good? Can any Miss
+Walsingham, or any other friend upon earth, have your interest so much
+at heart as I have? Why am I so anxious, if it is not from love to you?"
+
+Amelia was touched by her mother's looks and words of affection, and
+acknowledged that she had spoken with too much warmth.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont thought she could make advantage of this moment.
+
+"Then, my beloved child, if you are convinced of my affection for you,
+show at least some confidence in me in return: show some disposition to
+oblige me. Here is a match I approve; here is an establishment every way
+suitable."
+
+"But why, mamma, must I be married?" interrupted Amelia. "I will not
+think, at least I will try not to think, of any one of whom you do not
+approve; but I cannot marry any other man while I feel such a partiality
+for--. So, dear mother, pray do not let Sir John Hunter come here any
+more on my account. It is not necessary that I should marry."
+
+"It is necessary, however," said Mrs. Beaumont, withdrawing her hand
+haughtily, and darting a look of contempt and anger upon her daughter,
+"it is necessary, however, that I should be mistress in my own house,
+and that I should invite here whomever I please. And it is necessary
+that you should receive them without airs, and with politeness. On this,
+observe, I insist, and will be obeyed."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont would receive no reply, but left the room seemingly in
+great displeasure: but even half her anger was affected, to intimidate
+this gentle girl.
+
+Sir John Hunter and his sister arrived to breakfast. Mrs. Beaumont
+played her part admirably; so that she seemed to Mr. Palmer only to
+be enduring Sir John from consideration for her daughter, and from
+compliance with Mr. Palmer's own request that she would try what could
+be done to make the young people happy; yet she, with infinite address,
+_drew Sir John out_, and dexterously turned every thing he said into
+what she thought would please Mr. Palmer, though all the time she seemed
+to be misunderstanding or confuting him. Mr. Palmer's attention, which
+was generally fixed exclusively on one object at a time, had ample
+occupation in studying Sir John, whom he examined, for Amelia's sake,
+with all the honest penetration which he possessed. Towards Amelia
+herself he scarcely ever looked; for, without any refinement of
+delicacy, he had sufficient feeling and sense to avoid what he thought
+would embarrass a young lady. Amelia's silence and reserve appeared
+to him, therefore, as her politic mother had foreseen, just what was
+natural and proper. He had been told that she was attached to Sir John
+Hunter; and the idea of doubting the truth of what Mrs. Beaumont had
+asserted could not enter his confiding mind.
+
+In the mean time, our heroine, to whom the conduct of a double intrigue
+was by no means embarrassing, did not neglect the affairs of her dear
+Albina: she had found time before breakfast, as she met Miss Hunter
+getting out of her carriage, to make herself sure that her notes of
+explanation had been understood; and she now, by a multitude of scarcely
+perceptible inuendoes, and seemingly suppressed looks of pity, contrived
+to carry on the representation she had made to her son of this damsel's
+helpless and lovelorn state. Indeed, the young lady appeared as much in
+love as could have been desired for stage effect, and rather more than
+was necessary for propriety. All Mrs. Beaumont's art, therefore, was
+exerted to throw a veil of becoming delicacy over what might have been
+too glaring, by hiding half to improve the whole. Where there was
+any want of management on the part of her young coadjutrix, she, with
+exquisite skill, made advantage even of these errors by look? and sighs,
+that implied almost as emphatically as words could have said to her
+son--"You see what I told you is too true. The simple creature has not
+art enough to conceal her passion. She is undone in the eyes of the
+world, if you do not confirm what report has said."
+
+This she left to work its natural effect upon the vanity of man. And in
+the midst of these multiplied manoeuvres, Mrs. Beaumont sat with ease
+and unconcern, sometimes talking to one, sometimes to another; so that
+a stranger would have thought her a party uninterested in all that was
+going forward, and might have wondered at her blindness or indifference.
+
+But, alas! notwithstanding her utmost art, she failed this day in
+turning and twisting Sir John Hunter's conversation and character so as
+to make them agreeable to Mr. Palmer. This she knew by his retiring
+at an early hour at night, as he sometimes did when company was not
+agreeable to him. His age gave him this privilege. Mrs. Beaumont
+followed, to inquire if he would not wish to _take something_ before he
+went to rest.
+
+"By St. George, Madam Beaumont, you are right," said Mr. Palmer,
+"you are right, in not liking this baronet. I'm tired of him--sick of
+him--can't like him!--sorry for it, since Amelia likes him. But what can
+a daughter of Colonel Beaumont find in this man to be pleased with? He
+is a baronet, to be sure, but that is all. Tell me, my good madam, what
+it is the girl likes in him?"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont could only answer by an equivocal smile, and a shrug, that
+seemed to say--there's no accounting for these things.
+
+"But, my dear madam," pursued Mr. Palmer, "the man is neither handsome
+nor young: he is old enough for her father, though he gives himself the
+airs of a youngster; and his manners are--I can allow for
+fashionable manners. But, madam, it is his character I don't
+like--selfish--cold--designing--not a generous thought, not a good
+feeling about him. You are right, madam, quite right. In all his
+conversation such meanness, and even in what he means for wit, such
+a contempt of what is fair and honourable! Now that fellow does not
+believe that such a thing as virtue or patriotism, honour or friendship,
+exists. The jackanapes!--and as for love! why, madam, I'm convinced he
+is no more in love with the girl than I am, nor so much, ma'am, nor half
+so much!--does not feel her merit, does not value her accomplishments,
+does not Madam! madam! he is thinking of nothing but himself, and her
+fortune--fortune! fortune! fortune! that's all. The man's a miser.
+Madam, they that know no better fancy that there are none but old
+misers; but I can tell them there are young misers, and middle-aged
+misers, and misers of all ages. They say such a man can't be a
+miser, because he is a spendthrift; but, madam, you know a man can be
+both--yes, and that's what many of your young men of fashion are, and
+what, I'll engage, this fellow is. And can Amelia like him? my poor
+child! and does she think he loves her? my poor, poor child! how can she
+be so blind? but love is always blind, they say. I've a great mind to
+take her to task, and ask her, between ourselves, what it is she likes
+in her baronet."
+
+"Oh, my dear sir! she would sink to the centre of the earth if you were
+to speak. For Heaven's sake, don't take her to task, foolish as she is;
+besides, she would be so angry with me for telling you."
+
+"Angry? the gipsy! Am not I her godfather and her guardian? though I
+could not act, because I was abroad, yet her guardian I was left by
+her father, and love her too as well as I should a daughter of her
+father's--and she to have secrets, and mysteries! that would be worse
+than all the rest, for mysteries are what I abhor. Madam, wherever there
+are secrets and mysteries in a family, take my word for it, there is
+somethings wrong."
+
+"True, my dear sir; but Amelia has no idea of mysteries or art. I only
+meant that young girls, you know, will be ashamed on these occasions,
+and we must make allowances. So do not speak to her, I conjure you."
+
+"Well, madam, you are her mother, and must know best. I have only her
+interest at heart: but I won't speak to her, since it will so distress
+her. But what shall be done about this lover? You are quite right about
+him, and I have not a word more to say."
+
+"But I declare I think you judge him too harshly. Though I am not
+inclined to be his friend, yet I must do him the justice to say, he has
+more good qualities than you allow, or rather than you have seen yet. He
+is passionately fond of Amelia. Oh, there you're wrong, quite wrong; he
+is passionately in love, whatever he may pretend to the contrary."
+
+"Pretend! and why should the puppy pretend not to be in love?"
+
+"Pride, pride and fashion. Young men are so governed by fashion, and so
+afraid of ridicule. There's a set of _fashionables_ now, with whom love
+is a _bore, _you know."
+
+"I know! no, indeed, I know no such thing," said Mr. Palmer. "But this
+I know, that I hate pretences of all sorts; and if the man is in love, I
+should, for my part, like him the better for showing it."
+
+"So he will, when you know him a little better. You are quite a
+stranger, and he is bashful."
+
+"Bashful! Never saw so confident a man in any country."
+
+"But he is shy under all that."
+
+"Under! But I don't like characters where every thing is under something
+different from what appears at top."
+
+"Well, take a day or two more to study him. Though I am his enemy, I
+must deal fairly by him, for poor Amelia's sake."
+
+"You are a good mother, madam, an indulgent mother, and I honour
+and love you for it. I'll follow your example, and bear with this
+spendthrift-miser-coxcomb sprig of quality for a day or two more, and
+try to like him, for Amelia's sake. But, if he's not worthy of her, he
+sha'n't have her, by St. George, he shall not--shall he, madam?"
+
+"Oh, no, no; good night, my good sir."
+
+What the manoeuvres of the next day might have effected, and how far Sir
+John Hunter profited by the new instructions which were given to him in
+consequence of this conversation, can never be accurately ascertained,
+because the whole united plan of operations was disturbed by a new and
+unforeseen event.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+"Un volto senza senno, Un petto senza core, un cor senz' alma, Un' alma
+senza fede." GUARINI.
+
+
+"Here's glorious news of Captain Walsingham!" cried young Beaumont; "I
+always knew he would distinguish himself if he had an opportunity; and,
+thank God! he has had as fine an opportunity as heart could wish. Here,
+mother! here, Mr. Palmer, is an account of it in this day's paper! and
+here is a letter from himself, which Mr. Walsingham has just sent me."
+
+"Oh, give _me_ the letter," cried Mrs. Beaumont, with affected
+eagerness.
+
+"Let me have the paper, then," cried Mr. Palmer. "Where are my
+spectacles?"
+
+"Are there any letters for _me?_" said Sir John Hunter. "Did my
+newspapers come? Albina, I desired that they should be forwarded here.
+Mrs. Beaumont, can you tell me any thing of _my_ papers?"
+
+"Dear Amelia, how interesting your brother looks when he is pleased!"
+Albina whispered, quite loud enough to be heard.
+
+"A most gallant action, by St. George!" exclaimed Mr. Palmer. "These are
+the things that keep up the honour of the British navy, and the glory of
+Britain."
+
+"This Spanish ship that Captain Walsingham captured the day after the
+engagement is likely to turn out a valuable prize, too," said Mrs.
+Beaumont. "I am vastly glad to find this by his letter, for the money
+will be useful to him, he wanted it so much. He does not say how much
+his share will come to, does he, Edward?"
+
+"No, ma'am: you see he writes in a great hurry, and he has only time, as
+he says, to mention _the needful_."
+
+"And is not the money _the needful?_" said Sir John Hunter, with a
+splenetic smile.
+
+"With Walsingham it is only a secondary consideration," replied
+Beaumont; "honour is Captain Walsingham's first object. I dare say he
+has never yet calculated what his prize-money will be."
+
+"Right, right!" reiterated Mr. Palmer; "then he is the right sort. Long
+may it be before our naval officers think more of prize-money than
+of glory! Long may it be before our honest tars turn into calculating
+pirates!"
+
+"They never will or can whilst they have such officers as Captain
+Walsingham," said Beaumont.
+
+"By St. George, he seems to be a fine fellow, and you a warm friend,"
+said Mr. Palmer. "Ay, ay, the colonel's own son. But why have I never
+seen any of these Walsinghams since I came to the country? Are they
+ashamed of being related to me, because I am a merchant?"
+
+"More likely they are too proud to pay court to you because you are
+so rich," said Mr. Beaumont. "But they did come to see you, sir,--the
+morning you were out so late, mother, you know."
+
+"Oh, ay, true--how unfortunate!"
+
+"But have not we horses? have not we carriages? have not we legs?" said
+Mr. Palmer. "I'll go and see these Walsinghams to-morrow, please God I
+live so long: for I am proud of my relationship to this young hero;
+and I won't be cast off by good people, let them be as proud as they
+will--that's their fault--but I will not stand on idle ceremony: so, my
+good Mistress Beaumont, we will all go in a body, and storm their castle
+to-morrow morning."
+
+"An admirable plan! I like it of all things!" said Mrs. Beaumont. "How
+few, even in youth, are so active and enthusiastic as our good friend!
+But, my dear Mr. Palmer--"
+
+"But I wish I could see the captain himself. Is there any chance of his
+coming home?"
+
+"Home! yes," said Beaumont: "did you not read his letter, sir? here it
+is; he will be at home directly. He says, 'perhaps a few hours after
+this letter reaches you, you'll see me.'"
+
+"See him! Odds my life, I'm glad of it. And you, my little Amelia,"
+said Mr. Palmer, tapping her shoulders as she stood with her back to him
+reading the newspaper; "and you, my little silent one, not one word have
+I heard from you all this time. Does not some spark of your father's
+spirit kindle within you on hearing of this heroic relation of ours?"
+
+"Luckily for the ladies, sir," said Sir John Hunter, coming up, as he
+thought, to the lady's assistance--"luckily for young ladies, sir, they
+are not called upon to be heroes; and it would be luckier still for
+us men, if they never set themselves up for heroines--Ha! ha! ha! Miss
+Beaumont," continued he, "the shower is over; I'll order the horses out,
+that we may have our ride." Sir John left the room, evidently pleased
+with his own wit.
+
+"Amelia, my love," said Mrs. Beaumont, who drew up also to give
+assistance at this critical juncture, "go, this moment, and write a note
+to your friend Miss Walsingham, to say that we shall all be with them
+early to-morrow: I will send a servant directly, that we may be sure to
+meet with them at home this time; you'll find pen, ink, and paper in my
+dressing-room, love."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont drew Amelia's arm within hers, and, dictating kindest
+messages for the Walsinghams, led her out of the room. Having thus
+successfully covered her daughter's retreat, our skilful manoeuvrer
+returned, all self-complacent, to the company. And next, to please
+the warm-hearted Mr. Palmer, she seemed to sympathize in his patriotic
+enthusiasm for the British navy: she pronounced a panegyric on the
+_young hero,_ Captain Walsingham, which made the good old man rub his
+hands with exultation, and which irradiated with joy the countenance of
+her son. But, alas! Mrs. Beaumont's endeavours to please, or rather to
+dupe all parties, could not, even with her consummate address, always
+succeed: though she had an excellent memory, and great presence of mind,
+with peculiar quickness both of eye and ear, yet she could not always
+register, arrange, and recollect all that was necessary for the various
+parts she undertook to act. Scarcely had she finished her eulogium on
+Captain Walsingham, when, to her dismay, she saw close behind her Sir
+John Hunter, who had entered the room without her perceiving it. He
+said not one word; but his clouded brow showed his suspicions, and his
+extreme displeasure.
+
+"Mrs. Beaumont," said he, after some minutes' silence, "I find I
+must have the honour of wishing you a good morning, for I have an
+indispensable engagement at home to dinner to-day."
+
+"I thought, Sir John, you and Amelia were going to ride?"
+
+"Ma'am, Miss Beaumont does not choose to ride--she told me, so this
+instant as I passed her on the stairs. Oh! don't disturb her, I beg--she
+is writing to Miss Walsingham--I have the honour to wish you a good
+morning, ma'am."
+
+"Well, if you are determined to go, let me say three words to you in the
+music-room, Sir John: though," added she, in a whisper intended to be
+heard by Mr. Palmer, "I know you do not look upon me as your friend,
+yet depend upon it I shall treat you and all the world with perfect
+candour."
+
+Sir John, though sulky, could not avoid following the lady; and as soon
+as she had shut all the doors and double-doors of the music-room, she
+exclaimed, "It is always best to speak openly to one's friends. Now, my
+dear Sir John Hunter, how can you be so childish as to take ill of me
+what I really was forced to say, for _your_ interest, about Captain
+Walsingham, to Mr. Palmer? You know old Palmer is the oddest, most
+self-willed man imaginable! humour and please him I must, the few days
+he is with me. You know he goes on Tuesday--that's decided--Dr. Wheeler
+has seen him, has talked to him about his health, and it is absolutely
+necessary that he should return to the West Indies. Then he is perfectly
+determined to leave all he has to Amelia."
+
+"Yes, ma'am; but how am I sure of being the better for that?"
+interrupted Sir John, whose decided selfishness was a match for Mrs.
+Beaumont's address, because it went without scruple or ceremony straight
+to his object; "for, ma'am, you can't think I'm such a fool as not to
+see that Mr. Palmer wishes me at the devil. Miss Beaumont gives me no
+encouragement; and you, ma'am, I know, are too good a politician to
+offend Mr. Palmer: so, if he declares in favour of this young _hero,_
+Captain Walsingham, I may quit the field."
+
+"But you don't consider that Mr. Palmer's young hero has never made any
+proposal for Amelia."
+
+"Pshaw! ma'am--but I know, as well as you do, that he likes her, and
+propose he will for her now that he has money."
+
+"Granting that; you forget that all this takes time, and that Palmer
+will be gone to the West Indies before they can bring out their
+proposal; and as soon as he is gone, and has left his will, as he means
+to do, with me, you and I have the game in our own hands. It is very
+extraordinary to me that you do not seem to understand my play, though I
+explained the whole to Albina; and I thought she had made you comprehend
+the necessity for my _seeming,_ for this one week, to be less your
+friend than I could wish, because of your title, and that odd whim of
+Palmer, you know: but I am sure we understand one another now."
+
+"Excuse me," said the invincible Sir John: "I confess, Mrs. Beaumont,
+you have so much more abilities, and _finesse_, and all that sort
+of thing, than I have, that I cannot help being afraid of--of not
+understanding the business rightly. In business there is nothing like
+understanding one another, and going on sure grounds. There has been so
+much going backwards and forwards, and explanations and manoeuvres,
+that I am not clear how it is; nor do I feel secure even that I have the
+honour of your approbation."
+
+"What! not when I have assured you of it, Sir John, in the most
+unequivocal manner?"
+
+It was singular that the only person to whom in this affair Mrs.
+Beaumont spoke the real truth should not believe her. Sir John Hunter
+continued obstinately suspicious and incredulous. He had just heard that
+his uncle Wigram, his rich uncle Wigram, was taken ill, and not likely
+to recover. This intelligence had also reached Mrs. Beaumont, and
+she was anxious to secure the baronet and the Wigram fortune for her
+daughter; but nothing she could say seemed to satisfy him that she was
+not double-dealing. At last, to prove to him her sincerity, she gave
+him what he required, and what alone, he said, could make his mind
+easy, could bring him to make up his mind--_a written assurance_ of her
+approbation of his addresses to Amelia. With this he was content; "for,"
+said he, "what is written remains, and there can be no misunderstandings
+in future, or changing of minds."
+
+It was agreed between these confidential friends, that Sir John should
+depart, _as it were_, displeased; and she begged that he would not
+return till Mr. Palmer should have left the country.
+
+Now there was a numerous tribe of _hangers-on_, who were in the habit of
+frequenting Beaumont Park, whom Mrs. Beaumont loved to see at her
+house; because, besides making her feel her own importance, they were
+frequently useful to carry on the subordinate parts of her perpetual
+manoeuvres. Among these secondary personages who attended Mrs. Beaumont
+abroad to increase her consequence in the eyes of common spectators, and
+who at home filled the stage, and added to the bustle and effect, her
+chief favourites were Mr. Twigg (the same gentleman who was deputed to
+decide upon the belt or the screen) and Captain Lightbody. Mr. Twigg was
+the most, elegant flatterer of the two, but Captain Lightbody was
+the most assured, and upon the whole made his way the best. He was a
+handsome man, had a good address, could tell a good story, sing a good
+song, and _make things go off_ well, when there was company; so that he
+was a prodigious assistance to the mistress of the house. Then he danced
+with the young ladies when they had no other partners; he mounted guard
+regularly beside the piano-forte, or the harp, when the ladies were
+playing; and at dinner it was always the etiquette for him to sit beside
+Miss Beaumont, or Miss Hunter, when the gentlemen guests were not such
+as Mrs. Beaumont thought entitled to that honour, or such as she deemed
+_safe_ companions. These arrangements imply that Captain Lightbody
+thought himself in Mrs. Beaumont's confidence: and so he was to a
+certain degree, just enough to flatter him into doing her high or low
+behests. Whenever she had a report to circulate, or to contradict,
+Captain Lightbody was put in play; and no man could be better calculated
+for this purpose, both from his love of talking, and of locomotion. He
+galloped about from place to place, and from one great house to
+another; knew all the lords and ladies, and generals and colonels,
+and brigade-majors and aides-de-camp, in the land. Could any mortal
+be better qualified to fetch and carry news for Mrs. Beaumont?
+Besides news, it was his office to carry compliments, and to speed the
+intercourse, not perhaps from soul to soul, but from house to house,
+which is necessary in a visiting country to keep up the character of
+an agreeable neighbour. Did Mrs. Beaumont forget to send a card of
+invitation, or neglect to return a visit, Lightbody was to set it to
+rights for her, Lightbody, the ready bearer of pretty notes, the maker
+always, the fabricator sometimes, of the civilest speeches imaginable.
+This expert speechifier, this ever idle, ever busy scamperer, our
+heroine dispatched to engage a neighbouring family to pay her a morning
+visit the next day, just about the time which was fixed for her going to
+see the Walsinghams. The usual caution was given. "Pray, Lightbody, do
+not let my name be used; do not let me be mentioned; but take it upon
+yourself, and say, as if from yourself, that you have reason to believe
+I take it ill that they have not been here lately. And then you can
+mention the hour that would be most convenient. But let me have nothing
+to do with it. I must not appear in it on any account."
+
+In consequence of Captain Lightbody's faithful execution of his secret
+instructions, a barouche full of morning visitors drove to the door,
+just at the time when Mrs. Beaumont had proposed to set out for
+Walsingham House. Mrs. Beaumont, with a well-dissembled look of
+vexation, exclaimed, as she looked out of the window at the carriage,
+"How provoking! Who can these people be? I hope Martin will say I am not
+at home. Ring--ring, Amelia. Oh, it's too late, they have seen me! and
+Martin, stupid creature! has let them in."
+
+Mr. Palmer was much discomfited, and grew more and more impatient when
+these troublesome visitors protracted their stay, and proposed a walk to
+see some improvements in the grounds.
+
+"But, my good Mistress Beaumont," said he, "you know we are engaged to
+our cousin Walsingham this morning; and if you will give me leave, I
+will go on before you with Mr. Beaumont, and we can say what detains
+you."
+
+Disconcerted by this simple determination of this straight-forward,
+plain-spoken old gentleman, Mrs. Beaumont saw that farther delay on her
+part would be not only inefficacious, but dangerous. She now was eager
+to be relieved from the difficulties which she had herself contrived.
+She would not, for any consideration, have trusted Mr. Palmer to pay
+this visit without her: therefore, by an able counter-movement, she
+extricated herself not only without loss, but with advantage, from this
+perilous situation. She made a handsome apology to her visitors for
+being obliged to run away from them. "She would leave Amelia to have the
+pleasure of showing them the grounds."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont was irresistible in her arrangements. Amelia, disappointed
+and afraid to show how deeply she felt the disappointment, was obliged
+to stay to do the honours of Beaumont Park, whilst her mother drove off
+rejoicing in half the success, at least, of her stratagem; but even as
+a politician she used upon every occasion too much artifice. It was said
+of Cardinal Mazarin, he is a great politician, but in all his politics
+there is one capital defect--"_C'est qu'il veut toujours tromper_."
+
+"How tiresome those people were! I thought we never should have got
+away from them," said Mrs. Beaumont. "What possessed them to come this
+morning, and to pay such a horrid long visit? Besides, those Duttons, at
+all times, are the most stupid creatures upon the face of the earth;
+I cannot endure them; so awkward and ill-bred too! and yet of a good
+family--who could think it? They are people one must see, but they are
+absolutely insufferable."
+
+"Insufferable!" said Mr. Palmer; "why, my good madam, then you have the
+patience of a martyr; for you suffered them so patiently, that I never
+should have guessed you suffered at all. I protest I thought they were
+friends and favourites of yours, and that you were very glad to see
+them."
+
+"Well, well, 'tis the way of the world," continued Mr. Palmer; "this
+sort of--what do you call it? double-dealing about visitors, goes on
+every where, Madam Beaumont. But how do I know, that when I go away, you
+may not be as glad to get rid of me as you were to get away from these
+Duttons?" added he, in a tone of forced jocularity. "How do I know,
+but that the minute my back is turned, you may not begin to take me to
+pieces in my turn, and say, 'That old Palmer! he was the most tiresome,
+humoursome, strange, old-fashioned fellow; I thought we should never
+have got rid of him?"
+
+"My dear, dear sir, how can you speak in such a manner?" cried Mrs.
+Beaumont, who had made several vain attempts to interrupt this speech.
+"You, who are our best friend! is it possible you could suspect? Is
+there no difference to be made between friends and common acquaintance?"
+
+"I am sure I hope there is," said Mr. Palmer, smiling.
+
+There was something so near the truth in Mr. Palmer's raillery, that
+Mrs. Beaumont could not take it with as much easy unconcern as the
+occasion required, especially in the presence of her son, who maintained
+a provoking silence. Unhappy indeed are those, who cannot, in such
+moments of distress, in their own families, and in their nearest
+connexions, find any relief from their embarrassments, and who look
+round in vain for one to be _responsible_ for their sincerity. Mrs.
+Beaumont sat uneasy and almost disconcerted. Mr. Palmer felt for his
+snuff-box, his usual consolation; but it was not in his pocket: he
+had left it on his table. Now Mrs. Beaumont was relieved, for she had
+something to do, and something to say with her wonted politeness: in
+spite of all remonstrance from Mr. Palmer, her man Martin was sent back
+for the snuff-box; and conjectures about his finding it, and his being
+able to overtake them before they arrived at Walsingham house, supplied
+conversation for a mile or two.
+
+"Here's Martin coming back full gallop, I vow," said Miss Hunter, who
+could also talk on this topic.
+
+"Come, come, my good lady," said Mr. Palmer, (taking the moment when the
+young lady had turned her back as she stretched out of the carriage
+for the pleasure of seeing Martin gallop)--"Come, come, my good Mrs.
+Beaumont, shake hands and be friends, and hang the Duttons! I did not
+mean to vex you by what I said. I am not so polite as I should be, I
+know, and you perhaps are a little too polite. But that is no great
+harm, especially in a woman."
+
+Martin and the snuff-box came up at this instant; and all was apparently
+as well as ever. Yet Mrs. Beaumont, who valued a reputation for
+sincerity as much as Chartres valued a reputation for honesty, and
+nearly upon the same principle, was seriously vexed that even this
+transient light had been let in upon her real character. To such
+_accidents_ duplicity is continually subject.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+"Led by Simplicity divine, She pleased, and never tried to shine; She
+gave to chance each unschool'd feature, And left her cause to sense and
+nature."--MORE.
+
+
+Arrived at Walsingham Park, they met Miss Walsingham walking at some
+distance from the house.
+
+"Is Captain Walsingham come?" was the first question asked. "No, but
+expected every hour."
+
+That he had not actually arrived was a comfortable reprieve to Mrs.
+Beaumont. Breathing more freely, and in refreshed spirits, she prepared
+to alight from her carriage, to walk to the house with Miss Walsingham,
+as Mr. Palmer proposed. Miss Hunter, who was dressed with uncommon
+elegance, remonstrated in favour of her delicate slippers: not that she
+named the real object of her solicitude--no; she had not spent so much
+time with Mrs. Beaumont, that great mistress of the art of apologizing,
+without learning at least the inferior practices of the trade. Of course
+she had all the little common arts of excuse ever ready: and instead of
+saying that she did not like to walk because she was afraid to spoil her
+shoes, she protested she was afraid of the heat, and could not walk so
+far. But Mr. Beaumont had jumped out of the carriage, and Mrs.
+Beaumont did not wish that he should walk home _t�te-�-t�te_ with Miss
+Walsingham; therefore Miss Hunter's remonstrances were of no avail.
+
+"My love, you, will not be heated, for our walk is through this charming
+shady grove; and if you are tired, here's my son will give you his arm."
+
+Satisfied with this arrangement, the young lady, thus supported, found
+it possible to walk. Mr. Palmer walked his own pace, looking round at
+the beauties of the place, and desiring that nobody might mind him. This
+was his way, and Mrs. Beaumont never teased him with talking to him,
+when he did not seem to be in the humour for it. She, who made something
+of every thing, began to manage the conversation with her other
+companions during the walk, so as to favour her views upon the several
+parties. Pursuing her principle, that love is in men's minds generally
+independent of esteem, and believing that her son might be rendered
+afraid of the superiority of Miss Walsingham's understanding, Mrs.
+Beaumont took treacherous pains to _draw her out_. Starting from chance
+seemingly, as she well knew how, a subject of debate, she went from
+talking of the late marriage of some neighbouring couple, to discuss
+a question on which she believed that Miss Walsingham's opinion would
+differ from that of her son. The point was, whether a wife should
+or should not have pin-money. Miss Walsingham thought that a wife's
+accepting it would tend to establish a separate interest between married
+people. Mr. Beaumont, on the contrary, was of opinion, that a wife's
+having a separate allowance would prevent disputes. So Miss Hunter
+thought, of course, for she had been prepared to be precisely of Mr.
+Beaumont's opinion; but reasons she had none in its support. Indeed, she
+said with a pretty simper, she thought that women had nothing to do
+with reason or reasoning; that she thought a woman who really loved _any
+body_ was always of that person's opinion; and especially in a wife she
+did not see of what use reasoning and _all that_ could be, except to
+make a woman contradict, and be odd, and fond of ruling: that for her
+part she had no pretensions to any understanding, and if she had ever so
+much, she should be glad, she declared upon her honour, to get rid of it
+if she could; for what use could it possibly be of to her, when it must
+be the husband's understanding that must always judge and rule, and a
+wife ought only to obey, and be always of the opinion of the man of her
+choice?--Having thus made her profession of folly in broken sentences,
+with pretty confusion and all-becoming graces, she leaned upon Mr.
+Beaumont's arm with a bewitching air of languid delicacy, that solicited
+support. Mrs. Beaumont, suppressing a sigh, which, however, she took
+care that her son should hear, turned to Miss Walsingham, and, in a
+whisper, owned that she could not help loving abilities, and spirit too,
+even in her own sex. Then she observed aloud, that much might be urged
+on her side of the question with regard to pin-money; for not only, as
+Miss Walsingham justly said, it might tend to make a separate interest
+between husband and wife, but the wife would probably be kept in total
+ignorance of her husband's affairs; and _that_ in some cases might
+be very disadvantageous, as some women are more capable, from their
+superior understanding, of managing every thing than most men, indeed,
+than any man she could name.
+
+Even under favour of this pretty compliment, which was plainly directed
+by a glance of Mrs. Beaumont's eye, Miss Walsingham would not accept of
+this painful pre-eminence. She explained and made it clear, that she had
+not any ambition to rule or manage.
+
+"That I can readily believe," said Mr. Beaumont; "for I have observed,
+that it is not always the women who are the most able to decide who are
+the most ambitious to govern."
+
+This observation either was not heard or was not understood by Miss
+Hunter, whose whole soul was occupied in settling some fold of her
+drapery: but Mr. Beaumont's speech had its full effect on Mrs. Beaumont,
+who bit her lip, and looked reproachfully at her son, as if she thought
+this an infringement of his promised truce. A moment afterwards she felt
+the imprudence of her own reproachful look, and was sensible that she
+would have done better not to have fixed the opinion or feeling in her
+son's mind by noticing it thus with displeasure. Recovering, herself,
+for she never was disconcerted for more than half a minute, she passed
+on with easy grace to discuss the merits of the heroine of some new
+novel--an historic novel, which gave her opportunity of appealing to
+Miss Walsingham on some disputed points of history. She dexterously
+attempted to draw her _well-informed_ young friend into a display of
+literature which might alarm Mr. Beaumont. His education had in some
+respects been shamefully neglected; for his mother had calculated that
+ignorance would ensure dependence. He had endeavoured to supply, at a
+late period of his education, the defects of its commencement; but he
+was sensible that he had not supplied all his deficiencies, and he
+was apt to feel, with painful impatient sensibility, his inferiority,
+whenever literary subjects were introduced. Miss Walsingham, however,
+was so perfectly free from all the affectation and vanity of a
+bel-esprit, that she did not alarm even those who were inferior to her
+in knowledge; their self-complacency, instead of being depressed by the
+comparison of their attainments with hers, was insensibly raised, by the
+perception that notwithstanding these, she could take pleasure in
+their conversation, could appreciate their good sense or originality of
+thought, without recurring to the authority of books, or of great names.
+In fact, her mind had never been overwhelmed by a wasteful torrent of
+learning. That the stream of literature had passed over, it was apparent
+only from its fertility. Mrs. Beaumont repented of having drawn her
+into conversation. Indeed, our heroine had trusted too much to some
+expressions, which had at times dropped from her son, about _learned
+ladies_, and certain _conversaziones_. She had concluded that he would
+never endure literature in a wife; but she now perceived her mistake.
+She discerned it too late; and at this moment she was doubly vexed, for
+she saw Miss Hunter _produce_ herself in most disadvantageous contrast
+to her rival. In conformity to instructions, which Mrs. Beaumont had
+secretly given her, not to show too much sense or learning, because
+gentlemen in general, and in particular Mr. Beaumont, disliked it; this
+young lady now professed absolute ignorance and incapacity upon all
+subjects; and meaning to have an air of pretty childish innocence or
+timidity, really made herself appear quite like a simpleton. At the
+same time a tinge of ineffectual malice and envy appeared through her
+ill-feigned humility. She could give no opinion of any book--oh, she
+would not give any judgment for the whole world! She did not think
+herself qualified to speak, even if she had read the book, which indeed
+she had not, for, really, she never read--she was not a _reading lady_.
+
+As Miss Hunter had no portion of Mrs. Beaumont's quick penetration, she
+did not see the unfavourable impression these words made: certain that
+she was following exactly her secret instructions, she was confident of
+being in the right line; so on she went, whilst Mrs. Beaumont sighed in
+vain; and Miss Walsingham, who now saw and understood her whole play,
+almost smiled at the comic of the scene.
+
+"O dear, Mrs. Beaumont," continued Miss Hunter, "how can you ever
+appeal to me about books and those sorts of things, when you know I know
+nothing about the matter? For mercy's sake, never do so any more, for
+you know I've no taste for those sorts of things. And besides, I own,
+even if I could, I should so hate to be thought a blue-stocking--I would
+not have the least bit of blue in my stockings for the whole world--I'd
+rather have any other colour, black, white, red, green, yellow, any
+other colour. So I own I'm not sorry I'm not what they call a genius;
+for though genius to be sure's a very fascinating sort of thing in
+gentlemen, yet in women it is not so becoming, I think, especially in
+ladies: it does very well on the stage, and for artists, and so on; but
+really now, in company, I think it's an awkward thing, and would make
+one look so odd! Now, Mr. Beaumont, I must tell you an anecdote--"
+
+"Stop, my dear Miss Hunter, your ear-ring is coming out. Stay! let me
+clasp it, love!" exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont, determined to stop her in the
+career of nonsense, by giving her sensations, since she could not give
+her ideas, a new turn.
+
+"Oh, ma'am! ma'am! Oh! my ear! you are killing me, dearest Mrs.
+Beaumont! pinching me to death, ma'am!"
+
+"Did I pinch, my dear? It was the hinge of the ear-ring, I suppose."
+
+"I don't know what it was; but here's blood, I declare!"
+
+"My love, I beg you a thousand pardons. How could I be so awkward! But
+why could not you for one moment hold your little head still?"
+
+Miss Walsingham applied a patch to the wound.
+
+"Such a pretty ear as it is," continued Mrs. Beaumont; "I am sure it was
+a pity to hurt it."
+
+"You really did hurt it," said Mr. Beaumont, in a tone of compassion.
+
+"Oh, horridly!" cried Miss Hunter--"and I, that always faint at the
+sight of blood!"
+
+Afraid that the young lady would again spoil her part in the acting, and
+lose all the advantages which might result from the combined effect of
+the pretty ear and of compassion, Mrs. Beaumont endeavoured to take off
+her attention from the wound, by attacking her ear-rings.
+
+"My love," said she, "don't wear these ear-rings any more, for I assure
+you there is no possibility of shutting or opening them, without hurting
+you."
+
+This expedient, however, nearly proved fatal in its consequences.
+Miss Hunter entered most warmly into the defence of her ear-rings; and
+appealed to Mr. Beaumont to confirm her decision, that they were the
+prettiest and best ear-rings in the world. Unluckily, they did not
+particularly suit his fancy, and the young lady, who had, but half an
+hour before, professed that she could never be of a different opinion
+in any thing from that of the man she loved, now pettishly declared that
+she could not and would not give up her taste. Incensed still more by a
+bow of submission, but not of conviction, from Mr. Beaumont, she went
+on regardless of her dearest Mrs. Beaumont's frowns, and vehemently
+maintained her judgment, quoting, with triumphant volubility,
+innumerable precedents of ladies, "who had just bought _the very same_
+ear-rings, and whose taste she believed nobody would dispute."
+
+Mr. Beaumont had seen enough, now and upon many other occasions, to be
+convinced that it is not on matters of consequence that ladies are apt
+to grow most angry; and he stood confirmed in his belief that those who
+in theory professed to have such a humble opinion of their own abilities
+that they cannot do or understand any thing useful, are often, in
+practice, the most prone to insist upon the infallibility of their taste
+and judgment. Mrs. Beaumont, who saw with one glance of her quick
+eye what passed at this moment in her son's mind, sighed, and said to
+herself--"How impossible to manage a fool, who ravels, as fast as one
+weaves, the web of her fortune!"
+
+Yet though Mrs. Beaumont perceived and acknowledged the impracticability
+of managing a fool for a single hour, it was one of the favourite
+objects of her manoeuvres to obtain this very fool for a
+daughter-in-law, with the hope of governing her for life. So
+inconsistent are cunning people, even of the best abilities; so ill do
+they calculate the value of their ultimate objects, however ingeniously
+they devise their means, or adapt them to their ends.
+
+During this walk Mr. Palmer had taken no part in the conversation; he
+had seemed engrossed with his own thoughts, or occupied with observing
+the beauties of the place. Tired with her walk--for Mrs. Beaumont always
+complained of being fatigued when she was vexed, thus at once concealing
+her vexation, and throwing the faults of her mind upon her body--she
+stretched herself upon a sofa as soon as she reached the house, nor
+did she recover from her exhausted state till she cast her eyes upon a
+tamborine, which she knew would afford means of showing Miss Hunter's
+figure and graces to advantage. Slight as this resource may seem,
+Mrs. Beaumont well knew that slighter still have often produced great
+effects. Soon afterward she observed her son smile repeatedly as he
+read a passage in some book that lay upon the table, and she had the
+curiosity to take up the book when he turned away. She found that it
+was Cumberland's Memoirs, and saw the following little poem marked with
+reiterated lines of approbation:
+
+      "Why, Affectation, why this mock grimace?
+      Go, silly thing, and hide that simp'ring face.
+      Thy lisping prattle, and thy mincing gait,
+      All thy false mimic fooleries I hate;
+      For thou art Folly's counterfeit, and she
+      Who is right foolish hath the better plea;
+      Nature's true idiot I prefer to thee.
+
+      Why that soft languish?
+      Why that drawling tone?
+      Art sick, art sleepy?
+      Get thee hence: begone.
+      I laugh at all thy pretty baby tears,
+      Those flutt'rings, faintings, and unreal fears.
+
+      Can they deceive us?
+      Can such mumm'ries move,
+      Touch us with pity, or inspire with love?
+      No, Affectation, vain is all thy art!
+      Those eyes may wander over ev'ry part;
+      They'll never find their passage to the heart."
+
+
+"Why, Affectation, why this mock grimace? Go, silly thing, and hide that
+simp'ring face. Thy lisping prattle, and thy mincing gait, All thy false
+mimic fooleries I hate; For thou art Folly's counterfeit, and she Who
+is right foolish hath the better plea; Nature's true idiot I prefer to
+thee.
+
+Why that soft languish? Why that drawling tone? Art sick, art sleepy?
+Get thee hence: begone. I laugh at all thy pretty baby tears, Those
+flutt'rings, faintings, and unreal fears.
+
+Can they deceive us? Can such mumm'ries move, Touch us with pity, or
+inspire with love? No, Affectation, vain is all thy art! Those eyes may
+wander over ev'ry part; They'll never find their passage to the heart."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, the moment she had read these lines, perceived why her
+son had smiled. The portrait seemed really to have been drawn from Miss
+Hunter, and the lines were so _� propos_ to the scene which had just
+passed during the walk, that it was impossible to avoid the application.
+Mrs. Beaumont shut the book hastily as her dear Albina approached, for
+she was afraid that the young lady would have known her own picture.
+So few people, however, even of those much wiser than Miss Hunter, know
+themselves, that she need not have been alarmed. But she had no longer
+leisure to devote her thoughts to this subject, for Mr. Walsingham,
+who had been out riding, had by this time returned; and the moment he
+entered the room, Mrs. Beaumont's attention was directed to him and to
+Mr. Palmer. She introduced them to each other, with many expressions of
+regret that they should not sooner have met.
+
+Characters that are free from artifice immediately coalesce, as metals
+that are perfectly pure can be readily cemented together. Mr. Palmer
+and Mr. Walsingham were intimate in half an hour. There was an air of
+openness and sincerity about Mr. Walsingham; a freedom and directness in
+his conversation, which delighted Mr. Palmer.
+
+"I am heartily glad we have met at last, my good cousin Walsingham,"
+said he: "very sorry should I have been to have left the country without
+becoming acquainted with you: and now I wish your gallant captain was
+arrived. I am to set off the day after to-morrow, and I am sadly afraid
+I shall miss seeing him."
+
+Mr. Walsingham said, that as they expected him every hour, he hoped
+Mr. Palmer would persuade Mrs. Beaumont to spend the day at Walsingham
+House.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont dared not object. On the contrary, it was now her policy
+to pretend the fondest friendship for all the Walsingham family: yet,
+all the time, pursuing her plan of preventing Mr. Palmer from discerning
+their real characters and superior merit, she managed with great
+dexterity to keep the conversation as much as possible upon general
+topics, and tried to prevent Mr. Palmer from being much alone with
+Mr. Walsingham, for she dreaded their growing intimacy. After dinner,
+however, when the ladies retired, the gentlemen drew their chairs close
+together, and had a great deal of conversation on interesting subjects.
+The most interesting was Captain Walsingham: Mr. Palmer earnestly
+desired to hear the particulars of his history.
+
+"And from whom," said young Beaumont, turning to Mr. Walsingham, "can he
+hear them better than from Captain Walsingham's guardian and friend?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+     _"Yet never seaman more serenely brave
+     Led Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave."_
+
+
+"Friends are not always the best biographers," said Mr. Walsingham; "but
+I will try to be impartial. My ward's first desire to be a sailor was
+excited, as he has often since told me, by reading Robinson Crusoe. When
+he was scarcely thirteen he went out in the Resolute, a frigate, under
+the command of Captain Campbell. Campbell was an excellent officer,
+and very strict in all that related to order and discipline. It was his
+principle and his practice never to forgive _a first offence_; by which
+the number of second faults was considerably diminished. My ward was not
+much pleased at first with his captain; but he was afterwards convinced
+that this strictness was what made a man of him. He was buffeted about,
+and shown the rough of life; made to work hard, and submit to authority.
+To reason he was always ready to yield; and by degrees he learned that
+his first duty as a sailor was implicit obedience. In due time he was
+made lieutenant: in this situation, his mixed duties of command and
+obedience were difficult, because his first-lieutenant, the captain's
+son, was jealous of him.
+
+"Walsingham found it a more difficult task to win the confidence of
+the son than it had been to earn the friendship of the father. His
+punctuality in obeying orders, and his respectful manner to the
+lieutenant, availed but little; for young Campbell still viewed him with
+scornful yet with jealous eyes, imagining that he only wanted to show
+himself the better officer.
+
+"Of the falsehood of these suspicions Walsingham had at last an
+opportunity of giving unquestionable proof. It happened one day that
+Lieutenant Campbell, impatient at seeing a sailor doing some work
+awkwardly on the outside of the vessel, snatched the rope from his hand,
+and swore he would do it himself. In his hurry, Campbell missed his
+footing, and fell overboard:--he could not swim. Walsingham had
+the presence of mind to order the ship to be put about, and plunged
+instantly into the water to save his rival. With much exertion he
+reached Campbell, supported him till the boat was lowered down, and got
+him safe aboard again."
+
+"Just like himself!" cried young Beaumont; "all he ever wanted was
+opportunity to show his soul."
+
+"The first-lieutenant's jealousy was now changed into gratitude,"
+continued Mr. Walsingham; "and from this time forward, instead of
+suffering from that petty rivalship by which he used to be obstructed,
+Walsingham enjoyed the entire confidence of young Campbell. This good
+understanding between him and his brother officer not only made their
+every day lives pleasant, but in times of difficulty secured success.
+For three years that they lived together after this period, and during
+which time they were ordered to every quarter of the globe, they never
+had the slightest dispute, either in the busiest or the idlest times. At
+length, in some engagement with a Dutch ship, the particulars of which
+I forget, Lieutenant Campbell was mortally wounded: his last words
+were--'Walsingham, comfort my father.' That was no easy task. Stern as
+Captain Campbell seemed, the loss of his son was irreparable. He never
+shed a tear when he was told it was all over, but said, 'God's will be
+done;' and turning into his cabin, desired to be left alone. Half an
+hour afterwards he sent for Walsingham, who found him quite calm. 'We
+must see and do our duty together to the last,' said he.
+
+"He exerted himself strenuously, and to all outward appearance was, as
+the sailors said, the same man as ever; but Walsingham, who knew him
+better, saw that his heart was broken, and that he wished for nothing
+but an honourable death. One morning as he was on deck looking through
+his glass, he called to Walsingham; 'Your eyes are better than mine,'
+said he; 'look here, and tell me, do you see yonder sail--she's French?
+Le Magnanime frigate, if I'm not mistaken. 'Yes,' said Walsingham, 'I
+know her by the patch in her main sail.'--'We'll give her something
+to do,' said Campbell, 'though she's so much our superior. Please God,
+before the sun's over our heads, you shall have her in tow, Walsingham.'
+'_We_ shall, I trust,' said Walsingham.--'Perhaps not _we_; for I own
+I wish to fall,' said Campbell. 'You are first-lieutenant now; I can't
+leave my men under better command, and I hope the Admiralty will give
+you the ship, if you give it to his Majesty.'--Then turning to the
+sailors, Captain Campbell addressed them with a countenance unusually
+cheerful; and, after a few words of encouragement, gave orders to clear
+decks for action. 'Walsingham, you'll see to every thing whilst I step
+down to write.' He wrote, as it was afterwards found, two letters, both
+concerning Walsingham's interests. The frigate with which they had to
+engage was indeed far superior to them in force; but Campbell trusted to
+the good order and steadiness as well as to the courage of his men. The
+action was long and obstinate. Twice the English attempted to board the
+enemy, and twice were repulsed. The third time, just as Captain Campbell
+had seized hold of the French colours, which hung in rags over the side
+of the enemy's ship, he received a wound in his breast, fell back into
+Walsingham's arms, and almost instantly expired. The event of this day
+was different from what Campbell had expected, for _Le Succ�s_ of fifty
+guns appeared in sight; and, after a desperate engagement with her, in
+which Walsingham was severely wounded, and every other officer on board
+killed or wounded, Walsingham saw that nothing was left but to make a
+wanton sacrifice of the remainder of his crew, or to strike.
+
+"After a contest of six hours, he struck to _Le Succ�s_. Perfect silence
+on his deck; a loud and insulting shout from the enemy!
+
+"No sooner had Walsingham struck, than La Force, the captain of _Le
+Succ�s_ hailed him, and ordered him to come in his own boat, and to
+deliver his sword. Walsingham replied, that 'his sword, so demanded,
+should never be delivered but with his life.'[2] The Frenchman did not
+think proper to persist; but soon after sent his lieutenant on board
+the Resolute, where the men were found at their quarters with lighted
+matches in their hands, ready to be as good as their word. La Force,
+the captain of _Le Succ�s_, was a sailor of fortune, who had risen by
+chance, not merit."
+
+"Ay, ay," interrupted Mr. Palmer, "so I thought; and there was no great
+merit, or glory either, in a French fifty gun taking an English frigate,
+after standing a six hours' contest with another ship. Well, my dear
+sir, what became of poor Walsingham? How did this rascally Frenchman
+treat his prisoners?"
+
+"Scandalously!" cried Beaumont; "and yet Walsingham is so generous that
+he will never let me damn the nation, for what he says was only the
+fault of an individual, who disgraced it."
+
+"Well, let me hear and judge for myself," said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"La Force carried the Resolute in triumph into a French port," continued
+Mr. Walsingham. "Vain of displaying his prisoners, he marched them up
+the country, under pretence that they would not be safe in a sea-port.
+Cambray was the town in which they were confined. Walsingham found the
+officers of the garrison very civil to him at first; but when they saw
+that he was not fond of high play, and that he declined being of their
+parties at billiards and _vingt-un_, they grew tired of him; for without
+these resources they declared they should perish with _ennui_ in a
+country town. Even under the penalty of losing all society, Walsingham
+resisted every temptation to game, and submitted to live with the
+strictest economy rather than to run in debt."
+
+"But did you never send him any money? Or did not he get your
+remittances?" said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"My dear sir, by some delays of letters, we did not hear for two months
+where he was imprisoned."
+
+"And he was reduced to the greatest distress," pursued Beaumont; "for
+he had shared all he had, to the utmost farthing, with his poor
+fellow-prisoners."
+
+"Like a true British sailor!" said Mr. Palmer. "Well, sir, I hope he
+contrived to make his escape?"
+
+"No, for he would not break his parole," said Beaumont,
+
+"His parole! I did not know he was on his parole," said Mr. Palmer.
+"Then certainly he could not break it."
+
+"He had two tempting opportunities, I can assure you," said Beaumont;
+"one offered by the commandant's lady, who was not insensible to his
+merit; the other, by the gratitude of some poor servant, whom he had
+obliged--Mr. Walsingham can tell you all the particulars."
+
+"No, I need not detail the circumstances; it is enough to tell you,
+sir, that he withstood the temptations, would not break his parole, and
+remained four months a prisoner in Cambray. Like the officers of the
+garrison, he should have drunk or gamed, or else he must have died of
+vexation, he says, if he had not fortunately had a taste for reading,
+and luckily procured books from a good old priest's library. At the end
+of four months the garrison of Cambray was changed; and instead of a set
+of dissipated officers, there came a well-conducted regiment, under the
+command of M. de Villars, an elderly officer of sense and discretion."
+
+"An excellent man!" cried Beaumont: "I love him with all my soul,
+though I never saw him. But I beg your pardon for interrupting you, Mr.
+Walsingham."
+
+"A prattling hairdresser at Cambray first prepossessed M. de Villars in
+Walsingham's favour, by relating a number of anecdotes intended to
+throw abuse and ridicule upon the English captain, to convict him of
+misanthropy and economy; of having had his hair dressed but twice since
+he came to Cambray; of never having frequented the society of Madame
+la Marquise de Marsillac, the late commandant's lady, for more than a
+fortnight after his arrival, and of having actually been detected in
+working with his own hand with smiths' and carpenters' tools. Upon
+the strength of the hairdresser's information, M. de Villars paid the
+English captain a visit; was pleased by his conversation, and by all
+that he observed of his conduct and character.
+
+"As M. de Villars was going down stairs, after having spent an evening
+with Walsingham, a boy of twelve years old, the son of the master of
+the lodging-house, equipped in a military uniform, stood across the
+landing-place, as if determined to, stop him. 'Mon petit militaire,'
+said the commandant, 'do you mean to dispute my passage?' 'Non, mon
+g�n�ral,' said the boy; 'I know my duty too well. But I post myself
+here to demand an audience, for I have a secret of importance to
+communicate.' M. de Villars, smiling at the boy's air of consequence,
+yet pleased with the steady earnestness of his manner, took him by
+the hand into an antechamber, and said that he was ready to listen
+to whatever he had to impart. The boy then told him that he had
+accidentally overheard a proposal which had been made to facilitate the
+English captain's escape, and that the captain refused to comply with
+it, because it was not honourable to break his parole. The boy, who
+had been struck by the circumstance, and who, besides, was grateful
+to Walsingham for some little instances of kindness, spoke with much
+enthusiasm in his favour; and, as M. de Villars afterwards repeated,
+finished his speech by exclaiming, 'I would give every thing I have
+in the world, except my sword and my honour, to procure this English
+captain his liberty.'
+
+"M. de Villars was pleased with the boy's manner, and with the fact
+which he related; so much so, that he promised, that if Walsingham's
+liberty could be obtained he would procure it. 'And you, my good little
+friend, shall, if I succeed,' added he, 'have the pleasure of being the
+first to tell him the good news.'
+
+"Some days afterwards, the boy burst into Walsingham's room, exclaiming,
+'Liberty! liberty! you are at liberty!'--He danced and capered with
+such wild joy, that it was some time before Walsingham could obtain any
+explanation, or could prevail on him to let him look at a letter which
+he held in his hand, flourishing it about in triumph. At last he showed
+that it was an order from M. de Villars, for the release of Captain
+Walsingham, and of all the English prisoners, belonging to the Resolute,
+for whom exchanges had been effected. No favour could be granted in a
+manner more honourable to all the parties concerned. Walsingham arrived
+in England without any farther difficulties."
+
+"Thank God!" said Mr. Palmer. "Well, now he has touched English ground
+again, I have some hopes for him. What next?"
+
+"The first thing he did, of course, was to announce his return to the
+Admiralty. A court-martial was held at Portsmouth; and, fortunately for
+him, was composed of officers of the highest distinction, so that
+the first men in his profession became thoroughly acquainted with the
+circumstances of his conduct. The enthusiasm with which his men bore
+testimony in his favour was gratifying to his feelings, and the minutes
+of the evidence were most honourable to him. The court pronounced, that
+Lieutenant Walsingham had done all that could be effected by the most
+gallant and judicious officer in the defence of His Majesty's ship
+Resolute. The ministry who had employed Captain Campbell were no longer
+in place, and one of the Lords of the Admiralty at this time happened
+to have had some personal quarrel with him. A few days after the trial,
+Walsingham was at a public dinner, at which Campbell's character became
+the subject of conversation. Walsingham was warned, in a whisper, that
+the first Lord of the Admiralty's private secretary was present, and was
+advised to be _prudent_; but Walsingham's prudence was not of that sort
+which can coolly hear a worthy man's memory damned with faint praise;
+his prudence was not of that sort which can tamely sit by and see a
+friend's reputation in danger. With all the warmth and eloquence of
+friendship, he spoke in Captain Campbell's defence, and paid a just and
+energetic tribute of praise to his memory. He spoke, and not a word
+more was said against Campbell. The politicians looked down upon their
+plates; and there was a pause of that sort, which sometimes in a company
+of interested men of the world results from surprise at the imprudent
+honesty of a good-natured novice. Walsingham, as the company soon
+afterwards broke up, heard one gentleman say of him to another, as they
+went away, 'There's a fellow now, who has ruined himself without knowing
+it, and all for a dead man.' It was not without knowing it: Walsingham
+was well aware what he hazarded, but he was then, and ever, ready to
+sacrifice his own interests in the defence of truth and of a friend. For
+two long years afterwards, Walsingham was, in the technical and elegant
+phrase, _left on the shelf, and the door of promotion was shut against
+him."_
+
+"Yes, and there he might have remained till now," said Beaumont, "if it
+had not been for that good Mr. Gaspar, a clerk in one of their offices;
+a man who, though used to live among courtiers and people hackneyed in
+the political ways of the world, was a plain, warm-hearted friend, a man
+of an upright character, who prized integrity and generosity the
+more because he met with them so seldom. But I beg your pardon, Mr.
+Walsingham; will you go on and tell Mr. Palmer how and why Gaspar served
+our friend?"
+
+"One day Walsingham had occasion to go to Mr. Gaspar's office to search
+for some papers relative to certain charts which he had drawn, and
+intended to present to the Admiralty. In talking of the soundings of
+some bay he had taken whilst out with Captain Campbell, he mentioned
+him, as he always did, with terms of affection and respect. Mr. Gaspar
+immediately asked, 'Are you, sir, that Lieutenant Walsingham, of
+the Resolute, who at a public dinner about two years ago made such a
+disinterested defence of your captain? If it is in my power to serve
+you, depend upon it I will. Leave your charts with me; I think I may
+have an opportunity of turning them to your advantage, and that of the
+service.' Gaspar, who was thoroughly in earnest, took a happy moment to
+present Walsingham's charts before the Admiralty, just at a time when
+they were wanted. The Admiralty were glad to employ an officer who had
+some local information, and they sent him out in the Dreadnought, a
+thirty-six gun frigate, with Captain Jemmison, to the West Indies."
+
+"And what sort of a man was his new captain?" said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"As unlike his old one as possible," said Beaumont.
+
+"Yes," continued Mr. Walsingham; "in every point, except courage,
+Captain Jemmison was as complete a contrast as could be imagined to
+Captain Campbell. Whatever else he might be, Jemmison was certainly a
+man of undaunted courage."
+
+"That's of course, if he was a captain in the British navy," said Mr.
+Palmer.
+
+"From his appearance, however, you would never have taken him for a
+gallant sailor," said Mr. Walsingham: "abhorring the rough, brutal,
+swearing, grog-drinking, tobacco-chewing, race of sea-officers, the Bens
+and the Mirvans of former times, Captain Jemmison, resolving, I suppose,
+to avoid their faults, went into the contrary extreme of refinement and
+effeminacy. A superlative coxcomb, and an epicure more from fashion than
+taste, he gloried in descanting, with technical precision, on the merits
+of dishes and of cooks. His table, even on shipboard, was to be equalled
+in elegance only by his toilet."
+
+"The puppy!" exclaimed Mr. Palmer. "And how could Captain Walsingham go
+on with such a coxcomb?"
+
+"Very ill, you may be sure," said Beaumont; "for Walsingham, I'll answer
+for it, never could conceal or control his feelings of contempt or
+indignation."
+
+"Yet, as Captain Jemmison's lieutenant, he always behaved with perfect
+propriety," said Mr. Walsingham, "and bore with his foppery and
+impertinence with the patience becoming a subordinate officer to his
+superior. Jemmison could not endure a lieutenant whose character and
+manners were a continual contrast and reproach to his own, and he
+disliked him the more because he could never provoke him to any
+disrespect. Jemmison often replied even to Walsingham's silent contempt;
+as a French pamphleteer once published a book entitled, _R�ponse au
+Silence de M. de la Motte_. On some points, where duty and principle
+were concerned, Walsingham, however, could not be silent. There was a
+lad of the name of Birch on board the Dreadnought, whom Walsingham had
+taken under his immediate care, and whom he was endeavouring to train
+up in every good habit. Jemmison, to torment Walsingham, made it his
+pleasure to counteract him in these endeavours, and continually did all
+he could to spoil Birch by foolish indulgence. Walsingham's indignation
+was upon these occasions vehement, and his captain and he came to
+frequent quarrels. Young Birch, who had sense enough to know which
+was his true friend, one day threw himself on his knees to beseech his
+lieutenant not to hazard so much on his account, and solemnly swore that
+he would never be guilty of the slightest excess or negligence during
+the remainder of the voyage. The young man was steady to his promise,
+and by his resolution and temper prevented Walsingham and his captain
+from coming to a serious rupture. When they arrived at their place of
+destination, Jamaica, Captain Jemmison went on shore to divert himself,
+and spent his time in great dissipation at Spanish Town, eating,
+dressing, dancing, gallanting, and glorying in its being observed by
+all the ladies that he had nothing of a sea-captain about him. The other
+officers, encouraged by his precept and example, left the ship; but
+Walsingham stayed on board, and had severe duty to perform, for he could
+not allow the crew to go on shore, because they got into riots with the
+townspeople. Soon after their arrival, and even during the course
+of their voyage, he had observed among the sailors something like
+a disposition to mutiny, encouraged probably by the negligence and
+apparent effeminacy of their captain. Though they knew him to be a man
+of intrepidity, yet they ridiculed and despised his coxcombry, and his
+relaxation of discipline gave them hopes of succeeding in their mutinous
+schemes. Walsingham strongly and repeatedly represented to Captain
+Jemmison the danger, and remonstrated with him and the other officers
+upon the imprudence of leaving the ship at this juncture; but Jemmison,
+in a prettily rounded period, protested he saw no penumbra of danger,
+and that till he was called upon by Mars, he owned he preferred the
+charms of Venus.
+
+"This was vastly elegant; but, nevertheless, it happened one night,
+when the captain, after having eaten an admirable supper, was paying his
+court to a Creole lady of Spanish Town, news was brought him, that the
+crew of the Dreadnought had mutinied, and that Lieutenant Walsingham
+was killed. One half of the report was true, and the other nearly so. At
+midnight, after having been exhausted during the preceding week by his
+vigilance, Walsingham had just thrown himself into his cot, when he
+was roused by Birch at his cabin-door, crying, 'A mutiny! a mutiny on
+deck!'--Walsingham seized his drawn cutlass, and ran up the ladder,
+determined to cut down the ringleader; but just as he reached the top,
+the sailors shut down the hatchway, which struck his head with such
+violence, that he fell, stunned, and, to all appearance, dead. Birch
+contrived, in the midst of the bustle, before he was himself seized
+by the mutineers, to convey, by signals to shore, news of what had
+happened. But Captain Jemmison could now be of no use. Before he could
+take any measures to prevent them, the mutineers weighed anchor, and
+the Dreadnought, under a brisk breeze, was out of the bay; all the other
+vessels in the harbour taking it for granted that her captain was on
+board, and that she was sailing under orders. In the mean time, whilst
+Walsingham was senseless, the sailors stowed him into his cabin, and set
+a guard over him. The ringleader, Jefferies, a revengeful villain, who
+bore malice against him for some just punishment, wanted to murder him,
+but the rest would not consent. Some would not dip their hands in blood;
+others pleaded for him, and said that he was never cruel. One man urged,
+that the lieutenant had been kind to him when he was sick. Another
+suggested, that it would be well to keep him alive to manage the ship
+for them, in case of difficulties. Conscious of their ignorance, they
+acceded to this advice; Jefferies' proposal to murder him was overruled:
+and it was agreed to keep Walsingham close prisoner till they should
+need his assistance. He had his timekeeper and log-book locked up with
+him, which were totally forgotten by these miscreants. Never seaman
+prayed more fervently for fair weather than Walsingham now did for
+a storm. At last, one night he heard (and he says it was one of the
+pleasantest sounds he ever heard in his life) the wind rising. Soon it
+blew a storm. He heard one of the sailors say--'A stiff gale, Jack!' and
+another--'An ugly night!' Presently, great noise on deck, and the pumps
+at work. Every moment he now expected a deputation from the mutineers.
+The first person he saw was the carpenter, who came in to knock in the
+dead lights in the cabin windows. The man was surly, and would give no
+answer to any questions; but Walsingham knew, by the hurry of his work,
+that the fellow thought there was no time to be lost. Twice, before he
+could finish what he was about, messages came from _Captain Jefferies,_
+to order him to something else. Then a violent crash above from the fall
+of a mast; and then he heard one cry--'I'll be cursed if I should care,
+if we did but know where-abouts we are.' Then all was in such uproar,
+that no voices could be distinguished. At last his cabin-door unlocked,
+and many voices called upon him at once to come upon deck that instant
+and save the ship. Walsingham absolutely refused to do any thing for
+them till they returned to their duty, delivered up to him their arms,
+and their ringleader, Jefferies. At this answer they stood aghast. Some
+tried entreaties, some threats: all in vain. Walsingham coolly said,
+he would go to the bottom along with the ship rather than say a word
+to save them, till they submitted. The storm blew stronger--the danger
+every moment increasing. One of the mutineers came with a drawn cutlass,
+another levelled a blunderbuss at Walsingham, swearing to despatch him
+that instant, if he would not tell them where they were. 'Murder me,
+and you will be hanged; persist in your mutiny, you'll be drowned,'
+said Walsingham. 'You'll never make me swerve from my duty--and you know
+it--you have my answer.' The enraged sailors seized him in their arms,
+and carried him by force upon deck, where the sight of the danger,
+and the cries of 'Throw him overboard!--over with him!' only seemed to
+fortify his resolution. Not a word, not a sign could they get from him.
+The rudder was now unshipped! At this the sailors' fury turned
+suddenly upon Jefferies, who between terror and ignorance was utterly
+incapacitated. They seized, bound, gave him up to Walsingham, returned
+to their duty; and then, and not till then, Walsingham resumed his
+command. Walsingham's voice, once more heard, inspired confidence, and
+with the hopes revived the exertions of the sailors. I am not seaman
+enough to tell you how the ship was saved; but that it was saved, and
+saved by Walsingham, is certain. I remember only, that he made the ship
+manageable by some contrivance, which he substituted in the place of the
+rudder that had been unshipped. The storm abating, he made for the first
+port, to repair the ship's damages, intending to return to Jamaica, to
+deliver her up to her captain; but, from a vessel they spoke at sea, he
+learned that Jemmison was gone to England in a merchantman. To England
+then Walsingham prepared to follow."
+
+"And with this rebel crew!" cried Beaumont; "think, Mr. Palmer, what a
+situation he was in, knowing, as he did, that every rascal of them would
+sooner go to the devil than go home, where they knew they must be tried
+for their mutiny."
+
+"Well, sir, well!" said Mr. Palmer. "Did they run away with the ship a
+second time? or how did he manage?"
+
+He called them all one morning together on deck; and pointing to the
+place where the gunpowder was kept, he said--'I have means of blowing up
+the ship. If ever you attempt to mutiny again, the first finger you lay
+upon me, I blow her up instantly.' They had found him to be a man of
+resolution. They kept to their duty. Not a symptom of disobedience
+during the rest of the voyage. In their passage they fell in with an
+enemy's ship, far superior to them in force. 'There, my lads!' said
+Walsingham, 'if you have a mind to earn your pardons, there's your best
+chance. Take her home with you to your captain and your king.' A loud
+cheer was their answer. They fought like devils to redeem themselves.
+Walsingham--but without stopping to make his panegyric, I need only tell
+you, that Walsingham's conduct and intrepidity were this time crowned
+with success. He took the enemy's ship, and carried it in triumph into
+Portsmouth. Jemmison was on the platform when they came in; and what a
+mortifying sight it was to him, and what a proud hour to Walsingham, you
+may imagine! Having delivered the Dreadnought and her prize over to his
+captain, the next thing to be thought of was the trial of the mutineers.
+All except Jefferies obtained a pardon, in consideration of their return
+to duty, and their subsequent services. Jefferies was hanged at the
+yard-arm. The trial of the mutineers brought on, as Jemmison foresaw it
+must, many animadversions on his own conduct. Powerful connexions, and
+his friends in place, silenced, as much as possible, the public voice.
+Jemmison gave excellent dinners, and endeavoured to drown the whole
+affair in his choice Champagne and _London particular Madeira_; so his
+health, and success to the British navy, was drunk in bumper toasts.
+
+"Ay, ay, they think to do every thing now in England by dinners, and
+bumper toasts, and three times three," said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"But it did not do in this instance," said Beaumont, in a tone of
+exultation: "it did not do."
+
+"No," continued Mr. Walsingham; "though Jemmison's dinners went
+down vastly well with a party, they did not satisfy the public. The
+opposition papers grew clamorous, and the business was taken up so
+strongly, and it raised such a cry against the ministry, that they were
+obliged to bring Jemmison to a court-martial."
+
+"The puppy! I'm glad of it, with all my soul. And how did he look then?"
+said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"Vastly like a gentleman; that was all that even his friends could say
+for him. The person he was most afraid of on the trial was Walsingham.
+In this apprehension he was confirmed by certain of his friends, who
+had attempted to sound Walsingham as to the nature of the evidence he
+intended to give. They all reported, that they could draw nothing out
+of him, and that he was an impracticable fellow; for his constant answer
+was, that his evidence should be given in court, and nowhere else."
+
+"Even to his most intimate friends," interrupted Mr. Beaumont, "even to
+me, who was in the house with him all the time the trial was going on,
+he did not tell what his evidence would be."
+
+"When the day of trial came," pursued Mr. Walsingham----
+
+"Don't forget Admiral Dashleigh," said Mr. Beaumont.
+
+"No; who can forget him that knows him?" said Walsingham: "a warm,
+generous friend, open-hearted as he is brave--he came to Captain
+Walsingham the day before the court-martial was to sit. 'I know,
+Walsingham, you don't like my cousin Jemmison (said he), nor do I much,
+for he is a puppy, and I never could like a puppy, related to me or not;
+be that as it may, you'll do him justice, I'm sure; for though he is
+a puppy he is a brave fellow--and here, for party purposes, they
+have raised a cry of his being a coward, and want to shoot him _pour
+encourager les autres_. What you say will damn or save him; and I have
+too good an opinion of you to think that any old grudge, though you
+might have cause for it, would stand in his way.' Walsingham answered
+as usual, that his opinion and his evidence would be known on the day
+of trial. Dashleigh went away very ill-satisfied, and persuaded that
+Walsingham harboured revenge against his relation. At last, when he was
+called upon in court, Walsingham's conduct was both just and generous;
+for though his answers spoke the exact truth, yet he brought forward
+nothing to the disadvantage of Jemmison, but what truth compelled him
+to state, and in his captain's favour; on the contrary, he spoke so
+strongly of his intrepidity, and of the gallant actions which in former
+instances he had performed in the service, as quite to efface the
+recollection of his foppery and epicurism, and, as much as possible,
+to excuse his negligence. Walsingham's evidence absolutely confuted the
+unjust charge or suspicion of cowardice that had been raised against
+Jemmison; and made such an impression in his favour, that, instead of
+being dismissed the service, or even having his ship taken from him, as
+was expected, Jemmison got off with a reprimand."
+
+"Which I am sure he well deserved," said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"But certainly Walsingham was right not to let him be run down by a
+popular cry, especially as he had used him ill," said Mr. Beaumont.
+
+"Well, well!--I don't care about the puppy," cried Mr. Palmer; "only go
+on."
+
+"No sooner was the trial over, and the sentence of the court made known,
+than Admiral Dashleigh, full of joy, admiration, and gratitude,
+pushed his way towards Walsingham, and stretching out his hand,
+exclaimed--'Shake hands, Walsingham, and forgive me, or I can't forgive
+myself. I suspected you yesterday morning of bearing malice against that
+coxcomb, who deserved to be laughed at, but not to be shot. By Jove,
+Walsingham, you're an honest fellow, I find.' 'And have you but just
+found that out, admiral?' said Walsingham, with a proud smile. 'Harkee,
+my lad,' said Dashleigh, calling after him, 'remember, I'm _your_
+friend, at all events.--Take it as you will, I'll make you mine yet,
+before I've done with you.' Walsingham knew that at this time Admiral
+Dashleigh's friends were in power, and that Dashleigh himself had great
+influence with the Admiralty; and he probably treated the admiral thus
+haughtily, to show that he had no interested views or hopes. Dashleigh
+understood this, for he now comprehended Walsingham's character
+perfectly. Immediately after the trial, Walsingham was made commander,
+in consequence of his having saved the Dreadnought, and his having taken
+l'Ambuscade. With this appointment Dashleigh had nothing to do. But he
+never ceased exerting himself, employing all the interest of his high
+connexions, and all the personal influence of his great abilities, to
+have Walsingham made post, and to get him a ship. He succeeded at last;
+but he never gave the least hint that it was done by his interest; for,
+he said, he knew that Walsingham had such nice notions, and was such a
+proud principled fellow, that he would not enjoy his promotion, if
+he thought he owed it to any thing upon earth but his own merit. So a
+handsome letter was written by the secretary of the Admiralty to
+Captain Walsingham, by their lordships' desire, informing him, 'that in
+consideration of his services and merit, his majesty had been pleased to
+make him post-captain, and to appoint him to the command of l'Ambuscade
+(the prize he took), which would be sent out on the first occasion.' The
+secretary 'begged leave to add expressions of his private satisfaction
+on an appointment so likely to be advantageous to the public,' &c.
+In short, it was all done so properly and so plausibly, that even
+Walsingham never suspected any secret influence, nor did he find out the
+part Dashleigh had taken in the business till several months afterwards,
+when a _discreet_ friend mentioned it by accident."
+
+"I was that discreet friend," said Mr. Beaumont.
+
+"Well, all this is very good, but there's no love in this Story," said
+Mr. Palmer. "I hope your hero is not too proud to fall in love?"
+
+"Too proud!--We are told, you know, that the greatest hero, in the
+intervals of war, resigned
+
+     'To tender passions all his mighty mind.'"
+
+"Tender passions!--Captain Walsingham is in love, then, hey?" said Mr.
+Palmer. "And may I ask--Bless me! I shall be very sorry if it is with
+any body but--may I ask to whom he is attached?"
+
+"That is a question that I am not quite at liberty perhaps to answer,"
+said Mr. Walsingham. "During the interval between his return in the
+Dreadnought and his being appointed to l'Ambuscade, an interval of about
+eighteen months, which he spent in the country here with me, he had time
+to become thoroughly acquainted with a very amiable young lady--"
+
+"A very amiable young lady! and in this neighbourhood?" interrupted Mr.
+Palmer; "it must be the very person I mean, the very person I wish."
+
+"Do not ask me any more," said Mr. Walsingham; "for my friend never
+declared his attachment, and I have no right to declare it for him. He
+was not, at the time I speak of, in circumstances to marry; therefore he
+honourably concealed, or rather suppressed, his passion, resolving not
+to attempt to engage the young lady's affections till he should have
+made a fortune sufficient to support her in her own rank in life."
+
+"Well, now, that's all done, thank Heaven!" cried Palmer: "he has
+fortune enough now, or we can help him out, you know. This is excellent,
+excellent!--Come, is it not time for us to go to the ladies? I'm
+impatient to tell this to Mrs. Beaumont."
+
+"Stay, my good Mr. Palmer," said Mr. Walsingham. "What are you going to
+do?"
+
+"Let me alone, let me alone--I'll only tell what I guess--depend upon
+it, I guess right--and it may do a great deal of good to tell it to Mrs.
+Beaumont, and it will give her a great deal of pleasure--trust me--trust
+me."
+
+"I do trust _you_--but perhaps you may be mistaken."
+
+"Not at all, not at all, depend upon it; so let me go to her this
+minute."
+
+"But stop, my dear sir," cried Mr. Beaumont, "stop for another reason;
+let me beg you to sit down again--I am not clear that Captain Walsingham
+is not at this instant in love with--perhaps, as it is reported, married
+to a Spanish lady, whom he has carried off out of a convent at ----, and
+whom I understand he is bringing home with him."
+
+"Heyday! a Spanish lady!" said Mr. Palmer, returning slowly to his seat
+with a fallen countenance. "How's this?--By St. George, this is unlucky!
+But how's this, I say?"
+
+"You did not let us finish our story," said Mr. Beaumont, "or we should
+have told you."
+
+"Let me hear the end of it now," said Mr. Palmer, sitting down again,
+and preparing himself with several pinches of snuff. But just at this
+instant a servant came to say that coffee was ready.
+
+"I will never stir from this spot for coffee or any thing else," said
+Mr. Palmer, "till I know the history of the Spanish lady."
+
+"Then the shortest and best way I have of telling it to you is, to beg
+you to read this letter, which contains all I know of the matter," said
+Mr. Beaumont. "This letter is from young Birch to his parents; we have
+never heard a syllable directly from Walsingham himself on this subject.
+Since he reached Lisbon, we have had no letters from him, except
+that short epistle which brought us an account of his taking the
+treasure-ship. But we shall see him soon, and know the truth of this
+story; and hear whether he prefers his Spanish or his English mistress."
+
+"'Fore George! I wish this Spanish woman had stayed in her convent,"
+said Mr. Palmer; "I don't like runaway ladies. But let us see what this
+letter says for her."
+
+The letter is the same that Mr. Beaumont read some time ago, therefore
+it need not here be inserted. Before Mr. Palmer had finished perusing
+it, a second message came to say that the ladies waited tea, and that
+Mrs. Beaumont wished not to be late going home, as there was no moon.
+Mr. Palmer, nevertheless, finished the letter before he stirred: and
+then, with a heavy sigh, he rose and said, "I now wish, more than ever,
+that our captain would come home this night, before I go, and clear up
+this business. I don't like this Spanish plot, this double intrigue. Ah,
+dear me!--I shall be obliged to sail--I shall be in Jamaica before the
+fifth act."
+
+"How expectation loads the wings of time!" exclaimed Mrs. Beaumont,
+as the gentlemen entered the drawing-room. "Here we have been all
+day expecting our dear Captain Walsingham, and the time has seemed so
+long!--The only time I ever found long in this house."
+
+"I should like to know," said Mr. Walsingham, after a bow of due
+acknowledgment to Mrs. Beaumont for her compliment, "I should like to
+know whether time appears to pass more slowly to those that hope, or
+those that fear?"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont handed coffee to Mr. Palmer, without attempting to answer
+this question.
+
+"To those that hope, I should think," said Mr. Palmer; "for hope long
+deferred maketh the heart sick; and time, I can answer for it, passes
+most slowly to those who are sick."
+
+     "'Slow as the year's dull circle seems to run,
+     When the brisk minor pants for twenty-one,'"
+
+said Mr. Walsingham, smiling, as he looked at young Beaumont. "But I
+think it is the mixture of fear with hope that makes time appear to pass
+slowly."
+
+"And is hope ever free from that mixture?" said Miss Walsingham. "Does
+not hope without fear become certainty, and fear without hope despair?
+Can hope ever be perfectly free from some mixture of fear?"
+
+"Oh, dear me! yes, to be sure," said Miss Hunter; "for hope's the most
+opposite thing that ever was to fear; as different as black and white;
+_for_, surely, every body knows that hope is just the contrary to fear;
+and when one says, _I hope_, one does not ever mean _I fear_--surely,
+you know, Mrs. Beaumont?"
+
+"I am the worst metaphysician in the world," said Mrs. Beaumont; "I have
+not head enough to analyze my heart."
+
+"Nor I neither," said Miss Hunter: "Heigho!" (very audibly.)
+
+"Hark!" cried Mr. Beaumont, "I think I hear a horse galloping. It is he!
+it is Walsingham!"
+
+Out ran Beaumont, full speed, to meet his friend; whilst, with, more
+sober joy, Mr. Walsingham waited on the steps, where all the company
+assembled, Mr. Palmer foremost, with a face full of benevolent pleasure;
+Mrs. Beaumont congratulating every body, but nobody listening to her;
+luckily for her, all were too heartily occupied with their own feelings
+to see how ill her countenance suited her words. The sound of the
+galloping of the horse ceased for a minute--then recommenced; but before
+it could be settled whether it was coming nearer or going farther away,
+Mr. Beaumont returned with a note in his hand.
+
+"Not Walsingham--only Birch--confound him!" said Mr. Beaumont, out of
+breath. "Confound him, what a race I took, and how disappointed I was
+when I saw Birch's face; and yet it is no fault of his, poor lad!"
+
+"But why did not he come up to the house? Why did not you let us see
+him?" said Mr. Walsingham.
+
+"I could not keep him, he was in such a hurry to go home to his father
+and mother, he would only stop to give this note."
+
+"From Walsingham? Read, quick."
+
+"Plymouth, 5 o'clock, A.M. just landed.
+
+"Dear friends, I cannot have the pleasure of seeing you, as I had hoped
+to do, this day--I am obliged to go to London instantly on business that
+must not be delayed--Cannot tell when I can be with you--hope in a few
+days--Well and happy, and ever yours, H. WALSINGHAM."
+
+All stood silent with looks of disappointment, except Mrs. Beaumont, who
+reiterated, "What a pity! What a sad pity! What a disappointment! What a
+terrible disappointment!"
+
+"Business!" said Mr. Beaumont: "curse his business! he should think of
+his friends first."
+
+"Most likely his business is for his friends," said Miss Walsingham.
+
+"That's right, my dear little defender of the absent," said Mr.
+Walsingham.
+
+"Business!" repeated Mr. Palmer. "Hum! I like business better than
+pleasure--I will be patient, if it is really business that keeps him
+away from us."
+
+"Depend upon it," said Miss Walsingham, "nothing but business can keep
+him away from us; his pleasure is always at home."
+
+"I am thinking," said Mr. Palmer, drawing Mr. Walsingham aside, "I am
+thinking whether he has really brought this Spanish lady home with him,
+and what will become of her--of--him, I mean. I wish I was not going to
+Jamaica!"
+
+"Then, my dear sir, where is the necessity of your going?"
+
+"My health--my health--the physicians say I cannot live in England."
+
+Mr. Walsingham, who had but little faith in physicians, laughed, and
+exclaimed, "But, my dear sir, when you see so many men alive in England
+at this instant, why should you believe in the impossibility of your
+living even in this pestiferous country?"
+
+Mr. Palmer half smiled, felt for his snuff-box, and then replied, "I am
+sure I should like to live in England, if my health would let me; but,"
+continued he, his face growing longer, and taking the hypochondriac cast
+as he pronounced the word, "_but, _Mr. Walsingham, you don't consider
+that my health is really--really--"
+
+"Really very good, I see," interrupted Mr. Walsingham, "and I am
+heartily glad to see it."
+
+"Sir! sir! you do not see it, I assure you. I have a great opinion of
+your judgment, but as you are not a physician--"
+
+"And because I have not taken out my diploma, you think I can neither
+see nor understand," interrupted Mr. Walsingham. "But, nevertheless,
+give me leave to feel your pulse."
+
+"Do you really understand a pulse?" said Mr. Palmer, baring his wrist,
+and sighing.
+
+"As good a pulse as ever man had," pronounced Mr. Walsingham.
+
+"You don't say so? why the physicians tell me--"
+
+"Never mind what they tell you--if they told you the _truth_, they'd
+tell you they want fees."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, quite startled by the tremendously loud voice in which
+Mr. Walsingham pronounced the word _truth_, rose, and rang the bell for
+her carriage.
+
+"Mr. Palmer," said she, "I am afraid we must run away, for I dread the
+night air for invalids."
+
+"My good madam, I am at your orders," answered Mr. Palmer, buttoning
+himself up to the chin.
+
+"Mrs. Beaumont, surely you don't think this gentleman an invalid?" said
+Mr. Walsingham.
+
+"I only wish he would not think himself such," replied Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"Ah! my dear friends," said Mr. Palmer, "I really am, I certainly am a
+sad--sad--"
+
+"Hypochondriac," said Mr. Walsingham. "Pardon me--you are indeed, and
+every body is afraid to tell you so but myself."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont anxiously looked out of the window to see if her carriage
+was come to the door.
+
+"Hypochondriac! not in the least, my dear sir," said Mr. Palmer. "If you
+were to hear what Dr. ---- and Dr. ---- say of my case, and your own Dr.
+Wheeler here, who has a great reputation too--shall I tell you what he
+says?"
+
+In a low voice, Mr. Palmer, holding Mr. Walsingham by the button,
+proceeded to recapitulate some of Dr. Wheeler's prognostics; and at
+every pause, Mr. Walsingham turned impatiently, so as almost to twist
+off the detaining button, repeating, in the words of the king of Prussia
+to his physician, "_C'est un �ne! C'est un �ne! C'est un �ne!_"--"Pshaw!
+I don't understand French," cried Mr. Palmer, angrily. His warmth
+obliged him to think of unbuttoning his coat, which operation (after
+stretching his neckcloth to remove an uneasy feeling in his throat) he
+was commencing, when Mrs. Beaumont graciously stopped his hand.
+
+"The carriage is at the door, my dear sir:--instead of unbuttoning your
+coat, had not you better put this cambric handkerchief round your throat
+before we go into the cold air?"
+
+Mr. Palmer put it on, as if in defiance of Mr. Walsingham, and followed
+Mrs. Beaumont, who led him off in triumph. Before he reached the
+carriage-door, however, his anger had spent its harmless force;
+and stopping to shake hands with him, Mr. Palmer said, "My good Mr.
+Walsingham, I am obliged to you. I am sure you wish me well, and I thank
+you for speaking so freely; I love honest friends--but as to my being a
+hypochondriac, believe me, you are mistaken!"
+
+"And as to Dr. Wheeler," said Mrs. Beaumont, as she drew up the glass
+of the carriage, and as they drove from the door, "Dr. Wheeler certainly
+does not deserve to be called _un �ne,_ for he is a man of whose medical
+judgment I have the highest opinion. Though I am sure I am very candid
+to acknowledge it in the present case, when his opinion is so much
+against my wishes, and all our wishes, and must, I fear, deprive us so
+soon of the company of our dear Mr. Palmer."
+
+"Why, yes, I must go, I must go to Jamaica," said Mr. Palmer in a more
+determined tone than he had yet spoken on the subject.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont silently rejoiced; and as her son imprudently went on
+arguing in favour of his own wishes, she leaned back in the carriage,
+and gave herself up to a pleasing reverie, in which she anticipated the
+successful completion of all her schemes. Relieved from the apprehension
+that Captain Walsingham's arrival might disconcert her projects, she
+was now still further re-assured by Mr. Palmer's resolution to sail
+immediately. One day more, and she was safe. Let Mr. Palmer but sail
+without seeing Captain Walsingham, and this was all Mrs. Beaumont asked
+of fortune; the rest her own genius would obtain. She was so absorbed
+in thought, that she did not know she was come home, till the carriage
+stopped at her door. Sometimes, indeed, her reverie had been interrupted
+by Mr. Palmer's praises of the Walsinghams, and by a conversation which
+she heard going on about Captain Walsingham's life and adventures:
+but Captain Walsingham was safe in London; and whilst he was at that
+distance, she could bear to hear his eulogium. Having lamented that she
+had been deprived of her dear Amelia all this day, and having arranged
+her plan of operations for the morrow, Mrs. Beaumont retired to rest.
+And even in dreams her genius invented fresh expedients, wrote notes of
+apology, or made speeches of circumvention.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+"And now, as oft in some distempered state, On one nice trick depends
+the general fate."--POPE.
+
+
+That old politician, the cardinal of Lorraine, used to say, that "a lie
+believed but for one hour doth many times in a nation produce effects of
+seven years' continuance." At this rate what wonderful effects might
+our heroine have produced, had she practised in public life, instead of
+confining her genius to family politics! The game seemed now in her own
+hands. The day, the important day, on which all her accounts with her
+son were to be settled; the day when Mr. Palmer's will was to be
+signed, the last day he was to stay in England, arrived. Mr. Beaumont's
+birthday, his coming of age, was of course hailed with every possible
+demonstration of joy. The village bells rang, the tenants were invited
+to a dinner and a dance, and an ox was to be roasted whole; and the
+preparations for rejoicing were heard all over the house. Mr. Palmer's
+benevolent heart was ever ready to take a share in the pleasures of his
+fellow-creatures, especially in the festivities of the lower classes. He
+appeared this morning in high good humour. Mrs. Beaumont, with a smile
+on her lips, yet with a brow of care, was considering how she could make
+pleasure subservient to interest, and how she could get _business_ done
+in the midst of the amusements of the day. Most auspiciously did her
+day of business begin by Mr. Palmer's declaring to her that his will was
+actually made; that with the exception of certain legacies, he had left
+his whole fortune to her during her life, with remainder to her son
+and daughter. "By this arrangement," continued he, "I trust I shall
+ultimately serve my good friends the Walsinghams, as I wish: for though
+I have not seen as much of that family as I should have been glad to
+have done, yet the little I have seen convinces me that they are worthy
+people."
+
+"The most worthy people upon earth. You know I have the greatest regard
+for them," said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"I am really sorry," pursued Mr. Palmer, "that I have not been able to
+make acquaintance with Captain Walsingham. Mr. Walsingham told me his
+whole history yesterday, and it has prepossessed me much in his favour."
+
+"He is, indeed, a charming, noble-hearted young hero," said Mrs.
+Beaumont; "and I regret, as much as you do, that you cannot see him
+before you leave England."
+
+"However," continued Mr. Palmer, "as I was saying, the Walsinghams will,
+I trust, be the better sooner or later by me; for I think I foresee that
+Captain Walsingham, if a certain Spanish lady were out of the question,
+would propose for Amelia, and would persuade her to give up this foolish
+fancy of hers for that baronet."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont shook her head, as if she believed this could not possibly
+be done.
+
+"Well, well, if it can't be, it can't. The girl's inclination must not
+be controlled. I don't wonder, however, that you are vexed at missing
+such a husband for her as young Walsingham. But, my good madam, we
+must make the best of it--let the girl marry her baronet. I have left a
+legacy of some thousands to Captain Walsingham, as a token of my esteem
+for his character; and I am sure, my dear Mrs. Beaumont, his interests
+are in good hands when I leave them in yours. In the mean time, I wish
+you, as the representative of my late good friend, Colonel Beaumont, to
+enjoy all I have during your life."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont poured forth such a profusion of kind and grateful
+expressions, that Mr. Palmer was quite disconcerted. "No more of this,
+my dear madam, no more of this. But there was something I was going
+to say, that has gone out of my head. Oh, it was, that the Walsinghams
+will, I think, stand a good chance of being the better for me in another
+way."
+
+"How?"
+
+"Why you have seen so much more of them than I have--don't you, my
+dear madam, see that Miss Walsingham has made a conquest of your son? I
+thought I was remarkably slow at seeing these things, and yet I saw it."
+
+"Miss Walsingham is a prodigious favourite of mine. But you know Edward
+is so young, and men don't like, now-a-days, to marry young," said Mrs.
+Beaumont.
+
+"Well, let them manage their affairs their own way," said Mr. Palmer;
+"all I wish upon earth is to see them happy, or rather to hear of their
+happiness, for I shall not see it you know in Jamaica."
+
+"Alas!" said Mrs. Beaumont, in a most affectionate tone, and with a sigh
+that seemed to come from her heart; "alas! that is such a melancholy
+thought."
+
+Mr. Palmer ended the conversation by inquiring whom he had best ask
+to witness his will. Mrs. Beaumont proposed Captain Lightbody and Dr.
+Wheeler. The doctor was luckily in the house, for he had been sent for
+this morning, to see her poor Amelia, who had caught cold yesterday, and
+had a slight feverish complaint.
+
+This was perfectly true. The anxiety that Amelia had suffered
+of late--the fear of being forced or ensnared to marry a man she
+disliked--apprehensions about the Spanish incognita, and at last the
+certainty that Captain Walsingham would not arrive before Mr. Palmer
+should have left England, and that consequently the hopes she had formed
+from this benevolent friend's interference were vain--all these things
+had overpowered Amelia; she had passed a feverish night, and was really
+ill. Mrs. Beaumont at any other time would have been much alarmed; for,
+duplicity out of the question, she was a fond mother: but she now was
+well contented that her daughter should have a day's confinement to her
+room, for the sake of keeping her safe out of the way. So leaving poor
+Amelia to her feverish thoughts, we proceed with the business of the
+day.
+
+Dr. Wheeler, Captain Lightbody, and Mr. Twigg witnessed the will; it was
+executed, and a copy of it deposited with Mrs. Beaumont. This was one
+great point gained. The next object was her jointure. She had employed
+her convenient tame man[3], Captain Lightbody, humbly to suggest to her
+son, that some increase of jointure would be proper; and she was now in
+anxiety to know how these hints, and others which had been made by more
+remote means, would operate. As she was waiting to see Mr. Lightbody
+in her dressing-room, to hear the result of his _suggestions_, the door
+opened.
+
+"Well, Lightbody! come in--what success?"
+
+She stopped short, for it was not Captain Lightbody, it was her son.
+Without taking any notice of what she said, he advanced towards her, and
+presented a deed.
+
+"You will do me the favour, mother, to accept of this addition to your
+jointure," said he. "It was always my intention to do this, the moment
+it should be in my power; and I had flattered myself that you would not
+have thought it necessary to suggest to me what I knew I ought to do, or
+to hint to me your wishes by any intermediate person."
+
+Colouring deeply, for it hurt her conscience to be found out, Mrs.
+Beaumont was upon the point of disavowing her emissary, but she
+recollected that the words which she had used when her son was coming
+into the room might have betrayed her. On the other hand, it was not
+certain that he had heard them. She hesitated. From the shame of a
+disavowal, which would have answered no purpose, but to sink her lower
+in her son's opinion, she was, however, saved by his abrupt sincerity.
+
+"Don't say any thing more about it, dear mother," cried he, "but pardon
+me the pain I have given you at a time when indeed I wished only to give
+pleasure. Promise me, that in future you will let me know your wishes
+directly, and from your own lips."
+
+"Undoubtedly--depend upon it, my dearest son. I am quite overpowered.
+The fact was, that I could not, however really and urgently necessary
+it was to me, bring myself to mention with my own lips what, as a direct
+request from me, I knew you could not and would not refuse, however
+inconvenient it might be to you to comply. On this account, and on this
+account only, I wished you not to know my wants from myself, but from an
+intermediate friend."
+
+"Friend!"--Mr. Beaumont could not help repeating with an emphasis of
+disdain.
+
+"_Friend_, I only said by courtesy; but I wished you to know my wants
+from an intermediate person, that you might not feel yourself in any way
+bound, or called upon, and that the refusal might be implied and tacit,
+as it were, so that it could lead to no unpleasant feelings between us."
+
+"Ah! my dear mother," said Mr. Beaumont, "I have not your knowledge
+of the world, or of human nature; but from all I have heard, seen,
+and felt, I am convinced that more unpleasant feelings are created in
+families, by these false delicacies, and managements, and hints, and
+go-between friends by courtesy, than ever would have been caused by the
+parties speaking directly to one another, and telling the plain truth
+about their thoughts and wishes. Forgive me if I speak too plainly at
+this moment; as we are to live together, I hope, many years, it may
+spare us many an unhappy hour."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont wiped her eyes. Her son found it difficult to go on, and
+yet, upon his own principles, it was right to proceed.
+
+"Amelia, ma'am! I find she is ill this morning."
+
+"Yes--poor child!"
+
+"I hope, mother--"
+
+"Since," interrupted Mrs. Beaumont, "my dear son wishes always to
+hear from me the plain and direct truth, I must tell him, that, as the
+guardian of his sister, I think myself accountable to no one for
+my conduct with respect to her; and that I should look upon any
+interference as an unkind and unjustifiable doubt of my affection for my
+daughter. Rest satisfied with this assurance, that her happiness is, in
+all I do, my first object; and as I have told her a thousand times, no
+force shall be put on her inclinations."
+
+"I have no more to say, no more to ask," said Mr. Beaumont. "This is a
+distinct, positive declaration, in which I will confide, and, in future,
+not suffer appearances to alarm me. A mother would not keep the word of
+promise to the ear, and break it to the hope."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, feeling herself change countenance, made an attempt to
+blow her nose, and succeeded in hiding her face with her handkerchief.
+
+"With respect to myself," continued Mr. Beaumont, "I should also say,
+lest you should be in any doubt concerning my sentiments, that though I
+have complied with your request to delay for a few weeks--"
+
+"_That_ you need not repeat, my dear," interrupted Mrs. Beaumont. "I
+understand all that perfectly."
+
+"Then at the end of this month I shall--and, I hope, with your entire
+approbation, propose for Miss Walsingham."
+
+"Time enough," said Mrs. Beaumont, smiling, and tapping her son
+playfully on the shoulder, "time enough to talk of that when the end of
+the month comes. How often have I seen young men like you change their
+minds, and fall in and out of love in the course of one short month!
+At any rate," continued Mrs. Beaumont, "let us pass to the order of the
+day; for we have time enough to settle other matters; but the order of
+the day--a tiresome one, I confess--is to settle accounts."
+
+"I am ready--"
+
+"So am I."
+
+"Then let us go with the accounts to Mr. Palmer, who is also ready, I am
+sure."
+
+"But, before we go," said Mrs. Beaumont, whispering, "let us settle what
+is to be said about the debts--_your_ debts you know. I fancy you'll
+agree with me, that the less is said about this the better; and that, in
+short, the best will be to say nothing."
+
+"Why so, madam? Surely you don't think I mean to conceal my debts from
+our friend Mr. Palmer, at the very moment when I profess to tell him all
+my affairs, and to settle accounts with him and you, as my guardians!"
+
+"With him? But he has never acted, you know, as one of the guardians;
+therefore you are not called upon to settle accounts with him."
+
+"Then why, ma'am, did you urge him to come down from London, to be
+present at the settlement of these accounts?"
+
+"As a compliment, and because I wish him to be present, as your father's
+friend; but it is by no means essential that he should know every
+detail."
+
+"I will do whichever you please, ma'am; I will either settle accounts
+with or without him."
+
+"Oh! _with_ him, that is, in his presence, to be sure."
+
+"Then he must know the whole."
+
+"Why so? Your having contracted such debts will alter his opinion of
+your prudence and of mine, and may, perhaps, essentially alter--alter--"
+
+"His will? Be it so; that is the worst that can happen. As far as I am
+concerned, I would rather a thousand times it were so, than deceive him
+into a better opinion of me than I deserve."
+
+"Nobly said! so like yourself, and like every thing I could wish: but,
+forgive me, if I did for you, what indeed I would not wish you to do for
+yourself. I have already told Mr. Palmer that you had no embarrassments;
+therefore, you cannot, and I am sure would not, unsay what I have said."
+
+Mr. Beaumont stood fixed in astonishment.
+
+"But why, mother, did not you tell him the whole?"
+
+"My dear love, delicacy prevented me. He offered to relieve you from
+any embarrassments, if you had any; but I, having too much delicacy and
+pride to let my son put himself under pecuniary obligations, hastily
+answered, that you had no debts; for there was no other reply to be
+made, without offending poor Palmer, and hurting his generous feelings,
+which I would not do for the universe: and I considered too, that as all
+Palmer's fortune will come to us in the end--"
+
+"Well, ma'am," interrupted Mr. Beaumont, impatient of all these glosses
+and excuses, "the plain state of the case is, that I cannot contradict
+what my mother has said; therefore I will not settle accounts at all
+with Mr. Palmer."
+
+"And what excuse _can_ I make to him, after sending for him express from
+London?"
+
+"That I must leave to you, mother."
+
+"And what reason _can_ I give for thus withdrawing our family-confidence
+from such an old friend, and at the very moment when he is doing so much
+for us all?"
+
+"That I must leave to you, mother. I withdraw no confidence. I have
+pretended none--I will break none."
+
+"Good Heavens! was not all I did and said for _your_ interest?"
+
+"Nothing can be for my interest that is not for my honour, and for
+yours, mother. But let us never go over the business again. Now to the
+order of the day."
+
+"My dear, dear son," said Mrs. Beaumont, "don't speak so roughly, so
+cruelly to me."
+
+Suddenly softened, by seeing the tears standing in his mother's eyes, he
+besought her pardon for the bluntness of his manner, and expressed his
+entire belief in her affection and zeal for his interests; but, on
+the main point, that he would not deceive Mr. Palmer, or directly or
+indirectly assert a falsehood, Mr. Beaumont was immoveable. In the midst
+of her entreaties a message came from Mr. Palmer, to say that he was
+waiting for the accounts, which Mrs. Beaumont wished to settle. "Well,"
+said she, much perplexed, "well, come down to him--come, for it is
+impossible for me to find any excuse after sending for him from
+London; he would think there was something worse than there really is.
+Stay--I'll go down first, and sound him; and if it won't do without the
+accounts, do you come when I ring the bell; then all I have for it is
+to run my chance. Perhaps he may never recollect what passed about your
+debts, for the dear good old soul has not the best memory in the world;
+and if he should obstinately remember, why, after all, it's only a bit
+of false delicacy, and a white lie for a friend and a son, and we can
+colour it."
+
+Down went Mrs. Beaumont to sound Mr. Palmer; but though much might
+be expected from her address, yet she found it unequal to the task of
+convincing this gentleman's plain good sense that it would fatigue him
+to see those accounts, which he came so many miles on purpose to
+settle. Perceiving him begin to waken to the suspicion that she had some
+interest in suppressing the accounts, and hearing him, in an altered
+tone, ask, "Madam, is there any mystery in these accounts, that I must
+not see them?" she instantly rang the bell, and answered, "Oh, none;
+none in the world; only we thought--that is, I feared it might fatigue
+you too much, my dear friend, just the day before your journey, and I
+was unwilling to lose so many hours of your good company; but since you
+are so very kind--here's my son and the papers."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+      _"A face untaught to feign; a judging eye,
+      That darts severe upon a rising lie,
+      And strikes a blush through frontless flattery."_
+
+To the settlement of accounts they sat down in due form; and it so
+happened, that though this dear good old soul had not the best memory
+in the world, yet he had an obstinate recollection of every word Mrs.
+Beaumont had said about her son's having no debts or embarrassments.
+And great and unmanageable was his astonishment, when the truth came
+to light. "It is not," said he, turning to Mr. Beaumont, "that I am
+astonished at your having debts; I am sorry for that, to be sure;
+but young men are often a little extravagant or so, and I dare
+say--particularly as you are so candid and make no excuses about it--I
+dare say you will be more prudent in future, and give up the race-horses
+as you promise. But--why did not Madam Beaumont tell me the truth? Why
+make a mystery, when I wanted nothing but to serve my friends? It was
+not using me well--it was not using yourself well. Madam, madam, I am
+vexed to the heart, and would not for a thousand pounds--ay, fool as I
+am, not for ten thousand pounds, this had happened to me from my good
+friend the colonel's widow--a man that would as soon have cut his hand
+off. Oh, madam! Madam Beaumont! you have struck me a hard blow at my
+time of life. Any thing but this I could have borne; but to have one's
+confidence and old friendships shaken at my time of life!"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont was, in her turn, in unfeigned astonishment; for Mr.
+Palmer took the matter more seriously, and seemed more hurt by this
+discovery of a trifling deviation from truth, than she had foreseen, or
+than she could have conceived to be possible, in a case where neither
+his interest nor any one of his passions was concerned. It was in
+vain that she palliated and explained, and talked of delicacy, and
+generosity, and pride, and maternal feelings, and the feelings of a
+friend, and all manner of fine and double-refined sentiments; still
+Mr. Palmer's sturdy plain sense could not be made to comprehend that a
+falsehood is not a falsehood, or that deceiving a friend is using him
+well. Her son suffered for her, as his countenance and his painful and
+abashed silence plainly showed.
+
+"And does not even my son say any thing for me? Is this friendly?" said
+she, unable to enter into his feelings, and thinking that the part of
+a friend was to make apologies, right or wrong.--Mr. Palmer shook hands
+with Mr. Beaumont, and, without uttering a syllable, they understood one
+another perfectly. Mr. Beaumont left the room; and Mrs. Beaumont burst
+into tears. Mr. Palmer, with great good-nature, tried to assuage that
+shame and compunction which he imagined that she felt. He observed,
+that, to be sure, she must feel mortified and vexed with herself, but
+that he was persuaded nothing but some mistaken notion of delicacy could
+have led her to do what her principles must condemn. Immediately she
+said all that she saw would please Mr. Palmer; and following the lead
+of his mind, she at last confirmed him in the opinion, that this was an
+accidental not an habitual deviation from truth. His confidence in her
+was broken, but not utterly destroyed.
+
+"As to the debt," resumed Mr. Palmer, "do not let that give you a
+moment's concern; I will put that out of the question in a few minutes.
+My share in the cargo of the Anne, which I see is just safely arrived in
+the Downs, will more than pay this debt. Your son shall enter upon his
+estate unencumbered. No, no--don't thank me; I won't cheat you of your
+thanks; it is your son must thank me for this. I do it on his account.
+I like the young man. There is an ingenuousness, an honourable frankness
+about him, that I love. Instead of his bond for the money, I shall
+ask his promise never to have any thing more to do with race-horses or
+Newmarket; and his promise I shall think as good as if it were his bond.
+Now I am not throwing money away; I'm not doing an idle ostentatious
+thing, but one that may, and I hope will, be essentially useful. For,
+look you here, my good--look here, Mrs. Beaumont: a youth who finds
+himself encumbered with debt on coming to his estate is apt to think of
+freeing himself by marrying a fortune instead of a woman; now instead of
+freeing a man, this fetters him for life: and what sort of a friend must
+that be, who, if he could prevent it, would let this be done for a few
+thousand pounds? So I'll go before I take another pinch of snuff, and
+draw him an order upon the cargo of the Anne, lest I should forget it
+in the hurry of packing and taking leave, and all those uncomfortable
+things."
+
+He left _Madam_ Beaumont to her feelings, or her reflections; and, in
+a few minutes, with an order for the money in his hand, went over
+the house in search of his young friend. Mr. Beaumont came out of his
+sister's room on hearing himself called.
+
+"Here," said Mr. Palmer, "is a little business for you to do. Read this
+order over; see that it is right, and endorse it--mind--and never let
+me hear one word more about it--only by way of acknowledgment--ask your
+mother what you are to give me. But don't read it till you are out of my
+sight--Is Amelia up? Can I see her?"
+
+"Yes; up and in her dressing-room. Do, dear sir, go in and see her, for
+my mother says she is too feverish to leave her room to-day; but I am
+sure that it will make her ten times worse to be prevented from seeing
+you the last day you are with us."
+
+"Does the little gipsy then care so much for me?--that's fair; for I
+am her friend, and will prove it to her, by giving up my own fancies to
+hers: so trust me with her, _t�te-�-t�te_,--young gentleman; go off, if
+you please, and do your own business."
+
+Mr. Palmer knocked at Amelia's door, and fancying he heard an answer of
+admittance, went in.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Palmer, my good Mr. Palmer, is it you?"
+
+"Yes; but you seem not above half to know whether you are glad or sorry
+to see your good Mr. Palmer; for while you hold out your hand, you turn
+away your face from me.--Dear, dear! what a burning hand, and how the
+pulse goes and flutters! What does Dr. Wheeler say to this? I am a bit
+of a physician myself--let me look at you. What's this? eyes as red
+as ferret's--begging your eyes' pardon, young lady--What's this about?
+Come," said he, drawing a chair and sitting down close beside her, "no
+mysteries--no mysteries--I hate mysteries--besides, we have not time for
+them. Consider, I go to-morrow, and have all my shirts to pack up: ay,
+smile, lady, as your father used to do; and open your whole heart to me,
+as he always did. Consider me as an old friend."
+
+"I do consider you as a sincere, excellent friend," said Amelia; "but--"
+Amelia knew that she could not explain herself without disobeying, and
+perhaps betraying, her mother.
+
+"No _buts_," said Mr. Palmer, taking hold of her hand. "Come, my little
+Amelia, before you have put that ring on and off your pretty finger
+fifty times more, tell me whom you would wish to put a ring on this
+finger for life?"
+
+"Ah! that is the thing _I cannot_ tell you!" said Amelia. "Were I alone
+concerned, I would tell you every thing; but--ask me no more, I cannot
+tell you the whole truth."
+
+"Then there's something wrong somewhere or other. Whenever people tell
+me they cannot speak the truth, I always say, then there's something
+wrong. Give me leave, Amelia, to ask--"
+
+"Don't question me," said Amelia: "talk to my mother. I don't know how I
+ought to answer you."
+
+"_Not know how!_ 'Fore George! this is strange! A strange house,
+where one can't get at the simplest truth without a world of
+difficulty--mother and daughter all alike; not one of 'em but the son
+can, for the soul of 'em, give a plain answer to a plain question. _Not
+know how!_ as if it was a science to tell the truth. Not know how! as
+if a person could not talk to me, honest old Richard Palmer,
+without _knowing how!_ as if it was how to baffle a lawyer on a
+cross-examination--_Not know how_ to answer one's own friend! Ah! this
+is not the way your father and I used to go on, Miss Beaumont. Nay, nay,
+don't cry now, or that will finish oversetting the little temper I have
+left, for I can't bear to see a woman cry, especially a young woman like
+you; it breaks my heart, old as it is, and fool that I am, that ought
+to know your sex better by this time than to let a few tears drown my
+common sense. Well, young lady, be that as it may, since you won't tell
+me your mind, I must tell you your mind, for I happen to know it--Yes, I
+do--your mother bid me spare your delicacy, and I would, but that I have
+not time; besides, I don't understand, nor see what good is got, but
+a great deal of mischief, by these cursed new-fashioned delicacies:
+wherefore, in plain English, I tell you, I don't like Sir John Hunter,
+and I do like Captain Walsingham; and I did wish you married to Captain
+Walsingham--you need not start so, for I say _did_--I don't wish it now;
+for since your heart is set upon Sir John Hunter, God forbid I should
+want to give Captain Walsingham a wife without a heart. So I have only
+to add, that notwithstanding my own fancy or judgment, I have done my
+best to persuade your mother to let you have the man, or the baronet, of
+your choice. I will go farther: I'll make it a point with her, and bring
+you both together; for there's no other way, I see, of understanding
+you; and get a promise of her consent; and then I hope I shall leave you
+all satisfied, and without any mysteries. And, in the mean time," added
+Mr. Palmer, taking out of his coat pocket a morocco leather case, and
+throwing it down on the table before Amelia, "every body should be made
+happy their own way: there are some diamonds for Lady Hunter, and God
+bless you."
+
+"Oh, sir, stay!" cried Amelia, rising eagerly; "dear, good Mr. Palmer,
+keep your diamonds, and leave me your esteem and love."
+
+"That I can't, unless you speak openly to me. It is out of nature. Don't
+kneel--don't. God bless you! young lady, you have my pity; for indeed,"
+turning and looking at her, "you seem very miserable, and look very
+sincere."
+
+"If my mother was here!--I _must_ see my mother," exclaimed Amelia.
+
+"Where's the difficulty? I'll go for her this instant," said Mr. Palmer,
+who was not a man to let a romance trail on to six volumes for want of
+going six yards; or for want of somebody's coming into a room at the
+right minute for explanation; or from some of those trivial causes by
+which adepts contrive to delude us at the very moment of expectation.
+Whilst Mr. Palmer was going for Mrs. Beaumont, Amelia waited in terrible
+anxiety. The door was open; and as she looked into the gallery which
+led to her room, she saw Mr. Palmer and her mother as they came along,
+talking together. Knowing every symptom of suppressed passion in her
+mother's countenance, she was quite terrified, by indications which
+passed unnoticed by Mr. Palmer. As her mother approached, Amelia hid
+her face in her hands for a moment, but gaining courage from the
+consciousness of integrity, and from a determination to act openly,
+she looked up; and, rising with dignity, said, in a gentle but firm
+voice--"Mother, I hope you will not think that there is any impropriety
+in my speaking to our friend, Mr. Palmer, with the same openness with
+which I have always spoken to you?"
+
+"My dear child," interrupted Mrs. Beaumont, embracing Amelia with a
+sudden change of manner and countenance, "my sweet child, I have tried
+you to the utmost; forgive me; all your trials now are over, and you
+must allow me the pleasure of telling our excellent friend, Mr. Palmer,
+what I know will delight him almost as much as it delights me--that the
+choice of Amelia's heart, Mr. Palmer, is worthy of her, just what we all
+wished."
+
+"Captain Walsingham?" exclaimed Mr. Palmer, with joyful astonishment.
+
+"Sit down, my love," said Mrs. Beaumont, seating Amelia, who, from the
+surprise at this sudden change in her mother, and from the confusion of
+feelings which overwhelmed her at this moment, was near fainting: "we
+are too much for her, I have been too abrupt," continued Mrs. Beaumont:
+"Open the window, will you, my good sir? and," whispering, "let us not
+say any more to her at present; you see it won't do."
+
+"I am well, quite well again, now," said Amelia, exerting herself.
+"Don't leave, don't forsake me, Mr. Palmer; pray don't go," holding out
+her hand to Mr. Palmer.
+
+"My dear Amelia," said Mrs. Beaumont, "don't talk, don't exert yourself;
+pray lie still on the sofa."
+
+"Her colour is come back; she looks like herself again," said Mr.
+Palmer, seating himself beside her, regardless of Mrs. Beaumont's
+prohibitory looks. "Since my little Amelia wished me to stay, I'll not
+go. So, my child--but I won't hurry you--only want one sign of the head
+to confirm the truth of what your mother has just told me, for nobody
+can tell what passes in a young lady's heart but herself. So then, it
+is not that sprig of quality, that selfish spendthrift, that Sir John
+Hunter, who has your heart--hey?"
+
+"No, no, no," answered Amelia; "I never did, I never could like such a
+man!"
+
+"Why, I thought not--I thought it was impossible; but--"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, alarmed beyond conception, suddenly put her hand before
+Mr. Palmer's mouth, to prevent him from finishing his sentence, and
+exposing the whole of her shameful duplicity to her daughter.
+
+"Absolutely I must, and do hereby interpose my maternal authority, and
+forbid all agitating explanations whilst Amelia is in her present state.
+Dr. Wheeler says she is terribly feverish. Come, Mr. Palmer, I must
+carry you off by force, and from me you shall have all the explanations
+and all the satisfaction you can require."
+
+"Well," said Mr. Palmer, "good bye for the present, my little Amelia,
+my darling little Amelia! I am so delighted to find that Captain
+Walsingham's the man, and so glad you have no mysteries: be well, be
+well soon. I am so pleased, so happy, that I am as unruly as a child,
+and as easily managed. You see, how I let myself be turned out of the
+room."
+
+"Not turned out, only carried out," said Mrs. Beaumont, who never, even
+in the most imminent perils, lost her polite presence of mind. Having
+thus carried off Mr. Palmer, she was in hopes that, in the joyful
+confusion of his mind, he would he easily satisfied with any plausible
+explanation. Therefore she dexterously fixed his attention on the
+future, and adverted as slightly as possible to the past.
+
+"Now, my good sir, congratulate me," said she, "on the prospect I have
+of happiness in such a son-in-law as Captain Walsingham, if it be indeed
+true that Captain Walsingham is really attached to Amelia. But, on the
+other hand, what shall we do if there is any truth in the story of the
+Spanish lady? Oh, there's the difficulty! Between hope and fear, I am in
+such a distracted state at this moment, I hardly know what I say. What
+shall we do about the Spanish lady?"
+
+"Do, my dear madam! we can do nothing at all in that case: but I will
+hope the best, and you'll see that he will prove a constant man at last.
+In the mean time, how was all that about Sir John Hunter, and what are
+you to do with him?"
+
+"Leave that to me; I will settle all that," cried Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"But I hope the poor man, though I don't like him, has not been jilted?"
+
+"No, by no means; Amelia's incapable of that. You know she told you just
+now that she never liked him."
+
+"Ay; but I think, madam, you told me, that she _did_," said Mr. Palmer,
+sticking to his point with a decided plainness, which quite disconcerted
+Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"It was all a mistake," said she, "quite a mistake; and I am sure you
+rejoice with me that it was so: and, as to the rest--past blunders, like
+past misfortunes, are good for nothing but to be forgotten."
+
+Observing that Mr. Palmer looked dissatisfied, Mrs. Beaumont continued
+apologizing. "I confess you have to all appearance some cause to be
+angry with me," said she: "but now only hear me. Taking the blame upon
+myself, let me candidly tell you the whole truth, and all my reasons,
+foolish perhaps as they were. Captain Walsingham behaved so honourably,
+and had such command over his feelings, that I, who am really the most
+credulous creature in the world, was so completely deceived, that I
+fancied he never had a thought of Amelia, and that he never would think
+of her; and I own this roused both my pride and my prudence for my
+daughter; and I certainly thought it my duty, as her mother, to do
+every thing in my power to discourage in her young and innocent heart
+a hopeless passion. It was but within these few hours that I have
+been undeceived by you as to his sentiments. That, of course, made an
+immediate change, as you have seen, in my measures; for such is my high
+opinion of the young man, and indeed my desire to be connected with the
+Walsinghams is so great, that even whilst I am in total ignorance of
+what the amount or value may be of this prize that he has taken, and
+even whilst I am in doubt concerning this Spanish incognita, I have not
+hesitated to declare, perhaps imprudently, to Amelia, as you have just
+heard, my full approbation of the choice of her heart."
+
+"Hum!--well--hey!--How's this?" said Mr. Palmer to himself, as he tried
+to believe and to be satisfied with this apology. "Madam," said he
+aloud to Mrs. Beaumont, "I comprehend that it might not be prudent to
+encourage Amelia's partiality for Captain Walsingham till you were
+sure of the young man's sentiments; but, excuse me, I am a very slow,
+unpractised man in these matters; I don't yet understand why you told
+_me_ that she was in love with Sir John Hunter?"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, being _somewhat in the habit of self-contradiction_, was
+seldom unprovided with a concordance of excuses; but at this unlucky
+moment she was found unprepared. Hesitating she stood, all subtle as she
+was, deprived of ready wit, and actually abashed in the presence of a
+plain good man.
+
+"I candidly confess, my dear sir," said she, apologizing to Mr. Palmer
+as he walked up and down, "that my delicacy or pride,--call it what you
+will,--my false pride for my daughter, led me into an error. I could not
+bring myself to acknowledge to any man, even to you--for you know that
+it's contrary quite to the principles and pride of our sex--that she
+felt any partiality for a man who had shown none for her. You must be
+sensible it was, to say no more, an awkward, mortifying thing; and I
+was so afraid even of your finding it out, that--forgive me--I did, I
+candidly acknowledge, fabricate the foolish story of Sir John Hunter.
+But, believe me, I never seriously thought of her marrying him."
+
+"'Fore George! I don't understand one word of it from beginning to end,"
+said Mr. Palmer, speaking aloud to himself.
+
+Regardless of the profusion of words which Mrs. Beaumont continued
+pouring forth, he seated himself in an arm-chair, and, deep in reverie
+for some minutes, went on slowly striking his hands together, as he
+leaned with his arms on his knees. At length he rose, rang the bell, and
+said to the servant, "Sir, be so obliging as to let my man Crichton know
+that he need not hurry himself to pack up my clothes, for I shall not go
+to-morrow."
+
+Struck with consternation at these words, Mrs. Beaumont, nevertheless,
+commanded the proper expression of joy on the occasion. "Delightful!
+I must go this instant," cried she, "and be the first to tell this
+charming news to Amelia and Edward."
+
+"Tell them, then, madam, if you please, that I have gained such a
+conquest over what Mr. Walsingham calls my hypochondriacism, that I am
+determined, at whatever risk, to stay another year in Old England, and
+that I hope to be present at both their weddings."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont's quick exit was at this moment necessary to conceal her
+dismay. Instead of going to Amelia, she hurried to her own room, locked
+the door, and sat down to compose her feelings and to collect her
+thoughts; but scarcely had she been two minutes in her apartment, when
+a messenger came to summon her to the festive scene in the park. The
+tenants and villagers were all at dinner, and Mr. Beaumont sent to let
+her know that they were waiting to drink her health. She was obliged to
+go, and to appear all radiant with pleasure. The contrast between their
+honest mirth and her secret sufferings was great. She escaped as soon as
+she could from their _senseless_ joy, and again shut herself up in her
+own room.
+
+This sudden and totally unexpected resolution of Mr. Palmer's so
+astonished her, that she could scarcely believe she had heard or
+understood his words rightly. Artful persons may, perhaps, calculate
+with expertness and accuracy what will, in any given case, be the
+determinations of the selfish and the interested; but they are liable to
+frequent mistakes in judging of the open-hearted and the generous: there
+is no sympathy to guide them, and all their habits tend to mislead them
+in forming opinions of the direct and sincere. It had never entered into
+Mrs. Beaumont's imagination that Mr. Palmer would, notwithstanding
+his belief that he hazarded his life by so doing, defer a whole year
+returning to Jamaica, merely to secure the happiness of her son and
+daughter. She plainly saw that he now suspected her dislike to the
+Walsinghams, and her aversion to the double union with that family: she
+saw that the slightest circumstance in her conduct, which confirmed his
+suspicions, would not only utterly ruin her in his opinion, but might
+induce him to alter that part of his will which left her sole possessor
+of his fortune during her life. Bad as her affairs were at this moment,
+she knew that they might still be worse. She recollected the letter
+of _perfect approbation_ which Sir John Hunter had in his power. She
+foresaw that he would produce this letter on the first rumour of her
+favouring another lover for Amelia. She had just declared to Mr. Palmer,
+that she never seriously thought of Sir John Hunter for her daughter;
+and, should this letter be brought to light, she must be irremediably
+convicted of the basest duplicity, and there would be no escape from the
+shame of falsehood, or rather the disgrace of detection. In this grand
+difficulty, Mrs. Beaumont was too good a politician to waste time upon
+any inferior considerations. Instead of allowing herself leisure to
+reflect that all her present difficulties arose from her habits of
+insincerity, she, with the true spirit of intrigue, attributed her
+disappointments to some deficiency of artifice. "Oh!" said she to
+herself, "why did I _write?_ I should only have _spoken_ to Sir John.
+How could I be so imprudent as to _commit_ myself by writing? But what
+can be done to repair this error?"
+
+One web destroyed, she, with indefatigable subtlety, began to weave
+another. With that promptitude of invention which practice alone can
+give, she devised a scheme, by which she hoped not only to prevent Sir
+John Hunter from producing the written proof of her duplicity, but by
+which she could also secure the reversionary title, and the great Wigram
+estate. The nature of the scheme shall be unfolded in the next chapter;
+and it will doubtless procure for Mrs. Beaumont, from all proper
+judges, a just tribute of admiration. They will allow our heroine to
+be possessed not only of that address, which is the peculiar glory
+of female politicians, but also of that masculine quality, which the
+greatest, wisest, of mankind has pronounced to be the first, second, and
+third requisite for business--"Boldness--boldness--boldness."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+"The creature's at her dirty work again."--POPE.
+
+
+Amongst the infinite petty points of cunning of which that great
+practical philosopher Bacon has in vain essayed to make out a list,
+he notes that, "Because it worketh better when any thing seemeth to be
+gotten from you by question than if you offer it of yourself: you may
+lay a bait for a question, by showing another visage and countenance
+than you are wont, to the end to give occasion to the party to ask what
+the matter is of the change."
+
+"What is the matter, my dearest Mrs. Beaumont? I never saw you look so
+sad before in all my life," said Miss Hunter, meeting Mrs. Beaumont, who
+had walked out into the park on purpose to be so met, and in hopes of
+having the melancholy of her countenance thus observed. It was the more
+striking, and the more unseasonable, from its contrast with the gay
+scene in the park. The sound of music was heard, and the dancing had
+begun, and all was rural festivity: "What is the matter, my dearest Mrs.
+Beaumont?" repeated Miss Hunter; "at such a time as this to see you look
+so melancholy!"
+
+"Ah! my love! such a sad change in affairs! But," whispered Mrs.
+Beaumont, "I cannot explain myself before your companion."
+
+Mr. Lightbody was walking with Miss Hunter: but he was so complaisant,
+that he was easily despatched on some convenient errand; and then Mrs.
+Beaumont, with all her wonted delicacy of circumlocution, began to
+communicate her distress to her young friend.
+
+"You know, my beloved Albina," said she, "it has been my most ardent
+wish that your brother should be connected with my family by the nearest
+and dearest ties."
+
+"Yes; that is, married to Amelia," said Miss Hunter. "And has any thing
+happened to prevent it?"
+
+"Oh, my dear! it is all over! It cannot be--must not be thought of--must
+not be spoken of any more; Mr. Palmer has been outrageous about it. Such
+a scene as I have had! and all to no purpose. Amelia has won him over to
+her party. Only conceive what I felt--she declared, beyond redemption,
+her preference of Captain Walsingham."
+
+"Before the captain proposed for her! How odd! dear! Suppose he should
+never propose for her, what a way she will be in after affronting my
+brother and all! And only think! she gives up the title, and the great
+Wigram estate, and every thing. Why, my brother says, uncle Wigram can't
+live three months; and Lord Puckeridge's title, too, will come to my
+brother, you know; and Amelia might have been Lady Puckeridge. Only
+think! did you ever know any thing so foolish?"
+
+"Never!" said Mrs. Beaumont; "but you know, my dear, so few girls have
+the sense you show in taking advice: they all will judge for themselves.
+But I'm most hurt by Amelia's want of gratitude and delicacy towards
+_me_," continued Mrs. Beaumont; "only conceive the difficulty and
+distress in which she has left me about your poor brother. Such a shock
+as the disappointment will be to him! And he may--though Heaven knows
+how little I deserve it--he may suspect--for men, when they are vexed
+and angry, will, you know, suspect even their best friends; he might, I
+say, suspect me of not being warm in his cause."
+
+"Dear, no! I have always told him how kind you were, and how much you
+wished the thing; and of all people in the world he can't blame you,
+dearest Mrs. Beaumont."
+
+At this instant Mrs. Beaumont saw a glimpse of somebody in a bye-path
+of the shrubbery near them. "Hush! Take care! Who is that lurking there?
+Some listener! Who can it be?"
+
+Miss Hunter applied her glass to her eye, but could not make out who it
+was.
+
+"It is Lightbody, I declare," said Mrs. Beaumont. "Softly,--let us not
+pretend to see him, and watch what he will do. It is of the greatest
+consequence to me to know whether he is a listener or not; so much as he
+is about the house."
+
+An irresistible fit of giggling, which seized Miss Hunter at the odd
+way in which Lightbody walked, prevented Mrs. Beaumont's trial of his
+curiosity. At the noise which the young lady made, Mr. Lightbody turned
+his head, and immediately advancing, with his accustomed mixture of
+effrontery and servility, said, that "he had executed Mrs. Beaumont's
+commands, and that he had returned in hopes of getting a moment to say a
+word to her when she was at leisure, about something he had just learned
+from Mr. Palmer's man Crichton, which it was of consequence she should
+know without delay."
+
+"Oh, thank you, you best of creatures; but I know all that already."
+
+"You know that Mr. Palmer does not go to-morrow?"
+
+"Yes; and am so rejoiced at it! Do, my dear Lightbody, go to Amelia and
+my son from me, and tell them that charming news. And after that, pray
+have the compassion to inquire if the post is not come in yet, and run
+over the papers, to see if you can find any thing about Walsingham's
+prize."
+
+Mr. Lightbody obeyed, but not with his usual alacrity. Mrs. Beaumont
+mused for a moment, and then said, "I do believe he was listening. What
+could he be doing there?"
+
+"Doing!--Oh, nothing," said Miss Hunter: "he's never doing any thing,
+you know; and as to listening, he was so far off he could not hear a
+word we said: besides, he is such a simple creature, and loves you so!"
+
+"I don't know," said Mrs. Beaumont; "he either did not play me fair, or
+else he did a job I employed him in this morning so awkwardly, that I
+never wish to employ him again. He is but a _low_ kind of person, after
+all; I'll get rid of him: that sort of people always grow tiresome and
+troublesome after a time, and one must shake them off. But I have not
+leisure to think of him now--Well, my dear, to go on with what I was
+saying to you."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont went on talking of her friendship for Sir John Hunter,
+and of the difficulty of appeasing him; but observing that Miss Hunter
+listened only with forced attention, she paused to consider what this
+could mean. Habitually suspicious, like all insincere people, Mrs.
+Beaumont now began to imagine that there was some plot carrying on
+against her by Sir John Hunter and Lightbody, and that Miss Hunter
+was made use of against her. Having a most contemptible opinion of her
+Albina's understanding, and knowing that her young friend had too little
+capacity to be able to deceive her, or to invent a plausible excuse
+impromptu, Mrs. Beaumont turned quick, and exclaimed, "My dear, what
+could Lightbody be saying to you when I came up?--for I remember he
+stopped short, and you both looked so guilty."
+
+"Guilty! did I?--Did he?--Dearest Mrs. Beaumont, don't look at me so
+with your piercing eyes!--Oh! I vow and protest I can't tell you; I
+won't tell you."
+
+The young lady tittered, and twisted herself into various affected
+attitudes; then kissing Mrs. Beaumont, and then turning her back with
+childish playfulness, she cried, "No, I won't tell you; never, never,
+never!"
+
+"Come, come, my dear, don't trifle; I have really business to do, and am
+in a hurry."
+
+"Well, don't look at me--never look at me again--promise me that, and
+I'll tell you. Poor Lightbody--Oh, you're looking at me!--Poor Lightbody
+was talking to me of _somebody_, and he laid me a wager--but I can't
+tell you that--Ah, don't be angry with me, and I will tell, if you'll
+turn your head quite away!--that I should be married to _somebody_
+before the end of this year. Oh, now, don't look at me, dearest, dearest
+Mrs. Beaumont."
+
+"You dear little simpleton, and was that all?" said Mrs. Beaumont, vexed
+to have wasted her time upon such folly: "come, be serious now, my dear;
+if you knew the anxiety I am in at this moment--" But wisely judging
+that it would be in vain to hope for any portion of the love-sick
+damsel's attention, until she had confirmed her hopes of being married
+to _somebody_ before the end of the year, Mrs. Beaumont scrupled not to
+throw out assurances, in which she had herself no further faith.
+After what she had heard from her son this morning, she must have been
+convinced that there was no chance of marrying him to Miss Hunter; she
+knew indeed positively, that he would soon declare his real attachment,
+but she could, she thought, during the interval retain her power over
+Miss Hunter, and secure her services, by concealing the truth.
+
+"Before I say one word more of my own affairs, let me, my dearest
+child, assure you, that in the midst of all these disappointments and
+mortifications about Amelia, I am supported by the hope--by something
+more than the hope--that I shall see the daughter of my heart happily
+settled soon: Lightbody does not want penetration, I see. But I am
+not at liberty to say more. So now, my dear, help me with all your
+cleverness to consider what I shall do in the difficulties I am in at
+this moment. Your brother has a letter of mine, approving, and so forth,
+his addresses to my daughter; now, if he, in the first rashness of his
+anger, should produce this to Palmer, I'm undone--or to my son, worse
+and worse! there would be a duel between them infallibly, for Beaumont
+is so warm on any point of honour--Oh, I dread to think of it, my dear!"
+
+"So do I, I'm sure; but, Lord, I'm the worst person to think in a
+hurry--But can't you write a letter? for you always know what to say so
+well--And after all, do you know, I don't think he'll be half so angry
+or _so disappointed_ as you fancy, for I never thought he was so much in
+love with Amelia."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"I know, if it was not a secret, I could tell you--"
+
+"What? No secrets between us, my darling child."
+
+"Then I can tell you, that just before he proposed for Amelia, he was
+consulting with me about proposing for Mrs. Dutton."
+
+"Mrs. Dutton, the widow! Mrs. Dutton! How you astonish me!" said Mrs.
+Beaumont (though she knew this before). "Why she is older than I am."
+
+"Older! yes, a great deal; but then you know my brother is no chicken
+himself."
+
+"To be sure, compared with you, my dear, he is not young. There's a
+prodigious difference between you."
+
+"Above twenty years; _for,_ you know, he's by another marriage."
+
+"True; but I can't believe he proposed for Mrs. Dutton."
+
+"Not actually proposed, because I would not let him; for I should
+have hated to have had such an unfashionable-looking woman for my
+sister-in-law. I never could have borne to go into public with her, you
+know: so I plagued my brother out of it; and luckily he found out that
+her jointure is not half so great as it was said to be."
+
+"I could have told him that. Mrs. Dutton's jointure is nothing nearly
+so large as mine was, even before the addition to it which my son so
+handsomely, and indeed unexpectedly, made to it this morning. And did I
+tell you, my dear? Mr. Palmer, this day, has been so kind as to leave me
+all his immense fortune for my own life. But don't mention it, lest it
+should get round, and make ill-will: the Walsinghams know nothing of it.
+But to return to your poor brother--if I could any way serve him with
+Mrs. Dutton?"
+
+"La! he'd never think of her more--and I'm sure I would not have him."
+
+"You dear little saucy creature! indeed I cannot wonder that you don't
+like the thoughts of Mrs. Dutton for a _chaperon_ in town."
+
+"Oh, horrid! horrid!"
+
+"And yet, would you condemn your poor brother to be an old bachelor,
+after this disappointment with Amelia?"
+
+"La, ma'am, can't he marry any body but Mrs. Dutton?"
+
+"I wish I could think of any person would suit him. Can you?'
+
+"Oh, I know very well who I think would suit him, and one I like to go
+into public with of all things."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"And one who has promised to present me at court next winter."
+
+"My dearest child! is it possible that you mean me?"
+
+"I do;--and why not?"
+
+"Why not! My sweet love, do you consider my age?"
+
+"But you look so young."
+
+"To be sure Mrs. Dutton looks older, and is older; but I could not bring
+myself, especially after being a widow so long, to think of marrying a
+young man--to be sure, your brother is not what one should call a very
+young man."
+
+"Dear, no; you don't look above three, or four, or five years older than
+he does; and in public, and with dress, and rouge, and fashion, and all
+that, I think it would do vastly well, and nobody would think it odd at
+all. There's Lady ----, is not she ten years older than Lord ----? and
+every body says that's nothing, and that she gives the most delightful
+parties. Oh, I declare, dearest Mrs. Beaumont, you must and shall marry
+my brother, and that's the only way to make him amends, and prevent
+mischief between the gentlemen; the only way to settle every thing
+charmingly--and I shall so like it--and I'm so proud of its being my
+plan! I vow, I'll go and write to my brother this minute, and--"
+
+"Stay, you dear mad creature; only consider what you are about."
+
+"Consider! I have considered, and I must and will have my own way," said
+the dear mad creature, struggling with Mrs. Beaumont, who detained her
+with an earnest hand. "My love," said she, "I positively cannot let you
+use my name in such a strange way. If your brother or the world should
+think I had any share in the transaction, it would be so indelicate."
+
+"Indelicate! Dear me, ma'am, but when nobody will know it, how can it
+be indelicate? and I will not mention your name, and nobody will ever
+imagine that you knew any thing of my writing; and I shall manage it
+all my own way; and the plan is all my own: so let me go and write this
+minute."
+
+"Mercy upon me! what shall I do with this dear headstrong creature!"
+said Mrs. Beaumont, letting Miss Hunter go, as if exhausted by the
+struggle she had made to detain her impetuous young friend. Away ran
+Miss Hunter, sometimes looking back in defiance and laughing, whilst
+Mrs. Beaumont shook her head at her whenever she looked back, but found
+it impossible to overtake her, and vain to make further opposition. As
+Mrs. Beaumont walked slowly homewards, she meditated her own epistle to
+Sir John Hunter, and arranged her future plan of operations.
+
+If, thought she, Miss Hunter's letter should not succeed, it is only a
+suggestion of hers, of which I am not supposed to know any thing, and
+I am only just where I was before. If it does succeed, and if Sir
+John transfers his addresses to me, I avoid all danger of his anger on
+account of his disappointment with Amelia; for it must then be his play,
+to convince me that he is not at all disappointed, and then I shall
+have leisure to consider whether I shall marry Sir John or not. At all
+events, I can draw on his courtship as long as I please, till I have by
+degrees brought Mr. Palmer round to approve of the match.
+
+With these views Mrs. Beaumont wrote an incomparable letter to Sir John
+Hunter, in which she enveloped her meaning in so many words, and so
+much sentiment, that it was scarcely possible to comprehend any thing,
+except, "that she should be glad to see Sir John Hunter the next day,
+to explain to him a circumstance that had given her, on his account,
+heartfelt uneasiness." Miss Hunter's letter was carefully revised by
+Mrs. Beaumont, though she was to know nothing of it; and such was the
+art with which it was retouched, that, after all proper corrections,
+nothing appeared but the most childish and imprudent simplicity.
+
+After having despatched these letters, Mrs. Beaumont felt much anxiety
+about the effect which they might produce; but she was doomed by her own
+habits of insincerity to have perpetually the irksome task of assuming
+an appearance contrary to her real feelings. Amelia was better, and
+Mr. Palmer's determination to stay in England had spread a degree of
+cheerfulness over the whole family, which had not been felt for some
+time at Beaumont Park. In this general delight Mrs. Beaumont was
+compelled seemingly to sympathize: she performed her part so well, that
+even Dr. Wheeler and Captain Lightbody, who had been behind the scenes,
+began to believe that the actress was in earnest. Amelia, alas! knew
+her mother too well to be the dupe even of her most consummate powers
+of acting. All that Mrs. Beaumont said about her joy, and her hopes
+that Captain Walsingham would soon appear and confirm her happy
+_pre-sentiments_, Amelia heard without daring to believe. She had such
+an opinion of her mother's address, such a sublime superstitious dread
+that her mother would, by some inscrutable means, work out her own
+purposes, that she felt as if she could not escape from these secret
+machinations. Amelia still apprehended that Sir John Hunter would not be
+irrevocably dismissed, and that by some turn of artifice she should find
+herself bound to him. The next morning Sir John Hunter, however, finally
+relieved her from these apprehensions. After having been closeted for
+upwards of two hours with Mrs. Beaumont, he begged to speak to Miss
+Beaumont; and he resigned all pretensions to the honour which he had
+so long and so ardently aspired to. It was his pride to show that his
+spirits were not affected by this disappointment: he scarcely indeed
+exhibited that decent appearance of mortification which is usually
+expected on such an occasion; but with provoking haughtiness professed
+himself sincerely obliged to Miss Beaumont for having, _however late
+in the business_, prevented him, by her candour, from the danger of
+crossing her inclinations. For this he could scarcely be sufficiently
+thankful, when he considered how every day showed the consequences of
+marrying young ladies whose affections were previously engaged. He had
+only to add, that he hoped the world would see _the thing_ in the same
+light in which he took it, and that Miss Beaumont might not find herself
+blamed for breaking off _the matter_, after it had been so publicly
+reported: that, for his part, he assured her, he would, as far as he was
+concerned, do his utmost to silence unpleasant observations; and that,
+as the most effectual means to do this, he conceived, would be to show
+that he continued on an amicable footing with the family, he should
+do himself the honour to avail himself of the permission--invitation,
+indeed--he had just received from Mrs. Beaumont, to continue his visits
+as usual at Beaumont Park.
+
+To this Amelia could make no objection after the express declaration
+which he had just made, that he renounced all pretensions to her favour.
+However keenly she felt the implied reproach of having encouraged Sir
+John as her admirer, while her affections were previously engaged, and
+of having shown candour _late_ in this affair, she could not vindicate
+herself without accusing her mother; therefore she attempted neither
+excuse nor apology, submitted to let the unfeeling baronet enjoy her
+confusion, whilst she said, in general terms, she felt obliged by his
+assurance that she should not be the cause of any quarrel between two
+families who had hitherto lived in friendship.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+      _"Him no soft thoughts, no gratitude could move;
+      To gold he fled, from beauty and from love!"_
+
+                                         DRYDEN.
+
+All that passed in the two hours' conversation between the discarded
+baronet and the mother of his late mistress did not transpire; but Mrs.
+Beaumont said that she had taken infinite pains to reconcile Sir John
+to his fate, and his subsequent behaviour showed that she had
+succeeded. His attention towards her also plainly proved that he was not
+dissatisfied by the part she had acted, or rather by the part that he
+thought she had acted. Thus all things went on smoothly. Mrs. Beaumont,
+in confidence, told her friend, Miss Hunter, that Sir John had behaved
+with the greatest propriety and candour (candour! that hackneyed word);
+that he had acknowledged that his principal inducement to propose for
+her daughter had been a desire to be connected with a family for which
+he had such peculiar regard.
+
+"This, my love," continued Mrs. Beaumont, "was all, you know, that your
+brother could, with propriety, say on such an occasion; all indeed that
+I would permit him to say. As to the rest, on Amelia's account, you
+know, I could not refuse his request to continue his visits in this
+family on the same footing of friendship as usual."
+
+Whether this was the truth and the whole truth, the mystery that
+involves all cabinet-councils, and more especially those of female
+politicians, prevents the cautious historian from presuming to decide.
+But arguing from general causes, and from the established characters and
+ruling passions of the parties concerned, we may safely conjecture that
+the baronet did not at this time make any decisive proposal to the
+lady, but that he kept himself at liberty to advance or recede, as
+circumstances should render it expedient. His ruling passion was
+avarice; and though he had been allured by the hints which his sister
+had thrown out concerning Mrs. Beaumont's increased jointure, and
+vast expectancies from Mr. Palmer, yet he was not so rash as to act
+decisively upon such vague information: he had wisely determined to
+obtain accurate and positive evidence from Captain Lightbody, who
+seemed, in this case, to be the common vouchee; but Lightbody happened
+to be gone out to shoot _flappers_.[4]
+
+Consequently Sir John wisely entrenched himself in general professions
+of regard to Mrs. Beaumont, and reflections on the happiness of being
+connected with such a respectable family. Mrs. Beaumont, who understood
+the whole of the game, now saw that her play must be to take Captain
+Lightbody again into her confidence.
+
+Ever careful not to commit herself, she employed Miss Hunter to
+communicate _her own scheme_ to the captain, and to prepare him on
+the requisite points with proper answers to those inquiries which she
+foresaw the baronet would make.
+
+"You know, my love," said Mrs. Beaumont, "you can find a proper moment
+to say all you wish to Lightbody."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Miss Hunter, "I will if I possibly can this day; but it
+is so difficult to find a good time--"
+
+"At dinner, suppose?" said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"At dinner! surely, ma'am, that's an awkward time, is not it, for
+talking of secrets?"
+
+"The best time in the world, my dear; you know we are to have the
+Duttons, and the Lord knows whom besides, to-day. And when there's a
+large company, and every body talking at once, and eating, and drinking,
+and carving, it is the best time in the world! You may say what you
+please; your neighbours are all happily engaged, too busy to mind you.
+Get near fat Mr. Dutton, and behind the screen of his prodigious elbow
+you will be comfortably recessed from curious impertinents. My dear,
+the most perfect solitude is not so convenient as one of these great
+dinners."
+
+Whilst Mrs. Beaumont was demonstrating to Miss Hunter that the most
+convenient and secure time for a _t�te-�-t�te_ is at a large dinner, she
+happened to look out of the window, near which they were standing, and
+she saw her son and daughter with Mr. Palmer walking in the park; they
+sat down under a tree within view of the house.
+
+"Come away from the window, my dear," said Mrs. Beaumont; "they will
+observe us, and perhaps think we are plotting something. I wonder what
+they are talking of! Look how earnestly Amelia is stretching out her
+neck, and Mr. Palmer striking his cane upon the ground. Come back a
+little, my dear, come back; you can see as well here."
+
+"But I see a gentleman on horseback, galloping. Oh, ma'am, look! he has
+stopped! he has jumped off his horse! Captain Walsingham it must be!"
+
+"Captain Walsingham it really is!" said Mrs. Beaumont, pressing forward
+to look out of the window, yet standing so, that she could not be seen
+from without.
+
+"Dear," said Miss Hunter, "but how delighted Mr. Beaumont seems; and
+how Mr. Palmer shakes Captain Walsingham's hand, as if he had known him
+these hundred years! What can make them so glad to see him? Do look at
+them, ma'am."
+
+"I see it all!" said Mrs. Beaumont, with an involuntary sigh.
+
+"But, dear Mrs. Beaumont," pursued Miss Hunter, "if he has actually
+come at last to propose for Amelia, don't you think he is doing it in a
+shabby sort of way? When he has been in London too--and if he has taken
+such a treasure too, could not he have come down here a little more in
+style, with some sort of an equipage of his own at least? But now only
+look at him; would you, if you met him on the road, know him from any
+common man?"
+
+Another sigh, deep and sincere, was all the answer Mrs. Beaumont made.
+
+"I am sure," continued Miss Hunter, as Mrs. Beaumont drew her away from
+the window, "I am sure, I think Amelia has not gained much by the change
+of admirers; for what's a captain of a ship?"
+
+"He ranks with a colonel in the army, to be sure," said Mrs. Beaumont;
+"but Amelia might have looked much higher. If she does not know her own
+interest and dignity, that is not my fault."
+
+"If she had such a fortune as I shall have," said Miss Hunter, "she
+might afford to marry for love, because you know she could make her
+husband afterwards keep her proper equipages, and take her to town, and
+go into parliament, and get a title for her too!"
+
+"Very true, my darling," said Mrs. Beaumont, who was at this instant
+so absent, that she assented without having heard one syllable that her
+darling said.
+
+"But for Amelia, who has no such great fortune of her own, it is quite
+another thing, you know, dearest Mrs. Beaumont. Oh, you'll see how
+she'll repent when she sees you Lady Puckeridge, and herself plain
+Mrs. Walsingham. And when she sees the figure you'll make in town next
+winter, and the style my brother will live in--Oh, then she'll see what
+a difference there is between Sir John Hunter and Captain Walsingham!"
+
+"Very true, indeed, my dear," said Mrs. Beaumont; and this time she did
+not answer without having heard the assertion. The door opened.
+
+"Captain Walsingham! dare I believe my eyes? And do I see our friend,
+Captain Walsingham, again at last?"
+
+"At last! Oh, Mrs. Beaumont, you don't know how hard I have worked to
+get here."
+
+"How kind! But won't you sit down and tell me?"
+
+"No; I can neither sit, nor rest, nor speak, nor think upon any subject
+but one," said Captain Walsingham.
+
+"That's right," cried Mr. Palmer.
+
+"Mrs. Beaumont--pardon my abruptness," continued Captain Walsingham,
+"but you see before you a man whose whole happiness is at stake. May I
+beg a few minutes' conversation with you?"
+
+"This instant," said Mrs. Beaumont, hesitating; but she saw that Mr.
+Palmer's eye was upon her, so with a smile she complied immediately; and
+giving her hand graciously to Captain Walsingham, she accompanied him
+into a little reading-room within the drawing-room.
+
+"May I hope that we are friends?" said Captain Walsingham; "may I hope
+so, Mrs. Beaumont--may I?"
+
+"Good Heavens! Friends! assuredly; I hope so. I have always had and
+expressed the highest opinion of you, Captain Walsingham."
+
+"I have had one, and, hitherto, but one opportunity of showing
+myself, in any degree, deserving of your esteem, madam," said Captain
+Walsingham. "When I was in this country some years ago, you must have
+seen how passionately I was in love with your daughter; but I knew that
+my circumstances were then such that I could not hope to obtain Miss
+Beaumont's hand; and you will do me the justice to allow that I behaved
+with prudence. Of the difficulty of the task I alone can judge."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont declared, that she admired Captain Walsingham's conduct
+inexpressibly, now that she understood what his feelings and motives had
+been; but really he had kept his own secret so honourably, that she had
+not, till within these few days, when it was _let out_ by Mr. Walsingham
+to Mr. Palmer, had the most distant idea of his being attached to her
+daughter.
+
+Captain Walsingham was too polite even to _look_ a doubt of the truth of
+a lady's assertion: he therefore believed, because it was impossible.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, determining to make her story consistent, repeated nearly
+what she had said to Mr. Palmer, and went on to confess that she had
+often, with a mother's pride, perhaps, in her own secret thoughts
+wondered at the indifference Captain Walsingham showed towards Amelia.
+
+Captain Walsingham was surprised that Mrs. Beaumont's penetration
+should have been so strangely mistaken; especially as the symptoms of
+admiration and love must be so well known to a lady who had so many and
+such passionate admirers.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont smiled, and observed, that Captain Walsingham, though a
+seaman, had all the address of a courtier, and she acknowledged that she
+loved address.
+
+"If by address Mrs. Beaumont means politeness, I admire it as much as
+she does; but I disclaim and despise all that paltry system of artifice,
+which is sometimes called address. No person of a great mind ever
+condescends to use _address_ in that sense of the word; not because they
+cannot, but because they will not."
+
+"Certainly--certainly," said Mrs. Beaumont; "there is nothing I love so
+much as frankness."
+
+"Then, frankly, Mrs. Beaumont, may I hope for your approbation in
+addressing Miss Beaumont?"
+
+"Frankly, then, you have my full approbation. This is the very thing
+I have long secretly wished, as Mr. Palmer can tell you. You have ever
+been the son-in-law of my choice, though not of my hopes."
+
+Delighted with this frank answer, this full approbation, this assurance
+that he had always been the son-in-law of her choice, Captain Walsingham
+poured out his warm heart in joy and gratitude. All suspicions of Mrs.
+Beaumont were forgotten; for suspicion was unnatural to his mind:
+though he knew, though he had experience almost from childhood, of
+her character, yet, at this instant, he thought he had, till now, been
+always prejudiced, always mistaken. Happy those who can be thus duped by
+the warmth of their own hearts! It is a happiness which they who smile
+in scorn at their credulity can never enjoy.
+
+Wakening a little to the use of his understanding, Captain Walsingham
+disconcerted Mrs. Beaumont, by suddenly saying, "Then there was not any
+truth in the report, which I have heard with horror, that you were going
+to marry Miss Beaumont to Sir John Hunter?"
+
+"Then there was not any truth in the report I heard with horror, that
+you were going to marry yourself to a Spanish nun?" said Mrs. Beaumont,
+who had learned from a veteran in public warfare, that the best way to
+parry an attack is not to defend, but to make an assault.
+
+"My dear Captain Walsingham," added she, with an arch smile, "I really
+thought you were a man of too much sense, and above all, too much
+courage, to be terror-struck by every idle report. You should leave
+such _horrors_ to us weak women--to the visionary mind. Now, I could not
+blame poor Amelia, if she were to ask, 'Then was there no truth in
+the report of the Spanish incognita?'--No, no," pursued Mrs. Beaumont,
+playfully, refusing to hear Captain Walsingham; "not to me, not to
+_me_, must your defence be made. Appear before your judge, appear before
+Amelia; I can only recommend you to mercy."
+
+What a charming woman this Mrs. Beaumont would be, if one could feel
+quite sure of her sincerity, thought Captain Walsingham, as he followed
+the lady, who, with apparently playful, but really polite grace, thus
+eluded all further inquiry into her secret manoeuvres.
+
+"Here, my dearest Amelia," cried she, "is a culprit, whom I am bringing
+to your august tribunal for mercy."
+
+"For justice," said Captain Walsingham.
+
+"Justice! Oh, the pride of the man's heart, and the folly! Who ever
+talks of justice to a woman? My dear captain, talk of mercy, or cruelty,
+if you will; we ladies delight in being called cruel, you know, and
+sometimes are even pleased to be merciful--but to be just, is the last
+thing we think of: so now for your trial; public or private, Captain
+Walsingham?"
+
+"Public! as I am innocent."
+
+"Oyes, oyes! all manner of men," cried Mr. Beaumont.
+
+"The Spanish cause coming on!" cried Mr. Palmer: "let me hear it; and
+let me have a good seat that I may hear--a seat near the judge."
+
+"Oh, you shall be judge, Mr. Palmer," said Amelia; "and here is the best
+seat for our good judge."
+
+"And you will remember," said Mr. Beaumont, "that it is the duty of a
+good judge to lean towards the prisoner."
+
+"To lean! No, to sit bolt upright, as I will if I can," said old Mr.
+Palmer, entering into the pleasantry of the young people as readily as
+if he had been the youngest man in the company. As he looked round, his
+good countenance beamed with benevolent pleasure.
+
+"Now, sir captain, be pleased to inform the court what you have done,
+or mean to do, with a certain Spanish nun, whom, as it is confidently
+asserted in a letter from one of your own men, you carried off from her
+nunnery, and did bring, or cause to be brought, with you to England."
+
+"My lord judge, will you do me the favour, or the justice, to order that
+the letter alluded to may be read in court?"
+
+This was ordered, and done accordingly.
+
+"My lord judge," said Captain Walsingham, "I have nothing to object to
+the truth of the main points of this story; and considering that it was
+told by a very young man, and a traveller, it contains but a reasonable
+share of _'travellers' wonders.'_ Considering the opportunity and
+temptation for embellishments afforded by such a romantic tale, less
+has been added to it by the narrator than the usual progress of strange
+reports might have prepared me to expect. It is most true, as it has
+been stated, that I did, by her own desire, carry away from a nunnery,
+at ----, this lady, who was neither a nun nor a Spanish lady, nor, as I
+am compelled by my regard to truth to add, young, nor yet handsome.
+My lord judge, far be it from me to impeach the veracity of the
+letter-writer. It is admitted by the highest and the lowest authorities,
+that beauty is a matter of taste, and that for taste there is no
+standard; it is also notorious, that to a sailor every woman is fair and
+young, who is not as old as Hecuba, or as ugly as Caifacaratadaddera. I
+can therefore speak only to my own opinion and judgment. And really, my
+lord, it grieves me much to spoil the romance, to destroy the effect of
+a tale, which might in future serve for the foundation of some novel,
+over which belles and beaux, yet unborn, might weep and wonder:
+it grieves me much, I say, to be compelled by the severity of this
+cross-examination to declare the simple truth, that there was no love in
+the case; that, to the very best of my belief and judgment, the lady was
+not in love with any body, much less with me."
+
+"As you have admitted, sir," said the judge, "as you have voluntarily
+stated, that to a sailor every woman is fair and young, who is not as
+old as Hecuba, or as ugly as that other woman with the unspeakable name,
+you will be pleased to inform the court how it happened, or how it was
+possible, that in the course of a long voyage, you could avoid falling
+in love with the damsel whom you had thus rescued and carried off.
+Experience shows us, sir, that at land, and, I presume, at sea,
+proximity is one of the most common causes of love. Now, I understand,
+she was the only woman you saw for some months; and she had, I think
+you allow, possession of your cabin, to and from which you had of course
+constant egress and regress. Sir, human nature is human nature; here is
+temptation, and opportunity, and circumstantial evidence enough, in our
+days, to hang a man. What have you to offer in your defence, young man?"
+
+"The plain fact, my lord, is, that instead of three months, I was but
+three days in the dangerous state of proximity with the Spanish lady.
+But had it been three months, or three years, there is my defence, my
+lord," said Captain Walsingham, bowing to Amelia. "At the first _blush_,
+you allow it, I see, to be powerful; but how powerful, you cannot feel
+as I do, without having looked, as I have done, into the mind."
+
+"I have looked into the mind as well as you, sir. You have a great deal
+of assurance, to tell me I cannot feel and judge as well as you can.
+But, nevertheless, I shall do you justice. I think your defence is
+sufficient. I believe we must acquit him. But, pray--the plain matter of
+fact, which I wanted to hear, I have not yet got at. What have you done
+with this lady? and where is she?"
+
+"She was carried safely to her friends--to her friend, for she has but
+one friend, that I could find out, an old aunt, who lives in an obscure
+lodging, in a narrow street, in London."
+
+"And, upon honour, this is all you know about her?" said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"All--except that she is in hopes of recovering some property, of which
+she says she has been unjustly defrauded by some of her relations. After
+I had paid my respects at the Admiralty, I made it my business to see
+the lady, and to offer my services; but into her lawsuits, I thank God,
+it was not my business to inquire, I recommended to her a good honest
+lawyer, and came here as fast as horses could carry me."
+
+"But was not there some giving of diamonds, and exchanging of rings, one
+day, upon deck?" said Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"None," said Captain Walsingham; "that was a mere fable of poor Birch's
+imagination. I recollect the lady showed me a Spanish motto upon her
+ring; that is all I can remember about rings.--She had no diamonds,
+and very few clothes. Now," cried Captain Walsingham, growing a little
+impatient of the length of his trial, for he had not yet been able to
+speak for more than an instant to Amelia, "now, I hope, my trial is
+ended; else its length will be, as in some other cases, the worst of
+punishments."
+
+"Acquitted! acquitted! honourably acquitted!" said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"Acquitted, acquitted, honourably acquitted by general acclamation,"
+cried Mr. Beaumont.
+
+"Acquitted by a smile from Amelia, worth all our acclamations," said
+Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+"Captain Walsingham," said Miss Hunter, "did the lady come to England
+and go to London in a Spanish dress and long waist?"
+
+She spoke, but Captain Walsingham did not hear her important question.
+She turned to repeat it, but the captain was gone, and Amelia with him.
+
+"Bless me! how quick! how odd!" said Miss Hunter, with a pouting look,
+which seemed to add--nobody carries me off!
+
+Mr. Beaumont looked duller than was becoming.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont applied herself to adjust the pretty curls of Miss
+Hunter's hair; and Mr. Palmer, in one of his absent fits, hummed aloud,
+as he walked up and down the room,
+
+     "'And it's, Oh! what will become of me?
+     Oh! what shall I do?
+     Nobody coming to marry me,
+     Nobody coming to woo.'"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+      "True love's the gift which God has giv'n
+      To man alone, beneath the heav'n;
+      It is the secret sympathy,
+      The silver link, the silken tie,
+      Which heart to heart, and mind to mind,
+      In body and in soul can bind."
+
+Happy love, though the most delightful in reality, is the most
+uninteresting in description; and lovers are proverbially bad company,
+except for one another: therefore we shall not intrude on Captain
+Walsingham and Amelia, nor shall we give a journal of the days of
+courtship; those days which, by Rousseau, and many people, have been
+pronounced to be the happiest; by others, the only happy days of
+existence; and which, by some privileged or prudent few, have been found
+to be but the prelude to the increasing pleasures of domestic union.
+
+Now that Mr. Beaumont saw his sister and his friend thus gratified in
+their mutual esteem and affection,--now that he saw all obstacles to
+their union removed, he became uncontroulably impatient to declare his
+own attachment to Miss Walsingham.
+
+"My dear mother, I can bear it no longer. Believe me, you are mistaken
+in the whole romance you have imagined to yourself about Miss Hunter.
+She is no more in love with me than I am with her. Since you fixed my
+attention upon her, I have studied the young lady. She is not capable of
+love: I don't mean that she is not capable of wishing to be married, but
+that is quite a different affair, which need not give me any peculiar
+disturbance. My dear mother, find another husband for her, and my life
+for it, her heart will not break; especially if you give her bales of
+wedding finery enough to think and talk about for a calendar year.
+
+"You abominably malicious monster of cruelty, I will not smile, nor will
+I allow you to indulge your humour in this manner at the expense of your
+poor victim."
+
+"Victim! never saw a girl look less like a victim, except, indeed, as
+to her ornaments. I believe it is the etiquette for victims to appear
+dressed out with garlands, and ribands, and flowers."
+
+"Positively, Edward, I won't allow you to go on in this style;--do
+you know you seriously hurt and offend me? do you consider that Miss
+Hunter's mother was my most intimate friend, and this match I have
+anxiously wished, in consequence of an agreement made between us at your
+birth and Albina's?"
+
+"Oh, ma'am, those agreements never turned out well, from the time of the
+Arabian tales to the present moment. And you must pardon me if, after
+having tried all that reason and patience would do, in vain, I now come
+to impatience, and a little innocent ridicule. Except by laughing, I
+have no other way left of convincing you that I never can or will marry
+this young lady."
+
+"But so pretty a creature! Surely you _have thought_ her pretty."
+
+"Extremely pretty. And I acknowledge that there have been moments when
+the influence of her--beauty, I can't call it--prettiness, joined to
+the power of my mother's irresistible address, have almost lapped me
+in elysium--a fool's paradise. But, thank Heaven and Miss Walsingham!
+I unlapped myself; and though the sweet airs took my fancy, they never
+imprisoned my soul."
+
+"Vastly poetical! quite in the blue-stocking style."
+
+"Blue-stocking! Dear mother, that expression is not elegant enough
+for you. That commonplace taunt is unworthy of my mother," said Mr.
+Beaumont, warmly, for he was thrown off his guard by the reflection
+implied on Miss Walsingham. "Ignorant silly women may be allowed to
+sneer at information and talents in their own sex, and, if they have
+read them, may talk of _'Les Pr�cieuses Ridicules_,' and _'Les Femmes
+Savantes_,' and may borrow from Moli�re all the wit they want,
+to support the cause of folly. But from women who are themselves
+distinguished for talents, such apostasy--but I am speaking to my
+mother--I forbear."
+
+"Great forbearance to your mother you have shown, in truth," cried Mrs.
+Beaumont, reddening with genuine anger: "Marry as you please! I
+have done. Fool that I have been, to devote my life to plans for the
+happiness and aggrandizement of my children! It is now time I should
+think of myself. You shall not see me the defeated, deserted, duped,
+despised mother--the old dowager _permitted_ in the house of which
+she was once the mistress! No, no, Mr. Beaumont," cried she, rising
+indignantly, "this shall never, never be."
+
+Touched and astonished by a burst of passion, such as he scarcely had
+ever before seen from his mother, Mr. Beaumont stopped her as she rose;
+and taking her hand in the most affectionate manner, "Forgive me, my
+dear mother, the hasty words I said just now. I was very much in the
+wrong. I beg your pardon. Forgive your son."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont struggled to withdraw the hand which her son forcibly
+detained.
+
+"Be always," continued he, "be always mistress of this house, of me,
+and mine. The chosen wife of my heart will never torment you, or degrade
+herself, with paltry struggles for power. Your days shall be happy and
+honoured: believe me, I speak from my heart."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont looked as if her anger had subsided; yet, as if struggling
+with unusual feelings, she sat silent. Mr. Beaumont continued, "Your
+son--who is no sentimentalist, no speech-maker--your son, who has
+hitherto perhaps been too rough, too harsh--now implores you, by these
+sincere caresses, by all that is tender and true in nature, to believe
+in the filial affection of your children. Give us, simply give us your
+confidence; and our confidence, free and unconstrained, shall be given
+in return. Then we shall be happy indeed."
+
+Touched, vanquished, Mrs. Beaumont leaned her head on her son, and said,
+"Then we shall be happy indeed!" The exclamation was sincere: at this
+moment she thought as she spoke. All her schemes were forgotten: the
+reversionary title, the Wigram estate--all, all forgotten: miraculous
+eloquence and power of truth!
+
+"What happiness!" said Mrs. Beaumont: "I ask no other. You are right,
+my dear son; marry Miss Walsingham, and we have enough, and more than
+enough, for happiness. You are right; and henceforward we shall have but
+one mind amongst us."
+
+With true gratitude and joy her son embraced her; and this was the most
+delightful, perhaps the only really delightful, moment she had felt for
+years. She was sincere, and at ease. But this touch of nature, strong
+as it was, operated only for a moment: habit resumed her influence; art
+regained her pupil and her slave! Captain Lightbody and Miss Hunter came
+into the room; and with them came low thoughts of plots, and notes,
+and baronets, and equipages, and a reversionary title, and the Wigram
+estate. What different ideas of happiness! Her son, in the mean time,
+had started up, mounted his horse, and had galloped off to realize some
+of his ideas of felicity, by the immediate offer of his hand to the lady
+who possessed his whole heart. Cool as policy, just recovered from the
+danger of imprudent sensibility, could make her, Mrs. Beaumont was now
+all herself again.
+
+"Have you found much amusement shooting this morning, Lightbody?" said
+she, carelessly.
+
+"No, ma'am; done nothing--just nothing at all--for I met Sir John in the
+grounds, and could not leave him. Poor Sir John, ma'am; I tell him we
+must get him a crook; he is quite turned despairing shepherd. Never saw
+a man so changed. Upon my soul, he is--seriously now, Mrs. Beaumont, you
+need not laugh--I always told Sir John that his time of falling in love
+would come; and come it has, at last, with a vengeance."
+
+"Oh, nonsense! nonsense, Lightbody! This to me! and of Sir John Hunter!"
+
+Though Mrs. Beaumont called it, and thought it nonsense, yet it
+flattered her; and though she appeared half offended by flattery so
+gross, as to seem almost an insult upon her understanding, yet her
+vanity was secretly gratified, even by feeling that she had dependents
+who were thus obliged to flatter; and though she despised Captain
+Lightbody for the meanness, yet he made his court to her successfully,
+by persisting in all the audacity of adulation. She knew Sir John Hunter
+too well to believe that he was liable to fall in love with any thing
+but a fair estate or a fine fortune; yet she was gratified by feeling
+that she possessed so great a share of those charms which age cannot
+wither; of that substantial power, to which men do not merely feign
+in poetical sport to submit, or to which they are slaves only for a
+honey-moon, but to which they do homage to the latest hour of life,
+with unabating, with increasing devotion. Besides this sense of pleasure
+arising from calculation, it may be presumed that, like all other female
+politicians, our heroine had something of the woman lurking at her
+heart; something of that feminine vanity, which inclines to believe in
+the potency of personal charms, even when they are in the wane. Captain
+Lightbody's asseverations, and the notes Sir John Hunter wrote to his
+sister, were at last listened to by Mrs. Beaumont with patience, and
+even with smiles; and, after it had been sufficiently reiterated,
+that really it was using Sir John Hunter ill not to give him some more
+decisive answer, when he was so unhappy, so impatient, she at length
+exclaimed, "Well, Lightbody, tell your friend Sir John, then, since
+it must be so, I will consult my friends, and see what can be done for
+him."
+
+"When may I say? for I dare not see Sir John again--positively I dare
+not meet him--without having some hope to give, something decisive. He
+says the next time he comes here he must be allowed to make it known to
+the family that he is Mrs. Beaumont's admirer. So, when may I say?"
+
+"Oh, dearest Mrs. Beaumont," cried Miss Hunter, "say to-morrow."
+
+"To-morrow! impossible!"
+
+"But when?" said Miss Hunter: "only look at my brother's note to me
+again; you see he is afraid of being cast off at last as he was
+before about Amelia, if Mr. Palmer should object; and he says this
+disappointment would be such a very different affair."
+
+"Indeed," said Captain Lightbody, "I, who am in Sir John's confidence,
+can vouch for that; for I have reason to believe, that--that _the
+connexion_ was the charm, and that the daughter would not have been
+thought of. Stop, I was charged not to say this. But _when_ Mrs.
+Beaumont, to return to my point--"
+
+"Oh! name an early day," cried Miss Hunter, in a fondling tone; "name
+an early day for my brother's coming; and then, you know, it will be so
+_nice_ to have the wedding days fixed for both marriages. And, dearest
+Mrs. Beaumont, remember I am to be your bride's-maid; and we'll have a
+magnificent wedding, and I shall be bride's-maid!"
+
+"The dear innocent little creature, how mad she is with spirits! Well,
+you shall be my bride's-maid, if the thing takes place."
+
+"_If.--If_ to the winds!--Captain Lightbody, tell my brother--No, I'll
+write myself, and tell him he may come."
+
+"How she distresses me! But she is so affectionate, one does not know
+how to be angry with her. But, my dear, as to naming the day when he may
+publicly declare himself, I cannot; for, you know, I have to break the
+affair to Mr. Palmer, and to my son and daughter, and I must take my own
+time, and find a happy moment for this; so name a day I cannot; but
+in general--and it's always safest to use general terms--you may say,
+_soon_."
+
+This was Mrs. Beaumont's ultimatum. The note was written accordingly,
+and committed to the care of the confidential captain.
+
+This business of mysterious note-writing, and secret negotiations[5],
+was peculiarly suited to our heroine's genius and taste. Considering
+the negotiation to be now in effect brought within view of a happy
+termination, her ambassador, furnished with her ultimatum, having now
+actually set out on his ostensible mission of duck-shooting, our fair
+negotiatrix prepared to show the usual degree of gratitude towards those
+who had been the principal instruments of her success. The proper time,
+she thought, was now arrived, when, having no further occasion for Miss
+Hunter's services, she might finally undeceive her young friend as to
+any hopes she might retain of a union with Mr. Beaumont; and she felt
+that it was now indispensably necessary to disclose the truth, that her
+son had declared his attachment to Miss Walsingham.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont opened the delicate case with a sigh, which claimed the
+notice of her young confidante.
+
+"What a deep sigh!" said Miss Hunter, who was perfect, to use a musical
+term, in her lessons, _pour observer les soupirs_: "What a sigh! I hope
+it was for my poor brother?"
+
+"Ah, no, my love! for one nearer my heart--for you."
+
+"For me!--dear me!"
+
+"You see before you a mother, all of whose fondest wishes and plans are
+doomed to be frustrated by her children. Amelia would have her way: I
+was forced to yield. My son follows her example, insists upon marrying
+without fortune, or extraordinary beauty, or any of the advantages which
+I had fondly pointed out in the daughter-in-law of my heart. You turn
+away from me, my darling! How shall I go on? how shall I tell you all
+the terrible truth?"
+
+"Oh, ma'am, pray go on; pray tell me all."
+
+"Miss Walsingham; that's all, in one word. These Walsinghams have forced
+themselves into my family,--fairly outwitted me. I cannot tell you how
+much, how deeply I am mortified!"
+
+"Thank Heaven! I am not mortified," cried Miss Hunter, throwing back her
+head with pettish disdain.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, who had prepared herself for a fainting fit, or at least
+for a flood of tears, rejoiced to see this turn in the young lady's
+temper.
+
+"That's right, my own love. Hew I admire your spirit! This pride becomes
+you, and is what I expected from your understanding. Set a just value
+upon yourself, and show it."
+
+"I should set but little value on myself, indeed, if I did not think
+myself equal to Miss Walsingham; but Mr. Beaumont knows best."
+
+"Not best, I fear," said Mrs. Beaumont; "but, from a child he was ever
+the most self-willed, uncontrollable being; there was no moving, no
+persuading him. There was no power, no appeal, my love, I did not try."
+
+"Dear ma'am, I am excessively sorry you did."
+
+"Why, my dear, I could not refrain from doing all I could, not only for
+my son's sake, but for yours, when I saw your affections, as I feared,
+so deeply engaged. But your present magnanimity gives me hopes that the
+shock will not be irrecoverable."
+
+"Irrecoverable! No, really, ma'am. If Mr. Beaumont expects to see me
+wear the willow for him all my life, his vanity will be mistaken."
+
+"Certainly, my dear," replied Mrs. Beaumont, "you would not be so weak
+as to wear the willow for any man. A young lady of your fortune should
+never wear the weeping but the golden willow. Turn your pretty little
+face again towards me, and smile once more upon me."
+
+Miss Hunter had sat with her face turned from Mrs. Beaumont during the
+whole of this dialogue--"as if by hiding her face, she could conceal the
+emotions of her mind from me," thought her penetrating observer.
+
+"Spare me, spare me, dearest Mrs. Beaumont," cried Miss Hunter, hiding
+her face on the arm of the sofa, and seeming now disposed to pass from
+the heights of anger to the depths of despair.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, less hard-hearted than some politicians, who care not who
+dies or lives, provided they attain their own objects, now listened
+at least with seeming commiseration to her young friend, who, with
+intermitting sighs, and in a voice which her position or her sobs
+rendered scarcely audible, talked of dying, and of never marrying any
+other man upon the earth.
+
+Not much alarmed, however, by the dying words of young ladies, Mrs.
+Beaumont confined her attention to the absurdity of the resolution
+against marriage in general, and at this instant formed a plan of
+marrying Miss Hunter to one of her nephews instead of her son. She had
+one unmarried nephew, a young man of good figure and agreeable manners,
+but with only a younger brother's portion. To him she thought Miss
+Hunter's large fortune would be highly convenient; and she had reason to
+believe that his taste in the choice of a wife would be easily governed
+by her advice, or by his interest. Thus she could, at least, prevent her
+young friend's affections and fortune from going out of the family.
+In consequence of this glimpse of a new scheme, our indefatigable
+politician applied herself to prepare the way for it with her wonted
+skill. She soothed the lovelorn and pettish damsel with every expression
+that could gratify pride and rouse high thoughts of revenge. She
+suggested that instead of making rash vows of celibacy, which would only
+show forlorn constancy, Miss Hunter should abide by her first spirited
+declaration, never to wear the willow for any man; and that the best way
+to assert her own dignity would be to marry as soon as possible. After
+having given this consolatory advice, Mrs. Beaumont left the young
+lady's grief to wear itself out. "I know, my love," added she, "a friend
+of mine who would die for the happiness which my obstinate son does not,
+it seems, know how to value."
+
+"Who, ma'am?" said Miss Hunter, raising her head: "I'm sure I can't
+guess whom you can possibly mean--who, ma'am?"
+
+"Ah! my dear, excuse me," said Mrs. Beaumont, "that is a secret I cannot
+tell you yet. When you are 'fit to hear yourself convinced,' may be, I
+may obtain leave to tell you your admirer's name. I can assure you, he's
+a very fashionable and a very agreeable man; a great favourite with our
+sex, a particular friend of mine, and an officer."
+
+"Lord bless me!" exclaimed Miss Hunter, starting quite up, "an officer!
+I can't imagine whom you mean! Dear Mrs. Beaumont, whom can you mean?"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont walked towards the door.
+
+"Only tell me one thing, dearest Mrs. Beaumont--did I ever see him?"
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, wisely declining to answer any more questions at present,
+quitted the room, and left Miss Hunter dying--with curiosity.
+
+The new delight of this fresh project, with the prospect of bringing to
+a happy termination her negotiation with Sir John Hunter, sustained Mrs.
+Beaumont's spirits in the midst of the disappointments she experienced
+respecting the marriages of her son and daughter; and enabled her, with
+less effort of dissimulation, to take apparently a share in the general
+joy which now pervaded her family. Her son expressed his felicity
+with unbounded rapture, when he found his proposal to Miss Walsingham
+graciously received by the object of his affections, and by all her
+family: his gratitude to his mother for no longer opposing his wishes
+gave a tenderness to his manner which would have touched any heart but
+that of a politician. Amelia, also, even in the midst of her love for
+Captain Walsingham, was anxiously intent upon showing dutiful attention
+to her mother, and upon making her some amends for the pain she had
+caused her of late. Whenever the brother and sister were together,
+in all their views of future happiness their mother was one of their
+principal objects; and these dispositions both Miss Walsingham and
+Captain Walsingham were earnest to confirm. No young people could have
+higher ideas than they had of the duty of children towards parents, and
+of the delight of family confidence and union. In former times, when Mr.
+Beaumont had been somewhat to blame in the roughness of his sincerity
+towards his mother, and when he had been disposed to break from her
+artful restraints, Captain Walsingham, by his conversation, and by his
+letters, had always used his power and influence to keep him within
+bounds; and whenever he could do so with truth, to raise Mrs. Beaumont
+in his opinion. She now appeared in a more advantageous light to her
+family, and they were more disposed to believe in her sincerity than
+they had ever been since the credulous days of childhood. The days of
+love and childhood are perhaps, in good minds, almost equally credulous,
+or, at least, confiding. Even Mr. Walsingham was won over by the
+pleasure he felt in the prospect of his daughter's happiness; and good
+Mr. Palmer was ten times more attentive than ever to Madam Beaumont.
+In his attention, however, there was something more ceremonious than
+formerly; it was evident, for he was too honest to conceal his feelings,
+that his opinion of her was changed, and that his attention was paid
+to her rather as the widow of his old friend than on her own account.
+Amelia, who particularly remarked this change, and who feared that it
+must be severely painful to her mother, tried by every honest art of
+kindness to reinstate her in his regard. Amelia, however, succeeded only
+in raising herself in his esteem.
+
+"Do not disturb yourself, my dear young lady," said he to her, one day,
+"about your mother and me. Things are on their right footing between us,
+and can never be on any other. She, you see, is quite satisfied."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont, indeed, had not Amelia's quick sensibility with regard
+to the real affections of her friends, though she was awake to every
+external mark of attention. She was content, as Mr. Palmer before others
+always treated her with marked deference, and gave her no reason
+to apprehend any alteration in his testamentary dispositions. When
+settlements were talked of for the intended marriages, Mr. Palmer seemed
+to consider Mrs. Beaumont first in all their consultations, appealed for
+her opinion, and had ever a most cautious eye upon her interests.
+This she observed with satisfaction, and she was gratified by the
+demonstrations of increased regard from her son and daughter, because
+she thought it would facilitate her projects. She wished that her
+marriage with Sir John Hunter should appear well to the world; and for
+this reason she desired that it should _seem_ to be liked by all her
+family--seem, for as to their real opinions she was indifferent.
+
+Things were in this situation, when Mrs. Beaumont _caused herself to be
+surprised_[6] one morning by Mr. Palmer, with a letter in her hand, deep
+in reverie.
+
+"Oh! my dear Mr. Palmer, is it you?" cried she, starting very naturally;
+"I was really so lost in thought--"
+
+Mr. Palmer hoped that he did not disturb her.--"Disturb me! no, my good
+friend, you are the very person I wished to consult." Her eye glanced
+again and again upon the letter she held in her hand, but Mr. Palmer
+seemed provokingly destitute of curiosity; he however took a chair,
+and his snuff-box, and with a polite but cold manner said he was much
+honoured by her consulting him, but that of course his judgment could be
+of little service to a lady of Mrs. Beaumont's understanding.
+
+"Understanding! Ah!" said she, "there are cases where understanding is
+of no use to women, but quite the contrary."
+
+Mr. Palmer did not contradict the assertion, nor did he assent to it,
+but waited, with a pinch of snuff arrested in its way, to have the cases
+specified.
+
+"In love affairs, for instance, we poor women," said Mrs. Beaumont,
+looking down prettily; but Mr. Palmer afforded no assistance to her
+bashful hesitation; she was under the necessity of finishing her
+sentence, or of beginning another, upon a different construction.
+The latter was most convenient, and she took a new and franker
+tone:--"Here's a letter from poor Sir John Hunter."
+
+Mr. Palmer still sat bending forward to listen with the most composed
+deference, but pressed not in the slightest degree upon her confidence
+by any question or look down towards the letter, or up towards the
+lady's face, but straightforward looked he, till, quite provoked by his
+dulness, Mrs. Beaumont took the matter up again, and, in a new tone,
+said, "To be candid with you, my dear friend, this is a subject on which
+I feel some awkwardness and reluctance in speaking to you--for of all
+men breathing, I should in any important action of my life wish for your
+approbation; and yet, on the present occasion, I fear, and so does Sir
+John, that you will utterly disapprove of the match."
+
+She paused again, to be asked--What match? But compelled by her
+auditor's invincible silence to make out her own case, she proceeded:
+"You must know, my good sir, that Sir John Hunter is, it seems,
+unconquerably bent upon a connexion with this family; for being refused
+by the daughter, he has proposed for the mother!"
+
+"Yes," said Mr. Palmer, bowing.
+
+"I thought you would have been more surprised," said Mrs. Beaumont: "I
+am glad the first sound of the thing does not, as I was afraid it would,
+startle or revolt you."
+
+"Startle me, it could not, madam," said Mr. Palmer, "for I have been
+prepared for it some time past."
+
+"Is it possible? And who could have mentioned it to you--Captain
+Lightbody?"
+
+"Captain Lightbody!" cried Mr. Palmer, with a sudden flash of
+indignation: "believe me, madam, I never thought of speaking to Captain
+Lightbody of your affairs, I am not in the habit of listening to such
+people."
+
+"But still, he might have spoken."
+
+"No, madam, no; he would not have dared to bring me secret information."
+
+"Honourable! quite honourable! But then, my dear sir, how came you to
+know the thing?"
+
+"I saw it. You know, madam, those who stand by always see more than the
+players."
+
+"And do you think my son and daughter, and Captain Walsingham, know it
+too?"
+
+"I fancy not; for they have not been standers by: they have been deeply
+engaged themselves."
+
+"That's well--for I wished to have your opinion and advice in the first
+place, before I hinted it even to them, or any one else living. As I
+feared the match would not meet your approbation, I told Sir John so,
+and I gave him only a provisional consent."
+
+"Like the provisional consent of that young Irish lady," said Mr.
+Palmer, laughing, "who went through the marriage service with her
+lover, adding at the end of each response, 'provided my father gives
+his consent.'[7] But, madam, though I am old enough certainly to be your
+father, yet even if I had the honour to be so in reality, as you are
+arrived at years of discretion, you know you cannot need my consent."
+
+"But seriously, my excellent friend," cried she, "I never could be happy
+in marrying against your approbation. And let me, in my own vindication,
+explain to you the whole of the affair."
+
+Here Mr. Palmer, dreading one of her long explanations, which he knew
+he should never comprehend, besought her not to invest him with the
+unbecoming character of her judge. He represented that no vindication
+was necessary, and that none could be of any use. She however persisted
+in going through a sentimental defence of her conduct. She assured
+Mr. Palmer, that she had determined never to marry again; that her
+inviolable respect for her dear Colonel Beaumont's memory had induced
+her to persist in this resolution for many years. That motives of
+delicacy and generosity were what first prevailed with her to listen to
+Sir John's suit; and that now she consoled and supported herself by
+the proud reflection, that she was acting as her dear Colonel Beaumont
+himself, could he know the circumstances and read her heart, would wish
+and enjoin her to act.
+
+Here a smile seemed to play upon Mr. Palmer's countenance; but the smile
+had vanished in an instant, and was followed by a sudden gush of tears,
+which were as suddenly wiped away; not, however, before they reminded
+Mrs. Beaumont to spread her handkerchief before her face.
+
+"Perhaps," resumed she, after a decent pause, "perhaps I am doing wrong
+with the best intentions. Some people think that widows should never, on
+any account, marry again, and perhaps Mr. Palmer is of this opinion?"
+
+"No, by no means," said Mr. Palmer; "nor was Colonel Beaumont. Often
+and often he said in his letters to me, that he wished his wife to marry
+again after he was gone, and to be as happy after his death as she
+had been during his life. I only hope that your choice may fulfil--may
+justify--" Mr. Palmer stopped again, something in Shakspeare, about
+preying on garbage, ran in his head; and, when Mrs. Beaumont went on
+to some fresh topics of vindication, and earnestly pressed for his
+_advice_, he broke up the conference by exclaiming, "'Fore Jupiter,
+madam, we had better say nothing more about the matter; for, after all,
+what can the wit of man or woman make of it, but that you choose to
+marry Sir John Hunter, and that nobody in the world has a right to
+object to it? There is certainly no occasion to use any management
+with me; and your eloquence is only wasting itself, for I am not so
+presumptuous, or so unreasonable, as to set myself up for the judge of
+your actions. You do me honour by consulting me; but as you already know
+my opinion of the gentleman, I must decline saying any thing further on
+the subject."
+
+Mrs. Beaumont was left in a painful state of doubt as to the main point,
+whether Mr. Palmer would or would not alter his will. However, as she
+was determined that the match should be accomplished, she took advantage
+of the declaration Mr. Palmer made, that he had no right to object to
+her following her own inclinations; and she told Sir John Hunter that
+Mr. Palmer was perfectly satisfied; and that he had indeed relieved
+her mind from some foolish scruples, by having assured her that it was
+Colonel Beaumont's particular wish, often expressed in his confidential
+letters, that his widow should marry again. So far, so good. Then the
+affair was to be broken to her son and daughter. She begged Mr. Palmer
+would undertake, for her sake, this delicate task; but he declined it
+with a frank simplicity.
+
+"Surely, madam," said he, "you can speak without difficulty to your own
+son and daughter; and I have through life observed, that employing
+one person to speak to another is almost always hurtful. I should not
+presume, however, to regulate your conduct, madam, by my observations;
+I should only give this as a reason for declining the office with which
+you proposed to honour me."
+
+The lady, compelled to speak for herself to her son and daughter, opened
+the affair to them with as much delicacy and address as she had used
+with Mr. Palmer. Their surprise was great; for they had not the most
+remote idea of her intentions. The result of a tedious conversation of
+three hours' length was perfectly satisfactory to her, though it would
+have been to the highest degree painful and mortifying to a woman of
+more feeling, or one less intent upon _an establishment_, a reversionary
+title, and the Wigram estate. How low she sunk in the opinion of her
+children and her friends was comparatively matter of small consequence
+to Mrs. Beaumont, provided she could keep fair appearances with the
+world. Whilst her son and daughter were so much ashamed of her intended
+marriage, that they would not communicate their sentiments even to each
+other,--they, with becoming duty, agreed that Mrs. Beaumont was very
+good in speaking to them on the subject; as she had an uncontroulable
+right to marry as she thought proper.
+
+Mrs. Beaumont now wrote letters innumerable to her extensive circle of
+connexions and acquaintance, announcing her approaching nuptials, and
+inviting them to her wedding. It was settled by Mrs. Beaumont, that
+the three marriages should _take place_ on the same day. This point
+she laboured with her usual address, and at last brought the parties
+concerned to give up their wishes for a private wedding, to gratify
+her love for show and parade. Nothing now remained but to draw the
+settlements. Mrs. Beaumont, who piqued herself upon her skill in
+business, and who thought the sum of wisdom was to excel in cunning,
+looked over her lawyer's drafts, and suggested many nice emendations,
+which obtained for her from an attorney the praise of being a vastly
+clever woman. Sir John was not, on his side, deficient in attention
+to his own interests. Never was there a pair better matched in this
+respect; never were two people going to be married more afraid that
+each should _take the other in_. Sir John, however, pressed forward
+the business with an eagerness that surprised every body. Mrs. Beaumont
+again and again examined the settlements, to try to account prudentially
+for her lover's impatience; but she _saw_ that _all_ was right there on
+her part, and her self-love at last acquiesced in the belief that
+Sir John's was now the ardour of a real lover. To the lady's
+entire satisfaction, the liveries, the equipages, the diamonds, the
+wedding-clothes were all bought, and the wedding-day approached. Mrs.
+Beaumont's rich and fashionable connexions and acquaintance all promised
+to grace her nuptials. Nothing was talked of but the preparations for
+Mrs. Beaumont and Sir John Hunter's marriage; and so full of business
+and bustle, and mysteries, and _sentimentalities_, and vanities was she,
+that she almost forgot that any body was to be married but herself. The
+marriages of her son and daughter seemed so completely to merge in the
+importance and splendour of her own, that she merely recollected them as
+things that were to be done on the same day, as subordinate parts that
+were to be acted by inferior performers, whilst she should engross the
+public interest and applause. In the mean time Miss Hunter was engaged,
+to Mrs. Beaumont's satisfaction and her own, in superintending the
+wedding-dresses, and in preparing the most elegant dress imaginable for
+herself, as bride's-maid. Now and then she interrupted these occupations
+with sighs and fits of pretty sentimental dejection; but Mrs. Beaumont
+was well convinced that a new lover would soon make her forget her
+disappointment. The nephew was written to, and invited to spend some
+time with his aunt, immediately after her marriage; for she determined
+that Miss Hunter should be her niece, since she could not be her
+daughter. This secondary intrigue went on delightfully in our heroine's
+imagination, without interfering with the main business of her own
+marriage. The day, the long-expected day, that was to crown all her
+hopes, at length arrived.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+"On peut �tre plus fin qu'un autre, mais pas plus fin que tous les
+autres."--ROCHEFOUCAULT.
+
+
+The following paragraph[8] extracted from the newspapers of the day,
+will, doubtless, be acceptable to a large class of readers.
+
+
+"FASHIONABLE HYMENEALS.
+
+"Yesterday, Sir John Hunter, of Hunter Hall, Devonshire, Bart., led to
+the hymeneal altar the accomplished Mrs. Beaumont, relict of the late
+Colonel Beaumont, of Beaumont Park. On the same day her son and daughter
+were also married--Mr. Beaumont to Miss Walsingham, daughter of E.
+Walsingham, Esq., of Walsingham House;--and Miss Beaumont to Captain
+Walsingham of the navy, a near relation of Edward Walsingham, Esq., of
+Walsingham House.
+
+"These nuptials in the Beaumont family were graced by an overflowing
+concourse of beauty, nobility, and fashion, comprehending all the
+relations, connexions, intimate friends, and particular acquaintances
+of the interesting and popular Mrs. Beaumont. The cavalcade reached
+from the principal front of the house to the south gate of the park, a
+distance of three-quarters of a mile. Mrs. Beaumont and her daughter,
+two lovely brides, in a superb landau, were attired in the most elegant,
+becoming, fashionable, and costly manner, their dress consisting of the
+finest lace, over white satin. Mrs. Beaumont's was point lace, and she
+was also distinguished by a long veil of the most exquisite texture,
+which added a tempered grace to beauty in its meridian. In the same
+landau appeared the charming brides'-maids, all in white, of course.
+Among these, Miss Hunter attracted particular attention, by the felicity
+of her costume. Her drapery, which was of delicate lace, being happily
+adapted to show to the greatest advantage the captivating contour of
+her elegant figure, and ornamented with white silk fringe and tassels,
+marked every airy motion of her sylph-like form.
+
+"The third bride on this auspicious day was Miss Walsingham, who, with
+her father and bride's-maids, followed in Mr. Walsingham's carriage.
+Miss Walsingham, we are informed, was dressed with simple elegance,
+in the finest produce of the Indian loom; but, as she was in a covered
+carriage, we could not obtain a full view of her attire. Next to the
+brides' equipages, followed the bridegrooms'. And chief of these Sir
+John Hunter sported a splendid barouche. He was dressed in the height of
+the ton, and his horses deserved particular admiration. After Sir John's
+barouche came the equipage belonging to Mr. Beaumont, highly finished
+but plain: in this were the two bridegrooms, Mr. Beaumont and Captain
+Walsingham, accompanied by Mr. Palmer (the great West-Indian Palmer),
+who, we understand, is the intimate friend and relative of the Beaumont
+family. Then followed, as our correspondent counted, above a hundred
+carriages of distinction, with a prodigious cavalcade of gentry. The
+whole was closed by a long line of attendants and domestics. The moment
+the park gates were opened, groups of young girls of the Beaumont
+tenantry, habited in white, with knots of ribands, and emblematical
+devices suited to the occasion, and with baskets of flowers in their
+hands, began to strew vegetable incense before the brides, especially
+before Mrs. Beaumont's landau.
+
+     'And whilst the priests accuse the bride's delay,
+     Roses and myrtles still obstruct her way.'
+
+"The crowd, which assembled as they proceeded along the road to the
+church, and in the churchyard, was such that, however gratefully
+it evinced the popularity of the amiable parties, it became at last
+evidently distressing to the principal object of their homage--Mrs.
+Beaumont, who could not have stood the gaze of public admiration but
+for the friendly and becoming, yet tantalizing refuge of her veil.
+Constables were obliged to interfere to clear the path to the church
+door, and the amiable almost fainting lady was from the arms of
+her anxious and alarmed bride's-maids lifted out of her landau, and
+supported into the church and up the aisle with all the marked gallantry
+of true tenderness, by her happy bridegroom, Sir John Hunter.
+
+"After the ceremony was over, Sir John and Lady Hunter, and the two
+other new-married couples, returned to Beaumont Park with the _cort�ge_
+of their friends, where the company partook of an elegant collation. The
+artless graces and fascinating affability of Lady Hunter won all hearts;
+and the wit, festive spirits, and politeness of Sir John, attracted
+universal admiration--not to say envy, of all present. Immediately after
+the collation, the happy couple set off for their seat at Hunter Hall.
+
+"Mr. Beaumont, and the new Mrs. Beaumont, remained at Beaumont Park.
+Captain and Mrs. Walsingham repaired to Mr. Walsingham's.
+
+"It is a singular circumstance, communicated to us by the indisputable
+authority of one of the bride's-maids, that Miss Walsingham, as it was
+discovered after the ceremony, was actually married with her gown the
+wrong side outwards. Whether this be an omen announcing good fortune to
+_all_ the parties concerned, we cannot take upon us to determine; but
+this much we may safely assert, that never distinguished female in the
+annals of fashion was married under more favourable auspices than the
+amiable Lady Hunter. And it is universally acknowledged, that no lady
+is better suited to be, as in the natural course of things she will soon
+be, Countess of Puckeridge, and at the head of the great Wigram estate."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+So ends our newspaper writer.
+
+Probably this paragraph was sent to the press before the _fashionable
+hymeneals_ had actually taken place. This may in some measure account
+for the extraordinary omissions in the narrative. After the three
+marriages had been solemnized, just when the ceremony was over, and Lady
+Hunter was preparing to receive the congratulations of the brilliant
+congregation, she observed that the clergyman, instead of shutting his
+book, kept it open before him, and looked round as if expecting another
+bride. Mrs. Beaumont, we should say Lady Hunter, curtsied to him,
+smiled, and made a sign that the ceremony was finished; but at this
+instant, to her astonishment, she saw her bride's-maid, Miss Hunter,
+quit her place, and beheld Captain Lightbody seize her hand, and lead
+her up towards the altar. Lady Hunter broke through the crowd that was
+congratulating her, and reaching Miss Hunter, drew her hack forcibly,
+and whispered, "Are you mad, Miss Hunter? Is this a place, a time for
+frolic? What are you about?"
+
+"Going to be married, ma'am! following your ladyship's good example,"
+answered her bride's-maid, flippantly,--at the same time springing
+forward from the detaining grasp, regardless even of the rent she made
+in her lace dress, she hurried, or was hurried on by Captain Lightbody.
+
+"Captain Lightbody!" cried Lady Hunter; but, answering only with a
+triumphant bow, he passed on with his bride.
+
+"Heavens! will nobody stop him?" cried Lady Hunter, over-taking them
+again as they reached the steps. She addressed herself to the clergyman.
+"Sir, she is a ward in chancery, and under my protection: they have
+no licence; their banns have not been published: you cannot, dare not,
+surely, marry them?"
+
+"Pardon me, Lady Hunter," said Captain Lightbody; "I have shown Mr.
+Twigg my licence."
+
+"I have seen it--I thought it was with your ladyship's knowledge,"
+replied Mr. Twigg. "I--I cannot object--it would be at my own peril. If
+there is any lawful impediment, your ladyship will make it at the proper
+response."
+
+A friend of Captain Lightbody's appeared in readiness to give the young
+lady away.
+
+"The ceremony must go on, madam," said the clergyman.
+
+"At your peril, sir!" said Lady Hunter. "This young lady, is a ward of
+chancery, and not of age!"
+
+"I am of age--of age last month," cried the bride.
+
+"Not till next year."
+
+"Of age last month. I have the parish register," said Captain Lightbody.
+"Go on, sir, if you please."
+
+"Good Heavens! Miss Hunter, can you bear," said Lady Hunter, "to be the
+object of this indecent altercation? Retire with me, and only let me
+speak to you, I conjure you!"
+
+No--the young lady stood her ground, resolute to be a bride.
+
+"If there is any lawful impediment, your ladyship will please to make it
+at the proper response," said the chaplain. "I am under a necessity of
+proceeding."
+
+The ceremony went on.
+
+Lady Hunter, in high indignation, retired immediately to the vestry-room
+with her bridegroom. "At least," cried she, throwing herself upon a
+seat, "it shall never be said that I countenanced, by my presence, such
+a scandalous marriage! Oh! Sir John Hunter, why did you not interfere to
+save your own sister?"
+
+"Save her! Egad, she did not choose to be saved. Who can save a woman
+that does not choose it? What could I do? Is not she your ladyship's
+pupil?--he! he! he! But I'll fight the rascal directly, if that will
+give you any satisfaction."
+
+"And he shall have a lawsuit too for her fortune!" said Lady Hunter;
+"for she is not of age. I have a memorandum in an old pocket book. Oh!
+who would have thought such a girl could have duped me so!"
+
+Lady Hunter's exclamations were interrupted by the entrance of her
+son and daughter, who came to offer what consolation they could. The
+brilliant congregation poured in a few minutes afterwards, with their
+mingled congratulations and condolence, eager, above all things, to
+satisfy their curiosity.
+
+Captain Lightbody, with invincible assurance, came up just as Lady
+Hunter was getting into her carriage, and besought permission to present
+his bride to her. But Lady Hunter, turning her back upon him without
+reply, said to her son, "If Captain Lightbody is going to Beaumont Park,
+I am not going there."
+
+Mrs. Lightbody, who was now emancipated from all control, and from all
+sense of propriety, called out from her _own_ carriage, in which she was
+seated, "That, thank Heaven! she had a house of her own to go to,
+and that nothing was farther from her thoughts than to interrupt the
+festivities of Lady Hunter's more mature nuptials."
+
+Delighted with having made this tart answer, Mrs. Lightbody ordered
+her husband to order her coachman to drive off as fast as possible.
+The captain, by her particular desire, had taken a house for her at
+Brighton, the gayest place she could think of. We leave this amiable
+bride rejoicing in the glory of having duped a lady of Mrs. Beaumont's
+penetration; and her bridegroom rejoicing still more in the parish
+register, by the help of which he hoped to obtain full enjoyment of what
+he knew to be his bride's most valuable possession--her portion, and to
+defy Lady Hunter's threatened lawsuit.
+
+In the mean time, Lady Hunter, in her point lace and beautiful veil,
+seated beside her baronet, in his new barouche, endeavoured to forget
+this interruption of her triumph. She considered, that though Miss
+Hunter's fortune was lost to her family, yet the title of countess,
+and the Wigram estate, were _secure_: this was solid consolation; and
+recovering her features from their unprecedented discomposure, she
+forced smiles and looks suitable to the occasion, as she bowed to
+congratulating passengers.
+
+Arrived at Beaumont Park, she prepared, without appetite, to partake of
+the elegant collation, and to do the honours with her accustomed grace:
+she took care to seat Mr. Palmer beside her, that she might show the
+world on what good terms they were together. She was pleased to see,
+that though two younger brides sat near her, she engaged by far the
+largest share of public admiration. They were so fully content and
+engrossed by their own feelings, that they did not perceive that they
+were what is called _thrown into the shade_. All the pride, pomp, and
+circumstance of these glorious hymeneals appeared to them but as a
+dream, or as a scene that was acting before them, in which they were
+not called to take a part. Towards the end of the collation, one of the
+guests, my Lord Rider, a nobleman who always gave himself the air of
+being in a prodigious hurry, declared that he was under the necessity of
+going off, for he expected a person to meet him at his house in town, on
+some particular business, at an appointed day. His lordship's travelling
+companion, who was unwilling to quit so prematurely the present scene of
+festivity, observed that the man of business had engaged to write to his
+lordship, and that he should at least wait till the post should come in.
+Lady Hunter politely sent to inquire if any letters had arrived for his
+lordship; and, in consequence of his impatience, all the letters for
+the family were brought: Lady Hunter distributed them. There was one for
+Captain Walsingham, with a Spanish motto on the seal: Lady Hunter, as
+she gave it to him, whispered to Amelia, "Don't be jealous, my dear, but
+that, I can tell you, is a letter from his Spanish incognita." Amelia
+smiled with a look of the most perfect confidence and love. Captain
+Walsingham immediately opened the letter, and, looking at the signature,
+said, "It is not from my Spanish incognita,--it is from her aunt; I will
+read it by and by."
+
+"A fine evasion, indeed!" exclaimed Lady Hunter: "look how coolly he
+puts it into his pocket! Ah! my credulous Amelia, do you allow him to
+begin in this manner?" pursued she, in a tone of raillery, yet as if
+she really suspected something wrong in the letter; "and have you no
+_curiosity_, Mrs. Walsingham?"
+
+Amelia declared that she had none; that she was not one of those who
+think that jealousy is the best proof of love.
+
+"Right, right," said Mr. Palmer; "confidence is the best proof of love;
+and yours, I'll venture to say, is, and ever will be, well placed."
+
+Captain Walsingham, with a grateful smile, took his letter again out of
+his pocket, and immediately began to read it in a low voice to Amelia,
+Lady Hunter, and Mr. Palmer.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"DEAR SIR,
+
+"Though almost a stranger to you, I should think myself wanting in
+gratitude if I did not, after all the services you have done my family,
+write to thank you in my niece's name and in my own: and much I regret
+that my words will so ill convey to you the sentiments of our hearts.
+I am an old woman, not well accustomed to use my pen in the way of
+letter-writing; but can say truly, that whilst I have life I shall be
+grateful to you. You have restored me to happiness by restoring to me my
+long-lost niece. It will, I am sure, give you satisfaction to hear, that
+my niece--"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Captain Walsingham stopped short, with a look which confirmed Lady
+Hunter in all her suspicions,--which made Mr. Palmer take out his
+snuff-box,--which startled even Mr. Beaumont; but which did not raise
+in the mind of Amelia the slightest feeling of doubt or suspicion. She
+smiled, and looked round at her alarmed friends with a manner which
+seemed to say, "Can you suppose it possible that there can be any thing
+wrong?"
+
+"Pray go on, Captain Walsingham," said Lady Hunter, "unless--unless you
+have particular, very particular reasons."
+
+"I have particular, very particular reasons," said Captain Walsingham;
+"and since," turning to Amelia, "this confiding lady does not insist
+upon my going on--"
+
+"Oh!" said Lady Hunter, gaily, snatching the letter, "I am not such a
+credulous, or, as you call it, confiding lady."
+
+"I beg of your ladyship not to read it," said Captain Walsingham, in an
+earnest tone.
+
+"You beg of me not to read it, and with that alarmed look--Oh!
+positively, I must, and will read it."
+
+"Not at present, then, I entreat you!"
+
+"This very instant," cried Lady Hunter, affecting all the imperious
+vivacity of a young bride, under favour of which she determined to
+satisfy her malicious curiosity.
+
+"Pray, Lady Hunter, do not read it," repeated Captain Walsingham, laying
+his hand over the letter. "It is for your own sake," added he, in a low
+and earnest voice, "it is for your own sake, not mine, that I beg of you
+to forbear."
+
+Lady Hunter, imagining this to be only a subterfuge, drew the letter
+from beneath Captain Walsingham's hand, exclaiming, "For _my sake!_ Oh,
+Captain, that is a charming _ruse de guerre_, but do not hope that it
+shall succeed!"
+
+"Oh! mother, believe him, believe him," cried Amelia: "I am sure he
+tells you the truth, and he speaks for your sake, not for his own."
+
+Amelia interceded in vain.
+
+Mr. Palmer patted Amelia's shoulder fondly, saying, "You are a dear good
+creature."
+
+"A dear credulous creature!" exclaimed Lady Hunter. She had now
+undisturbed possession of the letter.
+
+Captain Walsingham stood by with a face of great concern; in which
+Amelia and Mr. Beaumont, without knowing the cause, seemed to
+sympathize.
+
+The contest had early attracted the attention of all within hearing
+or view of her ladyship, and by this time had been pointed out and
+accounted for in whispers, even to the most remote parts of the room; so
+that the eyes of almost every individual in the assembly were now fixed
+upon Lady Hunter. She had scarcely glanced her eye upon the letter, when
+she turned pale as death, and exclaimed, "He knew it! he knew it!" Then,
+recollecting herself, she made a struggle to conceal her dismay--the
+forced smile quivered on her lip,--she fell back in a swoon, and was
+carried out of the room by her son and daughter. Sir John Hunter was at
+another table, eating eel-pie, and was the last person present who was
+made to understand what had happened.
+
+"It is the damned heat of the room, I suppose," said he, "that made her
+faint;" and swallowing the last morsel on his plate, and settling his
+collar, he came up to Captain Walsingham. "What's this I hear?--that
+Lady Hunter has fainted? I hope they have carried her into the air. But
+where's the letter they say affected her so?"
+
+"In my pocket," said Captain Walsingham, coolly.
+
+"Any thing new in it?" said Sir John, with a sulky, fashionable
+indifference.
+
+"Nothing new to you, probably, Sir John," said Captain Walsingham,
+walking away from him in disgust.
+
+"I suppose it was the heat overcame Lady Hunter," continued Sir John,
+speaking to those who stood near him. "Is any body gone to see how she
+is now? I wonder if they'll let me in to see her."
+
+With assumed carelessness, but with real embarrassment, the bridegroom
+went to inquire for his bride.
+
+Good Mr. Palmer went soon afterwards, and knocked softly at the lady's
+door. "Is poor Lady Hunter any better?"
+
+"Oh! yes; quite well again now," cried Lady Hunter, raising herself from
+the bed, on which she had been laid; but Mr. Palmer thought, as he
+saw her through the half-opened door, she still looked a deplorable
+spectacle, in all her wedding finery. "Quite well again, now: it was
+nothing in the world but the heat. Amelia, my love, go back to the
+company, and say so, lest my friends should be uneasy. Thank you, kind
+Mr. Palmer, for coming to see me: excuse my not being able to let you
+in now, for I must change my dress. Sir John sends me word his barouche
+will be at the door in ten minutes, and I have to hurry on my travelling
+dress. Excuse me."
+
+Mr. Palmer retired, seeing clearly that she wished to avoid any
+explanation of the real cause of her fainting. In the gallery, leading
+from her room, he met Captain Walsingham, who was coming to inquire for
+Lady Hunter.
+
+"Poor woman! do you know the cause of her fainting?" said Captain
+Walsingham.
+
+"No; and I believe she does not wish me to know it: therefore don't tell
+it me," said Mr. Palmer.
+
+"It is a secret that must be in the public papers in a few days," said
+Captain Walsingham. "This lady that I brought over from Lisbon--"
+
+"Well, what can she have to say to Mrs. Beaumont?"
+
+"Nothing to Mrs. Beaumont, but a great deal to Lady Hunter. You
+may remember that I mentioned to you that some of her relations had
+contrived to have her kept in that convent abroad, and had spread a
+report of her death, that the heir-at-law might defraud her of her
+property, and get and keep possession of a large estate, which fell to
+him in case of her death. Of further particulars, or even of the name of
+this estate, I knew nothing till this morning, when that letter from
+the aunt--here it is--tells me, that the estate to which her niece
+was entitled is the great Wigram estate, and that old Wigram was the
+rascally heir-at-law. The lawyer I recommended to the lady was both an
+honest and a clever fellow; and he represented so forcibly to old Wigram
+the consequences of his having his fraud brought to light in a court of
+equity, that he made him soon agree to a private reference. The affair
+has been compromised, and settled thus:--The possession of the estate is
+given up, just as it stands, to the rightful owner; and she forbears
+to call the old sinner to an account for past arrears. She will let him
+make it out to the world and to his own conscience, if he can, that he
+bona-fide believed her to be dead."
+
+"So," said Mr. Palmer, "so end Madam Beaumont's hopes of being at
+the head of the Wigram estate, and so end her hopes of being a
+countess!--And actually married to this ruined spendthrift!--Now we see
+the reason he pressed on the match so, and urged her to marry him before
+the affair should become public. She is duped, and for life!--poor Madam
+Beaumont!"
+
+At this moment Lady Hunter came out of her room, after having changed
+her dress, and repaired her smiles.
+
+"Ready for my journey now," said she, passing by Mr. Palmer quickly. "I
+must show myself to the world of friends below, and bid them adieu. One
+word, Captain Walsingham: there's no occasion, you know," whispered she,
+"to say any thing _below_ of that letter; I really don't believe it."
+
+Too proud to let her mortification be known, Lady Hunter constrained
+her feelings with all her might. She appeared once more with a pleased
+countenance in the festive assembly. She received their compliments
+and congratulations, and invited them, with all the earnestness of
+friendship, to favour Sir John and her, as soon as possible, with their
+company at Hunter Hall. The company were now fast departing; carriages
+came to the door in rapid succession. Lady Hunter went through with
+admirable grace and variety the sentimental ceremony of taking leave;
+and when her splendid barouche was at the door, and when she was to bid
+adieu to her own family, still she acted her part inimitably. In all the
+becoming mixed smiles and tears of a bride, she was seen embracing by
+turns her beloved daughter and son, and daughter-in-law and son-in-law,
+over and over again, in the hall, on the steps; to the last moment
+contriving to be torn delightfully from the bosom of her family by her
+impatient bridegroom. Seated beside him in his barouche, she kissed her
+hand to Mr. Palmer,--smiled: all her family, who stood on the steps,
+bowed; and Sir John drove away with his prize.
+
+"He's a swindler!" cried Mr. Palmer, "and she is--"
+
+"Amelia's mother," interrupted Captain Walsingham.
+
+"Right," said Mr. Palmer; "but Amelia had a father too,--my excellent
+friend, Colonel Beaumont,--whom she and her brother resemble in all that
+is open-hearted and honourable. Well, well! I make no reflections; I
+hate moral reflections. Every body can think and feel for themselves, I
+presume. I only say,--Thank Heaven, we've done with _manoeuvring!_"
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ALMERIA.
+
+
+John Hodgkinson was an eminent and wealthy Yorkshire grazier, who had
+no children of his own, but who had brought up in his family Almeria
+Turnbull, the daughter of his wife by a former husband, a Mr. Turnbull.
+Mr. Turnbull had also been a grazier, but had not been successful in the
+management of his affairs, therefore he could not leave his daughter any
+fortune; and at the death of her mother, she became entirely dependent
+on her father-in-law. Old Hodgkinson was a whimsical man, who, except in
+eating and drinking, had no inclination to spend any part of the
+fortune he had made; but, enjoying the consequence which money confers,
+endeavoured to increase this importance by keeping all his acquaintance
+in uncertainty, as to what he called his "_testamentary dispositions_."
+Sometimes he hinted that his step-daughter should be a match for the
+proudest riband in England; sometimes he declared, that he did not know
+of what use money could be to a woman, except to make her a prey to
+a fortune-hunter, and that his girl should not be left in a way to be
+duped.
+
+As to his daughter's education, that was an affair in which he did not
+interfere: all that he wished was, that the girl should be kept humble,
+and have no fine notions put into her head, nor any communication with
+fine people. He kept company only with men of his own sort; and as he
+had no taste for any kind of literature, Almeria's time would have
+hung rather heavy upon her hands, had she been totally confined to his
+society: but, fortunately for her, there lived in the neighbourhood
+an elderly gentleman and his daughter, whom her father allowed her
+to visit. Mr. Elmour was a country gentleman of a moderate fortune,
+a respectable family, and of a most amiable character: between his
+daughter Ellen and Miss Turnbull there had subsisted an intimacy
+from their earliest childhood. The professions of this friendship had
+hitherto been much the warmest on the part of Almeria; the proofs
+were, perhaps, the strongest on the side of Ellen. Miss Elmour, as
+the daughter of a gentleman, whose family had been long settled in the
+country, was rather _more considered_ than Miss Turnbull, who was the
+daughter of a grazier, whose money had but lately raised him to the
+level of gentility. At Mr. Elmour's house Almeria had an opportunity
+of being in much better company than she could ever have seen at her
+father's; better company in every respect, but chiefly in the popular,
+or more properly in the aristocratic sense of the term: her visits had
+consequently been long and frequent; she appeared to have a peculiar
+taste for refinement in manners and conversation, and often deplored the
+want she felt of these at home. She expressed a strong desire to acquire
+information, and to improve herself in every elegant accomplishment;
+and Ellen, who was of a character far superior to the little meanness
+of female competition and jealousy, shared with her friend all the
+advantages of her situation. Old Hodgkinson never had any books in his
+house, but such as Almeria borrowed from Mr. Elmour's library. Ellen
+constantly sent Miss Turnbull all the new publications which her father
+got from town--she copied for her friend the new music with which
+she was supplied, showed her every new drawing or print, gave her the
+advantage of the lessons she received from an excellent drawing master,
+and let her into those little mysteries of art which masters sometimes
+sell so dear.
+
+This was done with perfect readiness and simplicity: Ellen never seemed
+conscious that she was bestowing a favour; but appeared to consider
+what she did as matters of course, or as the necessary consequences of
+friendship. She treated her friend at all times, and in all companies,
+with that uniform attention and equality of manner, which most people
+profess, and which so few have strength of mind to practise. Almeria
+expressed, and probably at this time felt, unbounded gratitude and
+affection for Ellen; indeed her expressions were sometimes so vehement,
+that Miss Elmour rallied her for being romantic. Almeria one day
+declared, that she should wish to pass all the days of her life at
+Elmour Grove, without seeing any other human creatures but her friend
+and her friend's father.
+
+"Your imagination deceives you, my dear Almeria," said Ellen, smiling.
+
+"It is my heart, not my imagination, that speaks," said Almeria, laying
+her hand upon her heart, or upon the place where she fancied her heart
+ought to be.
+
+"Your understanding will, perhaps, speak a different language by and by,
+and your heart will not be the worse for it, my good young lady," said
+old Mr. Elmour.
+
+Almeria persisted even to tears; and it was not till young Mr. Elmour
+came home, and till she had spent a few weeks in his company, that she
+began to admit that three was the number sacred to friendship. Frederick
+Elmour was a man of honour, talents, spirit, and of a decided character:
+he was extremely fond of his sister, and was prepossessed in favour
+of every thing and person that she loved. Her intimate friend was
+consequently interesting to him; and it must be supposed, that Miss
+Elmour's praises of Almeria were managed more judiciously than eulogiums
+usually are, by the effect which they produced. Frederick became
+attached to Miss Turnbull, though he perceived that, in firmness and
+dignity of character, she was not equal to his sister. This inferiority
+did not injure her in his opinion, because it was always acknowledged
+with so much candour and humility by Almeria, who seemed to look up to
+her friend as to a being of a superior order. This freedom from envy,
+and this generous enthusiasm, first touched young Mr. Elmour's heart.
+Next to possessing his sister's virtues and talents, loving them was,
+in his opinion, the greatest merit. He thought that a person capable
+of appreciating and admiring Ellen's character, must be desirous
+of imitating her; and the similarity of their tastes, opinions,
+and principles, seemed to him the most secure pledge for his future
+happiness. Miss Turnbull's fortune, whatever it might be, was an object
+of no great importance to him: his father, though not opulent, was in
+easy circumstances, and was "willing," he said, "to deprive himself of
+some luxuries for the sake of his son, whom he would not controul in the
+choice of a wife--a choice on which he knew, from his own experience,
+that the happiness of life so much depends."
+
+The benevolent old gentleman had peculiar merit in this conduct; because
+if he had a weakness in the world, it was a prejudice in favour of what
+is called _good family and birth_: it had long been the secret wish of
+his heart that his only son might marry into a family as ancient as his
+own. Frederick was fully sensible of the sacrifice that his father made
+of his pride: but that which he was willing to make of what he called
+his luxuries, his son's affection and sense of justice forbade him
+to accept. He could not rob his father of any of the comforts of his
+declining years, whilst in the full vigour of youth it was in his power,
+by his own exertions, to obtain an independent maintenance. He had
+been bred to the bar; no expense had been spared by his father in his
+education, no efforts had been omitted by himself. He was now ready
+to enter on the duties of his profession with ardour, but without
+presumption.
+
+Our heroine must be pardoned by the most prudent, and admired by the
+most romantic, for being desperately in love with a youth of such a
+character and such expectations. Whilst the young lady's passion was
+growing every hour more lively, her old father was growing every hour
+more lethargic. He had a superstitious dread of making a will, as if
+it were a preparation for death, which would hasten the fatal moment.
+Hodgkinson's friends tried to conquer this prejudice: but it was in vain
+to reason with a man who had never reasoned during the whole of his life
+about any thing except bullocks. Old Hodgkinson died--that was a matter
+of no great consequence to any body--but he died without a will, and
+that was a matter of some importance to his daughter. After searching in
+every probable and improbable place, there was, at length, found in his
+own handwriting a memorandum, the beginning of which was in the
+first leaf of his cookery-book, and the end in the last leaf of his
+prayer-book. There was some difficulty in deciphering the memorandum,
+for it was cross-barred with miscellaneous observations in inks of
+various colours--red, blue, and green. As it is dangerous to garble law
+papers, we shall lay the document before the public just as it appeared.
+
+_Copy from first leaf of the Cookery-look_.
+
+I John Hodgkinson of Vetch-field, East Riding of Yorkshire, Grazier and
+so forth, not choosing to style myself Gentleman, though entitled so to
+do, do hereby certify, that when I can find an honest attorney, _it is
+my_ intention to make my will and to leave--
+
+[_Here the testator's memorandum was interrupted by a receipt in a
+diminutive female hand, seemingly written some years before_.]
+
+Mrs. Turnbull's recipe, infallible for all aches, bruises, and strains.
+
+Take a handful of these herbs following--Wormwood, Sage, Broom-flowers,
+Clown's-All-heal, Chickweed, Cumphry, Birch, Groundsell, Agremony,
+Southernwood, Ribwort, Mary Gould leaves, Bramble, Rosemary, Rue,
+Eldertops, Camomile, Aly Campaigne-root, half a handful of Red
+Earthworms, two ounces of Cummins-seeds, Deasy-roots, Columbine, Sweet
+Marjoram, Dandylion, Devil's bit, six pound of May butter, two pound of
+Sheep suet, half a pound of Deer suet, a quart of salet oil beat well in
+y' boiling till the oil be green--Then strain--It will be better if you
+add a dozen of Swallows, and pound all their Feathers, Gizzards, and
+Heads before boiling--It will cure all aches--[9]
+
+[_Beneath this valuable recipe, Mr. Hodgkinson's testamentary
+dispositions continued as follows_.]
+
+All I am worth in the world real or personal--
+
+To Collar a Pig.
+
+Take a young fat pig, and when he is well scalded, cut off his head,
+then slit him down the back, take out his bones, lay him in a dish of
+milk and water, and shift him twice a day--for the rest, turn to page
+103.
+
+To my step-daughter Almeria, who is now at Elmour Grove in her
+eighteenth year--
+
+[_Written across the above in red ink_.]
+
+Mem'm--I prophecy this third day of August, that the man from Hull will
+be here to-morrow with _fresh_ mullets.
+
+And as girls go, I believe a good girl, considering the times--but if
+she disoblige me by marriage, or otherwise, I hereby revoke the same.
+
+[_Written diagonally in red ink_.]
+
+Mem'm--Weight of the Big Bullock, 90 score, besides offal.
+
+[_The value was so pale it could not be deciphered_.]
+
+And I further intend to except out of my above bequest to my daughter
+Almeria, the sum of ...
+
+A fine method to make Punch of Valentia dram. v. page 7.
+
+Ten thousand pounds, now in Sir Thomas Stock's my banker's hands as a
+token of remembrance to John Hodgkinson of Hull, on account of his being
+my namesake, and, I believe, relation--
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[_Continuation in the last leaf of the prayer-book_.]
+
+It is my further intention (whenever I find said honest attorney fit
+for my will) to leave sundry mourning rings with my hair value
+(_blank_)--one in particular to Charles Elmour, sen. esquire, and also--
+
+[_Upside down, in red ink_.]
+
+Mem'm--Yorkshire Puddings--Knox says good in my case.
+
+Hodgkinson late Hannah A Turnbull (my wife) her prayer book, born Dec'r
+5th, 1700, died Jan'y 4th, 1760; leaving only behind her, in this world,
+Almeria Turnbull (my step daughter).
+
+Also another mourning ring to Frederick, the son of Charles Elmour, Esq.
+and ditto to Ellen his daughter, if I have hair enough under my wig.
+
+[_Diagonal in red ink_.]
+
+Mem'm--To know from Dr. Knox by return of post what is good against
+sleep--in my case--
+
+This is the short of my will--the attorney (when found) will make it
+long enough.--And I hereby declare, that I will write no other will with
+my own hand, for man, woman, or child--And that I will and do hereby
+disinherit any person or persons--male or female--good--bad--or
+indifferent--who shall take upon them to advise or speak to me about
+making or writing my will--which is no business of theirs--This my last
+resolution and memorandum, dated, this 5th of August--reap to-morrow,
+(glass rising)--1766, and signed with my own hand, same time.
+
+John Hodgkinson, grazier & so forth.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Now it happened, that Mr. Hodgkinson's namesake and relation disdained
+the ten thousand pounds legacy, and claimed the whole property as
+heir-at-law. Almeria, who was utterly unacquainted with business,
+applied to Mr. Elmour in this difficulty, and he had the goodness to
+undertake the management of her affairs. Frederick engaged to carry
+on her law-suit, and to plead her cause against this rapacious Mr.
+Hodgkinson of Hull.--Whilst the suit was pending, Miss Turnbull had
+an opportunity of seeing something of the ways of the world; for the
+manners of her Yorkshire acquaintance, of all but Ellen and the Elmours,
+varied towards her, according to the opinion formed of the probable
+event of the trial on which her fortune depended. She felt these
+variations most keenly. In particular, she was provoked by the conduct
+of Lady Stock, who was at this time _the_ fashionable lady of York: Sir
+Thomas, her husband, was a great banker; and whenever she condescended
+to visit her friends in the country, she shone upon them in all the
+splendour and pride of wealth. Miss Turnbull, immediately after her
+father's death, went, accompanied by old Mr. Elmour, to Sir Thomas
+Stock, to settle accounts with him: she was received by his lady as a
+great heiress, with infinite civility; her visit punctually returned,
+and an invitation to dinner sent to her and the Elmours with all due
+expedition. As she seemed to wish to accept of it, her friends agreed to
+accompany her, though in general they disliked fine dinners; and though
+they seldom left their retirement to mix in the gaieties of York.
+Miss Turnbull was received in rather a different manner from what she
+expected upon this occasion; for between the sending and the accepting
+of the invitation, Lady Stock had heard that her title to the fortune
+was disputed, and that many were of an opinion that, instead of having
+two hundred thousand pounds, she would not have a shilling. Almeria was
+scarcely noticed, on her entrance, by the lady of the house; she found
+herself in a formidable circle, where every body seemed to consider
+her as being out of her place. At dinner she was suffered to go to a
+side-table. From the moment she entered the house till she left it, Lady
+Stock never deigned to speak to her, nor for one instant to recollect
+that such a person existed. Not even Madame Roland, when she was sent
+to the second table at the fermier general's, expressed more indignation
+than Almeria did, at the insolence of this banker's lady. She could
+think and speak of nothing else, all the time she was going home in
+the evening to Elmour Grove. Ellen, who had more philosophy than our
+heroine, did not sympathize in the violence of her indignation: on the
+contrary, she was surprised that Almeria could feel so much hurt by the
+slights of a woman, for whom she had neither esteem nor affection, and
+with whom she was indeed scarcely acquainted.
+
+"But does not her conduct excite your indignation?" said Miss Turnbull.
+
+"No: it rather deserves my contempt. If a friend--if you, for instance,
+had treated me in such a manner, it would have provoked my anger, I dare
+say."
+
+"I! Oh, how impossible!" cried Almeria. "Such insufferable pride! Such
+downright rudeness!--She was tolerably civil to you, but me she never
+noticed: and this sudden change, it seems, Frederick, arises from her
+doubts of my fortune.--Is not such meanness really astonishing?"
+
+"It would be astonishing, perhaps," replied Frederick, "if we did not
+see similar instances every day.--Lady Stock, you know, is nothing but a
+mere woman of the world."
+
+"I hate mere women of the world," cried Almeria.
+
+Ellen observed, that it was not worth while to hate, it was sufficient
+to avoid them.--Almeria grew warmer in her abhorrence; and Ellen at
+last expressed, half in jest, half in earnest, some fear, that if Miss
+Turnbull felt with such exquisite sensibility the neglect of persons
+of fashion, she might in a different situation be ambitious, or vain of
+their favour. Almeria was offended, and was very near quarrelling with
+her friend for harbouring such a mean opinion of her character.
+
+"Do you imagine that _I could_ ever make a friend of such a person as
+Lady Stock?"
+
+"A friend! far from it. I am very sure that you could not."
+
+"Then how could I be ambitious of her favour? I am desirous only of the
+favour, esteem, and affection of my friends."
+
+"But people who live in what is called the world, you know, my dear
+Almeria, desire to have acquaintance as well as friends," said Ellen;
+"and they value those by their fashion or rank, and by the honour which
+may be received from their notice in public places."
+
+"Yes, my dear," interrupted Almeria; "though I have never been in
+London, as you have, I understand all that perfectly well, I assure
+you; but I only say, that I am certain I should never judge, and that I
+should never act, in such a manner."
+
+Ellen smiled, and said, "It is difficult to be certain of what we should
+do in situations in which we have never been placed."--Almeria burst
+into tears, and her friend could scarcely pacify her by the kindest
+expressions.
+
+"Observe, my dear Almeria, that I said _we,_ not _you_: I do not pretend
+that, till I have been tried, I could be certain of my own strength of
+mind in new situations: I believe it is from weakness, that people are
+often so desirous of the notice of persons for whom they have no esteem.
+If I were forced to live among a certain set of company, I suppose I
+should, in time, do just as they do; for I confess, that I do not think
+I could bear every day to be utterly neglected in society, even such as
+we have been in to-day."
+
+Almeria wondered to hear her friend speak with so little confidence of
+her own spirit and independence; and vehemently declared that she was
+certain no change of external circumstances could make any alteration in
+her sentiments and feelings. Ellen forbore to press the subject farther,
+although the proofs which Almeria had this day given of her stoicism
+were not absolutely conclusive.
+
+About a month after this conversation had passed, the suit against Miss
+Turnbull, to set aside Mr. Hodgkinson's will, was tried at York. The
+court was crowded at an early hour; for much entertainment was expected,
+from the oddity of old Hodgkinson's _testamentary dispositions_:
+besides, the large amount of the property at stake could not fail to
+make the cause interesting. Several ladies appeared in the galleries;
+among the rest, Lady Stock--Miss Elmour was there also, to accompany
+Almeria--Frederick was one of her counsel; and when it came to his turn
+to speak, he pleaded her cause with so much eloquence and ability, as to
+obtain universal approbation. After a trial, which lasted many hours,
+a verdict was given in Miss Turnbull's favour. An immediate change
+appeared in the manners of all her acquaintance--they crowded round her
+with smiles and congratulations; and persons with whom she was scarcely
+acquainted, or who had, till now, hardly deigned to acknowledge her
+acquaintance, accosted her with an air of intimacy. Lady Stock, in
+particular, recovered, upon this occasion, both her sight and speech:
+she took Almeria's hand most graciously, and went on chattering with the
+greatest volubility, as they stood at the door of the court-house. Her
+ladyship's handsome equipage had drawn up, and she offered to carry Miss
+Turnbull home: Almeria excused herself, but felt ashamed, when she saw
+the look of contempt which her ladyship bestowed on Mr. Elmour's old
+coach, which was far behind a number of others, and which could but ill
+bear a comparison with a new London carriage. Angry with herself for
+this weakness, our heroine endeavoured to conceal it even from her own
+mind; and feelings of gratitude to her friends revived in her heart the
+moment she was out of the sight of her fine acquaintance. She treated
+Ellen with even more than usual fondness; and her acknowledgments of
+obligation to her counsel and his father were expressed in the strongest
+terms. In a few days, there came a pressing invitation from Lady Stock;
+Mr. Elmour had accounts of Miss Turnbull's to settle with Sir Thomas,
+and, notwithstanding the air of indifference with which she read the
+cards, Almeria was not sorry to accept of the invitation, as she knew
+that she should be received in a very different manner from that in
+which she had been treated on her former visit. She laughed, and said,
+"that she should be entertained by observing the change which a few
+thousand pounds more or less could produce in Lady Stock's behaviour."
+Yet, such is the inconsistency or the weakness of human wishes, that the
+very attentions which our heroine knew were paid merely to her fortune,
+and not to her merit, flattered her vanity; and she observed, with a
+strange mixture of pain and pleasure, that there was a marked difference
+in Lady Stock's manner towards her and _the Elmours_. When the evening
+was over, and when she "had leisure to be good," Almeria called herself
+severely to account for this secret satisfaction, of which she had been
+conscious from the preference given her over her friends--she
+accused herself of ingratitude, and endeavoured to recover her own
+self-complacency by redoubled professions of esteem and affection
+for those to whom she had so much reason to be attached. But fresh
+invitations came from Lady Stock, and the course of her thoughts again
+changed. Ellen declined accompanying her; and Miss Turnbull regretted
+this exceedingly, because it would be so distressing and awkward for her
+to go _alone_.
+
+"Then why do you go at all, my dear?" said Ellen; "you speak as if there
+were some moral necessity for your visit."
+
+"Moral necessity! oh, no," said Almeria, laughing; "but I really think
+there is a _polite_ necessity, if you will allow me the expression.
+Would it not be rude for all of us to refuse, when Lady Stock has made
+this music party, as she says, entirely on my account--on our account,
+I mean? for you see she mentions your fondness for music; and if she had
+not written so remarkably civilly to you, I assure you I would neither
+go myself, nor think of pressing you to go."
+
+This oratory had no effect upon Ellen: our heroine went alone to
+the music meeting. The old coach returned to Elmour Grove at night,
+empty--the servant brought "Lady Stock's compliments, and she would
+send her carriage home with Miss Turnbull early the next morning." After
+waiting above an hour and a half beyond their usual time, the family
+were sitting down to dinner the next day, when Miss Turnbull, in Lady
+Stock's fine carriage, drove up the avenue--Frederick handed her out
+of the carriage with more ceremony and less affection than he had ever
+shown before. Old Mr. Elmour's manner was also more distant, and Ellen's
+colder. Almeria attempted to apologize, but could not get through her
+speech:--she then tried to laugh at her own awkwardness; but her
+laugh not being seconded, she sat down to dinner in silence, colouring
+prodigiously, and totally abashed. Good old Mr. Elmour was the first
+to relent, and to endeavour, by resuming his usual kind familiarity, to
+relieve her painful confusion. Ellen's coolness was also dissipated when
+Miss Turnbull took her aside after dinner, and with tears in her eyes
+declared, "she was sorry she had not had sufficient strength of mind
+to resist Lady Stock's importunities to stay all night;--that as to the
+carriage, it was sent back without her knowledge; and that this morning,
+though she had three or four times expressed her fears that she should
+keep her friends at Elmour Grove waiting for dinner, yet Lady Stock
+would not understand her hints;" and she declared, "she got away the
+very instant her ladyship's carriage came to the door." By Ellen's kind
+interposition, Frederick, whose pride had been most ready to take the
+alarm at the least appearance of slight to his father and sister, was
+pacified--he laid aside his ceremony to _Miss Turnbull_; called her
+"Almeria," as he used to do--and all was well again. With difficulty and
+blushes, Almeria came out with an after-confession, that she had been so
+silly as to make half a promise to Lady Stock, of going to her ball, and
+of spending a few days with her at York, before she left the country.
+
+"But this promise was only conditional," said she: "if you or your
+father would take it the least ill or unkindly of me, I assure you I
+will not go--I would rather offend all the Lady Stocks in the world than
+you, my dearest Ellen, or your father, to whom I am so much obliged."
+
+"Do not talk of obligations," interrupted Ellen; "amongst friends there
+can be no obligations. I will answer for it that my father will not be
+offended at your going to this ball; and I assure you I shall not take
+it unkindly. If you would not think me very proud, I should tell you
+that I wish for our sakes, as well as your own, that you should see as
+much of this Lady Stock, and as many _Lady Stocks_, as possible; for I
+am convinced that, upon _intimate_ acquaintance, we must rise in your
+opinion."
+
+Almeria protested that she had never for an instant thought of
+comparing Ellen with Lady Stock. "A friend, a bosom friend, with an
+acquaintance--an acquaintance of yesterday!--I never thought of making
+such a comparison."
+
+"That is the very thing of which I complain," said Ellen, smiling:
+"I beg you will make the comparison, my dear Almeria; and the more
+opportunities you have of forming your judgment, the better."
+
+Notwithstanding that there was something rather humiliating to Miss
+Turnbull in the dignified composure with which Ellen now, for the first
+time in her life, implied her own superiority, Almeria secretly rejoiced
+that it was at her friend's own request that the visits to her fine
+acquaintance were repeated. At Lady Stock's ball Miss Turnbull was
+much _distinguished,_ as it is called--Sir Thomas's eldest son was her
+partner; and though he was not remarkably agreeable, yet his attentions
+were flattering to her vanity, because the rival belles of York vied for
+his homage. The delight of being taken notice of in public was new to
+Almeria, and it quite intoxicated her brain. Six hours' sleep afterwards
+were not sufficient to sober her completely; as her friends at Elmour
+Grove perceived the next morning--she neither talked, looked, nor moved
+like herself, though she was perfectly unconscious that in this delirium
+of vanity and affectation she was an object of pity and disgust to the
+man she loved.
+
+Ellen had sufficient good-nature and candour to make allowance for
+foibles in others from which her own character was totally free; she
+was clear-sighted to the merits, but not blind to the faults, of her
+friends; and she resolved to wait patiently till Almeria should return
+to herself. Miss Turnbull, in compliance with her friend's advice,
+took as many opportunities as possible of being with Lady Stock. Her
+ladyship's company was by no means agreeable to Almeria's natural taste;
+for her ladyship had neither sense nor knowledge, and her conversation
+consisted merely of common-place phrases, or the second-hand affectation
+of fashionable nonsense: yet, though Miss Turnbull felt no actual
+pleasure in her company, she was vain of being of her parties, and even
+condescended to repeat some of her sayings, in which there was neither
+sense nor wit. From having lived much in the London world, her
+ladyship was acquainted with a prodigious number of names of persons of
+consequence and quality; and by these our heroine's ears were charmed.
+Her ladyship's dress was also an object of admiration and imitation,
+and the York ladies begged patterns of every thing she wore. Almeria
+consequently thought that no other clothes could be worn with propriety;
+and she was utterly ashamed of her past self for having lived so long
+in ignorance, and for having had so bad a taste, as ever to have thought
+Ellen Elmour a model for imitation.
+
+"Miss Elmour," her ladyship said, "was a very sensible young woman, no
+doubt; but she could hardly be considered as a model of fashion."
+
+A new standard for estimating merit was raised in Almeria's mind; and
+her friend, for an instant, sunk before the vast advantage of having
+the most fashionable mantua-maker and milliner in town. Ashamed of this
+dereliction of principle, she a few minutes afterwards warmly pronounced
+a panegyric on Ellen, to which Lady Stock only replied with a vacant,
+supercilious countenance, "May be so--no doubt--of course--the Elmours
+are a very respectable family, I'm told--and really more genteel than
+the country families one sees: but is not it odd, they don't _mix
+more?_ One seldom meets them in town any where, or at any of the
+watering-places in summer."
+
+To this charge, Almeria, with blushes, was forced to plead guilty for
+her friends: she, however, observed, in mitigation, "that when they
+were in town, what company they did see was always the best, she
+believed--that she knew, for one person, the Duchess of A---- was a
+friend of the Elmours, and corresponded with Ellen."
+
+This judicious defence produced an immediate effect upon Lady Stock's
+countenance; her eyebrows descended from the high arch of contempt: and
+after a pause, she remarked, "it was strange that they had not accepted
+of any of the invitations she had lately sent them--she fancied they
+were, as indeed they had the character of being, very proud people--and
+very odd."
+
+Almeria denied the pride and the oddity; but observed, "that they were
+all remarkably fond of _home_."
+
+"Well, my dear Miss Turnbull, that's what I call odd; but I am sure I
+have nothing to say against all that--it is the fashion now to let every
+body do as they please: if the Elmours like to bury themselves alive,
+I'm sure I can't have the smallest objection; I only hope they don't
+insist upon burying you along with them--I'm going to Harrowgate for a
+few days, and I must have you with me, my dear."
+
+Our heroine hesitated. Lady Stock smiled, and said, she saw Miss
+Turnbull was terribly afraid of these Elmours; that for her part, she
+was the last person in the world to break through old connexions; but
+that really some people ought to consider that other people cannot
+always live as they do; that one style of life was fit for one style of
+fortune, and one for another; and that it would look very strange to the
+world, if an heiress with two hundred thousand pounds fortune, who if
+she produced herself might be in the first circles in town, were to be
+boxed up at Elmour Grove, and precluded from all advantages and offers
+that she might of course expect.
+
+To do our heroine justice, she here interrupted Lady Stock with more
+eagerness than strict politeness admitted, and positively declared that
+her friends never for one moment wished to confine her at Elmour Grove.
+"On the contrary," said she, "they urged me to go into company, and to
+see something of the world, before I--" marry, she was going to say--but
+paused.
+
+Lady Stock waited for the finishing word; but when it did not come, she
+went on just as if it had been pronounced. "The Elmours do vastly right
+and proper to talk to you in this style, for they would be very much
+blamed in the world if they acted otherwise. You know, young Elmour
+has his fortune to make--very clever certainly he is, and will rise--no
+doubt--I'm told--in his profession--but all that is not the same as a
+ready-made fortune, which an heiress like you has a right to expect. But
+do not let me annoy you with my reflections. Perhaps there is nothing
+in the report--I really only repeat what I hear every body say. In what
+every body says, you know there must be something. I positively think
+you ought to show, in justice to the Elmours themselves, that you are
+at liberty, and that they do not want to monopolize you--in this
+unaccountable sort of way."
+
+To this last argument our heroine yielded, or to this she chose to
+attribute her yielding. She went to Harrowgate with Lady Stock;
+and every day and every hour she became more desirous of appearing
+fashionable. To this one object all her thoughts were directed. Living
+in public was to her a new life, and she was continually sensible of her
+dependence upon the opinion of her more experienced companion. She
+felt the _awkwardness_ of being surrounded by people with whom she was
+unacquainted. At first, whenever she appeared she imagined that every
+body was looking at her, or talking about her, and she was in perpetual
+apprehension that something in her dress or manners should become
+the subject of criticism or ridicule: but from this fear she was soon
+relieved, by the conviction that most people were so occupied with
+themselves as totally to overlook her. Sometimes indeed she heard the
+whispered question of "Who is that with Lady Stock?" and the mortifying
+answer, "I do not know." However, when Lady Stock had introduced her to
+some of her acquaintance as a great heiress, the scene changed, and
+she found herself treated with much _consideration_; though still the
+fashionable belles took sufficient care to make her sensible of her
+inferiority. She longed to be upon an equal footing with them. Whilst
+her mind was in this state, Sir Thomas Stock, one morning, when he
+was settling some money business with her, observed that she would in
+another year be of age, and of course would take her affairs into her
+own hands; but in the mean time it would be necessary to appoint a
+guardian; and that the choice depended upon herself. She instantly named
+her friend Mr. Elmour. Sir Thomas insinuated that old Mr. Elmour, though
+undoubtedly a most unexceptionable character, was not exactly the most
+eligible person for a guardian to a young lady, whose large fortune
+entitled her to live in a fashionable style. That if it was Miss
+Turnbull's intention to fix in the country, Mr. Elmour certainly was
+upon the spot, and a very fit guardian; but that if she meant to appear,
+as doubtless she would, in town, she would of course want another
+conductor.
+
+"To cut the matter short at once, my dear," said Lady Stock, "you
+must come to town with me next winter, and choose Sir Thomas for your
+guardian. I'm sure it will give him the greatest pleasure in the world
+to do any thing in his power--and you will have no difficulties with
+him; for you see he is not a man to bore you with all manner of advice;
+in short, he would only be your guardian for form's sake; and that, you
+know, would be the pleasantest footing imaginable. Come, here is a pen
+and ink and gilt paper; write to old Elmour this minute, and let me have
+you all to myself."
+
+Almeria was taken by surprise: she hesitated--all her former
+professions, all her obligations to the Elmour family, recurred to her
+mind--her friendship for Ellen--her love, or what she had thought love,
+for Frederick:--she could not decide upon a measure that might offend
+them, or appear ungrateful; yet her desire of going to town with Lady
+Stock was ardent, and she knew not how to refuse Sir Thomas's offer
+without displeasing him. She saw that all future connexion with _the
+Stocks_ depended on her present determination--she took a middle course,
+and suggested that she might have two guardians, and then she should be
+able to avail herself of Sir Thomas's obliging offer without offending
+her old friends. In consequence of this convenient arrangement, she
+wrote to Mr. Elmour, enclosing her letter in one to Ellen, in which the
+embarrassment and weakness of her mind were evident, notwithstanding all
+her endeavours to conceal them. After a whole page of incomprehensible
+apologies, for having so long delayed to write to her dearest Ellen; and
+after professions of the warmest affection, esteem, and gratitude,
+for her friends at Elmour Grove; she in the fourth page of her epistle
+opened her real business, by declaring that she should ever, from the
+conviction she felt of the superiority of Ellen's understanding,
+follow her judgment, however repugnant it might sometimes be to her
+inclinations; that she therefore had resolved, in pursuance of Ellen's
+advice, to take an opportunity of seeing the gay world, and had accepted
+of an invitation from Lady Stock to spend the winter with her in
+town--that she had also accepted of Sir Thomas Stock's offer to become
+one of her guardians, as she thought it best to trouble her good friend
+Mr. Elmour as little as possible at his advanced age.
+
+In answer to this letter, she received a few lines from Mr. Elmour,
+requesting to see her before she should go to town: accordingly upon her
+return to York, she went to Elmour Grove to take leave of her friends.
+She was under some anxiety, but resolved to carry it off with that
+ease, or affectation of ease, which she had learnt during her six weeks'
+apprenticeship to a fine lady at Harrowgate. She was surprised that no
+Frederick appeared to greet her arrival; the servant showed her into Mr.
+Elmour's study. The good old gentleman received her with that proud
+sort of politeness, which was always the sign, and the only sign, of his
+being displeased.
+
+"You will excuse me, Miss Turnbull," said he, "for giving you the
+trouble of coming here; it was my business to have waited on you, but
+I have been so far unwell lately, that it was not in my power to leave
+home; and these are papers," continued he, "which I thought it my duty
+to deliver into your own hands."
+
+Whilst Mr. Elmour was tying up these papers, and writing upon them,
+Almeria began two sentences with "I hope," and "I am afraid," without in
+the least knowing what she hoped or feared. She was not yet sufficiently
+perfect in the part of a fine lady to play it well. Mr. Elmour looked up
+from his writing with an air of grave attention when she began to speak,
+but after waiting in vain for an intelligible sentence, he proceeded.
+
+"You have judged very wisely for me, Miss Turnbull, in relieving my
+declining years from the fatigue of business: no man understands the
+management or the value of money better than Sir Thomas Stock, and
+you could not, madam, in this point of view, have chosen a more proper
+guardian."
+
+Almeria said, "that she hoped Mr. Elmour would always permit her
+to consider him as her best friend, to whose advice she should have
+recourse in preference to that of any person upon earth;" recovering her
+assurance as she went on speaking, and recollecting some of the hints
+Lady Stock had given her, about the envy and jealousy of the Elmours,
+and of their scheme of monopolizing her fortune; she added a few
+commonplace phrases about respectability--gratitude--and great
+obligations--then gave a glance at Lady Stock's handsome carriage,
+which was waiting at the door--then asked for Miss Elmour--and hoped she
+should not be so unfortunate as to miss seeing her before she left the
+country, as she came on purpose to take leave of her--then looked at her
+watch:--but all this was said and done with the awkwardness of a novice
+in the art of giving herself airs. Mr. Elmour, without being in the
+least irritated by her manner, was all the time considering how he
+could communicate, with the least possible pain, what he had further to
+say--"You speak of me, Miss Turnbull, as of one of your guardians, in
+the letter I had the favour of receiving from you a few days ago," said
+he; "but you must excuse me for declining that honour. Circumstances
+have altered materially since I first undertook the management of your
+affairs, and my future interference, or perhaps even my advice, might
+not appear as disinterested as formerly."
+
+Miss Turnbull here interrupted him with an exclamation of astonishment,
+and made many protestations of entire dependence upon his disinterested
+friendship. He waited with proud patience till she had finished her
+eulogium.
+
+"How far the generous extent of your confidence, madam, reaches, or may
+hereafter reach," said he, "must be tried by others, not by me--nor yet
+by my son."
+
+Almeria changed colour.
+
+"He has left it to me, madam, to do that for him, which perhaps he
+feared he might not have sufficient resolution to do for himself--to
+return to you these letters and this picture; and to assure you that he
+considers you as entirely at liberty to form any connexion that may be
+suited to your present views and circumstances."
+
+Mr. Elmour put into her hand a packet of her own letters to Frederick,
+and a miniature picture of herself, which she had formerly given to her
+lover. This was an unexpected stroke. His generosity--his firmness of
+character--the idea of losing him for ever--all rushed upon her mind at
+once.
+
+Artificial manners vanish the moment the natural passions are touched.
+Almeria clasped her hands in an agony of grief, and exclaimed, "Is he
+gone? gone for ever?--I have deserved it!"--The letters and picture fell
+from her hand, and she sunk back quite overpowered. When she recovered,
+she found herself in the open air on a seat under Mr. Elmour's study
+windows, and Ellen beside her.
+
+"Pity, forgive, and advise me, my dear, my best, my only real friend,"
+said Almeria: "never did I want your advice so much as at this moment."
+
+"You shall have it, then, without reserve," said Ellen, "and without
+fear that it should be attributed to any unworthy motive. I could almost
+as soon wish for my brother's death as desire to see him united to any
+woman, let her beauty and accomplishments be what they might, who had
+a mean or frivolous character, such as could consider money as the
+greatest good, or dissipation as the prime object of life. I am firmly
+persuaded, my dear Almeria, that however you may be dazzled by the first
+view of what is called fashionable life, you will soon see things as
+they really are, and that you will return to your former tastes and
+feelings."
+
+"Oh! I am, I am returned to them!" cried Almeria; "I will write directly
+to Lady Stock and to Sir Thomas, to tell them that I have changed my
+mind--only prevail upon your father to be my guardian."
+
+"That is out of my power," said Ellen; "and I think that it is much
+better you should be as you are, left completely at liberty, and
+entirely independent of us. I advise you, Almeria, to persist in your
+scheme of spending the ensuing winter in town with Lady Stock--then you
+will have an opportunity of comparing your own different feelings,
+and of determining what things are essential to your happiness. If
+you should find that the triumphs of fashion delight you more than the
+pleasures of domestic life; pursue them--your fortune will put it
+in your power; you will break no engagements; and you will have no
+reproaches to fear from us. On the contrary, if you find that your
+happiness depends upon friendship and love, and that the life we
+formerly led together is that which you prefer, you will return to
+Elmour Grove, to your friend and your lover, and your choice will not be
+that of romance, but of reason."
+
+It was with difficulty that Almeria, in her present fit of enthusiasm,
+could be brought to listen to sober sense and true friendship. Her
+parting from Ellen and Mr. Elmour cost her many tears, and she returned
+to her fashionable friend with swollen eyes and a heavy heart. Her
+sorrow, however, was soon forgotten in the bustle and novelty of a
+new situation. Upon her arrival in London, fresh trains of ideas were
+quickly forced upon her mind, which were as dissimilar as possible from
+those associated with love, friendship, and Elmour Grove. At Sir Thomas
+Stock's, every thing she saw and heard served to remind, or rather to
+convince her, of the opulence of the owner of the house. Here every
+object was estimated, not for its beauty or elegance, but by its
+costliness. Money was the grand criterion, by which the worth of animate
+and inanimate objects was alike decided. In this society, the worship of
+the golden idol was avowed without shame or mystery; and all who did not
+bow the knee to it were considered as hypocrites or fools. Our heroine,
+possessed of two hundred thousand pounds, could not fail to have a large
+share of incense--every thing she said, or looked, was applauded in Sir
+Thomas Stock's family; and she would have found admiration delightful,
+if she had not suspected that her fortune alone entitled her to all this
+applause. This was rather a mortifying reflection. By degrees, however,
+her delicacy on this subject abated; she learned philosophically to
+consider her fortune a thing so immediately associated with herself
+as to form a part of her personal merit. Upon this principle, she soon
+became vain of her wealth, and she was led to overrate the consequence
+that riches bestow on their possessor.
+
+In a capital city, such numerous claimants for distinction appear, with
+beauty, birth, wit, fashion, or wealth to support their pretensions,
+that the vanity of an individual, however clamorous, is immediately
+silenced, if not humbled. When Miss Turnbull went into public, she
+was surprised by the discovery of her own, nay even of Lady Stock's
+insignificance. At York her ladyship was considered as a personage high
+as human veneration could look; but in London she was lost in a crowd of
+fellow-mortals.
+
+It is, perhaps, from this sense of humiliation, that individuals combine
+together, to obtain by their union that importance and self-complacency,
+which separately they could never enjoy. Miss Turnbull observed, that
+a numerous acquaintance was essential to those who lived much in
+public--that the number of bows and curtsies, and the consequence of the
+persons by whom they are given or received, is the measure of merit and
+happiness. Nothing can be more melancholy than most places of public
+amusement, to those who are strangers to the crowds which fill them.
+
+Few people have such strength of mind as to be indifferent to the
+opinions of numbers, even considered merely as numbers; hence those who
+live in crowds, in fact surrender the power of thinking for themselves,
+either in trifles or matters of consequence. Our heroine had imagined
+before she came to town, that Lady Stock moved in the highest circle
+of fashion; but she soon perceived that many of the people of rank who
+visited her ladyship, and who partook of her sumptuous entertainments,
+thought they condescended extremely whilst they paid this homage to
+wealth.
+
+One night at the Opera, Almeria happened to be seated in the next box to
+Lady Bradstone, a proud woman of high family, who considered all whose
+genealogy could not vie in antiquity with her own as upstarts that ought
+to be kept down. Her ladyship, either not knowing or not caring who was
+in the next box to her, began to ridicule an entertainment which had
+been given a few days before by Lady Stock. From her entertainment, the
+transition was easy to her character, and to that of her whole family.
+Young Stock was pronounced to have all the purse-proud self-sufficiency
+of a banker, and all the pertness of a clerk; even his bow seemed as if
+it came from behind the counter.
+
+Till this moment Almeria had at least permitted, if not encouraged, this
+gentleman's assiduities; for she had hitherto seen him only in
+company where he had been admired: his attentions, therefore, had been
+flattering to her vanity. But things now began to appear in quite a
+different light: she saw Mr. Stock in the point of view in which Lady
+Bradstone placed him; and felt that she might be degraded, but could not
+be elevated, in the ranks of fashion by such an admirer. She began to
+wish that she was not so intimately connected with a family which was
+ridiculed for want of taste, and whose wealth, as she now suspected, was
+their only ticket of admittance into the society of the truly elegant.
+In the land of fashion, "Alps on Alps arise;" and no sooner has the
+votary reached the summit of one weary ascent than another appears
+higher still and more difficult of attainment. Our heroine now became
+discontented in that situation, which but a few months before had been
+the grand object of her ambition.
+
+In the mean time, as Mr. Stock had not overheard Lady Bradstone's
+conversation at the Opera, and as he had a comfortably good opinion of
+himself, he was sure that he was making a rapid progress in the lady's
+favour. He had of late seldom heard her mention any of her friends
+at Elmour Grove; and he was convinced that her romantic attachment to
+Frederick must have been conquered by his own superior address. Her
+fortune was fully as agreeable to him as to his money-making father:
+the only difference between them was, that he loved to squander, and
+his father to hoard gold. Extravagance frequently produces premature
+avarice--young Mr. Stock calculated Miss Turnbull's fortune, weighed
+it against that of every other young lady within the sphere of his
+attractions, found the balance in her favour by some thousands, made his
+proposal in form, and could not recover his astonishment, when he found
+himself in form rejected. Sir Thomas and Lady Stock used all their
+influence in his favour, but in vain: they concluded that Almeria's
+passion for Frederick Elmour was the cause of this refusal; and they
+directed their arguments against the folly of marrying for love. Our
+heroine was at this time more in danger of the folly of marrying for
+fashion: not that she had fixed her fancy upon any man of fashion in
+particular, but she had formed an exalted idea of the whole species--and
+she regretted that Frederick was not in that magic circle in which
+all her hopes of happiness now centred. She wrote kind letters to Miss
+Elmour, but each letter was written with greater difficulty than the
+preceding; for she had lost all interest in the occupations which
+formerly were so delightful. She and Ellen had now few ideas in common;
+and her epistles dwindled into apologies for long silence--promises
+of being a better correspondent in future--reasons for breaking these
+promises--hopes of pardon, &c. Ellen, however, continued steady in her
+belief that her friend would at last prove worthy of her esteem, and of
+her brother's love. The rejection of Mr. Stock, which Almeria did not
+fail to mention, confirmed this favourable opinion.
+
+When that gentleman was at length with some difficulty convinced that
+our heiress had decided against him, his manners and those of his
+family changed towards her from the extreme of civility to that of
+rudeness--they spoke of her as a coquette and a jilt, and a person who
+gave herself very extraordinary airs. She was vexed, and alarmed--and in
+her first confusion and distress thought of retreating to her friends
+at Elmour Grove. She wrote a folio sheet to Ellen, unlike her late
+apologetic epistles, full of the feelings of her heart, and of a
+warm invective against fashionable and interested _friends_. After a
+narrative of her quarrel with the Stocks, she declared that she would
+immediately quit her London acquaintance and return to her best friend.
+But the very day after she had despatched this letter she changed her
+mind, and formed a new idea of a _best friend_.
+
+One morning she went with Lady Stock to a bookseller's, whose shop
+served as a fashionable _lounge_. Her ladyship valued books, like all
+other things, in proportion to the money which they cost: she had
+no taste for literature, but a great fancy for accumulating the most
+expensive publications, which she displayed ostentatiously as part of
+the costly furniture of her house. Whilst she was looking over some
+literary luxuries, rich in all the elegance of hot-press and vellum
+binding, Lady Bradstone and a party of her friends came into the room.
+She immediately attracted and engrossed the attention of all present.
+Lady Stock turned over the leaves of the fine books, and asked their
+prices; but she had the mortification to perceive that she was an object
+rather of derision than of admiration to the new comers. None are so
+easily put out of countenance by airs, as those who are most apt to
+play them off on their inferiors. Lady Stock bit her lips in evident
+embarrassment, and the awkwardness of her distress increased the
+confidence and triumph of her adversary. She had some time before
+provoked Lady Bradstone by giving a concert in opposition to one of
+hers, and by engaging, at an enormous expense, a celebrated performer
+for _her night_: hostilities had thenceforward been renewed at every
+convenient opportunity, by the contending fair ones. Lady Bradstone now
+took occasion loudly to lament her extreme poverty; and she put this
+question to all her party, whether if they had it in their power they
+should prefer having more money than taste, or more taste than money?
+They were going to decide _par acclamation_, but her ladyship insisted
+upon taking each vote separately, because this prolonged the torments of
+her rival, who heard the preference of taste to money reiterated half a
+dozen times over, with the most provoking variety of insulting emphasis.
+Almeria's sufferings during this scene were far more poignant than those
+of the person against whom the ridicule was aimed: not that she pitied
+Lady Stock--no; she would have rejoiced to have seen her humbled to the
+dust, if she could have escaped all share in her mortification: but as
+she appeared as her ladyship's acquaintance, she apprehended that she
+might be mistaken for her friend. An opportunity offered of marking the
+difference. The bookseller asked Lady Stock if she chose to put her name
+down in a list of subscribers to a new work. The book, she saw, was to
+be dedicated to Lady Bradstone--and that was sufficient to decide her
+against it.
+
+She declared that she never supported such things either by her name
+or her money; that for her part she was no politician; that she thought
+female patriots were absurd and odious; and that she was glad none of
+that description were of her acquaintance.
+
+All this was plainly directed against Lady Bradstone, who was a zealous
+patriot: her ladyship retorted, by some reflections equally keen, but
+rather more politely expressed, each party addressing their inuendoes
+to the bookseller, who afraid to disoblige either the rich or the
+fashionable, preserved, as much as it was in the power of his muscles, a
+perfectly neutral countenance. At last, in order to relieve himself from
+his constraint, he betook himself to count the subscribers, and Miss
+Turnbull seized this moment to desire that her name might be added to
+the list. Lady Bradstone's eyes were immediately fixed upon her with
+complacency--Lady Stock's flashed fire. Regardless of their fire,
+Almeria coolly added, "Twelve copies, sir, if you please."
+
+"Twelve copies, Miss Turnbull, at a guinea a-piece! Lord bless me, do
+you know what you are about, my dear?" said Lady Stock.
+
+"Perfectly well," replied our heroine; "I think twelve guineas, or
+twenty times that sum, would be well bestowed in asserting independence
+of sentiment, which I understand is the object of this work."
+
+A whisper from Lady Bradstone to one of the shopmen, of "Who is that
+charming woman?" gave our heroine courage to pronounce these words. Lady
+Stock in great displeasure walked to her carriage, saying, "You are to
+consider what you will do with your twelve copies, Miss Turnbull; for I
+am convinced your guardian will never let such a parcel of inflammatory
+trash into his house: he admires female patriotism, and _all that sort
+of thing_, as little as I do."
+
+The rudeness of this speech did not disconcert Almeria; for she was
+fortified by the consciousness that she had gained her point with Lady
+Bradstone. This lady piqued herself upon showing her preferences and
+aversions with equal enthusiasm and _�clat_. She declared before a large
+company at dinner, that notwithstanding Miss Turnbull was _nobody_ by
+birth, she had made herself _somebody_ by spirit; and that for her part,
+she should, contrary to her general principle, which she confessed was
+to keep a strong line of demarcation between nobility and mobility,
+take a pride in bringing forward merit even in the shape of a Yorkshire
+grazier's daughter.
+
+Pursuant to this gracious declaration, she empowered a common friend to
+introduce Miss Turnbull to her, on the first opportunity. When people
+really wish to become acquainted with each other, opportunities are
+easily and quickly found. The parties met, to their mutual satisfaction,
+that very night in the waiting-room of the Opera-house, and conversed
+more in five minutes than people in town usually converse in five months
+or years, when it is their wish to keep on a merely civil footing. But
+this was not the footing on which Miss Turnbull desired to be with Lady
+Bradstone; she took the utmost pains to please, and succeeded. She owed
+her success chiefly to the dexterous manner in which she manifested
+her contempt for her late dear friend Lady Stock. Her having refused an
+alliance with the family was much in her favour; her ladyship admired
+her spirit, but little suspected that the contemptuous manner in which
+she had once been overheard to speak of this _banker's son_ was the
+real and immediate cause of his rejection. The phrase--"_only_ Stock
+the banker's son"--decided his fate: so much may be done by the mere
+emphasis on a single word from fashionable lips! Our heroine managed
+with considerable address in bringing her quarrel with one friend to
+a crisis at the moment when another was ready to receive her. An
+ostensible pretext is never wanting to those who are resolved on war.
+The book to which Miss Turnbull had subscribed was the pretext upon this
+occasion: nothing could be more indifferent to her than politics; but
+Lady Bradstone's party and principles were to be defended at all events.
+Sir Thomas Stock protested that he might be hurt essentially in the
+opinion of those for whom he had the highest consideration if a young
+lady living under his roof, known to be his ward, and probably presumed
+to be guided by him, should put her name as subscriber to twelve copies
+of a work patronized by Lady Bradstone. "The mere circumstance of its
+being dedicated to her ladyship showed what it _must_ be," Sir Thomas
+observed; and he made it a point with Miss Turnbull that she should
+withdraw her name from the subscription. This Miss Turnbull absolutely
+refused. Lady Bradstone was her confidante upon the occasion, and
+half-a-dozen notes a day passed between them: at length the affair
+was brought to the long wished-for crisis. Lady Bradstone invited Miss
+Turnbull to her house, feeling herself, as she said, bound in honour to
+_bear her out_ in a dispute of which she had been the original occasion.
+In this lady's society Almeria found the style of dress, manners, and
+conversation, different from what she had seen at Lady Stock's: she had
+without difficulty imitated the affectation of Lady Stock, but there
+was an ease in the decided tone of Lady Bradstone which could not be
+so easily acquired. Having lived from her infancy in the best company,
+there was no heterogeneous mixture in her manners; and the consciousness
+of this gave an habitual air of security to her words, looks, and
+motions. Lady Stock seemed forced to beg or buy--Lady Bradstone
+accustomed to command or levy admiration as her rightful tribute. The
+pride of Lady Bradstone was uniformly resolute, and successful; the
+insolence of Lady Stock, if it were opposed, became cowardly and
+ridiculous. Lady Bradstone seemed to have, on all occasions, an
+instinctive sense of what a person of fashion ought to do; Lady Stock,
+notwithstanding her bravadoing air, was frequently perplexed, and
+anxious, and therefore awkward: she had always recourse to precedents.
+"Lady P---- said so, or Lady Q---- did so; Lady G---- wore this, or Lady
+H---- was there, and therefore I am sure it is proper."
+
+On the contrary, Lady Bradstone never quoted authorities, but presumed
+that she was a precedent for others. The one was eager to follow, the
+other determined to lead, the fashion.
+
+Our heroine, who was by no means deficient in penetration, and whose
+whole attention was now given to the study of externals, quickly
+perceived these shades of difference between her late and her present
+friend. She remarked, in particular, that she found herself much more
+at ease in Lady Bradstone's society. Her ladyship's pride was not so
+offensive as Lady Stock's vanity: secure of her own superiority, Lady
+Bradstone did not want to measure herself every instant with inferiors.
+She treated Almeria as her equal in every respect; and in setting her
+right in points of fashion never seemed to triumph, but to consider her
+own knowledge as a necessary consequence of the life she had led from
+her infancy. With a sort of proud generosity, she always considered
+those whom she honoured with her friendship as thenceforward entitled to
+all the advantages of her own situation, and to all the respect due to
+a part of herself. She now always used the word _we_, with peculiar
+emphasis, in speaking of Miss Turnbull and herself. This was a signal
+perfectly well understood by her acquaintance. Almeria was received
+every where with the most distinguished attention; and she was
+delighted, and absolutely intoxicated, with her sudden rise in the world
+of fashion. She found that her former acquaintance at Lady Stock's were
+extremely ambitious of claiming an intimacy; but this could not be done.
+Miss Turnbull had now acquired, by practice, the power of looking at
+people without seeming to see them, and of forgetting those with whom
+she was perfectly well acquainted. Her opinion of her own consequence
+was much raised by the court that was paid to her by several young
+men of fashion, who thought it expedient to marry two hundred thousand
+pounds.
+
+How quickly ambition extends her views! Our heroine's highest object had
+lately been to form an alliance with a man of fashion; she had now three
+fashionable admirers in her train, but though she was flattered by their
+attention, she had not the least inclination to decide in favour of any
+of these candidates. The only young man of her present acquaintance who
+seemed to be out of the reach of her power was Lord Bradstone; and upon
+the conquest of his heart, or rather his pride, her fancy was fixed.
+He had all his mother's family pride, and he had been taught by her to
+expect an alliance with a daughter of one of the first noble families in
+England. The possibility of his marrying a grazier's daughter had never
+entered into his or Lady Bradstone's thoughts: they saw, indeed, every
+day, examples, among the first nobility, of such matches; but they saw
+them with contempt. Almeria knew this, and yet she did not despair of
+success: nor was she wrong in her calculations. Lord Bradstone was fond
+of high play--his taste for gaming soon reduced him to distress--his
+guardian was enraged, and absolutely refused to pay his lordship's
+debts. What was to be done?--He must extricate himself from his
+difficulties by marrying some rich heiress. Miss Turnbull was the
+heiress nearest at hand. Lord Bradstone's pride was compelled to yield
+to his interest, and he resolved to pay his addresses to the Yorkshire
+grazier's daughter: but he knew that his mother would be indignant at
+this idea; and he therefore determined to proceed cautiously, and to
+assure himself of the young lady's approbation before he should brave
+his mother's anger.
+
+The winter was now passed, and her ladyship invited Miss Turnbull to
+accompany her to Cheltenham;--her son was of the party. Our heroine
+plainly understood his intentions, and her friendship for Lady Bradstone
+did not prevent her from favouring his views: neither was she deterred
+by her knowledge of his lordship's taste for play, so ardent was her
+desire for a coronet. The recollection of Frederick Elmour sometimes
+crossed her imagination, and struck her heart; but the pang was soon
+over, and she settled her conscience by the reflection, that she
+was not, in the least degree, bound in honour to him--he had set her
+entirely at liberty, and could not complain of her conduct. As to
+Ellen--every day she determined to write to her, and every day she put
+it off till to-morrow. At last she was saved the trouble of making and
+breaking any more resolutions: for one evening, as she was walking with
+Lady Bradstone and her noble admirer, in the public walk, she met Miss
+Elmour and her brother.
+
+She accosted Ellen with great eagerness; but it was plain to her
+friend's discerning eyes that her joy was affected. After repeating
+several times that she was quite delighted at this unexpected meeting,
+she ran on with a number of commonplace questions, commencing and
+concluding with, "When did you come?--How long do you stay?--Where do
+you lodge?"
+
+"We have been here about a fortnight, and I believe we shall stay about
+a month longer."
+
+"Indeed!--A month!--So long!--How fortunate!--But where are you?"
+
+"We lodge a little out of the town, on the road to Cirencester."
+
+"How unfortunate!--We are at such a shocking distance!--I'm with Lady
+Bradstone--a most charming woman!--Whom are you with?"
+
+"With my poor father," said Ellen; "he has been very ill lately, and we
+came here on his account."
+
+"Ill!--Old Mr. Elmour!--I'm extremely concerned--but whom have you to
+attend him?--you should send to town for Dr. Grant--do you know he is
+the only man now?--the only man Lady Bradstone and I have any dependence
+on--if I were dying, he is the man I should send for. Do have him for
+Mr. Elmour, my dear--and don't be alarmed, above all things--you know
+it's so natural, at your father's age, that he should not be as well as
+he has been--but I distress you--and detain you."
+
+Our heroine, after running off these unmeaning sentences, passed on,
+being ashamed to walk with Ellen in public, because Lady Bradstone had
+whispered, "_Who is she?_"--Not to be known in the world of fashion is
+an unpardonable crime, for which no merit can atone. Three days elapsed
+before Miss Turnbull went to see her friends, notwithstanding her
+extreme concern for poor Mr. Elmour. Her excuse to her conscience was,
+that Lady Bradstone's carriage could not sooner be spared. People in
+a certain rank of life are, or make themselves, slaves to horses
+and carriages; with every apparent convenience and luxury, they are
+frequently more dependent than their tradesmen or their servants.
+There was a time when Almeria would not have been restrained by these
+imaginary _impossibilities_ from showing kindness to her friends; but
+that time was now completely past. She was, at present, anxious to avoid
+having any private conversation with Ellen, because she was ashamed
+to avow her change of views and sentiments. In the short morning
+visit which she paid her, Almeria talked of public places, of public
+characters, of dress and equipages, &c. She inquired, indeed, with a
+modish air of infinite sensibility, for poor Mr. Elmour; and when she
+heard that he was confined to his bed, she regretted most excessively
+that she could not see him; but a few seconds afterwards, with a
+suitable change of voice and countenance, she made an easy transition
+to the praise of a new dress of Lady Bradstone's invention. Frederick
+Elmour came into the room in the midst of the eulogium on her ladyship's
+taste--she was embarrassed for a moment; but quickly recovering the tone
+of a fine lady, she spoke to him as if he had never been any thing to
+her but a common acquaintance. The dignity and firmness of his manner
+provoked her pride; she wished to coquet with him--she tried to excite
+his jealousy by talking of Lord Bradstone: but vain were all her airs
+and inuendoes; they could not extort from him even a sigh. She was
+somewhat consoled, however, by observing in his sister's countenance the
+expression, as she thought, of extreme mortification.
+
+A few days after this visit, Miss Turnbull received the following note
+from Miss Elmour:
+
+"MY DEAR ALMERIA,
+
+"If you still wish that I should treat you as a friend, show me that you
+do, and you will find my affection unaltered. If, on the contrary, you
+have decided to pursue a mode of life, or to form connexions which make
+you ashamed to own any one for a friend who is not a fine lady, let
+our intimacy be dissolved for ever--it could only be a source of mutual
+pain. My father is better to-day, and wishes to see you. Will you spend
+this evening with him and with Your affectionate ELLEN ELMOUR?"
+
+It happened that the very day Miss Turnbull received this note, Lady
+Bradstone was to have a concert, and Almeria knew that her ladyship
+would be offended if she were to spend the evening with the Elmours:
+it was, as she said to herself, _impossible_, therefore, to accept of
+Ellen's invitation. She called upon her in the course of the morning,
+to make an apology. She found Ellen beside her father, who was seated
+in his arm-chair: he looked extremely pale and weak: she was at first
+shocked at the change she saw in her old friend, and she could not utter
+the premeditated apology. Ellen took it for granted that she was come,
+in consequence of her note, to spend the day with her, and she embraced
+her with affectionate joy. Her whole countenance changed when our
+heroine began at last to talk of Lady Bradstone and the concert--Ellen
+burst into tears.
+
+"My dear child," said Mr. Elmour, putting his hand upon his daughter's,
+which rested upon the arm of his chair, "I did not expect this weakness
+from you."
+
+Miss Turnbull, impatient to shorten a scene which she had neither
+strength of mind to endure nor to prevent, rose to take leave.
+
+"My dear Ellen," said she, in an irresolute tone, "my dearest creature,
+you must not distress yourself in this way--I must have you keep up your
+spirits. You confine yourself too much, indeed you do; and you see you
+are not equal to it. Your father will be better, and he will persuade
+you to leave him for an hour or two, I am sure, and we must have you
+amongst us; and I must introduce you to Lady Bradstone--she's a charming
+woman, I assure you--you would like her of all things, if you knew her.
+Come--don't let me see you in this way. Really, my dear Ellen, this is
+so unlike you--I can assure you that, whatever you may think, I love you
+as well as ever I did, and never shall forget my obligations to _all_
+your family; but, you know, a person who lives in the world, as I do,
+must make such terrible sacrifices of their time--one can't do as one
+pleases--one's an absolute slave. So you must forgive me, dear Ellen,
+for bidding you farewell for the present."
+
+Ellen hastily wiped away her tears, and turning to Almeria with an air
+of dignity, held out her hand to her, and said, "Farewell for ever,
+Almeria!--May you never feel the want of a sincere and affectionate
+friend!--May the triumphs of fashion make you amends for all you
+sacrifice to obtain them!"
+
+Miss Turnbull was abashed and agitated--she hurried out of the room to
+conceal her confusion, stepped into a carriage with a coronet, drove
+away, and endeavoured to forget all that had passed. The concert in the
+evening recalled her usual train of ideas, and she persuaded herself
+that she had done all, and more than was necessary, in offering to
+introduce Ellen to Lady Bradstone. "How could she neglect such an
+offer?"
+
+A few days after the concert, Almeria had the pleasure of being
+introduced to Lady Bradstone's four daughters--Lady Gabriella, Lady
+Agnes, Lady Bab, and Lady Kitty. Of the existence of these young ladies
+Almeria had scarcely heard--they had been educated at a fashionable
+boarding-school; and their mother was now under the disagreeable
+necessity of bringing them home to live with her, because the eldest was
+past seventeen.
+
+Lady Gabriella was a beauty, and determined to be a Grace--but which of
+the three Graces, she had not yet decided.
+
+Lady Agnes was plain, and resolved to be a wit.
+
+Lady Bab and Lady Kitty were charming hoydens, with all the _modern_
+simplicity of fourteen or fifteen in their manners. Lady Bab had a fine
+long neck, which was always in motion--Lady Kitty had white teeth, and
+was always laughing;--but it is impossible to characterize them, for
+they differed in nothing from a thousand other young ladies.
+
+These four sisters agreed in but one point--in considering their mother
+as their common enemy. Taking it for granted that Miss Turnbull was her
+friend, she was looked upon by them as being naturally entitled to a
+share of their distrust and enmity. They found a variety of causes of
+complaint against our heroine; and if they had been at any loss, their
+respective waiting-maids would have furnished them with inexhaustible
+causes of quarrel.
+
+Lady Bradstone could not bear to go with more than four in a
+coach.--"Why was Miss Turnbull always to have a front seat in the
+coach, and two of the young ladies to be always left at home on
+her account?"--"How could Lady Bradstone make such a favourite of a
+grazier's daughter, and prefer her to her own children as a companion?"
+&c.
+
+The young ladies never discouraged their attendants from saying all the
+ill-natured things that they could devise of Miss Turnbull, and they
+invented a variety of methods of tormenting her. Lady Gabriella found
+out that Almeria was horridly ugly and awkward; Lady Agnes _quizzed_ her
+perpetually; and the Ladies Bab and Kitty played upon her innumerable
+practical jokes. She was astonished to find in high life a degree of
+vulgarity of which her country companions would have been ashamed: but
+all such things in high life go under the general term _dashing_.
+These young ladies were _dashers_. Alas! perhaps foreigners and future
+generations may not know the meaning of the term!
+
+Our heroine's temper was not proof against the trials to which it was
+hourly exposed: perhaps the consciousness that she was not born to the
+situation in which she now moved, joined to her extreme anxiety to be
+thought genteel and fashionable, rendered her peculiarly irritable
+when her person and manners were attacked by ladies of quality. She
+endeavoured to conciliate her young enemies by every means in her
+power, and at length she found a method of pleasing them. They were
+immoderately fond of baubles, and they had not money enough to gratify
+this taste. Miss Turnbull at first, with great timidity, begged Lady
+Gabriella's acceptance of a ring, which seemed particularly to catch her
+fancy: the facility with which the ring was accepted, and the favourable
+change it produced, as if by magic, in her ladyship's manners towards
+our heroine, encouraged her to try similar experiments upon the
+other sisters. She spared not ear-rings, crosses, brooches, pins, and
+necklaces; and the young ladies in return began to show her all the
+friendship which can be purchased by such presents--or by any presents.
+Even whilst she rejoiced at the change in their behaviour, she could
+not avoid despising them for the cause to which she knew it must be
+attributed; nor did she long enjoy even the temporary calm procured by
+these peace-offerings; for the very same things which propitiated the
+daughters offended the mother. Lady Bradstone one morning insisted
+upon Lady Gabriella's returning a necklace, which she had received from
+Almeria; and her ladyship informed Miss Turnbull, at the same time, with
+an air of supreme haughtiness, that "she could not possibly permit
+_her_ daughters to accept such valuable presents from any but their own
+relations; that if the Lady Bradstones did not know what became them, it
+was her duty to teach them propriety."
+
+It was rather late in life to begin to teach, even if they had been
+inclined to learn. They resented her last lesson, or rather her last act
+of authority, with acrimony proportioned to the value of the object;
+and Miss Turnbull was compelled to hear their complaints. Lady Gabriella
+said, she was convinced that her mother's only reason for making her
+return the necklace was because she had not one quite so handsome. Lady
+Agnes, between whom and her mamma there was pending a dispute about a
+pair of diamond ear-rings, left by her grandmother, observed, that her
+mother might, if she pleased, call _jealousy, propriety_; but that she
+must not be surprised if other people used the old vocabulary; that her
+mamma's pride and vanity were always at war; for that though she
+was proud enough to see her daughters _show well_ in public, yet she
+required to have it said that she looked younger than any of them, and
+that she was infinitely better dressed.
+
+Lady Bab and Lady Kitty did not fail in this favourable moment of
+general discontent to bring forward their list of grievances; and in the
+discussion of their rights and wrongs they continually appealed to our
+heroine, crowding round her whilst she stood silent and embarrassed.
+Ashamed of them and of herself, she compared the Lady Bradstones with
+Ellen--she compared the sisters-in-law she was soon to have with the
+friend she had forsaken. The young ladies mistook the expression of
+melancholy in Almeria's countenance at this instant, for sympathy in
+their sorrows; and her silence, for acquiescence in the justice of their
+complaints. They were reiterating their opinions with something like
+plebeian loudness of voice, when their mother entered the room. The ease
+with which her daughters changed their countenances and the subject of
+conversation, when she entered, might have prevented all suspicion but
+for the blushes of Almeria, who, though of all the party she was the
+least guilty, looked by far the most abashed. The necklace which hung
+from her hand, and on which in the midst of her embarrassment her eyes
+involuntarily fell, seemed to Lady Bradstone proof positive against her.
+Her ladyship recollected certain words she had heard as she opened the
+door, and now applied them without hesitation to herself. Politeness
+restrained the expression of her anger towards Miss Turnbull, but it
+burst furiously forth upon her daughters; and our heroine was now as
+much alarmed by the violence of her future mother-in-law as she had
+been disgusted by the meanness of her _intended_ sisters. From this
+day forward, Lady Bradstone's manner changed towards Almeria, who could
+plainly perceive, by her altered eye, that she had lost her confidence,
+and that her ladyship considered her as one who was playing a double
+part, and fomenting dissensions in her family. She thought herself
+bound, in honour to the daughters, not to make any explanation that
+could throw the blame upon them; and she bore in painful silence the
+many oblique reproaches, reflections upon ingratitude, dissimulation,
+and treachery, which she knew were aimed at her. The consciousness that
+she was treating Lady Bradstone with insincerity, in encouraging the
+addresses of her son, increased Miss Turnbull's embarrassment; she
+repented having for a moment encouraged his clandestine attachment; and
+she now urged him in the strongest manner to impart his intentions to
+his mother. He assured her that she should be obeyed; but his obedience
+was put off from day to day; and, in the mean time, the more Almeria saw
+of his family, the more her desire to be connected with them diminished.
+The affair of the necklace was continually renewed, in some shape or
+other, and a perpetual succession of petty disputes occurred, in which
+both parties were in the wrong, and each openly or secretly blamed her
+for not taking their part. Her mind was so much harassed, that all
+her natural cheerfulness forsook her; and the being obliged to assume
+spirits in company, and among people who were not worth the toil of
+pleasing, became every hour more irksome. The transition from these
+domestic miseries to public dissipation and gaieties made her still more
+melancholy.
+
+When she calmly examined her own heart, she perceived that she felt
+little or no affection for Lord Bradstone, though she had been flattered
+by his attentions, when the assiduity of a man of rank and fashion was
+new to her; but now the joys of being a countess began to fade in her
+imagination. She hesitated--she had not strength of mind sufficient to
+decide--she was afraid to proceed; yet she had not courage to retract.
+
+Ellen's parting words recurred to her mind--"May you never feel the want
+of a sincere and affectionate friend! May the triumphs of fashion make
+you amends for all you sacrifice to obtain them!"--"Alas!" thought
+she, "Ellen foresaw that I should soon be disgusted with this joyless,
+heartless intercourse; but how can I recede? how can I disengage
+myself from this Lord Bradstone, now that I have encouraged his
+addresses?--Fool that I have been!--Oh! if I could now be advised by
+that best of friends, who used to assist me in all my difficulties!--But
+she despises, she has renounced me--she has bid me farewell for ever!"
+
+Notwithstanding this "farewell for ever," there was still at the bottom
+of Almeria's heart, even whilst she bewailed herself in this manner, a
+secret hope that Ellen's esteem and friendship might be recovered, and
+she resolved to make the trial. She was eager to put this idea into
+execution the moment it occurred to her; and after apologizing to the
+Lady Bradstones for not, as usual, accompanying them in their morning
+ride, she set out to walk to Miss Elmour's lodgings. It was a hot
+day--she walked fast from the hurry and impatience of her mind. The
+servant who attended her knocked twice at Mr. Elmour's door before any
+one answered; at last the door was opened by a maid-servant, with a
+broom in her hand.
+
+"Is Miss Elmour at home?"
+
+"No, sir, she left Cheltenham this morning betimes, and we be getting
+the house ready for other lodgers."
+
+Almeria was very much disappointed--she looked flushed and fatigued;
+and the maid said, "Ma'am, if you'll be pleased to rest a while, you're
+welcome, I'm sure--and the parlour's cleaned out--be pleased to sit
+down, ma'am."--Almeria followed, for she was really tired, and glad to
+accept the good-natured offer. She was shown into the same parlour where
+she had but a few weeks before taken leave of Ellen. The maid rolled
+forward the great arm-chair, in which old Mr. Elmour had been seated;
+and as she moved it, a gold-headed cane fell to the ground.
+
+Almeria's eyes turned upon it directly as it fell; for it was an old
+friend of hers: many a time she had played with it when she was a child,
+and for many years she had been accustomed to see it in the hand of
+a man whom she loved and respected. It brought many pleasing and some
+painful associations to her mind--for she reflected how ill she had
+behaved to the owner of it the last time she saw him.
+
+"Ay, ma'am," said the maid, "it is the poor old gentleman's cane, sure
+enough--it has never been stirred from here, nor his hat and gloves,
+see, since the day he died."
+
+"Died!--Good Heavens!--Is Mr. Elmour dead?"
+
+"Yes, sure--he died last Tuesday, and was buried yesterday. You'd better
+drink some of this water, ma'am," said the girl, filling a glass that
+stood on the table. "Why! dear heart! I would not have mentioned it
+so sudden in this way, but I thought it could no way hurt you. Why, it
+never came into my head you could be a friend of the family's, nor more,
+may be, at the utmost, than an acquaintance, as you never used to call
+much during his illness."
+
+This was the most cutting reproach, and the innocence with which it was
+uttered made it still more severe. Almeria burst into tears; and the
+poor girl, not knowing what to say next, and sorry for all she had said,
+took up the cane, which had fallen from Almeria's hands, and applied
+herself to brightening the gold head with great diligence. At this
+instant there was a double knock at the house-door.
+
+"It's only the young gentleman, ma'am," said the maid, as she went
+towards the door.
+
+"What young gentleman?" said Almeria, rising from her seat.
+
+"Young Mr. Elmour, ma'am: he did not go away with his sister, but stayed
+to settle some matters. Oh, they have let him in!"
+
+The maid stood with the parlour-door half open in her hand, not being
+able to decide in her own fancy whether the lady wished that he should
+come into the room or stay out; and before either she, or perhaps
+Almeria, had decided this point, it was settled for them by his walking
+in. Almeria was standing so as to be hid by the door; and he was so
+intent upon his own thoughts, that, without perceiving there was any
+body in the room, he walked straight forward to the table, took up
+his father's hat and gloves, and gave a deep sigh. He heard his sigh
+echoed--looked up, and started at the sight of Almeria, but immediately
+assumed an air of distant and cold respect. He was in deep mourning, and
+looked pale, as if he had suffered much. Almeria endeavoured to speak;
+but could get out only a few words, expressive of _the shock and
+astonishment_ she had just felt.
+
+"Undoubtedly, madam, you must have been shocked," replied Frederick, in
+a calm voice; "but you could not have reason to be much astonished. My
+father's life had been despaired of some time--you must have seen how
+much he was changed when you were here a few weeks ago." Almeria could
+make no reply; the tears, in spite of all her efforts to restrain them,
+rolled down her cheeks: the cold, and almost severe, manner, in which
+Frederick spoke, and the consciousness that she deserved it, struck her
+to the heart. He followed her, as she abruptly quitted the room, and
+in a tone of more kindness, but with the same distant manner, begged to
+have the honour of attending her home. She bowed her head, to give that
+assent which her voice could not at this instant utter; and she was
+involuntarily going to put her arm within his; but, as he did not seem
+to perceive this motion, she desisted, coloured violently, adjusted
+the drapery of her gown to give employment to the neglected hand, then
+walked on with precipitation. Her foot slipped as she was crossing the
+street; Frederick offered his arm--she could not guess, from the way in
+which it was presented, whether her former attempt had been perceived or
+not. This trifle appeared to her a point of the utmost importance; for
+by this she thought she could decide whether his feelings were really
+as cold towards her as they appeared, whether he felt love and anger, or
+contempt and indifference. Whilst she was endeavouring in vain to form
+her opinion, all the time she leant upon his arm, and walked on in
+silence, a carriage passed them; Frederick bowed, and his countenance
+was suddenly illuminated. Almeria turned eagerly to see the cause of the
+change, and as the carriage drove on she caught a glimpse of a beautiful
+young lady. A spasm of jealousy seized her heart--she withdrew her
+arm from Frederick's. The abruptness of the action did not create any
+emotion in him--his thoughts were absent. In a few minutes he slackened
+his pace, and turned from the road towards a path across the fields,
+asking if Miss Turnbull had any objection to going that way to Lady
+Bradstone's instead of along the dusty road. She made no objection--she
+thought she perceived that Frederick was preparing to say something of
+importance to her, and her heart beat violently.
+
+"Miss Turnbull will not, I hope, think what I am going to say
+impertinent; she may be assured that it proceeds from no motive but the
+desire to prevent the future unhappiness of one who once honoured my
+family with her friendship."
+
+"You are too good--I do not deserve that you should be interested in
+my happiness or unhappiness--I cannot think you impertinent--pray speak
+freely."
+
+"And quickly," she would have added, if she dared. Without abating any
+of his reserve from this encouragement, he proceeded precisely in the
+same tone as before, and with the same steady composure.
+
+"An accidental acquaintance with a friend of my Lord Bradstone's, has
+put me in possession of what, perhaps, you wish to be a secret, madam,
+and what I shall inviolably keep as such."
+
+"I cannot pretend to be ignorant of what you allude to," said Almeria;
+"but it is more than probable that you may not have heard the exact
+state of the business; indeed it is impossible that you should, because
+no one but myself could fully explain my sentiments. In fact they were
+undecided; I was this very morning going to consult your sister upon
+that subject."
+
+"You will not suppose that I am going to intrude my counsels upon you,
+Miss Turnbull; nothing can be farther from my intention: I am merely
+going to mention a fact to you, of which I apprehend you are ignorant,
+and of which, as you are circumstanced, no one in your present society,
+perhaps no one in the world but myself, would choose to apprize you.
+Forgive me, madam, if I try your patience by this preface: I am very
+desirous not to wound your feelings more than is necessary."
+
+"Perhaps," said Almeria, with a doubtful smile, "perhaps you are under
+a mistake, and imagine my feelings to be much more interested than they
+really are. If you have any thing to communicate to Lord Bradstone's
+disadvantage, you may mention it to me without hesitation, and without
+fear of injuring my happiness or his; for, to put you at ease at once,
+I am come to a determination positively to decline his lordship's
+addresses."
+
+"This assurance certainly puts me at ease at once," said Frederick. But
+Almeria observed that he neither expressed by his voice nor countenance
+any of that joy which she had hoped to inspire by the assurance: on
+the contrary, he heard it as a determination in which he was personally
+unconcerned, and in which pure benevolence alone could give him an
+interest. "This relieves me," continued he, "from all necessity of
+explaining myself further."
+
+"Nay," said Almeria, "but I must beg you will explain yourself. You do
+not know but it may be necessary for me to have your antidote ready in
+case of a relapse."
+
+No change, at least none that betrayed the anxiety of a lover, was
+visible in Frederick's countenance at this hint of a relapse; but he
+gravely answered, that, when so urged, he could not forbear to tell
+her the exact truth, that Lord Bradstone was a ruined man--ruined
+by gaming--and that he had been so indelicate as to declare to his
+_friend_, that his sole object in marrying was money. Our heroine's
+pride was severely hurt by the last part of this information; but
+even that did not wound her so keenly as the manner in which Frederick
+behaved. She saw that he had no remains of affection for her lurking
+in his heart--she saw that he now acted merely as he declared, from a
+desire to save from misery one who had formerly honoured his family
+with her friendship. Stiff, cold words--she endeavoured to talk upon
+indifferent subjects, but could not--she was somewhat relieved when they
+reached Lady Bradstone's door, and when Frederick left her. The moment
+he was gone, however, she ran up stairs to her own apartment, and looked
+eagerly out of her window to catch the last glimpse of him. Such is
+the strange caprice of the human heart, that a lover appears the
+most valuable at the moment he is lost. Our heroine had felt all her
+affection for Frederick revive with more than its former force within
+this last hour; and she thought she now loved with a degree of passion
+of which she had never before found herself capable. Hope is perhaps
+inseparable from the existence of the passion of love. She passed
+alternately from despair to the most flattering delusions: she fancied
+that Frederick's coldness was affected--that he was acting only from
+honour--that he wished to leave her at liberty--and that as soon as he
+knew she was actually disengaged from Lord Bradstone, he would fly
+to her with all his former eagerness. This notion having once taken
+possession of her mind, she was impatient in the extreme to settle her
+affairs with Lord Bradstone. He was not at home--he did not come in till
+late in the evening. It happened, that the next day Almeria was to be of
+age; and Lord Bradstone, when he met her in the evening, reminded her
+of her promise not "to prolong the torments of suspense beyond that
+period." She asked whether he had, in compliance with her request,
+communicated the affair to Lady Bradstone? No; but he would as soon as
+he had reasonable grounds of hope. Miss Turnbull rejoiced that he had
+disobeyed her injunctions--she said that Lady Bradstone might now be for
+ever spared hearing what would have inevitably excited her indignation.
+His lordship stared, and could not comprehend our heroine's present
+meaning. She soon made it intelligible. We forbear to relate all that
+was said upon the occasion: as it was a disappointment of the purse
+and not of the heart, his lordship was of course obliged to make
+a proportional quantity of professions of eternal sorrow and
+disinterestedness. Almeria, partly to save her own pride the
+mortification of the repetition, forbore to allude to the confidential
+speech in which he had explained to _a friend_ his motives for marrying;
+she hoped that he would soon console himself with some richer heiress,
+and she rejoiced to be disencumbered of him, and even of his coronet;
+for in this moment coronets seemed to her but paltry things--so much
+does the appearance of objects vary according to the medium through
+which they are viewed!
+
+Better satisfied with herself after this refusal of the earl, and in
+better spirits than she had been for some months, she flattered herself
+with the hopes that Frederick would call upon her again before he left
+Cheltenham; he would then know that Lord Bradstone was no longer her
+lover.
+
+She fell asleep full of these imaginations--dreamed of Frederick and
+Elmour Grove--but this was only a dream. The next day--and the next--and
+the next--passed without her seeing or hearing any thing of Frederick;
+and the fourth day, as she rode by the house where the Elmours had
+lodged, she saw put up in the parlour window an advertisement of
+"_Lodgings to be let_." She was now convinced that Frederick had left
+Cheltenham--left it without thinking of her or of Lord Bradstone. The
+young Lady Bradstones observed that she scarcely spoke a word during
+the remainder of her morning's ride. At night she was attacked with a
+feverish complaint: the image of the beautiful person whom she had seen
+in the coach that passed while she was walking with Frederick, was now
+continually before her eyes. She had made all the inquiries she could,
+to find out who that young lady might be; but this point could not be
+ascertained, because, though she described the lady accurately, she was
+not equally exact about the description of the carriage. The arms and
+livery had totally escaped her observation. The different conjectures
+that had been made by the various people to whom she had applied, and
+the voices in which their answers were given, ran in her head all this
+feverish night.
+
+"Perhaps it was Lady Susanna Quin--very likely it was Lady Mary
+Lowther--very possibly Miss Grant; you know she goes about with old Mrs.
+Grant in a yellow coach--but there are so many yellow coaches--the arms
+or the livery would settle the point at once." These words, _the arms
+and the livery would settle the point at once,_ she repeated to herself
+perpetually, though without annexing any ideas to the words. In
+short, she was very feverish all night; and in the morning, though she
+endeavoured to rise, she was obliged to lie down again. She was
+confined to her bed for about a week: Lady Bradstone sent for the best
+physicians; and the young ladies, in the intervals of dressing and going
+out, whenever they could remember it, came into Miss Turnbull's room
+to "hope she found herself better." It was obvious to her that no one
+person in the house cared a straw about her, and she was oppressed with
+the sense of being an encumbrance to the whole family. Whilst she was
+alone she formed many projects for her future life, which she resolved
+to execute as soon as she should recover. She determined immediately
+to go down to her own house in the country, and to write to Ellen a
+recantation of all her fine lady errors. She composed, whilst she lay on
+her feverish pillow, twenty letters to her former friend, each of them
+more eloquent and magnanimous than the other: but in proportion as her
+fever left her, the activity of her imagination abated, and with it her
+eloquence and magnanimity. Her mind, naturally weak, and now enfeebled
+by disease, became quite passive, and received and yielded to the
+impressions made by external circumstances. New trains of ideas,
+perfectly different from those which had occupied her mind during her
+fever, and in the days preceding her illness, were excited during her
+convalescence. She lay listening to, or rather hearing, the conversation
+of the young Lady Bradstones. They used to come into her room at night,
+and stay for some time whilst they had their hair curled, and talked
+over the events of the day--whom they had met--what dresses they had
+worn--what matches were on the tapis, &c. They happened one night to
+amuse themselves with reading an old newspaper, in which they came to
+an account of a splendid masquerade, which had been given the preceding
+winter in London by a rich heiress.
+
+"Lord! what charming entertainments Miss Turnbull might give if she
+pleased. Why, do you know, she is richer than this woman," whispered
+Lady Bab; "and she is of age now, you know. If I were she, I'm sure I'd
+have a house of my own, and the finest I could get in London. Now such a
+house as my aunt Pierrepoint's--and servants--and carriages--and I would
+make myself of some consequence."
+
+This speech was not lost upon our heroine; and the whisper in which it
+was spoken increased its effect. The next day, as Lady Bab was sitting
+at the foot of Almeria's bed, she asked for a description of "my aunt
+Pierrepoint's house." It was given to her _con amore_, and a character
+of "my aunt Pierrepoint" was added gratis. "She is the most charming
+amiable woman in the world--quite a different sort of person from mamma.
+She has lived all her life about court, and she is connected with all
+the great people, and a prodigious favourite at court--and she is of
+such consequence!--You cannot imagine of what consequence she is!"
+
+Lady Gabriella then continued the conversation, by telling Miss Turnbull
+a great secret, that her aunt Pierrepoint and her mother were not on
+the best terms in the world: "for mamma's so violent, you know, about
+politics, and quite on a contrary side to my aunt. Mamma never goes to
+court; and, between you and me, they say she would not be received.
+Now that is a shocking thing for us; but the most provoking part of the
+business is, that mamma won't let my aunt Pierrepoint present us. Why,
+when she cannot or will not go to the drawing-room herself, what
+could be more proper, you know, than to let us be presented by Lady
+Pierrepoint?--Lady Pierrepoint, you know, who is such a prodigious
+favourite, and knows every thing in the world that's proper at court,
+and every where: it really is monstrous of mamma! Now if you were in
+our places, should not you be quite provoked? By-the-bye, you never were
+presented at court yourself, were you?"
+
+"Never," said Almeria, with a sudden feeling of mortification.
+
+"No, you could not--of course you could not, living with mamma as you
+do; for I am sure she would quarrel with an angel for just only talking
+of going to court. Lord! if I was as rich as you, what beautiful
+birthday dresses I would have!"
+
+These and similar conversations wrought powerfully upon the weak mind of
+our poor heroine. She rose from her bed after her illness wondering what
+had become of her passion for Frederick Elmour: certainly she was now
+able to console herself for his loss, by the hopes of being presented at
+court, and of being dressed with uncommon splendour. She was surprised
+at this change in her own mind; but she justified it to herself by the
+reflection, that it would show an unbecoming want of spirit to retain
+any remains of regard for one who had treated her with so much coldness
+and indifference, and who in all probability was attached to another
+woman. Pride and resentment succeeded to tenderness; and she resolved
+to show Frederick and Ellen that she could be happy her own way. It
+is remarkable that her friendship for the sister always increased or
+decreased with her love for her brother. Ambition, as it has often been
+observed, is a passion that frequently succeeds to love, though love
+seldom follows ambition. Almeria, who had now recovered her strength,
+was one morning sitting in her own room, meditating arrangements for the
+next winter's campaign, when she was roused by the voices of Lady Bab
+and Lady Kitty at her room door.
+
+"Miss Turnbull! Miss Turnbull! come! come!--Here's the king and queen
+and all the royal family, and my aunt Pierrepoint--come quick to our
+dressing-room windows, or they will be out of sight."
+
+The fair hoydens seized her between them, and dragged her away.
+
+"Mamma says it's horribly vulgar to run to the windows, but never mind
+that. There's my aunt Pierrepoint's coach--is not it handsome?--Oh!
+everything about her is so handsome!--you know she has lived all her
+life at court."
+
+The eulogiums of these young ladies, and the sight of Lady Pierrepoint's
+entry in to Cheltenham in the wake of royalty, and the huzzas of the
+mob, and the curiosity of all ranks who crowded the public walks in
+the evening, to see the illustrious guest, contributed to raise our
+heroine's enthusiasm. She was rather surprised afterwards to observe
+that Lady Pierrepoint passed her sister and nieces, on the public walk,
+without taking the slightest notice of them; her head was turned indeed
+quite another way when she passed, and she was in smiling conversation
+with one of her own party.
+
+Lady Gabriella whispered, "My aunt Pierrepoint cannot _know_ us now,
+because we are with mamma."
+
+Miss Turnbull now, for the first time, saw Lady Bradstone in a situation
+in which she was neglected; this served to accelerate the decline and
+fall of her ladyship's power over her mind. She began to consider her
+not as a person by whom she had been brought into notice in the circles
+of fashion, but as one by whom she was prevented from rising to a higher
+orbit. Lady Bradstone went to see her sister the day after her arrival,
+but she was _not at home_. Some days afterwards Lady Pierrepoint
+returned her visit: she came in a sedan chair, because she did not wish
+that her carriage should be seen standing at Lady Bradstone's door. It
+was incumbent upon her to take every possible precaution to prevent the
+suspicion of her being biassed by sisterly affection; her sister and
+she were unfortunately of such different opinions in politics, and her
+sister's politics were so much disapproved of, where Lady Pierrepoint
+most wished for approbation, that she could not, consistently with her
+principles or interest, countenance them, by appearing in public with
+one so obnoxious.
+
+Miss Turnbull observed, with the most minute attention, every word and
+gesture of Lady Pierrepoint. At first view, her ladyship appeared all
+smiling ease and affability; but in all her motions, even in those of
+her face, there was something that resembled a puppet--her very smiles,
+and the turns of her eyes, seemed to be governed by unseen wires. Upon
+still closer observation, however, there was reason to suspect that this
+puppet might be regulated by a mind within, of some sort or other; for
+it could not only answer questions by a voice of its own, and apparently
+without being prompted, but moreover it seemed to hesitate, and to take
+time for thought, before it hazarded any reply. Lady Pierrepoint spoke
+always as if she thought her words would be repeated, and must _lead to
+consequences_; and there was an air of vast circumspection and mystery
+about her, which appeared sublime or ridiculous according to the light
+in which it was considered. To our heroine it appeared sublime. Her
+ladyship's conversation, if a set of unmeaning phrases be deserving of
+that name, at length turned upon the concern she felt that it had not
+been in her power to procure an increase of pension for a certain Mrs.
+Vickars. "Such a respectable character!--the widow of a distant relation
+of the Pierrepoints." There was no probability, after all the interest
+and influence she had used, she said, that Mrs. Vickars could ever
+be gratified in the line she had attempted; that therefore it was her
+ladyship's advice to her to look out for some situation of an eligible
+description, which might relieve her from the distressing apprehension
+of appearing burdensome or importunate.
+
+As well as her ladyship's meaning could be made out, cleared from the
+superfluity of words with which it was covered, she wished to get rid of
+this poor widow, and to fasten her as an humble companion upon any body
+who would be troubled with _such a respectable character!_ Miss Turnbull
+foresaw the possibility of obliging her ladyship by means of Mrs.
+Vickars: for as she proposed to purchase a house in town, it would be
+convenient to her to have some companion; and this lady, who was of a
+certain age, and who had always lived in the best company, would be well
+suited to serve as her chaperon. To do our heroine justice, considering
+that she was unpractised in manoeuvring with court ladies, she conducted
+her scheme with a degree of address worthy of her object. Through the
+medium of Lady Bab and Lady Gabriella, she opened a correspondence with
+Lady Pierrepoint. Mrs. Vickars was introduced to Miss Turnbull--liked
+her prodigiously; and Lady Pierrepoint was most happy in the prospect
+of her relation's being so eligibly situated. In proportion as Miss
+Turnbull advanced in the good graces of Lady Pierrepoint, she receded
+from Lady Bradstone. This lady's indignation, which had been excited
+against Almeria by her not siding with her against her daughters, now
+rose to the highest pitch, when she perceived what was going on. No
+crime could in her eyes be greater than that of seceding from her party.
+Her violence in party matters was heightened by the desire to contrast
+herself with her sister Pierrepoint's courtly policy. Lady Bradstone,
+all the time, knew and cared very little about politics, except so
+far as they afforded her opportunities for the display of spirit
+and eloquence. She had a fine flow of words, and loved to engage in
+argument, especially as she had often been told by gentlemen that her
+enthusiasm became her extremely, and that, even if a man could resist
+the force of her arguments, he must yield to the fire of her eyes. It
+happened that Miss Turnbull was present one day when Lady Bradstone had
+been unusually warm in a political argument, and Lady Pierrepoint as
+cool and guarded as her sister was eager. Almeria was appealed to, and
+gave judgment in favour of Lady Pierrepoint, who happened to be in the
+right. Regardless of right or wrong, Lady Bradstone became more and more
+vehement, whilst Lady Pierrepoint sat in all the composed superiority
+of silence, maintaining the most edifying meekness of countenance
+imaginable, as if it were incumbent on her to be, or at least to seem,
+penitent for a sister's perversity. She sighed deeply when the _tirade_
+was finished, and fixed her eyes upon her beautiful niece Gabriella.
+Lady Gabriella immediately filled up the pause by declaring that she
+knew nothing of politics and hoped she never should, for that she did
+not know of what use they were to women, except to prevent them from
+going to court.
+
+Lady Bradstone expressed high indignation at perceiving that her
+daughters thought more of dancing at a birthnight ball than of the good
+of the nation.
+
+Mrs. Vickars, who was present, now interposed a word as mediatrix,
+observing, that it was natural for the young ladies at their age: and
+Miss Turnbull, catching or imitating something of the tone of Lady
+Pierrepoint, ventured to add, that "it was a pity that Lady Bradstone's
+daughters did not enjoy all the advantages of their high rank, and that
+she really wished Lady Bradstone could be prevailed upon to enter into
+conciliatory measures."
+
+On hearing this speech, Lady Bradstone, no longer able to restrain her
+anger within the bounds of politeness, exclaimed, "I am not surprised at
+receiving such advice from you, Miss Turnbull; but I own I am astonished
+at hearing such sentiments from my daughters. High sentiments are to be
+expected from high birth."
+
+How Lady Bradstone contrived to make her aristocratic pride of birth
+agree with her democratic principles, it may be difficult to explain;
+but fortunately the idea of preserving consistency never disturbed her
+self-complacency. Besides, to keep her ladyship in countenance, there
+are so many examples of persons who live as royalists and talk as
+republicans.
+
+Almeria could not brook the affront implied by Lady Bradstone's last
+speech; and matters were now brought to a crisis: she resolved not to
+remain longer in a house where she was exposed to such insults. She was
+of "age, and, thank Heaven! independent."
+
+Lady Bradstone made no opposition to her determination; but
+congratulated her upon the prospect of becoming independent.
+
+"I agree with you, Miss Turnbull, in thanking Heaven for making me
+independent. Independence of mind, of course," added she, "I value above
+independence of purse."
+
+Whatever vexation our heroine might feel from this speech, and from
+the perfect indifference with which Lady Bradstone parted from her,
+was compensated by the belief that she had by her conduct this evening
+ingratiated herself with Lady Pierrepoint. She was confirmed in this
+opinion by Mrs. Vickars, who said that her ladyship afterwards spoke of
+Miss Turnbull as a very judicious and safe young person, whom she should
+not scruple to protect. She was even so condescending as to interest
+herself about the house in town, which Miss Turnbull talked of
+purchasing: she knew that a noble friend of hers, who was going on a
+foreign embassy, had thoughts of parting with his house; and it would
+certainly suit Miss Turnbull, if she could compass the purchase. Almeria
+felt herself highly honoured by her ladyship's taking a concern in any
+of her affairs; and she begged of Mrs. Vickars to say, that "expense was
+no object to her." She consequently paid a few hundred guineas more
+than the value of the house, for the honour of Lady Pierrepoint's
+interference. Her ladyship saw into the weakness of our heroine's
+character, and determined to make advantage of it. It was a maxim of
+hers, that there is no person so insignificant, but some advantage may
+be made of them; and she had acted upon this principle through life,
+sometimes so as to excite in the minds of the ignorant a high admiration
+of her affability. It is said, that when Lady Pierrepoint was asked why
+she married, she replied, "To increase my consequence, and strengthen my
+connexions."
+
+Perhaps this speech was made for her by some malicious wit; but it
+is certain that she never upon any occasion of her life neglected an
+opportunity of acting upon this principle. She was anxious with this
+view to have as many dependents as possible: and she well knew that
+those who were ambitious of a curtsy from her at the playhouse, or
+a whisper at the opera, were as effectually her dependents as the
+mendicants at her door, who are in want of a shilling. The poor may be
+held in the iron fetters of necessity, but the rich are dragged behind
+the car of fashion by the golden chains of vanity.
+
+The summer in the life of a fine lady is a season comparatively of so
+little consequence, that the judicious historian may pass over some
+months of it without their being missed in the records of time. He
+hastens to the busy and important season of winter.
+
+Our heroine took possession of her magnificent house in town: and Mrs.
+Vickars was established as _arbitratrix elegantiarum_.
+
+This lady deemed herself a judge in the last appeal of every thing that
+became a person of fashion; and her claim to infallibility upon those
+points was established by her being fourth cousin to Lady Pierrepoint.
+Almeria soon discovered in her companion an inordinate love of power,
+and an irritability of temper, which misfortunes and ill health had
+increased to such a degree that it required more than the patience of
+a female Job to live with her upon good terms. Martyrs in the cause of
+vanity certainly exhibit wonderful, if not admirable, fortitude, in the
+midst of the absurd and extravagant torments which they inflict upon
+themselves. Our heroine endured for a whole season, without any outward
+complaint, but with many an inward groan, the penance which she had
+imposed upon herself: the extent of it can be comprehended only by those
+who have been doomed to live with a thoroughly ill-tempered woman. The
+reward was surely proportioned to the sufferings. Miss Turnbull received
+a smile, or a nod, or something like a curtsy from Lady Pierrepoint,
+whenever she met her in public; her ladyship's cards were occasionally
+left at the Yorkshire heiress's door; and she sometimes honoured Miss
+Turnbull's crowded rooms, by crowding them still more with her august
+presence. There was further reason to hope, that her ladyship might be
+induced to present Almeria at court before the next birthday. All
+these advantages were to be attributed to Mrs. Vickars, for she was the
+connecting link between two beings of inferior and superior order.
+We forbear to describe, or even to enumerate, the variety of balls,
+suppers, dinners, d�jeun�s, galas, and masquerades, which Miss Turnbull
+gave to the fashionable world during this winter. The generous public
+forget these things the week after they are over; and the consequence
+they bestow endures no longer than the track of a triumphal chariot.
+
+Our heroine was never fully convinced of this truth till it was
+confirmed by her own experience. She found it necessary continually to
+renew her expensive efforts, to keep herself alive in the memory of her
+great acquaintance. Towards the time when she expected to be presented
+at court by Lady Pierrepoint, a sudden coolness was apparent in her
+ladyship's manner; and one morning Almeria was surprised by a note from
+her, regretting, in the most polite but positive terms, that it would
+be absolutely out of her power to have the honour of presenting Miss
+Turnbull at St. James's. In the utmost consternation, Almeria flew for
+an explanation to Mrs. Vickars. Mrs. Vickars was in a desperate fit of
+_the sullens_, which had lasted now upwards of eight-and-forty hours,
+ever since her advice had not been taken about the placing of certain
+bronze figures, with antique lamps in their hands, upon the great
+staircase. It was necessary to bring the lady into a good humour in
+the first place, by yielding to her uncontrolled dominion over the
+_candelabras_. This point being settled, and an unqualified submission
+in all matters of taste, past, present, or to come, declared or implied
+on the part of our heroine, Mrs. Vickars on her part promised to set out
+immediately on an embassy to Lady Pierrepoint, to discover the cause of
+the present discontent. After making sundry ineffectual attempts to
+see her noble relation, she was at last admitted; and after one hour's
+private audience, she returned to the anxious Almeria with a countenance
+lengthened to the utmost stretch of melancholy significance.
+
+"What _is_ the matter, Mrs. Vickars?"
+
+It was long before this question was answered; but after many friendly
+lamentations, Mrs. Vickars could not help observing, that Miss Turnbull
+had nobody to blame in this business but herself. This, or any thing
+else, she was willing to admit, to get at the point, "But what have I
+done? I dare say it is, as you say, all my own fault--but tell me how?"
+
+"How!--Can you, my dearest Miss Turnbull, forget that you did the most
+imprudent and really unaccountable thing, that ever woman did?--Lady
+Pierrepoint _had it_ from Stock the banker. Now you must be certainly
+conscious to what I allude."
+
+Almeria still looked innocent till Mrs. Vickars produced the book
+dedicated to Lady Bradstone, for twelve copies of which Miss Turnbull
+had subscribed. Her name was printed among the list of subscribers, and
+there was no palliating the fact. When her companion saw that she was
+quite overwhelmed with the sense of this misfortune, she began to hint,
+that though the evil was great, it was not without remedy; that in her
+own private opinion, Lady Pierrepoint might have passed over the thing,
+if she had not heard it at a most unlucky moment. The provoking banker
+mentioned it to her ladyship just after he had disappointed her of
+certain moneys, for which she was negotiating. From her situation and
+means of obtaining secret and early intelligence, she had it frequently
+in her power to make money by selling in or out of the stocks. Such an
+opportunity at present occurred; and "it was a great pity," Mrs. Vickars
+observed, "that the want of a little ready money should preclude her
+from the possibility of profiting by her situation." Miss Turnbull,
+who was not deficient in quickness of comprehension, upon this hint
+immediately said, "that her ladyship might command some thousands which
+she had in Sir Thomas Stock's bank." Lady Pierrepoint the next day found
+that it would be best to hush up the affair of the subscription to
+the fatal pamphlet. She said, "that she had with infinite satisfaction
+ascertained, that the thing had not been noticed in the quarter where
+she feared it would have created an insuperable prejudice--that there
+were other Turnbulls, as she was happy to understand, in the world,
+besides Mrs. Vickars's friend; and that as, in the list of subscribers,
+she was mentioned only as _Miss_ Turnbull, not as Almeria Turnbull, all
+was safe, and nobody would suspect that a lady presented at court by my
+Lady Pierrepoint could be the same person that subscribed to a book of
+such a description."
+
+This affair being adjusted, the league was tacitly formed between
+interest and vanity. Miss Turnbull was presented at court by Lady
+Pierrepoint, and her ladyship bought into the stocks with the Yorkshire
+heiress's money. The gratification of Almeria's ambition, however, did
+not complete her happiness. When she was at the summit of the Alps of
+fashion, she saw how little was to be seen.
+
+Though she liked to have it to say that she was a great deal with Lady
+Pierrepoint, yet the time always passed most heavily in her company;
+nor was the inferiority of this lady's understanding compensated by
+an affectionate heart. Her smoothly polished exterior prevented all
+possibility of obtaining any hold over her. She had the art at once
+to seem to be intimate with people, and to keep them at the greatest
+distance; as, in certain optical deceptions, an object which appears
+close to us, eludes our hand if we attempt to grasp it. Almeria felt the
+want of that species of unreserved confidence and friendship which she
+had formerly enjoyed with Ellen. In judging of what will make us happy,
+we are apt to leave time out of the account; and this leads to most
+important errors. For a short period we may be amused or gratified by
+what will fatigue and disgust us if long continued. The first winter
+that she spent in dissipation she was amused; but winter after winter
+passed; and the recurrence of the same public diversions, and the
+same faces, and the same common-place conversation, wearied instead of
+interesting her. But as the pleasure of novelty declined, the power
+of habit increased; and she continued the same course of life for six
+years--six long years! against both her judgment and her feelings, the
+absolute slave of an imaginary necessity. Thus the silly chicken remains
+prisoner in a circle of chalk: even when the hand by which it was held
+down is removed, it feels an imaginary pressure, from which it dares not
+even attempt to escape.
+
+Almeria, however, was now arrived at an age when she could no longer,
+with any propriety, be called a chicken: she was seven-and-twenty; and
+the effect of keeping late hours, and the continual petty irritations
+to which she had been subject, were sufficiently visible in her
+countenance. She looked in a morning so faded and haggard, that any one
+not used to the _wear and tear_ of fashionable faces would have guessed
+Almeria's age to be seven-and-thirty instead of seven-and-twenty. During
+her six campaigns in London, she or her fortune had made many conquests;
+but none of her London captives had ever obtained any power over her
+affections, and her ambition could not decide upon the pretensions of
+her several suitors. Lady Pierrepoint, who was her prime adviser, had an
+interest in keeping her unmarried; because during this time her ladyship
+employed most advantageously certain moneys, which she had borrowed
+from our heiress. This female politician made some objection to
+every proposal; continually repeating, that Miss Turnbull might do
+better--that she might look higher--that with her pretensions, there
+could be no doubt that she would have a variety of advantageous
+offers--and that her _play_ should be to raise her value by rejecting,
+without hesitation, all pretenders but those of the first distinction.
+Lady Pierrepoint, who usually spoke with all the ambiguity of an oracle,
+seemed on this subject more than usually mysterious. She dropped half
+sentences, then checked herself, hinted that she was not at liberty to
+speak out; but that she had her own private reasons for advising her
+friend Miss Turnbull not to be precipitate in her choice. Her ladyship's
+looks said more than her words, and Almeria interpreted them precisely
+as she wished. There was a certain marquis, whom she sometimes met at
+Lady Pierrepoint's, and whom she would have been pleased to meet more
+frequently. He was neither young, nor handsome, nor witty, nor wise.
+What was he then?--He was a marquis--and is not that enough?--Almeria
+saw that he was looked up to as a person of great influence and
+importance, and she now had the habit of trusting to the eyes and ears
+of others. She now considered what people were _thought of_, not what
+they really were; and according to this mode of estimation she could
+not fail to form a high opinion of this exalted personage. He paid her
+distinguished, but not decisive attention; and perhaps the uncertainty
+in which she was kept as to his views increased her interest upon the
+subject. There was always some obstacle, which seemed to prevent him
+from declaring himself:--at one time he was suddenly obliged to go
+ambassador to some foreign court; he went, and stayed a year; at his
+return he was immersed in politics, and deplored his hard fate in terms
+which Almeria thought it was impossible not to construe favourably
+to her wishes. She thought she was upon the point of becoming a
+marchioness, when his lordship was again sent into what he called
+banishment. Lady Pierrepoint had constantly letters from him, however;
+passages from which she from time to time read to Almeria, in whose weak
+mind this kept alive an indistinct hope, for which she had no rational
+foundation. She was confirmed in her belief that the marquis had serious
+thoughts of her, by the opinion of Mrs. Vickars, who she thought was
+in the secret, and who certainly would not speak decidedly without
+sufficient reason. Indeed, nothing but the pleasure she received from
+Mrs. Vickars's favourable prognostics upon this subject could have in
+any degree balanced the pain she daily endured from this lady's fretful
+temper. Almeria submitted to her domineering humour, and continued to
+propitiate her with petty sacrifices, more from fear than love--from
+fear that her adverse influence might be fatal to her present scheme of
+aggrandizement. Weak minds are subject to this apprehension of control
+from secret causes utterly inadequate to their supposed effects; and
+thus they put their destiny into the hands of persons who could not
+otherwise obtain influence over their fate.
+
+The time at length arrived when our heroine was to be confirmed in her
+expectations, or wakened from her state of self-delusion. The
+marquis returned from abroad, and Lady Pierrepoint wrote a note more
+mysteriously worded than usual, signifying that she "wished to have
+a conference with Miss Turnbull on a subject of some importance; and
+begged to know at what hour in the morning she might be secure of the
+pleasure of finding her at home." Almeria named her hour, and waited
+for its arrival with no small impatience. Lady Pierrepoint's thundering
+knock at the door was heard; her ladyship was shown up stairs; and she
+entered the room with a countenance that seemed to promise well. She
+preluded with many flattering phrases--declared that ever since she had
+been first acquainted with Miss Turnbull at Cheltenham, she had always
+considered her with sentiments of esteem, of which she had since given
+indeed the most convincing proofs, by accepting of obligations from her.
+
+"Obligations!" exclaimed Almeria, with an air of polite astonishment.
+
+"Yes, my dear Miss Turnbull," continued her ladyship, with still more
+polite humility, "I am under obligations to you assuredly. Things of a
+pecuniary nature ought not to be named, I confess, in the same sentence
+with friendship; yet for the sake of one's family it is, whilst we
+remain in this world, the duty of every one to pay a certain degree of
+attention to such points; and a person who has, like me, advantages of
+situation and connexions, would not be justifiable in neglecting, under
+due limitations, to make use of them."
+
+Miss Turnbull readily assented to these guarded truisms, but wondered to
+what all this was to lead.
+
+"The money which you have had the goodness to trust in my hands,"
+continued her ladyship, "has, without in the least impoverishing, or, I
+hope, _inconveniencing_ you, been of the most material advantage to me."
+
+Almeria comprehended that her ladyship referred to her speculations
+in the stocks, and she congratulated her upon her success; and added
+assurances, that for her own part she had not been in the slightest
+degree _inconvenienced_. Whilst Miss Turnbull uttered these assurances,
+however, she was not sorry to see Lady Pierrepoint take out of her
+pocket-book bank notes to the amount of her debt; for in plain truth,
+the interest of this loan had never been punctually paid; and Almeria
+had often regretted that she had placed so much of her fortune out of
+her own power. "Let me now return these to you with a thousand thanks,"
+said her ladyship. "Indeed, my niece Gabriella has more reason even than
+I have to thank you; for you must know, my dear Miss Turnbull, that all
+my speculations have been for her. From the time that she came to live
+with me, I was determined that she should be properly established; and
+you must be sensible that, for a young lady's establishment in our days,
+money is as essential as beauty. La belle Gabrielle is now provided for
+as she ought to be, and of course the consequence will be a suitable
+alliance." Miss Turnbull expressed her satisfaction at finding that
+her money had been instrumental in attaining so happy a purpose, and
+presumed to ask if her ladyship had any immediate alliance in view.
+
+"It is a secret as yet; but I have no secrets for you, my dear Miss
+Turnbull: indeed, I came here this morning by our dear Gabriella's
+particular desire to communicate it to you. I flatter myself you will
+approve of her choice--our favourite marquis."
+
+Almeria was so much astonished and shocked by these words, that she
+turned as pale as if she were going to faint. "Our favourite marquis!"
+she repeated in a faltering voice; "I thought----"
+
+The fear of becoming ridiculous restrained her anger, and she
+paused.--"You thought, perhaps," resumed the perfectly-composed Lady
+Pierrepoint, "you thought, perhaps, my dear, that there was too great a
+disparity of age between Gabriella and the marquis."
+
+"Oh! no."
+
+"Why, that is an objection, I confess; at least it would be to some
+young ladies: but as Gabriella is satisfied, we may waive that."
+
+"Oh! yes, certainly."
+
+"One cannot help being interested for him; he is such a respectable
+character--and so much in love! It would really surprise you, my dear;
+for you know he was a man, one would have imagined, so much immersed in
+politics--I protest I never had a suspicion of his having a thought of
+Gabriella, till the proposal was absolutely made."
+
+"I am sure _I_ never suspected the marquis's attachment to Lady
+Gabriella," said Miss Turnbull: "on the contrary--"
+
+"On the contrary," pursued Lady Pierrepoint, "he paid her always, as I
+remember, less attention than to twenty others, who were indifferent to
+him."
+
+The struggle was still violent in our heroine's mind between rage and
+the dread of exposing herself to ridicule. Lady Pierrepoint saw this,
+and coolly held her in this dilemma.
+
+"Now," continued her ladyship, "men are such unaccountable creatures,
+one never can understand them. Do you know, my dear Miss Turnbull, I
+had, till his lordship explained himself unequivocally to me, a notion
+that he was in love with you."
+
+"Really!" said our heroine, forcing a laugh.
+
+"Did your friend Mrs. Vickars never tell you so?"
+
+"Yes, she did--frequently."
+
+"Both of us mistaken, you see, my dear. Mortifying! to find one's
+judgment so fallible. I tell the marquis, he might absolutely have been
+privately married to Gabriella without my finding him out--it is so easy
+now, the easiest thing in the world, to impose upon me. Well, I must bid
+you adieu for the present, my dear Miss Turnbull--you may imagine I have
+a world of business on my hands."
+
+With the utmost appearance of cordiality Lady Pierrepoint shook our
+heroine's receding hand; and, without seeming to notice the painful
+emotions visible in Almeria's countenance, departed smiling, and
+perfectly composed.
+
+The moment that her ladyship had left the room, our heroine retired to
+her own apartment, and hastily bolted the door to prevent the intrusion
+of Mrs. Vickars, whose curiosity and condolence, whether real or
+affected, she was not in a humour to endure. She walked up and down the
+room in great agitation, by turns angry with Lady Pierrepoint, with the
+marquis, with Lady Gabriella, with Mrs. Vickars, and with herself.
+After her anger had spent itself, the sorrowful certainty that it
+was unavailing remained; the disappointment was irremediable, and her
+mortification was the more poignant, because she had no human being to
+sympathize in her feelings, no one to whom she could complain.
+
+"So this is fashionable friendship!" said she to herself. "This is the
+end of all Lady Pierrepoint's and Lady Gabriella's professions of regard
+for me!--Fool that I have been, to become their dupe!--With my eyes
+open I saw nothing that was going forward, though now I can recollect
+a thousand and a thousand circumstances, by which I might have been
+undeceived. But I trusted implicitly--idiot that I was!--to the
+friendship of this treacherous, unfeeling courtier. Once I had a friend,
+to whom I might trust implicitly--I never, never, shall find her equal."
+
+A transient recollection of former times crossed her mind--but those
+times could not be recalled; and the present pressed upon her most
+forcibly. Frustrated in all her ambitious schemes, she was sensible that
+all that now remained for her was to conceal her disappointment, and
+to avoid the contempt to which she would be exposed in the world, if it
+were whispered that Miss Turnbull had fancied that the Marquis of ----
+was in love with her, whilst he was all the while paying his addresses
+to Lady Gabriella Bradstone. This powerful fear of ridicule conquered,
+or suppressed, all other feelings. With all the resolution she could
+assume, Almeria went to Mrs. Vickars, and congratulated her upon the
+happy event which was soon likely to take place in her family: she even
+constrained herself so far, as, without expressing either suspicion or
+resentment, to hear her companion disclaim all knowledge of the affair,
+and declare that she had, that morning, for the first time, heard of it
+from Lady Pierrepoint, with a degree of astonishment from which she had
+not yet recovered.
+
+In a few weeks afterwards Lady Gabriella's marriage took place. Our
+heroine's mortification was much increased by the splendour in which the
+bride appeared, and by the great share of the public attention which
+the fair marchioness seemed for some days to engross. Miss Turnbull
+was weary of hearing the praises of her equipages and dress; and the
+dissimulation she was continually obliged to practise towards Mrs.
+Vickars became intolerable. Nothing but a pretext for quarrelling with
+this lady was wanting to Almeria, and nothing but an excuse for leaving
+Almeria was now desired by Mrs. Vickars, who had received an invitation
+from the marchioness, which she was impatient to accept. The ladies one
+morning after breakfast fell into a dispute upon the comparative
+merits of blue and green. It was not to all appearance a very dangerous
+subject, but in certain situations every subject becomes dangerous.
+
+"This riband is a beautiful blue," said Miss Turnbull.
+
+"I confess I do not think so," said Mrs. Vickars; "it is a very
+unbecoming shade of blue."
+
+"Unbecoming!--I have been told by twenty people, that it is remarkably
+becoming to me. Mrs. Ingoldsby told me yesterday, that she never saw so
+beautiful a blue."
+
+"Mrs. Ingoldsby's taste is not infallible, I imagine," said Mrs.
+Vickars, with a contemptuous smile.
+
+"It may not be infallible," replied our heroine, "but it is at least as
+much to be relied upon as other people's."
+
+"I am sure I do not pretend to compare my taste to Mrs. Ingoldsby's;
+but I may be permitted to have an opinion of my own, I hope: and in my
+opinion it is a frightful blue, and shockingly unbecoming. And at all
+events I like green infinitely better than blue; and I beseech you, Miss
+Turnbull, not to wear this hideous riband."
+
+"I am sure I don't pretend to set my taste in competition with Mrs.
+Vickars's, but I must confess I cannot think this a frightful blue, or
+shockingly unbecoming; nor can I agree with any body in preferring
+green to blue; and for once I shall take the liberty of following my own
+fancy."
+
+"For once!--I am sorry I ever presumed to offer an opinion upon this or
+any other subject to Miss Turnbull--I shall be more cautious in future;
+but I candidly own I did think I might prefer green to blue without
+giving offence."
+
+"It gives me no offence, I assure you, Mrs. Vickars, that you should
+prefer green to blue; I am not so ridiculous. But people who cannot bear
+to be contradicted themselves are always apt to fancy that others have
+the same strange sort of domineering temper."
+
+"People who can bear nothing but flattery, Miss Turnbull, should have
+such a friend as Mrs. Ingoldsby, who would swear that blue is green,
+and black white, I make no doubt," said Mrs. Vickars; "for my part, I am
+sorry I cannot get rid of my troublesome sincerity."
+
+"Sincerity! Sincerity!--To do you justice, Mrs. Vickars, whatever I may
+have felt about trifles, in affairs of importance I have never found
+your _sincerity_ troublesome."
+
+The ironical accent upon the word _sincerity_ sufficiently marked Miss
+Turnbull's meaning.
+
+The irritable temper of Mrs. Vickars put it out of her power to act a
+part with that "exquisite dissimulation," for which some of her sex have
+been celebrated by the judicious Davila. Thrown off her guard by the
+last sarcastic insinuation, Mrs. Vickars burst into an angry defence
+of her own sincerity with respect to the affair of the marquis and Lady
+Gabriella. Almeria observed, that this "defence was quite unnecessary,
+as she had not made any accusation; and these apologies could be
+prompted only by Mrs. Vickars's own _tenderness_ of conscience." Mrs.
+Vickars replied with increasing acrimony. She said, that her "conduct
+needed no apologies, and that she should not stoop to make any, to
+soothe the disappointed ambition of any person whatever." Reproach
+succeeded reproach--sarcasm produced sarcasm--till at last Mrs. Vickars
+declared, that after what had passed it was impossible she should remain
+another day in Miss Turnbull's house. This declaration was heard
+by Almeria with undisguised satisfaction. The next day Mrs. Vickars
+accepted of an invitation from the marchioness; and our heroine
+afterwards protested that she was as much rejoiced to be freed from the
+encumbrance of such a companion as Sinbad the sailor was to get rid of
+the old man of the sea, who fastened himself upon his shoulders with
+such remorseless tenacity.
+
+She resolved to be more cautious in choice of her next companion. There
+were many candidates for the honour of supplying the place of Mrs.
+Vickars; amongst these was Mrs. Ingoldsby, a lady who was perfect
+mistress of the whole art of flattery, by means of which she had so
+far ingratiated herself with Miss Turnbull, that she felt secure of a
+preference over all competitors. Almeria had indeed almost decided in
+her favour, when she received a note from a Mrs. Wynne, an old lady with
+whom she had formerly been acquainted in Yorkshire, and who, being just
+come to town, was eager to renew her intimacy with Miss Turnbull.
+She was a woman of an excellent heart, and absolutely incapable of
+suspecting that others could be less frank or friendly than herself. She
+was sometimes led into mistakes by this undistinguishing benevolence;
+for she imagined that all which appeared wrong would prove right, if
+properly understood; that there must be some good reason for every thing
+that seemed to be bad; that every instance of unkindness or insolence
+was undesigned; and that every quarrel was only a misunderstanding.
+Possessed by this good-natured kind of wrong-headedness, she frequently
+did the most provoking, by way of doing the most obliging things
+imaginable.
+
+Upon this principle she would place contending parties by surprise in
+the very situation which of all others they most wished to avoid, and
+then give the signal for a pitched battle, by begging the enemies would
+shake hands with one another. Now she had heard it reported in Yorkshire
+that there was some coolness between the Elmours and Miss Turnbull; but
+she was morally certain there could be no truth in this report, for a
+variety of the very best reasons in the world.
+
+"In the first place," argued Mrs. Wynne, "to my certain knowledge, Miss
+Turnbull was, from her infancy, always the greatest favourite at Elmour
+Grove, the pupil of the good old gentleman, and the intimate friend of
+the daughter. During that odd Hodgkinson's lifetime, Almeria was always
+with Miss Ellen Elmour, who treated her quite like a sister. I am sure
+I remember, as if it was yesterday, her introducing Miss Turnbull to me,
+and the affectionate way in which she spoke of her--and I particularly
+recollect hearing Almeria Turnbull, amongst other grateful things, say,
+that she should wish to live and die with her friends at Elmour Grove.
+Then she had stronger reasons afterwards for being attached to them--you
+know it was Mr. Frederick Elmour who gained her large fortune for her. I
+was in the court-house in York the very day the cause was decided, and
+I never heard a man speak with more energy and eloquence than Frederick
+Elmour did in her defence. It was plain, indeed, that the eloquence came
+from his heart--as to the law part of the business, I know my nephew,
+who understands those things, said it was a very nice question, and that
+if her cause had not been managed as ably as it was, she would not have
+gained her fortune. Now of course this was a thing that never could be
+forgotten. I own, I expected that there would have been a match between
+Miss Turnbull and Mr. Elmour; but Sir Thomas Stock, her guardian, took
+her away from us, and Mr. Elmour fell in love with another lady. But all
+this time Miss Turnbull has never married, though she has been so much
+in the great world, and from her large fortune must have had so many
+offers. I heard it said yesterday, that she had refused Sir Thomas
+Stock's eldest son, and my Lord Bradstone, and some others; now it is
+plain she would not marry merely for money or title. My nephew, who is
+so amiable and sensible, is just the man for her, and he had used to
+admire her very much in former times, when he met her at Elmour Grove."
+Mrs. Wynne hinted her wishes to her nephew, but he seemed not much
+inclined towards Miss Turnbull, "because," said he, "though Frederick
+and his sister never uttered a syllable to her disadvantage, I cannot,
+from circumstances, help imagining, that she has not behaved well to
+them; and besides, after five or six years spent in the great world, and
+in all the dissipation in which she has lived, her disposition cannot
+probably be the same as it was when I knew her in the country."
+
+Mrs. Wynne could not, with her good-natured eyes, see the force of any
+of these objections, and she was determined to convince her nephew of
+their futility. With this view she formed a scheme which was to be kept
+a profound secret from the parties concerned, till the moment when it
+should be ripe for execution. She heard that Miss Turnbull was in want
+of a companion; and she knew that Mrs. Henry Elmour, a very amiable
+young widow, distantly related to the Elmour family, and who had
+formerly been a friend of Almeria's, was at this moment in great
+distress. She had no doubt that Miss Turnbull would be delighted with an
+opportunity of serving any one connected with a family to whom she
+owed such obligations. Mrs. Wynne fancied that this would be the finest
+occasion imaginable to prove to her nephew, that, notwithstanding
+Almeria had lately lived so much in the fashionable world, she had the
+same grateful heart as formerly.
+
+Eager to come to this demonstration, Mrs. Wynne wrote immediately to
+the distressed widow, begging her to come to town with all possible
+expedition; "for I have found, or at least I am morally sure of finding,
+the most charming situation your heart can desire. I say no more, that I
+may not deprive you of the pleasure of the surprise."
+
+The same day that she sent this letter to the post, she despatched the
+following note to Almeria:
+
+
+'MY DEAR MISS TURNBULL,
+
+"I am too well persuaded of the goodness of your heart to fear that you
+should think my present interference impertinent. We used to be very
+good friends in Yorkshire, and I am sure shall be just the same in
+London; therefore I write without ceremony, as friends should. I called
+upon you twice, but found you were, unluckily, not at home. Now I have a
+matter very near my heart to speak to you about, that perhaps will turn
+out as much to your satisfaction as to mine. I cannot express myself so
+well as I could wish in writing, but am sure you will not repent your
+kindness, if you will do us the honour of dining with us in a family
+way on Friday next; and in the mean time, let me beg you will not decide
+your choice of a companion. I cannot be more explicit, lest (as I have
+said once before to-day) I should deprive you of the pleasure of the
+surprise. Dear madam, forgive this freedom in one who most sincerely
+wishes you well (as Friday will prove). My nephew, Henry Wynne (whom you
+may remember a great admirer of yours), desires his best respects; and
+with every good wish I remain, Dear Miss Turnbull's
+
+"Affectionate humble servant,
+
+"M. WYNNE."
+
+
+This letter at first surprised our heroine, and afterwards afforded
+subject for much ridicule to Mrs. Ingoldsby, to whom Almeria showed
+it. She laughed at the odd freedom of the Yorkshire dame, at the
+old-fashioned plainness of the style--parenthesis within parenthesis--at
+last concluding with respects and best wishes, and _remaining_ dear Miss
+Turnbull's humble servant. She opined, however, upon the third perusal
+of the letter, that Mrs. Wynne was anxious to present her nephew to Miss
+Turnbull, and that this was the real meaning of her curious note--that
+probably she wished to surprise her with the sight of some Yorkshire
+damsel, who had formed the reasonable expectation, that because Miss
+Turnbull had done her the honour to notice her ages ago in the country,
+she was to be her companion in town. Mrs. Ingoldsby further observed,
+that Mrs. Wynne, though she had not practised at court, was no bad
+politician in thus attempting to recommend a companion to Miss Turnbull,
+who would, of course, be entirely in her nephew's interests. Almeria's
+vanity was indirectly flattered by these insinuations, which tended
+to prove her vast consequence, in being thus the object of plots
+and counterplots; and she the more readily believed this, from the
+experience she had had of Lady Pierrepoint's manoeuvres. "It is really
+a dreadful thing," said she, "to be a great heiress. One must be so
+circumspect--so much upon one's guard with all the world. But poor Mrs.
+Wynne shows her cards so plainly, one must be an idiot not to guess her
+whole play."
+
+To "mistake reverse of wrong for right" is one of the most common errors
+in the conduct of life. Our heroine being sensible that she had been
+ridiculously credulous in her dealings with Lady Pierrepoint, was now
+inclined to be preposterously suspicious. She determined with her next
+admirer to pursue a system diametrically opposite to that which she had
+followed with the marquis; she had shown him attractive complaisance;
+she was now prepared to display the repulsive haughtiness becoming
+the representative of two hundred thousand pounds: she had completely
+adopted Lady Pierrepoint's maxim. _That a lady should marry to increase
+her consequence and strengthen her connexions_. Her former ideas, that
+love and esteem were necessary to happiness in a union for life, seemed
+obsolete and romantic; and the good qualities of her admirers, though
+they were always to be mentioned as the ostensible reasons for her
+choice, were never in reality to influence her decision.
+
+To stoop at once from a marquis to a private gentleman would be
+terrible; yet that private gentleman was worthy of some little
+consideration, not because he was, as Almeria remembered, a man of
+excellent sense, temper, and character, but because he had a clear
+estate of eight thousand pounds a-year, and was next heir to an earldom.
+
+Miss Turnbull cannot properly be called a female fortune-hunter; but,
+to coin a new name for our heroine, which may be useful to designate
+a numerous class of her contemporaries, she was decidedly a female
+_title-hunter_.
+
+She accepted of the invitation to dinner, and, accompanied by a proper
+supporter in Mrs. Ingoldsby, went to Mrs. Wynne's, dressed in the utmost
+extravagance of the mode, blazing in all the glory of diamonds, in hopes
+of striking admiration even unto awe upon the hearts of all beholders.
+Though she had been expressly invited to a _family party_, she
+considered that only as an humble country phrase to excuse, beforehand,
+any deficiency of magnificence. She had no doubt that the finest
+entertainment, and the finest company, Mrs. Wynne could procure
+or collect, would be prepared for her reception. She was somewhat
+surprised, especially as she came fashionably late, to find in the
+drawing-room only old Mrs. Wynne, her nephew, and a lady, who, from her
+dress and modest appearance, was evidently _nobody_. Miss Turnbull swept
+by her, though she had a disagreeable recollection of having somewhere
+seen this figure in a former state of existence. Mrs. Wynne, good
+soul! did not believe in wilful blindness, and she therefore said, with
+provoking simplicity, "Miss Turnbull, this is your good friend, Mrs.
+Henry Elmour--poor thing! she is sadly altered in her looks since you
+saw her, a gay rosy lass at Elmour Grove! But though her looks are
+changed, her heart, I can answer for it, is just the same as ever; and
+she remembers you with all the affection you could desire. She would not
+be like any other of her name, indeed, if she did otherwise. The Elmours
+were all so fond of you!"
+
+The name of Elmour, instead of having that irresistible charm, which
+Mrs. Wynne expected, over Almeria's heart, produced a directly contrary
+effect. It recalled many associations that were painful to her pride;
+she was vexed to perceive that obligations and intimacies which she had
+forgotten, or which she wished to forget, were remembered so obstinately
+by others. All this passed in her mind whilst Mrs. Wynne was speaking.
+With a look of ill-humoured surprise, Almeria half rose from her seat,
+and, as Mrs. Henry Elmour was presented to her, uttered some phrases
+in an unintelligible voice, and then sunk back again on the sofa. Mrs.
+Wynne made room for the widow between her and Miss Turnbull--Mr. Wynne
+kept aloof--a dead silence ensued--and Miss Turnbull, seeing that in her
+present position there was nothing else to be done, condescended to hope
+that all Mrs. Henry Elmour's friends in Yorkshire were well when she
+left them. Mrs. Wynne's countenance brightened up, and she now addressed
+her conversation to Mrs. Ingoldsby, in order to leave the pair, whom she
+had destined to be friends, at perfect liberty to talk over "old times."
+
+Mrs. Henry Elmour naturally spoke of the happy days which they had spent
+together at Elmour Grove; but Miss Turnbull was so much occupied in
+clasping one of her diamond bracelets, that half of what was said to her
+seemed not to be heard, and the other half to create no interest. She
+looked up, when she had at length adjusted her bracelet, and with an
+insipid smile (learnt from Lady Pierrepoint) seemed to beg pardon for
+her fit of absence. The unfortunate Mrs. Elmour recommenced all she had
+said; but though Miss Turnbull's eyes were at this time directed towards
+the widow's face, they wandered over her features with such insolent
+examination, that she was totally abashed. Having gained her point,
+our heroine now looked round as the door opened, in expectation of the
+entrance of some persons who might be worthy of her attention; but,
+lo! it was only a servant, who announced that dinner was served. Miss
+Turnbull's surprise could be equalled only by her indignation, when she
+found that it was literally to a _family party_ she was invited. "Miss
+Turnbull," said Mrs. Wynne, as they were sitting down to dinner, "I
+have been much disappointed in not having the company of some friends of
+yours, who I expected would dine with us to-day; but they will be with
+us, I hope, to-night--they were unluckily engaged to dine with the
+Duchess of A----."
+
+Miss Turnbull vouchsafed to appear interested, when the name of
+a duchess was mentioned; but her countenance again changed to an
+expression of almost angry vexation, when Mrs. Wynne explained, that
+these friends were Mr. and Mrs. Elmour, and Mr. Charles Wynne and his
+lady. "Miss Ellen Elmour, you know: she was----"--"Very true, I saw
+her marriage in the papers, I remember, some time ago," replied Miss
+Turnbull; "a year, if I'm not mistaken."
+
+"Two years ago, madam," said Mrs. Wynne.
+
+"Was it two?--I dare say it might--you know it is so impossible to keep
+a register of deaths and marriages in one's head. Pray, are you at all
+acquainted, Mrs. Wynne, with the Duchess of A----? She was always a
+prodigious friend of the Elmours, as I remember. How is that?--Are they
+any way related, I wonder?"
+
+"Yes; they are now related by marriage," said Mr. Wynne; "Mrs. Elmour is
+a niece of the duchess."
+
+"Indeed!"
+
+"She is a charming woman," said Mr. Wynne; "so beautiful and yet so
+unaffected--so sensible, yet so unassuming."
+
+"Pray," interrupted Mrs. Ingoldsby, "has not her grace conversaziones,
+or reading parties, or something in that style every week?--She is quite
+a learned lady, I understand. There was always something odd about her,
+and I cannot help being afraid of her."
+
+"I assure you," said Mrs. Wynne, "that there is nothing odd or strange
+about the Duchess of A----. She has always the most agreeable society
+that London can afford."
+
+Miss Turnbull and Mrs. Ingoldsby interchanged looks of affected
+contempt: but Mr. Wynne added, "Her grace has, you know, a taste
+for literature and for the arts; and the most celebrated literary
+characters, as well as those who have distinguished themselves in active
+life, assemble at her house, where they can enjoy the most agreeable
+conversation--that in which a knowledge of books and of the world is
+happily blended."
+
+"And as to being afraid of her grace," resumed Mrs. Wynne, "that is
+quite impossible; she has such affable, engaging manners. I am sure,
+even I am not in the least afraid of her."
+
+"But you know," said Miss Turnbull, with a malicious look of mock
+humility, "there is a difference between you and me.--I would not meet
+her grace for the world, for I am persuaded I should not be able to
+articulate a syllable in her classical presence--I have not been used to
+that style of company, by any means. I assure you I should be, as Mrs.
+Ingoldsby says, horribly afraid of your witty duchess."
+
+"She has none of the airs of a wit, believe me," said Mrs. Wynne,
+growing more and more earnest; "and if you will not believe me, ask your
+friend Ellen."
+
+"Oh, excuse me, I beseech; I shall ask no questions--I only beg leave to
+keep myself well when I am well. The Elmours who are so clever, and have
+such merit and so on, are all vastly better suited to her grace than I
+am."
+
+No contradiction ensued--our heroine was mortified beyond the power of
+concealment.
+
+After dinner, when the ladies retired, Mrs. Wynne, though somewhat
+alarmed and puzzled by Miss Turnbull's behaviour, summoned all the
+resolution which benevolence could inspire, and resolved at once to come
+to the point with our heroine. She flattered herself that all in Miss
+Turnbull that appeared inauspicious to her hopes was only _her manner,_
+that sort of manner which people, who live much in high life, catch and
+practise, without meaning to give themselves airs, or to humble their
+neighbours.
+
+Many persons will perhaps think good Mrs. Wynne almost an idiot: but she
+was a woman of abilities; and if she did not exert them in discovering
+with promptitude the follies of others, she enjoyed much happiness in
+her benevolent scepticism. This evening, however, she was doomed to
+be absolutely convinced, against her will, that she had formed too
+favourable an opinion of one of her fellow-creatures.
+
+She was eager to explain herself to Almeria before Ellen and Mr.
+Frederick Elmour should arrive; she therefore took her aside, and
+began without any preface:--"My dear Miss Turnbull, here is a charming
+opportunity for you to do a kind, and generous, and grateful action.
+This poor Mrs. Henry Elmour!--She has told you how she has been reduced
+to distress without any imprudence of hers. Now you could not, I am
+sure, prove the goodness of your own heart better to your friends
+(who will be here in half an hour) than by showing kindness to this
+unfortunate widow. I cannot presume to say more than that I think she
+would make a most agreeable companion to an amiable, sensible young
+lady--and you have not decided your choice, have you?"
+
+"Pardon me, I have decided, beyond a possibility of retracting," replied
+Miss Turnbull, haughtily.
+
+"I am very sorry," said Mrs. Wynne, with an expression of real concern
+in her countenance. "I have been very imprudent."
+
+"Really I am infinitely distressed that it is out of my power to oblige
+her; but the lady who is with me now, Mrs. Ingoldsby, has a prior
+claim."
+
+Prior claim!--prior to that of the Elmour family! thought Mrs. Wynne.
+
+The decisive manner in which Miss Turnbull spoke precluded all further
+hope.
+
+"Well, I did think it would have been such a pleasure to Miss Turnbull
+to meet Mrs. Henry Elmour, and all her old friends the Elmours here
+to-day; and I fancied, that if there had been any little coolness or
+misunderstanding, it would quite have passed off, and that I should have
+had the joy of seeing you all shake hands--I thought it would have been
+such an agreeable surprise to you to see all the Elmour family, and
+Ellen's charming little girl, and Mr. Frederick Elmour's boy!"
+
+A more disagreeable surprise could scarcely have been imagined for
+our heroine. She informed Mrs. Wynne, coldly, that there was not the
+slightest quarrel between her and any of the Elmours; and that therefore
+there was no necessity, or possible occasion, for any shaking of hands
+or reconciliation scenes: that undoubtedly the style of life she
+had been thrown into had entirely separated her from her Yorkshire
+acquaintance; and time had dissolved the sort of intimacy that
+neighbourhood had created: that she should always, notwithstanding, be
+most particularly happy to meet any of the Elmour family; though, from
+her situation, it was a good fortune she had not often enjoyed, nor
+indeed could in future expect: but that she wished it to be understood,
+and repeated, that she always in all companies properly acknowledged the
+obligations she had to Mr. Frederick Elmour as a lawyer. Her cause, she
+believed, was the first in which he had distinguished himself; and
+she was rejoiced to find that he had since risen so rapidly in his
+profession.--As to Miss Ellen Elmour, she was a very charming, sensible
+young woman, no doubt; and Miss Turnbull assured Mrs. Wynne she was
+delighted to hear she was so suitably married in point of understanding
+and temper, and all that sort of thing--and besides, to a gentleman of
+a reasonable fortune, which she was happy to hear Mr. Charles Wynne
+possessed.
+
+Here she was interrupted in her speech--the door opened, and the Duchess
+of A----, Mr. and Mrs. Elmour, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wynne, were
+announced. Our heroine was not prepared for the sight of the duchess;
+and her grace's appearance made her receive her old friends in a manner
+very different from that in which she had determined to meet them.
+Practised as she was, she stood irresolute and awkward, whilst Ellen,
+with easy, graceful kindness, accosted her, and immediately introduced
+her to the Duchess of A----. As Mr. Frederick Elmour approached, and as
+his beautiful wife was presented to Miss Turnbull, not all her efforts
+could conceal the mortification she endured, whilst she pronounced that
+she was vastly happy--quite delighted--that all this was really such an
+agreeable and _unexpected surprise_ to her--for she did not even know
+any of her Yorkshire friends were in town.
+
+Mrs. Ingoldsby came up to her assistance. Miss Turnbull rallied her
+spirits, and determined to make her stand upon the exclusive ground of
+fashion. Those who comprehend the rights of the privileged orders of
+fashion are aware that even a commoner, who is in a certain _set_, is
+far superior to a duchess who is not supposed to move in that magic
+circle, Almeria, upon this principle, began to talk to the duchess
+of some of her acquaintance, who were of the highest _ton_; and then
+affectedly checked herself, and begged pardon, and looked surprised at
+Mrs. Ingoldsby, when she found that her grace was not acquainted with
+them. Much as Miss Turnbull had reason to complain of Lady Pierrepoint
+and the young bride the marchioness, she now thought that their names
+would do her honour; and she scrupled not to speak of them as her
+best friends, and as the most amiable creatures existing.--Such is the
+meanness and insufficiency of vanity!
+
+"Poor Lady Pierrepoint," said the Duchess of A----: "with her
+independent fortune, what could tempt her to enslave herself, as she has
+done, to a court life?"
+
+"Her ladyship finds herself suited to her situation, I believe," said
+Miss Turnbull. "Lady Pierrepoint is certainly formed, more than most
+people I know, to succeed and shine in a court; and she is in favour,
+and in power, and in fashion."
+
+"Does it follow of course that she is happy?" said Ellen.
+
+"Oh! happy--of course; I suppose so."
+
+"No doubt," said Mrs. Ingoldsby; "she has every reason to be happy: has
+not she just made her niece marchioness?"
+
+Miss Turnbull repeated "_Happy!_ to be sure Lady Pierrepoint is happy,
+if any body in the world is happy."--A short sigh escaped from our
+heroine.
+
+Ellen heard the sigh, and attended to it more than to her words;
+she looked upon her with compassion, and endeavoured to change the
+conversation.
+
+"We spend this winter in town; and as I think I know your _real_ tastes,
+Almeria," said she, taking Almeria's hand, "we must have the pleasure of
+introducing you to some of her grace's literary friends, who will, I am
+sure, please and suit you particularly."
+
+Mr. Frederick Elmour, who now really pitied Almeria, though in his
+pity there was a strong mixture of contempt, joined his sister in her
+kindness, and named and described some of the people whom he thought
+she would be most desirous of knowing. The names struck Miss Turnbull's
+ears, for they were the names of persons distinguished in the
+fashionable as well as in the literary world; and she was dismayed and
+mortified by the discovery that her _country friends_ had by some means,
+incomprehensible to her, gained distinction and intimacy in society
+where she had merely admission; she was vexed beyond expression when she
+found that _the Elmours_ were superior to her even on her own ground.
+At this instant Mrs. Wynne, with her usual simplicity, asked Mrs. Elmour
+and Ellen why they had not brought their charming children with them;
+adding, "You are, my dears, without exception, the two happiest mothers
+and wives I am acquainted with. And after all, what happiness is there
+equal to domestic happiness?--Oh! my dear Miss Turnbull, trust me,
+though I am a silly old woman, there's nothing like it--and friends at
+court are not like friends at home--and all the Lady Pierrepoints that
+ever were or ever will be born, are not, as you'll find when you come to
+try them, like one of these plain good Ellens and Elmours."
+
+The address, simple as it was, came so home to Almeria's experience,
+and so many recollections rushed at once upon her memory, that all her
+factitious character of a fine lady gave way to natural feeling, and
+suddenly she burst into tears.
+
+"Good heavens! my dear Miss Turnbull," cried Mrs. Ingoldsby, "what
+is the matter?--Are not you well?--Salts! salts!--the heat of the
+room!--Poor thing!--she has such weak nerves.--Mr. Elmour, may I
+trouble you to ring the bell for our carriage? Miss Turnbull has such
+sensibility! This meeting, so unexpected, with so many old friends, has
+quite overcome her."
+
+Miss Turnbull, recalled to herself by Mrs. Ingoldsby's voice, repeated
+the request to have her carriage immediately, and departed with Mrs.
+Ingoldsby as soon as she possibly could, utterly abashed and mortified;
+mortified most at not having been able to conceal her mortification.
+Incapable absolutely of articulating, she left Mrs. Ingoldsby to cover
+her retreat, as well as she could, with weak nerves and sensibility.
+
+Even the charitable Mrs. Wynne was now heard to acknowledge that she
+could neither approve of Miss Turnbull's conduct, nor frame any apology
+for it. She confessed that it looked very like what she of all things
+detested most--_ingratitude_. Her nephew, who had been a cool observant
+spectator of this evening's performance, was glad that his aunt's mind
+was now decided by Almeria's conduct. He exclaimed that he would not
+marry such a woman, if her portion were to be the mines of Peru.
+
+Thus Miss Turnbull lost all chance of the esteem and affection of
+another man of sense and temper, who might even at this late period of
+her life have recalled her from the follies of dissipation, and rendered
+her permanently happy.
+
+And now that our heroine must have lost all power of interesting the
+reader, now that the pity even of the most indulgent must be utterly
+sunk in contempt, we shall take our leave of her, resigning her to that
+misery which she had been long preparing for herself. It is sufficient
+to say, that after this period she had some offers from men of fashion
+of ruined fortunes; but these she rejected, still fancying that with
+her wealth she could not fail to make a splendid match. So she went on
+coquetting; and coquetting, rejecting and rejecting, till at length she
+arrived at an age when she could reject no longer. She ceased to be an
+object to matrimonial adventurers, but to these succeeded a swarm of
+female legacy-hunters. Among the most distinguished was her companion,
+Mrs. Ingoldsby, whose character she soon discovered to be artful and
+selfish in the extreme. This lady's flattery, therefore, lost all its
+power to charm, but yet it became necessary to Almeria; and even when
+she knew that she was duped, she could not part with Mrs. Ingoldsby,
+because it was not in her power to supply the place of a flatterer with
+a _friend_.--A friend! that first blessing of life, cannot be bought--it
+must be deserved.
+
+Miss, or as she must now be called, _Mrs_. Almeria Turnbull, is still
+alive--probably at this moment haunting some place of public amusement,
+or stationary at the card-table. Wherever she may be, she is despised
+and discontented; one example more amongst thousands, that wealth cannot
+purchase, or fashion bestow, real happiness.
+
+"See how the world its veterans rewards--youth of folly, an old age of
+cards!"
+
+_Edgeworth's-Town_, 1802.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+_VIVIAN_.
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
+
+
+Miss Edgeworth's general views, in these stories, are explained in the
+preface to the first volume. I cannot, however, omit repeating, that
+public favour has not yet rendered her so presumptuous as to offer hasty
+effusions to her readers, but that she takes a longer time to revise
+what she writes than the severe ancients required for the highest
+species of moral fiction.
+
+Vivian exposes one of the most common defects of mankind. To be "infirm
+of purpose" is to be at the mercy of the artful or at the disposal of
+accident. Look round, and count the numbers who have, within your own
+knowledge, failed from want of firmness.
+
+An excellent and wise mother gave the following advice with her dying
+breath: "My son, learn early how to say, No!"--This precept gave the
+first idea of the story of Vivian.
+
+THE ABSENTEE is not intended as a censure upon those whose duties, and
+employments, and superior talents, lead them to the capital; but to warn
+the thoughtless and the unoccupied from seeking distinction by frivolous
+imitation of fashion and ruinous waste of fortune.
+
+A country gentleman, or even a nobleman, who does not sit in parliament,
+may be as usefully and as honourably employed in Yorkshire, Mid Lothian,
+or Ireland, as at a club-house or an assembly in London.
+
+Irish agents are here described as of two different species. That there
+have been bad and oppressive Irish agents, many great landed English
+proprietors have felt; that there are well-informed, just, and
+honourable Irish agents, every-day experience can testify.
+
+MADAME DE FLEURY points out some of the means which may be employed
+by the rich for the real advantage of the poor. This story shows that
+sowing gold does not always produce a golden harvest; but that knowledge
+and virtue, when early implanted in the human breast, seldom fail to
+make ample returns of prudence and felicity.
+
+EMILIE DE COULANGES exposes a fault into which the good and generous are
+liable to fall.
+
+Great sacrifices and great benefits cannot frequently be made or
+conferred by private individuals; but, every day, kindness and attention
+to the common feelings of others is within the power, and may be the
+practice, of every age, and sex, and station. Common faults are reproved
+by all writers on morality; but there are errors and defects that
+require to be treated in a lighter manner, and that come, with
+propriety, within the province of essayists and of writers for the
+stage.
+
+R. L. EDGEWORTH. _May_, 1812.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+"To see the best, and yet the worse pursue."
+
+
+"Is it possible," exclaimed Vivian, "that you, Russell, my friend, my
+best friend, can tell me that this line is the motto of my character!--'
+To see the best, and yet the worse pursue.--Then you must think me
+either a villain or a madman."
+
+"No," replied Russell, calmly; "I think you only weak."
+
+"Weak--but you must think me an absolute fool."
+
+"No, not a fool; the weakness of which I accuse you is not a weakness
+of the understanding. I find no fault either with the logical or the
+mathematical part of your understanding. It is not erroneous in either
+of the two great points in which Bacon says that most men's minds be
+deficient in--the power of judging of consequences, or in the power of
+estimating the comparative value of objects."
+
+"Well," cried Vivian, impatiently, "but I don't want to hear just now
+what Bacon says--but what _you_ think. Tell me all the faults of my
+character."
+
+"All!--unconscionable!--after the fatigue of this long day's journey,"
+said Russell, laughing.
+
+These two friends were, at this time, travelling from Oxford to Vivian
+Hall (in ----shire), the superb seat of the Vivian family, to which
+Vivian was heir. Mr. Russell, though he was but a few years older than
+Vivian, had been his tutor at college; and by an uncommon transition,
+had, from his tutor, become his intimate friend.
+
+After a pause, Vivian resumed, "Now I think of it, Russell, you are to
+blame, if I have any faults. Don't you say, that every thing is to
+be done by education? And are not you--though by much too young, and
+infinitely too handsome, for a philosopher--are not you my guide,
+philosopher, and friend?"
+
+"But I have had the honour to be your guide, philosopher, and friend,
+only for these three years," said Russell. "I believe in the rational,
+but not in the magical, power of education. How could I do, or undo, in
+three years, the work of the preceding seventeen?"
+
+"Then, if you won't let me blame you, I must blame my mother."
+
+"Your mother!--I had always understood that she had paid particular
+attention to your early education, and all the world says that Lady
+Mary Vivian, though a woman of fashion, is remarkably well-informed and
+domestic; and, judging from those of her letters which you have shown
+me, I should think that, for once, what all the world says is right."
+
+"What all the world says is right, and yet I am not wrong:--my mother
+is a very clever woman, and most affectionate, and she certainly paid
+particular attention to my early education; but her attention was too
+particular, her care was too great. You know I was an only son--then
+I lost my father when I was an infant; and a woman, let her be ever
+so sensible, cannot well educate an _only_ son, without some manly
+assistance; the fonder she is of the son the worse, even if her fondness
+is not foolish fondness--it makes her over-anxious--it makes her do too
+much. My mother took too much, a great deal too much, care of me; she
+over-educated, over-instructed, over-dosed me with premature lessons of
+prudence: she was so afraid that I should ever do a foolish thing, or
+not say a wise one, that she prompted my every word, and guided my every
+action. So I grew up, seeing with her eyes, hearing with her ears, and
+judging with her understanding, till, at length, it was found out that
+I had not eyes, ears, or understanding of my own. When I was
+between twelve and thirteen, my mother began to think that I was not
+sufficiently manly for my age, and that there was something too yielding
+and undecided in my character. Seized with a panic, my mother, to make
+a man of me at once, sent me to ---- school. There I was, with all
+convenient expedition, made ashamed of every thing good I had learned at
+home; and there I learned every thing bad, and nothing good, that could
+be learned at school. I was inferior in Latin and Greek; and this was a
+deficiency I could not make up without more labour than I had courage to
+undertake. I was superior in general literature, but this was of
+little value amongst my competitors, and therefore I despised it; and,
+overpowered by numbers and by ridicule, I was, of course, led into all
+sorts of folly, by mere _mauvaise honte_. Had I been in the habit of
+exercising my own judgment, or had my resolution been strengthened by
+degrees; had I, in short, been prepared for a school, I might, perhaps,
+have acquired, by a public education, a manly, independent spirit. If
+I had even been wholly bred up in a public school, I might have been
+forced, as others were, by early and fair competition, to exercise my
+own powers, and by my own experience in that microcosm, as it has been
+called, I might have formed some rules of conduct, some manliness
+of character, and might have made, at least, a good schoolboy. Half
+home-bred, and half school-bred, from want of proper preparation,
+one half of my education totally destroyed the other. From school, of
+course, I went to college, and at college, of course, I should have
+become one of the worst species of college lads, and should have had
+no chance, in my whole future life, of being any thing but a dissipated
+fool of fashion, one of the _Four-in-Hand Club_, or the _Barouche Club_,
+or the _Tandem Club_, or the _Defiance Club_, had not I, by the greatest
+good fortune, met with such a friend as you, and, by still greater good
+fortune, found you out for myself; for if my mother had recommended you
+to me, I should have considered you only as a college tutor; I should
+never have discovered half your real merit; I doubt whether I should
+have even seen that you are young and handsome: so prejudiced should I
+have been with the preconceived notion of a college tutor, that I am not
+certain whether I should have found out that you are a gentleman as well
+born and well bred as myself; but, be that as it may, I am positive that
+I never should have made you my companion and friend; I should never
+have thrown open my whole soul to you, as I have done; nor could you
+ever have obtained such wondrous power as you possess over my mind, if
+you had been recommended to me by my mother."
+
+"I am sorry," said Russell, smiling, "that, after so many wise
+reflections, and so many fine compliments, you end by proving to me that
+my wondrous power is founded on your wondrous weakness. I am mortified
+to find that your esteem and friendship for me depended so much upon my
+not having had the honour of your mother's recommendation; and have not
+I reason to fear, that now, when I have a chance of becoming acquainted
+with Lady Mary Vivian, and, perhaps, a chance of her thinking me a fit
+companion and friend for her son, I must lose his regard and
+confidence, because I shall labour under the insuperable objection of an
+affectionate mother's approbation?"
+
+"No, no," said Vivian; "my wilful folly does not go quite so far as
+that. So that I maintain the privilege of choosing my friends for
+myself, I shall always be pleased and proud to find my mother approve my
+choice."
+
+After a few moments' pause, Vivian added, "You misunderstand, quite
+misunderstand me, if you think that I am not fond of my mother. I
+respect and love her with all my soul:--I should be a most ungrateful
+wretch if I did not. I did very wrong to speak as I did just now, of
+any little errors she may have made in my education; but, believe me, I
+would not have said so much to any one living but yourself, nor to you,
+but in strict confidence; and, after all, I don't know whether I ought
+not to lay the blame of my faults on my masters more than on my poor
+mother."
+
+"Lay the blame where we will," said Russell, "remember, that the
+punishment will rest on ourselves. We may, with as much philosophic
+justice as possible, throw the blame of our faults on our parents and
+preceptors, and on the early mismanagement of our minds; yet, after we
+have made out our case in the abstract, to the perfect satisfaction of a
+jury of metaphysicians, when we come to _overt_ actions, all our judges,
+learned and unlearned, are so awed, by the ancient precedents and
+practice of society, and by the obsolete law of common sense, that they
+finish by pronouncing against us the barbarous sentence, that every man
+must suffer for his own faults."
+
+"'I hope I shall be able to bear it, my lord,' as the English sailor
+said when the judge----But look out there! Let down that glass on your
+side of the carriage!" cried Vivian, starting forward. "There's Vivian
+Hall!"
+
+"That fine old castle?" said Russell, looking out of the window.
+
+"No; but farther off to the left, don't you see amongst the trees that
+house with wings?"
+
+"Ha! quite a new, modern house: I had always fancied that Vivian Hall
+was an old pile of building."
+
+"So it was, till my father threw down the old hall, and built this new
+house."
+
+"And a very handsome one it is.--Is it as good within as without?"
+
+"Quite, I think; but I'll leave you to judge for yourself.--Are not
+those fine old trees in the park?"
+
+From this time till the travellers arrived at Vivian Hall, their
+conversation turned upon trees, and avenues, and serpentine
+_approaches_, and alterations that Vivian intended to make, when he
+should be of age, and master of this fine place; and he now wanted but a
+twelvemonth of being at legal years of discretion. When they arrived at
+the hall, Lady Mary Vivian showed much affectionate joy at the sight of
+her son, and received Mr. Russell with such easy politeness that he was
+prepossessed at first in her favour. To this charm of well-bred manners
+was united the appearance of sincerity and warmth of feeling. In
+her conversation there was a mixture of excellent sense and general
+literature with the frivolities of the fashionable world, and the
+anecdotes of the day in certain high circles, of which she seemed to
+talk more from habit than taste, and to annex importance more from the
+compulsion of external circumstances than from choice. But her son,--her
+son was the great object of all her thoughts, serious or frivolous.
+She was delighted by the improvements she saw in his understanding
+and character; by the taste and talents he displayed, both for fine
+literature and for solid information: this flattered her hope that he
+would both shine as a polished gentleman and make a figure in public
+life. To his friend Russell she attributed these happy improvements;
+and, though he was not a tutor of her own original selection, yet
+her pride, on this occasion, yielded to gratitude, and she graciously
+declared, that she could not feel jealous of the pre-eminent power he
+had obtained over her son, when she saw the admirable use he made of
+this influence. Vivian, like all candid and generous persons, being
+peculiarly touched by candour and generosity in others, felt his
+affection for his mother rapidly increased by this conduct; nor did his
+enthusiasm for his friend in the least abate, in consequence of the high
+approbation with which she honoured him, nor even in consequence of her
+ladyship's frequent and rather injudicious expressions of her hopes,
+that her son would always preserve and show himself worthy of such a
+friend.
+
+He joined in his mother's entreaties to Russell to prolong his visit;
+and as her ladyship declared she thought it of essential consequence to
+her son's interest and future happiness, that he should, at this _turn
+of his life_, have such a companion, Russell consented to remain with
+him some time longer. All parties were thus pleased with each other, and
+remained united by one common interest about the same objects, during
+several weeks of a delightful summer. But, alas! this family harmony,
+and this accord of reason and _will_, between the mother and son, were
+not of longer duration. As usual, there were faults on both sides.
+
+Lady Mary Vivian, whose hopes of her son's distinguishing himself by his
+abilities had been much exalted since his last return from Oxford, had
+indulged herself in pleasing anticipations of the time when he should
+make his appearance in the fashionable and in the political world. She
+foresaw the respect that would be paid to her, on his account, both by
+senators and by matrons; by ministers, who might want to gain a rising
+orator's vote, and by mothers, who might wish to make an excellent match
+for their daughters: not only by all mothers who had daughters to marry,
+but by all daughters who had hearts or hands to dispose of, Lady
+Mary felt secure of having her society courted. Now, she had rather
+extravagant expectations for her son: she expected him to marry, so as
+to secure domestic happiness, and, at the same time, to have fashion,
+and beauty, and rank, and high connexions, and every amiable quality in
+a wife. This vision of a future daughter-in-law continually occupied her
+ladyship's imagination. Already, with maternal _Alnascharism_, she had,
+in her reveries, thrown back her head with disdain, as she repulsed the
+family advances of some wealthy but low-born heiress, or as she rejected
+the alliance of some of the new nobility. Already she had arranged
+the very words of her answers to these, and determined the degrees and
+shades of her intimacies with those; already had she settled
+
+"To whom to nod, whom take into her coach, Whom honour with her hand;"
+
+when one morning, as she sat at work, absorbed in one of these reveries,
+she was so far "rapt into future times," that, without perceiving that
+any body was present, she began to speak her thoughts, and said aloud to
+herself, "As if my son could possibly think of her!"
+
+Her son, who was opposite to her, lying on a sofa, reading, or seeming
+to read, started up, and putting down his book, exclaimed, in a
+voice which showed at once that he was conscious of thinking of some
+particular person, and determined to persist in the thought, "As if your
+son could possibly think of her!----Of whom, ma'am?"
+
+"What's the matter, child? Are you mad?"
+
+"Not in the least, ma'am; but you said----"
+
+"What!" cried Lady Mary, looking round; "What did I say, that has
+occasioned so much disturbance?--I was not conscious of saying any
+thing. My dear Selina," continued her ladyship, appealing to a young
+lady, who sat very intent upon some drawing beside her, "my dear Selina,
+you must have heard; what did I say?"
+
+The young lady looked embarrassed; and the colour which spread over her
+face, brought a sudden suspicion into Lady Mary's mind: her eye darted
+back upon her son--the suspicion, the fear was confirmed; and she grew
+instantly pale, silent, and breathless, in the attitude in which she was
+struck with this panic. The young lady's blush and embarrassment had a
+very different effect on Vivian; joy suddenly sparkled in his eyes, and
+illumined his whole countenance, for this was the first instant he had
+ever felt any hope of having obtained an interest in her heart. He was
+too much transported at this moment to think either of prudence or
+of his mother; and, when he recollected himself, he was too little
+practised in dissimulation to repair his indiscretion. Something he did
+attempt to say, and blundered, and laughed at his blunder; and when his
+mother looked up at him, in serious silence, he only begged pardon for
+his folly, confessed he believed he was mad, and, turning away abruptly,
+left the room, exclaiming that he wondered where Russell had been all
+the morning, and that he must go and look for him. A long silence
+ensued between Vivian's mother and the young lady, who were left alone
+together. Lady Mary first broke the silence, and, in a constrained tone,
+asked, as she took up the newspaper, "Whether Miss Sidney had found any
+news?"
+
+"I don't know, ma'am," answered Miss Sidney, in a voice scarcely
+articulate.
+
+"I should have imagined there must be some news from the continent:
+but you did not find any, I think you say, Miss Sidney;" continued Lady
+Mary, with haughty, averted eyes. After turning over the pages of the
+paper, without knowing one word it contained, she laid it down, and rose
+to leave the room. Miss Sidney rose at the same time.
+
+"Lady Mary, one instant; my dear Lady Mary."
+
+Lady Mary turned, and saw Selina's supplicating eyes full of tears; but
+her ladyship, still retaining her severity of manner, coldly said, "Does
+Miss Sidney desire that I should stay?--Does Miss Sidney wish to speak
+to me?"
+
+"I do--as soon as I can," said Selina in a faltering voice; but, raising
+her eyes, and perceiving the contemptuous expression of Lady Mary's
+countenance, her own instantly changed. With the firm tone of conscious
+innocence, she repeated, "I do wish to speak to your ladyship, if you
+will hear me with your usual candour; I do not expect or solicit your
+usual indulgence."
+
+"Miss Sidney," replied Lady Mary, "before you say more, it becomes me to
+point out to you, that the moment is past for confidence between us two;
+and that in no moment could I wish to hear from any person, much less
+from one whom I had considered as my friend, confessions, extorted by
+circumstances, degrading and unavailing."
+
+"Your ladyship need not be apprehensive of hearing from me any degrading
+confessions," said Miss Sidney; "I have none to make: and since, without
+any just cause, without any cause for suspicion, but what a blush,
+perhaps, or a moment's embarrassment of manner may have created, you
+think it becomes you to point out to me that the moment for confidence
+between us is past, I can only lament my mistake in having believed that
+it ever existed."
+
+Lady Mary's countenance and manner totally changed. The pride of rank
+yielded before the pride of virtue; and perhaps the hope that she had
+really no cause for suspicion at once restored her affection for her
+young friend. "Let us understand one another, my dear Selina," said she;
+"if I said a hasty or a harsh word, forgive it. You know my affection
+for you, and my real confidence; in actions, not in words, I have shown
+it.--In thought, as well as in actions, my confidence in you has been
+entire; for, _upon my word,_ and you know this is not an asseveration I
+lightly use, _upon my word,_ till that unfortunate moment, a suspicion
+of you never crossed my imagination. The proof--if there could need any
+proof to you of what I assert--the proof is, the delight I take in your
+society, the urgent manner in which I have so frequently, this summer,
+begged your company from your mother. You know this would have not only
+been the height of insincerity, but of folly and madness, if I had
+not felt a reliance upon you that made me consider it as an absolute
+impossibility that you could ever disappoint my friendship."
+
+"I thank your ladyship," said Selina, softened by the kind tone in which
+Lady Mary now spoke, yet still retaining some reserve of manner;
+"I thank your ladyship for all your kindness--it has flattered me
+much--touched me deeply--commanded my gratitude, and influenced my
+conduct uniformly--I can and do entirely forgive the injustice of a
+moment; and I now bid you adieu, my dear Lady Mary, with the conviction
+that, if we were never to meet again, I should always hold that place in
+your esteem and affection with which you have honoured me, and which, if
+it be not too proud an expression, I hope I have deserved----Won't you
+bid me farewell?"
+
+The tears gushed from Lady Mary's eyes. "My dear, charming, and prudent
+Selina, I understand you perfectly--and I thank you: it grieves me to
+part with you--but I believe you are right--I believe there is no other
+safety--no other remedy. How, indeed, could I expect that my son could
+see and hear you--live in the house with you, and become intimately
+acquainted with such a character as yours, without danger! I have
+been very imprudent, unaccountably imprudent, to expose him to such
+a temptation; but I hope, I trust, that your prudence will repair, in
+time, the effects of my rashness--and again and again I thank you, my
+dear young friend--but, perhaps it might be still better that you should
+not leave us abruptly. Still better than your absence, I think, would be
+the conviction you might impress on his mind of the impossibility of
+his hopes: if you were to stay a day or two, and convince him by your
+indifference that----" "Excuse me, that is what I cannot undertake,"
+said Selina, blushing, and conscious of blushing. Lady Mary was too
+polite and too delicate to seem to observe her confusion, but, embracing
+her, said--"If we must part, then take with you my highest esteem,
+affection, and gratitude; and this much let me add, that my most
+sanguine expectations for my son's happiness would be realized, if
+amongst the women to whom family interests must restrict his choice, he
+could meet with one of half your merit, and half your attractions."
+
+"_Amongst the women to whom family interests must restrict his choice_,"
+repeated Selina to herself many times, as she journeyed homewards; and
+she pondered much upon the meaning of this phrase. Vivian was sole
+heir to a very large property, without encumbrances of any kind; what,
+therefore, was the necessity that restricted his choice? The imaginary
+necessity of ambition, which confined him to a certain circle of
+fashionable, or _highly connected_ people. Selina Sidney, though she was
+not rich, was of a very good gentleman's family; her father had been a
+colonel in the British army: during his life, Mrs. Sidney had been in
+the habit of living a great deal in what is called _the world,_ and
+in the best company; and though, since his death, she had lived in
+retirement, Miss Sidney had received an education which put her upon a
+footing with young ladies of the highest accomplishments and refinement
+in the kingdom. With every solid and amiable quality, she had all those
+external advantages of appearance and manner which Lady Mary Vivian
+valued most highly. Selina, who was convinced that Lady Mary appreciated
+her character, and was peculiarly fond of her company and conversation,
+could not but feel surprise, mixed with some indignation, perhaps with a
+little resentment, when she perceived that her ladyship's prejudices
+and ambition made her act so completely in contradiction to her better
+judgment, to her professions, and to her feelings of affection. Whatever
+Miss Sidney thought upon this subject, however, she determined to
+continue to avoid seeing Vivian any more--an excellent resolution, in
+which we leave her, and return to her lover.
+
+A walk with Russell had brought him back in the full determination of
+avowing his attachment sincerely to his mother, and of speaking to her
+ladyship in the most respectful manner; but, when he found that Miss
+Sidney was gone, anger and disappointment made him at once forget his
+prudence, and his intended respect; he declared, in the most passionate
+terms, his love for Selina Sidney, and his irrevocable determination
+to pursue her, to the end of time and space, in spite of all opposition
+whatsoever from any person whatever. His mother, who was prepared for a
+scene of this sort, though not for one of this violence, had sufficient
+command of temper to sustain it properly; her command of temper was,
+indeed, a little assisted by the hope that this passion would be
+transitory in proportion to its vehemence, much by the confidence she
+had in Miss Sidney's _honour_, and in her absence: Lady Mary, therefore,
+calmly disclaimed having had any part in persuading Miss Sidney to that
+measure which had so much enraged her lover; but her ladyship avowed,
+that though it had not been necessary for her to suggest the measure,
+she highly approved of it, and admired now, as she had ever admired,
+that young lady's prudent and noble conduct.
+
+Softened by the only thing that could, at this moment, soften
+him--praise of his mistress--Vivian, in a most affectionate manner,
+assured his mother that it was her warm eulogiums of Miss Sidney which
+had first turned his attention to the perfections of her character; and
+he now inquired what possible objections she could make to his choice.
+With the generous enthusiasm of his disposition, heightened by all the
+eloquence of love, he pleaded, that his fortune was surely sufficient to
+put him above mercenary considerations in the choice of a wife; that in
+every point, except this one of _money_, Selina Sidney was, in his own
+mother's opinion, superior to every other woman she could name, or wish
+for, as a daughter-in-law.
+
+"But my tastes are not to blind me to your interests," said Lady Mary;
+"you are entitled to look for rank and high connexion. You are the
+representative of an ancient family, have talents to make a figure in
+public; and, in short, prejudice or not, I confess it is one of the
+first wishes of my heart that you should marry into a noble family, or
+at least into one that shall strengthen your political interest, as well
+as secure your domestic happiness."
+
+Vivian, of course, cursed ambition, as all men do whilst they are in
+love. His arguments and his eloquence in favour of a _private station_,
+and of the joys of _learned leisure, a competence, and domestic bliss_,
+were worthy of the most renowned of ancient or modern philosophers.
+Russell was appealed to with much eagerness, both by mother and son,
+during their debates. He frankly declared to Lady Mary, that he thought
+her son perfectly right in all he now urged, and especially in his
+opinion of Miss Sidney; "but at the same time," added Russell, "I
+apprehend that he speaks, at this moment, more from passion than from
+reason; and I fear that, in the course of a few months, he might,
+perhaps, entirely change his mind: therefore, I think your ladyship is
+prudent in refusing, during the minority of your son, your consent to a
+hasty union, of which he might afterwards repent, and thus render both
+himself and a most amiable woman miserable."
+
+Russell, after having given his opinion with the utmost freedom, when
+it was required by Lady Mary, assured her that he should no farther
+interfere; and he trusted his present sincerity would be the best pledge
+to her of his future discretion and honour. This equitable judgment and
+sincerity of Russell's at first displeased both parties, but in time
+operated upon the reason of both; not, however, before contests had gone
+on long and loud between the mother and son--not before a great deal
+of nonsense had been talked on both sides. People of the best abilities
+often talk the most nonsense where their passions are concerned, because
+then the whole of their ingenuity is exercised to find arguments in
+favour of their folly. They are not, like fools, content to say, _This
+is my will_; but they pique themselves on giving reasons for their
+will; and their reasons are the reasons of madmen, excellent upon
+false premises. It happened here, as in most family quarrels, that the
+disputants did not allow sufficiently for the prejudices and errors
+incident to their different ages. The mother would not allow for the
+romantic notions of the son, nor could the son endure the worldly views
+of the mother. The son, who had as yet no experience of the transitory
+nature of the passion of love, thought his mother unfeeling and
+barbarous, for opposing him on the point where the whole happiness of
+his life was concerned; the mother, who had seen the decline and fall of
+so many _everlasting loves_, considered him only as a person in a fever;
+and thought she prevented him, by her calmness, from doing that which he
+would repent when he should regain his sober senses. Without detailing
+the daily disputes which now arose, it will be sufficient to mark the
+result.
+
+Vivian's love had been silent, tranquil, and not seemingly of any great
+consequence, till it was opposed; but, from the instant that an obstacle
+intervened, it gathered strength and force, and it presently rose
+rapidly, with prodigious uproar, threatening to burst all bounds, and to
+destroy every thing that stopped its course. Lady Mary was now inclined
+to try what effect lessening the opposition might produce. To do her
+justice, she was also moved to this by some nobler motives than fear;
+or, at least, her fears were not of a selfish kind: she dreaded that her
+son's health and permanent happiness might be injured by this violent
+passion; she was apprehensive of becoming an object of his aversion;
+of utterly losing his confidence, and all power over his mind; but,
+chiefly, her generous temper was moved and won by Selina Sidney's
+admirable conduct. During the whole time that Vivian used every means
+to see her, to write to her, and to convince her of the fervour of his
+love, though he won all her friends over to his interests, though she
+heard his praises from morning till night from all who surrounded her,
+and though her own heart, perhaps, pleaded more powerfully than all
+the rest in his favour; yet she never, for one instant, gave him the
+slightest encouragement. Lady Mary's esteem and affection were so much
+increased by these strong proofs of friendship and honour, that
+her prejudices yielded; and she at length declared, that if her son
+continued, till he was of age, to feel the same attachment for this
+amiable girl, she would give her consent to their union. But this, she
+added, she promised only on one condition--that her son should abstain
+from all attempts, in the interval, to see or correspond with Miss
+Sidney, and that he should set out immediately to travel with Mr.
+Russell. Transported with love, and joy, and victory, Vivian promised
+every thing that was required of him, embraced his mother, and set out
+upon his travels.
+
+"Allow," said he triumphantly to Russell, as the chaise drove from the
+door, "allow, my good friend, that you were mistaken, in your fears of
+the weakness of my character, and of the yielding facility of my temper.
+You see how firm I have been--you see what battle I have made--you see
+how I have _stood out_."
+
+"I never doubted," said Russell, "your love of your own free will--I
+never doubted your fear of being governed, especially by your mother;
+but you do not expect that I should allow this to be a proof of strength
+of character."
+
+"What! do you suppose I act from love of my own free will merely?--Do
+you call my love for Selina Sidney weakness?--Oh! take care, Russell;
+for if once I find you pleading my mother's cause against your
+conscience----"
+
+"You will never find me pleading any cause against my conscience. I have
+told your mother, as I have told you, my opinion of Miss Sidney--my firm
+opinion--that she is peculiarly calculated to make the happiness of your
+life, provided you continue to love her."
+
+"Provided!--Oh!" cried Vivian, laughing, "spare your musty provisoes, my
+dear philosopher! Would not any one think, now, you were an old man of
+ninety? If this is all you have to fear, I am happy indeed."
+
+"At present," said Russell, calmly, "I have no fear, as I have just
+told your mother, but that you should change your mind before you are of
+age."
+
+Vivian grew quite indignant at this suggestion. "You are angry with me,"
+said Russell, "and so was your mother: she was angry because I said, I
+_feared,_ instead of I _hoped,_ you would change your mind. Both parties
+are angry with me for my sincerity."
+
+"Sincerity!--no; but I am angry with you for your absurd suspicions of
+my constancy."
+
+"If they are absurd, you need not be angry," said Russell; "I shall be
+well pleased to see their absurdity demonstrated."
+
+"Then I can demonstrate it this moment."
+
+"Pardon me; not this moment; you must take time into the account. I make
+no doubt but that, at this moment, you are heartily in love with Miss
+Sidney; but the thing to be proved is, that your passion will not
+decline in force, in proportion as it meets with less resistance. If it
+does, you will acknowledge that it was more a love of your own free will
+than a love of your mistress that has actuated you, which was the thing
+to be proved."
+
+"Hateful Q.E.D.!" cried Vivian; "you shall see the contrary, and, at
+least, I will triumph over you."
+
+If Russell had ever used art in his management of Vivian's mind, he
+might have been suspected of using it in favour of Miss Sidney at this
+instant; for this prophecy of Vivian's inconstancy was the most likely
+means to prevent its accomplishment. Frequently, in the course of their
+tour, when Vivian was in any situation where his constancy was tempted,
+he recollected Russell's prediction, and was proud to remind him how
+much he had been mistaken. In short, the destined time for their return
+home arrived--Vivian presented himself before his mother, and claimed
+her promise. She was somewhat surprised, and a little disappointed, by
+our hero's constancy; but she could not retract her word; and, since
+her compliance was now unavoidable, she was determined that it should be
+gracious. She wrote to Selina, therefore, with great kindness, saying,
+that whatever views of other connexions she might formerly have had for
+her son, she had now relinquished them, convinced, by the constancy
+of her son's attachment, and by the merit of its object, that his own
+choice would most effectually ensure his happiness, and that of all his
+friends. Her ladyship added expressions of her regard and esteem, and of
+the pleasure she felt in the thoughts of finding in her daughter-in-law
+a friend and companion, whose society was peculiarly agreeable to her
+taste and suited to her character. This letter entirely dissipated
+Selina's scruples of conscience; Vivian's love and merit, all his good
+and all his agreeable qualities, had now full and unreproved power to
+work upon her tender heart. His generous, open temper, his candour,
+his warm attachment to his friends, his cultivated understanding,
+his brilliant talents, his easy, well-bred, agreeable manners, all
+heightened in their power to please by the charm of love, justified,
+even in the eyes of the aged and prudent, the passion he inspired.
+Selina became extremely attached to him; and she loved with the
+delightful belief that there was not, in the mind of her lover, the
+seed of a single vice which threatened danger to his virtues or to their
+mutual happiness. With his usual candour, he had laid open his whole
+character to her, as far as he knew it himself; and had warned her of
+that vacillation of temper, that easiness to be led, which Russell
+had pointed out as a dangerous fault in his disposition. But of this
+propensity Selina had seen no symptoms; on the contrary, the steadiness
+of her lover in his attachment to her--the only point on which she had
+yet seen him tried--decided her to trust to the persuasive voice of love
+and hope, and to believe that Russell's friendship had in this instance,
+been too harsh or too timorous in its forebodings.
+
+Nothing now delayed the marriage of Vivian and Selina but certain legal
+rites, which were to be performed on his coming of age, and before
+marriage settlements could be drawn;--and the parties were doomed to
+wait for the arrival of some trustee who was with his regiment abroad.
+All these delays Vivian of course cursed: but, upon the whole, they
+were borne by him with heroic patience, and by Selina with all the
+tranquillity of confiding love, happy in the present, and not too
+anxious for the future.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+"My dear Russell," said Vivian, "love shall not make me forget
+friendship; before I marry, I must see you provided for. Believe me,
+this was the first--one of the first pleasures I promised myself, in
+becoming master of a good fortune. Other thoughts, I confess, have
+put it out of my head; so now let me tell you at once. I hate paltry
+surprises with my friends: I have, you know--or rather, probably, you do
+not know, for you are the most disinterested fellow upon earth--I have
+an excellent living in my gift; it shall be yours; consider it as such
+from this moment. If I knew a more deserving man, I would give it to
+him, upon my honour; so you can't refuse me. The incumbent can't live
+long; he is an old, very old, infirm man; you'll have the living in a
+year or two, and, in the mean time, stay with me. I ask it as a favour
+from a friend, and you see how much I want a friend of your firm
+character; and I hope you see, also, how much I can value, in others,
+the qualities in which I am myself deficient."
+
+Russell was much pleased and touched by Vivian's generous gratitude, and
+by the delicacy, as well as kindness of the manner in which he made
+this offer; but Russell could not consistently with his feelings or his
+principles live in a state of dependent idleness, waiting for a rich
+living and the death of an old incumbent. He told Vivian that he had too
+much affection for him, and too much respect for himself, ever to run
+the hazard of sinking from the rank of an independent friend. After
+rallying him, without effect, on his pride, Vivian acknowledged that he
+was forced to admire him the more for his spirit. Lady Mary, too, who
+was a great and sincere admirer of independence of character, warmly
+applauded Mr. Russell, and recommended him, in the highest terms, to a
+nobleman in the neighbourhood, who happened to be in want of a preceptor
+for his only son. This nobleman was Lord Glistonbury: his lordship was
+eager to engage a person of Russell's reputation for talents; so the
+affair was quickly arranged, and Lady Mary Vivian and her son went
+to pay a morning visit at Glistonbury Castle, on purpose to accompany
+Russell on his first introduction to the family. As they approached the
+castle, Vivian was struck with its venerable Gothic appearance; he had
+not had a near view of it for some years, and he looked at it with new
+eyes. Formerly he had seen it only as a picturesque ornament to the
+country; but now that he was himself possessor of an estate in the
+vicinity, he considered Glistonbury Castle as a point of comparison
+which rendered him dissatisfied with his own mansion. As he drove up
+the avenue, and beheld the towers, turrets, battlements, and massive
+entrance, his mother, who was a woman of taste, strengthened, by her
+exclamations on the beauty of Gothic architecture, the wish that was
+rising in his mind to convert his modern house into an _ancient_ castle:
+she could not help sighing whilst she reflected that, if her son's
+affections had not been engaged, he might perhaps have obtained the
+heart and hand of one of the fair daughters of this castle. Lady
+Mary went no farther, even in her inmost thoughts. Incapable of
+double-dealing, she resolved never even to let her son know what her
+wishes had been with respect to a connexion with the Glistonbury family.
+But the very reserve and _discretion_ with which her ladyship spoke--a
+reserve unusual with her, and unsuited to the natural warmth of
+her manner and temper--might have betrayed her to an acute and cool
+observer. Vivian, however, at this instant, was too much intent upon
+castle-building to admit any other ideas.
+
+When the carriage drove under the great gateway and stopped, Vivian
+exclaimed, "What a fine old castle! how surprised Selina Sidney would
+be, how delighted, to see my house metamorphosed into such a castle!"
+
+"It is a magnificent castle, indeed!" said Lady Mary, with a sigh: "I
+think there are the Lady Lidhursts on the terrace; and here comes my
+Lord Glistonbury with his son."
+
+"My pupil?" said Russell; "I hope the youth is such as I can become
+attached to. Life would be wretched indeed without attachment--of some
+sort or other. But I must not expect," added he, "to find a second time
+a friend in a pupil; and such a friend!"
+
+Sentiment, or the expression of the tenderness he felt for his friends,
+was so unusual from Russell, that it had double effect; and Vivian was
+so much struck by it, that he could scarcely collect his thoughts in
+time to speak to Lord Glistonbury, who came to receive his guests,
+attended by three _hangers on_ of the family--a chaplain, a captain,
+and a young lawyer. His lordship was scarcely past the meridian of life;
+yet, in spite of his gay and debonair manner, he looked old, as if he
+were paying for the libertinism of his youth by premature decrepitude.
+His countenance announced pretensions to ability; his easy and affable
+address, and the facility with which he expressed himself, gained him
+credit at first for much more understanding than he really possessed.
+There was a plausibility in all he said; but, if it were examined,
+there was nothing in it but nonsense. Some of his expressions appeared
+brilliant; some of his sentiments just; but there was a want of
+consistency, a want of a pervading mind in his conversation, which to
+good judges betrayed the truth, that all his opinions were adopted, not
+formed; all his maxims commonplace; his wit mere repetition; his sense
+merely _tact_. After proper thanks and compliments to Lady Mary and
+Mr. Vivian, for securing for him such a treasure as Mr. Russell, he
+introduced Lord Lidhurst, a sickly, bashful boy of fourteen, to his new
+governor, with polite expressions of unbounded confidence, and a rapid
+enunciation of undefined and contradictory expectations.
+
+"Mr. Russell will, I am perfectly persuaded, make Lidhurst every
+thing we can desire," said his lordship; "an honour to his country,
+an ornament to his family. It is my decided opinion that man is but
+a bundle of habits; and it's my maxim, that education is _second_
+nature--_first_, indeed, in many cases. For, except that I am staggered
+about original genius, I own I conceive with Hartley, that early
+impressions and associations are all in all: his vibrations and
+vibratiuncles are quite satisfactory. But what I particularly wish for
+Lidhurst, sir, is, that he should be trained as soon as possible into a
+statesman. Mr. Vivian, I presume you mean to follow up public business,
+and no doubt will make a figure. So I prophesy; and I am used to these
+things. And from Lidhurst, too, under similar tuition, I may with reason
+expect miracles--'hope to hear him thundering in the house of commons in
+a few years--'confess 'am not quite so impatient to have the young dog
+in the house of incurables; for you know he could not be there without
+being in my shoes, which I have not done with yet--ha! ha! ha!----Each
+in his turn, my boy! In the mean time, Lady Mary, shall we join the
+ladies yonder, on the terrace? Lady Glistonbury walks so slow, that she
+will be seven hours in coming to us; so we had best go to her ladyship:
+if the mountain won't go to Mahomet--you know, of course, what follows."
+
+On their way to the terrace, Lord Glistonbury, who always heard
+himself speak with singular complacency, continued to give his ideas on
+education; sometimes appealing to Mr. Russell, sometimes happy to catch
+the eye of Lady Mary.
+
+"Now, my idea for Lidhurst is simply this:--that he should know every
+thing that is in all the best books in the library, but yet that he
+should be the farthest possible from a book-worm--that he should never,
+except in a set speech in the house, have the air of having opened a
+book in his life--mother-wit for me!--in most cases--and that easy style
+of originality, which shows the true gentleman. As to morals--Lidhurst,
+walk on, my boy--as to morals, I confess I couldn't bear to see any
+thing of the Joseph Surface about him. A youth of spirit must, you know,
+Mr. Vivian--excuse me, Lady Mary, this is--_an aside_--be something of a
+latitudinarian to keep in the fashion: not that I mean to say so exactly
+to Lidhurst--no, no--on the contrary, Mr. Russell, it is our cue, as
+well as this reverend gentleman's," looking back at the chaplain, who
+bowed assent before he knew to what, "it is our cue, as well as this
+reverend gentleman's, to preach prudence, and temperance, and all the
+cardinal virtues."
+
+"_Cardinal_ virtues! very good, faith! my lord," said the lawyer,
+looking at the clergyman.
+
+"_Temperance!_" repeated the chaplain, winking at the officer; "upon my
+soul, my lord, that's too bad."
+
+"_Prudence!_" repeated the captain; "that's too clean a cut at poor
+Wicksted, my lord."
+
+Before his lordship had time to preach any more prudence, they arrived
+within bowing distance of the ladies, who had, indeed, advanced at a
+very slow rate. Vivian was not acquainted with any of the ladies of the
+Glistonbury family; for they had, till this summer, resided at another
+of their country seats, in a distant county. His mother had often met
+them at parties in town.
+
+Lady Glistonbury was a thin, stiffened, flattened figure--she was
+accompanied by two other female forms, one old, the other young; not
+each a different grace, but alike all three in angularity, and in a cold
+haughtiness of mien. After reconnoitring with their glasses the party
+of gentlemen, these ladies quickened their step; and Lady Glistonbury,
+making her countenance as affable as it was in its nature to be,
+exclaimed, "My dear Lady Mary Vivian! have I the pleasure to see your
+ladyship?--They told me it was only visitors to my lord."
+
+Mr. Vivian had then the honour of being introduced to her ladyship, to
+her eldest daughter, Lady Sarah Lidhurst, and to Miss Strictland, the
+governess. By all of these ladies he was most graciously received;
+but poor Russell was not so fortunate; nothing could be more cold and
+repulsive than their reception of him. This did not make Lady Sarah
+appear very agreeable to Vivian; he thought her, at this first view, one
+of the least attractive young women he had ever beheld.
+
+"Where is my Julia?" inquired Lord Glistonbury. "Ah! there she goes
+yonder, all life and spirits."
+
+Vivian looked as his lordship directed his eye, and saw, at the farthest
+end of the terrace, a young girl of about fifteen, running very fast,
+with a hoop, which she was keeping up with great dexterity for the
+amusement of a little boy who was with her. The governess no sooner saw
+this than she went in pursuit of her young ladyship, calling after her,
+in various tones and phrases of reprehension, in French, Italian, and
+English; and asking whether this was a becoming employment for a young
+lady of her age and rank. Heedless of these reproaches, Lady Julia still
+ran on, away from her governess, "to chase the rolling circle's speed,"
+down the slope of the terrace; thither Miss Strictland dared not pursue,
+but contented herself with standing on the brink, reiterating her
+remonstrances. At length the hoop fell, and the young lady returned, not
+to her governess, but, running lightly up the slope of the terrace, to
+her surprise, she came full in view of the company before she was aware
+that any strangers were there. Her straw hat being at the back of her
+head, Lady Glistonbury, with an indignant look, pulled it forwards.
+
+"What a beautiful colour! what a sweet countenance Lady Julia has!"
+whispered Lady Mary Vivian to Lord Glistonbury: at the same time she
+could not refrain from glancing her eyes towards her son, to see what
+effect was produced upon him. Vivian's eyes met hers; and this single
+look of his mother's revealed to him all that she had, in her great
+prudence, resolved to conceal. He smiled at her, and then at Russell, as
+much as to say, "Surely there can be no comparison between such a child
+as this and Selina Sidney!"
+
+A few minutes afterwards, in consequence of a sign from Lady
+Glistonbury, Julia disappeared with her governess; and the moment was
+unnoticed by Vivian, who was then, as his mother observed, looking up at
+one of the turrets of the old castle. All its inhabitants were at this
+time uninteresting to him, except so far as they regarded his friend
+Russell; but the castle itself absorbed his attention. Lord Glistonbury,
+charmed to see how he was struck by it, offered to show him over every
+part of the edifice; an offer which he and Lady Mary gladly accepted.
+Lady Glistonbury excused herself, professing to be unable to sustain
+the fatigue: she deputed her eldest daughter to attend Lady Mary in her
+stead; and this was the only circumstance which diminished the pleasure
+to Vivian, for he was obliged to show due courtesy to this stiff
+taciturn damsel at every turn, whilst he was intent upon seeing the
+architecture of the castle, and the views from the windows of the towers
+and loop-holes of the galleries; all which Lady Sarah pointed out with a
+cold, ceremonious civility, and a formal exactness of proceeding, which
+enraged Vivian's enthusiastic temper. The visit ended: he railed half
+the time he was going home against their fair, or, as he called her,
+their petrified guide; then, full of the Gothic beauties of Glistonbury,
+he determined, as soon as possible, to turn his own modern house into
+a castle. The very next morning he had an architect to view it, and to
+examine its capabilities. It happened that, about this time, several of
+the noblemen and gentry, in the county in which Vivian resided, had been
+seized with this rage for turning comfortable houses into uninhabitable
+castles. And, however perverse or impracticable this retrograde movement
+in architecture might seem, there were always at hand professional
+projectors, to convince gentlemen that nothing was so feasible. Provided
+always that gentlemen approve their estimates as well as their plans,
+they undertake to carry buildings back, in a trice, two, or three,
+or half a dozen centuries, as may be required, to make them Gothic or
+Saracenic, and to "add every grace that time alone can give." A few days
+after Vivian had been at Glistonbury Castle, when Lord Glistonbury came
+to return the visit, Russell, who accompanied his lordship, found his
+friend encompassed with plans and elevations.
+
+"Surely, my dear Vivian," said he, seizing the first moment he could
+speak to him, "you are not going to spoil this excellent house? It
+is completely finished, in handsome modern architecture, perfectly
+comfortable and convenient, light, airy, large enough, warm rooms, well
+distributed, with ample means of getting at each apartment; and if you
+set about to new-model and transform it into a castle, you must, I see,
+by your plan, alter the proportions of almost every room, and spoil the
+comfort of the whole; turn square to round, and round again to square;
+and, worse than all, turn light to darkness--only for the sake of having
+what is called a castle, but what has not, in fact, any thing of the
+grandeur or solid magnificence of a real ancient edifice. These modern
+baby-house miniatures of castles, which gentlemen ruin themselves to
+build, are, after all, the most paltry, absurd things imaginable."
+
+To this Vivian was, after some dispute, forced to agree; but he said,
+"that his should not be a baby-house; that he would go to any expense to
+make it really magnificent."
+
+"As magnificent, I suppose, as Glistonbury Castle?"
+
+"If possible:--that is, I confess, the object of my emulation."
+
+"Ah!" said Russell, shaking his head, "these are the objects of
+emulation, for which country gentlemen often ruin themselves; barter
+their independence and real respectability; reduce themselves to
+distress and disgrace: these are the objects for which they sell either
+their estates or their country; become placemen or beggars; and end
+either in the liberties of the King's Bench, or the slaveries of St.
+James's."
+
+"Impossible for me! you know my public principles," said Vivian: "and
+you know that I think the life of an independent country gentleman the
+most respectable of all others--you know my principles."
+
+"I know your facility," said Russell: "if you begin by sacrificing thus
+to your taste, do you think you will not end by sacrificing to your
+interest?"
+
+"Never! never!" cried Vivian.
+
+"Then you imagine that a strong temptation will not act where a weak one
+has been found irresistible."
+
+"Of this I am certain," said Vivian: "I could never be brought to sell
+my country, or to forfeit my honour."
+
+"Perhaps not," said Russell: "you might, in your utmost need, have
+another alternative; you might forfeit your love; you might give up
+Selina Sidney, and marry for money--all for the sake of a castle!"
+
+Struck by this speech, Vivian exclaimed, "I would give up a thousand
+castles rather than run such a hazard!"
+
+"Let us then coolly calculate," said Russell. "What would the castle
+cost you?"
+
+The expense, even by the estimates of the architects, which, in
+the execution, are usually doubled, was enormous, such as Vivian
+acknowledged was unsuited even to his ample fortune. His fortune, though
+considerable, was so entailed, that he would, if he exceeded his income,
+be soon reduced to difficulties for ready money. But then his mother
+had several thousands in the stocks, which she was ready to lend him to
+forward this castle-building. It was a project which pleased her taste,
+and gratified her aristocratic notions.
+
+Vivian assured his friend at parting, that his reason was convinced:
+that he would not yield to the whims of taste, and that he would
+prudently give up his folly. So he determined; and he abided by his
+determination till he heard numbers speak on the other side of the
+question. With Vivian, those who spoke last frequently seemed to speak
+best; and, in general, the number of voices overpowered the weight
+of argument. By the persuasions of his mother, the example of his
+neighbours, and the urgency of architects and men of taste who got about
+him soon afterwards, he was convinced that there was no living without
+a castle, and that the expense would be _next to nothing at all.
+Convinced_, we should not say; for he yielded, against his conviction,
+from mere want of power to resist reiterated solicitations. He had
+no other motive; for the enthusiasm raised by the view of Glistonbury
+Castle had passed away: he plainly saw, what Russell had pointed out to
+him, that he should spoil the inside of his house for the sake of the
+outside; and, for his own part, he preferred comfort to show. It was
+not, therefore, to please his own taste that he ran into this imprudent
+expense, but merely to gratify the taste of others.
+
+Now the bustle of building began, and workmen swarmed round his house;
+the foundations sank, the scaffolds rose; and many times did Vivian sigh
+and repent, when he saw how much was to be undone before any thing could
+be done; when he found his house dismantled, saw the good ceilings
+and elegant cornices knocked to pieces, saw the light domes and modern
+sashes give way; all taken out to be replaced, at profuse expense, by a
+clumsy imitation of Gothic; how often did be sigh and calculate, when he
+saw the tribes of workmen file off as their dinner bell rang! how often
+did he bless himself, when he beheld the huge beams of timber dragged
+into his yards, and the solid masses of stone brought from a quarry at
+an enormous distance!--Vivian perceived that the expense would be treble
+the estimate; and said, that if the thing were to be done again, he
+would never consent to it; but now, as Lady Mary observed, it was too
+late to repent; and it was, at any rate, best to go on and finish it
+with spirit--since it was impossible (nobody knew why) to stop. He
+hurried on the workmen with impatience; for he was anxious to have the
+roof and some apartments in his castle finished before his marriage. The
+dilatoriness of the lawyers, and the want of the trustee, who had not
+yet arrived in England, were no longer complained of so grievously by
+the lover. Russell, one day, as he saw Vivian overlooking his workmen,
+and urging them to expedition, smiled, and asked whether the impatience
+of an architect or of a lover was now predominant in his mind. Vivian,
+rather offended by the question, replied, that his eagerness to finish
+this part of his castle arose from his desire to give an agreeable
+surprise to his bride; and he declared that his passion for Selina
+was as ardent, at this moment, as it had ever been; but that it was
+impossible to make lawyers move faster than their accustomed pace;
+and that Miss Sidney was too secure of his affection, and he too well
+convinced of hers, to feel that sort of anxiety, which persons who had
+less confidence in each other might experience in similar circumstances.
+This was all very true, and very reasonable; but Russell could not help
+perceiving that Vivian's language and tone were somewhat altered since
+the time when he was ready to brave heaven and earth to marry his
+mistress, without license or consent of friends, without the possibility
+of waiting a few months till he was of age. In fact, though Vivian would
+not allow it, this consent of friends, this ceasing of opposition, this
+security and tranquillity of happiness, had considerably changed the
+appearance, at least, of his love. Lady Mary perceived it, with a
+resolution to say nothing, and see how it would end. Selina did not
+perceive it for some time; for she was of a most unsuspicious temper;
+and her confidence in Vivian was equal to the fondness of her love. She
+began to think, indeed, that the lawyers were provokingly slow; and when
+Vivian did not blame them as much as he used to do, she only thought
+that he understood business better than she did--besides, the necessary
+trustee was not come--and, in short, the last thing that occurred to her
+mind was to blame Vivian.
+
+The trustee at length arrived, and the castle was almost in the
+wished-for state of forwardness, when a new cause of delay arose--a
+county election: but how this election was brought on, and how it was
+conducted, it is necessary to record. It happened that a relation of
+Vivian's was appointed to a new seventy-four gun ship, of which he came
+to take the command at Yarmouth, which was within a few miles of him.
+Vivian recollected that Russell had often expressed a desire to go on
+board a man-of-war. Vivian, therefore, after having appointed a day
+for their going, went to Glistonbury to invite Russell: his pupil, Lord
+Lidhurst, begged to be permitted to accompany them: and Lady Julia,
+the moment she heard of this new seventy-four gun ship, was, as her
+governess expressed it, wild to be of the party. Indeed, any thing
+that had the name of a party of pleasure, and that promised a transient
+relief from the tedious monotony in which her days passed; any thing
+that gave a chance of even a few hours' release from the bondage
+in which she was held between the restraints of the most rigid of
+governesses and the proudest of mothers, appeared delightful to this
+lively and childish girl. She persecuted her governess with entreaties,
+till at last she made Miss Strictland go with her petition to Lady
+Glistonbury; whilst, in the mean time, Lady Julia overwhelmed her father
+with caresses, till he consented; and with much difficulty, prevailed
+upon Lady Glistonbury to give her permission for the young ladies to go
+with their governess, their brother, their father, and Lady Mary Vivian,
+on this excursion. The invitation was now extended to all the company
+then at the castle; including the representative of the county, who,
+being just threatened with a fit of the gout, brought on by hard
+drinking at the last election, expressed some reluctance to going with
+this party on the water. But this gentleman was now paying his humble
+devoirs to the Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and it was represented to him, by
+all who understood the ground, that he would give mortal offence if he
+did not go; so it was ruled, that, hot or cold, gout or no gout, he
+must appear in the Lady Sarah's train: he submitted to this perilous
+necessity in the most gallant manner. The day proved tolerably
+fine--Vivian had an elegant entertainment provided for the
+company, under a marquee pitched on the shore--they _embarked_ in a
+pleasure-boat--Lady Sarah was very sick, and her admirer very cold; but
+Lady Julia was in extasies at every thing she saw and felt--she feared
+nothing, found nothing inconvenient--was charmed to be drawn so easily
+from the boat up the high side of the ship--charmed to find herself on
+deck--charmed to see the sails, the ropes, the rigging, the waves, the
+sea, the sun, the clouds, the sailors, the cook dressing dinner--all,
+all indiscriminately charmed her; and, like a school-girl broke loose,
+she ran about, wild with spirits, asking questions, some sensible, some
+silly; laughing at her own folly, flying from this side to that, from
+one end of the ship to the other, down the ladders and up again; whilst
+Mr. Russell, who was deputed to take care of her, could scarcely keep
+up with her: Lord Glistonbury stood by, holding his sides and laughing
+aloud: Miss Strictland, quite disabled by the smell of the ship, was
+lying on a bed in the state cabin; and Lady Sarah, all the time shaded
+by an umbrella held by her shivering admirer, sat, as if chained upright
+in her chair of state, upon deck, scorning her sister's childish levity,
+and proving herself, with all due propriety, incapable of being moved to
+surprise or admiration by any object on land or sea.
+
+Lady Mary Vivian, while she observed with a quick eye all that passed,
+and read her son's thoughts, was fully persuaded that neither of the
+Lady Lidhursts would be likely to suit his taste, even if his affections
+were disengaged: the one was too childish, the other too stiff. "Yet
+their birth and connexions, and their consequence in the county,"
+thought Lady Mary, "would have made their alliance highly desirable."
+Every body seemed weary at the close of this day's entertainment, except
+Lady Julia, who _kept it up_ with indefatigable gaiety, and could hardly
+believe that it was time to go home, when the boat was announced to row
+them to shore: heedless, and absolutely dizzy with talking and laughing,
+her ladyship, escaping from the assistance of sailors and gentlemen,
+made a false step in getting into the boat, and, falling over, would
+have sunk for ever, but for Mr. Russell's presence of mind. He
+seized her with a strong grasp, and saved her. The fright sobered her
+completely; and she sat wrapped in great-coats, as silent, as tractable,
+and as wet as possible, during the remainder of the way to shore. The
+screams, the ejaculations, the reprimands from Miss Strictland; the
+questions, the reflections, to which this incident led, may possibly be
+conceived, but cannot be enumerated.
+
+This event, however alarming at the moment, had no serious consequence;
+for Lady Julia caught neither fever nor cold, though Miss Strictland
+was morally certain her ladyship would have one or the other; indeed she
+insinuated, that her ladyship deserved to have both. Lady Sarah's poor
+shivering knight of the shire, however, did not escape so well. Obliged
+to row home, in a damp evening, without his great-coat, which he had
+been forced to offer to Lady Julia, in a pleasure-boat, when he should
+have been in flannels or in bed, he had "cause to rue the boating of
+that day." His usual panacea of the gout did not come as expected, _to
+set him up again_. The cold he caught this day killed him. Lady Sarah
+Lidhurst was precisely as sorry as decorum required. But the bustle of a
+new election was soon to obliterate the memory of the old member, in
+the minds of his numerous friends. Lord Glistonbury, and several other
+voices in the county, called upon Vivian to stand on the independent
+interest. There was to be a contest: for a government candidate declared
+himself at the same moment that application was made to Vivian. The
+expense of a contested election alarmed both Vivian and his mother.
+Gratified as she was by the honour of this offer, yet she had
+the prudence to advise her son rather to go into parliament as
+representative for a borough than to hazard the expense of a contest
+for the county. Miss Sidney, also, whom he consulted upon this occasion,
+supported his mother's prudent advice, in the most earnest manner; and
+Vivian was inclined to follow this counsel, till Lord Glistonbury came
+one morning to plead the contrary side of the question: he assured
+Vivian, that from his experience of the county, he was morally certain
+they should carry it without trouble, and with no expense _worth
+mentioning_. These were only general phrases, to be sure, not arguments;
+but these, joined to her ambition to see her son member for the county,
+at length overpowered Lady Mary's better judgment: her urgent entreaties
+were now joined to those of Lord Glistonbury, and of many loud-tongued
+electioneerers, who proved to Vivian, by every thing but calculation,
+that he must be returned if he would but stand--if he would only declare
+himself. Russell and his own prudence strongly counselled him to resist
+these clamorous importunities; the two preceding candidates, whose
+fortunes had been nearly as good as his, had been ruined by the
+contests. Vivian was very young, but just of age; and Russell observed,
+"that it would be better for him to see something more of the world,
+before he should embark in politics, and plunge into public business."
+"True," said Vivian; "but Mr. Pitt was only three-and-twenty when he was
+minister of England. I am not ambitious; but I should certainly like to
+distinguish myself, if I could; and whilst I feel in youth the glow of
+patriotism, why should I not serve my country?"
+
+"Serve it and welcome," said Russell: "but don't begin by ruining
+yourself by a contested election; or else, whatever glow of patriotism
+you may feel, it will be out of your power to be an honest member of
+parliament. If you must go into parliament immediately for the good
+of your country, go in as member for some borough, which will not ruin
+you."
+
+"But the committee of our friends will be so disappointed if I decline;
+and my mother, who has now set her heart upon it, and Lord Glistonbury,
+and Mr. C----, and Mr. G----, and Mr. D----, who are such zealous
+friends, and who urge me so much----"
+
+"Judge for yourself," said Russell, "and don't let any persons who
+happen to be near you persuade you to see with their eyes, and decide
+with their wishes. Zealous friends, indeed!--because they love to
+make themselves of consequence, by bawling and scampering about at an
+election!--And you would let such people draw you on, to ruin yourself."
+
+"I will show you that they shall not," cried Vivian, seizing a sheet
+of paper, and sitting down immediately to write the copy of a circular
+letter to his friends, informing them, with many thanks, that he
+declined to stand for the county. Russell eagerly wrote copies of this
+letter, which Vivian declared should be sent early the next morning.
+But no sooner was Russell out of sight than Lady Mary Vivian resumed her
+arguments in favour of commencing his canvass immediately, and before
+his friends should cool. When she saw the letters that he had been
+writing, she was excessively indignant; and, by a torrent of female and
+maternal eloquence, he was absolutely overwhelmed. Auxiliaries poured
+in to her ladyship on all sides; horsemen after horsemen, freeholders
+of all degrees, now flocked to the house, hearing that Mr. Vivian had
+thoughts of standing for the county. They were unanimously loud in their
+assurances of success. Old and new copies of poll books were produced,
+and the different interests of the county counted and recounted,
+balanced and counterbalanced, again and again, by each person, after his
+own fashion: and it was proved to Mr. Vivian, _in black and white, and
+as plain as figures could make it_, that he had the game in his own
+hands; and that, if he would but declare himself, the other candidate
+would, the very next day, they would be bound for it, decline the
+contest. Vivian had a clear head, and a competent knowledge of
+arithmetic; he saw the fallacies and inaccuracies in their modes of
+computation; he saw, upon examining the books, that the state of
+the county interests was very different from what they pretended or
+believed; and he was convinced that the opposite candidate would not
+decline: but after Vivian had stated these reasons ten times, and his
+mother and his electioneering partisans had reiterated their assertions
+twenty times, he yielded, merely because they had said twice as much
+as he had, and because, poor easy man! he had not power to resist
+continuity of solicitation.
+
+He declared himself candidate for the county; and was soon immersed in
+all the toil, trouble, vexation, and expense, of a contested election.
+Of course, his marriage was now to be postponed till the election should
+be over. Love and county politics have little affinity. What the evils
+of a contested election are can be fully known only to those by whom
+they have been personally experienced. The contest was bitter. The
+Glistonbury interest was the strongest which supported Vivian: Lord
+Glistonbury and _his lordship's friends_ were warm in his cause. Not
+that they had any particular regard for Vivian; but he was to be _their
+member_, opposed to the court candidate, whom his lordship was anxious
+to keep out of the county. Lord Glistonbury had once been a strong
+friend to government, and was thought a confirmed courtier, especially
+as he had been brought up in high aristocratic notions; but he had
+made it his great object to turn his earldom into a marquisate; and
+government having delayed or refused to gratify him in this point,
+he quitted them with disgust, and set up his standard amongst the
+opposition. He was now loud and zealous on every occasion that could,
+as he said, _annoy_ government; and merely because he could not be a
+marquis, he became a patriot. Mistaken, abused name! how glorious in
+its original, how despicable in its debased signification!--Lord
+Glistonbury's exertions were indefatigable.
+
+Vivian felt much gratitude for this apparently disinterested friendship;
+and, during a few weeks, whilst this canvass was going on, he formed
+a degree of intimacy with the Glistonbury family, which, in any other
+circumstances, could scarcely have been brought about during months
+or years. An election, in England, seems, for the time, to level all
+distinctions, not only of rank, but even of pride: Lady Glistonbury
+herself, at this season, found it necessary to relax from her usual
+rigidity.--There was an extraordinary freedom of egress and regress; and
+the haughty code of Glistonbury lay dormant. Vivian, of course, was the
+centre of all interest; and, whenever he appeared, every individual of
+the family was eager to inquire, "What news?--What news?--How do things
+go on to-day?--How will the election turn out?--Have you written to Mr.
+Such-a-one?--Have you been to Mr. Such-a-one's?--I'll write a note for
+you--I'll copy a letter."--There was one common cause--Miss Strictland
+even deigned to assist Mr. Vivian, and to try her awkward hand to
+forward his canvass, for it was to support the Glistonbury interest; and
+"there was no impropriety could attach to the thing." Russell's extreme
+anxiety made Vivian call more frequently even than it was necessary at
+the castle, to quiet his apprehensions, and to assure him that things
+were going on well. Young Lord Lidhurst, who was really good-natured,
+and over whose mind Russell began to gain some ascendancy, used to stand
+upon the watch for Vivian's appearance, and would run up the back stairs
+to Russell's apartment, to give him notice of it, and to be the first
+to tell the news. Lady Sarah--the icy lady Sarah herself--began to
+thaw; and every day, in the same phrase, she condescended to say to
+Mr. Vivian, that she "hoped the poll was going on as well as could be
+expected." It was, of course, reported, that Vivian was to succeed the
+late representative of the county in all its honours. In eight days he
+was confidently given to Lady Sarah by the generous public; and the day
+of their nuptials was positively fixed. As the lady was, even by the
+account of her friends, two or three years older than Mr. Vivian,
+and four or five years older by her looks, and as she was peculiarly
+unsuited to his taste, he heard the report without the slightest
+apprehension for his own constancy to Selina. He laughed at the idea, as
+an excellent joke, when it was first mentioned to him by Russell. Lord
+Glistonbury's manners, however, and the cordial familiarity with which
+he treated Vivian, gave every day increasing credit to the report. "If
+he were his son, my lord could not be more anxious about Mr. Vivian,"
+said one of the plain-spoken freeholders, in the presence of the Lady
+Lidhursts.--Lady Sarah pursed up her mouth, and threw back her head; but
+Lady Julia, archly looking at her sister, smiled. The vivacity of Lady
+Julia's manner did not appear excessive during this election time, when
+all the world seemed mad; on the contrary, there was, in her utmost
+freedom and raillery, that air of good-breeding and politeness, in which
+vulgar mirth and liberty are always deficient. Vivian began to think
+that she was become less childish, and that there was something of
+a mixture of womanish timidity in her appearance, which rendered her
+infinitely more attractive. One evening, in particular, when her father
+having sent her for her morning's work, she returned with a basket full
+of _the Vivian cockade_, which she had made with her own delicate hands,
+Vivian thought she looked "very pretty:" her father desired her to give
+them to the person for whom they were intended, and she presented them
+to Mr. Russell, saying, "They are for your friend, sir."--Vivian thought
+she looked "very graceful."--Lady Mary Vivian suppressed half a sigh,
+and thought she kept the whole of her mind to herself. These happy days
+of canvassing, and this _freedom of election_, could not last for ever.
+After polling the county to the last freeholder, the contest was at
+length decided, and Vivian was declared duly elected. He was chaired,
+and he scattered money with a lavish hand, as he passed over the heads
+of the huzzaing populace; and he had all the honours of an election: the
+horses were taken from his carriage, and he was drawn by men, who were
+soon afterwards so much intoxicated, that they retained no vestige of
+rationality. Not only the inferior, but the superior rank of electors,
+as usual upon such occasions, thought proper to do honour to their
+choice, and to their powers of judgment, by drinking their member's
+health at the expense of their own, till they could neither see, hear,
+nor understand. Our hero was not by any means fond of drinking, but he
+could not refuse to do as others did; and Lord Glistonbury swore, that
+now he had found out that Vivian could be such a pleasant companion over
+a bottle, he should never listen to his excuses in future.
+
+A few days after this election, parliament met for the dispatch of
+business; and as some important question was to come on, all the members
+were summoned, by a peremptory call of the house. Vivian was obliged
+to go to town immediately, and compelled to defer his marriage. He
+regretted being thus hurried away from Selina; and with a thousand
+tender and passionate expressions, assured her, that the moment his
+attendance on public business could be spared, he should hasten to the
+country to claim his promised happiness. The castle would be finished
+by the time the session was over; the lawyers would also have completed
+their settlements; and Vivian said he should make every other necessary
+preparation whilst he was in town: therefore he urged Selina now to
+fix the time for their marriage, and to let it be the first week of the
+recess of parliament. But Miss Sidney, who had great delicacy of feeling
+and dignity of character, thought that Vivian had of late shown some
+symptoms of decreased affection, and that he had betrayed signs of
+unsteadiness of character. In the whole affair of the castle-building
+and of the election, he had evidently been led by others instead of
+following his own conviction:--she wisely dreaded that he might, in more
+important actions, yield his judgment to others; and then what security
+could she have for his principles? He might, perhaps, be led into all
+sorts of fashionable dissipation and vice. Besides these fears, she
+considered that Vivian was the possessor of a large fortune; that his
+mother had with difficulty consented to this match; that he was very
+young, had seen but little of the world, and might, perhaps, in future,
+repent of having made, thus early in life, a _love match_. She therefore
+absolutely refused to let him now bind himself to her by any fresh
+promises. She desired that he should consider himself as perfectly
+at liberty, and released from all engagement to her. It was evident,
+however, from the manner in which she spoke that she wished to restore
+her lover's liberty for his sake only; and that her own feelings,
+however they might be suppressed, were unchanged. Vivian was touched and
+charmed by her delicacy and generosity: in the fervour of his feelings
+he swore that his affections could never change; and he believed what he
+swore. Lady Mary Vivian was struck, also, with Miss Sidney's conduct
+at parting; and she acknowledged that it was impossible to show at once
+more tenderness and dignity. No one, however, not even Vivian, knew how
+much pain this separation gave Selina. Her good sense and prudence told
+her indeed, that it was best, both for her happiness and Vivian's, that
+he should see something more of the world, and that she should have some
+farther proof of the steadiness of his attachment, before she should
+unite herself with him irrevocably: but whilst she endeavoured to
+fortify her mind with these reflections, love inspired many painful
+fears; and, though she never repented having set him free from his
+promises and engagements, she trembled for the consequences of his being
+thus at liberty, in such scenes of temptation as a London life would
+present.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+When our hero arrived in London, and when he was first introduced into
+fashionable society, his thoughts were so intent upon Selina Sidney,
+that he was in no danger of plunging into dissipation. He was surprised
+at the eagerness with which some young men pursued frivolous pleasures:
+he was still more astonished at seeing the apathy in which others of his
+own age were sunk, and the listless insignificance in which they lounged
+away their lives.
+
+The call of the house, which brought Vivian to town, brought Lord
+Glistonbury also to attend his duty in the house of peers: with his
+lordship's family came Mr. Russell, whom Vivian went to see, as soon and
+as often as he could. Russell heard, with satisfaction, the indignant
+eloquence with which his friend spoke; and only wished that these
+sentiments might last, and that fashion might never lead him to imitate
+or to tolerate fools, whom he now despised.
+
+"In the mean time, tell me how you go on yourself," said Vivian; "how
+do you like your situation here, and your pupil, and all the Glistonbury
+family? Let me behind the scenes at once; for, you know, I see them only
+on the stage."
+
+Russell replied, in general terms, that he had hopes Lord Lidhurst would
+turn out well, and that therefore he was satisfied with his situation;
+but avoided entering into particulars, because he was a confidential
+person in the family. He thought that a preceptor and a physician
+were, in some respects, bound, by a similar species of honour, to speak
+cautiously of the maladies of their patients, or the faults of their
+pupils. Admitted into the secrets of families, they should never make
+use of the confidence reposed in them, to the disadvantage of any by
+whom they are trusted. Russell's strictly honourable reserve upon this
+occasion was rather provoking to Vivian, who, to all his questions,
+could obtain only the dry answer of--"Judge for yourself."--The nature
+of a town life, and the sort of intercourse which capital cities afford,
+put this very little in Vivian's power. The obligations he was under to
+Lord Glistonbury for assistance at the election made him anxious to show
+his lordship respect and attention; and the sort of intimacy which that
+election had brought on was, to a certain degree, kept up in town. Lady
+Mary Vivian was constantly one at Lady Glistonbury's card parties;
+and Vivian was frequently at his lordship's dinners. Considering
+the coldness and formality of Lady Glistonbury's manners, she was
+particularly attentive to Lady Mary Vivian; and our hero was continually
+an attendant upon the ladies of the Glistonbury family to all public
+places. This was by no means disagreeable to him, as they were persons
+of _high consideration_; and they were sure of drawing into their circle
+the very best company. Lady Mary Vivian observed that it was a great
+advantage to her son to have such a house as Lord Glistonbury's open to
+him, to go to whenever he pleased. Besides the advantage to his morals,
+her ladyship was by no means insensible to the gratification her pride
+received from her son's living in such high company. The report which
+had been raised in the country during the election, that Mr. Vivian was
+going to be married to Lady Sarah Lidhurst, now began to circulate
+in town. This was not surprising, since a young man in London, of any
+fortune or notoriety, can hardly dance three or four times successively
+with the same young lady, cannot even sit beside her, and converse with
+her in public half a dozen times, without its being reported that he
+is going to be married to her. Of this, Vivian, during his noviciate in
+town, was not perhaps sufficiently aware: he was soon surprised at being
+asked, by almost every one he met, when his marriage with Lady Sarah
+Lidhurst was to take place. At first he contented himself with laughing
+at these questions, and declaring that there was no truth in the report:
+but his asseverations were not to be believed; they were attributed to
+motives of discretion: he was told by his companions, that he kept his
+own counsel very well; but they all knew _the thing was to be_: he was
+congratulated upon his good fortune in making such an excellent match;
+for though, as they said, he would have but little money with Lady
+Sarah, yet the connexion was so great, that he was the luckiest fellow
+upon earth. The degree of importance which the report gave him among
+the young men of his acquaintance, and the envy he excited, amused
+and gratified his vanity. The sort of conversation he was now in the
+constant habit of hearing, both from young and old, in all companies,
+about the marriages of people in the fashionable world, where fortune,
+and rank, and _connexion_, were always the first things spoken of or
+considered, began insensibly to influence Vivian's mode of speaking, if
+not of judging. Before he mixed in this society, he knew perfectly
+well that these were the principles by which _people of the world_ are
+guided; but whilst he had believed this only on hearsay, it had not
+appeared to him so entirely true and so important as when he saw and
+heard it himself. The effect of the opinions of a set of fine people,
+now he was actually in their society, and whilst all other society
+was excluded from his perception, was very different from what he had
+imagined it might be, when he was in the country or at college. To do
+our hero justice, however, he was sensible of this _aberration_ in his
+own mind, he had sense enough to perceive from what causes it arose, and
+steadiness sufficient to adhere to the judgements he had previously and
+deliberately formed. He did not in material points change his opinion of
+his mistress; he thought her far, far superior to all he saw and heard
+amongst the belles who were most admired in the fashionable world; but,
+at the same time, he began to agree with his mother's former wish, that
+Selina, added to all other merits, had the advantage of high birth
+and connexions, or at least, of belonging to a certain class of high
+company. He determined that, as soon as she should be his wife, he would
+have her introduced to the very _first society_ in town: he pleased
+his imagination with anticipating the change that would be made in
+her appearance, by the addition of certain elegancies of the mode:
+he delighted in thinking of the sensation she would produce, and the
+respect that would be paid to her as Mrs. Vivian, surrounded as he would
+take care that she should be, with all those external signs of wealth
+and fashion, which command immediate and universal homage from the great
+and little world.
+
+One day, when Vivian was absorbed in these pleasing reveries, Russell
+startled him with this question: "When are you to be married to Lady
+Sarah Lidhurst?"
+
+"From you such a question!" said Vivian.
+
+"Why not from me? It is a question that every body asks of me, because
+I am your intimate friend; and I should really be obliged to you, if
+you would furnish me with an answer, that may give me an air of a little
+more consequence than that which I have at present, being forced to
+answer, 'I don't know.'"
+
+"You don't know! but why do not you answer, 'Never!' as I do," said
+Vivian, "to all the fools who ask me the same question?"
+
+"Because they say that is your answer, and only _a come off_."
+
+"I can't help it--Is it my fault if they won't believe the truth?"
+
+"Why, people are apt to trust to appearances in these cases; and if
+appearances are contrary to your assertions, you should not wonder that
+you are not believed."
+
+"Well, time will show them their mistake!" said Vivian.--"But I don't
+know what appearances you mean.--What appearances are against me?--I
+never in my life saw a woman I was less disposed to like--whom it would
+be more impossible for me to love--than Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and I am
+sure I never gave her, or any of her family, the least reason to imagine
+I had a thought of her."
+
+"Very likely; yet you are at Lord Glistonbury's continually, and you
+attend her ladyship to all public places. Is this the way, do you think,
+to put a stop to the report that has been raised?"
+
+"I care not whether it stops or goes on," said Vivian.--"How!--Don't I
+know it is false?--That's enough for me."
+
+"It may embarrass you yet," said Russell.
+
+"Good Heavens!--Can you, who know me so well, Russell, fancy me so weak
+as to be embarrassed by such a report? Look--I would rather put this
+hand into that fire and let it be burned off, than offer it to Lady
+Sarah Lidhurst."
+
+"Very likely.--I don't doubt you think so," said Russell.
+
+"And I would do so," said Vivian.
+
+"Possibly.--Yet you might be embarrassed nevertheless, if you found that
+you had raised expectations which you could not fulfil; and if you found
+yourself accused of having jilted this lady, if all her friends were to
+say you had used her very ill.--I know your nature, Vivian; these things
+would disquiet you very much: and is it not better to prevent them?"
+
+"But neither Lady Sarah nor her friends blame me: I see no signs in the
+family of any of the thoughts or feelings you suppose."
+
+"Ladies--especially young and fashionable ladies--do not always show
+their thoughts or feelings," said Russell.
+
+"Lady Sarah Lidhurst has no thoughts or feelings," said Vivian, "any
+more than an automaton. I'll answer for her--I am sure I can do her the
+justice to proclaim, that she has always, from the first moment I
+saw her till this instant, conducted herself towards me with the same
+petrified and petrifying propriety."
+
+"I do not know what _petrified propriety_ exactly means," said Russell:
+"but let it mean what it may, it is nothing to the present purpose;
+for the question is not about the propriety of Lady Sarah Lidhurst's
+conduct, but of yours. Now, allowing you to call her ladyship a
+petrifaction, or an automaton, or by whatever other name you please,
+still, I apprehend, that she is in reality a human creature, and a
+woman; and I conceive it is the duty of a man of honour or honesty not
+to deceive her."
+
+"I would not deceive her, or any woman living, upon any account," said
+Vivian. "But how is it possible I can deceive her, when I tell you I
+never said a word about love or gallantry, or any thing like it, to her
+in my life?"
+
+"But you know language is conventional, especially in gallantry," said
+Russell.
+
+"True; but I'll swear the language of my looks has been unequivocal, if
+that is what you mean."
+
+"Not exactly: there are certain signs by which the world JUDGES in these
+cases--if a gentleman is seen often with the same lady in public."
+
+"Absurd, troublesome, ridiculous signs, which would put a stop to all
+society; which would prevent a man from conversing with a woman,
+either in public or private; and must absolutely preclude one sex from
+obtaining any real knowledge of the characters and dispositions of the
+other."
+
+"I admit all you say--I feel the truth of it--I wish this were changed
+in society; it is a great inconvenience, a real evil," said Russell:
+"but an individual cannot alter a custom; and, as you have not, by
+your own account, any particular interest in becoming more intimately
+acquainted with the character and disposition of Lady Sarah Lidhurst,
+you will do well not to expose yourself to any inconvenience on her
+account, by neglecting common received forms and opinions."
+
+"Well! well!--say no more about it," said Vivian, impatiently; "spare me
+all farther logic and morality upon this subject, and I'll do what you
+please--only tell me what you would have me do."
+
+"Gradually withdraw yourself for some time from this house, and the
+report will die away of itself."
+
+"Withdraw myself!--that would be very hard upon me!" cried Vivian; "for
+this house is the most agreeable house in town to me;--because you live
+in it, in the first place; and then, though the women are as stiff as
+pokers, one is always sure of meeting all the pleasant and clever men
+at Glistonbury's good dinner. Let me tell you, good dinners, and good
+company, and good conversation, and good music, make altogether a very
+pleasant house, which I should be confoundedly sorry to be forced to
+give up."
+
+"I don't doubt it," said Russell; "but we must often give up more even
+than this for the sake of acting with consistency and honour; we must
+sacrifice the less to the greater good; and it is on these occasions
+that people show strength or weakness of mind."
+
+Vivian felt the justice of his friend's observations--resolved to follow
+his advice--and to withdraw himself gradually from the Glistonbury
+circle. He had not, however, steadiness enough to persist in this
+resolution; one engagement linked on another; and he would soon,
+probably, have relapsed into his habit of being continually of their
+parties, if accident had not for a time suspended this intimacy, by
+leading him into another, which seemed to him still more attractive.
+
+Among the men of talents and political consequence whom he met at Lord
+Glistonbury's was Mr. Wharton, whose conversation particularly pleased
+Vivian, and who now courted his acquaintance with an eagerness which was
+peculiarly flattering. Vivian knew him only as a man of great abilities;
+with his real character he was not acquainted. Wharton had prepossessing
+manners, and wit sufficient whenever he pleased to make the worse appear
+the better reason. In private or in public debate he had at his command,
+and could condescend to employ, all sorts of arms, and every possible
+mode of annoyance, from the most powerful artillery of logic to the
+lowest squib of humour. He was as little nice in the company he kept as
+in the style of his conversation. Frequently associating with fools,
+and willing even to be thought one, he made alternately his sport
+and advantage of the weakness and follies of mankind. Wharton was
+philosophically, politically, and fashionably profligate. After
+having ruined his private fortune by unbounded extravagance, he lived
+on--nobody knew how--in careless profusion. In public life he made a
+distinguished figure; and seemed, therefore, to think himself raised
+above the necessity of practising any of the minor virtues of economy,
+prudence, or justice, which common people find essential to their
+well-being in society. Far from attempting to conceal, he gloried in
+his faults; for he knew full well, that as long as he had the voice of
+numbers with him, he could bully, or laugh, or shame plain reason and
+rigid principle out of countenance. It was his grand art to represent
+good sense as stupidity, and virtue as hypocrisy. Hypocrisy was, in his
+opinion, the only vice which merited the brand of infamy; and from this
+he took sufficient care to prove, or at least to proclaim, himself free.
+Even whilst he offended against the decencies of life, there seemed
+to be something frank and graceful in his manner of throwing aside all
+disguise. There appeared an air of superior liberality in his avowing
+himself to be governed by that absolute selfishness, which other men
+strive to conceal even from their own hearts. He dexterously led his
+acquaintance to infer that he would prove as much better than his
+professions, as other people are often found to be worse than theirs.
+Where he wished to please, it was scarcely possible to escape the
+fascination of his manner; nor did he neglect any mode of courting
+popularity. He knew that a good table is necessary to attract even men
+of wit; and he made it a point to have the very best cook, and the very
+best wines. He paid his cook, and his cook was the only person he did
+pay, in ready money. His wine-merchant he paid in words--an art in which
+he was a professed and yet a successful adept, as hundreds of living
+witnesses were ready to attest. But though Wharton could cajole, he
+could not attach his fellow-creatures--he had a party, but no friend.
+With this distribution of things he was perfectly satisfied; for he
+considered men only as beings who were to be worked to his purposes; and
+he declared that, provided he had power over their interests and their
+humours, he cared not what became of their hearts. It was his policy
+to enlist young men of talents or fortune under his banners; and
+consequently Vivian was an object worthy of his attention. Such was
+the disorder of Wharton's affairs, that either ready money or political
+power was necessary to his existence. Our hero could, at the same time,
+supply his extravagance and increase his consequence. Wharton thought
+that he could borrow money from Vivian, and that he might command his
+vote in parliament; but, to the accomplishment of these schemes, there
+were two obstacles--Vivian was attached to an amiable woman, and was
+possessed of an estimable friend. Wharton had become acquainted with
+Russell at Lord Glistonbury's; and, in many arguments which they had
+held on public affairs, had discovered that Russell was not a man who
+ever preferred the expedient to the right, nor one who could be bullied
+or laughed out of his principles. He saw also that Russell's influence
+over Vivian was so great, that it supplied him with that strength of
+mind in which Vivian was naturally deficient; and, if our hero should
+marry such a woman as Miss Sidney, Wharton foresaw that he should have
+no chance of succeeding in his designs; therefore his first objects
+were, to detach Vivian from his friend Russell and from Selina. One
+morning he called upon Vivian with a party of his friends, and found him
+writing.
+
+"Poetry!" cried Wharton, carelessly looking at what he had, been
+writing, "poetry, I protest!--Ay, I know this poor fellow's in love;
+and every man who is in love is a poet, 'with a woeful ditty to his
+mistress's eyebrow.' Pray what colour may Miss Sidney's eyebrows
+be?--she is really a pretty girl--I think I remember seeing her at some
+races.--Why does she never come to town?--But of course she is not to
+blame for that, but her fortune I suppose.--Marrying a girl without a
+fortune is a serious thing in these expensive days; but you have fortune
+enough for both yourself and your wife, so you may do as you please.
+Well, I thank God, I have no fortune! If I had been a young man of
+fortune I should have been the most unhappy rascal upon earth, for I
+should have always suspected that every woman liked me for my wealth--I
+should have had no pleasure in the smiles of an angel--angels, or their
+mothers, are so venal now-a-days, and so fond of the pomps and vanities
+of this wicked world!"
+
+"I hope," said Vivian, laughing, "you don't include the whole sex in
+your satire."
+
+"No--there are exceptions--and every man has his angel of an exception,
+as every woman has her star:--it is well for weak women when these stars
+of theirs don't lead them astray; and well for weak men when these
+angel exceptions before marriage don't turn out very women or devils
+afterwards. But why do I say all this? because I am a suspicious
+scoundrel--I know and can't help it. If other fellows of my standing in
+this wicked world would but speak the truth, however, they would show
+as much suspicion and more than I do. Bad as I am, and such as I am,
+you see, and have the whole of me--nobody can say Wharton's a hypocrite;
+that's some comfort. But, seriously, Vivian, I don't mean to laugh at
+love and angels--I can just remember the time when I felt all your
+sort of romance--but that is in the preterpluperfect tense with
+me--completely past--ambition is no bad cure for love. My head is, at
+this present moment, so full of this new bill that we are bringing into
+parliament, that Cupid might empty his quiver upon me in vain.--Look!
+here is an impenetrable shield!" added he, wrapping round him a thick
+printed copy of an act of parliament. "Come, Vivian, you must come along
+with us to the house,
+
+     'And, mix'd with men, a man you must appear.'"
+
+Vivian felt much ashamed of having been detected in writing a sonnet,
+especially as it afforded Wharton such a fine subject for raillery.
+He accompanied the party to the House of Commons, where Wharton made a
+brilliant speech. It gained universal applause. Vivian sympathized in
+the general enthusiasm of admiration for Wharton's talents, accepted
+an invitation to sup with him, and was charmed by his convivial powers.
+From this day, he grew every hour more intimate with Wharton.
+
+"I can enjoy," thought Vivian, "the pleasure of his society without
+being influenced by his libertine example."
+
+Lady Mary Vivian saw the rise and progress of this intimacy, and was
+not insensible to its danger; yet she was gratified by seeing her son
+distinguished by a man of Wharton's political consequence; and she
+satisfied her conscience by saying, "He will bring my son forward in
+public life; and, as to the rest, Charles has too good principles ever
+to follow his example in private life."
+
+Wharton had too much address to alarm Vivian's moral prejudices on
+a first acquaintance. He contented himself with ridiculing only the
+exaggeration of any of the virtues, still affecting to believe in
+virtue, and to love it, wherever it could be found genuine. By the
+success of his first petty attacks, he learned the power that ridicule
+had over our hero's mind; and he did not fail to make use of it
+continually. After having, as he perceived, succeeded in making Vivian
+ashamed of his sonnet to Selina, and of appearing as a romantic lover,
+he doubted not but in time he should make _true_ love itself ridiculous;
+and Wharton thought it was now the moment to hazard another stroke, and
+to commence his attack against friendship.
+
+"Vivian, my good fellow! why do you let yourself be ruled by that modern
+stoic in the form of Lord Lidhurst's tutor? I never saw any of these
+cold moralists who were real, warm-hearted, good friends. I have a
+notion I see more of Russell's play in the house where he has got than
+he thinks I do; and I can form a shrewd guess why he was so zealous in
+warning you of the report about Lady Sarah Lidhurst--he had his own
+snug reasons for wanting you away--Oh, trust me for scenting out
+self-interest, through all the doublings and windings of your cunning
+moralist!"
+
+Reddening with indignation at this attack upon his friend, Vivian warmly
+replied, that Mr. Wharton ought to restrain his wit where the feelings
+of friendship and the character of a man of honour were concerned; that
+he did not, in the least, comprehend his insinuations with regard to
+Russell; but that, for his own part, he had such firm reliance upon
+his friend's attachment and integrity, that he was at any time ready to
+pledge his own honour for Russell's, and to answer for it with his life.
+
+"Spare your heroics, my dear Vivian!" cried Wharton, laughing; "for we
+are not in the days of Pylades and Orestes;--yet, upon my soul, instead
+of being as angry with you as you are with me, at this instant I like
+you a thousand times the better for your enthusiastic credulity. For
+my part, I have, ever since I lived in the world and put away childish
+things, regretted that charming instinct of credulity, which experience
+so fatally counteracts. I envy you, my dear boy!--as to the rest, you
+know Russell's merits better than I do: I'll take him henceforward upon
+trust from you."
+
+"Thus Wharton, finding that he was upon dangerous ground, made a timely
+retreat: the playful manner and open countenance with which he now
+spoke, and the quick transition that he made to other subjects of
+conversation, prevented Vivian from suspecting that any settled design
+had been formed to detach him from Russell. From this time forward,
+Wharton forbore raillery on love and friendship; and, far from seeming
+desirous of interfering in Vivian's private concerns, appeared quite
+absorbed in politics. Avowing, as he did, that he was guided solely by
+his interest in public life, he laughed at Vivian for professing more
+generous principles.
+
+"I know," cried Wharton, "how to make use of a fine word, and to round a
+fine sentence, as well as the best of you; but what a simpleton he must
+be who is cheated by his own sophistry!--An artist, an enthusiastic
+artist, who is generally half a madman, might fall in love with a statue
+of his own making; but you never heard of a coiner, did you, who was
+cheated by his own bad shilling? Patriotism and loyalty are counterfeit
+coin; I can't be taken in by them at my time of day."
+
+Vivian could not forbear to smile at the drollery and wit with which
+this profligate defended his want of integrity; yet he sometimes
+seriously and warmly asserted his own principles. Upon these occasions,
+Wharton either overpowered him by a fine flow of words, or else
+listened with the most flattering air of admiration, and silenced him by
+compliments to his eloquence. Vivian thought that he was quite secure of
+his own firmness; but the contagion of bad example sometimes affects
+the mind imperceptibly; as certain noxious atmospheres steal upon the
+senses, and excite the most agreeable sensations, while they secretly
+destroy the principles of health and life. A day was fixed when a
+question of importance was to come on in the House of Commons. Wharton
+was extremely anxious to have Vivian's vote. Vivian, according to the
+parliamentary phrase, _had not made up his mind_ on the subject. A heap
+of pamphlets on the question lay uncut upon his table. Every morning
+he resolved to read them, that he might form his judgment, and vote
+according to his unbiassed opinion; but every morning he was interrupted
+by some of the fashionable idlers whom his facility of temper had
+indulged in the habit of haunting him daily. "Oh, Vivian! we are going
+to such and such a place, and you _must_ come with us!" was a mode of
+persuasion which he could not resist.
+
+"If I don't do as they do," thought he, "I shall be quite unfashionable.
+Russell may say what he pleases, but it is necessary to yield to one's
+companions in trifles.
+
+     'Whoever would be pleased and please,
+     Must do what others do with ease.'"
+
+This couplet, which had been repeated to him by Wharton, recurred to him
+continually; and thus Wharton, by slight means, in which he seemed to
+have no interest or design, prepared Vivian for his purposes, by working
+gradually on the easiness of his disposition. He always argued, that it
+could not possibly signify what he did with an hour or two of his day,
+till at last Vivian found that he had no hours of his own, that his
+whole time was at the disposal of others; and now that he really wanted
+leisure to consider an important question,--when his credit, as a member
+of the senate, and as a man just entering political life, depended on
+this decision,--he literally could not command time to read over the
+necessary documents. So the appointed day arrived before Vivian's
+opinion was formed; and, from mere want of time to decide for himself,
+he voted as Wharton desired. Another and another political question came
+on; the same causes operated, and the same consequences ensued. Wharton
+managed with great address, so as to prevent him from feeling that he
+gave up his freewill. Before Vivian was aware of it, whilst he thought
+that he was perfectly independent of all parties, public opinion had
+enrolled him amongst Wharton's partisans. Of this Russell was the first
+to give him warning. Russell heard of it amongst the political leaders
+who met at Lord Glistonbury's dinners; and, knowing the danger there is
+of a young man's _committing_ himself on certain points, he, with the
+eagerness of a true friend, wrote immediately to put Vivian upon his
+guard:--
+
+"My Dear Vivian,
+
+"I am just going into the country with Lord Lidhurst, and perhaps may
+not return for some time. I cannot leave you without putting you on your
+guard, once more, against Mr. Wharton. I understand that you are thought
+to be one of his party, and that he countenances the report. Take care
+that you are not bound hand and foot, before you know where you are.
+
+"Your sincere friend,
+
+"H. Russell."
+
+With the natural frankness of his disposition, Vivian immediately spoke
+to Wharton upon the subject.
+
+"What! people say that you are one of my party, do they?" said Wharton:
+"I never heard this before, but I am heartily glad to hear it. You are
+in for it now, Vivian: you are one of us; and with us you must stand or
+fall."
+
+"Excuse me there!" cried Vivian; "I am not of any party; and am
+determined to keep myself independent."
+
+"Do you remember the honest Quaker's answer to the man of no party?"
+said Wharton.
+
+"No."
+
+"I think it was about the year '40, when party disputes about Whig
+and Tory ran high--but no matter what year, it will do for any time. A
+gentleman of undeviating integrity, an independent man, just such a man
+as Mr. Vivian, offered himself candidate for a town in the east, west,
+north, or south of England--no matter where, it will do for any place;
+and the first person whose vote he solicited was a Quaker, who asked him
+whether he was a Whig or Tory?--'Neither. I am an independent, moderate
+man; and when the members of administration are right, I will vote with
+them--when wrong, against them.' 'And be these really thy principles?'
+quoth the Quaker; 'then a vote of mine thou shalt never have. Thou seest
+my door, it leadeth into the street; the right hand side of which is for
+the Tory, the left for the Whigs; and for a cold-blooded moderate man,
+like thee, there is the kennel, and into it thou wilt be jostled, for
+thou beest not _decided_ enough for any other situation.'"
+
+"But why should the moderate man be condemned to the kennel?" said
+Vivian. "Was there no middle to your Quaker's road? A stout man cannot
+be EASILY jostled into the kennel."
+
+"Pshaw! pshaw!" said Wharton: "jesting out of the question, a man is
+nothing in public life, or worse than nothing, a _trimmer_, unless HE
+JOINS a party, and unless he abides by it, too."
+
+"As long as the party is in the right, I presume, you mean," said
+Vivian.
+
+"Right or wrong'" cried Wharton, "a man must abide by his party. No
+power, and no popularity, trust me, without it!--Better stride on the
+greasy heads of the mob than be trampled under their dirtier feet. An
+armed neutrality may be a good thing, but an unarmed neutrality is fit
+only for fools. Besides, in Russell's grand style, I can bring down the
+ancients upon you, and tell you that when the commonwealth is in danger
+he cannot be a good man who sides with neither party."
+
+"If it be so necessary to join a party, and if, after once joining it, I
+must abide by it, right or wrong, for life," said Vivian, "it behoves
+me to consider well, before I commit myself; and, before I go into the
+ranks, I must see good reason to confide, not only in the abilities, but
+in the integrity and public virtue of my leader."
+
+"Public virtue! sounds fresh from college," said Wharton; "I would as
+soon, and sooner, hear a schoolboy read his theme as hear a man begin to
+prose about public virtue--especially a member of parliament. Keep that
+phrase, my dear Vivian, till some of the treasury bench come to court
+you; then look superb, like a French tragic actor, swelling out your
+chest, and throwing the head over the left shoulder--thus--exclaim,
+'Public virtue forbid!'--practise! practise!--for if you do it well, it
+may be worth a loud huzza to you yet; or better still, a snug place or
+pension. But stay till you're asked--stay till you're asked--that's the
+etiquette; never till then let me hear public virtue come out of your
+lips, else you'll raise suspicion of your virtue, and lower your price.
+What would you think of a pretty actress who began to talk to you of
+her reputation before you put it in any danger? Oh, Vivian! my honest
+fellow! unless you would make me think you no better than thousands that
+have gone before you, never let me hear from your lips again, till the
+_proper_ time, the hypocritical state phrase--public virtue."
+
+"I had always, till now, understood that it was possible to be a patriot
+without being a hypocrite," replied Vivian; "I always understood that
+Mr. Wharton was a patriot."
+
+"A very fair sarcasm on me," said Wharton, laughing. "But you know, I'm
+a sad dog; never set myself up for a pattern man.--Come! let's home to
+dinner, and a truce with politics and morality. I find, Vivian, you're a
+sturdy fellow, and must have your own way; no bending, no leading you,
+I see. Well! it is a good thing to have so much strength of mind: I envy
+you."
+
+It must be recorded to the credit of our hero, that in defiance of
+Wharton's raillery, he talked, and--oh! still more wonderful!--thought
+of public virtue, during nearly half of his first session in parliament.
+But, alas! whilst his political principles thus withstood the force of
+ridicule, temptation soon presented itself to Vivian in a new shape,
+and in a form so seducing, as to draw his attention totally away from
+politics, and to put his private, if not his public, honour, in the most
+imminent peril.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+
+One morning, as Vivian was walking with Mr. Wharton up Bond-street, they
+were met by a party of fashionable loungers, one of whom asked whether
+Mrs. Wharton was not come to town yet.
+
+"Mrs. Wharton!" said Vivian, with an air of surprise.
+
+"Yes, she came to town this morning," said Wharton, carelessly; then
+laughing, as he turned to look at Vivian, "Vivian, my good fellow! what
+smites you with such surprise? Did not you know I was married?"
+
+"I suppose I must have heard it; but I really forgot it," said Vivian.
+
+"There you had the advantage of me," said Wharton, still laughing. "But
+if you never heard of Mrs. Wharton before, keep your own secret; for
+I can tell you she would never forgive you, though I might. Put a good
+face on the matter, at any rate; and swear you've heard so much of
+her, that you were dying to see her. Some of these gentlemen, who have
+nothing else to do, will introduce you whenever you please."
+
+"And cannot I," said Vivian, "have the honour of your introduction?"
+
+"Mine! the worst you could possibly have. The honour, as you are pleased
+to call it, would be no favour, I assure you. The honour!--honour of a
+husband's introduction! What a novice you are, or would make me believe
+you to be! But, seriously, I am engaged to-day at Glistonbury's: so,
+good morning to you."
+
+Accustomed to hear Wharton talk in the freest manner of women and
+marriage in general, and scarcely having heard him mention his own wife,
+Vivian had, as he said, absolutely forgotten that Wharton was a married
+man. When he was introduced to Mrs. Wharton, he was still more surprised
+at her husband's indifference; for he beheld a lady in all the radiance
+of beauty, and all the elegance of fashion: he was so much dazzled by
+her charms, that he had not immediately power or inclination to examine
+what her understanding or disposition might be; and he could only repeat
+to himself, "How is it possible that Wharton can be indifferent to such
+a beautiful creature!"
+
+Incapable of feeling any of what he, called the romance of love, the
+passion, of course, had always been with Mr. Wharton of a very transient
+nature. Tired of his wife's person, he showed his indifference without
+scruple or ceremony. Notorious and glorying in his gallantries, he
+was often heard to declare, that no price was too high to be paid for
+beauty, except a man's liberty; but that was a sacrifice which he
+would never make to any woman, especially to a wife. Marriage vows
+and custom-house oaths he classed in the same order of technical
+forms,--nowise binding on the conscience of any but fools and dupes.
+Whilst the husband went on in this manner, the wife satisfied herself by
+indulgence in her strongest passions--the passion for dress and public
+admiration. Childishly eager to set the fashion in trifles, she spent
+unconscionable sums on her pretty person; and devoted all her days, or
+rather all her nights, to public amusements. So insatiable and restless
+is the passion for admiration, that she was never happy for half an hour
+together, at any place of public amusement, unless she fixed the gaze
+of numbers. The first winter after her marriage she enjoyed the
+prerogatives of a fashionable beauty; but the reign of fashion is more
+transient even than the bloom of beauty. Mrs. Wharton's beauty soon grew
+familiar, and faded in the public eye; some newer face was this season
+the mode. Mrs. Wharton appeared twice at the opera in the most elegant
+and becoming dresses; but no one followed her lead. Mortified and
+utterly dejected, she felt, with the keenest anguish, the first symptoms
+of the decline of public admiration. It was just at this period, when
+she was miserably in want of the consolations of flattery, that Vivian's
+acquaintance with her commenced. Gratified by the sort of delighted
+surprise which she saw in his countenance the first moment he beheld
+her, seeing that he was an agreeable man, and knowing that he was a man
+of fortune and family, she took pains to please him by all the common
+arts of coquetry. But his vanity was proof against these: the weakness
+of the lady's understanding and the frivolity of her character were, for
+some weeks, sufficient antidotes against all the power of her personal
+charms; so much so, that at this period he often compared, or rather
+contrasted, Mrs. Wharton and Selina, and blessed his happy fate.
+He wrote to his friend Russell soon after he was introduced to this
+celebrated beauty, and drew a strong and just parallel between
+the characters of these two ladies: he concluded with saying,
+"Notwithstanding your well-founded dread of the volatility of my
+character, you will not, I hope, my dear Russell, do me the injustice to
+apprehend that I am in any danger from the charms of Mrs. Wharton."
+
+Vivian wrote with perfect sincerity; he believed it to be impossible
+that he could ever become attached to such a woman as Mrs. Wharton, even
+if she had not been married, and the wife of his friend. So, in all the
+security of conscious contempt, he went every day to wait upon her, or
+rather to meet agreeable company at her house,--a house in which
+all that was fashionable and dissipated assembled; where beauty,
+and talents, and rank, met and mingled; and where political or other
+arrangements prevented the host and hostess from scrupulously excluding
+some whose characters were not free from suspicion. Lady Mary Vivian
+never went to Mrs. Wharton's; but she acknowledged that she knew many
+ladies of unblemished reputation who thought it no impropriety to
+visit there; and Mrs. Wharton's own character she knew was hitherto
+unimpeached. "She is, indeed, a woman of a cold, selfish temper," said
+Lady Mary; "not likely to be led into danger by the tender passion, or
+by any of the delusions of the imagination."
+
+Vivian agreed with his mother in this opinion, and went on paying
+his devoirs to her every day. It was the fashion of the times, and
+peculiarly the mode of this house, for the gentlemen to pay exclusive
+attention to matrons. Few of the young men seemed to think it worth
+while to speak to an unmarried woman in any company; and the few who
+might be inclined to it were, as they declared, deterred by the danger:
+for either the young ladies themselves, or their mothers, immediately
+formed expectations and schemes of drawing them into matrimony--the
+grand object of the ladies' wishes and of the gentlemen's fears. The men
+said they could not speak to an unmarried woman, or even dance with her
+more than twice, without its being reported that they were going to
+be married; and then the friends and relatives of the young ladies
+pretended to think them injured and ill-treated, if these reports were
+not realized. Our hero had some slight experience of the truth of these
+complaints in his own case with the Lady Sarah Lidhurst: he willingly
+took the rest upon trust--believed all the exaggerations of his
+companions--and began to think it prudent and necessary to follow
+their example, and to confine his attentions to married women. Many
+irresistible reasons concurred to make Mrs. Wharton the most convenient
+and proper person to whom he could pay this sort of homage: besides,
+she seemed to fall to his share by lot and necessity; for, at Wharton's
+house, every other lady and every other gentleman being engaged in
+gallantry, play, or politics, Mrs. Wharton must have been utterly
+neglected if Vivian had not paid her some attention. Common politeness
+absolutely required it; the attention became a matter of course, and
+was habitually expected. Still he had not the slightest design of going
+beyond the line of modern politeness; but, in certain circumstances,
+people go wrong a great way before they are aware that they have gone
+a single step. It was presently repeated to Mr. Vivian, by some of Mrs.
+Wharton's confidantes, in whispers, and under the solemn promise of
+secrecy, that he certainly was a prodigious favourite of hers. He
+laughed, and affected to disbelieve the insinuation: it made its
+impression, however; and he was secretly flattered by the idea of being
+a prodigious favourite with such a beautiful young creature. In some
+moments he saw her with eyes of compassion, pitying her for the neglect
+with which she was treated by her husband: he began to attribute much
+of her apparent frivolity, and many of her faults, more to the want of
+a guide and a friend than to a deficiency of understanding or to defects
+of character. Mrs. Wharton had just sufficient sense to be cunning--this
+implies but a very small portion: she perceived the advantage which she
+gained by thus working upon Vivian's vanity and upon his compassion. She
+continued her operations, without being violently interested in their
+success; for she had at first only a general wish to attract his
+attention, because he was a fashionable young man.
+
+One morning when he called upon Wharton to accompany him to the House of
+Commons, he found Mrs. Wharton in tears, her husband walking up and down
+the room in evident ill-humour. He stopped speaking when Vivian entered;
+and Mrs. Wharton endeavoured, or seemed to endeavour, to conceal her
+emotion. She began to play on her harp; and Wharton, addressing himself
+to Vivian, talked of the politics of the day. There was some incoherence
+in the conversation; for Vivian's attention was distracted by the air
+that Mrs. Wharton was playing, of which he was passionately fond.
+
+"There's no possibility of doing any thing while there is such a cursed
+noise in the room!" cried Wharton. "Here I have the heads of this bill
+to draw up--I cannot endure to have music wherever I go--"
+
+He snatched up his papers and retired to an adjoining apartment, begging
+that Vivian would wait one quarter of an hour for him.--Mrs. Wharton's
+tears flowed afresh, and she looked beautiful in tears.
+
+"You see--you see, Mr. Vivian--and I am ashamed you should see--how I am
+treated.--I am, indeed, the most unfortunate creature upon the face of
+the earth; and nobody in this world has the least compassion for me!"
+
+Vivian's countenance contradicted this last assertion most
+positively.--Mrs. Wharton understood this; and her attitude of
+despondency was the most graceful imaginable.
+
+"My dear Mrs. Wharton"--(it was the first time our hero had ever called
+her "his dear Mrs. Wharton;" but it was only a platonic dear)--"you take
+trifles much too seriously--Wharton was hurried by business--a moment's
+impatience must be forgiven."
+
+"A moment!" replied Mrs. Wharton, casting up to heaven her beautiful
+eyes--"Oh! Mr. Vivian, how little do you know of him!--I am the most
+miserable creature that ever existed; but there is not a man upon earth
+to whom I would say so except yourself."
+
+Vivian could not help feeling some gratitude for this distinction; and,
+as he leaned over her harp with an air of unusual interest, he said
+he hoped that he should ever prove himself worthy of her esteem and
+confidence.
+
+At this instant Wharton interrupted the conversation, by passing hastily
+through the room.--"Come, Vivian," said he; "we shall be very late at
+the house."
+
+"We shall see you again of course at dinner," said Mrs. Wharton to
+Vivian in a low voice. Our hero replied by an assenting bow.
+
+Five minutes afterwards he repented that he had accepted the invitation,
+because he foresaw that he should resume a conversation which was at
+once interesting and embarrassing. He felt that it was not right to
+become the depository of this lady's complaints against her husband; yet
+he had been moved by her tears, and the idea that he was _the only man
+in the world_ to whom she would open her heart upon such a delicate
+subject, interested him irresistibly in her favour. He returned in
+the evening, and was flattered by observing, that amongst the crowd of
+company by which she was surrounded he was instantly distinguished. He
+was perfectly persuaded of the innocence of her intentions; and, as
+he was attached to another woman, he fancied that he could become the
+friend of the beautiful Mrs. Wharton without danger. The first time he
+had an opportunity of speaking to her in private, he expressed this
+idea in the manner that he thought the most delicately flattering to
+her self-complacency. Mrs. Wharton seemed to be perfectly satisfied with
+this conduct; and declared, that unless she had been certain that he was
+not a man of gallantry, she should never have placed any confidence in
+his friendship.
+
+"I consider you," said she, "quite as a married man:--by-the-bye, when
+are you to be married, and what sort of a person is Miss Sidney?--I am
+told she is excessively handsome, and amiable, and sensible.--What a
+happy creature she is!--just going to be united to the man she loves!"
+Here the lady gave a profound sigh; and Vivian had an opportunity of
+observing that she had the longest dark eyelashes that he had ever seen.
+
+"I was married," continued she, "before I knew what I was about. You
+know Mr. Wharton can be so charming when he pleases--and then he was so
+much in love with me, and swore he would shoot himself if I would not
+have him--and all that sort of thing.--I protest I was terrified; and I
+was quite a child, you know. I had been out but six weeks, and I thought
+I was in love with him. That was because I did not know what love
+was--_then_;--besides, he hurried and teased me to such a degree!--After
+all, I'm convinced I married him more out of compassion than any
+thing else; and now you see how he treats me!--most barbarously and
+tyrannically!--But I would not give the least hint of this to any
+man living but yourself. I conjure you to keep my secret--and--pity
+me!--that is all I ask--pity me sometimes, when your thoughts are not
+absorbed in a happier manner."
+
+Vivian's generosity was piqued: he could not be so selfish as to be
+engrossed exclusively by his own felicity. He thought that delicacy
+should induce him to forbear expatiating upon Selina's virtues and
+accomplishments, or upon his passion. He carried this delicacy so far,
+that sometimes for a fortnight or three weeks he never mentioned her
+name. He could not but observe that Mrs. Wharton did not like him
+the less for this species of sacrifice. It may be observed, that Mrs.
+Wharton managed her attack upon Vivian with more art than could be
+expected from so silly a woman; but we must consider that all her
+faculties were concentrated on one object; so that she seemed to have an
+instinct for coquetry. The most silly animals in the creation, from the
+insect tribe upwards, show, on some occasions, where their interests
+are immediately concerned, a degree of sagacity and ingenuity, which,
+compared with their usual imbecility, appears absolutely wonderful. The
+opinion which Vivian had early formed of the weakness of this lady's
+understanding prevented him from being on his guard against her
+artifices: he could not conceive it possible that he should be duped
+by a person so obviously his inferior. With a woman of talents and
+knowledge, he might have been suspicious; but there was nothing in Mrs.
+Wharton to alarm his pride or to awaken his fears: he fancied that he
+could extricate himself in a moment, and with the slightest effort,
+from any snares which she could contrive; and, under this persuasion, he
+neglected to make even that slight effort, and thus continued from hour
+to hour in voluntary captivity.
+
+Insensibly Vivian became more interested for Mrs. Wharton; and, at the
+same time, submitted with increased facility to the influence of her
+husband. It was necessary that he should have some excuse to the
+world, and yet more to his own conscience, for being so constantly at
+Wharton's. The pleasure he took in Wharton's conversation was still a
+sort of involuntary excuse to himself for his intimacy with the lady.
+"Wharton's wit more than Mrs. Wharton's beauty," thought he, "is the
+attraction that draws me here--I am full as ready to be of his parties
+as of hers; and this is the best proof that all is as it should be."
+
+Wharton's parties were not always such as Vivian would have chosen; but
+he was pressed on, without power of resistance. For instance, one night
+Wharton was going with Lord Pontipool and a set of dissipated young
+men, to the house of a lady who made herself fashionable by keeping a
+faro-bank.
+
+"Vivian, you'll come along with us?" said Wharton. "Come, we must have
+you--unless you are more happily engaged."
+
+His eye glanced with a mixture of contempt and jealousy upon his wife.
+Mrs. Wharton's alarmed and imploring countenance at the same moment
+seemed to say, "For Heaven's sake, go with him, or I am undone." In
+such circumstances it was impossible for Vivian to say no: he followed
+immediately; acting, as he thought, from a principle of honour and
+generosity. Wharton was not a man to give up the advantage which he had
+gained. Every day he showed more capricious jealousy of his wife, though
+he, at the same time, expressed the most entire confidence in the honour
+of his friend. Vivian still thought he could not do too much to convince
+him that his confidence was not misplaced; and thus, to protect Mrs.
+Wharton from suspicion, he yielded to all her husband's wishes. Vivian
+now felt frequently ashamed of his conduct, but always proud of his
+motives; and, with ingenious sophistry, he justified to himself the
+worst actions, by pleading that he did them with the best intentions.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+
+By this time Lady Mary Vivian began to hear hints of her son's
+attachment to Mrs. Wharton; and, much alarmed, she repented having
+encouraged him to form a political or fashionable intimacy with the
+Whartons. Suddenly awakened to the perception of the danger, Lady
+Mary was too vehement in her terror. She spoke with so much warmth and
+indignation, that there was little chance of her counsels being of use.
+
+"But, my dear madam, it is only a platonic attachment," argued Vivian,
+when his mother represented to him that the world talked loudly of his
+intimacy with Mrs. Wharton.
+
+"A platonic attachment!--Fashionable, dangerous sophistry!" said Lady
+Mary.
+
+"Why so, ma'am?" said her son, warmly; "and why should we mind what the
+world says? The world is so fond of scandal, that a man and woman cannot
+have any degree of friendship for one another without a hue and cry
+being immediately raised--and all the prudes and coquettes join at once
+in believing, or pretending to believe, that there must be something
+wrong. No wonder such a pretty woman as Mrs. Wharton cannot escape envy,
+and, of course, censure; but her conduct can defy the utmost malice of
+her enemies."
+
+"I hope so," said Lady Mary; "and, at all events, I am not one of them.
+I know and care very little about Mrs. Wharton, whom I have always been
+accustomed to consider as a frivolous, silly woman; but what I wish to
+say, though I fear I have lost your confidence, and that my advice will
+not--"
+
+"Frivolous! silly!" interrupted Vivian; "believe me, my dear mother, you
+and half the world are, and have been, under a great mistake about her
+understanding and character."
+
+"Her forming a platonic friendship with a young man is no great proof
+of her sense or of her virtue," said Lady Mary. "The danger of platonic
+attachments, I thought, had been sufficiently understood. Pray, my
+dear Charles, never let me hear more from you of platonics with married
+women."
+
+"I won't use the expression, ma'am, if you have any objection to it,"
+said Vivian; "but, mother, you wish me to live in the most fashionable
+company, and yet you desire me not to live as they live, and talk as
+they talk: now, that is next to impossible. Pardon me, but I should not
+have thought," added he, laughing, "that you, who like most things that
+are fashionable, would object to _platonics_."
+
+"Object to them!--I despise, detest, abhor them! _Platonics_ have been
+the ruin of more women, the destruction of the peace of more families,
+than open profligacy ever could have accomplished. Many a married woman,
+who would have started with horror at the idea of beginning an intrigue,
+has been drawn in to admit of a platonic attachment. And many a man,
+who would as soon have thought of committing murder as of seducing his
+friend's wife, has allowed himself to commence a platonic attachment;
+and how these end, all the world knows."
+
+Struck by these words, Vivian suddenly quitted his air of raillery, and
+became serious. Had his mother stopped there, and left the rest to his
+good sense and awakened perception of danger, all would have been well;
+but she was ever prone to say too much; and, in her ardour to prove
+herself to be in the right, forgot that people are apt to be shocked, by
+having it pointed out that they are utterly in the wrong.
+
+"Indeed, the very word platonics," pursued she, "is considered, by those
+who have seen any thing of life, as the mere watchword of knaves or
+dupes; of those who deceive, or of those who wish to be deceived."
+
+"Be assured, ma'am," said Vivian, "that Mrs. Wharton is not one of those
+who wish either to deceive or to be deceived; and, as to myself, I hope
+I am as far from any danger of being a dupe as of being a knave. My
+connexion with Mrs. Wharton is perfectly innocent; it is justified
+by the example of hundreds and thousands every day in the fashionable
+world; and I should do her and myself great injustice, if I broke off
+our intimacy suddenly, as if I acknowledged that it was improper."
+
+"And what can be more improper? since you force me to speak plainly,"
+cried Lady Mary; "what can be more improper than such an intimacy,
+especially in your circumstances?"
+
+"My circumstances! What circumstances, ma'am?"
+
+"Have you forgotten Miss Sidney?"
+
+"By no means, ma'am," said Vivian, colouring deeply; "Mrs. Wharton is
+well apprized, and was, from the first moment of our friendship, clearly
+informed of my----engagements with Miss Sidney."
+
+"And how do they agree with your attachment to Mrs. Wharton?"
+
+"Perfectly well, ma'am--Mrs. Wharton understands all that perfectly
+well, ma'am."
+
+"And Miss Sidney! do you think she will understand it?--and is it not
+extraordinary that I should think more of her feelings than you do?"
+
+At these questions Vivian became so angry, that he was incapable of
+listening farther to reason, or to the best advice, even from a mother,
+for whom he had the highest respect. The mother and son parted with
+feelings of mutual dissatisfaction.
+
+Vivian, from that spirit of opposition so often seen in weak characters,
+went immediately from his mother's _lecture_ to a party at Mrs.
+Wharton's. Lady Mary, in the mean time, sat down to write to Miss
+Sidney. Whatever reluctance she had originally felt to her son's
+marriage with this young lady, it must be repeated, to her ladyship's
+credit, that Selina's honourable and disinterested conduct had won her
+entire approbation. She wrote, therefore, in the strongest terms to
+press the immediate conclusion of that match, which she now considered
+as the only chance of securing her son's morals and happiness. Her
+letter concluded with these words:--"I shall expect you in town
+directly. Do not, my dear, let any idle scruples prevent you from coming
+to my house. Consider that my happiness, your own, and my son's, depend
+upon your compliance. I am persuaded, that the moment he sees you, the
+moment you exert your power over him, he will be himself again. But,
+believe me, I know the young men of the present day better than you do:
+their constancy is not proof against absence. If he lose the habit of
+seeing and conversing with you, I cannot answer for the rest.--Adieu! I
+am so much harassed by my own thoughts, and by the reports I hear, that
+I scarcely know what I write. Pray come immediately, my dear Selina,
+that I may talk to you of many subjects on which I don't like to trust
+myself to write. My feelings have been too long repressed.--I must
+unburden my heart to you. _You_ only can console and assist me; and,
+independently of all other considerations, you owe to my friendship
+for you, Selina, not to refuse this first request I ever made
+you.--Farewell! I shall expect to see you as soon as possible.
+
+"Yours, &c.
+
+"MARY VIVIAN."
+
+"_St. James's-street_."
+
+In this letter, Lady Mary Vivian had not explained the nature of her
+son's danger, or of her fears for him. Motives of delicacy had prevented
+her from explicitly telling Miss Sidney her suspicions that Vivian was
+attached to a married woman. "Selina," said her ladyship to herself,
+"must, probably, have heard the report from Mr. G----, who is so often
+at her mother's; therefore, there can be no necessity for my saying any
+more than I have done. She will understand my hints."
+
+Unfortunately, however, Miss Sidney did not comprehend, or in the least
+suspect, the most material part of the truth; she understood simply,
+from Lady Mary's letter, that Vivian's affections wavered, and she
+imagined that he was, perhaps, on the point of making matrimonial
+proposals for some fashionable belle, probably for one of the Lady
+Lidhursts; but the idea of his becoming attached to a married woman
+never entered her thoughts. Many motives conspired to incline Selina to
+accept of the invitation. The certainty that Lady Mary would be highly
+offended by a refusal; the hint, that her influence over Vivian would
+operate immediately, and in all its force, if he were to see and
+converse with her; and that, on the contrary, absence might extinguish
+his passion for ever; curiosity to learn precisely the nature of the
+reports, which his mother had heard to his disadvantage; but, above
+all, a fond wish to be nearer to the man she loved, and to have daily
+opportunities of seeing him, prompted Selina to comply with Lady Mary's
+request. On the contrary, good sense and delicacy represented, that
+she had released Vivian from all promises, all engagements; that, at
+parting, she had professed to leave him perfectly at liberty: that it
+would, therefore, be as indelicate as imprudent to make such an attempt
+to reclaim his inconstant heart. She had told him, that she desired
+to have proof of the steadiness, both of his character and of his
+attachment, before she could consent to marry him. From this decision
+she could not, she would not, recede. She had the fortitude to persist
+in this resolution. She wrote to Lady Mary Vivian in the kindest, but,
+at the same time, in the most decided terms, declining the tempting
+invitation.
+
+It happened that Vivian was with his mother at the moment when Selina's
+answer arrived. In the firm belief that such a pressing invitation as
+she had sent, to a person in Selina's circumstances and of Selina's
+temper, could not be refused, her ladyship had made it a point with her
+son to dine _t�te-�-t�te_ with her this day; and she had been talking to
+him, in the most eloquent but imprudent manner, of the contrast between
+the characters of Mrs. Wharton and Miss Sidney. He protested that his
+esteem and love for Miss Sidney were unabated; yet, when his mother told
+him that he would, perhaps, in a few minutes see his Selina, he
+changed colour, grew embarrassed and melancholy, and thus by his looks
+effectually contradicted his words. He was roused from his reverie by
+the arrival of Selina's letter. His mother's disappointment and anger
+were expressed in the strongest terms, when she found that Selina
+declined her invitation; but such are the quick and seemingly perverse
+turns of the human heart, Vivian grew warm in Selina's defence the
+moment that his mother became angry with her: he read her letter with
+tender emotion, for he saw through the whole of it, the strength, as
+well as the delicacy of her attachment. All that his mother's praises
+had failed to effect, was immediately accomplished by this letter;
+and he, who but an instant before dreaded to meet Selina, now that
+she refused to come, was seized with a strong desire to see her; his
+impatience was so great, that he would willingly have set out that
+instant for the country. Men of such characters as Vivian's are
+peculiarly jealous of their free will; and, precisely because they
+know that they are easily led, they resist, in affairs of the heart
+especially, the slightest appearance of control.
+
+Lady Mary was delighted to hear her son declare his resolution to leave
+town the next morning, and to see Miss Sidney as soon as possible; but
+she could not forbear reproaching him for not doing what she wanted
+precisely in the manner in which she had planned that it should be done.
+
+"I see, my dear Charles," cried she, "that even when you do right, I
+must not flatter myself that it is owing to any influence of mine. Give
+my compliments to Miss Sidney, and assure her that I shall in future
+forbear to injure her in your opinion by my interference, or even by
+expressing my approbation of her character. My anger, it is obvious, has
+served her better than my kindness; and therefore she has no reason to
+regret that my affection has been lessened, as I confess it has been, by
+her late conduct."
+
+The next morning, when Vivian was prepared to leave town, he called upon
+Wharton, to settle with him about some political, business which was to
+be transacted in his absence. Wharton was not at home--Vivian knew that
+it would be best to avoid seeing Mrs. Wharton; but he was afraid that
+she would be offended, and he could not help _sacrificing a few minutes
+to politeness_. The lady was alone; apparently very languid, and
+charmingly melancholy. Before Vivian could explain himself, she poured
+forth, in silly phrases, but in a voice that made even nonsense please,
+a rariety of reproaches for his having absented himself for such a
+length of time.--"Positively, she would keep him prisoner, now that
+she had him safe once more." To be kept prisoner by a fair lady was
+so flattering, that it was full an hour before he could prevail
+upon himself to assert his liberty--the fear of giving pain, indeed,
+influenced him still more than vanity. At last, when Mrs. Wharton spoke
+of her engagements for the evening, and seemed to take it for granted
+that he would be of her party, he summoned resolution sufficient--Oh!
+wonderful effort of courage!--to tell her, that he was under a necessity
+of leaving town immediately.
+
+"Going, I presume, to--"
+
+"To the country," said Vivian, firmly.
+
+"To the country!----No, no, no; say at once, to Selina!--Tell me the
+worst in one word!"
+
+Astonished beyond measure, Vivian had not power to move. The lady fell
+back on the sofa in violent hysterics. Our hero trembled lest any of her
+servants should come in, or lest her husband should at his return find
+her in this condition, and discover the cause. He endeavoured in vain to
+soothe and compose the weeping fair one; he could not have the
+barbarity to leave her in this state. By sweet degrees she recovered her
+recollection--was in the most lovely confusion--asked where she was, and
+what was going to happen. Vivian had not the rashness to run the risk
+of a second fit of hysterics; he gave up all thoughts of his journey
+for this day, and the lady recovered her spirits in the most flattering
+manner. Vivian intended to postpone his journey only for a single
+day; but, after he had yielded one point, he found that there was no
+receding. He was now persuaded that Mrs. Wharton was miserable; that she
+would never forgive herself for having betrayed the state of her heart.
+His self-love pleaded powerfully in her favour: he considered that her
+husband treated her with mortifying neglect, and provoked the spirit
+of retaliation by his gallantries. Vivian fancied that Mrs. Wharton's
+attachment to him might render her wretched, but would never make her
+criminal. With sophistical delicacy he veiled his own motives; and,
+instead of following the plain dictates of reason, he involved his
+understanding in that species of sentimental casuistry which confounds
+all principles of right and wrong. But the dread that he felt lest
+Wharton should discover what was going on might have sufficiently
+convinced him that he was not acting honourably. The suspicions which
+Mr. Wharton formerly showed of his wife seemed now to be completely
+lulled asleep; and he gave Vivian continually such proofs of confidence
+as stung him to the soul. By an absurd, but not an uncommon error of
+self-love, Vivian was induced to believe, that a man who professed to
+cheat mankind in general behaved towards him in particular with strict
+honour, and even with unparalleled generosity. Honesty was too vulgar a
+virtue for Wharton; but honour, the aristocratic, exclusive virtue of a
+gentleman, he laid claim to in the highest tone. The very frankness with
+which Wharton avowed his libertine principles with respect to women,
+convinced Vivian that he had not the slightest suspicion that these
+could be immediately applied to the ruin of his own wife.
+
+"How can you, my dear Wharton, talk in this manner?" said Vivian once,
+when he had been speaking with great _freedom_.
+
+"But it is better," added he, with a sigh, "to speak than to act like a
+villain."
+
+"Villain!" repeated Wharton, with a sarcastic laugh; "you are grown
+quite ridiculous, Vivian: I protest, I don't understand you. Women
+now-a-days are surely able, if not willing enough, to take care of
+themselves; and _villains_, though they were very common in the time
+of Miss Clarissa Harlowe, and of all the tragedy queens of the last
+century, are not to be heard of in these days. Any strange tales of
+those male monsters called seducers could gain credit during the ages
+of ignorance and credulity; but now, the enlightened world cannot
+be imposed upon by such miracles; and a gentleman may be a man of
+gallantry--nay, even a lady may be a woman of gallantry--without being
+hooted out of society as a _monster_; at all events, the blame is, as it
+should be, equally divided between the parties concerned; and if modern
+lovers quarrel, they do not die of grief, but settle their differences
+in a court of law, where a spinster may have her compensation for a
+breach of contract of marriage; a father or a husband their damages for
+the loss of the company, affection, solace, services, &c., as the case
+may be, of his wife or daughter. All this is perfectly well understood;
+and the terrors of law are quite sufficient, without the terrors of
+sentiment. If a man punish himself, or let himself be punished, twice
+for the same offence, once by his conscience, and once by his king and
+his country, he is a fool; and, moreover, acts contrary to the spirit
+of the British law, which sayeth--see Blackstone and others--that no
+man shall be punished twice for the same offence.--Suffer your
+risible muscles to relax, I beseech you, Vivian; and do not affect a
+presbyterian rigidity, which becomes your face as ill as your age."
+
+"I affect nothing--certainly I do not affect presbyterian rigidity,"
+cried Vivian, laughing. "But, after all, Wharton, if you had a daughter
+or a sister, what would you think of any man, your friend for instance,
+who should attempt--"
+
+"To cut your speech short at once," interrupted Wharton, "I should not
+think at all about the matter; I should blow his brains out, of
+course; and afterwards, probably, blow out my own. But treachery from a
+friend--from a man of honour--is a thing of which I can hardly form an
+idea. Where I give my confidence, I give it without any paltry mental
+reservation--I could not suspect a friend."
+
+Vivian suffered, at this instant, all the agony which a generous mind,
+conscious of guilt, could endure. He thought that the confusion of his
+mind must be visible in his countenance--his embarrassment was so great
+that he could not utter a word. Wharton did not seem to perceive his
+companion's agitation, but passed on carelessly to other subjects of
+conversation; and at length completely relieved Vivian from fear of
+immediate detection, by asking a favour from him--a pecuniary favour.
+
+"All is safe--Mrs. Wharton, at least, is safe, thank Heaven!" thought
+Vivian. "Had her husband the slightest suspicion, he never would
+condescend to accept of any favour from me."
+
+With eagerness, and almost with tears of gratitude, Vivian pressed
+upon Wharton the money which he _condescended_ to borrow--it was no
+inconsiderable sum.
+
+"Wharton!" cried he, "you sometimes talk freely--too freely; but you
+are, I am convinced, the most open-hearted, unsuspicious, generous
+fellow upon earth--you deserve a better friend than I am."
+
+Unable any longer to suppress or conceal the emotions which struggled in
+his heart, he broke away abruptly, hurried home, shut himself up in his
+own apartment, and sat down immediately to write to Mrs. Wharton. The
+idea that Mrs. Wharton loved him in preference to all the fashionable
+coxcombs and wits by whom she was surrounded had insensibly raised our
+hero's opinion of her understanding so much, that he now imagined that
+the world laboured under a prejudice against her abilities. He gave
+himself credit for having discovered that this beauty was not a fool;
+and he now spoke and wrote to her as if she had been a woman of sense.
+With eloquence which might have moved a woman of genius, with delicacy
+that might have touched a woman of feeling, he conjured her to fortify
+his honourable resolutions; and thus, whilst it was yet time, to secure
+her happiness and his own. "Instead of writing this letter," added he
+in a postscript, "I ought, perhaps, to fly from you for ever; but that
+would show a want of confidence in you and in myself; and, besides, upon
+the most mature reflection, I think it best to stay, and wait upon you
+to-morrow as usual, lest, by my precipitation, I should excite suspicion
+in Wharton's mind."
+
+The weak apprehension that Mrs. Wharton should betray herself by another
+fit of hysterics, if he should leave town, and if his departure
+should be suddenly announced to her by her husband, or by some common
+acquaintance, induced him to delay a few days longer, that he might
+prepare her mind by degrees, and convince her of the necessity for their
+absolute separation. When he had finished his letter to Mrs. Wharton, he
+was sufficiently well pleased with himself to venture to write to Miss
+Sidney. His letters to her had of late been short and constrained; but
+this was written with the full flow of affection. He was now in hopes
+that he should extricate himself honourably from his difficulties, and
+that he might at last claim his reward from Selina.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+
+After he had despatched his two letters, he became excessively anxious
+to receive Mrs. Wharton's answer. By trifling but unavoidable accidents,
+it was delayed a few hours. At last it arrived; Vivian tore it open, and
+read with surprise these words:
+
+"Your letter is just what I wished, and makes me the happiest of
+women--that is, if you are sincere--which, after all you've said, I
+can't doubt. I am so hurried by visitors, and annoyed, that I cannot
+write more; but shall have time to talk to-night at the opera."
+
+At the opera Mrs. Wharton appeared in high spirits, and was dressed with
+more than usual elegance. It was observed that she had never been seen
+to look so beautiful. There was something in her manner that puzzled
+Vivian extremely; this extraordinary gaiety was not what he had reason
+to expect. "Is it possible," thought he, "that this woman is a mere
+coquette, who has been amusing herself at my expense all this time,
+and can now break off all connexion with me without a moment's regret?"
+Vivian's pride was piqued: though he wished to part from the lady, he
+could not bear that this parting should evidently cost her nothing.
+He was mortified beyond expression by the idea that he had been duped.
+After the opera was over, whilst Mrs. Wharton was waiting for her
+carriage, he had an opportunity of speaking to her without being
+overheard.
+
+"I am happy," said he, with a constrained voice, "I am extremely happy
+to see you, madam, in such charming spirits to-night."
+
+"But are not you a strange man to look so grave?" cried Mrs. Wharton. "I
+vow, I don't know what to make of you! But I believe you want to quarrel
+for the pleasure of making it up again. Now that won't do. By-the-bye,
+I have a quarrel with you, sir.--How came you to sign your name to that
+foolish stuff you wrote me yesterday? Never do so any more, I charge
+you, for fear of accidents. But what's the matter now?--You are a
+strange mortal!--Are you going to die upon the spot?--What is the
+matter?"
+
+"My letter to you was not signed, I believe," said Vivian, in an altered
+voice.
+
+"Indeed it was," said Mrs. Wharton. "It was signed Charles Vivian at
+full length. But why are you in such tremors about it? I only mentioned
+it to put you on your guard in future.--I've burnt the letter--people
+always get themselves into scrapes if they don't burn love-letters--as
+I've often heard Mr. Wharton say," added she, laughing.
+
+To his unspeakable consternation, Vivian now discovered that he had
+sent the letter intended for Selina to Mrs. Wharton; and that which was
+designed for Mrs. Wharton he had directed to Miss Sidney. Vivian was
+so lost in thought, that the cry of _"Mrs. Wharton's carriage stops
+the way!"_ was vociferated many times before he recovered sufficient
+presence of mind to hand the lady out of the house. He went home
+immediately, that he might reflect upon what was best to be done. His
+servant presently gave him a letter which a messenger had just brought
+from the country. The packet was from Selina.
+
+"Enclosed, I return the letter which I received from you this morning. I
+read the first three lines of it before I perceived that it could not be
+intended for me--I went no farther.--I cannot help knowing for whom
+it was designed; but you may be assured that your secret shall be kept
+inviolably.--You have no reproaches to fear from me.--This is the last
+letter I shall ever write to you.--Leave it to me to explain my own
+conduct to my mother and to yours; if they think me capricious, I can
+bear it. I shall tell them that my sentiments are totally changed: I am
+sure I can say so with perfect truth.--Oh, Vivian, it is you who are to
+be pitied; every thing may be endured except remorse. Would to Heaven, I
+could save you from the reproaches of your own heart!--Adieu!
+
+"SELINA SIDNEY."
+
+The feelings of Vivian's mind, on reading this letter, cannot be
+described. Admiration, love, tenderness, remorse, successively seized
+upon his heart. Incapable of any distinct reflection, he threw himself
+upon his bed, and closed his eyes, endeavouring to compose himself to
+sleep, that he might forget his existence. But, motionless as he lay,
+the tumult of his mind continued unabated. His pulse beat high; and
+before morning he was in a fever. The dread that his mother should come
+to attend him, and to inquire into the cause of his illness, increased
+his agitation:--she came. Her kindness and anxiety were fresh torments
+to her unhappy son. Bitterly did he reproach himself as the cause of
+misery to those he loved and esteemed most in the world. He became
+delirious; and, whilst he was in this state, he repeated Mrs. Wharton's
+name sometimes in terms of endearment, sometimes in accents of
+execration. His mother's suspicions of his intrigue were confirmed by
+many expressions which burst from him, and which were thought by his
+attendants to be merely the ravings of fever. Lady Mary had, at this
+crisis, the prudence to conceal her doubts, and to keep every body, as
+much as possible, out of her son's apartment. In a few days his fever
+subsided, and he recovered to the clear recollection of all that
+had passed previously to his illness. He almost wished to be again
+delirious. The first time he was left alone, he rose from his bed,
+unlocked his bureau, and seized Selina's letter, which he read again and
+again, studying each line and word, as if he could draw from them every
+time a new meaning.
+
+"She read but three lines of my letter," said he to himself; "then she
+only guesses that I have an intrigue with Mrs. Wharton, without knowing
+that in this very letter I used my utmost influence to recall Mrs.
+Wharton to--herself."
+
+The belief that Selina thought worse of him than he deserved was
+some consolation to Vivian. He was resolved to recover her esteem: he
+determined to break off all connexion with Mrs. Wharton; and, full of
+this intention, he was impatient till the physicians permitted him to go
+abroad. When he was at last free from their dominion, had escaped from
+his chamber, and had just gained the staircase, he was stopped by his
+mother.
+
+"Charles," said she, "before you quit me again, it is my duty to say a
+few words to you upon a subject of some importance."
+
+Lady Mary led the way to her dressing-room with a dignified air; Vivian
+followed with a mixture of pride and alarm in his manner. From the bare
+idea of a maternal lecture his mind revolted: he imagined that she was
+going to repeat the remonstrance which she had formerly made against his
+intimacy with Mrs. Wharton, and against _platonics_ in general; but he
+had not the least apprehension that she had discovered the whole truth:
+he was, therefore, both surprised and shocked, when she spoke to him in
+the following manner:
+
+"The libertinism of the age in which we live has so far loosened all
+the bonds of society, and all the ties of nature, that I doubt not but
+a mother's anxiety for the morals of her son--her only son--the son over
+whose education she has watched from his infancy, may appear, even in
+his eyes, a fit subject for ridicule. I am well aware that my solicitude
+and my counsels have long been irksome to him, I have lost his
+affections by a steady adherence to my duty; but I shall persevere with
+the less reluctance, since the dread of my displeasure, or the hope of
+my approbation, cannot now touch his sensibility. During your illness,
+you have betrayed a secret--you have reason to start with horror. Is
+it possible that a son of mine, with the principles which I have
+endeavoured to instil into his mind, should become so far depraved? Do
+I live to hear, from his own lips, that he is the seducer of a married
+woman--and that woman the wife of his friend?"
+
+Vivian walked up and down the room in great agony: his mother continued,
+with increased severity of manner, "I say nothing of your dissimulation
+with me, nor of all your _platonic_ subterfuges--I know that, with a
+man of intrigue, falsehood is deemed a virtue. I shall not condescend to
+inquire farther into your guilty secrets--I now think myself fortunate
+in having no place in your confidence. But I here declare to you, in the
+most solemn manner, that I never will see you again until all connexion
+between you and Mrs. Wharton is utterly dissolved. I do not advise--I
+COMMAND, and must be obeyed--or I cast you off for ever."
+
+Lady Mary left the room as she uttered these words. Her son was deeply
+struck with his mother's eloquence: he knew she was right, yet his pride
+was wounded by the peremptory severity of her manner:--his remorse and
+his good resolutions gave place to anger. The more he felt himself
+in the wrong, the less he could bear to be reproached by the voice
+of authority. Even because his mother _commanded_ him to give up all
+connexion with Mrs. Wharton, he was inclined to disobey--he could not
+bear to seem to do right merely in compliance to her will. He went to
+visit Mrs. Wharton in a very different temper from that in which, half
+an hour before this conference with his mother, he had resolved to see
+the lady. Mrs. Wharton knew how to take advantage both of the weakness
+of his character and of the generosity of his temper. She fell into
+transports of grief when she found that Lady Mary Vivian and Miss Sidney
+were in possession of her secret. It was in vain that Vivian assured her
+that it would be kept inviolably; she persisted in repeating, "that her
+reputation was lost; that she had sacrificed every thing for a man who
+would, at last, desert her in the most treacherous and barbarous
+manner, leaving her at the mercy of her husband, the most profligate,
+hard-hearted tyrant upon earth. As to her being reconciled to him," she
+declared, "_that_ was totally out of the question; his behaviour to her
+was such, that she could not live with him, even if her heart were not
+fatally prepossessed in favour of another." Her passions seemed wrought
+to the highest pitch. With all the eloquence of beauty in distress, she
+appealed to Vivian as her only friend; she threw herself entirely upon
+his protection; she vowed that she could not, would not, remain another
+day in the same house with Mr. Wharton; that her destiny, her existence,
+were at Vivian's mercy. Vivian had not sufficient fortitude to support
+this scene. He stood irresolute. The present temptation prevailed over
+his better resolutions. He was actually persuaded by this woman, whom
+he did not love, whom he could not esteem, to carry her off to the
+continent--whilst, at the very time, he admired, esteemed, and loved
+another. The plan of the elopement was formed and settled in a few
+minutes;--on Mrs. Wharton's part, apparently with all the hurry of
+passion; on Vivian's with all the confusion of despair. The same
+carriage, the very same horses, that had been ordered to carry our hero
+to his beloved Selina, conveyed him and Mrs. Wharton the first stage
+of their flight towards the continent. The next morning the following
+paragraph appeared in the newspapers:--
+
+"Yesterday, the beautiful and fashionable Mrs. W----, whose marriage we
+announced last year to the celebrated Mr. W----, eloped from his
+house in St. James's-street, in company with C---- V----, member for
+----shire. This catastrophe has caused the greatest _sensation_ and
+astonishment in the circles of fashion; for the lady in question had
+always, till this fatal step, preserved the most unblemished reputation;
+and Mr. and Mrs. W---- were considered as models of conjugal felicity.
+The injured husband was attending his public duty in the House of
+Commons; and, as we are credibly informed, was, with patriotic ardour,
+speaking in his country's cause, when this unfortunate event, which for
+ever bereaves him of domestic happiness, took place. What must
+increase the poignancy of his feelings upon the occasion remains to be
+stated--that the seducer was his intimate friend, a young man, whom he
+had raised into notice in public life, and whom he had, with all that
+warmth and confidence of heart for which he is remarkable, introduced
+into his house, and trusted with his beloved wife. Mr. W---- is, we
+hear, in pursuit of the fugitives."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+
+In the modern fashionable code of honour, when a man has seduced or
+carried off his friend's wife, the next thing he has to do is to fight
+the man whom he has injured and betrayed. By thus appealing to the
+ordeal of the duel, he may not only clear himself from guilt; but, if
+it be done with proper spirit, he may acquire celebrity and glory in the
+annals of gallantry, and in the eyes of the fair and innocent. In our
+hero's place, most men of fashion would have triumphed in the notoriety
+of his offence, and would have rejoiced in an opportunity of offering
+the husband the satisfaction of a gentleman. But, unfortunately for
+Vivian, he had not yet suited his principles to his practice: he had
+acted like a man of fashion; but, alas! he still thought and felt like a
+man of virtue--as the following letter will show.
+
+"TO THE REV. HENRY RUSSELL.
+
+"Indignant as you will be, Russell, at all you hear of me, you cannot
+be more shocked than I am myself. I do not write to palliate or
+apologize--my conduct admits of no defence--I shall attempt none,
+private or public--I have written to my lawyer to give directions that
+no sort of defence shall be set up on my part, when the affair comes
+into Doctors' Commons--as it shortly will; for I understand that poor
+Wharton has commenced a prosecution. As to damages he has only to name
+them--any thing within the compass of my fortune he may command. Would
+to God that money could make him amends! But he is too generous, too
+noble a fellow--profligate as he is in some things, how incapable would
+he be of acting as basely as I have done! There is not, perhaps, at
+this moment, a human being who has so high an opinion of the man I have
+injured as I have myself:--he did not love his wife--but that is no
+excuse for me--his honour is as much wounded as if I had robbed him of
+her during the time he loved her most fondly:--he once doted upon her,
+and would have loved her again, when he was tired of his gallantries;
+and they might then have lived together as happily as ever, if I had
+not been--. What was I?--What am I?--Not a villain--or I should glory in
+what I have done--but the weakest of human beings--and how true it is,
+Russell, that 'all wickedness is weakness!'
+
+"I understand that W----, wherever he goes, calls me a coward, as
+well as a scoundrel; and says that I have kept out of the way to avoid
+fighting him. He is mistaken. It is true, I had the utmost dread of
+having his life to answer for--and nothing should have provoked me to
+fire upon him;--but I had determined how to act--I would have met him,
+and have stood his fire. I should not be sorry, at present, to be put
+out of the world; and would rather fall by his hand than by any other.
+But since this is out of the question, and that things have taken
+another turn, I have only to live, as long as it shall please God, a
+life of remorse--and, at least, to try to make the unfortunate woman who
+has thrown herself upon my protection as happy as I can.
+
+"If you have any remaining regard for a pupil who has so disgraced you,
+do me one favour--Go to Miss Sidney, and give her what comfort you can.
+Say nothing _for me_, or _of me_, but that I wish her to forget me
+as soon as possible. She discarded me from her heart when she first
+discovered this intrigue--before this last fatal step. Still I had
+hopes of recovering her esteem and affection; for I had resolved--But no
+matter what I resolved--all my resolutions failed; and now I am utterly
+unworthy of her love. This, and all that is good and happy in life, all
+the fair hopes and virtuous promises of my youth, I must give up. Early
+as it is in my day, my sun has set. I truly desire that she should
+forget me; for you know I am bound in honour--Honour! How dare I use the
+word? I am bound, after the divorce, to marry the woman I have seduced.
+Oh, Russell! what a wife for your friend!--What a daughter-in-law for my
+poor mother, after all her care of my education--all her affection--all
+her pride in me!--It will break her heart! Mine will not break. I shall
+drag on, perhaps, to a miserable old age. I am of too feeble a nature to
+feel these things as strong minds would--as you will for me; but do not
+blame yourself for my faults. All that man could do for me, you did.
+This must be some consolation to you, my dear and excellent friend! May
+I still call you friend?--or have I no friend left upon earth?
+
+"C. VIVIAN."
+
+From this letter some idea may be formed of what this unhappy man
+suffered at this period of his life, from "the reflections of a mind not
+used to its own reproaches." The view of the future was as dreadful
+as the retrospect of the past. His thoughts continually dwelt upon the
+public trial which was preparing--before him he saw all its disgraceful
+circumstances. Then the horror of marrying, of passing his whole future
+existence with a woman whom he could not esteem or trust! These last
+were secret subjects of anxiety and anguish, the more intensely felt,
+because he could not speak of them to any human being. Such as Mrs.
+Wharton was, she was to be his wife; and he was called upon to defend
+her against reproach and insult,--if possible, from contempt. During
+the course of six weeks, which they spent together in exile at Brussels,
+Vivian became so altered in his appearance, that his most intimate
+friends could scarcely have known him; his worst enemies, if he had had
+any, could not have desired the prolongation of his sufferings.
+
+One evening, as he was sitting alone in his hotel, ruminating bitter
+thoughts, a letter was brought to him from Mr. Russell; the first he had
+received since he left England. Every one, who has been absent from his
+friends in a foreign country, must know the sort of emotion which
+the bare sight of a letter from _home_ excites; but, in Vivian's
+circumstances, abandoned as he felt himself, and deserving to be
+abandoned by his best friends, the sight of a letter from Russell so
+struck him, that he gazed upon the direction for some minutes, almost
+without power or wish to open it. At last he opened, and read, "Return
+to your country, your friends, and yourself, Vivian! Your day is not
+yet over! Your sun is not yet set!--Resume your energy--recover your
+self-confidence--carry your good resolutions into effect--and you may
+yet be an honour to your family, a delight to your fond mother, and
+the pride of your friend Russell. Your remorse has been poignant and
+sincere; let it be salutary and permanent in its consequences: this is
+the repentance which religion requires. The part of a man of sense and
+virtue is to make his past errors of use to his future conduct. Whilst
+I had nothing to say that could give you pleasure, I forbore to answer
+your letter; I forbore to overwhelm a mind sinking under remorse. My
+sacred duty is to waken the sinner to repentance, not to shut the gates
+of mercy on the penitent. Now, I can relieve your mind from part of the
+load by which it has been justly oppressed. You know that nothing can
+palliate your conduct in an intrigue with a married woman--from this I
+had hoped your moral and religious education would have preserved you.
+But of the premeditated guilt of deceiving the husband, and laying a
+plan to seduce the wife, I never suspected you; and I may now tell you,
+that you have not betrayed Mr. Wharton; he has betrayed you. You have
+not seduced Mrs. Wharton; you have been seduced by her. You are not
+bound to marry her--Wharton cannot obtain a divorce--he dare not bring
+the affair to trial; if he does, he is undone. There has been collusion
+between the parties. The proof of this you will find in the enclosed
+paper, which will be sworn to, in due legal form, whenever it is
+necessary. Even when you see them, you will scarcely believe these
+'damning proofs' of Wharton's baseness. But I always knew, I always told
+you, that this pretence to honour and candour, frankness and friendship,
+with this avowed contempt of all principle and all virtue, could not
+be safe, could not be sincere, would not _stand the test_.--No--nothing
+should make me trust to the private honour of a man so corrupt in public
+life as Mr. Wharton. A man who sells his conscience for his interest
+will sell it for his pleasure. A man who will betray his country will
+betray his friend. It is in vain to palter with our conscience: there
+are not two honours--two honesties. How I rejoice at this moment, in the
+reflection that your character, as a public man, is yet untarnished
+You have still this great advantage:--feel its value. Return, and
+distinguish yourself among your countrymen: distinguish yourself by
+integrity still more than by talents. A certain degree of talents is
+now cheap in England: integrity is what we want--true patriotism, true
+public spirit, noble ambition not that vile scramble for places and
+pensions, which some men call ambition; not that bawling, brawling,
+_Thersites_ character, which other men call public spirit; not that
+marketable commodity with which Wharton, and such as he, cheat popular
+opinion for a season;--but that fair virtue which will endure, and abide
+by its cause to the last; which, in place or out, shall be the same;
+which, successful or unsuccessful, shall sustain the possessor's
+character through all changes of party; which, whilst he lives, shall
+command respect from even the most profligate of his contemporaries;
+upon which, when he is dying, he may reflect with satisfaction; which,
+after his death, shall be the consolation of his friends, and the glory
+of his country. All this is yet in your power, Vivian.--Come, then, and
+fulfil the promise of your early years! Come, and restore to your mother
+a son worthy of her!--Come, and surpass the hopes of your true friend,
+
+"H. RUSSELL."
+
+The rapid succession of feelings with which Vivian read this letter
+can scarcely be imagined. The paper it enclosed was from a former
+waiting-maid of Mrs. Wharton's; a woman who was expected to be the
+principal evidence on Mr. Wharton's side. She had been his mistress; one
+of those innumerable mistresses, to whom he had, of course, addressed
+his transferable promises of eternal constancy. She too, of course, had
+believed the vow, in spite of all experience and probability; and while
+she pardoned his infidelities to her mistress, &c. all which she deemed
+_very natural for a gentleman like him_, yet she was astonished and
+outrageous when she found him faithless to her own charms. In a fit of
+jealousy she flew to Mr. Russell, whom she knew to be Vivian's friend;
+and, to revenge herself on Wharton, revealed the secrets which she had
+in her power; put into Russell's hands the proofs of collusion between
+Mr. Wharton and his wife; and took malicious pains to substantiate
+her evidence, to a lawyer's full satisfaction; knowing that she might
+prevent the possibility of a divorce, and that she should thus punish
+her perjured inconstant in the most sensible manner, by at once
+depriving him of twenty thousand pounds damages, and by chaining him
+again to a wife whom he abhorred.
+
+The same post which brought Vivian this woman's deposition and Russell's
+letter brought Mrs. Wharton notice that the whole plan of collusion
+was discovered: she was therefore prepared for Vivian's reproaches,
+and received the first burst of his astonishment and indignation with a
+studied Magdalen expression of countenance: then she attempted a silly
+apology, laying all the blame on her husband, and vowing that she had
+acted under terror, and that her life would not have been safe in his
+hands if she had not implicitly obeyed and executed his horrid plans.
+She wept and kneeled in vain. Finding Vivian immoveable in his purpose
+to return immediately to England, she suddenly rose from her knees, and,
+all beautiful as she was, looked in Vivian's eyes like a fiend, whilst,
+with an unnatural smile, she said to him, "You see, fool as I am thought
+to be, I have been too clever for _some people_; and I can tell Mr.
+Wharton that I have been too clever for him too. His heart is set upon
+a divorce; but he can't have it. He can't marry Miss P----, nor yet
+her fortune, nor ever shall! I shall remain at Brussels--I have friends
+here--and friends who were my friends before I was forced to give my
+hand to Mr. Wharton, or my smiles to you, sir!--people who will not
+tease me with talking of remorse and repentance, and such ungallant,
+ungentlemanlike stuff; nor sit bewailing themselves, like a country
+parson, instead of dashing out with me here in a fashionable style, as
+a man of any spirit would have done. But you!--you're neither good nor
+bad; and no woman will ever love you, nor ever did. Now you know my
+whole mind."
+
+"Would to Heaven I had known it sooner!" said Vivian. "No--I rejoice
+that I did not sooner know, and that I never could have suspected, such
+depravity!--under such a form, too."
+
+Mrs. Wharton's eye glanced with satisfaction upon the large mirror
+opposite to her. Vivian left her in utter disgust and horror. "Drive
+on!" cried he, as he threw himself into the chaise that was to carry him
+away; "Faster! faster!"
+
+The words, "and no woman will ever love you, nor ever, did," rung upon
+Vivian's ear. "There she is mistaken, thank Heaven!" said he to himself:
+yet the words still dwelt upon his mind, and gave him exquisite pain.
+Upon looking again at Russell's letter, he observed that Selina Sidney's
+name was never mentioned; that she was neither directly nor indirectly
+alluded to in the whole letter. What omen to draw from this he could not
+divine. Again he read it; and all that Russell said of public life, and
+his exhortations to him to come and distinguish himself in public and in
+the political world, struck him in a new light. It seemed as if Russell
+was sensible that, there were no farther hopes of Selina, and that
+therefore he tried to turn Vivian's mind from love to ambition. Fourteen
+times he read over this letter before he reached England; but he could
+not discover from it any thing as to the point on which his heart was
+most interested. He reached London in this, uncertainty.
+
+"Put me out of suspense, my best friend," cried he, the moment he saw
+Russell: "tell me, is Selina living?"
+
+"Yes--she has been very ill, but is now recovered--quite recovered, and
+with your mother, who is grown fonder of her than ever she was."
+
+"Selina alive! well! and with my mother!--and may I--I don't mean may I
+_now_,--but may I _ever_ hope?--Believe me, I feel myself capable of any
+exertions, any forbearance, to obtain her forgiveness--to merit--May I
+ever hope for it?--Speak!"
+
+Russell assured him that he need not dread Miss Sidney's resentment, for
+that she felt none; she had expressed pity more than anger--that she had
+taken pains to sooth his mother; and had expressed sincere satisfaction
+on hearing of his _release_ from his unworthy bondage, and at his return
+home to his friends.
+
+The tone in which Russell spoke, and the seriousness and embarrassment
+of his manner, alarmed Vivian inexpressibly. He stood silent, and
+dared not ask farther explanation for some minutes.--At length he broke
+silence, and conjured his friend to go immediately to Miss Sidney and
+his mother, and to request permission for him to see them both in each
+other's presence. Russell said, that if Vivian insisted, he would comply
+with his request; but that he advised him not to attempt to see Miss
+Sidney at present; not till he had been some time in London--till he
+had given some earnest of the steadiness of his conduct--till he had
+appeared again, and distinguished himself in public life. "This might
+raise you again in her esteem; and," continued Russell, "you must be
+aware that her love depends on her esteem--at least, that the one cannot
+exist without the other."
+
+"Will you deliver a letter to her from me?" said Vivian. "If you think
+I had better not attempt to see her yet, you will deliver a letter for
+me?"
+
+After some hesitation, or rather some deliberation, Russell answered,
+in a constrained voice, "I will deliver your letter, if you insist upon
+it."
+
+Vivian wrote:--Russell undertook to deliver the letter, though with
+evident reluctance. In the mean time Vivian went to see his mother,
+whom he longed, yet dreaded to meet. Her manner was not now severe and
+haughty, as when she last addressed him; but mild and benign: she held
+out her hand to him, and said, "Thank God! my son is restored to me, and
+to himself!"
+
+She could say no more; but embraced him tenderly. Russell had shown Lady
+Mary that her son had been the dupe of a preconcerted scheme to work
+upon his passions. She deplored his weakness, but she had been touched
+by his sufferings; and was persuaded that his remorse would guard him
+against future errors. Therefore not a word or look of reproach escaped
+from her. When he spoke of Selina, Lady Mary, with great animation of
+countenance and warmth of eulogium, declared, that it was the first wish
+of her heart to see her son married to a woman of such a noble character
+and angelic temper; "_but_," added her ladyship, her manner changing
+suddenly, as she pronounced the word _but_--before she could explain
+the _but_, Russell came into the room, and told Vivian that Miss Sidney
+desired to see him. Vivian heard the words with joy; but his joy
+was checked by the great gravity and embarrassment of his friend's
+countenance, and by a sigh of ill omen from his mother. Eager to relieve
+his suspense, he hastened to Selina, who, as Russell told him, was in
+Lady Mary's dressing-room--the room in which he had first declared his
+passion for her. Hope and fear alternately seized him--fear prevailed
+the moment that he beheld Selina. Not that any strong displeasure
+appeared in her countenance--no, it was mild and placid; but it was
+changed towards him, and its very serenity was alarming. Whilst she
+welcomed him to his native country and to his friends, and while she
+expressed hopes for his future happiness, all hope forsook him, and,
+in broken sentences, he attempted to stammer out some answer; then,
+throwing himself into a chair, he exclaimed, "I see all future happiness
+is lost for me--and I deserve it!"
+
+"Do not reproach yourself," said Selina in a sweet voice; but the voice,
+though sweet, was so altered to him, that it threw him into despair. "It
+is my wish, not to inflict, but to spare you pain. I have, therefore,
+desired to see you as soon as possible, that you might not form false
+expectations."
+
+"Then you no longer love me, Selina? Now, after all I have suffered, you
+have the cruelty to tell me so? And you, who could form my character to
+every thing that is good and honourable; you, who alone could restore me
+to myself--you reject, you cast me from you for ever?"
+
+"I have suffered much," said Selina, in a trembling voice, "since we
+parted."
+
+Vivian's eye quickly ran over her face and whole form as she spoke these
+words; and he saw, indeed, traces of sickness and suffering: with the
+idea of his power over her affections, his hopes revived; he seized the
+feeble hand, which lay motionless; but she withdrew it decidedly,
+and his hopes again forsook him, when she gently raised her head, and
+continued to speak, "I have suffered much since we parted, Mr. Vivian;
+and I hope you will spare me unnecessary and useless pain in this
+interview: painful to a certain degree it must be to both of us; for I
+cannot, even now that all feelings of passion have subsided, and that
+the possibility of my being united to you is past, tell you so, with all
+the composure which I had expected to do; nor with all the firmness of
+voice and manner which is necessary, perhaps, to convince you of the
+truth, and to restore your mind to itself."
+
+"The possibility of my being united to you is past!--Why?" interrupted
+Vivian, incapable of understanding or listening to any thing else, till
+this question was answered.
+
+"Do not force me to what may seem like cruel reproach; but let it
+suffice for me to say, that my sentiments have been so much altered by
+a _year's experience_, that it is impossible for me ever to become your
+wife. My love was founded on esteem. I had, indeed, always fears of the
+instability of your character; therefore, I put your resolution to the
+proof: the event has proved to me that my fears were but too just. I
+speak with difficulty; for I cannot easily give you so much pain as I
+know that I am inflicting at this moment. But," resumed she, in a more
+resolute tone, "it is absolutely necessary for your future peace of
+mind, as well as for my own, that I should convince you I am sincere,
+perfectly sincere, at this moment; that I know my own heart; that my
+determination has not been hastily formed, and cannot be altered. The
+deliberate manner in which I now speak to you will, I hope, persuade you
+of this truth. And if I have hesitated, or showed any agitation in this
+interview, attribute it to its real cause--the weakness of my health;
+feebleness of body, not of mind."
+
+She rose to leave the room; but Vivian detained her, beseeching her,
+with all the eloquence of passion in despair, to hear him but for
+one moment; whilst he urged that there was no probability of his ever
+relapsing into errors from which he had suffered so much; that now his
+character was formed by adversity; and that such was the power which
+Selina possessed over his heart, that a union with her would, at this
+crisis, decide his fate; that her steadiness would give stability to
+his resolutions; and that his gratitude would so increase his affection,
+that he should have the strongest possible motives to make her a good
+husband; that when he was happy in domestic life, he should feel every
+energy of his mind revive; that he should exert all his powers to
+distinguish himself, and to justify the choice of the woman he adored.
+
+In spite of the word _adored_, which has usually such power to confound
+female judgment, Selina perceived that all he said was merely a
+repetition of his former arguments, of which experience had proved the
+insufficiency. She was aware that, if before marriage his resolution and
+constancy had not been able to support the trial, it would be folly
+or madness to marry him with the vague hope that she might reform his
+character. She therefore continued steady to her resolution; and as she
+found that Vivian's disappointment was greater than she had expected,
+she immediately withdrew from his mother's house. The next morning, when
+Vivian came to breakfast, after having spent a sleepless night, planning
+new arguments or new intreaties in favour of his love, he found that
+Miss Sidney was gone. His mother and his friend Russell joined in
+representing to him that it would be useless to follow her, that it
+would only give himself and Selina unavailing pain. Vivian felt this
+stroke severely. His mind was, as it were, adrift again. After the first
+violence of his feelings had spent itself, and when he sunk into that
+kind of apathy which is the consequence of exhausted passion, his friend
+Russell endeavoured to excite him to honourable ambition. Vivian caught
+the idea, that if he distinguished himself in public life, and if he
+there displayed any steadiness of character, he might win back Selina's
+esteem and affection. Fired with this hope, he immediately turned his
+whole mind to the object; applied with indefatigable ardour, day and
+night, to make himself master of the subjects likely to be discussed
+in the ensuing session of parliament. At length his application and
+his energy were crowned with success. On a question of considerable
+political importance, which he had carefully considered, he made an
+excellent speech; a speech which directly made him of consequence in
+the house; which, in the language of the newspapers, "was received with
+unbounded applause, was distinguished for strength of argument, lucid
+order, and a happy choice of expression." But what encouraged our hero
+more than newspaper puffs or party panegyrics was the approbation of
+his friend Russell. Russell never praised violently; but a few words,
+or even a look of satisfaction from him, went farther than the most
+exaggerated eulogiums from others. Vivian pursued his course for some
+time with honour and increasing reputation. There was one man who never
+joined in any of the compliments paid to the rising orator; there was
+one man who always spoke of him with contempt, who pronounced that
+"Vivian would never go far in politics--that it was not in him--that
+he was too soft--_que c'�toit b�tir sur de la boue, que de compter sur
+lui_." This depreciator and enemy of Vivian was the man who, but a
+few months before, had been his political _proneur_ and unblushing
+flatterer, Mr. Wharton. Exasperated by the consciousness of his own
+detected baseness, and provoked still more by his being frustrated in
+all his schemes, Wharton now practised every art that a malicious and
+unprincipled wit could devise to lower the opinion of Vivian's talents,
+and to prevent his obtaining either power or celebrity. Our hero was
+stimulated by this conduct to fresh exertions. So far Wharton's enmity
+was of service to him; but it was of disservice, by changing, in some
+measure, the purity of the motives from which he acted. With love and
+honourable ambition now mixed hatred, thoughts of vengeance, views
+of vulgar vanity and interest: he thought more of contradicting Mr.
+Wharton's prophecies than of fulfilling his own ideas of what was fair
+and right. He was anxious to prove, that he could "_go far_ in politics,
+that it was _in him_, that he was not too soft, and that it was not
+building on mud to depend on him." These indefinite expressions operated
+powerfully and perniciously on his imagination. To prove that Wharton
+was mistaken in his prognostics, it was necessary to our hero to obtain
+the price and stamp of talents--it was essential to gain political
+power; and this could not be attained without joining a party. Vivian
+joined the party then in opposition. Wharton and he, though both in
+opposition, of course, after what had passed, could never meet in any
+private company; nor had they any communication in public, though on the
+same side of the question: their enmity was so great, that not only
+the business of the nation, but even the interests of their party, were
+often impeded by their quarrels. In the midst of these disputes, Vivian
+insensibly adopted more and more of the language and principles of the
+public men with whom he daily associated. He began to hear and talk of
+compensations and jobs, as they did; and to consider all measures
+proved to be necessary for the support of his party as expedient, if
+not absolutely right. His country could not be saved, unless he and his
+friends could obtain the management of affairs; and no men, be found,
+could gain parliamentary influence, or raise themselves into political
+power, without _acting as a body_. Then, of course, all subordinate
+points of right were to be sacrificed to the great good of promoting the
+views of the party. Still, however, his patriotism was upon the whole
+pure; he had no personal views of interest, no desire even to be in
+place, independently of a wish to promote the good of his country.
+Secret overtures were, about this time, made to him by government; and
+inquiries were made if there was any thing which could gratify him, or
+by which he could be induced to lay aside his opposition, and to assist
+in supporting their measures. Many compliments to his talents and
+eloquence, and all the usual _commonplaces_, about the expediency and
+propriety of _strengthening the hands of government_, were, of course,
+added. Something _specific_ was at length mentioned: it was intimated,
+that as he was of an ancient family, it might gratify him that his
+mother should be made a baroness in her own right. The offer was
+declined, and the temptation was firmly withstood by our hero; his
+credit was now at its _acme_ with his own coadjutors. Lady Mary
+whispered the circumstance, as a state secret, to all her acquaintance;
+and Russell took care that Miss Sidney should hear of it.
+
+Vivian was now cited as an incorruptible patriot. Wharton's malice, and
+even his wit, was almost silenced; yet he was heard to say, amidst the
+din of applause, "This is only the first offer; he is in the right
+to make a show of resistance: he will coquet for a time, and keep
+_philandering_ on till he suits himself, and then he'll jilt us, you'll
+see."
+
+Such speeches, though they reached Vivian's ear by the kind
+officiousness of friends, were never made by Mr. Wharton so directly
+that he could take hold of them; and Russell strenuously advised him
+not to seek occasion to quarrel with a man who evidently desired only
+to raise his own reputation by making Vivian angry, getting him in the
+wrong, and forcing him into an imprudent duel.
+
+"Let your actions continue to contradict his words, and they can never
+injure you," said Russell.
+
+For some time Vivian adhered to his friend's advice, and he proudly felt
+the superiority of principle and character. But, alas! there was one
+defence that his patriotism wanted--economy. Whilst he was thus active
+in the public cause, and exulting in his disinterestedness, his private
+affairs were getting into terrible disorder. The expense of building
+his castle had increased beyond all his calculations--the expense of
+his election--the money he had lost at play whilst he was in Wharton's
+society--the sums he had lent to Wharton--the money he had spent
+abroad,--all these accumulated brought him to great difficulties: for
+though his estate was considerable, yet it was so settled and tied
+up that he could neither sell nor mortgage. His creditors became
+clamorous--he had no means of satisfying or quieting them: an execution
+was actually sent down to his castle, just as it was finished. Lady
+Mary Vivian was in the greatest alarm and distress: she had no means of
+extricating her son. As to his fashionable friends--no hopes from such
+extravagant and selfish beings. What was to be done? At this critical
+moment, the offers from _a certain quarter_ were renewed in another,
+and, as it seemed, a more acceptable form,--a pension was proffered
+instead of a title; and it was promised that the business should be so
+managed, and the pension so held in another name, that nothing of the
+transaction should transpire; and that his seceding from opposition
+should be made to appear a change of sentiments from conviction, not
+from interested motives. Vivian's honourable feelings revolted from
+these offers, and abhorred these subterfuges; but distress--pecuniary
+distress! he had never before felt its pressure; he had never till
+now felt how powerful, how compulsatory it is over even generous and
+high-spirited souls. Whilst Vivian was thus oppressed with difficulties,
+which his imprudence had brought upon him; whilst his mind was
+struggling with opposing motives, he was, most fortunately for his
+political integrity, relieved, partly by accident, and partly by
+friendship. It happened that the incumbent of the rich living, of which
+Vivian had the presentation, was dying just at this time; and Russell,
+instead of claiming the living which Vivian had promised to him,
+relinquished all pretensions to it, and insisted upon his friend's
+disposing of his right of presentation. The sum which this enabled
+Vivian to raise was fully sufficient to satisfy the execution which had
+been laid on his castle; and the less clamorous creditors were content
+to be paid by instalments, annually, from his income. Thus he was saved
+for the present; and he formed the most prudent resolves for the future.
+He was most sincerely grateful to his disinterested friend. The full
+extent of the sacrifice which Russell made him was not, however, known
+at this time, nor for some years afterwards.
+
+But, without anticipation, let us proceed with our story. Amongst those
+fashionable and political friends with whom our hero had, since his
+return to England, renewed his connexion, was my Lord Glistonbury. His
+lordship, far from thinking the worse of him for _his affair_ with Mrs.
+Wharton, spoke of it in modish _slang_, as "a new and fine feather in
+his cap;" and he congratulated Vivian upon his having "carried off the
+prize without paying the price." Vivian's success as a parliamentary
+orator had still further endeared him to his lordship, who failed not to
+repeat, that he had always prophesied Vivian would make a capital figure
+in public life; that Vivian was his member, &c. At the recess, Lord
+Glistonbury insisted upon carrying Vivian down to spend the holidays
+with him at Glistonbury Castle.
+
+"You must come, Vivian: so make your fellow put your worldly goods into
+my barouche, which is at the door; and we are to have a great party at
+Glistonbury, and private theatricals, and the devil knows what; and
+you must see my little Julia act, and I must introduce you to _the
+Rosamunda_. Come, come! you can't refuse me!--Why, you have only a
+bachelor's castle of your own to go to; and that's a dismal sort of
+business, compared with what I have _in petto_ for you--'the feast of
+reason, and the flow of soul,' in the first style, I assure you.
+You must know, I always--even in the midst of the wildest of my wild
+oats--had a taste for the belles-lettres, and philosophy, and the muses,
+and the _literati,_ and so forth--always a touch of the Mecaenas about
+me.--And now my boy's growing up, it's more particularly proper to bring
+these sort of people about him; for, you know, clever men who have a
+reputation can sound a flourish of trumpets advantageously before 'a
+Grecian youth of talents rare' makes his appearance on the stage of
+the great world--Ha! hey!--Is not this what one may call
+prudence?--Ha!--Good to have a father who knows something of life, and
+of books too, hey? Then, for my daughters, too--daughter, I mean; for
+Lady Sarah's Lady Glistonbury's child: her ladyship and Miss Strictland
+have manufactured her after their own taste and fashion; and I've
+nothing to say to that--But my little Julia--Ah, I've got a different
+sort of governess about her these few months past--not without family
+battles, you may guess. But when Jupiter gives the nod, you know, even
+Juno, stately as she is, must bend. So I have my Rosamunda for my little
+Julia--who, by-the-bye, is no longer my _little_ Julia, but a prodigious
+fine woman, as you shall see. But, all this time, is your fellow putting
+your things up? No!--Hey? how? Oh, I understand your long face of
+hesitation--you have not seen the ladies since the Wharton affair, and
+you don't know how they might look.--Never fear! Lady Glistonbury shall
+do as I please, and look as I please. Besides, _entre nous_, I know she
+hates the Whartons; so that her morality will have a loophole to creep
+out of; and you'll be safe and snug, whilst all the blame will be thrown
+on them--Hey!--Oh, I understand things--pique myself on investigating
+the human heart. Come, we have not a moment to lose; and you'll have
+your friend Russell, too--Come, come! to have and to hold, as the
+lawyers say--"
+
+Seizing Vivian's arm, Lord Glistonbury carried him off before he had
+half understood all his lordship had poured forth so rapidly; and before
+he had decided whether he wished or not to accept of this invitation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+
+On his way to Glistonbury Castle, Vivian had full leisure to repent of
+having accepted of this invitation, recollecting, as he did, all the
+former reports about himself and Lady Sarah Lidhurst. He determined,
+therefore, that his visit should be as short as possible; and the chief
+pleasure he promised himself was the society of his friend Russell.
+
+On his arrival at the castle, he was told that Mr. Russell was out
+riding; and that every body else was in the theatre at a rehearsal,
+except Lady Glistonbury, the Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland. He found
+these three ladies sitting in form in the great deserted drawing-room,
+each looking like a copy of the other, and all as if they were deploring
+the degeneracy of the times. Vivian approached with due awe; but, to his
+great surprise and relief, at his approach their countenances exhibited
+some signs of life. Lord Glistonbury _presented_ him on his return
+from abroad: Lady Glistonbury's features relaxed to a smile, though she
+seemed immediately to repent of it, and to feel it incumbent upon her to
+maintain her rigidity of mien. Whilst she, and of course Miss Strictland
+and the Lady Sarah, were thus embarrassed between the necessity of
+reprobating the sin, and the desire of pleasing the sinner, Lord
+Glistonbury ran on with one of his speeches, of borrowed sense and
+original nonsense, and then would have carried him off to the rehearsal,
+but Lady Glistonbury called Vivian back, begging, in her formal manner,
+"that her lord would do her the favour to leave Mr. Vivian with her for
+a few minutes, as it was so long since she had the pleasure of seeing
+him at Glistonbury." Vivian returned with as good a grace as he could;
+and, to find means of breaking the embarrassing silence that ensued,
+took up a book which lay upon the table, "Toplady's Sermons"--no hope
+of assistance from that: he had recourse to another--equally unlucky,
+"Wesley's Diary:" another--"The Pilgrim's Progress." He went no farther;
+but, looking up, he perceived that the Lady Sarah was _motioned_ by her
+august mother to leave the room. Vivian had again recourse to "Toplady."
+
+"Very unfashionable books, Mr. Vivian," said Miss Strictland, bridling
+and smiling as in scorn.
+
+"Very unfashionable books!" repeated Lady Glistonbury, with the
+same inflection of voice, and the same bridling and smiling. "Very
+different," continued her ladyship, "very different from what you have
+been accustomed to see on _some_ ladies' tables, no doubt, Mr. Vivian!
+Without mentioning names, or alluding to transactions that ought to be
+buried in eternal oblivion, and that are so very distressing to your
+friends here to think of, sir, give me leave to ask, Mr. Vivian, whether
+it be true what I have heard, that the prosecution, and every thing
+relative to it, is entirely given up?"
+
+"Entirely, madam."
+
+"Then," said Lady Glistonbury, glancing her eye at Miss Strictland,
+"_we_ may welcome Mr. Vivian with safe consciences to Glistonbury; and
+since the affair will never become public, and since Lady Sarah knows
+none of the improper particulars; and since she may, and, from her
+education, naturally will, class all such things under the head of
+impossibilities and false reports, of which people, in our rank of life
+especially, are subject every hour to hear so many; there cannot, as I
+am persuaded you will agree with me in thinking, Miss Strictland, be any
+impropriety in our and Lady Sarah's receiving Mr. Vivian again on the
+same footing as formerly."
+
+Miss Strictland bowed her formal assent: Vivian bowed, because he saw
+that a bow was expected from him; and then he pondered on what might be
+meant by the words, _on the same footing as formerly_; and he had just
+framed a clause explanatory and restrictive of the same, when he was
+interrupted by the sound of laughter, and of numerous, loud, and mingled
+voices, coming along the gallery that led to the drawing-room. As
+if these were signals for her departure, and as if she dreaded the
+intrusion and contamination of the revel rout, Lady Glistonbury arose,
+looked at her watch, pronounced her belief that it was full time for her
+to go to dress, and retired through a Venetian door, followed by Miss
+Strictland, repeating the same belief, and bearing her ladyship's
+tapestry work: her steps quickened as the door at the opposite end of
+the room opened; and, curtsying (an unnecessary apology to Mr. Vivian)
+as she passed, she left him _to himself_. And now,
+
+     "He sees a train profusely gay,
+     Come pranckling o'er the place."
+
+Some were dressed for comic, some for tragic characters; but all seemed
+equally gay, and talked equally fast. There had been a dressed rehearsal
+of "The Fair Penitent," and of "The Romp;" and all the spectators and
+all the actors were giving and receiving exuberant compliments. Vivian
+knew many of the party,--some of them bel-esprits, some fashionable
+amateurs; all pretenders to notoriety, either as judges or performers.
+In the midst of this motley group, there was one figure who stood
+receiving and expecting universal homage: she was dressed as "The Fair
+Penitent;" but her affected vivacity of gesture and countenance was in
+striking contrast to her tragic attire; and Vivian could hardly forbear
+smiling at the _minauderies_ with which she listened and talked to the
+gentlemen round her; now languishing, now coquetting; rolling her eyes,
+and throwing herself into a succession of studied attitudes, dealing
+repartees to this side and to that; and, in short, making the greatest
+possible exhibition both of her person and her mind.
+
+"Don't you know her? Did you never see her before?--No!
+you've been out of England; but you've heard of her,
+certainly?--_Rosamunda_,"--whispered Lord Glistonbury to Vivian.
+
+"And who is Rosamunda?" said Vivian; "an actress."
+
+"Actress!--Hush!--Bless you! no--but the famous poetess. Is it possible
+that you hav'n't read the poems of Rosamunda?--They were in every body's
+hands a few months ago; but you were abroad--better engaged, or as well,
+hey? But, as I was going to tell you, that's the reason she's called
+_The Rosamunda_--I gave her the name, for I patronized her from the
+first. Her real name is Bateman; and Lady Glistonbury and her set call
+her Miss Bateman still, but nobody else. She's an amazing clever
+woman, I assure you--more genius than any of 'em since the time of
+Rousseau!--Devil of a salary!--and devil of a battle I had to fight with
+some of my friends before I could fix her here; but I was determined I
+would follow my own ideas in Julia's education. Lady Glistonbury had
+her way and her routine with Lady Sarah; and it's all very well, vastly
+well--
+
+     'Virtue for her too painful an endeavour,
+     Content to dwell in decencies for ever.'
+
+You know the sort of thing! Yes, yes; but I was not content to have my
+Julia lost among the _mediocres_, as I call them: so I took her out of
+Miss Strictland's hands; and the Rosamunda's her governess."
+
+"Her governess!" repeated Vivian, with uncontrollable astonishment;
+"Lady Julia Lidhurst's governess!"
+
+"Yes, you may well be surprised," pursued Lord Glistonbury, mistaking
+the cause of the surprise: "no one in England could have done it but
+myself; she refused innumerable applications,--immense offers; and,
+after all, you know, she does not appear as governess _titr�e_--only
+as a friend of the family, who directs Lady Julia Lidhurst's literary
+talents. Oh, you understand, a man of the world knows how to manage
+these things--sacrifices always to the vanity of the sex, or the
+pride, as the case may be, I never mind names, but things, as the
+metaphysicians say--distinguish betwixt essentials and accidents--sound
+philosophy that, hey? And, thank Heaven! a gentleman or a nobleman need
+not apologize in these days for talking of philosophy before ladies,
+even if any body overheard us, which, as it happens, I believe nobody
+does. So let me, now that _you know your Paris_, introduce you to 'The
+Rosamunda.'--Mr. Vivian--the Rosamunda. Rosamunda--Mr. Vivian."
+
+After Vivian had for a few minutes acted audience, very little to his
+own satisfaction, he was relieved by Lord Glistonbury's exclaiming, "But
+Julia! where's Julia all this time?"
+
+Rosamunda looked round, with the air of one interrupted by a frivolous
+question which requires no answer; but some one less exalted, and more
+attentive to the common forms of civility, told his lordship that Lady
+Julia was in the gallery with her brother. Lord Glistonbury hurried
+Vivian into the gallery. He was struck the moment he met Lady Julia
+with the great change and improvement in her appearance. Instead of the
+childish girl he had formerly seen flying about, full only of the frolic
+of the present moment, he now saw a fine graceful woman with a striking
+countenance that indicated both genius and sensibility. She was talking
+to her brother with so much eagerness, that she did not see Vivian come
+into the gallery; and, as he walked on towards the farther end, where
+she was standing, he had time to admire her.
+
+"A fine girl, faith! though she is my daughter," whispered Lord
+Glistonbury; "and would you believe that she is only sixteen?"
+
+"Only sixteen!"
+
+"Ay: and stay till you talk to her--stay till you hear her--you will be
+more surprised. Such genius! such eloquence! She's my own girl. Well,
+Julia, my darling!" cried he, raising his voice, "in the clouds, as
+usual?"
+
+Lady Julia started--but it was a natural, not a theatric
+start--colouring at the consciousness of her own absence of mind. She
+came forward with a manner that apologized better than words could do,
+and she received Mr. Vivian so courteously, and with such ingenuous
+pleasure in her countenance, that he began to rejoice in having accepted
+the invitation to Glistonbury; at the same instant, he recollected a
+look which his mother had given him when he first saw Lady Julia on the
+terrace of the castle.
+
+"Well, what was she saying to you, Lidhurst? hey! my boy?"
+
+"We were arguing, sir."
+
+"Arguing! Ay, ay, she's the devil for that!--words at will!--'Persuasive
+words, and more persuasive sighs!' Ah, woman! woman for ever! always
+talking us out of our senses! and which of the best of us would not
+wish it to be so? 'Oh! let me, let me be deceived!' is the cream of
+philosophy, epicurean and stoic--at least, that's my creed. But to the
+point: what was it about that she was holding forth so charmingly--a
+book or a lover? A book, I'll wager: she's such a romantic little
+fool, and so unlike other women: leaves all her admirers there in the
+drawing-room, and stays out here, talking over musty books with her
+brother. But come, what was the point? I will have it argued again
+before me--Let's see the book."
+
+Lord Lidhurst pointed out a speech in "The Fair Penitent," and said that
+they had been debating about the manner in which it should be recited.
+Lord Glistonbury called upon his daughter to repeat it: she showed
+a slight degree of unaffected timidity at first; but when her
+father stamped and bid her let him see no vulgar bashfulness, she
+obeyed--recited charmingly--and, when urged by a little opposition from
+her brother, grew warm in defence of her own opinion--displayed in its
+support such sensibility, with such a flow of eloquence, accompanied
+with such animated and graceful, yet natural gesture, that Vivian was
+transported with sudden admiration. He was astonished at this early
+development of feeling and intellect; and if, in the midst of his
+delight, he felt some latent disapprobation of this display of talent
+from so young a woman, yet he quickly justified her to himself, by
+saying that he was not a stranger; that he had formerly been received
+by her family on a footing of intimacy. Then he observed farther, in her
+vindication, that there was not the slightest affectation or coquetry in
+any of her words or motions; that she spoke with this eagerness not to
+gain admiration, but because she was carried away by her enthusiasm,
+and, thoughtless of herself, was eager only to persuade and to make
+her opinions prevail. Such was the enchantment of her eloquence and her
+beauty, that after a quarter of an hour spent in her company, our hero
+did not know whether to wish that she had more sedateness and reserve,
+or to rejoice that she was so animated and natural. Before he could
+decide this point, his friend Russell returned from riding. After the
+first greetings were over, Russell drew him aside, and asked, "Pray, my
+dear Vivian, what brings you here?"
+
+"Lord Glistonbury--to whom I had not time to say no, he talked so fast.
+But, after all, why should I say no? I am a free man--a discarded lover.
+I am absolutely convinced that Selina Sidney's refusal will never be
+retracted; my mother, I know, is of that opinion. You suggested, that
+if I distinguished myself in public life, and showed steadiness, I might
+recover her esteem and affection; but I see no chance of it. My mother
+showed me her last letter--no hopes from that--so I think it would
+be madness, or folly, to waste my time, and wear out my feelings, in
+pursuit of a woman, who, however amiable, is lost to me."
+
+"Of that you are the best judge," said Russell, gravely. "I am far from
+wishing--from urging you to waste your time. Lady Mary Vivian must know
+more of Miss Sidney, and be better able to judge of the state of her
+heart than I can be. It would not be the part of a friend to excite you
+to persevere in a pursuit that would end in disappointment; but
+this much, before we quit the subject for ever, I feel it my duty to
+say--that I think Miss Sidney the woman of all others the best suited to
+your character, the most deserving of your love, the most calculated to
+make you exquisitely and permanently happy."
+
+"All that's very true," said Vivian, impatiently; "but, since I can't
+have her, why make me miserable about her?"
+
+"Am I to understand," resumed Russell, after a long pause, "am I to
+understand that, now you have regained your freedom, you come here with
+the settled purpose of espousing the Lady Sarah Lidhurst?"
+
+"Heaven forfend!" cried Vivian, starting back.
+
+"Then I am to go over again, on this subject, with indefatigable
+patience and in due logical order, all the arguments, moral, prudential,
+and conventional, which I had the labour of laying before you about a
+twelvemonth ago."
+
+"Save yourself the trouble, my dear friend!" said Vivian; "I shall set
+all that upon a right footing immediately, by speaking of the report
+at once to some of the family. I was going to _rise to explain_
+this morning, when I was with Lady Glastonbury; but I felt a sort of
+delicacy--it was an awkward time--and at that moment somebody came into
+the room."
+
+"Ay," said Russell, "you are just like the hero of a novel, stopped from
+saying what he ought to say by somebody's coming into the room.--Awkward
+time! Take care you don't sacrifice yourself at last to these
+_awkwardnesses_ and this sort of _delicacies_. I have still my fears
+that you will get into difficulties about Lady Sarah."
+
+Vivian could not help laughing at what he called his friend's absurd
+fears.
+
+"If you are determined, my dear Russell, at all events to fear for me,
+I'll suggest to you a more reasonable cause of dread. Suppose I should
+fall desperately in love with Lady Julia!--I assure you there's
+some danger of that. She is really very handsome and very graceful;
+uncommonly clever and eloquent--as to the rest, you know her--what is
+she?"
+
+"All that you have said, and more. She might be made any thing--every
+thing; an ornament to her sex--an honour to her country--were she
+under the guidance of persons fit to direct great powers and a noble
+character; but yet I cannot, Vivian, as your friend, recommend her to
+you as a wife."
+
+"I am not thinking of her as a wife," said Vivian: "I have not had time
+to think of her at all yet. But you said, just now, that in good hands
+she might be made every thing that is good and great. Why not by a
+husband, instead of a governess? and would not you call mine _good
+hands_?"
+
+"Good, but not steady--not at all the husband fit to guide such a woman.
+He must be a man not only of superior sense, but of superior strength of
+mind."
+
+Vivian was piqued by this remark, and proceeded to compare the fitness
+of his character to _such_ a character as Lady Julia's. Every moment he
+showed more curiosity to hear further particulars of her disposition; of
+the different characters of her governesses, and of all her relations;
+but Russell refused to say more. He had told him what he was called
+upon, as his friend, to reveal; he left the rest to Vivian's own
+observation and judgment. Vivian set himself to work to observe and
+judge with all his might.
+
+He soon perceived that all Russell had told him of the mismanagement of
+Lady Julia's education was true. In this house there were two parties,
+each in extremes, and each with their systems and practice carried to
+the utmost excess. The partisans of the old and the new school were here
+to be seen at daggers-drawing. Lady Glastonbury, abhorrent of what
+she termed modern philosophy, and classing under that name almost
+all science and literature, especially all attempts to cultivate the
+understanding of women, had, with the assistance of her _double_, Miss
+Strictland, brought up Lady Sarah in all the ignorance and all the
+rigidity of the most obsolete of the old school; she had made Lady Sarah
+precisely like herself; with virtue, stiff, dogmatical, and repulsive;
+with religion, gloomy and puritanical; with manners, cold and automatic.
+In the course of eighteen years, whilst Lady Glistonbury went on, like
+clock-work, the same round, punctual to the letter but unfeeling of the
+spirit of her duties, she contrived, even by the wearisome method of her
+_minuted_ diary of education, to make her house odious to her husband.
+Some task, or master, or hour of lesson, continually, and immitigably
+plagued him: he went abroad for amusement, and found dissipation.
+Thus, by her unaccommodating temper, and the obstinacy of her manifold
+virtues, she succeeded in alienating the affections of her husband. In
+despair he one day exclaimed,
+
+     "Ah que de vertus vous me faites ha�r;"
+
+and, repelled by virtue in this ungracious form, he flew to more
+attractive vice. Finding that he could not have any comfort or solace
+in the society of his wife, he sought consolation in the company of a
+mistress. Lady Glistonbury had, in the mean time, her consolation
+in being a pattern-wife; and in hearing that at card-tables it was
+universally said, that Lord Glistonbury was the worst of husbands, and
+that her ladyship was extremely to be pitied. In process of time, Lord
+Glistonbury was driven to his home again by the united torments of a
+virago mistress and the gout. It was at this period that he formed the
+notion of being at once a political leader and a Mecaenas; and it was
+at this period that he became acquainted with both his daughters, and
+determined that his Julia should never resemble the Lady Sarah. He saw
+his own genius in Julia; and he resolved, as he said, to give her fair
+play, and to make her one of the wonders of the age. After some months'
+counteraction and altercation, Lord Glistonbury, with a high hand, took
+_his_ daughter from under the control of Miss Strictland; and, in spite
+of all the representations, prophecies, and denunciations of her mother,
+consigned Julia to the care of a governess after his own heart--a Miss
+Bateman; or, as he called her, _The Rosamunda_. From the moment this
+lady was introduced into the family there was an irreconcileable breach
+between the husband and wife. Lady Glistonbury was perfectly in the
+right in her dread of such a governess as Miss Bateman for her daughter.
+Her ladyship was only partially and accidentally right: right in point
+of fact, but wrong in the general principle; for she objected to Miss
+Bateman, as being of the class of literary women; to her real faults,
+her inordinate love of admiration, and romantic imprudence, Lady
+Glistonbury did not object, because she did not at first know them; and
+when she did, she considered them but as necessary consequences of
+the _cultivation and enlargement of Miss Bateman's understanding_. "No
+wonder!" her ladyship would say; "I knew it must be so; I knew it could
+not be otherwise. All those clever women, as they are called, are the
+same. This _comes_ of literature and literary ladies."
+
+Thus moralizing in private with Miss Strictland and her own small party,
+Lady Glistonbury appeared silent and passive before her husband and
+his adherents. After prophesying how it all must end in the ruin of her
+daughter Julia, she declared that she would never speak on this subject
+again: she showed herself ready, with maternal resignation, and in
+silent obduracy, to witness the completion of the sacrifice of her
+devoted child.
+
+Lord Glistonbury was quite satisfied with having silenced opposition.
+His new governess, established in her office, and with full and
+unlimited powers, went on triumphant and careless of her charge; she
+thought of little but displaying her own talents in company. The castle
+was consequently filled with crowds of amateurs; novels and plays were
+the order of the day; and a theatre was fitted up, all in open defiance
+of poor Lady Glistonbury. The daughter commenced her new course of
+education by being taught to laugh at her mother's prejudices. Such was
+the state of affairs when Vivian commenced his observations; and all
+this secret history he learnt by scraps, and hints, and inuendoes, from
+very particular friends of both parties--friends who were not troubled
+with any of Mr. Russell's scruples or discretion.
+
+Vivian's attention was now fixed upon Lady Julia; he observed with
+satisfaction, that, notwithstanding her governess's example and
+excitement, Lady Julia did not show any exorbitant desire for
+general admiration; and that her manners were free from coquetry and
+affectation: she seemed rather to disdain the flattery, and to avoid
+both the homage and the company of men who were her inferiors in mental
+qualifications; she addressed her conversation principally to Vivian and
+his friend Russell; with them, indeed, she conversed a great deal,
+with much eagerness and enthusiasm, expressing all her opinions without
+disguise, and showing on most occasions more imagination than reason,
+and more feeling than judgment. Vivian perceived that it was soon
+suspected by many of their observers, and especially by Lady Glistonbury
+and the Lady Sarah, that Julia had a design upon his heart; but he
+plainly discerned that she had no design whatever to captivate him; and
+that though she gave him so large a share of her company, it was without
+thinking of him as a lover: he saw that she conversed with him and Mr.
+Russell, preferably to others, because they spoke on subjects which
+interested her more; and because they drew out her brother, of whom
+she was very fond. Her being capable, at so early an age, to appreciate
+Russell's character and talents; her preferring his solid sense and his
+plain sincerity to the brilliancy, the _fashion_, and even the gallantry
+of all the men whom her father had now collected round her, appeared
+to Vivian the most unequivocal proof of the superiority of her
+understanding and of the goodness of her disposition. On various
+occasions, he marked with delight the deference she paid to his friend's
+opinion, and the readiness with which she listened to reason from
+him--albeit unused and averse from reason in general. Impatient as
+she was of control, and confident, both in her own powers and in her
+instinctive moral sense (about which, by-the-bye, she talked a great
+deal of eloquent nonsense), yet a word or a look from Mr. Russell would
+reclaim her in her highest flights. Soon after Vivian commenced his
+observations upon this interesting subject, he saw an instance of what
+Russell had told him of the ease with which Lady Julia might be guided
+by a man of sense and strength of mind.
+
+The tragedy of "The Fair Penitent," Calista by Miss Bateman, was
+represented with vast applause to a brilliant audience at the
+Glistonbury theatre. The same play was to be reacted a week afterwards
+to a fresh audience--it was proposed that Vivian should play Lothario,
+and that Lady Julia should play Calista: Miss Bateman saw no objection
+to this proposal: Lord Glistonbury might, perhaps, have had the parental
+prudence to object to his daughter's appearing in public at her age,
+in such a character, before a mixed audience: but, unfortunately, Lady
+Glistonbury bursting from her silence at this critical moment, said so
+much, and in such a prosing and puritanical manner, not only against her
+daughter's acting in this play, and in these circumstances, but against
+all _stage plays_, playwrights, actors, and actresses whatsoever,
+denouncing and anathematizing them all indiscriminately; that
+immediately Lord Glistonbury laughed--Miss Bateman took fire--and it
+became a trial of power between the contending parties. Lady Julia, who
+had but lately escaped from the irksomeness of her mother's injudicious
+and minute control, dreaded, above all things, to be again subjected
+to her and Miss Strictland; therefore, without considering the real
+propriety or impropriety of the point in question, without examining
+whether Miss Bateman was right or wrong in the licence she had granted,
+Lady Julia supported her opinion warmly; and, with all her eloquence, at
+once asserted her own liberty, and defended the cause of the theatre
+in general. She had heard Mr. Russell once speak of the utility of
+a well-regulated public stage; of the influence of good theatric
+representations in forming the taste and rousing the soul to virtue: he
+had shown her Marmontel's celebrated letter to Rousseau on this subject;
+consequently, she thought she knew what his opinion must be on
+the present occasion: therefore she spoke with more than her usual
+confidence and enthusiasm. Her eloquence and her abilities transported
+her father and most of her auditors, Vivian among the rest, with
+astonishment and admiration: she enjoyed, at this moment, what the
+French call _un grand succ�s_; but, in the midst of the buzz of
+applause, Vivian observed that her eye turned anxiously upon Russell,
+who stood silent, and with a disapproving countenance.
+
+"I am sure your friend, Mr. Russell, is displeased at this instant--and
+with me.--I must know why.--Let us ask him.--Do bring him here."
+
+Immediately she disengaged herself from all her admirers, and, making
+room for Mr. Russell beside her, waited, as she said, to hear from him
+_ses v�rit�s_. Russell would have declined speaking, but her ladyship
+appealed earnestly and urgently for his opinion, saying, "Who will speak
+the truth to me if you will not? On whose judgment can I rely if not
+on yours?--You direct my brother's mind to every thing that is wise and
+good; direct mine: I am as desirous to do right as he can be: and you
+will find me--self-willed and volatile, as I know you think me--you will
+find me a docile pupil. Then tell me frankly--did I, just now, speak too
+much or too warmly? I thought I was speaking your sentiments, and that I
+_must_ be right. But perhaps it was not right for a woman, or so young
+a woman as I am, to support even just opinions so resolutely. And yet
+is it a crime to be young?--And is the honour of maintaining truth to
+be monopolized by age?--No, surely; for Mr. Russell himself has not that
+claim to stand forth, as he so often does, in its defence. If you think
+that I ought not to act Calista; if you think that I had better not
+appear on the stage at all, only say so!--All I ask is your opinion; the
+advantage of your judgment. And you see, Mr. Vivian, how difficult it is
+to obtain it!--But his friend, probably, never felt this difficulty!"
+
+With a degree of sober composure, which almost provoked Vivian, Mr.
+Russell answered this animated lady. And with a sincerity which,
+though politely shown, Vivian thought severe and almost cruel, Russell
+acknowledged that her ladyship had anticipated some, but not all of his
+objections. He represented that she had failed in becoming respect to
+her mother, in thus publicly attacking and opposing her opinions, even
+supposing them to be ill-founded; and declared that, as to the case in
+discussion, he was entirely of Lady Glistonbury's opinion, that it would
+be unfit and injurious to a young lady to exhibit herself, even on a
+private stage, in the character in which it had been proposed that Lady
+Julia should appear.
+
+Whilst Russell spoke, Vivian was charmed with the manner in which Lady
+Julia listened: he thought her countenance enchantingly beautiful,
+alternately softened as it was by the expression of genuine humility,
+and radiant with candour and gratitude. She made no reply, but
+immediately went to her mother; and, in the most engaging manner
+acknowledged that she had been wrong, and declared that she was
+convinced it would be improper for her to act the character she had
+proposed. With that cold haughtiness of mien, the most repulsive to
+a warm and generous mind, the mother turned to her daughter, and said
+that, for her part, she had no faith in sudden conversions, and starts
+of good conduct made little impression upon her; that, as far as she
+was herself concerned, she forgave, as in charity it became her, all
+the undutiful insolence with which she had been treated; that, as to
+the rest, she was glad to find, for Lady Julia's own sake, that she had
+given up her strange, and, as she must say, _scandalous_ intentions.
+"However," added Lady Glistonbury, "I am not so sanguine as to consider
+this as any thing but a respite from ruin; I am not so credulous as to
+believe in sudden reformations; nor, despicable as you and my lord do
+me the honour to think my understanding--am I to be made the dupe of a
+little deceitful fondling!"
+
+Julia withdrew her arms, which she had thrown round her mother; and Miss
+Strictland, after breaking her netting silk with a jerk of indignation,
+observed, that, for her part, she wondered young ladies should go to
+consult their brother's tutor, instead of more suitable, and, perhaps,
+as competent advisers. Lady Julia, now indignant, turned away, and was
+withdrawing from before the triumvirate, when Lady Sarah, who had sat
+looking, even more stiff and constrained than usual, suddenly broke from
+her stony state, and, springing forward, exclaimed, "Stay, Julia!--Stay,
+my dear sister!--Oh, Miss Strictland! do my sister justice!--When Julia
+is so candid, so eager to do right, intercede for her with my mother!"
+
+"First, may I presume to ask," said Miss Strictland, drawing herself up
+with starch malice; "first, may I presume to ask, whether Mr. Vivian,
+upon this occasion, declined to act Lothario?"
+
+"Miss Strictland, you do not do my sister justice!" cried Lady Sarah:
+"Miss Strictland, you are wrong--very wrong!"
+
+Miss Strictland, for a moment struck dumb with astonishment, opening
+her eyes as far as they could open, stared at Lady Sarah, and, after
+a pause, exclaimed, "Lady Sarah! I protest I never saw any thing that
+surprised me so much in my whole life!----Wrong!--very wrong!--I?----My
+Lady Glistonbury, I trust your ladyship----"
+
+Lady Glistonbury, at this instant, showed, by a little involuntary
+shake of her head, that she was inwardly perturbed: Lady Sarah,
+throwing herself upon her knees before her mother, exclaimed,
+"Oh, madam!--mother! forgive me if I failed in respect to Miss
+Strictland!----But, my sister! my sister----!"
+
+"Rise, Sarah, rise!" said Lady Glistonbury; "that is not a fit
+attitude!--And you are wrong, very wrong, to fail in respect to Miss
+Strictland, my second self, Sarah. Lady Julia Lidhurst, it is you who
+are the cause of this--the only failure of duty your sister ever was
+guilty of towards me in the whole course of her life--I beg of you to
+withdraw, and leave me my daughter Sarah."
+
+"At least, I have found a sister, and when I most wanted it," said Lady
+Julia. "I always suspected you loved me, but I never knew how much till
+this moment," added she, turning to embrace her sister; but Lady Sarah
+had now resumed her stony appearance, and, standing motionless, received
+her sister's embrace without sign of life or feeling.
+
+"Lady Julia Lidhurst," said Miss Strictland, "you humble yourself in
+vain: I think your mother, my Lady Glistonbury, requested of you to
+leave your sister, Lady Sarah, to us, and to her duty."
+
+"Duty!" repeated Lady Julia, her eyes flashing indignation: "Is this
+what you call _duty_?--Never will I humble myself before you again--I
+_will_ leave you--I do leave you--now and for ever--DUTY!"
+
+She withdrew:--and thus was lost one of the fairest occasions
+of confirming a young and candid mind in prudent and excellent
+dispositions. After humbling herself in vain before a mother, this poor
+young lady was now to withstand a father's reproaches; and, after the
+inexorable Miss Strictland, she was to encounter the exasperated Miss
+Bateman. Whether the Gorgon terrors of one governess, or the fury
+passions of the other, were most formidable, it was difficult to decide.
+Miss Bateman had written an epilogue for Lady Julia to recite in the
+character of Calista; and, with the combined irritability of authoress
+and governess, she was enraged at the idea of her pupil's declining to
+repeat these favourite lines. Lord Glistonbury cared not for the lines;
+but, considering his own authority to be impeached by his daughter's
+resistance, he treated _his Julia_ as a traitor to his cause, and a
+rebel to his party.
+
+But Lady Julia was resolute in declining to play Calista; and Vivian
+admired the spirit and steadiness of her resistance to the solicitations
+and the flattery with which she was assailed by the numerous hangers-on
+of the family, and by the amateurs assembled at Glistonbury. Russell,
+who knew the warmth of her temper, however, dreaded that she should
+pass the bounds of propriety in the contest with her father and her
+governess; and he almost repented having given any advice upon the
+subject. The contest happily terminated in Lord Glistonbury's having a
+violent fit of the gout, which, as the newspapers informed the public,
+"ended for the season the Christmas hospitalities and theatrical
+festivities at Glistonbury Castle!"
+
+Whilst his lordship suffered this fit of torture, his daughter Julia
+attended him with so much patience and affection, that he forgave
+her for not being willing to be Calista; and, upon his recovery, he
+announced to Miss Bateman that it was his will and pleasure that his
+daughter Julia should do as she liked on this point, but that he desired
+it to be understood that this was no concession to Lady Glistonbury's
+prejudices, but an act of his own pure grace.
+
+To celebrate his recovery, his lordship determined to give a ball; and
+Miss Bateman persuaded him to make it a _fancy ball_. In this family,
+unfortunately, every occurrence, even every proposal of amusement,
+became a subject of dispute and a source of misery. Lady Glistonbury,
+as soon as her lord announced his intention of giving this fancy ball,
+declined taking the direction of an entertainment which approached,
+she said, too near to the nature of a masquerade to meet her ideas of
+propriety. Lord Glistonbury laughed, and tried the powers of ridicule
+and wit:
+
+"But on th'impassive ice the lightnings play'd."
+
+The lady's cool obstinacy was fully a match for her lord's petulance: to
+all he could urge, she repeated, "that such entertainments did not meet
+her ideas of propriety." Her ladyship, Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland,
+consequently declared it to be their resolution, "to appear in their own
+proper characters, and their own proper dresses, and no others."
+
+These three rigid seceders excepted, all the world at Glistonbury
+Castle, and within its sphere of attraction, were occupied with
+preparations for this ball. Miss Bateman was quite in her element,
+flattered and flattering, consulting and consulted, in the midst
+of novels, plays, and poetry, prints, and pictures, searching for
+appropriate characters and dresses. This preceptress seemed to think
+and to expect that others should deem her office of governess merely a
+subordinate part of her business: she considered her having accepted
+of the superintendence of the education of Lady Julia Lidhurst as a
+prodigious condescension on her part, and a derogation from her rank
+and pretensions in the literary and fashionable world; a peculiar and
+sentimental favour to Lord Glistonbury, of which his lordship was bound
+in honour to show his sense, by treating her as a member of his family,
+not only with distinguished politeness, but by _deferring_ to her
+opinion in all things, so as to prove to her satisfaction that she was
+considered _only_ as a friend, and not at all as a governess. Thus she
+was raised as much above that station in the family in which she could
+be useful, as governesses in other houses have been sometimes depressed
+below their proper rank. Upon this, as upon all occasions, Miss Bateman
+was the first person to be thought of--her character and her dress were
+the primary points to be determined; and they were points of no
+easy decision, she having proposed for herself no less than five
+characters--the fair Rosamond, Joan of Arc, Cleopatra, Sigismunda, and
+Circe. After minute consideration of the dresses, which, at a fancy
+ball, were to constitute these characters, fair Rosamond was rejected,
+"because the old English dress muffled up the person too much; Joan of
+Arc would find her armour inconvenient for dancing; Cleopatra's diadem
+and royal purple would certainly be truly becoming, but then her regal
+length of train was as inadmissible in a dancing-dress as Joan of
+Arc's armour." Between Sigismunda and Circe, Miss Bateman's choice long
+vibrated. The Spanish and the Grecian costume had each its claims on her
+favour: for she was assured they both became her remarkably. Vivian was
+admitted to the consultation: he was informed that there must be both a
+Circe and a Sigismunda; and that Lady Julia was to take whichever of
+the two characters Miss Bateman declined. Pending the deliberation, Lady
+Julia whispered to Vivian, "For mercy's sake! contrive that I may not be
+doomed to be Circe; for Circe is no better than Calista."
+
+Vivian was charmed with her ladyship's delicacy and discretion; he
+immediately decided her governess, by pointing out the beautiful
+head-dress of Flaxman's Circe, and observing that Miss Bateman's hair
+(which was a wig) might easily be arranged, so as to produce the
+same effect. Lady Julia rewarded Vivian for this able and successful
+manoeuvre by one of her sweetest smiles. Her smiles had now powerful
+influence over his heart. He rebelled against Russell's advice, to take
+more time to consider how far his character was suited to hers: he was
+conscious, indeed, that it would be more prudent to wait a little longer
+before he should declare his passion, as Lady Julia was so very young
+and enthusiastic, and as her education had been so ill managed; but he
+argued that the worse her education, and the more imprudent the
+people about her, the greater was her merit in conducting herself with
+discretion, and in trying to restrain her natural enthusiasm. Russell
+acknowledged this, and gave all due praise to Lady Julia; yet still he
+represented that Vivian had been acquainted with her so short time that
+he could not be a competent judge of her temper and disposition, even
+if his judgment were cool; but it was evident that his passions were now
+engaged warmly in her favour. All that Russell urged for delay so far
+operated, however, upon Vivian, that he adopted a half measure, and
+determined to try what chance he might have of pleasing her before he
+should either declare his love to her ladyship, or make his proposal to
+her father. A favourable opportunity soon occurred. On the day appointed
+for the fancy ball, the young Lord Lidhurst, who was to be Tancred, was
+taken ill of a feverish complaint: he was of a very weakly constitution,
+and his friends were much alarmed by his frequent indispositions. His
+physicians ordered quiet; he was confined to his own apartment; and
+another Tancred was of course to be sought for: Vivian ventured to offer
+to assume the character; and his manner, when he made this proposal
+to his fair Sigismunda, though it was intended to be merely polite and
+gallant, was so much agitated, that she now, for the first time,
+seemed to perceive the state of his heart. Colouring high, her ladyship
+answered, with hesitation unusual to her, "that she believed--she
+fancied--that is, she understood from her brother--that he had deputed
+Mr. Russell to represent Tancred in his place."
+
+Vivian was not displeased by this answer: the change of colour and
+evident embarrassment appeared to him favourable omens; and he thought
+that whether the embarrassment arose from unwillingness to let any man
+but her brother's tutor, a man domesticated in the family, appear as her
+Tancred, or whether she was afraid of offending Mr. Russell, by changing
+the arrangement her brother had made; in either case Vivian felt ready,
+though a man in love, to approve of her motives. As to the rest, he was
+certain that Russell would decline the part assigned him; and, as Vivian
+expected, Russell came in a few minutes to resign his pretensions, or
+rather to state that though Lord Lidhurst had proposed it, he had never
+thought of accepting the honour; and that he should, in all probability,
+not appear at the ball, because he was anxious to stay as much as
+possible with Lord Lidhurst, whose indisposition increased instead of
+abating. Lord Glistonbury, after this explanation, came in high spirits,
+and with much satisfaction in his countenance and manner, said he
+was happy to hear that his Sigismunda was to have Mr. Vivian for her
+Tancred. So far all was prosperous to our hero's hopes.
+
+But when he saw Lady Julia again, which was not till dinner time, he
+perceived an unfavourable alteration in her manner; not the timidity
+or embarrassment of a girl who is uncertain whether she is or is not
+pleased, or whether she should or should not appear to be pleased by the
+first approaches of a new lover; but there was in her manner a decided
+haughtiness, and an unusual air of displeasure and reserve. Though he
+sat beside her, and though in general her delightful conversation had
+been addressed either to him or Mr. Russell, they were now both deprived
+of this honour; whatever she said, and all she said, was unlike herself,
+was directed to persons opposite to her, even to the captain, the
+lawyer, and the family parasites, whose existence she commonly seemed
+to forget. She ate as well as spoke in a hurried manner, and as if in
+defiance of her feelings. Whilst the courses were changing, she
+turned towards Mr. Vivian, and after a rapid examining glance at his
+countenance, she said, in a low voice--"You must think me, Mr. Vivian,
+very unreasonable and whimsical, but I have given up all thoughts of
+being Sigismunda. Will you oblige me so far as not to appear in
+the dress of Tancred to-night? You will thus spare me all farther
+difficulty. You know my mother and sister have declared their
+determination not to wear any fancy dress; and though my father is
+anxious that I should, I believe it may be best that, in this instance,
+I follow my own judgment.--May I expect that you will oblige me?"
+
+Vivian declared his entire submission to her ladyship's judgment: and
+he now was delighted to be able to forgive her for all seeming caprice;
+because he thought he saw an amiable motive for her conduct--the wish
+not to displease her mother, and not to excite the jealousy of her
+sister.
+
+The hour when the ball was to commence arrived; the room filled with
+company; and Vivian, who flattered himself with the pleasure of dancing
+all night with Lady Julia, as the price of his prompt obedience, looked
+round the room in search of his expected partner, but he searched
+in vain. He looked to the door at every new entrance--no Lady Julia
+appeared. Circe, indeed, was every where to be seen and heard, and an
+uglier Circe never touched this earth; but she looked happily confident
+in the power of her charms. Whilst she was intent upon fascinating
+Vivian, he was impatiently waiting for a moment's intermission of her
+volubility, that he might ask what had become of Lady Julia.
+
+"Lady Julia?--She's somewhere in the room, I suppose.--Oh! no: I
+remember, she told me she would go and sit a quarter of an hour with her
+brother. She will soon make her appearance, I suppose; but I am so angry
+with her for disappointing us all, and you in particular, by changing
+her mind about Sigismunda!--Such a capital Tancred as you would have
+made! and now you are no character at all! But then, you are only on a
+par with certain ladies. Comfort yourself with the great Pope's (I fear
+too true) reflection, that
+
+     'Most women have no characters at all.'"
+
+Miss Bateman's eye glanced insolently, as she spoke, upon Lady
+Glistonbury's trio, who passed by at this instant, all without fancy
+dresses. Vivian shocked by this ill-breeding towards the mistress of the
+house, offered his arm immediately to Lady Glistonbury, and conducted
+her with Lady Sarah and Miss Strictland to their proper places, where,
+having seated themselves, each in the same attitude precisely, they
+looked more like martyrs prepared for endurance, than like persons in a
+ball-room. Vivian stayed to speak a few words to Lady Glistonbury, and
+was just going away, when her ladyship, addressing him with more than
+her usual formality, said, "Mr. Vivian, I see, has not adopted the
+fashion of the day; and as he is the only gentleman present, whose fancy
+dress does not proclaim him engaged to some partner equally _fanciful_,
+I cannot but wish that my daughter, Lady Sarah, should, if she dance at
+all to-night, dance with a gentleman in his own proper character."
+
+Vivian, thus called upon, felt compelled to ask the honour of Lady
+Sarah's hand; but he flattered himself, that after the first dance he
+should have done his duty, and that he should be at liberty by the time
+Julia should make her appearance. But, to his great disappointment,
+Mr. Russell, who came in just as he had finished the first two dances,
+informed him that Lady Julia was determined not to appear at the ball,
+but to stay with her brother, who wished for her company. So poor Vivian
+found himself doomed to be Lady Sarah's partner for the remainder of the
+night. It happened that, as he was handing her ladyship to supper, in
+passing through an antechamber where some of the neighbours of inferior
+rank had been permitted to assemble to see _the show_, he heard one
+farmer's wife say to another, "Who _beas_ that there, that's handing of
+Lady Sarah?"--They were detained a little by the crowd, so that he had
+time to hear the whole answer.--"Don't you know?" was the answer. "That
+there gentleman is Mr. Vivian of the new castle, that is to be married
+to her directly, and that's what he's come here for; for they've been
+engaged to one another ever since the time o' the election."
+
+This speech disturbed our hero's mind considerably; for it awakened a
+train of reflections which he had wilfully left dormant. Will it, can it
+be believed, that after all his friend Russell's exhortations, after
+his own wise resolutions, he had never yet made any of those explanatory
+speeches he had intended?
+
+"Positively," said he to himself, "this report shall not prevail
+four-and-twenty hours longer. I will propose for Lady Julia
+Lidhurst before I sleep. Russell, to be sure, advises me not to be
+precipitate--to take more time to study her disposition; but I am
+acquainted with her sufficiently;" (he should have said, I am in
+love with her sufficiently;) "and really now, I am bound in honour
+immediately to declare myself--it is the best possible way of putting a
+stop to a report which will be ultimately injurious to Lady Sarah."
+
+Thus Vivian made his past irresolution an excuse for his present
+precipitation, flattering himself, as men often do when they are
+yielding to the impulse of their passions, that they are submitting
+to the dictates of reason. At six o'clock in the morning the company
+dispersed. Lord Glistonbury and Vivian were the last in the ball-room.
+His lordship began some raillery upon our hero's having declined
+appearing as Tancred, and upon his having devoted himself all night to
+Lady Sarah. Vivian seized the moment to explain his real feelings,
+and he made his proposal for Lady Julia. It was received with warm
+approbation by the father, who seemed to rejoice the more in this
+proposal, because he knew that it would disappoint and mortify Lady
+Glistonbury. The interests of his hatred seemed, indeed, to occupy his
+lordship more than the interests of Vivian's love; but politeness threw
+a decent veil over these feelings; and, after saying all that could be
+expected of the satisfaction it must be to a father to see his daughter
+united to a man of Mr. Vivian's family, fortune, talents, and
+great respectability; and after having given, incidentally and
+parenthetically, his opinions, not only concerning matrimony, but
+concerning all other affairs of human life, he wished his future
+son-in-law a very good night, and left him to repose. But no rest could
+Vivian take--he waited with impatience, that made every hour appear at
+least two, for the time when he was again to meet Lady Julia. He saw her
+at breakfast; but he perceived by her countenance that she as yet knew
+nothing of his proposal. After breakfast Lord Glistonbury said, "Come
+with me, my little Julia! it is a long time since I've had a walk and a
+talk with you." His lordship paced up and down the terrace, conversing
+earnestly with her for some time: he then went on to some labourers,
+who were cutting down a tree at the farther end of the avenue. Vivian
+hastened out to meet Lady Julia, who, after standing deep in thought for
+some moments, seemed returning towards the castle.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+
+"Mr. Vivian, I trust that I am not deficient in maidenly modesty,"
+said Lady Julia, "when it is not incompatible with what I deem a higher
+virtue--sincerity. Now and ever, frankness is, and shall be, my
+only policy. The confidence I am about to repose in you, sir, is the
+strongest proof of my esteem, and of the gratitude I feel for your
+attachment.--My heart is no longer in my power to bestow. It is--young
+as I am, I dare to pronounce the words--irrevocably fixed upon one who
+will do honour to my choice. Your proposal was made to my father--Why
+was it not made to me?--Men--all men but one--treat women as puppets,
+and then wonder that they are not rational creatures!--Forgive me this
+too just reproach. But, as I was going to say, your proposal has
+thrown me into great difficulties--the greater because my father warmly
+approves of it. I have a strong affection for him; and, perhaps, a
+year or two ago, I should, in the ignorance in which I was dogmatically
+brought up, have thought it my duty to submit implicitly to parental
+authority, and to receive a husband from the hands of a father, without
+consulting either my own heart or my own judgment. But, since my mind
+has been more enlightened, and has opened to higher views of the dignity
+of my sex, and higher hopes of happiness, my ideas of duty have altered;
+and, I trust, I have sufficient courage to support my own idea of the
+rights of my sex, and my firm conviction of what is just and becoming."
+
+Vivian was again going to say something; but, whether against or in
+favour of the rights of the sex, he had not clearly decided; when her
+ladyship saved him the trouble, by proceeding with the train of her
+ideas.
+
+"My sincerity towards my father will, perhaps, cost me dear; but I
+cannot repent of it. As soon as I knew the state of my own heart--which
+was not till very lately--which was not, indeed, till you gave me reason
+to think you seriously liked me--I openly told my father all I knew of
+my own heart. Would you believe it?--I am sure I should not, unless
+I had seen and felt it--my father, who, you know, professes the most
+liberal opinions possible; my father, who, in conversation is 'All for
+love, and the world well lost;' my father, who let Miss Bateman put the
+Heloise into my hands, was astonished, shocked, indignant, at his own
+daughter's confession, I should say, assertion of her preference of a
+man of high merit, who wants only the advantages, if they be advantages,
+of rank and fortune.
+
+"Mr. Vivian," continued she, "may I hope that now, when you must be
+convinced of the inefficacy of any attempt either to win or to control
+my affections, you will have the generosity to spare me all unnecessary
+contest with my father? It must render him more averse from the only
+union that can make his daughter happy; and it may ruin the fortunes
+of--the first, in my opinion, of human beings. I will request another
+favour from you--and let my willingness to be obliged by you convince
+you that I appreciate your character--I request that you will not only
+keep secret all that I have said to you; but that, if accident, or
+your own penetration, should hereafter discover to you the object of my
+affection, you will refrain from making any use of that discovery to my
+disadvantage. You see how entirely I have thrown myself on your honour
+and generosity."
+
+Vivian assured her that the appeal was powerful with him; and that, by
+mastering his own passions, and sacrificing his feelings to hers, he
+would endeavour to show his strong desire to secure, at all events, her
+happiness.
+
+"You are truly generous, Mr. Vivian, to listen to me with indulgence, to
+wish for my happiness, whilst I have been wounding your feelings. But,
+without any impeachment of your sincerity, or yet of your sensibility,
+let me say, that yours will be only a transient disappointment. Your
+acquaintance with me is but of yesterday, and the slight impression made
+on your mind will soon be effaced; but upon my mind there has been time
+to grave a deep, a first charactery of love, that never, whilst memory
+holds her seat, can be erased.--I believe," said Julia, checking
+herself, whilst a sudden blush overspread her countenance--"I am
+afraid that I have said too much, too much for a woman. The fault of
+my character, I know, I have been told, is the want of what is called
+RESERVE."
+
+Blushing still more deeply as she pronounced these last words, the
+colour darting up to her temples, spreading over her neck, and making
+its way to the very tips of her fingers, "Now I have done worse," cried
+she, covering her face with her hands. But the next moment, resuming,
+or trying to resume her self-possession, she said, "It is time that I
+should retire, now that I have revealed my whole heart to you. It has,
+perhaps, been imprudently opened; but for that, your generosity, sir,
+is to blame. Had you shown more selfishness, I should assuredly have
+exerted more prudence, and have treated you with less confidence."
+
+Lady Julia quitted him, and Vivian remained in a species of amaze, from
+which he could not immediately recover. Her frankness, her magnanimity,
+her enthusiastic sensibility, her eloquent beauty, had altogether
+exalted, to the highest ecstasy, his love and admiration. Then he walked
+about, beating his breast in despair at the thought of her affections
+being irrecoverably engaged,--next quarrelled with the boldness of the
+confession, the _assertion_ of her love--then decided, that, with all
+her shining qualities and noble dispositions, she was not exactly the
+woman a man should desire for a wife: there was something too rash, too
+romantic about her; there was in her character, as she herself had
+said, and as Russell had remarked, too little _reserve_. Something like
+jealousy and distrust of his friend arose in Vivian's mind: "What!" said
+he to himself, "and is Russell my rival? and has he been all this time
+in secret my rival? Is it possible that Russell has been practising upon
+the affections of this innocent young creature--confided to him too?
+All this time, whilst he has been cautioning me against her charms,
+beseeching me not to propose for her precipitately, is it possible that
+he wanted only to get, to keep the start of me?--No--impossible! utterly
+impossible! If all the circumstances, all the evidence upon earth
+conspired, I would not believe it."
+
+Resolved not to do injustice, even in his inmost soul, to his friend,
+our hero repelled all suspicion of Russell, by reflecting on his long
+and tried integrity, and on the warmth and fidelity of his friendship.
+In this temper he was crossing the castle-yard to go to Russell's
+apartment, when he was met and stopped by one of the domesticated
+friends of the family, Mr. Mainwaring, the young lawyer: he was in the
+confidence of Lord Glistonbury, and, proud to show it, he let Mr.
+Vivian know that he was apprised of the proposal that had been made,
+and congratulated him, and all the parties concerned, on the prospect of
+such an agreeable connexion. Vivian was quite unprepared to speak to any
+one, much less to a lawyer, upon this subject; he had not even thought
+of the means of obeying Lady Julia, by withdrawing his suit; therefore,
+with a mixture of vexation and embarrassment in his manner, he answered
+in commonplace phrases, meant to convey no precise meaning, and
+endeavoured to disengage himself from his companion; but the lawyer, who
+had fastened upon him, linking his arm in Vivian's, continued to walk
+him up and down under the great gateway, saying that he had a word or
+two of importance for his private ear. This man had taken much pains
+to insinuate himself into Vivian's favour, by the most obsequious and
+officious attentions: though his flattery had at first been disgusting,
+yet, by persevering in his show of civility, he had at length inclined
+Vivian to think that he was too harsh in his first judgment, and to
+believe that, "after all, Mainwaring was a good friendly fellow, though
+his manner was against him."
+
+Mr. Mainwaring, with many professions of regard for Vivian, and with
+sundry premisings that he hazarded himself by the communication, took
+the liberty of hinting, that he guessed, from Mr. Vivian's manner this
+morning, that obstacles had arisen on the part of a young lady who
+should be nameless; and he should make bold to add that, in his private
+opinion, the said obstacles would never be removed whilst _a certain
+person_ remained in the castle, and whilst the young lady alluded to
+was allowed to spend so much of her time studying with her brother when
+well, or nursing him when sick. Mr. Mainwaring declared that he was
+perfectly astonished at Lord Glistonbury's blindness or imprudence
+in keeping this person in the house, after the hints his lordship had
+received, and after all the proofs that must or may have fallen within
+his cognizance, of the arts of seduction that had been employed. Here
+Vivian interrupted Mr. Mainwaring, to beg that he would not keep him
+longer in suspense by _inuendoes_, but that he would name distinctly
+the object of his suspicions. This, however, Mr. Mainwaring begged to
+be excused from doing: he would only shake his head and smile, and leave
+people to their own sagacity and penetration. Vivian warmly answered,
+that, if Mr. Mainwaring meant Mr. Russell, he was well assured that Mr.
+Mainwaring was utterly mistaken in attributing to him any but the most
+honourable conduct.
+
+Mr. Mainwaring smiled, and shook his head--smiled again, and sighed, and
+hoped Mr. Vivian was right, and observed that time would show; and that,
+at all events, he trusted Mr. Vivian would keep profoundly secret the
+hint which his friendship had, indiscreetly perhaps, hazarded.
+
+Scarcely had Mr. Mainwaring retired, when Captain Pickering met and
+seized upon Vivian, led to the same subject, and gave similar hints,
+that Russell was the happy rival who had secretly made himself master of
+Lady Julia's heart. Vivian, though much astonished, finding that
+these gentlemen agreed in their discoveries or their suspicions, still
+defended his friend Russell, and strongly protested that he would be
+responsible for his honour with his life, if it were necessary. The
+captain shrugged his shoulders, said it was none of his business, that,
+as Mr. Vivian _took it up so warmly,_ he should let it drop; for it was
+by no means his intention to get into a quarrel with Mr. Vivian, for
+whom he had a particular regard. This said, with all the frankness of a
+soldier, Captain Pickering withdrew, adding, as the clergyman passed at
+this instant, "There's a man who could tell you more than any of us, if
+he would, but _snug's_ the word with Wicksted."
+
+Vivian, in great anxiety and much curiosity, appealed to Mr. Wicksted:
+he protested that he knew nothing, suspected nothing, at least could
+venture to say nothing; for these were very delicate family matters, and
+every gentleman should, on these occasions, make it a principle to see
+with his own eyes. Gradually, however, Mr. Wicksted let out his opinion,
+and implied infinitely more than Captain Pickering or Mr. Mainwaring
+had asserted. Vivian still maintained, in the warmest terms, that it was
+impossible his friend Russell should be to blame. Mr. Wicksted simply
+pronounced the word _friend_ with a peculiar emphasis, and, with an
+incredulous smile, left him to his reflections. Those reflections were
+painful; for, though he defended Russell from the attacks of others,
+yet he had not sufficient firmness of mind completely to resist the
+suggestions of suspicion and jealousy, particularly when they had been
+corroborated by so many concurring testimonies. He had no longer the
+courage to go immediately to Russell, to tell him of his proposal for
+Lady Julia, or to speak to him of any of his secret feelings; but,
+turning away from the staircase that led to his friend's apartment, he
+determined to observe Russell with his own eyes, before he should decide
+upon the truth or falsehood of the accusations which had been brought
+against him. Alas! Vivian was no longer in a condition to observe with
+his own eyes; his imagination was so perturbed, that he could neither
+see nor hear any thing as it really was. When he next saw Russell and
+Lady Julia together, he wondered at his blindness in not having sooner
+perceived their mutual attachment: notwithstanding that Lady Julia had
+now the strongest motives to suppress every indication of her passion,
+symptoms of it broke out continually, the more violent, perhaps, from
+her endeavours to conceal them. He knew that she was passionately in
+love with Russell; and that Russell should not have perceived what every
+other man, even every indifferent spectator, had discovered, appeared
+incredible. Russell's calm manner and entire self-possession sometimes
+provoked Vivian, and sometimes quelled his suspicions; sometimes he
+looked upon this calmness as the extreme of art, sometimes as a proof of
+innocence, which could not be counterfeit. At one moment he was so much
+struck with Russell's friendly countenance, that, quite ashamed of
+his suspicions, he was upon the point of speaking openly to him; but,
+unfortunately, these intentions were frustrated by some slight obstacle.
+At length Miss Strictland, who had lately been very courteous to Mr.
+Vivian, took an opportunity of drawing him into one of the recessed
+windows; where, with infinite difficulty in bringing herself to speak
+on such a subject, after inconceivable bridlings of the head, and
+contortions of every muscle of her neck, she insinuated to him her
+fears, that my Lord Glistonbury's confidence had been very ill placed in
+Lord Lidhurst's tutor: she was aware that Mr. Russell had the honour of
+Mr. Vivian's friendship, but nothing could prevent her from speaking,
+where she felt it to be so much her duty; and that, as from the
+unfortunate circumstances in the family she had no longer any influence
+over Lady Julia Lidhurst, nor any chance of being listened to on such a
+subject with patience by Lord Glistonbury, she thought the best course
+she could take was to apply to Mr. Russell's friend, who might possibly,
+by his interference, prevent the utter disgrace and ruin of one branch
+of a noble family.
+
+Miss Strictland, in all she said, hinted not at Vivian's attachment to
+Lady Julia, and gave him no reason to believe that she was apprised of
+his having proposed for her ladyship: she spoke with much moderation and
+candour; attributed all Lady Julia's errors to the imprudence of her
+new governess, Miss Bateman. Miss Strictland now showed a desire not to
+make, but to prevent mischief; even the circumlocutions and stiffness
+of her habitual prudery did not, on this occasion, seem unseasonable;
+therefore what she suggested made a great impression on Vivian. He
+still, however, defended Russell, and assured Miss Strictland that, from
+the long experience he had himself had of his friend's honour, he was
+convinced that no temptation could shake his integrity. Miss Strictland
+had formed her opinion on this point, she said, and it would be in vain
+to argue against it. Every new assertion; the belief of each new person
+who spoke to him on the subject; the combination, the coincidence of all
+their opinions, wrought his mind to such a height of jealousy, that he
+was now absolutely incapable of using his reason. He went in search of
+Russell, but in no fit mood to speak to him as he ought. He looked for
+him in his own, in Lord Lidhurst's apartment, in every sitting-room in
+the castle; but Mr. Russell was not to be found: at last Lady Sarah's
+maid, who heard him inquiring for Mr. Russell from the servants, told
+him, "she fancied that if he took the trouble to go to the west walk,
+he might find Mr. Russell, as that was a favourite walk of his." Vivian
+hurried thither, with a secret expectation of finding Lady Julia with
+him--there they both were in earnest conversation: as he approached, the
+trees concealed him from view; and Vivian heard his own name repeated.
+"Stop!" cried he, advancing: "let me not overhear your secrets--I am not
+a traitor to my friends!"
+
+As he spoke, his eyes fixed with an expression of concentrated rage upon
+Russell. Terrified by Vivian's sudden appearance and strange address,
+and still more by the fierce look he cast on Russell, Lady Julia started
+and uttered a faint scream. With astonishment, but without losing his
+self-command, Russell advanced towards Vivian, saying, "You are out of
+your senses, my dear friend!--I will not listen to you in your present
+humour. Take a turn or two with me to cool yourself. The anger of a
+friend should always be allowed three minutes' grace, at least," added
+Russell, smiling, and endeavouring to draw Vivian away: but Vivian stood
+immoveable; Russell's calmness, instead of bringing him to his senses,
+only increased his anger; to his distempered imagination this coolness
+seemed perfidious dissimulation.
+
+"You cannot deceive me longer, Mr. Russell, by all your art!" cried he.
+"Though I am the last to open my eyes, I have opened them. Why did you
+pretend to be my counsellor and friend, when you were my rival?--when
+you knew that you were my successful rival?----Yes, start and affect
+astonishment! Yes--look, if you can, with _innocent_ surprise upon that
+lady!--Say that you have not betrayed her father's confidence!--say,
+that you have not practised upon her unguarded heart!--say, that you do
+not know that she loves you to distraction!"
+
+"Oh! Mr. Vivian, what have you done?" cried Lady Julia: she could say
+no more, but fell senseless on the ground. Vivian's anger was at once
+sobered by this sight.
+
+"What have I done!" repeated he, as they raised her from the ground.
+"Wretch! dishonourable villain that I am! I have betrayed her
+secret--But I thought every body knew it!----Is it possible that _you_
+did not know it, Russell?"
+
+Russell made no reply, but ran to the river which was near them for
+some water--Vivian was incapable of affording any assistance, or even of
+forming a distinct idea. As soon as Lady Julia returned to her senses,
+Russell withdrew; Vivian threw himself on his knees before her, and
+said something about the violence of his passion--his sorrow--and
+her forgiveness. "Mr. Vivian," said Lady Julia, turning to him with a
+mixture of despair and dignity in her manner, "do not kneel to me;
+do not make use of any commonplace phrases--I cannot, at this moment,
+forgive you--you have done me an irreparable injury. I confided a secret
+to you--a secret known to no human being but my father and yourself--you
+have revealed it, and to whom?--Sooner would I have had it proclaimed to
+the whole world than to ----; for what is the opinion of the whole world
+to me, compared to his?--Sir, you have done me, indeed, an irremediable
+injury!--I trusted to your honour--your discretion--and you have
+betrayed, sacrificed me."
+
+"Vile suspicions!" cried Vivian, striking his forehead: "how could I
+listen to them for a moment!"
+
+"Suspicions of Mr. Russell!" cried Julia, with a look of high
+indignation--"Suspicions of your noble-minded friend!--What wickedness,
+or what weakness!"
+
+"Weakness!--miserable weakness!--the sudden effect of jealousy; and
+could you know, Lady Julia, by what means, by what arts, my mind was
+worked up to this insanity!"
+
+"I cannot listen to this now, Mr. Vivian," interrupted Lady Julia: "my
+thoughts cannot fix upon such things--I cannot go back to the past--what
+is done cannot be undone--what has been said cannot be unsaid.--You
+cannot recall your words--they were heard--they were understood. I beg
+you to leave me, sir, that I may have leisure to _think_--if possible,
+to consider what yet remains for me to do. I have no friend--none, none
+willing or capable of advising me! I begged of you to leave me, sir."
+
+Vivian could not, at this moment, decide whether he ought or ought not
+to tell Lady Julia that her secret was known, or at least suspected, by
+many individuals of the family.
+
+"There's a servant on the terrace who seems to be looking for us," said
+Vivian; "I had something of consequence to say--but this man--"
+
+"My lady, Miss Bateman desired me to let you know, my lady, that
+there is the Lady Playdels, and the colonel, and Sir James, in the
+drawing-room, just come;--and she begs, my lady, you will be pleased to
+come to them; for Miss Bateman's waiting for you, my lady, to repeat the
+verses, she bid me say, my lady."
+
+"Go to them, Mr. Vivian; I cannot go."
+
+"My lady," persisted the footman, "my lord himself begged you to come;
+and he and all the gentlemen have been looking for you every where."
+
+"Return to my father, then, and say that I am coming immediately."
+
+"Forced into company!" thought Lady Julia, as she walked slowly towards
+the house; "compelled to appear calm and gay, when my heart is--what
+a life of dissimulation! How unworthy of me, formed, as I was once
+pronounced to be, for every thing that is good and great!--But I am no
+longer mistress of myself--no soul left but for one object. Why did
+I not better guard my heart?--No!--rather, why can I not follow its
+dictates, and at once avow and justify its choice?"
+
+Vivian interrupted Lady Julia's reverie by pointing out to her, as they
+passed along the terrace, a group of heads, in one of the back windows
+of the castle, that seemed to be watching them very earnestly. Miss
+Strictland's face was foremost; half her body was out of the window; and
+as she drew back, they heard her say--"It is not he!--It is not he!"--As
+they passed another front of the castle, another party seemed to be
+upon the watch at a staircase window;--the lawyer, the captain, the
+clergyman's heads appeared for a moment, and vanished.
+
+"They seem all to be upon the watch for us," said Vivian.
+
+"Meanness!" cried Lady Julia. "To watch or to be watched, I know not
+which is most degrading; but I cannot think they are watching us."
+
+"My dear Lady Julia!--yet let me call you dear this once--my hopes are
+gone!--even for your forgiveness I have no right to hope--but let me do
+you one piece of service--let me put your open temper on its guard. You
+flatter yourself that the secret you confided to me is not known to
+any body living but to your father--I have reason to believe that it
+is suspected, if not positively known, by several other persons in this
+castle."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"I am certain, too certain, of what I say."
+
+Lady Julia made a sudden stop; and, after a pause, exclaimed--
+
+"Then farewell hope! and, with hope, farewell fear!"
+
+"My lady, my lord sent me again, for my lord's very impatient for you,
+my lady," said the same footman, returning. Lord Glistonbury met them in
+the hall.--"Why, Julia! where have you been all this time?" he began, in
+an imperious tone; but seeing Mr. Vivian, his brow grew smooth and his
+voice good-humoured instantly.--"Ha!--So! so!--Hey! well!--All right!
+all right!--Good girl! good girl!--Time for every thing--Hey! Mr.
+Vivian?--'Que la solitude est charmante!' as Voltaire says--Beg
+pardon for sending for you; but interruption, you know, prevents
+_t�tes-�-t�tes_ on the stage from growing tiresome; and the stage, they
+say, holds the mirror up to nature. But there's no nature now left to
+hold the mirror up to, except in a few odd instances, as in my Julia
+here!--Where so fast, my blushing darling?"
+
+"I thought you wished, sir, that I should go to Lady Playdel and Sir
+James."
+
+"Ay, ay, I sent for you to repeat those charming verses for them that I
+could not clearly remember.--Go up! go up!--We'll follow you!--We have a
+word or two to say about something--that's nothing to you."
+
+Lord Glistonbury kept Vivian for a full hour in a state of considerable
+embarrassment, talking to him of Lady Julia, implying that she was
+favourably disposed towards him, but that she had a little pride, that
+might make her affect the contrary at first. Then came a disquisition
+on pride, with quotations and commonplaces;--then an eulogium, by his
+lordship, on his lordship's own knowledge of the human heart, and more
+especially of that "moving toyshop," the female heart; then anecdotes
+illustrative, comprising the gallantries of thirty years in various
+ranks of life, with suitable bon-mots and embellishments;--then a little
+French sentiment, by way of moral, with some philosophical axioms,
+to show that, though he had led such a gay life, he had been a deep
+thinker, and that, though nobody could have thought that he had had time
+for reading, his genius had supplied him, he could not himself really
+tell how, with what other people with the study of years could not
+master:--all which Vivian was compelled to hear, whilst he was the whole
+time impatient to get away, that he might search for Mr. Russell, with
+whom he was anxious to have an explanation. But, at last, when Lord
+Glistonbury set him free, he was not nearer to his object. Mr. Russell,
+he found upon inquiry, had not returned to the castle, nor did he return
+to dinner; he sent word that he was engaged to dine with a party of
+gentlemen at a literary club, in a country town nine miles distant.
+Vivian spent the greatest part of the evening in Lord Lidhurst's
+apartment, expecting Russell's return; but it grew so late, that Lord
+Lidhurst, who was still indisposed, went to bed; and when Vivian quitted
+his lordship, he met Russell's servant in the gallery, who said his
+master had been come in an hour ago: "but, sir," added the man, "my
+master won't let you see him, I am sure; for he would not let me in, and
+he said, that, if you asked for him, I was to answer, that he could not
+see you to-night."--Vivian knocked in vain at Russell's door; he could
+not gain admission; so he went reluctantly to bed, determined to rise
+very early, that he might see his friend as soon as possible, obtain his
+forgiveness for the past, and ask his advice for the future.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+
+Suspense, curiosity, love, jealousy, remorse, any one of which is enough
+to keep a person awake all night, by turns agitated poor Vivian so
+violently, that for several hours he could not close his eyes; but at
+last, when quite exhausted, he fell into a profound sleep. The first
+image that came before his mind, when he awoke in the morning, was that
+of Lady Julia; his next recollection was of Russell.
+
+"Is Mr. Russell up yet?" said Vivian to his servant, who was bringing in
+his boots.
+
+"Up, sir! Oh, yes, hours ago!--He was _off_ at daybreak!"
+
+"Off!" cried Vivian, starting up in his bed; "off!--Where is he gone?"
+
+"I can't say, sir. Yes, indeed, sir, I heard Mr. Russell's man say, that
+his master was going post to the north, to some old uncle that was taken
+ill, which he heard about at dinner from some of those gentlemen where
+he dined yesterday; but I can't say positively. But here's a letter he
+left for you with me."
+
+"A letter!--Give it me!--Why didn't you give it me sooner?"
+
+"Why really, sir, you lay so sound, I didn't care to waken you; and I
+was up so late myself, too, last night."
+
+"Leave me now; I'll ring when I want you."
+
+
+"TO C. VIVIAN, ESQ.
+
+"I would not see you, after what passed yesterday, because I feared that
+I should not speak to you with temper. Lest you should misinterpret any
+thing I have formerly said, I must now solemnly assure you, that I never
+had the slightest suspicion of the secret you revealed to me till the
+moment when it was betrayed by your indiscretion. Still I can
+scarcely credit what appears to me so improbable; but, even under this
+uncertainty, I think it my duty to leave this family. Had the slightest
+idea of what you suggested ever crossed my imagination, I should then
+have acted as I do now. I say this, not to justify myself, but to
+convince you, that what I formerly hinted about reserve of manners and
+prudence was merely a _general reflection_.
+
+"For my own part, I seem to act HEROICALLY; but I must disclaim that
+applause to which I am not entitled. All powerful as the temptation must
+appear to you, dangerous as it must have been, in other circumstances,
+to me, I cannot claim any merit for resisting its influence. My safety I
+owe neither to my own prudence or fortitude. I must now, Vivian, impart
+to you a secret which you are at liberty to confide where and when you
+think necessary--my heart is, and has long been, engaged. Whilst you
+were attached to Miss Sidney, I endeavoured to subdue my love for
+her; and every symptom of it was, I hope and believe, suppressed. This
+declaration cannot now give you any pain; except so far as it may,
+perhaps, excite in your mind some remorse for having unwarrantably,
+unworthily, and weakly, suffered yourself to feel suspicions of a true
+friend. Well as I know the infirmity of your character, and willing as I
+have always been to make allowance for a fault which I thought time and
+experience would correct, I was not prepared for this last stroke; I
+never thought your weakness of mind would have shown itself in suspicion
+of your best, your long-tried friend.--But I am at last convinced that
+your mind is not strong enough for confidence and friendship. I pity,
+but I see that I can no longer serve; and I feel that I can no longer
+esteem you. Farewell! Vivian. May you find a friend, who will supply to
+you the place of H. RUSSELL."
+
+Vivian knew Russell's character too well to flatter himself that the
+latter part of this letter was written in anger that would quickly
+subside; from the tone of the letter he felt that Russell was deeply
+offended. In the whole course of his life he had depended on Russell's
+friendship as a solid blessing, of which he could never be deprived by
+any change of circumstances--by any possible chance in human affairs;
+and now to have lost such a friend by his own folly, by his own
+weakness, was a misfortune of which he could hardly believe the reality.
+At the same moment, too, he learned how nobly Russell had behaved
+towards him, in the most trying situation in which the human heart can
+be placed. Russell's love for Selina Sidney, Vivian had never till
+this instant suspected. "What force, what command of mind!--What
+magnanimity!--What a generous friend he has ever been to me!--and I--"
+
+Poor Vivian, always sinning and always penitent, was so much absorbed by
+sorrow for the loss of Russell's friendship, that he could not for some
+time think even of the interests of his love, or consider the advantage
+which he might derive from the absence of his rival, and from that
+rival's explicit declaration, that his affections were irrevocably
+engaged. By degrees these ideas rose clearly to Vivian's view; his hopes
+revived. Lady Julia would see the absolute impossibility of Russell's
+returning, or of his accepting her affection; her good sense, her pride,
+would in time subdue this hopeless passion; and Vivian was generous
+enough, or sufficiently in love, to feel that the value of her heart
+would not be diminished, but rather increased in his opinion, by the
+sensibility she had shown to the talents and virtues of his friend. _His
+friend_, Vivian ventured now to call him; for with the hopes of love,
+the hopes of friendship rose.
+
+"All may yet be well!" said he to himself. "Russell will forgive me
+when he hears how I was worked upon by those parasites and prudish
+busybodies, who infused their vile suspicions into my mind. Weak as
+it is, I never will allow that it is incapable of confidence or of
+friendship!--No! Russell will retract that harsh sentence. When he is
+happy, as I am sure I ardently hope he will be, in Selina's love, he
+will restore me to his favour. Without his friendship, I could not be
+satisfied with myself, or happy in the full accomplishment of all my
+other fondest hopes."
+
+By the time that hope had thus revived and renovated our hero's soul;
+by the time that his views of things had totally changed, and that the
+colour of his future destiny had turned from black to white--from all
+gloom to all sunshine; the minute-hand of the clock had moved with
+unfeeling regularity, or, in plain unmeasured prose, it was now eleven
+o'clock, and three times Vivian had been warned that breakfast was
+ready. When he entered the room, the first thing he heard, as usual, was
+Miss Bateman's voice, who was declaiming upon some sentimental point, in
+all "the high sublime of deep absurd." Vivian, little interested in
+this display, and joining neither in the open flattery nor in the secret
+ridicule with which the gentlemen wits and amateurs listened to the
+Rosamunda, looked round for Lady Julia. "She breakfasts in her own
+room this morning," whispered Lord Glistonbury, before Vivian had even
+pronounced her ladyship's name.
+
+"So!" said Mr. Pickering, "we have lost Mr. Russell this morning!"
+
+"Yes," said Lord Glistonbury, "he was forced to hurry away to the north,
+I find, to an old sick uncle."
+
+"Lord Lidhurst, I'm afraid, will break his heart for want of him,"
+cried the lawyer, in a tone that might either pass for earnest or irony,
+according to the fancy of the interpreter.
+
+"Lord Lidhurst, did you say?"--cried the captain: "are you sure you
+meant Lord Lidhurst? I don't apprehend that a young nobleman ever broke
+his heart after his tutor. But I was going to remark----"
+
+What farther the captain was going to remark can never be known to the
+world; for Lord Glistonbury so startled him by the loud and rather angry
+tone in which he called for the cream, which _stood_ with the captain,
+that all his few ideas were put to flight. Mr. Pickering, who noticed
+Lord Glistonbury's displeasure, now resumed the conversation about Mr.
+Russell in a new tone; and the lawyer and he joined in a eulogy
+upon that gentleman. Lord Glistonbury said not a word, but looked
+embarrassed. Miss Strictland cleared her throat several times, and
+looked infinitely more rigid and mysterious than usual. Lady Glistonbury
+and Lady Sarah, ditto--ditto. Almost every body, except such visitors
+as were strangers at the castle, perceived that there was something
+extraordinary going on in the family; and the gloom and constraint
+spread so, that, towards the close of breakfast, nothing was uttered, by
+prudent people, but awkward sentences about the weather--the wind--and
+the likelihood of there being a mail from the continent. Still through
+all this, regardless and unknowing of it all, the Rosamunda talked on,
+happily abstracted, egotistically secured from the pains of sympathy
+or of curiosity by the all-sufficient power of vanity. Even her patron,
+Lord Glistonbury, was at last provoked and disgusted. He was heard,
+under his breath, to pronounce a contemptuous _Pshaw!_ and, as he rose
+from the breakfast table he whispered to Vivian, "There's a woman, now,
+who thinks of nothing living but herself!--All talk�e talk�e!--I begin
+to be weary of her.----Gentlemen," continued his lordship, "I've letters
+to write this morning.----You'll ride--you'll walk--you're for the
+billiard-room, I suppose.----Mr. Vivian, I shall find you in my study, I
+hope, an hour hence; but first I have a little business to settle." With
+evident embarrassment Lord Glistonbury retired. Lady Glistonbury,
+Lady Sarah, and Miss Strictland, each sighed; then, with looks of
+intelligence, rose and retired. The company separated soon afterwards;
+and went to ride, to walk, or to the billiard-room, and Vivian to the
+study, to wait there for Lord Glistonbury, and to meditate upon what
+might be the nature of his lordship's business. As Vivian crossed the
+gallery, the door of Lady Glistonbury's dressing-room opened, and was
+shut again instantaneously by Miss Strictland; but not before he saw
+Lady Julia kneeling at her father's feet, whilst Lady Glistonbury and
+Lady Sarah were standing like statues, on each side of his lordship.
+Vivian waited a full hour afterwards in tedious suspense in the study.
+At last he heard doors open and footsteps, and he judged that the family
+council had broken up; he laid down a book, of which he had read the
+same page over six times, without any one of the words it contained
+having conveyed a single idea to his mind. Lord Glistonbury came in,
+with papers and parchments in his hands.
+
+"Mr. Vivian, I am afraid you have been waiting for me--have a thousand
+pardons to ask--I really could not come any sooner--I wished to speak
+to you--Won't you sit down?--We had better sit down quietly--there's no
+sort of hurry."
+
+His lordship, however, seemed to be in great agitation-of spirits;
+and Vivian was convinced that his mind must be interested in an
+extraordinary manner, because he did not, as was his usual practice,
+digress to fifty impertinent episodes before he came to the point. He
+only blew his nose sundry times; and then at once said, "I wish to speak
+to you, Mr. Vivian, about the proposal you did me the honour to make
+for my daughter Julia. Difficulties have occurred on our side--very
+extraordinary difficulties--Julia, I understand, has hinted to you,
+sir, the nature of those difficulties.--Oh, Mr. Vivian," said Lord
+Glistonbury, suddenly quitting the constrained voice in which he spoke,
+and giving way to his natural feelings, "you are a man of honour and
+feeling, and a father may trust you!----Here's my girl--a charming
+girl she is; but knowing nothing of the world--self-willed, romantic,
+open-hearted, imprudent beyond conception; do not listen to any of the
+foolish things she says to you. You are a man of sense, you love her,
+and you are every way suited to her; it is the first wish of my heart--I
+tell you frankly--to see her your wife: then do not let her childish
+folly persuade you that her affections are engaged--don't listen to any
+such stuff. We all know what the first loves of a girl of sixteen must
+be--But it's our fault--my fault, my fault, since they will have it so.
+I care not whose fault it is; but we have had very improper people about
+her--very!--very!--But all may be well yet, if you, sir, will be steady,
+and save her--save her from herself. I would farther suggest----"
+
+Lord Glistonbury was going on, probably, to have weakened by
+amplification the effect of what he had said, when Lady Julia entered
+the room; and, advancing with dignified determination of manner, said,
+"I have your commands, father, that I should see Mr. Vivian again:--I
+obey."
+
+"That is right--that is my darling Julia; I always knew she would
+justify my high opinion of her." Lord Glistonbury attempted to draw her
+towards him fondly; but, with an unaltered manner, that seemed as if
+she suppressed strong emotion, she answered, "I do not deserve your
+caresses, father; do not oppress me with praise that I cannot merit: I
+wish to speak to Mr. Vivian without control and without witness."
+
+Lord Glistonbury rose; and growing red and almost inarticulate with
+anger, exclaimed, "Remember, Julia! remember, Lady Julia Lidhurst! that
+if you say what you said you would say, and what I said you should not
+say--I--Lord Glistonbury, your father--I, as well as all the rest of
+your family, utterly disclaim and cast you off for ever!--You'll be a
+thing without fortune--without friends--without a name--without a being
+in the world--Lady Julia Lidhurst!"
+
+"I am well aware of that," replied Lady Julia, growing quite pale, yet
+without changing the determination of her countenance, or abating any
+thing from the dignity of her manner: "I am well aware, that on what
+I am about to do depends my having, or my ceasing from this moment to
+have, fortune, friends, and a father."
+
+Lord Glistonbury stood still for a moment--fixed his eyes upon her as if
+he would have read her soul; but, without seeking to elude his inquiry,
+her countenance seemed to offer itself to his penetration.
+
+"By Heaven, there is no understanding this girl!" cried his lordship.
+"Mr. Vivian, I trust her to your honour--to your knowledge of the
+world--to your good sense;--in short, sir, to your love and constancy."
+
+"And I, sir," said Lady Julia, turning to Vivian, after her father
+had left the room, and looking at Vivian so as to stop him short as he
+approached, and to disconcert him in the commencement of a passionate
+speech; "and I, too, sir, trust to your honour, whilst I deprecate your
+love. Imprudent as I was in the first confidence I reposed in you, and
+much as I have suffered by your rashness, I now stand determined
+to reveal to you another yet more important, yet more humiliating
+secret--You owe me no gratitude, sir!--I am compelled, by the
+circumstances in which I am placed, either to deceive or to trust you.
+I must either become your wife, and deceive you most treacherously; or
+I must trust you entirely, and tell you why it would be shameful that I
+should become your wife--shameful to me and to you."
+
+"To me!--Impossible!" cried Vivian, bursting into some passionate
+expressions of love and admiration.
+
+"Listen to me, sir; and do not make any of those rash professions, of
+which you will soon repent. You think you are speaking to the same
+Lady Julia you saw yesterday--No!--you are speaking to a very different
+person--a few hours have made a terrible change. You see before you,
+sir, one who has been, till this day, the darling and pride of her
+father; who has lived in the lap of luxury; who has been flattered,
+admired, by almost all who approached her; who had fortune, and rank,
+and fair prospects in life, and youth, and spirits, and all the pride of
+prosperity; who had, I believe, good dispositions, perhaps some talents,
+and, I may say, a generous heart; who might have been,--but that is all
+over--no matter what she might have been--she is
+
+     'A tale for ev'ry prating she.'
+
+Fallen!--fallen! fallen under the feet of those who worshipped
+her!--fallen below the contempt of the contemptible!--Worse! worse!
+fallen in her own opinion--never to rise again."
+
+Lady Julia's voice failed, and she was forced to pause. She sunk upon a
+seat, and hid her face--for some moments she neither saw nor heard; but
+at last, raising her head, she perceived Vivian.
+
+"You are in amazement, sir! and I see you pity me; but let me beg of you
+to restrain your feelings--my own are as much as I can bear. O that I
+could recall a few hours of my existence! But I have not yet been able
+to tell you what has passed. My father, my friends, wish to conceal it
+from you: but, whatever I have done, however low I have sunk, I will not
+deceive, nor be an accomplice in deceit. From my own lips you shall hear
+all. This morning at daybreak, not being able to sleep, and having some
+suspicion that Mr. Russell would leave the castle, I rose, and whilst I
+was dressing, I heard the trampling of horses in the court. I looked out
+of my window, and saw Mr. Russell's man saddling his master's horse. I
+heard Mr. Russell, a moment afterwards, order the servant to take the
+horses to the great gate on the north road, and wait for him there,
+as he intended to walk through the park. I thought these were the last
+words I should ever hear him speak.--Love took possession of me--I stole
+softly down the little staircase that leads from my turret to one of
+the back doors, and got out of the castle, as I thought, unobserved: I
+hurried on, and waited in the great oak wood, through which I knew Mr.
+Russell would pass. When I saw him coming nearer and nearer to me, I
+would have given the world to have been in my own room again--I hid
+myself among the trees--yet, when he walked on in reverie without
+noticing me, taking me probably for one of the servants, I could not
+bear to think that this was the last moment I should ever see him, and I
+exclaimed--I know not what; but I know that at the sound of my voice
+Mr. Russell started, and never can I forget the look--Spare me the
+rest!--No!--I will not spare myself--I offered my heart, my hand,--and
+they were rejected!--In my madness I told him I regarded neither
+wealth, nor rank, nor friends, nor--That I would rather live with him
+in obscurity than be the greatest princess upon earth--I said this
+and more--and I was rejected--And even at this moment, instead of the
+vindictive passions which are said to fill the soul of a woman scorned,
+I feel admiration for your noble friend: I have not done him justice;
+I cannot repeat his words, or describe his manner. He persuaded, by his
+eloquence compelled, me to return to this castle. He took from me all
+hope; he destroyed by one word all my illusions--he told me that he
+loves another. He has left me to despair, to disgrace; and yet I love,
+esteem, and admire him, above all human beings! Admire one who despises
+me!--Is it possible? I know not, but it is so--I have more to tell you,
+sir!--As I returned to the castle, I was watched by Miss Strictland. How
+she knew all that had passed, I cannot divine; perhaps it was by means
+of some spy who followed me, and whom I did not perceive: for I neither
+saw nor heard any thing but my passion. Miss Strictland communicated
+her discovery immediately to my father. I have been these last two hours
+before a family tribunal. My mother, with a coldness a thousand times
+worse than my poor father's rage, says, that I have only accomplished
+her prophecies; that she always knew and told my father that I should be
+a disgrace to my family. But no reproaches are equal to my own; I stand
+self-condemned. I feel like one awakened from a dream. A few words!--a
+single look from Mr. Russell!--how they have altered all my views,
+all my thoughts! Two hours' reflection--Two hours, did I say?--whole
+years--a whole existence--have passed to me in the last two hours: I
+am a different creature. But it is too late--too late!--Self-esteem is
+gone!--happiness is over for me in this world."
+
+"Happiness over for you!" exclaimed Vivian in a tone expressive of the
+deep interest he felt for her; "Self-esteem gone!--No! Lady Julia;
+do not blame yourself so severely for what has passed! Blame the
+circumstances in which you have been placed; above all, blame me--blame
+my folly--my madness; your secret never would have been known, if I had
+not--"
+
+"I thank you," interrupted Lady Julia, rising from her seat; "but no
+consolation can be of any avail. It neither consoles nor justifies me
+that others have been to blame."
+
+"Permit me, at least," pursued Vivian, "to speak of my own sentiments
+for one moment. Permit me to say, Lady Julia, that the confidence with
+which you have just honoured me, instead of diminishing my attachment,
+has so raised my admiration for your candour and magnanimity, that no
+obstacles shall vanquish my constancy. I will wait respectfully, and,
+if I can, patiently, till time shall have effaced from your mind these
+painful impressions; I shall neither ask nor accept of the interference
+or influence of your father, nor of any of your friends; I shall rely
+solely on the operation of your own excellent understanding, and shall
+hope for my reward from your noble heart."
+
+"You do not think it possible," said Lady Julia, looking at Vivian with
+dignified determination, "you do not think it possible, after all that
+has passed, after all that I have told you, that I could so far degrade
+myself or you, as to entertain any thoughts of becoming your wife?
+Farewell! Mr. Vivian.----You will not see me again. I shall obtain
+permission to retire, and live with a relation in a distant part of the
+country; where I shall no more be seen or heard of. My fortune will, I
+hope, be of use to my sister.----My poor father!--I pity him; he loves
+me: he loses his daughter for ever; worse than loses her! My mother,
+too--I pity her! for, though she does not love me, she will suffer for
+me; she will suffer more than my father, by the disgrace that would be
+brought upon my family, if ever the secret should be publicly known. My
+brother!--Oh, my beloved brother! he knows nothing yet of all this!--But
+why do I grieve you with my agony of mind? Forget that Lady Julia
+Lidhurst ever existed!--I wish you that happiness which I can never
+enjoy--I wish you may deserve and win a heart capable of feeling real
+love!--Adieu!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+
+Convinced that all farther pursuit of Lady Julia Lidhurst would be
+vain, that it could tend only to increase her difficulties and his
+mortification, Vivian saw that the best thing he could possibly do was
+to leave Glistonbury. Thus he should relieve the whole family from the
+embarrassment of his presence; and, by immediate change of scene and
+of occupation, he had the best chance of recovering from his own
+disappointment. If Lady Julia was to quit the castle, he could have
+no inducement to stay; if her ladyship remained, his continuing in her
+society would be still more dangerous to his happiness. Besides, he felt
+offended with Lord Glistonbury, who evidently had wished to conceal from
+him the truth; and, without considering what was just or honourable, had
+endeavoured to secure, at all events, an establishment for his daughter,
+and a connexion for his family. To the weight of these reasons must be
+added a desire to see Mr. Russell, and to effect a reconciliation with
+him. The accumulated force of all these motives had power to overcome
+Vivian's habitual indecision: his servant was surprised by an order to
+have every thing ready for his journey to town immediately. Whilst his
+man prepared to obey, or at least to meditate upon the cause of this
+unusually decided order, our hero went in quest of Lord Glistonbury,
+to pay his compliments to his lordship previous to his departure. His
+lordship was in his daughter Julia's dressing-room, and could not be
+seen; but presently he came to Vivian in great hurry and distress of
+mind.
+
+"A sad stroke upon us, Mr. Vivian!--a sad stroke upon us all--but most
+upon me; for she was the child of my expectations--I hear she has
+told you every thing--you, also, have been very ill-used--Never was
+astonishment equal to mine when I heard Miss Strictland's story. I need
+not caution you, Mr. Vivian, as to secrecy; you are a man of honour, and
+you see the peace of our whole family is at stake. The girl is going
+to a relation of ours in Devonshire.--Sha'n't stay here--sha'n't stay
+here--Disgrace to my family--She who was my pride--and, after all, says
+she will never marry.--Very well!--very well!--I shall never see her
+again, that I am determined upon.--I told her, that if she did not
+behave with common sense and propriety, in her last interview with you,
+I would give her up--and so I will, and so I do.--The whole is Lady
+Glistonbury's fault--she never managed her rightly when she was a child.
+Oh! I should put you on your guard in one particular--Miss Bateman knows
+nothing of what has happened--I wish Miss Strictland knew as little--I
+hate her. What business had she to play the spy upon my daughter? She
+does well to be a prude, for she is as ugly as sin. But we are in her
+power. She is to go to-morrow with Julia to Devonshire. It will make a
+quarrel between me and Miss Bateman--no matter for that; for now, the
+sooner we get rid of that Rosamunda, too, the better--she talks me dead,
+and will let no one talk but herself. And, between you and me, all
+this could not have happened, if she had looked after her charge
+properly.--Not but what I think Miss Strictland was still less fit to
+guide a girl of Julia's genius and disposition. All was done wrong at
+first, and I always said so to Lady Glistonbury. But, if the secret can
+be kept--and _that_ depends on you, my dear friend--after six months' or
+a twelve-month's _rustication_ with our poor parson in the country, you
+will see how tamed and docile the girl will come back to us. This is my
+scheme; but nobody shall know my whole mind but you--I shall tell her
+I will never see her again; and that will pacify Lady Glistonbury, and
+frighten Julia into submission. She says she'll never marry.--Stuff!
+Stuff!--You don't believe her!--What man who has seen any thing of the
+world ever believes such stuff?"
+
+Vivian's servant came into the room to ask his master some question
+about horses.
+
+"Going!--where? Going!--when? Going!--how?" cried Lord Glistonbury, as
+soon as the servant withdrew. "Surely, you are not going to leave us,
+Mr. Vivian?"
+
+Vivian explained his reasons--Lord Glistonbury would not allow them any
+weight, entreated and insisted that he should stay at least a few days
+longer; for his going "just at this moment would seem quite like a
+break up in the family, and would be the most unfriendly and cruel thing
+imaginable." Why Lord Glistonbury so earnestly pressed his stay, perhaps
+even his lordship himself did not exactly know; for, with all the air of
+being a person of infinite address and depth of design, his lordship was
+in reality childishly inconsistent; what the French call _incons�quent_.
+On any subject, great or small, where he once took it into his head, or,
+as he called it, _made it a point_, that a thing should be so or so, he
+was as peremptory, or, where he could not be peremptory, as anxious,
+as if it were a matter of life and death. In his views there was no
+perspective, no keeping--all objects appeared of equal magnitude; and
+even now, when it might be conceived that his whole mind was intent upon
+a great family misfortune, he, in the course of a few minutes, became
+as eager about a mere trifle as if he had nothing else in the world to
+think of. From the earnestness with which Lord Glistonbury urged him to
+stay a few days, at least one day longer, Vivian was induced to believe
+that it must be a matter of real consequence to his lordship--"And, in
+his present state of distress, I cannot refuse such a request," thought
+Vivian. He yielded, therefore, to these solicitations, and consented to
+stay a few days longer; though he knew the prolonging his visit would
+be, in every respect, disagreeable.
+
+At dinner Lord Glistonbury announced to the company that the physician
+had advised change of air immediately for Lord Lidhurst; and that,
+in consequence, his son would set out early the next morning for
+Devonshire--that his daughter Julia wished to go with her brother, and
+that Miss Strictland would accompany them. Lord Glistonbury apologized
+for his daughter's absence, "preparations for her journey so suddenly
+decided upon," &c. Lady Glistonbury and Lady Sarah looked terribly
+grim whilst all this was saying; but the gravity and stiffness of their
+demeanour did not appear any thing extraordinary to the greater part of
+the company, who had no idea of what was going forward. The lawyer, the
+captain, and the chaplain, however, interchanged significant looks; and
+many times, during the course of the evening, they made attempts to draw
+out Vivian's thoughts, but they found him impenetrable. There was an
+underplot of a quarrel between Miss Strictland and Miss Bateman,
+to which Vivian paid little attention; nor was he affected, in the
+slightest degree, by the Rosamunda's declaration to Lord Glistonbury,
+that she must leave his family, since she found that Miss Strictland had
+a larger share than herself of his lordship's confidence, and was, for
+what reason she could not divine, to have the honour of accompanying
+Lady Julia into Devonshire. Vivian perceived these quarrels, and heard
+the frivolous conversation of the company at Glistonbury Castle without
+interest, and with a sort of astonishment at the small motives by which
+others were agitated, whilst his whole soul was engrossed by love and
+pity for Lady Julia. In vain he hoped for another opportunity of seeing
+and speaking to her. She never appeared. The next morning he rose at
+daybreak that he might have the chance of seeing her: he begged Miss
+Strictland to entreat her ladyship would allow him to say a few words
+before she set out; but Miss Strictland replied, that she was assured
+the request would be vain; and he thought he perceived that Miss
+Strictland, though she affected to lament Lady Julia's blindness to her
+own interests and contumacy, in opposing her father's wishes, was,
+in reality, glad that she persisted in her own determination. Lord
+Lidhurst, on account of the weak state of his health, was kept in
+ignorance of every thing that could agitate him; and, when Vivian took
+leave of him, the poor young man left many messages of kindness and
+gratitude for Mr. Russell.
+
+"I am sorry that he was obliged to leave me; for, ill or well, there is
+no human being, I will not except any one but my sister Julia, whom I
+should so much wish to have with me. Tell him so; and tell him--be
+sure you remember my very words, for perhaps I shall never see him
+again--tell him, that, living or dying, I shall feel grateful to him. He
+has given me tastes and principles very different from those I had when
+he came into this house. Even in sickness, I feel almost every hour
+the advantage of my present love for literature. If I should live and
+recover, I hope I shall do him some credit; and I trust my family
+will join in my gratitude. Julia, my dear sister! why do you weep so
+bitterly?--If I had seen you come into the room, I would not have spoken
+of my health."
+
+Lord Glistonbury came up to tell them that Miss Strictland was ready.
+"Mr. Vivian," cried his lordship, "will you hand Julia into the
+carriage?--Julia, Mr. Vivian is offering you his services."
+
+Vivian, as he attended Lady Julia, had so much respect for her feelings,
+that, though he had been waiting with extreme impatience for an
+opportunity _to say a few words_, yet now he would not speak, but handed
+her along the gallery, down the staircase, and across the great hall, in
+profound silence. She seemed sensible of this forbearance; and, turning
+to him at a moment when they could not be overheard, said, "It was not
+from unkindness, Mr. Vivian, I refused to see you again, but to convince
+you that my mind is determined--if you have any thing to say, I am ready
+to hear it."
+
+"Is there nothing to be hoped from time?" said Vivian. "Your father, I
+know, has hopes that----All I ask is, that you will not make any rash
+resolutions."
+
+"I make none; but I tell _you_, for your own sake, not to cherish any
+vain hope. My father does not know my mind sufficiently, therefore he
+may deceive you; but I will not.----I thought, after the manner in which
+I spoke to you yesterday, you would have had too much strength of mind
+to have rendered this repetition of my sentiments necessary.----Attach
+yourself elsewhere as soon as you can.--I sincerely wish your happiness.
+Miss Strictland is waiting.--Farewell!"
+
+She hurried forward to the carriage; and, when she was gone, Vivian
+repented that he had seen her again, as it had only given them both
+additional and fruitless pain.
+
+What passed during some succeeding days at Glistonbury Castle he
+scarcely knew; no trace remained in his mind of anything but the
+confused noise of people, who had been talking, laughing, and diverting
+themselves in a manner that seemed to him incomprehensible. He exerted
+himself, however, so far as to write to Russell, to implore his
+forgiveness, and to solicit a return of his friendship, which, in his
+present state of unhappiness, was more necessary to him than ever. When
+he had finished and despatched this letter, he sunk again into a sort of
+reckless state, without hope or determination, as to his future life.
+He could not decide whether he should go to his mother immediately on
+leaving Glistonbury, or to Mr. Russell, or (which he knew was the best
+course he could pursue) attend his duty in parliament, and, by plunging
+at once into public business, change the course of his thoughts, and
+force his mind to resume its energy. After altering his determination
+twenty times, after giving at least a dozen contradictory orders about
+his journey, his servant at last had his ultimatum, _for London_--the
+carriage to be at the door at ten o'clock the next morning. Every thing
+was ready at the appointed hour. Breakfast over, Vivian waited only to
+pay his compliments to Lady Glistonbury, who had breakfasted in her own
+apartment. Lady Sarah, with a manner as formal as usual, rose from the
+breakfast-table, and said she would let her mother know that Mr.
+Vivian was going. Vivian waited half an hour--an hour--two hours. Lady
+Glistonbury did not appear, nor did Lady Sarah return. The company had
+dispersed after the first half-hour. Lord Glistonbury began to believe
+that the ladies did not mean to make their appearance. At length a
+message came from Lady Glistonbury.--"Lady Glistonbury's compliments to
+Mr. Vivian--her ladyship was concerned that it was out of her power to
+have the pleasure of seeing Mr. Vivian, as she was too much indisposed
+to leave her room.--She and Lady Sarah wished him a very good journey."
+
+Vivian went up to his room for his gloves, which he missed at the moment
+when he was going. Whilst he was opening the empty drawers one after
+another, in search of his gloves, and, at the same time, calling
+his servant to find them, he heard a loud scream from an adjoining
+apartment. He listened again--all was silent; and he supposed that what
+he had heard was not a scream: but, at that moment, Lady Sarah's maid
+flung open his door, and, running in with out-stretched arms, threw
+herself at Vivian's feet. Her sobs and tears prevented his understanding
+one syllable she said. At last she articulated intelligibly, "Oh,
+sir!--don't be so cruel to go--my lady!--my poor lady! If you go, it
+will kill Lady Sarah!"
+
+"Kill Lady Sarah?--Why I saw her in perfect health this morning at
+breakfast!"
+
+"Dear, dear sir! you know nothing of the matter!" said the maid, rising,
+and shutting the door: "you don't know what a way she has been in ever
+since the talk of your going--fits upon fits every night, and my lady,
+her mother, and I up holding her--and none in the house knowing it but
+ourselves. Very well at breakfast! Lord help us! sir. How little you
+know of what she has suffered! Lord have mercy upon me! I would not be
+a lady to be so much in love, and left so, for any thing in the whole
+world. And my Lady Sarah keeps every thing so to herself;--if it was not
+for these fits they would never have knowed she cared no more for you
+than a stone."
+
+"And, probably you are quite mistaken," said Vivian; "and that I have
+nothing to do with the young lady's illness. If she has fits, I am
+very sorry for it; but I can't possibly----Certainly, you are quite
+mistaken!"
+
+"Lord, sir!--mistaken! As if I could be mistaken, when I know my lady as
+well as I know myself! Why, sir, I know from the time of the election,
+when you was given to her by all the country--and to be sure when we
+all thought it would be a match directly--and the Lord knows what put
+it off!--I say, from that time, her heart was set upon you. Though she
+never said a word to me, or any one, I knew how it was, through all her
+coldness--And to be sure, when you was in Lon'on so much with us, all
+the town said, as all the country did afore, that to be sure it was to
+be a match--But then that sad affair, with that artfullest of women,
+that took you off from all that was good, and away, the Lord knows
+where, to foreign parts!--Well! to be sure, I never shall forget the day
+you come back again to us!--and the night of the ball!--and you dancing
+with my lady, and all so happy; then, to be sure, all were sarten it was
+to be immediately----And now to go and break my poor lady's heart at the
+last--Oh, sir, sir! if you could but see her, it would touch a heart of
+marble!"
+
+Vivian's astonishment and dismay were so great, that he suffered
+the girl, who was an unpractised creature, to go on speaking without
+interruption: the warmth of affection with which she spoke of her lady,
+also, surprised him: for, till this instant, he had no idea that any one
+could love Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and the accounts she gave of the lady's
+sufferings not only touched his compassion, but worked upon his vanity.
+"This cold, proud young lady that never loved none before, to think,"
+as her maid said, "that she should come to such a pass, as to be in fits
+about him. And it was her belief that Lady Sarah never would recover it,
+if he went away out of the castle this day."
+
+The ringing of a bell had repeatedly been heard, whilst Lady Sarah's
+maid was speaking; it now rang violently, and her name was called
+vehemently from the adjoining apartment. "I must go, I _must_ go!--Oh,
+sir! one day, for mercy's sake! stay one day longer!"
+
+Vivian, though he had been moved by this girl's representations,
+was determined to effect his retreat whilst it was yet in his power;
+therefore he ran down stairs, and had gained the hall, where he was
+shaking hands with Lord Glistonbury, when my Lady Glistonbury's own
+woman came in a great hurry to say, that her lady, finding herself a
+little better now, and able to see Mr. Vivian, begged he would be so
+good as to walk up to her dressing-room.
+
+Vivian, with a heavy heart and slow steps, obeyed; there was no
+refusing, no evading such a request. He summoned all his resolution, at
+the same time saying to himself, as he followed his conductor along the
+gallery, "It is impossible that I can ever be drawn in to marry Lady
+Sarah.--This is a concerted plan, and I shall not be so weak as to be
+the dupe of so gross an artifice."
+
+Lady Glistonbury's maid showed him into her lady's dressing-room and
+retired. Lady Glistonbury was seated, and, without speaking, pointed to
+a chair which was set opposite to her. "So! a preparation for a scene,"
+thought Vivian. He bowed, but, still keeping his hat in his hand, did
+not sit down:--he was extremely happy to hear, that her ladyship found
+herself something better--much honoured by her permitting him to pay
+his respects, and to offer his grateful acknowledgments to her ladyship
+before his departure from Glistonbury.
+
+Her ladyship, still without speaking, pointed to the chair. Vivian
+sat down, and looked as if he had "screwed his courage to the sticking
+place." Lady Glistonbury had sometimes a little nervous trembling of
+her head, which was the only symptom of internal agitation that was ever
+observable in her; it was now increased to a degree which Vivian had
+never before seen.
+
+"Are you in haste, sir, to be gone?" said Lady Glistonbury.
+
+"Not if her ladyship had any commands for him; but otherwise, he had
+intended, if possible, to reach town that night."
+
+"I shall not delay you many minutes, Mr. Vivian," said her ladyship.
+"You need not be under apprehension that Lady Glistonbury should seek to
+detain you longer than your own inclinations induce you to stay; it is,
+therefore, unnecessary to insult her with any appearance of haste or
+impatience."
+
+Vivian instantly laid down his hat, and protested that he was not in
+the slightest degree impatient: he should be very ungrateful, as well as
+very ill-bred, if, after the most hospitable manner in which he had been
+received and entertained at Glistonbury Castle, he could be in haste to
+quit it. He was entirely at her ladyship's orders.
+
+Lady Glistonbury bowed formally--was again silent--the trembling of her
+head very great--the rest of her form motionless.
+
+"I have sent for you, Mr. Vivian," said she, "that I might, before you
+leave this castle, set you right on a subject which much concerns me.
+From the representations of a foolish country girl, a maid-servant of my
+daughter, Lady Sarah Lidhurst, which I have just discovered she has made
+to you, I had reason to fear that you might leave Glistonbury with very
+false notions----"
+
+A cry was heard at this moment from the inner apartment, which made
+Vivian start; but Lady Glistonbury, without noticing it, went on
+speaking.
+
+"With notions very injurious to my daughter Sarah; who, if I know any
+thing of her, would rather, if it were so ordained, go out of this
+world, than condescend to any thing unbecoming her sex, her education,
+and her family."
+
+Vivian, struck with respect and compassion for the mother, who spoke to
+him in this manner, was now convinced that there had been no concerted
+plan to work upon his mind, that the maid had spoken without the
+knowledge of her lady; and the more proudly solicitous Lady Glistonbury
+showed herself to remove what she called the false impression from his
+mind, the more he was persuaded that the girl had spoken the truth. He
+was much embarrassed between his good-nature and his dread of becoming a
+sacrifice to his humanity.
+
+He replied in general terms to Lady Glistonbury, that he had the highest
+respect for Lady Sarah Lidhurst, and that no opinion injurious to her
+could be entertained by him.
+
+"Respect she must command from all," said Lady Glistonbury; "_that_ it
+is out of any man's power to refuse her: as to the rest, she leaves you,
+and I leave you, sir, to your own conscience."
+
+Lady Glistonbury rose, and so did Vivian. He hoped that neither her
+ladyship nor Lady Sarah had any cause----He hesitated; the words, _to
+reproach, to complain, to be displeased_, all came to his lips; but each
+seemed improper; and, none other being at hand to convey his meaning,
+he could not finish his sentence: so he began another upon a new
+construction, with "I should be much concerned if, in addition to all my
+other causes of regret in leaving Glistonbury Castle, I felt that I had
+incurred Lady Glistonbury's or Lady Sarah's displea--disapprobation."
+
+"As to that, sir," said Lady Glistonbury, "I cannot but have my own
+opinion of your conduct; and you can scarcely expect, I apprehend, that
+a mother, such as I am, should not feel some disapprobation of conduct,
+which has----Sir, I beg I may not detain you--I have the honour to wish
+you a good journey and much happiness."
+
+An attendant came from an inner apartment with a message! from Lady
+Sarah, who was worse, and wished to see her mother--"Immediately!--tell
+her, immediately!"
+
+The servant returned with the answer. Vivian was retiring, but he
+came back, for he saw at that moment a convulsive motion contract Lady
+Glistonbury's face: she made an effort to walk; but if Vivian had
+not supported her instantly, she must have fallen. She endeavoured to
+disengage herself from his assistance, and again attempted to walk.
+
+"For God's sake, lean upon me, madam!" said Vivian, much alarmed. With
+his assistance, she reached the door of the inner room: summoning all
+the returning powers of life, she then withdrew her arm from his, and
+pointing back to the door at which Vivian entered, she said, "That is
+your way, sir."
+
+"Pardon me--I cannot go--I cannot leave you at this moment," said
+Vivian.
+
+"This is my daughter's apartment, sir," said Lady Glistonbury, stopping,
+and standing still and fixed. Some of the attendants within, hearing her
+ladyship's voice, opened the door; Lady Glistonbury made an effort
+to prevent it, but in vain: the chamber was darkened, but as the door
+opened, the wind from an open window blew back the curtain, and some
+light fell upon a canopy bed, where Lady Sarah lay motionless, her eyes
+closed, and pale as death; one attendant chafing her temples, another
+rubbing her feet: she looked up just after the door opened, and, raising
+her head, she saw Vivian--a gleam of joy illumined her countenance, and
+coloured her cheek.
+
+"Sir," repeated Lady Glistonbury, "this is my daughter's----"
+
+She could articulate no more. She fell across the threshold, struck with
+palsy. Her daughter sprang from the bed, and, with Vivian's assistance,
+raised and carried Lady Glistonbury to an arm-chair near the open
+window, drew back the curtain, begged Vivian to go to her father, and
+instantly to despatch a messenger for medical assistance. Vivian sent
+his own servant, who had his horse ready at the door, and he bid the man
+go as fast as he could.
+
+"Then you don't leave Glistonbury to-day, sir?" said the servant.
+
+"Do as I order you--Where's Lord Glistonbury?"
+
+His lordship, with the newspapers and letters open in his hand,
+came up--but they dropped on hearing the intelligence that Vivian
+communicated. His lordship was naturally humane and good-natured; and
+the shock was greater, perhaps, to him, from the sort of enmity in which
+he lived with Lady Glistonbury.
+
+"I dread to go up stairs," said he. "For God's sake, Vivian, don't
+leave me in this distress!--do order your carriage away!----Put up Mr.
+Vivian's carriage."
+
+Lady Sarah's maid came to tell them that Lady Glistonbury had recovered
+her speech, and that she had asked, "if Mr. Vivian was gone?"
+
+"Do come up with me," cried Lord Glistonbury, "and she will see you are
+not gone."
+
+"Here's my lord and Mr. Vivian, my lady," said the girl.
+
+Then, turning to Lady Glistonbury's woman, she added, in a loud whisper,
+"Mr. Vivian won't go to-day."
+
+Lady Sarah gave her maid some commission, which took her out of the
+room. Lady Sarah, no longer the formal, cold, slow personage whom
+Vivian detested, now seemed to him, and not only seemed but was, quite
+a different being, inspired with energy, and quickness, and presence
+of mind: she forgot herself, and her illness, and her prudery, and
+her love, and every other consideration, in the sense of her mother's
+danger. Lady Glistonbury had but imperfectly recovered her recollection.
+At one moment she smiled on Vivian, and tried to stretch out her hand to
+him, as she saw him standing beside Lady Sarah. But when he approached
+Lady Glistonbury, and spoke to her, she seemed to have some painful
+recollection, and, looking round the room, expressed surprise and
+uneasiness at his being there. Vivian retired; and Lord Glistonbury, who
+was crying like a child, followed, saying, "Take me out with
+you--Dr. G---- ought to be here before now--I'll send for another
+physician!--Very shocking--very shocking--at Lady Glistonbury's time of
+life, too--for she is not an old woman by any means. Lady Glistonbury
+is eighteen months younger than I am!--Nobody knows how soon it may be
+their turn!--It's very shocking!--If I had known she was ill, I would
+have had advice for her sooner. She is very patient--too patient--a
+great deal too patient. She never will complain--never tells what she
+feels, body or mind--at least never tells _me_; but that may be my fault
+in some measure. Should be very sorry Lady Glistonbury went out of the
+world with things as they are now between us. Hope to God she will get
+over this attack!--Hey! Mr. Vivian?"
+
+Vivian said whatever he could to fortify this hope, and was glad to see
+Lord Glistonbury show feelings of this sort. The physician arrived, and
+confirmed these hopes by his favourable prognostics. In the course
+of the day and night her face, which had been contracted, resumed
+its natural appearance; she recovered the use of her arm: a certain
+difficulty of articulation, and thickness of speech, with what the
+physician called hallucination of mind, and a general feebleness of
+body, were all the apparent consequences of this stroke. She was not
+herself sensible of the nature of the attack, or clear in her ideas of
+any thing that had passed immediately previous to it. She had only an
+imperfect recollection of her daughter's illness, and of some hurry
+about Mr. Vivian's going away. She was, however, well enough to go into
+her dressing-room, where Vivian went to pay his respects to her, with
+Lord Glistonbury. By unremitting exertions, and unusual cheerfulness,
+Lady Sarah succeeded in quieting her mother's confused apprehensions on
+her account. When out of Lady Glistonbury's hearing, all the attendants
+and the physicians repeatedly expressed fear that Lady Sarah would
+over-fatigue and injure herself by this extraordinary energy; but her
+powers of body and mind seemed to rise with the necessity for exertion;
+and, on this great occasion, she suddenly discovered a warmth and
+strength of character, of which few had ever before discerned even the
+slightest symptoms.
+
+"Who would have expected this from Sarah?" whispered Lord Glistonbury to
+Vivian. "Why, her sister did not do more for me when I was ill! I always
+knew she loved her mother, but I thought it was in a quiet, commonplace
+way--Who knows but she loves me too?--or might--" She came into the
+room at this moment--"Sarah, my dear," said his lordship, "where are my
+letters and yesterday's papers, which I never read?--I'll see if there
+be any thing in them that can interest your mother."
+
+Lord Glistonbury opened the papers, and the first article of public news
+was, "a dissolution of parliament confidently expected to take place
+immediately." This must put an end to Vivian's scheme of going to town
+to attend his duty in parliament. "But, may be, it is only newspaper
+information." It was confirmed by all Lord Glistonbury and Vivian's
+private letters. A letter from his mother, which Vivian now for the
+first moment had time to peruse, mentioned the dissolution of parliament
+as certain; she named her authority, which could not be doubted; and, in
+consequence, she had sent down supplies of wine for an election; and she
+said that she would "be immediately at Castle Vivian, to keep open house
+and open heart for her son. Though not furnished," she observed, "the
+castle would suit the better all the purposes of an election; and
+she should not feel any inconvenience, for her own part, let the
+accommodations be what they might."
+
+Lord Glistonbury directly proposed and insisted upon Lady Mary
+Vivian's making Glistonbury her head-quarters. Vivian objected: Lady
+Glistonbury's illness was an ostensible and, he hoped, would be a
+sufficient excuse for declining the invitation. But Lord Glistonbury
+persisted: "Lady Glistonbury, he was sure, would wish it--nothing would
+be more agreeable to her." His lordship's looks appealed to Lady Sarah,
+but Lady Sarah was silent; and, when her father positively required her
+opinion, by adding, "Hey! Sarah?" she rather discouraged than pressed
+the invitation. She said, that though she was persuaded her mother
+would, if she were well, be happy to have the pleasure of seeing Lady
+Mary Vivian; yet she could not, in her mother's present situation,
+venture to decide how far her health might be able to stand any election
+bustle.
+
+Lady Sarah said this with a very calm voice, but blushed extremely as
+she spoke; and, for the first time, Vivian thought her not absolutely
+plain; and, for the first time, he thought even the formality and
+deliberate coolness of her manner were not disagreeable. He liked her
+more, at this moment, than he had ever imagined it possible he could
+like Lady Sarah Lidhurst; but he liked her chiefly because she did not
+press him into her service, but rather forwarded his earnest wish to get
+away from Glistonbury.
+
+Lord Glistonbury appealed to the physician, and asked whether company
+and amusement were not "the best things possible for his patient?
+Lady Glistonbury should not be left alone, surely! Her mind should be
+interested and amused; and an election would be a fortunate circumstance
+just at present!"
+
+The physician qualified the assent which his lordship's peremptory tone
+seemed to demand, by saying, "that certainly moderate amusement, and
+whatever interested without agitating her ladyship, would be salutary."
+His lordship then declared that he would leave it to Lady Glistonbury
+herself to decide: quitting the end of the room where they were holding
+their consultation, he approached her ladyship to explain the matter.
+But Lady Sarah stopped him, beseeching so earnestly that no appeal might
+be made to her mother, that Vivian was quite moved; and he settled the
+business at once to general satisfaction, by declaring that, though
+neither he nor Lady Mary Vivian could think of intruding as inmates
+at present, yet that they should, as soon as Lady Glistonbury's health
+would permit, be as much at Glistonbury Castle as possible; and that the
+short distance from his house would make it, he hoped, not inconvenient
+to his lordship for all election business. Lord Glistonbury acceded, and
+Lady Sarah appeared gratefully satisfied. His lordship, who always took
+the task of explanation upon himself, now read the paragraph about the
+dissolution aloud to Lady Glistonbury; informed her, that Lady Mary
+Vivian was coming immediately to the country; and that they should hope
+to see Lady Mary and Mr. Vivian almost every day, though he could
+not prevail upon them to take up their abode during the election
+at Glistonbury. Lady Glistonbury listened, and tried, and seemed to
+understand--bowed to Mr. Vivian and smiled, and said she remembered he
+was often at Glistonbury during the last election--that she was happy
+to hear she should have the pleasure to see Lady Mary Vivian--that some
+people disliked _election times_, but for her part she did not, when she
+was strong. Indeed, the last election she recollected with particular
+pleasure--she was happy that Lord Glistonbury's interest was of
+service to Mr. Vivian. Then "she hoped his canvass _to-day_ had been
+successful?"--and asked some questions that showed her mind had become
+confused, and that she was confounding the past with the present. Lady
+Sarah and Mr. Vivian said a few words to set her right--she looked
+first at one, and then at the other, listening, and then said--"I
+understand--God bless you both." Vivian took up his hat, and looked out
+of the window, to see if his carriage was at the door.
+
+"Mr. Vivian wishes you a good morning, madam," said Lady Sarah: "he is
+going to Castle Vivian, to get things ready for Lady Mary's arrival."
+
+"I wish you health and happiness, sir," said Lady Glistonbury,
+attempting to rise, whilst some painful reminiscence altered her
+countenance.
+
+"Pray do not stir, don't disturb yourself, Lady Glistonbury. I shall pay
+my respects to your ladyship again as soon as possible."
+
+"And pray bring me good news of the election, and how the poll stands
+to-morrow, Mr. Vivian," added her ladyship, as he left the room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+
+Vivian, who had felt oppressed and almost enslaved by his compassion,
+breathed more freely when he at last found himself in his carriage,
+driving away from Glistonbury. His own castle, and the preparations for
+his mother's arrival, and for the expected canvass, occupied him so much
+for the ensuing days, that he had scarcely time to think of Lady Julia
+or of Lady Sarah, of Russell or Selina: he could neither reflect on the
+past, nor anticipate the future; the present, the vulgar present,
+full of upholsterers, and paper-hangers, and butlers, and grooms, and
+tenants, and freeholders, and parasites, pressed upon his attention with
+importunate claims. The dissolution of parliament took place. Lady
+Mary Vivian arrived almost as soon as the newspaper that brought this
+intelligence: with her came a new set of thoughts, all centering in
+the notion of her son's consequence in the world, and of his
+happiness--ideas which were too firmly associated in her mind ever to be
+separated. She said that she had regretted his having made such a long
+stay in the country during the last session, because he had missed
+opportunities of distinguishing himself farther in parliament. The
+preceding session her ladyship had received gratifying compliments on
+her son's talents, and on the figure he had _already_ made in public
+life; she felt her self-love as well as her affection interested in
+his continuing his political career with spirit and success. "As to the
+present election," she observed, "there could be little doubt that he
+would be re-elected with the assistance of the Glistonbury interest;
+and," added her ladyship, smiling significantly, "I fancy your interest
+is pretty strong in that quarter. The world has given you by turns to
+Lady Julia and Lady Sarah Lidhurst; and I am asked continually which of
+the Lady Lidhursts you are in love with. One of these ladies certainly
+must be my daughter-in-law; pray, if you know, empower me to say which."
+Lady Mary Vivian spoke but half in earnest, till the extraordinary
+commotion her words created in her son, convinced her that the report
+had not, now at least, been mistaken.
+
+"Next to Miss Selina Sidney," continued Lady Mary, "who, after her
+positive and long persisted-in refusal, is quite out of the question, I
+have, my dear son, always wished to see you married to one of the
+Lady Lidhursts; and, of course, Lady Julia's talents, and beauty, and
+youth----"
+
+Vivian interrupted and hastily told his mother that Lady Julia Lidhurst
+was as much out of the question as Miss Sidney could be; for that he had
+offered himself, and had been refused; and that he had every reason to
+believe that the determination of his second mistress against him would
+be at least as absolute and unconquerable as that of his first. His
+mother was in amazement. That her son could be refused by Lady Julia
+Lidhurst appeared a moral and political impossibility, especially when
+the desire for a connexion between the families had been so obvious on
+the side of the Glistonburys. What could be the meaning of this? Lady
+Julia was perhaps under an error, and fancied he was some way engaged to
+Miss Sidney; "or, perhaps," said Lady Mary, who had a ready wit for
+the invention of delicate distresses, "perhaps there is some difficulty
+about the eldest sister, Lady Sarah; for you know the first winter you
+were given to her.--Ay, that must be the case. I will go to Glistonbury
+to-morrow, and I will have Lady Julia to myself for five minutes: I
+think I have some penetration, and I will know the truth."
+
+Lady Mary was again surprised, by hearing from her son that Lady
+Julia was not at Glistonbury--that she was gone with her brother into
+Devonshire. So there was a dead silence for some minutes, succeeded by
+an exclamation from Lady Mary, "There is some grand secret here--I
+must know it!" Her ladyship forthwith commenced a close and able
+cross-examination, which Vivian stopped at last by declaring that he
+was not at liberty to speak upon the subject: he knew, he said, that his
+mother was of too honourable and generous a temper to press him farther.
+His mother was perfectly honourable, but at the same time extremely
+curious; and though she continually repeated, "I will not ask you
+another question--I would not upon any account lead you to say a
+syllable that could betray any confidence reposed in you, my dear son;"
+yet she indulged herself in a variety of ingenious conjectures: "I know
+it is so;" or, "I am sure that I have guessed now, but I don't ask
+you to tell me.--You do right to deny it."--Amongst the variety of her
+conjectures, Lady Mary did not find out the truth; she was prepossessed
+by the idea that Russell was attached to Selina Sidney--a secret which
+her own penetration had discovered whilst her son was abroad with
+Mrs. Wharton, and which she thought no mortal living knew but herself.
+Pre-occupied with this notion, Russell was now omitted in all her
+combinations. His having quitted Glistonbury did not create any
+suspicion of the real cause of his sudden departure, because there was
+a sufficient reason for his going to the north to see his sick relation;
+and Lady Mary was too good a philosopher to assign two causes for the
+same event, when she had found one that was adequate to the production
+of the effect. She therefore quietly settled it in her imagination, that
+Lady Julia Lidhurst was going to be married immediately to a certain
+young nobleman, who had been lately at Glistonbury whilst they were
+acting plays. The next day she went with Vivian to Glistonbury Castle;
+for, waiving all the ceremonials of visiting, she was anxious to see
+poor Lady Glistonbury, of whose illness she had been apprised, in
+general terms, by her son. An impulse of curiosity, mixed perhaps with
+motives of regard for her good friend Lady Glistonbury, hastened this
+visit. They found Lady Glistonbury much better; she looked nearly as
+well as she had done before this stroke; and she had now recovered her
+memory, and the full use of her understanding. Vivian observed, that
+she and Lady Sarah were both convinced, by Lady Mary Vivian's curiosity,
+that he had given no hint of any thing which they did not wish to be
+known: and the pleasurable consciousness of his integrity disposed him
+to be pleased with them. Lord Glistonbury, on his side, was convinced
+that Vivian had behaved honourably with respect to his daughter Julia;
+so all parties were well satisfied with each other. His lordship
+answered Lady Mary Vivian's inquiries after his son and his daughter
+Julia by saying, that Miss Strictland had just returned to Glistonbury
+with rather more favourable accounts of Lord Lidhurst's health, and that
+Julia and he were now at his brother the Bishop of ----'s. Between this
+brother and my Lord Glistonbury there had never been any great intimacy,
+their characters and their politics being very different. The moment
+Lady Mary Vivian heard Lord Glistonbury pronounce, with such unusual
+cordiality, the words, "my brother the bishop," she recollected that the
+bishop had a very amiable, accomplished, and remarkably handsome son;
+so she arranged directly in her imagination that this was the person to
+whom Lady Julia was engaged. Being now thoroughly convinced that
+this last conjecture was just, she thought no more about Lady Julia's
+affairs; but turned her attention to Lady Sarah, whose cold and guarded
+manners, however, resisted her utmost penetration. Disappointed in all
+her attempts to lead to sentiment or love, the conversation at last ran
+wholly upon the approaching election, upon the canvass, and the strength
+of the various interests of the county; on all which subjects Lady Sarah
+showed surprisingly exact information. Presently Lord Glistonbury took
+Vivian with him to his study to examine some poll-book, and then
+put into his hands a letter from Lady Julia Lidhurst, which had been
+enclosed in one to himself.
+
+"I told you that I intended to _rusticate_ Julia," said his lordship,
+"with a poor parson and his wife--relations, distant relations of
+ours in Devonshire; but this plan has been defeated by my foolish good
+brother the bishop. On their journey they passed close by his palace;
+I charged Miss Strictland to be incog.; but they stayed to rest in the
+town, for Lidhurst was fatigued; and some of the bishop's people found
+them out, and the bishop sent for them, and at last came himself. He was
+so sorry for Lidhurst's illness, and, as Miss Strictland says, so much
+charmed with Julia, whom he had not seen since she was a child, that he
+absolutely took possession of them; and Julia has made her party good
+with him, for he writes me word he cannot part with her; that I must
+allow her to remain with him; and that they will take all possible care
+of Lyndhurst's health. I believe I must yield this point to the bishop;
+for altogether it looks better that Julia should be at the palace than
+at the parsonage; and, though my poor brother has not the knowledge of
+the world one could wish, or that is necessary to bring this romantic
+girl back to reason, yet--But I keep you from reading your letter, and
+I see you are impatient--Hey?--very natural!--but, I am afraid, all in
+vain--I'll leave you in peace. At any rate," added Lord Glistonbury,
+"you know I have always stood your firm friend in this business; and you
+know I'm discreet."
+
+Vivian never felt so grateful for any instance of his lordship's
+friendship and discretion as for that which he gave at this moment, by
+quitting the room, and leaving him in peace to read his letter.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+
+"Before you open this letter, you will have heard, probably, that my
+uncle, the Bishop of ----, has taken me under his protection. I cannot
+sufficiently regret that I was not a few years, a few months, sooner,
+blessed with such a Mentor. I never, till now, knew how much power
+kindness has to touch the mind in the moment of distress; nor did I
+ever, till now, feel how deeply the eloquence of true piety sinks into
+the heart. This excellent friend will, I hope, in time restore me to my
+better self. From the abstraction, the selfishness of passion, I think
+I am already somewhat recovered. After being wholly absorbed by one
+sentiment, I begin to feel again the influence of other motives, and to
+waken to the returning sense of social duty. Among the first objects to
+which, in recovering from this trance, or this fever of the soul, I have
+power to turn my attention, your happiness, sir, next to that of my
+own nearest relations, I find interests me most. After giving you this
+assurance, I trust you will believe that, to insure the felicity, or
+even to restore the health and preserve the life of any relation
+or friend I have upon earth, I should not think myself justified in
+attempting to influence your mind to any thing which I did not sincerely
+and firmly believe would be for your permanent advantage as well as for
+theirs. Under the solemn faith of this declaration, I hope that you will
+listen to me with patience and confidence. From all that I have myself
+seen, and from all that I have heard of your character, I am convinced
+that your wife should be a woman of a disposition precisely opposite, in
+many respects, to mine. Your character is liable to vary, according to
+the situations in which you are placed; and is subject to sudden but
+transient impressions from external circumstances. You have hitherto had
+a friend who has regulated the fluctuations of your passions; now that
+he is separated from you, how much will you feel the loss of his cool
+and steady judgment! Should you not, therefore, in that bosom friend, a
+wife, look for a certain firmness and stability of character, capable
+of resisting, rather than disposed to yield, to sudden impulse; a
+character, not of enthusiasm, but of duty; a mind, which, instead of
+increasing, by example and sympathy, any defects of your own--pardon the
+expression--should correct or compensate these by opposite qualities?
+And supposing that, with such sobriety and strength of character as I
+have described, there should be connected a certain slowness, formality,
+and coldness of manner, which might not at first be attractive to a man
+of your vivacity, let not this repel you: when once you have learned
+to consider this manner as the concomitant and indication of qualities
+essential to your happiness, it would, I am persuaded, become agreeable
+to you; especially as, on nearer observation, you would soon discover
+that, beneath that external coldness, under all that snow and ice, there
+is an accumulated and concentrated warmth of affection.
+
+"Of this, sir, you must lately have seen an example in my own family.
+At the moment when my poor mother was struck with palsy, you saw my
+sister's energy; and her character, probably, then appeared to you in a
+new point of view. From this burst of latent affection for a parent, you
+may form some idea what the power of the passion of love would be in her
+soul; some idea, I say; for I am persuaded that none but those who
+know her as well as I do can form an adequate notion of the strength of
+attachment of which she is capable.
+
+"You will be surprised, perhaps, sir, to hear me reason so coolly for
+others on a subject where I have acted so rashly for myself; and you
+may feel no inclination to listen to the advice of one who has shown so
+little prudence in her own affairs: therefore, having stated my reasons,
+and suggested my conclusions, I leave you to apply them as you think
+proper; and I shall only add, that the accomplishment of my wishes, on
+this subject, would give me peculiar satisfaction. It would relieve my
+mind from part of a weight of self-reproach. I have made both my parents
+unhappy. I have reason to fear that the shock my mother received, by my
+means, contributed much to her late illness. An event that would
+restore my whole family to happiness must, therefore, be to me the most
+desirable upon earth. I should feel immediate relief and delight, even
+in the hope of contributing to it by any influence I can have over your
+mind. And, independently of the pleasure and pride I should feel
+in securing my sister's happiness and yours, I should enjoy true
+satisfaction, sir, in that intimate friendship with you, which only the
+ties of such near relationship could permit or justify. You will accept
+of this assurance, instead of the trite and insulting, because unmeaning
+or unsafe, offer of friendship, which ladies sometimes make to those who
+have been their lovers.
+
+"JULIA LIDHURST.
+
+"---- Palace:"
+
+
+At the first reading of this letter, Vivian felt nothing but a renewal
+of regret for having lost all chance of obtaining the affections of the
+person by whom it was written: on a second perusal, he was moved by the
+earnest expression of her wishes for his happiness; and the desire to
+gratify her, on a point on which she was so anxious, influenced him much
+more than any of her arguments. Whatever good sense the letter contained
+was lost upon him; but all the sentiment operated with full force, yet
+not with sufficient power to conquer the repugnance he still felt to
+Lady Sarah's person and manners. Lord Glistonbury made no inquiries
+concerning the contents of his daughter Julia's letter; but, as far
+as politeness would permit, he examined Vivian's countenance when he
+returned to the drawing-room. Lady Glistonbury's manner was as calm as
+usual; but the slight shake of her head was a sufficient indication
+of her internal feelings. Lady Sarah looked pale, but so perfectly
+composed, that Vivian was convinced she, at least, knew nothing of
+her sister's letter. So great indeed was the outward composure, and so
+immoveable was Lady Sarah, that it provoked Lady Mary past endurance;
+and as they drove home in the evening, she exclaimed, "I never saw
+such a young woman as Lady Sarah Lidhurst! She is a stick, a stone, a
+statue--she has completely satisfied my mind on one point. I own that
+when I found Lady Julia was out of the question, I did begin to think
+and wish that Lady Sarah might be my daughter-in-law, because she
+has really been so carefully brought up, and the connexion with the
+Glistonbury family is so desirable: then I had a notion, before I saw
+her this morning, that the girl liked you, and might be really capable
+of attachment; but now, indeed, I am convinced of the folly of that
+notion. She has no feeling--none upon earth--scarcely common sense!
+She thinks of nothing but how she holds her elbows. The formality and
+importance with which she went on cutting off ends of worsted from that
+frightful tapestry work, whilst I talked of you, quite put me out of all
+manner of patience. She has no feeling--none upon earth!"
+
+"Oh, ma'am," said Vivian, "you do her injustice: she certainly has
+feeling--for her mother."
+
+"Ay, for her mother, may be! a kind of mechanical affection!"
+
+"But, ma'am, if you had seen her at the time that her mother was struck
+with palsy!"
+
+Much to his own surprise, Vivian found himself engaged in a defence, and
+almost in an eulogium upon Lady Sarah; but the injustice of his mother's
+attack, on this point, was, he knew, so great, that he could not join in
+Lady Mary's invective.
+
+"Why, my dear Charles!" said she, "do you recollect, on this very road,
+as we were returning from Glistonbury Castle, this time two years, you
+called Lady Sarah a petrifaction?"
+
+"Yes, ma'am; because I did not know her then."
+
+"Well, my dear, I must have time to analyze her more carefully, and
+I suppose I shall discover, as you have done, that she is not a
+petrifaction. So, then, Lady Sarah really is to be the woman after all.
+I am content, but I absolutely cannot pretend to like her--I like the
+connexion, however; and the rest is your affair.--You haven't proposed
+yet?"
+
+"Bless me! no, ma'am! God forbid! How fast your imagination goes, my
+dear mother!--Is there no difference between saying, that a woman is not
+a petrifaction, and being in love with her?"
+
+"In love! I never said a word about being in love--I know that's
+impossible--I asked only if you had proposed for her?"
+
+"Dear ma'am, no!"
+
+Lady Mary expressed her satisfaction; and, perhaps, the injustice with
+which she continued, for some days, to asperse Lady Sarah Lidhurst, as
+being unfeeling, served her more, in Vivian's opinion, than any other
+mode in which she could have spoken of her ladyship. Still he felt glad
+that he had not _yet proposed_. He had not courage either to recede or
+advance; circumstances went on, and carried him along with them, without
+bringing him to any decision. The business of the election proceeded;
+every day Lord Glistonbury was with him, or he was at Glistonbury
+Castle; every hour he saw more plainly the expectations that were
+formed: sometimes he felt that he was inevitably doomed to fulfil these,
+and at other times he cherished the hope that Lady Julia would soon
+return home, and that, by some fortunate revolution, she might yet be
+his. He had not now the advantage of Russell's firmness to support
+him in this emergency. Russell's answer to his letter was so coolly
+determined, and he so absolutely declined interfering farther in his
+affairs, that Vivian saw no hopes of regaining his friendship, or of
+benefiting by his counsels. Thus was Vivian in all the helplessness
+and all the horrors of indecision, when an event took place, which
+materially changed the face of affairs in the Glistonbury family. Just
+at the time when the accounts of his health were the most favourable,
+and when his friends were deceived by the most sanguine hopes of his
+recovery, Lord Lidhurst died. His mother was the only person in
+the family who was prepared for this catastrophe: they dreaded to
+communicate the intelligence to her, lest it should bring on another
+attack of her dreadful malady; but to their astonishment, she heard it
+with calm resignation,--said she had long foreseen this calamity, and
+that she submitted to the will of Heaven. After pity for the parents who
+lost this amiable and promising young man, heir to this large fortune
+and to this splendid title, people began to consider what change would
+be made in the condition of the rest of the family. The Lady Lidhursts,
+from _being very small fortunes_, became heiresses to a large
+estate. The earldom of Glistonbury was to devolve to a nephew of Lord
+Glistonbury, in case the Lady Lidhursts should not marry, or should not
+have heirs male; but, in case they should marry, the title was to go
+to the first son. All these circumstances were of course soon known and
+talked of in the neighbourhood; and many congratulated Vivian upon the
+great accession of fortune, and upon the high expectations of the lady
+to whom they supposed him engaged.
+
+On the first visit which Vivian and his mother paid after the death of
+Lord Lidhurst at Glistonbury Castle, they found there a young man very
+handsome, but of a dark, reserved countenance, whose physiognomy and
+manner immediately prepossessed them against him; on his part, he seemed
+to eye them with suspicion, and to be particularly uneasy whenever
+Vivian either mentioned the election or approached Lady Sarah. This
+young man was Mr. Lidhurst, Lord Glistonbury's nephew and heir-at-law.
+It was obvious, almost at first sight, that the uncle disliked the
+nephew; but it was not so easy to perceive that the nephew despised the
+uncle. Mr. Lidhurst, though young, was an excellent politician; and his
+feelings were always regulated by his interests. He had more abilities
+than Lord Glistonbury, less vanity, but infinitely more ambition. In
+Lord Glistonbury, ambition was rather affected, as an air suited to
+his rank, and proper to increase his consequence: Mr. Lidhurst's was an
+earnest, inordinate ambition, yet it was cold, silent, and calculating;
+his pride preyed upon him inwardly, but it never hurried him into saying
+or doing an extravagant thing. Those who were not actuated solely
+by ambition, he always looked upon as fools, and those who were, he
+considered, in general, as knaves: the one he marked as dupes, the other
+as rivals. He had been at the Bishop of ----'s, during Lord Lidhurst's
+illness, and at the time of his death. Ever since Lady Julia's arrival
+at the bishop's, he had foreseen the probability of this event, and had,
+in consequence of the long-sightedness of his views, endeavoured to make
+himself agreeable to her. He found this impossible; but was, however,
+easily consoled by hearing that she had resolved never to marry; he only
+hoped that she would keep her resolution; and he was now at Glistonbury
+Castle, in the determination to propose for his other cousin, Lady
+Sarah, who would, perhaps, equally well secure to him his objects.
+
+"Well! my dear Vivian," said Lord Glistonbury, drawing him aside, "how
+d'ye relish my nephew, Marmaduke Lidhurst? Need not be afraid to speak
+the truth, for I tell you at once that he is no particular favourite
+here; not _en bonne odeur_; but that's only between you and me. He
+thinks that I don't know that he considers me as a shallow fellow,
+because I haven't my head crammed with a parcel of statistical tables,
+all the fiscal and financiering stuff which he has at his calculating
+fingers' ends; but I trust that I am almost as good a politician as he
+is, and I'm free to believe, have rather more knowledge of the world--
+
+     'In men, not books, experienced was my lord'--
+
+Hey? Hey, Vivian? and can see through him with half an eye, I can tell
+him.--Wants to get Lady Sarah--Yes, yes; but never came near us till we
+lost my poor boy--he won't win Lady Sarah either, or I'm much mistaken.
+Did you observe how jealous he was of you?--Right!--right!--he has
+penetration!--Stay, stay! you don't know Marmaduke yet--don't know half
+his schemes. How his brow clouded when we were talking of the election!
+I must hint to you, he has been sounding me upon that matter; he has a
+great mind to stand for this county--talks of starting at the first day
+of the poll. I told him it could not do, as I was engaged to you. He
+answered, that of course was only a conditional promise, in case none of
+my own relations stood. I fought shy, and he pressed confoundedly.--Gad!
+he would put me in a very awkward predicament, if he was really to
+stand! for you know what the world would say, if they saw me opposing
+my own nephew, a rising young man, and not for a relation either; and
+Marmaduke Lidhurst is just your deep fellow to plan such a thing
+and execute it, not caring at what or whose expense. I can tell him,
+however, I am not a man to be bullied out of my interest, or to be
+outwitted either.--Stand firm, Vivian, my good friend, and I'll stand
+by you; depend on me!--I only wish----" Here his lordship paused. "But
+I cannot say more to you now; for here is my precious heir-at-law coming
+to break up the confederacy. I'll ride over and see you to-morrow;--now,
+let us all be mute before Marmaduke, our master politician, as becomes
+us--Hey! Vivian? Hey?"
+
+Notwithstanding this sort of jealousy of Marmaduke, and the bravadoing
+style in which Lord Glistonbury spoke of him, he spoke to him in a very
+different manner: it was apparent to Vivian that his lordship was
+under some awe of his nephew, and that, whilst he cherished this secret
+dislike, he dreaded coming to any open rupture with a man who was, as
+his lordship apprehended, so well able to make his own party good in the
+world. When Marmaduke did emerge from that depth of thought in which he
+generally seemed to be sunk, and when he did condescend to converse,
+or rather to speak, his theme was always of persons in power, or his
+sarcasms against those who never would obtain it; from any one thing he
+asserted, it could never be proved, but, from all he said, it might
+be inferred, that he valued human qualities and talents merely as they
+could, or could not, obtain a price in the political market. The power
+of speaking in public, as it is a means in England of acquiring all
+other species of power, he deemed the first of Heaven's gifts; and
+successful parliamentary speakers were the only persons of whom he
+expressed admiration. As Vivian had spoken, and had been listened to
+in the House of Commons, he was in this respect an object of Marmaduke
+Lidhurst's envy; but this envy was mitigated by contempt for our hero's
+want of perseverance in ambition.
+
+"There is that Mr. Vivian of yours," said he to his uncle, whilst Vivian
+was gone to talk to the ladies--"you'll find he will be but a woman's
+man, after all!--Heavens! with his fluency in public, what I would
+have done by this time of day! This poor fellow has no consistency of
+ambition--no great views--no reach of mind. Put him in for a borough,
+and he would be just as well content as if he carried the county. You'll
+see he will, after another session or two, cut out, and retire without a
+pension, and settle down into a mere honest country gentleman. He would
+be no connexion to increase the consequence of your family. Lady Sarah
+Lidhurst would be quite lost with such a nobody! Her ladyship, I am
+convinced, has too much discrimination, and values herself too highly,
+to make such a _missy_ match."
+
+Lord Glistonbury coughed, and cleared his throat, and blew his nose,
+and seemed to suffer extremely, but chiefly under the repression of his
+usual loquacity. Nothing could be at once a greater proof of his respect
+for his nephew's abilities, and of his lordship's dislike to him, than
+this unnatural silence. Mr. Lidhurst's compliments on Lady Sarah's
+discrimination seemed, however, to be premature, and unmerited; for,
+during the course of this day, she treated all the vast efforts of her
+cousin Marmaduke's gallantry with haughty neglect, and showed, what
+she had never before suffered to be visible in her manner, a marked
+preference for Mr. Vivian's conversation. The sort of emulation which
+Mr. Lidhurst's rivalship produced increased the value of the object;
+she, for whom there was a contention, immediately became a prize. Vivian
+was both provoked and amused by the alternate contempt and jealousy
+which Mr. Lidhurst betrayed; this gentleman's desire to keep him out
+of the Glistonbury family, and to supplant him in Lady Sarah's favour,
+piqued him to prove his influence, and determined him to maintain
+his ground. Insensibly, Vivian's attentions to the lady became more
+vivacious; and he was vain of showing the ease, taste, and elegance of
+his gallantry; and he was flattered by the idea, that all the spectators
+perceived both its superiority and its success. Lady Sarah, whose
+manners had much improved since the departure of Miss Strictland, was
+so much embellished by our hero's attentions, that he thought her quite
+charming. He had been prepared to expect fire under the ice, but he was
+agreeably surprised by this sudden spring of flowers from beneath the
+snow. The carriage was at the door in the evening, and had waited half
+an hour, before he was aware that it was time to depart.
+
+"You are right, my dear son!" Lady Mary began, the r moment they were
+seated in the carriage; "you are quite right, and I was quite wrong,
+about Lady Sarah Lidhurst: she has feeling, indeed--strong, generous
+feeling--and she shows it at the proper time: a fine, decided character!
+Her manners, to-day, so easy, and her countenance so animated, really
+she looked quite handsome, and I think her a charming woman.--What
+changes love can make!--Well, now I am satisfied: this is what I always
+wished--connexion, family, fortune, every thing; and the very sort of
+character you require in a wife,--the very person, of all others, that
+is suited to you!"
+
+"If she were but a little more like her sister--or Selina Sidney
+_even!_" said Vivian, with a sigh.
+
+"That very word _even_--your saying like Selina Sidney _even_--shows
+that you have not much cause for sighing: for you see how quickly
+the mere fancy in these matters changes--and you may love Lady Sarah
+presently, as much as you loved _even_ Lady Julia."
+
+"Impossible! ma'am."
+
+"Impossible! Why, my dear Charles, you astonish me! for you cannot but
+see the views and expectations of all the family, and of the young lady
+herself; and your attentions to-day were such as could bear but one
+construction."
+
+"Were they, ma'am? I was not aware of that at the time--that is, I did
+not mean to engage myself--Good Heavens! surely I am not engaged?--You
+know a man is not bound, like a woman, by a few foolish words;
+compliments and gallantry are not such serious things with us men. Men
+never consider themselves engaged to a woman till they make an absolute
+proposal."
+
+"I know that is a common maxim with young men of the present day, but I
+consider it as dishonourable and base; and very sorry should I be to see
+it adopted by my son!" cried Lady Mary indignantly. "Ask your friend
+Mr. Russell's opinion on this point: he long ago told you--I know he
+did--that if you had not serious thoughts of Lady Sarah Lidhurst, you
+would do very wrong, after all the reports that have gone abroad, to
+continue your intimacy with the Glistonburys, and thus to deceive her
+and her whole family--I only appeal to Mr. Russell;--will you ask your
+friend Russell's opinion?"
+
+Vivian sighed again deeply for the loss of his friend Russell; but as he
+could not, without touching upon Lady Julia's affairs, explain the cause
+of the coolness between him and his friend, he answered only, "that an
+appeal to Mr. Russell was unnecessary when he had his mother's opinion."
+Lady Mary's wish for the Glistonbury _connexion_ fortified her morality
+at this moment, and she replied, "Then my decided opinion is, that
+it would be an immoral and dishonourable action to break such a tacit
+engagement as this, which you have voluntarily contracted, and which you
+absolutely could not break without destroying the peace and happiness of
+a whole family. Even that cold Lady Glistonbury grew quite warm to-day;
+and you must see the cause.--And in Lady Glistonbury's state of health,
+who could answer for the consequences of any disappointment about her
+favourite daughter, just after the loss of her son, too?"
+
+"No more, mother, for Heaven's sake! I see it all--I feel it all--I must
+marry Lady Sarah, then.--By what fatality am I doomed, am I forced
+to marry a woman whom I cannot love, whose person and manners are
+peculiarly disagreeable to me, and when I'm half in love with another
+woman!"
+
+"That would be a shocking thing, indeed," said Lady Mary, retracting,
+and alarmed; for now another train of associations was wakened, and she
+judged not by her worldly, but by her romantic system.--"I am sure I
+would not, upon any account, urge you to act against your feelings. I
+would not be responsible for such a marriage, if you are really in love
+with her sister, and if Lady Sarah's person and manners are peculiarly
+and absolutely disagreeable to you. I should do a very wicked
+action--should destroy my son's happiness and morals, perhaps, by
+insisting on such a marriage--Heaven forbid!" (A silence of a mile and
+a half long ensued.) "But, Charles, after all I saw to-day, how can I
+believe that Lady Sarah is so disagreeable to you?"
+
+"Ma'am, she happened not to be absolutely disagreeable to me to-day."
+
+"Oh! well! then she may not happen to be disagreeable to you to-morrow,
+or the next day, or ever again!--And, as to the fancy for her sister,
+when all hope is over, you know love soon dies of itself."
+
+So ended the conversation.--The next morning, at an unusual hour, Lord
+Glistonbury made his appearance at Castle Vivian, with an air of great
+vexation and embarrassment: he endeavoured to speak of trivial topics;
+but, one after another, these subjects dropped. Then Lady Mary, who saw
+that he was anxious to speak to her son, soon took occasion to withdraw,
+not without feeling some curiosity, and forming many conjectures, as to
+the object his lordship might have in view in this conference.
+
+Lord Glistonbury's countenance exhibited, in quick alternation, a look
+of absolute determination and of utter indecision. At length, with
+abrupt effort, he said, "Vivian, have you seen the papers to-day?"
+
+"The newspapers?--yes!--no!--They are on the table--I did not look at
+them--Is there any thing extraordinary?"
+
+"Yes, faith!--extraordinary, very extraordinary!--But it is not here--it
+is not there--this is not the right paper--it is not in your paper.
+That's extraordinary, too"--(then feeling in both pockets)--"I was a
+fool not to bring it with me--May be I have it--Yes, here it is!--Not
+public news, but private."
+
+Vivian was all expectation, for he imagined that something about Lady
+Julia was coming. Lord Glistonbury, who, in his commerce with public
+men, had learned the art of paying in words, to gain time when in danger
+of a bankruptcy of ideas, went on, stringing sentences together, without
+much meaning, whilst he was collecting his thoughts and studying the
+countenance of his auditor.
+
+"You recollect my suggestions the last time I had the honour of speaking
+to you on a particular subject. I confess, Mr. Lidhurst's conduct does
+not meet my ideas of propriety; but other persons are free to form what
+judgment they think fit upon the occasion. I shall submit the matter to
+you, Mr. Vivian, feeling myself called upon to come forward immediately
+to explain it to your satisfaction; and I do not fear to commit myself,
+by stating at once my sentiments, and the light in which it strikes me;
+for there must be some decision shown, somehow or other, and on some
+side or other.----Decision is all in all in public business, as
+the great Bacon or somebody says--and nobody knows that better than
+Marmaduke."
+
+Here his lordship grew warm, and quitting his parliamentary cant,
+assumed his familiar style.
+
+"Gad! he has stolen a march upon us--out-generalled us--but, in
+my private opinion, not in the handsomest style possible--Hey,
+Vivian?--Hey?"
+
+"My dear lord, I have not heard the fact yet," said Vivian.
+
+"Oh! the fact is simply--Look here, he has without my encouragement
+or concurrence--and, indeed, as he very well knew, contrary to my
+approbation and wishes--gone, and declared himself candidate for this
+county; and here's his fine flourishing, patriotic, damned advertisement
+in the paper--'To the gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of the
+county.'----Gad! how it startled me this morning! When I first saw it
+I rubbed my eyes, and could hardly believe it was Marmaduke. Though I
+pique myself on knowing a man's style at the first line, yet I could not
+have believed it was his, unless I had seen his name at full
+length in these great abominable characters--'John Marmaduke
+Lidhurst.'--'Glastonbury Castle!' too--as if I had countenanced the
+thing, or had promised my support; when he knew, that but yesterday I
+was arguing the point with him in my study, and told him I was engaged
+to you. Such an ungentlemanlike trick!--for you know it reduces me
+to the dilemma of supporting a man who is only my friend, against my
+nearest relation by blood, which, of course, would have an odd and
+awkward appearance in the eyes of the world!"
+
+Vivian expressed much concern for his lordship's difficulties; but
+observed that the world would be very unjust if it blamed him, and he
+was sure his lordship had too much decision of character.
+
+"But, independently of the world," interrupted his lordship, "even in
+our own family, amongst all the Lidhursts and their remotest connexions,
+there would be quite a league formed against me; and these family
+quarrels are ugly affairs; for though our feudal times are done away,
+party clanships have succeeded to feudal clanships; and we chiefs of
+parties must keep our followers in good humour, or we are nothing in
+the _field_--I should say _in the house_--Ha! ha! ha!----I laugh, but it
+is a very serious business; for Marmaduke Lidhurst would be, in private
+or public, an impracticable enemy. Marmaduke's a fellow capable of
+inextinguishable hatred; and he is everywhere, and knows every body,
+of all the clubs, a rising young man, who is listened to, and who would
+make his story credited. And then, with one's nephew, one can't settle
+these things in _an honourable way_--these family quarrels must be
+arranged amicably, not honourably; and that's the difficulty: the laws
+of honour are dead letters in these cases, and the laws of the land do
+not reach these niceties of feeling.----But of the most important fact
+you are still to be apprised."
+
+"Indeed!" cried Vivian.
+
+"Yes, you have not yet heard Marmaduke's master-stroke of policy!"
+
+"No!--What is it, my lord?--I am all attention--pray explain it to me."
+
+"But there's the delicacy--there's the difficulty!--No, no, no.--Upon
+my soul, I cannot name it!" cried Lord Glistonbury. "It revolts my
+feelings--all my feelings--as a man, as a gentleman, as a father. Upon
+my honour, as a peer, I would speak if I could; but, for the soul of me,
+I cannot."
+
+"You know, my dear lord," said Vivian, "there can be no delicacies
+or difficulties with me; your lordship has done me the honour to live
+always on such a footing of intimacy with me, that surely there is not
+any thing you cannot say to me!"
+
+"Why, that's true," said Lord Glistonbury, quitting his affected air
+of distress, and endeavouring to throw off his real feeling of
+embarrassment: "you are right, my dear Vivian! we are certainly upon
+terms of such intimacy, that I ought not to be so scrupulous. But there
+are certain things, a well-born, well-bred man--in short, it would look
+so like--But, in fact, I am driven to the wall, and I must defend myself
+as well as I can against this nephew of mine--I know it will look
+like the most horrible thing upon earth, like what I would rather be
+decapitated than do--I know it will look, absolutely, as if I came
+here to ask you to marry my daughter,--which, you know, is a thing no
+gentleman could have the most remotely in his contemplation; but, since
+I am so pressed, I must tell you the exact truth, and explain to you,
+however difficult, Marmaduke's master-stroke----he has proposed for Lady
+Sarah; and has had the assurance to ask me whether there is or is not
+any truth in certain reports which he is pleased to affirm have gone
+abroad--Heaven knows how or why!----And he urges me--the deep dog! for
+his cousin's sake, to contradict those reports, in the only effectual
+manner, by a temporary cessation of the intimate intercourse between
+Castle Vivian and Glistonbury Castle, whilst Lady Sarah remains
+unmarried; or, if our master politician would speak plainly, till he has
+married her himself.----At any rate, I have spoken frankly, Vivian, hey?
+you'll allow; and I am entitled both to a candid interpretation of my
+motives, and to equal frankness of reply."
+
+Whilst his lordship had been speaking, compassion, gratitude, vanity,
+rivalship, honour, Lady Mary Vivian's conversation, Lady Julia's letter,
+then again the _connexion_, the earldom in future, the present triumph
+or disappointment about the election, the insolent intrusion of Mr.
+Lidhurst, the cruelty of abandoning a lady who was in love with him, the
+dishonour, the impossibility of receding after _certain reports_; all
+these ideas, in rapid succession, pressed on Vivian's mind: and his
+decision was in consequence of the feelings and of the embarrassment of
+the moment. His reply to Lord Glistonbury was a proposal for Lady Sarah,
+followed by as many gallant protestations as his presence of mind
+could furnish. He did not very well know what he said, nor did Lord
+Glistonbury scrupulously examine whether he had the air and accent of
+a true lover, nor did his lordship inquire what had become of Vivian's
+late love for Lady Julia; but, quite content that the object should be
+altered, the desire the same, he relieved Vivian by exclaiming, "Come,
+come, all this sort of thing Lady Sarah herself must hear; and I've
+a notion--but I can keep a secret. You'll return with me directly to
+Glistonbury. Lady Glistonbury will be delighted to see you; and I shall
+be delighted to see Marmaduke's face, when I tell him you have actually
+proposed for Sarah--for now I must tell you all. Our politician
+calculated upon the probability that you would not decide, you see,
+to make a proposal at once, that would justify me to the world in
+supporting my son-in-law against my nephew. As to the choice of the
+son-in-law, Sarah settles that part of the business herself, you know;
+for, when two proposals are made, both almost equally advantageous, in
+the common acceptation of the word, I am too good a father not to
+leave the decision to my daughter. So you see we understand one another
+perfectly, and will make Marmaduke, too, understand us perfectly,
+contrary to his calculations, hey, hey?----Mr. Politician, your
+advertisement must be withdrawn, I opine, in the next paper--hey,
+Vivian? my dear Vivian!"
+
+With similar loquacity, Lord Glistonbury continued, in the fulness of
+his heart, all the way they went together to Glistonbury Castle; which
+was agreeable to Vivian, at least by saving him from all necessity of
+speaking.
+
+"So!" said Vivian to himself, "the die is cast, and I have actually
+proposed for Lady Sarah Lidhurst!--Who would have expected this two
+years ago?--I would not have believed it, if it had been foretold to
+me even two months ago. But it is a very--a very suitable match, and
+it will please the friends of both parties; and Lady Sarah is certainly
+very estimable, and capable of very strong attachment; and I like her,
+that is, I liked her yesterday very much--I really like her."
+
+Upon those mixed motives, between convenience and affection, from which,
+Dr. Johnson says, most people marry, our hero commenced his courtship of
+the Lady Sarah Lidhurst. As the minds of both parties on the subject are
+pretty well known to our readers, it would be cruel to fatigue them
+with a protracted description of the formalities of courtship. It is
+sufficient to say, that my Lord Glistonbury had the satisfaction of
+seeing his nephew disappointed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+
+"And the marriage was solemnized with much pomp and magnificence, and
+every demonstration of joy."
+
+Novelists and novel readers are usually satisfied when they arrive
+at this happy catastrophe; their interest and curiosity seldom go any
+farther: but, in real life, marriage is but the beginning of domestic
+happiness or misery.
+
+Soon after the celebration of Vivian's nuptials, an event happened which
+interrupted all the festivities at Glistonbury, and which changed the
+bridal pomp to mourning. Lady Glistonbury, who had been much fatigued by
+the multitude of wedding-visits she was obliged to receive and return,
+had another stroke of the palsy, which, in a few hours, terminated
+fatally. Thus, the very event which Vivian had dreaded, as the probable
+consequence of his refusal to marry her daughter, was, in fact,
+accelerated by the full accomplishment of her wishes. After the loss
+of her mother, Lady Sarah Vivian's whole soul seemed to be engrossed by
+fondness for her husband. In public, and to all eyes but Vivian's, her
+ladyship seemed much the same person as formerly: but, in private, the
+affection she expressed for him was so great, that he frequently asked
+himself whether this could be the same woman, who, to the rest of
+the world, and in every other part of her life, appeared so cold and
+inanimate. On a very few occasions her character, before her marriage,
+had, "when much enforced, given out a hasty spark, and straight was
+cold again;" but now she permitted the steady flame to burn without
+restraint. Duty and passion had now the same object. Before marriage,
+her attachment had been suppressed, even at the hazard of her life; she
+had no idea that the private demonstrations of unbounded love from a
+married woman to her husband could be either blameable or dangerous: she
+believed it to be her duty to love her husband as much as she possibly
+could.--Was not he her husband? She had been taught that she should
+neither read, speak, nor think of love; and she had been so far too much
+restricted on this subject, that, absolutely ignorant and unconscious
+even of her danger, she now pursued her own course without chart or
+compass. Her injudicious tenderness soon imposed such restraint upon
+her husband, as scarcely any lover, much less any husband, could have
+patiently endured. She would hardly ever suffer him to leave her.
+Whenever he went out of the house, she exacted from him a promise that
+he would _be back again_ at a certain hour; and if he were even a
+few minutes later than his appointment, he had to sustain her fond
+reproaches. Even though he stayed at home all day, she was uneasy if
+he quitted the room where she sat; and he, who by this time understood,
+through all her exterior calmness, the symptoms of her internal
+agitation, saw by her countenance that she was wretched if he seemed
+interested in the conversation of any other person, especially of any
+other woman.
+
+One day when Vivian, after spending the morning _t�te-�-t�te_ with Lady
+Sarah, signified to her his intention of dining abroad, she repeated her
+fond request that he would be sure to come home early, and that he would
+tell her at what o'clock exactly she might expect to see him again. He
+named an hour at hazard, to free himself from her importunate anxiety;
+but he could not help saying, "Pshaw!" as he ran down stairs; an
+exclamation which fortunately reached only the ears of a groom, who was
+thinking of nothing but the tops of his own boots. Vivian happened to
+meet some agreeable people where he dined: he was much pressed to stay
+to supper; he yielded to entreaty, but he had the good-natured attention
+to send home his servant, to beg that Lady Sarah and his mother would
+not sit up for him. When he returned, he found all the family in bed
+except Lady Sarah, who was sitting up waiting for him, with her watch
+in her hand. The moment he appeared, she assailed him with tender
+reproaches, to which he answered, "But why would you sit up when I
+begged you would not, my dear Lady Sarah?"
+
+She replied by a continuity of fond reproach; and among other things she
+said, but without believing it to be true, "Ah! I am sure you would have
+been happier if you had married my sister Julia, or _that_ Miss Sidney!"
+
+Vivian sighed deeply; but the next instant, conscious that he had
+sighed, and afraid of giving his wife pain, he endeavoured to turn the
+course of her thoughts to some other subject. In vain. Poor Lady Sarah
+said no more, but felt this exquisitely, and with permanent anguish.
+Thus her imprudence reverted upon herself, and she suffered
+in proportion to her pride and to her fondness. By such slight
+circumstances is the human heart alienated from love! Struggling to
+be free, the restive little deity ruffles and impairs his plumage, and
+seldom recovers a disposition to tranquillity. Vivian's good-nature had
+induced him for some time to submit to restraint; but if, instead of
+weakly yielding to the fond importunity of his wife--if, instead of
+tolerating the insipidity of her conversation and the narrowness of
+her views, he had with real energy employed her capacity upon suitable
+objects, he might have made her attachment the solace of his life.
+Whoever possesses the heart of a woman, who has common powers of
+intellect, may improve her understanding in twelve months more than
+could all the masters, and lectures, and courses of philosophy, and
+abridgments, and _documenting_ in the universe. But Vivian had not
+sufficient resolution for such an undertaking: he thought only of
+avoiding to give or to feel present pain; and the consequences were,
+that the evils he dreaded every day increased.
+
+Vivian's mother saw the progress of conjugal discontent with anguish and
+remorse.
+
+"Alas!" said she to herself, "I was much to blame for pressing this
+match. My son told me he could never love Lady Sarah Lidhurst. It would
+have been better far to have broken off a marriage at the church-door
+than to have forced the completion of such an ill-assorted union.
+My poor son married chiefly from a principle of honour; his duty and
+respect for my opinion had also great weight in his decision; and I have
+sacrificed his happiness to my desire that he should make what the world
+calls a splendid alliance. I am the cause of all his misery; and Heaven
+only knows where all this will end!"
+
+In her paroxysm of self-reproach, and her eagerness to _set things to
+rights_ between her daughter-in-law and her son, she only made matters
+worse. She spoke with all the warmth and frankness of her own character
+to Lady Sarah, beseeching her to speak with equal openness, and to
+explain the cause of the _alteration_ in Vivian.
+
+"I do not know what you mean, madam, by alteration in Mr. Vivian!"
+
+"Is not there some disagreement between you, my dear?"
+
+"There is no disagreement whatever, madam, as far as I know, between Mr.
+Vivian and me--we agree perfectly," said Lady Sarah.
+
+"Well, the _misunderstanding_!"
+
+"I do not know of any _misunderstanding_, madam. Mr. Vivian and I
+understand one another perfectly."
+
+"The _coolness_, then--Oh! what word shall I use!--Surely, my dear Lady
+Sarah, there is some _coolness_--something wrong?"
+
+"I am sure, madam, I do not complain of any coolness on Mr. Vivian's
+part. Am I to understand that he complains to your ladyship of any thing
+wrong on mine? If he does, I shall think it my duty, when he points out
+the particulars, to make any alteration he may desire in my conduct and
+manners."
+
+"Complain!--My son!--He makes no _complaints_, my dear. You
+misunderstand me. My son does not complain that any thing is wrong on
+your part."
+
+"Then, madam, if no complaints are made on either side, all is as it
+should be, I presume, at present; and if in future I should fail in any
+point of duty, I shall hold myself obliged to your ladyship if you will
+then act as my monitor."
+
+Hopeless of penetrating Lady Sarah's sevenfold fence of pride, the
+mother flew to her son, to try what could be done with his open and
+generous mind. He expressed a most earnest and sincere wish to make
+his wife happy. Conscious that he had given her exquisite pain, he
+endeavoured to make atonement by the sacrifices which he thought
+would be most grateful to her. He refrained often from company and
+conversation that was agreeable to him, and would resign himself for
+hours to her society. It was fortunate for Lady Julia Lidhurst that,
+by continuing with her good uncle the bishop, she did not see the
+consequences of the union which she had so strenuously advised. The
+advice of friends is often highly useful to prevent an imprudent match;
+but it seldom happens that marriages turn out happily which have been
+made from the opinion of others rather than from the judgment and
+inclinations of the parties concerned; for, let the general reasons
+on which the advice is grounded be ever so sensible, it is scarcely
+possible that the adviser can take in all the little circumstances
+of taste and temper, upon which so much of the happiness or misery of
+domestic life depends. Besides, people are much more apt to repent of
+having been guided by the judgment of another than of having followed
+their own; and this is most likely to be the case with the weakest
+minds. Strong minds can decide for themselves, not by the opinions but
+by the reasons that are laid before them: weak minds are influenced
+merely by opinions; and never, either before or after their decision,
+are firm in abiding by the preponderating reasons.
+
+No letters, no intelligence from home, except a malicious hint now
+and then from her cousin Marmaduke, which she did not credit, gave her
+reason to suspect that the pair whom she had contributed to unite were
+not perfectly happy. So Lady Julia exulted in the success of her past
+counsels, and indulged her generous romantic disposition in schemes for
+forwarding a union between Russell and Selina, determining to divide her
+fortune amongst the children of her friends. She concluded one of her
+letters to Lady Sarah Vivian about this time with these words:--
+
+
+"Could I but see _one other person_,--whom I must not name, rewarded for
+his virtues, as you are, by happy love, I should die content, and would
+write on my tomb:--
+
+     'Je ne fus point heureux, mais j'ai fait leur bonheur." [10]
+
+Far removed from all romance and all generosity of sentiment, Lord
+Glistonbury, in the mean time, went on very comfortably, without
+observing any thing that passed in his family. Whatever uneasiness
+obtruded upon his attention he attributed to one cause, anxiety relative
+to the question on which his present thoughts were exclusively fixed,
+viz. whether Lady Sarah's first child would be a boy or a girl. "Heaven
+grant a boy!" said his lordship; "for then, you know, there's an end
+of Marmaduke as heir-at-law!" Whenever his lordship saw a cloud on the
+brows of Lady Mary, of Lady Sarah, or of Vivian, he had one infallible
+charm for dispelling melancholy;--he stepped up close to the patient,
+and whispered, "It will be a boy!--My life upon it, it will be a boy!"
+Sometimes it happened that this universal remedy, applied at random,
+made the patient start or smile; and then his lordship never failed to
+add, with a nod of great sagacity, "Ah! you didn't know I knew what you
+were thinking of!--Well! well! you'll see we shall cut out Marmaduke
+yet."
+
+With this hope of cutting out Marmaduke, Lord Glistonbury went on very
+happily, and every day grew fonder of the son-in-law, who was the enemy
+of his heir-at-law, or whom he considered as such. The easiness of
+Vivian's temper was peculiarly agreeable to his lordship, who enjoyed
+the daily pleasure of governing a man of talents which were far superior
+to his own. This easiness of temper in our hero was much increased by
+the want of motive and stimulus. He thought that he had now lost his
+chance of happiness; he cared little for the more or less pain of
+each succeeding day; and so passive was his listlessness, that to
+a superficial observer, like Lord Glistonbury, it looked like the
+good-nature of perfect content.--Poor Vivian!--In this wreck of his
+happiness, one saving chance, however, yet remained. He had still a
+public character; he was conscious of, having preserved unblemished
+integrity as a member of the senate; and this integrity, still more than
+his oratorical talents, raised him far above most of his competitors,
+and preserved him not only in the opinion of others, but in his own.
+When parliament met, he went to town, took a very handsome house for
+Lady Sarah, determining to do all he could to oblige and please the
+wife whom he could not love. Lady Sarah had complete power, at home
+and abroad, of her time and her expenses: her dress, her equipages,
+her servants, her whole establishment, were above Vivian's fortune, and
+equal to her ladyship's birth and rank. She was mistress of every thing
+but of his heart. The less he liked her, the more he endeavoured to
+compensate for this involuntary fault, by allowing her that absolute
+dominion, and that external splendour, which he thought would gratify,
+and perhaps fill her mind. As for himself, he took refuge in the House
+of Commons. There he forgot for a time domestic uneasiness, and was
+truly animated by what so many affect--zeal for the good of his country.
+He was proud to recollect, that the profligate Wharton had failed in
+the attempt to laugh him out of his public virtue; he was proud that
+Wharton's prophecies of his apostasy had never been accomplished; that,
+as a public! character at least, he had fulfilled the promise of his
+early youth, and was still worthy of himself, and of that friend whom he
+had lost. He clung to this idea, as to the only hope left him in life.
+
+One night, in a debate on some question of importance, he made an
+excellent speech, which was particularly well received by the house,
+because it came from one who had an unblemished character. When
+Vivian went into the coffee-room to refresh himself, after he had done
+speaking, several of his acquaintance crowded round him, complimenting
+him upon his success--he broke from them all! for he saw, advancing
+towards him with a smile of approbation, the friend on whose approbation
+he set a higher value than he did even on the applauses of the
+house--the friend whose lost affection he had so long and so bitterly
+regretted. Russell stretched out his hand--Vivian eagerly seized
+it; and, before they had either of them spoken one word, they both
+understood each other perfectly, and their reconciliation was completely
+effected.
+
+"Yes," said Russell, as they walked out arm in arm together, "yes, it
+is fit that I should forget all private resentment, in the pride and
+pleasure I feel, not merely in your public success, but in your public
+virtue. Talents, even the rare talent of oratory, you know, I hold
+cheap in comparison with that which is so far more rare, as well as more
+valuable--political integrity. The abhorrence and contempt of political
+profligacy, which you have just expressed, as a member of the senate,
+and the consistent conduct by which you have supported your principles,
+are worthy of you; and, allow me to say, of your education."
+
+Vivian felt exalted in his own opinion by such praise, and by these the
+warmest expressions he had ever received of Russell's regard. He forgot
+even his domestic uneasiness; and this day, the first for many months he
+had spent happily, he passed with his friend. They supped together, and
+related mutually all that happened since their parting. Russell told
+Vivian that he had lately been agreeably surprised by the gift of a
+valuable living from the Bishop of ----, Lady Julia Lidhurst's uncle;
+that the bishop, whom he had till then never seen, had written to him
+in the handsomest manner, saying that he knew the obligations his family
+owed to Mr. Russell; that it had been the dying request of his nephew,
+Lord Lidhurst, that some token of the family esteem and gratitude should
+be offered to him, to whom they owed so much; but the bishop added, that
+neither family gratitude nor private friendship could have induced him
+to bestow church preferments upon any but the person whose character
+best entitled him to such a distinction and such a trust.
+
+This letter, as Vivian observed, was well calculated to satisfy
+Russell's conscience and his delicacy. The conversation next turned upon
+Lady Julia Lidhurst. Russell was not aware that Vivian knew more of her
+attachment to him than what had been discovered the day before he left
+Glistonbury; and Vivian could not help admiring the honourable and
+delicate manner in which his friend spoke of her, without any air of
+mystery, and with the greatest respect. He told Vivian he had heard that
+proposals had been lately made to her ladyship by a gentleman of great
+talents and of high character; but that she had positively declined his
+addresses, and had repeated her declaration that she would never marry.
+Her good uncle left her, on this point, entirely at liberty, and did not
+mention the proposal to Lord Glistonbury, lest she should be exposed to
+any fresh difficulties. Russell expressed much satisfaction at this part
+of the bishop's conduct, as being not only the most kind, but the
+most judicious, and the most likely to dispose his niece to change her
+determination. He repeated his opinion that, united to a man of sense
+and strength of mind, she would make a charming and excellent wife.
+Vivian agreed with him; yet observed, that he was convinced she would
+never marry--There he paused.--Could Lady Julia herself have overheard
+the conversation which afterwards passed between these two gentlemen,
+one of whom she had loved and the other of whom she had refused, not a
+word would have hurt her feelings: on the contrary, she would have been
+raised in her own opinion, and gratified by the strong interest they
+both showed for her happiness. They regretted only that a young woman
+of such talents, and of such a fine, generous disposition, had been so
+injudiciously educated.
+
+"And now, my dear Russell," cried Vivian, "that we have finished the
+chapter of Lady Julia, let us talk of Miss Sidney."--Russell's change
+of countenance showed that it was not quite so easy for him to talk upon
+this subject.--To spare him the effort, Vivian resumed, "As you are a
+rich man now, my dear Russell, you will certainly marry; and I know,"
+added he, smiling, "that Miss Sidney will be your wife. If ever man
+deserved such a prize, you do; and I shall be the first to wish you
+joy."
+
+"Stay, my good friend," interrupted Russell; "your kindness for me,
+and your imagination, are too quick in this anticipation of my
+happiness."--Russell then told him, that he never had declared his
+attachment to Selina till Vivian's marriage had put an end to all
+probability of rivalship with his friend. She had expressed high esteem
+for Russell, but had told him, that she had suffered so much from
+a first unfortunate attachment, that she felt averse from any new
+engagements.
+
+"Shall I assure you, as you assured me just now with regard to Lady
+Julia," said Vivian, "that Miss Sidney will he prevailed upon to alter
+her determination; and shall I add, that, though I should like Lady
+Julia the less, I should like Selina the better, for changing her
+mind?"--He went on, generously expressing sincere hopes, that his friend
+might obtain Selina Sidney's affections, and might enjoy that domestic
+happiness, which--Vivian was going to say, which he had himself
+forfeited; but checking this regret, he only said--"that domestic
+happiness, which I consider as the summit of human felicity, and which
+no man can deserve better than you do, my dear Russell."
+
+Russell easily guessed that poor Vivian had not attained this summit
+of human felicity by his own marriage, but never adverted to any of the
+conversations they had held about Lady Sarah Lidhurst; never recalled
+any of Vivian's vehement declarations concerning the absolute
+impossibility of his making such a match; never evinced the least
+surprise at his marriage; nor inquired how he had conquered his passion
+for Lady Julia. With friendly forgetfulness, he seemed to have totally
+obliterated from his mind all that it could do no good to remember.
+Vivian was sensible of this delicacy, and grateful for it; but to
+imitate Russell's reserve and silence upon certain subjects required
+a force, a forbearance of which he was not capable. At first he had
+determined not to say one word to Russell of domestic uneasiness; but
+they had not been many hours together before Vivian poured forth all
+his complaints, and confessed how bitterly he repented his marriage: be
+declared that he had been persuaded, by the united efforts of her family
+and of his mother, against his own judgment, or, at least, against his
+taste and inclinations, to marry Lady Sarah.
+
+"By whatever persuasions, or by whatever motives, your choice was
+decided," interrupted Russell, "reflect that it is decided for life;
+therefore abide by it, and justify it. Above all, make yourself happy
+with the means which are yet in your power, instead of wasting your mind
+in unavailing regret. You are united to a woman who has every estimable
+quality, as you candidly acknowledge: there are some particulars in
+which she does not please your taste; but withdraw your attention from
+these, and you will be happy with a wife who is so firmly attached to
+you. Consider, besides, that--romance apart--love, though a delightful
+passion, is not the only resource which a man of sense, virtue, and
+activity may find for happiness. Your public duties, your success, and
+your reputation as a public character, will--"
+
+Russell was interrupted in this consolatory and invigorating speech, by
+the entrance of a servant of Lord Glistonbury's, who brought a note from
+his lordship to Mr. Vivian, requesting to see him as soon as he could
+make it convenient to come to Glistonbury House, as his lordship wanted
+to speak to him on particular business of the greatest importance.
+Vivian was provoked by being thus summoned away from his friend, to
+attend to one of what he called Lord Glistonbury's _important mysteries
+about nothing_. Russell was engaged to go into the country the ensuing
+day, to take possession of his new living; but he promised that he would
+see him again soon; and, with this hope, the two friends parted.
+
+Vivian went to Lord Glistonbury's: he found his lordship in his study.
+"Where have you been, Vivian?" exclaimed he: "I have sent messenger
+after messenger to look for you, half over the town: I thought you were
+to have dined with us, but you ran away, and nobody could tell where, or
+with whom; and we have been waiting for you at our cabinet council here
+with the utmost impatience."--Vivian answered, that he had unexpectedly
+met with his friend Russell; and was proceeding to tell his lordship
+how handsomely the Bishop of----had provided for his friend; but Lord
+Glistonbury, like many other great men, having the habit of forgetting
+all the services of those from whom they have nothing more to expect,
+cut short Vivian's narration, by exclaiming, "True, true! well, well!
+that's all over now--Certainly, _that_ Russell did his duty by my poor
+son; and acted as he ought to do--in all things; and I'm glad to hear
+my brother has given him a good living; and I hope, as you say, he will
+soon be married--so best--so best, you know, Vivian, for reasons of our
+own--Well! well! I'm glad he is provided for--not but what that living
+would have been of essential service, if it had been reserved for a
+friend of mine--but my brother the bishop never can enter into any
+political views--might as well not have a brother a bishop--But,
+however, Mr. Russell's a friend of yours--I am not regretting--not so
+rude to you to regret----on the contrary, rejoice, particularly as Mr.
+Russell is a man of so much merit--But all that's over now; and I want
+to talk to you upon quite another matter. You know I have always said I
+should, sooner or later, succeed in my grand object, hey, Vivian?"
+
+"Your lordship's grand object?--I am not sure that I know it."
+
+"Oh, surely, you know my grand object. You my son-in-law, and forget my
+grand object?--The marquisate, you know; the marquisate, the marquisate!
+Did not I always tell you that I would make government, sooner or later,
+change my earldom into a marquisate? Well! the thing is done--that is,
+as good as done; they have sent to treat with me upon my own terms."
+
+"I give you joy, my dear lord!" said Vivian.
+
+"Joy!--to be sure you do, my sober sir:--one would think you had no
+concern or interest in the business. Joy! to be sure you give me joy;
+but, I can tell you, you must give me something more than joy--you must
+give me support."
+
+"How he looks!" continued Lord Glistonbury, "as if he did not know
+what is meant by support. Vivian, did you never hear of parliamentary
+support?"
+
+"I hope, my dear lord," replied Vivian, gravely, "that you have not
+entered into any engagements, or made any promises for me, which I
+cannot have it in my power to perform."
+
+Lord Glistonbury hesitated in some confusion; and then, forcing a look
+of effrontery, in an assured tone, replied, "No. I have not made any
+engagements or promises for you which you cannot perform, Vivian, I am
+clear; nor any which I have not a right to expect my son-in-law will
+confirm with alacrity."
+
+"What have you engaged?--what have you promised for me, my lord?" said
+Vivian, earnestly.
+
+"Only, my dear boy," said Lord Glistonbury, assuming a facetious tone,
+"only that you will be always one of us--And are not you one of us?--my
+son-in-law?--the deuce is in it if he is not one of us!--In short, you
+know, to be serious, a party must go together, that is, a family party
+must go together; and, if a ministry do my business, of course I do
+theirs. If I have my marquisate, they have my votes."
+
+"But not my vote--pardon me, my lord--my vote cannot be bartered in this
+manner."
+
+"But, you know, Mr. Vivian, you know it is for your interest as much as
+for mine; for, you know, the marquisate will probably descend, in due
+course of time, to your son. So your interest is full as much concerned
+as mine; and besides, let me tell you, I have not forgotten your
+immediate interest: I have stipulated that you should have the valuable
+place which Mr. C---- was to have had."
+
+All that Russell had said of public virtue was fresh in our hero's mind.
+"I thank you, my dear lord," said he; "for I am sure this was kindly
+intended; but I am not one of those persons, who in public affairs think
+only of their private interest--I am not thinking of my interest. But
+if a man maintains certain public measures one day, and the next, for
+_valuable consideration_, supports diametrically opposite opinions
+and measures, he will lose, and deserve to lose, all reputation for
+integrity."
+
+"Integrity! political integrity!" said Lord Glistonbury; "fine words,
+which mean nothing. Behind the scenes, as we are now, Vivian, what use
+can there be in talking in that strain?--Between you and me, you know
+this is all nonsense. For who, of any party, now thinks, really and
+truly, of any thing but getting power or keeping it? Power, you know,
+stands for the measure of talent; and every thing else worth having is
+included in that word power. I speak plainly. And as honour is merely
+an affair of opinion, and opinion, again, an affair of numbers, and as
+there are numbers enough to keep one in countenance in these things;
+really, my dear Vivian, it is quite childish, quite boyish, smells of
+the lamp. To declaim about political integrity, and all that, is not
+the language of a man who knows any thing of business--any thing of the
+world.--But why do I say all this?" cried Lord Glistonbury, checking
+himself and assuming an air of more reserved displeasure.--"Mr.
+Vivian certainly knows all this as well as I do; I know how my nephew
+Marmaduke, who, with all his faults, is no fool, would interpret your
+present language: he would say, as I have often heard him say, that
+political integrity is only a civil _put off_."
+
+"Political integrity only a civil put off!" repeated Vivian, with
+unfeigned astonishment. When he formerly heard similar sentiments from
+the avowed profligate and hackneyed politician Mr. Wharton, he was
+shocked; but to hear them repeated, as being coolly laid down by so
+young a man as Mr. Lidhurst, excited so much disgust and contempt in
+Vivian's mind, that he could hardly refrain from saying more than either
+prudence or politeness could justify.
+
+"Now I am free to confess," pursued Lord Glistonbury, "that I should
+think it more candid and manly, and, I will add, more friendly, and more
+the natural, open conduct of a son-in-law to a father-in-law, instead of
+talking of political integrity, to have said, at once, I cannot oblige
+you in this instance."
+
+"Surely, my lord, you cannot be in earnest?" said Vivian.
+
+"I tell you, sir, I am in earnest," cried his lordship, turning suddenly
+in a rage, as he walked up and down the room; "I say, it would have
+been more candid, more manly, more every thing,--and much more like a
+son-in-law--much!--much!----I am sure, if I had known as much as I do
+now, sir, you never should have been my son-in-law--never! never!--seen
+Lady Sarah in her grave first!--I would!--I would!--yes, sir--I
+would!----And you are the last person upon earth I should have expected
+it from. But I have a nephew--I have a nephew, and now I know the
+difference. No man can distinguish his friends till he tries them."
+
+Vivian in vain endeavoured to appease Lord Glistonbury by assurances
+that he would do any thing in his power to oblige him, except what
+he himself considered as dishonourable: his lordship reiterated, with
+divers passionate ejaculations, that if Vivian would not oblige him in
+this point, on which he had set his heart--where the great object of his
+life was at stake--he could never believe he had any regard for him; and
+that in short, it must come to an open rupture between them, for that
+he should never consider him more as his son. Having uttered this
+denunciation as distinctly as passion would permit, Lord Glistonbury
+retired to rest.
+
+Vivian went immediately to his mother, to tell her what had passed, and
+he felt almost secure of her approbation; but though she praised him for
+his generous spirit of independence, yet it was evident the hopes that
+the title of marquis might descend to a grandson of her own weighed more
+with her than any patriotic considerations. She declared, that indeed
+she would not, for any title, or any thing upon earth, have her son
+act dishonourably; but what was asked of him, as far as she could
+understand, was only such a change of party, such compliances, as every
+public man in his place would make: and though she would not have him,
+like some she could name, a corrupt tool of government, yet, on the
+other hand, it was folly to expect that he alone could do any thing
+against the general tide of corruption--that it would be madness in
+him to sacrifice himself entirely, without the slightest possibility of
+doing any good to his country.
+
+Vivian interrupted her, to represent that, if each public man argued
+in this manner, nothing could ever be accomplished for the public good:
+that, on the contrary, if every man hoped that something might be done,
+even by his individual exertion, and if he determined to sacrifice a
+portion of his private interest in the attempt, perhaps much might be
+effected.
+
+"Very likely!" Lady Mary said. She confessed she knew little of
+politics: so from argument she went to persuasion and entreaties. She
+conjured him not to quarrel with the Glistonburys, and not to provoke
+Lord Glistonbury's displeasure. "I see all that artful Marmaduke's
+schemes," said she: "he knows his uncle's pertinacious temper; and he
+hopes that your notions of patriotism will prevent you from yielding on
+a point, on which his uncle has set his heart. Marmaduke will know how
+to take advantage of all this, believe me!"
+
+Vivian was shaken in his resolution by his mother's entreaties--by
+the idea of all the family quarrels that would ensue, and of all the
+difficulties in which he might be involved, if he persisted in his
+generous determination.
+
+"My dear son," resumed she, "it would be absolute madness to refuse
+the place that is now offered you: only consider the situation of your
+affairs--consider, I beseech you, the distress you will be in by and
+by, if you reject this offer--recollect the immense demands upon you;
+recollect that heap of bills for the election, and for the buildings,
+and all the poor workmen about the castle! and that coachmaker too! and
+remember, the purchase money of the house in town must be paid in three
+months. And the only possible means by which you can get out of debt, is
+by accepting this place, which would put you at ease at once, and enable
+you to continue in the style of life to which you have of late been
+accustomed."
+
+"As to that, I could alter my style of life--I would do any thing,"
+cried Vivian, "to pay my debts and preserve my independence. I will
+alter my mode of living, and retrench decidedly and vigorously."
+
+"Well, my dear son, I admire your spirit, and, if you can do this, it
+will certainly be best; but I fear that when it comes to the trial, you
+will not be able to persevere."
+
+"I shall--I shall! Believe me, mother, I have resolution enough for
+this--you do me injustice," said Vivian.
+
+"No, my dear Charles, I do you justice; for I do not doubt your
+resolution, as far as your own privations are concerned; but, consider
+your wife--consider Lady Sarah--consider the luxury in which she
+has always been accustomed to live, and the high sphere in which her
+relations move! How her pride would be hurt by their looking down
+upon her! I have no doubt Lady Sarah would do her duty, and make
+any sacrifices for her husband; and if you were--I must now speak
+plainly--if you were passionately fond of her--an all-for-love
+husband--you could, with honour and propriety, accept of such
+sacrifices; but what would retirement be _to_ poor Lady Sarah, and
+_with_ Lady Sarah?"
+
+Vivian told his mother that he would take a night to reconsider the
+matter coolly; and, satisfied with having gained so much, she suffered
+him to go home. As he was quitting his own dressing-room, he paused,
+to consider whether he should consult his wife, who was, as yet, in
+ignorance of the whole transaction, and who knew nothing of the deranged
+state of his affairs. He did her the justice to believe that she
+would be willing to live with him in retirement, and to forego all the
+luxuries and pride of her rank, for the sake of her duty and of her
+love. He was convinced that, in any opposition between her father's
+interests and her husband's honour, she would strongly abide by her
+husband. He recollected all Lady Julia had said of the advantage that
+her sister's firmness of mind might be in steadying his vacillating
+temper in any moment of trial. Here was the first _great occasion_,
+since his marriage, where his wife's strength of mind could be of
+essential service to him: yet he hesitated whether he should avail
+himself of this advantage; and every moment, as he approached nearer
+to her apartment, he hesitated more and more; He did not, in the first
+place, like to humble himself so far as to ask her counsel; then he
+had not courage to confess those debts and embarrassments which he
+had hitherto concealed. All that his mother had suggested about the
+indelicacy of requiring or accepting great sacrifices from a woman whom,
+though he esteemed, he could not love--the horror of retirement
+with such a companion--the long years _t�te-�-t�te_--all these ideas
+combined, but chiefly the apprehension of the immediate present pain of
+speaking to her on a disagreeable subject, and of being obliged to hear
+her speak with that formal deliberation which he detested; added to
+this, the dread of her surprise, if not of her reproaches, when all his
+affairs should be revealed, operated so irresistibly upon his weakness,
+that he decided on the common resource--concealment. His hand was upon
+the lock of his chamber-door, and he turned it cautiously and softly,
+lest, in entering his apartment, he should waken Lady Sarah: but she was
+not asleep.
+
+"What can have kept you so late, Mr. Vivian?" said she.
+
+"Business, my dear," answered he, with some embarrassment.
+
+"May I ask what sort of business?"
+
+"Oh!--only--political business."
+
+"Political business!" She looked earnestly at her husband; but, as if
+repressing her curiosity, she afterwards added, "our sex have nothing
+to do with politics," and, turning away from the light, she composed
+herself to sleep.
+
+"Very true, my dear," replied Vivian--not a word more did he say:
+content with this evasion of the difficulty, he thus, by his weakness,
+deprived himself of the real advantage of his wife's strength of mind.
+Whilst Lady Sarah, in total ignorance of the distress of her husband,
+slept in peace, he lay awake, revolving painful thoughts in the
+silence of the night. All that his mother had said about the pecuniary
+difficulties to which they must soon be reduced recurred with fresh
+force; the ideas of the unpaid election bills, all the masons',
+carpenters', painters', glaziers', and upholsterers' bills, with
+"thousands yet unnamed behind," rose, in dreadful array, before him,
+and the enthusiasm of his patriotism was appalled. With feverish
+reiteration, he ran over and over, in his mind, the same circle of
+difficulties, continually returning to the question, "_Then what can
+be done?_" Bitterly did he this night regret the foolish expenses into
+which he had early in life been led. If it were to do over again, he
+certainly would not turn his house into a castle; if he had foreseen how
+much the expense would surpass the estimates, assuredly nothing could
+have tempted him to such extravagance. The architect, the masons, the
+workmen, one and all, were knaves; but, one and all, they must be
+paid. Then what could he do?--And the debts incurred by the contested
+elections!--contested elections are cursed things, when the bills come
+to be paid; but, cursed or not, they must be paid. Then what could he
+do?--The distress in which he should involve his generous mother--the
+sacrifices he should require from his wife--the family quarrels--all
+that Lady Sarah would suffer from them--the _situation_ of his wife.
+Then what could he do?--He MUST submit to Lord Glistonbury, and take the
+place that was offered to him.
+
+Vivian sighed--and turned in his bed--and sighed--and thought--and
+turned--and sighed again--and the last sigh of expiring patriotism
+escaped him!----To this end, to this miserable end, must all patriotism
+come, which is not supported by the seemingly inferior virtues of
+prudence and economy.
+
+Poor Vivian endeavoured to comfort himself by the reflection that he
+should not act from merely mercenary considerations, but that he
+was compelled to yield to the solicitations of his mother and of his
+father-in-law; that he was forced to sacrifice his own public opinions
+to secure domestic peace, and to prevent the distress of his mother,
+the misery, and perhaps danger, of his wife and child. Dereliction of
+principle, in these circumstances, was something like an amiable, a
+pardonable weakness. And then, see it in what light you will, as Lord
+Glistonbury observed, "there are so many who will keep a patriot in
+countenance now-a-days, for merely changing sides in politics. A man is
+not even thought to be a man of talents till he gets something by his
+talents. The bargain he makes--the price he gains--is, in most people's
+estimation, the value of the public man."
+
+All this Vivian said to himself to quiet his conscience; and all this,
+he knew, would be _abundantly satisfactory_ to the generality of people
+with whom he associated; therefore, from them he could fear neither
+reproach nor contempt: but he could not bear even to think of
+Russell--he felt all the pangs of remorse, and agony of shame, as the
+idea of such a friend came into his mind. Again he turned in his bed,
+and groaned aloud--so loud, that Lady Sarah wakened, and, starting up,
+asked what was the matter; but receiving no answer, she imagined that
+she had been in a dream, or that her husband had spoken in his sleep.
+He groaned no more, nor did he even sigh: but fatigued with thinking and
+with feeling, he at last fell into a sort of slumber, which lasted till
+it was time to rise. Before Vivian was dressed, Lord Glistonbury called
+upon him--he went into his dressing-room. His lordship came with his
+best address, and most courteous face of persuasion; he held out his
+hand, in a frank and cordial manner, as he entered, begging his dear
+son's pardon for the warmth and want of temper, he was free to confess,
+he had shown last night; but he was persuaded, he said, that Vivian knew
+his sincere regard for him, and convinced that, in short, they should
+never _essentially_ differ: so that he was determined to come to talk
+the matter over with him when they were both cool; and that he felt
+assured that Vivian, after a night's reflection, would always act so
+as to justify his preference of his son-in-law to his nephew, hey,
+Vivian?--Lord Glistonbury paused for an answer--Vivian cut himself as he
+was shaving, and was glad of a moment's reprieve; instead of answering,
+he only exclaimed, "Cursed razor! cut myself!--My lord, won't you sit
+down? will you do me the honour to--"
+
+Lord Glistonbury seated himself; and, in regular order, with his
+tiresome parade of expletives, went through all the arguments that could
+be adduced to prove the expediency of Vivian's taking this place, and
+assisting him, as he had taken it for granted his son-in-law would,
+on such an occasion. The letters of the great and little men who had
+negotiated the business of the marquisate were then produced, and
+an account given of all that had passed _in confidence_; and Lord
+Glistonbury finished by saying that the affair was absolutely concluded,
+he having passed his word and pledged his honour for Vivian; that he
+would not have spoken or acted for him if he had not felt that he was,
+when acting for his son-in-law, in fact acting for himself--his second
+self; that there had been no time to wait, no possibility of consulting
+Vivian; that the whole plan was suggested yesterday, in two hours after
+the house broke up, and was arranged in the evening; that search and
+inquiries had been made every where for Vivian; but, as he could not be
+found, Lord Glistonbury said he had ventured to decide for him, and, as
+he hoped, for his interest and for that of the family; and the thing,
+now done, could not be undone: his lordship's word was sacred, and could
+not be retracted.
+
+Vivian, in a feeble, irresolute tone, asked if there was no possibility
+of his being allowed to decline the place that was offered him, and
+suggested that he could take a middle course; to avoid voting against
+his lordship's wishes, he could, and he believed that he would, accept
+of the Chiltern Hundreds, and go out of parliament for the session.
+
+Lord Glistonbury remonstrated against what he termed the madness of the
+scheme.
+
+"A man like you, my dear Vivian, who have distinguished yourself so
+much already in opposition, who will distinguish yourself so much more
+hereafter in place and in power----"
+
+"No," said Vivian, rising as he finished shaving himself; "no, my lord,
+I shall never more distinguish myself, if I abandon the principles I
+believe to be just and true. What eloquence I have--if I have any--has
+arisen from my being in earnest: I shall speak ill--I shall not be able
+to speak at all--when I get up against my conscience."
+
+"Oh!" said Lord Glistonbury, laughing, "your romantic patriotism may be
+very nice in its feelings; but, believe me, it will not deprive you of
+the use of your speech. Look at every one of the fine orators of our
+times, and name me one, if you can, who has not spoken, and spoken
+equally well, on both sides of the house; ay, and on both sides of most
+political questions. Come, come, you'll find you will get on quite as
+well as they got on before you, hey?"
+
+"You will find that I shall be of no use to you--that I shall be a dead
+weight on your hands."
+
+"You a dead weight! you, who are formed to be--now, really, without
+flattery--you know there's no occasion for flattery between you and
+me--to be the soul, and, in time, the head of a party----Stay!--I know
+all you are going to say, but give me leave to judge--You know there's
+my own nephew, a very clever young man, no doubt, he is allowed to be;
+and yet, you see, I make no comparison between you. I assure you I am a
+judge in these matters, and you see the house has confirmed my judgment;
+and, what is more--for I can keep nothing from you--if it won't make you
+too vain, and make you set too high a price upon yourself, which will be
+very troublesome in the present case; but, I say, be that as it may,
+I will frankly own to you, that I believe you have been of essential
+service in procuring me this great favourite object of my life, the
+marquisate."
+
+"I, my lord! impossible!--for I never took the slightest step toward
+procuring it."
+
+"Pardon me, you took the most effectual step, without knowing it,
+perhaps. You spoke so well in opposition, that you made it the interest
+of ministry to _muzzle you_; and there was no way so effectual of
+getting at you as through me, I being your father-in-law and you my
+heir. You don't see the secret concatenation of these things with a
+glance as I do, who have been used to them so long. And there was no way
+of coming to the point with me without the marquisate--that was my _sine
+qua non_; and you see I gained my point--by your means, chiefly, I am
+free to allow--though Marmaduke would gladly persuade me it was by his
+negotiating. But I do you justice; I did you justice, too, in more than
+words, when I stipulated for that place for you, which, in fact, I knew
+you could not go on much longer without. So, my dear Vivian, all this
+explained to our mutual satisfaction, we have nothing more to do but to
+shake hands upon it and go down stairs; for I have engaged myself and
+Secretary----to breakfast with you, and he has _full powers_, and is to
+carry back our _capitulation_--and," continued Lord Glistonbury, looking
+out of the window, "here's our friend's carriage."
+
+"Oh, my lord, it is not yet too late!" cried Vivian; "it may yet be
+arranged otherwise. Is there no way--no possibility----"
+
+A loud knock at the house door.
+
+"I wish to Heaven, my lord!----"
+
+"So do I wish to Heaven, with all my soul, that you would finish this
+nonsense, my dear Vivian, and come down to breakfast. Come, come,
+come!--Hey, hey, hey!--This is absolutely too ridiculous, and I must go,
+if you don't. Only consider a political breakfast of this nature!"
+
+Lord Glistonbury hurried down stairs:--reluctantly, and with a heavy
+heart and repugnant conscience, Vivian followed. At this instant, he
+wished for Russell, to prevent what he knew would be the consequence of
+this interview. But Russell was absent--the keeper of his conscience,
+the supporter of his resolution, was not at hand. Woe to him who is not
+the keeper of his own conscience--the supporter of his own resolution!
+The result of this political breakfast was just what every reader,
+who knows the world but half as well as Lord Glistonbury knew it, has
+probably long since anticipated. The capitulation of the patriots of
+the Glistonbury band, with Vivian at their head, was settled. Lord
+Glistonbury lost no character by this transaction, for he had none to
+lose--he was quite at his ease, or quite callous. But Vivian bartered,
+for a paltry _accommodation_ of his pecuniary difficulties, a reputation
+which stood high in the public opinion--which was invaluable in his
+own--which was his last stake of happiness. He knew this--he felt it
+with all the anguish of exquisite but USELESS sensibility.
+
+Lord Glistonbury and his new friend, Secretary ----, who was a man of
+wit as well as a politician, rallied Vivian upon his gravity and upon
+his evident depression of spirits.
+
+"Really, my dear Vivian," cried Lord Glistonbury, "my patience is now
+exhausted, and I must not let you expose yourself here, before our
+friend, as a novice--Hey! hey!--Why, will you never open your eyes, and
+see the world as it is! Why! what!--Did you never read the fable of the
+dog and his master's meat?--Well! it is come to that now in England;
+and he is a foolish dog, indeed, who, when he can't save the meat, won't
+secure his share--hey?"
+
+His lordship and the secretary laughed in concert.
+
+"Look, how Vivian preserves his solemnity!" continued Lord Glistonbury;
+"and he really looks as if he was surprised at us. My dear Vivian, it
+requires all my knowledge of your _bonne foi_ to believe that you are in
+earnest, and not acting the part of a patriot of _older_ times."
+
+"Oh!" cried the secretary, with a facetious air, "Mr. Vivian assuredly
+knows, as well as we do, that--
+
+'A patriot is a fool in ev'ry age, Whom all lord chamberlains allow the
+stage.'
+
+But off the stage we lay aside heroics, or how should we ever get
+on?--Did you hear, my lord," continued the secretary, turning to Lord
+Glistonbury, "that there is another blue riband fallen in to us by the
+death of Lord G----?"
+
+"I had a great regard for poor Lord G----. Many applications, I suppose,
+for the vacant riband?"
+
+From the vacant riband they went on to talk over this man's pension and
+the other man's job; and considered who was to get such and such a
+place when such and such a person should resign or succeed to something
+better. Then all the miserable mysteries of ministerial craft were
+unveiled to Vivian's eyes. He had read, he had heard, he had believed,
+that public affairs were conducted in this manner; but he had never,
+till now, actually seen it: he was really novice enough still to feel
+surprise at finding that, after all the fine professions made on all
+sides, the main, the only object of these politicians, was to keep their
+own, or to get into the places of others. Vivian felt every moment his
+disgust and his melancholy increase. "And it is with these people I
+have consented to act! And am I to be hurried along by this stream of
+corruption to infamy and oblivion! Then Russell--"
+
+Vivian resolved to retract the engagement he had just made with Lord
+Glistonbury and the secretary, and he waited only for a pause in their
+conversation to explain himself. But, before any pause occurred, more
+company came in,--the secretary hurried away, saying to Vivian, who
+would have stopped him at the door, "Oh, my dear sir, every thing is
+settled now, and you must be with us in the house to-night--and you will
+find the whole business will go on as smoothly as possible, if gentlemen
+will but act together, and strengthen the hands of government. I beg
+pardon for breaking away--but so many people are waiting for me--and any
+thing further we can settle when we meet in the house."
+
+Lord Glistonbury also refused to listen to farther explanations--said
+that all was settled, and that it was impossible to make any
+recantations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+
+The hour of going to the House of Commons at length arrived; Lord
+Glistonbury saw that Vivian was so much out of spirits, and in such
+confusion of mind, that he began to fear that our hero's own account
+of himself was just, and that he would not be able to command ideas,
+or even words, when he was to speak in opposition to what he called his
+principles and his conscience. "This son of mine, instead of being our
+great Apollo, will be a dead weight on our hands, unless we can contrive
+to raise his spirits."
+
+So, to raise his spirits, Lord Glistonbury accompanied him to the
+coffee-room of the house, and insisted upon his taking some refreshment
+before he should attempt to speak. His lordship _fortified_ him with
+bumper after bumper, till at last Vivian came up to the speaking point.
+He took his seat in his new place in the house, and, endeavouring
+to brave away the sense of shame, rose to speak. Notwithstanding the
+assistance of the wine, and the example of Mr. Marmaduke Lidhurst, who
+spoke before him with undaunted assurance, Vivian could scarcely get on
+with a hesitating, confused, inconsistent speech, uttered in so low and
+indistinct a voice, that the reporters in the gallery complained that
+they could not catch this honourable member's meaning, or that his words
+did not reach them. Conscious of his failure, and still more conscious
+of its cause, he retired again to the coffee-room as soon as he had
+finished speaking, and again Lord Glistonbury plied him with wine,
+saying that he would find he would _do very well in reply_ presently.
+It happened that Lord Glistonbury was called away--Vivian remained. Mr.
+Wharton, with a party of his friends, entered the coffee-room. Wharton
+seemed much heated both with wine and anger--he was talking eagerly
+to the gentlemen with him, and he pronounced the words, "Infamous
+conduct!--Shabby!--Paltry fellow!" so loud, that all the coffee-room
+turned to listen. Colonel S----, a gentleman who was one of Wharton's
+party, but who had a good opinion of Vivian, at this moment took him by
+the arm, and, drawing him aside, whispered, in confidence, that he was
+persuaded there had been some _mistake_ in the arrangements, which, as
+it was reported, Lord Glistonbury had just made with the ministry, for
+that Mr. Wharton and many of his lordship's former party, complained of
+having been shamefully deserted. "And to break our word and honour
+to our party, is a thing no gentleman _can_ do. Wharton had a direct
+promise from his lordship, that he never would _come in_ till he should
+_come in_ along with him. And now it is confidently said, that Lord
+Glistonbury has made his bargain for his own marquisate, and provided
+only for himself, his nephew, and his son-in-law."
+
+Thrown into the utmost consternation by the idea of this double
+forfeiture of honour, this breach both of public and private faith,
+Vivian, after thanking Colonel S---- for his friendly manner of
+communicating this information, and declaring that the transaction was
+totally unknown to him, begged that the colonel would do him the favour
+and the justice to be present when he should require an explanation from
+Lord Glistonbury. To this Colonel S---- consented, and they hastened
+in search of his lordship: his lordship was not to be found; but Mr.
+Marmaduke Lidhurst was, however, in the coffee-room, and upon Vivian's
+referring to him, he could not deny the truth of the charge, though he
+used all his powers of circumlocution to evade giving a direct answer.
+The shame, the indignation, that rapidly succeeded to each other in
+Vivian's countenance, sufficiently convinced Colonel S---- that he had
+no share in the _private_ part of this disgraceful transaction; and he
+very handsomely assured Vivian, that he would set the matter in its
+true point of view with his friends. Marmaduke soon found a pretence to
+withdraw--some member was speaking in the house, whom he must hear, he
+said, and away he went.
+
+At this moment Mr. Wharton, who was walking down the room with his
+friends, passed by Vivian, and, as he passed, said,
+
+"That _private vices are public benefits_, we all know; but that public
+vices are private benefits, some of us, alas! have yet to learn. But I'd
+have that little, whiffling, _most noble and puissant prince_ expectant,
+his majesty's _right trusty and entirely beloved cousin_ elect, know,
+that plain Bob Wharton is not a man to be duped and deserted with
+impunity."
+
+"Whom does he mean?--What does he mean?" whispered some of the
+bystanders. "What prince is he talking of?--Which of the princes?"
+
+"Oh! none of the princes," replied another. "You know _most noble and
+puissant prince_ is the title of a marquis, and _our right trusty and
+entirely beloved cousin_, the style in which the king writes to him."
+
+"But who is this marquis expectant?"
+
+"Don't you know?--Lord Glistonbury."
+
+"But some of his lordship's friends ought to take it up, surely."
+
+"Hush!--his son-in-law will hear you."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"There--don't look!"
+
+Vivian was, with reason, so much exasperated by the treacherous
+duplicity of Lord Glistonbury's conduct, that he was ill inclined to
+undertake his lordship's defence, and determined to leave it to himself,
+or to his nephew; yet the whispers operated not a little upon his
+weakness. Wharton, who was walking with his set up and down the room,
+again came within Vivian's hearing, and, as he passed, exclaimed,
+"_Public vice!_ and _public virtue!_ precious, well-matched pair!"
+
+"Who is _public vice_, and who is _public virtue_?" said one of
+Wharton's companions.
+
+"Don't you know?" replied Wharton: "the heir-at-law and the son-in-law."
+
+On hearing this speech, Vivian, who knew that he was one of the persons
+to whom it alluded, started forward to demand an explanation from
+Wharton: but Colonel S---- held him back. "You are not called upon, by
+any means, to take notice of this," said the colonel: "Wharton did not
+address himself to you, and though he might mean what he said for you,
+yet he speaks under a false impression; and besides, he is not quite
+sober. Leave it to me, and I will settle it all to your satisfaction
+before to-morrow." Vivian listened unwillingly and uneasily to the
+friendly counsel: he was more hurt than he had ever before felt himself
+by any of Wharton's sarcasms, because there was now in them a mixture of
+truth; and a man seldom feels more irritable than when he is conscious
+that he is partly to blame, and apprehensive that others will think him
+more blameable than he really is. His irritability was increased by
+the whispers he had heard, and the looks he now perceived among the
+bystanders: the voice, the opinion of numbers, the fear of what others
+would think or say, operated against his better judgment.
+
+"Come," said Colonel S----, "let us go and see what they are doing in
+the house."
+
+Vivian refused to stir, saying that it would be leaving the field
+to Wharton. Wharton at this instant repassed; and still running the
+changes, with half-intoxicated wit, upon the same ideas, reiterated,
+"_Public vice!_--We all knew where _that_ would end in these days--in
+public honours; but none of you would believe me, when I told you where
+_public virtue_ would end--in private treachery!"
+
+"That's neat!--that's strong!--faith, that's home!" whispered some one.
+
+"Mr. Wharton!" cried Vivian, going up to him, "I could not help hearing
+what you said just now--did you intend it for me?"
+
+"You heard it, it seems, sir, and that is sufficient," replied Wharton,
+in an insolent tone: "as to what I meant, I presume it is pretty
+evident; but, if you think it requires any explanation, I am as ready to
+give as you can be to ask it."
+
+"The sooner the better, then, sir," said Vivian. The two gentlemen
+walked away together, whilst the spectators exclaimed, "Very spirited
+indeed!--very right!--very proper!--Vivian could do no less than call
+him out. But, after all, what was the quarrel about? Which of them was
+to blame?"
+
+Long before these points were settled, the challenge was given and
+accepted. Colonel S----, who followed Vivian and Wharton, endeavoured
+to set things to rights, by explaining that Vivian had been deceived
+by Lord Glistonbury, and kept totally in the dark respecting the
+negotiation for the marquisate. But Wharton, aware that by _taking up
+the matter immediately in such a spirited way_ he should do himself
+infinite honour with his party, and with that majority of the world who
+think that the greatest merit of a man is to stand to be shot at,
+was not at all willing to listen to these representations. Colonel
+S----declared that, were he in Mr. Wharton's place, he should, without
+hesitation, make an apology to Mr. Vivian, and publicly acknowledge that
+what he said in the coffee-room was spoken under a false impression,
+which a plain statement of facts had totally removed: but Wharton
+disdained all terms of accommodation; his policy, pride, and desire of
+revenge, all conspired to produce that air of insolent determination
+to fight, which, with some people, would obtain the glorious name of
+COURAGE. By this sort of courage can men of the most base and profligate
+characters often put themselves in a moment upon an equal footing with
+men of principle and virtue!
+
+It was settled that Mr. Wharton and Vivian should meet, at eight o'clock
+the next morning, in a field near town. Colonel S---- consented to be
+Vivian's second. Russell was not yet returned--not expected till ten the
+next day.
+
+Left to his cool reflection, Vivian thought with horror of the misery
+into which the event of this duel might involve all with whom he was
+connected, and all who were attached to him. The affair was of course to
+be kept a secret from all at Glistonbury House, where Vivian was engaged
+to dine with a large ministerial party. He went home to dress, hoping
+to have a quarter of an hour to himself; but, on entering his own
+dressing-room, he, to his surprise and mortification, found his wife
+seated there, waiting for him with a face of anxious expectation; a case
+of newly-set diamonds on a table beside her. "I thought you were at your
+father's, my dear: are you not to be at Glistonbury House to-day?" said
+Vivian.
+
+"No," replied Lady Sarah. "Surely, Mr. Vivian, you know that my father
+gives a political dinner, and I suppose you are to be there?"
+
+"Oh, yes!" cried Vivian; "I did not know what I was saying--I am to
+be there, and must dress (looking at his watch), for I have no time to
+spare."
+
+"Be that as it may, I must intrude upon your time for a few minutes,"
+said Lady Sarah.
+
+Vivian stood impatiently attentive, whilst Lady Sarah seemed to find it
+difficult to begin some speech which she had prepared.
+
+"Women, I know, have nothing to do with politics," she began in
+a constrained voice; but, suddenly quitting her air and tone of
+constraint, she started up and exclaimed, "Oh, my dear, _dear_ husband!
+what have you done?--No, no, I cannot, will not believe it, till I hear
+it from your OWN lips!"
+
+"What is the matter, my dear Lady Sarah?--You astonish and almost alarm
+me!" said Vivian, endeavouring to preserve composure of countenance.
+
+"I will not--Heaven forbid that I should alarm you as I have been
+alarmed!" said Lady Sarah, commanding her voice again to a tone of
+tranquillity. "I ought, and, if I were not weak, should be convinced
+that there is no reason for alarm. There has been some mistake, no
+doubt; and I have been to blame for listening to idle reports. Let
+me, however, state the facts. Half an hour ago, I was at Gray's the
+jeweller's, to call for my poor mother's diamonds, which, you know, he
+has reset----"
+
+"Yes--Well!"
+
+"And whilst I was in the shop, a party of gentlemen came in, all of them
+unknown to me, and, of course, I was equally unknown to them; for they
+began to speak of you in a manner in which none knowing me could venture
+in my presence. They said--I cannot bear to repeat or to think of
+what they said--you cannot have bartered your public reputation for
+a marquisate for my father!--You cannot have done that which is
+dishonourable--you cannot have deserted your party for a paltry place
+for yourself!--You turn pale.--I wish, if it pleased God, that I was
+this moment in my grave!"
+
+"Heaven forbid, my dear Lady Sarah!" cried Vivian, forcing a smile, and
+endeavouring to speak in a tone of raillery. "Why should you wish to
+be in your grave, because your husband has just got a good warm place?
+Live! live!" said he, raising her powerless hand; "for consider--as I
+did--and this consideration was of no small weight with me--consider, my
+dear Sarah, how much better you will live for it!"
+
+"And you did consider me? And that _did_ weigh with you?"
+
+"--Oh, this is what I dreaded most!" cried Lady Sarah.--"When will you
+know my real character? When will you have confidence in your wife, sir?
+When will you know the power, the unconquered, unconquerable power of
+her affection for you?"
+
+Vivian, much struck by the strength of her expression as she uttered
+these words, was a moment silent in astonishment; and then could only,
+in an incoherent manner, protest, that he did know--that he had always
+done justice to her character--that he believed in her affection--and
+had the greatest confidence in its power.
+
+"No, sir, no!--Do not say that which I cannot credit!--You have not
+confidence in the power of my affection, or you would never have done
+this thing to save me pain. What pain can be so great to me as the
+thought of my husband's reputation suffering abasement?--Do you think
+that, in comparison with this, I, your wife, could put the loss of a
+service of plate, or house in town, or equipage, or servants, or such
+baubles as these?" added she, her eyes glancing upon the diamonds; then,
+snatching them up, "Take them, take them!" cried she; "they were my
+mother's; and if her spirit could look down from heaven upon us she
+would approve my offer--she would command your acceptance. Then here on
+my knees I conjure you, my beloved husband, take them--sell them--sell
+plate, furniture, house, equipage, sell every thing rather than your
+honour!"
+
+"It is sold," said Vivian, in a voice of despair.
+
+"Redeem it, redeem it at any price!" cried Lady Sarah. "No! I will kneel
+here at your feet--you shall not raise me--till I have obtained this
+promise, this justice to me, to yourself!"
+
+"It is too late," said Vivian, writhing in agony.
+
+"Never too late," cried Lady Sarah. "Give up the place.--Never too
+late!--Give up the place--write this moment, and all will be well; for
+your honour will be saved, and the rest is as nothing in my eyes!"
+
+"High-minded woman!" cried Vivian: "why did not I hear you sooner? Why
+did not I avail myself of your strength of soul?"
+
+"Use it now--hear me now--let us waste no time in words--here is a pen
+and ink--write, my dearest husband! and be yourself again."
+
+"You waste the energy of your mind on me," cried Vivian, breaking from
+Lady Sarah, and striking his forehead violently; "I am not worthy of
+such attachment! It is done--it cannot be undone: I am a weak, ruined,
+dishonoured wretch!--I tell you, it CANNOT be undone!"
+
+Lady Sarah rose, and stood in despair. Then, looking up to heaven, she
+was silent for some moments. After which, approaching her husband, she
+said, in an altered, calm voice, "Since it cannot be undone, I will urge
+you no more. But, whether in glory or in shame, you are secure that your
+wife will abide by you."
+
+Vivian embraced her with a tenderness which he had never before felt.
+"Excellent woman! in justice to myself, I must tell you," cried he,
+"that I was deceived into this situation. I CAN say no more!"
+
+At this moment a servant knocked at the door, bringing a message from
+Lord Glistonbury, to say that all the company were assembled, and that
+dinner waited for Mr. Vivian.
+
+"You are not in a fit state to go. Shall I send an apology to my
+father?"
+
+"Oh, no! I must go," cried Vivian, starting up, "I must go, or it will
+be thought--or it will be suspected--I can't explain it to you, my dear;
+but I must go--I must _appear_ to-day, and in spirits too, if possible."
+
+He hurried away. A servant delivered to Lady Sarah a number of notes
+and cards. The notes were notes of congratulation, from many of her
+acquaintance, upon the report in circulation, that her father was
+immediately to be a marquis. The cards were from people who were to be
+at her assembly that night. This was one of _her nights_, which were
+usually crowded. Lady Sarah's first wish was to write apologies, and to
+say that she was not well enough to see company; but, recollecting
+that her husband had said, "he must _appear_, and in spirits, too, if
+possible," she thought that it might be more for their interest, and
+according to his wishes, that she should see company, and that no
+appearance of dejection should be discerned in his wife. She prepared
+herself accordingly, and, with a heavy heart, walked through her
+splendid apartments, to see whether the decorations had been properly
+executed.
+
+In the mean time Vivian dined at Lord Glistonbury's, with a large
+ministerial party. As soon as he could, after dinner, Vivian got away;
+and Lord Glistonbury attributed his retiring early to the awkwardness
+he might feel in the company of men whom he had, till now, so violently
+opposed. This his lordship thought a foolish _young man's feeling,_
+which would soon wear away. Vivian returned home, anxious to escape from
+crowds, and to have some hours of leisure to pass alone; but, the moment
+he entered his own house, he saw the great staircase lined with roses
+and orange-trees; he found the rooms lighted up and prepared for
+company; and Lady Sarah dressed, for the first time, in all her mother's
+diamonds.
+
+"Good Heavens!--Do you see company to-night?" cried he.
+
+"Yes; for I thought, my dear, that you would wish it."
+
+"I wish it!--Oh! if you knew how I wish to be alone!"
+
+"Then, as no one is yet come, I can still shut my doors, and order them
+to say that I am not well enough to see company--I am sure it is true.
+Shall I?"
+
+"No, my dear, it is too late," said Vivian: "I am afraid it is
+impossible for you to do that."
+
+"Not impossible, if you wish it."
+
+"Well, do as you please."
+
+"Which is most for your interest? I have no other pleasure."
+
+"You are too good to me, and I fear I shall never have it in my power to
+show you any gratitude----"
+
+"But decide which is best to be done, my dear," said Lady Sarah.
+
+"Why, my dear, I believe you judged rightly--see your friends, and make
+the best of it: but I can appear only for a moment; I have business of
+consequence--letters--papers--that must be finished to-night; and I must
+go now to my study."
+
+"You shall not be interrupted," said Lady Sarah: "I will exert myself as
+much as possible."
+
+A tremendous knock at the door.--Vivian passed through the saloon,
+and gained his study, where, after remaining for some time in painful
+reflection, he was roused by hearing the clock strike twelve. He
+recollected that he had several arrangements to make in his affairs
+this night; and that it was incumbent on him to sign and execute a will,
+which had been for some time in his possession, with certain blanks not
+yet filled up. His wife was, by his marriage settlements, amply provided
+for; but he inserted in his will some clauses which he thought would add
+to her peculiar comfort, and took care to word them so that his respect
+and esteem should be known hereafter to all the world; and that, if
+he died, he should leave her the consolation of knowing that his last
+feelings for her were those of gratitude and affection. To his mother
+he left all that was in his power to contribute to the ease of her
+declining years--often obliged to pause whilst he wrote, overcome by
+the thoughts of what her grief would be if he died. He left his friend
+Russell _in remainder_, to a considerable part of his estate; and he was
+just adding the bequest of certain books, which they had read together
+in his better days, when the door of the study suddenly opened, and his
+mother entered.
+
+"What is all this?" cried she: "immersed in papers at such a time as
+this!"
+
+"I so hate crowded assemblies," said Vivian, huddling his papers
+together, and advancing to meet his mother.
+
+"So do I," said Lady Mary; "but I have been waiting with exemplary
+patience where I was stationed by Lady Sarah, at the card-table,
+every instant expecting your arrival, that I might have a few minutes'
+conversation with you, and inquire how matters went on at the house, and
+congratulate----"
+
+Before she had finished the word _congratulate_, she stopped short; for
+she had, by this time, a full view of her son's countenance: and she
+knew that countenance so well, that it was impossible to disguise it so
+as to deceive her maternal penetration.
+
+"My dear son!" said she, "something is going wrong: I conjure you, tell
+me what is the matter!"--Her eye glanced upon the parchments, and she
+saw that it was a will. Vivian forced a laugh; and asked her if she
+had the weakness some people felt, of disliking to see a will, or of
+fancying that a man was going to die if he made his will. Then, to quiet
+her apprehensions, and to put a stop to her farther inquiries, he threw
+aside his papers, and returned with her to the company, where he exerted
+himself to appear as gay as the occasion required. Lord Glistonbury, who
+had called in for a few moments, was now playing the great man, as well
+as his total want of dignity of mind and manners would permit; he was
+answering, in whispers, questions about his marquisate, and sustaining
+with all his might his new part of the friend of government. Every thing
+conspired to strike Vivian with melancholy--yet he constrained himself
+so far, that his _charming spirits_ delighted all who were uninterested
+in observing any but the external signs of gaiety; but his mother saw
+that his vivacity was forced. She made inquiries from all the gentlemen
+of her acquaintance about what had passed the preceding day both at the
+House of Commons, and to-day at the dinner at Lord Glistonbury's: but
+those who had been at Lord Glistonbury's dinner assured her that every
+thing had been as amicable as could be; and his ministerial friends said
+that every thing had gone on as smoothly as possible at the house:
+of what had passed between Mr. Wharton and Vivian in the coffee-room
+_nobody could_ give her an account. Baffled, but not satisfied, the
+anxious mother sent to the hotel where Mr. Russell lodged, to inquire
+whether he was returned to town, and to beg to see him immediately. From
+him, she thought, she should learn the truth; or, by his influence over
+her son, she hoped that, if there was any danger of a quarrel, it
+might be in time prevented. Her servant, however, brought word that
+Mr. Russell was not expected from the country till ten o'clock the
+next morning; but that her note would be given to him directly on
+his arrival. She applied herself next to the study of her daughter's
+countenance, whilst she asked two or three questions, calculated to
+discover whether Lady Sarah was under any anxiety about Vivian. But
+though Lady Sarah's countenance exhibited not the slightest variation
+under this trial, yet this tranquillity was by no means decisively
+satisfactory; because, whatever might be her internal agitation, she
+knew that Lady Sarah _could_ maintain the same countenance. Lady Sarah,
+who plainly discerned her mother's anxious curiosity, thought it her
+duty to keep her husband's secrets; and, imagining that she knew the
+whole truth, was not farther alarmed by these hints, nor did they lead
+her to suspect the real state of the case.
+
+Lady Mary was at length tolerably well satisfied, by a conversation with
+her son; during the course of which she settled in her imagination that
+he had only been inserting in his will a bequest to his friend Russell;
+and that the depression of his spirits arose from the struggle he had
+had in determining to vote against his patriotic ideas. She rose to
+depart; and Vivian, as he conducted her down stairs, and put her into
+her carriage, could scarcely repress his feelings; and he took so tender
+a leave of her, that all her apprehensions revived; but there was a
+cry of "_Lady--somebody's_ carriage!" and Lady Mary's coachman drove
+on immediately, without giving her time for one word more. After his
+mother's departure, Vivian, instead of returning to the company, went to
+his study, and took this opportunity of finishing his will; but as the
+servants were all in attendance at supper he could not get any body to
+witness it; and for this he was obliged to wait till a very late hour,
+when all the company at last departed. The rattle of carriages at length
+died away; and when all was silence, just as he was about to ring for
+his witnesses, he heard Lady Sarah's step coming along the corridor
+towards the study: he went out immediately to meet her, drew her arm
+within his affectionately, and took two or three turns with her, up and
+down the empty saloon, whilst a servant was extinguishing the lights.
+Vivian's mind was so full that he could not speak; and he was scarcely
+conscious that he had not spoken, till Lady Sarah broke the silence by
+asking if he had finished his business.
+
+"No, my dear, I have more to do yet; but you will oblige me if you will
+go to rest--you must be fatigued--mind and body."
+
+"_You_ seem fatigued almost to death," said Lady Sarah: "and cannot you
+finish the remainder of your business as well to-morrow?"
+
+"No," replied Vivian; "it must be finished before to-morrow. I am bound
+in duty to finish it before to-morrow."
+
+"If it is a point of duty, I have no more to say," replied Lady Sarah;
+"but," continued she, in a tone of proud humility, "but if I might so
+far intrude upon your confidence, as to inquire----"
+
+"Make no inquiries, my dear; for I cannot answer any, even of yours,"
+said Vivian. "And let me beg of you to go to rest; my mind will then
+be more at ease. I cannot command my thoughts whilst I am anxious about
+you; and I am anxious--more anxious than ever I was in my life--about
+you at this moment. You will oblige me if you will go to rest."
+
+"I CANNOT rest, but I will leave you, since you desire it--I have no
+idle curiosity--Good night!"
+
+"Good night! and thank you once more, my excellent wife, for all your
+kindness."
+
+"There cannot be a better woman!" said Vivian to himself as she retired.
+"Why have I not loved her as she deserved to be loved? If I live, I will
+do my utmost to make her happy--if I live, I will yet repair all. And,
+if I die, she will have but little reason to deplore the loss of such a
+husband."
+
+Vivian now executed his will--wrote several letters of business--burnt
+letters and arranged papers--regretted that Russell, who was to be his
+executor, was not near him--made many bitter reflections on the past,
+many good resolutions for the future, in case he should survive; then,
+overpowered with fatigue of mind, slept for some time, and was awakened
+by the clock striking seven. By eight o'clock he was at the place
+appointed--Mr. Wharton appeared a few minutes afterwards. Their seconds
+having measured out the distance, they took their ground. As Vivian
+had given the challenge, Wharton had the first fire. He fired--Vivian
+staggered some paces back, fired his pistol into the air, and fell.
+The seconds ran to his assistance, and raised him from the ground. The
+bullet had entered his chest. He stretched out his hand to Mr. Wharton
+in token of forgiveness, and, as soon as he could speak, desired the
+seconds to remember that it was he who gave the challenge, and that he
+thought he deserved to bear the blame of the quarrel. Wharton, callous
+as he was, seemed struck with pity and remorse: he asked what friends
+Vivian would wish to have apprised of his situation. A surgeon was in
+attendance. Vivian, faint from loss of blood, just pronounced Russell's
+name, and the name of the hotel where he was to be found, adding
+"_nobody else_." Wharton rode off, undertaking to find Mr. Russell;
+and Vivian was carried into a little public-house, by the orders of the
+surgeon, who thought that he could not bear the motion of a carriage.
+Wharton met Mr. Russell, who was coming from town. He had come to London
+earlier than he had intended, and, in consequence of Lady Mary Vivian's
+note, which he had received immediately on his arrival, had made such
+inquiries as convinced him that her apprehensions were just; and having
+discovered the place where the parties were to meet, he had hastened
+thither, in hopes of preventing the fatal event. The moment he saw Mr.
+Wharton he knew that he was too late. Without asking any other question
+than, "Is Vivian alive?" he pressed forwards. The surgeon, who was the
+next person he saw, gave him no hopes of his friend's recovery, but said
+he might last till night, or linger perhaps for a day or two. Vivian
+had by this time recovered his senses and his speech; but when Russell
+entered the room where he lay, he was so much struck by the grief in his
+countenance that he could not recollect any one of the many things he
+had to say. Russell, the firm Russell, was now quite overcome.
+
+"Yes, my dear friend," said Vivian; "this is the end of all your
+care--of all your hopes of me!--Oh, my poor, poor mother! What will
+become of her! Where can we find consolation for her!--You and Selina
+Sidney! You know how fond my mother was of her--how fond she was of my
+mother--till I, the cause of evil to all my friends, separated them.
+You must reunite them. You must repair all. This hope--this hope of your
+happiness, my beloved friend, will soothe my last moments!----How much
+happier Selina will be with you than----"
+
+Russell sobbed aloud.--"Yes, yield to your feelings, for I know how
+strong they are," said Vivian: "you, that have always felt more for me
+than I have ever felt for myself! But it is well for you that my life
+ends; for I have never been any thing but a torment and a disgrace to
+you!--And yet I had good dispositions!--but there is no time for regret
+about myself; I have others to think of, better worth thinking of."
+
+Vivian called for pen, ink, and paper, had himself raised in his bed,
+and supported, whilst he wrote to Selina, and to his mother.
+
+"Do not stop me," cried he to Russell; "it is the only act of
+friendship--the only thing I can do in this world now with pleasure, and
+let me do it."
+
+His notes contained nearly what he had just said to Russell--he put them
+open into his friend's hand; then, good-natured to the last, Vivian took
+up his pen again, with no small difficulty, and wrote a few affectionate
+words to his wife. "She _well_ deserves this from me," said he. "Be
+a friend to her, Russell--when I am gone, she will, I know, want
+consolation," After Russell had assured him that he would do all he
+desired, Vivian said, "I believe there is no one else in the world who
+will regret my death, except, perhaps, Lady Julia Lidhurst. How
+generous she was to forgive me!--Tell her, I remembered it when I was
+dying!--Weakness, weakness of mind!--the cause of all my errors!----Oh,
+Russell! how well you knew me from the first!--But all is over
+now!--My experience can be of no use to me--Every thing swims before my
+eyes.----One comfort is, I have not the blood of a fellow-creature
+to answer for. My greatest error was making that profligate man my
+friend--he was my ruin. I little thought, a few years ago, that I should
+die by his hand--but I forgive him, as I hope to be forgiven myself! Is
+the clergyman who was sent for come?--My dear Russell, this would be too
+severe a task for you.--He is come? Then let me see him."
+
+Vivian was left for some time to his private devotions. The clergyman
+afterwards summoned Russell to return:--he found his friend calmed and
+resigned. Vivian stretched out his hand--thanked him once more--and
+expired!
+
+"Oh! worthy of a better fate!" thought Russell.--"With such a
+heart!--With such talents!--And so young!--With only one fault of
+character!--Oh, my friend! is it all over?--and all in vain?"
+
+Vivian's mother and widow arrived just at this moment; and Russell and
+Lord Glistonbury, who followed breathless, could not stop them from
+entering the apartment. The mother's grief bordered on distraction; but
+it found relief in tears and cries. Lady Sarah shed no tear, and uttered
+no exclamation; but advancing, insensible of all opposition, to the bed
+on which her dead husband lay, tried whether there was any pulse,
+any breath left; then knelt down beside him in silent devotion. Lord
+Glistonbury, striking his forehead continually, and striding up and down
+the room, repeated, "I killed him!--I killed him!--I was the cause
+of his death!--My victim!--My victim!--But take her away!--Take _her_
+away--I cannot.--For mercy's sake, force her away, Mr. Russell!"
+
+"There is no need of force," said Lady Sarah, rising, as her father
+approached; "I am going to leave my husband for ever."----Then, turning
+to Mr. Russell, she inquired if his friend had left any message or
+letter for her--desired to see the letter--retired with it--still
+without shedding a tear--a few hours afterwards was taken ill, and,
+before night, was delivered of a dead son.
+
+Lady Sarah survived, but has never since appeared in what is called the
+WORLD.
+
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+
+[1] It is to be regretted that a word, used in the days of Charles II.
+and still intelligible in our times, should have become obsolete; _viz_.
+the feminine for intriguer--an _intriguess_. See the Life of Lord Keeper
+North, whose biographer, in speaking of Lord Keeper Bridgeman, says,
+"And what was worst of all, his family was no way fit for that place (of
+Chancellor), his lady being a most violent INTRIGUESS in business."
+
+Had Mr. Walsingham lived in Ireland, even there he might have found
+in the dialect of the lower Irish both a substantive and a verb, which
+would have expressed his idea. The editor once described an individual
+of the Beaumont species to an Irish labourer, and asked what he would
+call such a person--"I'd call her a policizer--I would say she was fond
+of policizing."
+
+[2] Life of Admiral Roddam, Monthly Magazine.
+
+[3] This reminds us of an expression of Charles the Second--"It is very
+strange, that every one of my friends keeps a _tame knave_"--_Note by
+the Editor_.
+
+[4] Young wild ducks.
+
+[5] _Note by the Editor_.--It is much to be regretted that the original
+papers belonging to this correspondence, including all the notes and
+letters, which Mrs. Beaumont either wrote herself, or those, still
+more important, which she caused to be written by her confidential
+amanuensis, which would doubtless form all together a body _of domestic
+diplomacy equally curious and useful_, are irrecoverably lost to the
+world. After the most diligent search, the Editor is compelled to
+rest under the persuasion that they must all have been collected and
+committed to the flames by the too great prudence of the principal party
+concerned. Had they been trusted to the discretion of a _friend_, the
+public would, doubtless, long since have been favoured with the whole.
+
+[6] See Bacon on Cunning.
+
+[7] See Annual Register, 1761, for an entertaining account of the trial
+of Mr. M'Naughton.
+
+[8] Supposed to be from the pen of Mr. Twigg, who was presented with a
+living in the gift of Mrs. Beaumont.
+
+[9] Literally copied from a family receipt-book in the author's
+possession.
+
+[10] From some lines of Delille's, on Rousseau, concluding with the
+following:--
+
+"Malheureux! le tr�pas est donc ton seule asile! Ah! dans la tombe, au
+moins, repose enfin tranquille! Ce beau lac, ces flots purs, ces fleurs,
+ces gazons frais, Ces p�les peupliers, tout t'invite � la paix. Respire,
+donc, enfin, de tes tristes chim�res. Vois accourir vers toi les �poux,
+et les m�res. Contemple les amans, qui viennent chaque jour, Verser sur
+ton tombeau les larmes de l'amour! Vois ce groupe d'enfans, se jouant
+sous l'ombrage, Qui de leur libert� viennent te rendre hommage; Et dis,
+en contemplant ce spectacle enchanteur, _Je ne fus point heureux, mais
+j'ai fait leur bonheur_."
+
+Ill-fated mortal! doom'd, alas! to find The grave sole refuge from thy
+restless mind. This turf, these flow'rs, this lake, this silent wave,
+These poplars pale, that murmur o'er your grave, Invite repose.--Enjoy
+the tranquil shore, Where vain chimeras shall torment no more. See to
+thy tomb the wife and mother fly, And pour their sorrows where thy ashes
+lie! Here the fond youth, and here the blushing maid, Whisper their
+loves to thy congenial shade; And grateful children smiling through
+their tears, Bless the loved champion of their youthful years: Then
+cry, triumphant, from thy honour'd grave-- _Joyless I lived, but joy to
+others gave_. C.S.E.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10), by
+Maria Edgeworth
+
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