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T A L E 
 
 J^s»^^ 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TIME S. 
 
 'ST ■THE AUTHOR OF A GOSSIPS STOHr, 
 
 3EaiCAT£Dj BY PERMISSION, TO MRS. CAKTEF. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I, ^ 
 
 While Hfpe piftures to u"; a flattering fcene of future blifs, 
 let us deny its pencil thofe colours which are too bright 
 to be hftinof. — When hearts deferviiig^ happinefs would 
 unite their fortune, Virtue would crown tbem with an 
 -uufading garland of modeft, hurtlefs flowers; but ill- 
 judg\r.g paflion will force the gaudier rofe into the wreath, 
 whofe thorn offends them when its leaves are dropt. 
 
 Sheridan's Rivals. 
 
 PRINTiD BY WILLIAM PORTER, CRAFTON-STREET. 
 
 1799. 
 
- ^ ^ 
 
 ^ 
 

 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 ... 
 
 OOME recent pubUcariong maj% pcr- 
 hiapsj make it neceffary for the Author 
 0f ihc prefL'iit Work, m order to evade 
 the c^nfura of plagUrifm, to flat^j that 
 flic could, if neceffary, produce the tefii- 
 jnony of fcvcral refpeetable v/itndTcg^ 
 to prove the cmire plot of the fbllowln 
 ftoryj ^lid pearly three pariB of the v/rit 
 ing, were fiailuedprevieufly to the r^ 
 pesraiice of the plr/ called ** The Srrsu- 
 ger' at Drury-^laue Theatre- arid thru 
 fne b not corifcious of having borrowed 
 one idea from thai ruuch^adrnired per- 
 ibrmarit'jjr 
 
 She has feen tv/o works sdvertiftd^ 
 v/hieh ihe has been informed bear a re- 
 femblance to her own pUn ; ^^ Letters 
 ^'« from ^n Hindoo Rajah f and *^ Wal- 
 dro^^; or, the. Dangers of Philok>pby/^ 
 A? fne ha3 never met xviih eithcr5->,fiie 
 cannot tell how far her fcntiments may 
 
 be fimilsr to iheus. 
 
 A 5 There 
 
iV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 There is a clafs of writers to whom (lie 
 owns herfelf under fome obligations, as 
 they not only fuggefted to her the portrait 
 of her complete villain, but alfo furnifh- 
 ed her Avith feveral fpecious pafTages, 
 which file has appropriated, unaltered, 
 to the charader of Fitzofborne. She 
 could fpecify the quotations, with the 
 names of the authors ; bufperhaps their 
 liberality w^iti be better pleafed v/ith a ge° 
 neral acknowledgment. 
 
TALE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 T I M E S. 
 
 CHAP. 1. 
 
 Forth fteps the fpnice philofopher, and telU 
 Of homogeneal, and dilcordant, fpn'ngs 
 And principles; of caufes, how they work 
 By neceflary lawa their fursf effc£\9 ; 
 Of adion and re-adtion. He has fonnd 
 The iource of the difeafe that nature f?ei?, 
 And bids the world take heart, and ba«iih kar. 
 
 Cov/pt^s. 
 
 J^aRS. Prudentia Ho mi spun agr<in begs 
 leave to retuxn thanks to tlva world fc^r its vcrv 
 fuvourab^e reception of her lucubrations." v>hs 
 is now firni'v convinced, that the cl imouv.-? 
 Vvhich are circulated again (t the injuftice a.nd 
 bad taPte of the times, may be confidered either 
 33 the declamations of difappointed ambition, 
 or the ebullitions of malevolent fpleen, foured 
 by the fuccefsof^me happier rival. She con- 
 ceives herfelf to be particularly fortunate in ex- 
 iting at a period more favourable to mental ex- 
 ertions than thofe vvliich have been common' y 
 deemed the golden ages of literature. Con- 
 templating from her eafy chair the vail extent 
 
 of 
 
fy TALfi Of tii^ "VlUUi 
 
 sy 
 
 ^r modern difcotetle^, tior onlv in the fcielioi? 
 b«f irs frJofiiJs and ffoifernitient* and ejetendin.^' 
 itf rtiediiatiods trorn fene^liod ori v^hat hct 
 i^'rifiled ca-adjurorsiiave doile^ to {pQcuhih:}^ Oil 
 it-hat thi:y piopofe dclngi fli^ b Coriipciied ta 
 ZCknOs^lcgef that the clofs of' the eighteentli 
 tenfury Elaims diftinguiriiwi 'prc-^emlnctice fof 
 <nCiC i«iduL'ifabld fiiarks of geriius^ or'fglil^ 
 f'lhf If] gtjferpiifV, arid boldflift of bv^ntioir 
 Ove? flref C;o!iier afaa of rcriQUs^ AUgdilixdi ancf 
 fl;e rvigdiclgo Naf^ (he vi'iil go fa far as to af* 
 f^fiTl. thAi th^ hbdufs of {li^ *^Ne\¥ Fhilofb-^ 
 fh/' vt?ill c^fcmembefed by ttlelr e/lc£ts, wherl 
 
 K -tff fly 
 
 ;r;^^3, xq cpr^idsr i\\?il J^cr prodjjdi.orj.3 ony (ail 
 df)wr. this fvyelj'.pg ilream of fame with thofe 
 of her jmir.ortal cojitemporaries, Shec:^nr-fr ? 
 that her ideas diitcr in fome rcfpecls hc^y^ 
 rhelrs j but as everyone profefTes the fame end, 
 namely, the improvement of the aniverfe, Ihe 
 rejoices that (lie is permitted, by the hbcrality 
 of t}'.e times, to difOminate her own peculiar 
 fentiments. If fhe be of opinion, that Mora- 
 iity appeared to better advantage v^ hen fl.e was 
 conterited ro be the handmaid of Piety, than 
 iince P/iC lias fet up for an independent charac- 
 ter ; if fhe be convinced, that the abilities and 
 attainments of man are in this life (o ii<-nited, 
 that he V. ill never be able to " wield th^ ele- 
 ments," to endow a machine with intelledtual 
 power?, or to array himfeif with a felf-invelled. 
 immortality, if (lie be perfuaded, th.*t the hiial 
 liud conjagal ties are no remnants of feudal bar- 
 barifin, but happy inltitutions, calculated to 
 proniote domeilic p:ace •, if ihe has been taught, 
 
 lh;it 
 
? 
 
 thai rtiigion is niufc tliaii fchtiriisnt, 5n<i .femal?^ 
 Virtue fomething ftrongsr thail ekierioH^ (l<^co- 
 rum; if (ht ihuddtt at t!ie elbquenCt^ uhicii 
 Extenuates impitiif, ternls ftdu<tlic:v i^n arriieJbii* 
 rtaikyj aiid gaming an elegant aiiiufcitti^rit ^6\U 
 demneci by the iKTane nioraiitjr of tiw law ; 
 lurtly ilie rnay hopi; for t{i,»t celebrity wlikh 4 
 bold oppofuioil to received opinions gentrall/ 
 tnfures; Nayj (hould i'lie even prefer tis 
 Guciiis rull' and pinner, a3 bcusr adapisd io 
 Britith wives and mothers than tlie loofd d^^pcr/ 
 of Grecian Bacdianals, of tii^ mor^ oiiVnfiyil 
 ijppejratica of uriciViufed fava^^dSi though te^ 
 commended by the findion uf Paiifian einhu^ 
 fiails^ whetii with more than Pagan iaf<Lua^ 
 Hori or canhiBal iiifcnObiiirvj thtjr njeet iJ 
 
 Hvmjik 6r il\m fisdsj iisf {lie Ht^ih bt ^mu^ 
 
 ^iigfife— feHf f he ffldftf^F Ff Iter pa|-fi]*§} Ui^ir 
 
 ht^itatlgj ^o4 ihm diiiyrsn? m^ifft^^ not 
 
 who adopt aj| the clirir.ictevUlics (f the arche- 
 tvpcj of v/hich they exhibit a degrading mo- 
 del ? 
 
 Her intenuon in refuming the pen is to en- 
 force her opinions by argumenr, aiid to illiir- 
 trate them by example ; and The revjfals thcfe 
 intentions thus early, tliat the lover of the won- 
 dertul, and the admirer of the horrihc, may 
 not complain of having been cheated into th- 
 perufal of a performance that has not only a 
 plan for its conducl, but alfo a moral tendency 
 in its defjgn. Mrs. Prudentia intends to lead 
 her reader;, through no other labyrinth than the 
 
 wiles 
 
^ A TALE OF THE TIAIES". 
 
 wiles of fyftematic depravity, nor to prefent 
 any object more foul-harrowing than a deceived 
 and entangled, but ultimately penitent heart. 
 
 While (lie confefies that the ground-work of 
 her (lory has a remote analogy to fome well- 
 ■^nown fa£ls, (he (irongly reprobates the idea 
 of perfonaiity. The incidents sre all her own, 
 and it is only in one portrait that fhe has at- 
 tempted to fketch a likenefsTrojn nafure. She 
 a^i'ures the cesiforious, that, even in that por- 
 trait, fiie has fo adjufted the draperv and varied 
 the colours, that it will be impoilible for the 
 mod curious eye to difcover wlio fat for the 
 outline^. 
 
 Though regardlefs whether the fafliionable 
 infiruciors of the day record her as one of their 
 kindred fpirits, or condemn her for being a fer- 
 vile admirer of prefcribed forms and reprobated 
 seflriclions, there is a numerous clafs of r'jadcrG, 
 •whofe favour Mrs. Prudentia is anxioudy folt,- 
 citous to obtain — the truly, liberal, and the (in- 
 cerely good. With candour to forgive fmall 
 faults, they unite difcernment to difcover good 
 intentions, and courage to defend the caufe of 
 principle againft th^ farofms of wit, and the 
 cool contempt of piqued infidelity. To fuch 
 leaders, and fuch critics, (lie fubmlts the fol- 
 lowing p;iges ; and as a proper reprefen^alivc ci 
 the iiluilnous order, !he intreat^-- 
 
 Mrs. carter 
 
 to accept her- public thanks (or the invaluable 
 honour of her approbation of the Writer's for- 
 mer efforts, aPid her permifTion to infcribe thefe 
 pages with her refpected name. If the prefect 
 attempt fhcu-ld appear favourable to the caufe 
 
 of 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 9 
 
 Oif morality and religion, flic humbly hope?, 
 that the lenity infeparable from fuperlor talents 
 wil! pardon thofe errors in the compofition, 
 which an accurate tafte muft difcover and diT^ 
 approve. 
 
 CHAP, m 
 
 The fairell anceftry on eatth, 
 
 Witbout defert, is poor ; 
 And every deed of lofty worth 
 
 Is but a claim for more. 
 
 Sir Eldred of the Bowsr. 
 
 OOME reafons, which are not neceflary to be 
 developed in the following pages, made me w'lCn 
 to take a liirle excurfion from Danbury in the 
 courfe of Infi autumn. A generous public hav- 
 \n<y fuppHed the means, I hired a one-horf-i 
 chaife, and takin^^ with me my whole family, 
 confiiling of my maid Betty and my favourite 
 old tabby cat, fet out for Brighton. I tliere 
 beard a narrauve which made a very deep im- 
 preffi-on upon my mind; and, as the conniiu- 
 nicaiivenefs of my difpofitiori will not allov-v me 
 to conceal any thing which I imagine c-ipabie of: 
 conveying iiillruclion, or even innocent amufe- 
 ment, to thit worthy fet .of beings, whom, in 
 cxjmmon with my filler author?, 1 term candid 
 readers, I have determined to prefer pubaih- 
 ing the i4iRory of the Countefs of Monieith to 
 a particular defcription of my own travels. To 
 this refolutioa i may, perhaps, have been in- 
 fluenced by a culpable degree of modeUy. i'he 
 f ' A 2 public 
 
lO A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 public, r.jo doubt, are very anxious to know 
 how many miles 2 day Betty and 1 journeyed ; at 
 what inns we flopped, and what we had for 
 flipper. Could not a fiorid defcription beftow 
 fome fprigsof fame on the chalky chffs of Duu- 
 fiable ? xMight not the horrors of Woburn 
 fands be rendered more gloomy by a convenient 
 whirlwind, hurrying into. the air the arid foil? 
 Is there no old decayed manor houfe, wliere I 
 could call forth the " (heeted dead to fquer.k 
 and gibber " or, ("uppcfing we were benighted 
 on Finchlev-commor, could eitlier Rhaensn or 
 Carpathian A'ps Hx a more appropriate (lation 
 for the haunts of a bandi'ri ? 1 hot'oh i*.3 a 
 former puDlic^tion I have u:i warily announced 
 my ay:e and order, Betty, for au;^du the world 
 knows, may be young and beautiful ; nav, ftiC 
 may be an orphan foundling, tre heirefs of 
 f me dillinguiflied fami'y ; and I m»v, if I 
 choofe, after a Jong fcries of adventures, unite 
 her in tlie hymeneal bond wirh fine all accom- 
 pliOicd youth, who had previ.>Lii1y rcfcued us 
 from the robbers after a moll bh^-oilv eniza-re- 
 mer.r. I begiu 10 fufpedl that I h.ve chofcnthe 
 Icfs promifing, or rather the Icfs lucrative plan; 
 but I entreat my readers to believe, th<u it is 
 not becaufe I want powers for the terrific and 
 the romantic, that I continue to purfue the 
 mora! and tr-e probable. Something muil be 
 allowed to my defire of fupporting that charac- 
 ter of firnuufs afcribed to n y fiiLerliOod, and 
 which, though it limply conhils in chocfing to 
 liave our own way, tlic wits are apt to call per- 
 tinacity. I will a! fo candidly own, that, fmce 
 the luperlor (lation iii this walk is already oc- 
 cupied by real genius, I have too much pru- 
 dence to enter into a competition, \vh:;re I (hall 
 
 be 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. -II 
 
 be fure to meet with a defeat; and too much 
 pride to eniift among a heril of fcrvile imitators, 
 who miftai^e confullon for defcription, and fancy- 
 that what is horribly impoiTible, muit be inlcr- 
 eliing and grand. Bur, as (my days of dotage 
 are not far didant, if lady Monteith (hould be 
 unfortunate in her appc>d for attention, I and 
 Betty may appear upon the fcene ; even my 
 Cat too may be introduced ia an epifodc. I 
 have fecn a fubjedl equally unprom.ifing worked 
 up to an atloniihing eilVc'i:, and really admired 
 by readers who had been fome yeuis out ot the 
 nurfery: — Bur, inllead of terrifyhig the world 
 with a denunciation of wh-it I may do^ let mc 
 hailen to fulfil my prefent promiie. 
 
 I r is ncv/ more than ten years Hnce Povverf- 
 court Houfi; exhibittd a fcene g9 fcltivltv ?A\d 
 }u)fpitality i^nrivc^lkd In modem times, and 
 which mighrferve to rccal to the mind of tlic 
 fpec^ator the fplendid le'es of Keniiworth, 
 where the lady of the lake welcomed tlie ap- 
 proach of m.ijefty, and tlie cruel diiToIute earl 
 of Leiceiier fought to divert geheral atleri'.io;i 
 from his vices by a captivating difpiay of ele- 
 gance and amufcment. The motives of the ve- 
 nerable barontt who inlrabited Powerfc-ourt werr; 
 widely difF.Mcnt from t'jofe of the haughty f.^- 
 vourite of Elizabeth. His wife was top \\\- 
 oiTenfive to fear cen fure ; his heart never panic'l 
 for court-favour; and the praife of magnificence 
 or refined talle prefented no attradlions to fiis 
 unobtrufive and benevolent mind. He caiud 
 a'l the country together, and (Irove to make 
 them very happy, becaufe he was very hnppy 
 himfelf J and the occafioa of this exuberint 
 joy was tlie union of his only daughter and 
 heircfs, Geraldine Powerfccurt, with James 
 
 earl 
 
12 A TALE OF THE'TIME^. 
 
 earl or Montelth, a young Ncbleman who \\a$ 
 juft attained complete miijoriiy, and acceded ta 
 all the fplendid titles and fortune of the- houfe 
 of Macdonald. 
 
 Befide all the beauty and fafhion of North 
 •Wales, fhefe diftinguiflied nuptials we're ho«- 
 r.oured by the preleiice of two deities, generally 
 fuppoftd to be abfolutely inimical to each other, 
 Cupid and Plutus, forgetting ancient enmity, 
 jigrecd jointly to light the Hymeneal torch. Jt 
 was impofi'ible to fuppofe a union contradled 
 under a more perfect coincidence of harmo- 
 Fiious equality. The f-imilies on both fides 
 might be faid to lofe themftlvcs in the clouds ;. 
 for their claims to pre-eminence, advancing far 
 beyond the limit of authentic hiftory, foared 
 into regions which no prudent antiquary would 
 dare to explore. The lineal hvoncuvs of thef^ 
 illuflrious families relied upon a furer bafis 
 tlian mere oral tradition. Sir William Powerf- 
 court could point cut the fpot of ground where 
 his Ordoviciaii ?ncefi;or harattgued his vaflals 
 before he mounted his fcyihe-aimed car, and led 
 them to join the Britifii Icrccs^lTembled at Cara- 
 doc : and an sunt of 4ord Monteith's preferved 
 the benk of the gallev, w^hicli conveyed Donald 
 kinz of the IHes from. Ilia, when he Daid a vilit 
 of ceremony to liis contemporary Fergus, fome 
 hundred years prior to the invafion of the Ro- 
 mans. It is true, that fcmie incredulous critics, 
 \A horn nothing can convinLe> doubted whctlier 
 *he feudal cuiloms, with winch Sir William 
 embellifhed his narrative, exiilcd at that remote 
 period; and I have heard a whifper, that the 
 venerable relic which lady Maiielina fo carefully 
 preferved was nothing more than the remains 
 ut a. g'eut g^hvl-d dragon, originally fufpended 
 
 over 
 
A TALE OF THE TIAIES. IJ 
 
 over a Chjnefe temple belonging to her Lidy- 
 fnip's w^j/firwi?/ great-grandfather, though To hiap- 
 pily exccuttd, that, like Hamlet's cloud, you 
 might fay it was equally like a "camel, or an 
 oufei, or a \i'h.j1e." ' 
 
 But though thefe vediges of remote fuperio- 
 ritv mifiht: rather excite the doubts than fix 
 the convi£lion of the obferver of coftume, the 
 Macdonalds and Pou-tzrfcourts preferred indubi- 
 table claims to the honours of antiquity, — ex- 
 tenfive influence and ample poHeiTions. It feme- 
 tim.es happens that ciofe attention to adventi- 
 tious or fantallic appendages induces us to over- 
 look inherent permanent quahries. Lady Made- 
 lina's zeal for the dignity of her family was fo 
 warAily exercifed in the defence of old Donald's 
 gailey, that (he had no leifure to advcrc to the 
 fearlefs intrepidity and the generous liberality 
 with which her anceflors defended the righls 
 of their clan, and fuccoured their opprelTed de- 
 pendants during the period that the houfe of 
 JStuart fate upon the Scortiili throne. *< Fhey 
 iiione the glory cf tlie north" t:il after th^ 
 reftoration ; but the reign of Charles the fecond, 
 (o fatal to principle and morality, firfl conta- 
 minated the houfe of IMonreith, and fapped 
 the foundaticns of its feudal greatnefs. In the 
 voluptuous court of that diiTipated monarch, tic 
 then earl forgot ihe wild (liores of Loch Lo- 
 mond, and the " flowery borders of the ancient 
 Forth ;°' and abandoning his caflle to ruin, and 
 his dependants tJ defpair, glittered a faint 
 fateliite in the train of tinfel greatnefs. His 
 extravagance and prodigality were in fome de- 
 gree lepaired by the alliance of his.fucccflor 
 with the heirefs of a rich Blackweil-hall facfor ; 
 but the archives of the fami'v are raih^^r llltnt 
 
 lipon 
 
14 A TALE CF THE TIMES. 
 
 upon tiiat head, and L^.dy IMadelina could never 
 relate a Gngle anecdote explanatory of the event 
 of thofe dlfgraceful nupthds. Since that period, 
 tl'.e Macdonaids had peifcvered in the plan of 
 leaving the family cfiatc, clear from incumbrar..- 
 ces, to theeldcft fon. the younger fons ^.^ilhe^ 
 fell in the defence of their countrv, or Aarved 
 in fonr-.e obfcure corner, while the daughters \y&<\ 
 only their high birth to add to the perfonal qua- 
 lifications of merit and beauty, advantages not 
 always fumGient to atrraci the mercenary heart 
 of man. With no other portion \u-^A'j Madelina 
 bcrfelf beftowed on the fortunate head of the 
 houfe of Frazer, the inefiimablci treafure of her 
 hand. He w<ts indeed far advanced into the 
 vale of years, and his title was only fim.ple Sir 
 Simon ; but her ladytliip nreferred him to a!l 
 the dukes, marquifies^ and earls, who, accord- 
 ing to the indubitable trll'iaiony of herfcif and 
 hcT maid i^eggy, had for niore than twciity 
 years unremittingly implored her compaffion. 
 
 The father of the young earl, whofe nuptials 
 with the iieirefs of Povverfcourt have been an- 
 nounced in the beginning of this chapter, fell a 
 vi£lim to the demon of modern honour, about 
 the fame time that the pale orgies of difiipation 
 had m.ade a vifible inroad in his lady's health. 
 The (hock at the dreadful circumHanccs of his 
 exit hadened the cruel auacks of difeafc, 
 and fhe expired a few months after her lord. 
 The nobie pair had ever found each othtr's 
 fociety too vapid to difpel the gloom of one 
 dcmeftic evening; yet his lordQdp conceived 
 himfelf obliged to rcfent the intrufion of a 
 young officer, who entered her ladyfiiip's box 
 at the opera at a tim^e when the earl was of her 
 party. lie fell at the fiiil fire, and the countefs 
 
 found 
 
A TALE OF THE TlMfif. I^ 
 
 found It Impollible to furvive him Th^ fpiindal- 
 cus clu'onicies cf ihe age alTerteJ, that tl^e coIo» 
 reTs appearance was neither unexpeOed nor un- 
 welcome to any but the earl, and that difappoint- 
 inciu, and the necefhty of fcekifion and cccono- 
 mical retrenchment, barbed the mortal dart of 
 woe in the boforn of the fair inconfolable. Till 
 I am convinced that jealoufy is the only motive 
 wb.ich can direct the attention of a huihind to 
 his own V. :fe, and that connubial forrou' wants 
 energy to break the fra^i'e thread of female es- 
 iitence, I ihaJl adhere to my own reprereutatioii 
 of this catailrophe. 
 
 Lord Monttith, following the example of his 
 projienitors, left his eflate totally unincumbered 
 to his only fon Tm^es. liis beaunful daus^hter 
 Ar/ibella found a prote^lrefs in the friendihio of 
 b.er aunt, lady Madeline, who adop-ed her as 
 her own daughter, and pub'icly deuhred her 
 rcl'olution, in cafe (lie fliould produce no he-r 
 to the lioufe of Frazer, to bequeaih to her a'l 
 the ample poileihons with which Sir Simon's 
 tender gfcstitude had endowed his beloved bride. 
 At the age of feventeen, after having expe- 
 rienced the adulation and the luxury of two 
 London winters, the lovely Arabella fet out for 
 her aunt'^s ca0.1e fltuated in the wilds of Loch- 
 nber, now reduced to a (late bordering upon 
 fecond childnocd, iTie had the melancholy prof- 
 petfl of being perfedliy immured. 
 
 Her brother's plans were more eligible and 
 agreeable. His guardians infifted that in his 
 education he fl'Ould purfue the routine ufually 
 adopted by young men of his elevated rank. 
 Ke had been entered at one of cur public 
 fchools, and thence removed to tlie Univerfiry. 
 To counterai'^l i dangerous propenfity to the: 
 
 fatal 
 
It) A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 fatal iiliurements of Newmarket, it was propofed 
 immediately after his father's death, that he 
 fliould make the tour of JLurope. He returned 
 when of age, afiumed the fortunes of his fa- 
 mily, and with them the reprefentation of the 
 ancient peerage of Scotland in the BritiOi Par- 
 liament, an honour which had been for feme 
 time enjoyed by hisancellors. 
 
 Since the forms of his election rendered ne- 
 ceffary hisprcfence at Holyrood Houfe, he eculd 
 not avcici paying a vifu to the feat of his family. 
 His manners were popular, his counteurmce 
 llrikingly prepoffclTing, and his perfon dignified, 
 athletic, and graceful. The Highlanders recog- 
 nized in the " bonny Lad'* the true reprefen- 
 t?itive of the houfs of Macdonald j and the an- 
 cient dependants, who., fince their Lairds had 
 defcrted Monteilh, vegetated on the fpot v.'hich 
 the attachments of thtir youth rendered emi- 
 nently dear to them, led their young mafler the 
 tour of his domain, and pointed out to him its 
 local advantages. They endeavoured to dire<!il 
 Wis attention to the mafly grandeur of his caflie 
 walls, the extenfive profpecls enjoyed from its 
 turrets, and the f»ided. magnificence of its moul- 
 dering furniture. They repeatedly aiTurcd hisn 
 that in his grandfather's time Monteith boafled 
 a diitinguifhsed preference over the abode of 
 any other Highland chieftain. The young No- 
 bleman was not pafTionately attached to ruins-; 
 the flormy winds, howling through the long gal- 
 leries, diiturbed his'repofe, and he wiflied for no 
 nearer acquaintance with the genius of the tern- 
 pefl. He beflowed with a liberal hand fuch 
 relief as would atTord poverty a temporary aid \ 
 -bur, without exerting fuincient patience to in- 
 veltigate the caufe of the calamity, or futlicient 
 
 coura?,c 
 
■ A TALE OF THE TIMES. ly 
 
 courage to rcdrefs the evils which even a curfory 
 glance difcovered, he haftened toKinloch Caftle, 
 to pay his dutiful refpecls to lady Madelina. 
 
 Neither the manners nor the refidence of her 
 ladvQiip were calculated to remove the difguft 
 wiih which *' Scot aiid Scotland had infpired 
 him." The houfe was htuiUed on a bare preci- 
 pice, tlie foot of which was wafhed by the 
 ftormy lea that feparated the main land from the 
 Hebrides. When its amiable miftrefs removed 
 from the deferted walls of Monreith, (he carried 
 with her all f^er " Houfehold Gods," I mean 
 the venerable inhabitants of the pi£^ure gallery, 
 and the fcreens, chairs, and tapeftry hangings, 
 with which the white-armed fpinflcrs of Mac- 
 donald had fucceflively decorated tlielr family- 
 feat. Sir Simon, doubtlefs, felt fincere exulta- 
 tion at this valuable scquifition j he only flipu- 
 lated that the remains of his progenitors fliculd 
 jiot yield their places to the new comers. A 
 coalition was therefore form.ed, and every waU 
 and apartrnenf in the caftje was crowded with 
 multiplied garniture. Screen concealed fcreenj- 
 chair fupported chair ; ^ ftripe of Jacob meeiing 
 Efciu repaired the difaftrous rents too vihble in 
 the taking of Troy, and puzzled the Ciceroni 
 wlio attempted to unravel the confjfed hiftory ; 
 while Frazers and Macdonalus, placed in full 
 oppofition, frowned fierce defiance upon each 
 other, rey^ardlcfs of the bond which nov/ united 
 the once rival families, and ungrateful to lady 
 Madeljna's eloquence, who gratuitoufiy per- 
 formed the part of eulogill to them all. 
 
 On the tliird day after her nephew's arrival, 
 when fhe had explained the family exploits to 
 the eleventh century, he unluckily recollecled 
 a moft preflin^ engagement which called hirn 
 
 inihntly 
 
l^ A tAtfe OP tU^ ftUtSr 
 
 Initantly id London. The occaHort was (c urgehfi 
 that he could not j^ .'nibly fbiy to heiar rhc fate cf 
 ibriieccllate?<il bfailcbei \v]»icii were then divided 
 from th«e parent fidck. Lorn Morueith threu^ 
 himfelf into his poiichaife, and fo ilror.gly did 
 the tOiine^loris of his anccftorg roufe his do- 
 ttieftic fceling?j th-nt h«i dould think of nothing 
 but getting, a good hvifl:?and for his fjfter, to frcd 
 froin her conhiierrient^ till different fcencs tTk-' 
 tk^d gayer ideas*- 
 
 C H A P^ ilfr 
 
 Uj^^t M^§ b¥ file g«s'"^i3f?'§ of ^ife fe!^^ 
 
 i-l,epj[fte iyith peacs apjd joy, like patfiarths of g\d, 
 
 THOMSON, 
 
 j^N tlie precedin^r chapter I introduced my 
 readers to the family of the bride- groom j but 
 I mud bellow feverai on that of the bride. 
 
 Sir William Powerfcourt's was certainly a 
 mod fingular chara<£ler, and in one particular he 
 widely diflrjred from many gentleuien of hii 
 rank in fociety. His llrong attachment to tiic 
 feat of his anceftors was more the refult of ge- 
 lierous philanthropy than of any lucatlve con- 
 fideration. ' Tis true, he confidered Povverfcourt- 
 houfe as circumfcribing within its dornain all 
 the beauties that fancy ever feigned i but as he 
 rode round his eltate, his feelings lefemblcd 
 
 thofc 
 
(li()feof a cotifcientiolis gU,ifi]itiil raihei* tli.-iti of 
 ^ lelf-accoiintabie owntr^ and tht laricilord and 
 fiiafler Were in his beneficent bofom evtjr funk 
 irt the milder •qualilies of the j?fote£lor ^nd thd 
 irieiidj lils hofpltable doors were bpeil to indi« 
 |.;ctice J his delicacy vvao nevef Irurt by the fim* 
 piiclty of fuRic rrinnnerGi ahd though th^ iii* 
 ilolence of his tertipci- fometlmes prevented hjnl 
 iVoni taking an aCdxe part in re^.r-i-fiisig oppfef- 
 fiotif or ilitiodiicing merit to its delerved reWatd^ 
 h|9 liberal pt^rfe was always ready to reniedy th^ 
 dfefe^ih ** My good neighbour Jones/' faid hd 
 dnt day, «* I ceftainly might write to the lord 
 ** jieytehahtj aiid get that ro|y€ of m adjutant 
 *< broke j who %'ould nol a.drhif th^i y6fef foil 
 
 «* inches fhoft-rj ^ilt pefhaps i\>e n^sn h^,$ 
 << jipthing to liv^ tjpon hut hjs co}-n»]}fo^?* m4 
 ^* being very poor is fpfced tg do dirty 3/ftipne, 
 -<* Here ; reniember me to David ; t^ll him tha^ 
 *' I hke a lad of fpjrit j and there are thi tsi} 
 *' guineas he was difappointed of." A Jirtl^ 
 time afterward, in corfcquence c{ fome nefa* 
 rious proctcditgs beii^g daloverr^d, the adjutant 
 waited upon Sir William to entreat his intercef- 
 fion u'ith lord W. in Ins behalf, lie pleaded long 
 i'ervice and the h.urry of bufinefs in his defence, 
 and hinted at the wanrs of a large family, 
 " Sir," faid Sir Wilham, « 1 dare fay that 
 <* what yeu tell me is very true •, but as it is not 
 ** niyovvn afiriir, I. don't like to v/rite to iny 
 ** llnfman or trouble him about it. But as vou 
 feem to have puzzled yourfelf a little in thefe 
 army matter?, I think you had better iry fome 
 other plan v-^f life. I can put you into a farm, 
 ?nd mi.ke ycu game keeper of one of my 
 
 " manors 8 
 
 it 
 
 €( 
 
20 ATALEOF TFrE^'TlM£S» 
 
 •< manors ; and I hope you won't think it a?l 
 ** employ benf?.ith you, for I ftjall always be 
 ** glad to ff.e you at Pov^'erfcourt." 1 he offer 
 was accepted ; and Sir William aftewards owned 
 that, beiide two years' rent, he loft a confider- 
 able fum with which he had entrufted him, to 
 enable him to fet up; but his benevoient heart 
 never fnfr'^red him to wifii the deed undone : 
 ♦* for," faid he, " though I believe the man was 
 ** no better than a cheat, his wife appeared to 
 «* be a very notable woman, and brought up her 
 ** family very well." 
 
 "Sir William did not marry till he was much 
 en the wrong fide of forty ; and even then that 
 event proceeded from the fame principles which 
 governed all his anions. The wife of a neigh- 
 bouring gentleman delicately hinted, that one 
 of her driughters, was deeply in love with him, 
 that death mufl: be the inevitable confequence of 
 his obduracy. The good baronet was thunder- 
 ftruck ; he had no predilecflion for marriage, and 
 certainly no preference for the young lady thus 
 obtruded upon his choice. His confcience en- 
 tirely vindicated him from any wicked dengn of 
 ftealing the fair one's afreciions; neither his 
 glafs nor his flatterers had ever attributed to him 
 the moft diflar.ce refemblance to an Adonis, and 
 he wondered much that any body fliould fall in 
 love with his brown bob and Kevenhuller hat j 
 but fince it was fo, (and the lady's mother pro- 
 tefted fhe did not exaggerate,) he never fiiduld 
 ehjoy any peace of mind, if he could tbinTv 
 himfelf the cauCe of making a fellaw creature 
 miferable (for Sir William could not give entire 
 credit to the dying part of the ftory). Rather 
 than have fuch a weigiit upon his confcience, 
 he would marry. 
 
 Lady 
 
A TALE OF THE TI7\IES. 21 
 
 Lady PDwerfcourf, however, very fcon after 
 her marriage, difcovered that ine had made agreat 
 mUlake, and was incautious enough to difclofe 
 the fecret to hcrhufband. It was not from the 
 brown bob nor Kevenhuller hat that the god of 
 love took aim when he pierced her tender bofom, 
 r.or was the mortal (liaft barbed by the virtues 
 which adorned the refpeciable chara£^er to which 
 they were appendages. Like Hudibras's Cujpid, 
 ,he certainly 
 
 «* Fix'd his ftand 
 
 ** Upon a wealthy jointure land." 
 
 ■Powerfcourt-houfe pofTeiTed irrcliftible attrac- 
 tions, and (l^e had heard her pnpa and mamma 
 frequently ailert, that if Sir William would but 
 marry a v/cman of tafte, it might be made one 
 of the fvveeteft places in all North Wales. She 
 knew that Sir Ralph Morgan's lady fpent all the 
 winter at Bath, the fpring in London, the fum- 
 mer at her country-feat, and in the autumn took 
 a tour ; that (he drove four in hand, gave balls, 
 kept a groom of the chambers, aiid a French 
 waiting. maid, had twelve new drefles a-year, 
 .and fet the faftiions for all the country ; yet Sir 
 Ralph's eftate was not half fo large as Sir Wil- 
 liam's. What heart could refid fuch invincible 
 •attracfions ? She immediately fell very ^deeply 
 in love. 
 
 I have in a former publication ventured to 
 give my cpinion, that the two faces of Hymen 
 are not exacl counter- p<:rts to each other. The 
 fmiling countenance which fronts the lung villa 
 leading to his tempjt, laas few traits of fimiii- 
 -tude to the auftere phyfiognomy which is def- 
 <cried by thofe who, after they have offered 
 
 facrifice. 
 
facrlficei retire behind bis ^Ifar* The dircu/fjori 
 pf preliminaries tpight have convinced thi*^ Ind/ 
 ^h^i: the nup^iai* pup ^onfiinc^ iome drops pf ai| 
 gcfd <|uaUty. T^ the eharms of Pcw^rfeourS 
 0)e had aiiTipjifd one grand ingredient, which 
 ynhappily did not e^lft^ gt leaii not in Its fyp? 
 pefsd magnkucie. | me4nv the esOnefs cf 'fif 
 V/Ijjiarn^s dlfpontion. Thoughj m gepiUe gg 
 gephyr b''owing yride rnc^rh ^ violgt-' upon moi'i 
 OC(;:irionSj hs had upon others a Ifttlp oiF the ol\ 
 bgphelor's tenacity gbout him- He v^'tinhi J^e^p 
 Udy PQ'^cricouy^ i> Cpach ^ind {i.?^ with Mi hi§ 
 heiirr, but h,e did not like hdm driving four icj 
 han4. Siie might h^vg half a dczeri EnglKh 
 Wrtif;ng-wi>msrt if (]i2 pleaffd, snd as many 
 Welch ones, but he did not approve of French 
 fiiles de ph^sTibre. He had no Gbje£licn to heFgi'/.« 
 Ingbalisio vh^ ii^^gbboviririg yoiing jacfies^ nni\ fha 
 i^ight m?.ke theni sa hiippy as (ItC could ; but he 
 thcjiighl; that mgvrle4 hdi-S ought not to be W^^ 
 gingabopE theiTifeJye?- and 98 tp diefs^ iljs migh|: 
 be cloched every day la fiiver brocade » hat h\% 
 V/ift^ fMOuld neveF wear feathers and ijowers it\ 
 |ier li^.2Q^dt^(^2i like g ft^ge-pUyef. 
 
 The grand point of difputej howeyeri v/3§ 
 fhe (occupatl-^^n of the four fcafonSj Hs w^i 
 willing to taks he? to town for thr^^e months, 
 bccaufe th.? country maft be rather dull to WQ« 
 inea iii wintefj :^3 th&y couM neither flioot nof 
 hunt I 5^nd if ilie weT§ iiof w?i|j he would sr* 
 company hcf to liath or any where that woul4 
 g|p he? feryiG? | but to five at Fowerfcour? only 
 ll^rce morithsj whgt wpyid ajUjis rjeighbpurs f4y, 
 Bhti how would hia tenants go on without him | 
 My hdy ^^^^'^ to convince: him that their opi« 
 r-lans were not worth regarding i b^t £ijr Wi|» 
 Ji«m vvgg firm., lia h4d Ipii^ wanfider^d ihem 
 
■fl& national creatnresj ?ind he could rot hn^ily 
 .fsnt/unce chat opinion j beHde, he was fond of 
 (■4Tm\ngi and deeply eng-igeti it) fchemes pf 
 j^,gricu)t.ural improvement | ancl if hg (tuy<rd ia 
 jittis at horjiej he mujl euher b? thg dype pf 
 Srppofirion, pr renounce fhofe purfaiiSy Hevg 
 ]^,i§ -obHglng cpnfori; hinteti, thatj finpe bf 
 W^s (b engaged in rur?/i purfuks, bynn^fs aU 
 juivskj birn ^ fair (S^rufs (qf Prl^fenee, and fiig 
 would b^ willing occaGpn^Hy tq d^fpen^ ^'it|i 
 Ijis Jittend.iijee, " Sfr W5!Uam was not ren>a?'k* 
 libly- quick pf appreheiirion ^ and, c^tmpAy^ 
 t)%o(\. bridegrpams in h'* Cityation VQuld jiavg 
 b^ffl inpiip.ed to refer thg lady's pfppoi'ai rathc^ 
 fo t|)e exuberant d^flre of gF3i]f«/lng nk pecuHay 
 Irfclirtatioria than tp ^ny latent with of befng 
 deprived of his fpcicty, hfe i^w it qinte yj 
 .f-Iiai point of yi?"^ j and fupygh hg rrads r\Q 
 _^TnvL'e.r at the timp, yet a r'eiTc>rpe£live.iCorj|1i%^ 
 r^f;Ion of the -inefF4blG condefcenfiiOn whkfj 
 • prompted lier to give up wh?,r fqe had rep^gt^diy 
 ^^d^r^d w be tlie greateft blcifing pf hc:r e^'» 
 j(lei)C4?« his dear CQn\'f:TidUQ»u rather lliPAi te^j; 
 ,|nip from fc-r:ies to which he wbs ^tt^ched* CDf|» 
 4dnced him that he ought to m^l^e fomg f^cri* 
 ;||pl3 tQ re^^ard fuch ffelf-dsnying cjonipjarjeriey-j 
 Ci'3 joiinisj to Idath w^s therefore prcmii^ci^ 
 ^n iiahu.al yjnt to J^ondon h'4d beer, beforf, r^* 
 •ijjciy 8gr|it?4 JO, and i i;qi not certain whether 
 J.hjg .oyer|to^i;)g3 of grstitu-cje rrdght not havi 
 4^0510 pelied the good bsr^ngt xq fuhmt to bi 
 l^'hiiled ^boat eighty milpi ?-day ^long rough 
 .tm^^ b^ ^'gy of taking an gutiimpgi hjufj h^d 
 jlQt. hh Udyj inftead fif rewarding his complls 
 ll-r.ce by a gfiis'-ie frndp, afrunied fon:ief|di»g of g 
 Oioriiliecj ^rpecl: whgn hi2 ?»anoiinced his d^* 
 i3|Ji Qf Svcoa^p^aylpg licr. Hs wag wiping iq 
 
24 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 attribute this fudden change to her defire of 
 having the magnificent plans that (he had jujlt 
 formed for the improvement of Powerfcourc 
 caaried into execmion under her'own infpec- 
 tion ; and this hope reconciled him to fchemes 
 which had at firll: met with fome oppofition. 
 He had objed^ed to her dcfign of cutting down 
 the long avenue of oaks which led to the houfe, 
 and converting t^-e ground into a fv/eeping 
 lawn, dotted with lilacs ami laburnums, inter- 
 fperfed with Chinefe temples and- leaden (tatues. 
 He was equally averfe to the removal of his 
 ftraight yew hedges ; for, though all the world 
 was againft him, he conceived them more na- 
 tural than the fharp angles of that modern em- 
 bellifhment, a ferpenane walk. He thought 
 too that the (tags horns and cicfs-bows were as 
 proper internal oraanu'nts as pipier-machee de- 
 corations ; and manv a bitter figh did it cofl 
 him, when his lady'o Tiama and (aters joined ia 
 protefting, that, unlefs the dark Gothic win- 
 dows and I'ideous tapeiUy-hrsngings were re- 
 moved from the drawing-rot>m, and light 
 fafhes and indii paper fubfiituted ih their ftead, 
 they ihould fall into hyflerics every time they 
 went into the room ; but his iranlport at the 
 idea ihat thefe prop.fi-d aiter.jcions had tended 
 to attach his -.vife to a fpot which would be ho- 
 noured with i'uch indubitable proofs of her 
 tafte and genius, determined him to be a paf- 
 five fpc-clator of every propofed alteration. 
 
 Jt w.!S in the month of September that Sir 
 Wiiiiam was the happicit of uien. Two 
 months were allotted to ceremonious vifitings, 
 during which the nuonal retinue moved over 
 every mountain, dale, iorcft, and glen, which 
 the temerity of the coachiriiin pronounced pafs- 
 
 able 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 2^ 
 
 able. Sir William had the gallantry always to 
 accompany his lady; he heard all her wedding 
 paraphernalia univerfally admired, and his own 
 iirown and geld pronounced immenfely becom- 
 ing, while Ids point ruffles were cried up as 
 the very fummit of elegance. Unaccuftomed, 
 however, to the duties of the toilet, he grew 
 weary of white gloves and powdered perukes ; 
 and recollecting with pleafure that all his vifits 
 wsre paid, he refumed his drab frock and 
 brown bob with fingular complacency. He was 
 meditating a quiet ride round his farm, when 
 my lady, entering, interrupted his agreeable re- 
 verie by informing him, that fl-ie had received a 
 letter from lady Morgan, who was then at Bath, 
 and infifled upon it that they mud ccm.e there 
 immediately. The moft divine z£ior was juH: 
 come out, who infinitely tranfcended Garrick 
 when in the meridian of his powers *, befide, all 
 the world was there, and her numerous ac- 
 quaintance were anxious to be introduced to a 
 lady of whofe beauty and accomnlilhrnents they 
 heard fo much. To her ladyihip's intimation 
 that they muft fet off immediately. Sir William 
 replied, that it certainly was impoffible ; there 
 were more than 50 workmen employed in em- 
 bellifhing the houfe and gardens : but the pro- 
 vident foiecaft of lady Powerfcourr hud pro- 
 vided an unanfwerable refutarion of this objec- 
 tion. She had engaged a moft capital improver 
 to come dovA-n, ar:d find out ali the capabilities 
 which the houfe anc local Icenery pciTefled. 
 Sir William might rely implicitly upon the tafte 
 and judgment of this gentlen.an,' who had criven 
 fatisfaflion to moR of the nc^jility and gentry 
 in the kingdom, by exercifin- wl at mi^ht ai- 
 med hi cahed the magic power oi turpint^ every 
 Vol. I. _ B glace 
 
26 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 place into fomething exaQly oppoGte to what it 
 was before. The family archives intimate that 
 Sir William was more alarmed than delighted 
 at this information; and it is fuppofed that the 
 journey to Bath would have been deferred till 
 after Mr. Outline had fmillied Powerfcourt, if 
 my lady had not been taken ill with a violent 
 ftomach diforder the next morning, for which 
 the phyficians could find no remedy but an im- 
 mediate ufe of thofe waters which King Bladud 
 fortunately difcovered, to the unfpeakable ad- 
 vantage of all tender hufbands and indulgent 
 fathers. 
 
 C HAP. IV. 
 
 There AfFeftation with a fickly mien 
 Shews in her face the rofes of eighteen ; 
 Praftis'd to lifp, and hang the head afide, 
 Faints into airs, and languifhes with pride ; 
 On the rich quilt finks with becoming woe, 
 Wrapp'd in a gown, for ficknefs and for fliew. 
 
 Rape of the Lock. 
 
 
 X HE fpeedy abatement of lady Powerfcourt's 
 complaint announced the wifdom of the pre- 
 fcription; but fhe was a long time extremely 
 languid, out of fpirns, and tco nervous to bear 
 the fatigue of returning home to the " fliky 
 fnow" and <^ warping wind," that were conco- 
 mitant to the mountains furrounding Powerf- 
 court. In proof that her cafe required a 
 warmer fituation, the very propofdl of leaving 
 
 Bath 
 
A TALE OF THE TIME5. 'Zf 
 
 Bith brought on a rclapfe, and the extreme de- 
 licacy of her liealth would not even fufFer her to 
 fparc Sir William jult to take a little peep to fee 
 how Mr. Outline went on with his extenfive 
 projects. Profound politicians are generally be- 
 lieved to have a real as well as an oftenfible reafon 
 for their , a61ions; and though her ladylhlp 
 pleaded that if he did go flie might probably 
 expire without having his dear hand to clofe 
 her- eyes, it is fufpctf ed, th^t, like a good wife, 
 fhe wiflicd to keep his ixom witnelTing fcenes 
 which might irritate a more profeiTcd (loic. 
 Convinced that Mr. Outline's tafte would ap- 
 pear to corfummate advantage if no impedi- 
 ments obftrudtd his defi.gns, fhe dragged Sir 
 William every night to the rooms or the theatre, 
 places fhe was abfolutely obliijed to attend, in 
 order to prevent the Jow fever which attacked 
 her every evening that Ihe wasperfuaded to pafs 
 at home. 
 
 In a little time the penfive languor of lady 
 Powerfcouri's countenance, unfortunately mlf- 
 taken for the gloom of difcontent, and the fin- 
 gular manners of her conftant attendant, ex- 
 cited general obferv^tion ; and the report that 
 fiie was a pretty young creature facrificed by 
 her mercenary parents to a rich, foolifli, jea- 
 lous, old inamorato, gave an eclat to her cha- 
 racter, which neither conftant indifpofition, 
 nor the mod fcrupu^ous attention to the varia- 
 tions of drefs would otl.ervvife have excited. 
 Ladies of ihe. firft confcquence invited her to 
 their whift parties ; her bo:v at the play attracted 
 the moft elegant beaux. The .former found 
 that ihe lofi money with the hth grace imagin- 
 able, and the latter difcovefed that fne had an 
 infinitude of wit. That merciiefs complaint 
 
 " 2 ennui* 
 
28 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 tf;;««/, Avhich all Sir WiiHam's long liiflon'es and 
 ilill longer arguments had rather increafed than 
 diminiihed, fled at the firft touch of the fafci- 
 r^ating wand of public admiration. Some fay, 
 that the tyrant only yielded one vidJ^im to fe- 
 cure another ; *tis certain, that while lady 
 Powerfcourt drefled, talked, laughed, and was 
 confidered as in the highel\ ton, Sir William 
 concluded a long letter to his fleward with a 
 complaint, " That he felt exadly like a fifh out 
 <^ of water." 
 
 Intoxicated by pleafure and adulation, her 
 ladyfhip anxiouily wifhed to extend Jier tri- 
 umphs beyond the narrow bound of a Bath 
 feafon. The itinerant world, at whofe idol 
 llirine (he had refclved to facrifice, had now 
 transferred its fcene of empire to London, and 
 ftie was impatient to Ibine a. peerlefs ftar in a 
 new hemifphere ; but fome difficulties ftood in 
 the way. She had feen enough of life to be 
 convinced that Sir William's ftiiF drapery, for- 
 mal manners, and obfolete opinions, formed as 
 diredl a contrail to the eafy accommodating 
 laws of modern etiquette, as the fturdy oak of 
 the foreft does to the bending eafe of the pliant 
 willow. She had heard obfervations infinitely 
 to. his difadvantage; and though fhe could col- 
 le6l no more than that he was a bore and 
 a quiz, (he was very fure that thefc caba- 
 ]iftic terms of fafliion nuft imiort every 
 thing that was horrid and d(. tellable. Since her 
 evil ftars had, previous to her er.tree in the 
 great world, bound her for life to fuch a part- 
 ner, fhe muft make the bed of her hard fate, 
 and endeavour to balance the mifery of his fo- 
 ciety during one part of the ycariiga'nft the ad- 
 vantage of fpending his money during the re- 
 mainder. 
 
A' TALE OF THE TlMESi 2^ 
 
 malnJer. Lady Morgan had afTared her, that 
 oi all places in the world a iiufband was kaft 
 wanted at London. The late hours and per- 
 petual routine of engagements left no leilure 
 for domsftic converCiiion •, and, (he added, Sir 
 Ralph was fo entirely of her inind, that he al- 
 ways devoted the time (he fpent there to the 
 amufements of hunting and (hooting groufe. 
 
 Having; received information that the ini- 
 provement d Powerfcourt had advanced fo far 
 as to defy the poffibi'.iry of their being completed, 
 or indeed comprehended, by any perfon but the 
 pfojefltor,-. (lie became very anxious that Sir 
 William ihould look a little after his ellate, and 
 at lead be there in time to attend the approach- 
 ing audit. Bat the worthy baronet was 
 by, this time become very uneafy about the (la- 
 billty of polTeiTions more fragile than the wide 
 domains of which his anceflors had left him 
 unrivalled lord. His good [znit taught him the 
 wide difTimilarity between his own manners and 
 thofe of the gay fantaftic train who condantly 
 hovered round his lady whenever (he appeared 
 in public. He was certain that the monkeys (for 
 he honoured them with that appellation) would 
 be pert enough to laugh at his way when his 
 back was turned ; and he had (tQti fo many; 
 ftrange things in this world, that if he returned 
 to Wales inftead of accompanying his lady to 
 town, they might fill her head with (Iranger 
 notions than fomehow or other the poor thing, 
 had already acquired. Her prefetit fituation 
 rendered contradiclion very difhcult j but if he 
 ihould like her behaviour in town no better than 
 he had done at Bath, he refolved, w^hen once 
 his fon and heir was fafe in the world, to tell 
 ,her very plainly, that (lie was welcome to make 
 
 herfeif 
 
30 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 hcrfelf as happy as flie could at Powerfcourt, 
 but that he never would agree to any more jour- 
 nies of plei-fure. Solacing hitnfclf with this 
 fchenie of future rtfiftance, he jiclded to the 
 prefeiit torrent ; and, afTuring her that he had 
 no wiOi to return to Wales without her, they fet 
 CiT for Berkekry-fquare. 
 
 I would not recommend the countenances of 
 vthe Powerfcourts on their arrival in London, as 
 models to a painter who wiihed to embody the 
 fair idea of connubial happinefs. Though the 
 lady's might derive a few lively traits from the 
 hope that ilie was entering upon a fcene of cou- 
 queft, yet the apprehenfion that Sir William was 
 projtcling fecret hoPtilities placed her exadlly in 
 the fituation of a general whofe movements are 
 carefully watched by a {lr<)ng army of obferva- 
 tion which it would be imprudent openly to at- 
 tack. Sir William's diflike of the journey in- 
 creafcd every itep lie took, and he entered Lon- 
 don with a fiim expectation that the place and 
 the people vv'ould prove equally dif^igreeable. In 
 lieu of the taile and elegance with which lady 
 Powerfcourt was every where fafcinated, he faw 
 nothing but impertinence and frippery. The 
 Jate hours were infufferable to a man whorofe at 
 fix, dined at three, and difmifTed liis houfehold 
 with family prayers at ten. He was (hocked at 
 the refinement which banifhed ferious difcullioii 
 from polilhed circles-, and he never could fully 
 con)p.rchend the duties of laborious idlenefs, the 
 arcana of modern viGting, the vanity of univer- 
 fal acquaintance, or thofe rellraints upon the 
 emotions of genuine nature which falhion pre- 
 fcribes and iidipidity adopts. Every thing Sir 
 W^ilham heard and faw had to him an air of the 
 marvellous. Ht could fcarcely believe that the 
 
 admirer 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 3I 
 
 admirer cf vertu, who piqued himfelf upon his 
 knowledge of Greek and Roman ruins, might 
 be ignorant of the architectural magnificence of 
 the capital of the Bririlh empire. He thought 
 the pure honour of a peer or a fenstor mull be 
 fullied by condcfcencing to admit a profefied 
 [harper to be the companion of his convivial 
 hours. He never could reconcile Sunday routs 
 with his notion of a fteady well-regulated fami- 
 ly ; and he abfolurely interdicled lady Pcwerf- 
 court from afibciating with what was then term- 
 ed the firji circle, when he came to kno'.v that 
 fome of its fair members occaGonally difpenfed 
 with the f.in£tions of female decorum. 
 
 TJ!Ss way of thinking was certainly very fin- 
 gular ; but Sir William's prejudices in thefe and 
 a variety of other inftances were not to be van- 
 quifhed by the light artillery of raillery, which 
 was frequently played off againft him in public, 
 OT by the more form idab'e battery of fighs, tears, 
 and faintings, by which his gentle lady ilrove to 
 induce him to fpeak and look like other people. 
 Even the tender argument, that a man who really 
 loved his wife mufl adopt all her fentiments, and 
 conform to all her wiilies, was inefTedlually op- 
 pofed to the rigid pertinacity with which Sir 
 William defended the principles that he had ever 
 confidered to be the out-works of religion and 
 iTiOr^Iity. The circumftances which had induc- 
 ed him to pur his «' fr^^e condition into circum- 
 fpedtion" did not appear to him to favour the 
 claims cf female fupremacy ; and lie entertained 
 the very licterodox notion, that when a lady falls 
 violently in love, the favoured gentleman \\e<?> a 
 right to exped that fne will make an obliging at- 
 tentive wife, rather more (ludious of his hu- 
 mour, than devoted to the indulgence cf her cwn. 
 
 This 
 
32 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 This Is not the only notion in which the lorc^s 
 of the cieation are niiflcd by that vanity of which 
 nature has given them a preponderant fi>are. 
 The delicacy of the female mijid may very pof- 
 iibly be attached to the fperidid I'irlcs, iar^e pof- 
 feffions, or handfome equipages of ii gtntleman, 
 when the gentleman inmfelf, coiifiiicrcd apart 
 from all thefe appendages, -.vould nevery?/-/,{v any 
 body fiiperior to his dairy-maid. Would it not 
 be unjuft to charge a Countefs with inconfiftent 
 cy, becaufe ftie negle£led her noble Earl, when 
 all the time her heart had been only attracted 
 by the luflre of his coronet ? The noble Earl's 
 chagrin entirely proceeds from the delufions of 
 felf- flattery, which whifpered that his individual 
 felf was the all-potent load-ftone, when in realir 
 ty the magnetic influence darted from his ele- 
 gant villa and liberal fettlement ; or perhaps an 
 enamelled watch and diamond hoop-ring, might 
 form the infatuating taiifnian. I hope this ex- 
 planatory rule will be applied to all matches 
 which proceed from the ftrong attachment of a 
 «* difcreet young creature" to a " very good fort 
 of a man a few years older than herfelf.'* It 
 might preferve many a refpe<Stable bachelor from 
 the vexation of difappointmenf, and prevent the 
 cenforious from fixing the charge of incon- 
 fiftency upon many a lady's charatler, who 
 racher dc^f^rves admiration for unfliaken con- 
 ftancy. But to return from my digreffion — 
 
 Fafliion, wlu) in one of her whimfical nio- 
 rr.ents elevated LadyPowerfcourt into a firfl-rate 
 toaft at Bath, canriciouflv denied her in London 
 the eclat to which (lie now conceived herfelf en- 
 titled. The glofs of novelty was paft, and the 
 attraction of the ridiculous was leffjned by the 
 spp^arance of frefli eccentricities in newer cha.- 
 
 ra(fters. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 33 
 
 rafters. She drefled with greater tafte, and her 
 repartees pofiefled fuperlor wit. and brilliancy ; 
 but the gazer and the liftener no longer an- 
 nounced her triumph. 
 
 My matronly friends afTure me, that one 
 prime ingredient of marriage felicity is, that you 
 always have a helpmate at hand, to whom you 
 transfer the burden of faults and misfortunes. 
 Lady Powerfcourt could find no other reafon for 
 her going out of faftiion, than that Sir William, 
 not content with his own fingularities, had ab- 
 folutely prohibited her from dafliing in a grand 
 ftyle. No entreaties would prevail upon him to 
 let Lord Jehu drive her in his phaeton up the 
 park in a morning, though his ponies were the 
 fweeteft little fpirited creatures in the world, 
 and the ride would be of infinite fcrvice to her 
 heakhand fpirits. Her head was nine inches 
 lower than- any body's at the opera, and though 
 mofl ladies wore fruit and vejijetables by wav of 
 aigrette, and lady Fvlorgan fp jrted a beautiful 
 bunch of amethyit grapes with a little gold chaf- 
 finch pecking at them, (he herfelf mull wear no- 
 thing but plain riband and blond. She might 
 not even play for gold ; nay, Sir William Vvas fo 
 puritanic, and fuch an enemy to a little harmlefs 
 mirth, that Cue was forced to be as cautious in 
 avoiding a double entendre or a witticifm upon 
 prieftcraft, as if flie were wife to the ArchbiQiop 
 of Canterbury. What woman of fpirit could 
 brook fuch reilriftions ? If (l^e mud be mcped 
 up, better return and rufticate at Powerfcourt, 
 than fit hke Tantalus within reach of the defired 
 enjoyment which ihe was not permitted to fliare. 
 She hinted to her hulband fomething like 2 wiih 
 to do fo in a moment of moody difcontent, oc- 
 cafoned by his peremptory declaration that (lie 
 
 B 3 - fnould 
 
n 
 
 4 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ftiou)d not go. to amafqueratle, though the ticket 
 tvas procured, the drefs befpoke, and the party 
 formed for the happy occafion. He for once 
 cordially acquierced in her wiihes, by declaring, 
 that it was the very plan he meant to propofe. 
 " I am fure, my dear," faid he, «* your health 
 " has been greatly injured by living in this 
 " fmoky unwholefome place; and the late 
 *' hours and conOanr racketing have worn your 
 *« poor nerves all to pieces. You have quite 
 ♦« loft your colour,^ ancj are not half fo cheerful 
 " as you ufed to be when galloping over the 
 '^ Weitli mountains ; but- a little good country 
 ** air will foon fet al] to rights again ; and fo 
 <^ take leaiie of yoaj' friends; for, fmcc you 
 << wiHi it, I am determined to fet off for Pow- 
 '* erfcourton Monday morning." 
 
 The general tenor of Sir William Powerf- 
 couri's charad^er was yielding philanthropy, 
 but he could at times affume a quiet nrmncfs 
 which difconcerted oppofnion. Her Ladyfnip 
 muft either difpute or faint, and flie chofe the 
 latter as the rnoil gentlewomanlike (lyle of con- 
 tradiction. 8ir Wiillam was very forry,and ve- 
 ry afTuiuoiis to rcHore her -, but the reviving fair 
 faw no n^ns of compunClion in his countenance, 
 nor did he, by inquiring after the caufc of her 
 diforder, give her an opportunity of po nting out 
 tlieonly means of preventing a rehjpfe. Indeed, 
 he was become raiher callou? to die-away argu- 
 ments ; and though his native candour fpurned 
 fufpicion, ilieir frequent recurrence led him to 
 doubt the exiftence of the itomach fpafms 
 whence this difagreeable excurfion had originat- 
 ed. I mean by thefc obfervations to caution my 
 readers, to be very fparing in the ufe of thefe 
 £hef-d'(jctivres'oi female gcneralfhip, becaufe the 
 
 too 
 
A TALE CF' THE TIMES, 3 J 
 
 foo great frequency of an annbufcade only puts 
 the enemy more conflantly upon his guard. 
 Violent hyderics, fl^oods of tears, and every fign 
 of gentie defpondency, confirmed Sir William 
 in the conviction that his Lady's life depended 
 upon her removing immediately from a place 
 where (he was To dreadiully indilpofed •, and (he 
 found herfcif on Monday morning on the road 
 toCaernarvonfh-ire, maugre the opinion of all the 
 fine ladies of her acquaintance, united to her 
 own, that (he was much too weak to bear the 
 journey, and would certainly expire before (he 
 gottu'enry miles out of London. 
 
 C K A P. V. 
 
 With here a fountain, never to he play'd ; 
 And there a fammer-houfe, that knows no (hade; 
 Here Ainphitrite fails through myrtle bow'rs ; 
 There gladiators light, or die, in flowers. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 ^ X HE traveller who purfues a road with 
 which h'C is unacquainted always finds unex- 
 pected pleafures m.inglcd with unfor-^feen mif- 
 ibrtunes. A bright funbeam often difTipates the 
 gloom of a dreary count: y; the inconvenience 
 of a rugged road is frequently counterbalanced 
 by the magnificence of the furrounding fcenery ; 
 an occational companica relieves f.itigue *, and 
 even the mortification of a bad inn and indifFer-? 
 ent accommodations generally tends to heighten 
 the reliili of future convivinj enjoyments. 
 
 The 
 
<6 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 J 
 
 The pilgrim who Tpeet^s along the road of li£e- 
 . generally encounters a (imilar mixture of pain 
 and pleafure, not. merely in the aggregate, but in- 
 timately blended in every event. The rofe grows 
 fo rlofe to the thorn, that you cannot gather it 
 without encountering a piinful fenfaiion ; while 
 on the other hand our attention is diverted from 
 the minute wound by tlxe exquifite fragrance of 
 the flower. The pains and pleafures of rrran, 
 Jike the world he inhabits, partake of the viciiFi- 
 tude of his own character. T beg pardon for 
 thefc feemingly irrelevant refleclions; but the 
 garrulity of old age can feldora rcfift an oppor- 
 tunity of moralifing. 
 
 Nothing could be more melancholy th.an the 
 fituation in whic!) I left lady Powerfcourt in my 
 lad Chapter, except that of fome fair dam fel in 
 romance, whom a terrible Saracen is carrying 
 away to liis enehanted cadle. The twentieth 
 milt -done was paiTed, yet Atropos, though oft 
 invokedj forbore to extend her mortal ihears, 
 when an unexpected fource of confolaiion fud- 
 denly prefented itfelf— not in the (liape of a 
 knight armiid cap-apie with fpear and buckler, 
 nor in ilie more modern accoutrement of a fine 
 gentleman with a brace of piflols; and, to fay 
 the trutli, thcugh a rencontre with lord Jehu 
 iuft at this crifis might be a very popular inci- 
 dent, I am jjlad that fir William, ^or wliofe cha- 
 radler I canntn help fettling a degree of regard, 
 was not dr.vvn into <?nv military adventures. I 
 enjoy the idea of his rcfpecLibie figure, pc'fe£l- 
 ly fati^fi^d with 1 is vi6>.;;ry.. riding compofcdly 
 by the fide of his chariot, and wondsring if he 
 might venture to g* l imo it at the next Ptage. 
 Lady PowerfcourL'p c "ifol^aions were derived 
 from the philofophic teiXperamcnt of her own 
 
 mind. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 37- 
 
 mind. She recollected that (he (hould have it 
 in her power to difplay fuch a wardrobe as had 
 never before blazed on the aftonifhed inhabitants 
 of Cacrnarvonfliire. That Powerfcourt was now 
 converted into a perfe£l paradife, and (\^q iliould 
 r;ilgn the unrivalled Arniida of the enchanting 
 region, every pirt of which would announce 
 her directing tafte. Prudence (lepped in alfo to 
 the aid of Patience, and whifpered that though 
 file had been defeated in a confli£t for fuperio- 
 rity, yetj if fte carefully kept her own fecref. 
 Sir Williana would never betray her, and fhe had 
 only to fay that Che was tired of London, which 
 was in reality nearer the truth than the imagined-. 
 Perhaps a degree of remaining pique might fug- 
 geffc the refolution that, as ilie now perfetlly 
 underflood her hufband's temper, it was only 
 ftudying the art of tormenting infi.ead of the 
 art of cajoling on any future occafion *, and then^ 
 though (he might not be able to triumph, (lie- 
 would at lead make good her retreat. . 
 
 Thefe placable ideas fo happily prevailed, that 
 when they ftopt at St. Aiban's for refrediment, 
 herladyfhip on alighting offered her hand to the 
 baronet with the btfl grace in the world, and 
 anticipated his inquiries how the had borne> her 
 journ.y, by declaring that he was quite right ia 
 fuppofing the country air would do her good, 
 for that fhe already found herfeJf much better. 
 Sir William was equally deliglited with the 
 change, and puzzled to guefs at the means by 
 which it had been effected. Somebody or 
 fomething was very much to blame ; but for his 
 life he could hardly tell where the fault lay, whe- 
 ther in the contagious atmofphere of London, 
 in liis Lady's caprice, or his own fufpicions. 
 However, he now found himfelf invefted with 
 
 plenitude 
 
3^ A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 plenitude of power; and, like a prudent mo=- 
 iiarcln he began to confiJer in what way he 
 (hould exert it ; but his generous hf art had been 
 fo foftened by his Lady's concefTions, that he 
 poficively refolved upon no further exercife of 
 his prerogative, than that Lady Powerfcourt 
 fhouid pay her formal vlfirs by herfelf in future, 
 and that he would r^ever more wear his white 
 and filver. 
 
 Peace and unanimity prevailed during the re- 
 mainder of the journey. It was night when 
 " they entered the old manfion, and the examina- 
 tion of its beauties was deferred till tlie next 
 rrioming ; but the trancuiiHty of the good ba- 
 ronet was then put to a fevtre trial. The faloon 
 was certainly fitted up in the moft elegant man- 
 ner ; but the houfekeeper removed every idea of 
 comfort by her information that the chimney 
 fmoked fo violently, that it was abfolutely im- 
 pnilibis to have a fire ; and, confequently, that 
 ir muft be ufelefs nine months in the year. The 
 afpe(ft of the dining apartment was equally drea- 
 ry *, the profpecl indted was enchanting, but the 
 faChes darted about an inch from the frames ; 
 and the warped doors were unfavourable either 
 to a graceful exit or entrance, as it was only by 
 means of kicking and pufhing that any one 
 could either advance or retreat ; and as the chim- 
 ney, the windows, and the doors, were all con- 
 ftru6led uniformly, any alteration was dangerous, 
 perhaps impracticable. The ready invention of 
 Lady Powerfcourt difcovered, that, as thefe 
 could only be prdper for fummer apartments, 
 fome little fnug parlour could be fitted up for 
 general refidence; and they proceeded to the 
 library. This was lofty and extenfive ; but Mr. 
 Outline's talle for decoration xeemed to have 
 
 annihilated 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 39 
 
 annihilated its primary intention ; for the mul- 
 titude of bufts, models, and Itatues, left no fpacs 
 for books. Sir William continued his moralif- 
 ing tour through the relit of the (tate apartments, 
 which might be truly faid *< to keep the promifs 
 to the eye, and break it to the fenfe," and con- 
 cluded his journey in the great hall, where, as he 
 fought in vain for the long oaken tables and 
 forms which ufed to adminifter to the regale- 
 ment of his tenants at Chriilinas and other fea- 
 fons of periodical fcdivity, her Ladyfiiip re- 
 minded him, how charmingly it was now appro- 
 priated to the parpofe of a ball-room or a 
 theatre. She directed his attention to a light 
 gallery at the upper end defigned for an orchef- 
 tra, and beautifully decorated ; but this elegant 
 embellifhment was not in a ftate to bear infpec- 
 tion, it having broken down with old Morgan the 
 blind harper, who had exhibited in it the preced- 
 ing evening juR byway of hanftl, he faid, while 
 the houfemaids and gardeners were footing it a 
 littte below for recreation becaufe his Honor 
 was coming home again. 
 
 Sir William left my Lady to conftru£t ways 
 and means for fupporting the tottering edifice, 
 and, with a deep figh and a fecret muimur 
 againft new-fangled trumpery, proceeded to 
 examine the out-door fcenes. The tafte of Mr. 
 Outline for obje(Sts had induced him to remove 
 feveral ufeful edifices to inconvenient firuations, 
 while he occupied their places with erections of 
 no form nor likelihood, which continually diQW 
 from the impatient baronet the exclamations of 
 " What is this for ?" and " What does this 
 mean ?" The ftews were ail drained, and their 
 places occupied by the ruins of a nav^l amphi- 
 theatre, while the Itream that fupplied them was 
 
 taught 
 
4jo a tale of the times. 
 
 taught to hop from pebble to pebble in dlmlnu-- 
 tive imitation of old Conway's foaming flood, > 
 wliich roared, in proud magnificence, at a little 
 diftance. The windmill had given way to a 
 temple dedicated to yEolus; and the pigeon- 
 houfe was fucceeded by an aviary of foreign birds, 
 none of which, in Sir William's opinion, were 
 fo beautiful as the goldfinch, or fung like the 
 nightingale. As walls were unpitlurefque, they^ - 
 and the fruit-trees which they fupported, were 
 every where metamorphofed into ha ha's I A 
 fine grove of oaks, which fcreened the houfe 
 from the north winds, w^s cut down to admit " 
 the profpe6l of a bleak mountain ; and the place 
 of the hardy forefters was occupied by the tender 
 magiiolio and frail accacia, at leail by their 
 remains, for the beautiful exotics h-io been alrea- 
 dy killed by the frofls, or broken by vernal 
 florms. In ihort, to adopt the owner's defcrip- 
 tion of the houfe and gardens, " The former was 
 <i very tafty and very inconvenient ; and in the 
 '* latter there was nothing that you wanted, but 
 '< there were ruins and h(^^then gods in abun» 
 <« dance." 
 
 Sir William's difguft did not prevent Lady ' 
 Powerfcourt from exhibiting herfelf to infinite 
 advantage in the office of Ciceroni, and fhe con- 
 tinued to point out the beauties of the new 
 improvements, till Iier neighbours had exhaufled 
 every topic of adulation, and her own tongue 
 grew weary of the pleafing tale. It is fuggefled, 
 that the inconveniencies I have enumerated af- 
 terwards (Iruck her more forcibly than any one 
 elfe i and that her reafon for hating Powerfcourt 
 was, that no human creature could be well or 
 comfortable in fuch a cold dreary wildernefs fort 
 of^ a place. Nor did her fplendid attire afford a 
 
 more 
 
A TALIS OF THE TIMES. 4I 
 
 more permanent fatisfa(SlIon : in fome articles 
 of drefs fne was anticipated, in others out- 
 {hone ; and none excited altonidiment after 
 their fiift exiubiiion. Alas ! if happinefs be 
 not feated in the mind, even the gratifica- 
 tion of our wiflies v/ill not enfure its pof- 
 fefTion. 
 
 ^ A few months after her Ladyfhip's return to 
 Powerfcourt, my lieroine firft L\w the light -, and 
 though Sir William had rsther it had been a boy, 
 he received the li;tle flrangcr with all the en- 
 thufiallic joy of the foriJeft parental tendernefs. 
 He thought the winning ways of the dear little 
 cherub muft communicate that Jiappinefs to the 
 maternal bofom, which fomehow or other (a 
 favourite exprelnon of Sir William's) it had 
 hitherto failed to experience. But while the 
 exuberance of his own joy was difplaying itfelf 
 in the ufual flyle of overflowing benevolence 
 and hofpitality, his Lidy was ruminating on the 
 poflibility of being at Chefter racfs ; and, con- 
 trary to the opinion of her matronly friends, (he 
 refolved on the hazardous expedient of a too 
 early appearance in public. A fevere cold was 
 the immediate confequence ; and the ncgle£l of 
 the firil maternal duty, joined to inattention to 
 her own fafety, was foon obferved to have occa- 
 fjoned a total change in her conftitution. Years 
 of ill health, confinement, and fevere fuiiering, 
 proved the melancholy forerunner of premature 
 death. 
 
 From the account I have already given of 
 lady Powerfcourt, the reader will not fuppofe 
 that patience tempered the bitter cup of woe 
 with its lenient fweets. Her mind was defti- 
 tute of natural ftrength, her temper pofiefied no 
 uative.gentlenefs, her education taught her ra- 
 ther 
 
42 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ther to conceal than to fubdue the irritability oF 
 lier clifpofition ; and, being folely confined to 
 the acquirement of a few external accomplifh- 
 ments, no mental treafures v/ere laid up in 
 ftore againft the bitter day of adverfity. The 
 lofs of health and beauty at five-and-twenty may 
 certainly be confidered as a (cvcrc deprivation ; 
 and when to thofe evils lamenefs and occafion-^ 
 ally fevere fufFcring were added, it could only 
 be a compofed and elevated mind that couW pa- 
 tiently fupport the fevere conflidl. Lady Powerf- 
 court's ide.is of pleafiire had been adjufted to 
 the limited model which fafhion and fortune 
 prefent to their narrow-minded votaries : what 
 confolations could they provide to mitigate the 
 horrors cf a fick chamber, when the foul can 
 only divert the prefent gloom by confolatory re- 
 trofpedls of its pail condu6l, or exhilarating an- 
 ticipations of ito future reward? 
 
 The pailive fpirit of intere(Ied depencfance 
 could fcarcely fupport the wearifome petulance 
 of the unhappy fufferer ; and though Sir Wil- 
 liam's philanthropy and habitual eafinefs made 
 him exert more forbearance than generally 
 belongs to the charatler of a hufband, his gen- 
 t'eneis fcmecimes proved unequal to the arduous 
 conflift, and he felt a deprefiing inquietude 
 which even the fmiles of his little girl could not 
 conftantly divert. Though calamity renders the 
 felfifh mind ft ill more callous to the forrows of 
 others, it ftimulates benevolence to ■ encreafed 
 exertions. Lady Powerfcourt was juft relieved 
 from one of her fevereft attacks, when her (er- 
 vant brought her a letter, which, after a fligiu 
 perufal, £he toaed conterfiptuoufly upon the 
 taijle. 
 
 <*• You 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 43 
 
 «^ You feem dlftnrbcd my dear," faid Sir 
 William, who happened to be prefent. 
 
 ** No wonder," returned her ladyfliip ; 
 << furely I have troubles enough of my own 
 " without bemg pellered with other people's ; 
 " but it is like tiie ufual inconfiltency of that 
 •* thou2[htlef.5 creature's chard6ler." 
 
 " Whom do you mean r" faid the benevolent 
 baronet, v.'hofc attention was roufed at the idea 
 of fomebody being in diftrefs. 
 
 " I mean a very imprudent, but a very dif- 
 *< tant. relation of mine, who fiung herfelf away 
 <* in marriage with lord Milford's tutor, a little 
 ** before I became lady Powerfcourt ; and flie 
 *' fhe is now, as (he might have forefeen, 
 <« ftarving." 
 
 " Poor foul !" faid Sir William, reaching 
 the letter; when finding by the perufal that it 
 contained an appeal not only to the humanity 
 but alfo to the honour of his lady, he fixed his 
 eyes upon her with fome degree of refentment, 
 and exclaimed, <* How came you to forget the 
 ** poor woman ? Why, you promifed to do 
 ** fomething for her hufband I" 
 
 ** She interprets general expreflions too large- 
 <« ly," refumed her ladyfhip ; " I have done 
 " her a great many favours, and fiiould have 
 «* done her many more ; but I found out that 
 " flie was bafe, ungrateful, and net worthy of 
 ''' my notice." 
 
 " 1 am forry for it with all my heart," re- 
 plied Sir William ; ** fhe really writes like a 
 <* fenfible woman and a good Chriftian." 
 
 ** Moft people with whom I happen to dif- 
 <^ agree, are fo in your opinion/' 
 
 ** My dear, I am forry to hear you difturbed ; 
 ** your fide is in pain again I am afraid." 
 
 «« It 
 
44 A TALE OF THE TITvlE3. 
 
 " It was a great deal better ; but this woman'^ 
 << impertinence brihgs on all my old ccnr- 
 « plaints." 
 
 << No, no, it won't ; only keep yourfelf 
 «* quiet *, but pray, as I am quite a ftranger to 
 ** the (lory, will you tell me what this Mrs. 
 << Evans did, to make you fo very angry with 
 « her ?" 
 
 " I told you, Sir William, fhe fell in love 
 << with a nobleman's tutor, and married him 
 <* contrary to the advice of all her friends. 
 «< My father was fo incei^fed, that he decUred 
 <* if (he ftarved, he would never take the lead 
 «* notice of her any more. But I was very Jjind 
 " to her, and I fent her fome of my calt-cff 
 " clothes v/hen I married, which, I fuppofe, en- 
 «< couraged her to the unheard-of impudence 
 ""^ which fhe has been guilty of. Becaufe fhe' 
 <« had been a fort of humble friend when we 
 <» were quite girls, flie had the effrontery tO' 
 " bee nie to introduce her hufband to you; a 
 << fellow whofe grandfather was nothing but a 
 " travelling, pedlar. Did you ever know fuch 
 « audacity ?" 
 
 Doubtlefs Sir Wiliiam would have felt very 
 angry, if one of his own relations had contami- 
 nated the blood of Powerfcourt by mixing if 
 with the ** puddle of a pedlar," and his refent- ■ 
 ment might have continued, till he difcovered 
 that he had it in his power to do the difgraced 
 couple an a6^ of fervice •, but he thougjht it 
 very ridiculous that a family of yefterday fliould 
 in this inflance pretend to the fame delicacy - 
 with one that could be traced through untold, 
 centuries. Her ladyfnip, perceiving that the 
 glow of refentment did not kindle in his coun- 
 tenance fo fall. as fhe CKpedflied, added by w?y 
 
 of- 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 4J 
 
 of Climax, " And {lie fent the letter the very 
 « day when (he knew I intended to receive 
 « company; — only think of endeavouring to 
 « occupv my attention at fuch a time." 
 
 ** I think," faid 8ir William emphatically, 
 *« that poor Mrs. Evans has been very unfortuh- 
 «< ate in applying when you were either too 
 «< much engaged by pleafure or pain to attend 
 *' her. But a promife is a promife, let people 
 ^« claim it when they will." 
 
 Lady Powerfcourt's confcience here gave her 
 a fevere pang, and fhe confufedly anfwered, that 
 (he was fure fhe never meant to make any en- 
 gagement ; fhe durft fwear that fhe never faid 
 fo ; at lead, if (he had, (lie had quite forgcl- 
 
 ten it. 
 
 " Very likely, very likely," replied the good 
 man ; " you never meant what you faid, and 
 « fo forgot all about it. But you fee (he has 
 «' remembered it, and perhaps the world may 
 <« think that it is owing to me that you have 
 " not kept your word, at lead according to 
 «* Mrs. Evans's account of the mi;tter ; how- 
 '** ever, I will try to clear up the millake ; and 
 «« as ihe is your friend and relation, they ihail 
 «* not be left deftitute." 
 
 Sir William here rofe and hurried out of the 
 room, while lady Powerfcourt loudly difclaimed 
 the word relation^ protefting Mrs. Evans could 
 not be nearer than a fecond coufiU;, which fhe 
 cc^unted nothing at all. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
4^ A TALE OF 1 HE TIMES. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 One self-approving hour whole years outweighs 
 Of fl.upid ftarcis, and of loud huzza's. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 Ti 
 
 HE benevolence of Sir William Powerf- 
 court was not confined within the narrow limits 
 of relations and friends. It was not annihilated 
 by the fuppcfition of ingratitude, nor did its de- 
 licate fenfibility fhrink from the contaft of hu- 
 man infirnnity. It feemed a ray of that benefi- 
 cence which caufes the fun to rife upon the evil 
 and the good, and the rain to fall upon the juft 
 and the unjuft. 
 
 Nor u'as his idea of charity limited to the 
 virtue of beneficnce. Combining with his natu- 
 ral placability of temper, it produced the moil 
 cordial defire of being at peace with all mankind, 
 and made ready forgivenefs almoft outftep of- 
 fence. He mounted his horfe, and rode to 
 Llangollen. On the road he meditated not on 
 the faults of lady Powerfcourt, for perhaps his 
 imagination was afraid of venturing into fuch 
 an ample field, but on the fpeedi^ll means of 
 alleviating the evils which her negle£l had caufed. 
 Having heard an excellent charadler of the 
 Evans's from fome neighbouring gentlemen, he 
 haftencd to the cottage which ilieltercd modefl 
 worth. He found the wife engaged in the 
 humble offices of domeftic bufinefs, while the 
 hufband was rocking a little b.iby to fl.ep, and 
 penning his Sunday difcourfe. iiov^'evei inele- 
 gant 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 47 
 
 gant thefe occupations might be, Sir William 
 Powerfcourt iancied that inty both looked like 
 very ftnlible people, and very good Chrillians. 
 
 Ihe bufiiicfs cf intvodu<£lion was foon ad- 
 jufttd. Poverty had enfeebled but not cxiin- 
 guiflied the light of lettered fcience and poliOied 
 manners which formerly irradiated the Evans's, 
 and benevolence had entirely banifried all cere-' 
 monious referve from their refpe«flable gueft. 
 He informed Mrs. Evans that he had a little cirl 
 as pretty as that which lay alleep in the cradle, 
 but that her poor coufin lady Powerlccurt had 
 fcarcely enjoyed a day's health Cincc it was born. 
 -At the mention of lady Powerfcourt a deep 
 blu(h fulTufed Mrs. Evans's face, wlncli, though 
 in realiry it proceeded from her anxiety to know 
 the effect of a letter which flie had fccreily dif- 
 patched without her huftand'sconfent, and con- 
 trary to his known opinion, Sir William mif- 
 took for [he glow of refentment, and very much 
 dilliking to fee any body angry, he attempted 
 a conciliatory explanation cf his wife's condu6i. 
 His defence indeed amounted to little more than 
 that, when people v. ere m.uch engaged either by 
 pleafure or pain, tliey were apt only to think of 
 themfelves; yet fo pov/erful was his rhetoric, 
 that the burning blufhes on Mrs. Evans's cheek 
 were foon quenched by a flood of tears; and 
 though bir William was not abfolutely unac- 
 quainted with tears of anger anddifdain, he was 
 convinced that thefe were of a milder quality. 
 Mrs. Evans's grief was accompanied by the live- 
 lied exprefTions of regret for iady i^ovvcrfcourt's 
 fufferings, and the moil anxious wifhes for her 
 recovery. 8ir William's eyes fhone with kin- 
 dred fenfibility, he drew his chair clofer to the 
 fire, prefled her hand with the freedom cf long 
 intimacy, and cheerfully parcook of the homely 
 
 fare 
 
48 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 fare with which the hofpitality of Mr. Evans 
 had covered the little deal table. 
 
 He then took occafion to afk the particulars 
 of their fituation, and foon found that it was 
 penurious in the extreme, hvery relource had 
 been tried, every friend applied to 5 but refour- 
 ces are not inexhauftible, and even friends do 
 not always anfwer the calls of indigence with 
 prompt relief. The favour which had been fo« 
 licited of lady Powerfcourt was only her recom- 
 mendation to a neighbouring clergyman, who 
 allowed his curates the fplendid flipcnd of fifty 
 pounds per annum. This circumllance, unin- 
 tentionally difcovcred, drew from Sir William a 
 deep figh, end the exclamation of " Well, I 
 ** could not think that pofTible !" 
 
 The little girl now awoke, and the good 
 baronet, who was become a great connoifTeur in 
 nurfery tranfat^ions, feemed much attracted by 
 its infantine charms. Finding that the difficulty 
 of procuring fponfors had hitherto caufcd the 
 chriftening ceremony to be delayed, he offered 
 himfelf to undertake the oihce, adding a few 
 words expreffive of his fenfe of its folemn im- 
 portance i and having prefented the mother 
 with what he called his ufual offering on fuch 
 occanons, a bank-note of fifty pounds, he took 
 leave of the enraptured pair with many kind 
 affiirances that they fhould foon hear of him 
 again. 
 
 Providence feemed to affift Sir William's ge- 
 nerous refoiution of making ample provifion for 
 opprefTed merit. His domeilic chaplain, on re- 
 ceiving the prcfentation to a valuable prebend, 
 with noble moderation vacated "the living of 
 Powerfcourt, worth near four hundred pounds 
 per annum. The charadler and abilities of Mr. 
 
 Evans 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 49 
 
 Evans fetned to point him out as aneliglble fuc* 
 cefibf *, but it appeared to be an infuperable dif- 
 ficulty to gain latiy Powerfcourt's approbation of 
 fuch a plan. Luckily, however, the lady was 
 not quite inexorable. The humane concern 
 which Mrs. Evans exprefled for her illnefs had 
 been placed in the ftrongeit point of view, and 
 if it had not wrought upon h.er gratitude, it at 
 Jeaft, by recalling to her memorv theoblif^inu com- 
 panionand the attentive friend of her younger 
 years, perfuaded lady Powerfcourt to acknow- 
 ledge, that in her prefent fituation fuch a neigh- 
 bour would be a defirable acquifition. iier ap- 
 prehenfion of being difgraced by the reeogniticii 
 of her ccufin was rclievccl by the fortunate ccm* 
 munications of feme n^orning vifitors, who, hav- 
 ing heard that Sir Wiiiiarn had publicly 2nnoui> 
 ced his intention of providing for Mr. Evans, 
 flew to inform my lady that he was the '* charni' 
 irigefl and mcll deligl.tfulefl preacher in the 
 world J that Mrs. Evans too, though an excel- 
 lent manage-, was an amiable agreeable crea- 
 ture, cuiie the gentlewoman both in manner 
 and n^)Pfarance " 
 
 Sii V; iiliam had purpofed uHierlng in liis In- 
 tended difpofal of the living of Powerfcourr, 
 by obfervations on the iofs they Oiould futtain by 
 Mr. Jones's removal, and how highly deCrable 
 it was to have an agreeable neighbour at the 
 recSlory. He intended next to allude to Mr. 
 Evans's reputed Ikiil at back gammon, and to 
 inquire if his v.ife was not a very chatty con- 
 verf bi'e woman ; but my lady, ftopped his ex- 
 ordium in the midlt by one cf ihofc fweet fur- 
 prifals, in which the reader will perceive Ihe 
 abounded, and begged him as a favour to com- 
 
 VoL. E C pliment 
 
50 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 pliment her coufins with the prefentatlonj — a 
 requefl: which was grained with equal aftoniQi- 
 ment and joy. 
 
 Thofe who have been accuftomed to dread 
 the cenfures of their own hearts, and to fup- 
 pofe that an unwarrantable indulgence of the 
 irritable paffions muft produce felf- condemna- 
 tion, will probably wonder fhat lady Powerf- 
 court (hould wifh for the foeiety of a perfon 
 whofe prefence muft adminifter perpetual re- 
 proach to her confcious mind ; but her moral 
 creed was formed upon different principles. 
 She thought it as much impofTible for a perfon 
 of fortune to behave ill to an inferior, as for a 
 beauty to be capricious, or a wit fatirical. Each 
 of thefe chara(&ers had a piivilegc to be rude, 
 tyrannical, and cenforious ; and as their faults 
 required no atonement, every body was bound, 
 upon the fmalleft change of behaviour on their 
 parts, to lofe the remembrance of paft ftorms 
 in ravifhing admiration of the prefent gentle 
 breeze. Though endued herfelf with that 
 trembling fenfibility which bleeds at every pcre, 
 fhe doubted the exiflence of feeling in the fub- 
 ordinate orders of mankind J and though flie 
 had left her friend finking in all the horrors of 
 want, without ftretching forth her hand to fup- 
 port her, (he would have thought that friend the 
 ir.ofl ungrateful being in the world, if (he had 
 fefufed to dedicate her time to the tafk of en- 
 deavouring to alleviate lier real or fancied for- 
 rows. 
 
 Mrs. Evans certainly could feel, but fhe could 
 alfo forgive. In her behaviour to lady Powerf- 
 court (he appeared to remember nothing but 
 that (he was the friend of her early youth, and 
 the wife of h'jr revered bcnefai^or, ** It is my 
 
 « duty,* 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 5I 
 
 <« duty," {he ufed to fay toher hufband, when 
 he kindJy reproved her for devoting fo much 
 time to the painful and unwholefome confine- 
 ment of a fick chamber: ** Confider," (he 
 continued, "how much we owe to SirWil- 
 ** liam's bounty, and how much it befits us to 
 ** try to alleviate thofe troubles with which 
 <« Providence thinks fit to prove the worthiefl 
 «< of human hearts." In this opinion Mr. 
 Evans acquiefced, and only cautioned her not 
 to injure her invaluable health. 
 
 Ten years fucceflively rolled away without 
 producing any remarkable change at Powerf- 
 court. The Evans's continued to devote their 
 chief attention to the duties which gratitude, 
 fympathy, and pity required. Soothed by their 
 fociety, enraptured by the attractive fweetnefs 
 of his enchanting daugliter, and fuitained.by 
 the exalting confcioufnefs of a life of ufefulnefs 
 and re£litude, Sir William endured the hourly 
 vexations by which the increafed irritability of 
 lady Powerfcourt's temper contrived to cloud 
 every enjoyment in which fhe could no longer 
 partake. It Teemed as if her example was in- 
 tended as an awful warning to th^ pride of 
 beauty and the pride of wealth. She lived to 
 be difgufting and dependant, but fhe did not 
 live to feel and acknowlege that her faults re- 
 quired the righteous chaftifement. 
 
 Sir William's deportment at her death was 
 marked by that decent propriety which charac- 
 terifed all his a6lions. He did not afTeCl to be 
 inconfolable, but he treated her memory with 
 becoming rrfp-ft. He iubmitted to the incon- 
 venience of the little p .rlour and the fummer 
 apartments, becaufe it would look like unkind- 
 nefs to his poor wife to reftore things to their 
 
 C 2 old 
 
52 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 old (late again. From the fame motive he kept 
 the temples and (latues in good repair, though 
 he either forgot their names or miflcok their 
 fituations j and though he rather difliked dogs, 
 he permitted an old black fpanie! to be his con- 
 flant companion, becaufe it feemed to be the 
 only thing to which (he (hewed any attachment. 
 Yet bitter remembrance would fometimes ex- 
 tort from him, in the company of very parti- 
 cular friends, the coiifeflion, *' that the peer 
 «< woman had very odd ways, but people who 
 •* are always ill are apt to be whimfical." 
 
 It was the general opinion of the country, 
 that the good baronet would never more en- 
 gage in a matrimonial connection, and this 
 leemed to be the more extraordinary, as it was 
 known he ardently wiftied to tranfmit his for- 
 tune and honours to a lineal defcendant of his 
 own name. Whether influenced by delicacy 
 arifing from paft happinefs, or corroded by the 
 recoUeiflion of part forrows, it is certain he ne- 
 ver appeared perfectly at eafe when love or 
 marriage was the topic of converfation ; and 
 though remarkable for uniform civility, the 
 words, " fine feeling," and " acute fenfibility," 
 whenufed in their general import, always dre.w 
 from him an emphatical " NQnfetife T 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A TALE OF THE TiMEs. 53 
 
 CHAP. vir. 
 
 -She was fair beyond your brighteft bloom, 
 
 (This Envy awns, fince now her bloom isfied,)- 
 Fair as the forms that, wove in Fancy's loom, 
 Float in light vifion round the poet's head. 
 
 Whene'er withfoft ferenity flie fmil'd, 
 
 Or caught the oriiriit blu.'h of quick furprife. 
 
 How fweetly mutable, how brightly wild 
 The liquid luftre darted from her eyes! 
 
 Each look, each motion, wak'd a new-born gracej-- 
 That o'er her form its tranfient glory call : 
 
 Some lovely wonder foon ufurp'd the place, 
 Chas'd by a charm Hill lovelier than the laft. 
 
 Ma SOS, 
 
 JLVlY readers whom I introduced in the be- 
 ginning of my fecond Chapter to the marriage 
 of Gerald in e Powerfcourt with the earl of 
 Monteith, will perhaps complain of the inter- 
 vening circumftances which retard my account 
 of tiie events immediately fubfequent to thofe 
 aufpicious nuptials. They will probably blame 
 me for beginning in the middle, and then go- 
 ing back to the firil part ; but I have not even 
 yet quite unravelled the clue which led to that 
 event, and muft entreat their patience a little 
 longer. Nothing is fo impofing upon the gene- 
 rality of the world as an air of fuptrior infor- 
 mation and feif confidence ; I (hall therefore, 
 iriftead of acknowledging myfelf to have been 
 in an error, proceed to (late, th<it this apparent 
 inconfiflency is the effecl of plan, and fanc- 
 tioned by authority. 
 
 I can 
 
54 -A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 I can plead theexrimple of many Ingenious lu- 
 minaries, who foiciy owe their reputation to a 
 Ikilful generalfnip in the arrangement of their 
 plans. Some l.ave chofen to make a fecond 
 volu:ne take precedence of the firft ; others 
 hav:" obj'edtt-.d to the formality of a beginning; 
 and a third fet have difdained the pedantry of a 
 concl'ufjcn. Several of the wits of the laft age 
 wrrfe pages on their own pre-exiflent ilate ; 
 and njuny wriiers of our times have penned vo*- 
 Jumes, wiiich, if they have any meaning, tend 
 to prove that it would have been better had they 
 not exiited at all. Some fuppofe the road to 
 fame lies through the labyrinth of inexplicable 
 paradoxes ; while others, who publifh one book 
 to difprove what they have written in anoiher, 
 feem to think that, in order to advance, it is 
 necefiary to move backv/ard like a crab. In> 
 vain docs Criticifm attempt to reftrain thefe ex- 
 curfive flights :— the modern Pegafus is too 
 reliive to endure the rein, and too volatile to 
 attend to the lafh ; and mod writers have fuc- 
 ceeded, who have attempted to found their re- 
 putation on the broad bafis of fingularity ; for 
 what greater proof of originality and fpirit can 
 be given than by doing or faying fomcthing 
 which furprifes or terrifies every body ? 
 
 But though thefe huge Leviathans may thus 
 tofs and fport as they pleafe in the great deeps 
 of literature, the lefTer fry of authors muft fub- 
 mit to fome precautions, or endure the hhrder 
 alternative of annihilation. Our morofe tafk- 
 mafters not only impofe upon us the hard laws 
 of having a beginning, a middle, and an end ; 
 but they ftate the nectfTity of unity of defign, 
 and an attention to coRume in age, place, and 
 charaQer, As I purpofed, therefore, to treat 
 
 ot* 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 5^ 
 
 of the effecls arlfing from the marriage of lady 
 Monreith, it became neceflary for me to hurry 
 into the imdll of the fcene, and to bring forth 
 Powerfcourt-houfe in "high pomp jubilant ;'* 
 and like Homer, Virgil, and Milton, to adjuft 
 relative circumftancss in an epifodical manner. 
 In one refpcdl I differ from thefe high authori- 
 ties, by making myfelf the relator ; but even 
 -Jere 1 have an ingtnious fiction ready to ob- 
 Iwate critical afperity. It is only fuppofmg me 
 the old NeRoT of the fable, or the chorus of 
 the fcene, and I may tell as many long (lories 
 as I pleafe, and moralife vi henever I have an 
 inclination, without offending againft any o£ 
 the ftatutes of Parnaflus in that cafe made and 
 provided. I will now introduce my Heroine 
 upon the ftage. 
 
 The connedlion between a lively fenfible girl 
 and a fickly petulant parent could be but flen- 
 der; the concern, thers^fore, which Geraldine 
 felt for Lady Powerfcourt's death was Toon 
 overcome. She had long confidered Mrs. Evans 
 as more truly fulfilling tiie maternal chara£ler j 
 and (lie felt for her judicious, firm, but affec- 
 tionate reproofs, that filial deference which the 
 eternal whine of her mother's complaining cen- 
 fures failed to infpire. Under the care of an 
 experienced governefs and celebrated mafters, 
 procured at unfparing expence, ihe rapidly ac- 
 quired every female grace and fuitable accom- 
 piifhment ; but it was to the inftrudlions of 
 Mrs. Evans, and to the tender friendfhip of her 
 daughter Lucy, that her mind was indebted for 
 its richefl treafures. 
 
 At the age of feventeen (he appeared an 
 enchanting beauty; polite, fenlTble, accomplifh- 
 ed, affable, and generous ; the idol of her father,' 
 
 the 
 
56 A TALE or THE TIMES. 
 
 the delight of her friends and depend^n^s, the 
 envy of the nri;hbourhood, ?nd the obj-^cl: to 
 which every man of fortune in the county fecretly 
 afpired : 
 
 " — She was indeed the plafs 
 ** Wherein the neighbouring youlh did drefs thera- 
 «« felves." 
 
 Mifs Powerfcoun's example would fan£lior» 'a 
 fmall abfurdity ; and her enchanting manners 
 excited a herd of awkward imitators. They 
 forgot, however, that it was her wit which fup- 
 ported her opinion, and her graceful beauty that 
 gave elegance to the form of a bonnet, or ad- 
 jufted the drapery of a robe. 
 
 Some faftidious obfervers, who, cold to the 
 fafcinatlon of captivating lovelinefs, contemplate 
 ** the human form divine" with the fame cauti- 
 ous difcrimination with which they would ana- 
 lyfe the merits of a pid^ure, pointed out fome 
 fhades in this fafcinating portrait. They ob- 
 ferved, that her vivacity at times approached to 
 levity; that, under the form of G^iy nonchalance ^ 
 her eye was on the watch for adulation; and 
 that the perfe£lions which nature had fo libe- 
 rally beftowed loft their moft delicate attractions 
 in the confcioufnefs of poflefiion. 
 
 To thefe obfervations Candour replied, that 
 even levity was pardonable in youth and beauty, 
 when it appeared to be the arttefs oftspring of a 
 happy innocent heart ; that inexperience would 
 qpologife for the faults which proceeded from an 
 exuberant flow of animal fpirits^ a (Irong defire 
 to pleafe,and a difpofition uncommonly prone to 
 ths moft generous difinterefted confidence; that 
 it was impolhble for her to efcanethe knowledge 
 
> TALE- OF fkE TlifE^Sa 57 
 
 of her own perfections, when every tongue w^s 
 loud in herpr^ife, and there were none to difpute 
 her claim to pre-eminence ; and that it was even 
 amiable in her to wifli to difplay thofe excellen- 
 cies which Teemed ever to communicate delight 
 to others. I have ftated the debates which were 
 caufed by the appearance and manners of Mifs 
 Powerfcourt, and ihall only obferve, that in point 
 ot numbers the applauders had it. 
 
 Many were the-detra6lors and imitators which 
 the fair Geraldine excited ; but one young ladv, 
 who was neither her riv^l nor her copyift, loved 
 her with unaffecfled tendernefs. Thexhara£ler 
 of Lucy Evans was perfectly her own ; it was 
 caft in nature's mod artlefs mould, and nnlfhed 
 by the unremitting attention ot an intelligent 
 mother and an exemplary father. Inferior to 
 
 ■'her friend in perfonal charms and expenfive 
 accompJiOiments, ilie was yet very pretty, very 
 fenfible, very amiable, and as weli educated as 
 the daughter of a country clergyman need wiOi 
 to be. hcirly taught the dilTerence between a 
 young woman whofe fortune mud atife from 
 thefavings of four hundred pounds per annum, 
 and the heirefs of twice as many thoufands, The 
 never made the indulgences oF Mifs Povvevf- 
 court the model for the reguhaiun of her own 
 eijoymentsand defires. She had read much, flie 
 had thought more; her leifurc for ftudy and 
 relledion was greater than her friend's, and her 
 mind imperceptibly acquired fuperior energy. 
 H:r knowledge of the world was confined to the 
 mmor-houfe &nd the redlory ; at the former Hie 
 fjmetimes met mixt charadlers; her fenfibility 
 made her (Irongly feel their iuTproprietieS, and 
 
 ,h€r fincerity generally betrayed thofe emotions. 
 The ladies were friends in the Ilricleit fenfe 
 
 C3 or 
 
^3 A TALE OF THE TIM&S. 
 
 of the word ; but when -I own that there waS' 
 no other young perfon wjthin feveral miles with 
 whom Mifs Powerfcourt could properly form an 
 intimacy, my readers will probably contdemn me 
 for afcribing the term friendHiip to an intimacy 
 which rather proceed from chance and locality 
 than from tafte and feledlion, and will probably 
 predift that it was very likely to be annihilated 
 in the rude changes of the joftling world. The 
 following pages will difcover how far they are- 
 right ; it (hall fufhce for me at prefent to affirm, 
 that, at the time I am treating of, the attachment 
 was mutual and fincere. 
 
 While the fair Geraldine bent over the harp > 
 with the grace of a Calliope and the execution 
 of a Cecilia, Lucy fat quietly at her plain work, 
 in a corner of the room, and enjoyed the ap- 
 plaufe which her friend's m?i{lerly perform.ance 
 ever excited. But when Mifs Powerfcourt's > 
 Aiill in mufic, drawing, embroidery, fillagree, , 
 and every other fafliionable acquirement, had 
 been liifplayed, Mi.^s Evans could not wholly 
 efcape obfcrvation,^ at lead if any peribns in 
 company were fufficicntly liberal to turn their 
 eyes from the dazzling fplendor of fortune to 
 the mild luftre of modell independence. Though 
 her obfervations did not proceed from a mouth 
 cxquifitely formed, nor were enforced by eyes of 
 peculiar brilliancy, they befpoke a corre£l intel- 
 ligent mind, and were accompanied by an arch 
 ndivete-, or an ingenuous earneftnefs, which 
 feemed at once to develope the fpeaker's artlefs 
 amiable mind. Exulting at the attention whichher 
 Lucy's remarks obtained, Mifs Powerfcourt ever 
 delighted to lead the converfation to topics on 
 which flie knew her to excel ; and when the 
 party was large, modell diffidence was often 
 
 charmed 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 59 
 
 charmed out of its intended filence by the 
 affectionate artifices of the miftrefs of the 
 feaft. 
 
 W ithout attributing too much to the allure- 
 ments of wealth, it may readily be believed, that 
 Mifs Powerfcourt's hand was an object of gene- 
 ral contention. After having, in the fpace of 
 two years, refufed more unexceptionable offers 
 than the moft invincible heroine of modern ro- 
 mance can boaft, fhe was introduced to the Earl of 
 Monteith at Chefter race-ball, and at her chape- 
 ron's requeft accepted him for a partner. Their 
 fimilitude in graceful beauty, age, fortune, and 
 connections, pointed them out to the whole com- 
 pany as a ' moft fuitable match ; and a little 
 policy was admitted, that the peerlefs pair might 
 not be feparated the whole evening. The next 
 morning his Lordihip appeared early upon the 
 courfe, where difmounting without once difcuf- 
 fing the merirs of the race-hoiTes, or attending 
 10 the weighing of the drivers, he took his feat 
 in the ftand next to Mifs Powerfcourt, and dur- 
 ing the whole morning feemed to forget that he 
 had feveral thoufands depending upon the iiTue 
 of the courfe. In the evening he was a^ain at 
 the ball, again requefted the hand of his former 
 partner, and, witliout once fpraining his ancle or 
 complaining of infuiferable heat, danced till three 
 o'clock the next morning. Every body was now 
 fure that he was captivated, and the whole county 
 were on the tiptoe of expectation. 
 
 On the very day of her return to Powerfcourt, 
 Geraidine fet out in fearch \>f her Lucy, and 
 entreated that (he would come and fpend a litde 
 time with her at the manor. It was impoffible 
 for Mifs Evans to avoid obferving, that her 
 friend's account of the bail, the drelles, and the 
 
 m?.nner& 
 
6o A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 manners of the company, was very much em- 
 barraffed, ami deftitute of its ufual vivacity. On 
 entering the clrelTing-room Geraldine locked the 
 door, and, rJirowing her arms around her Lucy's 
 neck, told li<r flie had a fccret to divulge which, 
 was of tlte'greatefl importance. On receiving 
 a pronnfe of inviolable fecrecy, Mifs Powerf- 
 court attempted to explain ; but arter feveral in- 
 effectual attempts to begin the difcovery, (he fav/ 
 fome company coming over the Uwn, and, pro- 
 mifing her friend to be more .explicit at another 
 time, (he unlocked ths door and haftened to 
 ^receive her guefts. 
 
 It was more than a week before Mifs Evans 
 could find leifure from her domeftic occupations 
 to vifit Powerfcourt-houfe, in order that (lie 
 might receive the facred truft. She now found 
 her friend's lively fpirits (till more fubdued ; ihe 
 was abfent, frequently (ighed, played with her 
 mother's pi£tu.rQ, which hung fufpended by a 
 pearl chain on herbofom, fketched figures upon 
 {lie table with her netting needle, and, though 
 unufually afFt^ionate in her expreflions, feemed 
 Icfs inclined to confide the ftory of her troubles 
 than at their former interview. Neither Mifs 
 Evans's difpofition nor education were in the 
 leaft rcmiantic ; the could only perceive that her 
 friend had met with fome great vexation, and 
 ihe was too delicate to endeavour to pierce the 
 veil which concealed thofe forrows j (he there- 
 fore contented herfelf with fecretly wiftiing the 
 painful anxiety fpeedily removed. 
 
 Bur, though Mils Evans was thus fhort-fighted, 
 my readers have probably difcovered enough of 
 the diforder to acquit me of introducing extra- 
 neous matter> though I (h^ouid inftantly revert to 
 Lord Moziteith. Oil dancing with Mils Fowerf- 
 
 court 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMESf. 6l 
 
 court the firft night, he pubHcIy declared th'at 
 ftie was the fined girl he had ever feen : the 
 converfation in the (land convinced him that fhe 
 was uncommonlyclever ; and at. the interview 
 the fecond evening (he appeared with fuch cap- 
 tivating grace, that he loudly protefted (he was 
 the moil elegant woman in the world; and that 
 Geraldine Powerfcourt was almoft enough to 
 induce any man to fubmit to the yoke of marri- 
 age. The iTiends to whom he uttered thefe 
 rapturous exclamations reported them to their 
 mothers and fifrers, who repeated them to their 
 acquaintance -, but the rough mafculine fenti- 
 ment, when filtered through the organs of 
 female delicacy, fpoke in a much fofter and more 
 infinuating tone^ All the ladies protefted that- 
 the Earlof Monteith Wiis deeply enamoured with 
 Mifs Powerfcourt ; that he thought her the divi- 
 neft creature that ever exited ; that he was 
 dying for an opportunity. of throwing himfelf at 
 her feet ; and that his whole earthly happinefs. 
 depended upon her. This high-flown language^, 
 repeated by every viHtor, certainly vibrated on 
 the ear of the fair Geraldine with a pleafing 
 found. She confidered the abfurdity of the 
 expreiTion to be entirely chargeable on the re- 
 peater, but that the fentiment was undoubtedly 
 his Lord{hip*s. She only anfwered by the words 
 « How ridiculous ! How infinitely abfurd I'* but 
 file blufhed and fmiled while (he reproved, and 
 made no effort to change the converfation to a 
 moTc/eff/ii;/e(\x\rjt^. Every body obferved, that 
 (he fighed frequently, talked lefs, and cculd re- 
 member none but plaintive tunes. The lovely 
 pair were therefore certainly mutually fmitten ; 
 and it was earneftly hoped that Sir William 
 
 would 
 
62 A TALE OF THE T)MESi 
 
 would not waywardly attempt to interdi£l their 
 union. 
 
 A month elapfed, yet the enamoured fwain 
 had neither flung, himfelf at the feet of his dui- 
 cinea, nor taken any other ftep to fecure the prize 
 upon which his whole earthly happinefs depend- 
 ed. This delay, though it cod the lady a little 
 chagrin, was yet upon the whole beneficial to 
 his Lord(hip*s caufe. She had time to refle£l 
 upon all he had faid, and all he had looked, at 
 their former interviews ; and though her own 
 knowledge of his chara6^er was limited to the 
 obfervation of uncommon elegance of figure and 
 a gentlemanlike addrefs, the whole world (I mean 
 that part cf it with which Mifs Powerfcourt was 
 acquainted) protefted that he was a moft amiable 
 and accompliflied Nobleman. Thefe vague in- 
 definite terms may be compared to the outline 
 which travellers frequently prefent of newly- 
 difcovered countries, leaving fpace for fucceed- 
 ing adventurers to embelliili the chart by placing 
 rivers, bays, and mountains where they fuppofe 
 they may be found. Mifs Powerfcourt exercifed 
 all her inventive powers to fill up the fketch of 
 Lord Monteith's charader. She marflialled all 
 the virtues and agreeable qualities, and placed 
 them in the propereft: ftations. Wit was fup- 
 ported by tafte and learning, generofity was cir- 
 cumfcribed by prudence, and heroifm was tern* 
 pered by the moft melting fenfibility. In fine, 
 the portrait was enchanting, but the likenefs was 
 ideal; the fair defigner however, like Pygmalion, 
 became deeply enamoured with the creature of 
 her own imagination. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A"^ TALE OF THE TIMES. s dj- 
 
 C H A P. viir. 
 
 O, ten times fader Venus* pigeons fly 
 
 To feal love's bonds new made, than they are wonfr^ 
 
 To keep obliged faith unforfeited.— — — 
 
 O Love, be moderate, allay thy ecftafy : 
 
 In meafure rain thy joy, fcant this excefs : 
 
 T feel too much thy bkfling, make It lefs, . 
 
 For fear I furfeit i 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 ORD Mc^^TEiTH was quItc a Benedi£l, and' 
 had determined not to encumber himfelf with a 
 wife, iinlefs he found it impcfTible to be happy 
 without one. He hadened from the rural (bade 
 and moping folitude, which, if not the mother, 
 is certainly the nurfe of Love. He plunged into 
 the diffipation of London, vifited the court, the 
 opera, the pantheon mafqueradesj but the lovely 
 form of the Cambrian enchantrefs purfued him 
 to ev.ry retreat. Nay, even at the gaming- 
 table, when hundreds were depending upon the 
 odd trick, (he rofe to his view in all the fplendor 
 of her ball-room ornaments; bending her wav- 
 ing plumes, (he gently ftruck him with her 
 magic fan, and, begging him to be attentive to 
 the delightful dance which was juft begun, made 
 him lofe the gam^. 
 
 If my limited obfervation of the male cha- 
 racter may be trufted, the difference of foul ia 
 the two fexes is no where more plainly fecn than 
 in their manner of encountering vexation. A 
 Jady in Lord Monteith's circumftances, upon 
 finding her heart irrecoverably loft, would have 
 
 devoted 
 
6^ A TALE OF THE TIMES* 
 
 devoted her time to woods and groves, and, only- 
 breathing her pafTion to fome dear confidantCj 
 would have found a luxurious indulgence iii^ 
 complaining of her ruthh^fs liars ; but his Lord- 
 (liip, when he difcovered that even cards and 
 dice; could no longer occupy his mind, ordered 
 p6ft-horfes> and in lefs than forty-eight hours 
 arrived at the feat of his friend Lord W. in 
 Caernarvonfhire, to confult on the propereft 
 method of making propofals to the lady who had 
 caufed fuch cruel devallatidn. 
 
 It was agreed, that a very gallant addrefs to 
 Mifs Powerfcourt (hould be inclofed in a rcf- 
 pe£lful letter to Sir William ; and, to give the 
 proceedings more weight, Lord W. offered to 
 be courier. He found the father and daughter 
 tete-a-tete; the latter rofe on his announcing 
 particular bufinefs; but on his adding, with a 
 fignificant look, that it concerned Lord Monteith, 
 file feemed rather to loiter in her attempt to 
 leave the room. ** Stay, my dear love, if you 
 like it better," faid Sir William, " for I have no 
 fecrets from you.** The permifTion was very 
 agreeable ; fhe walked to the oppofite window, 
 and feemed only occupied in playing with her 
 favourite Italian greyhound, while her father 
 was circumfpe^ly examining the feal of the 
 packet, and decyphering the aimorial honours of 
 the Macdonalds. 
 
 <* Here is a letter too for you, Geraldine," faid 
 Sir William. She turned to receive it ; but 
 encountering the eyes of Lord W. the livelieil 
 confufion was imprinted on her countenance. 
 She would have given the world to efcape the 
 explanation, which, but a moment before, fhe 
 was impatient to hear. Luckily a fervant an- 
 nounced the arrival of Mifs Evans, and (he 
 
 haftened 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 6^ 
 
 haftened to receive her friend, while Lore? W. 
 as he attended her to the door, politely whifpered 
 that her triumph was complete, and entreated 
 her to be as merciful as {he was invinci- 
 bie. 
 
 Sir William bad by this time perufed his lety 
 ter, and funk into a profound reverie, from 
 which he was roufed by the eulogium which 
 lord W. pronounced on the rank, talents, for- 
 tune, and connexions of his noble friend, the 
 warmth of his attachment, and the uncommon 
 excellencies of Mifs Powerfcourt. 
 
 Though Sir William liftened with the mofi 
 delighted attention to the panegyric on his 
 daughter, he difcovered great uneafinefs dur- 
 ing the defcrrption of lord Monteith's paffion ; 
 and as foon as lord W. had ended his harangue, 
 he exprefled his hopes that the account was not 
 quite true. His noble gueft took fire at. the im- 
 putation of exaggeration, and confirmed every 
 thing he had before afferted with violent pro- 
 teftations. 
 
 " Then I beg your lordfhip's pardon,*' faid 
 Si^ William ; ** and I do affure you, that I had 
 '* not the fmalleft defign of offending; for, I 
 " dare fay, you never told me more than what 
 •• you thought was truth; and very poffibly 
 <* lord Monteith may think fo too. Young 
 <« men and women are apt to fuppofe them- 
 " felves in love, and I hope it is no more in the 
 " prefent cafe; for I fhould he very forry ta 
 <« have my girl make a worthy gentleman rhi- 
 « ferable." 
 
 Lord W. pleaded that^ his nobie^ friend was 
 certainly one of the firll matches in the king-' 
 dom»^ 
 
 i« Undoubtedly 
 
 u 
 
66 A TALE OF THE TIMES^* 
 
 " Undoubtedly," replied Sir William ; and 
 « yet, no difparagement to the Macdonalds, the 
 " Powerfcourts are quite as ancient and re- 
 " fpe6lable. But, to tell you the truth, I am 
 ** not very fond of lords, at lealc not for fons- 
 ** in-law. Geraldine will have enough if her 
 " hufband has not a (hilling, and I would rather 
 " fhe (hould beftow herfeif upon fome worthy 
 ** man who would keep up my family, thail 
 " fink my name and fortune in that of any 
 <* peer in the three kingdoms.*' 
 
 Lord W. obferved, thot by a fuitable arrange- 
 ment in the marriage-writings the family name 
 might be preferved. 
 
 Sir William rather fretted at thefe expedients. 
 " 1 have told you, my lord," faid he, *« that I 
 <« think very well of the Macdonalds ; it is an 
 " ancient n:*. e, and an honourable family; it 
 *« has given L.fth to a great many true lovers of 
 <* their country ; but I hope lord Monteith will 
 ** not be oiTended with me, if I fay that I pre- 
 ** fer my own. In fliort, my lord, there is a 
 ** young man whom I think of for Geraldine; 
 *« and a great biefling, let me tell you, (he will 
 " be to him." 
 
 Lord W. recolle£led a young man of the 
 name of Powerfcourt, whofe education had 
 been defrayed at Sir William's expence, and 
 who occafionar.y vifited at the manor ; but as he 
 was known to be entirely dependent upon his 
 patron's bounty, no one fuppofed him the def- 
 tined hufband for the heirefs of Powerfcourt. 
 His lordfhip's afloniniment was fo great that he 
 could not help afking, whether the iady alTs^nted 
 to this extraordinary difpofal of charms which 
 jBJght add honour to a dukedom. 
 
 « I have 
 
A. TALE OF THE TIMES. 6j 
 
 '^ I have not yet told her my plans," fald Sir 
 William; " fhe is very yount< at prefent, and I 
 •* would not cut fliort her happieit days. She 
 <* is (o attached to me, that I am fure it will be 
 "' almofl death for her to leave me -, but as (he 
 *< is my only child, I mult marry her to keep 
 ** up my family. 1 allure your lordfhip, (he is 
 ** a very fen(ible girl, and will have no notioa 
 <* about dukedoms, unlefs other people put it 
 " in her head." 
 
 Lord W. aflcsd if the happy youth knew his 
 envied deilination. 
 
 Sir William did not like to be thus 
 catechifed j he, however, anfwered in the 
 negative. ** I don't think it right," faid 
 he, ** to have young men made vain. He is a 
 «< modeft good lad now, and will enjoy his 
 " fortune better, and know how to do more 
 " good with it, for having been without one 
 ** when he was young. 1 aflure you, my lord,. 
 ** you are the firft perfon to whom I ever men- 
 ** tioned my plan, though I formed it as foon 
 " as my wife died, never intending to marry 
 " again. It is out of refpecSi: to lord Monteith 
 " that I mention it, becaufe I would not hav& 
 " him think that I refufe his addreffes in an 
 <* uncivil manner. But had I not better write* 
 ** a few lines to his lordfliip, as he was fo po» 
 " lite as to write to me ?" 
 
 Lord W. promifed to be a faithful reporter, 
 of what had pafled, and they feparated mu- 
 tually diffacisfied, lord W. conceiving Sir Wil- 
 liam to be the moft extraordinary old quiz he 
 ever converfed v/ith ; and Sir William wifliing 
 the flafhy young men would let his daughter 
 alone, being certain that (he was perfectly happy 
 if they would not torment her, 
 
 Whik. 
 
^3 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 While this fcene pnfied in the break fa fi-par- 
 Foiir, Geraldiiie \*as perufing her letter in the 
 dreding-rooa), commentir>g on its pafTionate 
 but refpeclful contents, and owning to her near 
 "Lucy that it was impofhble to deny lord Mon- 
 teith's merits. She could now repeat all the 
 adventures of Che fter races ; her account was 
 lively and intcrefting, yet fufficiently fenti- 
 ment?l to explain to Mifs Evans the reafon of 
 her abfence atid her fighs. She waited her fa- 
 ther's fumrnons with impatience, and flew to 
 dinner wifh To light a foot as would fcarcely 
 have pre lied down 
 
 ** The golTamer 
 " That idles in the fummer's noon-tide air :** 
 
 but it was obfervable, that (lie returned witlfc. 
 
 ** Even Citp, and mufing gait, 
 " Sober, ftedfaft, and demure.'* 
 
 I need not account in difFufe terms for the 
 change. Sir William had informed her of his 
 abfolute rejedlion of lord Monteith, in a man- 
 ner which evidently proved that he expelled (lie 
 would be as well fatisfied with his condudl in 
 this particular, as fhe had been in every preced- 
 ing inftance, it never occurring to Sir William 
 that flie could be at all interefted in the ad- 
 dredes of a ftranger. 
 
 Though Mifs Powerfcourt had certainly 
 a£led with girlifh precipitancy in attaching Iier- 
 felf to the idol of her own imagination ; und 
 though, with the common pbilofophy of nine- 
 teen, fiie fuppofed nothing fo irretrievable as a 
 wandering heart, (he really was what Sir WiU 
 Ibm eileemed her ta be, a very amiable and 
 
 very. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 69 
 
 very fenfible girl. She not only loved ner fa- 
 ther's perfon, bur fhe alfo venerated his charac- 
 ter. Tlie emphafis that he laid on the word 
 Jlranger induced her to reflcdl on the hazard of 
 bellowing her hand upon a perfon with whom 
 fhe was fo flightly acquainted ; and though (he 
 continued to believe that lord Montciih poffefled 
 all the real virtues of which (he had conjured 
 up the refemblance, yet fhe thought there would 
 be no impropriety in letting the latent excellen- 
 cies expand. In fine, fhe was tea refpe(f^ful as 
 a daughter to eftablifh an open oppofition to 
 her father's intentions, and too delicare as a 
 female to think of encouraging an addrefs which 
 wanted the folemn fanftion of paternal appro- 
 bation. If lord Monteith's paiTion were fincere, 
 it would not be reprefied by difficulties ; and 
 if it flood the trial, the knew the warmth of 
 Sir William's affection to her too well to fear 
 his final rejection, when he llipuld know that 
 her happinefs depended upon his aiTeni. 
 
 \i my readers think thefe refolutions too 
 magnanimous to ccrrefpond with the characfler 
 of a young lady accuftomed even to that foli- 
 citous indulgence which prevents our wifhes, 
 
 who never viewed the world but on its btishtefl 
 
 o 
 
 fide, and who never faw 
 
 **^ Hard unkindnefs' alter'd eye 
 
 " Mock the tear it forc'd to flow j" 
 
 let it be remembered, that ^i\^ had in Mrs. 
 Evans a friend of a fuperior caft to what moft 
 heirefTes can ever hope to poiTcfs ; a f fiend who, 
 having no finiller views, had no occ^fi ;n for 
 fervility or flattery \ — a friend, who to an ex- 
 alted 
 
7© A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 alted turn of mind united the courage to en- 
 force unpleafant truths, and generofity to over- 
 look cafual errors. 
 
 We have (cen that gratitude to Sir William 
 reconciled Mrs. Evans to the painful tafk of at- 
 tending lady Powerfcourt during her long ill- 
 nefs. When death terminated what fhe con- 
 ceived to be her duty in that particular, (lie con- 
 fidered the fituation of his daughter. Young, 
 amiable, idolifed, pofleffed of fupetior beauty 
 and uncommon vivacity, by what more noble 
 method could (he evince her gratitude to the 
 father, than by (hewing the unwary girl the 
 fhoals and quick-fands which abound in the 
 voyage of life ? 
 
 Mrs. Evans's early knowlege of what is called 
 " the great world convinced her, that though re- 
 finement may interpofe its flimfy veil, the un- 
 amiable paflions prevail in the higher circles as 
 much as in the cottage; and that the pilgrim 
 who wifties to purfue a fafe couife muft unite 
 the ferpent with the dove. While, therefore, 
 Ihe flrongly recommended to Mifs Powerfcourt 
 the extirpation, not the concealment, of every 
 ungenerous, violent, and felfifli principle, as 
 the happieft means of enfuring internal peaca, 
 (he taught her to apprehend external danger 
 from the violence and felfifhnefs of others, how- 
 ever concealed by the fair appearance of po- 
 lilhed manners, or even by profeffions of at- 
 tachment. But, above all, fhe ftrongly im- 
 priiited on her pupiTs mind a veneration for her 
 father's character. She not only pointed out 
 his active benevolence, patienr gentlenefs, and 
 firm integrity, but led her to cohfider the ge- 
 neral propriety of his opinions upon any fub- 
 je(^.with which he was thoroughly acquainted ; 
 
 and 
 
vA TALE OF THE TIMES. 7 1 
 
 and though his reclufe habits had caft an air of 
 linguiaiicy ovtr his natural good fenfe, yet his 
 plain firm (lile of thinking was not only better but 
 wifc-r than that flexible judgment which bends, 
 coniracls, or expands, as the world, that is, as 
 caprice determines. Nothing could be more 
 judicious than thefe inftrudlions. Mifs Powerf- 
 court's parts were lively and brilliant, quick in 
 difcovering the. ridiculous, and powerful in ex- 
 pofing it. Though virtue, benevolence, and 
 fond indulgence, mull have obtained the warm 
 affecffcion of her grateful heart, her refpeO for 
 fuch a father could only be founded on the per- 
 fuafion which (he had imbibed in her early- 
 youth of the natural fuperiority of his uncul- 
 tivated underftanding. 
 
 The confcioufnefs of yielding to a weaknefs 
 which Mrs. £vans would difapprove had kept 
 her from informing Lucy of the (tale of her 
 heart prior to lord Montcith's declaration, and 
 the fame fentiment forbade her difcovering any 
 {Irong uneafinefs at her father's rejedlion of hid^ 
 addrelfes. In relating the affair (he only ob- 
 ferved with a fupprefled figh, that ihe thought 
 his lordfiiip infinitely the moft amiable and de- 
 ferving of any of her fuitors •, but fince her father 
 difapproved the connexion, (lie fhould acquiefce 
 in his deciiion, and heartily wiih the earl happy 
 with fome otter lady j in which wifh, however, 
 it may be qucftioned whether (he did not make 
 a little ufe of the long bow. 
 
 The enamoured cjiI was not at this time in fo 
 iiuiefcent a Itate. He was quite in a humour 
 for 
 
 " Moving accidents by flood and fitld ;" 
 Or, 
 
 " For hair-breadth *fcapes in th* imminent deadly 
 ** breach.*' , 
 
 One 
 
^2 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 One time he refolved to ftorm the caille and 
 free the lady from durance ; at another time 
 decided to liretch his rival in the bloody duft. 
 The probability of the fair one's being offended 
 by the firft project foon made him abandon- 
 that ; and there feemed fo much cruelty in kill- 
 ing a man who did not even know that he was 
 an impediment to his happinefs, that his lord- 
 (hip's cooler jud^rment pronounced that the 
 latter would be too fanguinary. After confider- 
 ing all the plans which ancient and modern ro- 
 mance fupplies, the old fcheme of Jupiter and 
 the fliowerof gold was preferred. But it was not 
 to Danae that the Caledonian Jupiter defcended 
 in that form. -, it was to Danae's waiting maid. 
 
 The very evening after this phenomenon had 
 taken place, Mifs Pov/erfcourt faw a letter 
 upon her dreiling-table, fuperfcribed in charac- 
 ters which fhe perfectly recolle<f^ed. The Cam- 
 brian Abigail was not an adept in her profeflion j 
 for on being qutftioned how it came there, fhe 
 neither afhrmed that (he faw a Cupid fly in 
 with it at the window, nor even hinted that it 
 might be conveyed there by f liries, or rife out of 
 the table by the power of enchantment. She 
 neither invoked goblin nor witch, but (imply 
 ov>'ned that lord Monteith begged her to deliver 
 it, and (he thought there coald be no harm in 
 complying with the requelt of fuch an agreeable 
 gentleman. 
 
 " if you do not know your duty to my father, 
 ** Bridget, I know mine : return it immediately 
 *< to lis loidrhip ; but flay ; I think 1 will add 
 " a few words " 
 
 Mrs. Bridget blefied her goodnefs, and began 
 an harangue on his lordihip's virtues, which her 
 millrefs fUcuced with a look, and ftxe retired. 
 
 The 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 73 
 
 The opener of Pandora's box was a gentle- 
 man. Let the gentlemen therefore behold one of 
 the fex whom they brand with the fligma of cu- 
 riofity, fitting with a Pandora's box fealed before 
 her, yet forbearing to lift the interdicted lid. 
 She wrote a few lines which cxprefled her abhor- 
 rence of a clandeftine correfpondence, without 
 intimating perpetual enmity againft the corref- 
 pondent, and, inclofing his lordfhip's letter, 
 rung her bell, and ordered it to be delivered by 
 the very firft opportunity. She refufed Mrs. 
 Bridget's attendance that evening, and betook 
 herfelf to the repofe which confcious redlltude 
 and felf-pofieflion can alone erjoy.. 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 A prudent father, 
 
 By nature chargM to guide and rule her choice, 
 Refigns his daughter to a hufband's power, 
 Who, vith fuperior dignity, with reafon, 
 And manly tenderne fs, will evtr love her ; 
 Not firft a kneeling flave, and then a tyrant. 
 
 Thomson. 
 
 i— 'ORD Monteith and his friend were forced 
 to project frefli meafures ; for Mrs. Bridget was 
 fo unwilling to cfFend her dear generous young 
 lady, that fhe refuted to appear any more upon 
 the itage, and yet her gratitude to the dear ge- 
 nerous young gentleman induced her to ccnfent 
 ftill to take a part behind tho fcenes. She fug- 
 gefted that her lady would foon pay a vifit 
 VoL.L D ' to 
 
74 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 to a neighbouring family ; that (lie would pfo 
 on horfeback, only accompanied by Mr. Jchn 
 the groom ; that the road lay through a neigh- 
 bouring coppice, but that lord W. as well as 
 Sir William had keys of the ridings; and (lie 
 concluded with obferving fignificantly, that Mr, 
 John was a very well-behaved man, no liilener, 
 and too di/creet to fay any thing. 
 
 The excurfion was undertaken at the appointed 
 time ; but the inftant Mifs Powerfcourt entered 
 the wood, flie faw a gentleman on horfeback 
 approaching, whom in another inftant (he knew 
 to be lord Monteith. Her firft intention was 
 to turn back, but (lie was prevented by John's 
 having dropped the key in the long grafs, juft 
 as he had locked the gate. Anger was ufelefs, 
 indeed unreafonable ; for the poor man was en- 
 deavouring to repair his carelefTnefs by looking 
 for it very anxioully. Though (he could not 
 but fufpe^l that the rencontre was concerted, 
 ihc had fufficient confidence in her own dignity 
 to overcome her firft agitation. Retreat was 
 impoflible, and (he advanced llowly to the 
 (dreaded interview. 
 
 On the gentleman's fide there was exprefTed 
 an infinitude of love, adniiration and defpair, 
 blended with fome degree of refentful fenfibility 
 at the idea of being compelled privately to foli- 
 cit a blefling to which he had thought himfclf 
 entitled publicly to afpire. On the lady's there 
 appeared a juft fenfe of female decorum, and a 
 fteady rcfolution to reprefs any acrimonious 
 obfervations on her father's cpndudl:. But the 
 moft interefting part of the converfation took 
 place after lord Monteith Iiad expLiined Sir 
 William's reafons for rejcfling his addrefles, and 
 
 alked 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 75 
 
 afked her if fhe would accept the lover he de- 
 figned to propofe. 
 
 " Aflurediy I will not/' was her anfwer. 
 ** Should my father everexprefs fuch intentions 
 *' to me, I muit be as firm m refufing my hand 
 ** where I cannot beftow mv heart, as I now am 
 «* in rejeclin;T your addrelies while he difap- 
 ** proves of them." 
 
 »< Mofl admirable of all human creatures !" 
 exclaimed Monteitb, *< I will patiently commit 
 *' my deiliny to the care of a lady whofe exalced 
 ** ideas increafe my elleem for her at every 
 " interview ; yet permit me to add one more 
 ** inquiry. Might I venture, madam, to hope, 
 »* or ihoald I have been too prefumptuous in 
 •* hoping, that if I had been honoured by Sir 
 <♦ William's approbation, I fhould not have en- 
 ** countered tiie terrors of your refufal ?" 
 
 Mifs Powerfcourt's repiy was confufed and 
 inarticulate ; yet the deep crimfon which flulhed 
 her, half-averted face, and the fofmefs of her 
 accent, did not reduce him to defpair. She 
 perceived it did not •, and foon as fhe had recoU 
 letled herfelf, ilie added, "I know the goodnefs 
 *' of my father's heart ; I know his unbounded 
 *' a{F;;r6L:on for me ; and 1 am conndent that he 
 *' wiii perfiu in no plan that would make me 
 •* miferable. But iet me entreat you, my lord, 
 *< not to purfue a method of addreffing me 
 ** which mull euher make me mean in my own 
 ** own ejes, or dimir.Kn my refpect for your 
 « char3ci;er." , His lordiliip bowed, and proteft- 
 ing is/V'oUble obedience and unaltered love, rode 
 oil juit at tne ioitant that John round the key 
 which eAabled Mifs Pcwerlcourt to purfue her 
 expedition. Her conducl: in this inierview did 
 not leiTea her in her lover's atfedions, for he 
 
 D 2 vowed 
 
^6 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 vowed to lord W. that (he was an angel in a 
 human form, and that he wasdetermintd either 
 to die or obtain her. 
 
 Nor did the Evans's, to whom MIfs Powcrf- 
 court impartially related this incident and that 
 of the letter, feel any diminution of the love and 
 efteem which the many amiable qualities of their 
 charming young friend had long excited. On 
 the contrary, Mrs. Evans beflowed warm enco- 
 miums on the marked propriety of her conduct, 
 and Lucy's eyes {hone with that humid luflre 
 which the praifes of her dear Geraldine always 
 called forth. Sir William's fcheme for the in- 
 tended difpofal of his daughter's hand excited 
 general furprife, mingled v\ith feme (hare of 
 difapprobation ; and though uniform refpedl for 
 his character prevented Mrs. Evans from expreff- 
 ing any doubt of the propriety or pra£\icabiliiy 
 of the fcheme, the artlefs open-hearted Lucy 
 was fo flrongly perfuaded of its impropriety^ 
 that the moment Mifs Powerfcourt retired, Ihe 
 could not avoid reprobating the abfurdity of al- 
 lowing her friend fo little influence in an af- 
 fair fo infinitely momentous to her own hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 " It is certainly wrong/' replied Mrs. Evans, 
 *« and may be added to the initances I have fre- 
 •< quently repeated to convince you of the nc- 
 " ceflity of conforming a little to the notions 
 <* of other people ; for I have often obferved^ 
 «< my dear girl, that you have more tenacity of 
 « opinion than one generally meets with in a 
 "^^ young woman of nineteen. Do not fuffer 
 *f fmgularity to creep upon you 5 for though 
 ^< it now only appears in rearing your hair 
 << fmooth, while all your acquaintance have 
 «♦ theirs curkd, or in exprefDng your diflike to 
 
 mufic 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 77 
 
 " mufic when all the world is mufical, it may 
 " tvi'cnty or thirty years hence induce you to 
 <' lay more abfurd fchemes for the marriage of 
 " my grandchildrei than even Sir William's fo 
 " much reprobated plan." 
 
 Lucy replied laughing, " I will put my hair 
 '* in rollers this very evening, whi:h will, 1 
 *^ trufl, remove your apprehenfions reTpe^ling' 
 *« the prepollerous matches of your grandchil- 
 «' dren ." 
 
 <*' If vou, mv dear,"" continued Mrs. Evans, 
 << recoUecl the circumilances of Sir W^'illiam's 
 «* life, and analyze his character, his prefent 
 «' defjgn will appear the natural refult of both. 
 ** The virtues which fpread profperity and joy 
 «« all around him are not the refult of thofe 
 «* refined feelings, thofe elegant fufceptibilitie«, 
 "which ufurp the place of folid virtues in the- 
 " eftimation of too many. They are the efFec^:- 
 •- of-retlcJiiion, of prirj'jijv^e, of chriftian prin^ 
 « ciple, my dear, that firmelt foundation for all 
 " that is truly excellent in man. But though 
 *< his idea, that the gifts of fortune are only 
 *« an accountable ftewardOiip, mikes him uni- 
 ** formly and perfeveringly upright and gene- 
 «' rous, it does not fupply thofe nicer touches 
 ••* of the heart which nature never originally 
 << beftowed. Exclufive of what he feels for 
 *^ Gtraldiiie, 1 queftion whether his heart was 
 '* ever touched Dy any fentiment livelier tharr 
 *' univerfal benevolence." 
 
 «« How came he to marry then .>'" inquired 
 liAicy. The air of tiaivgfe w'nh which (he fpoke 
 woald h-ive diverted Mrs. Evans at another timej 
 but when applied to the prefent fubje£t it re- 
 cjlied painful fenfations. ** It was not a love- 
 *^ match," faid ilie after a long paufe; " and 
 
 << I fear 
 
78 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 <« I fear lady Powerfcourt did not ftudy to cx- 
 «« cite thofe fentimenrs of efteem and attach- 
 ** merit in Sir Willi'cim^s mind, uhich her en- 
 << gaging attentions would have inipired. 
 «< 'i'hough 1 believe he never feh a ftrongcr tie 
 *< than what arofe from habit and compaflion, 
 << his natural goodnefs nnade him behave to her, 
 << during the trial of a long {icknefs, with fo 
 << much tendernefs, that he was univerfally ac- 
 << counted a moll excellent hufband. You 
 «' know, Lucy, he is not apt to make obferva- 
 <* tions en people or incidents which do not 
 ♦* immediately aff'e6t himfeif. 'I'he world Hides 
 «< by unnoticed, if it do not elbow him ; and 
 *< though this may conduce to the tranquillity 
 <* of his m.ind, it prevents him from enlarging 
 <* hisftoc-kof information. Can you, however, 
 .« wonder from what he has felt, and from what 
 «< he has obferved, that he fhould fuppcfe mu- 
 «« tual attachment unnecefiarv in a union be- 
 <« tween two worthy people ? and yoii will al- 
 << low Mils Powerfcourt and her coufin anfwer 
 << that defcription." 
 
 <* Mod certainly they have the beft hearts 
 «< in the world ^ but is not lord Montcirh too 
 .*« a moft worthy chara^L^er, and in point of 
 «* raiik and iortune a more delirable match ?'* 
 
 '« Fortune, my dear, though in moft marri- 
 ** ages a very necefiary ingredient, is of little 
 *< confequence in the difpofal of Mifs Powerf- 
 «* court-, for her hereditary affluence is fo great, 
 «< that flie rnay poUefs every indulgence fhe can 
 <f wifh for, without the nectffiiy of her huf- 
 <« band's adding any thing to the paternal flock, 
 «< I am not one of thofe who Dight the advan- 
 «< tages of rank •, I allow it to be defirable ; but 
 «< if you balance agairnfl it the apparent juftice 
 
 " of 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 79' 
 
 <' of beflowlng a rich helrefs on her father's 
 «« neareflt male relation, who is educated in the 
 *♦ fame principles, and will refide upon the 
 ** fame fpot where h)s anceftors have flourilhed, 
 ** who will mod prcjbably continue to diffufe 
 ** tlie fame noble benevoience and patriarchal 
 " hofpltality j I protert, when I think of thefe 
 << advantages, I can condemn nothing but Sir 
 ** Wiiliar^'s characftcriiUcal indifference to the 
 <* ft:^te of his daughter's affed^ions. But I ob- 
 <* ferve, Lucv, tiut of late you always feem 
 «* uneafy and nlent when wc talk of Henry 
 «« Powerfcourt ; are not you and your old 
 *< friend and playfellow upon as good terms as-- 
 « ufual r 
 
 " Yes, quite fo.'' 
 
 «< Then fhould you not rc'joice at the profpe^l 
 *' of his good fortur^e ?" 
 
 •« So I GO ; but poor lord Monteith — I cannot 
 *< help juit now thinking of h'-m. I am forry 
 <^ at my very heart that he fiiould be left un- 
 ** happy, he is fo uncommonly amiable." 
 
 " Pray," faid Mrs. Evans, ** how came you 
 ** to know that he is fo uncommonly amiable 
 " and excellent r" Mifs Evans confeffed that her 
 informant was Geraldlne. 
 
 " Ah, poor Geraldine !'* fafd Mrs. Evans, 
 " the eye I fee has outftepped the judgment; 
 " I hope it has not mifled it. What very amia- 
 *< ble Qualities could fliedifcover in a ball-room? 
 ** Does the indirect mode of his puriuing your 
 " friend, fince her father's rejection, argue any . 
 " very exalted excellence r" 
 
 " No," faid Lucy, ** indeed it does not ; but 
 *< do, my dear mother, make allowances for his 
 •* very ftrong attachment. I am afraid too my 
 " fweet friend's heart is irrevocably his, and 
 
 " ought 
 
^O A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 •< ought (he to marry Henry Powerfcourt, all 
 •« worthy and good as he is, while her afFedlons 
 *♦ ar/C another's ?" 
 
 " Your motlier's conducfl,'* replied Mrs. 
 Evans, ** has fhewn her decided opinion upon 
 <* fuch a queftion, nor has fhe ever found rea- 
 •* fon to regret the preftience which has made 
 <* her the wife of the worthicft of men. Yet, 
 •' If in tlie prefent confii6l of Mifs Powerfcourt's 
 ** paffions I could hope that my warning voice 
 *' might be heard, I would entreat her to con- 
 " fider, whether, fince her attachment is not 
 ** the refult of long acquaintance and impartial 
 ** obfervation, but the tranfient ftart of fuddcn 
 ** preference, it be not at lead poflible that her 
 «* father's plan for her happinefs may be the 
 •* molt eligible ? She can never now have an 
 «* opportunity of knowing lord Monteith's real 
 *' difpofiilon previous to the marriag-^ ceremony. 
 ** The cautious lover will difclofe nothing 
 *» which is dif.igreeable, where he ftudies to re- 
 «* commend him fe If to favour; and what can 
 *< fhe learn from the vague or perhaps interefled 
 «* communications of others ? Charge her 
 <« then, my drar Lucy, in your moments of 
 <« endearment and privacy ; if your G^raldine's 
 " happintfs be dear to you, charge her to refiejft 
 *» en Henry's l;nown virtues, his modeft diffi- 
 dence, ingenuous gratitude, and gentle, yet 
 generous difpofiticn. A(k her, it thefe are 
 ** not the qunliues which mud inlure happinefs, 
 *' and warn her not to riiiftake a tranfient liking 
 «' for an infurmountabie attachment." 
 
 Mifs Evans bord into te^irs at her mother's 
 pathetic irjun6iion, ^nd promifed obedience. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 
A TAJLE OF THE TIMES. 8 1 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 Triie dignity Is his, whofe tranquil mind 
 Virtue has ralfd above the things below ; 
 
 Who, every hope and fear to heaven refign'd, 
 Shrinks not, though Fortune aim her deadh'eft 
 blow. Beattie, 
 
 »V HILE Youth with democratic violence 
 pulls down Reafon from her fovereign feat, and" 
 commits :he helm to a rebel rout of paffions ; 
 Age, finding thefe riotous principles quiet and 
 
 manageable in his own partitulitr territories^ 
 
 fuppofes it eafy for others to keep them in equal 
 fubjetlion, and affirms that the abfolute unlimited 
 monarchy of the ci-devant princefs is not only 
 the bed mode of government, but actually the 
 mod feafible. It is not wond<^rful that Youth 
 (hould deny the power of thofe reftritlive prin* 
 ciples which time and experience gradually in- 
 troduce; but certainly Age miglit remember the 
 fentiments that it once felt. 
 
 The above obfervation, though profoundly 
 true in general, is, I confefs, irrelevant to the 
 cafe before us ; for Sir William t*owerfcourt had 
 exadtly the fame opinion of love at the time I 
 am treating of, as he had forty years before ; 
 and Mrs. Evans was of fo fingular a t-xfte, and 
 had fo thorough a contempt for a ** fet of fea- 
 tures and complexion," that, like Defdemona, 
 ihe faw her hufband's " features in his mind*," 
 for when fhe fele6led Mr. Evans, who had no 
 pcrfcnal graces to boaft of, (he not only encoun- 
 ^tered embarraffcd circumftance?, but difpleafed 
 
 I) 3 her 
 
82 A TALE OF THE TIMES^. 
 
 her relations by rejecting a rich and handfome, 
 but abandoned admirer. 
 
 A few days after the events related in my pre- 
 ceding Chapter had taken p'ace, Sir Wiliiam*s 
 bailiff begged his Honor's leave to tell him 
 fomething that made him unhappy. It vi-as, 
 that he liad twice feen a very fine gentleman 
 '^V'hifpering with Mrs. Bridget in Ellis's temple 
 in the dark hour. The groom, he added, Teemed 
 to know fomething about it, for he laughed, and 
 faid Bridget had got a London fweetheart ; but 
 -Roger fomshow thought, though he knew that 
 fecond-handed gentlemen in London dreffed as 
 fine as their mafters, that this looked to be 
 another guife kind of body. Sir William thanked 
 Koger for hi5 fidelity, fnook his head, and ob- 
 ferved that the world grew worfe and worfe 
 every hour; to which obfervation Rcger^ who 
 was of the fame age with his mailer, cordially 
 agreed. 
 
 Previous to thefe communications of faithful 
 Roger, Sir William had felt a confiderable fliare- 
 of uneafinefs. He recolle^led that Lady Powerf- 
 court was very fond of relating long narratives of 
 refiftlefs beauties, who, by their unrelenting 
 cruelty, had compelled their defperate lovers to 
 eariy them off in chariots and fix, furrounded 
 bv armed footmen, raauo-re all their tears and 
 cries; and though Sir William had always con- 
 fidered thefe tales to be entitled to an equal 
 degree of credibility with thofe of Mother 
 Goofe, his anxiety for Geraldine reminded him, 
 that if Lord Monteith had ever happened to 
 hear any of thefe flories, they might have put 
 fomething in his head which he would not 
 otherwife have thought of. He determined 
 therefore to inform Henry Powerfcourt of his 
 
 dcfigns 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 83' 
 
 defigns In his favour, and to confign his daughter 
 to a hufband's protedion feme years fooner than 
 he had intended. 
 
 That young gentleman pafTcd the college 
 vacations at Powerfcourt, and excited the eileem 
 of every intellij^ent obferver by his ingenuous 
 diffidence, unaffeded gentlenefs, and a thoufand 
 unequivocal proofs of a generous, grateful heart. 
 His countenance vas open, and his features 
 agreeable, though they had no prctenfions to 
 beauty; his figure vi^as natuially good, but he 
 feemcd quite at a lofs how to manage it to the 
 heft advantage. He was faid to poflefs very 
 refpedlable literary talents, but the perpetual 
 raillery of the lively Geraldine againll pedants 
 made him profoundly fiient upon topics which he 
 w?s beft qualified to difcufs. Of the world he 
 was totally ignorant ; and he feemed, like his 
 r;rpe<5labie kfnfman, to be not very anxious to be 
 initiated into its myfteries. Afraid of being 
 ahfurd, he never ventured to trifle ; ignorant of 
 the fmall talk of the day, too ftudicus and retired 
 during, his college refidence to enrich his mind 
 with alma mater anecdote, or to learn the art of 
 pra<fkical joking; confcious of his depemiant 
 fjturition ; folicitous to avoid intrufion ; and ever 
 fearful of offending ; he certainly appeared vvitli- 
 a referve and gravity unufual at his age ; 
 and he might in a mixed company juitify 
 Geraldine's obfervations, that he looked like 
 perpetual prefulent of the club of the hum- 
 
 drums. 
 
 Mifa Powerfcourt's vivacity found continual 
 employment during her couiin's vifirs in what 
 {lie called teaching him the graces, and rubbing 
 off college ruft. But though an exuberant flow 
 of youthful fpirits made her fomftimes purfue 
 
 iheie 
 
34 A TALE DF THE TIMES. 
 
 thefc topics further than her good nature would 
 ■have permitted, liad flie known that it gave pain 
 to the objeifl: of her raillery, (he felt for him the 
 tsnrlernefs of a fifter, and treated him uith the 
 Confidence of a friend. Her heart was tryjy 
 generous : I do not fpeak of that light, tranfient, 
 and Ibmetimes afFc6^ed dirTep;ard for money 
 whk'h yoimg people, who have never experienc- 
 ed its uriJify, often cirelfcfsly difplay; but of 
 that real liberality which could circumfcribe its 
 own <lerire3 to increafe the comforts of thofe 
 around it. Far therefore from regetting the 
 iums which Sir William expended in Henry's 
 education and fupport, or viewing the progrefs 
 which he made in the good Baronet's aifecSiions 
 wirh envy or jeaioufy, (he continually urged him 
 immediately to beftow upon the valuable oddity, 
 as fhe filled him, that independence which his 
 noble mind richly defc^rved. <* I even tell him,** 
 fhe would fay to her Lucy, " that in fo doing he 
 will make *' me happier; for I cannot help feel- 
 *< ing that I was thrown in the way mod unfea- 
 *' fonably to mar that dear fellow's expectations. 
 " But for me, you know, Lucy, he would have 
 ** been heir to all my father's princely for- 
 «^ tune." 
 
 huch folicitude for Henry's intereil: had con- 
 vinced Sir V/illiam that his fcheme was in the 
 mo{^ profperous way; and when, deeming the 
 golden harvefl of hope to be fully ripe, he in- 
 formed his daughter with a lignificant fmilethat 
 he liad fent for her coufm to Powerfcourt upon 
 bufinefs which fhe was materially concerned, he 
 certainly thought that he was communicating 
 welcome intelligence. Far different were the 
 agonized feelings of Geraldine, feelings which 
 her anxiety to favc her elated father from the 
 
 pangs 
 
A TALE OF- THE TIMTS. 9^^f 
 
 pangs of fudden cllfappointment could fcarcely 
 reftrcsin. STie flew to Lucy, and, throwing her- 
 felf into, her arms, conjured her by all their 
 infantine tendernefs, if (he ever loved, ever pitied 
 her, to do fomethin? to fave her from the dread- 
 ful alternative of a dstefted marriag?, or ofFcnd- 
 ing af\ almofl adored father. 
 
 Lucy mingleil her ft ars with Gerildine's with- 
 more than the common fenfibility of friend(hip. 
 She could recoliedl nothing but her mother's 
 foleain adjuration,, and (he repeated her argu- 
 ments with fidelity ; but the moment of ftrong 
 paflion^ was unfavourable to cool confideration, 
 " O ceafcy my deareft girl !'* interrupted Mifs 
 Powerfcourt, '-* ceafe to urge the only propofal 
 *' to which I cannot accede. Even your mother, 
 »* all prudent, all fcIf-pofTefTcd as fhe is, would 
 *' flrongly reprobate folcmn perjury. Had this 
 " union not been propoied, my regard for Lord 
 ** Monteith fliould never have induced me to 
 *« have taken any fttp contrary to my father's 
 « will, nor fliould he have difcovered that the 
 ** facrifice I made to filial duty was at the ex- 
 ** pence of my happinefs. But to bind myfelf 
 <' for ever to another, when my heart is irrevo- 
 ** cabiy his; to fiiut out every hope that time 
 ♦* might remove my father's relu£lance; honour, 
 «< delicacy, afFe^lfon, nay, even my efteem fcp 
 «< Henry Powerfcourt, all ftrongly forbid fuch 
 «< an unhallowed bond I" 
 
 Lucy was quite a convert to thefe argyments,; 
 but when Geraldine again called upon her to 
 {ng^ed fom.eplan of condu£l that might obviate 
 thefe threatened evils, the artlefs weeping girl 
 could form no other fcheme than that (be fhould 
 throw herfelf at Sir William's feet and own a 
 pre-et^gagement, Mifs Powerfcourt fccnwed not 
 
 to 
 
86 A TALE OF THE TIMEJ. 
 
 to have fufHcient courage for a dlfcovery which 
 fhe apprehended mud produce difagreeable 
 events i but while depreHed and unrefolved, flie 
 feemed {l:Tn^ in norliing but that (he would 
 ultimately reje£t her coufin's hand. The im- 
 'portant eclairciflement came from another 
 quarter. 
 
 I (hall pafs over many unimportant converfa- 
 tions to give a fuller accCunt of the interview in 
 which Sir William unequ ivoc.il ly^, and in fure 
 expectation of a joyful acceptance, informed his 
 kinfman of his defign to make him the heir of 
 his fortunes, and thedepofitory of hii daughter's 
 happinefs. But when he expected to fee the 
 highly favoured youth break out in a drain of 
 grateful rapture, (for even his phlegmatic 
 temper expected rapturous acceptance when 
 Geraldine was the gift,) how cruelly washedif- 
 appointed to fee his countenance betray diftrefs 
 almoft bordering upon defpair, and to hear him 
 in grateful, refpectful, but decifive terms, reject 
 the radiant, the alluring prize. Sir William ilocd 
 motionlefs with aftonitTiment to fee the '« cloud- 
 capt tower" he had been fo many years erecting 
 prove in one moment to be only " the bafelefs 
 fabric of a vifion ;" and as I conceive n\y readers 
 muft be equally planet- ftruck, I cannot help 
 aficingthem, in a tone of exultation, whether I 
 have not attained the grand climax of improba- 
 bility ? whether the legends of modern romance, 
 moderi! poetry, or the modern drama, can pro- 
 duce a fituation fo novel and Pcriking ? 
 
 1 hat a prudent, diffident young man, wl^o, 
 without having abfolutely laid a plan to make his 
 fortune, was anxioufly folicitous to bt relieved 
 from a dependance which he feverely felt ; that 
 fuch a oncj I fay, without any preconcerted 
 
 defign 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. ^7 
 
 defign upon Lady Bridget Autumn's eftate, or 
 the jointure of the duchefs dowager of Wither- 
 ington, (hould refufe the young, lovely, fafcinat- 
 ing Geraldine, when offered to him by her 
 father, with the immediate polTefljon of three 
 thoufand a year^ and a certain afTurance of an 
 additional five thoufand per annum on his death; 
 I think I have been too diffident in only challeng- 
 ing my contemporaries in the circle cf the Belles 
 Lettrcs to rival me in the non-natural : I might 
 i.\[o call upon the phi!cf:phers of the new fchool, 
 and afk the iiluftriuus fophifts if they can form 
 a paradox more perfe£lly incomprehenfible. 
 
 But, notwitliltanding my paffionate love of 
 fame compels me to adept the moft fa^liionable, 
 that is, the certain method of obtaining it, I 
 cannot quite conquer the common foible of old 
 people, that of looking back to the times 1 have 
 feen, and thinking them fomewhat better than 
 the prefent days. Indeed now and then lani 
 rude enough to conje£\ure that the modern 
 ParnafTus is feated very near that ** windy fea of 
 l^nd," which MiltOB names the Limbo of Vanity, 
 the rcfidence of 
 
 " All th' unaecomplifhed works of Nature's hand . 
 ** Abortive, monftrous, or unkindly mix'd." 
 
 Regretting that fimple elegance and rational 
 amufement (hould be facrificed to high-founding 
 phrafes and inconceivable wonders, fignifying 
 nothing, I fometlmes invoke the (hades of Ad- 
 difon, Goldfmith, and Fielding -, and, after hav- 
 ing contemplated the forms of nature or morality 
 which their antiquated pages prefent, I in vain 
 endeavour to be amufed with ghofts and dunge- 
 ons, incident without chara£ler, or characler 
 "without effect. Thefe laft fentences recai my 
 
 wandering 
 
3$ A TALE 0? THE TIME5»- 
 
 -*. 
 
 wandering pen, by fuggeftingto me that criticlfiiv 
 may be as jejune and irrelative as the novel or 
 poem vhich it condemns ; and that the fatirift 
 of tJ^.e t.ifle and morals of others muft from 
 prudence avoid exhibicing any thing reprehenfi- 
 ble in her own. 
 
 Taught by that ** warning voice" to fliun 
 the roek of digreflion, I mud inform my rea- 
 ders, that the abfurdity of my plan may be 
 rather, apparent than real. Henry Powerfcourf 
 might have fome private reafons for bis extraor- 
 dinary conduct. He might have a pre-engage- 
 ment; and no lover under twenty would hffitate 
 to offer a few annual thoufands on the (hrine of 
 Cupid. He might be enamoured of academic 
 (hades, and think, like Shakefpeare's Henry 
 VI. 
 
 ** Marriage I alas, my years are yet too young, 
 ** And fitter is my ftudy and my books ;" 
 
 Or the vivacity of Geraldine might intimidate 
 him as much as Beatrice's did Benedi<£t, and 
 induce him to offer " to go on an embaffy to 
 ** Preftcr John or the Antipodes, rather than 
 «< encounter that lady's tongue " What his real 
 reafons were muft not now be developed ; but, 
 knowing the pain of curiofny, I cannot help 
 owning, notwithftanding my ufual referve, that 
 I know them, and that they ftiall be explained 
 in their proper place. 
 
 The reader muft remember that I have left fir 
 William in rather an awkward fituation. Some 
 little hope that there might be a mutual mif- 
 underftanding induced him to repeat the offer ; 
 and, in a tone that indicated not only furprize 
 but difpleafure, he aiked Henry jf this was what 
 
 he 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES^ 8^ 
 
 he meant to refufe ? The embarrafled youth 
 gave a hefitating " Yes," and turned afide to 
 conceal the ftrong emotion of his agitated heart. 
 " You are not ignorant, Henry," faid fir Wil- 
 liam, ** that my fortune is entirely at my own 
 " difpofal, and that all your inheritance is an 
 «* eftdte of your father's, fomewhat under a 
 ♦< hundred a year." 
 
 «' I know it, fir," anfwered Henry in a voice 
 fcarcely audible j ** I know too how infinitely 
 ♦* I am beholden to your bounty, and that I 
 •* could facrifice my life to prove my grati- 
 « tude." 
 
 '« Pho ! pho!" faid fir William, « a fiddle- 
 *' ftick about gratitude and fuch nonfsnfe ; 
 " talking about thefe things is not to the pur- 
 <♦ pofe ; I meant to have been a greater friend 
 « to you than I have been j but 1 fuppofe you 
 *< have fome reafons for your behaviour, and 
 " fo 1 (hall only add that I wlfh you a better 
 « offer." 
 
 He then left the room, while the affll£led 
 Henry, wretched at the idea that he had offend- 
 ed the perfon whom of all others he mod revered 
 and efteemed, funk upon a.fofa, and fell into a 
 painful reverie on his pali condu(5l. His mo- 
 tives appeared fo laudable,„that he could not upon 
 retrofpe^liou wlfn the deed undone ; he only 
 feared that his voice, his looks, his words, or 
 his manner, had not fufficiently indicated the 
 deep veneration which he felt in his heart. 
 
 In a converfation which took place the fame 
 morning between fir William and his daughtefj^ 
 the former animadverted on Henry's unaccount- 
 able condufl in terms more acrimonious than he 
 had ever before ufed. As a proof of the un- 
 commoR fw'cetnefs of Mifs Powerfcourt's dif- 
 
 pofition,^ 
 
90 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 pofition, (he appeared not only to forgive the 
 affront, but (he even pleaded for the bold re- 
 fufer with all that enchanting eloquence by 
 which fhe had ever been accuftonied to influence 
 KerTvither's mind. 
 
 " I cannot, my dear fir," Cdid (he, " condemn 
 •* Henry's behaviour; on the contrary, I think 
 <* it proceeded from that inviolable regard for 
 '* honour and fincerity which you tell me has 
 " been from time immemorial thecharadteriftic 
 ** of our family. A mean intereiled perfon 
 *■* would have thought that your predilection in 
 '" his favour gave him an abfolute right to treat 
 ** me as he pleafed j he would never have con- 
 " fidered whether I was the wife he would 
 " voluntarily have preferred. Lookin;; only 
 " at the greatnefs of my dowry, he would at 
 *' all times have filenced the compunctions of 
 " his tonfciencc, by remembering that I was 
 '* obtruded upon his choice, when perhaps his 
 <* heart felt a fecret preference for another." 
 
 While Mifs Powerfcourt fpoke, her look, 
 voice, and manner, were uncommonly beautiful 
 and imprcffive. Sir William gazed upon her 
 with inexpreflible delight ; and when (he 
 flopped, he only obferved, that he thought there 
 were few young men in the kingdom who 
 would not have been overjoyed at fuch a pro- 
 pcfal. 
 
 ** Parental partiality ,'*^ refumed Geraldlne, 
 «* muft not decide on fuch an important 
 ** point; but let not my deareft father, through 
 ** his fondnefs for me, fwerve from that noble 
 <* integrity which has ever been the rule of his 
 *< actions. From motives of delicacy to my- 
 «« felf I muft entreat that the events of this 
 " morning may make no diftcrence in your 
 
 *' opinion 
 
A TA1.E OF THE TIMES. pi 
 
 '< opinion of Henry. Indeed I fliould think 
 *< that as the highly-liberal plan you had formed 
 ** in his favour is now fruftrated, this is the 
 " propereil time to give him the independence 
 '< ycu defign for him. Suppofe you immedi- 
 << ately refign the Merionethihire eflate. It is 
 " but five hundred a year you know ; and if 
 *< fuch a defalcation in your revenue fliouldany 
 «* way derange your cuftomary charities, per- 
 '* mit me, my dear father, to furrender part of: 
 ** that very ample allowance which you give 
 " me. It really is much more than I know how 
 *< to fpend ; it only makes me thoughtlefs and 
 " extravagant ; and I am fure that abridging it 
 **^ would be a good moral leiTon."^ 
 
 " Speak no more, child, upon this fubjefl,** 
 replied fir V/illiam ; <* nobody (hall fay that I 
 ** brought a young fellow up, and then let him 
 <» (larve bec^iufe hs W3S not willing to marry 
 ** m.y daughter ; bflt there is no neceflity for 
 << choofmg the very time of his difobliging me 
 •* to make hiiTi independent, as you call it. I 
 «« have been put out of humour this morning, 
 *' and 1 will take a ride round my farm to get 
 ** myfelf comfortable again. I don't fee that 
 " Henry's ftaying here longer is of any ufe, and 
 *^ 1 fnail tell him that he may as well fet off for 
 ** Oxford when I come home." 
 
 Henry was roufed from his ftupor by a letter^ 
 from Geraldine, wiiich 1 fnall tranfcribe : 
 
 ** To Henry Powerscourt, Efq. 
 
 ** Your condudl, my noble coufin, during 
 *' the trying incidents of this morning, fuper- 
 " adds to the efteem and confidence which I 
 " have ever felt for you, the indelible tie of 
 
 " fervent: 
 
92 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 " fervent gratitude. If I ever appear to forget 
 ♦< your generous behaviour, arid to the lift of 
 ** thofc infamous women of antiquity whom 
 " you have often reprobated, the more in- 
 ** famous name of Geraldine Powerfcourt, who 
 ** bafely negledled the difinferefted friend who 
 " riflced all his faireft hopes to alleviate her for- 
 ** rows. 
 
 <* Be not grieved, my ever-refpe6led Henry, 
 *' at the apprehenfion of my father's anger. — 
 <* It muft not, it fliall not continue. His owa 
 " excellent heart will not permit the difappoint- 
 ** ment of a favourite plan to infpire lafting 
 ** refentment againft the worthy youth who is 
 " an honour to his name. Perhaps, under the 
 " prefent circumftances, it will be better for 
 '* you not to meet, at lead till he can fee you 
 *' without too keenly regretting that you cannot 
 " be his fon. I have heard you exprefs a wifli 
 ••' ro vTtit Itaiy ; ccesthat wifh continue, or has 
 '* it been fupplanted by fome other defire ? Say, 
 " in what way can I prove that mine is not a 
 ** mere wordy gratitude •, write to me as fooii 
 ** as you get to Oxford, for I can tafte no 
 '* true fatisfadion unlefs I hear that you are 
 •« happy. 
 
 *' Geraldine Powfrscourt." 
 
 I hope it will not be deemed an imputation o!i 
 ^Ir. Powerfcourt's fortitude, if I fhoeld afurm^ 
 that on reading this letter his eyes were obferved 
 to be fuffufed with tears. With a faltering voice 
 he ordered his horfes. He attempted to write a 
 few line?, but his hand was too tremulous, and 
 his thoughts too confufed to perform the tafk. 
 The deftined heir of Sir William Powerfcourt, 
 renouncing. aJJ thofe fplendid profpeds which 
 
 had 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 93 
 
 ha'l opened upon him, returned to the academic 
 fiiadcs which, warm with the moil fanguine 
 hopes, he had left the week before. He return- 
 ed poor in every worldly poireflion, dejetled, 
 and difm ived \ but rich in integrity, rich in the 
 noble confcioufnefs of approving virtue. 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 -Here, before Heaven, 
 
 I ratify this my rich gift. O Ferdinand ! 
 Do not fmile at me that I boaft her off; 
 For thou wilt find fhe will outftnp aU praife, 
 And maka it halt behind her. 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 JL HE Earl of Monteith was too ardent a 
 ■votary of Cupid, to hear with indifference of 
 'his rival's proceedings. On the firll intelligence 
 that Henry was- arrived at Powerfcourr, hislord- 
 fhip's valet received orders to examine and clean 
 the locks of his filver-mounted piftols, and to 
 have a fulficient quantity of powder and ball 
 ready at the fhorteft notice- Alarmed for his 
 lord's life, Beaufoy inftantly informed lord W. 
 of this bloody preparation, who again prevailed 
 ♦upon his young friend to wait patiently for the 
 €fFe£i of Mifs Powerfcourt's evid-ent prediie^^ion 
 in his favour. 
 
 Meantime the ** tall long-fided dame" whom 
 Hudibras charasflerifes as a " tattling goflip," 
 having received fome hint of what was really 
 •intended at Powerfcourt-houfe, blazoned it with 
 all her powers-, and, knowing that the intelli- 
 gence 
 
94 
 
 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 gence mufl be particularly intereding at W. 
 park, flie put her fwifted winged emiflaries into 
 motion. Thefe, gentle reader, were not serial 
 fylphs, or " Iris gliding down her pp.inted bow:" 
 modern profe is feverely reftriO:ed from the ufe 
 of fuch ornamental machinery. I can only in- 
 troduce a lame dowager of confummate pru- 
 dence and known candour, who had her old 
 horfes driven ten miles through the dirt to won- 
 der with Lady W. that any young Lady could 
 reject Lord Monteith, and accept Henry Powerf- 
 court, and to reprobate the extravagant demand 
 of eight hundred a-year for pin money, on which 
 the intended bride had pofitively infidedi — 
 Another of Fame's bufy meflengers was a gen- 
 tleman fox-hunter, a man of extreme caution 
 and undoubted veracity, who affirmed a| Lord 
 W.'s public dinner, that he had met two barrif- 
 ters and a ferjeant at law riding poll to Sir Wit- 
 liam's that very day. Gn one of the company 
 obferving, that three lawyers confulting'upon a 
 fettlement was rather unufual. Squire Weflern » 
 affirmed with an oath, that one of his neigh- 
 bours told him Sir William would have it fo : — 
 << Thefe lawyers," faid he, " are fad quarrel- 
 •* feme fellows, and if two of them ftiould dif- 
 <^ agree, I will have the third ready to be um- 
 " pire ; for the wedding fhall take place next 
 ** week." Nobody now could doubt his teftir 
 mony, the words were fo very like what Sir Wil- 
 liam would fay. 
 
 When the gentlemen adjourned to the draw^^ 
 ing-room, the bufy fprite I have before alluded 
 to had taken pofTeilion of that goodly field, and 
 inftigated a lady, at the hazard of engroliing too 
 much of the converfation, to enumerate ail the 
 bride's paraphernalia. One part of the com- 
 
 panjr 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 95 
 
 pany indeed afTirmed, (hat they were told Mifs 
 Foweifcourt fecretly difapproved of the match; 
 but three young ladles, influenced by the fame 
 fupernatural agency, prot<?fted that they knew 
 better. They were, they faid, her very inti- 
 mate friends, and were entrultcd by her with 
 the fecret of her attachment to her coufin, 
 whicli had fubfiftcd from their earlieft years. — 
 During thefe narratives, the countenance of 
 Monteith varied from the crimfon glow of rag€ 
 to the livid hue of jealoufy ; and, as he was 
 not fufficiently verfed in the fcience of felf- 
 command to conceal his {\rong emotions, the 
 ladies were all highly entei-ained wirh the idea 
 that he really was very much in love dill ; for- 
 getting, or perhaps having never read in the 
 fable, that what is fport to one may be d^ath to 
 another. 
 
 It was only by repeated obfervations, tliat all 
 thofe reports could not be true, and that the 
 lady's word deferved confidence, that lord W. 
 could prevail upon his noble gutril to fufpenvl the 
 execution of his fanguinary defii^ns. At this 
 crifis the unexpected, the tranlponing intelli- 
 gence arrived, that Henry was certainly gone 
 in difgrace from Powerfcuurt ; but neither the 
 lame dowager, the cautious fox-hunter, the cri- 
 ticiHng kdy, nor even the mtimate friends of 
 Geraldine, could tell why. 
 
 1 he ftate of affairs, both at the park and at 
 Sir William's, loon underwent a furpiifing re- 
 volution. The lovely Geraldine, with fteps 
 once more light as the wood nymph-s, ilew to 
 communicate to her dear Lucy the intelligence 
 which her fparklmg eyes, and.the fmiles that 
 played around her fafcinating face, had already 
 anticipated. Lord Monteith had rene^^'ed his 
 
 addrefTes 
 
96 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 addrefTes in the moft paffionate but rerpe£irul 
 terms ; and Sir William, contrafling fuch flrong 
 attachment with Henry's cold refufal, had de- 
 clared, that as his own plans were fruftrated, 
 he (hould have no longer any objedlion to his 
 lordfhip, provided fome peculiar conditions 
 were granted, with which Monteith joyfully 
 complied. " Felicitate me, Lucy," added Mifj 
 Powerfcourt, <* upon the happy change in my 
 ** fituation. I fcorn the mean affe<ftation of 
 " keeping a generous heart in fufpenfe. I have 
 *< owned to my father, that I regretted his re- 
 *< jedlion of Lord 'Monteith. Nay," added 
 fhe, leaning her blufhing face on Mifs Evans's 
 (boulder, " 1 have confefled that my affeiflioiis 
 «« are irrevocably fixed upon the moft conftant, 
 •« the moft generous of men." 
 
 I will truft that the active imaginarions of 
 my readers will delineate all the fcenes of joyous 
 congratulation, courtfhip, and preparation, 
 which intervened between Sir William's accept- 
 ance of Lord Monteith'soffers,and the nuptial fo» 
 lemnity; and will only premife,that, astheprinci- 
 paLfigures on the canvafswere people of elevated 
 rank and deeply in love, the execution muft be 
 jnafterly. An enamoured Earl muft certainly 
 exprefs his fcntiments in more dignified periods 
 than an enamoured Vifcount ; and if this ob- 
 fervation be extended through all the *« pri- 
 vileged orders," my prudence in fhrinking from 
 the hazardous attempt of recording the loftier 
 flights of heroic love is worthy of fome credit ; 
 particularly in thefe times, when every novelift 
 permits his plain Williams and Richards to ad- 
 drefs their miftrefles in terms that would for- 
 merly have been allowed only to an Archduke or 
 a Count Paiatisje, except indeed the hero were a 
 
 profefled 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 97 
 
 profefied Knight errant, to whom the ufe of 
 extravagant hyperbole has belonged from time 
 immeinorial. 
 
 Let it then be fuppofed, that after the noble 
 lover had many times repeated his injuncftions to 
 Phoebus to ** gallop apace his fiery-fooled 
 fteeds," and had chided creeping Time for not 
 «* fpeedlng on the lagging hours," the aufpici- 
 0U3 morning at lad arrived, and the lovely pair, 
 attended by many of the neigiibouring gentry, 
 and a numerous cavalcade, compofed of S"r 
 William's tenants, proceeded to the parifli 
 church, where Mr. Evans joined their hpiUds, 
 amid the acclamations of hundreds, whom the 
 unrefined but liberal hofpitality of the worthy 
 bsronet hadaflembled on this joyful occafion. 
 
 Though female delicacy v/ould gladly have 
 efcaped the oppreffive ftate of public celebration, 
 yet Geraldine was determined not to oppofe her 
 father's knovvn predi!e£lion for all thofe anti- 
 quated cuRoms which were derived from the 
 feuvlal barons, whom he gloried in imitating. — 
 Gratified in tlie object of her choice, Lady 
 Monteith prtituled with unaffected fweetnefs and 
 poii!hed grace at thofe fcilal entertainments by 
 which iSir William ilrove to ditFufe on all aroijnd 
 him the overflowing fatisfaCiion of his own 
 heirt. 
 
 I (hall here perh^ips b^' afkel, how his general 
 difiike to lords and love-matches, his plans in 
 fi^vour of Henry, and his wilhes 10 perpetuate' 
 his own name and fa! nil y, could be fo foon for- 
 gotten. This lalt obj-(5lion is anfvvered cy ob- 
 ferving, that a ciaufe \n the marriage-fetile.ment 
 fecured the inheritance of Sir William's fortune 
 to the fecond fon of tnis marriage, who was ex- 
 pief^ly enjoined to receive the name of his ma- 
 
 VoL. L £ ternal 
 
98 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ternal grandfather ; or, in cafe of no fecond 
 fon, the eldtft daugliter was to convey the 
 Powerfcourt honours to her hullDand. A dif- 
 pofition like Sir William's, though prone to 
 purfue a favourite fpeculation with eagernefs, 
 will not renounce every future good, bccaufe iis 
 primary wifh has proved impracticable, but will 
 ipeedily return to that harmonized tranqui.lify 
 which beft accords with its natural feelings. — 
 When the ('oating father faw that Lord Mon- 
 leith beheld his Geraldine with nearly the fame 
 idolizing preference as he did himfelf, he forgot 
 that he was a Peer, and he almoft became a con- 
 vert to the opinion, that a love match was well 
 enough now and then. 
 
 Befide the claufe already mentioned, the deed 
 of fettlement contained another of a very ex- 
 traordinary nature. It was, that on Lady Mon- 
 teith's fucceeding to her inheritance, two thou- 
 fand pounds a year fhould be folely appropriated 
 to her, that is to fay, not merely the income, 
 but the abfolute power of giving or bequeathing 
 it to whomfoever (he chofe. Lord Monteith's 
 lawyer fiated this demand to be extremely ad- 
 verfe to the interefts of his noble client, whole 
 whole fortune was entailed upon the iffue of this 
 marriage -, and even Sir William thought that 
 his dear girl was a little unaccountable, in afking 
 for a power injurious to the interefls of her 
 own children. [he lady, however, perfuled in 
 the requeft, which wjiS indeed the only one (he 
 ur^ed j and the matter being referred to Lord 
 Monteith, he, w^th lover-like ccmplacency, 
 infifted that all oppofifjon on the part of 
 his counfel fliould be immediately with- 
 drawn. 
 
 It 
 
A TALE Ot THE TIMES. 
 
 99 
 
 It wasalfo (llpulated, that Sir WillLim flioulcl 
 be gratified with the company of his daughter 
 and fon-in-Iaw for three 'months every year at 
 Powerfcourt. Tiie good baronet, on propofing 
 this condition, explained the motives to lord 
 Monteith: " I do not doubt, my lord, but that 
 ** as you will foon have a pretty large concern 
 *< in thefe parts, you will be anxious to get ac- 
 <* quainted with the neighbourhood, and to 
 « know the characters of your dependants. I 
 << am now, my lord, very o!d, and every thing 
 <' mud foon be your's and Geraldine's. Itgives 
 " me pleafure to think that I fiiall leave you a 
 *' fet of upright worthy tenants j and I truft 
 <* you will act a father's part by them, as I 
 «* and my anceftors always have done. 1 will 
 ** introduce them all to you before you leave 
 <' us. Poor fouls I they have been ufcd to 
 <* have their landlords live among them on free 
 <* and fociable terms, ar.d it will grieve them 
 *< not to fee the chimnies of Powerfcourt fm.ke 
 <* as they ufed to do. However, I ihall not 
 ** ejcpedl that your loidflsip can live here more 
 ** than four months in the year when i«- comes 
 *' to be your own ; I know you have a feat in 
 " Parliament, and when very particular bufi- 
 " nefs is goiiig on, you mud certainly be in 
 «' London ; ior the atfairs of the nation are of 
 " morecoiifequence than the intertits of fifty or 
 " fixty country yeomen. You have a very 
 «< fine c idle too of your own near. Loch Lo- 
 << muiid, tailing quite to dcfcay, I hear, your 
 «' anceftors havmg negleded it tor feveral years. 
 " Thai is a fa.' pity, 1 think : doubtids, my 
 «* lord, you will wii'n to ^;o down there, and fit 
 *< it up again. Geraldine will be very ha^py to 
 
 ii 2 "^ affift 
 
I©0 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ** afiin: you in beautifying it, and making it a 
 " comfortable refidence." 
 
 It will not be very furprlfinjT that feme local 
 refle(Slions fhoukl induce Sir Wil'iam to lay a 
 particular flrefs on the word ccwfcrtable. Lord 
 Monteith, ftarting from a rm^erie, exclaimed, 
 «• O, undoubtedly !" Sir Wiilium, who difco- 
 vered that he had been totally abfent during his 
 whole harangue, perceiving the objeO wliich 
 had fixed his attention, fmlled, and forgave 
 him. Nor will my readers be inexorable, 
 when I tell them that the objedl was the 
 beautiful Geraldine, who, with her <* loofe 
 hair floating in the wind," unconfcious that (he 
 attra6led any obfcrvation, fwept the foft ftrings 
 of her harp in a neighbouring alcove, and 
 chaunted, Mdth her melodious voice, the fol- 
 lowing air : 
 
 Come, Cupid, with ambrofial flowers, 
 Rear'd in thy own Idalian bowers, 
 
 My nuptial wreath adorn ; 
 Here let the purple am'ranth bloom, 
 Mix'd with the lily's chafte perfuoie, 
 
 And rofe without a thorn. 
 
 ! hafte, each claflic fymbol choofe, 
 The laurel facred to the Mufe 
 
 Of elegance and tafle ; 
 With thcfe thy Mother's myrtle bind, 
 Befl: emblem of a placid mind. 
 
 With gifts perennial grac'd I 
 
 1 do not aflc thy frolic hand 
 To weave the perifliable band 
 
 That fades on fafhion's brow ; 
 My conftant foul a tie requires, 
 Firm as the virtue which infpircs 
 
 And digninss my vow. 
 
 Give 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. lOI* 
 
 Give me the mild perfuafive ait, 
 Which holds the captivated heart 
 
 In unregretted loils ; 
 Shed thy own lultie o'er my face, . 
 When beauty mourns each ravidi'd grace, 
 
 i^nd. youth no longer fmiles. 
 
 Perplexing doubts my bofom tear ; 
 Oh ! let me fan with veftal care 
 
 The Hymeneal fire ; 
 Guard it from pafilon's wild extreme. 
 And bid his falutary beam 
 
 With life alone expire * I 
 
 Having now. gradually led my readers to thaf 
 point where I at firft rather abruptly introduced 
 them, I fnall endeavour to proceed ftraight for- 
 ward during the remaindsrof my narrative. 
 
 * Mrs. Prudentia is very forry that fhe has not 
 ublolutely conformed to the opinion of the Re- 
 viewers, who be flowed fuch liberal praife upon her 
 profe, by entirely banlfhing the vagrant Mufe. She 
 has a moft unlucky knack of " hiiching into rhyme ;" 
 and when the bantlings are produced, fhe had rather 
 that they (luck on the top fiielf of a book-cafe, 
 than that they ftiould be immediately committed to 
 the flames. With regard to their advice of pub- 
 lifning her poetical productions fcparately, fhe carv 
 only anfwer, that fhe has repeatedly made the un- 
 fortunate experiment. Her bookfellers all agree im 
 one feiilimtnt, " Po.etry will not _go off." 
 
 CHAP, 
 
102 A TALE or THE TIMES. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 As humorous as Winter, and as fiidden 
 As flaws congealed in the fpring of day. 
 His temper, therefore, mnft be well obferv'd. 
 Chide him for faults, but do it reverently. 
 
 Shakerpeare. 
 
 J-/i 
 
 ORD MONTEITH was one of thofe com- 
 men charaOers which ilie world every day pro- 
 duceSj and which a very little penetration will 
 eafily unravel. His abilities were not confpi- 
 cuous, and his application to the improvement 
 of them had been as great as a rich heir, early 
 become his own mafler, ufually beftows. He 
 pofieiTed a great deal of good temper, and that 
 open-hearted eafy generonty which always fuc» 
 ceeds in fecuring general good opinion. His 
 paffions were naturally very ftrong ; and, never 
 having been taught the neceility of reftraining 
 them, they were encreafed by continual grati- 
 fication, till they fomewhat refembled the im- 
 petuous torrent. Nature intended him to be 
 humane and beneScent ; but a negle<fk of dif- 
 cipline and condant indulgence had introduced 
 an indolent felfiQinefs. Yet Rill, if a go 'i 
 deed required no great exertion, or if an ob- 
 je6l in dillrefs luckily prefented itfelf at a mo- 
 ment when he was difengaged from any favou- 
 rite purfuit, he would not only fliew a noble 
 liberality, but alfo enjoyed a noble pleafurc froiri 
 the benevolent deed. 
 
 A cliaratfler 
 
A TALE ®F THE TIMES, lOJ 
 
 A character liks lord Monteiih's rather fitted 
 its poffeflor to follow others, than to be a leader. 
 Unhappily for him, his birth and fortune ob- 
 truded h'lm into notice, and placed him in fitua- 
 tions to which his'natural talents were unequal. 
 The fplendour of his rank and his reputed mu- 
 nificence furrounded him with parafites ; and the 
 impel uofiry of hi3 temper prevented him from 
 liavingany directing friend. Lord W. at whofe 
 lioufe he lately refided, was a man of the world, 
 very folicitous that his noble putH: (hould formi 
 a proper niatrinooniai connection ; but extend- 
 ing the idea of propriety no farther than. to the 
 fortune, the family, or perhaps the perfonal 
 graces of the lady ; and though the young earl, 
 during his paroxyfms of love, added to thefe 
 allurements every angelic quality, he did not 
 accurately define what thofe angelic qualities 
 really were. Such was the man whom the pur- 
 blind god, in one of his capricious moments, 
 felciSled to be the hufband of the beautiful, 
 animated, intelligent Geraldine Powerfcourt ; 
 whofe feelings, exquifitely fufceptible, had been 
 accuHLomed to the regular tenor of gentle man- 
 ners, uniform conhiient goodnefs, and every 
 fond ind-uh^ence and mild endearment that pa- 
 rental tendeniefs could beftow. 
 
 The ftntiments with which the young couple 
 approached the altar of Hymen were as diffi- 
 milar as their charaflers. The bridegroom 
 thought no further of the awful ceremony, than 
 as it was the means of putting him in poflef- 
 fion of an elegant and beautiful woman, upon 
 whofe account he had felt a great deal of un- 
 eafinefs. He fuppofed that this event would of 
 courfe greatly increafe his (lock of happinefs; 
 but as to any abridgment of his former plea- 
 
 fures. 
 
104 ^ TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 fures, or any ferlous duties impofed by the cha- 
 racter of a hufouud, he had not the leaft idea 
 of fuch disagreeable refiiicticDs. He was, in- 
 deed, firmly of opinion^ that inclination would 
 in future flmngiy attach him to home, and that 
 he ftiould tind the fociety of his beloved <« a 
 perpetual fountain of domedic fweets j" but 
 ihould that txpeclation be dif.ippolnted, (and 
 fome of his married frlendf had complained 
 that they had be?n rakc-^.-in on a fimilar occa- 
 fion,) would any body j-rctend to fay that he had 
 TiO right to make himieif i: comfovtcible as was 
 in his power? He had already a fine houfe, 
 elegant carriages, and a nuiiierous retinue ; h.e 
 was very feldom at home, to be fure, but he 
 believed that the houfe-keeper and the (leward 
 went on very well ; and (hould he (which was 
 fcarcely poflible) find no m.ore attravflions in 
 his own fire hde when graced by the prefence 
 cf a charming wife, he faw nothing in the 
 marriage ceremony which forbade his making 
 liimfelf happy elfewhere. 
 
 The more correct principles and refined ima- 
 gination of Lady Monteith taught her to confi- 
 der the man whom flie vowed to love, honour, 
 and obey, as the partner of all her joys and for- 
 TowF, the lord of her dediny, the guardian cf 
 her chara<fler, and the guide of her conduifl. 
 Confcious that death alone could diffolve the 
 fciemn bond into which fhe had juR entered, her 
 racfl: anxious wifhes were pointed to one end, 
 that of being for ever amiaole in her hull)and's 
 eves. She derermined to (ludy his difpofition 
 with the mod afTiduous care, to comply with h,is 
 peculiarities, and by injpeiceptible, beciiufe 
 gentle, means, gradually to infpire that delicacy 
 cf lade and fentiment wiiich even lu-r partial 
 
 judgmeiit 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. lOJ 
 
 jadgment difcovered to be wanting in his cha^ 
 raster. Had her obfervations been more pro- 
 found, {hide after Oiade mufl have appeared ; 
 yet, perhaps, had (he even feen the whole por- 
 trait in its true colours, her flrong predilection, 
 and the fanguine hopes which inexperienced 
 youth (and I mud add youthful vanity too) had 
 tempted her to form of beini^ able to make a 
 complete revolution in his charader, would 
 have encouraged her to attempt the liazardous 
 experiment. She never refi cled, that the tender 
 indulgence to which Cn^ had been accuftomed 
 ' mult render the perpetual renunciation of her 
 own deilres a pa".nfui taik; , nor was her experi- 
 ence fufRcient to teach her, that the refinements 
 which (he meant to introduce, like delicate 
 exotics, could only fiourilh in a congenial 
 foil. 
 
 1 he firft Inftance that thebridegroom gave of 
 that habitual felt indulgence, . and difregard to 
 the wifnesof others, whieh-might be faid to be 
 the predominant feature in his mind, was an 
 impatience to leave I'owerfcourt long before Sir 
 Wiiiiam had iiniOied have his plms of itftal 
 g!ee. His lordOiip had, witli viiible ennui^ 
 endvired tne teiiuufnefs of a pubHc day, and' 
 given fuch half-civii anfwers to the exciamation' 
 of " 1 heartily wifli you joy, my Lord!*' which 
 burfl upon him from every quarter, as to excite a- 
 doubt in the congratuiators, whether he really 
 was or was not glad that he wis married. At 
 dinner, he was only amr.fcd by obfcrvincr the 
 indifijriminating appetites of country gentlemen ;, 
 and when the cloth was removed, as he found 
 himfelf the objedi of general attention, he de- 
 termined to give no vexatious preference J and 
 therefore confining all confideration to his owa 
 
 1^ 3 - reveries. 
 
J06 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 reveries, he continued drawing lines upon the 
 table with the madeira or claret, and proceeded 
 no further in the way of difcourfe than by a hum' 
 or a fn^iie. While his right-hand neighbour 
 was defcribing the beft method of improving 
 land, his left explained the advantages of inland 
 navigation, and the gentleman oppofite addrefled 
 to him a long narrative explanatory of the diffi- 
 culties attending a liw-fuit which had been 
 awarded to him at the lad Caernarvon afliizes. 
 Their manner was verbofe, and they talked all 
 together : his lordfliip, therefore, concluded 
 that ih.ey faid nothing worthy of attention, and 
 ,that the chagrin he felt arofe from the want of 
 fuperior fociety. 
 
 He feized the firfl opportunity of withdraw- 
 ing from the company to the countefs's dreffing- 
 room, and on entering flung himfelf upon a fofa, 
 with (o loud a yawn as to alarm her ladyfliip and 
 Mlfs Evans with fericus apprehenfions that he 
 was taken ill. *' Are not you well ?" exclaimed 
 the former with tender anxiety. <* It is impof- 
 «* fible to be well among fuch boors," returned 
 his lordfliip. ** I have been talk'd at all the 
 «* afternoon, and cannot for my foul remember 
 *< one fmgle fentence that has been uttered. I 
 ** am determined to go to London the firfl op- 
 ** portunity : living here three months would 
 *« be the death of me. I protefl:, my chaming 
 ** Geraldine, that you put me in mind of a rofe 
 « growing in the middle of a wildernefs." 
 
 Lady Monteith could fcarcely enjoy a compli- 
 ment which conveyed fuch ftrong contempt for 
 what fhe had ever been accuftomed to view with 
 affedlionate regard. She fmothered a figh, and 
 aflumed a faint fmile. But the fmile and the figh 
 were alike cifregarded. Her lord's attention was 
 
 now 
 
A TALE Oi" THE TIMES. 1 07 
 
 now engrofled by a favourite fpanlel ; with that 
 he amufed himfclf for a few moments, and then 
 dropped aficep upon the fofa. 
 
 Another incident a few days after this dif- 
 played his humour in a ftiil ftronger light. Sir 
 Ralph and Lady JMorgan fent an invitation in 
 form, requeitiug the iionour of the bride and "* 
 bridegroom's company at their feat to a dinner 
 and a hall given in honour of their nuptials. 
 The invitation was written on an elegant card, • 
 decorated by her ladyfliip's owiv pencil with 
 Lilliputian Oupids lighting their tiny torches. 
 Twenty years ago the Mor^'ans were people in 
 high life, atid ev;^ti the gaiiant Montekh would 
 not then have bludied to have appeared at her 
 ladyfnip'b parties •, but twenty years are fufficient ' 
 to annihilate mighty enipires, and mud unqueflii- 
 onabiy caufe great revolutions in a private family, 
 Jiiit before his affairs were irrcc-ievable, 6ir 
 Ral^h difcovered, that to be one of the very fii(t' 
 people is a preliminary itep to becoming nobody ; 
 and his lady refle^^ed on the danger of coquetry 
 and dilhpation before the lall falfe ftep had 
 irretrievably ruined her chara£ler. They had 
 fufficient good fenfe to refolve on nmtual amend- 
 ment ; jrlius of retirement and oeconomy wers 
 immediately adopted, and regular pcrfcverance 
 in thefc falutary meafures had enabled them to 
 refume their old family fplendor a little before 
 Lady Montelth's marriage. Certainly at this 
 period nobody knev.' the Morgans ; and her lady- 
 flap's knowledge of the fafhionable world was 
 fo antedated, that the very card flie intended 
 fhouid announce her indifputable claim to fupe- 
 rior elegance, convinced Lord Monteith that fhc 
 mull be a mere fal laly and that the viOt would 
 
 prove 
 
IC8 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 prove a bore . as a natural confequence, he deter- 
 mined not to go. 
 
 On the day appointed, the countefs, attired in 
 all her bridal fplcndor, in complinrient to her'' 
 father's old friend, waited for her lord's approach 
 to lead her to her chariot. Her lord appeared in 
 Ids morning cirnribiUe, and in a half-whifper 
 announced Itis refcilution not to go. " I hare 
 «« flafe vifiis," faid he, " and I never could 
 *« endure country bails in al! my life." — '' But 
 *' this," returned the countefs, raifing lier plead- 
 ing eyes, ** is abfoUuely given in compliment to 
 " us." — ** Never mind, never mind," continued 
 his iordnjp, hurrying her to the carrir.ge, and 
 at the fame time holding a handkerchief to his 
 mouth : *' You can make an apology. You fee 
 *^ I have got a terrible looth-ach ; upon my foul» 
 ** I would not go for a thoufand pounds. 
 " Come, your father waits ; you will be too 
 <f late." At thefe words he lifted her into the 
 chaifcj and then, wirh the voice of one in extreme 
 pain, exchLii:ed, '* Bfft compliaients — forry I 
 ** can't do myfclf the honour — make hafte, my 
 " love \ if you are too late, I fliall be miferii- 
 <►' ble." 
 
 Lndy Monteith had now, for the firfi time in 
 her life, the painful lafk of apologizing for what 
 flie conct^iv-ed to be a moral impropriety in the 
 ccnducl of a perfon whom (lie tenderly loved. 
 Unufcd to di^guife, {he faltered in her excufes, 
 which, indeed, feemed ratlier to make the affair 
 wcrfe than to improve it. She found every 
 thin^ at the Morgans in (late array; the enter- 
 tainment was concuc^i'ed with great decorum; 
 and nothing but the lam.ented abfence of Lord 
 Monteith feemed to render deficient the eclat of 
 the fcene. To compenfate for the bridegroom.'s 
 
 ludenefs 
 
K 'TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 09- 
 
 rudenefe, the bride thought it her duty to exert 
 herfelf with greater afiiduity j but her attenti- 
 ons were ungraceful, her wit forced, and her 
 Jaughter artinciah After having endured a mod 
 irkfome evening, (he returned home, and found 
 that the ncble invalid had completely banifhed 
 his tooth ach and his chagrin, by wiinefTing the 
 amufements of an afs-race. 
 
 Lady Monteith liftened with feeming intereft 
 to the ludicrous accidents to which ruftic com- 
 petition had given rife, and then ventured upon 
 a gentle expoftulation on his abfenting himfelf 
 from a fcene which mufl have afforded him 
 fuperior pleafure. Her defcription of the enter-- 
 tainment and the company made his lordQiip a 
 convert to her opinion, and, unfolicited, hs fet 
 off the next morning to the Morgans, to make a 
 perfonal apology for his abfence. He found 
 them fo unexpeciediy agreeable, that on a flight 
 invitation he fpent tlie day with them, and re- 
 turned home, not adiamed of his own caprice, 
 but vexed that he had miffed the pleafanteR party 
 that had occurred ^inct his refidence in Caern<^r- 
 vonfhiie. Not that lie was any way to blame; 
 his earlieft recolleftion did not furnifh him with 
 one infiance of his having a6led wrong; the 
 fault lay entirely in the unlucky Cupids and the 
 painted card. 
 
 The feafon of the year of which I am now 
 treating was May, a period when the country 
 holds out its pleafures only to the liudious, the 
 induftrious, and the contented. It is of all 
 times the mofl infipid to the Iportfman, who, 
 being deprived of all chance of breaking his 
 neck or blowing out his brains, is obliged to 
 hurry up to town to avoid the puerility of gather- 
 ing primrofes, and liflening to the cawing oF 
 
 rook*. 
 
no A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 rooks. Lord Monleith had already found his 
 nuptial felicity lefs perfe<fl. than his expectations 
 had conceived ; but this, for the reafons I have 
 above dated, could net be from any error in his 
 own behavicur^ or any impropriety in his own 
 judgment: nor did it proceed from the imper- 
 fe<Stions of his adorable Geraldine, who proved 
 to be the angelic creature he had before fup- 
 pofed her : it was all owing to the odious coun- 
 try, to Sir William's odd ways, and the iivnd^ 
 dl'ing people whom he fufPereJ to vifit him. In • 
 London he (hould undoubtedly enjoy the ex- 
 petled paradife ; there his lovely girl muft at- 
 traft univerfal admiration ; he fhould breathe 
 another air, enjoy a different fociety, receive 
 the congratulations of all his own friends ; in 
 ihort, he muttfet off for town immediately. 
 
 When, v'i^h many polite exprefhons of regret 
 for being obliged to Ihorten his vifit at Powerf- 
 court, lord Monteith firft acquainted Sir Wil- 
 liam with the neceffity of his going up to town, 
 the latter difcovered great furprife that he OiouKi 
 choofe to go to that difagreeable place jull when 
 parliament was fo near breaking up, and that 
 t})ere was no more national bufinefs of import- 
 ance to fettle. " This," faid he, <* feems to 
 •^^ be the very time that you fliould take a trip 
 ** to Scotland, to exam.ine the plans of your ar- 
 •* chite(£ls, to fet them to work, and to get the 
 ** foil fmooth and ready to plant next autumn. 
 ** I am afraid, my lord, you are not naturally 
 «* fond of a country life ; but it is only becaufe 
 " you have never been ufed to it. Get ac- 
 ** quainted with your neighbours; confider the 
 *< intereft which you have in the fcenes around 
 •* you ; remember how much good you may 
 *» do in a fpot where you reign like a little king, 
 
 *< compared 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. IIT 
 
 «• compared to what you can do In London, and 
 « you will foon be as fond of Monteith as I am 
 *< of Powerfcourt.'* 
 
 The manner in wh'ch Sir William uttered 
 thefe expreffions was too much marked by dig- 
 nified benevolence to admit of ridicule; and the 
 unfortunate lord would have been compelled to 
 give up his London journey from the mere want 
 of arguments to defend its expediency, had not 
 accident favoured him with a convenient rea- 
 fon for putting his defigns in execution, which 
 even Sir William allowed to be indifputable, . 
 
 CHAP. XIIL 
 
 So mourn'd the dame of Ephefus her lore. 
 
 Shakespeare, 
 
 \JN the mariage of lord Monteith, an exprefa 
 was difpatched to Kinloch caflle, to inform lady 
 Arabella Macdonald and lady Madelina Frazer 
 of the joyful event. The meflenger on his arri- 
 val found the caflle attired in the moft fombrous 
 weeds of woe, owing to the death oVms ofletiftble 
 mafler, Sir Simon Frazer, who, after having 
 exifled for feveral years in a ftate of complete 
 inanity, expired at the patriarchal age of ninety- 
 two, to the great grief of his inconfolable con- 
 fort. 
 
 As lady Madelina was too much abforbed in 
 woe publicly to take an adlive part in the con- 
 cerns of the family, the difpatches were opened 
 
 by 
 
II :^ A TALE OF THE TIMDS. 
 
 by lady Arabella, who a6led as miRrcfs during the* 
 feclufion of her aunt. She read her brother's ac- 
 count of his marriage to the moft excellent and 
 beautiful of women, and, after cafllng a fide 
 pjance at the chimney-glafs which refl;;£\ed her 
 own figure, (he proceeded to open a letter from 
 Iier new filter, vihich exprtlTed a hope that the 
 endearing tie of friendfhip would foon be added 
 to that of kindred ; but what appeared to the 
 reader to be the mod fignificant part of the epif- 
 tle was that where lady Monteith added a preiT- 
 inij invitation to their houfe in London, and an 
 afTurance that fhe^ fliould rejoice in the opportu- 
 nity of exerring ail her a-bilities to promote the 
 happinefs of any of her lord's friends. 
 
 The general etiquette of Kinioch caflie had 
 edablilhed a rule of decorum which extended 
 to the mod trivial occurrences. Every motion 
 was to be grave and confequential ; and a run 
 could only be iudified by- one wing of tie houfe 
 being on fire, or by the appearance of an ene- 
 mv on the coaft. So (iritX were thefe injunc- 
 tions, that lady Madelina lierfelf could not dif- 
 penfe with them even upon the ?.fFe6ling inci- 
 dent of Sir Simon's death ; for, on being in- 
 formed that if (he wili)ed to fee him alive ilie 
 muit come immediately, fhe rofe with her ufual 
 majefty, and throwing her train into its proper 
 graceful folds, moved with flow and (lately 
 Heps to the door of the aparfment, where fne 
 found, to her deep regret, that fhe was come 
 too late ; a circumilance the more to be lament- 
 ed, as he went off in a fit, and had nobody 
 with him but his old valet, who was lame with 
 the rheumatifm. Thefe obfervations will more 
 clearly point out the grofs impropriety of lady 
 Arabella's condud, who with a joyful exclama« 
 
 lion 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMERS. II3 
 
 tion of " O ! my brother is married, and I will 
 " go to London," fet off full fpeed to lier aunt's 
 apartment. 
 
 The forrows of that lady, though of too deep 
 a caft to admit more than one narrow ftripe of 
 daylight, were not fo wholly fublime, as not 
 to require now and then a few adventitious fup- 
 ports. The room in which Sir Simon lay in 
 flate was contiguous to her own. She vifited it 
 every day, and was mod feduloufly exa£l in 
 having the emblazonment completed in the 
 higheft ftyle of heraldry. In a remote country, 
 where few ev^ents occur to excite the attention 
 of the curious, a feudal laird lying in (late in 
 his own caftle was an agreeable novelty ; and 
 as the relid: was not averfe to the exhibition, Sir 
 Simon became a much more interefting object 
 after he was dead, than ever he had been when 
 alive. All who faw, by repeating what they 
 had feen, excited the attention of others. Mutes 
 were ftanding all the way up the ftairs ; all the 
 (late apartments were hung with black tapers as 
 big as men 5 plumes of feathers as large as thofe 
 of Otranto, and efcutcheons and achievements 
 were placed at every corner. Several of the lady- 
 vilitants, after having feen all thefe aftoniOiing 
 things, pleaded the rights of friendfhip, and en- 
 treated that their ftrong de{\re of combating lady 
 Madelina's extreme grief might wave the rules of 
 etiquett€y and after a little reluctance, they were 
 admitted into her apartment. She generally 
 fainted MDon receiving company, though y^w^- 
 iimes, if fhe found herfelf exhaufled, {he only 
 t^xhibited a flood of tears, and called upon the 
 dear fliade of her lamented lord. They generally 
 reafoned her into a flate of calmnefs and rcfig- 
 naiion \ z\\6 fitneiimesy if the vifitants were Fra- 
 
 zers. 
 
114 ^, TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 zers and only the wives or daughters of younger 
 brotliers, they fat down to a confolatory poo! at 
 quadrille. But even here her ladydiip's fenti- 
 mental tendernefs was vifible ; for Ihe could only 
 he brought to play at that j^ame from a recol- 
 leclion *' that poor dear Sir Simon, u'hen he 
 " was quite himfclf, was remarkably partial to 
 ** Iioldin^ a lone-hand." 
 
 It was at fuch a time, and when lady jNIadellna 
 was engaged with fuch a party, that lady Ara- 
 bella, forgetting her uncle's death and her aunt's 
 mslancholy, ruflied into the room, health on her 
 cheek, joy in her eye, and the Monteith packet 
 ill her hand, calling out rather too loudly, 
 *« My brother is married to a Mifs Powerfcourt, 
 •' and has a&ed me to come to London." The 
 affe^ling word marriage flung poor lady Madelina 
 into hyfterics, to which indeed the fudden en- 
 trance and loud exclamation had previoufly con- 
 tributed. On her recovery another fource of 
 anxiety was ftarted. Who were the Powerf- 
 courts ? What alliances had they formed ? 
 Had any body ever heard of the family before ? 
 Luckily, a very (kilful genealogifb was prefent, 
 whofe information entirely obviated all anxiety 
 upon the fcore of degradation j and her ladyHiip' 
 became tolerably compofed. It was now declared 
 to be theuniverfal opinion that (he had indulged 
 her melancholy quite long enough; that nothing 
 was fo good for bad fpirits as a journey ; and 
 that it would be quite kind and condefcending 
 in her to pay a vifit to the young couple. Her 
 ladyfhip for fome time flrongly refifted the pro- 
 pofal; protefled ihat her intentions v.'ere foon to 
 follow Sir Simon, whofe ghoft Die was fure I'lili 
 waited for her, and to die upon the very fpot 
 which contained his facred remains. It Teemed 
 
 to 
 
'a tale of the times. IIj;, 
 
 to be doubtful to the lacy-comforters, whether 
 Sir Simon had not had enough of his lady's com- 
 pany, for they denied the facl about the ghoft ; 
 and at laft convinced her, that it was exceedingly 
 wicked in a perfon of her age to talk of dying, 
 /ifter much dIfFufe argument, it was agreed that 
 the interment tliould take place a fortnight 
 fooner than was intended ; and that when the 
 efcutcheons and afciiievements had been pro- 
 perly arranged, lady Madelina and her niece 
 iliouW prepare for their London journey. The 
 latter clofed the converfation by obferving, that 
 thefe were the only agreeable founds (lie had 
 heard fmceher arrival in Scotland. 
 
 %Vhile lady Arabella fpeeded the joyous pre- 
 paration, and indulged all the hopes of future 
 pleafures and triumphs which youthful confi- 
 dence, aided by her early recolle<fl;ion, could 
 fupply, lady Monteith took leave of Powerfcourt 
 with far different fentiments. The one, averting 
 her eyes from the detefted v/alls of Kinlcch 
 with an ardent wifn never more to behold what 
 {he called a burying place for the living, could 
 only bcinterefted by fubje£ls remotely connected 
 with dear, dear London : the latter vifited every 
 fpot which the amufements of her youth had 
 endeared, and took leave of every acquaintance, 
 domeftic, and friend, with the foft regret of 
 remembered kindnefs. Next to thofe fentiments 
 which her ever-revered and beloved father ex- 
 cited, her feparaiion from the Evans's called 
 forth the moft live'y emotions. It was at firfl 
 her intention to have requeued that Lucy might, 
 accompany her to town ; but, had not the pro- 
 pofedvifit of her lord's relations induced her to 
 poOpone that defire till (he could have been 
 fully at liberty to enjoy the uneftrained plea- 
 
 fure 
 
Il5 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 fure of her fociety, the indifpofition of Mrs. 
 Evans would have fruftrated the fcheme. That 
 excellent woman was now confined to her cham- 
 ber by the increafe of a diforder under which 
 {he had laboured for many years; and though 
 her fituaticn by no means excluded hope, her 
 tender domed ic daughter could feldom Ileal an 
 hour from ihx pleafingly painful tafk of attend- 
 ing her, to breathe her fond wiflies and fonder 
 adieus to that dearell friend from whom fne was 
 now for the firfl time in her life going to be fe- 
 parated. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Xighter than air, Hope's fummer-vifions die, 
 If but a fleeting cloud obfcure the fl<y ; 
 If but a beam of fober Reafon play, 
 Lo Fancy's fairy froft-work melts away ! 
 But can the wiles of art, the grafp of power, 
 Snatch the rich relics of a well-fpent hour ? 
 
 Pleasures of Memory. 
 
 A HE young countefs, waving every form of 
 flate which might have proved inconvenient in 
 a fick family, walked down to the parfonage, to 
 bid farewell to her maternal friend, as fhe con- 
 flantly ftyled the refpesSl^able fufTcrer. She- 
 came juft at the time when Mrs. livans was 
 going to rife, and clairoing admittance with the 
 privilege of long-eftabliflied intimacy, employed 
 herfelf in airing the good lady's fliawl •, while 
 Lucy was bufily engaged i'\ r.lTifting her mother 
 
 to 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES, II7 
 
 to drefs, and in fixing her eafy chair in a proper 
 fituation. Mrs. Evans looked at hei noble gueft 
 with a tender firile. ** I perceive, my dearelt 
 «« lady Monteith," faid Cie, «' that there is no 
 " alteration in your character. Your goodnefs 
 << and amiable: vivacity has fufFered no diminu- 
 *< tion from thereferveof raniv or the etiquette 
 *< of dignity •, and fee the elTe^l it has upon us. 
 « We can confider you in no other light than 
 " that of our old fiiend. I admit you to a 
 ** fick chamber, and treat you with a little groan- 
 *' ing, while Lucy finds you fome employment, 
 •* as if you were ftiil the playful Ger»:ildine 
 *' whom I had ufed alternately to corre£i: and 
 ** idolize. Do you remember drclTing my cat 
 <' in a blue jacket and trowfers, teaching it to 
 " walk upright, and protefting that it u as the 
 «' very image of yourcoufin Henry; and after- 
 *< wards, when you faw him crying at the com- 
 *' parifon, giving him the new gold watch your 
 ** father had jull bought you, by way of confo- 
 « lationr" 
 
 *^ I have many unatoned fins to anfwer for to 
 " Henry Fowerfcourt," faid lady Monteith 
 gravely, ** worfc than tearing his bell Virgil to 
 ** paper my baby-houfe, or caufing rhe deltruc- 
 *« tion of his plaider-of-Paris bufts by dreffing 
 " them in high-crowned hats ant! hooped petti- 
 *< coats to frighten the houfe-m.aids. I have 
 «< bladed his faircft profpe6ls; but I have not 
 ** forgot that I owe him an indelible debt of 
 " gratitude. I have jud received from him an 
 «' afFecling congratulatior.. He writes in a 
 « difpirited ftyle, and complains of a low fe- 
 " ver ; but his wiihes for my happinefs are 
 « breathed in fuch a strong and atlcclionate 
 " manner, that while I read his letter 1 felt — 
 
 " I know 
 
Il8 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 <* I know not what I felt, unlefs it were a wlfli 
 <' that I had the power of making him as happy 
 ** as he deferves " 
 
 During lady Monteith's fpecch Mifs Evans 
 was employed in mixing her mother's medicine. 
 Her hands appeared to tremble, (he dropped 
 the cup, and, while apologizing for her awk- 
 wardnefs, burft into tears. " Your clofe con- 
 *< finement makes you nervous, my love," faid 
 Mrs. Evans. ** Go into the garden, and water 
 '* your little nurflings; your friend will chat 
 " with me while you are gone -, and I felt fo 
 *< eafy this morning, that 1 intended to omit 
 «« the draught." 
 
 Lucy inllantly obeyed. Her mother's eyes 
 followed her to the door ; they were then lifted 
 to Heaven, as if enforcing a filent ejaculation, 
 and finally fettled upon Lady Monteith with a 
 look of fupplicating earneftnefs. 
 
 Silence enfued for a few momenta, which 
 Mrs. Evans hefitatingly interrupted : " Till you 
 " are a mother, my dear madam, (faid (he,) 
 *^ you cannot know the full force of a mother's 
 <* fears. Mine, perhaps, are exaggerated by 
 <* my prsfent weaknefs. It flrikes me, that 
 <* my dear girl's dejection is even greater than 
 ** my indifpofitlon, or your leaving us, could 
 *5 juftify. While I have any hopes of recovery, 
 ** I conceive myfelf obliged to avoid awaken- 
 " ing her ftrong apprehenfions upon my ac- 
 ** count ; and 1 i>elieve (he is not aware that my 
 *< prefent illnefs is attended with fymptoms of a 
 ** more ferious nature than appeared in any 
 *« former attack. If my conJlitution fhould 
 ** prove weaker than my difeafe," continued 
 (he with a ilill more faltering voice, " I (liall 
 " leave her to the protection of one of the 
 
 « bed 
 

 •A TALE OF THE TIMES. II9 
 
 " bed of fathers ; but men cannot fo well pcne- 
 ** trate into the female licart, they cannot treat 
 ** our little peculiarities To delicately as one of 
 ** cur own fex. It vvould lighten my mind of 
 many cares could Idifcover whether my chi'd 
 hab any fecret uahappinefs ; even if it (hould 
 *' prove fuch as I could not reniovc, I could 
 <* at leaft," wiping the tear that would no 
 longer be fuppreficd, " give her a mother's laft 
 ** legacy of advice and confolation." 
 
 Lady Monteith underflood this appe.d, and 
 prevented further inquiry by immediately re- 
 plying, *< You think, perhaps, that my dearert 
 *' Lucy may have entrufled me with fume fe- 
 ** crets which (he has not revealed to you *, but 
 ** I do afTure you, if her innocent heart ever 
 " formed any wifh or attachment with which 
 ** you are unacqu^iinted, her delicacy would 
 <* ever prevent her from giving me the confi- 
 ** dence wliich (he denied to herjufily vene- 
 " rated mother. It is only from fuch incidents 
 «* as have juil occurred, that I have gained a 
 " tranfitory infight refpecting vvijat palTcs in 
 " her mind ; and perhaps my late experience 
 " may have made me an accuri^te obferver." 
 
 ** Do you mean her behaviour on dropping 
 " my medicine ?" inquired Tvirs. Evans : *< 1 
 <' faw nothing in that, except that fhe was dif- 
 *' pirited and agitated." 
 
 *' You forget then," obfervsd the counted', 
 »< thi.t Henry Pov.erfcourt was the Tubjecl of 
 ** our converfation." 
 
 A tlioufand circumilanccs crowded at this 
 inftant into Mrs. Evans'n mind, which con- 
 firmed the fiigacity of her ladyfhip's infer- 
 ence; but thougii the acknovvleged merit of 
 the obje£l lifTcned ihe pani of the difcovery, 
 
 the 
 
120 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 the tender mother could not, without apprehen- 
 five terror, be con\iiiced, that love had *' paled 
 the rofes on her daughter's chc^k." 
 
 *« I know of no one," (jid llie, "to whom 
 ** I could with greater ccnfideiice cntruft mv 
 •* darling's happinefs; yet io many crofs acci- 
 <* dents occur to blaft our faireft fchemes, thiit 
 ** I own I wifh her heart had proved lefs fuf- 
 ** ceptible. I do, however, liope that fhe is 
 *« not a volunteer in her affe£lions. You can, 
 " my dear Lady Monteith, pardon my folici- 
 ** tude i but can you tell me whether Henry 
 " entertains reciprocal fentiraents?" 
 
 Her ladyfliip appeared embarrafled by this 
 inquiry. " I think," faid (lie, " at prcfent — 
 " I mean — I can hardly explain myfelf — Henry 
 '* is too much attached to his lludies and retire- 
 *• ment ; but I hope his chagrin — I mean his 
 <« habits of feclufion, will wear off. His fitua- 
 " tion has been very peculiar. It has hardly 
 <f given fair play to his affections. 1 trufl he 
 *< will very foon be made independant ; I know 
 " he poffelTes great fenfibility, and 1 am per- 
 *' fuaded that when his circumftances are per- 
 *< feflly eafy, when he feels that he is liis own 
 ** mailer, if opportunities for frequent inter- 
 ** views iliould occur, our Lucy's mild excel- 
 *< lencies mult (Irike him in the moil forcible 
 ** manner. I know her general character has 
 " attra(Sled his warm approbation." 
 
 Another te?.r ftole from Mrs. Evanses eyes. 
 *' I fee," faid (he, ** my poor girl has woven 
 ** a net which will fatally eniangle her p-ace of 
 *< mind during the happied hours of youth." 
 
 <' No," faicf Lady Monteith, with energy ; 
 " if my fricndfiiip can break this fatal web, 
 " my Lucy fhall never be unhappy. Nothing 
 
 " ill 
 
A TALE OF TFIE TIMES. 121 
 
 " in iv.y power (hall be omltteci to forward the 
 <* union of two hearts t^^^t feem formed in the 
 <' fame mould. But if Henry, contrary to my 
 '' expedaiions, fliould never fliew that par- 
 *• tlality for my fwect friend which her excel- 
 ** lence dcferves, even Henry is not worthy 
 " of her, and I will afiift her naturally- (irong 
 *< fenfe and refined delicacy in conquering an 
 *' ill-placed att<5chment. i will keep her fe- 
 '* cret with religious care : I will feife the firfi: 
 ** opportunity to have the dear girl with me ) 
 <* 1 will endeavour to fathom Henry's heart, 
 «* and without oflentatious eagerncfs, will fet 
 " her merits as (ircngly in his view as propriety 
 " and decorum will adm.it. if all (hould fail 
 << of the dcHred efTeft, (he never (hall be left 
 " to mufe over her griefs in folitude. I will 
 *« amufe and confole hfr, nor (hall flie ever feel 
 «* a forrow which it is in my po'v^er to re« 
 <» move." 
 
 Mrs. Evans thanked the countefs for thefecrene- 
 Tousintentions,yet fighed at the fear of their being 
 impravSlicable. l he return ol lev djughter necef- 
 farily gave a check to tl.e convcrfation, wliich 
 now turned to the fisljrifl of Lady Monteith's 
 expecled vifitants. Her lord had pointed out 
 to her the fingularities of Lady Madelina's cha- 
 racter i but his only obfervaiion on his filter 
 was, that (he was the prettieft creature he had 
 even feen, and that (lie fluttered up and down 
 the caille like a bird in a cage. -<« I expect," 
 faid Gcraldine, " thai I Ihall be nir.ch capti- 
 *' vated by the fair reclule, whofe behaviour at 
 " returning into the world after a long tflrange- 
 «' ment niutt be ejcceedingly imereding and na- 
 t« tural. My lord has h<r pidure. It exhibits 
 »< lovelineis perfoni'i^d; but it v/as drawn pre- 
 
 VoL. L 7 t» vious 
 
(C 
 
 122 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 " vious to her leaving England ; the characfler 
 " of the girl therefore is nnoft predominant. 
 . *' I fhould name it untaught nature." 
 
 '* And what -traits," iovnuircd Mrs. Evans, 
 ** do you fuppofe have been added by her re- 
 '* fidence in the wilds of Scoflajid ,?" 
 
 " O, an infinitude !" replied the animated 
 , Geraldine, anxious to divert Lucy's dejetSliori, 
 which the morning exercife had not quite re- 
 moved. ** As Lady Madelina was uncommonly 
 ** fevere, her pupil mufl be the efience of com- 
 ** plying fweetnefs. As (he was illiberal, 
 *' proud, and referved, — gentle Candour, yield- 
 <* ing humility, and frank generofity, muft 
 *^ mark the mind of a young woman who has 
 *' had fo many opportunities of obferving the 
 
 oppofite odious faults." 
 
 Do young women always obferve faults, 
 ** and fliun thofe they difcovcr.'^" demanded 
 Mrs. Evans. 
 
 it ^Q — only a gifted few, and principally 
 ** my Lucy and myfelf. I fee, n^y dear Mrs. 
 •* Evans, you are going, as ufual, to cenfure my 
 " propenfity for determining charad^ers from a 
 •* mere outline, and condemning or admiring 
 '* in the grofs. I have often laboured hard to 
 ** convince you, that this faculty is one of the 
 ** peculiar gifts of nature, and that though you 
 ** muft judge from experience and confidera- 
 <* tion, / may draw as clear inferences from 
 ** an intuitive art of guefling Ah ! I fee you 
 «* ftill {hake your head increduloufly ; but Lucy 
 <* ihall be my evidence. Do not I find out 
 <* people wonderfully foon, Lucy .'' Am not I 
 ♦* completely miftrefs of their characflers and 
 ** propenfities before you can have adjufted the 
 *« propriety of their head-drefsr" 
 
 Lucy 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I23 
 
 Lucy with a fmile acknowledged her friend's 
 fuperior quicknefs *, but added " You forget 
 <* one little circumftance. It has frequently 
 *< coft you the trouble of a walk to the par- 
 <* fonagc to fay, O Lucy ! 1 was quite wrong 
 *< in my opinion of Mr. or Mrs. Such-a-one. 
 ** I hope you have not mentioned what I 
 " thought of them." 
 
 " You are the fevered fatirifl: that I know," 
 faid her lady{hip ; ** but upon this occafion I 
 *^ am fure 1 (hall never plead guilty. You and 
 " Arabella (liall meet ; and if you once pronounce 
 ** me right, your dear mother will be eafily led 
 <* to think me in future infallible. But," con- 
 tinued fhe, glancing her eye upon her watch, 
 with a painful confcioufnefs that the moment of 
 reparation was near, ** 1 have a favour to alk. 
 <* I know that you and Mr. Lvans object to 
 ** the introducing this dear girl to fcenes above 
 " her fortune ; 1 know that you arc tenacious 
 ** of her valuable fociecy; yet rerr;ember our 
 " early endearments, and fpare her to me as 
 " foon as the engagements into which 1 am 
 " now thrown will permit me to claim her." 
 Mrs. Evans, with a dejecled look, anfwered 
 that her father iliould decide. 
 
 Lady Monteith felt the fignificance of this 
 anfwer, and expreffed her fenfe of it by 
 dropping a tear upon Mrs. Evans's hand, which 
 {he at that moment prefled to lier lips. *< Dear, 
 ♦* an iable, fecond daughter," faid the good 
 woman, " Q)y anxious wifhes, my fondell af- 
 " ft!c\ionSj foliow you into that [horny and in- 
 *< tricite path which yon are now goini; to 
 <* tread. I underftand ei.oU'^h of the 'J^reac 
 " world to know that a ciiar.'.fter like yours 
 *♦ mull attract cbferv^uoi'^ iihtcrali;/, and 
 
 F i " tnvy. 
 
124 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 <' envy. Your defire to pleafe will be called 
 <* vanity; your fprightlinefs, levity; your fine 
 " accomplifhments, an invidious affectation of 
 <« fuperiority. Through this dangerous trial, 
 «* remember, innocence alcne will not fupport 
 ** you, and fenfibility will betray ycu. Keep 
 «f ill mind my oft-repeated maxims, that no 
 «< human chart^tfler can be perfedt, and that it 
 <* is dangerous to our peace to cor template 
 << with too fteady an eye the failings of thofe 
 << with whom vie are intimately conne6led." 
 
 « I will remember ail you fay to me, and all 
 *» I have faid to vou," refumed the amiable 
 bride. " I will frankly own, that my inexpe- 
 «< rienced heart flutters at the idea of the plea- 
 •* fures and the diftind^ions which await me.--^ 
 ** 1 {hall have many trials, perhaps many 
 " enemies ; but where (hall I find friends to 
 *< whom I may fo fafely difclofe all my heart, as 
 <« I do to my dear Mrs. Evans and to my 
 <« Lucv ?" 
 
 " Make your hufband your friend ; endea- 
 *< vour to gain his confidence, and beware of 
 ** forming dangerous intimacies, unfanciioned 
 <* by experience, which nray tend to lefTen your 
 « attachment to him. Strive to exalt the pre- 
 *f ference your charms liave excired into firm 
 <« efleem ; and if you ihould not at firfl fuc- 
 « ceed, or not fo completely as ycu wifli, do 
 <f not fink into dtjedlicn. Remember, time 
 «< will overcome every difficulty, and patience 
 *« will foften every forrow." 
 
 Mifs hvans, who h^d left the room during 
 the preceding fpeech, now haftily re-entered. — 
 <* I have brought you," faid {he, " m.y ever 
 " dear Geraldine, one other little keep-fake." — 
 Lady Monteith, opening the paper, found a 
 
 purfe, 
 
A TALK OF THE TIMES. 12^ 
 
 puj-rv", vvliich (he remembeved her friend had 
 bev.n inxiouu to finiili with the mod perfect 
 n^ I jefs. 
 
 " I cannot rake It," replied the countefs ; 
 <* I v'low that when you netted it, you faid 
 *' yoa meant it for H^nry Po^verfcourt." 
 
 " He wants none of my purfes ; you fh.ill 
 ** have It, for you will value it moft." 
 
 «' But if you have proir.ifed it my love," ob- 
 ferved Mrs. Evans. 
 
 <* No — he never knew my intention, and 
 «< never fhall." 
 
 ** He is infinitely more careful of his valua- 
 <« bles than I am," refumedthe Countefs, ming- 
 ling a fmilc with her tears ; " You have given 
 <* me fo many nice things already, and I am 
 *< fuch a random creature — if I fliould lofe it" 
 
 *' Though you are going to be very happy, 1 am 
 •* certain you would not lofe my prefent without 
 
 <« fincere pain. -You will never forget me, 
 
 <* Geraldine ; you will often write to me ; and 
 « if I (hould not be punctual in my replies, you 
 " will never call it negle6\." Tfie friends wept 
 a moment in each other's arms ; Lidy Mon« 
 teith's eyes aficed her Lucy to accompany her 
 part of the way to the manor; but as the latter 
 made no offer of that kind, (lie forbore to name 
 her requeft. Once more ihe repeated hef^ 
 afiurances of inviolable regard, and they 
 parted. 
 
 I have gratified my own tafle by entering into 
 a difFufe defcription of this interview. Perhaps 
 it was in no way more extraordinary t'nn com- 
 mon life often affords. They who, difdainlng 
 the fofter touches of the mental pencil, only 
 enjoy the bold defign which fketches the wildeft 
 dorm of the paffions, where the fun of reafon 
 
 never 
 
126 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 never beams, and where difcretion never con- 
 trols the raging elements, will pafs over the un- 
 interefling page that defcrlbes attachment with- 
 out caprice, deje<f\ion ftruggling with a fenfe of 
 propriety^ and fimplicity aff cting a difguife 
 ■u/liich it cannot fupport. Such readers will not 
 join in the rtTie6lions of Lady Monteith, who, 
 rcviev\ing, during her folitary walk home, her 
 friend's beliaviour, and rightly afcribing her un- 
 u-illingncfs to accompaiiy her to a fear of being 
 led to difcufs a fubjf(fl to which fhe was un- 
 equal, exclaimed, *< Dear, artlefs, amiable 
 ** girl ! Vv'^here fnall I find another Lucy ?" 
 Early the next morning the Monreiths fet off 
 for L' noon. At parting with his daughter, Sir 
 William difcovcrtd tht deep yet firm regret of 
 cIKinte! cited aftc^lion. *< 1 fnall mifs you very 
 *' much, my c'^ar love," faid he j but it is for 
 " your good, lb I fhall not complain. I muft 
 '* look foramufement to your letters now, in- 
 " flead of your pretty prattle. Don't be call 
 <* down, child j for I fliall not be dull if you 
 « are harpy." The tender Geraldine could 
 <« only anfwer with her tears. 
 
 At this in Rant Mr. Evans, who had been from 
 home the preceding morning, interrupted the 
 famiily party by his charaiflerirtic adieus. " I: 
 ** trull, my dear l.idy, you are going to make 
 " many hearts haj py ; you will leave many 
 " aching ones behind you here." Then turning, 
 to Lord iVlonieith, whofe bofom giowed with 
 fentiments which Nature meant he Ihould have 
 been better acquainted with, *< Providence,"' 
 faid tlie go<-id man with patriarchal fimplicity, 
 ** has inmilled you, my Lord, with a rich 
 <' jewel. Wear it at your heart." 
 
 " That 
 
ATALE Oi THE TIMES. 1%J 
 
 " That 1 will," replied the young Earl, fliak- 
 in/ him cordially by the hand ; *' ar.d for the 
 " Hiare you had in giving; it to me, remember, 
 " wlien I am Prime Minliler, you fliall be 
 *< Archbifhop of Canterbury." A fudden glow 
 of pieafure brightened the general dejedlion. — - 
 Sir William, enjoying trse tribute to his daugh- 
 ter's worth, thus haliily extorted from !icr Lord, 
 more than he would have done a ftudied com- 
 pliment, tenderly pi elTed Jus fon- In -law's hand, 
 and led his drooping d.iughter to the chariot. — - 
 The carriages drove off. London, and its round 
 of pleafures, foon regained po^T-'iTion of his 
 Lordfhip's mind, unaccuftomed to the finer 
 emotions \ while his lady's eyes oft turned to 
 take another view of Powerfcourt. *' Fare- 
 well," faid (he to Iierfeif, *« ye dear fcenes of 
 «* my youthful pleafures. Farewell to the home 
 " and the prote£tion of the bed of fathers! I 
 ** enter upon an untried, and, if I may truft 
 <* to the experience of others, a perplexing 
 *♦ woild. Will the hufband of my choice, the 
 *' future mailer of my deltiny, treat me with 
 " fuch uniform fendernefs as n^y indulgent pa- 
 " rent did ? Will he guide my inexperienced 
 ** fleps, like my dear Mrs. Evans .'* or, may I 
 «» unbofom to him my inmoft foul, as I did to 
 *^ my fympathifing Lucy ? Ah I could I but be 
 " fare thdt I fnall return in a few months fa-" 
 «* tisfied with my own lor, find my dear father 
 <^ unchanged in liealth and fpirits, Mrs. Evans 
 »« well, and my Lucy happy !" A tear obfcured 
 her radiant eyes, when my Lord roufed her from 
 her reverie, by telling her the number of milts' 
 they were from London-. 
 
 C 11 A P. 
 
128 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 C H A P. XV. 
 
 Come then, the colours and the ground prepare! 
 Dip in the rai!i{x)W, trick her ofF in ?.ir, 
 Choofe a firm cloud before it fall, and in it 
 Catch, ere Tne glance, the Cynthia of the minute. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 Q 
 
 N the clofe of the fir (I day*s journey, Lady 
 Mcn'eith accidentally inquired how far iiiey 
 were from Oifo.d. ** Admirably recolle£ted 1" 
 cried his Lord 'hip ; '* 1 have always intended to 
 ** go ihere, and never could find time. We 
 " will take it in our way to London." 
 
 «* Dcn't you recolletl," faid the Countefs, 
 ** that by ti\e lall accounts from Scotland our 
 *» friends intend to be in town before the end 
 ** of this week ?" 
 
 <* O ! we ihall run all over Oxford in a day 
 <* or t'vvo. Befide, fuppofe they do get toPort- 
 ** land-place beh^re us, my houfckccper is the 
 *< civilcil, beft-brtd creature you ever faw, ia- 
 *' finitely fuperior to tl'.e myrmidons near Kin- 
 *' locli-cadle. iShe will mivke them very fine 
 ** coiirtcfies, and they will glide about and get 
 ** over their hrit v^onder before we rcach> 
 «' town." 
 
 <' i3ut will tint be perfcfily rtf^:)ec\ful and 
 *' accommodating .'*" 
 
 «« My dear Geraldine, if you take fo much 
 'f pains to acconiaiodate other people, they will 
 *' foon give you a furfeit of courtefy. My good 
 
 aunt 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I29 
 
 '< aunt in particular ; (he has had her own way 
 *^ vears enough : and for fear (he fhould take 
 *^ up any idea of managing me, I fhall fhew 
 <* her at firfl that I mean to pleafe myfelf, and 
 " never care what Ihe or the world think about 
 « it." 
 
 The excurHon to Oxford being now as irre- 
 vocably fixed as the ancient laws of the Medes 
 and Perfians, Lady Monteith privately difpatch- 
 ed her oji'n fervant to town with the belt apo- 
 logy her invention could frame to her e:ipet\ed 
 gaefts. 
 
 On entering the feat of the Muf^s, 
 
 Mother of arts 
 
 ** And eloquence, native to famous wits, 
 
 ** Or hafpitable, in her fweet rccefs, 
 
 ** City orfuburbau, ftudious walks and fhades ;'* 
 
 the Countefs felt a refined pleafure, uninter- 
 rupted by any painful recollections, till her 
 J^ord, as he hurried her fronri the Theatre to the 
 RatclifFj Library, fuddenly exclairr»ed, " Hive 
 ** yiu not fonie curioficy of your o vn to ex- 
 '* hibit at Oxford, — a quond^ini lover ? How 
 *< you blufh, you little tyrant ! I mult fee him, 
 «< I once intended to cut the fellow's throat ; 
 *^ but I am quite in charity with him now. 
 << Where is he ? we will have him with us at 
 «< the hotel this evening " 
 
 <* Indeed, my Lord," ftammsred Lady Mon- 
 teirh, ** I am afraid he cannot come. He is 
 very ill." 
 
 ** 111 ! — O ! then we vi-iil go and fee him. — 
 ** What colietre does he belong to ? — Come, we. 
 ** can go to his rooms firfl.*' 
 
 *< Not without feme previous notice," fai<l 
 the CoujJiefs. <« His complaint is od his fpirits, 
 
 F 3 << and 
 
r30 A TALE OF THE TIMES; 
 
 " and we (hall only agitate him. It is a low 
 " fever." 
 
 *< A low fever !" replied hisLordfinp with a 
 loud laugh. '* A (Irong love-fit you mean. — - 
 ** You fpirited him off very cleverly, GeraldinCj, 
 ** and juft in time to fave his life ; for 1 had 
 " written a challenge for him. I wonder, by 
 «* the bye, why you came to refufe him -, for 
 " he mud he one of your own accommodating 
 ** fort of people, to give up a charming girl to 
 " a firan^r, and afterwards fall fick about her 
 «* himfelf. We will have him ■, the fight of 
 <* you, and a bottle or two of claret, will cure- 
 " his low fever." 
 
 " You are all in the wrong," replied Lady 
 Monteiih, who could fcarcely fummon fufficient 
 fpirirs to parry this attack ; «' but all your 
 ** manoeuvres fhall not make me gratify your 
 «* curiofity by explaining this enigma, i will 
 ** write to Henry, and afk him to give us the 
 ** meeting •, but pray, remember, that he really 
 «* is unwell, and- alfo naturally timid and re- 
 «* fervedo- Spare your raillery therefore ; for, 
 << though you will be wide of the mark, his ftn- 
 *< fibiliry is fo acute, that it may give him pain." 
 
 Lord Monteith, with truth, declared that he 
 never defjgned to give any one uneafinefp. On 
 returning to the inn her ladyiliip difpatched the 
 following letter : 
 
 " ToHENRYPo\VERSCOURT,Efq. 
 
 «< It is impoffible to pafs through Oxford 
 " without feeling a folicitude for the health of 
 « my valuable friend ; and if it be fufficienlly 
 <« reftored to bear the exertion, your company 
 " this evening would afford me peculiar plca- 
 
 •' fure 
 
A- TALE OF THE TIMES. I3I 
 
 <* fure. Lord Monteith joins anxioufly In this 
 «< wiih. His impatience to be introduced to 
 «* one, on vvhofe merits he has often heard my 
 ** fatlier expatiate, would have carried him to 
 <♦ your apartments; bat I doubted how far you 
 «' might be able to bear his vifir. Come to us, 
 *< my dear Henry, if you polTibly can ; perhaps 
 << my lord's playful vivacity may enliven you. 
 ^* I'o fee you well and happy is the only addition 
 <* now wanting to the felicity of 
 Your ever-fdithfui 
 
 »« and grateful friend, 
 
 <* Gerald IN E Monteith." 
 
 The fervant who carried this, epidle returned 
 with the intelligence that the gentleman had 
 b-jen very ill, and </e?.s gone for cbar-ge of air to 
 fome friend's houfe a f.'w miies in tiie country ; 
 but (hit his fervant happened to come to his 
 lodgings to enquire for melF^giS juit as he was 
 there; and that he had given him the letter to 
 carry to his mailer. ** How far was his friendV 
 *' houfe from Oxford ?" 1 he ferv^fnt could not' 
 '< tell. Did he know the name of the gentle- 
 " man at whofe houfe he was .f"' No. ** Nor 
 t« tliC n^me of the place ?" Scill a negative — 
 *« Blockhead !"-— but I fliailomit the epithets by 
 which my lord exprelied his fcnfe of difap- 
 pointment ; for though they conveyed to his 
 terrified lady the idea of his being in a towering 
 palTion, habit made tliem pafs trippingly from his 
 tongue witliOi^t any confci^ufnefs of having 
 uttered them. While Lady Monteith therefore, 
 pale and trembling, reflecled upon the uniform 
 fuavity of her father's manner:?, a turn or two 
 acrofs the room fct the earl perf*;clly to rights 
 
 igam. 
 
132 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 again, v/ho, advancing to her with a fmilc wlach 
 perfectly bec-^me him, begged the favour of her, 
 ns he h-iA loft the diverfion of quizzing a chun), 
 to 2mufe him w i?h a ga^ne at picquet. 
 
 No orlicr in -idenr worth recording occurred 
 during tlie remainder of their journey to Lon- 
 don. On their arrival at their town refidcnce, a 
 number of f-rvants ranged tlsemfeU'es on each 
 ffde the entra?)ce to welcome their approach. 
 Tijough JMonteith had not btftowed much 
 trouble in Cicrificing to the Graces, he poflclTed 
 uW the natural elegance of a B-clvidere Apollo, 
 lie prefen'ed their new miftrefs uirha J )ok of 
 henevoh-nt freedom, which Iris features were 
 particularly calculated to exprefs ; and lie told 
 them., ih;;t Oa^ w»s come to make them all as 
 happy and ab good as herfelf. 1 he countefb's 
 heart felt agreeably elated. S.he caft a benignant 
 glance around, and advancing tollie houftkeeper^ 
 who flood at the head of the female party, after 
 an aiTurancc of general good- will to all, flie 
 preiTed l^er hand wiih tli.jt graceful afTabiliiy 
 which w as concomitant to all her a6lions ; when 
 the words *' Lady Madelina" inftantly changed 
 the fcene. 
 
 Her ladyfiiip was indeed advancing ifi pioprla 
 perfona^ bridiing with ftifl' dignity, rendervd yet 
 more ilubbcrn by a fmoLhered fenie of ulTront. 
 ,8he congraiuiateo l.er nephew in terms folemnly 
 fententious, and then bent her knees to the bride 
 ■W'ith t])e ovcrflrained lowlinefs of proud humi- 
 h'ty. Tvlonteith, though he knew his aunt's cha- 
 rad~ter, felt ihunderftruck ; and the timidity 
 vhich her ]<idy{lnp'o drefs, figure, and manner 
 excited, annihilated all the poliihed elegance of 
 Geraldiiie- The parties, therefore, ftood like 
 what the fportfmen call hounds at a fault, till 
 
 Lady 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I33 
 
 Lady Madelina waved her hand for her niece to 
 go up ftairs firft ; which the latter declining, 
 the former wheeled round, and, in the fame con- 
 fequential manner, reafcended to the drawing- 
 room. Lord Monteith, as he foliowed in the 
 procefTion, muttered tohlmfelf, " No ! this will 
 never do." 
 
 The ceremony of being properly fixed in their 
 chairs took up fome minutes ; and after three 
 ?ntrodu6lory hems, G^raldlne ven ured to try the 
 found of her own voice by exprelFing her regret 
 that they vi^ere not in town at the time of Lady 
 IVIadelina's arrival; the only anfwer to which 
 apology was a majeftic bend. Again the young, 
 countefs made an effort at converfation, by hop- 
 ing that her Jadyfhip's health had not fuffered 
 from the fatigue of her long journey ; another 
 bend, and a negative, was the anfwer, "Silence 
 again reigned unrivalled queen," till her empire 
 was terminated by the entrance of her fworn 
 enemy Lady Arabella, who, having given the 
 fini(hing arrangement to her drefs, fwam into 
 the room to eclipfe her new filler in thofe quali- 
 ties of wit and beauty for which fhe had heard 
 (he was diflinguiftied ; -and certainly, if feature 
 alone could denominate the latter, and volubility 
 the former, tiie fair Geraldine muft have hid her 
 diminifhed fplendour. 
 
 Nature, who had be flowed upon the Earl of 
 Monteith the ftriking advantages of a fine figure 
 and an agreeable countenance, had been ftill- 
 more bountiful to his fifler, whofe face and per- 
 fon had all the regular lovelinefs which the 
 vainefl mother coulH ever dtfi'-e for a darling 
 daughter. Thefe fuperior attraftlions appeared 
 in her earlieft years ; and dS the (f.i^m of policy 
 purfued by the houfc of Mdcdonald did not kM 
 
 any 
 
134- A TALE OF THE TIMESTi 
 
 any lucrative temptations to the charms of theif ' 
 females, this rare bounty of nature was treafured 
 with the mod unremitting care, as a fure means 
 of fecuring an honorable ellabliOiment. The 
 plan of her education coufifted in avoiding 
 whatever was bad for the eyes, bad for the fliape^ 
 and bad for the complexion ; and in acquiring 
 whatever was perFe611y elegant and fuitable for a 
 young lady of the firft. fafliion. 
 
 I have- already mentionrtl the mournful inci- 
 dents which in her feventeenth year baniflied 
 the lovely Arabella from London, and confined 
 her within the fecluded walls of Kin loch. The 
 fam.e event put a ftop to her improvements and 
 her pleafures. The confined education of her 
 prefent prottclrefs, Lady Madelina, had not even 
 paced the narrow circle of female accomplifh- 
 ments y and her obfervations had been wholly 
 limited to the neighbourhood where her local 
 pre-eminence allowed lier to reign undifputcd 
 ibvereign. No wondei, therefore, ihat Tne con- 
 ceived her niece to be a miracle of erudition, , 
 becaufe (lie could fpcak French with tolerable 
 volubility; or that her jejune performances in 
 mufic and painting fhould meet with unbounded 
 celebrity among the vifitants at tne caftle, where 
 few underflood, and none dared tocenfure. Bur, 
 exciufive of the pleafure vvhich even grofs adu- 
 lation beftowed, the three years which (he fpent 
 in Scotland formed one continued period of 
 mortification and regret. 
 
 Lady Madelina's recollecfiion of thofe early 
 difhculties which had at laft influenced her to 
 reward Sir Simon's long and generous attach- 
 ment, determined her to refcue her niece from 
 fimilar trials- by adopting her for her lieirefs to 
 thofe ample pofTeflTiojis which her uxorious huf- 
 
 band 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I35 
 
 band had alienated from his own family. But 
 upon becoming perfonally acquainted with herj 
 and finding that all the beauty and all the virtues 
 of the race from old Donald to the prefent times 
 were centered in the peerlefs Arabella, (he grew 
 pallionately fond of her, or rather blindly partial' 
 to what ftie fancied the fummit of all human 
 excellence. To banifii her chagrin, and to awaken 
 reciprocal attachment, (lie treated her with un- 
 bounded indulgence; but as indulgence always 
 defeats its aim, it neither made the young lady 
 grateful nor happy. On the contrary, flie grew 
 every day more capricious, vain, and wretched,- 
 i>he could not love or refpe£l a perfon who 
 neither checked her faults nor ftrengthened her 
 virtues. She foon learned the art of turning her 
 aunt's weaknefs to her ovvn advantage, and con- 
 iidered the favours fhe received as a tribute 
 rather than an obligation. Without one fenfible 
 friend to enlighten her judgment, without one 
 corre£t model by which to form her charadler, . 
 (he miftook affcrdation, elegance, and faftidiouf- - 
 nefs, for delicacy. 
 
 Nor did her diflike of retirement proceed 
 from a relifli for poliihed fociety and refined 
 pitafures. She only thought that the power of 
 her charms was limited to too narrow a fphere ; 
 and (he wiflied, like the fair Phaeton of the laft 
 age, to " obtain the chariot for a day," that " (he j 
 might fet the world on fire." 
 
 1 hough an invitation to London had at firft: 
 infpired a heartfelt complacency for her new 
 fifter, her reported graces had foon obliterated 
 that idea, and ingrafted in its (lead the baneful 
 germ of envy. Had the lovely Geraldine en- 
 tertained fimilar ideas, their firft interview might 
 rather Jbave been called the battle of the beauties, 
 
 than 
 
136 A TALB OF THE TIMES. 
 
 than an attempt to conciliate fifterly afle£lIon ■ 
 and reciprocal regard. 
 
 Proteus, the poets tell' us, could aflame a 
 thoufand refemiblances ; but, whether he feemed 
 a lion or a fawn, he was Proteus (till. Like 
 him, lady Arabella couM tack an infinitude of 
 modes on hernatural habit ; but, whether it was 
 the manner of the dove or the -magpie, (lie was 
 flill at heart the vain, cold, felnfii Arabella. 
 After a long confultation fhe had determined, 
 that the brilliant would be bed fuited to her 
 intention of intimidating her rival j and having 
 arranged her drefs in a manner better adapted to 
 the magnificence of a courr-ball thsn to the eafe 
 of a private party, (he burd upon her aftoniflied 
 (iftei-in-iaw, who in vain attempted to trace a 
 remote refeniblance of that artlefs wild fiaipllcity 
 which her creative imagination had afligned to 
 the unknown ** Highland lafiie." 
 
 The introductory compliments were now 
 difpatched in a manner diametrically the reverfe 
 of the dry referve of the former converfarion. 
 Lady Arabella was in ecftafy. The carehfs 
 fimpHcity of the bride's travelling habit could 
 net pretend to any competition with her own 
 profufion of ornament ; and both the bea*uy 
 and the vivacity of Geraldine fuffered from the 
 chagrin which the manners of her vifitors in- 
 fpired. Confcious fuperiority always fpeaks in 
 hyperbole. Arabella had been immenfely tired 
 with her journey, was rapturoufly delighted with 
 her new relation, and infinitely folicitous that 
 they might foon become the ftricleft of friends. 
 
 While file fpoke, her eye reverted to every 
 obje£l, except the fubje<fl of her enthufiaflic 
 admiration. Her aunt viewed her with a com- 
 placency which the countefs thought her features 
 
 could 
 
 
A TALE OF THE TTMES. I37 
 
 could not polTibly have alTumed, but which was 
 fometimes interrupted by obferving what effect 
 this fparkling conv^rfation had upon the 
 Monteiths ; for, though it could not pofTibly 
 anfwer any end, lady iViadelina would liave felt 
 mortified if even her nephew did not acknow- 
 ledge how infinitely his filler excelled his wife. 
 Her obfervations that evening were limited to a 
 ihort period : his lordTnip had bufinefs to tranf- 
 a£l with his banker, which could not pofTibly be 
 delayed j and he foon left t'lem, wiiifpering his 
 lady, " Go to bed if you are tired of them." 
 
 Geraldine did not conceive herfeif warranted 
 to follow her lord's advice. She made fome at- 
 temps to gain a (hare in the converfation ; but 
 the playful wit and eafy fweetnefs v/hich at 
 Po.verfcourt *' engrolTed all hearts-and charmed 
 all eyes," had now lod all its power, and (lie 
 fimk quietly into the lefs brilliant but ufeful cha- 
 racter of a hearer; while her guefts enumerated 
 the old titles which might be revived in the 
 houfe of Macdonald, and fettled the exadl place 
 in which tlie rtpref^nuative of their honours 
 ought to walk at ihe next coronation. 
 
 They feparated at an early hour. The young 
 countefs did not find herfeif difpofed to fleep, 
 unaccuftomed as fhe had been to contempt and 
 to unkindnefs. Powerfcourt and the friends of 
 her youth rufhed full upon her mind. ** What," 
 « faid (he to herfeif, «' am I to expect from 
 <* Grangers, when, thofe with whom I have juft 
 *' contr-^fted the uz of kindred are even (ludi- 
 " ous to fhew their difl.ke of me ?" To this, 
 reflection followed a fear, that her lord would 
 leave her, unprotected, to their pride and folly; 
 and the bitter tears which fhe had hitherto 
 reftraiued courfed each oiher down her cheek. 
 
 At I 
 
138' A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 At tliat inflant lord Monteith entered. He 
 had met with a party of his old fri<^nds, who 
 would ieiicitate him upon his nuptials, and he 
 Was returned home in a very joyous humour. 
 «* I was very ferry to leave you, my deareit Ge- 
 '* raldine," I'aid lie ; " I know it was rude and 
 " aukward to go out the firfl evening after you 
 " came home ; but it was not in the power of 
 ** man to endure my confequential aunt, or the 
 ** ridiculous automaton that Arabella has be- 
 ** come. Did they get a little more tc^ler^hle 
 «* after I left them .'' Ha ! vou are in tears — i 
 «* fwear by he.iven, that if they have priv<.'n you 
 ** the leafl caufe for unearri^^fs, they flia:! both 
 " leave my houfe to-movrov*? morning." 
 
 Lady Monteith knew enougij of the earl's 
 temper to be convinced that this threat would be 
 fulfilled. Her prudt.-'^c ot onl/ determined' 
 her inftantly to avert from herfeif the dreadful 
 imputation of vioJaiirrg (he^ liarmony of the 
 family into which fhe ^va'^ avi opted, but it made 
 her alfo refolve to aiiume the amiable chara6ier 
 of a mediatrix if any contentions llioutd in 
 future arife. Happy in the hope that the iTiould' 
 ever preferve her avowed pre-e mire nee in her 
 lord's afFeclions, her forrows feemed to dilFipate 
 like a morning mlfl, and llie anfvvered with a 
 fmile, that fhe had been wicked enough to he 
 entertained with the eccentricities of the 
 ftrangers, which doubtlefs proceeded from too 
 reclufe a mode of life, and would certainly be 
 worn oiT by a little comtnerce viqth the v/crld. 
 «* I have," continued fhe, «< enough to con- 
 «* demn myfelf for ; — I have been a petted 
 ** child, and, feeling your abfence this evening 
 *• more than I ought, Powerfcourt returned to 
 "^.my memory. But do not reprove me. My 
 
 " heart, , 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I39r 
 
 « heart, Monteich, is formed for ftrong at- 
 «« tachments, I have preferred you to my fa- 
 <* ther's houfe and my early friends ; yet muft 
 <« I ever * remember that fuch things were,' 
 «* and * that they were moft precious.' Ther 
 young tarl gazed at her with the tendered 
 regard, vowed eternal afl"e<flion, and for a mo- 
 ment wondered how he came to find out fuch 
 an angel. 
 
 But. while the amiable Geraldine thus purfued 
 her early defign of fecuring, meliorating, and 
 correcting the heart of her lord, his noble re- 
 lations were employed in adding a little adven- 
 htious fuel to their own native fire. The ftran- 
 ger was arraigned (but not at the bar of judice 
 or candour), and found guilty of the follow- 
 ing offences, which, as they v.^ere fupported by 
 pofitive evidence, could not afterwards be dil^- 
 proved : Firft, (he mud be nobody, notwith- 
 ftanding Mrs. Archibald Frazer, of Annale, , 
 had affirmed that the Powerfcourts were a ^od 
 family j for lady Madelina had dete£led her irv 
 the very a6l of fhaking hands with a fervant; 
 befide, lady P»'Ionteith's terrified manner at fird 
 feeing her,, proved that fhe had never been in- 
 company v.'ith a iady of quality before. Se- 
 condly, fi:te was no beauty ; for fhe was not 
 above the middle fize, and her complexion no 
 better than a brunette ; her features too had 
 nothing of the Rubens' call, and were totally 
 diflimilar to ail the fiid-rate toads in the pidlure- 
 gallery at Kinloch. Thirdly, die was no wit;- 
 for die never tridd at a.repartee all the evening, 
 and herexpreffions were as common as thofe of- 
 a houfe-maid. This degraded creature being no 
 longer an obje£l of terror to lady Arabella, (hs^ 
 refolved to try if (be could not live upon good* 
 
 terms 
 
140 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 terms with her ; and lady Madcilna obferved, 
 that as the girl feemed good-tempered, and had 
 a large fortune, perhaps her nephew, who was 
 but a thoughtlefs kind of a young man,. could 
 not have done much better. 
 
 C ,H A P. XVI. 
 
 Good humour, only, teaches charms to laft. 
 Still makes new conquefts, and maintains the paft ^ 
 Love rais'd on beauty will like that decay, 
 Our hearts may bear its flender chain a day ; 
 As fiow*ry bands in wantonnefs are worn, 
 A morning's pleafure, and at evening torn ; 
 This binds in ties more eafy, yet more ftrong, 
 The willing heart, and only holds it long. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 J. HE ceremony of congratulatory cards now 
 commenced. It was foilowed by vifits from 
 thofe ladies who wifhed to form a clofer inti- 
 macy, and by the introduction of the bride and 
 lady Arabella at court. 1 he death of Sir Simon, 
 though now nearly baniOied by fubf.Quent events 
 from the memory of his aaniable rtlic, was (till 
 too recent to allow of her joining in ihefe cere- 
 monies. She could, therefore, only hear from 
 lady Arabella, what (he would rather have feen, 
 that the bride was completely outdone upon 
 every occafion. The fair narrator's laudable 
 defign of making her aunt happy tempted her to 
 fbme fmall exaggerations. 1 lie Grecian mo- 
 del of beauty, which the form and face of 
 
 Geraldine, 
 
/ 
 
 A TALE OF THE TIMES. I4I 
 
 Geraldine refenibled, was more confonant to 
 the public tafle tliari the round vifage, uniform 
 regularity of features, and auburn locks of the 
 
 ^ northern beauty. The figure of the latter was 
 indeed more confpicuous ; but b;!ing lefs cor- 
 rectly moulded by faf])ion, it feemed to yield 
 in elegance ro the poliflied fymmetry of the ever- 
 graceful countefs. lite lily and the rofe vvere 
 rival ed by Arabella's complexion ; yet lilies and 
 rofes may be bought at Warreu's, which by 
 candle- liij;ht look almofi as well as nature; but 
 what cofmetic can beftow that ** pure and elo- 
 quent blood" which fpcke in Geraldine's face, 
 and might almoll juftify the opinion of the 
 poet, " that her body thought ?*' 
 
 If from their perfons the obfcrver reverted 
 to the t'.refs and manners of Jie fider beauties, 
 the palm indifputably belonijed to the countefs- 
 In her fele6iion of ornament the corredlnefs of 
 her tafle led her to reject what was exuberant 
 and fuperfluous ; and by (ludying fuitablenefs 
 rather than fplendor^ (he ever appeared with 
 the ^.raceful proprity of a woman of fafiiion ; 
 while lady Arabella was ioft in the maze of taf- 
 fels ana tloi^nces. The terms upon which Sir 
 William Powerfcourt lived with his neighbours 
 
 , were not calculated to iiifoire his daughter's 
 mind with any ideas of inherent fuperiority, 
 further than whether own merit juflified. His 
 family pride was not of a hofiiie character. It 
 rather taught iiim to refpedl himf^lf, than to def- 
 pife others. Educated in the fpirit of benevc- 
 Icnce and uiiiveifal good-will, if ?ny indications 
 of latent vanity fometimeb appeared to check 
 the nobler groAih of Geraldine's foul, Mrs. 
 Evans was ever at hand to eradicate the perni- 
 cious weed. The internal principle thus fecured, 
 
 her 
 
142 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 her native good fenfe and obfervation taught her 
 to copy the exterior of polirenefs from the beft 
 models which her fituaticn afforded ; and on her 
 entrance into the fit 11 circles, flie only appeared 
 to want a little familiarity with peculiar cuf- 
 toms, to realize in its fulled perfe(^ion the cha- 
 ra£lerof a well-bred woman. 
 
 On the contrary, lady Arabella's attempts to 
 fhine, announced the effort, and miffed the 
 effedl. Hauteur could not command refpe£l 
 from thofe who, equal or fuperior in rank, al- 
 lowed nothing to the claims of a longer pedigree. 
 Confeffedly inferior to mod young ladies of 
 her own ftation in acquired graces, the mere at- 
 tracftion of beauty, though foon felt, was as foon 
 forgotten, i he flippant obfervation and fevere 
 farcafm, which at Kinloch-caftle paffed for elo- 
 quence and wit, could not endure the tell of 
 more competent judges, who cannot reiifh a 
 fncer unlefs recommended by fome other qua- 
 lity than m<iTe malignity. When to thefe con- 
 Cderations is added the reflection, that the world 
 is generally more inclined to approve thofe who 
 folicit their favour than thofe who command 
 their attention, it will not be wondered at, that 
 general opinion loudly proclaimed lady Mon- 
 teith a very charming woman ; and tl.at if ever 
 the filence of polite referve was interrupted by 
 repeated inquiries of *' What do you think of 
 " Lady Arabella Macdonald ?" the moll candid 
 anfwer generally received was, " Nothing very 
 « llriking." 
 
 The Phiiofopher who attempts to defcribe the 
 fecret powers of nature will not expert to trace 
 the footfleps of the fovereign Queen, *^ in 
 crowded cities" or ** the bufy haunts of men," 
 but in the fequeftered glen or uncultivated moun- 
 tain. 
 
". TALE OF THE TIME^. 1 43 
 
 tain. The MorzWd who, by a defcription of the 
 human character, wifhes to corrcifl the failings 
 of the human heart, will not place his fphere 
 of obfervatJon in thi^fe r<:enes vihere fafhion 
 prefcribes a genteel unifnrmicy of manners. The 
 crowded rout, w here every body is well-bred ; 
 the drawing-room, where every body is weil- 
 dreffed •, the public breaktsil:, where evtry body 
 is lively ; and the opera, where every body is in 
 ecftacies, may prove an author's intimacy with 
 the great world; but however the reader may 
 be d.!zzled by the glare of finery, the mind 
 commonly complains of meagre entertainment. 
 A few general obfervations will fuffice to dt{' 
 cribe the firl'l month of lady Monteith's acquaint- 
 ance with fdhionable life. She trod the giddy 
 maze of difTipation with firm but graceful ftep. 
 The voice of flattery, though foothing to her ear, 
 excited no dangerous emotion. }ier characSler 
 retained its primitive virtues, her heart remained 
 faithful to the imprelTion which was now con- 
 fecrated by indelible ties, and her judgment 
 continued to prefer the mild luftre of connubial 
 happinefs to all tl.e glare of falhion, and all the 
 fafcination of pleafure. 
 
 The earl of Monteith flill continued to think 
 his Geraldine the moft perfed of all human 
 beings, snd himfelf the moil fortunate man in 
 the world. It was impoflible for him to think 
 other wife ; for all his young friends declared 
 him a happy fcllo^\', and his courtly ac- 
 quaintance pronounced his lady to be the mod 
 divine ceature ever feen. It was aftonifhing, 
 they faid, how flie could acquire fuch an air of 
 high ton in her fecluded fituation ; and (lill more 
 wonderful, thar the rcTplendent fame of the 
 fair reclufe had not pervided the rural fhades by 
 
 which 
 
144 A TAIE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 which (he was furrounded. *< Your tnfte in 
 " beauty, my lord," they added, " is perft6\ly 
 <* accurate, and the world is infinitely obliged 
 « to you for introducing this paragon to its ado- 
 «« ration." 
 
 His lordfhip always went home in raptures 
 from fuch converfation; but his lady was either 
 gone out with a party, or the prefencc of his 
 noble relations qualified histranfports, and con- 
 vinced him that one angel cannot protesfl: the 
 joys of the domeflic paradife, if fpirits malign 
 over-leap the facred inclofurc. The hours in- 
 tended to be devoted to the endearing charities 
 of private life were moft commonly ufurped by 
 high difpute and four contradi6lion, to wliich 
 the foffening obfervations of the countefs could 
 not always give the air of fportive raillery. 
 Lady Arabella's pofiiive refufal to attend a pub- 
 lic breakfaft given by one of her brother's greateft 
 intimates, and to which he had thoughtlefsly en- 
 gaged his female inmates without previa, ufly con- 
 fulting lady Madelina, difconcerted the earl fo 
 much, that he determined even to give up the 
 pleafuresof London, and to betake himfelf to 
 the wild ihores of Loch Lomond, rather than 
 continue where he could not be mafter of his 
 own a£\ions. To his loud compl. tints againft 
 feminine perverfenefs, his lady vainly attempted 
 to oppofe her obfervation, that though lady 
 Arabella's refufal to go had rather an air of per- 
 tinacity, it merely reilridled her own condud>, 
 and could by no means be conllrued into an at- 
 tempt to controul his perfet^ liberiy. The truth 
 was, lord Monteith was as dciircus of govern- 
 ing as his fifter was unvvilling to obey •, and his 
 querulous hatred of reftridlion led him to fcru- 
 tinize every word; look and gdticn, wiiich 
 
 feemed 
 
A TALE O? THE TO^ES. 145 
 
 'feecned to militate againft the wi'doii of his de- 
 cilions and the freedom of his condu6b. Lady- 
 Arabella's refufal to go to the breakfaft had been 
 ag^'^avdtcd by fome refle<Siions on tlie inviter's 
 rudenefs in not returning her curtefy at Rane- 
 lagh ; to which la(1y Mp.delina added, that a neg- 
 letl of polirenefs was the true criterion by wliicii 
 a plebeian family might al'^vays be ditcovered. 
 His lord (hip fo bitterly refented this Uircafm, 
 that, regardlefs of the fair fame of the titled 
 Macdonalds now committed ro his charge, he 
 rcfolved to convince the world that peers of thd 
 realm may be as unpolire as commoners; and 
 though lady Madelina and her niece talked of 
 removing to a villa near Richmond in about a 
 -month, he determined not to endure the tempo- 
 rary thra'dom, but immediately to emancipate 
 himfelf from their fetters, by fetting oat for 
 Monteith; and, with the inconfiftency which fre- 
 quently marked his chriracler, he appointed the 
 Tery morning fixed for his friend's public break- 
 faft for his own departure. 
 
 Lady Monteith's heart, as T have alreadyhinted, 
 •was not wedded to the amufements or London. 
 Her natural tafte and early habits did not tc^ach 
 her to ftart affrighted at the name of folitude, 
 nor did the recollection of mild colloquial plea- 
 fures induce her to regret the fociety llie was 
 going to leave. On the contrary, iiad the man- 
 ner been better fuited to the project, the propo- 
 fal of vifiiing her lord's hereditary poHeihons 
 would have met her entire approbation. Siie 
 would have rejoiced in ihe profpe6l of renewing 
 thofetiesof gratitude and genertjfity, which had 
 been long diiTolved; and the hope of reanimac- 
 itig a forlorn defert region would have att'ordcd 
 iqual gratification to her native benevolence and 
 
 V'oL.L G inherent 
 
146 A lALC OF THE TIMES. 
 
 inlierent love of ciillinclion. But while Che 
 rtxciitcletl hicr lord's oi ten-repeated preference 
 of Loiidon and ahiiorrence of Scotland, ilie 
 regretted that pique and difpleafure, not duty 
 and conviduon, iiad wrought the defired change, 
 lluminating with deep regret on thofe traits of 
 licr huibaiHi's character, of which ti)is incident 
 gave her a full view, ihe Ihuddered at the idea 
 of lisr own mifer.y if the fatal period fliould 
 ever arrive when Ihe ii ould lofe her prefent in- 
 fluence over his aifedlions. What was (he to 
 expecf from paffions fo irritable, fo impatient 
 of control, and from a difpofition fo little in- 
 fluenced by the reitraints of decorum, or the 
 opinion of the world ! 
 
 Mrs. Evanb'b reni-rmbered admonition diverted 
 her mind froi?i purluiiig this melancholy theme*, 
 bur, ab ihe traced the chain of her parting pre- 
 cepts, ihe felt that there was one obfervation 
 with wliich ilie n:ver could coincide. Should 
 the event wliioh lier fears anticipated ever take 
 place, ihe knew ic would be a mij^fortune which 
 :t!me could never overcome, a forrow which pa- 
 .tiencr ne\er could lottery 
 
 While the 'fwetdy-tt^mpered mind of the 
 \o.img countcfs framed extenuating apologies, 
 and concened a tlioufand-littie acl:s of attentive 
 kitidnr.fs,, to mi-.igate the painful effeds of her 
 lord's felf-wiiied negligence upon the mind> of 
 his frieads, Pne was agreeably furprifed to find 
 affairs in thv^. bell train polnble i and a greater 
 decree of ccrdia!i-.y and good-humour aroie from 
 wi.at ihe fufpecled r-iull have proved tiie death- 
 biow to faniiiy auuty. Ko fooner had live eari 
 aijnounced hisinteniion of foiling out for Scot- 
 ]a-':d,and trying 10 make iiis old c^iile ioi-neihing 
 labiubl.^, lii^n ihe a^ive imagination of iuiy 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. fJ^-J 
 
 Ivladellna flew back to the times of her grand- 
 fattier, when Monteith was in its greare(t fplen- 
 -dor. She again anticipated the found of the 
 bugle-horn, reverberating routid its proje(51:in2r 
 towers, to fummon the chin to.atrend their fru- 
 cal chieftain to a hunting party or a curling 
 match. Her mind no\v recurred to rhe gran- 
 deur of a public day, the courf glitterirsg with 
 fpiendid vilitors, the defolatrd h.diS refoundinrr 
 with the cheerful notes of the bagpipe, and 
 numerous fervants in gaudy liveries condu<n;;ng 
 the ailonifhed gueils through the long galleries 
 to a m.igniiicent entercainment. Fired at tlie 
 idea, her countenance loft its ufual afperity, and 
 with an air of melting kindnefs (he applaud.^d 
 the wifdom of her nephew's projecl:. «• Bv all 
 <* means," faid ftie, »< ende-^.vour to reftore the 
 << caftle and its vicinity exa(flty to the fame 
 ** Hate in which it was at the time of your great- 
 <* grandfather. Never be feen beyond its wails 
 << without a train of arcliers and broad- fvvord- 
 <' men. Your ancefloi&,wou1d not even appear at 
 <* btirlini' \a ithout fitty atendants, motl of whom 
 << were Macdonalds iii the right line, it Itruclc 
 *« an awe into the neighbouriiood ; for not one 
 << of thefe gentlemen ever condefcended to en- 
 ** gage in any merc-mtile purfuits, but dined 
 ** every day at the laird of Monteith's table. 
 *' The country was not then over-run with up- 
 «« ftart traders, who by introducing manufac- 
 «< t(^rie«, as they call them, corrupt all the com- 
 << mon people, and render them infolent to their 
 ♦* fuperiore. I remembrr, even when I was a 
 ** cMid, that it a coach with the Macdonald 
 " arms quartered upon it did but paJti through 
 <* Glafgow, all the inhabitants ran to the door 
 " iind tvilitied their refpe£l by fuitable geilures ; 
 
 G 2 « but 
 
148 A TALE OF THE TIME'S. 
 
 <« but now you may traverfc the vhole towr4» 
 *< and not one loom fhall be ftopped to pay you 
 <* you a proper compliment." 
 
 Let not the reader fuppofe that Lady Made- 
 lina's harangue was intended to have terminated 
 jfo abruptly- It might have extended to the 
 Isngth of the expoflulation of the ghoils in 
 Gray's ♦* Long Story," had not Ar^ibella taken 
 advantage of a cough to rejoice that her dear 
 fifter was going to recruit a littler in the whole- 
 fome air of the Highlands, after the fatigues 
 of diffipated London. The pleafure which 
 glowed in her countenance did not, however, in 
 truth, refirlt from her hope that the faded check' 
 of Geraldine might Toon refume its priftine 
 ^rofes. In fpite of the contempt which fhe af- 
 fected, the abfence of a ri'val who abridged her 
 conqueits and Itumbled her vanity was the real 
 -fource of Arabella's joy. 
 
 Lord Monteith was fo deliglited to find liis 
 plans thus cordially approved, that his refent- 
 ment immediately foftencd, and he politely of- 
 fered his aunt the ufe of his houfe in London 
 till iLe could hx herlelf in an agreeable refidenc;,. 
 Her ladyihip repaid the favour, by promifing to 
 reflore all the valuable embejiiihments which flic 
 had furreptitioufly conveyed to Kinloch caltle, 
 as foon ,as.Monteith was reinitated in its priiline 
 fplendor. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I49 
 
 CHAP. xvir. 
 
 1 rue the riches of my former fate : 
 Sweet comfort's blalled chillers I lament : 
 I tremble at the blelfings once fo dear. 
 
 Young, 
 
 The d 
 
 ture from 
 
 ly preceding that fixed for her nepir- 
 London, Lady Ivlonteith was p:iiaruH/ 
 farprized ly the pref^nce of an unexpcifteil 
 vifuor. This was no other than Henry Toweff- 
 court, who, having at lail determined to vKk 
 Italy, impo fed upon hinifelf the fcvere r^fk oi' 
 bidding farewell to that trcjfure, the lofs of 
 which had rendered h»s narive country a defart 
 
 ftene, b<irreii of every joy and every hope. ^ 
 
 Having thus divulged a fecret, at which before 
 lonly hinted, it (till remains necefTriry to dcve- 
 lope the motives that induced this extraordinary 
 lover to refufe the blefliri^ which the amiaoie 
 frngularitles of Sir Wiliiaai Powerfcourt had 
 p,laced within his reach. 
 
 From his earlieft youth his fufceptibie mind 
 had felt the full power-of his coufin's charms i 
 but while his admiration rendered her rvti'iery 
 more exquifitely painful, it prompted the ardent 
 yet unacknovvlijdged wiQi to ticquire every lau- 
 dable quality which could recommend him to 
 the favour of the loveliefl of her fex. His in-- 
 experienced heart knew not the nature of that 
 paflion to which it was a vi6tim; if it had, the 
 native redlitude of his mind would have darted 
 
 with 
 
150 A TALE OF THE TIMES^ 
 
 with inbred horror at a difcovery that feemed to 
 flamp every ungenerous, menn, and ungrateful 
 vice upon the unprincipled villain, who dared 
 to lift his felfifh eyes to the angelic daughter of 
 his honoured bcnefa61or. So far, therefore, 
 from taking any indireO means to obtain the 
 rbje61 of his wifnts, thofe wif^jes were unper- 
 ceivtd even by himftlf, and he fancied that he 
 cheriih.ed no ether fentiments than fuch as rould 
 he juflified by the ties of friendfhip and affinity. 
 The general admiration which Geraldine at- 
 tra£^ed feemed to confirm this idea •, and fhough 
 the inquietude which he ever felt at hearing of 
 iitr having made any particular conqueft might 
 } avf rrmcved the delufion, he flill focthed him- 
 felf wiiii the perfuafion that his anxiety arofe 
 only from a friendly folicitude for her welfare, 
 ;;nd he forbore to probe the wound tillil became 
 too deep to admit of cure. 
 
 The terms of the letter in which Sir Wil- 
 liam had fummoned him to Powerfcourt excited 
 ri wild tumult of hopes and fears, and firft con- 
 vinced him that the interefl he took in his fair 
 ccufin's happinefs was not fo entirely abftra£ied 
 from felnfli conflderationsas he had fuppofed. — . 
 A faithful old domeftic, who was the bearer of 
 this epiftie, could not forbear telling the enr^ip- 
 lured youth, that the general report of the fa- 
 mily pointed him out as the heir and fon-in-lavir 
 of their re fpe<!v{;ed mafler. A thoufand expref- 
 l!ons of Sir William's vvere now recolieOt-d in 
 an inftant, and Henry's ardent mif)d explained 
 their equivocal nature as decidedly fignificant of 
 the generous plan wliich had been long formed 
 in his favour. His reception elevated thefe 
 hopes into certainties ; for, though Sir William 
 forebore any particular explanation, the uncom- 
 mon 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I^l 
 
 mon kindnefs of his manner, and fome injunc- 
 tions to Henry to tin fuch and fuch things after 
 he was gone, baninied every rcmrilning doubt of 
 his intentions. 
 
 Nor did Mifn Powerfcourt's unnfual dcjftflion 
 alarm her lover with the apprehenfion that her 
 fentiments were not in unifon with her farhci's. 
 He thought that a reflecting mind muft feel a 
 temporary deprcHion during the period of a de- 
 cifion fo momentous to its future w^elf-^ve. Ycl 
 while he regretted the abfence cf that charming 
 vivacity which he alike dreaded and admired,, 
 and anxioufly wiPned that Sir Willian^.'s expect- 
 ed declaration would releafe him from that 
 filence which his delicacy prefcribed, and leave 
 him at liberty to realTure his miflrefb's virgia 
 heart by proteftations of fervent gratitude and 
 unalterable love, he thcught even Geraldine lier- 
 felf never appeared fo lovely with all hJef en- 
 chanting graces fportinj; around h.er, as ll-xe did 
 in her prefent inrerelting melanclioly. 
 
 This golden dream, foon terminated. On the 
 fourth morning after his arrivalat I'owerfcourr, 
 Henry furprifed Geraldine in an agony of grief 
 too violent to be referred to any other caufe than 
 extreme and hopelefs forrow. The folicitudeof 
 generous love was inflautly awakened, and he 
 entreated her confidence in terms (IrcnHlv indi- 
 cative of aliecttonate fympathy. «' If," faid 
 the lovely mourner, fixing her radiant eyes 
 upon him with a firm but defpnirin-^ Took ; *• if 
 *< you are indeed the noble dilii^terefled Henry 
 «^ I have ever fuppofed you, I may yet be happy ; 
 « if not, I am a wretch for life. This is not a 
 ♦« time for^ifguifc and aiTeclation. <f My fa- 
 «* ther intends that you (liould be miy hufband ; 
 « but though 1 efteem your virtues, my heart 
 
 ** avows 
 
Z52 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 <* avows a preference forano'ther, which I never 
 ** can furmount. Nothing but mifery can re- 
 «* fult from our union. Be generous, Henry ; 
 •' and, by refufing me, prevent a difclofure 
 *' which would he deftru^^tive to mv fathet's 
 *« peace, and to which nothing but defpair (hall 
 ** ever drive me." 
 
 As aH hmguage would be inadequate to de- 
 fcribe tiie feelings of Mr. Powerfcourt, I (hali 
 only fay, that he filently dropped the fair hand 
 which he liad ardently grafped at his entrance,, 
 and, after a minute's paufc, (tammered out a 
 irw words exprelTive of his refolution to comply 
 v.-i-h hfr rtqucft. He then haflened to the door. 
 ** Siay," faid Geraldine, whofe heart, relieved 
 from the burden of her own forrows, inftantly 
 fcit for him to whom ihe appeared to have trans- 
 ferred the infupportabls load ; *< Stay, and hear 
 *< tiie efFufions of gratitude, efteem, friend- 
 
 « lliip" <t No," faid the tortured youth,, 
 
 breaking from her, « if I fiay anotiier moment,. 
 ** I never can refign you" 
 
 His fuDftfquejJt concu£l has been already de- 
 furibed, and the mydery cf Lady Monieith's 
 requiring two t)!oafand pounds a-year to be left 
 iit her foie difpofal will be expl.iined, by obferv- 
 ing that (hi thought even that fplcndid donative 
 ^vould be inadequate as a proof of htr efteem 
 f jr a man who l.ad evidencly facrificed his own 
 liappinefs to her's. Her attVd:iouate wiOies 
 pomted to Lucy Evans as his belt and moft fuit- 
 able reward. 
 
 iSir William's refentment at Mr. Powerfcourt's 
 fuppofed indifference to his daughter's merits 
 h;id foon fubfidt:-d, and a little aftt r the departure 
 of the Monteiths he fent him a friendly invita- 
 tion to conic and fee him, with an alfurancc- 
 
 that 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I53 
 
 that he was ready to ferve him In whatever way 
 he thought proper to point out. Henry deter- 
 mined upon this vifit, with the expeflation that 
 his melancholy would be relieved by frequent- 
 ing the fcenes in which he had nurfed his infant 
 paffion, and that the converfation of his refpeft- 
 €d benefa£lor would footh his faddened fpirits. 
 The air of deje6lion and indifpofition which 
 was fpread over his countenance excited the kind 
 attention of his benevolent kinfman. He took 
 him all the walks and rides he ufed to take with 
 Geraldine, and, by way of diverting him, con- 
 (lantly dwelt upon a theme which he thought 
 mud be pleafing, the afFeiftion of Lord Mon- 
 teith, and his daughter's happinefs. " It is ver^ 
 ftrange," Sir William fometimes faid to him- 
 felf, " that Henrv refufed Geraldine, and vet 
 <* he don't like to hear of her being happy with 
 ** her hufbaad i and after all, they never ufed 
 <* to fall out; and Henry is a very good young 
 ** man, -with nothing of ^ws'j or niaii'cs in hjs 
 « difpofition." 
 
 H& fawbut little of the family at the rectvory. 
 Mr^. Evans declined rapidly; her hni'band 
 feemed to need all tl e confolatioiis of ftrong 
 fcnfe and chriftian fortitude to fupport the 
 (hock, and the gentle Lucy funk, like a broken 
 lily under the beating of " the pitilefs llonn." 
 She feemed ftudioufly to ftiun converfing with 
 Mr. Powerfcourt *, and when an interview was 
 unavoidable, (lie was not only dejected but re- 
 ferved. As he once attempted to recall to h^c 
 remembrance the joyous icenes of juvenile 
 amufemenr, when the maiior-houfe and the par- 
 lonage feemed alternately the temple of innoc^'nr 
 cheerfulnefs, (lie turned fuddenly, an ^, %'^7.\\\-:^ 
 at him with a penetrating fmil;', obfervcdj 
 
 G 3 " that 
 
154 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 *' that t^e temples remained, but they had lod 
 •' the goddefs who irradiated the fcene." 
 
 Difappointed in his expe6lations of finding 
 confolarion in tliofe objects which ufed toadmi- 
 nifter delight, Henry at lafl anfwered Sir Wil- 
 liam's inquiries of what he could do to ferve 
 him, by remarking, that he thought the falu- 
 brious climate of Italy might be of fervice to 
 his healih, and that tlie numerous objcrf^s which 
 it prefenttd to the curious eye might difiipate 
 
 the langour which indifpofition excited 
 
 Though Sir William was convinced that Eng- 
 land, particularly Caernarvonfliire, was the moll 
 1 eaUhful climate in the world, and contviintd a 
 iuihcicnt number of wonders to enttrtain any 
 rational man, yet he thought that the whimfies 
 of Tick people fhould be treated with the fame 
 indulgence as their palled appetites. His af- 
 fent was accompanied by a liberal allowaiKC ; 
 but he charged him to ftop in London, and,., if 
 Lord Monteiih and Geraluine had not left ir^ 
 to make their houfe his home for a few wetks. 
 '* The jcompany of your coufin," faid he, 
 *' will do you good ; and my liOrd is 11 ill live- 
 «' Her than flie is. Befide, you m.ay have an 
 ** opportunity of getting the befl medical ad- 
 •' vice the kingdom affords ; and» I charge 
 you, don't be guided by outlandifh phyficians 
 while you are abroad, for they never can un- 
 ** derftand what is proper for an Lnglifh con- 
 •* dilution. I have no doubt, Henry, that 
 *• your good fenf-j will keep you from running 
 ♦* wild, as many of our young fly about tra- 
 ** veilers do ; and I dare fay you \mA not dif- 
 '* grace my regard for you, by pretending, 
 ** when you come back again, to like other 
 *' countries better than your own." 
 
 No 
 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I55 
 
 No phyfician at that time refiding in London 
 who " could minifler to a mind difeafed," or 
 who could " pluck from the memory a rooted 
 forrow," Mr. Powerfcourt did not apply for 
 medical afliilance ; and he regretted that tlie 
 eftablifhed laws of foclety compelled him either 
 to vifit the fair troubler of his peace before he 
 left England, or, by attempting excuf.^s to 
 which his ingenuous nature was unequal, excite 
 fufpicions of a fecret which he flattered himfelf 
 was confined to his own bofom. He called at: 
 Portland- place at an unfeafonabie hour, and 
 without previoufly announcing his intentions. — - 
 He was, however, admitted, contrary to his 
 hopes, and found himfcif in the Count-^^^s 
 drefling-room before he had acquired fufHcient 
 fortitude to fuppori tlie trying interview. He 
 advanced with timid (ieps, refigned her offered 
 hand with rt-fpeilful coldnels, and, glancing 
 his eyes over tl.e hjppy envied I\Ionteith, too;: 
 a chair, and attempted a perplexed converfa- 
 tion. 
 
 His Lord (hip immediately found that his in- 
 tended raillery had lod all its enticing piquancy. 
 The dejed^lon, embarraflment, and evident irs- 
 difpofition of his rival afte61ed his good nature, 
 and he drove by repeated attentions to difTipatc 
 his confuHon. But as it rather increafed itran 
 diminilhed, his Lordfldp recollected that his 
 behaviour might have an air of infult ; aiiO, 
 after two or three attempts to occupy his ox^■ll 
 mind by reading the charades written on a fire- 
 fcreen, he at lall confidered, that the moil, con- 
 ciliating condud he could adopt would be to 
 take himfelf out of the loom, which, after de- 
 firin^j Henry to fpend the d.iy with them, /ic- 
 
 iniU'CiiLiieiv 
 
t;6 
 
 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 immediately did, with too much precipitation ta 
 hear his reply. 
 
 L^dy Monieith was by this time fuflicientl/ 
 recovered from the perturbation which native 
 dtrlicacy and innate benevolence h^d excited,, 
 to inquire after her father's looks and fpirits^ 
 Slic heard with deli^^ht that he feemed perfe^ly 
 veil. <« And," added Henry, <« I have the un- 
 
 < ipeak.ibie pleafure to fay, that, thanks to 
 
 * your generous mediation ! 1 feem completely 
 ' reiiored to his favour." 
 
 " Do not talk of my generoHty, Henry, for 
 
 < fe^r I <hould enter upon a never-ending 
 
 * theme — But our friends at the re6lory — Can 
 
 * you tell me any good news of them ?" 
 
 " iVlrs. Evans declines rapidly — (lie cannot 
 
 * continue long." 
 
 " O, my dearefl: Lucy," faid the eountefs-, 
 buriling into tears, ** excellent, iorlorn girl ! 
 « who will comfort you !" 
 
 ** Can thofe be forlorn whom you love ?" 
 eplied Henry. <*- Your friendiliip, Geraldine,, 
 
 * is a blefiing which mud compenfate for every- 
 
 * other lofs." 
 
 *» You forget that my prefent fifuation im- 
 ' pofes duties upon me which no longer leave ms 
 
 * at liberty to fiytothat dear girl to comfort her 
 
 * filial forrow. Does fhe feem fenfible of her 
 
 * approaching calam.ity ?" 
 
 " I do not know; 1 faw very little of her. 
 
 * Can you tell me, Lady Monteith, wliy I 
 ' have been fo unfortunate as to tofe Mifs 
 ' Evans's confidence .'"* 
 
 <' You cannot have left it ; I know her fen- 
 
 * timents too well ; (he regards you with all 
 ihe efletrn your m^rit def^rves." 
 
 «< I thought 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I57 
 
 « I thought myfelf a blank in tlje creation, 
 «* baniftieii from the good opinion of every one 
 «' except your excellent father." 
 
 " Indeed, Henry, you mull caft: afide this 
 *< mifanthropic humour. It robs you of all the 
 ** amiable candour natural to your chara^^er.'* 
 
 <* I trud, Lady Monteith, I fliall find it the- 
 *< difeafe of the climate. In eight-and-forty. 
 ** hours I hope to bid a long farewell to Eng- 
 •< land, to all my forrovvs, and — " he jafl re- 
 collected himfelf in time to forbear adding,. 
 " and to you/* 
 
 <« I^t me not," f^id the countefs in evident 
 emotion, " cngrofs any n^cre of your time,, 
 <* which muft be fully occupied with prepara- 
 ** tlons for your journey. We fh^ill, I trul^,, 
 ** meet on your return, with t/e reciprocal 
 ** pleafure our early interviev-s afforded. Per- 
 ** mit to addrefs to you thofe fenuments in 
 « writing which I find it impoHible to utter in 
 ♦« converfation." 
 
 He replied, " Tour letters, mad-am, will be 
 *< invaluable.*' Finding his refolution unequal 
 to the talk of further converfatlonj he prefented 
 his addrefs, bowed, and withdrew. 
 
 As Henry Powerfcourt will not for fome 
 time appear again upcn the fcenej I fnall fub- 
 join Lady Monteith's firfl epiftie to him, with 
 his anfwer. They occahonally correfponded dur- 
 ing his refidence abroad •, but the remainder of 
 his letters were irrelevant to the fubject of this 
 hidory. 
 
 " To Henry Powerscourt, Efq. 
 
 • Do not accufe me of departing from the 
 * delicacy of my fcx, if the warm intercft 
 
 < which 
 
158 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 which your welfare and happinefs exclle in- 
 duces me to adopt a freedom in my expref- 
 fions which our near affinity and long friend- 
 fhip alone can juftify. Far from feeling the 
 cruel pride of conqueft, my heart participates 
 in your dejedlion fo ftrongly, that while I 
 fancy myfclf the caufe of your unhappinefs, 
 I think it is felfifli in me to enjoy that cup 
 of bleffing which would otherwife be my 
 portion. 
 
 « I have reconfidered my condu£l from my 
 girllQi days. Youthful levity may have led 
 me into indifcretions ; but my confcience ac- 
 quits me of the bafe coquetry of endeavouring 
 to excite hopes which 1 never meant to con- 
 firm. Let the friend whom I (hall ever 
 eftecm, after a retrofpedl of his own conduct, 
 declare what part of his behaviour exprefTed 
 fentiments too lively to be applicable to the 
 afFedion of a relation, and the intimacy of a 
 companion, if 1 rightly appreciate the pu- 
 rity of his principles, he would have re- 
 jected with abhorrence every defign of form- 
 ing a connedlion unfanftioned by my father's 
 approbation, and the knowlege of that appro- 
 bation was not communicated till my heart 
 had loft the power of being juft to the merits 
 of the mar>he propofed. 
 < When I appealed to yourgenerofity, Iknew 
 not how painful a facrifice I required. The 
 more I fed it, the more I venerate your cha- 
 racter ; while my knowlege of your firm 
 felf-denying fortitude encourages the hope 
 that it will be finally exerted for the reftora-- 
 tion of your own peace of mind ; that time 
 and abfence will prevent your exalted fpirit 
 « from bending under an unavoidable difappoint- 
 
 « xnent} 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I^p 
 
 ment ; and that your affccllons will at laft be 
 jufl: to the merits of fome amiable woman, 
 who, with virtues fuperior to what I could 
 ever boafl:, will blefs you with the undifputed 
 preference which, much as I efttem your 
 merit, I never could bellow. England, my 
 dear Henry, contains many fair patterns of 
 feminine worth *, but I will not point that 
 excellence whicli your judgment will beft di-f- 
 cover. Let it fuflice for me to fay, that, as 
 my happinefs m.ud be incomplete while cor- 
 roded by the forrows cf thofe whom I tender- 
 ly love, prudential conGderations need not 
 circumfcribe your choice. I owe you a debt 
 of gratitude, which a pecuniary recompenfc, 
 however liberal,^ can never repay. Let me 
 hear frequently from you, and let me hope 
 that the reafons will foon ceafe v.hich banilh 
 y u from the light cf 
 
 * Geraldine Monteith.' 
 
 < To the Countefs of Monteith, 
 
 < I confide in your honour for the conceal- 
 
 * ment of a p.^fTion which I trufl: your difcern- 
 < ment has alone difcovercd. No blame at- 
 ^ taches to the conduct of the moft amiable of 
 
 * women. The audacious but inexperienced 
 ' youth, who prefumed to admire the moft at- 
 
 * tradive pattern of female lovelinefs he ever 
 
 * beheld, deferves to fuffer for the prefump- 
 
 * tuous hopes which a father's preference firft 
 
 * tempted him to encourage. 
 
 * Anxious to avoid giving pain to that heart 
 
 * which 1 earneflly pray may long continue the 
 
 * peaceful feat of connubial happinefs, I will 
 ^ endeavour to ciert the firmnefs vou recom- 
 
 * mend. 
 
6o A TAtE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 mend. I will pay a ftri£^ regard to my 
 health, and court amufement in every jufti- 
 fiable form. Should I fail in my efforts to 
 regain my peace of mind, let not the re£li- 
 tude of your principles (tart at the idea of ir- 
 fpiring an unwarrantable fentiment in my 
 bread. An innocent attachment fhall never 
 degenerate into a guilty paffion. I remembcF 
 that you are now the wife of the Earl of 
 Monteith : I remember that I withdrev/ my 
 pretenfions in deference to his jufter claim. 
 Eternal infamy light upon the wretch who 
 feeks to diflblve a bond fan6tioncd by every 
 law human and divine ! Eternal infamy li^ht 
 upon him who, under the pretence of pure 
 fentimental attachment, feeks to excite an 
 undue intereft in a matron's heart ! I will 
 never return to England till I can fee you 
 without emotion in that chara£ler ; and this 
 is the lad letter which (hall exprefs a thought 
 inconfiftent with the equanimity of an affec- 
 tionate relation and a finccre friend. 
 
 • Henry Povverscourt.'. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
k TALE OF THE TIMES. l6l 
 
 CHAP. XVIII. 
 
 O how canfl thou renounce the boundkfs flore 
 
 Of charms which Nature to her vot'ry yields ! 
 The warbling woodland, the refounding fhore, 
 
 The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields ; 
 
 All that the genial ray of morning gilds, 
 And all that echoes to the fong of even, 
 
 All that the mounta!n*3 fneltering bofom fhidds, 
 And all the dread magRJficence of heaven, 
 O how canil thcu renounce, and hope to be forgiven I 
 
 Beattie* 
 
 X HE intercfl which the appearance and be- 
 haviour of Mr. Powerfcourt had excited in lord 
 Monteith's mind had more permanence than the 
 fudden emotions to which his difpofition was 
 fub]e(fl commonly pofiefied. His evancfcent 
 impulfes might generally be compared ta the- 
 impreflion which a (lone makes upon the clear 
 furface of a gbfTy la'^e, which, after having 
 formed a few tremulous circles, foon refumes 
 vs natural tranquiliiry. But on the prefent oc- 
 cafion he thought of his good-tempered rival, as 
 he termed him, during molt part of his 
 journey to Scotland ; and, as neither a whiftle 
 nor a fong would always excite new ideas, he 
 frequently expr.^fled himfelf anxious to know 
 whether the poor fellow had fliot himself: ** Yet 
 «< I proteft, my dear Geraldlne," he added, *' I 
 ** do not laugh af him ; for, upon my foul, if I 
 ** were as miferable as he feems to be, I fhould 
 «< think of nothing but driving out Cupid's 
 *« arrovis with a brace of bullets." 
 
 As-. 
 
l62 A TALE OF THE ITMES. 
 
 As lady INIonteith's endeavours to divert her 
 lord from fufpedling Mr. i^owerfcourt's attach- 
 ment had proved iiietTeclual, fhe determined, by 
 that full confide-nce which Mrs. Evans had re- 
 €om mended, to remove every fubjecl of felf- 
 condemnation from her own heart. After hav- 
 ing bound his honoiir by a promife of fecrefy, 
 {lie delivered to him the letters with which 1 con- 
 cluded the 1 aft Chapter; and fhe entreated him, 
 as the a^air was too ferious for levity, to avoid 
 the diflrefling fubjecl in their future converfa- 
 ticns. 
 
 Lord Monteith v/as a (Iranger to that *< green- 
 eyed monfter which nwcks the meac it feeds on." 
 The preference his lady had recently given hitn 
 was too avowed, and her conduct, as w^ell as her 
 principles, too correct to raife fufpicion even in 
 the heart of a Leontes. On the contrary, Mr. 
 Powerfcourt's behaviour excited his warm 
 efleem j and his frank open difpofition compelled 
 him to exclaim, *^ I cannot think, Geraldine, 
 *< why you preferred me to that noble fellow ; 
 " I hope he will live to come back to England, 
 <* that I may thank him for giving me happinefs 
 ** at the expenceof his own repofe. Let me tell 
 <* you, very few young fellov/s of my acquain- 
 *< tance would have a6led as he has don«." 
 
 *< r hope," faid the countefs, while heart-felt 
 pleafure lighted up all the charms of her intelli- 
 gent face, '< that I (liall have the fatisfaclion of 
 *< prefenting two friends to each other, highly 
 <* defer ving of mutual confidence. You fee I* 
 •* have requefted Henry's correfpondence ; you,- 
 « my lord, muft permit me to communicate it* 
 «< to you *, your fuperior knowledge of the cha- 
 '* racier of your own fex will enable me to- 
 *< difwover whether his travels are conducive to- 
 
 <' his 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES, 1 63 
 
 '« Ills repofe ; and you will afTifl: my replies by 
 <* pointing out fuch topics as will prove moft 
 ** etFe(Slual in promoting this end, ever rem.em- 
 ** Bering that the efteem and gratitude I now 
 ** feel for him mud be fuhfervient to the 
 ** flronger attachment whence they origi- 
 <» nated." 
 
 Such were the fentiments of laciy Monteith ; 
 and fuch is the conduct upon which them.ufeof 
 hiftory and the mufe of fiction alike delight to 
 dwell. The unccrrupted mind avows its divine 
 original, by recurririg with fecret com.placency 
 to the portrait of what is perfecl, fair, and good,. 
 U~})0ugh the depravity of modern manners may 
 obtain iranfient am;ufement from thofe highly- 
 coloured fcenes of guilt which the judgment 
 condemns, the foul only finds conflant gratifica- 
 tion in contemplating the lovely pi<flvires of in- 
 j^ocence and virtue. 
 
 When I r*-co!le<5i that the fubfequent events 
 of this hiftory will lead my narrative through 
 many a painful fcene, I feem to (brink with re- 
 luifiance from the difguding tafk of defcribing 
 fyftematic villany mining the outvtorks which 
 decorum and religion have placed around female 
 virtue, while the unful'pt^ling heart becomes 
 entangled by fatanic guile and inbred vanity. 
 1 feel that the part moil analogous to mv tafte, 
 as well as to my powers, would be to depiclure 
 the amiable features of the human character 
 lliaded only by thofe lighter traits of frailty from 
 which the molt perfedt (landard of human good- 
 nefs is not exempt. Bur, knowing that the 
 unchriftian m.orals of the prefent age flrain their 
 afFe6led charity till they embrace vice, while the 
 moft glaring enormiitics are glofied over by deli- 
 cate fubterfuges -, and refined liberality expatiates 
 
1^4 ^ TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 on the goodnefs of the heart, while its poiTclTor 
 breaks every precept in the decalogue j I feel 
 Itimuhited by an ardent, though perhaps injudi- 
 cious zeal> to lend my feeble aid to flop the tor- 
 rent of cnthufiaftic fentiment which daringly 
 menaces that heaven-erec\ed edifice that is 
 predicted to furvive the wreck of worlds. 
 
 Imprcffed with this idea^ I conceive it poflible 
 to ferve the caufe of principle, by fhowing 
 through what devious unfufpetled paths the 
 human heart may be led to error ; how eafily it 
 may, by youthful indifcretion, be hurried down 
 the fteep defcent, till, Hazael-like, it finks into 
 the infdmy which it once (huddered to name. 
 Yet, retaining too much native purity to be re- 
 conciled to its degraded (late, and too much fen- 
 fibility to flifle relledion, it flirinks from life as 
 from an insupportable burden •, and the morninjjr 
 which rofe in fplendor is clouded by infuperablc 
 gloom before it attains its meridian brightnsfs. 
 
 If in the execution of this defign the pencil 
 fliould fail, let Candour remember the intentionj 
 and excufe the unfkilful painter. Perhaps the 
 imperfedl outline may induce fome fuperior 
 genius, more converfant with life and manners, 
 to execute the inflruclive fubjefl with all the 
 glowing energy that its importance requires. 
 
 I (hall gratify my ow^n tafte by dv/elling a 
 Httle longer on that part of lady Montci.h's 
 hiftcry, when, unaffailed and happy, (lie fpre-id 
 delight and comfort all around her, and her own 
 heart derived an allowable gratification from the 
 confcioufnefs of deferved applaufe. The firll: 
 four years of her married life were unembittered 
 by refllefs anxiety, corroding dtfappointmert, or 
 the (lill keener pangs of fclf-accufation. Bur, 
 left my readers fliould fuppofe that I am novr 
 
 falf^fying 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. l6^ 
 
 :'f:\\Ci{y\r)g my own maxims, T ih^li exhibit a 
 curfory view of that period which, "id 
 
 not include any grea^ forrovi's '-aci- 
 
 ons from rciSliiude, Hiil bore ioiuv ia^iiicr marks 
 
 .of rhe penalty of A lam 
 
 When the young countefh, -.rrived ufMona-ith, 
 (he wds aftonifhed nt the ciuel r.^v^pes which 
 
 ^time and negligence had ruade iii that vr'ie:abie 
 pile. Its native magnificence, the fubline fea- 
 tures of the adjacent fccnery, every I'pot of 
 which fe^med by fome tradirionary anecdote 
 connected with her lord's fami'y, and the at- 
 tachment which the peafantry, notwi^hdanding 
 their extreme wretchednefs, exprefled for the 
 defcendants of their old m^fters, kindled in her 
 mind an agreeable enthufiafm, and flie rejoiced 
 in adidinclion which feemed capable of uniting 
 her own individual happinefs with the general 
 good. Though (lie continued to think thaf lady 
 Madelina carried her ideas of hereditary confe- 
 .quence to a ridiculous extent, a generous heart 
 would find a fair field to gratify its nobleft pafTi- 
 ons in the fupremacy of a wide domain, bhe 
 feemed never weary of wandering through the 
 romantic fcenery. * Flere,' faid ihe, as (he one 
 day refted on the flope of a green hill, over- 
 -hung by a pine-clad precipice, ^ I will build a 
 
 * neat little village. The houfes fliall all be 
 
 * white} there fhall be a garden to each, and a 
 
 * refidence in this agreeable fpot fhall be the 
 
 * reward conferred upon fuch of my lord's te- 
 ^ nants as feem to fulfil their duties with marked 
 
 * propriety. I will frequently vifit them ; I will 
 
 * be their iegiflator, their in{truclor, their phyfi- 
 
 * cian, and their friend. They fhall look up to 
 < me with gratitude, and my own heart fhall 
 
 * enjoy 
 
1 66 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 * enjoy the pure recompence of confcious bene- 
 < ficence.' 
 
 In the improvements which fhe planned at 
 the caftle, the fjme focial and benevolent fpirit 
 prevailed, th'.)Ugh here perhaps it received a more 
 worid'y teint froir> the dangerous approximation 
 of vanity. « Ihefe rooms,' faid ftie, » if em- 
 bellifhed in the Gothic flyle, will Ihame the 
 feeble glitter of modern frippery. Lvery 
 article of furniture fhil; be inaiTy and fubllan- 
 tial, and convey ati idea of general ufefuhiefs 
 rather than a felnfh defire of exhibiting the 
 col-d enjoyments of u'^mparted wealth. My 
 lord's fortune is amp'j; I have made to it a 
 confiderable addition: how infinitely fiiall I 
 prefer fpending it upon this fpot, which has a 
 local claim to our preference, to fqu mdering it 
 in the unvarying round of a London life! 
 Here, without feeling the pain of competition, 
 expence miy be juflified by the motive of em« 
 ploying indudry and diffufing pleafure. I will 
 cultivate the efteeni of all niy neighbours by 
 the moll winning attentions. The peculiari- 
 ties which entitle me to pre-eminence [hail not 
 give them uneafinefs, becanfe they Dull be 
 uniformly exerted for their pleafure or amufe- 
 ment. Here, without obfervation or inter- 
 ruption, 1 may purfue my plan of influencing 
 lord Monteith's taile, till it gradually aihmilatcs 
 to my own. Lady Arabella's predilection for 
 a London life, and her acknowledged influence 
 over her aunt, prevent me from fearing that 
 my fchemes will be frullrated by the prefence 
 of thofe whom I cannot propitiate .in 1 wilh 
 not to off'cnd. Diltance may, perhap-, dif- 
 arm their prejudices ; and when perfonal com- 
 petition is removed, the reprefentative of their 
 
 * family 
 
A TALE CF THE TIMES. l6'] 
 
 "^^ family may receive thofe commendations to 
 < which kindred or friendOiip never c<^n afplre.' 
 1 he plans of Lscy Monteith would have 
 proved ' abortive, had (he not been affifted by 
 two powerful coadjutois. Lord Monteith's na- 
 tural difpohtion was violently difpofed to the 
 purfuit of rural fpoits and athletic exercifes. 
 The mountains, lakes, and forefts which fur- 
 rounded his caflle, promifed the diverfions of 
 fiiliincT and hunting in full perfect ion ; and the 
 neighbouring gentry had endeavoured to enliven 
 a thinly-inhabited country by the eilablifhment 
 of an aflen\bly, a bowling meeting, and a 
 cricket match, which returned at Hated inter^ 
 vals. '1 he Monteiths honoured the fird-men- 
 tioned amufement with their prefence very fooa 
 after their r.rrival at the cafile j and, though the 
 company exhibited but a miniature refemblance 
 to the circles in w^hi^.h they h:-.d lately miOved, 
 they both received pieafure from the events of 
 the evening. fwo circumftances contributed 
 to his lordihip's frttisfaOion ; he felt himfelf 
 perfeclly at eafe; and, moreover, he received 
 information, that the neighbouring country af- 
 forded what is tern-»ed a fet of ve*y hearty fel- 
 lows, and the fineft groufe and black game in 
 the kingdom. His pleaiure at this intplligence 
 was fo great, that whde they returned home, 
 he interrupted his Iddy's obfervations on the fe- 
 male part of the com.pany, by declaring, that 
 fince he found things (o agreeable, he really be- 
 lieved he iheuid ipend a good deal of time at 
 Mositcirh. * I tliink, Gerwldine,' faid he, 
 '* I ctnnot be veiv dull. Wh.at cio you think? 
 
 ♦ I ihill hunt one day, fiih another, go to tiie 
 
 * bowlinggieeii a thirds then there will be a 
 < cricket match, and fliouiing, aiui public din- 
 
 * ners. 
 
i6B 
 
 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ners, an ^ private parfits j and then going to 
 t'T'iiSurgh d any particular buiir-sfs is on 
 f( . and making excurfions ihroa);h tlie neigh- 
 bouring counties, r^'eclare 1 begin to think 
 as yourfilher docs, that it v/ili be a .ery ra- 
 tional life., arid cju ire as agreeable as fpending 
 ail oar time in ihoft- Rare-?rap pings of which 
 AraDelia is fo lond. She Tiid th.it I fliould 
 dtted Scoth\iid m a rnvuith •, bv.'c i will con- 
 vince her that I cnn be happy any wh^^re. Don't 
 you think fo too, my love ? You will like to 
 Jive here, (hall you not ?* 
 
 * O I infinitely, I affiire you •, I was both 
 furprifed and pleafed with the manners of fe- 
 veral of the ladies whom I met at the iiTembly. 
 They feemed indeed a litilf* confufed aiid re- 
 ferved at firft, and certainly they are unac- 
 quainted with the more refined modifications 
 of poJitenefs; but many o^ them appeared 
 well-informed, and I know they will improve 
 upon acquaintance, i i^ave prcje6ted a thou- 
 fand little fchemss ,to infpire confidence and 
 cordiality. 1 am lure the dear oid caflle may 
 foon be made p'^rfec^iiy comforiable; and I 
 hope, my lord, our rcfidence among your te- 
 nants and dependents will prove an efi'entiai 
 benefit to them/ 
 
 < I (liall, certainly, order my fteward to give 
 them the preference upon every occafion- 
 which promifes a lucrative advantage.' 
 
 * Is it impoinble for us to extend our utility 
 further ? Could I not endow a fchool, and 
 introduce Tome branch of manufacture to em- 
 ploy the children ami the women ? I am told 
 that they are extremely uninformed, and in 
 fome refpe^s uncivilifed. I have fancied 
 that this may be owing to the nurrow ftipend 
 
 « of 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 1 69 
 
 tt the prefbyter, whofe poverty will not per- 
 mit liim to exert that influence over hisfiock, 
 or to pay them that attention which the intereds 
 of morality and religion require. A fmall ad- 
 dition to his (tipend would not be felt by us, 
 and would probably do more for the general 
 improvement of manners in the neighbour- 
 hood than would be effected by a much larger 
 expenditure any other way. I fee, my lord, 
 you fmile ; but allow me as well a3 yourfelf 
 to quote my /ather's autJKjrity. He has fre- 
 quently cbferved, that by enlarging Jvlr.r 
 livAns's fphere of ufcfulnefs, he did an acl 
 of public beneficence. ** 1 only thought," 
 he ufcd to fay, ** of making one worthy man 
 happy ; but fince Mr. Evans has been relieved 
 from the prefTure of want, he has made many 
 men happy, aye and worthy too." 
 * Why there may be fomething in what Sir 
 William cbferves, provided one could butbefurc 
 of having an Evans to deal with. But I fnall 
 have no ieifure for fchemes of this kind ; io 
 you m.^y amufe yourfelf with them when 
 you have no other employment. You may 
 fct up fchools, portion off young girls, and 
 enrich old divines. But, remember, no ma- 
 nufa^lories in my neighbourhood. — All our 
 fjrn:ly hate the very name of them. — Ihey 
 only encourage a horde of idle infolent va- 
 grants, who fly in vour face upon every occ«i- 
 fjon.'— 
 ' Not if care be taken to improve their m.n- 
 
 A 
 
 rals in proportion to their affluence. You fee 
 how thinly your villages are peopled, and what 
 extreme poverty the general appearance of the 
 country befpeaks.' 
 Vol. 1. H < It 
 
170 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 < It will be very different wheu I fpend my 
 
 * fortune among them. The repairs of the 
 
 * caflle VI ill employ the men ' 
 
 * But the womtjn and children ?' 
 
 * O they firall be fed at the caftle ^^te.* 
 
 < No; let them eat the bread of induftry, and 
 
 * enjoy thofe d< lights which the aftive exertion 
 
 * of our native energies always infpires. 8weet 
 < is the food which is earned by labour. When 
 
 * you, my lord, purfue health and pleafure in 
 ' the -fields and woods, and retu'. n home to taile 
 
 * the repofe which is procured by exertion, and 
 
 * to partake of the dainties for which you are 
 
 * indebted to your own toil, you feel this maxim 
 
 * true-, and your heart will exult at the idea, 
 
 * that your provident benevolence has extended 
 ' fimilar enjoyments to hundreds, who mud 
 
 * long need the protecting car€ of their bene- 
 
 * factor, and confequently cannot afl'e^ an in- 
 
 * folent independence on his bounty.* 
 Perhaps Lord Monteith's principal objecflions 
 
 to his liidy's fchemes were, that he fhould be ki- 
 volved in fom.e trouble by the execution of them. 
 Her judicious allufion to his favourite purfuits 
 in the preceding fpeech, and the profpecl of 
 .the honour bemg wholly his, while he deter- 
 mined that the difficulties fliould be exclufively 
 hers ; tbefe reafons, added to fome fecret idc^s 
 that if the plan anf\^'ered it would be another 
 triumph over the prejudices of his obdinate 
 aunt, procured his acquicfcence, and he ut- 
 tered the words, * You lliall do as you pleafe, 
 
 * only, don't teaze me about it,' juft as the cha- 
 riot pafled over the draw-bridge which led to 
 the caftle. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I7I 
 
 CHAP. xrx. 
 
 Say, fiiould the phi'lofophic mind dlfdain 
 
 That crood which makes each humble bofocn vain ? 
 
 Let fchool-taiight pride difTemble all it can, . 
 
 Thefe little things are great to little man ; 
 
 And wifer he, whofc fympathetic mind 
 
 £xults m all the good of all mankind. 
 
 Goldsmith. 
 
 Ti 
 
 HE fdfjg froid with which Lord Monteith 
 always treated every fcheme not immediately 
 conne(flcd with hio own pleafures, frequently 
 communicated a fevere Dang to the liberal mind 
 of the countefs. Her delicacy was hurt at the 
 grofs character of his amufements, and her va- 
 nity was piqued by perceiving tlsat the tenaci- 
 oufnefs of long-indulged habit would not yield 
 to the fafcination of herreflned accomplirhments. 
 Like Defdemona, fhe was »* an excellent mufi- 
 cian, and coukl fing the favagenefs out of a 
 hear." Her mellifluous voice and fweet-toned 
 harp ftill retained all their exquifite power of 
 transfufing harmony and delight into her huf- 
 b^nd's foul, while ""he early horn or the convi- 
 vial appointment called him from the firen in 
 vain. But if fhe fought to lead his attention to 
 the blooming wildernefs of fweets planted by 
 her hand, or the fcarcely lefs glowing garland 
 created by her pencil, he inftantly recolleclcd 
 fome infurmountable eni::agement which re- 
 quired every moment of his time, bhe was 
 equally unfortunate if fhe attempted to interelt 
 
172 A lALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 }iini in the Iiiftory of her colony, as (lie teimc« 
 her neat little wliite village ; or if", opening the 
 itores of her c;^p;jcioiib mind, O.c fought to dil- 
 cufs fome topic oi liteiary talle, her arguments 
 might be briilianr, bu? unlefs they were coin- 
 prefl'ed \A ithm the firicftefl rules of Spartan bre- 
 vity, htr lord WIS either dilcovering the wit of 
 Iiis fpsniel, or had f.dlen f.ift adeep. 
 
 Yet his heart was juil to her merits, and his 
 tongue fo copious u\ ler praife, tliat he was 
 lometirnes inclined to thruil in the agreeable 
 fubjctl "without proper preparation. H" was 
 Vonfidered by ail v-'ho vifued at the caftle to be 
 Ti moPt perfect paragori of connubial merit; and 
 l^ady ISJot>teifh was ?.s univerfally pronounced to 
 ber-'happy voman, with wfich opinion I am 
 inclined to coincide, notwirhllanding that the 
 power of Gygcs' magic rirg, invariably poi- 
 fefTed by all 1 ovel writers, has enabled me to 
 peep behind tl e curtain, and to fee the conod- 
 ing forrow which a prudent wife will not only 
 cor.ceal from public obiervation, but even v ith- 
 }ic]<l from the kn.owlege of her bofom friend- 
 
 My. young female readers, vvhofe notions of 
 riJptial felicity are dr;u\n from the dcluGve 
 psges of a circulating^ library, will ftait at th-e 
 harili tenet vhich feems to ofUrm, tliat a great 
 r.utr.ber ,of married ladies may ailign Ciiufes for 
 difcontent of a feverer nature than what feme- 
 times afrecied the tranquillity of tlie blooming 
 Geraldinc. Feavful kit they H.ould fuppiTe m.y 
 doClrine ambiguous, or imagine that the happi- 
 nefs of the latiy wa.s wliohy owiug to the anunblc 
 conrtitution of fier ovu-i mind, 1 will very phiinly 
 tell iheoi, that, though duies for vexation oc- 
 Cdfionai'v occurred, h.fting urvhsppinefo in fuch 
 a fuuotivn could ci^ly proceed lium a difccn- 
 
 tentcd, 
 
A TALE OF THS TIMES. 1/3 
 
 rented, lll-rejulateci temper, or a perverted 
 iudgment, which, inflead of forming an elti- 
 mate of life as it really is, eteds a falhici >us 
 ftandard, by which it decides upon what is due 
 to its own deferts, and how far others ad as 
 they ought. Reverfe this \\i\ fentcnce, and iec 
 the fair fcrutinizer of her hufband's faults con- 
 template the errors of her own behaviour ; let 
 her recollect the duties Ci\q has heedlefsly omit- 
 ted, and the provocations (he has undefignedly 
 given ; and let her then ufe the experience il'.c 
 derives from fe!f-examination in her eitimate o{' 
 the condu<il of her partner. After making fome 
 dedu£lion3 for the llronger temptations to whiuh 
 the other fex are expofed by their more impetu- 
 ous paffions and blunter feelings, the early indul- 
 gence of their humours which their manners in 
 early youth permi^, and their hereditary notions 
 of fuperiority derived from Adam ; I fay, (lie 
 will then, perhans, juftly refer the apparent 
 negle£l or cruel unkindnefa which had jail: ex- 
 torted her tears, to fornething cf bufinefs, which 
 << had puddled ills clear temper," and fcnt hira 
 home rather with an expectation of hviving his 
 humours foothed by feminine foftnefs, than of 
 offering at the fiirine of feminine fufceptibllity 
 "" thofe attentions which f.i the briilal ilate. 
 
 The fenfibility of Lady Monteith's difpofitioii 
 prevented her from viewing the defe<^ts in her 
 - Lord with the indifT^rence which a mind of 
 common refinement would have experienced,— 
 But to the qualities of refinement and feniu)i!i:y, 
 fo generally fatal to female pe.ice, Geraldine 
 united a Rrong attaclimcnt to lier hufband, na- 
 tural fwcetnels of temper, and correct notion^^ 
 of the human charaif^er, derived from her early 
 
 intimacy witli iNlrs. Evans.- The precepts of 
 
 that 
 
174 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 that excellent monitrefs, now ftrengthenec} hf 
 convicflion of their propriety, frequently recur- 
 red to her mind, prevented her from adoptirg 
 tl)e language of complaint, opened her eyes to 
 the agreeable part of her fjtuadon, and trans- 
 ferred her attention to what her own duty re- 
 c^uirt;d from her, till native complacency and 
 iiabitual affciftion reftored all the fprightly ener- 
 gies o( her mind. 
 
 Under her prefiding influence Monteith caftle 
 realized to the idea of every beholder the de- 
 lightful vinon of Spenfer's Bower of Blifs, go- 
 verned by a Una inftead of an Acrafia. Mag- 
 r. licence was united with urbanity, hofpitality 
 was gilded by elegance, while the preCding en- 
 thantrefs foftened her enviable fuperiority in 
 beauty, wealth, wit, and talents, by the moft 
 unaffecling condefcenfion, and amiable attention 
 to the accommodation of her guefts. If her 
 Tafte in drawing extorted admiration from thofie 
 young ladies who were juft trying to acquire the 
 rudiments of the fcience, the pain of that (en- 
 timent was immediately foftened by her ready 
 otfer of furnifning them with crayons, pencils, 
 fubjicis to copy luperior to what the country 
 afforded, or ailiftance from the mafler who oc- 
 cafionaliy attended her. Htr tuneful voice and 
 magic touch could not be impaiied ; but (he had 
 lon^s and muiic books at every one's I'ervice, and 
 ihe was very willing to aflift in afFording all the 
 mechanical aid whic/i that enciianting fcience 
 admits. She had acquired a knowledge of all 
 fafhionable works, and here again initruc^ion 
 and materials only waited to be required. Her 
 library, her conlervatory, and her hot-houfe at- 
 traified general attention, and transfufed general 
 pleafure, bccaufe their refpcdivc treafures were 
 
 / not 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 1 75 ^ 
 
 ■fot kept merely to gratif}'- the oflenratlon of the 
 noflcflbr, but were permitted to impart their 
 iiiental riches and odoriferous fweets to any who 
 
 wiflied to read a book or cultivate an off-fet. 
 
 Adhering to the rule, that beauty i? bell attired 
 v/hen robed by fimple elegance, (he had no 
 temptation to be guilty of the temerity of at- 
 tracting envy by the fplendor of her ornament'; 
 and the expence fpared from her own dre/s w;s 
 employed in judicious prefents to thofe of her 
 young friends whofe circumftances would ill 
 fupport the cofl of genteel appearance. 'J'o 
 crown this fair aflemblage of con^.placent graces^ 
 her exquifitcly playful wit, while it dazzled by 
 its brilliancy, prevented by its inoncnfive iVeer- 
 nefs the mod irritable mtnd from ch>irging it 
 with farcaftic feverity. 
 
 Her viUage flouriOied. .She had named It 
 James-town, in honour of her Lord, to whole 
 liberality flue properly referred every improve- 
 ment of which Ihe was the directing fouL i'he 
 neighbouring peaAmtry were emulous to become 
 inhabitants of a foot which poilcfred fo many 
 local advantages*, and a fpirit of order and im- 
 provement was gradually introduced. The me- 
 Jvmcholy highljnder no longer watched his few 
 ilarved fheep on the bleak mountain, and for 
 want of occupation foothed his fcrrows with 4 
 bagpipe. One of his younger boys pcrform.ed 
 that office, while *' he earned bread for his in- 
 fants and health for himfeif," in ihaping the 
 green allies of Monreith, covering the ble.^k 
 mountains with plantations of Scotch pine and 
 American oak, or digging the foundations of 
 the new buildings, which were continually addeel 
 to James-town, Befide a neat edifice, appro- 
 priated to divine worihip, it poffciTed a carpet 
 
 manufactory 
 
 > 
 
I7<> A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 rT^nuf.'jcS^ory, a fpinnin^ room, a village fchool^ 
 and a m?.rktt-houfe. Perfons properly qualified 
 vere placed at the head of each inltirurion, and 
 the tai\c of the boys was to be conuihed in their 
 fntu^'e deftination, while the occupations cf 
 fifliing, agriculture, and weaving, lulicired their 
 choice. The views of the girls were more cir- 
 cumfcribcd ; b:5t by being early taught the oc- 
 cupations of fpinning and knitting, and by 
 Jiaving a market opened for the fale of their 
 productions, they were relieved from the burden 
 rf indolence, and the cheerlefs profpeO of being 
 a ufflefs weight upon their future hulbands, or 
 dependant upon their caprice for every article 
 of fupport. It was Lady Monteith*s favourite 
 amufement to take a morning excurfioti to 
 James-town, and to introduce her female 
 vifitants to the young feminary which flourifhed 
 under her care ; and it frequently happened, 
 that feme yellow-haired laflie difplayed fullicient 
 abilities to induce one of the Countefs's guefts 
 to transfer her from the tafk of Tinging at her 
 wheel, to the enviable employment of clear- 
 Itarchin-;:; the lady's " kerchiefs ;'' and helping 
 »« to buHvin her." 
 
 Yet even the exertions of liberal benevolence - 
 will not always afFord a pure delight ; liie liberal 
 jTjind mud feekits fureft reward in the confcious 
 f'ifchsrge of an acknowledged duty, and not in 
 th;.' periecl gratitude nor the complete fatisfac- 
 
 tion of the objetls it labours to benefit. 
 
 Though the inhabitants of James-town were 
 I'jlecled from the mo(t deferving part cf Lord 
 Monteith's tenants, it does not follow that they 
 were quite exempt from tlie failings of huma- 
 nity. The hcufes were all neat and comfort- 
 able ; but as the Ccuntefs had amufed herfelf by 
 
 conllrudling 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. J'J'J 
 
 conftrnciing them after various models, it might 
 happen that dame Brov^ri would think galTer 
 Campbell's the more convenient, while the 
 . gafFer for a fimilar reafon preferred that inhabit- 
 ed by the danr.e. Lady Montelth, indeed, con- 
 fented to their exchanging dwellings •, but then 
 another inconvenience arofe ; M'^rgery Bruce 
 complained that a window in dame Brown's 
 houfe overlooked her, and that if the fald win- 
 dow were not walled up, flie could not live ; for 
 that the dame took her Itstion at that window, 
 and, inftead of minding her work, did nothing 
 but watch the conduct of the aggrieved de- 
 ponent. Dame Brown's rejoinder was, that 
 Margery was fufpeded to be no better than (he 
 Ihould be j that flie had'lately got a new plaid 
 and kirile, nobTody kn-^w hovir ■, and Cnc thought 
 it her duty to mind her goifjgs on, leiL iier good 
 hdy (houid be impoled upon by an unworthy 
 pretender to her favours. The fair judge found 
 it difficult to decide in a quetiion of iuch nic^ 
 morality; and the more, fo, as the village was 
 fplit into two nearly equal factions, pirreiiliit- 
 in'T under tiie banners of tlie watchful Brown, 
 and part efpouiing the caufe of the aggrieved 
 Margery; 
 
 Beiide the perplexity which cafes nmilar :n 
 the above often excited. Lady Monteiih had la 
 contend with other inconveniencies. The power 
 of local attachment is very llrong in people who 
 have palled their lives en one fpot, w ithout hav- 
 ing had much intercourfe wnih tiie reil cf the 
 world ; and (he often found that the old Migh 
 lander- preferred '' the hiil that lifted him to 
 the ilorms," to all the advantages wlilch, whili 
 untried, his imagination annexed to the (ludter- 
 cd cu'tlvated vaikv. The manners of the io^^ herh 
 
 H 3 iliuLj^crs, 
 
178 A TALE OF THE TTMES. 
 
 ftrancjers, Mhom the ornamental embellitliments 
 of Monteith had Introduced among the new co- 
 lony, did not afllmilate with his pre-conceived 
 ideas of fubmifiicn, ceconomy, and felf-com- 
 
 muiid. Though invited to partake of the 
 
 luxuries his new neighbours introduced, his 
 afTetlion for four-crout and crowdy was infur- 
 mountable, and his retired folitary humour 
 ibrunk fro.n the loquacious interruptions of 
 fociety. He frequently found that he had re- 
 nounced pleafures congenial to his habits, for 
 comforts which he wanted the relifh to enjoy ; 
 and though re(pe6l for his gude laird and lady 
 checked complaint, the fmothered difcontent 
 often made him meet the inquiries of the latter 
 with the fombrous brow of forroA^ inllend of 
 tne funfnine of joy. '^ Ye meaiu it," he would 
 f^y, «' aw' for the beeil, but ,my ain auld cot 
 «< was mair cumfurt/ible." 
 
 << Is virtue then only a name ?" the contem.- 
 plative Geraldine would fometirr.es inquir , 
 when ruminating on the untoward events which 
 often crofi'ed her benevolent fchemes. *• i have 
 <' been taught to conlider the power of btllow- 
 <* ing happinefs as the mofl: glorious prerogative 
 << which wealth could enjoy. Have tlie mrans 
 fi by which I purfutd (his end been ill felccled, 
 <* or am i particularly unfucccfsful in choofmg 
 *< fit fubjects for my dcfign ^ I'he philofophy 
 of one-and-twenty is not remarkabiy profourd ; 
 the views of life are then too highly coloured to 
 udmit of ilie ♦' yellow leaf," which " fober 
 autumn" gradually introduces ; and the error 
 then prevalent even in the beft-reguhited minds 
 is, th^t the fcenes in which themlelves arc 
 nclors furnifh exemptions to received rules as to 
 tne injxiriis by which they are to be governec!, 
 
 or 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. I79 
 
 OT the forrows and cilfappointments which they 
 
 are to encounter. Difpanionate experience . 
 
 would have taught Lady Monteitb, that the very \ 
 circumftances of the villagers' complaints argued 
 comparative comfort. Pining poverty, deep 
 affli6fion, and hopelefs mifery, would have 
 adopted themes for lamentation widely different 
 from the fuperior convenience of gaffer Camp- 
 bell's houfe, the impertinence of dame Brown, 
 the fufpicious finery of Margery Bruce, or even 
 the remembrance of four-crout and crowdy, 
 which haunted the " auld" Highlander. Her 
 liberal mind would then have-added to the cer- 
 tain fatisfaiftion of a pure intention the exhila- 
 rating enjoyment of that moderate .fuccefs to 
 which all fubl unary fchemes c^n alone afpire , 
 and (he would have judged of the happintfs of 
 her colony, as one of our critics has obferved 
 of the forrov.'s of Paftoral : ** That it is a fnf- 
 **' ficient recommendation of any Hate, wfiru 
 ** they have no greater miferies to deplore." 
 
 A full conviclion of that deprefiing btit in- 
 fallible trutli, that all the good of this worl;l 
 mult be blended with evil, would aWo have pre- 
 ferved lady Monteirh from the morrifications to 
 which her love of dlilinctioii and univerfal ap- 
 plaufe likewife expofed h.er. Againil the Oiaft^ 
 which, in fpire of repeated obligations, low tiwy' 
 and petty derraciion fomeiimes aimed :;: hev 
 character, ^^^ectne^s of temper and coidcioir^ 
 fupeiiority oppofed an inadequate defence. Lidv 
 Monteith's letters to her dear Lucy huve cotitained 
 a gentle com.plaint againfl ingrititude and rife 
 hardfhipsof her O'A-n lot ; for, though anxinsilV 
 folicitous to oblige and conciliate her neiijhhouis 
 and acquaintance, fiie oltcn fuund her weil-menrt 
 
 endeavours 
 
l80 A TALE OF THE TIMK5. 
 
 endeavours millaken, or repaid by diilike and dlf- 
 tonfenf. \ 
 
 If Mifs Evans did not always feel the force of 
 iicr friend's complaints, ir nrsiiii not be afcribed 
 to the diminution of her atVeclion, nor to a want 
 of fympathy. I have ahe^.dy cbferved, that 
 licr mind was of a ftrong^'r calt ; it was, befide, 
 ii3ore intimately acquainted with real caiamiiy. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 WiiCn tliy laH breath, ere natme funk to reft. 
 Thy meek fubmifiion to thy God exprc-fsM ; 
 V7hen thy lall look, eie thought and fteh'n^ fled, 
 A mingled gkarn of hope and triumph fiied. 
 
 Pleasures of Memory. 
 
 J. HE read-r wi!) remember that I left Mrs. 
 Evans ftruggling with the violence of a cruel 
 difeafe, whofe reiterated attack k-emed to leave 
 little hope of the prcfervation of her valuable 
 life. She endured ijcr allotted mif'"ne5 with 
 exemplary patience, and after her fuiTt-rJT-'gs had 
 ahr-ioft taught her difconfolate friends to wifli for 
 her deliverance, Qie meekly clofed a wtll-fpent 
 life, bequeathing the invaluable J^^gacy of her 
 virtues to her beloved daughter. "" 
 
 When lady Monteith received the painful 
 ridings, (lie was in hourly expectation of her 
 firl^ coniinement ; ajid the utrer iuipoilibilitv of 
 t.iking fuch a long journey alone prevented her 
 irom ':.\ertir.g her pcrfonal fervices to foo^h her 
 Lu;v'o forrows. She wrote to !.cr in the ten- 
 
 derell 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. iSl 
 
 dercd flrain of afFeclionafe condclencp. * My 
 tears/ faid fhe, < fnall ever mingle with yours 
 over the facred remains of my monitreis, my 
 fofter-mother, my firft and mo^ valuable 
 friend ! Every good aclion I perform, every 
 evil I efcape, every commendiible fentiment 
 that rife^ in my heart, is owing to h.er. Her 
 invaluable preceptf, fancliorjed by experience, 
 now acquire rcfidlefs efficacy from the painful 
 ref]e£lio!i chat her lips can repeat them no 
 more. I brood over them in my memory as a 
 facred treafure. Come to me, my dearefl 
 Lucy ; my prefcnt fnuation, vhich excludes 
 ftrangerSj demands your te:ider footbir.gs, and 
 will hi't the privacy of your model) grief. 
 Come, and tell me, while it is frefli in your 
 memorv, all that the dying friint faid, all thnt 
 VuQ looked ; and arm my fortiturle for the tria!.^ 
 which await me, by repeating how Qii: endured 
 monihs of mifery." 
 
 *' It was the foiemn injunction of my now 
 blelTfd mother," faid Mifs Evans, in her reply, 
 that I fliould devote myfelf to ilie pious office 
 of foothing the forrows of m^y poor father, till 
 time, uniting witli religious refignation, flioul'd 
 foften his griefs, divert his thoughts from one 
 painful object, and enable him to occupy his 
 leifure hours, once fo happily filled, with other 
 amufements i and (lie enjoined this duty as the 
 nobleft m.ethod of proving my affedlionate 
 regard for her memory. She even added, 
 that fFie hoped her riifcmbodied fpirit might be 
 permitrcvl to wirnefs my pcifcverance in a 
 mode of condu61:, the knowledge of which 
 would ^crUOi her beatitude. 
 * Is this the only way by which I can now prove 
 n\y fiiial reverence to the bell of mothers, and 
 
 ffiall 
 
l32 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 fliall I fhrink from the important charge*?' 
 Even your claims upon me, my dearefl: Ge- 
 raldine, are annihilated by this fuperior tis. 
 You will rejoice to hear that I am fuccefsfuk 
 My poor father was furprized into an agony of 
 grief iafl; Sunday. We attended divine fer- 
 vice, though he could not attempt to perform 
 the duty. The Hght of my mother's prayer- 
 book lying upon her vacant feat overpowered 
 him. His ftifled fobs were heard by feveral of 
 the congregation ; I knelt by his fide, I prefled 
 his revered hand to my lips; I feemed at that 
 moment to have a perfecfl control over my 
 own feelings ; [ whifpered, that his only re- 
 maining Lucy would endeavour to fupply tb.e 
 place of her whom Providence had removed to 
 a better world. My father viewed me with 
 ferene delight, and, as we walked home, he 
 told me that I was indeed his comforter, and 
 worthy of my excellent mother. 
 * His praife is a cordial to my heart. While 
 flie lived, I thought my conducl: as a daugh'cs^ 
 not blameable j but nov/ that (he is bevond the 
 reach of my attention, I find infinite occaficii 
 for felf-reproach. The thought that we have 
 paid the lad offices to a beloved objc^ is iii- 
 conceivably painful. It turns the nnnd to a 
 retrofpeclive view of its paft fenii.Tients-, and 
 the remem.brance of cafual negle6ls and inad- 
 vertent exprefTions is torture. If thou, my 
 mother I could (I arife from thy earthy bed, 
 how would thy Lucy feek to endear thy re- 
 newed exiftence by redoubled attentions and 
 more (leady virtues ! Pardon, thou dear faint! 
 my iniperfe(fl duty ; I muft enjoy the thougSt 
 that thou art prefent, and conicious of thcfe 
 
 fighs. 
 
A TALE OF THE T/MHS. 1 8'J 
 
 fighsand tears which I generally conceal from 
 every other eye. 
 
 * Do nor think, my dear GeraKiine, that I 
 (liall ever forget the particulars of her dying 
 moments. The awful remembrance is en- 
 graven upon my mind, and no fubfequent 
 events can obliterate the impreihon. I will 
 defcribe it all to you when we meet ; at that 
 time, I trull, both the hearer and the relator 
 will be more equal to the defcription. 
 
 ^ The exprefa which has jufl arrived at the 
 manor-hcufe relieves my heart from n^any 
 anxieties. You are in fafety, fJiy Geraldine ; 
 you were blefibd wkh a daughter. \our ufi - 
 ful life is fpared to your hufband, your infant, 
 your faiher, your friends, yoi r country. It is 
 a general, a public benefit : but let your deje6tefi 
 Lucy lift her grateful voice amjid the r.niverfal 
 joy, and adore that kind Providence which has 
 prefervcd her from further deprivations.. 
 
 ' We fhali meet, my beloved friend, and I 
 trufi: ibon. Sir William hasjuft left us. He. 
 is in raptures at this event, trough a little in- 
 clined to regret that he has not a grandfcn. 
 It is all for the bell, he fays ; he doubts not, 
 when he fees the pretLv creature, he ihall be as 
 fond of it as he was of his own Geraldine. * I 
 took it a little hard,' faid he, * that my girl dvd 
 not come to Powerfcourt at the time prefixed; 
 but flie will now bring the dear infant along 
 wich her, and I fhal] have two pleafures inftead 
 of one.' 
 
 * Dear excellent man ! He has laid a fcheme, 
 he fays, to make us all happy together. He 
 infills that my father and I Ihall live with you 
 at the manor-houfe during the time of your 
 expe<fted vifit^ He fays, he can divert Mr. 
 
 * Evans 
 
184 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 Evans with a hit at backgammon ; and that it 
 will do my fpirits good to have a great deal of 
 cliat witli you. * Don't be fo caft down, my 
 dear god-daughter/ he continued^ < we are all 
 mortal you know; and your good mother is 
 novv much happier than it was even in your 
 power to make her.' 
 
 < T know you love to hear your father's words 
 repeated with all their genuine henevolence 
 and fimplicity. Me has trulv fulfilled the pre- 
 cept of frequenting the houfe of mourning. 
 8cace]y a day has paiTed without his vifiting 
 us, and his kind foliciiude has been attended 
 wi{h ccnfider.ible advantage. It is fcarcely 
 pofTibie to converfe with him without feelintr a 
 portion of his tranquil fpirit diffufed into our 
 Qwnbofoms. 
 
 * Adieu, dear lady Monfcith I How i long to- 
 fee you in your matronly charadler, to fold 
 your little babe in my arms, and in the con- 
 templation of your deferred felicity to lofe for 
 a time the recolleOion of my own irremedia- 
 ble forrcws !' 
 L^idy Tdontelth's recovery was rapid, and flic 
 was foon able to introduce the young nurfery to 
 the eager expectants at- Powerfcourt. Her lord, 
 though excefTively anxious for her fafe journey,, 
 and doatingiy fond of his little moppet, would 
 not accompany them. Bufinefs of the greatell: 
 importance prevented him •, his engagements at 
 fifhing parties, bowling meetings, and cricket 
 matches; were fo numerous, tiiat it was abfolutely 
 im.poffible to break them. * Take the greatelt 
 < care of yourfelf, therefore, my dearGeraldinej 
 « till I can come and take care of you. You 
 « may depend upon it, th^t I (hall fet olT to fee 
 ' your father act < the old courtier of the 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 185 
 
 * Qneen'b', the firft moment I am difengaged-, 
 ' for I cannot long be happy without you. ^j 
 « the bye I think your father unreafonable in 
 
 * infirting upon having fo much cf your com- 
 
 * pany/ 
 
 I pafs-by fir William's rapturous reception of 
 his daughter, the unaffecfled trinfport of the 
 countefs, and the tears of mingled pain and 
 pleafure which dole filently down Lucy's faded 
 cheek. I fhall not dwell upon the unafFedied 
 dignity with which Mr. Evans ftrove to prevent 
 his forrows from calling a gloom over the 
 general joy, nor the repeated marks of grateful 
 veneration and affection which lady Monteith 
 paid to the memory of her deceafed friend. We 
 will fuppofe that, holding by her Lucy's arm, 
 (he vifited the fpot which contained the facred 
 remains of her lofh monitrefs; that d^Q liftened 
 to the interefling narrative of her ficknefs and 
 death, and, mingling her own tears with thofe 
 of her amiable companion, repeated the remem- 
 bered precepts of the guardian of her youth, 
 and enjoined upon herfelf the imitation of her 
 virtues. The reader will recollect, that to thefe 
 duties lady Monteith had added an additional 
 bond, — a promife given to the deceafed, < that 
 
 * if her friendiliip could avail, her Lucy fiiould 
 
 • never be unhappy.' 
 
 It will alfo be remembered, that Mr. Powcrf. 
 court frequently wrote to his coufin, and that 
 lord Monteith was invited to overlook thecorrcf- 
 pondence. He fincerely wiihcd Henry well; 
 he would rather not have his wife make any 
 man miferable \ and when hecontrafled his own 
 charader with the refinement and intelligence 
 vifible in his rival's letters, he felt a little awk- 
 ward, and inclined to think that her cou fin's 
 
l86 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 tafte was more congenial to lady Monteith*s thart 
 his own. All thefe reafons made him very de- 
 firous that Henry (hould break Cupid's fetters r 
 but fince he was confident that he was a very 
 honeft fellow, and that nobody could doubt his 
 v/ife's propriety, he was anxious to efcape the 
 trouble of reading the correfpondence ; for 
 Henry's letters were generally very long, aT)d 
 chiefly about places which he had vifited in his 
 travels; befide, lord Monteitli was always ter- 
 ribly incommoded by want of leifure. The 
 countefs was therefore left to her own obferva- 
 tions, which pointed out to her that Henry's 
 increafing vivacity augured well ; and to con- 
 firm the fatisfaftion which his recovered cheer- 
 fulnefs difFufed over her mind, his laft letter ex- 
 prefled an intention of returning to England by 
 the route of Lower Germany, Switzerland, and 
 Flanders. 
 
 3t was the encouraging hope which thefe cir- 
 cumftances fupplied, and not the ftimulation of 
 feminine curiofity, that induced lady Monteith 
 to develope her friend's fentiments in a point that 
 had hitherto been guarded by the moit rigid 
 fecrefy. She endeavoured gradually to lead her 
 to the fubjeil, and began by expatiating on the 
 beauties of Monteith. " My lord," faid Hie, 
 
 * has kindly permitted me to indulge a thoufand 
 ^ little whimfeys in embellifliing a fpot emi- 
 
 * nently indebted to nature. I have fet up tem^ 
 
 * pies and alcoves out of number. Some are 
 
 * for foUtary mufings, others for focial parties. 
 
 * There is one, of which I hope, Lucy, you will 
 
 * be very fond, and that we (liall fpend many 
 
 * happy hours there, when you come to Ifay 
 < with us next autumn. It is formed upon a 
 
 * plan communicated by Henry Powcrfcourt^J, 
 
 « he> 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 187 
 
 « he took it from a beautiful ruin in Canapania. 
 It is open to the fouth, and fliaded by ths 
 loftiefl: beeches I ever faw. The ivy and 
 •woodbines which I have planted round feme 
 of the columns grow very good-humoured!y. 
 It has befides the advantage of a profpecl, to 
 which even the mountain fcenery of Powerf- 
 court is Hat and uninterefling.' 
 A crimfon blufh lighted up Mifs Evans's face. 
 It is,' faid (lie, < extremely doubtful whether 
 the ftate of my father's fpirlts will allow me 
 to fpend next autumn with you. But you 
 mentioned Mr. Powerlcourt — I hope heis well. 
 When did you hear of him ?' 
 * Very lately, faid the countefs, drawing ou-t 
 
 one of his letters. < He writes in excellent fpi- 
 rits, and he gives us hopes of his foon re- 
 turning to England. I hope, Lucy, you will 
 meet him at Monteith.' 
 « I meet him ?' replied Lucy, in increafing 
 
 agitation. 
 
 « Yes, my bve — I am fure you will have a 
 
 « fincere plcafure iarenewing your acquaintance 
 
 < with an old friend. In this very letter he ex- 
 
 < preiTes a moft lively concern for your lofs, and 
 
 * a ftrong folicitude for your happinefs."^ / 
 
 < You were always a little inclined to fib/ 
 replied Lucy, wiih a fmile, which revivedthe idea 
 of her native fignificant archnefs. * It is youf 
 
 < happinefs for which he feels fuch ftrong (o' 
 
 < licitude.' 
 
 < Read then, and be convinced,' faid the 
 •' countefs, tendering her the letter. 
 
 < No,' faid Lucy, recolleding herfelf, and 
 aiTuming a ferious air ; < I fliall preferve the 
 
 < pertinacity afcribed to my fex, and refufe con- 
 
 * vidion till you,^ dear tempter, tell me, what 
 
 * good 
 
l88 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 < good would arife from my indulging" a vain 
 
 • hope, that I excite an intereft: in Mr. Powerf- 
 
 • court's heart. You know my fecret, Geral- 
 
 < dine i and let me for ever filence your obfer- 
 
 • vations on this fubjec\, by o\^ ning that I know 
 
 < his. If I have not your charms to attract his 
 
 < afFe£\ion, 1 have at leaft fortitude to avoid his 
 
 * contempt. His regret at lofing the woman of 
 
 • his choice fiiall not be aggravated by compaf- 
 
 * fion for a love-lorn jjirl, who, betrayed by in- 
 
 * experienceto unfolicited love, purfues him 
 
 * with the offer of an unaccepted heart.* 
 
 * I admire your lovely pride,' faid tlie coun- 
 tefs. * Yet my friend's delicacy need not be 
 
 hurt when i declare, that as nothing but a pre- 
 attachment would have made me infenfiblc 
 to Henry's merits, it is my raoft earned wifh 
 that (he may reward them.' 
 
 * How reward them, lady Monteith .'' Can a 
 forced alliance (and pity is compulfion lo a 
 noble mind) reward the generous, firm, felf- 
 denying virtues of Harry Powcrfcourt .'' Shall 
 the man who could renounce a bleffing liis 
 whole fcul was ardent to poflefs, even when 
 by that renunciation he expofed himfelf to the 
 anger of the ftiend he befl loved, be linked to 
 a woman who found the ties of delicacy too 
 w(r.ik to reftrain her felfifli preference ?' 
 < Can a lively renfihility of fuperior goodnefs 
 efface the delicacy of your charaOer ? No, my 
 Lucy, it gives to it a more intertfting attrac- 
 tion. Yet I perfeclly agree with you, that it 
 ought to be kept fecret from theobjecSt of your 
 regard; for till Henry is jufb to your merits,, 
 even he is unv/orthy of you.' 
 
 * And is he nor, in your fenfe of the word, 
 unjuft ?' 
 
 < I own 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 1 89 
 
 * I own that his heart was beflovv'ed wliere its 
 value WAS lefs efteemed ; but fince ihat attach- 
 ment is now utterly at an end " 
 
 * Go on, my fweet iijrterer, and fay in plalr> 
 terms, Now that I am married, do you, Lucy, 
 come and meet the agreeibie bitcheior at 
 Monteith; throw yourfeif in his way, iludy 
 his humours, and try to perfuade hiin to take 
 a little notice of you, — No, Geraidine ; the 
 man who has loved you will not eafily be 
 cauglu by other lures j and dearly as I regard 
 you, I (hall be too tenacious of my own right 
 of pre-eminence to admit of your participa- 
 tion of my huiband's heart.' 
 « His return to hngland," replied the coun- 
 tefs, * ia a clear proof that he can view me 
 with indiiference. Mud the man who has 
 been unfortunate in his firfl choice neceiTarily 
 remain for ever after infenfible to female merit? 
 Surely, Lucy, that romantic idea v^as never 
 inculcated by your mother's precepts.' 
 
 < Such a change is not abfoiurely impoflible ; 
 
 but highly improbable in the prefent inftance. 
 
 Obferve'the line of conduit which I mean 
 ^ (tcadily to purfue ; and I conjure you by our 
 - friendihip, and your wilhes for m>y happinefs, 
 
 < do not attempt to make me deviate from it. 1 
 fhal! in the hrfl place perfiil in my endeavours 
 to conquer a preference which promifes to be 
 always irreconcilable with my peace ; and as 
 
 < a means to forward this dcfirabie end, neither 
 in your letters nor your converfation do you, 
 my Geraidine, introduce the painful theme. 
 I will neitlier avoid norfeek iMr. Powerfcourt; 
 I win neitlier appear anxious to pleafe, nor 
 fearful to offend him. Whatever progrefs I 
 .make in his affections fiiaU be all in my own 
 
 * natural 
 
ipO A TALE OT THE TIMES^ 
 
 * natural charaOer. Do you exert your pene- 
 
 * tration, and warn me when I depart from this 
 
 * line of conc!'j6l. Be as jealous of my delicacy 
 
 * as you would of your own j and if ever my 
 
 * countenance betray in his prefence the pertur- 
 
 * bation of my mind, warn me of the danger 
 
 * of exciting my own future remorfe ; and let 
 
 * me haften back to hide my folly in this f = 
 
 * litude, where my mind fhajil foon regain its 
 
 * loft energy by the contemplation of my mo- 
 
 * ther's virtues.' 
 
 She then prefented lady Monteith witli a 
 copy of verfes. * Read,' f<)id ihe, < this little 
 
 * tribute to filial duty, which burft from my 
 
 * heart during my lonely walk laft night. It is 
 
 * not finifhed, but it will convince you that I 
 
 * am capible of more worthy feelings than the 
 
 * weak regrets of unrequited love.' So faying, 
 fne fuddeniy left th.e countefs, who with mingled 
 admiration and regret perufed the following 
 fragments 
 
 Still wllll wander througli thefe mofs-grown bowers. 
 And f«; nc the grateful fragrance of thefe flov/ers ; 
 Still will I pace ihe path her footfteps prefs'd, 
 Still watch tht- favoui'd plants her cultuie blefsM ; 
 While the loud throttle warbling fills the grove, 
 Mix'd with the murmurs of the melting dove. 
 
 Here, when the lun's declining car allows 
 A deeper rt adeto hover o'er the boughs, 
 Sweet Pbilon:;el, who fhunn'd the " garifh day,'* 
 Awakes th' cnainour'd echoes with her lay j 
 O Bird ! bert darling of the houfe, again 
 Pour on my penfive eur that thrilling llrain; 
 Again repeat it ! — Fancy (hall prolong 
 Thy notes, and give expreffion to tliy fong ; 
 
 TeU 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. Ipi 
 
 Tel! what deep fwells dcfcribe parental woe, 
 For feverM love what fofter defcants flow ; 
 Sing on — the tender fympathy I feel, 
 For, as around me night'i^dun fhadows fteal. 
 Keen retrofpeftion every fenfe employs, 
 And gives a fubftance to departed joys. 
 I fee tny form, my honour'd mother ! glide 
 Wrapt in a filmy mill, and fcan.e defcried ; 
 1 turji delighted, and again rejoice 
 In the known cadence of thy filver voice« 
 O! ever lov'd, rever'd, lamented, fay, 
 From what far region haft thou wing'd thy way ? 
 Charg'd with what kind injundlion art thou come 
 To turn my footfteps from the path worn tomb f 
 Appear'ft thou in difpleafure, to upbraid 
 Some broken promife, or fome rlprht unpaid ; 
 Or haft thou journey'd to this daik terrene 
 To tell the fecrets of the world unieen ?- - 
 'Tis filence all — -Light zephyrs wave the trees, — 
 'Tvvas but the glancing boughs, and rifing breeze ; 
 The faint impreiTion fades upon my brain, 
 'The viiion clofes, but my griefs remain! 
 
 CHAP. 
 
192 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 CHAP. XXf. 
 
 vStiil to ourfelves in every place confign'd, 
 Our own felicity we make or find : 
 With fecret courfe, while no loud dorms annoy, 
 Glides the fmooth current of domellicjoy. 
 
 Goldsmith. 
 
 XjLMONG ihe various means employed by 
 Providence to foften human calamity, none are 
 more eminently beneficial than the oj)iates 
 which time adminifters to grief. It was linely 
 obferv^d by a novelill (not one of the prefent 
 fchocl), that none but the guilty are long and 
 completely miferable. In vain does the foul, 
 while labouring under the ftrong paroxyfms of 
 calamity or difippointrr.ent, renounce all ac- 
 quaintance v.ith terreilrial pleafures, and, like 
 the Hebrew patriarch, refolve to * go down to 
 the grave mourning.' Time will foften the 
 poignancy of regret ; a Benjamin may arife to 
 divert affe(ftion from the grave of Joleph, and 
 the tears of anguifh may be converted to thofe 
 of joy. This fuppofuion, however, premifes 
 that tlie grief did tiot originate in the depravity 
 of the fulTerer. Intervening years may render vice 
 callous or penitent ;• but the in!penetrability of 
 cne fl?.te, and the apprchenfivenefs of the other, 
 are alike i-reconcilabl*: with the idea of happi- 
 iiefs. It }ras been long acknowledged, that, 
 though the lofs of a beloved friend fcems at 
 firfl the molt infuppcrtable of ail calamities, 
 even affcclionate minds fooner acquiefce in fuch 
 
 deprivations, 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. lg^ 
 
 deprivations, than they do in many other kinds 
 of diilr^fs. This may fometimes be accounted 
 for upon religious principles; but even when it 
 does not own fuch exalted motives, it feems 
 fevere to afcribe it to levity of difpofition. Ex- 
 Ifting in the midfl of a dying world, we (hould 
 r-jtl.er employ our faculties in extracting im- 
 provement from fcenes of mortality, than wafte 
 them in unavailing regret. The bond of friend- 
 fnip is not, indeed, difTjived by death ; yet it 
 does not impofe inceflant woe on the furvivor, 
 who mud f ion journey through the fame dark 
 valley which the lamented object has juft ex- 
 plored. 
 
 Strengthened by fuch confiderations, flill fur- 
 ther enforced by the pi-ecepts and example of 
 her father, Mifs Evans's grief gradually fub- 
 {]dsd into the tranquil cheerfulnefs which na- 
 turally belonged to her character. Her affec- 
 tion for her mother Oicwed itflf in a tender 
 attachment to her rremorv, and to everv fub- 
 ject conrected with it ; in a fteady imitation of 
 Iier virtues, and a faithful obfcrvance of her 
 precepts The high heroic tone of her mind 
 wouki have been wounded by a fupnofition, that 
 love was more invulnerable than fiiia! grief; and 
 file cerrainly lb far fubducd her early preference, 
 as to render it very little trou!)lefome either to 
 herfelf or her friends. It did not incapacitate 
 lif-r for any duties, nor did it abforb any of her 
 agreeable properties. She vifited ?vJonteich in a 
 few months after her mother's death, and de- 
 lighted all vhofaw her with her good fenfe and 
 agreeable vivacity. She even met Rlr. Powerf- 
 court without betraying her fecret crnoiim to 
 the moH; fcrutinizing ey--. She received him 
 M'ithout either difcovering firong tranfport or 
 
 Vol. I. I adopting 
 
4 194 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 adopting an artlficl-il referve : and (lie bade him 
 adieu with a voice fo little tremulous, tiiat even 
 Lady Monteith could fcarcely detetSl her latent 
 emotion. 
 
 It may be for the advantage of all love Pick 
 young ladies, who fit under woodbine bowers 
 or (hady beeches, or who walk by moonlight to 
 hear nightingales and waterfalls, to learn by 
 what means Mifs Evans was enabled to make fo 
 refpedlable a defence cgainft the purblind archer. 
 In the firfl: place, fhe was conftantly employed; 
 in the fecond, die never indulged in the dan- 
 gerous pleafure of dwelling on the name and me- 
 rits of her beloved, either in her converfation or 
 inher letters, nor did (he ever allow herfclftocom- 
 plain of her hard lot. To prevent fuch repinings, 
 (he often vifited the abodesof real mifery, and her 
 attention was diredled to that courfe of fiudy 
 which is the reverfe of fcntimental refinement. 
 
 Mr. Powerfcourt's fhort refidence at iSIon- 
 teith did not indicate a revival of tliat ftrong 
 attachment to his lovely coufin which had given 
 him fo much unhappinefs. He had found ab- 
 fence a grand fpecific. Change of fcene, and 
 interefting obje£ls of purfuit, had counteracted 
 the effedt of love upon a mind, which, though 
 naturally, calm and contemplative, w^s remark- 
 ably fufceptible of deep impreflions, and ad- 
 di£led to a penfive call of thought. He had 
 derived flill further advantages from his travels. 
 His caprxious underflanding was eminently dif- 
 pofed to receive all the improvement which an 
 extenfive view of men and things could afford. 
 Habits of fociety wore off his natural referve j 
 and, as his youthful avtkwardnefs was owing to 
 uncommon diffidence, the fame circumflances 
 which infpired a modeft confciouinefs in his 
 
 own 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. ipj 
 
 ovvn powers, gave grace to his perfon and ele- 
 gance to his aildrefs. Thus improved, Mifs 
 livans might have found her determined flo- 
 icifm an ineffe£lual defence, if it had been long 
 expofed to fo povverful an aiTallant. It may, 
 on the other hand, be afked, if Mifs Evans's 
 merit was not equally calculated to convince 
 Henry, that female attractions may fafcinate in 
 more than one form. I readily aflent to the 
 fuggeftion j but the prefence of Lady Monteith 
 did not admit the fair difplay of Lucy's powers ; 
 and that young lady contributed to her own de- 
 feat, by continually fufpeding that I>er friend 
 led thedifcourfe to fuch a topic purpofely to call 
 her out, and that fuch or fuch an aniufement 
 was projected m ith a defign to leave her le:e-a- 
 tete with Mr. Powerfcourt. Hc^r indignation at 
 thefc ideas was fo M^arm, that inflead of being 
 peculiarly brilliant, her determination to avoid 
 being fingular cou!d not prevent her from be- 
 ing uncommonly referved. 
 
 Henry, on the other hand, confcious of the 
 fragility of ne^v-formed rcfolutions, was pre- 
 vented from attending to the attractions of Mifs 
 Evans by a fcrupulous vvatchfulnefs over his 
 own heart, left it ihould deviate from thofe li- 
 mits which he had prefcribed, in order to pre- 
 vent Lady Monteich from occupying more of his 
 thoughts than common admiration juflified. 
 He found, upon this vifit, that her wit and 
 beaury were her lead attraOions. As a wife, 
 as a mother, how admirable I — how enchanting 
 as the preliding directrefs of a large family ! — 
 how intelligent in her pleafures ! — how prudent 
 in her benevolence! Lord Monteiih was un- 
 commonly attentive to him, and (he.ved a Itron^r 
 defire to contract a friendly intimacy. He 
 
 I 2 talked 
 
196 A TALE or THE TIMES. 
 
 talked of the p]e:ifures of the chxce, of the 
 agreeable fociety of many gay cart-lt-fs louls vvitli 
 whom he fpent feveral iiappy hours. Good 
 heavens 1 could tlie hufband of Geraldine re- 
 lifh fuch low amufcments, and be v;orthy of 
 her ? This thought kept Henry awake one 
 whole night, and the next morning he deter- 
 mined to fet off on a tour to the Hebrides. 
 Lord Monteith earneflly prcfled him to take iiis 
 caftle in his return, and tempted him by offering 
 to introduce him to a party who propofed fpend- 
 ing a month in hunting the red deer among the 
 Grampian hills. Mr. Powerfcourt determined 
 to avoid every opportunity of drawing com- 
 parifons dangerous to his integrity, and pro- 
 pofed going to Irel.md in his way back, with 
 an intention of paying a long-intended vifit to 
 a particular friend. 
 
 The attachment of the Montciths to their 
 northern refidence feemed toincreafe. My lord 
 was fon^etimes relucftantly forced by the un- 
 avoidable preffure of parliamentary bufinefs to 
 vifit London, and the countefs generally em- 
 braced that opportunity of paying her duty at 
 Powerfcourt. She once accompanied her lord 
 to London, where lady Arabe'la, who was (till 
 afpir.ing to tlie character of a firft rate toaft, 
 was terrifieti at the appear-mce of rivalry with 
 which the undiminifhed charms of her lovely 
 filter threatened her, even in her own domain. 
 Probably this vifir would have proved fatal to all 
 the fond terms of affcdlion which lady Arabel- 
 la's letters had conltantly expreffed, had not 
 family harmony been prelerved by the alarming 
 illnefs of Lady Monteith's eldelt daughter viho 
 was left in bcoth'.nd, which fummoned the af- 
 frighted mother from the haunts of pleafure to 
 
 the 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 1 97 
 
 the bed of pain. Tlie chiUi foon recovcr-cl 
 UTifier her wittchful eye, and, though not in- 
 fenlible to the blandilliments of adulation and 
 the fedri^icnsof pleefurc, the g^atefu! heart of 
 Geraltline fon'ot the difappointrnent of lofing 
 the promifed 'amufement in the tranfporting 
 idea of the reft orntlon of her darling. 
 
 She was by tins time the morher of three 
 daughters, all promifing and lovely. 1 he re- 
 peated diiappointmcnt of having male iflue ' 
 fomewhat difconctrted her lord, yet the chagrin 
 was not fo predominant as to caufe any dimi- 
 nution in his attachment to his lady. Expe- 
 rience taught him that her unvaried fweetnefs 
 was necefTary to his happinefs ; and it never oc- 
 curred to him, thr>t his peculiar pleafures and 
 purfuits were any impediments to her's. With 
 too little reflection ever to attend to his own 
 defers, and too little judgment to appreciate 
 Geraldine's refined excellence, he gave an un- 
 qualified afient to the afiertions of his acquaint- 
 ance, and believed "himfelf not only a very 
 happy, but a'fo a very excellent hufband : and 
 who among the lords of the creation will con- 
 trovert that opinion, when they hear that his 
 lady never contradicted him, and never found 
 
 fault ? 
 
 I iliall leave to the fentimental part of my 
 readers the tailc of commenting on the felfi(h- 
 nefs and inelegance of Lord Monteith's cha- 
 ra£ler ; for, doubtlefs, they liave Jong ago ob- 
 f-rved, that his mind was caft in too grofs a 
 mould to form the proper counterpart of Ge- 
 raldine's; and 1 am ready to allow, that the 
 dlflimilarity mufi be fatal to that pure felicity, 
 the refult of a perfedl congeniality in tafle and 
 fenument, which is always the reward of he- 
 
 loes' 
 
/p8 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 roes and heroines, and is fometimes realifed on 
 the ftage of lift?. Such marked difproportion 
 affords an unanfvvtTabie argument to liiffuade a 
 young lady of ftrong feeling from accepting an 
 otlicrvvire unexceptionable ofFor; but fince no 
 law, either human or divine, permits it to difTolve 
 the jviarriage bond, it cannot be urged as an ex- 
 tufe for married u retched nefs, unlcfs fome mo- 
 ral defect or painfcl peculiarity in temper be 
 fup^radded. Senfibihty may wifli th'.tt the 
 ilock of mutual happi nefs may receive every 
 agreeable addition ; but j';dgment will locik. 
 abroad, and, ellimating its own real fituation 
 by adverting to the lot of others, will find rea- 
 fons for content, particularly if hurniiity whif- 
 per fomev/hat of its own confcious deficiencies. 
 I fpeak of general wretchednefs, not of a mo- 
 mentary pang; of a confirmed train of think- 
 ing, not of a fudden refledlion vv'hich reafon'' 
 examines and rejects. 
 
 Long before the period of which I am now 
 treating, Lady Monteith had abandoned the im- 
 pra(fVicjble fcheme of arraying Afteon in the. 
 veftrnetiis of Apollo. The difcovery was pain- 
 ful to her vanity, winch had taught her credu- 
 lity to believe, that love and beauty are the true 
 alchymifts that can tranfmute the bafefl metals 
 into the purell gold. But the fanguine hopes 
 of youth do not fink under one difapponitment. 
 Her lord pcflefTe-d many good qualities, and the 
 uncontrolled power which he gave her over his 
 fortune allowed her to execute every fcheme that 
 Jier liberality fuggelled, and purfuc her own 
 tafle in its fullelt extent, provided fhe fpared 
 };im the irkfome talk of being obliged to pay 
 attention to her plans. -As to any idea of being, 
 impeded in the execution cf liis own, the yield- 
 ing 
 
A TALE 01 THE TIMES. I99- 
 
 Ing geiitlenefsof Lady Montelth preferved her 
 from making the mad attempt, which could 
 only have been compared to <» drinking up 
 Eifel, or eating a crocodile." 
 
 If the fujTcTt ftions of latent pride, or, to call 
 if by its loftcr name, confcious fuperiority, 
 fometinies led her to think that (he might have 
 m.ide a more congenial choice, returning ten- 
 dernefs b,ide her ftart from the injurious fug- 
 geftion, and fly to her colony or her planta. 
 tions, which, prefenting the idea of her lord's 
 indulgence, never failed totnfpire complacency. 
 The future was an ample field for hope, and fhe 
 filled it with the moft agreeable images. She 
 determined, by (Irifily attending to the educa- 
 tion of her daughters, to bend their du£lile 
 minds to fuch purfuits as would enable her to ' 
 find thofe colloquial pleafures in her maternal 
 chafa(fler, which had been withheld from her 
 connubial portion.' 
 
 Her thoughts were fometimes diverted from 
 her favourite employment of framing fuch a 
 plan of education a^ (hould infure fuccefs, to 
 the contemplation of her Lucy's apprcaching . 
 bappinefs, which every day rendered more pro- 
 bable. Henry now generally refided at Powerf- 
 court. His filial attentions and agreeable man- 
 ners enlivened Sir William's declining years ; 
 and his frequent opportunities of obferving 
 Mifs Kvans convinced the countefs that her b^ 
 loved friend would gradually make the conquefl 
 fo important to her repofe, in the manner which^ 
 her Arid fenfe of delicacy and propriety re- 
 quired. 
 
 Bending under the enfeebling load of time, 
 but (till tranquil, locial, and benevolent, the 
 vifits of his beloved d<tughter fcem^d to renews 
 
260 A TALE OF THE TIMPS. 
 
 Sir WilHam Powerfcourr's frail exlflence. Her 
 countenance always befpoke happincfs, and he 
 forgave the negligent inadvertencies vifible in 
 Lord Monteiti.'s behaviour to himre;f. *< Old 
 men and ycjog Jorci^," faid he, «« can't be ex- 
 •« pecftcd tofnit une another ; but he is kind to 
 <* my child, anvl tl at is fuincient." 
 
 1 have now ckfcribed rhofe fcencs of Lady 
 Monteitn's life, in which, judging by the proper 
 eflimate of reircltrial good, flie mi^ht be tenned 
 innocent ?r.d happy. An artful feducer com- 
 bining VI ith hfr mafter-pafllon reverfed the 
 pleafing profpetEls, a^-d produced fcenes which 
 the fdjjowing p !t;es %vili develope. While I 
 profecute n^.y arduous, and perhaps unpopular 
 tafk, I rely on the lenity of thofe who fincerely 
 regret the abvming lelaxation «jf principle that 
 too furely difcrimin^tes a declining age; and I 
 anticipate the candid allowances which they 
 will make for any incidental dcfecls in a well- 
 meant endeavcur to point out the tendency of 
 fevtral opinions now too generally diffufed 
 through every rank in fociety. 
 
 . C H A P. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 2^t 
 
 CHAP. xxir. 
 
 When Florlo fpeaks, what virgin could withftand, " 
 1^ gentle Damon did not fqueeze her hand ? 
 With varying vanities, from every part, 
 They fhift the moving toy^iop of their heart ; 
 Where wigs with wigs, with fwordknots fwordknots 
 
 ilrive, 
 Beaus bar>ifh beaus, and coaches coaches drive. 
 
 roPE. 
 
 VV HILS^ L^dy Monteith exerted all the 
 powers of her mind to enjoy fame and to dif- 
 fufe happinefs, and her beloved Lucy Evans 
 purfyrd the humbler but fnrer path of confcien- 
 tioufly endeavouring to difcharge her duty to 
 God and ^jan. Lady Arabella Wacdonald, 
 already embarkev! on the Tea of gaiety and dil- 
 iipition, applied all her thoughts to the attain- 
 ment of two doubtful Ditirings, a huil3<ind and 
 a coronet. 
 
 Difinrerefted love is alw ys a very favourite 
 topic with youth and beauty. After a ily ob- 
 fcrvation, t!iat pretty little Geraldiiie rnjght owe 
 fome attra6lions to Fo.werfcourt mane, flie en- 
 treated that her aunt would cauticufiv fupprefs 
 the communication of her intended liberality j 
 and, by hinting that jointures always reverted to 
 the fumily from w-hich the^, wj^re granted, lec.v2 
 ber to dc'pend upon hf-r Cwti radiant ey^s for 
 procuring a fp'eiidid cilablifhment. Ort-ondat^s 
 h^mlelf mutt feel fome increafe of rapture, if, 
 while his bricb curtefied to him after the pcr- 
 
 1 3 fornianc? 
 
202 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 formarjce of ihe marriage ceremony, (lie at the 
 fame time vhifpered to him, that Ihe was the 
 Rcknowledged heirefs of four thoufand a year. 
 But if hat'y Arabella's hufband had any fpark of 
 Oroondates' gallantry, hi«! rapture would folely 
 refult fror?.! the delicate referve of the lady, and 
 he would undoubtedly reply, *< Wealth cannot. 
 ** add to the trjnfport I feel in calling you mine. 
 " Employ the gaudy toys you mention in what- 
 ** ever way you pleafe \ they will be no other- 
 <* wife welcome to me, than as they promote 
 ** your fatir-faclion ; for your heart is the only 
 ** treafurc which 1 wifn to retain." 
 
 In ages of very remote antiquity lovers might 
 talk in this flyle •, but as all autlientic memorials 
 of thefe periods are unhappily lofl, fceptics are 
 inclined to doubt the a£tual exiftence of fuch 
 very difinrerefted heroifm. Poor Lady Arabella 
 found that the fwr.ins who flouriftied in the clofe 
 of the eighteenth century were of a very dif- 
 ferent order of beings. Perceiving that the firit 
 London winter produced more flarers than 
 adorers, (\\c fet out for Bath. Here Cupid in 
 vain continued to ftioot his arroMs from her 
 eyes ; the apathy of difTipation, more invulner- 
 able than tlie (hield of Minerva, defended the 
 
 intended vi£linns Idlenefs is faid to be the 
 
 mother of Love ; but not the idlenefs of public 
 places. The lounging beaus, as they fauntered 
 arm inarm along the rooms, occafionally cheeied 
 hei fpirits vvith a paffing " How d'ye do," and 
 then joined in protefling, «« that (he was an im- 
 *' menfe fine girl, and that it was a fhame her 
 <* father had npt left her a fortune." The co/i- 
 verfation generally concluded with a laugh at 
 the repulfive ftatc of Lady Madelina, which 
 Kobody feemed willing to infringe. 
 
 Lady 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 203- 
 
 Lady Arabella now determined to try the 
 cffed of rural fcenes ; and, having chofcn the^ 
 then fafliionable retirement of Brighton as the 
 probable refidence of the vagrant loves, (he per- 
 fuaded Lady Madclina, who vi'ent to Bath to fiat 
 a flying gout, that her complaint was certainly 
 fcorbutic, for which fea-bathing was the only 
 fpecific ; and there at laft the expelled lover 
 appeared in the form of Sir Phelim O'Con- 
 nnught, a very perfonable and very afliduous 
 lri(h gentleman of good family, and unqueflion- 
 able honour. Though Lady Arabella had pro- 
 tefted that (he never would furrender to any 
 thing beneath a coronet, Sir Phelim's addrefles 
 were fo perfedtiy rhapfodical, that her heart 
 feemed to flutter, \uhen at this critical period its 
 tranquillity was re-eftablinved by the appearance 
 of^fo.r.e very ungenteel company, — I mean, a 
 couple of fherifF's officers. Sir l-'helim was fo 
 fhocked at the audacity of fuch low villains in- 
 truding upon the haunts of gentlemen, that he 
 
 or o _ '_ 
 
 was never feen abroad after their arrival. It 
 ?.fterwards aapeared, that his attachment was 
 not fo per fed ly ditinterefted as had been fup- 
 pofed •, for that he had acquired fome know- 
 ledge of the difpofal of Lady Madelina's join- 
 ture. 
 
 Lidy Arabella joined in the laugh ag.rinft her 
 quondam adorer, and declared, that though 
 certainly he was very fpecious, tlie had found 
 him out in an inftant, and was determined to 
 divert herfelf with the fellow's ridiculous ways. 
 She alfo added, that this was another proof how 
 prudent it was in ladies of fortune to ccnceal 
 their ex peel at ion v*?, for avotued wealth was 
 always expofed to degrading folicitatioivs. 
 
 The. 
 
2P4 ^ TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 The winter campaign opened with eclat. — 
 A noble Earl, whofe affairs were a little de- 
 ranged, laid fiege in form, and the contefh 
 , itttn^A to predict a happy ifiue, had not Lady 
 Iviadclina put the young general prematurely to 
 the rout by inquinng after his rent-roll. Poor 
 Arabella felt a lirfile piqued; but no mattery — 
 tbefe were her h^ppicll days ; fhe loved liberty,, 
 tletefted reftraint, and daiiced, laughed, and 
 vifited more thaia ever. 
 
 The defection of the noble Earl was repaired 
 by the attendance, of two admirers, a V'ifcount 
 artd a private gentleman, who ftarted in the 
 career of honourable love at the fame inllant. — 
 Hitherto her ladyHiip had been rather unfortu- 
 nate in the character of her adorers ; but her 
 indecifion inlheprefent inltance provcjd that fhe 
 was a(^uated by motives widely different from 
 the defire of con,nuhial happincfs. Lord Fitzof- 
 boriie was an emaciated- vi<flim to licentious 
 purfuits ; Mr. Stanley was a youth of great 
 promife, educ;itcd under the aufpices of a worthy 
 father. The aim of the former was to repair 
 his (liattered fortune, and to gratify Ids felfifh 
 vanity by exhiijiung to the world a fine young 
 woman in tl e character of his wife. The latter 
 fought domeilic tranquillity : the beauty of 
 Lady Arabella had caught his eye ; her rcportel 
 €xpecl'4tijns far exceeded what his father would 
 require in pecuniary affairs ; and, fuppofing that 
 a young woman mu(l imbibe every virtue under 
 the aufpices of a perfon of Lady IVladelina's 
 ftridt decorum^ he called her levity innocent 
 gaiety, her affc£lation, fprigbtlinefs of manner ^ 
 and, linctrely wo; (hipping the image he had fet 
 up, he ardently folicited his charmer's heart. — 
 Though my dircoverics have enabled my fagaci- 
 
 • 0U9 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 205 
 
 ous readers to conclude, that the unfortunate 
 Stanley was in purfuit of a non-entity, an im- 
 palfioned lover could not perceive that nothing 
 but the adverfe weight of a coronet prevented 
 the nodding fcale from preponderating in his 
 favour. True to the {irfi: objc(f^ of her youthful 
 defires, even the unvvorthinefs of ths giver, 
 could not in her idea invalidate the gifi:. But 
 theprogrefs of my hiflory now calls me from 
 the portraiture of fa(hionable love to the defini- 
 tion of polite friendlhip. 
 
 Though Lady Arabella had very little of the 
 fentimental in her, chara6ler, {lie enjoyed the 
 bleffing of a bofom friend. Her acquaintance 
 with Mifs Gampley commenced at her firft ar- 
 rival in London, . They drefled in the fame 
 uniform, went to the fame parties, laughed at 
 the fame quizzes, and flir;ed with the fame 
 beaus. But Mifs Campley being the uncon- 
 trolled miftrefs of her own atiibns, foared to a 
 charatler which fonie re(lri61ions of Lady Ma- 
 delina's prevented her niece from adopting j I. 
 meanj that of a daiher. She drove four in 
 hand, laid wagers, ran in debt, played at Pharo, 
 and, though infinitely inferior to her friend in 
 beauty, certainly laid claim to greater taft^ and 
 fpirlt. 
 
 As the ladies had never interfered in each 
 other's conquefis, their friendfiiip was fixed as 
 adamant. I'o own the truth, conquell and 
 Harriet Campley were no longer fynonimous 
 terms. The gentlemen had long been more de- 
 firous of winning her money than her heart ; 
 and even few knight-errants would have pof- 
 fefled fuflicient courage and difinterefted gene- 
 rofity^ 10 refcue a dillrefTed damfcl from the 
 
 harpy 
 
206 A. TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 harpy talons of tlie law at the rlfk of their own. 
 certain ruin. 
 
 As the profpecH: of a fplendid eftablifhment 
 became lefs probable, Mifs Campley's creditors 
 were more clamorous ; and, though fiie pro- 
 fefTed herfelf highly deliglited with the expelled 
 eclat of an execution, her haggard countenance 
 betrayed an agonized mind.- The period of 
 I^ady Arabella's double triumph proved the criHs 
 of her fate ; and the unexptdled death of an 
 only brother changed her profpe^s from the 
 gloom of a prifon to pleafure and afiluence. 
 
 Lord Fltzofborne had known Mifs Campley 
 from her earlieft youth; he had often been at 
 her parties, and had won her money without 
 wifning for a further connexion ; but Ihe now 
 flruck him in a much more interefiing point of 
 view. 1 do not mean to infinuate, that he 
 thought her mourning was particularly becom- 
 ing, and fuited to her complexion ; his lord* 
 flnp's tafle led him to puifue more folid advan- 
 icjges than a fe-t of features ♦:an promife. He 
 was an excellent calculator ; and, though he too 
 well underdood the character of his prefent 
 mitlrefs, to fear the ultimate fuccefsof his rival, 
 he laid fo much flrefs upon the attractions of 
 old dowagtTS, and the frailty of vows of widow- 
 hood, that he confidered three thouGmd a year 
 in immediate polTeilion as better than fourthju- 
 fand in reverfion. But while he continued 
 rather unrefulved, the gout fixed in lady Made- 
 Jina's foot, and her phyfician congratulated her 
 upon an event which would infallibly. add at lead 
 twenty years to her life. His lordihip waited 
 for no other inducement to pay his devoirs at 
 the (hrine of the other divinity. Mifs Camp- 
 ley's yielding gentlenefs forgave paft flights ; and 
 
 in 
 
A, TALE OF THE VIMES. 207 
 
 in Itfs than a month lady Arabella received 
 bride-cake and favours froai the vifcounters 
 Fitzofljorne. 
 
 This certainly was provoking ; but the faith- 
 ful Stanley was a fure refource. Here again- 
 lady xArabella'a evi! genius met her to blaft her- 
 proje£ls. Mr. Stanley was not quke (o much 
 in love as to lofe all his powers of obfervation. 
 His charmer's condufl had been at lead doubt- 
 ful. The encouraging fmiles whioh had beamed 
 full u Don him ever fmce the vifcount's dcreli6li- 
 on, were too fufpicious to be completely fafcinat- 
 in^ ; and he thought a journey into the. country 
 uouldat lead (how his miftrefs, that he was not 
 one of Cupid's tame votaries. In his take-leave 
 vifit he made feme further difcoveries into her 
 ladyfliip's charader; and while he made his 
 final bow, his regret at his difappointment was 
 foftened by the confcioufnefs of efcaping that 
 worft oi evil?, a diiTipated unprincipled wife. 
 
 Lady Arabella had charmin;^ fpirirs. She- 
 laughed at the vanity of the men, creatures who 
 fuppofed themfelves of confequence •, and, inti- 
 mating iliat though fhe hdd private reafons for 
 rejeding Lord Fitzofborne, they vv ere not of a 
 nature to influence her deareft Harriet's choice, 
 file waited with impatience for the return of the 
 bride and bridegroom to town. She fiew ta 
 make the wedding vifit, gave in her card, was 
 admitted, and congratulated the happy pair in 
 terms equally fincere with the profeffions of 
 efteem and friendfliip which {he received in re- 
 turn The vifcountefs now infixed that {he 
 ihould be her conftant vifuofjand ftrongly urged 
 her not to mcpe herfelf at home durmg her 
 aunt's confinement. Lady Arabella declared, 
 that her ladylhip was the only good Chriftian 
 
 that 
 
208 A' TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 that file had talked to for a long time ; and that 
 it-really would be charity to take her out of the 
 fphere ot flannels and fomentations. Tliey 
 agreed to go to every place where there wa? any 
 thing to be feen. J.ady Fitzofborne declared 
 with a fmile, that even if her lord viere fome- 
 times of the party fhe had a foul too capacious 
 forjealoufy *, and her equally liberal friend, with 
 a loud laugh, obferved, that fhe was not yet 
 arrived at the age of envy and Iver lad prayers. - 
 Lady Fitzofborne's fpeech needs no explanation ; 
 but the wit of lady Arabelia'a retort confiited in 
 an -^I'-anon to the circumftaiice of her dear 
 frieiid'tj being ten years older than herf^if. 
 
 The friends were conftantiy together, except 
 when :l:e myfteries of Ph^ro impofed a tempo- 
 rary fcparafion. I have already {"aid, thatr lady 
 Ivladelina's fevere notions reflridted fome of her 
 niece's propenfities 3 but this was not the onlf 
 thing that prevented Arabella from being caught 
 in. that ruinous vortex from whofe fatal contacl- 
 peace and honour mud never liope to efcape. 
 Lord Fitzofborne v/as, fmce his marriage, become ' 
 a man of character, a lovc-r of decorurr*, and a 
 confiderable oblerver of pecuniary advantages. 
 Fortune feldom beftows iier gifts fingly, and, 
 fmce her accefTion to her brothei's eftate, his lady 
 had an amazin^^ run of luck. She was not only / 
 able to difchar^e her own debts of honour, but - 
 to pay fome of his; and this was the only cir- ■ 
 eumdance which could at all reconcile his notions • 
 of propriety with her infraflion of the laws of 
 her country. His thoughts were now turned to 
 the advantageous eftablifnment of his brother 
 Edward Fitzofborne, who had refided many 
 years abroad upon the limited portion of a 
 younger fon. His lordfliip had been afTured by 
 
 many 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. Id) 
 
 many refpeclable travellers, that this ycunir gen- 
 tleman was an lionour to his name, pofTefl-v^d cf 
 elegant manners, unccmmon erudition, and an 
 irrepro/icbable characier : th.rc h*e appeared in 
 the firft circics, correfponded with the hrll lite- 
 rary characfters of the age, and was fitted to 
 move in the mod exulted fphere. The noble 
 vifcount's frarern.il tendernei's yearned at the re- 
 cital He determined to fend for him to ling- 
 land, to get himinto parliament, to pnfh him in 
 the world, and to marry him to a fortune. It 
 was with a reference to this dcfign that he pro- 
 hibited the vifcountefs from iniciuting her friend- 
 in her private myfleries. 
 
 Tvlr. Fitzoroorne received his brother's fum- 
 mons to England with regret, and begged that he 
 might be permitted to remain at Paris, where he 
 was juft then contemplating the fublime fpe£tacle 
 of a great nation emancipating itfelf from the 
 fetters of tyranny and fuperftition. It was, he 
 faid, his wifli to continue abroad, to watch the 
 progrefs of events that would enlarge his mind^ 
 and render him ftill worthier of the office of a 
 BritiOi legiflator. The peer, whofe ideas were 
 equally liberal, granted the requeft ; and, de- 
 pending upon his own watchfulnefs, and the 
 chicanery of his lady, to prevent the glittering 
 gold-fifli that he wifhed to entrap from efcaping 
 their net, he permitted Mr. Fitzofborne to profe- 
 cute his ftudies, till the coercive meafures which 
 democracy was compelled to adopt obliged even 
 the lovers cf freedom to take fnelter in the le^al 
 defpotifm of Old Enghnd. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
210 A TALE OF THE TIMts: 
 
 C HA P. XXiir. 
 
 -'Tis not impoflible 
 
 But one, the wickcd'il caitiff on the ground. 
 May feem as fhy, as grave, asjuft, as abfolule, 
 As Angtio ; even fo may Angelo 
 In all his drefllngs, charads, titles, forms, 
 Be an arch villain. 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 ,ADY ARABELLA was with her dear Har- 
 riet when Mr. Fitzofborne unexpededly arrived. 
 He had narrowly efcaped the guillotine, had 
 f afled the fea in a fifhing-boat, and had en- 
 countered fo many perils, that his admiration of 
 that meretricious liberty whofs dillinguifhing 
 code is equality of wieichednefs, was rather 
 abated. <* Hair-breadth Tcapes" are very inte- 
 refting to moft ladies, and Mr. Fitzofborne's 
 powers of recitation were unrivalled. His per- 
 fon had every charm, his manner every advan- 
 tage. Lady Arabella looked, liflened, admired, 
 and went home vailly rejoiced, ih.it fuch a de- 
 lightful young man had efcapcd tlie odious de- 
 mocrats. 
 
 The next morning, at an early hour, lady 
 Fitzofborne rufhcd into her friend^s drefling- 
 room. * Enchanting news ! my dearelt Bella,* 
 faid file ; < we fhall never more be dill relied for 
 ' want of a cicifbeo. My lord has aiked £d- 
 
 * ward to live with us till he forms an eftablifli- 
 " ment of his own. Is not he a divine fellow ? 
 
 * And this morning he looks mere lefifxlefsthan 
 
 * ever. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 211 
 
 ever. Such fpirit I fuch information ! It 
 would have been a fhame to have had him 
 confounded with a parcel of emigrant defpe- 
 radoes. He fpoke very fine things of you, 
 my dear; he feems quite ftruck, I aflure you. 
 If you were but a little more Greek in your 
 drapery, he declared, you would have put him 
 in mind of La Libi:rte on the day of deifica- 
 tion, who was the handfomed courtef^in in all 
 Paris. 
 
 -< But, blefs me !' continued the Britlfb peer- 
 fs, looking at her watch, * how I trifle. I vow 
 I hiive fifty vints to make this mornirg. Good 
 bye ! I (hall call upon you for the opera this 
 evening. 1 long to fiiovv Edward the new 
 houfe. O, I declare I have not had the huma- 
 nity to inquire 2ii\tx ouniy \ but 1 can't (lay to 
 hear now. You'll tell me to-night all the 
 procefs of the foot, and the doctor. Sparkle, 
 my love : Kdward is amazingly fond of. 
 wit.' 
 
 Pity is faid to be near akin to Love : and 
 when blended wi.h admiration, and infpired by^ 
 the idea of awakening reciprocal fentiments in 
 the bofom of another, it may certainly be flyled 
 the parent of the foft infatuation. Though 
 philofophy was Mr. Fitzofborne's chief forte, 
 he did not belong to the fchool of Diogenes. 
 One prime article ir> his creed was, that an adept 
 did not ftudy to lefs advantage for poiTefling the 
 good things of this life. Indeed, as his views 
 were not very clear on the fubjccl of a future- 
 flate, he confidered it to be his bounden duty 
 to embrace all the advantages which the prefent 
 ailbrded. Gentlemen of his principles do not. 
 mean by their general declamations in favour of 
 liberality, honour, and philofophical eqyanimity,^ 
 
 ta 
 
212 A TALE CF THE TIMES. 
 
 to convey the precife idea, that fuch qualities 
 arc indifpeufab'y requlfire in tluir own ch.irnc- 
 ters : for they know, that r! e exterior refem- 
 blnnce exa61ly anfwers the fame end. Super- 
 ficial obfervers (and the major part of mankind 
 beloni; to this clafo) will give yon credit for 
 pofielnng a virtue, provided you are loud in your 
 cenfures of an oppofite vice. CddJ notions of 
 public liberty give the licence which permit i you 
 to be a private tyrant. The daring atheill and 
 fophifticating fceptic may alike Tiielter under the 
 veil of religious moderation : and provided the 
 words honour, fentiment, and philanthropy be' 
 upon your tongue, you may diiiurb the repofe 
 of mankind, either individually or collectively, 
 with impunity. 
 
 To illuftrate the analogy in the preffnt in- 
 flance : Could the enlarged foul of Edward 
 Fitzofborne have heard the fhameful tale of mer- 
 cenary indigence concealing difguft under the 
 mafk of admiration to entrap the wealth of ina- 
 nity into a degrading connexion, without expref- 
 fing the mod generous emotion? How would 
 his llrong feelings have revolted at the fight of 
 thofe fordid fhackles which militated acainll the 
 natural liberty of man, and the idea of that 
 confirmed habit of drflimclaticn which annihilated 
 his luppofed inherent perfection. He could 
 certainly have been very eloquent upon thefe 
 themes, if they referred to the conduct " of a 
 methodift or a formalift ; but when applied to 
 his own concerns it was foon adjufted. Th?; 
 girl wanted a hufband, the gentleman a fortune; 
 ths balance, therefore, was as nicely trimmed as 
 the moft equalizing fpirit could deHre. This 
 confideration might have been further ufeful, as 
 it neceflarily diilblved ali ties of gratitude j but 
 
 Mr. 
 
k TALE Of THE TIMES, 2?q 
 
 Mr. Fiizofborne hsd long before difcovcred, tb<it 
 private gratitude is iiiconuileni with public 
 virtue. 
 
 Lady Arabella \\'\A no doubt that ber wit and 
 beauty hfld out fulHci^^nt attractions to a gentle- 
 man fo profeHefily difintcrefled as her new 
 admirer (for he afTumed that character in a few 
 days) ; and (lie did not even attempt to niif- 
 conilrue his behaviour, or to difguife tlie plea- 
 fure whicii (lie received from his nddrcilVs. 
 Fiizofborne was not a fenfualiil. Beauty was to 
 him a mere abllrail quality, particuliiriy when 
 aff'ociated to the idea of a wife. He had been 
 .too long accuftomed to the corufcations of rerd 
 genius, to b-sftow more than a languid fmile on 
 lady Arabella's jejune horu mots, Even that lan- 
 guid Imile was foon converted into faturnine 
 fiienc-. Her charatlcr was too fuperficial evtri 
 to interel'l his attention. He difcovered her foi- 
 bles, detttled her aitificcs, and defpikd her un- 
 derlVanding, in the firfl month of his courtfhip. 
 She was too t2>{'^ a conqueit fcr his ambition ; 
 and nothing but tiie reiacftance which l^e felt at 
 the thought of beir^g dependent upon his broth r 
 could have reconciled him to the idea of an alli- 
 ance. 
 
 Perceiving her heart irredeemably enthral.'ed, 
 (though in this opinion he was fomewhat duped 
 by his own vanity,) he began to att the precon- 
 certed part. He was now no longer the aifidu- 
 cus lover^ but the man of firm honour and 
 ioviolable integrity, incapable of betraying 
 unfufpicious innocence, or of feducing a young. 
 lady from the duty whicl) ihe owed to the pro- 
 tefling kindncfs cf a venerable relation. Lady 
 Arabella unwarily acivno.vledged, that her aunt 
 was inclined to fufpeifl a mercenary motive for 
 
 his 
 
214 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 his adJrefics, and this drew from liim an exordi- 
 um on the purity and difinterclledners of his 
 attachment, with a declaration, that though it 
 would glow in his breafl with unabated fervour, 
 yet he had rather perifii the untimely vidlim of 
 defpair, than juftify lady Madelina's fentiments 
 by a departure from that drift honour which 
 had ever been the ruling principle of his life. 
 * No ! lady Arabella/ continued he, while thb 
 allonifhed iady was incapable of interrupting 
 him, * the enlightened mind needs no other 
 incentive than confcious reftitude to enable it 
 always to act as it ought. I can fupport penury, 
 exile, or even the lofs of you ; but I cannot 
 fupport difgrac^. Lady Madelina has injured 
 me by her unjult fufpicions. She has cruelly 
 driven to infufe her own narrow prejudices 
 into a mind which I he ped was incapable of 
 an illiberal doubt. How can 1 be fure that (he 
 has not fucceeded ? Your eyes, your manner, 
 evince leln confidence than they wi^re wont: 
 and my alarmed heart anticipates the gloomy 
 period, when rcferve and fufpicion fliall chill 
 the fentimentsof pure, ingenuous, difintereftcd 
 love. Sooner than fuch mifchiefs fliall fall 
 upon me, 1 will refign you, madam, and even 
 at this moment tear myfelf from you for 
 ever.' 
 
 « I cannot fee for what reafcn,' returned the 
 lady, whom this vehemt^nt oratory had driven 
 from her ufual refource of playing with her fan 
 or adjuding her drefs ; * I declare, Mr. Fitz- 
 < od)orne, I can't bear to hear you talk (c* If 
 the declamation of the gentleman was pathetic, 
 the filence of tlie lady was no iefs fo -, for it 
 proceeded from a flood of tears. 
 
 After 
 
A TALE OF THE .TIMES. 215 
 
 After a few forced compliments to this tr?.it 
 of feeling, Edward. refumed the difcourfecn the 
 fubjeci: of the claims of duty, vhich were, h^; 
 {,\\d, often incompatible with thofe of the heart. 
 In the concluiion he feemed a little fofter.ed on 
 theharlh fubje£l of eternal fcfparation : but then 
 lady MadeTnia muft come forward, unfay her 
 former cruel afperfions, and with her own hand 
 lead herniece to the altar. 
 
 Reveal then, ye immortal Mufes ! who infpire 
 great defigns, what means achieved the glorious 
 tafic of fubjugating lady Madelina's narrow fuf- 
 picions, and reftoring to her mind the beautiful 
 iimpHcity of nature. Neither the refplendent 
 charaf^er nor the exalted birth of a Fitzofborne 
 could have gained the arduous victory, if pow- 
 ers fupernal had not intervened. Firil, Venus, 
 qaeen of gentle devices ! taught her prototype, 
 lady Arabejla, the ufe of feigned fighs. artificial 
 tears, and iludied faintings: u'hiie tfculapius 
 defcended from Olympus, and, afTaming tlie 
 form of a fmart phyfician, llepped out of an 
 elegant chariot, and on viewing the patient, after 
 three fagacious nods, whifperedJo the tremblim^ 
 aunt, that the young l.uiy's diforder, being purely 
 mental, was beyond the power of the healing art. 
 Reduced to the dire alternr-.tive of refigninjj: the 
 fair fufferer to a hufband or to the grave, the 
 relenting lady Madclina did not long htrfitate. 
 1 he refcntmient of injured honour was appeafed 
 by exprefTions which more nearly refembled con- 
 cefTions than any that her ladyihip had ever 
 uttered ; and Arabella foon appeared again in 
 public with very little diminution of her 
 charms, notvvithdanding her late alarming 
 illnefs. 
 
 It 
 
21 6 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 It mud now be obferveJ, that Mr. FitzofDorn? 
 was entirely paiTive through the whole of this 
 affair. Young ladies are apt to miftake general 
 politenefs for fignificant attentions, and gentle- 
 men are not blamabls for the tinder.llke lufcep- 
 tibility of their hearts. As foon as lady Arabel- 
 la's preference was vifible, he became more 
 referved in his conducV, as all his friends couid 
 wirnefs. Nay, he had even gone fo far ap to 
 recall to her mind ihofs principles of aclion, 
 which he gloried in avowing to be tlie acknow- 
 ledged energies of his foul. Her unhappy pre- 
 dilection filenced his obfervations. What then ! 
 could he be blamed, or ought he to have fjp- 
 prefled that flow of liberal benevolence which a 
 full heart prompted hioi to pour forth, and 
 which undoubtedly captivated the amiable fair 
 one ? Recollecling the motives which an illibe- 
 ral world might alh gn to his behaviour, he b.t- 
 lieved he ought to have done fo, but it v^-asnow 
 too late. The public knew the reft; He trailed 
 that the lady hid fufliciently confulted her own 
 happinefs to lludy the peculiarities of his ch.i- 
 ra6ler. It was above difguife and abhorrent of 
 reftridlion. If (he had been midaken, he de- 
 plored the confequences. Bac as the ftrong 
 charafleriflics of na ure were engraven on his 
 mind with indelible force, ht couid not be ex- 
 pelled to change. 
 
 I'he clairicalembeilifliments of tlie heroic ages 
 gave infinite advantages to defcriptive narrations, 
 to which th- cold copyift of modern manners 
 can never afpire. How animating is the perfo- 
 nification of winged loves, and choral graces, 
 white-armed nymphs Rrewing flowers, and fpor- 
 tive fawns chanting an epithaiamium, Juno on 
 her radiant car, ar.d Hymen in his faffVoa 
 
 mantle ! 
 
A TAIE OF THE TIMES. 2 1 J 
 
 mantk ! What can the brightefl: imagination do 
 with fuch uncouth figures as lawyers in tie-wigs, 
 with thtir green bags and parchments, or even 
 a liule painted French milliner with her band- 
 box ? The BririOi like the Grecian bride offer!? 
 facrifices, but not to the deities of Complacence 
 and nupti.il Harmony — Her devoirs are too fre- 
 quently direclrd to the fhrine of Falliion and 
 Vanity; and the merits of the villa, the town- 
 houfe, the jewels, and the nuptial paraphernalia 
 are difcuiTed with all imaginable fcruwulcfity, 
 while the lover's characler is overlooked. He 
 on the other hand is too bufy in balancing the 
 chances of the lady's fortune againft her father's 
 demand of fettlement, and the poiTibility of 
 privately clearing ofF his mod prelFrig incum- 
 brances, to conlider his defined wife in any 
 other li^ht than as a necefiary appendage, which 
 entitles him to take pcffcllion. 
 
 Every fcheme preparatory to lady Arabella's 
 intended nuptials was conducted with the 
 greatell decorum. Lady ?/Iadelina herfelf un- 
 dertook the bu fine fs of directing the fett!ements; 
 and Mr. Fitzofborne, contenting h mfelf with 
 the power of patting a negative upon her deter- 
 minations flijuld the terms be unreafonable, 
 (bowed little of the alacrity and rapture which 
 a deflined bridegroom is expe<£led to afiume. 
 Various delays arofe to retard the concluding 
 ceremony; and the good-natured world began 
 to doubt, whether the gentleman was'moft un- 
 willing to part with his liberty, or lady Madelina 
 with her fortune. 
 
 Lady Arabella enjoyed, in its fullen: extent, 
 the confequence which her prefent fituation gave 
 her. Some mornings file went a fhopping to 
 cVjeap ware-houfcs j at ethers fr.e v/as waited 
 
 Vol. L K upon 
 
21 8 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 vpon by different tradefrrcn nr hoir.e : e or- 
 dered and coiuiter-ordercd ^ bought and return- 
 ed ; thought this monftrous pretty, 3nd that 
 monftrous frightful; gave as much troub'e as 
 her rank would pofhbly enable htr to impcfe, 
 and then complained of the in^pertinence and 
 impofition of trades people. 
 
 During one of the delays, which, as 1 have 
 already obfeived, retarded the lighting of the 
 Hymeneal torch, Lady Arabella recolledtd, 
 that hter ccnqueft over fcience, philofcphy, and 
 genius, was infinitely more arduous than Ge- 
 raldine's eafy fafcination cf fuch a thcughtlefs 
 random youth as her brother. It next cccurred 
 to her, that ilie (liculd pvc-digioufly like lo mor- 
 >tify her filler's pretended fuperiority in fenfe and 
 talents, by exhibiting a FitzcfDorne in her 
 chains. I'he thought of an exccrfion to Scot- 
 land as foon as (he was married, mull be at- 
 tended with many inconveniencies ; and vhat 
 was (till more repugnant to her feelings, with 
 the renunciation of much eclat and fplerdor. 
 Befide, it was mofi: defirable that the exhibition 
 (hould be made while fhe was invefied with full 
 plenitude of power. An exprefs was, therefore, 
 difpatched to Scotlar'd to requeft, that a bro- 
 ther's hand v.culd ccnfign hei's to a hufb-ind 
 every way worthy of his alliance. Tie letter 
 concluded with an acknowlegement of tender 
 trepidations, which nothiug but the prefence 
 of her Geraldine could allay. Lady Madelina's 
 increafing infirmities rendered her ui fit to be 
 the depofitoiy of her forrows-, and her dear 
 Lady Fitzcibcrne, her only friend, was in- 
 finitely too much in the intercfls of her happy 
 brother, as fiie flyled liim, to treat htr appr^- 
 henfive heart with fuflncient delicacy. 
 
 The 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. aip 
 
 The Montdhhs reailily complied wiih a fum- 
 fjicns which indicateii a perfe£l renewal of do- 
 mtrfuic harmonv. 'i'houffh the veL'ow teint of 
 early autumn had jifl diffufed a more pi£lu- 
 refque appearance ever tlie romantic banks of 
 liOch Lomond, and announced the joyous fea- 
 foa of t 'c *< hound and horn," a dangerous 
 fall from his hcrfe had given the earl a tran- 
 fient difg.ift to field fpcrts : and though the 
 blooming countcfs wis by no means weary of 
 her rural enjoyments and occupations, (he 
 was too your.;:, ard to * lovely, to rejedl 
 an invitation to partake of th>e elegant va- 
 rieties which London afforded. She in- 
 tended to acl in this, as fhe had done at her 
 preceding vifiis ; to tafte the Circean cup with 
 moderation, and then to retire with dignity 
 from the fafcinating banquet. But there are 
 periods, when, if jet'c to its own liability, the 
 iirmeft fopt would fail ; and the bed regulated 
 rnind, deprived of fuperior guid:ince, may often 
 dvplorc its ov\Ti dt-pravity. 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 He reads much, 
 
 He is a great obferver, and lie looks 
 Quite through the deedi of men. 
 
 Shakespsare. 
 
 Lady ARABELLA prepared her lover for 
 the arrival of the expecfled Grangers. ** I 
 »< would not fay fo to other people," faid Oie, 
 *< becaufe one ought to fhew rei''pecl to one's 
 ♦* relations. But to be fure the Wonteiths are 
 **' the very oddcft creatures in the world. My 
 
 K 2 <« brother 
 
220 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 *' broiler is well enough for one of your fox- 
 
 ** hunters, as they call them ; but the iariy, 
 
 -*« O ! fhe is fo fine and fo fenf^b.'e, and fo cai- 
 
 " tious, and fo 1 don't know ho\<- — vaftiy 
 
 ♦* difdgreeable i I i^iTure you, you will be high- 
 " ]y diveried w ith her : pray obferve her, and 
 « tell me ail you think of her; for I fliall not 
 '< take any thing ill that you (ay. She is pro- 
 « digioufly wife, you mud know. I hjte \a ife 
 <f people, at lead fuch wife people as fne is. 
 <« Play her ofF; I (hall be vaftiy enrertained/' 
 
 Developing characters was Mr. Fitzofborne's 
 favourite amufement; and it w^as one of his to- 
 pics of complaint, that he had ntver (ince his 
 return to England met with any perfon that wns 
 worth ftudying. But after he h?.d feen the 
 Monteiths, he did not repeat t'nat opinion. 
 The interefting beauty of the countcfs, her ap- 
 parent happinefs, and vifible influence ov(^r her 
 lord's affe^icns, which even his cirtJefs man- 
 ners could not difguife, excited in tN^ philoio- 
 phic mind of Fitzofborne nearly the fame emo- 
 tions as thofe which the arch i^poftdte ft It on 
 viewing Adam and Eve in Parudife : and, like 
 him, 
 
 1-<* A fide he tiirn'd 
 
 ** For envy; yet with jealous leer malign 
 ** Ey'd them aflcance." 
 
 In one particular the refemblance was certainly 
 incomplete. The fuperior intelligence of the 
 fallen angel knew, that the happinefs which he 
 intended to deilroy was real, Mabitually fcep- 
 tical, Fitzofborne doubted. lie watched the 
 varying turns of Geraldine's animated counte- 
 nance, analyzed her manner and her expref- 
 
 fions 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 221 
 
 fions '-viih the hope of difcoverhig fomethirg' 
 to convince ium tl.at Ihe was only a poliihed 
 diireu.bler. For It was utterly repugnant to ail 
 his received idea?, that aftsclion could really 
 fubnil betvi'een perrons of difcordant habits, 
 or that principle could fupply the place of 
 attachment, and give equal uniformity to the 
 condut\. 
 
 The joyous occafion which had fummoned 
 him to town gave Lord Monteith a prodigious 
 flow of fpirits ; and he certainly always ap- 
 .peared to'Ieat\ advantage when mofl inclined to 
 take the lead in converfation. When h» was 
 di'pofed to talk, he never confjdered how far 
 the indulgence of his own humour was agree- 
 able to tlic company: His difcourfe couW only 
 be intereiling to himfelf and Lady Madelina; 
 for it related to hfs own caftle ; how much he 
 and Geraldine had improved if, how popular 
 they were amor.g their neighbours ; and how 
 they fpent their time. He faid many ridiculous 
 things, and uttered many expreflions indicative 
 of good-nature and benevolence; yet, though 
 he certainly did not inrend it, retirement had 
 transformed the gallant Monteith ; and his wife 
 and his little tjirls were dill the heroines of his 
 tale. Meantime the ccuntefa appeared to be 
 engaged by Lady Arabella's frivolity. Her eye 
 indeed frccjuently reverted to her lord. But 
 whether her attention proceeded from anxiety 
 or aft"e6tion even Litzofborne could not difco- 
 ver. 
 
 His lordHiip at length grew tired •, his fifter 
 had exhaurted her hyp-irbolical rapture at this 
 liappy interview •, and the converfation chang- 
 ing ta places of public amufement allowed fome 
 opening to the countefb. The opera was men- 
 tioned. 
 
222 A TALE OF THE TIMES- 
 
 tioned. Lady Arabella declared, that tl-e new 
 grand ballet 'Aas To cl^arnilng, t'lat it abfoiuiely 
 llirevv h'.^r into hyfteiics. *' 1 proteft," conti- 
 nued flif, <" I doi)'t ihink 1 fiiall dare to go 
 *' again, tor it makes me dowririglit nervc^s 
 *« the next da v.'* 
 
 '' I congrafulate you," faid Lady Monteitb, 
 " on the actjuifnion of a ne-A' pleaiure. You 
 " had ufed to exprefi yourfeif an enem^ to 
 " mufic/' 
 
 '< O ! I bate it fllll in a room, or where 
 *« there is but one performer. But the opera- 
 •* is fo diffl-rcnt. i here the lights and the com- 
 •< pany, and the fcenes, and the drefTes, do fa 
 " increafe the efFc6l: ! And the dances are fo 
 ** fir,e, and every body is io overcome, and 
 •* one feels fo fafcinaled !" 
 
 " The mufjc I have been lately accuflomed 
 ** to," refumed Geraldine, " is in a very dif*'^ 
 <* ferent ftyle. An old Highlander pl'iying 
 *« upon Kis bagpipe, and the voices of t«o or 
 ** three Scotch girls chaunting one of their 
 " fimple ditties,, which reverberates among our 
 ** rocks, convey to me a more perfc:<f^ idea of 
 *< the powers of melody, than the fcenes yoa 
 <* defcvlbe. And though 1 hope frequently to 
 ** vifit the opera while in London, f much 
 " doubt whether my fenfibiiiry can be fo 
 " ftrongly a-fFe£led there, as it lias frequently 
 *< been during my evening rambles about 
 ** James-town." 
 
 '< I hope, mad.im," faiil Madelina, " that 
 <* your ladyfiiip never iva/ks beyond the limits 
 ** of yruir own park." 
 
 <* James-town is but a little way frcm the 
 «* caitle," replied the counrefs, not immediately 
 
 enteriin^ ♦ 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 223 
 
 entering into the force of this obfc-rvation ; 
 ** [ ^o th!r€ molt days, at» 1 the vv.ilk is much 
 " pleafaincr th m the drive." 
 
 " It is very right, niece," obferved L\dy 
 IMadelina, in a tone of Itricter authoriry, 
 *' that you (hould afTiit your dependants; 
 ** but you (liould do it like a gentiev/omTn ; 
 *< and too frequt^nt intercourfc breeds fami- 
 << Harity and contempt " 
 
 *' I hive fortunately not found familiarity 
 *' and contem.pt fynonimous," refumed Lady' 
 Monteith, who, thougli generally filently acqui- 
 efcent, feemed on the prcfent cccafion difpoied 
 to defend her own conducb. *< I appear to my 
 ** colony in one uniform chara£ter; and hov/- 
 <* ever frequent my vilits, or in whatever flylc 
 *< I make them, a friend is not unwelcome, 
 <« and a benefatlrefs need not fear contempt. 
 <« Continual intercourfe creates a mutual in- 
 ** terefl. I- thoroughly enter into their cha- 
 '< ra<flers. Befide, I acquire much knowlege in 
 ** various particulars, which thofe who are not 
 " perfonally acquainted with humble life can- 
 ** never accurately polTefs." 
 
 " And of what ufe is that knowlege?" in- 
 quired Lady Madelina. 
 
 " It may be applied fo various purpofes. It 
 *^ teaches me the value of time. Becaufe while 
 " we are (ludying amufements to get rid of 
 <* what we feel to be an incumbrance, the po- 
 ** verty of the labourer makes him confcious of 
 *< its importance. lie knows that he cannot" 
 "■ wafte an hour without findnig his daily food 
 ** abridged. And when I fee the csconomical 
 " contrivances which neceflity teaches, the 
 •< humble comforts which ftand inftead of 
 «* luxuries, and the cheerful patience with 
 ^* which real inconveniencies are borne by 
 
 «< thofe 
 
224 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ** tliofc who know no happier lot, I cannot (at 
 ** le;ifi: immediately) become fallidirous and ex- 
 ** travag?.nt/' 
 
 " The unfortunate fenfibility of my temper," 
 faid l.Jidy Arabtila, <♦ would never permit me to 
 ** frcqueiit fuch place?. You certainly mud: 
 *' have very ilrong nerves, filter. I proteft, 
 «« «Ahen 1 have feen fcveral little ciirty, liarved, 
 *' naked children, peeping out of thofe fmoky 
 <• hovtis v^hich (land bj the road fide, I have 
 *» ofu-n thouglit that it would be great mercy 
 ** to Tnoot them, as one does worn-out 
 <« horfes." 
 
 " To fiiooc them 1" exclaimed mofl of the 
 company. 
 
 »* Yes!'' refurned lady Arabella; "for only 
 <^ think wYtut a miferable life their's muft be." 
 
 ** Did you never fte any of thefe poor little 
 " creatures merry r" inquired the countefs. 
 
 *' O yes ! the little favages grinried fome- 
 *< times, and jumped about like monkeys ; and 
 " with juft as much fenfe; for if they thought 
 <* at all, thfy muft be miferable." 
 
 Geraldine recoJlecied the fentiment, that 
 « where ignorance is bUf'^," it is both cruel and 
 foolifli to impart a knowledge which difcovers 
 wretchednefs. But while fiie was confidering 
 how bed to point out thofe comforts which 
 opulence and intelligence n^ight impart to the 
 poor, without creating dehres unfuitable to 
 their Rations, her refledlions were interrupted 
 by an hcirangue of Mr. Fitzofborne. 
 
 * Nature, madam,' faid he, addrefilng hira- 
 felf to Lady Arabella, * is not a niggard ; 
 
 * though the imbecillity of political inltitutions 
 
 * and the corrupt (late of focicty frequently 
 
 * confine her bcneric<uit views. Thefe infant 
 
 fcVag^es 
 
A TALE OF THE TiyiES, 225 
 
 favajres enjoy blefTmgs to which perh-ips their 
 opprcfTors are (Irangers. Health, natural li- 
 berty, exemption horn care, and a happy 
 ignorance of all the rtllraints which cuftom 
 impofcs, and all the falfe indulgencies which 
 affljence requires. Their manners are unde- 
 praved, their inclinations unfophillicated. — I 
 fhoiild think thefe obfcure cots the chofen 
 abodes of innocence and virtue.' 
 
 * 1 hat is rather too liberal a conjefture/ re- 
 turned Lady Monteith, beaming upon the fup- 
 poled chatupion of tiie equal dealings of Pro- 
 vidence^ a cpiDplacent fmile. < My long refidence 
 
 in retirement allows mepofuively tocontradidi 
 the popular notion, that the country is the feat 
 of Arcadian happinefs and purity, though 
 much n"5ay be done 16 ameliorate the condition 
 of the lower claifes of fociety ; and I am con- 
 vinced, that relidmg among th(?m is one of 
 the moil probable means of eiFe£ling that im- 
 portant defign/ 
 
 * I perfcclly agree with your L.ulyfhip's fenti- 
 ments, paiticuiariy when the poor, like the 
 forrunure vaifals of Monteith, m.sy contem- 
 plate exalted rank without fear of imbibing 
 exotic vicx-s/* The Countefs blufhed^ and 
 
 bowed at this compliment, without recollc£\ing, 
 that it Uiight be intended (or her Lord. Fitzof- 
 borne watched the fudden emotion. < Can 
 « vanity,' Ciid he to himfelf, « be the ruling 
 
 * foibh? If it be, the fmothered fi.ime iliall 
 
 * b'aze.' 
 
 Lord Monteith now took part in the con\^er- 
 fation. • I hope, Sir, you mean to put, your 
 
 * own principles in practice, and that w^ fliall 
 
 * be very good friends when you come to refide 
 
 * at Kuiluch Ctill'e. It is within eighty miles 
 
 K 3 * of 
 
22(5 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ^ of US, a;u! wi miy frequently join in parties; 
 upon the hikes and the moors. I was there 
 once. I thou^iht it a horrid place with its 
 canopied ft ite beds, and worm-eaten tape dry ; 
 but vou will crive it a more agreeable air when 
 you live there.' 
 
 * Live there!* nirieked Laiy Ara':ewa 
 
 What ! live at Kinloch Cillle ^ What a bar- 
 barous idea !' 
 
 < O you are thir.king of times of old, poor 
 Bella. Yes, tlicy were barbarous, I'll grant. 
 But it will be very different when you fliall be 
 living there with a good hufoand, from what 
 it was wlien you wanted to fet oiF from rt in 
 fearch of one. Poor Bella I I remember your 
 peeping through the painted glafs between the 
 huge ftonevvindow-frames, and wondering, 
 whether the o' jecl that looked black at a jzreat 
 diftance was a cow or a gentleman. Poor 
 Bella I If you are ar^y thing of a knight- 
 errant, FiizoiLorne, you would have liked to 
 have feen her inat up in that caflle, like an 
 enchaned lady, waiting for iomt gallant 
 Longfword to l\t her at liberty. Bat I fuppcfe 
 Longfword was benighted, or [tt upon by 
 Saracens, for he never found his way to the 
 caftle—Dld he, Bella ?' 
 My Lord had now recovered tlje converfa- 
 tion ; and no eo.vimon effort could get it out of 
 his hand?, till Lady Arabella very gravely told 
 him, that his raillery was mifplaced. His Lord- 
 fhip then, darting up, gave Iris filler a good- 
 humoured kifs, declared that he did not mean 
 to difpl^afe her, proraifed to fay no more about 
 the caflle that nobody could get cut of, or the, 
 knight that never could get in ; and whifptring 
 her, that Jie then thcught her llic prettielt pri- 
 
 foner 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 227 
 
 foner he ever faw In his life, he fammaned th^ 
 Countefs and hurried her back to Portland- 
 place. 
 
 Lady Arab;:lla fcarcely waited till they were 
 out of fight, to a(k if they were not ilrange 
 creatures. 
 
 « The Countefs/ faid Flrzolborne, * is mod 
 ' amazingly beautiful.' 
 
 < She mull be very much Improved then,* re- 
 furnea Lady Arabella; < for it ufed to be 
 
 doubled whether (he was even pretty. But I 
 
 b>::Iieve gentlemen who have lived much abroad 
 
 have ?ifingular tallc in beauty.* 
 
 ♦ There aie fv':^me forms/ faid Fitzofborne* 
 bowing with a fj^^nificant air, ' which would 
 
 be edeemed lovely in every region. Lady 
 Mcnteith's chief beauty is the fparkling intel- 
 ligence of her countenance ', for ceitaiidy her 
 fe itures are not regular.' 
 
 ♦ No,' rejoined her Lidyfliip a little ap» 
 >eafed,, < her features are not regular ; and 
 
 ,fome people will caH tha-t intelligence in her 
 countenance conceit." 
 
 ♦ Is (lie counted vairr ?' 
 ' InfulTcrably fo. It is her rurinjT foible.-—. 
 
 Every, body who is acquainted with her knows 
 it. I wonder you did not d'fcover it/ 
 Ftizofoorne promifed loconlider her charat^er 
 ,vith deeper attention at the next opportunitv. 
 if vanity/ faid he to himfelf, <. be invieed her 
 predominant fault, it is irnpoflible that her 
 apparent hnppinefs cati be fincere. The vanity 
 of a fuoerior mind is not [gratified by common 
 incenle ; and Monteith feems Too thoughtlefs 
 to difcern her peculiar excellencies, and too 
 feif-engrofTv^d to give them their appropriate 
 •praife. i fufpscl, that his psrfonal advan- 
 
 * tages 
 
228 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 * t.^ges attracted her Inexperience, and that her 
 
 * judgment now fecrctiy reprobates the prema- 
 
 * ture choice' 
 
 Lord Monteith's opinion of the intended 
 flifpofal of his fide r was, thiit it was a very 
 wcll-fchenied thing. « She was juft a tit march,' 
 faid lie, * for a younger brother. Fitzofborne 
 
 < feems to have a great deal of fenl'e, and we 
 « all know that Arabella is not one of king So- 
 
 * lomen's family. She will, perhaps, prove a 
 
 < little refraclory at firfl: ; but he will conducl 
 
 * himftlf cleverly, and foon convince her that 
 
 < the hufb»anil is the fuperior cb^racler. You 
 
 * think fo, Geraldine, don't you r" 
 
 < O, undoubtedly i" But, with whatever 
 certainty the Countefs could fpeak of her own 
 iituation, flie felt extremely doubtful as to the 
 happy ifl^Lie of Lady Arabella's profpe£ls. — In 
 fniie of the referve of her lover's characler, 
 their dhTimilaiity was evident. She was trilling, 
 fuperficial, felhfh, and unguarded : with rerpe<fk 
 to Fitz'fborne, whenever the thick veil with 
 vhich he chofe to obfcure himfclf admitted a 
 cafual dif^.ovpry, fuperior intelligence and libe- 
 rality of fentiment were apparent. < I know,' 
 faid Geraldine to herfelf, <* that Arabella's tem- 
 
 < per is impetuous, her prejudices are rooted^ 
 
 < and her views of connubial happinefs are too 
 
 * fuperficial to make her even wilh to ailimilate 
 
 < her tafte to that of her hufband's, or to afTign 
 « any merit to complacent acquiefcence. His 
 « enlarged underftanding mull difcover her 
 « foolifti pertinacity ; and the generous feeling 
 « that always accompanies a liberal mind will be 
 
 < perpetually wounded by the contra£led ideas of 
 
 < a felfifli heart. Her ridiculous opinion of the 
 « conilant incenfe which beauty demands pre- 
 
 • eludes 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 229 
 
 eludes all hope of her improvemcnr. She 
 will be continually requiring a flatterer, and 
 he a companion. lam certain, that even vow 
 he ftrongly feels the difproportion of their 
 minds. What harlh exprefhons did he utter 
 againft the oppreflbrs of the poor. They 
 were, doubtleft;, pointed at her extravagant 
 notions, which feemed to degrade them from 
 the rank of rational creatures. Indeed, though 
 his mercenary defign fomewhat debafes his 
 chara^er, 1 pity Mr Fitzofborne. He appears 
 to be well worthy of a happier fate.* 
 The chain of her reflections was here broken 
 by his Lordlhip^s obferving, that (he was as dull 
 and as bad company as his future brother-in-law. 
 
 CHAP. XXV. 
 
 Calm thinking villains, whom no faith can flx. 
 Of crooked councils and dark polilics. 
 
 PoTE. 
 
 rrZOSBORNE called to return the honour 
 of Lord Monteith's vifir juft at the time when 
 his Lordfliip was gone out on fome important 
 bufinefs. 1 his engagement had been difcufled 
 the preceding evening, but philofophers are very 
 apt to be abfent. He inquired if the Countefs 
 were at home, and on fending in his name he 
 was admitted. Ther^ could be no impropriety 
 in receiving a vifit from a gentleman who was 
 ibon tg become a relation -, and Geraldine had 
 
 been 
 
230 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 been fuCiclentiy interefted by his appearance to 
 be anxious to know if the eltimate that {he had 
 formed of his chara6ler were Juft. 
 
 Previous to his arrival, fiie had been amufing 
 herfelf with* a harp which had lain filent for 
 fome years. It had been new ftrung by an emi- 
 nent hand, and was become capable of produc- 
 ing the mod ravifhing harmony. Fitzolborne 
 was an idolater of mufic. The Ikill of the 
 countefs was too well known to admit of dif- 
 qualifying fpeeches. She readily complied with 
 Ijis requeil to exhibit the powers of her inltru- 
 ment, and after a graceful prelude accom- 
 panied "it with her voice in the following 
 fonnet : 
 
 SONNET TO TvlAY. 
 
 Come May, the empire of the earth afTume, 
 Be crown'd with flowers as univerfal queen ; 
 
 * Take from frefh budded groves their tender 
 green, 
 
 Bcfpangled with Pomona's richeft bloom, 
 
 And form thy vefture. JLet the fun illume 
 The dew-drops glittering in the IJlue ferene, 
 And let them hang, like orient pearls, between 
 
 Thy locks befprent with Flora's bed perfume. 
 
 Attend your fovereign's fteps, ye balmy gales ! 
 O'er her ambrcfial floods of fragrance pour; 
 
 Let iivtller verdure animate the vales, 
 
 And brighter hues embellifh every flower ; 
 
 And hark, the concert of th« woodland hails, 
 
 All gracious May ! thy prefcnce, and thy poweK 
 
 She enforced the laft line with the whole com- 
 
 pafs of her melodious voice. The apartment 
 
 reverberated witii the magic founds. She paufed. 
 
 ■ Fitzofborne fcemed loll in fpeechlcfs ecftafy. 
 
 He 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 23I 
 
 He raifed his eyes, fufFufed with tears, and they 
 met thofe of the countefs — He retired to the 
 window to recover from his emotion, while flie 
 formed the ineffectual wifli, that Arabella had 
 poffefled a mind capable of eflimating and re- 
 warding fuch refined fenfibility. 
 
 It was Tome momenrs before Fitzofborne was 
 able to renew the converfation. At length he 
 hefit^tingly articulated, * You devote many hours 
 
 * every day to this charming fcience ?* 
 
 < No, indeed I I very feldom play, unlefs to 
 
 < perfed myfelf in a new tune, or to amufe lord 
 
 * Monteith.' 
 
 * Is lord Monteith fond of mufic ?* 
 
 < Paffionately fo.' 
 
 « I did not fufpea fo. Of whn kind ?' 
 
 < Every kind : from the loftieil compofitions 
 *■ of Handel to the fimpleft ftrains of ruftic har- 
 
 * mony. But I prefume, fir, your tafte is more 
 ^ difcrimlnating ; and being formed upon tiie 
 
 * refined Italian model, it requires artful com- 
 
 * bination and ftriking contrail.' 
 
 * It requires, madam, fuch an exalted grati- 
 
 < fication a5 it has ju(t enjoyed.'. He then rofe, 
 as if intending to take leave, when a miniature 
 of Lucy Evans, which hung over the chimney 
 glafs, appeared firft to 'attracfl hi^ eye j and he 
 txcldiaied, * You paint, I know, do you take 
 
 < likeneffes ?' 
 
 < Very bad ones,' faid^the countefs, handing 
 to him the pi6lure. * And when you view that 
 
 ^'< juvenile performance with attention, you will 
 *■ fay fo. But it is highly valuable to me, fince 
 « it gives me a faint refemblance of a very efti- 
 
 * mable friend.' 
 
 < I know,' faid Fitzofborne, fixing his eyes . 
 upon hsx with a mofl penetrating glance, < that 
 
 * your 
 
232 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 your foul was really formed for friendfhip. t 
 am a phyfiognomllt, madam/ 
 
 * I do not fufpcvft you of magical (kill/ replied' 
 Geraldine laughinj, for I am very much in- 
 cllnej to controvert your opinion. I never 
 had but one intimate fritndihip; and I meet 
 with my Lucy too feldom, and our epiftolary 
 communications are too limited, to admit of 
 our attachment imprinting any ftrong lines 
 upon my count-^nance ; even allowing, wh-it 
 I am not inclined to admit, that mental habits 
 imprefs indelible marks upon the mulcular 
 orgms.' 
 
 * I m,u(l enter upon a defence of my arf, 
 madam ; and if 1 am betrayed into any impro- 
 prieties, remember' yourfelf only can be to 
 blame. You have long been attached to this 
 lady, and (lie is fenfible, animated, and. pe- 
 netrating.* 
 
 * If you go on whh fuch fortunate guefufs, T 
 (liali begin to retradi, and believe you polfeiled 
 of the power of divination.' 
 
 * I only wifh to conceive yoa, thcit a conflant 
 perfeverarvce in one train of thought mull give 
 a correQ h.Ab'a to the mint!, and diiTufe a i'^-.cuQ 
 dignity over the countenance. And certainly 
 the coliifion of two ingenuous minds will 
 brighten the quali'ies of each. The foul ever 
 feeks its counterpart, and tries to airimlLite 
 itfelf to what it admires. Your correfocn- 
 
 1 
 
 dence wv'\ a perfon fuch as you allow this lady 
 
 to be, accounts for the fparkiing intelligence 
 
 of your manner, and all the lively emanations 
 
 of your fafcinating wit.' 
 
 The countefs replied with a blufliing fmile, 
 
 « I believe you are labouring under a little illu*- 
 
 ^ on. You certainly miftake me for lady Ara- 
 
 ♦ bella i 
 
( 
 
 A TALE OF THE TIMES. l^S 
 
 ' bella •, or are you (o accuflomed to compli- 
 
 * menr, that vou involuntarily adopt that drain 
 
 * to every body i* 
 
 ' You may miftake my chara^^er, madam,' 
 faid Fitzcfborne ;. < but it is irnpoflible that I can 
 
 * fuppofe you are larty Arabella ' A deep figh 
 efcaped at thofe words. He hefitated, and then 
 proceeded : * 1 can, however, entreat your pardon 
 
 * with a better grace, as I did not feek an op- 
 ' portunity of exprejQing the fentiments which I 
 ' ftrongly feel. If there be any indecorum in 
 
 * admiring you and requefling your fiiendfhip, 
 
 * recolle£l, madam, I lliare that guilt with the 
 original of this charming portrait/ 
 
 The countefs immediately replied : ^ Every 
 
 * branch of lord Monteith's family has indubi- 
 
 * table claims on my attention. Give me leave 
 
 < to aflure you, that his lordfhip regards you 
 
 * with the finccrefl: efteem, and that he is im- 
 
 * pafient for an event to take place which will 
 
 < cement his friendfhip by the bond of alli- 
 
 < anct." 
 
 * If it be in my power to make lady Arabella 
 
 < happy / faid Fitzcfborne, fixing his eyes 
 
 upon ti)e ground, and feeming to plunge into a 
 glcomy choas of doubt ; * but I will hope for 
 
 * the belt. We know, that * whatever is is 
 ' right.' As the world is now conflituted, events 
 
 * are notin our ownhands.' Hethcnrofe,and took 
 leave with a more profound Cgh than any he 
 had before uttered. < Poor man !' ejaculated 
 lady Monteith, < his feelings are too acute for 
 
 ' happinefs. He will become a prey to the mcft . 
 
 * morbid melancholy, and his inattentive wife 
 
 * will confider his dejedlion as a fuiiicient ex- 
 
 < cufe for her dilTipation. I fee he is forced 
 
 * into this fatal connexion by his friends. Why 
 
 * does 
 
2-34 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 < does he not exert the natural independence of 
 
 * his cnergt-tic charadter, and contemn the mer- 
 
 * cenary bond ? How happy would he be with 
 
 * fuch a partneras my Lucy !' 
 
 Could lady Moiueith have penetrated the 
 dark dilguifesof premeditating vi!!any, how cif- 
 ferent would have been the ccnrlufion of her 
 mental foUloquy ! 8he would as foon have pointed 
 out an alliance between the meek d'gnified 
 Oclavia, and the infidious, cruel, impenetrable 
 Tiberius. And now let me for a few moments 
 exercile that digreffive privilege which I have 
 claimed for moral purpof^s. 
 
 I would ail; the accurate judges of mankind» 
 what ftriklng traits of fuperior eminence are yet 
 vifible in Fitzofoorne's conduct ? What gene- 
 rous fentiment falling fpontaneotifly from the 
 tongue ? what artlefs difcovery of the genuine 
 emotions of an upright w orthy heart ? Are they 
 charmed M'ith the morals cf a man, vvhofe am- 
 biguous expreffions. can only be interpreted by 
 fiippoiing that he fecretly defpifes the womati 
 "whom he avowedly purfues ? Contempt for fuch 
 mercenary treachery mufl be the natural fenti- 
 ment in unfophiflicated minds^; and contempt 
 mud rife into abhorrence in every bread that is 
 uncorrupted by the laxity of modern principles^ 
 if they fuppofe that his ardent commendations 
 of a tnatj'ifdhdy w-cre intended to convey to her 
 heart the audacious idea, that they proceeded 
 from the warm emotions of preferenc. 
 
 The mind cf Geraldine was unfophifticated 
 and incorrupt. She faw his reluclance to his 
 intended marriage, and interpreted his praifes as 
 he defigned ftie lliould. Yet neither contempt 
 Tior abhorrence arofe in Her bread. On the con- 
 trary, though Reaviily determined to prevent any 
 
 innnuaiioii- 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 235 
 
 jnfinuation to lady -Arabello/s difacivantage, ancV 
 to reprefs every exprefTion inconfiilent with 
 the pure diijnity of a matron, (he felt for 
 the wilcy Fitzofborne a mixture of pity and 
 clleem. 
 
 O Flattery 
 
 How foon thy foft infinuating oil 
 Supples the toughed fouls ! 
 
 What better method can I adopt to convince the 
 younger part of my readers of the neceflity of 
 (hutting their ears to the firen fong, than plac- 
 ing the example of lady Monteith full in their 
 view ? Adorned with every natural and acquired- 
 accompllfliment •, ' chafte as the icicle on Dianas 
 temple •,' attached to her hufband ; the fondtfl 
 of mothers *, dorneilic, prudent, and religious. 
 What profanation even to fuppofe fuch confum- 
 mate excellence open to an illicit attack ! Yet 
 Fitzofborne, deeply verfed in the fcience of 
 human frailty, no fooner perceived that h^f 
 vanity liftened to his blandishments, than he not 
 only determined to nJTriil her principles, but felt 
 a firm convi£lion that his enterprize would. 
 fiicceed. 
 
 Her delicacy required, and his duplicity medi-- 
 tared, a covert afiault. He perceived on recol- 
 le^lion, t:)at he had been too unguarded in the 
 preceding converfation, and he refoived to follow 
 the path which (he had pointed out, by aite6ling. 
 great refped for \a^kj Arabella, and cultivating 
 the friendship of lord Monteith. He defpifcd 
 his lordlliip's abilities too much to fear that his 
 obfervation Vv'ould J)e any impediment to his 
 vievvs; and his own aflumption of thetitleof a 
 hulbaiid would only give an unprincipled feducer 
 
 more 
 
2^6 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 more unfufpe^lccl opportunities orf'jrwaruiiighis 
 infidioas dcfigr.s. 
 
 His vifics v; ere now generally rriade when he 
 knew that lord Monte-iih was at hoiTje ; and if 
 his lordlliip was abroad, he only left a card for 
 the countefs. His beliaviour to her, when thev 
 met in company, was pointedly refpeiVful and 
 referved. But care was always taken to (]»ow 
 that fuch referve was the efl'ccl of painful efxort. 
 By ftudioufly avoiding every oppDrtuiiity of 
 engaging her in converfation, and by a marked 
 neglecl of thofe ofhces of general civility which 
 the laws of politenefs prefcrlbed, he appeared 
 fearful of truiling to the fufceptibility of his 
 own heart. He feemsd only anxious to guard 
 his mind from the intrufion of every ima^ie in- 
 confident with his fidelity to lady Arabella. 
 His eyes were fixed, i-pon her, as if he hoped 
 to difcover fomething worthy of his attention. 
 Sometimes, indcrd, they wandered to lady 
 Monteith ; but if fl^ie obiVrved him, they were 
 inftantly withdrawn, with an exprefnon of regret 
 for the hivoluntary dereliiSlion. 
 
 His aim was to exhibit a faperior mind, in- 
 flexible in principle, but tenderly fufceptlble, 
 maintaining a feve^e ftrugg!e, and determined 
 to be victorious. Lady IMonteith v/as fo far the 
 dupe of his artifices, as to visw his Conducl: in 
 the light that he defired. But ihe aifo drew from 
 it ?. confcquence which he ilid not intend. Sh& 
 im'^itd his apparent efforts were fuccefoful, and 
 (lie'r )^v only regretted, that Arabella wanted 
 both the i-fcHnation and the capacity to improve 
 her delicate fituation to her own advantage. 
 
 It has been obferved, that the feducer feveral 
 times conquers his unwarrantable defires in the 
 courfe of his guilty purfuit. Compelled to 
 
 adopt 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 237 
 
 adopt difguifes^to confult'cpporrunltics, to p. void 
 premature difcoveries, the pain of repca'ed re- 
 ilriciions, ifnpofvfd for the purpofes of vice, is 
 greater than would attend the virtuous refolu- 
 tion of abandonirij^ the infidious projcft. This 
 chfervation was emlnentlv jufl in the inlh-^nct: of 
 Filzofborne. His fcul was not whirled along 
 by the temped of pniTion Beauty did not ex- 
 cite violent emotion. Senfe and fv^eetnefs car- 
 ried with them no irretKlible charm. His frigid 
 heart was too cold and felhTh to prompt his dia- 
 holical invention, or to exteruate his crimes. 
 His vices vver<" fydematic, the refuit cf defigr, 
 guided by method, f:in<Slioned by fophiftry, and 
 originating from the covert war which he vvj:[^ed, 
 not merely againfi the chaftity, but alfo agamft 
 the principles of his vi6lims : not fo'cly againll; 
 iheir reput.^iion, their peace of mind, and their 
 temporal profp-ds, but againfl their notions of 
 rciSbiude and reli-ron, a^^iiinil. thofe i:-nmovta4 
 hopes which fudain the affl'.61ed and footh the 
 corroding pangs of repentant guilt. 
 
 To lady Arabella, unconfcious of his defigns, 
 Fitzofoorne's increased attention gave a HveJier 
 p'eafure, from tlie idea that he intended by that 
 means to convey a marked contempt cf the 
 countefs. Her elation would have been more 
 complete, if he would have cordially joined in 
 thofe remarks on tlie perfon and behaviour of 
 Gtraldine which fupplied lady Madelina's dc- 
 meftic party with an agreeable topic for conver- 
 fation. She lecollefled, however, with fatisfac- 
 tion, that if he did not join in thefe cenfures, he 
 did not contradid them, and the extenuating apo- 
 logies which he fometimes urged might rather be 
 termed an attempt to * damn with faint praife,' 
 than a friendly defence. She wascorijirmed in her 
 
 opinion 
 
23B A TALE OF THE TJMES. 
 
 opinion, that her admirer fecretly defpifed lady 
 Monteith's pretenfions to mental fuperiority, by 
 obftrving that her botis tncts and remarks pafl'ed 
 equally unregarded, while her own were fure of 
 having in him one attentive liflener. Lady 
 Arabella's views of life were neither very accu- 
 rate nor extenfive. Yet ihe had fome fufpicion, 
 that the connubial bond operated as a powerful 
 foporiiic upon the deference, observance, and 
 tendernefs, which lovers fometimes, even in 
 this refined age^ think proper to afiume. Her 
 dear vifcountefs had afi'ured her, that if Ed- 
 ward's behaviour as a hufband equalled his at- 
 tentions as an admirer, they would certainly be 
 pointed at as an exerr.plar'y couple ; for that at 
 prefent all the world knew him by the title of 
 lady Arabella Macdonald's flave. No one more 
 Arongly felt thofe paffions which Pope afhrms 
 to be tiie predominate features in the mind of 
 women, * the love of pleafure,' and < the lov?! 
 of fway/ than her hdyOiip. But Gnce it was 
 at lead doubtful, whether Ihe could continue to 
 be * queen for life,' fhe was defirous to protract 
 the period which acknowic-dged her right of go- 
 vernment j and as the gentleman was not very 
 urgent for an ear-y day, the lady's fenfibiliiy 
 v/as not hurt by repeated denials. 
 
 Another unexpected cauf? of delay at tliis 
 time intervened. Lady Madelina had of;cn 
 declared, that as foon as fhe had fctth'd her 
 dear niece to her fatisfaclion (he fnouM hav^ . 
 entirely done with a world of \a h ch (\\^ re- 
 peatedly alTured her friends fiie was quire 
 weary. Twenty years before, on her firil mar- 
 riage with her ever-lamented Sir Simon Fra- . 
 z&r, flie had ufed fimilar cxprefTions. 5he then 
 faid that (lie only lived for his fake-, and if 
 flie were fo unfortunate as to lofe him, her * oc- 
 cupation 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 239 
 
 cup^ation would be gone/ and exiflence wouM 
 become an iiifiipportabie burden. But as that 
 deprecated event did happen without any lafting 
 change in !)er la lyfhip'o apparent reilili for the 
 good things of this life, it was fufpecled, that 
 •twenty years hence her afFf£lionate heart mig)it 
 fi^d fome pretext for the (Irong aitachment to 
 lier perfon, wliich her exceffive attention to her 
 own heahhan;! fafety rendered vifibie to all wiio 
 knew Iv^r. When the reader, therefore, con- 
 fidcrs the infinite fuccciuon of lad p'diis, and 
 final engcigements, which (he would probably 
 ]iave pleaded, his fenfibility ^'iil be his hurt to 
 find, that death dealt bv her, as he did bv * the 
 fair 1 >dy in coilly robes,' mentioned in the good 
 old (ongf by, compeilirg lier to truft future 
 events to that Providence vvhofe fuperiniendence 
 had not been her favourite fpeculation. 
 
 1 have obierved, that the fetllements' were 
 drawn up ur>,'er lady Maiielna's eye, who feemecT 
 denrous of extetiding the fupremacy whicli Ihe 
 had uniformly exercifea ovvfr every psrifon Mith 
 whom Die v/as connected (except her niece) 
 beyond the grave. Slie had multiplied entail?, 
 and confi dered every pofTible event of contention, 
 feparation, divorce and fccond marriage. She 
 had explored the family pedigree, picked out 
 the n\:i\ fojiorous hereditary chriflian names, 
 and ftringing three or four together, which were, 
 capibie of liquid pronunciation, {he ordered, 
 t^at they fhould be adopted by the fucccflive fons 
 and daughters of this intended marriage, on 
 pam of forfeiting ali right to inheritance. Join- 
 ture, pin-money, and alim.ony took up feveral 
 pages, and the fmiHied deed had more the ap- 
 pearance of a truce between two inveterate ene- 
 iiues tbaii a recognition of mutual confidence 
 
 and 
 
240 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 and efteem. The very fight of thefe formidable 
 pircliments muil have annihilated the whole 
 court of Cytherea ; but fortunately the modern 
 Hymen never brings his cii'/ts before that tri- 
 bunal, which is now exclufiveiy employed in 
 trying affairs of libertinifm, or, as it is politely 
 termed, gallantry. 
 
 Lady Kladelina perufed the flupendous per- 
 formance with delight ; weighed the techrical 
 meaning of every word which the ufeful tauto- 
 logy of the law had introduced ; and, tm^Aing, 
 that the united names of Fitzofoorne, Frazer, 
 and Macdonald might found in courts Knd caftles 
 a thcu^md years hence, declared that Oi€ was 
 perftBi^ faf.sficd^ It is fuppofed that the pro- 
 nunciation of thofe words, which (he had never 
 before been known to ufe, occafioned a mortal 
 revulfion in her oracular organs, for (he was 
 found fpeechlefs next morning. Lady Arabel- 
 la's determined refolution of enjoying the plea- 
 fures of a public breakfail prevented her from 
 attending to the affurances of her aunt's woman, 
 that fuch a change mult be inevitably folloyi^e^ 
 by mortal confecjuences. She contt^ntcd herfeif 
 %vith leaving pofitive orders to be immediately 
 fent for if lady Madrlina grew worft*, and drove 
 off with Icidy Fitzofborne, who convmced her 
 that (he vi-as perfectly rig: t •, for, as the patient 
 could not fpeak, company could do her no fer- 
 vice. The office of fmoothing tlie bed of death 
 devolved on Geraldine, who hallened to the 
 houfe of mourning at ' the firft intimation of 
 what had happened, and arrived a few moments 
 before lady Madelina expired. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 24I 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 Let then the fair one beautifully cry, 
 In Magdalene's loofe hair and lifted eye. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 T) 
 
 HE melancholy event related in my lad 
 Chapter was fpeedily conveyed to the gay proupe 
 whom the elegant dejeune of the duchefs of A. 
 had aii'cmbled on the flowery banks of Thames. 
 It was announced to lady Arabella with very 
 little preparation ; for as, in compliance with 
 the wiflies of the company, though declaredly 
 out of fpirits, (he had ju (I co Tented to exhibit 
 her own fine perfun and her lovei's to the bed 
 advantage by ftanding up in a reel, no one fup- 
 pofed but that fhe might h?ar the fad talc with 
 decent compofure. It was, however, quite the 
 reverfe, and her fenfibility now became as re- 
 markable, as her fortitude had been befofe. 
 She fainted, fell into hyfterics, wept, recovered, 
 and was at laft conveyed apparently iifeler. to her 
 carriage. Every creature prefcnt partook in her 
 concern for lady Madelina's death, for it cer- 
 tainly fpoiled a mod delightful party. Thou2;h 
 the com4)any endeavoured to recover their fpirits 
 after the. fair mourner was removed, all attempt 
 at brilliancy was prevented by the unavoidable 
 intrufion of ferious ideas. The ladies grew as 
 ftupid as if they were at church. Death's heads 
 and phyficians intruded into every futjefl ; 
 and the hft topic of converfation that was darted 
 Vol. I. L b/ 
 
242 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 by the gentlemen was a difcuffion of the merits 
 of the patent cofhn. 
 
 Lady Arabella vas scccmpaiied horre by the 
 FitzoiLornes. The vircountefs engaged in the 
 friendly tafk of confolation^ while Edward, 
 leaning biicl: with his arms folded, and his eyes 
 fixeci upon the lovely fuflerer, (1 fuppofe) more 
 deeply fympathized in her forrow ; for the ha- 
 raneues of the comforter were only interrupted 
 by lat^y Arabella's fobs and fighs, which did not 
 abate in violence, though lady Fitzofborne was 
 dlffufe on the folly of grieving for what was 
 fure to happen, and therefore what nobody could 
 prevent. The carriage at length (iopped. Lady 
 Arabella was fupporttd up ftairs, fwallowed 
 more hartfliorn, and at length became fulhcient- \ 
 ly ccnipofed to make inquiries after the particu- 
 lars of an event of which flie had only yet re- 
 ceived a general account. 
 
 Lady iVIadelina's hrft gentlewoman, a Mac- 
 donald by an an indirecl defcent, entered on the 
 fad recital. Nothing could be m.ore capable of 
 being ccmprelTed into a fmall compafs ; but Mrs. 
 Margaret was eminently gifted with that fpecies 
 of oratory .which may be termed expanfion. Her 
 poor dear lady's merits, her poor dear lady's 
 fufTerings, the confidence her poor dear lady 
 phiced in her faithful fervices, and a firm con- 
 vidion that (lie never fhould furvive her poor 
 dear lady : thefe topics were expatiated upon, till 
 Arabella becamiC a little difpleaied that any one 
 fliould take up grief juft at the inftaiit herfelf 
 had laid it down. Jt came out in the ccurfe of 
 the narration, that from fome peculiar circumi- 
 ftances lady Monteith had adopted an opinion , 
 that the fpark of life was not a(ffually extinguifli- 
 ed but that ihe fpeedy exertion of pr.-^per means 
 
 might 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 243 
 
 might revive the fufpended animation. To this 
 •opinion the phyficians who had been fum- 
 moned, lent feme countenance ; and the huma- 
 nity of the countefs prompted her not only to 
 command thefe applications, but by her prefence 
 to prevent the proceedings which are fometimes 
 injudicioufly adopted at the firft moment of ap- 
 parent difToI'.uion. 
 
 Mrs. Margaret was not only convinced of the 
 inefficacy of the attempt, but confcicntioufly 
 believing it to be very prefumptuous, had reiufed 
 herfervices with fome little fenfe of indignity at 
 having had them required, and keen fufceptibi- 
 lity at the fuppofition that (lie could bear to (lay 
 in the room where her poor dear lady lay. Ara- 
 bella joined in her opinion ; and the difcourfe 
 changed from the virtues of Mrs'. Margaret and 
 the deceafed, to the wickednels of difturbing 
 the dead, and the concern which the afFe£lion- 
 ate niece now felt, that her dear aunt had none 
 of her own family to attend her in her lad 
 TTioments. 
 
 The failure of lady Monteith's efforts re- 
 lieved Arabella from v/hat might more properly 
 be called a vexation than a diftrefs; and her 
 fofter feelings, freed from difagreeable embar- 
 raflVnents, had leifure to flow in the delicate 
 channels which etiquette prefcribes to grief. 
 She mourned for one fortniirht in the fweeteft 
 manner imaginable, drefled in a clofe cap, with 
 her bouquet ftuck on one fide, her robe loofcly 
 faftened, and her arms hanging negligently. 
 All her vifitauts agreed, that fiie looked prettier 
 than ever, and Fitzofborne was continually re- 
 minded of thofe well known lines which cha- 
 raderife the fair fex, as defigned to * bs adorned 
 
 L 2 by 
 
244 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 by diflrefs,' and * dreffed mofl amiably \n 
 tears.' 
 
 But it was not over the unconfcious tomb 
 that this fair fiowret drooped. The increafed 
 fenfibihty of the prefent age, grown too fragile 
 to encounter the morbid contagion of death, 
 declints all intimate acquaintance with fpe£la- 
 cles of mortality, and deputes hireling hands to 
 perform thofr: oifices which the (lerner fortitude 
 of former times claimed as the peculiar privilege 
 of afltclion and kindred. My attachment to 
 obfolete manners inclines m.e to refer the uni- 
 verfal cuilom of flying from the bed of death 
 and its melancholy appendages, to fome other 
 caufe than excefiive tendernefs. I fufpedt the 
 faftidioufnefs cf indulgence, accuftomed to balk 
 in the funfhdne of life, and bereft of fufficient 
 enerfryeven to wiih to procure a defence againft 
 the ilorm. 1 difcover the enervating habits of 
 diil'ipation, the cant of flattery, and the fophifms 
 of felf-delufion. Beauty will not contemplate 
 the fixed raylefs eye, kft the recollection fhculd 
 obfcure the brilliancy of its own : youth and 
 healih refufe to be acquainted with the livid 
 cheek, which preaches the importance of the 
 pafiTing hours ; and gaiety abjures all knowledge 
 of the clay-cold reliques cf the human form, 
 left: the fearful ftntence of * fuch fl.»alt thou be' 
 ihould palfy the graceful flep, arrell the fwift ca- 
 reer of levity, and render the whifper of adu- 
 lation unintereRing. 
 
 Lady i^rabella's firfl tears flowed beneath her 
 brother's roof; but her extreme fufceptibility 
 foon required a frefh afylum. Lady Monteith 
 was the worlt comforter in the world -, and fhe 
 was convinced that her poor fpirits would be quite 
 
 overcome, 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 24J 
 
 overcome, if (he did not getamongfl: people a little 
 more like other folks. Gerildine indeed had per- 
 formed the office of a cenfoler ro her Lucy with 
 tolerable fuccefs; but the retired daughter of a 
 country clergyman, and a fafhionable belle, are 
 different chara6t'trs: and either the nmplicity 
 of the countefs did not difcriminate, or fome 
 fecret fpark of ill-nature prevented her from 
 adopting the proper method of treating her pre- 
 fent gueit. She permitted lady Arabella's tears 
 to dream without any admonition that they 
 might dim her eyes or injure her complexion •, 
 and in themoflviolentparoxyfmsof grief Iheftrove 
 to foften her emotions by leading the difcourre 
 to her dear aunt's affedilion for her, and anxious 
 folicitude to promote her happinefs. She had 
 once the inhumanity to fuggc (1: the idea, that the 
 feparated fpirit would be afiliited by witnelfing 
 the forrow of furviving friends •, and that the 
 violent indulgence of extreme regret might be 
 conftrued to proceed from a want of due fab- 
 miffion to the Supreme Difpofer of events. SSe 
 had indeed fucceflively expatiated on thefe topics 
 to Mifs Evans. The countenance of that artiefs 
 f^irl affumed an angelic compofure whilfl liflen- 
 ing to the folemn fcntimenls -, and her hands 
 and eyes uplifted in meek refignation feenied to 
 fay, * I will not impede the beatitude of my 
 « mother, nor murmur at the difpenfations of 
 < my God.' 
 
 But in the prefent inflance the awful aiiuHon 
 produced very horrific efft:(£ls. Lady Arabella's 
 ideas of * things unfeen' were extremely con- 
 futed. She had never had time to inv!filigate 
 the fubje^^ herfclf •, and, from fome arguments 
 which Mr. Fitzofborne had ufed, fke was in- 
 clined to hope, that the vague notions which (he 
 
 had 
 
246 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 had picked up in her enrly years were purely 
 chimerical terrors, the efTecfb of low prejudices. 
 She, therefore, replietl to the confolatory argu- 
 ry-sents of the countefs with a ihriek of appre- 
 henilon; befoug[ht her in future to avoid fuch 
 fliockiiig exprefTionsj and, looking round her, 
 as if in expc'tflation of feeing lady Madelina's 
 jihoit, (he became fo fearful of having a vifion- 
 ary attendant, that flie durll not move from one 
 room to another without being accompanied by 
 a corporeal guard. 
 
 At Mr. Fiizoiborne^s next vint flie expatiated 
 en the premeditated cruelty of lady Monteith, 
 who choie the very period of her being fo low 
 th.^t Hie could hardly fupport herfelf, to afflicl: 
 her by naming fuhjecls that fhe n^ver could 
 hear. She was perf^^^iftly i^inocen^, flie faid ; 
 had never hurt any body, nor commitied any 
 crime in her life ; and why need (lie be talktd to 
 ;.bout feparated fpirits, and religion, as if fhe 
 were the greatefi (inner in the world ? Lady 
 Monteirh had even hinted, that there wouM be 
 an indecorum in her going into public immedi- 
 ately after the interment of an aunt, who had to 
 her fupplied the tendernefs and protedlion of 
 ^he maternal chara£ler; and (lie was certain 
 that the funeral was delayed, not fo much out of 
 refpe6t, as to keep her immured, and to make 
 her break her heart, which was much too refined 
 and tender to endure thofe form.s of woe to 
 which (Ironger minds might fubmit. Iri fine, 
 ilie enjoined Fitzofborne to date to lady Mon- 
 teith the impropriety oi her condu<fV, and, :o 
 convince her how wrong it was to talk abouc 
 difagreeable th.ings whicli fhe could not be fare 
 were tnie. Edward undertook the cfRce, bu: 
 advifed iady Arabella not to be too fanguine of 
 
 futcefi. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 247 
 
 faccefs. Prejudices, he fiiH, WvTc (lubborn 
 things to contend with, sml lady Monteith had 
 unfortunately iinbibevl feveril. He compli- 
 mented hdy ArabelKi on her more enlarged 
 notions, but conjured her to conceal a fuperiority 
 which might probably excite envy ; and in cafe 
 of any future attempts to infpire her with fuper- 
 ilitious terrors, he wijlied her either to give a 
 fudden turn to the converfation, or to enjoy the 
 triumph of reafoa over bigotry iji a dignified 
 filence. 
 
 Fitzofborne entered on the taHv enjoined, 
 with the cruel aviiiity of a fanguin.jry mind, 
 bent on deltroying what it was neceiTuued to 
 revere. Mis oblervjtions on laly M)nreit'\*5 
 behaviour enabled him clearly to devolope her 
 charaflter ; and as he founded his hopes of fuc- 
 cefs on her evident love of praife, he w.h fonii- 
 ble that the unaffecled finceritv of her reli;;it'nn 
 principles would prov^ a fteady bulw^il; too 
 powerful to be aflailed by open attacks, a:vl 
 which he niufl either undermine or abandon hi? 
 purfuit. ^ He perceived, that though her vivacity 
 at limes tr.infcended the limits of ri^id prudence, 
 even in the wiLieft flights of gaieiy t!ie molt 
 guarded ridicule on facied fubjevils was unp.ila- 
 table ; and thou^jh ihe eniTrrjiTmg amuf^ments 
 of polite life allonlcd lefs leifure for refledlioti 
 and devotional ex-rcifes during hrr ilay in town, 
 ihe ever paffjd a diihpatcd Sunday with evident 
 regret, and appe.ircd to feel every omiiTion of 
 duty with the feif-reproach of cohfcious error, 
 rather than to avow her negle£l: with the bold 
 air of on-i who expe6ls to be applauded for libe- 
 rality and exemption from prefcribed form''.. The 
 fooling on which he was received in the family 
 gave him frequent occafions of perceiving, that, 
 
 though 
 
248 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 though (he did not burft nut into frequent cen«- 
 fares againft immorality, fhe never treated a grofs 
 deviation from morality and decorum with that 
 Jevity of remark which warrants the conc'afion,, 
 that the obferver's principles are too relaxed to 
 view flagitious conduct with proper abhorrence. 
 Though no c^^e knew better how lo wing the 
 ihtih of raillery, and to encourage « fport that 
 • wrinkled care derides,*' wit was with her the 
 companion of unreproved pleafure, not the child 
 of unreftrained liberty. Its frolic hand was 
 ever taught to refpecl the palladium of virtue 
 '^nd religion. 
 
 TijC event v/bich Geraidlne had lately wit- 
 iifiTed confirmed her habitual reverence for 
 iericus fubjc6^s. Without profeffing to feel any 
 marked attachment to lady Madelina, or afFe£l-- 
 ing forrow for her lofs, flie had contemplated an 
 cbje€l of mortality with the fympathetic thought- 
 falncfs of one who felt confcious that (lie was 
 a fellow-pilgrim, journeying to the fame bourne. 
 A convi<J:tion of tlie intlability of temporal pof- 
 ffffions, and the inefficiency of human aid, 
 would naturally diiecSl a confiderate mind to 
 firmer fupports, and to recur lo the idea of a 
 traveller, than vihich nothing can be more 
 analogous to human life. 7'he certainty of a 
 limited reHdence amcngft the objects of fenfe 
 f^xcited a llrong folicitude to extend her know- 
 ledge of things invifible, and to fecure an 
 intereft in that undifcovered world of which flie 
 inuft one day become an inhabitant. 
 
 A (late of mind like that which I have de- 
 fcribed appears at the firfl glance to be unfavour- 
 able to the defigns of a Fitzofborne. Rethought 
 it otherwife. It was a difpofition which natur- 
 ally led to the difcuilion of moral and religious 
 
 truths. 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES, 249 
 
 truths. The decent forms wlfich thecuftom of 
 the world ftill fandlions prefcribed to the Mon- 
 teiths the neceflity of avoiding promifcuous 
 vifitors, and abfentlng from public amufements. 
 And though the fair Arabella ftemed to caft a 
 longing look from her foliiude upon forbidden 
 pleafure, the countefsliftened to the narrative of 
 ihe^day with a more languid attention, a!id im- 
 perceptibly led back the converfation to fome 
 improving fubje^l. Her attempts generally 
 frightened lady Arabella, and compelled her to 
 take refuge in her own apartment*-, where fl;'; 
 found occupation in confulting withlier maid on 
 the changes of ornament which the alterations 
 in her mourning would admit. Lord Monieith, 
 tlioughat firft doubtful how he (hould kill time 
 during this melancholy period of confinement, 
 found fo much amufement in ringing the dumb 
 bell and learning to pley on the violin, that he 
 relapfed into his old misfortune of wain of lei- 
 fure ; and Fitzofborne would have found it more 
 difficult to avoid than to fele^l opporluniticsior 
 private <:oi>verfarion with Geraldine. 
 
 I. ? C H ^ R 
 
250 A TALE OF THE TlIvlES. 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. 
 
 In dlfcourfe more fwcet — 
 
 Others apart fat on a hill retir'd, ' 
 
 In thoughts more elevate, and reafon^d hfgh , 
 Of Providence, fo e-knowledge, will, and fatc^ 
 FIx'd fate, free will, foi e-knowledge abfolute, 
 And found no end, in wandering mazes loft. 
 Of good and evil much they argued, then, 
 Of happinefs and final mifery, 
 Pafficn and apathy, glory and fhame, 
 Vain wifdoni all, and falfe philofophy. 
 
 IvflLTOM-. 
 
 iVEADING was one cf l.idy IMoiUeith's con- 
 itant cmufements ; and among lier favourite 
 "Writers the moral pages of Jol nfon held adif- 
 tinguiilied preeminence. His inflru^ive ro- 
 r,-:ance of Kaffcias occupied her one morning. 
 Slie ilopped at x\\t part which feemed to intimate 
 the author's belief in the poiTibiliry of fpedtral 
 appearances. The idea ftrongiy engroHed her 
 imagination. She ruminated on the arguments 
 •which -might be adduced on either fide, and con- 
 tinned in a profound reverie when Fitzofocrne 
 entered the room. 
 
 After a paufe, in which lady Monteith was 
 trving to difengage her ideas from the train cf 
 refisOion which they had purfued, Edward po- 
 litely exprelTed his fears that he had interrupted 
 an agreeable ftudy ; and, with an intimation that 
 he would im.mediately withdraw, inquired what 
 fubjciSt occupied her attention. She delivered 
 to him the unclofed volume witliout any com- 
 nicnt. He rtad the caiT^ge to which her finger 
 
 rcicned^ 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 25 I 
 
 referred, and reflored it with ?.n obfeivarion,. 
 that the Britifii cenfor was peifc^ly confiftent. 
 Geraldine, millaking thi«; remnrk for approba- 
 tion, replied, that fne ha:^ ever thought him fo, 
 and therefore (trove to form her mind by the 
 ex.'ihed ftandard his works prerciibed- 
 
 ♦' 1 agree with you," faid Fitzcfborne. 
 ** His writings do indeed prefcribe an exalted 
 *' ftandavd of morality. A gig.mtic one, I 
 *^ fhould rather f^y^ utterly inadequate to the 
 ** prefent flate of the world. His views and 
 " writings are, however, all uniform. An 
 ** enemy to levity anJ fimplicityj a lover of 
 ** difcipline and fyttem, averfe to tliofe rights 
 *' whicii man inherently porfclVes, tenacious of 
 ** tliofe bulwarks which fociety forms, he is re- 
 *' pulfive in his politics, uncomplying in his 
 ** morality, and auilere in his reliciion." 
 
 It was only the lait obfervation which con- 
 vinced the countefs that this exordium was de- 
 (igr.ed to cenfure l^er favouiire aurho-, and fne 
 began his defence by nuking Coiv.c prclimlnarv 
 (onccilions. in extenu;.iion of tliat air of dif* 
 content and depreflion which ever pervades his 
 works when he refers to tiie fituaiion of a pro- 
 felled writer, fhe mamlained, tltat large allo.v- 
 ances ought to be mads for tlrt feiUibiiiiy of 
 unpatronifed merit, confcious^of cefcrc and 
 ihug-iling under calamity. She added, tha: 11. -- 
 firuation of tlie moralill in his early vearo pr,.-- 
 cluded him from entering into tliof^ niore re- 
 fined claries of f)ciety, wht Te air,i.jhie poiilh 
 might have foftened the afperirics of }:is narural 
 charader. But fince the '..vofld already noii'vriied 
 many elegant infiruilors, who kacu- lio^v to 
 aim the ligliter fliafrs of fatire, and cj blend im- 
 prc>v::men: with amuf^inent; ncihaps tlie liv-r 
 
 of 
 

 252 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 of literature would not regret the circurriflances 
 that gave him one lefs uib.'.ne moralift, wliofe 
 auftcre fenfe exhibited the noblefl model of 
 energetic compodtion and exahed principle. 
 
 <« Your juilification, madam," faid Fitzof- 
 borne, " is conclufiw. The page of John Ton 
 *' will ever be reforted to by the lover of va- 
 *' riety, and will claim the appropriate com« 
 " mendations which you have given it, from 
 ** minds capable of appreciating his real v/orth. 
 He is too profound to be the idol of the 
 million : and as his beauties can only be relifli- 
 ed by an unJerflanding as vigorous as his own, 
 fo his precepts fc^em calculated for difpcfi- 
 ** tiotis that refemble him in firmnefs. On 
 ♦' fuch flrong minds his tendency to fuptrilition 
 ♦' can produce no bad eiTecfis." 
 
 ** My acquaintance is too hrrited," rejoined 
 tlie countefsj ** for me to know a perfon 10 
 *' v.hom I could not fafely recommend the 
 *'* works of Johnfon." 
 
 *< i beg ycur pardon," interrupted Edvvard. 
 <* I ihoujd have many objections to i^ady Ara- 
 *■< bella's feeing: the pail-c^ge which has wrought 
 »* your mind into its prefent itare of /:rg/? en- 
 *' ihufiafm. Tiie uncommon fuf^eptibility and 
 <^ delicacy of I er characier would make her 
 ** feel painful alarms, Vijiile 1 fee you only in- 
 '« duige a * Mne frenzy/ In a converfation you 
 «« lately had with lier, even forr.e of your 
 *♦ guarded exprelhons have caufed her the mofh 
 *< dhtreffmg agitation." 
 
 Lady Munteith recollected that (lie was talking 
 to a lover, and determined to endure a little pue- 
 rility. iShe acknowleged, that it was natural 
 for Arabella to feem deprelfed immediately af- 
 ter ih-: lofs of a friend who had aded the part 
 
 of 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 253 
 
 of a fofter- mother to her, and fi)e promifed to 
 be very cautious in future. " Bur," continued 
 fhe, *' 1 muft own that the invifible agency of 
 *^ feparated fpirits is a very favourite theme 
 ** with me; and though, contrary to the opi- 
 •* nion of the Abyflinian fage, I could affirm, 
 ** that we never have any certain evidence that 
 ** the dead are permitted to become objed^s of 
 " our fenfes, I have long rejoiced in the hope, 
 ♦* that our departed friends are the agents em- 
 ** ployed by over-ruling Providence to perform 
 ** offices of care and tendernefs to their furviv- 
 *' ing connexions. This thought has mod fre- 
 *' quently occurred to me, as I have bent over 
 *' my deeping children, and have fancied glo- 
 ** lifted beings watched our unconfcious hours 
 ** with ftmilar attention. AVhen I was once 
 *' threatened with the lofs of mv eldelt darJinr. 
 ♦* I found fcnfible confolation in the idea of 
 *' its becoming a guaidi.m clierub to fuftain the 
 ♦* innocence of its filters throui^h a dangerous 
 " worldj and to receive my parting fpirit at the 
 *' hour of my diflbluiion." 
 
 While the countefs fpoke, her radi .nt eyes 
 were fuffufed with tears. Fifzcfborne, check- 
 ing fome unfubdued firoggles of confcience,. 
 which alrnoft tempted him to A'iffi he could en- 
 joy fuch viGonary delights, cooliy replied to lier 
 energetic fpeech : <• I lliould be very forry, ma- 
 «' dam, to interrupt thole agreeable reveries 
 «' which in minds of your temperature can 
 <* rarely be prejudicial. I ffiail only (late the 
 " dangerous confequences of fuch iilufions be- 
 «« coming general. What a tremendous fuper- 
 *' ftru0.ure of impofition might prieft-craft 
 <* ere£t upon fuch a vifionary bafis ! You do 
 " not pretend, madam, to fay, that your hopes 
 
 lell 
 
254 ^ TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 " reft unon anv real foundation. The nature 
 <« of the fcul l)as. liitherto eluded inquiry. It 
 " may in time become capable of abfolule de- 
 " finiiion ; and though the age is not at pre- 
 *< fent fuflicieutly enlightened to afford abfolute 
 << proof of this fvippoicd immaterial fubflance 
 <«- being only a more exquifite conhguration of 
 •« perifhable atones, incapable of diftindl ex- 
 <* iftence, the glorious epocha of truth anti 
 <« reafon is too near to aliovv us to believe the^ 
 *' polTibility of fpeclraJ appearances, or even of 
 <« fpiritual agency, in the manner your imagi- 
 <♦ nation prompts you to wifh." 
 
 Though Lady Monteith was no dceip theolo- 
 gian, Hie had heard of the millennium, and the 
 fufpenfion of confcioufntTs in the difembcdied 
 foul; and Ihe concluded that Fitzciborne v/as a 
 convert to thofe doclrines. She was by no 
 means aware of the deeper tendency of his views; 
 vet, as (he thougl t there was fomething peculiar 
 in his opinions, five wifiicd to fathom him upon 
 thefe fubje6is. She knew enough of the world to 
 be convinced, that divinity was not the favourite 
 {\udy of young men of fafnion : but ihe knc^ 
 too, that deep learning was equally excluded 
 from polite circle?. Kitzofborne had been an- 
 nounced to her as the ** mirror of information -,'* 
 and fne faw nothing ridiculous in the idea, that 
 a n-izn of reading (hould devote part of his at- 
 tention to the fludy of the noblcil truths. In- 
 difference on ferious fubjecis was, as far as her 
 obfervations extended, combined with ignorance 
 and a gener«l relaxation of mind. Fitzof- 
 borne's manner evinced energy and attention. 
 She had often felt indignant z< hearing the wit- 
 iing attempt to ridicule what he did not under- 
 hand, or the libertine fetk to ir.validate what he 
 feared to believe. But Fitzcfbjrne poffcffed too 
 
 mudi 
 
A TilLE OF THE TIMES. 2^^ 
 
 much real talent to envy the wreath that fades 
 npon the coxcomb's brow, and his condu(fl 
 feemed too ccrrecft to fupply him with a mo- 
 tive for taking fiielter in infidelity. His fenti- 
 ments on every fubje£l were moral and liberal. 
 His feif- command was e\;;mplary ; his 'informa- 
 tion general ; his re<ifonin^^, though flowery, 
 ingenious, and, in Larly Monteith's opinion, 
 judicious. I have already obferved, that her 
 parts were rather brilliant than profound. It 
 will not tlierefore be farpTiHng, that (lie fhoukf 
 be eafily entangled in the fnare of a fyllogifm, 
 or that the unfufpecting fincerity of her licart 
 fliould render her a duoe to anv one who took 
 the trouble to play the fpccious confummate 
 hypocrite. 
 
 In forming her opinion of the dangerous cha- 
 radler which was now expofed to her obferva- 
 tion, The had fallen into the fame error of pre- 
 cipitate judgment which Oje had been formerly 
 guilty of in the cafe of Lord Monteith. She 
 now fupplied talents with as much liberality as 
 fhe formerly created virtues. Experience had 
 convinced her, that love is apt to look through 
 magnifying optics ; yet, though one pleafing 
 phanto.m faded after another, fon:iething really 
 eflimable dill remained; and on her comparing 
 her own lot with tliat of others, (he found 
 abundant reafon to acquiefce in a (fate of re- 
 figned content. Recaiimg Jome of Mrs. Evans's 
 early precepts, fhe had laboured to fubdue 
 thofe more exquifite refinements of fenfibility, 
 which vainly look for confummate enjoyment 
 in this world j and, without feeling too lively 
 regrets for the want of unattainable good, fhe 
 enjoyed the cup of blefling which Providence 
 tendered to her acceptance, She was in this 
 
 ftate 
 
2^6 A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ftate of mind when her acquaintance withFItz- 
 cfborne commenced. The peculiarity of his 
 character drew her attention. The evident in- 
 felicity of his connubial profpe^s attracted 
 pity. His conduct awakened efteem, and his 
 intelle6lual fuperiority excited admiration. 
 Neither did flie difcover from whatfecret failing 
 in herfelf that admiration fprung, nor that 
 Vanity is as great a magnifier as Love. 
 
 Fitzofborne had been fo careful to veil his 
 fcepticifm in ambiguous plirafes, that Lady 
 Monteith's folicitude to difcover his principles 
 really arofe from an idea that their fingularity 
 chiefly proceeded from their excellence, and 
 that by converfing with him (he (hould flrengthen 
 her own convictions. She had often lamented, 
 that Lord Monteith's volatile temper deprived 
 her of that fuppoiting judgment and direcSting 
 care which the conjugal indltution was intended 
 to afford to the fofttr fex. Though not doubt- 
 ful of the propriety of her own condufV, fiie 
 naturally wifhed it fiiould receive the approba- 
 tion of an obferving eye ', and a confcioufnefs 
 of her own abilities was attended with fome re- 
 pugnance to their " wafting their f>.veetnefs ia 
 the defert air.*' The friend, the advifer (he had 
 long wiflicd for, feemed now to prefent himfelf 
 ta her view in the perfon of an accompliflied 
 intelligent gentleman of irreproachable worth, 
 
 who would foon become a near relation. 
 
 Every idea of impropriety was removed by this 
 latter confideration i and, with the ufual imbe- 
 cillity of fiiort-fighted mortals, fi^e fancied her 
 chara£lcr might acquire additional lullre by im- 
 bibing^ 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 257 
 
 blbing the fplendor of (o fair an archetype.— 
 She had not difcovered, that 
 
 All was falfe, and hollow ; though his tongue 
 Dropp'd manna, and could make the worfe appear 
 The better reafon, to perplex and da(h 
 Matureft councils j for his thoughts were low ; 
 To vice induftrious, but to nobler deeds 
 Tim'rous and flothful j yet he pleas'd the ear. 
 
 Her endeavours to dived this " Demon of 
 fentiment" of his cherubic veil were, however, 
 incfTe£lual. Wrapped in his darling myfticifm, 
 he defied her fcrutiny. His knowledge of the 
 human heart convinced him how powerful an 
 engine fecrefy becomes when wielded by a fkill- 
 ful hand, and oppofed to the reftlefs fpirit of 
 female curiofity. But while he eluded her in- 
 quiries, and avoided a full difcovcry of his own 
 opinions, he threw out enough to convince her, 
 that they were not only extraordinary but per- 
 manent ; and by complimenting the fagacious 
 avidity with which ilie feized every fentiment 
 he feemed unwarily to difclofe, he roufed the 
 mingled folicitude of inquifitivcnefs and vanity, 
 and formed an intereft which he determined to 
 improve. 
 
 The converfation ended on his part with a 
 panegyric on morality, which he loaded with 
 oftentatious ornaments ; and a philippic againft 
 the illiberality of fuppofing that exalted minds 
 needed any other inducement lo adl; rightly than 
 the ab(lra£t lovelinefs of virtue. His laft ob- 
 fervation was prefaced by a folemn avowal of 
 his own refpetl for religion, w hich he acknow- 
 ledged 
 
258' A TALE OF THE TIMES. 
 
 ledged to be a mod ufeful invention, and a ne> 
 cefTary re(lri£lion upon the untutored part of 
 mankind. He left Lady Monteith in a fort of 
 maze, regretting that he had not been more ex- 
 plicit on thofe points in which he had confefled 
 his opinions ditTered from hers, delighted with 
 his pure morahty, and enchanted with his con- 
 verfation. 
 
 Her reverie was interrupted by Lady Ara- 
 bella's requefting the favour of her opinion, 
 whether tiffany, jefi'amine, or crape rofes, would ' 
 make the moil elegant fefloon. She liftened 
 with perplexed attention to a recapitulation of 
 the light airinefs of the former ornament, and 
 the quiet accommodation of the latter ; and 
 ilie felt mortified at being obliged to witnefs the' 
 cffe£l of their alternate difplay on her Lady- 
 (liip's court drefs. While her eyes were fixed" 
 upon vacancy,, and her thoughts were regretting 
 the v/ilful negligence, which would give to 
 Fitzofborne a frivolous unintelligent partner, 
 fhe, with the indifference of Swift's Vaneff.j, 
 pronounced an unconfcious preference of the 
 cr.jpe rofes. This fiat was decifive, and Lady; 
 Arabella returned to her ov.'n apartment with 
 her maid and l.er milliner ; a happy grcupe,.till. 
 the difcovery, tha: a lady whom Lady Arabella- 
 hated wore crape rofes, drew from the diftreffcd' 
 fair one feveral pathetic ejaculations on the pe- 
 culiar unhapplnefs of her own lot, in being 
 thus prevented fiom having th? prettiefc trim- 
 ming in the world. Some teiidcr tears were 
 dropped, which were placed to the account of 
 her aunt ; and after a few expreffions, which 
 from a perfon of lefs delicacy might be termed 
 fcolding, flic difmiffediier terrified auditors with 
 
 a dcclaraliQn^, 
 
A TALE OF THE TIMES. 259 
 
 a declaration, that (Tie was very low, and 
 could not bear contradiction and difappoint- 
 n>ent. 
 
 Meantime Lady Monteith had refumed her 
 (ludies, and began to difcover fome of thofe 
 faults in her beloved Johnfon which Fitzof- 
 borne had pointed out, when L Td Monteith 
 entered the room, highly elated that he had jufl: 
 made himfelf complete mafter of " Britons 
 ** ftrike home," and entreating her to accom- 
 pany him upon the harp. She complied •, but 
 the fmile of acquiefcence was more of the pen- 
 five than of the exhilarating kind; and her 
 thoughts wandered to the prohibited haunts of 
 ufelefs regrets for the part, and vain anricipa- 
 tions of the future. But while, in her career 
 of impoffibilitjes, fhe was beginning to with 
 that Monteith poflefTed the intelligent mind of 
 Fitzofborne, her carelefs hand (Iruck a falfe 
 chord, and a mechanical impulfe aroufed her 
 attention time enough to anfwer her Lord's in- 
 quiries, if (he was well, and if any thing made 
 her unhappy. His afteclionate folicitude re- 
 ftored her mind to its ufual temperamen!-, and 
 ftie chided herfelf for indulging a thought in- 
 confident with the gratitude and efteem which 
 fhe owed to her plighted confort. She recol- 
 Jecled that different excellencies belong to dif- 
 ferent chara£iers ; and that it is the abufe, not 
 the want, of a talent which (tamps criminality 
 upon any one. She made allowances for the 
 force of habit confpiring with ftrong paflions, 
 unreftrained by an expenfive, yet defe6live, 
 education, and inflamed by the fedutlions of 
 affluence and uncontrolled freedom of a6iion. — 
 While thefe n^flcclions fucceirively occupied her 
 
 mind» 
 
a6o A TALE CF THE TIMES. 
 
 mind, a tender fweetnefs dlfFufed itfelf over her 
 countenance, and her hand executed ** Briions- 
 ** ftrlke home" entirely to his Lordfliip's fa- 
 tisfadion. 
 
 END OF THE JfjRST VOLUMS. 
 
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